~ ` ~ ` ~ ` ~

Chapter 3

~ ` ~ ` ~ ` ~

Marik's POV

I left the rest in the living room wearily. I had been the one elected to 'visit' Bakura in his room. I knew why they had chosen me. It was obvious really. Because I had been created by Malik's own Kage no Maho (1) within the Shadow realm, I was the only one, besides Yami, who had access and knowledge of the powers of the Shadow realm, and upon seeing Yami, Bakura was more likely to go berserk more than anything else. So I had been chosen to go up and see him instead.

Truth be told, apart from our brief, 'partnership', during the Battle City and Battle Ship tournament, I have had no other contact with Bakura before. I am not from ancient Egypt like Yami and he, I am merely a separate personality from Malik, created about six years ago to protect him and carry out the duties he could not. The only reason I am still around is because Malik can't bear to let me go. I know nothing of Bakura, of his past, his plans, of anything to do with him. I merely know that he is from the past, controls the Sennen Ring and is a terrible, terrible person. Even I think that he is dangerous, and this is ME we're talking about.

All this started when Ryou fainted in school about three or four days ago. Otogi had Kaiba send him to the hospital for a check up on the spot, it was there about two, three days ago, that we found out Bakura had returned. A nurse had gone in to check on Ryou when he started screaming, only to find an exhausted, naked and completely knocked out Bakura on the floor. Ryou had been too busy screaming in fear to help explain what was going on. Since then, Bakura has been out like a light and Ryou has been living in fear, literally, of what his Dark's return. We brought both of them back from the hospital two, three days ago, but Bakura was in my house and Ryou was kept away from him, by staying in his own house with Malik. Ryou has spent the last, three or four days screaming, screeching, yowling…basically just testing the limits of his vocal range. We've been patient, but this is going off the scale. That's why we decided to try and see if we could wake Bakura up with my Kage no Maho.

I made my way up the stairs of Ishizu's two-floor penthouse apartment. Taking my time to slowly enjoy the drawings, that Malik had done when his was younger, that Ishizu had put up on the walls. I wasn't looking forward to having to face Bakura. I could still hear Ryou sobbing in the living room. The others were trying their best to comfort him, but it wasn't working.

I soon found myself outside of the room that Bakura was resting, 'stored', in. I raised my hand and rapped the door sharply twice. I shook my head as I realize what a futile gesture it was. If Bakura were awake he would have blown us up or something already. From what Ryou tells us of his past with Bakura, I wouldn't put it past him. I open door as quietly as I could and stepped into the room silently and drew my breath in sharply.

He was beautiful.

Apparently at some point of time he had woken up and gone back to sleep because he was no longer lying on his back, but on his right side instead, his body curled slightly, cuddling his pillow to his chest as his snowy hair lay in disarray, spread over the light blue sheets. The dark blue comforter that had been placed over him lay crumpled on the floor, exposing the rest of his alabaster toned body to me. At the moment, I was seriously happy that we had not clothed him.

He looked a lot like Ryou, but his hair was not so spiky anymore, not the way I remembered it to be. His facial expression was not as harsh as I remembered it to be. It was soft, like Ryou when he was sleeping, almost childlike. It was hard to believe that someone who looked so innocent could bring so much terror to so many people.

I moved closer to the bed, not intending to come to close to Bakura, but his flushed face and irregular breaths drew me close enough that I ended sitting on the bed next to him. His slightly red face and harsh breathing were putting naughty thoughts in my head, it didn't help that I was next to him and he didn't have any clothes on. From the moment I first laid eyes on him, I knew that he was probably the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Ryou may be good looking and Kaiba may be hot, but Bakura just took it to another level. I felt a little sad, that such a beautiful person could have such a cruel heart.

As much as I hate clichés, he reminds me of Lucifer, the fallen angel. The angel that stood up to fate and was punished because he dared to go against the highest order, the angel whose heart turned black and became the devil, Satan.

He whimpered softly and I couldn't resist the temptation to reach out and stroke his hair. It was as soft as I'd imagine it to be. His head moved to my touch, and before I knew it, he was nuzzling my hand. It was such a kittenish action that it brought a smile to my face. If only the others could see him now, perhaps they wouldn't be so afraid of him.

// Marik…what are you doing? // Malik's voice broke me from my reverie.

/ What do you mean? / I was confused and Malik caught onto it immediately.

// Marik, you were supposed to wake him and unless he's holding you hostage or taken over your body, both of which I doubt, you obviously haven't woken him yet. //

/ Did the lack of chaos give you that hint? / I replied a little miffed at his matter of fact tone. I could feel him mentally rolling his eyes at me and decided to head him off before he started on me.

/ Relax Malik, I'm on it, just don't interrupt. / I closed my link then, not giving him a chance to reply and turned my attention to the one almost curled on my lap.

My expression turned grim as I pulled out my Sennen Rod and held it to Bakura's forehead. Closing my eyes, I started to chant the spell that I hope would wake Bakura. My chanting started off as a whisper and slowly grew in volume to become a steady monotonous string of words that were definitely having effect on Bakura.

Curled next to me, Bakura started to whimper in, what I assumed to be pain, and his hands started to claw at the pillow he hugged as he tried to curl himself into a more fetal position. His harsh breathing got louder and his body writhed as it flushed a deep red, almost as if he were burning up. His whimpers got louder as he started to hyperventilate, I was getting worried. Suddenly, his eyes flew open and his deep chocolate eyes stared at me pleading with me to stop.

And I stumbled.

I couldn't go on with the spell. It was only three quarter complete, if I didn't complete it, he would be left in limbo, but if I did, I'd have to put him through more pain, and possibly worse, he would be fully awakened. I couldn't bear to look at him.  So I turned my face away as I picked up my chanting again.

Bakura let out a sharp cry as he flipped onto his back, his body slick with sweat, muscles straining from some invisible tension. He grabbed at the sheets, his hands turning into stiff claws as his tossed his head from side to side, as if trying to escape from something. My chanting grew louder as his body twisted in pain, then his back arched up high and he let out a harsh shriek before falling limp on the bed as I completed the final lines of the chant.

I turned to look at him as his breathing softened and slowed down. It was a few minutes before he opened his eyes to look at me. I stiffened almost immediately as he watched me for a few moments. I didn't move from my place when he moved to sit up right. He stared at me in some sort of wonder and reach out a hand. I must have blanched visibly because he withdrew his hand quickly and looked away.

Keeping my voice as calm as possible I told him, "Stay here." Then I turned to moved to get off the bed to call the others. What he did next completely startled me.

"WAIT!!"

I turned as he called for me to wait and was able to catch only a glimpse of brown orbs before he threw himself at me, knocking the both of us off the bed, and wrapped his arms around me tightly, burying his head in the nape of my neck as he whispered, "Please don't go."

And for a moment, I felt promising him that for real.

(1) Kage no Maho – Shadow Magic, or rather, Magic of the Shadows