Okay, I actually have had this on notebook paper for like a month or something like that . Just review and tell me what you think. BUT PLEASE NO FLAMES!

Shattered

Raindrops pattered softly on the window of the warehouse. A streetlight sone softly through the wet glass. The drops on the window threw distorted shadows over the roo... and the boy on the bed, violet eyes stareing up at the cracked ceiling.

Thoughts chased each other around his mind, unwilling to let him rest. He slammed a fist into his pillow, growling but unable to shake the unnerving feeling that something was about to happen.

A loud crash from outside followed by harsh voices flooded the warehouse from the alleyway outside. Marik smirked evilly and grabbed his millenium rod. He headed outside to alley. A group of five or six men surrounded someone smaller. A girl. She was screaming and attempting to fight back.

The leader of the group drove his fist into her stomach, cutting her scream short. She slid to the ground, coughing and retching.

One of the thugs turned and spotted Marik. "Well, well welll, What do we have here?" He grinned.

The leader faced Marik, turning his back on the girl."Private audience, boy. Might want to get a move on before you get hurt."

Marik grinned," I'm not going anywhere, but you are taking a little trip." The golden item in his hand glowed harshly. The darkness surrounding them grew seemingly darker, tendrils shooting out and gripping the men tightly.

Marik relished the sound of their screams as they were dragged into the darkness forever. He turned to the girl again, his psychotic grin grew ever wider as he saw the terrified look in her eyes. Like an animal in a cage.

A shadow crept up to her, wrapping around her like a spider trapping a fly. Suddenly, there was a click behind him... but it was too late.

BANG! A ripping pain tore through Marik's shoulder. He glanced at it and was shocked to see dark blood oozing from the wound. Behind him there was a grinning man holding a smoking gun. How the hell had he missed someone?

Another shot rang through the alley. Another tearing pain ran through him, from his forearm this time. He dropped the Millenium item in his hand. Two more shots rang out, ripping through the side of his chest and leg. He felt his knees give out beneath him. He stared at the man in front of him. The man who was now aiming a gun between his eyes. The man's psychotic laugh rivaled even Marik's as he pulled the trigger.

A hollow hitting sound rang through the alley. The man's hand and head jerked to the side. The bullet whizzed past Marik's ear. He lunged out of the way to avoid it even though he wouldn't have been hit either way. Behind the man stood the girl from before, holding a plank of wood. She dropped the plank and ran towards marik. He flinched away, hissing as it jostled his shoulder.

She stopped a few feet away from him and hesitantly picked up the Millenium Rod. "Put. That. Down," Marik growled.

The girl raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but your not really in any position to be telling me what to do."

Marik glared at her and muttered profanities under his breath. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his good arm. He ripped away from her, stumbling on his injured leg.

She grabbed him and helped him keep his balance. "Keep still, you need help." Marik stopped struggling and glared at her. "Do you live here?"

Marik nodded. She helped him inside, and to the bathroom. She set him on the edgw of the bathtub. After wetting a couple of rags, she began peeling the material away from his wounds. "My names Nicole," she said while she worked. "What's yours?"

Marik kept silent, not even looking her in the face. His silence seemed to unnerve Nicole. "I geuss you don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

When she finished cleaning and dressing his wounds. Nicole made sure he got to his room all right. "Well, bye.." she mummbled, walking out.

At that moment, Marik knew there was one question that he couldn't leave unanswered. "Why did you do it?" She turned, surprised.

"What?"

"Why did you help me? What did you get out of it?"

She frowned. "I didn't get anything out of it..."

"Then why?" Marik glared at her, frustrated.

"I don't know," she scratched the back of her head, "I guess morals, or something. I just couldn't let someone get shot... or bleed to death in an alleyway."

Marik bit his lip. She had saved his life. Maybe he did owe her somewhat of something in return. "Marik," he said softly.

"What?"

He looked up at her," T-that's my name..Marik." Damn, why was he stuttering like a scared little kid.

She smiled at him. 'Dazzling,' Marik thought, then quickly put it from his mind.

"Thanks," she said," I-" A loud crack of thunder sounded through the warehouse. 'Huh,' Marik thought, before speaking aloud," It's really storming out there." He glanced at Nicole, who had gone from the brave girl who knocked a man out with a plank of wood to a scared little girl. Her eyes were wide and terrified, stareing at the storm outside. For the first time he noticed that her eyes were blue. Really bright blue.

"Nicole?" Marik noticed the concern in his tone and mentally kicked himself for it.

"I'm okay," she said," It's just that thunder kinda freaks me out." She bit her lip, obviously trying to appear okay, but he could still see the fear in her eyes.

"Its probably not a good idea for you to go out in that weather. It might be better if you stayed here for the night." Marik surprised himself as the offer slipped pass his lips.

"Yeah, but where would I sleep?"

Marik frowned," Well, this is the only bed in the house sooo..."

Nicole's face turned a bright red as Marik realized how that would sound to her. "N-not like that," stumbled over his words in his hurry to get them out, to set her straight. "I didn't mean that, I just..."

He was cut off by Nicole clamping her hand over his mouth. He glared, how dare she! "I geussed you didn't. It's just a little embarrassing, I geuss," she laughed nervously. "I guess I should get some sleep then." She blushed, and Marik realized what she was waiting for. He scooted to the edge, making room. She climbed in and pressed herself against the wall, as far from him as possible. More thunder boomed and Nicole gripped the blanket thightly. She closed her eyes and Marik watched her slowly fall asleep. 'What's happening to me?' he thought. 'This supid girl.' he slowly laid back against the pillow and finally drifted off to sleep. 'Why couldn't I sleep earlier?' he thought before the darkness pulled him under.

Nicole's eyes slowly opened to find herself stareing into the face of no other than...Marik. "Huh?" she mumbled, pulling slightly away.

"What?" Marik said, waking up. From the surprise in his eyes, Nicole could see that this hadn't been on purpose. She thouht she should move, but neither of them did.

Suddenly, the door opened and another man walked in," Master Marik, I-" he began, but cut off as he glimpsed the people on the bed.

"Odion, I will speak with you in a minute. Leave." his voice was threatening and Nicole found herself shrinking away from him, a little scared.

Once the man, Odion, had left, the room seemed filled with tension, so Nicole tried to lighten the mood. "Master Marik? You must be important. Huh?" she tried to smile warmly.

Marik glared at her, his eyes hard and unforgiving. So unlike the boy who actually semed semi-concerned about her. "I should go. My brothers will be worried about me." She headed out to the hall to the door. Marik followed her.

As she went out into the alley," Don't tell anyone about this." Marik said after her.

She turned and nodded," Take care of yourself. And be careful." With that sheleft, vanishing around the corner.

Marik felt a small bit of leftover concern from last night well up in him. His lips barely moved and his voice was so soft that he scarcely heard it himself. "Be careful."