I'm sure you are all probably wondering why on Earth I decided to up and move this story onto another account and start all over again. Well, I have a valid reason.
I was reading back through this story, looking at the flaws and things that utterly irked me about this story.

I started this idea in november of 2011, I believe, I had newly turned 14, but had written most of the story months before. I found that my writing style and quality has improved. Also, I changed accounts as it is royal pain in the hindquarters to change accounts every time I want to write and I am a rather lazy soul.

On to the story! Review, my lovelies!

I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house

That don't bother me,

I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out,

I'm not afraid to cry every once in a while,

Even though going on with you gone still upsets me.

Rascal Flatts ~ What Hurts the Most

Marik lay in his bed, sighing softly. He pulled the sheets up to him, curling up in the bed that now seemed so terribly lonely. He let his lavender eyes flutter shut, listening to the steady drum of rain against the roof of his home, the sound echoing throughout the house.

He opened his eyes, glancing over at his nightstand, seeing the photo of the southern belle that had captured his heart, encased in a tarnishing silver frame.

She was smiling happily, sitting on the stairs to the house, a rusty-colored husky sitting on her left, while a midnight black husky sat on her right. Aquamarine eyes sparkled with a hidden mischievousness. Long chocolate-colored hair cascaded in a single wave to her waist, a slight curl to the end. Her wayward bangs were pinned to her head by a pawprint clippie he'd given her earlier that day.

It had been six years since the picture had been taken, but he still glanced at it every day, hoping he might one day get a glimpse of her again.

There are days every now and again I pretend I'm ok,

But that's not what gets me.

Ryou had managed to coax him out of the house that afternoon, wanting to get his mind off of the woman he pined for.

The rather strange trio -consisting of Marik, Ryou, and a reluctant Bakura- walked towards a local burger joint, Marik chatting rather half-heartedly with his friends. He fell silent after several moments.

Ryou looked at the blonde. "Marik? You okay? You've seemed rather out of it."

Marik sighed. "I'm fine. I'm just... a bit depressed."

"Still hung up over that hick?" Snorted Bakura, who had been entirely silent for most of their trip, other than the occasional snippity remark.

Ryou smacked his Yami. "Bakura!" He scolded.

Marik said nothing, his eyes were locked on a brunette girl a few tables over. Her back was to him, she seemed to be reprimanding a child. He listened to her, amused, as the woman scolded the younger girl for staring.

"But mama! He looks so much like me!" Squeaked the little girl, pointing at him.

He got a good look at her, Light blonde hair, a shade darker than his own, aquamarine eyes, long, delicate lashes and a lightly sun-kissed skin tone. She wore a dark red sundress, with a matching ribbon in her hair.

The girl was right, the similarities were striking.
"Kesi!" The brunette scolded once more, the blonde disappearing from view again.

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Annie watched her daughter's brow furrow, chuckling in amusement as the tiny blonde furiously coloring away at an activity sheet she'd gotten from a waitress, her tongue pressed between her lips as she tried the color within the lines.

She looked out the window offhandedly, mulling over the day's events. She absent-mindedly twirled a lock of her now shoulder-length hair. Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice her daughter looking over the seat at another table for several moments. Annie glared at Kesi.

"Kessandra! Quit staring at other people, it's very rude." She stated firmly, arguing with the other girl for several minutes before taking her hand and leaving, having finished their meal.

(Annie's POV)

I don't quite know what possessed me to go to Rue21 that day, I suppose I didn't want to go home just yet and face our boing day-to-day life, so I used the excuse that I needed to buy something for Amarantha, Kesi's cousin.

All I know is, one minute I was looking at a lace vest that would look very good on my niece and the next, Kesi had disappeared.

I walked around the clothing racks, looking around frantically for my baby girl, scared she had wandered off and was lost, or worse, had been kidnapped.

Imagine my relief when I found Kesi standing beside a white-haired man only a few years younger than I. The feeling was shortlived when I realized who my daughter was talking to. Ryou Bakura, best friend of Marik Ishtar.

Fuck.