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What happened last time

"So it's a Shadow Game," Duke mumbled to no one in particular.

Back to the story

"Let's start," Marik said. He called the Shadow Realm and the top of the tower became dark and misty.

"So it's a Shadow Game," Duke mumbled.

"Wait!" said Yami. "Why won't we make this more interesting, Ishtaru."

Marik cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean…?"

Yami smirked. "We both want to get rid of each other, Ishtaru. So in the Shadow Game, with each life-point we lose, we'll seal a part of our body and mind into our own Item. How does that sound?"

Marik narrowed his eyes and glared at Yami. "Fine pharaoh," he spat out. "And once completely sealed into the Item, it will be forever." He had nothing to loose anyway.

Yami snorted. "Fine," he said in a cocky tone. "I'll win anyway."

Thus, the two of them drawled their cards. The shadow Game had started.

Back to the car

"That's why I need you."

Malik cocked an eyebrow. "Me? What use am I?"

"Don't put yourself down like that, Tomb Keeper," growled Bakura. "You are the only one who can still help Marik."

Malik blinked. "Me? Help Marik? I don't understand…"

Bakura sighed. "Can't you just give him a chance?"

Malik frowned. "Yeah right," he said in a mocking tone. "Give him a chance, so that he can kill us all off."

"If he wanted to kill you, he would have done it two months ago!" Bakura snapped. Malik looked shocked at Bakura's sudden snapping. Bakura sighed and took a deep breath. "Look," he continued more calmly. "I know he has done so much wrong, but he deserves a second chance. You've been given a second chance too, for all the things you've done wrong."

Bakura chanced a glance at Malik, before concentrating on the road again. Malik was looking guiltily at his hands. Bakura continued his speech.

"Besides, you think you're the only one lonely in this world but… can't you see he's even more lonely than you? You might not be part of the pharaoh's group, but you've still got your family. Marik… he has no one. No one but you. And you're pushing him away from you. You've gone too far in that, Malik. And now, your yami has decided… he has decided that his life isn't worth living anymore. By challenging the pharaoh, he basically wants to kill himself."

"I'm sorry…" Malik whispered.

"Don't say sorry to me, Malik. Save it for Marik. Maybe he expresses things the wrong way, but he really does care for you. And maybe… he maybe even loves you."

"R-really…?"

"Yes…" answered Bakura. "I don't know how or why. But I do think he really loves you."

"How come I've never seen this…" Malik mumbled softly to himself.

Bakura, with sensitive ears of a true thief, had picked up the words. And he knew the answer. "You're forgetting that Marik has only existed for six years. In those six years, all he knows are the anger you felt towards your father after that ritual he pulled on you."

Malik unconsciously touched his back at the mentioning. He still wasn't over that yet. Bakura noticed, but pretended that he hadn't seen anything. He continued. "And after he killed your father for you, he felt the hatred that you felt towards the pharaoh, when you thought the pharaoh was responsible for your father's death."

Malik bit his bottom lip. He felt even more guilty now. He was responsible for Marik being the way he was.

"You've got to admit," said Bakura. "Living in your soul room for most of your life, only feeling anger and hatred, isn't exactly a good way to grow up. And then when you do break free and get into the world, only to be banished into the Shadow Realm by your 'closest one', it will be no wonder when you go crazy, if you hadn't gone nuts already before you were banished."

Bakura sighed. "Malik, Marik is human now. He has a bond with you, but he's not part of you anymore. He is not just a spirit, he has feelings and needs. He really lives. And I don't know for how long his life will last…"

The tower in Domino Airport

Marik attacked Yami but the King of Games was prepared. The attack was forced back on him. A part of Marik's leg disappeared.

Most of Yami's friends cheered, but some…

'Ishtaru…' thought Seto. 'These feeling you once said to me you had for Malik. You really did love him. And now… you've been rejected. You've lost all the light in your life. I wish it didn't have to be this way.'

Again Marik lost some points. Parts of his arms started to disappear.

Isis frowned. 'This isn't the Marik we used to know… he changed.' She sighed inwardly, she knew what was going on. 'Bakura succeeded in making you love my brother. You're no longer only hatred. You're balanced out by the light that is my brother…'

Another attack and slowly Marik's waist started to vanish.

Joey wanted to laugh. He wanted to cheer. Finally, that asshole Marik was losing! But somehow… he couldn't do it…

This was Marik. Marik from Battle City who wanted to harm him and his friends. This was Marik, the cause of the break up with him and Malik. But this was also the Marik who had given him another best friend: Seto Kaiba. And dare he say… lover?

FLASHBACK

Joey got out of the limo after the date with Seto. (The date that had happened one day ago, where Malik spotted them together.) It hadn't been exactly a romantic date. They'd just been having fun, shopping together, going to the movies and eating ice-cream. More like what friends would do. Seto opened the door and came after Joey, walking him to the front door of his house.

"Hey thanks Seto, it's been fun."

"Me too. Remind me to date you more often, pup."

Joey groaned. "Quit the dog-jokes Kaiba," he said and playfully punched Seto.

Seto laughed. "What can I say, old habits die hard." His laughter stopped and he stared at Joey. Joey stared back. It had been a peaceful moment, until Seto decided to break the silence. "This is a date right?"

Joey blinked, not knowing what Seto was getting at. "Yeah?"

Seto leaned in and kissed Joey. It had been short and brief, playful and teasingly, just lip to lip. But Joey was set into flames.

Seto turned around and walked back to his limo. "I'll see you tomorrow." Joey just nodded dumbly. The limo took off.

END FLASHBACK

Joey still didn't know, whether Seto was serious with the kiss or not. And he wasn't about to find out any time soon either. He didn't want to risk another friendship, like he had done with Malik. And besides, he was happy with just being friends with Seto.

Joey sighed. These thoughts were confusing. He turned his attention back to the duel.

Marik was losing alright. He had disappeared for most of the part. Only his underarms until his hands and his head until his chest was visible. He was floating in the air.

'Marik… you knew you would lose,' thought Joey. 'So why do you still challenge Yami? You haven't challenged him to obtain the Puzzle so you could rule the world. Or you would've first gotten yourself a God Card or anything else back to stand a chance. I felt anger towards you and I still feel it. But… I also pity you. Could it be, that you've somehow changed? '

Marik was loosing more and more points. Only his head and hands were still visible.

Ryou frowned. 'Marik… could it be that your actually just like my Bakura?'

The car

The car screeched to a stop. Malik and Bakura pulled the door open and jumped out. "Are we too late?" Malik asked Bakura.

"I don't know. Where are they?" Bakura looked around the deserted place. Bakura turned back to Malik. "Ishtar, locate your yami."

Malik blinked. "W-what?"

Bakura's eyebrow twitched. "Don't tell me you don't know how to locate your own yami!" he spat. Malik stayed silent, indicating that he really didn't know. Bakura groaned. "Dammit… You just- just concentrate with all your powers on him."

Malik obeyed. He closed his eyes and started searching around him. Then suddenly his eyes snapped open. "He's up on some tower!"

"Come on! There's only on tower on Domino Airport." Bakura ran off and Malik chased after him. They ran and ran and ran…

The tower in Domino Airport

"Your going to lose Marik!" Yami yelled at the Egyptian maniac. "You'll pay for challenging me."

Marik stayed silent. No fear evident in him. Nothing evident in him. Only an eye was left floating in the air. He didn't care any longer. If he was going to die, then so be it. Yami called one of the God Monsters to attack him and let his last points fade away…

THANK YOU FOR READING. PLEASE, STAY TUNED…