"Do you have any idea where they would have gone?" Kaiba asked grabbing his shirt and following Joey to the door. Mokuba stayed where he was and just watched them. Joey turned around.

"I want you to stay here with Mokuba," Joey said not answering the question. "He shouldn't be left alone."

"Neither should you," Kaiba said temporarily forgetting to button his shirt.

"Pfft. I can take care of myself." Joey reached for the doorknob. "Besides, I think..." Kaiba pushed him up against the door before he even knew what was happening. He glanced over Kaiba's shoulder at Mokuba and blushed a little as his heart quickened and the heat rose between them. "Se..."

"Don't even start. The only thing I want to hear out of you is a yes."

"Yes?" Joey offered unsure. Kaiba moved away from him and buttoned up his shirt.

"Come on Mokuba," he said. He started toward the stairs and Mokuba followed. Joey moved away from the door.

"Hey wait! What did I just say yes to?" he called after him. Mokuba looked up at his brother just as curious but Kaiba's face showed no emotion at all.

"Don't worry about it. I promise you won't regret it," he said and disappeared into his room. Mokuba looked back at Joey from the top of the stairs but neither of them said anything. Mokuba sighed and ran the rest of the way to his own room and closed the door. Joey looked down confused and shook his head.

"Whatever. I guess it'll have to wait." He opened the door and left the mansion.

"Yugi, what are you doing? Where are you going?" Yami stood up and started after him.

"Don't follow me. This is something I have to do," his tone made Yami stop short. Yugi turned back and smiled to reassure them that he'd be okay. " I'm going to find Ryou."

"No. You don't get to play the hero this time runt," Bakura picked up Marik and threw him into Yami, then went after Yugi. Yami and Marik fell to the ground and Tristan went over to help them up. Bakura grabbed Yugi's arm. "You tell me where you think he is before I..." Yugi looked at him sharply and then smiled again when he stopped and let go.

"Everything will work out," he said and ran off. Bakura shook his head and followed him, disregarding any orders and looks telling him not too.

"Don't worry. He won't get far," Marik said smugly. He started after both of them but Tristan tripped him and he fell to the ground again.

"Don't underestimate Yugi," Yami said, more to himself then anyone else. It was taking all of his will not to follow him wherever he was going. Tristan knocked Marik unconscious and looked at Yami.

"So you're just going to let him go?" he asked. Yami turned to face him.

"That is what he asked."

"Do you always do what he asks? Come on. I thought you knew better by now." Tristan started off in the direction Yugi and Bakura had gone. Yami stood a minute watching him go, then looked down at Marik and thought about what he was doing. Torn between going after the others and making sure Marik wasn't going to bother them again, he went over to where Marik was lying and knelt down. He could sense that the evil was no longer present and tried to awaken the boy. Marik groaned and his hand moved to his head. The unexpected movement made Yami jump back but when Marik opened his eyes and sat up, Yami moved back to help him.

"How do you feel?" he asked the disoriented child. Marik blinked at him as if trying to remember exactly who he was and then suddenly he was hugging him. Yami was too surprised to react right away.

"Oh Pharaoh, I thought I'd never see you again," Marik said excitedly. "I thought I'd never see anyone again, but here you are. You saved me." Yami tried to get him to let go but the boy's grip on him was too strong. "How can I ever thank you?"

"I didn't do anything yet," Yami responded. "But it'd be much appreciated if you'd let me go." Marik recoiled and made a motion as if making an offering to him.

"Oh, please forgive me. I don't know where my manners have gone." Yami didn't say anything right away and Marik looked up at him again, concern crossing his face. "Really. I didn't mean to..." Yami shook his head and stood up.

"It's okay. You're alright now."

"All thanks to you. I owe you my life. And I won't leave you until I've returned the favor." Yami closed his eyes.

"No need. As I said, I haven't done anything yet." He backed up out of the alley.

"Yami! Where did... Marik? What's he doing here?" Joey ran up to them. As he said the last sentence his face twisted in disgust. Marik stood up and brushed himself off. As Marik started to answer Joey's question, Yami started walking in the direction the others had gone.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Marik abandoned answering Joey and went after Yami. " I thought..."

"I'm going to find Yugi and the others. They could be in danger."

"But what about me? Were you just going to leave me there? You don't want to protect me anymore?" Marik started to look like he was about to cry and Yami sighed.

"No, that's not what I'm saying." Marik's face immediately brightened and he hugged Yami excitedly again. Yami looked away tiredly, regretting changing the boy's mind. Joey just looked at both of them, more confused then ever.

"What's going on guys? Where are Yugi and Tristan?" he asked trying to stay away from whatever might be going on with Marik. Yami pushed Marik off him again and kept walking.

"We're not sure. Yugi said he was going to find Ryou and he took the millennium rod."

"What? How? I thought... So that's why I can't..." Marik said, not really finishing his sentences. Joey just shook his head and ignored him again.

"So they went this way? You do realize where we're headed right?" he said. Yami raised an eyebrow distastefully.

"Yes. I do. And that's why I think we need to be quick about finding them." Joey nodded as they walked deeper into the slummiest part of town.