Birthday Party

            Bakura listened to Ryou breathe softly.  Periodically Ryou would moan as his stomach hurt from the day.  Bakura brushed Ryou’s cheek.  “Where did you go, yami?”

“I forgot something back home,” he whispered. 

Ryou smiled wearily. “O.K.,” he said rubbing his cheek against Bakura’s shoulder and hooked his arm around his yami’s arm.

When there was a knock at the door, Ryou jumped and dug his nails into Bakura’s flesh.  “Don’t let him get me, yami! Yami, don’t!”  Ryou had the look of a deer caught in the headlights.

Seto and Torelli stood and went to the door and there stood Yugi and the gang.  Each of them held a present and shouted, “Happy Birthday, Ryou!”  The group yelled as Seto opened the door.  The group looked confused as Bakura saw Ryou dart away.

“What’s wrong with Mr. Anti-Social?”  Joey asked  as Seto whacked his arm.

“He had a very long day and I suggest you not go into it.”

Bakura stood up slowly and left the living room.  “Seto, get them inside.  We can’t let his dad know we have Ryou here.”

Seto brought the group in.  Malik sat on Marik’s lap holding the Millenium Rod against his shoulder like a scepter.  Joey brought Seto into a deep, penetrating kiss and brought him over to another couch.  Tristan sat on a rocking chair.

“Will Ryou be OK?” Yugi asked Seto.  Seto was too interested in Joey to answer him, so he ran to Bakura speaking to Ryou through the door. 

“Nobody has to know, Ryou.  None of this is your fault.”  Bakura sighed as only a sob answered him.  Yugi knocked on the door.

“Let me in, Ryou.  Please?”  A whimper came from inside.  Ryou opened the door and threw himself at Bakura.  Yugi rubbed Ryou’s back.

“Ryou, this is your birthday.  Why are you crying?  Seto sounded serious on the phone, but it didn’t sound this serious.”

Bakura rubbed Ryou’s cheek.  He wanted to make Ryou laugh once today and he knew Seto was the most serious around.  “He always sounds serious, Yugi. He can order a cheese sandwich and make it sound like a life or death situation.  ‘Give me a cheese sandwich or my blue eyes white dragon will get you!’  That’s our Kaiba.”

Ryou chuckled, but he gripped Bakura tighter.  Bakura ran his hands up the back of Ryou’s shirt to feel the warm skin, but to also check Ryou for injuries as he stood.  Ryou was slightly bent and he hissed when Bakura’s hands traveled to a sensitive rib.

“Let’s sit you back down, Ryou.” 

The group saw Bakura support Ryou back inside the living room.  “I’m sorry, guys.  I’m a little jumpy, sorry.”

“Are you alright?” Yami asked seriously.  “If something is wrong, Ryou, you can be honest with us.”

I’ve had a long day, that’s all,” Ryou said trying to sound convincing.

“You don’t know jumpy intil you see Yami eat an entire bag of M&M’s and a two liter of Mountain Dew.  He went around dueling everyone within a four mile radius at 2am and pranced around in his-.”

“AIBOU!”

Yugi snickered and said, “Underpants!  Ha Ha!”

“Now there’s an image I don’t need to see,” Tristan said closing his eyes from the scary mental image.

“Tristan, don’t tell me you never do that at all! Seto’s actually quite handsome in his black undies.”

Yami looked at Ryou gripping onto Bakura for dear life.  “Guys, I suggest we change the topic at hand.”

Meanwhile at Ryou’s house….

            Steven sat on his couch with the icepack on his chin.  Cinetti returned to his house “to calm the misses” who was supposedly worried about him when he didn’t come home on time.  Steven looked at Ryou’s picture on the mantle and sighed.  “Where did I go wrong?  No! It wasn’t my fault!  That spirit did it!”  He knew he had to get rid of the Millenium Ring.  If he did, Ryou might return to “normal”.  Ryou started school next week.  Then he would have a chance. He could “rehabilitate” Ryou.  Then Jessica could come back and “work her magic” without fear of interruption.

            Steven heard a knock at the door and a female voice.  “Ryou!  Birthdays are like friendship!”  Steven opened the door and saw the brainless, idiotic, obnoxious..sorry, guys… girl. 

“Ryou is upstairs locked in his room and he is not coming out.”

Anzu looked sad.  “He’s not coming out?  No friendship?  I have something for him.  Can I take it up to him?”

‘Hmm..,” Steven thought to himself.  ‘Maybe she’ll succeed where Jessica failed.’  Steven cleared his throat.  “Sure, little lady, I’ll let you give it to him.”

Steven took the girl upstairs, but was so angry at Ryou, he couldn’t stand the sight of him.  Anzu walked into the room sans Ryou.  She took the present and opened it up on the bed.  The creature crawled out evidently spooked (can we blame it?).  “You are free, Fluffy II!” The crab crawled onto the bed and Anzu cuddled it and kissed the drooling crustacean and left. 

“Did you do anything?” Steven asked her.

“I hope Ryou liked my crab!  YEAH FRIENDSHIP!!!  Crabbies forever!”  Anzu skipped downstairs and saw Fluffy I on the carpet.  In a squeel that could shatter bullet-proof glass, she cried, “OOOHH!  FLUFFY!  There you are you naughty crabbie!  How dare you run away from mom-mom who wuvs you so much my little cwabbie-wabbie snookie wookums dumpling buns!”

Steven felt his stomach do somersaults.  “Bye, mister man!  I found my friendly crabbie whom I love!!! YEAH FLUFFY!!!!”

Anzu ran outside and heard laughter next door.  Anzu ran to the window.  Ryou was holding onto Bakura tightly watching Yugi impersonating Yami in his underpants, much to the embaressment of Yami.  Malik had his arms around Marik’s shoulders and hugging him.  Seto and Joey were holding hands and Torelli watched Yami blush.  Anzu turned the knob and opened the door quickly screeching “HAAAAAAAAAPY BIRTHDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY, RYYYYYYYYYYOUUUUU!!”

Bakura felt Ryou’s heart jump.  Anzu went to hug the birthday boy,  but Ryou shrieked and ran into the bathroom again locking it behind him. 

“Dammit, Anzu, we just got him out of there!”

“I gots him a pweasant, but I’m not telling you!”

“Good, we don’t care!”  Bakura ran to the bathroom.  A second later he heard Ryou coughing and gargling water and a spit. 

“Ryou, are you OK?”  Ryou emerged teary eyed.

“I think so, but don’t let her hug me.”

“Deal.”  Bakura peeked his head into the living room.

“Cake? I love cake!  Chocolate is sweet like friendship  and happy bunnies!  Come on, Yugi! Let’s hoppy hop like happy hippy bunnies!”  Bakura and Ryou laughed  as Anzu wrapped her arms around Yugi’s waist and  hopped up and down.  Joey and Seto were speechless.  Torelli and Tristan were shaking their heads in pity.  Malik and Marik…were ..well..they were involved in a tongue war on the couch.  Yami watched terrified afraid to move as Yugi screamed and tried to rip himself from her talons.  Bakura and Ryou laughed behind the corner, but Ryou held his side as he laughed.

            They peeked out and Anzu dropped Yugi when he ran into Yami’s open arms.

“Anzu, why did you come here?” Yami asked seriously.

“Because birthdays are times to be with friends!  And Fluffy!”  Anzu pulled the crab from her dress (don’t ask me how she does the things she does, people. I don’t want to know how she holds a crab in her dress).  The group sighed. 

Torelli stood up.  “I’ve seen enough.  I’m going to bed.”  Torelli turned the corner and saw Bakura holding Ryou on his feet.  “Are you feeling any better?”

“Thanks to you, sir.”  Torelli pat Ryou’s cheek lightly.  “You are a good boy, Ryou.  You look so much like your mother.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you are not worth it.  Happy Birthday.”

“We’ll keep everyone quiet and we’ll be out of here soon.  I want to get Ryou to bed before he is too weak to move.”  Ryou leaned heavier on Bakura and could feel his yami hold him closer. 

“Judging from how he looks, that won’t be too much longer.  I trust you, Ryou, not to make a mess.  Goodnight, boys.”

Torelli returned to his bedroom.  Bakura turned to Ryou. “Let’s get you to a seat.  Are you sure you can hold on for another hour?”

Ryou put his head on his yami’s shoulder and wrapped his arms around Bakura’s waist.

“I guess I can hold on a little longer.”

Bakura kissed Ryou’s cheek gently.  “If you get too tired to hold on to me, let me know.  For all your father knows, you are still locked in the room.”

Ryou looked up at Bakura. “What?”

“Your father locked you in your room. He still thinks you are there. If he finds you gone, he’ll put bars on the windows.”

Ryou buried his face in the juncture of Bakura’s neck.  “Why did he lock me in?..I forgot…Seto.”

“Do you remember anything?”  Ryou clutched onto Bakura and cried quietly.

“Cinetti……he kissed me.”

Bakura gripped Ryou’s shoulders and held him at arm’s length.  Ryou must have thought Bakura was angry at him, so he began to shiver.  “He said he wanted to take me…..wanted to…..he….Cinetti wanted to take me because of what you did to Jessica.”

“Listen, Ryou, don’t listen to that ass.  You may be told that you mean nothing, Ryou.  But you know what?  You mean the world to me.  You are everything to me.  If I didn’t have you, I would be completely miserable.  He’s a wife beater and yet he’s so quick to judge other people.  I’ll be right here to protect you.  After tonight, he won’t be able to

touch anything or anyone for a good while.  Let’s open your presents and get you home to bed.”

“Bakura?” Ryou asked grabbing Bakura’s arm.

“What is it?”

Ryou pulled Bakura close to him and pulled him down for a kiss.  Bakura closed his eyes as Ryou moaned quietly into the kiss.  Bakura’s hands ran to Ryou’s chest causing a little whimper from the smaller boy.  Bakura allowed Ryou’s tongue entrance into his mouth.  Ryou ran his hands through Bakura’s hair as Ryou wrapped his tongue around Bakura’s.

“Ryou…You had me really scared this afternoon,” Bakura said kissing the base of Ryou’s neck. 

“Bakura…tell me you love me..You’ll never leave me….Please don’t leave me, yami!  I love you!”

Ryou hugged tightly and bent over slightly.

“You need a doctor, Ryou.”

“I don’t want to spend my birthday at the doctor’s office…..again.  I want to spend tonight with you beside you.”

Bakura smiled at the response.  “OK, but promise me you will see a doctor tomorrow.”

Ryou smiled.  “You’ll never leave me?”

Bakura locked Ryou into another kiss again.  “Never, hikari, love.  Let’s go open your presents. 

            Ryou and Bakura returned to the living room and Ryou opened Yugi’s present  and card first.  Yugi got Ryou a Change of Heart ceramic figurine.  Yami hand painted it.  “It required a lot of detail and I figured hieroglyphics also required a keen eye, it was a great idea!  Happy Birthday, Ryou!”  Ryou hugged Yugi gently.

Tristan got Ryou a new sweater and a blue silky and satiny shirt.  “I figured they were your favorites.  You always wear green and white, so it was time for a change.”

“Thank you, Tristan,” Ryou said hugging Tristan.

“Hugging is like friendship!!  YEAHHHHH FRIENDSHIP!!!”

Ryou tensed from the loud sounds and tried to dash to the bathroom again, but Bakura caught him.  “Anzu, don’t yell!  We don’t want Ryou’s dad to find us here.”

“But we are friends!!  Go Fluffy!”  Anzu put the crab down hoping in her pea-sized brain it would dance and sing.  Marik looked at the crab and licked his lips. 

“Mmmm…crab dinner.”  Marik stood up making his hikari fall to the floor.  Anzu grabbed the crab. “That’s mine, Anzu!  Mmmm..dinner.”

“This is Fluffy!  You can’t eat Fluffy!”

“I love crabs!!!”

Everyone:……

Readers:…….eww….

Author: …….I can’t believe I just wrote that!! D’OH!!!!

“I didn’t mean it that way!!” Marik said defensively.

Ryou opened Seto and Joey’s present.  Joey got Ryou a stuffed dog and Seto’s gift was a realistic collar around the dog’s neck.  Ryou looked at the collar and at Bakura’s neck.  Ryou knew his own neck was still bruised.  “Bakura can’t wear this yet until his bruises go away,too.”

“What makes you think I will wear it, hikari?”

“Because you’ll like that.  You like bondage.”

“I tied you up last time!”

“It’s my turn now, Bakura,” Ryou grinned evilly and…seductively at Bakura.

Bakura turned to Seto.  “I don’t know whether to thank you or pity you.”

“I pity you,” Seto said.  “The collar is like the one I make Joey wear.  It’s guaranteed not to cut into the skin and the lining is made of reed velvet so it won’t scar or cut you.”

“I told you, Seto Kaiba, I am not wearing this!”

“Let’s see how it fits!” Ryou cheered excitedly. Bakura sighed  and rolled his eyes as Ryou buckled the collar.  He tugged gently on it making Bakura’s head move with the yank of the leather cord.  Ryou giggled. 

“It fits perfectly, doesn it, little doggie?”

“I told you I don’t wanna!”

“You can’t tie me up all the time, yami.  Thank you, Seto! I love this!” Ryou hugged Seto and Joey.  Joey pat him on the back and he cringed.  Ryou thought maybe Bakura was right.  He should go to the doctor’s the next day.  Something didn’t quite feel right, but he wasn’t about to focus on that. 

“That’s a gift that keeps on giving!  Besides, it’s something you can both enjoy!”

Anzu stood up. “I wuv wittle puppy-wuppies!  They’re cute and cuddly and so full of friendship!  Just like my Fluffy! Go Fluffy!”

“Open ours next,” Malik said sitting back down and jumping on his yami’s lap while Malik returned to his spot as if nothing happened between Marik and the crab.Marik rolled his eyes and held Malik still.  “Knock it off or I’m not responsible for the consequences!” 

Ryou opened the Ishtar’s gift.  The Ishtars gave them matching bathrobes and lotion.  Bakura and Ryou gave them side glances. 

“You never stop, do you, Malik?”

“Not my hikari,” Marik said rubbing Malik’s back making him arch and smile.  “He’s like 7-Eleven.  He’s always open for business.”

The group collectively sighed.  Bakura clapped enjoying the metaphor.  “You are amazing!  I do have to admit!”  Ryou hugged Malik and Marik.

Ryou only had Yami’s present to open.  Yami bought him a Dark Magician card since Ryou didn’t have one in his deck.  Yami also gave Ryou an ankh necklace. Ryou hugged Yami.  Seto and Yugi cleaned up the paper.

            Yami put the candles on the cake and they sang Happy Birthday.  Ryou looked at the cake as it glowed in the darkness.  He wished his father was with him. He never saw his dad and it suddenly hit him: “I refuse to celebrate the birthday of a son such as yourself!”  The singing ended and Ryou buried his face in his hands,

“I never see my father!  He doesn’t even care!”  Bakura rubbed Ryou’s back.  “Ryou, we’re here to celebrate with you.  I thought this would make you happy.”

Ryou sniffed. “It does, yami.  I’m sorry, guys.”

“Make a wish and blow out the candles, Ryou,” Yugi said running his hand along Ryou’s shoulders. 

Ryou looked at the candles.  ‘I want my father to accept me,’ the thought and blew out the candles.  Yugi and Bakura distributed the cake.  Ryou even ate a piece slowly.  Bakura was so proud of Ryou!  He was finally eating!”  Malik and Marik took their cake to the kitchen.  No one wanted to know what they were doing with their piece of cake.  Seto was feeding Joey a piece of cake making him beg for it on his knees.  “Puppy want a piece?”  Joey gave Seto puppy dog eyes and whined. 

Yugi and Yami shared a piece of cake.  Ryou stood up. “I have to go check on Malik.”

“Why? Who knows what they are doing?”

“I have to.”  Ryou ran out of the living room. 

“So what happened to Ryou?”

Bakura told the entire story, but made them swear secrecy. “I’ve done all I can for him.”

Ryou appeared a couple minutes later and staggered to Bakura.  “I want to go home, “ he whined weakly.

Bakura gathered Ryou’s presents and returned them to Ryou’s room.  He returned separately for Ryou.    

Next Chappie:  Bakura and Ryou return to their room.  I’m kinda torn.  The crab returns again, but interrupts a special moment between our two lovers.  Do you want a lemon or implied lemon?  Let me know or I will do the implied lemon only.