AN- This is going to be my first multi-chapter fic that will actually get continued. Just to say though, none of the interaction between Marik and Serenity is supposed to be romance. Ah well. One last note, I know Serenity is around 13 or something, but she's often reffered to as a child in my fics because of the way she acts (probably because of her mother sheltering her almost all her life or something.)

Disclaimer: Yugioh does not belong to me, but this plot does. glomps the plot

Kind reviews are welcomed and would be much appreciated! Thankies!

Oh yes, and thank you to Luckyladybug66 for checking over this and stuff! Also to Elora for reading over it a bit first!

As carefully as he could, Marik lifted himself off of the floor and onto his feet, wincing in pain when he finally managed it. Averting his eyes from the unfortunate ones who had been killed by the sudden and unexpected earthquake, he looked to the door of the building that they had been sought shelter in. Unluckily, from what he could see, it was blocked off or jammed. That could prove to be a bit of a problem...

He had known at the time that it would be a bad idea, but it had been even more dangerous outside. They just hadn't been able to take the risk. The shop had been some people's only hope of escaping the falling glass and rubble.

"Please don't let me be the only one who survived..." he whispered to himself, looking around at the destruction that had been caused. It would be so unfair, that he had been spared while everyone else had not.

He bit his lip and closed his eyes when nobody replied. Everything remained still except for the settling dust or occasional rumble. That was until Marik noticed a bit of movement to his right, close to the shop's counter. Immediately, he perked up and worked his way over, praying that he had found somebody alive.

The small figure pulled itself up slowly, holding onto the cash register for balance. Marik was shocked beyond belief to learn that standing before him was Serenity Wheeler. Shaking his head, he hurried over.

Hearing footsteps, Serenity turned her head towards them quickly, her eyes widening upon seeing who else had managed to survive, "Marik!" she gasped in shock, her eyes widening further upon seeing that he was hurt. "Oh! You're hurt!"

Marik smiled gently as he reached her side. "I am alright," he said comfortingly, more worried about her safety than his own. "Are you?"

"I-I think so," Serenity said, swallowing slightly and trying to focus more, "just a bit shaken." She paused again, looking around the room and trying desperately not to throw up. Marik took notice of this quickly.

"Don't look," he advised softly, though he was also sickened to the core. "We should leave now. It's still dangerous."

The child nodded slowly but then froze. "The door..."

"It's blocked, I know." Looking around, Marik decided that the only way they were going to get out was by going another way. It would be difficult and probably perilous in places, but there didn't seem to be any other way. The stairs seemed their best bet at the moment. Stepping carefully over yet more rubble, he came to stand by Serenity again. "The only way we can get out is if we find another exit. I think that we may have a chance at finding one if we try those stairs. What do you think?"

Serenity blinked, looking up at him shakily with trusting eyes. "Okay."

Nodding, Marik helped Serenity over the debris and closer to the old staircase, praying mentally that he wouldn't fail her and get them both killed. It was bad enough that somebody as young as Serenity had to see this sort of thing without being caught in it all as well! Children deserved better than that, much better...

It didn't take them too long at all to reach the top of the stairs, which was surprising indeed considering the amount of obstacles that they had to cross in order to just get anywhere at all. It was slow progress though, and they often had to pause to get Serenity over some of the more dangerous barriers without mishap.

Falling to her knees at the top of the stairs, Serenity stared up at Marik, who was currently attempting to get his breath back. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea," she murmured, obviously upset and more than a little disheartened. "It's too much for me to keep up with you. You should go on without me and get out yourself." She hated to think about the possibility of Marik getting hurt because of her, and she was only slowing down their escape from the now unstable building. It wouldn't be long before either an aftershock struck or the entire place just collapsed.

Seemingly surprised, Marik knelt down in front of her and looked into her eyes firmly. "We can do this, Serenity. I am not going to leave this place without you."

"But... what if..." She shuddered as once again, she thought about what could happen if they didn't hurry up. "What if the building collapses or something?!"

Marik smiled again. "We'll just have to make sure that we get out before that happens then, won't we?" he said, reaching out and touching her trembling hand gently, still looking into her eyes. "Joey wouldn't want you to give up."

Gripping his hand tightly, Serenity nodded, pulling herself slowly to her feet, "You're right; Big Brother would never want me to give up like that." She looked up at Marik.

Smiling once again, Marik looked around to see if there was an exit that they could use nearby. None. It had to be somewhere else, perhaps situated on another corridor, but on the same floor? Looking back at Serenity, he decided that he was going to have to take a bit of a chance.

"Listen," he said quietly, "I'm going to have to try and see if there's a way to get into that other corridor by the door over there. Would you prefer to stay here or come with me?"

"I think I should stay here," Serenity said, shivering and pulling her jacket closer around her. "I don't want to get in your way."

Marik nodded. "Alright."

After investigating the area for a while, Marik could see clearly that it would it wouldn't take much work to clear the way. It was obvious that the corridor was dangerous though, considering the gaping holes and cracks that had been caused by the quake earlier. He very much doubted that it would be able to hold much weight for long, so if they were going to go that way, they would have to be quick to avoid the floor caving in beneath them.

A chilling laugh echoed through the room suddenly, surprising Marik and making him jump. "Good afternoon, Hikari" a voice sneered, seemingly coming out of nowhere.

The Egyptian boy could recognize that voice anywhere. "You!!"

Yami Marik sneered again, materializing out of the shadows. "Who else?" he jeered. "I just thought I'd drop by and say hello, actually." He laughed mockingly, his eyes narrowed as he grinned psychotically.

"What have you done this time, fiend?!" Marik demanded, purposefully ignoring the rest of what the being had said.

The grin widened. "Nothing." Yami Marik paused, seemingly debating something in his head, even though the crazed expression never once left his face. After several seconds, he purred, "Yet."

Marik narrowed his eyes, unwilling to let his frustration get the best of him. "Meaning?"

The Yami laughed maliciously, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Can't you guess, little Hikari?" he asked tauntingly. "If you can't, let's just say that I'm sure that you'll be upset to learn the fate of the siblings you love more than life itself." Yami Marik smirked again, thoroughly enjoying tormenting the poor boy standing before him.

Swallowing the sudden knot in his throat, Marik simply glared at the being, unwilling to answer. He had been so occupied with trying to think up a way to get both him and Serenity out of the building safely that he hadn't once thought that Rishid and Ishizu had been hurt. He had assumed that they were safe...

"They're dead."

Paling drastically, Marik took a small step back. "You're lying," he whispered.

Sensing that now would be an ideal time to strike and quite possibly deal some long lasting damage to the boy, Yami Marik stalked forwards slowly, circling Marik. "Oh really? How can I be lying when I heard their last, pitiful words?" he said viciously, enjoying himself immensely.

Marik stared at him, tears gathering in his eyes, despite his efforts to keep them at bay. He was lying... This wasn't true... "No..."

"Pleading for you to come and help them..."

Marik choked back a cry, still trying desperately not to believe the demon's words. No... It couldn't have happened! They couldn't be gone! He would have known and he would have helped them!!

"Watching as they finally gave in and died, right at my feet." The Yami continued without mercy, closing in on his prey.

Marik fell to his knees, hardly able to stand it anymore. This was too much for him to handle! Finally, after a few minutes of listening to his own ragged breathing and the sound of his Yami's slow and taunting footsteps, Marik looked up, determination and anger flashing in his lavender eyes. "You lie!" he screamed. Shakily he tried to use his hands to push himself back up.

Seemingly unfazed by this, Yami Marik just continued to move closer, smirking all the while. At last, he stood directly in front of his old Hikari. "I'm not lying about anything, Hikari." He sneered, shoving the boy backwards hard and knocking him harshly to the floor, not giving him time to react or fight back. Swiftly, he pinned the boy down and grabbed the Millennium Rod out of Marik's belt, unsheathing it and holding the dagger end to his throat. "Fitting actually," he sneered evilly, looking psychotic, "because that's exactly where you're going to die as well!" He raised the Rod high, preparing to strike.

Closing his eyes tightly, Marik waited for the final strike, not bothering to try and reply to the demon's words. What could he say? Nothing would do him any good. One thing he did know though, he wasn't going to beg. He would never beg, especially not to his Yami.

"No!!!" Serenity screamed from where she had been watching helplessly, but seeing what was about to happen, she knew that Marik would die if she didn't help him! She had to do something! Gathering her courage quickly, she ran forward and grabbed the heaviest thing she could lift, throwing it at the evil Yami as hard as she possible could. "Leave him alone! He hasn't done anything to you!!" she cried.

Snarling, Yami Marik stood up, purposefully slamming Marik's head against the ground to keep him down longer. He stalked towards the trembling girl menacingly, still holding the Rod tightly in one hand. Holding it up, he blasted her into the wall, laughing at her cry of pain. "I have little patience for people who try and get in my way, my dear." He sneered, his eyes flashing in anger.

Walking closer, he looked at her almost lazily, enjoying the look of terror that shone brightly in her hazel eyes as she stared at him. Smirking, he laid the tip of the dagger against her throat, almost gently, and pressed down a bit.

Whimpering and trembling, Serenity pushed back, trying to move away from the cold metal. In response to this, Yami Marik merely pushed it closer to her again, breaking the skin slightly and causing the smallest amount of blood to well up. Crying out, Serenity looked at the fiend pleadingly, shivering at the cruel look he was giving her. Closing her eyes as tightly as possible, she choked back a small sob.

Groaning, Marik opened his eyes slowly, having been knocked nearly unconscious by the blow to his head. Pushing himself up onto his elbows and then onto his feet, he stared at the scene before him, knowing with a sinking feeling that his Yami had no mercy for anyone, especially for those who got in his way. He couldn't let anything happen to Serenity!

Growling, he called over to his Yami. "Let her go," he snapped, anger coursing though him, "she has nothing to do with our fight." He hoped that maybe Yami Marik would spare her and go for him again instead.

The floor shook, groaning as the earth below rumbled threateningly.

Dropping the girl and kicking her out of the way, Yami Marik half turned and glared at his Hikari, his eyes glittering with malice. "This isn't over. Remember that, my pathetic little Hikari." He laughed wickedly, his eyes narrowing even further, and with that final warning, he vanished, leaving his Hikari and Serenity alone once again.

Neither of them were prepared for the aftershock as it finally struck, turning their world upside down.

End of chapter 1!