BL: hey! I'm finally back with the fifth chappie!! Yayness!!

Marik and Bakura: ::groan::

BL: ::glares at them:: Well, I gotta go back to school soon…darn.

Marik and Bakura: YES!! ::high five each other::

Ryou: don't mind them BL, they don't understand the hardships of school.

BL: I know…and it doesn't help that I'm starting high school!! It's too big!!

Ryou: it's not that bad.

BL: Yes it is!! ::cries::

Ryou: ::sighs:: Well, this time, the review responses are going to go before the chapter, not after. Here they are:

Tayko: Thanks a bunch! Sorry if my updates are slow…but, yeah. So, thanks a lot!

Yami Vamp: Really? Because I wasn't sure if the drama was good enough. Well, thanks!

It'sHardToBelieve: Well, I'm continuing! Thanks for reviewing!

Dark Magician Girl / Hikaru: Well, read on and you'll find out! And thanks a bunch!

pharohs-slave: gives a Ryou, Bakura, and Marik plushie There you go! Thanks a bunch, and sorry about the cliffy.

Luvsdogz: shakes head No, I don't think it was too sudden. I had wanted it to go that fast, that's part of the whole plot. They pretty much fell in love the first time they saw each other, and that's because they're destined to be together…and eventually torn apart. Besides that, thanks for the review, and I do accept the criticism. So, well, yeah, thankees.

Anime Crazed: Hmm, interesting. What will they do? Well, read on and you'll see! Thanks a bunch!!

BL: well, there they are, the review responses for the last chappie.

Ryou: Okay, I just want to point out that Bakuralover-2008 doesn't own YuGiOh.

BL: see what a good boy he is? I didn't even have to ask him!! ::gives Ryou a cookie::

Bakura and Marik: ::mumbling:: kiss up…

BL: well, on with the ficcy!!

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A Light in Darkness

Chapter 5 – Hatred, Jealousy, and Affection

()()()()() Marik's POV (still) ()()()()()

I walked into the house, and watched intently as Ryou stood on his feet and turned to face me. He had a warm friendly smile on his face.

"So, you're Marik. It's fascinating that I actually get to talk to you in person. Bakura is really quite fond of you," he said, as if he was happy to see me. His eyes stared into my own, as if looking into my very soul. When I looked, it seemed as though they changed to the color purple. Closing my eyes, I knew that I was only imagining that, for the color of Ryou's eyes were brown; it was Malik's whose were purple. I quickly shook him out of my mind; I didn't wish to think of him right now. Opening my eyes, I smirked at the boy standing in front of me.

"Don't act so happy to see me Ryou. If you sensed that I was coming, then you must know why. I know all about your power to sense vampires, and I know that you can sense when one has come to take your life." He looked to the floor, then back at me. His warm smile had vanished.

"Yes, I did sense that fact. Although, why you wish to kill me is beyond my judgment. I felt a great…hatred burning within you. But, why? What did I do to make you so angry?" He was confused. His senses weren't able to pick up my jealousy along with my hatred. I sighed.

"I'm not going to lose Bakura to you. I won't let him die because of this," I stated, almost mumbling. The memories of Malik and Yami returned to me, each of their death's replaying over and over again in my mind. I cringed, and my heart seemed to swell with sadness, anger, and hatred. Ryou's eyes grew wide, and he shook his head violently.

"No, you don't understand. Bakura and I are going to find a way to change this," he insisted. At that point, the anger burning within me was released, and I found myself shouting at the young human.

"There is no way! Why do you insist that you two can actually be together? Why are you the one to have Bakura's affection?" I screamed at him. He then understood what was going through my head.

"Marik…you must underst-" I cut him off, after hearing those words.

"No! You must understand the fact that I am not going to let another die because of this! I am not going to let Bakura slip from my grasp! Why did he fall in love with you so quickly?" I found that crimson tears began to form within my eyes, but right now, I could care less. Ryou had to die, for Bakura's sake. "You are not going to live to see another day!" I yelled, before charging at him. His face took on one of utter shock, and he was barely able to dodge my claws, which tore his shirt and just pierced his skin. Droplets of fresh blood started to come from his wounds, and he winced at the pain it had given him. I smirked. Perhaps this will be even easier than I had expected.

"Ryou, you're pathetic. I can even believe that I held you up to the same standards as Malik." His eyes widened.

"Malik? You don't mean to tell me that you were just like Bakura is now!?" He questioned. The look on my face gave him the answer. "Marik, then surely you can understand! Bakura and I fell in love because it was our fate! As quick I did fall for him, I can understand why." He said, trying to explain himself to me. I became enraged with anger once again.

"No, I can't understand! Even though you two are bonded, I still don't see why or how he fell for you that quickly! I've known him for all his life, and all he thinks of me is as a lord and friend. Yet, he sees you for the first time, and you're the object of his affection!" I yelled, clutching my fists. His eyes became saddened, and he looked up at me.

"But, wasn't it the same for you with Malik?" He questioned. I turned away from him.

"Malik was different!" I answered. No, it was the same. The very first time I saw him, I fell for him. And he fell for me.

"I don't think it was. Your jealously is blinding your sense of fact Marik," he said calmly. I spun around to look at him, my tears returning to me.

"You know nothing!" I charged at him again. He quickly moved, so that my claws didn't catch him. Marks were made on the wall, and he retreated up the stairs and into his room. Smirking, I slowly ascended the steps. So, he's finally starting to panic. Pure-heart or not, everyone fears for their life. I came to the closed door of his room and placed my hand on the handle. You can't escape me Ryou. I turned the handle, surprised to see the fact that it remained unlocked. The door swung open, and I found Ryou, sitting on the floor, his clothes a little stained from the wounds I gave him earlier.

"I've got you now Ryou. There's no escape." I smirked, and cracked my knuckles.

"Wait! Before you do, I would like to tell you something." He said, calmly. This surprised me. Why does he seem so calm?

"What is it?" I asked, annoyed. This had better be quick. I wanted to do away with him now, and get back to Bakura. "Stalling won't help you."

"I know, it's just…I know that you love Bakura, and you don't want him to die because of me. And, I've also found out that you are jealous of me for having his love. But, if you killed me now, that would just make him hate you. He loves me, and if you kill the one he loves, I don't think that he would ever forgive you. I'm not telling you this to try and save myself. I'm telling you this to try and save the love for you that Bakura has, and your hopes of you two ever being able to be together!" He informed me. My eyes went wide. What if he's right? What if I kill him, and then Bakura hates me forever? I would rather die myself than have that happen. Perhaps I shouldn't kill Ryou… He spoke again.

"I'm promising you…that I will not let Bakura die. If need be, I will take his place instead." My head shot up. That's what Malik did for me… When I looked at him, I did not see Ryou anymore, but instead, I saw my first love. Everything else cleared from my mind, where I was, why I was there. All I knew right now was that Malik was sitting right in front of me. I walked over and knelt down right next to him, crimson tears of blood now falling freely from my eyes.

"Malik…" I whispered his name, and I soon found myself lying down, my head in his lap. Right now, I was happy. I could just stay like this forever. I wanted to stay like this forever. He smiled. I sat up a little, and leaned my face into his. I could feel his warm breath on my skin, as our lips were mere centimeters apart. Just as I was finally about to kiss him, to have the one kiss I was never able to have…

…I blacked out.

)()()() Bakura's POV ()()()()()

I found myself running through the streets towards Ryou's house. I sensed that he was in some sort of danger, and it surprised me that Marik was able to get to him so quickly. I just hope that I wasn't too late. It was sort of difficult for me to get by Marik's guards, but when I had that feeling that Ryou's life was at stake, I went berserk.

)()()() Flashback ()()()()()

I awoke from my slumber, with a strange feeling in my chest. Something's wrong… And…I knew it was something with Ryou. I stood and walked over to the window, the guards still there. I groaned; getting by them would be difficult for sure. I sat on the windowsill, trying to think of a plan.

"Huh…?" I clutched at my chest. It wasn't pain, but just a feeling. At that point, I knew that Ryou was in danger. I must go protect him! I kicked open the window, causing the glass to shatter and fall down upon the guards below. Jumping out, all I could think about was Ryou's life. I landed on top of one of them, and punched his head hard, delivering an instant knock out. The other two brought their spears to their hands, and one slashed at me. The blade sliced through my arm, and I cried out because of the pain. Blood poured from the open wound, and I grasped it. Now that I was lying on the floor, they began to walk towards me slowly. Waiting for the right time, I swept my legs out from under them, causing them both to fall to the ground. I stood.

"Ryou's in danger and you won't stand in my way!" I yelled, before slashing at them both, causing them to fall unconscious from their wounds. I made sure the injuries weren't fatal; I had no intention of killing them. From there, I sped down the street towards Ryou's house.

)()()() End Flashback ()()()()()

Blood was still flowing out of the gash in my arm, but right now, that hardly bothered me. I probably never would have gotten past those guards if I didn't know Ryou was in danger. I came to his house, and wasn't surprised to see the door open. However, when I stepped inside to see a small trail of blood, I panicked. So much, that I couldn't sense whether or not Ryou was even there. Worry clouded my vision.

"Ryou!" I followed the trail up the stairs and burst into Ryou's room. What I found there, shocked me. Marik was unconscious, his head in Ryou's lap, streaks of blood smearing his face. Ryou's shirt was torn, and he was smiling as he sat there in the small pool of blood that now stained his carpet. He looked up at me.

"Bakura…it's nice to see you." I ran over to him and bombarded him with questions.

"Are you okay? Did he do anything to hurt you? What happened? Are your wounds fatal?" He laughed heartily.

"I'm fine Bakura, no need to ask so many questions. I think of all of us, Marik is the one who is the most hurt. Emotionally, not physically." He said, and I looked toward my lord. He did go through a lot, but I thanked him over and over again in my mind for not fatally injuring or killing Ryou. I stroked his head with my hand and smiled. Ryou spoke again.

"So, are you ready to find a way to fix this?" He asked me. I looked towards him and smirked, while laughing a little.

"More than you know."

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BL: sorry for the shortness, but writer's block is evil!! Oh, and sorry about the changes from triangles to circles, but they weren't getting shown in the preview! Neither were stars or anything!

Ryou: finally, we're going to try and start the search for a cure!

BL: yep! Review!!