AN: Have you ever been to Build-A-Bear or someplace similar? You know those giant things full of stuffing that they have for their assorted stuffed animals? All full of white, fluffy stuff?
This chapter is kinda like that. Full of fluff. And back story for a character that, if you've read Hooray For One Shots chapters 22 and 23 you'll already know. Oh, but I can finally show you to cute picture I drew :O (Had to play with the wording to make it fit, but I had the scene planned for a while now. I hope it was implemented correctly.)
This is just moving the plot along to get us to more exciting stuff.
This is technically a double chapter in length so I shall dub it a double chapter, but only give it one number cause there was a lot of copy + pasting from Hooray For One Shots Chapter 22 and I would feel like I was cheating :x
And if you don't like fluff, just skip to the end for a summary :x
Otherwise, I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep reading. There's at least 2-3 chapters left to go! (I think :3)
"So...everything's alright now?"
"Seems like it," Bakura replied. He looked down at Ryou thoughtfully. The pair stood apart from the others while Yugi and Atem were being embraced by Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda. "When we go back, we'll be sharing a body again," the thief noted. "Same with the Pharaoh and Yugi. I don't know what will happen next, though. The Pharaoh's mission is complete so-...Ryou?" he raised a brow when the teen turned to face him, chocolate meeting violet determinedly.
Ryou's gaze softened and he reached up to wrap his arms around Bakura's neck. "Don't ask..." he breathed, bringing their lips together. The thief smiled into the kiss, wrapping his arms possessively around the teen's waist.
Atem draped his arm over Yugi's shoulders, emboldened by the reassuring words of his friends. "Thank you for finding my real name."
"What are friends for?" Honda grinned.
"You can always count on us, Ya- I mean, Atem," Anzu smiled.
"So what happens now?" Jounouchi asked. "We can go home, right?"
"Almost," Bakura said, he and Ryou approaching them. He drew a card from Ryou's duel disk and pointed it at Seto. "Yuugou Kaijo(1)." There was a flash of light from the startled priest/CEO. When it cleared Seto and Set stood side by side. "Now we can go home," the thief smirked, hugging Ryou to his side.
"Not yet." Atem removed his arm from Yugi and stood before priest Set. "There is a lot of work to be done. There was so much damage done in the battle...so many lives lost..."
"It is nothing we cannot overcome, my Pharaoh," Priest Set said firmly. "Together we will rebuild and guide Egypt toward a brighter future."
The Pharaoh smiled, removing the Millennium Puzzle from his neck and holding it up to Set. "No. You will rebuild and guide Egypt as the new Pharaoh. I cannot stay here any longer, Set."
"But...my Pharaoh I-"
"Have more than proven yourself capable. You will do fine." As he spoke, Atem's body grew transparent. "I'm counting on you, Set. Please continue my father's dream and maintain peace in Egypt."
Priest Set reluctantly took the Millennium Puzzle, passing a look to Seto. Wordlessly they both nodded, the CEO moving to stand beside Jounouchi.
"Prince!" Mana cried out, coming to stand beside Set.
"Goodbye, Mana. Please help King Set," Atem smiled at her.
"Goodbye, prince.." she pouted, looking at Yugi. "Take care of him, Yugi."
"I will," the teen promised, rubbing the back of his neck. Behind the group, Marik made a gagging noise which was cut off by the smack of flesh hitting flesh.
"Marik," Malik warned the yami, who was rubbing his arm and pouting.
"But hikaariiii, they're being all...touchy feely," Marik whined in response.
Malik sighed, moving to the new Pharaoh and reverently handing him the Millennium Rod. "This was yours, Pharaoh. Guard the items well." He bowed slightly before going back to Marik, shooting the yami a warning glare.
"Right right," Bakura sighed, taking off his Millennium Ring and tossing it to Set. "I don't need that anymore. I have something better anyway." He grinned down at Ryou.
With a final look around, Atem nodded, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Now, my friends....we can go home."
Isis looked up at Rishid wearily. Several hours had passed since the last group had entered the Millennium Puzzle and nearly a day since Malik, Yugi, and Bakura had gone. The older tombkeeper gave her a reassuring smile to mask his own worries and ease her's.
Pegasus sat near the entrance to the room, leaning back against the wall and dozing restlessly. Outside the weather had been violent and an ominous presence had been felt so the CEO had taken hold of the Millennium Eye once more in case something threatened those within the memory world.
A soft groan from Yugi drew Isis' attention and blue eyes landed on the short teen's form as he shifted uncomfortably. Soon after, the others began to rouse as well, slowly regaining consciousness.
"Malik!" she cried in relief, helping her youngest brother to a sitting position. "Everyone! I'm so glad..."
Yugi rubbed his eyes, looking around. "Mou hitori no boku?" he muttered aloud.
'I'm here, aibou,' Atem reassured the teen, his spirit appearing beside him.
"Ahhhh I feel like I was hit by a truck," Jounouchi grumbled, stretching.
"Make mine a semi," Honda muttered, climbing to his feet.
"You guys are so weak," Marik laughed, though it came out weaker than he intended. The blond yami got to his knees.
The tablet on the wall glowed, all eyes watching as Ryou's body appeared from the stone and fell to the ground, Honda and Jounouchi catching him before his head crashed against the floor.
"Ryou! Wake up!" the blond called. When he didn't respond, the two teens each took one of Ryou's arms and hauled him up. "Guess that took a lot out of him," Jounouchi said softly. "We should get him to a bed."
"I think you should all rest now," Isis said, helping Malik to his feet. Rishid nodded in agreement, heading toward the exit.
The Millennium Puzzle flashed and Atem got to his feet. "Aa. Tomorrow, Isis, we will have much to discuss about the next step." The woman gave the former Pharaoh a small bow.
"Come on then," Seto tsked. "Let's hurry and get out of this place. I'll set us up at a hotel in Cairo for the night." The brunette rolled his shoulders as he moved up the stairs, proceeding Jounouchi, Honda, and Ryou.
Malik took a weak half-step before he pitched forward, lilac eyes falling closed. Marik lunged, catching the teen by his shoulders. "Hikari!"
Isis checked on her brother and sighed. "He's just exhausted. He'll be fine with some rest." Rishid carefully lifted the blond and carried him out of the chamber, a pouting Marik watching as Isis followed after. Soon only he and the Pharaoh remained, the latter looking thoughtfully at the stone tablet one last time. A slight clink of metal caught the blond's attention and he saw Atem lifting the Millennium Ahnk and Scales from the floor.
"Shadi..." he nodded to himself before turning to look at Marik. "Thank you again, Marik...for all of your help."
"Ehn." Marik got to his feet, seeming distracted by his own thoughts as he ascended the stairs.
The cars had been uncomfortably packed on the drive back to Cairo. As promised, Seto made the necessary arrangements and had five star accommodations awaiting all of the Japanese teens. Pegasus had declined a room, insisting that he had to return to Industrial Illusions, though he did stay until he was certain all was right and had spoken with the Pharaoh.
Ryou, at Atem's insistence, was placed in a room with him, the former Pharaoh wishing to keep both his friend and the thief close. Jounouchi and Seto were, without protest, sharing a room as well. Honda insisted that he, then, would share a room with Anzu, which she immediately informed him wasn't happening and the brunette was resigned to sharing with Atem and Ryou.
Yugi, meanwhile, was blissfully sleeping within his soul room, spiritually exhausted beyond all reason. It wasn't long before Atem was also passed out, not even bothering to strip off more than his jacket before collapsing onto one of the beds.
Those who hadn't passed out from exhaustion made use of the room service (at Kaiba's expense, though they did try to be courteous of the CEO's generousity) before going to sleep themselves, anxious as to what the next day would bring.
Within his own soul room, Bakura found it was quite a bit brighter, though not entirly well lit. The floor was still littered with pillows, fewer in numbers than Tozokuo's had been. He had laid on the floor of his room, completely exhausted as he knew Ryou must also have been. He had almost taken control of their shared body when he had felt the others take hold of it. Realizing it was safe to trust them, he had fallen into blissful unconsciousness.
Now, feeling a little better, the thief opened the door to peer across the hall, smirking as he saw his hikari's door open partially. Taking it as an invitation, he crept to the brighter room and peered in. A tender smile that he had never shown another softened his features at the sight of Ryou sleepng peacefully. He shed his crimson robe beside the door (leaving him wearing only his black shenti) before crawling into the bed to lay beside the teen and hug him gently. Moments later he fell back to sleep, not seeing the soft smile on his Ryou's face as he snuggled against the yami.
After dropping off Atem and his friends, Rishid had taken Malik and Marik back to thier small three bedroom apartment. The Ishtars had gotten said apartment after Battle City, using it as a base while they set about dismantaling the ancient home of the tombkeepers. Originally they had intended on using the third bedroom as storage for the innumerable records and books that they needed to sort through, looking for what could be shared with the world and what needed to be destroyed.
After Marik had mysteriously returned(2), however, they had needed to make room for the yami, which made the already small apartment seem even smaller as boxes had begun to pile up in the living room. Despite this, they had learned to manage with minimal trauma.
Rishid finally left Malik's side after making certain that his brother (adopted or no, Malik had always been Rishid's brother) was resting comfortably. He quietly closed the door to their room, mentally debating on what to cook for dinner when he heard the slightly rustle of beads behind him. He turned to face the beaded curtain that marked the entrance to Marik's room, the original door removed from it's hinges and leaning beside the entrance.
That had been the first major arguement the Ishtar siblings had had with the blond yami. They had awoken after his frist night there to find the door removed and Marik barely covered and sleeping in only a pair of boxers, a sight which had upset Isis. The spiky haired blond had insisted that he didn't want a door, though refused them any legitimate answer beyond "doors can be locked". It had been Malik who had finally offered the solution of a beaded curtain and had even set it up himself.
The beads were mostly yellow with black ones carefully arranged on the strands to form the image of the eye of horus and hung closely to give the blond yami enough privacy to satisfy the siblings. Rishid narrowed his eyes at the curtain, noticing that the beads swayed gently as if the window were open, which they had insisted Marik keep shut do to the sensitivity of some of the older documents still stored in his room. Taking a step closer, he raised one hand to part the stands of beads and peered in.
Marik had, indeed, opened the window and climbed out to stand on the fire escape, leaning against the rail and watching the sun setting over the city. He had shed his cloak and the gold that normally graced his neck and seemed lost in though. Curious by what he saw as odd behavior for the normally hyper-active blond, Rishid moved to the window and leaned on the sill, poking his head out.
"I'm not going anywhere," Marik said, his tone softer than usual. "I just needed some air."
Rishid hesitated before stepping out onto the metal platform and approaching the blond. "...What troubles you?"
Marik's jerked slightly, not expecting the question. His shoulders shrugged and he let his gaze wonder over the rooftops. The older tombkeeper slowly came to stand beside him, seeming half afraid that the blond was going to suddenly snap and attack him, and leaned on the rail as well.
"Why did you come out here?" the blond asked finally, not looking at Rishid.
"You're not running through the house or blaring music."
"Hikari's sleeping. He needs quiet."
Rishid regarded his response silently.
"Tell me, asshole," Marik began, the insult spoken as if it were Rishid's given name.
It was one of the yami's many quirks that they had learned to adapt to. He rarely spoke someone's true name since his return, using an obvious nickname he refered to others. Malik was hikari. Isis: hikari's sister. Rishid was the only one who seemed to have two nicknames, which the blond alternated between: asshole and bastard.
"Does everyone see me the same way?" He paused, tilting his head slightly. "To everyone else, am I just hikari's "psychological disorder"?"
Rishid looked at Marik's profile, frowning. "Malik's psychological disorder? Where did you hear that?"
"The dragon freak said it while we were in Pharaoh's memories. And Pharaoh's hikari agreed to the statement. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I am now. And it bothers me." Marik frowned. "Is that what hikari thinks too?"
"I doubt that's all he thinks of you," Rishid tried to reassure him. The blond sighed, folding his arms to that he was bent at the waist, resting his chin on his forearms and sulking. The tombkeeper looked around a little awkwardly, unsure how to console him.
"If he does, then I can't be mad. I did let hikari think like that for a long time. But that's what hiakri wanted me to be..." he hummed a frustrated note. "But that's not what I am."
"What are you then, Marik?" Rishid asked after a pregnant pause.
"Marik. Just...Marik."
Again the tombkeeper regaurded the blond for a moment before he touched him on the shoulder. "Let's go inside. It's getting late and Isis will be home soon." His response was a childish noise of disgust, but the blond complied, climbing back into his room and almost seeming to contemplate shutting the glass pane on Rishid. "To the living room. I'll start on dinner."
Once inside and assuring the window was locked, the tombkeeper followed Marik to the living room and saw the other was sitting on the couch, knees drawn toward him but apart, heels on the edge of the seat(3). Rishid kept glacing to the unruly blond hair as he moved about the small kitchen to prepare dinner, feeling a wave of relief when Isis returned.
"They're all settled in," she said, eyes immediately drawn to the sulking yami before moving to Rishid. He motioned her to him, cupping a hand near her ear.
"He's been quiet since we returned and I just found him out on the fire escape seeming...depressed." Isis caught his eye and he nodded. "I know. It isn't like him."
"I'll...try talking to him," she replied softly, steeling herself as she returned to the living room and took a seat on the couch as far from Marik as the piece of furniture would allow given that the blond sat squarely in the center. "Marik? Is something bothering you?" she asked gently, hands folded in her lap as she tried to get him to look at her with just her eyes. When he merely sat staring, she looked back at Rishid, seeking some support.
"Hikari's sister, I am not a child. Don't take that tone with me," Marik spoke finally, startling Isis.
"S-sorry...but...well, what's wrong," she asked, a hint of exasperation in her tone. Marik finally lifted his gaze, tilting his head to look at her, lavender eyes searching.
"Does hikari's sister really want to know or is she worried that I might kill her?"
Sighing, Isis forced herself to relax her posture, leaning on one hand so that she was a little closer to the blond. Despite reminding herself that Marik hadn't shown any murderous tendancies since his return, she felt nervous whenever she was close to him. "Honestly, yes. I do worry that you might kill me. But right now I'm want to know what's bothering you. Did something happen while you were with the Pharaoh?"
Marik turned his head to stare staright ahead once more, leaning his forearms against his raised knees. "Many things happened, hikari's sister. I even remembered a few things that I'd forgotten."
"Forgotten?" Isis straightened a bit. "What do you mean?"
Marik bit his lower lip, further adding to the list of "things Marik doesn't do" that Isis and Rishid had mentally started making.
"I haven't told anyone this. Not even hiakri. Especially not hikari. I wasn't born ten years ago. I know how long it's been now. I wasn't sure before." He leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "I was born three thousand years ago. About...hmn...three years before the tomb robber I think."
There was a clatter from the kitchen as Rishid dropped something, turning to look at the back of Marik's head.
"Yes, bastard. That long ago," the blond replied to the unasked question.
"But...wait..." Isis stammered, shaking her head slightly. "How..."
"Does hikari's sister really want to hear it?" Marik turned his lavender gaze to the woman once more. "It isn't a nice story."
Hesitantly, Isis nodded.
Three brothers stood at the gates of the palace, each wearing no more than a shenti and carrying a satchel of personal belongings.
"We were from a simple family. Our father had been killed in an accident and we three had gone to the palace to try an get jobs as guards."
The oldest at eighteen, Marik looked back at his brothers, amber eyes flashing with excitement. His hair, the same color, stood up in a fashion that was said to be similar if not more wild than the Pharaoh's eight year old son. "Are we just going to stand here and admire the masonry or are we going to go inside and talk to the captain of the guards?" He grinned as his young brothers gave him a firm, resolute nod and began marching to the grand entrance.
"Everything was fine until they decided to draw out our Ka spirits. It was a big deal back then, you know." Marik shifted a bit, looking up at the ceiling again. "Everyone had a Ka back then at least. They had to make sure people working in the palace weren't carrying evil Ka." He paused before turning his head toward Isis. "Did you know, hikari's sister, that every duel monster was once a Ka spirit?" Without waiting for a response, he looked away again. "Every duel monster was once a Ka spirit, taken from the person it was born in. Usually it was from a criminal. Rarely sealing someone's Ka was fatal. The stronger the Ka, the more likely the host was to die."
Again he paused, sighing a little. "It was the same for the three who carried what people called the gods."
The priest's arm holding the Millennium Rod dropped to his side at the unbelievable sight. The creature he had released from the youth towered over anything he had seen before save perhaps Exodia, Siamun's former Ka spirit who had been sealed. As quickly as it had appeared, the blue Ka spirit roared, shaking the ground and sweeping those gathered before him with a searing wind before dissipating. The glow faded and the teen fell to his hands and knees, gasping for breath.
"It was a surprise that the youngest of the three held the one called Obelisk no Kyo-shin-hen. And then they moved to the next..."
Like his brother before him, the teen attained a glow that flickered to life against his skin, though his was a crimson to match his eyes. Hands few to grab at his hair, wide eyes glowing yellow as the creature was released from within. An immense red dragon appeared in the sky, massive head looming over the priests. It's lower mouth parted to reveal sharp teeth and it roared loudly. Smoke curled from the dragons second mouth above the first before the creature receded, the teen sinking to his knees and trying to regain his breath.
"So...then you-" Isis started to ask, the words dying in her throat when the yami looked at her again.
"Yeah. Remember what I said, hikari's sister? The stronger the Ka, the more likely the host would die if it was removed."
"Your turn," the guard announced. Drawing in a deep breath through his nose, Marik exited the room, following behind the guard and trying to control his excitement. He was led into a lower chamber where even the torch light was scant. The guard left after he had escorted the teen and Marik moved toward a lone torch in the center of the room, assuming it was where he was meant to stand. He foot smacked against something on the floor and he paused, squinting through the dim lighting to try and perceive what he had hit.
His blood turned to ice at the sight of his youngest brother laying face down on the floor, some dark fluid glinting in the pale light. Stumbling back in confusion, amber eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on the crumpled form of his other brother not far away. His heart pounded in his ears and jaw fell slack as he sought an answer in the darkness.
"Step forward, Marik," a voice boomed. Marik spotted two priests standing just out of the torch light, the Millennium Rod glowing softly.
"Why...What did you do to them!?" Marik snapped, tears stinging his eyes as he brought his fists up to his chest defensively.
"Your brothers serve a greater purpose now," the priest spoke, taking a step forward.
The other priest stepped forward. "I had foreseen the coming of you three shortly after receiving my Millennium Torque. Three young men who harbored three great sleeping beasts within them. Those mighty creatures, whose names are unknown, would be used by the chosen Pharaoh in the hour of Egypt-nay, the world's greatest need. Only the chosen Pharaoh would know the names of these Egyptian Gods and be able to harness their power."
"Unfortunately," the other priest continued, lifting his Millennium Rod and pointing it at Marik. "These spirits are powerful indeed. So powerful that in sealing them into the stone tablets..." he trailed off, offering Marik an apologetic look which did nothing to quell his growing horror. "One cannot escape their fate, no matter how gruesome." The Millennium Rod glowed brightly, it's power surrounding Marik.
"No...No!" he shouted even as a glow began to engulf him. 'Gods no! Please stop this! Please, you can't take my brothers and I in such a way! Have we does something wrong? Please! Mercy!' Even as he silently prayed, a cry of raw pain and grief was torn from his throat. 'My brothers...Rajad! Petri! I...I didn't know it would be this way...Father...father please help me! Someone! Anyone!!!'
Marik stood, head tilted back as far as it would go and absently balancing on the balls of his feet as a brilliant light filled the room as if Ra himself had risen just within the small space. He heard the priests gasping in awe at the sight of the being that had emerged from the teen.
"...I don't really remember what happened next..."
"GOD PHOENIX!"
With a cry to match it's master's rage, the golden Ka spirit suddenly split open, flames burning away it's outer shell like kindling and becoming a creature of pure fire. The priest wielding the Millennium Rod barely escaped as the phoenix launched it's assault. The other priest was not as fortunate.
"How dare you! What gave you the right to kill them!? I'll kill you!" he screeched, the phoenix crying out as well. A sadistic grin formed on the teen's features as he felt the man beneath him clawing at his arms and hands. Trying desperately to dislodge the teen so he could breathe. He could feel the pulse beneath his hands as he quickened and then began to slow as his grip tightened. He laughed manically. 'Yes! Yes! Die! Die like my brothers! May Ammit devour you slowly!'
"But I remember looking down..." he held a fist over his chest, palm facing away and index finger pointing out.
A sudden pain lanced through him, making his breath catch in his throat. His grip began to loosen and he was aware of something warm running down his back and front. Glancing down he saw a sharpened, golden tip protruding from his chest, a sickening realization dawning on him.
Isis covered her mouth with one hand. "The Millennium Rod..."
Marik closed his eyes. "That's not even the worst part."
Amber eyes opened slowly, shocked that they did at all. The teen looked around to find himself in a room that, while unfamiliar, seemed suited to his tastes. The stone walls were adorned with great tapestries that that depicted all his greatest dreams and the furnishings were as lavish as any to be found in the palace.
But the room was cold. Deathly so, like a tomb. Marik climbed to his feet and moved to a barrier that seemed to block the only exit. He pushed against the cold metal but it refused to yield. He tugged on the handle that protruded from one side of the door only to find it, too, refused to be moved.
'Is this the after life?' he wondered, looking around. 'It can't be...I was never judged...I...where am I? Where are my brothers?' Again he felt tears run down his face as he looked around his prison. "I know in the end I was wrong! Don't I deserve to at least be judged? Hello? ANYONE!?"
Marik seemed to draw into himself, eyes open but seeming hollow as he recalled what had been his prison of three thousand years. "Pharaoh wasn't awake while he was in the puzzle. Tomb robber wasn't really alone and knew at least knew where he was. All I knew was that I hated that door...That stupid locked door...And that I wanted to get out and find the "chosen Pharaoh" and make him suffer." He trembled a bit before his body relaxed, his face becoming a familiar, emotionless mask and his eyelids drooping. "But that's in the past. It wasn't Pharaoh's fault, he was a victim, just like everyone else." He sighed closing his eyes and letting his chin drop to his chest and resting his forearms on his knees. "All I have is hikari and he probably thinks I'm just his "psychological disorder" like everyone else. That's fine."
"No, it's not fine." Isis gently placed a hand on Marik's arm. She frowned when he seemed startled by her touch and wondered how long it had been since anyone had done so. She scooted closed to him, gaining his attention by the act. "You aren't anyone's psychological disorder, Marik."
"Though you may have given me one," Rishid chuckled teasingly.
"Rishid!" Isis snapped at the older tombkeeper, but Marik threw his head back and laughed.
"That was a good one, hikari's brother." Ignoring the curious stares from the siblings, the yami continued snickering as Rishid sat on his other side.
"What I was trying to say," Isis huffed a bit, "is that you, Marik Ishtar, are a part of our family...and I'm sorry we haven't been acting like it."
An arm crossed over Marik's chest from behind and Malik pressed his cheek against the yami's.
"Hikari! You're awake!"
"I am. And I heard most of what you guys were talking about." The teen closed his eyes, reaching out with his other arm to pull Isis closer. She smiled, resting her cheek against Marik's shoulder. "You're stuck with us, Marik. Doomed to be an Ishtar for the rest of your life."
Rishid smiled at them, resting his hand on Marik's nearest knee. "I should finish with dinner. I imagine we're all in need of a hot meal and a good night's rest." As he rose from the couch, the yami grinned, carefully removing Malik's arm and hopping to his feet.
"I'll help!"
"Just so long as you don't set anything on fire again," Malik smiled.
"It's not my fault we have a demon stove," Marik shot back, seeming back to normal.
"It's not a demon stove," Rishid chuckled.
"Oh it likes you, hikari's brother. I swear it's possessed," the yami growled at the "demon" as he entered the kitchen.
Malik folded his arms on the back of the couch and tiredly met his sister's gaze. "So tomorrow...we have to go there, don't we..."
Isis nodded, folding her hands in her lap. "It will be our last mission as tomb keepers."
"That means that Atem and Bakura-"
"Let's not dwell on it tonight, brother. It's late and we're all tired."
Reluctantly Malik nodded and pushed himself up. 'But I can't help it...tomorrow we'll have to say goodbye...'
AN: (1) That's the Japanese name for De-Fusion (literally it means Fusion Cancel according to a site I found). It sounded cooler than saying De Fusion. And Bakura is nothing if not cool B)
(2) Go read Hooray for One Shots chapter 23 if you haven't already! It's my story about Marik's mysterious return :o
(3) I suck at explaining strange posture. Go look at the picture (I'll post it on my deviant Art account with the others from now on
mysia-ri.
deviantart.
com)
So the long and the short is that everyone's sleeping, the Ishtar's had a family moment, and Marik has set things on fire (though not in this chapter).
Next time, Marik will dance like a funky chicken!
Marik: *unsheathes Millennium Rod* What was that?
Er...I mean...Marik will be awesome!
Marik: I thought so.
Also I know it seems that Marik's now just part of the family, but you have to remember that Malik still has a little crush on Bakura (poor guy doesn't see that hotness that is Marik just yet. That will change in the sequel, so the bronzeshipping is still implied. I think it is anyway. :p)
Annnnnd I'm going to bed. :3 I hope you didn't suffocate in all the fluff and that the plot made sense. If it didn't, well...it'll make more sense if you tell me what doesn't' make sense.
Thank you for all the glowing reviews on the last chapter by the way :3 *hands out plushies, full of extra fluff*