***Sorry, I could not get doc manager to work last week so I wasn't able to upload this here even though it was on A03***

Bakura fell back to sleep the instant he settled in between Ryou and Marik. Marik spent the better part of the night stroking his hair. Seeing Bakura break down made Marik feel thin-shelled as well. Like their pain, their strength, and their vulnerability were somehow intertwined.

He fell asleep with his fingers locked in Bakura's hair and Ryou's hand touching his waist.

In the morning Marik woke up to the noise of "the gang." He sat up, rubbing his eyes and trying to get his bearings and wondering why everyone was over so early. Bakura sat in bed, reading one of Ryou's comic books.

"Are you hiding in here?" Marik asked, noticing that Ryou wasn't with them.

"I got a cup of coffee and went right the fuck back in here," Bakura said in his usual cantankerous, but fierce, tone full of bravado.

Marik stood and stretched, preparing for what would be a long, overly-adventurous day. He took a credit card out of his wallet and handed it to Bakura.

"Here."

"Why?" Bakura asked, suspicious.

"Buy clothes- buy some for Yugi and Atem, too. I'm sure they lost everything in the fire."

"Oh fuck no, I'm not shopping for them. You go shop with them if you want to be buddies now."

"We have more serious problems, like someone who's not any of us controlling the three Egyptian gods. You're not in the game yet. Be useful."

"Fuck you. I don't want your money, anyway."

"Look." Marik combed his fingers through his hair. "It's … It's Ghoul money. I promised Ishizu I wouldn't spend it, but this is charity, right?"

"Exactly." Bakura tossed the card on the floor.

"I meant getting Yugi and Atem clothes was charity. Don't be difficult."

"How is it different? If it's charity for them it's charity for me."

"I owe you."

"You don't owe me shit."

"Really? You did a lot … in Battle City. You lost the duel, but you still managed to keep Rishid out of danger. Beside, I want to see your ass in a pair of jeans." Marik winked at the last part.

"I know you're playing me, but I'll do it." Bakura snorted, reaching down and picking up the card again. "But I'm buying nothing but pink dresses for those other two assholes."

Marik snorted. "Just buy belts, Yugi won't even notice there's nothing else."

They both laughed a little before Marik sighed and went to take a shower. He wasn't surprised that the others were swarmed around Yugi; however, he was somewhat surprised when Jonouchi marched up within punching distance and started shouting.

"What's the big idea, Marik? How could you and Ryou bring that asshole back? Weren't you working with him before? How can we trust you now?"

"Jonouchi, we told you it's okay," Atem called from the couch.

"But I don't like it."

"Kat, please," Yugi said in a very quiet voice.

Everyone stared at Yugi when he used the nickname. Marik had never even heard him call Jonouchi by his first name before let alone an abbreviated version, and the name carried weight with it because as soon as Yugi spoke, Jonouchi spun around, stomped back to Yugi, knelt on the floor in front of him, and threw his arms around him.

"I just hate the thought of the Game Shop being gone, and I know they said your Grandpa's fine, but still … Yug, I'm sorry."

"What's important is that everyone's okay. That and we get the god cards back so no one can use them to cause harm to others. Guys, we can't get the god cards back if we're fighting each other. Besides, I told you, I think Bakura will help us."

"I'm not so sure about that." Jonouchi released Yugi and sat back on his haunches. "You've trusted him before, and every time-"

"I know," Yugi said, "but it's different now."

"How is this time different from any of the others?"

"Because this time I'm stuck playing along with whatever crap script you morons wrote for the RPG when you were drunk." Bakura marched into the livingroom in a pair of Ryou's jeans and a long-sleeved, black undershirt.

"Speak of the devil," Honda said.

"Eat me." Bakura went to steal a pair of Ryou's shoes. The clothes were baggy, but Marik couldn't help to think that Bakura looked cute in them.

"Yeah, Yugi, not sure how we ever doubted you. He seems completely reformed." Anzu shook her head.

"I'd lick dog food before I gave even half a fuck about what any of you think, so spare me your opinions."

"Bakura," Ryou sang out the name, twisting in place and locking his fingers together behind his back. The body language imitated bashfulness, but Marik knew better.

Bakura gave Ryou a suspicious look, seeing the act for what it was.

"Can I have a goodbye kiss before you leave?"

Jonouchi sputtered at the question. Honda pulled a sour face. Anzu rolled her eyes. Atem looked away as if embarrassed, and Yugi perked up a bit like he wanted a better view. Marik chuckled, wondering how loudly Bakura would scream.

He didn't, though. He smirked as only Bakura, King of Thieves, could smirk.

"If you want it, come and steal it." With that he left.

Ryou bit his lower lip for a second, before giving a polite bow to the others. "Excuse me. I've decided to accept his challenge."

With that Ryou dashed out the apartment to chase after Bakura. Marik hurried to the doorway, wanting to see how it played out. He reached it just in time to catch Ryou shoving Bakura against the wall and claiming Bakura's mouth like he owned it. Marik couldn't help the grin on his face, not only at Ryou's aggressive behavior, but at the way Bakura melted into it. Bakura happened to glance sideways afterward and catch sight of Marik standing at the doorway. He grinned. Marik blew him a kiss.

He waited for Ryou to come back, so they could face the awkward stares together. They both started laughing.

"See? I told you he's not as bad," Yugi said. "I think it's because he's not in the Ring anymore."

"Not as bad? He was a total jerk." Honda frowned.

"At least he isn't trying to destroy the world anymore." Atem smirked.

Marik thought about how he kept catching Bakura in the kitchen helping Ryou cook- cinnamon rolls and dal- and how needy he got in bed, and the way he cried last night simply because the Game Shop had burned. No, Marik didn't think Bakura would be trying to destroy the world any time soon.

He had thought he loved Bakura.

He hadn't.

He'd been a foolish teenager caught up in the thrill of danger, power, and shadow magic, and Bakura had seemed to embody those qualities back in Battle City.

He hadn't truly loved him. He'd merely understood him, the rage and bitterness. And he depended on him during fight with his darker half that ended in fire.

He hadn't truly loved him.

But Marik felt as if he was falling in love with him now.

Not the dark spirit trapped in the Ring.

But the thief who knew pain and loss as sharply as Marik knew it. The version of him that he was, sarcastic and constantly hanging from Ryou's shoulder. Marik felt a warm shudder in his gut as he thought of Bakura and Ryou at the same time.

"Speaking of the end of the world." Marik pulled himself from his romantic thoughts in order to concentrate. "Whoever put the Game Shop to the torch is probably connected to whoever acquired the god slabs. I can't imagine them having an academic interest, nor do I see them as an antique collector. This is connected to the game and we have to stop whenever we set into motion."

"What's the point?" Jonouchi asked. "If Zorc gets summoned no matter what we do?"

"What level do you want to be when you fight him?" Ryou asked.

"He's got a good point," Anzu said, although she didn't look happy about it.

"Okay, so we go to the pier, right?" Yugi asked.

"Tonight. That's when the shipment arrives," Marik explained.

"Okay, good. That gives us all day to prepare. I want to visit my grandpa before he's released, and I suppose I need to go to the store since everything we have got burned.".

"I have extra overnight toiletries you can have," Ryou offered.

Marik nodded. "And Bakura's buying some clothes. Hopefully that moron picks the right sizes."

"Bakura's … shopping? For us?" Atem asked as if Marik had just told him aliens were in the kitchen drinking tea.

"I asked him to," Marik said. He was certain Bakura had been joking when he threatened to buy only pink dresses, at least he better have been. Marik didn't donate his credit card for Bakura to fuck around.

Bakura felt like a pack mule with all the bags he carried. He had to take the train, and deal with the crowds, and now he was starving because he'd wanted to hurry and get it over with so he hadn't stop for lunch. Bakura was remembering all the little inconveniences about owning a body, and he couldn't just shove Ryou in the driver's seat anymore with things got boring.

Bakura had to knock, and it pissed him off. Usually he'd have no problem picking the lock, but it wasn't worth getting the stolen bobby pin out of his pocket to try it when his hands were so full. Marik opened the door with a sizable grin on his face.

"How the mighty have fallen. The great King of Thieves knocking on the door."

"My hands are full, asshole."

"Weren't they full of treasure back in your thief days?"

"Are you going to let me in or am I going to dump all this shit in the middle of the hallway and piss on it?"

Marik stepped back and Bakura stormed inside. He dropped the bags in the middle of the floor, in the most inconvenient place he could think of. He walked towards the kitchen, planning to raid it for snacks since his stomach was grumbling.

When he neared the kitchen he started smelling garlic, and ginger, and the rich fragrance of meat. Bakura moaned as he entered the kitchen and the smell became overpowering.

"Fuck yes."

Ryou giggled, setting a bowl on the table.

"Since you bought everyone clothes, I thought I'd reward you with a beef bowl."

Before Bakura thought about what he was doing, he was scooping Ryou up in his arms and kissing him in thanks. They'd made dal for Marik the other day, but Bakura had never thought of anyone making anything special just for him . He hadn't been fed since he was six and his mother gave him bread in the mornings, so the fact that Ryou had chosen something based on Bakura's tastes …

"Hey." Ryou pulled back and cupped Bakura's face. "You okay?"

Bakura opened his mouth to answer and found he had no words for the overwhelming rush of thoughts drowning him.

"Is it hard? Being human again?"

Bakura shrugged, dropping to his chair and focusing on his lunch while he tried to sort out his thoughts and feelings. He felt better after eating, even helped Ryou wash dishes although Marik teased him for it.

When they were done, Bakura started digging through the character sheets of the game.

"What are you doing?" Marik asked.

"You had to have written my character wrong."

"Why would you think that?" Ryou asked.

"Because I don't feel things, and I don't care . This isn't me- you fucked me up somehow."

"Don't blame us." Marik crossed his legs and leaned back into the sofa. "Just admit that you're a sap."

"Fuck off. You drunk bastards wrote me fucking wrong. I'm sure of it!"

"It's because the Ring's gone, Bakura." Ryou knelt beside Bakura, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"No, no. Even in Egypt it wasn't this hard."

"You were still surviving in Egypt. Even did you ever have time to think about how you felt ?"

"It's true." Marik spoke to Bakura, but he stared at the wall. "It's harder. You think it'd be easier afterward, but it's harder. I've been dealing with that for years. It's okay to feel things, Bakura."

"No it's fucking not. This is awful."

Bakura found what he was looking for. He scanned his base stats and perks.

"See?" Ryou asked. "Everything is fine."

"Why is my wisdom higher than my intelligence? I don't use white magic."

"You're dexterity is your best stat." Ryou crossed his arms over his chest, his body language stubborn. "But Diabound would work off of a wisdom stat."

"And you're dumb," Marik called over from the couch. "What's your intelligence at? Like seven right?"

"Fuck off, Marik." Bakura grit his teeth. Then a sly look stole over his face. "I wonder what would happen if I took five of my wisdom points and moved it over to intelligence?"

"Bakura your intelligence is fine. Don't fuck with your stat sheet. If you want to add points then level up like the rest of us." Ryou frowned.

"Then stop me." Bakura snorted as he searched for a pencil.

Marik stood up and walked towards the game board. "Don't you fucking dare, hayati. You know if you change your stats on the sheet you'll change your personality."

"Afraid I'll be smarter than you?" Bakura snatched a pencil and licked the tip of it, ready to trace over the numbers.

Marik dropped to his knees, grabbing Bakura's wrist. "Don't. You're a dumb fucking nerd, and I love that about you, so don't make me slap the pencil out of your hand."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Just let me add five to everything then."

"No cheater." Ryou smacked Bakura's arm. "I don't want to find out if this game does penalties or not. I have a feeling they wouldn't be pleasant."

Bakura dropped his pencil. After thinking about it for a moment, he didn't want to chance it.

Ryou stood near the pier, hugging himself for warmth despite his sweater and jacket. The water lapped at the concrete and a horn blew off in the dark out of sight.

"Cold?" Marik wrapped an arm around Ryou's shoulders.

"Thanks." Ryou huddled a little closer against the warmth of Marik's body.

"It was really nice of you to get us these clothes." Yugi held out his gloved hands.

Marik stared out into the dark waters. "Ishizu doesn't want me spending the money I made after leaving the tomb, but I figured if it can do some good then that's better than letting it sit in a bank accruing interest I'll never get to spend."

"Maybe you can talk to Ishizu about donating it," Anzu suggested.

"That's something we should talk about one day," Marik said, but by his cheerful tone Ryou could tell that Marik really wanted to use it freely.

He smiled, thinking Bakura was sort of a charity case in his own right, and that maybe Marik could spend it on him- and a new apartment if they ended up getting evicted because of noise complaints.

"So when do we get to do something other than stand around?" Jonouchi asked. "I'm ready for action."

"Calm down, Jonouchi. The shipment isn't scheduled to arrive for another fifteen minutes." Anzu also rubbed her hands to keep warm.

"We should still have a game plan," Atem said, standing so close to Yugi that their sides pressed together.

"What's there to plan? They step off the ship and we clobber them."

"We'll survey them from a safe distance and try to find where they take the god slabs," Marik said. His expression and tone leaving no room for fighting the issue.

Jonouchi pouted, but didn't complain.

"There's mist rolling in from the water," Ryou said.

"It's … a little thick, isn't it?" Anzu asked.

They waited moment longer, watching the midst turn into a heavy fog.

"I don't like this." Atem crossed his arms over his chest. "Feels reminiscent of Shadow Magic."

"It's true." Marik nodded, squeezing Ryou a bit as if to shield him.

They watched arms of fog crawl along the pier, nearing their feet.

"Should we use our flashlights?" Yugi suggested.

"No, we'll give away our location when they arrive," Marik warned, and Ryou admired his bravery, because he knew Marik would prefer the extra lighting if he could have it.

"Look, it's worse around that ship." Honda pointed, and they all turned. Sailing towards the pier was a massive cargo ship. Only a thin outline of the vessel showed through the thickness of fog.

"This … reminds me of Mahad." Atem's eyes never left the fog. "Could it be possible? That they have a magician on the ship?"

"Magic hasn't worked like that in three thousand years." Marik shook his head.

"But we're playing a game," Anzu reminded him.

"If magicians used to exist, why couldn't more exist now?" Yugi asked.

Marik bit his bottom lip, thinking. "If the tomb keepers have been selling off things … It's possible that someone figured out how to use heka like magicians used to."

"Ha! No problemo guys! A mage can't stand against a knight!"

"Let's avoid fighting if we can," Ryou said. "It's better to follow them. Maybe we can find who has Yugi's god cards if we're smart about this."

"Yeah." Yugi nodded. "And I'd rather not fight if we can avoid it."

"Thought we wanted the experience points," Jonouchi argued.

"If we finish the quest, we level up. Fighting, diplomacy, sneak, or sabotage. There's lots of way to finish a quest."

"But fighting's the only way that's fun."

Honda laughed. "He has a point."

Marik ignored them, instead hiding behind a huge, metal storage crate. Ryou followed him as did Yugi and Atem tagged along by the others. The ship approached painfully slow and Ryou could only rub his cold arms to pass the time. They didn't speak. Marik used his mirror to see around the corner of the crate without them having to poke their heads out from it.

After a quarter of an hour, the boat docked in the harbor. Men were screaming and rushing to load various cargo off of and back onto the ship. Ryou didn't like their hiding spot. It was the best one in the area, but far too exposed for his liking. His days merged with Bakura gave Ryou enough instinct to know that their hiding spot wasn't ideal.

Ryou noticed Marik's eyes narrow, so he leaned closer, looking in Marik's mirror. A tall man in a long, black robe stepped off of the boat, looking around. Several dock workers addressed him, and he pointed to three armored trucks across the street from the pier already waiting.

Marik glanced at Ryou and Ryou nodded.

"Who has the highest sneak?" Marik hardly breathed the question into Ryou's ear.

"Bakura," Ryou answered.

"Who that's actually here, smartass."

"Anzu."

Anzu nodded. "Want me to sneak onto one of those trucks?"

"Anzu, no," Yugi hissed in a loud whisper. "That's too dangerous."

"I'll go with her," Atem offered.

"You both could get hurt." Yugi's round, violet eyes begged them both to stay.

Atem cupped Yugi's cheek and smiled. "Aibou, you know I'll keep her safe."

"I still say we just clobber them now." Jonouchi grit his teeth. "Standing here like mormons doesn't help."

"Hurry and go before someone notices you," Ryou said, thinking about the mission. "Look, from my notes, it seems like everyone makes it alive to the final boss battle with Zorc."

"That doesn't mean safe or whole." Yugi frowned, worry wrinkling his brow.

"Yugi, trust us." Anzu held his hand.

Yugi sighed, nodded. "If anything happens, run away, okay?"

"We can go too," Honda offered, not liking the idea of their group splitting up anymore than Yugi did.

Marik skill his head no. "More people means we're more likely to get caught. Anzu is a more than capable bodyguard for the Pharaoh."

"Don't you mean I'll protect Anzu?" Atem raised an eyebrow.

Marik gave Atem a sweet smile. "I said what I meant. Hurry before we're all caught."

Atem and Anzu each gave Yugi a quick kiss on the cheek before running off to the trucks.

"What's wrong?" Ryou asked.

"I know that guy," Marik said.

"The magician?" There was no reason not to suspect it. They were playing a RPG, afterall, and the man in the robe might as well had neon lights bathing is skin from a sign reading MAGICIAN BOSS FIGHT HERE, or at the very least, there should have been a stash of medical supplies nearby.

Marik nodded his head. "He worked with Ishizu in Luxor."

"Any weak points?"

"Not that I know of."

"Well … damn."

"Are we going to fight him?" Jonouchi asked, face beaming with hope.

Marik gave Jonouchi an annoyed look, but then the magician shouted out.

"I know you're hiding, Marik Ishtar. Why don't you come out and talk?"

Something about the way he used Marik's name made Ryou mad. It was formal, and taunting, and had dark implied intentions that Ryou couldn't quite place, but hated.

"What does he want with you?"

Marik shook his head. "I don't know."

"Let's make a deal! I could use someone like you working for me!" The magician shouted. "If you're amiable I won't have to mail you back to your poor, dear sister piece by piece."

Ryou's fists clenched as he turned to Jonouchi. "Yeah, Jonouchi. We're going to fight him."