Shadow: I'm really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry about taking so long to update. Truly I am. Why is it everything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong? Basically, to cut a long story short, I had a virus. This virus stopped me getting onto the internet….and if that wasn't bad enough, my power pack in the CPU died. Complete meltdown. Sooo…. Everyone out there who enjoys this crap has to say a very big thank you to the very nice computer-man who fixed this heap of junk, 'kay?

Marik: Hmmm…

Shadow: I've also had a large case of writer's block, not to mention a horrible cold/flu. I feel awful. Then, to my utmost dismay, this story went serious on me! There was no more humour! It went all icky and goey and heartfelt. I had to delete pages. To make up for the grind, I've written a side story to this, 'Bakura and the beepy thing of doom'. If you're a loyal reader of this crap you'll know what that's about.

Hey! I can answer those random reviews now!

Marik: Here we go…

Cosmic Wonder: I agree. No flaming allowed.

Dark-Lady-Devinity: Thankyou. I can rest easier now that I know your death isn't on my conscience. Honestly, I seem to have made a little plot hole. Yami's sleeping problems are a great mystery to all of us… (Ooops.)

Demon surfer: Gutter is bad! Hope you enjoyed your breakfast… what? Three months ago now?

silver-dagger-113: Thanks! Remind me never to go near you with a secret…. ever.

Cosmic Wonder: You don't have to answer all my questions. Most of them are mindless babble anyhow. Thanks though… sheesh… you review a lot don't you? Thanks again.

egyptianprincess1691: Well it's a little late…

Sirithiliel: Sorry for keeping you waiting then…

Dark mysteries: well here's chapter 7. I'll probably send you an email too.. just so you know.

Nightmare: Sos… no straight pairings… why does everyone love that stupid toaster so much?

Moonlight-6056: That bit kinda reflects me…. People are always saying I'm either evil, sarcastic, cynical, too intelligent for my own good or observant. (Shrugs.) You get used to it.

Jade Cade: I updated! (FINALLY!) Yeah, they're in your first review out of the three. (Smiles.) I never told you 'cos… well… y'know? I've forgotten.

Padfootgirl126: Done!

Hershey-kiss: I love that pairing too… but I'm saving it for something special. (Evil smirks.)

Chinkeepdaughter126: Done!

Krista123: I warned you about overdoing the sugar. It's not good for you. (Chibi sweatdrops.) Whoever armed you with a millennium toilet was out of their tree. Completely. As in cracked. Loopy. Bent. Twisted. Mad as a hatter. Cuckoo. Crazy. But... it suits you.

DominaDeNox: Sorry….

TheShadyAssassin: Tadaaa!

Eye-Of-Misery: Umm…ta?

DominaDeNox: Can I please still have the plushie? (Chibi kawaii eyes.)

Ayako77: I'm not going to put those two in! (Wails.) Don't kill me! I didn't do anything!

Dark-angel302: The comics fab! I love it. Really, I do. Here's the update!

Uh, I also have to warn you. This chapter has a fluffy alert. Beware of small cases of fluffiness. It's extra long too though, to make up for it.

Oh, and another warning. For some strange reason won't upload question marks, so i have to readd them on quickedit. If i miss some out, I apologise.

So now, without any further adieu, Four Hours….

Notes:

I don't know if what I've said can be done in this chapter CAN actually be done with the items used, or whether it can be done with ANY item. Sorry if it can't. I just needed a plausible way to get those two through.

"DUCKY!" Malik dropped the chocolate drops and clung to the giant chicken as if his life depended on it.

Yugi and Ryou smiled nervously at the store assistant.

"Umm... can we buy this?" Yugi asked, holding out the two bags of candy floss.

The girl was still shaking. "Yes, take it. Just go! And take him with you!" She yelled suddenly pointing at Malik. "He's a danger to the unsuspecting public! He should be locked up!"

Yugi gulped. "Err... yes...umm... we'll be going now." And he bolted from the supermarket followed quickly by Ryou and Marik, who was tugging along his yami - who was cuddling his chicken and skipping along as if nothing had ever happened.

Yami gazed out of the window, ignoring the tomb robber.

"What's so interesting out there anyway?" Bakura asked, annoyed that Yami wasn't listening to him; again.

"The hikari's are back." The ruler said quietly.

Bakura stood beside the other Egyptian and glanced curiously out at what Yami was looking at. "You're right. They look a little shaken."

Yami grinned. "Marik looks perfectly normal to me."

Bakura frowned, puzzled. "He looks absolutely livid."

"As I said, perfectly normal."

Chapter 7: One hour and three quarters in counting or Cotton Candy Capers

Yugi and Ryou looked at the sleeping forms of the two Egyptians.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Yugi whispered.

"No. But it might teach Malik a lesson." Ryou whispered back.

"But what about poor Marik? He didn't do anything."

"He might be able to help control them."

"You think?"

"No, I hope."

"Oh dear."

"It's really quiet downstairs." Yami said thoughtfully.

"That's because we're not there." Bakura remarked.

"True, but it's not usually this quiet."

Bakura was silent for a few moments. "Perhaps, but our light's are watching a film, they're bound to be quiet. Our hikari's never were that loud."

The pharaoh turned to look at his companion. "Do you really think Malik and Marik will be that quiet?"

"I - err...no."

"Exactly. They're up to something."

Little did Yami know, he was more right then he'd ever been before...

"How are we going to do this?" Yugi asked.

"Shadow Magic." Came the reply.

"Can we do it that well?"

"Well, we'll never learn if we don't try, will we?"

"But..."

"Are we going to do it or not?"

"I-well-yes, I suppose so." Yugi sounded reluctant.

"Good." Ryou went to the cupboard and pulled out his ring and Yugi's puzzle. "Here." He tossed the puzzle to his friend.

The small teen grabbed the golden item. "So... how are we going to do it without waking those two? And how will we stop our yami's from getting into the Shadow Realm while it's open?"

Ryou grinned. "We're not going to open the Shadow Realm in the room."

"We're not?"

"No. We're going to open the Shadow Realm here, borrow a few shadows, and wrap Marik and Malik in them."

Yugi frowned. "What will that do?"

"It'll allow them to pass through solid, inanimate objects." Ryou explained.

Yugi paused, blinked, then got it. "Like walls?"

"Exactly like walls."

Yami heard a faint whisper in his head. He sat bolt upright in his chair.

Bakura noticed, and looked enquiringly at him. "What's up with you?"

"I heard a voice!"

The albino's tone was scathing. "That's because I just spoke, baka."

"No, in my head!"

"I always said you were crazy..."

"Through my mind link with Yugi!"

"So?" Bakura sounded nonchalant.

Yami looked at him, put out. "We're not meant to use our mind link while we're in here, or Shadow Magic."

"I know that... so?"

"Yugi wouldn't use the puzzle, because whenever at least one of us touches it we can both use our Shadow powers, and we can hear each other."

"So?" Bakura was deliberately trying not to sound interested.

"Are you really that dumb that you can't work it out?"

Bakura dropped the pretence. "No! Of course I can work it out!"

Yami smirked. "That's good. Now, do you want to know what was said?"

"You're going to tell me anyway."

"See? You can be smart when you feel like it."

Yugi surveyed the now-shadow-cloaked Egyptians. "They're going to kill us."

Ryou tilted his head to one side. "Not if they kill each other first."

The tri-haired teen blinked. "That sounded... serious."

"That's because it was."

"Oooooh."

"THEY'RE GOING TO DO WHAT!"

Yami frowned. "I already told you."

"I know, but... them?"

"Yes."

"THEM?"

"Yes."

"THEM!"

"YES, THEM!"

"But...why?"

The pharaoh shrugged. "How should I know?"

Bakura groaned. "But...but. but they CAN'T!"

"They can, and they will."

"Here goes nothing." Ryou whispered. He used his ring's power to gently lift Marik off the floor, so he was levitating a metre above the ground.

Yugi nibbled his lower lip nervously. "Are you sure we should do this?" He asked worriedly.

"Yes."

The smaller duelist sighed. He timidly tapped into his puzzle's power and lifted Malik off the ground. "There."

His friend paused, and then grinned suddenly.

"What?"

The albino grinned wider. "We'll give them a bag of Candy Floss too." He carefully placed a bag of the pink stuff on Marik's stomach, so it was wrapped in the shadows encasing the teen. "They might not hate us so much."

Yugi shook his head. "I doubt it."

"Well, it's worth a try."

"Anything is, if it means our yami's, Marik and Malik aren't baying for our blood."

"Enough talk. Let's send 'em in."

There was a pause.

"Do you know how corny that sounded?"

Yami listened to the soft voices reverberating around in his head. He looked up at Bakura. "They're coming."

The albino groaned. "Remind me to kill Ryou when we get out of here."

Suddenly, two soft black shadows appeared on the wall. The shadows twisted themselves into the shapes of two pairs of feet... which were followed by two pairs of legs... then two stomachs... then two chests and arms (one of the arms seemed to be clutching a bag of something pink)... then, eventually... two heads. The sleeping forms of Malik and Marik were now completely through the wall and hovering about eight inches above the floor. Bakura and Yami stared.

The shadows wrapping the two levitating Egyptians suddenly disappeared... leaving the two teens stranded in the air... but not for long. Gravity literally brought them back earth with a bump. All hell instantly broke loose.

Ryou grinned outside in the corridor.

Yugi cocked his head to one side and studied his friend thoughtfully. "I think you've been around Bakura too long."

Ryou smirked. "It's not my fault reality was made this way."

Yugi blinked, puzzled.

A teasing gleam entered the albino's eyes. "After all, what goes up must come down."

Yugi grinned and shook his head, laughing.

Ryou smiled, and the two teens headed back to the living room to watch their film.

"How the hell did we get here!" Marik demanded, eyes damning.

Malik looked hurt. "Where's my chicken!"

Bakura held up his hands, frantically making peace signals. "Hey, it's not our fault! If you want someone to blame see Yugi and Ryou! They're the ones behind this!"

Marik growled and Malik pouted.

"I'm glad I'm not Yugi or Ryou right now." Yami muttered.

For once, Bakura agreed. Those two were as good as dead.

Bakura watched Marik pace the room for the twenty-third time. The albino didn't really want to disturb his friend while he was doing something other than shouting at him, but Marik's pacing was beginning to make him dizzy. "Uh, Marik?" he asked timidly.

"What!" The Egyptian snapped.

Bakura smiled gently at the frustrated teen. "I-well...Marik if you keep doing that, you're going to wear out a circle in the carpet."

"Oh...sorry." The silver-haired youth flopped down beside Bakura on the sofa with a small sigh. "It's just..." he trailed off.

"I understand."

"But, I... it's not fair!"

"Life never is." The cool reply came from Yami, who had retaken his position on the window ledge. The former ruler looked at them calmly with his large crimson eyes for a few moments, then looked out the window again.

Marik stared thoughtfully at the pharaoh's back. He turned to Bakura again. "Has he been like this all the time you've been in here?"

"Like what?" Malik flung himself over onto the sofa and roughly barged in, so he was sitting in-between the two conversing teens.

Marik frowned annoyed at his yami. "Never you mind. Shift."

His darker half shook his head obstinately. "Not until you tell me what you were talking about."

"Malik, no!"

"Why not?" Malik whined.

"I don't want to! It was a private matter between me and Bakura!"

"So? I'm you! Why can't you tell me? I'm meant to be your other half, the one you trust!"

"I can't even trust you with a bag of sugar!"

Bakura shook his white bangs and got up from where he was sitting. And they were off. Knowing those two, they'd argue until the cows came home... or at least for a good half hour.

A wry tone met him as he was going to sit on the floor behind the couch. "Giving up?"

So his all-royal-mightiness was paying attention to what was happening again. Wonderful. Bakura didn't really feel like arguing so... "Can you blame me?"

To the albino's total and utter surprise, his response was met with an amused laugh. "No, I can't really. I'd do exactly the same thing in your position. Not that I'd be stupid enough to get into that position..." Yami's eyes gleamed wickedly.

Okaaaaaaaaaaay. Bakura had just exchanged words with the pharaoh, and it had bordered on being civil. Oh dear. Bakura grabbed a cushion from behind his two still-arguing friends, sat down, and held the cushion protectively over his head.

There was the soft rustle of material moving, and Yami was kneeling on the floor beside the albino. The pharaoh raised the edge of the cushion and looked at the other. "What in Ra's name are you doing?" He asked bemusedly.

"Defending myself." Was the answer.

"From?" Yami's deep crimson eyes were puzzled. Bakura stared into them. They weren't red exactly... more a very soft, deep purple... swirled with touches of pinky-red... The albino suddenly realised what he was doing, flushed, and replied. "The Apocalypse."

A look of total confusion settled on the pharaoh's face. He gave up kneeling and sat down beside Bakura. "Bakura... why?"

"We actually had what could be considered as a normal conversation… need I say more?"

"Good point... again."

"Nooo!" Yugi howled and buried his face in a cushion. "She can't die! Those horrible, horrible people! How could they kill her?"

Ryou thoughtfully regarded his fried. "Yugi, it's only a film."

"But they killed her!" A wail.

"No they didn't. She's only a cartoon character, not a living thing."

"You're just heartless!"

"Yugi." Ryou's tone was lightly scolding.

The other teen sniffed and rubbed his tears away on the cushion. "I'm sorry Ryou."

The albino shrugged. "It's okay. Why don't you come over here?"

Yugi nodded, and went over and curled up beside Ryou on the sofa. He snuggled his head on the albino's shoulder. "Poor Bambi."

Malik wandered over to his hikari. "Marik…"

"Yeah?"

"Why did Yugi and Ryou lock us up in here?"

Bakura entered the conversation. "Because they're assholes."

Malik frowned. "I thought no-one was allowed to insult Ryou on pain of death?"

"No-one except me."

"Riiight."

Yami rolled his eyes. Here was Bakura with his 'I'm almighty Bakura' speech. Next he'd start on the 'I'm invincible.' bit.

Bakura spoke. "It's true. I, and only I, am allowed to insult Ryou. Any that defy that shall face the wrath of the almighty Bakura!"

Here we go.

"I can go anywhere, be anyone, steal anything-"

"Except Yami's puzzle." Malik added.

Bakura glared. Malik cringed. The albino cleared his throat. "As I was saying…I am invincible! I cannot die! I destroy all who stand in my way-"

"Except Yami."

Bakura growled. Malik discreetly moved so he was behind his hikari. Bakura continued. "Cross me and you shall feel my wrath! Beware of me, for I am powerful!"

Marik groaned. "We know. You already said."

"Isn't Thumper just so adorable?"

Ryou shook his head. "Flower's so much cuter."

Yugi shook his head. "Flower's a skunk. How's that cute? Thumper's an adorable fluffy rabbit. Now that's cute."

"Rabbits are vicious, nasty things!"

"Skunks are stinky!"

"They can't help that!"

"Maybe, maybe not. They still smell though!"

"Rabbits smell too!"

"Not as badly as skunks!"

"Baby skunks don't smell that bad!"

"Nor do baby rabbits!"

"Flower's still the cutest."

"No, Thumper is!"

The two friends glared at each other.

The three finally stopped arguing after what seemed hours later – but was in fact only fifteen minutes. They looked around to see how Yami had taken their discussion.

He was asleep. Yes, asleep. Not feigningsleepbecausesomeone' sleep, real, true, sleep. Yami lay curled up on the sofa, his knees almost up to his chin, his head resting on one arm and the other hand lay clenched beside it. His golden bangs fell softly over is face and moved gently with the small breeze that was his rising and falling breath. The pharaoh was sound asleep.

Bakura, Malik and Marik stared.

Then, unnecessarily, Malik said, "He's asleep."

"Duh." Bakura wasn't impressed with the statement.

Marik grinned. "Doesn't he look sweet?"

"They all do when they're asleep." Marik sounded knowledgeable. "It's when their hidden, inner natures show."

Bakura looked sceptical. Marik shook his head and whispered to the albino. "This is his sugar build up. First signs are severe cases of sanity." Malik pouted so his hikari hastened to comfort him. "But he is right. Inner sides do show while you sleep. For example, Yami is showing his docile side, the true meekness, the gentleness within himself."

Malik nodded. "You don't really see that when he's awake. He's too busy trying to refrain from killing us."

Marik continued. "He's showing his inner desire for solitude, for oneness, for calm with himself."

His yami butted in again. "He's trying to win again."

"Yami is showing the true peacemaker that he really is."

"Yeah, he kicks your ass in a game, then apologises for being brilliant."

"Atemu's inner child is visible."

"He's a spoilt brat."

"The sheer trustful-"

Marik was cut off, Bakura had butted in. "Marik?"

"Yeah?"

"Shutup."

"Stupid."

Ryou stuck his tongue out. "Baby."

Yugi scowled. "Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

Ryou looked patronising. "Then why're you yelling like one?"

Yugi pouted. "You're antagonising me. I'll tell Yami on you."

"I'll tell Bakura on you."

The two teens glared at one another again.

Yugi spoke first. "Yami could kick Bakura's butt anyday."

"No he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't."

"Yes he could."

"No he couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Couldn't!"

"Could."

"Bakura could beat Yami!"

"Then why doesn't he?" Yugi sounded smug.

"He doesn't want to embarrass you."

"Liar."

"I'm not!"

"You are."

"I'm not!"

"Bakura will never beat my yami. End of story."

"He will!"

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

"Will."

"Won't."

Both hikaris were scowling.

Ryou sighed all of a sudden. "Let's just agree to differ, we're missing the film."

"Fine." But Yugi was still sulking…

"I still think he looks sweet." Marik said, glancing at the still quietly slumbering pharaoh.

"So?" His yami was bored.

"It's not something that you see that often."

An idea struck Malik. "So, let's go play with him!"

"No!" Bakura cried out. Malik and Marik turned to stare at him.

Malik looked confused. "No? Why not?"

Bakura looked at Yami, then looked back at the other two. "Because I said no. Let him be."

Marik closely scrutinised the albino's face. Bakura felt himself go pink under the examination. "What?"

Marik smirked. "You like him."

"I don't!"

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't."

"Do."

"Don't!"

"Don't."

"Do!... Hey! That's not fair!"

Yugi wasn't concentrating on the film, Ryou could see that. Their argument before must have upset him. The albino sighed softly. "I'm sorry Yugi."

His friend gave him a wobbly smile. "Me too."

Ryou opened his arms and the smaller teen snuggled up happily. They watched the film quietly.

Marik sighed. Bakura was sulking in the corner and Malik was busy playing hide and seek with a rubber. Yami was still asleep. The Egyptian ran his hand through his floppy silver hair absentmindedly. It was unlike Atemu to fall asleep during the day… what was up?

Yami moaned softly in his sleep and turned over. His back was now towards Marik. The hikari frowned, and then smiled. It was time to give the pharaoh his wake up call…

Malik grinned. Bakura was too busy sulking to have noticed what he and Marik were up to. Malik counted down under his breath. "Three… Two… One… GO!"

The two Egyptians jumped onto the sofa and gave Atemu a very rude awakening.

Yami snapped wide awake instantly, to find the two Egyptians sitting on his stomach. The yami pushed the two off him, and pinned Marik's arms to his sides. He smiled sweetly at the hikari, his eyes thunderous. "Any last words?"

Marik gulped. "Yes…"

"What!" Yami growled.

"999,999,999,999,999,999 green bottles, sitting on the wall.

999,999,999,999,999,999 green bottles, sitting on the wall.

And if one of those green bottles should accidentally fall,

There'll be 999,999,999,999,999,998 green bottles sitting on the wall.

999,999,999,999,999,998 green bottle sit-"

If anyone outside of the room had been listening, they would have heard loud shrieks and yelling after this. As no-one was outside the room, nobody cared.

Ryou buried his nose in Yugi's hair. It was really soft and smelt faintly of cinnamon. "Mmm." He mumbled.

Yugi looked up at him because of the noise. "What?"

Ryou blushed. "Your hair smells nice."

Yugi turned pink. "Oh. I-err- do you want some candy floss?"

"Sure, why not?"

Yugi hopped out of Ryou's arms, grabbed the pink sugary bag from the side cupboard, and settled himself back down on the albino's lap. The amethyst-eyed teen opened the bag and ate a little of the sugar. He mmmed as it melted on his tongue, and reached down for some more.

Ryou laughed at his friend's face.

"What?"

"Your face."

Yugi flushed pink again. "Well, it's nice!" He protested.

Ryou smiled. "I never said it wasn't." He ate some of the floss.

Marik idly tossed a coin up in the air and caught it again.

The light reflecting off the coin's shiny surface attracted Yami's attention. "What's that?"

"A coin."

"I know that."

"Then why did you ask?"

"Because-because- because I don't know, alright?" The pharaoh snapped.

Marik shrugged. "Whatever." He tossed the coin up again, and caught it.

Bakura was watching the little interlude, bored. "It's his lucky coin." He told Yami.

"Why's it lucky?"

"First thing he ever stole." This was said by Malik.

Marik just shrugged… and caught the coin again.

Bakura flicked his hair over his shoulder. "Marik, stop it. It's beginning to get on my nerves."

Another shrug. "So?" Another catch of the coin.

"Marik!" Bakura snapped.

The snap startled Marik, and he dropped the coin. It rolled underneath the sofa. "Damn."

Yami sighed. "I'll get it."

The hikari frowned. "I'm getting it too. It's my coin." He stood up, and stepped on something. "Hey, what's this?" Marik bent down and picked up a bag of candy floss. "Where did this come from?"

"Oh that." Bakura was back to being bored again. "You had hold of it when you came through the wall. We assumed it was yours."

Marik shook his head. "Nope, not ours." He chucked the bag at Bakura. "Hold it a minute."

The albino caught it deftly. "'Kay."

Yami missed the bag's passing, as he was already hunting for the coin.

Yugi giggled.

"What?"

"You've got candy floss on your nose."

Ryou turned pink. "It's not uncommon."

Yugi was still laughing. "It just looks so… so weird."

Ryou mock pouted. He reached forwards and picked up a little of the pink sugar and placed it on Yugi's nose. "There, now we're equal."

The other duelist smiled up at him… then kissed him on the nose, effectively taking the candy floss off it at the same time.

Ryou wrinkled his nose up in surprise. "Hey! No fair!"

Yugi looked quizzical. "What?"

Ryou grinned… and kissed the candy floss off Yugi's nose. He smiled at the other's face. "Just so we're the same." He explained.

Yami groaned. "Why, oh Ra, why, did you leave the candy floss unattended?" He said to Marik.

The light gulped at what the other two yamis were doing. "It was barely five minutes!"

"And by my reckoning, they didn't even need that."

Malik and Bakura were going mad. The tomb-robber appeared to think he was some kind of rock star – he was busy playing on an air guitar and singing the chorus of Delilah – and Malik was having fun playing catch with a marble paperweight.

Yami sighed. "You sort out Malik; I'll try and get the tomb-robber to Shutup. I've had enough of his singing for one day."

Bakura finished his song and restarted it. "Dum-de-de, Dum-de-de, Dum-de-de, Dum-de-de-dum-dum…" (He didn't know the first few lines.)

"Bakura?" The pharaoh waved his hand in front of the albino's face. "Hello? Anyone in there?"

Bakura ignored him. "Sheeeee stooooooood there laughing. Ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaaaaa. I felt the knife in my hand, and she laughed no moooooore."

"BAKURA!"

But the albino was off into the chorus. "Why, why, WHHHYYY Delilaaah? (Do-de-do-de-do-de-dooo) Oh, my, my, MYYYYYYY Delilaaaaah-"

Over the singing Yami could vaguely hear Marik talking to Malik. ("Malik, honey, juggling with paperweights isn't good for your health.")

Yami snapped his attention back to the albino. He was now straddling the back of the sofa with his knees, still playing his imaginary guitar. "Bakura! Come down!"

"Sooo, befooooore, theey coooooooooome to break down the dooooooooooor, forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any moooore….. forgive me Delilah I just couldn't take any !" The tomb-robber flung his arms up in the air, overbalanced because of his position, and promptly fell over the back of the sofa. A loud bump and an 'ow' sounded.

Barely seconds later, a loud thud echoed. Marik sounded smug. "See Malik? I told you paperweights hurt." Yami turned around just in time to see Malik hit the floor. The pharaoh stared at the hikari. Marik shrugged. "What can I say? We've had past experience."

Bakura came to, to find Yami leaning over him. "Are you okay?"

The albino groaned. "Do I look okay?"

"Yes, but that's why I'm asking. You look alright… but falling off the back of a sofa has to have some effect."

"It did. It effectively left me feeling like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards, and then processed through a meat grinder."

Yami smiled. "Just as long as you're being positive."

Bakura sat up and put his head in his hands. "I am being positive. I'm positive I feel like crap."

"Perfectly normal then."

Bakura looked suspiciously at the pharaoh. "Why do I get the feeling you're teasing me?"

"Because I usually am." Yami extended a hand down. "Do you want a hand up?"

Bakura arched an eyebrow. "I may feel like crap… but that doesn't mean I'm accepting help from you. I haven't stooped that low."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that the day we get along is the day the world ends and fireballs rain from the sky."

Marik was shaking his yami. "Malik! Malik! Malik! Wake up." There was no response, he was out cold. "Oh, I give up."

Yami looked at the Egyptian curiously. "Why?"

Marik smiled ruefully. "He's done this sort of thing five times before, after a while a pattern develops."

Bakura spoke. "What, you mean like Yugi and his whining?"

Yami spun at him. "Yugi doesn't whine!"

"He does!"

"No he doesn't! Apologise!"

"No."

"Apologise."

"No." Bakura was defiant.

"Fine." Yami made as if he was about to leave, then, at the last possible moment, tackled Bakura to the ground. The pharaoh was now calmly sitting astride the albino and had Bakura's arms pulled up above his head so he couldn't get free. "Now will you apologise?"

Bakura wriggled. "Get off!"

"No."

Bakura fought, twisted and turned, but to no avail. Yami was still sitting on him. "Ya-mi! Get off!"

"No."

The albino cast his eyes pleadingly to where the room's two other occupants were, but was ignored. Marik had gone back to trying to get his unconscious yami- with a lovely purple egg-shaped lump on his forehead- to wake up. Bakura growled. "Get. Off. Me. NOW!"

"No. I'm not getting off until you apologise."

"I'm not apologising to you!"

"In that case, I'm not getting off."

Malik suddenly gave a loud groan and blearily opened his eyes. He saw Marik. "I can see the light."

His hikari promptly turned and left him, not impressed. The Egyptian spotted Bakura and Yami. "Hey, when did you two get so close?"

Bakura immediately flushed a deep red. "We're not close."

"Doesn't look that way to me."

"Marik! We were having an argument and he tackled me, and now he won't get off!"

"Okaay… it's just that you don't seem to be too bothered by it."

Bakura struggled in Yami's grip. "Marik!" His whole face was ablaze with red.

"Mmm-hmm?"

"Are you going to help, or just stand there?"

"Just stand here."

"Marik!"

"Well of course I'm not going to help. I believe in letting lovers sort out their own differences between themselves."

"We're NOT lovers!" Even Yami was beginning to turn pink.

"As I said before, it doesn't look that way to me."

"He's not my lover!" Yami insisted.

"So you're his?"

"NO!" Both yamis yelled.

"Okay." Marik walked over and sat on the sofa, out of sight. "If you say so."

Bakura and Yami were left, both extremely red.

The tomb-robber glared at Yami. "None of this would've happened if you weren't sitting on me."

Yami smirked. "I wouldn't be sitting on you if you'd apologised already."

Bakura tried another bout of wriggling. "I get your point… now get OFF!"

Yami's face suddenly seemed larger than it had before, and it was getting larger… and closer…

Bakura let out a squeak. "Ya-mi…" The pharaoh's face was now inches from Bakura's own, and one of Atemu's golden bangs was tickling the albino's cheek. Bakura went shock still. "Wha?"

Yami whispered quietly into Bakura's ear, his warm breath sending shivers down the albino's spine. "I'm not getting off until you apologise." Bakura gulped.

Malik staggered to his feet. He noticed the two other yamis, then looked at his hikari for an explanation.

Marik supplied it. "Make out session."

Yami and Bakura glared. "Marik!"

The light shrugged his shoulders. "I tell the truth how I see it."

Malik grinned happily. "Cool! Can I join in?"

Bakura groaned, and let his head fall back and hit the floor with a soft thud. He sighed. "Fine, I apologise. Now get OFF!"

Yami smirked, released his hold on Bakura's arms, and slid off. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Bakura growled, rubbing his wrists. Malik pouted. "But I wanted to join in!" He flopped beside his hikari on the sofa. "That was no fun!"

Marik smiled and kissed him on the nose. A strange glint entered Malik's eyes. Bakura and Yami spotted it.

The albino sighed. "We'd best set up camp behind the sofa. Those two could be at it for hours."

Atemu nodded, agreeing, and lay down on the floor using his arms for a pillow. "Might as well take a nap then." He closed his eyes and, barely minutes later, fell sound asleep.

Bakura stared. The pharaoh really must be tired to sleep this much. A load moan came from the other side of the sofa. Bakura grimaced. He really didn't want to hear that. The only way to escape it though was to… well, sleep. The albino looked at Yami again. Well, if you can't beat 'em, join them. Bakura lay down beside the quietly slumbering Atemu, and gradually drifted of to sleep.

The film was forgotten. Yugi and Ryou were… a little busy… with other things.

Marik pulled his shirt back on and began to rebutton it. "You're a pest, you know that?" he said to his yami.

Malik grinned. "And proud of it."

Marik shook his head. A thought struck him. "Hey, what happened to Bakura and Atemu?"

"I think they went behind the sofa."

"Behind?" Marik lent over the back of the seat. He stared at what he saw. "Uh, Malik?"

"Mmm?"

"Come look at this."

Malik joined his light in looking curiously over the sofa's back. "I don't suppose you've got a camera?"

"Nope."

"Pity." Both Egyptians grinned.

Bakura and Yami were both sleeping quietly. What the two 'halves' found amusing though, was the thought of what the two kings would say if they could see how they were sleeping. To put it quite simply, Bakura and Yami were entwined. Atemu's face was buried in Bakura's chest and one of his hands had wrapped itself in the albino's hair. The other hand lay curled over where Bakura's heart beat under his skin. The tomb-robber, on the other hand, had buried his face in Yami's hair and he had his arms wrapped possessively around the pharaoh's waist.

Marik looked at them contemplatively. "They make a cute couple."

Malik grinned. "I predict fireworks."

Marik smiled. "What? Only fireworks? I think we'd better prepare for World War Three."

Shadow: Phew. I'm finished. God only knows how I'm going to get them out of the room… next chappie might be the last… or the second last… or something…

Marik: Aaw…

Shadow: (Nods.) I know. We'll have to say goodbye… and I'll have to send you back to Jade Cade.

Marik: (Sniffs)

Shadow: (Pats on head.) But you've been a very good boy.

Marik: (Smiles.)

Shadow: So good in fact, you've given me an idea for a sequel…