Ryou's face popped onto the screen.

"Hey, Bakura. What do you need?"

"What makes you think I need anything?" Bakura asked, stretching and lacing his arms behind his head.

Ryou's lips quirked into a smile. "Because I know you, and you wouldn't call just to talk."

Bakura smiled back. "Alright, you got me."

"So, what is it?"

"Well, Marik's tournament is this weekend, so on Saturday, I'm going to- well, just make sure people know where you are that day. Make sure someone can vouch for the fact that you didn't leave Japan."

Ryou nodded. "I understand."

There was silence for a moment, and then Ryou said, "So, after that, you're going to..."

"I'll be leaving, yes," answered Bakura.

Ryou's face clouded for a moment. "So you're really leaving? Seriously?"

Bakura shrugged. "What else would I do?"

Ryou bit his lip. "Where are you going to go?"

Bakura seemed caught off guard. "Well...I- I'm not really sure."

"Bakura, you know I told you you're always welcome-" Ryou started.

"Yeah, but I can't be hanging around your place...not so soon after I steal...well, you know. It wouldn't be safe for me to be anywhere in Japan, really. Yugi will be going back there anytime now...that's not a risk I want to take."

"Then what can I do to help?" asked Ryou.

"I don't need anyone's help," snapped Bakura. "I can take care of myself...I did it practically my whole life in ancient Egypt. I'll figure something out."

"I know that, of course," Ryou said. "But it would just be easier if you actually had a place to go, right? So you didn't have to bother with figuring something out yourself?"

"Well..." Bakura started reluctantly. Then, finally, "...Yeah."

Ryou smiled. "Alright, just hold on for a bit. I'm going to make some calls and I'll call you back."

"You don't have to-"

"I know."

"Well- if you can't call back before around five my time, then...then just wait until tomorrow," Bakura finally said.

Ryou understood without Bakura having to explain that he didn't want to talk about this after Marik was home. "Right. Just wait for my call."

Ryou's face disappeared from the screen without another word, and Bakura sat for several minutes, drumming his fingers on the desk. After a while, he got up, and proceeded to do...not much of anything, as he always did when he was in the apartment alone. As the time grew later, he began to think that Ryou wasn't going to call back that day, but then he heard the tone that meant Ryou was contacting him on Skype, and he quickly went to the computer and clicked to answer the call.

"Alright, I've got something," Ryou said.

"Really?" Bakura looked surprised.

"Yeah," said Ryou. "See, Cordy has these friends in England- she's from England, you know. That's how we met, actually. I mentioned to her that I have relatives in England- did I ever tell you that I have some relatives from England?- and so we started talking, and- well, actually, she was the one who asked me out, so-"

Bakura made a hurry up gesture with his hand. "Alright, alright, I don't need your whole life story."

Ryou smiled indulgently. "Well, anyway, I talked to Cordy, and then we talked to some of her friends in England- they're a couple, a guy and a girl, they have a flat together- and they said you could stay with them for a while."

"Seriously? Just like that?"

"They're nice people," said Ryou.

"Wait a second," said Bakura. "What did you tell them about me to make them agree to this?"

Ryou glanced up evasively. "Well...I just told them that you and your roommate...can't live together anymore...and that you're from Egypt, and that you'd really prefer to get out of there since Egypt isn't too...tolerant..." Ryou trailed off.

"Ryou," Bakura said warningly, "did you tell them that I'm gay?"

Ryou huffed and rolled his eyes. "They don't care, Bakura. In fact, it made them more sympathetic to your situation. And I had to give them some reason why you can't stay in Egypt. Would you rather I have told them you have to flee the country because you're robbing a museum?"

Bakura sighed in resignation. "Alright, alright," he said. "So I just go to these people's place and...stay there?"

"Well, of course you can't stay there forever," Ryou said. "Though I doubt you'd want to do that anyway. But, yeah, you can stick around for maybe a month or so, until you figure out something more permanent."

"That's fine," said Bakura. "That should be plenty of time for me to figure out a source of income, and then I'll just get a place of my own."

"Yes, I'm sure you'll be busy seeking gainful employment," Ryou said sarcastically, smiling in spite of himself.

"Of course," Bakura smirked back, winking.

"By the way, you're my cousin and your name is Basil."

Bakura raised his eyebrows. "I am? It is?"

"Well, I couldn't tell them your name is Bakura...that's my last name, so it would be weird. And you being my cousin...well, it explains why we look so much alike."

"You're becoming quite the little liar, Ryou," Bakura smiled. "I think I may be a bad influence on you."

"You always have been," Ryou laughed. "Besides, Cordy said it was alright to tell a little white lie, since it's for the greater good, helping someone out. And you're basically like family, anyway."

"Wait...how much have you told Cordy about me?"

Ryou looked surprised at the question. "Everything," he said. "I always tell her everything."

Bakura looked exasperated. "I take it back. You don't lie nearly enough."

Ryou smiled. "Look, let me give you their address. Do you need any help getting there? Money or anything?"

Ryou began typing out the address, and Bakura grabbed a piece of paper and began scribbling it down.

"No, I've already been selling off some of the stuff I've...accumulated during my time here," Bakura said. "You know, the stuff I don't really need. So I'm set for money for a while. I can make it to England."

"Alright, well...you should give me a call when you get there," Ryou said. "Do you think you'll stick around the area, when you get enough money to move out?"

Bakura shrugged. "Might as well," he said. "Not like I have anywhere else in particular to go."

"That's good," said Ryou. "I'll probably see you when Cordy and I visit England, then."

"By the way, Ryou," Bakura said. "You don't have to worry about me getting your friends in trouble. You know how good I am at not getting caught. Nothing I do will come down on them. I'll make sure of it."

Ryou smiled, knowing that for Bakura, what he'd said was tantamount to thank you so much. "I know, Bakura. I trust you."

Bakura scowled for a moment. "I guess it's good that someone does."

A look of worry crossed Ryou's face, but before he could respond, Bakura had already clicked the button to end the call.

It wasn't long before Marik got home from work and started cooking dinner. Bakura considered telling Marik that he'd found a place to go, but he knew that he couldn't tell him any details, since it was safest for both of them if Marik had no idea where he was heading. And he didn't really want to bring up the unpleasant subject of his leaving if he didn't have to. So, instead, they spent dinner chatting easily about inconsequential things, and Bakura tried to put his conversation with Ryou out of his mind for the moment.

After dinner, they headed to the living room to watch a movie. When it was over, Marik started reaching for the remote to shut off the TV, and Bakura knew that Marik was about to ask him to duel, and to bet. He took a moment to notice how habitual their activities had become. It would be...strange when he didn't have this routine anymore. At this thought, he suddenly realized that he didn't want to bet- he wanted something different that night.

Nearly everything he did with Marik drove him out of his mind. Being inside Marik was so good it was almost unbearable, so good that he usually had to struggle to hold back, just so it would last long enough to be good for Marik too. And when Marik gave him a blow job, the sensations, and the sound of it, and the way Marik looked- everything about it drove him completely crazy. Even just Marik's touch was enough to make him lose the ability to think. And when Marik was inside of him...that was utterly indescribable, incomparable, like nothing else in the world.

But the only time Marik really seemed to lose his mind was when he was on the receiving end of a blow job. That was the only time Bakura could really make Marik lose all control and totally give himself over. And Bakura wanted him like that tonight- wanted Marik to be completely his, if only for a few moments.

Just then, Marik turned to him and asked the question Bakura knew he was about to ask. "So...do you wanna have a duel?"

"No, I want-" Bakura started.

Suddenly, he grabbed Marik and threw him down onto his back, and in one quick motion, he moved to straddle him, taking hold of Marik's wrists and pinning them above his head. He leaned down close to Marik, so his breath was in his ear, and he took a moment to figure out how to pose his question- he certainly wasn't going to tell Marik what he'd been thinking, or the real reason why he wanted what he wanted.

"I want you to suck me off," Bakura finally growled into Marik's ear. He paused for a moment. "And...if you do...I'll do the same for you."

"Alright, if that's what you want," Marik said. He still sounded winded from Bakura's sudden aggressive move.

"Then let's go to the bedroom," Bakura said. "It's more comfortable to do it in there."

"Okay," Marik said agreeably enough.

So Bakura let Marik up, and led him to the bedroom.

Once inside the door, it was Marik's turn to grab Bakura, tossing him onto the bed and positioning himself on top of him. He immediately began to remove Bakura's shirt, and Bakura gave him a questioning look.

"I want to see all of you," Marik said.

Bakura sighed in satisfaction and raised his arms, lying back and allowing Marik to undress him completely, and then he reached down and grabbed Marik's shirt, pulling it over his head, letting his fingers skim across Marik's back as he did so, taking pleasure in the shiver this elicited from Marik.

Bakura saw lust flash in Marik's eyes for an instant, and then, before he even knew what was happening, Marik leaned down and swallowed him completely in one sudden motion. Bakura gasped in surprise, his hands immediately twining into Marik's hair. Then Marik started moving, and Bakura tipped his head back, not even trying to maintain control anymore, letting himself get lost in sensation. Marik was sucking him in so deep, and every time he came up, his tongue would circle and flick all around the tip, and then he would swallow him all the way down again. Then Marik added a hand, his fingers making a tight circle around Bakura's cock, squeezing and slippery with saliva and following directly after his lips with every movement, and soon Bakura was already close to losing it.

Bakura's body gave a warning shudder, and he moved his hands down to Marik's shoulders, needing something he could grip onto tighter. Suddenly, Marik released Bakura from his mouth, bringing his head up, and Bakura looked at him with confusion.

"Don't worry, I'm going to finish you," Marik said. "I just want to do something that will make it better for you when I do."

Then Marik put two of his fingers into his mouth, slowly sliding them in and out. Bakura looked up at him in a daze, too far gone to think, only knowing that what Marik was doing looked incredibly sexy.

Marik lowered his hand, and Bakura's eyes widened, suddenly realizing what Marik was going to do.

"I think you like it better when you have something inside when you come," Marik said quietly, his own eyes clouded with desire. "You do, don't you?"

"N-no," said Bakura automatically, and even as he did, he unthinkingly spread his legs, a silent invitation.

Marik brought his hand close to Bakura's opening. "Will you let me? While I finish you?"

"I- anything, yes, if you'll just-"

Marik slid his fingers inside at the exact moment he swallowed Bakura's cock all the way down again, and Bakura moaned uncontrollably. Marik's fingers found the right spot easily, brushing against it over and over in perfect time with the movements of his mouth. Bakura shook, his fingers digging into Marik's shoulders, caught between wanting to thrust up into Marik's mouth and wanting to push down onto Marik's fingers. As Marik lapped incessantly at the underside of Bakura's cock, Bakura unconsciously spread his legs further, an unspoken request. Marik understood, and Bakura came the instant Marik added a third finger. Bakura cried out as he spilled everything into Marik's mouth, and Marik sucked hard, swallowing it all.

When he was done, Marik came up and laid down on top of Bakura, pressing their bodies close together, Bakura naked and Marik shirtless. Bakura was panting, and for a moment he was unable to comprehend anything, but as he breathed deeply and slowly recovered, he noticed something hard against his thigh, and realized he could feel Marik's erection pressing against him through his jeans.

Bakura encircled Marik in his arms. "Did doing that make you hard?" Bakura asked quietly.

Marik blushed in response, and Bakura smiled, taking Marik and rolling him over so their positions were reversed, Bakura on top of Marik now.

"Bet you'd like me to take care of that for you," Bakura said.

Marik nodded shyly, and Bakura reached down to slowly pull off the rest of Marik's clothing.

Then Bakura leaned down close to Marik's ear. "Do you always get hard when you suck me?" he whispered.

"M-maybe," Marik said sheepishly, his blush deepening.

"Good," Bakura said, gently nuzzling Marik's neck.

"Do you- do you like doing it to me?" Marik asked suddenly.

"Yes," Bakura sighed, closing his eyes and brushing his lips against Marik's throat. He felt Marik's skin twitch as his eyelashes brushed against it, as if it tickled him.

"Really?" Marik asked quietly, and Bakura heard the hopeful note in his voice, as if it excited him to think Bakura enjoyed it.

"You have no idea how much I want this," Bakura whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to Marik's collarbone.

"Oh," Marik said softly, and Bakura felt a jolt go through him at Marik's tone, enraptured by the realization that this made it even better for Marik, to know that Bakura loved doing this to him, and Bakura was still drowning in the afterglow of his own orgasm and couldn't help trailing short little kisses down Marik's body as he lowered his head.

Marik's breathing was shaky and he made another sound of pleasure when Bakura finally took him into his mouth, and it was all Bakura had hoped for, Marik moaning and tangling his fingers in Bakura's hair and seeming to completely lose himself in the endless minutes until he finally arched up and came with Bakura's name on his lips.

Bakura moved up and laid his head down on Marik's shoulder, and he let himself relax and close his eyes until he finally fell asleep to the sound of Marik breathing next to him.

The next day, when Marik got home from work, he began preparing dinner as usual. As the two sat down to eat, Bakura realized that he couldn't put it off any longer- he had to talk to Marik about his plans.

"So, I'm going to steal the Ring tomorrow," Bakura said casually, between bites of his chicken.

Marik almost dropped his fork. "Tomorrow? Really?"

"Well, of course," Bakura said, raising his eyebrows. "I mean, you'll be at the tournament all day tomorrow, and we already talked about this, about you needing an alibi-"

"But I'll be at the tournament on Sunday, too," Marik cut in.

"Only if you win tomorrow and make it to the final two," Bakura said.

"Are you saying you don't think I'll win?" Marik asked defensively.

Bakura rolled his eyes. "Marik, this isn't the time for a petty argument about your dueling skills. The fact is, all we know for sure is that you'll be at the tournament all day tomorrow. So obviously, that's the safest time for me to steal the Ring."

Marik crossed his arms over his chest and gave Bakura a cold look. "Fine."

"I just wanted you to know," Bakura said, turning back to his food.

A few moments of silence passed, and then Marik suddenly said, "So...are you coming home? On Saturday?"

Bakura looked up. "Why would I?"

"I just..." Marik started. "Well, you know, I just thought maybe...if I win on Saturday...you'd maybe stick around long enough to...to see if I win the finals? I mean, the tournament is going to be on TV...and, you know...I just thought you might...watch?"

Bakura sighed, and seemed to be trying to suppress a smile. "Yeah, alright, sure...after I've wasted all this time helping you, I guess I might as well stick around long enough to see how it all turns out."

Marik smiled in relief. "So you'll be here when I get back from the tournament on Saturday...no matter what?"

Bakura laughed a little at Marik's hopeful tone. As if he wanted to keep him here for just one more day. As if that would matter in the long run. "Yeah, I will. But come Sunday, I'm gone. No more waiting. I'll be gone before you even get back from your duel...if you have one."

Marik's eyes widened. "Before I get back?"

"Well, it's going to be on live TV, right?" said Bakura. "I'll stay long enough to watch and find out if you win...that's it. I do need a head start when I leave, after all."

Marik seemed to accept this, nodding solemnly and wordlessly turning back to his food.

The rest of the meal passed in silence, but then when Marik was at the sink, cleaning their dishes, he suddenly said, "Bakura...I- when I first found you in the Ring a few months back, you said we were the same and- and I guess we are, I guess I've always known we are, we went through the same kinds of things and- and I know we're dealing with it in different ways and taking different paths but- but I just mean- I hope you'll be alright, wherever you're going, because I understand how you- I mean, I know you understand me and-"

"I'll be fine, Marik," Bakura said, cutting off Marik's babbling. "I have something worked out with Ryou, actually. Don't worry about me."

"I wasn't worried," Marik said stiffly.

"Of course not," Bakura said. "Do you want to duel now?"

Marik's eyes lit up briefly, and then he quickly tried to sober himself. "Sure...if you want to."

"Hand me my cards."

The duel took longer than usual, with one being in the lead and then the other, as their life points slowly dwindled, but with neither claiming victory. Finally, Marik flipped a trap and then attacked Bakura's monster for the last of his life points, and smirked up at Bakura.

"I win," he said. "See, I have a great chance at-"

Bakura grabbed his hand roughly and began dragging him back to the bedroom. "Yeah, yeah, save it."

Once they were undressed and lying on the bed, Marik took Bakura by the shoulder and rolled him onto his side, his front facing Bakura's back.

"This is how I was going to do you," Bakura said suddenly, speaking without thinking.

"What?" asked Marik.

"You know, when we made the bet where the winner got to choose the position? This is the position I was going to have you in, if I'd won."

"But- you said you were going to have me on my hands and knees-" Marik started.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't actually do that, because I know you'd genuinely hate it," Bakura said. "I just said I was going to do that to freak you out."

"You jerk," Marik said indignantly. But Bakura could hear the smile in his voice. There was a short silence, and then finally, Marik asked, "So...why would you want to do me on my side, anyway?"

Bakura's body stiffened. He didn't know why he was doing this, why he was telling Marik these things now. Maybe all Marik's talk about them being the same was just getting to him, or maybe it was the recent conversation that was a blatant reminder that he'd be leaving in two days. Whatever it was, he suddenly very much wanted to be close to Marik and now he was thinking about what he'd wanted to do to Marik back when he'd made that bet and for some reason he wanted to let Marik know what he'd been planning and this was all a bad idea but he couldn't stop himself.

Suddenly Bakura turned himself around, and then he forcefully rolled Marik over, reversing their positions, curling himself up against Marik's body.

"So I could be all pressed up against your back, like this," Bakura answered quietly, pushing his chest tight against Marik's scarred back.

"Ah-" Marik said, as he felt Bakura pull him near.

"Because we are the same," Bakura whispered. "I have the same scars as you- mine just aren't visible."

Then Bakura withdrew a little, enough to slip a hand between their bodies.

"And maybe I'd touch you like this," he said softly, stroking Marik's scars with his fingers.

Bakura heard Marik's breath quicken, and he bent to kiss his shoulder. "And like this."

Marik let out a shaky sigh, and Bakura's eyes fluttered closed as he began trailing soft kisses all across Marik's shoulder blades. He felt Marik begin to shudder against him.

"You like this? Hm?" Bakura murmured against his skin.

"Yes," Marik gasped. "Bakura- yes-"

Bakura felt a shiver run through his own body and he realized he should never have started this- this was too much, too intense. He was running his fingertips over Marik's scars and his hand was shaking and if he had to hear one more soft little sigh of contentment from Marik, he would end up telling him how beautiful he was and how much he wanted to make love to him like this.

He had to stop.

He couldn't stop.

Bakura felt Marik's body shudder against him again, and he finally forced himself to pull away, sliding over to the other side of the bed, putting distance between himself and Marik.

Marik rolled over to face Bakura.

"Bakura...I need..."

He didn't finish, but he didn't have to; it was obvious what he needed. He had reached out to cup Bakura's face with his hand, and now he was slowly leaning in, his face getting closer and closer to Bakura's.

The fact that Marik had used the word need- not even want, but need- stilled Bakura momentarily. He could let this happen. He could let Marik kiss him, just for a little while...or maybe just a bit longer than that, just long enough to quell a want so strong it actually felt like a physical ache in his chest...even though he knew that doing so would only make the ache so much worse two days from now, when he left and would never see Marik again...

Just before their lips were about to meet, Bakura jerked his head away from Marik's soft grip and flipped over so that his back was now facing Marik.

"Well...you won the bet. Go ahead," said Bakura abruptly.

Marik was quiet, dazed for a moment. Then he seemed to snap out of it and reached for the lube. He began preparing Bakura, but there was something almost rote about it, and both could feel the distance between them.

"Ready?" Marik finally asked.

"Sure," Bakura said, sounding almost disinterested.

Marik sighed despondently and pushed in. After a few minutes, Bakura was still barely reacting, even when Marik's hand roamed across his chest and toyed with his nipples.

"You don't seem like you're very into this," Marik finally said.

Bakura shrugged. Just casual, not even a denial or an argument. Marik clenched his teeth in frustration, pausing his movements for a moment.

Suddenly, Marik got an idea of how to bring Bakura back to him, and leaned over to growl into his ear. "Fine, then don't come until I do."

"What?" Bakura asked sharply.

"When we do this, you usually come way before me," said Marik, beginning to thrust again. "This time, wait for me."

"Why should I?"

"Why not? If you're not enjoying it that much, it shouldn't be difficult."

Bakura snarled, and Marik reached down and grabbed his cock and began stroking, causing Bakura to suck in breath.

"That's- that's not going to work, Marik-"

"If it doesn't work, it doesn't work," said Marik. "Just don't come yet."

It sounded as if Bakura tried to scoff, but Marik was still moving inside him and touching him and Bakura's breath was starting to speed up, and then Marik took his hand away and reached behind him to grab something, and the next thing Bakura knew, Marik's hand was on him again but now it was all wet and slippery.

"What- what are you doing?"

"Just making things a little harder for you," said Marik tauntingly.

Marik gave him a hard stroke and Bakura gasped, and Marik smirked with vindication.

"Don't come," Marik said, giving him another firm stroke. Bakura drew in breath, and Marik thought it was more because of his words than his actions.

It went on like that, and eventually Bakura was panting hard but Marik still didn't feel satisfied, so he took his hand away, but he kept thrusting, just focusing on his own pleasure, but having difficulty in finding it.

"Don't come," Marik growled again, almost automatically, and then he felt Bakura tremble against him and he realized that Bakura was having trouble holding back even now, even when he wasn't touching him at all, and he growled into Bakura's ear again and told him how he could make him come with just this, and when he felt Bakura shiver uncontrollably he suddenly felt their connection snap back into place and then he was climbing toward his own peak.

"I'll tell you- when-" Marik gasped out. "But I won't touch you until- you start coming-"

Bakura whimpered at his words, trying to maintain control, and that was it for Marik; he knew he wouldn't last much longer himself.

"Alright- now-"

He felt Bakura's approaching orgasm, and he reached down to help him through it, and he came instantly when he felt Bakura's cock pulse inside his fist.

Marik finished inside him, and he was about to pull out, but then he felt Bakura's hand gripping onto his arm, as if Bakura didn't want him to move, even though they were both done.

He felt confused; Bakura had pushed him away earlier, and now there was this closeness, which was what he'd been aiming for, technically- he hadn't liked Bakura being distant from him, after all. Not that he should care, since of course he knew that Bakura never wanted to kiss him, so he shouldn't have tried to- not that it made a difference to him that Bakura didn't want that kind of thing, since this would all be over soon, which was perfectly fine with him. It was the right thing, he knew it was the right thing for his life, and Bakura obviously thought it was the right thing since he'd been the one to suggest it in the first place, so it didn't matter one way or another. But Bakura was gripping onto him now, and he didn't even want to think about what it meant as he felt Bakura relax against him and he heard Bakura's breathing slow and he was still inside.

"Bakura- you're- you're going to fall asleep while I- while I'm still-"

Bakura didn't respond, only relaxed his grip and settled further against Marik, and Marik shivered all the way to his bones. Then he did what he always did and pushed every thought away from his mind, because he couldn't let himself think about this, for so many reasons. He felt Bakura twitch as he descended into sleep, and then Marik closed his own eyes and tightened his arms around Bakura and soon he fell asleep as well, still inside of him.

AN: Sorry for the long wait on this! It's just, I was on vacation, and then I had to have foot surgery, and then I was sick, and Tae is really busy with school, and this chapter was just, ugh. I still don't really like how it turned out. Don't worry, though, we're definitely going to finish this fic, and we're planning to get the next chapter out in a much more timely manner. And we're almost done!

Also, if you play Neopets, there's an event going on, and you should totally join the Thieves Guild. I'm so excited there's finally a war. The BDers have been begging TNT for a war for literally ten years, like I did not spend 30 million Neopoints on a weapon set not to fight in any wars. OK, that had nothing to do with anything, I just really felt like mentioning it.

Anyways! Thanks for reading, and please review! And thanks to everyone who is still sticking with this story!