Note: Thanks so much for all the reviews, you lot keep me writing. Just wanna clear something up, even though this sounds like a rape fic, it isn't. Bakura didn't get raped by Yami in Egypt although I probably made it sound like he did at points. Anyway, yes, keep reading and you'll get all the details about what really happened to him.
Dread and the Fugitive Mind – Part 11
Bakura awoke alone, but he was used to that. Only when he remembered that there should have been someone there with him did he realise what being alone meant. He imagined Marik and Seto had probably left now that they'd seen just how terrified he really was, how hard it would be for him to recount his death to them. Was it worth the trouble? He hated being the weak one, hated being afraid and just lately, he hated being alone. He supposed he probably deserved it, and wondered if it would be better to give up this mortal body and be sent back to the Ring to remain a spirit forever. But… that meant never seeing them again. Seto and Marik, Ryou, Malik and Otogi, even Mokuba, who reminded him of what he'd been like before the Pharaoh's servants had razed Kuru Eruna. No, even if he always had that fear of the Pharaoh repeating the past, at least he'd get to see the few people he cared for. Marik and Seto especially, even if they didn't want him the way they'd thought. He'd still be able to see them, be near them and hear their voices. He could live with that.
Sighing with a slight, sad smile, Bakura stretched and realised he'd slept better than he had in months, perhaps even since he became mortal again. He yawned, wondering if Marik and Seto were ever going to come back, but the sound of the radio being turned on in the main room made him stop. They were still here? If they hadn't left… a twinge of apprehension tugged at his heart, telling him that now he'd have to tell them about his death, but at the same time elation rushed through him. They hadn't left him. He grinned, and at that moment the door opened and Marik appeared, surrounded by the sweet smell of pancakes and the sound of music playing from the kitchen.
"'Morning, 'Kura! Didn't think you'd be awake yet, come on out, Seto and I made breakfast." The spiky haired Egyptian's warm grin was infectious, and Bakura couldn't hold back his smile.
"Give me a minute to get washed, baka." He dragged himself up and disappeared into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Marik just grinned again and headed back into the other room where Seto was making coffee and listening to some catchy old rock song on the radio.
"He'll be out in a minute," Marik informed the brunette, grabbing his hips and swaying to the music.
"We should let him off telling us about everything just yet. Let's spend the day together first." Seto suggested, dancing with Marik and trying to stop himself from bursting out laughing.
"Good plan, it can be our first date!" Marik cackled. "Besides, I need to get used to being able to kiss you two whenever I want, instead of having to pinch myself to take my mind off it." The blonde smiled, then leant in and kissed Seto.
XxXxX
Bakura emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later feeling much better than he had in weeks. He headed into the main room towards the smell of food, receiving a kiss on the cheek from Marik and a smiled 'good morning' from Seto, who was sitting on the couch. Now there was something he was going to have to get used to: people being happy to see him.
Stalking over to the couch, Bakura made to sit down next to Seto but instead found himself pulled into the brunette's arms with a startled noise. He was definitely going to have to get used to this, and now Seto and Marik were laughing at him.
"What?" He growled, knowing exactly why they were laughing and almost blushing.
"you-you squeaked!" Marik cackled, pointing at him and giggling like an idiot. "Like a mouse!"
"I did not squeak." Bakura insisted petulantly, folding his arms. Seto smiled against his shoulder and wrapped his arms around the thief's waist.
"I thought it was cute," Seto murmured.
"Cute? Me!" Bakura looked mortified and Marik grinned like a maniac, heaping pancakes onto a huge plate.
"Very."
He definitely wasn't used to being called 'cute'.
Marik bought the plate of food over and set it on the coffee table before sitting down next to Seto. With a smirk he cut off a square of pancake and held it out to the CEO's lips.
"I think Seto is pretty cute too." The Egyptian yami remarked, laughing at the look on Seto's face. Bakura twisted in the brunette's lap to see too and snickered. With his eyes slightly wider than usual and one eyebrow raised in disbelief, Seto definitely did look cute.
"He's right for once," Bakura agreed, effortlessly insulting both of them at once.
"Hey, I'm allowed to jump you now so you'd better watch it!" Marik warned with a grin, feeding pancake to Bakura, who only liked the bits drenched in syrup.
"Are you feeling alright now?" Seto asked, glad to see Bakura looking happy and eating something. The tomb robber thought about his reply for a minute, chewing thoughtfully on a mouthful of pancake.
"Yes." He said finally. "I know you want me to tell you everything and I will, I just…"
"It's ok, tell us when you're ready." Marik smiled. They'd waited this long, they could wait a little more. "It's funny, I thought a three-way relationship would be weirder than this." The purple eyed yami remarked.
"None of us are exactly normal anyway," Seto reminded him. "And it seems to be working well enough for Malik, Otogi and Ryou."
"There is that. I just thought it'd feel strange, but it doesn't. What about you, 'Kura?" The tomb keeper asked, wondering how their thief was dealing with this on top of everything else. They'd only officially been together one night, but it felt like longer with everything they'd been through in the last couple of weeks.
"I have to talk about my feelings now?" Bakura looked disgusted for a moment then seemed to give in, closing his eyes and leaning back against Seto with a smirk. "Fine. In five thousand years I never found a single person I could trust completely. Now I have two." The thief said, tempted to add 'bloody typical' because Ryou's speech patterns were rubbing off on him. "And you, Seto?" He asked, turning to look at the CEO.
"Mokuba aside, I'm not used to caring about people, or having them care about me. It felt a little strange at first, but I've never felt better than I do now." He explained, smiling as Marik wrapped an arm around the both of them.
"Good, you're all mine!" The Egyptian declared, holding them both like he was never going to let go.
TBC
FlamethrowerQueen, I definitely want those pictures! I can't get into my inbox at the moment, though, because my computer is a heap of junk and keeps crashing. Do you have a Caleida journal, by any chance?