I'm back with a chapter – sorry this took a while, I would have liked to have this out earlier, but it proved quite a difficult chapter to write. I hope you enjoy, although I think it's quite bad, and thanks to all the reviewers! This chapter contains more thiefshipping at the start but I haven't forgotten about the deathshipping, I promise ^_^ – Jem

The next morning, Marik woke to the very odd feeling that he wasn't alone in his bed.

There were arms wrapped around him, a warm body pressed up against his back, and cool breath at his ear. He kept his eyes closed and snuggled back against the warmth, enjoying the sense of arms around him, another comforting presence close by his side. He didn't want to wake up just yet. He didn't want to break this tenuous peace, this sense of calm, and he could sense that the tentative balance would likely fall apart when he fully woke for the day. So Marik buried his face in the pillow and lay in the warmth.

Eventually, though, he knew he had to move.

Marik's eyes opened slowly, reluctantly, and he rolled onto his back so that he could turn his face to see the body beside him. His movements elicited an irritated growl from the person next to him. White hair lay strewn across the pillow, a pale face with eyes firmly closed lying next to Marik's. Marik looked for a while, his expression impassive. This was Bakura; the man who claimed to know him. Marik took the time to study his face, whilst Bakura was still too out of it to glare at him, or smirk and make some witty wisecrack that would send Marik staring away in fuming denial. He searched Bakura's pale face and dug around in the depths of his memory for any sort of recognition. Surely he would remember if he had seen him before? How could he forget a face like Bakura's?

And yet, no matter how desperately he searched, Marik came up with nothing.

With a low, frustrated sigh, Marik flopped back down onto the pillow. He pressed one palm to his forehead, closing his eyes as he continued to search, but he knew it was absolutely fruitless. He had no memory of ever knowing Bakura before. But, Marik thought to himself, does it follow from that that I can't know him again? After all, Marik could hardly deny the sense of fulfilment that came from lying beside Bakura on a bed like this, or the wriggling of his insides that seemed to occur whenever Bakura smirked at him. Plus, Bakura was the thief king. Marik couldn't help but smile a tiny bit smugly at that.

Still, Marik huffed inwardly, this would all be so much easier if I could just remember him. He gave another soft growl, screwing his eyes tighter shut. That other version of himself was apparently the one to blame. It still disconcerted Marik that such a person could exist – and even worse, that such a person had come from him. He shuddered.

"Will you stop moving about."

Bakura's low, gruff voice interrupted Marik's musings, and Marik almost jumped. He turned his head quickly to see that Bakura still had his eyes closed, one arm thrown across his forehead. Marik couldn't help but grin. "Am I disturbing your beauty sleep?"

"You are, and you damn well know it." Bakura's answer was just as cutting as Marik had come to expect, but there was a warm undercurrent to his tone.

Marik's grin stretched. "It was your decision to stay with me."

One of Bakura's eyes opened to fix him with a deep brown stare. His expression was unreadable for a moment, but then his familiar smirk twitched at one corner of his mouth again. "I don't see you complaining."

"Hmph." Marik turned his head to stare steadfastly up at the ceiling.

A rustle next to him informed him that Bakura had rolled onto his side, better to face him. "Are you complaining?"

"…" Marik kept his silence for a moment, chewing at his inner cheek. "…No. Not exactly."

A low sigh. "Then what?"

"Just…" Marik turned his head to find Bakura's brown gaze fixed straight on him. He frowned. "I don't know."

Bakura arched a brow. "You admitting to not knowing something – now there's a first."

Marik whacked him. "Idiot. I just mean … you still know a lot more about me than I do about you."

Bakura's expression remained unreadable, betraying no thoughts of his own. It's always been like that, Marik. You just never realised it before.

"I mean," Marik continued slowly, "You've had an entire two years with me, but I've known you for all of … a few weeks. It's weird."

Bakura jerked his head in an irritated nod. "As soon as your crazy darkness comes back, we can sort that out."

Marik chewed his lip. "Somehow, I don't think it's going to be that easy."

"Just watch him try and get away again," Bakura answered in a low, threatening growl. He rolled suddenly, wrapping both arms around Marik and pulling him closer; he wasn't so worried about freaking Marik out anymore. Marik startled for a moment, but then settled into the embrace, though a little nervously.

"Have you always been so cuddly?" Marik snickered softly.

Bakura grunted. "If anything, you're the cuddly one."

"Sure seems like it." Marik's tone was rippling with amusement, but he did wrap his arms tentatively around Bakura in return. He closed his eyes. It was undeniably pleasant to lie this close to another person, and Marik felt oddly … safe.

"Just shut up and let me go back to sleep," Bakura growled.

Marik snickered again, his chest rumbling, but he enclosed Bakura in his embrace and closed his eyes again.

…

Ryou paced around the Ishtars' living room with a tight knot of worry sitting in his stomach. His brown eyes were hard, his fingers constantly pulling at the bottom of his jumper as he continued to walk circles into the already threadbare carpet. His thoughts were constantly on Kek. The sun had risen by now, lighting the streets, but he still hadn't returned. Ryou had barely got any sleep. Every time he got close to dropping off, a horrible thought of Kek lying injured and abandoned in some alley, or storming through the darkness with fury in his gaze, or even worse, on a plane out of the country never to return, kept him awake and gasping. Ryou scrubbed at his forehead. He couldn't even say for sure exactly why he was so worried about someone he'd only just met – he just knew that Kek deserved something more than what he had. And Ryou wanted to help him.

As soon as there was movement from upstairs, Ryou rushed to see who it was with haste in his every motion. Odion had appeared, rubbing sleepily at his eyes. It seemed he'd hardly been able to rest, too.

"We need to find him," Ryou commanded straight away.

Odion didn't have to ask who Ryou was talking about. His eyes narrowed, distancing slightly, before he gave a reluctant nod of his head. "I suppose he could be dangerous."

"I'm more worried about him being in danger," Ryou murmured. His jaw was set, his brown eyes clouded with concern and something close to panic. "He's all on his own, and he barely understands anything about the modern world. If he meets a lorry, or a train…"

"Relax, Ryou." Odion folded his arms, his scarred face as impassive as ever, "He will not have been able to go far."

Ryou chewed his inner cheek. "I hope you're right."

"Let's go and find out." Odion scooped up his keys from the door, calling out to Ishizu to let her know where they were going. Ryou paced anxiously around the corridor until, finally, they were able to leave.

Odion took the car, driving slowly around the city so that Ryou could closely examine everyone walking past on the pavement. It was harder to see the alleyways this way, which worried Ryou, but Odion argued that they would be able to cover much more ground if they took the car. They trawled through most of the city, their car getting hooted at several times, and sworn at by passers-by too, but Ryou barely noticed. His eyes were fixed on the crowds of people, searching for a familiar purple cloak and a spiked head of hair.

They travelled through three quarters of the city before they found him.

Kek was pacing angrily through a crowded square where four roads met. His hands were thrust in his pockets, his face set and angry and his skin drawn and tired. He seemed to burn with boundless energy, despite spending the entire night storming through the city with such a murderous glare that the crowds parted before him, fearing for their lives. Ryou made a mental note of relief that he had left the Millennium Rod back at the house.

"Kek!"

Ryou jumped out of the car as soon as it was moving slowly enough, tearing across the road and into the square without pause. Kek seemed to hear his name, his head whipping round with a furious glare, but it turned into an expression of open shock when Ryou's arms flung around his middle in a tight, sudden hug.

Ryou closed his eyes and pressed his face into Kek's chest, breathing in his newly-familiar scent. He clung on tight to Kek's waist, his head in his chest, white hair spilling down Kek's broad form. Kek blinked down at him in total surprise, thrown. Any trace of anger was almost completely wiped from his face.

"I was so worried," Ryou murmured desperately into Kek's shirt. He clung on for another few minutes before turning his face up to meet Kek's eyes. A shiver ran through him when that dark violet stare was looking straight at him, though Ryou's lips twitched a little at the look of utter confusion covering his features.

Kek blinked down at him. "…The fuck?"

"I didn't know where you were." Ryou's tone turned scolding, his brown eyes shifting into a dark glare. "How could you just walk off like that? Don't you know how worried I was?!"

"I'm fine," Kek snapped.

"I didn't know that!" Ryou balled up a fist and whacked Kek's shoulder, continuing to glare at him. "You can't just storm off like that without telling me where you're going!"

Kek blinked, still looking utterly confused.

"I had no way of contacting you, no way of knowing where you were, and no way of finding you again." Ryou was panting now, his brown eyes flashing. "Do you know how long I spent out here last night, just wandering the streets trying to find you?"

Kek stumbled over his words. "Why in the hell would you…"

"Why would I look for you?!" Ryou whacked Kek's shoulder again, harder this time, ignoring the looks they were getting from the crowds around them. "I don't know, because I actually care about you?!"

A foreign expression crossed Kek's face. It might have been close to wonder.

"You can't do that again," Ryou fumed. "I don't care how mad you are, or what you think is best, you talk to me, ok? You don't just go running off without warning!"

"Alright, alright!" Kek lifted his hands and stepped back, his violet eyes glinting with something close to amusement. "I promise not to run off again, happy now?"

"No," Ryou sniffed, "But that's a bit better."

Kek merely snickered at him. He reached out both hands and crushed Ryou close to him again, nuzzling into his long white hair. Ryou gave a slight squeak, but adjusted quickly. He pressed his face into Kek's shoulder and cautiously wound his arms back around his waist, clinging on tight. He spoke against Kek's skin. "Are you alright?"

"Of course," Kek snorted, "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because you've been wandering around all night, and you're freezing." Ryou made to move back, only to find Kek's strong arms holding him tightly in place.

"Don't move," Kek commanded, "You're too comfortable."

Ryou felt a slight shiver trickle down his spine at those words. He smiled softly, and obediently kept his face pressed against Kek's neck. "Alright. But what are we going to do?"

"Don't care," Kek answered easily. His voice was muffled by Ryou's long white strands of hair. "As long as I get to keep you, and we can stay outside somewhere."

Ryou hummed softly. "That sounds nice." He remained tense, though, his mind whirring with endless thoughts. He knew now that he had to take Kek's side. There was no way this could be wrong – not when Kek actually deserved a life of his own, and an opportunity to live it however he wished. Ryou realised slowly that he wanted that for Kek, and he wanted to stay by him. It might have been crazy, but he found himself undeniably fond of this dark, crazed being.

But, there was still the problem of Marik.

Ryou felt his blood run cold when he remembered Bakura's desperation to get Marik's memories back. No matter how much Ryou blamed the spirit, or how much he detested the loss of his body for so long, he couldn't deny that it was unfair for him to lose Marik. Marik was the only thing that had made Bakura vaguely human in the recent years. Ryou knew better than most that Bakura needed that – possibly even better than Bakura himself did.

So, with a careful swallow, Ryou pulled back a little to meet Kek in the eyes again. "We have to go back."

"Back where?" Kek's dark violet eyes were burning, just daring Ryou to say what he thought he was going to say.

Ryou heaved a soft sigh, and lifted one hand to brush Kek's cheek. "We have to go back to Marik."

Kek flinched at that name automatically, drawing back from Ryou with a hard glare.

"Don't run off again," Ryou quickly spoke, holding his hand out towards Kek. "You promised, remember?"

"I'm not above breaking promises," Kek responded darkly.

Ryou frowned. "You can't break a promise to me. You have to come back with me."

"Why?" Kek demanded, and there was something very close to hurt hiding in his tone. "Why should I?!"

"You've taken too much from them," Ryou responded gently. "Too much, and it isn't going to help."

"What do you mean?!" Kek snarled. "They deserve it! They took far more from you and me!"

"I know," Ryou murmured, his brown gaze clear and trained straight on Kek. He was relieved to see him stood here again, but now was the most difficult part. Ryou drew in a careful breath. "I know they did, but keeping this feud ongoing isn't going to help any of us."

"I don't see how," Kek snapped.

Ryou gave a patient sigh. "Look – if you keep Marik without his memories, Bakura is going to want to retaliate. He'll do something to hurt you, or me, and then we'll retaliate, and it will just turn into an endless cycle of anger. Do you really want that?" Ryou took a step closer, peering earnestly into Kek's eyes. "Because I know I don't."

Kek's jaw clicked. He ground his jaw together in frustration, his hands clenching and unclenching by his sides. He eventually hissed, "It isn't fair! They had so long together, and we had – we had – nothing!"

"I know." Ryou could feel his voice almost breaking at Kek's words and his oddly vulnerable tone. Unbidden, endless memories of being trapped in his soul room, locked away in a corner of the Ring, flooded through Ryou's mind until he was shuddering with hurt. He swallowed, fighting them back into a dark corner of his skull that he never wanted to touch again. "I know what they did, Kek, I was there. For years Bakura took my life from me."

"Then you should understand!" Kek pointed an accusatory finger at Ryou. "I thought you understood!"

"I do," Ryou answered patiently, "But I also understand how it won't help."

Kek floundered, clearly confused.

"There's no way that more violence and hurt is going to solve anything," Ryou said softly. "All it will do is convince them to hurt us more, and I don't want that."

Kek blinked. "…I don't want you hurt, either."

Ryou felt a sudden rush of warmth at that. He smiled slightly, reached out, and took Kek's hand. "Then will you come back with me? Just to talk about it?"

Kek deliberated for another long moment. He looked so torn that Ryou felt his heart thud.

"…Fine," Kek answered finally, "But I'm not promising anything."

Ryou smiled a bright smile that lit his brown eyes up. "That's all I can ask for."

…

Marik and Bakura finally made their way downstairs. They stayed in the living room, curled up together on the couch, ignoring the disapproving stares from Ishizu. Eventually, she got fed up of seeing them together, and turned to spend the day in the kitchen.

Bakura grunted with approval as soon as she was gone. He wrapped his arms tight around Marik and pulled him into his lap, nuzzling against his blond hair.

Marik gave a low chuckle. "I thought you said you weren't cuddly?"

"I'm not," Bakura grunted into Marik's hair, "But I've been without you for weeks, so I think I can be forgiven."

Marik snickered again, but Bakura could tell that he was a little uncomfortable. He was much more tense than Bakura was used to, and he didn't turn with a smouldering look and start teasing Bakura. Instead, he avoided Bakura's gaze, and he remained as still as he could.

After a while, Bakura gave a soft sigh and released Marik, letting him climb off his lap. Something wrenched in him to remember that, although Marik was more open to him now, they were nowhere near as close as they had been. He closed his eyes, taking a careful breath. His self-control was being tested, as was his patience and resolve, and it was taking more out of him than he realised.

Marik caught the look of disappointment that crossed Bakura's face, and he wriggled with discomfort. He gave a low sigh. "I'm sorry. But I still…"

"Don't know me, I know," Bakura finished in a low, dark voice. He scrubbed at his forehead, furrowing his brow.

Marik chewed his lip. "I'm trying here."

"I know, I know," Bakura growled. "I am too, but it's fucking hard when you don't even recognise me."

The couch shifted as Marik tucked his knees into his chest. "…I guess you must be used to being closer to me, huh?"

"Much," Bakura gave a dark chuckle, "Believe me, much closer. And you usually initiate, too."

Marik blinked at that. A slight fluster grew in his tone and he coughed, clearing his throat a little awkwardly. "…Uh … right."

Bakura snorted. "You hardly ever get embarrassed, too. Honestly, it's strange for you to be blushing." He smirked, sending Marik a sidelong glance. "I admit, though – I admire your pink cheeks."

Marik whacked his shoulder at that, fuming. He would have said more, but the sound of the key turning in the front door stopped him and he turned, eyes wide, to stare at the newcomers.

Odion walked in first. He went straight to Marik's side, reaching a hand out to ruffle the top of his head. Marik grinned at him, but then his eyes went to the others at the door and he swallowed, his expression darkening.

Ryou hovered in the doorway, his hand tightly clenched around Kek's.

Kek paced about the corridor like a caged animal. His gaze flicked around the walls, constantly moving, as if he feared attack at any moment. Feared was the wrong word, though – it was more as if he was wary, constantly on his guard, and ready to defend himself and Ryou at a moment's notice.

Bakura's lips set into a frown. He got slowly to his feet, glaring at Kek. "Have you finally come to your senses?"

"Fuck off, spirit," Kek shot back. He tugged Ryou closer to him, growling low in his throat as he stared at Marik on the couch. "I'm still giving you nothing."

Bakura glared, and then his gaze switched to Ryou. "Couldn't you talk some sense into him?!"

"I did," Ryou answered calmly. "I think you're being the unreasonable one now."

Bakura's face set dangerously.

"I just mean," Ryou continued slowly, "That you're not thinking from his perspective at all."

"He doesn't get a perspective," Bakura snarled. "Not until he gives Marik back."

Kek growled. "He isn't coming back. Why can't you get that through your skull?!"

Bakura snarled, advancing, but Marik held out a hand and grabbed Bakura's arm, holding him in place. Bakura turned back to glare at him, but Marik rubbed his arm soothingly. He got to his feet and faced Kek himself. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"You should know," Kek snarled. Fury was stretching his features into a scowl. "You kept me locked away forever!"

Marik shook his head slowly, taking him in. "I never even knew you existed."

"Don't be such a fucking liar," Kek snarled. "You knew I was there; I spoke to you often enough!"

"I thought I was talking to myself."

"You were!"

"Then doesn't that mean you should give me my memories?" Marik pressed, walking cautiously closer to Kek.

Kek hissed. "How in the fuck do you work that one out?"

"If you're me," Marik started slowly, "Then we share a past. All our experiences, they're the same. Yes?"

"Yes," Kek answered tersely, "What's your fucking point?"

Marik swallowed. "Then for me to remember you, I have to know you."

Kek arched a brow.

"As I understand it, you first became yourself in Battle City," Marik began.

Kek smirked. "Actually, it was when I killed our Father, but I take your point."

Marik flinched automatically at that, lifting one trembling hand to his forehead. He closed his eyes for a moment before gathering himself and fixing Kek with a pure glance. "Whatever. So, to remember you, I need to remember Battle City."

"Like hell you do," Kek snarled.

"I do." Marik's tone was starting to turn impatient. "If you want to be acknowledged as your own person, then you'd better damn well realise that you came from me. But if you can't even bear to let me know where you came from, then you might as well not exist."

Kek's brows furrowed dangerously.

"After all," Marik said softly, "If your own creator doesn't know who you are, how do you expect others to take you seriously?"

Kek snarled. He took a step closer to Marik, lifting one hand threateningly. Ryou hovered behind him with a worried look, but he allowed Kek to speak freely, at least for the moment.

"I see what you're doing, little light," Kek hissed. "You're trying to manipulate me, just like you did all your Ghouls. Even the Ring Spirit who claims to love you so much, you tricked."

Marik took a step back.

"It isn't going to work on me," Kek snarled, taking another step closer and sending Marik skittering back several steps. "I know you better than you even know yourself. I've seen all your tricks first hand – I even gave you the ideas for most of them. You can't manipulate me."

Marik had turned slightly pale. His face was still set, however, and his eyes were narrowed at Kek. "If you really are part of me," he finally responded, "And you were made to protect me, or whatever, then you shouldn't be hurting me now."

Kek actually looked thrown for an instant.

"You aren't doing a good job of looking out for me anymore," Marik spat, "And I don't want anything more to do with you." He spun on his heel, grabbed Bakura's arm, and tugged him upstairs in a rush.

Kek stared after him. For the first time since being in his own, new body, he felt something suspiciously like upset sink to the bottom of his stomach. He squirmed, not enjoying the new feeling.

Ryou was by his side in an instant. Gently, he took Kek's hand, leaning into his side. "What did Marik mean?"

Kek swallowed, but didn't reply.

"Kek?" Ryou turned to face him, his pale face open and questioning. "What did he mean, that you're meant to protect him?"

Kek drew in a slow, shuddering breath. His hands were clenched into tight fists by his sides, his shoulders tensed and his breathing shallow. It took him several minutes to answer.

"…It means … that my job has always been to protect him." Kek closed his eyes and drew in a slow breath. "I was made to cope with the pain that he couldn't handle. I am built to care for him." His face screwed up in anger. "But I don't want to! The ungrateful bastard never wanted me!"

Ryou went quiet in silent understanding. He swallowed, reaching out to take Kek's hand again. "…If that's true … maybe you're hurting yourself in hurting Marik."

Kek flinched. "No! He deserves it!"

"I know," Ryou murmured. He tugged on Kek's hand, leaning closer into him. "I know. Let's just … let's go and sit down and talk, ok? Marik needs time to cool off anyway."

Kek continued to glare for a long moment before, slowly, he dipped his head in a nod and allowed Ryou to tug him away.

That's it for this update. It's short and really crappy, I'm sorry, but I wanted to get it out so I can get onto the next part of the story. It might take a little while to update again, for which I apologise, but I've got to go away again *sigh*. Thank you so much for being patient and putting up with my crappy storytelling ability – Jem