"Old Friends"

As the days went by and Domino got closer Anzu felt more and more anxious. Being able to trust Marik was already a great impruve for her, but still not enough. She knew his better side and was basically that side's friend. But Anzu was almost sure that Marik's Yami was still somewhere inside of him. What would happen if he wanted to show up again? That would be terrible! But she still had some faith that things would turn out just fine.

Anzu sighed and streched her arms as she walked. Marik was beside her at all times. Even if he didn't look to her much he talked a little.

"Can't we rest for a little while Marik?" she asked.

"No. Specially not now!" he told Anzu. "Domino is one town away."

"I know! But you told me nothing would happen until next month. We have thirty days left!"

"Just walk, ok? We must arrive as soon as possible. But I reckon you want Yugi to die...?" Marik said.

"No!!" Anzu cried. Marik just laughed and disappeared, leaving Anzu talking to herself about how terrible it was to say such thing.

When they arrived in Dice Town it was almost nine o'clock PM. Anzu yawned and "check in" a small motel just like she did in all the other towns. She changed into her pajamas and was ready to go to bed when she heard someone knocking on the door. She walked slowly toward the door and opened it just as slow. And, to her surprise, the was nobody there.
What Anzu saw when she turned around was the first familiar face in ages. But it wasn't such a pleasant face to see at the moment.

"Bakura?" Anzu asked, with a tiny smile.

"Who else?" Bakura said with a grin. "I was around here and saw you coming in. So I thought: 'Let's say hi to an old friend of mine'!" he explained.

"I see..." Anzu answered simply. "Then you can talk to your friend. But I really don't want to be part of the conversation, ok? I'll just leave and..."

"Don't say such thing! Stay!" he said, getting up. "Well, at least you should..." he added.

"Uh... ok." Anzu answered looking at Marik, who was standing beside her with a very serious expression.

"So, what have you done all this time?" Bakura asked innocently.

"Not much. Just helping out a friend." Marik answered. However, Bakura couldn't take his eyes of Anzu. She started to feel quite unconfortable with all the staring.

"Well, I know why you prefer to remain silent about things. You don't have to answer it all... I don't care. I know about your scape." Bakura chuckled. "I know about the Pharaoh and everything. You know about things, don't you?"

"Too bad I couldn't see the truth about Yami Yugi before." Anzu interrupted. It didn't make much of a difference, though, Bakura's eyes were fixed on her.

"That's true! If you had understood his true "goals" you could have avoided many...things." he said.

"It wouldn't have made any difference!" Marik said. "She couldn't have done anything, you know that!"

"You always need people to stand up to you, Anzu? You're so quiet when this conversation is all about you!" he added and opened the room's windown.

"You know everything that's going on. I don't have to tell you, right? And I reckon I'm not the only one who has to explaing things around here!" Anzu protested. "What do you have to do with the things bettewen Yugi and I?"

"I want to help you, Anzu. That's the truth!" Bakura answered quickly. "And before you ask 'Why?!' with a very mean face: I have my own reasons to want Pharaoh out of circulation."

"You act misteriously, as if we didn't know your reasons." Marik muttered under his breath.

"That's not the point. I just don't want to hurt Yugi because of his Yami!!" Anzu explained. "Even though... I might not be that powerful enough!"

"You're not that futile!!" Marik yelled. Anzu stepped back, surprised.

"Poweful you are." Bakura answered, sounding disgusted. "But you can't control that power so you won't hurt Yugi. But..." he stopped speaking and aproched Anzu. Bakura moved some hair of her face, just a few inches far from her, and smiled. "I can help you there."

"I don't need more help. I have enough help already!" Anzu yelled and pushed his hand of her face and ran toward the door. "I must ask you to leave, Bakura. It's bad enought what you have done to poor Ryou! You've consumed him! I already hate you enough! And the only reason I don't destroy you in this instant is because I have respect with a... friend."

"I'm leaving, you didn't have to ask twice." he said and opened the door. "But I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself and I'll have to kill both, Yugi and his Yami." Anzu's eyes widded.

"Anzu!" Marik called, from behind her. "You can't fall into that trap so easily!"

"No, Marik. I have to." she answered.

"Marik? What does he...? Oh, forget it." Bakura started, but just sighed just thinking of how much she would have to explain.

"Bakura, I think I prefer to have you on my side rather than as an enemy." Anzu told him, looking down to her feet.

"Ok then!" He answered simply. "We leave at dawn and at noon we'll be in Domino City!" Bakura grinned and left, closing the door behind him.

Anzu sighed and went to bed without another word. She turned off the lights and covered her head with the blanket.

"I can't believe you listened to him, Anzu." Marik said simply, and disappeared.

Half and hour passed since Bakura left, but Anzu was still awake staring at the celing. She sticked her hand out of the blankets and opened the drawer beside the bed searching for the pen and the notepad she saw earlier. Anzu took them and put the on her pillow and turned over so she could write. She turned the lamp shade beside her bed on and started to write. She felt like if she really needed to do that. And she was right, she only finished writting at three in the morning and new things were still coming up to her mind. Though, she felt a lot lighter.

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A/N: Sorry I took so long to write this chapter!! :p I wrote it almost one week ago, but my internet wasn't working! ._.; Gomen!!! But it was a fun chapter to write... for some unknown reason. _
I just want to remind you that we have more 2 or 3 chapters left so... I guess this is almost finished. :) Good for you!
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I appreciated all of them a lot! :D No "thank you" list this time to put this is quickier. :p

Sayonara!! \O/

Mensagem p/ Michele-san! ^^

Eles dizem "Mérik" nos eppys americanos. Revoltante, não? O.o;; Sendo que o nome Malik realmente existe no inglês. Não sei se você assiste, mas em ER tem um enfermeiro (ou algo assim) chamado Malik. :P Então por que não deixar do jeito que estava? Eu nunca vou entender as dubs. _

19/05/2003