Another update! However, I can't help but feel this chapter isn't one of my best. It may well get quite confusing, but bear with me because I shall explain all in the upcoming chapters - this one is kind of just laying out the next plotline. I hope it isn't too bad! Enjoy - Jem

The next morning Marik woke up to find himself encased safely in Bakura's arms. He grinned and shifted slightly, mouth only stretching further when he felt the arms tighten around his torso as Bakura spoke. "Finally awake then, I see."

Marik tilted his chin up to meet the crimson gaze. "You're one to talk – you're usually still asleep when I go to school."

Bakura chuckled darkly. "You kept shifting around in your sleep. Woke me up."

"...Oh." Marik frowned. "Really? I don't normally do that...you're the one that snores."

Bakura snorted, butting his head. "Shut up. So what are you so worried about telling me?"

Marik lifted an eyebrow, though his heart rate quickened. Oh crap, I better not have said anything about Ryou...

"Don't pull that face," Bakura lowered his brows. "Come on, spill. What aren't you telling me?"

Marik swallowed, deciding to play dumb. "...What makes you think I'm not telling you something?"

"Because that's all you were muttering about in your sleep," Bakura's frowned deepened. "Plus your heart is going nine to the dozen and you're flushing. Which I know usually happens around me, but I haven't even done anything to you. Yet."

Marik glared. "Don't be so arrogant."

"Tell me what you're hiding from me then."

Marik blinked, widening his eyes in fake innocence. "I'm not hiding anything."

"So why were you muttering about telling me something?"

Marik looked away but Bakura squeezed him tighter, placing two fingers under his chin and forcing him to meet his eyes. "Tell me, Marik."

Marik squirmed away from his burning gaze. "I'm not hiding anything."

"Don't lie to me."

Marik hissed through his teeth. "Maybe it would help if you told me what I was saying."

Bakura smirked. "Nope. You tell me everything."

Marik tried to wriggle away again but Bakura held him firmly in place. "No Marik, come on now. You know you can't hide anything from me."

Marik bit his lip, closing his eyes. He felt Bakura laugh softly into his hair. "You know, I could always just go and ask Ryou."

At that, Marik's eyes flew open again. "No! He can't know I told you..."

"You haven't told me," Bakura pointed out with sparkling eyes. "But I could tell him you have, then he'd tell me anyway..."

"Don't you dare!" Marik looked horrified. "Gods, he'll hate me..."

"And I'll hate you if you don't tell me, Marik," Bakura growled. "If it's about my brother don't you think I have a right to know?"

"He doesn't want me to tell you..."

"Well, I do want you to." Bakura glared at him.

Marik sighed. "I want to tell you too, but I swore I wouldn't..."

"For God's sake Marik," Bakura growled, forcing his chin up again so he could meet his gaze. "Will you stop bloody worrying me and just spit it out."

Crap. Now what the hell do I do? Either way one brother is going to hate me...and I am worried about Ryou. I'm sure if Bakura knows he'll be able to help. He isn't going to hurt is own brother, is he? No, I'm going to have to tell him. Marik took a deep breath, closing his eyes. "Your dad came to school and spoke to Ryou and he gave him his card and told him he was staying in a hotel and that he should come visit and I'm sorry I didn't tell you but Ryou swore he wouldn't go on his own and I said I didn't think he should visit and Ryou said that he was his father and I couldn't stop him seeing him and I thought well it isn't my family and I wanted to tell you but Ryou made me swear..."

A pale finger on his lips stopped the flow of words. Marik bit his lip hard, drawing blood as he dared to open one eye and peek at Bakura's expression. He quickly closed it again at the older teen's furious features.

Marik gulped as Bakura's arms tightened around him almost painfully. When he spoke, his voice was low and deceptively calm. "My dad spoke to Ryou."

Marik drew in a shuddering breath. "Yes."

There was silence for another moment as Bakura breathed deeply. Marik opened his eyes to see his were clenched shut. "Would you be so kind as to tell me exactly what happened?"

Marik chewed his bleeding lip but complied, quickly outlining the events of the day before. Bakura listened quietly, but his eyes flew open when Marik mentioned his father talking about the trial. He stayed silent after Marik had finished before letting out a low dark chuckle. "No wonder you were so restless last night."

Marik stared at him unblinkingly. "I am so sorry I didn't tell you, Ryou made me swear, but honestly I wasn't going to let him go alone! No offense but your dad creeped me out a bit, I was going to go with Ryou when he met him, I didn't want him to go on his own..."

Bakura shot him a dark look, flashing pointed teeth. "Doesn't change the fact that you should have told me."

Marik closed his eyes. "Ryou would have killed me!"

"He's still going to," Bakura pointed out smoothly. "But then, I would have killed you if you'd stayed quiet. Still might in fact, for you not telling me as soon as I asked."

Marik groaned. "You...you're not going to do anything dangerous, are you?"

"Oh I never said that," Bakura stated with a dark glint to his crimson eyes. "Shouldn't you be getting up?"

Marik blinked, twisting round to look at the clock, eyes widening. "Oh crap! I have half an hour to get ready! How in the hell am I going to manage that?"

Bakura laughed at him. "Half an hour is bags of time, idiot."

"Not for me!" Marik escaped his partner's pale arms and leaped up, heading straight for the shower. "I'm not going to be fit to look at!" His head briefly reappeared around the door, violet eyes wide. "Please, don't do anything drastic until I get home. Let's talk about this some more..."

Bakura just stretched languorously, ignoring the Egyptian's frazzled straight. "I make no promises. Hurry up, you're going to be late."

Marik frowned at him before noticing the clock again and yelping. "Just please be sensible!" He pleaded before once more pelting out of the room to the shower.

Bakura sighed as he turned the new information over in his head. So, my father thinks he can sneak around me, does he? Well, I'll just have to prove him wrong...Did his father think he was really going to get away with going to the school and approaching Ryou, as if he had any right to walk back into their lives now, after just disappearing for two years? Even thinking it sent hot blood pumping through Bakura's veins, causing his vision to cloud with red and his mind to be filled with hazy violence. He was coiled sharp as a spring in the bed, muscles tensed unbearably taut, fists clenched into the much-abused bed sheets. And the thought of him daring to talk to Marik...!

Bakura lay quietly until he heard Marik and Ryou head out of the flat in a fluster of movement. He leaped up out of the bed as soon as they were gone, padding angrily down the hall and striding into Ryou's room, wasting no time in searching roughly through his desk and drawers. It didn't take him long to find his prize; the card with the details of his father's hotel lay crushed in his cold pale fist. It's time I taught that good-for-nothing father of mine a lesson.

Minutes later he was striding furiously through the busy streets of Domino City, hands thrust deep in the pockets of his favourite black coat and white hair streaming behind him. He steadfastly ignored the crowds, although he attracted a few worried looks most likely due to the dangerous scowl fixed on his features. As he neared the city centre he slowed his footsteps, closely examining the names of the buildings, determined not go wrong. Eventually he came to a halt at the entrance to a long wide road, leading to a fancy hotel at the other end. He stood for a few moments, just looking and contemplating how exactly to go about this. I have to warn him off Ryou...we need him out of our lives before he does any more damage...

Footsteps behind him. A whisper of breath, air moving as a hand reached out to his back...

Bakura whirled with a snarl, one hand reaching out to his assailant, fingertips meeting rough cloth. In a flash he had him pinned against a wall, eyes gleaming as he leaned dangerously close, blade flicking into his right hand.

At that, his attacker's eyes widened. "Woah, hey, Bakura calm down! It's me, alright? Relax."

Bakura frowned, not releasing his grip as he flicked his eyes over the figure towering over him. Blonde hair, purple eyes...long cloak...He rolled his eyes, stepping back. "Melvin."

The tall Egyptian pulled off the wall with a grin. "Do you attack every random stranger you meet on the street? Or do you just hate me that much?"

Bakura snarled at him, pacing agitatedly. Melvin regarded him curiously. "What's got you in such a state?"

"None of your business."

Melvin cackled. "It is now. You just made it my business by attacking me – I'm not going anywhere until you tell me."

"Would you just get the hell out of here?" Bakura turned away from him, frown heavy on his features as he once again regarded the hotel at the end of the street. "I have to do this on my own."

"Now I'm doubly curious." Melvin followed his gaze. "You're not going to burn down that hotel, are you?"

Bakura felt a corner of his mouth lift despite himself. "Considering it."

"Oh great," Melvin said conversationally. "Because I've always hated the ivy at the front of it."

"You've been in the city under a month Melvin. You can't hate anything about it yet."

"Can too!" Melvin sent him a sidelong glance. "What are you really doing here?"

"As I said: none of your business." Bakura's voice was as cool as ever, but it was vibrant in a way Melvin had never heard it before.

The Egyptian shook his head. "Well, I'm not leaving."

Bakura shot him a suspicious look. "Did Marik put you up to this?"

"No." Melvin shot him a look. "Why, does my little brother have a reason to want to spy on you?"

"...No..."

"Well that was convincing." The big Egyptian laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Why are you staring at that hotel?"

Bakura ignored him and strode forwards, not really surprised when Melvin kept pace by his side. He hissed through his teeth. "I need to talk to someone who's staying there."

"Oh." Melvin kept walking, and they entered the building together. Bakura headed straight for the stairs, taking them three at a time and racing up to the fifth floor, Melvin always close on his heels. They headed through the plush corridor until Bakura halted abruptly, eyeing the heavy wooden door in front of him, emblazoned with gold numbers spelling out 503.

Now he was here, he didn't have a damn clue what to do.

"So, going to tell me who it is you're so desperate to see now?" Melvin's grating voice brought him back to his senses, and he flashed a wide grin.

"We're going to see my father."

Without waiting for a response, he made quick work of the lock and strode confidently in, Melvin tagging along behind him with eyes wide and a fascinated gleam to his deep purple irises. The room at first appeared empty, but Bakura had stolen from a few too many rich houses not to proceed with caution. So it was with silent footsteps and a warning glare to Melvin that the pale teen moved through the room.

Melvin, of course, ignored him. ""What the hell are you doing, Bakura?"

Bakura cursed loudly just as a cool voice sounded from a shadowed corner of my room. "Oh, Bakura. I should have known it would be you who'd try and break into my hotel room."

Bakura sent daggers in his direction as the tall man rose fluidly from his chair, utilising the same feline grace that shadowed Bakura's every move. The two white-haired men stalked each other, one frowning whilst the older looked faintly amused. "You need to get yourself a better sidekick though, son."

Melvin balked a little at that. "Well, if I had a fucking clue what was going on...!"

Bakura ignored him, gaze fixed with hatred on the man regarding him with flickering brown eyes. His father smiled, the expression never quite filling his features. "I suppose I should have known Ryou couldn't keep his mouth shut."

Bakura, to his credit, kept his voice perfectly calm as he answered. "Ryou kept completely quiet, actually. You just shouldn't have been so free with the truth around a certain Egyptian who can't shut up in his sleep."

His father lifted a brow, the expression almost perfectly matching Bakura's – the resemblance was uncanny to Melvin, who was still thoroughly confused. "I presume you're talking about Marik. But tell me son, why would you have heard him sleeptalking?"

At that Bakura flashed a feral grin. "I'm almost sure you can guess. Dad."

"Alright enough," Melvin broke in, striding over to Bakura and grasping his shoulder firmly. "Just what the hell is going on here?"

Bakura spared him a cursory flick of the eyes before turning back to the other occupant of the room. "That sorry excuse for a man, Melvin, has the misfortune to be my father."

Melvin stepped back slightly. "Well, I kind of gathered that. But why do you hate him so much?"

"Is it that obvious?" Bakura kept his gaze fixed on his father. "Did Ryou never tell you that he walked out on us two years ago?"

"He did actually," Melvin continued with a tilt of his head, re-examining the man in the corner. "Why would you have done that?"

The man ignored him, focus still on his eldest son. "Now now Bakura. Don't want our private business spouted to strangers, do we?"

"I don't know," Bakura inspected his nails coolly. "I think my friend here deserves to know that you didn't even bother showing up to the funerals of your wife and daughter."

Melvin's expression grew dangerous. "Say what?"

Bakura chuckled darkly. "He refused to come."

"You know full well why, Bakura." His father was still the picture of ease as he leaned nonchalantly against a wall. "And it's rather rich to blame me when it's your fault."

Bakura's eyes flashed and he lunged at his father, pinning him to the wall in a flash. "Watch your words," he spat. "I don't take backchat from scum like you."

"Woah woah ok!" Melvin pulled him back forcefully, surprised by how strong the apparently scrawny teen was. "Bakura, chill, alright?"

"You wouldn't be saying that if you knew," he snarled.

"Knew what?"

"Yes, knew what son?" His father was breathing hard as he stepped away from the wall, rubbing the back of his head gingerly. "And just who is this friend of yours?"

Melvin stepped between them quickly as Bakura growled, long and loud. He turned to the man, extending one hand. "My name's Melvin."

The man ignored his hand, eyes flicking coolly down his body before returning to meet his gaze. "Call me Adam. You look like Marik."

"He's my little brother." Melvin frowned. "How do you know about him?"

"I've been watching."

At that Bakura was suddenly in front of Melvin, and his father was once more pressed to the wall. Melvin reached forwards to pull him off again but froze when he caught a flash of metal in the air.

Bakura dug the blade into his father's pale throat. "I swear, you touch one hair on his head..."

"Give it a rest, Bakura." His father met his gaze, eyes betraying his inner fury. "You know I'm only protecting you."

"You are not." Bakura's voice was a low dangerous hiss. "You are destroying me."

Melvin had stiffened visibly. "What the hell was that about him hurting Marik, Bakura?"

"None of your business."

"He's my brother! Of course it's my business!"

Bakura let out a feral snarl. "I will never let that happen!"

His father smirked at that, all pretense of calm slipping away as he snapped "And just how did you plan to stop me?"

Bakura pressed closer, knife digging into the pale neck of his flesh. "I'd have thought that would be rather obvious."

"You can't kill me. Too many risks – this is too much of a public setting."

"Woah woah, ok!" Melvin stepped forwards into Bakura's line of sight with a warning glare. "You need to chill."

"Melvin I swear to God, if you had a clue what he's like..."

"Bakura, you need to put the knife down."

"I will do no such thing."

"Listen to your friend, 'Kura." There was amusement flashing in Adam's eyes again. "You know you can't tell him the truth."

"Don't push me," Bakura spat at him, eyes narrowed with hate.

"Why, 'Kura?" His father was smirking now. "You know you can never tell him – you'd be so ashamed. He can never know how you destroyed our family – how you hurt Ryou."

"What?" Melvin frowned now. "Bakura, what is he talking about? Did you hurt Ryou?"

"Of course not. Don't be taken in by his lies." Bakura still pressed the knife to his throat, eyes gleaming.

"Tell him, 'Kura." His father was purring now. "Tell him how you corrupted Ryou, forced him to live alone, hurt him so much..."

"Bakura." Melvin growled as he leaned closer. "Start talking."

"And worse," his father licked his lips now, leering at his infuriated son. "Tell him how even now you're endangering Marik..."

At that, Bakura snapped. With a scream he scraped the point of the knife down, piercing his father's pale skin until Melvin successfully dragged him away, chucking the knife away as he pinned him to the ground. "Bakura! Think!"

The pale teen writhed beneath him, leaping up out of his grasp in a moment as he lunged for his father again, who was watching with one amused eyebrow raised. Melvin caught him around the waist, lifting him forcibly off the ground and slamming him against the wall to stop him attacking again. "Bakura! I swear, you'd better start explaining right now, because let me tell you if you've put Marik in danger none of the Gods in heaven will ever save you from me."

"I haven't," Bakura spat at him, finally falling limp in the Egyptian's superior grasp. "It's him." He pointed with his chin to his father, who was still watching with a grin. "If you knew what he is..."

"So tell him 'Kura," his father interrupted smoothly. "Though I know you won't. Still too much of a coward, hm?"

Bakura twisted but Melvin held him firm. "Bakura. Tell me. What the hell is going on?"

Bakura sucked in a heavy breath. "That man is a monster. He..." Bakura closed his eyes and spoke through gritted teeth. "I am telling you this on the strict basis that this stays between us. He walked out because he discovered that I am gay. And then he proceeded to stalk me for the next two years, right up to when mum and Amane died. Then he refused to pay his respects to them because..." Bakura growled, composing himself before continuing. "Because somewhere in that sick twisted mind of his he thinks I've corrupted and endangered my whole family, and their deaths happened as some kind of curse..."

Melvin gaped. "Curse cos you're gay? What kind of twisted logic is that?"

"The correct one," the man in the shadows responded coolly. "As you are both about to discover." Before Melvin knew what was happening something cracked the back of his head and he dropped to the floor, catching one more sight of Bakura's crimson eyes widening before everything went black.

He woke to cold. Something hard and unforgiving pressed against his cheek, cloak fluttering around him in the breeze of the January wind. Wheezing breaths from somewhere in front of him...

Melvin snapped his eyes open.

He was lying face down on the cold hard cement of some run-down alley in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by puddles and covered in hard wet droplets of rain that continued to fall from the sky. He cursed loudly, hauling himself to sit upright and wincing at the shocking pain coursing through his head at his every movement.

"So...you're finally awake then." The source of the wheezing breaths smirked at him from just ahead, crimson eyes blinking. "It's about bloody time."

Melvin shook his head angrily, trying to rid his vision of the spots of black and red that decorated the corners of his eyes. "Bakura. What the hell happened?"

"My loving father thought it would be amusing to hit you upside the head with the butt of my favourite knife." Bakura cursed quietly as he shifted his position, leaning his head back against the wall. "Damn, I never did get it back..."

"Ok," Melvin fixed him with a glare. "So where the hell are we now?"

Bakura shrugged. "In an alley."

"I can see that, genius. How did we get here?"

"I dragged us." Bakura cursed again, more softly as his fingers brushed his left side. "I was planning to get back to the flat but you're bloody heavy."

Melvin's eyes widened when he saw blood seeping through the pale teen's shirt. "What the hell is that?"

Bakura closed his eyes. "My father's parting gift to me."

"Right." Melvin reached into his pocket and quickly dialled for an ambulance. "We need to get to hospital. Can you even stand?"

Bakura made no reply and Melvin swore loudly, speaking quickly into the phone.

Ryou's eyes widened when he got the call, and he and Marik fled school as fast as they could to make their way to the hospital. "But...but what were they even doing there?" Ryou asked, panicked as they rushed through the well-lit corridors. "How did they even know dad was in town?"

Marik made no reply, chewing his lip as they hastened through the hospital. I told you not to do anything, Bakura...I warned you to be careful...

When they finally found the right room both teens gasped at the sight that met their eyes. Bakura was lying on the bed, torso wrapped securely in bandages as his chest rose and fell rapidly, eyes lightly shut. Melvin sat on a plastic chair by his side, looking mostly unscathed. He stood up quickly when they entered, wincing slightly and rubbing the back of his head. "About time, you two. What took you so long?"

"We had to escape school," Ryou answered vaguely as Marik went straight to his partner's side. Ryou took in the sight of his unconscious brother, nibbling on his lip. "Melvin, what happened? Why did you go to my father?"

Melvin shrugged. "Haven't got a clue. I just ran into your brother, who was in a right state and I didn't think I should leave him alone. He went straight into the hotel and broke into a room and started screaming at your dad, who is utterly insane by the way."

Ryou's jaw fell open. "No he isn't! But why is 'Kura bleeding?"

"Your dad stabbed him."

Ryou gaped, and Marik whipped around at that. "What? His dad did this to him?"

Melvin nodded. "You of all people shouldn't be surprised at that, Marik." He trailed off when he realised his brother wasn't even listening, having turned instantly back to Bakura with worry creasing his every feature. Still wanting answers Melvin caught Ryou's eye and jerked his head at the door. With one last worried glance at his brother Ryou followed the older Egyptian out, leaning against a wall in a deserted corridor a few paces away.

Melvin regarded him with a frown, eventually asking bluntly "What's the deal with your dad, Ryou?"

Ryou blinked at him. "I could ask you the same thing. No way my dad attacked 'Kura like that..."

"I was there Ry, he did." Melvin grimaced again, fingering the back of his head. "Well, at least I think he did. I wasn't actually conscious."

Ryou gaped. "What? How?"

"Your dad whacked me on the back of my head."

"No! Seriously?" Ryou ran to his side, tugging on his arm urgently. "Sit down, be careful! Are you alright?"

Melvin flapped an arm at him, though he allowed himself to be brought to the ground. "I'm fine. Calm down."

Ryou knelt in front of him, biting his lip. "Did my dad really hit you?"

Melvin rolled his eyes. "Well it sure as hell feels like he did."

"I am so sorry..." Without thinking, Ryou reached up and brushed his fingers along the back of Marik's head, feeling a large irregular bump. "Are you alright? What did the doctors say?"

Melvin shrugged, raising an eyebrow at Ryou's touch but otherwise not complaining. "Eh, slight concussion, nothing to really worry about. It's your brother they were more bothered with."

Ryou blinked, fingers still twisting in Melvin's hair. "What happened to him?"

Melvin closed his eyes. "Three stab wounds to his side. Luckily they're shallow, so he's just unconscious with blood loss. When he wakes up he should be fine."

"If he wakes up..." Ryou suddenly withdrew his hand and leaned against the wall beside the tall Egyptian, cradling his head in his hands. Flashbacks to a few months ago tore through his skull, when he watched another sibling slowly fade away..."I can't lose him like I lost her..."

Melvin sighed in understanding. "Bakura's injuries aren't life-threatening, Ry. He'll be fine in a few hours."

Ryou didn't even hear him, starting to rock slowly against the wall. "He'll leave me too, and then I'll be all alone..."

A warm arm wrapped around his shoulders and he found himself pulled suddenly into the Egyptian's lap. He started in surprise but Melvin laid one dark finger on his lips. "Hush, Ry. Bakura will be fine. Just stay here with me a bit, alright?"

Ryou blinked up at him, speaking around his finger. "Why?"

Melvin grinned wickedly. "One reason is I'm pretty sure my brother would like some alone time with your brother. Another is that I would really like some alone time with you."

Ryou flushed despite himself, though he made no move to get off Melvin's lap. "You could have just asked, you know."

"That easy?" Melvin lifted a brow. "I figured you'd run a mile."

"Don't think I could," the small teen muttered, cheeks tinting darker. Melvin grinned at that. Ryou looked back up at him, brown eyes still wide. "What really happened though? Why did my dad attack you both?"

Melvin frowned, quickly sketching out the details from the morning with Ryou listening intently. Melvin tilted his head when he finished. "After I blacked out I woke up in an alley with your brother and called an ambulance when he passed out. So I still don't really get it – your dad's a homophobe? Is that the only issue here?"

Ryou's jaw had fallen open. "No, no he can't be! Bakura must be making it up, or he got the wrong end of the stick, it wouldn't be the first time he flew off the handle for the wrong reason..."

Melvin shook his head. "You didn't see him Ryou; he was furious."

"But what about dad?" Ryou pinned him with a burning gaze. "Did he actually say anything to you to back up Bakura?"

Melvin furrowed his brows, thinking back through his pounding headache. "I don't think so...no, I don't think he did..."

"Well then!" Ryou allowed himself to relax back into the Egyptian's chest. "Bakura must have misunderstood. I'll talk to him when he wakes up, I'm sure it's all just a misunderstanding..."

Melvin still had his doubts, but the warmth of Ryou's body pressed into his lap made most coherent thoughts escape his already damaged head. "Alright little Ryou, if you say so."

Ryou grinned up at him, twisting round to meet his gaze. "I do."

Melvin grinned right back, inching his face closer. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about, little one."

"Yes?" Ryou shifted again, turning himself right around so that he was facing the Egyptian, legs on either side of his broad waist. "I'm listening."

Melvin leaned closer still. "Why did you kiss me last time we were together?"

Ryou's mouth opened slightly. "...Um..." A few moments passed as Ryou looked away, desperately racking his brains. What do I say? That it just felt natural to be with you? That I can't seem to keep away?

"That the best you can do?" There was amusement in Melvin's tone now as his arms reached around Ryou's waist, tugging him closer. "You have nothing to say to explain your actions?"

Ryou blinked, thoughts still racing. "I...kind of just went with it?"

Melvin cackled at that. "Good enough for me, little one. As long as you continue to 'go with it', anyway."

Before Ryou could question that statement a pair of bronze lips were once again pressed against his own. He leaned in despite himself, hands automatically gripping onto the front of Melvin's cloak as he pressed himself closer. He felt Melvin smile against his mouth, but started when something wet brushed his lower lip. He gasped softly and Melvin took advantage, forcing his tongue into Ryou's mouth and exploring dangerously. Ryou could feel himself melting again...

Melvin pulled away, grinning at Ryou's shocked expression, cheeks pink and tongue hanging out of his mouth. "Put that away, little one," he ordered, cackling again. "It's rude to stick your tongue out at people, remember?"

Ryou retracted his tongue hurriedly, blinking. "Well what was that for?"

"Just returning the favour," Melvin hummed. "Expect more of that, little one."

Ryou stared for a moment more before scrambling away quickly, too confused to really know what he was doing. "Um, we should go check on my brother, I really need to know if he's alright..."

Melvin cackled before hauling himself upright, swaying slightly as black spots danced across his vision. He waited for them to clear before moving. "All right then Ry. Let's go, shall we?"

Ryou just coughed before waltzing out of the corridor, ignoring the tall Egyptian leering by his side as much as he possibly could.

Marik remained totally absorbed in his study of Bakura's face as Melvin and Ryou left the room. He hesitantly reached forwards and took the pale teen's hand, nibbling his lower lip as he regarded the bandages covering the predominant part of his left side. "Gods Bakura, what the hell did you do?" He mumbled to himself, brushing his lips briefly against the back of his pale hand. "Why didn't you just wait to talk to me about this first? I should never have told you..." He sucked in a breath with a light chuckle. "Well I mean, it isn't like you gave me much choice, right? You did threaten to kill me. But I didn't expect you to run off and almost get yourself killed instead..."

Marik sighed when he got no reply. Bakura didn't even squeeze his hand back – it merely hung limp in his tight grasp. "Alright Bakura, well I hope you wake up soon." Marik perched lightly on the edge of the bed, watching his face with a small smile to mask his worry. "I don't really like seeing you unconscious – though I must admit, it is nice to go five minutes without arguing with you. You can be such an idiot, you know that? And now I know you're definitely asleep, because you'd never have let that slide if you were even partly conscious."

Marik watched him silently for a few more moments before shifting carefully on the weak hospital bed, lowering himself down onto his front and propping himself up with his elbows so that he could still watch Bakura's face whilst lying down beside him. He reached out with one gentle hand to push away some of his long white hair, noticing with a frown the light sheen of sweat across his forehead. "You must have really tired yourself out. I wish you hadn't – I wish you'd just waited for me, instead of diving in all guns blazing. If only I'd waited until after school to tell you about your dad and Ryou, we wouldn't be in this mess now..." Marik blinked at him, surprised when he felt the sharp tang of tears pricking at his eyelids. "Just hurry up and wake up will you? Because I am getting fed up of waiting for you. So will you just open your eyes already?" The Egyptian watched him for a few more moments before leaning down and resting his head against his shoulder, pressing one soft kiss to the pale teen's neck.

Bakura made sure to keep his eyes tightly shut, grinning internally at the worry apparent in Marik's voice. Well he sure as hell has kept me concerned for long enough – it's about time I returned the favour. He deliberately sped up his breathing, causing the air in his lungs to sound in wheezy gasps. Predictably, Marik instantly shot upright, panic apparent in his voice as he spoke. "Bakura, are you alright? Bakura! I'm going to call the nurse..."

Marik started to clamber urgently off the bed until one long-fingered hand caught him by the wrist and he was met with a raspy chuckle. Turning in surprise, he met Bakura's open crimson eyes silently laughing at him. "You still make it far too easy to tease you, Marik."

The Egyptian whacked him on the arm with a glare. "Bastard. How long have you been awake?"

"Pretty much since you walked in the room," Bakura commented with a yawn, pulling himself upright and wincing as he fingered the bandages. "Where did my little brother and Melvin go?"

Marik looked around, surprised. "Oh, I didn't even notice they'd gone. I have no idea..."

"Your powers of observation never cease to amaze me."

"Well at least I was conscious," Marik snapped angrily. "And didn't go chasing after crazy psychopaths with knives."

"I'm a crazy psychopath with a knife, Marik," Bakura pointed out with a grin.

"You still didn't have to go and get yourself stabbed!"

"I didn't exactly plan on it." Bakura leaned back with a small sigh, closing his eyes. "I was meant to be the one doing the stabbing, if anything."

Marik frowned. "You have got a lot of explaining to do."

"Can we please leave it until later?" Bakura opened one eye to send him a beseeching look. "I'm tired."

Marik shook his head. "I want to know what happened. Everything."

"And I shall explain. Later." Bakura closed his eyes again with another yawn. "For now, I'm sleeping."

"But you just woke up!"

"Marik," Bakura drew in a long breath. "Hush and sit next to me."

Marik rolled his eyes but complied, clambering back up onto the bed and lying down beside his pale partner. "Just remember you're explaining everything when you wake up," he muttered into his ear, wrapping his arms around Bakura's torso and pulling him into his chest.

Bakura sighed contentedly before allowing himself to slip back into sleep.

So yeah, not my best. But all shall be explained! Apologies for any typos as well, it's 5am and I've had maybe two hours sleep in the past two days. Bear with me XD Thanks for reading, I am eternally grateful! - Jem