Warnings: M for the safe side and some bad language … I own nothing.

Chap 3: Bits and Pieces.

"MARIK!" Came Ryou's startled and frightened call from outside the house, Marik literally ran down the hallway and jumped down the stairs landing on the ground floor in a crouched position, before rushing to the front door ripping it open.

The last thing Marik expected was Ryou rushing to him and buried his face into his chest and clung onto him shaking. Marik narrowed his eyes at a tall older woman with dark shoulder length hair and green eyes behind thin glasses, who had a surprised and stunned look to her and stood their with her mouth open. "What do you want?" Marik snarled letting Ryou cling to him, again.

The woman still in her confused state for a second, then spoke up with a shake of her head. "I should ask you the same thing?" She glanced at Ryou frowning then back at Marik.

Marik let out a menacing growled. "Again… Who are you?" Since Ryou and Marik were both clueless on the 'who did it' Marik suspected everyone and it seemed to be the best way, so he thought and to him everyone was guilty as trust wasn't something he gave out so willingly.

She looked a little offended and huffed out angrily. "Ryou tell him who I am." She demanded of him.

"I'm asking you!" Marik cut in and narrowed his eyes even more; Ryou's trembling was slowly subsiding and he had yet to let go of Marik. "I'm Ryou's Aunt Rei." She stated with her hands now on her hips. "I live here with Ryou." She said.

Okay, this didn't add up. "Then you know what happened to Ryou?" Marik didn't care if the whole world heard him or their conversation; he wasn't letting her anywhere near Ryou. This realization now hit him and he felt a little alarmed at his protectiveness of the other… one week, that's all, then Ryou's on his own and out of my life. Marik thought to himself and liked that idea very much. Either that or he remembers everything before hand and leaves on his own accord.

"What happened?" She suddenly looked worried moving closer to them, trying to get a better look at her nephew.

"You live with him and you don't know what happened?" Marik raised an eyebrow at her, who could have missed the sounds that would have been made in that house when Ryou was getting beaten up, either she slept like that dead or she did it.

"No, I was called away to Tokyo for a month and I only just got back." She bit her lip her worried expression was still plainly seen.

"Prove it." Marik challenged her.

An hour later Ryou's Aunt had cleaned up the mess in the hallway and the stairs, while Ryou walked about looking at photos on the wall, the fireplace mantel, the bookshelves and photo albums.

Marik found staying on his feet a more comfortable way of watching Ryou in his silent way. Marik had yet to explain everything to the woman, as she wanted to clean up first before talking, something about not standing the sight of all the blood, but she was still unnerved by it all. Marik didn't care, as it didn't bother him, it had bothered Ryou though. "I'm in every one of these pictures… and nothing." Ryou sighed the sound a little disheartened to Marik's ears. "I don't even know half of these people, and yet I look so happy."

"It should all come back to you soon." Marik said glancing at his watch as it was now towards the early afternoon, he glanced back up and watched as Ryou placed back the framed photo onto the fireplace mantel and stepped back.

"All those ones are family." Rei said as she walked into the room passing Marik her plane ticket stubs and her hotel room papers. She stopped behind Ryou, who backed away a little glancing at Marik to make sure that he was still in the room. "That's your father… he passed away last year." Marik glanced up at Ryou to watch his reaction and saw nothing but that same look of struggling to remember such an important incident of his life. "Your mother." His Aunt picked up another photo and showed Ryou of a woman that had long dark hair and the same wide brown eyes. "She died when you were six… she loved taking photos as did your father."

She turned back to Ryou with a sad smile. "Now, it's just you and me in this house and family."

"So, Ryou has no other living relatives?" Marik asked placing the papers down on the coffee table, what she said was true but that didn't mean that Marik trusted her.

"It's just me and him, my brother and I came from a very small family ourselves." She walked over and sat down on the couch looking about the room.

"You travel often?" Marik asked a little interested, he too wanted to travel or glob trot, but funds were short and his jobs paid to little for such things and he was stuck here, maybe if he sold everything he owned then maybe he could get a plane ticket and leave.

"A lot. I'm a professional career woman, I'm married to my job and my job requires me to travel most of the year round. I try to stop in and spend a few days with Ryou and especially around the holidays, but it's not always possible." She glanced at Ryou then at Marik. "We do okay, well Ryou does okay by looking after the place while I'm gone." Marik raised an eyebrow at her she seemed a little… "I'll make us something to drink then we can talk." She said getting up… Marik looked over at Ryou and couldn't help but think just how lonely he must be all the time living on his own with no really family living with him but for the part time Aunt that calls around from time to time. Marik had felt it to, the overwhelming loneliness on his first year of being here and not knowing anyone. He got over it and it was placed with other feelings to compensate it.

Ten minutes later Marik was sitting in the armchair with a hot cup of coffee in his hand as Ryou was still looking about the room trying to recall anything, something that might tell him who he was. "So Marik, tell me what happened to Ryou?" She asked getting comfortable as if settling in to watch a movie. Marik was wondering when she was going to get around to asking as she seemed more interested in cleaning up, but he placed it down to her just being a female as his Host's Sister was a neat freak as well.

Marik glanced up at Ryou as the boy picked up a hot drink and came to sit down on the floor beside the chair Marik was sitting in and lent his back against his legs taking a sip. Very slowly Marik was getting used to Ryou having the need for close constant contact. Marik explained everything from finding Ryou, taking him to the hospital, to taking him home and well kinda taking care of him. "Well, I have to say how shocked I am to hear that such a horrid thing happened, here." She looked bewildered at Ryou. "He truly can't remember anything?"

"Not a thing." Ryou mumbled not looking away from his steaming cup of coffee.

"Are you sure?" She was uncertain if what they were saying was true, Rei placed her mug on the small table. She had hoped for something she could do about making the person pay for what they did.

"That's what the doctors said and the proof lays with Ryou himself." Unconsciously Marik's fingers were playing with a lock of Ryou's white hair that fell over his thigh.

"So, just what do you mean to Ryou?" She asked with a touch of criticism to her voice. "Like in relationship wise?" She was questioning him now; he knew that at one point it would be turned on him.

"I know what you mean…I'm nothing more then an acquaintance of Ryou's… a group of us spent a week together and through that I knew of him." Marik took a sip of his drink and noticed Ryou looking up at him with those wide soft brown eyes, and Marik felt that he could lose himself within those depths the longer he stared into them; he quickly looked away and pushed aside those thoughts hoping they never came back.

"I could… take a few days off or maybe a few weeks from work to stay home and look after him." She said thoughtfully to herself and loud enough for them to hear, to Marik she sounded so unsure about it. What if she got called away to work on some emergency and left Ryou on his own? What if the person who beat Ryou came back in her absence? Marik didn't like any of those 'what ifs' and jerked in his seat and was about to speak up.

"I'm rather comfortable staying with Marik." Ryou looked at his Aunt. "Just for the time being." Marik held in his gasp as he realized what he had been doing and pulled his hand away from Ryou's hair before anyone noticed.

"I'm not sure Ryou." She glanced at Marik and he noticed a look pass over her face that he had seen a thousands times that screamed 'I don't trust you.' Marik snorted and settled for looking out the living room window.

Ryou blushed, ducked his head and whispered. "Just until the end of the week as Marik had said I could stay with him."

'I said that?' Marik looked down at Ryou trying to recall that conversation where he had agreed to such a thing… that's right he had said that, he was also hoping to find out who was responsible and give them the same treatment.

"How do you know that it wasn't Marik who beat you?"

Ryou swiftly stood up facing his Aunt before anyone could say anything, his fists clutched at his sides tightly. "He didn't do it!"

"If you have no memory…" She gasped as Ryou ran from the room; Marik shot her a furious glare as he got up and followed him.

Ryou frustrated and a little lost in his own house, hitched to a stop in what looked like a dinning room, "Where am I going? This wasn't right.I need the front door." Ryou mumbled to himself and turned about and went to walk out and almost ran into Marik.

"You don't have to get all upset over what she said." Marik raised an eyebrow the first to see Ryou's angry side; he found it amusing as it had come off as Ryou being more upset then anything else.

"I don't care she shouldn't have said it." Ryou crossed his arms over his chest and looked away with a pout that Marik found a little endearing. "If you had done such a thing, I don't think that you would be taking care of me as you have been." Ryou huffed, he wanted to leave, he wanted to stomp his way out of the house and never come back, but Marik was unknowingly blocking his way with his much larger body.

Marik scowled himself for such thoughts and said. "Without knowing who did it." He frowned looking down at his boots. "Ryou everyone is guilty and you should consider that about everyone… including me."

"No!" Ryou snapped. "If I place you in that pool of guilty people and who did it… I-I have no one I can trust." He looked close to tears as his chewed on his bottom lip. "I need someone I can trust and… I trust you."

"I'm not completely innocent." Marik mumbled glancing up as all his knowing dark secrets of their passed flashed by his minds eye. "I've done my fair share to be placed in that pool of the guilty."

"I don't care what you have done." Ryou shook his head and took a step closer. "You didn't do this to me."

"Say that to me again when you remember everything and I guarantee they won't be the same words you speak now." Marik ran a hand through his hair, as Ryou just stared at him trying to work out if it had anything to do with him… "Your Aunt only cares about you, she is your family after all." Was that right? Were family meant to care about the other members? His Host's Sister had said she had cared so much for him; no it wasn't him she cared for…

Ryou noticed Marik changing the direction of the conversation. "I still don't care, you helped me, even gone out of your way to do so and she insults you by saying such things." Ryou angrily pointed in a random direction to make his point.

"Ryou, I'm sorry." Rei said coming into the room and stopping behind Marik. "I care for you and can't help but worry after hearing such a thing happen to you." She sighed. "I am your guardian after all."

"Yeah, well." Ryou turned away from them and was looking out the window; it was unnerving to have someone know you so well, when he knew nothing of them. Marik wanted to go over there and hug him; instead he glared at the woman and held his ground.

"I umm, don't have to fly out until morning, I'm going to Peru." She bit her lip and held up her cell. Marik raised an eyebrow; see he knew he was right; she wouldn't have been able to resist a call to work. "So…" She looked hesitant for a minute as if not sure what to say… "So if it's okay with you, Marik, that you continue to look after Ryou… I'll pay of course for his stay, food and anything else he would need."

"I don't care." Marik shrugged his shoulders, he really didn't, he made enough money to take care of them both comfortably, though Marik didn't see the difference if Ryou came with him or stayed here, either way Ryou would be on his own most of the time, because Marik worked days and some nights… The point he guested was that he would be home and Ryou wouldn't be so alone and would have protection.

"Is there anything else I should know about him?" Marik asked, she looked a little confused. "Does Ryou work or…"

"Oh, Ryou goes to school he's in his final year, but since what happened to him, I don't think he should really go back just yet… I'll call the school and let them know." She turned to leave but stopped. "He should keep up though, I can have one of his friends bring his homework over for him." Marik raised an eyebrow, great he was going to have an apartment full of teens, raiding his fridge and eating all his food. When he buys some. Then, come home and find a mess to clean up. "I'll give you their numbers so you can give them your address for when it suits you." She suddenly became firm and her hands on her hips again. His Host's Sister did that a lot too, when she was serious and wanted to make a point and have everyone listen to her. "Ryou's a top student his grades are good as he works hard to keep them and I would hate to see him fall behind." She then walked out of the room.

"Are you sure you want to stay with me still?" Marik asked him again and he hoped Ryou would remember how to do his schoolwork; it seemed to him that his Aunt would be more help to Ryou on his way to regaining his memories then he ever could.

"I'm sure." Ryou gave him a small smile and rushed up to him taking his hand, Marik wide eyed took a step backwards. Marik took it back, he wasn't used to Ryou and his constant need for contact. "Help me pack." Okay this was where rule two would have come in, No touching. Personal space is a comfortable two meter boundary around, no close contact necessary.

"I'll show you to your room so you can pack what you need, Ryou." Rei said coming back into the room, not noticing Ryou holding onto Marik's hand.

Marik was once again leaning on the wall watching as Ryou walked about his room packing a few of his clothes and odds and ends that he thought he would need and could shove into his rather… large, large, large bag.

Marik twitched, just how long was he staying again?

"Damn Ryou!" Marik growled as he shifted the bag on his shoulder. "Did you pack the whole house?" The bag was heavy even for him and Marik was used to lifting heavy objects all day at work.

Ryou laughed looking up at him with an apologetic smile. "Just a few things." He sidestepped a woman and a crying toddler, doing so had made Ryou pressed into Marik's side and fell into step with him and he wrapped his arm about Marik's loosely as he was still holding the bag.

"I think you even have the kitchen sink in this thing." Marik shook his head as his shoulder was now aching a little and they weren't even half way back yet.

"I could carry it." Ryou offered politely watching the sidewalk.

"I doubt that you could even lift it let alone carry it with that broken wrist of yours." Marik stopped for a minute and glanced about at all the shops. He needed food for home and he was hungry, he assumed that Ryou was as well.

Marik moved forward taking Ryou with him, he stepped into the store and looked about. "I'll take the basket and you place what we need in it." Ryou nodded his head and dashed over and came right back handing Marik the basket.

Ryou had followed all of Marik's instructions and gathered a few things and soon they were walking out, both males stopped, Ryou's eyes widening as Marik narrowed his. The sudden down pour had soaked everything in the first few minutes… There hadn't been any dark clouds about this morning or when they had left Ryou's house a little while ago, but it didn't matter the point was it was raining and they were going to get wet. "Damn it!" Marik hissed.

Marik and Ryou made it to the floor of Marik's apartment and both were dripping water everywhere. "Marik?!" He stopped and turned about to see the Super of the building standing by the lifts, an old man, wispy sliver hair like cobwebs stuck out everywhere, and old green stained overalls on, he looked as though his skin was hanging off his bones, he looked ready to keel over and die at any minute.

"Spooky." Marik greeted with a casual nod of his head, Ryou stared at him bewildered and thought how rude Marik had been just then to the old man, yes he looked spooky, but to call him such a thing to his face.

Marik ignored the stare Ryou was giving him, the old man said. "The main hot water burst two floors down." He said heading for the lifts very slowly in a shuffling his feet. "No hot water until later this afternoon." He said without looking back.

"Spooky?!" Marik called out, stopping him.

"Yesss!" It was a drawn out sound and it made Ryou shiver and move closer to Marik.

"This is Ryou." Marik informed him. "He'll be staying with me for a while." Ryou pressed himself more to Marik's side as the old man gave him a criticizing stare.

"No animals, no parties, no trouble."

"Thanks." Marik said, as it was the old mans way of saying it was okay to have Ryou stay. Marik then continued his way to his door, pulling out his keys from his pocket.

"You called him spooky?" Ryou shook his head watching as the old man entered the lift.

"He doesn't answer to anything else, even if you call him by his name." Marik opened the door and walked in, Ryou immediately followed, closing and locking the door for Marik and placing the bags of food on the kitchen counter.

Marik dumped the heavy wet bag onto the couch. "Thank you so much Marik." Ryou said coming to stop at his side and taking his hand in his…Rule two, rule two. "For letting stay here with you." Ryou was once again smiling and it made Marik's heart skip a beat.

He sighed and gave up, even if he said anything he didn't think Ryou would get it anyway or it would hurt his feelings or something like that, so Marik thought it best to let it go. "Lets get dried up." He led Ryou into the bathroom. "Fix yourself up, unpack and make yourself at home." Marik took out a towel and headed for the door, throwing over his shoulder. "I'll leave you something to wear on the bed."

Drying off and changing his clothes, Marik walked into the kitchen to make a late lunch. Ryou soon came out dressed, in an overly big long red sleeved top that had a black rose paten on the right shoulder and run down the arm, the jeans were big, Ryou fixed them with his own belt to hold them up and started to unpack.

Marik was half way through his cooking when Ryou walked over and lent on the counter watching him. "It smells good." Ryou said.

"It's almost done." Marik replied without looking over his shoulder, asking. "You finished unpacking?"

"Yeah, I made a little room in your closet, for me." Ryou bit his lip. "I hope you didn't mind? I didn't wrinkle anything." He said worriedly, Marik shrugged in his none caring way. His place may have been tidy and nice, the living area's may have been big, but the bathroom and bedroom were small and had little spacing. "Some of my things got a little wet, just the ones on top."

"I said for you to make yourself at home." Marik filled up two plates with a homemade stir-fry. "I'll show you where the laundry is after we eat." He picked up the plates and went to the table, and Ryou followed him taking up the seat next to him.

A few mouthfuls later Ryou glanced up with a smile. "This is so good." He said appreciatively taking another mouthful and swallowed it down. "Didn't think you were the kind to cook."

"You would know this how?" Marik asked him with a raised eyebrow, the boy had amnesia and they had only met once or twice in the past.

"Your kitchen is foodless, one who can cook or likes to cook has a kitchen full of different foods, spices and meat." Ryou shrugged picking at his food. "I always kept my kitchen full." He frowned, but still managed to pull of looking excited at the same time, Marik's other eyebrow shot up at the same time as his heart just about stopped. "I like to cook… no, I like cooking for myself." Marik remained silent as he just watched the boy.

Ryou fell silent again, Marik got to his feet and picked up his empty plate and placed it into the kitchen. Ryou stared after him, had he done something wrong?

Marik lent on the sink for a few seconds as he gathered his thoughts, was Ryou remembering everything? Or was it just bits and pieces? Movement behind him and Marik turned about. "Gather your clothes I'll show you the laundry."

Ryou nodded placing his plate into the sink and grabbed what he needed. Ryou locked the door for him as Marik carried the bundle of clothes.

The laundry was in the basement of the building; Ryou found it to be just as tidy as the rest of the apartment building, though it had been a little dim down there, Ryou didn't like it one bit, but he was happy to have gotten the rest of his clothes dry.

Marik was once again in the kitchen when they had gotten back and was cleaning up after their lunch, Ryou bit his lip and watched him for a few minutes, before coming up behind him and wrapping his arms about his waist and rested his head between Marik's shoulder blades and sighed. There was something about Marik that being this close to him filled a spot in Ryou that he noticed he had since waking up in the hospital.

Ryou had placed it down to his memory loss, but that spot was gone every time he made contact with Marik like this… why did he feel as though something was missing within him like a void?

Marik tensed up on the one-way hug. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along and helped me." He mumbled contently, was Ryou getting attached to him? This was not good; Marik knew that Lights attached themselves to a Dark Soul rather easily no matter how they were treated. Marik saw it first hand with his own Host and Righteous Bastard's Host, Ryou was no exception to this fact. Could Ryou be trying to replace the one he lost? No, no, no, can of fucking worms!!

TBC

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