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The next day, in a restaurant

The whole gang, the family Ishtar and fake-Ryou, also known as Bakura, were sitting around a table. Just like about a month ago, when the Ishtars had just arrived in Domino City, the atmosphere was intense.

Malik brought his fifth cup of coffee to his lips, his eyes were closed.

Joey sighed. "Malik…" he tried.

Malik snapped his eyes open and slammed his cup of coffee down on the table. Halve of the liquid splashed over the cup, but Malik ignored that. He jumped out of his chair and turned his attention on Joey, glaring at the pup. "Joey Wheeler, do you care to explain your behaviour yesterday?"

"Malik please," Joey tried, "I didn't-"

"Joey needs to tell you something important," Yugi interrupted. He gave Joey a meaningful look. "Right Joey?"

Joey bit his bottom lip, but nodded anyway. He stood up and sighed. "Malik I…" He swallowed, gathering all his courage. He had promised Yugi… He threw his arms around the blonde Egyptian. "I LOVE YOU, MALIK!" he shouted out, while squeezing all the air out of the boy's lungs.

Everyone in the restaurant looked at the scene. Mai dropped her jaw and Isis' eyes went wide like plates. Rishid… he fainted. Again. All people, however, ignored Malik's next choked out words. "Can't breath…"

Mai was the first to snap out of her daze. Why Mai? Well, she thought that Joey liked her, and now it seemed like she was wrong. But maybe, just maybe..."I get it! Joey Wheeler, you agreed to help Yugi, didn't you. What did he offer you to let you agree with that!"

Malik pushed the pup off of him. He turned his attention to Yugi. "What did Joey agree with Yugi?"

Yugi lowered his gaze, but stayed silent.

Malik sighed and looked each person around the table in the eyes. "Come on! Tell me!"

Still, silence remained in the restaurant. No one dared to even make a sound, never mind making a move.

A frown made itself known on Malik's face. "Fine, don't tell me. I don't care!" He ran out of the building.

Fake-Ryou stood up. "I'll go after him." And he too ran out of the door.

"Wait for me!" Joey called and dashed out after the fake Ryou.

In the park

Malik lay down in the cool grass of the park. Yes, he loved the park. This was the only place away from troubles. Well, that's what he thought anyway, but let's let him think that way.

Laying there on his stomach, he closed his eyes and buried his face in his arms. He heard someone walk his way, but he ignored it. The mysterious person stopped beside him, he still ignored the mysterious person. The mysterious person sat down beside him and Malik looked up at the not-so-mysterious-person-anymore, but this time it wasn't Marik. It was Joey.

Malik buried his face back into his arms and mumbled: "What do you want?"

Joey sighed and hesitantly stuck his hand out, touching Malik's hair and stroking it, petting the boy. "Malik, I want to talk to you."

"Whatever," Malik replied dully.

Joey frowned, but continued petting the boy, wondering absentmindedly how Malik's hair could be this soft. "I'm serious, Malik. I want to tell you the truth."

He immediately got the Egyptian's attention. The boy sat up and looked at him expectantly, with a hint of hope in his eyes.

Joey smiled looking back at the Egyptian, thinking.

'I can't believe that I didn't want Malik as my boyfriend. Why do we all ignore him, as if he has some sort of disease, when he is such a wonderful boy? We were all wrong, Malik isn't jealous of the pharaoh and he isn't crazy for going to Ishtaru; he is just lonely. We made him lonely and he doesn't deserve this. We lied to him, hid things from him and pretended as if he didn't exist. He deserves better than that, and from now on I'll make sure he gets what he deserves.'

Joey took a deep breath and started explaining. He told about what Isis had said to them, about Malik being the key to the end of the world. He told about Yugi. About what the short boy had in mind to keep Malik away from Marik and what he had asked Joey to do and what he would get in return if he did it. Joey told Malik everything he knew.

"And that's all I know Malik. I'm sorry that we left you out on everything. But we only did it, because we were worried about your safety."

Malik choked out a bitter laugh. "No, you didn't do it for my safety, you did it for the safety of the pharaoh."

Joey frowned. "That's not true, Malik. We do care about you. I care about you." He gently cupped Malik's face and lifted it, making Malik look into his eyes. "I mean it. I care about you."

Slowly, Joey lowered his head, until their noses touched. Malik closed his eyes and Joey tilted his head, closing the gap between them. He let his tongue trace over Malik's soft lips, asking entrance.

Malik hesitantly opened his mouth, giving Joey permission. He wrapped his arms around Joey, as the pup pushed him backwards into the grass, Joey on top of Malik.

Joey took the lead, dominating over the Egyptian in the kiss, but Malik didn't seem to mind that. Malik was less experienced anyway.

As the two kissed, they didn't notice someone watching them from behind a tree.

Behind the tree

Marik watched as his hikari kissed with the pup. It made him furious, his hikari had never responded to his kisses before. However, at the same time it let him realise something.

Marik knew he was possessive over things that he thought belonged to him, but this feeling wasn't just simple possessiveness anymore. He couldn't put a finger in it, but seeing the two there in each other's arms, pierced through his heart. It hurt him much more than it should have. This couldn't be simple jealousy over some toy that one looses to another. This meant, it couldn't be simple lust either what he felt for Malik. But then, what was it?

As the Egyptian maniac watched the two, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Without turning around, he said: "Tomb Robber, what do you want?"

"Ishtaru, I'll help you get your hikari back, but I want you to hand over the sealed Millenium Rod in Egypt. I know you can unseal it."

Bakura is greedy! Let's see, he wants the Puzzle, the Rod, a body of his own. What next? STAY TUNED…

To OBSESSED Uber Rei: Heeheeh, well love triangle did win, 'cuz no one was against it.

To Green Phantom Queen: Nah, I didn't mind. I hate this place anyway, always so slow, especially with anime.

To AnimeLoverAngel: Thanks for liking my story! To Bakura: 'I want lots of candy, or else I'll tell Ryou anyway. Mwuhahahaha!'

To BlackJackal: Don't worry, we all know Bakura, he can turn every situation to his hand.

To Ilikeyaoi: Heeheeh, thanx for liking my story so far! It's a love triangle (MarikxMalikxJoey) for now, but in the end it will still be MarikxMalik, because that has always been my goal.