The Bet

for swearing: Maand and Bakura have nasty, fitlhy, disgusting mouths, but to me, it suits their personality, and it's fun to write!! and, no, I will not bleep them out; this fic is R rated afterall! It will only be excessive at certain times, but I will try to tone it down. Not making any promises, though. so, if swearing does really offend you, *waves bye bye *

SIDE NOTE: keep in mind that yami, while he is falling in love with Yugi, will be striving at the same time to keep himself distanced. His goal is to get Yugi in bed and nothing else. So, his motivation is two sided: 1. he's falling in love with Yugi. 2. He's trying to gain Yugi's trust and love just to get him in bed. These two factors will be the center of conflict for Yami later on. The same can be applied to Bakura and Ryou.

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chapter 8: attractions

Marik turned around in the passenger seat to glare at the semi-conscious, dirt covered boy laying on the backseat before settling back down and glaring at Bakura, his pale purple eyes snapping. "You're one stupid fuck. I can't believe you're taking him to the hospital! When Ushio's found, there's sure to be an investigation, and, since you're the one who found him....guess who's gonna be the number one suspect? Especially given your record."

Bakura sneered at Marik, but kept his eyes on the road. He pressed further down on the gas petal, going into the other lane when no traffic was coming to get around some old geezer in a huge Cadillac that was going 15 miles under speed limit. (Gah, that's my biggest driving pet peeve!) "Slow-assed bitch." He muttered, then turned his attention fully on Marik.

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if you're confused by anything that's going on over the coarse of the story so far, go check the A/.N's above. i've answered quite a few. after that- still confuzzled? tell me in a review, and i'll answer. i will not, however, answer a question that's already been answered in the a/n's.

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"I told you, I wanna screw him. He's my new playmate, and I can't play with him if he's dead. And since when have you cared about getting in trouble, pansy ass? You're acting like such a pussy. Besides, Ushio won't say a word about who did this to him.....not if he values his life. He knows better by now."

Marik snorted and crossed his arms. "I am not getting my ass fried helping out some little pussy. One more fuck uth tth the law, and my ass in the slammer for 6 months at least. I've already been in Juvie (A/N: juvenile detention center..aka kiddy jail) for a couple of months a couple of years back. You, however, have never been in Juvie, and have still got a couple of lives left before death row comes knocking. So, whose the pussy now, bitch?"

Bakura snorted. "I know when to stop partying is all. I can't help it if your stupid ass doesn't know when to stop. And I'm not that far behind you. I've got a court hearing coming up in a couple of months about the last time I gutted Ushio. But....at least I'm not on probation....."

Marik crossed his arms. "Exactly. If my parole officer catches word of this, my ass is fried. And I ain't going down for some punk ass like him." He jerked his head towards the back seat and Ryou, making his one silver knife pendant earring jingle in his lobe.

" Pay him off with a quick blow job."

"I'm not Mai."

Bakura raised an eyebrow as if to say, "Oh, really?"

Marik ignored him and glanced out the window and saw that they were a mile away from the hospital. "Let me off here."

Bakura pulled over to the side of the road and Marik hopped out .

"Chicken-shit."

"Suck my cock. Or, better, his." Marik nodded to the injured, dirty boy in the back, smirking at Bakura's hostile glare before slamming the door shut and going over to the bus stop sign, waiting for the next bus as Bakura pulled out of sight, his tires screeching and leaving behind black tire marks.

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Bakura shifted uncomfortably in his seat, beginning to think that Marik was right. He was sticking his neck out for this youth. He glanced up in his rearview mirror, which he'd angled from the road onto the boy instead. 'A pretty little fuck indeed.' He sneered as he pulled a block away from the hospital. He was not chancing anyone seeing his vehicle.

Opening the back door, he reached in, but hesitated to touch the boy. Damn it to hell and back, but he was beautiful. Even covered in dirt and dried blood, and with a broken nose, he was a vision of loveliness. Bakura suddenly sneered at the thought, even though no one else was around. He knew he wanted the boy; he had the same attraction to this soft one that Yami did to his own little look-alike. And yet, he had learned from their brief meeting in gym class, this boy was not some unholy wanton who'd spread his legs easily. He was a good, wholesome boy.

Bakura nearly gagged, though, deep down, the thought didn't bother him as much as it should have. There was something appealing and alluring about the boy, and he wanted to know what it was. His attraction to him......lust and curiosity, that's what it was. He wanted to unravel the mysteries this boy represented, feel that soft little body beneath his own...

Yet, if it was just lust, why did his fingers gently caress one soft cheek, brushing away some of the smeared dirt? Why did his eyes linger on the gentle, slightly swollen face? And his hard, dark chocolate eyes softened their razor edge, the hatred and vehemence slowly leaking out?

Shaking his head, his wild white mane with accented black locks got ruffled even further. He was...attracted to Ryou, and not just for his body. But he would be damned if he'd admit it. Maybe....he suddenly smirked.....maybe it was time to add a little spin to him and Yami's wager. First one to fuck their bitch wins. That way, he could pursue Ryou without anyone becoming suspicious of his motivations.

Bakura gently lifted the boy out of his hummer, kicking the door shut and shifting his light weight to a more comfortable position. He heard a small groan and looked down into dazed, semi-conscious warm and gentle brown eyes. His heart quickened and was about to flip flop when he growled and looked away.

His own hard eyes widened in surprise when a cold wind blew, and Ryou snuggled against his chest, inadvertently burying his head in the crook of his arm, his cheek pressing right over his heart. But Bakura's winter coat kept him from, unfortunately, touching his skin, or even feeling his heart beat. The delinquent shook his head at that thought and quickened his pace to the hospital.

Once there, his sharp eyes scanned the area for any cops, medical personal or witnesses, and Lady Luck smiled upon him. An ambulance had arrived moments before, and the back door had been left open, unattended. Bakura walked over and laid Ryou, although he allowed the boy to linger a few moments longer than necessary in his arms, on the seat inside, a nice little surprise for the ambulance workers when they came back in about 5 minutes or so. Then, Bakura ran like hell back to his hummer.

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Seto lay back on his bed, hands clasped behind his head and stared absent mindedly at the ceiling. On the carpeted floor, his lap top lay open and discarded. He really didn't feel surfing the net or hacking at the moment, and, as far as homework went......he always got it done in school, or he never did it.

Right now, his thoughts were lost in the silence of the huge house. He was the only one at home. His father was away on yet another business trip, and his mother had dragged a kicking and screaming Mokuba into the car for a parent/ teacher conference. Mokuba's mouth had been getting a little too foul for a kid of his age. (It's true! In the manga, he's a bratty little potty mouth). Mokuba, of course, wanted to stay home and pester the hell out of Seto.

He sighed and blinked several times, his harsh blue eyes dazed and a blank expression on his face, instead of his usual haughty sneer. He licked his lips, remembering the hot, honey tasting kiss of the blonde boy. Katsuya. He almost moaned at the lingering scent of the boy. He shook his head, frustrated with himself. That hot tempered punk had been on his mind all day, and Seto couldn't figure out why.

Today was the first time he'd seen Jou up close and had some interaction with him. He'd over heard students talking about Katsuya on various occasions, but that was about as far as his acquaintance with him went. Until today, when he'd first laid eyes on him.....his blood had rushed to his head, causing him to instantlt wit without thinking. There was just something about the boy that got under his skin.....Jou was annoying, loud mouthed, and.....and absolutely beautiful.

Seto groaned and pulled a pillow over his face. There was no denying it. He was attracted to Jounouchi, and he knew there was going to be no way he could fight it.

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Jou rubbed his sore stomach as he sat on the couch, looking down at the puffy, bruising flesh from Seto's punch, right before he had kissed him. Kaiba had kissed him. Jou was still perplexed by this. All he knew of Kaiba was his reputation, and that was as a cold hearted, arrogant bastard. Then again, weren't all rich kids spoiled rotten? But.....that kiss......it had seared and rattled Jou more than he cared to admit. Kaiba was selfish, hostile, arrogant, cold, beautiful- wait......beautiful? Picturing the blue eyes that could chill an artic wind, Jou shuddered involuntarily and closed his eyes. Yes, beautiful and dangerous.

"Jou, are you okay?" Came the sweet, concerned voice of his sister, who was sitting next to him.

"Oh, oh, I'm fine, no worries! I was just thinking on something that happened today in school."

"What was it? You didn't get in trouble again, did you? You know how dad gets when a teacher wants to talk to him....."

Jou shook his head, even though he knew his sister wouldn't be able to see it. Shizuka had been blind since she was younger, from a disease they hadn't had the money to afford the only operation that could have saved her sight. He put on as convincing a tone as he could muster. "Nah, nutting like that......."

"Jounouchi......tell me what's wrong. I know you're lying to me." Shizuka angled her head towards her brother so she could focus more on his voice instead of the TV.

Jou sighed, knowing his little sister wouldn't leave him alone until he told her. "Well, ya see....I didn't get in any trouble or nuthin.....but...." He really wasn't going to tell her about Mai and the fight; he wouldn't want her to worry. She had enough to deal with as it was.

"Jou, please tell me what's wrong. I want to help you."

Jou laughed half heartedly. "Don't worry, Shizuka, it was nothing, but......say, would ya mind if I asked ya a question? Kind of a personal one?"

Shizuka smiled at her brother, following the sound of his voice and hugged him awkwardly. "Jounouchi Katsuya, you know very well that there are no secrets between us!"

Jou hugged his sister back, resting his chin in her hair and trying to fight the blush that was creeping over his cheeks at the thought of what he was about to ask her. "Shizuka.....what would you do if.....how do I put dis? How do you know.....when someone likes you? I mean, likes you likes you, not just has the hots for you?"

Shizuka's smile widened. "Why, Jou, is there a girl whose after you?"

Jou blanched. "Well....um.....not exactly.....How would you react if I told you Seto Kaiba kissed me?"

His younger sister's blank eyes widened in shock and she leaned back for a few seconds, her mouth hanging open as she tried to think of a reply, then merely hugged him tightly, whispering. "Please be careful, Jou. If he's who you like, then you know I'll support you as much as I can.....but.....do be careful."

Jou didn't reply, just hugged his sister back tightly and stared out the frost covered window, thinking of a tall, slim boy with eyes like the window. Eyes covered in frost.

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Mai hung some clothes back up on the rack and went behind the counter of the small, latest fashion carrying department store in the mall. She had worked at Rave since her sophomore year, and was now one of the managers. She just been promoted a month ago. She watched with keen purple eyes for customers trying to shoplift, and making sure those under her didn't get too out of line.

One of the other girls asked her if she could have her break- the brown haired girl had just seen her supposed boy friend walk by with another girl on his arm and she wanted to have a chat with him. Mai nodded, her eyes snapping. So typical of men, which was why she didn't trust them and played them for the fools they were. Except for Yami, he was her only friend. They been friends since childhood. The others....she'd never been exactly close with. Then again, no one in their group was exactly close, except for her and Yami, and Bakura and Marik.

"Mai?!" Mai's indifferent purple eyes looked over to see the person standing at the counter, being waited on by another girl. The short haired brunette was peering over the cashier's shoulder at Mai, shock in her sky blue eyes.

Mai was stunned momentarily at seeing Anzu, but quickly covered it up and walked over. "I'll take over, you can go on break as well." The cashier nodded and quickly left.

"Get out of practice early?" Mai's voice was smooth and teasing.

Anzu blushed at their closeness, even though they were separated by a counter. "Yeah......we had a little disagreement, so the coach dismissed us.....but.....I didn't know that you worked here!"

Mai smirked, enjoying being close to the girl, and having her flustered. "I've been here for 3 years now; I'm a manager."

"Oh, wow! Congratulations....." Anzu looked down, her eyes scared and happy at the same time as she tried to ignore the butterflies dancing in her stomach.

Mai rung her purchase up, caressing Anzu's hand as she took the money, then handed her her change and bag. Anzu breathed a quick, breathless good bye before rushing out of the store.

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hot damn!! now, THIS was a long one!!!