Back with an update after a couple of days off XD Thanks so much to you reviewers, you make me smile and keep me going, and I don't deserve your kind words. I'm glad there are people still enjoying this little story. Special thanks have to go to Miss Tako – your review waaaay back in March made me dig all my old notes out and get back to plotting XD Also, I noticed fanfiction . net hasn't been keeping my formatting so there are no splits in the past couple of chapters between Ryou/Kek and Marik/Bakura. Sorry about that. I should have fixed it for this update – Jem

The afternoon sun glinted through the filthy, musty windows of Ryou's apartment, lighting up the various jagged piles of mess jumbled all over the ground. Ryou's neck was fully bandaged now. He rubbed it carefully with his fingers, wincing at the stiffness and soreness of his body. Every limb felt like it was on fire, his blood flowing sluggishly through his veins, and his eyes burning. He was exhausted.

Kek didn't understand this.

"So, you're clean now." Kek flicked the bloodied cloth a slightly disgusted glance before flinging it away carelessly. It landed on the counter. "Let's go and have fun."

Ryou groaned and rubbed at his temples.

"I want to see this city." Kek's dark voice roiled and burned with shadows, throbbing through the thick warm air. "I want to see how long it would take to burn."

Ryou's forehead was throbbing. His back still ached dully from the Rod's stab wounds earlier, his throat and neck bloodied and sore, and all he could think was how nice it would be to crawl under some clean bright sheets and sleep all his aches away. None of them had got any sleep the night before; Kek had seen to that.

Although, Ryou couldn't say he was displeased with the night's events. After all, he had his body back. His head was, for once, silent, apart from his own thoughts, and there was no Ring clattering about his neck. He was unburdened and free.

"Ryou?" A heavy, warm hand shook his shoulder. Ryou rattled. "Come on! I want to see the faces of this pathetic town as they finally bow down to me!"

Ryou opened his eyes slowly to meet Kek's burning dark stare. The taller man was leaning over Ryou's curled-up body, his blond hair sticking up messily and his clothes covered in blood.

…Yes, Ryou was glad of his freedom. But he had somehow ended up as caretaker for a mad dark spirit, too.

He wasn't as upset about that as he should have been.

"Kek," Ryou answered, his voice sounding out as a low rasp. He paused, coughed, and tried again. "Kek, we can't go out right now."

"Fuck that." Kek stretched up to his full height and turned towards the door.

Ryou got painfully to his feet and shook his head. "No, wait here…"

"I'm not waiting anywhere," Kek interrupted. His feet carried him confidently towards the front door, easily stepping over the piles of mess and muck that were once remnants of Ryou's life. He reached for the handle and Ryou's heart stopped. He knew that allowing Kek to roam the streets was worse than a disaster – he had no idea what Kek's capabilities would be like now he had his own body. He had been bad enough in Marik's.

"Wait!" Ryou croaked. He stumbled after Kek, swaying a little as the blood loss finally went to his head. His limbs dragged with exhaustion. Once this was over, he was going to sleep for a week.

Kek paused with his door on the handle, turned, and sent Ryou an impatient stare. "What?"

"I can't go out." Ryou leaned against the wall, pausing to catch his breath.

Kek glared. "Why not?"

Ryou gestured to himself with a wry smile. "I don't think I'd get very far."

Kek pursed his lips. He hovered by the door, his muscles straining to go out, to be free, to finally be able to walk the streets as himself. He wanted to go anyway, Ryou be damned. He wanted to run through the crowds of people and feel them quake in fear, trembling as he stood over them, his cackles sending fear into their hearts. He missed that feeling of power. He had felt it when he killed Marik's father, and again when he was free in Battle city – pure, unbridled, power. And now, it was all his.

But Ryou…

"Don't go without me," Ryou whispered. He cut a pathetic figure, leaning against the wall with his white hair stained red and his fingers sticky. He appeared even smaller, somehow, now that Bakura was no longer in his body. But Kek was no longer fooled by Ryou's appearance; this little one had withstood the darkness for longer than anyone should have to.

Kek's eyes narrowed.

"I don't want to be in this flat on my own." Ryou glanced around with a small shudder. The apartment held many memories, it was true, but more than that, Ryou knew he couldn't let Kek leave. And Ryou was not above emotional blackmail.

Kek glared. "Why not?"

"Because this is where Bakura had control," Ryou closed his eyes, "And I don't like remembering him."

Kek went still at that. His brow creased, his dark violet eyes flicking quickly around the room before settling back on Ryou. "Did he never let you out?"

"Did Marik ever let you out?" Ryou responded bitterly. He slid down the wall to sit on the ground, his eyes constantly fixed on Kek's face.

Kek growled at the mention of that name. He still hovered uncertainly by the door.

Ryou closed his eyes. His body ached, limbs weighed down by his exhaustion, and he was tempted just to fall asleep right there. He had to do what he could to keep Kek indoors, though.

Kek kept staring at Ryou. As much as he was itching to go out, to finally see the world through his own eyes … he didn't want to leave Ryou on his own here. With a frustrated growl, Kek stomped back over to Ryou's side and crouched next to him. "Fine."

A small smile lifted Ryou's lips. He opened his eyes again and turned his head, wincing at the tug to his wounded neck, but it was a relief to see Kek sitting next to him. He dreaded to think what would happen if Kek was allowed onto the streets.

Kek caught the look and glared back at him. "I'm not just sitting around all day. I have to do something."

"There's plenty of time," Ryou murmured softly in response. He closed his eyes again and tilted his head back against the wall. "Right now, I just want to sleep."

"Sleep?" Kek scowled. "Why?"

Ryou chuckled. "Because you stopped me from getting any sleep, and I'm exhausted."

"Huh." Kek settled against the wall, his long legs stretching out in front of him, and a slightly manic grin lit his lips. "It was fun though, wasn't it?"

"I think you have a warped idea of fun."

Kek harrumphed, twisting to poke Ryou deliberately in the side. "Hey. I got you your own body."

"That you did." Ryou winced and rubbed his side, opening his eyes again.

Kek sniffed. "So you should be thanking me."

Ryou paused for a moment, sending Kek an interested sidelong glance. "…Why did you do that?"

"Because you said Bakura was like Marik." Kek spoke as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Ryou's eyes narrowed a bit at that. He hadn't ever thought there was another person who could understand what he had felt through all those years of torment – the years of being locked inside his mind, a spectator in his own body. He couldn't partake in his own life. There had been endless days when Ryou had wondered if he would ever actually control his own body again, or if he would be forced to simply watch as Bakura aged and lived a life with Marik. Ryou's life.

But now, thanks to Kek, Ryou would never have to fear that again.

And more than that … Kek was the one person in the world who knew what it was like. He understood the torment of watching someone else live the life you deserved. They had both spent far too long trapped inside their own minds. Was it any wonder Kek was so … disturbed?

Wasn't it more wondrous that Ryou himself wasn't?

Ryou wet his lips and cleared his throat. "How bad was it, with Marik?"

Kek's expression grew dark. His voice throbbed. "Don't ask."

Ryou nodded. On impulse, he leaned his tired head sideways until it met Kek's shoulder, his eyes sliding shut again. Kek started, his dark violet eyes widening as his head turned down to see the mess of red-stained white falling down across his arm.

"I know," Ryou murmured softly as he allowed sleep to take him. "I know."

…

Marik dragged Bakura out of the coffee shop as soon as they had decided where to go. His enthusiasm, Bakura noted with a wry smile, seemed even stronger now that his darkness had been separated from him. Could that happen? Bakura wondered idly whether removing the darkness had also somehow removed some of Marik's own hatred, bitterness, and despair, and whether the Marik left now would be a bit brighter. Bakura wasn't entirely sure how to feel about that. A part of him missed the raw, dark Marik from before – the Marik who had remembered him, the Marik who knew him and loved him – but Bakura couldn't deny that it would be a good thing if Marik could live a better life. Bakura himself would grab at the chance, if it were possible.

Unfortunately, your life is not yours, little thief.

Yeah, that was why Bakura would never know the light.

Marik had pulled them out onto the street before he realised he had no idea where he was going. He blinked, turning to face Bakura with a questioning look. The afternoon sunlight streamed down around them, lighting Marik's violet eyes with an odd gleam. "So … how do we find them?"

Bakura frowned. "…Actually, I don't know."

"You don't?" Marik shook his head, folding his arms. "And here I thought allying with the Thief King was a good idea."

"Watch it, brat," Bakura growled.

Marik merely sent him a mischievous grin, and Bakura felt his stomach flip. He looked so much like Marik, but it was still painfully evident that his memories were gone. The old Marik would never have stood so far from him, for one.

"Seriously, though," Marik continued with a small frown, "There must be some way to track them."

"I don't know what." Bakura folded his arms.

Marik tilted his head. "Didn't you say you found my Rod with your Ring?"

Bakura jerked his head in a nod.

"Then just do that again." Marik folded his arms with an arrogant grin. He enjoyed seeing the small light of realisation dawn in the white-haired man's dark eyes, the way a small smirk tugged at his lips.

"You know, Ishtar … that could actually work."

"Of course it could," Marik preened. "I am a genius."

That drew a snort from Bakura. Marik blinked, watching with interest as he reached under his shirt and pulled out the Ring. Marik recognised it as a Millennium Item, though he was positive he had never seen it before outside the illustrations that had ruled his childhood in the tomb. It was almost … iconic. The Thief King with his Ring, looming in a dark shadow. Marik felt a soft shiver. If all he had been told was true, and he had actually managed a relationship with this man, then … that couldn't be a bad thing. Could it?

Marik gave his head a small shake. It didn't do to dwell on such thoughts – not when, to his memory, this man was a perfect stranger.

Bakura caught Marik's stare and smirked. "Checking me out over there, Ishtar?"

"No!" Marik's response was immediate and automatic. He turned his head, mortified when his cheeks started to burn. "I already told you, I'm not interested in men, asshole."

Bakura gave a low, smooth chuckle, and it made a shiver run through Marik's veins. "See how long that lasts when you have your memories back."

Marik scowled. It felt so … odd, to know that he had lost two years of his life. He kept wanting to deny it. But, they were clearly not in Egypt, and he had absolutely no memory of how he got here. There was also no sign of his siblings. Ishizu he could do without, but Odion…

"There." Bakura's voice broke into his thoughts. He was holding his Ring in front of him, and one of its spikes pointed eerily to the right. "This way." Without thinking, Bakura reached out and grabbed Marik's hand, pulling him along after him.

Marik, once again, reacted on instinct. He pulled his hand out of Bakura's grip and scuttled back, folding his arms stubbornly in front of his chest.

Bakura resisted the urge to growl.

Marik met his eyes with a sharp violet stare. "I keep telling you, I don't know you."

Bakura's jaw clicked. "I know."

"So I would really appreciate it if you stopped assaulting me." Marik wrapped his arms around himself and stared in the other direction.

Bakura's patience was close to running out. He let out an impatient sigh. "Gods, Marik, all I did was hold your hand."

"Yeah, and you keep … looking at me!" Marik waved his arms.

Bakura arched a brow. "Is that a crime now?"

"Yes." Marik scowled. "You look at me like … like I mean something to you."

Bakura's answer to that was very simple. "You do."

"No, I mean…" Marik trailed off as he tried to think of the right words to say. "You look at me like you know me, but I've never seen you before in my life."

Bakura chewed his inner cheek, uncharacteristically nervous. Eventually, he scowled. "You can't expect me to just forget I ever knew you."

"…But I never knew you." Marik shifted on his feet, a tight crease appearing in his brow. "You're a stranger to me, and I do not appreciate strangers grabbing at me."

Bakura clicked his tongue. It took everything in him not to simply snap right back at Marik, but he feared that would only make the situation worse. It had taken a long time for Marik to trust Bakura enough to let him close, but just when Bakura was beginning to feel like he really knew Marik … he had been ripped away. Replaced by this pale imitation.

Marik was still glaring at him.

Bakura released a loud huff. "Well, I'm not going to adjust my behaviour just because you're sensitive."

Marik's fact settled into a scowl. "You really are an asshole, aren't you?"

"No more so than you," Bakura growled. "That was the point."

Marik blinked. "…What do you mean?"

Bakura took in a careful breath. He didn't want to push this too far, not yet. This entire situation was just … wrong. In Marik, Bakura had finally found someone who could handle his meaner tendencies – someone who actually understood them, and often, shared them. They could finally be happy together.

…What if Marik never wanted that again?

Bakura shook his head and began stalking forwards again with a growl. "Let's just find my host."

Marik remained silent, but the sound of footsteps slapping against concrete told Bakura that he was following.

…

Kek was still sitting on the floor, back against the wall, and watching Ryou sleep.

White hair spilled over his shoulder, Ryou's small warm body cradled close to Kek's side. He looked peaceful. With his eyes shut, his entire face was more relaxed, with none of the creases from worry that usually marred his soft pale skin. Kek's expression was mostly one of confusion. He wasn't used to this side of life. To him, the beauty of having his own body had been the freedom to walk, to inflict pain and feel it personally, to watch the world bow down to him as he truly was. He hadn't expected this … emotional stuff.

But with Ryou looking so … sweet … and so vulnerable…

Kek pursed his lips. What he felt towards Ryou wasn't a desire to hurt him, not now he knew how he had suffered under Bakura. He didn't really know what he felt. He knew he would murder Bakura if that spirit ever tried to get near Ryou again.

Ryou shifted in his sleep, his head sliding sideways until it nestled against Kek's chest. Kek blinked down at him. Ryou was warm, and it was so strange to feel someone actually touching him. Before, the only person Kek had truly interacted with was Marik, and certainly no one had touched him before. The warmth of another body was wholly unfamiliar, but Kek couldn't deny that it felt a bit … pleasant.

Ryou shifted again, squirming around in an effort to get comfortable. Kek pursed his lips. He didn't know much about this world, but he did know that it was usually easier to sleep if you were lying on a bed. And there had to be one of those somewhere in this apartment. Kek moved awkwardly, not wanting to wake Ryou. The little one was exhausted, which helped – it was highly unlikely that even an earthquake would have awakened Ryou in his current state. So, Kek managed to lift him without too much difficulty, pressing his small body close to his chest.

Kek turned, his eyes surveying the mess of the apartment. There were several doors to try. Kek shifted Ryou onto one of his arms, carrying him as easily as if he had been a doll, and used his other hand to open the doors. Ryou didn't seem displeased; his sleeping body curled up tighter into Kek's chest. After going through the bathroom and what looked like a tiny study of some sort, Kek finally found a bedroom. It was small, dark, and filthy, but it was better than nothing. With cautious movements, Kek strode over to the bed and unceremoniously tipped Ryou onto it.

Ryou almost started awake. His fingers twitched against the dusty sheets, his brow furrowing a little, before he sighed and rolled over. His eyes remained closed.

Kek pursed his lips. Ryou looked cold, lying there alone on the narrow bed. With a soft grunt, Kek leaned down and tugged at the blankets, getting one free and draping it over Ryou's shoulders. There. That was a little better.

Then, a knock sounded from the door.

Kek's brow creased. Didn't those idiots know that any sort of loud noise would disturb Ryou?

The knocks only got louder.

With a loud snarl, Kek whirled on his heel and stormed towards the door, yelling as he went. "Shut the fuck up, you pathetic fools!"

The knocking didn't cease.

Kek ripped the front door open with enough force to pull it off its hinges. His eyes narrowed into a dark glare at the sight that met his eyes and he leered, hands bunching into fists. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Bakura and Marik stood side-by-side in the doorway. Bakura was in front, a knife in his hand and an angry glare shading his dark eyes. Marik was also sporting a knife, though his expression was more curious than Bakura's as he stared at Kek. They were exactly matched in height, in looks, in … everything. Yet, they were undeniably different.

"Don't try anything," Bakura snapped.

Kek leered. "Not had enough, little thief?"

"Stay back," Bakura growled, his voice a low thrum through the dark, cloying air, "And fetch me my host."

Kek flipped. "He is NOT your host! And you have nothing more to do with him!"

Bakura arched a brow, a cool smirk lighting his lips. "I had no idea you cared so much about him."

"I don't care about anything," Kek growled.

Bakura snorted. "Please. We both know that isn't true."

"What do you know about me?!" Kek snarled, leaning threateningly over Bakura.

Bakura arched a brow, answering coolly, "You clearly cared about Marik enough to punish him."

"He deserves it!"

Marik himself stepped forwards at that, glancing between them with a dark frown. "Now, wait just a sec. What exactly am I supposed to have done?"

Kek threw back his head and laughed. His cackles bounced around the tiny flat and echoed out into the corridor behind Marik and Bakura, his violet eyes gleaming as he pinned a dark glare on Marik. He snorted. "Oh, poor little thing, so useless without your memories!"

Marik's eyes grew hard.

"And you can forget about getting them back," Kek chuckled, his tone low and ringing with amusement.

Marik's hands curled into fists. "What do you mean?"

"There's no way to reverse shadow magic! They're gone for good!" Kek threw his head back and burst into cackles again.

Bakura lost it at that. He flung himself at Kek, surprise allowing him to knock Kek's back into the wall. His knife was at Kek's throat in an instant, dark brown eyes sparking dangerously into Kek's face. "You're lying," Bakura hissed, his low voice taut.

Kek merely grinned.

"You're fucking lying!" Bakura shoved his knife against Kek's neck, leaning closer with fury clouding his every thought. "You're lying, and I'm going to make you tell me how to get Marik back!"

"Marik's standing right behind you," Kek spat, his voice twisting unnaturally around the name.

"Not the real one," Bakura growled lowly, the knife digging into Kek's throat. "And if you don't bring him back, I swear I will murder you. After all, I can finally hurt you without hurting him too."

Kek's violet eyes were dancing as he met Bakura's gaze. "I'd like to see you try."

Before Bakura could retort, he was being flung backwards as Kek managed to wriggle an arm free. He landed on his back, wheezing as all the breath was knocked out of him, and then Kek was back on him with a feral shout. Bakura kicked, struggling, but Kek lunged for the knife still in his grip.

"Fuck no," Bakura snarled, and he threw the knife with all his strength across the floor. "Marik, get it!"

Marik merely stood, watching with wide eyes as Kek and Bakura grappled on the floor. He watched the knife slide across the threadbare carpet, spinning dangerously, until a pale foot landed on it, firmly stopping it in its tracks.

Ryou looked out with tired eyes, surveying the scene before him. He raised his eyes upwards. "Can I not leave you alone for five minutes without you starting a fight?"

Kek instantly looked up. He held Bakura firmly against the ground, gesturing to him with a growl. "He started it!"

"Did he really." Ryou pointedly didn't look at Bakura, instead focusing all his attention on Kek. "Is that why you seem to be winning?"

"I'm just good." Kek puffed his chest out.

Bakura snarled from his place on the ground, twisting his head up to glare at his former host. "Just get your lapdog off me."

Ryou returned his glare with a cool glance. "I'd rather not."

Bakura snarled, jerked one leg free, and kneed Kek in the stomach. Kek wobbled just enough for Bakura to wriggle free, springing back to his feet and levelling a dark stare at Ryou. "Of all the times you had to grow a backbone, you pick now."

Ryou's expression shifted, his eyes narrowing. "I've always been like this. You just cheated before."

Bakura snorted, folding his arms. "Do tell."

"It's hard to fight someone when they're in your own head." Ryou shot a glance at Kek. "He knows that."

"Too right I do." Kek crossed to stand in front of Ryou, his dark violet eyes swimming with hatred as he glared at Bakura. "Which is why you are never getting near Ryou again."

Bakura surveyed the two of them before him, his lips cracking into a smirk. He leaned back, dusting one hand on his coat, his tone sounding amused. "Well, I must admit, I certainly didn't expect the two of you to team up."

Kek snarled. Ryou laid a careful hand on Kek's arm, stepping around him. Instead of looking at Bakura, however, Ryou focused on Marik. He looked lost, standing apart from the rest of them, and Ryou noticed how his eyes kept flicking up to Kek. If it was true, and Marik truly had forgotten them all, then he must be thoroughly confused about why a carbon copy of him was standing in the room. Ryou licked his lips and moved towards Marik, ignoring the tension rolling off the other two. "Marik? Are you ok?"

Marik shook himself, blinking as he realised that he was being addressed. This was the one who looked exactly like Bakura, so Marik realised that he must be the Thief King's reincarnation. Marik didn't know his name. Marik narrowed his eyes and shook his head, gesturing vaguely towards Kek and Bakura. "Not really, no. I still don't fully understand what the hell is going on."

Ryou nodded, his eyes softening. He had never really got along with Marik, and certainly not after what Kek had told him, but he couldn't deny how lost Marik look. Ryou felt a small tug of sympathy. "Do you want me to explain? Not that I understand all of it myself."

Marik jerked his head, thumbing towards Bakura. "He already told me. I'm just having trouble believing."

Bakura winced at the dismissive way Marik looked at him, though he hid it well. Instead, he glowered at Ryou for daring to speak to him, but Ryou ignored him.

Marik walked over to Kek, taking a steadying breath. Something about him felt so wrong, and it was just eerie to look at someone so exactly like him, and yet so different. It was like staring at a warped mirror. Kek glared back at him, lip curling. "What do you want, pathetic little rat?"

Marik didn't flinch. "I was told you came from my darkness."

"I am your darkness," Kek spat.

Marik's eyes narrowed. "So I made you?"

Kek jerked his head in a nod, his voice dipping into a low hiss. "Out of your hatred and bitterness and fear and weakness. I took over whenever you failed, because I'm not a coward like you."

Marik snarled. "I am not a coward!"

"Oh, yes," Kek purred, "Yes you are. Don't you remember the Initiation? You were screaming like a little baby until I shoved you aside."

Despite himself, Marik flinched. He took a step back.

Sensing weakness, Kek pressed closer, his lips stretching into a manic grin as he pushed Marik back. "I thrived off that pain. I was created to cope with it. I protected you, but what did you give me?" Kek's expression dropped into a feral snarl. "You locked me away! You pretended I didn't exist!"

Marik's hands curled into fists. "You didn't."

"Please." Kek snarled. "I spoke to you, you know I did. I was the only friend you had."

"Friends don't murder people's fathers!" Marik screamed, pointing one shaking finger in Kek's direction. "And that's exactly what you did!"

Kek glowered. "I got us out of the tomb-"

"You killed my father!" Marik leaped at Kek then, kicking and punching every available surface. "You murdered him, you took him away from me! And now you've taken my memories too!"

Kek snarled at the sudden onslaught, grabbing Marik and shoving him away, but Marik went straight back for more. The two were more evenly matched than before, now that they both had their own bodies; exactly equal in strength, exactly equal in speed. They were formidable.

"Stop it!" Ryou's voice cracked loudly through the sharp air. He strode determinedly between them, standing in front of Kek and wheeling to fix Marik with a glare. "I understand you're angry, but this is achieving nothing!"

Marik was breathing heavily, his face haggard and his hair a mess. Bakura moved to his side, welcome or unwelcome, and took Marik's hand in a firm grip. He glared at Kek. "See what a mess you've made?"

"He deserves it," Kek spat, "And so do you."

Bakura's eyes remained hard as his voice dipped low. "I will get him back."

Ryou faced Bakura and shook his head. "Kek can't help."

"What do you know about it?!"

"It's obvious." Ryou glanced up at Kek, pursing his lips, before continuing. "He used Shadow Magic, right? That can't be reversed – you taught me that."

"He's right," Kek jerked his head in a nod.

Bakura's jaw clicked. "There has to be a way."

Kek cackled. "Even if there was, I wouldn't tell you."

Marik twitched by Bakura's side. Much to Bakura's relief, he hadn't moved his hand away, and he actually moved closer to Bakura's side as he spoke again. His voice sounded oddly worn. "I want to see my siblings."

Bakura started. "…What?"

"They might be able to help." Marik swallowed thickly. "Ishizu knows Shadow Magic even better than I do, and Odion…"

Kek visibly shuddered at that name. He advanced on Marik with a heavy snarl, stepping around Ryou and ignoring Bakura's warning glare. "If you so much as go near that scrawny…"

"Wait," Bakura interrupted suddenly, his eyes lighting up. "…Odion controlled you, didn't he?"

Kek only answer was a snarl.

"Well, that's just perfect!" Bakura released a dark laugh of his own, his chin lifting arrogantly. "We can use him to reverse whatever the hell you've done."

"No." Kek pointed threateningly at Marik, his voice throbbing with threat and darkness. "I forbid it!"

Marik's eyes narrowed. "I don't listen to you."

Kek advanced with a feral snarl, but Ryou grabbed his arm again, holding him in place. His brown eyes were tight as he fixed Bakura with a frown. "If you're going to them, then we're coming too."

"What?" Bakura growled.

Ryou didn't look away, not even a hint of fear showing on his face. "We're coming too. I don't trust you not to try and get rid of Kek, or somehow fight your way back into my body."

Bakura snorted. "You weren't that good a host."

Ryou's eyes narrowed. "Either way, you aren't going to see them without us coming too."

Bakura growled, but he jumped when he felt Marik squeeze his hand. He turned his head with an arch to his brow, meeting Marik's fiery violet gaze. "Yes?"

Marik jerked his head at Ryou. "I don't care if they come or not. Perhaps it would be better if that … other me … was there anyway. He can explain to my siblings exactly what he did."

"Like hell," Kek snarled.

Ryou, however, nodded once in Marik's direction. "Thank you."

"Yes, well," Marik muttered, "You'd better not ruin this. And we're leaving now – I don't want to wait."

Ryou nodded again.

Kek and Bakura stared at each other, eyes full of mistrust, before Bakura finally relented. "Fine," he grunted in Marik's direction, "But only because it's you. We'll take your boat."

Marik arched a brow. "I have a boat?"

"How else do you think you got to Battle City?" Bakura rolled his eyes, turning to the door. "But I have to pick up some things first. Meet us in the harbour in an hour."

Ryou nodded, his eyes sharp as he watched them both out of the door.

I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter. There are so many emotions to juggle, and I had to set things up for next chapter. Aheh. I'll hopefully be back with an update tomorrow, but after that I'll be gone for a couple of weeks on holiday. I'll be continuing when I get back, though. Thanks so much for reading and sticking with me – Jem