~Chapter 7 - Torn ~
A beam of sunlight cast itself lazily over Yuugi's bed, bringing the small boy to wakefulness. He blinked for a moment, looking around, almost as if he expected to see someone else in the room with him. Finding no one, he sat up, dressing quickly and making his way downstairs.
He greeted his grandfather brightly and told him he was going out. Then, after a small breakfast, he left the house, putting his hands in his pockets and heading in the direction of Bakura's apartment. After a moment, he paused, undergoing the familiar transformation marking the difference between himself and his other half. Yami Yuugi opened his eyes, their near-crimson depths deeply troubled. His thoughts raced as he continued the short trip to Bakura's home, fear still resident in the back of his mind.
Why had he given in to Yami Bakura? What good would that do Bakura, himself? Yami Yuugi shook his head slightly as he reached Bakura's apartment building, trying to clear his thoughts before he went in, climbing the stairs and walking down the short hallway, hands still in his pockets, troubled expression on his face. He reached the correct number, knocking lightly.
After a moment the door opened with a chuckle. "I was wondering when you'd show up..."
Yami Yuugi looked, to his displeasure, not into the inviting brown depths of Bakura's eyes, but into the cold orbs belonging to his yami. "Where is he?" Yami Yuugi asked, wasting no time on pleasantries with the spirit, taking in his almost disheveled appearance. "And what happened to you?" He asked, the barest hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Yami Bakura chuckled and didn't answer, turning to walk back into the apartment.
Yami Yuugi snorted, following him without preamble, crossing his arms over his chest. "Really... why do you have to make this so difficult?" He muttered under his breath, mostly to himself.
"It's fun," Yami Bakura tossed back as he entered the living room and flopped down on the couch with a smirk.
Yami Yuugi stared at the spirit, distaste written blatantly on his features. "You're sick." He said, looking back down the hall toward Bakura's room. "Where is Bakura?" He asked, forcing a median of politeness into his tone, uncrossing his arms, and leaning back on one foot, watching Yami Bakura carefully.
"Find him yourself," Yami Bakura said with a dismissive gesture, still smirking, looking incredibly self satisfied.
Yami Yuugi eyed the other warily, turning around to make his way down the hall, glowering again. When he reached Bakura's room he knocked lightly, finding the door already open, he pushed it aside, squinting a little in the darkness.
After a second, his vision cleared and he could see across the darkened bedroom, his eyes widening in shock at what he saw.
Bakura was sprawled out on the floor, completely unclothed, a torn strip of his shirt acting as a crude blindfold, his hands tied behind him with the rope he had refused to use on Yami Yuugi. His skin was alarmingly pale and his breathing heavy, small beads of sweat covering him. "...-sama....?" he asked weakly, shifting to try and look up towards the door. The Ring resting on his chest clanked slightly, looking as faded as the boy who wore it.
Yami Yuugi stood frozen for a second before hurrying to Bakura's side, his face a mask of rage and sympathy. "Bakura?" He asked softly, touching the boy's cheek gently, hand reaching up to undo the blindfold around Bakura's eyes. His expression was livid, his voice containing forced calm, which was laced with angry, no, fury. He snarled under his breath, all his emotions assaulting him at once as he drew the young one into his arms, cradling him gently.
"Yuugi-sa...n...?" Bakura whispered, relaxing completely into the smaller boy's arms, eyes closing in exhaustion.
Yami Yuugi clutched the frail boy to his chest, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He seemed completely speechless, shuddering under the weight of his anger and sadness. He looked down at Bakura's chest, noticing just how thin the boy was, the Sennen Ring transparent against Bakura's lightly rising and falling chest. "Yes, Bakura." He said, reaching up once more to push Bakura's hair from his eyes. "I'm here." He said as gently as possible.
"Come to take your turn?" Yami Bakura's smug voice came from the doorway.
Yami Yuugi turned away from Bakura for a second, ice in his veins and fire in his eyes. "No." He said, his tone dangerously calm, for the moment. "No, I haven't." He repeated, forcing himself to turn back to Bakura, tending to the weakened boy. "But I will see to it that you get what you deserve for this..." He hissed.
The spirit chuckled. "What I deserve?" he repeated with humor.
Yami Yuugi ignored the spirit for a moment in favor of taking care of Bakura, gently pulling the boy into a sitting position. "You deserve to never see the light of day again." He further hissed, eyes narrowing to mere slits, his hands tightening around Bakura. "For this." He said softly, running his fingers through Bakura's hair, tears prickling in the back of his eyes.
Bakura gave a small tired smile, almost nuzzling against the other boy.
"For giving him what he begged for?" Yami Bakura smirked. "For making him cry my name in pleasure?"
Yami Yuugi choked at these last words, his hand coming up to cover his mouth. He closed his eyes, tears threatening to fall. "You sick bastard." He muttered, hunched over and nearly retching into the hand covering his mouth, muffling his words. "Anyone can see this wasn't consensual." He managed after a second of composing himself again, all the emotion from the day before assaulting him again as he crooned in Bakura's ear, rocking back and forth slightly.
Yami Bakura snorted. "If you're insinuating that I raped him, you're more delusional then he is."
Yami Yuugi bristled. "I'm not insinuating anything! I know." He said firmly. "And Bakura is not delusional." He added, jerking around to glare at Yami Bakura, still unmoving.
"And how do you know?" Yami Bakura pressed. "Have you asked him?" he near sneered.
Yami Yuugi looked from Bakura to Yami Bakura, biting his lip as if unsure, for a second. Then he turned to Yami Bakura again. "I don't have to." He said, haughtily. "Besides, he's not in any condition to answer, thanks to you."
Yami Bakura gave a snort. "And you lecture me about honor and fairness, making assumptions just because they don't fit in with your image of my host," he said with disdain.
Yami Yuugi sighed deeply. "Okay then, tell me what happened, since you seem to know everything." He said, looking up at Yami Bakura warily and cradling Bakura's head in his lap.
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Always so nosey," he commented. "What I do with my host is no business of yours."
Yami Yuugi snarled. "I'm here now. It's my business." He growled. "Tell me what happened." He commanded.
"I gave him what he wanted and took what I wanted in return," the harsher boy said offhandedly.
"And what, since we're on track, is that?" Yami Yuugi questioned, pulling Bakura onto the bed as gently as possible.
"I wanted the energy he took from you, and in return, I gave him what he craved."
Yami Yuugi looked at Bakura, quirking an eyebrow. "You know, I may be naive, but I'm not stupid. You took more than you wanted." He said, tilting his head. "Why? And also, what did he want from you so badly? Hmm?"
Yami Bakura chuckled. "I'm only interested in power, Yuugi..." he said smugly. "And it should be obvious what he wanted," he nodded to where his former host was tiredly nuzzling against Yami Yuugi.
"Yes, but you had an ulterior motive, didn't you?" Yami Yuugi pressed. "You wouldn't have hurt him so badly otherwise." He added under his breath. "As for what he wanted, I doubt he wanted this." Yami Yuugi said, indicating Bakura's broken state, continuing to smooth the pale hair crowning Bakura's head, actions far more comforting than his words.
The paler boy made a small sound like a tired purr as he was petted.
"Hurt him?" Yami Bakura snorted. "Always saying that... have you forgotten?" He held up his left arm, showing the scar.
Yami Yuugi smiled slightly at Bakura, speaking calmly despite his emotions. "I didn't forget." He said, looking Bakura over once again, checking for injury. "And you don't care because you just took his energy. Maybe you'll feel a dull ache, but you won't feel the full brunt of it. Your words proved that to be true. Your own words are your downfall." He finished, nodding almost imperceptibly.
Yami Bakura scowled slightly. "What do you mean?"
Yami Yuugi paused. "Well, I should think that would be obvious, to someone so astute as yourself." Yami Yuugi said mockingly, caressing Bakura's arms gently. "You won't hesitate to hurt him now, because you have his energy in addition to your own. That's all." He said, his tone holding a hint of knowing.
The harsher boy gave a snort. "What makes you think having his energy will make me feel him any less?"
"It doesn't matter what you feel." Yami Yuugi snorted, a grin forming on his face. "You didn't do that to get energy from him."
"Oooh?" Yami Bakura asked, looking privately amused.
Yami Yuugi rolled his eyes. "You did it because you were angry with him." He said piercingly. "Or maybe you just felt like it, I wouldn't put that past you..." He said absently, hands running into the ropes around Bakura's wrists.
Bakura gave a soft murmur.
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Still choosing to believe I hurt him or forced him," he tsk'ed in amusement. "Yadonushi," he addressed the paler boy.
"Hai, Kage-sama...?" Bakura replied, looking up with a small smile.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Un," Bakura smiled blissfully.
Yami Yuugi looked taken aback, not knowing quite what to do. His hands fell away from Bakura lightly, clenching in his lap. "You still shouldn't have hurt him." He said, through gritted teeth, turning away from Bakura and his yami, feeling like an intruder, or an outsider.
"I only hurt him in ways he likes," Yami Bakura smirked.
Yami Yuugi sighed, still turned away from the pair and closed his eyes, thoughts churning. "Maybe so." He said softly. "But that doesn't make it right." He choked out, tears returning again, being held back only by sheer will power.
"And why's that? If he minded, he would have had you untie him when you walked in," Yami Bakura smirked. "And the fact that you still haven't shows you like him that way...."
Yami Yuugi opened his eyes, turning around and noticing the ropes tied around Bakura's wrists again, moving quickly to untie them, blushing slightly.
"Admit it, you thought of taking him when you saw him like that," Yami Bakura gloated. "Don't tell me you haven't thought of it... of how he would look, the sounds he would make, how his voice would beg for you to---"
Yami Yuugi interrupted the other's tirade. "Stop! That's not true." He said, eyes narrowing. "It isn't." He affirmed. 'I'm not like you.' He privately thought, sliding the ropes from Bakura's reddened wrists, rubbing them gently.
The paler boy murmured softly, not moving his arms.
"Of how he would look as your personal pleasure slave," Yami Bakura continued smugly. "Leather tight around his hips and neck--"
Yami Yuugi looked down, shaking his head. "Stop saying that." He muttered, all the fire having gone out of his rebuttal. He closed his eyes, blonde locks falling in front of his face as he fingered the rope still in his hands.
"And how he would beg you," Yami Bakura's voice was smooth, almost a purr. "Beg you to make him yours...."
Yami Yuugi looked up then, meeting Yami Bakura's eyes, his own gaze clouded. "Is that what happened between you two?" He asked, voice sounding rather rough as he gripped the rope in his hands, twisting it around his knuckles. "Did he beg you to do that to him?" He said huskily.
"Why do you think he didn't want to use it on you?" Yami Bakura smirked.
Yami Yuugi looked a bit shocked for a second, but it passed as he continued to fidget with the coarse material between his fingers, flecks of blood evident on its surface. He unfurled it from his knuckles until it slid around one of his wrists. "That doesn't answer my question." He said faintly, eyes darting, half lidded and cloudy.
Yami Bakura chuckled again. With a smooth motion, he tossed a thin strap of leather towards the boy. "Ask him where it got it from," he smirked before leaving the room.
Yami Yuugi caught the piece of leather, blinking a little and looking at the mostly sedate boy on the bed, expression curious. "Bakura?" He asked, holding up the leather. "What does he mean to ask you 'where you got it from'?" His movements and reactions seemed agitated, flustered.
Tired brown eyes focused on the thin collar and he blushed, looking down.
Yami Yuugi watched Bakura's reaction, sitting down once more next to the younger boy. "Bakura?" He asked, tone shifting from curious to confused. "What's wrong?"
"I-- I thought I'd hid that....." Bakura said softly, blush increasing.
Yami Yuugi tilted his head to the side. "Hid it?" He held it up once more, looking between the offending leather strip and Bakura. "What's it for?" Yami Yuugi said, now thoroughly confused.
Bakura fidgeted slightly. "It's... soft leather, like-- like..." He looked up at the thick collar around Yuugi's neck.
Yami Yuugi's free hand came up to touch the collar hanging around his neck. "Like this?" His fingers trailed over the familiar leather resting comfortably against his skin.
The pale boy nodded slightly, blushing again. "And-- and..." he held up his wrists.
Yami Yuugi looked between the leather and Bakura's wrists, everything starting to fall into place in his overstimulated brain. He leaned over Bakura, draping the leather strap over his wrists and pulling it tight in one hand. "This is good?" He questioned, the concept still unclear to him.
Bakura's blush grew darker and he nodded slightly.
Yami Yuugi seemed to come to some kind of conclusion, still holding the leather around Bakura's wrists. "You-- you like this?" he asked, a loose knot in the leather now as he lifted Bakura's hands over his head, settling them behind his back. "This is good for you? And you asked..." He couldn't bring himself to utter the word 'begged'. "You asked him to do this to you?"
Bakura looked down. "I--" he hesitated. "I just lost myself in the touch and I--" he trailed off.
Yami Yuugi sighed. "I'm not condemning you Bakura... I love you." He assured. "I just don't understand... that's all." He said, holding Bakura close.
"I can't stop him from hearing what I try to hide..." Bakura said softly, leaning his cheek against the other boy's chest. "And I can't deny him anything... When I'm in his arms, it's like I forget everything... and I hurt you..."
"What do you mean?" Yami Yuugi asked, wrapping tenuous arms around Bakura's waist. "And as for him, he shouldn't take advantage of that." Yami Yuugi added, brow furrowed.
"Because I-- it's like I betray you every time I fall into his arms and let him..." Bakura buried his face in Yami Yuugi's chest.
Yami Yuugi was silent, offering no response to what Bakura said, simply stroking the gentler boy's hair reverently. He looked pained, allowing his chin to rest against the top of Bakura's head.
"I-- I want to be yours..." the paler boy said softly.
Yami Yuugi pulled away, looking down at Bakura, eyes still sad, smiling softly. "Do you?" He asked, cradling Bakura's cheek in his hand.
Bakura smiled blissfully, eyes closing as he nodded slightly. "Un..."
Yami Yuugi's sad smile persisted, his other hand reaching up to caress Bakura's cheek as well. "It's so complicated between us, isn't it?" He whispered. "I wish... it weren't so." He closed his eyes, leaning in to kiss Bakura.
The paler boy melted into the kiss, responding with tired emotion.
Yami Yuugi's own movements mimicked that same tired state and he gulped back tears for the third time that morning, resting his forehead against Bakura's as the kiss ended, maybe too soon. "I'm sorry for all of this." He breathed, words catching in his throat.
"Yuugi-san...?" Bakura asked, voice confused.
Yami Yuugi smiled tiredly. "I'm sorry for the trouble I cause. If... what you say is true... I'm only getting in the way... or so it seems..."
Bakura looked up a him with wide eyes and shifted to cling slightly to the other boy. "No!" he insisted. "Yuugi-san, I--" he hesitated, unsure of his words.
Yami Yuugi shook his head. "It's okay. I understand, Bakura." He said, voice reflecting his face, exhaustion sounding through. "I understand." He repeated simply, kissing Bakura once again, this time a bit more hungrily.
Bakura returned it almost desperately. "Please..." he murmured against him. "Please don't leave me..."
Yami Yuugi shh'ed Bakura slightly. "I'm not leaving you." He whispered, lavishing kisses along Bakura's lips and jaw line. "I'm not leaving." He said fiercely, claiming Bakura's lips yet again, his own renewed desperation showing.
The paler boy's eyes closed in bliss a moment before he broke the kiss. "Not here..." he whispered in the shorter boy's ear. "He-- he has my energy... and-- and yours, and I--" He rested his forehead on Yami Yuugi's shoulder. "Please... I-- I need...."
Yami Yuugi reached around Bakura, undoing the ties holding Bakura's arms around him. "Okay." He said softly, rubbing the reddened skin gently. "We'll go then." Yami Yuugi threw the leather tie to the ground, getting off of the pale boy.
Bakura smiled softly and rose to his feet before shakily walking to his dresser and opening the top drawer. Pulling out a pair of underwear, he was about to close the drawer when he paused, looking at something. Hesitating briefly he shook his head, closing the drawer and slipping into the garment, the rest of his clothing swiftly following. "Yuugi-san? Check to see if the hall is clear?" he asked quietly.
Yami Yuugi nodded, walking over to the door and opening it quietly, peeking out. He turned back to Bakura, hand still on the knob and shook his head. "He's not there." He whispered, reaching for Bakura's hand and supporting him carefully. "We can go."
The boy smiled, nodding, his free hand briefly covering his pocket before falling to his side. "Quickly..." he whispered.
Yami Yuugi nodded again, taking Bakura's hand and leading him to the doorway, the faint sound of water running assuring him somewhat as he hurried Bakura out of the apartment.
Bakura was barely able to catch up, often stumbling, Yami Yuugi's hand holding his own being the only thing keeping him from falling, and his free hand kept covering his pocket nervously.
By the time they reached the game shop, the pale haired boy looked ready to collapse.
Yami Yuugi pulled Bakura close as they entered the shop, comforting arms firm around the other boy. "Let's just go upstairs, okay?" He asked softly, supporting Bakura completely. "Would you like me to carry you?"
The boy gave a small smile. "Am I that light...?" he asked tiredly.
Yami Yuugi nodded, lifting the thin boy into his arms with nary a struggle and ascending the stairs quickly so as to avoid a confrontation with Yuugi's grandfather, nudging the door open and crossing over to Yuugi's bed. "You are very light." He said, setting Bakura down on the soft surface and settling in next to him.
"Sou...?" Bakura smiled slightly, snuggling closer.
Yami Yuugi nodded, encasing the boy in a strong embrace, his presence reassuring. "Yes, really." He affirmed. "Maybe too light. You could stand to gain some weight, you know." He said, eyebrow quirked.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I'm not that light," he protested softly.
Yami Yuugi returned the smile. "Yes, you are." He assured, rubbing his hands gently along Bakura's arms.
"Nnn," Bakura smiled, nuzzling the boy slightly. "Yuugi-san...? May I...?" he asked hesitatingly, reaching up to touch the boy's cheek.
Yami Yuugi found himself nodding yet again. "Go ahead, Bakura." He said softly, almost invitingly. "Take whatever you need." He absently touched his bandaged wrist, then nodded again. "Yes, go ahead." He affirmed.
The pale boy gave a relieved smile. "I'll try not to take too much..." he said softly, hand sliding down to caress Yami Yuugi's chest briefly before undoing the boy's buckle and zipper. He pushed aside the leather and reached in to pull the shorter boy's member out from Yuugi's underwear, lowering himself to kiss it delicately.
Yami Yuugi hissed slightly, fisting his hands in Bakura's hair. "O-okay..." He agreed haltingly, barely comprehending what Bakura had said in the first place, immediately at attention and now focused only on Bakura's actions.
With a tender affection, Bakura brought Yami Yuugi to release, swallowing the smaller boy's seed. He gave a smile as he rezipped the leather pants and moved up to snuggle against Yami Yuugi again. "Arigatou," he smiled, face slightly flushed.
Yami Yuugi panted lightly, face only a little pale, as opposed to completely ashen as before. "You're welcome." He said softly, smiling and holding Bakura close once more.
Bakura was quiet a long while, enjoying the feel of the other boy's arms around him. "Yuugi-san? I want to be with you..." he said softly.
Yami Yuugi looked up, eyeing Bakura. "You are with me, Bakura." He said, mind still hazy from the previous series of events.
The paler boy gave a soft smile. "But when I go back, it'll be like nothing had ever happened and I'll be back under his spell again..." he said, looking down.
Yami Yuugi lifted himself up, so that he was resting on his elbows, looking out, somewhere beyond his feet. "I would tell you to stay away from him forever... but I already know you don't want to do that. I'm sorry things are the way they are..." He added, weakly, his eyelids drooping a bit and he shook his head, fighting to stay alert. "I want to be with you too, Bakura." He said chokingly.
Bakura smiled sadly. "I can't not go back," he said softly. "I just..." He pressed his lips together a moment, hand resting over his pocket again. "I need a way..." he trailed off, eyes troubled and thoughtful.
Yami Yuugi tilted his head in Bakura's direction, watching the boy's thoughtful expression. "Bakura?" He asked, looking confused.
The boy looked over with a smile. "Ne, Yuugi-san, is it all right if I use your bathroom?" he asked, expression cheerful.
Yami Yuugi noted the sudden shift in Bakura's countenance, but waved it off internally. "Of course, Bakura." He said, nodding slowly. "You're all right?" He questioned lightly, his tone the same.
"Un," Bakura smiled, getting to his feet. "I just really have to pee," he admitted, tone embarrassed.
Yami Yuugi smiled briefly, resting against the pillows once more, his expression a bit tired. "Oh, okay." He said absently, curling into the sheets a little more.
The paler boy gave a small smile, bending down to kiss Yami Yuugi gently. "I love you," he said softly before leaving the room.
Yami Yuugi hmm'ed appreciatively, snuggling into the warmth left by Bakura's body, smiling blissfully as he closed his eyes. "I love you too..." He said as Bakura exited, fingers splayed against the sheets.
Bakura closed the door carefully behind him, pausing to lock the door before moving to stand before the mirror. He pressed his lips together a moment before reaching into his pocket and closing his hand around the object inside it. Taking a deep breath, he pulled it out, uncurling his palm to show the gleaming metal of the Millennium Eye....
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AN from Fran: Next chapters may be slow in coming, being my co author, Mayhemchan has lost her net access. I have one more chapter and some bits, but I kinda need her to do more. Sorry all. Nothing I can do about it.
Bakuraluva: Of course he's still kinda heartless, he's Yami Bakura... :) and YB doesn't need it, he just likes it, so he drains Bakura-kun, who then needs to replenish his own so he takes it from Yami Yuugi. It's one more way for YBakura tomess with YYuugi.
Sailor Comet: ^^ That would get seriously messy... It does seem to be leaning in that dirrection though.
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Preview: "Wish"
"They say... the Items... have the power... to grant a wish...."
...
"I love you, Bakura-kun," he said haltingly. "I just want you to know that."
Bakura's smile grew almost radiant. "And... and I think I love you too, Yuugi-kun..." he returned, blushing as well before lifting his head to meet Yuugi's lips with his own.
Yuugi's expression before meeting Bakura's lips could have been described as ecstatic, the brushing of their lips melting it into blissful. He sighed happily, content in the embrace of the pale boy, hands cupping Bakura's cheeks gently.
He didn't even seem to notice the door opening and closing, nor the figure who had entered, so captivated he was by what he was doing.
...
"You do derive such pleasure out of annoying me, don't you?" He paused. "Some sick, twisted pleasure."
"Yes, it's what I jerk off to every night," the harsher boy leared.
Yami Yuugi looked vaguely disgusted, upper lip curling. "You are truly disgusting, you know that?" He flushed softly. "I feel sorry for Bakura."
"Why? He loves it," Yami Bakura returned smoothly, enjoying himself.
"I'm not sure I believe you," Yami Yuugi said, faltering slightly. "Who could possibly care about you?"
"He does, obviously," the harsher boy smirked. "He'd doing what I told him to, after all."
Yami Yuugi froze, brow furrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Exactly what you think it does,"
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A beam of sunlight cast itself lazily over Yuugi's bed, bringing the small boy to wakefulness. He blinked for a moment, looking around, almost as if he expected to see someone else in the room with him. Finding no one, he sat up, dressing quickly and making his way downstairs.
He greeted his grandfather brightly and told him he was going out. Then, after a small breakfast, he left the house, putting his hands in his pockets and heading in the direction of Bakura's apartment. After a moment, he paused, undergoing the familiar transformation marking the difference between himself and his other half. Yami Yuugi opened his eyes, their near-crimson depths deeply troubled. His thoughts raced as he continued the short trip to Bakura's home, fear still resident in the back of his mind.
Why had he given in to Yami Bakura? What good would that do Bakura, himself? Yami Yuugi shook his head slightly as he reached Bakura's apartment building, trying to clear his thoughts before he went in, climbing the stairs and walking down the short hallway, hands still in his pockets, troubled expression on his face. He reached the correct number, knocking lightly.
After a moment the door opened with a chuckle. "I was wondering when you'd show up..."
Yami Yuugi looked, to his displeasure, not into the inviting brown depths of Bakura's eyes, but into the cold orbs belonging to his yami. "Where is he?" Yami Yuugi asked, wasting no time on pleasantries with the spirit, taking in his almost disheveled appearance. "And what happened to you?" He asked, the barest hint of sarcasm in his tone.
Yami Bakura chuckled and didn't answer, turning to walk back into the apartment.
Yami Yuugi snorted, following him without preamble, crossing his arms over his chest. "Really... why do you have to make this so difficult?" He muttered under his breath, mostly to himself.
"It's fun," Yami Bakura tossed back as he entered the living room and flopped down on the couch with a smirk.
Yami Yuugi stared at the spirit, distaste written blatantly on his features. "You're sick." He said, looking back down the hall toward Bakura's room. "Where is Bakura?" He asked, forcing a median of politeness into his tone, uncrossing his arms, and leaning back on one foot, watching Yami Bakura carefully.
"Find him yourself," Yami Bakura said with a dismissive gesture, still smirking, looking incredibly self satisfied.
Yami Yuugi eyed the other warily, turning around to make his way down the hall, glowering again. When he reached Bakura's room he knocked lightly, finding the door already open, he pushed it aside, squinting a little in the darkness.
After a second, his vision cleared and he could see across the darkened bedroom, his eyes widening in shock at what he saw.
Bakura was sprawled out on the floor, completely unclothed, a torn strip of his shirt acting as a crude blindfold, his hands tied behind him with the rope he had refused to use on Yami Yuugi. His skin was alarmingly pale and his breathing heavy, small beads of sweat covering him. "...-sama....?" he asked weakly, shifting to try and look up towards the door. The Ring resting on his chest clanked slightly, looking as faded as the boy who wore it.
Yami Yuugi stood frozen for a second before hurrying to Bakura's side, his face a mask of rage and sympathy. "Bakura?" He asked softly, touching the boy's cheek gently, hand reaching up to undo the blindfold around Bakura's eyes. His expression was livid, his voice containing forced calm, which was laced with angry, no, fury. He snarled under his breath, all his emotions assaulting him at once as he drew the young one into his arms, cradling him gently.
"Yuugi-sa...n...?" Bakura whispered, relaxing completely into the smaller boy's arms, eyes closing in exhaustion.
Yami Yuugi clutched the frail boy to his chest, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He seemed completely speechless, shuddering under the weight of his anger and sadness. He looked down at Bakura's chest, noticing just how thin the boy was, the Sennen Ring transparent against Bakura's lightly rising and falling chest. "Yes, Bakura." He said, reaching up once more to push Bakura's hair from his eyes. "I'm here." He said as gently as possible.
"Come to take your turn?" Yami Bakura's smug voice came from the doorway.
Yami Yuugi turned away from Bakura for a second, ice in his veins and fire in his eyes. "No." He said, his tone dangerously calm, for the moment. "No, I haven't." He repeated, forcing himself to turn back to Bakura, tending to the weakened boy. "But I will see to it that you get what you deserve for this..." He hissed.
The spirit chuckled. "What I deserve?" he repeated with humor.
Yami Yuugi ignored the spirit for a moment in favor of taking care of Bakura, gently pulling the boy into a sitting position. "You deserve to never see the light of day again." He further hissed, eyes narrowing to mere slits, his hands tightening around Bakura. "For this." He said softly, running his fingers through Bakura's hair, tears prickling in the back of his eyes.
Bakura gave a small tired smile, almost nuzzling against the other boy.
"For giving him what he begged for?" Yami Bakura smirked. "For making him cry my name in pleasure?"
Yami Yuugi choked at these last words, his hand coming up to cover his mouth. He closed his eyes, tears threatening to fall. "You sick bastard." He muttered, hunched over and nearly retching into the hand covering his mouth, muffling his words. "Anyone can see this wasn't consensual." He managed after a second of composing himself again, all the emotion from the day before assaulting him again as he crooned in Bakura's ear, rocking back and forth slightly.
Yami Bakura snorted. "If you're insinuating that I raped him, you're more delusional then he is."
Yami Yuugi bristled. "I'm not insinuating anything! I know." He said firmly. "And Bakura is not delusional." He added, jerking around to glare at Yami Bakura, still unmoving.
"And how do you know?" Yami Bakura pressed. "Have you asked him?" he near sneered.
Yami Yuugi looked from Bakura to Yami Bakura, biting his lip as if unsure, for a second. Then he turned to Yami Bakura again. "I don't have to." He said, haughtily. "Besides, he's not in any condition to answer, thanks to you."
Yami Bakura gave a snort. "And you lecture me about honor and fairness, making assumptions just because they don't fit in with your image of my host," he said with disdain.
Yami Yuugi sighed deeply. "Okay then, tell me what happened, since you seem to know everything." He said, looking up at Yami Bakura warily and cradling Bakura's head in his lap.
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Always so nosey," he commented. "What I do with my host is no business of yours."
Yami Yuugi snarled. "I'm here now. It's my business." He growled. "Tell me what happened." He commanded.
"I gave him what he wanted and took what I wanted in return," the harsher boy said offhandedly.
"And what, since we're on track, is that?" Yami Yuugi questioned, pulling Bakura onto the bed as gently as possible.
"I wanted the energy he took from you, and in return, I gave him what he craved."
Yami Yuugi looked at Bakura, quirking an eyebrow. "You know, I may be naive, but I'm not stupid. You took more than you wanted." He said, tilting his head. "Why? And also, what did he want from you so badly? Hmm?"
Yami Bakura chuckled. "I'm only interested in power, Yuugi..." he said smugly. "And it should be obvious what he wanted," he nodded to where his former host was tiredly nuzzling against Yami Yuugi.
"Yes, but you had an ulterior motive, didn't you?" Yami Yuugi pressed. "You wouldn't have hurt him so badly otherwise." He added under his breath. "As for what he wanted, I doubt he wanted this." Yami Yuugi said, indicating Bakura's broken state, continuing to smooth the pale hair crowning Bakura's head, actions far more comforting than his words.
The paler boy made a small sound like a tired purr as he was petted.
"Hurt him?" Yami Bakura snorted. "Always saying that... have you forgotten?" He held up his left arm, showing the scar.
Yami Yuugi smiled slightly at Bakura, speaking calmly despite his emotions. "I didn't forget." He said, looking Bakura over once again, checking for injury. "And you don't care because you just took his energy. Maybe you'll feel a dull ache, but you won't feel the full brunt of it. Your words proved that to be true. Your own words are your downfall." He finished, nodding almost imperceptibly.
Yami Bakura scowled slightly. "What do you mean?"
Yami Yuugi paused. "Well, I should think that would be obvious, to someone so astute as yourself." Yami Yuugi said mockingly, caressing Bakura's arms gently. "You won't hesitate to hurt him now, because you have his energy in addition to your own. That's all." He said, his tone holding a hint of knowing.
The harsher boy gave a snort. "What makes you think having his energy will make me feel him any less?"
"It doesn't matter what you feel." Yami Yuugi snorted, a grin forming on his face. "You didn't do that to get energy from him."
"Oooh?" Yami Bakura asked, looking privately amused.
Yami Yuugi rolled his eyes. "You did it because you were angry with him." He said piercingly. "Or maybe you just felt like it, I wouldn't put that past you..." He said absently, hands running into the ropes around Bakura's wrists.
Bakura gave a soft murmur.
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Still choosing to believe I hurt him or forced him," he tsk'ed in amusement. "Yadonushi," he addressed the paler boy.
"Hai, Kage-sama...?" Bakura replied, looking up with a small smile.
"Did you enjoy it?"
"Un," Bakura smiled blissfully.
Yami Yuugi looked taken aback, not knowing quite what to do. His hands fell away from Bakura lightly, clenching in his lap. "You still shouldn't have hurt him." He said, through gritted teeth, turning away from Bakura and his yami, feeling like an intruder, or an outsider.
"I only hurt him in ways he likes," Yami Bakura smirked.
Yami Yuugi sighed, still turned away from the pair and closed his eyes, thoughts churning. "Maybe so." He said softly. "But that doesn't make it right." He choked out, tears returning again, being held back only by sheer will power.
"And why's that? If he minded, he would have had you untie him when you walked in," Yami Bakura smirked. "And the fact that you still haven't shows you like him that way...."
Yami Yuugi opened his eyes, turning around and noticing the ropes tied around Bakura's wrists again, moving quickly to untie them, blushing slightly.
"Admit it, you thought of taking him when you saw him like that," Yami Bakura gloated. "Don't tell me you haven't thought of it... of how he would look, the sounds he would make, how his voice would beg for you to---"
Yami Yuugi interrupted the other's tirade. "Stop! That's not true." He said, eyes narrowing. "It isn't." He affirmed. 'I'm not like you.' He privately thought, sliding the ropes from Bakura's reddened wrists, rubbing them gently.
The paler boy murmured softly, not moving his arms.
"Of how he would look as your personal pleasure slave," Yami Bakura continued smugly. "Leather tight around his hips and neck--"
Yami Yuugi looked down, shaking his head. "Stop saying that." He muttered, all the fire having gone out of his rebuttal. He closed his eyes, blonde locks falling in front of his face as he fingered the rope still in his hands.
"And how he would beg you," Yami Bakura's voice was smooth, almost a purr. "Beg you to make him yours...."
Yami Yuugi looked up then, meeting Yami Bakura's eyes, his own gaze clouded. "Is that what happened between you two?" He asked, voice sounding rather rough as he gripped the rope in his hands, twisting it around his knuckles. "Did he beg you to do that to him?" He said huskily.
"Why do you think he didn't want to use it on you?" Yami Bakura smirked.
Yami Yuugi looked a bit shocked for a second, but it passed as he continued to fidget with the coarse material between his fingers, flecks of blood evident on its surface. He unfurled it from his knuckles until it slid around one of his wrists. "That doesn't answer my question." He said faintly, eyes darting, half lidded and cloudy.
Yami Bakura chuckled again. With a smooth motion, he tossed a thin strap of leather towards the boy. "Ask him where it got it from," he smirked before leaving the room.
Yami Yuugi caught the piece of leather, blinking a little and looking at the mostly sedate boy on the bed, expression curious. "Bakura?" He asked, holding up the leather. "What does he mean to ask you 'where you got it from'?" His movements and reactions seemed agitated, flustered.
Tired brown eyes focused on the thin collar and he blushed, looking down.
Yami Yuugi watched Bakura's reaction, sitting down once more next to the younger boy. "Bakura?" He asked, tone shifting from curious to confused. "What's wrong?"
"I-- I thought I'd hid that....." Bakura said softly, blush increasing.
Yami Yuugi tilted his head to the side. "Hid it?" He held it up once more, looking between the offending leather strip and Bakura. "What's it for?" Yami Yuugi said, now thoroughly confused.
Bakura fidgeted slightly. "It's... soft leather, like-- like..." He looked up at the thick collar around Yuugi's neck.
Yami Yuugi's free hand came up to touch the collar hanging around his neck. "Like this?" His fingers trailed over the familiar leather resting comfortably against his skin.
The pale boy nodded slightly, blushing again. "And-- and..." he held up his wrists.
Yami Yuugi looked between the leather and Bakura's wrists, everything starting to fall into place in his overstimulated brain. He leaned over Bakura, draping the leather strap over his wrists and pulling it tight in one hand. "This is good?" He questioned, the concept still unclear to him.
Bakura's blush grew darker and he nodded slightly.
Yami Yuugi seemed to come to some kind of conclusion, still holding the leather around Bakura's wrists. "You-- you like this?" he asked, a loose knot in the leather now as he lifted Bakura's hands over his head, settling them behind his back. "This is good for you? And you asked..." He couldn't bring himself to utter the word 'begged'. "You asked him to do this to you?"
Bakura looked down. "I--" he hesitated. "I just lost myself in the touch and I--" he trailed off.
Yami Yuugi sighed. "I'm not condemning you Bakura... I love you." He assured. "I just don't understand... that's all." He said, holding Bakura close.
"I can't stop him from hearing what I try to hide..." Bakura said softly, leaning his cheek against the other boy's chest. "And I can't deny him anything... When I'm in his arms, it's like I forget everything... and I hurt you..."
"What do you mean?" Yami Yuugi asked, wrapping tenuous arms around Bakura's waist. "And as for him, he shouldn't take advantage of that." Yami Yuugi added, brow furrowed.
"Because I-- it's like I betray you every time I fall into his arms and let him..." Bakura buried his face in Yami Yuugi's chest.
Yami Yuugi was silent, offering no response to what Bakura said, simply stroking the gentler boy's hair reverently. He looked pained, allowing his chin to rest against the top of Bakura's head.
"I-- I want to be yours..." the paler boy said softly.
Yami Yuugi pulled away, looking down at Bakura, eyes still sad, smiling softly. "Do you?" He asked, cradling Bakura's cheek in his hand.
Bakura smiled blissfully, eyes closing as he nodded slightly. "Un..."
Yami Yuugi's sad smile persisted, his other hand reaching up to caress Bakura's cheek as well. "It's so complicated between us, isn't it?" He whispered. "I wish... it weren't so." He closed his eyes, leaning in to kiss Bakura.
The paler boy melted into the kiss, responding with tired emotion.
Yami Yuugi's own movements mimicked that same tired state and he gulped back tears for the third time that morning, resting his forehead against Bakura's as the kiss ended, maybe too soon. "I'm sorry for all of this." He breathed, words catching in his throat.
"Yuugi-san...?" Bakura asked, voice confused.
Yami Yuugi smiled tiredly. "I'm sorry for the trouble I cause. If... what you say is true... I'm only getting in the way... or so it seems..."
Bakura looked up a him with wide eyes and shifted to cling slightly to the other boy. "No!" he insisted. "Yuugi-san, I--" he hesitated, unsure of his words.
Yami Yuugi shook his head. "It's okay. I understand, Bakura." He said, voice reflecting his face, exhaustion sounding through. "I understand." He repeated simply, kissing Bakura once again, this time a bit more hungrily.
Bakura returned it almost desperately. "Please..." he murmured against him. "Please don't leave me..."
Yami Yuugi shh'ed Bakura slightly. "I'm not leaving you." He whispered, lavishing kisses along Bakura's lips and jaw line. "I'm not leaving." He said fiercely, claiming Bakura's lips yet again, his own renewed desperation showing.
The paler boy's eyes closed in bliss a moment before he broke the kiss. "Not here..." he whispered in the shorter boy's ear. "He-- he has my energy... and-- and yours, and I--" He rested his forehead on Yami Yuugi's shoulder. "Please... I-- I need...."
Yami Yuugi reached around Bakura, undoing the ties holding Bakura's arms around him. "Okay." He said softly, rubbing the reddened skin gently. "We'll go then." Yami Yuugi threw the leather tie to the ground, getting off of the pale boy.
Bakura smiled softly and rose to his feet before shakily walking to his dresser and opening the top drawer. Pulling out a pair of underwear, he was about to close the drawer when he paused, looking at something. Hesitating briefly he shook his head, closing the drawer and slipping into the garment, the rest of his clothing swiftly following. "Yuugi-san? Check to see if the hall is clear?" he asked quietly.
Yami Yuugi nodded, walking over to the door and opening it quietly, peeking out. He turned back to Bakura, hand still on the knob and shook his head. "He's not there." He whispered, reaching for Bakura's hand and supporting him carefully. "We can go."
The boy smiled, nodding, his free hand briefly covering his pocket before falling to his side. "Quickly..." he whispered.
Yami Yuugi nodded again, taking Bakura's hand and leading him to the doorway, the faint sound of water running assuring him somewhat as he hurried Bakura out of the apartment.
Bakura was barely able to catch up, often stumbling, Yami Yuugi's hand holding his own being the only thing keeping him from falling, and his free hand kept covering his pocket nervously.
By the time they reached the game shop, the pale haired boy looked ready to collapse.
Yami Yuugi pulled Bakura close as they entered the shop, comforting arms firm around the other boy. "Let's just go upstairs, okay?" He asked softly, supporting Bakura completely. "Would you like me to carry you?"
The boy gave a small smile. "Am I that light...?" he asked tiredly.
Yami Yuugi nodded, lifting the thin boy into his arms with nary a struggle and ascending the stairs quickly so as to avoid a confrontation with Yuugi's grandfather, nudging the door open and crossing over to Yuugi's bed. "You are very light." He said, setting Bakura down on the soft surface and settling in next to him.
"Sou...?" Bakura smiled slightly, snuggling closer.
Yami Yuugi nodded, encasing the boy in a strong embrace, his presence reassuring. "Yes, really." He affirmed. "Maybe too light. You could stand to gain some weight, you know." He said, eyebrow quirked.
Bakura gave a small smile. "I'm not that light," he protested softly.
Yami Yuugi returned the smile. "Yes, you are." He assured, rubbing his hands gently along Bakura's arms.
"Nnn," Bakura smiled, nuzzling the boy slightly. "Yuugi-san...? May I...?" he asked hesitatingly, reaching up to touch the boy's cheek.
Yami Yuugi found himself nodding yet again. "Go ahead, Bakura." He said softly, almost invitingly. "Take whatever you need." He absently touched his bandaged wrist, then nodded again. "Yes, go ahead." He affirmed.
The pale boy gave a relieved smile. "I'll try not to take too much..." he said softly, hand sliding down to caress Yami Yuugi's chest briefly before undoing the boy's buckle and zipper. He pushed aside the leather and reached in to pull the shorter boy's member out from Yuugi's underwear, lowering himself to kiss it delicately.
Yami Yuugi hissed slightly, fisting his hands in Bakura's hair. "O-okay..." He agreed haltingly, barely comprehending what Bakura had said in the first place, immediately at attention and now focused only on Bakura's actions.
With a tender affection, Bakura brought Yami Yuugi to release, swallowing the smaller boy's seed. He gave a smile as he rezipped the leather pants and moved up to snuggle against Yami Yuugi again. "Arigatou," he smiled, face slightly flushed.
Yami Yuugi panted lightly, face only a little pale, as opposed to completely ashen as before. "You're welcome." He said softly, smiling and holding Bakura close once more.
Bakura was quiet a long while, enjoying the feel of the other boy's arms around him. "Yuugi-san? I want to be with you..." he said softly.
Yami Yuugi looked up, eyeing Bakura. "You are with me, Bakura." He said, mind still hazy from the previous series of events.
The paler boy gave a soft smile. "But when I go back, it'll be like nothing had ever happened and I'll be back under his spell again..." he said, looking down.
Yami Yuugi lifted himself up, so that he was resting on his elbows, looking out, somewhere beyond his feet. "I would tell you to stay away from him forever... but I already know you don't want to do that. I'm sorry things are the way they are..." He added, weakly, his eyelids drooping a bit and he shook his head, fighting to stay alert. "I want to be with you too, Bakura." He said chokingly.
Bakura smiled sadly. "I can't not go back," he said softly. "I just..." He pressed his lips together a moment, hand resting over his pocket again. "I need a way..." he trailed off, eyes troubled and thoughtful.
Yami Yuugi tilted his head in Bakura's direction, watching the boy's thoughtful expression. "Bakura?" He asked, looking confused.
The boy looked over with a smile. "Ne, Yuugi-san, is it all right if I use your bathroom?" he asked, expression cheerful.
Yami Yuugi noted the sudden shift in Bakura's countenance, but waved it off internally. "Of course, Bakura." He said, nodding slowly. "You're all right?" He questioned lightly, his tone the same.
"Un," Bakura smiled, getting to his feet. "I just really have to pee," he admitted, tone embarrassed.
Yami Yuugi smiled briefly, resting against the pillows once more, his expression a bit tired. "Oh, okay." He said absently, curling into the sheets a little more.
The paler boy gave a small smile, bending down to kiss Yami Yuugi gently. "I love you," he said softly before leaving the room.
Yami Yuugi hmm'ed appreciatively, snuggling into the warmth left by Bakura's body, smiling blissfully as he closed his eyes. "I love you too..." He said as Bakura exited, fingers splayed against the sheets.
Bakura closed the door carefully behind him, pausing to lock the door before moving to stand before the mirror. He pressed his lips together a moment before reaching into his pocket and closing his hand around the object inside it. Taking a deep breath, he pulled it out, uncurling his palm to show the gleaming metal of the Millennium Eye....
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AN from Fran: Next chapters may be slow in coming, being my co author, Mayhemchan has lost her net access. I have one more chapter and some bits, but I kinda need her to do more. Sorry all. Nothing I can do about it.
Bakuraluva: Of course he's still kinda heartless, he's Yami Bakura... :) and YB doesn't need it, he just likes it, so he drains Bakura-kun, who then needs to replenish his own so he takes it from Yami Yuugi. It's one more way for YBakura tomess with YYuugi.
Sailor Comet: ^^ That would get seriously messy... It does seem to be leaning in that dirrection though.
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Preview: "Wish"
"They say... the Items... have the power... to grant a wish...."
...
"I love you, Bakura-kun," he said haltingly. "I just want you to know that."
Bakura's smile grew almost radiant. "And... and I think I love you too, Yuugi-kun..." he returned, blushing as well before lifting his head to meet Yuugi's lips with his own.
Yuugi's expression before meeting Bakura's lips could have been described as ecstatic, the brushing of their lips melting it into blissful. He sighed happily, content in the embrace of the pale boy, hands cupping Bakura's cheeks gently.
He didn't even seem to notice the door opening and closing, nor the figure who had entered, so captivated he was by what he was doing.
...
"You do derive such pleasure out of annoying me, don't you?" He paused. "Some sick, twisted pleasure."
"Yes, it's what I jerk off to every night," the harsher boy leared.
Yami Yuugi looked vaguely disgusted, upper lip curling. "You are truly disgusting, you know that?" He flushed softly. "I feel sorry for Bakura."
"Why? He loves it," Yami Bakura returned smoothly, enjoying himself.
"I'm not sure I believe you," Yami Yuugi said, faltering slightly. "Who could possibly care about you?"
"He does, obviously," the harsher boy smirked. "He'd doing what I told him to, after all."
Yami Yuugi froze, brow furrowed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Yami Bakura chuckled. "Exactly what you think it does,"
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