A/N: Sorry that updates have taken a while again (was it really that long? Only two weeks) but if you read my bio you'll have known about my Art and DT GCSE coursework, which is taking up a hell of a lot of my time. If you haven't read my bio then please do – I update it slightly more frequently than my fics. (About once a week).

In answer to LariaKaiba's question, 'yadonushi' means host or landlord. It is used in the original (Japanese) version of Yu-gi-oh, and in most Ryou and Bakura fanfics. If anyone else has any queries about anything in my fics then please mention it in a review, and I promise I'll answer it.

Warnings: Bad language, yaoi

Chapter Four: Dismissed.

Shafts of dappled brilliance filtered freely through the window, as the moon's silver light played teasingly on the faces of two sleeping teenagers. It shone full on to Yugi like a spotlight, but he was a sound sleeper and didn't wake. Ryou's face was partially obscured by shadows, and the long silver scars that ran down his neck could almost be mistaken for moonlight reflecting off his skin. His sleep was deep but uneasy; once or twice he would stir uncertainly and seem about to sit up, but then would emit a tired sort of sigh and settle back down, sinking deeper into the blankets tucked watchfully around his body.

Oblivious to the sleeping habits of the two vessels, downstairs in the kitchen Yami was reclining in a chair; leaning so far back it seemed liable to topple over at any second, and with his feet perched half-forgotten on the table. The position was informal, and totally inappropriate for a Pharaoh, but he was on his own so it didn't matter. The way his fingers moved absently over the inverted pyramid hanging from around his neck, and that his eyes were half shut indicated relaxation, or at least a certain stillness; but his mind was awake, buzzing like an angry bee.

What was he going to do with Ryou? The teenager was reasonably safe at the moment, upstairs with Yugi to look after him and no one else around, but it wouldn't last long. At most, until Monday. But the Tomb Robber was bound to take over at some point, and then what to do? They couldn't stop him, which was what irked Yami – that there didn't seem to be a way to prevent Ryou getting hurt further. Although Ra knows he had been hurt enough already.

And at this point his mind shifted to the other problem at hand. How were they going to explain the scars? Ryou would never agree to go out in public looking like how he was now, but he had to go to school at some point, and Yami knew the Tomb Robber wasn't always going to be willing to maintain the illusion of the previous week. In fact, he would probably refuse altogether, and watch in sardonic amusement as they strived to find an answer to the impossible question.

It would be a few weeks at least before they healed, Yami was sure of that. He'd been upstairs a few times to check on Ryou and Yugi, and had noted that the scars on Ryou's face and neck weren't as deep as he'd thought in the beginning. But although they had already started to turn silver, a sure sign that slowly they were beginning to heal, they would still attract more than enough attention. And scars especially, much more so than cuts. For how could Ryou walk into school with scars on his face that were obviously at least a week old, when there had been no sign of them the previous week?

His fingers continued roving aimlessly over the Puzzle, feeling every contour and crack. It helped to have something so random to do, something that didn't require much conscious thought.

If only Jounouchi were here. Or Honda, maybe, although he didn't know him so well. Jounouchi always seemed to produce good ideas to any situation. And he was certainly more useful than Anzu. Whatever they chose, she would support it whole-heartedly but could never come up with anything on her own. Yami grimaced at the thought of telling sentimental, trusting Anzu that Ryou got beaten up by the spirit living inside the Millennium Ring.

Dammit, he really wanted Jounouchi here. If it hadn't been eleven o'clock at night he would have phoned him up; maybe to ask his advice or maybe just so he could take his mind off everything for a while.

As if his wish had been heard and granted, a blonde-haired figure suddenly appeared behind the frosted glass door. Yami smiled. He wasn't in the mood to question how Jounouchi had somehow miraculously appeared; all that mattered was that he was here.

The blonde teenager pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked the front door, accompanying it with a well-placed shove. And such was Yami's expectation that for a moment he actually saw Jounouchi, standing in the doorway and grinning his familiar schoolboy, don't-carish grin. Then the figure in his imagination blurred, to be replaced by a far more real and unwelcome one: Malik Ishtar.

Yami jolted awake instantly. He wasn't sure if he'd actually been asleep, but he supposed at least some part of his mind must have dozed off if he'd actually mistaken Jounouchi and Malik. Gods, Jounouchi would kill him if he found out. Yami made a mental note never to tell him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" the Egyptian inquired acidly.

"I might ask the same of you," Yami replied, his voice equally biting.

"I don't recall it being any of your business."

"Believe me, I couldn't care less why you are here. Only if it's to see the Tomb Robber then you are wasting your time."

Malik tensed. "Why?"

"He went back into the Millennium Ring earlier to sleep, and made it clear he wouldn't be coming out for a while."

The Egyptian visibly relaxed. "I see." He paused. "But Ryou is still here?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Pharaoh, it is in your interest not to be difficult," Malik answered smoothly. "If you insist on continuing to act in such a foolish manner then I will be forced to use less…pleasant ways to acquire the information I want." For a moment his hand strayed towards his pocket. "Now tell me - is Ryou here?"

Yami relented. "Yes, he is." And if you lay one hand on him, you fucking bastard…

"Good." Malik turned and began to walk up the stairs.

Yami followed him. "And where do you think you are going?"

"To see Ryou, obviously."

"What makes you think he would want to see you?"

Malik gave a strange smile. "Oh, he'll want to, Pharaoh, don't worry."

……………..

"Over there. He's asleep."

Malik made a move towards him, but Yami grabbed his wrist. "I think there's something you should know first. Unless the Tomb Robber has already told you."

"What? And kindly refrain from touching me."

Yami rolled his eyes skyward, but released him.

"Thank you. And if this is anything regarding various beatings then I already know."

"I'm sure you do. In fact, I bet you probably stood there and watched some of them happen. And laughed."

A peculiar expression crossed Malik's face. "No, actually, I didn't." And he strode over to the bed before Yami could say another word.

"Ryou?" He reached out. Ryou stirred and turned over, and the Egyptian caught sight of his face for the first time. He uttered an Arabic exclamation and stepped back, pupils dilated in shock. "No…oh Ra, please no…" He looked back at Yami. "He…he did this?" He didn't seem to realise he was still talking in Arabic. The Pharaoh shrugged inwardly at this and answered in the same language.

"Na'am."

Malik let out something that was almost a whimper. He bent over the white-haired teenager again, and whispered, "Ryou? Wake up."

Muddy eyes opened. "…Malik-sama?" Ryou sat up and was hugged tightly. For a moment he looked confused, almost disbelieving, then he smiled. "Missed you…"

"Me too." Malik was holding him as tightly as possible.

Suddenly Ryou let out a muffled scream and pushed him away, pulling a pillow desperately in front of his face. "No! I…I don't want you to see me like this."

"You know I don't mind." Malik gently pulled the obstacle away, and whispered in a voice so quiet none but Ryou could hear him, "I don't care what he does to you. You'll always be beautiful."

Ryou stared, then wrapped his arms around the Egyptian and the two of them clung to each other almost desperately.

Yami, meanwhile, was in an advanced state of shock. "You…two…are together?"

"You have a problem with it?" Malik was still holding Ryou as if someone would take him away.

"Well no…I just…" Feeling dazed, the spirit was struggling to put words together, although it didn't matter as neither were really listening. So instead he sat by Yugi, feeling oddly protective of him.

Dear Ra, what is happening to the world?

(I don't know. What is happening?) Yugi mumbled sleepily. He opened his eyes. (…Oh.) A pause. (Aibou…?)

Yami rocked him silently; glad that at least in this confusing world there was one thing that wasn't going to change.

Malik was stroking Ryou's hair, murmuring soothing sounds.

"…So if you love him so much, why let the Tomb Robber do all those things to him?" Yami knew the question was hard, even callous, but he didn't care.

Malik's tone took on a cooler note. "I'm Bakura's friend too. I interest him, which is why he likes me. And when I'm around he doesn't hurt Ryou."

"Then why aren't you around more often?"

"I have other…obligations. I've been in Egypt for the past three months, carrying out my duties for those fucking Tomb Keepers."

Yami made a neutral noise.

(Aibou, what's happening? I don't understand.)

((It seems that Ryou and Malik are together.))

(They are? Then I wasn't hallucinating?)

((Not unless I was as well.))

"I can hardly believe the Tomb Robber doesn't know about this," Yami said slowly. "Hasn't he gone through Ryou's mind and realised the truth?"

"No," Malik answered calmly. "Because he doesn't suspect anything. And if he doesn't suspect anything then he doesn't try and find out."

"Fair enough."

Malik went back to stroking Ryou, who was half-asleep in his lap.

Yami looked enquiringly at his lighter half. ((So what do we do now? Leave them to it?))

(But Bakura-san's still hurting Ryou-kun. And Malik-san won't always be around to stop him doing it. You heard him. He has other priorities.)

((Mmm. But surely if he loved Ryou that much then he wouldn't go back to Egypt knowing Ryou was being hurt every night.))

(I suppose. But love is weird.)

((Yes. Love is weird.))

The spirit looked over at Ryou and Malik. The former had sat up and they were talking quietly. As he watched, Malik leaned over and kissed him. Ryou responded, eyes closed.

((Very weird.))

Malik didn't even mind Ryou's scars, which was sweet of him. Yami wondered if he intended doing anything about them.

((Very, very weird.))

Ryou broke off, panting a little. He was smiling, and it was a different sort of smile from usual. It took Yami a few seconds to work out why.

Ryou's scars had disappeared.

………….

A/N: Aaaaaaand that's it for this chapter! Review review review! Next chapter will be up in about two weeks, if all goes well.