Huge shoutout to my amazing sister for putting up with my insanity and becoming my unofficial beta/editor! She helps immensely when I get stuck on trying to find the right word/phrase/etc. She also is a meanie and keeps touching my bold font in Google Docs lol.

Also super excited because my Kotobukiya Yami Bakura figure came in much earlier than expected! Now I have something physical to yell at when my favorite thief is not cooperating during the writing process. For some reason, when I write him as primary PoV, he tends to misbehave and not do what he's supposed to be doing lol.

Atem stared fondly at his former wife as he and Marik followed her and Bakura. She was smiling that smile. His heart tugged at the memories that smile invoked. Days spent riding side-by-side outside of the palace walls, trying to outrun their Ishtari to have a moment that was entirely their own. Playing simple games of hide-and-seek in the garden. Of her running away after she and Bakura had pulled some sort of prank on him, with him chasing after to exact some form of payback. He missed those days.

He wouldn't deny that, regardless of his reluctant agreement to let her go, he still longed to hold her in his arms. His heart ached immensely each time he was forced to watch her give her affections to someone that was not him. Internally, he wanted nothing more than to fight for her. To prove that he was still worthy of her love. But she had made it clear that was not what she wanted.

Atem's head hung low as he began walking behind the pair up ahead. Kat still had Akasa, but for some reason he had never realized it before. Why was that? He tried to think back. He recalled seeing her on horseback many times with his various hosts, only realizing now that it had been the same black Friesian mare that had been originally gifted to him by a foreign guest. How could he have not noticed something so plainly obvious? The answer was right there in front of him: He had never questioned. He hadn't even bothered to really notice. It was simply a horse to him, nothing more. He had never realized that it was something else that she held onto. Something else she favored because of him. He might have been in the early drunk stages the day before, but he still vaguely recalled the fact that everything that he knew about her revolved around him. He began to wonder how much of the woman riding on the thief's back was just her.

"Pharaoh?"

Marik's voice pulled Atem from his thoughts. He glanced over to see a look of mild concern on the Tomb Keeper's face.

"I'm fine. Just thinking," Atem replied to Marik's apparent concern.

Marik appeared doubtful, but didn't question. "If you say so. I can imagine Rome isn't what you remember."

"No, it's not, but the initial shock has passed." Atem cast his gaze downward. "Thank you for your concern by the way, though I am uncertain why you would express it considering the nature of things between us."

Marik glanced over towards Atem. "It's obvious you regret some of the things you've done. If anyone understands regret, it's me. Besides, it's not my place to judge you for your past." He looked forward, smiling softly at the sight of his girlfriend attempting to cheer up her friend, who appeared to become more irritated by the second, by offering to buy him lavish gifts. "Kat was concerned about how you would react to seeing this place for the first time after so long. I think if she weren't more worried about trying to keep Bakura distracted from his own painful memories, she would be the one asking you if you were okay. I have nothing against you personally Pharaoh, I'm just not fond of the way you've handled things since being revived. Even so, that doesn't mean I won't express concern when it's obvious there's something eating at you," he stated earnestly.

Atem looked at Marik in mild surprise while he spoke. "I-...thank you. I mean it." He looked forward again to where Bakura had temporarily stopped to bicker with the tiny elemental on his back before continuing on his way. He smiled softly, letting out a small chuckle of amusement. "I had forgotten how much they liked to purposely irritate one another. It's always been such an odd notion to me."

Marik couldn't help but chuckle as well. "Knowing the both of them, it makes sense. They are like siblings after all."

"That may be so, but I'm certain even you have seen that they do not view their relationship in the same light that you view the relationship between you and Odion," Atem stated with a hint of caution, the smile on his face becoming serious.

"Yes, Bakura's suggestiveness towards her, plus the fact that she told me to my face that she had gone to him for 'relief' the other day, I am well aware of how they view one another. But I also look at it this way: They've had five-thousand years to form something more, yet they didn't...and they still haven't. Kat went to him the other day, and for whatever reason, he refused her. Do I harbor a bit of jealousy towards their current relationship dynamic? Yes. Is there anything I can really do about it? No. I won't ask her to change things between them. It wouldn't be right. Besides, look at them: Do you really think I have to worry about Bakura taking her from me?" he questioned with a dull expression across his face while motioning towards the pair ahead of them.

Bakura had grown tired of whatever Kat vexed him with, resorting to shrugging her forcefully off his back, causing her to land harshly on her backside in the street. A string of rapid Kemetic cursing flew from Kat's mouth, accompanied by her shaking a fist towards the elemental that had sauntered off and left her behind. She stood quickly, took off at a running pace, then decked Bakura in the back of the head, causing him to fall forward on his knees.

"Fucking bitch! That hurt!"

"Good! Serves you right!"

The three figures that had been following all groaned in unison.

"I don't wanna know," Marik commented unenthusiastically at the spectacle that had begun to unfold.

Bakura was back up on his feet, his nose nearly touching Kat's as the two stared off against one another.

"I said I was fucking sorry! I fucking forgot! I could have been a bitch and just let you deal with that shit on your own!"

"Maybe you fucking should have! I don't need you jumping to my fucking rescue every fucking time it happens! I don't get why you care enough to even bother! You shove me aside any other fucking time!"

"When did I shove you aside?!"

"Back when we were kids for starters! You shoved me aside for that fucking asshole! Then you shoved me aside for fucking Mal! And now you're doing again with the fucking Tomb Keeper!"

Kat pulled her face back from his, clearly shocked.

Atem leaned in towards Marik, speaking quietly. "You were saying?"

"Shut up," Marik scowled, speaking quietly in return. "I'm still not worried."

Kat hung her head slightly, averting her gaze from the one that still stared bitterly towards her. "I didn't realize you felt that way. I didn't mean to make you feel as though I pushed you aside. It seems I've done that with a lot of people though," she said in a near whisper. "I did it with Set too, and look how that turned out."

The bitterness on Bakura's face quickly faded, his expression softening. "Stop blaming yourself for Set. That's not your fault."

"You weren't there!" she shouted, her eyes flashing with the bitterness she felt towards herself. "You didn't see what-…" Kat looked down at her palms, her eyes widening as she began to shake. "You didn't see it….you weren't there….no one…was…there…" she said quietly in a panicked voice. She tightly closed her eyes, grasping at her head as tears began to stream down her face.

Bakura's eyes went wide with fear and panic, turning quickly towards the others. "Mal! Get them away from here!"

He had barely finished his words when Kat inhaled a lungful of air...and screamed.

Marik had heard that scream before. It was exactly the same as the one from the memory he had been drug into. It made his heart constrict, as if he could feel the pain of the one the scream came from.

A blazing inferno burst forth from where the tiny elemental had been standing. Bakura quickly vanished and reappeared beside the others, trying to escape being caught up in the flames. The inferno grew...and grew...and grew. The street was now filled with flames that danced dangerously close to the buildings on either side, and was spreading at an alarming rate towards the group.

"It's times like this, I wish we knew someone with control over water…" Bakura stated nervously, his eyes staring fearfully towards the reds, oranges, and yellows that danced and stretched, reaching outwards to take hold of anything and everything within its grasp.

As the blaze continued its dangerous pace towards them and the nearby buildings, a light rain began to fall. It seared and sizzled as it came into contact with the fire below, but it helped contain the fire's spread.

Bakura looked skyward, wondering what god they were in good enough with that would have been kind enough to offer them aid in the form of rain.

Atem looked skyward as well. He felt something familiar with the droplets that fell from the sky. He subconsciously placed the tips of his fingers lightly to his chest, right where the scar from Set's dagger was located. A deep, sorrowful ache filled his chest. If he had shed a tear from the pain he suddenly felt, it had been hidden by the rain that fell on his face.

The flames slowly died down, leaving behind only the flame elemental standing in the streets. She stood tall, her eyes closed as the rain washed over her. Kat never knew why, but the rain always calmed her. It always felt as though the rain itself was embracing her, saying things to her in a language she rarely heard anymore.

Atem noticed something out of the corner of his eye and turned his head to look. There was a side-alley off to his left, and in its shadows stood what appeared to be a large white dog. Atem squinted his eyes, trying to see it better. The 'dog' was mottled with scars that could be seen where the fur no longer grew due to the trauma the flesh had received. The creature narrowed its eyes at Atem. Emerald green eyes that Atem felt he recognized. No...he didn't feel it. He knew he recognized them. The beast smirked knowingly, then vanished in a flurry of...snow? A shadow moved just off to the side of where the 'dog' had been. Atem turned, wanting to take a closer look. The shadow suddenly came alive, flying at him. He brought his hands up instinctively to protect his face. The shadow battered its wings against his raised arms, then flew upwards, taking on the form of a raven as Atem watched its ascent. The bird circled overhead, calling out an unmistakable 'kraa', the rain letting up simultaneously, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

"A raven? That is not a good omen," Malik commented in regards to the black bird above.

"What do you mean?" Marik questioned.

"Ravens are seen as tricksters and omens of death," Malik replied.

The bird circled once more before flying away.

Bakura had taken to looking skyward at the bird as well before it had flown off. "You forgot to mention that they also symbolize metamorphosis and transformation, that they are able to deliver messages from beyond time and space, and that they can also be guides; leading those who are lost to a place where they can be found."

Malik looked at the other elemental, scowling in disagreement. "Ravens bring nothing but bad luck. Every time one appeared before a Colosseum match, we knew it meant someone was fated to die that day."

"You have your opinions of them, I have mine. I have yet to encounter anything bad by seeing a raven," Bakura replied, his face bearing a similar scowl.

While the two elementals bickered about the meaning behind the appearance of the bird, Atem turned his attention back towards the flame elemental. She appeared momentarily calm and at peace, something he wasn't certain he had ever seen her express before. If he had, it was most likely something else he had been too ignorant to notice. Even though he'd only recently been revived and had his memories restored the day prior, he realized he saw more now, than he had over the past five millennia.

He hesitantly stepped forward, wanting to embrace his former wife, wanting to show her that he still cared. He wanted her to know that despite the way things currently were between them, he would still be there to comfort her. In his moment of hesitation, however, Marik had already rushed up to Kat, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace.

After a long moment of embracing his girlfriend, Marik pulled back, looking down into her eyes, still holding onto her. "Habibty, are you okay?" he asked, his concern for her current state written across his face.

Kat lowered her gaze, and turned her head off slightly to the side. "I'm fine,' she said in a near whisper. "I had hoped that you would never see me like that."

"It's okay. I understand. Atem told me about Set...and what everyone believes happened."

Her breathing became heavy as she tried to hold back the small wave of emotion that had arisen. "I've never said it...I've never told anyone...but they're right. What they assume…" she fought back the tears. "...it's true…"

Marik began to pull her in close again, but as he did, Kat began to pull away. He held tight however, and she relented, resting the side of her head on his chest. He placed his head on top of hers, closing his eyes as he held her tight. "I understand. If something had happened to either Ishizu or Odion during Battle City, I don't think I could ever forgive myself. I can only imagine the pain you must still hold. As it is, when you screamed, I could swear I felt that pain. I didn't understand what Malik meant before when he said he could feel your emotions, but now I kinda get it. No wonder he attacked me back in Domino. If our roles had been reversed, I would have probably done the same."

Kat grasped his shirt tightly, her nails slightly digging through the material and scratching against his chest. "Why are you like this? Why are you still here?" she questioned, her voice sounding sad and confused. "Why are you so patient and understanding with me? You keep explaining it, but I still don't fully understand. If it were Atem-"

Marik pulled her away quickly, startling and surprising her. He forced her to look at him, staring hard as he did. "I'm not Atem," he interrupted. "I will never be Atem. I don't know exactly what he did to you throughout the millennia to make you question a person showing patience and understanding, but I can assure you, I'll never be like him in that regard. Forgive me for saying this at such an early stage in our relationship, but I love you, and I want to see you someday not even question my reasoning for not running just because you turned into a giant cat or tried to burn a place down. At this point, you could rip out a man's throat in front of me and I still don't think I could find it in me to leave you. I don't know why either. I just know that every time you question why I'm still with you, the very thought of me leaving you makes me sick to my stomach."

Kat's eyes went wide and fearful at hearing the words 'I love you'. She hardly registered any of the words that followed. "I won't say it back," she stated sharply, her voice still quiet.

Marik appeared confused.

"You can say those words to me a hundred-million times...I refuse to say them back…"

A small tear escaped from the dam they lingered behind.

"Habibty, what are you talking about?" Marik puzzled.

"I won't fucking say 'I love you' back! Not in that aspect! I refuse!"

Marik's expression softened, and he placed his forehead to hers. "That's fine. I won't ask you to."

Her breathing became heavy again, the tears she held back making their way forth as she practically leapt upwards, crushing her mouth to his. She took hold of his face, never wanting to let go of the one that made her feel the way she felt at this very moment. She felt so much, but she didn't know the words for the things she felt. She was...relieved? Was that it? No. It was something similar, but she wasn't certain what. Kat wasn't certain what this thing she felt was, all she knew was that she had felt it multiple times since being with Marik. Each time she had felt it, it had been in a moment similar to this one. A moment where she felt confused and afraid. A moment where she secretly feared he would leave. Even when he had gotten upset with her, he still stayed beside her.

Atem would have turned his back and walked away.

Watching the display of affection that took place between Marik and Kat left Atem feeling as though his heart were breaking again. He hung his head, feeling the tears that wanted to both spring forth freely and at the same time remain hidden. That should have been him. He should be the one standing where the Tomb Keeper currently stood. He should be the one whose arms held the woman he still loved protectively.

"I won't fucking say 'I love you' back! Not in that aspect! I refuse!"

Atem lifted his head towards the shouting voice of his former wife. She wore a pained expression across her face. He wondered what she had meant by those words. Had Marik professed his love to her? If so, why would she refuse to reciprocate those feelings? She was obviously happy with the Tomb Keeper. Could it be possible that she still held lingering feelings towards him? Was there still hope for the two of them?

"Ugh. Get a room already," Bakura said, rolling his eyes, interrupting Atem's thoughts.

Atem refocused his gaze, his heart sinking again as he took in the two passionately kissing one another. He turned away, his head hanging again.

"Where is this place we're supposed to be going to? I wish to get there, and leave as soon as possible. I already grow weary of this place," Atem stated bitterly.

"You know what, for once I'm gonna agree with you on something. I just wanted to fucking hurry up and get something that's more me, not spend all day dealing with this PTSD bullshit," Bakura growled.

"Thief, you started the 'PTSD bullshit'," Atem scowled bitterly.

"How the fuck was I supposed to know about the damn crematorium!? I've been gone for the past fifteen years!"

"I don't understand why it even bothers you?!"

"Sorry, didn't realize my issues were such a huge fucking inconvenience for Mister High-and-Mighty!"

"Gods Bakura, I have a fucking name!" Atem shouted, extremely irritated with the pale elemental.

"And I already told you, fuck off! You're nothing in my book but one huge, fucking, Asshole!" Bakura growled.

"Stop calling me an Asshole!"

"Suck my fat cock and maybe I'll consider it!"

Atem paled, his anger being quickly replaced by repulsion.

Bakura paled just as quickly, realizing that his choice of words in the light of certain events came across differently than how he had meant them.

"I didn't mean it like that...so stop thinking about it," he stated sharply.

"It's not something I would even consider anyway. It's beneath me," Atem replied in a similar tone.

Bakura raised a brow in curiosity. "Beneath you? Are fucking saying you've never sucked cock?"

Atem scowled. "Not that it matters, but no, I haven't. Why would I?"

"Wow...and I thought I was a narcissist. I at least took interest in making certain my romantic partners were completely satisfied. You on the other hand are apparently a bigger thief than myself."

"How so?" Atem questioned bitterly.

"For starters, you took something from me...and I don't take kindly to being stolen from. I watched only as much of that video as you did, but if you didn't give in return, that makes you worse than me."

Atem looked affronted. "I didn't take a damned thing from you," he said sharply.

"Wrong. Ryou was still chaste..."

It took a second, but Atem finally caught on to what he had 'stolen' from Bakura. "Oh…"

"That's it? Just 'Oh'? Really? That's something you can't just fucking give back! If I had wanted to do away with it, it would have been with her!" Bakura stated sharply, pointing towards the couple a ways away from them. "She fucking came to me that night after the park…and we nearly did…but I wasn't fucking ready! This body, no one has rights to what happens to it! Not even me! And you…! You just took and didn't even give in return! Argh! Knowing that pisses me off even more!"

Atem wasn't certain if it was confusion that he was currently feeling, or something else entirely. He was beyond puzzled by Bakura's outburst though. "Are you mad that all I did was have drunk sex with you...because you sound very disappointed that there wasn't...more." Admitting their encounter out loud made his stomach flop.

A tinge of pink formed across the elemental's cheeks. "W-what?! No! I'm just….frustrated that...bah! Nevermind!" He gestured sharply in dismissal and marched off.

Atem continued to stare in puzzlement, uncertain what was going through the elemental thief's mind. He was startled by a light tap on his shoulder, causing him to turn quickly in response.

"Um...are you two done with your lover's spat?" Kat questioned, looking nearly as confused as he was.

Atem's face fell. "It wasn't a 'lover's spat'. Honestly, I don't have the slightest clue as to what it was."

He glanced down at the arm that was wrapped about Kat's waist, trying his best to ignore it. "What about you? Are you doing okay? You were shouting a few minutes ago. Marik hasn't done something to upset you has he?" he asked with both concern and a hint of hope, while glaring a warning towards the Tomb Keeper (who did the same in return).

Kat saw through him. "Everything is fine," she replied with a scowl. "I just have a lot of emotional bullshit to work through because of you, and for some insane reason he's volunteered to help me dig through it."

Atem appeared offended. "You can't blame me for all your problems."

"Oh really? You can't even name a single thing I like that doesn't somehow revert back to you," she said tauntingly.

Atem opened his mouth to retort, but found there was nothing to say. She was right. He hung his head slightly, looking away. "Can we just get going. I wish to return h-..."

He was about to say '...home as soon as possible', but he began to wonder...was it really his home? It had been intended for him, but there was nothing there for him aside from things that had been saved or replicated simply for his own comfort. No. Egypt was no longer his home. Nowhere was home to him anymore.

"I want a place of my own. I don't wish to live in the recreated palace," he stated pointedly.

Kat appeared surprised by his statement, but nodded. "Very well. It will be a few days though. If you like, you can stay at my house in Domino."

Atem nodded in agreement. "That will be fine until another arrangement can be made."

Kat looked off into the direction the pale elemental had gone off in. "It appears Kura has left us behind. Try to keep up," she stated, then began leading the way, Marik at her side.

Atem hung his head again, distracted this time only by the sound of...soft crunching? He raised his head, glancing over and staring in perplexion at the Ishtari that was standing off to the side, not far from where everyone had been moments before. "What the…?"

Malik looked down at a small bag of popcorn in his hand, then up towards Atem. "I missed breakfast. They had some a few blocks over. Figured why not?" he said nonchalantly with a small shrug. He looked down at the bag, then back towards Atem again. "Want some?" he asked, holding the bag out in offering.

Atem stared blankly for a moment, then casually shrugged. "Sure," he replied, taking a small handful from the bag and popping a few of the puffed kernels into his mouth as he followed the pair up ahead.

Sorry, had to include someone doing a 'popcorn' moment while Bakura and Atem had their little 'spat'. Things will only continue to become more interesting between the two.