Oh my gosh, thank you so much for the reviews so far! More more more, PLEASE!
Of course that's not the end of the story! What with Marik finally admitting his love for Ryou? Of course not! I didnt' have Bakura become a threat for nothing! XD The story is actually going to be much longer. I like characterization, you know, with character evolution. So yeah...even Baku might reveal some secrets we don't know about yet!
Hmn, made Ryou cry a lot in this chappie...eep. And sowwy for making Bakura so mean.But, he's the only one who can really act as the antgonist here. I mean, if this was a Malik x Bakura fic soley, then Marik would be the evil antagonist, wouldn't he not? So yeah. Gotta make Baku mean mean mean!
Read and review! I love the long reviews you guys leave! You guys are so insightful!
Chapter Ten: The Darkness Returns
Marik was happy.
It was a strange emotion for him, since he was entirely Anger, Frustration, Sadness, Vengeance, Violence. And this Happy feeling wasn't even the normal ones he'd felt before; not the cold, sadistic, insane happy that made him high and the world delusional.
It was...Happy.
A warm sensation, radiating from his chest. A glorious sensation, making his heart swell.
A Ryou.
How pleasurable did Ryou feel against him, how wondrous did it feel to have the Light breathing against his chest, how lovely to have his arms around the Light at all, stroaking his hair, kissing his sleepy face.
And how angelic Ryou looked when he slept. That sweet, soft smile upon his lucious lips, the graceful curve of his eyelashes, the heavenly locks of pure white snow carressing his cheeks. Marik couldn't help but touch those features, lick those features, love those features. Subconciously as he slept, he continued to stroak Ryou's cheek, causing the younger one to smile happily and snuggle closer, and causing Marik's heart to beat.
It was hard for Marik, to tell what was reality and what was a dream. Ryou's presence seemed like an illusion, a memory. Marik couldn't tell whether he was asleep or not.
But he gathered he was at some point, because for a moment, in the middle of the night, he heard familiar whimpering noises from beside him. Cracking his eyes open, he wearily looked down, and noticed that Ryou was clutching at him painfully tight, his face buried in Marik's chest, and scared, whimpering noises muffled. Blinking, Marik gently turned Ryou's head over, so that he could see his face. A nightmare, perhaps?
Marik frowned. Ryou's face was just as pale as when Marik first discovered him unconcious, and his breathing was short and tight, as though terrified. His eyes were still closed though, so it had to be a nightmare.
"Ryou?" Marik asked, shaking him lightly. Ryou merely gave out another whimper, tears leaking his face, as he clutched onto Marik's chest, his face reburied in. "Ryou..? What's wrong?"
Soft crying noises and pleads came muffled from the younger boy. Marik frowned, rubbing a hand on Ryou's back. Why wouldn't Ryou wake up?
"Marik...!"
"I'm here, Ryou," said Marik clearly as he felt the Light tighten his grip. "I'm here."
The crying increased. "No...Marik, please don't go...please don't go..."
"I won't go anywhere, Ryou," said Marik clearly. He frowned deeper. How strange. This was not a normal nightmare. It seemed as though Ryou's conciousness was somewhere else, in another world...
...in another realm.
"Bakura!" Ryou suddenly cried, clutching Marik so hard that Marik was slightly marvelled at Ryou's strength. "No, Bakura! Please don't hurt Marik...! I'll do anything...just please don't hurt Marik!"
Oh...Bakura.
Growling angrily, Marik wrenched himself from Ryou, and shook Ryou vigorously. Dammit...it was Bakura. Bakura was giving Ryou these terrible dreams, these horrible hallucinations. Growling again, this time more quieter, Marik raised his eyes, though not his face, to look at his surroundings. He had used Shadow Magic to make the room look very enticing, but perhaps that was a mistake...
...chuckling to himself, Marik quickly evaporated the Shadows, leaving the room the way it was originally.
Don't try, Bakura. One day I'll kill you. I promise you that.
Ryou was struggling subconciously, his fingers just barely skimming by Marik's skin as he desperately reached to grasp the Darkness again.
"Marik...Marik..."
Hurriedly, Marik brought Ryou back to him, his arms engulfing the smaller boy into his chest once again, this time tighter and more snug.
"Shh...it's okay, Ryou. I'm here. There's nothing to be afraid of."
"Ma-Marik..."
"Shhh..." Marik interrupted softly, rubbing circles upon Ryou's back as the Light timidly slipped his arms back around Marik's waist. "It's okay. Bakura's gone. I'm here."
Slowly, the crying ceased. Ryou's chest heaved for breath, but Marik was still hugging him protectively, for he didn't dare let Ryou go just yet. Soon, he felt the Light cease his sobbing, and gently laid Ryou's face upon his shoulder, so that the Light could breathe.
So that was why Ryou was so sick. He was not only just worried, scared, thinking about Marik. Bakura must've punished him, made him hallucinate his fears right in front of his eyes. Marik growled. The thief would pay for that stunt. Pay dearly.
He felt Ryou's breathing turn regular again, though the Light was still murmuring his name. Slowly, he brought Ryou back down to the bed, never breaking the embrace, and stroaked his hair until there was utter silence. Marik sighed, kissing Ryou's face, easing Ryou of his worries and causing him to form a small smile in his sleep. Sighing again, Marik looked up towards the ceiling, his face in a grim but determined smirk.
Someone was going to die soon.
"Dammit!" muttered Bakura angrily his vision of the bedroom blanked out. "Dammit!"
"What?" asked Malik sleepily from the floor. Groaning sleepily, Malik pushed himself up, and stumbled towards the thief. "What is it?"
"Nothing," snapped Bakura, frowning. Idiot, weakling hikari no baka! Actually mumbling out his pleads and cries for anyone to hear...! Now it was possible his cover was blown, since Marik had almost instantly made the Shadows evaporate.
Malik frowned as he leaned his cheek against Bakura's back, his arms circling tightly around the thief's waist from behind.
"What's going on?" Malik muttered softly, wishing he could go back to sleep, wishing Bakura would be there next to him.
"Nothing," snapped Bakura again. He hmphed, looking away, but almost instantly he heard Malik chuckle softy behind him.
"What's wrong, Bakura?" asked Malik sweetly. "Is there something I can help you with? Make you feel better?" Bakura blinked when he felt Malik's hands slowly slide downwards and beneath his pants. There was almost instantly a sharp pain, then a welcoming pleasure that made him shudder uncontrollably...
...and uncharacteristically.
"Malik!"
"Oops," smiled Malik sweetly. "But didn't that make you feel better, Baku?"
Smirking, Bakura swiftly pulled Malik's fingers away from his privates, and managed to turn around, planting a kiss on the Egyptian's lips.
"I'm in control," reminded Bakura as he flicked his tongue across Malik's. "Not you."
Malik giggled. "Whatever you say." Of course, there was a tint of mischief in his voice. "Whatever you say."
"Yes," smirked Bakura, thrusting him back and promptly straddling Malik's waist, not ever breaking the kiss. "Whatever I say."
Laughing, Malik broke the kiss, finally, holding up his hands. He looked fully awake now.
"What happened?" he asked, trying to get Bakura's naughty hands away from him. "Come on, tell me."
"Will you give me what I want?" asked Bakura evilly, stroaking Malik's cheeks.
Sighing, Malik smiled, and nodded.
"Fine, but only if you tell me the entire thing."
"Only if you give me the entire thing also," smirked Bakura back. Malik sighed, still grinning, and swiftly grabbed Bakura's wrists.
"Tell me first, or I'll throw you off and you won't get anything."
"Ooh, rebelling, I like that," smirked Bakura, but he slid off all the same. Malik smiled, sitting up, and scooted closer to the thief.
"You do realize I love you, right?"
"Of course I do," smiled Bakura back, this time a geniune smile. Gods, he hated himself for actually being so weak...but if it was Malik, why not? "And I love you too."
"Aw," smirked Malik as he leaned against Bakura's chest. "So tell me...what made you so upset just now?"
Sighing, Bakura leaned back, keeping his promise. Absently, he ran his fingers through Malik's sandy hair, fingering the earings that adorned the Egyptian's lobe.
"Your yami certainly has a lot of patience," Bakura said finally. "If not tolerance."
"What do you mean?" asked Marik, suspicion edging into his voice.
"Well," said Bakura off-handedly, "if you were crying in the middle of the night asking and begging for my help, I'd slap you in the face and wake you up immediately."
"But what did Marik do?" asked Malik, frowning. Bakura snorted, smirking.
"He is certainly very patient...held Ryou in his arms until my hikari had calmed down enough to go back to sleep."
There was a silence from Malik.
"You...you what!" demanded Malik angrily. "Bakura, you spied-what the hell?"
"Your yami used Shadow magic to create the perfect setting for..." Bakura smirked, "...for what we usually do every night. And then he actually seduced my hikari...and of course, you know I can't let them go unpunished for that."
"How did you punish Marik?" asked Malik suspiciously. Bakura threw his head back in laughter.
"I couldn't torment him, Malik-kun. I'm not connected with him. But, Ryou, on the other hand..."
"You promised to let me handle him!" said Malik indignantly. "You broke your promise! You promised that you would only torment my darker half, not your lighter half!"
"Calm down," said Bakura irratibly. "It was nothing. I couldn't penetrate deep enough to actually hurt him too badly. Those three days were most entertaining though..."
"Bakura!" growled Malik angrily. "You promised!"
Rolling his eyes, Bakura threw himself back ontop of Malik, fixing his lips upon the darker Light's.
"I know I did," said Bakura softly. "But sometimes, I have to break promises to keep promises."
"That doesn't make sense," said Malik stoutly as he watched Bakura run his slender fingers down his bare chest. Bakura sighed.
"I can't destroy Marik for you," Bakura explained patiently, "unless I destroy Ryou."
"Yes you can!" glared Malik, sadly. "I don't want Ryou hurt!"
"And yet you want the most gruesome death for your own darker half," said Bakura, as though one would speak to a tramautized two-year-old. "There is no other way if you want your darker half to suffer."
"But he doesn't love Ryou!"
Bakura shrugged. "You never know. I love you but I'd still slap you in the face if you kept on crying on me in your sleep."
Malik looked up, knowing full well that Bakura did not mean that. He sighed, rolling his eyes, grasping Bakura's wrist tenderly and reaching up to soothe the thief's face.
"Come on, Bakura. Just leave Ryou alone for now. It's just not nice."
"I'm not nice," said Bakura coolly, but closed his eyes at Malik's touch. Gently Malik brushed the thief's white hair away from his face, noticing the grave expression Bakura wore.
"Just do it for me, Baku?" asked Malik softly. "Ryou's such a nice person to me. Do you really think he loves Marik? I really doubt it. Who would love anyone like him?"
"Who would love anyone like me?" pointed Bakura out, smirking again. "You do."
"Why are you so convinced that Ryou loves Marik?" asked Malik, tracing Bakura's lips with his finger.
"Because he does," said Bakura simply. "And also..." He leaned down, his own lips brushing against Malik's, white bangs softly soothing across Malik's nose, "...I want us...to be happy."
Malik blinked in surprise. Pretty sappy for the King of Thieves.
"Us..to be happy?"
Bakura smiled, kissing the Keeper lightly on the lips. "The Pharaoh's taken one too many things away from me, and I'm not going to let him take away you."
Malik smiled, kissing him back. "You're so sappy sometimes, you know?"
"What do you like better?" smirked Bakura, nipping hard on Malik's bottom lip. "The sappy me, or the horny me?"
Malik snickered. "Not going to answer that."
Bakura snickered. "Well then, I shall let you decide then."
Before Malik could utter another word, the tomb robber than engulfed his lips with Malik's own.
Sex in the Shadow Realm. Who ever knew?
He had such a wonderful dream.
It was a wonderful dream, a beautiful, blissful dream. Ryou wanted to replay it again and again, never waking up. It was so wonderful...he had dreamed he was finally Marik's, that he had finally gotten through to Marik, and actually slept with him. That part still nerved Ryou a bit, but it didn't matter...he was Marik's, and it was all that mattered.
...plus...in his dream...after he told Marik he loved him...Marik had said, "I love you" back.
It was such a wonderful dream.
Murmuring happily, Ryou snuggled to himself. What a happy dream..
...blearily, Ryou opened his eyes
..wait a minute...
...what was dream...and what was reality!
From beside him, Marik stirred, his bronze chest bare, his strong arms wrapped around Ryou's torso protectively. Groaning softly, Marik turned towards Ryou, cracking his heavenly lavender eyes open. When he realized Ryou was awake, and gaping at him, he smirked.
"Good morning, Ryou."
Ryou didn't say anything, simply gaping. It was reality. He did sleep with Marik! Marik did say he loved him!
Gently, Marik rested his finger underneath Ryou's chin, sufficiently closing Ryou's surprised lips, and sealed a kiss upon them.
"Feeling better this morning, Ryou? Or did I tire you out?"
Ryou grinned, closing his eyes in happiness. Laughing, he threw himself against Marik, clutching tight in a sleepy embrace.
"Thank you so much, Marik-kun..."
Snickering, Marik ran his fingers through Ryou's hair. "My pleasure."
Beaming still, Ryou yawned, snuggling closer. "Oh, Marikku.."
Marik blinked. Stroaking Ryou's cheeks, he coaxed the angelic face upwards, blinking still. "What did you call me?"
Ryou blushed, and almost instantly averted his gaze, as though he had offended Marik. "I'm sorry -"
"No, no," smiled Marik, kissing Ryou's lips again. "What did you call me?"
"M-Mariku..." replied Ryou softly, timidly returning the kiss. Marik grinned.
"I like it."
He felt Ryou's lips form into another happy smile, and promptly thrusted his tongue down Ryou's throat. Ryou gave out a small moan, allowing himself to be thrown back onto his back, as Marik's dominating kiss conquered his thoughts, his senses.
When they broke away, Ryou was wide awake, smiling as though he had not seen a brighter day. Marik loved that smile. Loved how it looked, how it tasted, how it complimented Ryou's heavenly features...
"You seem much happier today," Marik complimented, as he sat up, Ryou still in his arms. Ryou closed his eyes, smiling still, nuzzling into Marik's chest.
"I am," he said softly. "Thank you so much, Marik."
"Say thank you again, and I swear I'll turn into a softie," grumbled Marik good-naturedly. He felt Ryou stifle a giggle, and smirking, kissed the top of Ryou's head. "You had quite the nightmare last night. May I ask why you were clutching at me so hard that I couldn't breathe?"
Suddenly, he felt Ryou stiffen, and cocked an eyebrow. He stroaked at Ryou's hair, comforting him , persuading him that it was alright.
"You...you heard?" asked Ryou softly. Oh, how fast his heart sank. He hadn't told Marik about Bakura yet, afraid that he would make Marik mad, angry... was Marik going to leave him now, because he didn't want anything to do with Bakura? Sadly, Ryou tightened his grip on Marik's chest, hoping with all his heart that Marik would not pull away, would not snap at him.
But instead, he felt Marik's arms tighten around his shoulders, and Marik's face against his head. Blinking, Ryou looked up, and saw that Marik's lavender eyes had turned back into amethyst, but they were not directed at Ryou. They stared off determinedly in the distance, as though confident and assuring.
"M-Marik..?"
"I heard, yes," said Marik shortly. He pulled Ryou closer to him in his arms, and felt a single tear drop onto his chest. "Let me guess...Bakura has been tormenting you, hasn't he? Made you witness things you don't want to see, forced you to watch murder scenes in front of your eyes? And let me guess again...that's why you were always so terrified when I wasn't around, wasn't it? Wasn't it?"
"Marik, please," whispered Ryou quietly, his voice cracking slightly. "I meant to tell you...but I was so scared, I was so worried...I was so afraid that you'd leave if I did. Please..."
"Hush," said Marik, brushing Ryou's tears away, though he was still staring into the distance. "I'm not going to leave."
There was a small silence, before he felt Ryou's face look back up again.
"You...you aren't?" He could clearly hear the relief and surprise in Ryou's voice. Very clearly.
"No," said Marik simply, drawing Ryou tighter. "No, I'm not, Ryou. If anything, I will make sure Bakura will pay for it." He finally directed his gaze at Ryou, who shrank away slightly at the ferociousness in Marik's amethyst eyes. "Don't cry. Nothing will hurt you again, after I'm done with Bakura. I promise you that."
"But M-Marik..." whispered Ryou softly. "Bakura...Bakura will kill you. He will."
"Kill me?" repeated Marik, eyebrows threatening to join his hairline. No one killed Marik, least of all a Japanese-adapting white-haired albino. He snorted. "You're actually worried about me, Ryou? I thought you were worried about Bakura hurting you. Because everytime you're left alone, you're always crying, whimpering, and everytime I'm there, you stop. You didn't really love me, did you? You just wanted my protection. You're actually worried about me?"
"Oh Marik," breathed Ryou. He looked up, gently tracing Marik's face with his fingers tenderly. "Oh Marik... That's not true. Of course I worried about you. Everytime I was alone, I was afraid that...that you'd left me, that you didn't care about me, and that Bakura would kill you once I let my gaurd down. I was afraid that everytime you were gone from my sight, that would be the last time I'd see you. And I can't live without you Marik. I'd rather die first."
Marik blinked. He frowned at Ryou's gentle face, which was now not scared, not afraid, but firm and serious. He meant it. Slowly, Ryou averted his gaze downwards, a sad note to his voice when he spoke.
"I was just...so afraid that you'd be gone. I never felt like this to anyone. I cared so much for you, and it just hurt, it scared me when you weren't there. I'd feel hollow, like a true vessel, when you're not there." He closed his eyes, turning away slightly. When he spoke again, his voice was extremely soft, barely above a whisper, as though he was fighting back tears. "I can...understand it...if you don't want to see me again...if you don't want anything to do with me...it's understandable. I deserve it. I didn't tell you...I deceived you...I don't deserve to be lying here next to you. I don't deserve to have your care."
Marik's heart had somehow swam up to his throat again. His eyes softened at Ryou's pale, shivering form, his quaking shoulders, his trembling figure. Oh, what a beautiful, gentle Light. Ryou really did love him. Marik sighed silently, shaking his head. He continued to gaze at Ryou's trembling form, feeling Ryou's tears almost leak down his own heart.
"I do love you Marik," Ryou said softly, his voice breathless with fear and sorrow. "I do. I was just...so scared that if I told you...you were a yami, a Darkness. I know that love is for weaklings, that it doesn't exist for spirits like you. I was afraid that if I told you...you'd scorn me for being weak, and you'd leave me."
He saw Ryou bow his head, his back entirely to Marik, snowy white locks spilling about his pale, shaking shoulders. "I know I'm a weakling. I know I am. I was so happy to feel special, to be with you, because it made me feel whole. Before I met you, I always felt empty, weak, pathetic, because Bakura told me I was. I was nothing. And then..."
His voice cracked, and Marik watched him gasp and swallow, before continuing. His heart wrenched at Ryou's sorrow.
"...I do love you, Marik. I would die for you. I know you don't care for me back, I know you can't love, and I accept it. It was foolish of me to do so, but I did, because it's love." Marik watched in pained bewilderment as he saw Ryou softly begin to cry, sobbing into the lonely comfort of his own arms.
Marik's heart was doing everything on its own accord. It sank, it swum, it tore itself to bits and drowned itself in his hurt emotion. He watched, not knowing exactly what to do, as Ryou's shoulders heaved and fell rapidly, as he sobbed silently into his hands.
"I'm sorry, Marik," he heard Ryou whisper, words broken with forlorn tears. "I'm so sorry."
That was the final straw for Marik. His heart lurched, thumping madly against his ribcage. Almost forcefully, he wrapped his arms around Ryou's trembling form, turning the Light around and drawing him tight into an embrace. He heard Ryou choke momentarily in shock, before the Light buried his face into Marik's chest, sobbing hard.
"Shh," whispered Marik, stroaking Ryou's hair comfortingly. "Shh...don't be sorry, Ryou. What's there to be sorry about?" He gently planted a kiss on Ryou's cheek, closing his own eyes. "Shh...it's okay. I'm not going to leave. Why would I? I did all this for you, I took care of you, and I protected you. I saved your life numerous of times, and I nursed you back to health. Why would I leave after all that?"
He felt Ryou sob harder into his chest, his entire frame shaking like mad.
"B-because...I thought you couldn't love...I thought I couldn't be anything more to you." Ryou's cries muffled, his tears hot against Marik's chest. "I was just so scared...I didn't think you would ever come back, I didn't think you cared enough to-to-"
"To what?" asked Marik softly, though he knew what was coming. How did Ryou do this to him? Was it really what Marik thought it was?
"To love me back," Ryou whispered.
Marik shook his head angrily, frustration spilling as he wrenched Ryou away from him, so that he could look straight into those chocolate eyes. When Ryou cried harder, burying his face in his hands, Marik roughly shook him, demanding silently that Ryou should look up. When Ryou finally did, Marik narrowed his eyes, though Ryou could see...that they weren't the angry, murderous amethyst, but a pained, frustrated lavender.
"Ryou," said Marik angrily, shaking him again. "Don't think that. You are not a weakling. You are not a toy. You're Ryou. How could you think that I didn't care? I brought you back from the Shadows, I cared for you, I never left your side. Ryou, don't cry. You're everything to me, okay? You're everything to me. Why else would I go through everything that I had done, just for you? Cared for you, nursed you, saved you...if I didn't care, I would've walked out the door when you cried, I would've broken my promise immediately and only come back if I wanted lust. But I didn't, Ryou. I didn't. Doesn't that mean anything to you? Or was all my work in vain?"
Ryou sobbed harder, realization striking him like lighting does across the sky. He hurled himself back into Marik, wrapping his arms tightly around the Darkness, sobbing into his chest again. Defeated, Marik wrapped his arms around Ryou again, stroaking his hair, hushing him softly.
"Shh...Ryou..."
"You..." he felt Ryou swallow as the Light forced himself to look back up into the Darkness's eyes."You don't have to ...but...can you...can you please say it? Even if you don't mean it, Marik, please at least lie, tell me what I want to hear."
Closing his eyes, Marik softly kissed Ryou's lips.
"I love you."
He felt Ryou gasp slightly, before Marik quickly brought Ryou back into him. Ryou's crying had momentarily stopped, his eyes wide as he replayed those words over and over again.
"Shh...it's okay, Ryou. I promise you I won't leave. I promise I will stay here by your side. Don't cry, okay? You're not weak, you're not a toy. You're not nothing. You're everything to me." He sighed when he felt Ryou resume crying again, though this time, it was less pained, and more calming, as though he was crying out of happiness. "Don't be afraid, my Light. You deserve everything that I can give you. I will not let Bakura do anything to you. I won't let anything happen to you. I won't leave."
He felt Ryou bow his head again, resting it on his shoulders. Tears were still leaking down his cheeks, but when he spoke again, there was no sorrow in his voice.
"Thank you...Mariku."
Marik smiled, hugging Ryou tighter. He sighed, looking up towards the ceiling as he rubbed soothing circles on Ryou's back, calming him, easing him.
I have gone soft.
Ryou's crying had ceased soon after the sun had reached its mid-day point. Smiling, Marik had went off to take a shower, bombarding himself for being so soft. But as he watched poor Ryou attempt to stand despite the pain, he couldn't help but sigh, and nor could he resist the urge to catch Ryou in his arms. The strong Light had shook his head, determined to do it on his own, but after about three steps managed to lose his footing and collapsed hard onto the ground.
"Maybe you ought to stay in bed today," Marik commented, smirking, after Ryou's fifth try. He smiled. Of course Ryou wasn't weak...he had a strong determination in him, a spark of light, though small to anyone it may seem, could never be distinguished.
"No," shook Ryou, biting his lip as he tried to stand again. Stupid, flaming pain -
Marik caught him again, laughing. "Let yourself go, Ryou. I can hardly expect you to walk after the wonders I did last night."
Ryou laughed, still trying to stand. "Maybe that's why I'm trying to," he said, a small smile forming into a smirk.
Marik laughed again. "What, impress me?"
Ryou giggled, hugging Marik tightly as he tried to walk. Stupid - flaming - pain...!
"Listen," said Marik firmly. "Just sit in bed, okay? I'm going to take a shower."
Ryou sighed, and shook his head. "No. I can do this on my own, thanks. You take a shower."
Marik raised an eyebrow, and hesitantly stepped away from the Light. Ryou had grit his teeth and was holding the headboard for support, but he still gave Marik a smile and gestured him towards the shower.
"Don't let me keep you."
Marik raised his eyebrow further, before taking a step towards the adjacent bathroom. Shrugging, he stretched, and walked in. Before closing the door however, he looked back, and saw Ryou sit onto the bed, a determined look on his face. Laughing to himself, Marik stepped into the shower, and allowed his thoughts to swim in his mind as the water did his body.
He was getting soft. And he was pissed at himself for it. But he couldn't help it. Everytime he looked at Ryou, whether the boy was wirthing beneath him or even simply reading, Marik felt a longing to feel him in his arms again, a wish to kiss his lips. Of course, he could just kill Ryou off and be done with it if it was really bothering him...no, that was a ludicrous thought. He could never hurt Ryou in anyway. It'd hurt him back, thousand times worse.
It was an odd pain to watch Ryou when he was hurt. Marik usually liked pain, as most Darknesses did, but it wasn't the pain he was used to. It wasn't the licking-tasty-metallic-blood pain, it was a deeper one, one that couldn't heal without leaving a ten-inch deep scar behind.
After shaking his wet hair and draping the towel around his shoulders, Marik dressed, and walked back into the bedroom. Ryou had finally seemed to have gotten used to the persistent pain, and was limping slightly as he made the bed.
Marik frowned. Now that he remembered...this was his room's, not Ryou's. Though as much as he didn't want to, Marik knew that he had to bring Ryou back to his own room, before anyone noticed he was gone.
He raised an eyebrow. Ryou couldn't walk that far! Heck, he couldn't even get to the door without stumbling.
Marik smirked. Well, then...
Blowing his hair out of his eyes, Ryou stood back up, wincing slightly as pain shot through the bottom of his torso again. It hurt even to wear his jeans, but...he shrugged. Cocking his head and trying his best to set the bed in a better way, but as he tried to step back to admire the affect, the pain shot up again and his vision blanked out for a moment.
In an instant, Marik was at his side, holding him in his slightly moist arms.
"Rest," Marik said firmly, a smirk playing upon his lips. "I'm not going to be here forever catching you, you know."
"Marik, I'm fine," Ryou sighed, trying to get up, but if anything, it made the pain worse. Snickering, Marik picked Ryou up, regarding him with an eyebrow.
"I'll bring you back to your room," Marik said, heading for the door. "I honestly doubt you can get there on your own, anyways. A lot of people here are more inquisitive than you are." Like the Pharoah, for one.
"Marik," sighed Ryou again, but he obliged, and settled comfortably in Marik's arms. The door slid open, and Marik promptly slid down the hall, making sure that no one was around. When he finally had reached Ryou's door, he opened it with the code, and slid in.
The room was dark, peaceful. He gently laid Ryou down on the bed, and stood back, watching Ryou sit up.
"Rest," said Marik simply. "I have other business to attend to."
Ryou looked up at him. "What business?"
"Nothing of your concern," Marik said off-handedly. He noted Ryou's doubtful look. "Ishtal business," he informed bluntly.
"Oh," said Ryou softly, nodding. He looked back up again, concern in his eyes. "You're coming back, right?"
"Of course I am," sighed Marik, kissing him on the lips. "Ra, do I have to tell you that everytime I go?"
Smiling, Ryou returned the kiss. "Just checking." He drew away, sweeping Marik's hair out of his eyes. "I'll be waiting for you."
Marik smiled, kissing Ryou forcefully on the lips this time. Ryou squealed and beamed, allowing Marik entrance as their tongues twisted and explored each other's mouths.
"I'll be back," Marik said firmly, and turned to leave. "I might not be back for some time though, so get some rest. I actually doubt you're fully recovered, since I tired you out so much last night. The door will be unlocked, in case you need to come find me, but that is the only reason why it's unlocked. If anyone comes in, you know what to do. So sleep. I promise I'll be back."
"Thanks, Marik," sighed Ryou, waving. Marik gave him a devious smirk, and shut the door. Ryou smiled. Marik may love him, but it didn't stop him from being brusque, blunt, and somtimes cold. He still had that firm, dangerous stance, but for some odd reason, Ryou admired it. Sighing again, he slipped under the covers, and snuggled into his pillow. Marik had made him happy. Happier than he had been most of his life. Happier, in fact, since Bakura had become known to be his yami. Ryou opened his eyes, watching the door.
Oh, how he missed Marik already. If anything, Ryou wished Marik was his yami, not Malik's. Marik had told him how much he loathed his lighter half, which was one of the reasons why Ryou had not dared say "I love you" to the Darkness. Malik, in Marik's eyes, was pathetic. He was rebellious, bold, stupid, and impatient, like a child. A gullible, easy child, that depended on the love of his adopted brother, Rishid.
Ryou sighed again. Malik was a good person. He couldn't see any difference between Malik and himself. But...he sighed again. Marik...somehow, Marik cared for him. And wouldn't it be ironic, if Bakura cared for Malik? Bakura had always liked the stronger type.
Ryou frowned. He remembered how Bakura used to compare him and Malik, something that Ryou had resignedly ignored completely. Bakura liked Malik because...because Malik was stronger, he knew how to take care of himself, he shared the same interest. Malik was strong.
Marik had never said Malik was strong. All he said was that Malik was impatient, and stupid, who didn't comprehend the second consequences and simply purged on ahead, recklessly. Ryou nodded. He could see why Marik thought that. Malik was a lot like Bakura, in some ways. Though his style was different, both he and Bakura liked grand openings, long speeches, vengeance and hate. And while Marik may seem like that at first glance, Ryou had noticed the Darkness was actually a quite, silent sort of person; he'd only talk when needed. Bakura blabbered on and on...
Smiling at the thought, Ryou closed his eyes, and slept. He felt safe. Marik promised that Bakura wouldn't harm him. He promised.
Slowly, Ryou drifted off to sleep.
Marik was angry.
Not at Ryou. No one could get angry at Ryou, except for Bakura. Marik was angry at himself for being soft, for being weak, for being everything he and Bakura both despised. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth. He could not be weak! He couldn't! He couldn't afford to be weak! Damn him, what was wrong with him? He had actually said "I love you". A despicable action all on its own!
He felt vulnerable, weak. Ryou's face kept on drifting across his mind, warming his heart with the memory of his happy smile. That smile...! That smile alone could render Marik useless and putty!
Yet Marik did not hate Ryou. He cared for the Light too much to ever even fathom parting with him. Everytime Ryou was in pain, Marik felt it was his duty to ease him, to calm him, to comfort him .Everytime Ryou was happy, Marik prided himself that it was he who brought the young boy joy. Every time Ryou cried, it tore at Marik's heart, ripping at its conscience. Everytime Ryou...
Marik shook his head. Ryou. Such a fragile, gentle, unfamiliar beauty all on his own. A true representative of everything Marik never knew. But Ra-dammit, he couldn't lose himself now!
What did it have to take...
...for Marik to feel superior again?
Not in the sense of superior to Ryou...but...in a sense that he was familiar with. A Darkness's sense. Something that could garauntee a yami's respect, if not all of the darker halves of the world.
Ryou's face kept on drifting his mind, smiling, beaming, waving his hand merrily. Marik smiled in spite of himself. Dammit, if Bakura was so dense to see what a beautiful angel Ryou was, then by all means, Marik would simply take the advantage and give Ryou what Bakura could not.
Or what Bakura didn't want to, anyways.
What did it have to take now though...
...for Marik to feel superior?
Closing his eyes, he leaned against the wall, thinking hard.
What was the one thing that made him feel superior?
Opening his eyes, he smirked.
Killing people made him feel superior. And who better to kill, than Rishid "Ishtal"?
Smirking, Marik walked down the hallway, towards the hospital wing, unhooking the Rod as he went. Rishid was right among the top of Marik's hit list, competing with someone Marik would rather long to kill a horrible and grisly death..
..but then again, you couldn't kill a spirit.
Ryou awoke from a crack of light. He was about to mutter "Marik" when he realized that the figure standing in the doorway was thin, and curvacious. Blinking, he squinted in the darkness...
...Anzu!
What was Anzu doing here? Panicking, Ryou quickly shut his eyes, pretending to be unconcious. But what really scared him was...
..Anzu was holding the Millennium Ring.
Ryou's breath was heavily laboured. Not the Millennium Ring, please not the Millennium Ring! Bracing himself, Ryou squeezed his eyes shut, and as he felt the Ring being placed on the pillow next to him...
...he was ripped of his control from his body, thrown back into his soul room...
"No...please," he whimpered, cowering.
"Urusei, baka," snapped the familiar voice, laughing evilly. Ryou dared a peek at his soul room door, and had shuddered when he saw the familiar silouhette of his mirror darker half.
Bakura was back.
"Please...Bakura..."
"Still as weak as you always were," sighed Bakura mockingly, shaking his head. "I was hoping yami no Malik was going to bash some sense into you...he's worse than I am, isn't he? No? Oh, what a pity."
"Please, Bakura..." Ryou pleaded. "Please don't hurt Marik..."
"I keep my promises, baka," said Bakura coldly, as he strutted forward and stood in front of Ryou's cowering form. "And I did, didn't I? How did you like those three days, when I made you watch Marik die in front of your eyes? How did it feel, baka?" He smirked again, grabbing Ryou's hair and wrenching him upwards. Ryou cried out in pain. The same hair that had been so lovingly carressed by Marik's strong, soothing fingers were now cruelly in the insane grip of Bakura's porcelain, skeleton hands. "And how did it feel, Ryou, when you found a new, 'aibou'?"
Ryou gasped. Bakura had seen!
Laughing, Bakura threw Ryou into the wall, throwing his head back as he watched Ryou wince and cry out in pain. "Oh, hikari. Feel all big and proud now, just because you have Marik telling you you're something? So naive. Did you honestly think that Marik was telling the truth? He doesn't know you, Ryou. I do. And you're nothing. Nothing at all...nothing but a host, a vessel, an empty husk with no mind of its own."
"NO!" screamed Ryou angrily, thrashing his head. "No! I'm not! I'm something! I'm Ryou!"
"And Ryou is nothing," finished Bakura, laughing still, grabbing Ryou's wrist. "Really, Ryou, circular logic? Never knew you had even cells in your pathetic brain to think of it." He gave Ryou a feral grin, watching in sheer sadistic pleasure as Ryou began to cry, trying his best to wrench free from his darker half's grip. "Really now. I would've thought at least Marik would've hit you, if not murder you. He didn't, did he? The only pain he caused was what's down there."
Ryou gasped, scrambling at his other half's cold, hard fingers.
"You've been so used to the warm touches, the tender kisses," continued Bakura, laughing. "I assure you, Ryou, once I'm done with Marik, you will never feel those again. In fact, you will feel nothing. Nothing except the pain I will inflict upon your very soul."
"NO, Bakura, PLEASE!" Ryou screamed, falling to his knees, begging. "Please! I'll do anything, please! Just don't hurt Marik!"
"You want a taste, baka?" smirked Bakura evilly as he tightened his grip on Ryou's wrist. "Want a taste of your fate after I'm done with Marik? Why not?"
Ryou had barely enough time to realize what Bakura was doing when the thief had thrusted his fist into Ryou's stomach. Crying out, Ryou didn't have time to duck as Bakura then threw another percarious punch towards his temple. Ryou's body jerked violently against Bakura's grip, crashing mercilessly into the wall of his soul room. Laughing, Bakura then thrusted his knee upwards, connecting with Ryou's stomach again. The Light cried out, falling onto his knees, nursing his side with his free hand.
"Ba-Bakura-please..."
Shaking his head, Bakura drew his free hand back, and plunged his inhuman nails into Ryou's scar on his forearm. Ryou screamed in pain as the scar reopened, fresh new blood swimming in deep torents of rivers down his arm. He watched in horror as Bakura smirked again, and lapped up the blood, his tongue rough and harsh against Ryou's sensitive cut.
While Ryou was distracted, Bakura threw his lighter half to the ground. Ryou whimpered, nursing his arm, groaning as he realized his side was aching terribly. He cried out again when he felt Bakura wrench his arm behind his back, and when he felt Bakura's knee clasping upon it on a terrible angle.
"So innocent, hikari," said Bakura, his voice grating and cold. He watched Ryou squirm madly beneath him, tears streaking his cheeks as Ryou fought to get the thief off. Smirking, Bakura increased the pressure upon Ryou's bleeding arm, and Ryou screamed out in pain.
"Bakura, please, don't!" Ryou screamed. "Please! You can torture me and hurt me all you want, but please don't hurt Marik! Don't hurt Marik!"
"You never know when to say the right thing, do you, Ryou?" laughed Bakura, increasing the pressure once again. Ryou screamed again, pounding his fist on the soul room floor to battle the pain. Smirking, Bakura released his grip on Ryou's arm, and got up, but before Ryou could even attempt to pick himself up, the thief had stabbed his foot into Ryou's spine. Sobbing, Ryou gingerly wrapped his arms around his head.
"Please Bakura...I promise I'll be your vessel, your host, your anything, as long as you don't hurt Marik! I promise I'll fall under your command and do anything you wish, just please please don't hurt Marik!"
"I can't believe it," Bakura spat, grinding his heel into Ryou's spine. "You're so weak, hikari. I've been telling you over and over. Do you really think Marik cares for you? Loves you? Do you really think that? Yami no Malik is worse than I am, hikari, and if I'm not capable of love, what do you think Marik is!"
Ryou merely sobbed, shaking his head, knowing it wasn't true. Growling, Bakura grabbed his throat and threw him into the wall.Ryou opened his eyes, and shut them almost immediately when he saw Bakura rear back -
"BAKURA!" yelled a voice.
The blow never came. When Ryou weakly opened his eyes again, a blurry vision of Bakura's clenched fist was stopped just millimeters from his face. Promptly, Bakura dropped him, allowing Ryou's battered body to crumble at his feet.
The next minute, Ryou felt firm hands gingerly turn him over, resting him against the wall. They weren't as strong as Marik's, but they were almost just as soothing...
"It's okay, Ryou. Just relax."
Ryou's chest was heaving, gasping for breath; his bleeding arm felt twisted and stinging with shocking pain, and his stomach and torso were bruised and aching. Weakly, Ryou opened his eyes when he felt arms bringing him to someone's chest. His weak, blurry gaze was met with pastel lavender eyes.
"M-Marik...?"
"No," shook Malik, wiping Ryou's hair out of his eyes. "It's Malik." He felt Ryou's head loll against him, breathing raggedly. "It's okay...I promise Bakura won't hurt you again." Ryou closed his eyes, feeling his friend gently lay him onto the ground, and slipping a pillow underneath his head. "Just rest. I'll go deal with Bakura."
Gasping, Ryou blinked his eyes a few times; he saw a fuzzy image of feet; one was hidden with black pants, the other pair wearing sneakers and demin jeans. He weakly looked up and saw Malik yelling angrily at Bakura, who was standing back, arms folded over his chest, and merely giving Malik a cool look.
"I TOLD YOU TO LET ME HANDLE RYOU!" Malik bellowed.
"My hikari," said Bakura simply. "He will never learn his lesson to obey me if he doesn't fear me."
"HE FEARS YOU ENOUGH!" yelled Malik furiously. "I TOLD YOU TO-"
"I don't go under your orders, Malik," snapped Bakura, turning away. Malik's face contracted in an expression of hurt anger.
"But..don't you love me?"
Bakura sighed, and turned around. He saw Ryou looking up, and promptly kicked him over, so that Ryou could not see either of them. Ryou whimpered when he fell onto his weaker arm, blood soaking his shirt.
"BAKURA!"
"Let's go, Malik," Ryou heard Bakura snap. "I do things my way. I do love you, but it does not mean that I'm your lap dog. Now come on. If you want me to stop hurting Ryou, then we have to destroy Marik first. I assure you, after Marik's dead, Ryou will no longer need or have any incentive for me to hurt him like this."
"Bakura," Ryou heard Malik sigh sadly.
"Come on," was Bakura's cold reply. "I don't want you bossing me around, Malik. Do you hear me?"
Sighing, Malik frowned at Bakura, who waved the grimace away and strode out of the soul room.
"I'll be waiting, Malik."
When Bakura disappeared from sight, Malik quickly ran to the fallen Ryou, and turned him over.
"You going to be okay?" Malik asked, knowing his question was stupid. But it was all he could say for now, anyways. Weakly, Ryou nodded, swallowing for breath. Blowing his hair out of his eyes, Malik gently ran his fingers against Ryou's wounds and almost drew back when Ryou yelped loudly in pain.
"Sorry about that," Malik muttered. "Look, I'm sorry, Ryou, but there's nothing I can do for you now. I don't know why Bakura's like this but..."
Weakly, Ryou had ignored Malik's reassurance, and grabbed Malik's wrist.
"Please Malik...don't let him hurt Marik."
Malik blinked. "But Ryou...you're kidding me. You actually love Marik?"
Ryou didn't reply, but merely looked up with pained eyes. "Please don't let him hurt Marik."
"But...Ryou..." Malik stuttered. Of course they had to hurt Marik...after all the pain that Marik had caused his lighter side, of course they had to...
"MALIK!" yelled Bakura's voice. "Come on, you're going to miss the fun!"
Sighing, Malik quickly got up, and gently eased Ryou's grip from his arm.
"I'll do what I can."
And with that, the Egyptian hikari turned his back, and left Ryou's soul room. Ryou gasped silently for breath as he watched his soul room swirl into a mass of dark blackness; it resembled a cell of some sort, a dingy cell, and where his door used to be, was instead a row of cold, metal bars. In front of it, though, Ryou could see everything from his Darkness's eyes, from getting off the bed, to looking around.
"Like my talents, Ryou-baka?" taunted Bakura's voice from the darkness. "Now you can watch me heedlessly end your lover's life...right in front of your eyes. And what better way, to tell you you're weak, if you can't even stand up to save the one you love?"
Bakura's laugh echoed in the cold cell as Ryou, heartbroken, attempted to crawl his way towards the bars of the cell. He heard Bakura laugh again before the room was dangerously titled, and almost instantly Ryou was thrown against the cold metal bars, his already quite battered body only recieving more bruises. Weakly, he grasped the bar with his free arm, his other dangling limply at his side as he forlornly rested his face against the cell.
Tears leaked down his face as Bakura gave another laugh. Heartbroken and crying silently, Ryou closed his eyes, sobs wracking sadly against his throat.
I'm sorry, Marik, he thought. I'm so sorry. I don't deserve to be the one you care for. I thought I could save you from Bakura's grip, but he was right, I'm too weak. I couldn't stop him. I'm too weak to stop him. I'm not strong enough for you.
Crying silently, Ryou opened his eyes again, not even bothering to take care of his wounds.
I'm so sorry, Marik.
Tears slithered down his face as he closed his eyes.
I love you.
Damn, that was sad. But, as I said, I can't really have lemon, lime, and other stuff happening in every chapter. Gotta have some angst, some drama, something different than just lust lust lust.
Read and review PLEASE? PLEASE? (puppy dog eyes) Oh, by the way, notice how this can actually go by the YGO battle city plotline? Bakura does come back to destroy Marik, but he said his reasons was so that Malik could give hiim the Millennium Rod. So in a way...this could sort of be...YGO behind the scenes? XD
