Chapter 5

Evil Angel

A/N: This is an ADORABLE thief shipping chapter but mwhahaha 3 Mariku is FAR from done ~prepare yourselves to see what happens next and remember to leave reviews. I like reviews. If you don't I'll sick Ryou on ya'll with an egg beater. He's british. He's a formiddable britishly gay opponent with an egg beater. OH and also, Happy Birthday to Pharoah Silver! Anyhow, I've decided to just write as myself. So, light fluff but this is mostly seriousISH. Meh. ENJOY. OH YEAH I like a mix of canon/LK. And I always add a bit of my own twist since it's fanfiction. BUT YEAH. Er….~(._.)~ please no flamin' I ain't aimin' only writin' . lalala.

Bakura groaned as he woke up the next day. The pain came rushing back and he grit his teeth. His eyes cracked open and he saw Marik sitting on the edge of his side of the bed, a tray in hand with some eggs and a glass of orange juice. "What time is it?" Bakura mumbled, rubbing his eyes tiredly, the twinges causing him to hiss a little.

"It's 10… I let you sleep…" Marik said, and Bakura attempted to get to a sitting upright position. He winced and Marik handed him some pain relief pills. "I got these from my sister," he said quietly, "It's called ibiprofin…it should help…" Marik hadn't slept well that night. The guilt amongst other things had kept him up. He was tired, but he wasn't complaining. He felt like he had no right after what had happened.

Bakura felt uncomfortable with Marik's behavior. Although he did prefer it to Marik acting oblivious…but still. Bakura didn't know which made him feel MORE awkward. Mustering up a bit of usual snark, "Ra, Vicodin would be more effective at this point," Bakura growled, wincing as he took his glass of orange juice and without waiting for a response from Marik, he popped the pills into his mouth. Marik watched him silently. Bakura choked a little. "Fucking pills…I hate pills…too much promise of death on the labels," Bakura grumbled. His throat was still incredibly sore but he could speak again. His voice was slightly hoarse though. Also, Marik kept watching him, silently. Bakura knew that Marik wanted to say something. He inclined his head only slightly in Marik's direction, while focusing his attention on the back wall.

"… I think we need to talk, Bakura…" Marik said gently.

Bakura shot him a look. "What do you mean? There is nothing to talk about…" he said curtly, but paused as he didn't have the energy to be snappish to Marik… besides Marik looked like a kicked puppy.

"… I asked Isis about ….about better controlling …him…but she's at a loss as well. She expects that I'll just have to control my temper better…I didn't tell her any of the ..you know….details…" Marik said, sighing quietly. Bakura's voice felt sore and he coughed, his throat hurting more. Marik looked to him. So, Marik called his sister in the time that he'd been out of it?

"Ah, your voice sounded good a second ago…but you shouldn't over exert yourself…I'll just have my say before I leave you alone," Marik said and Bakura growled.

Telling him what was on his mind when bakura was too weak to walk away without a care, smart. It wasn't that Bakura didn't care –cus he did—he just had a reputation to uphold. Damn fucking Mariku if Mariku thought this was the end. Already, Bakura was plotting a fitting payback if Mariku EVER got separated from Marik. Although, Bakura knew he could go to the shadow realm and probably take him in a fist fight. Bakura may be shorter and his yadonushi's body may be weak, but Bakura sure as hell wasn't. His head did feel better since Marik had healed it and he was pulled out of his reverie when Marik gave him a small nudge on the shoulder.

"…Marik can't this wait?" Bakura growled, stabbing at his eggs, not sure what he was feeling at the moment.

"… No, I'm sorry it can't…." Marik said quietly. Serious.

Bakura raised his gaze to Marik's and his heart jumped a little. Marik was leaning in to his face. Bakura found a hand gently petting his wild white hair and he looked disgruntledly at Marik.

"Stop petting me, I'm not a damn kitty," he growled, poking Marik with his fork, gently.

Marik grinned, it was a tired grin and Bakura noticed the circles under Marik's eyes for the first time. "AH , but you're such a kitty, fluffy…your hair is so soft and you're very-" Marik's voice trailed off.

Beautiful.

Marik couldn't say that. From a girl's point of view –not that he was a girl or anything—Bakura was handsome. Marik knew now was NOT the time for conflicting odd feelings to start arising. He pushed them away.

"I'm very what?" Bakura growled.

"…cat-like," Marik responded, scratching Bakura's chin teasingly and Bakura rolled his eyes, swatting at Marik. Marik's heart warmed a little. Bakura seemed to be regaining his normal energy.

"Am not!" he complained.

"You totally frigging are though," Marik smirked, feeling relief at Bakura's usual grouchiness.

Bakura sighed. Marik seemed to attempting to be his usual self. But Bakura was no fool. He knew something was wrong with Marik. With a sinking feeling, he knew it was partly his fault.

"Fine, make it quick, I plan on sleeping all day today…" Bakura growled.

"…Yes…" Marik started but Bakura gasped.

"My ring! Marik, where is it?" he said quickly, annoyed that he'd forgotten about it.

Marik blinked. "Ehm…the ring is with my rod…It's in the closet-"

"Get it! Now!" Bakura hissed, his eyes flashing.

Marik bit his lip, surprised at this little random outburst but figured that it was logical since Bakura was able to think a little bit with more clarity now. He quietly, and without complaint, fished Bakura's ring from his closet and brought it to him. Bakura eyed it hungrily and held out his hands expectantly. Marik with a sigh, plopped the ring into Bakura's hands.

Bakura placed the ring around his neck, relaxing at the reassurance that the source of his power was safely around his neck. His stomach was still churning though and he didn't know if he could stomach anything. He finished the Orange juice but realized, that the acidic quality of the drink would hurt his stomach since he hadn't eaten anything. He realized that Marik hadn't spoken again and he looked up hesitantly, trying to read Marik's expression which remained neatural, if not, a little remorseful.

"… I…" Marik's voice died. How could he talk? What could he say? Marik didn't want to say the wrong thing, and at this point, he felt like he was going to fuck things up big time… if things weren't already bad enough. How he wanted to pretend like yesterday never happened.

Bakura watched Marik without speaking. He wondered what was going on in Marik's head. Normally, he'd take a guess and say nothing but the air was still stiff. Bakura didn't like this. It felt suffocating. His ass hurt although the pills were supposedly supposed to help. Bakura still winced when he shifted slightly into a cross legged position and setting the tray aside, merely curled up again in the bed. He felt drained. He had no energy to really move to get out of the bed. Marik took notice of this and he heaved an undisguisably guilty sigh.

"Marik…speak already," Bakura said wearily. The silence was more deafening than anything.

Marik looked to Bakura's eggs. "…You should try to get your energy back," he said with a small tired smile.

Bakura looked back at his untouched eggs. He didn't feel hungry. He didn't know really what he was feeling. He was certain though, that he wouldn't let Mariku get away with what he'd done. Bakura felt a bit more safe with his ring around his neck, but still, he felt like he wanted to be alone. Marik had been quiet still and Bakura glanced at him impatiently. "I need some time alone…to think…what is it?"

Marik cleared his throat. "…I…I'm sorry I got into a fight with you yesterday…" he looked at his hands. "…I …" I'm even more sorry that this happened, was what Marik wanted to really say, but how could he express that? Bakura was already feeling awkward as it was. Marik couldn't read Bakura's passive expression but he was just uncertain of what to do now. Bakura tilted his head slightly at Marik who had trailed off once again on his sentences.

Bakura didn't know really what to say in this situation. He had noticed Marik's lack of sleep right away and felt like that was his fault. He still felt the pain if he shifted to much, but if he kept stock still, the pain would lessen a bit. He felt self-concious not doing anything so he began to nibble at his eggs, even though he was still not hungry. He saw Marik's gaze perk up slightly and that was enough to egg him on to eat a little bit more.

After Bakura had finished, Marik went to the kitchen to wash the dishes.

/ Morning, my pet/ A smug voice cackled in Marik's head. Marik gasped, nearly dropping the plate.

/Frig off, Mariku!/

/ awww, someone has a stick up their feminine ass~ or perhaps lack of?/ Mariku hinted, cackling and Marik's face turned red.

/ I don't think like that!/ he snapped angrily back.

/ temper, temper~ I may just come out and play with Bakura again, we had oh so much fun last night/ Mariku slyly interjected, enjoying the rage that Marik emitted almost automatically. / Really now, how long do you plan on playing stupid?/

Marik closed his eyes for a moment, getting his emotions in check. He wouldn't let Mariku fuel his anger enough to come out again. Ever. If he could help it. He attempted to block Mariku but Mariku was quick with his next words.

/ I wouldn't block me if I were you, otherwise I'll tell Bakura/

/ Tell Bakura what?/ Marik stupidly replied, levelly.

/ How you're upset I got to the treasure in his chest before you could and snagged all the gold~/ Mariku said matter-of-factly.

Marik was quiet. He placed the plate in the sink, in a tub of bubbles and watery suds and turned on his heel. He didn't want to listen to this. He definently didn't want ot listen to Mariku's smugness. Marik felt that this was the wrong time to be jealous. Of course it was. He didn't care that Mariku ahd beaten him. He cared that Bakura had been hurt in the process. Although, Bakura seemed rather calm about the whole thing, but Marik knew that internally, Bakura was no doubt at a loss. Perhaps plotting Mariku's death with as much vigor as Marik was at the moment. All Marik wondered was if Bakura blamed him. It was his fault his anger allowed Mariku that opening. He'd already apologized but how does one simply apologize for their friend's rape at the hands of their inner dementia? Marik was lucky that Bakura hadn't just decided to high tail it on out of the apartment. Not that he could at the moment. Marik leaned against the wall outside the bedroom where Bakura wouldn't be able to see him. His heart sank. Would Bakura leave once he was able to walk around again? He used all his strength he could muster, sagging against the wall, to push Mariku away from his thoughts –keep him at bay—if not for a little while.

Bakura meanwhile had been resting. He gazed up at the ceiling and bit his lip. He was being hindered from his missions to obtain the items. He was being black mailed by an entity that made his hatred for the pharoah look like a fool's game. Bakura promised himself that Mariku would not have that same opportunity again. He didn't want to creep Marik out with his feelings, but he knew that if he didn't, then Mariku's leverage would continue to force Bakura to succuumb to Mariku. Bakura refused to succuumb.

Bakura wanted to leave. He knew it would hurt Marik, but right now, he needed space. He wasn't sure he could be around Marik, at least for a little while until things settled. Of course, that also meant if Marik still wanted to be with him as friends after Bakura confessed. Bakura growled to himself. He never thought he'd be a pansy girly girl, lying in bed fretting about telling her romantic feelings to her best guy friend. Hell, he was much more masculine than that. He deflated a little, remembering the events from the night previous, and his eyes narrowed. His fists clenched and unclenched but he felt powerless. If only he'd been stronger.

Bakura knew he didn't have as much muscle in his yadonushi's body as he did in his own, but he knew that just in hieght alone, even Marik had a better chance taking on Mariku. Marik.

Bakura honestly didn't know how to act around him. He didn't blame Marik for his dark half's actions. He was more miffed at himself for underestimating Mariku. He knew Mariku was a nut, but even he hadn't seen that one coming. Bakura sat up a little, with a small wince, noticing a shadow stretching outside his door. He saw Marik walk in.

`"How do you feel?" Marik asked politely.

Bakura looked away. How did he feel? He honestly didn't know. Still, this was his fight. This was between him and Mariku. The time to confess to Marik would come, but not this moment. It just didn't feel right. Bakura knew if he just came out and said it, then Mariku's leverage would evaporate but that would cost Bakura is only pawn-no..best friend.

He felt Marik's hand to to his forehead, feeling for a fever.

"I'm not sick," Bakura managed to growl, with a little bit of his usual flare.

"I just want to make sure…" Marik said quietly.

Bakura felt strange. It was odd to see Marik who was normally active and loud and….annoying, so …different. He was quieter, and seemed more drawn in on himself. Bakura didn't admit this out loud but he was torn between being glad Marik wasn't just completely ignoring the seriousness of the situation, but also a little miffed because he needed a distraction.

"I want to sleep," Bakura said quietly.

Marik nodded. "Alright, I'll be in the other room if you need me, ok Flu-…ok Bakura?" He got off the bed and moved to the doorway. Bakura caught Marik's hesitance in using the nickname. He was releived that Marik stopped. Right. Bakura was his alias, not fluffy. He boiled a little inside at Mariku's calling him fluffy pie. He complained about it being intolerable with Marik but Mariku. Bakura knew that given time(and if he was still around after confession time) Marik would no doubt go back to calling him fluffy. Bakura fluffed his pillow for a moment, wincing a little at the shifting, sucking in his breath at the small stinging sensation below. No doubt a scab or something. Bakura had of course no experience with being raped so he didn't know how to handle the stinging. He was too embarrassed to ask Marik "hey, my ass stings, got anything for it?", so Bakura merely burrowed in the covers, clenched his teeth, setting his jaw to profile, and closed his eyes, drifting off again to a tired sleep.

A/N: Yes I know, this chapter is rather short. Let me know if it needs edits (I really AM open to a keen eye of sorts you know ) BUT YEAH. I am happy with this chapter. I tried to capture the angst between both Marik and Bakura. Nothing really happens in this chapter other than Mariku trying to piss off Marik and not completely succeeding in his plan to come out again~ NEXT CHAPTER IS A Lime (I think that means everything except sex) I believe I'll have some fun with this one. It'll be set a week later, so prepare yourself for a one week TIME JUMP :D.