Well, it's obvious that you guys like the long chapters, so yey! There are many ahead like that And hm, about Marik's relationship with Malik, well, that will be addressed later. Thanks A BUNCH to everyone who reviewed. You guys make me both laugh and smile (extra laughs for Angel of roses XD)

I'm glad to see that some of you are actually thinking about this and analyzing the characters and their situations. If I were Ryou it'd bring a tear to my eye.

Chapter 4: Matters of the Heart

"Master Marik, we've searched everywhere. Ryou is nowhere to be found."

Marik fell back into his chair with a defeated expression. "Are you sure Rabaku? He's not hiding in one of the people's houses is he?"

"No, the people know better than to go against your word. He is not there either."

Marik sighed. "I see."

"Master Marik!" another follower cried, running into the room. "We just found this cloth torn down from its place at the hideout entrance." In his hand was the tattered cloth. "And... the stone was pushed back and one of the horses are missing."

Rabaku gasped. "He's escaped? But how?"

Marik straightened up and tapped a finger on his chin. "He's a lot smarter than you think. He probably watched one of the others close it."

"...The desert will not be kind to him."

"No...it will not," he narrowed his gaze. "Where would he have gone?"

The sun was high in the pinnacle of the sky when Ryou finally decided it was time for a break. He had been riding all throughout the night and now had a sore back and legs to accompany him.

Easing the horse to a stop, he hopped off and removed his tan cloak, laying it on the ground and then sitting on it. Even though the sun had barely risen, it still seemed to be beating down on Ryou, whose head was already damp with perspiration.

He took out the basket that the woman had given him and was glad to find berries and nuts, of which he only ate a few. He wanted to spare it just in case... not that he was planning on staying long in the desert.

"Oh Ra, how am I going to get back?" Ryou wondered.

Marik had blindfolded him on the way to the hideout, so he wasn't sure what direction they had gone in. Yami had told him a way to remember how to get back to the Palace, but it wasn't clear in his mind.

"Follow the direction in which the sun rises... there you will find me..."

That was it! But suddenly, Ryou felt a lump building up in his throat and a familiar sadness tug at his heart. He missed Yami. He missed him a lot. Yami was his best friend; the one person who saw him for who he really was.

Thinking about that reminded Ryou of a very interesting conversation he had had with High Priest Seth not long before he was abducted...

"Ryou... do you love Yami?" Seth asked.

Ryou, who had been washing hands in a small basin, almost jumped at the question. "What?"

Seth focused his icy blue eyes on the ivory-haired teen. "Don't play stupid with me. I'm not an idiot. I've seen how Pharaoh dotes on you and never stops talking about you. He loves you, Ryou..."

"Loves?" Ryou said, unbelievingly. He still couldn't believe what Seth had told him. Up until now he had thought that Yami only thought of him as a good friend, so hearing this was a slight shock.

"Yes. Now, how do you feel about him? I must know. Do not let what I have said today affect your answer. It must come straight from your heart. What is it telling you?"

"My heart?" Ryou repeated. At the moment, his heart was pounding. It seemed to be beating a million miles per second and so loudly it was though it were in his ears. "I-... well, I..."

Seth sighed. "It's apparent you aren't sure of your answer as of now, so I will ask you in a couple of days. You'd better have you answer by then," he said solemnly. "...I don't want Yami to be sad..."

But Ryou never did get to speak to him again. He was stolen from the palace, as was his connection to his best friend.

Ryou felt like crying. His head hurt, his body hurt, his heart hurt. But, he knew there would be other time later for crying. For now, he had to make his way to the Palace.

Standing up, a small breeze blew through the air carrying along with it a familiar scent.

Flowers... but not just any flowers... the flowers of the desert.

Ryou grabbed the reins of the horse and followed the quickly fading smell. When it had diminished, he was standing before a small patch of bright orange and crimson flowers. His hands reached out to brush lightly on the petals and a small smile touched his lips. Digging next to the small bedding, but being careful not to destroy the foliage, he dug until he reached soft sand. Flowers couldn't grow without a supply of water. Splashing some of the water on his face, he was glad to find it surprisingly cool.

A hissing sound beside him caused him to freeze. Turning, he saw the dull colored serpent that rose out of the sand. Its mouth was opened in a snort of scowl exposing it's razor sharp fangs, and its eyes sparkled with anger.

"Okay...this is not good."

Slowly, he made an attempt to move backwards, but the snake raised its head and seemed to be ready to strike. That scared his horse, which reared, letting out a frenzied 'neigh' and bolted off.

His gaze was turned back to the snake. "No, no, no!" Ryou said, waving his hands in front of him, "Please don't do that."

Returning to his sitting position, the snake seemed to lower its head slightly as well, and Ryou let out a sigh of relief. "There, I'm not bad, see?" Ryou said, and almost smacked himself for talking to reptile that he knew wouldn't understand.

The snake turned and went to leave, but spun one more time, facing its sparkling eyes upon Ryou, who could've sworn were a mysterious cobalt. But before it got the chance to leave, a dagger struck it pinning its head to the ground and it struggled momentarily before death swiftly took it.

Ryou looked at the snake with shock written all over his face, but when he raised his gaze, he was even more afraid. "No...way..."

Marik sat upon a black horse, his face anything but relieved at the sight of Ryou. "I have been looking since before morning for you..."

"You didn't have to kill it," Ryou muttered under his breath.

Marik got down from the horse. "What in Ra's name are you talking about?

Ryou stood up and glared at Marik. "You didn't have to kill the snake!" Turning in an angered huff, he stomped off in the opposite direction. Anything to get away from Marik.

Marik looked at Ryou as though he were crazy, but proceeded to catch up to him. "I save you and this is the thanks I get? What's wrong with you?!"

Ryou spoke as he walked. "Save me? That snake wasn't going to hurt me!" Glaring back at him he asked, "Do you have to kill everything?!"

Marik narrowed his gaze. "Don't take that tone with me!"

"You're not one of my parents!"

"But I am your captor!"

"That has nothing to do with it!" he quickened his pace to a slow run.

Marik sped up as well. "It has everything to do with it! I'm a master of the shadows, and YOU are to address me as such!"

"Oh, well, sorry!" He turned around but continued walking and faked a bow. "I never meant to speak to you that way, dearest master of DEATH!"

Marik bared his teeth in a snarl and lunged at Ryou, pinning him onto the ground hard. "WHAT is with you?!"

Tears streamed down Ryou's cheeks. "Why won't you just kill me and get it over with?! Ra knows you kill everything else!"

"Stop this foolish outburst now! STOP IT!"

"GO AWAY!"

Marik brought his hand back and slapped it fast along Ryou's cheek sending a deafening smacking sound into the air.

Ryou slowly brought a hand up to touch his stinging skin, his eyes wide in disbelief. "Oh my gosh... you hit me..."

Marik elevated a brow. "I had to, you were being unreasonable."

Ryou frowned. "Oh... I'm sorry. I suppose I should've been thankful to you for at least coming here to find me... even though it was YOU who got me here in the first place."

Marik smirked. "Slowly, I'm beginning to regret that choice."

"Really though Marik," Ryou said, looking up at him with curious, yet innocent teary eyes, "Why haven't you killed me yet? I've been nothing but a problem for you ever since I've been around you."

Marik paused, and his brows furrowed. Why hadn't he killed Ryou yet? Even now, as Ryou looked up at him for an answer, he wasn't sure. There was something about Ryou that allured him and made him want to pounce on him every second.

Thank Ra, Ryou interrupted his thoughts with another question. "Um, Marik?"

"Yes?" Marik said, thankful he didn't have to answer.

"...Why are you still on top of me?"

Okay, that question could've possibly been even worse than the first. Avoiding it, he promptly stood up, dusting himself off in the process. "Oh...my...Ra...Tell me I'm seeing things..."

Ryou stood up and looked around for whatever had upset him. "I don't see anything..."

"Exactly Ryou, my horse, along with the provisions and water I had brought, are GONE."

Ryou exhaled noisily. "So is the one I rode on."

Marik, despite the seriousness of the subject, put on a bitter smirk. "I do not believe this. Two horses and food lost within mere moments. And I am stuck with YOU of all people."

Ryou blinked. "And what is THAT supposed to mean, hm?"

"It means we're lost, all right? We are utterly and totally lost out here. I cannot believe I'm going to die in the desert because you decided to throw a temper tantrum. I always imagined some grandiose death. There went that dream."

Marik removed his large lavender cloak and spread it out on the sand. His deeply tanned chest and arms were exposed; sweat accenting his body's unique beauty. Now, he only wore a knee-length sarong, his feet and muscular calves covered by leather sandals.

Ryou felt his face flush and turned away immediately. Had he just been checking Marik out? "Um, what are you doing?" he asked to try and change the subject in his mind.

Marik flashed a perturbed glance at him. "I didn't get any sleep last night, so, I'm getting it now." Lying back, he closed his eyes, draping an arm casually across his eyes, and was silent.

Ryou raised a brow and frowned. He had the perfect chance to run away, but he'd be dead before long without water. But, then again, what good would staying with Marik do? At least he was a good source of protection... Scary protection, but protection none the least.

Moving closer toward Marik, Ryou saw that his breathing was steady and a light whisper escaped his lips every time he exhaled. "Marik?" he whispered. "Are you awake?"

Poking him lightly on the arm, he found that Marik remained contently asleep. Tapping him once again proved to be just as worthless.

"Asleep already?" Ryou wondered aloud, slightly astounded. But, then there was the small fact of how he had been up all night...

Using his right arm to steady himself, he reached his left arm over Marik so that on hand was on either side of him. Marik fascinated Ryou for some unknown reason. Compared to Marik, Ryou was paler than clouds, but Marik's skin held a bronze-like attribute that was incredible. His eyes wandered up to Marik's lips and he couldn't draw away.

Suddenly he remembered the breathtaking kiss they had shared in the bathhouse, and Ryou felt his cheeks go red. Ra! Why couldn't he forget about that kiss? And the more he thought about it...the more he wanted a chance to feel Marik's lips upon his own again.

It wouldn't be hard. Marik was a deep sleeper, so if Ryou's bugging couldn't wake him, what would a simple kiss do? That's right, it was just a simple kiss. Nothing more; nothing less. Ryou desperately needed to sort out his feelings...he wasn't quite sure what his heart was telling him.

Leaning down, he stopped when he felt Marik's warm breath upon his mouth. Such a simple happening caused Ryou's skin to feel as though it was aflame, and his heartbeat sped up.

By Ra! Just get it over with!

Their lips had to have been millimeters from touching before Marik's eyes opened, and, grabbing Ryou's upper arms, he flipped him in one liquid movement so that he was above him.

"Aw, how cute," Marik said, a suspicious look upon his face. "You're on the bottom where you belong."

Ryou's eyes went wide but he kept his mouth shut.

"And what exactly were you trying to do? Slit my throat?" He looked at both of Ryou's hands which were empty.

"Well I-... I was just-"Ryou struggled with an excuse.

Marik's violet eyes narrowed. "I know you weren't hovering above me for nothing."

Ha, if he only knew.

Marik shook his head. "Talking to you is like talking to a clay wall."

"I was trying to kiss you, all right?!" Ryou finally spat out.

"Well... talk about straight-forwardness. Why?"

Ryou averted his gaze. "I... I don't know. I just-"

His answer was cut short when Marik practically crashed their lips together. Ryou didn't even realize what was happening and his jaw went slack allowing Marik's demanding tongue to enter.

Marik's lips were pressing with almost bruising force onto Ryou's, and Ryou could barely even breathe with Marik's tongue practically down his throat. He could feel Marik's wandering hands working their way from his throat to his shoulders where they scratched light trails of fire, and then one was curled behind his back and the other was used to push them up so that they would be more on the cloak, but, Ryou struggled to hang onto Marik and as a result, his hips bucked lightly.

That wasn't the best thing to do when you've got a turned-on, ominous killer above you. Marik purred possessively into Ryou's lips and his free hand traveled down Ryou's hip, curling his leg around his own.

Ryou was barely thinking straight. With Marik's needy mouth and naughty hands, he had enough to think about. Especially, how all this could feel so great if they were still fully clothed. Well, half-clothed if you count the bare chests. But then, he felt Marik wrapping his leg around his so he was positioned between Ryou's legs and Ryou panicked.

"Oh no!" he cried, pulling away from Marik's mouth.

Marik tried his best to remain calm instead of bashing Ryou's face in. "What is it now?"

"You know I... I can't... My power..."

Marik smirked and placed a silencing finger on Ryou's lips. "There are things we can do without me having to seduce you."

"It's not that either," Ryou pleaded. "You're too rough...It's something that should be taken slowly and cherished, and in a beautiful setting. Plus...we're...not together."

Marik blinked. "What? You and I are laying here with each other. How together are we talking about?"

Ryou rolled out from under Marik and stood up quickly, straightening his skirt. "We're not... a couple. We don't share the same feelings. When people do things...such as that...they have to care about one another, not just want a romp in between the sheets."

"I want a romp...and you. Does that count?"

Ryou's eyes widened. "No! We're two guys anyways!"

Marik looked unaffected. "So? I'd expect someone like you to say something like 'Love knows no boundaries'."

"It doesn't!"

"Then the problem is?"

Ryou was getting frustrated. What exactly was the problem? "You stole me!"

"SO? I care about you... you care about me-"

"Who said that?" Ryou asked, surprised.

"You're the one who tried to kiss me..."

"Yes, but do you really care about me? Or my body?"

"What difference does it make?"

Ryou paused, turning his back to him. "It makes all the difference."

Marik propped his head up on his elbow. "I swear to Ra you are a girl... You're possibly the most sensitive guy alive. Couples like that don't exist."

"They do too!" Ryou retorted.

"In your dreams maybe." Getting to his feet, he grabbed up his cloak, shook the excess sand off of it, and looked for a moment back at Ryou, an annoyed expression upon his face. "Are you coming?"

"Where?"

"I'll get us home somehow."

Ryou's most recent tantrum had put Marik in a sour mood. Ra damnit! He was supposed to be the one in charge, and instead Ryou bossed him around like a parent. Movement out of the corner of his eyes caused him to turn, and he saw Ryou in step next to him.

"What are you doing?" Marik asked.

Ryou looked at him innocently. "I'm just walking by your side."

For a moment, Marik was taken back. Hadn't he made some comment in regards to that earlier? Grabbing Ryou's arm, he jerked him around and placed a quick, yet ferocious kiss upon his lips, then pulled back. "One day, Ryou, you will be by my side...in bed, and you're going to enjoy it there," he said matter-of-factly.

Ryou's eyes went wide at the clear-cut guarantee. "In your dreams maybe," he said and pulled free from Marik's grasp.

Wow, Ryou was undeniably hot when he got upset.

But...they did have other things to think of... like getting back.

--

Time seemed to pass slowly, and Ryou was already hungry and thirsty again, as was Marik, but there was no food or water anywhere and night had already fallen.

"Do you think we're close, Marik?" Ryou asked?

Marik glared. "How should I know?" The heat was angering him.

"I was just asking..."

"What's your problem? Are you still upset about that damned snake?, because I already apologized around fifty times."

"No, it's not that... Are you okay? You don't look so well," Ryou said, stopping and looking into Marik's face, which looked strangely pale.

Marik rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. It's this damn heat." His head felt like it was getting baked.

Ryou paused. "Heat?" he said as he walked. "Marik, it's cold outside."

Hearing something collapse behind him, Ryou turned and froze. "Oh my gosh..." Rushing to Marik's side, he noticed he was barely able to keep his eyes open. "What happened?" Ryou asked quickly.

Marik shook his head. "I'm fine, do you hear me? I can manage myself."

Ryou's hand went to Marik's head which was almost like fire. "Uh oh...you're burning up...and we don't have water..."

"I said I'd be fine!" Marik said, closing his eyes to block out the headache.

"Keep your eyes open," Ryou instructed. "I have to know you're still with me... Marik? Say something!"

When nothing was said, Ryou panicked. Marik had fallen unconscious.

Ryou didn't know what to do. It would be so easy to run away... go back to the Palace... be with Yami again... He wanted to do that so much... but Marik needed his help... but Marik was also the one who'd been the cause of this whole dilemma from the start.

What was he going to do?

---TBC---

Wow, the suspense. A little lime for all y'all lime-lovers. Interrupted again I know, but bear with me. This IS Ryou we're talking about... #1 on Mr. Sensitive list. Who knows, maybe there'll be a time when things don't get interrupted... Marik sure does seem sure of himself... but who even said he'd survive the next chapter?

Thanks for reading Please review!

AmethystRoze