Trifecta of
Disclaimer: obviously I own nothing, except any OC characters invented to further the plot. The OC's appearances will be limited as they aught to be.
Warning! Story will contain sensitive material such mention of torture, cutting, fires, violent beatings and death. Nothing rated over T though!
Summary: (Post Canon) Ryo Bakura is free of the controlling nature of the spirit of the Ring, Marik is free of his dark past, and Yugi is free of often feeling like the weaker half. All three have a different response to this supposed freedom, but none of them are taking it well. What are three souls to do when the only people that could possibly understand and help them through their confusion are just as equally broken? NO YAOI of any kind! Friendship fic!
Prologue: Cairo Egypt- Marik and Ryo
After the long journey back up river from the resting place of Atem and the Millennium Items, a sort of uneasiness settled upon Marik. His job was over as tombkeeper, but he couldn't help feeling like the sense of responsibility that it had once carried would continue to hang over him for the rest of his life. Granted the items were not likely going to resurface during his lifetime, if ever, but their effect on his life was not so easily erased. Even after giving away all of his items to Yugi at Battle City, Marik would often be sitting alone feeling as though the familiar weight of the Rod still resided in his hand. And it frightened him that he missed it as much as he did. Wasn't his evil half gone?
Marik leaned over the railing of the ship. It was late and everyone had finally succumbed to sleep and he would have peace and quiet out here. Marik took the opportunity to breathe in the smell of the river water, stare at the night sky with its clear view of the stars available, and wonder what he was going to do with his life. He had bought a motorcycle already, but that was a silly childhood goal, not a lifetime goal. While the bike brought him just as much pleasure as he had thought it would, he knew that it wouldn't be enough.
Marik knew only two things for certain about his future: one, he was going to have Odion and Isishu with him where ever he lived, a fact which pleased him; two, he was going to have to get a job. Motorbikes don't run on desire alone and gas was expensive. The problem was, other then Duel Monsters, which he had been avoiding playing since Battle City, Marik wasn't sure what he was good at. With no formal education, jobs would be limited, and the money low.
Marik fumbled with the phone in his pocket which was ringing. It was past 3 am who would be calling him? It was his sister. Marik answered the phone.
"You do realize that I couldn't very well be very far away on a ship going down a river, right?" Marik answered without so much as a greeting.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Marik swore quietly.
"Look, okay I am sorry. I know you are worried about me and just want to know where I am instead of sleeping at 3 am, but..." He never got to finish the sentence, because Ishizu cut him off.
"While, I do often wonder if you are alright, that is not why I am calling. Walk down to the back of the boat, please."
"Are you whispering?" Marik asked turning his head to look down towards the end of the boat.
"Just do it please." Ishizu continued to whisper but clearly sounded like she meant business.
"Fine." Marik hung up the phone and began to walk towards the engines at the back of the boat.
Marik would have missed Ryo Bakura entirely if he hadn't been looking up and down for whatever his sister had called him about. Ryo was not someone who was looking to be easily located where he was sitting up on top of the metal square covering the engines. Marik could see him from where he stood, but Ryo seemed to be looking out at the river. Marik found the ladder that Ryo had used to climb up unto the machines and slowly creeped up the ladder himself. Ryo jumped at the sound causing a clatter of the sheet metal that he was sitting upon.
When he saw Marik's head appear as he ascended, Ryo looked back out towards the river and closed his eyes. Marik watched as he began to calm his breathing slowly and once again opened his eyes.
"Can't sleep either?" Marik began hoping to prevent too serious of a conversation. He just didn't feel like he could manage to say something inspiring or even something kind.
Ryo didn't answer, but Marik could see that he was upset. Marik tried to think of things that Ishizu or Yugi, or even Tea or Joey might say, but nothing came to mind.
"Look, if you don't want to talk right now that is fine. I was just going to enjoy the view of the heavens from up here. Just let me know if you would rather I leave."
Ryo turned to face Marik. He looked at Marik but did not make eye contact, staring beyond Marik instead. But he did answer Marik's question.
"No, you don't have to go."
They sat there in silence for awhile, but the quiet was being to get to Marik. He could almost hear Ryo Bakura's thoughts screaming at him, even though Ryo made no sound.
"Look you know that it is finally over, right? He won't be back to do,... (Marik suddenly realized he didn't have a clue what Yami Bakura had done to Ryo other then use his body in duels, so he stumbled over the last words)...well... whatever it was … that he did...did to you."
Ryo Bakura turned to face Marik once again. This time he made eye contact with Marik for a few seconds before turning back towards the back of the boat and the river.
"He's finally gone. But that's just the problem isn't it."
Marik didn't see this as a problem. He sighed, this was getting nowhere. He began to play with his phone in his pocket again in nervousness. An idea occurred to him.
"Your dad works in Egypt as an archaeologist, right?"
Ryo nodded.
"So then you will probably be back here, in and out of Egypt occasionally, right?"
Ryo mumbled an "I guess so."
Marik continued. "I may not know what to say, but I can listen, if you want. You know if you ever need someone to just hang out with, who doesn't think you are crazy or whatever if you talk about being possessed by spirits and dark magical Egyptian artifacts. Or Resurrected Pharaohs, or mind control, or real live dual monsters, well you get the picture."
Ryo didn't respond for a while and Marik wondered if he had said the right thing, or if Ryo had stopped being present in the world at large hadn't even heard him.
Ryo finally responded, just as Marik was wondering if he should just leave him be.
"Thanks, I would like that. I am sure that I will be here off and one when school is not in session." Ryo turned and gave him a smile that Marik was a bit more familiar with. Even if it wasn't as big as the kind he had seen before.
Marik reached into his pocket for a pen.
"Got any paper? I will give you my phone number, that way you can call if you are ever in Egypt again and want to hang out."
Ryo shook his head no.
"No?" Marik was taken aback for a moment.
Ryo shook his head again, but looked apologetic. "I meant I don't have anything to write on."
"Oh." Marik began itching the scars on his back. Then he brightened. "Yes, you do."
He took the pen out of his pocket and reached for Ryo's arm. Before Ryo had time to respond, Marik had pulled up his sleeve. One the underside of his left forearm was a series of small nicks about 10 in number. They looked more like a tally system then a series of controlled cut marks.
Marik tried to act as though he hadn't seen then and proceeded to write his cell number in pen on Ryo's arm. He left go and there was an awkward silence.
"He did that..." Ryo answered breaking the silence.
Marik nodded in understanding.
"He felt the need to make a count of just how many times I had attempted to take control from him and failed." Ryo continued.
Marik nodded somberly. "Bet he didn't keep a count of how many times you succeeded in messing with his plans."
At this, Ryo once again looked at Marik and gave a little smile.
The two of them sat there in silence again, but this time the silence did not bother Marik even a little bit.
Next Chapter: Yugi's friends finish up their last year of school and talk about future plans. But Yugi is a year younger then the rest. How will Yugi handle school without them and what are Yugi's plans? Can someone play games forever?