A/N: Hello again :) The last chapter everyone! I enjoyed writing this very much and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I have another on going story now and there's only so much soul to put into two fics at the same time, if you happen to like Deathshipping check it out! (Yes, terrible self advertising but this is my author's note so…) On with the story!
Ryou took all the new information he was given in and thought the whole thing out. He was quite understanding about Marik's problem but didn't approve on Bakura's methods of helping though he agreed on taking Marik with them to Egypt. They had just enough time to get an extra ticket before the flight was sold out.
It was morning now and sooner or later Marik's cover would be blown and his family would start looking for him. They agreed that he would stay in Bakura's room and hide in the closet if someone came to look for him, Ryou would open the door and tell that he wasn't there, that was far more believable than Bakura telling that though Ryou never liked lying. He had agreed just to help Marik who he considered as his friend.
The two were waking up in Bakura's bed and Ryou brought them breakfast. It was safer here and Marik no longer could hear the voice of his other, which he was thankful of. The sleep had been peaceful for once and now, when he had thought things through, he couldn't wait to get to Egypt, even though it meant that his family would get worried but it wasn't like he planned on staying there forever.
"Slept well?" Questioned Ryou while placing the trait on the bed.
"Yeah… Thanks." Marik answered with a smile and yawn. He glanced at his companion who was still lying down. "If you don't get up now, I will eat your share of the breakfast."
"Aw, you're so mean!" Fake whined Bakura with a smirk and rose up to kiss him on the cheek and wrapped his arms around him.
Ryou sighed and they both turned to him. "You guys look so good together." They smiled at him and he decided that now was a good time to leave them alone. He exited the room and left them to their breakfast.
Marik looked at the trait and frowned. "No coffee?"
"Ryou doesn't drink coffee." Explained Bakura and took a bite of his toast.
"Bummer… My morning won't start too well without coffee."
"You'll live."
………………………………..
They were playing Alias in Bakura's room just when the doorbell rang. It was later in the afternoon and Ryou was packing, telling Bakura that he should too but the older brother of course paid no heed to it. Ryou went to open the door and Marik was hurried in the closet.
Bakura closed his room's door and pressed his ear against it to hear what was going on. He heard Ryou speaking with a voice he couldn't recognize, which was a relief in a way because it wasn't someone who was after Marik. After the person had left Bakura peeked from his room.
"Who was it?"
"The postman, he wondered of someone called Mrs. Gawatari lived here. Never heard of her." Ryou shrugged and went back to his packing. Bakura went to get Marik out of the closet.
"It was just the postman." He said and Marik sighed in relief.
"That's good. Whose turn was it?"
"Mine." They started playing again seeing that they had nothing better to do. Bakura started explaining his word and Marik tried to guess. They were pretty good at the game, actually. Now, however there was a change in Marik's performance, he kept glancing at the door and fiddling with his card, not really concentrating in the game anymore. Bakura took notice of this soon.
"What's wrong?"
Marik laughed a bit nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I'm just waiting Ishizu to jump through the door screaming bloody murder."
"Heh, don't worry. She won't even realize that you're here." Bakura said smirking a bit and crawling behind the other. He looked at him puzzled. "Relax." Bakura whispered and started massaging his shoulders firmly but gently. It didn't take long for Marik to close his eyes and relax under his ministrations.
"Mmmmh… 'Kura, lower." He moaned and Bakura was all smirk as he complied. He bent to kiss and nib the other's neck.
"Feels good?" He asked lowly and Marik bent his head to give him better access to his neck.
"Yeees…" He purred.
Now this was a far better pass time than Alias. Bakura continued with his ministrations and Marik was in utter bliss, moaning and arching to his touch. The white haired teen was enjoying the reaction he was getting, all the little sounds he was able to make his companion produce. After getting low enough, he slipped one hand under Marik's shirt, feeling the warm skin there. He bid down on the tan neck, not hard enough to brake the skin but hard enough to get reaction.
"Ah!" Marik raised his other hand to burry it in Bakura's hair.
"Bakura, you should-." Ryou came through the door only to stop on his tracks and blush furiously. "I-I'm sorry, I should have knocked…"
Bakura glared at him, having his fun stopped so abruptly and Marik looked at him with glassed over eyes.
"Mmh, that's ok." Marik said though Bakura didn't agree. "'Kura, not in front of little Ryou. Hand out of my shirt." He ordered and Bakura obeyed with a grunt, pulling away. "You were saying?" Marik addressed Ryou who was so red he looked like a tomato.
"I-I just came to tell Bakura that he should pack since we're leaving to night…" Muttered Ryou.
"Oh ok, come on 'Kura. I'll help you pack." Said Marik and dragged Bakura up and to his closet to pick the stuff he wanted to take with him.
"I already packed your better clothes so you just take some casual ones and such, ok?" Ryou asked.
"Yeah, yeah…" Bakura mumbled and started going through his wardrobe. Marik came to help him having already packed his stuff and picked some clothes for him.
"No way I'm taking those with me!" Protested Bakura when he noticed what Marik had picked.
"Aw, why not?"
"Are you crazy? I'm not wearing leather in frigging Egypt! I'll get boiled alive!"
"But you would look so hot!"
"I would be hot too! Give me those!" He snatched back his leather pants from the disappointed Marik.
"No fun…"
"You'll have much more fun with me alive and un-boiled." Stated Bakura while showing clothes and other stuff in his suitcase and Marik's face lit up.
"You promise?"
"Yes, cross my heart. Which shirt? The black or the red one?"
"Hmm… I would have to say… The black one." He said after looking thoughtful for a moment.
"You seriously want to fry me don't you?" Asked Bakura and packed the red shirt. He didn't ask Marik's opinion anymore and soon he had packed all the stuff he needed.
"Oh good you're done." Ryou came to check on them after a while. "Let's have something to eat before we get going, shall we?" They all went to the kitchen where the food was waiting and dug in.
In the midst of their eating the doorbell rang again and Marik hurried to Bakura's room just in case. Bakura stayed in the kitchen to listen who it was.
"Hi Yuugi! What brings you here?" Said Ryou's cheery voice. Bakura frowned a bit wondering what was he doing here. If he just came to say goodbye to Ryou, he could have just called, no need to come hanging in their doorway. He listened but strangely enough didn't hear anything. Bakura grew suspicious and sneaked to see what was going on. Now he whished that he hadn't. By the door was his own little brother lip locked with the midget boy that supposedly was his friend. Bakura couldn't help but stare, eyes wide in shock. Now that, he hadn't seen coming… Why hadn't Ryou told him?
When the two finally separated Bakura quickly sneaked back into the kitchen. When Ryou came back he tried to look and sound casual.
"So who was it?"
"Yuugi, he wanted to say goodbye." Ryou told and sat back in the table.
"Oh." Bakura frowned but didn't press it. He would have time to do that later. He called Marik to come back and they continued to eat in silence.
………………………………….
Later that night they boarded the plane that was supposed to take them to Egypt. Marik's seat was actually farther away from the brothers' seats so Ryou offered to take it so he could sit next to Bakura.
"Isn't this nice? Look at all the lights!" Said Marik who had hogged the window seat, looking down on Domino.
"Yeah… When were you last to Egypt?"
"When we moved from there to Domino not so long ago. It's nice to get back."
"Hmm…" Bakura mumbled tiredly.
"You pale people are going to need lots of sun cream though." Marik said with a grin and the other 'hmph'ed. "Well, aren't you Mr. Talkative." But then he too settled to look out the window while he could still see some city lights.
Eventually he too became tired and yawned, eyes having trouble staying open. Marik glanced at Bakura and noticed that he was already asleep. The Egyptian placed his head on the other's shoulder who smiled and leaned his head on top of his subconsciously. They both were sound asleep and didn't notice when Ryou sneaked up on them and took a picture.
………………………………..
"Hey, hey wake up."
"Uh, what?"
"We're landing."
Bakura opened his eyes and saw Ryou who was trying to get him to wake up. There was warm weight on his shoulder, he turned to see and noticed Marik sleeping head against his shoulder. His lip's corner turned up and he shook him awake gently. "Marik, we're there soon."
"Hmm? Not yet…" He buried his head farther on Bakura's shoulder causing him to chuckle lightly.
"Wake up sleeping beauty."
"I don't want to…"
"Come on now, you can sleep at the hotel." Bakura took his head in his hands, raising it up and kissing him. Marik's eyes fluttered open and he smiled. "I knew that would work."
"So we're there?"
"Yep."
Fasten your seat belts light went on and Ryou went back to his seat. They landed on the airport and it was still dark out. All the people slowly flooded out of the plane and soon they were out looking for a cab to take them to the hotel. They eventually got one and got to the hotel safely. The hotel they were staying at was located a short distance away from the cemetery. They shared a three-person room on the tenth floor. All three settled to rest before the morning, the funeral would be the day after tomorrow so they would have the next day to go sight seeing.
When the morning came, they went down to have breakfast and headed out to see the city. They took a sight seeing tour, bought some souvenirs and ate out. At one point when they were eating, the food was so spicy that Bakura's eyes almost popped out Ryou laughed at his expression with Marik but he became abnormally quiet after that. He barely even touched his food and did join in the conversation. The other two noticed his weird behavior and glanced at him worriedly.
"Ok, what is it?" Bakura asked sounding annoyed. Ryou looked up from his plate and sighed.
"This isn't supposed to be a holyday trip…"
The two glanced at each other. "Well, technically it isn't."
"Why are we acting like it is then? Aren't we supposed to be sad? Yet here we are, having the time of our lives even though father is…" His voice trailed off and he looked back down.
"Hey, don't worry about it, I'm sure your father wouldn't want you to be sad." Said Marik placing a hand on Ryou's shoulder.
"Yeah, I know, but still…"
"Ok, from now on we'll be morbid, nobody smile or anything." Bakura said and they did just that. No one smiled or said anything in a cheerful voice. All talking was done in a quiet voice and they all had to look sad at all times. This actually made Ryou feel better again.
"Ryou, do you miss Yuugi?" Bakura suddenly asked, remembering that he still had to question Ryou about what happened with his "friend".
"It's hardly been one day, not yet I think. Why do you ask?"
"What? Aren't you supposed to miss your lover when you're away from them?" Bakura asked casually and both Ryou and Marik almost choked on their food.
"What?" Asked Marik when he managed to breath again, Ryou just stared his brother in disbelief.
"I saw you. Why didn't you say anything?"
"Well… You don't like Yuugi so I thought that you would be… upset." Said Ryou quietly.
"I'm more upset of you not telling me! Did you thought that I would, like, deny you from being with him or something?"
"Bakura… You're causing a scene." Informed Marik, who looked around and saw that most people were now looking at them.
"I don't care!" Snapped the teen.
"I'm sorry for not telling you, ok? Can we not talk about this here?" Said Ryou desperately.
"Fine, we'll talk back at the hotel."
They left quickly and headed back to the hotel to talk things through.
………………………………..
It was the day of the funeral and the two brothers were just getting ready to go. Yesterday it seemed like the hell would brake loose but eventually it didn't. Ryou had feared that his brother would not approve and he still didn't like the idea but couldn't tell Ryou that he couldn't be with Yuugi, that would have broke his heart. Ryou convinced him that the other boy would never hurt him and, as he shyly added, they loved each other. They had been together for some time now, the other friendship gang knew about it and Bakura had really been to only one who didn't. But now that it was no longer the case, Ryou felt much more at ease.
"We should get going already." Informed Ryou, who glanced nervously at his watch. "We can't be late…"
"Yeah, yeah. Wait a sec." Bakura fought with his tie. "God dammed…"
"Need help with that?" Marik came to his rescue and shooed the other's hands away, helping with the tie. "You're hopeless 'Kura."
"Gee, thanks…" Sarcasm could be detected in the voice.
"Come on guys." Ryou reminded that they had to get going, well, Bakura and him had to, Marik would stay at the hotel and wait for them.
"Done! No, wait." Marik didn't let go of the tie when Bakura tried to leave but pulled him back into a kiss.
"Come on, Romeo!" Ryou said impatiently from the door and they pulled away.
"Oh but I'm pained to leave my Juliet. Ouch!" Marik had whacked him on the arm for the comment and he took it as a sign to get going.
"Ok, bye!" And with that they left.
Marik wondered what he could do now that he was alone. He ended up fiddling with the souvenirs they had bought the other day. Soon, however, they stopped interesting him. He lay on his bed and gazed blindly at the sealing, the air conditioner making it's sound in the background. He just thought of everything that had happened these past few days, so much had changed… Marik sighed and decided that maybe it was best if he took a small nap.
………………………………..
In the funeral everyone expressed their sympathy, even the people they had never even met, probably some of their father's coworkers. Despite the hot sun everyone was wearing black, sweat was running down several faces but the only one who was openly crying was Ryou. The boy wept as the coffin was put into the hole on the ground and covered. Bakura who was standing next to him laid a comforting hand on his shoulder, Ryou looked up at his brother who wasn't looking at him but didn't remove his hand. Ryou placed his hand on top of his brother's and squeezed gently. The little gesture meant a lot to him.
After the ceremony the people were slowly starting to leave, Ryou wanted to stay for a bit longer and his brother stayed with him. Bakura couldn't just leave him alone now of all times after all. Though unlike his brother, he wasn't really sad, he hadn't been sad when he learned of their father's death and he wasn't sad now, except maybe for Ryou.
"Do you miss him?" Bakura asked from his brother who still had tears in his eyes.
"Yes, a lot…"
"I don't. I didn't miss him when he went away on a trip and I'm not going to start now. It's like he's on a permanent trip."
Ryou nodded. He knew this already and didn't hold a grudge against his brother for not being sad or missing their father. Bakura had been that way for long and Ryou doubted that he would ever change though now that Marik was around he had just a bit.
"Are you ready to go?" Bakura asked. Ryou sent a last glance on the grave before they left.
………………………………..
Everything was white. Not pleasant white like snow but annoyingly bright white, like in a hospital. Sterile. Too clean. It pierced his eyes and almost made him blind. Suddenly in the distance a door opened and black light poured into the white space, tainting it, making it easier on the eye.
An echo was heard in the space and soon Marik was wrapped in a warm embrace. He felt safe and relaxed. Then before he knew it the embrace was starting to fade. He felt so cold suddenly and shivered violently. Why was he alone again? The blinding whiteness was back and even though he tried to close his eyes, the white light still stung his eyes.
"Don't go…!" He whispered into the space but no answer returned to him. Not a sound was heard until a harsh laughter filled the silence, making Marik shield his ears but it was no use. He could still hear it in his head, the laugh that would forever consume him.
……………………………….…
Marik woke up violently, sitting up on the bed, breathing heavily. He knew exactly who had left him in the dream, no, nightmare, and couldn't stand the thought of it. Then he realized what had really woke him up; a knock on the door. A louder knock was heard and he went to get the door. Who could that be? Bakura and Ryou had keys to the room and he wasn't expecting them back yet. Someone knocked again.
"I'm coming!" He yelled at the impatient person and quickly went to open. He peeked behind the door and was shocked to see who it was.
"Ishizu!" He breathed at the sight of his sister. His sister pushed in to the room without a word and sat on a bed, looking at him as if expecting an explanation. "How did you find me?"
"You are in no position to ask questions!" Ishizu snapped. "What were you thinking? Running away like that… We were worried!"
Marik glared at her and she glared right back. "I couldn't stay home either! I wanted to get away, okay? I'm sorry I worried you but I had to leave for a while."
"Why? Why couldn't you stay home?" She asked desperately, not understanding. Marik sighed and sat besides her.
"You were smothering me… I had no choice." Then he added, "And, I think, I mean… My other didn't leave me alone…"
Ishizu looked horrified. "You mean…? Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want you to know… Bakura offered me a way out, I just took it. He has been leaving me alone since I left, too."
"It's always that Bakura… You should have told us!"
"I know! And of course it's always Bakura! I think I…" He let his voice trail of, not quite sure if he should admit it aloud yet.
"You what?" Ishizu asked, wanting him to continue.
"I think I might…"
………………………………..
The two brothers were on their way back to the hotel. They had gotten a cab from the graveyard and were almost there. They hadn't spoken since they left the grave but maybe it was better not to, not right now. They needed to sort their thoughts out before they had to get back to Japan.
Bakura wondered what Marik was doing and how would things be once they got back… Ishizu would be pissed no doubt… She would probably ban them from ever seeing each other again. He couldn't have that, he couldn't go back to his life without Marik, the other was an important part of his life now.
They arrived to the hotel, got out and paid the driver. They took the elevator up and Bakura immediately took off his black jacket and tie. When they reached the door of their room, just before Bakura opened it with his key, he heard voices speaking behind it. There was a voice he recognized as Marik's and then there was a woman's voice. Marik was shouting something when Bakura pressed his ear against the door to hear better.
"Bakura, what-?" Ryou started to ask but was silenced by his brother.
"I know! And of course it's always Bakura! I think I…" Bakura heard Marik's voice trail off. What? He wanted to know how that sentence ended!
A woman's voice spoke, now Bakura recognized her as Ishizu. "You what?" The right question exactly. Ryou too pressed his ear against the door now.
"I think I might…" Started Marik's voice. "I think I love him…" Bakura's eyes went wide and he gasped. Ryou didn't look surprised the least, he just smiled happily.
"What?" Ishizu yelled and Ryou took his cue to twist the doorknob and sent his brother stumbling in. The two occupants of the room looked at him surprised. Bakura just stared at Marik.
"Is that true?" He asked quietly.
"You mean you heard?" Marik asked and blushed.
"Is it?"
"Well, yes… It's true."
Bakura practically ran across the room and jumped on Marik, starting to kiss him. Ryou smiled, Ishizu stared in shock and Marik kissed back happily. With the two being so occupied with each other, Ryou went next to Ishizu, to calm her and to speak with her. He had befriended her while his brother worked at the museum, when he had went to see him and he had been too busy, Ishizu almost always had time to keep him company.
Ryou coughed to get the attention of the two. They turned to him, wearing stupid grins.
"Maybe you should continue when you're private." Ryou suggested politely.
"…Yes, my thoughts exactly." Ishizu agreed.
"Ishizu?" Marik questioned his sister, sounding unsure.
"There's nothing you can do to separate us now!" Declared Bakura and held Marik possessively and he nodded.
"Just look at them, don't they just look too cute?" Ryou showed a picture to Ishizu.
"Hey, what's that?" Asked Bakura and Ryou shoed him a picture where Marik slept with his head on his shoulder and Bakura had his head on top of Marik's. It was the picture Ryou had taken on the plane on the way to Egypt.
"Well, I…"
"Ishizu." Marik spoke. "I don't think I can come home… I love you both but I need to get away for a while, away from my other…"
"And I'll be the one to take you." Bakura said. Ryou raised an eyebrow. "What? I meant I'll be the one to take him away. Since when was your mind so dirty?" Ryou smiled and shrugged a bit.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Marik said, joining to the people smiling. "Ishizu?"
"You will have to finish high school." She just stated but the under lining message was clear.
"I promise! Thank you!" Marik wanted to hug his sister but then realized that he couldn't keep holding on to Bakura and do that at the same time.
"You just hold him but Bakura." Ishizu turned to Bakura. "If you hurt him in anyway, I will hunt you down and-."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. You're going to make me regret the day I was born." He interrupted.
"Exactly." Ishizu said and actually smiled at him.
"Don't worry, Ishizu." Bakura told and turned to Ryou who had a permanent smile on his face now, it seemed. "Ryou…"
"Don't worry about it Bakura." Ishizu said and placed a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "I'll promise to take care of him." She reassured.
"And tell Yuugi that if he hurts you I will-."
"Hunt him down, right?" Ryou interrupted with a smile.
"Yes, basically."
"Enough threats already!" Marik shouted, bored in everyone threatening each other.
"Ok…" Bakura agreed and bent down to steal a kiss.
"Good… I've been meaning to ask you something, though the answer is kind of obvious now."
"Yes?"
"Which way do you swing?" Marik asked and Bakura smirked at him.
"I swing your way babe." He said while still smirking and leaned to kiss the other again.
"Geesh, this is like form one of my gay porn novels…" Ishizu mumbled and Ryou looked at her strangely for a second before agreeing with her.
The End
A/N: Yes, yes, yes, yes! Whooooooooooo! I'm finally done! Hell yeah! That took me insanely long to write and the final chapter is so long. Over five pages and my normal chap. is about four. I hope you liked :) Bakura's last line was something I'm been wanting him to say for a while, I just had to get it in somewhere :) How did you like the ending? Tell me, tell me! Hated it? Liked it?
Please review!