Like Crushed Velvet

Like Crushed Velvet

Summary: Seto looks down on everyone but his chosen circle. Marik abuses everyone but his chosen circle. Can an Ice Prince and a High School gang leader see eye to eye?
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-gi-oh. If I did…*begins to laugh evilly*
Warning: Daaaaaamn Marik! Daaaaaamn!
Author’s Note: Not Kimi ga Iru! >w<

So, What’s Your Story?

Marik stood by casually as his boys finished off the East Side Gang. The shitless upstarts had been trying to encroach on their territory for months now and the failed attack on one of their lesser known members had simply been the final straw.

The golden haired youth walked over to a blue haired young man that now lay lying on the ground, bleeding from some non fatal stab wounds, courtesy of Bakura who was now laughing maniacally.

He squatted down and took the cigarette out of his mouth, pressing it into the boy’s arm. He screamed and Marik shrugged.

“Now you know no one can hear you. Why do you persist?” Marik looked over his shoulder to where Varon, Honda, and Yami were taking care of the hangers on, making an “ouch” face as Yami hit one of the boys in the back with a two by four.

“You really shouldn’t have challenged us. I told you what would happen.”

Varon came over, wiping his mouth where someone had landed a sucker punch. “Awl done Boss. “Ow’s about we ‘ead ‘ome?”

“Sounds good…” Marik stood, Yami latching onto his side even as Varon watched with sad eyes. “Honda!”

“Yeah?”

“Get the car. We’re out of here.” He smacked Yami’s ass. “You’re on the bike with me.”

Bakura came over, his fit of laughter mere chuckles at this point. “Yami is a bike Marik. Do you know where he’s been?”

Everyone laughed, even Yami, who blew a kiss to the white haired bad ass.

“Just because I won’t let you have a turn doesn’t mean you have to get nasty.”

“A turn? I got sick of the ride a looong time ago!”

They all walked away hooting and laughing, Yami deciding to take the car with Varon and Honda instead.

They raced away from the disaster area in good spirits towards home. When they reached the sprawling Japanese style mansion, they came into the place making a general racket and talking about kicking back.

A tall, serious looking woman in a midnight kimono decorated with beautiful crane patterns met them at the entrance, a deep red Obi around her waist. She looked them all over.

“The school called. Again.”

Marik shrugged and hooked an arm around Bakura’s neck. “Aw Miss, we were just doin’ what we do! We pass all the god damn tests. You make sure of that!”

Varon walked by, giving a groan. “Does she evva…”

The woman shook her head and sighed. “You boys…I suppose now I’m suppose to cook some big meal for you all?” She attempted to look stern, but the laughter in her eyes betrayed her.

“Do it Bitch!” Bakura quipped, causing everyone around to laugh.

“You wish Little Boy.” She clapped once and servants rushed around in the backround. “Marik, I heard about the Kurio Crew down on the south side. Nice work.”

Marik let go of Bakura, the white haired boy going inside the house. “Yeah. Took care of that one personally. When ya gonna let us step up Fujiko? We’ve got what it takes!”

The woman shook her head, her loose brown hair shaking a bit. “You all are still much too young to be hard core gansters…” Her eyes softened. “If the Red Lantern Tigers were still around…if my husband were still around…then of course. But I have hopes, for all of you.”

The woman left him then, Marik watching her go. The proud woman had once been the scheming and dangerous wife to renown yakuza boss Yukio the Blue Flame. When he walked into a set up after his enemies made a deal with the police, she’d lost everything. A gang over two hundred strong, reduced in one shoot out to around fifty, many were now in prison or deported. Even after that, she’d held her head high, running the mansion in the property as if one day her husband would return, until she’d learn he was killed in prison. They’d all come here in one way or another as boys. Didn’t matter why, abused home life, living on the street, abandoned. She’d taken them all, loved their rough and tumble nature, and raised them as her sons. They were bastards to everyone else, but they loved her.

Marik went inside to the main living room where Honda was sprawled in front of the tv, beer in hand, Yami laying by lazily, reading a manga.

“Where’s Varon and Bakura?”

“I dunno.” They both said, not even looking up.

The tanned boy rolled his eyes and continued through the large mansion, poking his head into a room, ignoring the demon scroll tacked on the outside.

“Bakura, where’s the money that brat gave us before lunch?”

The white haired boy shrugged and continued to clean his knife. “I think Varon has it. You’re the one who said he deals with our cash. Go for it.”

“You’re such a help you jack ass.”

“Rather be a jack ass than a plain ass. You ass.”

Marik shook his head. “I’m wounded. Come see me after dinner, I got a plan.”

“For what?”

“You’ll see…” Marik left the room and continued down a new hallway till he got to a room with various junk sitting outside of the room. There were shoes, a crate full of books and old toys, various electronics in stages of repair or disassembly and Varon’s book pack.

“Yo V!” he called, not wanting to go into what he knew was a twenty-four hour tornado. He winced as he could hear the stereo.

Shit Varon! I’m surprised you’re not deaf!

The door came open and Varon poked his head out. “What do you need?”

“The money. I want to count it myself. See if that brat gave it all up.”

Varon nodded and went back into the room, the screen door open, revealing one hell of a mess. Sheets, clothes, old ramen cups, two video game systems, tools, motorcycle magazines, and about a dozen random Japanese fans scattered the floor. Marik just shook his head. Only Varon and Honda seemed to be able to live in their own chaos.

Varon tossed Marik the blue duffle bag and waved before shutting the door.

Just think, if he doesn’t have the money, I can just go kick his ass and his little blond boyfriend’s…and even if he does…I’ve had too much trouble outta that half breed and his friends anyway. Might smack the bitch up a little…

He retired to his own room done up in earth tones, Japanese style. He flicked on the tv and sat on a floor cushion.

Now we’ll see…

****

Yugi walked beside Seto, happy to have coaxed the boy into walking as opposed to using that ridiculous limo to cart them everywhere. He pushed up his glasses then bit the end of a Pocky stick, a smile on his face.

“I really think he’s great Seto, I don’t know why you’re so down on them all! They just need friends that’s all and I’m sure –”

The young CEO licked at his ice cream cone, amazed Yugi had finished it so fast and was downing more sweets afterwards.

“I don’t think so. They’re all trash. Mugging people. At school! The nerve of some people. You give them an inch and they take a mile and while you’re praising them, you’d best remember they were ready to cut you to pieces.”

Yugi got quiet and shrugged. “I just…that Yami and Bakura really scare me…and not even Bakura so much because we all know he’s crazy…but Yami…”

“What?” Kaiba looked down at his friend. He was no longer smiling and there was a shadow on his features.

“We have…gym together…and he watches me…and today…he licked my cheek…”

Seto frowned. “If he gives you any trouble –”

“I’ll be okay…I feel so bad. You enrolled me in those self defense classes and every time some one tries to hurt me I just freeze up.”

Kaiba shrugged. “You just need more practice.”

They came to a corner where Kaiba’s limo waited and Yugi sighed. “Couldn’t stay away could you?”

“I refuse to be among the mortals longer than I have to. You know this Yugi. Why do you deny my godliness?”

They looked at each other and laughed, Yugi shaking his head and waving as Seto neared the car. “I’ll talk to you later Seto. When I call you later you’d better not be working!”

“You’ll never know!” he said, shutting the door. He rolled down the window. “Tell your Grandfather hello for me. Mokuba won’t be by this week, he’s studying hard for the middle school exams.”

Yugi nodded and waved again, watching the car pull away. He ate another Pocky stick and walked towards home.

I wish you’d reconsider Seto…Varon’s really nice…when…no one’s around.

****

Raphael waited in the car, yawning as he watched student after student file by. When he saw who he was looking for, he waved, the boy running over to the car and getting in, a grin on his face.

“Good day?”

The youth nodded, his jet black pony tail shaking. “Great!” he mouthed, opening his book pack.

“Cool. Just gotta a call from Fujiko-mama. Dinner’s soon. Want to stop by that store or what?”

The youth shook his head and tied on a dark red bandana, indicating that Raphael should drive. The blond shrugged and drove home, taking the fastest way possible. He wasn’t about to ignore a dinner call and didn’t want to go to the store either, but luckily, his friend knew that.

Otogi leaned his head on the window , letting the breeze blow his bangs all over and up. He smiled and laughing soundlessly when they flew over a speed bump.

“Sorry ‘bout that Otogi…”

The youth shrugged and they soon pulled into the private garage that meant they were home. Raphael left Otogi, the boy getting out of the car on his own time. He went into the house, waving greetings to his house mates. He walked into the living room and looked around.

Yami looked up. “What? Bakura’s in his room.”

Otogi nodded and left, avoiding Varon’s bear hug and letting Marik tug his pony tail as everyone began heading for the dinner room. He went to Bakura’s room and knocked softly.

“You got hands don’t ya? Open the god damn door!”

The youth chuckled silently and went in, Bakura sitting up and swearing when he saw who it was.

“Sorry! I thought it was Varon!”

Otogi shook his head and walked over to him. Bakura shrugged. “What? Is it dinner time?”

Otogi began to weave his fingers. He said, “You dumbass, of course it is! Do you think I’d come in this hell hole other wise! Wash your laundry!”

Bakura laughed and pulled Otogi down on the floor with him, the usually volatile teen very calm and easy around his friend, who was still signing. He caught it all, smiling as he learned about Otogi’s day. Unlike them, Otogi went to a special school for gifted kids who were mute or deaf. It didn’t phase him at all, but he made it known to everyone who would listen or read a hastily scribbled piece of paper that he wasn’t some “retard”.

Otogi had lost his voice when he was sentenced to Juvenile prison. In his day, he’d been the worst of the Iron Spikes, worse than even Marik. There’d been a gang fight and Otogi had pulled a knife. Someone died and Otogi got sent away. That was nothing as Otogi had been in and out for a long time since he was eleven, but apparently, he’d pissed off the wrong people because in his refusal to be a juvie hall prison bitch, he’d been held down and forced to swallow several harmful chemicals. He’d been punished for his fast mouth in the worst way; it’d been forever silenced.

However, as Otogi’s fast hands proved, he wasn’t out of the game and enjoyed smacking the members of his family on the head if they refused to look at him while he was signing. As he did now, to Bakura.

“OW! What the fuck Gi!”

The boy laughed soundlessly and waggled his finger. He signed, “You should listen to me when I’m signing at you. You know how it works. Now, get up off your lazy ass and let’s go eat! You know Raph’ll eat it all if we don’t hurry.”

“yeah okay, geez man…” Bakura rubbed the back of his head mor ein show. Otogi couldn’t hurt him, but he knew it helped assuage the youth’s fear that he wasn’t being paid attention to now that he couldn’t shout for attention.

They both went to dinner, Otogi shoving Yami out of his usual seat to sit and eat.

When dinner was done and Raphael had put away a record six helpings, everyone retired to some corner of the house, whether it was their rooms or the garden (Raphael) or the living room to watch more tv (Honda and Yami).

Bakura went back to his room, not minding Otogi who followed him in. The white haired boy was usually very ornery about his space, but he lay on his side on his futon watching tv, waving Otogi closer. The black haired boy sat down, smiling as Bakura signed to him for once.

“Sit closer…” he signed, gently tugging the boy close.

Otogi shook his head and let himself be pulled down. He laid against Bakura, his back to the tv, signing with one hand.

“Today, that jackass from fifth period tried to pull a move on me. Don’t these fools still realize I’m one of the Iron Spikes?I should just kick his ass…”

“Can’t do that…” the boy whispered, nuzzling Otogi’s bangs, inhaling his scent. “You’re the honor student now, remember?”

“I miss the old days. People feared me…this sucks Bakura I –”

The teen stopped the boy’s hand and kissed him, Otogi giving a raspy moan as Bakura slid on top of him.

It was silent, but heated, Otogi’s mouth open in soundless cries of passion as Bakura unbuttoned his school shirt and kissed his chest. He shook his head as the boy started to slip it off completely and they sat up then, Otogi catching his breath, not resisting as Bakura reached around and pulled the tie off his hair.

“Otogi…”

The boy looked at Bakura, his brilliant green eyes rimmed with tears. He signed weakly. “No…not until…I know whether or not the operation will work. I want you to know that you make me feel good.”

“But Baby, I do know. What do you think we’re doin’ out there, stealin’ and mugging? We do that for you! Fujiko wants us to earn half the money and we will, our own fuckin’ way and when you get that operation it’ll be fine. It’s fine now! I don’t care!”

“Yeah but I do!” the boy mouthed, signing frantically. “I don’t want to be this way for the rest of my life! I want to be the way I was! Do you know how quiet that damn school is? How differently people treat you when you use sign language they think I’m an idiot! They say all this shit and I’m not deaf and now I can’t even talk back!”

He began to cry and Bakura held him. “Otogi…Gi…it’s alright, it’ll be alright.”

Sobs shook his boyfriend’s body, no sound issuing from the grieved soul.

Don’t worry Baby…the money we collect from these suckers is more than enough.

There was a knock at the door.

“Bakura, I said I wanted to see you. Let’s go man.”

Bakura looked at Otogi and the boy waved him off, laying down and curling up.

“Are you okay –”

“FUCK OFF!” the boy signed and Bakura left the room pissed. Marik saw this and knew what was going on but didn’t say anything. They’d all felt this way when it came to Otogi. When they’d learned who’d injured their friend, their brother, they hunted each one down and in some cases, made their families suffer. They’d made them disappear off the face of the earth. No one crossed the Iron Spikes and got away with it.

They went into Marik’s room and sat at the low table in the center of the room, Bakura smirking as he saw a book hidden under the bed. Marik had been studying for school.

“So, what’s up.”

“We’re going to hit that bastard Kaiba where it hurts. We’re going to rob him blind.”

Bakura immediately cackled. “Oh this is gonna be so awesome! Do we have the lay out of his mansion?”

Marik gave him a confident look. Then shook his head.

“…list of expensive items he owns?”

Again, Marik shook his head.

Bakura pursed his lips and sat back a bit. “Do we even have his locker combination?”

Marik laughed, rubbing the back of his head. “Sorry man! I thought of this just now!”

Bakura blinked. Then cracked up. “Marik you crazy bastard! This is gonna be so awesome!”

“I KNOW!”

They high fived and Marik put the duffle bag on the table. “In other news. We have almost every cent.”

Bakura nodded sagely, rubbing his chin. “But?”

“We’re two yen short.”

They both gave an evil grin. Bakura began to laugh softly, then louder and louder, standing up and leaving the room. It was too perfect. Maybe he’d finally get his knife in that pale pretty.

Back in his room, Marik counted the money again, pleased with their progress. If they kept this up, Otogi could have that operation in no time. But in the mean time…

Kaiba, you’ll wish you never met me. I’m not one of your grunts and I’m going to make sure you know it.

****

Kaiba sneezed and continued typing on his laptop. It was getting late, but it wasn’t that late yet. Yugi wasn’t due to call for at least snother three hours and even when he did he could just type softly. His small friend was now officially monitoring his “well-being”. Yugi told him all the time, that they didn’t survive childhood to die dateless at sixteen and seventeen.

Kaiba smiled as he thought of this, a picture of him and Yugi as Kindergarteners on the desk. He of course, looked bored and smug, while Yugi was holding onto his cap and waving at the camera, happy to be at school. His parents had dropped them off, while Seto’s limo had escorted him to school grounds, his neglectful mother and conniving step father to busy to take him.

He sighed and rolled his neck. “Just a little longer…”

****

Yugi leaned over his backyard fence and talked to his neighbor about school.

“Oh my god! Really?”

Ryou nodded and stood on a metal tub to reach Yugi’s height and talk more directly. “We were so scared…I was so pathetic. That Bakura guy licked me!”

“OH MY GOD! That creepy Yami guy totally did that to me too!”

“EWWWWWW!” they said together, laughing.

Yugi giggled and sighed, pushing up his glasses. “Say, you wanna come over for a while? My Grandpa went out to visit people.”

Ryou shrugged. “After I clean the house. My Dad’s been gone for a month now and I’m really starting to get lazy. I think I saw something living among the dirty dishes.”

Yugi laughed again and Ryou pointed to his glasses, brown eyes smiling. “I thought you weren’t supposed to have those on?”

“I can if I want. Everyone thinks they’ll ruin my eyes more, but who cares?” he blushed. “You won’t believe who talked to me today.”

“Who? Amelda?”

Yugi rolled his eyes. He had no idea what Ryou saw in the red haired slacker.

“No…Varon.”

Ryou perked up. “Really? He talked to you? Or he just gave you like, a shifty gaze!?”

Yugi grinned like a cat. “He talked to me for real! Like a whole sentence!”

“Wow!” the other boy chirped. “I tried talking to Amelda in gym again…and…”

“Hm?” Yugi jumped to balance himself better over the fence.

“I dunno, he just sorta…mumbled curses at me? He seemed sleepy. He was sleeping on the bleachers.”

“Hm.”

They both sort of sat there for a moment until Yugi spoke up. “So, want some pizza?”

“Yeah, I’ll be over in a sec.”

Yugi nodded and hopped down, hoping Grandpa would be alright with Ryou over.

The boy came over and they had frozen pizza, watching tv movies and talking. The smaller teen pulled out a year book and Ryou started laughing before he even opened the cover.

“God Ryou, come on.”

“But you look exactly the same! I mean it! Hair and all!”

Yugi gave him a glare. “And you? Do you still drag Mr. Teddy along and wet the bed?”

Ryou sniffed. “Cheap shot Motou. Mr. Teddy is fine thank you. I washed him yesterday.”

“And you wonder why you can’t get a date?”

“Says Mr Single Let’s Mingle.”

They opened the front and a photo fell out, Yugi smiled widely as they looked at it. It was from middle school.

A boy with tanned skin and golden hair stood in front of a panicked Ryou and a laughing Yugi, flashing the camera his tiny red swim trunks under a bright yellow rain slicker.

Ryou giggled. “I seriously thought he was naked!”

“I KNOW! Malik is so crazy!”

“It’s so weird that he’s with Jou…” Ryou turned the page and they looked at class pictures, including one of Jou from back in the day. He’d been an elementary school bully.

“Remember when he cut Anzu’s pigtails?” Yugi said, turning.

“Or glued the Sensei to her seat?” Ryou pointed to a picture of Seto in a steak costume. “Four food groups!”

“I was the cheese!” Yugi pointed to himself and a tomato Malik.

Ryou smirked. “And I was stage director!”

Yugi gave him a look. “You mean you couldn’t learn your lines and had severe stage fright?”

Ryou ignored him and pointed to a picture of field day. “God, fifth grade field day was something huh? I actually jumped the horse!”

“And hit all the hurdles!”

“Let’s talk about how you got squashed by the giant rubber balls we had to roll or how you tripped and fell right when the foot race started or how you throw like a girl and so your javelin only went three centimeters!”

They glared at each other then laughed. Yugi sighed. “I miss Malik…all he does is hang out with Jou.”

“It’s your fault too. You’re smarter than us and hang out with Seto all the time. Are you two dating?”

Yugi started laughing. “God no! The person Seto dates or marries will have a heart attack with in forty eight hours! He’s got so much stress and –.” The boy dug out his cell phone and dialed a number. He listened and smiled when it picked up.

“Seto! It’s me!...well stop working already! I know you’re still typing! I’m not stupid! Mokuba told me about the soft typing!...”

Ryou watched Yugi talk with Seto and smiled. Those two were already married. He flipped through the year book and looked at class 5-5. Glaring at him from the page in a group shot where chibi versions of Marik and Bakura, a thin looking fourth grader Otogi standing nearby trying to look tough. On another page was the sports teams. There was Raphael, elementary school sports star, now a gangster and even Yami had been better, but everyone heard that story. His parents died and his relatives kept passing him off. The spike haired teen had been an honor student until then.

He sighed and looked at chibi pictures of Varon, Honda, Amelda then paged through to the various club pictures and faculty photos. Those had truly been the days…before everyone lost it and got all mean or weird or reclusive.

He looked over at Yugi who was now marching up and down, his fist in the air as he threatened Seto through the telephone.

They have to be dating or married in secret!

The door bell rang and even though Yugi was on the phone, both boys rushed to answer it. Standing at the door was a tall young man with aqua white hair. He spotted Ryou and frowned.

“Ryou, you left the front door open Come on!”

The boy sighed. Dartz I’m right next door –”

“Is what you say in the police report after we’ve been robbed!” he pulled Ryou to him by his ear, forcing the boy to bow , even as he did, to Yugi. “Sorry to bother you Motou.”

Yugi shrugged. “It’s fine. “Be nice to your Nii-san Ryou!”

The boy rolled his eyes. “Yeah right. Dartz is the worst brother ever!”

The boy huffed. “Is that how you feel? I’ll return all those new books I bought to the store!”

Ryou clung to him, smiling. “Love you Nii-san!”

“That’s what I thought. See ya Porcipine.”

Yugi kicked out, missing Dartz’s shin, but laughing anyway and shutting the door, still bitching at Seto.

**

The young CEO leaned back in his leather chair, his laptop already off. He just argued for the hell of it.

Least Yugi can argue, not like that dumb punk Marik. What a fiasco earlier…why am I even thinking of it? It doesn’t matter…I’ll get off the phone with Yugi, then go to bed. Stupid Bio exam is tomorrow.

Eventually, after saying bye repeatedly and ignoring the pint sized boy’s screams of mock rage, Seto hung up, laughing. It always made him feel better to talk with Yugi before he went to bed. He probably hadn’t developed ulcers yet because of the boy’s cheery nature.

He went to his expansive bedroom and got dressed in his silk pajama pants. He laid down, set his alarm and snuggled up with his pillow.

Stupid Marik…

****

Marik sat up in bed suddenly, his golden spiked hair standing up at even odder angles. He blinked sleepily, his eyes out of sync.

“Lay back down…” a sleepy voice said.

Marik looked down and frowned. There were tri-colored spikes in his bed. Naked in his bed.

“Why are you still here?” He pushed Yami out of his bed and lay back down. “And you’d better not slam the screen.” He snuggled up with his pillow, the cutely patterned moons and stars witnessed by few.

Stupid Kaiba…


****
*Ahh…another chapter. Someone requested a Ryou/Dartz and a Seto/Bakura? Ya’ll’re right. I’ve been neglecting them so much….and I do have to add Raph in “A Home of Our Own” someplace….
*Lemme get back to you on that. In other news…Fire Crackers.
*This is for Velvetina, who gave me back my fire!
*Schwarzwald loves high school gang violence and a rabid Bakura doll!