Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return To Paradise ❯ Plan of Attack ( Chapter 4 )

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

WARNING: MARIK X MALIK LEMON! YAOI!

Plan of Attack

Karl drove Marik home and stopped short. “Marik, what are all these people doing in front of your house?”

Marik shrugged. “I don't know. They are a bunch of idiots who are trying to get us to spill information about our Shadow Magic.”

“You shouldn't go in front of them looking like you bathed in blood, then!”

Marik shrugged. “Let them say what they want.”

Karl removed his jacket and put it around Marik's shoulder. “Wear that. If you don't remember, I'll walk around for it tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Karl.”

“No problem. Need me to help you to the door?”

“Nah, I can manage.” Karl watched Marik open the door and slip out of the car on wobbly legs. Marik shut the door and staggered as if he had too much liquor. The yami removed the keys from his pocket as people swarmed him again.

“Where were you?”

“Are you part of a secret cult?”

Marik groaned. “Get out of my way!”

The yami fell forward as he was jostled by the crowd. He slipped the keys into the lock with shaking hands. He turned the key and fell into the house, quickly shutting the door behind him.

On the couch, he saw Ryou and Bakura sleeping on the couch. Bakura was laying on his back with his Light on top of him. A blanket was draped over both of them. Bakura had his arms wrapped around Ryou protectively.

Marik grinned as he watched the couple sleeping, wrapped in each other's embrace.

The yami climbed the steps and tripped going up. He giggled and crawled up the steps.

He crawled into his bedroom and saw Malik sleeping on his back.

The yami grinned, licking his lips. `You are in so much trouble.'

Marik removed the jacket that Karl gave him and his blood-stained shirt. He removed his pants and grinned down at his Light in the dark. Malik's head was turned to the right, the moonlight falling on his shirtless body.

Marik grinned at his sleeping husband, wrapping his hand around his arousal, and licking his lips.

“I'm going to make love to you, Malik Ramses….and I know you're gonna love it.”

Marik kneeled in front of the bed and lifted the comforter out from under the bed. With a quiet, evil chuckle, he slipped under the covers and found his husband's legs spread just right for his intentions.

The yami crawled up his Light's body and planted a kiss on Malik's stomach.

“I love you, Malik Ramses…..”

The sleeping Egyptian let out a quiet sigh in his sleep and the yami grinned. “That's only the tip of the iceberg…..”

Marik dipped his tongue into his husband's belly button and licked it slowly. Malik's hips shifted in his sleep.

The yami chuckled. “You can't get away, baby…you're all mine.”

Marik lifted the covers up just enough so he could see Malik's face as he kissed his stomach.

“You're so sexy, baby….”

Marik took the edge of Malik's sweatpants and tugged them down a little. He kissed the exposed mocha skin gently, enjoying his husband's warmth.

A whimper escaped Malik's throat as Marik's tongue glided over his skin.

“I love you, Malik Ramses,” Marik whispered as he carefully attempted to pull down Malik's pants.

Malik shifted in his sleep again as Marik kissed his lower belly. The yami pulled down Malik's pants slowly as he shifted.

The yami slid them off with some grunting and settled between his Light's legs with a smile.

He lifted the sheets again and found Malik still asleep even after wrestling with the pants.

Marik looked down at Malik's arousal and nuzzled it with his cheek.
”I love you,” he whispered again as he kissed Malik's inner thigh.

Malik whimpered and moaned in his sleep.

Marik licked and kissed Malik's inner thigh and moved over to lick his husband's base. The sleeping man whimpered and shifted his hips slightly.

The yami licked slowly up his husband's arousal and flicked his tongue over the tip, hungrily licking up the tiny droplets which were forming there.

The sleeping man's breathing drew in sharply and he moaned.

“You like this, baby?” he asked quietly as he flicked his tongue over the tip again.

Malik turned his head to the other side and raised both hands over his head, gripping the iron bars above him.

`He's gotta still be asleep.'

The yami grinned and swallowed around his hikari's arousal.

The sleeping man let out a whimper and he swayed his hips slightly. Marik deep-throated his other half and moaned with need.

Malik's toes began to twitch in his sleep as they touched Marik's arousal. The yami moaned as he moved against Malik's toes, enjoying their light touch.

Marik pulled back from Malik's hardening flesh. “Baby…..”

Malik opened his eyes and looked below. A pair of glowing red eyes peered at him from under the covers. “AH!” he exclaimed, startled as he threw off the covers.

“Marik?!”

Marik grinned and swallowed around him again.

Malik gasped and arched his back, burying his fingers in Marik's blond hair. “Marik…”

Marik created a soft suction around Malik's manhood, rubbing the base lightly with his fingertips.

The hikari threw his head back as his husband sent waves of pleasure coursing through his body. “Baby…..”

The yami deep-throated Malik and moaned, making the other blond thrust up into the inviting moist heat above him.

Marik pulled back and licked Malik's tip. “You like what I'm doing to you, baby?”

The hikari whimpered. “Don't stop….. please.”

Marik chuckled and reached into the drawer beside them. He removed two scarves and a bottle of oil.

Malik looked up and his eyes widened in shock. Marik's hair was covered in blood. A streak of blood was crawling down Marik's neck.

“Marik, what happened to you?!”

The yami grinned. “Shhhh……I need you.”

Malik swallowed hard. That was why Marik was doing this! He was blood-drunk!

“Marik, we need to get you cleaned up!”

“No, no…not yet. I want to enjoy you as you are right now.”

“Your hair is a mess, though!”

Marik chuckled. “My hair is the least of my concerns now.”

Malik looked below between his husband's legs and saw Marik highly aroused.

“Be a good boy for me, Malik Ramses…..you know I wouldn't hurt you.”

Malik watched Marik's eyes as the yami tied his arms to the bed. He could tell Marik was trying to be considerate. The knots were not as tight as they were the last time he came home blood-lusted.

Marik grinned down at his husband. “You are so beautiful, Malik….”

The yami's hands traveled down Malik's body. “I want to make love to you for hours….”

Malik swallowed hard. “No complaints here.”

“Good,” Marik chuckled, capturing Malik's mouth in a hungry kiss.

Malik whimpered and bucked his hips up as his husband grinded his hips against him. Malik bent his knees, allowing Marik's body to brush against its target.

The yami kissed down to the junction of Malik's neck and shoulder. The hikari winced as he felt Marik's teeth brush against his skin.

`He's blood-lusted….he isn't in his right mind…'

Marik's hand rubbed up Malik's body and cupped his cheek in his hand. “Malik, do you love me?”

Malik looked into his husband's eyes. “Of course I love you, Marik. I wouldn't want to be with anyone mmpfh--.”

Marik's mouth possessed his own again in a deep kiss, Marik's long tongue rubbing against his and exploring.

The tied Egyptian bucked up against his husband again as he felt his yami's hardness growing in intensity. Malik bucked up against Marik, needing and wanting more intimate contact with him.

A whimper escaped him and Marik chuckled into the kiss.

“You want more of me, don't you?”

Malik nodded. “I do, Marik, please….”

Marik grinned and licked Malik's lips. “I'm not done teasing you yet. I'm going to make certain that you enjoy yourself.”

“Marik, I need you inside me,” Malik moaned, thrusting up against his yami's arousal.

Marik pulled back from his husband and grinned. “I know what will help you feel better.”

The yami shifted up to Malik's chest and touched himself.

Malik gave his husband a lick on the tip of his manhood. Marik moaned and threw his head back. “Yeah, baby, that's it…..”

Malik pursed his lips around Marik's hard flesh and swallowed around the tip.

The blond yami closed his eyes and whimpered. “That's it, baby….gently, tenshi….gently.”

Malik suckled softly on Marik's arousal, watching his yami as he did so.

The yami looked down at his husband and touched his cheek lightly. “That's it, tenshi…..lightly……enjoy it.”

Malik closed his eyes and swallowed more of Marik. He moaned around the manhood as he felt Marik touching him. Malik opened his eyes and saw Marik reaching behind him to coax Malik into thrusting up.

“That's a good boy,” Marik said softly.

The yami's breath came sharp as Malik swallowed around him deeper.

“That's it, baby….”

Marik's eyes went to Malik's wrists, still bound to the bed. His husband suckled softly on him.

Malik was bound to the bed…

Helpless…

Vulnerable….

Marik thrust himself into Malik's warmth, moaning and whimpering. It was nearly impossible to keep that instinct to release under control.

Malik's hips thrust up, his body needing release, his arousal painfully hard, his yami touching him, making him want to cum.

“That's it, Malik, gods…..that's it….don't stop….good boy, baby….”

Malik whimpered around Marik's arousal, thrusting up hard into Marik's grip.

Malik pulled back, breathing sharply through his mouth. “Please make me cum, Marik….”

Marik moaned. “Continue doing what you were, baby….”

The bound Egyptian swallowed around him again and thrust up into his husband's grip.

The bound Egyptian thrust up and released hard. Marik let out a loud moan and released equally hard into Malik's throat.

The bound Egyptian swallowed what his yami offered hungrily.

Marik released Malik's arousal and gripped the iron headboard for support, panting.

The hikari's head fell against the pillow as his body trembled from his orgasm. He closed his eyes, panting and twitching.

His head spun with the effects of his orgasm. He felt warm breath against his face. He opened his eyes and saw Marik looking down at him into his eyes.

“Baby….”

Marik reached down and caressed Malik's face.

“Marik…..”

The yami shifted back, covering Malik's body with his own. “I love you,” the yami said, planting a soft kiss on Malik's lips.

Malik saw his yami's eyes return to normal. “I love you, too, Marik….umm…can you untie my arms?”

Marik nodded and untied Malik's wrists. The hikari wrapped his arms around his husband.

The yami rested his head on Malik's chest and nuzzled his chest. A light kiss on Marik's forehead made the yami let out a contented sigh.

“So what happened tonight to bring all this on?”

Marik snuggled into Malik. “Work.”

“Oh, I see.” Malik saw Marik's hand and picked it up. “Did you hurt your hand?”

“Got shot. No big deal.”

“You got shot and you didn't get help for it?!”

“The bullet just grazed me, Malik. Don't worry.”

“It looks like it hurts.”

Marik shrugged. “I've had worse. This is mild compared to being stabbed in the back, trust me.”

“At least let me take care of it for you.”

Marik shook his head. “I'll be okay, Malik, I promise.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

The yami smiled up at his hikari. “Tell you what. After I pound you into next year, you can take care of it.”

“You still intend to pound me?”

“Why not? I owe you for this morning.”

Malik snickered. “Then you're gonna need a bath, too. If Bakura gets a whiff of you, he'll have your ass…..literally.”

“I'm really amazed he hasn't already. He's got a good sense of smell. He's like a bloodhound.”

Malik giggled. “I know he does.”

Marik's hand glided up Malik's body from his hip. “You have such a sexy body, Malik Ramses.”

“Thank you,” he giggled.

Marik kissed Malik's chest, chuckling.

Malik cupped Marik's face in his hands and pulled him up for a hungry kiss. He wrapped his legs around Marik's hips, pulling him close.

The hikari kissed down Marik's jaw and down his neck. The yami licked Malik's earlobe and sucked on it lightly as his hikari rubbed their hips together.

“Tease,” Marik snickered.

“All's fair in love and war,” Malik giggled.

“Oh, you think so, hmm? I'm not so sure of that, my desert flower.”

The hikari giggled and ran his hands down Marik's spine and around his buttocks. He kissed Marik's earlobe and slowly grinded up against his Dark.

“You are such a tease!” Marik grinned, pulling back.

“Oh no, you don't!” Malik squealed, using his legs to try and flip his yami onto his back.

“Oh no YOU don't!” Marik snickered, driving his knees and fingers into the mattress. “I'm not going to be flipped on my back that easily!”

Malik grinned and raised his hands. “I know your weakness, Jibade!”

Marik's eyes went wide as Malik began tickling his sides. “STOP!” Tears ran down his face as he started to laugh.

“Hell no! I'm getting on top of you if it kills me!”

Marik's grip on the bed loosened and he fell over on his side of the bed. The Light grinned and jumped onto his Light's hips. “Now! Are you going to be good or do I have to tickle you again?!”

“That was a dirty move!” the yami protested.

“No….THIS…is a dirty move,” Malik grinned as he rocked himself against Marik's arousal. The sneaky grin crossed his face as he gyrated against his yami.

“Yes…that is….a dirty…trick,” Marik moaned.

“Who would have thought that Marik Jibade Ishtar, Spirit of the Millennium Rod, Controller of Minds, could be brought down by a little tickle?”

Marik glared at Malik. “Pain in the ass.”

“Not quite yet. Soon, though.” Malik leaned down and kissed his yami on the lips hungrily. He gripped Marik's blond hair and pulled back, exposing Marik's chocolate colored neck. “You like it when I take control and play with you, don't you, Akutenshi?”

Marik blinked and let out a little growl.

“Do you? Do you like it when I tease you just a little bit?” Malik asked, taking hold of Marik's arousal and running his finger over the tip. “Do you enjoy that?” Malik asked, tugging on Marik's hair just enough to keep him from moving.

“Yes,” Marik gasped as his Light began touching him.

“I thought you did. I knew you did. You were just keeping these deliciously sweet lips shut.” The hikari licked his yami's lips and chuckled at him. “You look good this way.”

“You feel too good for me to move,” Marik moaned, rubbing upwards against his Light.

“Kiss me,” Malik moaned, kissing his yami hungrily. He released Marik's hair and reached into the other drawer for another bottle of lubricant. He opened the bottle and pulled back from the kiss.

The Egyptian kissed down his husband's body and licked the nipples until they were perky and erect again. Marik's eyes closed as Malik's soft lips trickled kisses down his chest and down to his stomach. Malik's hand had not left him as the kisses fell lower.

“Malik, feels so good,” the blond yami moaned, rising his hips upwards.

“This is nothing compared to what you will feel in a few minutes,” the chuckling hikari said before swallowing around Marik's manhood.

The yami reached down and pet his hikari's hair, sucking in air through his clenched teeth. He watched his lighter half swallow around him and suck gently on him.

Marik's purple eyes closed as he raised his arms up to grip the bedframe. His body became covered in a thin veil of sweat as his husband drew back from his arousal slowly. Malik kissed Marik's arousal from the tip to base, chuckling as he saw his Dark's face becoming red with his rising temperature.

“I think you might want to watch this,” Malik grinned, seeing his Dark open his eyes.

Marik watched as Malik kneeled between his legs and open the bottle of lube. He held the bottle high and watched as the oil drip onto the tip of his arousal and slowly slide south to his base.

“Oh Mother Isis,” Marik moaned, watching the oil drip over himself. “Malik, what are you doing to me?”

Malik grinned and wrapped his hand around Marik's manhood again. “Nothing….just having a little fun.”

The oil warmed Marik up as Malik touched him. Malik shifted upwards and grinded against his yami again.

“You look like you're enjoying yourself,” Malik grinned.

“Of course I am,” Marik moaned, rising his hips against his Light.

Malik leaned down and kissed Marik's lips lightly. “You're gonna enjoy this a whole lot more right……..about………………… …………….now.”

Marik whimpered as he felt Malik slide down on his hard arousal. The hikari whimpered along with his yami and took in sharp breaths.

“Malik, you feel so sexy,” Marik moaned, holding himself back from following his instinct to thrust into the body above him.

The hikari grinned and touched himself, rocking back and forth slowly. “It's very rare I get the upper-hand on you like this.”

Marik grinned, holding onto Malik's hips. “You gotta have some fun, too. I can't have it all the time.”

“You're damn right about that!” Malik grinned, picking up his pace.

Marik planted his feet on the mattress and rose his hips into his husband. “That's it, baby….take your time.”

Malik whimpered and poured some oil on his own arousal. He stroked his length as the oil warmed up his skin. “Marik, don't stop….”

“I don't plan on it…..”

Marik moaned as he thrust up harder into his Light. Malik responded by crashing onto his Dark faster.

“Marik, harder….get it up there as far as you can,” Malik whimpered.

Marik grunted and drove his hips up as hard as possible. “Don't stop, Malik, baby.”

Malik slammed himself harder and harder onto his yami, his body muscles tensing around Marik's arousal.

The yami sat up and pulled his other half into a deep, hungry, kiss of desire. “Look at me, tenshi…..”

Malik looked into the deep, purple eyes of his other half. Those eyes have seen so much…..Those eyes, once the object of his fear, were now filled with desire for him. The hikari kissed his yami back hungrily, his body preparing to release.

“Malik,” Marik moaned, pounding hard and deep. “Come for me, baby…”

Malik shook his head. “You first.”

Marik whimpered and pulled his other half into a kiss. Malik arched his back and pressed hard against Marik as he felt his yami release deep into him. The yami helped his Light stroke himself harder.

“Let it go, baby,” Marik whispered to him. “That's it….Come on…”

The hikari thrust his hips forward and released hard against his yami's body.

“That's it, tenshi…..good boy…..so hot……”

Malik fell forward against Marik and hugged him tightly. “Marik……”

The yami wrapped his arms around Marik in a tight embrace. “I'm glad you're home safe.”

The hikari grinned. “So am I.”

*********************************

Robbie slowly opened his eyes as his clock alarm woke him up. He rolled over and pulled out a lazy hand to turn off the alarm. When he turned, he noticed that Aten was still sleeping beside him.

Normally Aten would be awake.

“Maybe he was up late,” Robbie yawned, sitting up and throwing the covers off of him. He turned around and grabbed his cane. The teen scratched his head and pulled himself up with the cane. He limped to the bathroom and cleaned up.

When he limped back into the room to dress, Aten was still asleep. His lover was laying on his back, his arms folded over his chest. Robbie heard him wheezing slightly in his sleep. Aten's head had been propped up on pillows to prevent shortness of breath during the night.

When Robbie finished dressing, he limped downstairs.

“Morning, son,” Daniel said, opening the paper.

“Hi, dad.”

“I got breakfast ready,” Miranda said, putting a plate of Pop Tarts in front of her son. (I don't own Pop Tarts..mmm… Pop Tarts)

Robbie sat down and yawned. “Thanks, mom. I could have gotten them.”

“It's okay, Robbie. Your father and I were up anyway. Is Aten sleeping late?”

“I guess so. Maybe he got up to paint after I went to bed.”

Daniel shook his head. “No, Aten slept through the night. I didn't see him come down.”

“Really? Hmm…that means he's been sleeping since seven o'clock last night.”

Miranda shrugged. “Maybe that doctor's visit made him very tired yesterday.”

“Could be. Can you ask him to call me when he wakes up?”

“Sure thing,” Miranda said.

“I'll be busy catching up with things at work, but I can make an exception when he calls.”

“Seto won't mind, I'm sure, Rob,” Daniel said, turning the page of the newspaper. “I can't believe the garbage they are circulating anymore!”

“What do you mean?”

Daniel held up the paper for Robbie to see. Robbie's eyes widened as he looked at the paper. “Oh. My. God. This can't be for real!”

“It certainly seems like it. I bet it's all just propaganda, anyway. You know, a way to sell more print.”

Robbie held up the paper. “I was meaning to go and talk to Marik and Bakura about this, but you couldn't get near that place last night!”

“And the fact that Aten wasn't doing well.”

“Yeah, I had to be here for him last night. I'll have to call them later and see what is going on. Most likely Aten will go over there.”

“I don't think that is a good idea,” Daniel said. “If he was tired like he was last night, fighting through that crowd will take all his energy.

Miranda sat at the table with her coffee. “I saw that crowd out there this morning. They're all still over there.”

Daniel shook his head. “Marik might be eccentric, but he's not deadly or dangerous.”

“He can be, dad. You haven't been home enough to know him. I mean, really, really know him too well.”

“Robbie's right, dear. You haven't been around him long enough to know him very well. He's not as evil as these papers are making him out to be. When I had that miscarriage, Marik came over and took care of me. He has a side that not many people see.”

“I thanked him for taking care of you.”

Robbie read the article. “This is a bunch of nonsense! Who would believe this stuff?”

“The crowd gathered in front of their house, for one,” Daniel said.

Robbie stood up and limped to the door and walked outside. He looked down the street to the crowd in front of Marik's home. The camera crews were still posted there, waiting.

Robbie went inside. “There's tons of people there now!” Robbie looked at his watch. “I need to get going to Marik's so I can go to work. I better go say goodbye to Aten before I go.”

The teen limped up the stairs and entered his room slowly. Aten was laying on his side, clutching Robbie's pillow in his arms. Tiny whimpers were coming out of him.

“Aten?” Robbie whispered. “I have to go to work. You have a good day. I love you.”

“Robbie,” Aten whimpered in his sleep.

The teen pulled the covers over Aten and limped out of the room, closing the door behind him.

He limped downstairs and waved goodbye to his parents. “Bye, mom and dad. I'm going to Marik's house!”

“Bye, son! Take care!” Miranda and Daniel yelled.

“Be careful going over there!” Miranda yelled after him.

“I will!” Robbie called to them.

He stepped outside and approached the Ishtar-Itemri house, cautious. He entered the gate and was soon surrounded by paper reporters and their cameras.

“Are you a spirit, also?”

“What is your business here?”

“Do you have any special powers?”

“Stop! Listen to me!” Robbie called aloud. “These people are normal! What that paper reported is totally wrong! These people are as human as you or I!”

“How do you respond to the evidence that these creatures possess special powers to summon creatures out of nothingness?!”

Robbie narrowed his eyes. ”That was all an illusion for the paper to sell its magazine! These images are doctored, can't you see that?!”

“What about the other evidence provided?”

“Did these creatures make you handicapped?!”

“Why you--?!!!”

Marik pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed Robbie. “We're going to work! Come on!”

Robbie was pulled off-balance by Marik's tug. He struggled to keep up with Marik's face-paced walk as the reporters followed them.

Marik opened up their doors and slammed his doors angrily. “This is fucking nuts,” he growled. “I can't even go to work without being fricking swamped by these people!”

“When did this start?”

“Yesterday,” Marik growled, starting the engine. “You didn't notice?”

“Aten had a doctor's appointment yesterday. When we got home, Aten was too tired to do much.”

“Hmm…how is my boy?” Marik asked, turning the ignition.

“He's doing okay. He's walking farther than he could before. The doctor said to keep on doing the Cardiac Rehabilitation. Aten's been more tired than usual, so I told the doctor that.”

“What is he going to do about it? GET OUT OF MY WAY!” Marik roared as the people swarmed the car.

The crowd stepped away and he pulled out.

“Aten told me that the doctor said to keep an eye on how much he sleeps. It might be a medication issue, it might be a chemical issue in Aten's brain, nobody knows. Aten isn't on any new medications, so I don't think it's due to his pills. Maybe he's getting sick and his body is trying to fight it off before it gets too bad.”

“Hmm….it could be,” Marik said, keeping an eye on the rear-view mirror at the crowd.

“I think it's Aten's exercise program. I think maybe it's wearing him out too much, but he needs it to keep active as possible. If he doesn't do those exercises, his legs swell up and it hurts to walk.”

Marik sighed. “Well, at least Aten's still with us. I'm proud of you, Robert. You're taking good care of my son. Thank you.”

“Well, Marik, I love him. I couldn't do anything less than my best for him.”

A little smile crossed Marik's face. “Aten is lucky to have you. I pray that Aten continues doing well every day.”

“Yeah, so do I. Before I go to bed, I thank every god that he's still here with me.”

Marik stopped at a stop light. “So do I.”

“Did I miss anything at work yesterday?”

Marik nodded. “Seto ordered Karl and I to teach someone a lesson last night. I don't think they will be a thorn in our side any longer.”

“You didn't kill anyone, did you?”

Marik shrugged and grinned. “I do what I have to do, Robbie. It's not all glitz and glamour, you know. I'm a Dark. I do dark things. I'm not all rays and sunshine.”

“Anything else?”

“The Production Department is proud that they have made an interactive system involving Duel Monsters or some shit like that.”

“Do you even pay attention to the meetings?”

Marik shrugged as he began to drive again. “Depends. If the meeting is boring, I'll look at everyone in the room and see if they like it on top or on the bottom.”

“Oh good lord.”

“'Do they like it in the butt?' `Would they use a carrot as a sex toy?' `Do they spit or swallow?' Things like that keep those boring meetings entertaining.”

Robbie shook his head. “You're impossible.”

“That's not what Malik was calling me last night.”

“TMI, Marik.”

Marik snickered. “You're just like your father. He says that to me, too. He likes it.”

Marik pulled his car into the parking garage and walked around the front of the building with Robbie. Robbie limped up the steps with him and into the front doors.

Maxine sat at the desk by the elevator and smiled at them. “Hello, boys. Nice day, hmm?”

“Hi, Maxine. You're looking beautiful today,” Robbie smiled.

“Thank you, Mr. Morgan-Ishtar,” she grinned. “Hello, Marik. Your blood lust better this morning?”

“Yeah, I humped the blood-lust away.”

“I'm surprised to see you here. Usually you don't come in after a late night.”

“Well, Robbie needed a ride and I have to talk to Seto about an important matter.”

“Very well. You know where Master Kaiba is.”

“Bye, Maxie!” Robbie said.

Robbie and Marik entered the elevator. “Combat18,” Robbie said.

Marik crossed his arms. “Go figure. You get a cool, normal password.”

“Yeah, Seto gave it to me. He knew I always used to play with my toy soldiers. That's why he gave me that password. And I'm eighteen years old, so that's why he gave me the number.”

Marik shook his head. “Seto's not going to get away with this easy. I know what I'll do! I'll put a Playboy magazine on his desk!”

Robbie snickered. “Yeah, I'm sure he'll like that, Marik.”

“Maybe I'll get a copy of Big Jugs. You know what I'm talking about. The kind of breasts you could get lost in for hours?”

Robbie shook his head. “I've never really---.”

“You never did?”

“Can't say I have.”

Marik put his arm around Robbie. “Poor, sheltered child.”

“Hey, it just wasn't my thing, ya know? It still isn't.”

“To each his own, Robert.”

The elevator rose and Marik stepped out of the elevator.

“BOO!” little Cassie squealed as the door opened.

“Hi, Cassie!” Robbie smiled. He leaned against the wall, picked the little girl up carefully with one arm, and tickled her belly. “How's our little Cassie today?”

“Big!”

Robbie smiled. “Yes, you are getting to be such a cute, big girl!”

Marik watched Robbie rub noses with the toddler. The teen smiled and laughed.

`This kid is good with kids! I've never really noticed it before.'

“CASSIE BIG! ROAR!”

Robbie nodded. “You sure are! You're gonna be as tall as a mountain pretty soon! We won't be able to see you at all you'll be so tall! We'll have to yell really, really loud for you to hear us.”

The little girl clapped and snuggled into Robbie.

Jeanie waved at Marik. “Hi, Marik.”

“Cassie's learning to walk quite well, Jeanie-girl. Congrats! Pretty soon she'll be walking in on you and Mokie doing the dirty deed.”

Jeanie nodded. “We're used to that. We have four kids, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Where are the other Kaiba-lings?”

“Ceres, Lily, and Ivy are with their father. You know, this Fall, the kids are going to be in preschool.”

“Really? I remember Aten's first day of preschool. They grow up fast.”

Jeanie nodded. “Yeah, they do. Pretty soon Cassie will be in school.”

“Time flies, for certain. I've gotta go see Moneybags, so I'll catch you later.”

“Sure thing!”

Marik walked to Kaiba's office and knocked on the door.

From Seto's bedroom, he heard Seto's raised voice. [Look, I don't have time to screw around, Dr. Zira, I need an appointment for Joey pronto!......That's what I pay you for!.....

Fine. Be here in an hour, then. I can keep him here with me in the meantime. You better be over here in an hour, Dr. Zira. I don't screw around when it comes to his health. Bye.]

The blond yami walked over to Seto's bedroom and knocked on the door.

“What?!”

Marik cracked the door open. “It's me, Seto.”

Marik opened the door further and saw Seto sitting next to Joey, holding his hand. He squinted his eyes to see the figure of Joey laying in the bed.

“What's wrong, Seto? Joey not feeling well today?” he asked as he approached the bed.

Seto shook his head. “No, he's not. Otherwise, why would I bitch out Dr. Zira?”

Marik looked at the vacant expression on Joey's face. “He looks like shit.”

“Way to go, Sherlock. Yes, he's not doing well.”

Joey's eyes slowly closed and his breathing became shallow. He turned on his side and shifted against Seto.

“His skin's all yellow and shit.”

“That's what comes with his liver problem. I tell you, Marik, I would give my fortune to go back in time and kick his father's ass for doing this to him.”

“I don't blame you. I'd do the same thing.”

“It makes me so angry to know that he didn't have to have this problem. It was those years he spent living on the streets and getting himself so drunk that made this problem worse. I'd do worse than kill him and spread his body across the city. I should have killed the son of a bitch myself….but I had to take care of Joey.”

“Understandable, man. He'd just been pounded by his father….the not nice kind of pounding either. I remember you talking to me about that day.”

Seto pet Joey's blond hair. “I'm just doing all I can.”

“That's you can really do when you're other half is sick. I'm glad Malik doesn't get sick often, which surprises me, considering all of those years in the tomb he never built up immunity to diseases.”

“Are you feeling all better today and not all goofy on blood?”

“No, no more bloodlust. I pounded Malik last night until he was drained of all bodily fluids. He's good.”

“Oh, that's good. How about that crowd in front of your home?”

“They are a royal pain in the ass. Has anyone contacted you or called you about me or my family?”

Seto scratched his head. “Not that I remember. I take so many calls every day. I wouldn't tell anyone anything anyway. It's none of my business as far as I'm concerned.”

“You read the papers, I assume.”

“Maxine came in with it one day. She came up here and showed me. I read the article and found it was 1 percent truth, 99 percent curious as to how they got all that information.”

Marik sat at the edge of the bed, gripping the Millennium Rod in his hand. “I had to fight the equivalent of the pharaoh's army to get myself and Robbie out the door this morning to my car.”

“Jay and Karl live around the corner from your home. I can give them orders to be on-call if you need any assistance.”

“We might need them sooner than you think. The crowd is pushing and surrounding anyone that comes to the house. I don't like the fact that my family is vulnerable right now. Luckily, Bakura is at home guarding in my absence.”

Seto stroked Joey's cheek and rubbed his forehead. “If there is an emergency, contact me. I'll be out there with my entire Public Relations Department if I have to. I don't want Ryou or any of you injured.”

“That's a sweet remark, Seto. Are you going soft on us?”

“Kiss my ass.”

“There you go, back to normal.”

Seto rubbed Joey's back. “I'm wondering where that author got his information.”

Marik narrowed his eyes. “I don't know. But I'm going to find out. I'm headed there now.”

“Be careful.”

Marik stood up. “The safety of my family matters more to me than anything else, Kaiba. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. Bakura thinks that the pharaoh is responsible for this insanity….and you know what….I trust Bakura's intuition. That's what saved our skins back in Egypt thousands of years ago. It might just be the saving grace for us now. I hope Joey feels better and I wish you luck.”

“Luck to you, too, Marik. Thanks.”

“Anytime, moneybags. I'll be back to work tomorrow. I'll keep in touch.”

**************************

Marik borrowed Maxine's copy of the paper and looked at the address printed on the back.

`I know where that is….that's not going to be too hard to find.'

He walked out to the car and saw a few people stop short as he passed them. He gripped the Millennium Rod tighter in his grip.

`I'm getting really ticked off at people looking at me like that.'

He walked towards his car and sped away. He drove downtown past the hospital and towards familiar territory. Stopped at a stop light, he turned his head and saw a few members of the Japanese Mafia members lurking in the shadows.

`I wonder what they are up to,' he thought. `I don't remember ordering them to do anything.'

He turned his head and saw an old lady looking at him with fear in her eyes.

`If people keep looking at me like I'm some kind of freak, I might have to enlist their services for anyone who looks at me period.'

When the light turned green, he pulled away. At the end of the street was a tall building with a sign for the `Domino Times Herald.'

He parked in their lot and grabbed the Millennium Rod tightly. `It's you and me, girl. Let's go.'

Marik walked past the tall fountain in front of the building and watched as the water erupted from the top. `Impressive….'

When he walked through the front doors, he walked up to the desk. “I need to see Araqiel Tillmann.”

The man at the desk kept his head down. “Do you have an appointment?”

“This won't take long.”

The man lifted his head and his eyes widened. His jaw dropped and Marik's eyes narrowed.

“I'm here to clear the air and speak to Mr. Tillmann about this garbage you call journalistic reporting.”

“You need an appointment to see him, sir.”

Marik growled low in his throat. “You are trying my patience.”

The man hesitated.

``Don't do anything stupid,' Itemri told me. He's probably right. I would love nothing more than to tie this man's genitals in a knot, but if I do something stupid, it would jeopardize my family even more….and I can't have that.'

“I must insist on an appointment, sir,” the man said.

“Fine. I will be here tomorrow at….when do you open?”

“Nine in the morning to---.”

“I will be here at 9am tomorrow….and Araqiel WILL be here. Do I make myself clear as crystal?”

“He is available at 11am---.”

Marik put his hands on the desk and leaned in, his lip curling in disdain. “I said 9am. End. Of. Discussion.”

The man swallowed hard. “Yes, sir….Your name?”

`I can't use my real name. It might scare him off….I'll use my middle name.'

“Jibade.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Jibade. 9am it is.”

“Good. See that he comes in on time. I am not a patient man.”

Marik turned and walked away, grinning. He could feel the man's fear….his anxiety. He grinned as he walked back to the car. Bakura would be proud. He didn't do anything stupid. Didn't make a scene.

When he sat in his car, he placed the Millennium Rod on the passenger seat.

`Time to go home and check on the others.'

*************************************

Malik stood by the window and pulled back the curtain a little to look outside. “How long do you think they will be out there, Bakura?”

Bakura sat on the steps looking ahead at the door. He used the tip of his dagger to clean his nails. “Ra only knows, Malik. I don't like waiting for things to just go away. I have to do something about this, but anything I do is going to give us away. I don't want to do that.”

“What about just explaining to them that they have it all wrong?” Ryou asked.

“That won't work, Ry. You know that. We've tried it and nearly got crushed. I could unleash the powers of Darkness on them, but that will give away our secret.”

“It's already been given out, Bakura. I don't think it's going to do any good not using it,” Malik suggested.

“No, I won't use it. These are mortals. They can't understand Ancient Magic because it is too much for them to handle. They can't comprehend its powers and its capabilities.”

Ryou sat beside Bakura. “What about using Marik's Rod to erase their minds?”

Bakura shrugged. “Their minds might be erased, but it won't erase the print that is circulating out there. They'd just need to look at it and be reminded. No, that won't help this problem.”

Ryou sighed and shifted closer to his yami. “What are our other options?”

“I feel like I'm stuck in that old, crusty tomb again. I can't leave here without being mobbed and shoved. I feel like I'm trapped.”

Bakura nodded. “I know that feeling. Leaving at night seems to be the ideal answer, considering they are all asleep and some of them do go home at night, only to return in the morning.”

“I need to buy vegetables. I have to get seeds for my new garden,” Malik said.

“The anniversary of my mother's death is almost here,” Ryou said. “I have to buy flowers for her grave.”

“I'll definitely have to go with you. I don't think you should go alone this time.”

Ryou sighed. “I'm pretty sure I can do it by myself.”

“That is not a wise decision, hikari.”

“It's the cemetery. What can happen in a cemetery?”

Bakura narrowed his eyes. “I trust no one. Anything can happen in a cemetery. You know the Crusaders enjoy killing their victims in cemeteries. The last thing I need, Ry, is to see you dead on your mother's own grave. What if these crazy people follow you? What if people follow you to the grave and harass you? I'm not going to stand idle and watch that happen to you.”

“But I enjoy going to see her by myself.”

“Let's see what happens, Ry. I can appreciate you want to do this for your mother, and I respect that. But let's see what happens between now and then.”

“Okay.”

Bakura turned his head. “Look at me.” He reached up and turned Ryou's head towards him. “I'm looking out for your welfare. That is what is more important to me than anything else. I love you, Ryou, and I want to keep you safe from harm.”

“I know you love me.”

“Then trust me.”

Ryou's eyes looked into the chocolate brown eyes of his yami. “I do, yami.”

“Good,” he said, putting his arm around his other half.

“Where the hell is Marik?”

“SONS OF BITCHES, OUT OF MY WAY!”

“Speak of the devil….”

Bakura stood up and opened the door. He saw Marik pushing through the crowd and growling.

Bakura growled and jumped into the crowd, pulling and shoving him. “Marik! Take my hand!”

Marik reached out his hand, but Bakura was too far away. “I …..can't…..reach!”

Bakura rammed forward and grabbed Marik's wrist. “Gotcha!”

“Why are there bloodstains on the concrete?”

“Did you murder someone?”

“Why were you covered in blood last night?”

Ryou looked down with Malik and saw red dots on the concrete. “Oh my god, is that really blood?”

Malik looked closer. “Marik must have dripped coming home from work last night!”

“Where do you work, Mr. Marik?”

“Do you work in a slaughterhouse? Is that why you were covered in blood?”

Ryou grabbed Bakura's hand and pulled him in. He quickly shut the door behind Marik.

“It's just getting worse and worse out there….”

Marik panted and growled. “I'm getting really fucking annoyed at those people out there…”

Bakura locked the door and bolted it shut. “I agree.”

“Where were you?” Malik asked his other half.

“I went to drop Robbie at work and then went to the paper to talk to Tillmann.”

“And?” all three men asked in unison.

“I had to make a fucking appointment to get this straightened out.”

“Did you?” Malik asked. “Without taking blood or souls?”

Marik nodded. “I got an appointment for tomorrow at 9am. We'll get this cleared up.”

“I think it's not the only avenue we have to explore. We have to find the pharaoh.”

“I think that is a good idea. But what about Malik and Ryou? We can't leave them here with nobody to guard them.” Marik scratched his head. “I'll call moneybags. He said if we needed Jay, Karl, or anyone else, that they would come to help.”

“Okay. Sounds like a plan. You call them. I have to prepare for our little journey into the Shadows.”

Bakura walked upstairs with his dagger in hand. Ryou followed him into their bedroom and watched him sharpen the blade.

“Be careful in the Shadow Realm.”

“I always am. I might be the King of Thieves, but I'm also The Shadow King. I would rather you and Malik be over at KaibaCorp, but I think it's a bad idea leaving this place unattended.”

Ryou sat beside his yami and watched him polish the blade. “Seto will take good care of us, yami.”

Bakura stood up and went to the wall. He removed another dagger from the wall and began sharpening the blade.

“I'm leaving this for you in case you need it while I am gone. Use this to defend yourself, baby.”

Ryou took the blade and nodded. “Thank you.”

“You still remember how to fight, right?”

Ryou nodded and smiled. “You taught me well.”

Bakura grinned. “I sure did…..and it always was such a turn-on watching you with that cold, hard steel.”

Ryou giggled. “I know you did.”

Bakura put his dagger on the floor and pounced his Light on the bed. He looked down at his husband, his long, white hair flowing across the dark blue comforter.

“So beautiful…..”

Bakura leaned down and kissed his Light on the lips. Ryou wrapped his arms around his other half and moaned into the kiss. Bakura's hand traveled under Ryou's shirt and rubbed his chest lightly.

The yami's kisses gently touched Ryou's chin and down the front of his neck. Ryou tilted his head back to give his yami better access to his throat.

“Mmmm….Ryou,” the yami whispered, kissing his lover's collarbone.

“Okay, Itemri, I called Seto and—WOAH!!!”

Bakura turned his head to Marik. “One moment.”

Marik grinned and leaned against the door. “Be my guest.”

The white-haired yami lifted Ryou's shirt and kissed his chest down to his stomach.

Ryou whimpered as Bakura licked a trail from his belly button to his collarbone.

“You know, Itemri, if you get him started, you have to finish it.”

Bakura grinned and looked down at Ryou. “Are you started?”

Ryou opened his eyes and giggled. “What do you think?”

Bakura grinned and whispered in Ryou's ear. “I think we should continue this when Malik has Marik sufficiently distracted.”

“I agree.”

Bakura kissed Ryou's lips. “Deal. Okay, Marik, let's go.”

“Awww…..I'm not going to watch you and Ryou doing the Naughty????”

Bakura shook his head. “Maybe later. What did Moneybags say?”

“He, Jay, and Karl will spend the night here until we get back.”

“Fine. Sounds good. Ryou, use that dagger if you need it.”

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