Um alrighty, I'm hoping the new scene change thing works because hates my -s all of a sudden and Mel is very disappoint. Anyway, I'm hoping to update this then finish BB by July. So I'm going to update this and then focus my attention to BB. So I hope you enjoy this chapter which I somehow cranked out in the night. Bakura-centric chapter, here we come!

Chapter Nine: Cake and Ghosts

Bakura's POV

We returned to school with a feeling of success. Tonight there will be three class parties for the winning classes from each year, my class being one of them. The student council helps host them and we get to kick back and celebrate the fact our class kicks more ass than other classes. Ryou was going to help out with food and was going to bake that afternoon so he invited me to join him.

He piled all the required ingredients onto the school kitchen bench and handed me a recipe book. "I'll be quite busy with things but if you have a problem, just call on me okay?" he explained and before I could point out that I failed at this sort of thing, he was around mixing around ingredients for some weirdo pudding he was making. I stared at him blankly until he picked up on the signals that I couldn't do a thing. He glanced up at me and burst out laughing. "Ah, for goodness sake Kura! Here's a bowl, start reading the recipe and do what it says. Oh and here's some more things you might find useful!" And with that, he handed me a bowl, mixing spoon and measuring jug.

I sighed and read through the recipe. "Angel-Food Cake?" I raised an eyebrow at the name of the recipe.

"Yup! Malik-kun likes that kind – I know these things! It's a fluffy, light cake and this recipe is an easy enough one to do," Ryou explained some more as he pre-heated the oven at the right temperature for me.

With a sigh, I poured in egg whites, cream of tartar and salt and began to mix with the spoon. As I continued adding more ingredients, Ryou and I began to talk. I felt weirdly comfortable doing this girly baking stuff. Perhaps because it was just Ryou and I in the kitchen so nobody was staring at me like 'What the fuck is a guy like Bakura making angel cake shit?'

"By the way Ryou, there was something I wanted to clarify," I remembered.

"I heard you cheering nice and loudly for Malik. You were right into it, weren't you? If I were to draw conclusions, I'd say you like Malik!"

Ryou made that bizarre and embarrassing conclusion back at the athletics thing. I mean, sure Malik's my friend and I'll support him but that doesn't mean I like him! It's more the opposite or something. If I wasn't rooming with him, I'd never hang out with him or even consider such a thing! Then again, I prefer it this way, with Malik and I as roommates. For some reason anything different would feel unnatural.

"What is it?" Ryou's eyes widened in curiosity.

"I really don't have a crush on Malik!" I told him nervously. Ryou paused.

"Oh. Okay," he replied with... what I swear was a disappointed tone.

Maybe I need to be a bit more forceful. "We're just friends, Ryou!"

He giggled at me, making me blush madly. Damn brother, clearly not giving a shit for what I'm saying! "Lemme know when you change your mind," he said with an amused tone as he placed his whatever he was making in the oven. "Here, you're not whipping the mixture enough." He took the bowl off me and finished whipping the mixture within with much more expertise than me.

But for goodness sake! I need to be even clearer with this. "Ryou, I have feelings for someone else," I grumbled. He poured my cake mixture into a good rounded cake-pan and placed it alongside his pudding in the oven and shut the oven door. Then he set the timer and began cleaning up the kitchen. He frowned at me and told me to help with cleaning up. I sighed. "I'm serious, Ryou. Malik's not the guy I'm after. Even he knows that!"

"Then who?" Ryou asked almost as if he was obligated to ask with the way I was carrying on.

I drew in a breath and checked my surroundings. Then I scooted over to Ryou and whispered, "...Mariku Ishtar." He leaped back and probably set a world record for the loudest gasp out of shock. I glared. "Ryou!"

"Sorry, sorry!" he apologised quickly; his cheeks flushing pink. "B-But Mariku-kun?! Why? Of all people! Um um, I think a better match for you would be... Malik-kun!"

"But he's not the one I like!"

Ryou shook his head insistently. "No! Bad Kura! Mariku-kun isn't good boyfriend material at all! He'd be unfaithful."

"You think I hadn't already considered that?" I scoffed, folding my arms irritably. No, Ryou and I are definitely not on the same thinking level! He doesn't understand at all. Stupid brother. Ryou sighed.

"Okay, I'm just surprised, that's all," he huffed, turning his back on me. Ugh, he does that everytime I win an argument. What is it with him being fixated on the idea of Malik and I? It's not like that between us. Why do people think that? Ryou swivelled around to face me. "Oh, oh! Kura, um... good luck with Mariku-kun. Sorry I misunderstood." His words felt forced but I extended an arm to pat his head regardless. "Eheheh..."

"Seriously, Mariku-kun's more my type. You know I like 'em wild," I said with a wink.

He giggled again. "Lemme know when you change your mind!" he repeated. Argh, now I know he's picking on me!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Malik's eyes widened like saucers as I placed the cake I baked onto the refreshment table alongside a cake knife and paper napkins. He recognised the recipe and asked if Ryou made it. For the first time, I shook my head proudly and told him that I made it in celebration of his victory for our class. Malik grinned and helped himself to a huge serving of cake. He tasted it and asked if I baked often.

I shook my head and his jaw dropped. "No freaking way! This stuff's genius!" he yanked Otogi over and forced a slice of cake on him. "Otogi-baka, try this! Bakura's secretly a culinary genius!" And with that, he began to munch away at his own slice. I grinned and took in the compliments rather shyly. Man, I kinda wish Mariku was here. And like hell I'd say that Ryou did more work than I did!

Yami, Jounouchi and Honda alongside some other classmates each helped themselves to a slice of cake each. With a small smile, Yami said, "My compliments to the chef."

Shit, is the cake actually that good? It's not any special flavour or anything... I helped myself to a slice and nibbled it nervously, hoping like mad that the others actually meant their praises and weren't just saying it was good for the sake of being kind about my lack of cooking ability.

Jounouchi let out a yell of surprise. "Eh?! Bakura made the cake?! No way, are we talking about the same Bakura?!"

Otogi put an arm around me. "Kura, Kura, Kura-kun! You're going to become a fine housewife!" Oh, you try saying that again, bitch. "Eek, Bakura-kun's giving me the death glare!"

I glanced over at Malik, who was wrapping a slice of cake fully in napkin paper. He handed the wrapped cake slice to me with a smile. "Save it for Mariku. He'll be hella impressed – if there's anything he loves, it's food." Ah, he's a smart cookie. I was about to place the cake in my pocket when someone snatched it out of my hands. What?! I looked up and saw Otogi rush out the door with the slice. "Otogi-baka!" Malik yelled and chased after him.

Out of instinct I decided to chase after them too and we wound up at Otogi's dormitory room. Mariku burst out laughing and I glared daggers as Otogi handed him the slice of cake that I made. Taking credit for my work!

Malik suddenly grinned. "Sheesh, you guys have a feast going on here!" I looked on the floor and saw that Ryou was setting up that pudding he made earlier along with cups of lemonade and assortments of other food. Malik forced me to join their circle and I couldn't help but think that we just ditched a class party because Otogi made off with some of my cake.

Mariku unwrapped the napkin paper and crammed the cake slice into his mouth. He swallowed the piece and licked his lips in satisfaction. "Now that's some mean cake!"

Ryou smiled. "Bakura made it, Mariku-kun."

The crazy-haired Egyptian pulled the same expression Malik pulled earlier in reaction to learning that why yes, I can bake a cake after all. "No freaking way! This stuff's genius!" It took me a moment to realise those were Malik's words from before as well. "Bakura's secretly a culinary genius!" Shit, I'm starting to see Malik and Mariku's twin qualities methinks.

"Hey, let's stay here for this feast!" Malik suggested excitedly. I sighed and shook my head.

"You ought to be at the class party. After all, you're the one who won it for our class," I pointed out. He frowned. "Come on, it's your night so go and I dunno, spam how brilliant you are?"

Malik nodded with a sigh. "Alright, fine," he groaned. Ryou suddenly reached for Mariku's hair gel and spiked his hair up like mine. "Ryou-kun?"

"Can I go to the party in Kura's stead? Hey Otogi-kun, let's go!" The next thing I knew during the procession of one thing, another thing and so on confusing the shit out of me, Malik, Ryou and Otogi had ditched leaving Mariku and I all alone. I tensed up. If they're staying at the party, does that mean Mariku and I are going to get some... alone time for a while?

Mariku finished a cup of lemonade in one gulp and happily helped himself to another. "Wonder why that Ryou-kid was so eager to go in your place, eh?" he spoke amidst the silence. I scratched my head and told him I hadn't a clue. "I mean, Seto's not there... Then again, he doesn't wanna ride the Kaiba Train anymore," he muttered as he served himself some pudding of the chocolate variety.

I shrugged. "Ryou did make a lot of food at that party. I guess he just wants to see what people think of the things he made?" I guessed. Honestly I don't have a clue.

"...Ah. That could be it."

Another silence.

Oh fuck, what am I supposed to talk about with this guy? He could start a conversation anytime he wants but I suppose he's waiting on me. That look he's giving me. He's testing me, I'm sure. But I believe this is a chance. So I better find out useful information.

"Doyouhaveaboyfriend?!" I blurted out in a rush.

...Fucking hell, I'm an idiot.

Mariku tilted his head to the side; his expression too blank for my liking. Then he grinned and leaned forward. "Boyfriend? That's just assuming I'm gay! Ahaha, Bakura! Malik's definitely gay but me, I'll bang anything! Wahaha!" He continued to laugh while I couldn't quite work out if what I asked was bad or not. Eventually he finished his usual manic laughter and sighed. "When I was younger, I probably freaked Malik out with ghost stories. But when I learned Ryou was into the occult and acts like it scares him to make him an open target for people to force occult things onto him, I was amazed and so I started telling him made up ghost shit and his eyes would widen with fascination... It's kinda cute really."

I raised an eyebrow. "...Um, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Because when it comes to ghosts and love, I think the same thing!" he explained. "Ryou believes in ghosts but they come and go for him, just like with that crush of his on Seto Kaiba. And I posed a question to Malik once: 'what would you do if a ghost came and fucked you up?' I also asked 'what would you do if love came and fucked you up?' because you know, I'll ask pretty much anything so long as some curse word is thrown in for the sake of it... And you know what?"

I raised the other eyebrow. "What?"

"Malik said the same thing in response to both questions! He said 'if I come across such a thing, then that's that.' So I thought to myself, perhaps both are supernatural concepts!" he told me, pointing a finger at my face. I smirked.

"Love may not happen for everyone but I wouldn't say it's anything supernatural-related," I replied with a shrug of my shoulders. He reached over and tapped my nose with his finger and leaned back. I shivered at his sudden touch. Oh god, don't let it show, don't let it show...

"But dear Bakura, that's the thing! I don't believe in ghosts because I've never seen proof of their existence. Similarly, I don't get how Seto or Yami could possibly be together or how marriages last. It doesn't make sense to me –"

I cut him off. "Because you don't believe in love nor had seen proof?"

Mariku blinked at me a couple of times. He took a moment to consider this and then he nodded rather quietly. Then he let out a laugh. "But I think if ghosts existed, I'd totally chat to it and shit! Would be really fucking insane and all!" He went silent. "Hey Bakura, do you have to be special or have some kind of power to see ghosts?" he suddenly asked almost seriously.

Somehow I feel like Mariku's wanting to talk more insightfully. But everytime he says something that's interesting, that I can think about, he goes and laughs it off. He's weirdly inconsistent. That in itself is fascinating to me. I want to know more about the other sides of Mariku. There is a smart guy in there but he often seems to cover it up for whatever reason. This weird thing of inconsistency is somehow... attractive to me. Yet it's always been a common trait of Malik's too.

"You know what, Mariku? I think there's a ghost out there who wants to be seen by you," I told him before realising what I just said.

Did I just tell him that there's someone who likes him? Shit, shit. Damn confusing metaphors with reality, fuck shit, fuck shit, shittily fuck – swear jars from across the globe will be utterly furious with me.

The Egyptian teenager sitting across from me fell silent at my words. He averted his eyes to the ground quickly. Is he... going red? Oh god, I made him blush?! Is this good or bad or what the fuck shit what?!

He cracked up at last. "Bakura, you say weird shit! Right, right." Mariku clambered to his feet as he tried to contain his own laughter. I swear he has a laughing disease, that guy. It seems like anything can trigger laughter out of Mariku. "Let's go crash that party! I'm going to go and violate Otogi's personal space with my di-"

"I don't wanna know," I interrupted him with a sigh. He grinned and forced me to go with him to our class' party.

I think I took another step with Mariku. Maybe I just made him more aware of me as... you know. But I know something's for sure.

I have to show Mariku who that ghost is.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

I was down on my knees, begging like a dog at the feet of a tall giant. There was nothing but pitch black darkness surrounding me, except for the dog kennel behind me. Did I just take the place of Jounouchi or something?! What the hell is this? Looking up, I saw that the enormous giant person was none other than Malik Ishtar. "Please Malik, marry me!" I pleaded, bowing down at his feet again.

He rolled his eyes as if my request was irritating as hell. "Ugh, seeing as you're literally on your knees and begging... Fine!" he decided just like that. "I'll marry you. Let's get into that kennel."

Malik then shrunk down to my size and I soon noticed that I had a dog tail and ears. What the fuck is going on here? I felt the scene suddenly change within the kennel and Otogi came into the kennel with two chibi-sized people in his arms. I blinked. Why are Mariku and Ryou chibis?

"Look Kura! Malik's had two beautiful children!" he exclaimed. Wait, what!? But Mariku and Malik are twins! Fucking hell, I'm so confused – why did I beg for Malik to marry me anyway?!

I turned to Malik with a quizzical expression. He shrugged. "What's with that look? You're the father."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"What!?" I yelled as I sat up awake. Quickly I realised that Malik had yelled out the same thing in unison as we both woke up to the next day. The day after the athletics day and the party. Why would he wake up the same way as me? "Malik, I just had a dream where –"

Malik scowled at me with clenched fists. "You begged me to marry you and we had sex in a kennel and I gave birth to Mariku and Ryou-kun and you're the father and-"

Hold up, what?!

"You had that dream too?!"

"Too?!" He got out of bed and paced around the room. "Hang on, we just woke up from one hell of a fucked dream and it was the same fucking dream and... Oh fuuuuuuuuuuuuck!" he clutched at his head and panicked. "This must be a prediction of the future!" What?! Where the fuck do you get off jumping to conclusions like that? "I mean, you won't be some dog thing and we won't give birth to your brother or my brother but but but it's a sign of the apocalypse! I have no choice but to do what I can to stop this fate!"

Those drama lessons are really doing something for him.

"...Malik, I think you're overreacting..."

He shook his head. "Fuck you – no wait, that's how I got male pregnancy – oh god – just get together with you-know-who already!!"

...I have a feeling things are going to get weird.

Or more, weirder if that's even possible.

I remember the dream sequence in Toradora and it cracked me up so I just had to shove it in. But um, I ain't got much more to say. Sooooo...

Next chapter: Time for class president nominations! The nominees are Yami, Otogi and... Bakura?! Uh-oh, Mariku's getting into a dispute. Otogi contains along with his mysterious ways... What the hell is Malik doing now?

Adios!

Mel-Girl.