AN – Can I first just apologise profusely for being a terrible person and not uploading for a gazillion years, I've been stupidly busy lately and have had no time to write anything. At all. But I sat down at my computer and forced myself to remain seated until this was done. Now I'm hungry and I'm pretty sure a shower is in order. Now you've bared witness to my gross hygiene habits I hope you enjoy the chapter. Please review.
Much Love
Dolorous Doll
x
Valentine's day like a lot of holidays has been morphed throughout the years. It started as celebrations for Christian saints and turned into a holiday that was engrossed with cupids, cheap chocolate and tasteless cards which no doubt would be thrown away a few days after the holiday takes place.
Ryou's never really had any interest in Valentine's Day, in the past he's seen people sneak anonymous valentines cards into others lockers, seen couples show enough PDA to make bystanders uncomfortable and seen those who have no one to spend the day with - those people tend to pick up a meal for one and a bottle of cheap vodka at their local convenience store. Most holidays are designed to bring people together, to promote socialising but in all honestly Ryou thinks they make people feel lonelier. The amount of suicides peek at Christmas time, especially for those who live alone and have no family. The fact that someone took the time out to tally the amount of suicides really makes Ryou question their choice of hobby.
The teen makes his way through the streets of Domino, the clouds greying and thickening above him. The forecast said heavy rain, and high speed winds which is okay with him, Ryou hasn't been asked out for Valentine's day and Bakura's been quiet the last couple of days. After Bakura had left their bed and spoken to Lily, he took control over Ryou's body while the teen rested. Bakura didn't tell Ryou where he had been, the teen didn't even think to ask. All the thief had done was tell him they were one step closer to reaching their goal. And since that was the case they needed to find Bakura his own body. Ryou was reluctant at first, understandably pissed and confused because why would Bakura need another body when he had Ryou's to use at he pleased? However Bakura had explained that once he had his own body it would be easier for both of them to fight rather than only having one of them in control. It made sense but Ryou was unsure on how it would feel. If Bakura found another vessel to contain him would Ryou still be able to feel him – emotionally, mentally and psychically?
It was daunting in a way to know that they could be separated from one another so easily but if Bakura was adamant he needed his own body then Ryou would help him get it, by any means necessary. He'd actually thought of several ways in which he could provide Bakura with a vessel once the thief had told him what he'd need. A willing body – someone ready to fully sacrifice themselves to Bakura. It was difficult but Ryou was smart and he had some ideas.
Rain begins to fall as Ryou reaches his front door, he shuffles his grocery bags into one arm and uses the other to fish his keys out of his pocket and open the front door.
Everything feels a lot emptier now that half of the items in his house have been removed for genetics evidence by the police. Bakura assured Ryou that there is nothing on the furniture in the house that could link them to Father Johnson's death, so Ryou let them take whatever items they needed. Soon if everything went according to Bakura's plan something as trivial as the police could not stop them.
Ryou flippantly throws his keys onto the granite work surface in his kitchen before dumping the grocery bags beside them. The rain begins to fall more harshly the rain hammering against the windows and the roof. Thunder grumbles loudly, Ryou spares a glance at the window before turning to his bags. He gets as far as placing several items onto the tabletop before a loud banging resonates from his front door.
A small flare of anxiousness runs through Ryou. He can't help but to expect the worst at times, especially when there's a knock on his door and he's not expecting anyone. He walks towards his door and makes a point of looking through the peep hole. His lips part in surprise at the figure on the other side, he stares for a moment before shaking himself out of his stupor and opening the door wide.
Tristan stands on the step of Ryou's porch his usually spiked hair falling in wet strands over his forehead. His lips are parted; his chest heaving as he attempts to catch his breath, held within his hand is a pale blue plastic bag.
"Tristan."
"Can I come in?"
"S..sure." Ryou replies still a little confused by the situation. He steps aside and allows the brunette to step into his house, the raindrops from Tristan's clothes dripping at a slow pace onto the floor.
"I'll get you a towel." Ryou says, his body skimming against Tristan's as he moves to shut the front door.
Ryou makes his way upstairs to the airing cupboard located in the hallway; he grabs a small slightly worn white towel before jogging down the stairs. When he makes it back to the hallway Tristan is gone, a puddle of raindrops replaces him. Ryou frowns before walking through to the living room where he finds the brunette sitting upon the sofa with his legs parted, the plastic bag from earlier rested beside him.
"What were you doing out in the rain?" The white haired teen asks as he approaches Tristan kneeling between the teen's legs once he reaches him.
Tristan lifts his head as Ryou raises the towel. He smooth's it down the brunette's cheek before pressing it up and against the side of his head. He then moves it up, the towel flicks against Tristan's hair the thick sections separating wetly against the teen's scalp.
"Happy Valentine's Day." Is all the brunette says and Ryou huffs an amused sound.
"Happy Valentine's Day." The teen repeats as he curves the towel over Tristan's jaw and down his neck stopping when he reaches Tristan's collarbone. He feels Tristan swallow and then suddenly the situation seems entirely more intimate.
"Here." Ryou whispers as he places the towel into Tristan's rapidly drying hands.
"I'll put some tea on." Ryou informs but before he can stand the brunette reaches for his plastic bag.
"I got you something."
Ryou blinks in surprise.
Tristan hands Ryou the bag and whiles he waits for the other to open it he wipes the towel over the back of his neck.
The bag crinkles loudly in Ryou's hands; the outline shape is rectangular and the object feels hard. The teen's breathe halts when he removes the object from the bag. It's a photo frame, the design is simple there's no fancy patterns or cheesy lettering, it's just blue, a creamy sky blue but that isn't what Ryou notices. What he notices is the picture inside. It's of himself and Aname on that snow day. A rushing heat of gratitude ignites within Ryou. He wants to appreciate the gift but in the back of his mind he cannot ignore the fact that he didn't notice its absence.
"I found it that night... you know. I know I should have told you I took it but I just wanted to surprise you. Do you like it?" Tristan words are hoarsely whispered and cautious.
Ryou runs his thumb over Aname's face.
"I love it. Thank you."
Tristan shifts. "Sure."
Ryou gives himself a moment to soak the picture in before he places it onto his coffee table then sets out to do what he had intended – make tea.
He enters the kitchen and closes the door, feet soft and careful as he walks over to the island table top and leans against it.
He mentally calls for Bakura and feels himself breathe a bit more easily when the spirit appears before him.
"What is it?" Bakura asks and Ryou smiles.
"I think I may have found you your vessel." Ryou retorts and Bakura looks simultaneously intrigued and disbelieving.
/
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?" Detective Matthews asks his tone agitated.
"You know how the system works James; the higher up's have to get someone to do an internal investigation regarding your behaviour. The moment I find out what's going on you'll be the first to know." Robert explains his eyes tired and his suit askew from many nights of restlessness.
A dark skinned police officer from Domino's head office steps into the room, the man's black suit immaculate and his black haired goatee cut with high precision.
"Detective Matthews, Chief Taylor, my name is Richard Sonning. I'm the one who will be dealing with this case and your verdict." Richard explains his eyes moving between the two men before him.
"It has been decided - Detective Matthews that you will be suspended from work for a minimum of two months with immediate action."
"This is absolutely ridiculous." James spits his grey eyes narrowed.
"James..." Robert starts.
"No chief. I'm being suspended for doing my job which is more than I can say for you damn lackeys."
Richard looks slightly amused by James's outburst, he pulls the folder he has beaneath his arm away before dropping it onto the table.
"Inside this folder are the details of your temporary suspension and may I remind you Detective Matthews that it is only temporary however if I see anything that indicates you are not capable of working under our professional expectations I will not hesitate to take the necessary steps to remove you from your current position. Do I make myself clear?"
James clenches his jaw, his eyes screaming anger.
"Evidently."
/
"You can't keep avoiding everyone. They're really starting to worry - especially Tea." The pharaoh quietly said as he took a seat beside Yugi in his soul room. It wasn't necessarily darker now but it lacked that natural brightness it had before Shadi's death.
"I just want to stay here for a little while longer." Yugi says just as quietly his eyes unfocused and watery. "Just a little while longer."
Yami exhaled through his nose as he stared at Yugi guiltily. The reason why Yugi was secluding himself and hiding away was all Yami's fault, he should have been strong enough to stop Shadi himself. But he wasn't he was weak and Yugi had to pray the price for the pharaoh's mistakes.
Yami sits beside Yugi, a silent but unignorable presence. He remains where he is, pretending he can't see the tremors in Yugi's body as the teen silently cries. He doesn't want to be coddled but he also doesn't want to be alone so Yami fights the urge to physically comfort his lighter half.
When Yugi passes out from exhaustion, lips parted and closed eyes red rimmed Yami goes to run a hand through his hair then falters. Instead he gets up and leaves entering the labyrinth that is his soul room.
Almost everything is locked up, hidden away - long forgotten memories but there has to be something that can help him. There must be. Shadi was the one who was assigned to help them but now that he's no longer around they have no leads, no powerful allies which means the only thing they do have is the Pharaoh's lost memories. And he knows Shadi said he shouldn't go poking around in them but he has to do something.
He walks up to a gold plated door with black chains haphazardly wrapped around it. He gently lays his palm against the door and the chains graciously untangle themselves, the metal finishes of it scraping loudly. The door creaks open and he falters because although it's opened for him he's not entirely sure he should go through. Yugi's crying imagine crashes through his mind and Yami rushes into the room, jumps when the door slams shut behind him the chains slithering like snakes as they wrap around the door once again.
A black and purple figure pulses before him before it settles into the shape of his beloved Dark Magician. The duel monster regards him curiously for a moment before bowing at the waist its staff curling into his hip.
"I need you to show me my past. I need a clue, how do I stop this." Yami demands, the Dark Magician frowns, opens his mouth slowly.
"It is forbidden."
Yami tenses. "I am your master and I command you. Show me my past."
The Dark Magician doesn't reply, just jaggedly turns his head to the side eyes falling upon a large golden chest in the corner of the room. He snaps his eyes back towards Yami but it's too late the Pharaoh's already seen it.
He stalks towards it and the Dark Magician appears beside him hovering and reaching out a hand. "You mustn't."
"Stand down." The Pharaoh shouts and unable to defy his master the Dark Magician does as he's asked.
Yami's hands hover over the chest, the gold shimmering beneath his fingers; in a warning or a coaxing gesture he's not sure.
His fingers touch the top of the rounded chest lid and it opens, the lid flying off. Black swirls come spiralling out of the chest, flinging the pharaoh back. He crashes to the floor, silently grimacing in pain.
He stares wide eyed at the flashes of images that fly out through the chest, some are too quick for him to see, others distorted and blurred. Nothing makes sense and the longer he looks the hotter his eyes get as if the images are taking all the moisture away from them. The sound of air whipping out of the chest sounds harsh and angry like gale force winds.
Yami grits his teeth and raises an arm to shield himself when more blackness escapes the chest, flying off of the surfaces of his soul rooms floor and walls. A rounded bit of blackness shoots straight towards the Dark Magician piercing through its chest. Yami only has a brief moment to realise it hadn't come out before the Dark Magician turns to him eyes bright fierce and flickering gold.
The Dark Magician appears before him, raising his staff slowly.
"Stop this." Yami shouts, veins in his hand prominent from where he's clenched his fist.
The Duel Monster doesn't stop, just smiles, a small cruel upturn of his lips before his staff descends.
Over his thunderously loud heartbeat Yami hears a shout before there's hard shuffling footfalls. Yugi appears before him arms splayed out on either side of him as he stands between the pharaoh and the Dark Magician.
"Stop!" Yugi shouts and Yami doesn't need to see the young boy's eyes to be able to picture the watery fierceness that's there.
The Dark Magician freezes staff poised above its head. He blinks several times until the yellow illuminating his eyes dies down and he lowers his weapon.
Yugi collapses to his knees in front of the Pharaoh and Yami reaches a tentative hand out, posies it above his lighter half's shoulder before he draws back.
"I was looking for a way to my past, for an explanation. I thought that if I could see how I saved the world before I could do it again. I was trying to protect you."
Without turning to him Yugi answers. "I know, but were in this together. We protect each other."
Sometimes Yami thinks that Yugi is his guardian not the other way around. Yugi is the stronger one and Yami's eternally grateful for having met him. He gives a firm nod and turns his eyes to his Dark Magician.
"We won't try to reopen his memories." Yugi assures, the Dark Magician gives an affirmative nod before he turns walks until he's stood in front of the chest. His hand hovers over the chest and as it does chains loop around it, locking the chest back up.
Yugi stands up shakily before turning to Yami and offering him his hand. Yami takes it and slowly stands.
"Let's go." Yugi says.
"To your soul room?" The pharaoh questions, frowning lightly when Yugi's silent for several minutes.
The young boy shakes his head. "I'm ready." Yugi quietly declares and Yami barely suppresses how proud he feels. He gives a nod and then both himself and Yugi exit the protective shell of the puzzle and enter reality.
/
The teas still hot when Ryou sets the cups down onto the coffee table, steam wafting up from it.
"So you didn't have any plans for Valentine's day then?" Ryou asks.
Tristan shakes his head minutely before he turns to Ryou with widened eyes.
"You didn't - did you? Oh god you did. Sorry I've probably just ruined your night." He babbles settling his damp towel down before going to stand.
Ryou wraps a hand around Tristan's forearm, halting him before he smiles faintly.
"No plans." He assures and Tristan relaxes, arm going limp in Ryou's soft grip.
"Do you want to watch a film?" Ryou asks a moment later and after a confirming nod from Tristan he picks a random one out, dimming down the lights before jumping down onto the sofa.
He turns to Tristan before he presses play on the DVD and the brunette smiles at him, there's something sad about it but Ryou doesn't say anything just smiles back.
Halfway through the film Ryou remembers his tea and even though he knows it's probably cold he ventures taking a sip of it. It's cold and tastes gross; he grimaces but takes another sip anyway before putting it back onto the coffee table.
"Five minutes left of Valentine's day." Tristan notes and Ryou glances a look at the clock and sees that yes it is five minutes to midnight.
"You know in Romania they say that the last minutes of Valentine's day should be used to venture out into something that you've craved." Tristan says and Ryou turns to look at him, notices how Tristan's hair is still matted across his forehead from where the raindrops had weighed it down and Ryou realises that he likes it a lot better like that.
"Sounds like a tradition that could get you into a lot of trouble." Ryou replies and in the distance an action scene is taking place on the film. Explosions flash on the television and the light flickers off of Tristan's angular facial features.
"Yeah." Tristan agrees before he leans forward and Ryou lets him, let's Tristan press his lips against Ryou's and for a minute Ryou wonders if he's Tristan's first kiss because when he opens his mouth Tristan hesitates before opening his own. They share several open mouthed breath filled kisses before Tristan pulls back and his face is bright pink from his cheeks to the tips of his ears.
"This is okay right?" Tristan asks, eyes still closed, fingers having found their way to Ryou's waist where his thumbs give soft little self conscious twitches.
"Yeah." Ryou whispers around a gasp, pushing forward again and pressing his mouth against the brunettes. "Yeah." He repeats, fingers fluffing up Tristan's hair and pushing at his shirt stretching the collar when his fingers dip down to run across Tristan's collarbone.
Tristan's touch is more tentative than Ryou's own, shy boarding on a level of nervousness but his hands are big and smooth and the small moan he releases when Ryou climbs into his lap makes Ryou dizzy with arousal.
"Shit." Tristan hisses when Ryou pulls his mouth away and pushes his hips down.
The brunette's eyes are squeezed shut, hands fisted and bunching up the material of Ryou's thin t-shirt. Ryou pushes at Tristan's shirt, fingers catching on buttons until his shirt's hanging off of his shoulder. Tristan opens his eyes, the lids heavy and his breathing slow as he pushes his fingers up under Ryou's top, the digits feeling every bit of flesh he can reach, Ryou's jutted hip bones, his protruded ribs, his pink nipples that harden beneath the touch of Tristan's thumbs.
Ryou's jeans are comfortable around his hips loose enough that his movements are fluid when he rolls his hips down into Tristan's, breathing out a gasp when he feels Tristan's erection pressing against his own. Tristan pulls him close, arms pushing up his shirt, blunt nails dragging down Ryou's shoulders as he jerks his hips.
Tristan's cock is hard against his jeans, straining and dripping wetness that glides down his shaft and over his thighs. And he's so close to coming it's ridiculous. His nose butts at Ryou's jaw line and the shorter teen slowly turns his head, takes gasping breaths against Tristan's mouth before they kiss, desperate and messy and Tristan makes a noise close to a whimper before his face scrunches up and he punches his hips up once, twice. He comes his ejaculate pressing against his boxers, shooting out of him in thick warm spurts.
He falls back against the sofa watching with half lidded eyes as Ryou presses a hand against Tristan's chest the other curling into his trousers before he moves his hand up and down jaggedly. In moments he's coming, biting on his lip as his hips lazily push back and forth. Hand still shoved inside his pants, fingers webbed with his own come Ryou leans forward cards his free hand into Tristan's hair and kisses him between stuttered breaths.
"God bless the Romanians." Tristan mumbles face still flushed and sweaty and Ryou laughs before kissing him again.
In the background there's another explosion on the TV.
Ryou expects Tristan to be awkward after but he's not he does however spend a good ten minutes with his hands up Ryou's shirt and his mouth on Ryou's until the white haired teens lips are puffy, spit slick and red and the skin on his back and chest are burning from the calluses on Tristan's hands.
He shifts under Ryou and the teen then realises that Tristan came in his pants and that has got to be getting uncomfortable now. He pulls away slowly before lightly pulling at a strand of hair at the base of Tristan's skull.
"We should get cleaned up." Ryou says and Tristan nods, shyly kissing the corner of Ryou's mouth before he heads up to the bathroom.
Ryou feels him before he sees him.
He turns his eyes and Bakura's standing by the door, head leant back against the frame. He turns to Ryou, his grin feral.
"That was quite the show." Bakura comments.
"You're aren't supposed to show up yet." Ryou chides but he doesn't resist when Bakura strides over pushes Ryou back into the sofa and crawls on top of him.
Bakura wraps a hand around Ryou's neck, his nose skimming up the curve of Ryou's cheek.
"You smell like him."
"Jealous?"
Bakura sneers. "Infinitely."
Ryou's eyes soften; he lift's his hand before running it through Bakura's hair. "This will work." The teen assures before he pushes against Bakura. "Now move before he comes back."
/
Tristan stares hazy eyed at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, a pile of come stained tissues spread out before him. He gathers them up before chucking them into the toilet and flushing them away.
He's stuck between laughing giddily and calling Joey because he's just had his first sexual experience and this is where he needs his best friend to tell him what the hell to do. Are him and Ryou dating now? Would it be really creepy if Tristan told Ryou that he's never felt this way about anyone before and he's pretty sure he couldn't feel this way about anyone else?
He runs a hand through his hair unable to keep the cheek splitting grin off of his face. He spares a glance in the mirror giving himself a mental pep talk before he jogs back down the stairs.
He jumps over the last two steps and into the living room stopping short when he spots Ryou standing by the sofa, eyes red rimmed as tears spill from them.
"Hey what's wrong?" He worriedly asks rushing over before placing his hands on Ryou's shoulders.
"It's Bakura." Ryou sniffles, shaking his head when Tristan frowns.
"The spirit of the ring." Ryou clarifies.
"What about him?" Tristan asks, his words dread filled.
Ryou shudders, hands reaching up only to curl into the front of Tristan's shirt. "He's alive." He harshly whispers and Tristan's blood runs cold. He pulls away from the shorter teen.
"How?" He demands before eyeing Ryou suspiciously. "You told me he was gone."
Ryou furiously wipes at his eyes. "I thought he was." He says voice trembling. "It started off as nightmares, I was seeing him all the time in my dreams and I just thought it was some kind of Stockholm syndrome thing but then he said that he was getting stronger and the moment he was he was going to take over my body. Please Tristan I'm scared and I don't know what to do."
Tristan looks torn but soon he reaches out pulls Ryou towards him and mumbles into his hair. "Shhh, it's going to be okay."
"Actually it isn't." Tristan freezes, arms unconsciously tightening around Ryou before he lifts his head away from the shorter teen's hair and looks to the corner of the room where the voice came from.
And it feels like the biggest mind fuck in the world because minus a few features both Bakura's look inexplicably similar. The darker Bakura's eyes are a crimson red though and his canines glint as he grins and Tristan can only describe him as vampiric looking.
Ryou pulls away from him and Tristan can see him trembling.
"Please..." He begins to beg before Bakura snorts.
"I think were way past the point of pleading, don't you landlord? I offered you a chance to give me what I want yet you chose to betray me. To pick the pharaoh and his pawns over me." Bakura spits before he takes a step towards them.
"What do you want?" Tristan asks hands clenching into fists by his sides.
"Ryou dead." Bakura answers with a shrug and Ryou sobs.
"He's foiled my plans one too many times already. I'm going to claim his body for myself and in order for that to happen he needs to die." Bakura says and Tristan's too consumed with being terrified that he doesn't fully register Bakura's approach until Ryou cries out when Bakura grips his hair and begins pulling him away.
"Stop." Tristan screams rushing forward in order to take a swing at Bakura.
The spirit turns around, red eyes gleaming and teeth snapping as he grabs Tristan's offending fist and twists it, painfully pushing the brunette to the floor.
"You foolish boy." Bakura grates as he shoves at the arm twisted in his grip. Tristan grunts in pain, tears pricking at his eyes before he begs.
"Take me."
Bakura pauses before he pushes Tristan, the brunette falls to the floor but is quick to scramble around until he's facing Bakura.
Ryou's staring at him with a trembling chin and wide eyes.
"Tristan no." Ryou says before Bakura backhands him sending him into a submissive silence.
"You son of a bitch!" Tristan spits. "Take me; you want a body take mine." Everything about him is screaming that this is wrong and this is bad but a bigger part of him is saying protect Ryou, protect your friend, help him.
Bakura grins, tooth catching on his bottom lip as he bends at the waist, eyes level with Tristan's. He looks so smug and self assured like he had been waiting for this to happen.
"You give your body over to me, wholly and completely - to do with as I please." Tristan frowns before he shakes his head. What the hell was with all the formalities?
"Only if you leave Ryou alone, you let him go and you don't hurt him. Ever."
"Do you give your body over to me." Bakura growls and Tristan barely manages not to flinch under that malignant penetrative glare.
"Promise me you won't hurt him." Tristan says and Bakura clenches his teeth before nodding.
"You have my word no harm will come to your play thing. Now do you give your body to me wholly and completely?"
Tristan squeezes his eyes shut and tries to think of all the things in his life he cares about, his friends and family, and tries to ignore Ryou's stuttered pleads for him to not do this.
"Yes." Tristan whispers. And then all he feels is pain, a burning pressure across his breastbone and he opens his eyes choking out a wet sob when he sees blood pool out over his chest from a slick cut and before him Bakura's holding a blade. The brunette tries to bring a hand up to cover the cut to stop the swell of blood but then suddenly his limbs are being forced down held by thick clouds of blackness. It takes Tristan a moment to realise that Ryou is no longer crying, he turns to him and the white haired teen looks intrigued and almost excited, the tears no longer falling from his eyes.
His eyes snap back to Bakura when there's the shift of clothing then Bakura's cutting across his own forearm. With the blade in one hand Bakura collects smears of his own blood with the other then digs his nails into the cut on Tristan's chest. Tristan screams, body tensing and twisting in a poor attempt to get away from Bakura's talon like nails as they wipe away the blood from his chest.
"Ryou..." Tristan ventured his voice trembling as sweat formed over his brow. Why wasn't Ryou doing anything, what happened to his trembling body and his shaking pleads?
There are sweeps across the laminate flooring as Bakura draws a star symbol in their blood.
"Landlord get the candles." Bakura orders and Tristan watches in confusion as Ryou wonders away before ambling back helping Bakura to light and place the candles around the blood symbol on the floor.
"I don't understand." Tristan choked and Bakura turned to him before laughing cruelly.
"You truly are a pathetic site to behold. Did you honestly think for a minute that what Ryou felt for you was real?" Tristan hears the words but they make no sense to him.
The brunette just turns his eyes to Ryou but what he sees isn't what he's come to know, what he thought he knew. Ryou looks cold, eyes hard and mouth curling up at the corners in a cruel parody of a smile.
"You were just a pawn Tristan." Ryou says and Tristan feels his world crashing down around him because this is the real Ryou. What he saw was just a facade, a sick twisted lie he let himself get wrapped up in and now he's going to die. Bakura's going to claim his body and the person Tristan was trying to protect is the one that put him here.
"He's mine." Bakura states. "In every way that matters." He smiles grimly. "And now your body will be mine too."
Bakura starts chanting and Tristan allows himself the luxury of crying.
Bakura's shouts stop as the light above them flickers before it bursts, shards of glass cascading from the ceiling.
Tristan screams in pain because it feels like his insides are burning up. Bakura makes a choking noise before he drops to his knees hand grasping his shirt over his heart.
"Bakura?" Ryou questions dropping to his knees beside his darker half and seeing the concern in Ryou's eyes over someone like Bakura hurts Tristan more than he can comprehend.
Tristan and Bakura both choke up blood simultaneously, Ryou leans forward his palm cupping Bakura's jaw where the thief's blood spews over his fingers.
"Bakura!" Ryou shouts, hands fumbling in their haste to wipe away the blood pooling out of Bakura's mouth.
Tristan shuts his eyes when he feels a sharp pain grip his insides, coiling around his very being and tugging with such might he's left gasping, his lungs expanding in the effort to obtain oxygen. He screams out in pain as he feels a pressure inside him implode. Then he feels nothing.
A white blinding light shoots out of Tristan's body at the same time it does Bakura's and Ryou's shoved back by the pressure of it. He slams into the wall and looks up through squinted eyes as the light that came out of Bakura slams into Tristan's body.
Bakura's body disappears in a shimmer of light and Ryou cries out when the millennium ring burns against his chest.
The light outshines the whole room and Ryou shuts his eyes against the burning of his retinas, when the light fades he opens his eyes and blinks away the spots of colour that blink before him.
He presses his hands onto the floor and shoves himself up; ignorant to the shards of glass he grazes against his palms.
Tristan wheezes, sucks in a sharp breath before he turns to Ryou and his eyes are burning a bright crimson – Bakura's eyes. Tristan- Bakura laughs, hands running over Tristan's face.
"It worked." He rasps, pointed canines gleaming in the dim light.
"It worked." He repeats and Ryou chokes out a disbelieving laugh, his body crashing into Bakura's tackling him to the floor as he kisses him.
They fuck on the floor, between the shards of glass and Tristan's spilt blood.
Neither one of them stops laughing.
/
Ryou closes his eyes as the water of the shower glides down over his back. He feels hands brush over his forehead before curling into his hair and he hums, eyelids fluttering open.
He reaches up, wipes away a bit of blood from Bakura's jaw.
"It's weird, seeing you like this." Ryou mumbles because it still feels like Bakura, but he looks like Tristan.
"It feels strange." Bakura admits, holding his hand out between them as he flexes his arm. "But good, this vessels strong."
Ryou nods fingers gliding down over Bakura's tanned stomach, thumb grazing over the dark trail of hair that leads down to his groin.
"So what now?" Ryou asks and Bakura butts his nose against the corner of Ryou's mouth as he pushes his half hard cock against the teenager's hip.
Ryou laughs, hand going down to wrap around Bakura.
"Apart from that." He mumbles.
"We travel to Egypt." Bakura replies hand gripping the nape of Ryou's neck as he breaths a huff of air against the others throat.
"We still need the millennium rod, necklace and puzzle. The rod and necklace are in Egypt, they were given to tomb keepers to protect. It shouldn't be too difficult recovering the items from them."
"And how do we get the puzzle."
"That will be a lot more difficult we'll have to do some more combat training." Bakura says and Ryou reaches behind him to turn the shower off.
"Then we better get started."
/
It's early in the morning; the sun is peeking out from behind greyed clouds, the scent of the air salty and muggy from the rain last night.
Solomon sighs worriedly as he stares out the window, he feels his left hand tremble lightly and he puts his right hand onto the left to still the movement.
Yugi's been absent for days, the teenager spending most of his days in a haze. Solomon will go up, leave food and drink on a tray but whenever he comes back to it hours later it's always untouched.
In his entire existence he's never seen anything like the blade that had killed Shadi. Never has he felt well and truly out of his depth. If there was any way he could take the puzzle and the responsibility it brings away from Yugi he would, but the puzzle chose him. It's his destiny to stop the evil in the world not Solomon's.
There's a light cough behind him and he turns around, eyes widening when he spots Yugi and Yami. He's ecstatic at the sight of him and can do nothing but rush over and pull his grandson into a hug.
Yugi holds him back after a moment and whispers his name wetly.
"I've missed you." Solomon admits as he pulls back enough to look at Yugi's face.
"I've missed you too Grandpa." Yugi says before looking over at Yami, a small reluctance on his face.
"What is it?" Solomon questions, fearing the worst.
They stand in the kitchen as Yugi and Yami explain to Solomon what their next move is going to be.
"Shadi told me there are tomb keepers in Egypt who have the millennium necklace as well as the rod; I believe he wanted us to get these items before anyone else could."
"So you'll be flying there together?" Solomon queries and Yugi nods.
"With the others - Joey, Tea and Tristan. I've called them they should be over soon; I don't think I could do this without them." Yugi says and Solomon nods.
"Yugi I know this is something you must do but I want you to be safe, I need you to be safe." Solomon's eyes go over to the pharaoh. "All of you." He finishes.
"We will be." Yugi says as he reaches a hand out, lays it over his grandfathers. "I promise."
Solomon stares at him for a moment and wonders when his grandson grew without his knowledge. Grew into this strong, ebullient man. He wishes he had noticed it more but he thinks he's witnessing the biggest change yet. The best asset. The will to fight for others, the readiness for self sacrifice, the compulsion to do good and save those he loves.
Solomon turns his hand over, grips Yugi's fingers.
There's a knock on the door and they both blink away the quiet haze that was created and Yugi smiles.
"I'll get it." He says before scurrying out the kitchen.
Solomon turns to Yami, his eyes hard.
"You take care of him." He says and it isn't a question.
Yami nods resolutely before following after Yugi.
/
Solomon finishes pouring the steaming mixture of milk and honey into mugs before taking it over and placing it onto the table.
"Thanks Gramps." Joey says, rubbing his hands together joyfully before grabbing and taking a gulp of the hot liquid. He makes a wounded noise straight after, tongue flicking out obscenely.
"Ack, hot." He supplies, loudly placing the mug back onto the table.
Tea rolls her eyes before picking up her own mug, smartly blowing on it before taking a sip.
"Where's Tristan?" Yugi asks with a frown and Joey shrugs.
"I tried to call him, he didn't answer. So what's up Yug?"
They explain the situation, providing answers for questions that the teens have.
"Someone is trying to steal the millennium items, someone bad." Yugi says and Joey stands up.
"Well then we gotta stop them, I'm with you Yug." The blonde adamantly provides, Tea also stands and smiles at Yugi.
"Me too, whatever you decide to do, we'll be with you, every step of the way."
Yugi looks up at them both with gratitude.
"We should book the flights." Tea says, going over to her bag where her laptop is.
"Yeah, and I had better get some packing done. I'm definitely gonna need some sunscreen." Joey says as he follows after Tea.
"Sunscreen! Joey this isn't a holiday." Tea calls out and Yugi and Yami share affectionate eye rolls before turning to face one another.
"So this is it." Yugi says, hand unconsciously coming to cradle the puzzle.
"Are you ready for this Yugi?" The pharaoh asks and he doesn't sound patronising just curious if not a little worried.
"Ready as I'll ever be."
/
Chief Robert's ran a hand over his face before clasping it over his mouth, stifling the yawn that crept through.
"Chief." Someone softly called and he turned to face one of his men.
"Yes." He mumbled, catching sight of the sympathetic look that was aimed his way.
"Mattie asked to see you; he said he's got progress on the Johnson case."
Robert nodded before getting up, any progress was good progress. Especially with this case, ever since the fiasco with Matthews breaking into Ryou's house, the superiors had been drilling him and his officers. If he could find who killed the priest maybe the higher up's would back off and allow Matthews to start working again. It was a long shot but it was all he could hope for. Matthews was a damn good worker, the police force needed him.
He makes his way through the corridors of the police station, black shoes squeaking over the linoleum floor.
He reaches the I.T department, giving a quick knock on the door before he enters.
"Chief." Mattie greets, brown hair askew, several empty coffee cups laid out before him. Robert raises an eyebrow, runs a hand through his thinning hair before he flicks at one of the cups.
"You might want to get some sleep Mattie."
Mattie scoffs. "Look who's talking." He says before his face turns staid.
"I found something." He informs before he turns to the computer.
"I got a hold of security cam footage from the victim's street. The footage was pixelated as hell so it took me a while to get some clear shots...but once I did I found something."
Robert nods before stepping up to the screens, watching as several pixelated images pop up. They slowly start to clear.
"Someone approaching and fleeing the scene of the crime around the estimated time of death." He says and Robert's eyes widen, his hand settling heavily on the back of Mattie's chair.
"Well who was it, do we know them." Robert demands hastily and Mattie nods.
"Actually he's a suspect." Mattie quietly affirms and Robert's heart sinks into his stomach, when he looks up. It's there on the screen the images grainy but clear enough to see. Ryou Bakura walking down Father Johnson's street.
"I can't believe it." Robert whispers, stepping back in shock.
"Well believe it." Mattie supplies.
"This kid, this boy, he's been hanging around with my son!" Robert spits.
Mattie shakes his head before swinging around in his chair to face Robert.
"Chief, it's all here. In the second lot of shots he's missing his shirt and Matthews found a shirt at the scene of the crime. He lied to us about where he was that night; he said he was at home. Look I'd give anyone the benefit of the doubt but this kid, this kid is..." Mattie breaks off with a huff of breath.
Robert tenses his jaw. "He's guilty that's what he is and we gotta move now. Mattie I need you to get me a warrant then I want a team of specialized individuals to get Mr. Bakura from his house. I need a warning going out to them as well - Bakura is dangerous."
Mattie nods firmly.
"I'm on it boss."
The approval for the warrant comes through in minutes and the team rush over to Bakura's house. Robert stays behind at the police station a radio attached to him at all times.
"Tell me what's going on." He commands and the officer on the other end speaks between static.
"There's no one answering Chief, were going to have to break the door down."
"Be careful." Robert stresses, the back of his hand coming across to wipe the perspiration away from his forehead.
After a few moments of silence a crackling comes through the radio.
"There's no one here Sir."
"What do you mean, have you checked everywhere?" Robert asks.
"Affirmative. The place is empty as well as the closets; it looks like he packed in a rush."
Robert curses and throws the radio across the room.
"What do we do now?" Mattie asks and Robert sighs before facing the other.
"We look for him, I need teams, vehicular and on foot."
"Wait!" Mattie says eyes widening.
Robert stops. "What is it?"
Mattie starts furiously typing away at his computer, shaking his head before laughing faintly as if thinking of an inside joke.
"Of course." He says. "Why didn't I think of it before?"
"Think of what." Robert urges with a grunt.
"When Bakura was brought in for questioning after Matthews broke into his house, we had to take down his details, we got his mobile number and he has a GPS in it which means if he still has it on I can track his location." Mattie explains all the while his fingers are drumming against the computers keyboard.
Robert breathes a sigh of astoundment and relief. "Mattie you're a genius."
A red dot blinks up on the screen above a map and Mattie smirks. "Don't I know it."
"He's at Domino Airport." Mattie says, flying sideways in his desk chair as he goes over to the phone and dials a number.
"Domino Airport this is Matthew McDougal from Domino Police Department, my I.D number is 4512603. I need the access codes to your security cameras."
Robert watches as Mattie darts back to the computer, phone clad in his hand, pressed tight against his ear as he hums and makes affirmative noises into the phone, typing out a long numeral password into the computer before several screens pop up.
"thanks." The brunette speaks, shoving the phone away blindingly.
"Where are you?" Mattie whispers fingers pressing down on the mouse consequently changing the view of the cameras.
"Stop." Robert shouts when a figure all too familiar appears on the screen.
"That's my son." He breaths and Mattie focuses on the screen, sees that Tristan is there and Bakura's beside him.
"What the hell is my son doing with him at the airport?" Robert outrages.
Mattie clicks a button and the picture zooms in, he reads it – Flight 212 – Cairo, Egypt.
"Looks like their headed to Egypt." Mattie says as he turns to Robert.
Robert grits his teeth, arm shooting out to grab a hold of the radio he discarded beforehand.
"Putting out an ABP on a Mr. Ryou Bakura. We got a fugitive on our hands and a possible hostage situation. He's catching a flight to Cairo, Egypt. We suspect he is armed and dangerous. This guy has my son, so we proceed with caution. I repeat – proceed with caution."
/
AN- I'd just like to say I don't know much about cop stuff so if I have half the phrases / information wrong – my bad. Looks like the law's catching up to Ryou now Yugi's ready to kick some butt.
Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Much Love.
Dolorous Doll
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