I walked into the kitchen rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. I'd fallen asleep for the third time while Malik combed my hair. He'd insisted on doing it because he doesn't like the way I do it, which just sounds ridiculous to me.

When I got there I heard Malik laugh. I frowned. "What's so funny?" I demanded in the same voice I use with my Rare Hunters. He was not intimidated.

"How cute you look."

"How is that funny? I always look handsome. Better than you anyway." I retorted before giving a smirk. I sat down at the table but then I heard two people enter.

"Marik, do you remember Bakura and Ryou?" I glared at him, about to tell him I was the one who met them first, but before I could reply I was attacked! I fell to the ground and felt arms around me.

"Ryou!" I heard a familiar voice shout. I quickly turned my head to see that it was Ryou. He'd not attacked me, he was hugging me. I smiled before wrapping my arms around him. He smiled and I looked at the other man. Bakura! I gaped at him.

"How? I thought- I thought-"

"That the Pharaoh killed me? He did, you fool. However, I just recently made a deal with the Egyptian God of Death Anubis to come back to life." I was speechless. Ryou let go of me before giving me a peck on the cheek.

One minute I was sitting on the floor, the next I had glomped Bakura as I cried into him. Despite anything and everything that had happened, he was my friend. He didn't hug me back, he didn't have to. He didn't offer words of comfort, but I didn't need that. All I needed was to feel him physically. A few moments later, I stopped crying and he finally said something.

"Not very becoming of a villain, don't you think?" He asked, voice dripping with sarcasm. I narrowed my eyes at him but before I could reply, Ryou replied for me.

"Zork! That's mean! He's a kid like me! He doesn't have to be 'evil'!" Ryou was pouting. If it had been anyone else, I would have sneered at them for saying I wasn't evil. Of course I am! I tried to kill the Pharaoh once and that's as evil as it gets! Bakura crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. Then he quickly opened one, looking straight at Ryou.

"No but he doesn't have to be childish like you either. Have you finished saying hello yet?" I looked at Ryou, really looked at him this time. He was wearing some ragged, torn-in-places striped blue shirt and a matching set of really faded, tight blue jeans. On top of that he was wearing what looked a brand new black trench coat, but obviously that belonged to Bakura. On his head he had been wearing sunglasses and a sun hat. I started laughing.

"Ryou, you look ridiculous! Has no one even spotted the way you're dressed?"

"Zork made me! He glared at anyone who looked at me! I just wanted to stay home but he made me leave the house and it's not fair!" He was starting to complain. I stopped listening and looked at his body. His hair was dirty and unkempt while his nails were black. Now I was getting concerned. No wonder Ryou got talked down to by Bakura.

"Ryou? How long has it been since you took a bath?"

"…" He gulped. Zork quickly looked at him.

"Well? How long has it been Hikari?" When he didn't answer, Bakura sneered at him. "Look at me when I am talking to you, whelp! Answer me!" Ryou looked up at Bakura. Malik scooted closer to me.

"Hikari, I think we should leave them to their business." Malik whispered, grabbing my wrist and tugging. I yanked from him. Ryou would need support against Bakura's fury. From what I understand, Bakura is rarely angry at him. Annoyed, yes, but never angry.

"Three weeks ago I think."

"Oh? So you can't remember when you started acting like a fool?"

"I missed you, you jerk!"

"That's no reason to stop caring!"

"My heart broke when I thought I'd never see you again! We've been together ever since I was four!" I felt Malik grab a tighter grip on my wrist. I tried yanking away but he grinned, tightening ever more I struggle. When it hurt, I stopped.

"We're leaving them to let them have their moment." He dragged me away. I struggled as he frog marched me to the living room. When we got there, he smacked my bottom, hard. I yelped.

"OW!" He let go and I quickly rubbed the middle of my bottom, where I'd been swatted. "What was that for, you jerk!" I yelled at him.

"Not listening to me, fighting me. You're lucky I'm in a good mood Marik." At that I couldn't help but frown. "Don't pout, you know it's true." I glared at him.

"I'm not pouting!" He just laughed. When he stopped, I sighed. "What do you want me out for anyway?"

"Besides the obvious fact that it didn't pertain to us?"

"Yes." I said through clenched teeth.

"Because the reason it didn't concern us. Right now, Bakura's trying to break Ryou. If Bakura breaks the ragged shell Ryou's built for himself, Bakura can help Ryou build his pieces back the way their supposed to go, actually completing the puzzle instead of pieces being forced to go together."

"And how do you know?" He gave an evil grin.

"I need to know how psychology works if I want to psyche out my enemies don't I?" I groaned.

"I should have known it wasn't a good reason. You don't know that's the truth."

"Sure I do!"

"Then prove it!" I shouted, crossing my arms over my chest as I smirked at him.

"We will know once they're done. Could you not see the tension between them?"

"I thought there was always tension."

"No, you fool! The tension, when it was there, was playful." I sat down next to him on the couch, leaning into him, laying my head on his shoulder. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, keeping me close.

"Promise me you will never die." I whispered. His body went limp.

"Marik…" I looked at him. He gulped, caressing my right cheek. "… I promise I won't stay dead. I can't promise I won't die. But the reason I exist is because I was formed from you. The instant your feeling a negative emotion, I'll be back. That's how my existence works." I smiled.

"So… you might die but you'll come back quickly?" He nodded, a gentle smile on his face. He kissed my forehead when I smiled. "I hate you Malik."

"I hate you more." I hugged him and he wrapped his arms around me, kissing my cheek. "Don't be sad, Marik." I giggled, shaking my head.

"I'm not." I replied. He gave a grin before tackling me. He began to tickle my midriff and I laughed. "Evil bastard!" I said between laughs. He just cackled.

"I know you are but what am I?" I grabbed for his hands to make him stop but he was too fast, dodging. I heard a chuckle and I quickly sat up, glaring at Bakura. He laid a sleeping Ryou on the love seat. Malik crawled on top of me, one hand flat next to my hips to hold himself up, his cape falling and covering him and my legs.

"Ryou and I will be staying here for a while. Mostly Ryou. I have something to take care of first. Then we'll be gone. Give us a week." I smiled.

"You guys can stay as long as you like."

"What about your siblings? Do they mind?"

"Ishizu and Odion won't care. They're used to Rare Hunters sometimes staying over." I replied as Malik playfully rubbed my ear lobe just between his upper and lower lip. Bakura sat on the love seat, letting Ryou lay his head in his lap. I froze as I felt Malik lick my collarbone. "Malik! We have guests!" He frowned.

"Oh pooh." He smirked before he used his right hand to slam my upper body against the floor, landing my head on his hand. He used his cape to cover us as he licked my lips before inserting himself and locking his tongue with mine. I gasped as he slowly put his hand in my hair and he rubbed his other hand on my crotch. I shoved him off. "Marik!" He replied, outraged and surprised.

"No!" I don't want to give Bakura the wrong impression. But then… he had sex with me a few times. But still! Public isn't a good idea. Malik smirked and sighed.

"It was great while it lasted."

"Bakura, what was your deal with Anubis anyway?"

"To bully the Pharaoh. I'll be leaving soon. I have business to attend."