Chapter 7
The Shaking Shield
Marik was awoken in the very early hours of morning by a headache he recognised, and it made him feel sick.
He didn't have much time to think on it though. The shadow of his sister was by the bed, and even in the dark he could see her frightened eyes. She was clutching the bed sheets;
"Marik, something terrible is happening," her voice was scared and apologetic.
"What do you mean?" Marik sat up, ignoring that familiar buzzing in his head, trying to find the reason behind his sister's panic; she was always so good at being calm. She was safe to look at when things went wrong. Right now it was hard to find anything like that, though. "What's wrong, Ishizu?"
Ishizu did not say anything, but she held her hand to her chest where the Millennium item always was.
It was not there.
88
It had been easy to steal the Necklace.
It was the first thing Bakura had noticed about Marik's sister, besides her oddly kind eyes, the way she seemed to want to trust him. Given that, it was almost tempting to just try and charm the Necklace away from her, but Bakura could recognise she was careful too. Just because she might have looked at him like that, didn't mean she would trust him anyway.
Marik had trusted him, that was what made them different.
Bakura would have been scornful; it was the best thing to be around humans who were like that. Those sorts got whatever was coming to them. But Marik was different, and Marik had proven him wrong about something.
This human had trusted him, and it was a gutsy move that had made Bakura want to be trusted. Marik was probably too naive, but he was also more daring and interesting than anything else Bakura had happened across in a long time. He knew that Marik never really feared him, he knew that Marik possibly liked him.
Humans weren't supposed to be like that with him. Bakura wasn't supposed to be like that with humans. Somehow it made it more interesting.
With this in mind, Bakura would get the Rod and nothing else. He wanted to see Marik's happy surprise when he returned.
The plan had been simple enough. Bakura needed the Necklace so that he might track down the whereabouts of the Ring. It'd only been a vague guess, but Bakura knew that the Ring attracted the powers of the other items, so it seemed plausible that the Necklace might work in the same way.
Right now he was crouched by Yugi's bed debating whether or not to open the bedside cabinet. The Necklace was glowing warmly in his hands, telling him he was close to an item. It didn't really matter if it was the Puzzle or the Ring, both could summon the Realm, but Bakura rather hoped it was the Ring. More personal.
He took a tiny breath, keeping his eyes fixed on Yugi's sleeping form, and opened the cabinet. It didn't make a sound, and before him was the Millennium Ring, all it's sharp points directed at him, like it recognised it's owner.
Bakura shook his head and grinned a bit as he took it back. He had thought the Pharaoh might be a bit more imaginative with his hiding places. It was almost disappointing.
No matter, Bakura exited the room smoothly, replacing the Ring around his neck so that it jostled with the Necklace.
He considered where to go; the blimp was problematic in that it was rather contained. You couldn't just go down a handy and suspicious looking dark alley to summon the Shadow Realm on a blimp.
Bakura peered up the stairs of the stretch of corridor. The platform would have to do.
Outside, the air cut round his face, cold and refreshing all at once. It was a welcomed sensation; Bakura still felt a little unsteady in his own body, and weaker and more drained than he should have been.
He held the Ring in front of him, and remembered Marik's scared face. The tomb keeper had not wanted Bakura to return to the Realm, and Bakura could understand it to some extent. He didn't think the human should worry so much though.
The surroundings became blurred with Shadow as he summoned the Realm, and he focussed completely on the Rod.
8
The original black quilt that had resided above him had thinned out into a misty cloud. Bakura did not pay it much attention, and it didn't seem interested in him either. He peered round, searching for a presence he expected to be strong. If the item was here he should find it easily enough.
The figure that stepped out of the shadow moved with a gentle ease, and his face, as it crept into the purplish light, looked almost hospitable.
"Back so soon?" Dark Marik asked.
Bakura felt cold as he took in the person stood opposite him.
He was not often wrong, but now he remembered Marik's anxious words about his dark half, and how he might still be there. Bakura had thought that was stupid, now he realised Marik had just been right.
"I shouldn't be surprised you're here," Dark Marik laughed through Bakura's stony silence. "you can't resist, can you?"
Bakura ignored him; "why are you still here? The darkness should have taken you by now."
Dark Marik snorted, and for the first time Bakura noticed the Millennium Rod rolling in his hand playfully. "I already told you, Spirit. I am not human. Do you really think the Realm can affect me like that?"
Bakura shook his head; "no. But I did expect you to be dead by now."
"Oh, you're so kind to me," Dark Marik crooned. "Tell me, how is my weaker half doing? I expect not so well, considering what you did-"
"-he's fine," Bakura said through his teeth, curling his hands.
"Surprising. Humans are stronger than we think, aren't they?"
"Not really. Just surprising."
"I suppose," Dark Marik rolled his eyes around thoughtfully; "still, it hardly lends credence to the idea that you might protect him."
Bakura folded his arms; "I don't think that matters. I came here for the Rod, and that's all. Are you going to give it me willingly or not?"
"Oh, I thought you'd want this," Dark Marik grinned at the item fondly. "The precious item of my weaker half, makes sense he would want it back."
"I have two items with me," Bakura said. "I can take the Rod with ease if I have to."
"I can see that," Dark Marik looked impressed. "Doesn't take you long to get what you want, does it?"
Bakura shrugged; "being a thief has it's uses, I suppose," he took a step forwards. He didn't like to stall for time, he just wanted the Rod and then he would leave. He'd told Marik that, and that was what he would do.
"Why do you want the Rod?" Dark Marik asked.
"You already know, it's Marik's item."
"Yes, of course," Dark Marik said; "but why do you want it, Spirit?"
Bakura gave him a quizzical look. "What do you mean?"
Dark Marik laughed; "You don't expect me to believe you're returning the Rod just to feel good about yourself?"
Bakura considered; "I'm returning it because I said I would."
"Really?" Dark Marik's eyes widened with his grin; " That's noble, Spirit, very noble. If highly amusing!"
Bakura tilted his head; "I'm failing to see the funny side."
"I'm not expecting you to get it," Dark Marik was even more amused and he shook his head. He cleared his throat when he looked at Bakura again, as though feigning a serious conversation. "Right, Spirit. Is that all you're really here, for? Nothing else I can tempt you with at all?"
Bakura watched him closely. He was quite aware of the smoky mist that was teasing at his limbs now, trying to remind him of something he had wanted. He chose to ignore it. It was easier to do when he remembered Marik last night.
"I'm afraid not. Just the Rod, please." he said pleasantly.
Dark Marik grinned, like he was realising something that Bakura knew too. Bakura couldn't understand what it might be, but he felt the connection between them spark before anything else could register. It was the same feeling of the swarm in his Soul Room, and the darkness that had made him forget and remember things before.
It must have happened in only a few seconds, because before Bakura knew it the Rod's powers were simmering around him. He cursed his own carelessness and then shielded himself with the Necklace and the Ring at once.
Their combined strength managed to cut away the barrier, but not as well as Bakura had expected. As the Rod's powers fell away, Bakura stared at Dark Marik, feeling breathless.
"You got more powerful?"
"Are you so surprised?"
"But the dark is supposed to consume you," Bakura reasoned, more to himself.
Dark Marik laughed; "it doesn't consume me, it just lends me more strength. Please tell me you remember that, at least?"
Bakura scowled; "you're not the same as me, your powers shouldn't come from the dark."
"It's interesting, isn't it?" Dark Marik said.
He laughed as he held the Rod up, but he didn't use it. Instead a vast cloud of black rushed from behind him, toward Bakura. Bakura braced himself barely; the dark ran across his body but didn't attack it. Instead the pain crashed into his head.
It was the headache he'd had earlier, only made more awful. Within it he felt the pull of the link he had with Marik. It was being peeled back and opened up.
"No!" Bakura growled, and shut his eyes tight. He knew how the dark worked, he could fend it off if he concentrated.
The items glowed against his chest, as he steered the dark energy away and back to it's owner.
He opened his eyes and saw Dark Marik was frowning.
"That's not supposed to happen," he said.
Bakura grinned, enjoying the confusion on his face; "are you so surprised?" he mimicked the other's question. "You think you're the only one who knows this sort of stuff? Don't be a fool."
Dark Marik shook his head; "No, I wasn't aiming for you."
Bakura straightened a bit; "what?"
"I wasn't aiming for you, Spirit," Dark Marik repeated impatiently.
"What exactly was your aim?" Bakura muffled a cough. "Because it's not very good, is it?"
Dark Marik's frowning face broke into a wild laughter Bakura was learning to hate. He turned on his heel, almost doubled up in his deranged joy, and maybe forgetting Bakura's presence for a few seconds.
Bakura saw the advantage, and he shot the shadow magic from his Ring without thought. It hit Dark Marik, and he reeled back, although his groan was lost in more loud laughter.
The very little patience Bakura had left was rushing away; "are you going to let me in on your little joke?" he called, voice echoing about the nothing of the Realm.
"A joke?" Dark Marik turned round enough so that Bakura could see his odd smile. His tongue dashed over his lips like he was tasting the words he was about to deliver and loving them. "I guess it's no surprise, I should have seen this, really."
"Explain," Bakura growled.
"Very well," Dark Marik straightened up, holding the Rod like a proper weapon now. His eyes narrowed; "it seems that my powers will not reach the ones I most want to harm. Your presence has created a barrier before them. A sort of shield, I suppose."
Bakura watched cagily as Dark Marik began pacing, as though retelling a wild story to himself;
"It's pretty funny, really," he said, "To think your own powers could be used in such a way. And quite clever too," Dark Marik faced Bakura; expression full of interest; "are you even aware of it, Spirit? Was that even your intention?"
Bakura wouldn't give the other the satisfaction of his own confusion; "I just want the Millennium items safe," he glared meaningfully at the Rod.
Dark Marik grinned; "still with the items, are we? I wonder, would you even protect the Pharaoh from my wrath, for the sake of the Puzzle?"
"Is that what you're after?" Bakura thought it would make sense.
Dark Marik raised the Rod; "what does that matter now? It's just a shame you don't want to cooperate, Spirit."
The Rod's powers rushed at Bakura again, and he barely managed to set the Ring and Necklace into action, deflecting what was left of the blow away.
His body felt most of it, he'd been too careless. He gripped the Ring and Necklace tight in his fist and directed their power back at Dark Marik, but Dark Marik hardly swayed. He was so strong, even with just the Rod...
"Why do you bother protecting them?" Dark Marik asked as he began to walk toward him. "what would they ever do in way of thanks?"
More bright yellow, like lightning, streaked from the Rod, and Bakura felt the aura of his items' defences shaking and struggling against it. Dark Marik was getting closer, and his own efforts did not seem to be having much of an effect at all.
He tried to focus; "I don't care about thanks. I only need the Rod."
Dark Marik was right in front of him. Bakura glared; he was good at that, and he wouldn't back down. The Rod was so close.
Dark Marik tipped his head, his hot breath was closer. "Your shield is very strong. I have to admire that."
Bakura did not know what he meant; "I came back for the Rod," he repeated, and then he snapped a hand fast and tight around the item. "I don't mean to go back on my word."
"Your word?" Dark Marik asked, not seeming to notice Bakura's grip, or his sharp eyes. He smiled and looked a bit sorry as he tilted his head forwards.
The wave of dark met Bakura's mind too quickly this time.
It was more than pain; for a moment it was like falling into oblivion and drowning in it's nothing. Something was tearing into his mind, and it was savage and merciless. Bakura could hardly breathe, but he looked up, feeling his hand slip away from the Rod and then his whole body slipping to the floor. Dark Marik was grinning down at him;
"It's a shame. What the human spirit makes you do."
The creeping dark suddenly engulfed the grinning face, and then Dark Marik was gone.
Bakura choked, his lungs felt scratchy and stinging, and his head was buzzing. He felt a familiar link flashing in his mind. It was broken away and frightened and shaking.
Marik was frightened.
Bakura gathered the two items around his neck with a trembling relief, and closed his eyes, falling away from the Realm.
He needed to get to Marik.
88
Marik's room was cast in a sick greenish glow, and Yami was doing his best to fend off it's source, but with little success.
Dark Marik had arrived so fast, closely after Ishizu's troubled words and Marik's scream. Since Bakura was the only one nobody could find, it didn't take genius detective work to know that the Spirit had something to do with this.
Yami thought vaguely, if he ever survived, he should probably kill Bakura, or at least maim him so that nothing like this would happen again. It would solve a few of their problems, but not the current one.
Dark Marik was standing close to the bed, but not close enough to get to Marik. It didn't make much difference; Marik still looked like he was in all sorts of pain, without his dark half having to lay a finger on him.
Ishizu huddled next to her brother, trying to calm him, but his cries were awful and loud, drowning out any sense of reason.
Yami focussed on the Puzzle, trying to pull out what remained of it's power. It was usually so strong, but now he could feel himself weakening, and he was the only thing stopping the dark creature from getting anywhere close to Marik.
"I thought he was dead," said Duke from the doorway, looking at Dark Marik like he might be a fly ready to be swatted. "Did I miss something?"
"I think we all did," Tea said, her voice drowned out by the Rod in that moment, as a stem of yellow almost broke through Yami's defences.
He couldn't keep this up. This Dark Marik was far stronger than he'd imagined.
On the bed, Marik was starting to shake terribly, and he was holding his head as he had been on the blimp, when his dark half had first appeared.
The strength of the dark half cut through Yami's defence then, and he sank to his knees. He was fighting a losing battle.
"Yami!" there were mixed cries all about the room, but everybody was helpless.
Then the door burst open, almost knocking Ryou for six. He teetered on his feet and everyone turned round to find Bakura standing there, the Ring and Necklace bright and jangling round his neck.
He stormed forward and directed the items' glow at Dark Marik.
Yami felt the tension around him ease a bit, and he stood up. He had some help now. Even if it was Bakura, he wasn't going to ask why or complain about it. The Spirit seemed to be helping him, and with three items against one, it was a bit easier.
It should have been much easier, but it still took all Yami's strength to fight down the onslaught of Dark Marik's attack. Around him, Yami heard mingling cries that didn't mean anything, Marik's awful screams on the bed, and his sister's tears. In his mind Yami could hear Yugi;
"You've nearly done it! He's almost gone!"
Yami opened his eyes; they'd been tight shut in all his concentration; and now he was on his knees again, gasping for breath. The room was quiet; Dark Marik wasn't there anymore.
"He's gone!" Joey exclaimed victoriously.
"Only to the Shadow Realm," said a hoarse voice.
Near to him Yami could hear Bakura's heavy breathing, and he looked sideways to see the Spirit kneeling there, the two Millennium items dangling dully round his neck.
On impulse, Yami reached to grab them, but two hands pulled him back.
"Sit down," it was Tea's voice. "You're going to pass out,"
Yami didn't realise he'd stood up so fast, and so had Bakura. The Spirit seemed to relax again too as Yami sank back down, all his strength drained away. Yami could barely hear Yugi's faint voice through their link.
"Are you alright, Yami?"
Yami ignored the voice, keeping his eyes on Bakura; "You," he said darkly, "You stole the items."
Bakura didn't seem to hear him. He walked over to the bed, where Marik was still shaking against Ishizu. The Spirit's hand seemed to hover unsteadily close to Marik's arm, before deciding not do anything at all.
"Are you alright?" the Spirit asked quietly instead.
Marik looked hot and dizzy, his face turned into Ishizu's chest. He didn't say anything.
Ishizu gave Bakura a careful look; "he's alright."
Bakura nodded, and then he pulled the Necklace off and gave it to Ishizu. "I couldn't get the Rod," he said.
"Nobody told you to," Yami hissed, and managed to stand up with Tea's help. "So hand the Ring over now."
"I'd rather not."
"Hey, hand it back you maniac," Joey said fiercely, "we don't want no more of this crazy stuff happening."
Bakura laughed, but his eyes were narrow; "do you think all of this was my doing?"
"Seems kinda that way," said Tristan. "Since you were the one who took the items in the first place."
Bakura shrugged "why would I summon dark Marik here?"
"You shouldn't have taken the items!" Yami growled, and for a second he thought he might make good on his idea to kill the Spirit. The Puzzle glowed readily against him, and he saw Bakura's Ring mimicking it.
"Stop it!" Ryou shrieked, and he ran between them, like that might change anything. Yami knew Bakura wouldn't care if he hit his old host.
"Get out of the way, Ryou," Yami said.
"No, I won't, you two will just have to kill me!"
"Ryou, don't-" Tea started.
"-I won't move." Ryou folded his arms, and looked terrified but stubborn. "You'll have to do it. You'll have to kill me too."
"I can live with that," Bakura murmured.
Duke rolled his eyes; "this isn't a very good idea, Ryou."
Ryou turned to Bakura, who was watching him with faint amusement.
"Are you going to hit me, Bakura?" Ryou asked, his voice uneven. "Are you really going to do that?"
"I wouldn't, but you're in the way, so there's a possibility."
Ryou looked crestfallen, and Duke pulled him away from the firing line. Bakura grinned, but Ryou gave him a harsh look;
"I don't know why Marik trusts you."
Bakura's face twisted into something Yami had not seen on him before, like surprise, or maybe even hurt. Whatever it was it didn't look right, it wasn't Bakura. Ryou had touched a nerve.
Yami smirked at the Spirit; "so are we finishing this now?"
"Nobodies finishing anything," Marik said quietly from the bed. He was looking at Bakura, his eyes were wet with tears. "I don't want anymore fights like this, please." he held onto Ishizu, and she murmured something comforting.
Yami felt his anger disappearing, making way for guilt. He could hear Yugi's voice in his mind;
"We shouldn't be fighting Bakura. He was helping us."
"I know, but it's hard for me-"
"I can understand that, Pharaoh. But we need to give him the benefit of the doubt, right?"
Yami could understand but it didn't make it any easier. He watched suspiciously as Bakura moved to Marik again, his face was anxious; "Marik-"
"I don't want to talk," Marik said to the whole room. "Leave me alone."
Bakura stared at him for a moment, then turned away and frowned at the door. "Let me through."
Everyone shuffled awkwardly out of the way as the Spirit stalked out. Yami was tempted to go after him; Bakura still had the Ring. But the tug on his link with Yugi told him to leave it for the moment.
He turned back to the bed; "are you-"
"I meant everyone, not just him." Marik said coldly.
Ishizu gave her brother a questioning glance, and he nodded at her too.
Yami left the room feeling Joey and Tristan at his side, muttering about late nights and early mornings and crazy things that made no sense. It didn't make much sense to Yami either, but he had seen the way Dark Marik looked at his light half, and how determined he'd been to destroy him.
If he'd not gotten there in time with the Puzzle, and if Bakura had not helped...
"You think Marik's dark half is still out there, Pharaoh?" Yugi asked.
"I'm pretty certain he is. With that Rod, and all that power, he must be."
Yami returned to his bedroom, where the sky was lightening with the early hours of dawn. He lay down but knew he wouldn't sleep.
"Bakura won't do anything, not when we've got more items against him." Yugi spoke through the link, reading his thoughts. "Try not too worry."
"How can I? You know what he is, Yugi. We're not safe, for as long as he has that Ring. And now with Marik's dark half-"
A hazy light seemed to seep away from the bedroom wall opposite Yami, making his words dissolve. The light was just that for a few seconds, then it formed a figure both Yami and Yugi recognised.
"Shadi," Yami sat up at once; "What are you doing here?"
The turbaned spirit walked to the bed, his face unreadable. "I come to you when the time is right, and when you most need my help."
Yami rubbed his head tiredly; "we could use some help right now, then."
Shadi nodded; "I sense you worry, your suspicions, and your concerns for your friends."
"Is it any wonder? Did you see what just happened, by any chance? The dark Marik-"
"-You don't need to worry about Marik anymore. His darkness left him that night on the blimp. He knows he has done wrong,"
Yami shook his head; "I know that. But what about his dark half? He still exists, doesn't he?"
Shadi eyed the ceiling; "only within certain beings can he find access to you. For now you seem to be safe, though."
"And what about the Spirit, Bakura? He isn't conveniently trapped in the Shadow Realm. We can't trust him."
Shadi looked like he seemed to have expected those words. He nodded in that calm, understanding way of his again, before pulling the Millennium Key from his robe pocket. He held it out to Yami.
"Take it," he said. "It may prove useful, and ease your minds about certain things."
Yami looked at the Key in Shadi's hand. He knew what it was for, he could remember Shadi in his Soul Room well enough.
He nodded slowly as he took the item; "Thank you," When he looked up Shadi was already gone. The room felt cooler, in a comforting sort of way.
"Are you going to use it?" Yugi's voice was apprehensive in his mind.
Yami gripped the Key a little tighter. "I don't know."
"Maybe we won't need to."
Yami doubted that. Yugi was far too optimistic sometimes. He shrugged; "well, either way, we have another Millennium item now, whether we use it or not."
He lay back down on the bed, and still he wouldn't sleep. He held the Key in his hand as he watched the pinky morning sky brighten into morning. He wouldn't use the Key, not when Yugi's disapproving thoughts were there, telling him not to. But he remembered Bakura, and he wasn't sure he could promise it.
88
Marik lay in bed, the ache in his head was still there, but not so painful anymore. Every now and then it twinged, and he worried his dark half might be coming back, just as it had done earlier. But so far there had been nothing.
The knock on the door was sharp and the voice matched it; "are you awake?"
"Go away, Bakura."
Marik didn't want to speak to him more than anyone else. He didn't want Bakura to know how scared he'd been, not just for himself, but for the Spirit as well.
"I'm coming in," Bakura's voice said.
"It's locked. Good luck."
Marik watched the door, almost expecting it to burst open along with Bakura's leg. But there was just a little tinkling of metal, and the door opened quietly. Bakura slipped in, face unseeable in the dark.
"How'd you do that?" Marik was surprised.
Bakura wandered leisurely to the bed, and Marik heard his voice move into a smirk. "It's a secret."
"Tell me."
Bakura's shoulders sagged, "It wasn't locked, Marik."
"Oh," Marik sat up. "Well I told you not to come in. I thought you'd listen."
Bakura shook his head; "You know I don't do that," he sat on the edge of the bed, and turned his head away to look at the wall. "Are you alright, then?"
Marik nodded slowly; "I guess. Just a bit achy." he stared at the back of Bakura's head, wanting to see his face. "Are you?"
"Fine."
There was small silence, and Marik spoke into it, feeling almost scared of his own words;
"I thought you said he wouldn't be there."
Bakura took a moment to reply; "I didn't think he would be."
"Then why was he?"
"I don't know."
"Marik leaned forwards; "but you said-"
"I don't know." Bakura sounded angry, Marik noticed his shoulders shake. "Why should you expect me to know, Marik?"
"I don't expect you to!" Marik insisted. "I-I guess you know the Shadow Realm better than anyone else I know..." he trailed off, feeling himself quiver; "all I know is he came back for me...like he wanted to finish me off...or something."
Bakura finally turned his head to Marik, and Marik saw his eyes widen.
"He came back for you?" the Spirit asked.
"Well, yeah," Marik shrugged. "From what I remember, anyway. It was that buzzing sound in my head all over again. Then before I knew anything he was standing right above me, with the Rod. He was going to kill me," Marik held the bed covers, like they might offer some comfort. "I was lucky Yami heard everything. He got here with the Puzzle."
"Didn't your dark half want the Puzzle?"
"I, I don't think so." Marik blinked at the Spirit, "do you think that's what it was after?"
Bakura didn't reply, and his silhouette was disconcerting against the dark. Marik crawled over to the bedside lamp, and lit the room in a weak blue light.
He turned back to Bakura, who looked deep in thought and very pale. His eyes were shadowed with circles and he held his Millennium Ring with preoccupied, tapping fingers.
"Bakura-"
"Do you still feel our link, Marik?" the Spirit interrupted.
Marik nodded. He could feel it even now; the exhaustion that seemed to radiate from Bakura's body and touch his own, telling him the Spirit needed to sleep and stop asking stupid, pointless questions...
"Bakura-"
"Did you feel it earlier? I mean just before your dark half appeared?"
"I- maybe..." Marik shook his head; "I really don't know, Bakura," he sighed in frustration; "Do you think it's really the sort of thing I want to remember right now? Or even talk about?"
He regretted saying that when he saw the surprise cross Bakura's face, and then the quick way the Spirit cleared his throat, like he might be embarrassed about something. He looked at the Millennium Ring with an angry scowl.
"So you want to be left alone," he started to stand up, but Marik grabbed his wrist.
"No, I don't," he held the Spirit in place, and felt, perhaps through the physical contact, the link between them strengthen a little. "I didn't mean that. Don't listen to me."
Bakura smirked a bit; "I already told you I don't."
Marik grinned, happy that Bakura's face was halfway amiable. "so we have a proper link, then? How do you think it happened?"
Bakura seemed to consider; "I suppose it was formed at some point in the Realm, when you were split from my mind and given your own body again."
Marik nodded; "wouldn't that mean Ryou still has the link with you too?"
"Yes, my host's link still exists." Bakura said, and paused; "How does it feel, being linked to a psycho?" a grin crept on his face.
"Hm," Marik snorted. "So far it's not been much of a picnic," he recalled his headache and winced as he touched his temple.
"What's wrong?" Bakura's voice was stern, and Marik felt the cold hand on his forehead before he could open his eyes again.
He opened them and smirked at the Spirit; "I don't think you're as psycho as you like to think."
Bakura took his hand away in a flash and then he started to get up just as fast; "This isn't just a game, Marik. We need to get the Rod back, and your dark half-" Bakura's eyes suddenly flickered, and Marik caught his arm before he could fall. He guided the Spirit back onto the bed, and Bakura lay back with a groan.
"Never mind my stupid dark half, what's wrong with you?" Marik peered over him, feeling concerned. "Have you even had any sleep yet?"
Bakura opened his eyes and looked wary; "perhaps not."
"Have you even eaten?"
"I don't need to eat."
Marik shook his head; "You're not very good with this whole body thing, are you?" He pulled Bakura up into a sitting position, and testily put a hand on his forehead.
"What are you talking about?" the Spirit said groggily, and he batted Marik's hand away. "I'm always cold, stupid human."
"Tell me, Bakura," Marik frowned; "How often did you possess your poor host Ryou's body? Perhaps a couple of hours or so at a time?"
"Does it matter?"
"I suppose not anymore," Marik sighed and then tugged the Spirit up by the sleeve, "C'mon, I'm going to teach you how to treat your body like it's not a host's."
They walked down the corridor, and Marik kept a close hold on Bakura, who seemed to be mostly concentrating on not passing out, before encountering Seto Kaiba.
"Wonderful. It's the deadly duo," he said.
Marik frowned, but caught Bakura grinning at the CEO. "We need food, right now."
"Do I look like a waiter?"
"What's a waiter?" Bakura wondered, and had to steady himself against the wall. Marik grabbed his arm tighter.
Kaiba rolled his eyes; "We're landing in Domino City very soon, so good riddance and all of that."
"I'll miss you too," Marik said. "So where is the food?"
"There's breakfast out in the lounge. Some of your other crazy friends are in there too," he looked between them both with a vaguely hopeful face; "Why not finish off that evil plan of yours? It'd save me lots of trouble."
Marik wove past him, and found the kitchen with happy relief. He was happier to see that there was hardly anybody there. Ryou was standing by the toaster and watching it like it couldn't be trusted, and Duke was watching some quiz show on the tv.
"Sit," Marik pointed to the table, and Bakura gave him a scathing look but sat anyway. Marik beamed to himself, it was nice when demented Spirits did as he told them.
Ryou looked at Marik; "oh, are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, quite a bit." Marik nodded. "Do you have any good breakfast suggestions?"
Ryou thought for a moment; "cereal is my best dish. Everyone's always talking about my cereal."
Marik grinned and gave him a light shove. "You're crazy."
"I thought this one was," Duke said from the table. He was watching Bakura with great anticipation, but Bakura was busy watching Marik and Ryou. He was scowling quite a bit.
"Oh, food," Marik remembered. "Yeah, we'll have some of the cereal."
He placed the bowl in front of Bakura, who wrinkled his nose and gave him a suspicious look.
"What is it?"
"It's cereal," Duke said, "Don't you know?"
"No," Bakura glared at him, and stabbed his spoon angrily into the bowl.
Marik sat down and watched with some apprehension as Bakura began eating. He was messy but clearly starving, and soon the bowl was empty. The Spirit wiped his mouth and licked his lips. He turned round to where Ryou was still standing next to the toaster.
Ryou gave him a weak sort of smile. "Would you like some toast?"
"If it matches the cereal," Bakura nodded, and Marik was amazed to see him offer Ryou something like a smile.
Ryou was shocked too, and almost electrocuted himself on the toaster because of it.
"You shouldn't do that, it's very disturbing," Duke told Bakura.
"Do what?"
"Smile. It doesn't look right," Duke eyed Bakura's Ring. "So, are you gonna be giving that back now?"
"I don't think so," Bakura shook his head, and smiled a bit more. It didn't look very friendly, and Duke seemed to realise it was wise to shut up.
Ryou fished his burnt toast from the lethal toaster and put it on a plate with an unhappy face. "I told you," he said to Marik. "I can only do cereal."
Marik took a testy bite and spat it out again. He tried to look apologetic, but ended up pulling a face; "erm. Well we can make some more."
Bakura snatched the toast anyway and crunched on it without a word.
"You're eating my charcoaled bread?" Ryou grinned nervously. "You must be hungry."
"Yes," Marik nodded. "Bakura doesn't seem to know how to use a human body properly yet, you see."
Bakura glared round a mouthful of toast; "I know how to eat."
"Coulda fooled me," Duke said, as toast sprayed his face.
Marik shook his head at Bakura; "You don't know, you don't even know when to sleep. I dread to think what poor Ryou felt like, coming round in a body you used and abused so much!"
Bakura got up and stalked to the cupboards. Marik sensed his anger, and he wanted to apologise at once. Ryou's small voice stopped him though;
"It wasn't so bad as that," he spoke mostly to the table.
Bakura turned a little to look at him.
"I mean, I don't remember much of anything," Ryou explained. "The worst thing was probably the time with my arm. Not much else."
Marik noticed Ryou's bandaged arm and remembered it all at once. He touched it lightly. "I'm sorry about that, Ryou."
Ryou shook his head; "it doesn't matter anymore."
Marik did not expect Bakura to apologise, and he didn't. But he turned to Ryou with a neutral face; "could you make some more of that burnt stuff?"
Ryou beamed, and his mouth moved like he might laugh; "yes, I can make more burnt toast!"
Midway through Bakura's third round of burnt toast, and Ryou's story about accidentally eating dog food when he was in England, Yugi entered the room accompanied by the rest of his friends.
"We're here," Joey said.
"We can see that," Duke snorted.
"No, I mean we're back in Domino City."
"Oh," Duke stood up, as did everyone else at the table, except Bakura, who kept eating toast.
"Farewell then," he waved vaguely at Yugi.
"Aren't you coming?" Yugi was rather shocked.
"Why ever would I do that? I hate you lot."
Joey looked like he might yell something, and the Millennium Puzzle glowed against Yugi's chest. But Yugi put a hand over it and looked at Bakura patiently;
"Didn't you say you were going to help us?"
Bakura scowled at the Puzzle; "didn't you say you didn't want my help?"
Yugi shrugged; "If you're not going to return the Ring we don't have much choice."
"Why don't you force it off me? You're good at that."
"I already suggested that," Joey said in a disappointed way.
Yugi shook his head; "we don't have much choice but to let you help. Either that or we let you alone with the Ring. And we can't-"
"Yes, I know the drill," Bakura looked bored. "You can't trust me alone with the Ring. So you're saying I have no choice but to stay with you lot?"
Yugi nodded; "Unless you give us the Ring."
"I'm not giving it back."
"Then you'll have to come with us." Yugi concluded simply.
Bakura glared at the table for the longest time, and then he looked up at Yugi and seemed very aware of the Puzzle shining on his chest; "Fine." he decided. "If that's how you want it."
Yugi nodded, and seemed halfway pleased with the arrangement. Nearly everyone else looked a bit scared.
Marik just found himself smiling. He wanted Bakura to stay, more than most things.
"So," Joey said, eyes on Marik; "now we got four Millennium items, right? And we need to get the Rod back from the Realm, and figure out the secret to those weird words on your back."
Marik blushed, and felt Bakura staring at him.
"Yeah, but we do know we need all the items to unlock the Pharaoh's past," Tea put in, also looking at Marik.
Marik stared at the ground; "Yeah, that's true. Let's focus on getting all the items first."
"The Rod's the best place to start, since we at least know where it is." Yugi said, and he gave Bakura a careful look. "Are you going to help with that, Bakura?"
Bakura was watching Marik, and Marik saw the betrayed look on his face. Bakura didn't acknowledge Yugi at all as he spoke;
"Do I have much choice?" he said sarcastically. "Maybe it's best I stay with you lot anyway, find out more of these secrets you're keeping from me."
"Bakura-" Marik started, but in that moment the door opened, and Ishizu came in.
"Odion's not looking very good," she looked at Marik. "We need to get him to a proper hospital."
"No problem, we can get off the blimp now," said Joey.
Marik brushed by everyone to get to his sister's side. She smiled in her usual brave way that told Marik not to worry. Marik wished it was so easy.
"Let's get going. I can't let anything happen to Odion now."
Everyone filed out the room in a strange silence, and though Marik was obliged to follow Ishizu to their adopted brother's room, he found Bakura at his side anyway.
The Spirit gave him a haughty look in explanation; "You're still the only one I can really stand in this sorry group, whatever you might think."
Marik smiled, translating it as a compliment. "Nonsense. You know my sister fancies you."
Ishizu didn't turn round; "I heard that," she didn't sound too annoyed.
They reached the end of the corridor and as they stopped outside Odion's room, Marik dared to put a hand on Bakura's shoulder. He looked in the Spirit's eyes;
"I didn't mean to keep secrets. Please believe me?"
Bakura seemed unsure, but not in a sceptical way. "Alright." he decided after a moment, then said stiffly; "I'll wait out here. Your brother does not like me."
Marik started to argue, but realised it was stupid and Bakura was right. And perhaps Odion would hate Bakura even more, now he knew everything that had happened.
He sighed as he followed his sister through the door, looking over his shoulder at Bakura;
"Won't be long."
Bakura shook his head; "I'm missing you already."
Marik grinned, and felt a bit lighter. He could even look at Odion, who was ill and still mostly unconscious, and feel like things might get better.
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