DISCLAIMER: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. I am sorry about how late this is. Work has been a hassle and people are crazy. I have been often depressed recently and feel abandoned. But, everything will be fine right? Who needs mortals? Not me. So... I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thank you :)
*Later in the day*
Bakura falls asleep in my arms. I have a feeling he stayed up all night to protect me. You aren't that kind of man anymore Bakura. You can't stay awake forever. I hear a knock at the door and thank Ra that it didn't awaken him. I get dressed; then I walk to the door and cautiously look through the peep hole. I almost fall down in shock. There is a second one?! I wrench open the door and stare at the man. Though he was identical to Bakura, the man looked softer, sweet even. "Hello?"
"Hello, I'm Ryou Bakura. I'm very sorry that my yami has been bothering you. I'm here to take him back." Ryou looks brave, but his eyes reveal his fear of Bakura.
"Umm, he is asleep right now and he wasn't a bother Ryou." I smile and hold out my hand. "I'm Layla."
He takes my hand hesitantly. "I got worried when he didn't return home months ago. I was starting to think he-he"
"Layla, who's at the door?" I hear Bakura's voice from the kitchen.
"A friend of yours, he was worried about you." I gesture to Ryou to come in. "Don't worry." I whisper. "You may leave whenever, this is my home not his." Ryou gratefully nods at my kindness.
"I have no friends, you know that." Bakura stalks into the room and stops short. "Hello Ryou." He smirks. "Did you get worried?"
Ryou looks like he was going to faint. "Ryou? Do you need to sit?" I help him into a chair. "Bakura will you get him some water?" A few moments later Bakura hands me a glass.
"No, I won't eat or drink anything from him." Ryou pushes away the water. "I will be fine."
"Bakura, can I talk to you in the other room? You will be alright by yourself right Ryou?" Ryou nods and Bakura follows me into our bedroom. After the door is shut I just glare at him.
"What?" He looks confused.
"I can tolerate being beaten and terrorized by you, but you seriously tortured someone so sweet?" I just stare at him. "He looks so innocent!"
Bakura laughs. "Ryou innocent? Layla, don't be fooled by him." I give him a look. Come on! He looks like a damn kid! "Ryou is the one who introduced me to my partner in crime."
I laugh in disbelief. "Whatever, just don't scare him anymore okay? I would rather feel your wrath than let others feel it."
"I promised you I would be better." He pulls me close.
"And I'm going to figure out who changed you!" I kiss his cheek.
"You are relentless." I walk back into the kitchen to find it empty with a note. I'm sorry for having to leave, but I had to go to work. If you ever want him to leave you alone, call this number. "Well, it seems you scared him off." Bakura teases me.
"Yeah, I'm the one that scared him." I shake my head. "Is he the one that made you all sweet?"
Bakura blushes. "No!"
"I don't believe you." I sing. Another knock at the door interrupts our banter. Bakura reaches the door before me. "You do know that I should answer the door since this is my apartment."
"I don't care, you aren't getting hurt." Before I could argue he opens the door to a blonde tan Egyptian guy, or is it a girl? "Marik? What are you doing here?"
"Is Layla home?" The thing asks suspiciously.
"I'm right here." I frown. "What do you want?"
"I need to talk to Bakura in private." His voice is really annoying me.
"And you can't say it in front of me why?" I glare at him.
"Because I don't trust you."
"I don't trust you either." I snap. "If you want to leave Bakura, just get home at a decent hour."
"Since when do you have a freaking curfew?" Marik whispers to him.
"Since when did guys dress like girls?" I fire over my shoulder before entering my room pissed off. Why the hell am I pissed off? You knew he has stupid associates that don't like you. I stare down at my hands. Take deep breaths. Don't get worked up because some guy looks more attractive than you. I punch the closest wall to me. Ha! I'm jealous of an annoying, blabbering gay idiot! What the hell kind of world is this?
"Layla? Are you okay?" Bakura is locked out of our room.
"I thought you left." I sit down on the bed letting the depression settle in.
"He told me what I needed to know and then left. I heard something hit the wall. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I just punched it." And it felt damn good.
"Will you let me in?" Bakura whispers through the door.
I guess I can't blame him… "Fine." I unlock our door and open it, but I just stare at the ground.
He lifts my chin up to look at him. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I break away and lay on my side of the bed.
"Something is telling me you are lying." Bakura lays on his side of the bed, but flips me so I faced him. "Now, will you tell me what's wrong, princess?"
I sigh and look away. "I-I'm jealous." Tears spring to my eyes as he laughs.
"That's all this is about?" Bakura pulls me close to him.
"I see the way he looks at you. And he is prettier than me." I breathe in his musky scent.
"Marik isn't gay, or so he says." He kisses my hair. "And you are much more beautiful than him." I cry out into his chest all my frustrations, fears, and doubts. "Don't worry, just let it out."
I wipe my tears away when I'm done and blush at the wet spot created on his shirt. "I'm sorry." I try to leave for a towel, but Bakura prevents it.
"It will dry." He whispers in my ear, sending goose bumps down my arms.
"I-if you say so." I try to take deep breaths.
"Relax Layla." Bakura rubs my back. "Is there more on your mind? There is no way this is just jealousy."
Another knock interrupts us. "Again?" Bakura growls.
I smile. "Stay here. I will get it."
"No, I will. No one is going to get close to you before I know them." He jumps up and runs to the door. I shake my head. You can't protect me forever.
"Who is it Bakura?" I walk into the living room.
"Layla this is Melvin. Melvin, this isn't food." Bakura introduces me to a very tall version of Marik with spikey hair. Did he just say 'this isn't food'? I produce a small smile despite my terror.
"Hello dear." Melvin moves closer to me. I take a step back.
"Hello." I manage.
"Melvin, don't hug her." Bakura growls. I give him a weird look. Melvin looks disappointed. "If you do, this deal is off." Melvin nods his head. I just look between them. I don't want to know. "Now, what's going on?"
"I wanted your permission for something." Melvin looks Bakura dead in the eye.
"What is it?" Bakura crosses his arms. "It must be important since we don't ever ask for permission."
"I wanted to…to date Ryou." Melvin blurts out. Bakura's jaw drops. My eyes widen but I recover in time to block the blow Bakura almost gave Melvin. The next instant I'm on the floor looking at my wall in pain.
"Some friend you are." Bakura snarls at Melvin. I try to focus on the conversation to lessen the pain in my back. "You want to date my hikari?" I see Melvin nod slightly. "Fine! If he really wants to!" Melvin leaves without another word and I let out a breath of relief.
"You didn't have to try to hit him Bakura." I say as I struggle to my feet.
"And you didn't have to take the blow!" He yells at me. I flinch and take a step back. "He could have taken it!"
"But I don't like other people getting hurt so I take the hit." I whisper. Bakura lets out a sigh of frustration. "I will leave you alone then." I walk to our room and close the door. I sigh in pain as I try to sit on the bed. "I love you Bakura. I am sorry." I whisper and close my eyes. I pull out the knife I hid so many years ago. I take a deep breath and start to carve into the skin of my leg just like three thousand years ago after a punishment.
"Layla, I am sorry. You are right. I—" Bakura stops in his tracks when he opens the door and sees my actions. "What are you doing?" He looks between me and the knife. I blush and turn away from him. I knew I should have locked the door… Bakura runs to me. "Why Layla? What's going on?" I don't say anything and let the tears fall down my face. He pulls the knife out of my hand and wraps my leg up. "You shouldn't do this." Bakura pulls me into his arms.
"I did it throughout our marriage." I whisper through my tears. He kisses my hair. "I am sorry."
"Don't be sorry Layla." Bakura wipes my tears. "Just don't do it again." I nod my head and cry. He strokes my hair trying to calm me down. "I love you and it pains me to see you like this."
"I'm sorry." I rest against him. He kisses my cheek. I smile sadly at him. "Why do you love me?" I whisper.
"Because at the end of the day you are the only one that understands me, the only one I love." Bakura kisses me. "And I vowed to protect that."
"When did you vow that?" I pull him down on the bed next to me.
"Thousands of years ago." He whispers against my lips. "And I'm finally fulfilling it." I kiss him gently. "I'm surprised you're giving me a second chance."
"I never stopped loving you." I look up at him. "But when I saw you die, despair filled me and I couldn't go on." Tears spring to my eyes at the memory. "I killed myself over your body. You were my life, and nothing but death could console me."
"That's how you died?" Bakura whispers. I nod my head. "Why? You could have been free."
"I would have never been free, my love." I squeeze his hand. "My brother would have arranged another marriage deal for me." He growls. "So when you died, the only man I loved, I took my life in my own hands and joined you in death." He kisses my hair. "I never thought I would get a second chance with you."
"I am so happy we found each other, Layla." Bakura spoons me and relaxes. "Now rest my love."