Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Rewind 1 ❯ No time for that ( Chapter 12 )

 

PLZ READ AUTHOR'S NOTE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

 

 

First of all, I want to thank all of my reviewers!! I know I haven't been updating regularly, but you didn't forget me!! That means a lot to me! Thankyou!!!!

 

Now, I'm afraid there may have been a misunderstanding with some reviewers. This story does contain yaoi. (m/m relationships) I'm truly sorry if you don't like this kind of thing, but this story does have it. Since some people don't really like yaoi and I'd like all of my friends to read the story, I've decided that when I'm finished with this story, I'll make a non-yaoi version of it. This means that it will be the same story, just without Marik/Bakura. This revision will happen in about a year, though, so I'm not sure people are willing to wait that long. I have to finish the yaoi version first, in order to recreate it.

 

That's all, for now. In two chapters, the characters will be on Earth, and we'll introduce more YGO characters. I think I'll write two or three more chapters of this story for now, then I'll work on and finish a small new story named Spectral Siren, and after that I'll continue this again.

 

THANKYOU so much for reading! Thankyou for everything!! Enjoy this chappy, which is meant to focus more on the emotions of our party than actual plot progression ( which will come in the next chap).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marik sighed as he secured the golden armlets on his forearms. Evidently, last night's events had affected him more than he'd thought possible. Proof of this? The fact that Marik had just spent the entire night replaying the scene with Bakura and himself in the underground crypt in his mind.

 

Bakura had seen…

 

Wasn't that reason enough to hate him?

 

Bakura knew his secret now. He was the only one besides Rishid who knew.

 

And, damn it, Bakura had been the very person Marik had fought to prove himself to. He had strived to prove to Bakura what a great leader he could be- how smart and cunning and seductive, too. But it was no use. Only when Marik had been reduced to a whimpering, shivering creature did Bakura really turn his way.

 

Now, Marik was brought to a dead-end. If Bakura noticed him more when he was helpless than he did when he was impressive and robust, what was he supposed to do? It seemed wrong, and it had to be…no one in Yango had ever liked Marik for what he really was, deep inside…All his childhood, he had learned that in order to get what you want you have to become something you're not- something that others like.

 

In that case…why didn't Bakura respond to that?

 

Marik unconsciously pursed his lips as he drew up his tall, brown boots. About the looks Bakura had given him last night…where had they come from? Where had all that usual anger and blind bloodlust been? Where had all those sadistic and hard qualities Marik had always learned to appreciate in Bakura's volcano eyes gone? All he could see last night was a couple of twin ruby jewels, staring up at him lazily and with unknown compassion.

 

The blonde boy shook his loose blonde bangs away from his face and proceeded to put the finishing touches on his appearance. He grabbed the golden chain hanging from a nearby chair and tied it twice around his waist. Noticing that his actions had curiously become a little more forceful than necessary, Marik tried to calm down. He was not behaving like himself.

 

The situation had become very sentimental for no apparent reason. Last night was just a minor drawback, is all. He was certainly not comfortable knowing someone other than Rishid knew his deepest secrets, but tried to cope with it nevertheless.

 

There were more imperative things calling for his attention at the moment, anyway. The sudden information of Serenity's bonds with Earth, for instance. Now THAT was something worth investigating. What was all this Bakura had insinuated about Serenity having secrets having to do with Earth? And if Serenity had in deed a mysterious connection with Earth, did Kaiba know or have anything to do with it? Was this all predicted in Kaiba's little plan all along?

 

Marik kept having a sinking suspicion that they were all being used as pawns on a very big, very sick game that went beyond all of them. Rewind 1 wasn't just another secret operation like so many others in KaibaCorp. It was unusually important, even for Kaiba. Rewind had infiltrated their lives permanently and now they were being hunted down and murdered for their very knowledge of it.

 

If this was true, if Kaiba had been using them all as pawns all along, then he had chosen them all in a very suspicious way: Serenity Wheeler, a famous scientist with mysterious links to Earth, Marik Ishtar, a young scientist with amnesia who also had something to do with Earth, Ryou Bakura, who came directly from Earth and was presumed dead, Dark Bakura and Dark Yugi, who obviously were the same kind of creatures and also had amnesia which prevented them from remembering where they came from, Yugi Mutou and his best friend Tea, who had always wanted to visit new lands…and then there were the other scientists Rika, Lena, Taichi and Kenji, who had not yet proven to be of some particular significance to the whole story, other than being unfortunately present in the Rewind 1 operation.

 

In any case, it was possible Kaiba had chosen these specific people for a specific reason all along. And that's what Marik feared the most: that they'd suddenly find themselves in a very surprising and very displeasing situation. If so, he'd never have the chance to get his memory back…ever. Kaiba would eventually track them down and slaughter them, keeping the Nectra all for himself and his `masters', or whatever else `they' were…

 

Marik sighed yet again as he walked towards the door. He fought to keep down the strange nervousness at the prospect of seeing Bakura again. The situation was important…he couldn't let his personal feelings get in the way any more than they already had. Bakura and he…it would have to wait. Last night was a mistake altogether. It was wrong of him to freak out suddenly, when he saw Bakura in the cave. He shouldn't have hyperventilated.

 

Operation Rewind 1 and how to get away from it were the most ominous and important things in their lives at the moment. There was no time to cry and sob for his unrequited past, while KC guards were waiting to kill them outside the house. Kaiba was after them, to kill them, and that was no joke. Marik's personal insecurities, however, were unimportant. Feelings like that just had to be… stopped. For Marik there was no redemption, for there was no one else to take decisions for their sorry posse except for him. Ryou and Yugi were both intelligent and wise, but Marik knew they could not take quick and effective decisions when called upon. As for Bakura…well, he wasn't alive. Sometimes, when his lust for the taste of life took over, Bakura became fickle and hasty in his decisions...better not risk it.

 

It was Marik's responsibility. Marik was the one who took decisions. Marik was the leader.

 

No time to get all mushy and revel in Bakura's newfound attention. No time for feelings like that. No time for…situations. He had ten people to save, including himself and his best friends- the only ones he had.

 

Marik nodded numbly at his own thoughts as he silently walked out of his room and observed Yugi and Tea who were cuddled peacefully on the couch, sleeping. The morning sunrays had only moments ago started to fall in the room and Marik started to realize just how much sleep he had lost thinking about all these things.

 

It was morning already. Bakura was probably sleeping in the guys' room now, having already relinquished control of the albino body back to its rightful owner: Ryou. Ryou, who Marik had recently found out had got himself a new girlfriend.

 

Marik grinned. Well, at least there was a small ray of light in this whole situation. Two good people had found happiness in each other: Serenity and Ryou. A rather predictable outcome, really, if not downright inevitable. Their characters matched so perfectly…they were just made for each other!

 

`Bakura…'

 

Marik sighed as he walked in the kitchen and started making his customary morning refreshment. `Better forget about that subject.' He thought ` Getting ourselves out of this sorry trap is much more important right now.'

 

 

 

 

 

Needless to explain the level of surprise everyone experienced when they came across the new couple kissing on the couch about half an hour later. By the time everyone had woken up and made themselves something to eat, Ryou had almost swallowed Serenity's entire face. Taichi, Yugi and Kenji had taken on timing the minutes each kiss lasted while laughing their heads off.

 

From a corner of the room, Rishid was playing an ancient looking chess game with Marik, while Tea kept deliberately trying to distract them by shouting cheerleader chants. It was a refreshing, amusing moment, Marik noted, but it wouldn't last forever. Kaiba's guards were still waiting for a chance to kill them outside, and granted they wouldn't wait for too long, Marik knew he'd have to start making a plan sooner or later.

 

“Um…I never thought Ryou could be so…outgoing with his feelings. I mean, he looked like an awfully inhibited person when we first met him, didn't he?” Rika idly chatted with Lena, while they watched Ryou and Serenity's lip-numbing kisses with silent awe.

 

Having heard the girls comment from the side, Marik's lips twitched slightly in a lopsided grin.

 

“I know, right? It must be Serenity! He's fallen completely under her spell!!” Lena answered. Marik noted that they were all talking as if Ryou and Serenity weren't even present, which they weren't, in a way.

 

“Jeez! Can't you give us a break?! You've been at it for more than fifteen minutes already!! Give it a rest!!” Taichi finally exclaimed, obviously not bearing the thought that there was a single male in the universe that could compete with him in kissing records.

 

Marik smirked and shook his head dismissively.

 

That is until a voice was heard. Heard only by a select few.

 

“You know, for once, I completely agree with this bozo! Your incessant lip-contact with the lassie here is getting more and more on my nerves, Brightside!! If you want to engage in such degrading, saliva-related activities feel free to warn me first, so I can be out of the body when you do it!!!”

 

…ah….Bakura.

 

And by the sudden agitated look on Ryou's face and Yugi's surprised wide eyes, they had noticed it too. They dismissed the spirit's presence quite quickly, however, and returned to what they were doing.

 

The mist dissolved from around Bakura as he literally floated near to where Marik was sitting with Rishid. Marik fought to keep the panic and nervousness from crawling in his heart. Oh no! This didn't look good! What was he supposed to say to Bakura after last night? How would he keep his own promise to keep his personal feelings away if he couldn't even fight away this crazy nervousness and accelerated heartthrob that Bakura's presence provoked?

 

So Marik chose to focus on what he was doing so as not to give his emotions away. He concentrated on the chess game solely, trying to keep the persistent and possibly meaningful looks he was currently receiving from the floating spirit out of his mind. Marik focused so hard on his next move that he unconsciously started glaring at the chess pieces, as if to break them. A black bishop was his focal glaring point.

 

“Marik!” was heard the irritated, hoarse voice that everyone ignored- even those who could see Bakura.

 

Marik started glaring at the bishop harder, consequently missing the concerned looks he was receiving from his opponent, Rishid. Rishid obviously could not see Bakura and was unaware of Marik's present predicament.

 

Deep down, Marik knew he was being silly and was very far from keeping his own emotions in check. He was very near a nervous breakdown, actually, given the throbbing, aching heartbeat that was making his palms sweaty and his throat dry. Why? Why now?

 

“Yo, dimwit!!” Bakura repeated, more annoyed this time. He was obviously getting tired of being so blatantly ignored. Unfortunately for Marik, he chose to make his presence more of an annoyance than it already was.

 

No words could explain the level of frigid shock that coursed through Marik's veins when he felt some very cold, transparent entity pass right through him. And then, before he knew it, he was looking straight at Bakura's burning, volcano red eyes. They were looking at him not angrily, but mischievously. Bakura could be a real nuisance if he wanted to. Especially when he passed through one's body.

 

“Will you ignore me for much longer?” Bakura inquired somewhat ominously, and Marik's breath caught in his throat. It would be useless to mention that he had stopped glaring at chess pieces long ago and was now solely concentrating on Bakura's eyes, which were staring up at him tensely. He felt like he was being watched by a hawk, or an observant owl. Actually, he felt naked. He felt again like his shirt was torn away and his scars were completely exposed for the world to see. Completely naked, helpless, under those criticizing, blood-red eyes.

 

Marik swallowed uncomfortably, having totally forgotten what was important and what not and what called for his immediate attention…The way Bakura was grinning at him…so strange…Why hadn't Marik noticed it before? No wait...he had.

 

“Master, is something wrong?” Rishid suddenly asked, attracting Marik's attention finally, making the blond stare at him confusedly for a few moments.

 

“Yes, blondie, is something wrong? You seem awfully stupefied all of a sudden…” Bakura echoed in that deliberately annoying tone, testing Marik's patience. The only thing that kept Marik from screaming at Bakura at that second was Rishid' s justifiably puzzled expression.

 

“Is it so much of a difficult move, sire?” the bald man asked with a small grin, referring to Marik's delay of moving a chess piece. Marik blinked in a perplexed manner. Bakura smirked along with Rishid, but his grin was hardly as amiable as the bald servant's. It was more on the mocking side. Marik's eyes narrowed. That Bakura! If only he could strangle him then and there!!!

 

“Uh…sorry Rishido…I just…I think I have to go inside for a while…” Marik slowly said. Shaking his head so as to clear his thoughts, Marik stood up and ignored the sting of cold that penetrated his body when he passed through Bakura once again. Rishid respectfully stood up simultaneously with his master and bowed humbly. “As you wish, Master. I shall be in the kitchen, should you need me.”

 

Marik nodded dismissively and took a few steps away from the chess table. He pointedly ignored Bakura's persistent stares and turned his attention to the other occupants of the room, only to notice Ryou and Serenity missing from the couch.

 

“Were are Ryou and Serenity?” Marik asked no one in particular, only to get a response from Kenji.

 

“Oh, didn't you see them leave? Ryou finally decided to spare us the soap opera and go inside to continue…”

 

“Yeah, thank God for that!” Taichi agreed with his friend.

 

Marik blinked stupidly yet again. He had been so preoccupied with ignoring Bakura, it seems, that he had slipped away from his surroundings yet again. This was not good. When had he gotten so unstable? Yet again, he tried to evade Bakura's smirking face.

 

“Oh. Ok…I'll, err, be in my room.” Said the once suave Marik, as he numbly walked towards the exit, always followed by a floating, grinning Bakura.

 

“What's wrong with him?” Kenji asked Taichi once Marik left them. The youth had surely detected something peculiar in Marik's usually comfortable demeanor.

 

“Beats me.” Taichi simply answered, and downed another cup of whatever it was he was drinking.

 

 

 

 

 

Marik really didn't mean to act as though he was an unstable woman, but he couldn't help it. He just felt an increasing discomfort at being around Bakura, and wasn't about to come back to normal soon, it seemed. He just felt so weird at being around someone who practically knew everything there was to know about him…he felt really…exposed. Why did Bakura have to have those damned piercing eyes?

 

Bakura curiously didn't seem to have a problem with Marik's constant ignoring him. In fact, it seemed as though the spirit was even enjoying it. It was like Marik's nervousness was floating in the air, and the spirit could smell it. Evidently, he liked it very much.

 

Maybe it was Bakura's own little way of confirming he really did have the power to make powerful and handsome Marik crumble under his scrutinizing gaze. Marik was growing more and more nervous by the second, and was obviously well aware of the fact that Bakura was enjoying himself immensely. Sadly, there was little he could do about it.

 

“I suggest you speak with the girl now, when we will have the least audience possible.” Bakura suddenly stated, making Marik stop dead in his tracks. The spirit was left facing Marik's tense back, while the blonde simply stood there, weighing his options.

 

Bakura was right. He had to speak with Serenity and find out about her mysterious links to Earth, and he had to do it when none of the others would be there to listen in on the conversation. Ryou wouldn't be a problem since he obviously knew of Serenity's secrets already.

 

Marik had to talk to her, he knew that. Now was the perfect opportunity.

 

So why wasn't he moving?

 

“Or perhaps your Excellency doesn't wish to talk to her, yet?” Bakura's insufferable ironic tone hit Marik full force. Curiously, it didn't bother Marik as much as he thought it should have. In fact, none of Bakura's sarcastic comments angered him any more.

 

“No…I do.” Marik muttered while looking at the floor and clenching and unclenching his fists spasmodically. Unbeknownst to the blonde, Bakura grinned.

 

When Marik quickly turned around to walk back to Serenity's room, he wasn't prepared to come face to face with the transparent head and the bloody eyes that stood mere inches apart from his. Marik was frozen to the spot, suddenly unable to move, as he felt his heart pump erratically and painfully, gathering all his blood to his face. Not for the first time in these last few days, Marik thanked any god he knew of for giving him dark skin, resistant to blush.

 

Bakura's inconsiderate smirk was set firmly in place, as he leaned even closer, bringing his see-through lips so near the blonde's ear that they could graze the boy's skin with a sweep of air. Marik's entire body felt numb and lifeless, and he felt the need to grab onto something for support. He unconsciously tried to grab Bakura's shoulder to calm his beating heart, but he found his hand passing merely through air.

 

Nevertheless, Bakura's snort in his ear was real, and very sensational. Marik couldn't suppress his ragged breathing as his quickened heartbeat started to hurt him and send blood thundering in his ears.

 

And Bakura was as cold as ever, smirking.

 

“You know…” he whispered in Marik's ear with a voice that Marik was terrified to recognize as lazily husky. Suddenly, Marik was fully, painfully aware of the transparent, white threads that curiously seemed to graze all his torso. Bakura's hair…

 

“…you're a very interesting individual, Mariku…You were never afraid of me before, when I was merely a ghost that knew nothing about you….” Bakura continued, as he brought his cold, frigid hand to rest on Marik's shoulder “…but now…Now I can smell your blood, your beating heart…it's calling for me…”

 

Bakura grinned in the other's ear, and Marik was sure to have heard a whisper of something unknown, for a moment... Then it was gone, and Bakura's cold voice was back again “…Are you afraid of me, Mariku?”

 

Bakura paused at that moment and closed his eyes, as though waiting to hear or feel something. Marik had that distinct impression that Bakura was high again, just like he got when he fought. When his volcano eyes lit aflame and his pale skin seemed to glow…

 

“ What am I to you…? Am I terror? Am I a beast? Now that I know your secrets, I could be all these things, right? Would you rather I didn't exist, now that I know more about you? Yesterday morning you were glad to talk to me…but now…now you're afraid….right?” Bakura merely inquired, making Marik gasp and squirm around uncomfortably. He couldn't speak. He couldn't even breathe. Bakura had him trapped…once again.

 

“ What are you afraid of, Mariku…?” Bakura pressured harder, suffocating Marik even though he had no body and no warmth to do so. Marik glanced frantically around, trying to escape the inevitability of the situation. “ Who do you consider a friend…? The one who knows all about you or the one whom you know all about?”

 

Marik honestly didn't want to believe this was happening. He didn't want to believe this was Bakura talking to him. He didn't want to believe he was about to open his mouth and speak again, and prove that all he had ever fought for in his life was a lie and pretence. Why did he have to be such a sniveling, cowardly, insecure mess at that moment, helping prove Bakura right?!

 

“I…I” he only said, gasping. That stuttering was much worse than any other answer he could have given. It only fueled Bakura's mirth.

 

“You don't know, do you? You don't know yourself. How do you intend to lead a bunch of people if you don't even know how to understand your own heart, Mariku?”

 

And there it was ! The proof that Bakura considered him pathetic. There had been that word, that magic word. `Lead'. All Marik had ever tried to show…all he had ever been…it was crumbling before his face…Bakura had discovered. He had seen past the walls of seductiveness and power. He now knew Marik was never fit to be a leader. He knew.

 

“Don't…don't tell me what to do, Bakura…” came the desperate command. It sounded more like a plea than a demand to Bakura.

 

“What are you trying to prove, anyway?” Marik shakily asked, making Bakura grin even wider.

 

Marik froze completely, when the spirit let his cold hand slip further down, grazing the blonde boy's abdomen and provoking goose-pumps on his skin. Bakura couldn't help himself. He was swimming in an unknown sea already- he had Marik now, under his control, for once. For once, it was Bakura who had the upper hand and Marik who was trapped!! Now it was he who had control, it was he who understood the other…

 

“Your heart's beating real fast…” Bakura idly commented, changing the subject bluntly. For some reason, the dazed tone in which he said what he said only served to make Marik's heart clench faster, more painfully.

 

“What…does that have to do with anything??” Marik asked in a panicky tone. Bakura stood unfazed. He laughed huskily as he allowed his hand to make the motion of sweeping away some of Marik's loose blonde bangs. Naturally, Marik's hair didn't even budge, and Bakura's hands passed through the golden locks. A small taste of bitterness seemed to enter Bakura's eyes, but it left as soon as it came.

 

“Nothing…It's just that I can see that pretty river pumping in your throat…” Bakura let his cold digit slide over the frantically throbbing vain under Marik's chin. That was the moment the blonde cursed himself for forgetting to wear his golden necklace that day. Why? Why today? Marik swallowed dryly.

 

“ Why are you so jumpy today, hmmm? “ the torture quietly continued “ You shouldn't be, considering you know I won't hurt you…”

 

The blonde suppressed a shiver. “Do I?”

 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk….I though we trusted each other, Mariku…” Bakura pressed on sadistically and leaned in nearer to Marik's face “Are you saying you don't trust me…? Do you trust me less now that I know your secrets than you did before, when I knew nothing about you??”

 

“I…I…” Marik really didn't know what to say. He had to escape. He had to remember what had brought him in this predicament all along. He had to…he had to…

 

“I…I have to talk to Serena!” he suddenly exclaimed and rudely walked through Bakura, who had so conveniently made him suffocate with a non-existent body.

 

Bakura wasn't startled, not even for a second. He followed the retreating Marik without missing a beat. He noticed how spasmodically Marik moved and how labored his breathing seemed.

 

In his blind haste to get away from Bakura, Marik intended to step through Serenity's room's door without knocking. He was very near to the door when Bakura caught up with him and shouted at him, always looking at him in the eye.

 

“I think it would be prudent to knock first, pretty boi…you never know what they may be doing in there…” Bakura let that statement trail on meaningfully, smirking at Marik, who found the courage to look at him in the eye for the first time that day.

 

That idiotic way of calling him 'pretty boi'… That was what had triggered Marik's sudden comfort. It was as though Bakura and he had come to a unanimous conclusion that there had been enough discomfort for the day. Things were now back to normal. No more weird words. No more nervousness. Now it was just the good ol' situation, where Bakura and Marik were friends who constantly teased each other and found comfort in torturing Ryou and Serenity. Now was the time for things to finally return to normal…

 

Marik was glad. He was glad Bakura had given him the hint.

 

“Riiiiiight…I almost forgot that….Wouldn't want more of the previous display of affection from Ryou's part.” Marik said as he pointedly shouted to Serenity to open the door from inside.

 

Ruffling noises were heard form the interior of the room and then silence. Marik and Bakura exchanged mildly amused glances at the whispers. Well, someone had -unsurprisingly- been busy in there….

 

“Just a moment!!” was heard Serena's rushed voice. Bakura merely rolled his eyes towards the heavens, making Marik grin form the side. They both looked up at the sound of the door opening. Serenity stood behind it looking flushed and out of breath. Her clothes were in slight disarray and her hair was also quite ruffled. From behind her, in the room, Ryou resembled her appearance.

 

Serenity, who apparently could only see Marik and not the dark spirit next to him, smiled slightly. From inside the room, however, Ryou looked horrified at seeing his Darkside with Marik.

 

“Hey Mar, what's wrong?” Serenity questioned somewhat impatiently, obviously eager to resume her previous activities with Ryou. Marik dismissively thought of the effects a relationship could have on a person's behavior with other people. Under normal circumstances, for example, Serenity would have never been so impatient at seeing Marik leave. Now, however, that Ryou was waiting for her in the room…

 

From the side, Bakura huffed in an irritated manner at Serenity's words.

 

“Mar?' the spirit questioned, unbeknownst to Serenity “ What kind of corny nickname is that? Did it actually take time for her to come up with it, or is she just too anxious to get in Brightside's pants that she can't spare a moment to spell your full name properly? It's Marik, lassie. Ma-rik!!!”

 

Marik fought the urge to snicker at the spirit's words in order not to betray Bakura's presence in front of Serenity. Ryou had heard from inside the room, however, and was unfortunately a much more expressive man than Marik…

 

“Oh, shut up for once, will you?!” Ryou shouted at Bakura from inside. Serenity obviously thought he was talking to her, because she turned to him and raised an inquisitive eyebrow.

 

“Did I say something wrong, Ryou?” she simply asked.

 

“Yeah! Did she say something wrong, Brightside?!” Bakura shouted rudely, knowing he could be heard by everyone but the girl. Ryou glared daggers straight at him, confusing Serenity further.

 

“Yeah, did she?” Marik echoed sadistically, enjoying seeing Ryou glare at Bakura and squirm around, trying to find a solution for his predicament.

 

“Uh…not you Serena…I was talking to…um…” Ryou started explaining, thus giving Bakura and Marik time to exchange mischievous glances.

 

“Jealous of her intimacy to me? I, for one, think `Mar' is nice…” Marik teased Bakura silently, while Serenity was preoccupied with Ryou.

 

Bakura rolled his eyes pointedly “Give us a break, pretty boi.” He simply stated.

 

Marik grinned “That's a corny nickname too, you know…”

 

Bakura had no time to answer Marik, since Serenity turned around at that moment and Marik focused on her. Thus, Bakura just settled on a death glare.

 

“So what is it, Marik?” Serenity asked while motioning for Marik to come in the room.

 

“That's better…” Bakura muttered as he stepped through the closed door after Marik. “Much better.” He was obviously referring to Serenity's calling Marik by his normal name.

 

Marik rolled his eyes secretively at Bakura's childish behavior. He focused on Serenity.

 

“Serena, I know this is a really bad time, but I have to talk to you.” Marik simply said, hoping he wouldn't take no for an answer. He sensed Bakura approach and stand on his right as Serenity motioned for Marik- the only guest she thought she had- sit on a nearby chair.

 

 

“Sure, Marik. What is it? Is it about Kaiba? Can't it wait for later?” Serenity questioned at once, contradicting one answer with the other. Marik chose to dismiss all this rant and try a simple, more conversational approach.

 

“So…” he started slowly, trying to ignore the unusual death-glares Ryou was aiming in Bakura `s direction and Bakura's blunt way of ignoring them “You and Ryou, huh?”

 

That seemed to catch Serenity a little off guard. A bright shade of blush graced her cheeks and she shyly looked at the floor. From behind her, Ryou smiled serenely. He didn't seem at all perturbed.

 

“Ah, I, Well, Um, You now…” Serenity tried to explain unsuccessfully, making Bakura snort.

 

“Oh please! It's like nobody saw Brightside and her getting it on all over the couch this morning!!! And now she's all shy about it! Give us a break, woman! That's not how you felt about it this morning, obviously!!! I was there- trust me on this! I was closer than I ever wanted to be!!!!”

 

Although Ryou gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw, Marik tried to restrain the urge to burst out laughing at Bakura's tone. He regained his composure and kindly smiled to Serenity, however.

 

“Well, I don't know how it happened, but I'm glad. I'm happy you finally realized you love each other…Everybody else had realized except the two of you.”

 

Serenity was a bit flabbergasted at Marik's words, but Ryou seemed just as calm and as wise as ever. “Uh…thanks, Marik.” Ryou said, finally, while taking hold of Serenity's hand.

 

Marik just smiled. “Sure! We're all very happy for both of you!” he reassured, making Bakura turn to him with a raised eyebrow.

 

“We are?” the dark spirit commented, earning an annoyed glare from both Marik and Ryou. “And stop sending me telepathic signals to `SHUT UP!' coz I never do and you know it!!” Bakura then told Ryou. Suddenly, Marik knew all too well why Ryou had been considered schizophrenic in the 21st century. Who wouldn't, if they had Bakura torturing them and making understatements about EVERY single thing?? It was enough to drive a man crazy!

 

Anyway, Marik finally considered it to be high time he finally stopped beating around the bush. He was here to talk to Serenity for a reason. It was truly imperative that he learned about her past on Earth and what bonds tied her there still. He decided there was no way to bring the subject smoothly so he might as well be straightforward about it.

 

“So…Serena…” Marik started with his usual coaxing charm “ I've been meaning to speak to you about this for a really long time now…” he lied, making Bakura snort “When I was still working in KaibaCorp I stumbled upon your application paperwork…Kaiba forced us to conduct research on all new employees status and background. I guess I must have told you some time ago, but…I know. I know you come form Earth.”

 

And that was actually all Marik knew from Bakura. Here he was hoping to coax the information out of Serenity without letting her suspect it was Ryou or Bakura who had told him, but that he had found out himself.

 

Predictably, Serena froze. “Wha- what do you mean `you know I come from Earth'?” she stuttered, letting Marik know just how insecure she was about the specific subject. From nearby, Ryou seemed alerted as well. He hadn't known Bakura had told Marik about Serena's past. He vowed to decapitate Bakura as soon as he had the chance, since Ryou was sure it was Bakura who had informed Marik of this. Bakura…he seemed to become more and more a part of Marik's side every day.

 

Bakura and Marik…at first, Ryou didn't really understand the nature and the level of their mutual understanding…but now, as he gazed upon his own Darkside…The way Bakura stood close to Marik, yet not as close as to raise suspicion…the way the twin red eyes never left the back of Marik's head…as though he was being protective…possibly possessive too. And Marik from his own part seemed addicted to Bakura's snide comments or the spirit's cruel way of thinking. To be honest, Bakura and Marik just seemed unable to get enough of each other- always in each other's presence…

 

“I mean I know you come from Earth. That's part of why I chose Earth to be our hideout…I would like you to tell me, Serena. I want to know your exact links to Earth. I need to know why Kaiba chose…people who have to do with Earth…”

 

Serenity's eyes widened considerably “What do you mean he chose people that have to do with Earth?” she asked incredulously.

 

Bakura huffed from nearby. “ Does she have to repeat every phrase you say right after you say it by simply adding `what do you mean'?? It's getting on my nerves.”

 

Marik ignored the comment, knowing that if he got too caught up in Bakura, he'd be unable to concentrate on Serenity. Marik knew this was important, and Bakura obviously knew this too…yet Bakura didn't seem all that serious about anything anymore. All he seemed intent on doing was distracting Marik…and admittedly succeeding, for Marik found himself daydreaming about the next time he'd have a chance to talk alone with Bakura. Maybe it was because Bakura already knew this information from Serenity…Nevertheless, Marik was intent on learning and not letting his personal feelings get in the way. He turned back to Serenity.

 

“Oh Marik…” the girl was rambling “ Please don't hate me for it! I know only scum and punks come from Earth, but I…”

 

“Serena…” Marik tried to calm her. She kept talking, not even listening to what he was trying to say. Finally, he got the chance to get through to her.

 

“Serena!!” he shouted and she finally stopped rambling. She blinked, as Marik continued. “I don't hate you, okay? You can relax now…I don't consider coming from Earth degrading, like some people…It's our home planet, right? Doesn't that make it special?”

 

Serenity was surprised with her friend's reaction to say the least.

 

“Um…I guess??!” she finally said, after a while.

 

Marik grinned slightly, knowing he'd have her tell him what he wanted soon enough. This, however, didn't go unnoticed by Bakura, who noticed the confident change in Marik and smirked. Marik and his charms…with them he could deceive even the closest of friends, just like he was doing now. But not him. Not Bakura….When with Bakura, Marik's charm backfired. In fact, Marik had confessed everything to Bakura, unable to resist the spirit's pressure. He had confessed to Bakura things that neither this Serenity girl nor anyone else would ever know. Bakura reveled at the very thought.

 

“Actually, Serena…” Marik started suavely, carefully evading any of his personal motives “ I have specific reasons for choosing Earth to be our final resort…Ryou comes form Earth…you obviously have something to do with Earth…Most of us who were in that nameless operation have something to do with Earth…”

 

Serenity carefully nodded “You don't have to say nameless operation any more, Marik. Ryou knows…I told him yesterday.”

 

Marik smiled “You did? That's very…fortunate.” No one except Bakura saw the subtle flicker in Marik's eyes as they turned towards him. Marik wasn't at all interested in whether Ryou knew about Rewind 1 or not, actually. He was just worried that Bakura would pass out at the mentioning of the name.

 

“Yes.” Serenity continued “And I see what you mean about Kaiba choosing people who have bonds with Earth. Although I haven't told this to many people, for fear that they would criticize me, I see now that it might not be true. I'll tell you what you want to know about my past on Earth…and my family there.”

 

Marik was suddenly very interested in the conversation “You have family on Earth?” At Serenity's somewhat hesitant nod, Marik was encouraged to ask for more information.

 

“Can you…Will you tell us about it?” Marik asked. To Serenity it sounded as if Marik was referring to `us' as Ryou and himself. Little did she know that Marik truly meant `us' as in Bakura and himself. Ryou, however, seemed to take the subtle hint.

 

After a long while, Serenity finally nodded and took a deep breath, preparing to recite her story.

 

“G' night. Wake me up when she finishes.” Bakura simply stated and made Marik smile a little and Ryou glare squarely at him. The spirit then proceeded to feign sleep as Marik listened carefully to Serenity's narration. When she was finished, Marik had nothing to say or do apart from placing a comforting hand on her shoulder as a demonstration of understanding for her lost brother.

 

“I understand…” Marik simply stated “You have to stop blaming yourself…I know what it's like to lose a sibling…I think.”

 

Serenity nodded mutely at these words, while Ryou took her in his arms. From Marik's side, Bakura granted the blonde a strange glance. Marik knew what it was like to lose a sibling? Now what was that all about? Could Marik's lost memory include the loss of a brother or sister…? In that case, did Marik have flashbacks? Or was it just intuition that had made him say that?

 

Curiously, it was wise and reticent Ryou who broke the silence. “You know…I've been meaning to tell you guys…but I don't think we must take everyone to earth with us…”

 

Marik, Bakura and Serenity all turned to him simultaneously.

 

“What do you mean, Ryou?” Serenity asked. Bakura rolled his eyes. Why did everything about this girl have to make him so angry?!

 

Ryou focused on what he was trying to say, drawing Marik's attention. “What I'm trying to say is, there's no need to endanger more lives by going to Earth. If it's only us who have links with Earth then we should be the only ones to go. Rika, Taichi, Kenji, Lena, Yugi, Tea and Rishid shouldn't have to go with us…Besides, I could think of many things most of them would rather do than go to Earth, right?”

 

Bakura was swift to respond, unheard by Serenity. “Fascinating, Brightside. You've said something worthwhile for a change.” Ryou simply looked at him disapprovingly while Bakura continued “ But you are right. It would prove more practical to leave everyone here so only the four of us can go to Earth. For one, we can't afford so big a party- we need stealth and discretion…and I doubt the people you just described can give us any…”

 

Marik silently nodded his head, convincing Serenity that he was agreeing with Ryou's prior statement. Damn, this was confusing!!

 

“ I see what you mean, Ryou” Marik said, secretly answering to both Ryou and Bakura at once “But we mustn't forget that Kaiba has set a bounty on their heads too. Kaiba is after them, to murder them, too. We can't just leave them here, without supplies and a ship or something…that would be heartless!”

 

Bakura laughed maniacally “I know! It's perfect!!”

 

Marik didn't bother with hiding his rolling eyes. Serenity spoke after that.

 

“Don't you remember the plan we thought of yesterday? Somehow, we're gonna convince Kaiba's guards we're dead and steal the KC ship which will undoubtedly come to pick them up from Yango. I suggest we all stick together until we're in that ship and away from Yango. Then, Rishid, who has more experience, can take care of the others and take them somewhere safe while we manage to get to Earth. Besides, let's not forget that Taichi and Kenji are Navigators. They're the only ones who can drive a ship in this sorry lot!!”

 

Marik nodded slowly, as he, Ryou and Bakura considered the girl' s words.

 

“You're right.” Marik simply said “She's right.” He repeated in Bakura's direction while rubbing his temples, making it obvious how tired he was.

 

“Look” started Ryou “Here's what we do: play dead, steal the KC ship that will come here for the guards, have Taichi and Kenji take us to Earth so we can find out what on earth's going on and then let them continue to hide someplace else. Somewhere safer than Earth. How about that?”

 

Marik nodded numbly as Bakura started speaking after that “But let's not forget the Yugi kid. He' s got a Darkside too, remember? Maybe he will be needed on Earth…Maybe his spirit has something to do with all of this…just like I obviously do…”

 

Marik was getting really tired of all this nodding “You're right” he answered Bakura, confusing Serenity, who thought he was talking to thin air, “You're absolutely right. Game King Yugi probably has something to do with this as well…but Tea won't let go of him…Which could only mean one thing:” Marik concluded as he looked at Bakura. Bakura nodded.

 

“If the Game kid comes, the girlfriend comes with him…” the spirit filled in Marik's phrase.

 

“Exactly” Marik concluded, completely ignoring the fact that Serenity was looking at him slack-jawed and Ryou was sending him warning glances. “It's a burden we will unfortunately have to bear.”

 

“Uhhh” Serenity's melodic voice interrupted the conversation, making Bakura positively fume in annoyance. He was obviously still reluctant to accept Serenity's level of assistance in the group. “Did I miss something? Who are you talking to, Marik?” Although Serenity did have a small idea about what was going on behind this…

 

Marik blinked and tried to drown out Bakura's hysterical laughter at his predicament. Ryou had to hold back a small snicker as he recognized his usual problem in Marik's features.

 

“Uh…I…” Marik started while rubbing the back of his head lightly “You see, I sometimes speak to myself…uh…it helps me…uh…. concentrate…?”

 

Serenity raised an eyebrow “Uh-huh. Okaaaayy….So what do you have to say after your small dialogue with yourself?”

 

Bakura sniggered from the sidelines as Marik spoke “uh…I was actually thinking we should take Yugi and Tea with us too. Yugi seems like a very important person who draws attention wherever he goes so it might be safer to keep him away from the weak group of the others…Besides, he knows many things and he likes to visit new planets. What better assistance could there be? Right?”

 

Serenity seemed to think this through and nodded. “You're right. Absolutely right. Yugi and Tea should come too.”

 

“Of course” Bakura piped in again “You neglected to say the actual reason why we want Yugi with us, didn't you. His spirit!” he exclaimed in triumph.

 

`Shut up' Marik simply said under his breath.

 

“Well, if that is all, I think we had better gotten to work right about now.” Ryou gave the usual logical solution “It is imperative that Rishid, Yugi and the others are informed of the current decisions as soon as possible. Only then can we put our plans into effect.”

 

“Fantastic, Brightside. You sound like a computer when you talk like that.” Bakura commented cynically as Ryou ignored him with practiced ease and took Serenity's hand. “We're going to talk to Lena, Rika, Taichi and Kenji and you go to Yugi, Tea and Rishid, ok?” Ryou asked as he walked towards the exit. He didn't really leave any room to argue since he had left as long as he'd finished his words.

 

Numbly, Marik turned to Bakura who was eyeing him somewhat hungrily from his position against the wall.

 

“Naturally, they gave us all the hard work. The mere thought of telling Yugi all this is making me dizzy” Marik commented while walking to lean against the wall exactly beside Bakura.

 

“I don't think Brightside and the woman will be telling anybody anything any time soon…they're busy, already.” The spirit grinned, his eyes turning to meet Marik's in what the blonde abruptly recognized as an unquestionably sultry, sensual gaze.

 

Red…red for passion- red for fire and eroticism and heat…Red in Bakura's eyes, as they bore into Marik's heart, scorching and burning and vaporizing all the crystallized lavender in his soul.

 

Oh why, why hadn't he seen it before? The way Bakura looked at him…it insinuated something. The manner in which those twin wine red eyes glided around Marik's body, the way Bakura slightly closed his lids in order to dim the fiery glow and stare at the other with dulled and subdued red eyes…

 

Like velvet red curtains and silk blood-red bed covers. Like the touch of a red rose when it runs over soft skin. The entire essence of erotic sin was there, trapped in Bakura's dead red eyes, laying dormant forever in the translucent body of a ghastly form. Bakura's passion was stilled forever in his eyes- captured to stay frozen there for all eternity- existing only so as to remind everyone that they could never have it.

 

Bakura's life must have been forced out of him at the most robust of moments, when all his infernal emotions had surfaced in his eyes. And now those ruby orbs were dead and still forever, taking the life and passion with them. It was sealed, hidden from everyone- even Bakura himself.

 

And Marik knew, with a strange, painful clenching of his heart that no matter how inviting Bakura's eyes looked or how many fantasies Marik could imagine just by looking at them, there was nothing there- Bakura was dead. For it was just the image of the volcanic inferno, not the real explosion. Bakura was a photograph- the mental image of a dead man. Actually, Marik didn't even know how Bakura really looked like. Ironic, wasn't it? He didn't even know what Bakura's real name was.

 

It was tragic.

 

“What?” a harsh baritone voice suddenly asked, and Marik was pulled out of the red abyss he had fallen into. He sought quick recovery of his shaken state in a random excuse.

 

“Nothing. I was just wondering how we're gonna tell Yugi the news,..” he lied fluently. Bakura didn't seem to notice this time.

 

Bakura nodded “Well, we'll never learn if we just stay here and look at each other like a couple of retarded dimwits, will we?” he asked suddenly, and floated away from the wall. Marik sighed.

 

“Bakura, you talk to much..” he concluded as he approached the door with Bakura in tow.

 

“Really now? You know I can do other things too…with a knife, mainly…” the demonic glint was back in Bakura's eye and Marik felt he had good reason to be alerted right about now.

 

“You know what? “ Marik continued as he exited the room “I really think we should start looking for Yugi immediately!!”

 

Bakura just grinned. “Too bad, and here I was hoping…”