Ch.5-Acceptance

Scary singsong voice I'm baaack…

I would normally reply to all of my readers here, but the unholy evil that is this site might delete my story. Bakura doesn't know about Marik's communication with his hikari, though. It's okay, I liked your reviews (you know who you are). Ryou is the most under-utilized character in the entire fandom, isn't he?

I forgot the disclaimer. Again. I'm not even bothering this time. Why should I? Nobody reads them.

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It was a month since then. Marik and Ryou continued to date, but secretly. Ryou snuck out of his apartment, and Marik often took him out to dinner or to the movies. Afterwards, they usually wound up making out in Marik's living room. This was one of those days.

Ishizu rolled her eyes ass she walked into the living room to find her brother and his boyfriend making out on the couch. She had long ago ceased to be shocked by anything Marik did.

"Get a room, you two. Ryou, isn't your yami going to be a bit suspicious?" They sprang apart, mortified. Ryou, blushing furiously, swore fervently in Japanese and ran for the door, yelling over his shoulder, "I have to get home! Bye, Marik! See you tomorrow!"

As the door slammed behind him, Marik glared at his sister. "Do you mind? That was a date you just interrupted!"

Ishizu sighed. Boys—always thinking with their hormones, never with their head.

Luckily, Ryou made it home without Bakura noticing. Barely.

The next day

Our two lovebirds were snuggled up on Marik's couch again (Ishizu and Odion were both working), watching the first LOTR movie, when Ryou sighed heavily.

"Ryou, love, what's the matter?" In a reassuring gesture, Marik stroked his boyfriend's hair lovingly.

Blushing a little (1.), Ryou answered, "Nothing much. It's just that it's getting harder to keep this a secret, and I'm terrified of what might happen if he found out. I want to be with you, but…it's just so hard to keep this hidden from Bakura, and he'd go ballistic if he knew."

"Don't worry. He won't ever find out."

Marik kissed Ryou's neck, making him blush even more, and began to massage his back, causing him to sigh and lean into the touch.

"Okay, Ryou? Leave the worrying to me. I'll make sure Bakura never hurts you."

It's not me I'm worried about…

Two days later

Ryou and Marik were sitting in Starbucks, having their now-weekly cup of coffee, when Ryou asked, "Marik, I've never really understood this. Why does Bakura hate you so much?"

Marik put down his mug of espresso. "You mean he didn't tell you?" Ryou shook his head.

"Well, as far as I know, it has to do with Battle City. He blames me for the entire thing—especially my yami and your arm injury. Even though the last one really was his fault, the bastard."

Ryou smiled a little. "I'm happy for Battle City. If it wasn't for that, I never would have met you."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." And with that, Marik leaned across the table and kissed him, heedless of the stares from the other customers. (And the grin of the lone yaoi fangirl, who quietly took a picture.)

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An hour later, having finished their coffee and donuts, Marik took Ryou home. They stood in front of the building, holding each other close.

"Hey, Ryou, just in case your idiot yami kills me…" Ryou perked up, smiling.

Marik lowered his head to Ryou's, and they kissed feverishly.

"Mmmm, Marik…" Vaguely, he was aware of his boyfriend's hand trailing along his ribs, but made no attempt to break away. He always trusted Marik not to go too far on occasions like this, and he never had.

They slowly pulled apart.

"I love you, Marik."

Marik's response was interrupted by a blast of shadow magic and an enraged yell.

"Marik! I SWEAR I'm going to kill you this time!"

Yep. Everyone's favorite tomb robber was standing on the sidewalk, summoning the Shadow Realm to obliterate his hikari's boyfriend.

"Busted," Ryou mumbled under his breath.

Bakura's eyes turned red with fury as he readied another blast of shadow magic. (2.) Ryou yelped, "Marik, run! Get away from him!"

Picking himself up off the floor, Marik replied, "Are you nuts? If I run, he'll take it out on you."

Bakura sneered. "Oh, how sickeningly cute. Ryou, do you really think that worthless piece of crap would sacrifice himself for you?"

Ryou snapped. "Yes, and I would do the same for him." He was angry too; his face was starting to resemble his yami at his most terrifying.

Bakura snarled back, "Well, then you're stupid, aren't you? He is worthless!"

Normally, Marik would be furious at these insults. Instead, he was in a state of shock. This fighting…Everything was fine before I came along. I spread discord and misery everywhere I go… Miserable, he turned and ran. I have to get out of here…

Meanwhile, the hikari and the yami in question were close to blows (Ryou looked ready to kill something) when Bakura smirked.

"Well, what do you know? Looks like your pathetic…boyfriend abandoned you after all."

Ryou, moving with speed he didn't know he had, reached up and struck his yami hard across the face. There was a faint crack that Bakura was sure was a tooth parting company from his gums.

"You." Ryou's voice was full of more venom than a spitting cobras'. "You go find him and apologize, or so help me, I'll lock you in the Ring for another 5000 years!"

Bakura turned several shades paler. Despite the fact that he was supposed to be the all-powerful yami, he was still scared of his hikari. Armageddon was preferable to making Ryou mad. At least Armageddon couldn't have you exorcized.

He gulped and, very sensibly, ran after Marik.

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Marik had slowed down to a brisk walk. I love you, Ryou. But if it causes you misery, I'll leave. It's better like this…

"Marik Ishtar." A curt voice interrupted his angsting, and he turned to see Bakura standing behind him.

Reaching for his Millennium Rod (and realizing that he'd left it at home—oops!), he snapped, "What? Are you going to kill me now?"

With a groan, Bakura answered, "As much as it would be my greatest pleasure in life, I can't. Ryou threatened to have me sealed in the Ring again if I didn't apologize, so here I am."

It took a few seconds for that to sink in. Once it did, however, Marik grinned.

"So you'll let me date Ryou now?"

The thief snapped, "I said I would apologize. I didn't say anything about you being allowed to date him. I still don't trust you within a yard of my hikari."

Marik only shrugged. I'll still be with him… You're not all-knowing, Bakura.

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1. Ryou blushes a lot, doesn't he? He's very shy, and still not used to Marik's affectionate gestures.

2. You know all that fanart that has Bakura with red eyes? Picture that.

I adored writing Ryou in this chapter. Nobody saddled with Yami Bakura can possibly be as innocent and kind as the writers make him out to be. Plus, it's fun making him be mad.

Read and leave a good review!