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 13

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Marik sighed and shuffled up out of the basement, heading for the kitchen to join his cousins for breakfast. He had put on a significant amount of weight over the last three weeks, and was looking almost as healthy as ever. He was still slightly depressed though, waiting for Ryou. He walked into the kitchen and smiled at Malik and Ishizu, who were just sitting down. Marik sighed and glanced at the calendar; it was the day before Christmas Eve.

"I thought Ryou would be back by now..." He mumbled. "Ahmose said it wouldn't take long... but it's been three weeks..."

Malik frowned and sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well...Ryou remembers..." He said softly. "But...there's some bad news..."

Marik perked up at first, but his eagerness was overshadowed by a look of worry. "Bad news? What do you mean? What is it?"

"He remembers what you did to yourself." Malik said sighing. "He's upset that you lied about staying alive, and about 'only him'...."

Marik furrowed his brow slightly and lowered his gaze to the table, setting his fork down. "... Oh..." He said softly. Ishizu glanced at Malik, worried; the last thing she wanted was to see Marik fall into depression to the point he turned to drugs again.

Malik sighed. "He said when you were healthy and man enough to come to him and see... how hurt he is at your behavior... he might give you another chance..." Malik added softly.

Marik swallowed audibly, then stood.

"Marik, where are you going?" Ishizu asked.

"To see Ryou." Marik said, leaving the room.

"But you haven't eaten!!!" Ishizu called after him, but her only answer was the front door opening and closing. She sighed and looked at Malik, worried.

Ryou was in his apartment, calmly wrapping presents and putting them under a pleasant little evergreen fir. His whole apartment was decorated for Christmas, and he'd even altered his little harem outfit to resemble santa's suit, lined with white feathers (because fur tickled too much, oddly.). He even was wearing a little santa hat, as he did his little acts of Christmas.

Suddenly, over the soft Christmas music that was playing, there was a timid knock on the door.

Ryou finished wrapping his gift and stood, placing the present under his tree. "Who is it?" he called as he walked to the door.

There was a long pause and the sound of someone nervously shuffling around. Then, there came a hesitant "R-Ryou?"

Ryou frowned softly and opened the door. "Hello Marik." he said calmly, stepping aside. "Come to visit me?"

Marik gulped and nodded, offering Ryou a tentative smile. "As long as you won't lock me in a closet and call the cops for violating a restraining order..."

Ryou gave a soft huff. "Don’t give me reason to."

Marik's smile disappeared and he dropped his gaze to his feet and fidgeted, nervously.

Ryou shook his head and went back to his present wrapping. "What brings you here?" He said calmly, as he wrapped a beautiful shimmering silver paper around something.

Marik sighed and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He removed his snow boots, and slowly walks over to the coffee table Ryou was sitting at, and sat down on his knees. He stared at the table top before him.

".... I'm sorry..." He whispered.

"I've heard that before." Ryou said calmly, beginning to place a ribbon on the package. "Apparently talk is cheap."

Marik winced. "I am, Ryou!" He gasped, reaching for Ryou's hand. "I am!!!"

Ryou pulled his hand away and gave Marik a harsh look. "You were before! And you turn around and do it again! SEVERAL times!" Ryou said indignantly. "Was I not worth it to you? Gone and forgotten? Was that it?!" He crossed his arms. "I waited out in the field of reeds from sunup to sundown! The gods took pity on me, and gave me a third life, and I come back to WHAT?" He said harshly. "I come back to you, destroying yourself in every way possible! You were breaking the promise to stay alive, AND I come back to you sleeping with other people AGAIN!" He picked up another box and placed it on the table harshly, wrapping it slowly.

"You're a liar."

Marik withdrew his hand and bit his lower lip to keep it from trembling.

"You made me a promise, too..." He said softly. "You promised you would hold on as long as you could... give me time to find your bottle. But that same day... you..." He gasped slightly and shook his head. "That same day you surrendered to the poison... you actually SUCKED it into your body. And I sat there and watched your body... decay and die, right before my eyes... I watched my entire world crumble... What did you expect me to do, Ryou?!" Marik asked, staring at the boy. "Just... pretend it didn't happen?! Pretend it didn't hurt me to the very core of my soul?! PRETEND to live and be happy?"

Ryou glared. "I told him if he used you I would. I kept my word. I didn't want you sleeping with him." Ryou said calmly, putting another bow on another package.

Marik sighed. "All you cared about... was getting revenge on him?" He asked, sadly. "You didn't care about how I would feel?"

"No, I made a threat to keep him away, and he didn't think I'd go through with it." Ryou said beginning a new present.

Marik sighed. "Ryou... I didn't care... You had also made me promise to be good and do what they told me. I didn't want more trouble for us, so I let the bastard have it his way!!!"

Ryou continued wrapping his presents. "I didn't lie. You lied twice... purposefully. I could never marry you."

That comment hit like a knife to the heart. Marik recoiled slightly. "I... didn't purposely lie..." He gasped, softly.

"Oh? Were you raped?" Ryou said coldly. "You can’t 'accidentally' have sex so much that you get AIDS."

Marik looked down. "I'm sorry..." He whispered. "I just... I was just trying to... feel. I wanted to feel something... ANY thing... other than pain..."

"Sounds a lot like 'purposely' to me." Ryou said continuing. "And let me guess, someone ELSE shot you up with so many drugs that you were high as a kite and crammed that booze down your throat while they were at it?"

Marik winced. "No... I was trying to make the pain go away... I was trying to forget... it helped me forget... for a little while... The pain of losing you was too much... I couldn't take it..." He rubbed his eyes as tears started to fall. "I thought you were never coming back... every waking moment was agony... I lived each and every moment hoping it was my last..."

"Hmmph. Did you come to make excuses?" Ryou said softly. "Because I don’t want to hear them."

"I made mistakes Ryou. And I'm sorry." Marik said softly. "I'm so sorry... please, Ryou... forgive me..." And he bowed his head.

"Why should I forgive you?" Ryou said calmly. "This is the second time you've slept with other people. Even if I do forgive you, it doesn't mean I'll just jump back into your arms. I might not have the best education ever... but trick me once shame on you... trick me twice shame on me."

"No..." Marik said softly. "It's my fault... I... I couldn't handle it... It's not your fault... I just lost it, Ryou... I didn't want to live... the only reason I didn't stick a gun in my mouth was because I had promised you I wouldn't take my own life... but I didn't want to live Ryou... I guess... that ultimately, I was trying to indirectly kill myself... taking my own life without doing it directly and deliberately, breaking the promise... I guess I just... pursued things that I knew would shorten my life."

"That was still breaking the promise." Ryou finished wrapping the final gift and put the finished gifts under his tree. "It doesn't change things. I'll forgive you for what you did. But I have no reason to love you right now." He got up and walked to his kitchen. "You betrayed me."

Marik stared after Ryou, sadly, trying to think to something to say... trying to figure out if there were some magic words to make it all better. But he knew it was just hopeful thinking.

Ryou pulled the turkey he'd gotten out of the refrigerator and setting it in some warm water in the sink. "Would you like some cocoa?"

"Um... Y-Yeah... sure..." Marik said softly, slowly walking into the kitchen.

Ryou began filling a teapot and setting it on a burner. "Was there anything else you wanted? You know that your home is decorated for Christmas? Did you even go back yet?"

Marik looked at Ryou. "No... I... I can't go back there again... not without you... that's OUR house... and if you aren't with it... then it's not home..."

"It's your home, and your friends are going to throw a Christmas party there for you." He said pouring the now boiling water into the cups and adding instant cocoa mix.

Marik sighed and slumped back to lean against the wall, shoving his hands into his pockets and staring at the floor.

A large cream colored mug floated over to Marik and hovered there. "It's a given that you'll be going." Ryou said picking up his own mug. "You can’t just ignore your friends."

Marik blinked, a bit confused, then took the mug.

"I... I know..." He said softly. "When is it?"

"It's a Christmas party. Likely Christmas Eve they'll all spend the night in your house. Wake up Christmas day and open presents and spend the day together. That's what normally is a Christmas party..." Ryou said softly. "Christmas dinner..."

"Oh." Marik said, staring into his untouched coccoa. "You said... they. Won't... you be there?"

"I have my own Christmas to tend to." Ryou said calmly. "Friends and family of my own."

"Oh..." Marik whispered, drooping. He sighed, and set his mug on the counter. "I should... go..." He mumbled.

Ryou looked over his shoulder calmly. "If I ever hear of you doing what you did while I was dead again, I swear to Ra I'll kill you myself. At least have enough respect for your promises to keep them NOW."

Marik paused, then nodded and headed to the door. He pulled on his boots and opened the door, then paused and looked back at Ryou.

".... Merry Christmas..." He said softly, then slipped out, closing the door quietly behind him.

Marik spent the rest of the day shopping, hardly noticing the chaos around him as everyone did last minute Christmas shopping. Marik figured that if everyone was going to his house for a party, he may as well have the courtesy to get them gifts. He got an expensive perfume for Ishizu, and a gift card to Best Buy for Malik. He got Ahmose a large gift card to a book store, and a gift card to New Fine Arts that was to be jointly for Yami and Ahmose, but it was painfully obvious that Yami would be the one to use it. He also got Yami the newest game console that the former Pharaoh had wanted, but couldn't afford. He bought new bedding for Bakura, since his friend had been saying that he needed new bedding but never got around to getting some, and Yugi and Mikado would be receiving a season pass to their favorite amusement park that they always went to together when they could afford it.

Marik sighed as he headed out of the mall, but paused on his way. He turned, and walked into a music box store. He browsed around, and was almost on his way out when his eyes caught sight of a snow globe sitting on a shelf in the corner. The base was golden and intricately carved with an Egyptian theme, and delicately painted. Inside the snow globe was the figure of the Egyptian goddess of love, Hathor, and floating in the water of the globe were tiny gold flakes. With the globe, was a golden chain with a small golden ahnk pendant.

Marik read the tag of the snow globe, and it explained that the pendant was used as a key to wind the music box in the base of the snow globe, and to open the small drawer that also sat in the base. Almost as if in a trance, Marik carefully picked up the treasure, and carried it to the counter.

An hour later, he was walking up the front walk of his house, arms laden with bags of gifts, and gift wrapping material. He unlocked the door of his house and walked in, sighing at the warmth that greeted him. The house was clean, and everything that had been broken was repaired. Marik carried his load to the living room and set it down, turning on the light. Then he removed his shoes and coat, and sat down to begin wrapping gifts...

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Malik and Bakura were the first to arrive Christmas Eve, carrying with them loads of gifts and their part of Christmas Eve dinner, which was the hot apple cider, eggnog and cocoa.

"Merry Christmas Marik!" Malik said putting their part on the table in the kitchen and hugging him tightly. "Ishizu couldn't come, she got called out to examine something at the last minute. She sent her gifts with us though." he said grinning.

Marik forced on a smile for his cousin and hugged him tightly, then turned and nodded to Bakura.

"Hey..." He said softly. "Merry Christmas..." then to Malik, "Will Ishizu be coming later?"

Malik shook his head. "She's completly out of town."

At that moment, Yami, Yugi, Ahmose and Mikado pulled up and began carrying their own baggage in. With them came a honey baked ham, two pies (one pecan the other apple cinnamon) and the mashed potatoes. "Hey Marik!" Yami called grinning. "Merry Christmas!"

Marik turned and looked at Yami, nodding slightly.

"Merry Christmas Marik!!!" Yugi and Mikado chorused, and like Yami, got a silent nod in response. Ahmose glanced at Yami, frowning slightly at Marik's cheerless welcome.

Yami frowned as well, but said nothing. Hot cider was passed out and everyone sat around the living room, talking. But after a while, Malik found himself blurting something he regretted almost immediately.

"Where's Ryou?"

Everyone grew quiet and all eyes turned to Marik, who had stiffened. His face breifly took on a pained look, but was quickly replaced by a look of stone cold, emotionlessness. He set his mug of cider down and stood. "He's not coming." He said softly, and left the room. Yugi slowly stood and picked up Marik's cider, looking down at the full mug. It was cold.

Malik however hurried after Marik. "Oh man... I'm sorry... I didn’t know..." He said softly. "C'mon... don’t let it ruin your evening... he doesn't know what he's missing." He cooed softly. "You'll have fun... c'mon..."

Marik just rested his forehead against his arm that was braced on one of the window pannels in the sun room... the sun room that Ryou had been so excited about. He stared out at the snow in the back yard and sighed, his breath clouding up the window. He closed his eyes and said nothing. Bakura appeared in the doorway and silently stared.

"Marik...." Malik said softly. "C'mon... it's Christmas..." he said giving Bakura a worried look. "Come back and spend some time with us...."

Marik slowly turned and looked at his cousin. After a moment, he sighed and nodded, heading back to the living room, passing Bakura without a glance. Bakura frowned and looked at Malik.

"Bakura... I don’t know what to do..." he said biting his lip. "How am I supposed to make him feel better? He doesn't care about anything but Ryou..."

Bakura sighed and looked at Malik. "If I lost you, I doubt I would be much better..." He said softly, wrapping his arms around Malik and kissing him. "I love you so much..."

Malik smiled sadly and laid his head on Bakura's shoulder. "I love you too... I just wish Marik would be happy...." he mumbled sadly.

Yami sighed softly. "Ahmose...what do we do?" He whispered as Marik trudged back in.

Ahmose just sighed and shrugged. Marik didn't return to his spot on the sofa, but moved to the far side of the room and sat in Ahmose’s usual arm chair between the fireplace and the window, which he turned to stare out of at the falling snow.

"Why don’t we watch come corny Christmas tv?" Yami asked. "That stuff makes anyone feel warm and fuzzy inside."

Malik nodded. "Yeah! Christmas tv is great for making you feel good!"

Marik said nothing; he just continued staring out the window at the darkening sky. Mikado glanced at the others, then picked up the remote control and flipped on the television.

That is how the night progressed, until it was nearing midnight and everyone decided sleep would be good, to keep in the spirits of 'santa'. Malik sighed softly as the couches were folded out to beds and they all curled up together on the couches they'd pushed together. "Night Marik..." he said softly.

"..... g'night..." Marik whispered from his place in the arm chair, which he hadn't moved from all night. Bakura sighed and pulled Malik into his chest, watching Marik from their spot on the loveseat bed. Ahmose glanced at Marik, then looked at Yami, laying his head down. Mikado and Yugi curled up in their sleeping bags by the fireplace. Ahmose flicked his fingers and the lights went out, leaving the fireplace the only light.

"Don’t forget to sleep Marik..." Yami called softly, as everyone slowly began to doze off.

Marik didn't respond. Nor did he move for quite some time. When everyone was quiet, and sounded like they were asleep, Marik slowly got out of his chair and left the room, shoving his hands into his pockets. He went to the front hall and grabbed his coat and pulled on his snow boots. Then he went to the closet under the stairs and pulled out a box, wrapped in gold paper with a deep blue bow. The box and its lid had been wrapped separately, so that the lid could be removed without removing the wrapping paper; the blue ribbon held it on.

Marik gently stroked the blue ribbing slightly, then turned and made his way to the kitchen, and slipped out the back door. He shivered in the cold air, and trudged through the snow, out of his backyard and made his way down the street. Half an hour later, he found himself standing in front of Ryou's apartment. He sighed and made his way around it, and peered in the bedroom window.

Ryou was sleeping soundly in his bed, arms curled around the white teddy bear. He was still wearing his little santa hat, and looking absolutely heavenly.

Marik slowly reached out and pressed his palm on the window, smiling slightly. He sighed and stared for a bit, before withdrawing away from the window and heading back to the front door. He knelt, and lifted the doormat, checking for a key under it.

However Ryou had long since moved the key, and he found only snow-less ground beneath the doormat.

Marik sighed and checked under all of the (dead) potted plants.

Still nothing.

He checked the top of the door frame.

Bingo.

Marik smiled and took it down, fitting it into the lock and turning it, quietly. Silently, he slipped in to the apartment, and for a moment, he stood still, inhaling Ryou's scent. He felt his eyes sting with tears, but he held them back. He moved into the living room and looked at the little Christmas tree. He smiled and carried the gift over, kneeling and setting it under the tree. Then, he stood and moved to Ryou's bedroom, peering in and staring at the boy. He sighed.

Ryou nuzzled into his bear and smiled contently in his sleep, giving a soft sigh of content. He was in his snuggly soft bed, cuddling the super-soft bear and dreaming of sugarplums and candycanes.

Marik smiled and slowly walked over to Ryou, pulling the anhk key necklace from his pocket and gently wrapping the chain around Ryou's wrist, pressing the pendant into his palm, smiling when Ryou's little fingers curled around the little key.

Ryou cooed softly in his sleep and pulled his hand up to the bear, hugging it tighter. "mmm..." he murmured sighing softly.

Marik leaned over Ryou and gently brushed his lips over Ryou's cheek. "Merry Christmas..." He whispered. "I love you..." And then he stood and silently left the house, locking the door and replacing the key, before disappearing into the snow and returning home, slipping in the back door.

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The next morning everyone awoke eagerly, only to find Marik gone. He had locked himself in his room, and it took nearly an hour to drag him out and down stairs so everyone could begin to open their presents. Marik got a hoarde of goodies.

Malik got him two feather pillows just like the one they used to fight over. Yami got him a gift card to that bathhouse they'd gone to. Yugi had gotten Marik a satin black bed-set. Santa, apparently, had gotten Marik a magic beer mug fountain. Water poured from a spiget that was held aloft of the mug 'magic'ally.

Bakura had given Marik a full Bartender Set for mixing and serving drinks, and an Aromapharmacy Hang Over Prescription candle. Mikado had gotten him a gift card that could be used at any store in the mall. Ahmose gave Marik an Egyptian wall tapestry to hang in the parlor, which held Marik's collection of Egyptian artifacts. But through it all, Marik never once cracked a smile, and the only sound was the occasional mumbled 'thanks'.

Yami sighed. "C'mon Marik... what's wrong?" he said softly. "You got some great gifts... and your friends are all here... can’t you be a little happy?"

Marik glanced at Yami, then looked down and sighed. "Sorry..." He mumbled, staring at his feet.

At that point, there was a soft knock on the door.

Ahmose blinked and turned to glance at the door, then looked at Marik. "Ummm... Marik? The door?" Marik didn't even blink. After a moment, Bakura sighed and got up, going to the door and opening it slightly.

Outside, in the snow, in his little red santa-harem outfit was Ryou, struggling to hold up the presents he'd been wrapping last visit he'd had from Marik. "H-hello...." he squeaked, nearly toppling over trying to keep the presents aloft.

Bakura's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?!" He blurted, too shocked to have the sense to let Ryou in.

"A-apparently, standing in the snow." Ryou whimpered starting to fall over. "H-help!"

Bakura reached out and steadied Ryou, then opened the door and helped him inside. "I'm glad you're here." He said softly. "The only sign of life we've seen from Marik in the past 24 hours was when he left the room when Malik asked where you were... It's Christmas, and he won't even smile..."

Once inside, Ryou hurried to set the presents down. Among the boxes was a large one, which he picked back up and smiled. "I... brought Christmas dinner." He said softly.

Bakura smiled. "That was very nice of you... but right now, I think you should go see Marik... Please... I know you're mad at him, but... he's completely miserable. And it's Christmas for fuck's sake!!!

Ryou wrinkled his nose. "Watch your mouth." He said calmly. "It's Christmas." He said pushing the box into Bakura's arms. He walked slowly into the livingroom and offered a shy smile at the others. "Merry Christmas..." he said softly. The presents floated in behind him, to their appropriate recievers.

Ahmose got a bedside lamp for latenight reading, Mikado got a hammer that when striking something, made the sound of breaking glass (great for giving Ahmose heart attacks!), Yugi got a new card game that had come out. Yami recieved a necklace that held pictures of him and Ahmose in each side of the locket, as well as a 20 dollar giftcard to hot topic. Malik got a giftcard to the local motorcycle shop, perfect for ripping out his bike in even MORE cool and likely dangerous ways. Bakura got new floormats, steering wheel cover and fuzzy dice for his car.

"Merry Christmas..." Ryou said softly, from behind Marik and handed him a small box.

Marik, who had frozen the moment he heard Ryou's voice, slowly turned and looked at Ryou. His eyes widened, and he leapt to his feet, staring down at the boy.

Ryou blinked and took a step back, giving him a warning look. "Don’t." he said softly, handing Marik the box. "I brought your present." he added softly. "Merry Christmas."

Marik lowered his eyes at Ryou's warning, his shoulders slumping slightly. After a moment, he nodded and slowly reached up, taking the gift from Ryou. "Thank you..." He whispered, then looked up again. "Did you get...?"

Ryou nodded. "I wish you would stop breaking into my house." He said crossing his arms. "You know it's against the law."

Inside Marik's box was his bottle. Next to it, was two pieces of spun silver thread. One was tied into an intricate knot, the other was merely coiled around a thimble.

Marik's face momentarily showed the slightest smile, but it was gone as soon as it had come. "First off... it was a one time thing... I wanted to leave you your gift. And second... I didn't break in. You should quit leaving your key in obvious places." He said softly. Then he pulled the bottle out of the box and held it gently, staring at it. He heaved a deep sigh, then looked at the silver strings and blinked, confused.

Ryou held up the intricate celtic knot that the other spun silver thread made. "I learned how to make these a long time ago... It's called a truelove knot." He explained calmly. "When you can make one just like this... I'll forgive you. It took me three years practice with Michelangelo before I got it right. You can’t cut the string, or glue it. You use the string, and ONLY the string." he put the knot back down. "Actions speak louder than words. When you complete your knot, I'll forgive you and come back. Because I know you'll have put your heart and soul and time into it."

Marik blinked and stared at the other silver thread, then looked back up at Ryou. Slowly, silently, he nodded. Ahmose looked at Yami, and Bakura looked at Malik.

Ryou nodded. "I gave an identical set to someone else." He said smiling calmly. It never hurt to make Marik think he had competition. Otogi was like a brother to him... and had suggested that he use him as a 'false boyfriend candidate' to make Marik work hard. He had seen Ryou looking sad and suggested it before Christmas... he'd have to thank him later.

Marik's eyes widened and he almost dropped the bottle. "What?!" He gasped, staring at Ryou.

"I gave a set to someone else as well." Ryou repeated. "His name is Otogi."

Marik stared at Ryou, with a hurt look. "... Why?" He whispered.

"Because you decided you could sleep around." Ryou said calmly. "I figure it's fair that I might date around. Seeing as we're not seeing each other right now. He's had a crush on me since I started working at the bathhouse. It's fair. Whoever finishes their knot first will be the one I'll love."

Marik shook his head. "You can't CHOOSE who you love, Ryou." He said. "You can't control love. If we could... I would have chosen to stop loving you the moment you let yourself die. It would have spared me more pain than you can beleive... But I couldn't. I could never stop loving you. And no matter what I did, I couldn't forget that love, either. I'll take your little test..." He told the boy, looking down at the silver thread waiting to be knotted. "But don't make a choice based on a stupid piece of string. Make it with your heart." And he turned and walked out of the room, and up the stairs. Faintly, they could all hear his bedroom door close, and the lock click.

Ryou merely nodded softly, and he too left. "Enjoy dinner." He called smiling.

Malik frowned and headed upstairs. "Marik? Marik are you okay?" he called through the door

Marik didn't answer.

"Let him be..." Bakura murmured softly to Malik. "Ryou just basically told Marik that this is his last chance, and he has someone else that he wants to be with... Marik has to be hurting right now..."

Malik sighed softly. "Poor Marik...What an awful day to tell him something like that..." he mumbled shaking his head. "Ruined what little bit of happiness we could have possibly given him on Christmas..."

"Let's face it..." Bakura sighed, walking down the stairs with Malik. "I don't think ANY of us are happy right now, really... and he never was in the first place." The others lowered their eyes in silent agreement.

"Well, this has been a total bust..." Mikado mumbled. Then he looked at his older brother. "Maybe we should go... I feel like we're kind of... not welcome right now..." Ahmose sighed.

"I don't think Marik honestly wanted us here in the first place." He said. "But he's been so damn depressed... we had to try something!"

"We've tried lots of things..." Yugi mumbled sadly. "But none of them have worked..."

Yami nodded. "All he wants is Ryou..." he sighed. "Well... lets put Ryou's food in his magic fridge... it'll keep until he comes out...I'm sure he'll want it. It was Ryou’s." he explained softly. "Then we can leave him..."

Bakura swallowed and looked down. "I don't think he's... going near that fridge..." He said softly. "I'm sorry, I didn't tell you all... I don't think he wants you to know, but... something happened about a week ago... when I dropped by..."

"What?" Yami and Malik both asked curiously.

Bakura sighed. "It was the day after he met with Ryou, and Ryou said he was still upset and Marik was all down and depressed. So... pretty much, he was acting what would be considered normal for him over the past four months... but he at least tried to be polite and asked me if I wanted something to eat or drink. I said sure, and we went into the kitchen. He went to the fridge and opened it, but... our drinks weren't there..." Bakura sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Yami raised an eyebrow. "Well? Finish the story." He said crossing his arms.

"C'mon Kura..." Malik said softly. "We won’t tell..."

Bakura sighed. "He opened the fridge, and instead of our coffee, there was a bottle of vodka, a razor blade, a half dozen syringes, and a bottle sleeping pills..." Ahmose's jaw dropped, and Mikado paled. Yugi squeaked. “Marik didn't touch the things..." Bakura said, looking at Malik, trying to reassure him. "He took one look at them and freaked out. Slammed the door and ran to his room in hysterics. He was shaking. He was scared..."

Malik nodded. "It's okay... I know he didn’t... Ryou can fix it later." He said softly. "You think he'll be ok?"

Bakura sighed. "I dunno... I know he hasn't opened that fridge since then... Did you notice the pantry?" He opened the pantry door. It was stocked, for the first time ever.

Malik frowned and sighed. "I hope he'll be ok..." He said softly. "C'mon... let’s leave him alone...

Yami sighed. "Yeah... we'll leave the food right here for him."

Malik nodded. "I'll tell him it's there..." He said leaving for a moment to tell Marik through the door not to let Ryou's meal go bad. "Ok... let’s go." He said softly, upon return.

Bakura nodded. " Everyone else is leaving or left..."

And sure enough, everyone had gathered their things and were quietly filing out the door. Bakura followed Malik to the door, and looked up the stairs. He sighed, then walked out, closing the door and letting Malik lock it behind them. He wrapped his arms around Malik and hugged him tight to his chest.

"I love you, Malik..." He whispered softly, gently rubbing his hand up and down Malik's back.

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

A: Ummm, no, Ryou’s really quite stubborn. And you know how it is…people always remember the bad things… You’ll just have to wait and see how things play out.

Roxria: Heh… yeah, it’s a fuckin soap opera, ain’t it?

Andyouthinkimcrazy: Yeah, no kidding, right?

MenacingK: Hmmm… I suppose I can forgive you. ^_~

Jeda: O.o No! No Bakura and Marik in the South Bronx!!! Heh… and in that case, try not to scare the class any more than they already are, hmm? And hell YEAH the torture has hit Marik! It was his damn turn!!! XD And uh… no, Marik will not shoot himself… but that doesn’t mean that someone else won’t… >.> oop! I’ve said too much!!! >.< Gotta run!!! BYE!!!

Wish He Was Mine: Heh… it’s okay dear, I appreciate the effort. I’m glad you enjoy my fics, and the ones I write with Mally. Why did you have trouble getting into this one? Well, whatever. I’m glad you’re hooked and enjoying it now. Thanks for reviewing!!!

Anonymous: Hmmm… explain how Ryou is a mortal AND a genie… well… he has all of his genie abilities… but he’s human. >.> is that okay? O.o() It’s… complicated… I think… o.O ……. @_@

Demonchilde4: Yay! Excitement!!! Wooooooo!!!!

Lazulai: Why make it a point to NOT review? O.o This confuses me… But I’m glad that you have decided to make an exception for me! I feel so special!!! And thank you for the high praise! As for Seto, Mally-chan writes him, so I can’t take credit for that… I write Pegasus… >.> ^_^() Why don’t you like Ryou or Malik or Marik? And if you don’t like them, why read my fics? I mean, other than them being “loveable”, though that’s a good reason. ^_^ Well, glad you enjoy the fics! And yes, Vengeance of Seto DOES deserve praise, Bishojo_shadow worked hard on it with me!!!

MewMew2: Babe, I totally understand… and Christmas is coming up. Things are gonna get crazy, aren’t they? *sigh* Oh well… >.> I should go do more Christmas shopping… ::heads to Amazon.com:: ^___^ Only shopping out here in this freakin tiny town.

ShadowMistress: Heh… are things EVER fine and dandy? ^______^ Gotta keep the angst comin!!! As for poor Marik…well… things ain’t over for him yet… And yeah… despite all the angst we have to have those funny moments!!! Thanks for reviewing!!!

THANK YOU for all the reviews!!! I love you all!!! Keep it up!!! You all are the best!!!