AN: Hello, Yu-Gi-Oh people… I only have one other fanfic for this show, so don't expect them to be perfectly in character.
Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh. Alas, I am nothing but a poor girl living in a southern sticks town.
Summary: AU. Ryou Tekashi had always known where he stood in life when it came to his friends in downtown Domino. At least, that's what he thought. But when strange things start happening to him because of a demonic drug lord, he starts to doubt who his friends really are. MR, JR, and eventual BR.
Let me elaborate the pairings: Malik/Ryou, Jou/Ryou, and Bakura/Ryou.
Warnings for story: Foul language, demonic creatures, selling/use of drugs, smoking, violence, sexual references, shonen-ai, depressing themes, and possible character death. Fasten your seatbelts, people. This is gonna be an angsty one.
Warnings for prologue: Language, mentions of drugs, slight violence, and shonen-ai (which I won't repeat in further warnings, because that is implied). Also, Ryou is kinda… Weird when it comes to relationships.
Prologue: Downtown Lifestyle
Ryou Tekashi did not like anything about his apartment complex. The lights flickered every time a subway train roared under them and every heater in the vicinity had decided to break down over the last week. The landlord was an absolute cheapskate (not to mention arrogant) and made them pay impossible amounts of money each month, promising he would provide them with free quality food for their trouble. Quality apparently wasn't much in his eyes, unless he and his brat brother were eating it. Ryou had spent two hours with his head in a toilet the first time he tried the food, vaguely considering to call the health department.
The shady characters skirting around the area didn't help his opinion either. Prostitutes and drug dealers, murderers and psychopaths, all had passed through this building. It was even rumored that the leader of the DAU Organization (nicknamed 'Drug Addicts United' by snickering teens, but no one is certain the real meaning) had spent many nights there and recruited the landlord as a Wire(1). Ryou personally thought the suggestion was ridiculous. The man's love for his younger sibling was the only sincere emotion he had and he would never put him in any possible danger. He had some morals.
The leader of DAU was a seductive and cunning man in his early twenties. Ryou had been shocked the first time he saw him, stricken at how alike they were in appearance. Bakura Saiga, son of prestigious businessman Hiro Saiga (who happened to run one of the most successful electronics companies in Asia), frequently used this street for dealing and it was a common occurrence for Ryou to glimpse him here and there. Actually, he made it a habit to know where the older man was… At first the eighteen-year-old had no clue of who he was, until that fateful day he had almost crashed into him on his way home to wash off the milk stain from the weekly food fight at school. A hand shot out to grab Ryou before they collided, "probably saving his life" as the sandy blond stranger had put it.
That was the day he met Jou.
"Ya okay, Ryes?" came the concerned sound of his best friend's voice, an arm draping across his shoulder as they walked home from school. "Awfully quiet. More than usual, I mean."
Ryou turned his head away to hide his most obvious 'not okay' expression, trying to slip out of Jou's hold.
"Just tired, that's all."
Jou stopped walking suddenly, raising a skeptic eyebrow at him.
"You're never tired, Ryou. You're a fucking never-ending ball of energy most days. Were you having those hallucinations again?"
"They aren't hallucinations! He was standing on the other side of the street, looking at my window!" Ryou huffed indignantly, nudging away from Jou. "Why won't you believe me? He's a demon, I tell you!"
Jou rolled his eyes and sighed in annoyance the fifth time that week.
"How many times do I have to say it? Bakura-san is not a demon!"
"Then what is he, Jou? He's got red eyes(2)!"
Jou took both of Ryou's arms in a tight grip, glaring down at him venomously. His dark brown eyes flashed crimson.
"If he's a demon just 'cause he has red eyes, then what am I?"
Ryou bit his lip, this being not the first time Jou had acted strangely. He leaned forward, blowing lightly against the blond's neck. Jou jerked back and shook his head clear, offering an apologetic smile.
"Thanks, buddy. Got a little carried away there."
Katsuya Jounichi, from that 'fateful day' onward, was one of the only true friends Ryou had. Despite all their differences (and Jou's demonic outbursts), the two had stuck together like glue after spending the rest of the afternoon hanging out and insulting each other to death. But it had been that teasing way of mockery that completely sucked Ryou in… It was strange to find an insult so comforting. And yet here they were, eight months later, splitting rent and punching each other in the jaw when they woke up every morning.
It had been weird at first, having someone beside him. Ryou always tended to move around during the night and, as he discovered the first time they shared the bed, so did Jou. Tangled limbs and awkward closeness was what they awoke to, both embarrassed to the point of mortification. Ryou had thought about buying an extra bed or cot (the floor being inhabitable for living organisms), but possessed neither the money nor the will to do so. Several weeks went by and they got used to the odd positions that mornings brought. Surprisingly enough, they did not develop romantic feelings for each other and all was well. Though if a night of human contact was needed after a crappy day, they certainly weren't going to decline when asked.
'Friends with benefits' some of the townspeople sneered. The phrase made Ryou wrinkle his nose in disgust.
Jou, of course, wasn't the only friend he had. He'd been introduced to a lot of people after meeting him, but he didn't trust them as much. Except Malik. The mischievous sunny-blond had a tan to match his Egyptian jewelry and a smirk to match the thoughts you knew were gong on behind his violet eyes. Ryou had been edgy around him at the beginning, but soon came to like him as much as he did Jou. They eventually evolved into 'friends with benefits' also, but it hadn't happened often. The first time it did happen though, Ryou had been drunk and was jerked out of his dreams the next morning by a soft snoring purr in his ear. He nearly had a heart attack when he realized that Jou did not purr and Malik, the poor thing, ended up sprawled across the floor with a bruise on his face. The times after were intentional however and Ryou found himself coming to Malik when he was sad, preferring the sensual and slow torture over Jou's quick pace when he was in that state. Jou hadn't minded.
I'm going to end up with a disease someday…
Ryou yawned and stretched with cat-like grace, blinking his sensitive eyes against the morning sun. Black silk sheets wrapped around his legs, cooling his thighs and making him shiver. He knew his bed didn't have silk anything, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Jou was probably worrying himself to death, considering the fact that this was the first time Ryou hadn't slept in their room…
"You awake, Ryou?" Malik's voice mumbled next to him, a light kiss brushing against his temple. "You really surprised me, staying the night here."
"I shouldn't be here, hm?" Ryou murmured in response, curling himself against Malik's warm body. "Jou's probably having a fit."
Malik smirked faintly, ruffling the younger boy's hair playfully. Though it wasn't as nearly as many times as Ryou slept with Jou, the silver-haired teenager seemed to be coming to him lately.
"But you don't look like you're going anywhere."
Even though Malik was glad Ryou had slept in his bed, it also made him concerned. Fooling around with him meant something bad was on Ryou's mind and if he was agreeing to stay the night with Malik, then something was definitely wrong.
"Ryou?" Malik asked cautiously, the smile fading from his face. "What's going on?"
"Nothing. Just depressed, I guess…"
Malik resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Of course he was depressed, but about what?
"Is it Jou?" the blond inquired, but Ryou shook his head no. "Your dad?"
Another negative.
"…The Ringleader?" Malik chanced, taking note of Ryou's flinch. "It's him, isn't it?"
Ryou gave a weak nod, bringing an arm up to hide his face.
"He noticed me yesterday… Watching him from the Sussix Fountain(3). He just looked up and stared right at me…"
Malik let out a strangled sort of sound and pulled Ryou close so that their foreheads were touching. The grip he had on the boy's hand grew tighter.
"Right at you? Like, he looked into your eyes directly?" he asked uneasily, a flutter of panic passing through him when Ryou slowly began to cry. "Did he? Ryou, answer me!"
Ryou stayed silent as the Egyptian shook his shoulders, a ring of crimson encircling his doe orbs when he opened them again.
"Fuck!" Malik cursed, blinking back his own tears as he buried his head into Ryou's neck.
"Yes, Malik. He did."
Bakura Saiga was not human. It was a known fact to those who worked (or previous worked) for him. No one knew exactly what he was, but they weren't about to ask. 'Don't ask questions' was the first lesson you learned once Bakura got a hold on you. Volunteering to work for him didn't happen. If you wanted the job, he would refuse. If you had absolutely no interest, he would make you interested. It was all in those red eyes of his. You get caught up in them…You were his.
You belonged to him and only him. Did everything he asked, whether it was legal or not. Some thought he was a bewitching demon and had the power to put a spell on you with his stare. Others thought the idea was ludicrous… Until it happened to them. He controlled half the city, from government officials to penniless bums. Locals hotel owners and landlords sent unsuspecting victims to him every week. The one who brought in the most business, though, ran the sleaziest place in town and had to be one of his most obedient servants yet.
Seto Kaiba.
Every person he sent turned out to be the best of the best. Legends among the Underground(4), like Malik Ishtar and Yami Atemu. But the best yet had to be that spunky mutt, Katsuya Jounichi. Fiery, spiteful, attractive… And quite the con man when you pissed him off. Kaiba outdid himself with that one and Bakura gave him plenty of money for the trade. Recently, however, he suggested a new target. A beautiful, quiet, intelligent target.
And Bakura had been all too happy to take up the challenge.
AN: There you go… Distress, drugs, and demons. Oh, my!
Notes -
1: Someone who sends recruits or information on possible recruits for an organization, typically a drug ring, prostitution ring, gang, etc… They also listen for any signs of revolt or attack against the organization.
2: An old fountain in the middle of an abandoned estate that is near Ryou's apartment. It was previously owned by a family named Sussix and no longer runs water. People in the downtown area like to hang around it (and Ryou particularly enjoys sitting at the top).
3: Changing his eye color for my benefit.
4: The Underground is located directly under the city hall of Domino (for easy thief access) and is the headquarters of DAU. Be aware that DAU is not just a drug ring, but a whole bunch of fucked up things.
So, if you feel this should continue, please drop a review. Me likies reviews.