Disclaimer: I don't own Evanescence or any of their songs...

                                                    ~ Malik's Story ~

  Malik sat on the grass. His eyes were following Ryou as the platinum haired boy still roamed around the garden. This boy was so perfect. He couldn't blame Bakura for being so in love with this flawless angel. He had to admit defeat, he was becoming soft, and yet, he didn't care. He would become as soft as a feather pillow if he had to; if it meant that Ryou would love him...

   Wait, why did he just think like that?! That was absurd, totally unlike him. It most certainly wasn't how he really felt...

Try to deny it as he might, deep inside Malik knew that he cared about Ryou; why else would he want the boy's affection so badly? And even deeper inside he knew that he wasn't worthy of such a creature.

  That train of thought made him chuckle slightly. This went against everything he had been taught as a child. It was said that no one on this earth was even worthy enough to look at the Pharaoh.

   Teachings be damned...

 He sighed as he fell back on the grass, resting his hands behind his head as the thought of apologizing to Ryou ran through his mind. Maybe if he explained to Ryou certain things, like say, what happened to him as a child, maybe then Ryou would understand.

  'No, that's out of the question.'

That wouldn't make Ryou understand. That would only make Ryou pity him. And being pitied was the last thing that he wanted. Why would he even consider apologizing to Ryou? That had to be the most absurd thing that he could ever do.

   But still...he thought back to when he first stepped into the garden tonight. How he so longed for someone to talk to. He needed to get these things off his chest...somehow. Closing his eyes, he contemplated what the outcome might be if he decided to reveal his feelings. Would it help Ryou understand? Or would it only push him further away? As he sat there, becoming lost in his own, self-destructive thoughts, a sound reached his ear. A haunting sound that he had not heard in a long time.

   "Ryou!" He called to him before he could stop himself.

Ryou looked up and ran over to Malik, like a child running to his mother. Open anticipation was worn across his face; he no longer needed to hide behind a mask of fear and distrust. For now, he was willing to let his guard down; he wanted to give Malik the chance that he deserved.

  Malik sat up and rested his weight on his elbows and watched as Ryou came up and flopped down on the grass next to him, gazing at him, almost like he too, desperately needed to say something.

   "Malik I-"

   "Shh...Don't speak...listen...can you hear it?" Malik sat up more and placed a gentle finger to Ryou's lips looking up into the night sky. He tilted his head to one side, listening to the sound, earning a strange glance from Ryou.

  But Ryou listened hard anyway, trying to hear something...anything...what was Malik talking about?

   "I don't-"

   Malik looked back down and smiled lightly at him.

   "Listen for it." He whispered quietly. Malik placed a hand on Ryou's cheek. "Close your eyes."

   Ryou obeyed and slowly shut his chocolate orbs. 'What am I listening for?'

   Suddenly he felt the warm breath of the Pharaoh on his cheek.

Malik brought his lips to Ryou's ear and whispered, "It's in the wind."

  Ryou peered out his slightly opened eyes, at a man whom he felt as if he were meeting for the first time. Surely this wasn't the same Malik that he had left earlier that day? Or...had he not left the real Malik?

   "Ah, don't open your eyes!" He scolded playfully. "Listen harder."

Quickly Ryou shut his eyes again and was silent for a moment. This time he could hear it. It was the haunting cry of the wind; its eerie tune gave him goose bumps. He had heard this sound a few times before, it usually happened right before dawn, but he never gave it much thought.

   "Where is it coming from?" He asked, still with his eyes closed.

   "From the colossus of Memnon." Malik said. "It used to fascinate me as a child." He paused for a moment as he looked at Ryou. "They say the statue 'sings' when the wind hits it before dawn. Ah, but this is old childish stuff..." His voice trailed off slightly, and he saw Ryou open his eyes. "I just thought..." A slight red tinge crossed over the tanned face. Ryou almost couldn't believe his eyes. Was the almighty Pharaoh, the living god...blushing?

   "No...I like it." Ryou spoke softly to him, placing his hand on the Pharaoh's leg. "Tell me more." He almost begged, scooting closer to the Pharaoh.

   "J-just forget I ever said anything." Malik said quietly as he looked away. What on the gods' green earth just made him do that?

   "Malik, it's ok...you don't have to hide from me." Ryou spoke calmly to him.

   Malik sighed. There was no use in hiding anymore. Ryou had seen his garden; Ryou had seen many things that others had not, even those in his own family.

   "Come here." He demanded softly, holding out his hand.

Ryou looked at him strangely before he complied, taking the Pharaoh's hand, and allowing himself to be wrapped up in the Pharaoh's warm embrace. He leaned his body against Malik's bare chest, closing his eyes; he almost couldn't believe he was here with Malik. He allowed himself to be completely wrapped up in the other's protective hold.

   "I want to tell you a little story." Malik said, tightening his hold on the smaller boy. Ryou felt so good to hold. He fit in his arms so perfectly. He could have sat there forever, just holding Ryou, protecting him from the world...

   Ryou turned his head and looked at him questionably. Malik just smiled lightly, causing Ryou to smile back before he turned around and leaned against the strong Pharaoh, bringing his hand up to Malik's arm and gripping it lightly.

   "Go on." Ryou said softly.

Malik took in a deep breath. This had to be done somehow...

   "There was a Pharaoh who ruled ages ago." He began, looking up at the stars. "Before the great pyramid of Khufu was even built...He...he was much like me. He was cruel and heartless. Everyone hated him...and absolutely no one loved or cared about him." Malik paused as he narrowed his eyes slightly, creating a small barrier that kept the tears that were building up in his eyes from falling. "Even when he was young...he only had one friend. But then...then he wasn't even allowed to see his one friend. That young boy's father forced him to stay inside all day...everyday...constantly studying, and memorizing, everything. And every day that went by only brought that young boy closer to death. Everyday his heart grew colder and colder." Malik stopped when he felt Ryou tense up slightly. "What's wrong?"

   "N-nothing...please, go on." Ryou said quietly, readjusting his position and resting his head again on Malik's chest.

   "That boy...i-in order to become Pharaoh had to undergo a ritual...one that scared him beyond words. It plagued his thoughts everyday...and he didn't even find peace at night, when he would frequently lose sleep over it." Malik's voice cracked slightly, and he quickly cleared his throat, hoping that Ryou didn't notice. "Anyway...the day came...and an ancient scripture was carved into m-the Pharaoh's back. All of the hatred and anger that he had felt up until that point was released. It engulfed him, and his soul became black...nothing would ever change him...so he thought..." Malik looked down at the white haired boy, who looked so peaceful just lying there, wrapped up in the warmth. He liked it this way. When he could be alone with Ryou, just holding him, sitting serenely and quietly where no one could bother them. He liked having someone that would listen to him, and not judge him.

   As Malik finished those last words, Ryou's heart broke. He gripped Malik's arm harder as a single tear fell down his cheek.

   'Malik...' He cried in his mind. Even though Malik tried to make it sound like some old story...Ryou saw through it...he had no idea...

   Malik was shocked when he felt something cool and wet hit his stomach.

   What was this? Was Ryou crying? 'Oh gods.'

   "Ryou...what's wrong?" Malik gripped his arms and pulled the boy up, hugging him to his chest.

   Ryou turned around, misty eyed and stared at Malik.

   "I'm sorry..." And that was all he said before he wrapped his arms around Malik and cried softly into the Pharaoh's neck.

 Malik felt the moist tears hit his skin. The initial contact was cool, but it stung him...to feel Ryou, crying in his arms, it set his skin on fire. To see Ryou in pain like this, it made his own heart hurt worse than he ever thought humanly possible. Malik gasped. Ryou...couldn't be crying for him. No one ever cried for him...

   Pulling out of the embrace, Malik brought his hand up and wiped Ryou's tears away with his thumbs.

   "Shh, don't cry...that Pharaoh doesn't deserve your tears." He said in a hushed tone. That Pharaoh deserved no one's tears...

   Ryou hiccupped while he looked into Malik's hazy amethyst eyes.

   "Yes...you do."

~ I'm so tired of being here

Suppressed by all of my childish fears

And if you have to leave

I wish that you would just leave

Because your presence still lingers here

And it won't leave me alone

~ These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

~ When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I'd fight away all of your fears

I held your hand through all of these years

But you still have... all of me

~ You used to captivate me

By your resonating light

But now I'm bound by the life you left behind

Your face it haunts my once pleasant dreams

Your voiced it chased away all the sanity in me

~ These wounds won't seem to heal

This pain is just too real

There's just too much that time cannot erase

~ When you cried I'd wipe away all of your tears

When you'd scream I fight away all of your fears

I held your hand through all of these years

But you still have...all of me

~ I've tried so hard to tell myself that you're gone

But though you're still with me

I've been alone all along...

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Yea...sorry about adding that little song in the end, a little corny I know, but I've been stuck on it for a while...and I thought that it kinda fit. You can find the parts... But anyway...it's such a pretty song...all of Evanescence's songs are...

Sorry...that's all I've been listening to since like...my birthday when I got the CD...I hope this chapter isn't too corny...and I promise that the lemon is coming soon...but hey, the longer I make you wait, the more you'll end up valuing it!! Plus, I like to ease into these things so that I can stay consistent with the "slow characterization".

Thanks for all the reviews!!! And sorry about that whole ordeal with the uploading of the same chapter, I have no idea what happened! Sorry!