A/N: How I managed to get another chapter out in between reading articles for strategy..don't ask me. I hope you like it *smiles sleepily*
Oh, also, I do not own the song in this chapter. It is "Monster" by Skillet.
I paced the length of our room; occasionally throwing side glances at the band and at Seto. Enough is enough. I tossed my head back and shook my shoulders loosening my tense muscles. Yugi sat on the table behind me while everyone else sat in chairs in front of me.
"What did you want to talk to us about?" Ryou asked; his soft English accent slightly soothing my frazzled nerves.
I stopped pacing, "Look everyone," I closed my eyes trying to think of the best way to say this, "I appreciate everything you have all done for me while I was experiencing the withdrawal symptoms. I appreciate your dedication to my health and my safety," I began.
"But," Malik urged.
"But I don't need to be looked after anymore. This entire deal with barging into our room without knocking and at random hours is not acceptable. I expect to be given the same amount of privacy and respect that I give each of you," I nod towards them.
"What if there are no good pornos on?" Marik smirked at me. I narrowed my eyes at him. I am not going to dignify that comment with a response. I'm sure someday it will be very funny. Right now I'm pissed. The invasion of privacy will end now. Marik coughed; the smile melting off of his face.
"You haven't relapsed in a while," Seto tilted his head; his cerulean eyes staring off into the distance. "I think we can provide you with the privacy you want." The grin that crossed my face went from one ear to the other. "There is a catch," Seto tilted his head upwards. Oh great.
"What's the catch?" I arch an eyebrow at him.
"If you relapse, we go back to watching you 24/7," he commented matter-of-factly. I don't think I have much choice right now.
"Deal," I agree with a nod. It is not the best, but it is a start, "Any time you need us, you call or knock on the door," I lowered my head and meet their eyes each individually. They nodded. I'm glad we have an understanding.
A knock at the door drew our attention away from the topic at hand. I turned and walked over and pulled the large wooden door open. Joey grinned at me as I stepped aside to let him in. That is more like it. Perhaps Seto can take lessons from Joey. I mentally scoff at that thought. Seto take lessons from his assistant. He would think I have lost my mind for allowing that though to traipse around in my head.
"Kaiba, your messages," Joey handed Seto several sheets of paper. We watched as his cerulean eyes scanned each sheet. He paused at one of them and glanced up to me.
"Please tell me you have a new song ready?" he arched his eyebrow at him; his tone condescending and snarky.
"Well yes. I have been working on something. It needs some finishing touches," I tilt my head awaiting his response.
"Finish it, the band is scheduled to start recording a new album. As you are on tour, you will all need to work together to come up with the new album and we will need to have you record it as we go," Seto crumpled up one of the sheets of paper and tossed it at Joey's head. The paper ball bounced off his head and landed on the ground. The blonde narrowed his eyes at Seto before reaching down to pick it up. I watched Seto smirk; his eyes never leaving the form of his new assistant.
"When do we record?" Bakura asked.
"Today," Seto responded shifting through and reviewing the next few messages.
"Ra, I wish you wouldn't do that," Malik sighed. His lilac orbs met my eyes, "How far along is that song of yours?"
"It is almost done," I turn to fish a notebook out of my bag and hand it to the smallest blonde Egyptian. The group gathered around him. Ryou hummed the notes while Marik began to sing the lyrics.
"I like it, Atemu," Marik glanced up at me.
"Me too," Yugi smiled reading the lyrics and music over Malik's shoulder.
I tilt my head up, a sense of pride washed over me, "Would you like to sing it Marik? As the lead?"
"Me?" Marik pointed to himself; his eyes wide in surprise.
I nodded, "Yes, you. I think your voice would be best to pull off that song,"
"I would love to," Marik ran his fingers over the notes on the paper, "Let's get started!"
\/\/\/
We walked into the studio late that afternoon. It took most of the day to put the finishing touches on the song and to rehears it. We were in for another very long night. We took our places within the enclosed recording area; Seto, Joey, and our sound technician all on the other side of the glass facing into the recording area.
The technician pushed a button and his voice filled the room, "Ready when you are." We nod and took our places. The plan was to let Marik sing most of it and have the rest of us sing backup. Marik took his position in front of the microphone. He took a sip of water before placing the bottle on the table. Malik took his place on the drums. Ryou was on the keyboard. Yugi, Bakura, and I were on the guitars.
"Yeah guys! Let's do it!" we hear Joey's voice come over the intercom into the recording studio before we heard Seto cut in.
"Stop touching things pup! Let the technician handle it. We wouldn't want you breaking anything," Seto sneered. Ra, he is such a jerk. I do have to give Joey kudos for lasting this long. He has lasted longer than any other assistant that Seto had brought on board. I heard Marik clear his throat; pulling me away from my thoughts. He took a deep breath while Bakura started to play the song first. The rest of us following a few counts later. Marik started to sing.
The secret side of me
I never let you see
I keep it caged
But I can't control it
So stay away from me
The beast is ugly
I feel the rage
And I just can't hold it
It's scratching on the walls
Bakura joined Marik for the next line.
In the closet, in the halls
Marik tossed his head back as he sang the next part.
It comes awake
And I can't control it
Hiding under the bed
Bakura joined him for another line; their voices combining to form a strong bone chilling harmony.
In my body, in my head
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
Bakura chimed in once again.
Make it end!
Marik's voice grew louder and stronger as all of our voices filled the room; mingling and dancing with the music we played.
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
Our voices fell silent; the music boomed within the studio on its own for a few notes. Marik resumed singing.
My secret side I keep
Hid under lock and key
I keep it caged
But I can't control it
Cause if I let him out
Bakura and I sang the next two line of lyrics with Marik.
He'll tear me up
And break me down
Marik once again took over.
Why won't somebody come and save me from this?
I glanced sideways to see Bakura smirking as sang the next part with Marik.
Make it end!
We all joined Marik for the chorus.
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
All of the band save for Marik and I fall silent. I close my eyes; remembering the dark place I had been in when I started writing this song. It was before I had met Yugi. It was one of the few ways I would deal with the pain and loneliness that built up inside of me; threatening to consume me with darkness and death. This song serves as a reminder to myself to never go back to that dark place. There is no need for me to.
It's hiding in the dark
It's teeth are razor sharp
There's no escape for me
It wants my soul,
It wants my heart
The music ceased as Bakura fell to his knees cackling. We turn to him and watch him curiously as he clutched his sides. Has he lost his mind?
"Uhh," Ryou chuckled, "Kura, we are kind of in the middle of recording. What is so funny?
Bakura gasped for breath, "Marik singing It wants my soul, It ants my heart," he continued to laugh like a maniac.
"Why is that funny?" Yugi asked tilting his head to the side.
"Because it assumes he even has a soul or a heart," the tallest albino explained through his bouts of laughter.
Marik turned and growled at him, "I do too have a soul and a heart!"
This just succeeded in sending Bakura through another round of laughter, "Sure cupcake. Just keep telling yourself that and someday you will become a real boy."
"Don't patronize me, Bakura. I know where you sleep," Marik smirked; mischief evident in his eyes.
That caught Bakura's attention. He silenced his laughter and smirked at the tallest blonde, "Give me the best you've got!"
"I intend to," Marik purred. Uh..what..just happened?
I sigh as I heard Seto's voice pour over the intercom, "If you are quite done screwing around, it is 4 am, I would like to get a little bit of sleep tonight!" Bakura stood and positioned his base guitar across his chest. He nodded for Marik to continue. The blonde turned to the rest of us. We each nodded.
"Okay, Marik, take it from It wants my soul, It wants my heart," Seto growled into the intercom. Bakura sneered again when Marik turned back to the microphone. We started playing the music for that part and Marik continued to sing.
It wants my soul,
It wants my heart.
No one can hear me scream
Maybe it's just a dream
Marik fell silent as Bakura sang the next lyric.
Or maybe it's inside of me
I swallowed and cut in to sing the next part.
Stop this monster!
Marik's voice rose over the music as he sang.
I feel it deep within, It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
All of our voices merge and harmonize with Marik's to sing the last part of the song.
I hate what I've become
The nightmare's just begun
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I feel it deep within,
It's just beneath the skin
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I'm gonna lose control
here's something radical
I must confess that I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
I, I feel like a monster
Aaaand that is a wrap! We cheer as the technician gave the queue that it was fully recorded. It was 6 am and I am beyond ready for bed. I yawn as I watch Seto talk with the technician. I feel Yugi grab my guitar and gently lift it over my head. He smiled warmly at me as he put my guitar in the case.
"I will finish editing this and will give it to Seto to be released," the technician smiled at us.
"Good work all. Now go get," Seto began before he was interrupted.
"Some breakfast?" Joey piped in excitedly.
"No pup! Some rest! If they want breakfast so be it, but I am going to sleep for a few hour. Joey wait here until he is done editing it. Then bring the recording to me," Seto glanced down at his pocket planner. I chuckle as Joey began to imitate Seto on his pocket planner; making faces to make fun of him. Seto spun to look at Joey; narrowing those cold cerulean eyes at the blonde. Joey just shrugged innocently.
"Sure, I will wait here for it," Joey nodded.
"Good," Seto returned his gaze to us, "Good night all."
Yugi giggled, "Good morning, Seto." Our manager just shook his head while he took his leave. Oh yes, bed time. I covered my mouth as a large yawn made it's appearance known. I blushed while I picked up my guitar case and followed Yugi out of the recording studio.