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 7

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Marik had drifted to sleep, and Bakura had finally returned from the laundry room, giving up on the damn washing machine for the night. Pegasus had fallen asleep reading a Funny Bunny manga, and Ryou was peacefully resting and recuperating.

Ahmose, however, was nervously pacing the courtyard, shaking. He was waiting for Seto, who was checking on his company, to finish and summon him to his bed. Ahmose shuddered and hugged himself, trying not to throw up.

Seto smirked down at Ahmose from the balcony, once the sun had set. "Come to my room." He said calmly. "I'm waiting."

Ahmose looked up at him, but Seto just turned and walked back inside. Ahmose shuddered again, took a few deep breaths, then walked inside feeling like he was walking to his execution. He reached Seto's bedroom and stopped at the door, trying to calm his shaking and his stomach. Finally, he knocked, hesitantly.

"Come in, Inarus." Seto called calmly. "And hurry the hell up."

Ahmose swallowed thickly and pushed the door open, stepping in and closing the door behind him. Then he stood, leaning against it and staring at the floor.

Seto chuckled darkly. "You look scared to death..." he said in a mocking tone. "Having second thoughts?"

Ahmose stood still for a moment, then shook his head.

"... No."

"Really? You aren't starting to wonder if your own life is more valuable? He's no pharaoh now... he's your equal..." Seto mused.

"... I don't care." Ahmose said softly. "He will ALWAYS be Pharaoh to me..."

Seto laughed at that. "Really? Remind me again what he's done to deserve such blind loyalty?"

Ahmose shook his head slightly. "He doesn't need to have done anything. We... we grew up together. In this life, and our past one. In our past one, we slept in the same crib. We were raised as BROTHERS, Sethos. We just became more..." He raised his eyes and glared at Seto. "He will always have my loyalty."

Seto laughed. "I certainly hope he feels the same... or you will have wasted yourself on him. Does he feel this loyalty for you? Are you worth his royal highness's time?" he chuckled at that. "I hardly believe it. You're just an ass to fuck."

Ahmose winced slightly and went back to staring at the floor, still leaning against the door.

"He loves me." Ahmose said softly. "He loved me back then, too. He was Pharaoh. He could have had anyone he wanted, if he just wanted a fuck... but he... just wanted me..."

"Yes... perhaps then. But what about now? Do you think he still loves you like that?" Seto said calmly. "Or maybe his eyes have wandered..."

Ahmose shook his head. "That doesn't matter. I... love him."

"Foolish." Seto said with a sneer. "Blind devotion for someone who couldn't give a camel's ass about you..."

Ahmose just continued staring at the floor, and said nothing in response to that.

"I wonder... if we left him to his happy little life how quickly you'd be replaced... you always held him behind..." He teased. "You never realized it I'm sure..."

Ahmose frowned. "What would YOU know?!" He hissed. "All you ever did was plot to kill me so you could either overthrow or control him!"

"What would you know?" Seto countered. "You spend all your days in front of books! I doubt you even KNOW the pharaoh anymore..."

Ahmose shook his head. "I also spend every day with him." He hissed. "We study together... spend our breaks between classes together... We... we're... seeing each other..."

"How often do you TALK to each other? How often does the subject of 'we' come up?" Seto chuckled. "Never... right?"

Ahmose shook his head. "We talk. And that's none of your business..."

"Really slave?" Seto said in a warning tone.

Ahmose flinched. "I... we do... talk..."

"Oh really now... do tell." Seto said calmly, mildly entertained.

Ahmose chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment, then shrugged. "At... different times... in the car, sometimes... when we're just hanging out... in... bed..."

"Tell me." Seto said firmly. "Remember your little promise..."

Ahmose shrugged. "W-What's to tell?" He asked.

"What you talk about." Seto said firmly.

Ahmose shrugged again. "Lots of stuff... our classes at the University... our brothers... our... past lives..."

"Really? That's not really about 'we' now is it?" Seto laughed.

"We... talk about how our relationship never had a chance to go anywhere because we... died... and how grateful we were that we were now getting a... second chance." Ahmose confessed.

At that, Seto burst into laughter. "You HAD a second chance you mean. He's not your lover anymore. Of that I can assure you."

Ahmose winced and shifted a bit, but said nothing in response to that.

Seto patted the bed. "C'mon now. It's time we got started."

Ahmose immediately tensed, but after a moment, he forced himself to cross the room and approach the bed. He didn't actually get into bed, he just stood there, trying not to shake, and stared at the bed.

"Are you going to just stand there? Get in the bed!" Seto hissed. "Gods, are you dimwitted?"

Ahmose flinched and turned, gingerly sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to Seto.

"We can do this the easy way, or I can assume you're breaking your word Ahmose... which will it be?" Seto said coldly.

Ahmose winced again, then slowly scooted back and drew his legs up onto the bed, turning and facing the foot of the bed and sitting next to Seto.

Seto chuckled and pulled Ahmose close, then flipped him down onto the bed, climbing over him. "I've been waiting to humiliate you... get back at you like this for a long... LONG time..." He hissed, grinning like the devil.

Ahmose's eyes widened and he stared up at Seto. His fingers twitched with his desire to kill the man with his bare hands... rip out his throat... hit him and shove his nasal cavity up into his brain... but Seto's wish prevented him from doing so. But even so, there was no mistaking the fact that Ahmose wanted to kill Seto right there. It took all of his self control to hold still and not make a move against him to get away.

Seto smirked down at Ahmose. "Sucks to be you..." he said amusedly sliding the pants down his slave’s thighs before ripping them off and forcing his legs open...

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

In the slave quarters, Marik and Bakura were shifting and moaning in their sleep. Their close proximity was bringing memories of their past lives to light in a dream. They dreamed of a time when they were drinking in a tavern in the city, then threw some bread at soldiers. The men recognized them, and the pair led the soldiers on a wild chase through the city for fun, then fled into the desert. Eventually, a drunken Marik had fallen off his horse, and Bakura, or Akeifa, as he was known at the time, went back to laugh at him. He got off of his horse, and Marik knocked him over. The pair ended up having hot rough sex right there in the middle of the desert.

Marik jerked and bolted straight upright in bed, Bakura doing the same almost immediately after. Both were panting, sweating, and were quite aroused. They stared at each other. A moment later, Marik pounced, covering Bakura's mouth with his own, ripping the blankets off of him and pushing up his linen kilt to bunch around his hips. The pair then proceeded to re-enact their lovemaking in the desert, and passed out right after.

In the morning, Marik awoke to find himself lying on top of Bakura, his hips between the other boy's legs. Marik's eyes widened and he sat up, staring down at Bakura, who had woken at the sudden movement. The pair stared at each other in horror.

"We... we... we CAN'T tell Malik about this..." Marik finally gasped.

Ryou tapped his foot in the doorway. Someone was busted.

Marik and Bakura turned, and their eyes widened.

"R-Ryou!!!" Marik gasped.

Ryou pouted and sighed, turning and leaving the room… Leaving Marik and Bakura tangled between themselves, and their blankets.

Marik looked at Bakura, then jumped off of him and pulled his own linen wrap down, and chased Ryou.

"Ryou!!! Ryou, wait!!" He grabbed his arm, gently. "Ryou..."

Ryou sniffled softly and pulled his arm away. "Why...?" he said giving Marik a hurt look.

"Ryou... that... I don't know what happened, I... Please... don't hate me..." Marik said softly, looking very worried.

Ryou looked away and gave a shaking sigh. "Marik... I could never hate you." he said softly, pulling his arm away. "I… have work to do... Breakfast to cook."

Marik frowned and pounced, wrapping his arms around Ryou and hugging him tightly.

"I... I don't love him... we... we dreamed Ryou... about our past life... and we woke up and it just... happened... but... I don't WANT to be with Bakura, I don't want to have sex with him again, I never wanted to in the first place!!! I love YOU!!" Marik hissed, scared to death that Ryou would leave him.

Ryou pulled away once more. "Please... I have to make breakfast." Ryou sniffled softly. "And you have laundry."

Marik shook his head and turned Ryou around to face him. "I'm sorry..." He whispered, reaching up and stroking Ryou's cheek. "Please... Ryou..."

Ryou gave Marik a hurt look. "I... am not forbidden from telling you no." he said softly. "You are no longer my master..."

Marik frowned and shook his head. "I haven't BEEN your master since you were freed..." He said softly. "You've ALWAYS been able to tell me 'no'. Ryou... do... do you even... love me?"

Ryou looked away. "I... could ask the same of you." he mumbled pulling away. "I have work to do."

Marik followed Ryou. "Of course I love you! I've always loved you! Bakura is just a friend! It was a mistake, Ryou! Please!!!"

Ryou continued walking, going into the kitchen and beginning to prepare that morning's meal. "You know you shouldn't be in the kitchen." He said calmly, as the utensils began flying about, helping him cook.

Marik shook his head. "Ryou, I'm NOT leaving! Please!!! I'm sorry! I love you! It won't EVER happen again, and I never WANTED it to happen in the first place! Ryou, please... please forgive me... please say that you... love me..."

"How did it happen if you didn't want it?!" Ryou said sniffling as he worked. "You cannot RAPE the willing. That certainly did not look like rape, and the fact you were readily willing to hide such a thing makes it all the MORE un-rape-like."

Marik shook his head. "I never SAID it was rape! It just happened!!! I hardly even remember it. It's all kind of a blur..."

"You have laundry to do." Ryou said softly. "Please get out of the kitchen."

"Ryou!!! Tell me you love me!!!" Marik shouted, desperation in his voice.

Ryou sniffled softly. "You lied to me... you said I was the one you loved… the only one..." he shook his head. "I should have known better... I'm nothing but a slave... I never will be." he mumbled. "Please get out of the kitchen... I have work to do."

"Ryou... I DO love you... ONLY you..." Marik whimpered. "I don't love Bakura... I DON'T!!! Ryou... please..."

Ryou sniffled once more. "You do not listen well..." he mumbled waving a hand, and tossing Marik out himself, the kitchen door slamming shut and locking after Marik was out.

Marik yelped as he crashed to the floor outside of the kitchen. He stared at the door with wide eyes, then slowly got to his feet. He stared at the door for a moment, then toddled away, leaning against the wall ever now and then, fighting back tears. He wandered aimlessly, eventually finding himself near Seto and Pegasus' bedrooms.

Pegasus in the mean time had just gotten up, and shuffled out of his room. He knocked on Seto's door, then poked his head in.

"Seto?"

Seto trotted out, dressed for the day, looking quite content with the world. "Why hello Pegasus!" he said cheerfully. "I'm in such a good mood... revenge is sweet."

Pegasus snorted. "I'll bet." He said, glancing in the room and at the bed, where Ahmose was still asleep. "Did you HAVE to be so rough? His screaming woke me up. Will he even be able to get out of bed today?!"

Seto laughed. "I don’t know. Not that it matters, that bed is his place." He said calmly. "Gods that was rejuvenating." he stretched and grinned. "I could take on the world!"

Suddenly, Marik appeared around the corner. Pegasus blinked at him over Seto's shoulder. Marik stared, then narrowed his eyes.

"I'LL FUCKIN' KILL YOU!!!!" He screamed, startling Seto, and charged. He leapt at them and tackled both men to the ground.

"I wish him restrained!" Seto howled and Marik flew back against a wall and held there tightly. "Gods!" he hissed, sitting up slowly. "What the hell brought THIS little act of insubordination on?!"

"You bastard..." Marik hissed, struggling furiously. "I'll kill you, I'll fuckin' kill you!!!" Pegasus groaned and sat up, rubbing his head where it had smacked into the floor.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Why?" He said calmly. "You were behaving the other night... why the change of heart?"

"Fuck you!!" Marik hissed. "I am NOT going to be your slave!!!" Pegasus slowly stood, glaring at Marik.

"If you won’t be our slave, then you can be our dog." Seto said calmly. "And that's where you belong. I wish you were chained back up to that doghouse, naked as a dog should be." He hissed smirking as Marik disappeared, his kilt fluttering to the floor.

Marik blinked and looked around, then cursed. He stood up, seized the chain that was linked the collar around his neck, and began pulling it, trying to break it off of the dog house, cursing the entire time.

Of course the chain would not give no matter how hard he pulled, as he was wished there, and magic held him that way.

Finally, Marik plopped down and leaned against the side of the dog house, avoiding the sun.

Back in the house, Pegasus was rubbing the back of his head.

"What was THAT all about?" He asked, looking at Seto.

"Hell if I know." Seto said calmly, shutting Ahmose into his room. "Dogs sometimes bite the hand that feeds them... he'll learn sooner or later… or die in the heat."

Pegasus snorted. "Well... let's get some breakfast and see if the other slave decides to behave better. Should he get breakfast?"

"No. Let him starve out in the sun all day. When night falls we can send someone out with some water and scraps." Seto said calmly. "That was inexcusable."

Pegasus grunted. "No kidding." He said, walking down to the dining room with Seto. "Let's have Bakura do all the chores for both of them. Lay some guilt on the mongrel."

"A fine idea. Make the other feel resentful." Seto said as they walked to the dining room, where Ryou was just carrying out the breakfast, one tray at a time.

"Good morning masters." He said softly.

"Good morning." Pegasus said stiffly, very irritated about his bump on the head. "Ryou, I have a lovely knot on the back of my head, courtesy of that dumb blonde, and it's killing me. Please transfer it from my head to his."

Ryou nodded and walked behind Pegasus' head, kissing the wound better, the kiss sending it to it's new owner. "I'm sorry." He said softly, bowing and stepping away. "I made french toast and belgian waffles..."

"Ah, that's excellent." Pegasus said, and while Marik suddenly found himself with a splitting headache, Pegasus sat down and began to eat his decadent breakast feast.

"So, Seto... how WAS Inarus?" He asked after a moment, grinning.

"Ehh... mediocre." Seto said chuckling. "He's a big baby." At that he put a forkful of breakfast into his mouth. "Mmm... it was much more rewarding watching him want to kill me, but be unable to do so."

Pegasus laughed at that. "I can only imagine!" He said. "Well, I'm sure with some training, he will be able to fully satisfy you."

Seto nodded. "I'm thinking of enrolling him in that slave training facility... you know the one over in Giza?" he said chuckling. "They train the best sex slaves on the market!"

Pegasus blinked. "What, Ahmose? Hmm... I doubt he would go along with THAT!!!"

"He has to, or else..." Seto smirked, knowing Pegasus would catch the hint.

Ryou sighed softly and shook his head, sitting between his masters and waiting patiently for them to finish their breakfast so he could take some to Bakura and Ahmose.

Seto got up after eating his fill. "Don’t feed Marik. He will not eat or drink until sunset. You may take him nothing but scraps and a bowl of water."

Pegasus smirked. "Maybe we should take away his dog house, too. Just leave him chained to a tree. Let him bake in the sun."

"Nah... the idea that he has to go into something as demeaning as a doghouse for shelter will pain him more than any sunburn." Seto said smirking.

Pegasus laughed. "Okay then. Dog house it is." He said. "And as I recall, he still has a sunburn from before..." He said, chuckling wickedly. "He's gonna be hurting too bad to even sleep tonight."

That day passed slowly for a number of people in the palace. Bakura had double chores, Ahmose was locked in Seto's room, and in a lot of pain, and Ryou had to dwell on the image of Marik and Bakura and Ahmose...

By the time the sun had set and dinner had been served to all residents of the palace and Ryou had cleaned up, he had nothing left to do but take Marik his scraps. He sighed and picked up the plate of chicken bones, crusts of bread and other bits of 'garbage' as well as the bowl of water and marched outside.

Marik was sitting against the east side of the dog house, having used its shade for shelter, and had his face buried in his arms, which were folded on top of his knees. He didn't move as Ryou approached.

Ryou sighed and put the plate and bowl down next to him. "There's your dinner."

Marik didn't move, and Ryou couldn't help but notice the deep red color that Marik's skin now was, and after looking closer, he seemed to have blisters on his shoulders.

Ryou sighed softly and shook his head. "You should have gone into your doghouse..."

Marik didn't reply, he just sighed and shifted slightly, but stopped immediately at the pain the slight movement caused.

Ryou shook his head softly, and ran a cool hand over Marik's shoulders, healing the blistering and burning slightly. "Eat your food and go in your doghouse..." he mumbled turning away. "Maybe if you're civil to the masters, you can come back in tomorrow..."

Marik hissed and jerked slightly at the touch, but didn't move. After a moment, he asked softly, "Do you love me?"

"I thought I did..." Ryou said softly. "I should have known better..."

Marik tensed slightly, and drew in a shaky breath.

"Go away..." He breathed, so softly Ryou barely heard him.

Ryou nodded softly. "Goodnight." he mumbled turning and walking back to the palace, leaving Marik to his scraps.

Marik slowly lifted his head and watched Ryou go, tears trickling down his face and stinging his cracked lips. Marik was dehydrated, his mouth was dry and his tongue was swollen. But before his desperation could overcome his decision, he reached out and dumped the bowl of water, watching it soak into the sand. Then, Marik folded his arms on his knees, and bowed his face into them again.

The next morning Ryou returned, once more carrying scraps and a bowl of water to Marik. "Good morning." he mumbled setting them near Marik, who was still shivering slightly from the night's crisp air.

Marik said nothing to answer Ryou, who was looking at the untouched scraps from the previous night, as well as the overturned bowl that had contained water.

"If you do not eat and drink, I will tell the masters." Ryou said calmly. "And they will make you." He warned.

"I'm not hungry." Marik croaked in a scratchy voice.

"More lies." Ryou said coldly. "Fine... I will tell the masters and they will MAKE you eat."

Marik said nothing in response to Ryou's heartless announcement.

Ryou shook his head. "I'll be back." he said turning on his heel and leaving.

Minutes later he returned, and waved his hands, relieving Marik's hunger and dehydration. "You're forbidden to die." he mumbled calmly.

Marik jerked violently, then gave a sob of frustration, curling up tightly and beginning to rock himself.

"Damn you!! J-Just go!!!" He cried.

Ryou sighed. "Why are you acting like this?"

Marik sniffled loudly. "Do you love me?" He asked, his voice choked with tears.

"Love has nothing to do with it." Ryou said calmly. "You shouldn't act like this."

"IT HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH THIS!!!" Marik screamed, looking up at Ryou with an intensity that frightened the genie. "DO YOU LOVE ME?!"

Ryou sighed softly. "I thought I did." he replied softly.

Marik stared at Ryou a moment longer, fresh tears falling, before turning and curling up again, once again hiding his face.

Ryou sighed and shook his head. "Stop crying." he mumbled. "Bakura had to do all of YOUR work because of this scene. He's exhausted. Don’t you think you should behave and go do your own work?" he said sternly.

Marik looked up at Ryou, a sad look on his face. "Bakura?" He slowly turned and stared out at the rising sun.

"Yes. Bakura had to take up YOUR work." Ryou said once more. "Are you ready to come back inside?"

Marik closed his eyes and gave a sigh, a pained look on his face. "For him, I will..." He said softly.

Ryou nodded and waved a hand, the collar falling off. "Lets get you bathed... you're filthy." he said calmly. "Follow me."

Marik sighed, and slowly moved to get up, but yelped, then whined in pain.

"Oh gods..." He gasped, grimacing at the horrible pain his sunburn was causing him.

Ryou sighed and turned back, picking Marik up with magic, the magic carrying him in behind Ryou. Once they reached the bathroom, Ryou filled the tub, before the magic slid Marik into the cool water.

Marik winced and hissed, but slowly began to relax.

Ryou began to carefully wash him, healing him where he could. "No more attacking the masters please."

Marik frowned. "My only regret was that I didn't kill the fuckers..." He hissed.

"What would killing them solve?" Ryou said calmly.

Marik sighed. "Kill them. Find your bottle. Free you." He said simply.

"It wouldn't change my feelings for you." Ryou said calmly, beginning to wash Marik's hair. "I'm going to ask Ahmose not to beg the gods for me. I'll let these men destroy me with their greed." Ryou added. "I do not wish to be in this world any longer."

Marik reached up and caught one of Ryou's hands in his own, and pulled it down to rest on his cheek. A moment later, Ryou realized he was crying again.

Ryou sighed softly. "Why are you crying?"

Marik just shook his head, and within moments, his crying had progressed to harsh sobbing.

"Why are you crying?" Ryou repeated pulling his hand away. "What's wrong?"

Marik shook his head. "I... I wish... I wish I had never... asked to... get you back... I wish... I had let you be... let you stay in the Afterlife... This never would have... happened..." He said between sobs. "You... would be happy..."

Ryou sighed and shook his head. "What's done is done. We move on." He said calmly. "I'll be dead once more soon enough. You'll have your wish."

Marik just stared down at the water, contemplating the idea of tying something heavy to his neck and throwing himself into the tub one night when everyone was asleep.

Ryou glared softly, sensing that. "You won’t die..." He said calmly. "You're forbidden from dying... masters wished it so. You'll be disappointed."

"Damn you..." Marik hissed. "Why couldn't you have just left me to it outside?!"

"Because you're a slave like me, and I will NOT do your work." Ryou said coldly, dumping water over Marik's head. "You and Bakura belong with each other."

Marik gasped at the water over his head, and slowly drew his knees up to his chest. "I... don't love him." He whispered. "I'm sorry... the last thing I ever wanted to do was... hurt you. I love you."

Ryou went back to bathing him. "I know better. Masters don’t love slaves." he said coldly. "I was being foolish to think otherwise."

"I'm not your master..." Marik whispered. "I never claimed to be."

"You were my master." Ryou corrected. "You were my master before I ever was free." Ryou sighed. "It was cruel of you to play such a cold joke on me."

Marik turned and looked up at Ryou. "I never played any joke on you..." He whispered. "I love you. Only you. I... I never wanted to sleep with Bakura... I wish it had never happened. You are my only joy in life... if you don't love me, then I don't have any desire to live."

Ryou sighed. "Marik, how can I love you? You have someone ELSE in your life... you promised I was the only one..." he said pulling away once more. "I'm sorry."

Marik made a wild grab for Ryou, a desperate look in his eye. "No!!! Bakura is a FRIEND!!! That's ALL!!! Back... in our past lives, we were lovers! We shared a dream night before last! And I guess we woke up, but were still in the dream in a way... Ryou, if I had known what I was doing, I NEVER would have done it!!! Bakura is my FRIEND!!! He's my COUSIN'S LOVER!!! He loves Malik, not me!!! And I love YOU!!! YOU!!! No one else!!! Ryou, please!!! Please tell me you love me... please..."

Ryou looked away. "I don’t know Marik." he mumbled. "I... lost faith in you."

"Then... then let me restore it..." Marik begged, crawling out of the tub and towards Ryou. "Please... Ryou. Ask anything of me... I'll do it... I'll do anything to prove that I love you... please..."

Ryou backed away slowly. "Marik...it's not so easy as that! You were making love!" he said shaking his head. "You can’t just do something and have my trust and faith back. It's not something that fixes like that!"

"No! It wasn't making love!!! It was SEX!!! There was no love in it!!! Maybe there was between my past self and Bakura's past self. But not now between ME and Bakura!!!" Marik tried to explain.

"You're the SAME people!" Ryou argued. "You love him!" he said shoving Marik gently, so as not to hurt him. "Stop lying to me!"

Marik grabbed Ryou's hands and got up to his knees. "No! I don't!!! He's a FRIEND!!! He's more like a brother to me!!! Ryou! I love YOU!!! I'm not lying!!! I... Ryou. Please... Please... I will find you bottle... I will free you and fix the mess that those bastards have made... we'll go home... you and me... to OUR home... and then... Ryou..." Marik gasped, his eyes pleading. "Ryou... will you... will you marry me?"

Ryou blinked a bit. "I um..." He raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Ryou... when we return home... will you make me the happiest man in history... and marry me?" Marik asked again.

Ryou gave him a dumb look staring silently for a long time. "I... don’t know Marik... I'm dying as we speak, and my bottle is well hidden..." he said softly. "You will never find it in time to save me, let alone fix this mess."

Marik's eyes widened. "What do you mean you're dying as we speak?!" He gasped, suddenly looking more terrified than Ryou had ever seen him. Under his sunburnt skin, Marik went pale.

Ryou shook his head. "Never you mind it." He said waving a hand for some cooling balm. "Just stop being such an ass and do your work."

"No! NO!!!" Marik shouted, scrambling to his feet and grabbing Ryou; his hands were shaking. "You can't be dying!!! How?! How could you be dying?! You're a genie again, you CAN'T die!!!"

Ryou sighed softly. "I told you... their greed has tainted my bottle... it's like poison to me... and with no limit to their wishes... I cannot heal."

Marik shook his head in horror. "No... No. No no no no NO!!!" He shouted, then crushed Ryou to his chest in a hug. "No... Gods... I won't loose you... I won't... I... I can't..."

"Marik, you don’t have a choice." Ryou said calmly. "I'm not your genie any longer."

"But you're my heart..." Marik whispered into Ryou's hair, where he currently had his face. "My life..."

"I'm none of those things. You had those things LONG before you met me." Ryou said shaking his head. "I will be dying soon... and when I do, you can get those men back for the horrible wishes they've made and the awful things they've done."

"How?! Won't their wishes still be in effect? If you die, Ryou... Ahmose won't ever get his magic back... I won't... oh gods... I won't be able to die..." Marik paled again, staring at Ryou. "Will... will I have to live forever?!"

Ryou shook his head. "Last time, I did not die. My body was left behind. This time, I will die." He explained shaking his head. "My bottle is tainted... it's poisoning me." he held up one of his hands and removed one of the beautifully decorated wrist cuffs. Beneath, his flesh was a deep purple, as though he'd bruised it. "I'm dying."

Marik frowned. "So... all the wishes you ever granted... will be undone?"

Ryou nodded slowly. "Yes."

Marik frowned. "ALL of them? Or just the ones you granted since you were... bound to this new bottle?"

"Since the new bottle." Ryou said calmly. "All since the new bottle... there won’t be any magic to support the wishes..."

Marik nodded slowly, and lifted a hand to cup Ryou's cheek. "I will do everything within my power to find your bottle, and free you again..." He whispered, a tear trailing down his cheek. "If I can't... and you die... know that I am right behind you..." He smiled slightly. "W-Wait for me?"

Ryou shook his head. "If you follow me before your time...I will never forgive you." He said softly. "You've got a full life to live Marik... a life of things you've yet to do. If you throw it away to chase me, I will be angry." He put the wrist cuff back on. "The field of reeds will always be there... life is not so eternal."

"Every minute without you is torture, Ryou..." Marik said, shaking his head. "I couldn't bare it... a life without you would be... empty. And miserable."

"You managed before getting my bottle... you can manage once more." Ryou said smiling. "Now stop being melodramatic."

"I am NOT being melodramatic. Before I got your bottle, I was floundering. I was twenty four living in my cousin's basement for Heaven's sake!!! You came, and my life suddenly had purpose! And a life with purpose is good, and full... if that purpose dies... Ryou, YOU are the meaning of my life. Without you..."

Ryou placed a finger to Marik's lips. "Shh." He cooed. "I die when I die, and you will die when you are meant to die. Not before."

Marik shook his head, staring at Ryou miserably.

"Do you love me...?" He whispered.

Ryou smiled softly. "I suppose I can forgive you... just this once." he said shaking his head. "Since I won’t likely live to forgive you later."

Of course, this comment only served to upset Marik even more. "I can't live without you..." He gasped. "If you die, then by my own hand or from a broken heart, I will soon follow you..."

"Marik if you kill yourself, I will know." Ryou said sternly. "and I will not wait for you. I will only wait for you if you promise to live out your life as you were meant to."

"My life is meant to be lived with you..." Marik said fiercely. "Or not at all!"

"But you HAVE lived with me!" Ryou countered. "Now you promise me, or I'll not wait in the field of reeds for you!"

Marik shook his head, the distress plainly seen on his face. "Ryou..."

"Marik..." Ryou said back firmly. "Promise me."

Marik stared at Ryou, hard, but finally, he lowered his head in defeat. "I... I promise..." He whispered, obviously hating the words passing his lips.

Ryou smiled warmly at Marik. "I forgive you..." he cooed softly and nuzzled into Marik's arms, leaning up to kiss him. "You promised me...and that is enough to make me forgive you...and trust you once more."

Marik wrapped his arms around Ryou and nearly smothered him a passionate kiss, filled with fear and desperation. "I love you..." Marik whispered after finally letting Ryou go. "I will never love anyone like you... if you leave me... I will spend the rest of my life alone, Ryou... please... don't leave me to live like that..."

"You have very little time to save me then..." Ryou said giving him a soft hug. "I need to go back to my original bottle... the poison is painful... and draining." He sighed. "And it's eating me alive... slowly. I will not last more than a week or two. The more wishes made... the stonger the poison… the faster it spreads."

Marik nodded, eyes wide. "And... you can't tell me where it is... Can you give me... ANY clues?" He asked.

Ryou shook his head. "I cant. I'm sorry. I...hope that you find it before I die."

Marik shook his head. "Well... what if... what if I guessed?" He asked. "Is it in Seto's room?!"

"I cant say anything Marik. If you guess right or wrong, I'm not allowed to say anything." he said softly. "I'm sorry."

"SAY anything, yeah, but... can't you... nod or smile if I'm right?!" Marik asked. "Blink twice for no, three times for yes?!"

Ryou gave Marik an odd look. "What do I look like? A trained monkey?!"

"Can't you give me ANY thing?!" Marik cried.

"A good kick in the back end! Blink three times for yes... honestly." Ryou huffed. "No, I told you I can’t give you ANYTHING. Even I don’t know where it is…"

Marik closed his eyes and sighed, then turned and shook his head, before wrapping a towel around his waist and heading for the door.

"I'm sorry Marik..." Ryou called after him. "I hope you can still...pull together your rescue plan...and that you still want me to...marry you..." he said softly looking down.

Marik paused in the doorway and turned, smiling slightly. "I would marry no one else..."

Marik walked into the slave quarters, where an exhausted Bakura was still asleep. He sighed and walked over to his friend, and knelt and shook him. "Bakura..." He hissed. "Bakura, wake up... I have to talk to you..."

Bakura groaned slightly and opened an eye. "Dammit Ishtar...if you fuckin make me do your work again I'll kick your scrawny sunburned ass..." he groaned covering his head with his pillow.

Marik winced and reached out, pulling the pillow away and stroking Bakura's hair.

"I'm sorry..." He whispered. "Bakura, I'm so sorry... I don't know what happened... it just... I'm sorry... I'm here to help again... but... Bakura... I need your help."

Bakura sighed. "What do you want?" he mumbled giving Marik a tired look.

"Bakura..." Marik said softly, looking scared. "Ryou is... dying. We... we have to find his bottle. SOON."

"Don’t be a dumbass....Ryou cant die..." Bakura said after a moment. "He's a genie."

"This is different. Seto and Pegasus' greed have tainted Ryou's bottle, and it's poisoning him... Ryou said he's only got about a week, Bakura..." Marik hissed in a frantic whisper. "We HAVE to get to his bottle before then!"

Bakura frowned. "Sounds like a bunch of bull." Bakura grumbled. "Gods."

Marik shook his head. "Bakura... his skin is PURPLE under that jewelry he wears. Please..." He grabbed Bakura's hand when Bakura went to scratch his nose. "Bakura, I'm begging you... please... we have to find the bottle..."

Bakura sighed. "And where would we start? The kid wont give us any clues, We have NOTHING to start looking on." He said coldly. "If he's dying and still wont try to help...then fuckin let him die."

"He CAN'T!!!" Marik said. "Bakura, PLEASE!!! I don't want to spend my life without him!!!"

"Marik... I dunno." Bakura said after a moment. "Ever since I got that bottle for you, psychopaths keep showing up at your door and stealing the bottle, or the genie, or both. Maybe it's best...."

Marik looked crushed. "Bakura... please... you're my best friend..."

Bakura sighed softly. "Fine. But I don’t know what you expect me to do. We have nothing to go on. We know it's a bottle...that’s pretty much it."

"Well... you're cleaning the house, right?" Marik whispered, eagerly. "Just... search the rooms you're in! You're a theif, you know what to look for... I'll search the bedrooms when I'm changing the sheets. I'll also check on Ahmose and tell him what's going on... did... did you see him yesterday? How is he?"

Bakura sighed and nodded. "Fine... and no... Seto has him locked up in his room." Bakura said. "I saw him, but not long. He was passed out asleep on the bed."

Marik sighed and nodded, standing. "I'll go see him now..." He said softly. "Thank you, Bakura..." And Marik dressed and ran from the room. He charged up to the bedrooms and reached Seto's room. He sighed and knocked softly, just in case Seto was in the room.

"Come in!" Seto called once again quite amused and chipper from another night of Ahmose-training.

Marik winced and nearly cursed, but he slowly opened and door and shuffled in, eyes to the floor. Ahmose, who had been feigning sleep, opened one eye and watched Marik come in.

“I’m here for the sheets, sir…” Marik mumbled gesturing to the sheets, stained with Ahmose’s blood.

Seto rolled his eyes. "Fine... I'll leave you to your work..." he mumbled getting up from his chair and leaving Ahmose and Marik, giving Marik time to look for the bottle and check on Ahmose.

Marik waited until Seto was gone, then rushed to the bed.

"I gotta get the sheets... can you move?" He asked. Ahmose winced and slowly nodded.

"I think so..." He said, and slowly managed to get to his feet. Marik let Ahmose lean on him and he helped him over to the sofa.

"Ahmose... Ryou is dying... the bottle is poisoning him..."

"What?!" Ahmose gasped, eyes wide.

"We have one week to find the bottle. Can you... can you search the room?" He asked, going over to the bed and stripping the sheets, wincing at the blood staining it.

"Yeah... Seto isn't here much during the day... I'll look." Ahmose said.

"You said that you were a NATURAL Fire Seer, right?"

"Yeah...?"

"That means you can scry in the fire even without your magic?"

"Yes..." Ahmose said.

"See if you can find the bottle in a fire, then." Marik said. "If you can't find it in here." Ahmose looked at the fire place, then nodded.

"I'll try." He said. Marik smiled, his arms full of laundry.

"Thanks... do... do you need help getting cleaned up?" Marik asked, glancing at the blood and other fluids that had dried on Ahmose's thighs.

"I... don't think I should unless Seto says it's okay..." The sorcerer mumbled. Marik nodded.

"I... I'll ask for you..." He said, and Ahmose nodded his thanks. Then, Marik slipped out of the room and took the laundry down to the laundry room. He went back up to collect Pegasus' laundry, then made his way to the main hall to find Seto.

Seto was easily found. He was standing next to Ryou, making the next large wishes. Acerage, well tilled and planted for the food supplies, a barn full of livestock and tools, a granery, a mill and an underground source of pure water. Poor Ryou was left panting on the floor after granting all those wishes.

Marik's eyes widened.

"STOP IT!!!" He screamed, and ran across the room, dropping to his knees by Ryou. He glared up at Seto. "Don't you know that you're killing him?!"

Pegasus blinked, confused, and looked at Seto, then back at Marik.

"Killing him? Impossible. Genies cannot die." He said.

"He's a genie, genies cannot die. Don’t be stupid." Seto said pulling Ryou up and rolling his eyes. "I wish also for a stable full of the fastest horses and most reliable camels."

Ryou shivered and granted the wish whimpering as he began to tremble slightly. Seto tossed him aside. "I will be back later to finish my wishing." he growled. "Give my idiot bed slave a bath."

Marik growled and got up. He stormed over to Seto and grabbed his arm, dragging him to the door.

"Come here, Rich Boy..." He hissed. Once outside of the room (Seto was too stunned to resist) he slammed Seto up against the wall.

"Genies CAN die... I've SEEN it!!!" Marik hissed at Seto. "If a Master is too greedy, and wishes for too much in too short a time, the genie's magic drains. It's happened to Ryou before! Some psycho STOLE him, and wished to be ruler of the world. We were able to go in and get Ryou back. He looked like a CORPSE!!! We wished everything back to normal, and he crumbled into DUST!!!" Marik had decided to take a few... liberties in telling this story. "After begging the gods and over a MONTH of HARD work, we were able to restore him! I doubt the gods would do it again. But you are doing exactly what that psycho was doing. Take off Ryou's bracelets, Rich Boy... He's DYING!!! You have GOT to lay back on the fuckin wishes if you want him to live much longer!!!"

Seto smirked. "I wish you were mute." he said calmly shoving Marik off as that same little gold scarab flew off. "Don’t tell me what to do slave... or I will wish all the harder..." he hissed shoving Marik into the wall. "I'll wish all the harder, until that genie DOES become dust if you ever so much as breathe wrong again..."

Marik stared at Seto with a look of hopelessness and despair, tears welling up in his eyes. He shook his head, then turned and ran.

Out in the hall, Ryou was trembling on the floor gasping for breath. He forced himself to his feet, shaking and began waveringly walking to Seto's bedroom to fetch Ahmose.

When he got to Seto’s room, Ahmose was going through a bookshelf, peering at the wall behind the books and knocking on it.

"W-what are you looking for?" Ryou said softly, leaning on the doorframe, taking deep exhausted breaths.

Ahmose turned and looked at Ryou.

"Your bottle." He said, pulling a towel up further on his hips.

"Oh... Well it's time for your bath..." Ryou said offering a weak smile. "You look ready for a nice hot bath..."

Ahmose blinked, then smiled and nodded a bit. "That would be nice..." He said. "But... you don't have to help me... I'll be fine... why don't you rest. You look terrible... Marik said you only have about a... week left..." He looked at Ryou, sadly.

"I was told to bathe you... I have to do what I'm told." Ryou said calmly. "Come now... please don’t make me make you... I'm in a lot of pain..."

Ahmose shook his head. "Of course not. Just... save your magic." He said, walking over to Ryou.

Ryou offered a smile and lead Ahmose to the bathroom and began filling the tub. "I'm so sorry..." he mumbled, still apologizing for things not his fault. "When I die, you can kill those men." Ryou cooed. "I bet that will make you feel better."

Ahmose looked at Ryou, sadly. "Not much." He said, laying a hand on Ryou's shoulder. "Hang on as long as you can, Ryou... please..."

"I am trying..." Ryou said shaking his head. "I'm in so much pain..."

Ahmose sighed. "Are... ALL of my powers sealed, Ryou?" He asked. "If... you can just allow a small trickle... I can help you hold on longer with less pain..."

Ryou sighed giving Ahmose a sad look. "I can’t... they said b-bind your magic...It's bound...I can’t undo it...without a wish."

Ahmose sighed and nodded. "I understand..." He said. "But... maybe you can mention it to them?" He offered, looking at Ryou. "If they can wish that the only magic I can use is to help you... that would buy us some time..." He said, taking off the towel and lowering himself into the bath, wincing as the water stung in wounds.

Ryou nodded. "I ....I suppose I could ask...but they dont know I'm dying...nor do they believe Marik..." Ryou looked down. "Marik hardly believed it...at first..."

Ahmose sighed. "Well... maybe make something up... say that this new bottle isn't agreeing with you and you get tired more quickly and recharge more slowly and say that I can help you..."

"What could you do?" Ryou asked curiously.

Ahmose smiled at Ryou. "I can't stop the poison... but I can SLOW it... I can extend you time and put off your death... I'd say a month, at most. If... if you're willing...? Marik is... scared to death, Ryou..."

"I...I dont know..." Ryou whimpered "The pain...I dont know if I would want to endure it for so long..." Ryou said looking scared. "It's horrible.."

"I can DULL the pain..." Ahmose said, dunking his head back and wetting his hair. "And make it easier for you..." He said.

Ryou sighed softly and removed his wristcuffs showing Ahmose he dark purple area, which was currently glowing, and spreading at a visable rate. "How can you dull this? It burns....it aches and pains me..."

Ahmose frowned and turned, sitting up on his knees and taking Ryou's hand in his and inspected it. "I can help it... but only if they let me..." He said, looking up at Ryou.

Ryou nodded and sniffled. "I will ask...." he mumbled wincing and dipping his wrists into the water to cool the ache in them.

Ahmose sighed and nodded. "In the mean time... I will try everything to find your bottle."

Ryou nodded. "Tomorrow… Malik will come." He said hugging Ahmose and replacing his jewelery over the wounds, which were slightly visable despite them now, and still spreading.

Ahmose sighed. "Well..." He said with a smile. "That will give us someone else to help us find the bottle."

"Are you sure it's not best for me to just die? Perhaps you could ask Lord Anubis to spare me once more..." Ryou said softly.

Ahmose frowned. "Ryou... you would really just give up and die? We can't bring you back again... What would happen to Marik if he lost you?"

"He promised to live." Ryou said softly. "He promised me to live until he died naturally..."

Ahmose looked at Ryou. "Maybe... but he'll live in misery. He loves you, Ryou."

"I dont know Ahmose..." Ryou pouted. "I dont know what to do...if I let this poison take me...this world will have no more apocalyptic psychos wishes to worry about..." Ryou pouted. "If I stay...it's only a matter of time..."

Ahmose said. "Ryou... Please. For Marik."

"But being dead was NICE!" Ryou blurted awkwardly.

Ahmose blinked, then laughed. "Well, eventually, you WILL be dead!!!" He said. "And so will Marik. But wouldn't you rather stay with him as long as you can?"

"I dunno." Ryou said cutely. "I've been alive so LONG!" he crossed his arms. "I deserve to die! Lord Anubis is so nice to me!"

"What is the harm in waiting a few more years?" Ahmose asked.

"How old am I?" Ryou said giving Ahmose a motherly look, which looked quite amusing, coming from someone as young as Ryou in appearance.

Ahmose snorted. "Older than I'd care to count." He said. "But how old is Marik? How long has he lived happily with you? How long will he have to live without you, in depression? It may not seem long to you, but to him, it will seem an eternity..."

Ryou pouted. "You're a horrible man Ahmose... trying to guilt me into cheating death even longer... I'm sure you've driven lord Anubis up the WALL with all this time I've been allowed to live."

Ahmose smiled slightly. "It's for the sake of the people I care about." He said. "Anubis can deal. I make his existence interesting and keep him from getting bored."

"Honestly." Ryou said crossing his arms. "I'm not even legally an adult in this age! This is hardly fair!" Ryou looked away, an air of childishness to him. "Forcing me to endure great pains to live in an age where I'm not even adult! This sort of pain and anguish is meant for adults!"

"Are you really going to leave Marik to live with the pain and anguish of a losing a loved one? Abandon him to live for who knows how long with a broken heart?"

Ryou sighed and flopped back against the tiles lightly. "Horrible Ahmose... Forcing me to live yet longer!" he huffed pouting.

Ahmose frowned. "I can't force you. I'm just telling you now what is at stake."

Ryou sighed and stared up at the ceiling. "I will try..." he mumbled. "But if lord Anubis comes for me, I will not resist him. I will not disrespect the gods." Ryou said softly. "You understand?"

Ahmose sighed and nodded. "Yes. Resisting the gods is never a good idea... probably why Anubis gets so pissed at me from time to time." He smiled and winked.

Ryou grinned and shoved Ahmose lightly. "You're horribly spoiled in this age..." he teased softly.

Ahmose chuckled. "I always was."

Ryou shook his head. "If I died again... would you ask Anubis for me again?" He asked curiously after a moment.

Ahmose sighed and shook his head. "I wouldn't dare... and even if I did... he wouldn't do it. I overstepped my boundaries by asking him to return you once... if I do it again..."

Ryou laughed. "yet you would approach him to protect me while alive..." he giggled at that. "I'd think that'd make him TWICE as mad!'

Ahmose blinked and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Is it not his job to see that people die?" Ryou said calmly. "You've given me an unnaturally long life, AND you'd ask him to protect that life?"

"We'll deal with this when we find your bottle, Ryou." He said, looking for the shampoo.

Ryou rolled his eyes. "You're insane.”

Ahmose blinked. "Why? Because I'm remembering a past life and beleive in genies?" He asked with a playful smile, odd for Ahmose.

"Yes." Ryou said giggling and rolling on the floor, grinning. "You're crazy!"

Ahmose smiled. "Who is more crazy... the one who beleives in the genie, or the one who believes he IS a genie?" He asked, poking Ryou from in the tub.

Ryou laughed harder making the cutest nose-crinkled face. "I'm not crazy!" he said between giggles. "You talk to gods! you're crazy!"

Ahmose smiled and began scrubbing his hair. "Hmm... so I'm crazy."

Ryou grinned and rolled onto his back, shifting his position until he was looking up at Ahmose from the edge of the tub. "uh huh." he said grinning. "But you're pretty, so Pharaoh forgives you."

Ahmose paused and glanced back at Ryou with a raised eyebrow. "Riiiight..."

Ryou nodded grinning. "Marik wants to marry me."

Ahmose blinked and stared, eyes wide. "Are you serious? And... you want to DIE?!"

Ryou gave Ahmose a funny look. "I'm sure I am misunderstanding something somewhere. Marry is to be happy right? I'm already happy."

Ahmose stared at Ryou. "Don't you know what marriage is? Do you KNOW the significance of it?"

Ryou giggled and shook his head. "I suppose not. I thought Marry was to be happy...isn't that what it is?"

"Marriage is kind of like... a mating ritual in a way... Two people, usually a man and a woman, many people don't think it should be between two men and two women, but anyway, in a ceremony, they pledge themselves to each other. They promise to live for the other for the rest of their lives. They pledge themselves, heart, body and soul... It means that they will live for one another, and for their love..."

Ryou looked thoughtful. "Why would he want to do that with me?" he asked softly looking confused. "I'm just a child!"

"Because he loves you. And he wants to spend the rest of his life living for you and your happiness..."

Ryou blushed and grinned. "He was a wonderful master." he said softly.

"And he wants to be a wonderful lover to you." Ahmose said.

Ryou looked thoughtful and sighed. "He...was having sex with Bakura." He said after a moment. "I forgave him...but...I'm not sure Ahmose..."

Ahmose's eyes widened. "He had sex with Bakura?!" He gasped. "When?! WHY?!"

"I saw him yesterday morning...a-and I dont know why." Ryou answered after a moment. "But...it hurts."

Ahmose blinked. "It hurts because you love him... but he would not ask you to marry him if he didn't love you desperately."

"What do you think I should do? You're far smarter than I am." Ryou said suddenly. "What is best?"

"I can't tell you what to do... it's your choice. You do what you want... what you feel is right..." Ahmose said.

Ryou gave Ahmose a look. "If I could do THAT we wouldn't be in this mess!" he said rolling his eyes.

Ahmose snorted. "The choice is up to you, Ryou." He said. "I'm sorry."

Ryou sighed softly. "I don’t know Ahmose...it would be wrong of me to agree..." he pouted. "Marik likes Bakura."

"But he asked YOU. Not Bakura." Ahmose pointed out.

"But if it were so sacred and special, it would be wrong to agree when he's done that." Ryou countered. "That's hardly living for one."

"From my experience, he lives for you. He and Bakura loved one another in the past. But Marik loves you now." Ahmose said. "But again. Only YOU can decide what to do."

"You're crazy." Ryou said once more stretching. "Weird Ahmose."

Ahmose smiled. "I'm ready to go back to Seto's room, now..." He said softly. "Were my clothes washed? Am I even ALLOWED to wear clothes?"

Ryou shrugged. "I can get you new clothes... Marik will wash the old." He said waving a hand, another purple outfit appearing. He winced. "Ouch..."

Ahmose frowned and glared at Ryou. "I told you... don't waste your magic on me... PLEASE. Go to Seto and Pegasus and try to get them to allow me the magic to heal you... It only takes ONE of them to make the wish."

Ryou pouted. "It was magic or wander around naked!" Ryou said stubbornly. "I know you don’t like being naked where people can see!"

"I could have wrapped a towel around myself. I want to spare you as much as possible." He said, getting out of the tub and drying off. "As long as you're here, I think my bandages need to be changed..."

Ryou smiled and nodded sitting up and motioning to the floor. "Lay down then." He cooed, waving a hand once more, for the magic healing balm, and wincing a second time.

Ahmose frowned and lifted his head. "NO magic!!!"

Ryou groaned. "hush!" he scolded beginning to unwrap Ahmose's bandages and look over his back. "I don’t think it will scar." He said smiling and beginning to put more balm on the wounds.

Ahmose sighed. "I was worried it might be infected..." He said.

Ryou shook his head. "Never...this balm is good..." he said as he began re-wrapping the wound. "I learned how to make it in Germany...and I give it my own magic touch." He giggled.

Ahmose smiled. "I see. Well, it does wonders for the pain..." He said. "You'll have to give me the recipe when we're all out off this mess."

Ryou grinned and nodded. "If I live through this I'll give you the recipe." He cooed finishing his tending to Ahmose's back. "There!"

Ahmose smiled and nodded, standing. "Thank you Ryou. I... have to ask you... I know you can't tell me where your bottle is but... if you can tell me ANYTHING... like... is it hidden completely out of sight, in a secret place? Or... is it out and simply set aside in a place that makes it look... unsuspicious?"

Ryou sighed. "I'm sorry..." he mumbled shaking his head. "I cant."

Ahmose sighed. "Okay..." He said, nodding. "Well... I'll go back to searching Seto's room again..."

Ryou nodded. "I will go see Pegasus..." he said helping Ahmose up. "Please don’t overexert yourself."

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

Chibbirinni: Yep. A few cards short of a deck, a few ships shy of a fleet, a few eggs short of an omelet, whatever. And yeah. Bakura’s arrival WAS pretty amusing. The flying soap was Mally’s doing. As for Ahmose bein okay… you will have found out by the time you read this. Keep reading!!!

Laineyue: Hmm… that’s a hard one… I guess that technically I started the whole torture Ahmose thing in my fic ‘Ahmose Inarus’ cuz he goes through some crazy shit in the later chapters. Pegasus is a bit of a fruitcake in this fic. And a bit of a flake. Heh… he amuses me. Especially when he screams like a girl… ^_^

Jeda: Heh… I think everyone will be surprised with what happens to Seto and Pegasus at the END of the story. Everyone loved Bakura being summoned to the palace! ^____^ Heh… is Bakura bein a bad boy? And baby lion Marik… of COURSE he’ll show up again! And yeah, Ahmose had it rough this chapter, and honestly, he has it rough for the next chapter or two as well… And… why does Ahmose need ice cream and nachos? And, uh… I don’t think Ahmose would ever be caught DEAD listening to Beyonce... O.o I think he’s more of a Cruxshadows person. Maybe a bit of Linkin Park on the side… but definitely not Beyonce… o.O And uh… same with Degrassi… Ahmose really doesn’t watch TV, but when he does, he definitely wouldn’t watch Degrassi… Isn’t that show for girls aged 11-15? O.o() My sis watches it, and I have to leave the room whenever it comes on… it’s a tween soap opera!!! >.< Ahmose is more of a… Law & Order and CSI and History Channel and Court TV kinda guy… And uh, yeah… keep Bakura out of the booze, please.

Velvetina: Dang with WHAT Anubis thing? Anyway, glad you liked the chapter. And yeah, Bakura was funny, and so was Ahmose hanging from the tree. But yeah… Ahmose has now had to put himself into a situation he would rather not be in. But he loves Yami. Heh… and Bakura learned his lesson. He ain’t cursing again. I think… And Mikado will be thrilled… Sorry about your migraine! That really sucks…