A/N: DEEPEST apologies for my lack of updates. It really has been a rough, rough month and I am so sorry for making you all wait, as if anyone still waits for updates from this fic. I started college and work and between the two of them I just couldn't handle writing, that and I found yet another fandom to love so it has gotten difficult to write, but as I promised I am going to work my hardest on my two fics and get them done.^^; Anyways, second to last chapter so we are in the home stretch. I want to thank you all for sticking by me and I hope to get out the last chapter and epilogue faster than these last updates.

Unreal Truths

Chapter 34: Healing

Marik's POV

It had been another four days since I awoke and another two after Bakura and I's night of excitement before the doctors finally allowed me to go home. It didn't particularly bother me, since it allowed Ishizu and Odion to adjust to Bakura and Mariku being around more.

I think my siblings are beginning to realize that the two yami's aren't going anywhere any time soon.

It had taken some time, but I finally got my sister to quit clinging to me so Bakura and I could have more alone time together. I loved my sister and all, but sometimes her worrying and such got to be a little much.

Giving a groan of pain, I eased down into the wheelchair by my bed with Mariku on one side and Bakura on the other.

Mariku snickered in my ear an odd dark blue bandana wrapped firmly around his head and holding the insane mass of hair back into something more normal looking.

He was finally learning to look acceptable in society.

I heaved a long sigh, shifting a bit to get comfortable and looked up to the two yamis at my side. If you would have told me I would be in this situation willingly a few weeks back, I would have called you insane.

Once I was settled, Ryou grabbed a pillow off the bed and slid it behind my back to help provide some comfort. It was a very thoughtful gesture and I thanked him softly.

My stuttering still wasn't getting any better, though the doctor said it would in time and that I just needed to give my brain some time to heal.

Until then, I vowed to talk as little as possible.

Ryou began to push me out of the room and down the hall to the exit doors. We both knew better than allow Mariku or Bakura to do so and I had to smirk lightly at the visual images that came to mind.

The whole day seemed to go by in a bit of a dazed blur, from me waking up all the way to the ride home. I contributed that to the mass amount of drugs in my system, hoping it was that rather than brain damage.

I already had enough trouble concentrating before the accident.

Finally Ryou pulled into the driveway and I leaned over, fumbling with the seat belt and trying to get it unhooked before Bakura came to help.

I wanted to show that I could still manage simple tasks and that I wasn't completely helpless.

Unfortunately, by the time Bakura came around to open to the door for me I was still struggling with the buckle.

Surprisingly he didn't reach in to help me, but rather stood still, waiting patiently until I finally managed to get the belt unhooked.

Smiling in triumph, I looked up at Bakura and he gave me a warm and reassuring grin.

"Good job kiddo, now let's get you inside."

He held out his hand and I took it firmly, letting Bakura pull me up and into his arms.

Ryou walked around the car, pulling out a wheelchair that had been folded in the trunk.

I gave it one glance before scoffing and leaning further onto Bakura, "I'm not riding in that thing Ryou."

Ryou gave an exasperated sigh and fixed me with a stern look, "Marik…you're going to hurt yourself if you insist on trying to do things on your own while you are injured.

I shook my head, turning away from the offending chair, "N…no thanks Ryou, I can m…manage without."

Before any more could be said, I was suddenly scooped up into the air by Bakura and he held me against his chest bridal style.

"Don't worry Landlord, I got this."

I could hear Ryou give an amused sigh as Bakura kissed my head gently, carrying me off with ease up the front steps and into our rental home.

There seemed to be something different in the atmosphere now. The whole place seemed almost lighter somehow, as if a huge fog had been lifted.

Behind me, I heard heavy footfalls as Mariku came charging in and dive bombed on the couch.

Bakura growled, glaring at my yami intensely, "Move it asshole, Marik is getting the couch."

Mariku gave a low whine of displeasure and huffed, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Mariku." Bakura's voice was low and dangerous and it sent shudders down my spine for various reasons.

Mariku merely grinned back, obviously not intimidated by Bakura in the slightest, "There are plenty of other seats."

"Quit being a fucking dick and move your ass before I move it for you!" Bakura hissed dangerously and I clutched his shirt tightly, amusement showing clearly in my gaze.

Mariku was just getting his jollies off from making Bakura mad.

Finally, my yami's eyes met my own and his gaze softened, "Omote."

I gave him a warm smile as he slid off the couch, gently touching my head as he stood and moved away.

He really had changed for the better.

Looks like Ryou had been right after all.

Bakura rolled his eyes and kicked his leg out at Mariku playfully and my yami cackled in delight, rushing over to Ryou and wrapping his arms around the pale Brit.

I let out a small laugh as Bakura set me down on the couch, touching his cheek gently and smiling at him, "Thank you Bakura."

The former spirit let out a low huff, mumbling softly under his breath.

Ryou walked over then, holding a mass of blankets and pillows, cocking his hips to the side as he fixed Bakura with a look, "Here, make yourself useful and help Marik get comfortable while I fix his room up for him would you."

With that, Ryou shoved his burden into Bakura's arms and grinned, watching as the thief stumbled a bit, letting out an annoyed growl.

"What do I look like here, a fucking nurse?"

I looked to Mariku and we both snickered, "Well B…Bakura, I wouldn't object if you wanted to w…wear a sexy little outfit."

Bakura gave me a dangerous glare as he set the blankets down, plucking a pillow from the top and fluffing it with obvious annoyance, "Watch it you, just because you are sick doesn't mean you get off the hook that easily."

I just rolled my eyes and sat up, allowing for Bakura to place the pillow behind my back. I wasn't the least bit threatened by him, and I knew he knew that as well.

Ryou then came out, a devious smile on his face as he exchanged a look with my yami. He then turned to me and gave a warm smile, "Mariku and I have a few things to go take care of, think you two can behave yourselves while we are gone?"

I rolled my eyes as Bakura climbed on to the couch to join me, straddling my hips and glaring over his shoulder at the other two, "Just get the hell out of here would you?"

Ryou laughed and grabbed his keys off the table, practically sprinting out the door, my yami in tow.

Once they were out the door, Bakura made a satisfied noise and leaned down, kissing me gently on the lips, "Now that we're alone…I can finally talk to you."

I gave Bakura a confused look as he slowly slid off the couch, kneeling down on the floor beside me and taking my hands into his, kissing the fingers lightly.

"You know how much I care about you Marik, and how much I regret that any of this had to happen. If I could relive it all, I would do so much differently…so much, starting with how I treated you."

Opening my mouth slightly, I watched as Bakura gave me an odd look, something deep settling in his eyes that I had never seen before. I shut my mouth then, deciding to just let him have his say.

Bakura saw this and nodded in appreciation, eyes falling back to my hand in his, "You are something completely different, something I never had in my life before…Everything was all screwed up Marik, I never got the chance to even feel anything like love, it was all hate and revenge."

He shifted his position slightly, laying his cheek against my hand, "And just when everything began to go to plan, you had to come in and screw it up." Bakura chuckled, a mixture of bitterness and sorrow, "That fucking demon ruined everything from the beginning…No wonder I am such a mess."

I gave a small frown, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes as I spread my fingers out and caressed Bakura's cheek, "Kura…"

He smiled weakly, but still didn't look up at me, his mind caught in the past.

"I finally got a chance at happiness, a second chance with you, and what did I do? Fuck it up. Hell even your stupid yami got happiness before me. How does that happen? He was a crazy ass fuck, a being of nothing but hate and anger and he still got his happiness before I got mine. That shows you how messed up I am hm?"

"Bakura…" I was really confused as to where this was all going, and Bakura seemed to pick that up from the tone of my voice.

"Marik…I just…I need to tell you how much you mean to me, but I am just having a lot of trouble doing it okay? I never told anyone I loved them before and its just…not easy…especially since you have every right to reject me. I won't be mad if you do…just terribly depressed…might go kill myself…no pressure though." Bakura chuckled and looked up at me and I rolled my eyes.

Before I could say any more however, Bakura held up his hand for silence, biting his lip as he dug into his jacket pocket, "Hold on, I am not finished yet, and if you don't let me finish then I am going to chicken out and this is never going to work."

"Alright Bakura, I am listening." I shifted my position so I could better see him, and Bakura looked up with me, a surprising look of insecurity in his pretty violet eyes.

"Okay Marik I…I know you don't approve of me stealing but…I had to in this instance, just hear me out…"

Bakura shifted and showed me what he was holding in his hand.

I gasped in surprised as I saw a rather ornate ring. It had a golden band and a large blue diamond in the middle.

"This…" Bakura continued talking, though his voice had taken on a sad and reminiscent tone, "This was my father's family ring, passed down from generation to generation to each head of the Tozokuo clan…I thought he had been wearing it when he died but…" Tears formed in his eyes and I wanted nothing more than to kill every one of those guards along with anyone who had a part in destroying my lover's life.

"He must have been planning on giving it to me…I just never knew…but the other day I saw it in the museum and I knew it was his…it even has the insignia….see?" Bakura turned the ring over and I could see the Tozokuo family seal on the underside of the band.

"I had to get it, not only because it is rightfully mine but…but because I knew it would fit perfectly on your finger."

I let out a small gasp as Bakura took my hand, spreading the fingers gently and sliding the ring onto my ring finger, giving a satisfied smile as it fit perfectly, "Oh good, I was hoping I wouldn't have to have it fitted. What a pain."

No words came to me as I stared down at the ring with a dumbstruck look on my face, "B…Bakura really, this is too much, I mean-"

"Don't you like it?" Bakura looked up at me with an unsure gaze and almost pained look on his face.

"N…n…no, no! I love it! It's perfect! I couldn't imagine anything better! I j…j…just…" Giving a frustrated sigh I shook my head, regretting it instantly as a headache began to throb.

"I d…don't deserve it…" I felt my cheeks heat up as Bakura stared up at me, a slow smile crawling onto his face, "Nonsense Marik, if anyone deserves this it's you." He chuckled gently and kissed me on the lips, wrapping his arms around me with care, "I love you, so please accept this token of my affection…"

I was torn between laughing at Bakura's cute attempts at being romantic and crying from how sweet it all was. I settled for crying as the tears I had been trying to hold back this entire time began to fall down my cheeks, "Oh Bakura…thank you so much!" I hugged him back, smiling so hard I thought my face might break in two.

"It's the best gift a…anyone has ever given me." Another kiss and I rested my head against Bakura', just feeling the joy course through me and my heart warmed.

It was the first time I had ever felt this truly happy.

Ever.

Just then I heard the front door open and Bakura let out a small huff, "Hmph, they told me they would be gone longer than that."

"Huh? Bakura what are you…" I trailed off when I saw Mariku and Ryou walk in, both with big grins on their faces.

Suddenly I was feeling very suspicious.

"Well that didn't take you two very long." Bakura cocked an eyebrow and got up, sitting down on the couch beside me as Ryou shut the door.

The pale haired teen rolled his eyes as he locked the door, turning around so he could lean against it, watching Bakura and I, "Well sorry, but I figured you had enough time."

Bakura growled low and muttered, "Yeah whatever, just go on and steal my thunder…"

"Would someone please tell me what is going on?"

"Omote…"

I looked up as Mariku came closer, a look of pure bliss on his face and a rather large box in his hands.

Now I was really suspicious.

"…Yes Mariku?"

"I got you something…I hope it makes you feel better…" Mariku then held out the box to me, biting his lip shyly.

"And believe it or not it was entirely his idea." Ryou chuckled softly, motioning for me to go on.

I gave him a brief look before turning back to the box in Mariku's hand, taking it carefully.

"What is this Mariku?"

"I know you are very sad about your hair Omote so…I wanted to do something to make you feel better…"

He then pulled the bandana off his head, giving me a small smile as it fell to the floor.

I suddenly found myself crying again as I saw what the bandana had been hiding.

Mariku's once long and wild hair was now cut immensely short, raising only about two inches off his head.

He had cut it all off.

"M…Mariku your hair."

"The present Omote, open my present!" Mariku grinned eagerly pointing to the box in excitement.

"O…okay…" With trembling fingers I undid the bow on top and gently set it aside before gripping the box lid.

Nothing I could have done then would have prepared me for what I was about to see.

As I opened the box, the tears increased tenfold when I saw what was inside.

A beautiful wig sat innocently inside, matching my old hairstyle perfectly.

It was then I knew.

Mariku had cut his own hair so I could have mine back.

"M…Mariku…"

How? How could this be the same yami from years ago.

It was impossible.

I began crying even harder, and Mariku gave a small distressed sound, "D…did I do something wrong Omote?"

I looked up at him, tears relentlessly streaming down my face, "No…it's…it's perfect…you're all…you are all so perfect."

Mariku smiled wide and I opened my arms so he could rush into my embrace.

Bakura chuckled softly, Ryou's own laughter chiming in.

It was then that I knew this would work. We could all live together and be a happy family.

Giving Mariku a kiss on the cheek, I ruffled his now short hair and looked to Ryou, "A little help?"

The pale teen nodded, smiling softly as he walked over, gently lifting the wig out of the box, "Okay here…"

He fixed the wig perfectly atop my bandages, giving an approving nod, "Looks good to me!" Bakura leaned around the couch, opening the drawer and pulling out a handheld mirror, holding it so I could see.

It was as if I never had the accident, as if my hair never had been shaved off. Everything looked perfectly fine and normal.

Mariku gave a squeal of delight and hugged me again, "You look perfect Omote, just like before."

More tears, it was like I couldn't stop myself.

Finally, after all these years, I had it all.

And I wasn't going to let it go for anything.

I gave the other three a hug, tugging them all onto the couch and laughed genuinely for the first time in years.

So this was happiness?

It was nice.

It was fulfilling.

It was perfect.