~ A Peasant's Choice ~

           Ryou almost couldn't believe that he was back in Bakura's arms. He sighed, tightening his hold on the older boy as he was carried up the stairs, hoping with all his might that Bakura didn't expect too much out of him tonight. He didn't know if he'd be able to give it to him.

   Of all the nights to want to be alone, it just had to be the one when he found Bakura again. But, Ryou just wasn't sure anymore. He wasn't sure whom to trust. After all, Malik had played a nasty trick on him, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to forgive him. But what did that matter? He wasn't ever going to see him again anyway…he didn't want to. He didn't want to because he was scared of what the outcome would be. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to leave him again.

   'Why am I thinking like this?' He cried to himself. This wasn't how it was supposed to turn out. Bakura was supposed to burst into the palace and take him from Malik. Malik wasn't supposed to let him have a choice. 'Damn him…why did he do it?' Ryou thought back to when he was seated on top of the Pharaoh in the tavern. "I'll give you anything." He says. Why did he have to say that? Did he want to put Ryou through hell?

   Lost in his own thoughts, Ryou didn't even realize that Bakura had carried him into a bedroom in the back of the house. He tried to snap out of it and pretend he was fine, but it wasn't working too well.

   "Ryou?" Bakura questioned softly, placing a hand to Ryou's cheek.

Ryou jumped slightly at the other's touch. Something that he had never done before.

   "Ryou, you're not acting like yourself."

   Ryou's response was simply staring at the ground and blinking slightly. What could he say? 'I'm sorry Bakura, I'm just thinking about Malik right now.' Or 'Please don't kill Malik, he doesn't deserve it.' Somehow…he didn't think that Bakura would take either of those lightly.

   After a long moment of silence Ryou looked up at him.

   "I'm…fine." He whispered, lying through his teeth.

Bakura looked at him reproachfully; contemplating the way Ryou had said that. It surely didn't seem like he was fine, but…he wanted Ryou so badly. He had been away from him for what felt like an eternity. Gently he took Ryou's hand and led him over to the bed. Ryou followed, shaking slightly. His stomach was in knots. Why did it have to be like this?

   Sitting the smaller boy down on the bed, Bakura placed a hand to Ryou's chest and pushed him down, slowly climbing on top of him.

   Ryou's eyes were shut. He didn't think he'd be able to look at Bakura without crying.

   Bakura's hands made their way to the bottom of Ryou's thin linen shirt. Ryou raised himself slightly and Bakura pulled it off the slender boy's body and let it fall to the floor. Now Ryou's heart was beating so loudly that he was scared that Bakura would hear it. But evidently he didn't, because he moved his lips to Ryou's chest and began to kiss the supple skin delicately, causing Ryou to moan lightly.

   "I have missed that sound greatly." Bakura told him as he gazed up at Ryou from his position on the bed. Ryou was perfect. Everything about him drove Bakura wild, and he loved hearing Ryou cry out with pleasure. He planned on hearing much more of that tonight. And he knew exactly what to do to have Ryou melt like butter in his hands.

   Bakura brought his tongue out and traced it across Ryou's chest, to his neck, and finally, to that spot right behind his ear.

   Ryou bit his lip to keep himself from moaning out loud as Bakura started to suck tenderly on that very spot that got him every time. He wasn't really sure why he didn't want to cry out, but he just didn't.

   Bakura was slightly shocked when he didn't hear his little Ryou making any noises. This was usually his favorite spot. Oh well, Bakura had his ways…

   "Playing difficult tonight are we?" He asked playfully before he bit down on Ryou's jawbone. Ryou hissed slightly, making Bakura smile. "You'll be mine again soon." Bakura continued his assault on the little white haired boy that was under him. It surprised him greatly that Ryou didn't seem to be enjoying this, his own desire for the boy was getting in the way of what he knew was right. He knew that Ryou must have a lot on his mind after having to spend many nights alone with that god awful Pharaoh. He knew that Ryou probably wasn't in the mood, he cared, yet at the same time, he didn't. Bakura had waited many nights to be back with this boy…however, seeing the look on Ryou's face was enough to tip the scales.

   "I can see you have other things on your mind." Bakura said, sounding slightly disappointed.

   Ryou looked up at him and he felt his heart jolt. 'Oh Gods…' How did Bakura know he was thinking about Malik?

   "B-Bakura?" Ryou said timidly.

   "Shh, it's ok…I understand." The tomb robber comforted, placing a finger to the smaller boy's lips.

   Ryou looked into Bakura's eyes. Evidentially Bakura wasn't referring to the thing he was really thinking about…thank the Gods...

   "I'll just leave you in here to get some sleep." He said, gently kissing Ryou on the forehead. He started to walk off but Ryou held him back.

   "Wait, Bakura..."

Bakura turned his head and looked at him.

   Ryou couldn't believe he was about to do this, but it had been eating away at him ever since that little incident in the tavern.

   "W-why do you have to...k-kill him?" He asked and he saw Bakura narrow his eyes slightly. "I...well I don't want anything to happen to you." He said quickly, so as not to arouse suspicion. "I mean...cant we just let it go? So you'll be safe that is."

   "Don't worry about me...I'm not the one that's gunna die." Bakura stated wickedly before he strode out of the room, leaving Ryou even more distressed than before.

   His head was spinning. There was nothing he could do to stop the unimaginable torture he was putting himself through. Maybe it didn't have to be this bad. Maybe he was making a mountain out of a mole hill. He should stop feeling sorry for himself and instead be grateful that he was here with Bakura, when only nights ago he thought his love to be dead. That was the problem. When he would sit alone at night in Malik's room he would, no could only think of one thing and that was Bakura. So why now that he had his love back in his arms could he only think of Malik? Malik didn't even deserve to be thought about like that. He was nothing more than a heartless beast.

   Ah, that is what Ryou would liked to have thought, but after what had happened in the tavern, Ryou could never see Malik the same way again. All those times of pain and suffering that Malik had brought down upon him...when Malik forced him against his will, when he nearly killed him, when he imprisoned Bakura...none of that mattered anymore, it seemed to have flown out the window. And to Ryou it was amazing that somehow he could just push all that aside as if it were nothing.

   Ever since Malik had become Pharaoh, Ryou had always hated him. He was evil incarnate, burning down countless villages for his own pleasure; taking captive hundreds upon hundreds of innocent children, dragging them from their families, ripping them out of their mothers' loving arms, not knowing, nor caring their ages. "If they can walk, then they can serve me." He would say. Ryou couldn't even begin to understand how somebody could be that totally heartless.

   The things that he had done in his short reign were enough to make your blood run cold. They were unforgivable acts, even for a Pharaoh. And yet...Ryou found it, almost easy to look past it all. It happened when Malik had his hands around Ryou's neck, slowly chocking the life out of him. Ryou was dying, but for a fleeting moment, he saw that Malik was too. Malik's eyes showed everything that he had worked so hard to hide. Emotion. Every emotion that one could ever have. Envy, hate, anger, pain, fear...love.

   He was almost certain...even though the circumstances were not quite loving, Ryou knew what he had seen, there was no mistaking it. Bakura had never looked at him that way...so Ryou had made up his mind. He had to warn Malik somehow. He could sneak back up to the palace...only to warn Malik...then he would leave.

He prayed it would work.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

   Ok...I bet you thought you were getting a lemon huh? Well...sorry...I have a special one...coming up soon...and another one that I'm playing around with but I don't know exactly how I'll fit it in...But it'll be a shocker (that is...if I decide to do it, ne?) Anyhew...Kiki san...I hope you're happy that I updated Bakura's Eviction Notice!

Malik: *sleep talking* no...Ryou...don't leave...

*taps him on the shoulder*

Malik: *shoots straight up* Ayeee! WHAT!?!

*Chuckle* You were *snigger* sleeping

Malik: And?

And...sleep talking...*tears of laughter welding up in eyes*

Malik: *getting nervous* S-so?

About Ryou...

Malik: *blushes*

Awww! You know you love Ryou *nudges him in the ribs* and Bakura ain't  bad either.

Malik: ...

How about a *pauses for dramatic effect* .......................THREESOME?!?

Malik: *smirks wickedly and nods his head approvingly*

Ok...well I'll post up another chapter a.s.a.p so that we can get to the lemon faster. Yippee! *hands everyone a piece of Malik birthday cake*