Chapter 23

Marik was roused from his sleep when he heard shuffling and voices outside of his door. His sleepy brain told him to ignore it and snuggle under the covers some more, but the curious cat part of him wanted to know what was going on. He always listened to his curious side, so the blonde pulled himself out of his warm and cozy cocoon and proceeded to sleepily stumble over to the door and see what was going on.

Pushing open the dark oak doors, Marik popped his head out and looked around the barely lit corridor. He almost smiled when he saw the Cheshire Cat pinning the March Hare to the wall and kissing him furiously. He'd had his suspicions about what he made the white haired man so down but it was a small surprise to see it had been the Cheshire Cat who he missed.

"They always like that?" A voice to his right asked, and he turned his head to come face to face with Bakura who was leaning against the wall. "Hey kitty." He grinned at Marik's shocked look.

For whatever reason crossed his mind, the lion found himself launching himself into Bakura's arms and nearly hugging the life outta him. "You have no idea how fucking great it is to see you!" He heard himself admitting, inwardly wincing at how desperate he sounded. But that was washed away when Bakura actually embraced him back.

"You've not been goone that long." The white haired circus worker chuckled, feeling the need to at least try and soothe the other's worries. "Ten minutes at the most."

Marik pulled back, still keeping hold of the other man's shoulders as he looked into his eyes. "Its been about three days for me." He told him, getting a little glee when Bakura's red eyes widened.

"What the fuck?" The knife thrower cursed lowly, and Marik was prevented from answering when they were interrupted by a loud moan from the March Hare.

Marik laughed at them slightly before yanking on Bakura's arm and pulling him into the room he'd been given. He was a little smug when he heard the white haired man gasp at the sight of such luxury.

"Damn Marik." Bakura gawked, "Who'd you have to fuck to get this palace of a room?"

"Wasn't me. Try the Ringleader." Marik grinned, flopping back down on the king size bed. It was still warm from before.

"The Ringleader?" Bakura questioned, climbing onto the bed himself. "And you're not mad?" He'd expected the lion to be furious at the thought of the Ring King screwing around with someone else besides him.

Marik shrugged. "I was at first, but everything just seems like a giant orgy here." The blonde told him while snuggling into the covers again. "That rabbit guy you saw was the one screwing around with Akefia, and I'm betting our King is vain enough to fuck the King of Spades too."

"Yeah, I noticed the whole mirror image thing." Bakura commented as he got himself comfortable by taking off his boots. "Who's the King's look-a-like?"

"The King here is the King of Spades." Marik grinned, flashing his sharp fangs and making the other squirm and smirk.

"So an actual proper king then?" Bakura chuckled, trying to imagine that in his head. Picturing their malevolent Ringleader in a crown and a fancy cape was a very amusing image indeed. The only think Akefia liked to wear on his head was his precious top hat. Which brought Bakura to his next item in question. "What's with the Ringleader's hat then?"

The blodne lion before him shrugged again. "Not a clue. I have a feeling its a portal to this place, and he's used it hell of a lot." Marik voiced his opinion. "Everyone I've come across here seems to know him in some way, by meeting him or hearing about him." He stretched tiredly. "I've just chosen not to question it anymore. Nothing in this place makes sense."

"Heh, well you know more than me at this point." Bakura smiled, shoving Marik over from the middle of the bed so he could lay down too. He turned on his side and just looked the lion over. He seemed exhausted in more ways than one, and had a nasty bruise or bite mark on his shoulder from something. Only one person, or creature, in mind could have done that. "Did you fuck the Cheshire Cat?"

Marik had his eyes closed as he grinned broadly. "Yeah, I did." He admitted proudly.

"He's got kittens you know." Bakura said while he eyed the lion up and down.

"Really?" Marik cracked open a tired eye, staring at the man lying next to him. "This place really doesn't make sense."

"He's more caring than I ever could imagine you to be." The white haired knife thrower told him as he subtly shuffled closer.

The tanned feline turned to face him, opening both of his eyes now. "Well you try having my past." He glared softly. "I know you had a bad one too but nothing compared to mine."

There was a sadness and heartache in Marik's face that Bakura rarely saw. He knew his lion friend sometimes got like this after being put in solitary confinement by their master. He didn't like to be alone, which wasn't a problem considerig Akefia pretty much demanded he should be by his side at all times, unless he'd done something to piss him off. Bakura reached out a hand and gently stroked Marik's ears, knowing it would calm down the bubbling annger in him.

Marik's eyes slipped shut as he began purring, making Bakura smile to himself. Despite their contant arguing, chaos making, fighting and hard fucking, they really did care about each other. In fact, the more the white haired man thought about it, the more he realised that was the rule throughout the whole circus. They had their moments and fallouts, but at the end of the day they'd kill for each other (maybe not Ryou but the thought was there).

While he'd been lost in his thoughts Marik had slid closer, nuzzling against Bakura's neck while he was petted. He let his mind clear itself and focused on the hand now buried in his mane of hair. He hadn't realised how much he missed his fellow circus folk, and without thinking about it he snaked his arms around Bakura's waist and pulled him close.

Bakura couldn't help but laugh internally at how cuddly the big cat was, but he let him snuggle. There were times when you just needed it. Everyone at the circus got that way sometimes. Ryou went to Malik for it, sometimes Marik or Bakura if they were in a good mood. Bakura went to Akefia or the lion he was currently holding, simply because those two were the only ones who knew his entire past. Marik would more than likely come to Bakura, because Akefia wasn't a cuddly person. When Akefia needed the affection, he didn't go to anyone. It was up to them to find out what was wrong and correct it. Sometimes that thought broke Bakura's black heart.

The lion in his arms pulled back slightly, looking him in the eye for a second or two before leaning forwards and engaging him in a very tongue-filled and pasionate kiss.