Unreal Truths

Chapter 30: Doubts

Bakura's POV

Luckily I didn't have to wait around long, since Ryou came into the waiting room five minutes later carrying a bag of cotton candy and a bottle of pop.

"I asked for beer."

I couldn't help it, being an insensitive prick was in my nature.

Ryou scowled at me before tossing the pop with quite a bit of force at my head, "It's in there. I couldn't very well carry in a six pack into a hospital now could I?"

Giving Ryou a look of disbelief, I screwed off the soda's cap and sniffed at the liquid inside. Sure enough the strong smell of whisky met my nose.

Damn he was good.

"Alright Hikari you win this round."

Ryou gave me a self-satisfied smirk and sat down, bringing out his own bottle, though I heard the hiss of carbon as he open it.

"Where's Mariku?" He looked over to me before taking a long swig of his soda.

"He went back to sit with Marik. Odion took Ishizu out so we could have our alone time."

Ryou nodded and stared at the wall opposite of us thoughtfully, "Well that's surprising."

I nodded in agreement before taking a sip of my bottle whisky. I couldn't help but chuckle at the situation.

"What?" I turned to look at Ryou, a stupid grin on my face, "Just thinking. Never would have thought it would have ended up like this huh?"

Ryou smirked and shrugged, looking down at his soda bottle with a mixture of emotions on his face.

"Well it could have ended better, that's for sure."

I nodded, chewing my lip slightly, "Yes, but it could have ended worse too…then again, I consider this far from over. You know Marik, he's too strong and stubborn to let it end like this."

Ryou looked up at me, his brown eyes showing the hurt he was feeling, "Yeah, I just…I am holding out hope, but sometimes-"

I quickly cut him off, not liking where this conversation was heading, "No Ryou, stop doubting yourself. You are the one holding us all together, if you give up hope then so will everyone else."

The young teen gave me a slightly shocked look, strands of white hair falling into his face.

I gave a firm nod, setting my drink down and leaning against the back of the chair, "I hate to admit it, but you are the pillar for us four…"

Ryou kept watching me, his gave turning soft the longer I spoke.

"No matter what Mariku and I did, you stood tall, never breaking under pressure, even when Marik lost his cool, you were still holding on to the hope that everything would work out."

I sighed and shook my head, chuckling again, "And look what happened now…We are all on the same side, and that isn't going to be changing anytime soon."

Ryou snorted, leaning back, his gaze still focused on me, "I can't believe I am hearing that come out of your mouth Bakura."

"I know…" I couldn't believe it either, but now all my priorities had changed, and there was only one concern on my mind now.

"You think he's going to live?" Ryou's voice was uncharacteristically soft as he looked intently at the floor.

I looked over to my former host, but he didn't return my gaze, instead he continued to gaze at the floor.

"I think so. If there was anyone I thought that could pull through something like this, it would be Marik. He is a stubborn bastard, and I wouldn't put it past him to come back just for spite."

At that, I saw a small smile grace Ryou's pale face, and he lifted his head to look at me, "You're right Kura…He'll make it, I know he will."

I gave a confident nod before taking another massive swig of my drink, the whisky burning my throat the whole way down.

I hated lying to him.

Mariku's POV

I found the room with ease, not even looking at the numbers as I felt my way there using the bond.

It may have been numb, but I could still use it. It was still there, and as long as the bond was still there, then my omote was still alive.

I didn't even pause as I walked inside, going immediately over to the chair positioned by his bed and crawling into it.

Looking down at the bed, I almost flinched at the site of Marik laying there sick. He was looking even worse than the last time I saw him, even though I wasn't sure it was possible.

Well it was.

I sighed and immediately picked up his hand once more, kissing it gently and feeling the spark of power going between us.

Feeding energy through the bond proved to be just as easy as taking it, so the process came with an almost natural smoothness.

I couldn't keep this up for too long, as the energy transfer sapped me for days and it took longer to recover from.

It was worth it though, since I felt the bond spike for the first time since the accident, letting me know that Marik's body was responding to the energy.

A good sign most definitely.

I took in a deep breath then, speaking just above a whisper in Arabic. I knew that using our native tongue would sooth Marik, and it would be more comforting to hear rather than the odd trilling of Japanese.

"Bakura is worried about you Omote, he tries to hide it, but I know him better than that." I smirked, thinking of how the thief had nearly wore a hole in the hospital floor from all his pacing.

"I know you are still mad at him, and you have every reason to be, for what you believe. But we know the whole story now, though I will let him tell you, since I know he will anyways." Mariku knew once Bakura got in here, they would probably never get him to leave. The thief was no longer denying his feelings For Marik and Mariku hoped his Omote would wake up to hear it for himself.

"I just hope you wake up soon, you have everyone worried, including me." And that was a shocker in of itself. He never thought he would ever care for Marik other than him being the main personality in a shared body.

Things were different now though, and people changed.

I had changed.

I finally had to stop the energy transfer through the bond, my body growing weak from giving more than normal. I would come again in a few days to do it once more, since it took a lot of time to recuperate from so much effort.

I didn't get up right away. Just because I was finished with the task at hand didn't mean I wanted to leave right away. I wanted to be there for Marik, even though he couldn't hear me.

I then did something I never imagined myself doing. I resituated myself, holding one of Marik's hands between both of mine, and laying my head on the bed railing. I closed my eyes and exhaled softly before beginning to pray softly.

I had a memory of Ishizu teaching Marik this specific prayer as a child and it had been his favorite.

Maybe it would be enough to bring the youngest Ishtar child back to consciousness.

I don't know how long I chanted for, but time all blurred together and I didn't even realize I had fallen asleep until I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Mariku?"

I smiled softly as Ryou's soft voice drifted through the haze my mind had been in, "Ryou."

He chuckled and brushed the bangs out of my eyes, "You've been in here for nearly an hour. Bakura and I were worried."

It was then I realized I must have given Omote a lot more energy than I originally thought.

"I must have given him too much energy. It's hard to keep track when doing stuff like that."

Ryou nodded and helped me stand up, putting a supporting arm around my lower back.

"Well come on, let's go out. I got some cotton candy for you and Bakura is chomping at the bit to get back here."

I cocked an eyebrow in confusion at the odd expression, "Chomping at the bit?"

Ryou chuckled and shook his head, "It's…just an expression. Means he's really eager."

"Ah…" I nodded in understanding, though the words still confused me, "Why didn't you just say that then?"

Ryou shrugged and laughed a little.

It was good to see him laugh.

"I don't know Mariku." He took my hand and we walked together out to where Bakura was waiting for us, an empty coke bottle clenched tightly in his fists.

"I thought you fucking died moron."

I grinned, not bothered in the slightest by any of Bakura's insults. It was how he showed he cared.

Ryou rolled his eyes and walked over to a chair where he had a small bag of groceries and pulled out a large bag of blue cotton candy.

I couldn't help but squeal in delight and nearly knocked Bakura over in my attempt to get to the fluffy sweet stuff that reminded me so much of Ryou's hair.

The thief scoffed but said nothing more as he left through the double doors that lead to the ICU.

Both Ryou and I glanced at him as the door swished shut and I then plopped down on the chair beside Ryou.

He smiled softly at me as I nearly ripped the bag apart in excitement and even joined me in picking apart the clump of airy sugar.

A little happiness went a long way in the midst of tragedy.

Bakura's POV

I walked back to Marik's room in a daze, preparing myself for what I may see. Was he looking any worse than before? Or maybe he just looked the same.

I didn't want to see either.

I wanted to walk inside that room and see Marik sitting up, chatting away with some nurse or doctor. I wanted him to give me a glare when I walked inside, maybe yell or scream or cry. Hell anything was better than this dead silence I was met with now.

The room was dark when I walked in, the only light into the room was coming from a small window beside Marik's bed. The curtains were partially drawn, letting in the tiniest bit of sunlight.

I walked over to the chair beside Marik's bed and picked up his hand, holding in tightly in my own. His skin was chilled, but still held some warmth, letting you know he was alive, but barely.

Biting back tears, I kissed his hand and spoke softly. I didn't know what I was going to say, but I couldn't just sit here in silence.

"Hey…" I swallowed, wanting to smack myself in the face for such a stupid start, but right now it was all I could manage.

"I…God Marik, I don't even know where to begin. I've messed up so bad."

This time I couldn't stop the watering of my eyes, and I bit my lip hard to keep the tears from falling.

"I should have figured it out sooner, I should have done something! Fuck Marik, why didn't I do anything?" I brought his hand to my face and I laid my lips on it as the first tear came.

"Because of me, we never got to be a normal couple, heh as if we could be normal." I couldn't help but chuckle lightly, but the sound was bitter and broken.

"It wasn't me…I know you are probably rolling your eyes if you can hear me, but it's the truth. It was that horrid demon Zorc…" I sighed and kissed his hand again and again, my voice dropping to just above a whisper.

"He hated us…I just wish I would have known what he did early. I don't know what I would have done, but I would have tried….fuck I would have tried."

I didn't know if I could have changed the course of events. Most likely not, but Marik and I would have been able to leave on better terms, and I would have came back less bitter and angry.

Then Marik wouldn't have had a reason to rush out and he wouldn't have gotten into the wreck.

Why couldn't I just have realized what was going on?

Taking in a shuddering breath, I reached out and pushed Marik's bangs out of his face gently.

"I would give anything to be able to work this out…Anything to have a second chance with you."

I shook my head, letting the rest of the tears fall, "Please Marik, I love you….please come back to me…"

Any response would have been better than the one I got.

Cold, unyielding silence.