He strode down to the dining hall with a new-found confidence. His white hair bounced over his eyes to hide how giddy he was. He knew already that he was going to defeat the Pharaoh, but at this point he knew that he had won her. Everyone wanted her: Marik, the Pharaoh, her friends…but she was his.

Bakura emerged from the hallway into the light of the room. He found himself in the company of every opponent he had ever faced somehow, and will face again inevitably.

After an unfortunate run-in with Joey Wheeler, Bakura took his plate of steak and glass of wine and sat down, still waiting to see her…

She didn't come down.

The light began to fade from his eyes as his blood turned cold. He tried to hide his gaze from everyone – looking from the doorway, to his plate, taking a bite of his meal every so often nonchalantly, and looking back to the door.

He only changed his pattern when a voice resonated inside his head. "And who might you be waiting for?"

Marik… he wondered if he could hear him snarl, "Perhaps the same person you thought you had under your control."

Marik said no more, and as Bakura looked around the room, he saw no sign of him.

Where is h—?

Bakura's eyes widened as he dropped the glass of red wine. It shattered as he stood and walked as fast as he could out of the room, trying not to cause an even bigger scene.

He had to get to her. He had to get to Lucy before Marik did.

She sat on the couch contemplating what had happened in the past hour, and what may happen if she went to the dining hall to see him. Would he acknowledge her as someone more than a friend, or would he shrug it off as something insignificant and meaningless? He seemed to be very thoughtful before the kiss, but…can you ever tell with him?

What would her friends think of her? Of them? Would they ever look at her again if they knew? And what about Marik? Lucy knew of his strength, knew of the power and control he had over everyone on the blimp – and no one more so than Bakura.

Bakura…I wonder what he's thinking right now…I wonder what he would think of me if he saw me right now. She smirked at the thought. "Heh, yeah, I know," she leaned back, hoping to relax with a joke, "He'd say something like, Get your arse off that couch. You look like—"

"Like you're lucky to be alive."

She shot up out of her relaxed position and saw Marik leaning against the doorway. Her fingers gripped the edge of the couch cushions, turning her knuckles white. Oh, how bittersweet for him to be stuck with her instead of Bakura…

"I didn't see you at dinner tonight," he looked so innocent, "Have you been here this whole time?"

"Yeah," she tried to swallow her nerves, "I'm not hungry."

"Are you alone?"

She hesitated as she stood, "Not with you here, I'm not! But I was just about to take a shower before the duels begin, so if you don't mind…"

He moved quickly as he pinned her against the wall, "Did you forget whose room you're in?"

She grunted as she squirmed. His weight was crushing her, making it hard for her to breathe. "I couldn't really stay with anyone else," she managed to breathe out bitterly as she struggled beneath his grip.

He spoke quietly, "Oh, but you could have, my dear…" he brought his lips close to her ear, "I'm always available to help a damsel in distress..."

"She's not in distress," Bakura spoke in a fury. A punch to Marik's face knocked him off of his feet to the floor. Lucy gathered her breath as her weight shifted from the release of his hold on her.

Bakura turned to her, "Not anymore anyway."

Lucy moved slightly, showing her face to his brown eyes. She looked at him openly; hopeless and remorseful, her eyes held an apology. He stared back at her, his eyes softening, and offering reassurance.

Cautiously, she moved away from the wall and away from Marik's crumpled figure on the floor. She walked to Bakura and stood behind him, placing her hands on his broad shoulders. He shuddered at her touch but didn't move away. She felt him relax after a moment. She brushed some of his silver-white hair to one side and gave him a hidden kiss on the back of his neck.

Bakura went completely still, overwhelmed with mixing emotions. I have to stay focused…on Marik. He groaned. She's making this difficult.

He changed his visage to look arrogant and confident. "I don't remember inviting you into my room, Marik."

Marik, finally standing, growled, "I'm not here for you."

"I figured that much out for myself, but, seeing as this is my room and you're not here for me, I suggest you piss off before I kick your sorry ass out."

Marik chuckled, "You'd really treat your friends in such a hostile manner?"

"I have no friends. I don't need friends," his voice grew to a yell, "Get the hell out of my room now!" Lucy winced at his harsh tone. Bakura felt this and almost regretted how he was handling the situation.

"Shall I consider our agreement invalid then?" Marik chided.

"Our agreement is purely business…this is personal." Bakura moved his arm around Lucy's side protectively, keeping her behind him, "I tend not to mix the emotions of either situation."

Marik cackled, and Lucy felt Bakura tense beneath her fingertips. "Wonderful. Since Lucy and I have business to attend to, and you're here specifically for her pleasure, I suggest she and I go." He moved to grab Lucy, but Bakura stepped in front of her.

"You're not going anywhere with her, Marik. She belongs to me."

Lucy shifted awkwardly and mumbled, "Actually, I don't 'belong' to anybody…"

Bakura sent a glare her way. If you're not going to help this situation, then keep your mouth shut.

Lucy stepped back, stunned from Bakura's look. "See?" Marik chimed in, "She can speak for herself."

"Yeah, I can," Lucy straightened her posture and dared a side glance at Bakura, who was still with anticipation, "I'm staying with Bakura. Get out."

Bakura let out an inaudible sigh and smirked, "That settles it then." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Marik looked incredulous. "Are you certain my dear? What about all that I promised you…?"

"Go to hell," she spat, "Anything about a past life of mine…I don't need you to tell me."

Marik stood still, contemplating his next move. Lucy silently, but proudly, moved to Bakura's side.

Marik walked toward the door hesitantly, keeping his eyes set on Bakura. "Our deal still stands then?"

Strictly business, Bakura stood firm and nodded.

"Excellent," Marik mumbled and left the room. The door closed behind him, and as his footsteps echoed in the empty hall, he pulled out his Millennium Rod and watched as it glowed. Things will change in time, my dear. Bakura cannot protect you forever...

Bakura eyed her curiously, "What deal did you make with him?"

Lucy turned to him, her gaze meeting anywhere but his. She felt like an open wound that wouldn't heal. The overwhelming guilt from lying to her friends, not being honest with Bakura, after everything she had done…she was losing herself, no matter how well she told herself she could handle it.

Her voice was small and cracked, "He said…my past. He'd tell me about my past…our past," she started to shake, fighting back the unfallen tears, "I was supposed to…he told me to stay out of your way, but t-to also stay close. Marik thought by controlling me…he could control you."

Bakura said nothing. He was lost in his own mind. She sounded hollow and empty to him, like she wasn't even there. It seemed as if the closer they came to learning of each other's ancient past, the further apart they felt from one another.

"He wanted me to get close to the Pharaoh and the gang too…" she took a deep breath, "I know you don't like them, for whatever reason, but they're not…I don't know." Bakura's eyes followed her figure as she moved to the couch and held her head in her hands. He saw her frustration, and thought it best to give her space as she finished her thoughts, "I like them I guess…I just don't want to have to choose between two sides…"

"Then don't."

Lucy looked up slowly, fresh tears brimming in her eyes, "What…?"

"Don't choose. This isn't your fight. If they're your friends, that's your choice…just know they're not mine."

Lucy sighed. It could be worse, she thought. "Okay…Bakura?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry for not coming down."

He stared at her for a moment, taking in her vulnerability. Normally, he would get a thrill finding someone's weakness…but not with her. When he saw her like that, his stomach felt knotted and his breaths shallow.

"It doesn't matter." He said as he knelt down beside her.

He remembered how hard his decent was, how hard it was to tread what seemed like his predestined path of lies, thieving, and murder. His eyes flashed when he realized just then what he had thought of her. It hit him almost as hard as he'd hit Marik…which he did for her.

God, he liked her – more than liked her…it was unexplainable, but there was something there between them that he could feel.

Is she doing this to me…? Gods, what have I gotten myself into?

This was a foreign field. Lying came easy to him, naturally, but he had never felt what Lucy was feeling. He had never had a chance to betray someone he cared for. Hell, he'd never been given a chance to care until now. He wanted to comfort her, but he had never comforted anyone before. He'd be a damned fool to try…

Well then call me a bloody idiot.

He watched her stare at the floor and wondered if she could hear feel how hard his heart was beating from where she sat. It felt as if he had lost all control. He watched as he drew his hand up to the other side of her cheek. He felt frozen as he turned her face to his. He almost couldn't breathe when he saw her smile at him.

He leaned in towards her and rested his forehead on her and whispered, "I won't let them hurt you…"

Her blue eyes were still shining with tears that had finally started to fall…but she was smiling.

He brought his lips up to hers in a chaste kiss. He relished the brief feeling that managed to relax him and scare him at the same time.

Why the hell am I doing this? I don't understand why this feels so…God, she must think I'm a prat. Wait, what do I care? I don't…no…I don't. Don't kiss her ever again, you stupid git. Don't do it. Don't look at her, don't even think about her big, blue eyes staring at you like that…why is she staring at me like that?

She felt her heart flutter in her chest as she blinked at him, surprised at his tenderness, but comforted. I didn't think he could be so good at that…

"Lucy?" he asked nervously, "Uh…what are you…?"

She leaned in and kissed him again, and she felt herself soar. Bakura felt heavy as he leaned into her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him.

This was different from their first kiss. Beneath the passion and the excitement, it came down to the two sharing each other's warmth and – in a way that neither had felt or considered before – it felt like home.

Lucy broke apart to breathe as Bakura kissed her down her neck. "God you smell fantastic," he breathed into her hair. She stifled a moan at the sound of his voice: husky and low, but full of life.

He looked up to see her tear-streaked face. Something inside him made him reach up to wipe them away, and they both noticed his hands quivering in midair. "What the hell?" he stared at his hand for a moment before quickly putting it out of her sight. He spoke to himself, "That never happens…what the fuck was that?"

She chuckled, "Emotions have a funny way of messing with us…"

He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this…it was as foreign to him as it was familiar. He looked at her nervously, unsure of himself, but all of his uncertainty melted away…

She was still smiling.

So cute. I just wanted to get this out before the lovely battle scene. Hope you enjoyed!
~Mina