Disclaimer: Dont own Yu Gi Oh....enjoy chappie 4

~Lies~

On his way back to his chambers, Malik was met by a rather concerned looking Litho.

"What is it now?" Malik demanded. He wasn't in the mood for any political or economical reports. He had too much else on his mind.

"Pardon, Sire…but…" Litho turned his gaze away from the King, who looked extremely irritable. Maybe this wasn't the best time to hit him with some bad news…but it couldn't wait.

"The slave that I gave to you…the one in the dungeon he…"

"Yes?" Malik stopped walking and turned to his servant.

"Escaped." Litho whispered lowering his head.

"What! T-this can't…" Malik paused for a moment and an evil grin slid across his face. "That doesn't concern me."

"Pardon, Great one?"

"He'll be back…I have something he wants." He spoke venomously. "Is that all Litho?"

"N-no, not exactly…"

"Well, what is it? I have other things to do." Malik said impatiently.

"Pharaoh, word is spreading about your party yesterday…a-and how the one slave talked back to you…"

"So?"

"They know you haven't killed him…a-and they know the other one's alive as well." He told Malik.

Malik's eyes widened. This was not happening… he opened his mouth to talk but nothing came out.

"Pharaoh Malik, you must kill him now…or your reputation will be shot…people will start to think you've become soft…then they will try to take advantage of you, but-"

Before Litho could even finish Malik had bounded down the hallway, to his room.

* * *

Malik had not seen or spoken to Ryou since early that morning. When he slid into the room, his eyes automatically fell on the small form of the boy in the same corner that he was in the first time Malik came in here. His head was down, and he wasn't moving…not a sound could be heard except for a muffled sob from Ryou. Then Malik remembered, Ryou still thought Bakura was dead…and he intended on keeping it that way.

"Your Bakura died well." Malik spoke harshly to him. Ryou lifted his head ever so slightly at hearing the voice of the other.

Malik could see Ryou's beautiful face…moist with tears…but they were tears for Bakura. Malik couldn't stand that…

"I told him about last night…and how I was going to let you both go free." He said with a smile. He could see the expression on Ryou's face turn from one of sorrow, to that of horror.

"N-no…" He managed to say.

"Oh yes…I'm sad to say he didn't take it too well when he found out that if you were only able to keep your mouth shut, I wouldn't have had to put an arrow through his chest." Malik looked at Ryou…staring at him and waiting for him to show any sign of hatred…but all he could see was guilt, and suffering. Malik was angry…angry that people found out about his party…angry that he couldn't really kill Bakura…and angry with himself for being such a fool. But he wasn't going to let this go on much longer. 'Yes…you know you want to kill him…it's all his fault that the people think you're soft.' Malik's hand went into a fist and he advanced on the frightened boy.

"What are you doing?!" Ryou screamed, trying to push himself away, but Malik was too strong. He latched onto the boy's hair and pulled him up.

"Nobody makes a fool out of me!" Malik yelled at Ryou, slamming his small form against the wall.

Ryou cried out slightly as he grit his teeth. Malik was hurting him…inside and out. His heart ached for Bakura and his body ached with intense pain.

Malik smiled when he heard the younger boy's outcry. He was smiling on the outside, but he was screaming on the inside. Half of him wanted to torture the small boy, to make him pay for what the people were saying. But there was another part of him that couldn't stand to see Ryou hurting like this. However, his hatred took over as he wrapped his hands around Ryou's neck…slowly squeezing the life out of him.

Ryou scraped at Malik's arms, franticly trying to free himself. He began to feel lightheaded and it became harder for him to breathe. His eyes slowly began to close, when, for one fleeting moment he looked at Malik and, in his own pain and suffering, saw hurt in Malik's eyes. For that one moment, he felt sympathy for the evil Pharaoh. He didn't quite know why, but there was something different when he looked in Malik's eyes. They weren't as heartless and cold as they were when he first looked into them…this time they were…almost desperate.

As Malik was tightening his grip on the boy's neck, he saw Ryou look up at him. He could feel his heart jolt. Ryou stopped clawing at his arms, he stopped struggling and just stared right in his eyes. Malik saw the expression, and it wasn't one of hatred or resentment…but sympathy. This boy was feeling sorry for him? That couldn't be…

At that point Malik couldn't go on. His hands let go of Ryou's neck. The boy fell to the floor, choking and rubbing his neck. Malik's hands were shaking, but he didn't know why. He had to take in a deep breath, he was losing control.

All Malik could do was fall to the floor and gaze upon the trembling Ryou. 'Ra…' Why did he let go? He had almost succeeded in riding himself of a problem that was causing him to be ridiculed by others. Why didn't he finish it? Ryou was moments away from death…But why did Ryou give him that look? When he was about to die, Ryou looked at him like no one ever did before. Everyone had always avoided looking him right in the eyes, but Ryou stared right through him. And why did it make his heart stop? It was like he was two different people and they were both in a constant struggle for control. One side of him loved to kill but the other side was human…He felt it just then…he was so enraged but he was happy that he was causing Ryou pain. Then when Ryou looked at him, it was as if he became human again…he had a pulse, and he could feel his heart pounding madly against his chest. He had been moments away from killing Ryou, and the human side of him was scared. The human side of him didn't want Ryou dead, it wanted Ryou…Malik could still feel his heart pounding against his chest. 'Why…' He thought desperately. It seemed as though things would be so much easier if he could just get rid of Ryou. Then things could go back to the way they were. He could enjoy his loneliness and never have to worry about caring for someone. But it seemed as though now, he didn't like the loneliness anymore…he didn't know what he wanted.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, he could see Ryou peering up at him timidly. Malik could see his handprints on Ryou's neck. He could see that Ryou was still breathing heavily. He wanted to comfort the boy, he wanted to but he couldn't. It would be showing too much emotion. Instead, Malik got up from the floor and walked over to his bed, trying not to show any sign of pain on his face.

"It's late," He spoke softly. "You should get some sleep." Flopping down on the bed he listened closely to the sounds Ryou was making. But under the wheezing and light sobbing he heard him say something…something that made him want to kill…

"Bakura…"

* * *

The days went by, drifting into lonely nights. Malik and Ryou might have been in the same room, but both felt desolate, alone. For Ryou it was hell. He missed having Bakura hold him at night. He longed for one last chance to gaze into his lover's eyes. Bakura's comforting embrace and warm eyes were replaced with Malik's cold hard floor and his equally vicious glare.

For Malik, the nights were equally as bad. Every night he would hear Ryou cry out for Bakura in his sleep. Every time that boy's name came out of Ryou's mouth it made Malik feel even worse. He couldn't sleep at night, so he would stay up and watch over Ryou, watch him sleep. But even in his sleep the young boy did not seem at peace. Frequently he would have nightmares that Malik was sure were about him. Why was Ryou still so scared of him? Malik hadn't touched him since that evening a few nights ago. They didn't even speak to each other. Malik had half the mind to let the boy go…but he just couldn't do it. Malik had lost the urge to kill the boy, but he had made up his mind that if he ever came by Bakura again, he would not let him escape death again. That boy was the one thing standing between him and Ryou. But then, even if Malik really did kill him, Ryou would still not change. After all, he still believed Bakura to be dead, and Malik wasn't about to tell him otherwise.

For the first time in his life Malik hated himself for ruining so many lives. And for what? His pleasure. He was a monster, no wonder why Ryou was scared to talk to him, much less look at him. He couldn't live much longer in this hell. Malik needed someone. For the first time, he was unable to deny that he couldn't make it on his own. He wanted Ryou to trust him, and he knew that it was going to take some time.

That's it...I dont know how long it'll take for the next chappie but....oh well...