I'm working extra hard to get this story rolling along and finished and an update of Crimson Nights will be next.

This chapter has been edited to the best of my ability.

Warnings: M. Slash (Male/Male)

Chapter 18: The Agreement.

Marik exited the bedroom dressed for his shift to find Ryou and the shrimp on his couch. The Puzzle Host clutching a hot drink in his hands, eyes red from all the crying he did and those big eyes looked up at him and Marik twitched wanting nothing more than to gouge them out.

Marik thought it be in the best interest and ignored him, Ryou though sat beside him staring, like his mind was working over time. "Ryou," Marik approached him, he didn't move, didn't bat his eyes, not an ounce of acknowledgement that his name had been spoken. Marik's narrowed eyes swept to the short Host, what was so special about the Puzzle Host to have captivated Ryou's attention from him. Ryou would have by now thrown his arms about him in a hug and kissed him wishing him a safe night and a speedy return. "Ryou!" Marik stood before him arms crossed over his chest.

"Oh," Finally Ryou blinks and his eyes swept over Marik from head to foot twice and he rose to his feet with a smile and wrapped his arms about him, head resting on his chest. "Wish you didn't have work tonight." He breathed out, pulling back just enough to glance up into Marik's darker eyes.

"You could always come with me," Marik offered knowing no one would really care, thinking Ryou was just another customer looking for a good time and Marik would be able to work without worrying about him.

"Really?" Ryou's smile widened.

"Why not," Marik's frown back in place when Ryou turned and glanced back at the other Host, who looked lost, silently crying into his hot drink.

"Yugi," Ryou detached himself from Marik only to hold the Puzzle Host instead and whispered to him as he rocked him gently and rubbed his back, giving Marik a helpless look of what to do to make the other feel better.

Marik moved towards them about to once again inform the Puzzle Host that his stay was officially over when a banging came at the front door, it was so hard that the wood creaked and bent, the whole door shook with each pounding. "What the fuck," Marik walked over about to open it, when his wrist was grabbed by Ryou who looked up at him purely terrified.

"I have come to retrieve my Light," Yami's voice came through the door like he was standing in the room, "open the door." The lights flickered off and on and the hair on the back of Marik's neck stood on end and he glanced back at Yugi who had backed himself up into a corner of the room, slid down the wall and curled himself up into a ball. "I know you're in there, I can hear you breathing. Send my Host out or I come in there and get him." That tone was far too smug for Marik's liking.

Ryou's grip became tight that he trembled visibly at his side, eyes wide staring up him. "Fuck this," Marik opened the door to the Righteous Bastard and it was like he had been slammed into a brick-wall, the wave of power that radiated of the Righteous Bastard almost brought Marik to his knees. He never liked be out done or not answer a challenge when presented, so Marik summoned all the powers he had left over from his days as a Dark soul and sure enough the Righteous Bastard's powers were no match for him.

Marik noticed that Ryou hide himself behind him out of sight and he was suddenly aware of his dilemma and what he had been trying to accomplish and now his answer was standing before him, "he's over there." Marik stepped aside and withdrew his powers.

"Thank you," Yami entered the apartment his eyes instantly on Yugi and he stopped in the threshold. "It's not safe in the city after dark and I was worried about him walking home alone."

"Whatever," Marik crossed his arms over his chest. He did however notice the lack of true concern in Yami's voice that had always been there before, that had always been dripping with all kinds of endearments for his Host that it was enough to make anyone sick.

"Hello Ryou," Yami drawled with a smirk.

"Marik," Ryou whimpered clutching onto him and he could feel the other's panic and fear radiating off him and it put Marik on edge not liking it at all how Ryou was suddenly so frightened.

"How is Bakura?" The Righteous Bastard asked with a grin, Ryou hid himself completely from view and said nothing. "Didn't know that you swapped your Dark Half for another, Bakura get to rough for you?" Yami tilted his head slightly, "was it tough for you to leave him like that? To not help him when he needed you most?"

"I did not leave him," Ryou stepped about Marik and went for Yami, "you did something to him!" Ryou was fast enough to land a blow to Yami's face and Marik wrapped an arm about him and pulled him back before Yami could retaliate and hurt him, "I want him back you monster!" Ryou struggled to get free.

The Righteous Bastard licked the blood from his lip with a frown as he glared at Ryou, "Perhaps you might succeed where Bakura failed in making this Host more obedient." Marik raised an eye brow and contained his anger not to finish what Ryou started in giving Yami a beat down that he deserved.

"I like him just as he is," Marik grinned to Yami's scowl of disapproval.

"Yugi!" Yami snapped his eyes never leaving Ryou, who had by now stopped struggling and glared right back. The Righteous Bastard wrapped an arm about Yugi's shoulders when he was close enough; Marik had this sinking feeling that he wouldn't see the Puzzle Host again if he let him go.

"Wait," Marik snagged Yugi's upper arm and pulled him free of Yami's hold and placed himself between the Host and the Righteous Bastard. "The Hosts are doing this sleep over thing, spending time together and crap."

"He did not ask for permission, did you pet?" Yami narrowed his eyes and they set on Yugi who recoiled back, until a well placed strike sent the Righteous Bastard stumbling back a few feet.

"Since when does a Hikari need to ask for permission?" Marik growled and recalled his powers and another well placed hit had Yami stumbling into the hallway.

"You really want to do this Yugi?" Yami addressed him directly, the threat hung in the air and Yugi panicked glancing at Marik and Ryou looking so lost and terrified on what to do. Marik blocked the doorway and watched as Yami lent against the wall and his form changed, distorted into something else, happened so fast and Marik didn't get a clear look, but what he felt and saw was something familiar and dangerous, one thing was for sure, that thing wasn't Yami.

"Please, Yami," Yugi had pushed by him and rushed to his Dark half, "are you ok?" Yugi made a show of fussing over Yami. "I'm sorry for not telling you where I was going. I just really wanted to catch up with Ryou and lost track of time." Yugi's touches were rushed and shaking like he was fighting himself to do it, to act as though he cared. "Can I please stay?" Marik said nothing while he watched display that made him sick and want to kill them both.

The Righteous Bastard seemed to contemplate it for a moment before giving in, "Fine Yugi, I'll see you tomorrow." His eyes swept to Ryou and his grinned turned into something else that twisted Marik's stomach up sickly and was glad Ryou didn't see it. "We also have so much catching up to do Ryou, you need to stop by and see me, a deal is a deal after all." Yami patted his Host on the head and started down the hallway.

Yugi rushed inside as soon as Yami turned his back. Marik closed the door and locked it and turned about in time to see Ryou crumble to the floor holding both hands over his mouth as tears filled his eyes. Marik walked over and crouched down pulling Ryou into his arms and glanced at the Puzzle Host who was staring at nothing. "What is going on?" Marik asked waiting for Ryou to start sobbing in his shoulder, which didn't happen.

"I don't know," Ryou trembled in his arms; Marik ran a frustrated hand through his hair and let out a sigh. He glanced at Yugi who had moved to the couch and sat on its edge with his head in his hands.

Marik had managed to move Ryou from the floor to a chair and placed a glass of water on the table, to which Ryou sipped at it and snagged Marik's hand when he turned away, "are you leaving for work?" Ryou looked worried and frightened at the idea of being left alone.

"I'm staying, I just need to make a call," Marik called his boss, a short conversation that turned into an argument, some yelling on how much he was needed and no one else to cover his shift on such short notice, until Marik shut him up mentioning days off that were owed to him, by the time Marik hung up the phone he had a week off.

The Hosts in his care had seemed to settle down though still shaken; Yugi curled up on the couch looking ready to pass out and Ryou retreated to the bedroom half way through the phone conversation with his glass of water.

Marik made sure the front door was securely locked, before making sure the Puzzle Host had enough blankets and pillows. Yugi still sat on the edge of the couch crying into his hands. Marik heaved a sighed and sat down on the coffee table and lent forward tapping the other on the knee, "hey." Yugi looked up and gasped at their closeness. "What's wrong now?" Marik hated to come across as if he cared, but the last thing he wanted was to lay in bed listening to someone cry all night.

"I should have gone with him," Yugi bit lip and rung his fingers tightly glancing at the door.

"Then go," Marik wasn't going in indulge him or comfort him or persuade him to stay.

"I fear that when I return to him tomorrow, it's going to be so much worse than anything he's done to me before." Yugi once again covered his face with his hands, "he was so angry."

"You can make other arrangements, you have friends." Marik knew Yugi did, was always with a group of morons he could never remember their names, but they always butted their noses in where it wasn't welcome.

"You're joking?" Yugi blurted out, "me, leave him while he has my Grandpa and my friends side with him. I have nowhere to go but remain with him."

"Well, you're screwed," Marik shrugged and rose to his feet, Yugi glared up at him. "What you expected me to care after knowing what he has done to you? And yes, I knew from the moment I saw you what he had done and I still don't care and there's a great part of me that feels you deserve it as punishment for what you both did to Malik and I."

"You're worse than he is," Yugi also rose to his feet glaring up at Marik, well tried to anyway. "And the sickening thing is you have Ryou wrapped up in your lie of being a good-guy."

"No!" Marik snapped, he had not once pretended to be something he wasn't to keep Ryou here with him. "I'll not stand by and allow whatever you two have scheming and further hurt Ryou in whatever game you're both playing."

"I have not hurt Ryou," Yugi narrowed his eyes, "I'm not playing any games."

"This, what's happened to Ryou has your name and his stamped all over it and if I'm the last person who can protect Ryou against you two, then so be it." Marik shoved him and Yugi yelped in fright as he fell onto the couch. "This time, don't do it behind my back, bring your worst if you both still have the nerve to face me."

"I'm a victim here!" Yugi got to his feet and his futile attempt to give Marik a shove as well only resulted in hurting his wrists. "Can't you see that? I've come to you for help and protection, which is your duty." Tears filled Yugi's eyes.

"That's where you're wrong," Marik grinned, "did you not read the fine-print of a Host and Spirit's contract?" He took some delight in Yugi's confusion and explained it to the dim-witted Host. "It's a choice whether to protect another Dark soul's Light from harm or death. In other words, you're only here because Ryou wishes it so." Marik picked up the pillow and threw it at Yugi's chest who caught it with a scowl. "So be grateful for Ryou's mercy and the night of protect under my roof, even if it's for one night." Marik glanced him up down, taking in his shabby appearance, of messy hair, red puffy eyes, rumpled clothing, bruises and cuts and still not an ounce of pity for the downtrodden teen.

"You're in love with him," Yugi spat out the words like they were poison and the look of disgust on his face. "When I find away to be rid of Yami, I'll make sure to be rid of you." Marik snapped, grabbing the short Host by his collar of his shirt and yanked him off his feet and brought him up to eye level.

"Marik," Ryou's soft voice filled the room, no doubt he heard their argument and came out to stop it from getting to out of hand, "are you coming to bed?" Marik lowered Yugi back to his feet, turned and walked towards Ryou and passed him heading to the bathroom.

Marik splashed cold water over his face and the back of his neck, trying to get control of his rage that he'd rather satisfy with straggling Yugi with his bare hands, rather than cold water. He didn't stay long in the bathroom retreating to his bedroom to find Ryou already sitting in bed his arms loosely wrapped about the blanket and his knees waiting for him.

Marik locked his bedroom door and started too undressed. "Ryou," the other twitched glancing up at him. "Are you alright?" Marik felt rather bad for getting wrapped up in an argument with the Puzzle Host, when Ryou seemed more effected by the Righteous Bastard's presences.

"I think so," Ryou frowned, his hands still shaking, "I feel that we aren't as safe as we should be and that whatever Yami can do, you'll be out matched and possibly hurt and it'll be my fault for involving..." Ryou trailed off as his chin was lifted.

"I can protect you, you needn't worry about that or Yami," Marik lent in and kissed Ryou for a moment and said against his lips, "I'm more than a match for Yami." He straightened up to continue undressing.

"What did he mean about a deal?" Marik hoped that Ryou didn't want to say anything before with Yugi in the room and now that they were alone that he'd feel free to talk. Bakura would never have made a deal with the Righteous Bastard unless it would fall in Bakura's favour and he'd come out on top with what he wanted. Marik was so sure of it; unless something had happened that left Bakura no choice in striking a deal... could it have been something to do with Bakura's abuse towards Ryou that forced his hand to make a deal with Yami?

"I don't know," Ryou curled up more on himself, Marik in only boxers slipped in under the covers and Ryou moved, snuggling into his side and resting his head on his shoulder. "Bakura... once spoke of a deal, but I don't... Marik, there was something very wrong with Yami." Marik knew that there was something wrong with Righteous Bastard to have such reactions from Ryou and the Puzzle Host.

"I noticed," Marik ran his hand through Ryou's long white hair. He didn't push the matter further. Marik just hoped that the deal Bakura made didn't involve Ryou being some kind of twisted payment for what Bakura wanted or payment for not fulfilling his end of the deal. Either way, Ryou was his now and the world could freeze over before he'd let either Bakura or Yami get their hands on him again. Nothing else was said for a while and Ryou had seemed to be more relaxed and at ease and Marik wasn't sure if he had fallen asleep or not, so he spoke what was now consuming his thoughts and prevented sleep. "Ryou?" A reply of a soft hum indicated that the other was close to falling asleep, so Marik plunged ahead, "you can stay with me as long as you want to." Ryou after a few moments sat up looking down at him with a shocked look on his face.

"But I thought..."

"I revoke the invitation of your week only stay and offer you a permanent place at my side for as long as you wish," Marik tucked white strands of hair behind Ryou's ear. "You are also free to decline and you would still have my protection for as long as you need it." Ryou stared down at him tears filled his eyes and he lent down kissing Marik, in a more slow heartfelt kiss.

"Thank you," Ryou breathed against his lips with a smile. "I'll be very happy to stay at your side."

"Do not mistake this for love, Ryou," Marik frowned slightly wanting to get his point across that his offer was not a gesture of love or need for the other, but an agreement between a lost and at times lonely Dark soul and an abused and abandoned Light sticking together. "I'm not in love with you." Marik however, would take care of Ryou like he had been doing all this time, be his usual caring and kind self towards him and treat Ryou with respect, but he wanted to make it clear that their relationship wouldn't be based on love. Marik had been down that path before and refused going down it again with someone new, even if that someone was Ryou.

"I'm not in love with you either," Ryou's smile widened and he laughed a little as he kissed Marik again.

"I'm serious," Marik said firmly, letting out a small groan as Ryou settled himself upon him and pleasure that vibrated through his body when their hardening members rubbed together. "This isn't some marriage, I'm not your husband, boyfriend or other, despite what those oldies say, no mushy declarations of 'I love you' in any form, spoken, phone calls or notes are prohibited and no calling sex 'love making' it's just sex and either one of us can walk away at anytime we wish..." Marik groaned again when Ryou grind his hips and raked his nails down Marik's sides, kissing along his jaw line.

"Oh I completely despise you," Ryou gave a slow lick up Marik's neck to his chin.

"Let's not go that far," Marik rolled them the wrong way and both ended up on the floor, Ryou burst into a fit of laughter and somewhere Marik had forgotten to add a promise that together they'd end the threat that loomed over Ryou and maybe Yugi and right there on the floor Marik took Ryou with a renewed hunger for the pale Host.

TBC

This chapter will be under going an edit/beta check at a late time R&R (love and cookies)