-scurries in with large armload of textbooks and notebook paper- Hihihihi! -waves frantically- I had my English and meh Social Studies exam yesterday, ( I think I passed... >>' Hope so) and in two days ish meh Maths and Science... -Guestures towards books- Algebra and Chemistry are going to KILL me! -fake dies- eheh...

So I apologize for teh late update, and to make up for it, I made this chapter extra long (3000 Words! O.O) and it's nearly ALL Marik/Ryou! Except for like, 200 words. Deathshipping fans UNTIE! -parties like the 90's- Ahem, yes... I shut up now... -rushes off muttering about balancing chemical equations-

Disclaimer: I own... -peers through fic- That peanut. There. Yup. -nods- Hehehe...

"Are you awake?" Marik breathed lightly, cold amethyst eyes gazing down at the young light still softly curled into his side like a cat. Ryou sighed, and nodded, chocolate eyes gently fluttering open, long dark eyelashes striking against the porcelain skin of his cheeks. The Egyptian ached for the light, long to run his fingers, his mouth, over such smooth, flawless skin, longed to claim it for his own…. Whoa, back up there big boy. Marik warned himself. Don't start wishing for something that wont happen. The Egyptian sighed, gently disentangling himself from the light, Ryou whimpering softly at the loss of warmth. The young light gazed up into the purple stone eyes, tilting his head slightly to the right.

"What are you thinking?" His soft British voice chirruped around the small apartment lounge. Marik was taken off-guard by the question, frowning at the light as he gazed at him intently.

"Wh-What?" He stammered, the yami was confused by such an innocent, childish, yet so thoughtful question. "What- Am I thinking?"

"Yeah!" Ryous hands were clasped in his laps as he swung his legs back and forth over the edge of the couch. "You know, what's going through your mind. You look like you're thinking really hard, too." Marik frowned at the light, his mouth slightly open as gazed intently into sparkling chocolate eyes, and the trace of a faint smile over Ryous perfect rose lips. Ryou blushed under the yamis critical gaze, and ducked his head, a satin curtain of silvery hair swinging over his perfect, porcelain face, as delicate and pale as a china doll.

"Then what am I thinking?" Marik grinned, leaning in closer to the little beauty sitting close to him, gently brushing the silvery strands of hair out of his enchanting face. Ryou blushed deeper, and lowered his eyes to the clasped hand in his lap. His breath was hitched in his throat, fingers trembling. Ryou felt… tingly, warm, so close to Marik like this, his eyes still fixated on his face. This wasn't like before, when Marik seemed protective, safe. This was different. This was… Ryou didn't know quite how to place it. The Egyptian smirked at the slightly trembling teen in front of him. Ryou wasn't afraid, he was just obviously uncomfortable.

"Y-You're thinking about how I look." The young light whispered softly to the yami sitting exceedingly close to him. "You think I'm…"

"Breathtakingly adorable." Marik smirked as he finished Ryous sentence for him, albeit a different choice in words. "The most beautiful, amazingly gorgeous person I have ever met in my life." A strong, tanned hand firmly but gently grasped Ryous soft jawline, lifting his eyes from his hands to the cold blue eyes, smirking at him. Ryou blushed deeper at the compliment, wanting nothing more than to bury his flaming face in his hands. Instead, he merely sat still, saying nothing as Marik ran his hands over the creamy silk of Ryous cheeks, and his feathery strands of silvery hair. The young light had grown used to such petting- It was a rather strange perversion of Bakuras, his sick admiration with Ryous body, one the light gradually grew to accept the fact he was completely Bakuras. Not that he liked it. But this was different from Bakuras touch. This was… curious, soft, yet at the same time burning with passion and desire. It wasn't nearly as bad as Bakuras raw lust coupled with his sleazy want for him.

After a long moment, Ryous soft brown eyes slowly opened, focusing on Mariks face only an inch from his own. A blush spread across his own porcelain cheeks, warming the silky skin under Mariks fingertips. The Egyptian smirked at the heated skin under his hand, as he gently brought his hand to the back of the young lights neck, drawing Ryou even closer to his face, so close their nodded were actually touching. The smaller of the pair flushed deeper, the dark pink spreading adorably across his china cheeks. Cold amethyst stared into warm liquid chocolate for a long moment, each gazing into the others eyes. It was a long time before Ryou made the first move, surprisingly, doing something he never thought possible, but it seemed so, so right, so fitting, to kiss him softly, gently, on the lips.

Mariks eyes widened as Ryou places his soft rose lips on the yamis, staring ahead in shock at the lights chocolate eyes, which slowly lowered shut, his arms still folded softly in his lap. Tentatively, almost, Marik deepened the kiss, gently pushing the teenager even closer to him. Ryou gasped softly, his limbs trembling at his lap, and the Egyptian moaned into Ryous mouth lowly, his fingers twisted into the long trailing locks at the back of his head as he relished in the young lights sweet taste. It was two long, perfect minutes of complete and utter joy and ecstasy before Marik gently pulled away. The angels eyes slowly opened, focusing on the Egyptians before him, as he broke into a shy, soft smile, his warm brown eyes softly edged with a hint of sadness.

"Wh-what?" Marik was speechless as he gazed at the young light, who gently lowered his eyes to the ground, brushing a lock of silvery hair out of his eyes. "Ryou? What's wrong?" The light continued to keep his eyes downcast for a few moments, before he raised his head to gaze into cold amethyst eyes.

"Did you know that was my first real kiss?" Ryou whispered softly, orbs still lowered to his clenched hands. "I-I never thought it would be with you…" The young light trailed off into a soft finish, running a hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry…" Marik didn't really know what to say to the young teen in front of him, who laughed softly and shrugged.

"Don't be sorry, Marik. I kissed you, not the other way around. I should be the sorry one. I-I didn't mean to put you on the spot, I don't know what came over me…" He scratched the back of his head as he blushed. "It just…"

"It just felt right." The Egyptian said softly, as he lightly grasped the young hikaris slim hand from the back of his snowy locks, raising the bony, porcelain fingers to his lips, Ryou blushing like a stop sign at the touch. Marik snorted, laughing slightly as he tugged on the young lights wrist, Ryou gasping as he fell against the Egyptians chest, giggling into cold amethyst eyes which a quirk of mischievous lavender. "You're so cute." Marik laughed softly, ruffling the teens beautiful locks of silver satin, Ryou blushing as even deeper shade of tomato, burying his head in Mariks chest, overcome by a fit of the giggles.

"C-Cute? Me?" Ryou stammered, giggling as he lifted his head back up into Mariks stony eyes. "You think so?" The Egyptian sighed, and rolled his eyes heavenwards, letting out a wry chuckle.

"Ryou, don't tell me no ones ever said that to you before." Marik warned, smiling as he mock-glared down at the light. "Cos I'll have to punish you for lying." Ryou broke into a smile, the red flush on his delicate cheeks making him look totally adorable.

"Well, yes, a few times, well, more than a few times…" Ryou lowered his eyes to his lap, blushing deeper, if possible, pressing his lips together to try and suppress his smiles and giggles. "I guess I've sort of…. Gotten… Used… To it…" Trailing off into nothingness, Ryou gasped as Mariks strong bronzed hands ringed with gold gently cupped his soft round face, lifting him up slowly, slowly, his eyes only a few inches from wide, soft pools of chocolate, Ryous harsh ragged breaths and soft, broken words breaking into a soft cry as Maliks lips were pressed against the lights once more.

"Cooking?" Malik looked up from the steaming vegetables at the stove in front of him to the pale demon leaning into the doorframe with a cocky smile on his face as he gazed deep into warm eyes the colour of a wide field of lavender.

"Mhmm." The Egyptian responded absentmindedly, gently stirring the food. "I'm hungry." Looking up to Bakura, he smiled softly. "You want me to cook you something?" The whitenette rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he made his was over to the fridge, scanning the contents for a moment before grabbing a beer and popping the cap, throwing it vaguely onto the kitchen counter, taking a rather large swig of the bitter substance, grinning at the Malik, who merely rolled his eyes and smiled, taking the frying pan off of the boil and scraping the vegetables onto a plate, taking it to the kitchen table to eat. Bakura followed him, perching casually on the edge of the wooden table, taking another large swig of his beer, a pensive look on his narrow face as he watched the light eat.

"I don't know how you could eat that rabbit food." Bakura snorted as he gazed at the vegetables in utter disdain. "I mean honestly."

"Well, honestly, I don't understand how you can eat raw hunks of dead cow." Malik said diplomatically. "It's… gross." He shuddered at the mere thought of rare steak, and Bakura rolled his eyes, taking another sip of beer.

On god, oh god what have I done? Stop it Ryou, stop it, stop it, Stop… it… Despite his mental pleas for him to cease, the young light just couldn't pull away from Mariks lips. For the first time, Ryous hands finally moved of their own accord, as he gently ran his fingers up the yamis sides swathed in black, to his broad, muscular shoulders fingers gently tightening as Marik deepened the kiss, The young lights mind spiraling desperately out of control.

STOP IT! He screamed to himself desperately, mentally trying to pull himself apart from the yami. This isn't right, this is Marik, God, what are you doing? Stop it before everything gets out of hand, stop it stop it STOP IT! Ryous eyes snapped open as he quickly yanked himself away from the Egyptian, his breathing harsh and ragged, brown eyes clouded with passion and confusion.

"Ryou?" Marik inquired softly, running his hands through silky white hair. "Ryou, what's wrong?" The light let out a choked sob, his eyes welling with tears as his breath shook, wrenching himself away from the Egyptian as he began to cry, his face buried in his hands. "Ryou-"

"Don't!" Ryou blurted out desperately, curling tightly into a small ball. He felt sick. Oh god, what have I done? Oh god… "Don't, please, I'm so sorry, oh god I'm so sorry, I…" Unable to continue, the young teen broke into heart wrenching sobs, his head in slim china hands.

"What did I do wrong?" Marik inquired, confused and slightly worried. "Ryou?"

"Two kisses." The young lights soft trembling words tumbled tearfully from perfect rosebud lips. His hands and mouth shook, as he brushed a few snowy strands of stray hairs out of his eyes. The Egyptians mouth hung slightly open as he tried to comprehend Ryous tearful words, Amethyst eyes confused and calculating.

"Two kisses?" Marik repeated incredulously, a frown on his caramel face. "Ryou, I don't get it-"

"Two kisses, Marik!" Ryou yelled tearfully. "You have to know what that means! It's like, a universal teenage law, it's set in concrete. One kiss can just be a stupid mistake, but two…" He let out a choked sob. "It means that we're… We're…"

"Together." Marik finished, gazing deeply into pools of salty chocolate. "I guess if you have to go by some silly teenage rule, then… I guess we are…" He was about to shrug casually, but thought the better of it, instead settled for fiddling with one of the golden rings on his fingers.

"But I can't be with you!" Ryou blurted out, tears spilling down his ivory cheeks. "You're Marik…" He ran his fingers through his hair, swallowing deeply. The Egyptian gazed in shock at the young light, his heart… it hurt. It had never actually hurt before. What was wrong with him?

"So?" Marik frowned softly, and with a slightly trembling hand, he softly but firmly grasped Ryous wrist, the young light gazing up into Amethyst eyes.

"So…" Ryou cast his eyes about the room, trying to phrase the thoughts screaming in his head. "Y-You're a yami. A darkness. You could never love someone like me…" He looked down to his hand, fingers tightening on the ringed caramel digits.

"Malik loves Bakura." Marik said almost desperately to the young light. He didn't want his little angel to fly away and leave him in the darkness, he wanted Ryou to stay, to bathe him in his light, to keep him warm and smiling and fuzzy inside. "And he's the most psychotic person I know."

"I-I know, b-but…" Ryou trailed off, a dubious, scared tone in his voice. "I-I have to g-go…" He wrenched his hand away from the yami, and abruptly stood up. "I-I'm g-going for a-a walk…" He took a step away from Marik, fear in his eyes.

"Be back in an hour." The Egyptians eyes were unfocused, gazed at the ground. He felt like he was going to throw up, like he was going to cry. Ryou, the little angel in his care, who depended on his for safety… was scared of him. He was afraid…

Ryou shut the door softly behind him, his shoulders shaking as he made his way down the stairs, pulling the soft jacket tighter around himself as the harsh wind tore as his exposed skin. Tempted to go back inside and have to face Marik, Ryou turned, and gazed up at the tall building for awhile, fresh tears forming in the corner of his eyes. He shook his head a moment later, however, and began to walk down the cold street, his terrified, confused mind whirling away at a thousand miles a minute.

What had he done? Marik must have thought Ryou loved him, or something, that he wanted them to be together. That wasn't what he wanted, it couldn't be. The pair were so different, more different than Malik or Marik, or Ryou and Bakura. They were complete utter opposites, in looks, personalities, their sanities… Everything was so different, they couldn't be together, Even though… Even thought a part of Ryous heart ached at the thought. This was Marik…

And who cares? The sudden thought made Ryou pull up short in his panicked walk, his warm mocha eyes deep in thought. How can someone judge a person if they've only ever seen them when they're angry, or murderous, or upset? How can they judge a persons complete personality when they've only ever seen half of it? Marik was so nice to me. He held me in his arms, he saved me from Bakura, he asked about me, he was concerned… The young lights head began to ache as his mind ticked over, reaching a final conclusion.

Maybe he isn't a sadistic bastard once you get to know him.

Ryou thought hard about those two mind-blowing kisses, how happy and passionate he felt, how complete it seemed to feel, snuggled deep in Mariks arms, how his cold amethyst eyes would soften whenever he gazed at the hikari, how much he cared for Ryou…

The young light turned on his heel, grinning up at the tall apartment building.

Marik slumped back on the couch, his eyes clenched tightly shut. The warm, complete feeling he felt while he was with Ryou had vanished, along with the tender thoughts and feelings, and all that was left was his dark, sadistic shell, the one he lived in during his life. He still struggled to believe that Ryou didn't want him, didn't care, that he didn't have the same warm feelings for him… It hurt. So much. And, sado-masochist that he was, Marik didn't want to hurt anymore. He wanted those warm, tender thoughts and feelings when he was around the little angel to return, he wanted to be whole, complete, a full person.

It was the soft opening of the apartment door that broke the darkness out of his despairing thoughts. It was a moment before Marik acknowledged the sound, and looked up, eyes widened at the wide of the slightly windswept Ryou at his doorway. As the yami stood up in shock, his mouth slightly open, the young light smiled, as he ran towards Marik, fiercely wrapping his arms tightly around his muscular torso. The Egyptian gazed down in astonishment at Ryou for a moment, before he returned the hug, his arms wound tightly around slim delicate shoulders. The teenager looked up into slightly softened amethyst eyes, smiling as he reached up and gently placed his mouth on his lips. Mariks eyes widened at the surprising touch, and lowered, half-lidded orbs gazing into wide pools of chocolate that slowly closed shut, Ryous fingers twisted in sandy tangles of hair. The yami moaned softly, the sweet, intoxicating taste of Ryou arousing his senses, stirring something deep inside his heart. His ringed fingers contrasted with the milky soft jawbone he held tenderly in large calloused hands.

Ryou collapsed in the yamis arms with a sigh as he broke the kiss, burying his head deep in Mariks collarbone. The latter gazed in slight shock at the young light, trembling in his arms, unable to form words, not knowing what to say.

"Don't leave me." The soft, trembling words mingled with tears were muffled slightly in the yamis shirt, slender arms wrapped tightly around broad shoulders. Marik stared down at the light in confusion, before he smiled softly, finally knowing, keep in his heart, what to say.

"I won't." His voice almost cracked, but Marik forced the bubble of emotion down, his muscular arms tightening around the teens slim chest. "I wont, I wont…"

The pair remained like that for a long time, nestled softly, safely in the others arms, Marik ever-so-gently swaying from side to side as he lightly rocked the younger in his muscular arms. Ryou sighed softly at the touch, a small smile on his china face.

Ryou was happy. He was really truly happy. Someone was there for him, someone cared. Someone noticed. Who cared if was the most psychotic person he knew? The arms securely wrapped around him were warm, safe, tender. Loving…

He wanted to stay that way until the sky fell in.

-returns in a whirlwind of paper covered in numbered scrawl- Awwwhhhhhh How cccuuuuuttteeeee CUTIE! CUTIE! Muaha! -giggles insanely- I stop now. Muaha.

-rushes off- R&R!