Disclaimer: Still don't own 'em. : sighs: I will die poor.

Chapter 3: That Spins My Revolver Around

"'They weren't there'!"

Rishid did not flinch as an expensive vase flew by his head and crashed into the wall. He did not respond- Malik was in a dangerous temper now. Even Marik was standing well away from him.

"They weren't there? How could they not be there! We received the information and sent you off immediately! Yes, Jounouchi and his Second were seen leaving, but his sister wasn't!"

"Perhaps our dear Second is hiding something from us..." Marik's voice was sweet, but held a low, growly undertone. "Perhaps they were there..."

Rishid's head snapped up and his eyes blazed. "How dare you imply that..."

"I 'imply' because I put the needs of the Rare Hunters first..." Marik snarled back.

"You? That is a lie..." Rishid straightened and glared at him. "You are the most selfish-"

"That is enough!"

Both combatants turned and stared at Malik. The younger, shorter man glared at the both of them. "Shut. Up. Both of you. Right now. If I hear one more word out of either of you, I'll have both of you shot in the knees, is that understood!"

Both men nodded mutely. It was the truth, and they both knew it.

Malik turned and stalked to his chair, sat down with a thud, and returned to drinking his wine. "Well. This is unexpected. I do not suspect treachery on your part, Rishid. I believe that they were gone when you arrived. The slut sister probably slipped past our watch by hiding in some guy's pants."

Rishid bowed to hide his expression or mingled relief at his absolution and anger at his flippant insult of Serenity. He had to quickly remind himself that he didn't care, and straightened back up. "More than likely, Master Malik."

Malik sipped his wine and motioned for Marik to come to him, which he did, settling himself at Malik's feet obediently. Rishid suppressed a growl. Part of him refused to believe that Marik did any of this without an ulterior motive. It just wasn't in his character.

Malik sighed and settled back in his seat. "Well, damn. We lost the best opportunity we've had in months. There will be another, I suppose. Go home Rishid. Unless I call you, I do not want to see you for the next two days, understood?"

Rishid nodded and bowed. It was much, much less than he deserved. "Thank you, Master Malik." He jerked his head in a slight nod to Marik and turned quickly, walking out as fast as was dignified.

Malik looked down at Marik. "Marik, you had no right to say those things to Rishid. He is loyal..."

"I still think he was lying." Marik growled. "I should send men to follow-"

"NO." Malik's response was immediate. "We can't spare the men, and besides, it's a stupid waste of time. I know my brother, he is going to go home and sit in his chair and read. If he doesn't read, he'll end up watching old black-and-white movies until two a.m. And then he'll fall asleep..."

Marik sighed, shaking his head. "Of course, my love, of course..." It was stupid to argue with Malik. Especially now. But his time would come.

Oh, yes... his time would come again.

Serenity numbly made her way home. Being almost killed tended to shock her, and seeing as how this was only the second time it happened, she had reason to be somewhat wobbly.

The lights were on in her apartment. Oh, shit. Tristan's here... Dammit.

He really was the last person she wanted to be around right now. He didn't kiss like that... Dragonslayer. He didn't sound like him. He didn't... do anything like him! She knew it was wrong to be thinking this way... The Dragonslayer... Rishid- Is that even his real name? Did he really use his real name? -was an enemy, someone not to be trusted. Besides, Tristan had been her first, and she had loved him at some point, but...

He just wasn't the one.

Oh, and the guy who tried to kill you is. Suuure... She sighed as her mind pointed out that little fact. But he didn't kill me... He had the perfect opportunity... He wouldn't have had a single witness... He killed those other guys without hesitation... Why me? Why not me, really...?How was I so different to him?

"Serenity?"

And here comes tweedlestupid.

Tristan opened the front door to the apartment complex. "Why didn't you call me, babe? I would have come and gotten you..."

"I- I wanted to walk, have some time alone." Her response was soft. "I'm fine, really..."

Tristan gave her a worried look, then nodded. "Ok, c'mon, let's get off the street..."

Serenity's skin crawled slightly. The Dragonslayer might be there... Is that why he left me alive? To kill Tristan? Or even my brother? But he's at Kaiba's, he'll be safe...

Part of her hoped that that was the truth... If Tristan were dead, she wouldn't feel like she had such a responsibility to him... Then, of course, she felt absolutely horrible for that thought.

But it didn't matter, no shot echoed from out of the night, and Tristan shut the door and bolted it safely. She relaxed slightly now and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm going to take a bath and go to bed..."

"Give me a minute and I'll join you..." Tristan gave her a suggestive grin.

"No." Serenity said quickly. "No, I don't want to- I just want to be alone, ok?"

Tristan frowned. "Serenity, what's gotten into you? Did I do something to upset you? You haven't been, you know... faking orgasms, have you?"

Serenity twitched faintly. "... Tristan... please go away..."

Tristan sighed and shook his head. "Look, babe, just give me a chance to make you feel better, ok?"

"Go. Away." Serenity turned away. "I don't want you, Tristan. Not right now. Please."

Tristan blinked, then his eyes narrowed. "If you're sleeping with another guy..."

"For once, no, I'm not." Serenity snapped, and her voice held as much loathing for herself as for him. "I've... realized some things today, Tristan... I... I'm cleaning up my act... And I just... don't want to be reminded... so... at least for a while... We're over."

For an instant, she knew that Tristan wanted to hurt her very badly. Then he calmed, probably half because he knew Jou would kill him if her hurt her. The other half was probably because he was hurting himself. "Ok. I understand." He took a deep breath and sighed. "Can I... still stay here?"

"Of course, if it doesn't hurt you..." Serenity took his hand slowly. "Tristan... please... I still want to be your friend..."

"I know, I know..." Tristan managed a wry grin. "Look, Duke's been bothering me about that damn game shop of his for months... I might... go over and talk to him about it..."

Serenity snickered quietly. "I always did think you two looked better together than we did..."

It was not her imagination, Tristan blushed faintly. "Whatever..."

She poked him. "You liiiike him..."

He only blushed more. "Brat. I'd forgotten you can get this annoying..."

"All the better reason that we break up then." She smirked in triumph. "Go, go and screw Duke senseless..."

"Hey, now, he might not want that..." Tristan protested, flushing even harder.

"Yeah, whatever," she mimicked his tone and shook her head. "Take a chance or don't..."

He bit his lip. "I'll... probably be back..."

"Only if you're really unlucky." She gave a little wave and a grin. "Have a nice evening!" She headed slowly for the bath, and heard Tristan leave, locking the door behind him. She turned the water on just short of "scalding" and waited for the tub to fill.

"You are stupid, ne?"

"You never saw me and you don't know who I am..."

She slowly undressed and slipped into the tub. I guess I really don't know who you are... Maybe I should find out... Oh, Jesus, Serenity, what's wrong with you? You want to know more about the guy who tried to kill you? Who can and will kill your brother and your boy- ex-boyfriend at a moment's notice? Who may very well kill you

She let the heat soak into her and sighed. Yes. I do want to know more... I want to talk to him... Find out why he didn't kill me... And... Damn I've never wanted anyone like this before... But I'm supposed to be cleaning up now! I can't have a mindless relationship with my worst enemy!

She groaned and sank lower in the tub. Face it. Freud would love you. Your brother on the other hand? Yeah... You're gonna be disowned.

Or worse.

Rishid made it home without incident and flopped in his chair. His apartment was horribly empty and cold, and it made him feel even worse. You idiot. You are going to get yourself killed. Horribly. Slowly. Painfully. Idiot. Why did you betray your brother in that way?

He rubbed his head slowly and sighed. It felt horribly like he was cheating on his brother with this woman... even if his brother had never even shown the slightest bit of sexual interest towards him.

Oddly enough, that familiar thought hurt less than it should have. His eyes should have stung, his chest constrict and his stomach twist. Rather, there was only a little pang of sorrow, and it faded quickly. Dearest Gods, no, I can not be in love with this girl! I hardly know her! I never will! Gods, in a week or so, I will probably be called upon to attempt to kill her again! I cannot get involved!

Idiot. You were involved the moment you let yourself kiss her...

Damn. He'd known that that would come back to haunt him. He closed his eyes and sunk back against the chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Why me? Gods, why me? What did I ever do to offend you? He rubbed the scars on his face. They ached faintly, reminding him of the depths of his devotion and the vow he had made to his little brother. And now I will give it all up for a woman? An enemy? Gods, where has my mind gone, my control? I was never like this before...

His jaw tightened as he sat up, then stood and began to pace. I know what I must do. I must go to my brother in two day's time and offer to try again. Jounouchi, his Second, the girl, whatever. Especially the girl. I must get rid of her, she is a threat to my brother by distracting me! If I destroy her, I can finally return my mind to my brother, where it belongs. Whether Malik loves me or not, I do love him. I must

He nodded and sat back down, content with his decision, and turned on the TV. He turned the volume down low, and let his mind wander.

"R... Rishid?"

I have never told my name to a target before... I... It sounded... good coming from her... No! He cursed softly and focused his attention back on the TV. I am going to kill her. As soon as possible! That is the end of it!

That must be the end of it...

A/N: This is the last chapter I'm uploading until I'm back at school after Christmas break. No reveiw replies this time, to those of you who reviewed on Ch.2, I'll reply on Ch. 4 to both this chapter and the last. . Thanks for reading!