Hey everyone.

I know I haven't updated this one since August. I'm sorry but between work and tafe and trying to figure out what to put my ideas together for this story. Had a bit of writers block on this on how I want to continue.

Anyway enjoy.

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Bold and Italics for flashbacks

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Chapter 44

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They spent another two days before Atemu decided that Malik was well enough to travel. They were leaving that night to go under the cover of darkness. While Malik was well enough to travel didn't mean he could walk but he was able to stay awake long enough for the journey and also not get sick. But right now they were in Mariku's chamber waiting on Akefia, Bakura and Ryou to arrive. Atemu was going to tell them why they weren't allowed to leave and also let the three know about how Yami, Bakura and Marik came to them. He wasn't overly thrilled about it but he knew it would help them understand.

Yugi was sitting beside Malik who was looking a little better but Atemu knew it was going to take a little while for him to get his strength back. Hearing someone coming Atemu looked over to see Akefia, Bakura and Ryou walking into the room and Ryou quickly walked over and hugged Malik, relieved to see Malik looking better than before.

"Alright, let's get this over with." Akefia grunted in displeasure.

Atemu glared at him in warning he knew him and Mariku didn't like the idea but knew it was important for them to understand why they did what they did.

"Alright so we best start at the start. You already know about Akefia's, Mariku's and my past so we'll go to Yami's, Marik's and Bakura's pasts and then onto why you aren't allowed to leave."

Marik and Mariku went back over to the bed making Yugi and Ryou scatter from the bed. They still weren't as sure as Malik was about the two. Ryou went to sit beside Yugi who was sitting next to Yami, when a tail wrapped around his waist and pulled him back to sit on Bakura's and Akefia's lap. Ryou blushed as the tail released him and arms wrapped around his waist holding him there. Yugi sat beside Yami who smiled at him a little before turning to Atemu who nodded his head.

"I guess I'll start. It all starts about a thousand years ago and about 6months before we meet these three. As Malik knows I'm from Greece, now I didn't have as great an upbringing as Yami but anyway...

Marik was running from the soldiers. He was caught stealing from a tomb and it wasn't the first time he'd robbed some old king's tomb. He had a reasonable normal childhood growing up. He was part of a rich family for his time so he was educated. The only problem came when he was 14. His family were driven from their home late in the middle of the night. His father had been caught supposably with another person's wife, a person richer than him. So they were driven from their home.

Marik was carrying his younger sister as his father was pulling their mother along, his mother crying for their loss. They ran through the night putting distance from their home and their old town.

They arrived at a small fishing village the next morning and with the little money their father had been able to grab during their escape they paid for some food before leaving the small village and continued onwards.

They went through three villages by the coast before staying at another little fishing village that had been five days walk from the last. His whole family was exhausted and tired from little sleep and food.

Marik's father made a deal with the local fisherman and they were able to stay in the barn out the back and in exchange he would help with fishing and his mother would help with the chores around the house. This left Marik and his sister with nothing to do.

"When your mother and I go to work I want you to continue your sister's lessons. We might not be able to continue yours but your sister's can."

"How are you both going to be able to do your jobs when you haven't fished before and mother hasn't cleaned before?"

"We will manage. Don't worry."

Marik just frowned as his parents went to sleep on the pile of hay. His sister was already asleep next to his mother.

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It had been a year since they were driven from their home and ended up at the small fishing village. Marik had gone between teaching his sister her lessons and hunting wild animals that were around. Anything from birds, rabbits to large animals like wild boar and deer.

Marik was coming back from a hunt when he found the small fishing village in flames. People were running around screaming, others crying, some being loaded into caged carts. Marik looked among the loaded carts trying to find his parents and sister, but didn't seem them there.

Marik gasped as a hand covered his mouth and the other wrapped around him. Marik was about to struggle when he heard the person talk to him.

"Marik relax it's just me." He recognised as his father.

Marik relaxed instantly and he was released. Marik turned to his father to find just him.

"Where's mom and sis?"

"I don't know. I saw you in the trees and came over. Marik I want you to stay down and not leave here till I come back or soldiers have gone. I will try to come back here with your mother and sister otherwise we will hide and wait till they leave."

"I can help."

"Marik I want you stay here where you are safe. Please promise me."

"Alright." Marik said.

"Good. Stay down and stay quiet."

Marik watched his father run off and Marik turned his gaze through a small gap in the trees and watched. It took another two hours for the soldiers to leave and Marik waited another hour before he climbed out of where he was hiding and hurried down to the village.

Marik searched through the village, he knew something was wrong. His father hadn't come find him so he decided he'd go search for them. Marik ran to where their home was having been able to build one after six months of living there. Marik gasped as he turned the corner and came face to face with the ashes of what used to be his family's home. Marik felt his eyes get a little hot and watery as he stared at the remains of the house.

"M...Mar...ik." A voice called out from somewhere.

Marik looked around and quickly headed towards where he thought he heard the voice from. He turned by another houses remains and found his mother laying in a pool of blood. Marik ran over to her and knelt by her side.

"Mom, hold on. You'll be alright."

"Mar...ik... I won't... last much... lon...longer... I don't...want you... to get re...revenge... Leave this...be... Live... a normal...life."

"Mom where's sis and dad?"

"Your... sister was... in... in the... house." Marik let out a sob. "Your father...was taken...Marik please... don't... don't go after... them. Please... leave here... and live your... life."

"I will mom."

"No revenge."

"No revenge I promise."

"I love you."

Marik sobbed softly as his mother closed her eyes and took her last breathe. Marik sat beside his mother for a few minutes before getting up off the ground. Marik looked around and all he could see was death and burnt homes.

Marik spent a couple of days burying anyone that was left at the village. Marik then grabbed anything that was salvageable left and packed up what he need before leaving.

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After three years since the tragic day that Marik lost his family, he heard that his father had been executed for what he did before they went into hiding, he went into a profession that was extremely dangerous which he enjoyed. It was a way to get back at the people that killed his family and the innocent villagers that were killed or kidnapped.

Marik became a thief. He was very skilled in the amount of time it took him to achieve what he had done. He succeeded in evading traps, guards and other nasty things that came with the profession. He made some people's lives hell with his skills and pissed off so many rich and powerful people but they could never catch him. Till one day.

Marik had heard around the town he was that the latest king had died and was buried in his tomb with lots of jewels and riches. Marik smirked as he drank the rest of his beer and left a few coins in his place and left. No one never knew what Marik looked like because when anyone saw him as a thief he was clocked so no one knew what he looked like.

Marik left the establishment and headed out into the night to find the tomb. He needed to find it quickly and to scout it out before coming back with his belongings to rob it. Marik liked what he did; he considered it pay back to everyone that wronged his family. Marik always traded his loot with people out of the country or passing travellers and gave half the money to the poor people around the country.

Marik arrived at the tomb and scouted out the area and the entrance to the tomb. Finding no traps Marik moved in closer for a closer inspection. Marik was at the entrance inspecting the door when he heard movement behind him. Spinning around Marik found himself surrounded by 100 soldiers. Marik's eyes widened realising it was a trap. One walked forward dressed more glamorously so Marik figured he was the boss, a General, as glamorously as a General could.

"Surrender and your life for now will be spared." The General said. "Place all weapons on the ground and turned to face the door with your hands up."

Marik growled looking around trying to find a way out but the soldiers had learnt over time and had left no way for Marik to escape. Marik glared at them all and removed all his weapons and placed them on the ground before turning to the door with his hands up. Marik grunted as he was quickly restrained painfully before being forced with the soldiers back to the capital.

"Your thieving days are over. You will be put on the next available boat and shipped out. The new King has given the orders for when you were captured, that was if you were captured alive. You will no longer be our problem and will be forced to work as a slave to some other country or die." The General said.

Marik said nothing as he was hit over the head and passed out.

"...after that I woke on a slave ship chained up really well that even I couldn't escape and was there for who knows how long." Marik finished.

Mariku had wrapped his arms around him and they were held around him extremely tightly but not enough to hurt him. He knew Marik was having trouble through most of his story.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 44 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Hope you enjoyed it. Please review.