It's here....
The final chapter of We're Still Standing.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, read and just looked at this fic. You've made writing it all worth while, and from you're positive comments, I think I'll try this style of writing again.
You're all wonderful and you guys mean the world to me.
I just hope this final chapter finishes the fic with a bang, love you all, and see you soon yeh?
::waves::
(And on a little note, near the end, there are lyrics, when you read them, think of things from Bakura's point of view, you'll see why I chose that song. And I don't own the Goo Goo Dolls ::rolls eyes::... Though I wouldn't mind owning them...)
Fourteen: Stranger Than Your Sympathy
His eyes hadn't moved for the past twenty minutes he'd been awake. The first thing on his mind when his orbs opened was the thought of his other half, wondering, hoping he was all right, and to his relief, the sleeping teen was perfectly fine.
A slight pain was still in his wrist, he couldn't move it that well from the tight bandages that were firmly wrapped round, though he was still very thankful to be alive, with his thoughts, his friends... His Ryou.
He'd been so stupid, and he wasn't too proud to admit it either as it was painfully obvious even to him. The spirit still couldn't get over the fact he'd turned to suicide to get away from all the things that had been going on, thinking everyone would be better off without him, but not once realising he'd make it much worse if his 'plan' did work. It still hurt him even after all of it, the thought of leaving Ryou alone in the world haunted the Yami whenever his thoughts wandered, though, he passed it off as the price he must pay for trying such a thing as taking his own life, and putting others through nothing but suffer and misery.
How could he have been such a fool? Such a selfish person, and so blind? Blind to the obvious compassion that was being thrown at him all along, but he remained oblivious to all of it.
Yet, there was one thing he was still dreading, a constant nag that, without fail, shot a thrill of fear through Bakura. What will happen when the hikari wakes up? Of course, he'd be utterly joyous when the teen finally does wake up, but what will he say? Will he be happy to see the Yami, welcome him to open arms, or shove him back into the darkness from which he came? Though, when the Yami thought about it, he'd understand if Ryou never even wanted to look at him again. He'd dragged the hikari through hell and back, yet not once did his lighter half refuse or complain, even yet, he never once had to ask twice. But would he be able to take this? Even after adding the others together, what had happened over the past, say, week or so, was nothing and merely practice compared to the torrent of events that had gone on.
Sighing softly to himself, Bakura ran his hands back through his hair, coming to the conclusion he'd simply just have to wait and see.
Back home, the blonde silently slipped into his house, hoping with all his heart that Isis was still asleep.
Slipping off his shoes, Malik turned round.
"And where have you been?!""WHA!" Malik jumped back, hand on his chest from the sudden shock, "Isis! Damn it..." he panted, glaring at his sister.
"Don't Isis me young man! Where do you think you've been all night? If you've been out with that Yami Bakura, I swear-"
"No I haven't. I've been out on a trip to hell as that Yami Bakura tried to kill himself," Malik interrupted in an annoyed tone, not at all in the mood to talk to his sister right now.
"What? Kill himself? That evil no-gooder?" Isis questioned.
"Yes sister. That evil no-gooder," the Egyptian mocked as he brushed passed his sibling and walked lazily upstairs to his room, where he locked the door without hesitation.Sighing heavily the teen walked over to his bed and sat down on it, leaning back against the headboard with saddened eyes.
It hurt the blonde so much to keep all his emotions locked away, every hour of every day. Having to hide them, and be strong for everyone else because they all thought he was nothing more than the 'listener'. But no one knew. No one knew the real Malik, the vulnerable, insecure Egyptian that permanently longed for comfort and love. But not just any, he wanted it from him.
For so long he'd wanted to feel the Albion skin against his own, taste his lips in heated passion, but he knew, more and more each day, it would never happen.
"He's happy..." Malik whispered to himself, bringing up his knees to his chest as tears began to slowly fall from his eyes, "...That's all that matters..."
Images kept repeating in his mind of when he stepped foot in the bloodstained bathroom, and laid his eyes upon his dying love. He could have screamed there and then, but like always he held it back, like always he had to be strong for someone else, and like always he put himself through torture for someone else. And it hurt more and more each time.
"You're lucky Ryou..." Malik whispered silently to himself, "...Hope you know that..."
The light still slept peacefully for another half an hour and Bakura never once left his side, and was now gently holding the youths had in his own.
His gaze trailed up to the light's face, and a small smile came over the Albino. He's so beautiful... the dark thought silently as he used his other hand to lightly stroke a finger down Ryou's cheek, making sure not to stir him in his sleep.
After a few moments, a small moan was heard coming from the sleeping light, which caused Bakura to tense slightly when he saw gorgeous brown eyes flutter open.
"Ryou..." Bakura whispered softly, removing his hand from the teens.
Another moan escaped the light as he sat up rubbing his eyes before looking up at his other half.
"B... Bakura?" Ryou asked in utter disbelief said other was sitting before him, "Oh my god!" he suddenly chirped out, throwing his arms round the Yami's neck and hugging him so tight he caused them both to fall back on the bed.
Ryou almost instantly collapsed into tears from the emotions racing through him as he nuzzled into the Yami's neck, clinging to him like a lost child.
After a minute or two of silence Ryou climbed off of Bakura and the two sat up, the Yami only to receive a slap round the back of his head.
"Ry!" Bakura whined."Don't ever do that to me again you hear?!" Ryou stated sternly, eyes glaring at his darker half.
Bakura simply smiled and nodded, "I won't... Promise."
Ryou returned the smile before rubbing his eyes but no matter how much he tried, he couldn't stop crying.
"You've done a lot of crying this past week haven't you?" Bakura said, brushing away tears from the lights cheek.Ryou looked at Bakura, his lower lip trembling slightly, a storm of more emotions rampaging over him, "I thought I'd lost you..." he whispered, tears filling his eyes as he stared at the dark.
Bakura bit his lip slightly as he looked at Ryou, the obvious sorrow that consumed the teen hurt the Yami deeply, and it only made it worse to know it was his entire fault. "Ry..." he whispered, pulling the teen into his arms and holding him close as he felt the light cry against his chest, holding fistfuls of his shirt.
"Don't... Please don't leave me..." Ryou sobbed, burying his head in the crook of Bakura's neck.
"Ryou, hikari, I'm not going anywhere," Bakura whispered, kissing the top of his lights head as he held him close.
The two sat in silence, the Yami rocking gently back and forth as the light cried in his arms. The silence remained, that was until a sudden voice spoke up from the radio in the room.
Ryou jumped slightly, panicked until he realised it was just his radio alarm going off and he went back to nuzzling into Bakura, refusing to let go.
Silence once again engulfed the two, apart from the sound of a song playing in the background.
"Stranger than your sympathy
And this is my apology
I killed myself from the inside out
And all my fears have pushed you out"
"Bakura..." Ryou asked in a whisper.
"Yeah?"
"On that... Note, in your hand when... Well... You called me your love on it..." the light explained.
"Yeah..." Bakura said, not really sure what his lighter half was getting at.
"Did you mean it?"
"Of course I did. You really think I'd lie to you at a... Time like that?" "And I wished for things that I don't need(All I wanted)
And what I chased won't set me free
(All I wanted)
And I get scared but I'm not crawlin' on my knees" Ryou lifted his head from Bakura's chest and looked up at his face, a small smile across his lips.
Bakura returned the smile, using his thumb to brush away the tears on his light's cheek.
"Oh, yeah
Everything's all wrong, yeah
Everything's all wrong, yeah
Where the hell did I think I was?"
"Ryou..." Bakura said after a few moments of silence, and said other was cradled in his arms.
"Hm?" the light replied.
"I'm sorry... I sh-"
"You don't have to be sorry Kura," Ryou interrupted.
"No... Let me say this... Please," Bakura said, feeling Ryou nod against his chest before getting up and sitting along side his Yami.
"And stranger than your sympathy
Take these things, so I don't feel
I'm killing myself from the inside out
And now my head's been filled with doubt"
"We're taught to lead the life you choose
(All I wanted)
You know your love's run out on you
(All I wanted)
And you can't see when all your dreams aren't coming true"
...Even when I hurt you, you still didn't push me back, you kept trying to open up to me, but I just pushed you away. I was just being the biggest prick ever, and it was like you didn't care...
"Oh, yeah
It's easy to forget, yeah
When you choke on the regrets, yeah
Who the hell did I think I was?"
...I never once made it up to you, if anything I only made it worse. Then I went and did all this. I said so much shit, I didn't mean half of it. I never do. But... I've never felt like this before... I've never had anyone feel like you do for me... I've only ever had hate, so all I did was give it back...
"And stranger than your sympathy
And all these thoughts you stole from me
And I'm not sure where I belong
And no where's home and no more wrong"
...All I did was constantly lie to you, telling you I hated you and all that, putting you through hell. I thought I was making it easier for you and for me. I didn't want to risk getting hurt again. But I only made it worse because it was hurting me more to see you suffering. Even when I knew how you felt, I still rejected you...
"And I was in love with things I tried to make you believe I was
And I wouldn't be the one to kneel before the dreams I wanted
And all the dark and all the lies were all the empty things disguised as me"
...I tried to make you hate me Ryou... And when killing myself came to mind, I just couldn't get it out. I thought it would make everything better. You'd have someone who deserves someone like you Ry. Someone who'll treat you right and not put you through the things I have. You wouldn't have to take anymore... You'd be better off without me..."
Bakura trailed off, his eyes averting to the floor as he took in a deep breath.
"Kura..." Ryou said softly.
"I wouldn't be better off without you. I put up with all your little antics because of one simple fact."
"What?" Bakura asked.
Ryou smiled softly, "I love you," he said, leaning his head on the dark's shoulder.
A single tear rolled down Bakura's cheek as he gazed out the window before them, "I love you too," he replied as he wrapped an arm around his hikari, his light, his Ryou...
His love.
"Mmm, yeah
Stranger than your sympathy
Stranger than your sympathy
Mmm hmmm mmm"
....The End....
Finished... Hm... I love that song....
....I want to carry on writing this... Hm, maybe a surprise chapter will pop up after a while no? Just a happy little fluff chapter... Maybe, I'll have to see.
Thank you once again to everyone who's been here since the begining, I love you all and you make writing all worth while. ::hugs everyone::
Thanks, and, a new fic should be starting soon(ish) hope to see you there... My happy-chans!! ::smiles::
R&R!
S4K
Until next time! ::wink::