Title: Vampires Vs. The World
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!
Warning: Yaoi, gore, vampires, swearing

Chapter Six

Yami stood outside, eyes closed as he waited, swords in hand. Around him was Malik, Tristan, Seto, and Joey, each holding a certain type of weapon. Considering how the last fight went, and seeing as it looked like Marik wouldn't change sides, Yami thought it best to practice. So now, here he was, four of his friends ready to fight him.

Malik's grip tightened on the staff he held, ready to attack when Yami was ready. After his bout with Marik, the blonde was heavily bruised, his violet eyes popping out even more against blackened skin. Seeing as he was still angry, the training session would be of great stress relief.

Tristan planted his feet, keeping a careful grip on his sais, watching the ancient vampire carefully. When Yami suggested they train, he was a little apprehensive, not sure he was willing to take on the small vampire.

Seto watched Yami, hands at his side. He decided to forgo the weapons, wanting to fight him hand to hand. The blue-eyed teen was going to wait until the other three finished with Yami before attacking. Part of him always wanted to take the ancient head on, but since he was on their side from the start, and they never practiced, he didn't have the chance. Now was different though.

Joey stood there with a grin on his face, waiting for the order to fight. During the month he was on the injured list, and unable to go out, he spent his time practicing, when he should have been in bed. He'd been good about hiding it, but now, he was sure it would come out, considering before then, his fighting could have used some improvement. However, now, he was sure he was good enough that he could handle this easily.

Everyone else was off to the side, ready to watch the spectacle before them. Ryou, however, could watch more than just the fight. The snowy haired boy could feel the tension as he grew, could feel the deep running emotions that were fueling the people within this sparring match. Panic, anger, desperation… Ryou could feel them all and more. He could even sense the insane rage building. Wait, insane rage?

"Yami!" Ryou shouted just as the ancient told everyone to move out of the way.

Seconds later, Marik's form came flying out of the woods that surrounded the estate, the ancient blonde rolling on the ground before getting to his feet, red eyes narrowing. His shirt had long since been removed in the struggle. His crimson blood flowing freely from various holes in his torso, scorch marks around each one. Blonde hair was covered with dirt, ash, and blood, showing the fate of the vampires who'd gotten in the way of his fight.

Bakura emerged from the woods nearly a minute later, his eyes the same red as Marik's. Once snowy hair was now a mix of red and brown. His clothes looked just as mangled as Marik's, covered in his own blood. His eyes narrowed dangerously at the blonde after he saw who was behind him, realizing he had been set up. He snarled and hissed before lunging at the blonde.

"Guys, get inside, now," Yami ordered, pushing them all for the door as the other two ancients started their fight again.

"Yami, are you sure?" Yugi asked. "...I don't think you can take them."

Yami sighed. "I'll think of something," he mumbled, watching his two former friends.

Bakura hissed dangerous at Marik as they separated, Marik landing feet from Yami. "So, this is it?" he asked. "You're going to side with the damn Pharaoh!"

Marik glanced to Yami with red eyes. "For now," he stated. "Personally, I want Pegasus out of the way more than I want to destroy to mortals, and I'll deal with him first."

Bakura snorted. "You're an idiot," he snarled. "You really think they'll let you live that long? They'd sooner put you in the ground! They fucking hunt us! Good Ra, they're probably only keeping him long enough to destroy Pegasus, then it's back in the ground for him!"

"That's enough, Bakura!" Yami snapped with a hiss, walking up to stand next to Marik. "You may believe that, but it isn't true! Yugi was already part of them when he called for me, and it was well written in those tombs what we were! What person would call for a vampire, then bury them again?"

Bakura hissed. "Stay out of this, Pharaoh!" he growled, turning his attention back to Marik, his features softening. "...Marik, please, after everything we've been through together, why betray me now?"

Marik stared at the other ancient and sighed, looking away. "Because now...you're wrong, and I can't stand by your side through his," he explained.

Bakura's expression grew tight again. "...then you can die with them!" he snarled, vanishing. The next time everyone saw him, he appeared in front of Marik, sending a broadsword into Marik's chest. The blonde ancient's eyes widened as he let out a strangled hiss. "May Anubis have mercy on whatever is left of your soul," Bakura hissed, ripping the sword to the side, away from his heart, removing it from Marik's chest before he vanished, the blonde dropping to his knees.

"Marik!" Yami caught the ancient before he fell the rest of the way.

"That...bastard..." Marik hissed, coughing up blood, his eyes growing even redder by the second.

"Here," Yami said, biting into his wrist, allowing his blood to flow freely before offering it to Marik. The blonde stared at his crossly before biting into Yami's wrist, the metallic tasting liquid filling his mouth.

"Yami...are you sure about this...?" Yugi asked, walking over to the ancients.

Yami nodded. "He needs to feed, but he can't really get to anyone except us, and you need less blood to heal if you feed from a vampire," he explained. "And he was in a bloodlust anyway."

They watched Marik closer as he continued to drink from Yami's wrist, his wounds healing, eyes slowly returning to normal. After nearly five minutes he released Yami's wrist and got up, stretching. The blonde glanced down at the former Pharaoh and said something to him and ancient Egyptian, the tri-color haired vampire nodding, standing as well.

Marik nodded, glancing to Yami friends. "...they won't try to kill me, will they?"

Yami looked to his friends, all of them wondering what the two vampires were discussing. "No," he said. "Malik's a little pissed at you, but I'm sure he'll get over it." Marik nodded, but said nothing more.

Hours later, Marik lay on Yami's bed, the other ancient letting him use his room for the time being. The blonde let out a long, suffering sigh as he closed violet eyes, intending to regain his strength. As his mind wondered, he was taken back in time. Back when they were friends, playing by the bank of the Nile, tempting death as they tried to touch the crocodiles.

"You know, it's okay to be confused..." Yami said from the doorway.

"And what makes you think I'm confused?" Marik asked, opening his eyes to stare at him.

"Hmm, a little birdie told me," Yami said, going to lie next to the other vampire.

"Then obviously, Pharaoh, that little birdie needs to keep his mouth shut..." Marik stated, then growled. "...and get away from the door."

Yami chuckled, sensing Ryou walk away from the door and down the hall. "You should be nice to him," he stated, "it's because of him I was able to get everyone out of yours and Bakura's way." Marik made a small grunting noise and looked away. Making a face, Yami rolled onto his side to watch the strategist. "How are you doing?"

"Fine," Marik said, getting off the bed, moving over to the window. "...not so fine. I just stabbed my former lover in the back, and honestly, I kind of enjoyed doing it. To have that kind of control... now I see why Bakura always wanted to be in charge... then you have complete control."

"Don't say that," Yami said, looking away. "...how could you enjoy doing that? Bakura's our friend!" He sighed, getting up.

"Have you ever tried it?" Marik asked, turning to him with questioning violet eyes. "It's quite thrilling..."

"Shut up!" Yami snapped. "I...I don't want to hear it..."

Marik snorted, heading for the door. "Face it, Pharaoh, you're friends with a control freak and a back-stabber," he said, heading out the door.

Yami instantly appeared in front of Marik. "You aren't a back-stabber," he stated, then noticed who else was in the hall, and started speaking Egyptian. "You did what you had to do! Bakura was wrong this time!"

A blonde eyebrow raised itself in question. "How do you know?" Marik asked. "What if he is right? How do you know they won't bury you once Pegasus is out of the way?" he asked thoughtfully, the old language slipping from his lips like a dagger, striking Yami hard. "You use to think that of the citizens of Egypt, and look where that landed you. ...in a hole."

Yami stared at Marik, crimson eyes looking sad. "...I know he's wrong…because I trust them, and they trust me," he stated.

Marik sighed, shaking his head. "You always were too willing to trust," he commented, walking off.

"Maybe you just need to learn to be more trusting of others!" Yami hissed, turning to him.

Marik stopped, turning his head to look over his shoulder, sending a glare to Yami. "I did trust people," he stated. "I trusted all those idiots in Egypt, only to be drained of life and put in a sandy grave to rot!" He paused, a small hiss escaping his lips. "You think you know everything just because you've found people who are willing to let you live, but you don't know a damn thing! What did you ever do in Egypt? You sat on your fucking throne and passed judgment on those idiots! Well now it's Bakura's turn and mine. We've passed judgment on these mortals; and one by one, they are to either be enslaved, or die."

Yami stood there, listening to the coldness in Marik's voice as he spoke. He'd never heard such rage and malice come from the blonde, and it frightened him. He wanted the old Marik back. The one that would smile, laugh, and over all, did have a heart. But it seemed the five thousand years buried in the sand turned his heart to stone.

Marik snorted in disgust, turning away from the smaller ancient. "You, of all people, should understand our anger," he said. "...and even if you don't agree with it, you should just keep your damn mouth shut!" Closing his violet eyes, he vanished.