~~~~ Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh. ~_~ I don't own any of these cuties. ~_~ Suing me would be a pointless waste of time since I'm broke and have nothing anyways (unemployment sucks). Credit for the title goes to Taryn (anime AndrAIa), because I'm lame and couldn't come up with one myself. ^_^ ~~~~
Chris: Tigerlily, read the warning…
Tigerlily: Warning!!! This fic has:
~ yaoi goodness - no lemon, just some groping
~ lots of bad words
~ major angst and darkness
Chris: If you don't know what yaoi is, then this probably isn't for you. Yaoi and shounen ai deals with male x male relationships.
Tigerlily: So if ya don't like that sort of thing do us all a favor and hit the bricks. If you do flame us for it, you will be torched. *pulls out her trusty flamethrower*
Chris: So, if you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all.
Tigerlily: So keep your damned mouth shut! You have been warned!!
Chris: I would like to also add that if anyone who flames for the yaoi or character fates, you will suffer. I will dig out my spellbooks and curse you! I may be rusty, but I can and will do it! There have been plenty of warnings already in each chapter so you have no excuse aside from stupidity.
Tigerlily: And that privilege belongs to Anzu.
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Chapter 5
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~~~Bakura's POV~~~
Even though I've told him not to talk and save his strength he still feels the need to speak. He can be so stubborn sometimes… and it's cute. But this time it's far from cute and it has me on edge. He shouldn't push himself now! Damn it! When in the hell are we going to get to that fucking hospital?! I can't lose him. Not now. Not after everything we've been through. There's so much I want to do with him…
"Kura… you have to listen to me."
"Damn it, Ryou. This is no time to be stubborn. You have to rest and save your strength. Please don't talk now… what ever you have to say can wait until after the doctors fix you…"
"No Kura. I have to say it now while there's still time."
"Don't talk like that. We're going to have plenty of time, you'll see."
I stroke his cheek on the verge of tears… I won't cry. I can't cry. I have to be strong for him.
"Not for Yuugi... you have to stop him Kura. You have to stop him before he hurts Yuugi too… he's not himself, Kura. Until now, he never would have hurt Yuugi… he has to be stopped."
"Please Ryou, don't ask me to do that. I don't want to leave you!"
"Please Kura, save him before it's too late. I need you to save Yuugi… even if it means killing Yami."
"Ryou…"
"Don't worry, Kura. We'll still have plenty of time later. But now I need you to do this… for mine and Yuugi's sake."
Damn it! I don't want to leave him… but if I don't do as he asks he may never forgive me. I hate doing it, but for him I will. Although, it's probably too late for him. I'm sure that bastard is already there. But for Ryou, I'll try. We finally pull into to hospital parking lot. 'Bout damned time! Hmm… this is the one that the mini pharaoh's grandfather was at. It's in walking distance so I should be able to get there quickly if I run.
"Alright, koi. I don't like it and I don't want to do it… but for you I will. I'll be back before you know it."
I kiss him quickly as they open the doors. I barely feel any warmth. That's not good. But now that we're here he should be fine. He has to be. He smiles at me softly and I see him whisper 'Aishitaru.' As they pull him out and into the emergency room. I take one last look at him and run as fast as I can to the Kame Game Shop. 'Aishitaru, Ryou. Aishitaru forever…'
~~~Pharaoh no Baka's POV ~~~
Now that he knows the truth, I have to make him understand. Yes, Yuugi will understand. This is for his own good. Once I explain it all he'll understand and won't be angry anymore. Then he'll join Ryou's side in Paradise. It's where they belong. Not in this filthy existence called life… he says he loves me. He loves me the same way as I love him. I hide the blade from his sight and reach out, caressing his wet cheek. I've made him cry again… I long to taste his lips. I move away, back to my chair before I lose control of myself. I'll make him understand… he'll see that it's for the best.
"Yuugi, I'm sorry I've brought you so much pain. I didn't mean to, really." He looks up at me with his soulful amethyst eyes and I find my resolve weakening. I want to take him now as mine.
"If you love me, then why do you turn away? Why do you embrace death instead of me?"
"Yuugi, try to understand… to me you are the purest of souls. Your faith in people, your love for them and the hope you carry in your heart are all precious and pure to me. Despite everything around you, everything that has happened and all that you've endured… you've never lost that part of yourself; you've never let go of that childlike innocence. However, despite all that… I fear that what I feel for you, what I want to share with you… would ultimately destroy that. There is nothing innocent with what I feel and desire from you. Even though you may still hold hope and faith in your heart, you would no longer be innocent. To give into primal lust, sexual desire, the pleasures of the flesh would change you and destroy your innocence forever. The two cannot co-exist. Lust devours innocence, just as darkness longs to devour the light. It longs to dominate it and take it for its own."
He walks slowly across the room and caresses my cheek so gently. His hands are so soft and warm. It's very comforting. I wish I could drown in it.
"I can't believe it… you're afraid. You're actually afraid. After all that you've been though, unwavering… stoic, without flinching or turning away. You're afraid of what you feel. I feel it too… coursing through my veins… burning… my flesh aching for your touch. I've been afraid of so much in the past, but I was able to face it with you by my side."
He places both hands on my shoulders and begins to caress them as he whispers huskily in my ear.
"But… I'm not afraid of this, Yami. I want it. I want to be devoured by the darkness. I long for it to dominate me and take me for it's own. I want to surrender to the darkness… I want to surrender to your darkness. I want you to dominate me and take me for you own. You don't have to be afraid. If I have to, I can be brave for both of us. I want you, Yami and will do anything you ask to have you."
Yet again I find my resolve wavering… disintegrating with every word he utters. He wants it. He needs it. How can I refuse if we both want it? He wants it, but does he understand the consequences of me tainting him? I move away from him yet again to the other side of the room.
"I'm sorry, aibou. I can't do that… I won't do that. I know you want it just as much as I do but I don't think you realize the consequences of surrendering to desire. As much as I want you, I can't taint you. You have to understand, I do all of this for your sake."
"For my sake?! Yami, are you listening to yourself? How can your death benefit me? Without you, I'd be lost and incomplete. Do you honestly think I'll be innocent forever? You say you don't want to taint me, but what if someone else does it? Do you need someone else to take the blame? Is that what you want? Would that free your guilt? Losing your innocence is a part of growing up. I know nothing lasts forever and one day that part of me will be gone. I want you to have that part of me. I want only you to be its keeper."
Sigh. Yuugi doesn't understand. He's just like Ryou, sweet, innocent Ryou. They refuse to understand…
"It seems we cannot come to understanding. I shouldn't be surprised. Ryou refused to see it too. He tried talking me out of it; see reason from his point of view. But I couldn't, just as he couldn't see it from my eyes. It was then that I knew I had no choice but to protect Ryou too."
"What to you mean, Yami? What did you do?!"
I can hear the fear in his voice. It's so loud it almost drowns out his words.
"I protected Ryou… the same way I'm going to protect you… the only way I know how."
~~~Yuugi's POV~~~
Oh dear God in heaven, what has he done to Ryou?! What will he do to me?! This can't be happening… this can't be hap- Oh God!! He's got a knife! Is that the same one he used the first time he slashed his arms? It's covered with blood… he didn't… he wouldn't! But in my heart I know what he has done. Ryou. Oh God, Ryou I'm so sorry. After you tried to help me… tried to help him. You didn't deserve this fate. I'm so sorry. I have to get away, but he's so much faster than me. If I can just reach the door, I might have a chance. If I talk to him, maybe he won't notice I'm backing towards the door…
"Yami, what did you do?!"
"I told you, I protected him. Don't worry. Soon you'll be able to keep each other company in heaven. I promise you, you won't be alone or lonely… just like I promised Ryou."
"Oh, God. You murdered him!"
"No, Yuugi. You misunderstand. What I did was for his own good, just like I'm going to do for you. You can't call it murder when it's done to save someone."
"How could you?! He was our friend!! You've betrayed us both! How can you say you love me when you're doing such evil things to me?? How can I love you now?!"
"What I do is not evil. I do it because I love you. Please Yuugi, don't run away from me and make this harder than it already is. I promise your death will be quick. You'll see… come to me, love. I want to touch you one last time. Come and let me show you my love."
"No! Get the hell away from me! You don't love me! You never have!"
Gotta run, gotta hide. Crap. He's blocked the door. The only way out now is the window and it's one hellava drop down. Seto did it once, maybe… oh no! It's too late, I'm caught! He's got me pinned to the ground and I can't move! It's funny, I've always dreamt of being in this position with him on top. Of course I never imagined it would mean my death. He presses a firm, yet chaste kiss to my lips before pulling my head back and exposing my throat. I suddenly feel the blade cut deeply into my neck. Oh god, it burns! I want to yell and scream but nothing comes out of my mouth except for a slight gurgle. He's gone deep enough to sever my vocal chords along with my jugular. I'm have a hard time trying to breathe… So, here it is… the end of my life. Murdered by the one who holds my heart. Funny, I always thought Bakura or Malik and his psychotic yami who would be the ones to kill me. I'm cold. I don't want to die. I don't want…
~~~Pharaoh no Baka's POV~~~
I've got him pinned; there's no escape for him. I kiss him for the first and last time. There's no turning back now. I pull his hair and force his head back. His neck is so pale and creamy looking, I want to taste it. Instead , I take Bakura's dagger and cut into his flesh as deeply as I can; cutting from ear to ear. My angel will not suffer. He'll pass quickly and then I will too. I watch as the life slowly goes out of him and hear his last thoughts as he dies.
/ I don't want to die. I don't want…/
Dear Ra! Is this what he felt each time I died? Such emptiness, such loneliness… It feels as if a part of my soul has been ripped away! Oh Yuugi, I'm sorry I made you suffer like that… Wait. Why aren't I dead?! I'm supposed to die with my hikari! Bakura was wrong! Dear Ra, what have I done?!
~~~Bakura's POV~~~
Ra damn it, why aren't I there yet? I don't remember it being this far! At this rate, Yami and Yuugi will be dead before I get there! And Yami and I need to settle up his little debt before he goes. So help me, Ra, he'll pay for what he's done to Ryou!
There's that accursed game shop now. Damn it, it's closed! I'll have to go through the back. Luckily the door isn't lock so I don't have to waste time picking it. It's quiet; too quiet. Damn it all to hell! I may be too late… I tread cautiously through the house and make my way to the mini- pharaoh's room. As I start to open the door, I hear a voice murmuring. I open the door fully to see that son of bitch clutching his lifeless hikari to his chest; crying and wailing like a woman while kissing the little hikari's face.
"Please Yuugi, come back. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it. I take it back. I take it all back. Please, little one. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I was wrong. I was so wrong…"
It would seem my theory was flawed. He should be gone too. Oh well, I guess I'll have my vengeance after all. Ooh! Maybe I'll get to kill him over and over. Yes, I'm going to enjoy this so very much. As I walk into the room he turns around and finally notices me.
"Tomb Robber!"
Humph. He sounds mad. Too bad for him I don't give a fuck.
"You were wrong! You were wrong and now because of you my hikari is dead!"
"Hah! Because of me? You're the one that killed him, not me. No one forced your hand. You were the one who chose what path to take. Out of selfishness you decided to kill your hikari so you could die."
I stop as I feel a cold chill… an emptiness fills my very soul. Ryou… Ryou is dead. My soulmate is gone. My whole body aches… He will pay. Vengeance will be mine and before I'm through, he'll scream and beg for death! I glare at him as my focus returns to that bastard.
"Ryou just died… I felt it. You've murdered our hikari's for your own selfish needs and desires. I may have told you the means to bring about your own demise, but I never said you should. And I never said anything about Ryou. He had nothing to do with this. He even tried to help you and you betrayed him."
"Didn't you? You knew I would do it. You knew I was desperate enough to do it. This is all your fault!!"
"5,000 years and you still refuse to take responsibility for your mistakes… your flaws… your sins. Tell me pharaoh, what did you hope to accomplish by leaving Ryou for dead? Why did you feel the need to harm him? He was your friend. He had trusted you just as Yuugi had and you betrayed them both! There was no reason to kill them. What did you hope to accomplish by murdering Ryou? I'll tell you what. You were jealous. I had something you could never have. And since you couldn't be happy, you wouldn't let anyone else."
"You were supposed to die. We all were supposed to die. I'll admit, I didn't want you to have what I couldn't. But I realized, angels belong in heaven. I didn't want Yuugi to be lonely so I sent Ryou to be with him. But now, you and I are still alive. It seems we are doomed to eternity without light. You were wrong, but I still did the right thing. They didn't belong in this filthy world. They're in heaven together where they rightfully belong."
A thought suddenly strikes me and I begin to walk towards him. I grab one of Yuugi's many studded belts along the way and wrap tightly around my hand.
"You know what? I don't think I was wrong entirely. In fact I think I know why we're still here…"
He glares at me through slitted, crimson eyes. As if that would deter or intimate me. It didn't work 5 millennia ago, and it sure as hell won't work now. It seems I need to refresh his memory… goody.
"Let's experiment, shall we?"
I raise my belt wrapped fist quickly and bring it crashing down on his face, knocking him out. He always was a wuss when it came down to hand to hand fighting. He's always relied too much on his shadow powers and being sneaky. Now to experiment…
~~~Malik's POV~~~
Damn. Damn, damn, DAMN!! Why isn't the Pharaoh dead?! He should have died, so why didn't he?
//Patience, pet. He'll be dead soon enough. Bakura will see to it…//
/It'll never be soon enough. I want instant gratification!/
I feel him almost purring through our link…
//I love instant gratification. How about we do this…?//
A flood of images is bombarding my mind. It makes me so dizzy, it hurts. My yami is such a sex fiend… I think they all may be. They can be awfully obsessed with it… not that I have a problem with that, mind you. My insane yami can get really creative with it, you know. My thoughts are pleasantly interrupted when I feel his arms encircle me from behind and he starts nuzzling the curve of my neck. The one spot that set my whole body aflame just thinking about it! He knows this all too well and always uses it to his advantage. The bastard, he knows what this does to me and that I can't say no to anything! Ra, I need release before I explode in my jeans!
"How about a little foreplay before we take in the show?"
He asks as he quickly opens my fly and slips his hand inside, stroking my swelling length.
"Okay."
See? See what I mean? I couldn't say no even if I did want to! He knows just where to touch… where to stroke… where to bite… Ra, that feels good. My whole body is pulsing, throbbing and aching now! Mmm… What was I saying?
~~~Ryou's POV~~~
Kura's gone to try and save Yuugi. I told him that we would have plenty of time later but in my heart I knew it was a lie. I feel so cold, I wish he was here to keep me warm. I wish he could be at my side as I take my last breath. I can hear the doctors and nurses talking very fast but I can't understand anything they're saying and they sound so far away. Even though I know I'm dying, I feel strangely warm. There's this bright light all around me, but it doesn't hurt my eyes in the least. I see two familiar figures in the distance and as we walk closer to each other, I see that it's Yuugi and Ayame! I guess this means I'm dead. My big sister, Ayame died when she was seven and I was four. We were very close and it broke my heart when she died. I've missed her so much these last few years.
"Hello, onni-chan! I've missed you so much!"
Her smile is as bright as the sun as she crushes me in a bone breaking hug. I've missed it so much, although I had forgotten how strong she is… was. I hug her back and just enjoy the moment.
"I missed you too Aya-chan… I guess this really means I'm dead then."
"Not yet, but it's very close now."
"Ryou, I…"
"I'm sorry, Yuugi. I tried to help. I guess Kura didn't get there in time."
"No Ryou, I should be the one to apologize. If I hadn't sent Yami…"
"Neither of you are to blame… Not even Yami, really."
"What do you mean, Aya-chan?"
"There was another. He started Yami down the path he's on now. Even though every action was Yami's decision, it was the fault of the strange man who nudged him down the path and made sure he did not waiver."
"Ayame-san, do you know who this person is?"
"I haven't heard his name or his companion's but I can tell you what he looked like. He had blonde hair, pretty lavender eyes, dark tanned skin and wore a lot of jewelry. He also has a gold rod with the same eye design as your puzzle and onni-chan's ring. The other one looks exactly like him but… I don't think they're brothers because they hold and look at each other like you and Kura did… and some other stuff too…"
Oh my GOD! Did she see? How does she know? I can feel my face burning red. The last thing I wanted was for my sister to see that! It's almost as bad as having your parents walk in on you!
"Ayame, how did you know?"
"Silly Ryou, I'm always watching over you. I had to see my little brother grow up and make sure he was all right."
"…So, it's Malik and Marik's fault we're dead? But how did they know he had a body?"
"Maybe when Yami cast that spell, Marik got his own body and figured Yami did too… He didn't try killing himself until a few days after he got his body, right?"
"Yeah…"
"Onni-chan, Yuugi onni-chan, it's time to go now."
"Yes… I feel it… calling out to me… welcoming me."
"I can feel it too, Yuugi. It's so warm and safe…"
Good-bye, Kura. Maybe one day, at the end of time… I'll get to see you again.
Chris: Bow before the evil of my update!! Mwahahahahaha!!!
Yuugi & Ryou: *whimpering* Y-you killed us! How could you?!
Chris: Quite easily actually. ^_^ And technically, Yami killed you. :-P
Tigerlily: As you can see, she's somewhat back in her "groove"…
Chris: Anyway, lots of hugs and thank you's for everyone's patience and understanding. You all get…
Tigerlily: _ Ran out of plushie idea's didn't you?
Chris: Well kinda sorta… lets see… haven't done any Malik or Marik ones. How about a Malik plushie holding the Rod in his hand and wearing the Puzzle around his neck?
Tigerlily: Sounds good. What about and extra one for patience?
Chris: ~_~ Okay, a talking Marik plushie for the reviewers and the Malik plushie for everyone who was patient.
Marik: *giddy* What do I say? Is it, "I will be pharaoh!"?
Chris: Noooo… *pushes the tummy on the plushie*
Marik Plushie: *purrs* I love instant gratification. *tummy pushed again* Mmm, yummy hikari. *tummy pushed again* I'm a sex fiend! *tummy pushed again* Oooh, I like it when you touch me there!
Chris: O_o *drops the plushie*
Ayame: They're really naughty boys. One time I saw them-
Ryou: *has his hand over Ayame's mouth* Aya-chan, let's keep some things discreet. Shall we?
Tigerlily: Okay, you all know the drill. Review and you'll get an update and plushies!
Bakura: Yeah! I took a peek at what she's written so far and it-
Chris: *has her hand over Bakura's mouth* Kura, let's not give anything away!
Bakura: Let's just say me and Borath, are gonna be really happy! ^__^