Chapter 4: Into Kyou

Amazingly, Malik did have his own realm and set of worshipers to protect; about ten years after he'd been made a god, Ra had consented to his pleas and allowed him to make his own domain. He had to keep part of his consciousness on the solar-boat, but it was worth it if he was able to let the rest of himself explore anywhere. Malik had a pretty good immortal life for the next five years.

And then World War III happened; Isis and Rishid died.

They, obviously, got taken to Malik's realm, Kyou, and the three of them were finally reunited. Rishid took his place as guardian again, though an immortal didn't really need it, and Isis became Malik first angel. They lived happily for another ten years, and the realm soon had many loyal shades. And then a kink was thrown into Malik's flawless reality.

The Millennium Puzzle suddenly vanished with out a trace.

Since he'd still been trying to win the Puzzle from Yami, he was about to march into Bakura's realm and demand an explanation for what had happened, but from the cry he'd heard from Bakura that touched all of the realms, the Ring was probably missing too. That made him think that maybe his fellow god wasn't responsible for ruining his plans. So, like Bakura, he sent one of his seraphs to Earth to find out what happened. And then he waited.

Ryou stared in wonder as soon as he appeared in Kyou; he'd never visited this realm before, and it definitely wasn't how he'd expect Malik's realm to be. There was ocean everywhere, as far as the eye could see, with a myriad of platform and walkways above it; shades could either walk around on the paths or travel in ships on the sea. Most of the paths led to a large, sandstone palace, probably where Malik would be. Ryou and Bruce had landed on one of the walkways near a pair of motorcycles, but they passed them by as they walked up to the palace. Ryou glanced around, spotting what he was looking for easily.

"Hey, you!" Ryou called, staring at a shade that was standing nearby. The spirit turned his black-haired head, and his eyes filled with fear when he saw that Ryou was referring to him. He shakily approached the angel, eyes staring straight at the ground in respect.

"Yes, my lord?"

Ryou smiled at the shades obvious fear, remembering that ten years before, Bakura had almost gotten him god status, and no one was allowed to forget it. "I want you to tell Malik that I'm here to see him."

"Yes, my lord."

"And tell him I want to see him immediately," Ryou added. The shade in front of him bowed once and ran off into the palace, tripping once over his feet on the way. Ryou smirked at his haste and sat down on the pathway to wait.

The shade ran swiftly into the palace, passing through the Receiving Room when he noticed his god wasn't there. Down hallway after hallway, until he finally stopped from exhaustion, unable to find Malik. But he didn't need to; Malik had placed sensors around his palace that would inform him whenever someone uninvited started wandering around. It was these sensors that alerted him to the shade's presence, and he appeared behind the loyal servant, startling him terribly.

"Hello! Why are you here?" Malik asked brightly. The shade began trembling as he was once again faced with someone much more powerful than he was.

"Please excuse my intrusion, lord Malik," he began, "but Prince Ryou is demanding an immediate audience with you."

"Ryou?" Malik asked for confirmation. He grinned when the shade nodded his head. "That's great! I've been wondering what he's been up to. Go tell him he can come–no wait, I'll go with you and bring him in myself!"

Malik followed the shade out of the palace, bidding him goodbye when he saw Ryou sitting a short distance away. He ran over to where the seraph was sitting and reached and hand down towards him.

"Hey, Ryou, I haven't seen you in a while!"

"Not many people have," Ryou answered with a smile as he took his friend's hand and pulled himself to his feet. His expression suddenly became stern. "I'm here on business, Malik."

"And here I thought you just wanted to visit," Malik laughed. "Guess I should have known better. What is it?"

"The Ring is missing, as is the Puzzle."

"I knew that!"

"I had expected you would," Ryou answered, his eyes narrowed at his friend. "Where are they?"

Malik's face filled with confusion, and he shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. The Millennium Items are Bakura's area, not mine."

"But he doesn't know where they are. And we have information that says you're responsible–"

"What, me?" Malik stared at him bewilderedly and saw that he wasn't lying. "I didn't take them! Who told you that?"

"What if you're just lying to me, Malik?" Ryou asked suspiciously. "I've known you to do that."

"I promise, Ryou, I didn't take them. Search the palace, my mind, whatever, but I swear you won't find a thing."

Ryou stared into his eyes, exploring the corridors of his mind, and trick he learned to do from Bakura. After a short time he sighed and looked away. "It was someone I probably shouldn't have trusted, the one who told me it was you," Ryou said, silently berating himself for believing Katsuya Honda. "It was a kid working for the Pharaoh."

"And you believed him?!" The god shook his head with disbelief. "You of all people should know that the Pharaoh can't be trusted."

"Yeah, I should have remembered that. But Bakura…he's so mad!" Ryou's eyes filled with sorrow as he remembered his lover's distress. "And that Honda brat got me angry as well and I guess I wasn't thinking clearly or something. I just can't stand seeing Bakura like this! I have to do something!"

"Who did you say told you I took them," Malik asked, his eyes suddenly narrowed dangerously.

"Katsuya Honda. It's Honda-san's son."

"And he's working for the Pharaoh?" Malik said incredulously. "I think I may have to punish him and all those other stupid priests in the Pharaoh's temples."

"Bakura already is."

"Then I'll just have to join him, won't I?" He suddenly grinned and wrapped his arm around the seraph's shoulders. "So, had any fun lately?" he asked suggestively.

Ryou frowned at him. "Malik, that's none of your business."

"Oh really? Want to see how angry Bakura can really get–"

"No!" Ryou looked horrified at the idea.

"So, you like him that much? I guess he wouldn't let you stay here overnight, then, would he?"

"If you're even suggesting what I think you're suggesting–"

"All right." Malik shrugged and let go of his friend. "Guess I won't tell you who I heard did it."

Ryou expression changed instantly. "You know?"

"I've heard a rumor. You might not believe it though."

The seraph thought for a moment, wishing he could retain the ability to talk to his yami over long distances. "What would I have to do?"

"Sleep with me," Malik answered, a grin spreading across his face.

"No!" Ryou and Bruce exclaimed. Malik stared at Bruce with surprise, having long forgotten the other shade was there, but then he shrugged and started to turn away.

"Well, your choice. But you won't find out who I heard it is that way."

Ryou reached out and grabbed his arm before he got to far. "Wait, I…"

"Changed your mind?"

"I…I–" he suddenly turned and stared pleadingly at Bruce– "Bruce, please don't tell Bakura. I don't want to hurt him; I want to help him and this is the only way I can."

"Prince Ryou, this is not a good idea."

"Please Bruce. If he forces it out of you, tell him I did this for him. You know this is blackmail, Malik," he said as he turned back to the god.

"Yeah, I'm good at that," Malik answered. He grabbed Ryou's arm and started pulling him toward the palace. "Trust me, you have the time of your life–er, death, or whatever. You'll never want to go back to Bakura again."

"Heh, I doubt it," Ryou answered. He looked like he was already beginning to regret his decision. He glanced back and saw that Bruce had disappeared.

"Really? You sure about that?" The god suddenly turned and caught his captive seraph in a kiss; Ryou gasped and tried to pull away, but Malik held his arm to tightly. After a few moments, the angel stopped his struggles and relaxed, hoping that maybe the god would release him. At length, Malik finally pulled away, grinning from ear to ear at the embarrassed seraph. "See? I'm pretty sure you liked that."

Ryou shook his head indignantly. "I hated it. I love Bakura; I can't love anyone else, even you, Malik."

Bakura's POV

That stupid hikari of mine. How could you do this to me?! And with Malik of all people! So I had been watching you again, but so what? You're my hikari, my plaything to enjoy, my only one. But now you've run off to play with Malik! Why would you do this to me?! I've been nothing but kind to you unless you disobeyed me; is this payback for that?

Bruce said you're trying to help me, that you don't want to see me get hurt. Oh Ryou, don't you realize this is hurting me more than anything? Can't you see my pain and sorrow for your leaving me? I don't care if you don't get my–our Ring back if you has to do something like this!

"Damnit Ryou! Come back!" I exclaimed angrily, even though he couldn't hear me. I fell backward onto my bed, frustrated and angry and confused. Why, why, why did you betray me like this?! My beloved hikari, my angel, why did you leave me?! You didn't even come back to tell me what you had to do. I would have understood, would have told you I wasn't mad. But this…this I don't understand! Don't you trust me, my love? Couldn't you have at least come back to ask about your decision? Will you ever come back to me?!

"You'll come back," I assured myself. "And when you do, you'll pay for betraying me."