So thanks to my wonderful sinus infection (courtesy of Northern Michigan's 'random bullshit, go!' meme weather), I'm off work for most of the week for recovery. Thankfully most of the days were already scheduled off so I'm not taking too much a hit to my paycheck. That just means more time for writing lol.
A few things to note: Malik's use of the endearment 'ka-ib' for the most part is made up based on the closest I could find in the Kemetic language for 'dearest friend' was 'the one closest to my heart' (which a dear friend should be), which is written in English as 'k ib' (though not necessarily pronounced this way because that's just how Kemetic works).
Second note: I have been plotting a wonderful chess match between Atem and Kat. And not just ANY chess match. This match has not one, but two references! If you have ever played Dragon Age Inquisition (which I obviously hold no rights to), you may recognize it as the mental chess game between The Iron Bull and Solas after rescuing the Chargers and Bull is declared Tal-Vashoth (obviously need Bull and Solas in party for banter to trigger). This banter is a reference itself by being an exact play-by-play of the the Immortal Game between Adolf Andersson and Lionel Kieseritzky on June 21, 1851.
I mention the above for one reason. I usually only use italics for Atem when he is in spirit form. During the chess match I have switched his lines to italics simply to help differentiate between his lines and Kat's. He is NOT in spirit form during this time. It would have probably been obvious, but I want to avoid any possible confusion.
Final note (sorry there are so many): I am hoping that I have used to correct Egyptian Arabic term of endearment when being said towards a girl. I used the all powerful Google, so I apologize in advance if I used the wrong version/spelled it incorrectly. Feel free to send me a private message if it needs correcting and I will fix it ASAP. As it is, I'm still not 100% if 'gamiil' is the correct word when essentially calling someone 'pretty' or 'beautiful' towards a boy (I'm at about 89% certainty lol).
Marik brought his hand up to the one on his cheek, holding it in place. He then leaned down, pulling the tiny elemental girl closer to him with his free hand, bringing their faces close enough together that they could each taste the other's breath. He felt a strange fluttering inside, and without thinking brought his mouth to hers. He felt the strange floating sensation he had felt after drinking beer, but there was no alcohol involved. It was just her lips moving in tandem with his. They were sweet, far sweeter than the beer, or even the sugar he had placed in his coffee. His lungs called for air, but he held out for a few moments longer before pulling back. Both looked at each other, catching their breath.
Kat looked at him through hazed eyes, smiling slightly. Her smile slowly faded, changing to a look of fear. She began to push away. "….no…...nonono…" She ran out of the garage, Marik close behind her. He continued to follow her as she ran up the stairs and into the bathroom that was connected to her room. She slammed the door before Marik could stop her.
"Kat! I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me!" he called through the door. He hadn't asked permission to kiss her, instead he had forced it onto her. He knew she was flirty, but that didn't give him the right to assume he could make a move without properly asking first.
"It's not that…." Kat sniffled from the other side.
He was confused. "Then what? Please….talk to me?"
"I can't...not again…."
"You're not making sense? Can you please come out here so we can talk?"
She forcefully opened the door, staring him in the eye with tears streaming down her face. "This wasn't supposed to happen! I can't do it! Not again!"
"I don't understand?"
"I was fucking using you! I wasn't supposed to feel anything!" she screamed bitterly, tears still cascading down.
"I…." Marik was left speechless. "….using me?"
"Yes! It's what I do! I find someone I enjoy being around and make them my plaything to pass the time! That is all you were supposed to be! I wasn't supposed to feel a damn thing for you!" The bitterness faded from her face, being replaced by a look that tried it's best to apologize. The tears still flowed down in streams down her cheeks.
Marik took a step back, shocked at the confession he had just heard. Everything between them had been about her using him like some toy to be discarded when she got bored? Did that mean everything he was starting to feel for her was all based on lies? He knew she was full of secrets, but how much had she exposed that was actually true?
"How much of it was a lie?" he questioned coldly, staring down at her.
"What?" she asked in confusion.
"How much of everything you have said and done was..a..lie?"
Kat appeared taken aback. The tears slowed. "I haven't lied about anything. I've hidden things, but I haven't lied about any of it."
"So then what am I to you? Just a toy? A puppet? A way to get back at Atem?"
"No! Maybe you were at first, but now…"
"But now you care?" Marik was bitter in his questioning.
Kat closed her eyes and grabbed at her head in frustration. "I don't know! I just know I've felt this before, and I know in the end it hurts! I'm terrified, okay!?"
The coldness faded from Marik, replaced by….he didn't know what. Sorrow? Sympathy? Apology? Something else entirely? Too many things at once he decided.
He began to reach out to place a hand on Kat's shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, but found himself being flung across the room onto his back. When he looked up, he saw the tall imposing figure of Malik staring down at him. The lion's claws were extended, the lavender of his eyes were veined with bright amber as he began to shift, even while still wearing his collar. There was a murderous intent within his gaze, but unlike the battle, he didn't grin in enjoyment at what he was about to do. His jaw was hard-set, like Bakura's had been at the arcade.
The lion raised his clawed hand, ready to strike, but was stopped by a flash of gold and midnight that placed itself across the Tomb Keeper while looking back towards the beast.
"Mal, stop!" Kat looked up at the larger Ishtar with her tear strained eyes.
The lion changed his gaze to the tiny elemental, kneeling down before her. He cupped her chin in his clawed hand. "I told you when you rescued me from the Shadows, that I would never forgive any who made you cry. You have shed far too many tears over the millennia, and instead of stopping it I only added to your pain."
"He didn't do anything! It was me!"
"Stop blaming yourself ka-ib. You do too much of that."
"I was just scared. I swear, he didn't do anything." she stated as she tried to calm the other elemental down.
"You? Scared of a tiny mortal?" Malik grinned and laughed in amusement curtly, then returned to being serious. "You put fear into the hearts of gods and mortals alike. You truly expect me to believe that you are afraid of the tiny thing that quivers at the sight of me?"
"I'm not scared of him. I'm scared of how I feel because of him."
Malik dropped his hand and cocked his head off to the side, curious at what she had said. There was a long pause before he spoke. "Is it like with Atem?"
"It's different, but it's also the same."
"Does it hurt?"
"No. But I'm afraid that it could. I don't want to feel that part again."
"And I don't want to watch you feel that. It hurts me as well."
Marik watched quietly, taking in everything that was being said between the two. He understood now why Kat had ran. He had asked if she was still in love with the Pharaoh, and she had said no. But that meant that at one time she had. And right now she was implying that the things she once felt for Atem, she now felt for him. Atem had done something to severely hurt her, and she was justified in never wanting to endure it again.
Malik looked over to the smaller Ishtar, glaring in judgment. "Do you wish to hurt her? To cause her pain?"
The Tomb Keeper looked up at the lion, glaring back in conviction. He suddenly didn't feel any fear towards the elemental. "No. That is the last thing I want."
"You trust her, even with all the secrets she has kept?"
He thought about what she had said. That even though her original intent was to use him, that she hadn't lied. "Absolutely."
"Would you forsake your oath to the Pharaoh in order to keep her secrets?"
Marik thought about how Kat had treated him, even if it had been to use him. She had trusted him. Then thought about how Atem would go back forth between pretending to trust him and being suspicious of him. "If I had to, yes."
Malik stood. "I believe you tiny one. But if you are ever the reason for her tears, I will hand-deliver your heart to Ammit."
Marik stood as well, Kat rising with him and standing protectively next to him. "You won't have to, I'll do it myself." he stated.
Malik chuckled in amusement. "I like your conviction. Perhaps it was my lack-of that made her leave me for the Pharaoh."
"Leave you?" Marik asked in confusion.
"Kat and I were once betrothed. But then Atem wormed his way into her heart and stole her for himself. Like I said before, I had no issues with being forced to serve the Pharaoh. My reasons for disliking him was on a far more personal level. I don't blame her though. He had far more to offer than an Ishtari ever could."
"It had nothing to do with what he had to offer, you know that." Kat said quietly.
"No. But it's easier for me to accept than you agreeing to my betrothal simply because I had asked, and that you thought no one else would want a barren wife. Especially since you felt that once Atem discovered you couldn't provide him an heir, he would have no interest in you. Perhaps I should have listened to you and not returned to Amarna. Maybe we should have stayed in Per-Bast, or traveled north across the sea like you suggested. But what's done is done, there is no point in dwelling. Perhaps this time you have found someone that will hopefully keep those tears at bay." Malik stood close to her, leaning down and placing a kiss on her forehead. "As I have always done, I will faithfully protect and serve you ka-ib, regardless of what has happened between us." He stepped back and departed with a flourished bow into his element.
Kat turned to look up at Marik. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to freak out like that. And I didn't mean for Mal to attack you. As you can see, he is very protective of me."
"I see that. I also understand. You felt something and it scared you. I'll be honest, these feelings kind of scare me too. It's new and unfamiliar. But by your reaction, it's not new for you. To you it comes with something more. I haven't endured immense pain in the same way you have, but I understand the fear of not wanting to go through it again. We both have scars because of it. Mine is visibly etched into my skin, while yours are hidden deep within your heart."
Kat stared up at him, tears forming in the corners of her eyes again. "How are you able to understand so well? Even after what I said about using you?"
"I'll admit, that part was painful to hear. But you said you didn't lie about anything either. That's important to me. It means that what I feel isn't a lie. And judging by what you said to Malik, I'm not the only one that feels this way." He smiled down at her. "Please don't cry again." He wiped away a tear that had begun to fall down her cheek. "You wouldn't want Malik to come back and drag me off to Ammit, would you?" he questioned softly.
Kat smiled and shook her head. "No. You're too good to me. Besides, he could try. I wouldn't let him."
"Good. Now I just have to watch you don't go leaving me for your 'Ibib'." Marik joked.
Kat punched him lightly in the rib. "That's not even funny."
"Ow! Okay, okay. No jokes about you leaving Malik for the Pharaoh. Got it. I still get to call him the dumbest Pharaoh though, right?"
Kat laughed. "Well, I can't argue with the truth." She reached out and touched the same cheek she had placed her hand on earlier. "Looks like I didn't clean up the grease too well. It's all over the side of your face. We should get that cleaned up. Also, your kohl is smudged. We'll have to fix that as well before you go home."
Marik leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead near where the other Ishtar had. "Or I could just stay here?"
"Are you saying things without thinking again?" she questioned suspiciously.
"Nope. I mean it. I don't want to have to go back and deal with the Pharaoh. I would much rather stay where I am wanted." he stated, looking down into her eyes.
"How about you let me deal with him? If you're there, then I can be near you while I watch over his host at night. I can't expect Kura to take that on full time. He's already agreed to guard duty during school hours."
Marik sighed. "Well, since you put it that way….but maybe take the weekends off?"
Kat giggled. "I'm certain I can get Mal to take weekends if Kura won't. Come on, lets get you cleaned up. Then we'll find a way to get you back to Yugi's place without getting drenched."
Bakura had stuck around from the previous evening, convincing Yugi to let him use the Tomb Keepers bed for the night (seeing as he wasn't going to be using it). Atem hadn't been too pleased, but after Bakura had mentioned that part of guard duty meant staying outside out of sight, Yugi felt bad since he knew that rain had been forecast. Atem had stood guard over the guard (the irony), while Yugi kept the Puzzle around his neck that night.
The following morning when Yugi and Bakura both came down for breakfast, the former realized he hadn't told his grandfather about the unexpected house-guest. Thankfully, Solomon was easily convinced that Bakura had come over to comfort Yugi after Marik had abruptly taken off, and that there might have been a miscommunication about him staying over. The elder Muto, oddly enough, hadn't even questioned about whether Marik had returned or not, or even appeared concerned about it otherwise. Instead he had rushed off and made both boys a hearty breakfast, which to both Yugi and Atem's surprise, Bakura wolfed down as though he hadn't eaten in decades. It was at this time Yugi also realized that Bakura hadn't used his Ryou façade in front of Solomon, yet the elder hadn't shown the slightest bit of surprise at the change in personality.
After the disturbing display of watching Bakura devour his breakfast, Yugi had thrown Atem back into control. He reasoned that if Bakura was going to be their part time guardian, then that meant that he and Atem should at least try to learn to be a bit more tolerable of each other. Bakura had suggested a 'friendly' game of Duel Monsters, but luckily Marik had already informed Yugi to avoid card games with him after Kat had admitted that elementals could cheat. After a few suggestions on what to do, both had settled on a simple game of chess.
They were a good way through the match when they heard the door to the apartment open and close, both Marik and Kat appearing in the living area moments later.
"I'll be right back." Marik placed a light kiss on top of Kat's head, then rushed upstairs.
Kat turned and looked towards where the Pharaoh and pale elemental were, who were sitting opposite of each other on the floor with the chess board between them.
"Looks like someone had a good night…" Bakura commented knowingly.
Kat rolled her eyes. "Nothing happened. You make me out to be some kind of whore."
Bakura fought back a snicker. "You're not?"
She cuffed him over the head.
"Ow!"
"You've slept with more people than I have. So which of us is the whore?"
"Seriously? You keep track?"
"No. I just know I've never had to pay." Kat flashed a taunting grin.
"That's just low. Even for you." Bakura replied sorely, still rubbing at the spot on his head where she had hit him.
Kat knelt down and studied the board between the two for a few minutes. "You lose in six turns." she commented flatly to Bakura.
"What do you mean? There's no way you can-"
He was cut off as she began moving the pieces, playing both sides of the board. Sure enough, Bakura's King was captured in six.
"Told ya. You might be a genius at some things, but there's a reason I'm our primary strategist. It's not your fault. You probably got lured into one of his traps early on and didn't even see it." she stated casually, still looking at the board.
Bakura scowled as he got up and walked away, pouting at the loss.
Atem looked towards her, surprised that she hadn't shown her usual aggression towards him. He decided to take a risk and try talking to her. "I'm surprised you knew which moves I had planned."
"You're predictable. You set the smallest of traps, making them appear insignificant, then lure your opponent in."
"I don't suppose you would be willing to play a match against me?"
"No, I don't think so." She stood and began to wander away.
"Afraid you'll lose?"
Atem smirked as he watched her freeze in place. He had taken Mkhai's words to heart. He was going to use the fact that she hated to lose and that she would try to spite him in one go. He watched as she returned and sat across from him.
"We call out our moves. None of that 'Let me stare at the board and debate forever' crap." she stated harshly.
He nodded in agreement as he continued to smirk. "Very well. Shall we make things a bit more interesting by making a wager as well?"
"What did you have in mind?"
"I win, you tell me everything. No secrets."
She glared at him. Marik returned from upstairs, sporting a set of clean clothes. He was slightly surprised to see Kat and Atem hyper-focused on one another.
"What did I miss?" he questioned to Bakura, who had stopped his pouting to watch.
"Atem just challenged Kat to a game of chess." He grinned in amusement. "He has no idea what he's gotten himself into." he chuckled.
Kat looked over towards Marik, then smiled in a way that suggested she was up to something. "Gamiil, sit with me? Just like last night?" she said flirtatiously.
Marik shrugged, not wanting to know, and sat behind her like he had the previous night. She pulled his arms around her, making him realize she was using their new couple status to taunt the Pharaoh. He played into it by leaning forward and resting his chin on top of her head, as he had the night before.
Kat then looked back towards Atem, a playful look upon her face. "Alright. I accept your wager. But if I win, you won't bother my boyfriend and you won't ask any more questions. If a memory comes to you via the Shadow Walker, fine. But no more trying to find things out until I am ready for you to know." She held out her hand to shake on the possible agreement, grinning the whole time.
Atem felt confident, and nodded his head while he shook the extended palm. "I accept your wager as well." As soon as he had finished speaking the words he felt a sharp thump-thump inside of his chest. He quickly withdrew his hand, inspecting it. "What was that?"
Bakura chuckled as he sat down off to the side. "You just made a pact with the Daughter of Anubis. You are both now magically bound to stand by the wager each has set. If you win, she can't withhold anything. If she wins, you have to play nice with the Tomb Keeper and quit being nosy."
"And since you have a shared body, the rules apply to both you and your host." Kat added. "Since I'm white, I'll start the game. King's pawn to E4."
Atem scowled. He hadn't counted on magic being involved. And he didn't like the overly confident grin on Kat's face. "Pawn to E5."
"Pawn to F4. King's Gambit?" she questioned, referring to her sacrificing a pawn to his in an effort to gain an advantage later on.
He thought on it. "Accepted. Pawn takes pawn."
"Bishop to C4."
"Little aggressive. Queen to H4. Check." Atem smirked, having already placed Kat into check.
"King to F1."
"Pawn to B5."
"All right. You have my curiosity. Bishop takes Pawn." Kat commented, wanting to see what he might do.
"Knight to F6."
"I'll move my Knight as well. Knight to F3."
"Queen to H6."
"Pawn to D3."
"Knight to H5." Atem grinned. He currently had the upper hand.
"All right if you think you are prepared. Knight to H4."
"Queen to G5. So, you giving up the Bishop at B5 or the Knight at H4?" Atem questioned tauntingly.
"Neither. Knight to F5." Kat replied in amusement.
"Pawn to C6. Left your Bishop exposed." he continued to taunt.
"And you, your Knight. Pawn to G4." she said slyly.
"Knight to F6."
Kat thought for a moment. "Hmm. Rook to G1."
Atem grinned smugly. "Pawn takes your Bishop."
Kat paused and thought for a moment. "Pawn to H4."
"Queen to G6."
"Pawn to H5. Careful." she warned in an elevated tone, smirking all the while.
Atem continued to look at her smugly. "You're the one who lost her Bishop. Queen to G5."
"Queen to F3."
"Oh, clever. Almost trapped my Queen. Knight to G8." he said, impressed.
"Bishop takes Pawn, threatens Queen."
Atem appeared annoyed. "Tch! Queen to F6."
"Knight to C3. You've developed nothing but your Queen." Kat noted.
"You're still one Bishop down. Bishop to C5, by the way." He suddenly wasn't too confident in how the match was progressing.
Kat stared in focus at the board, thinking. "Knight to D5."
"Queen takes Pawn at B2."
"Bishop to D6."
"Queen takes Rook. Check." Atem paused and puzzled. "What are you doing?"
"King to E2."
"All right, Bishop takes Rook. Your last Rook, by the way." he noted, attempting a taunt.
"Pawn to E5."
The smugness returned to Atem's face. "Really. I've got my whole army bearing down on your King, and you're moving a Pawn? Are you even trying anymore?" he taunted slyly.
Kat mirrored his look. "Think about it, Ibib."
Atem was stunned at the use of the endearment. Either it had been a slip of the tongue like when she had shouted his name, or she had learned of the slip from Marik. Based on the casualness in how she had used it, he guessed the latter.
"I've thought about it. Ready to finish this? Knight to A6."
"Knight takes Pawn at G7. Check."
His expression was beyond smug at this point. He was going to win. "King to D8."
"Queen to F6, Check."
He sat up proudly. This was it. Soon she would have to tell him everything. "And now my Knight takes your Queen. You've got no Rooks. You're down to a single Bishop. Too bad you wasted time moving that Pawn to… to…" He paused and scowled as he realized that Kat had done precisely what she claimed he would have done.
"Bishop to E7. Checkmate." Kat flashed a fanged grin in his direction. "Awe, don't be too upset Ibib. You may be the King of Games, but I am the Queen."
Bakura tried to hide his amusement...but failed as he grabbed his stomach and fell over backwards in laughter. Even Marik showed a level of amusement at the heated exchange.
Atem glared back at the elemental, unamused. He then looked to the Tomb Keeper with his arms wrapped around Kat. A thought occurred to him. It was petty, but after the humiliating display, he didn't care.
"Tell me, how does your boyfriend take to you calling me Ibib? Especially since he knows it's meaning." he asked, pretending to be casual about it.
Marik was the one to answer, by leaning in close to Kat's neck while smiling. "It doesn't bother me at all. I know that it's nothing more than an old endearment that no longer holds any emotional attachment." He cast a taunting gaze across to the Pharaoh, placing a light kiss on Kat's cheek to solidify the taunt.
"Gamiil, I'm shocked! You would openly challenge your Pharaoh in such a way?" Kat said in a mocking tone.
"You won the game Habibty. There is nothing he can do about it." Marik had to admit, he kind of enjoyed having the upper hand against the Pharaoh for once. Now he wouldn't have to put up with the constant accusations. Sure, Atem could think them all he wanted, but he couldn't voice them directly towards Marik anymore.
Bitter, Atem retreated back into the Puzzle, leaving Yugi to deal with their guest. Yugi sighed, holding the Puzzle and speaking down to it. "Well, at least she didn't threaten or yell at you this time.". He then looked across to the couple that was being a bit overly affectionate towards one another. "Did you really have to shove it in his face? He already suspects that the two of you were more than just friends." he chastised towards Kat.
She looked towards him in earnest. "Good. I enjoy watching him suffer. What I'm putting him through pales in comparison to what I've had to endure." She lowered her gaze, cautioning. "Now, I should warn you that breaking your end of the wager can have severe repercussions. If you stumble across something accidently, that's fine. But don't go purposely searching. You can't ask someone to do it for you either."
"What happens if-"
"I highly suggest you don't." Kat interrupted. "Let's just say even the gods aren't stupid enough to break a magically bound agreement."
Yugi gulped.
Kat stood and stretched, looking down at Bakura. "You're relieved. We'll trade off tomorrow at the school's entrance."
Bakura, who had stopped laughing but was still smiling in amusement, nodded and vanished.
Marik stood up next to his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her. "Sticking around?"
"Not directly. I hate to leave you in such an awkward situation with your roommate, but I'm certain the two of you can work it out. I won't be far if you need me." She stood on her tiptoes while bringing his face down for a quick peck. She then stepped back and vanished as the other elemental had.
Yugi flopped onto his back, feeling defeated. "Great. Just great. Now I have to put up with an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh's jealousy towards my roommate and his girlfriend." He lifted his head to look towards the Tomb Keeper. "Can you at least try not to egg him on? I'm the one who has to live with him in my head."
Marik sunk his head sheepishly. "Sorry. I guess I was being a bit of a jerk about it."
"A bit? That was more that 'a bit'." He sat up straight and glared angrily towards his roommate. "You owe me an apology for taking off like that. I was worried."
Marik sat down on the nearby couch. "Yeah, sorry about that too. Just had a lot going on inside. I still have a lot going on, and I'm trying to process it as I go along. I spent years being bitter and angry. The closest I ever had to a friend during that entire time was my brother, Odion, and I didn't exactly treat him the greatest during that time. I'm still adjusting to having actual friends that care about me, and now suddenly I have a girlfriend to add to the mix. Not just any girl either. An elemental being that was once involved with the very Pharaoh that my clan has served for millennia. It's just a bit overwhelming I guess."
Yugi relaxed a bit. "I guess I can understand that. And I'm glad that you found yourself a girlfriend. You deserve it." he said earnestly. Then his face fell into a hallow expression. "Out of all the girls on the planet though, why did you have to pick the one that Atem probably dated?"
Marik shrunk and rubbed at his neck nervously, a small blush of embarrassment forming across his cheeks. "Yeah…..that wasn't exactly intentional…..and I think they more than just dated…."
Yugi wanted to ask more, but felt the constraints of the magic attempting to prevent him. He suddenly realized why Bakura had referred to it as a 'discomfort'. Since he couldn't ask, he just nodded his head as if he understood.
Marik noticed the odd way that Yugi had suddenly went from attempting to ask a question to just nodding. "Oh shit, sorry! It doesn't hurt or anything does it?" he asked, suddenly remembering the magic that had been cast on his roommate.
"No. Just feels like when you're trying to hold back on saying something that might hurt someone, only a bit stronger. It's really uncomfortable. I can imagine that it only gets worse if you try to push through it." Yugi replied, appreciative of his friend's concern.
"Well, since I know you can't ask me directly, I'll just say what I think may have been the case between them: I think they might have been married."
Yugi looked at him in a way that said 'Why would you drop that information bombshell on me when you know I can't ask for any more details!?'.
Marik chuckled at his friend's expression. "Sorry Yugi, that's all I'm giving you for now. I'll let you and the Pharaoh mull that one over. I'm certain the two of you are free to discuss away between yourselves."
I guess I lied when I said this chapter would end the weekend. It officially ends in the next chapter, which is already in progress. I'm going to try to stick with SOME of the main plot in next chapter, but I have a funny feeling it may end up more filler than anything. Also may lead up to a small time skip. Like I said, it's still in progress. 1st draft is currently a lot of filler, but 2nd draft is trying to keep plot moving (even if it as the speed of snail). Next update MAY be before the end of week since I have all this time off. Unsurprisingly, I don't have much of a life. Unless you count video games, binging anime, writing this, sleeping (what is that?), and living off of extreme amounts of caffeine a life lol.