Of Narcissists and Masochists
When it happened, Marik had not a single idea. Was it really possible to be so infatuated with someone, or even something, that resembled onseself so much? Down to every freckle, to be completely clear. It couldn't very well be love, that would just be narcissism, and that was something Marik just wasn't about to label himself with.
But this sense of emptiness was very unnerving. It was a very strange emptiness that shook in the pit of his stomach and left him feeling sick all day. He felt his eyes rolling around in his skull, poking and prodding at his own thoughts and feelings. This was the most bizarre topic that had ever invaded his mind, and he wasn't quite sure what to feel about it.
And this wasn't the first time the thought had occured to him, but most of the other times, he shoved the thought from his head. He just couldn't bring himself to deal with it. It was strange and he didn't like the feeling it gave him. At least, he didn't think he did.
However, this was a new matter. He was thinking about it now, and he didn't care if he wasn't quite comfortable with dealing with it. Marik had to know what this was that he was feeling inside, this annoyance in the back of his head that bothered him day in and day out. A fluttering creature in the pit of his stomach that appeared only when he thought of that second self he managed to banish.
Marik wandered into the bathroom and stared at the mirror. It was an odd feeling, remembering yourself like remembering a friend or family member. Though they shared the same body, he still felt this out-of-body experience when Mariku had spoken with him.
He was taken back to when Mariku first came into his life. He was a joyful friend, before he became the demon that tried to destroy Marik. But, was it really his fault? Marik, was, afterall, his creature, and what he felt inside is what Mariku felt on the outside. He felt it passionately for Marik, who could not because he had been reduced to something so little and so fragile. Mariku was his protector, a closer protector than even Rishid could be. He loved his brother dearly, but the closeness he felt to Mariku was completely different. This was something that made his heart pump. He felt empowered by Mariku, like he could do anything he wanted and there wasn't a force in the world to stop him.
Mariku was never supposed to be a monster. He only became what Marik became. They were the same person. Wouldn't that make them soul-mates, in an odd sense? For once, Marik actually wondered if he did love Mariku. Which would mean loving himself, but it didn't feel like that. It was the most bizarre feeling he could ever imagine.
This whole ordeal was bizarre, but isn't that what would make it beautiful? No one else could possibly understand Marik, not in the same way Mariku could. He was born from Marik, he lived and breathed what Marik breathed. They shared everything. This was divine.
But it was already over. Mariku had been banished, and Marik now realized that the emptiness was because half of his soul was missing. His monster was exorcised and writhing in the deepest pits of Hell. He had sentenced his divine love to Hell.