Bakura's Tales of Torment

Engagement

Gold and Silver – metals precious and older than the great Pharaohs themselves – fashioned into tapered bands joined with two swivelling Scarab Beetles of the same metal, their underbellies inscribed with hieroglyphs which, when translated, wished good luck. They had sat side by side in a glass display case in the Egyptian Exhibit in the Domino City museum, just to the left of the Giant Rock. You see, I say they had sat in the display case for that is no longer where they are. The museum had generously been alleviated of such precious artefacts by former thief king Bakura, who was in a decidedly happy mood.

There was something about steeling ancient Egyptian artefacts that set Bakura's heart racing. Maybe it was the thrill of the situation, maybe it was the immense value of the pieces, but – most probably – it was the thought that he may have stolen them before. These rings, however, filled his veins with adrenalin for an entirely different reason, partly love, partly hate.

Love for Marik Ishtar, his beautiful blond boyfriend; hate for Ryou, his weak, pitiful hikari.

Bakura had placed the rings in a wooden ring box, which was, in turn, in his small rucksack, right next to a brand new and state of the art home video camcorder. It was going to be an interesting evening.

Luckily, Marik wasn't in when Bakura arrived home, so setting up the video camera – hidden away on a shelf – didn't take a great deal of time. Looking at his watch, he ran through to the bathroom, hoping to have enough time to wash his hair and get changed before his fiancé-to-be (hopefully at least) came home from a timely booked pampering session. After leaning over the bath to turn on the newly installed power shower (bliss, according to Bakura, a waste of money, according to Marik – he preferred long soaks in the bath), Bakura shrugged off his shirt, then pulled his t-shirt off over his head. Just as he was reaching for the button on his jeans, he heard the front door click and open-

"Hey, Bakura, I'm ho-ome...and RA is that spa good! Cleansing mud baths, waxing, a hot tub – a frigging hot tub, Bakura!" Marik slammed the door shut and threw his bag down on the sofa.

"Sounds, uhh, great, Marik..." Bakura sighed and turned the shower off; there would be no time to wash his hair now. He was about to put his t-shirt back on when Marik burst into the bathroom, grabbed his wrist and pulled him out, receding to wrap his arms around Bakura's waist and wrest his head on his chest.

"I've missed you, 'Kura... although I don't see why you couldn't have come today," the Egyptian squeezed him tighter, before letting go and brandishing his millennium rod, "they even did a gold-cleaning service! How was your day, anyway?"

Bakura backed away a little, towards the shelf containing the hidden video camera, and flicked it on, "well, I can't say my day was uneventful... a little bit of daylight robbery, shoplifting... the usual. But I do have a surprise for you, however," he moved back towards Marik, fingering the ring-box in his pocket.

"A surprise? Bakura... it isn't a dead animal again, is it? You know I don't like it when you bring those in,*" Marik folded his arms and looked at Bakura suspiciously.

"No, no, it isn't a dead animal... this time. Marik, there's something I want to ask you..." he took a deep breath and got down onto one knee, taking the ring box from his pocket and opening it to reveal the golden scarab ring inside, "Marik... will you marry me?"

Marik looked at Bakura, then at the ring, then back at Bakura, "oh gods! YES Bakura, of course I will!" he threw his arms around the Brit's neck and kissed him on the mouth, allowing him to slide his tongue into it.

Breaking away, Marik gasped a little as a thought came into his head, "y-you're not going to make me wear a dress... are you?"

- the next day -

"ooo, this one's pretty!" Marik held up a big, white, puffy wedding dress up at Bakura.

"What does it matter if it's pretty? It's not like you're going to wear it..." Bakura crossed his arms and checked the time... nearly three hours of looking at bloody wedding dresses, 'kill me now' he thought.

"No, you're right... it needs to be bad taste, and maybe covered in little pink bows... and- YES that one," Marik frolicked to the other side of the shop, towards a hideous piece of silk, netting and bows.

Bakura almost gagged at the sight of it, but at the same time an evil smile spread across his face.

Ryou opened his eyes. He was standing in the middle of the front room, fully clothed and nothing was hurting. Odd, he only tended to gain control of the body after sleep, black out or... when Bakura wanted him to. Suddenly suspicious, he looked around to make sure there weren't any mouse traps, knives or pots of boiling tea lying around – which there wasn't. It was then he noticed that the T.V was on, and connected to camcorder, which was playing the same clip over and over again.

Bakura: -down on one knee- Marik... will you marry me?

Marik: oh gods! YES Bakura, of course I will! –Throws his arms around Bakura and they kiss-

Ryou gulped, taken aback by what he had seen. His whole body was ridged with astonishment, fear and, most of all, dread. He was going to need a hot, sweet cup of finest English breakfast tea and a good sit down... and possibly even a slice of cake. Turning to the kitchen, he gasped. Hanging, neatly on a coat hanger, was the most hideous wedding dress Ryou had ever set eyes on.

He was going to get married to Marik, and he was going to wear that.

Cake was definite.

* Proof that, deep down inside, Bakura is a kitty

Now, this was fun to write =) I hope it was equally fun to read! Thanks to everyone for fab reviews

Xezbeth