With the recent news from FFN about them working on updating the site, keep in mind that should this get 'lost' or 'purged', you can still read this on AO3 under the same author name (Sesshy380). I am working on changing up the formatting for AO3 chapters so that they will still be combinations of FFN chapters, but easier to leave at certain points then resume at a later time.

"I love you'

Marik's heart was still beating rapidly in his chest. He still couldn't believe that in the moment of things, he'd actually said those words out loud. It didn't matter though. Something inside had told him they needed to be said right at that moment. He'd meant it too. His feelings towards Kat were unlike anything he'd ever felt with anyone. He loved his siblings, even though the words 'I love you' had never been uttered between them. It had always been implied. Even so, he didn't feel towards them the same things he felt towards her.

'I won't say it back'

Marik's heart had fallen a bit as Kat explained that she wouldn't say those words back, but he understood. They were words she had probably spoken more times than the years she had been alive, each time to someone who had taken them for granted. Kat had been in love with Atem, but had he been in love with her in return? Looking down at the girl that walked beside him, Marik began to wonder how deep the emotional scars ran. How much pain and suffering had the Pharaoh caused her over the millennia? How many more things were there that triggered events like the one he had just seen? During their first outing, he had questioned why she would raze a city because someone had said or done something to upset her. He wondered if something similar to the events of earlier had occurred in each of those instances.

Marik continued to look down at his girlfriend, smiling softly as the three words formed in his mind that had formed each time he looked at her. The same three words that had been forming repeatedly since his encounter with Apep in the kitchen. He leaned down just enough to place a small peck on the top of her head. "I love you," he said for the second time today.

Kat stared straight ahead, her step not hesitating or faltering as she continued to lead the way with him by her side. "So you've said," she said casually. "Unfortunately I can't bring myself to say those words back to you. I can say them to my loved ones, and to a very small degree, Atem, but not to you. Not in the context in which you have said them."

Marik's heart fell again. She could say them to Atem, but not to him? "What do you mean you can say them to Atem? He's the one that made it hard for you to say those words in the first place," he said in a slightly bitter tone.

"I don't say them in the same context. I love him as an old friend, and nothing more. He is my Ibib, but in name only. He no longer captures my heart. He is not Sehedj-ib…" Kat trailed off, turning her head away slightly.

"Sehedj-ib? 'The one who gladdens the heart'?"

Kat turned an eye up at him, chuckling lightly. "At least I know your Kemetic is decent. Yes. I have found a new Sehedj-ib, though I still prefer 'gamiil'. It suits you," she said with a playful smile.

Marik couldn't help but smile and chuckle. Hearing her say that about him made his heart swell again, those three words forming in his mind the more he looked at her, causing his heart to swell even more. He felt his heart would explode at any moment, confetti and glitter spewing forth to show the whole world how he felt. In a moment of sudden spontaneity, he quickly pulled Kat towards him, spinning her so that she was facing him, picking her up and crushing his mouth against hers. She went wide-eyed for the briefest moment, then giggled while giving into the kiss.

Atem hesitated from popping another piece of popcorn into his mouth as he watched the couple up ahead playfully kiss and flirt with one another for a moment before continuing on to their destination.

"Doesn't that bother you?" he questioned the Ishtari beside him while contorting his face to show his disgust of the couple's public displays of affection.

Malik peered into the bag in his hand for a moment, then tipped it upside-down and watched as a few unpopped kernels fell out onto the ground. "Not really," he replied casually, crushing the small bag and stuffing it into a pocket.

Atem gave him a curious glance. "It doesn't bother you at all that your son is dating the woman you were once betrothed to?"

Malik glanced down, eyes narrowed as he growled a warning from deep within his chest. "You are no longer Pharaoh, and I am no longer obligated to protect you. Keep that in mind when choosing which topics you choose to bring up with me."

Atem was taken aback at the warning that the Ishtari had issued towards him. He swallowed hard, but pressed on. "If I may ask, why do you find the idea so abhorrent? You obviously chose to-"

"I chose to do my job," Malik interrupted, his eyes narrowing even further. "I am Ishtari, I am a protector, a guardian. I did what I felt was necessary for my clan, nothing more. As far as watching my ka-ib with another, it is not the first time. Do not forget: It was I that guarded your bedchamber. You did not seem concerned then whether or not it bothered me," he stated sharply.

Atem paled. He'd forgotten about that. He looked ahead at the couple that was still being sickeningly flirtatious with one another. "Do you ever wish that were you?" he wondered aloud.

"It does not matter. I only wish for her to be happy. I wish for the pain in her heart and tears in her eyes to fade from existence. I am not capable of doing such, so I gladly step aside so that another can," Malik stated, looking ahead at the couple as well.

Atem hung his head. "It was wrong of me to take her from you. I should have just given my blessing like you wanted."

"Wanted," Malik spat the word. "I was never permitted to want. As an Ishtari, it was forbidden. I was not permitted to have my own mind, to make my own choices, to have a life of my own. I was to follow you, keep you safe. The only thing I was permitted to 'want', was the 'want' to die in service to you," he said bitterly. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath in to recompose himself. He released the breath and re-opened his eyes once he felt he could keep his bitterness towards the Pharaoh in check. "It is best to not bring up the past. It is done. All we can do is move forward and try not to repeat our mistakes."

"Is that why you refuse to acknowledge your heir? Do you feel that doing so will cause you to form an attachment towards him like with Katrina? Do you feel that your attachment towards her was a mistake?"

Malik glanced down in mild shock momentarily, re-steeling his expression and looking ahead immediately after. "Why do you ask me about things that do not concern you? I acknowledge Marik is my heir, nothing more. I am not you. I don't get 'attached'. There is no point. I have allowed myself to make that mistake twice, both times-…" He winced at a memory, then looked away slightly. "I'll not allow myself to make that same mistake a third time."

Silence lingered between the two for a moment before Atem spoke again. "Do you blame me? For everything that's happened? If I'd nev-"

"No." Malik interrupted. "Do I blame you for her pain and tears? Yes. For everything that's happened over the years? No." He cast his gaze downwards. "I blame myself. Katrina follows the trail of circumstance back to you. She forgets, or perhaps ignores, the events that led her to even being allowed within the palace walls in the first place."

Atem glanced over, taking note of the Ishtari's downcast expression. "I don't understand? How would you be at fault?"

Malik's head fell even further forward. "I shouldn't have strayed down that side alley. I wouldn't have encountered the cobra...or her. Her mother would never have carried me back to the palace, and Akhenamkhanen would have never seen the courtesan, which means he would never have invited her to perform. Katrina would have never set foot inside the palace, and you would have never met her."

This trail of thought had never occurred to Atem before. All this time, he'd had Malik to thank for meeting Kat, and how did he repay him? By taking the one thing Malik had dared to 'want'. He'd made things even worse by repeatedly shoving it in the Ishtari's face.

"You shouldn't blame yourself. We've all made choices that have led us here, and not all of those choices were well made. You simply took a different route. You chose to create an heir. Mine were created simply because I had said something in anger," Atem commented, looking sullenly downward.

Malik lifted his gaze, and glanced over towards the despondent Pharaoh. "I chose, yes...but out of a sense of obligation. Had I truly chosen for myself, and not another, Marik would not be here."

Atem looked upwards towards the Ishtari. "So you regret your choice?"

Malik looked ahead, contemplating. "I do not know yet. I am...conflicted. I made a choice of obligation, but the result...it left me feeling something I had not encountered before. My mind was left weak in the confusion. Ra obviously took advantage of this, as he admitted to earlier. He wasn't aware of the reason, he simply saw an opportunity to get rid of the Runt and myself and took it." He sighed heavily. "He made me betray my ka-ib. I hurt her in the same way you did. When I was finally myself again, I felt I could do nothing to make up for that betrayal." He lowered his gaze again. "Somehow, the reason I betrayed her, is now the very reason she smiles again. It is confusing. And the boy: He was terrified of me…I saw it in his eyes. Now he waits for something I do not know how to give. Why? What reason could he possibly have? I have done nothing to garner such a change in how he suddenly views me."

"Have you tried asking him? I'm certain there's a reason." Atem suggested.

"I...am afraid to…"

"Why?"

"I do not like the confusion I feel. What if I am simply left feeling more confused?"

"Then you will never have an answer and the confusion you currently feel will never go away." Atem stated.

Malik glared warily down at Atem. "Do I know you? You remind me of a Pharaoh I once protected. That can't be right? He only used his wisdom when discussing matters that involved keeping his kingdom at peace. One on one though, he was a pretentious dick."

Atem stared in blank shock for a moment. He was used to Bakura, and even Kat, calling him rude and offensive things, but he'd never heard it come from Malik.

"What?" Malik questioned towards Atem's expression. "You stole my betrothed and forced me to stand guard outside your room each night. I was then forced to remain silent as you snuck off to be with others. You didn't honestly think that I thought that highly of you?"

A blush formed across Atem's cheeks at realizing how much the Ishtari had seen and heard during his years as Pharaoh. He swallowed hard at the realization. "I would apologize, but I don't think the words 'I'm sorry' are going to cut it."

This prompted a smirk from Malik. "No, but it's a start. I wouldn't say 'no' to some groveling either...if you really want to sell the idea that is."

Atem's face fell a bit, then he chuckled. "Who knew you had a sense of humor?"

"Who said I was joking?" Malik stated devilishly, picking up his pace to catch up with the couple ahead.

Atem stared after in puzzlement for a moment, then broke into a jog to catch up. "Wait, you actually want me to grovel?"

Malik simply gave him another smirk as a reply.

"You still owe me," Marik said playfully while leaning down and nuzzling the top of his girlfriend's ear.

"Stop it!" Kat giggled, playfully trying to escape his grasp as he continued to tease her. "I'll make it up to you later, I promise!"

"Mmm...I'm going to hold you to that," he said seductively.

"Gods, gamiil, and I thought I was bad around the full moon."

Marik perked up a bit, glancing down at her with a questioning look. "What's that supposed to mean?"

A tinge of pink formed across Kat's cheeks. "Well...how do I put this? You have a sister...and so I'm going to assume you know about that thing that comes around each month…"

Marik's playfulness quickly vanished. "Oh...that."

Kat's cheeks went from pink to red. "Yeah, that. So...I don't have that...but being...um...kinda like an actual animal...I have...something a bit different..."

A cool breeze blew past them, accompanied by the smell of burning tobacco. Both looked ahead to see Bakura leaning casually against a nearby building, taking a long drag from a cigarette. He glanced knowingly in their direction, smirking.

"She essentially goes into heat like any other female animal, only it's on a monthly basis and it's conveniently synchronized with the full moon. She's not fertile by any means, but she still feels the extreme need to mate around this time," the other elemental explained, his smirk widening into his signature grin.

Kat placed a palm over her face to hide it. "I hate you some days…"

Bakura chuckled tauntingly. "I know. Payback's a bitch, ain't it?"

Marik glanced down at his girlfriend again, then smirked devilishly. He leaned in close, speaking quietly into her ear. "So does this mean you're going to make me your sex slave this weekend?"

Kat's eyes widened, raising a single brow at her boyfriend in a mixture of shock and amusement. "I don't think you would last long enough, no offense," she replied with a playful smirk.

"I'll give it my best shot," Marik continued to tease.

"Oh, c'mon! Can't the two of you do this shit elsewhere?" Bakura asked in a surge of annoyance.

"You did it. I wasn't going to put my monthly problem so bluntly," Kat stated nonchalantly.

Bakura simply rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Talk about weekend-long fucking, later. The shop's about to open."

Marik looked towards the storefront, seeing that it appeared to cater to finely tailored suits and high-end casual wear. He could see what he assumed to be the building's proprietor coming towards the front, ready to open his business for the day.

His eyes nearly bulged as the face of the young man got closer to the building's entrance, the light of the early morning catching his chestnut curls and hazel-green eyes through the front window. That was all Marik needed to see to know that the proprietor was a literal living 'Statue of David' in appearance, and he came to a very stark realization that 'Remus' was in fact someone he already knew...on a very intimate basis.

"Um, I think I heard Malik call for me. I'm going to go see what he wants," Marik said nervously, trying to squirm his way away from being seen through the window.

"I didn't call for you?" Malik commented, appearing behind the smaller Ishtar and looking at him in confusion.

Marik turned and scowled up at him. "You. Me. Talk. NOW." he said sharply.

Malik still appeared confused, but followed the smaller Ishtar back a ways and around the corner of a building.

Marik peeked around the corner. "Can the other two hear us from here?"

"Only if they focus. I doubt either will. Ka-ib will probably respect your need for privacy. The Runt is most likely too focused on getting inside," Malik replied.

"I'll have to take your word for that." Marik quickly turned on Malik, pointing a finger in his face.

"Why didn't you warn me that we were going to be seeing Remi Mannaro!?" he shouted in an accusatory tone.

Malik stared in puzzlement, realization slowly forming across his face. "Oh...shit…"

"'Oh shit' is a bit of an understatement!"

"Just because some of your memories are imprinted onto my own, doesn't mean when I think of something, your memories appear along with them! When we come here, I know we are coming to see 'Remus', not 'Remi'. I know he goes by both names, but...it doesn't click into my mind that way. I quite literally did not make the connection!" Malik shouted defensibly.

Marik grabbed his fists into his hair in frustration. "You at least knew what he looked like! You're telling me you didn't picture 'Remus' and realize 'Hey, that's Remi'!"

Malik stared dumbfoundedly. "Uhhh…."

"Gods! The Pharaoh's an idiot! His Ishtari's an idiot! I'm just surrounded by fucking idiots!"

"Hey!" Malik shouted, his eyes narrowed while growling a warning.

Marik narrowed his eyes back. "I can't fucking go into that building, and you know it. Remi will tear me apart."

"Literally."

Marik paled. "What?"

"This close to the full moon, he would tear you apart, literally."

Marik wrinkled his nose in confusion, trying to understand what Malik meant. "Oh fuck," he said in realization. "Remus Mannaro. He lives and operates out of the Godaeshan district," he continued, placing a palm over his face. "He's Remus as in 'Romulus and Remus'...isn't he?"

"Yup," Malik said casually.

"And 'Mannaro' is the Italian word for 'werewolf'…"

"Yup."

"That's why the Millennium Rod didn't work on him…"

"Yup."

"And I stole his fucking yacht…"

"That was extremely stupid on your part."

"You think I don't realize that!" Marik shouted in extreme annoyance, removing his hand from his face. He ruffled his hand through his hair. "Gods, what am I going to do? I can't just not go in there, Kat will start asking questions." A sudden thought occurred to him, making him pale. "How well does Kat know Remi?"

"They're good enough friends. They like to meet up on a regular basis and gossip over a few glasses of wine."

Marik hung his head forward in defeat. "I was afraid of that. Which means if she brings up my name, Remi will tell her everything…"

"If it makes you feel any better, he so much as bares a fang or claw in your direction, ka-ib won't hesitate to tear into him," Malik stated, attempting reassurance.

"Ugh. Ancient Pharaohs, descendants of gods, and now werewolves...why am I even surprised anymore?"

"Because you spent most of your life living with a cult underground?"

"And whose fault is that?" Marik chastised bitterly.

"I messed up, is that what you want to hear?!" Malik scowled.

"Yes...no...I don't fucking know!" Marik replied in extreme irritation. "Argh! We'll deal with that shit later! Not that you fucking care! Right now, I have the more pressing matter of I stole a fucking yacht from a werewolf, who just so happens to be good friends with my girlfriend. To make things worse, the people I paid to bring the yacht back to said werewolf...which I had no clue was a werewolf to begin with...were fucking pirates and they made off with the damn thing! So now, I gotta go face him and pray he doesn't try to rip me to shreds!"

Malik stared boredly down at the smaller Ishtar. "And I thought I had problems."

"Don't even go there. Majority of my problems come from a certain Pharaoh being an idiot. The other portion of my problems stem from a certain Ishtari being an idiot."

"I'm not an idiot," Malik growled. "I've made mistakes, yes...but at least I know I've made them. The Pharaoh has been nothing but oblivious to the mistakes he's made. Call him an idiot all you like, but do not view me as being even remotely the same."

Marik groaned irritably. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with." He turned, slowly making his way back to where they had left the others.

Knowing how Battle City Marik was, and with no explanation on how/where he got his boat, I like to assume he stole it lol.

I don't know Italian. The most Italian I actually know comes from Assassin's Creed. I'm praying the all mighty Google has translated the word 'werewolf' accurately.

Yes, I am aware that in the story of Romulus and Remus, Remus died. This is an AU. Remus is alive because he only pretended to 'die'. Also going to pretend that the reason he looks like the Statue of David is because he did some modeling for a certain Renaissance artist, because why not?