Yay! Another update! ..A little delayed once again.
I apologise, but I will pull my act together and give you the frequent updates you deserve - reviews/ time permitting!
Anyway, this chapter features a lovely hyper-Malik, I'm afriad I think I've made him a little bi-polar.. He's happy happy right now :)
I hope you enjoy it..
Warnings: sexual references & a wonderful bit of tension..
Out of the Ashes – Chapter 14
"Ryyyyyyou!"
"Does my name have to resemble a horn every time you say it?" Sighed the pale vampire, a smirk on his lips.
"I want to go now!" Malik whined.
Ryou rolled his eyes, giving the tanned one a little shove; he turned back to the others.
Malik snickered. He had been prancing around the cave for the last fifteen minutes, thoroughly irritating the other occupants, who were calculating what time was best to leave, and which route best to take, for their flight back to the city. The reason behind his mood was sheer excitement – he couldn't wait to get flying, plus Ryou was turning out to be an amusing companion for him. Said vampire stopped his conversation with the others as they had all agreed on a strategy.
The sky had turned navy blue, and the clouds were sparse. Their dark coloured wings would not show up from the ground, so the chance they would be spotted was slim. Ryou turned to Malik, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Alright then Malik, I'll teach you how to fly now." He smiled, taking the hyper blonde's willing hand.
The pale vampire led Malik to the lip of the edge, their toes poking out into the cool night air. Malik was almost shaking with excitement. Ryou had told him that flying was a very complex and difficult task to try and learn, so that was why he had to wait. Bakura had merely covered up his smirks at Ryou's game.
"Ok, step one: flexing your wings." Ryou said in a business like tone, stretching his black wings behind him. Malik copied with enthusiastic vigour. "Very good. Now just get a feel for how far you can flap." Again, the Egyptian followed Ryou's demonstration. "Right," Ryou's voice became very sincere, and he let go of Malik's hand. "When I count to 5, we're both going to jump, and if you have any problem, I'll be there. Got it?"
"Got it!" Malik affirmed, setting his gaze dead ahead.
"1…"
Malik fluttered his wings slightly, feeling the wind pick at the feathers.
"2…"
Bakura and Marik's smirks grew larger on their lips.
"3…"
Ryou's own grin spread over his features as he took an inconspicuous step backwards.
"4-"
The pale vampire gave the figure in front of him a push.
Malik toppled over the ledge in a flurry of black feathers and tanned limbs, a small scream escaping his lips. The other three rushed to the edge and looked over to see Malik right himself in less than a second, his body flipping around and the natural instinct every vampire holds in the knowledge of flying kicked in. He soared back up to them with a few powerful sweeps of his wings.
The scowl on his face made the other's laugh so hard the sound echoed around the valley.
"That was not funny." He pouted, hovering in front of the ledge.
Bakura calmed himself enough to speak.
"You're right… It was fucking hilarious!"
Ryou fell into Marik's arms laughing. Malik huffed and muttered something about 'biding his time until the opportune moment.' Ryou wiped the tears from his eyes and straightened his face. He let go of Marik and stepped towards the edge of the cave, coming to within a few feet of the hovering vampire.
"Malik…" he said, an apologetic expression on his face. "I'm sorry." Malik almost dropped out of the air at the utterly adorable appearance fronting him.
He let a small smile grace his lips.
"I might forgive you…" he said thoughtfully. He placed one foot on the rock, leaning in close to Ryou's ear. "You can show me just how sorry you are when we're back in my bedroom." He whispered hotly.
Ryou flushed scarlet.
Speechless for a second, he then regained his composure and leapt at the tanned vampire, but Malik was too quick. Growling playfully, Ryou sprung off the cliff after the retreating blonde, swooping down into the valley after the slim form.
"…dare you think I'm that easy!" was all Bakura got from the pair as they flew out of earshot.
"And I was worried they wouldn't get along." The pale vampire mused, turning to Marik.
"Yeah, me too… Ra, flying looks fun." He added wistfully.
"It is." Bakura said with a smirk, stepping closer to the human.
Marik smirked and let the demon invade his personal space.
"You want to know a way I could fix that?" Bakura said huskily.
The blonde couldn't believe how much of an affect the other could have on him. His eyes, manner… his voice, all just appealed to him. However, he wasn't going to be turned into vampire that easily. Plus, they were enemies by default right now.
"I couldn't think of any way you could possibly offer a solution." He replied, eyes narrowed.
"Oh Really..?" Bakura smirked, lip catching between his fanged teeth briefly.
"Really."
The vampire moved ever closer, but Marik wasn't going to back down, holding his position as those lips came nearer.
"I can think of a delicious solution..."
What the hell was Bakura playing at? Stupid mind games. Marik suddenly switched tact.
"You can taste me later." He countered, giving Bakura an equally seductive look. The vampire raised his eyebrows, smirked, but was pleased with the answer.
"I'm going to hold you to that promise."
"Hate to ruin the moment, but I think we better sort those two out." Marik said calmly, looking past Bakura's pale shoulder.
The vampire smirked and wrapped his arms around the muscular torso, stepping backwards off the ledge. Marik swore loudly and clung onto the lithe body, the rush of wind roaring in his ears.
Once Bakura had untangled the two smaller vampires, who had managed to fight their way into a clump of vegetation growing in the side of one of the cliffs, and subsequently got stuck, as their wingspan was too big for them to get out, the group were on their way to the city. Their black plumage cut through the night air in soft whistles, the sound of which Marik began to find quite soothing as he hung onto the pale body above him, his body temperature steadily dropping.
Ryou and Malik chased each other through the darkness happily. Their perfect night vision and senses making their various ambushes and dive-bombs all the more exciting. The pale vampire whipped out of a cloud, Malik in hot pursuit. Ryou laughed as he spiralled downwards, outstripping the other easily. Bakura smirked to himself, knowing that Ryou was an infinitely better flyer, but was subtly teaching Malik his techniques through their games. The pale one slowed, and Malik caught up, suddenly flattening his wings to his back, he was on a crash course to the moon-light figure. Ryou anticipated the tanned body abruptly colliding with him, holding out his arms and meeting Malik, he caught him and barrel-rolled, the other clutched to his chest, their laughter lost in the air currents.
Malik looked up into the brown eyes affectionately and wrapped his legs around the slim waist. Ryou smiled and put on a burst of speed, feeling the other clutch him tighter.
"Well this is nice." Malik noted, attempting to look relaxed. Ryou snorted.
"Says he who is doing no work!" he exclaimed.
"True… That's why it's nice. Oh but don't worry Ryou," he said, his voice suddenly husky, "I'm not like this when it comes to other things..."
Ryou blushed once more and let out a noise of indigence. He quickly shoved the other off and sped away, dipping and weaving, looking over his shoulder to stick his tongue out at the blonde. When he was sure Malik couldn't see, Ryou allowed himself a small smirk.
Soon they had reached the pulsing orange glow of the city. Bakura led them in descent over the concrete roofs, staying at a high altitude before diving down onto a well-covered industrial building, minimising the risk of discovery.
Ryou landed gracefully, his bare feet hitting the concrete soundlessly.
A force suddenly hit him in the back, knocking the vampire forwards, Ryou let out a small yelp, remaining upright, just. A pair of tanned arms wound around his neck and material-clad legs sat firmly on his hips.
"Guess who?" a voice whispered in his ear.
Ryou rolled his eyes and shrugged Malik off, turning and giving him a bemused smile. Malik laughed quietly and pulled the smaller into a hug, to which he was accepted. The pale haired vampire rested his head on the firm chest briefly, listening to the excited heartbeat slow steadily.
"So we're going back to my place?" Marik confirmed.
Ryou pulled himself out of the Egyptian's grip and stood closer to Bakura, who let an arm rest around his hips in a comforting way.
"Yes, I think it'll be the safest bet. If King doesn't know who attacked him, then he won't know you, correct?" Bakura asked.
"There's no possibility that the Royals have any information on my identity." Marik said.
"Righty then." Malik chipped in. "Let's go hunting!"
Ryou smiled. "I think it'll be better if we split up, so as not to draw attention to ourselves."
"Good idea." Marik said.
"I'll go with Malik, and you two go together, so Bakura and I will both be able to find your house." Ryou continued. He turned to Malik. "That is, if you actually remember where it is."
"Of course I do!" Malik scoffed. "Come on! Newly born is hungry, blood time!"
"See you later." Ryou said, stepping forwards to give Bakura a chaste kiss on the lips and Marik a small peck as well.
Malik jumped forwards.
"Bye sexy. Bye hotness." He said, giving Bakura and Marik a deep kiss in turn, before grabbing Ryou's hand and pulling them into the sky.
Marik shook his head, laughing softly.
"Ra, I love him." He said quietly.
"Yeah, me too." Bakura said.
"You want to know what's weird?" Marik asked, turning to face the vampire whose skin was gleaming under the moonlight.
"Enlighten me."
"I don't mind you saying that at all."
Bakura smirked. Verbal acceptance from Marik, there was something.
The vampire knew that he would have to acknowledge Malik's happiness in the form of this human. He held out a hand.
"You won't mind coming along while I find some nice, hot blood now, would you?" the vampire asked with an ironic grin.
Marik sighed, rolling his eyes.
"It would be my pleasure."
The blonde took the hand offered to him and was pulled into the strong embrace, feeling the ground drop away from his feet, they were soon up in the cool sky. All too soon, the ride was over. Bakura set him down at the end of a dark alley. The narrow space opened out onto a street, and all around the thump of bass was audible from the various clubs. An intermittent stream of club-goers stumbled past the gap between the buildings.
"So you're going to need two, right?" Marik asked in a hushed voice.
Bakura nodded, his glittering eyes fixed on the chink of light, his senses heightened to their fullest – or as full as they could go in his extremely weekend state.
"Yes. Half a body of blood from each." Bakura answered quietly. He knew exactly how much he needed to get that individual rush that had come sparsely within his time with King.
Marik nodded, and Bakura stalked towards the entrance of the alley. The human decided to leave the pale demon be, he would probably have more fun on his own.
Bakura's quick chocolate eyes darted down the streets either side of the wall he was pressed against. He smirked. There was a golden opportunity when you needed it. Two men were ambling down the pavement in a less-than-perfect line. They were conversing drunkenly and seemed to be the only humans around. The demon waited until they had passed his alley, a few paces away.
Quick as a flash, Bakura darted out, grabbing one of the men by the back of his shirt; he swung him into the wall. The correct amount of force and the man was just knocked out. The other turned to see where his friend had gone, only to see a tall, slender figure with white hair standing in the middle of the pavement.
"Have you seen-"
The last thing the man saw before darkness surrounded him was a pair of terrifying chocolate eyes.
Bakura swiftly pulled the man alongside his comrade, within the depths of the alley. Marik was perched on a pile of crates, his chin resting in his hand as he observed the vampire's feeding. The pale one swiftly bit down into the men's necks, nose creasing at the poor quality blood. He had never had it this bad. The demon then licked his fingers and closed the wounds, tidying the skin up from any blood or bruises. Regarding the unconscious bodies, Bakura felt a small feeling of disappointment, which he quickly squashed. He knew it was his vampiric nature to feel satisfaction when he drained a human body dry, like when he was in captivity, though he could live with being unsatisfied for the freedom with his lovers.
Marik quirked an eyebrow at Bakura's next move.
"I didn't know vampires stole as well, but it must be in your nature." He commented.
Bakura glanced up at him and hissed. He finished dragging the black hoodie off one of the men, shaking it out; he slipped it over his own head. The vampire pulled his tangled white hair from the confines of the jumper before twisting the maine together and pulling the hood over his head. His colouring and the small matter of wings sprouting from his back may draw a bit of unwanted attention.
"I don't think I could pass for fancy dress that easily." Bakura explained, looking up at the human from under his hood.
"Shall we?" Marik smirked, hopping down from the crates and walking out into the street.
Bakura nodded and followed him, his bare feet falling soundlessly on the pavement.
It was a flicker of affection for the other that decided Bakura would not put Marik through another round of flying.
Later, the victims would wake up in the alley, the morning rush hour blaring in their ears. Rubbing their heads, there would be no bruises, just the faint memory of club hopping. The loss of the hoodie would just be put down to some attractive woman who got cold.
Ryou scanned the city flicking under him. Malik was actually behaving for once; he probably knew that this was a serious matter. Or he was just thinking with his stomach. Ryou caught sight of a street busy with the hubbub of people and glanced over to Malik, who nodded in understanding. The pale one dived down, landing on a building behind a huge neon sign. He stood on the edge, hidden by the shadow of a high-rise block to the side. Malik landed as silently behind him.
Ryou almost expected the bronzed arms around his waist, so this time, when they crept around him, he let his pale hands grip the tanned skin gently.
"Hey Ryou?" Malik whispered in his ear.
There was no need to speak quietly, the crowded street and music in the clubs would drown out normal speech. But this was Malik.
"Hmm?" Ryou replied, turning his head slightly.
"Don't feel awkward when you're with Marik." Malik said softly. Ryou turned his head further, so he could look at Malik properly. The elder realised that his discomfort that had replaced his usual easy-going attitude with the other blonde had been noticed. "I have no problem with it at all." Malik continued seriously. "In fact, I couldn't think of anyone better to share my lovers with," his grip tightened slightly, "or my bed with." He purred.
Ryou gave him a mock-annoyed look before turning completely in the other's arms. He wound his arms around the sun kissed neck and looked Malik dead in his violet eyes.
"That really means a lot to me. Thank you." He said. "Well, the bit about Marik and Bakura did anyway!"
Malik laughed softly before leaning in to capture Ryou's lips. The smaller didn't object and let their mouths move together.
"The last bit will mean a lot to you soon… Come on then, let's go catch up some human!" Malik said. "And I have got the best idea on how to get them."
Ryou gave him a smirk and nodded, allowing himself to be pulled down the space between two buildings by the again-excitable Malik.
The two landed silently in the space, and Malik turned to Ryou.
"Wait here for a minute, I just need to get something."
Ryou nodded, wary of the sly smile on the other's face.
"Just don't get caught."
"Anything for you." Malik said, kissing Ryou's pale cheek before leaping into the air once more.
To be continued..
Almost home :) and we know what that means..
That things are going faaaar too smoothly for a story like this :)
Oh, and kinky time.
Anyway, thank you so much for reading, please review!
Love, Scarlett.x