I really like this chapter even though it doesn't have nearly any Kaiba in it. But that's okay, this chapter belongs to Jounouchi and that devious Bakura and his doting boyfriend. From the beginning I wanted to give a piece of insight from Marik's point of view on Bakura and I figured right now would do - although in my original plans it had been him speaking with Kaiba but oh wells. In any case, I hope you enjoy it even if its sorta Kaiba-less.

A Heart-Scathed Recovery

Chapter 12:

Nefarious Deeds

Jounouchi placed the glasses down and gave them each a peculiar stare. "Wh-What the hell is going on?" The blond asked as he continued to scowl at the white-haired menace. "What are you… How are you even..?" It was obvious to anyone, Marik's dinner partner wasn't Ryou but rather his long time tormentor, the evil spirit of the Ring! The shadow surrounding those dark brown eyes, the curl of those thin lips that formed a sneering smirk, the overly spiked hair and overall aura that engulfed him... Jounouchi's brain went erratic.

Marik could feel his insides churning. This was such a compromising and rather difficult situation. "Well, uh…" The Egyptian sheepishly stared down at the table top at a loss for words. He knew it was foolish but of course they'd get found out eventually. He just thought that since more than half of the old gang had left Japan, he wouldn't have to worry about something like this occurring.

Bakura was quite satisfied however, "My, isn't it a small world? So what is the infamous third-rate peon doing in a semi-fancy establishment?" He mused in mockery and then took a gulp of his beer.

The blond glared heatedly and pointed, "What the hell are you doin' still alive? What didja do to Ryou, you freak?" He shouted. The floor got quiet as heads began to turn. Jounouchi bit his lip and blushed at the sudden attention. He spared a moment to come up with a lame excuse for his rather peculiar outburst, flailing his arms about at the rest of the patrons.

Bakura carried his grin wider than before. "My, don't we have ourselves a loud waiter?" He chuckled darkly. "You know, for a waiter you sure do run at the mouth. Really…" He chided with a shake of his head. "I wouldn't expect a tip."

Marik raised his hands up and straightened slightly. "Jounouchi, please, let's not make a scene here. Everything is fine, really." The taller glared at him momentarily. "…And Ryou is perfectly well too. In fact, last I heard he took off to travel with his Father." He furthered in hopes the other wouldn't drag his boyfriend into a fight. He didn't want anything like that. "Listen…" He started before the furious waiter yanked him to his feet by the wrist. "Hey, let go!"

"We need to talk for a minute." Jounouchi growled and pulled him down a hallway towards the bathrooms. His steps were quick and tone brutally serious.

"J-Jounouchi!" Marik hissed and looked back at Bakura, who only waved in amusement. 'Damn you 'Kura!' The Egyptian pouted and glared at his lover.

Satisfied that they were the only ones in the men's bathroom, Jounouchi turned his attention onto the familiar man. "What the Hell is going on, Marik?" He fumed. The Egyptian opened his mouth to say something but was swiftly cut off, "That asshole has done so many things to all of us! He abused Ryou for how long? He tried to- He's evil! What the fuck is wrong with you?" The taller blond shouted.

Marik's eyes fell downcast and he seemed to struggle with keeping his composure as he rubbed his left arm with his right hand. "I know." He mumbled with a shake of his head. "I know what he's done, Jounouchi. I know he was a deplorable human being…" His expression shifted and he glared up at the blond in determination. "But you know, I was a disgrace once too. I hurt so many people - I took possession of your body and had you duel Yugi just so that you could make him drown and die… I sealed souls away, tortured so many… What about me, Jounouchi?"

Jounouchi shook his head profusely, "That's different Marik!" He insisted.

"How is it different?" Marik growled.

The blond stared at him and visibly fought to calm himself down. "You changed. You apologized to me and Yugi… And in the end, it was a demon that erupted from the abuse you endured as a child that blurred the lines of what is Just and what is Wrong…" He stepped forward and placed his hands on the other, eyes a dangerous yet sincere glint, "You are not a monster at heart. You have regrets, you have compassion… That bastard sitting out there is anything but." He explained. "He loves nothing and hates everything. Why the Hell are you with him?"

Marik's glare softened into a weak frown but the resolve in those violet eyes didn't so much as blink. "You're wrong." He whispered earnestly. "Bakura hates many things but not everything… He trusts nearly no one, but he can love…" Marik's body trembled somewhat as he struggled to regain composure.

"Marik?" Jounouchi didn't understand.

"When I ran into Kura… A few stressful years ago, I wasn't taking myself with much regard." Marik dropped eye contact as he recalled the way he'd felt before. "I didn't deserve anything. I didn't deserve the forgiveness from the Pharaoh, from you, from my family…" He winced as he thought about his dear sister and brother. "I hated myself. When I, by accident, ran into Bakura - I didn't care what happened to me. But Jounouchi, for some reason or another, he approached me and stayed with me all night…" A light blush tinted his cheeks as he recalled that distant memory. "He told me that I was the only person he genuinely didn't mind refusing to have sex with him." Marik laughed faintly, "I can't tell you why I continued to see him. I know even if I explained you wouldn't understand… But he once told me that he loved me." Marik pushed the taller away and stood straightly. "He'd always be there for me."

Jounouchi stared at him with wide eyes and found himself rendered speechless. He couldn't believe the Tomb Robber could say something so kind and gentle to anyone. 'But he couldn't have meant it. Right? The guy is evil.' The silence was interrupted when a seething Varon barged in. The two blonds eeped at the sudden disruption. Jounouchi though, felt it was directed towards him.

"Joey, what're you doin'?" Varon shouted turning his angry blue eyes onto him. The rash blond struggled for an answer. The owner of the restaurant turned his attention onto the somber customer with an apologetic frown, "I am terribly sorry about my waiter's rude behavior. We have given your table a different server for the remainder of the evening. Please, return to your seat."

The Egyptian turned a gentle gaze on the familiar face before excusing himself and leaving the two alone. "Listen, Varon, I can explain…" He started as he scratched the back of his head. "It isn't like Marik is a stranger to me, we had some run in's in the past and-"

"I don't want to hear it, Joey." Varon grimaced as he ran a hand through his brown locks to settle his nerves somewhat. "People freaked out saying you were shouting some weird stuff and then dragged a customer forcibly by the arm and bringing him in here? I had like five different groups leave because of that." He scolded.

"What? They don't like dinner and a show?" The blond couldn't help but wise-crack. He immediately threw his hand over his mouth. "Uh, wait I wasn't tryin' to be a smart ass." He tried to cover.

Varon chuckled with a roll of his eyes. "You are unbelievable." He turned to leave. "I switched your section with Cherry. So don't try and cause another scene, alright?" He pleaded half joking, half serious.

The blond nodded. "Yeah, I'm sorry. It's just… Well, you don't understand. That guy is-"

"Maybe later, I'll feel like listening to your excuses but right now I'm still pissed you scared away paying customers, Joey." He muttered crestfallen and left the blond to his thoughts. Jounouchi sighed softly and headed out too. As he made his way down the hallway, his eyes found the infamous duo skeptically. 'He loves you? Right.' The blond snorted and walked down a different step, so as not to cross that demon in an angel coat's sneer. 'Marik. You are right. I don't believe a word you told me, there's no way something like THAT can love anything. How can you be so devoted to him?'

Marik twirled his fork into his salad and sighed for the umpteenth time since returning. "Kura, why are you still so down? Are you really upset you didn't get to talk to Jounouchi?" He asked somewhat irritated.

The brown-eyed Thief pouted childishly, "You always ruin my fun. Marik." He stabbed his steak with his fork, lifted it up and took a gruesome chunk out of it with his unusual fang-like canines. "I had a whole plan worked out for the blond idiot and you go actin' like a girl about to get raped and shit. Didja have to struggle so openly?" He shook his head and took another overdramatic bite.

Marik covered his face with his hand in embarrassment. "Please, swallow before you speak and I'm aware how ghastly your eating habits are but couldn't you at least try at some manners? Really, Kura." He chided. His eyes went sad for a moment. "Why is it so important for you to do those things to people anyway? You've never played with my emotions like that. Why, Kura?" Marik asked genuinely curious. Bakura stopped mid-bite and put his meat back on the plate. It was silent for a moment before the white-haired Tomb Robber stared seriously at the Egyptian and began to speak.


Kaiba had originally planned on finding something at the office to settle his nerves but decided against it. It was awfully late and he didn't want to endure the gentle questioning of his secretary. She was too caring for her own good. How did someone like that make it so high up on his list? He shook his head and had parked in the parking lot of the Central Domino Park. He supposed the nostalgia had lured him here, as it was a place with many memories - both happy and sad.

It was also in a peaceful part of Domino, a part that hadn't been suffocated with tall skyscrapers and such. The trees swayed gently in the cool night breeze, the flowers growing in no real pattern were bouncing back and forth all around him as he sat on a park bench and stared up at the clouded night sky. His eyes trailed the faint lines that separated the many clouds from one another, at first, no thoughts had come to him. There was nothing. Just quiet. He slouched against the bench, his head cocked back. For once, he felt grateful for the loss of something to say. His eyes fluttered closed as he let himself relax under the dark night sky. He would enjoy it - for deep down he knew it wouldn't be long before his thoughts caught up with him.


"Kura, where are you going?" Marik asked as the other stalled behind. "The exit is this way."

Bakura nodded, "I'm gonna use the little boy's room. I'll meet you at the car, okay, Marik?" He replied

"Kura…" The Egyptian called out with narrowed eyes.

Bakura walked up to his suspicious lover and kissed him soft at first, and then continued it feverish. He pulled away and savored the starry-eyed daze he'd thrown his boyfriend in. A small smirk graced his lips, "I'mma take a leak, Marik, go to the car." He murmured and walked towards the restrooms. Marik stood there with a meek nod and headed out.

The white-haired deviant sauntered over towards the restrooms but stopped as soon as he saw Marik step out the door. His attention shifted about the establishment hunting earnestly for his next victim of cruel plot. He finally found the blond haired moron waiting on a table down a different section. His smirk broadened.

"Alright, we'll have that right out for ya." Jounouchi placed the pencil and pad in his pocket and turned around to give the order to the kitchen staff, when he noticed the white haired demon standing in his way. He approached, the settled smile faded into a cautious scowl.

"Well, so we meet again Jounouchi."

"Don't talk to me, freak." He growled and pushed passed him. "Be lucky that Marik was with you, otherwise I woulda kicked your fuckin' ass outta here." He hissed under his breath, not wanting to cause yet another scene for his friend - he knew Varon wouldn't be so forgiving this time around.

"Hey, no reason to be so upset with me, Jounouchi. I would like us to be friends, is that so much to ask?" Bakura mused in mock offense.

The blond spun on his heel and faced the other coldly. "Yeah like I'd believe that. What do you really want?" He growled. Bakura was about to repeat his quip about being friends when Jounouchi furthered, "I mean, really want. As in, why are you still slithering about in our lifetime? How many fuckin' lives do you get?" 'I don't understand. You should be rotting in the Shadow Realm! What was the point of the Pharaoh being thrown back to his own time and whatever..? Where is he? Why are you still here?' Jounouchi felt resentful but not just because of the things he and his friends had been put through in their battles with the one before him but Yugi had to overcome his own frets and seal his closest friend away to the past and for what? The evil Thief Bakura was still alive? How?

Bakura raised a finger up and waved it in a scolding manner. "Aren't we quite hateful - and aren't you supposed to be one of the pathetically pure ones? This is why I try to stay low, so many people asking even more questions… I could only imagine the horrid interrogations if Ryou and Yugi found out of my existence…" He shook his head with a bit of detest. "At least Seto isn't one for such complicated affairs. I suppose its his realistic approach to everyone that keeps him from questioning needlessly. Things are as they are after all…" He rambled.

"S-Seto..? Wait, you mean Kaiba knows of your existence?" He muttered in surprise.

Bakura sighed. "Oh, he's going to be pissed. We've been keeping our meetings secret, so as this wouldn't happen. I have no intention of revealing myself to the rest of your annoying little pep squad." He shuddered as he recalled them.

Jounouchi reached forward and pulled him close by the collar of his silky dress shirt. "What the fuck are these meetings?" He growled.

A female waitress ran up to Jounouchi's side and shook his arm, the blond let Bakura go and turned his attention to her, eyes still lit with fury. "What is it, Cherry?" He ground out.

Her face went a little red as she stared timidly at him, "Jounouchi, people are starting to get agitated. Please, what are you doing?" She whispered.

Jounouchi handed her his notepad and pen, "Here. Table twenty-two's order needs to be taken to the kitchen and placed to the chef. I'm taking my lunch and stepping outside." He glowered back at the brown-eyed other. She sweat dropped and scurried away.

Bakura turned to the right at the hallway leading to the restrooms. "Why walk all the way to the front where the manager is sure to see you? We could always take this where you dragged my beautiful lover to earlier." He chuckled dark and walked in said direction. The blond untied and threw off his apron and stomped after him.

As they entered the once again empty men's restroom, Jounouchi locked the door with his key. "Ooh, alone with you? Hm… I must say you aren't really my type but whatever. I'm not particularly picky." He grinned darkly. There was silence for a moment as the blond tried to find some form of calm.

Every time he stared over at the other though, he just got riled up all over again. "What is your relationship with Seto? What are these secret meetings you're muttering about?" He growled. 'How can Kaiba know this guy still lives and not say anything? What if he's scheming something horrible and no one knew because Kaiba didn't let us know this psychopath is still among us? How could he..?'

Bakura ran a hand through his own white locks and expressed a look of disinterest. "Well I, don't see why its any business of yours but in the spirit of our hopefully forming camaraderie, I'll humble you." He grinned once more. "We're lovers. Actually, we've been lovers for several months now. Since, January, if memory serves." He answered seriously.

Jounouchi shook his head. "You're lyin'." He growled.

"Mn. I'm not. We meet up all the time at the bar Identity. It's a bar on the outskirts of Domino." He elaborated. "I can tell you every detail of his body, if you'd like more proof. But then, what good would it do since you and that gorgeous CEO don't even like each other. So there's no way you've even seen him naked right?" He laughed. The blond's face reddened and he remained quiet in deep thought. 'You're kidding. They really haven't slept together? Oh man, this is just too good.' He let his dark mind stay hidden behind an innocent façade, something he learned from his many escapades in Ryou's body. "But man, does he have an amazing body." He growled excitedly. "And his stamina is-"

"Shut up." Jounouchi gritted out.

"I'm sorry did you say something?" The white-haired man leaned forward, "I didn't quite hear you."

"I said… Shut. Up." Jounouchi glared angrily at him. "You're lying about you an' Kaiba!" He spat.

Bakura nodded. "Of course I am. That's why I've been seeing him at his company every week and why he'd given me keys so that I may let myself in whenever I choose. I don't understand, why are you so upset?" He let his wickedness reveal, "Oh, don't tell me you've taken a liking to him? I don't know… I don't think he's particularly fond of idiots." He remarked.

Jounouchi clenched his hands into fists and punched Bakura in the face. The other collected himself swiftly and chuckled lightly. "Oh my, the idiot trash is quite upset now isn't he?" He further so taunted. The blond ran at him again. Bakura managed to get out of the way, and did so a couple of times before he managed to push the blond into an open stall. The blond nearly fell into an embarrassing sitting position on the toilet, but caught himself on the walls of the stall. As the blond winced and admired the slight burn on his scraped hands, he couldn't explain it but he started to feel… Odd. Bakura brought his hand arms down to his side, his hand clenched tightly around a syringe and he dropped the empty thing to the ground and stepped on it. The other seemed to be realizing something was wrong as he finished crunching the evidence into nothing. His attention shifted to the pitiful blond mess in the stall, "Let me give you a little dose of how it is with me and Seto… Would you like that?" He purred and stepped forward.

The blond stood to his feet and went forward but Bakura grabbed his arm as he'd become much slower, and pushed him back into the stall. "Oh come on it'll be fun." He insisted and as the blond grabbed him by the shirt collar, he had a sudden spell of dizziness. His grip fell weak against the hold on the cloth and dropped, he felt sick to his stomach, like he'd been drinking or something. He fell into a sitting position on the toilet and couldn't bring himself to stop the smirking Bakura from caressing his cheek. "I may not have my powers or the Millennium Ring, but I know how to make some pretty potent drugs that renders my prey incapable of putting up near to no resistance. I gave you a particularly strong dose, seeing as you're such a feisty thing. So…"

Just then, the door was flung open and a brunet haired - ballistic - restaurant owner barreled through. "Joey! Where the Hell are you?" He snapped.

"Hm, saved. Oh well." Bakura stepped out of the stall and eyed the man in the sharp blue button up and black skin-tight jeans. "Is there some sort of problem?" He asked coolly.

Varon stared over at the open stall and could see from the bottom the legs of his friend. He stared back at those mysterious brown orbs of torment and glared. "Listen sir, your boyfriend is waiting for you at the front. I advise you to leave now, before I decide to ban you for causing unnecessary trouble and for antagonizing my employees." He ground out in frustration.

"Hm. Very well. I was leaving anyway. Say goodnight to Jounouchi for me." He smirked and left.

Varon heard the door close and he quickly rushed to the stall and saw his friend sitting there with a faraway look on his face. He dropped the keys he'd used to open the restroom door and crouched down to eyelevel with the glazed over other. "Joey, what's wrong?" He questioned worried. "Joey?"

He helped the blond to his feet, but swung his arm over his shoulder for support. "Joey, what happened?" He exclaimed. "I've gotta get you to a hospital!" 'Dammit, I should've listened to you earlier! Who is that freak?' Varon didn't concern himself with the keys he'd dropped on the floor, his main priority was getting his friend to the hospital. He managed to get the other to the door and opened it up, thankfully two of his employees were standing by and helped him carry the other to a chair. "I don't think we should move him." The girl named Cherry stated.

Varon ran a shaky hand down his face. "Where are those two that were here? The one with the tanned skin and the guy with the white hair?" He asked crossly.

"They dashed out of here and sped away." One of the guys replied.

"Someone call nine-one-one!" He instructed.

"Yes, Mikuru already is, sir!"

Varon grabbed the towel he kept in his back pocket and poured a little water on it and dabbed at his friend's face. "Joey, listen, don't worry about a thing, okay?" He whispered and held the other close.

"Varon…" Jounouchi whispered. "He's…" He muttered before falling unconscious. Varon's eyes widened as he felt the other go limp against him.