Tales of Arabian Nights

Tales of Arabian Nights

Mally-chan and hato chiisai

YAOI WARNING!!!!

Disclaimer: We do not own Yugioh or I Dream of Jeannie. But hato does own Mikado and Ahmose…

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Chapter 10

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Ishizu sighed as she filled out paperwork. FINALLY she was allowed back to see Marik while they filed the release forms. "What the hell is wrong with you!?" she blurted glaring. "How could you just streak through a public building after a total stranger?!" She scolded. "You probably traumatized the poor boy!"

Marik who was sitting on the cot in the corner of the cell in a prison issued uniform, slowly lifted his head from where it was resting in his arms, and stared at his cousin. His eyes were teary and bloodshot. He stared at her a moment, then lowered his face again.

"Miss?" An officer said, walking over to Ishizu. "May I speak with you in private?"

Ishizu nodded and sighed. "Yes of course...." She said following the officer to a more private place. "What was it you wanted?"

"Does your cousin have any history of mental illness?" The officer asked her.

She shook her head. "No... but he has been in a rough time... he just lost a loved one you see... and he... still hasn't accepted it." She explained. "Why?"

"His boyfriend?" the man asked.

She nodded. "Why yes, that was who he lost. Why?"

The officer sighed. "Miss Ishtar, he seems to believe that his boyfriend is alive. Back from the dead. He believed that poor kid he chased around WAS his boyfriend. Traumatized the poor thing. The kid locked himself in the janitor's closet."

Ishizu nodded slowly. "I see... I heard he'd chased some poor kid. I'll send a letter of apology. I'm sure he must have looked a GREAT deal like his lost lover… for him to have done that." She explained. "I'll take him home and talk to him about it. I'm terribly sorry..." She said bowing.

The man nodded. "I understand he's living on his own... I really think that you should have someone stay with him. Or have him stay with you. At least until he seems a bit more stable. I might also consider getting him some psychological help..."

She nodded. "I will if I must... I'm hoping a stay with me and some talking will end the trouble." She said calmly. "Thank you for taking care of him..." she added. "I'll take him home now, if that's alright."

The man nodded and led her out to the cells again, unlocking Marik's and opening it.

"Alright Mr. Ishtar. Time to go home with your cousin." He said. Marik slowly looked up again, looking at Ishizu, then stood and slowly walked out of the cell, eyes to the floor.

She took his arm, thanking the officer once more and leading him out of the precinct. "Why were you chasing him Marik?" She asked softly, the group following them out.

"It... It was Ryou..." Marik said softly, in a small, child like voice. "Ishizu... it was him... I know it... but... he didn't know me..."

Ishizu sighed and kissed Marik's forehead. "I trust you..." She said softly shaking her head. "But you should have known chasing him wouldn't help..." She reasoned. "If it really is Ryou... back from the dead... doesn't it make sense he wouldn't remember you?" She said calmly. "Ahmose didn't bring him back... that would be a reincarnation... IF it is Ryou." She said rubbing Marik's back. "He wouldn't remember anything of his past life... if that's the case."

Marik fought back his tears. "He... doesn't remember me... and I've scared him... he... he'll never want to see me again..."

"If he never wanted to see you again, he would have stayed dead." She said smiling. "He came back JUST for you... he just doesn't remember... I bet if you asked Ahmose you could get him to help you make him remember..." She said motioning to the smiling fire-seer.

Malik nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Then you'll be together and happy again!"

Marik looked up, a faint spark of hope in his eyes. "R-Really?"

"Sure..." Bakura said. "Why not, Marik?"

"But... but what if it ISN'T him?!" Marik asked.

"It is." Ahmose said. "I'm sure of it." Marik looked around at all the others, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

Malik grinned. "I guess it's a good thing you've been in such poor health, imagine how scared he'd have been if you caught him!"

Yugi nodded. "Yeah, this way you can approach him again, slowly and with clothes on... and maybe talk to him!"

Ishizu nodded as well. "Tomorrow you can go back to see him... if you promise to remain calm and apologize for chasing him like that."

Marik nodded. "I... I'll try..." He said, nervously wringing his hands. Ishizu looked down at Marik's hands, and her eyes were drawn to his boney wrists. With a concerned frown, she slowly looked up Marik's thin arms, to his elbow. And there, she finally noticed the damning evidence; the track marks that gave him away as having been injecting himself with heroin.

In an instant there was a deafening SMACK that broke the silence. "MARIK ISHTAR YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE WHEN WE GET HOME!" She screeched, grabbing him by the ear and dragging him into her car.

The entire ride home he suffered swattings and verbal lashings for what he'd done to himself, and once they were home, she kicked his butt (literally) into Malik's room. "And you think about what you've done!" She said locking him in.

Marik frowned and sat on Malik's bed, rubbing his head where he had been smacked numerous times.

"Stupid PMSing witch..." He mumbled. He flopped back onto Malik's bed and tried to sleep, but sleep wouldn't come. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore... he HAD to see Ryou again... He snatched the keys to Malik's motorcycle, opened Malik's window and slipped out. He wheeled the bike down the block, then climbed on and revved the motor, taking off. He arrived soon enough at the bath house. He casually walked past it, glancing in the cafe windows as he passed, looking for the boy.

A flash of white caught his eye as Ryou was conversing with the other waiters, they all laughed and he blushed and shook his head ferverantly. After the chuckle had died down they finished placing chairs atop tables and the lights flicked out. Ryou slowly walked out the side entrance and sighed hanging his head. "What an awful day..." he mumbled softly.

"My first day, and I had to have a nudist weirdo chase me through the bath house..." He pouted. "I've got to stop talking to myself.." he added thoughtfully, beginning his walk home.

Marik silently followed the boy, completely unable to keep his eyes off of him. Ryou arrived at a small apartment complex, and entered one on the bottom floor, closing and locking the door after himself. Marik snuck around the side of the building, and peered in a window, which turned out to be the bedroom.

the window was open a crack, so Marik could hear Ryou still talking to himself.

"ugh...I smell like that awful janitor closet..." he mumbled, tossing his coat on the bed and beginning to undress. "I need a shower..." The shirt fell to the floor and he sat on the bed, beginning to pull off his shoes and socks.

Marik's eyes widened and he held his breath as Ryou removed his apron, and his pants, and Marik smirked; His Ryou wore tightie whities...

Ryou however wrinkled his nose and pulled those off as well, stretching and digging through his closet for some pajamas, and walked from the room.

Marik watched Ryou's every move, sighing and smiling slightly. There was no doubt in his mind now that this was HIS Ryou. His body was the same... he had that scar on his leg from when he had fallen down running through the palace... Marik smiled, remembering that story. Oh, Ryou had been a little pain from the very beginning, apparently. He had wanted to be the FIRST to tell everyone that the prince had lost his first tooth!!!

Ryou entered the bathroom and turned on the shower, waiting patiently for it to become the proper temperature before climbing in. He began his bathing ritual, which from the time he became a genie, had become VERY erotic to watch, even if no one was watching... and this just further proved Marik's theories.

Marik stared, delighted that he could see the shower from the window, and that the shower door was clear, but it soon fogged up, disappointing Marik greatly.

Soon after Ryou stepped out, toweling himself dry and yawning. He fluffed his hair dry and dressed in his pjs, this time commando style. He began brushing his hair in front of the mirror which had de-fogged. After combing the tangles out, he reached into a drawer and pulled out a small brass scarab, and used it to pin back some of his hair behind his left ear.

Marik blinked at the sight of the scarab. That thing was... familiar... He smiled slightly, watching Ryou climb into bed and start to read a book.

As he was reading, he'd reach over to his bedside table and pop a small chocolate into his mouth every so often... all pulled from a heart-shaped box.

Marik frowned and cocked his head... wasn't that the box of chocolates he had given Ryou for his birthday? He looked around the room. There, sitting on the bed next to Ryou was white teddy bear. On the desk, sat two picture books, one about animals, one about famous places in the world. Next to it, was a partially completed puzzle of a cat, and a craft set. A box of legos sat in another corner, and a Chia Pet sat on the dresser. Marik smiled and raised a hand to his face to wipe away his tears. This WAS his Ryou...

Ryou yawned softly and marked his page, folding the book and curling up. He flicked out the light and began sleeping.

Marik whimpered a bit. He wanted to be close to Ryou... hold him... feel him... He frowned and slipped out of the bushes and to the front door. He reached up and felt around over the top of the doorframe. Nothing. He lifted up potted plants and looked under them. Nothing. He lifted up the doormat, and he smiled. There, sat a key. Marik picked up the key and looked around to see that he was alone, then slipped it into the lock, and turned it. The door unlocked, and Marik crept inside. He made his way back to the bedroom, his mind spinning as he inhaled Ryou's scent. He walked into the room and over to the bed, looking down at the boy. Slowly, he knelt and stared, tears of joy welling up in his eyes.

Ryou was fast asleep, cuddled up to his pillow, smiling in his sleep. He hmmed softly in his sleep and hugged the pillow tighter, obviously having a very nice dream.

Marik smiled and sat there for about half an hour, before finally giving in to temptation. He reached out and gently ran his fingers through the boy's hair, then stroked his cheek.

Ryou shivered in his sleep and a blush creeped onto his cheeks. He gave a soft breathy whimper and nuzzled into his pillow.

Marik smiled, continuing to caress Ryou's face, while tears carressed his own. He reached out with his other hand and pet Ryou's hair, lovingly.

The soft blush darkened and Ryou soon nuzzled into Marik's touches in his sleep, giving soft humms of approval.

Marik smiled and slowly leaned closer, lips trembling. He couldn't help himself... he leaned down, and kissed Ryou, ever so softly...

Ryou gave another soft whimper, and his eyes fluttered open. It took him a moment to realize some stranger was in his house... KISSING him in his sleep! He yelped loudly and clamored away, clutching his blankets and staring at Marik. "Oh God..." he whimpered. "Y-you followed me HOME?!"

Marik blinked and stared at Ryou hopefully. "I would follow you to the edge of the world and back... I would follow you in death... but you made me promise not to... Ryou... how? How did you come back?"

Ryou shook his head absolutely terrified. "W-what are you doing here?! I don’t know you!" He backed up to the wall. "Please! Look I...I don’t know you!" he edged along the wall away from Marik. "I just met you today! Why are you following me?!"

Marik fought to stay were he was and not pounce the boy.

"Because... I love you... you loved me, too... you were a genie... do you remember? Me and my friends... we freed you... and you were living with me until you were stolen... and made a genie again... but... they were too greedy and it poisoned you and... you... you died..." Marik said. "And... you left me alone... I would have killed myself, but you made me promise not to... Ryou, please... these last three months without have been hell!!!"

Ryou shook his head. "I've NEVER been a genie! I've lived right here for a LONG time!" He said giving Marik a fearful look. "Ask my landlord! I've been here a long time!" he inched toward the end of the bed. "I've never been a genie, I've never known you and I can assure you I'm not undead!" he squeaked, looking ready to scramble off the end of the bed and run.

"But you're Ryou!!! MY Ryou!!!" Marik insisted, getting to his feet. "I gave you that box of chocolates for your birthday! Yami gave you that puzzle, Ahmose gave you those books, Bakura gave you the Chia Pet..." He snatched up the white bear. "Mikado gave you this!!!"

Ryou shook his head more. "I've had those forever! well except the chocolate. I bought it not long ago." he stammered. "P-please! J-just go away! I don’t know you!"

Marik shook his head. "No... dammit Ryou... I've lost you too many times... when you were stolen... when you died... and then you were stolen and died AGAIN!!! Now you're back and... No! I will NOT loose you again!!! I can't live through it again!!!"

Ryou whimpered. "Why are you doing this to me?! Was I that bad of a waiter?! What's wrong with you?!" He sniffled. "I just want to live in peace! Why are you stalking me and chasing me?! Leave me alone!"

"I can't, Ryou!!!" Marik gasped, approaching the boy. "I love you!!!"

Ryou whimpered, climbing out of the bed, backing towards the door. "P-please...go away..." He whimpered as he backed towards the door. "I don’t know you!"

Marik followed Ryou. "Yes you do!!! That scarab!!! You made that!!! You kept my voice in it when the men who stole you wished for me to be mute cuz I wouldn't stop cursing at them!!!"

"It's a hairpin!" Ryou squeaked. "It doesn't keep voices in it! It keeps HAIR in it!" he scrambled out of the room quickly.

Marik blinked, then bolted after Ryou. "I still have your bottle!!!" He cried. "It's gold!!! With lapis lazuli!!!"

"Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" Ryou wailed, bolting into the living room and scrambling to put the sofa between him and Marik. "I'm NOT a genie! I don’t HAVE a bottle!"

Marik chased Ryou and leapt onto the sofa. "My first wish was for a baby penguin!!!" He cried. "Because I didn't beleive you!!!"

Ryou yelped and darted to the other side of the sofa. "I don’t grant wishes!" he whined. "Stop chasing me! Go away!"

"Ryou! PLEASE remember!!! My cousin did something bad and wished you away! Ahmose found some college kids using your bottle as a bong!!!"

Ryou paused at that to give Marik an incredulous look. "I think YOU'VE been using that bottle for a bong!" he said backing away once more.

Marik leapt over the sofa and lunged for Ryou.

"PLEASE!!! You have to beleive me!!!" He cried.

Ryou yelped stumbling back and falling onto his butt, before scooting across the carpet to get away. "I don’t HAVE to do anything! Go away! You're just a druggie! I don’t sell it! I don’t HAVE any ok?! I don’t have any of that stuff! I cant even buy beer! Just go away!"

Marik dropped to his hands and knees and scuttled after Ryou. "Ryou, please!!!" He gasped. "PLEASE beleive me!!!"

Ryou sniffled, looking too terrified for words. He thought quickly. How could he get this weirdo out without getting hurt?

He swallowed hard and whimpered. "A-alright... I... I'll think about it... c-could you get me s-some water?" he said shaking softly.

Marik blinked, then nodded, getting up. "Where's the kitchen?" He asked, looking around. The place was, after all, dark.

Ryou swallowed hard and backed away slightly, pointing to a nearby walk-in closet. "J-just in there... the light switch i-is on the ceiling fan..."

Marik nodded, scrambling to the door and flinging it open, walking in. He reached up, feeling around for a light string.

Ryou swallowed hard and scrambled forward, slamming the door shut and locking it from the outside.

Marik jumped and turned. "Ryou?" He called, walking over to the door. He grabbed the knob, and rattled it. "Ryou! Hey!!!"

"Y-you just stay in there!" Ryou said, his voice quivering. "I'm g-gonna call the police now..."

Marik's eyes widened. "WHAT?! Ryou!!! NO!!! Come on, Ryou, please!!! Lemme out!!!" Marik cried, banging on the door.

Ryou shook his head at the door. "No! You stay in there! You leave me alone! You're insane!" He said and he picked up the phone. Dials were heard, then he was heard talking to the police in a frantic voice.

Marik whimpered and backed away, finding himself in a closet among coats. He slowly slid to the floor in the corner, hugging his knees. He felt extremely betrayed... that and his cousins would kill him... especially Ishizu when she got a call from the cops to come pick him up for the SECOND time in one night...

Soon enough Ryou hung up and a soft fwump was heard. "And this time LEAVE ME ALONE!" he said kicking the door. "What did I EVER do to you to deserve this kind of harassment?!" He sniffled. "I'm going to ask for a restraining order..." he mumbled sniffling. "Maybe that'll keep you away."

Marik sniffled and fisted his hands in his hair.

"Ryou... why are you doing this?!" He asked. "Please!!! Why won't you beleive me....? Why don't you remember?!"

"Because you're a complete lunatic!" Ryou said stubbornly. "You're a thin, unhealthy, drug addicted, half (if not more) insane Egyptian FREAK who's obviously too high to separate the fiction from the nonfiction!" He scolded. "You've got trackmarks on your arms! You don’t fool me!" Ryou said coldly. "You're a trashy drug addict! I won’t be pulled into that! You take yourself, and your drugs and your sorry mental state and just LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

Marik said nothing in response to that; each comment stabbed into his heart and burned into his very soul. He slowly lowered his head and hid his face in his knees, trying not to cry. Only a few minutes later, there was a pounding on Ryou's front door.

Ryou scurried to the door and answered it leading them to the closet. "H-he's in there. He's crazy..." he mumbled hugging himself. "Get him out of here!"

The door was flung open and Marik yelped at all of the flashlights and guns pointed at him.

"GET DOWN!!!" One officer was yelling. "GET DOWN ON YOUR FACE!!! HANDS WHERE WE CAN SEE THEM!!!" Scared and disoriented, Marik quickly moved to obey. He was frisked, and cuffed, then jerked to his feet.

"Is he wearing a prison uniform?" One cop asked, looking Marik over as he was dragged out of the closet. Marik turned and fixed frantic eyes on Ryou for the few seconds Ryou was within his line of sight.

“Son, you need to come with us to the station to file a report.” An officer said to Ryou.

Ryou sighed nodding to the officers. "I-if I must..." he mumbled and followed the officers out. He got into a patrol car after locking his apartment, and Marik was shoved into the back of the same car.

Ryou shivered softly, looking back at Marik and whimpering, not liking being this close to the psychopath who was stalking him.

Marik looked at Ryou and opened his mouth, but the officer in the back seat with him jabbed him with an elbow.

"Leave him alone." He snapped, and Marik closed his mouth and lowered his eyes. It was a short ride to the station. Ryou was taken into an office, and from there, watched as Marik was booked and finger printed, before being dragged off to a holding cell again.

About 45 minutes later Ishizu arrived, absolutely livid. She was led back to his cell, where the shouting commenced. "MARIK ISHTAR!" she howled glaring. The verbal lashing Marik proceeded to get was so harsh, even a few of the officers had to stifle a chuckle.

Ryou was lead out to the waiting area and he huddled on the chair, sniffling. "Crazy Egyptians..."

A few minutes later, Ahmose and Yami stumbled in, still in their pajamas. Yami still looked half alseep, Ahmose just looked tired and irritated. He glanced at Ryou, then cringed when Ishizu's furious shrieks carried out from the cells. Ahmose looked at Yami.

"I think he's as good as dead..." He mumbled.

"He damn well better be..." Yami grumbled rubbing his eyes. "Because I'll fucking kill him myself..." he grumbled. "it's ass in the morning and I'm NOT ready to be conscious!"

Ryou squeaked at the sight of them and quietly began creeping away. They were from that same table as the freak that was chasing him!

Both immediately turned and looked at Ryou. Ahmose sighed and walked over to a cop, mumbling to him. The officer frowned, then nodded and walked off. He came back a moment later and handed Ahmose something. Ahmose nodded, then turned and walked over to Ryou.

"Ryou?" He asked.

Ryou jumped and whimpered. "Please! Just leave me alone!" He whined loudly.

Yami blinked. "Wow... Marik really scared the poor kid..." He said sitting down near Ryou and shaking his head.

Ahmose knelt before Ryou and held out a wallet. He opened it and a few photos sat in little plastic sleeves. Ahmose flipped them to the middle, and held it up.

"Look." He said calmly. There, in the photo, was Marik. And sitting in his lap, cuddling up to him, was a boy who Ryou would insist was him.

"This is Marik's boyfriend. His name was Ryou." Ahmose said. "Three months ago, he died. And Marik has been a wreck ever since. We're his best friends, and we've hardly seen him. He's become reclusive. He's become an alcoholic. He's become a drug addict. All this since his boyfriend died. The only reason he hasn't committed suicide, is because his boyfriend made him promise he wouldn't."

Ryou bit his lip, taking the wallet and pulling the picture out. "B-but...he looks just like me..." he said softly. "I-is this why he wont leave me alone?" he said giving Ahmose a frightened look. "It's not me.."

Ahmose sighed. "He wants you to be him..." He said softly. "We took him to the Bathhouse to try and get his mind off of his greif. We're TRYING to get him clean... we haven't seen him smile since Ryou died. Not until he saw you."

Ryou sighed softly. Darn his good heart! "I won’t press charges...but you keep him away from me... he was in my house KISSING me in my sleep! God only knows what else he was doing..." Ryou shivered and hugged himself. "The boy in this picture is not me. Before today, I've never met him. I've been living at my apartment and just finishing school!"

Ahmose sighed and nodded. "I don't know if he WILL leave you alone..." He said. "This is the first time he's ever done anything that wouldn't harm him in some way... he's spent the last three months trying to die without actually killing himself, because of his promise. You've given him hope for the first time since Ryou passed."

Ryou gave Ahmose a look. "Breaking into my house and man handling me in my sleep isn't harmful to him in some way? I could get his ass sent to prison for breaking and entering, assault, stalking, and child molestation!! If not statutory rape! He's a bloody psychopath!" Ryou squeaked handing the picture back. "He tells me my things were given to me by people I don’t know, and insists I'm not only undead, but apparently a genie as well! The man's a lunatic! A bloody HIGH lunatic!"

Ahmose sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"Marik Ishtar, you moron..." He muttered, putting the picture back into Marik's wallet. "He's... not been well since Ryou died."

"If by not well, you mean not of the proper mind to be allowed out among the masses!" Ryou said coldly, shivering and hugging himself again. "He insists I'm an undead genie! That he loves me! God that poor boy that loved him must have had a LOT of patience!"

Ahmose sighed. "That's exactly what I mean. He's been reclusive and only goes out at night to marinate himself." He snorted, sitting next to Ryou. "He hasn't been in a healthy state of mind for three months."

Ryou pulled the scarab from his hair. "He insisted I had his voice trapped in this! It's a hairclip! That's all!" he said looking frustrated. "He's higher than a kite, at the very least!" he huffed. "He's a psychopath and probably dangerous! He NEEDS to be kept off the streets."

Ahmose and Yami both stared down at the scarab, eyes wide. They both looked up at each other, then back down at the scarab again.

Yami coughed and gave Ahmose a look, mouthing "I think Marik might actually HAVE something..." as Ryou replaced the scarab in his hair, the small beetle shimmering slightly. Though Ryou could not see it.

"My mother gave it to me before she left my father. It's nothing more than a family trinket."

Ahmose sighed and nodded. "Ryou..." He said hesitantly. "Maybe... maybe sometime... you could talk to Marik? Not alone of course. Me and Yami... we would make sure he didn't over step his boundaries... but... Ryou, we're worried about him. And if you might be the thing to get him to snap out of it, well... as his friend, we can't let this opportunity pass by... he's really very nice... I'm sure if you got to know him, you would understand why he's been acting like this... I know you're afraid of him, but... maybe some day... you could give him a chance? You might be just what he needs to snap out of his... self destructive funk..."

Ryou frowned. "He needs to get over it himself. I'm not his crutch!" he said crossing his arms. "I don’t want anything to do with him! Let alone to talk to him! He's STALKING me!"

Yami frowned. "C'mon, it wouldn't be so bad! Marik's not really a psychopath... he's just desperate... His heart is hurting and all that."

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "Take him out to that boy's grave, and make him take a good hard look!"

Ahmose winced. "There... is no grave..." He said softly. "There was no body... it was... destroyed..."

"How so? Was the poor kid sent through a shredder or something?" Ryou said crossing his arms.

Yami blinked. "Wow... that was a graphic image I could have gone without..."

Ahmose sighed. "He was... incinerated..." He said.

"How? Was he in a house fire?" Ryou asked calmly, not really looking too convinced.

Ahmose sighed. "It was arson. But he was sick before that. And dying. He was supposed to be with us a bit longer, but... the fire... It was a shock. Marik took it really hard. Withdrew into himself."

Ryou sighed. "I don’t care. I'm sorry, but it's not my problem... you need to give that boy a grave, body or not and let him REST. Because I will NOT take his place." He said calmly.

Ahmose winced and sighed, nodding slowly. He turned when an officer walked over.

"Are you going to press charges?" He asked Ryou.

Ryou sighed softly. "No. But I would like a restraining order." he said firmly. "I don’t want to see him in my house again."

Yami winced. "Ouch..." he said giving Ahmose a worried look. "this could...really..." he mouthed looking upset.

The officer nodded. "Alright. Come on, let's get the work done for that." He said, and guided Ryou away. Ahmose looked at Yami, worried.

"We can’t let him get a restraining order!" he said shaking his head. "You saw that thing he had! Isn't that the beetle thing you were telling me he wore while you were imprisoned? Whenever he took Marik's voice?"

About this time Ishizu was lead out, dragging Marik harshly by the ear. "So help me gods if you do this again I'll tie you to the damn bed and beat you until you've gotten to your senses!" she said glaring at him.

Marik was cringing and whining, trying to get her to let him go, especially when he saw Ryou sitting in an office.

"Alright, young man." the officer said, looking at Ryou. "What do you want the distance limit to be. We have it anywhere between ten yards, and two hundred yards. The most common are fifty yards and a hundred yards."

Ryou looked thoughtful. "fifty is fine..." he said calmly. "I'm hoping his friends will get him to leave me alone."

"He's getting a restraining order..." Yami said softly. "You really scared him, he doesn't even want to talk to you!"

Marik's eyes widened. "WHAT?! NO!!! RYOU, PLEASE!!!" He turned and moved to run for the office, but Ahmose and Yami tackled him and held him back. The officer blinked.

"Yyyeah... I think you might need that restraining order..." He said softly, and began helping Ryou fill out the paperwork while Ahmose and Yami dragged Marik out of the precinct and to Ishizu's car.

Ishizu slapped Marik harshly. "Leave that poor boy alone!" she scolded. "He obviously wants nothing to do with you! You're scaring the life out of him!"

Yami sighed. "I think... that might possibly BE Ryou...." he said shaking his head. "But I still don’t really understand why he doesn't remember..."

Ahmose sighed. "I'm going to see if Anubis will explain what's going on..." He said. "If he'll talk to me... I'm kind of in trouble right now."

Yami blinked. "Why not wish it? You've got two genies now." he reasoned. "Just wish to know what's going on!"

Ahmose sighed. "THEY are why I'm in trouble..."

"Might as well put em to use then." Yami shrugged.

"Anubis is mad enough that I made them, he'd be even more angry if I used them to pry into business that is the business of the gods."

"Then I'll do it." Yami said calmly. "I haven’t pissed off the gods in a while."

"I'll think about it..." Ahmose said softly, watching Ishizu put Marik into her car.

Yami nodded. "We have to do something... Marik will break down without him." he said softly. "I mean...look at him..."

Ahmose turned and looked as Ishizu drove away, Marik sobbing into his hands. He sighed. "We'll figure something out..." He said, heading to his own car. He looked at Yami and gave him a small smile. "My place, or yours?"

"How's the car?" he said wiggling his eyebrows and laughing softly.

Ahmose's eyes widened and he turned and stared at Yami with a red face. "Oh no... First, Anubis is already teasing me for being bold enough to let you molest me in the locker room at school!!! AND... NOT in front of the Police Station!!!" And he jumped into the driver's seat.

Yami burst into laughter. "Park then?" he teased. "So...do you think it's really Ryou?" He asked after they'd driven a while. "Or...just a very convienant similarity...?"

Ahmose sighed and looked down. "It's him. There are no such things as coincidences."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I wanna go home..." Marik mumbled after a bit.

Ishizu glared at him. It was two weeks since Ryou had shown up, and she was cooking breakfast. "Well you COULD have gone to see Ryou today… but with the restraining order, now you cant ever see him!" She said coldly. "You cant go within 50 yards of him!"

Marik flinched and looked away, then got up from the table and walked out of the kitchen.

Ishizu sighed and followed, determining she could leave the food for the moment. "Marik..." She said softly. "I'm sorry... but you've GOT to be less reckless... you scared that poor boy senseless!"

Marik just snorted as he pulled his jacket from the closet and put it on.

"Where do you think you're going?" She said giving him a hard look. "Not back out to pester that poor boy are you? If you get arrested again, I'll just leave you there!"

Marik rolled his eyes. "Like I care." He grumbled, and headed for the front door, digging around in his pockets. He pulled out a lighter and began digging in an inner pocket.

She took the lighter away quickly. "And no SMOKING anything!" she said harshly. "It's no wonder you terrified him, you look like the living dead!"

Marik turned and gave Ishizu an annoyed and frustrated look, then just stormed out the door and slammed it behind him, burying his hands into his pockets and ducking his head. It had begun to snow. Being from Egypt originally, the first snow of the season was always something that Marik had looked forward to. But now, he hardly noticed.

Ryou giggled softly as he walked, twirling slightly. Snow was absolutely delightful! He'd always adored snow. There was just something about how it looked after it settled onto houses and trees that enchanted him....

Across the street and down the block, Marik had finally noticed the snow. And for the first time in his life, didn't care about it. He was grumbling under his breath about his cousin taking his lighter. He could really go for a smoke right now, be it cigarette, joint, anything... he didn't care. All he wanted to do right now was go home and drink himself into forgetfulness.

Ryou blinked from his daydreams when he saw Marik walking down the street. At first he hid behind a tree, but when he made no move toward him...he got curious.

Marik turned a corner, never even noticing Ryou on the other side of the street. He was a little over half way home, it was only a twenty minute walk from his cousins.

Ryou blinked and followed quietly. Despite his restraining order, he couldn't help but feel bad for the blonde. Ahmose had made him feel just a bit bad...

Marik was happy when he finally got home. He pulled his keys out of his pocket and walked into the house. Ryou was surprised that this man lived in such a lovely house. It was the kind of house Ryou had dreamed of having.

Inside, Marik sighed and flipped on the lights. He had been living with his cousins for nearly two weeks, and they had made him pay the bills. He looked around at the disaster area that was his front hall, then went to the land fill that was his kitchen. He went over the fridge and opened it up. There, on the shelf, was exactly what he had wanted to find; a lighter, a bottle of rum, and a syringe. He sighed and pulled them out, then went to the living room, turning on the light and plopping down on the sofa. He swept the coffee table clean, and set them all down on the surface. He pulled a few cigarrettes and joints out of his inner pocket and dropped them on the table, too. Then, he sat and stared at them.

Ryou blinked and peered in the window, shocked. He sighed and shook his head, working up the courage to confront this pathetic person. He pushed open the door and frowned. "You should be a-ashamed... " he stammered, trying to look menacing. "There are people STILL in this world who love you... and you sit here wallowing in self pity and destroying yourself over one person that's gone..."

Marik jumped and nearly toppled off of the sofa, whirling. His eyes widened and mouth dropped open when he saw Ryou.

"Y-You... but... The... the restraining order!!! This is MY house!!!"

"I was curious..." Ryou said calmly. "I knew you were nothing but a druggie, but I had hoped your friends would give you enough reason to be less of an ass." He crossed his arms. "You're destroying yourself over ONE person, when there's several who are trying so hard to make life happy for you. You should be ashamed."

Marik blinked, then narrowed his eyes and glared at Ryou, slowly standing.

"That ONE person was my ONE reason for living..." He snapped. "It's been endless pain since I lost him!!! And those… FRIENDS of mine… have you any idea how painful it is for me to be around them, and watch them standing side by side with the ones THEY love?! While I just stand there alone?! I can’t STAND to be near my friends anymore!!!"

"That's the most pathetic thing I've ever heard. Your friends and family aren't worth living for?" Ryou said glaring back. "I feel sorry for that boy who died. I can only imagine what he'd think if he found out you were blindly chasing someone who looked like him around, trying to play off his death." Ryou huffed. "You need therapy."

Marik's look of anger vanished and he just stared at Ryou with a heart broken look, his heart pierced by his words.

"You... you aren't... him...?" He whispered sadly. "But... you are... you have to be!"

"If I was him, I wouldn't be alive!" Ryou said scoldingly. "He's dead! He's not coming back!"

Marik recoiled at that, and turned his back on Ryou, dropping onto the sofa again and hiding his face in his hands.

"Get out!!!" He shouted. "Just... just GO!!!"

"And furthermore! If that boy had the misfortune of coming back, he'd have nothing to come back to!" Ryou said coldly. "A drug addicted pitiful excuse of a boyfriend whose physical health is as pitiful as his mental health, a WASTE of a beautiful home, that's filled with trash, bugs and likely rats AND likely a LOT of heartache. I don’t think he could love something like you." Ryou looked away. "You're skin and bones, trackmarks up and down your arms… you’re a drunk sullen dirty old man!"

"GET OUT!!!" Marik screamed, fisting his hands in his hair, tears flooding down his face. "JUST GET OUT!!!" He jumped to his feet and stalked towards the doorway, Ryou backed away fearfully, but Marik just passed him by on his way to the kitchen. He flung open the rerigerator and stared at the contents; Five syringes, and a bottle of sleeping pills. He snatched these up and turned, leaving the room without bothering to close the fridge. He shoved past Ryou again, then grabbed the bottle of rum and the lighter, before whirling and nearly knocking Ryou over this time as he made for the stairs, heading up them.

Ryou hurried after. "So you'll just end it then? You're a LIAR." He hissed coldly. "You'll lie to that poor boy too? What a great boyfriend you must have been!" Ryou said giving him a scolding look. "Not even man enough to keep your promises!"

"I can't take it anymore!!!" Marik cried out between his sobs, in a high pitched, frantic voice. He began uncapping the needles and laying them out in a row, grabbing the rubber tourniquet from the bed. "And what do you care?! Just go away and leave me alone!!!" He opened the bottle of rum and the sleeping pills, then pulled off his jacket, shivering in the frigid air of the house, since the heater had not been turned on. He rolled up the left sleeve of his shirt and tied the tourniquet, picking up the rum and taking a long pull at the bottle.

"There is no place in paradise for suicide..." Ryou said coldly. "Go ahead... do it. You'll never see him again for sure."

Marik stopped and stared down at the syringe in his shaking hand, unable to stop the flood of tears. A moment later, the syringe fell from his hand, breaking on the floor, and Marik dropped to his knees, burying his face into the blankets of the bed, sobbing desperately.

Ryou crossed his arms. "You need to take a good hard look at yourself..." he said calmly. "Would any lover want to come back to you when you're this pathetic? Death would be my choice over you if it were me. You live in a sty, you're thin and ungangly, sickly and addicted to drugs... you aren't a boyfriend... you're a baby." he said softly. "Ask your friends for help, see a doctor... shape up."

"What for?!" Marik screamed into the bed. "So I can spend forty to fifty more years in complete and utter misery?! Waiting for the day I die so I can be with him again?! It hasn't even been half a year yet!!! I'm losing my fucking MIND!!!"

"For the promise you made to some poor boy who cared about you." Ryou said calmly, turning and walking away. "If for nothing else."

Marik said nothing, but slowly slid to the floor and lay there, shivering and crying. He stared at the broken syringe, and the broken glass from when Bakura smashed a bottle over his head, and cried.

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The missing Seto/Ahmose rape scene from chapter 7 in this fic is currently being written. It is going to be posted separately as a one shot, hopefully before Thanksgiving. I’m not sure what the title will be, I’ll let you know as things develop. Thanks!!!

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MewMew2: Heh… Thank you. ^_^ Hooray for me and Mally being unexpected!!! Read on!!!

Jess: Heh… yep, we like to complicate things… ^_^

Jeda: Heh… “I feel like my dick should be wearing a tie.” Is my favorite line in the whole fic! Wish I had come up with it… but it was Mally… ^_^() But as for torturing the readers? It’s something I do best. And Mally helps!!! Yay! I’m brilliant and mean!!! And yeah, Marik running around naked is always fun. That’s why he’s naked most of the time in the hybrid fics. As for Ryou remembering Marik… just keep reading!!!

Velvetina: Heheheh… Yeah, Ahmose and Anubis are funny… and yeah… you never really expect a god to be bitched at by his mother. Lol and Ahmose is CONSTANTLY being pounced on by Yami now, in this, and other fics me and Mally are working on. Heh… And yeah, Marik’s actions in the last chapter shocked everyone. And yeah, Ryou’s back, doesn’t remember, things get interesting. Enjoy!!!

Shadow Mistress: Glad you like the story. Yeah, Marik is really angsting, and Ryou is really confused after being chased around. Seto and Peggy are indeed genies, but Ahmose is in trouble. Glad you like Anubis, and EVERYONE loves Yami!!! Enjoy the next chapter!!!