Bakura walked through the door, a bag in each hand from the market. He closed the door and took the bags to the kitchen.
He sensed Marik behind him. "Hey Kura . . ."
"Yeah?" Bakura turned and looked at Marik over his shoulder as he unpacked groceries.
"I . . . have a surprise for you." Marik flashed him a guilty grin.
Bakura narrowed his eyes. "What kind of surprise?"
"Well, a present really."
He set a bag of chickpeas on the counter and turned around. "Why?"
"Because I wanted to, stupid. Close your eyes."
Bakura did as he was told and felt Marik's hand tugging him forward. He walked blind down the hall and towards their room. "Is this necessary, Marik?"
"No, but it is more fun this way. Almost there. Don't hit the door frame. Okay. Stand there."
He felt Marik shift, moving from in front of him to behind him. "Open your eyes."
Bakura opened his eyes, and then covered them with his hand as if to un-see the gift. "Oh no. Why did you buy me another one?"
"I . . ." Marik turned away. "Missed having something small around the house."
Bakura smirked. "Mau's still pretty small."
"Shut-up, you know what I meant."
"You really have gone soft on me, Marik." Bakura went to the bed and picked up the bundle of white fur sleeping on their comforter. She had an orange, left ear, and three orange rings on her tail, but otherwise she was white as Bakura.
Marik frowned at the carpet.
Bakura walked up to Marik, holding the kitten over his left shoulder as if burping an infant. She started purring as soon as he rubbed the back of her orange ear.
He used his right hand to cradle the back of Marik's head. "You know, you don't have to look so upset every time I say that."
"But . . . it's true. I have. I know I'm stupid, but I like doing stuff with you, and watching that dumb, tender look on your face when you think I'm not looking, and . . . I mean, it's just I love you so much that—"
Bakura shut Marik up with a series of gentle, delicate kisses. "You're such an idiot, Marik. I said you're soft – I never said I didn't like it."
A small laugh slipped out of Marik's lips. "What are you naming her?"
"White Mage."