The Bet

righto....*giggles * that's a funny word.....

yam: *sighs * baka.....getting started on the author's notes....

oh, yeah! ^^ um....where was i.....*blinks and looks lost *

yam: *mutters * idiot..... *smacks oni *

uh, duh, oh yeah, i know where! *beams proudly * look how quick i updated! feel lucky! i can't guarantee when the next one will be coming out.....it all depends on life and laziness, ya know.....

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chapter 13 ponders on a saturday morning

Yami lay face down on his bed, his tri-colored hair tousled and still in his black boxers. It was eleven o' clock Saturday morning, and the teen had just gotten up a few minutes ago. And he hadn't been able to stop thinking about Yugi. About how he fit so nicely in Yami's arms, how soft and perfect his skin was, how gentle and sweet he was, how-

Yami groaned and raked his hands through his hair, disheveling it even more. He couldn't get the little one out of his mind, ever since he'd taken hom home last night. Afterwards, he'd gone to Mai's, thinking that a quick lay and some alcohol would help clear his mind.

The alcohol hadn't helped much; he'd only drunken enough to be slightly affected. Mai hadn't had any really strong liquor, and what little she had, Yami was so used to drinking it, it didn't affect him at all. He and Mai had drunk a couple of glasses of strawberry Schnapps, then proceeded with the usual routine of getting undressed and having sex.

Yet, for some unknown reason, soon as Mai had taken off her dress and bra, and stood topless before him, Yami had automatically stopped, thinking of Yugi again. He didn't know why, but he'd been able to sleep with Mai, as the two used to do. Their routine was get drunk then have sex. They weren't romantically involved, although they had dated occasionally, but were never interested in the other, other than as friends. They only did it because it was something to do, and everyone in their clique did it; it was the thing to do. Bakura and Marik had had a lot of sexual encounters, so had Seto. Yami himself wasn't as randy as the rest, but he certainly was no virgin. Rumor had it that he'd scored with many of the pretty, popular girls, when in reality he'd only slept with a few people. Mai was the horniest of them all.

But, this time, something had been different. Maybe he hadn't been drunk enough. Yami shook his head and rubbed his eyes.realreally didn't think that was the problem. Yugi. It was Yugi. He couldn't get him out of his mind. Now that he'd gotten a glimpse of the little one up close, had gotten past his shy barrier a bit, Yami wanted more. He was dangerously attracted to Yugi. He'd never felt like this before, not with anyone. His heart had never been involved in his love life. But now, just thinking of Yugi made his heart beat faster.

Yami scowled, opening his eyes and glaring at his dirty clothes he'd left on the floor when he'd come home at one in the morning. What romantic drivel was he thinking? This wasn't like him at all. He never obsessed over anything, and here he was, constantly thinking about that small boy. The little one had occasionally drifted into his thoughts before Friday, but ever since then, he'd been on his mind constantly.

This was proving to be no mere infatuation, and it wasn't just lust. Lust was something he could control, and get quickly rid of. If he was just lusting after Yugi, he would have been a lot more physical than he was, and he wouldn't have worried about Yugi's feelings at all. He would've taken the little one's virginity without a moment's hesitation, then, once he, Yami, was sated, would have left Yugi heartbroken. But he hadn't even been able to kiss him for fear of frightening the naive boy.

No, this was something completely and wholly different. Yami had never been concerned about his date's feelings before. He'd never seen the person he was currently lusting after as anything more than a quick lay. Something to do once and then leave them forgotten. He broke hearts without batting an eyelash. Yet he didn't want to upset Yugi in the slightest. He wanted him to be smiling and happy. He didn't want to hurt him. He'd actually thought of someone other than himself, had worked to please Yugi instead of just doing as he wanted.

It wasn't lust. It wasn't a crush or an infatuation. Then what was it? Whatever it was, Yami knew he was digging himself in deep. Already, it felt as if it was too late to turn back. (it's love! it's love! but he don't know dat yet)

***************

Yugi was curled up on the end of the couch wi thi thick, fuzzy blanket wrapped about him. He'd been up since ten, and was fully dressed in thick socks, wide legged, light blue sweat pants and matching sweatshirt. He had a mug of steaming hot chocolate with miniature marshmallows besides him on the coffee table.

He stared down unseeingly at the thick, hard back book open in his little lap. He'd been on chapter one of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the past half hour. This was the fifth time he was rereading the book, but it was the first time he was reading it and not wishing the fifth one would be out already. For once, while reading it, his mind wasn't on wizards, broomsticks, and snitches, but instead was on something else entirely.

Ever since he'd gotten up, he'd beennkinnking about Yami. He'd even had a dream about Yami, though he hadn't been able to recall much. All he vaguely remembered was he and Yami were standing alone, he was in Yami's arms, and Yami had leaned down and kissed him!

Yugi giggled and felt his face heat up. He closed his eyes and blushed harder, smiling widely. He nervously picked at his blanket, his smile fading when he remembered his grandfather telling him he'd fallen asleep on his date. He'd fallen asleep on his very first date, with his huge crush and the hottest, coolest guy in school! He felt like the biggest loser of the century.

Sighing, Yugi frowned down at his book. Maybe he was overreacting just a tad bit. Normally, people like Yami didn't ask people like him, Yugi, out, but Yami must have had his reasons. What they were, Yugi had no clue, but he surely felt that Yami must like him, or at least be interested in him. That was a first for Yugi, and he wasn't going to complain or ponder it too much. Yami had, after all, tried to be very nice, and other than the racing thing, it had been a very enjoyable evening.

Recalling how he'd felt so safe and snug in Yami's arms, Yugi turned red again. He groaned and buried his face in his hands. He'd had a crush on Yami for the longest time, but after seeing that caring, warm side of the older boy, Yugi was falling even harder for him. He thought about him constantly, driving his grandfatnutsnuts with his daydreaming and constant sighing, blushing, and giggling.

He'd been prancing around the house on tiptoe all morning, giggling and smiling at absolutely nothing, and sighing happily into his bacon and eggs. This was the happiest he'd been in a long time, and he was determined to enjoy every minute of it. He was going to be on cloud nine for the rest of the weekend. He even decided to do his homework on Sunday, when normally it was done on Friday evenings. But this Friday, he'd gone out.......

Yugi blushed and giggled again, looking at his melted marshmallows and thinking of Yami.

*************

Ryou lay in his bed, propped up by pillows as he stared absentmindedly at the TV screen, the volume on low. He'd just been released from the hospital on Wednesday morning, and he'd been home, stuck in bed ever since. He dreaded to think of all the make up work he was going to have.

Though, he was used to missing school and having a lot of make up work. His health was very fragile; he'd always been a sickly child, and had spent more time than most kids his age in the hospital with one illness or another. His injuries from Ushio hadn't been that bad; just some painful bruises that were already fading and turning yellow. It was being out in the cold that had done him in. He'd been having trouble breathing, and had been on oxygen for a couple of days. The doctors, being familiar with Ryou, had kept the thin boy a bit longer than necessary, worried that his slight rasping would turn into pneumonia. It had before.

Ryou scowled as he thought of the extra two bottles of medication he had to take for a couple of weeks in addition to the pills and vitamins he already took, at his father's and doctor's insistence. Although, he figured it could have been a lot worse; he'd probably still be in the hospital if Bakura hadn't saved him.

Bakura. Ryou smiled and a faint pink tinted his deathly pale cheeks, bringing a dash of color to his white countenance. He owed the boy a lot; he couldn't wait to go back to school and see him. He shivered at the memory of those smoldering, dangerous dark chocolate eyes.

Ryou knew he was attracted to Bakura, and wondered if the boy felt the same. From the heated look he'd given him in gym class, and the fact that he, Bakura, big, bad, notorious Bakura, had saved him, Ryou thought he did. At least, he hoped so. It would be nice to have someone to talk to and hang out with. Though, he was sure Bakura would want to do more than just talk.

Ryou bit his lip. He wasn't sure if he would do anything like that. He really wanted to wait until he was married, or at least until he'd found someone very special. From the increase in his heart beats and butterflies in his stomach, he was pretty sure Bakura was that special someone. His true love. However, whether Bakura felt that way or not was another story, and Ryou would refuse to be someone's play toy. No matter how hot and incredibly sexy they were.

He blushed a bit and turned his attention to the TV, only to have it drift back to Bakura. He knew the older boy hadn't come after Ushio to save him, but, in the process of beating up Ushio, he had saved him. And that's what counted. He'd also taken him to the hospital, when he could've just left him behind. Bakura looked like he wasn't used to too many people caring about him, and the slim boy thought that a shame. He wanted to show Bakura that people did care, that for ale bae bad out there, there was some good, too.

And what better way to do that than with a thank you card and a gift? Though, what would be right for Bakura? Ryou frowned. He didn't know much about the bad boy, other than his notorious reputation. What would be a good gift for him? What suited his personality?

Sighing, Ryou stared blankly at the small, flickering screen mounted on the edge of his dresser top. Bugs Bunny was on the run from the Tasmanian Devil, who whirled through trees, boulders, and buildings, grunting, snarling, and slobbering as he wreaked havoc and destruction.

The tired, pale boy smiled, his eyes starting to drift close. Bingo. Inspiration had just struck.

**********

Marik lay on his back, freezing in his rumpled jeans and sweat shirt, wishing that he'd changed after him and Bakura come in last night. He was groggy and didn't feel like moving; he was too tired to even open his eyes. Though he did have a major case of the munchies. He felt like he could devour a whole, big back of Cheese Dorito's right now.

But that would mean moving, and he didn't feel like moving. Eyes still closed, Marik scowled. Bakura hadn't been any fun last night. He kept going quiet and acting strange, not his usual rowdy, foul mouthed self. He'd glare at nothing, growling occasionally to himself, and Marik knew his best friend was thinking of that twat they'd saved from Ushio.

He snorted. What was up with Bakura? He seemed to be constantly thinking about the boy. He should just screw him, get it out of his system, and forget about him. Yet, somehow, he had the feeling that this wasn't going to be the case. With Bakura nor Yami.

Those boys, that shrimp and the pussy, were both far from what Bakura and Yami normally dated, and he couldn't figure out for the life of him what was it about those two that interested them. Nothing that he could see.

Maybe....but, maybe, it would be nice to have someone there, someone whom you could trust, who was always at your side.......someone you could love, and who loved you back.....Marik snorted and let out a laugh. Love? Who believed in that bull shit? He pulled hims ims into his sleeves and rolled onto his side, falling asleep again.

**************

Mai sat on the floor of her bedroom, painting her toenails dark purple, still in her silk pjs with her hair pulled back with a scrunchi. She still couldn't believe Yami last night. No one had ever turned her down before, least of all her best friend! She and Yami had grown up together; they lived only a block away from one another. She'd known him all her life, and he'd never acted like he'd had last night......

They'd been alone in her bedroom, she was half naked and they were leaning in, about to kiss, just how they always started, when Yami's lips had touched hers and he'd pulled back, looking lost in thought. Then, the next thing she knew, the lust was gone from his eyes, which looked weird. They were.....warm and soft. She'd never seen his eyes look like that.

"I'm sorry," he'd said. "But I can't. I don't know why, but I can't. Not tonight." He'd gotten dressed then left.

Mai pursed her lips, which, for once, weren't covered in lipstick. Then again, she hadn't gotten dressed for the day yet. She'd smiled at Yami as he'd left. She knew why he was acting so strange; it was that shrimp, whatever his name was. He was affecting him the same way Anzu was affecting her. She normally didn't go near cheerleaders, unless it was to harass the bubble brained bimbos.

But Anzu....she was different. Mai winced as she recalled the cold look the girl had given her. Anzu, apparently, didn't approve of violence. She sighed; she'd have to make it up to her and get on her good side again.

**************

Anzu's thin body moved gracefully as she copied the motions of the aerobics video in front of her, her blue eyes focused on the TV screen as she jogged in place. Though she was staring at the TV as if she was fixated by it, her mind kept wandering to things other than exercise.

She wandwandering about the strange feelings Mai was stirring within her. She liked the girl; there was no doubt that Mai was hot, but Mai was also trouble. Anzu liked her, but she didn't want towithwith someone like Mai. Someone who hurt others for their own selfish gain, and who beat people up needlessly. She didn't approve of violence.

Anzu frowned, thinking of the fight she'd witnessed. Mai was a bit too good for her own good. She was proud, arrogant, and conceited, much like the boys she ran with. Though Mai was a bit over bearing,o wao was over kill. She shuddered at the thought of his cold, blue eyes stare. Bakura and Marik were just a couple of demented nutters, but Yami.....Yami was hot, no doubt about it. Too bad he'd never looked her way; Anzu wasn't really opposed to going out with him.

Yet....Mai....she sighed when she thought of Mai's thick, curly honey blonde locks and bright, cunning violet eyes. She then remembered Mai loosing her arrogant swagger as she'd been carted off to the principal's office, only after she'd seen the look on Anzu's own face, though. So, maybe, just maybe, there was hope that she could be reformed. Maybe.....just maybe....they all could.

tbc.......