A/N: I don't know why I decided to start writing a oneshot collection, but I'm giving it a shot. Some of these will be AU, but others will not be.
Title: Dreams
Summary: Marik's yami has been "visiting" a lot lately, but Bakura's always there to protect the Egyptian hikari.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!, or its characters.
"Marik, I've told you already, you'll be fine! Your yami won't be coming back tonight, I sent him to the deepest corner of the Shadow Realm! It'll take him a while to get out of there."
"But, Bakura...I'm scared. Can't you just stay tonight?"
"Fine. I'll stay on the couch."
"There's a spare bedroom if you'd rather-"
"The couch is fine."
"...Okay." I let out a sigh. "Thank you, Bakura. Malik really scared me tonight. I thought he was going to kill me for sure." Bakura rolled his eyes. He didn't understand my fear. But then again, how could he?
"Marik, as long as you have sense in that idiot head of yours to call me, your yami won't hurt you. I won't let him." Did he really just imply that he would always protect me? "It's late. I'm going to bed, and I suggest you do the same."
"Do you need a blanket or anything?"
"No."
"O-okay." I start for the stairs. "Good night, Bakura."
"Hn."
That's one of the few responses I ever get from him. It's always a grunt or "I don't care." The latter is the most frequent.
Well, it's not like he'll actually stay, anyway. He says he will, but I know he'll just end up leaving once I'm asleep. He never stays at my place very long. That's why I savor every second I see him. Because in the next, he'll be gone.
I wake up a few hours later. 3:00 am. I've been waking up at this time a lot lately. Ever since Odion and Ishizu went back to Egypt, my yami has been "visiting" more and more. I don't like to admit it, but he frightens me. I've been having nightmares about him. Every time, he almost always kills me, but I'm always saved by a certain white-haired thief.
Bakura.
Did he...? I shouldn't hope. I should just go back to sleep, so I can see him in my dreams.
Against my will, I find myself climbing out of bed, going downstairs, making a beeline for the living room.
He stayed! My heart races when I see Bakura, lying on the couch, fast asleep. Unable to help myself, I step further into the room, eager for a closer look.
I stand there, watching the rise and fall of his chest, before I drag my gaze to his face. He looks so peaceful. So innocent. So...beautiful. I study the way his hair carefully frames his face, in a way it doesn't when he's awake. For a brief moment, I almost think that it's Ryou, that Bakura has retreated inside his host. But I know it's the thief.
He murmurs something in his sleep and turns his head slightly.
What do you dream about, Bakura? Do I haunt your dreams as vividly as you haunt mine? Do you purposely think of me before you fall asleep, hoping you'll dream of me, as I do with you?
...Do you ever dream of us?
Us. Together. Holding hands. Hugging. Perhaps even...kissing?
Do these things ever cross your mind, Bakura, awake or asleep?
I imagine these, every day. I lock them in my head, thinking a stupid thought, hoping a foolish hope, wishing a futile wish.
Bakura...
You are arrogant. You are stubborn. You are always rushing into danger without a second thought of your own safety, or the safety of those around you.
And yet...
You are brave. You are determined. You know what you want and will do anything to get it.
...Would you ever want me?
Would you ever care for me?
Would you ever...love me?
Why do I think of this so often? Why do I think of you so often? Why does the mere thought of you cause me to feel this way?
Why do I ask myself such foolish questions?
I turn, ready to go back to bed. I pause, just before I leave the living room. I glance back at Bakura's sleeping form.
And I answer my own questions.
In a whisper, so low I can barely hear it myself, I answer myself:
"Because I love you."