Marik never understood why Ryou loved playing that stupid game.

Some knew it as 'Tag', but Ryou always insisted on calling it 'Chase Me' or 'Catch Me If You Can'. Marik never did like the game, even when he was a child, but Ryou, little innocent Ryou with those big, brown eyes, and that fluffy, white, hair always convinced him to play. Though it had always ended up with Marik chasing Ryou, never the other way around, he never questioned it; he never really cared. What he did care about, was how he could never catch the white-haired male. No matter how hard he'd try, the smaller boy had always outrun him. Those pale, skinny legs always managed to beat him. It always angered the older male to no end. But every time, when the game was over, and Marik would be huffing and puffing because damn that boy could run, Ryou would smile and pat his back comfortingly.

He

Couldn't

Catch Him.

He couldn't catch him the first time they had met.

It had been a warm sunny day, at the beach – his older sister had insisted they spend some time together. 'They' being Ishizu, Malik and himself. Malik, his twin had been overjoyed at going to the sandy kingdom, while Marik had pouted, proclaiming beaches were shit-tastic. After being scolded for using such inappropriate language by Ishizu, he was forced into their vehicle, and had sat on the sandy grounds, miserably drinking a soda while his siblings made a sand castle. They had asked countless times for him to join, so much that he eventually stood up and just walked along the shore by himself. Malik was ready to chase after him, but Ishizu stopped him and watched her brother go.

"He needs time to himself."

After few minutes Marik had stopped walking, and just stared at the ocean. That stupid, big ocean that everyone somehow loved. What was so amazing about a giant puddle that had everyone gathered around it? He just didn't understand – he didn't want to understand. Some things were just so ludicrous he thought to himself, proud that he used such a big word for such a young boy. Lost in his thoughts, he was then interrupted by something – or someone running into him. He stumbled backwards, and was prepared to yell with his six year old lungs at this fool, until said fool looked up at him with those big, brown eyes. He stood speechless until the younger smiles, and Marik is suddenly intrigued and a little confused with this fluffy-haired boy.

"Want to play a game?"

He couldn't catch him on the playground.

Once again, Ishizu had dragged him out of the house, though this time it was to a local playground in a large field full of green grass. Thankfully there were no other kids there, so Malik and himself had it all to themselves. Ishizu had sat at a nearby picnic bench, watching the two brothers play along, happily for once. Malik had been on the jungle gym, playing with the steering wheel, pretending he was steering a mighty pirate ship, while Marik had been standing on the highest point of the structure, pretending to be lookout – because if he's being forced to play, no one would damn well take over his ship.

But suddenly, someone has taken over his ship. As he turns around, he sees his brother chatting happily with that boy he had met with the fluffy white hair, and the big, brown eyes. And he can't help but think Malik! That traitor! How could he surrender my ship to this weakling! But that all stops when they turn to him, and the younger boy– Rai? Ryuk?

Ryou.

When the younger boy– Ryou looks at him and beams. He is taken aback, and Ryou rushes to him and starts chirping about how they once played together. He gives a weak grin and wonders, 'Why does he make me feel so different?' And he notices out of the corner of his eye that Ishizu is glowing with joy because Marik found a playmate. This makes Marik angry that she's acting so foolishly, but his anger washes away when Ryou asks happily,

"Can we play Chase Me again?"

He couldn't catch him in Elementary School.

What a coincidence, the boy that he had played with twice, transferred to his school. His emotions were thrown into chaos the moment he laid eyes on the boy, because his first friend would be with him now – but what if Ryou doesn't remember him– or he makes better friends? He struggles to keep calm, he's never dealt with this kind of a problem.

But that's all blown away, when Ryou sees him and smiles so brightly with those innocent, brown, eyes runs over to him, and hugs him, because Marik never had a friend – a friend who hugged him.

He's unsure of what to do next; So he cautiously wraps his arms around the white-haired boys shoulders, and what comes next is so unrealistic.

A warmth.

A warmth that he's never felt before. From the pit of his stomach, it blossoms to his heart. His eyes widen and he feels so – so peaceful. He's never felt it, but it felt so wonderful. But as soon as it comes, it goes. Ryou releases his hold and laughs, yelling "Chase Me!"

And Marik does.

He couldn't catch him in High School.

While most had feared the tall, intimidating blonde throughout his life, there had been a single boy who was never scared of him. It had shocked other students who witnessed them. How could such a small, weak-looking boy not be screaming and running for the hills when he saw this guy? More importantly, how could he talk to this guy, without getting the shit beat out of him? Students who had been with Marik throughout his elementary years said he grew even nastier and colder as he grew older – but Ryou never believed it. Because Ryou knew who Marik was, and Marik was nothing of the sort. He just kept his walls up around certain people.

Marik had been rummaging through his locker, trying to find that one damn textbook. It was nowhere to be found and he was growing frustrated, beginning to snarl. Students rushed by him, praying he wouldn't turn around. The blonde was about to slam his locker shut, and punch someone, when a pale arm reached out, and grabbed that textbook he needed. He sighed in appreciation, and closed his locker, reaching out for the book, when it was pulled out of his reach. He raises an eyebrow and stares at Ryou, who grins, holding the book behind his back.

He can't help but smirk – because this kid – this kid had the nerve to steal his book and not give it to him, while grinning.

This kid wasn't afraid of Marik.

And he loved it.

But he then remembers he has to get to class, because if Ishizu finds out he's skipping, she'll give him hell for it. And he calmly asks,

"Can I have my book back?"

Which causes Ryou's grin to grow, and he leans in close to Marik, close enough to make him uncomfortable; which never happens because – Marik makes people uncomfortable – and winks at him playfully, then whispers,

"Only if you can Catch Me"

Ryou runs down the hallway in the opposite direction,

And Marik is late for class.

He's sitting on the beach at sunset. The beach they met at. He knows it's corny – and he hates it, but he does it anyway because he's Marik Ishtar and he does what he wants. He closes his eyes and thinks about everything. He wasn't sure when, but somewhere along the line he had developed feelings – feelings that he shouldn't have – for Ryou. It was so angering, he wanted to punch something. He decided on throwing sand, but that just resulted in getting his clothes dirty, so he stands up and starts cursing, brushing it off of him.

Then he hears it. That stupid little giggle that makes his heart skip a beat, and he sharply turns, only to see him. He's wearing that annoyingly cute grin, with his hands folded behind him. But Marik doesn't falter; he won't let Ryou figure it out.

But somehow he knows in his mind that Ryou has already figured it out – because suddenly hands are wrapped around placed on his shoulders, and he doesn't have time to think because Ryou's inches away from his lips, and none of this can be real.

But somehow it is.

And right before their lips touch, Ryou says,

"Catch Me"

And pulls away from Marik, running away, laughing happily. Marik stands in shock when something kicks in. He hears something in his head.

He.

Can.

Catch Him.

Marik runs. He runs with such speed he never felt before, and it's such a rush. Adrenaline courses through his veins as he gains of Ryou. He won't lose this time. He knows it. He's waited too long for this, and he won't let it go to waste.

And he doesn't because then Ryou's in his arms – Ryou's delicate arms are wrapped around his neck, Ryou's kissing him, and Ryou's just with him.

He caught Him.