Thank you to all you lovely reviewers, and this chapter, we're back with Bakura, Ryou, and Malik, and we find out who Ryou chooses!
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Bakura gazed at Ryou, then grabbed him and crushed the geisha's lips fiercely under his own. The thief was harsh, demanding- Ryou had never been kissed like that. Not that Malik was bad- he was renowned throughout Edo for his sensuous love-making skills. Malik was sensual and languorous in his subtle, skilled moves but Bakura was rough and brutal and unyielding. Ryou melted into his arms, completely in the thief-king's power.
When Bakura broke the kiss, Ryou flopped backwards, limp on the mattress. His chest heaved, pupils dark and dilated, lips parted and swollen from the heated kiss.
Bakura's breath was ragged, his muscular chest heaving. "Ryou?" The geisha turned his head, looking up at the thief. He couldn't think- the bigger man's touch turned his mind to mush. He had no words to say; he merely held out languid hands to Bakura, who smirked.
The door slid open. Bakura's grin grew. "Took you long enough."
"Bastard." Malik growled, his sword unsheathed. Swiftly, he ran, slicing at Bakura.
The thief parried with a dagger, rolling onto his feet. Malik leapt over Ryou, who whimpered and covered his head- he had never been caught in the literal middle of a violent fight before. The two swordsmen met blow for blow and thrust for thrust, each fighting for the heart of the geisha they loved. The tatami mats ripped under their slashing swords, steal glinted off steal, and sparks occasionally flew.
Once Ryou's head cleared and he got his fear under control, his blood stopped racing, he opened his eyes, peering through his fingers. The swordsmen were panting heavily, sweat glistening on their gorgeous, toned bodies. Bakura had blood running down his neck from a gash on his cheek. Malik was bleeding from a gash across his temple. And still they fought.
"Bakura! Malik! Stop!" Ryou's heart skipped a beat as he surged to his feet and rushed between the two fighters. "Stop it!"
They were intent upon each other, but Ryou's screams caused them to pause, slicing through the heat of battle and distracting them as he rushed between them, arms flung out.
Bakura growled.
Malik snarled. "Ryou! Out of the way!"
"N-no. Stop it!"
"Move. Now." Bakura bit out, loosing his patience.
The geisha shook his head. "This is madness! B-Bakura…I do love you, but-" Ryou gazed from one to the other. "I can't leave Malik."
Malik smirked victoriously. Bakura hissed. "Then I'll kill that son of a bitch!" He tried to lunge around Ryou. Malik jumped back, pulling Ryou with him. All three sets of eyes widened as Bakura's sharp blade barely missed Ryou's stomach.
"You nearly killed him!" Bakura and Malik yelled simultaneously.
There was an urgent knock on the door. "Malik-sama, are you alright? The guards told me they heard the clank of swords-" A strong female voice called out.
Malik shot Bakura a dark look. "That's your cute to leave, thief." He threw an arm around Ryou.
Bakura looked at Ryou, dark eyes piercing wide brown ones. "Say the word, and I'll kill every mother-fucker in here and burn this hell-hole to the ground. I'll make you mine."
Ryou could not answer. He looked down at the shredded tatami mat. Now was the pivotal moment that decided his future. Leave everything he knew behind, dishonor everything he had worked hard for all his life, and follow his heart's dream? But that was it…it was just a dream. A dream turned into reality…
"Y-yes.." He started to whisper, but Malik lunged, thrusting himself between Ryou and Bakura.
"My lord! What's going on in there?" His captain of the guard demanded as she banged on the door again.
"Shut the fuck up!" Malik snarled at the door.
Bakura parried Malik's sword thrust then swung; Malik dodged.
Hearing the door slide open, the captain rushing in and barking orders at her men, the thief gave one last look at Ryou, then leapt onto the windowsill. His gaze lingered on the geisha for a moment, a pretty bauble that was not his to steal any longer, then disappeared into the night.
Malik's sword clattered to the floor, blood spattering off of it. His sleeping robe was torn and bloody in places, jumbled and twisted about his body. Ryou whimpered, looked at the window, then his legs gave out. Tears fell down his cheeks.
Tbc…..
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