This is it…the last chappie…:sobs::
*Realization*
"Mariku…" Came a hushed voice.
Mariku simply moaned as he tightened his grip on Ryou, trying to get comfortable, a task which he rendered impossible due to the fact that he was sleeping on rocks.
"Mariku…get up."
"Whos ser? Huh…"
"It's me, Malik…c'mon, get up." Malik nudged him in the ribs.
"Go away." Mariku muttered.
"Get up." Malik poked him harder, and continued poking him until he finally sat up.
"Watta want?" Mariku asked with slightly slurred speech.
"Shh…keep it down…we don't wanna wake him up." He said, pointing to Ryou.
"Why are you waking me up in the middle of the night?" He asked, not bothering to lower his voice, Malik was pissing him off.
"Just come with me…you'll see." Mariku noticed something unusual about the tone in Malik's voice. It was almost as if he was amused by something. But what the hell could he be up to at this hour? Malik helped the confused yami to his feet and led him out of the cave, leaving Ryou behind. Mariku shivered slightly, suddenly being exposed to the cool night air.
"Do you think it's safe to leave him alone?" Mariku questioned, sounding worried, looking back at the cave as they continued to travel further and further away from it.
"Sure, he'll be fine. Now…just come along." Malik tugged on him.
They walked for a while in awkward silence until Mariku noticed a figure coming towards them.
"Hey," He said as he squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look, "Isn't that Bakura?" He said, pointing to the figure as it grew closer.
"Why, yes…yes it is…here, stand right here." Malik directed him to a spot and they just stood there until Bakura was a little closer…close enough for him to see what they were doing.
"Malik, what the-" Mariku started, but he was quickly pulled to the ground as Malik started to kiss him.
Malik removed Mariku's shirt and began to kiss up his chest. Mariku tried to protest, but Malik was too strong, much stronger in fact, then he remembered him being.
"Stop struggling!" Malik hissed, placing his hands down on Mariku's shoulders to keep him from moving and digging his nails into his skin.
"Ow!" Mariku yelled.
"Shut up."
Malik continued to assault Mariku's lips until Bakura came close. Then without warning, Malik flipped over and put Mariku on top, still digging his nails into the dark one's skin.
"Bakura!" He screamed while still making sure that Mariku couldn't move. "Bakura, help me!" He pretended to struggle against Mariku when he saw that Bakura was coming closer.
Faintly Mariku could here the running footsteps of the tomb robber as they approached. He desperately tried to move away from Malik, but the boy's grip was steadfast. Then he felt Bakura grip him by the hair and pull him off Malik.
"Thank you Ba-" He started. But he should have known that Bakura didn't come to help him.
"You sick fuck!" Bakura yelled before he nailed Mariku in the chest.
"Wait-" Mariku wheezed, stumbling backwards wrapping his arms around himself.
"Shut up!" Bakura extended his leg and knocked the fiend to the ground, ascending down upon him and punching him relentlessly, while Malik stood back and watched with an ugly grin on his face. "You get him Bakura." He said, in an amused tone. Bakura was too busy trying to kill Mariku to notice the tone of voice Malik was using.
"Bakura please-" Mariku managed to say before he was hit in the face again. He could taste his blood in his mouth.
"If you ever…touch Malik again," Bakura said with one final punch. "I'll kill you."
He then stood up and walked over to Malik, gripping him hard he asked, "Are you ok? Did he hurt you?"
With a wicked grin he replied, "Oh, I'm fine Bakura…but Malik…well, he's not doing so good."
Bakura felt his body go numb.
"Malik…" He whispered hoarsely. "Wh-what happened to you?"
Bakura turned to Mariku, who was still lying on the ground, and then he turned back around to Malik.
"You're not Malik?"
"Nope." The man said with a smile.
"Fine then." Bakura picked up the man in a choke slam, and sent his body careening to the ground.
The man hit the earth with a loud thud, and he cried out. But Bakura wasn't nearly done with him.
"Who the hell are you then, and where is Malik?!" He asked, still holding the man by the throat, cutting off his air supply. The man said nothing, so Bakura hit him in the face. This made Bakura feel weird though, because even though this man wasn't Malik, he still looked like him and it was hard to hit him with full force.
"Where is he?" Bakura repeated.
"Here…Bakura, take this." Mariku said from behind him as he handed him the sennen rod.
"Thanks." Bakura pulled out the spear and stood up, pressing it tightly against the man's throat.
"I'll ask you one more time, where is he."
With no response, Bakura pushed the tip even harder into the man's throat, until it was almost piercing his skin.
"Ok, ok I'll tell you." He whined.
"I'm listening."
"Malik's at king Haraguroi's castle." He said.
"How did he get there?"
"Why, you took him there Bakura. King Haraguroi finds it so much easier to carry out plans when he can use someone that can be trusted."
"What!?! Oh my god…" Bakura paused. "Who are you?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
Right before Bakura's eyes the form of Malik began to fade away and in its place came the form of a different man…well…he wasn't even a man at all…more like a monster with black leathery skin and wings. It looked like a deformed dragon.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name's Aku, the shape shifter." His yellow soulless eyes stared at Bakura, and for the first time, sent a chill down the fiend's spine.
"If you don't take me to Malik…I swear to the Gods, I'll kill you and your king."
"Bakura, Bakura…you mean to tell me you don't remember me?" He asked, trying to sound hurt.
"No, I don't."
"I was the one who took you to the king before. You know…when he took your soul." The beast smiled wickedly as he watched the horrified expression on Bakura's face. "Bakura, we've been waiting a long time for you. See, the king needs so much more then your soul I'm afraid." He gave a menacing laugh, which only made Bakura quiver.
"Look…I don't care what king Haraguroi wants, I'm getting Malik, and my soul back."
"I see that when the king took your soul, it didn't quite have the effect he was looking for eh, Bakura? You've finally found someone you care about, and that is why king Haraguroi took him away. If you'll remember correctly, you were forbidden to fall in love."
"I haven't fallen in love Aku." Bakura growled.
Aku merely ignored him as he continued. "Such a shame really…you used to be so evil…you were the kings favorite for a while." Aku paused. "I was always so jealous of you Bakura. When we lived in Egypt you were the one who got to do the kings bidding, you had the pleasure of killing so many innocent-"
"Those days are over Aku! I've tried to forget them." Bakura shouted, remembering that Mariku was still behind him listening.
"Oh, yes, I know they are. I'm his favorite now; I get the pleasure of killing innocent lives now. The king is quite displeased that you've chosen to forget him, Bakura…"
"Don't you touch Malik!" He yelled, pointing the sennen rod back at Aku.
"No, don't worry Bakura. The king doesn't want him dead…he's taken a liking to him in fact. If you cooperate Malik will be fine. And the king so hopes that you do because it would be a shame to kill such a magnificent being…that Malik, he is quite a nice creature I must say…" Aku whispered licking his lips.
"No…" Bakura whispered desolately. "What did you do to him?"
"Settle down Bakura, I only kissed him…but it was nice…I can see now why the king wants him so bad."
"Take me there…NOW!" He screamed, shoving the sennen rod close to the creature's heart.
"Ok, ok…I planned on it anyway. The king wishes to speak to you. Lets go."
Aku turned around and lead the way to king Haraguroi's castle.
"Go back to Ryou." Bakura told Mariku before he followed Aku down the beach.
* * *
Aku lead Bakura into the dank corridors of the mountain castle. Its rough walls were dimly lit with torches, and the floor had puddles from the underground river slowly seeping in through the walls.
"Wait here." Aku ordered. He began to walk away from Bakura, but before he disappeared around the corner he changed shape once more, and Bakura was staring at himself.
"No! What are you going to do?" Bakura yelled.
"I'm just going to say hi to Malik for you." With that, he turned the corner and walked down the long hallway to where Malik was, leaving Bakura alone.
* * *
"Malik…"
Malik felt something cool and damp touch his forehead and then drip down his face. He felt something soft and silky beneath him. Slowly opening his eyes, the white haired tomb robber came into blurry view.
"B-Bakura…where are we?" He asked as he looked around the room…he couldn't remember much, but he knew that they were staying in a cave, not in a lavish bedroom. There were candles everywhere, and he was lying on a bed with red silk sheets, and sheer drapery all around it.
"Hush my sweet." Aku whispered to him, gently dabbing the wet cloth to his forehead.
"What happened, why do I have a busting headache?"
"You took quite a nasty fall…But don't worry, I'll have you fixed up in no time at all. Just lay down and close your beautiful eyes." Aku placed his hand to Malik's chest slowly pushing him back down on the bed. Malik complied with no hesitation.
"Once I get you fixed up…" Aku started, but there was a nock on the door. He got up from the bed, and slipped out, so Malik couldn't see who he was talking to.
"Minikui, what the hell do you want?" Aku asked annoyedly.
"Why have you changed into Bakura again?" Minikui questioned suspiciously.
"What does it matter?"
"Well, Aku, the king feels that you are becoming a little too close with his new pet. He wishes that you leave his chambers and fetch the real Bakura." He said.
"Alright, alright…just go away." Aku walked back into the room and slammed the door behind him.
"Who was that Bakura?" Malik questioned as he sat up slightly on the bed.
"It was only Mariku." Aku lied. "But I have to go somewhere now, ok?" He kissed Malik and left the room without another word.
* * *
"Where is he?" Bakura asked as Aku lead him to the throne room.
"Malik is safe in the kings chambers until he's ready for him." Aku replied. "He belongs to king Haraguroi now…and if you ever want to see him alive you'll be smart and do everything the king tells you."
Stopping outside the throne room doors, Aku changed back into himself before the two entered.
When they approached the throne Aku bowed low, but Bakura did no such thing. This made the king laugh.
"Welcome back Bakura. I see you haven't changed one bit!" The king said, as if he was welcoming an old friend.
"Things have changed Haraguroi…but I can see you're still ugly as ever." Bakura snapped menacingly.
The king's grin lowered slightly as he glared at Bakura.
"Go tell Minikui to get the boy and bring him in here." He ordered, and with a low bow he was off to do the kings bidding.
"I can't believe people are still taking orders from you. Don't you think you've lost your touch after all these years?" Bakura asked as he walked around the throne room.
"Don't you think you've forgotten our little bargain Bakura?"
Bakura snapped his head in the king's direction.
"That's right. I took your soul, forbade you to fall in love, and in return, your pathetic excuse for a life would get to wander around this earth forever. It seemed like a good deal at the time didn't it Bakura? You had everything going for you. But now that you've lost some of your evil ways, things have become lonely haven't they? I'm here to claim the rest of what is mine Bakura. You do remember what that was don't you?"
"I haven't fallen in love Haraguroi!" He protested. But at that moment the doors burst open and Malik was brought in and throne at the feet of the king.
Bakura ran to him, not caring who saw, and picked Malik up in his arms.
"Malik," He whispered. "Malik, are you alright?"
Malik opened his eyes and smiled lightly at Bakura.
"I took a mighty hard fall…" He muttered.
"What?" Bakura looked from Malik, then up to the king.
"What the hell did you do to him?!" He yelled.
The king merely smiled back at him, as if this were amusing.
Minikui and Aku stared at the pair on the floor, with more serious expressions on their faces.
"Bakura, it looks to me like you've fallen in love." He said with a chuckle. "Minikui, go get it."
Minikui nodded and left the room.
"You remember our little bargain…you are forbidden to fall in love. And you know what I said would happen if you did."
"Noo! Don't touch him!" He yelled. But it was too late. The king snapped his fingers and Malik was tied up by his guards and drug across the floor to the wall on the opposite end of the room.
"Bakura! Bakura help!" Malik shouted as he struggled against the bindings.
The king got up from his throne and walked over to Malik. Haraguroi softly caressed Malik's cheek as he spoke to Bakura.
"I shall truly enjoy having him for all eternity. Plus, taking your life will be great amusement."
"Bakura, who is he? What's going on he-" But he was silenced when Haraguroi brought his lips down on Malik's.
"No!" Bakura yelled running towards them. He was stopped in his tracks when two of Haraguroi's guards blocked his path. "Get the hell outta my way!" He screamed, becoming so infuriated that he grabbed the sword out of the one mans belt, and before they had a chance to run away stabbed them both.
Haraguroi looked on with a smile.
"Very good Bakura. I can see that your love for him is strong."
For once, Bakura didn't deny his love for Malik. He would have done anything for him.
"Ahh, I see Bakura…you love him…you just don't want to admit it because you know what will happen. But if you remember correctly our agreement didn't say that you had to confess your love out loud, now did it?"
"Bakura…" Malik spoke weakly.
"Shut up you." Haraguroi hissed, bringing his hand up to smack him. But Bakura wouldn't allow that. He grabbed the king's hand in midair and scowled.
"Don't touch him. It's me you want."
"You're right Bakura…oh, in fact I think part of you has just joined us."
Minikui walked back in, with a black box in his hand.
"Bakura, say hello to your soul." The king laughed sardonically. "The rest of you should be joining it shortly…that is unless…"
"Bakura, I…" Malik choked. Bakura glanced from his soul back to Malik.
"Take your pick Bakura. Your soul…or this boy." The king gripped Malik's hair and pulled his head up.
"Bakura…take your soul…you need it…"
"Aww, how cute, you should listen to the boy Bakura. He has your best interest at heart."
"Haraguroi, what will happen to him if I take my soul?"
"Why, nothing Bakura…I won't kill him…I want him." It was almost as if the king was begging Bakura to choose his soul so that he could have Malik.
Bakura's heart was pounding. He had no idea what to do. If he took Malik, things would only continue the way they were…Haraguroi would be after them and something bad would surely happen to Malik. But if he took his soul, Haraguroi would keep Malik, and who knew what horrible things he would do to him. Bakura had longed for his soul forever; it was the part of him that had feelings. But Malik had given him feelings that he thought he had lost forever along with his soul, so there was an obvious answer.
"I'm taking Malik…I…I love him."
"Oh, that's too bad Bakura, but if you want him so bad, save him from this!" Haraguroi pulled out his sword and drove it right through Malik's chest, smiling wickedly at Bakura as if this was something he had been waiting to do for a long time. He pulled the bloody sword back out and walked over to his minions.
"Minikui, Aku, lets leave them. If I can't have Malik, then no one can. I'm sorry it had to come to this Bakura, but this was your fault…at least if you would have chosen your soul, Malik would have been able to live." And with that the king turned on his heels and walked out of the throne room with his two minions at his side.
"No! Malik!" Bakura hurried to untie the ropes so that he could lay Malik down and help suppress the bleeding.
Once Malik was free from the ropes, Bakura grabbed hold of him, for he was too weak, and lay him down on the ground.
"God dammit, this is all my fault Malik. I'm so-"
"Shhh." Malik whispered, placing a finger to Bakura's lips. "Don't ruin this moment." He spoke with difficulty.
"Wh-what? Malik…" Bakura held his hand over the open wound.
"You said you loved me." Malik put a small smile on his face.
"What?" Bakura questioned awkwardly.
"Y-you said…you loved me." Malik stared at Bakura, that calmness still in his eyes, although they were moist with tears.
"Malik, I do love you…I do. And I was a fool for not saying it earlier." Bakura cradled the boy's head in his lap, continuing to try and stop the bleeding. His hands were shaking profoundly. "C'mon, lets get you out of here."
Bakura started to stand up, but Malik held him down.
"No!" He choked. "No…you were right when you said before that we weren't meant to be together." He squeezed Bakura's hand tighter, trying not to think about the pain. "I love you too…but we-"
"Bakura!" Came the call from outside the throne room. "Bakura you have five minutes! If you don't leave before then we'll kill you too." The king shouted.
Bakura heard the king, but he ignored him.
"Bakura, leave." Malik pleaded with him, squeezing Bakura's hands as hard as he could.
Bakura shook his head. "Not without you." He insisted, he could feel the tears building up in his eyes, but he couldn't cry…he wouldn't… "Malik, you-you're noth thinking straight…we are meant to be together…we are together now."
"Leave!" Malik cried. "Please…"
"How can I do that!?" He yelled back, becoming angry. Why was Malik being so stupid, how could he leave him? He didn't care what they did to him; his love for Malik was too strong. But at that moment, as the guards rushed in and grabbed his hair, bringing the sword to his neck, he thought back to one night a while ago when he had a certain conversation with his hikari, he had asked, "Is he really worth what you know is coming?" At that time he didn't understand it…but now it was as clear as day…Love, he realized, wasn't as complicated as he made it out to be, and for that he was thankful. Sighing, he looked over at the dying form of Malik and smiled. Again, the question ran across his mind, "Is he really worth what you know is coming?" 'Yes.' He thought as the smooth blade pierced his flesh.
That's it…pretty short (compared to what I usually write) but hey, I tried.
This was my first completed fic, thanks for all the reviews!
Ja Ne
