It's not like I can really excuse this being SO FREAKING late – I did NOT expect it to be – but there was nothing I could do. I've had weeks where I was so busy that from Sunday to Friday (before I get home) I would have only gotten 8-11 hours of sleep that whole week. Since everything right now GOES TO MY DIPLOMA, this story (though it always is on my mind) is not the PRIORITY. If anyone here is or was an IB senior, you should understand. I'd say I'll update more since all my Internal Assessments are finally completed, bur that would be a lie. At BEST I'll have a chapter in April, but if I don't update in April, I CANNOT update until JUNE to take my IB Papers and AP tests for the entirety of May. I literally only have about three school days in May where I do have to come to school, almost every other day I'm purely testing or need to study. It's not like I'm getting my diploma, though, so I'm only really studying for key subjects I want the college credit for like English, French, Math, History, and World Religions. Not to mention I've been taking an AP Macroeconomics class for the past nine weeks (did not want that extra workload, but it's the only class that fit in my second semester schedule), and I think it would be awesome to pass that one.

I REALLY AM SORRY.

By the time Ryo finished making breakfast, everyone else was peppered in bruises. Melvin had joined in the brawl between Marik and Bakura simply for the reason that Ryo ignored him and he was bored. Ryo finished at near noon, but no one complained about the style of breakfast food, eggs with rice, when they worked up such an immense appetite.

"At least you didn't put in any vegetables," Bakura commented drying scooping a forkful of yolk-soaked rice.

Ryo saw Bakura consume every grain of rice in a sloppy rush, but decided not to scold; instead, he simply grabbed a napkin and passed it to Bakura once he finished eating. "Clean your face and dish. You're not at home, so don't continue to be a slob."

Marik and Melvin snickered when Bakura bitterly did as he was told, but they continued to eat their own meal when Ryo gave them a stern look. Melvin smirked while eating his rice as Ryo ate as properly as he could with a napkin folded on his lap despite nearly dropping a grain from his conservative, clean forkfuls.

"Housewife," Melvin muttered at Ryo's direction, not trying to be discreet at all.

Ryo shot Melvin an indignant stare, but the crazed blond only laughed harder . "Stop that! I am not funny!" Ryo pressed.

Melvin shook his head and pushed two fingers on Ryo's lips. "You are, though. It's hilarious seeing you so worked up over being called what you are, my little housewife." Melvin scooter his chair closer to Ryo and pressed a firm kiss on the other's lips. Ryo looked a bit surprised, but gave no resistance.

Marik looked positively disgusted, but held his stomach to try to finish eating his meal; he was not about to start another fight so soon over his crazy brother's PDA. Bakura had his back turned to clean his fork and plate, so the grumpy teen missed the heated exchange. When the kiss broke, Ryo flushed and instantly tried to continue eating, only to realize he was full of breakfast and had an appetite for something completely different.

Ryo flushed so much that he barely knew how to properly scold Melvin. The housewife-like teen flicked Melvin on the nose to shoo him away before getting up. "If anyone else is finished, I can carry your plate to the sink and wash it," Ryo offered kindly before shooting Melvin a warning look. "And that's not because I'm a housewife!"

Melvin threw his hands into the air in mock defense with a mischievous smirk. "The thought never crossed my mind."

"You're a housewife, Ryo," Bakura cut in with a stoic expression. "Accept it and finish doing the damn dishes."

Ryo glared pathetically at his brother and Melvin, but followed the order regardless, mumbling something incoherent.

Marik rolled his eyes. Watching the absolutely weird exchange between the males before him almost caused him choke on the last of his meal. Thankfully Marik had finished eating, and he already passed the plate to Ryo.

Melvin stood up from the table and stretched. With a bored expression he turned to Marik and Bakura and asked, "So now what?"

In all honesty no one really planned anything else. Granted, Bakura had every intention to leave since the moment they arrived, but everything interfered with that too spontaneously. Melvin's intentions for the day only went into the specifics of how he would ravage Ryo. Ryo wanted to grow closer to the Egyptian twins and know them better, but every time he and Melvin were alone they normally acted more … physical (the grocery shopping part of the morning actually took thirty minutes in the store, but they took another thirty to make-out in the empty dessert aisle). Lastly, Marik wanted everything to plan itself out and become more controllable, yet the blond knew no one in he small kitchen area could be controlled or understood.

"I don't have anything special in mind," Ryo answered, trying to think of something in particular. "Did you all sleep well?"

Bakura hesitated for a moment, but then snickered and shot a knowing glance at Marik, who in turn shot him the bird. Ryo knew better than to asked, and turned to Melvin for anything interesting.

"Do you speak French, Ryo?" Melvin asked seemingly out of the blue.

Ryo tried to form any reason Melvin wondered such a thing, but decided answering the question was the safest action. "Uh, I took a few years in high school. I'm not exactly fluent, but I know a good bit … Should I even ask why you asked?"

Melvin shrugged. "I dunno. Had a dream you were talking French or some other shit right before I was gonna bang you. Thought it would be hot as fuck if you could actually speak the language."

Ryo's face flushed a ruby color and choked on the dry air. "Wh-what?"

"Yes, 'what' indeed," Bakura growled. "Why the fuck would you have dreams about having sex with my brother?!"

Melvin glared back at Bakura, but then continued his menacing smirk. "The better question is why the hell haven't I had sex with him in reality."

"We've only known each for a little over a day!" Ryo spouted out quickly, flushed.

"And throughout that day you and I have been wanting to fuck each other every time we make eye-contact." Melvin stood and loomed over Ryo, hands on either side of Ryo and face only centimeters apart. "Don't you want to fuck?"

Ryo never had a chance to answer - though he likely would not have, or would have taken a very long time to ease the coursing blood to his cheeks - because Bakura promptly punched Melvin in the jaw, sending the wild-blond staggering away from Ryo.

"Can't you see he's not interested, you bloody pervert?!" Bakura yelled, ready to throw another punch before Melvin kicked him in the gut.

Ryo and Marik stared wide-eyed at the scene, but did not know how to properly refrain the two angry males. At one moment Melvin managed to throw Bakura, who landed on the couch safely enough, and Ryo grabbed Melvin's by the waist. Melvin, whose arm was raised in a fist, calmed almost instantly. Marik, surprisingly, went to Bakura and straddled him as a way to both shield him and restrain him. Unlike Melvin, Bakura only became more livid, but he ceased wildly trying to fight.

"Uh …" Ryo mumbled noticing everyone's position, including his own. "I know you're just going to snap at me, but you have to understand that I am interested in him. I can give myself permission to want him, brother. I've already said it before, but you need to give Melvin and Marik a chance."

"Oh, shut the hell up! I'm so over your infatuation with these idiots. I'm not even going to bother anymore." Bakura's body went limp under Marik. "Ryo, you have the worst taste in people, if you can even call him a person."

Marik glared at Bakura and pulled his jaw so that their eyes connected. The blond then realized he acted on sheer annoyance of the other; he had no idea what to do next. Marik wanted to yell at Bakura, but the words never came. Marik just continued to pin Bakura, which the smaller male definitely hated.

"What are you doing?" Bakura asked, voice even in its rage.

"Trying to figure out how you can be so damn bipolar. Ryo is probably the most reasonable one of us, so let him do as he pleases. Do not make Melvin and me appear like the scum of the earth! You should actually bother trying to get to know us better before you fight and mock us." Marik released Bakura's jaw, but they never broke eye-contact. "You should not leave us so easily, not when we have so much to understand about … about this entire situation."

"I know all I need to know. I'm clearly going insane by being around you two crazies, and Ryo's been reduced to a horny teenager. What more is there to understand?"

"Well, you still don't understand us, asshole," Melvin answered bitterly. "We clearly aren't the bad ones. Just because I want to pound into your brother doesn't mean I would hurt him. I'd actually like to keep his fuckable ass in good condition so I could pound into it whenever I want. You act like you have a rod in your ass all the time."

"Melvin, that really does the opposite of help, especially with such unwanted visuals," Marik growled, massaging his temples with one hand.

"You honestly think he doesn't deserve an ass-kicking, if nothing else than for his vulgarity?" Bakura asked raising a brow at Marik. Marik shrugged and figured that he hit his brother more than a countable amount of times just for spouting stupid obscenities.

Ryo looked at the clock, and released an audible, almost sad chuckle when he noticed the time. "It's 12:14, and all of you have already tried killing each other. I guess this is my new standard of normal." Ryo tugged on Melvin's wrist and began to rush out he door. "We're going out. I don't want to lose my hearing because of all your yelling. We'll be back later. Don't hurt each other too much!"

Melvin had no plans of going back out, but the way Ryo tugged him out the door caused his feet to effortlessly follow. The crazed Egyptian would rather be with Ryo than with their bickering two siblings. Marik still more-or-less pinned Bakura, so Melvin figured that Ryo wanted to go while his brother was incapable of fully stopping them.

Bakura eyed the front door with immeasurable malice, but he remained under Marik. Bakura hated Melvin. Truly, Bakura wanted nothing to maim the filthy blond, but murder was a lot harder to accomplish than thievery.

"Not going to bitch about them?" Marik asked tentatively unpinning Bakura.

"I told you I'm done with those two. Ryo can do whatever the fuck he wants."

"If you are done with me, as well, you can always just leave. Out of pity I might give you a ride to your house."

"Just shut up for awhile, Marik." Marik's eyes actually widened hearing his name from the grouchy teen. "I need time to think. I'm going back to bed," Bakura announced pushing Marik with eyes on Marik's bedroom.

Marik noticed Bakura's plan and replanted himself even more firmly on the pale teen, arms spread. "No way! You will learn nothing by staying my home and merely fuming. Why will you not just calm down for a few damned minutes and talk to me like an adult. You and I are connected, and I know you want to know how as much as I!"

"I clearly can't talk to you, fool. Just looking at you makes me blood boil and rage surge. I hate you. I hate everything about you, and I want to know why without having to actually deal with your stupid self!"

"You know nothing about me! You set aside your anger to speak with me last night, and we actually bonded then – you even protected me. What has changed in the past twelve hours that makes you continue to scream and fight with Melvin and me, and Ryo for that matter."

Bakura glared at the blond but had no answer for several moments. Marik did not demand anything more, but both knew Marik would not let Bakura leave without answering him. When the pale teen finally answered, he turned away and spoke in a huff. "I was clearly just tired and out of my proper state of mind. What other reason could there be?"

"Well, I am sure there is another reason that is also the truth, correct?" Marik challenged his voice calmed and smooth.

"Why do you assume it is a lie?"

"Could you say that looking at me?"

"Obviously!" Bakura snapped. Bakura shot his head up to look at Marik once more, and froze. Marik's eyes shone righteously in their mesmerizing violet supremacy. "Damn it!" Bakura yelled, throwing his head back into the cushions. Bakura could not say the simple words – words that were hardly a lie, but still not the right truth.

Marik's gaze softened and he sighed. "You already told me the most discriminating truth against you last night, so why deny this? I want you to stop treating me like I am a second-class person and explain yourself now."

"Well, sucks for you! I don't have a bloody answer. I don't know why I told you all that shut last night considering how much I hate you. I hate you so much I protected you because no one but me is allowed to hurt you!" Bakura hardly registered his words by that point, and they only spilled more, "You're only mine, and for some goddamned reason you refuse to submit to me. You keep fighting me, and resisting me, and acting like an equal, and it's really bloody confusing considering this has never happened before! You're such a little bitch, too; I can't do anything without your whining at me to the point I have to tell you what you want to know."

Marik stiffened and gasped. The blond was obviously offended by the several insults thrown at him in the angry speech, but he focused more on the shocking kindness Bakura probably did not even know he said. In essence, Bakura told Marik that the only reason he hated him was because he was an equal, and as much as it should not have mattered, Marik's heart swelled with pride and joy. "Bakura," the Egyptian said calmly.

Bakura grunted and turned away. "Get the fuck off me, idiot."

"Not yet. I want to look at you a little more."

"Fuck no! I don't want your perverted eyes staring at my good looks anymore! Off!"

"No! And look at me when I am on you, fool! I want to understand you. Besides, you could have pushed me off from he very beginning. You are the real pervert, liking when I dominate you," Marik subconsciously purred he last part, and his smirk only widened.

Bakura grunted again and crossed his arms as he looked into Marik's eyes once more. "Whatever," the pale teen mumbled. "You're not worth the energy it takes to push your heavy ass off."

"Because you obviously like it when my ass is pinning you down by the crotch," Marik commented nonchalantly.

Bakura raised his eyebrows inquisitorially at Marik before relaxing and using his usual smirk. "If you haven't noticed, I'm definitely placid at the moment. I think you just want to feel like I, being a sex god, want you hide the fact no one would touch you unless beating in that annoying face of yours."

"Oh? Because if there is one place you never hit me, it is my face. I think you fancy my face quite a bit. Your body would betray that lying mouth of yours if I took a moment to work my magic, thief," Marik boasted. Truthfully, Marik was still very much a virgin, but his anger at Bakura caused him to forget that fact.

"I'd like to see you try, bitch," Bakura challenged, putting his hands on Marik's waist to keep the other on him.

"I am sure you would, thief." The smugness never left Marik's voice as he began to begin a light grind against Bakura's crotch.

Both were too stubborn and pig-headed to realize what they were actually doing. Both smirked with an overly inflated pride as Marik continued to move on Bakura, bringing their bodies closer and closer. Marik leaned closer to Bakura to rub at a better angle, which was affecting him just as much as Bakura. Eventually the two began to feel a very light stiffening as their eyelids drooped and mouths hung slightly parted for quick gasps. Too late to stop, Marik just continued to move and lean closer until his and Bakura's flushed face were only few centimeters apart.

On a particularly rough grind, Bakura bucked forward a little too far, and he and Marik connected lip-to-lip. Both males embraced the other and slid their lips together smoothly as their crotches ground roughly. The kiss lasted less than a second because both males pulled away instantly when both realized that that was the last straw to initiate each male's throbbing erection.

[M*S]

"Where are we going?" Melvin asked once he and Ryo were by the stairs of their floor. Something seemed very unusual about the normally docile male leading the way, and Melvin hated being left in the dark. Melvin wanted answers.

What the blond did not expect for an answer was a solid punch to his face that knocked him down and Ryo hovering over him with livid and confused eyes. Ryo made no move to continue his assault, but Melvin already entered battle more and kicked Ryo off his body. Melvin grabbed Ryo and held him by the collar, pressing the smaller boy against the wall roughly, as he prepared to strike the one who instigated the fight. Ryo's gaze flicked at Melvin for only a second, and Melvin's body froze.

"Let me go, Melvin," Ryo commanded calmly, no fear or anger in his tone at all.

"What the hell?! Why should I let you go after a move like that? You know if you were someone else you'd be dead by now? What the fuck, you little punk?" Melvin growled, wondering why he could not pulverize the small creature.

"Because I'm mad at you, of course! You see how upsetting it is to have someone randomly attack you? All you do is fight and make others want to fight you. It's getting really tiresome, Melvin. I really," Ryo took a moment to pause as Melvin subconsciously tightened his grip in anticipation, "I really like you, and I hate myself for it. All you've done is molest me and hurt my brother! You say I should be dead right now for what I did, but if it wasn't me, would you really kill the person? Why not me?"

Melvin glared at Ryo, but said nothing.

"Let me down, Melvin. You can't fight me. You're too used to hurting others, and if you hurt someone I care for I will not hesitate to fight back. I've lived with Bakura my whole life, I can figure out a way to take you down. Randomly hurting people only ripples into the pain of others. Once again, let me down, Melvin."

Finally Melvin did as he was told and released his grip on Ryo. Ryo instantly rubbed his neck to assuage it, and Melvin felt a pang of guilt seeing that. Melvin still raged in his mind, but he could not hurt Ryo, nor did he want to. Ryo made his point, and if the smaller male did not punch Melvin in the face, Melvin likely would have blown the words off. They hardly knew each other, but Ryo already knew how to handle Melvin's hardheadedness and irrationality. Melvin admitted he respected that side of Ryo a lot, and made him want the teen all the more.

"BAMF," Melvin said to no one in particular.

"What?" Ryo asked, looking up at Melvin's mischievous smile.

"I mean that you're not a lame, docile, little housewife anymore. You're now dubbed as a badass motherfucker. Not many would punch me so easily, especially with such a lame reason – your logic is like a mother's." Melvin licked his lips, and his smirk eerily widened. "You're a total MILF, not that I didn't want to fuck you already."

Ryo's eyes grew, and a small blush crept onto his pale cheeks. "I AM NOT A MOTHER!" he yelled, turning in a huff to go down the stairs without Melvin. Melvin cackled when he heard the British teen mumbling vaguely that he wasn't "feminine" and something like "next time I'm punching him harder." Ryo was so cute.

[M*S]

"It is your fault, you know," Marik said calmly while he swept a bit of the kitchen.

"Shut up. That didn't happen," Bakura growled, fuming in Marik's direction with his arms crossed in a huff.

The Egyptian mindlessly continued his sweeping, ignoring Bakura's glare. "Fine. Except it did happen, and it was your fault."

"Did. Not. Happen."

"Did happen. Your fault."

"No, it bloody wasn't!" Bakura finally screamed.

Marik finally met Bakura's gaze with raised brows raised in slight interest. "So now you admit that it at least happened?"

Bakura half-flailed his arms and released an exasperated groan. "I hate you," he seethed with every ounce of malice he could muster.

"I still make you hard. Enough to kiss me, in fact."

"I hate just looking at you!"

"You never once stopped staring, thief. Were those stolen glances you assumed I would not notice? Do you often stare at what you hate?" Marik asked, his voice less and less monotone with each quip.

"You're insufferable." Bakura seethed. Marik looked like he blew off the comment and continued his mild cleaning. Bakura hated the way Marik ignored him even more than when Marik needlessly bickered with him. Bakura hated himself for being so affected by it. "Stop ignoring me!

"I am not ignoring you. I decided you are not worth acknowledging. You insist things are my fault or that they did not even happen, so I have no reason to continue treating you like an equal. You should be happy I am leaving you be. I get my Ring if I leave you alone, yes?"

Bakura furrowed his eyebrows and turned away. "Just because I'm annoyed by you doesn't mean I don't see you as an equal. You're the first person I consider at par to me, so stop treating me like I'm not worth your time!"

Marik visibly stiffened and looked at Bakura, really looked at him. Marik normally saw an angry child whenever he glanced at the pale male from the side, and when he straddled the other before he only saw a challenge and annoyance. Marik took a few steps closer to Bakura, and Bakura made no movements against him, even standing so they were better leveled. Marik observed the fierce edge in Bakura's gaze, and finally realized those eyes burned with respect and pride, not merely for himself, but for Marik as well.

"I completely hate you," the British one stated, "But I respect you."

"I hate what you have done," the Egyptian coolly replied, "But I respect what you can do."

"What do you think I can do?" Bakura asked in a low tone, unsure what thoughts spiraled in Marik's mind.

"I think you can do kind things for others. I actually admired how you came and stole from me, like a bleached devil in the night. Regardless, I think you can save me, just like I think I can save you." Marik put the broom down and rested his head on Bakura's shoulder, and surprisingly Bakura let him. "You are a loathsome creature. I want … I want you to tell me the truth, to stop committing so many crimes and being an absolute ass. That is not the real you."

"Then who is the real me?"

[M*S]

"So you've killed people before?" Namu asked in a whisper.

"Countless," Akefia replied just as softly.

"Why?" The question was short and simple, but Namu knew the answer the answer could not come so easily.

"I can't tell you unless I trust you."

"You can't trust me until you tell me."

"Because you can't trust me until I tell you?"

"No," Namu took a moment to think of how to explain. "I've always, always trusted you, but I would let my curiosity control me until you told me what I want to know, and then I'll think you won't believe in me enough. I'll hate you and spite you slowly but surely."

Akefia laughed dryly at the response. "Then go ahead and hate me for awhile. In this case, I'll tell you when you're mature enough to not have your curiosity control you. Besides, I really can't tell you."

Namu pursed his lips and held his head in one hand, as if trying to support his heavy thoughts. "This is getting so complicated." Namu sighed. "Will you kill again?"

"I'll take countless lives." Akefia did not hesitate to respond.

"Will they deserve it?" Namu asked in a voice pleading for reason.

Akefia hesitated a little, and his voice choked a little on the words, "I do it from hate and bitterness of all people. I'll save just as many lives, in a way." Akefia reached out his long, tanned arms and cupped Namu's cheek. A bittersweet smile spread over his face, and the lavender-eyed thief stole a brief kiss from Namu's flush lips. The kiss was consensual and brimming with emotion, yet both quickly pushed away. The physical part of the developing relationship was too inappropriate, too confusing.

"That isn't the same. Did you protect me when we were younger just as collateral for the lives you've taken? You set aside your hate to talk and helped me so long ago." Namu touched his lips, wanting to experience more from the man before himself, but also wanted the emotional support and understanding of having the almost stranger listen and explain.

"I respected –still respect– you years ago. You can be my first equal. I can't tell you too about me because you're wise enough to learn how to turn against me, and I hate the feeling of someone having the power to manipulate me." Akefia stole another kiss from Namu's forehead and smiled a bit more sadly.

"Do you love me?"

"Huh?" responded Akefia, at a complete lost for words for once in his life.

"Please, tell me why you're doing this. I don't know or like that you've killed. I hate that you're doing this, especially without knowing why. If you just … just tell me why, I'm yours. I'll be yours and loyal. Do not treat me like a second-class person! I'm not a worthless slave!"

Akefia hardened his gaze. The thief king nodded his head silently, thinking. "I know," he said simply. "I told you why I kill. I do what I must. You would do the same thing."

"Akefia, please," Namu reached out his hand and cupped Akefia's cheek, grazing nimble fingers against the flesh.

"It's The Great Thief King Akefia to you," Akefia ordered, playfully and seriously.

"Please just stop. The palace has been searching for 'The Great Thief King Akefia' for months. They will catch you. If you don't stop soon, Isis will personally bring me your head on a plate and tell me how wrong I was about you."

"Well, you are wrong!" Akefia bellowed. "You try so hard to make me seem like a noble crusader, but I am a ruthless, heartless thief."

"And my savior." The word left the room silent for a moment. Namu never thought of Akefia as anything less than his hero, even though he knew full well that the Thief was a villain in the eyes of most. Namu reached for Akefia, and gave the criminal a sad smile. "I love you, my king."

"Just stay away from me, Namu. I don't want you to have anything to do with me. I'll give you whatever you want, just never enter my life again. You haunt me every day. I always want you, need you, hate you, love you. I need you to forever leave my life so that I can finish what I started years ago."

"All I want is you, fool," Namu murmured, tiptoeing slightly to connect their lips again. "But if I have you now – if you give me yourself for this moment as a trade for your emotional freedom, I'll never stop trying to find you to have more of you. We can enslave each other." Namu brushed light fingers down Akefia's bare chest slowly until he reached the larger male's crotch, and then began to rub.

"I hate you so damn much!" Akefia exasperated. The thief grabbed Namu's hand and halted his advances. "No, Namu. We can't do this, being together. I know I should not have come at all, but take this message to heart: leave me alone. I want nothing to do with you."

Namu pursed his lips tightly then sighed. "I love you. I know you think it's only because you saved me, but it's so much more than that. I care about you, and I know you feel the same for me."

"You don't love me, Namu. You can't. So just stop this. Please. As an order from your Thief King."

"Fine. I still want you give me what I most desire then. If I cannot have you, I have another request."

"Name it and let me be."

Namu smiled with hopeless eyes, reaching out to hold his love once more. His mouth opened to speak.

[M*S]

"No, Ryo!" Melvin growled. "That isn't happening."

"I'm telling you that it will."

"I'm telling you now that it is completely impossible."

"It is not at all impossible since I have a penis." Ryo looked at Melvin sternly. "You know I have one. You know I'm all male. You know I can."

"Yeah, but -"

"No buts. I can do it, so if you want to have sex with me so much, I'm going to dominate you." Ryo sighed and shrugged at his lover. "I can't comprehend what's so wrong with letting me top."

"Housewives don't top!" Melvin yelled back. Every sexual fantasy he ever had about anyone was slowly crumbling as Ryo insisted on dominating.

"Whatever. We can discuss this more later. We're almost back at your apartment."

"What do we even tell them when we get inside?"

"That we went to a park so that you could have fun scaring small children." Ryo looked at Melvin warily. "No, we're not actually going to do that, so don't ask!"

"You're such a bossy housewife…" Melvin trailed off when Ryo shot him another warning glare. The blond smirked and pulled Ryo's body close to his own, "Are you sure you want to go back so soon, wife?"

"Positive. They can probably already here us from inside the room," Ryo observed as he stood a few feet away from Melvin's apartment. "I took your key when had my hand sin you pants left, so I'm going in, even if you don't want to join me."

Melvin grunted a little and shrugged. "I always want to join you, wife."

Ryo smirked as he put the key in the door. "'Always' means you'd like to join me even if I dominate." Before Melvin could retaliate, Ryo opened the apartment door. Both Ryo and Melvin stood shocked at the scene before them.

So, guys, WOULDN'T IT BE REALLY FUNNY IF ALL THOSE SCENES WITH NAMU AND AKEFIA ARE ACTUALLY FLASH FORWARDS WHILE RYO-BAKURA/MARIK-MELVIN ARE THE PAST SELVES?

I'll just leave that little teaser to your imagination. No quiz.