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Palace Rebel!

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Chapter Fifty-Four

Together

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Ryou yawned sleepily, blinking softly… his brother was gone? Did he sleep in or something? Well he hadn't much sleep between nightmares, running off and coming back.

He blinked getting up and getting out of bed.

"Hey your awake," Atem walked into the room smiling, "where did you guys go last night?"

Ryou stared at the tanned teen leaning in the doorway, "I saw an old friend… they were in town for the night… and they use to help me with nightmare so I wanted to see them."

"Oh," Atem nodded slightly how convenient, "can I come in?"

"Um… I don't know? This is my brothers room," Ryou shrugged, "does he normally let you in?"

"Never really bothered to ask," he shrugged helplessly, "Ryou… this is your room too."

"Um…come in then," Ryou shrugged awkwardly, "just stay on my side I guess?"

"Sure," Atem smiled coming in and sitting on Ryou's bed, "you had a nightmare last night?"

"You would know wouldn't you?" Ryou glanced away, "you were there —you were actually there— Weren't you?"

"I didn't mean to intrude," Atem said softly, "I was merely trying to help… Akefia lives in you. You know that?"

"I figured that out… he has always kind of been here," Ryou shrugged, "I just never properly met him."

"He won't hurt you," Atem sighed, "he wouldn't dream of it, he needs you to survive."

"Is that why he was so worried about me?"

"He's trying to give you gifts to win your affection and thus get your cooperation," Atem explained simply, "but he doesn't get real emotions, humans really, so he stresses when you refuse his help, he can tell you're scared off him. He wanted to fix it but he stressed out when you turned down everything he gave you."

"I didn't mean too," Ryou said quietly.

"We know that," Atem bit his lip slightly, "he just figured that anyone who hurt you should just be gone and that would make you happy. Ryou— can I ask something?"

"O-k?"

"The people on the wall. The ruler was there," Atem said calmly fiddling with his blond fringe, "Ishtar's siblings were there," Atem glanced at the roof, "you know when a Sennen item comes in contact with someone it leaves a trace of power? I can trace the Ring, Rod, Necklace, Puzzle and key all back to you…"

"Oh…"

"The necklace belongs to Isis," Atem continued, "why were you in contact with her?"

"What do you mean?" Ryou shrugged, "I was in the palace jail, I met her then… is it really that important?"

"Ryou… why was the ruler there? Did he do anything while you were locked up?" Atem asked carefully, he knew the pale teen was hiding something but he didn't want to be up front instead he would slowly drain the information he wanted.

"Not really," Ryou shrugged, "Atem… you said to tell you if I ever feel uncomfortable correct? I'm uncomfortable."

"Oh," Atem sighed, "fine… I should go anyway before my actions are taken the wrong way by your brother or one of the Ishtar's," Atem stood up slowly, "come to me when you feel more comfortable to discuss this or just if you wish to talk about anything at all," Atem waved off the other teen leaving the room his curiosity rising, so what was the boy hiding?

Ryou just stared as the other teen left, he sighed heavily. What was he getting at? He slowly stood up and went to his door. Mariku, Marik and Bakura were in the next room, they were kind of whispering but somehow Akefia seemed to be trying to help him listen, "I don't need to hear, please stop," he whispered and slowly left the room walking towards the exits ignoring the lilac gaze he had attracted by his actions.

He breathed deeply walking out into the sun, it burnt slightly on his skin as he walked out and off towards one of the many little paths around the city, there was a little part of the city that was abandoned and run down. He had been taken to it once to show him what would happen without 'proper' order, he rubbed his arm awkwardly as the streets started to die off and none of his subjects were around now, he smiled walking into one of the abandoned warehouses and sitting on the ground facing the wall, it was pretty dark.

"Hey?" he called out a little nervously, "can you come out. Or are you stuck?" he shivered slightly as a thick purply black fog rolled in.

"No… not inside you at least," a shadow started to appear in front of him before the blackness drained away and a confused looking teen was left behind before he slowly glanced at how Ryou was sitting and copied, "I'm connected to you and the shadows and the ring you wear, it holds my spirit."

"Oh," Ryou reached into his shirt, it was glowing dimly, "it's you who makes it hot or glow?"

"Yeah," Akefia shrugged slightly, "you don't mind do you!?"

Ryou smiled shaking his head, "not at all… um, I actually wanted to talk to you. I didn't mean to shoot down your 'gifts', I'm sorry."

"Its fine host," Akefia reassured, he would tell his host whatever he needed to hear to gain his trust and thus corporation, then he would get the power he wanted. "but do you trust me?"

"Y-yes," Ryou nodded slightly, "hey… where do you stay?"

"What?"

"Where do you live."

"Inside you and the ring."

"Where exactly."

"I have a section in your mind," Akefia said quietly, "you don't mind do you."

"No, I was just curious… we were in my mind before. Weren't we?"

"Yes. I'm sorry if I freaked you out," Akefia blinked at Ryou like a curious child, "I'm—I was scared. I don't want you to reject me, your friends want you too."

"But that doesn't mean I'm going too," Ryou smiled sweetly, "even if I didn't realise it, you have been there for me… for a long time, thank you," he looked down nervously.

"Yanushi," Akefia's eyes sparkled, "I only want to protect you… and I can"

"Hey. Atem said I have other sennen items powers running through me— is that true?"

"Yeah," Akefia growled slightly, "Atem has always hated me… he doesn't trust me. Yet he's the manipulative one. You were right to send him away earlier." He didn't want Atem telling Ryou about him, he didn't want them talking ever.

"Do you know patty cake?"

"Patty cake?" Akefia tried to think, "I can't cook… watch," he turned and put his hand through the wall, I can only touch you while I'm like this."

"You can change?"

"Well I can touch anything inside your mind and I can possess your body and then do whatever," Akefia shrugged, "I don't do it really."

"My memory blanks?"

"Yeah."

"I'll teach you patty cake, it's a clapping game," Ryou smiled holding up his hands, "copy me… patty cake…patty cake, baker's man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can. Roll it, pat it, mark it with a B. Put it on the oven for baby and me." Ryou said calmly, "then repeat that once more and then get faster…"

"Oh? Patty cake, patty cake, bake men? Bake me cake quickly? Roll, pat, mark B, put in oven for baby and me?" Akefia tried to piece together the song, he needed his hosts trust and if this what it took. Fine. Let it be.

"Not quite," Ryou giggled, "try saying it in time with me, let's begin…" Akefia nodded.

"Patty cake, patty cake, baker's man. Bake me a cake as fast as you can…"

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Mariku sighed waiting around for Ryou to return, he wanted to speak to him… he had snuck out a couple of hours ago and hadn't come back, he was beginning to grow worried

He froze his pacing on the roof as he felt to brown eyes settle on him, he smirked jumping off the roof next to the albino, "where have you been?"

"Getting to know Akefia," Ryou said quietly.

"Oh…" Mariku looked away slightly, "was it fun?" he knew he probably shouldn't of been so protective of the other teen, but he was… Ryou was his.

"I suppose," Ryou smiled slightly, "why? You jealous?"

"N-no!" Mariku's cheeks dusted an embarrassing pink, "pfft."

"Good," Ryou smiled sweetly loving the colour on the others cheeks, "where are you going?" he blinked as Mariku seemed to turn off.

"I'm tired," he shrugged, "I'm going to go lie around on one of the fields in this town…want ta come?"

"Yep," Ryou smiled following Mariku out of the streets, he glanced at the other teen… he seemed slightly nervous, was it because of him?

Mariku smirked slightly leading Ryou out onto one of the grassy fields and just walking a bit down for more privacy before just flopping on the ground, he glanced as Ryou sat carefully down beside him, "sorry about having a private meeting without you earlier…"

"It's fine," Ryou smiled slightly, "sorry for sneaking off."

"Its cool," Mariku shrugged, "you look super awkward—something wrong?"

"N-no!" Ryou jumped slightly shaking his hands in front of his face violently.

Mariku raised an eyebrow sitting up and catching both of Ryou's wrist in his hands so he could stare at Ryou's slowly reddening face, "you have no need to be nervous around me."

"I'm not nervous Mariku," Ryou stared at Mariku with wide brown eyes as the other teen held his hands on either side of his face.

"Whats up then?"

"Nothing," Ryou looked down slightly before adding, "you know I meant it when I said I loved you?" he practically whispered it, but the other teen heard.

"Is that what this is about," Mariku chuckled, "I figured as much," he smirked slowly letting go of Ryou's hands, "why? Am I not doing something right?"

"N-no," Ryou jumped slightly, "no…that's not it, it's me. I just wanted you to know I was serious."

Mariku smirked slightly lifting up Ryou's chin to regain eye contact with the other teen, "if you like you can call me your boyfriend? And I'll call you mine~" Mariku suggested.

"Boyfriend," Ryou's face went completely red, if it wasn't red before…it was now, "I would love that," Ryou let a smile grace his lips happily at Mariku's smirking response.

"My little Boyfriend Bunny," Mariku smirked, "I love you~"

"I love you too," Ryou smiled happily.

"Hey?"

"Hm?"

"Since I'm your boyfriend now. Can I kiss you?"

"Um…" Ryou jumped at the question, "y-yes?" it felt a tad weird agreeing to that… but he didn't mind, he hadn't had a boyfriend or girlfriend before.

"You don't have to agree just because we're dating? You know that Ryou?" Mariku raised an eyebrow, "like I've never dated before…but yeah."

"No," Ryou shook his head, "it just feels awkward agreeing to that…I've never dated either and obviously I'm not a very experienced kisser…sorry."

"Why are you sorry?" Mariku chuckled leaning his head back to face the sky, "do you think everyone is just amazing when they first kiss? Though I got to admit, you're better then some other people I use to know," Mariku smirked cheekily turning back to Ryou sitting red as a tomato in front of him.

"Um," Ryou looked down awkwardly, but was soon distracted as Mariku kissed him briefly before pulling away.

"See?" he chuckled as Ryou's eyes rose up to meet his lilac ones, "remember my offer from the lake that day~ It's still open~"

Ryou smiled slightly embarrassed, he wasn't overly good at all this, "I don't mind?"

"Your so cute when you blush you know that?" Mariku chuckled .

"You too," Ryou said quietly averting his eyes.

"Can't say I've heard that before," Mariku smirked rubbing down Ryou's cheek lovingly, "then again not many people can say they've seen me blush before?"

"I have," Ryou smiled hosting himself up slightly and kissing Mariku on the forehead, "see?"

"Very cheeky bunny," Mariku chuckled, "but you're still redder~"

Ryou pouted placing a kiss on Mariku's cheek hoping for more colour, but it was hard to draw it out on his tanned skin compared to his pale skin where the slightest change in colour was noticeable, "bleh!" Ryou giggled slightly licking Mariku's cheek, "your way redder now!" he smiled in sweet victory.

"Now it's on little bunny," Mariku smirked leaning in a kissing Ryou, happy he wasn't pulling away instead participating as much as he could while both their faces turned deeper reds, Mariku tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss, still please it probably wasn't going to end awkwardly like the other times he had kissed the teen… he slowly snaked his hands around the albino's back pulling him close as he slowly leant back onto the grass.

Ryou didn't mind, Mariku was his boyfriend now… kissing was a part of that. He pulled away carefully. "Wm…" he looked away slightly kind of embarrassed to say it, "I want to kiss you…and you said when I wanted to kiss someone, I should ask about the… tongue thing everyone else seems to know about?" he felt stupid asking… but he loved Mariku and if anyone was going to explain it why not him?

"Oh… that," Mariku licked his lips trying to think how to explain to the other teen, he wasn't really sure how to explain, it was awkward thing to just explain, "well… I'm not sure how to explain," Mariku admitted, "I can show you? do you trust me?"

"I trust you…" Ryou nodded slightly, "you can if you wanted too…"

Mariku shrugged slightly, "just tell me if you're uncomfortable," he didn't want to scare off his little bunny, Ryou nodded slightly as Mariku lent in a started to kiss him as per normal, but then using his tongue to try opening Ryou's mouth slightly. Ryou didn't protest, but his eyes did fly open as the other teens tongue entered his mouth, Mariku seemed to know what he was doing. Mariku pulled away slightly, "do you understand it now?"

"Um," Ryou was flushed a deep red colour just staring at Mariku blankly, he did and didn't understand at the same time… it was weird, he couldn't tell if he liked it or not… "I'm still confused," he finally admitted.

"Hm," Mariku tried to think how to respond, "tell me what confuses you?"

"I'm not really sure," Ryou sighed, "I just don't get it…"

"Well it's not important anyway," Mariku shrugged.

"But everyone else gets it… I want to get it," Ryou pouted childishly.

"It doesn't really mean much," Mariku shrugged, "we can always try again?"

"I guess so?" Ryou shrugged slightly, "I don't mind either way…"

"Your a cutie," Mariku chuckled, he leant up kissing Ryou's cheek lovingly,

"Why?"

"You just are."

"Oh…"

"I love you," Mariku smirked hugging the pale teen closer.

"I love you too," Ryou sighed snuggling into Mariku's chest, his father would kill him if he saw him now… he glanced up at Mariku just lazing underneath him, he bit his lip slightly before quickly darting up to kiss the other teen on the lips. He had always just let Mariku do it… Mariku smirked at the action, he sat up slightly.

"Ryou," Mariku chuckled, "if you really wanted to kiss all you had to do is ask~" he winked cheekily taking Ryou and pressing their lips together, before pulling away to leave a trail of kissed up Ryou's neck… he smirked staring up at Ryou for a moment, before flipping him over so he was now on top, hovering above Ryou and he was lying flat on the ground under his boyfriend, leaning in the kiss up along his neck more, leaving little bites here and there.

"Hey," Ryou pouted slightly, "I don't have many shirts that cover my neck… last time you bit me it left marks…" Ryou hadn't originally had the slightest idea on how he got little marks, but he was hanging out with Katio and she pointed them out and ask who it was… she explained it to him… he felt like an idiot asking sometimes.

"Its meant to," Mariku smirked, "I'll get you new shirts"

"It's not that easy," Ryou giggled slightly as Mariku carefully licked over the places he bit.

"There… I'm making it all better," Mariku smirked.

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Thankyou for reading

I've been just too lazy to grammar check. Sorry. Hope you like this chapter! I should of updated sooner so sorry about that!

Also just wanted to tell everyone I think I have about 10 chapters left of this story? so 64 chapters. Hmmm