Yes...grammatical errors…Selene, and everyone reading any of my stories, let me just apologize right now for all the past grammatical errors in this fic and the future ones. I can read and re-read a story ten times and I still don't catch them. TT Forgive me, but thanks for your enthusiasm. Greatly appreciated! As for my recent delays... they're getting ridiculous! I am sorry for that too. It won't happen again. I actually had a good excuse- surgery- but I didn't think I'd be recovering for this long. Heh... For your patience, a long chapter.

Chapter 12: Lost in Translation

It had nearly been a month now since Malik and Bakura started living together, and Bakura had gone through a strange change. Ever since dinner with Jounouchi a couple of days ago, Bakura was bitter and more irritable—still cracking jokes but without the usual amusement. He seemed very unhappy, or scared, or one of the two. He was always on edge, peeking through the curtains at every chance and refusing to answer the door.

Of course, this was very frustrating to Malik, who knew he really had to be returning to Heaven soon. He just kept making excuses for himself. Either it was that Bakura was too clumsy to be left on his own, or Bakura wouldn't know what to do without him.

...Funny how it always involved Bakura.

Speaking of, Bakura was downright miserable. He was left literally counting his days left on earth. Kaiba's unaccounted-for arrival had really shaken him up. What was he doing there?

"…Just a simple matter that needs to be terminated…"

Terminated? He hadn't worried about it then, but now he ran the word through his mind endless times. Jounouchi was a nice kid—he was innocent, he was good-looking, most importantly—he was Malik's friend. Subjecting him to Kaiba's unpredictable behavior... Was that such a good idea?

Oh, but Kaiba had reformed... Kaiba was better now... That's what he told everyone. That's how he appeared. Still, people hold things on the inside when they don't want anyone else to see... Was Kaiba doing that at this very moment?

Grabbing up the phone, Bakura dialed the blonde's number, which Malik had conveniently placed on the table, and almost prayed he would pick up.

One. Two. Three rings, and nothing. Bakura was about to break the phone when he finally heard a voice on the other line.

"Hello?"

"Jounouchi?" Bakura asked, somewhat surprised.

"Bakura?" Jounouchi sounded equally astonished.

"Thank goodness you're alive," he sighed.

There was a pause before Jounouchi asked, "did you doubt I'd be?"

"No, it's nothing like that! I just... wanted to make sure you were okay." He would seriously be in hot water if Marik had heard the words he had just spoken. One month ago, it might've felt wrong, but now... now, it was all right. "Malik would kill me if anything happened to you."

"Nah, I'm fine. I'm just watching The Terminator. It's an awesome movie."

Bakura nearly fainted. "The...Terminator?" Terminated… Terminated… Terminated…

"Yep. You and Malik should come over and watch it. I think you'd enjoy it."

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea." At least then he'd be able to keep a watch on him. "Say, is Kaiba over there."

"Kaiba? No, he hasn't been over here for a few days. The crazy thing is, I think I'm starting to actually miss him."

"That is crazy! Do you even know who he is?"

"Now you're starting to sound like Yugi. Don't worry about it," Bakura could almost hear him grin. "I trust Kaiba."

Bakura clenched the phone so hard it nearly broke in half. "Be careful who you put your faith in, Jou," he said through clenched teeth. "You can never be too sure when someone's going to let you down."

"Hm...I know," he said, almost sadly, "but for some reason, I have a feeling that Kaiba knows the pain of loss and isn't in too much of a rush to subject me to it…That's not to say that doesn't have any problem subjecting me to his cold criticism, but deep down—I think he's just misunderstood."

Bakura was taken aback. If Jounouchi had known what Kaiba had done in the past, he surely wouldn't think so highly of him now. "So, you're settled... You have complete confidence in him?"

"In a way, Kaiba saved my life..." Jounouchi was silent for a moment, before he answered fondly, "So yes..." And then he asked, "Trust is very important between two people, wouldn't you agree, Bakura?"

Trust? Important? Bakura seriously had to contemplate how to answer. He personally found it almost impossible to trust anyone. Living amongst the not-so-trustworthy crowd of demons does have that effect on you. "I suppose," he finally settled with. "But—well, how do you know…if someone trusts you or not without asking them?"

"Hm, I don't know," he laughed lightly. "I suppose the only way to be sure would be to ask them...And even that requires a small level of trust—Oh! Sorry, I'm gonna have to let you go. The Terminator is about to kick some major ass. See ya later…"

"Yeah...Bye..."

Bakura held the phone for some after that—long after Jounouchi had hung up. Jounouchi had mentioned the word "terminator" again, but this time, it didn't echo through his mind like before. Strangely, after talking to Jounouchi, Bakura almost felt like trusting Kaiba enough to hold the world for him... "Trust," he said quietly to himself as he placed the phone back in its cradle.

"Hey Bakura," Malik said, rushing out of his room.

"Oh…Malik," Bakura was a bit surprised to see him.

"Were you on the phone? I could've sworn I heard you talking to someone." He grabbed a light black jacket.

"Yeah, I was just checking up on Jou..."

"How sweet of you," he smiled.

Bakura twirled the phone cord around his finger. "Do you... think we could talk?"

"Oh Bakura, I'd love to, but I have to go." He opened the door, "I promise we'll talk later, okay?"

"...Okay." And with that, Malik was gone.

…Did Malik trust him?

Well, he had trusted him enough to live with him, but Bakura had an inkling that there was a difference between that trust and the trust Jounouchi was talking about. Maybe an even better question was did he trust Malik? He had convinced himself after talking with Marik that he didn't love Malik, but there were still strong feelings there.

Bakura couldn't help the small smile that found itself on his face as he recalled the past few nights. Being that there was only one full-sized bed in the apartment, he and Malik had decided the first night that they would share it. But...that never really happened. Bakura announced on a whim that he would be sleeping on the couch and Malik could have the bed all to himself... He figured it would be safer that way should Bakura's fingers begin to itch again.

Speaking of itchy fingers, Bakura's had started doing that a lot lately! He had thought it was an over-and-done thing, but his body felt otherwise. No matter how many times he convinced himself that he had no feelings for Malik, he couldn't seem to keep his hands off him. When they walked side-by-side, he always managed to slip an arm securely around his waist, and when they sat next to one another on the couch, all-be-damned if that arm always found itself around his shoulders!

Just one kiss... that's all Marik needed, and yet, he had already tried twice for it and lost. If he could just put them in a situation where poof, a kiss just happened to be mandatory, then he would know. What would he know, you may ask? Why, the question of Ls, of course.

Love or lust? Yes, he was...still doubtful, but you see, Malik was always on his mind, even when he forced himself to be mean to him to convince him otherwise. Maybe it was because he knew a love between a demon and a human was cursed. No, that kind of union wasn't forbidden, and in fact, back when demons frequented the earth it wasn't that uncommon, but...it came with a price—one far too expensive to pay. Bakura would always remain as he was, while Malik would naturally age with time, and even if the love remained, Malik would eventually die and forget his memories of earth... including his memories of Bakura. It was doomed to fail. He was better off falling in love with an angel.

"…No strings attached. That's the way it oughtta be. I hope you're not hoping for something more. Hell is all about lust. Don't you dare make me mention the other word..."

"L-O-V-E", Bakura found himself saying as he recollected that conversation with Marik. Had it really been one month ago? Actually, Bakura was surprised that Marik hadn't come back to drag him back to hell. But, oh yes, he had almost forgotten that the demon had been particularly busy over the past week—what with trying to gain an angel's love an all.

Oh, how love complicated things. Did Marik honestly think he'd be successful? With three days left, his week was almost up. It'd be interesting to see how it all played out in the end... not that Bakura wanted to stir up trouble, he just wanted to see what lengths the other demon would go to to win the bet. He only hoped it wouldn't end in disaster. An angel and demon together? Ludicrous! Why, Marik had better be planning on cutting off all ties with the angel once the week was through, or Bakura would end it for him. If the angel truly did love him, then yes, he would be sad, but a communion of that sort is cursed as well.

"What a tangled web we weave…" he mused, "When we practice to deceive."

"Aha! I told you that you could do it," Marik said confidently, idly amused.

Ryou almost looked like a deer caught in headlights. "Marik...I did as you said... now let's go back."

"Go back? After coming this far?" A devious smirk played over his features. "I don't think so."

The angel was shocked, knees almost visibly trembling. "You promised!"

Marik held up a finger. "Actually, I said that if you did exactly as I said, we'd go back."

"I have done exactly as you said," he looked behind him, the Bridge's steps not too far away. He just couldn't seem to move his feet toward them. "Can we just go?"

"Whoever said I was done giving orders?" Marik asked innocently... a little too innocently.

Ryou's brown eyes flashed. "Oh, you are such a demon!"

Marik took a step closer to him, the back of his hand just barely brushing his pale cheek. "And you, my dear, are such an angel. Now please," he offered his arm, "just come this way... I promise nothing will happen to you."

Ryou looked from Marik's face to the Bridge, and then back to Marik's face. How had he gotten himself into this situation again? Oh yes... Marik just had that effect on him! But convincing Ryou to come to Hell with him? That was really stretching it!

Over the past couple of days, he and Marik had gotten strangely closer, whether Ryou liked to admit it or not. He most definitely did not. He had thought that when he left Marik standing on the Bridge that fateful afternoon, he would never see him again. Obviously, he was wrong.

Marik was...persistent, to say the least.

When Ryou arrived at the Bridge the next day for respite after instructing the angel choir, he found Marik there waiting for him! And, just as the last time, Ryou couldn't help but be drawn to stay. Marik possessed a certain element of charisma that he no doubt used to reel in every unsuspecting catch he eyed. He was wicked, yes, and immoral, and dishonest, maybe even a tad depraved, but with all of his negative traits, one seemed to outweigh them all...

His charm.

Yes, Ryou suspected he could turn it on and off like a faucet, but even so, he was a master at it. When Ryou was upset, Marik listened earnestly, his wit and catty remarks disappearing almost completely, and when he was done spilling out his troubles, for he had a lot of them, Marik would smirk that alluring smirk and then proceed to take his mind off of them. His methods for accomplishing that were...less than reputable. He tried to convince Ryou that physical gratification often took one's mind off such matters and had even tried to put the moves on him on more than one occasion. Ryou wasn't stupid though; as he had previously stated, he was well educated when it came to ways of dealing with demons like Marik.

Still...whenever he was with him, that information seemed to fly right out the window. Proof? Simple. Marik had somehow coerced him into coming to hell with him, and Ryou had agreed.

"Just once? Please?" Marik begged, a fake pout on his lips but the scheming smile still behind them.

"I told you, Marik, an angel would have to be insane to go to hell." Ryou shook his head and folded his hands in his lap. "Your request is almost as outlandish as Malik's desire to go to earth."

Marik toyed with an errant white feather that had fluttered from one of Ryou's wings. "And yet, you still let him go." He shrugged, "Okay, I understand. You like him more."

"And that surprises you?"

"No, but it does sting a little…" He looked at the angel with an oddly caring glance, "I hate the effect you have on me." Biting his lip, he leaned in close, "and what I wouldn't give to kiss you-"

Ryou quickly moved away, a faint-pink blush still showing his innocence. "I don't think so. You already stole yours at the Bridge meeting."

Marik leaned back against the gazebo bench. He was back to his perturbed, don't-annoy-me-or-suffer-the-wrath-of-hell attitude. "Yes, but that's the whole point," he folded his arms behind his head, "I stole it. It wasn't like you kissed me or anything." Leaning toward him slightly, he asked, "What's it going to take?"

"What?" Ryou feigned curiosity.

"For you to like me..."

Ryou's brows furrowed together and he stood, facing away from thedemon. "I... do like you, Marik. You're a very good... companion—"

Before he could continue he found Marik standing in front of him. His gaze was determined and his lilac eyes were narrowed. "I'm tired of just being your companion..." His hands came up to settle firmly on his waist as he drew them inevitably closer. "Can you honestly deny what's between us?"

"What?" Ryou frowned, "you mean both the Angelic and Demonic Law? Please examine this situation more closely, Marik."

"I have."

"And?"

"You're all I see."

Ryou blushed even deeper and quickly stepped out of Marik's embrace. It was starting tofeel more and more comfortable. "These childish games you insist on playing each day are simply juvenile."

"And you are simply marvelous. You almost make me want to convert."

"The keyword being almost. I cannot figure out why I continue to meet you here each day..."

"I know why..." Marik's sardonic smirk was at maximum level. "Could it be that there's no one you'd rather be with?"

Ryou was quite amused. "I can think of quite a few people I'd rather be with than you, actually."

"Or maybe..." he held his hands behind his back, his violet cloak trailing ominously, "you can't help but be insanely attracted to me."

"Don't flatter yourself." Despite Ryou's somewhat bold exterior, his defense was faltering.

"Can you honestly tell me you don't find me attractive?"

"Of course."

"Do it."

"I..." he swallowed hard. Oh, what a curse it could be to be unable to lie! "I...well, I—"

Marik's smirk widened. "Yes?"

"I..." he finally gave up. "Anyone would be. Yes, your looks are…tempting, but—"

"Oh, stop it. You think I'm downright screwable. Don't worry, the feeling is mutual."

"Boy, you're never afraid to be straight-forward, are you?"

"Why dress up words when you can be blunt? I believe that if you feel something, you should say it as you feel it, otherwise, the meaning is lost in translation." Transporting behind Ryou, he leaned in very close to his ear. "How do you feel, Ryou?"

"How do I…?" He trailed off, almost mesmerized by the gentle calm in Marik's voice. Marik liked Ryou... that was no shock. Actually, he made it known almost every day. Ryou just—he couldn't get involved with such a rogue. It was scandalous. This constant tug-of-war continued everyday, but Ryou refused to lose. Still, today in particular, the forces of darkness were a bit strong. "Right now... I feel too close for comfort," he struggled out, breaking out of his trance.

Marik only crossed his arms. "Fine then, but just know that I won't lose."

Ryou turned to look back at him. "What?"

"I'll get you to tell me how you feel eventually..." he said with confidence. "Make no mistake about that." And then, just like that, he seemed to change into a completely new manner. "So, when are you going to gather your wits and come to hell with me?"

"Marik, you can go to hell for all I care. Me? I'd prefer to stay right here where it's nice and safe."

"Ah, but I seem to recall you mentioning something about being one of the only angels to risk getting caught...Is it the thrill of defiance that you enjoy? Coming to hell... just think of the level of defiance that is."

"That's exactly what I'm thinking," Ryou said flatly. "It's too much of a risk. That would be like trying to bring you to heaven... Would you ever try it?"

"Hell no."

"Exactly—"

"Because it's much harder to hide a black marble among a few white ones, than it is to find a white one among a few black."

Ryou went to combat that response, but he couldn't think of anything to say. Marik really was a good arguer. But still, everything around them screamed that it was a bad idea. "Yesterday I talked to Yami and asked him that if people do something wrong and no one finds out about it... is it still wrong. Do you know how he replied?"

"No, how?"

"He said, "If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?"...So there!" Marik stared at him blankly. "Don't you get it?"

"Actually, I fail to see the point you're trying to make."

Ryou almost slapped a hand to his forehead. "The answer is yes."

"Now I don't know if that's what he meant. By answering a question with a question, and a hypothetical one at that... I think he was trying to tell you something." Now it was Ryou's turn to stare at him blankly. "Not everyone is going to agree that the tree will make a sound or not, in other words, it depends on how you look at it. If no one finds out you come with me to hell, who are you hurting?"

"Well, no one, I suppose," Ryou answered meekly.

"Exactly," Marik said, satisfied. "Just trust me on this, Ryou. No one will find out." Ryou was still hesitant. "If you do this for me, I promise I'll never question you on the matter again. While there, I'll even treat you with the dignity and respect you deserve."

Marik drove a hard bargain. Dignity and respect plus Marik were sure to end in disaster, though. Still... he would never ask again. "Ever?"

"Never ever," he grinned, seeing that he was winning. Just a few more tugs and Ryou would be his.

Ryou looked at Marik's face then the Bridge, then back to Marik's face. Letting out a deep breath, he finally gave in. "...Okay."

Marik nearly jumped for joy... Nearly. Grabbing Ryou, he pulled him into a hug, but almost immediately pushed him back, and quite roughly too.

"What was that for?" Ryou asked, gaining his ground.

Marik arched a fine brow and looked at his hands. "Good question." Marik didn't hug, and he certainly didn't think of jumping for joy. Marik was Marik. Marik was feared, respected, and he most definitely didn't beg. Yet, here he was, doing all of those things.

…Scary.

"Listen, I have to go," he said suddenly, pulling up the hood of his cloak.

"So soon?" Ryou inquired. "I usually leave before you do."

"I have things to do," he said rather abruptly, "I'll be by tomorrow to pick you up."

And with that, he was gone, leaving a rather confused Ryou.

So now we're back to the gates of hell, where Ryou is still debating on continuing. The tall, black spiraling metal twisted and coiled upward and barbed wire seemed to be strung throughout it. It certainly didn't invoke much interest to what lie inside, that's for sure.

"Well..." Marik said, "Shall we proceed?"

Ryou looked behind him once more, before taking Marik's arm. "Yes."

"Good evening, Baku-chan," Malik smiled as came in from his evening stroll. "Miss me?"

Bakura looked at him with a glare of death. ""Baku-chan"? I sincerely hope you weren't talking to me..."

"Ouch," Malik raised a brow. "I'll take that as a no."

"So how was your walk?" Bakura asked, feigning a smile.

"Walk? Oh, it was fine. It's really lovely outside, what with autumn almost upon us." He looked fondly out the window, "all of the leaves are changing and it's really a sight for sore eyes."

"I wouldn't know," Bakura's grin diminished. "I'm cooped up here everyday while you prance about the outside world."

"Bakura…" Malik sighed, "I wish you wouldn't be like that. You use to be so sweet, but lately..." he trailed off.

Bakura arched a brow. "Lately..?"

"Lately you've been nothing but—well, but a hard-ass. Is something bothering you?"

"What would give you that idea?"

Malik sighed again, tired this time. He just wished that Bakura would understand... It was complicated, though. Yes, he had been leaving almost everyday alone to go on walks, but he was doing it for a reason... something he couldn't quite tell Bakura just yet.

He must have misjudged the situation. He had once had the utterly foolish presumption that Bakura cared about him, and lately that feeling was stronger than ever. Whenever they did get the chance to be together, Bakura was always extra close and he did stare at him sometimes with this utterly unreadable gaze that drove Malik insane. Sometimes he wished that if Bakura did like him, he would just tell him, as opposed to hiding behind his scowl all the time.

"Bakura... There's something I have to tell you..." he said tentatively.

Bakura met his gaze with coolness. "Yes?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow. You see, I have a surprise for you… but you'll have to wait until tomorrow."

"A surprise?" Bakura eyed him with curiosity now. "What is it?"

Malik smiled and even laughed a little. "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise."

"...Of course." Stupid human games.

"Oh yeah," he suddenly paused. "Didn't you have something you wanted to talk to me about?"

Bakura was stumped for a moment before he remembered. Oh yes, the little matter he had been pondering earlier. "Do you—" He stopped, finding it difficult to go on. "Malik, do you…"

Malik looked at him expectantly. "Yes?"

"Do you...know where Jounouchi's number is?" he finally asked.

"It's right by the phone. You used it earlier, silly." Walking until he got to his bedroom door, he stopped. "I'm going to go to bed, Bakura... Goodnight..."

"Goodnight," Bakura mumbled.

Malik stood there a moment, watching him sit there so miserably. Was he upset because of him? For some reason... it seemed that way. But Malik, he didn't want it to be like that. He wanted Bakura to be happy. He wanted Bakura to live his life without having to worry about someone else. That's why... tomorrow, after he showed Bakura the surprise, he would also tell him that he was leaving... for good.

With his mind made up, but confidence faltering, he went into his room and quietly closed the door.

Bakura sat there winding and unwinding the phone cord, quite unconscious he was doing so. "Do you trust me?" he said silently to himself.

Why did he find it so difficult to say?

oooTBCooo

I really hadn't planned on ending it so depressingly. Bakura's pretty much just mad at himself, as opposed to Malik, because he can't control his feelings and all. Malik's just really confused. I did have a moment of enlightenment though. I've been trying to figure out what MalikxBakura's past involved and it hit me! I seriously cannot wait to reveal that info. They'll be in the next chapter which I plan to make quite happy. But, will Malik still want to leave after he hears what Bakura has to say? And yes, they'll finally have their first kiss. As for MarikxRyou…XD You'll just have to wait.

AmethystRoze