I ran out of Marik's room and ran as quick as I could through the house and passing the many rare hunters in this place, tears falling from my eyes as I sobbed in helplessness.

I suddenly ran into one of them and fell back to see Odion, "Oh, Hello Asura" he greeted me and helped me up only to see my eyes red and sore with tears.

He gave me a concerned look and wiped away my tears, "what's wrong?"

I hugged him tightly and sobbed into his dark cloak, "Your brother's a jerk…"

"What did my Master do to hurt you?" He asked soothingly and rubbed my back as I cried.

"He hates me…" I answered sadly, the words putting me in even more pain as I admitted my thoughts.

Odion didn't give an answer to my statement, was it really true…?

He suddenly pushed me off lightly and gave me a very serious look in his eyes, as if I had offended him to the highest of levels.

"Master Marik doesn't hate you." He stated bluntly, with a sharp edge to his words.

I shook my head quickly, "he does! He does!" I argued, more tears escaping my eyes.

"ASURA!" he snapped my name and held my head in his hands, forcing me to look straight into his powerful eyes.

"I don't know what has happened between you both…" he growled, "But of everyone in this world, He loves you the most! And would never ever hate you!"

I shook and didn't dare fight back against Odion, he was like a big brother to me, and he knew Marik even better then I.

"Loves me…?" I managed to slip out and then my dream came back to my mind…

"Why is he so interested in me…? Why me?"

"I can't tell you,"

"You never keep secrets from me"

Odion gave a look of guilt, as if he had done something horrible and evil, he eventually sighed and gave me a small nod.

"Promise you won't say a word to Master Marik… And I will say everything…" he gave in and took me into a spare room where he sat me on a small bed. He sat down next to me; the look of guilt was still strong on his face as he breathed uneasily.

"Marik… does love you… he always has since he first met you. We had come to domino, to look for the pharaoh indeed, but as well to look for the lost soul that was you…"

He always loved you, even as a child, you were his most important possession.

You gave him so much happiness, even the night of the initiation, he was bent over in anger and thoughts of vengeance were present in his mind. You were there, and that was enough… to make him realise there was still beauty in this black world…

That night when his dark side was unleashed, it may have been me who stopped it but as the child saw you, afraid and confused, the ice in his cold eyes cracked and slowly began to melt away. You ran from Egypt in fear of what you saw Marik do to his father, his eyes were strong from then, as if he vowed to never scare you ever again and as we looked for you, his intentions of finding you and holding you once more didn't weaken in the slightest; if not; grow even stronger.

He was determined…" Odion paused for a moment and my eyes were wide with shock, "So believe me when I say, AFTER ALL THIS TIME, HE WOULD NEVER WANT TO SIMPLY THROW YOU AWAY!" he yelled and huffed afterwards.

"Marik… he's loved me all this time…" I whispered under my breath and stood up, and ran out of the room without warning.

Odion looked to the floor; "Please Master Marik… this is the time to tell her your 8-year-old secret… please do not be stubborn…!" he prayed silently to himself and watched as I ran for Marik's room.

I stopped at his door and reached out for the handle when something suddenly hit me, a hiss in my ear and a cold breath go down my spine. As if the reaper was right behind me, holding me with his skeletal hands.

"I thought I told you to leave" I heard a familiar bark at me from behind me. I bit my lip harshly as I instantly recognised it.

I turned around slowly, greeting a faint, "hello" as I saw Marik standing above me, his lavender eyes piercing straight through me with nothing but loathing.

'Was Odion right…?' I thought nervously to myself as I failed to find any 'love' or 'affection' in his cold eyes. They were frightening and hateful, not characteristics you'd expect to find in the eyes of a lover.

"Why are you still here, Asura? I don't want to force you to leave!" he growled at me and I saw his hands grasp the millennium rod.

As I heard him threaten me again I couldn't hold it in anymore, "Just shut up!" I suddenly snapped at him.

I felt tears well up inside my eyes again, "You want me gone so bad then fine! To think I…" My words came to silence, as I didn't dare say that word to Marik.
Even now I still had feelings for him…

I wished I didn't, he had changed…

"To think you what, Asura?" he snapped at me and came closer, making him look even more intimidating to me.

My head lowered as I felt tears run down my face, "love you…" I whispered and I heard a gasp come from Marik. I felt a lump form in my throat and I began to quietly sob, I wanted to run away from him. He knew now.

Now what will become of us…?

"It wasn't the pharaoh after all…" I heard him whisper breathlessly to himself and he backed away from me immediately, "what have I done, Asura…?" he asked me, his voice sounded so confused and shocked.

I flinched as I heard a loud, Clang! As Marik threw his rod to the ground, "This is not me!" he yelled at himself and fell to his knees, hunching his body over to hold himself.

"I've been so blind… Asura…"

I looked to his body, he was shaking. Soon after I heard panting and whimpers…

Marik was crying…

"Asura… I am so sorry…! I have been so horrible to you… so so horrible…!" he sobbed, his head glued to the ground, not even attempting to even keep eye contact with me.

"I beg you… Asura…" he whispered, gainging my complete attention, he raised his head sadly to look at me in the eyes, "Please forgive me… forgive what I've done…" he begged me helplessly.

Never in my life I would've expected a man whom ruled over so many, would submit to anyone. Never in my life, I expected Marik to beg…

"Marik… you're my best friend…" I knelt down and hugged him tightly, "your too valueable to me to simply cast away…"