AN: Hm, this chapter was a little easier to write than the last. It was…well, you'll see.

Thanks to…

FlyingShadow666: Yeah, I hope everything works out well. What will Bakura do for money? Thanks for the review!

casaragi: Haha, even though Marik was trying to act tough, he's really a good guy inside. And yeah, Bakura was kind of breaking apart, huh? Thanks for the review!

D.H. Knightly: I was debating on which way to introduce Marik and Malik. I'm glad I picked a good one. (Ah, the OOC-ness…I didn't know if I ought to add that in or not…you'll see what I mean later, though not in this chapter). Thanks for the review!

dragonlady222: Hey, that's a pretty good guess (though I don't know if I'm going to reveal why Marik did what he did later in the story yet). Thanks for the review!

ONIX-21: Glad to hear it. Thanks for the review!

Tails7651: Heh, I hope to clear things up in the next few chapters. Thanks for the review!

Chapter Ten: Take Me Home

Marik slowly closed the door behind him as he left Bakura to rest. After a quick sweep of the room, he plopped down onto a black and white sofa in the living room. Reaching for the remote that went with the big screen TV, Marik flicked through channels for anything that caught his interest in order to block out the feud raging in his mind.

How could he trust a stranger to pay for half the rent? The only thing that worked in the teen's favor was that little tyke. While the high school student was out, Ryou had definitely left an impression on Marik and Malik as a good kid. He had helped around the house and was quite talkative with a great sense of humor, polite and clean. On the other hand, his claimed brother, Bakura, was a different story.

However, that was as far as Marik's thoughts went, halted by the return of Ryou and Malik.

As the door burst open, two people with grocery bags hurried inside and set the heavy items down in the kitchen. Brushing his hands on his pants, the younger one basically ran over to Marik. "How is he?" were Ryou's first words.

Marik shrugged, not sure as to what so say.

"Let's check on him," Malik said, smiling at Ryou as he walked toward Bakura's room. Marik yawned as Ryou quickly followed the tanned youth, briefly giving Marik a wave as he closed the door behind him.

Bakura was too tired to sit up this time, much less glare at the people who dared to interrupt his nap.

"Bakura!" said Ryou jubilantly. He was grinning, clambering up onto the bed again. Wincing a little, Bakura tried to move aside to make room, but his body wasn't responding so well.

"Are you feeling dizzy at all?" Malik asked.

The bedridden teen shook his head as Malik took Marik's previous seat.

"Still tired, though, right?" Another nod. Malik looked thoughtful for a minute, as if trying to decide from many different choices. Bakura watched him carefully, a little curious regarding what kind of person this Egyptian was since Ryou seemed to be on good terms with him.

"Hm, I think good, healthy meals and lots of rest is all you need," Malik concluded.

"So he has to stay in bed a little longer?" There was a slight whine in Ryou's voice as Malik said yes. Bakura was tempted to chuckle, but he didn't have the strength. Ryou pursed his lips and said nothing as he took a deep breath. "Hurry and get better, quick, Bakura," he finally murmured, laying his head on his brother's stomach. I wanna go play at the park!

Bakura heard Malik get up and leave, muttering something about dinner. He hoped that the tanned youth would come and get Ryou when it was time to eat, since the child was fast asleep now.

Softly placing a hand on Ryou's head, Bakura stared at the ceiling, reflecting on the confusing events and twists his life had now taken. As he felt himself drifting off into unconsciousness, one concept remained imprinted in his mind.

I've got to find a job.

---

It was only a few days later when Bakura felt strong enough to get out of bed. Malik made sure he didn't overexert himself, until Marik took him to stop fussing over the teen like a mother.

Bakura wanted to find work as soon as he could. Already the last term of Ryou's third grade was starting, and he didn't have any money to enroll him into a school. He needed to start working, and fast, if he didn't want Ryou to end up repeating a grade. Bakura, who wasn't quite sure about how to find a job, received a list of places looking for a hand to hire from Marik.

"I found them in the newspaper," Marik said. "I didn't go around and see what kind of jobs they were, though, so if the place looks fishy or odd, skip it."

"I'm not a complete idiot," Bakura shot back as he scanned the list. Marik scoffed as he ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head. Then, as Bakura opened the door to begin his job hunt, he muttered a 'thanks'.

---

Two weeks later found Ryou enjoying his last week of no school. Starting next week, he would attend a public elementary school with high recommendations that Bakura had enrolled him in. Yet he couldn't feel very excited. As much as he loved learning, the feeling of having no homework and much more free time was something he took pleasure in at the moment.

"It's not too far from here, so we can walk," Bakura said as they pulled out an old chess set of Malik's. "I'll drop you off before I go to work, but I can't pick you up after school anymore."

"What?!" Ryou dropped the rook he held in his hand, jerking his head up to face his brother. "Why?"

Bakura didn't meet his accusing eyes as he continued to set up the rest of the pieces. "You know I work during and after your school hours, Ryou."

The child knew too well. Bakura's new job at a shipping company required him to be there, ready to move large and heavy boxes, at eight in the morning. He had figured that Bakura would come pick him up at school anyways, take him home, and then go back to work. However, when he told Marik this, the teen shook his head. "That's not how it works," he had said, but Ryou had refused to believe him.

"So you can't – you won't come to pick me up?" Ryou asked, confused and a little furious.

"It's not that I won't, Ryou. I can't."

Ryou glared at his brother, biting back the urge to cry. "Then no one's going to pick me up?"

"Malik said he would."

"But I don't want Malik to pick me up!" Ryou shouted, scrambling to his feet. Bakura heaved a sigh as he leaned back against the couch, still sitting.

"Stop it, Ryou. I'm too tired for this," murmured Bakura, resting his head in his hands.

But Ryou couldn't stop. "I want you to pick me up! You have come take me home! It has to be you!"

"Drop it, kid," Bakura warned, fed up with trying to reason.

Ryou ground his teeth as he continued to glare at his brother.

"You go first." Bakura pointed to the chess board.

Ryou was still for a moment as he felt fire flare all over his insides. Slowly, he balled his hands up, seething, and kicked the board away, sending chessmen flying. Then he stomped to his room and slammed the door.

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AN: Hm, their first fight since running away. Please review! Expect the next chapter by Thursday or Friday. Thanks for reading!