Title: Illness Illusion

warnings: male x male, sex, rape, abuse of the mental/physical kind, masturbation, cutting, death, male preg. All sexual scenes will be on my website

notes: Marik is the Hikari because Malik is the masculine name and I think that since Malik is the yami, than he's the more masculine of the two ^^

disclaimers: not mine

Chapter 2

Marik was the only living creature walking the corridors of the vast mansion, footfalls echoing eerily and the torches's shadows casting frightening displays on the cream hued walls. He often did this in his nocturnal musings. Sleep refused to come to him unless he was exhausted so the only alternative was to wander the manor until he was ready to curl up in a ball on the floor. He loved Malik, he always would no matter what his yami did, but he didn't like him anymore. Marik wasn't kept under lock and key but he was a captive in his own prison house of pain.

He fully blamed himself for what happened. After all, if he hadn't released Malik or agreed to do as Malik said than the entire mess wouldn't have happened. The world would have remained the same. Marik sighed, hand unconciously raising to touch the scars littered across his wrists. He had tried so hard to commit suicide but everytime he came close, Malik would intervene. When one died, the other followed unless the yami was permitted by the hikari to keep the body. Malik must have known that Marik would not give Malik full reign of his body.

The hall came to an abrupt end with a spiral staircase leading into the dungeons. Usually when Marik came here, he would run back to his room. Not this time. Marik descended the stairs slowly, clutching the railing tightly as his legs wobbled nervously. The light was dimmer and barely sufficient for him to see where his steps were taking him. The doors to the individual cells were all bolted and Marik knew that not even a stick of dynamite could destroy the stone that was it's foundation.

He came to a pause in front of one door, hearing whimpers from inside. The compassionate side of him that was severely masked slid the large grating that was used to provide food to the prisoner. Marik's breath caught in his throat. "No one deserves this," he whispered to himself. The boy that had had such a bright energy just months ago was tossing and turning, sweat beading his forehead, an expression of pain scunching his features. His flaxen strands were all in disaray and sticking to his skin. The sparkling hazel oculates were squeezed taut. His thin-much too emanciated-body was only clothed in torn and fraying jeans, upper torso bare and ruddy nipples hardened from the freezing chill permeating the small cloister. There was no bed, blanket or pillow.

Marik knew he was risking the wrath of Malik. He pulled open the cell next to Jou's, not surprised that there was adequate bedding. Malik had purposely taken the same amenities from Jou's out for the sheer delight in torturing Jou. It was bad enough that Jou looked like he was starving but to be deprived of warmth when it was bone-numbing cold in the dungeons? It was pure spite and hate. Why, though? Marik gathered the two blankets and the pillow in his arms, nearly tripping. Jou never harmed anyone but Seto but that was because they annoyed each other.

He grabbed the keys from the wall near the entrance. He tried to stifle the grating of the door. He wasn't scared that Jou would wake up and attack him. It was obvious from his appearance that Jou had no strength; what was left was going to keeping him alive. The labored breathing was significantly more shallow than normal. Marik stared at Jou's gaunt face, fighting the tears of helplessness that threatened to break free from their dam. He wasn't weak but this was almost more than he could take. Marik gently lifted Jou's head and shoved the pillow underneath. Gods, his skin was chilly. Marik hesitantly cupped Jou's cheek. The boy tensed before leaning into the carress.

How long had it been since Jou'd had human contact? Humans needed the interaction with their own race and to not be given it could drive a person insane. Marik trailed his fingers to Jou's lips. The breath against them was warm and sent Marik's nerves into sensory exaltment. The boy's moan was so soft that Marik almost missed it. Violet eyes narrowed. Was the dream that Jou was experiencing actually a...a sexual dream? The whimpering and thrashing hadn't been from fear but from lust. Marik's loins immediately tightened and he hastily withdrew his touch from Jou. He minutely glanced at Jou's nether regions finding the proof of the truth.

Marik stood, draping the blankets over Jou. Perhaps...the dreams were all that Jou had. To live in a world of fantasy inside one's own imagination. Marik gazed back at Jou just before he closed the door. Why did some part of him hope that Jou would wake and ask for Marik to take him immediately? Marik cringed as the door settled in it's proper place. Maybe he was craving another person, either male or female. Marik had been a notorious playboy before Malik entered his life. Malik had been so jealous of another giving Marik pleasure that he'd actually murdered a couple of women before Marik finally stopped seeing anyone in order to save senseless deaths. Malik had forgotten him in his quest of dominance over the world. He was alone.

Jou had always been beautiful to Marik's mind. Though a bit stubborn and not the most intelligent person, Jou held an innocent appeal that Marik had found very endearing. Now, however, Marik didn't want to break Jou any further than he already was. A porcelain doll that was teetering on the edge and with only the lightest of taps, the doll would fall and shatter into a million pieces. With Malik steadily distancing himself from Marik, those parts of Marik that had been sealed by Malik were beginning to come forth from their cages. Compassion, mercy, pity, and love.

Marik fell onto his bed, not bothering with taking his clothes or shoes off. He was disgusted to see just how much the relevation about Jou's sexual dream had done to him. He ignored his desire and burrowed into his pillow, nearly covering himself completely with the duvet. For once, Marik fell asleep without counting camels.

~ ~ ~

"Seto!" a fist crashed onto a table, those assembled wincing as the noise vibrated through the safe house. Yugi's outburts caught the attention of some of the younger duelers turned renegade warriors against the Dark. Yugi's fury was too heated to be calmed, blazing like a wildfire through a bountiful forest. Quivering with rage and glaring daggers at Seto, Yugi snarled, "You're not doing a damn thing to help anybody! You know that that Malik is going to attack America first! That is why we ~have~ to be prepared! We have to gather our forces, not fuck our boyfriends!" This glare was directed at the raven haired boy beside of Seto.

"I think you let your anger get the best of you," Seto's voice was calm but the wrath dancing the brilliant lapis lazuli oculates was dangerous. "I am aware that Malik will be striking here next but in case you have forgotten, Mokuba is heading the eastern division of D.H The Duelist Hunters under his command are more than capable of handling a fight until we take our dragons to the East Coast."

Yugi wasn't complacent. "You bastard!" he seethed through clenched teeth. "Yami, Jou, Ryou, and Anzu are prisoners of Malik's! He's not going to keep them alive much longer. That is why we ~must~ attack first and take him by surprise! It's the one thing that he won't be expecting us to do. We've played cat and mouse this entire war. It's time that we take the upper hand."

Murmured agreements fueled Seto's anger. "We can barely ~defend~ against him. What makes you think we can be on the offensive?"

"All the duel monsters that Malik's used are ones best prepared for attacking, not defending. He's probably so confident that we're pushovers that he hasn't even thought about what if he was on the recieving end." Yugi's strategy was plausible, as seen by the numerous heads nodding.

Seto sneered at the compact youth. "This isn't about anyone but Yami, is it?" Otogi placed a warning hand on Seto's shoulder but Seto ignored him. "This is about the fact that your jealous that I have my boyfriend and yours is a prisoner." Yugi's face contorted with a mix of anger and pain. "You'd risk everyone's life here because of Yami when, he's probably already dead now. Everyone knew that Malik hated Yami. He's most likely rotting six feet-"

"STOP IT!" Mai yelled, slapping Seto hard. The blonde glowwered at him. "Otogi, you had better take him out of here." With Seto muttering that Mai was a bitch, Otogi led Seto to another room of the safe house. "I think that Yugi is right. Not only does he have our friends but the entire world is falling under his control." Mai sent a glance at Honda and Yugi. "We'll make plans. The rest of you, prepare your decks for offense."

Waiting for the assembled to depart, Mai hugged Yugi. "It's not your fault that you miss Yami. It's only natural." She ruffled his hair. "You should rest before we move out." Mai's gaze flickered to the window. "Isis told us that Rare Hunters would coming by this location."

"....Alright. Mai...do...do you think he's dead?"

"Of course he isn't. I thought you had more faith than that?"

Yugi smiled. "I used to. I..I can't even feel him through him link so I can only hope that he's had to block in order to keep our location a secret."

Mai rested her head against Honda's chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. "I'm starting to think like Yugi too. What if this never ends?"

Honda stroked her hair, kissing her forehead. "Don't do this. I can't be the only strong one." Honda looked at the storm clouds in the heavens. The warring clash of two opposing factors. That would be the future very soon....

~ ~ ~

Thanks for reviewing :) ^^

Thanks to: Dragon-Orb, happy yaoi lover, tyrell (I am a free lance writer. :P) nife (it might not be yugi who makes the kill) JadeYuy, Anneirda Nikaru, Legolas19, tenshinamanda (I was surprised there aren't more like this either) Solar Cloud (I am a huge Gackt fan, actually...I'm a huge J rock fan. XD)