we're gonna dive into the emptiness
We'll be swimming
I'm gonna walk you through the pathless roads
I'm gonna take you to the top of the mountain that's no longer there
Ah, I'm gonna take you to bed and love you, I swear
Just like the end is near

A total of three months passed since Marik returned to Domino City. In that time, his nightmares expanded from his initiation to dozens of memories from his childhood that Marik hadn't realized he'd repressed. Both he and Bakura now remembered everything from their lives with one exception – Marik still couldn't remember his father's death. So many nights he ran through the tomb-halls, looking for Rishid, and as Marik turned the last corner – a hard black wall shut down his mind. The half-rested hours of night-terrors kept him in a state of exhaustion, and Bakura and Ryou's battle against the Darkness in the Ring did the same to them. They often went to the park, found a secluded tree, and napped beneath it – heads resting on shoulders, the sunlight and grass their only sanctuary.

Marik sat on the couch as Ryou and Bakura argued over what to make for lunch. Ryou muttered to himself like a schizophrenic. Marik stared at a letter from his sister. He'd finally told them the truth. All of it. Why he left, his nightmares, Bakura and Ryou – what really happened at Battle City and their current situation – everything. He stared at his sister's reply, particularly the first line.

Marik, we want you to be happy.

He expected – he wasn't sure what he expected. At the very least he expected a lecture about Bakura being dangerous, but to Marik's surprise she'd already known most of the story, thanks to her Necklace. Marik stared at the end of Ishizu's letter.

I used to see a future of darkness, and I feared we could do very little to change our fates. Nevertheless, because I couldn't change the past, couldn't go back and stop the darkness from entering your heart, I was determined to do everything I could to fight the darkness I saw in the future. I knew I only had a slight chance to save you and it may have cost my life, but I was resolute. Then Seto defeated me and shattered the future. It gave me hope. Perhaps this isn't the destiny the gods wrote for you, brother, but Seto told me that everyone has something they believe in even deeper than the gods – find that, and be happy.

"Ha!" Bakura, now in control, called out in triumph. He grabbed bread, vegetables, sliced beef, and seitan –the beef for himself, the seitan for Marik – and tossed together two quick sandwiches. He brought a plate over to Marik.

Marik reached for food and gave Bakura a tired smile. "Thanks." He sighed. "I guess I really should see them. I miss them. I just wish I wasn't so tired all the time. I don't have the energy for anyone, even them."

"Don't worry," Bakura said, mouth full of food, "one day you'll have all your shit worked out and we'll have all our shit worked out, and everyone can get all the awkward family nonsense out of the way." He swallowed and grinned, leaning close to Marik. "And, when that day comes, I just want you to know – that I'm hiding in the Ring and letting you and Ryou deal with it all."

Marik stopped chewing and covered his mouth to laugh. "Jackass."

"Not my family. I'm out."

"Fuck you."

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "After lunch?"

Marik licked his lips. It'd been three days since they last had sex, lack of sleep causing their schedule to slow down more than either of them preferred. "Yeah, it's been too long since I've felt you wrapped around me."

"Shut-up or I won't let you finish your sandwich."

"I need the sandwich or I won't have enough energy to fuck you properly."

"Who said I wanted it proper? Improper is best when naked." Bakura finished his sandwich, washed his plate, and went into the bathroom to brush his teeth before going to the bedroom.

Marik followed suit and when he entered the bedroom he saw Bakura standing in front of the bed, turned away from Marik and undressing slow. Marik smirked and watched, removing his own shirt. When Bakura finished, his white hair cascading down naked, white skin; Marik stepped up behind him. Marik slipped his right hand over Bakura's stomach and cinched a fist of Bakura's hair, pulling Bakura's head to the side so he could brush the tip of his nose along the curve of Bakura's shoulder and neck. Bakura rested his hands on top of Marik's. He felt the rise and fall of Bakura's stomach quicken beneath his right hand as Bakura breathed harder. Marik kissed Bakura's earlobe and licked along the perimeter of Bakura's ear.

Marik gave a teasing thrust of his hips, just enough for Bakura to feel Marik's erection against his tailbone. He tortured Bakura with soft kisses against the crook of his neck. Marik allowed his lips to drag against skin so white that it made pearls and milk and snow all seem dirty-colored and dull. Marik slid his hand lower down Bakura's stomach. "Do you want me?" he whispered in Bakura's ear.

A soft chuckle escaped Bakura's mouth and he moved Marik's hand lower to his erection, answering Marik's question through demonstration rather than words. Marik squeezed his shaft, relishing the soft moans Bakura made in response to his touch. Marik kissed where Bakura's jaw-bone connected near his ear. "I want you, too." He pushed Bakura forward on the mattress.

Bakura landed on hands and knees and Marik stared at Bakura's body as he removed his pants and grabbed the lube before crawling up on the bed behind Bakura. He entered Bakura partway, preparing Bakura by inserting in sections, giving Bakura time to adjust before pressing further. At each step Bakura hitched backwards, trying to force Marik completely inside him, but Marik enjoyed Bakura's impatience too much not to tease him, and by the time his entire length pushed into Bakura's body they both were panting for breath.

"More."

Marik knew what he wanted and held Bakura's hips as he shoved himself into Bakura's body. Bakura lowered down on his forearms in order to angle his hips higher. Marik gave Bakura's ass a playful slap. Too soon he felt himself reaching a climax. Marik draped himself over Bakura's back and stroked him to ensure he reached orgasm first. When they both finished, they fell to the bed. They wrapped together in their typical embrace, Bakura's head on Marik's chest.

"I'm so tired." Marik sighed.

"Me, too."

"Maybe we'll actually sleep this time."

They both laughed because they knew they wouldn't, but that didn't stop their eyes from closing or their breath from slowing. As he fell asleep, Marik remembered what Bakura said.

One day you'll have all your shit worked out and we'll have all our shit worked out.

The words seemed so inappropriate out of Bakura's mouth. Marik smiled despite himself, the comforting weight of Bakura's head warm against his chest.

A week later, Bakura yawned and stretched and scratched his scalp, loathing being awake. He sat at their game table. The stats on the screen blurred in front of his sleep-deprived eyes.

"It's late," Marik muttered, propping his head with his hand against the table.

Bakura sighed. "Should we go to bed?"

"What's the point? I hate lying down. It just makes me more tired."

"We're out of coffee again. That was the last pot we drank two hours ago."

"I know." Marik pointed to the Ring. "Can you tell who's winning?"

Bakura thought about the question. "Everyone's getting careless. It's a matter of who will fuck up first."

"Hey, Bakura?"

"What?"

"Don't fuck up. Just this once, okay?"

"What do you mean just this once?"

Marik laughed. "That woke you up a little."

Bakura crumpled a piece of scrap paper and tossed the ball at Marik's face. Marik tried to dodge, but the paper hit his forehead and bounced onto the floor. Bakura grinned. "We're changing the ending. Did we tell you that?"

"What? To the RPG?"

"Yes. We decided there's no real need to follow history. It's our game, we can give it any ending we damn well please, right?"

"But what really happened?"

"I died, my soul stayed trapped in the Ring, the mother fucker that destroyed my village continued to fight the Pharaoh enhanced by Zorc's power." Bakura clenched his hands into fists. "Maybe we should go to sleep."

Marik raised an eyebrow. "Eager to fight Zorc now?"

"I am not a pawn."

Marik reached over and covered one of Bakura's fists with his open palm. "No, more like a tragic hero. Your flaw was having the hubris to try and rise above your station." Marik sighed. "Guess my story's the same, when I think about it."

Bakura closed his laptop and set it under the table, taking Marik's hand back into his own and staring at their hands as he rubbed his thumb against Marik's tanned skin. "You know, the only difference between tragedy and comedy is the reversal."

Marik snorted. "Comic reversal can be used once per game. It allows all dice rolls to be reversed, making 99 rolls critical hits and 00 rolls fumbles."

"You're starting to sound like a nerd."

"Only because I hang out with you every day."

"Marik, let's go to bed."

Marik shook his head. "I know it's four in the morning, but I don't want to go to sleep. I can't take the nightmares tonight."

"I didn't say let's go to sleep. I said let's go to bed."

Marik smiled. "That usually leads to sex and then going to sleep."

"I'm too tired to try anything too serious."

Marik frowned. "I know. Me too. I hate it."

Bakura cleared his throat. Instead of Japanese, he spoke in his native language. "I want to hold you." He didn't look up to see Marik's reaction. Instead, he stood and walked to their bedroom. He stopped in the doorway and stared at the bed for a moment.

Marik pressed his hand against Bakura's back and gave a small push. "So are we going to do this or are you just going to stand there?"

Bakura spun around and scooped Marik up, carrying him to the mattress and setting him down on top of the comforter. Marik shouted when hoisted into the air, but laughed once he rested on the bed. In a soft voice he said, "idiot."

Bakura grinned and with the same tone said, "selfish prick."

Marik reached up and caressed Bakura's cheek. "Stupid asshole."

Bakura leaned down and plucked a single kiss from Marik's lips. "Arrogant bastard."

Marik pulled Bakura's head down to repeat the kiss. His fingers kept smoothing over Bakura's cheek; his other hand knotted in Bakura's hair. "You're so annoying."

Bakura sighed from Marik's kisses. He closed his eyes. His face leaned into Marik's touch. "And you're such a bother."

"Thought we were just going to cuddle?"

"Then stop kissing me."

"Don't tell me what to do."

Their mouths pressed back together, their hands slid across their bodies. When Bakura noticed the clock on the nightstand it said 4:53 a.m. He sighed. "I don't think I can stay awake any longer."

Marik scooted to the head of the bed and pulled Bakura into his chest, petting his hair. "I'm going to try." Marik chuckled to himself, kissing Bakura on the forehead. "You know, I think the only reason these memories are bearable is because you're here every time I wake up."

Bakura closed his eyes and sighed. "Don't talk like that when I'm this tired."

Marik grinned. "Why? Afraid you'll accidentally say something sweet back to me?"

Bakura opened his mouth to say something sardonic, but when he looked at Marik's face, the skin around his eyes bruised purple from lack of sleep, all he could do was smile and say, "maybe."

Marik kissed him, once, and Bakura's head fell onto Marik's chest. He didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until he saw Ryou in their soul room. The shadows under Ryou's eyes were thicker than Marik's and Bakura wondered what he looked like to them.

"Let's just kill him today. Then we wouldn't have to worry about him being in the Ring." Ryou smiled, but the expression made him look exhausted instead of happy.

"How are you on spells?" Lack of sleep made it hard for them to recharge their heka. Even summoning Diabound was difficult for Bakura, and for a wizard like Ryou, it made battle almost impossible.

"About half."

"We'll have to retreat early, then."

"We have to go until one of us drops to the ground. This can't go on any longer."

Bakura leaned forward and rested his forehead against Ryou's. They could fall asleep like that. Sleep, all they needed was sleep and they'd be fine. The two or three hour naps they'd survived on weren't enough; Bakura wanted to stay in bed for a week. Only Zorc wouldn't let them rest, not after they openly challenged him.

"You're okay, right?" Ryou asked. "You want to try and stay here while I go fight him?"

Bakura's eyes shot open. "Hell no, it's too dangerous to fight him individually. Worry about yourself and let me worry about myself."

Ryou shook his head, smiling. "I always worry about you."

"Don't."

Ryou grabbed him and kissed him hard. When they pulled away Bakura asked, "what was that for?"

Ryou shrugged. "I don't know. Luck."

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Seriously, let's just kill him tonight. Then our lives can be nothing but sleep, sex, and sushi."

"Sounds like a plan."

They entered the arena, the imaginary connected space between Ryou's mind and the Ring. Zorc lunged at them before they fully entered the area. They broke in two different directions, unsurprised. Ryou skidded to a stop, dragging his foot in an arch against the ground and kicking sand up into Zorc's eyes. Bakura utilized the opportunity to cut into Necrophades with his daggers. Myriad charcoal colored scars marred Zorc's opaque, black skin from their nights of battle. Bakura inserted the blades deep, drawing blood.

Bakura realized he felt better than he had in weeks. He also noticed that Ryou wasn't casting any spells. Instead he danced across the arena, distracting Zorc and giving Bakura opportunities for attacks. "That damn kiss." Bakura grunted, realizing Ryou had transferred a portion of his heka to Bakura.

Ryou pulled his wizard's shift away from his torso and used it as a cape, taunting Zorc like a matador taunting a bull. All the while he shifted his weight from left to right or twirled to a different location with hair trailing behind him like endless, white ribbons. He never stayed still long enough for Zorc to concentrate an attack.

Bakura didn't waste the chances Ryou gifted him. He twisted his blades into Zorc's body. Afterward, Bakura retreated into the shadows. Each time Zorc tried to swipe a frustrated claw at Ryou's dancing form, Bakura would lunge forward and cut into their enemy again, blades flashing silver before sinking into black.

A lucky strike brought Zorc's serpentine phallus too close to Ryou. It caught the white cloth in its mouth and Ryou had to abandon it; however, Ryou brought his staff down into the eye on the extension of Zorc, gorging it out. At the same time he used some of the last of his heka to drain Zorc's defense. Necrophades screeched, coiling his phallus close to his body. Bakura used that moment to summon Diabound, able to only because of Ryou's shared heka. His ka attacked, using power he'd absorbed from Slifer over three thousand years ago during Bakura's battle against the Pharaoh.

Ryou called out his Change of Heart spell, the one he created to free Bakura's soul from Zorc's influence. Bakura covered him by attacking with Diabound. They saw his soul emerge, a bird of emerald, turquoise, and rusted sienna. But before Bakura could embrace his ba, before he could become whole again, Necrophades lashed a final attack, determined to kill Bakura before allowing him freedom. Bakura attempted to dodge the attack, but knew it was inevitable. He closed his eyes and waited for the pain of impact. Instead, he felt a push from behind and then his body slamming against the ground.

***AN: The cliff hanger wasn't my fault - blame SuperSteffy for suggesting it, and then thank her the the extreme amount of effort she puts into dealing with my horrid grammar, haha. After this, there are only four chapters left and then I'm going to post a two-shot called, "From Darkness Returned" - that one's Deathshipping, because the fandom can always use more Deathshipping. There really isn't enough out there :) ***