The Bet

Well, here it is, another update, and I don't think I have anything to say, except thank you to all of you who reviewed. Especially those of you that have stuck with this since the beginning (and my other stories, too), and welcome to all new comers. Thanks and enjoy the story! .

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"Yami, what movie do you want?" Yugi chewed his pink lower lip indecisively, standing on tip toe to see the categories above the rows upon rows of videos. It was eleven at night, and the video rental store would be closing in an hour. They had gone out to eat at their usual restaurant, then had sat in the parking lot, waiting for the car to warm up and deciding what to do next. The problem was, there wasn't much to do without being over 21, and they'd done everything else on other dates. So, they'd decided to go rent a movie then go to Yami's house.

Yami pulled off his leather gloves, slipping them into the pockets of his leather coat then casually, sensually brushing a jagged, golden bang away from his cheek, which was tinged pink from the cold outside. "I really don't care, Yugi. Pick whatever movie you want. I'll be over there getting us some snacks."

Yugi looked up at him, then at the endless rows of videos, then back up at him. Yami smiled reassuringly, resisting the temptation to kiss those sweet lips then and there. He wouldn't have cared, but he didn't want to make the little one uncomfortable, just yet. Even though he was so cute when he was blushing and gazing down at his toes...."Go ahead, Yugi. Grab whatever you want. I turned 18 a couple of months ago, so rating doesn't matter."

Before Yugi could do anything else, Yami turned left and headed to the far wall. He felt bad for leaving him like that. It wasn't terribly romantic, especially on a date, but he wanted Yugi to pick out what he wanted to watch for once. Every time, the petite boy wouldn't decide, going along with whatever Yami wanted, and he was sick of it. He had a ton of DVD's at home, but the selection wasn't as varied as the rental store. It really didn't matter what Yugi chose; if all went according to plan, then they wouldn't be watching much of the movie at all. Smirking, Yami shoved his hands into his pockets and headed over to the colorful, cardboard displays containing calorie containing, fat inducing yet delightfully sweet and satisfying snacks and sweets.

Yugi watched him go, half tempted to run after him. Shouldn't they be picking together? But Yami said he didn't care what he picked......Oh, why, why couldn't he like the same stuff as the normal, cool kids? Then he wouldn't have to worry about Yami laughing at him. Twirling one wavy golden bang around his little, mitten free finger, and chewing his lip, he headed off.

& & &

"Fuck, my head hurts." Malik moaned, rubbing his palms across his forehead, fingers in his tangled, fluffy golden hair. He was laying naked in Marik's bed, the sheets tangled and twisted about their limp, sweaty limbs, and their clothes mixed in with the blankets. He moaned again and tilted his head to one side.

His pale lilac eyes were glazed; everything looked so hazy. Marik's room was messy; garbage, clutter, and clothes thrown haphazardly across the worn and stained brownish green carpet, and junk- dragon statues, DVDs, CDs, and crumpled sketch books and colored pencils, some of them broken- lay amongst the scattered dirty clothes. But Malik couldn't see any of that; all he saw was a vague purple haze from Marik's black light.

"Oh, fuck." He moaned and closed his eyes; it hurt to have them open.

"Mmm, you drank too much." Marik pushed himself up on one elbow, eyes half closed and smiling lazily as he put one golden arm around Malik's slim frame, and kissing one of the bruises he'd made with his teeth on the new boy's neck. He smiled in satisfaction at the memory. Well, what little he could remember, anyway. They'd come to his house; his old man was in jail, had been for a long time, and his mother was dead asleep, no doubt drunk or high. Then....then....somehow, empty beer bottles found their way to his collection of clutter, clothes came off, and...yeah...

Malik jerked in surprise when he felt teeth scraping over his neck, not hurting, just teasing the throbbing bruises. He licked his lips, then frowned and jerked away from Marik when he tasted dried blood. Blood? Ah, yes, he'd bitten Marik. He'd been on his back, golden thighs spread, the senior over him, and Malik had been loving on his neck when a particularly hard, violent thrust had him seeing stars and causing his teeth to accidentally tear into the skin, drawing blood. At least, he thought he'd done it on accident. Oh well, it was done, he couldn't be bothered to worry about it. Speaking of worry...

"Oh fucking shit! My mother's gonna kill me!" Malik had never called and told his mother, Isis, who was an Egyptologist and museum coordinator, that' he'd be going out. She was going to be so beyond pissed....."Nnn...oh, fuck...where..cell..." He mumbled, clarity and urgency fading as he pushed the groping Marik off him and reached with both hands, searching for his pants and cell phone.

Then a strong arm snaked around his waist, pulling him back into a warm body. A hot,

demanding mouth covered his own, pierced tongue forcing its way past his lips and teeth, caressing the cavern of his mouth. He closed his eyes, hands tangling in hair so similar to his own, and he forgot everything else as he went down in a tangle of hot, slick limbs.

& & &

Ryou had one finger in his mouth, chewing on his short fingernail and looking out the window at slush and salt caked walkway to his snow covered house. It was cold and dark, no lights on. He grimaced, highly uncomfortable, then turned back to Bakura before looking down at his lap.

Bakura ran a gloved hand through his disheveled hair. So much for getting Ryou drunk and loosening him up tonight. He sighed and leaned his head back against the head rest. Tonight was really, really not going as planned. It'd blown up in his face. At least Ryou was still talking to him. For the time being. "Damn it, tonight wasn't supposed to fucking be like this." He growled and punched the rim of the steering wheel.

Ryou 'eeped' and jumped like a scalded cat, doe brown eyes impossibly wide and chest heaving. A shame that beautiful, snow white body was buried under all those winter clothes and heavy, baby blue coat.

Bakura looked at the terrified boy, who was nearly shaking, and sighed again. "It was supposed to be different, not like...." He looked at Ryou's house and snorted in derision, then looked away.

Ryou smiled shyly and laid a shaking, timid hand on his cow hide coat, knowing that was as close to an apology as Bakura could get. Deep down, Bakura had a heart. He just wasn't very good at showing it, and he could live with that. At the feather light touch, smoldering dark chocolate eyes snapped up and bore into his. "It's alright. I-I had fun; I mean, it was n-nice...y-you and m-m....I'm used to being alone at night, but I don't really want to go in, I mean..." He looked down, clasped his hands tightly in his lap and blushed.

Bakura blinked and was filled with hope that he just might be able to salvage this, redeem himself. "We could go to a friend of mine's. His mother's home." He added quickly, seeing the uneasiness in Ryou's eyes. And sweet little Ryou had a very good right to be uneasy; he just didn't know it yet.

& & &

Anzu was laying on her fluffy, sunny yellow quilt, in her mint green, cotton, long sleeved pajamas, sucking on a cherry flavored sucker and reading a cheerleading magazine. She wished their school cheerleading uniforms were as cool as the ones in the pages. Life was so not fair! Hey, that girl with the pom-poms looked sort of like Mai, if she'd had more curves and dark, dangerous eyes.

She froze, remembering hot lips upon her own and her back against a water fountain that afternoon. She took a deep, steadying breath and burst into giggles. Mai was SO hot! She blushed, grabbed a stuffed animal and buried her face in it, kicking her covers and giggling some more.

& & &

Mai yawned and buried her face deeper into her pillow, then shot up, wide awake, when she caught the unfamiliar scent. She'd snuck into a 21 and over dance club, and now she was in a strange bed, naked, her clothes on the floor, and next to her, asleep, was a strange boy. She couldn't even remember his name. But she was tired and the bed was comfortable.....

& & &

"Hi, Yugi, what are you doing here?" Hanasaki came running up to the small, tri-colored haired freshman. He was so excited at this unexpected surprise that he forgot all about his earlier rejection and hurt. There was no way in the world that he, runty, plain old Hanasaki with glasses and a slight case of acne stood a chance against hot, popular, sexy, perfect Yami Motou, but he certainly was going to try. He'd been friends with Yugi first, and it was only a matter of time before Yami found someone else and dumped Yugi flat.

Yugi's large purple eyes blinked. He'd been staring hard, transfixed, at the shelf just above his eye level. He was sorely tempted to rent Harry Potter, but he knew Yami would hate it, but Yugi absolutely loved the movie. But Yami probably wouldn't. He'd been debating back and forth. Once in a blue moon, when Grandpa had had a particularly good sales month, he'd allow Yugi to rent one movie. So little Yugi really, really wanted to get his favorite one. But..what if Yami didn't like it?

He'd started to reach for the DVD, only to draw his hand back and reach for it again, when he heard someone calling him. He jumped, surprised, and turned to see none other than Hanasaki. His smile nearly faded. He really, really needed to decide on what movie- although, it'd be a lot easier for Yami to just pick and spare him the agony- and didn't have time to chat. He waved faintly. "Hi, 'Saki-"

He'd just started when the eager blonde boy babbled on, trying to draw him into a conversation. "Guess what? Since my dad's been feeling more energetic now that the docs have got him on this new medicine, he and Mum went out. They got my older cousin to baby-sit me, and he's letting me rent a movie and I get to stay up past my bedtime!"

Yugi looked at the beaming face and tried very hard not to grimace. He forced a smile, ready to die of embarrassment. "That's great, Saki." What if one of Yami's friends- who now said 'hi' to him in the halls, and talked to him at lunch, even if he wasn't with Yami- saw him? His cheeks burned bright red and he shifted uncomfortably. Although, he had a bed time when he stayed home, too. Ten o'clock on school nights and eleven on weekends, which was extended to twelve when he was out on a date. With Yami, his boyfriend.

Yugi blushed and smiled at the secret thought. Yami had never officially asked him yet, but they always went out together, hung out in the mornings, at lunch, walked hand in hand down the halls, and Yami rode him home from school. So, Yugi was fairly sure Yami was his boyfriend. Yami...his boyfriend. He loved the sound of those words!

Hanasaki beamed at Yugi, thinking the smile was just for him. Yugi truly was sooo cute and sweet when he smiled like that! Suddenly not knowing what else to say, he twiddled his thumbs and looked up at the movies. "So...what movie you gettin? Harry Potter? I was gonna get it; but it looks like there's only one left..." He trailed off sadly.

Yugi's smile instantly vanished. Should he get it, or shouldn't he? "Ah..um..." He looked around wildly, then saw, over a row of shelves, some very familiar, red tipped spikes, and quickly made up his mind. "No, go ahead. I-I don't think Yami likes that movie....I gotta go, later!" He took off, past a stunned, short blonde boy with hurt tears in his eyes; he hadn't even gotten to tell Yugi thanks, good bye or anything; Yugi had just run straight to Yami, who probably didn't even know he was missing.

Yugi followed the spiky waves for three rows before he rounded a bend, and saw Yami. With a girl. She was in his grade level; he'd seen her around the school, but she was up much higher on the social scale than he was. Well, had been, until he'd started dating Yami. Said senior was ignoring the chattering, blonde haired girl dressed in a pink sweat suit, who was trying to talk him into a date, curling his lip in distaste and walking away when she got too close.

Yami's ruby eyes were narrowed; he was ready to tell her off, when he saw his angel come around a corner. "Ah, Yugi!" He rushed over, planting a soft, chaste kiss on Yugi's pink lips. Yugi closed his eyes, his small body listening towards Yami's lean one. Yami sighed through his nose then reluctantly pulled back, smiling gently down at him, now able to completely ignore the girl. "So, what movie did you get?" He noticed Yugi looking at the girl and frowning slightly, so he took his hand in his bigger one and gave it a squeeze.

Yugi's eyes went wide. "Um....ah....this one!" He cried out and, with his free hand, grabbed the first case off of the shelf. He was standing right at the end of the row, so the first few were within easy reach behind his back, allowing him to act like he'd had it behind his back since Yami and the girl where still out in the aisle.

Yami saw him grab the tape, but ignored it. He stared at the title and blinked, before smiling at how ironic life could be. "Cruel Intentions. It's one of my favorites. Good job, Yugi ! And here I thought I was going to be stuck watching Harry Potter!" Yami laughed at his joke as he brushed past the girl, DVD in one hand and pulling Yugi along with him. Uncharacteristically, Yugi ignored her as well, snuggling up to Yami's side and burning with embarrassment about the joke. Yami didn't know how right he was!

They were in line, Yugi with both his arms wrapped around Yami's, which wasn't easy with his bulky coat and Yami's leather one in the way, and laying his head down on his shoulder, lost in his own thoughts. Why hadn't he just grabbed something he'd knew Yami would like right off the bat? Then he could've avoided Hanasaki, and that girl. What had possessed him to even think about getting something like that? It wasn't like it was just him and Grandpa; then, Yugi had no trouble deciding what he wanted. He just wanted Yami to continue liking him.

"Hey, Yugi, thanks for letting me get this!" Hanasaki called as he passed, walking next to a college age boy, and had already checked out. He waved the movie at Yugi , who blushed and looked away. The other small boy frowned. "Bye, Yugi!" He called loudly, and Yugi switched to Yami's other side, whilst the older boy regarded the midget boy with glasses as he would a pile of week old, fungus covered cafeteria food. He pulled Yugi up to the counter with him, turning his slender body so that he shielded Yugi from the passing boy's view whilst Yugi pressed himself up against him and stared without seeing an advertisement on the wall.

Yami paid for the movie, put his change and rental card back into his wallet, then slipped that into the pocket of his wide leg jeans. He didn't say anything to Yugi as they bundled back up, zipping up their coats, putting on their hats, Yami his gloves, and Yugi his mittens. Yugi kept his head low, not seeing Yami's frown, face flushed in embarrassment. He was holding his breath, waiting tensely for Yami to say how immature he was, how uncool, what a baby. Tears burned his eyes at the thought of being rejected by Yami, especially since they had been dating a lot.

Yami waited until they were settled in the car, which was on with the heater running. "Yugi." The little one flinched, and Yami reached over, raising the pert, dainty chin with one leather gloved finger. "Did you want that movie?" The older boy hadn't paid any attention to the blonde geek, didn't even see what movie it was. He was judging by Yugi's reaction to the twat.

Yugi hesitated, biting his lip and turning his head to look out the window. "N-no.."

"Yugi." Yami was annoyed with the freshman's reaction; he'd been hoping Yugi was past that awkward shyness by now. He softened his voice. "Yugi. Look at me. Yugi." Cautiously, the little one's head turned partway, violet eyes gazing up at him through a veil of thick lashes and golden, wavy bangs. "If you wanted that movie, you should have gotten it. I want you to feel comfortable around me, to relax and be your sweet self." Yami's full lips smiled as he said this, his head lowering to Yugi's. Yugi smiled shyly back, closing his eyes as warm lips were pressed gently against his.

& & &

Marik moaned; the pounding in his head was so fierce he could hear it. Malik jerked beside him, shoving his bigger body off of him and sitting straight up like an alert rabbit. Marik scowled and reached to pull the younger boy back down, but Malik shoved his arm away. "There's someone at the door."

"Who the bloody mother fuck..." Marik mumbled, still drunk and tired, the after effects of alcohol setting in. He groped for his boxers, which were black with red dragons on them, and fumbled, tripping over things, kicking them out of his way. Malik lay back on the bed, on his side with one arm flung over his head, watching with glazed lilac eyes the boy he'd just met at school and had slept with. He giggled as the senior stumbled about, falling over his own mess.

Marik scowled at him. "It's not funny."

"No, it's hilarious." Malik giggled again, sighed then relaxed into the worn mattress, shifting as a spring dug into his side.

The pounding on the door continued. "SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Marik screamed. He didn't care about waking his mother up; even if she did wake, she wouldn't care what he did, so long as she was left alone. Rather, he just wanted the pounding in his throbbing head to stop. "I'm going to bash your mother fucking face in..." He mumbled, going to the door and leaving Malik lounging in drunken grace on the bed.

He had a rough idea of who it was; it was either Bakura, or the cops, and he hadn't done anything to get him in trouble recently- that he could remember- so it had to be the former. "Bakura, I'm going to smash your fucking ugly, thick skull, you cock sucking son of a-" He yanked open the heavy door, shivering as cold, winter night air seeped into the already drafty, old house.

Bakura had a dark look on his face, but he didn't see any bruises or blood, so he couldn't have been fighting with his old man again. Then he saw the tip of a light blue, knit hat and vaguely remembered something about a pretty boy who looked like Bakura. The boy was hiding behind Bakura's back, shivering and pressing himself against the bigger body for warmth. The older boy hesitated, then pulled Ryou forward, wrapping an arm around his waist. Ryou jumped, his eyes widened like a frightened deer, then gratefully leaned against him for warmth.

"Stupid ass, you gonna let us in?"

"No, go fuck off somewhere else."

"Open the fucking door, you retarded cunt. It's fucking freezing out here." Bakura pushed on the screen door, the broken glass in it never having been replaced, but Marik pushed back, struggling to keep the dented aluminum door closed, his teeth chattering and goose bumps and some snow flakes, brought in on the wind, dusting his bare, golden forearms.

"B-Bakur-ra, if h-he d-doesn't w-want us i-in, m-maybe w-we sh-should..." Ryou's gaze was lowered, and he stood to the side as the older boy struggled to get the door open. He'd stepped aside, almost slipping on a patch of frozen mud and brown grass, when Bakura had shoved on the door. He was cold, and didn't have the strongest of immune systems. His nose was starting to run, and it was getting difficult to breathe.

"What are you damned idiots doing?" Malik came up behind Marik. He'd gotten bored lying on the bed and listening to the fighting. He had on a ripped, green hoodi of Marik's, that came down nearly to his knees, and he'd had enough sense to put on a pair of socks. "Oh, fuck, it's cold! Shut the door." He shivered and stepped back into the drafty warmth of the house.

Bakura took the opportunity of Marik's surprise when his look-alike had unexpectedly come up behind him to shove hard on the already battered door, knocking Marik backwards into the wall. Ryou whimpered, looking torn between staying outside, away from them and freezing, or inside with them where it was warmer. Bakura made up his mind for him; he reached out, grabbing one of the boy's thin wrists and yanking him inside, moving into the living room.

Bakura smirked as he passed Marik. "So, this is why you didn't want us in?" His dark chocolate eyes flickered once to Malik, who was already sitting down. The boy was beautiful; if he hadn't made that bet with Yami, then he wouldn't have minded sharing a bed with him. But what would Ryou think of that? Bakura snorted, not knowing where that stray thought came from, and not liking how uncomfortable it made him.

Marik scowled and slammed both doors shut, trailing after Bakura and whatever his name was. He flung himself down besides Malik, putting an arm around his shoulder and sprawling on the couch. Bakura plopped down in a chair, his and Ryou's shoes having tracked snow and slush throughout the house, not that it was noticeable on the already heavily stained and torn carpets.

Bakura took off his coat, hat, and gloves, his keys in his pocket, when he noticed Ryou hovering uncertainly near him. The boy was still standing, chewing his lower lip and his eyes downcast. He'd no doubt still be shaking in the door way if Bakura hadn't had a hold of him. "Sit." He barked, and Ryou jumped. Marik and Malik laughed; the pale boy's cheeks colored in embarrassment, and tears trembled in his eyes.

"Shut the fuck up." Bakura growled at them, tugging on Ryou's hand and pulling him onto the chair. Ryou perched on the tip of an arm rest, hands folded together, head lowered, struggling not to cry.

Malik rolled his eyes and nuzzled against Marik's shoulder, and the eighteen year old pulled him across his lap, kissing him hotly on the mouth. "Who said you could wear that?" He nipped at his chin.

Malik shrugged. "I didn't think you'd mind. I couldn't find my clothes, and I was tired of waiting." He wrapped his arms around Marik's neck, and the two started kissing once more.

& & &

"Y-Yami..." Yugi sat, curled up besides Yami, both of them under one blanket. He had both little arms wrapped around one of Yami's, and had spent most of the night with his face pressed into Yami's arm when scenes became too intense for him. He closed his huge violet eyes as the two girls on a blanket, beneath the trees in a park, started to kiss.

Oh, how he wished Yami would do that with him! He squeaked and buried his face in Yami's shoulder.

Yami smiled and kissed the top of his head. He and Yugi, on all of their dates, had done nothing more than deep kissing and the occasional grope on Yami's part. It had taken all of his self-control to resists taking that tempting imp into his arms and ravishing him, but Yugi wasn't ready, so Yami had had to wait. Now, tonight, he was going to push things further, see how far Yugi would let him go. He had to; Bakura was already out with Ryou.

This was Yugi's first time in his house; the little one taken his snow laden shoes off with Yami in the foyer, then had walked around the downstairs, at Yami's prodding, staring around, eyes wide in awe. Yami's mother was single, and a lawyer. She'd never been interested in dating, or men; she was married to her career, although she loved her son very much. Pictures of Yami, from when he was a newborn up, were all over the walls, and on shelves. On a lot of the ones when he was little, she was in there with him.

When home, she was as over protective and overbearing as Yugi's grandfather, but she was hardly ever there. Most of her life was spent in her office, or in court.

Yugi couldn't get over how huge and luxurious the house was. Yami lived in an upper middle class neighborhood, and his house was immaculate, with designer furniture and expensive paintings, sculptures, and vases for decorations. The carpets were plush and thick beneath his feet, light blue in color. The furniture was plump and imported from Europe, and done in a ivory white fabric. As for Yugi's house...well, his grandfather was on welfare... After seeing this, the little one was even more hesitant about inviting Yami over sometime. That, and his grandfather wasn't exactly thrilled about Yami, because of his reputation, and because he didn't much like the thought of his little grandbaby growing up. But at Yami's house, Yugi had been afraid to sit down, less he wrinkle the sofa, and had almost had a heart attack when the older boy brought in a bowl of popcorn and two glasses of cherry Pepsi.

"Yugi." Yami called softly, knowing how shy and nervous the little one was with intimacy. "Ma petit, look at me."

Yugi peered shyly up at him. "You take French-?" He was cut off by Yami's lips descending on his own. He closed his eyes and happily sank into the soft kiss, not protesting at all when Yami pulled him into his lap. He twined his arms around his neck, little hands burying themselves in the spiky, tri-colored hair and kissing him back. Yami moaned appreciatively, running one hand down Yugi's spine. Yugi arched into him and broke off, panting heavily, but Yami wouldn't let him escape, claiming his lips in another voracious kiss.

Yugi moaned as Yami's tongue swept around inside his mouth, his eyes were closed, and he was seeing bright, shooting stars. His mind was hazy; all he could think of, all he could feel, was Yami's warm mouth, and his hot hands caressing him over their clothes. He was dimly aware of being laid onto his back. Yami broke off, making a trail of kisses down to his neck, finding a sensitive nerve cluster, and taking the vulnerable flesh between his teeth and sucking. Yugi gasped and squirmed, tightening his hands on Yami's hair and pulling his mouth back up to his own. Yami's hands were busy massaging and caressing his belly; one traveled lower, to his thigh, and Yugi's heart skipped a beat. He wanted Yami to rip his clothes off, feel their naked bodies pressed against each other, spread his legs for Yami-

The warmth of skin on skin contact made him jump and squeak. One of Yami's hands had slip under his sweater, on his stomach. He blinked his violet eyes once, then looked up at Yami, frozen. "Y-Yami, we c-can't-"

"Yes we can." Yami purred, and leaned to kiss him once more, but Yugi turned his head away.

"N-no, please, Yami..." He pushed against Yami's chest. He wanted Yami, loved the things he did to him, the things he made him feel, but it didn't feel right; he wasn't ready. He didn't want to loose his virginity in so common and cheap a way. He wanted his first time to be with someone special, on his marriage night. He was starting to think he'd found his special someone, his true soul mate that most people never did find, but now wasn't the time for that gift, his virginity, to be given. It could only be given once in a lifetime, and Yugi truly wanted it to be special. Besides, his grandfather would be very upset if he knew of his activities...

Yugi shifted, lips swollen from Yami's kisses and eyes dark with desire. He wanted Yami, but it wasn't right, sex before marriage. He was also feeling guilty; he'd already lied to his grandpa earlier, before they went to rent a movie. He'd called his grandpa on Yami's cell, telling the elderly man that Yami's car had broken down and had to be towed, and that they only had enough money for the taxi to take them to Yami's house. He'd lied, and broken his grandpa's earnest trust, and he felt dirty. Was this what Yami and his crew did? Did they ever feel guilty for lying to their parents?

Yami started to kiss Yugi again, stroke his stomach, but the little one whimpered and tears pooled in his eyes. Yugi was so vulnerable, so naive; he could easily talk the freshman into spreading his thighs, but Yugi would cry and would hate him for it, and that made Yami feel sick. He often thought of no one but himself, but more and more he'd put Yugi first. He actually felt guilty for leading him on. This was just a bet, right? Yugi didn't mean anything to him; he was just his latest sex toy. But if that was true, why did Yami's heart skip a beat when Yugi smiled at him? No, it wasn't merely physical lust. It was something else. Yugi had gotten to him; he just didn't know how.

Yami flung himself back against the armrest and away from that tempting, luscious little body. He cursed and ran his hands through his hair. His blood was pounding in his veins; he was hard and hurting, nearly stiff and throbbing. He wanted release; he wanted Yugi beneath him, moaning and sweating... Yami gasped, his face flushed and body tense with desire and frustration. He desired Yugi, but he didn't want to hurt him, emotionally or physically. Yet, things couldn't go on like this. He had made a bet with Bakura, and he had to see it through.

Yugi slowly sat up, his little body trembling. He clasped his hands in his lap and looked down, demure. "Yami, I'm sorry- Yami?"

Yami wouldn't look at him. "I thought I meant something to you. Guess I was wrong."

"Yami?" Hurt, shocked tears fell down his soft cheeks when Yami suddenly got up and ran from the room. Yugi pulled his knees into his chest, wrapped his arms around them, and buried his face in between his knee caps, then started to cry. Yami was really special to him. They hadn't been going out long, but Yugi could tell; he felt a magical sparks when he was with the older boy, knew deep in his heart they were meant to be. But he wasn't ready for sex yet. He was too young, almost fifteen. Yet, he thought physical intimacy express their emotions for each other. Yugi wasn't too sure about that, but Yami was the only one he ever dated. He didn't know much about love or relationships, and a lot of the kids, especially the more popular ones, seemed to sleep around a lot. So, maybe that really was the right way, instead of saving himself like his grandpa taught him. Then poor Yami must be feeling rejected and thinking that Yugi doesn't love him.

Yugi gasped at that thought, his mouth in a small 'O'. He wiped his tears on the blanket, then, with a damp face and chewing his lower lip, still not certain that what he was about to do was okay, went in search of Yami.

"Yami?!" The teenaged boy jerked when he unexpectedly heard his name called. He was in the bathroom, pacing up and down, deep in thought and torn in decision. He cared for Yugi, that much he knew, and it had hurt him deeply to be the cause of his tears. He wanted to take that small body into his arms, hold him close and wipe away his tears, but he couldn't do that when he was the source of pain. That, and he was having his own problems with his body, which was excited from their caressing. Yami'd spent the last several minutes splashing cold water on his face in an attempt to cool him off.

He took a deep, steadying breath before answering. "In here, Yugi."

"A-are y-you okay? I-I'm s-sor-ry..I-I n-need t-to..t-talk...open the d-door, please..." Yugi trailed off, his voice quavering and full of uncertainty.

Yami sighed and turned the handle, then gasped when he was nearly knocked over by Yugi flinging his small body into his arms. "I'm sorry, Yami! I love you, I do!" Yugi sobbed, and Yami bent down, holding him close.

"Yugi-"

Yugi shook his head. "No, I'm sorry, Yami. I-I know what you want, and it's o-okay, w-we c-can.." He trailed off, cheeks damp with tears, and buried his face against him.

Yami's crimson eyes were wide with surprise and his arms were loose around the petite angel. Here it was, Yugi offering himself to Yami, though, in his fantasies, Yugi hadn't been crying. He could win; he could beat Bakura and see that jackass suffer the ultimate public humiliation. He could so easily slate his lust, take Yugi into his bed. But Yugi was crying, and trembling, not out of desire, but of fear. His heart lurched; Yugi was crying because of him. Trying to swallow the lump of guilt in his throat. "No, Yugi, we don't have to." He crushed the freshman in a tight embrace, burying his face in the soft, spiky hair.

"B-but, Yami..." Yugi's breathy voice was both relieved and puzzled.

Yami pulled back and forced a tight smile. "Lets just forget it, alright?" Yugi hesitated, nodded, then accepted Yami's hand when he held it out to him and went back to the living room, but this time, instead of snuggling together, they sat at opposite ends of the couch.

& & &

Serenity was sleeping, trails of dried tears on her cheeks and the only icepack in the house over her black eye. Jou sat next to his sister, who lay on his bed, her head in his lap. His lower lip was swollen and cut, and his nose had dried blood on it. Pa had drunk himself into a bad mood, then ruined their night as well.

Jou sighed and let his head thump off of the wall. He was tired of the custody battles, the constant back and forth arguing between his divorced parents. His life revolved around caring for his blind sister, and his broken family life. The only thing he had to sidetrack him was thoughts of a cold night, when he'd disappeared for a weekend with Kaiba. The two of them had gotten gloriously inebriated and burned with passion. Now, they avoided each other.

He still didn't know how he could have slept with that arrogant, unbearable, tight assed prick, with gorgeous blue eyes and- Jou sighed; he was doing it again. He didn't know when or how it had happened, but...He. Liked. Kaiba. He wanted to bash himself in the head for even thinking it. Seto was nothing more than an uptight ass, with smooth muscles and that self assured mouth that could work wonders on-

Jou exhaled loudly into the silent darkness of his and his sister's shared bedroom. Why were thoughts of the brown haired, spoiled, pampered prat constantly tormenting him?

& & &

Ryou fidgeted nervously; the hard edge of the armrest didn't feel too good on his ass, and seeing the two dark skinned blondes making out caused him to blush. He really, really wished he was back home, safe, sound and lonely. He should of known Bakura was just that; Bakura. He deserved every ounce of his bad reputation, and then some. But he was really cute and hot, and he had a nice side, down very, very deep.

"Stop squirming, damn it." Bakura snapped and grabbed Ryou's arm, causing him to eep in surprise and pulled him into his lap. Ryou's face turned a brilliant crimson and he looked down at his and Bakura's toes.

"B-Bakura, I..."

Bakura snorted. "Relax. They don't bite, hard. Well, usually, Marik doesn't." He shrugged. "Take all that crap off; it isn't that cold in here." He reached up, pulling Ryou's hat off his head, making the boy twist awkwardly around in his lap. "Ryou, it's alright." Brown eyes were wide as they stared at him, and the soft, pink lower lip quivered like a rabbit's nose, just begging to be kissed. But the younger boy would either faint or jump out of his skin, and the noises of Marik and Malik didn't help any.

"B-Bakura.."

"What?" Ryou bit his lip and looked down shyly. His eyes flew back up as Bakura reached up to undo the zipper on his thick winter coat. The zipper only got partially pulled down before Bakura's calloused fingers caressed his soft cheek, and slowly Ryou listed towards him, and Bakura pressed his lips against his own, and Ryou received his first kiss.

Bakura should have grabbed the pale boy, flung him next to Marik, ripped his clothes off and taken him then and there, but some weird feeling in his heart held him back. Ryou was too sweet, too shy and innocent; he normally didn't fall for that kind, and his heart was never involved in his love life. It was all sex. There was no such thing as love, and yet, he had yet to rip Ryou's clothes off, to make a move on the boy. But he had to be careful; he couldn't scare him, or he'd loose to that pansy assed Yami. He was merely biding his time, but that didn't explain why he was so gentle as he kissed Ryou.

& & &

Seto moaned and rolled over, half drunk, half asleep. He'd gone to a club down town, partying and drinking himself stupid. He reached out, making contact with another body. Apparently, he'd taken somebody to bed with him...but this didn't feel like his mattress, at either his parents townhouse or at their cottage. He blindly ran a hand over the body through the sheets, and remembered something about a hotel room, and a warm, willing body, blonde hair...

"Mm....Jou..." He murmured, starting to drop off to sleep again.

"What?" A sharp, high pitched, indignant voice.

"What?" Seto's eyes popped open, and he shot straight up simultaneously as the person next to him. Blue and violet eyes locked, then Seto and Mai screamed, both falling out of the bed in horror.

tbc....

&&&&&&&

( whistles ) Hot damn! That was a long one! Hopefully, I'll be able to update sooner next time. Well, as always, please review and feed the plot bunny! .