Hello Everyone!
It is with sadness and an almost satisfaction that I announce that this is the final chapter.. This story has meant a lot to me over the (stupidly long!) period of time I've worked on it. I've written and re-written the whole thing numerous times until my perfectionist self thinks that perhaps it's just acceptable for you kind people to read. The comments from people have been so lovely and have made the whole thing worthwhile. I never, ever thought I'd manage to type something that people would enjoy reading so much.
Anyway, enough of my sob-story ramblings! I do hope you like the final installment :)
Warnings: strong sexual references..
Out of the Ashes – Beautiful Happiness
One year later
"Bakura! Marik! This isn't funny anymore!" Malik screeched.
"You better stop this right now before I get angry!" Ryou joined in, a scowl on his face.
Marik laughed all the louder and met Bakura's equally mischievous snicker. The two nodded at each other and rocked the little rowing boat all the more, the two smaller demons in the front of it gripping the wooden sides tightly.
"BAKURA! MARIK!" Malik cried, wrapping an arm tighter around Ryou.
"Oh, sorry-" Bakura smirked, "- I didn't realise we were upsetting you…"
Ryou just glowered at him, looking nervously at the rippling surface of the water of the lake. How on Earth did Bakura and Marik manage to convince him and Malik to go rowing with them? Usually those two would entertain themselves when Malik and Ryou decided to go for leisurely trips on the lake at the bottom of their garden.
And now here they were. In the middle of the lake near the island with the ruined folly. Bakura was, as usual, being a bad influence with Marik. They'd lulled the two into a false sense of security by offering to row them, and now were rocking the boat with an increasing vigour. The sun shone down at them from the clear blue summer sky.
"I'm not joking, if you two don't stop this right NOW there will be no sex for a YEAR!" Ryou growled.
The rocking abruptly stopped.
Bakura and Marik looked at each other, faces serious and considering. Bakura broke into a smirk first. He shrugged.
"It's a good job we've got each other then. Right, Marik?" He asked the blonde, who gave him a devious grin.
"Correct, Bakura… That we do." The human replied.
"But we'll drown!" Malik shrieked.
And with that, the two forcefully pushed down on one side of the boat, the passenger's eyes widened in fear and the boat was pushed over.
With matching screams of terror, Ryou and Malik plunged into the sun-warmed water along with the other two. Thrashing and splashing followed for a good few moments before they became aware of Marik and Bakura's howls of laughter. Ryou looked for Malik in his panic, before he realised why the other two were laughing so much. With a look that could freeze the water he was in, he let his feet touch the bottom and stood up, realising the depth of the water came up to his waist.
He turned to Malik properly, and his mouth turned up into a smile. A shudder of silent laughter rippled through his body at the sight of the tanned vampire. Before he could stop himself, a great shout of laughter burst from him and he collapsed into a fit of giggles.
Malik scowled at them all, unaware of the pile of pondweed crowning his wet blonde head.
"What's so funny?" He grumbled, shaking his heavy wings out of the water.
Ryou couldn't answer for laughing as he splashed over to Bakura and was enveloped in his sopping arms. The two overbalanced and, with a spray of water, were plunged under again in a flailing of arms, legs and wings. They soon appeared again, gasping for breath, pushing tendrils of white hair from their faces.
It was Malik's turn to laugh, and as he brought a hand up to push his own hair from his face, he was met with the unwanted accessory, which he removed with a scowl, clenched in his hand, drew back and took aim.
With a wet slap, the weed walloped Marik in the face.
Bakura inhaled so hard, that from his position with his head near the lake surface and Ryou on his lap, water shot up his nose, drawing from him such a disturbing snorting sound that had all of the others staring at him in silence when his fit was over.
"What?" he asked.
The others were silent, looking at each other with equal looks of amused shock.
"And Bakura wins the award for being the biggest weirdo… Again." Malik announced.
The others fell into laughter to Bakura's scowl.
Once they'd all dragged themselves out of the lake, the rest of the afternoon was spent lying in the sun on the lawn. All had taken brief showers to remove the grim the lake water had left, but now let the warm rays dry their skin, and wings in the vampires' cases.
Bakura sighed, giving Ryou a little squeeze. His Sire was resting his head on his chest, an arm draped over his stomach and a happy smile on his face. The larger pale vampire thought back over the past months. He remembered the evening of the day he and Malik had found Ryou and Marik out on the grass. The terrible thoughts that had dominated his mind had been wiped clean as his lover's true eyes had looked at him. He blamed himself for almost killing the little demon, but the damage to his head had obviously made Ryou remember, and even though he felt guilt for physically hurting him so severely, he wondered what life would have been like had he not. When they were falling asleep together that night, he knew his Ryou was back…
Bakura did not close his eyes because Ryou finally held his gaze, the chocolate eyes not moving from his own, time becoming slower and the rest of the world seeming irrelevant.
Ryou's breathing was almost silent.
"…Talk to me… Bakura…" he whispered.
The other vampire's brow creased slightly. He hadn't heard his name on the other's lips for such a long time.
"About what?" he replied quietly.
"…About us… About me and you."
Bakura was silent for a few moments, eyes giving nothing away. He sighed softly.
"Me and you…" he began, his voice calm and husky. "Well… "Me and you" started, I suppose, when I was condemned to death, for a debt I couldn't repay… You drank from me, you Sired me, and you loved me…" Ryou let the slow, well formed words stir around his head, feeling heavy on the mattress. "…I learnt how to survive in the dark with you… Together we would perform, and together we would feed off those who had been dealt the same punishment as I had… The blood warm inside us, and we would fall asleep, perfectly happy with each other's company." At the delicious sounds of Bakura's voice, Ryou felt himself becoming relaxed further, his eyelids dropping slightly. "We were freed, and you…" Bakura paused, not sure about the next sentence. He continued after a pause. "…you gave your body to me completely." No reaction from the other. "We then began our lives together, and we were happy… We've been apart, and I know now you're back with me, we can be happy again." Bakura took a breath as the other's eyes slipped closed. "…I know this for certain. I know it because you're the one I need for everything to be alright… Because… Because I love you, Ryou."
The soft deep breaths indicating sleep flowed over the small creature's lips.
Ryou settled in to life with them incredibly well after that. True, he would be extra cautious when they went out to feed, staying close to Malik or Bakura and watching over them intently as they picked their way through the crowded city at night, shrinking away from anyone dressed so impeccably as the Royals used to be.
As for Marik's differing 'condition' to the other three, they had agreed not to mention it unless the human himself brought it up. It was a painful subject for him, they knew. No matter how many times Malik spoke to Bakura when they were alone about the topic, with worry in his eyes that Marik would be lost to them, the pale vampire was sure, deep in his heart, that Marik would one day want to be with them in their form. And Malik, although he tried to conjure up worry (as was his character) believed truly that one day, Marik would choose to be with them forever.
Violence was hardly ever noted in association with Ryou these days – unless of course the victim was overly defensive or their time in the bedroom turned that way. The eldest vampire was, as Malik realised he always would be, perfectly capable of fighting for himself. He had witnessed Bakura take jokes too far with him, and the pretty white-haired creature had retaliated with the firmness that had been with him from the start.
This was also apparent when they slept together.
The first time after Ryou "returned" had been with Bakura. This was not surprising as far as the other two were concerned, but it was not an easy undertaking by the pale demons.
It was a couple of months after Ryou's injury and Malik and Marik had been out, at the cinema or something along those lines. Bakura and Ryou were in bed, ready for sleep.
Bakura leant in, kissing Ryou gently on the lips. The other returned the kiss, tightening his grip on the other's body, his arms wrapped around his naked torso. Pulling back, they'd looked into each other's eyes intently. Bakura ran a hand down the other's smooth back under his wings, coming to rest on his behind. Ryou allowed him to press their hips together, feeling that old spark of arousal as their lengths touched through the fabric of their boxers.
"Bakura, I-" he whispered.
"Sorry." Bakura muttered, immediately moving away.
"No…" Ryou replied, used to his lover thinking he'd gone too far. "…I want to… to keep going."
"Are you sure…?"
Ryou nodded firmly, taking a deep breath and only focusing on the other in the bed with him.
Bakura had been gentle and loving, ironically a far cry from their first time together all those months previously. Whereas that time had been full of carnal lust and need, this time was slow, careful, and everything Ryou hadn't experienced in far too long. There was only one moment – when Bakura was about to enter him – that Ryou had to stop. His pale fingers gripped Bakura's strong arms and he closed his eyes, feeling the other kiss away his tears and moving from between his legs, simply drawing him into an embrace and whispering gentle words in his ear.
When Ryou plucked up the courage to open his eyes and attempt to block out the nightmarish memories, he was surprised to see the other abruptly wipe a tear from his own cheek. At that moment he realised just how difficult this must be for Bakura too – Bakura who was so often angry to hide how he felt, who had told him before in a moment of anger that he would hunt down those who had ever touched him and end their lives in various, slow, ways. They had lain there, simply taking in each others emotion; until Ryou breathed that he wanted to continue.
Bakura was drawn from his thoughts by Ryou abruptly straddling his waist.
"I'm going to help Marik cook." He announced with a smile.
"Try and give him food poisoning, won't you?" Bakura replied with a smirk. Ryou huffed.
"That would only happen if you tried to cook, Bakura-" he said, "-which is why you're not allowed in the kitchen."
"Pfft. Kitchen is for girls."
Ryou smacked him around the head.
"Come on, Marik." He called sweetly, purposefully grinding his behind into Bakura's groin as he got up.
Bakura growled and reached up with lightening speed, grabbing Ryou's hand and pulling him onto the ground, crushing their lips together. Ryou only resisted a little before allowing the other to plunder his mouth, abruptly shoving him off and standing again.
"Marik?" He called, and the human got up off the grass as well, stepping over to the vampire and wrapping his arms around him from behind.
"Come on then," Marik said with a smirk, looking down at the pale vampire sprawled on the ground, "let's reinforce that the kitchen isn't just for girls, shall we?"
Marik leant forwards and kissed Ryou's cheek, the suggestion in the words made Bakura slightly aroused just looking at the two attractive figures above him. He scowled as they wandered back up to the house.
"I think I find it more amusing watching you argue, than arguing with you myself." Malik noted, shuffling over to the vampire and propping himself up on his elbow next to him.
"What? Because you can't take me?" He asked, reaching out and sliding an arm around Malik's bare waist. The blonde laughed, rolling his eyes.
"You know perfectly well I can…"
"I'm talking about my articulate speech, not my cock, by the way."
Malik raised his eyebrows.
"Why do you immediately mention that?" he asked, a smirk on his face, "Has it been too long? I swear you and Ryou were at it in the shower last night…"
Bakura let a wide smile settle on his lips.
"Now he can definitely take it…"
"Bakura!"
"What?"
Malik sighed, leaning down to briefly kiss the other, sighing happily as a pale hand came up to cup his cheek.
"I'm so glad we're here…" Malik said in a hushed voice when he pulled away.
"Me too." Bakura said, genuine satisfaction on his face. "And that we've got Ryou back."
"He's definitely back…" The tanned vampire agreed, "and King's gone."
A shadow passed over both of their faces at the mention of his name. It was rare that they ever mentioned anything to do with that time these days. It upset Ryou more than anything else.
The sun was setting now, casting deep shadows across the golden-tinted garden. The droplets of water on the rowing boat resting on the bank were glittering in the dying sun's light.
"I think we should go and see how the girls are getting on." Bakura suggested.
Malik let out a small laugh and stood, helping Bakura up with him.
After supper was done, well for Marik anyway, though Ryou and Malik did have a good go at a tub of ice cream, the four of them trooped into the living room as there was something Marik wanted to watch on TV. The sofa was a large one which stretched around a corner of the room.
Malik and Ryou were soon distracted by each other, poking each other in the ribs but trying not to make any noise. The touches soon became more than just fun, and Bakura turned to them with a smirk on his lips.
"If you two are going to screw each other on the sofa, then please, do it loudly."
"Shh, Bakura." Malik muttered, going back to pressing his lips against Ryou's.
Marik glanced over and shared Bakura's pleased expression. The pale vampire slid a hand onto his thigh.
Ryou let out a soft moan as Malik's hands swept down his back and gripped his behind. Kissing back with renewed vigour, Ryou allowed the tanned one to settle between his legs, rolling them over so that the blonde was on top. Malik broke away and ran his eyes over the half naked body. True, he could have appreciated it all day, as all of them were topless, but there was something about his chest rising and falling at a faster pace, his chocolate eyes looking at him with that longing and his white hair that was becoming ruffled that was so different.
Ryou smiled at him, and Malik leant down again to capture his pink lips in a kiss, running his tongue against Ryou's bottom lip he was allowed entry to his mouth once again, their tongues moving against each other in a well-practiced way. A gasp escaped them both as the tanned demon pressed his growing hardness between the other's legs. Ryou nipped his lip to taste Malik's blood as the other gently rocked back and forth against his need.
Bakura felt Marik's hand suddenly on his face, and he turned to receive a not-so gentle kiss from the human. He smirked into the other's mouth and reached out to tangle his hands in the blonde hair, feeling his gold earrings clink against the metal loops that still protruded from the backs of his hands. Marik had suggested removal, but Bakura and his Sire were so used to them that there was seen to be no need.
Ryou rolled them over, deeper into the soft cushions of the sofa, straddling Malik's hips he leant down and placed kisses on the bronzed neck, moving down onto his chest in a trail of kisses and licks. Sliding off the sofa and the other's body, Ryou's mouth came to the hemline of Malik's cotton shorts. Looking dead into his violet eyes, a pale hand came up to run over Malik's thigh. The long fingers traced over the obvious hardness, to a small intake of breath. Ryou smirked as he outlined Malik's cock through the fabric, gently massaging his finger and thumb over the slightly damp head.
Malik reached out and ran a hand over Ryou's snowy hair, eyes leaving his as they came to fix on the pale vampire's fingers slipping below the hem of his clothes, tugging them downwards with the help of him raising his tanned hips. Ryou once again smirked at him as he looked down at his prize, getting up on his knees properly he reached out and slid a hand around Malik's arousal, giving it a slow pump.
Marik looked round from making out with Bakura and felt his pulse rate accelerate. He nudged the other, who turned and took an audible intake of breath. The larger pale demon took Marik's hand as he moved down the sofa to be nearer the other two. Ryou looked up at him, and still, even after all the times they'd been together, could not stop the blush covering his cheeks. His hand stilled for a moment.
"Keep going…" Bakura encouraged, his voice low.
Marik moved next to Bakura on the sofa and let out a gasp as the other suddenly pulled him to straddle his hips, sliding his hand down into his underwear and wrapping his fingers around Marik's thick length, mimicking Ryou.
Ryou's pale fingers moved faster over Malik's length, his thumb coming up to sweep over the slick head every now and again. The tanned one's breathing was coming faster.
"S-suck me, Ryou…" he managed and the other smiled. Ryou liked being told what to do in the bedroom these days.
The TV forgotten, Marik and Bakura were occupying themselves by getting out of their troublesome clothing while roughly kissing each other. Marik pushed himself off Bakura and dragged off the pale one's boxers. Kneeling on the floor, he gave the other a seductive grin before leaning forward and running his tongue up the length of Bakura's stiff member. The other groaned at the sensation, looking over in time to see Ryou clasp his pretty mouth around Malik's cock, immediately taking the whole thing into his mouth as his pale fingers came to hold it steady.
Ryou moved his tongue over the hardened flesh in long, smooth motions. His hand came up to join his mouth as he slid it over Malik's lubricated length, swirling his lips over every contour the tanned one had to offer. Malik's thoughts were becoming increasingly hazy, and he let out a breath as he opened his eyes to see Ryou sucking him. He then caught sight of Bakura, who had stood up, with Marik on his knees in front of him. He gritted his teeth and pulled Ryou off him.
The other complied and let Malik pull him on top of him again, the tanned fingers moving down to slide off Ryou's own pants off his pert behind. Ryou let out a gasp as he was pulled backwards, Bakura's arms around his waist, his black wings up against the strong chest; he looked around and was greeted with a deep kiss. Malik sat up, reaching forward and wrapping his fingers around Ryou's exposed length. The other gasped into his kiss, but Bakura only took it as an opportunity to run his hands over the small body, breaking the kiss and looking down at Malik's hands on his length.
"Do you want me to fuck you, Ryou?" Bakura growled into his ear.
Ryou let a shiver pass through him. Malik moved from underneath them and had pounced on Marik. The two were running their hands hastily over each other, mouths moving against the other's in need. The smaller pale one nodded. Bakura smirked.
"You're going to need to suck my cock then, if you don't want it too rough…" he added.
Ryou nodded again, allowing Bakura to spin him round and shove his head down. He openly took Bakura in his mouth, loving the soft growl the other made at having his length encased in the warm wetness. He shifted so he was onto the sofa, propping himself up with an elbow he moved Ryou's hips nearer to him. The other still sucked him as Bakura placed a few fingers in his mouth and then gently ran them between his Sire's legs. The pale body shivered in pleasure again.
The larger abruptly grasped one of Ryou's slender legs and pushed him over, his length leaving the other's mouth, he moved down to suck Ryou instead. Ryou let out a loud gasp as Bakura went down on him, his fingers moving to massage his entrance at the same time.
Malik bit down on Marik's shoulder as the tanned fingers entered him. Marik hugged him tighter under his black wings as his finger slid deeper into the tight bronzed body. At the entrance of the other fingers, Malik breathed deeply and allowed himself to be soothed by the strong embrace and whispers of his lover. When he knew he was ready, he moved his head up to speak in Marik's ear.
"I want you in me…" he said, his voice thick with desire. Marik smirked.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked, sliding a pair of fingers out and then into Malik.
"Yes…" Malik said, gritting his teeth at the wonderful sensation. "Fuck me, Marik, hard."
The human grinned and sat back on the sofa, letting Malik straddle him; he held his cock, aligning it with the vampire's entrance. They shared a kiss before the demon pressed down, taking Marik's length into his body with a loud groan of pleasure. The sight in front of them simply aided their lust.
Ryou took a breath as Bakura's last finger slid into him. His lover kissed his forehead and gently thrust his fingers back and forth. Bakura knew Malik and Marik were fucking now. He glanced over from where he and Ryou were lying, facing each other now, with their heads furthest away from the other two. The violet eyes were fixed on Ryou's spread legs, the top one hooked over Bakura's hips, giving them a good view of Bakura's long fingers sliding into the vampire's body.
Ryou knew they could see all this, and it only served to turn him on more.
"I'm ready for you, Bakura." He whispered in need.
"Good, my Sire…" The other replied, "I look forward to being in your tight little body as far as I can go…"
Ryou let out a growl.
"Well do it then." He said harshly. Bakura let out a soft laugh.
"As you wish…"
So the other two could see, Bakura grasped Ryou's legs and parted the creamy thighs. Getting between them, he pushed his cock up against the other's tight entrance and thrust forwards, bringing a cry of pleasure and pain from Ryou. He slowly drew out, before slamming back in.
"Yes Bakura!" Ryou managed, his head spinning.
The larger vampire set up a powerful pace, plunging into the smaller body and hitting the spot inside him that had Ryou moaning with each movement. He watched the beautiful face beneath him and felt the delicate pale hands come up to grip his arms and shoulders.
Malik let out a surprised breath as Marik pulled out of him.
"Turn around." The human breathed. Malik grinned in delight before pressing his chest to the back of the sofa and feeling Marik's lips on his neck.
He let out a groan as Marik's thick cock thrust into him once again, feeling the other's bronzed hips against his behind with each push. Their breathing became more ragged, and Malik glanced over to Ryou and Bakura in his haze, seeing Ryou's slender legs placed over Bakura's shoulders, the larger vampire was varying speeds, making Ryou writhe in pleasure. It was his turn to place a hand on Marik's stomach to stop the movements. He turned around and kissed the human vigorously before nodding at the other two.
Malik shakily stood up off the sofa and stepped over to the others. He placed a hand on Bakura's shoulder and the demon looked up at him after thrusting as deep as he could into his Sire's body. Malik leant down and shared a quick kiss with Bakura before smirking down at Ryou and placing a leg over his quivering body. Bakura got the message and placed his hands on Malik's slim tanned hips, drawing out a little and moving so he was on his knees, raising Ryou's hips up with him. Malik bent over to kiss Ryou, giving Bakura a very good view of his behind, not surprised when the vampire ran his hands over the tanned cheeks. He sat up; smirking at Ryou before lowering himself down onto Ryou's waiting length. Bakura let out a groan of his own as Marik's hands came to rest on his hips and he felt his cock against his entrance.
"Do it, Human." He growled.
Marik smirked and thrust into Bakura, who in turn buried himself into Ryou. Malik moaned as he moved himself on Ryou's length. A rhythm was set up that sent sparks through them all.
Ryou was in complete ecstasy. Malik was so tight around him while Bakura was feeding him thrusts he knew would have him screaming in a moment or two. Bakura himself was starting to let go, his animalistic instincts making him move harder into Ryou's extremely tight heat while Marik's cock screwed him quite soundly from behind. The movements became more needy, shared pants and moans issuing from the sweat-sheened bodies, powerfully moving against each other in a hot embrace.
The smallest pale vampire was reaching the edge. His mind was whirring with sensation as the other's pleasured themselves too. His voice became more coherent.
"I'm… I-I'm going to…" he choked out, and Bakura smirked, reaching round and pumping Malik's cock.
He fed his Sire more powerful thrusts, and Ryou came with a loud cry, tightening around his creation's length, and spilling his seed deep into Malik. At the feeling, and Bakura's skilled hand, Malik felt himself reach the edge himself, almost collapsing over Ryou had the snowy-haired vampire not wrapped an arm around his waist. Bakura joined him soon after, along with Marik, they issued loud groans and Ryou felt the heat spread inside him, as did Bakura.
Marik shakily pulled out of the vampire's body, reclining back on the soft cushions. The other three were drinking in their afterglow in a tangle of bodies, their heavy breathing mingling. Bakura carefully moved away from Ryou, who gave a soft moan, and pulled Malik off Ryou's cock as well.
Malik crept over to his human lover and gave him a lazy kiss before curling up at his side. Bakura bundled the pretty much passed out Ryou into his arms and reached out to grab the TV remote to turn it off. Marik passed them one of the blankets that usually rested on the back of the sofa, and Bakura took it gratefully with a small smile. There was quite for a moment as the four of them allowed their bodies to calm down after their recent exhilaration.
Ryou sighed, snuggling deeper into Bakura's embrace, happiness flooding through his entire being. He felt the presence of the others in the room with such affection, and a smile grew on his lips as Bakura leant down and kissed his forehead gently. He spoke then, quietly and surely:
"I love you all so much," he whispered, "words will never be able to describe it."
The End.
Wow.. That's.. It..
I'd like to thank you all so so much for reading, and my deep thanks go to all of those who reviewed - especially those who've been with this story since it's creation (about a year and 2 months ago!). Your constant encouragement has made this a great experience :)
A few things I'd like to clear up..
1) I didn't chage Marik into a vampire now because I'd like to encourage you all to use your imaginations. Try thinking about how it would play out in the future, when he eventually gets changed? I know it sounds reeeeeally cheesy, but I thought that sometimes the best scenes are the ones you work out in your mind. You see you're involved in this fic too.
2) King may not be dead. But that doesn't mean that he's not. I ain't saying :P (I think I'll call this one the possibly eternal cliffy.. Simply because..
..3) I won't rule out a sequal.
Thank you once again, you are lovely people.
Much, much love,
Scarlett.x