Y.Bakura Y.Malik fan: No, really, in the canon Yu-Gi-Oh, Marik has no ancient past, which is quite strange, since Bakura and Seto and Isis are there. But no, Marik has no ancient past, even though he studied it. That's why I thought maybe he'd know of the concept of Kas and Bas, but there's no actual proof of Marik in the AE arc. In fact, I didn't even see Malik in the Ancient Egypt arc, unless it was just to bring Yami Yugi to the door or whatever. Yami Bakura is just…(cries) …EVERYWHERE in that Arc!
This chapter is dedicated to Karmi.
Chapter Fourteen: Choosing Between Them
Ryou didn't know what to do.
Deep inside, his heart was ramming in his ribcage…shrieking and tearing and tossing about in hysterics, but on the outside, his body was immobile. His hands were pressed hard over his ears, and broken, terrified sobs escaped his lips. And even though his eyes were shut tight, they could not prevent the tears from leaking through.
The roars and rage of battle were tuned to a buzzing hum in his ears, blocking them of the vulgar profanities and curses and screams of pain. Fire spat and lightning flashed; blood splattered and thunder roared. The mere feel of the battle frightened Ryou out of his wits enough to prevent him from watching.
His brother…his brother and his lover…were fighting! And one of them would surely die!
But what could Ryou do?
He was a mere weakling, both mind and soul and body. There was no possible way he could stop his lover and his yami from fighting, especially now that each had grown a special hatred for one another. And Marik…Marik didn't seem to be able to listen to him anymore. Marik…Marik had hurt him!
How could Marik have hurt him?
Ryou's heart was lost…torn between fear and confusion and hurt and betrayal. Marik…he had promised to never hurt Ryou…he had promised to protect Ryou…he had promised… he had promised!
Poor Ryou…confused, hurt, bewildered and pained, could only curl up pathetically and cry, hoping with all his heart that both his brother and his lover would come out of their fervent duel alive.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed his hair, jerking his head back and forcing him to bare his throat. In the next second, a cold blade pressed itself against his skin, digging deep into his flesh.
"Don't move," Bakura hissed from behind. "I won't hurt you."
Weakly, Ryou nodded, and opened his eyes. And indeed, behind him knelt Bakura, holding the dagger to Ryou's throat. Before him stood Marik, blood trickling from the corner of his smirking lips, looking not the least bit frayed.
"Don't move!" Bakura yelled. "Ryou's life is in my hands! You dare to move at all, and I will personally slit his throat!"
Ryou trembled, tears dripping down his cheeks. Would Bakura really do that?
Now that Ryou had his eyes open, he could see the remnants of the deadly battle. The hanging cones of stones were shattered about, their debris among trailing clouds of smoke. Chests were overturned, their contents cracked and askew. Linen strips hung from never-before-imagined places, swaying exhaustedly in the wind.
And yet, the battered Ka called Diabound remained strong, though it was clear his strength was rapidly fading. The silver, sleek Winged Dragon, however, hardly even looked scratched, though it seemed slightly tired. And there was Marik…smirking as though he could not have seen a better turn of events.
"You're willing to stoop to such battle tactics?" Marik taunted, throwing his head back in laughter. "Well, go on. Finish him. Kill Ryou if you will."
Harshly, Bakura pressed the dagger deeper into Ryou's throat, tearing a terrified pained cry from Ryou's lips. Immediately, Ryou's trembling increased.
"Please Bakura-sama," Ryou whispered. "Please…"
Bakura gritted his teeth. Surely Marik would've cared for Ryou's safety…the last time they had battled, Marik wasn't even willing to strike Bakura in case Ryou would be hurt…Now he was actually suggesting Bakura to kill Ryou? Encouraging him to kill Ryou?
Bakura shook his head, his mind frantically searching about for another plan. He wouldn't mind hurting Ryou at all…even it was just to scare Marik…but to the point where Ryou's life would be in peril? He was a thief, not a murderer…
Growling, Bakura grabbed Ryou's wrist, twisting it behind the Light's back. Again, Ryou cried out, more tears spilling from the corners of his eyes. Slowly, with a sadistic smirk on his face, Bakura brought the dagger from Ryou's neck, and held it above Ryou's spine.
"Would a slow, painful death suit you?" Bakura asked, though his heart was ramming nervously. "Surrender now, and maybe Ryou's life might be saved…after all, wouldn't you want to spend all eternity with your love?"
Marik's smirk only grew. "You bluff," Marik laughed. "I can see it in your eyes, Bakura. You bluff. "
"Oh?" Bakura whispered, the tip of the dagger grazing Ryou's skin. Slowly, he lowered the dagger, is tip gradually sinking in a sea of white. This time, Ryou screamed in fear, sobbing pitifully in Bakura's arms. "You call this a bluff?" he asked Marik, who was watching the entire scene with empty eyes.
I hope he buys it, Bakura thought to himself desperately. If there are any gods watching…let Marik buy it!
But, as Bakura knew since his village massacre, that the gods never answered his prayers. And this time, when Ryou's life was on the line, the gods proved that when Marik slowly took a step forward.
"One more step and he'll die!" Bakura yelled again, though deep inside he was faltering. Perhaps…there just had to be another way… "You…you'd dare risk Ryou's life this way?" he yelled at Marik.
Marik smirked. "Well…" he said softly, his fingers slowly flexing themselves, "would this answer your question?"
Suddenly, the silver Winged Dragon shot forwards, and impaled its beak in Ryou's chest.
There was a blinding flash of light in which much confusion ran amok. Diabound, who was a creature of Darkness, roared and retreated at the intrusion of sudden light. A flaring pain found itself inside Bakura's chest, and blood spurted forth from his lips. The dagger slipped from his grasp and flew from his fingers, disappearing in the blinding light.
More screams echoed in the cavern, and distinctly, Bakura could hear Ryou's filled with pain and confusion, his voice lined with helplessness and desperate, incoherent pleads. Squinting in the light, Bakura groped his way around in the unceasingly flash of white, desperate to find Ryou before it was too late.
"YOU FOOL!" Bakura roared, collapsing forwards. Discreetly, he heard…and felt…someone scream next to him, before the figure also fell forwards, whimpering and twitching beside him. Gritting his teeth, Bakura grasped hard onto Ryou's wrist, feeling his former host's body spasm on its own. "YOU'LL KILL US ALL!"
"Maybe," Marik's voice floated from the light, filled with malicious satisfaction. "Maybe."
Gritting his teeth again, Bakura looked towards his left, his eyes still in slits because of the light. Barely, he could make out the faint form of Ryou next to him, weakening and twitching pathetically on the floor, unable to call, plead, or beg for help.
Ore no hikari…
"MARIK!" Bakura yelled, as Ryou's body finally fell limp, "STOP THIS NOW! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS TO HIM! MARIK, STOP!" He held on tighter to Ryou's wrist. "MARIK! HE'S DYING! STOP!"
At first, it seemed as though Marik would continue his onslaught. But slowly, gradually…almost within inching years…the sharp flash of light died down to a dim glow. The silver Winged Dragon flapped its wings and returned behind Marik, who was slowly evolving into view. Eventually, the light faded out entirely, and all was left, was the remnants of the battle: the loser, the victim, and the triumphed.
Coughing weakly, Ryou slumped onto his side, his back beginning to bleed from the dagger Bakura had previously pressed. His body shuddered again, this time less violently than before, and then he went still.
Cursing loudly, Bakura staggered to his feet, leaning against the wall for balance. Gritting his teeth, he stepped in front of Ryou, making sure that Marik would have to kill him first, before getting to Ryou.
"You're awfully brave, aren't you?" Marik asked idly, crossing his arms over his chest. Bakura's left eye twitched.
"You fool," he hissed. "You blasted, dead-ended, slimy, cocky-headed FOOL! You could've killed him! You could've killed all of us! You don't … you can't…you're not even ABLE to fathom the powers of Ka and Ba, and yet here you stand, using it with every fiber of power within you? Are you MAD?"
"Oh come now," Marik replied easily, not sounding the least bit fazed. "Let's not be rude. I must admit you put up a rather formidable battle. But surely you cannot possibly think that I would not know the advantages of Ka and Ba? I'm Marik, naturally.'
"You're nothing but an insolent, pathetic, slimy GRAVE KEEPER!" Bakura yelled. "You're nothing but a grave keeper…a slave to the pharaoh…a worm who wants to be a dragon…you're nothing! Nothing to your name, nothing to your reputation, NOTHING!"
"And what are you?" Marik sneered. "I, at least, have some powers which are worthy to even the Pharaoh himself! How could Ryou ever fall in love with such a beggar like you? YOU'RE nothing!"
"Nothing?" Bakura repeated, staring at Marik as though the other were mad. He swept his arms around the ruins of his cavern. "YOU'RE nothing but a GRAVE KEEPER. You don't even have anything to your NAME! I'm BAKURA, KING OF THIEVES! The entire land of EGYPT fears me!"
"Oh, I'm sure," Marik drawled sarcastically. "Why would anyone be afraid of a mugger, who steals mere pots and plates for his own amusement? You don't even steal LIVES."
"I will," Bakura hissed. "I will. You can't possibly understand, Marik. You….you're nothing but a selfish, pathetic bastard! A King wanna-be! You've never seen the Pharaoh's wickedness first hand! HE'S EVIL! YOU'RE EVIL!"
"And what are you?" Marik laughed.
Bakura gritted his teeth. "I am the Darkness," he hissed. "Nothing can destroy me. You were gone once the pharaoh defeated you!"
Marik's face suddenly lost its smirk, and Bakura knew he hit a nerve.
"That was Malik," Marik hissed. "If it weren't for that weakling of a Light, I would've won!"
"So?" Bakura sneered. "I had to live with Ryou! Look at him! He's weak! And yet, the pharaoh never defeated me! In fact, he thought me as his companion, until I revealed myself before him! You're NOTHING, Marik! You're NOTHING! I'm surprised Ryou ever found anything to love in such a hollow, empty SHELL."
"He DOESN'T love me," Marik hissed. "Look at him! He ran to YOU, the little sniveling coward! I turn my back, and he's in YOUR arms! I'm surprised he hasn't asked you to bed him yet!"
"EW!" Bakura yelled. "EW! Me? Bed Ryou? That's disgusting! That's lowly! You know I belong only to Malik, and ONLY to Malik! What caused you to think THAT, you jealous, greedy, pompous bastard!"
"The fact that Ryou has found comfort in YOU!" Marik bellowed. "The fact that the moment I turn my back, he's running here, laughing with you, talking with you, and TOUCHING you! The fact that YOU were touching HIM, and HE was in your arms BARE! Can you not see the foreplay!"
"What foreplay?" Bakura yelled back irritably. "You jealous, insane, pompous bastard, that's not FOREPLAY! Ryou knows NOTHING of foreplay! If anything, he WAITS for people to make the first move! He'd never be the one to do it first! He's always waiting for YOU to make foreplay! Come to think of it, I don't think he even WANTS your foreplay!"
In a quick flash, Bakura instantly knew that he had severed another nerve. The moment he blinked, Marik had caught him against the wall, his hand wrapped around Bakura's throat. His breath was beginning to hitch, and his lungs slowly began to burn. But despite all that, Bakura smirked.
"Heh…faster than before, aren't you?" he taunted, though his voice was strained. "I should've seen that one coming. Come on, coward. Kill me."
"Oh I will," Marik hissed. Slowly, he reached for his dagger, and pressed it against Bakura's throat. The thief narrowed his eyes, looking at the blade somewhat warily, though his eyes were gleaming with hatred and spite.
"Kill me," Bakura threatened, his smirk becoming a taunting grin. "Kill me. Kill me now. Then both Ryou and Malik will be yours…yours to slaughter, to kill. But Malik won't ever be defeated, no…you know what he's like. He'll find you, and he'll hunt you down like a dog."
"Empty threats," Marik breathed lowly, the dagger's blade scraping a bit of Bakura's skin. "Empty threats."
"If you think they're so empty," Bakura hissed, "why not kill me now? Or are you just afraid that I might come back, and destroy you like I did before?"
"You never destroyed me, Bakura," Marik breathed. "Never. It was I who always triumphed over you."
Bakura grinned. "If you're so great, let's just count the times each of us as taken the pharaoh…and lived to tell the tale…" Here, Bakura bent forward a bit, his face still taunting, still daring Marik to slit his throat. When he spoke, his voice was soft, barely a whisper, taunting and lined with malice. "…Mariku?"
Instantly, Marik reared the dagger from Bakura's throat, holding it high above the air. For a split second, the dagger gleamed in the dim light of the cave, twinkling brightly with the same rage and hatred that were gleaming in Marik's eyes. And even though it merely took a second, it seemed an eternity, as the dagger slowly fell…and fell….and fell…Bakura sucked in his last breath…the dagger scraped his throat…
"NO!"
The next instant was a blur. Something pale had collided into Marik's side, throwing the Darkness aside, just as the dagger scraped Bakura's throat. The thief was released, and breathing deeply, Bakura slumped forwards, clutching his chest of the air that had been previously denied. When he caught his breath, he turned around, astounded at his sight.
Ryou. His pathetic little host. His pathetic little host that was too kind for his own good, who would not even hurt a fly, but rather capture it, and set it free. His little host Ryou.
Was fighting Marik.
Though Ryou's moves were mostly defensive, it was clear that Marik was too caught off-guard to properly defend himself. Instead, the Darkness merely raised his hands and took the beatings, his expression hidden in the darkness. Ryou, however, was continuing his onslaught, tears streaming down his face.
I've never done this before, Ryou thought desperately, tears streaming down his cheeks. Marik…how could I be hurting Marik?
Oh, how Ryou's heart was torn! He didn't want to hurt Marik…he didn't want to hurt Marik…he only wanted to stop Marik from killing Bakura…Just the thought…just the thought of waking up from unconsciousness and seeing Bakura killed, slaughtered…painted in blood and his eyes glazed…it was too much for Ryou to handle. Too much.
"You didn't see the car crash…the metal bits flying in the air…"
No…he could not…Ryou squeezed his eyes shut, more tears spurting forth from his eyelids. No…Mother…Father…Amane…
"…or the cracked windshield that scrapped Amane's head….you didn't hear your mother's cry…or Amane's screams…."
….Yami-sama….
"…or the sirens that came too late to save them…"
No. No. Ryou knew he could not experience that again. To have someone you cared for be torn away from you so terribly…Ryou could not…experience that again…his brother…he had to save his brother…but Marik….oh, Marik…his lover…
"You didn't SEE the offending car drive off, its tires squealing in fear and injustice…!"
Marik…oh Marik…
"Injustice…"
Suddenly, a hand threw itself into Ryou's cheek. Caught off-guard, Ryou emitted a choked cry, before flying towards his right, crashing into floor. His left cheek burned considerably, and his right side ached from his descend. Suddenly, a foot pressed itself into Ryou's back, painfully impeding itself into Ryou's spine.
"Go," Marik said lowly, his voice cold and heartless. "Wait for me outside, my little thief. Bakura and I have some…discussions…to take care of."
"No," Ryou breathed, choking and coughing. "No."
Marik raised and eyebrow, and promptly stomped his foot into Ryou's head. The Light cried out in pain and fear, but Marik could see…for the first time in his life…the defiance that was sparkling in Ryou's teary brown eyes.
For a moment, Marik froze, remembering…remembering how much he had adored those eyes, how much they had sparkled with joy and glee, pain and suffering, and love and adoration. How he had brushed away every tear, and comforted every sob…how he had kissed the soft cheeks beneath them…
Don't kill him! that voice pleaded. Don't kill him!
Suddenly, caught off-guard again, Marik was thrown off of Ryou. This time, however, the attacker was much stronger than Ryou, and clearly, Marik had mistaken the true amount of Thief King Bakura's strength.
"HIKARI! GO! NOW!" Bakura bellowed. "GO!"
Nodding hastily, Ryou scrambled to his feet. Quickly, he grabbed a nearby robe and wrung it around his nude body, its flapping ends at his ankles as he ran.
The cave entrance slowly grew into view as he continued to run. There it was…his freedom…his chance to run from the terror and bloodshed that laid behind him…
A choked scream cut through the air, and Ryou froze.
He did not need to turn around to realize that Bakura was severely losing. Apparently, with Marik's rage and strength added together, Bakura's own strength was no match. The sounds of flesh being smacked and bones being cracked….the sounds of Bakura's reluctant gasps of pain and Marik's triumphant roars…the sound of Bakura being thrown towards the cave entrance, his body landing dully on the floor…it was all too much. Too much for Ryou.
With a tearful, frustrated cry, Ryou whipped around. He knew Bakura was lying directly behind him. Lying there…so still, breathing so quietly…crying out again, Ryou returned to the battle scene, and threw himself upon Bakura's torso.
Weakly, Bakura looked up. A river of blood was slowly trickling down his temple.
"R-Ryou…baka, get out of here…" Bakura breathed.
"No," Ryou breathed back. "No. I won't go. You're hurt, Yami-sama. You're hurt."
"I already know that," Bakura hissed, though inside, he couldn't help but feel touched by his hikari's newfound devotion. "Just go!"
"No," Ryou whispered firmly. "No."
"Ryou!" Suddenly, Marik's voice cut through, ice hard and steely. Each turned their heads towards the other Egyptian, who slowly began to advance on them. Ryou swallowed, though his eyes slowly began to hold defiance within them. As he watched Marik slowly approach them, he raised his head high, determined to protect Bakura as best as he could.
Marik's gaze was once again, hard, cold, and empty. They withheld no emotion, no sympathy, no compassion. There was not even a faint trace of lavender that Ryou had once found…the same lavender that warmed his heart and twinkled with adoration and care. No. It was all gone, replaced by cold, amethyst stones.
"Ryou." Marik narrowed his eyes, his voice a soft, dangerous whisper. "Go. Now."
"No." Ryou shook his head, his drying eyes still locked with Marik's. "No."
Marik narrowed his eyes. "You dare disobey me?" he hissed. "Again?"
"What do you mean, 'disobey'?" Ryou asked bravely, a frown gracing his soft features. "What do you mean, 'disobey'? Why should I obey every order you give me? When have I disobeyed you before?"
"When have you disobeyed me?" Marik hissed. "By coming here, naturally! You…I knew it. You were nothing but a cowardly snake. Tell me. All those moves that you bestowed upon me…did you hide them in secret, in case I would want to overcome you, or did you hide them so that one day, you could assassinate me for your better friends? Yami…Bakura…Malik…what other lies are you keeping from me?"
"What lies?" Ryou whispered, genuinely hurt by such accusations. His frown disappeared, lifting and revealing a pleading, dumbfounded look in its wake. "Marik…I'm sorry if I never told you…Amane and I …my sister…my sister…"
"Of course I know about your pathetic sibling!" Marik spat. Instantly, Ryou recoiled, harshly taken aback and looking once again, near tears. Pathetic…pathetic sibling? "And what about now? Here you are, protecting Bakura again, when you should be on my side, by my side!"
"I have a choice whether or not I should help someone!" Ryou cried, more tears spilling down his face. "Marik, you're the one who intruded us! You're the one who hurt Bakura! Bakura's wounded, Marik! You STABBED him! How can I not help him?"
"LEAVE!" Marik bellowed. "I come here to kill Bakura, and you stand in my way! AGAIN! I had hoped that person I could've knocked some sense into you, perhaps even punish you a bit, but my temper is running short, Ryou, and you're not going to be spared if you don't leave now!"
"I will NEVER leave!" Ryou yelled right back. "You have NO right to come here and just kill Bakura! I am NOT leaving him! I don't know why you're acting like this all of a sudden, and I'd like to know why, but I'm NOT BLOODY GOING TO LEAVE WITH YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO TALK TO ME THIS WAY!"
"SILENCE!" Marik bellowed. "What do you think you can do for him now, my little thief? All the wounds I've bestowed upon him are fatal! Your love will die anyway! There's nothing you can do for him! And if you don't just GET OUT OF MY WAY, I assure you, YOU will end up the same way as him!"
"THEN SO BE IT!" Ryou screamed. "I don't care! I don't care! I'm not leaving Bakura!"
"GO!" Marik bellowed again. "GO, OR YOU WILL NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY AGAIN! GO! NOW!"
"NO!"
With that, Ryou flung himself over Bakura.
"I will not leave him," Ryou whispered, a teardrop trickling form his eye. "I will never give up on him. I'll never give up on you, Yami-nii-sama."
Gently, he slid his fingers beneath his former yami's cheek, and lifted Bakura's face from the ground. The former Darkness groaned a bit, before blinking his eyes open. At the sight of Ryou, he gave a weak, cheeky grin, despite the blood that was slowly welling at the corner of his lips.
"R-Ryou…baka," Bakura breathed. "Go…I thought I told you to go…"
"No," Ryou breathed back. "No. I can't go. I won't go. You're hurt, Yami-sama. You're hurt."
"I already know that," Bakura hissed, though clearly, he was touched by Ryou's newfound devotion in him. "Just go."
"No," Ryou whispered firmly. "No."
With those words, Ryou closed his eyes, and gently pressed his hands against Bakura's chest. Bakura's eyes widened.
Momentarily, Marik froze. He had…he was…he had been so close…so close!…to destroying Bakura. And yet…here Ryou was…kneeling beside him…pressing his hands on Bakura's chest…! NO!
As Marik watched in rage and horror, a faint figure of a fair woman appeared. Young and distinctly childish, her brown hair sweeping against her shoulders, she slowly flapped her wings, rising high over the white-haired figures. One wing was clearly black, and the other was clearly white. Her flowing, green robes were in two different shades: one of emerald, the other of forest green.
Change of Heart.
Ryou's Ka.
Distinctly, Marik could not help but feel the foreboding radiance of Ryou's Ka. It seemed as though his Ka herself was a sign…a sign of Ryou's own 'change of heart', that he had changed his mind, that he decided to go on the other side.
NO! Marik thought angrily. Don't you dare! You're on MY side! MINE! Because you're MINE!
However, the little voice inside his head did not scream…it did not follow the rations of his angry thoughts. Instead, it pleaded…it was broken, shattered, mourning…it cried.
No…please…you're with me…you love me…you love me…don't go with him, please….
"Ryou…" Bakura breathed. "No…"
He grasped his former Light's wrist, narrowing his eyes and forcing himself to look stern as Ryou continued to release his Ka. Biting his lip, Ryou whimpered slightly, but cracked open his closed eyes.
"Ryou," Bakura breathed. "No. Don't do it. It'll waste your energy, and it won't save me. You know it."
"Bring out your Ka," Ryou whispered. "Yami-sama, bring out your Ka."
"What? Why?" Slowly, Bakura's eyes widened. "Ryou…it'll never work…Diabound's a creature of Darkness, you know that…he'd never be able to harness…the power of your Ka…"
"Yes he can," Ryou whispered.
Slowly, Ryou bowed his head, sniffing quietly. A small smile slowly graced his lips, and he opened his eyes further, staring down at Bakura with the same eyes that had stared upon Amane long before.
"Believe it or not, Yami," Ryou whispered quietly, his small smile beginning to turn discreetly sad, "…I always knew what you were like. Your memories after…after Battle City…I saw them too. I know what Diabound can do. And I know he can do this. I know you can do this."
The other merely blinked, and gradually shook his head. "Ryou…Don't," Bakura breathed. "It'll waste your Ba. It'll waste your energy. It'll do nothing."
"It'll do everything," Ryou whispered. "Keep it, Yami-sama. Please. If this is all I can do…as a brother…as an onii-chan…please…" He gently leaned his head down, and gently pressed his forehead against Bakura's. "…Take it," Ryou whispered. "Please…nii-sama….take it. It's all…it's all I can give…it'll be enough, I know it will be. Just please…Bakura…for me…for Amane…take it."
Slowly, the Change of Heart hybrid began to disappear, dissolving in a shimmer of light. Gasping, Ryou arched his back, his strength clearly weakening. Little by little, as the angel-demon hybrid began to dissolve, the snake-head-tail of Diabound began to appear, transparent and translucent at first, but steadily glowing brighter as the other Ka slowly faded.
Weakly, the snakehead of Diabound laid its head on Bakura's waist, but clearly regaining some strength from Ryou's sacrifice. The snake slowly slithered from Bakura's waist to around Ryou's knees, nuzzling him softly in thanks.
Smiling weakly, Ryou closed his eyes. The Ka of the angel-demon hybrid and her heart slowly evaporated, beginning with her skirt, then climbing up to her shadow, and finally, the angel-demon hybrid shattered into the air, and vanished from sight.
Gasping softly, Ryou fell back, his eyes lying shut and his figure limp. The snake end of Diabound reared back a bit, clearly upset at Ryou's comatose state. It even reached over gently to nuzzle him again, as though hoping to awaken him. When Ryou did not even stir, the snake gave a sad wail, slithered back behind Bakura, and disappeared from sight.
Slowly, Bakura shook his head.
Suddenly, Marik strode forward, stopping short in front of Bakura. Stooping down, he picked Ryou up and threw the Light over his shoulder, as though merely a sack of potatoes. Growling, Bakura attempted to stand, but Marik as soon as he moved, Marik drove his foot deep into Bakura's ribs for the possibly tenth time that night, drawing blood from Bakura' lips.
"I'll come back for you later," Marik hissed hatefully, watching as Bakura landed again on the ground. "I need to put someone in his place. If possible, I actually think I hate Ryou more than you now. Who is he to take your side and love you? Who is he to disobey me and heal you?"
Grinning weakly, Bakura looked up at Marik, his eyes clear and cruel…but also strong and proud.
"Who is he?" Bakura whispered. "My ototo."
PLEASE DONT' TELL ME THER'ES SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CHAPTER. (sobs) I've been going through three different emtoinal breakdoewns for three different situations, and it's just too much for me right now...(burst out into tears) And I have FOUR FREAKIN REVISIONS OF THIS ONE CHAPTER AND IT'S MESSING UP MY MIND AND I'VE GOTTEN NO SLEEP AND...(breaks off in tears and begins to weep uncontrollably). WAAAAH.
...pwease read and review. please? make me happy?