This chapter introduces Yami Marik, or Kek, as he will be called. I checked in with Sitabethel before using the name, as it's in their work that I saw the name being used a lot, and it works so well that I asked to be able to use it myself.

North…we've not been this far before. Sure, a little way, when we took the job in Minya, but we cover a lot more ground today, following the Nile closely and racing past Minya and more. By the time the sun is setting low in the sky, we've covered at least 16 leagues, though I stopped counting after a time. There are faded old signs here and there, telling and directing, but they're difficult to make out. In any case, Bakura seems to have an idea of where we should be going. Following the Nile makes it easier enough, but having the second sense of location from Bakura is reassuring.

We make camp close to the river's banks. We didn't run into any trouble on the road, so we decided this would be an appropriate place to spend the night. Ryou wanders off to hunt, while Bakura and I clear the area, set up tents, and build a fire. He's apprehensive, putting together the stones and firewood, and I can see in his eyes that he'd rather be elsewhere. By the time Ryou returns with a dead rabbit in his hands, Bakura has retreated as far away as he can manage, watching his brother silently as he kneels down and snaps his fingers, igniting the fire to a warm, burning glow instantly. I'd go to him, but from the look on his face, he'd rather be left alone. So I help Ryou with the food instead, gutting, skinning and cleaning the rabbit. It's nasty work, and more than once I feel my stomach threatening to spill its contents. Somehow, I hold strong, and we soon have the meat cooking over the fire while Ryou mixes flour and water together, making a rudimentary sort of bread to go with it.

"Doesn't it bother you?" I ask him. "You know, being out in the open and living off the land? You had your house, and supplies, and – "

"I don't mind at all," Ryou smiles. "Tou and I have done this countless times over the years together on jobs and such. It's fun. I like the thrill of having to fend for myself in ways I didn't have to back in Amarna." He waves his hand at the darkening landscape. "Don't you think there's a strange sort of beauty in it? So raw and primal, but beautiful all the same. I love it out here. The demons and the bandits and heaven knows what else are just like pieces on the game board. Move myself, move them, take them down, I win."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You are a strange man, Ryou."

"I am indeed."

Bakura joins us again after a few hours, when the rabbit meat sizzles and spits, sending a tempting aroma into the air. He regards the fire nervously, but pulls himself close to me and winds his arms around one of my own, resting his head on my shoulder. I can see that Ryou is trying not to pay too much attention, but his eyes keep flickering up to us as I stroke Bakura's hair and murmur soft words of comfort to him. It feels odd, being this soft and gentle with anybody, even Bakura, who I feel close to. I guess it's just instinct. He's scared, still grieving for his sister's death, and I want to help him.

It's simple, it's nothing special, but the rabbit meat and bread is filling and tastes good. Bakura eats quickly and then retreats into his tent without a word, leaving just Ryou and I sat on opposite sides of the crackling fire.

"So," he smiles, "should I see what I can do about this darkness?"

"Hm?" I take a bite of my food and dab at my mouth with my fingers, frowning.

"What we discussed earlier?"

"Oh, of course. Yeah, um…if it isn't too much trouble for you, then please feel free. You know more about this than I do."

"Finish eating, and we'll get started."

I nod, tossing the last of the bread into my mouth. I help Ryou clear away the rabbit skins and any other mess, then he shifts to sit opposite me, taking my hands in his own and closing his eyes. "I'm just feeling out for it now," he says quietly. "I'm going to try and make contact, see if there's any sentience to it."

"Okay," I nod, wondering whether I should be getting nervous or uneasy. Ryou's peculiar familiarity with the macabre should be unnerving, and yet the aura of calm he gives off constantly is almost infectious.

Ryou suddenly grins, his hands squeezing mine. "Oh, hey. Here we are…I've found it. Hmmm…it feels like you, but not you at the same time…I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but…"

Then he scowls, biting his lip. "How odd."

"What?" I ask.

"I didn't expect your darkness to feel so…human. I thought it would manifest as an explosion of power, like mine did, but this…I've never felt anything like this before." His brown eyes snap open, locking onto mine. "Marik, please may I put a hand on your chest? I think I can connect with it better that way."

Silently, I nod, removing my hands to undo the first few buttons on the loose purple shirt I'm wearing. Ryou's fingers are cold despite the warmth of the fire, and I can't help the little shiver that runs through me at his touch. That little frown continues to knit his brow, deep in concentration. This time, he doesn't speak. I'm not sure where to look, to be honest. I know we should be keeping a look out for bandits or anything seeking to do us harm, so I start turning my head this way and that, observing our surroundings.

After a few minutes, Ryou speaks again. "It's human," he whispers, "and it does what you can't. It's your defence mechanism, your way of coping. It's confused, wondering why it's in contact with the outside world when you're calm." He pulls his hand away to scratch his head, looking a little confused himself. "I…don't know what it really is. It could be a spirit, or a dream, or something else entirely, I really have no idea. All I know is it wants to be free."

A human darkness inside me? What on earth could this mean? Why is it there? And what does Ryou mean, it does what I can't?

My mouth moves before my brain can come to a decision. "Can you exorcise it?"

He gives a half-nod. "I can try. It might be uncomfortable. Can you take it?"

"I can try," I echo.

Ryou takes my hands again. An eerie chill seems to settle around our makeshift campsite, seeping into my very bones and making me shudder with a mixture of unpleasant anticipation and curious thrill. The very air darkens around us, as if matching the darkness Ryou wants to pull from within me.

He begins to chant under his breath, barely a whisper, and almost instantly I feel a tugging sensation behind my sternum. I force myself to sit and bear it. The tugging becomes stronger and stronger, almost battering against me in an attempt to free itself, and I clutch at Ryou's hands, staring to pant from the discomfort.

It…it hurts. It hurts. I begin to shake, feeling like I'm losing control of my body.

Then the rage seeps in. It devours every inch of my sanity faster than I can process, before I can warn Ryou to stop.

I'm…

No…

I…I can't hurt him…no!

But…it would be so easy…

I have so many weapons I could use to end his miserable life…

But which one?

I can't! I can't!

"R-Ryou - !" I choke.

I see the shocked look on his face, feel his hands pull away, but blackness swallows me whole and my body explodes with pain. Someone's screaming, but I don't know if it's me, Ryou, or the darkness fighting to get free. There's nothing I can do, I've completely lost control of myself, with only my thoughts partly intact.

Oh god. I can't…do this…it hurts so much!

The screaming is hurting my ears. Everything is agony. Am I dying? Did we go too far?

I black out completely before I can wonder any further.

I'm aware of arms around me when I come to, warmth seeping into my skin. Rapid, ragged breaths puff against my ear, and I realise after a few moments, from the scent of musky cologne and cigarette smoke, that Bakura is holding me close to his chest. Feeling disoriented, I slide my hands up to grip his bare shoulders, trying to push myself upright, but he only shakes his head and draws me closer. "Stop moving around," he says, and I hear panic in his voice. "Stay still."

"What's going on?" I ask, my voice a harsh croak.

"You were screaming," Bakura says quietly, "then you passed out. I came out to see what was going on, and…"

I try to push myself away again, to stand up and look around, ask Ryou what happened, but Bakura grabs me and yanks me back down. At the same time, an unknown voice speaks. Unknown, yet so familiar at the same time.

"You heard him. Stop moving around."

My head whips around, so fast I feel the bones crack.

A young man kneels by the fire. He looks like me, with the same skin tone, angular facial features, and lavender eyes, but that's where the similarity ends. Even kneeling down, I can see he's incredibly tall and broad, built like rough-hewn rock, all hard muscle and sinew. His hair, while a similar shade to mine, spikes out wildly around his face, a dramatic mess of coarse fibres like straw. A deep purple cloak covers his shoulders, concealing the rest of his body, save for his arms, free and shining against the firelight.

Ryou sits in front of him. One of the stranger's hands is on his shoulder, and the other holds one of my daggers, pressing it to Ryou's throat.

A fearful shock runs through me and I yell out, jerking away from Bakura, reaching out for Ryou. "Stay back!" the stranger growls, pulling Ryou backwards. If Ryou is scared, or worried, he doesn't show it. How is he so calm? A bead of blood rolls down his neck, staining his shirt. Bakura shivers as he keeps a tight hold on me.

"I'm sorry," Ryou murmurs. "When you passed out, I panicked and tried to seal the darkness back inside, but I was too flustered and it came out. I tried to seal it again, but, um…as you can see…it has its own body now, and…"

"Quiet," the stranger orders.

"Who are you?" I ask.

The stranger grins maniacally at me. "I'm you, of course. I'm your darkness. I'm the one that's been taking all your emotions. Thank you for those, by the way. They've made me very strong, but very fucked up at the same time. Living inside you was absolute hell." He runs my dagger upwards, tracing Ryou's cheek with it. "And as for this little one…who brought me into the world…I'm going to sate my bloodlust on him if you make even one single movement towards us."

Ryou glances up at him. "Well, that doesn't seem very logical. Aren't you grateful?"

"For dragging me into this wasteland? Maybe. Seems like there's a lot of demons running around here. I could have some fun with those, but killing you seems like more fun right now."

"That's a shame," Ryou replies. "I've never had the chance to get to know a creature of darkness before. Why don't you indulge me before you slit my throat?"

"Ryou!" Bakura gasps. "What are you doing?"

But his words seem to have an effect. The stranger lowers the dagger, resting it in Ryou's lap, but he keeps a firm grip on it. "Why aren't you scared?" he asks.

"Should I be?"

"I had a knife to your throat."

"I've had worse. Will you let me go, please? I promise I won't run away or scream." Ryou flashes the stranger a bright smile. I have to give him credit, he's doing an incredible job of trying to placate the stranger. I can feel one of Bakura's hands sliding down my body, reaching into my clothes in an attempt to locate another of my daggers. I stop him with a hand on his wrist. "Wait," I whisper.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" he whispers back urgently. "Ryou's in danger!"

"I…don't think he is. Somehow I know he's got this under control."

The stranger releases Ryou with a scowl, and he swings himself around, dabbing at the blood on his neck with his sleeve. "I wondered what was tickling me," he laughs. "Okay, now you're not holding a dagger to me, I want to ask you some questions. What's your name?"

The stranger's scowl changes to a frown. "I'm Marik."

"No, that is Marik." He gestures towards me. "You might have come from Marik, but you're not him."

"I don't have a name then. And I don't need one, and you certainly don't need to know it if I'm going to kill you soon."

Bakura's grip on me tightens again. He must be itching to spring up and dispatch my darkness, but one wrong move and he might be the only one left out of his siblings. So he just stays with me, holding me tightly, shivering.

"How old are you?" Ryou asks the stranger.

"Eight."

Ryou laughs, amused. "I've never seen an eight-year-old that looks like you!"

"He couldn't handle it!" the stranger growls, pointing at me. "He couldn't handle the torture, so I did! That was eight years ago! I was born then! Fuck you and your questions!"

I gasp. The torture…

This young man…this stranger…my darkness. He's the one that killed my father, that tried to attack Bakura. He took the pain of my initiation when I couldn't any longer. He's…he's everything I'm not. My other half.

The stranger chuckles at the look on my face, a peculiar laugh that sounds like his tongue clicking, a sort of kekekeke sound. "Caught on, have you? Yes, I'm the one. Everything you're thinking, that would be me."

"What do you want?" I demand.

He shrugs. "Blood, mostly. Death would be nice too. You've imparted some rather brutal instincts in me."

"You're not killing my brother," Bakura snarls.

"Calm down, Touzo," Ryou says softly. "He isn't going to hurt me." He reaches out to the stranger, holding out his hand flat in a questioning gesture. After a few moments, the stranger wordlessly hands the dagger over, which Ryou tosses over to me, but the look in his eyes tells us not to approach just yet. Then he takes the stranger's hands, the same way he did to me. The stranger flinches and growls, but doesn't pull back. "You need a name," Ryou tells him. "Every person needs an identity."

"I don't."

"I'm going to give you a name anyway. Would you mind if I called you Kek?"

"Kek?"

"Yeah, like your funny little laugh. I like it. Kek suits you nicely."

"Ryou, don't go fucking naming it!" Bakura protests. "Are you seriously getting pally with something that wants to kill you?"

But to my surprise, my darker half nods. "Fine. Kek it is."

"Nice to meet you, Kek," Ryou beams. "Now, you say you're eight, but physically you look around the same age as my brother, so let's say you're twenty-five, okay?"

Kek just looks confused. I can't say I blame him. Ryou's speaking to him like he's known him for years, familiar and friendly. He really is an odd man indeed.

Ryou touches Kek's cheek, his eyes wide. "You're fascinating," he whispers. "I've touched many a dark side in my time, but nothing like this."

"I'm not your damn exhibition," Kek mutters.

"I'd love to study you more. And you seem calm now, so how about you come with us tomorrow?"

"WHAT?!" Bakura shoves me away and dives towards Ryou, grabbing his shoulders. "Are you insane?! That thing is not coming with us, do you hear me?"

"Sorry, Tou, but you don't get to tell me what to do," Ryou says firmly.

They start arguing heatedly, their voices rising. My eyes dart back and forth between them, but Kek remains fixed on Ryou, looking slightly panicked. He doesn't seem to like their fighting, and he has no weapons now, so there's nothing he can do to stop them. My fear long gone, I stand and walk towards them, tapping Kek on the shoulder and motioning for him to follow me a distance away, letting the brothers argue.

I sit down on a large outcrop of rock and wait for Kek to reach me. His cloak billows around him as he walks, revealing a black vest top and beige cargo pants beneath, and just about as much gold jewellery as I wear. I was right, he's huge, towering over me by almost a foot, and I'm five feet ten, so I'm not exactly short. He stops in front of me and folds his arms. "What?" he demands.

I lean on my elbows, gazing at him with rapt curiosity. "You want blood?" I ask. "We're on our way to join up with some demon hunting rebels. There's plenty of blood there."

Kek's eyes light up. "Hmmm…interesting."

"Do you think you can behave? If you can, then come with us, and you can find your place with the rebels. Stick with Ryou till then. He seems to handle you well. Not many would do that after being threatened with a knife to the throat. And he's cute, I'm sure he can charm you into being a good boy."

"Fuck you, I am not good," Kek growls.

"You're me. I know what you can be."

A little shiver runs through Kek at my words. "I don't want to be you. I want to slit that boy's pretty white throat and be on my merry way."

"With no weapons?" I ask.

"I can find some. I'll strangle all of you in the night and take every weapon on your person."

"There's more to life than death, Kek. I've been finding that out recently myself." I pat the outcrop of rock, gesturing for him to sit with me. After some hesitation, he does, twitching his cloak out of the way and looking almost shy. "Everything you did was to protect me, so you could survive," I tell him. "I don't know if I can be grateful for it, but I'm alive because of you. That's something, I guess."

Kek's eyes flicker over to Ryou and Bakura, whose argument has started to simmer down, but they're still exchanging irritable words at each other in their native tongue, which I don't understand a word of. "I was just a darkness in your heart," Kek mutters, scratching his head, "and now I'm…a person. Real. All I know is violence and despair, so how the hell am I supposed to figure out my way in the world?"

"You'll do it," I reply. "When I came out of the tombs, I was confused, and didn't know what my life would be either. But those two…they helped me in more ways than I can express. I don't know how much you know about them, or how dormant you were inside me, but they're good people."

Kek nods. "Ryou, he's…sweet."

"He is."

"And Touzo is a grumpy prick."

"…Well, I can't really argue with that. He'll prefer you to call him Bakura, by the way, or Kura." I touch his arm carefully, and he flinches, but stays put. "How do you feel?"

"Calm, but confused…and tired."

"You should rest."

"Where?"

"We have tents. If you promise not to slit my throat, you can share with me."

"…I want to share with Ryou."

"I'm sure he'd be happy to do that."

Our conversation is then interrupted by Bakura stomping over, grabbing my wrist, and dragging me back towards the campsite. "What's the matter?" I ask him.

"Ryou's taking first watch," he replies, "and he can deal with that psychotic headcase on his own. I'm going to sleep, and you're coming with me. I won't let you be alone around that thing."

Kek watches us go with a bemused expression.

As Bakura pulls me into his tent, I see Ryou getting up to go over to Kek, his infectious smile back in place. Bakura secures the flap of his tent up and rounds on me, scowling heavily. "What were you doing?" he demands. "Why are you getting friendly with it? It just tried to kill my brother!"

I shake my head. "I don't think he would have done," I reply gently. "He's scared. He doesn't know where he is or what's really going on. He just did what he's driven to do…be violent."

Bakura presses his forehead against mine, exhaling shakily. Our noses brush together, and I find I like it immensely. "You and Ryou won't let up on this, will you? Is it coming with us?"

"He."

"Fine, he."

"And yes, I think so. Ryou wants to look after him. When we discussed my darkness this morning, he said he would take full responsibility for it. And you can see he's utterly fascinated. Let him have his time with Kek. Really, Kura, I don't think he means us any harm. He just has to adjust to having a body of his own and having full control over himself."

"If he kills my brother, I will kill you myself, personally. I don't care how I feel about you. If I wake up in the morning and find my brother's throat cut, you will get the same treatment, do you understand?"

I laugh at his threat. "I understand."

Our brows remain pressed together, but now Bakura's hands begin threading through my hair, teasing my scalp. I close my eyes, enjoying the little tingles running down my spine. It feels so good when he touches me.

"Gods, I was so scared," he whispers. "I came out of the tent, and you were passed out, and Ryou was fighting off that fucking shadow. I thought I'd lost you both. He overpowered it, but he was panicking, I could see it. When Kek got his own form, Ryou started laughing. It was so strange. He looked worried just a few moments prior, but now this fucking massive figure was overpowering him and putting your dagger to his throat, and all he could do was laugh. He told me to stay back, so I grabbed you and put distance between us. I knew if I made one bad move, Ryou would die." He shudders, grabbing one of my hands and pressing it over his heart. It's hammering madly, pounding against his ribs. "So when you two suddenly started acting all familiar with him, it terrified the hell out of me. How do you do it? Something scares me and I just freeze."

I shrug. "Side effect of lacking a lot of emotion, I guess. I'm sorry I frightened you, Kura." I can't help but let my fingers gently stroke the skin of his bare chest. He feels soft and warm, but well-built, his muscles rippling under my touch. Bakura's own eyes close and he sighs. That unfamiliar heat begins to build up inside me again, almost uncomfortably intense. It tells me to take more of Bakura, to run my hands all over him and drink in the delighted sounds he makes. What…what is this?

"Will you let me touch you?" I ask Bakura carefully.

His eyes snap open, exploring my face before he gives a tiny nod. I think he needs the distraction right now just as much as I do.

Slowly, my hands begin to wander over his tanned skin. Almost immediately, his eyes close again and his face falls into a blissful expression. I skim over his chest, tracing his collarbone and then down again, spreading both my hands flat over his pectorals and feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each breath. After a few moments, I slide my hands down to his stomach, pressing against the rock-hard muscles of his abdomen. A silvery trail of hair runs down from his navel, not unlike the golden hair I have myself. I run my fingers through his trail, overcome with curiosity.

Bakura's breath hitches, then he moans, soft and needy. The sound sends a deep tingle of pleasure between my legs, and I feel a warm throbbing down below. My hands pause as I ponder over what it is I'm feeling, what I'm doing, why Bakura is making such noises.

"Don't stop," he whispers. "Marik, don't stop."

I frown. "I…I feel strange."

"How so?"

I gesture to the apex of my thighs, and he laughs. "You've never had an erection before?"

"No, I have. I know what that is, but…the feeling that's come along with it, I've…I've never felt." I drop my hands to my knees. "It's hot, and urgent, and makes me want to do things I've never wanted to do to anybody."

Bakura smirks. He brushes his nose playfully against mine, then leans in, kissing me, long, deep and slow. His tongue teases my lower lip and slips into my mouth, making me shudder. We didn't kiss like this last night, content with gentle brushes of our lips, but this…this ignites something primal in me, something I didn't know even existed. My hands grab his shoulders and I pull him closer, letting my own tongue dab out to twine around his.

Bakura pulls away after a few moments. "Lust," he says quietly. "It's lust."

"Lust?" I ask.

"Mm." Bakura nods his head. "Sexual desire. You've not felt anything like that before?"

"No. Is it normal?"

"Very normal, and particularly if you're attracted to someone." He presses another kiss to my lips. "Want to find out more?"

I do. I really do. But I'm wary of Ryou and Kek outside, glancing over my shoulder, even though I know they can't see us. Bakura seems to understand my concerns, and he flashes me his usual smirk again. "Don't worry about them. Ryou knows better than to bother me when I've got a hot guy on his own."

My eyes widen. "He won't mind?"

"He told me earlier that you told him about us."

"When?"

"When we were arguing."

"Oh, that explains it. I don't know your native language."

"I'll teach you at some point," Bakura grins. "So…again…do you want to find out more?"