Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this fanfiction! It's my first thiefshipping, so I hope it's okay! It's been a rough chapter to get started on, but I hope you enjoy!

"That should be all of it. Thanks again guys for helping me out." Marik placed the box he'd been holding on the ground with a soft thump before turning around to face his two siblings with a grin.

"It really isn't a problem, Marik," Ishizu admitted as she placed her box down next Marik's, beside the one Rishid had already deposited. "I just hope that you'll be alright here. It doesn't seem like the most reliable building, and it's so far away from our house…"

"Oh, you worry too much, Ishizu! Marik's an adult, and he can take care of himself," came a low reply as Rishid stepped up to his adoptive brother and slung an easy arm over his shoulder. "Itty bitty Mar-Mar is all grown up!"

With a growl, Marik ducked out from under the arm and skipped away, glaring back at his much taller brother. "I told you not to call me that, Rishid! Like you said, I'm adult, so start treating me like one!"

"I will when you start acting like one." Rishid mock glowered at his brother.

There was a moment of stillness before two men lunged at each other playfully, wrestling around a bit until Rishid got the upper hand, trapping his brother in a light headlock. Ishizu let out a small sigh, ignoring the horseplay as she looked around the apartment once more, worry leaking into her features. "Marik…are you sure you're going to be alright? Are you sure you won't reconsider, stay with us? I mean, you know we don't mind it at all…"

It took Marik a moment to break from Rishid's hold on him, but when he finally did he gave his sister a warm smile and waved a hand between them.

"I'm positive; this is going to be good for me, I can tell. And you don't have to worry, I've checked in with the college, and things are all set. I have an interview for a job in a few days, and this place is only an hour from your guys' house. If you're that worried, you can always call me, but I'm telling you I'll be fine."

Ishizu nodded, but Marik could still see the tension in her shoulders and the worry in her icy eyes. It lasted throughout the entire visit, and even while Rishid and she departed Marik could tell that she wasn't happy. Her eyes weighed heavily on Marik, but he tried to ignore them.

Though, he couldn't blame her for her reaction - after all, worrying for him was all she knew how to do. Ever since they were children, she had always worried for him. Their father hadn't been the…kindest of people; if he wasn't throwing things around or slamming doors, he was beating Marik. Their father liked to blame Marik for his wife's death, and he would often yell such things at him, roaring his displeasure as he beat Marik with hangers, belts, and even his own hands.

Thinking about it now, Marik winced, trying to forget the hundreds of bruises that had littered his bronze skin all through his childhood. He always looked like a bruised fruit left out to rot, and he often avoided looking in mirrors, trying to forget the hell he was forced to live. Out of sight, out of mind, after all.

His siblings had tried to protect him, but their father would lash out at them instead, and Marik couldn't bear that. So he tried to take the abuse in silence, anger burning through him until it left a sickening, smoldering hole in his chest. He hated that man, and wished death on him every day. If not his father's death, then Marik wished for his own if only to end the suffering.

But blessings had come to Marik in the form of a sudden heart attack that racked through his father's chest. It had been severe, and killed his father when Marik was only eleven. The day the hospital called the house and told Marik that his father had died, he had hated the feeling of relief and security that flowed through him, even though it couldn't fill the hole left from years of anguish. But he relished in the thought that he would no longer be in pain; he would no longer have to suffer at the hands of the man who was supposed to love him unconditionally.

Rishid had been eighteen at the time, and Ishizu only fifteen. With no other family to turn to, the three had clung together in support. They had lived a stable life, nothing too extravagant, and Marik took for granted many things.

He enjoyed school, enjoyed his new life, and tried his best not to think about what suffering had led them to this simple existence. Rishid worked two to three jobs at a time, and Ishizu had taken up a few part time jobs to pay the bills. Despite the struggle to maintain financial stability, Marik's two elder siblings never once asked him to find a job, or to do anything really. They simply allowed him to enjoy the life they worked to provide for him.

It wasn't until later on, around the age of sixteen, that Marik realised why; in a way, the two were protecting him. They allowed him to be a kid in a way he hadn't been able to before, during his time with his father. They wanted Marik to have the opportunity of a nice life because their father had stolen the chance from him.

Once he had figured that out, Marik felt immensely guilty. His siblings were suffering, refusing to ask for help, all to protect Marik and provide a good life for him. And what had he done for them? Nothing.

It hadn't taken him long after that to start asking for work. But, no one would hire him and he had to watch as day after day, Rishid and Ishizu came home from work with dark circles under their eyes, only to turn around and go back out to another job.

Guilt constantly ate away at Marik as he tried to find small odd and end jobs, only earning minimum under the table pay. It hadn't been much, but when he had enough, he tried to give the money to his siblings. However, they had denied his earnings and asked him to allow them to continue to provide for him. No matter how much he begged and tried to push the money on them, they told him to keep it.

Finally, Marik had decided to take matters into his own hands. The previous year, Marik had begun applying for scholarships and loans until he had gathered enough money on his own to attend a college far enough away that he could support himself. He wanted to remove himself from his siblings' care so that they could finally enjoy their own lives without having to worry for him.

Of course, Ishizu had gotten angry with him, wondering why her brother had gone behind her back, but Marik didn't want to be a burden. This way, he could live his own life on his own two feet. He was nineteen, and it was about time for him to begin acting like it. After many arguments and raised voices, Marik's siblings finally agreed to help him move to his new apartment, reluctantly allowing him to act as he desired.

It would be difficult, Marik knew, to take care of himself when he had been financially dependent on his siblings for so long. However, he also knew that he had to do this, for their sake as well as his own.

After Rishid and Ishizu had departed, Marik had spent a great deal of time unpacking as the sun sunk sleepily towards the horizon. Muscles ached and joints cracked as Marik stretched, violet eyes raking around the small apartment.

It wasn't much, a small place with one bed, one bathroom, a small kitchenette, and a very modest living room. Small, and very empty, but it was his home now, and Marik knew he had to make the best of it.

The day faded and wore on as Marik finally went scrounging for food, managing to put together a small sandwich out of the things he had brought. It was meagre, but enough to fill up the growling in his stomach before he headed into the small bedroom.

His body was heavy as he fell face down on a worn comforter, heavy sigh pulling itself through his lips. It had been a long day, and now that he was alone with his thoughts, he couldn't deny the worry and anxiety that came with finally moving in on his own, supporting himself. The worst of it was that if he asked, Rishid and Ishizu would welcome him back with open arms, gladly taking care of him as they always had before.

But no; he wouldn't allow himself to go crawling back to his siblings. It was time they deserved lives of their own, too, without having to worry about him so much. He had to learn to take care of his own life, and he would start when dawn broke.

With these heavy thoughts weighing down on him, Marik felt sleep grasp him in its greedy clutches and he soon fell into the sea of slumber.

The dawn broke and sunlight fractured through the old blinds, hitting Marik's tanned face with a warm diffused glow. He scrunched his face for a moment before bleary violet eyes blinked open slowly. It felt unusual as he rolled over, knowing that he was on his own for the first time in his entire life. But, he had already decided to live this life and so, he sat up rubbing at his eyes.

It took him a few minutes to fully awaken, but when he did he stumbled to the bathroom for a quick and not surprisingly cold shower. It took him longer to get ready, applying his makeup carefully before fixing his hair. When Marik was satisfied with his appearance, he exited the bathroom and made his way to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water before taking a seat on the old worn couch.

Today would be a long one, he knew. He had to go to the college and gather his course schedule and books required. Thankfully, he had only taken General Education classes, so the work load would be light, he hoped.

Minutes ticked by in silence as Marik took a deep breath, knowing he'd stalled for long enough. The day beckoned to him and he reluctantly rose, taking a few seconds to deposit his glass in the sink and grab his coat before grabbing his keys and locking the apartment behind him.

With a resigned sigh, tanned hands buried themselves in pockets as Marik called the elevator with his elbow, waiting as the rickety cart arrived to the fourth floor. He rode it down to the ground level and exited the building, momentarily blinded by the morning sun, lifting a hand to shield violet eyes.

The morning was warm for the beginning of September, but there was a definite chill in the air that foretold of autumn's approach. A small breeze pinched at Marik's cheeks as he jingled his keys in his pocket, approaching his sleek red motorcycle parked in front of the building.

The drive to the college only took about ten minutes, and Marik managed to get a decent parking space in front of the Student Center. With a deep sigh, he squared his shoulders and entered the building, ignoring the few looks he got from other students. His eyes looked around, unsure of exactly where to go, so he settled for the help desk situated off to the right.

It seemed to take an age and a half for Marik to get directed to where he had to go, and get his financial situation figured out. Once that was taken care of, he still had to buy his books, which only resulted in more frustration and annoyance over the incompetence of the employees.

Over three hours and many curses later, Marik stormed from the building, face contorted in anger as he tied his new school books to the back of his bike, mouth muttering in murmured cursing.

"Shouldn't take that damn long…people should have their heads pulled out of their asses! I mean, how long does it take to get a few books, and ring them up!?"

A loud growl escaped his lips, causing two girls to scurry by him, slightly frightened expressions on their face as Marik straddled his bike.

"Absolutely ridiculous…"

His bad mood persisted until he arrived back to his apartment, storming back upstairs ignoring the elevator. It wasn't until he arrived to his apartment and had thrown his books on the couch that he slumped down, head in his hands.

Marik knew that he was just adjusting, but still he'd never had to do things on his own. It was an unusual life, and he worried about every little thing. But he had to do this; he didn't have Rishid and Ishizu there to guide him anymore, and they wouldn't be there to hold his hand.

Tomorrow, classes would start, and something told Marik that things would only get more difficult from there on out.

"Perfect."

See? Mostly intro. But I promise, Bakura is going to appear next chapter! So, look forward to it!