Letters and Candles

Chapter 8

Fighting and Fables

Disclaimer- If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, Tea would not exist, Yami, Marik and Bakura would all have there own bodies, and Yaoi couples would be pretty much all that existed…

Author's Note- Two chapters in two weeks. That must be a new record for me. I'm trying to get more chapters out sooner. I'll get some more chapters out before I move but I won't have access to a computer from the 10th to the 28th probably of July. I'm moving on July 22nd at the latest, so I hope to have a chapter out by August 8th. Sorry for the drug-out-ness of this all.

-Bakura's Point of View-

"Marik!" I jumped from my seat and grabbed Marik by the collar of his shirt. He pulled back once, slightly tearing the flimsy fabric, before being pulled up off the ground. I pulled him up to my face and growled, "What, did you say?"

He simply smirked and twitched an eyebrow. "'Kura," he sighed, "you're sexy when you're angry…" I tossed him back onto the couch next to Malik. I knew he was teasing me but… still.

"Marik, What did you tell Ryou?" I growled. My arms fell to my side, almost a sign of defeat, I know but I can't stand him some days. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth waiting for a response.

He raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes in an extremely girly fashion. "Chill, 'Kura. I told him that he could join in. That's all...," Marik said. Malik gasped in an almost offended tone.

"Marik! You know how Ryou is! He'd never join in, invited or not! Why do you have to go and do something like that! Do you really have to tease someone during all hours of the day! Dear, Ra…" Listening to his lover yelling at him seemed to work. Marik's smirk faded into a frown and his eyes dropped to his feet.

"Come on," Marik said standing up and approaching Malik. His arms spread wide as if to give him a hug, "You know I was just fooling around. Malik turned away from him. To compensate, Marik took Malik around the waist from behind. Setting his head onto Malik's right shoulder, he continued, "You know that I wouldn't try to hurt Ryou. I was just teasing him!"

Malik opened one eye and uncrossed his arms. He held gently onto the pair crossed around his waist instead, but didn't speak. "Come on Malik, say something," Marik pouted.

"I'm not the one you should be talking to. Ryou is. You need to apologize to him Marik," Malik said simply. Marik glanced over to me with a 'Is he serious' look on his face.

"But Malik…," Marik started. I sat back onto the couch. Looks like Malik has this one covered.

"Marik, I know that apologizing is difficult for you…" Marik muttered 'Extremely' just loud enough for me to hear. "But Ryou isn't one to tease. He isn't like Bakura and myself. You can't just do things like that to everyone. Not everyone reacts the way we do."

"I know Malik. I'm sorry, ok?" Marik sighed, hugging his Hikari.

Malik turned and allowed himself to be hugged but didn't return it. When Marik looked up inquisitive as to why his light was not returning his hug Malik continued. "Tell it to Ryou," he said, pulling out of his lover's grip and sitting beside me on the couch. Malik grinned in triumph as Marik stomped his way to the stairs.

"You didn't have to do that you know," I said finally. Malik looked at me with a smirk.

"I know. But it's fun to tease him," Malik mimicked. We both laughed as Marik chimed an "I heard that!" from upstairs.

-Marik's Point of View-

Great. Apologize to Ryou… How the Hell am I supposed to do that? I'm sorry… too simple, Ryou I'm sorry for… nope, Ryou I... Damn this is difficult. I continued to stomp up all sixteen stairs and down the hall to the guest bedroom. I used my foot to push open the door, only to find it empty.

"Ryou? Hey, where are ya?" I called down the hallway. I took a quick glance in the other two bedrooms before continuing down the hallway. Heading into the Master bedroom I almost missed him; luckily it's hard to miss snowy white hair against sage green hallway… Malik had picked that color…

Ryou was sitting at the window seat; Malik had insisted on putting next to the Master suite. Took us two weeks to build… I suck with anything involving hammers, nails or screws. Ok maybe not the screw part…Anyway the window was in fact right across from our bedroom. The window faces out toward the backyard and overlooks rolling, country hills. Covered in snow they glittered in the mid-day sunlight. I guess it was a good view, and since it faces the West; it's a romantic spot in the evening, I guess…

"Wow," Ryou breathed, "Marik, you never mentioned having such a great view out here." Ryou flashed me a smile that envied they shining snow outside.

"Hey, Ryou?"

"Yeah?" Ryou asked. He turned around and pulled his legs up, to sit cross-legged on the bench.

"I came up here to say. Just to say that… well, I'm sorry." I know it wasn't what he expected but, it was the best I could do.

Ryou smiled at me gently, "I know Marik. And it's ok. I just… don't know yet."

I know I must have looked puzzled because Ryou continued to enlighten me about his… situation. In a long and drawn out explanation Ryou went through everything that had occurred in the past few days. He told me rather uneasily, like a school girl explaining her first kiss to her best friend; how he had found the photo and letter on his desk on Christmas Eve, how he and Bakura had literally ran into each other

When he paused for a breath I took the chance to ask a quick question. "Ryou? Do you know what you wished for?"

"I wish I knew…," Ryou stuttered. He had cried through a good half of his explanation. Carefully I sat down on the bench next to him. Watching Ryou cry was like watching something small and cuddly that just got hit by a car. You want to help; but all you can do is watch.

I draped an arm around his small shoulders and to my surprise he leaned onto my shoulder. "I'm sure you'll remember," I whispered, careful not to raise my voice.

"Thanks, Marik," Ryou sniffled into my shoulder.

"No problem. But we have been up here a while. And knowing 'Kura and Malik there probably wondering what the heel we're doing."

Ryou nodded, "Most likely."

I was surprised that he didn't blush at my comment. I helped him to his feet and sort of stumbled down the hall. My left leg had gone numb…

Ryou giggled as I stumbled to one side. "Here," he said wrapping an arm around my waist to steady me.

"Well, this is a first," Bakura said as we staggered into the kitchen.

"I've never seen you almost collapse before. And I've been with you how long?" Malik added cheerfully.

Ha ha ha, very funny," I whispered under my breath. "You're both real comedians."

To my comment Malik and Bakura both did a quick bow. I sat on the stool by our wet bar while Ryou stood at my side. In remembrance of Ryou's cold I nearly jumped to my feet… but ended up collapsing on his feet instead.

"Marik? What's gotten into your pants?" Bakura chuckled helping me back onto the stool.

"Ryou has a cold!" I gasped.

"Yeah…" Bakura said, as I stated the obvious.

"I just remembered!" I continued to babble.

"Ok… obviously Marik isn't as quick as I thought," 'Kura announced to the room.

"NO! It's just that I just remembered! Ryou!" I half-shouted, turning to him. He staggered back a step before answering.

"Yes?"

"You work at the Cabana!"

"Once again stating the obvious!" Bakura announced. Malik suppressed a giggle and Ryou just looked confused but he nodded.

"The Cabana has a New Years Party on New Years!"

"OMFR!" Bakura said, "Here he goes again. Let me ask you something Marik. Has it ever occurred to you that a New Years Party isn't held on another day besides New Years!"

"Shut up, 'Kura. Ryou, you work there so aren't you going to have to manage the party with the staff?"

"He has a point." Malik said, joining us at the wet bar. Bakura sighed and nodded in agreement.

"So he does," Bakura said spinning around a chair from the dining room table. He sat down swiftly and looked to the floor. "Do you intend on going?" he asked after a moment.

"I did promise Kylie and Ashley that I would work," Ryou said. His eyes reflected his dismay. "But I guess I can't help it if I'm sick."

"We'll have to wait and see then I guess. If Ryou is well enough… we'll all go," Malik said, with a shrug.

"Malik…" Ryou sighed, "What about your ban?"

"Aw come on? You don't think you could… persuade Kylie to lift it? Just for one night?"

"I donno.." Ryou acknowledged all sides of the situation. "Maybe if I told her how you helped me in getting well…"

"Malik did a quick "yes!" before hugging Ryou affectionately. "You won't regret it Ryou!" he shouted, loud enough for an echo to occur.

Malik jumped up to sit on me. "We'll be good Ryou… promise." I whispered before pecking Malik on the cheek.

Ryou gulped, "That's what I'm most afraid of…"

OMG! I can't wait to post the New Years Part! You'll lovers it! Hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I tried a sort of tweak on my writing style. Reviews are most appreciated for faster posted chappies!

-Lupe-