Chapter Fifteen:

Free Falling from Reality

At that moment, if boredom were to be personified, Bakura would be the perfect model. With Yugi working on some miscellaneous homework, Yami off doing God-knows-what, and Ryou sleeping, the snow haired thief swore he was going to die from lack of activity at any second.

Maybe I can find Ryou's dueling deck. Gods knows he may need it soon enough. A slow, catty grin spread over the ancient's face. Maybe I can teach him how to summon the monsters from their cards!

Looking very much like the Cheshire Cat, Bakura jumped off his perch, careful not to disturb Ryou, and headed toward the hallway of carvings. He was just about to the Lady of Faith tablet when he felt something wasn't quite right about the corridor. While Bakura and Ryou's presence in the area had darkened it and made it much more dangerous, it never held a malevolent aura.

Now, from the Lady of Faith carving down, the darkness seemed to triple and angry red smog coated the floor. "Now this I don't like," Bakura muttered, venturing forward. It didn't seem likely that something had gotten into the Puzzle without Yugi or Yami knowing about it.

But then again, Bakura was highly attuned to different auras and he had to be right on top of the hallway to even begin to sense the disturbance. And it seemed that it was coming from the doorway linking the Puzzle to the Ring, oddly enough.

The ancient thief crept forward, shuttering as he passed the trio of carvings for the god cards. I hate those things. No good waste of perfectly good card space, he growled to himself, glaring hard at Ra for a second before moving on. The doorway between the two Items was just at the end of the hall, hidden to all but the Ring's holders.

A chill passed through Bakura's spine as the area's aura turned black and forbidding all of the sudden. He finally reached the end of the tablets and found himself standing in front of the door leading back to his Item. Whatever's wrong, it's coming from the Ring. Resting a hand on the doorknob, Bakura suddenly pulled back.

The whole door hummed with an angry red now, as did the tomb robber's hand from the burn he'd received. "The hells...?" Trying again, Bakura only succeeded in scorching his hand even worse. Snarling, the Egyptian rammed the door and was rewarded with a shock that made every nerve end hum like crazy.

"You'll never open it that way."

Bakura froze, ramrod straight at the sound of the voice. No. Fucking. Way. Slowly forcing himself to turn around, the snow tressed thief felt a growl escape from the back of his throat. Lazing on the top of Ra's tablet lay the last person in the world the Egyptian wanted to see. "Explain yourself before I rip you limb from limb, Marik."

The other Spirit laughed, a dark and chilling sound. "Watch yourself, tomb robber. You're unguarded in the Puzzle and completely at my mercy."

"Like hell," Bakura growled. He would feel better if he had his damned dueling deck right now. But, another, more gleeful reminder floated past his mind. The thief was in a whole hallway filled with Duel Monsters. "I have all the protection I need."

Marik shrugged, rolling off the top of his perch to land with the grace of a cat. His dusty lilac eyes clashed with Bakura's angry chocolate calmly, a smirk set on his lips. "I have to applaud your ability to escape death, Bakura. You and Ryou both."

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you," Bakura sneered, crossing his arms.

"But then our hikaris would be all alone in this cold, cruel world," Marik taunted right back, hands tucking into his pockets casually.

Something's not right. Not only is he in Yami's Item, but he has killed anyone yet. I don't like this at all.

As if reading the thief's thoughts, Marik stated, "I can use the Ring's power also, Bakura. I can now traverse between the Rod, Ring, and Puzzle without a single hindrance."

A shutter swept through Bakura. "And no bloodshed yet? I'm appalled," he mocked, shoving his fear into a remote corner of his mind.

Marik shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm actually here on more of a pleasant note, if you care to know," he replied in a hurt tone.

Bakura snorted derisively. "Why do I find myself not believing that?" he mumbled.

Marik's gaze suddenly turned deadly, his tone acidic. "Do you want my help or not, thief?" he snarled. "Because I know how you can reanimate that little brat of yours."

Bakura shelved his shock quickly. "How can I trust you?"

"You did long years ago."

"Yeah right."

"Denial proves guilt."

"Then you must be pretty damned guilty."

Marik's expressions fell into gentle reprove. "I'm here for my own hikari, tomb robber. He loves your little brat very much, yet I do not want him being seen with the Pharaoh's pathetic excuse for a hikari."

Bakura felt an unexpected flare of anger. "Leave Yami and Yugi out of this," he snapped fiercely.

"As you wish. But, I care about Malik very much, Bakura, and I only want the best for him." Marik swept forward, rich violet cape billowing out behind him as he circled the diamond haired Egyptian. "I know that you and Ryou are top class, the only thing good enough for what is mine. And, I know how much you want Ryou to return to normal."

Bakura stiffened when he felt a slim finger trail up and down his spine before brushing through his hair. "Don't touch me," he hissed.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. What happened to you? You used to be so loving to that poor, pathetic Priest. Helped him in his time of need and every time thereafter. A shin'yaku-" Marik's insistent fingers still played with Bakura's hair. "-To protect that lowly Priest." He leaned close to Bakura's ear. "What happened to that promise, tomb robber?"

Bakura jerked away with a glare fit to murder. "I don't know what the fuck you're talking about." He pointed an angry finger at the sealed door. "Get out of the Pharaoh's Item."

Marik sighed and shook his head, pulling back some. "Your one downfall. The mighty Pharaoh. Possibly both our mortal downfalls, hmm? Separated in life, enemies in death. I never wanted this." Dusty eyes narrowed. "Maybe I shouldn't tell you."

"Tell me what?" Bakura demanded.

"How to bring Ryou back. He is your own reincarnation, so what's to say that he won't devastate my beloved Malik?"

What is that nutcase talking about?! "Marik, make some goddamned sense for once."

The Rod's guardian merely faced Bakura, trailing his hands down the thief's face. "Ryou and Malik hold a silent promise to protect each other, from themselves no less. That miserable Priest and his spiteful thief made the same promise and look what's happened." Marik leaned in so he was nose-to-nose with Bakura. "Malik is very dear to me. I would hate to have to kill Ryou again."

Bakura fisted the unstable blond's shirt, shaking him hard. "Listen here, wackjob. Touch a hair on my hikari's head and I will see to it that there will be nothing left for Ammut to devour. Lay a finger on my Pharaoh and we'll reenact that little battle between Set and Horus. Furthermore, touch your hikari and I'll make the gods tremble in fear."

Marik looked amused. "Done yet?"

Bakura growled, dropping the other Spirit to the floor. "Don't take me lightly, Marik."

"Why do you defend what is mine?"

"Malik?" Bakura barked out a short laugh. "Malik belongs to Ryou, not you." He knelt down, taking Marik's face in a bruising grip. "If you hurt Malik, you'll make Ryou upset, and you'll make me mad." The thief increased his grip. "You don't want to make me mad."

For once, Marik didn't look so mighty as the might of Bakura's strength and resolve washed over him. "Have it your way, tomb robber." He pulled away from the hand trying to crush his jaw, getting to his feet gracefully. Truly, the psychotic spirit looked hurt, but it showed only in his eyes as he turned toward the door. "I know you can follow through on your threats."

"Then don't tempt me."

Marik laid a hand on the doorknob and the red glow disappeared. "Together, the Ring and Puzzle can erect solid walls and tear them right back down," he stated lightly, an undercurrent of some strange emotion in his tone. "Especially when the fabric of their very souls are twined together."

Bakura's face scrunched up in a study of frustration. Psychotic, angry, seductive, hurt, and now mysterious; I don't get him. "What are you saying?"

"We have a very powerful Item. Do be careful." Marik turned to offer Bakura an infuriatingly calm smile as he opened the door. "The door's always open, Kas. If you want to find yourself, just walk through." That said, the Spirit left, leaving a highly pissed off thief in his wake.

"...Yami?"

"Holy shit!" Bakura spun, facing Ryou's wide-eyed stare head on. "Ry, how long were you standing there."

"I saw you leave, so I followed." Ryou yawned, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "What did Marik mean by all that? Seriously, he gave me a migraine with all the riddles."

Bakura glared hard at the door. He had a pretty good idea of what the other Spirit meant and not only did it not add up, but it didn't sit right with him. "Nothing Ryou. Let's go."

"Are you sure?" Ryou demanded.

"Positive." Collecting up his suspicious hikari, Bakura left the hallway, mulling over his and Marik's conversation... If you could call it that.

* * * * *

Malik yawned mightily as he pushed the door to Ishizu's apartment closed, stretching carefully to avoid aggravating his already screaming shoulder. As he thawed out on the walk home, it became more apparent to the Egyptian that he had overdone it when him and Ryou had that water fight.

"Hey, little brother. You're home."

Malik looked down at the couch, realizing Ishizu was sitting there surrounded in notes, pictures, and what looked like papyrus scrolls. "Yeah, I am. What are you up to?"

"Nothing, really. I'm just working on the translations for a new artifact that was brought in a while ago," Ishizu replied distractedly, pouring over her own notes from her work earlier.

Malik sat down on the couch's arm, the only open spot in the area, and picked up of the scrolls. His lilac eyes narrowed as he unfurled the crisp paper to see what was written on it. [Marik, wanna take a glance at these? They don't look like they're in Egyptian hieroglyphics]

There was a moment of silence as the Rod Spirit studied the script. [[They're not. If I'm not mistaken, I think this is the language used in the Shadow Games. Or, the more important ones at least.]]

Malik peered hard at the hieroglyphs. [Are you sure about that?]

[[Positive. This language died before the Games were even ended; the spells were too complex and too many people died because of this and slow reaction time. But, if memory serves, most of the information pertaining to the Games was written in this tongue to prevent the full power of the Shadow Realm from escaping again.]]

For once, Malik was glad Marik knew more then him. [Can you read it?]

[[Most of it.]]

[What?!] Malik almost fell off his perch, catching the back of the couch to steady himself. [What's it say then?]

Again, Marik was quiet as he undoubtedly translated the alien language. When he spoke again, he didn't sound very confident anymore. [[A great battle of powers began soon after the betrayal of the Priest, where the strongest Ka and gods of Shadow fought. In the first duel, two comrades fell under the might of Re. In the second, three more were slain and the Thousand Year Rod was captured.]] Marik paused. [[Unroll it the rest of the way.]]

The hikari did as told, unaware that Ishizu was now studying him intently. He was focused solely on the fact that Marik sounded truly scared.

[[Before the eve of the third and final duel, two of those fallen, a pair of thieves close to me, were resurrected to carry out the grizzly duties needed to truly seal away the Games of Shadow. One thief would be the protector the Games, drawn from the depths of the gods' world to counter any threat. The second thief would bear the inscriptions of the Games, one depicting how to close them.]]

[Wait, wait, wait!] Malik broke in. [You're telling me there's more then the god cards and the Millennium Items containing the Shadow Games?]

[[Obviously,]] Marik replied simply. [[Back to the story. The third thief, once a traitor and my consort, was bonded to the Ring he had stolen from the Priest in a failed attempt on my life, his spirit doomed to the confines of the Thousand Year Ring when he was slain. The night fell and the third duel commenced, lasting the span of two days. In the end, the two thieves fell one final time, though doomed to return to life if the Games returned to this world. The Priest was forcefully bonded to the Thousand Year Rod and destroyed, sealing his spirit away until a great anger would release it.]]

Malik now looked like death warmed over. [Y-You... No fucking way!]

[[This was written in the Pharaoh's hand. It seems that he finished this before he and the third thief were killed and sealed away,]] Marik finished.

Ishizu reached a tentative hand out, resting it on her brother's arm lightly. "Malik? Are you okay?" she asked in a near-whisper, almost afraid that the person sitting be her was Marik in disguise.

The youngest Ishtar nodded mutely, seeming to come out of a trance as he dropped the scroll and looked over at his sister. "I'm fine. I think I'm going to get to bed now."

Ishizu narrowed her eyes. "Are you sure you're fine?"

"Positive." Malik managed a smile, rattled by his unshakable yami's sudden splurge of silent shock and twinges of fear. "G'night, Ishizu."

"Good night, Malik." The delicate Egyptian smiled as he watched Malik head off to his temporary bedroom. "In the morning, you have to tell me all about your meeting with Ryou."

Malik chuckled lightly. "Will do, sister." His false smile lasted 'til his door shut and he locked it, teeth grating together as he fell to his knees. His head felt like someone was using it for a drum set and the very core of his being sung in agony.

Obviously, Marik wasn't a happy camper at the moment.

* * * * *

Yami was off exploring the darker, less traveled corridors of his soul room in an effort to find anything to help Ryou when he saw said teenager being dragged haplessly behind his murderous yami. "Um, Bakura, what's wrong?" the former Pharaoh asked, sensing the other Spirit's agitation.

"Do you have any idea who I just ran into?" Bakura all but snarled.

"Run while you can, Yami no Yugi," Ryou warned.

Yami sighed. "What happened, Bakura?"

"I found Marik laying around in the hallway of tablets!" the Ring guardian exploded. "He was in the fucking Puzzle, Pharaoh!"

Yami blinked. "...You're not kidding are you?"

"He's not," Ryou confirmed. "I saw him as plainly as Bakura did." The Brit looked shaken, but whether this was because of the confrontation between Spirits or his dark side's temper was left open for debate. "He said something about-"

"Silence!" Bakura snapped.

"Yes."

Yami watched the exchange keenly, hearing the note of fear in Ryou's voice. "Tomb robber, calm down. Getting angry will help no one."

Bakura ground his teeth together. "You'd be pretty damned upset if you found your murderer in your soul room," he growled.

I hate to do this, but he needs to calm down. "I did find my murderer in my Item." Yami stepped forward, crossing his arms. "And you're still here."

Bakura faltered, sneering. He glared back at Ryou, releasing his shirt and giving the hikari a harsh shove. "Go back to the main room and stay there. If you see anything, call me," he hissed, glaring daggers. "Move!" he growled.

Ryou nodded, his own features darkening with a semi-betrayed scowl as he stalked away from the area. "Yes, Bakura-sama," he muttered, just loud enough to be heard.

Bakura blinked. He hasn't called me that since- The thief didn't have time to finish the thought as a hand connected hard with his face. "P-Pharaoh?"

Yami looked just about fit to kill. "What in the hells was that for, Kasirika?" he demanded, knowing the use of the Ring Spirit's real name would get a rise out of him.

"It's Bakura, damn it!" The snow haired thief tugged at his locks with a growl of frustration. Emotions he thought he'd killed millennia ago were now warring in his heart, confusing and hurting him. He'd been feeling a growing warmth towards Yami, but when Marik had touched him, he felt whole again. Suddenly, Bakura didn't know where his allegiance had been pledged.

"What is your problem!?" Yami cried out, throwing his hands up in the air. "I believe that Marik was in the Puzzle! He has the Ring, for gods' sake! I knew this would happen sooner or later." The former monarch stepped closer to Bakura, confused when he pulled back. "What did Marik tell you?"

Bakura just stood there, trying to sort out what he knew he felt and what he thought he was feeling, heart and mind warring for supremacy. Part of him wanted to love Yami, part of him wanted to see if he really had feeling other then hate for Marik, and another part just wanted them all to die for the resurgence of emotions. "Nothing," he finally murmured.

Yami sighed and captured the other Egyptian's face in his hand, gently tilting the chocolate eyes to meet his own amethyst. "It had to have been important for you to act so irrationally."

"I found my worst enemy in my current home. It threw me off." It wasn't a lie. But, it wasn't the truth either. This is probably how Yami felt when he found Ryou and me in the Puzzle. "Pharaoh, when you first saw me in your soul room, what was your first reaction?"

Yami's golden brows knit together. "What? What does that have to do with anything?"

Bakura tugged harder at his hair, wishing for any type of physical pain to overrule the growing ache in his heart. "What did you want to do to me when you found us? Honestly."

"I was angry that one of my worst enemies had entrance to my Item."

Bakura snorted. So, maybe he was justified in being so angry?

"But at the same time, I was happy-" Yami sighed, closing his eyes. "No, that would be an understatement. I was elated to see you alive."

"So, you had a conflict of your own to contend with?" Bakura murmured.

"In a way, yes." Yami offered a small smile. "But, I've already put it to rest."

"How so?"

The Puzzle guardian pulled away from Bakura, running a brave hand across the other's cheek. "You're still here with me, so it's safe to say I've forgiven you."

Bakura looked like he'd been smacked again. "H-How... I tried to kill you and Yugi gods know how many times. How can you just... drop it like that?!"

Yami shrugged and moved forward. He stopped when he was side-by-side with Bakura and rested a hand on his shoulder. He could hear the thief's inner struggle loud and clear, but knew it would never be admitted aloud. "I listened to my heart and not my head," he replied, squeezing Bakura's shoulder before continuing forward.

Bakura spun. "You..." His eyes narrowed when he realized his shields were completely dropped, now feeling like a total ass.

"You should talk to Ryou. I think he'll want to know why you... reverted for a short time," Yami pointed out. "In the meantime, I want to see what kind of remodeling Marik has done to my soul room."

* * * * *

The Priest.

The Items.

Forcefully sealed into a gilded cage.

Killed for a crime I have no idea of.

Allegiance to the Pharaoh...

...Love for the beloved Morning Star....

...Betrayed by the one I swore to love for eternity.

All this settled too heavily on Marik's slumped shoulders, having already dragged him to his knees to determined and do so much more. Decades, centuries, millennia... All spent in uncertain slumber with shadowy dreams of the past to keep him content, a red flame of hate consuming him at each crumbled delusion that lie at his feet.

All that time had been spent waiting to be unleashed, to be able to find his partner in crime and faithful love. He had forgotten, in his slow decent to madness, that he had been betrayed by his former love for someone more powerful.

The Pharaoh.

A hate borne from a confused heart roused him from his sleep, bringing him back into an alien world. All he knew was hate; his and his dear little Malik's. Even now, he felt that hot flame tickling the back of his mind, begging him to seek immediate revenge.

I can't.

His thief still responded to him. He had no memory of his former life as the King of Thieves but his heart still told him where his love lay.

The Pharaoh stole his heart.

But he still had a firm hold over his beloved thief. Just like Malik. He adored Malik for returning him to life, drawn to the once innocent hikari like a moth to a flame. And, he abhorred Malik for distracting him from his original love. He loved the thief for saving him in his worst hours and he hated the thief for betraying him for the Pharaoh.

Love and hate, light and dark, dueled in Marik's heart mercilessly, trying to seduce him into picking a side. Love Malik, hate Bakura? Hate Malik, love Bakura?

If he destroyed the Pharaoh, he would hurt Bakura. If let the Pharaoh live, he would never have his thief back again.

If he destroyed Malik, he would hurt himself. If he let Malik live, he would never be able to love Bakura like he used to.

Hate?

Love?

Marik grabbed at his hair, growling and gnashing his teeth in wicked frustration. His cause was to end the Pharaoh's life to get back his thief.

But he didn't want Bakura to be hurt.

Yet he had to be punished for his betrayal.

Light?

Dark?

Sizzling crimson energy built up around Marik's shuttering frame, crystal tear tracks -marks of frustration and lost humanity- reflected the light to resemble trails of blood.

Bakura?

Malik?

The choices, the past, the present... They all whirled into one giant mess in the guardian's mind, clawing at the confines of his mind and heart and threatening to rip him to smaller pieces from the inside.

Do you love him?

Do you hate him?

The questions, flashing through his shattered mind at the speed of light, confused him even worse, hearing each one but never given enough time to answer.

Life?

Death?

"ENOUGH!" Marik roared, crashing his fists into the ground before him. At the same time, the energy that had built up around him released, toppling the entire soul room in a single sweep. Pain coursed through Marik, partially his and partially Malik's. He didn't care, it couldn't measure up to the dying pain in his heart. No, not even that mattered now.

To kill his pain, he had to kill the source.

In the rubble of the soul room, Marik stood with an eerie sort of calm. It was finally enough. They all had to die. One by one, slowly and painfully by his hands. Then he could rest in piece.

A dark smirk smothered Marik's dirty face as his eyes roamed the remains of his domain. Yes, to kill his heart he had to kill all of them. No more choices, the decision was made.

A single word now reverberated through his destroyed sanity. One comforting word with no questions, no pain, and no thinking.

Revenge.

[pants] I had to do this one on the go! But, I got it out on time and it's a fair eight pages long. [falls over onto keyboard] Gomen if this chapter isn't as light as the others! I'm… [looks shifty] setting the mood for later! Now, the kudos for chapter thirteen and fourteen! ^)^U

Before I do, I just noticed I've got 62 reviews for this thing so far. [ogles at the screen] You guys are too nice to me! ^)^

[Ch. XIII]

Evaru: Amen to that, chica! Seriously, why can't there be more guys like Ryou and Malik in real life?! [sobs] But, you forgot seductive. [snickers] Sadly, Ryou's not quite educated in the 'seducing crushes for accursed jewelry' department. ^)^ You should ask Bakura about that. Or Marik. ^)~

DracOnxy: Meh! I'm glad you're enjoying the story thus far! ^)^ Most if this, I don't mean to be funny; the damned story's supposed to be dark and angsty. -__-U

Jantra: Hope I didn't let you down with the last few chapters! ^)^ And don't worry, you'll get the full scope of the problem soon enough! [cackles] In the meantime… Cliffhangers galore!

Monoshiri: Citrus? Funny you should mention that. [looks around, throws a blanket over the computer screen to prevent prying eyes from seeing] Funny you should mention that… [wide grin] I might have, oh say, a lemon planned for later chapters. Let's call it five or six chapters from now if all goes well. ^)~ But, have there been enough appearances from Marik for ya?

blu chocobo: Yami tell Bakura the truth? [bursts out laughing] It took the thief nearly dying for Yami to come to his senses! [giggles] Until those two egomaniacs make a move, Yugi's life is going to be very interesting!

[Ch. XIV]

Jantra: Yay! I made someone semi-speechless! [grins widely and starts jumping around] Ahem… Forgive me. ^)^U Glad you're enjoying the show so far!

KeMu: LOL! That would be so funny! Block party at Yami's Puzzle, Item holders get in free, hikaris half price, and the special feature: pinata!Marik, complete with spiked board! ^)^ But, the squid wanted me to tell you he's just fine and seeing a psychiatrist.

Akuro: Again, your feedback is invaluable. Frankly, I thought it was a little sloppy 'cause I had to write it in five minutes intervals between chaos. -__-U [snickers] Hopefully, I can pull of the next few dates a little more… tactfully. ^)~ Domo arigatou, Akuro-san!

Evaru: lol! [gives Evaru a sledge hammer] Have fun with Marik! [giggles] Ryou is extremely adorable! And don't worry, I'm working on getting the little creampuff into his own body again. Ryou will return!

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Chapter Sixteen Trailer:

(Yami, if you don't tell Yami no Yugi, I will,) Ryou warned. (If we want this to make sense, secrets can't be kept,) he pointed out softly.

((I'm not keeping any secrets,)) Bakura snarled.

(You don't want to admit that you may have feelings for Marik as well, do you?)

Bakura jerked back as if Ryou had hit him again. ((...Feh, you're reading into it too deeply.))

Ryou sighed. (We both heard Marik. It is possible that Marik was a Priest.)

((Hah! Ry, for all we know, he's a Duel Monster reincarnate!)) Bakura rolled his eyes, trying not to let on how close to home Ryou was striking. But, he knew the attempt was for naught.

(Bakura, you love Yami now, right? Just between the two of us.)

((Off the record?)) Bakura sighed deeply. ((Yes. I love that gods damned Pharaoh in this life.))

(Then that's enough.)

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Akuro: Hee! Thanks for the feedback! It's incredibly helpful to me! [gives Akuro a cookie] But, Yugi's life has just started to get interesting. Waaait until later on. ^________^