Dlbn: Guess who's back after a too-long period of being gone for no adequately explained reason!
Nbld: The rambling machine.
Dlbn: Right! Wait…no! Me! How mean!
Nbld: Zip it. We'll begin this chapter as we do every chapter. With a Review Corner! Thank you to Anonymous, Painty, Guest, animelvr16, ConspireshippingFTW, IrkenIshtarGamer, shadowwolfoffire, and impurepet for reviewing! Confetti and cookies for you all! *throws confetti and hands out cookies)
Anonymous: Noah really is a good kid. The only Kaiba child that isn't somehow screwed up in the head XD They always seem to make it through no matter how bad the situation, so I'm sure they'll all be fine. I don't know if Bakura was entirely confused or just taken off guard by Marik's boldness XD
Painty: Way ahead XD it pretty much is a case of 'if dad's the worst of the worst and can't change, then why should I believe you or anyone else is capable of changing'. Though she seems convinced she can change Marik's mind about having feelings for Bakura for some reason. Bakura actually is a good guy deep down, but he's spent so long being the horrid jackass we know and love that he's not really willing to show that side of himself yet. Aw glad you like the pairing more now ^^ It's one of my favorites, I admit XD
Guest: Thank you, that's really kind of you to say! ^^ more coming right up!
Animelvr16: Thank you! More coming right up!
ConspireshippingFTW: Aw thank you~ Yeah, sorry about the long pause between updates ^^" This no inspiration thing is really a pain
IrkenIshtarGamer: Welcome back! Yes, there is ^^ No, contrary to Ishizu's beliefs, Bakura is NOT using Marik in any way, shape, or form, and he never will. She's so blinded by her dislike of him and hatred for her father that she can't see him as anything other then having evil intent. But I promise, Bakura isn't using Marik's love against him. His feelings are genuine ^^ It's not exactly that I'm busy, it's more that inspiration flies away and refuses to come home from vacation and it's a pain ^^" but the writing bug is back, so I have one more chapter prewritten already. I'll just wait a week or so for that update. He's just adorable. That's one of my favorite lines from him ^^ Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoy! :3
Shadowwolfoffire: More coming up!
Impurepet: Thank you *bows back* No internet sucks! I had to deal with that for a couple years when my old laptop died and I couldn't afford another one ^^" Aw thank you very much! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do NOT own YuGiOh or anything from it. I make NO money off of this. It all belongs to Kazuki Takahashi! I make no money off of this work fiction! I only do for it fun!
000
It was kind of strange, going throughout the next day at school knowing that soon everything was going to change for my siblings and I. Bakura, Ryou, and the others were supportive about everything, but it still felt like the calm between us was forced and wasn't going to last. I hadn't seen Ishizu after school until I got home from Bakura's house that night. I apologized to her, but she didn't seem too affected and thanked me for the apology. Even so, I could tell from the look in her eyes that the comment stung. I took advice given to me by Thief, of all people, and decided to leave her alone for the time being to think things over and for both of us cool down. Our table in lunch was stunningly silent. I had no idea that our semi-newly formed group could actually be quiet and eat lunch like normal people. The noise of the other tables talking and laughing blended together into background noise that quite frankly gave me a headache the size of Ra himself. I was the first to finish and lay my head on my arms, on top of the table. I felt fingers sift through my hair and knew instinctively that it was Bakura, for once not caring if others could see. Considering how many people were at our table, it wouldn't surprise me if no one saw what he was doing. His fingers left my hair a little too soon and I looked up. Yugi and his friends were on their way over to our table, as had become routine almost every other day. People seemed to find enjoyment out of taking up extra space at their table. Then again, it wasn't all that surprising. Considering class location on various days, it made sense that Yugi and the gang would be late every other day and lose their table, thus joining us.
"You guys are being awfully quiet today." Joey informed, plopping down at the open end of the table. "Who died?"
"Joey!" Tea scolded. "Ugh, can you be any more obnoxious? What if someone really did die?"
"Just my childhood." I muttered, earning a slap on the back of the head from Bakura.
"Just a slow day." Ryou answered her at last. "Feels like the day is dragging on slowly."
"Yeah, it really does." Yugi nodded as he dug into his lunch. "Yesterday went by so much quicker."
"That's because it was Sunday." Atem corrected. "Weekends always go quicker."
"Especially Sunday since school is the next day." Agreed Tristan. "And Friday goes too slow because of the weekend coming up."
"Well, Mondays are lousy anyway, so that's why it's dragging."
"They suck." Joey nodded.
"It's Tuesday." Yugi pointed out shyly.
Joey flushed. "But really, you guys are being too quiet, even for you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Yami wondered.
"You're normally loud."
"Look who's talking." Ryou pointed out.
Other then Joey, the table burst into laughter.
"He got you good, man. Stop sulking." Tristan slapped Joey on the back.
Joey went to hit him back, but was stopped by Tristan's arm coming up to block the shot.
"And you guys are the disruptive ones, right?" Tea giggled.
I rolled my eyes, but smiled at her. "I guess there's a difference between being loud and being disruptive."
"I don't think any of our teachers would agree with that." Ryou stated.
"Except maybe Grandpa." Yugi pointed out. "Then again, his students can't do any wrong in his eyes."
"Neither can we." Atem offered, narrowly dodging Joey flinging food at Tristan's head. "You have terrible aim, Joey."
"No more silverware for you two." Tea stated, stealing their plastic cutlery.
"Good thing its plastic-ware, then." Thief said, taking a drink.
More laughter.
"Now this is more like it." Joey grinned. "It was strange hearing you guys being so quiet…or not hearing you like we normally do…you know what I mean."
A roll bounced off his head. Tristan looked away and whistled innocently. Joey was about to throw it back, but Duke reached up from under the table and caught his friend in the chin with one.
"What? I felt left out." He informed, shaking spiky black hair out of his eyes.
I rolled my eyes. If I was comfortable enough with them to let them know I was with Bakura, I'd be okay with these guys joining our group. Close knit and strange as they were, they were actually highly interesting and kept things moving. The laughter at the table, from us and them, no longer seemed forced. Jabs at one another and clever comebacks flew back and forth at a quick enough pace to make the period finish up quicker then it had started. I was almost sad that the period was over, but knew it had to end at some point.
Everything had a beginning and an end. I just hoped the end to the life story my friends, siblings, and I shared would have a happy one.
000
It was about five thirty that night when I arrived back at home from Bakura's, tired and slightly sore. Dad wasn't home yet, or at least his car wasn't there, so I felt safe enough to walk right inside and help myself to a drink from the kitchen. Ishizu was doing homework while sitting on the living room sofa, and Odion was in his room. I could hear music playing softly behind the closed door even from where I was. I was about to just walk into my own room to get started on my leftover homework, but Ishizu clearing her throat stopped me in my tracks. Dad tended to do that when he first came home if none of us were paying attention and he had news, so it was like second nature to me to respond to a sound like that. But since it was Ishizu and not him, my heart didn't stop or leap up into my throat.
"Yeah?" I wondered.
"Sit down, please. I think we need to talk." She stated calmly, setting her book on the table, homework lying on top of it.
"Uh, okay."
'We need to talk'? That was one sentence that never ended well. I slowly sat down on the loveseat, facing her. She was looking at the homework on the table as if some last minute thoughts were coming to mind and she wanted to write them down before she forgot them again and left them out entirely. I'd seen that contemplative look on her face quite often growing up. She picked up her pen and scribbled something onto the paper before smiling in satisfaction and looking back at me.
"About yesterday? With Bakura?" She wondered.
"Yeah?" I already apologized. What did she want?
"I think I owe you an apology, as well. You're right. In the end, it isn't my business whom you end up with, not what you do with them." She went on. "I know you have a thing for Bakura, a pretty strong one if I had to guess right, and he seems to be warming up a little bit to you and Ryou. I just don't want you to do something that you're going to regret. I admit I was acting a bit too much like your mother and not your sister, attempting to control you instead of offer advice or a gentle nudge in the right direction. But I am not trying to be your mother, nor am I trying to replace her. No one can replace mom, we all know that. But you do need to have people looking out for you. And you do. Dad obviously does not have any of our best interests at heart, but Odion and I do care and just want you to be safe. I guess, in the end, you do end up with the little troublemaker, we will end up supporting you in that decision. I'm not saying I agree with it or that I'd go and give you my blessing right now to go and hook up with him or something like that, but if it comes to that and there's nothing we can do to change your mind, then, well, I guess I'll just have to live with it and hope to Ra that you know what you're doing and are going to be safe about it…okay…?"
I felt my mouth go dry and my jaw threaten to drop. What in the world got into her? Did Odion talk to her or something? This didn't sound like my sister or something that she'd say, especially about Bakura. I was happy to hear it, honestly, but it still surprised me.
"So…you're saying…if I were to end up with Bakura eventually…you wouldn't try to break us up and stuff?"
She shook her head. "Once you get with him, what you two do with each other, to each other, or about each other is not my concern. As long as he doesn't hurt you…"
"He wouldn't hurt me." I shook my head in denial. "He knows everything that's been going on with dad. Do you honestly think he'd raise a hand to me, knowing that, and trying to help put him away so he can no longer do that to any of us? He wants to help us, Ishizu. I didn't have to prod him into doing anything. He himself decided to get involved and do something about it. He was trying to convince me to do something about it in the beginning until I felt ready enough and discussed it with you guys. You don't have to worry about Bakura hurting me."
"You can hurt someone in ways other then physical, Marik. And other then sexual, too. I know he wouldn't do anything like that to you, since even Tsuki disgusted him, but still. I just don't want him toying with you and putting you through emotional hell. I don't want you to become a different person just because of him. I like you as you are, and I know Odion, Ryou, and the others do as well. I just don't want to see you changing for some boy."
"Isn't that what Odion and I are supposed to be telling you?"
She finally cracked a smile. "Yes, I suppose you're right. But unlike you, I don't have a crush on the school bad boy."
I laughed. "If you did, I may have to kill you."
She chuckled. "If you say so, Marik."
"I'm…I'm glad we could talk things out, Ishizu." He stood and hugged her. "Thank you for understanding. I can't help how I feel about Bakura. And if he one day feels the same about me, you can bet anything I'll jump right on that."
"Just don't do it in public." She hugged me back.
We both laughed before separating.
"I better go do my homework."
"I have some to finish, too. Call me if you need help."
"As if." I tossed over my shoulder with a grin, heading to my room.
I really hoped she meant everything she said to me right then, I think her lying about it would break me even more then Bakura not returning my feelings ever could have done.