((Bakura's P.O.V))

I stood by the door making sure that they did not hear me close in on it. Why was Ryou talking to Yami Marik? You'd expect him to maybe try talking to me.

"What happened to your face Ryou?" I heard Yami Marik ask.

Ryou better not have told this fool that I did it to him.

"It was Bakura. I was just playing with him and he got mad and he started hurting me. Have you spoken to him yet?" Ryou sniffed.

"No, not yet Ryou. I think it's best if I didn't. Sometimes Ryou things maybe turn out for a reason."

"But why? I never acted this way before. Now I bet he really hates me now. I told him I hoped he died. That's…pretty mean." Ryou said sadly.

"Ryou you can't always put yourself down like that. Remember all the mean things he's done to you. Just think of it as pay back. Ryou, you want my opinion? You don't need Bakura. Actually you're better off without him."

What! What is this guy saying! Don't poison his mind!

"Better off without him?" Ryou asked confused.

No! Don't listen to him Ryou! He's filling your head with nonsense!

"Yes Ryou. You should act how you wanna act when you wanna act it without worrying how he feels about it. It's called being free. Just hang out with Marik and I and I promise you by the end of this week you'll have forgotten about Bakura." Yami Marik said.

"If you think it's best for me."

The bed squeaked and I ran into the room next to theirs to hide. Ryou went outside leaving Yami Marik alone in the house.

"You can come out Bakura. I knew you were there the whole time." Yami Marik said sitting on the couch.

I flung the door opened and stood in front of him.

"What's your deal brain washing Ryou like that?" I asked him angrily.

"Feeling jealous perhaps? Ryou doesn't need you. If you don't need Ryou why should he need you? Is it because you like to feel needed? Ryou doesn't feel needed and it's breaking him. Unlike you, I care about Ryou. What's best for Ryou now is to forget you maybe not forget you entirely, but not to think about you so much."

"Who said anything about me not needing Ryou!" Aw damn did I actually say that out loud?

"Then you do need him." Yami Marik said.

"Yes…I mean no!" I screamed.

Yami Marik put an arm around my neck and walked with me.

"Bakura you have feelings for Ryou don't you?" He asked me.

"No why would I?" Maybe…I have a couple of feelings.

"You do. You feel jealous when he's with someone that's not you. You feel lonely when he leaves you and you feel concerned when he smiles and you see nothing but an empty emotion. I know that for a fact. That cannot be denied."

This guy talks so confusing and so smart-like it's hard to think he's the Yami of a complete and total idiot.

"And so what if I have those feelings? What do you care?" I blushed a little.

"Bakura open your eyes for once. Don't you see Ryou cares about you? He wants you to be happy. He wants you to like him. Do you like to see him bleed because of what you do? What happens when you go to far? What will you do then?" He asked.

"I hadn't really thought about that." I said putting my head down thinking of all the possibilities.

"You wouldn't be who you are now without Ryou. Show a little more emotion than just anger and hatred. You got someone who loves and cares about you right in front of your face! You're just too blind to see it. Talk to him. Apologize to him. Start over. Change. You're a real pain in the ass."

"What did you say about me!" I asked angrily.

"I said you were a pain in the ass!" He screamed loudly.

I stayed quiet. I'd never admit it to him but he scared the shit out of me.

He grabbed my shoulders and lifted me up pinching my skin. I flinched.

"Now when Ryou comes up here you're going to apologize to him! I'm giving you a warning, you don't and I will hurt you." He said threateningly.

"You can't tell me what to do!" I screamed at him.

He pinched my skin more.

"You will do as I say!" He screamed.

I stayed quiet not looking into his eyes. Not even looking at his face. He threw me down.

"You're all talk. You're weak. You can't stand up to someone who's more superior to you. It's why you pick and hurt Ryou. Because he's weaker than you, you take your strength as an advantage to beat on him. Why don't you do it to me? Too afraid?" He asked me.

((Ryou's P.O.V))

I went back up the stairs to get the drink I promised Marik only I don't know what the heck a Karkady is. Oh I should've asked him. I reached the top and saw a scene I never thought I'd ever see in my life.

Yami Marik beating up Bakura.

I ran up to them and grabbed Yami Marik's fist before it crashed into Bakura's face again.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked him.

"I can't say." Yami Marik replied.

"You jackass! You're whacked!" Bakura screamed at Yami Marik wiping his lower lip of blood.

"You think about what I said." Yami Marik said narrowing his eyes and pointing a finger at Bakura. He walked downstairs grunting.

I watched him leave and when I was free from my trance I noticed Bakura trying to get up.

"Here let me help you."

He pulled away from my grasp and tried getting up on his own again.

"I don't need your help." He said angrily pushing up against the wall.

I watched pathetically as he tried to get up and grabbed him again putting his arm around my neck so I could sit him down inside the apartment on our bed.

"You didn't need to help me." He said stubbornly angry.

I love it when he acts like he doesn't need my help.

"I know I didn't need to I wanted to." I said putting his leg on the bed.

"Why are you helping me anyway? As far as I'm concerned you wanted me dead. As it should be." He said.

"I didn't mean that and I apologize."

"It's all right if you hate me really." He sounded pretty sad.

"I don't hate you Bakura. I can't hate you." I smiled.

"But why? Why is it so difficult? I beat you, scream at you, curse at you." He said.

"You make it sound like you want me to hate you." I said concerned.

"It's not that I want you to hate me it's that—

"Yes?" I asked desperately.

"Nothing." He sighed.

"Tell me." I urged on.

God, he's killing me! Just let it out Bakura. Come on!

"It's nothing. Nothing really." He said quickly.

I knew I wasn't going to get it out of him so I stopped asking.

"May I ask…why Yami Marik was pummeling you?" I asked.

He sighed deeply. He wasn't going to tell me.

"When you left, Yami Marik assaulted me. I overheard your conversation with Yami Marik—

I gasped and flushed a little.

"I know I was being a bit nosy, but I couldn't help it. You talking to Yami Marik just took me by surprise. I'd figure whatever problem you had you'd confront me. Only…I would say…I wouldn't care."

What is Bakura doing? Is he trying to apologize or something?

"What are you…trying to say?" I asked cocking an eyebrow slightly.

Bakura moved closer to me. I guess he didn't think I would notice. You can come as close as you want Bakura. His hand inched closer to mine. What was he doing?

"Ryou…I think it's time…I…took responsibility for my actions. I've pushed you a little too hard. I…wanted to apologize to you."

His eyes got puffy and red. Was he about to cry?

"I feel like an idiot now. Crying. I don't cry! Yami Marik's right, I am weak. I picked on you because you were weak. I must have made you suffer all these years." He sobbed and covered his face.

I stayed quiet staring at how tough, mean, badass Bakura had now turned into someone like me. I wrapped my arms around him and stroked his hair.

"It's ok Bakura. I've already forgiven you. I've never found it in my heart to stay mad at you no matter how bad you were to me. I lo—I mean—

"Ryou, don't hide it. I know it's difficult for you to hide it. But that's all right." Bakura muffled in my chest.

I sighed and embraced him closer.

"I'm sorry Ryou." Bakura said again hugging me now.

It felt like I had died and gone to heaven. Bakura apologizing to me and hugging me.

"Its all right Bakura don't worry about it." I rested my head on his while he sniffed and brought me closer.

He lifted his head and looked me in the eyes. I flushed, but stayed locked onto his eyes. I felt a kiss coming on. He grabbed my hands and moved closer to my face. This was really weird, but I'm going to enjoy locking lips with him. I moved closer to him.

"Ryou, where's my drink?" Marik asked leaning on the door.

Bakura let go of me. Ruined again. Thanks Marik.

"I'm sorry I got caught up in something." I told him.

He 'hmmed' and went back downstairs. I looked back at Bakura. He wiped his eyes and stood up.

"I'm…glad we could…have this talk Ryou." Bakura said to me looking back at me. "Just Ryou…do me a favor."

"Sure anything." I said.

"Don't change." He said.

What does that mean? 'Don't change.'

"Huh?"

He walked out limping to the bathroom. I hate it when he leaves things unsaid. It gives me something to think about.

I got up from the bed and saw Yami Marik in the kitchen.

"Did he talk to you?" He asked me.

"Yes he talked to me. I don't understand why you had to beat him so hard."

I was pretty angry at the whole fact Yami Marik disfigured my Yami and he looked like a mini truck had hit him.

"It was to teach him a lesson. Since I know you're too weak to hit him back as well." He replied.

I didn't like his tone of voice. It was pissing me off.

"You didn't have to beat him so hard though."

"I was teaching him a lesson!" He said forcefully.

"Couldn't it have been some other way?" I asked.

He stayed silent.

"Well?" I continued. I folded my arms.

"Just be quiet. I hit him, he apologized isn't that good enough for you?" He asked me.

"No. He may have talked to me, but that does not guarantee he will change. I've known Bakura basically all my life. If it's one thing he does it's taking his time in changing."

"He's a dumb ass." Yami Marik chuckled to himself.

"Don't call him that!" I said angrily.

"Shut up I can call him whatever I want." He said sticking ice in a cup.

"Not when I'm here you can't!" I said angrier.

"Oh yea, and what are you going to do about it?" He asked me smirking.

I stayed quiet and gave him the gentlest push.

"You have got to be kidding me." Yami Marik said.

He grabbed my shirt collar and brought me closer.

"Ryou, you asked me to help you and I did now you're forcing me to hurt you because I hurt Bakura."

"Don't even lay a finger on him Yami Marik. Just leave him alone." Bakura said walking in the room.

Yami Marik grumbled and tossed me on the ground. I sighed. Bakura just saved me a black eye.

I watched them give each other looks of hatred and pulled Bakura away.

"Don't touch me Ryou." He said.

"That must have been one pointless talk. You're still your old selfish, mean way. It won't be a matter of time before you go beating Ryou again. Hey Ryou, I tried. Guess it didn't work." Yami Marik said sipping a drink and leaving us alone.

"Is he right?" I asked Bakura.

"Ryou, I know you may think I have something against you—

Well that's good to hear he doesn't have anything against me when he puts it like that. I smiled slightly.

"And I do. You remind me too much of myself when I was young. I hated myself. It's why I hate you and I treat you so badly. I won't ever like you Ryou." Bakura said angrily.

I stayed quiet how could someone just say something like that…without hesitating? He really does hate me. It's true.

I sighed sadly and turned away from him to go back to the beach. He put his hand on my shoulder and turned me around.

"Don't be sad Ryou."

"How can I not? You hate me. You're telling me not to change, but if I have to change for you to like me then I—

"Don't change for anybody Ryou. Do you like yourself?"

His look looked firm and serious.

"Yes." I said.

"Then don't change yourself because you want me to like you. You don't need me like that."

I sighed sadly again. He has no idea.

He hugged me.

"How about this," Bakura began letting me go yet leaving his arms resting on my shoulders. "I'll like you today so that you could see how it feels."

I'd do just about anything to get Bakura to like me. Maybe during this time period I could change his mind about him hating me. I know it won't be easy, but I should at least try.

"Ok…" I said.

"Good. Let's go back down to the beach Ryou we've spent all our time up here. I wouldn't want people to think I'm doing anything to you." He said walking towards the door.

"Bakura, wait."

He turned around.

"What's a Karkady?" I asked.

He shrugged.

"Ah, whatever I'll just get him apple juice."

"What's with you and apple juice?" He asked chuckling.

"It's my favorite fruit juice." I said. I closed the door behind me and began walking down stairs with Bakura.

"I didn't know that." He said.

"Well there's a lot of stuff you don't know about me. Maybe if you spoke with me more…" I mumbled the last part. Last thing I need is for him to think I'm extremely desperate.

"Like what? Tell me."

"You…want to know? But—

"I'm supposed to like you for a day Ryou. Take advantage of the situation." Bakura said putting an arm around me.

I sighed. For a day. Why can't it be forever?

"Don't be so sad Ryou. We get to do whatever we want together. How do you want to spend the day?"

Talking, walking on the beach while talking some more, kissing.

"I don't know. Whatever suits you best." I said.

"That's what I like about you Ryou. You let the other person choose."

I sighed. You're just pretending.

When we reached the beach everyone was eating sandwiches.

"Ryou's back!" Yugi said excitedly running up to me.

"Back off!" Bakura screamed at Yugi. "Ryou's mine for the day!"

I liked the sound of that, but he was pretending. I didn't like the fact that it was all just pretend. I'm having fun with him.

"Ryou where's my drink?" Marik asked angrily.

"Sorry Marik I didn't know what Karkady was so I brought you apple juice."

"That's alright dude. Don't worry about it." Marik said nudging me.

"Come on Ryou enough apologies. Let's go." Bakura said squeezing my shoulders.

I need a plan. This will probably be the only day I'll ever have to spend time with Bakura. How will I…change his mind about me?

So………? Yea chapter 8. hehe! You guys just gotta love Marik in this chapter right? I know he's one of my faves. Just wait till the other chapters, which have by the way already been made. I have up to chapter 15 no lie ahahaha!. And I've only posted like…8. I feel bad for you guys. But it's for special reasons Plus I probably won't post chapter 9 in like a while because I've decided to make a comic thingy magigy. It's coming along nicely. Very nicely. Just think ((I might make it into a story or something))—early morning, postman comes and delivers Ryou…a snickers and a butterfingers bar. Bakura finds out and he wants one. Just think of crazy stuff Bakura will do to get it and it's ironic how in the end after Ryou fighting with Marik because Marik wanted it too…how Bakura ends up with it. Yea I'll be famous one day. I will make a comic book and a book…I want you guys too ((sniff sniff)) remember me! I'll dedicate you guys because…I LOVE YOU ALL! ((Does a model wave)) lol. Only in my dreams…..not even I have stupid dreams.