Notes: Yes, I know this was a long update… I'm warning you now, my updates as a rule will be sporadic. I feel the need to do some random responses to reviewers now, so please bear with me. ^_^ Oh, and it's not everyone; please don't feel left out. T-T You all rule!

Anime Crazed: ^_^ LOL, of course, what story is complete without Yugi and Ryou in leather? Hehe, I didn't exactly plan it that way, but sure, we'll say they were wearing leather. (Yugi and Ryou: But it's uncomfortable! DSF: Deal with it! You look cute!)

Cleoraia: Thanks again for e-mailing me the songs; next chapter will be one of the ones you suggested! It should be very interesting, to say the least, I really like the lyrics. ^_^ Oh, and if you remember which one it is, could you please not mention if you review? Only because I know some people go read reviews and then they'll know what it is beforehand… ^___^

Yami's Girl: Well, I know this was a long time ago you asked, so I won't go into the whole spiel… but if you're still confused, feel free to e-mail me!

Shimmersea: Um, I banged my head against the wall five times, checked over my reviews for your story and author's notes in this chapter five times, and I still haven't figured out where I said Seto was annoying. X.x I probably did, he used to annoy me until… ::gasp:: I became a Seto-fangirl. Oh, and I think the story I read of yours I expected it to be Seto/Serenity, so don't worry about disappointing me. ^_^ I read just about every pairing out there and love Seto/Serenity just as much as anything. Um… I got the shipping right, didn't I? Because then I really would be making a mistake… ::sweatdrop:: Well, there's no ship you could write that I won't read. Except… okay, I'll stop there. Oh yeah, and I like Duke/Serenity too. ^_^

Sword Master Jeff: I hopefully mentioned the names of all the songs in the disclaimers… o.O If I didn't, someone point it out! I don't wanna get sued… ^_^()

To Téa/Anzu fans: Well, if you've gotten this far, you're probably a Téa fan, right? Or you at least can stand her. If you do happen to be a Téa fan who is sick of Téa-bashing, I joined this cool group called the TPA, standing for Téa Protection Agency. Don't worry about the intimidating name, lol, all you have to do is put your name on a list and be nice to Téa in your stories. ^_^ If anyone thinks that this sounds awesome (which it is, Téa rules!), go to: , and cross your fingers that uploading this document doesn't screw the URL up. X.x Oh, and it was founded by trueyamigirlfriend, so if the website fails you could go to her bio page…

And to most everyone else: I want to give a biiig hug to those who don't usually read these shippings but did anyway! I know I prodded some of the readers of my other fics, and trust me, I appreciate it! Some of the ships I used in here are a bit unorthodox, but I love experimenting with different ships. ^_^ These aren't necessarily my favorite, but my penchant at the moment. Anyway, most people said that I pulled these off well, so thaaaaaank yoooou! ^_^ And thanks to other people who do like these ships and are giving me such lovely words of encouragement!

Final things: This chapter focuses on Téa/Bakura again, but it won't always be that way. Next chapter, for example, will talk about everyone, and then maybe one chapter will focus in on Yami/Serenity or Joey/Mai… ::shrugs:: I go wherever the wind takes me! Well, no, I go wherever Ryou goes! ::points to badge: Crazy Ryou Stalker:: (Ryou: ::gets frightened look in his adorable eyes::)

Oh, and just as I wasn't bashing country music last chapter, I'm not bashing Weevil in this chapter! Remember: Bakura's point of view.

And I must confess I really don't listen to the radio (I'm getting these songs mostly from soundtracks, suggestions, or lyrics found on the internet), so I'm not sure if the information I included in this chapter is accurate. Same goes for the events in the radio station. So please forgive any errors. ^^;;

Eep, these are really, really long author's notes. Well, it's my longest chapter so far, so hopefully you can forgive me. ^_^

Disclaimer: ::checks list of Things She Owns:: I don't see Yu-Gi-Oh anywhere on here… darnit, I never can catch a break. Another thing suspiciously absent from this list is the song "Best Years of Our Lives", by the Baha Men. It's them who own it… not me.

3 months after the Dance

*~*~*

Bakura poked the cafeteria meat dubiously with his fork. He couldn't be sure, but he thought it bounced.

Hmm… how could he kill someone with this?

"Hey!" Téa said brightly, setting her tray next to his and swinging her long legs over the bench gracefully to settle beside him. "Guess what I just realized?"

"That the Pharaoh is a baka?" Bakura guessed, earning himself a frown. "How sexy I am?" This drew a laugh.

"Tomorrow's our 3-month anniversary!" she chirped. "Isn't it exciting?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "It sounds suspiciously mushy," he grumbled.

Not fazed, Téa pretended to bat her eyes at him. "It is mushy," she said, winking. "You're supposed to buy me flowers, and get me chocolate, and give me jewelry, and sing me love songs, and-"

"Oh, Ra," Bakura groaned. "You're joking, right?"

She smiled and put her hand on his arm. "Bakura, you're all I need. I know you don't like to hear this, but I love you. I don't need anything else."

He put an arm around her. "Who said I don't like to hear it?" he growled playfully. Then his gaze dropped. "I just… have trouble saying it sometimes."

"I know," Téa whispered. "It's okay." Then, after a pause: "But flowers would be nice."

He laughed and drew her in for a hug.

"I saw you at lunch today," Ryou remarked as he and Bakura walked home from school. "You and Téa-" He was cut off by Bakura abruptly spinning around and grabbing his collar.

"Don't you dare say we looked cute, or sweet, or romantic, or-" he swallowed- "mushy," he finally spit out. "I hate that word."

Ryou's lips curved into a humorous smile. "Fine, yami," he said gently. "I won't say it…"

Bakura sighed and released his hikari. "Ryou, you're tolerable," he said, patting the boy's shoulder. Ryou burst out laughing, and Bakura fought to control a smile. That was their little ritual, started one night when Ryou complained that Bakura never complimented anyone.

They walked in meditative silence for a few minutes, until Bakura suddenly reared back and threw a punch at a street sign. It was so abrupt that it startled Ryou, and for a few seconds he wondered why Bakura was dancing in pain, clutching his fist. Then he saw the dent in the sign and sighed a little. "Bakura. You need to work on more creative ways of working out your problems. You could try actually telling me what they are, for example." He examined the sign. "I think this is the one you hit last month too. When you were mad at Weevil Underwood…"

"The little bug was flirting with my Téa," Bakura growled. Ryou rolled his eyes.

"You look like a girl when you do that," was Bakura's immediate response. This in turn caused Ryou to roll his eyes again. When Bakura opened his mouth again, Ryou cut him off quickly, blushing.

"So what's the matter, yami? I mean, you punch things a lot, but this time you seemed to be upset about something… not just having fun at the sign's expense."

"Anniversary," Bakura grumbled. "What a stupid idea. If it were anyone else but Téa, I'd laugh at the idea of celebrating something so mushy."

"Will you stop with the 'mushy' complex?" Ryou asked, frowning. "If I didn't know better, I'd say that it's the only thing you're afraid of." Sensing Bakura about to punch a sign again, he hastily added "So you're worried about what to do for your anniversary?"

"I'm not worried," Bakura said defensively. "I just… don't want to sing."

Ryou raised his eyebrows. "Who said you had to sing?"

"Well, Téa was joking," Bakura tried to explain. "But I want to do something to her that's not really mean, like trapping her soul in a card or trying to kill her friends."

"You mean something nice?" Ryou inquired, fighting to control his smile at the horrified look on Bakura's face. "Well, you don't necessarily have to sing. You could dance with her. I know that's one thing she'd love."

"Okay…" Bakura said hesitantly. They rounded the corner and headed into their house. "How?"

"You know how to dance," Ryou said, furrowing his eyebrows. "Oh… I think I know what you mean. Maybe you should pick out a song, first of all- I think that's what a lot of couples do, choose a special song. Then you can bring a CD player to the park, that's a nice place. And, um… dance?"

"They have holes in the wall in parks?" Bakura questioned, looking around as if expecting to see his answer printed on the kitchen table.

"Outlets, Bakura, or electrical sockets. No, they don't have outlets in the park… you can borrow my portable CD player."

"Thanks, hikari," Bakura said, almost happily. "Now… I just need a good song."

"Do you want help?" Ryou offered, dumping his backpack on a nearby chair.

Bakura scowled. "Don't call it help. I don't need any help. But I will let you have the honor of assisting me in my quest for the perfect song!"

Ryou sighed as he followed Bakura upstairs. "Last time you said I could have the honor of assisting you, Yami ended up covered in green Jello, Tristan and Joey's feet were chained together, and Mai was locked in the basement for half an hour."

"You forgot that I electrocuted Yugi's hair, and it messed up his spikes for the rest of the day," Bakura reminded him proudly. "Talk about priceless…"

Ryou rubbed his temples, remembering that particular incident. Yugi had looked positively frightening. Of course, it had been funny when Seto and Mokuba Kaiba decided to stop by the Game Shop, only to be greeted by the afro-wonder…

They were heading for Bakura's room, where his modest CD collection rested. For the past nine months, Ryou had been buying CDs he thought Bakura would like, and casually leaving them around the house. They would always disappear, of course, although on occasion Ryou had actually spotted Bakura lifting one. His tomb-robber skills had definitely diminished…

Or perhaps not. His eyes bugged out when he entered Bakura's room to find a state-of-the-art stereo system, complete with speakers on every wall, and at least a dozen shelves packed with CDs. "Bakura, you didn't steal all these."

"Of course I did," Bakura said indignantly. "Are you underestimating my skill?"

"No, but I'm obviously overestimating your morals," Ryou groused. "Bakura! What would Téa say?"

Bakura scowled. "Hey, these were paid for! I just stole them for fun… then sent the money in."

"And where did you get the money?" Ryou asked suspiciously.

"Well, it's a long story, but now that I've started you'd better listen, hikari! See, I was walking down the street one day, when I saw the kid Mokuba being teased by some bullies. After I went through all the trouble of remembering his name, I wasn't about to let some other idiots push him around. So I set my Man-Eater Bug after them." He took a deep breath. "And then Seto Kaiba showed up, saying something about not wanting to be in anyone's debt or something, and practically shoved this giant check in my hand!" Ryou simply raised an eyebrow; it did make sense. And Bakura had really changed, he actually felt as if he could trust him. "So," Bakura continued proudly, "I stole this stuff and sent the money in. Want to know how I got it into the house?" Without waiting for Ryou to respond, he plunged on: "I used some more of the money to buy some white pills from this store… I don't know what… and I put it into your drink one night! And when you were asleep… or unconscious… I dragged it all in!" He grinned proudly.

For a second, Ryou was too outraged to speak. "So that's why I woke up with that giant headache! Bakura! That wasn't fun!"

"It was for me," his yami grinned. "Anyway, come on, weakling." He said the name with a sort of genuine affection. "We've got to find a song for Téa!"

"I can't believe you have some of these songs," Ryou said half an hour later, staring at the CD in his hand. "Some of these are positively mushy, Bakura."

Across the room, a horrified-looking white-haired head shot up from beneath a pile of CDs. "No! Not mushy! Snap those ones! Or, I know! You can have them. You like girly things like that, don't you?"

Ryou scowled. "I don't like girly things! But these aren't girly. Just sentimental, that's all."

"Or maybe just mental," Bakura muttered, digging through the CDs again.

"Look who's talking!" Ryou exclaimed, giving the dirtiest look he could muster to Bakura, who took no notice. He sighed a little, and let his gaze wander the room. It fell on a CD lying haphazardly under a pile of others. Curiously, he picked it up, and scanned the back of it.

Picking one that sounded familiar, he placed it in Bakura's new stereo system and began to play it. From across the room, Bakura looked up again, considering. He seemed to like the beat of the music at first, but the original lyrics made him frown slightly.

Ryou could practically see his yami's mouth opening and forming the familiar 'm' shape… 'mushy'… but then the chorus came on.

"Give me the CD," Bakura demanded.

Best years of our lives

Bakura spread the blanket that Ryou had loaned him, took out the CD player Ryou had let him borrow, and set out the food he'd taken from Ryou's refrigerator. What a generous hikari he had…

He fidgeted a little; he'd arrived at the secluded area of the park nearly half an hour before he'd asked Téa to meet him. Ryou had advised him on the proper set-up for a 'romantic' picnic. Yes, he'd caved in… imagining the look on Téa's face was enough to make him cross the romance border.

He fidgeted again… he wasn't nervous! Nope, not at all. Nothing could go wrong.

Aah! Saying that was what caused it to rain! But on the other hand, he wasn't superstitious. Oh, this was stupid. He took a step back to survey the picnic area and felt something crunch underneath his feet. He peered down to see the shards of the CD.

Yup, nothing could go wrong.

Bakura stared in the window of the music store, debating within himself. He didn't have any money on him, but that wasn't a problem. He could always steal the CD with the song on it. Except he'd tried twice, and every time his hand touched the CD Téa's disapproving face would flash into his mind. Damnit! Darn her morals…

He could run home and get money, but he wouldn't make it back to the picnic area before Téa.

So he used his old fallback and punched the window.

Just then, the noise of the radio drifted into his hearing. 'And this next song is a dedication, from Sally to her dear sister Ida. Happy birthday, Ida…'

Bakura paused, his fist on the window, and carefully studied the reflection. Slowly, he turned around to see the radio tower.

A fiendish grin crept over his face and he patted the window. "Thanks!" Then he dashed off.

The DJ at Domino Radio Station, Stan, started playing the next song and reclined in his seat. But his brief moment of rest didn't last long, for the door swung open with a bang. He spun around, startled, to see a demonic-looking white-haired boy standing in the doorway. Craning his neck a bit, Stan could see the security guards… lying on the floor? Bound with glowing green ropes? What the-?

"You'll play this song," the boy said importantly, striding over to Stan and handing him a scrap of paper. "At exactly…" he glanced down at his wrist and seemed to remember he wasn't wearing a watch, so he looked up at the clock in the corner of the room. "At exactly two-thirty-seven. Got it?"

Stan blinked twice, then burst out laughing. "You've got a deal," he said, grinning, giving into the insane urges inside of him, not stopping to think. "You know, I've always wanted to do something crazy like that. What are they bound with?"

The white-haired boy glanced behind him. "Oh. Shadow Magic." He carelessly waved his hand, and the binds disappeared. Stan's eyebrows shot up.

"Whoa," he began, but the boy cut him off with a slicing motion of his hand.

"Play the song," he ordered. "Say it's to Téa, from Bakura. And don't add anything mushy!"

Stan grinned at the boy. "You know, I could have you thrown out of here. And I could refuse to play the song. And I could call the police on you."

"And I could send you, your family, and your friends to the Shadow Realm," Bakura shot back. Behind him, the security guards made a grabbing motion, but he stepped aside, giving them a scornful look.

"Touché," Stan said, grinning. "I like you. I'll play the song, but you'd better be listening."

Bakura smirked. "I'll be listening. Have a nice day."

"Hey! Leave him!" Stan barked at the guards, who were advancing again. "See you around, Bakura."

"I hope not," he grumbled, stepping out of the room. Once far enough away, he allowed himself a grin. Problem taken care of, and he'd gained a new admirer. Wouldn't Téa be impressed?

"A surprise?" Téa exclaimed, delighted. "Oh, Bakura! This is enough!"

"Nah, this is all Ryou's stuff," Bakura said, shaking his head. "So is this CD player…" he waved his hand at it, "but listen."

Téa smiled happily, putting her arms around him. "It's the thought that counts, even if you did take it from your other half," she said, surveying the blanket, food, and CD player. "Thank you so much… I didn't expect this much."

He smiled and put his arms around her waist; and she realized that he'd assumed the dancing position. "Listen," he said again, nudging the volume up with his foot. The CD player was set to the radio function, and a DJ began to speak.

'Next song up: "Best Years of Our Lives"! Performed by the Baha Men, requested by a crazy guy named Bakura to Téa! Bakura, buddy, you enjoy this. And Téa too, whoever you are.'

"Bakura!" Téa exclaimed in astonishment, lighting up with happiness. "You requested a song for me?"

"For us," he murmured huskily into her ear, guiding her easily into the beginning steps of the dance.

"Téa?" Bakura murmured in her ear as the song drew to a close.

"Hmmm?" she mumbled dreamily, tightening her grip on his shoulders and leaning her head against his warm shoulder. When he was silent, she opened her sparkling blue eyes to peer into his chocolate ones. They were filled with warmth, caring, and dare she say mushiness?

"…I love you."

*~*~*

One final comment before you R-E-V-I-E-W (is that hint subtle enough? Wink, wink)- if anyone knows any country songs that would make Bakura scream like a small girl and shrivel in horror, would you mind telling me the name? ^_^ Guess you can see where this is going… yep, hopefully Ryou's father's CD will appear in future chapters as Bakura learns to dance. Yay! (If you don't understand what I'm talking about, read the end of the last chapter again!)

Yup, since I know you're all dying to review, I'll let you go do that!