"All I Wanted", By Ryoubakurafan013
Disclaimer: Why would you possibly think I own Yu-Gi-Oh? (I don't, if you weren't smart enough to figure it out yet.)
Warnings: Implications of rape, slight swearing, dramatic situations, suggestive material.
Pairings: Slight Ryou/Bakura, hints of Bakura/Mariku (Yami Malik), suggested non-consensual Malik/Mariku and Ryou/Mariku.
Chapter Two
"Here, father," the boy said, tossing the final bag to Hóru. "That's the last of them. Are you sure you need all this stuff for only a few months stay at your site?" he asked, already knowing that the answer was yes.
"Archaeology is hard work, Ryou, and requires all this to accomplish anything worth noting." A look of concern came upon the man's face. "Now, you're sure you'll be alright without anyone to look after you for four months?"
"Father," Ryou addressed him, looking him straight in the eyes, "I'll be fine. Honestly." He smiled reassuringly. "Besides, I have Malik. He won't let anything happen to me."
"Oh yes, the Ishtar boy. Ryou, you have to be careful around him, you know. He sometimes seems to have a sort of multiple-personality disorder." Ryou could tell that his father didn't like Malik very well.
"Malik really is a great friend, he just has mood swings occasionally. Don't you worry; I can manage on my own. It's not like you'll be away for ten years. But, even so... I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you, son," the elder said, opening his arms for a hug, which Ryou gladly received. "Well, I suppose I'd better get going. I wouldn't want to miss my plane."
"No, that wouldn't be good, I suppose."
"Oh, before I leave, there's something I want to give you." Hóru reached into the car.
*Flashback*
"Ryou, I brought you something, just like I promised you." His father produced a box from the passenger's seat, and held it out to Ryou.
The silver-haired boy timidly reached up and took the package from Hóru, and undid the string that held it closed. Taking off the lid and reaching inside to pull away the tissue paper, the young one's eyes widened at what he saw.
"Wow, Daddy. This is really for me?" he asked, gazing in awe at the golden object inside the box. Ryou's father grinned and nodded. "What is it Daddy? Where'd you find it?"
*End Flashback*
"Ryou? Ryou, are you still here, or has your soul left your body so that it may find its way to Osiris?"
Ryou suddenly broke out of his trance to glance back up at his father. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just... remembering, that's all."
"I see..." Hóru pulled out a small box, and handed it to Ryou. "An early birthday present, since I won't be here on your actual birthday. I'm so sorry I'll miss it, son, and it's only five days until you'll be fifteen." Ryou stared at the box. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open it!"
"Oh. Right." Ryou carefully took the lid off of the box. "A key?"
Hóru smiled. "Go have a look inside the garage." He pushed a button inside the car, and the garage door slid open slowly, folding upwards and inwards.
"A... a motorcycle?" the teen asked, unable to believe his eyes.
His father nodded. "Why did you think I taught you to ride one? And got you a license? Of course, you have to wait until you're fifteen, you know, but I think you'll be able to contain yourself until then."
"Uh..." The truth was, Ryou wasn't the type of person to want a motorcycle. And besides, he had ridden on Malik's before, and not told his father. But, wanting to please the other, he smiled. "Thanks, father, I love it."
"I'm glad. Now, I have to get going, or I'll miss my 12:30 flight. Promise you won't ride until you're fifteen?" Hóru asked, stepping into the car. Ryou nodded, still pretending to be thrilled. "Alright then. Sayonara, my son."
The silver-haired teen smiled. After the many years that he and his father had lived in Japan, Hóru still pronounced the Japanese goodbye "Sigh-oh-NAR- ah", with the third syllable accented, just like all the other English- speaking people tend to say it. "Sayonara," he repeated, using the correct pronunciation. Hóru grinned and waved out the window, using the other hand to steer the car out of the driveway and into the street. Ryou waved back, until his father was out of sight, and then hurried back into the house.
*****Ryou's POV*****
//Bakura, Father's gone...// No response. I lift the Ring out from under my shirt, and try again. //Bakura... are you there?// Still nothing. What use is a mental link if the person on the other end never answers? He teaches me how to use it, and then he never does it himself. //Bakura, my father's gone back to Egypt again. Can you come out and talk to me now?// I wait. Still nothing from his end. //Please?//
Suddenly, I become more aware than usual of his presence. /Hikari.../ I shiver. The voice is that of Bakura's, no doubt, but it's different than last time. It sounds deeper, and harsher. But... something in his voice makes me feel... strangely safe, secure, and something that I can't describe. It makes my heart beat faster for some reason...
//Bakura, is that you? You sound strange. What's wrong?// Again I wait, but he does not reply. And I wonder if that even was him... maybe I was just imagining. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow. Maybe the spirit is sleeping... I'll just go see if Malik's home.
*****Normal POV*****
Ryou knocked timidly on the door of Malik's apartment. He was surprised when his Egyptian friend opened the door as soon as he had taken his hand away. "Hiya, Ryou! Long time, no see, eh?" The blonde dragged his friend inside by the wrists. "Hóru hasn't been letting you come over to see me, has he?" he asked, closing the door and gently tugging Ryou onto a couch, where he sat beside the silver-haired teen.
"No... He thinks you're a bad influence on me," the other boy answered sadly. "I don't see why though..."
/Because of the way he dresses. The way he acts, talks, looks... Hmm... He reminds me of someone, but I don't know who./
Ryou's eyes glazed over as he listened to his yami. //Bakura, where were you? I called for you earlier today.//
The Egyptian cocked his head, looking at Ryou's face intently. "What's gotten into you, Ryou? You look pretty out of it today." He waved a hand in front of the other boy's face, trying to get his attention.
The silver-haired hikari blinked rapidly, before shaking his head. "N- nothing! I'm just... tired, that's all," he replied, making up an excuse.
/The boy has a Millennium Item also. I can sense another presence in his mind... Ryou, you must leave here at once. You are in danger here./
Ryou frowned inwardly. //Not you too! Am I the only one who sees Malik for who he really is? Bakura, what are you ta--//
Just then, Malik's body convulsed, and he fell off the couch and onto the floor, sinking to his knees, and screaming in pain. "No, please! Don't do this, not again! Please, yami!" The English boy watched in horror as his best friend lowered his head, clutching it with his hands, and crying. "Please, don't do this! I can't-ah!" Suddenly, Malik fell silent, and he collapsed onto the floor, seemingly lifeless.
"M-malik? Are you okay...?" As if in response to the question, Malik began to glow a soft violet color, and Ryou's eyes widened as the blonde's body levitated into the air. The, from out of nowhere, a single, low voice began to chant in what Ryou knew had to be Egyptian. His friend's body hovered only a foot off the ground, sometimes falling a little, then rising a few inches again. The chanting stopped, and so did Ryou's breathing when the purple glow burst into violent, lavender flame, engulfing Malik completely. "MALIK!!"
/Ryou, stay away from him. That is not real fire; it's Shadow energy. Let me take over your body./
//What?!//
/The only way to let me out is for you to let me take over your body. I can save your friend. I think I know who's doing this to him./
//...okay.//
A flash of light emitted from the Millennium Ring about the boy's neck, and Bakura appeared in Ryou's place. Well, in a sense, Ryou was still there, but he looked more like the dark spirit-he now had more narrow eyes, longer and spikier hair, longer legs, etcetera-but Ryou was actually inside Bakura's soul room, the place in his mind that his yami had been living in for the past five years. And it was dark in there. Dark and cool. Just like Bakura.
The yami reached out to touch whatever it was that had set Malik's body aflame, and confirmed his suspicions that it was indeed Shadow Energy, when he felt that the fire was cool to the touch. "Show yourself to me! I know that you reside in this boy's mind, evil spirit! You shall burden him no more!" The Millennium Ring glowed again, and Bakura gritted his teeth together-the effort of trying to exorcise whatever was in Malik's mind was excruciating.
The sound of seemingly vicious laughter echoed throughout the room, before the violet flames gradually dimmed until they were reduced to nothing. Bakura could see that the Shadow Energy had done no bodily harm to Malik, though his clothing had been burned away almost completely, leaving only thin strips here and there, just enough to cover certain areas. His body dropped to the floor, and the blonde lay there in a crumpled heap, still unmoving.
Meanwhile, Ryou lay in a similar position on the floor of Bakura's soul room, only he was moving, as the cries he made wracked his body. //Bakura, he's gone! Malik's dead! He was practically the only friend I had, and now he's gone!! Why?!//
/Shh... hikari... your friend is merely unconscious. He's going to be alright. Please stay quiet so that I can think./ Ryou ceased his crying at his yami's semi-comforting words, but still lay on the floor of the soul room, whimpering, and now he shivered because it was cold in there. Bakura sensed this, and he used a minimal amount of energy to light the dim room, and conjured up a silk-like blanket. It wrapped itself around the hikari, who in turn snuggled into the inviting warmth. /Now hush./ Bakura blocked his hikari from the outside world now, afraid that he might see things that Bakura didn't want him to experience.
Bakura bent down to inspect the Egyptian, but jumped back slightly as the boy's "tattoos" began to glow a bright white. Then, what surprised the former fiend even more was that Malik whimpered, though still unconscious, before his body convulsed again, and the glow faded slightly. Suddenly, the boy's back split straight down the middle, and the white glow shone brighter, especially where the incision was. Bakura bit his lip nervously, afraid that he had not used his Shadow Power correctly and that the boy would die, but then that sinister laughter rang once again, and the yami saw what appeared to be long, blonde spikes of hair rise out of the slash on Malik's back. It took all of five seconds for the "evil spirit" to appear in front of Bakura, and the silver-haired spirit saw that the incision in the young boy's back healed up, as if it was never there to begin with.
"So, you found me out, eh Bakura?" Ryou's darker half looked up at the man standing in front of him, and scowled. The heavily accented Egyptian voice continued. "It's been awhile... five thousand years, give or take a few, hasn't it?" The man looked like almost an exact replica of Malik Ishtar, except for the fact that his golden hair was standing straight up, he was about nine inches taller, and he was wearing some sort of silken Egyptian robe, which revealed sinewy muscles all over his body because it was so tight-fitting.
"Mariku." Bakura spat out the name as if it were a poison that would kill him instantly, scowling up at the blonde, who he actually had to look up to because of their height difference. "I'd rather have died of some horrible disease back then than have ever seen you again at anytime, you bastard. How dare you inhabit this innocent's body? You should have chosen death over being reincarnated into someone so young, so pure of heart. But I shall kill you myself, so that he will not be burdened by your presence any longer. Be sure to put in a good word to Osiris for me, Mariku." With that, Bakura lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground.
"Ah, but Bakura, my love, you also dwell in the mind of a young boy, am I correct? One that has never been tainted by evil? So how can you say such things about me, when you are in the same situation yourself, lover?" Mariku pinned Bakura down by his shoulders, and the shorter one could not get out of the Egyptian's grasp. So instead, Bakura spat in his face.
Mariku simply wiped the saliva from his cheek. "I know full-well what you're capable of, Mariku, but you're never going to get your hands on my hikari!" Bakura yelled.
The silver-violet eyes of his captor shone down upon the former fiend with interest. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, love. There are many things that I am capable of, that is true. And a lot of those things are powers that you cannot possibly fathom. You were right in saying that my hikari possesses am Item, the Millennium Rod, in case you weren't sure of which one." Bakura's brown eyes widened, and he shook his head in astonishment. "Oh yes, Bakura, you must know what I'm thinking. I can torture both you and your precious little light with this Item, as Malik has no choice but to let me use its power."
The silver-haired yami squirmed again, desperately trying to get away from the Egyptian, but the blonde held him down with great force, and didn't even look as if he was breaking a sweat. "You were always such a power- hungry man, Mariku," the Ring spirit growled in annoyance.
"And also a lust-hungry one, mind you." The tanned man proved his point by leaning down and roughly pressing his lips to Bakura's. It was clear that the other one did not appreciate this, because as soon as he had the chance, he bit Mariku's lower lip hard between his teeth, eliciting a slight yelp of pain from the yami, who drew away, frowning and panting. "You didn't need to do that."
"I had every right to."
Mariku sighed. "I have a proposition to make, one I know you won't refuse, for your sake and your hikari's." Bakura's eyes narrowed. "I will soon be able to control the world, be the Earth's dictator, you might say. I coaxed Malik to steal three cards from his sister's 'hiding place', where she probably still thinks the cards are kept. Bakura, do you have an idea what these three Duel Monsters cards might be?" The Egyptian's lips curled into a vicious smile, and the other yami immediately knew why.
"The three God Cards," he murmured. "You're planning to take control of the world by use of their power, and the Items of the Millennia."
"Very good!" Mariku exclaimed, smile broadening. "The last one was a bit hard to obtain, Obelisk the Tormentor I believe it was. Isis took it from the tomb she had sealed it into and hid it in her dresser drawers. I had to 'convince' Malik to get that one from his sister's undergarments." The blonde appeared to be recalling that situation. "I believe that I threatened to kill him. Of course, I couldn't have, not being strong enough to be without my host, but after I have your Ring, I will no longer need him, and I can rape him for fun. Then maybe I'll kill him slowly, torturing him to his death."
The color drained from Bakura's face. "Mariku, what has happened to you?! You not only want to rape an innocent, but you would enjoy killing him as well! You aren't the past lover I had."
The yami raised a slim, golden eyebrow. "Oh really? Did I not rape you on several occasions, as well as kill anyone who stood in either of our ways? I would have killed the pharaoh too, had it not been for your incessant whining about how killing is mortally wrong. He was spared because of you, and now he's back. And I want his Puzzle." The Egyptian shrugged that subject off quickly. "Anyway, I would be happy to share this great power that I spoke of earlier. I'd share it with you, Bakura. I'm sure that after a while, controlling the world would get boring, and I might need... distraction. You already know the pleasures I can give you, and I think that you were quite happy with sex, even after I raped-or at least tried to rape-you. But then, I only broke you physically, didn't I? I couldn't break you emotionally. You wanted that, didn't you? Well, here's your golden opportunity to have that life again. And even more, because you'll have whatever you desire. We'll have the whole world."
The former fiend hissed. "You should know something, you arrogant Egyptian fool. I don't love you. I might have 5,000 years ago, might have in the sense that a child loves his parents, but you were the only thing I could love. I didn't have any parents after you killed my father. My mother had died giving birth to me. I hated that man, and was glad you had gotten rid of him. I loved you for that. And then you showed me kindness that I didn't know could exist in anyone. Occasionally, yes, you would force me into sex, when I didn't really want it. But I grew accustomed to it, and even though you were what-five years older than me?-it didn't matter. I loved the comfort that you brought me. And I eventually learned to love the pleasures that you gave me, when my body grew."
Bakura's tone changed suddenly, from a soft, reminiscent one, to a harsher one. "But now that I am no longer in need of your touch, dependant on it, I do not require your care. Five thousand years can change someone's heart, you know. The Realm of Shadows changed mine-my heart is forever hardened towards you, Mariku. You are nothing to me anymore, understand? Nothing!"
Mariku growled deep in his throat. "So, you refuse me, then, eh?" He grabbed Bakura by the shoulders, hauled him up, and slammed him into the nearest wall. The silver-haired one's head smacked into the painted wood, and it hurt him badly, shocked him. He sank to the ground, his perception beginning to drift away. The Egyptian man kicked the whimpering yami in his right shoulder, satisfied when he heard a yelp of protest. Confused and dizzy, Bakura did the only thing that he could.
He cried. Well, he whimpered, holding back his tears. But the noise bothered Mariku.
"Stop that awful racket at once, you woman! Gods, I can't stand it when you do that." The taller man left the room, returning a moment later with two lengths of rope. "I'm going to tie you up and gag you. Don't even try to resist, because I'll only cause you more pain. It hurts me to do this, but I will do whatever it takes to control the world. I'm just sorry that you don't want to help me in doing so."
Bakura winced as his hands were jerked behind him, and tied roughly with one of the ropes. "Mariku... why? Why would you do this? If you love me, you would respect my decision!"
"SHUT UP!" Smack! Bakura fell silent again, and he knew that, should he live to the next morning, there would be a bruise on his jaw. It had almost been dislocated. Mariku picked the smaller up, and deposited him onto the couch that Ryou and Malik had been sitting on earlier. He kicked his hikari as he did this. "Malik, wake up!" He sighed heavily when the boy did not respond. "Guess he's out cold," he mumbled to no one in particular. The Egyptian tied Bakura's feet together at the ankles with the other rope, then tore the silver-haired's shirt off. "My, my, Bakura. Still managed to keep your muscles. But what has happened to your skin? It's paler than when I last saw you. You've spent too much time in the Shadow Realm, my love." Mariku ripped the shirt, and took one of the sleeves, twisting it. "Open your mouth." Bakura was too stunned still, so he complied. The blonde put the middle of the sleeve in Bakura's mouth, then lifted his head to tie it. But he seemed to have second thoughts about this. "Any last words before I make you suffer?" he asked, lifting the substituted gag.
"Three things. Firstly, whatever you do to me, make sure you do not harm my hikari. Two, I hope you kill Malik when he wakes up, because you'll die too. You're too weak to go without a host yet. And three, I hope that when you die, you rot in hell for eternity, because that's what you deserve, you bastard." It was clear that some of Bakura's attitude was returning.
Mariku smirked and slipped the gag back into Bakura's mouth, tying it in back of his head. "Yes, I suppose I deserve that. But I won't die. I'm going to be immortal soon. I'm already halfway there, because yamis can't die easily, and once I have all of the Millennium Items, no one will be able to stop me. And besides," he motioned to Malik, who groaned, at least showing some sign of life now. "As soon as Malik wakes up, I'm taking over his body. Then I'll rape Ryou. And I'll let you watch, since I'm such a nice guy." Bakura's eyes widened, and even without the gag, he couldn't have said anything. His mind had suddenly become a blank, and the only thing he could think about was the safety of his hikari. And how he couldn't stop this from happening. There was no possible way...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After-word: Ooooh, what'll become of Bakura? And will poor Ryou have to suffer because of his yami's decisions? Heh, it's a cliffhanger, and my first decent one, too. Tell me if I should continue this or not! Review!!
Disclaimer: Why would you possibly think I own Yu-Gi-Oh? (I don't, if you weren't smart enough to figure it out yet.)
Warnings: Implications of rape, slight swearing, dramatic situations, suggestive material.
Pairings: Slight Ryou/Bakura, hints of Bakura/Mariku (Yami Malik), suggested non-consensual Malik/Mariku and Ryou/Mariku.
Chapter Two
"Here, father," the boy said, tossing the final bag to Hóru. "That's the last of them. Are you sure you need all this stuff for only a few months stay at your site?" he asked, already knowing that the answer was yes.
"Archaeology is hard work, Ryou, and requires all this to accomplish anything worth noting." A look of concern came upon the man's face. "Now, you're sure you'll be alright without anyone to look after you for four months?"
"Father," Ryou addressed him, looking him straight in the eyes, "I'll be fine. Honestly." He smiled reassuringly. "Besides, I have Malik. He won't let anything happen to me."
"Oh yes, the Ishtar boy. Ryou, you have to be careful around him, you know. He sometimes seems to have a sort of multiple-personality disorder." Ryou could tell that his father didn't like Malik very well.
"Malik really is a great friend, he just has mood swings occasionally. Don't you worry; I can manage on my own. It's not like you'll be away for ten years. But, even so... I'll miss you."
"And I'll miss you, son," the elder said, opening his arms for a hug, which Ryou gladly received. "Well, I suppose I'd better get going. I wouldn't want to miss my plane."
"No, that wouldn't be good, I suppose."
"Oh, before I leave, there's something I want to give you." Hóru reached into the car.
*Flashback*
"Ryou, I brought you something, just like I promised you." His father produced a box from the passenger's seat, and held it out to Ryou.
The silver-haired boy timidly reached up and took the package from Hóru, and undid the string that held it closed. Taking off the lid and reaching inside to pull away the tissue paper, the young one's eyes widened at what he saw.
"Wow, Daddy. This is really for me?" he asked, gazing in awe at the golden object inside the box. Ryou's father grinned and nodded. "What is it Daddy? Where'd you find it?"
*End Flashback*
"Ryou? Ryou, are you still here, or has your soul left your body so that it may find its way to Osiris?"
Ryou suddenly broke out of his trance to glance back up at his father. "Oh, I'm sorry. I was just... remembering, that's all."
"I see..." Hóru pulled out a small box, and handed it to Ryou. "An early birthday present, since I won't be here on your actual birthday. I'm so sorry I'll miss it, son, and it's only five days until you'll be fifteen." Ryou stared at the box. "Well, what are you waiting for? Open it!"
"Oh. Right." Ryou carefully took the lid off of the box. "A key?"
Hóru smiled. "Go have a look inside the garage." He pushed a button inside the car, and the garage door slid open slowly, folding upwards and inwards.
"A... a motorcycle?" the teen asked, unable to believe his eyes.
His father nodded. "Why did you think I taught you to ride one? And got you a license? Of course, you have to wait until you're fifteen, you know, but I think you'll be able to contain yourself until then."
"Uh..." The truth was, Ryou wasn't the type of person to want a motorcycle. And besides, he had ridden on Malik's before, and not told his father. But, wanting to please the other, he smiled. "Thanks, father, I love it."
"I'm glad. Now, I have to get going, or I'll miss my 12:30 flight. Promise you won't ride until you're fifteen?" Hóru asked, stepping into the car. Ryou nodded, still pretending to be thrilled. "Alright then. Sayonara, my son."
The silver-haired teen smiled. After the many years that he and his father had lived in Japan, Hóru still pronounced the Japanese goodbye "Sigh-oh-NAR- ah", with the third syllable accented, just like all the other English- speaking people tend to say it. "Sayonara," he repeated, using the correct pronunciation. Hóru grinned and waved out the window, using the other hand to steer the car out of the driveway and into the street. Ryou waved back, until his father was out of sight, and then hurried back into the house.
*****Ryou's POV*****
//Bakura, Father's gone...// No response. I lift the Ring out from under my shirt, and try again. //Bakura... are you there?// Still nothing. What use is a mental link if the person on the other end never answers? He teaches me how to use it, and then he never does it himself. //Bakura, my father's gone back to Egypt again. Can you come out and talk to me now?// I wait. Still nothing from his end. //Please?//
Suddenly, I become more aware than usual of his presence. /Hikari.../ I shiver. The voice is that of Bakura's, no doubt, but it's different than last time. It sounds deeper, and harsher. But... something in his voice makes me feel... strangely safe, secure, and something that I can't describe. It makes my heart beat faster for some reason...
//Bakura, is that you? You sound strange. What's wrong?// Again I wait, but he does not reply. And I wonder if that even was him... maybe I was just imagining. Oh well, I'll try again tomorrow. Maybe the spirit is sleeping... I'll just go see if Malik's home.
*****Normal POV*****
Ryou knocked timidly on the door of Malik's apartment. He was surprised when his Egyptian friend opened the door as soon as he had taken his hand away. "Hiya, Ryou! Long time, no see, eh?" The blonde dragged his friend inside by the wrists. "Hóru hasn't been letting you come over to see me, has he?" he asked, closing the door and gently tugging Ryou onto a couch, where he sat beside the silver-haired teen.
"No... He thinks you're a bad influence on me," the other boy answered sadly. "I don't see why though..."
/Because of the way he dresses. The way he acts, talks, looks... Hmm... He reminds me of someone, but I don't know who./
Ryou's eyes glazed over as he listened to his yami. //Bakura, where were you? I called for you earlier today.//
The Egyptian cocked his head, looking at Ryou's face intently. "What's gotten into you, Ryou? You look pretty out of it today." He waved a hand in front of the other boy's face, trying to get his attention.
The silver-haired hikari blinked rapidly, before shaking his head. "N- nothing! I'm just... tired, that's all," he replied, making up an excuse.
/The boy has a Millennium Item also. I can sense another presence in his mind... Ryou, you must leave here at once. You are in danger here./
Ryou frowned inwardly. //Not you too! Am I the only one who sees Malik for who he really is? Bakura, what are you ta--//
Just then, Malik's body convulsed, and he fell off the couch and onto the floor, sinking to his knees, and screaming in pain. "No, please! Don't do this, not again! Please, yami!" The English boy watched in horror as his best friend lowered his head, clutching it with his hands, and crying. "Please, don't do this! I can't-ah!" Suddenly, Malik fell silent, and he collapsed onto the floor, seemingly lifeless.
"M-malik? Are you okay...?" As if in response to the question, Malik began to glow a soft violet color, and Ryou's eyes widened as the blonde's body levitated into the air. The, from out of nowhere, a single, low voice began to chant in what Ryou knew had to be Egyptian. His friend's body hovered only a foot off the ground, sometimes falling a little, then rising a few inches again. The chanting stopped, and so did Ryou's breathing when the purple glow burst into violent, lavender flame, engulfing Malik completely. "MALIK!!"
/Ryou, stay away from him. That is not real fire; it's Shadow energy. Let me take over your body./
//What?!//
/The only way to let me out is for you to let me take over your body. I can save your friend. I think I know who's doing this to him./
//...okay.//
A flash of light emitted from the Millennium Ring about the boy's neck, and Bakura appeared in Ryou's place. Well, in a sense, Ryou was still there, but he looked more like the dark spirit-he now had more narrow eyes, longer and spikier hair, longer legs, etcetera-but Ryou was actually inside Bakura's soul room, the place in his mind that his yami had been living in for the past five years. And it was dark in there. Dark and cool. Just like Bakura.
The yami reached out to touch whatever it was that had set Malik's body aflame, and confirmed his suspicions that it was indeed Shadow Energy, when he felt that the fire was cool to the touch. "Show yourself to me! I know that you reside in this boy's mind, evil spirit! You shall burden him no more!" The Millennium Ring glowed again, and Bakura gritted his teeth together-the effort of trying to exorcise whatever was in Malik's mind was excruciating.
The sound of seemingly vicious laughter echoed throughout the room, before the violet flames gradually dimmed until they were reduced to nothing. Bakura could see that the Shadow Energy had done no bodily harm to Malik, though his clothing had been burned away almost completely, leaving only thin strips here and there, just enough to cover certain areas. His body dropped to the floor, and the blonde lay there in a crumpled heap, still unmoving.
Meanwhile, Ryou lay in a similar position on the floor of Bakura's soul room, only he was moving, as the cries he made wracked his body. //Bakura, he's gone! Malik's dead! He was practically the only friend I had, and now he's gone!! Why?!//
/Shh... hikari... your friend is merely unconscious. He's going to be alright. Please stay quiet so that I can think./ Ryou ceased his crying at his yami's semi-comforting words, but still lay on the floor of the soul room, whimpering, and now he shivered because it was cold in there. Bakura sensed this, and he used a minimal amount of energy to light the dim room, and conjured up a silk-like blanket. It wrapped itself around the hikari, who in turn snuggled into the inviting warmth. /Now hush./ Bakura blocked his hikari from the outside world now, afraid that he might see things that Bakura didn't want him to experience.
Bakura bent down to inspect the Egyptian, but jumped back slightly as the boy's "tattoos" began to glow a bright white. Then, what surprised the former fiend even more was that Malik whimpered, though still unconscious, before his body convulsed again, and the glow faded slightly. Suddenly, the boy's back split straight down the middle, and the white glow shone brighter, especially where the incision was. Bakura bit his lip nervously, afraid that he had not used his Shadow Power correctly and that the boy would die, but then that sinister laughter rang once again, and the yami saw what appeared to be long, blonde spikes of hair rise out of the slash on Malik's back. It took all of five seconds for the "evil spirit" to appear in front of Bakura, and the silver-haired spirit saw that the incision in the young boy's back healed up, as if it was never there to begin with.
"So, you found me out, eh Bakura?" Ryou's darker half looked up at the man standing in front of him, and scowled. The heavily accented Egyptian voice continued. "It's been awhile... five thousand years, give or take a few, hasn't it?" The man looked like almost an exact replica of Malik Ishtar, except for the fact that his golden hair was standing straight up, he was about nine inches taller, and he was wearing some sort of silken Egyptian robe, which revealed sinewy muscles all over his body because it was so tight-fitting.
"Mariku." Bakura spat out the name as if it were a poison that would kill him instantly, scowling up at the blonde, who he actually had to look up to because of their height difference. "I'd rather have died of some horrible disease back then than have ever seen you again at anytime, you bastard. How dare you inhabit this innocent's body? You should have chosen death over being reincarnated into someone so young, so pure of heart. But I shall kill you myself, so that he will not be burdened by your presence any longer. Be sure to put in a good word to Osiris for me, Mariku." With that, Bakura lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground.
"Ah, but Bakura, my love, you also dwell in the mind of a young boy, am I correct? One that has never been tainted by evil? So how can you say such things about me, when you are in the same situation yourself, lover?" Mariku pinned Bakura down by his shoulders, and the shorter one could not get out of the Egyptian's grasp. So instead, Bakura spat in his face.
Mariku simply wiped the saliva from his cheek. "I know full-well what you're capable of, Mariku, but you're never going to get your hands on my hikari!" Bakura yelled.
The silver-violet eyes of his captor shone down upon the former fiend with interest. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, love. There are many things that I am capable of, that is true. And a lot of those things are powers that you cannot possibly fathom. You were right in saying that my hikari possesses am Item, the Millennium Rod, in case you weren't sure of which one." Bakura's brown eyes widened, and he shook his head in astonishment. "Oh yes, Bakura, you must know what I'm thinking. I can torture both you and your precious little light with this Item, as Malik has no choice but to let me use its power."
The silver-haired yami squirmed again, desperately trying to get away from the Egyptian, but the blonde held him down with great force, and didn't even look as if he was breaking a sweat. "You were always such a power- hungry man, Mariku," the Ring spirit growled in annoyance.
"And also a lust-hungry one, mind you." The tanned man proved his point by leaning down and roughly pressing his lips to Bakura's. It was clear that the other one did not appreciate this, because as soon as he had the chance, he bit Mariku's lower lip hard between his teeth, eliciting a slight yelp of pain from the yami, who drew away, frowning and panting. "You didn't need to do that."
"I had every right to."
Mariku sighed. "I have a proposition to make, one I know you won't refuse, for your sake and your hikari's." Bakura's eyes narrowed. "I will soon be able to control the world, be the Earth's dictator, you might say. I coaxed Malik to steal three cards from his sister's 'hiding place', where she probably still thinks the cards are kept. Bakura, do you have an idea what these three Duel Monsters cards might be?" The Egyptian's lips curled into a vicious smile, and the other yami immediately knew why.
"The three God Cards," he murmured. "You're planning to take control of the world by use of their power, and the Items of the Millennia."
"Very good!" Mariku exclaimed, smile broadening. "The last one was a bit hard to obtain, Obelisk the Tormentor I believe it was. Isis took it from the tomb she had sealed it into and hid it in her dresser drawers. I had to 'convince' Malik to get that one from his sister's undergarments." The blonde appeared to be recalling that situation. "I believe that I threatened to kill him. Of course, I couldn't have, not being strong enough to be without my host, but after I have your Ring, I will no longer need him, and I can rape him for fun. Then maybe I'll kill him slowly, torturing him to his death."
The color drained from Bakura's face. "Mariku, what has happened to you?! You not only want to rape an innocent, but you would enjoy killing him as well! You aren't the past lover I had."
The yami raised a slim, golden eyebrow. "Oh really? Did I not rape you on several occasions, as well as kill anyone who stood in either of our ways? I would have killed the pharaoh too, had it not been for your incessant whining about how killing is mortally wrong. He was spared because of you, and now he's back. And I want his Puzzle." The Egyptian shrugged that subject off quickly. "Anyway, I would be happy to share this great power that I spoke of earlier. I'd share it with you, Bakura. I'm sure that after a while, controlling the world would get boring, and I might need... distraction. You already know the pleasures I can give you, and I think that you were quite happy with sex, even after I raped-or at least tried to rape-you. But then, I only broke you physically, didn't I? I couldn't break you emotionally. You wanted that, didn't you? Well, here's your golden opportunity to have that life again. And even more, because you'll have whatever you desire. We'll have the whole world."
The former fiend hissed. "You should know something, you arrogant Egyptian fool. I don't love you. I might have 5,000 years ago, might have in the sense that a child loves his parents, but you were the only thing I could love. I didn't have any parents after you killed my father. My mother had died giving birth to me. I hated that man, and was glad you had gotten rid of him. I loved you for that. And then you showed me kindness that I didn't know could exist in anyone. Occasionally, yes, you would force me into sex, when I didn't really want it. But I grew accustomed to it, and even though you were what-five years older than me?-it didn't matter. I loved the comfort that you brought me. And I eventually learned to love the pleasures that you gave me, when my body grew."
Bakura's tone changed suddenly, from a soft, reminiscent one, to a harsher one. "But now that I am no longer in need of your touch, dependant on it, I do not require your care. Five thousand years can change someone's heart, you know. The Realm of Shadows changed mine-my heart is forever hardened towards you, Mariku. You are nothing to me anymore, understand? Nothing!"
Mariku growled deep in his throat. "So, you refuse me, then, eh?" He grabbed Bakura by the shoulders, hauled him up, and slammed him into the nearest wall. The silver-haired one's head smacked into the painted wood, and it hurt him badly, shocked him. He sank to the ground, his perception beginning to drift away. The Egyptian man kicked the whimpering yami in his right shoulder, satisfied when he heard a yelp of protest. Confused and dizzy, Bakura did the only thing that he could.
He cried. Well, he whimpered, holding back his tears. But the noise bothered Mariku.
"Stop that awful racket at once, you woman! Gods, I can't stand it when you do that." The taller man left the room, returning a moment later with two lengths of rope. "I'm going to tie you up and gag you. Don't even try to resist, because I'll only cause you more pain. It hurts me to do this, but I will do whatever it takes to control the world. I'm just sorry that you don't want to help me in doing so."
Bakura winced as his hands were jerked behind him, and tied roughly with one of the ropes. "Mariku... why? Why would you do this? If you love me, you would respect my decision!"
"SHUT UP!" Smack! Bakura fell silent again, and he knew that, should he live to the next morning, there would be a bruise on his jaw. It had almost been dislocated. Mariku picked the smaller up, and deposited him onto the couch that Ryou and Malik had been sitting on earlier. He kicked his hikari as he did this. "Malik, wake up!" He sighed heavily when the boy did not respond. "Guess he's out cold," he mumbled to no one in particular. The Egyptian tied Bakura's feet together at the ankles with the other rope, then tore the silver-haired's shirt off. "My, my, Bakura. Still managed to keep your muscles. But what has happened to your skin? It's paler than when I last saw you. You've spent too much time in the Shadow Realm, my love." Mariku ripped the shirt, and took one of the sleeves, twisting it. "Open your mouth." Bakura was too stunned still, so he complied. The blonde put the middle of the sleeve in Bakura's mouth, then lifted his head to tie it. But he seemed to have second thoughts about this. "Any last words before I make you suffer?" he asked, lifting the substituted gag.
"Three things. Firstly, whatever you do to me, make sure you do not harm my hikari. Two, I hope you kill Malik when he wakes up, because you'll die too. You're too weak to go without a host yet. And three, I hope that when you die, you rot in hell for eternity, because that's what you deserve, you bastard." It was clear that some of Bakura's attitude was returning.
Mariku smirked and slipped the gag back into Bakura's mouth, tying it in back of his head. "Yes, I suppose I deserve that. But I won't die. I'm going to be immortal soon. I'm already halfway there, because yamis can't die easily, and once I have all of the Millennium Items, no one will be able to stop me. And besides," he motioned to Malik, who groaned, at least showing some sign of life now. "As soon as Malik wakes up, I'm taking over his body. Then I'll rape Ryou. And I'll let you watch, since I'm such a nice guy." Bakura's eyes widened, and even without the gag, he couldn't have said anything. His mind had suddenly become a blank, and the only thing he could think about was the safety of his hikari. And how he couldn't stop this from happening. There was no possible way...
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After-word: Ooooh, what'll become of Bakura? And will poor Ryou have to suffer because of his yami's decisions? Heh, it's a cliffhanger, and my first decent one, too. Tell me if I should continue this or not! Review!!