Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh.
~ Malik's Secret Place ~
Ryou felt like the end of the word had befallen him as Malik's guards lead the two down to the dungeons so that he could say good-bye to Bakura. He couldn't even look up at Malik after last night. Malik had such a fierce look in his eyes and he was even grumpier than usual. Ryou could feel it in the way that Malik grabbed onto his arm. It was as if he was purposely trying to hurt him.
Malik led him to the cell where Bakura was, opened the door, threw him in and watched. It was going to be highly amusing for him to see how the two lovers would say good-bye, and then be ripped apart from each other, for the last time. It made him smile slightly.
Ryou, to stunned to even talk, slowly walked over to the other end of the cell, where Bakura was sitting with his hands chained to the wall, and his shirt ripped off. As Ryou approached his love he noticed small pools of blood on the floor, and Bakura wheezing slightly. Evidently, the guards had continued to whip him throughout the night.
"Bakura!" Ryou cried, flinging himself onto the older boy only to have him hiss slightly. But Bakura couldn't think about the pain anymore, he was with Ryou now. Bakura could feel his heart speeding up when Ryou's cool tears hit his bare chest. He desperately wanted to comfort the boy…to hug Ryou close to himself and tell him that everything was going to be all right, but he couldn't.
"Hush…don't worry." He spoke softly, though with a bit of difficulty.
"Bakura, I'm so sorry." Ryou sobbed as he looked up into Bakura's eyes.
Malik looked on from outside the cell, and he couldn't help but feel the slightest bit of jealousy. Why did Ryou love this boy so much? Why did no one love him like that? It only wanted to make him kill Bakura even more. He gritted his teeth as he continued to watch on.
"It's ok Ryou…everything's going to be ok. Just listen to what that bastard tells you to do and we'll be fine." He said, trying to console the smaller boy.
At that, Ryou began to cry even harder, he had already failed his love…and it had only been one night. Had he been able to control his words, Bakura wouldn't have to die.
"Bakura…I…I'm so sorry." He said quietly.
"Ryou, don't be…this isn't your fault."
"But it is…it is…Bakura…I love you."
"I love you too."
"Ok that's enough!" Malik said interrupting the two by grabbing Ryou and throwing him out of the cell, giving him to a guard. He couldn't stand to see it a moment longer it almost made him feel…what's the word…pain. "Take him back to my room." He ordered.
"No! Bakura! I'm sorry!" He shouted as he was dragged off, struggling against the guards.
"Don't you hurt him!" Bakura yelled, striving against his bindings, but he was left alone in the dungeon with Malik. And he didn't like the way Malik was staring at him. It was almost as if he was a piece of meat…and Bakura didn't like to be looked at that way.
"What do you want?" He snarled at the evil Pharaoh.
"Do not use that tone with me!" Malik brought his hand up and whipped it across Bakura's face. Bakura didn't even flinch, which was something that Malik liked about him.
"I came down here to kill you…and believe me, I want to…but I think I have other uses for you." Malik knelt down and grabbed Bakura's face, kissing him harshly on the lips before standing up. "Your little Ryou is all mine." He hissed acrimoniously before leaving Bakura alone again in the dungeon.
* * *
"I here you've gotten yourself a couple of new slaves." Yami spoke up as he and his cousin Malik walked down the hallway later that day.
"Yea…" Malik sighed halfheartedly. He almost felt remorse for what he did to Ryou…almost, but not quite…
"How did you kill them?" Yami asked nastily, he didn't exactly approve of Malik's tactics, but there was nothing he could do about it. Even though he was family, he wasn't above being killed.
"I…didn't…yet."
"What's this?" Yami looked shocked. "You must really like them you big softie."
"I do not! And don't call me a softie again unless you have a death wish!" Malik snapped turning on Yami and looking at him as if he could kill him right there on the spot.
"Ok! Ok you're not!" Yami said quickly. "Well, when you tire of one, can I have him?"
"No."
"Oh, come-"
One look at Malik and Yami quickly shut up. "Fine." He sighed as he left his overly grumpy cousin to walk alone.
"Stupid bastard." Malik mumbled. "I'm gunna kill him one of these days…"
* * *
As the sun was setting that evening, Malik lay on his back in his favorite spot in the whole world. It was his private garden. No one…absolutely no one was allowed to enter here and leave alive. Heaven forbid that someone walk in here and see that Malik had a soft spot for the finer things in life. Like sweet smelling lotuses and white lilies. He could see it now…he'd be the laughing stock of the entire kingdom if anyone other then himself were to ever enter and leave this place…which is why he had to kill his own brother Mariku. Sure, Mariku would probably have taken his secret to the grave…but Malik trusted no one…so he only helped the process by having Mariku assassinated in his sleep.
All that behind him, Malik couldn't help but enjoy the peace that his private sanctuary gave him. Soft sounds of running water could be heard faintly in the distance where there was a small stream that ran into an ample sized lake. This was the only place where he could be himself. It was where nobody could see him…he liked it that way, and yet…something was missing. Loneliness wasn't as satisfying as it used to be. Especially after he witnessed Ryou and Bakura together. Part of him wanted to be sick…but another part of him, a very small part, longed for the intimacy that those two shared. He sometimes wondered what having someone like Ryou would be like. Malik had never experienced anything like that before and he was a bit curious.
He closed his eyes and rested his hands behind his head. Usually he could clear his mind here. But today, he couldn't. He felt like he wasn't himself anymore. And if anything scared him, it was becoming caring. Caring was for fools and weak people. Malik was neither. But was he truly becoming a softie? Why didn't he kill Ryou last night? After all, he had killed far more, for far less…
And what of Bakura? Bakura had the nerve to talk back to him in front of his entire court. Even in the face of death Bakura still had a serpents tongue. But Malik didn't kill him. Malik remembered feeling rage and jealousy as he looked on at the two while they were saying their good-byes. Jealousy? That word didn't even exist in Malik's vocabulary. And yet… 'Dammit.' He sighed. He really was becoming a softie.
Malik could still have Ryou if he wanted him. There was nothing stopping him…except for Ryou's love for Bakura. But why? He thought. Why should such a thing stand in his way? He didn't care about Ryou, and he most certainly didn't care that Ryou was in love with Bakura…or…
He did…he wanted Ryou. And he wanted all of Ryou. Not just his body…he wanted Ryou's soul, and his heart. But he knew that he would never have either of them if Bakura still breathed…although…Malik thought for a moment…Ryou didn't know that he left Bakura alive. Malik was going to use this to his advantage.
Malik so desperately wanted to kill Bakura, but something still held him back. He didn't quite know what it was, but he had a hunch that it had to do with the small platinum haired boy that was in his room right now.
'Ra…' Malik thought. 'I am a softie.' He hated feeling this helpless. Ryou had him under some kind of spell. In any of his normal moods he would have been overly pleased to kill both of them. But last night…when he gazed into Ryou's beautiful chestnut eyes, he felt a sudden twinge in his chest. He had no clue what it was…but ever since Litho had brought the boy through the throne room doors Malik felt different…like he wanted to be someone…less evil. But he damn well knew he couldn't. It was all he had ever known. Hell, he had killed his own brother…there was no going back.
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Thanks for the reviews…I hope you're happy I didn't kill Bakura!! But *narrows eyes* he's not out of the woods *eh hem* dungeon just yet (if you know what I mean)
OoO…And Malik has a soft spot for the finer things in life eh? How Kawaii…but still evil at the same time…
