Disclaimer: Why do I bother? You all know what I'm gonna say so I quit.

"You little idiot! I told you to sweep!"

"I did!" WHAM.

"Don't you dare speak to me in that tone of voice!"

"How am I supposed to speak to you?" CRACK.

"With respect!" Malik aimed a punch at Marik again. Ryou's face flashed before Marik's eyes, and without thinking, he blocked the punch. Malik stared at him. Marik stared back, now more frightened than before. Malik started walking toward him.

"You blocked my punch." Marik started backing up.

"I-I'm sorry, master, I..." He felt the wall against his back. Malik stopped directly in front of him.

"That's not smart, Marik." He grabbed Marik's wrists and slammed them against the wall above Marik's head. A thick chain like the one in their room slid out of the wall, over them, and back into the other side, securing Marik's wrists to the wall. Malik let go, and began punching Marik everywhere he could hit him. Marik's cries could be heard out of the house. But by now, people were used to them.

Malik stopped when he saw Marik could take no more. The boy was panting, tears running down his face, the chain the only thing holding him up, too weak to hold up his head. Malik smirked.

"Now Marik, let's see how you like the taste of crimson sweetness." He pulled out the Millenium Rod and pulled the sheath off of the dagger. He made a cut on Marik's arm. Marik winced. Malik ran his tongue slowly over the wound, making Marik shudder. Then Malik pulled Marik's head up and opened his mouth. Pressing his lips against his slave's, Malik slid his tongue in, filling Marik's mouth with his own blood.

Marik struggled feebly for a short moment, then stopped; neither struggling, nor giving back. Malik spread the crimson liquid around Marik's mouth with his tongue, enjoying the sounds of Marik's displeasure. Finally he stopped, pulling away. Marik's head dropped, and he coughed up most of the blood, spattering it onto the floor. What was left ran out of his mouth in twin rivulets down the sides of his chin. Malik smirked and licked it off. The doorbell rang. Malik left his slave and went to answer. Marik hung there, eyes dull and unseeing. A shadowy figure appeared next to him. For a moment Ryou listened to Malik trying to get the Girl Scout to go away, then he turned to Marik.

Poor Marik. Bound and helpless, bruised and bleeding. Tortured, both physically and emotionally. I wish there was something I could do, but I am nothing, a shadow in this world. I cannot touch Marik, comfort him in a warm embrace. Ryou's eyes filled with tears. He cupped Marik's chin in his hand. Marik neither saw nor felt Ryou's lips brush against his own.

Malik came back, with a vein pulsing in his temple because of the idiot Girl Scout, and saw Ryou. His smirk returned. He went to Marik.

"Ryou. How nice to see you. I see you've been trying to help my hikari. I don't think you're much use to him right now. Being forced to taste his own blood seems to have shattered him emotionally. Doesn't surprise me. Now, all I have to do is make him taste mine, and nothing anyone can do will save him. He'll be bound to me; if something happens to me, it'll happen to him. And you, being a shadow, can do nothing." He made a cut on his own arm and lapped up some blood. He was about to open Marik's mouth when a force slammed into his back. He sprawled onto the floor. Looking up, he saw a very familiar figure standing next to Marik, looking livid. The person waved his hand over the chain holding Marik, and it disappeared. Marik fell into his rescuer's arms. The person held him tightly, glaring at Malik in a way that told him he was about to feel intense pain. Ryou smirked in a very un-Ryou like way.

"I can do nothing except bring him back." Malik gulped as he stared into the pitiless eyes of the famous thief, the reknowned murderer, Bakura.

Okay! Who do you think I've chosen for the romance to be with? We have:

1. Malik- making out with him and enjoying it a little too much.

2. Ryou- kissing him even though he knows Marik can't feel it.

3. Bakura- Saving him then holding him in his arms.

Only I know. Muaha. You'll find out soon enough.