Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this fanfic unless I created it myself. Anything that I did create was inspired by something owned by someone else. This is done for fun and entertainment, not for profit.
Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh GX
Title: Scenes From a Reversal: Bloodpaths: 10-50: Harder Than Stone
Character: Marufuji Ryou
Word Count: 716
Genre: Drama, Supernatural||Rated: PG-13
Challenge: 50scenes: Marufuji Ryou: power
Summary: Fifty scenes from a story unwritten, with one fact reversed: what happens when the Gentle Darkness is not gentle? Ryou has his own dark tale to live in this world.

Ryou didn't bother to look up when he heard the door open. It was either Haou returning for another round of torture or the slave who provided his meals. Neither one interested him. Yet those footsteps were familiar, and he found that he wasn't surprised to hear Noble D'Noir's voice.

"You're not all that favored anymore, are you, spy?" The undead creature chuckled. Ryou still didn't look up. Noble D'Noir was…had been…his second in command. Apparently gloating over a chained up prisoner was one of his new duties. Or perhaps he saw it as a perk.

One hand closed on Ryou's chin and forced his head up so that he was unable to avoid staring at those mocking dark eyes. In that, however, they were still warmer and less frightening than Haou's shimmering eyes of gold.

"I command my troops now," the dark undead told him, the emphasis plain. Not that Ryou was surprised at that. "I even have a commendation from Haou-sama, for being the one to uncover you."

Ryou shifted his gaze and found a spot on the far wall to look at instead. He said nothing, though. He had nothing at all to say to this one. Or to anyone else, though he was certain he would once again speak if or when Haou entered the torture cell.

Noble D'Noir's long-fingered blue hand struck him across the face. A sharp metallic scent wafted into Ryou's nose a moment later, and he licked his lips as he felt something trickle down his cheek. Blood. He'd never tasted it before. Interesting. It really did taste like copper.

"I'm going to make you scream, human." A clear promise touched the words, and Ryou still paid more attention to the spot on the wall than to Noble D'Noir. Pain? This fool didn't know what pain was. Let him try all he liked.

Noble D'Noir's hands wrapped around Ryou's neck for a brief moment and then began to tighten. This time, Ryou spoke, while he still had breath to do so. "Kill me and Haou will make you scream."

The monster laughed, his fingers tightening even more. "You must expect me to be as stupid as you are. Haou won't care if I dispose of a traitor and a spy. You're weak and the weak will always be destroyed first!"

Again the grip tightened, until spots floated before Ryou's eyes and he could no longer be certain that the darkness around him was because of the lightlessness of the cell or the lack of air in his lungs. I never thought…I would die like this…

Granted, it was better than becoming what Johan had.

Pain of a different kind shot through him, and air rushed through Ryou's lungs when he had least expected it to. It took another few moments before he realized what he was seeing.

Haou stood a few feet away, golden eyes smoldering, with Noble D'Noir at his feet. The dark overlord didn't act as if he even noticed Ryou's return to sensibility.

"What were my orders concerning this prisoner?" Haou's voice was calm. If Noble D'Noir had any sense (which Ryou doubted, given what he'd just tried to do) then he would recognize what that meant.

"That he wasn't to be killed." The dark monster replied, his words a bit subdued. Then he flared up, snapping, "But he's a spy, Haou-sama! You're going to kill him anyway! I wanted to spare you the trouble!"

Haou said nothing, only continued to stare at the monster with those deadly eyes. Whatever was going on behind those eyes was impossible to read. Ryou didn't doubt for a moment that it would be horrific in the end. When Haou gestured for Noble D'Noir to rise and precede him out of the cell, Ryou remained quiet. Haou glanced back toward him, and their eyes met.

For a single moment, Haou's lips bent into something that was neither a smile nor a smirk. It was only an expression without any soft emotion behind it. Ryou knew what he wanted and he would not give it.

I will not thank him. He turned his gaze away to the far side again. His neck ached, but it meant nothing. He heard the door close and lock and knew he was alone again.

The End