Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh

And sorry for the lack of update (again). However, this is the longest chapter thus far, so in my book, that makes up for it. Plus, I'm putting more thought into the later chapters because I want this story to get better as it goes along, not "oh, that wasn't nearly as good as the last chapter" –that is my worst nightmare. Anyway, who knows when I'll update next? But hey, schools out so I have a lot of time on my hands now. I'm not making any promises, but I'll try my best over the summer to perhaps...oh I dunno...finish this story? We'll see...

                                     Darkness Manifest

  Malik had managed to fall asleep again after a while. But for the longest time; since he was suffering from a sever bout of insomnia, he just sat up in his bed and stared at the ground with his arms resting lightly on his knees. As much as he tried to forget about it and not let it bother him, he couldn't help but wonder why after all this time he had that dream again. This wasn't supposed to happen. He had been through countless sessions with the palace mage and had taken many potions to rid himself of this very problem, and up until now, it had worked. What could be more powerful than all of the magick he had undergone?

    Trying to take his mind off the nightmare, he turned and watched as Ryou started to slowly sink lower against the wall as his eyes followed suit. At least he was getting some sleep...

   All that aside, morning had finally arrived, after what felt like the longest night Malik had ever been through. Sitting up in the bed he stretched his arms over his head, and tried to shake off his last ounce of sleepiness. Today was the day. Bakura was going to come back, and he knew it. But he had nothing to worry about, because Ryou was going to stay with him. Not that he really gave a hoot anymore. He could care less if Ryou wanted to stay with him or not. He just didn't want to be seen as a loser, he didn't want Ryou to pick Bakura over him and then he become the laughing; stock of the entire Egyptian court and soon after that the whole kingdom of Egypt...word spreads like a wild fire; especially when everyone is so eager to see you look like a fool.

   But was that really true? Was this his only excuse for wanting Ryou to stay? No. Hell no. And he knew it; he just wanted to convince himself otherwise. He didn't like to think that he would be hurt if Ryou left, because then that would mean that he had to admit that he had feelings for the boy. Why was it that he still felt so ripped apart when it came to Ryou? What was it about that damn boy that caused him to contradict himself? He loved him, yet he wanted to kill him. He needed him, yet he didn't really care if Ryou stayed or left.

   Glancing down, right where he had left him the night before, Malik gazed upon the boy that was giving him such a busting headache. Ryou was slouched over, sleeping against the wall; his small chest rising and falling in perfect sync with his breathing. So tranquil...so innocent...so trusting. Too trusting for his own good in fact. This would have been the perfect time to get rid of all his troubles. All he would have to do was wrap his hands around the boy's delicate, swan like neck and he could end it all in a few seconds. Then he wouldn't have to worry about whether or not Ryou would leave him...But if it were so easy...if it had always been this easy; why couldn't he just get it over with? This was another one of those times when Malik began to be at odds with himself. It was an easy task that was impossible for him to do.

   "Dammit." He growled as he flopped back down in the bed and buried his face in the pillow. It was getting to the point where he didn't even wan to look at the boy anymore. He didn't want to look at him because he hated the thought pattern that came along with it. It was too tempting to just ready his bow and use the boy for target practice. Or to do what he originally tried to do and just choke the life right out of him.

   Yes...if he were to ever kill Ryou, that's how he'd do it. For some reason he liked the satisfaction of staring into the boy's eyes as he slowly sucked the life right out of him. Just like the last time. It felt oddly, satisfying...Almost as if he were overcoming something more than just another's life. He was overcoming the good in himself, the good that kept Ryou alive until today. If it weren't for that speck of good in him, he wouldn't have felt that sting in his heart when Ryou looked at him the way he did.

   A gentle, stifled cough brought Malik's attention out of his pillow and over to the corner of the room where Ryou was now sitting upright; his eyes wide open with fear.

   "I'm s-sorry...I didn't mean to-" He started but Malik quickly interrupted him.

   "Just be quiet you little runt, I was already awake. Gods, I'm sick and tired of your constant blubbering." Malik snapped, shocked at his own discourtesy. He didn't really mean to be that rude, but he did not show any signs of remorse for his actions. Instead, he just glared in Ryou's direction, trying to make the boy look away. But evidently Ryou was in no mood to be talked down to this morning.

   For the first time in his life Ryou's eyes narrowed and he shot a dangerous look right back at Malik that stunned the hell out of him. Ryou, against his better judgment, stood up from where he was and slowly walked over to the Pharaoh's bed. His countenance showed no fear, and it showed no pain. For the first time ever, Malik saw the look of hatred in Ryou's eyes.

  Once Ryou had reached the bed, Malik sat up slightly, too taken aback to say anything. Casually Ryou leaned down so that his face was right next to Malik's.

   "Well, you know what Malik?" He started, in a mocking sort of way. "I'm sick and tired of you. I'm sick of the way you walk all over people, and the way you stick up your nose and act as if your shit don't stink." Ryou paused for a moment to allow his words to sink in. It was about time that someone told this son of a bitch what he needed to hear. "And another thing; I'm sick of this 'I'm such a bad ass' attitude that you try and pull. Let me tell you something Malik. You're not fooling anyone, especially me. I can see right through you. I saw right through you on the day you tried to kill me. You're not a bad ass, you're a coward who uses the title of Pharaoh to scare people, when in fact, the only one that's scared is you. Oh and Malik, you expect me to feel so sorry for you because you had such a horrible childhood, and you want to use that for an excuse as to why you're the way you are today. Well boo hoo, poor Malik. You aren't the only one that's had a rough past, but I don't see other people moping around and feeling sorry for themselves...and you know why? Because we don't have time, we have lives, and family, and loved ones, oh wait...you don't have any of that, no wonder you sit around and pout all day."

   Malik's jaw nearly dropped to the floor as he listened to Ryou's words. He was beyond angry, he was infuriated. No one, absolutely no one would dare to even think of talking to him like this. What made Ryou think that he was any different? Rising up, he was about to kick Ryou's little ass, but Ryou pushed him back down.

   "I'm not done yet...I have only one more thing to say, and I've said this before. One of these day's you'll get what's coming to you...and you'll see...there will be no one there to help you...and I mean that with every fiber of my being Malik Ishtar, you worthless piece of shit."

   "THAT'S ENOUGH!" Malik roared as he shot up from the bed and tackled Ryou, slamming the boy to the ground with all of his might.

   "Go ahead and kill me! I don't care!" Ryou snapped before Malik's fist made harsh contact with his jaw.

   Ryou's head crashed into the cold stone floor causing him to cry out.

   "Ryou...I can't kill you just yet. What about poor Bakura? Don't you want to see him once more before you die?" Malik asked snidely, still breathing rather heavily. He couldn't let this little incident interfere with his perfect plan. Standing up, he brushed himself off, and stepped over the flustered Ryou, who was still lying flat on his back, with a little river of blood running down his lip.

   "I'm leaving now. Make sure you tell ol' Bakura hello for me when he comes." With that, Malik stepped out of the room. And just when Ryou thought he was rid of the bastard for the day, Malik popped his head back in the door and gave a wicked smile. "Incase you were thinking about leaving before your lover boy shows up, I strongly advise against it. I've got guards everywhere with orders to kill you if you as much as step out of this room. Have a nice day." Malik left again, slamming the door behind him.

   "Damn him!" Ryou yelled, as he sat up and hastily wiped the blood off his lip. Now all he could do was pray that Bakura would still come back, or else he had no hope.

   Ryou's nerves were killing him as the minutes of the day went by. Each moment that past brought more doubt into his mind until finally he walked over to the balcony and saw that the sun was already starting to set. Glancing down, he also noticed three guards stationed at the bottom of the balcony...Malik wasn't playing games.

   Now was the time for him to give up hope. Bakura wasn't coming back, and he didn't blame him one bit. If Bakura had treated him the way that he had treated Bakura, he wouldn't even want to speak to him again.

   All that aside, Ryou knew that eventually Malik would be back. When that time came, Ryou also knew that he was going to suffer tremendously for his earlier outburst. However irrational it was, he in no way, shape or form wished that he could take back even a single word of it. Hell, Malik was most likely going to kill him, but it was well worth seeing the look on his face when someone finally stood up to him and told him the words that pretty much every other Egyptian wanted to say. But then again, he wouldn't let it be known that killing him would be doing him a huge favor. Better to be dead than to live out a life in constant fear and sorrow, not to mention going through it all with Malik.

   There was nothing more for him to do. No use in worrying about whether or not Bakura was going to come for him. That time had past... Despondently, Ryou scuffed back over near the entrance of the room and fell back against the wall, letting his body slowly slide alongside it until he rested on the floor.

   He let out a small disappointed sigh and closed his eyes, praying to the Gods for a quick death... 'Like they'll listen to me.' He gave a depressing chuckle. That'll be number three on the unanswered prayers list. First he prayed for them to give Malik a heart, and what did they do? They turned him into more vicious an animal than he already was. Then, as Malik chased him down the corridor, Ryou prayed to the Gods...begging them to not let him die alone...but where did that leave him? All alone, in the Pharaoh's room, awaiting his cruel and harsh judgment. Why pray for a quick death? If he did, that'd probably land him a spot on the stakes.

   Ryou shuddered just thinking about it. It had to be the most horrible way to die. When one was sent to the stakes, one was tied to a large cedar pole on the outskirts of the city, where you were exposed to all of the elements...extreme heat, brutal winds and sandstorms, not to mention vultures, hyenas, and jackals, who, when you were on your last thread of life, would rip at your flesh and devour you...and your throat is so parched and dry that you can't even scream.

   No...He really didn't want to die that way.  

   "You have to get him!"

   "For the last time Jou, he doesn't want me to get him…He'd…" Bakura paused, telling Jounouchi that Ryou would rather be with a pompous Pharaoh didn't look too well on his part.

   "Bakura you've got to go!"

Becoming frustrated, Bakura took the goblet that he was drinking from and slammed it down onto the table, causing Malachi to glair nastily at him.

   "Bakura, I really don't care what the hell you do, but if you bang my shit up you're going to get your ass beat." He seethed.

   "Oh shut it you." Bakura snapped. He was in no mood to be taking threats at the moment. He had more important things to be thinking about; or, not be thinking about. Desperately over the past few days he had tried to forget about Ryou, and every time he had nearly convinced himself that he didn't love the little brat anymore, along came Jounouchi to hound at him about not going after the boy again.

   "You guys, what about our plan? Remember? We were all gonna go and kill that bastard!" Jou yelled at both of them. Turning his attention to Malachi, who was taking a huge gulp of wine from his goblet, Jou's expression softened somewhat. "What about your brother? You were going to kill Malik because he killed your brother. What ever happened to that?"

   "I was just overreacting. Sit your punk ass down, before I give you a permanent limp." He hissed. But for once, Jou wouldn't let Malachi's threats stop him from getting his point across.

   "You know what I think. I think it's you guys who're the punks." He spat as he glared intensely at each of them. "You don't even have enough courage to stick up for those you care about…Well, let me tell you something. I'll go alone if I have to, because I'm not letting that ass get away with what he did to my sister, because she means more to me than that!"

   Bakura abruptly shot up from the table, knocking over his chair. Swiftly he walked over to Jounouchi and grabbed hold of his shirt.

   "Don't you ever tell me that I don't love Ryou! He means more to me than you'll ever comprehend. And it's because I love him that I'm not going! You wouldn't understand…so just shut your mouth." He yelled while jerking Jou around by his shirt.

   Jou sneered as an exasperated chuckle escaped his lips.

   "Come now Bakura, you expect me to believe that? You're not leaving him there because you love him…you're just not going because you're scared of what you'll see." At that moment, Jou wished that he had never opened his mouth.

   "I told you to shut up!"

   Before he could even blink, Jou felt Bakura's fist slam into his mouth; and Bakura was ready to have another go at it, but there was a knock on the door that diverted all of their attention.

   Bloodied lip and all, after regaining his composure, Jounouchi walked over to the door, lifted the latch and slowly eased it open.

   In the doorway stood a young man, no older than fifteen with a grungy appearance and a sickly form. His brown hair was askew, but it matched his smudged and dirty face. Taking deep breaths, he finally spoke, paying no attention to Jou's bloody lip, or his roughed-up appearance.

   "Is there…a Jounouchi here? A…Jounouchi form the village of Der el Bahri?" He gasped.

   "Who wants to know?" Jou asked him, with a look of skepticism on his face.

   "Here." The young boy handed Jounouchi a piece of rolled up papyrus. "It's from your village."

  "But why would they…hey!" Jounouchi yelled after him, but the messenger boy ran off as quickly as he came.

   Tediously Jou unrolled the scroll and began to read it as he walked back over to the table. No sooner did his eyes rest on the papyrus then his stomach did a back flip.

   "Jou, what is it? Wha-" Bakura stopped as he watched the scroll fall from Jou's hands. Immediately Jou made a break for the door, but Bakura got there first and stopped him.

   "NO! Let me go! He's got her! Let me go!" Even though Bakura was at least a head shorter than Jou, he had enough strength to overpower him.

   While Bakura was restraining Jou, Malachi walked over and retrieved the papyrus roll from the ground and proceeded to read it out loud.

   " 'Jou,' " he read, " 'They've got her.' "

And that was it, four simple words that caused his world to come crashing down.

   "Bakura! Let me go!"

Bakura, becoming angry, gripped the struggling Jou harder and threw him back away from the door and then slammed it shut.

   "What the hell are you going to do Jounouchi? Storm into the palace, march right up to Malik and order him to give you your sister back?!" He shouted.

   Jou remained silent as he blinked a few times.

   "I didn't think so…you have no idea what you'd do, do you?" He questioned, while walking over to where Jou stood. "Let me tell you something about Malik Jou. He is evil…he'd kill you before you'd even get a chance to step foot in his palace. There is no way in hell that you can go there to try and get your sister back. Believe me; I know how he is…"

   "So what are you suggesting Bakura?! That I just sit back and do nothing like you?"

   "I didn't say that! But you can't go there or you'll get yourself killed."

   "You're not making any sense."

   "Just…Fuck…I-I'll go…" Bakura said in an undertone. There was no denying that he wanted Ryou back, and badly. So after all this time, he had finally reached a conclusion in his head. He was going up there to save Ryou and Shizuka, and if Ryou didn't want to come back, then at least he wasn't risking his neck for nothing. He could still bring Shizuka back to Jounouchi without revealing his true motives…What a foolproof plan.

   But unknown to him, he was not the only one with a plan...

   The last golden hews of Ra's chariot were all that was left of the daytime hours. Soon it would be night, and even sooner, Malik would be back. Ryou had caused himself to go into such a state of depression that he didn't even care what happened to him anymore. Malik could come back, he could beat him, rape him, kill him, whatever, and he didn't care.

   Slowly he lifted his head up and watched as the day was silently swallowed up by the foreboding night. Just like him…His light, his thirst for life was gradually being swallowed up by the darkness as well…but not just any darkness, it was the worst kind…it was Malik. Darkness manifested in it's purest, most evil form.

   Subconsciously he was trying to distract himself with his depressing similes, doing anything he could to keep his heart from exploding with guilt. Yes, guilt...There was always something, something he could have said differently, something he could have done, or maybe a few less words were needed, but in any case, what he did (or didn't do for that matter), over time, slowly sucked the life out of his bond with Bakura, much like Malik would soon be doing to him...on a much different level though. Damn, there it was again, his morbid creativity once more brought him slightly out of the essence of self defeat.

   Yet, was there really anything he could have said or done? Evidently the God's hated him anyway, so it didn't matter if he said all the right words, or did all the right things. They put him on this earth to suffer, and he could not die until he had served his purpose and lived out the pathetic life that they had meant for him to live.

   Was he done though? Had he suffered enough? Could he finally die and not have to suffer anymore? Even though he knew that his death was eminent, whether it be now, or down the road a ways, something deep down inside of him told him that he had yet to undergo enough pain before he breathed his last.

   Why he had that feeling, he did not know, but it probably had to do with his wonderful pessimism. But, when a life such as his has been lived, could one ever hope to have even an ounce of optimism?

   Sighing deeply, he glanced over to his right, in the corner where Malik kept his bow. But tonight it wasn't there. That was a little strange, Ryou never remembered Malik taking his bow out and leaving it somewhere. This could be a good thing, or this could be a very bad thing. Malik could be out on his chariot hunting, which meant that he wouldn't be back until the wee hours of the morning. Or...he could be out searching for more innocent blood to shed. Ryou simply shrugged it off. Either way it didn't matter. He had learned the hard way that such an evil one can never be changed. Malik being out hunting only gave Ryou a few more hours to sit in this empty room and suffer. In a way, he wanted Malik to come back so that he wouldn't have to suffer anymore.

   Becoming entangled in the web of morbid thoughts, Ryou's heart nearly stopped beating when a scream was heard outside the balcony window. Was Malik back already? Did he bring home another innocent life to toy with? Quickly Ryou stood up, but he dare not move from his spot. All this night he had so longed for death, but when the prospect lie, possibly, right outside his window, it became a lot harder for him to wish that Malik would hurry up. After all, the Pharaoh did have his bow with him, and Ryou was not really fond of being shot with it, especially after he saw the agony that Shizuka went through before she died. No...now he didn't really want to die, he wanted to live, he wanted...

   "BAKURA!" Ryou shouted when he saw the white haired tomb robber hop over the marble railing. Bakura stood there and looked up, gazing right at him. And oh what a welcomed sight it was. Ryou couldn't help himself; his body was still shaking, and his mind drew a blank, but still he ran forward.

   Reluctant though he was, Bakura couldn't help but open his arms to accept the boy, even after all the pain he put him through, he was always willing to take him back...that's the effect that love has on people.

   Ryou plowed into Bakura, nearly knocking the both of them down.

   Bakura was in a state of shock as well. He didn't expect this greeting from Ryou, and he didn't expect it to be this easy to get into the palace either. He only had to kill two guards. Something wasn't right, and he could feel it. But that didn't matter, looking down he saw his Ryou, clinging to him as if he were his life support. It felt good...It felt so good for Ryou to be holding him like this again. He thought this day, and this feeling would never come again.

   Slowly he brought his hand down and began to gently stroke Ryou's soft white hair. The feeling felt so familiar, like it hadn't even been an hour since he had last held Ryou, but that was probably because he dreamed of this boy constantly. He closed his eyes as he pulled Ryou in closer to himself with his other hand. Half of him wanted to beat the shit out of this boy for doing what he did the last time, but he just couldn't bring himself to it...because the other half loved Ryou way too much to want to do anything but hold him.

   He looked up and silently thanked the Gods for keeping his Ryou safe. He could have stood there forever just holding Ryou in his arms, but there was no doubt that Malik, wherever he was, knew that two of his guards had been killed and he was probably not too happy about that.

   Bakura slid his hands down to Ryou's shoulders and slowly pried the boy off of him.

   Ryou looked up, with tears in his deep chocolate eyes.

   "I can't believe you're here." He whispered with a hint of uncertainty.

   "Ryou, no matter what happens, don't ever think that I won't come for you. I have always been there," he placed his hand under Ryou's chin and lifted his beautiful face up so that he could look him right in the eyes, "and no matter how much you piss me off, I always will be." He said with a smile before planting a delicate kiss on the tip of Ryou's nose. "Now stop crying, I'm going to get you out of here. But there is someone else who I have to take along with us." Bakura looked into Ryou's eyes. "Ryou, do you remember Jou's sister Shizuka?"

   Almost immediately Ryou started sobbing uncontrollably as he started backing away. Ryou hung his head and continued crying.

   "What happened? Have you seen her here?" He questioned.

   "Bakura, I...I-m so sorry...there was nothing I could do. He...It all happened so fast...I couldn't, I was so scared..." Ryou stared mumbling incoherently as he shook his head while still making a conscious effort to avoid looking at Bakura.

   "Ryou, where is she?" Bakura asked again, a bit more urgently this time. He knew they couldn't linger here much longer without the threat of being caught.

   "Bakura...she-she's dead."

 Putting on a somber look, Bakura glanced at Ryou and nodded his head, touching Ryou's shoulder, gently reassuring him even though he knew it was going to be hard for him to tell Jou the news when they got back. 

    "I-it was Malik, he killed her with his bow and arrow..." Ryou paused and suddenly a horrified look came upon his face. "Oh no..." He put his had over his mouth as if he were about to vomit as he remembered; that very same bow was not in its place tonight, and suddenly behind them, the chamber doors burst open, and there in the doorway stood none other than the Pharaoh. At first he didn't say a word, he just stood there with his bow in hand and an arrow aimed straight for Ryou's head. In all his regal splendor, he looked like the war God Set himself. Darkness manifest. He stood erect with the bow pulled back tight, not moving a muscle, his stormy amethyst eyes narrowed ever so slightly as they stared at Ryou, piercing his soul. The very sight sent an electric chill all the way up Ryou's spine. He had never seen Malik look quite like this, but he didn't like it one bit. It made him want to take back everything that he had said early that morning, because if ever there was a time when Malik scared him, it was now.

   "Very perceptive little Ryou." He said with a wicked grin, still standing as still as the statue of Ra that was in the temple. "I was wondering how long it would take for you to put two and two together."

   Bakura glared back at Malik, but Malik seemed to be paying no attention to the tomb robber, that is until Bakura made to take a step closer to Ryou. Then, as quick as lightning Malik shifted his position and aimed the arrow right at Bakura's heart.

   "Don't move another inch." He warned. Bakura simply grunted in response as he took a step closer to Ryou and grabbed the boy by the arm. Just then Malik scowled as he released the arrow, sending it flying past Bakura, grazing his arm along the way.

   Bakura hissed as he put his hand over the deep wound and took a step back.

   "You mother fucker." Bakura growled when he lifted his hand and saw blood pouring freely down his arm. Quickly he reapplied pressure to the wound. He started to walk towards Malik, but the Pharaoh wouldn't have it.

   "Ah ah Bakura...Next time I won't miss." Malik smiled cruelly as he reached behind his back, pulled out another arrow and readied his bow in one fluid movement as if this action was second nature to him. Ryou looked from Bakura to Malik, and then back to Bakura. Gently, once he had made his way to where Bakura stood, all the while under the piercing gaze of the Pharaoh; he lifted Bakura's hand off of his wound and looked at it. It was pretty bad. But there was no time to do anything about it; Malik was still standing there with another arrow aimed at both of them. Ryou had no idea how he was going to get out of this one.

   Bakura, beginning to feel lightheaded collapsed to his knees, still holding his arm. There was no describing the look that he had in his eyes at that moment as he sat there on his knees staring up at Malik.

   "B-Bakura!" Ryou knelt down beside him and ripped off a piece of his robes. Trying to tie up Bakura's arm with his hand shaking violently was no easy task, but he managed.

   Bakura slowly turned his attention away from the Pharaoh, and immediately his expression softened. He looked at Ryou, and he saw how much pain was etched on his face. He could feel the boy's tremors as Ryou tied the piece of cloth around his arm. Why, of all people, did Ryou have to be the one to suffer so?

   Malik looked on with the utmost jealousy surging through him. He felt this exact emotion when he watched the two lovers in the dungeon so many moons ago. When they looked at each other, it was as if they were the only two beings on earth. Right now, Malik felt smaller, and far less significant than even the tiniest ant. It was like he just ceased to be. But nothing was going to prevent him from keeping a stone cold façade. The last thing he wanted was for Bakura to find out that he was extremely jealous of him. Instead, he walked closer and scoffed at them.

   "How cute. Bakura comes here to rescue you like the hopeless romantic that he is. But he ends up on the ground, about to be killed by the one superior to him."

   Bakura lifted his head up and looked up at Malik from where he was kneeling.

   "Youwillneverkillme." He hissed, glaring up at the man whom he hated more than anything in the world.

   "Shut up!" Malik roared, and then he gave Bakura a harsh kick in the ribs, causing Ryou to scream as Bakura fell over on his side and coughed up some blood.

   "Leave him alone!" Ryou started to kneel down to him again, but Malik grabbed the boy by his white tresses and yanked him up.

   "Since when have you been giving the orders my disobedient slave?" Malik asked as he nipped at the flesh of Ryou's neck. "I have yet to punish you for your outburst this morning."

   Ryou's eyes went wide with fear as he felt Malik press the tip of the arrow against the back of his neck.

   "I could aim right here, and it'd all be over in a matter of moments." He felt Malik move the arrow down his back and press it sharply against the middle of his spine. "Or, I could miss, and hit you right here, causing you great amounts of pain."

   Ryou was caught off guard when suddenly Malik dropped the bow and arrow to the floor and spun him round.

   "Or, my personal favorite," He snaked his hands around Ryou's neck as he looked at him straight in the eyes. "I could slowly wrap my hands around your neck like so," He paused as he started squeezing tighter, "And slowly force the life right out of you."

   As if he suddenly changed his mind, Malik threw Ryou down on top of Bakura; causing the injured boy to groan slightly; and picked up his bow and arrow.

   "But I'm afraid I can't do any of that, because as I said, when Bakura came, it would be your choice as to where you'll go. So, make your decision." Malik put his arrow back in the quiver and slung the bow behind him. Then he crossed his arms and put a small, evil smirk on his face.

   Well, there was no question as to what he was going to do. Slowly Ryou helped the nearly unconscious Bakura to his feet and started walking towards the door.

   "That's your decision then?" Malik asked, as if Ryou should greatly reconsider. Ryou didn't even turn to acknowledge that he had heard Malik. Instead, he just kept on walking.

   "Suit yourself." Malik clapped his hands twice and no less than twenty of his guards filed into the room through the door and circled their way around Ryou, and the hurt Bakura, blocking their way.

   Ryou immediately looked petrified. His head turned left, then right. There was no way to escape.

   Two guards stepped aside to allow Malik to enter the circle.

   "You bastard! You said you'd let me go if that's what I wanted!" Ryou shouted, still holding on to Bakura, but the weight of the other boy was starting to pull him down.

   "Yea, well, I changed my mind." Malik spoke casually as he shrugged. "Get him." He added pointing to Bakura, and two of the guards stepped into the circle and pulled Bakura away from Ryou.

   "N-NO! You can't! He's hurt!" Ryou shouted as he started after them, but Malik grabbed onto his arm with one hand and pulled him back.

   Bakura lifted his head up as the two guards held him there awaiting Malik's orders. He looked at Ryou without saying a word, then his expression swiftly changed as he shot his attention up to Malik, who had a cocky grin plastered on his face.

   "I'd wipe that smile off my face if I were you." Bakura seethed. Malik raised his eyebrows slightly.

   "Oh no, I'm so scared that Bakura's going to hurt me." He chuckled as he stepped closer and backhanded Bakura with such a force that the sound resonated throughout the room. Bakura had his head turned to one side, but he spit out the blood and then slowly turned his head back around to face Malik. He did not say a word this time, he just stared at Malik, and Malik stared right back before looking up to the guards.

   "I think a visit to the stakes should straighten this one out."

At that, Ryou tugged at his arm, trying to free himself.

   "No! You can't do that!" He screamed. Bakura remained silent. He wasn't going to give Malik the satisfaction of knowing that he was scared...and for the first time, he really was. He, like every other Egyptian, had heard the horrid stories about the stakes, and that was certainly not the way that he had wanted to die.

   "Take him." Malik said. And with an elegant wave of his hand his orders were carried out. The two guards walked the injured tomb robber out of the room, down the hallway and out of sight.

   Once he was gone Ryou turned on Malik and started hitting him with all of his might, with it having little to no effect on the stronger boy.

   "You promised!" He shouted as he balled his fist and punched Malik repeatedly in the chest. Malik seemed to be untouched by Ryou's anger and distress.

   "Calm yourself boy before you get hurt." He warned casually.

   "No! I hate you! I hope your soul rots in the netherworld you snake!" Ryou continued to hit Malik, but in his fit of rage he began to tire quickly, and he was unable to think straight.

   He had to save Bakura. He couldn't let them put him on the stakes. He'd die...Ryou tried to run out of the room, but Malik stopped him.

   "You're not going anywhere. And if you try to run away, I'll throw you in the dungeon." He warned as he looked down at the pale, tear stricken boy. It seemed as if Ryou didn't care, because he continued to struggle against Malik, only causing the stronger boy to become annoyed.

   "Alright, you asked for it." With a great force Malik slammed his fist into Ryou's face, causing the boy's body to go limp in his arms. He picked him up and carried him to the bed, gently laying him down.

   Malik sat down on the edge of the bed and stared down at the motionless form lying beneath him. How had things turned so drastically in a matter of days? Why had he spent so much of his time and effort trying to warm up to the boy if he was only going to do this to him in the end? Somehow, it seemed as if his efforts weren't in vein, because, even if it only lasted for a fleeting moment, he was human. Sitting quietly, keeping his gaze focused on the angel below him he began to reminisce of more pleasant times, his thoughts lingered on that night in the garden, the night that he had poured out his soul to Ryou, expecting the boy to give him the cold shoulder like he had always done. Instead Malik felt for the first time acceptance; Ryou embraced him for what he was, with all of his scars and flaws, Ryou saw in him what even he himself could never find.

   Such a shame it was, to throw away two such beautiful creatures, well, one at least. Malik doubted that he'd ever be able to get rid of Ryou, no matter how much he wanted to...

   "Dear, sweet Ryou...I'm sorry it had to come to this. If only you knew how much I loved you." Malik said soothingly while he sat there gently pushing Ryou's bangs away from his forehead.

   He leaned down and planted a tender kiss on Ryou's soft, pale cheek and then swiftly left the room for parts unknown.

   Yea...For once, I don't have anything to say. This story is taking a turn for the worst when it comes to happy endings. I was a little depressed when I wrote this, then I came back later when I wasn't depressed and proof read it and was like "damn, that's sad" so yea...poor all of them...bye.