*Kaiba's POV*

Stepping into the shower, I turned the water on, letting the warmth slide over my body. My muscles could really use the relaxation…the time with Yugi and the others has been full of stress here on my air ship. I think if I didn't have Bakura I would lose my mind.

I couldn't help but smile a little at the thought of Bakura. I had always been close to Ryou, ever since we met…I had never realized that I was overlooking someone so sweet; now I can't picture my life without him.

Who would have thought that an angel like him would have a darker side? And that I would fall in love with him, also?

I can remember how confused I was about Bakura, before he explained everything to me…we were laying in bed one night, the night after Jounouchi dueled Malik's servant Rashid…

------

"Bakura, I love you…" I had smiled down at him, planting a kiss on his forehead. When I looked back into those narrowed brown eyes, I saw a look that worried me…a look suspicion, almost disbelief.

"Are you sure it's me you love, and not my hikari?" He asked me almost bitterly. I was so blind then…

"W-what? Hikari?" I probably looked so confused…

"I've been lying to you, Kaiba. The Bakura you know, the one you went to school with…that's not me…" Blinking at him with skepticism, I really didn't know how to respond. Had he lost it?

"Yugi was right when he said a spirit slept within the Millennium Ring…it was Bakura, or Ryou, rather, who awoke me. I have always been with him…so even though you saw Ryou, I was there too."

He proceeded to explain as much as he could about spirits, yami-tachi and hikari-tachi, Millennium Items, and other things…normally, I would've never believed anything so…stupid. But it all made sense. I had never remembered Bakura so devious and…forceful. It was he that helped me begin to believe…

------

I realized where I had let my thoughts flow with a halt. As I reached to turn off the water, through with my shower, I had a ruffling noise in the next room. Perhaps it was Mokuba? Eyes wide, I heard the door to the bathroom opening…someone was in here!

My heart began to pound. I brushed the hair out of my face as it dripped with warm water. I heard the shower curtain pulled back abruptly; looking over, there stood Bakura, completely naked, looking extremely smug.

Turning red, I backed away against the wall of the shower.

"Surprised to see me?" He said with all the casual ease that he knew would piss me off. With a sly smirk showing off teeth that resembled fangs, he stepped into the shower, getting closer to me. He closed the shower curtain behind him, as if blocking off my only exit, putting both hands against the wall behind me, staring with that cocky smirk still on his face.

Standing directly under the water, his long silver hair quickly got soaked. Even like that, the water glistening over the smooth locks, it was beautiful. Letting in to the temptation, I reached out and ran a hand through it, smiling at him as his eyes softened. Still twirling my fingers in it, I noticed how beautiful his whole body was…I knew not to voice my opinion, calling him "beautiful" would only piss him off. I put a hand around his waist, pulling him closer and caressing the skin that felt of velvet. Even under the warm water I felt the goosebumps rise.

He growled, taking a small nip at my neck. Almost apologetically he sent of series of kisses up and down it that made my knees feel weak…how would I stay standing if he kept playing with my senses like this?

As I felt light-headed from all the attention combined with the steam of the room, he pressed closer to me, wrapping his arms around me as if to keep me steady. It was as if he knew what I was thinking…if that was true, he should know exactly what I wanted, and how much I wanted him, er, it.

*Bakura's POV*

Later that night, I found myself in Malik's room, where Rashid was laying in his bed, still unconscious. I didn't see Malik yet…but, I could wait. I needed to get my revenge on him for all he'd done…the hatred still burnt into my heart, more than ever. My hikari didn't even object; I knew deep down that he was full of anger to protect the one he loved.

Backing into the shadows, I waited patiently. Who knows where that fool was-most likely wandering the hallways aimlessly. When I heard the door open, I looked in its direction to see a shadow standing there…the light illuminated the outline of Malik's yami…

What the hell was he going to do? That idiot always acted like he was on serious pills…or needed to be.

"Huh huh huh…" His annoying and crude laughter echoed through the room as he stepped forward, rod in hand, towards the bedside. Evidently he didn't take a second glance because he didn't notice me standing there…

Raising the Millennium Rod, he looked about ready to strike. Why? Was he jealous that his hikari spent more time with him than his own yami?

I let my laughter ring out at their stupidity. Fortunately for Rashid, Yami no Malik actually heard me. He turned, watching as I stepped forth from the shadows, grinning widely.

"Ba-bakura…" He seemed to vaguely realize what was going on. Tch, what a dolt.

"Heh, Mariku…I'm not here for a friendly visit, so don't get your hopes up in that twisted little mind of yours. I still haven't forgotten what you and your damn hikari did to Seto, and I don't plan on letting your actions go without a reward. Although the only person being rewarded will be me…" I smirked at his confused look.

He looked angered, the red in his eyes glowing as he held out his Millennium Rod and attacked me. It only fazed me slightly, sending me a step back, but my anger was too far gone.

As he turned back to Rashid raising the Rod again, I used my own power of the Ring, paralyzing him momentarily.

"Did you hear what I said?!" He growled, turning back to me.

"What do you mean? Remember, you mean nothing to Seto Kaiba…" He managed to pull himself together, convinced that I would believe such lies.

"Evidently I mean something, since I just fucked him…" And it was good too.

"What?!" That's right, let it sink in. I saw his face twist with anger and jealousy.

"I'll be happy to get him in here so that I can demonstrate."

Malik growled at my snide comments evidently not in the mood for humor anymore. Alright, if that was how he wanted to play.

"Mariku!" I would never forget what he had done to Seto. Clenching my fists, I barked out what had been eating away at me.

"I tried to warn you: don't lay a hand on him or my hikari! You choose not to listen and try to convince me with the same bull shit…I'll kill you!" I grit my teeth as he looked a little taken aback.

"Fine…" he muttered after a moment still evidently angered. "We'll duel for it, huh huh…"

"I'll kill you in a Shadow Game…" I grinned deviously.

When he agreed, I smirked in victory. I already had a plan.

I had convinced his little hikari to help me, seeing that he was practically on his knees for me to defeat Yami no Mariku and free him the torment. Then I would receive not only his Millennium Rod as a reward, but also the privilege of reading the inscription on his back, which had to exact instructions I needed to possess power that was unstoppable. Only then would I take my revenge upon Malik, with my destiny in my own hands!

* * *

Tried to give you warning but everyone ignores me

Told you everything loud and clear

But nobody's listening

Called to you so clearly but you don't want to hear me

Told you everything loud and clear

But nobody's listening

* * *

We stood facing each other on the duel arena atop the ship, ready to start the duel. The wind ruffling through my hair seemed to empower me, making me only tighten my fists. Malik mentioned something about starting the duel and beating me…I wasn't really paying that much attention.

"Wait; your hikari wants to say a few words," I motioned behind me with my hand as Yami no Malik gave me a confused look.

Malik's spirit form appeared next to me, glaring at his yami.

"I'm going to defeat you and bring you to your end!" I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. Was that it? Well, what else could you expect from someone who wears jewelry and purple shirts?

Yami no Malik began to laugh; apparently he found it amusing too. Either that or he was just an idiot.

"Huh huh…what can the little hikari possibly do? Is that what this is really about, Bakura? You're protecting him?" He sneered at me, his eyes looking out of focus.

I growled, raising my left arm to reveal the Duel Disk. "Bakayaro! Urusai! Just start the duel!"

Malik stepped closer to me. "Do you need my help? Perhaps you should let me control your body in order to win this duel."

Growling, I glared at him. "Urusai! I can do this on my own! I don't need your help!"

He frowned, as if unsure. "You're only my partner for the time being," I continued, "so that I may obtain the Millennium Rod…then I can read the inscriptions on your back and become unstoppable!" As he faded away, I threw back my head and began to laugh hysterically. Oh, the power that would soon be mine! And the beauty of revenge!

Yami no Malik smiled darkly holding out his hand. "The Shadow Game starts!" With his words, a dark cloud spread over the whole area surrounding us in its aura.

I chose to go first, not caring if Yami no Malik objected.

As we both drew our cards, I noticed Malik peering over my shoulder. Irritated, I managed to ignore him as I placed a weak monster in attack. This would be my bait for the trap card on the field I had also played, face down.

When Malik attacked it, I flipped the trap card. A large monster-like thing came from the ground under Malik, as if to swallow him whole. As the effect of the card, every time he attacked me he would lose Life Points.

Before I could sneer back at him, he destroyed my monster and somehow played Remove Trap, taking my continuous card off of the field. Then something happened that I did not expect…

After I lost Life Points from the blow, my arms slowly began to fade…

"Nanda?!" I yelled, stepping back in slight horror. "What the hell?!"

"Huh huh huh…" Yami no Malik's laughter was increasingly irritating. "You wanted a Shadow Game, didn't you? Whenever someone loses Life Points, part of their body will disappear."

Snarling, I played a monster in defense mode and set two cards face down. When Malik's turn came, he played a magic card…what was this about?

Apparently the magic card's effect required for both duelists to draw two cards. Whoever drew a trap card had to skip their next battle phase…

Snickering, I activated my trap card, which allowed us to discard our hands and draw five new cards. If two-thirds of these cards were not monster cards, the duelist had to skip their next battle phase. Unfortunately for Yami no Malik, he wouldn't be attacking this turn, seeing that he drew mostly trap cards. In his frustration he simply put a card face down and ended his turn.

I tributed my defense monster for Puppet Master; although it had 0 attack and defense, with the sacrifice of 1000 Life Points I could summon three monsters. Subtracting this, along with Yami no Malik's attacks and the effects of various trap cards my life points were now down to 1900.

Malik looked grave to see my life points so low. Approaching me, he continued to irritate me as if unsure of my victory. "I could win this easily, just let me help you…"

"Urusai! This is my duel, not yours! The whole purpose is not to help you!" I would've screamed that I didn't give a shit how much it helped him, but I had shaken him up enough. I needed his cooperation until I won this duel.

I activated the cards Exchange and Dark Designator, which forced us to exchange one card each. I took Yami no Malik's God of Ra triumphantly, letting out another period of laughter that I couldn't hold in. So of course I didn't really care that he took my Monster Reborn…

When he retreated to his area of the arena, he began to chuckle to himself, saying that I didn't know the effects of Ra and thus wouldn't be able to activate them.

I smiled, thinking of how simple-minded he was. "You forget that I have your hikari with me, Mariku! I believe in the next few turns he will prove very useful…"

* * *

I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress

handful of anger, held in my chest

And everything left's a waste of time

I hate my rhymes, but hate everyone else's more

I'm riding on the back of this pressure

Guessing that it's better I can't keep myself together

Because all of this stress gave me something to write on

The pain gave me something I could set my sights on

Never forget the blood sweat and tears

The uphill struggle over years the fear and

Trash talking and the people it was to

And the people that started it just like you

Tried to give you warning but everyone ignores me

Told you everything loud and clear

But nobody's listening

Called to you so clearly but you don't want to hear me

Told you everything loud and clear

But nobody's listening

I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress

handful of anger, held in my chest

Uphill struggle

Blood sweat and tears

Nothing to gain

Everything to fear

* * *

(A/N: Long chapter! Yes the plot is moving slowly...yes, Malik and Yami Malik are out of character...and yes, it took me forever to write this! I actually wrote it in one day...I've just been busy with stuff lately. I promise to be more loyal! Because I'm really excited that I'm almost finished with this fanfic. Pleaseeeeeee read and review!

Oh yeah, and do me a BIG favor: my koibito [Settou Kaiiba] really needs reviews for his fanfics. Which are awesome! Go check them out! Onegai? If you like my writing, you'll love his. Arigatou!)