I'm back! :D

Hello wonderful people :) Thailand was pretty amazing I must say! I spent a bit of time on this chapter cos I thought it wasn't right so many times..

Anyway, here we have an exciting event occuring with our lovely bunch - I do hope you all think it was worth the wait..!

Warnings: erm.. For the first time.. None..?

Out of the Ashes – Anticipation

Malik sighed, feeling his stomach tighten in sadness as he leant against the doorframe. He looked into the guest room to see Ryou in the same position he had been in for the last three days.

Lying with his white hair scattered over thick pillows, his small body hidden under the covers. Eyes closed and face peaceful, he could have been mistaken for sleeping, were it a sleep that one could be woken from.

Bakura also was at his usual post - curled up on top of the blankets next to his Sire, his long fingers clasped around Ryou's limp hand. He glanced up at the vampire standing in the doorway for a few moments, before returning his tired mahogany eyes to Ryou's sleeping face. Malik walked over to the bed and sat down on the side next to Bakura.

There were a few moments of silence.

"He's not changed…" Bakura mumbled. "He's no different."

Malik said nothing and slowly lay down behind his lover, nestling into his wings and pressing his knees into the backs of the pale vampire's legs. He wrapped his arms around the larger form and propping his chin on the other's shoulder. He spoke softly.

"He's still alive though, my love…"

He felt Bakura tense slightly before exhaling.

"Yes." He agreed.

Neither of them said the inevitable. Yes, Ryou was alive. But to what extent? He was breathing, and that was all they had to go by. He hadn't woken up, no matter how hard they tried, and he was limp to move, as though paralysed.

Malik thought back to that night.

Marik was alright, just. He lost a lot of blood, and was unconscious for the best part of the next day, but Malik had bled himself to feed to the human to such an extent that Bakura had got angry. When he had left Ryou's side long enough to find him in the bathroom with a knife and a bowl that was slowly filling from a cut in his tanned wrist, he had raged at him not to sacrifice himself for the human. Look how far it had got him, he had shouted, 'with a Sire who is dead because of me!' Malik had calmed him, and they ended up clasped in each other's arms on the bathroom floor, the vampire's blood congealing in the bowl on the side.

After the attack, when he had looked up from their human lover's body to see Bakura standing motionless over the thin crumpled form, he had felt his stomach churn at the possibility that flashed into his mind like a flare. Assured Marik was breathing, he stumbled off the bed and dropped to his knees next to the pale vampire, but was immediately shoved away by Bakura.

"B-Bakura?" he exclaimed, voice breaking, "What…? Is he…?"

The other had ignored him, and gently picked up the fallen one. Malik could see his hands visibly shaking, and had to look away when the snowy-haired head lolled to the side like an old rag doll. Blood dripped from its streams through the pallid strands, running into the ruffled black feathers.

Bakura carefully turned his Sire onto his front, fingers hesitating over the wound both knew would be under the blooded hair. Time seemed to crawl by as Malik watched from his position crouched a pace away. He so wanted to reach out and do anything he could to just stop those awful streams, but he knew Bakura was in as much control as he could be.

After yet another long moment, Bakura took a breath and moved his fingers down into the bloody disorder, gently feeling what he'd done to his lover.

Why had he not spat on his fingers to heal him now? Why did he feel so utterly numb?

His own Sire's words echoed in his head.

'… To die… You just need to sustain a serious head injury – be shot, have it chopped off… Something along those lines…'

He breathed heavily, and seemed to snap out of his daze.

Abruptly, he bent his head, mustering as much healing liquid as he could, tracing his tongue over the leaking wound. He clenched his eyes shut as his mouth passed over what was clearly a broken bit of skull, concave into his little one's head.

Malik was there too, joining him, desperately trying to close this horrific wound, an urgency to save this small, abused demon.

Malik breathed in Bakura's scent, nuzzling into the back of his neck.

They had done their best – the most agonising part being the fact that Ryou wouldn't take blood from them. He was alive, but completely unresponsive. His breathing was quicker than normal and shallow, his limbs lifeless. He would not drink.

And now he was here… And they did not know if he'd wake up.

Marik sat up slowly, letting the bedclothes fall from his body. He glanced over to see Malik sleeping soundly next to him, his delicate tanned hands curled up near his face. The human sighed, looking to the window where the moon was bright in the navy sky.

His own hand moved up to unconsciously rub his neck, a twinge running through him at the thought of the wound that the pale vampire had inflicted.

He stood up, pulling on a pair of sweatpants over his bronzed legs. He walked across the thick carpet to the door, letting himself out of the bedroom and feeling the smoothly ridged surface of the wooden corridor and grand staircase under his feet. His path proceeded down to the kitchen and out of the backdoor, into the moonlit garden.

The tired violet eye surveyed the beautiful shadowy area, the lawn a pleasant shade of gray. He smiled a little at the gentle breeze that swept over his torso, moving forward to the soft grass under his toes, coming to the edge of the lake and sitting on its banks. A hand came up to run through his blonde hair.

He sighed. He needed to think.

Brown eyes appeared from under dark lashes.

A moment of complete stillness.

Ryou took a sharp breath and rolled over, coming face to face with a sleeping Bakura. He sat up swiftly, slipping his legs out from under the bedclothes and backing away from the bed.

His back hit the wall abruptly and he let himself slide down to a sitting position, wrapping his arms around his pale knees and holding himself.

Colours, shapes, memories. All dancing around his mind in a frenzied whirl of confusion.

He squeezed his eyes shut again and bowed his head, his forehead pressed against his knees.

King.

All of those horrific ordeals that the man put him through leered at him from inside his head. All of those things he said – his manipulative words.

Malik, whose spark was dying because of him. How he so loved him, how the dancer would make him smile to the best of his abilities.

Marik.

His breath caught in his throat. What had he done? Was he dead...? The human who had changed his complete life-views because of him, the one who had taken Malik in when he had needed him, saved him from the brink of everlasting darkness, strived to provide a safe haven for both he and Bakura. Bakura…

His Bakura.

All the memories screamed at him.

Echoing louder than anything he'd heard before; louder than the gunfire that had killed the inhabitants of the mountain village; louder than the animals whose captivity he shared; louder than the crowd at King's sick arena; and louder than the crack of a gun whose bullet had shattered his Sire's skull.

His Sire… Ryou took a deep breath. Remembering.

Ishtar.

The name flew through his mind to his consciousness like a dove. His protector.

He recalled his childhood. His mother died giving birth to him. His father, so distraught by what had happened, shunned him throughout his life. He blamed him for her death. It did not help that his colouration was so unusual; the village children where he lived would taunt him, making jokes and playing tricks on him. It was relentless even in his late teens.

There was no one who loved him.

He would sit, staring out into the distance from the high mountains when he had some time to himself – which was not often, as he had the burden of doing most of the jobs for the family. He wished he could fly away and be free.

When the men called round the village that day, demanding a person which they would take away forever, at first the community did not comply. When the men threatened just to shoot someone at will and leave with the body, the elders came to the decision that it should be he that was the sacrifice.

Ryou had never felt so utterly terrified in his life. It came to a peek when they threw him into the cage with that creature they told him would kill him. He knew they were not lying. Clutching his white-haired head in his hands, he tried to imagine his mother.

When he awoke with in his new form, he remembered the concerned violet eyes watching over him. He was numb with realisation of what he was, but the other vampire – his Sire – was kind and apologetic. When they attempted the first separation, his creator reacted with anger and violence until they were reunited only after a single night. Their captives laughed at them, taunting them with the huge amounts of money they would make after the demons were sold.

Then the escape. Ishtar was his protector. He was the man his own father never was. And he died to save him, throwing him into the ravine when they were discovered, letting the icy water drag him away.

Ryou tried to slow his breathing, a tear running down his cheek from his closed eyes as he remembered his Sire's death. An old feeling of their bond flickered though his stomach.

He had forgotten for so long.

His new village family – all dead now. Didn't they love him too? His darkness of captivity and then the first time at King's court.

Then, out of the ashes of his loneliness and despair came Bakura.

Bakura who loved him, he knew this no matter what King said. King's words were melting away from their blackened cruel barriers that had been built in his mind. They were seeping away like the blood he'd drawn from the monstrous human's body the night he had killed him.

He took a breath, glancing up at the bed where his lover slept.

How could he have treated them the way he did? Taking advantage of Malik's kindness, shunning Bakura and trying to kill Marik.

He didn't want to be close to Bakura for all of the things that King said – he was trying to guard himself from more hurt, stopping it building on all of the horrific feelings he already had. He knew Bakura's violence towards him was not unfounded – he was protecting the people he loved in the only way he could see possible. He remembered the night he'd attacked Marik for the last time and recalled the explosion of pain to the back of his head before the world had gone dark.

True, he wished that they would have come to save him sooner – but he'd heard Malik cry when he thought no one could hear. He'd heard the tanned demon weep at the frustration that it took so long to break into King's lair, but this was unavoidable. More importantly, he'd wept at the fact that Ryou had sacrificed himself for him.

He needed to be outside.

He stood up, finding the door he walked down the stairs and towards the exit of the house. All of the feelings of self-hate were still prominent, but the main focus of his mind was thinking of ways to try and make the others see that he loved them still…

Ryou stopped dead on the grass.

He could make out a figure sitting by the lake. The moonlight was illuminating blonde hair, and the bare back was free from wings. As he approached Marik he breathed deeply, knowing full-well that the human would be wary of him.

The violet eyes darted up as the figure came into his vision beside him. Their shadowy gazes met. The demon looked ethereal in the silvery light; his white hair and flawless pale skin were striking.

"Ryou?" He said quietly.

The other sat down on the grass beside him, Marik exercising great strength not to move away.

"If you would like to kill me," he started, looking out across the still water of the lake, "please know that I love you. I always will, and even though Bakura and Malik will be affected by losing me, at least they'll have each other, and they'll still have you. I won't fight you if you want to end my life now."

He looked around at the vampire.

Ryou met his eyes and he was surprised to see tears streaming down the pale cheeks, his brown eyes soft and sorry and hurt. Marik frowned slightly, his stomach abruptly tightening at the way the demon was looking at him.

"I'm…" Ryou started, his voice thick, he looked down at his clenched hands and squeezed his eyes shut, "I'm so sorry Marik…"

The human's mind was hazed in confusing. Was this some kind of trick? Was the vampire luring him into a false sense of security before he attacked?

"What do you mean, Ryou?" He asked quietly. The pale face turned to him.

"For all the hurt I've caused," he replied, voice soft, "All the times I've tried to… to kill you. For hating you."

"Do you realise how much you mean to us?"

"Yes-" Ryou's voice broke, complete sorrow on his face. "I know. I've know it all along."

"Well then you should realise that we're here, no matter what-"

"Marik! I wasn't myself," Ryou cried passionately, "I understand that I've done horrific things! I've ended countless lives; I let myself do terrible things-"

"Ryou." Marik interjected firmly. He knew that this was not a trick. Ryou was in emotional turmoil – was he coming back to himself? "The things you've done are not you. They're acts that have followed appalling treatment, when your mind has known nothing but dreadful things. Listen… I will not judge you on the bad in you; I know that all that is good and kind within your soul are the true Ryou… The Ryou I love."

The pale vampire breathed deeply, his face wet from tears. He gazed intently at the beautiful human, and he knew that he loved him. He knew that through all the pain and hurt that he was here, speaking the truth.

Abruptly he leant forwards, his hands supporting him on the supple grass he moved his face close to Marik's. His heart clenched at the fleeting look of fear in the purple eyes, but he knew it was not unfounded. Marik took a breath and saw Ryou's face as it truly should be, the emotions laid bare for him to see. It was he who leant forwards to press their mouths together.

He felt Ryou cry more hot tears against his cheek as he kissed the small, abused creature. The pale hands gripped him as if he'd never let go, a strong tanned arm coming to hold him close.

They stayed in the garden for a long while, Marik cradling the distraught vampire to his chest, listening to him speak of his feelings and life.

"…My Sire was called Ishtar." He whispered. He looked up as Marik suddenly tensed.

"Ishtar…?" Marik asked quietly, his eyes meeting Ryou's, his heart pumping fast. Malik had already told him this information – it explained those mysterious strands of white hair that had been sent home anonymously with his father's papers when the family were told he had gone missing. To hear the story from his father's creation was indeed something. "…What was he like?"

"He was kind." Ryou said, "He was my guardian – the first person in my life to show that he cared about me." Marik couldn't help a sad smile form on his lips. "When he… Died, he died saving me… I owe him my life. He was always looking out for others."

"Yes… That's very like him." Marik murmured. Ryou frowned.

"…What do you mean?" he asked, confusion on his face.

Marik sighed, looking intently into the demon's eyes.

"Ryou…" He said softly, "Ishtar was my father."

Bakura woke with a start.

His eyes scanned the empty bed and he sprang up, feeling his stomach drop. A mixture of fear and anxiety pulsed through him – Ryou had moved, probably by himself, but where?

He looked around the room, which was filled with the warm rays of the rising sun. Getting off the bed, he ran down the corridor to the master bedroom, where Marik and Malik had been sleeping alone for those last few days. Malik was sleeping soundly on his arrival, the sole occupant of the bed.

"Shit." Bakura muttered, striding over to the tanned vampire and roughly shaking him awake.

"…What?" Mumbled Malik, his eyes flickering open, a frown on his face, "Bakura? What's wrong?"

"Ryou's gone, and so is Marik."

Malik's sleepy eyes widened, and his mouth opened in horror as he turned to check the bed. He shoved the thick covers off his legs.

"Shit!" He joined Bakura in exclaiming, "You realised just now?"

"Yes, I wouldn't have waited around, would I?" He snapped, "Come on, we have to find them."

Malik only nodded, ignoring his Sire's bad mood in the place of urgency. He ran after Bakura, who had already checked the en-suite bathroom and was heading out of the door.

"You check downstairs, I'll do upstairs." Bakura called over his shoulder as he ran down the landing.

Malik silently nodded and let his feet pad quickly down the magnificent staircase. Once in the hall, he entered the study, checking the room thoroughly but finding no sign of the small pale vampire or his human lover. He jogged through to the living room, but it was as still and silent as the night before. Heart rate accelerating, he entered the kitchen, violet eyes searching the room relentlessly, he walked around the heavy wooden table, peering underneath, a worried frown creasing his forehead.

He straightened up, sighing in frustration. His eyes grazed over the windows, and he felt his heart leap.

"Bakura!" He shouted, dodging around a kitchen chair and running to the window, "They're outside!"

He heard the other's footsteps thump quickly on the floor above his head, but he was already wrenching the back door open to the cool of the morning air. The grass was damp under his bare feet at he rushed across the lawn to the two figures, who were both motionless and lying down on the banks of the lake.

He heard the door bang again as Bakura came out of the house. Blood pounding in his ears, Malik made it across the lawn to the two bodies. His eyes darted over the pair, breathing fast and urgent.

Bakura appeared beside him at that moment, pausing as they surveyed the two together.

Marik was lying on his back, with Ryou's torso on top of his own. Their faces were hidden by the vampire's white hair, their bodies covered partially by his inky wings.

Bakura took a sharp breath as Ryou stirred.

Both standing demons waited in painful trepidation as the pale being carefully raised himself off the human, facing away from them. He pulled his feathered wings to his back, still concealing Marik's face and neck. They watched as Ryou tilted his head to the side, obviously studying the other's face.

Malik bit his lip, dreading what was hidden behind the lithe body.

"Ryou?" Bakura called.

The other turned his head sharply, a look of fear in his eyes.

"Bakura?" He whispered in reply.

The taller pale vampire's voice died in his throat. Malik raised his eyebrows in shock as he surveyed the demon on the ground. The hard looks that had dominated his face since they got him back had melted away. His chocolate eyes were soft and soulful as he looked between the two of them, a creamy hand resting comfortably on Marik's chest.

Bakura stepped over silently and knelt next to his Sire, never breaking eye contact. He glanced down at the human, only to see a peaceful expression on his sleeping face. Meeting Ryou's eyes again, he couldn't find the words to explain how he felt; he was numb. Marik took a breath and opened his eyes, woken by the absence of Ryou's warm body and wings. Seeing Bakura, he propped himself up on an elbow, looking at him anxiously.

"Bakura," he began, "It's alright, Ryou wasn't trying-"

"I know." Bakura cut in.

"I'm sorry." Ryou said in a hushed voice, dropping his eyes from the other brown pair.

"No…" Bakura replied, reaching out and curling his fingers around the pale hand. "Don't apologise. I know… I know this is you."

A crystal-like tear slid down the smaller vampire's cheek. Bakura abruptly reached forward and pulled the thin body into an embrace. Ryou gripped him hard and buried his face into the other's neck, willing his remorse to flow away with his tears. The larger vampire pressed his cheek to the white haired-head and let out a sigh of happiness.

The sun seemed brighter than ever on his black feathered wings.

To be continued..

Eeeek! I hope you all enjoyed it :) let me know what you think..

Much love,

Scarlett.x