Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Echo In My Mind ❯ Chapter 3

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

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`There is a thin line between
What is good
And what is evil,
And I will tip-toe down that line,
But I will feel unstable
My life is a circus,
And I'm trippin' down that tight rope,
Well, there is nothing to save me now
I'm falling to the ground'
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He wasn't quite sure whether it was guilt or frustration charging through his body, but Bakura's patience was wearing thin, and he knew there was only one person he could channel it to at the moment.
 
“Ow!”
 
Mariku's violet eyes snapped wide open and then slit to glower at the shorter man who had just shot a punch at his lower ribs, the blond fingering the contact point even if it didn't hurt terribly.
 
“Son of a-“
 
“Shut up!” Dark brown flared a moment as Bakura growled at the other, fist cocked back to threaten another punch should the tanned male try to continue. “Do you hear him? He's crying his damn head off, and I'm not there to help!” He held the cell phone he had snatched from Mariku between them, the sound of heart wrenching sobs pouring across the line after a clatter Bakura had taken as Yami dropping the phone, a desperate look flickering behind the anger-laced mahogany aimed at the taller. “I told you to just let me talk to him! How the fuck-”
 
“Stop.” There was a calmness to Mariku's voice that nearly startled the paler, coiled back with venomous threat as a finger was harshly jabbed at Bakura's shoulder. This caused the paler to stumble back a step and press against the side of the car, Mariku all but leaning on him as he took advantage of the situation. Pinning the other in place, dark hands pressed against each side of the pale man's head, a knee sliding forcefully between Bakura's legs and threatening to crush a jewel or two if the shorter male tried to squirm too roughly. “Don't bitch at me about scaring your screwed up, pansy of a boytoy, Ba-Kura.”
 
“Don't fucking call him tha-” Bakura was cut off by his own squeaked out groan, fingers latching onto the other's stronger arms and trying to pull himself up in an effort to alleviate the painful pressure digging ever slowly into his crotch. He vaguely felt where the cell phone was slipped away from him, the click of it being snapped shut making his growl softly in annoyance, but he doubted it would have done any good to keep the line open anyway; Yami was clearly not in the state of mind to even realize Bakura had been on the phone.
 
Laughing under his breath, Mariku smirked and pulled away while pocketing his phone once more, watching the white-haired man take a deep breath and frown sharply at him. “I don't appreciate your tone, Ba-Kura. Even so, considering I haven't met anyone with the balls to bitch at me… and I must say, from what I could tell, they seem like exquisite balls too…” He trailed off with a saucy grin, turning on his heels, and lightly brushing past Bakura as he made his way to the end of the car. “I'm willing to break a few laws and get your pale ass home to comfort your boytoy.”
 
At first he glowered at the taller, ready to verbally tear through Mariku for calling Yami that insufferable name again, but Bakura caught his tongue in time as he suddenly blinked suspiciously. “Oh?...” He didn't have to wait long before he got the point, watching Mariku fish a pair of keys from his back pocket and swing a leg over the motorcycle parked just behind his car, fluidly mounting the bike that revved to life as soon as the blond was situated. “…And what about my car, dumbass. I'm not leaving it here to get stolen.”
 
“You're such a pessimist, you know?” Violet eyes rolled with a grin, Mariku jerking his head invitingly at the paler while he glanced about quickly. “Oi! Oni-sama!!” Rishid glanced across the traffic that was finally beginning to thin, raising a testy brow at the younger for being a distraction once more. “Be a doll and make sure no one snags Ba-Kura's lovely car, ne? I'm taking him home…” The elder brother's roughly etched face seemed to narrow distastefully at both males, a shake of his head and string of foreign words all that accompanied a dismissive wave of his hand in agreement. “Ha! Yeah, yeah…”
 
By now Bakura had locked his car and approached the blond mounted quite fittingly on the motorcycle, sliding on behind Mariku while the taller rumbled out his chuckle and nudged away the kickstand, the bike balancing at a slight angle as he held them up with one leg. “Hn… Don't take this the wrong way… This is for my own safety.” Bakura wrinkled his nose as he securely wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist, ignoring the snort and grin he was given over Mariku's shoulder, the paler gripping tighter when they suddenly jerked forward. “Bastard! I nearly fell off!”
 
More laughter and Bakura could tell even without seeing it that the blond had a sharp smirk on his face, mahogany eyes shutting when the weaves became dizzying and the speed kicked up several notches once they hit the seemingly abandoned road, blocked to all others unable to slip around the barriers. “Aw… I can feel your heartbeat, Ba-Kura. You shouldn't worry; I've been riding this thing for nearly two weeks now!”
 
He was sure that the loud, muffled sound of horror reached Mariku's ears, but for now the paler decided it was wiser to meld against the slightly larger, and invitingly warm, body of his `chauffer' despite wanting to murder the blond for not having mentioned his lack of riding experience earlier. Barking out directions when he dared to peak through welded shut eyes, Bakura eventually felt a flood of relief once he recognized his block, digging his fingers tightly into Mariku's side to signal his stop.
 
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`There's no beginning
There is no end
There is only change

Progression, Backwards
Is this where we are heading?
Take back your soul
Forget your emptiness'
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“Eh… Not too shabby.” Violet eyes flicked over the building he was guided to stop before, raising a gold brow in interest, and chuckling when he noted how shakily Bakura unlatched from both himself and the motorcycle. “Hell, suck it up; I wasn't even going all that fast.”
 
“Shut up.” Bakura glowered, ignoring Mariku now and hardly wasting a second as he strode hurriedly up the front steps, unlocking the doors to the building, and taking several steps at a time as he climbed the staircase in a rush, tripping over a step or two during his ascent when his legs began to protest the constant sprint past the fourth floor.
 
“Yami! I'm here, baby!” The strain of his breath made his voice sound cracked, but Bakura hardly cared as he simply rounded the last corner of stairs, and finally stumbled down his hall, regaining what air he needed as he approached their apartment door. “Yami… I'm going to open the door and come in, love…” He snagged his lip between his teeth when he heard a familiar whimper behind the door, softer sobs than what he had listened to earlier coming from the boy on the other side. “If you want me to wait-”
 
-“N-no!...”- A string of sniffles and barely suppressed sobs audibly rattled the small frame, wide, red eyes fearfully staring at the door as Yami found what scraps of sanity he had to scoot himself backwards until he was around the corner, tears tracking undeterred across his flushed cheeks. -“…P-please… don't l-leave me alone, Akeifa.”- The boy shut his eyes tightly; body shaking violently as he pressed himself against the wall, unknowingly sucking in and holding a breath between his teeth when the locks clicked and the hissed squeak of hinges accompanied the door's opening.
 
“…YamYam?...” his keys were settled back in his pocket once he entered, he hadn't quite understood what the younger had said, but the grief in the quiet voice was unmistakable, Bakura eyeing the phone on the ground when he heard the insistent dial tone, then slowly peeking around the corner, sighing at the huddled mass on the ground. “Sh… I'm here now, baby. It's alright, I'm sorry that jackass scared you…”
 
Bakura kneeled beside the curled up body, trying to shush the suddenly renewed burst of tears that erupted from Yami at realizing the paler was truly there, the frail body rocking against the elder's chest as mutters in a foreign tongue fought to make themselves heard. Moments dragged by slowly, eventually Bakura managing to glance down and lock gazes with jaded-scarlet eyes, a comforting smile offered to the younger as he brushed pale fingers over the boy's wet cheeks, gently kissing away the last of the rogue tears.
 
“Better?”
 
A noisy sniffle answered him at first, Yami leaning into the kisses with a faint whimper, and receiving as many as he needed before he managed to swallow the voice-constricting lump in his throat. “…H-hai… I'm sorry… I thought… I thought you had left… left me…” His lip quivered at the thought again, tears rising forth and kept at bay when Bakura sighed and gently drew him into a warm embrace, stroking back blond bangs from the boy's face and kissing over his eyelids and forehead.
 
“I'd never do such, Yami…”
 
Managing a weak smile, the boy nuzzled into the crook of Bakura's neck and sighed contentedly, lips securing the smile when a hushed breath promised devotion and love just below his ear, Yami's eyes suddenly widening with a startled gasp when he heard a floorboard creak.
 
“Oh, gomen… The door was unlocked, and well… I thought the scene was too cute not to watch.”
 
Slender fingers twisted themselves like a knot in Bakura's shirt and jacket, red eyes barely peeking over the paler's shoulder to match the stranger's voice to a face, Yami feeling his blood run like ice when he spotted the deeply tanned skin and mess of platinum hair, the boy uttering a nearly silent cry as he panted in anxiety and tried to make himself disappear against Bakura.
 
-“…N-no! You can't take me back! Akeifa! Don't let him!”- The boy's voice had pitched to a frantic sob again as he clung tightly to his lover's body, shaking his head vehemently and mustering an angry cry when the tall figure, who dared to look baffled, drew closer to Bakura and Yami. -“Go away! I don't belong to you! Not any more… Never again!”-
 
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`And again
And again
And again
And it happens again
And again
And again…'
 
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Having followed Bakura in, after all, the paler had never mentioned a thing about not being allowed to do such, Mariku had somehow managed to keep track of where the white-haired man had darted off to. Pinpointing which apartment was Bakura's had hardly been a challenge seeing as how the door had been left slightly ajar, perhaps in the pale man's rush to reach his crying wreck of a boyfriend.
 
Speaking of said wreck, once Mariku had slipped within the apartment, he managed to catch the tail end of the conversation revolving around the boy's apparently unnecessary apology… or something of the sort… Mariku was too distracted by the boy rather than what he was sniffling about to be quite honest. Although who could blame him? From his half-hidden vantage point just around the corner, he could make out the boy's vibrant, red eyes, bustling array of tri-color spikes, and fitting bronze tan across the lean build. Yes, all combined, the characteristics embodied a very fine specimen indeed.
 
Unfortunately, Bakura proved to be a nuisance, well, at least in the aspect that his white tendrils insisted on blocking Mariku's view of, …Yami, was it?... So while he tried to inch closer, Mariku unknowingly made his presence apparent when the floor squeaked at the stranger's shift of footing. Those wonderfully enthralling scarlet eyes immediately darted to him in alarm.
 
Apologizing with his own form of honest humor, Mariku had expected a scowl from one or the other before him, but instead he found himself being accused of… once owning the boy? The hell?
 
More surprising was the fact the kid spoke fluent Arabic, of the same Egyptian dialect as Mariku as well. This should make the correction easier then, no? So with a raised brow, the tallest of the three calmly began, his tone nearly chastising.
 
-“I think you have me confused with another, we've never met before, I can swear to that…”-
 
-“Stop… Why do you always lie?!”- Mariku watched in confusion as the boy trembled and broke between fits of tears to glare poisonously at him, a slender, gold brow arching as the blond hardly felt intimidated. -“Just… just leave me alone… please, Ishie…”- Yami's tone trickled to a defeated whimper, a plea clinging to the words as he lowered his eyes submissively.
 
“…I don't know what the fuck either of you is saying, but you better damn well leave, Mariku.” Bakura testily broke in before the taller could retort, all but cradling the boy in his arms as he frowned sharply at the blond. “You're obviously upsetting him, so get ou-”
 
-“…M-Mariku…?...”- The name was spoken hesitantly, annunciated with a natural purr from his native language as Yami blinked and seemed to clarify what, or rather who, exactly he was seeing before them, after all, if Bakura knew this stranger, then it certainly couldn't be who Yami thought it was.
 
Arms crossing before his chest, Mariku sighed as an exasperated mask was donned across his face, finally slipping off his sunglasses and tapping his fingers along the stretch of his arm. “Well, looks like he's getting over it now that he realizes I'm not… `Ishie'?...” His spiky blond hair shook along with his head, a belittling expression given to the boy as Mariku clicked his tongue. “I suppose I should properly introduce myself now? …Isutaru Mariku, just stick with calling me Mariku though, I'd rather not be reminded of my bastard of a father.”
 
A flush came across Yami's cheeks, heat flooding his body as he nibbled his lip in embarrassment. Now that he could actually think straight, he was quick to notice just what the tall man looked like, the violet eyes, wild hair, and head to toe black clothing certainly marking him as an unmistakably different individual all together. “Oh Gods… I'm so sorry.”
 
“Hush, YamYam… It's not your fault, you're still in aftershock.” Bakura sighed and kissed the top of the boy's head, wiping the smirk off Mariku's face with a single intolerant glare, and then gently coaxing the frail figure in his arms to detach himself well enough so the pale man could help him stand. “Come, sit and I'll get you something to drink.”
 
Watching in silence, Mariku took in how fluidly the two before him moved with each other, Yami swinging an arm around Bakura's neck to anchor himself, and following with shaky steps until they reached the sofa, the boy collapsing into the soft cushions with an exhausted sigh. “…I'm sorry for not picking the phone up earlier, Kura… I had… I…”
 
A soft smile and kiss to the boy's cheek quieted Yami, the paler nodding in understanding before drawing away and shrugging faintly. “I never got the chance to call, actually. Probably my brother whining about where the hell I was.”
 
“You have a brother, Ba-Kura?” Mariku found this an intriguing fact, more so if said brother looked anything like the paler man currently bringing Yami back some orange juice and handful of indistinguishable pills. Now how did that Double Mint Gum jingle go?... Double the pleasure, double the fun?...
 
Yes… That sounded about right, although two men, look-alikes or not, was delicious by Mariku's standards at all times. Which was why the blond grinned outwardly when he prompted himself to sit on the middle cushion of the sofa just beside Yami, and leaving room to his other side should Bakura choose to sit as well. Mariku was still stuck on his plan of ravaging both, more so now that he knew and vigorously adored what Yami looked like. A shiver made its invisible path down Mariku's spine in apprehension, wooing them would be a challenge, but hardly impossible… and the rewards reaped would be divine.
 
“Hai. I was going to see him, but then that fucked up accident had to hold up traffic.” A slight scowl appeared on Bakura's face when he noted just where the tanned male had invited himself to sit, handing a still tremulous Yami his juice and medication, and then trying to wave Mariku away. “Anyway, no one said you could come in, stay, and much less plant your fat ass on our couch. So get out.”
 
“Kura!” Wide, red eyes blinked at his boyfriend after Yami managed to swallow a mouthful of pills and orange juice, minute frown creasing his thin brows as he shook his head disapprovingly. “That's no way to speak to guests.” He held up a hand to keep Bakura's protest from even beginning, motioning with a flick of his fingers for the paler to retrieve something from the kitchen. “Bring him something to drink and check if we have anything to offer him to snack on before the three of us have dinner.”
 
“Dinner!?”
 
“Yes, and don't interrupt me, Kura, koi.” The authoritarian tone Yami was steadily grasping onto made Mariku blink and grin in utter amusement, especially since the pale man before them shut his mouth and pressed thin lips together. “We can order out. I don't mind… Mariku… yes, being here…” The trailing off of his words meant that his pale lover would not be allowed to express anything other than appropriate manners as well, daggers shooting at the blond in accusation from mahogany eyes before Bakura did as told and sauntered back into the kitchen.
 
“Damn… I didn't realize Ba-Kura was the bitch of the relationship.” Violet eyes glistened with laughter when a threatening grumble was heard from the kitchen; a tanned arm taking opportunity to wrap about Yami's shoulders, causing the boy to jump a bit and blink widely, a grin crossing the taller's face in assurance. “I don't bite… Unless I'm asked to, of course.”
 
More blinking for a moment, but Yami took the statement as a joke, and a sweet twitter of a giggle bubbled up from him as he forced himself to relax, which wasn't very difficult now that his medication had already begun to kick in, settling his nerves to a decent extent so he could ignore whatever phantom threats his mind may conjure as to Mariku's actions. “Um… so how do you… know Bakura?”
 
“He was in front of me in traffic… And I gave him a ride here. I don't know anyone other than my brother anyway since I just moved in from Egypt, so I figured trying to make friends doesn't get any easier, ne?” Mariku chuckled, playfully giving the boy's shoulders a faint squeeze, which, as he planned, caused Yami to shift unknowingly closer to the blond with a shaky smile.
 
This was almost too easy.
 
“Hey…”
 
Damn it.
 
“Egypt, huh? You hadn't mentioned that earlier.” It would have been nice for the taller to have mentioned such… Like when Mariku had been patting him down, or crushing his balls.
 
Violet eyes obediently drifted to regard an internally raging Bakura; grin forming on Mariku's lips as he took the coke in the paler's grasp with a nod of thanks all the same, after all, Yami was right beside him. “Yup, and I'll take it that your boy-, boyfriend, here is from the area as well?”
 
Yami, having perked up at the mere mention of Egypt, was quick to nod as he sipped the last of his juice, smiling at the one beside him as he spoke. “I was born and raised just outside of Cairo, near my mother's home. My father had a small business of sorts situated there, to help foreign archeologists mostly. He's originally from Japan, although I hardly ever saw him aside from his infrequent days off, we were fairly close because he'd write to Mother and I constantly. Well, he still writes, actually… as does Mother.” A far away look glazed his scarlet eyes as he spoke, a serene smile painted across his lips as he sighed longingly for such peaceful times thoughts of his mother and father swelled within him, memories of good and cherishing moment, all before… before…
 
Him.
 
“So how'd you end up here? I mean… Tokyo, sure, I can understand moving there, but some place called Domino?”
 
Mariku's question broke the boy's dazed expression, a simple smile presented to the taller Egyptian despite the pained expression in the red eyes, hints of tears prickling the edge of them. “I'd rather not talk about that…”
 
“Oh…” He blinked questioningly, but hardly wished to prompt the tri-color haired boy beside him into another crying fit, so Mariku nodded, letting his curiosity drop about the matter, especially since he had also noticed the sullen look in Bakura's expression when the question had been asked. “Anyway…” Trying to lighten the mood, after all, how was he expected to bed them should he not manage to keep their primitive `relationship' on good terms, Mariku smiled once more and gently poked a finger at the boy's ribs, grinning at the yelp and covered up half-giggle. “You haven't told me your whole name.”
 
Yami blinked, embarrassed as he threaded his fingers through his own hair and looked down a moment. “I'm sorry. Ah…” He cleared his throat and held his hand out to the Egyptian after handing Bakura his emptied cup, ignoring the pale man's low growl of distaste while Bakura set his way back to the kitchen. “Li Yami, I'm not very set on being called anything other than `Yami' though, just because it's rather different, and I don't mind the attention.”
 
An approving grin and chuckle were Mariku's amused response, quick nod tossed in before he flashed his violet eyes at Bakura's returning form suddenly, slow smirk curling the corners of his dark mouth. “Now… what about Ba-Kura, eh?” Knowing that it would bug the hell out of the paler, Mariku embraced the boy further with his arm, all but pressing Yami against his side to whisper in the flushing teen's ear. -“Earlier, you had mentioned the name `Akeifa'… ?...”-
 
Even if Bakura couldn't understand the last statement, his mahogany eyes widened in dread as he heard his boyfriend giggle softly, watching him nod at the Egyptian blond, who was too damn close for Bakura's liking.
 
-“Oh… Yes, that's Kura's first name.”- Yami smiled sweetly at the violet-eyed man, mentally shrugging away his conscious' chastising for allowing himself to be held so closely by anyone other than family, Bakura, or friend. Ah, but perhaps he had already accepted Mariku as a friend? His mind messed with that thought for a moment, pouting in confusion before Yami simply ignored it…
 
After all, his brain had decided to play enough tricks with him already, he wasn't about to deal with any more nonsense for today.
 
Grinning when Bakura cleared his throat in annoyance, Yami resumed the conversation so his boyfriend could understand, although he was perfectly aware that was not what was ticking off the paler. “He doesn't like anyone knowing it though, says it makes him sound feminine. Although I like it, I think it's pretty.”
 
“Which is the fucking point, YamYam.” He sighed in defeat and shot a glare at Mariku for the laughter, shaking his head and dropping down at an angle into the seat beside the tall Egyptian after plucking the phone from the ground. “Now both of you shut up, we have messages…”
 
Looking only a sliver hurt at the harsher than normal tone in Bakura's voice, Yami blinked it away when the paler reached across the man between them and captured the boy's hand in his own. Both too occupied with a quick smile at each other, a pale thumb petting over the back of Yami's hand as Bakura listened to the handful of messages, neither noticed the smug grin that developed on their guest's face.
 
Mariku was more than enjoying himself being nearly sandwiched between the pair, but being the ever persistent man that he was, he wasn't yet comfortable. Intending to remedy that, he snaked his spare arm around the paler man's waist, a growl and squirm was all Bakura emitted before he turned his attention back to the messages. The Egyptian grinned in triumph as he succeeded in drawing the white haired male closer to himself, not dragging the paler onto his lap only because Bakura elbowed him once he felt his back pressed against the taller's side.
 
This was more than fine for now though, even Mariku was aware of that.
 
“Aw fuck…” Bakura groaned and leaned his head back brokenly, resting it against the Egyptian's shoulder only because it would take far too much effort for him to yank away and rest his head elsewhere, besides, it wasn't as though Mariku's shoulder wasn't comfortable…
 
“Who were the messages from?...”
 
Eyes shutting, Bakura pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed, answering Yami tiredly. “Well, the first is from the midget-”
 
“Kura!” Yami frowned and sat up, much to the other Egyptian's disappointment, to properly frown at the other around Mariku. “Yuugi's my older brother, show him respect, please?”
 
“Older brother?”
 
“Hai, Mutou Yuugi.” He smiled kindly at the taller, leaning back into his previous position with a soft sigh. “And, well… he's technically my half-brother, and shorter than me, but older none the less, so Bakura should be kinder in his choice of nicknames.”
 
Mariku blinked a moment, raising a brow as he wondered just how vertically challenged this Yuugi was, especially considering Yami was short enough as it is. For his elder sibling to be shorter than him, well then… perhaps he did deserve the literally belittling dub.
 
“Fine, fine… Mutou called and left you a message, he's coming over tomorrow.” Bakura snorted, he didn't mind Yuugi, he simply found it impossible to restrain from picking on the twerp was all. “The doctor called too, wants you to get back to him…” A faint sigh from Yami told him that this month's conversation with his psychiatrist would be less than pleasant, but necessary all the same.
 
“What about the third message?”
 
Bakura shot a glare at the Egyptian, finding a fair amount of satisfaction when he dug his elbow into the man's ribs as it caused Mariku to wince and frown down at him, although that damn smirk returned when Yami piped up.
 
“There was a third?” Red eyes blinked at Bakura questioningly, head cocked slightly as he waited expectantly.
 
“…Yes…” He grudgingly sat up, hardly succeeding in escaping the Egyptian's clutch and frowning sharper at him. “It was no one; don't worry about it, Yami.”
 
“Oh, but had it been simply no one, then why would it have upset you?” Mariku grinned, voice well trained to sound concerned despite the amusement clearly riddling his violet eyes. “Obviously the other two weren't responsible for making you say, what was it again?... Oh yes, `Aw fuck'.”
 
“…He's right… Who was it, Kura?”
 
Damn it, next time he checked messages, he'd have to make sure to do such while not within the same room as Mariku.
 
Shaking his head, Bakura forcibly broke away from the tanned arm, standing and heading for the kitchen once more, quite possibly for a drink of his own. “It was… Fuck it. Just listen to it yourself; I suppose it is more amusing than I gave it credit for…”
 
Yami caught the phone as it was tossed to him, blinking a bit in confusion as he dialed into their voicemail, and giggling when Mariku insisted on pressing them closer together so they could both hear the message with the phone trapped between their ears.
 
“Hi, Nii-sama!”
 
The voice was about as sweet as they came, laced with happiness and adoration at simply leaving a message for a much beloved older brother.
 
“Did you forget to come over?”
 
An obviously fake sniffle was inserted, flowery giggles following right after.
 
“I'm kidding, it's okay! I'm sure something came up, probably with Li-san… Oh! I nearly forgot, hi Li-san! I didn't forget you, honest!”
 
Yami grinned softly, chuckling as he shook his head at the familiar chorus of bubbly cheerfulness that never failed to lighten his mood.
 
“Anyway, call me back when you can, Nii-sama! You'll never guess what's happened!”
 
There was a pause in the message, clearly where the younger sibling was holding a breath, trying to will away the need to blurt it out… but failing as a burst of giggles came forth.
 
“I'm pregnant! Can you believe it? You're going to be an uncle!”
 
Mariku blinked, smiling slightly at the obviously pleasant news, although he quickly blinked in slight puzzlement when Yami's eyes widened and fought not to laugh so he could listen to the end of the happy rambling.
 
“I just found out yesterday, and I wanted to tell you in person, but so long as you know, right?! Love you!”
 
The message clicked to an end and it was then that Yami burst into laughter, enough so that he needed to cradle his sides as he shook his head.
 
“…I'm… Not quite sure I understand what's so funny about Ba-Kura's sister being pregnant.” Violet eyes blinked, watching as Yami fought to catch his breath, although only more laughter came forth when Bakura reentered the living room and scowled at his boyfriend, clearly not volunteering to be the one to let Mariku in on the joke.
 
“Ok… ok…” Yami bit his lip, grinning as he took in a breath at a time and finally nodded, only small giggles coming out now and then as he sat up and straightened his shirt. “You see, Mariku… that was Amane…” He watched the taller nod a moment as he put a name to the paler's sister. “Who's dead…” The Egyptian's eyes widened, Mariku unable to voice his apology to Bakura or question just what the hell the deal was then as Yami continued. “And really Kura's brother, Ryou.”

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`I speak of madness, my heart and soul
I cry for people who ain't got control
Let's take our sanity, let's take compassion
And be responsible for every action'
 
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