Author's Notes: Wow, I'm on a roll, aren't I? Yay! Chapter 10. It isn't the last chapter, there are still a few more to go before... dun dun dun... the lemon! (dramatic music scene) Marik went off somewhere, Malik doesn't know where he is. Malik, Ryou and Bakura went off to look for him, so, I'm all alone. -.-U Oh, well. This gives me a chance to talk without them interrupting. Yay!

Replies:

Dark Magician Girl / Hikaru: Yep, Malik didn't die! That was only something I used to. . . torment Marik with, as you may know I do that alot. :) And yep, you get more candy. You didn't. . . eat a vomit flavor one. . . did you?! -gag-

Shinigami: Yay, I'm off the hook! To show I am a NICE authoress. . . Marik: Except when she decided it's time to torture certain people. . . -cough-

Kohaku: XD. Here's a large pixi stix to show that I am a NICE authoress who doesn't go around killing her siblings in her stories. :)

I think that's about everything! The guys SHOULD be back next chapter. . . unless they want a certain someone to die, that is. . . . Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh, Kazuki Takahashi and Konami do. . . I'm guessing other companies own other stuff. . . but I don't know them. . . oh well. . . No money is being made from this story. . .

-

Act 10 Part I -

The three of them had all ready gotten out of the Shadow Realm, happy now as they ever were, but still hadn't heard from Rishid about Isis. They all hoped she was O.K. But now, they had a job to do: take down the boss. They were back at their house, and Kohaku cleaned it up with her magic. She was just sitting, tired.

"How are we going to do that, anyway?"Malik asked.

"I have a plan. . . even though. . . someone will have to create a diversion. . ."Marik started.

"I will."

"No, Malik. I won't risk you getting hurt again. Kohaku, will you?"Marik asked just when Malik was about to protest, but Marik picked him up, placed him in his lap, resting his head on Marik's chest.

"Sure, I will."

"Excellent. We'll start. . ."

"Tomorrow."

"The downfall of the hunters begins. . . at dawn tomorrow. . ."

-

Just as Marik, Kohaku and Malik were discussing their plans to take down the boss, the boss and his fellow hunters, the ones left, that retreated just in time, were discussing how to take down the Ishtars.

"We shall slaughter them!"

"Every last one!"

"We will not rest until we avenge ourselves and our sanity! Malik Ishtar will pay for what he did to us!"

-

"I hope everything will be over soon. . ."Tea said quietly, looking out the window, for it was still raining. Malik, Marik and Kohaku had said farewell to them and set off for home, thinking that no more hunters would be there, since they sent more than 60 of them to the Shadow Realm with the Millennium Locket. "Me too. . ."Yugi said.

"Too much has happened over so little time,"Tea said. (Deja Vu anyone?)

"I know what you mean. . . I wish that this would just all be over. . ."Yugi said quietly.

"But why would Malik's own servants betray him?"Joey asked.

"Maybe they want revenge for all he did to them. . . it does make sense, after all,"Yugi replied.

"Yeah. . . I guess you're right."

Everything seemed quiet after that. No one was talking or doing anything. They weren't talking or watching Television. They were just sitting in the living room, silently looking out the window at the rain falling down the windows.

-

It was getting near nightfall, and Kohaku, Marik and Malik were the only ones left in the Ishtar residence that night. Rishid had called saying Isis was in intensive care, but she would be all right. That gave everyone relief, and thankfully he called before morning, or two out of the three people there might be plagued with nightmares until morning.

That night, Kohaku was in her own bed with a peaceful sleep, knowing that Isis would be okay. They would go and visit her tomorrow if they weren't busy. Malik and Marik were sleeping together, and, she just didn't want to think of what was going on in there right now. She shuddered at the thought.

"Thinking certain thoughts, hmm?"Kaoko grinned. "Oh shut up, yami,"Kohaku glared in reply. Kaoko chuckled. "Just as stubborn as the. . ." "You're not still comparing me to the priest, are you?!"Kohaku exclaimed. Kaoko sweatdropped. "No. . ." "Then what were you going to say?"she glared. "Uh. . . nothing, really." "Oh no, it was something. Tell me!"she yelled.

What they didn't know, was that Marik and Malik could hear them in the next room over, or at least they could and weren't letting them know. But they were laughing.

"She is as stubborn as the priest,"Marik snickered.

They heard a bang on the wall. "I heard that!!"

Marik and Malik looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

"I wonder if Kaoko was just as stubborn. . .?"Malik asked.

Marik smirked. "Yes, she was actually."

Another bang at the wall. The two of them grinned.

"Annoying people is fun,"Marik said, grinning.

"I gotta agree."

". . .Plus spirits."

Malik giggled. "Yup."

He acts like nothing is going to happen. . . even though he knows a big battle is dead ahead of us. . . Marik thought, staring at Malik.

Minutes later, they had settled down, and Malik's head was rested on Marik's chest, Marik stroking his hair absentmindedly.

"Marik?"

"Hmm?"

"Everything will be over soon. . . right?"Malik asked quietly.

"Yes. . . everything will be over soon, hikari. Now get some sleep."Malik was instantly asleep, but Marik had a sinking feeling something was going to happen to him. I hope. . .

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kohaku: Hi again! I got another chapter up. I can't believe I made it past 10, 000 words! Yay! N E ways, please review and this is my Thanksgiving update so. . . HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Joey: May your days be filled with Turkey! -eats food-