A/n: Finally I've got off my lazy behind and wrote a next chapter! Blah I was held up for the last hour as I kept been called to watch Xfactor when I didn't want to! Gah, mothers! Okay ... I must apologise... again this chapter's been chopped into two bits for a certain reason: I'm in desperate need of your opinion, my dear readers! But over what, I will not spoil just yet. I hope you enjoy this half of the theft chapters, since it's short, sweet and not comprised of as much as I would have liked.
Oh, and I had a whole bunch of new subscribers over Easter, so welcome! I'm glad you've joined our little theifshipping voyage into the unknown 'what ifs' of Battle city!

IMPORTANT: I really do need your opinion at the bottom, so I'd be ever greatful if you told me yours in a review. Even if you don't normally review, don't be shy. I don't bite:D It'll only take a second to press the little button.... ;)

Disclaimer: Yes, both Marik and Bakura are very smexy. I admit that. But as much as I along with half the world want to own them or Yugioh in general, we don't. Me included. T-T

Chapter 6: Interrupted theft

Not a light came on as the two teens made their way around the side of the closed museum, a cruel breeze helping them along from behind. The stars were out in their thousands, small constellations being strewn along in confused smatterings, in the wake of the large pale face of the moon.

"Marik! Hurry up!" called the gruff voice of his new friend from in front, already halfway across the sandy-stone courtyard to the doors. Our villain scowled; especially since he'd been told this order so many times over the past few chapters.

The spirit was still clutching the side of the millennium ring in one hand like a leash, and it still dictated that the source of the power they were now following was in through the two iron doors in front of them. The dark glass refused them entry, and when Marik finally arrived beside the slightly taller teen, he could practically feel the malicious intent seeping off of him.

"Bakura, don't just break in, you fool! Remember what I said about the guards?" he asked sharply fearing him to just stick a foot through the glass as he had in the porch, and linked the spirit's bent arm to prevent him from causing the building any damage. Bakura's hazel eyes glinted in anger, even though they never left the scene enclosed by the glass.

"Well you're the fool then, since you said you had mind control over them," he replied, icily, although he still did not attempt to remove our villain's arm.

"I do! But we're not going in the front entrance, it'll have to be the back one," He grumbled in reply, attempting to drag the white-haired demon off. However he seemed reluctant to go anywhere, and remained completely motionless against the blonde's attempt to remove him.

"Are you certain?" he asked, when he finally ceased to resist the other.

"There's a back entrance used when they deliver something to the museum, that's the best way to get in at three in the morning. Don't worry, I come here all the time," he added, when his companion glanced quickly to see if he was joking. He seemed uneasy compared to his usual frustratingly calm attire, Marik noticed as they slid through a side gate and round to a small paved courtyard at the building's rear. This one was much smaller than the entrance, which had a roof held aloft by five enormous pillars. This one barely covered the door, which was bolted shut from the inside and comprised of a thickly navy coloured metal. A huge dumpster sat to one side. For some reason our villain expected Bakura to look into it(being the cunning thief he appeared to be) but he didn't; the ring was now pointing with two prongs toward the corner they had just rounded. Two minutes passed of clearly uneasy silence, in which the two boys stared at said glowing object.

"Well hurry up! We don't have all day, you know!" A harsh voice barked- which belonged to an impatient spirit of the ring. Our villain realised with a shiver he still had an arm linked through the other's, and pulled away sharply.

Marik sighed after that to attempt to lighten his mood, and bringing the rod automatically up across his chest so that it's horns tickled his neck, cool and lucid, he reached out mentally for any conscious nearby which he happened to find familiar.

One eagerly presented itself like always, which he immediately ordered to let them in. Another few long seconds passed uneventfully, and in this Marik began to fiddle with part of the rod. He was not a very patient person himself, and realised amidst a twinge of anger that his company was watching him with a very bemused expression.

"Hurry up, you useless mind slave!" He roared, knowing full well the person he was speaking to would hear him through the mind link. The spirit continued to fix him in that piercing warm gaze- it was strangely very icy yet it gave our villain the most curious feeling of seeping heat inside his gut. He likened it to eating hot custard on one of those nights where the wind hightails it's way through the shutters, rips around the desert sand like a sheet and lowers the temperature to a staggering new level of cold. Like taking a hot bath outside on a starless night. Like tonight…

Thankfully the idea that was beginning to form in his mind was expelled forcefully when the door jerked open unexpectedly. Bakura needed no second invitation and slid in through the crack before it had finished opening, resulting in a pause our villain was not willing to wait the duration of.

As he followed the stealthy silverette inside, a middle-aged man with a shock of black hair was the other side to greet them. His face was fixed in a thick grin; just the reason, Marik remembered, he chose him to be one of the many mind puppets he possessed.

"Welcome, Master," he grovelled, looking strangely out of place in a locked museam at three in the morning. Marik glanced around in distaste; the place was still drowned in swirling darkness, and he could no longer see Bakura at all.

"Shut that door behind you!" he snapped to the black-cloaked man, before striding out into the centre of the store room.

A hand came out of nowhere and seized him around the middle.

"…Bakura! Don't do that!" he gasped, when a silvery mane tickled around the base of his neck. A pair of sparkling dark eyes followed.

"Well if you'd just stay with me then perhaps I wouldn't have to grab you every two seconds," he concurred, leaning his head against our villain's shoulder affectionately and rocking him very slightly back and forward.

Marik could feel something hard bite into his lower back; it was very uncomfortable to bear, especially since he now knew this was where his friend stood. Was he……?

"What do you say, that we carry on what we left off?" asked a deep melodic growl around his ear. Left off when? He thought desperately.

"Fr…from the truck?" he gasped, aware the stupid mind puppet would be watching.

"No," tone of voice slid a little darker, "our little quest to discover the source of the mystical energies my ring here-" little nudge in the small of his back from the mystery object- "Is detecting…If we're lucky, it could be another millennium item.. "

He had to bite his lip in embarrassment. Surely he, the great Marik Ishtar would not fall victim to a dirty mind? Especially when he had no interest in this sort of carry-on!…Or, this is what he tells himself…

"Well stop hugging me then, and let's get this over and done with!"

The museum itself was derelict, which at this hour was understandable. Strange shadows cast by mummies leering from sarcophaguses lined their path, along with little trinkets made of gold behind glass cases. It was a place Marik often found himself nowadays, although he couldn't quite explain why. He just found it comforting, to be surrounded by all this old junk in the dead of night.

When the nightmares became too much to bear.

However it all also reminded him of his forsaken duty of tomb keeper to the great Nameless Pharaoh- who, he also forced himself to remember, he would finally dethrone if this plan went perfectly. And finally, after five millennia, his family would be free.

"The energy is strongest down here…"

They came upon a shut door; another storeroom that seemed not to be accessible to the general public. However they weren't just the general public, Marik had to remind himself.

"Well hurry up and see if the door's unlocked…" he snapped, glancing behind him. He thought he'd felt the presence of someone else for a minute there…

They soon discovered the door was, indeed unlocked.. The ring was now pointing towards the door with as much strength it could have beyond it's golden exterior; all five prongs were erect and horizontal to the floor as Bakura held it closely. With one hand he wrenched the door open, and slid in without waiting for Marik.

"Don't leave it open, you fool!" he was close behind the barely visible white mane in the darkness, this room without any light to pierce the depths of the shadow Marik now found himself wading into.

"Must you be so loud?" the door which our villain had also now left slightly ajar provided the only other light source- a thin stream of it, which created a long skinny puddle across the tiled ground. Just enough (When coupled with the softly glowing ring in Bakura's left hand) to notice the huge stone tablet behind glass on the far wall.

All at once, the ring fell limp, and the light it gave off vanished.

"No!….What's this?" Bakura stalked closer to the rock with a calculative snarl, and Marik edged closer to him.

He thought he'd never have behold this terrible sight ever again, but no. Cruel fate had other things in store for him!

"It's been years since the last time I've laid eyes on this…" grinned the demon unexpectedly beside our villain, a monstrous gleam in his chocolate eyes. For the stone tablet depicted in hieroglyphs and carvings, the Pharaoh's secret. Huge dual monsters and the original carvings of the Egyptian god monsters coloured it in it's entirety; the secret of the millennium puzzle… the secret power that would be his before this tournament was done…

"Wait, You've seen this before?" how could someone like Bakura know about this ancient heritage, unless he…

"Ah… well this tells the tale of a great Pharaoh who once saved the-"

"I know! I had it carved into my back!"

An awkward pause followed in the half-light, in which the two realised something very important about each other.

One who had witnessed first-hand the events the other was forced to uphold in tradition, but both irreversibly scarred by them. They were quite similar.

Tomb robber and forsaken tomb keeper.

"…Why do you want the millennium items, again?" Marik asked, to break the silence. However the look Bakura now had in those eyes was the most beautiful thing he'd seen yet, even though he couldn't quite make out what exactly that happened to be.

"Whoever wields all seven has power unimaginable. Why is it you don't want them?" He replied, although the gleam never left him. The ring dangled innocently from around his neck once again, below his crossed arms. Something about his attire told our villain he was suspicious- but Marik couldn't blame him. Nor could he just spill it about the Pharaoh's secret powers. Or then he might be forced to be some pet at the feet of a new one. …Not that he'd mind having this demon around as his slave when he did take over as Pharaoh- mmmh...he was a very pretty sight indeed. But he would not allow him to take our villain's carefully calculated prize like that!

"I told you, I'm a collector too. And I want those two remaining Egyptian God cards. So win me those in these finals and I'll make sure you get what you want!

… I thought we'd already agreed this? You still need a dual disc to enter so I suggest we get out of here and go rob someone." our crafty little mastermind suggested, turning back to the door.

"Ah come now, Marik. Perhaps we could just stay here a little longer? I don't suppose you appreciate the past like I would…" The spirit seized him around the waist again, gently, sliding one open hand seductively the length of his bronze chest, concealed by the bypassed white jacket, and this time adhered a light kiss to the side of his face. His touch was smooth and cool; cooler than the atmosphere within Marik's clothing, anyway. But just not cold enough to be considered uncomfortable.

"Urgh, you pick the strangest of times, don't you?" our villain was beginning to tire of his friend's surprise 'attacks', which were becoming both increasingly unpredictable and random. But he couldn't scold him fully, he was just curious like our villain was about his new friend... but he'd just find out the best ways into Bakura's pants himself- whenever they were in a more...ahem... private place.

"Mmh, you obviously don't see the appeal to this room that I do,"

"You're turned on by a giant stone tablet?!"

There was a pause. Marik felt the spirit's grip change.

"No, do you not feel the surging power that converges on this room? It's just…nice, being in the middle, don't you agree? We don't have to stay though, if you happen to be uncomfortable…"

Our villain turned in the other's arms, and he withdrew the one beneath his clothing.

"You know we're not the only people in this building, don't you?" His handsome friend grinned a wicked grin back.

"Yes of course… that's where the appeal lies, my young friend…" he slowly bent until their lips touched; Marik immediately seized the oppourtunity to wage another battle for top spot in the beautiful demon's mouth, and they melted into each other instantly. It was surprisingly a very deep and meaningful kiss to any onlookers that may have lurked outside the room.

And unfortunately for Marik and Bakura they did have one.

"Marik Ishtar!" There was a figure now taking up the crack in the door- tall and slender as a shadow, with a waterfall of dark locks cascading down her back- two haunting blue eyes bore into them, the person who now held the door and cornered the two. Marik opened one eye and caught a glimpse of the bronze face staring him down. When he finally recognised it, his jaw set, resulting in his partner almost using one of his famous canines to saw off some part of the inside of his mouth. He almost felt the earth converge beneath him to swallow him whole, as Bakura now noticed something was wrong. He knew that person well, it made nausea rise from his stomach and his whole body shiver in fear -it was one of the least favourable people in the world he would like to have discovering him in this compromising setup.

........"Ishizu!" Marik yelped, tearing away from Bakura frantically and trying to free himself the second he identified her, and once the reality had set in. However his friend was not as complacent.

"You know her?" the spirit would not be convinced into letting him go that easily, and two strong pale arms still constricted him all the while.

"She's my sister, you fool! Get off me!"

Bakura finally held up his hands in protest, and severely ruffled, our villain desperately attempted to straighten himself out. What a predicament to be uncovered in!

"Sister! What are you doing here?" he asked; still very edgy.

"Marik! Haven't I told you before that you're not supposed to kiss other boys? It's not acceptable in the society you've come into!"

Our villain felt his cheeks burning; there was nothing he could do to prevent that, nor his older sister's predictable reaction. They'd always told him it was wrong- and he usually didn't care- it wasn't like he made a habit of kissing anyone, actually.

…But if he wanted to kiss Bakura, then who would stop him when he was Pharaoh?? Still, until that did inevitably happen, he couldn't just stand there shamed in front of his new friend like this and take his punishment as if he were a naughty child! For he, Marik Ishtar answers to nobody! Dully, he realised he was shaking, and stiffened his jaw even more in resolution. This was it… he had to give some sort of comeback…

"…I... wasn't kissing him!" he whined finally, although if he had of wanted to sound any more like a child, there possibly could be no such way. Even he was unaware of how immature it had come out.

"Marik, we had this discussion in detail two years ago. You're not one of them, so stop acting like one!"

"I told you, I take orders from no-one! I wasn't kissing him, okay?" he had to glance back at his bemused partner, arms now crossed in a mock display of surprise.

"Come on Bakura, you're supposed to back me up!"

"Oh? I was just staying out of the sibling rivalry," he assured him with a sneer. Was this all a big joke to him? This was our villain's pride on the line!

"…What are you doing here, at this hour anyway?" asked the concerned woman before them, still arms folded and worry clouding her blue eyes as she beheld her lost boy-kissing brother.

"Shouldn't you be telling us that, Ishizu? Or have you lost the power to see into the future after all that?" Marik growled contemptuously, subconciously widening the gap between he and the silverette, who was now preoccupied once again by the stone tablet. He probably does get off on that, our villain scoffed in his head, when he caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of a bright eye.

"I do know, brother. But I'd rather you told me with your own mouth than just assuming it.." she clasped her hands together before her, and for the first time the necklace that hung tightly across her collarbone glimmered dangerously.

"Hmm. What we're doing here is none of your business anyway," our villain frowned, and turned towards Bakura. "Stop looking at that rock and let's go already," He'd had enough embarrassment already to last him a lifetime!

"But where else are you to find a dual disc at this time of the morning?" Ishizu asked, slowly. Her tone was unwavering, however something about her person suggested to Marik that she was very nervous. Was it because of Bakura being there?

"Why? Do you have one for me or something?"

"It's not for you, though, is it?"

It was just as Marik remembered. He could hide nothing from his sister, since they got the millennium items. But then why was she so shocked at seeing him and Bakura kissing, then? It wasn't exactly the first time it'd happened… nor would it be the last, if he was not mistaken.

"No it's not for me. Of course I already have one!… Now are you going to be useful or shall I just go and wander the streets?"

The dark-haired woman sighed and turned back to the door; her little brother never really changed, nowadays. Whatever he set his mind on, he would have. When he was really young he was truly happy, but now these vicious fads overtook him in on regular intervals. First it had been motorbikes… then revenge on their sacred Pharaoh… now kissing other boys. It was all she could do to try and stop him, but he would be saved from himself when the time was right… Perhaps this was why she tried to stay as far away from him as she could, until then.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. I suggest you two behave yourselves while I'm gone," Upon reaching the door, she flicked on the light switch- brightness exploded all around like an atom bomb, reflected from the glass and tiles, and as our villain gasped and covered his eyes against the shock of this assault, she shut the door firmly.

"Come back…! Oh well. …Bakura? What are you doing?" When his pale eyes had finally re-adjusted to the level of light, he turned to find his friend, and noticed he was once again pre-occupied by the legacy. The white haired demon's mane obscured his whole face as he stared down at the golden object around his own neck, still facing the stone tablet. A single prong was elevated, and pointed at it.

"Don't tell me it gets off on that thing too!"

"No, your sister is the source of the magical energy my ring has been tracking…" answered a bewildered Bakura, still scanning over the etched surface of the sandy stone behind the glass, creating lucid patterns across the floor with it's reflective surface.

"And what am I supposed to do about that? If we're lucky she might get me a dual disc for you, after all this so you can win me those god cards!…How good are your duelling skills, anyway?"

"They're fine, Marik. I suggest you stop underestimating me and accept me for what I am!"

"…But how do I know you're good? After all this trouble to set you up in the finals...after you almost get us both killed…you could be a just a waste of time and effort on my part for all I know…!"

Bakura leaned closer to our villain's face.

"Do I look like a waste of time to you?" he was grinning devilishly; our villain inhaled sharply- the light threw itself into folds across his pale face beneath a wash of snowy fringe, two dark mocha orbs staring him down confidently.

He looked beautiful.

"N…we'll have to see," Marik chose his words carefully lest his associate decided to get too friendly again. Once was enough for this sheltered little evil mastermind to be caught snogging a boy!… A very feminine, ravishingly beautiful boy if he may say so, but a boy nonetheless.

Neither made an attempt to move, one bent sideways, the other gazing up, so close their noses almost touched, wedged into a fixing headlock of unexplained feelings. That is, until the door snapped open again.

All at once Marik leapt aside, praying his face did not display the same level of guilt that cramped his gut at that moment. In the doorway framed by a puddle of shadow was our villain's sister, creamy gown billowing out behind her. In her left hand she held a dual disc- a predominantly blue machine, gleaming in all it's new glory.

"Hmm… so you can manage to be of some use to me, after all?" asked our villain, although he sensed it would not be that easy, since it was another Ishtar he was dealing with.. He could feel Bakura move beside him, until they were almost shoulder-to-shoulder.

What in the name of Ra is he doing that for??

"…But if you think I'm just going to give you this, you're sadly mistaken!" replied Ishizu, as our bronze little mastermind had anticipated, holding up the disc as if it were a great war-trophy. He was not in the mood for her meddling games.

"Oh fine then, we'll just go and get one elsewhere!" responded her brother, before he could even stop himself. If she wanted to play hard-to-get, that was not his issue. He knew he could just force her with the rod that hung slackly at the back of his belt, but for some reason that didn't appeal to him too much at the moment. ..After all, she was family. But he should go ahead and do it after she embarrassed him in front of Bakura like that!

"…I will however, allow you the pleasure of duelling me for it," added the woman before them, when our villain approached her and the door to leave. Marik could hardly believe his ears. Duel?! She ceaselessly beat him while they were children… frustrating him to no ends. If only they could duel while she wasn't aware of every move he was going to make before he made it himself…! However, his mind was fixed deftly on the prizes of the last two god cards, the one he accidentally lost to Yugi, and the last remaining beast his sister had foolishly given to Seto Kaiba- the host of this charming tournament, and would not be unfocused by this. (And also not a very tough adversary to have to beat, he grinned to himself- he was lucky to possess the single strongest God card there was. And since Kaiba was scanning each card being played through tracking satellites, Marik would deny him the chance of previewing it's awesome power before facing it's wrath…whenever that would be.)

"A duel? What do you think I am? Senile?" he grinned, glancing quickly at his silverette friend.

"Well if you don't want it brother…"

"I do- but your opponent won't be me, it'll be the one who really needs the prize," Marik continued, glancing back at Bakura. His face was a wash of surprise and cunning pleasure.

"Marik? What do you mean?"

"Bakura, I'm sick of doing everything for you! Go and fight for your own stuff if you want my millennium rod!"

"Doing everything for me…? Who was it stood there like a stricken fawn when we were uncovered in the van a little while ago? Who was it got you a free pass into becoming closer to his enemies?"

"…And who was it ran out in front of oncoming traffic and almost killed me?!"

Ishizu's eyes widened as she realised something unbeknownst to the two bickering boys, who were reluctant to give up their childish argument.

"This is about the millennium items? Marik, how could you!"

"…Sister, you know why I'm doing all this. If you're smart, you'll stay out of my way! I'm not afraid to use my own item against you if the need arises, I suggest you remember. Now I suggest you give my comrade there a lend of that until he wins it." Marik pointed to the disc briefly, abandoning his pointless fight with Bakura hastily. The duel was more important now.

This was quite a nice setup, really. He could get a glimpse of the spirit's duelling skills and not have to do anything substantial. Just the way he liked things.

"It doesn't matter who accepts my challenge. Just promise me this Marik, if I win here, then you must stop pursuing romantic exchanges with boys! Especially this one… you have no idea what sort of danger you're getting into, here!" Ishizu tossed the disc towards the spirit, who caught it gracefully and turned it once in his hand, examining the prize. Evidently finding it satisfactory, he slid it around his forearm as if he'd been doing this his whole life.

"Come now woman, he seems old enough to decide such things for himself, does he not?" he grinned, making an equally satisfied smile appear across our villain's lips, for after all- this time he was right. Sixteen surely was a satisfactory age to make such choices, right?

"My brother must learn to do things himself, not be told his whole life, Bakura! …If that's even your real name,"

"Why would I lie?"

"Actually you never introduced yourself at all. I know your aura… and I need not say any more."

"What do you say we up the stakes a little higher?" asked the demon darkly, his rough, undefined British accent as jagged as his untidy mane. Marik felt a familiar rush of coldness envelope them, as if an enormous ghost had sat down on the room. The lights went out with a bang, causing the dark to fall like a sheet around them. All three millennium items glowed, Marik's behind him created a monsterous version of his own familiar misshapen shadow across the designated duel arena. It was just enough to be considered efficiant to tell what was going on.

"I now pronnounce this a shadow game. And if I win, not only do I get your brother..." here a little sideways grin at Marik-who returned it very sarcastically, "I wish to claim your millennium necklace, which my ring led us in here for. As well as this dual disc you've so...kindly lent me..." He proclaimed, standing directly opposite Marik's sister confidently. This could well be interesting... he thought to himself, grinning internally.

"And what if I win?"

"I'll leave Marik alone, and let you leave the shadows. Isn't that a fair deal?" he replied, shrugging. The shadow realm was not the most pleasant place to be, even if it was only a temporary post. Our bronze villain slouched against the wall with uncomfortableness and extracted his rod, allowing the light it was emitting to starch the playing field, and create a triangular pit of light with the other two.

"Although unfair, my necklace has shown me it's outcome already. And so I accept your challenge!" she replied, and threw back part of the creamy folds of the wrap she wore, exposing her hidden right arm-which Marik now noticed was adorned in another dual disc. "....As far as I remember it was you who issued the challenge?"

Shall we begin this duel now or stand here giving pleasantries all night?" she asked, activating this dual disc. The hologram projectors shimmered irredescent light, further illuminating the darkened room for all to see. Marik stood eagerly slouched back; he would have admitted to being very excited to witness the outcome had he not have cared so little. If his sister won, he'd just make her give them the disc anyhow. And if Bakura won… well, since Ishizu had the power to predict his moves, that was highly unlikely… but if he did, then he would turn out to be a very valuable pawn indeed in his cunning little game.

…And a very beautifully handsome one at that, which he was very content to sit here and watch at half three in the morning. There was no rest indeed for the wicked!

His plan was already well on it's way to working…he was guaranteed to enter the finals… and to top it all off, he was allowed the privilege of watching his amazingly graceful friend face off against his sister in dual. There was nothing he could imagine more worthy of doing!

The field was set; both contestants inserted their decks, set the machines to 4000 lp and drew their first five cards, bathed in the half-light of the hologram projectors, and their wildly glowing millennium items. Bakura was already grinning widely showing two fangs hooked handsomely across his lip, and his posture was confident, stiff; it appeared he'd drawn something good.

However since his sister was able to predict the future, she was quiet as usual, and it was evident immediately who was going to start.

"Duel!"

A/n: Yes! Marik got caught in an open-mouthed kiss with Bakura by none other than his SISTER!!!! haha, epic fail on his part :P Okay, and finally, we have a duelXD!Hooray, now I can test my skills in writing these accursed parts of Yugioh fanfiction!

Allright: question time- I stopped writing here, because I need to know how you want the story to go on. I know there's some that don't care, but I am really confused here, so it'd really help to have an idea before it starts. I can either:

1: Write it how the show do it, with those crappy moves and cards so that it ends quickly(Except in the anime they'd talk so much it lasted five episodes...! Grr.. I used to hate that..)

or 2: Enhance their decks as far as I can, make them do PROPER moves that actually make sense, and have it burn out for as long as possible (But no more than half to three quarters the length of the next chapter.)

Okay. Thanks for reading, and hope to get the next one up asap! You can guess the outcome of this match if you want, I'd be glad to see who you'd deem the victorXD,Just remember-this is all in preporation for the dear finals which will hopefully be epic:D (and they'll start as soon as this duel ends and Ryou gets fully better. -Perhaps next chapter.. Oh my little kitten, how I love you so. But you're proving to be quite a nuisance to the boys T.T Oh, and remember-the more reviews I get, the faster I update. :) :)