Beauty

First things First: A small personal note: Just as a change a pace, I rarely ever mention details about my personal life that aren’t irrelevent but I just wanted to mention that I was in a car accident Thursday, slamming into a tree at over 40 mph (about 64 kph) to avoid hitting a large runaway dog. No one was seriously injured, including me, I just have some soreness and some bruises, but if I didn’t wear my seatbelt the airbag deploying would have been the least of my worrieswoulwould have gone through the windshield and hit the rather large tree with my body. Or I could have been driving a car that wasn’t designed to have the engine drop down on impact, which it did, and the engine could have come into my car and pinned me. Anyway, I say this not to get sympathy, surely we have all dealt with tragedies in our personal lives, and even as I write this someone right now has become the victim of an automobile accident. Life is so fragile.millmillion other things could have happened when I lost control of my car. The point of this is just to remind everyone to alwaay Iay I love you to your loved ones, to value each moment we have with each other, because so much can happen in a blink of an eye. It’s a cliché, I know, but I didn’t tell my parents or sister I loved them Thursday morning. I don’t want to forget to tell them ever again.

With that said, thanks very much for the reviews. I know I say this all the time, but I really do appreciate them. Honestly. Thank you for reading my stories, because I do take pleasure in the small things in life. When I got home and checked that I had received reviews I was so happy. So many of you have become friends, emailing me, chatting to me online, and I really am touched by all your words of praise. But I digress, this is not about my life drama, it’s about the story. I’m sorry if that little note disturbed or offended anyone, but my experiedid did put a lot of things into perspective. And I think it does reflect in my writing. But back to the story. We rejoin these characters I don’t own on Monday. Yugi successfully avoided Yami Sunday, but alas this story wouldn’t be getting any good if Yami and Yugi didn’t meet. Even though I thought of this story idea with Joey and Tristan in mind, Yugi and Bakura are just too much fun to resist… This chapter isn’t that angsty, but then again my opinion might be a little biased. Anyway, enjoy the chapter. ^_^


Disclaimer: Still don’t own Yugioh or any songs


Song notes: Passive Aggressive by Placebo, Faith by Celine Dion, Chariot by Gavin DeGraw, Kissed By a Rose by Seal, and Ready For Love by Indie. Aire. This song can bring you to tears if you listen to it too much. But if you’ve never heard it I recommend downloading it. It’s one of those sad love songs that stays with you… this is music for the soul.

Chapter 9: Beloved


If you give me half a chance
I’ll prove this to you
I will be patient, kinaithaithful, and true

To a man who loves music
A man that loves art
Respects the spirit world
And thinks with his heart

I am ready for love
If you take me in your hands
I will learn what you teach
And do the best that I can

I am ready for love
Here with an offering of
My voice, my eyes sou soul, my mind
Tell me what is enough
To prove I am ready
For love

I am ready

~Ready For Love
India. Aire

ugi ugi swallowed hard and opened his front door. Yami was standing on the other side. There was nothing left to say, their silence was easily filled with all things said one million times before and would be said a million times again. Yugi didn’t remember moving enough so that his former lover could enter the apartment. He didn’t recall offering him a drink. Nor did he remember sitting down on the easy chair and facing Yami as he sat on thech. ch.

He wentoughough the motions, effortlessly.

Yugi focused his attentions on Yami and watched his mouth move. “Aibou, I was worried about you guys on Saturday. I must have called your cell phone a good 20 times yesterday. Why didn’t you return my calls?”

“I wasn’t home.” Yugi’s voice was flat, missing the usual spark of personality he exuded around his friends and acquaintances. “Sorry.”

“Aibou, why did you leave the party so suddenly? Before I knew it you had disappeared. By the time Mokuba finished making the toast I was sure you had fled.”

“I wasn’t feeling well.”

“Aibou, is there something you want to tell me?” Yugi looked at Yami incredulously. “Is there something wrong, Yugi?” Why was he here, why did he bother to ask? For Christ sakes, the fact that Yami was this oblivious made him want to scream and die. Did he never mean anything to this person? Did Yami never notice that he had fallen madly in love with him? Why was he asking him what was wrong? Why was he pretending that everything they ever shared together had never happened?

You’re everything right in this world, Aibou…

How could you spend two years with someone, loving them, and caring for them, and suddenly wonder why this person was upset? What was wrong… there were a lot of “somethings” wrong… This entire scene was wrong…

Was this all soest…est…

Was Yami going to wake up one morning and realize he was with someone who probably wasn’t really in love with him? Was Yugi supposed to wait for that day and live happily ever after with him? Was that the ending to his story? Or was there another ending… was Yami the wrong person at the wrong time at the wrong place and he was just reluctant and scared and that’s why he refused to let go…

He felt helpless around Yami. Helpless and angry. How dare he come here, how dare he act innocent and naïve. What gave him the right to make him feel this way? Why was he shedding tears for thisson?son? Why was he wasting time analyzing a situation that couldn’t be analyzed anymore? Some people just didn’t get it, they’d never get it. In a way he felt almost sorry for this other human being. He was so oblivious and clueless to life. Why should he feel jaded anymore when this idiot on his couch was the one with the real problem.

One day Yami was going to fall and hit reality. And the fall was going to be painful and brutal.

He had figured when he finally did speak to Yami again, he should play his flirty, uncaring routine. He should pretend everything was fine. He should tell Yami he left to go fuck Bakura. But afthat hat incident in the subway station Yugi decided against that approach. He was tired of Yami thinking everything was fine between them. It wasn’t. Joey had said it over and over again.

Yami was not his friend.

“Aibou, you’re not saying anything.”

“I didn’t feel like being at your birthday party anymore. So we left.”

“Yugi…”

“Well, I’m still alive, you don’t have to worry about that anymore.”

“Yugi, there was another reason I came over here. I wanted to ask you a question. I regret the way things have been between us. I wish there was more I could do to fix things.”

“Some things aren’t meant to be fixed.” Yami paled.

“Aibou, please…”

“Look, just ask your question.”

“It’s not important, you already answered it.” Yami stood up. “I won’t waste anymore of your time, Yugi.”

“Ask your question, Yami. For god’s sakes.”

“I wanted to know if you’d be my best man.” Yugi’s eyes widened in complete shock. Yami gave him a last look and headed for the door.

“Yami… wait…”

“Yes?”

“Why would you ask me that, why in the world would you want me to be your best man?”

“Because you’re one of my closest friends, Aibou.” Yugi narrowed his eyes. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But at the moment, he couldn’t care anymore…

“What the hell is wrong with you, Yami? Why are you doing this?”

“Aibou?”

“How much longer do you want to pretend that things are peaches and cream for us? They’re not. It’s not okay… it won’t be okay… It’s over. This friendship ended a year ago. I just didn’t want to let go. Why would you come over here with the intentions of asking that question? Be your best man? Stand next to you as you marry someone else? Someone else that I dislike, that I’ve always disliked… I don’t get you, Yami… Either you’re a complete idiot… or you have no idea how much things got messed up in the past.”

Yami looked at Yugi for a long time.

“Aibou…”

“I’m nobody’s aibou anymore, Yami. And based on your question, I never was.”

“Yugi, the essential part of our relationship was friendship. That’s what made everything else happen for us. We all make choices, Yugi, yes, I chose to be with someone else. But would it have been fair of me to lie to you? I loved you, Yugi. I still do. I’m sorry I haven’t been a better friend. But I don’t know how. You have every reason to be upset. But I thought our friendship meant something to you too. It always meant a lot to me.”

“Friendship?”

“Yugi, I never did anything with Seto while things were still intimate with us. I never expressed any feelings towards him while I told you I loved you. I can’t help what happened. I can’t go back and change things, Yugi. Sometimes I wish I could. I wish it was okay with us, like it used to be.”

“Yami…”

“Aibou, please, I don’t want to lose you. I care about you so much. I always have. Even if you don’t believe that. I know I hurt you. But I love you, truly.” Yugi didn’t respond. “You tell me what you want me to do and I’ll do it. If this is where it ends, fine. I’ll let it go and I’ll never bother you again. But I don’t want it to be that way. I want us to work on this. We’ve remained friends for a year.”

“Fine, Yami. We’ll stay friends.” Yami smiled, still oblivious. He hugged Yugi tightly. Yugi allowed the embrace, but said nothing.

“Look, I have to go, I have an appointment. But we’ll talk later, Aibou. Things will be different between us. They’ll be good.”

No, Yami. They won’t.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


“Next time he comes over, tell him you’re late coming over my place,” Bakura decided, with a suggestive smile.

“Kura, I always come over your place.” Yugi giggled as Bakura kissed him. Joey gave Bakura a nasty look. This cocky asshole…

“It’s not important. Hopefully I won’t have to see him for another three weeks or so,” Yugi added. He was sitting on the counter, after Bakura had placed him there. Bakura was over, making dinner. Joey was on his way to the library to study.

“I don’t like when he comes over here, Yug.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Babe.” Yugi ate a croton out of the salad bowl while he waited for the salmon to be ready. “Sure you don’t want to stay for dinner, Bakura made plenty.”

Bakura and Joey exchanged a glance. “No. I don’t.”

“More for us then, Blondie.”

“I still don’t have an appetite after waking up to your dick in my face yesterday morning.”

“I guess you’ve never seen a real dick before.”

“Are all dicks supposed to be that small?”

“Listen, Blondie, I’m sick and tired of your…”

“Kura, Babe…stop it. No more fighting. Babe, don’t pick a fight with, Kura.” Joey rolled his eyes. When was Yugi going to be sick of this guy and find someone else? He wanted Yugi to settle down and be happy. And the only way he was going to do that was if he found himself someone that wasn’t this idiot.

“I’m going, I’ll see you guys later.” Joey left the kitchen, grabbed his shoulder bag and left.

“I don’t know how Tristan puts up with your roommate, Babyface, Joey’s an asshole.”

“He’s wary around the guys I bring home. Especially you.” Bakura rolled his eyes. “He’ll warm up to you. I promise.” Yugi had neglected to tell Joey about the subway incident, even though he wanted to give Joey another example of how Bakura took good care of him. He’d know Joey would somehow blame Bakura for the whole thing, saying that if Bakura hadn’t pushed him into answering his questions Yugi wouldn’t have gotten off the train in the first place.

Of course it was Joey who sent Yugi heading to the Pyramid last Wednesday night, upset by comments he made. And Joey’s comments were far worse than Bakura’s were.

Yugi wanted Joey to like Bakura, but he wasn’t sure where things were going with him. He got the impression Bakura had grown pretty attached to him. But Yugi was still unsure what to do. He was still calling up his random boys and hooking up with them. Maybe if Joey wasn’t so involved with Tristan now, Yugi would feel different about the situation.

With Joey single and not looking, Yugi felt safe because Joey was always there for him. Joey was his safe guy. He could come home and sleep with Joey and feel good again. And maybe he could take a chance and get together with someone, make a commitment. Maybe he would have answered Bakura’s question yesterday afternoon, if Joey wasn’t home with someone else.

In the past, Yugi was always guaranteed that Joey would turn down any potential suitors before they got out the gate. But he loved Tristan. Yugi could tell it in Joey’s honey eyes, the way they’d sparkle when Tristan was in the room. Joey’s eyes had sparkled for him once. The first time Joey asked him out.

They had only been roommates for five months when it happened. Joey had made love to him that night, like he did almost every night. Just when Yugi was ready to go to sleep Joey asked Yugi to be with him. Yugi was a little surprised, although Joey wasn’t good at hiding how he felt. Was it enough time, were both of their hearts healed from their situations in the past?

Joey said he had put Duke behind him. And that he wanted to be with Yugi. Yugi told him they were both still getting over their respective romantic situations and that if Joey still felt this way he should try asking him again in a month. Joey did.

And then the last time Joey asked Yugi out was recently. It was three weeks ago. And once again he had turned Joey down. He had always assumed he’d end up with Joey eventually. Everyone did. It wasn’t that he was trying to be selfish about this. But he wanted to give all of himself to Joey. The way Joey was willing to give himself to him. But he couldn’t then. He couldn’t now. The difference now was that Joey was no longer interested.

Tristan Taylor happened. And suddenly Joey was falling in love. And Yugi was about to lose his best friend.

He had hoped Joey wouldn’t listen to him and wait for Yugi to get himself together, to stop playing games and cut ties with these other boys and devote himself to Joey. He wanted to fall in love with Joey, he wanted Joey to fall in love with him. They loved each other deeply. There were reasons he called Joey, “Babe”, there were reasons he kissed him in the mornings, why he liked snuggling up to Joey at night.

Joey kissed his scar, Joey took care of the bills, Joey waited up for him, Joey quizzed him when he was studying for exams. It was Joey who had loved him when he could no longer love himself. It was Joey who held him when times were bad, who laughed with him when times were good, Joey was responsible, and loving, and everything Yami could never have been. And yet here he was, still affected by Yami and turning Joey down, time and time again.

Was this the cliché, you don’t know what you got til it’s gone? It wasn’t that he wanted to be with Joey right now. Or that he was ready for a real relationship. But he didn’t want Tristan here. He couldn’t help feeling this way. He liked Tristan, Tristan could be there for Joey the way Joey needed him to. The way he wanted Yugi to be there for him. But damn it, why couldn’t Joey be single, why did Tristan have to show up. He wanted Joey to be happy. He wanted Joey to be happy with him.

Joey was his. He was as much Joey’s safe guy as Joey was his. When had he gotten this possessive, he didn’t know. But every time Tristan came around, Yugi felt himself get a little bit jealous, and all that little jealousy was growing into dislike. He still liked Tristan as a person. He just disliked Joey with anyone.

He was being very selfish. He admitted that. But misery loves company. Joey was so much stronger than him. Joey hadn’t attempted suicide after Duke happened. Joey hadn’t gone into a serious depression. And Joey had more reason to be upset than he did. Duke was his fiancé. Yami and him weren’t even offlly lly together, they were still only casually dating. If Yugi had found someone to be with, Joey could handle it. But Yugi couldn’t lose Joey. He needed him. He loved him. Joey having a boyfriend meant he would be alone again.

Of course there was Bakura.

He liked Bakura. He found himself harboring feelings for Bakura. But Bakura would get tired of his vulnerability. He’d leave eventually. Either he’d give up, or if Yugi showed him the person inside of him that was hidden by the cute little giggle and the tight pants, he’d walk away. The first night Bakura and him met Bakura made it clear how he felt.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


“Working hard, Baby?” Joey turned around and smiled. “How long have you been here?”

“An hour.” Joey allowed himself to be kissed and watched as Tristan sat down across from him. Joey was in his favorite corner spot. Anytime Joey needed a rest from Yugi and his parade of sex suitors he found himself here. Well, it was unfair to call it a parade. Lately, Yugi had really limited the guys he went around with, although he still collected phone numbers everywhere he went.

Joey smiled at Tristan, surprised he had come by. Tristan had called him right before he got to his car to talk and Joey had explained he was coming to the library to study. He didn’t expect Tristan to actually do anything in response. “What are you doing here?” Joey whispered, looking at the brunet.

“I came to steal you away,” Tristan replied, his voice not as low as it should be, given their location.

“I can’t, Tris. I have a lot of reading to do.” Joey kept his voice low, noticing the looks he was getting from a few other library patrons.

“Come on, please? At the very least, you can come study at my place. I have some studying to do too.”

“Really? Or are you just saying that to lure me back to your place?”

“I’m hurt. You’d think I’d lie to you? That I’d jeopardize your education for sex?” Tristan made his best disappointed look.

“How could I ever think you’d be up to no good. Maybe it was the sex on the motorcycle thing, or the time you told me you were so good at sex I’d see the face of God, or it could be yesterday’s incident when you made me lick your fingers clean before you finished our game on the floor, or maybe, just maybe it could be the fact that you’re so kinky and freaky, and cocky and full of yourself that you have mirrors over your bed.”

“Baby,” Tristan began with a low laugh, “those mirrors aren’t for me, they’re for you. How else can you see the immense pleasure I’m giving you without mirrors.”

“SHH!” Joey shrunk into his seat as he lowered his eyes. They were making too much noise, and this was not appropriate conversation when he was supposed to be reading about muscle structure.

“Go home, Tristan, I need to study,” Joey insisted softly, trying to be stern.

“What if I snuck under the table and sucked you off, would you come home with me then?” Tristan teased, his voice lower.

“You have work tomorrow.”

“Don’t I turn you on?”

“I need to read three more chapters.”

“Don’t you want to come?”

“I’ll never finish if you keep bothering me.”

“Aren’t you the least bit horny?”

“I think you should go.”

“Don’t you want to play with me?”

“I have to study…I slept with you yesterday. You already told me when I go away with you for the weekend that you’re going to spend the time taking me. If I start making this a regular thing you’ll get spoiled.”

“You’re like an addiction I just can’t shake, Baby.”

“SHHHHHHHHHHH!” Joey shot Tristan a hard glare. Tristan only smiled, mockingly. He knew he was making his baby mad, but Joey was so cute when he got upset. And he certainly looked legitimately angry at the moment.

“You’re going to get me kicked out of the library.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“You know, I’m getting really tired of your crap. I’m studying this now so that I can spend all weekend having hot, deliciously sexy fuck time with you. Do you want me to bring books with me on our little weekend getaway?”

“If you bring any of your textbooks I’m going to usem aem as firewood, Joey. Let this be fair warning now. Life’s too short, why work hard? Unless of course you’re talking about sex.” Joey and Tristan met eyes. Tristan smiled. Joey sighed.

“Is the only reason you came by to coerce me into sex? Because if that’s the case, you should leave.” Tristan shook his head no. “Then what is it? Why are you really here?”

“I realized something today, Baby. I saw Kaiba in the bathroom at work. He spoke to me for a moment, asking how I liked the party, and whatever other small talk would have been appropriate. And the whole time I kept thinking of how full of shit he was. He makes this big huge over the top wedding proposal to someone he’s being unfaithful to. The whole point of marriage is to unite you and the person you love into a loving, dedicated life together and this guy basically spits in the face of that while he gets his dick serviced by half the guys in town. It’s sickening really.”

Joey didn’t respond.

“The point is, after Kaiba left it dawned on me, something I guess I kind of knew, but didn’t know. Like, I had this moment of clarity while I was drying my hands with the paper towels. I really missed you today, Joey.”

“What?”

“I missed you today. I woke up, got dressed, got in the car, got to work. Saw Kaiba in the bathroom before lunch and I realized that I actually, really missed you. And the more I dwelt on it, the more I missed you, Joey. Until it became this really huge emotional thing where all I could think about was being near you again.” Joey looked into hazel eyes. “Don’t you see what I’m telling you, Joey? Why I drove down here to see you tonight?”

“No.”

“Joey, I…”

“SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” Tristan looked around at the angry mob that was nirclircling him and the blond.

“I won’t talk again. I swear.” The crowd stood unimpressed. “You can go back to your seats now. I’ll be good this time.”

“The next time there’s excessive noise coming from this table we’ll have to ask you to leave,” the librarian on duty threatened. Joey blushed and gave Tristan the evilest of looks.

“Alright then, sorry.” Joey watched the others leave, missing as Tristan began writing in his notebook. Tristan was finished by the time Joey’s attentions were back on him.

“Are you going to leave now?” Joey whispered, his arms crossed. “I told you, I have to study.”

“I’m sorry, Baby. n’t n’t bother you anymore.” Tristan stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow in art class.” Joey gave him one last glance and Tristan headed for the front of the library. Joey rolled his eyes.

He wasn’t sure if he was mad at Tristan or not. This was Tristan’s personality. He was sure cocky when he wanted to be. Joey got back to studying. It wasn’t until a good ten minutes later that he spotted the little message Tristan had left him in the upper right hand corner of his notebook page:

I love you, Joey.


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“I can’t believe you actually waited for me until close.” Bakura gave Yugi a look. Yugi only smiled. He didn’t understand why the bouncer would think otherwise. Yugi told him he was the guy he was having sex with tonight, earlier in the evening. Besides, he wasn’t backing out of this now, it had taken him a lot of fast talk and convincing to get Joey to leave him at the Pyramid. Well, technically, Joey thought that he had left already to go to his grandfather’s house. The last time Yugi had went home with someone Joey had had a fit.

Bakura gave Yugi the once over, from boots to hair.

“How old are you anyway?”

“Why does it matter?” Yugi asked, giving the taller man a look. “We’re at a bar, aren’t we?” The white-haired man snorted.

“The bartenders look the other way when it comes to underage drinking, so just because you’re here doesn’t mean much.”

“I’m 22.”

“Bullshit.” Yugi made a face. He never brought a wallet with him when he came here, just his ID and keys. He never had to bring money because there was always someone willing to buy him a drink. He pulled out his ID and showed the bouncer.

“You satisfied now?”

Bakura handed Yugi his ID back. “What is it you want, really?”

“I want to be fucked, that’s what I want. If it’s a task you can’t handle then I’ll go home, wake up my roommate and get him to fuck me.”

Bakura couldn’t help but smirk. This little guy was a spitfire, he could tell. “Fine. Let’s go.” Bakura headed out, Yugi following him.

“This your car?” Yugi asked, watching Bakura walk across the parking lot towards a Jeep Liberty.

“Yeah.” Yugi walked a little faster to keep up. Bakura took off the alarm. “It’s open.” Bakura watched Yugi half-struggle to get in. The little guy was cute, even if he was full of himself. It’d be fun to wipe that self-assured grin off his face. Bakura waited until Yugi was settled with his seat belt on before he started the car.

Yugi looked out the window while Bakura popped a CD into the player. Yugi listened to the music, recognizing the song, but not being able to place it. He had listened to dance appropriate songs all night, so this mellow song was a change.


It’s in your reach
Concentrate
It’s in your reach
Concentrate

If you deny this
Then it’s your fault
The god’s in crisis
It’s over


“Is this Placebo?” Yugi asked, looking at the driver of the SUV. Bakura gave him a look and nodded. “What, you think I listen to just pop music or something?”

“You look like you do.”

“Well, I don’t. There’s a lot you can’t tell just by looking at me.” Bakura snorted again but said nothing. What the hell was this Bakura guy’s problem? Yugi rolled his eyes and sighed. Maybe he should have gone for the bouncer he had seen downstairs.

“Every time I rise I see you, falling. Can you find the space inside your bleeding heart.” Yugi knew Bakura was watching him as he sang. He sang a little louder. “Every time I rise I see you, falling. Can you find the space, find the space.”

Bakura’ok sok softened a little and he looked at Yugi for a moment. Yugi smiled at him. Maybe he wasn’t so grumpy once you got used to him.

The chorus started again.


Every time I rise I see you falling
Can you find the space inside your bleeding heart


“Every time I rise I see you, falling. Can you find the space inside your bleeding heart,” Yugi sang.

Bakura smiled and joined him. “Falls apart, falls apart, falls apart.”

By the time the last chorus started Bakura had cranked up the volume and they were both singing their hearts out.

Once they got to Bakura’s place, he parked the truck and went around to the other side to help Yugi down. Inside, Yugi did a quick inventory of the kitchen. “You have an awful lot of cooking books here.”

“So?”

“You don’t look like a cook. You look like you live on take out.”

“I go to culinary school.” Yugi glanced at him over his shoulder. “I’m a pretty good cook.”

“I guess I’ll be the judge of that tomorrow morning when you make me breakfast.” Bakura smirked. “You do usually feed your lovers the morning after, don’t you?”

“If they’re worth the trouble. If you’re decent, I’ll give you a bowl of cereal. If you’re good, I’ll make bacon and eggs, if you’re fantastic I’ll make you a five start breakfast.” Yugi smiled. Bakura was smug. He’d enjoy wiping that smug look off his face.

“Where’s the bedroom, I didn’t come here to chat.” Bakura lifted his eyebrows but said nothing and led the way. “Not as messy as I would have figured. No dirty underwear on the floor, that’s a good sign.”

“Just take off your clothes.” Yugi looked at him and quirked an eyebrow. “You didn’t come here to chat.”

Yugi undid his belt and watched as the other man took off his shirt. “I’m beginning to think you’re bipolar or something. You’re nice one minute, and a grouch the next. There’s medication that can cure that.”

“You a comedian too?” Bakura was pulling down his pants.

“You’re pretty nasty for someone who’s about to get laid. Most guys are pretty jovial.”

“Who said anything about me being like most guys? Do you do this often, go home with strangers?”

“When I see someone who interests me.” Yugi removed his choker and shirt and tossed them to the floor. “There were four guys hitting on me tonight, you should feel really special I pursued you.”

“I’ll take a picture when we’re done and make a scrapbook.” Yugi rolled his eyes. Here he was stuck with Pablo Personality for the evening. If Bakura wasn’t good, he wasn’t going to fake it. He’d yawn and let the fucker know just how unsatisfied he was. He could be a real bitch when he felt like it.

Bakura sat on the bed naked and Yugi walked over to him. There wasn’t any further ado, Bakura leaned up and kissed him. Hard. Yugi was stunned, so the jackass could kiss…actually he was pretty good at this. Yugi crawled into his lap not breaking contact. He moaned, into the other’s mouth. It had been too long since someone’s tongue had fucked his this way. Yugi pushed the bouncer back and straddled him. Finally the kiss broke.

“You don’t look like you’d be able to kiss like that,” Bakura mentioned, his arousal now poking out in front of Yugi.

“What are you talking about?”

“I have to admit, part of bringing you back here was really just to knock you down a few pegs. You seemed cocky, and overconfident, and I wanted to give you a reality check. But maybe you can put your money where your mouth is. You still look innocent, though.”

“Looks can be deceiving. And what makes me look innocent?”

“I don’t know. You’re small.” Bakura stroked Yugi’s cheek. “You have a baby face.”

“Where do you keep the condoms?” Yugi asked, giving the other man a look. Bakura kept his eyes on Yugi as he reached over and grabbed them off the table.

“This is going to hurt you. You’re tiny, and probably tight as all hell.”

“I can handle myself.” Yugi mentioned as he opened the condom wrapper.


That first time had been a little slow moving at first, despite Yugi assuming Bakura was going to just take him, he was gentle, and easy. He felt a strange connection to Bakura…it felt right sleeping with him. A lot of the other guys Yugi wound up with felt routine, ordinary. But not his sexy beast. Yugi hadn’t had sex like that, ever. He was more than a little impressed.


“Don’t pull out on me yet.” Bakura stopped moving and looked down at his lover. “Stay inside of me. As soon as you get hard, I want to go again.” Bakura smiled.

“You’re one hell of a fuck, Babyface…not what I expected.” Yugi wrapped his arms around the bigger man. Bakura kissed him. He expected the kisses to be rough, but they weren’t. They were soft, and sweet. But still hard.

“I could get used to this, Kura.” Yugi had called him the abbreviation because it was easier to yell out two syllables during his ecstasy instead of three.

“Listen, before anything else happens, I just want you to know I just got out of a relationship, like two weeks ago. It lasted a long time, the guy was very needy and it wasn’t where I wanted to be. I’m not looking for anything. I don’t need another boyfriend.”

“The “b” word? Bakura, I’m just looking for a good time. I said nothing about wanting this to become anything.” Bakura looked into his violet eyes. “I know how you must feel. You’re still healing from your last guy.”

“I’m over it,” Bakura stated curtly.

“Are you? Because last I checked my name wasn’t Ryou.” Bakura blushed. “It’s okay, it happens. Do I remind you of him?”

“Ryou’s nothing like you. He was never this sexual. And when we did have sex he was very particular, everything had to be just right. He wouldn’t even let me take him without a rubber, and we were together for over a year.”

“Sounds like a real winner. Why the hell didn’t you dump him sooner?”

“Felt obligated to be with him. Didn’t want to be a dick. But he was dependent. He was like a dog or something. All that loyalty and pandering made me sick to my stomach after a while. He used to tell me how he had no existence unless I was in it. All kinds of clingy bullshit. It got old, so I showed him the door.”

Yugi glanced at the scar on his wrist.

“So, you want to go again, or what? You sore?”

“Not sore enough. Take me again, you Sexy Beast.” Bakura smiled. He wasn’t hard enough yet. He needed a newdom dom anyway. While he took care of that, and stroked himself to get ready for action again Yugi fingered the scar a couple of times and looked away. It was a nervous habit he did when he was with guys that weren’t Joey.


Bakura took him a total of three times that night. How either of them lasted that long, Yugi still didn’t know. They were so exhausted Bakura wound up making him lunch instead of breakfast. And Bakura was right, he was a good cook.

“Fish is done.” Yugi looked at Bakura and smiled. “I’m going to make this for my midterm. Hopefully.” He walked over to Yugi, who was still sitting on the counter, and took off a little piece and with his hand underneath the fork so Yugi could taste it. Yugi took it off the fork with his mouth and smiled.

“It’s divine, Kura. You’ve out done yourself. Can we eat now?”

“I’m waiting for the bread.”

“You didn’t have to make it from scratch. It would have been done by now. You could have brought that dough that breaks apart and you put it on a baking sheet.”

“I could have, but then I couldn’t continue to impress you.” Yugi smiled and wrapped his hands around Bakura’s neck.

“You’ll never stop impressing me, Kura.” Bakura went in for the kill, kissing Yugi, hard, just the way he liked it. “Ummmm, Kura.”

“Ummm…Babyface.” Bakura smiled.

Yugi couldn’t pretend anymore. He cared a lot about Bakura. Maybe part of him even loved him. Bakura had been in his life for a good five months now. Why was he so afraid he was going somewhere? Yesterday should have told him something. He always felt safe, and protected. More with Bakura than he did with Joey.

Joey was overly protective. He smothered him sometimes, which made him only want to act out more. Bakura let him have his freedom. But there he was when he needed him. He had been there for him for five months, cooking and kissing, and making him laugh. He felt good around him. Really good.

If Joey was gonna go off and be happy with someone else why couldn’t he happy with Bakura? He didn’t have to be his boyfriend just yet, but maybe he could open up to him a little more, maybe he could be vulnerable around him a little more often. And if Bakura didn’t go running for the hills when he saw this other side of him, then maybe, just maybe things could progress into something serious.

“Kura?” Yugi asked, softly, not making eye contact. He swung his legs back and forth, and stroked his scar. He had never stroked his scar around Bakura after that first night, but he felt scared.

“What is it, Babyface?”

“I was thinking. Maybe me and you, maybe we could make this a permanent thing one of these days. Maybe we could try the “b” word sometime.” Yuidn’idn’t look up. He missed the look on his lover’s face. He rubbed the scar a little bit harder, feeling very uncomfortable. Bakura moved so that Yugi’s legs were pinned. He finally looked back up.

“Nothing would make me happier, Babyface.” He smiled, and while keeping his eyes locked on Yugi’s, he grabbed Yugi’s wrist and brought it up to his mouth. “Joey’s not the only one who cares about you.” He kissed the scar, keeping his eyes on him, Yugi feeling chills through his entire body.

He gasped involuntarily. Ohgodsgods…

“Look, this can go as slow as you want,” Bakura said, spotting the look of terror on Yugi’s face. “I don’t mind waiting.” Yugi was red, his heart was stioundounding in his chest. “Don’t worry about the big, “c” just yet. I say we’re both free to see other people.”

“You wouldn’t mind?” Bakura shook his head no. “I just don’t know if I could commit right now.”

“Hey, what you just said a few minutes ago is what I’ve wanted to hear for a couple of weeks now, Babyface. I know you have a lot of feelings that are all over the place at the moment. Like I said, we can just see where this goes. Okay?” Yugi nodded, and then smiled.

“I really like you a lot, Bakura. I care for you a lot. I’m just…I have some stuff I need to still figure out.”

“I like you a lot too. And I understand. It’s fine.”

“When dinner’s done will you make love to me? Like you did on Saturday night?” Bakura smiled again and nodded. “And after we finish that will you fuck me into the bed?” Bakura smirked.

“You’re quite the sex kitten, have I told you that?”

Yugi smiled seductively and stuck his finger in his mouth. “I can’t help it, I just love dick.” Bakura laughed. “Especially your dick.”


-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-


“I was hoping you’d come by, Joey.” Tristan was smiling. Joey didn’t say anything as he walked past him and into the condo. He sat down on the couch, the look on his face speaking volumes. “What’s wrong?”

“Tristan, I have to tell you something. We need to talk.”

“What happened, Baby?” Tristan sat next to Joey and looked at him tentatively. “Why are you upset?”

“I don’t even know how to say it. But I have to before this gets too serious. I should have told you from the beginning, but I didn’t know how.”

“Tell me what?”

“I slept with Kaiba.”

There wasn’t a movement between them. Joey didn’t bother to look at Tristan’s face, he already knew what he’d find there. He shifted away from Tristan, unconsciously. He waited for the fallout, he waited for his heart to be crushed.

“This some type of weird humor I don’t get?”

“I’m telling the truth. I slept with Kaiba.” Joey’s voice was low and full of heartache. Tristan knew Joey was being honest.

“I’m confused. Explain it to me. What are you talking about, Joey.”

“It’s simple.”

“I don’t understand, Baby.”

“I fucked him for money, Tristan.”

“When did this happen?” Tristan asked, his eyes narrowing.

“The day you first asked me out.”

“You slept with Seto Kaiba for money?” There wasn’t a reply. This made absolutely no sense. Tristan had left his little note, hoping and assuming Joey would find it and come by the condo. At the very least he’d acknowledge the note, and at best he’d return the feelings.

Where was this coming from? He slept with Seto Kaiba for money?

“Joey, I’m very very confused. I don’t understand.”

“What’s there to be confused about?”

“You hate him, Joey.”

“I’m aware of that.” Tristan’s eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead.

“You want to look at me while we’re having this conversation?” Joey didn’t. “Joey?” Joey still refused to look upThisThis isn’t quite how I envisioned this to go. Look at me. Please.” Joey took an exaggerated sigh and looked up. “Now explain yourself, please. I don’t understand where this is coming from or what this is about.”

Joey explained the whole story, making sure to include all the important details. He started with how things had gone the night Yami and Seto had invited them over for a dinner date and ended with what had happened at Yami’s birthday party. By the time he was done he felt just as hopeless and dirty and vulnerable as he had felt then.

“I take it you never told anyone about this?” Joey shook his head no. “And you said he made you come?” Joey nodded. “You obviously feel disgusted by the entire situation.” Joey nodded again. “Joey, just because your body reacted that way doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.” Joey ran his hand through his hair.

“Baby, listen…I don’t think any less of you. If that’s what you’re afraid of you have nothing to worry about.” Joey didn’t say anything. “I had no idea how cruel he is, Joey. Part of me wants to beat the shit out of him at work tomorrow for what he did to you.”

Joey looked up and felt his heart jump. “It wasn’t rape, Tris. I let him fuck me.”

“What he made you do was no better than that. He knew the situation you were in, and he used your weaknesses to exploit you.” Tristan leaned over and grabbed Joey who looked ready to falart.art. “You shouldn’t feel ashamed anymore, Baby. I still love you.”

“Tris…how can you…I’m such a mess…” Joey could feel the tears stinging his eyes, he didn’t want to cry over this…he had put the whole incident behind him.

“You’re not a mess, Joey. There’s nothing wrong with being upset. He did something horrible to you. I only wish I had known, I wouldn’t have let him near you at the party Saturday night. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault.”

“It’s not your fault either. We can only make the best decisions, given what we know at the time.”

“I just…I…” Joey couldn’t hold it in anymore, and let a few tears fall. “I have to be strong for Yugi…I have to be…I can’t…Tris…I didn’t want to…I begged him, Tris…but…”

“I know, Baby. It’s okay. Joey, you can be strong and still cry.”

“No.”

“Yes. It takes a strong person to put his best friend first and do what you did. Yugi needed his savings for school, Baby. You didn’t want to overburden his grandfather. And you could have kept this to yourself, you didn’t have to tell me about it. I don’t know if I would have been strong enough to tell you about something like this. It takes a very strong person to admit that he’s flawed, and he’s not perfect.” Joey sobbed a little, and held Tristan closer.

“I hate him, Tris.”

“I hate him too, Baby. I hate him for hurting you. He will never touch you, if he ever says anything inappropriate to you again I’m going to show him what hurt is. Nobody’s going to hurt you anymore, Joey. I promise.” Tristan held him tighter.

Joey let all the guilt and pain go. It was a relief to finally let it all out. He felt safe with Tristan. When he was done he sighed softly, snuggling up closer to his lover.

“Do you feel better now?”

“Yeah. Sorry I got all mushy on you.”

“It’s okay. You kept it in for so long.”

“I love you, Tris.” Tristan smiled, feeling his heart melt.

“I love you too, Baby.” Joey pulled away and Tristan handed him a tissue so he could wipe away any traces of his crying.

“I never cry, Tris. Honest. I just…I did hold it in for a long time. He made me feel so helpless.”

“Being helpless is a very scary emotion.” Tristan kissed him. “Want me to tell you something, that will either make you feel better or probably disturb you?”

“Um…okay.”

“About a year ago, I went to the Pyramid, because I was lonely and the guy I had been talking to was having problems with his brother, so I ran into this blond and I took him home with me.”

“What’s the point?”

“The blond was Malik.” Joey nearly fell over dead.

“Tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

“Were you drunk?”

“No.” Tristan shifted and held Joey to him again. “The same slimy, shady, Malik who tried to hit on you using the same come on line on two different nights. Yes. That Malik.”

“He doesn’t look like he’d want to be a uke.”

“Well, he was that night.” Joey made a face. “It’s something I never told anyone else, because I consider it a lapse of judgment. The thought of me with him makes my skin crawl. I can’t even tell you why I did it. I don’t find him all that attractive, he’s not my type. Not to sound like a jerk, but I consider myself good looking, at least good looking enough to find someone that’s not Malik.”

“A lot of people have one night stands they regret.”

“There’s something you should know about Malik, Joey. He’s not a good person. Not to say that Kaiba should be up for man of the year, but really Malik is a very bad guy.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard some stuff, my ex, Brian, was best friends with Malik’s ex-roommate, so I heard a lot of stuff from him. After Bakura broke up with Ryou, assumedly because of Ryou being so clingy and needy, Ryou became dangerously depressed. Suicidal, even. At one point I think he might have swallowed a bottle of sleeping pills.”

“Oh Gods.”

“In any case. The relationship between Bakura and Ryou ended abruptly and explosively so Ryou needed a place to stay for a while so Malik offered to let Ryou stay with them. And according to the roommate, things were a little disturbing.”

“What do you mean, disturbing?”

“Well, that’s the term he used. I don’t know a lot of the specifics, but it was strange enough that the guy moved out.” Joey made a face. “Unlike you and Yugi, where you helped Yugi get over his depression and helped him get better by loving and taking care of him, Malik used Ryou’s vulnerability against him.”

“What did he do to him?”

“According to the roommate, I’m not sure how much of this is true… but anyway, Malik would give Ryou “sleeping pills” at night, every night. But the roommate got the impression that they weren’t what Malik claimed they were. Malik would have guys come over and have Ryou sleep with them while he’d watch. The impression I got from our one night together was that Malik was into BDSM, so who knows what kinds of weird fetishes and fantasies Ryou and him live out together. Ryou’s grown dependent on Malik, you’ve seen them after class, the way Ryou is submissive to him. Ryou was lonely and desperate for affection, and Malik, well, to be blunt about it, mind fucked him.”

“How did the roommate know Malik was making Ryou sleep with guys while he watched?”

“Well, the roommate said that he asked Ryou if he wanted to do these things and he always said he wanted to do whatever would make Malik love him.”

“Oh Gods.”

“Apparently, guys would come over and Malik would introduce them to Ryou and then they’d all go into Ryou’s bedroom. At first the roommate assumed it was a threesome or something, but every time they’d come out of the bedroom Ryou would look like he’d been a part of it and Malik never would. He was too well put together, the roommate said. There was some other weird stuff too, but the bottom line is, in stark contrast to how strong you’ve helped Yugi become, Malik made Ryou’s problems worse.

“I don’t understand, doesn’t Ryou have any friends or family?”

“I got the impression the only friend he did have before Malik was Bakura. But Bakura cut him off completely. After they broke up, Bakura actually ended up moving.”

“He’s that heartless?”

“I don’t know if Bakura knows that Malik screwed with Ryou’s head the way he did. Besides, from what I’ve heard, Ryou was a pretty demanding boyfriend. He’d call all the time when they were apart, he’d stalk him. Cause scenes at the Pyramid. Someone once told me Ryou had a fatal attraction to Bakura. The guy wasn’t playing with a full deck. So I don’t blame Bakura for cutting him off once Ryou went nuts. It just turned out that Malik’s a sick bastard who decided to use Ryou’s issues to his advantage. The roommate tried to see if Malik was doing anything to Ryou against Ryou’s will, but Ryou always consented, so the roommate’s hands were tied. He never told me or Brian all the weird crap that happened, but one day he came home early from work and Ryou was making dinner naked, and he was putting some of the food on his body and humming the national anthem.”

“That is bizarre.”

“I know. Just think, you could have made Yugi like that.”

“You know, speaking of Yugi, I gave him Malik’s number. He hasn’t met Malik yet, although they’ve talked on the phone once or twice.”

“I’d suggest you tell Yugi he needs to throw his number away. The thing about Malik is, that one night I got with him, after we finished having sex he wanted me to tie him to a chair and then hit him. Which I did not do. He told me he had weird dreams about being hurt but that he enjoyed hurting people too. The guy gave me the creeps.”

“Gives me the creeps too, and I only spoke to him twice.”

“It’s just strange, Malik and Ryou remind me of the sick, perverse version of you and Yugi.” Joey wrinkled his nose. “Well, just keep Malik in mind the next time you get frustrated by Yugi talking to Bakura. I’ve never heard anything bad about him, although I only know him through association.”

“I still don’t like him, and I do plan on keeping my eye on him. I’ll try to give him the benefit of the doubt. There are some things about him that are good. He’s still a jerk though.”

“A jerk who adores your roommate.”

“Whatever.”

Author’s Endnotes: All done. Next chapter, Joey and Tristan go away for the weekend. Well, you know what they say, when the cat’s away, the mice will play… I see a Bakura/Yugi lemon coming on. Yugi’s dislike about Joey being with Tristan increases. And things start getting a bit more intense… Wow, this is chapter 9 already and nothing really crazy has happened yet… but don’t worry… things are about to get good really soon… Tell me what you think, and here’s a little taste:

“I thought we agreed that we could see other people.”

“Yeah, we did, but I didn’t think you were going to be all over that guy.”

“I wasn’t all over him, Bakura. I’m not about having a possessive boyfriend, okay. So if that’s the way you are maybe we should forget this.”

“Yugi, you can do what you want, with who you want. But you can’t keep putting yourself into these situations. Some people get very mad when they find out they’re being teased and led on. You need to be more mindful of that.”

“What’s wrong with having a little, fun, Kura? Nothing’s gonna happen.” Yugi kissed him. “See that guy over there in the blue. I’m going to get him to buy me a drink and then I’ll be back.”