YA: Yea yea! I'm glad folks thought the last chapter was cute. I thought it was pretty cute too but I could have done better. *ahem* Like I said, we are far from over—
Ryou: Exactly how many chapters are we expecting from this chapter? *looks a review* One reviewer hopes this story isn't going to end soon.
YA: Well, I'm glad you asked that. This story is not going to end for a long while and it's going to get more complicated.
Ryou: I want to fight someone! Every time I get the chance, you won't let me or Bakura steps in!!
YA: You'll get your chance kid. Soon, soon you'll see. Just wait a minute! Shout outs!!
Zuzanny: Sho is dead!! Mwa ha ha!! I'm so glad I got rid of that punk. Anaku is next!
SSCeles: Oh ho ho! I'm going to get spanked for this chapter. Things seem to be getting worse for each chapter! XD
Firedraygon97: Got another Sho hater! Yahoo! Anaku gonna die! Anaku's gonna die!!
R Amythest: Thank you kindly for the compliment! And I'm glad that you don't think Bakura's OOC. I think he is very much so…but…and thanks for adding me to your favorite story!! XD
Ranma Higurashi: Here's another chappie for you! I'm glad you like the story very much! *so happy*
Flaming Heart: Aiya, I like that name! Thanks for the compliment! Here's an update!
Karadaki: Yeah! I thought the spice sucked a little! Guess not!
Queen of Shadows: Normally I'm not excited about stories either but hey, that makes me happy to know that you are super eager to figure out what happens! XD You wont be disappointed.
Sora the Saria: Ah…you don't know who Malik is?? Aiya, you gotta find some info about him before reading this chapter! I can't give it away!!
Bakura: I want a lemon!!
YA: No!
Bakura: LEMON!!
YA: NO!
Bakura: LEMON, LEMON, LEMON!!!!
YA: NO! NO! NO!
Professor: If I ever catch your hands on my child! I kill you!
YA: *sighs* Anyway, thanks to all of the nice reviewers for giving me those nice reviews and passing 100!!! Whoo hoo! *throws confetti* and saying how good this fic is. I'm still looking for a better one than mine. I just haven't had time.
Bakura: Lemon.
YA: Spice is all you're getting, so shut up!
Bakura: Lemony Spice!!!
YA: Close enough…Anyway, this chapter has more to do with Bakura's past but it ties in with the rest of the story eventually. I'm sorry to say that this chapter will carry a little bit more incest. Onward!!
*~*~*~*~*~* Somebody's Watching me (No Privacy) Part I *~*~*~*~*~*~
"11:00pm…where is he?" Ryou glanced over at his alarm clock, careful not to wake Bakura who was sleeping soundly on him. The bright red numbers burned through the darkness, casting a small glow on Ryou's already flushed cheeks. His father left to escort Josie home but that was hours ago, meaning about 5:00pm. It seems that his father left to have a little fun, and the thought of "fun" angered Ryou to the pit of his stomach.
Carefully, oh so carefully, Ryou slid from under Bakura so not to wake him and to his amazement, he did it successfully. Maybe a hot bath would get his mind off of things and spare more time for his father to come home. The trip to the bathroom wasn't too far from the bedroom, making it there without making any noise proved to be a challenge. Ryou whimpered silently when his tiny foot touched the cold tiled floor of the bathroom. In front of the mirror Ryou removed his shirt, gasping at the marks Bakura left on him while he was asleep.
"Aw, Bakura!" he whined quietly. "How am I going to explain this to dad?" Removing the last remaining article of clothing, Ryou turned the knobs of the tub, measured the water to a nice temperature and stepped in while the water filled the tub. Bakura stirred in bed and opened a sleepy eye to hear the sound of running water. A smile crept on his face at the thought of Ryou, reminiscing from the previous bath he shared with him before. On his toes, he snuck out the room to the doorway of the bathtub. Before he could make his entrance the doorbell rung.
"Nice." Ryou said sarcastically. He was just about to get out when he spotted Bakura passing by the door. "Get it, Bakura?" he pleaded. Bakura mumbled something under his breath but left to answer anyway. If it was the Professor, there was no way he could join Ryou and that would disappoint him greatly. When he opened the door, Bakura's eyes doubled the size they were and he choked on his own breath. There stood before him was Malik in a violet robe shivering from the cold outside. Through the long thick blonde bangs, two violet eyes stared at him pleadingly and filled with loneliness. Bakura's attitude completely changed from hostile to caring.
"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.
"Why Bakura?" Malik asked. His voice sent small shivers down Bakura's back while many memories of forbidden nights filled his mind. "Why didn't you kill me? You left me alone…twice…" Bakura swallowed hard trying best to keep himself calm but it was no use, he couldn't stop himself from being so nervous. Bakura invited Malik in, closing the door softly behind him to keep in the warmth of the house. Bakura remained by the door while Malik traveled towards the fire place. Neither made further eye contact. Bakura scratched his head nervously.
"I couldn't find it in my heart to kill you, Malik." There was a long pause. "It might sound like I've gotten soft but I just couldn't. You are still as beautiful as the day I left you. How could I kill you?" Malik shivered again, but from distress more than the cold.
"The question is Bakura: How could you leave me? I thought I meant so much to you." Malik turned to face him, looking gorgeous to Bakura's eyes as his violet robe shifted around him with every movement he made. More silence; silence that killed Malik with every second of his being there with Bakura. "You don't love me anymore…" The final words tore at Bakura's heart. So final, so icy and sad. He could actually see the words that have been said.
"Don't say that, Malik." Bakura carefully treaded to Malik, placing firm hands on his shoulders. "Don't ever say that. It wasn't my fault that I left you the first time."
[Flash Back]
"Come on Bakura! You're slowing me down!"
"Wait father! I can't keep up!"
"Can't keep up? Then you're no good to me. Give me the bag!"
"But father! Just wait for me!" Out of Bakura's hands, the bag of treasure was snatched from his grips to the hands of his father. The city around them was engulfed in fiery flames of fire from a previous battle. Khan thought this would be the most appriopiate time to steal from vulnerable houses, using Bakura's ability of speed and swiftness along with fitting into small places. Things were going well for them until the fire grew along the city, creating a panic among the civilians. Through the streets, people ran with few belongings, crushing Bakura and separating him from his father until he was completely out of sight.
Bakura stood there in the middle of the crowd, lost and confused. How his father abandoned him, left him in a daze until a small cry of help was heard. The cry got louder and was more distressed with every call. Bakura listened carefully despite the screaming crowd. It came from a burning building from behind him, almost already in ashes. Bakura rushed to it quickly, kicking down the collapsed entranced and stepping into the fire filled room. It was like hell itself but the cry was coming from upstairs and getting louder.
The stone steps were still in good shape; Bakura ran up them with no trouble and kicked down another collapsed door where the scream was coming from. Through the roar of the fire, Bakura heard loud sobs of pain coming from the corner of the room that hasn't been touched with the dangerous flames yet. Carefully, he edged closer and saw a boy shaking violently. He couldn't tell if he was scared or hurt. It didn't matter at the moment; he just had to get him out fast. Bakura wrapped his arms around the ash-covered boy, lifting him from the floor and holding him close to him. He looked frantically around the room for the exit but it collapsed again and the fire wall was too big to go through. His next option was the window across the room. It would take a fast dash across the room in order not to get burned, but that was a risk Bakura almost had no choice in making.
The smoke gathered in the room making it harder for both of them not to breathe and making it harder for Bakura to see. His eyes were burning with constant tears building up making his vision blurry. The path was set and the choice was made. Bakura dashed across the room and crashed through the window. Gratefully, they landed in an abandoned cart below near the entrance. By this time the most of the crowd left the city leaving a clear way out of the shambled city. Up north was where they were heading, an area Bakura was mostly familiar with. In his arms, the boy wasn't making any noise or moving, Bakura hoped he wasn't dead.
In the middle of the run there was a clear lake. Bakura knelt down beside the shore, spilling the boy from his grasp. From the looks of it, he was burnt badly, black all over or that could have been from the cinder. Under his shirt was a big cloth that he dipped into the lake beside him. The first thing he wanted to see was his face. Gently, he rubbed his face which to his surprise wasn't burnt at all. Instead, with the cinder coming off easily, his face reveled to be a smooth cinnamon color. But he still wasn't breathing right. Bakura though the smoked filled clothes he was wearing was suffocating him. Immediately, he tore them off just leaving behind his undergarment. No response. Trying a different strategy, Bakura rubbed his chest viciously to stimulate them. After a few tries, it didn't work. There was one last thing he could do. Bending over to hear if there was a heart beat, which there was barely a few, Bakura lifted the boy's head parting his lips and placed his own mouth over his to blow air inside. More tries and the boy coughed taking in deep gulps of air as well. Bakura sighed with relief and backed away to give the boy more room. He shook a little to regain his breath but finally opened his eyes. Bakura held in the gasp he wanted to release when the sensitive lilac eyes fell upon his. They were absolutely stunning to look at!
"Thank you." He said weakly. "I really appreciate what you did for me." He sat up holding his head as if to clear it from further smoke. "My family left me and I didn't think anybody heard me up there." Bakura lowered his head in sadness.
"You're not alone in that subject." He said. The boy blinked at him but then narrowed his eyes in concerned.
"You were abandoned too?" he asked and Bakura answered him with a nod. "I'm so sorry to hear that. But you're not from around here are you?"
"No, I'm from down south." Bakura hated that this conversation was eventually going to lead to his family so he quickly changed the subject. "What happened to the city?" The boy growled to himself, sustaining his hidden anger.
"The Pharaoh wanted to clear the city of its 'riff-raff' so he started the fire to drive out the inhabitants." The boy's face twisted into a small look of sadness before a small, quick sob escaped. "…killed my father in the process!" Bakura looked across the lake to see the tall, looming palace that held the Pharaoh inside. Instantly, he began getting ideas about robbing the palace. He wasn't sure if he would get away with it without his father there, but he had to grow up sometime.
"What's your name, boy?" Bakura asked.
"Malik." The boy sniffed.
"I'm Bakura. I wish that we had met in better circumstances but we have a lot more in common that I thought." Bakura scratched his chin in a thoughtful manner before continuing on. "Perhaps you can help me just as I had helped you." Malik stood up, unsteady at first but he regained his balanced shortly after.
"I'll do anything for you." Bakura laughed inwardly at his sudden enthusiasm.
[End of Flashback]
By this time, Bakura was cuddling Malik in front of the fireplace, holding him closely as they remembered the first time they met. Malik leaned in warmly into Bakura's strong hold and closed his eyes.
"I'll never forget that day. That day when I thought I was going to die." He said.
"I would like to forget it." Chuckled Bakura. "What I can't forget was how we successfully robbed the palace without getting caught." Bakura gripped Malik tighter, rubbing his face into his hair. "You were the best partner I ever had." With one hand Malik unbuttoned Bakura's shirt, reveling his broad tanned chest, and to those who's never seen it before, a few scars were laid across it. Professor was the only one to see his chest the first time they healed him, but he probably mistaken them for the injures of the car accident.
"No one can love you like I did and leave their marks with you forever…"
[Flash back]
Nearly after a year of robbing the Pharaoh without getting caught, Malik and Bakura were indeed found but not by palace guards. It was Khan and his new crew of bandits. Word in town and different cities scattered across Egypt was said that a young man with fierce white hair accompanied by another was robbing the palace and becoming one of the most feared Bandits in years.
"I just had to see it for myself and I was right." Khan said, tighten the ropes that bound Malik to a pole near the camping tents. "You have grown up, Bakura. And you did this all without me. My lifetime of teaching comes with a price." Khan dug around in the sack of new treasures that Bakura has stolen before they were captured. Two strong men, one who was Chike held Bakura to the ground. As much a Bakura tried, he could not break free from the strong hold.
"Take what you want!" he spat. "But leave Malik out of this!"
"I was hoping you would say something like that my son—"
"I'm not your son!" Bakura interrupted. "Don't call me that! You don't deserve to be my father you—"A harsh fist from Chike made contact with Bakura's face, shutting him off temporarily.
"As I was saying, I was hoping you would say something like that…Bakura…because what I want is YOU!" Khan looked at Malik hungrily as new thoughts gathered in his mind. "But I don't want to leave Malik out of the fun."
"You touch him and I'll kill you!" Khan made a 'tsk' noise from his son's remark. "I swear it! This isn't like old times, Khan! You can't pin me down as easily, I've gotten stronger."
"Who said I was the only one who is going to pin you down?" The tall figure loomed over Bakura licking his lips eagerly. "You see it took both my men to hold you down steady." Bakura recognized the look in his father's eyes. It was the same look that was given to him before when they were alone, hiding from a long day's work of stealing. "Flip him over." He commanded. Struggling much, they were able to flip Bakura on his stomach. Bakura turned his head so he could face Malik. The boy before him face dropped in compassion, he was full aware of what was happening.
"Close your eyes, Malik!" Bakura hollered.
"But Bakura!" Malik cried, struggling to help himself out from being tied up to the pole. It was useless, he was bound for good.
"I said, 'Close them!' Now!" Regretfully, Malik turned his head and closed his eyes sharply. But nothing could block out the sounds, which killed him more inside. He could only imagine the pain Bakura was going through, through his screams; through the others struggling to hold him in place…through is father…so much to hear and so much to feel. It mentally wore Malik out, until subconsciously he went to sleep. Long after, he could feel another presence near him but it wasn't Bakura. Opening his eyes, Khan was trailing towards him, and he looked well rested. To the right, laid Bakura, resting quietly but his body presented his humiliation and exhaustion.
"You finally woke up, hmm little boy?" Khan grasped Malik's chin and studied his looks carefully. "My, my! You are a gorgeous one. Prettier than my own boy I should say." Malik whimpered softly trying to escape from the man's hold. "Don't be afraid. You'll have to be spoiled someday."
"That day will never come." A voice behind him said. Khan turned with a large smirk on his face.
"Had enough, Bakura?" Khan asked. Bakura advanced towards Khan at a rapid pace and pulled him away from Malik.
"You can have me again if it pleases you, but I will not allow you to lay a hand on Malik!" There was infinite disgust written on Bakura's face, but he'd do anything to protect his friend. "I won't put up a fight!"
"It was your call, Bakura, not mine. So don't hold that against me." Khan stood up and pointed to his tent. Bakura followed but was stopped by Malik's small call.
"You don't have to do this." He cried. Bakura placed a hand on Malik's head and gently stroked the golden locks.
"I'll do anything for you. Isn't that what you told me when we first met?" Tearfully Malik nodded. "I feel the same way. Just as long as you stay with me." Malik lifted his head allowing Bakura's head to slide to his face. "I'll be back for you. We'll escape tonight."
Hours later, Bakura gently shook Malik to wake him. A small groan escaped Malik, more exhaustion took over but he was greatly relieved to see Bakura. In his hand was a small blade, one that he's stolen from Khan. With a few cuts, Malik finally broke free. The rest of the camp slept while Bakura and Malik slipped past into the hills further south from the camp. They stopped under a tree, Bakura leaning on it for great support, clutching his chest as in pain. Malik saw blood on his chest and mistaken it for an injury.
"You're hurt!" Malik cried. But Bakura shook his head in protest.
"This isn't my blood, Malik don't worry."
"How were you able to escape?" Malik asked. Bakura pulled out the same blade he used to cut his friend free.
"Khan had this beside the bed, so while he was 'finishing' I grabbed it and stabbed him." Bakura shuddered a bit. "I didn't see where the blade went until he fell over. It aimed straight for his chest."
"Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes but, Ra, it hurts. It hurts like I stabbed my own self…" he clutched his chest harder taking big breaths. "I killed him and I think it's taking my own life." Malik pressed on him to sit down near the base of the tree. He took the blade from Bakura's hands and ripped his shirt opened.
"A friend of mine used to say this. 'Blood for Blood and you shall be cleansed.'" He placed the blade on his chest, right above Bakura's heart and pressed hard on it, drawing blood. The pain didn't trouble Bakura because he's felt worse and he had the feeling that Malik was doing him a favor rather than hurting him. The warm blood of Bakura dripped down his chest, not getting far when Malik bent forward using his mouth to catch the sticky liquid. Although the process didn't faze Bakura, Malik's actions surprised him greatly. Another cut was made, on the left side of Bakura and it was repeated lastly with a lower cut on the right side. All have been cleansed with the "purity" of Malik's mouth, Bakura has been licked clean. Malik looked up at Bakura, smiling widely and licking the last bit of blood on his mouth.
"Feel better?" he asked. Bakura took both of Malik's wrists into his own, lowering him down onto the ground. Bakura wanted to taste what was inside of Malik. Was his own blood so pure that it was actually good to the taste of Malik? He had to know for himself. He lowered himself onto Malik and kissed him, gathering as much as he could from the other's mouth. Malik had so much more to offer, more than the already copper like taste that was inside. Malik's eyes flared but lowered in a loving manner. He took it what Bakura was asking for and submitted, inviting the warm bask of the new dawn to overcome the. Start of a new day, and the start of a new relationship.
[End of Flashback]
Bakura's hand could feel a small wetness, a drop after another one and small sniffing coming from below him. He held the small boy as close as he could. If Malik couldn't hear his words, then by Ra, let him hear the honesty in his heartbeat.
"What happened, Bakura? I thought we had everything…why did you leave me?"
"I told you Malik, I didn't leave you. I would never leave you." Bakura felt as if he was on the verge of tears himself but for the sake of Malik, quieted the emotions. "It was the Pharaoh's fault that I disappeared." In his hold, Bakura felt Malik tightened.
"Again, he took the one I loved dearly away from me!" he growled.
"Yes." Bakura nodded. "And all because we wanted to take part in the Shadow Games. Who would have known that the darkness has offered itself to grant us powers to summon monsters?"
"A become a threat the world. Honestly Bakura, I don't think we were so dangerous!"
"I don't know about you, but my powers have evolved the more I spent time in that ring." Bakura shook from the thought of the ring. "That terrible place! I wish that on no one except the pharaoh himself."
[Last Flashback]
"I got him, Gahigi! Boy he's hard to tackle!"
"NO! Let him go!"
"Get the other boy too, Manu!"
"Leave him out of this! I'm the one who stole it! Take me!"
"Shut up, Robber!" One of the guards firmly slapped Bakura knocking him to the floor. The treasure he was holding in his hand bounced out and slid across the floor to a pair of small feet. The figure picked up the treasure and smiled grimly. The guards immediately stopped tackling the boys and bowed respectivly.
"We finally caught them, Golden One." The guard named Manu said. "These are the two that's been robbing you this last couple of years." The Pharaoh jiggled the small treasure in his hand creating a ringing sound.
"I knew he'd be after this. I foresaw it." The pharaoh stated. "Gentlemen, if he wants it so bad then I say we give it to him." Both Malik and Bakura stared at the king in disbelief. If they knew he would just hand over his treasure, they wouldn't go through much trouble to steal it, right? "Take the smaller one away and throw him outside. I'm more interested this robber here." Protesting, Malik struggled to remain by Bakura's side and all Bakura could do was look at him longingly. The Pharaoh came closer and handed the treasure to Bakura.
"It's an interesting treasure isn't it? I call it the Sennen Ring. It has the power to send people's souls to the shadow realm!"
"So why are you giving it to me? I can send your soul there if granted. How can you trust me to take it?" The pharaoh chuckled loudly, or more so victoriously.
"No, I think you're mistaken. You're the first to go there."
"What? Wha--?" With a wave of his hand the Pharaoh emitted a strange golden light, cased with a hint of darkness. Before long, Bakura felt as if his soul was being ripped from his body in a painful manner and then slipped into the darkness of the ring.
[End of Flashback]
"Stop it Malik! I don't want to think about it anymore!" Malik lifted his head so he was facing Bakura's stern face, almost cast in shadows with the dancing flames.
"What hurts you more? Being away from me so long or being in the dreaded ring?" Bakura gave no answer, instead lowered his head so his lips met Malik's for the first time in over 3,000 years…
Upstairs, Ryou wondered why it was so long before Bakura came back up stairs maybe to join him in the bath. Curiously, he got out and dressed himself, slowly peering from the upstairs banister to see Bakura inviting a boy inside the house. The talked for a while, then sat in front of the fireplace conversing more…that is until they kissed each other. Ryou leaned back in shock. It was like they were long lost lovers or something. Something that they had way before he met Bakura and suddenly Ryou was starting to feel neglected and selfish. Although the feelings were beginning to overwhelm him, he couldn't help but feel another presence near him…like somebody was watching him…
TBC
YA: Aiya, what a long chapter!
Bakura: There she goes, leaving another evil cliff hanger like last time.
Ryou: Why does everything happen to me? Somebody's watching me!
YA: Yes, somebody is watching you, but who can it be? *gasp* Could it be your father???
Ryou: NOOOOOOO!!!!!
YA: Okay, I hope you don't mind, I know this is supposed to be a Ryou/Bakura fic and trust me it'll stay this way. But to keep the story going, I needed to put Malik in it. They'll share something for a moment, but eventually—
Bakura: Hush hush! You're ruining the story!!!
YA: Right. You'll have to wait until the next chapter. Need help though, and I really need your help. I wanted to know if I should give Bakura and Malik a quick spicy scene in the next chapter or not. Please let me know, if I don't get an answer than I'll probably consider letting them do so. So what shall it be? And I dunno, if Ryou is feeling left out, maybe he should get some spice too.
Ryou: From who?
YA: That'll spoil the next chapter. *grins* Please review!
