Sorry for taking so long. Finished the fic…then when I finally got around to putting it up, my disk wouldn't work so I had to rewrite the whole thing T-T. Oh well, here's the alternate ending. Read the ending, there's a lil preview of the sequel to the original ending that I'm writing . Well, enjoy!
Disclaimer: In my dreams. Only.
Warning: Shounen-ai… Don't read if you are going to complain. I've already warned you…many many times.
Only Your Heart Knows Why – Alternate Ending: Together
Bakura followed the direction the Sennen Ring was tugging him toward.
As he walked things began to look extremely familiar. Suddenly he found himself in his front yard.
He frowned. Why did the Ring lead him here? No one was around.
Bakura stood in bafflement, unsure of what to do.
When he had left the Kaiba mansion, he had started heading toward the Game Shop, as that was most likely where the Pharaoh would have been.
But the Ring tugged him in the other direction. And that was how he ended up here.
A soft rustling from the tree caught his attention.
"Who's there?"
His only reply was the sound of a thud on the ground. It sounded like someone or something had jumped from the tree.
The Ring was pointed exactly in the direction the sound came from.
Bakura walked cautiously over to the tree, uncertain what he would find.
He found Yami sitting against the tree.
Bakura stopped in his tracks, afraid to say anything.
"What are you doing here?" Yami asked without turning around.
"I came to apologi-…" Bakura started.
"You have nothing to apologize for. You did nothing wrong."
"Yami, please…"
Yami interrupted him.
"You want me forgive you." It was a statement rather than a question.
"Yes."
"I can't."
It was Bakura's turn to ask. "Why?"
"Because there is nothing to forgive…"
"But…"
"And my forgiveness is not what you are really asking of me."
Bakura looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"You want my love."
Silence fell as Bakura pondered. Yami sat quietly, his breathing faintly labored.
"Yes…"
Yami broke out in harsh laughter.
"What is so hilarious?" Bakura demanded.
"You want my love. But how can you expect my love when your heart is with another?"
"But…I do love you."
"No, Bakura." Yami shook his head. "You are not in love, just merely infatuated with the one who got away."
"I know what I feel Yami. And I do love you."
Yami looked up at Bakura, crimson eyes piercing. "Then answer me this Bakura. Who do you love more? Me or Malik?"
"I…" Bakura was silent.
A bittersweet smile made its presence on Yami's lips.
"Having trouble deciding Bakura?" Yami scoffed.
Bakura did not reply, deep in thoughts.
"Remember Bakura. You can have one or the other. But you can't have both."
Yami stood up, leaning his weight against the tree.
Bakura snapped out of his daze and frowned, something didn't seem right with Yami. "Yami, are you alright?" He asked, walking closer to him.
"Get away from me!" Yami snapped sharply. His voice softened. "I'm fine."
"You're hiding something." Bakura stated. He didn't know what was wrong, but he sensed something was.
"Nothing's wrong. I'm fine." Yami said stubbornly.
"Get away from the tree." Bakura instructed.
"Why? I like it fine here."
"So I was right, something is wrong."
"Nothing's wrong."
"Prove it."
"I don't need to prove anything to you, Bakura." Yami bit out.
"I won't leave you alone until you prove to me you are alright."
"Fine." Yami pulled his weight off the tree.
Bakura saw Yami wince as he shifted his weight onto both legs.
"What happened to your leg?"
"Nothing."
Bakura walked over to Yami, who tried to back away. "I'm fi- Ow…damn it."
"You hurt your leg when you jumped, didn't you?"
"Nothing happened to my leg." Yami insisted. "Its…"
He was push to the ground, away from the tree, his weight landing on his left leg. "Ouch, what the hell was that for?"
"Get up."
"What?"
"Get up." Bakura said, look at Yami coldly.
Yami glared at Bakura as he tried to stand up on his right leg. He was only successful in inducing more pain in his leg.
The coldness disappeared from Bakura's face as he kneeled down by Yami.
"I'm sorry…but you're so stubborn sometimes." Yami watched as Bakura checked his leg.
"You never answered my question, Bakura."
Bakura looked at him. "I love you."
"Bakura…"
"I do. Just believe me."
"How can I?"
"I'd do anything for you Yami. I'd give my life. Everything. Just to see you happy." Bakura turned his eyes back to Yami's leg.
"Ba-"
"No broken bones, but you twisted your ankle. Let's go inside the house." Bakura helped Yami stand up. "Lean on me. I'll help you walk."
Yami leaned against Bakura, taking care to avoid putting any weight on his right leg.
They walked silently to the house.
Bakura watched Yami as he watched the fire. "Yami."
"Hm…?"
"How's your ankle?"
"It feels better, thank you."
"Oh, that's good." Bakura swallowed.
"Do you still love me, Yami?"
He was answered with another question. "Do you love Malik?"
"N-…"
"Truthfully."
"Yes…I do."
"I don't want to hurt anymore, Bakura. I've spent the last three years with more sleepless nights than I can count. I wanted to come back here. But I couldn't because seeing you with him brings me more pain than I want to feel. So I hated you. I tried to forget you. I couldn't, not without the stabbing pain in my heart from knowing you were with someone else. And that you've forgotten me."
Bakura got up suddenly and walked up the stairs.
Yami sighed. 'He won't leave Malik. He loves him too much.'
A silver box appeared in his view. Yami looked up in surprise. "What's this?"
Bakura handed him a key and sat down next to him on the couch. Yami opened the lock. Inside it was another box.
Tears brimmed in Yami's eyes when he saw the wristband. "You kept it."
"I didn't forget you. I couldn't. You were my life. My everything."
"Malik…"
"I love him, yes. But he doesn't really love me."
"What do you mean?"
"Malik did it to spite
you. He hated you. It was revenge for him. To him, it's fun
and games. He cared for me, but not enough to love me."
"If you knew that, why did you…?"
"Because I needed someone. And Malik was there. I grew to love him. He was someone I could lean on. Though his intentions weren't true, he was always there when I needed him."
Yami buried his face in Bakura's shirt. "I hate you, Bakura! I hate you! Why can't I ever get away from you? Why? Why do I still love you? You've caused me so much pain, yet I still love you. Why? "
Bakura wrapped his arms tightly around Yami and burying his nose in the tri-colored hair. "I'm sorry that I've caused you so much pain. I never meant to. Please, forgive me. Please, let me in again."
"Why do I still love you?" The spirit of the puzzle sobbed.
"I don't know. Only your heart knows why. Only it knows why."
"I love you so much that I hate you. Don't leave me again, Bakura, please, don't ever leave me again."
"I won't. Nothing can make me go. I'll always be here from now on."
Yami and Bakura clung tightly to each other, neither wanting to let go.
Malik watched the sleeping pair on the couch from the doorway. He felt no bitterness or anger toward Bakura. Or Yami either.
He had known when Bakura had left the mansion. He had suspected when Ryou said Bakura wasn't feeling well.
Malik had not been surprised to find him with Yami. He had come to say goodbye.
"Well, they seem content, don't they?" Malik leaned into the arms that wrapped around his waist.
"Yes they do. I regret breaking them up."
"Vengeance can make you do dumb things. Come on, we should go."
"Yes." Malik pulled away and walked over to Bakura. He placed a letter on the table. Malik watched Bakura fondly before leaning over and kissing him lightly on the forehead. "Goodbye."
He walked over to where his love was waiting. "We can leave now."
They walked out the door, locking it behind them. Malik slipped his key under the doormat then straightened up.
"Aishiteru, Mariku." Malik smiled turning to his Yami.
"I love you too, Malik." They shared a gentle kiss on the doorstep before walking away.
Bakura awoke groggily as the sun shone throw the window, disturbing his sleep.
He smiled as he watched Yami asleep against him.
Bakura noticed the letter on the desk and reached over to get it, trying not to awaken Yami.
"Hm…what's that?" Yami asked, stretching slightly.
"Morning. It seems to be a letter."
"Who's it from?"
"Malik." Bakura felt Yami flinched slightly and wrapped a comforting arm around Yami's waist.
He read the letter out loud.
Dear Bakura,
I am writing to inform you that I am returning to Egypt to finish some work.
I never loved you. I'm sure you knew that. You have been a great friend and a great koi. But love is not with you.
Thank you for everything you've done for me. You've been there for me when I was in need.
I apologize to you and to Yami for all the pain I've caused both of you. My vengeance against Yami got the best of me. Please forgive me.
I wish you two the best of luck and happiness. Ra bless you two.
You will always be my best friend, Bakura and hold a place in my heart and memories.
We will meet again and this time, maybe both of us will be happy.
Sayonara. And Mariku says hi and goodbye also.
Your friend,
Malik
Bakura smiled.
Yami blinked. "Malik and Mariku?"
"Yes."
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"What are you smiling about?"
"Things are finally going upwards. Everyone is content."
Yami looked up at Bakura. "I don't really care at the moment. I just want to be with you forever."
"Nothing will tear me away from you again." Bakura kissed Yami gently. "Here."
Bakura pulled the locket over Yami's head and fastened it. "It's finally where it was meant to be. And so am I."
Outside the tree in the yard bloomed with red and white blossoms, intertwined like the pair on the couch.
The sun was out, reflecting off the snow.
Everything was where they belong. And love made everything right again.
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End of fic.
Well, how did you like it? It wasn't too bad was it?
© Todokanunegai 3-22-03
