***"Fortune Cookie" as a nickname that Kamy sometimes uses in her comics (follow them on Tumblr, their ygo comics are the best!)***

Marik needed to go shopping, and I stayed home, feigning a nap. The moment he was gone, I was on my laptop and signing online. If Marik was going to milk Ryou and Kek for information for our game, well then two could play that game.

And as luck would have it. Ishizu was online.

"What's up, Fortune Cookie? Have you figured out that I'm back yet?"

"Why did you steal from Marik?"

Well, she got to the chase, didn't she?

"To get his attention."

"You're a cockroach."

Damn.

"Calm your-"

I deleted the first two words. On second thought, I didn't really want to tell Marik's sister to calm her tits.

"Calm down. I gave the money back already."

"Why would you give it back? What are you scheming now?"

Oooooooooh Myyyyyyyy Godcaaaaaards! Why was this woman so insufferable? Here I was, trying to get to know Marik a little instead of just running off and becoming the Ultimate Fuck Buds™ and Ishizu wouldn't let me get a single question in without an insult or accusation. I mean… not that I fully blamed her. I kinda was a thieving cockroach that was always scheming something, but at least let me get a word in edgewise.

"You're overthinking this. I wanted to get Marik's attention, so once I did, I didn't need his money anymore."

"Yes, well, I suppose you do have it now. Rishid told me he's in Domino."

"Yes. He's at the store, currently. That's why I was trying to message you."

"I can't see what we could possibly need to talk about."

"We don't *need* to talk… I just-"

"I mean-"

"Look, I thought it'd be nice if I could learn a little more about Marik?"

I was not doing a good job of whatever the hell I was trying to do. Part of me wanted to be blunt and flat out say that I fell in love with her brother's hatred for the Pharaoh years ago, and now I'm back, and human, and SOL when it comes to vengeance, and I'm just trying to reconcile the memories and the feelings of then and now because they weren't going away and I was stuck, so if she could just tell me what sort of games Marik liked as a kid so I could surprise him when he got home, then that'd be great, thanks.

"If you have questions, then ask him. I'm not going to help you case my little brother for whatever self-motivated reasons you have."

"I have been asking him, but we're playing a game and asking you is part of it."

"I don't believe you."

"WHY WOULD I LIE ABOUT SOMETHING SO STUPID?"

"Why indeed?"

"Omg, I don't want his credit card information. I was just curious if he had a favorite bedtime story, or game, or pet from childhood or something. Were you guys even allowed to have pets when you were kids? A cat?"

"I have nothing to say to you. Good day."

"Psh, yeah. Thanks for nothing. Lovely talking to you again."

I knew I shouldn't close out the conversation like that, but I was pissed off and bitter. Another box flashed at the bottom of my screen. I clicked on it, and realized it was Baldy.

"What would you do? If Marik did like cats?"

"Get him a kitten."

I typed without thinking, but I realized as soon as it was on the screen that it was true. Sure, it was a point in the game, if I could tell him another fact that I shouldn't know, but really it was more than that. It was about making Marik happy.

"Really?" Rishid asked, but unlike with Ishizu, I had a feeling that the single worded question was actual curiosity instead of an implied accusation.

"We're playing a get-to-know-each-other game."

"I think a game like that will be good for both of you. There were cats, to eat the rats and snakes, but we weren't allowed to pet them because they were sacred. I used to have to chase Marik- he was about three- and carry him out of the pantry while he screamed and reached out for them. We played Duel Monsters, mostly, as children, but sometimes sennett. You should have already guessed that he liked stories about ghouls as a child. Is that enough?"

"Yeah. Damn, thanks, Baldy."

"It's Rishid."

"Sure." I had no intention of ever calling him anything other than Baldy. Ever. But I did appreciate the offer of the name.

"Good luck, Bakura."

I closed out the chat boxes and brought up Google to see if I could find any good stories to whisper to Marik on the couch that night before we tried to go to sleep.