TheMysticWonder- haha, it's strangely ooc :P and thankyou for the review on the last chapter also!

HermioneSakuraGardner07- I am happy with this arrangement :) So Bakura is mine today! *evil grin* I thought you'd appreciate a bit on Anzu :) she has some in this chapter too!

YamiNoIcexIcuo- Proof that puzzleshipping solves all :P and it seems like something Bakura would do, he's just so crafty :D

Anon- I know my chapters are reaaally short :/ it's because the story isn't actually that long but I didn't want it to be a oneshot. and thankyou! I will edit that at some point.. honest :P I never know about names and commas! Thanks for the advice!

CHAPTER WARNINGS- Bulimic behaviors, Self harm references, Very mild language

An extra long chapter today (for me anyway...) Just the rest of what happens at the beach :D


"Marik! Come swimming!" A voice woke me, I must have fallen asleep.

"What?" I looked around, to find everyone in their swimming costumes stood around me.

"Come swimming Marik." Ryou repeated. I knew I'd recognised that cheery tone.

"Oh, no thanks Ryou. I'm pretty tired."

Ryou rolled his eyes, "You've been asleep for ages! You can't be tired."

"I don't like swimming." I tried, anything to make them go away.

"Leave him you guys, I'll try to convince him."

My eyes searched out my saviour, Yami.

My eyes widened in surprise.

"I'll drag him if I have to." Ah, here was Bakura, reliable as always.

"Last one in's a pineapple!" Joey yelled, and everyone took off running for the sea. Except Yami and Bakura, who remained with me on the beach.

I sat up on the towel, ready for whatever they threw at me.

"How come you don't want to go swimming Marik?" Yami asked.

I shrugged. "I don't feel like it."

Yami nodded slowly, "Okay, but if you change your mind come join us."

He gave Bakura a meaningful look as he jogged off to join the others in the sea.

I glanced at Bakura.

"What's wrong with your arm?" He repeated.

Bugger. I thought we were past that?

"I told you. I fell out of bed."

"Like hell Ishtar, then why would it hurt when I touched it?"

"I guess it's bruised."

"In three hours it's bruised so bad that it's agonising when it's touched?" His tone was sarcastic.

"I guess."

He growled and sat beside me heavily.

"Why are you lying to me?" He asked, his voice was sad.

I began to say that I wasn't, but maybe he deserved to know? Maybe he'd understand.

"I cut it." I said. It was true. The way he chose to take it was up to him.

He looked at me in confusion, then something clicked in his eyes and he gasped lightly.

"On purpose?" I couldn't tear my eyes away from his face, brown orbs, flecked with crimson were filled with concern, forehead furrowed in worry.

I didn't answer. A lump had risen in my throat and I couldn't trust myself to speak without crying.

I nodded, tears glittering in my eyes, ready to spill.

The next thing I knew Bakura's arms were around me and he was holding me to him tightly, my head in the crook of his neck. I welcomed the embrace, leaning into him and sobbing into his chest. I could hear him softly murmuring into my hair, but I couldn't hear the words over the sound of my sobs. He rocked me gently and ran a hand softly through my hair, quietly shushing me. My sobs eventually ceased, my shoulders stopped shaking and my breath returned to normal.

He released me, but kept one arm around my waist.

Neither of us spoke for a long time. We just sat there and watched the others in the sea.

Then, finally, Bakura broke the silence with a single word.

"Why?"

I paused, contemplating his question.

"I deserve it." I eventually replied.

Bakura's head shot up, crimson eyes meeting mine.

"What? How do you deserve.. this?" he said, gesturing to my arm.

I shrugged. "Horrible people deserve horrible things."

His expression darkened and he grabbed my arm, nails digging into the broken skin. I winced and cried out but he was too angry to notice.

"You are not a horrible person. Don't you ever say that again. Don't even think it."

I stared at him, his eyes had turned a deep, blood-red and his arms were shaking. I had to admit, I was a little scared.

"Promise me Ishtar." he demanded.

I nodded quickly, just wanting him to let go of my arm, where I could feel blood beginning to fall again.

"Properly." Squeezing my arm harder.

"I promise Bakura, now get the frig off my arm!" I shook him off me, cradling my arm gently in my lap and gasping slightly at the pain.

Bakura slid closer to me, anger gone.

I swear he's bipolar or something..

"Let me look."

I pulled my arm closer towards me, ignoring the drying blood that was sticking it to my sleeve.

"Please?"

That was a surprise. His eyes were back to their usual brown, deep and gentle.

I sighed internally. Well, there was no harm in it. He may as well see.

I glanced over to the others playing in the sea, they were far too preoccupied splashing each other and giving each other piggy-back rides to glance over.

I took a deep breath. I'd never shown anyone before. I was nervous.

I looked away from the sea as I felt Bakuras hand resting on my knee, he gave me a reassuring smile "Only if you want Ishtar."

I nodded, smiling back nervously.

Then rolled up my sleeve.


I looked up as I heard someone walking through the sand towards me. After I showed Bakura my arm his eyes had filled with tears and he had walked off without saying a word.

"They're setting out the picnic under those trees." Bakura said, his voice monotone as he raised a hand, gesturing to a small clump of trees that offered some shade from the hot midday sun. "You should come and eat something."

His tone was cold and unfeeling, the lack of warmth in his eyes made me shiver. I was too afraid to even argue, I just stood, grabbed the towel and followed him over to the others.

Ryou, Yugi and Anzu were laying out various plastic tubs on top of a red checked blanket which they'd spread across the yellow sand. I could see scotch eggs, pork pies, pasta salad, chicken drumsticks, potato salad, sandwiches, chocolate bars, crisps, various fruit, and even a large chocolate cake, which sat in pride of place in the very middle of the blanket under a plastic cover.

Yami gave me and Bakura a sad look as we approached, but it was quickly turned to a content smile when Yugi plonked himself heavily in his lap, pulling the larger boys arms around his waist.

"Come on guys, dig in!" Anzu prompted as Ryou handed around plastic plates and cutlery.

"Thanks." I smiled, then turned to look at the food that was spread out in front of me. I already felt sick.

I felt a hand come to rest in the middle of my back and turned around to see Bakuras crimson eyes boring into mine. "Eat." He whispered, barely audible.

I swallowed, looked to the food then back to Bakura again. he must have seen the fear in my eyes, because his face softened slightly, "Please?"

I sighed, then nodded, sitting down beside the blanket, forming a rough circle with the others.

"There are cheese or egg sandwiches Marik." Yami said, "Yugi made them specially for you."

I smiled at that, "Thanks Yugi."

"Well Yami remembered you were vegetarian, and I had to make sure you could eat something!" He laughed as he said this, but Yami's eyebrows furrowed at his choice of words and he shot me a sad look.

Bakura followed my lead and came to sit beside me, "Well that was thoughtful of you both, Marik'll have to eat plenty to show his gratitude."

I visibly twitched at this. Shooting a death glare at Bakura, which he ignored as he reached forward to help himself to a chicken drumstick and a packet of crisps.

I braced myself, then helped myself to an egg sandwich and some fruit.

I could feel Bakuras eyes on me, even as he devoured his chicken. I held a sandwich up to my mouth. Taking a small bite. The taste and texture felt foreign to me. I chewed the bite until it was mush, then swallowed. This was repeated until I had eaten an entire sandwich. Bite, chew, swallow. Bite, chew, swallow.

Don't think. Don't think.

I had eaten my sandwich so slowly, that everyone else had eaten their fill of savoury food, and Ryou had started to cut up the chocolate cake, explaining the recipe to Yugi while he did so.

Ryou dished the cake onto smaller, clean plates and handed them round until everyone had one. Even me. I'd smiled my thanks as it was handed to me, commenting how tasty it looked, which had made Ryou blush. My stomach sank as I stared at the dark lump of cake on my plate. Ryou had been generous with the servings and I didn't think I could make myself eat a single bite, let alone the whole piece. Everyone around me was digging in, with their hands like Honda and Jou, or more delicately with forks, like Anzu and Ryou. I broke off a small piece, feeling the crumbs between my fingers, the icing sticky and moist. I put the cake in my mouth, feeling it's silky texture , the rich chocolate icing coating my mouth and sticking to my teeth. It was so sickly.

I don't know how I managed, but with some less than gentle encouragement from Bakura, and a few looks from Yami I managed to eat the whole slice. Everyone had finished before me, and were now lying in the shade, stuffed full of food and talking quietly.

I felt an arm snake around my waist and looked up to see Bakura smiling softly at me.

"Well done." He said, giving me a small squeeze.

The look of pride and sadness in his eyes made me want to cry. Instead I smiled back, trying to look less queasy than I felt, and rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes, trying to overcome the waves of nausea.

"You two look cute together."

I immediately removed my head and shuffled away from Bakura's embrace, cheeks flushed red.

Anzu laughed, "Well you do." She defended herself, "Don't they?"

Everyone nodded their agreement, even Yami smiled softly.

I glanced over to Bakura, who had gone tomato red, and was attempting to hide his blush behind his white hair, without much success.

I snorted in derision, deciding one of us should counter Anzu's point.

"I don't think so Anzu." I smiled, with a small chuckle. "He's not really my type." I lied, with a small wink that made Anzu giggle.

Bakura lifted his head up at this. "Who said you were my type Ishtar?" he asked, raising a white eyebrow, trademark smirk back on his face.

I blushed at that and looked away, focusing my gaze on the ocean.

"Well whatever," Anzu said, "You did look cute."

She lay back down and went back to her conversation with Ryou. I continued to look out at the sea, but was aware of Bakura's eyes on me. I began to feel flustered under his gaze, sweat once again sticking my jumper to my back. My stomach growled unhappily and I felt the sudden need to be sick.

I jumped up, surprising Bakura.

"I'm going to pee guys." I said.

"Where?" Ryou asked, looking around.

I shrugged, "I dunno, behind a dune or summat I guess."

Ryou's mouth formed a surprised 'O', and his eyes widened.

"Be right back."

I walked away from the group, climbing a small sandy hill. Once I was behind it, I checked to make sure there was no-one nearby. I bent forward, sticking my finger down my throat, pushing until I gagged and vomited. The sick splattered the perfect sand, and I continued to retch until my stomach was empty and nothing but bitter green bile came up. I stood up straight, wiped my mouth on my sleeve and turned to go back to the group, leaving my sick to stain the sand. I felt better with my stomach emptied, but the memory of the pride in Bakura's eyes made me feel guilty.