A Vampire Story

by Annzy Bananzy

Bakura-a heartless vampire-was perfectly happy with his lonely, slightly boring life until a stranger appears and offers him the adventure of a lifetime. He agreed out of boredom, but little did he know that this adventure would also bring romance.

35. Apart for More

I know this is super duper late, I'M SORRY TT_TT I hope you enjoy this anyways!

Also, before we begin the chapter, I'd like to thank all of the people that wished me good luck and encouragement with my problems. Your words really did help me, and I'm glad to say that they're gone now :') It really touched my heart to see that people cared…

Chapter 34: Apart for More (This chapter is dedicated to anime-on-replay; an awesome person, writer, and friend. You go girl!-!)

---

"Planes," Marik mumbled under his breath, "the bane of my existence…"

"Oh come on, it's not that bad –" Bakura said before he was interrupted.

"Not that bad?-! We're on a flying, metal contraption of death, and you say it's not that bad?-!"

"Just go to your happy place again! That seemed to work last time."

Marik groaned. Oh yes, his happy place… now his happy place was filled with all sorts of things that made him blush and not want to look at Bakura anymore. "I don't like my happy place…" Marik mumbled.

Bakura laughed. "If you don't like your happy place then it's not your happy place, Marik!"

Marik sighed and looked away, out of the window and to the ground that they were still on (thankfully). "Well, I mean, I like it, but… I don't know how to explain it, okay!-!"

Bakura tilted his head to the side in confusion. What the heck was he talking about? He liked his happy place but he also didn't? How did that work? "Marik, that makes absolutely no sense."

Marik sighed and turned to Bakura. "Well… it's like when you like someone, but you also hate them because of some things they do? But it's more complicated…"

Bakura thought about what he said, getting an idea in his head. Marik couldn't possibly be hinting towards…? He had to find out, so he asked, "Is it like when you like someone, but you hate how much you like them?"

Marik thought for a second before blushing slightly. "Yes, exactly like that…"

Bakura found himself grinning; lately it seemed as if Marik, for lack of a better word, loved him. But not just loved him, more like, was utterly and completely, madly, insanely, clumsily, blushingly, nervously, confusingly, in-deniably in love with him. Though he seemed to be hiding it, for reasons Bakura didn't know. After all, Bakura was barely concealing his feelings nowadays. Marik had to figure it out sometime after all, right? Especially since they had slept in the same bed for their last few days residing in New York. Bakura still smiled at the memory, how flustered Marik was and how happy he seemed. Everything was so perfect, or it would be if they could just tell each other their feelings already. But now… Bakura almost wanted Marik to confess first, so he'd wait a while to see if that would actually happen.

Marik, on the other hand, was still a jumbled mess of mixed-up feelings. He knew he felt something for Bakura, but he didn't want to call it "love" yet, because… well, he was afraid. He was afraid of a lot of things; what if Bakura didn't like him that way? (Though he highly doubted it.) What if he didn't like Bakura that way, and he was just mixed up about his feelings because he's never really had a friend, much less a girlfriend or a boyfriend, before? It's already been proven that he can't really handle his emotions well… And speaking of emotions, what if Bakura finds out about that thing inside him and doesn't like him anymore? Or what if he'd be disappointed in him? He didn't want that to happen; he really liked Bakura…

But Bakura wasn't the only thing on his mind (though he was the predominant subject). He was also thinking about how he could get rid of that monster inside him. There didn't seem to be any ways to get it out, maybe if he did some research…? Or maybe he could call Isis –

Holy crap – He's never called Isis since they last talked! She must be so annoyed at him.

"Something wrong, Marik?" Bakura finally asked, after watching many nervous and worrisome emotions cross the boy's face.

Marik looked at him and said without hesitation. "I should call Isis soon…"

Bakura's eyes widened and he slapped a hand to his forehead. "Great… she already hates me, I don't need her thinking I'm stopping you from calling her."

"Well I can't call now, we're on a plane. The phone's signals mess up the plane's controls."

Bakura looked at him, intrigued, and Marik could see the spark in his eyes that he only got when he was finding out something new. Marik sighed inwardly, wishing he would have kept quiet since he doesn't know much about the phone-affect-planes thing other than that it did something. Unfortunately, that answer was not going to satisfy the knowledge-seeking Bakura. "Really? How does that –"

"You know what," Marik interrupted, taking out his phone and smiling weakly, "we haven't taken off yet, I think it's safe to call her now."

Bakura pursed his lips, wanting to know more about how a tiny cell phone could disrupt a giant plane, but knowing that the sooner they called Isis the better. He crossed his arms. "All right, fine… But pretend I'm not here."

Marik chuckled. "I'll tell her you're traveling in the cargo hold as a cat to save money."

Bakura glared at him and muttered, "Oh, you'd love that, wouldn't you?" as Marik dialed Isis' number and waited for her to pick up.

She picked up after the second ring. "Brother!" Isis' voice rang out happily from the phone. "Thank goodness! I was about to call you myself, but Odion said I should wait for you to call me first –"

"I told you he wasn't ignoring you," Rishid's quiet, far-away voice said. "He was probably just busy."

"Be quiet!" Isis whispered to him before speaking to Marik again, "So, what's up little brother?"

Marik chuckled. "Can't I just hear my sister's voice?" he said, glancing at Bakura who was smiling at him. They both knew Isis would love to hear that.

"Well of course you can!" Isis said quickly, obviously not wanting to deter him from saying anything like that ever again. "I just thought… Oh never mind. Are you still in New York?"

"No, we just boarded a plane to France."

"… Oh, right, France," Isis said, sounding much less happy upon hearing that word. Marik could hear Rishid snickering in the background, but he wasn't sure why. "Well, be sure to enjoy the City of Lights."

"Don't you mean the City of Love?" Rishid's joking voice said, just a little bit louder than before.

"Zip it, you!" Isis hissed at him. Marik's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What were his siblings talking about? City of Lights? City of Love? He had thought Paris, France was the City of Romance, what –

Marik swallowed as he glanced at Bakura, who had already been smirking at him. "City of Love?" he mouthed, making Marik turn his head away. But he was not going to blush, no! Why should he anyways… Just because he and Bakura were going to the City of Lights/Love/Romance, didn't mean a thing! They were on a mission, it's not like they were going on a… honeymoon… or something. What a stupid name for something anyways, "honeymoon." It sounds like a bee. A big, moon-shaped honeybee. It would probably be a slow little bee that slowed down the rest of the workforce.

Marik's eyes widened as he realized something. Isis had said the City of Lights, not hinting at all to what it's most famous for, but Rishid had reminded her that it was also the City of Love. So what did that mean? Marik swallowed again, not wanting to think about what this realization might be implying… Not wanting to think that even his siblings knew about his questioning for Bakura, that Isis was against their relationship and Rishid was all for it. No, he did not want to think about that.

"Anyways, brother," Isis continued, snapping him out of all this "France is the City of What Now?" nonsense. "Did you find what you were looking for in New York?"

Marik smiled a little. She wasn't saying "Millennium Item" because if dad was tapping the phone lines (which Bakura made Marik more sensitive to back in New York…) then that phrase would definitely be something that he'd pay attention to. Of course, it was impossible for him to listen to every phone line in the world, so he probably has some sort of technology that listens for key words, or words close to them, and then alerts dad of them later. Of course, saying "little brother" or "sister" on the phone was perfectly fine since tons of people would be saying those words, but using their names was strictly off limits. That's why Isis could only refer to him as "brother" or "little brother" from now on, and they had to use the fake names "Odion" and "Ishizu."

"No," Marik answered. "The only thing that New York had was trouble… Maybe I'll be able to tell you all about it later on."

"Right," Isis said, wanting to ask what hotel they were staying at so they could just fly over there and be with them (especially when he was with that vampire in France!), but if they displayed their location over something as traceable as a phone line, well, that wouldn't be the smartest thing to do. And she supposed that the "trouble" Marik talked about included either other vampires, undead creatures, or fellow vampire hunters, and those were words that their father might be listening for too. They didn't know, but they wanted to be safe.

"How are you guys?" Marik asked after a small silence. "Relaxing?"

"Well, I guess you could say that," Isis said uncertainly; he could hear Rishid chuckling in the background. "We've been trying out the idea mom's always talked about. You know, talking?"

Marik smiled. "That's great!" Bakura looked at him quizzically, but Marik just smiled brighter at him and mouthed, "Tell you later." What Isis was talking about was the technique of talking to the vampires first, and killing if only necessary. Their mother had wanted to take this a step further, however, and teach the vampires how to coexist with humans without killing them or harming themselves. Marik was ecstatic to find out that his siblings decided to start this!

"Yeah, but so far it's exhausting!" Isis complained. "Some of them are so difficult to work with –"

"And others try to seduce her," Rishid added, making Marik laugh; Isis was always disgusted when vampires tried to do that to her.

"Odion!" Isis said angrily. "Don't forget that some have taken a keen liking to you as well!"

"Yes," Rishid agreed, "but unlike you I don't mind that much, so they leave me alone." Marik could imagine Rishid grinning and Isis glaring at him, and he had to cover his mouth so his siblings wouldn't hear his laughter.

"Anyways," Isis said after awhile, "so far, it's been working well."

Marik chuckled a bit. "That's great. Well, I should probably go, don't want the plane people yelling at me."

"They're called "flight attendants" Marik, not "plane people"," Isis corrected.

"Anyone who works on a plane for a living is a plane person to me," Marik replied, casting a glance towards the aisles and wondering how the heck anyone could stand riding one of these things twenty four hours a day.

Isis laughed a bit before an idea came to her. "Wait, before you go, how's Bakura?"

"Bakura?" Marik asked, a little surprised she was asking about him. He looked at Bakura out of the corner of his eye, and he could tell that he was listening to every word even though his head remained forward and his eyes closed. "He's fine, sarcastic and rude as always." Marik smiled when he saw Bakura's eye twitch slightly. "But fine. Maybe becoming kinder –"

"Like hell I am!" Bakura growled, dropping his act and turning to him.

Marik chuckled. "Well, kinder to me anyways," Marik smirked at Bakura, "he certainly seems to care a lot about my well-being."

Bakura blushed slightly and crossed his arms, looking away. "So what if I do…" he mumbled.

Marik chuckled at his vampire's reaction, but then Isis asked, "Really?" as if she was extremely surprised. He heard Rishid say, "I told you" in the background, and Marik creased his eyebrows in confusion. Did Isis really think Bakura didn't care about him at this point? Even if Marik wasn't entirely sure where their relationship lay, it was obvious they cared for one another; they did make a promise to live for each other after all…

"Yes, really," Marik said finally and then smiled. "By the way, I had to save his butt back in New York."

Bakura groaned and let his head fall back into the seat. "That wasn't fair… he had that damn whistle."

"Oh, what's this I hear?" Isis said a little smugly. "The strong Bakura had to be saved?"

"For your information, sister," Bakura said, taking the phone from Marik, "he had this damn dog whistle that was really annoying!-!"

"Oh, well poor you," Isis said unpityingly, realizing he must be talking about a monster hunter. She had never liked those monster hunters, they were always so egotistical. "Oooh, I hunt all types of monsters, I don't specialize in one like you vampire hunters." Never mind the fact that once you learn how to fight blood-sucking creatures, that knowledge can be applied to every other undead/magical creature in the world, only with different pressure points that you can easily figure out with logic and intelligence. Something most monster hunters seem to do without, she's found.

She stopped thinking of her dislike for these when she heard Bakura growl. The vampire she hates most of all would have snapped at her and started yelling, but Marik took the phone back just then. "Anyways, now I have to calm him down," he said, noticing Bakura smirk from the corner of his eye. "So thanks, Is – Ishizu." Marik covered his mouth after this sentence, fearing what might have happened if he had said "Isis" instead of "Ishizu."

"… What are you going to do to calm him down?" Isis asked suspiciously with a hint of worry. Rishid was laughing loudly in the background. "You're not thinking what I think you're thinking, are you?-!" his faint voice carried through the phone lines, obviously directed at Isis, who just shushed him.

"Um, I don't know," Marik said, curious of their reactions. What was Isis thinking? "We'll probably just talk, like usual."

"Oh, good," Isis said, sounding very relieved. "You do that… well, we've got to go; we're having a private meeting shortly with someone…" She sounded bitter towards the end.

Marik just smiled. "Okay, talk to you later, sis."

"You too, brother!" she said happily before hanging up.

Bakura chuckled as Marik put his phone away. "So, how are you going to calm me down?" he asked, a mischievous spark in his eye.

Marik rolled his eyes. "You seem pretty calm to me right now," he said before turning to look out the window. "Besides, when this plane takes off, you'll be the one calming me down."

"You've got a point there," Bakura agreed just as the pilot announced that they'd be leaving soon, and that they should all buckle in, put up their seat trays, and turn their cell phones off or on airplane mode.

By the end of the announcement, Marik just covered his eyes with his hands and groaned. "Stupid plane, I wish I could just teleport!" He looked at Bakura through his fingers before saying, "Why can't one of these Millennium Items allow us to teleport?-!"

Bakura laughed. "Well, I could try carrying you across the oceans instead," he offered with a grin.

Marik actually thought about it for a second. If Bakura carried him he would never leave the ground! And he could fall asleep easily in Bakura's arms, especially with the speed they'd be moving at. Besides, he definitely trusted Bakura more than some unknown pilot. "That sounds better, actually…" he said quietly. The fact that he would also be extremely close to Bakura had nothing at all to do with his point of view… Yup, nothing at all to do with it.

Bakura simply looked at him and quirked an eyebrow. "Really? Well, we'll have to look in to it." He chuckled before closing his eyes and leaning his head on Marik's shoulder. "I'm tired."

"You're a vampire, you're not supposed to be tired," Marik said, pouting. "You just want to put your head on my shoulder…" he mumbled.

Bakura chuckled again, hearing Marik perfectly well. "And so what if I do?" he asked before grabbing Marik's hand and entwining their fingers.

"… Then nothing, I guess," he said before tightening his grip on Bakura's hand and staring out the window. This might actually be an enjoyable plane ride… he thought to himself. They stayed like that for awhile; Bakura started falling asleep, whereas Marik's mind was moving fast with thought. It seemed to him that Bakura was much more… touchy, towards him lately, and while he liked the contact it also made him feel a little awkward. Although he kind of encouraged it ever since the night of Keith's death, but… he still wasn't sure where they stood.

He glanced at their hands and bit his bottom lip. If anyone saw this sight, they'd immediately assume we were a… couple… And there was that C-word again; "couple." That word had appeared so much in his life recently that it didn't even sound like a word to him anymore; it sounded like a Pokémon: "Cuppul!" Marik sighed; even though he recognized this fact, he didn't really mind. He wanted to hold Bakura's hand; so what? That didn't mean anything!

'Kissing does, however,' his mind told him. Or was it that monster?

Shut up! To the depths of my mind with you!

he retorted back.

'Pfft, you're not a writer, Marik,' it replied, but then it went away, leaving Marik even more distraught than he already was. Not only did he have to deal with the questionable C-word, he also had his "second self" to deal with. Combine that with his overall mission to find the rest of the Millennium Items and he's got a full plate, possibly overflowing. He glanced at Bakura, envying him a little. I bet Bakura has almost nothing to worry about, he thought to himself, sighing.

He shifted a bit, but Bakura's head on his shoulder allowed for minimal movement since he didn't want to wake him up. I should just ask him, Marik thought. It would clear so much up, and really, what have I got to lose?

'Him.'

Shut up!-!

Marik closed his eyes and forced himself to go to his happy place, if it would get rid of him. He didn't care if it made him blush, Bakura was asleep anyways so he wouldn't see it.

After one fantastical visit to his happiest of happy places in the entire happy world in his happy mind, he opened his eyes, blushing only slightly. His mind had decided to bring up that one memory; the one with Bakura screaming, "I love Marik Ishtar, all right!" Marik closed his eyes; he knew that "memory" was most likely just that one vamp girl messing with his mind, but what if it wasn't? He looked at Bakura and bit his bottom lip again, took a deep breath to get rid of the tension he felt in his stomach, and, with a moment of courage, said, "Hey, Bakura?"

The vampire in question opened his eyes slightly and sat up, stretching his arms above his head. "Yes, what is it?" he asked simply, not knowing the inner turmoil Marik was going through, though it was eased slightly now that he wasn't holding Bakura's hand.

"Do, do you…" Love me? the Egyptian finished in his mind. He felt like hitting himself; the words came so easily in his head, but there was no way he'd be able to say them out loud… Forget asking Bakura this question, he'd be lucky if he could ever sort out his own mind. And, now that he thought about it, what would even happen if he heard Bakura answer, "yes"? Would it just make him more confused, or help him figure out... that he… "Never mind," he said lamely, chickening out before his brain went farther. He turned his head to stare back out of the plane window. Luckily they were still on the ground, or he couldn't even look away from Bakura as he felt his face turn pink with embarrassment.

Bakura blinked at him, tilting his head slightly in questioning. "No, tell me," he said, "do I what?"

"It's not important right now," Marik replied, taking a deep breath. He knew this was stupid, but he didn't want to hear the answer just yet. He was afraid of what would happen if Bakura said "yes," and he was also dreading what would happen if he said "no"…

Bakura was about to insist he tell him what was on his mind, but then Marik turned to him with an almost sad look in his eyes and he kept his mouth shut. What could Marik possibly be trying to ask him? What could finish the words, "Do you -"? The vampire wracked his brain to try and think of a possible response, but all that he could think of was, "Do you love me?" But that couldn't be it; why would Marik look sad over that question? If he seemed embarrassed or flustered then he'd think otherwise, but… he looked sad, so that just made Bakura want to know more! "No, tell me," he insisted. "Please? If it's bothering you, tell me."

Marik laughed a little nervously. "Maybe later," he said. Bakura pouted, but figured that was all he was gonna get out of Marik, bar torture.

---

When Marik and Bakura got off the plane, the Egyptian was holding his stomach and looking pale while the vampire yawned. "Why?" Marik asked on their way to the luggage pick-up area. "Why did they have to show a horror movie on that plane ride? We're going to France, you think they'd show a romantic comedy or something!"

Bakura stared at him curiously. "I didn't know you'd be afraid of scary movies, considering all that you've went through already."

"That's the problem," Marik said, taking a deep breath, the color returning to his face. "All of that just reminds me of what I've already seen and went through. Which trust me, is ten times scarier than any of those lame movie could ever hope to be."

Bakura frowned, wishing that he could help Marik forget all of those horrible memories he had locked up in his brain. It couldn't be good for his health to experience so much turmoil at such a young age, or any age. In an attempt to try and get his mind off of them he put a hand on Marik's shoulder, smiling at him when he turned his head. "Well, it's fine now. We're in France, so relax."

Marik stared at him before smiling slowly, resting his hands at his sides. Somehow Bakura's voice just, calmed him, and he couldn't help but appreciate how Bakura was always trying to help him, even with something so trivial as him remembering his past. He said he wasn't a good guy, but he was a great friend. "Yeah, right," he finally said, his mind moving on to the task at hand. "You're sure that "Millennium Watch" thing said they were here?"

"Yup," Bakura answered removing his hand and rolling his eyes. "You wouldn't believe all of the comments on that post. All of the French watchers are in a frenzy wanting to find them."

"How many people are trying?" Marik asked, surprised and a little worried now. He hadn't expected anyone else to be looking for them! Now they had competition?

Bakura just shrugged. "I'm not sure. The person who apparently owns them just recently made an announcement saying that whoever finds him first gets them, which has every history nut off the wall," Bakura held his hands out to the sides, palms up. "The location for the other Millennium Items were never proven, so most people figured they were still buried somewhere. Now that someone says he has them people are gonna actually start looking for them."

"When did this start?" Marik asked, starting to sound panicked.

"When I told you that the Millennium Items were in France now." Bakura glanced at him, and finally noticing his discomfort added, "But I wouldn't worry too much. There's a debate on the forum questioning the "authenticity of these alleged "Millennium Items.""" For the last part of his sentence he put his hands together, stuck his nose in the air, and spoke with a haughty accent, making Marik smile a little.

"Knowing our luck though, we'll probably have to fight someone for them," Marik said, sighing. "Why can't getting these things be as easy to get as the Necklace?"

"Because not everyone loves you like your sister, Marik," Bakura said with a chuckle.

Marik rolled his eyes and smirked, adding nonchalantly, "Or like you."

"Exact -" Bakura began to say before he realized what Marik had just said. His mouth stayed open with the unfinished word, and he started to blush as Marik laughed. The vampire punched his friend playfully in the shoulder then. "Ha ha, very funny," he finished, smiling.

Marik smiled innocently before asking, "What? Do you not love me?" He batted his eyelashes ridiculously, making Bakura laugh.

"I think I should be asking you that!" he said, putting his arm around his shoulder and whispering this next part in his ear: "Mr. "I'm Cold.""

Marik blushed a little before pushing Bakura away. "Yeah? Well right now I'm hot, so get off, Mr. Extremely-Hot-In-The-Sun."

Bakura pouted a bit before crossing his arms. "That's not my fault! Blame my anatomy!"

Marik just stuck his tongue out at Bakura who chuckled. The rest of the walk was in comfortable silence, with a few glances and laughs exchanged. When they finally got their light luggage and headed out of the airport they started looking for a nice hotel to stay at, simultaneously looking for this mysterious person who supposedly had the last two Millennium Items they needed. This stranger hadn't actually given any description of what he looked like, just that "you'd know him when you saw him," which made that job ten times harder. But on the plus side, that made it harder for the other "contestants" as well. However, they couldn't even be certain that they'd be the real Items, increasing the difficulty and their frustration. They decided to just take it slow, working together and taking whatever hit them like always.

Of course, one thing they hadn't been expecting was this: "Yoo-hoo!" a familiar voice said behind them as they walked the streets of Paris. "Boys! Over here!" They turned around to see Pegasus trailing behind them a few crowds away. He looked much healthier and happier than the last time they'd met, and his hair was tied back in a ponytail that fully revealed his black eye patch and earned him a few odd looks.

"Pegasus?" Marik asked once he came up to them. "What are you doing here?"

The flamboyant man smiled. "Well!" he began, "After you boys left my island, it made me realize just how much of life I had missed cooped up in that dreary castle year after year. I mean, look at you two! Traveling across the world together, I hear?" he asked, smiling knowingly at the end. Though only Bakura noticed the smile and raised an eyebrow.

"How'd you hear that?" Marik asked. He was pretty sure they hadn't broadcasted their depart. Although he had also been pretty sure that they were the only one searching for the Millennium Items, so really, what did he know anymore?

"Oh!" Pegasus said, surprised. "Didn't Yugi-boy tell you?" he asked, looking between them. The boys just glanced at each other before shaking their heads. "Well, I met up with three of your friends on my trip, Yami, Mai, and… erm, Jounouchi, I think it was?"

"You did?" Marik asked, smiling a bit. "How are they?"

"Oh, they're doing fine!" Pegasus smiled brightly before adding, "That Mai girl is pregnant and positively glowing with motherly charm!" he sighed, wishing that he and his wife could have went through the wonderful ordeal called childbirth… Seeing Mai had actually made him consider adoption to cure his lonely life. He mentioned this casually to the boys, "You know, I think I might adopt a sweet little girl later on, but what should I call her?"

"I've always been partial to Becky," Marik offered, thinking about that cute half-vampire girl back in New York and smiling. Bakura just gave him a curious look; why did he have a name in mind so readily?

Pegasus nodded. "Yes, that sounds like a good name… oh, but I got off topic!" he shook his head a little before smiling and looking at their luggage. "Did you two just get here? Why don't you stay at my place!"

Bakura laughed. "The last time we stayed at your place wasn't that great." Marik laughed too, if only from the sour look on Pegasus' face.

"Yes yes, I know," he said, pouting a bit, "but that won't happen again, I promise!"

"I don't know," Bakura stalled with a smirk. "Once a crazed maniac, always a crazed maniac."

Pegasus's eye twitched and he frowned. "You're just being rude now…" Bakura laughed a bit before Pegasus continued. "Come on, you can't have so much money to afford a hotel in every country you go to, can you?"

Bakura shrugged. "We're doing all right," he said carelessly.

Marik, on the other hand, now looked a little uncomfortable. He had forgotten about the cost aspect of this trip; how much had Bakura spent on him already? He didn't really like the idea of Kura wasting all of his money on him, it made him feel… lazy, or like he was a burden, which he didn't want. Food bills alone must be off the roof, so all of these extra expenses? The tab must be massive! If they stayed with Pegasus, he wouldn't be spending so much of Bakura's money, and Pegasus was rich anyways so the extra cost probably wouldn't even make a difference to him. He tapped the vampire on the shoulder before saying, "Actually Bakura, maybe we should take him up on his offer."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "What? Why?"

Marik thought for a minute before turning to Pegasus. "Do you speak Italian?"

The man looked taken aback for a second. "Um, no? Why?"

"I just think we should ration our money spending for a bit," Marik continued to Bakura in Italian.

"Oh, that is not fair!" Pegasus complained, pouting a bit. "I want to be in on the conversation!"

"Why?" Bakura asked, ignoring Pegasus."We have enough. Besides, do you really want to share a place with him?" Bakura replied, pointing at the other man.

"Oh, so I'm allowed to be pointed at, but I'm not allowed to hear you?" Pegasus said touchily, crossing his arms.

"It wouldn't be that bad," Marik said, shrugging. "Trust me, I've had to share a living space with much worse people."

"I still don't want to. We can manage on our own."

"What could you two possibly be saying that little ol' me can't hear?"

Marik sighed, still ignoring Pegasus. "Okay, the truth is I don't want you spending any more money on me," he admitted, avoiding Bakura's eyes.

"That's what this is about?" Bakura said with an amused smile.

"Bakura's smiling, why is he smiling?" Pegasus asked, looking at Marik accusingly.

"Yes, okay?" Marik said, blushing slightly. "I'm not used to it."

"Well, if you start illustrating for me you can make your own money," Bakura reminded him with a smirk.

"What could you two possibly be talking about?-!" Pegasus asked, looking between them. He was instantly curious seeing Marik blush and Bakura smirk; were they talking about… naughty things?-? They were young, after all.

"Yeah right," Marik replied with an eye roll. "How much money do illustrators make, exactly?"

Bakura chuckled and put a hand on Marik's shoulder. "Listen, I don't mind spending money on you. I have a lot saved up since I don't need food or other human necessities."

Pegasus felt like he was going to pull out his own hair if these two boys didn't start speaking in a language he understood soon.

"It still bugs me."

"Well, get used to it," Bakura said with a smile before turning to Pegasus. "Sorry about that," he said to him in Japanese.

Pegasus was still a little mad over the previous incident. "Oh, what? I can hear you two now?" He let out a breath before asking, "All right, whatever. Are you staying with me or not? I promise it won't be like last time!-!"

Bakura just smiled and put his arm around Marik's shoulders. "We're doing just fine on our own, but thanks for the offer."

Marik rolled his eyes and mumbled, "You mean you're doing fine on your own…"

Pegasus' eyes widened before he smiled slyly. "Ooooh, I get it. Well, have fun being alone together~," he said as he turned around and did a little wave to say goodbye.

Both boys felt a shiver run through their spines and they glanced each other. Two blushes and mad-dashes later and both of Pegasus' shoulders were grabbed while his ears were ambushed with the words, "We'll stay with you!-!"

---

Marik and Bakura were now driving with Pegasus in his car towards the rich man's second "cottage home", as he calls it. Although, Marik had a suspicion that this "cottage" was still probably going to be bigger than an average one. They were sitting on opposite sides of the car, leaning on the doors, looking bored and a bit awkward.

"You boys will love it!" Pegasus was saying. "It's very cozy; me and Cyndia spent our honeymoon there and loved the place so much that we bought it! OH! Which reminds me," he glanced at the boys through the rearview mirror. "Remember that spell-gone-wrong that only allowed Cyndia to appear in angel form?"

"You mean the spell that almost killed me?" Bakura rephrased.

Pegasus laughed nervously. "Yes, that one… Well, it turns out that Cyndia can appear on every new moon! Isn't that great?"

"Yeah, that's cool!" Marik said genuinely with a smile. He didn't know what it was like to lose someone you truly loved, but he knew it would be great if you could keep seeing them after you thought you lost them forever… He glanced at Bakura for a second before staring out the window again. Yeah… Cyndia appearing again was definitely good news.

"Oh, we have such fun," Pegasus said with a happy sigh. "Ooh! The Eiffel Tower!" he said excitedly once he caught sight of the tall monument. "The Eiffel Tower is so beautiful at night, boys! I definitely recommend you visit it during your stay."

Bakura turned to Marik with a smirk, but the Egyptian just glared at him with a look that clearly said, "No."

"Oh come on Marik," Bakura said with a slight chuckle. "Pegasus recommends it!"

"And I don't," Marik replied, still glaring at him.

"What are you two arguing about?" Pegasus asked them.

"I want to go on the Eiffel Tower," Bakura began, still smiling, "but Marik's afraid of heights."

"For good reason!" Marik added before Pegasus started laughing.

"My boy, the Eiffel Tower is completely safe! The only way you could fall is if you're a complete klutz!"

"Maybe you shouldn't go on then, Marik," Bakura teased, earning him a light punch in the shoulder.

"It's not just the falling, there's also the dizzying height -"

"We've ridden in Santa's sleigh," Bakura reminded him, "a little tower should be nothing."

"You call that little -?"

"Wait, you two rode in Santa's sleigh?-!"

---

One explanation of their crazy Christmas and a car-ride later, Marik and Bakura were on the porch steps of Pegasus' cottage. To their surprise, it was only a one-story, small, maple cottage set in the quiet serenity of nature somewhere; the complete opposite of the castle on his private island. Hundreds of colorful flowers surrounded the home, creating a delightful floral scent that rang strongly through the air. Although, for Bakura's heightened sense of smell the scent was just a little too strong, so he covered his nose which made Marik snicker at him and take a deep breath through his nostrils just to annoy the vampire.

"I forgot to mention, boys," Pegasus said as he put his key in the door. "I have three other guests!" he opened the door to the sound of a pan dropping on the floor and a heated discussion.

"You're really starting to test my patience, Yami," a deep voice was saying with just a tint of anger and annoyance.

"As if you had any to begin with," Yami replied back with the same energy.

"Just let me make dinner. Alone."

"But I could help you -"

"Your cooking tastes terrible."

"You dare insult my cooking skills?"

"Boys!" Pegasus interrupted as he walked into the bright, yellow kitchen, shortly followed by Marik and Bakura. "Why don't you make dinner together?"

"There is no way I'd work with him," a tall, brown-haired man said, crossing his arms. He wore a dark blue T-shirt with black pants, but his look was ruined with the slightly dirty apron he wore.

"Come on, Kaiba," Yami said with a frown, holding a frying pan in his hand. "Cooking together would be more efficient than doing it alone."

"I do fine on my own!" he insisted sternly.

Yami sighed before he noticed the Millennium Team. "Hey, guys! Long time no see," he greeted with a smile.

"I thought you were traveling with Jounouchi?" Bakura asked, confused to see him here.

"Well, I was," Yami agreed, letting Kaiba cook his noodles in peace. "But then I met Pegasus and decided to travel with him to learn about the card game business."

"It used to be all the rage in ancient Egypt!" Pegasus said with a wink, making Marik laugh and Bakura roll his eyes.

"It amazes me how something so serious back then has been turned into a children's card game today," Bakura commented.

"Well, back then the monsters and spells were alive," Yami said with a shrug. "What are you going to do?" He turned back to Kaiba and tried asking him yet again if he could help, which of course led to more arguing.

Pegasus took this opportunity to tell them quietly, "Kaiba and his younger brother are traveling with me so I can evaluate him and see if he's eligible to run my company when I retire. In fact, him and Yami are competing for the position!" He smiled mischievously and leaned in more, saying in a hush, "Don't tell them this, but I'm really just planning to give the company to both of them in the end!" He laughed silently yet hysterically, and the sight made Marik cover his mouth so he wouldn't laugh. Bakura just chuckled a bit before Pegasus calmed down and added more seriously, "However, if Kaiba-boy doesn't clean up his act soon I very well may end up leaving the company in Yami's already capable hands. Well, I'm sure Yugi will help him out a bit, if he ever finds this vampire cure I've heard so much about." He glanced at Bakura who looked away at that moment.

"Really now," Yami's annoyed voice came through to the other three in the room, "I could cut up some vegetables for you or -"

"I'm fine!" the unsmiling man snapped for about the millionth time.

Pegasus sighed. "Kaiba-boy, if you don't learn the meaning of teamwork I'm afraid I can't let you take over the company when I retire."

Kaiba ground his teeth and said grudgingly, "Fine. Go cut up your vegetables."

"You know, if cooking is such a big issue," Marik interrupted, "perhaps Bakura could do it for you? His food tastes really good."

Bakura would have been mad that Marik volunteered him for this task, if he hadn't also complimented his cooking. Instead, he just frowned. "Actually, I don't -"

"Wonderful!" Pegasus interrupted, clapping his hands together. "We'll have our guests cook for us today!"

Marik looked surprised. "Oh, I can't cook," he tried saying.

"And you think these two boys can?" Pegasus said, gesturing towards his two pupils who looked sour over the passive insult. "Trust me, anything you two make would probably be a treat!"

Marik shook his head. "No, really, I tried cooking once and I almost burned the house down."

"It's true," Bakura said, trying not to laugh. "He's possibly the worst food preparer I've ever seen."

Marik glared at him while Pegasus just thought for a second, his face lighting up. "Okay! Well, how about Bakura stays here and cooks and Marik could go out and search for your Items."

Both boys were quiet. Wouldn't that plan entitle them being… apart? Marik scratched the back of his head. "Well, we usually search for them together…" he muttered.

Pegasus laughed. "Surely you two have been apart before?" he asked with amusement.

"Well, yeah," Bakura said. "Of course, it's just -"

"Then I see no problem!" Pegasus insisted, starting to push Marik out the door. "You really only need one person to look for things anyways, right? Besides, it's not like he'll be gone for long."

"Y-yeah, I guess not," Marik said unsurely. He glanced back at Bakura who was trying not to grab Marik and pull him back in the room or just run out the door with him. That protective instinct was kicking in again, heightened by what they just went through in New York. He didn't even want to think of what might happen to Marik out there… Would there be another "Bandit Keith"? Well, Marik would be safe from another him, but what if there are other vampires, or werewolves, or some other horrific creatures? What then? Even though common sense was telling him that Marik would be perfectly fine because he was trained to kill vampires, that over-protectiveness he felt overrode everything. And, the fact of the matter was that he just wanted him in plain sight. As an extra precaution, of course, but mostly because he really did enjoy spending time with Marik, no matter what they were doing. Bakura couldn't help but think about how before he met Marik he would have preferred being alone, and now he'd rather be anywhere with the Egyptian. It was amazing how opinions could change so drastically, just because of one person.

"Well then," Pegasus gained Bakura's attention again, with Marik now fully outside the door. "Have fun hunting!" (1) The man slammed the door shut, causing Marik to wince slightly. "I'm sorry Marik-dear," Pegasus continued, "but I really can't afford to have this cottage burned down! It has sentimental value!"

Retreating footsteps told Marik that the man was gone from behind the door now, but he just stood outside the closed door for a minute, trying to process this new sensation. It had been a long time since he had been, alone. He kind of forgot how to be alone. While it's true that he and Bakura had been apart before, they usually still searched for the Millennium Items together. In fact, the only times they actually separated was when Marik went out for a bite to eat, or with other, special circumstances. At least, of late; when they first started out, he and Bakura could be away from each other no problem! When did that change?

Marik sighed. When he really got right down to it, he just wanted Bakura by his side. Everything was always more entertaining with the vampire around, and he enjoyed talking to him. Plus, bad things always happen to them when they're apart. He knew this to be true, and when that thought crossed his mind he bit his bottom lip worriedly.

He had absolutely no way of knowing that inside the small kitchen, Bakura was thinking the exact same thing.

---

"All right Bakura," Pegasus said, grinning, as he stood next to the now-cooking young adult. "I want details!"

"What are you talking about?" he asked blandly, trying not to think of Marik too much right now… it didn't help when the boy's scent was attached to his clothes, since they had been close to each other on the plane and such.

Pegasus gave out a huff of frustration. He and Yami were the only two in the room presently; Kaiba had trapped himself up in the second, smaller bedroom with his brother once it was decided that Bakura would cook for them. "You know!" he said, tapping his foot impatiently. "How are things going with you and Marik?"

Bakura gave him a weird look; he didn't fully understand the question. "Fine. We only need two more Millennium Items. Well, I mean, we almost died again, but -"

"I'm not asking you about that boring stuff!" Pegasus clarified, putting a hand to his forehead in exasperation. "I'm talking about your relationship!"

"Oh…" Bakura said, now understanding his question. He looked away from him and focused back on cooking. "Yeah, it's fine."

Pegasus pouted a bit while Yami sniggered in the background. "I told you!" he exclaimed happily.

"Give up the act, Bakura-boy," Pegasus said, trying to catch Bakura's eyes. "I used to have the Millennium Eye, remember! I knew of your feelings for him before you did!" He waited till Bakura looked at him, surprised, before continuing, "I just didn't say anything before because love needs to blossom on its own."

Bakura sighed. "Well then, what more do you want from me? Since you've already read my mind, apparently," he said with just a hint of annoyance at the end.

Pegasus thought for a minute before saying, "Well, I assume you two are a couple now, yes?"

"… Um, not exactly," Bakura said awkwardly, turning his attention back to the stove where he was making spaghetti noodles with homemade alfredo sauce. That he still had to make. He started getting out the ingredients for the sauce while adding, "I'm not entirely sure what we are right now."

"Told you!" Yami said again, his feet up on the kitchen table. He held out his hand with a grin, "You owe me five bucks."

Bakura's eye twitched. "I don't really appreciate that you two are making bets off of us!"

Pegasus smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, I've always been one to take a bet." He took five dollars out of his pocket and handed it to Yami who just laid it on the table smugly. "Anyways," Pegasus transitioned, looking back at Bakura, "has anything major happened so far?"

"I am not discussing my love life with you," Bakura seethed through his teeth, going to the refrigerator for parmesan cheese.

"Oh come on," Pegasus almost whined, putting his hands on his hips, "there's no shame in love, Bakura!"

Bakura walked back to his cooking station and set the cheese down on the counter. "Ever wonder how much blood you can lose before you die?" he asked before turning one of his fingernails into a claw and slicing the block of cheese in half with one, smooth motion. He bore his fangs at the older man. "Let's find out."

"Okay, okay!" Pegasus said, backing away from him. "You're angry, I get it! Excuse me for being curious!" Bakura turned away from him and focused on the dish he was preparing, deciding to ignore everyone around him until dinner. "You know," Pegasus' voice came to him anyways, "I just want to help you." His voice turned sad before he added quietly, "Everyone should be able to be with the one they love…"

Bakura closed his eyes and took a deep breath. It was obvious from his tone that he was referring to his dead wife, and how he could no longer be with her fully. "I'm sorry, Pegasus," he said slowly, "but I'd rather just figure this out on my own. All right?" He turned around to look at him before asking, "Where's the shredder?"

Pegasus sighed before walking over to one of the wooden cabinets and taking out a metal, hand-shredder. "Here you are," he said, handing it to him. Once Bakura took it, the older man's face lit up. "Wait a minute, do you have the Eye on you?"

Bakura raised an eyebrow at him. "No, it's in Marik's bag - HEY!" Bakura yelled when Pegasus ran over to the suitcase, knelt down, and started tearing through it. Bakura ran over to him and pulled him away from the luggage, but not before Pegasus had found the Eye. "What the hell are you -?"

"Let me try something!" Pegasus interrupted before taking off his eye patch and inserting the Millennium Eye into the empty socket.

"Pegasus!" Bakura growled, really not having the patience for this. Was he going to hold the Eye for ransom until Bakura spilled everything to him? He'd sooner kill him and just take it back than do that! He was about to just rip the Eye out of the man's socket again before he remembered what that thing did in the first place: read your mind.

Crap.

"Pegasus, don't you dare -!" Bakura stopped talking when he saw the grin on the man's face. Obviously, he already dared.

His assumption was confirmed when Pegasus handed him the artifact and fixed his eye patch again. "Oh dear, you two have gone through a lot, haven't you?"

Bakura growled and crossed his arms. "Maybe," he muttered angrily.

Pegasus chuckled before standing up and dusting himself off. "I can't believe you haven't told him yet!" he exclaimed. "It's obvious he feels the same way, I mean, I could tell when I first saw you two in this country!" He let out a dreamy sigh, "You two just looked so, natural together! Simply perfect~."

Bakura just glared at him, but then he looked down and away as he blushed slightly. "… Really?" he asked, not entirely sure how to take that. If love was so obvious between them, why did everything have to be so difficult about it? Why couldn't he just tell Marik already? It was obvious Marik was too embarrassed about it to "admit it" first, so he should just tell him!

… But the thing was, Bakura was embarrassed too. And also afraid; even though he was almost certain that Marik liked him "that way," he still wasn't sure if Marik was ready for a relationship. He had said many times before that he never really had a friend before, let alone a best friend or something more. What if he didn't want a "boyfriend"? If that was the case, then even if he did feel the same way he would just put his feelings aside to maintain the friendship he had finally achieved. If Bakura told him the truth about his feelings... Marik just might tell him that he didn't want them, and that thought made him feel... well, so many negative emotions. Sadness doesn't cover it, neither does pain; he felt almost empty inside when he thought of that possibility.

"Really!" Pegasus' voice interrupted him, earning Bakura's attention again and making him wonder what Pegasus was responding to. "I promise, if Marik isn't completely smitten with you, then I must be losing my mind."

Bakura smirked. "The latter sounds more likely," he teased. He was kind of glad that Pegasus had read his mind now; it was definitely easier and less humiliating than having to explain it all in words. Plus, now he was confirming that, yes, Marik did love him, and that was always good to hear.

Oh yes, always good~.

"Thanks for that," Pegasus interrupted the vampire's grateful thoughts with a roll of his eyes.

"No wonder he's trying to get that company off his hands," Yami commented with a chuckle.

Pegasus gave him an angry look. "Yami, dear, set the table," he ordered, obviously "punishing" him for that comment.

The boy who was sitting down just sighed before getting up and going over to the cabinets. Pegasus turned back to Bakura as Yami gathered plates and said, "Well, if you don't believe me then give me the Eye and I'll read Marik's mind for you when he comes back."

Bakura looked at the Eye, which was in his hand, and sincerely thought about the offer before closing a fist around the golden ball. "No thanks," he said, putting it in his pocket. "I believe you, it's just… I don't know, it's awkward."

"How can it be awkward!" Pegasus outraged.

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "You did read my mind, right?"

Pegasus blinked before rubbing the back of his head. "Oh, right…"

"Yeah, right." Bakura turned back to his cooking station and started working again, leaving them to their own devices. "I just don't know how to tell him. Or what would happen if I did tell him, okay? Let it go."

"I can't!" Pegasus complained before he sat down at the table. "I see young love and I have a drive to help!" He set his head down on the plate in front of him pathetically.

"What exactly is the trouble?" Yami spoke up, just setting the last napkin down and talking more seriously now. "If you know he likes you the same, then why not just tell him already?"

Bakura gave him a blank look. "You've never loved anyone, have you?"

"… Well, um…" he coughed, blushing a bit. "Okay, I kind of get what you're saying now… But still, it'd be better if you just told him."

"Why?" Bakura asked. "Why would it be better? What's wrong with it staying the way it is right now? This is working! … More or less, and what if everything just gets messed up because I told him I… You know." He turned around, hiding his blush and cursing himself for not even being able to tell these people when they already knew. How in the hell could he tell Marik a damn thing if he couldn't even tell them?

"Just trust me," Yami said seriously, "it's better in the long run to be completely honest. Remember how Yugi and Anzu almost broke up because of miscommunication?"

"That's completely diff -"

"No, it's not!" Yami interrupted, frowning. "What if Marik doesn't realize you like him yet, or since you never said anything about it assumes that you don't like him that way, and he hooks up with someone else?"

Bakura was silent for a minute, thinking over that scenario. Marik… with someone else… kissing someone else… He felt goosebumps appear all over his body. No. That cannot happen, I won't allow it! A possessive growl escaped his lips and he quickly dropped the knife he was holding once he realized that it was now snapped in half. He then started blinking his eyes, trying to rid himself of the red that discolored everything. He didn't know it was possible to be so angry that he couldn't even feel the emotion... "That would be horrible," he said simply, opening a drawer and grabbing a different knife.

"I'll say," Pegasus said, eyeing the broken utensil. "OH!" he practically yelled before standing up so fast that his chair fell over. "I have a marvelous idea! Why don't you take the wonderful opportunity of being in the Country of Love to tell him of your feelings!" Pegasus gasped before saying, "Yes! It would be perfect! Valentines Day is almost here, and you could take him up to the Eiffel Tower for a romantic dinner and tell him everything then!" The man put his hands to his cheeks and closed his eyes, smiling. "Oh, I can just see it now~! I'm getting tingly just thinking about it!"

"… No thanks," Bakura said, instantly crushing Pegasus' fantasies.

"What do you mean "no thanks"?-!" Pegasus demanded. "It's perfect!"

"Everything's always "perfect" with you, isn't it?" Bakura asked with an eye roll.

"It is when it is!"

"I have to agree with Pegasus on this one, Bakura," Yami said, smiling. "That does sound like a really good idea."

"See!" Pegasus said, pointing at Yami. "He agrees with me! And everyone knows that if you're in France you have to tell your sweetheart that you love them!"

"Okay, first off," Bakura said, looking very uncomfortable right now, "don't call Marik… "sweetheart…" And second, where is it written that just because you're in the "City of Love" with the object of your affection that you have to tell them you love them?"

"Right here!"

"… Pegasus, that's a napkin. And there's nothing written there."

"The notion still stands!" the enthusiastic man insisted as he waved the napkin around in the air. "I demand that you tell him!" He took out a pen and started writing on the napkin. ""The rule, of, thumb, is thaaaat…"" he started reading what he wrote as he wrote it, making every word sound misconstrued and drawn out. ""If someone… so, happens, to be… in France, or, better yet, Paaaris, with the person… they hold deeear, then said person, has to teeell, them… their… feeeeeeliiiings." There! It's written!" Pegasus held up the napkin again, smiling proudly.

Bakura just stared at him. "Do you honestly expect me to take words written on a napkin seriously?" he asked, going back to cooking. "By the way, this meal is never going to be done if you two keep interrupting me."

"Oh, like I care about the meal," Pegasus said, sighing. "And come on, listen to the hastily-written words!"

"As if," Bakura said, rolling his eyes.

"Wait, wait, give me that," Yami said, smiling mischievously. Pegasus handed him the napkin and pen with a grin, anticipating whatever the boy was going to do with them. Yami scribbled something under Pegasus' words before handing it back to him, smirking. Bakura, having his back turned to them, missed this exchange, so when Pegasus said, "Hmmm, interesting addendum, Yami!" with a very evil-sounding tone, he began to worry. His worries were solidified when Pegasus read, ""If said person does not tell their sweetheart of their love, then anyone else who knows about these feelings is obligated to tell them him/herself.""

Bakura froze before turning around slowly. "You wouldn't…" he stated, though he knew fully well that they would.

"Oh, wouldn't we?" Yami said with a grin.

Bakura stared at the two smirking men across from him, a pit of dread appearing in his stomach. If he didn't want them to tell Marik, then he would have to… So he was being forced to tell Marik that he loved him?-! This was ridiculous! He should have the freedom to tell him when and if he so chooses! Who were these people to tell him when he should say things? If this happened a few months earlier, he'd kill them both for trying to order him around, but now… he didn't really see the point in killing anymore; why did he think that solved everything, again? The problem of Marik still not knowing his true feelings would remain, plus the death of a company owner would not go unnoticed and might bring unwanted attention to him. Besides, what would he tell Marik? If he told him the truth of why he murdered them, then that would defeat the purpose of the assassination in the first place. And Marik wasn't an idiot; he'd be able to tell if he was lying.

"You two are evil," Bakura finally said, turning back to the meal.

"But you're still going to tell him, right?" Pegasus asked hopefully.

"I'll think about it."

"I'll take that as a yes!" Pegasus said happily, clapping his hands together. "Oh, by the way Yami," he said, turning to the boy, "you owe me ten dollars! They have kissed!"

Bakura groaned as Yami shelled out ten bucks. "Are you kidding me?-!" Bakura asked, putting a hand to his forehead.

"I'm afraid not," they both replied, making Bakura groan indignantly again.

"I bet you twenty dollars that Bakura won't be able to tell Marik his feelings," Yami offered.

"Deal!" Pegasus agreed, shaking Yami's hand.

"That's it!" Bakura yelled as he turned around, his eyes flashing red. "Both of you, out of the room! You're not going to be able to take the heat in this kitchen!-!"

---

"Thanks anyways," Marik said to a museum curator as he left the airy building. He sighed to himself. He had visited three museums so far; two of them didn't even know what the Millennium Items were, and the last one said they were still holding searches for them in Egypt. Newsflash: they weren't buried anymore! Oh how easy it would be to find them if they were still buried, for crying out loud! … Okay, maybe not that easy, but certainly easier than this. Although, if someone really did have them then looking in museums was pointless, but he still wasn't entirely convinced that this person had the real Millennium Items. Not to mention that he hadn't seen anyone that might look like the possessor of the golden artifacts anyways, so he was still at square one.

Maybe I'll start searching antique shops, Marik thought to himself as he kept walking. He couldn't help but turn his head as he saw a flash of white in his peripheral vision, becoming severely disappointed when he saw it was just someone wearing a white, furry scarf. Focus, Marik! He shook his head and picked up his pace, looking out for any sign that said, "Antique." Although, he was distracted when he passed by the Eiffel Tower. He looked up at it, feeling sick just by doing such a small task. The idea of going to the top of that thing terrified him, but for some reason he was considering climbing the monstrous structure. It was a national monument after all, most people would be itching for a chance just to see the nosebleed-inducing tower. Surely it would be disrespectful to the country if he didn't at least try to visit it. Besides, with Bakura it probably wouldn't be that bad; the vampire would be able to take his mind off of the horrendous height.

… And wasn't it one of the most romantic spots in the world?

The Egyptian started walking again, his back to the romantic tower but his mind was still wandering. Wandering to what, exactly, was harder to describe because it switched from happy thoughts to sad memories, from laughing to crying, from pain to joy, from his father to Bakura, from cats to dogs, from Timbuktu to Waterloo, from rooftops to sudden stops, from bright white to lax black, from… well, you get the picture. His mind couldn't make up it's mind! Or, rather, he was forcing it not to, because if he focused on one thing too long it ultimately traced back to one, singular subject.

Can you guess what it is? Or, more precisely, who it is? I'll give you a hint: he is - oh this is pointless; everyone knows already.

He couldn't help but imagine if he and Bakura did, by some chance, traverse up that monumental monument. Surely nothing too special would come of it; it was just a metal tower, for Pete's sake! What do you even do up there in the first place? Besides look down, of course; do people play music up there for you or something?

Still, he assumed it would be a pretty sight: watching the sunset slowly disappear over the horizon, Bakura's pale skin glowing from the retreating sun's rays, the vampire leaning in closer as the sun moves farther away…

… Focus, Marik, he repeated to himself as he felt his cheeks warm up. He quickened his pace yet again, having to halt almost immediately to avoid running in to someone. Damn it! Stop thinking of Bakura already! He's back at the kitchen, making dinner. He shook his head yet again, realizing he must look crazy to fellow pedestrians. And realizing that this wouldn't be the first time thoughts of Bakura had made him look crazy on the streets…

His ears perked up once they tuned in to these bouncing words: "… Articles du Millénaire pour le…"

He turned to where he heard the voice and started walking towards the sound; whoever was talking was saying something about the Millennium Items! The voice sounded feminine, and judging by the pitch she was most likely skinny and just getting over a cold.

Pretty soon, he was sure he found his culprit. Two women were walking and talking; one was skinny with brown hair and wore very fashionable clothing while the other was blonde, pleasantly plump, and dressed in a preppy way. "Excusez-moi, mademoiselles," he greeted easily, "but were you two talking about the Millennium Items, by any chance?"

The blonde girl smiled and replied happily in her native tongue, "Oui, you are a fellow Millennium enthusiast?"

"Yes! They are very unique, no?" Marik replied with a smile. He was happy that this girl seemed easy to talk to! Finding information from them should be much easier now.

"Oui, oui!" the blonde girl agreed. "Very unique indeed, we love the look of them! And the story behind them, ah! To die for!" She looked him up and down before grinning and adding, "You look far too handsome a boy to be interested in these silly things though."

"Oh, uh…" Marik began, not really sure how to take that. However, now he was afraid that this girl liked him; he so did not need any more girl troubles in his life, especially when he was still confused about Bakura.

"He looks like trouble to me," her friend said into the silence. "Be wary of him, Fantine."

"Oh relax, Suzette!" Fantine told her with a careless wave of her hands. "He looks rather nice, in my opinion." She turned to him and asked, "What is your name? Since you know ours now."

"Oh, it's Marik," he said before realizing he probably should have given a fake name. Although he had always been bad with remembering covers and things like that. Besides, hopefully he wouldn't be in contact with these two girls for long.

"Már-reek," Fantine repeated, her French accent making his name sound strange. "What nationality is that?"

"It's Egyptian."

"Egyptian!" Fantine said, smiling and putting a hand to her cheek. "So exotic!"

Marik laughed to himself. Why did girls always seem so fascinated by him being "exotically" Egyptian?

"How do you know of the Millennium Items?" Suzette asked accusingly.

"The story of the Millennium Items has been in my family for generations -"

"What do you want with them?" Suzette interrupted.

"Be nice!" Fantine scolded her friend.

"They are very special and important to me," Marik explained.

Suzette looked at him curiously, putting a hand up to her chin and inspecting him. She narrowed her eyes at him while Fantine rolled her eyes. "All right," the brunette said finally, sounding like she was starting to trust him. "Yes, we were discussing the whereabouts of the Items."

"Do you know where they are?" Marik asked excitedly. If they could just tell him, that would be fantastic!

"Yes, we do," Suzette said, crossing her arms. "And we are the ones who will be receiving them, not you."

"Hold on, Suzette," Fantine said, giving Marik a sultry look. "Maybe we could reach an agreement~," she practically purred at the end.

A shiver went through Marik's body; he did not like where this was headed. "Please," Marik started to plead, "it would mean everything to me if I could have them."

"Ooh! What would you be willing to -"

"Why do you want them so badly?" Suzette interrupted her friend, immediately gaining Marik's gratitude."Tell me the truth."

"You're always so harsh, Suzette," Fantine complained.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you the truth," Marik said to them both.

"Ooh! Sounds mysterious~," Fantine said with a far-off look in her eyes. "I love a good story!"

"Try us, we're pretty believing," Suzette said seriously.

Marik sighed, finding that even though Suzette was more difficult to talk to, she was much less annoying than her friend. "All right, I'll tell you the truth." He looked around at all the people around and added, "But somewhere more private."

"Ooh! This is getting good!" Fantine said, fanning herself.

---

Marik sat down with his two new acquaintances at a local coffee shop entitled, "Noir Café." It was a pretty small, private place, with black ceilings, white walls, plenty of windows and mahogany floors, chairs, and tables. Luckily, it was also pretty cheap. Although it made Marik realize that he didn't have any French currency; he still had to stop by a bank to exchange his dollars. Luckily the girls were understanding - well, Fantine was, Suzette seemed annoyed that he didn't have any useful money.

"I do wonder," Fantine said after they sat down with their drinks. "How do you speak French so fluently, Mr. Egyptian?"

"Language has always been a fascination of mine," Marik said before sipping his hot chocolate; he had never really liked the taste of coffee. "I know many different languages."

"The more I hear about you, the more fascinating you become!" Fantine swooned, leaning over and giving him a dreamy look.

Suzette rolled her eyes. "Ignore her," she said, earning a pout from her blonde friend. "Now, tell us something we wouldn't believe." She sipped her beverage, giving him an intense stare that obviously said, "Don't lie."

Marik took a deep breath before asking, "Do you believe in vampires?"

"Oui, oui!" Fantine said enthusiastically at the same time Suzette said, "Maybe."

Fantine pushed her friend lightly. "Oh, don't give him that! You used to date a vampire, remember?"

Suzette crossed her arms. "Fantine, for the last time he was Goth, not a vampire!"

"Oh, whatever," the blonde girl replied with an eye roll. "We've still seen some pretty supernatural stuff in our days."

"What do vampires have to do with the Millennium Items?" Suzette asked Marik, wanting to get this encounter over and done with.

"Legend states that if you gather all of the Millennium Items, then you can make a wish," Marik explained, watching Suzette's eyes light up with fascination and doubt whereas Fantine's lighted up with enchantment and delight. "I want to use this wish to allow vampires to live amongst us freely without fear of being hunted."

"Handsome and selfless!" Fantine gushed. "The total package~!"

Suzette just looked at him with suspicion and doubt, so Marik said, "I told you that you wouldn't believe me."

"What I believe is that you believe you are telling the truth," Suzette said, "but I am not fully convinced that there are vampires amongst us."

"Well how can I convince you of that?"

"You cannot."

Marik groaned and leaned back in his chair, putting his palms over his eye sockets. He would have just left these girls, but if they honestly knew where the Millennium Items were… this was a definite thing, not just a random hunt for something that he might not even be close to. It was the best lead he had gotten so far and he didn't want to lose it! What would it take to get information out of these girls?

"I'll make you a deal," Suzette said when she noticed how disgruntled this foreign boy looked. "Since you seem to be a decent and honest boy."

"What is it?" Marik asked hopefully, livening up considerably.

"My boyfriend recently broke up with me," she started, crossing her arms and looking severely more upset. "He said I do not know how to have fun…" she turned to her friend and held a finger up. "Don't say a thing, Fantine!"

"Well you have to admit he wasn't completely wrong," Fantine mumbled.

Suzette glared at her friend before turning back to Marik. "Anyways, I want to prove that he is wrong, and I also want to get him back," she relaxed her position as she said, "he has always been the jealous type, so if he sees me having fun with another man I can use that jealousy to my advantage."

"Phrasing it like that makes you seem like a devious mastermind," Fantine whined slightly, looking at her friend sadly.

"Wait," Marik interrupted, "so what exactly do I have to do?"

"Just go on a simple date with me and I shall give you the Millennium Items after we collect them" Suzette said casually, sipping her mocha. "My boyfriend really liked to go ice skating, so we shall go there."

"Suzette," Fantine said seriously, putting a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I've told you this before, but if a guy likes ice skating, it generally means -"

"And I've told you before that his parents made him ice skate when he was young and he just really enjoys it, okay?" Suzette replied angrily.

Fantine held here hands up. "All right, all right! I am just saying!"

"Um…" Marik interrupted awkwardly, "Would you mind if it was a double date?" Honestly, he did not want to go on a date with this girl - it didn't seem like they had anything in common and it was bound to be a torturous time. But, if he could somehow convince Bakura to go on a double date with him, he would at least have someone friendly to talk to.

"A double date?" the brunette repeated as if she had never heard of the concept before. She turned to her friend. "What do you say, Fantine? Would you like to accompany us?"

Fantine eyed Marik again before saying, "Sure! But can we switch dates~?" She leaned across and brushed her fingers down Marik's arm, immediately making his arm shoot back, goosebumps to appear on his skin, and his posture to jolt upright. The girl just smirked and added, "I think I could have fun with this one."

Suzette grabbed her friend's arm and pulled it away from Marik. "That depends on what his friend looks like." Fantine pouted, but then Suzette started grabbing her things to leave. "Well, we shall meet up with you and your friend here tomorrow at three o'clock, agreed?"

"Agreed," Marik said.

She held out her hand and he shook it, but he wasn't expecting her to pull him in closer. "By the way," she whispered with a hostile undertone, "don't even think about following us, because we're not going to pick up the Millennium Items until after out little date. Got it?" She gave him a piercing look at the end of her sentence.

Marik sighed; he actually had been planning on just following them and grabbing the Millennium Items himself. Granted, he had only thought of that when they started to leave, but it was still inconvenient for him. "Got it."

"Good. Also, I noticed you have the Millennium Rod." Marik's eyebrows raised when he heard that; how did she notice that? "I'll have you know we both are immune to mind control, although I know Fantine doesn't look it."

"Hey!" her friend complained.

"You are free to try and control our minds, but I assure you it won't work," she continued, ignoring her friend. "Make sure you have some cash on you tomorrow." With that, Suzette and Fantine turned and headed out, although Fantine turned around and winked at Marik before she left.

Marik quickly took out the Millennium Rod and focused on the two girls, finding that the control wasn't working, just like she had said. He was impressed, but also a little disconcerted and suspicious; how did they do that? There seemed to be more to these girls than lay on the surface, but what could that be? Hee supposed it didn't matter much as long as he got the Items from them in the end, but still. His father had always made it clear that you could never get too much information on people, especially if they seemed strange or dangerous – sometimes that made all the difference between life and death.

Perhaps a little reconnaissance was in order.

---

Bakura was currently chopping up some carrots as slowly as he could for a salad he was making. A single plate of alfredo noodles and a slice of chicken lay cold on a plate, waiting anxiously for the person they were intended for. Everyone else had already eaten, leaving this single plate on its own. Granted, only two people ate at the table with the lonely plate; Kaiba and his brother (whom Bakura had still not seen) ate in the smaller bedroom. Yami said it was because Kaiba was anti-social, but Pegasus said that he just liked spending time with his brother.

Bakura sighed, putting the last of the carrot bits in a bed of leafy greens. Yes, he was waiting for Marik to come back; yes, he was worried about him; yes, knew he should do something else to take his mind off him; and yes, he knew he probably seemed pathetic. But you know what? He really couldn't give a damn right now.

He let his head fall on the table just as Pegasus walked in the room. "For goodness sakes Bakura!" the man said, "Just call him already!"

"No answer," Bakura answered plainly, not lifting his head from the hard table.

It was silent before Pegasus chuckled. "It's taking all of your strength not to tear through that door and go looking for him, isn't it?"

"Blood Packs are a bitch," Bakura replied, answering his question in a roundabout way.

Pegasus let out a breath before sitting down next to him. "You should go do something else, you'll be able to hear him when he comes here."

"I tried writing," the vampire said, lifting his head and actually looking at him now, "but I couldn't focus."

"Hmm..." Pegasus started to think.

When there was silence for a few moments, Bakura asked, "Is there an actual reason you came in here?"

"Well, I did want to talk to you about the sleeping arrangements," the card-game owner admitted. "This is a small cottage; there's only a master bedroom and a smaller bedroom, with a pull-out couch bed. It's Yami's turn to sleep on the pull-put, but with you two here..."

"Why did you invite us to stay here if you didn't even have enough room?" Bakura asked testily; what was with this man?

"Well, I figured you could either take my bedroom or sleep outside in a luxury tent," Pegasus replied, frowning a bit.

Bakura sighed. "We'll take the tent."

"That's good," the one-eyed man replied, yawning. "The tent's already set up outside."

"Anything else?"

"Just another question," Pegasus said with a sheepish smile. "When I gave you that potion to give you your own body, you didn't drink it. Why?"

Bakura was silent. He had forgotten all about that actually. "Shouldn't you already know? You read my mind earlier."

"Yes, but I did a quick scan. And only for your relationship with Marik."

Bakura sighed and rubbed the back of his head as he debated whether or not to tell this man the truth. So far, he did seem like he just wanted to help him. Though Bakura figured that was to make up for the whole "making you almost die thing," but he has turned out to be kind of helpful… And really, what would be the harm? They say old people hold wisdom anyways, so maybe he'd have more of that supposed wisdom to share with him. Even if he might have lived for a few millennia, it didn't mean he had "wisdom" - he still had the mindset of a man in their middle 20s.

In the end, he figured there wasn't really a point in lying, and he also couldn't think of a convincing lie either, sooo. "I was just... worried, I guess," he finally said.

"Worried?" Pegasus repeated, creasing his eyebrows. "Worried over what?"

The spirit looked down. He was regretting his decision to tell the truth now; this was embarrassing! "I was worried that if I got my own body, Marik would like Ryou better than me," he admitted quietly.

Pegasus chuckled. "Why would you think that? It's you Marik's gotten the time to know."

"Yes, I know, but..." Bakura took a deep breath before looking Pegasus in the eyes. "If I'm being completely honest with myself, Ryou would be better for Marik than me." Pegasus seemed surprised by this, so Bakura continued. "He'd be a great boyfriend; nice, understanding, loving, helpful – everything I'm not and more."

Bakura scowled at the end of his explanation, whereas Pegasus just stared at him. "Bakura," he said slowly, "you might not be aware of this, but you're a pretty good person." He smiled at the disbelieving look on the boy's face before saying, "You're helping Marik for a worthy cause, you barely hurt anyone anymore, you love children, you understand and accept Marik for who he is, and while you may not be "nice" by normal standards, your sarcastic personality compliments Marik's slightly childish personality very well." He smiled when he saw Bakura avoid his eyes. "For what it's worth, I think you're a better match for him than Ryou." Bakura was silent as he took in what he said, and he was given even more to think about when Pegasus added, "Besides, if he really did prefer Ryou over you, wouldn't he try and put you back in the Ring?" He smiled before tacking on, "And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't kiss you either."

Bakura sat back and crossed his arms. "Look, I realize my fears were all stupid now, but what can I do about it?" he asked, deciding not to respond to Pegasus' claims on him being a good guy. Mainly because he knew they were all true and that Marik had caused most of the more drastic changes to occur, like him being a nicer person in general and not hurting anyone for no reason anymore. Which he found he was okay with... "The potion is given away now, and you can't make another one. Can you?"

Pegasus shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid not. If I were you though, I'd try to find a way to separate you from him soon."

"Why?" Bakura asked, not really seeing the big deal. Being in the Ring wasn't so bad; you were usually asleep most of the time, you got to live forever, and you could experience lots of different people's lives.

"Because you're living someone else's life," Pegasus explained, putting his shoulder on the table and resting his head in his hand. "The personality may be yours, but that body belongs to Ryou." He frowned before continuing, "You need to live your own life, and give that poor boy his own back. Because no matter how you look at it, if you and Marik got together eventually, you'd still be in Ryou's body."

Bakura looked at him while he thought this over. That was true, this wasn't even his body. Technically, Ryou's body was the one doing all of these things. It was "Ryou" who was helping find the Millennium Items, it was "Ryou" who was the one writing all of the new horror novels, and, more importantly, it was "Ryou" who was friends with Marik. And… kissing him…

The vampire took a deep breath. The thought of acquiring his own body had never really occurred to him before. When he first took over it was to save Ryou's life, and so that he wouldn't be bored. He figured he could just live for as long as he could, doing whatever he wanted every day. That plan hadn't changed, actually - he still wanted to live as long as he could and do whatever he wanted every day, it's just that… now he wanted to do those things with Marik.

But was it really fair to take over someone else life like that? Before it was fine because he wasn't really doing anything, just continuing Ryou's writing career and using his house. Now, he was going places; he was doing things that Ryou's probably only dreamed of, things that the boy would probably love to do. How he must feel knowing his body is doing all of these amazing things and he's stuck to watch from the sidelines, or not even watching at all depending on if he's conscious or not.

He knew Pegasus was right; he needed to get his own body, and give Ryou's back. Time in the Ring probably isn't that great for Ryou. After all, when Bakura was trapped in there he didn't have to see anyone else live his old life - his body was just a dead piece of skin and bones when his spirit left it. He couldn't imagine how he would feel if he saw someone living his life, showing him what he could be doing, mocking him because now he could only watch life instead of be a part of it…

How the hell had he enjoyed the Ring before?

He looked at Pegasus and sighed again. "You're right…" he said to him dejectedly, since he still had no idea how to accomplish that.

"Of course I am!" the other man just said with a grin, flipping his hair back. "I'm Pegasus!"

Bakura started laughing at the man's exuberance, but he quickly stopped when he heard footsteps near the cottage. He smiled, announcing, "Marik's home."

"Finally!" Pegasus voiced Bakura's thoughts exactly with a wink. Both of them stood up, and Pegasus said casually before departing the room, "I'll leave you two alone for a bit."

Bakura rolled his eyes before opening the door. The sight on the other side made his eyes grow wide. "Marik, what the hell happened to you?" Leaves were sticking out of the tanned boy's hair, his kohl was all messed up, there were black streaks of what appeared to be mud running down his arms, and the bottom of his shirt was all torn up, revealing small, bright red scratches.

Marik just chuckled a bit. "It's nice to see you too, Bakura." He walked inside and sat down at the kitchen table. "I hope this food is for me, because I'm eating it," he announced as his vampire closed the door.

Bakura joined him at the table, sitting opposite him. "No, seriously, what happened?" he asked again.

"I love your cooking," Marik stalled truthfully, slurping up some noodles. He looked at Bakura and grinned when he saw the look he was being given. "Aw, you really care about what happened to me, don't you?" he teased.

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Yes, now tell me already!"

Marik laughed, but couldn't help but feel happy that Bakura was worried over him. "Okay, okay," he began before cutting his chicken. "Remember that time I hit a tree when we were sledding?"

"… You ran into a tree?" Bakura asked, trying to contain a smile.

Marik stuck his tongue out at him. "No; I climbed a tree and… well, let's just say squirrels don't like me and leave it at that."

"Why did you climb a tree in the first place?"

"Oh!" Marik exclaimed as if he had just remembered something. "You and I are going on a date tomorrow."

Bakura just stared at Marik, unsure if he heard him correctly. He smirked before saying, "That's one hell of a way to ask someone on a date, you know."

Marik looked at him confused for a second before his eyes widened and he blushed. "N-no, I meant…" he groaned and put a hand to his forehead. "That came out all wrong -"

"I kind of liked the idea of it."

"- I meant we're going on a double date tomorrow," Marik finished, blushing harder from Bakura's comment. Him and Bakura, on a… d-date? He hadn't really thought of it before, but now that it was in his head he realized he wouldn't have minded one… and it sounded like Bakura wouldn't mind one either.

Bakura raised an eyebrow at him, still smiling. "Marik, you might want to rephrase that still."

"I am so not good at this…" the Egyptian complained while he rested his head in his hand. "I met these two girls who said they knew where the Millennium Items were - "

"You did? That's great!" Bakura said happily, knowing that must have made Marik's day much easier.

Marik smiled at him, glad he was so enthused. "Yeah, and they said they'll give them to us after we go on a date with them." He could tell Bakura was going to ask why they wanted that, of all things, so Marik added, "One of the girls wants to get her old boyfriend jealous."

"Ah," Bakura said, nodding. "Where are we going then?"

"We're going ice skating at three," Marik told him.

"… I've never been ice skating."

Marik smirked. "Well then I'll have a blast watching you fall down all day."

Bakura stuck his tongue out at Marik who just laughed before eating some more noodles. The kitchen was silent for a moment before Bakura said, "You never did tell me how you ended up like this."

"Oh, right," Marik said, laughing at himself. "Well, these girls are a little off, you know, so I decided to spy on them for a bit - what's so funny?" he asked when Bakura started laughing extremely hard.

"N-nothing," the vampire stammered, "it's just that… you sound like a stalker."

Marik rolled his eyes. "I was gathering information on them! Trying to see if there's more to them than meets the eye?"

"Stalker Marik~."

"Shut up!" Marik ordered, but he was smiling when he said it. "Anyways, they were going inside this one building and there happened to be a tree outside the window, so I climbed it - stop laughing! - and just when I was settled in the branch a squirrel comes up and attacks me. I guess I invaded his tree or whatever."

"I so wish I could have been there to see that," Bakura said, still laughing.

Marik chuckled. "But if you had been with me I wouldn't be eating this delicious meal right now," he said before taking a bite of the chicken Bakura prepared to prove his point.

"So, you like the meal?" Bakura asked, still chuckling a bit

Marik smiled. "Of course - you made it after all."

Bakura looked away from Marik, feeling kind of embarrassed from that comment. "Thanks…"

"Speaking of food," Marik continued, swallowing some chicken. "How's your mark?"

"Huh? Oh," Bakura said before lifting his shirt sleeve and finding his mark to be dipping greatly in the red zone. "Um… I could drink."

"I'll say…" Marik commented, seeming to be uncomfortable now. He put down his fork gently, avoiding his eyes, though the utensil still made a slight "chink" sound despite his efforts. He rubbed the back of his head before saying, "Well, I'm a bit scratched up…" and gesturing to the scratch marks around his waist. "And, uh, there's that Blood Pack thing…"

Bakura smirked and stood up, walking over to Marik and leaning down to whisper in his ear, "May I please drink your blood, Marik Ishtar?"

The use of his first and last name sent shivers down Marik's spine for some reason; Bakura rarely every used his last name. "… S-sure…" he replied back with a whisper, blushing a bit and becoming more sensitive to his neck all of a sudden. He had to bite his tongue to refrain from making a noise when Bakura bit his neck and started drinking. He had expected it to feel slightly pleasurable, but… it felt so much better than he remembered. His skin tingled, his insides writhed, his eyelids drooped with desire… the more blood that left his system the more he wanted, and when the contact finally broke his body screamed for more. He almost asked for it when his eyes widened and he blushed even more than he already had been. He put a hand to the bite wounds, feeling extremely lightheaded now, but all he could think about was how horrified he was by himself, wanting to say… "more"…

"Marik, are you okay?" Bakura's slightly worried voice came to him.

He turned to look at the vampire and felt another rush that said that dreaded word: more. He found himself leaning forward and kissing Bakura, much to the other's surprise. Once he felt his lips press back though, he broke away, suddenly realizing just what he was doing. He covered his mouth before stammering, "I-I'm sorry, I, I… d-didn't mean to…" he stood up abruptly, hitting his hip on the table in his haste to leave the room. "I-I'm going to bed!"

Bakura blinked, slightly confused at how fast that happened. He just managed to call out to Marik, "We're sleeping in a tent outside!" before the confused boy could stumble into one of the other rooms. He heard Marik pause before turning around and going out the back way, still covering his mouth and blushing madly.

Bakura stared at the door for a minute before putting a hand to his own smiling mouth. Marik just kissed him. That's what happened, right? And more importantly, he did so purposefully without any instigation on Bakura's part.

Well, Bakura thought to himself, still smiling. That was unexpected, but definitely good. He smirked as he stood up and walked through the back, kitchen door, following Marik to the tent. I wonder if he'd be in the mood for a few more…

---

(1): I was so tempted to add: "May the odds be ever in your favor!" XD

I know you guys probably hate me, for ending it right there… ;) *laughs evilly* Hope you all are enjoying France so far~ I know this chapter is long overdue and I apologize for the colossal wait -_-"

I feel like this chapter is, different, from my other ones somehow… I can't put my finger on it though *stares at chapter.* I wrote most of the end scene when it was really late, so… in the morning, I'll probably be yelling at myself for the quality, but I figured you've all waited long enough for this.

Please review and tell me your favorite part of the chapter so I can include more scenes like it XD And share all of your spazzing with me! I love reading it XD

MARIK KISSED BAKURA~ XD

~~~{REVIEW REPLIES}~~~

iLOVEyourstories: Thank you so much!-! I really don't know how much my stories have helped you, but it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that they did somehow :') I also thank you for the encouragement; those pesky problems of mine have all wizened up and left me, thank goodness! ^^ Haha, they should really make a drug for people addicted to stories, but I am happy you're addicted to this one! I'm glad you like it so much :3 You're awesome! Thank you for reviewing, it was lovely ^^ Lots and lots of love back, Annzy =)