A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't updated in so long, but I've had a bad case of writer's block, plus I had to prepare for my Confirmation and Graduation. Anyway these next chapters are dedicated to the user I love Bakura. Thanks for the reviews.

'blah'- thinking, "blah"-talking, /Yugi/, //Yami//, {Ryou}, {{Bakura}}, *Tara*, **Malik**, ***Marik***,

Malik is Malik, Marik is Yami Malik. Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 9

Malik spat out his Cherry Coke and stared with wide eyes.

**Did I just hear him right?!** he asked his cousin unaware of the looks he was getting. *Yeah, I'll talk to you later.* she replied cutting of their link. Malik blinked as he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked at Yugi.

"Are you all right?" he asked in concern.

"Uh… yeah I'm fine. I just swallowed too much," Malik answered praying to Ra that they believe him. He looked to his right as he heard footsteps. Malik's eyes narrowed as he noticed how close Seto Kaiba was to his Ryou. His eyes widened as he went over his last thought. 'His? No he isn't mine. By Ra, what is this boy doing to me? I mustn't have these feelings.

"Malik this is Seto Kaiba. Kaiba this is Malik Ishtar," Yugi said introducing them. Malik nodded to Kaiba before standing up from the tree he had previously been lying against.

"Tell my cousin I'll be back later," he stated before walking away, not looking at Ryou as he passed him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tara stared at the blond boy with his hands buried in his hair.

"Why don't you tell him?" she asked.

"I don't want him to reject me," he moaned pitifully. Tara rolled her eyes before speaking.

"How do you know he will reject you?"

"How do you know he won't?" he snapped back. "This is Seto Kaiba! He's rich, smart, good at Duel Monsters and he can have anyone he wants! What would he want with me?" Tara sighed as she pushed of the tree.

"If I were you I'd tell him," she stated.

"Yeah, but I doubt you're afraid of rejection," he bit back. She rolled her eyes again, turned around, ready to leave this pathetic being.

"You never know what will happen till you try. Just remember to be careful because you also never know when something terrible might happen," she said before walking away.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

'I can't believe my reaction to seeing them together! I must harden myself for the mission. I will not let any of these feelings remain.' Malik felt the familiar tug of separation before he felt a pair of strong, muscular arms wrap around his waist and pull him back to an equally muscular chest. He shivered as he felt a kiss on his sensitive neck.

"Hello my aibou. What is troubling you precious one?" Marik whispered into his beloved angel's ear. Malik sighed and leaned further into the warm embrace. He didn't want to lie to his glorious lover, but he didn't want him to know about his attraction to a silver haired angel for fear of hurting him. "Is it about the silver haired boy?" Marik asked as he bit his hikari's neck. Malik's eyes widened and he let out a low moan at his others action. He felt guilty about his attraction to Ryou.

Marik felt his lover's emotions through their link. He moved backwards till his back hit a tree, he slid down the tree with Malik still in his arms. Once on the ground Marik situated Malik between his legs and wrapped his arms and legs around him in hopes to comfort his aibou.

"Do not worry my love. That Ryou boy is very attractive as is his yami," Marik whispered into Malik's ear. "You and I are connected, we are a whole. Even if we are attracted to others or loves others we will always love each other first." Malik sigh in happiness; laying his head back on Marik's shoulder he placed a small kiss on his other's neck.

"I was afraid you'd be angry at me and I didn't want to hurt you," Malik whispered, with closed eyes, against Marik's neck. Marik sensing his koibito was tired tried to calm his body's reaction at having his hikari's lips on his neck.

"I could never be angry with you," he whispered back.

"I love you," Malik whispered before falling asleep. Marik smiled at the adorable sight his angel was when he was asleep.

***I love you too.*** Marik was soon lulled to sleep by Malik's soft breathing.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They watched as Malik walked away.

"What was that about?" Tristan asked in confusion.

"I don't know," Yugi admitted in a small voice. Kaiba looked around noticing a few people were missing.

"Where's Joey?"

"Oh, he and Tara went of somewhere awhile ago," answered Yugi.

Kaiba tried to contain the jealousy he felt welling up in him. Ryou couldn't understand why Malik left so suddenly. 'Maybe he's embarrassed about yesterday.' {{Hardly. He was jealous.}} Bakura said before separating from his hikari.

{Jealous? } he asked.

{{I'll explain some other time.}}

"So she knows about us huh?" Bakura asked the pharaoh

"Yes as does her cousin." Bakura moved over to the pharaoh so they could talk.

"Do you recognize them?" he asked.

" Not really, but they feel familiar."

"Do you remember Marik?" Bakrua asked.

"Sort of. He was a tomb robber, your partner I think," Yami answered.

"Yes he was. That boy, Malik, looks like a younger version of him. If I'm not mistaken he's 16 years old. Marik was 18 as were we."

"Are you saying that you believe Malik has a Millennium Item with Marik inside?" Yami asked Bakura.

"It could be because if I remember correctly Marik was sealed as well."

"I wonder what they're talking about," Yugi whispered to Ryou.

"They're probably talking about Malik and Tara." Ryou and Yugi were worried when they saw Bakura and Yami stiffen. "What's wrong?!" Ryou called over to them.

"You felt that?" Bakura nodded to Yami. "It was shadow magic and it was close."

"We should check it out," Bakura suggested. They were about to get up when their worried hikaris came over.

"What's wrong you guys?" Yugi asked. The pharaoh and tomb robber sighed knowing they wouldn't be able to check things out.

"Nothing don't worry about it aibou. Let's enjoy our day before we leave," Yami said. Ryou and Yugi looked at each other knowing their yami was lying.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tara paused as she sensed Marik.

*Marik what's wrong?* she asked her warrior senses kicking in. She sighed in relief when he answered.

***Nothing I just wanted to be with my aibou.***

*All right sorry for bothering you.*

While talking with Joey she had felt her cousin stalk off somewhere. After she returned to the others she was going to look for him but now that she knew Marik was with him she decided to leave them be. She saw the others and nearly choked as she saw Bakura. Walking faster she arrived by the sitting Ryou and Yugi.

"Hello, I don't believe I know either of you," she said politely to Bakura and Kaiba. Yugi jumped up and he gave her a big smile.

"You're back! This is Bakura, he was a tomb robber in ancient Egypt, but know he's the spirit in Ryou's ring." ' So that explains it,' she thought. "And this is Seto Kaiba," Yugi said introducing them. 'Oh, he's pretty cute.'

"Where is Joey?" Kaiba all but growled at her though no one save herself notice. Tara smirked inwardly before replying, "He's coming." Right on cue Joey came through the trees.

"Hey guys! Tea just called my cell and said she can't make it. Her parents are taking her on a trip to the States and they'll be gone for awhile. 'Thank Ra!' Tara thought happily. Pretending to look around she asked, "Where's my cousin?"

"Oh yeah, he said he'd be back later," Yugi answered.

"I'm sorry guys but I have to get to work. Later!" Tristan yelled before running off.

"We should head to Yugi's it looks like it's going to rain," Ryou suggested. Tara looked up and saw the dark clouds cluttering the sky.

"Why don't you guys sleep over tonight. You can see my new room courtesy of Tara," Yugi asked. "Kaiba you can invite Mokuba if you want. Tara you can ask Malik if he wants to come too."

"But I stayed over last night," she protested. 'I can't sleep over again. All this fun is taking up my time. I have a job to do,' she thought furiously to herself.

"Yeah so you can stay over again," he said with pleading eyes. 'Then again I'll be close to the Millennium Items.'

"All right, but I'll have to get my stuff. Let me find my cousin, we'll get our stuff and meet you at your house later," she said running off.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As soon as Tara located her cousin she felt her heart melt. She stared at the two lovers with a small sad smile. 'Why can't I have that?' she asked herself. As is sensing her sadness the rain began to pour. Marik woke quickly and picked up his still sleeping hikari in his arms.

"Come on lets go," Tara said. Marik stood next to her as she clasped her hands. After a few inaudible words were muttered a purple light surrounded them as thundered roared overhead. When the light disappeared they were gone.