Okay, so I didn't get as many reviews as I thought I would, but that's okay. To me, Never Knew seems to be going downhill a lot lately. Oy, I don't know.
ANSWERS TO REViEWERS!
Dark-angel302: THIS FIC MAKES YOU CRY? O.O …where? Where? (scans through fic) Wow, you actually cried before hand? Oy, better not read my future fics, then. They're way darker than this one and there's lots of sad stuff in those ones. Ryou is close to death practically twice per fic! (giggles) You read fics in class too? I got caught reading a lemon on the school comp once and the teacher almost read the most…limest part out loud! Gods, that scared the crap out of me! Better make sure your teachers don't' catch you! I don't want to be responsible for a possible expulsion! Lol.
Marina-Kashu: I was thinking about having Bakura be responsible about Amane's death, but it's not very practical. He didn't have a body then, so really, he couldn't really drive Amane and her mother to death; unless he possessed her and like, killed her, but I didn't want Bakura to responsible fore her death this time. It'd make Bakura too dark for my liking. So I used Bakura as an omen. Not really the cause of Amane's death, but….(shrugs) an omen. Like a Grim from Harry Potter.
Y.BakuraY.Malik fan: Oh yes, for your last review in chapter 13 about how Mariku and Bakura hate each other? Wonderful! I know Malik was the one who technically caused all this, but I sort of went behind the scenes to reveal the REAL reason why Bakura and Marik hated each other. XD Hee hee, what fun!
Okay, more reviews please? Please? I WUV YOU ALL! (hugs and gives you cookie) (..I WOULD give you Malik all tied up in ribbons in the nude, but…that's kind of hard to get with Baku snapping at me all the way.)
READ AND REVIEW!
Chapter Fifteen: Loyalty and Love
"Help me….please…help me!"
Ryou glanced around, hearing the pleas, hearing the cries and begs of the helpless. What was going on? Who was being hurt? Who needed saving? From what?
"Please…help me!" the voice cried again. "Please! It's so dark…and lonely here…please, help me, anybody!"
"I'm coming!" Ryou called, knowing exactly how it felt to be lonely. Gods, it was so hard to see through all this shadow…dark, looming clouds and purple fog…it was almost like the Shadow Realm, but no monsters or wandering souls could be seen.
Ryou sighed worriedly, thinking back to Marik's confession. At the memory, Ryou smiled. He had never told anyone about his past, and sharing it with Marik, who seemed to be the last person on earth to show any sympathy, had promised to never leave his side. Though Marik had often promised it every night, Ryou never quite believed it. Still…perhaps Marik was right. The thought of finally having someone love him stay with him was a bit of an alternate universe, a fantasy, but Ryou gladly accepted it, only merely hoping that he would not be disappointed and hurt again.
"Please…" the voice grew fainter. "Please…help me…it's so cold and lonely…is anyone there?"
"I am!" Ryou yelled. "Just hang in there. I'll be there!"
He wandered deeper into the mass of darkness, careful where he stepped, lest something should attack him. He took one step of a time, hesitantly, feeling the clouds thicken and coagulate with each step he took.
"Please…" the voice cried again. "It's so lonely in here…so lonely…is anyone there?"
"I am!" Ryou repeated. "Just hang in there!"
"So lonely," the voice cried again. "Will you be here soon?"
"I…will try my best," Ryou said. "Who are you?"
There was a sad silence, before the voice spoke again.
"I don't know…."
"You…don't' know?" Ryou asked. "What's your name?"
The voice screamed. "Help! Help me please!"
The voice seemed to be louder. Hurrying forward, Ryou reached out his arm toward the sound of the voice, hoping that whoever that needed saving would see his hand reaching out.
"Is that…is that your hand?" the voice whispered.
"Yes," Ryou said, his heart relieved. "Quickly, grab hold of"
"RYOU! STOP!" yelled another voice.
Quickly, Ryou turned around, his eyes wide as he saw Malik hurry towards him. The darker of the Lights ran as fast as he could, holding out an arm to stop Ryou's ministrations.
"STOP RYOU! STOP!"
"Malik?" Ryou asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't say much," Malik said hurriedly, his lavender eyes worried. "But have you talked to Marik yet?"
"No…not really…" Ryou admitted, almost feeling guilty. He could feel the tension building between Malik and him. "What's going on? Malik, there's something not right, there's someone asking for help…is this the shadow realm?"
"It is," Malik said worriedly. "I've tried talking to Bakura, but he won't listen, he's" Suddenly, Malik stopped. "Wait. You said someone was asking for help?"
"Yes," Ryou nodded. "They were just right here"
"Ryou! DON'T HELP THEM!" Malik yelled. "It's Bakura!"
Ryou's eyes widened in horror. "WHAT?"
"Tsk tsk," tutted a voice. "Oh gods, Malik, I never knew you would betray me like that!"
Suddenly, Ryou felt a cold, clammy hand grasp onto his wrist harshly, dragging him deeper into the Shadows. He felt Malik grab hold of his other hand, trying his best to pull his friend back.
"Bakura!" Malik yelled. "Let him go! Let's just forget about this entire thing!"
"I'm doing this for YOU, Malik," Bakura's voice resounded in the room. "For you. And in doing so, I must make sacrifices on my part." Ryou cried out as he felt the grip on his arm tighten, cutting off circulation. "And Ryou will make the perfect sacrifice."
Ryou gasped when he saw Bakura's feral face materialize before him, smirking and red eyes glinting maliciously.
"Hello, ore no hikari," Bakura taunted, tightening his grip. "Miss me?"
"Bakura!" Ryou cried. "No…Please let me go!"
"'Help!'" Bakura mimicked, sounding exactly the same as the pleading voice moments ago. "Gods, hikari, you're more than a baka than I thought. You were so gullible to actually fall for that." Bakura laughed, wrenching Ryou to the floor onto his knees and away from Malik. "Now this is your fate, Ryou. You've already come so deep into the Shadows most of your soul has gone to me, strengthening me. And what a pity too. You'll need all the soul strength that you can get for the final duel."
"The final duel?" Ryou cried, feeling, indeed, his spirit weakening, ebbing away and energizing Bakura, who seemed to be growing bolder and bolder with each pulse of energy.
"Yes, ore no hikari," Bakura sneered. "The final duel. The one that I will personally destroy Yami no Malik, and send you to the Shadows to join him!"
"Bakura!" Malik yelled. "Stop this now!"
"Marik is going to try to kill me," Bakura said simply. "He will kill me. If I don't do it first."
"But you don't have to hurt Ryou!" Malik cried out, some childhood pain finally reflecting to his face. "Please, Bakura! Just stop this!"
"I can't," Bakura said mournfully. Ignoring Ryou, Bakura stepped towards Malik, his eyes deep with love and sorrow. "Love hurts, but it won't stop me from trying. We all have to make sacrifices on our part to do what's best for us."
"Bakura, please," Malik pleaded again. "Please don't do this."
Bakura looked at the ground, before he walked away, dragging Ryou with him.
"Someday you'll thank me, Malik."
Marik lay there, holding Ryou in his arms, as he stared up into the horizon of the vast blue sky. How calming, soothing…he had never appreciated such a day before. Indeed, it was beautiful; the sapphire atmosphere and crystal cerulean sea, tainted with the emerald strokes of weeds, and above, dabs of cotton white clouds.
As he laid there, his thoughts traveled back to that of the conversation that he and Ryou had exchanged earlier that morning; when Ryou was changing in the bathroom, when Marik was waiting for him. It seemed so odd…
Ryou had actually wanted Marik to leave off fighting Bakura. The young Light's voice was tentative, uncertain, as though he knew that he had lost the battle before it was even made. Marik had bluntly replied that nothing could change his mind. Not after all that Bakura had done. As Marik recalled these thoughts, along with those of Ryou's old original past, he began to be aware of the change in atmosphere. The clouds wisped together into deep lavender fog, and the strokes of seaweed grew into monstrous slips of black smoke.
Almost immediately, Marik jumped to his feet, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he used his own magic to defend the consuming shadows. It didn't quite help; since they had attacked him on surprise, the shadows had gained advantage before he even stood. Now, he was standing rigidly on his feet, allowing the darkness to consume his surroundings. He smirked. Who dared challenge Marik?
Well, he had a shrewd idea who. Though this thought had surprised and (annoyed) him slightly, it didn't quite matter. He had banished this spirit once before, and he would do it again, until the spirit had entirely be-gone. Forever.
"Hello, Bakura," Marik said lowly.
"Your lack of attention humors me, Marik," Bakura's voice called, hinting laughter.
"And how so?" Marik asked mildly. "I guess we're even then. Your lack of brains amuses me also, thief."
"Survival of the fittest," Bakura laughed, finally emerging from the shadows, Malik next to him. "But, my dear Shadow dealer, look at your feet." The yami's eyes glinted, as his lips formed into a malicious smirk. "Where has your love gone?"
Marik's eyes narrowed considerably, a vein threatening to pop from the back of his jaw.
"Where is he?" Marik asked coldly, cutting straight to the point.
"Where he belongs," Bakura replied, his smirk growing as he reached behind him. Marik's nose wrinkled in hate and despite as the pale-haired Darkness dangled Ryou in front of his eyes.
"Let him go," Marik said lowly, his voice hinting dangerous threats at the edges.
"Why should I?" Bakura asked, shaking Ryou by his collar. The pale Light seemed to be close to unconscious, hanging limply from Bakura's grasp. "He's mine, Marik. My host, my vessel. I am his master, and he will obey like the good puppet that he is."
Eyes narrowing, and flashing fire, Marik took one step forward, but instantly, Bakura had Ryou dangling by his arm, and produced a pocket-knife from nothingness, pressing it dangerously close to Ryou's wrist.
"One more move, Marik," Bakura threatened, his smirk widening, "and I will have to part with my vessel forever. And you wouldn't want Ryou to suffer, would you?"
Marik stopped, his eyes widening a small fraction as Bakura drove his nails into Ryou's arm, causing the Light to suddenly cry out in pain and awaken. Poor Ryou blearily blinked his eyes open, staring at Marik foggily until he realized what had happened.
"Bakura!" Ryou cried. "Please, don't do this!"
"Gods, you're more gullible than I had thought, hikari," Bakura spat, forcing his nails deeper into Ryou's sensitive flesh, drawing blood. Ryou cried out again, scrambling madly at Bakura's fingers to lessen the pain. "Don't you realize that Marik is everything you're against? Everything that you're supposed to hate? He's entirely made of hatred, anger, and vengeance. He will never feel anything more."
"But…you could!" Ryou cried, attempting to stand up, but falling to his knees after one swift wrench of Bakura's arm.
"You are my vessel and you will do as I say!" Bakura commanded. "You are my puppet, attached to my chains forever, hikari! Do not question my orders! If your life will go on the line because I say so, then it will be!"
"Let him go, Bakura," Malik pleaded quietly.
"Yes, Bakura," Marik smirked. "Listen to Malik, like the good little servant you are. Everything you do has to be second-thought and rechecked with Malik before you can proceed. So listen to Malik, Bakura."
"I do things on my own," Bakura snarled. "And Ryou is not Malik's. He's my host. And he will obey me."
"You could just get rid of him," Marik said casually, shrugging. "After all, Malik was of absolutely no use to me. Rebellious, stupid and thick-headed. Who would want a host like that?"
"I don't have a host like that," Bakura replied smartly, smirking once again. "I have a soft one, a weak one, that gets in my way of malice and chides me for everything I do. I have something I can take advantage of."
"You're better off without Ryou," Marik said, a devious smirk forming on his own lips as well.
"Only because you want him," Bakura said easily. He tightened his grip on Ryou's arm. "Well then, Marik. Let's test your loyalty, shall we? I propose a shadow game."
"I accept, naturally," Marik said easily, grinning sadistically as he reached for his shadow duel disk. "You're more of an idiot than I thought, Bakura. I've beaten you once. I can do it again."
"Wrong," Bakura said just as easily, his brown eyes flashing red as he gathered his own disk. "You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into, Marik."
Marik was about to reach in and shuffle his deck, when he found out that he had none. He arched an eyebrow at Bakura inquiringly, but the Ring spirit merely threw his head back in laughter.
"This, Marik," he said, "is the ultimate Shadow game of power. No dueling with cards, no monsters, no Kas, even. Just simple power. And…" Bakura's eyes glinted. "…to raise the stakes…"
A thin, fuchsia string slithered from both the Darkness's chest, each one entering that of the original host. Marik's eyes narrowed in suspicion, finding this rather similar to something he himself had thought of before. Ryou gave a small cry of pain when his end stabbed itself sharply into his chest, shuddering to get used to it.
"In case you haven't noticed, Marik," Bakura smirked, "we are now linked to our hikaris. Now should you try to destroy me, Ryou will die."
"That won't work," Marik seethed. "And you stole this idea from me. This was my triumphant plan to destroy the pharaoh!"
"I have better plans to destroy the pharaoh," Bakura said casually. "But for destroying you, I find this far more fitting." The thief gave the kneeling Ryou a sharp kick in the sides. Ryou cried out in pain again, nursing his side as he began to shake.
"You think Marik loves you, hikari?" Bakura laughed. "Then let this be the proof of everything I've told you. If Marik loves you, he won't hurt you. But with every blast he hits me with, he destroys you. And how fitting is that, ore no hikari?"
"Bakura…please!" Ryou pleaded. "Stop this, I'll do anything, just don't hurt Marik."
"Answer me this first, hikari," Bakura smirked, pulling Ryou up and forcing the Light to look straight into his eyes. Ryou whimpered as he glanced up, shaking quite visibly in Bakura's grip.
"Tell me, ore no hikari," said Bakura slyly. "Do you really think Marik isn't going to hurt you? That he's not going to kill you?"
"Marik…Marik won't," Ryou said, though his voice wavered a bit in fright. Bakura laughed.
"Oh I'm sure," the thief said sarcastically. "I'm merely quoting you, my dear hikari." He flashed Marik a sly look, lips curled in a devious smirk. "Do you know how much my Light cares for you, Marik?"
"I do," Marik said shortly. "Stop stalling and let him go."
The thief shook his head, ignoring Marik and continuing. "He's so utterly confident that you care for him. That given the circumstances, you would never hurt him, or kill him, because you love him." Slowly, Bakura began to chuckle, first lowly, then outright burst of laughter. " 'Marik loves me. He won't kill me'," Bakura mocked, with quite a remarkably striking resemblance to Ryou's own voice.
At this, Marik couldn't help but feel a little more unnerved. He had promised himself and to Ryou that he would keep the young Light safe.
"Feeling confident now, Marik?" Bakura asked idly, seemingly barely aware of his crying host. "Kill me, and Ryou dies."
"Bakura, please don't do this!" Ryou cried out suddenly, beating against Bakura's grip with fruitless effort. "Please, don't do this! Don't hurt Marik!"
Bakura shook his head, throwing Ryou away from him.
"You are nothing but a weakling, baka," Bakura spat coldly. "After I'm through with Marik, should you survive, your life with be filled with nothing but pain and despair. So enjoy your last moments with your love while you can."
Marik felt his cheek twitch in anger, and he longed to forget the duel and murder Bakura on the spot, but when Bakura continued, his attention was diverted to the rules of the game.
"Our duel disks," Bakura said, showing off his own, "will be our key to forfeit, and our scale for life points. When one's life points are depleted entirely, they are sent to the Shadow Realm, along with their host. However…" Bakura's eyes glinted once again. "There is a catch."
"Let me guess," Marik said, his eyes glazing coldly in mild thought. "There is a 'prize', per say. It is the power to retrieve the one they care for from the Shadow Realm to continue living in the real world. Am I correct?"
Bakura nodded. "But, Marik, listen well to the rest of the rules."
Marik snorted, folding his arms in boredom. "Go on."
"When one half of the same soul is attacked, the other loses not only their life points, but parts of their soul. Not like what you did with me. I'm talking about the strength they have. So despite the fact that I may have ten life points left, Ryou, whose soul is already weak and small in amount, would probably die first. And…"
There was a suspenseful silence, as all four of them considered such a thought seriously. Ryou had attempted to get up, but he could already feel his own soul weakening for being too deep in the shadows, and for unknowingly giving his energy to Bakura. All he wanted to do was to get to Marik, to be in Marik's arms, to never let go…!
"…and?" Marik prompted.
"Should the victim be in the shadow realm for too long, before the winner wins," Bakura said slowly, his eyes glinting maliciously, "then the power of retrieving them will be useless. They will be already far too deep into the shadows to be retrieved. They will die."
"You wouldn't risk Malik's life that way!" Marik pointed out suspiciously. Out of the corner of his eye though, Marik couldn't help but shoot a worried glance towards Ryou's cowering form.
"I can win faster than you can," Bakura replied. He activated his duel disk. "Let's duel."
Marik's eyes narrowed, watching as Bakura began to gather balls of black clouds within his hands, amethyst lightning sparking across the sphere. He held it in his hands, toyingly, as though daring Marik to make the first move.
"I'm waiting, Marik," Bakura smirked.
Marik narrowed his eyes, considering his chances. Why not? But he had promised Ryou to keep him safe, to keep him protected…
Suddenly, the sphere had appeared out of nowhere, aiming to behead him if he wouldn't protect himself. Caught off-guard, Marik quickly summoned a sphere of golden Shadow magic at least three times more powerful, and shot it back, rebounding it towards the thief.
"You should've known you wouldn't win against me, thief!" Marik laughed triumphantly.
Too late, Marik had noticed, that despite the spheres had made perfect contact, that Bakura actually had to bite his lip to keep in the scream of pain…
…the thief was smiling.
He was broken out of his suspicious reverie when there was a choked scream of pain; both Marik and Malik swiveled around to find Ryou, already thoroughly weakened, clutching his chest, coughing violently.
"Ryou!" Marik yelled, his eyes widening. "Ryou!" He started to run, started to pelt after Ryou, to comfort him in his arms, to whisper apologies, but no sooner had his attention was distracted, did a rather large sphere of violet black energy barely grazed his shoulder. He dove to one side, glaring menacingly at Bakura, who was producing yet another one, with a toying smirk on his face.
"That time, I aimed to kill," Bakura said, arching an eyebrow, "and the next time, I won't miss."
"You bastard," Marik seethed. Malik, whose lavender eyes were filled with worried tears, had run to Ryou's side and was attempting to ease the paler Light's coughing. "You will pay, Bakura, PAY!"
"For what?" Bakura smirked. "Everything that I've done has not hurt Ryou yet. Only you have the ability to destroy him or save him if you wish." Closing his eyes, Bakura played with his ball of energy toyingly, "Think about it, Marik. I'll give you one chance to surrender now. That way you can save Ryou and live happily in the Shadow Realm. I'll even spare you the painful death."
"In your dreams, Bakura," Marik snarled. "In your dreams."
"Then prepare, murderer," Bakura smirked, "to have Ryou's life in your hands."
Marik's eyes narrowed coldly. "Die, thief."
He threw another sphere of his own, gritting his teeth when Bakura stealthily ducked away, proving indeed, what a skilled thief he was. After Bakura threw his own sphere and exploded it right in front of Marik's feet, a dangerous battle of energy spheres and loathing yamis commenced.
"You sure you're ready to do this?" Bakura mocked, skillfully arching to the side to avoid a sphere that barely grazed his waist. "Ryou's going to get hurt, you know. Kill me and Ryou will die. Sacrifice yourself and you'll never have the chance to destroy the pharaoh."
"You," Marik growled, "just pay attention to my attacks, Bakura. You have nothing else to spare to be distracted!"
"You're just stalling," Bakura smirked. "Just admit it, Marik. You're too much of a coward to hit me directly. I know of your promise to Ryou. I know everything that dwells in Ryou's mind. Do you really think you can protect him forever? Care for him forever?" Bakura laughed. "Not when I'm around."
"That's why," Marik smirked back, "killing you is the only way of relieving Ryou. Now DIE, Bakura!"
He threw another energy sphere, this time managing it to swiftly attack Bakura's left shoulder. The thief gave a small growl of the pain, as static jumped and skipped across his arm, immobilizing it. Marik was ready to throw yet another energy sphere when he heard Ryou gasp with pain again, and whipped around.
Malik was holding Ryou worriedly, as the paler Light began to cough and sputter blood again, weakly clutching his shoulder. Marik's insides wirthed with guilt and regret, but once again, he had allowed himself to be side-tracked, and barely managed to escape Bakura's next attack.
Never mind. He didn't.
The sphere of energy had collided with his right shoulder, barely grazing his face as the ball of energy exploded with wisps of dangerous clouds. He let out a grunt of pain, gripping his shoulder tightly as he ducked Bakura's next assault.
Worriedly, Marik stole yet another glance at Ryou's form, now accompanied by Malik's, who was frowning with pain at his own shoulder. A rather devilish thought came to him, and, smirking sadistically, Marik produced a small sphere of energy, only powerful enough to make minor injuries, and attacked himself.
Expectably, through the force of the attack, Malik gasped, his eyes widening and his pupils shirking, as he clutched his chest and fell onto the ground. And, expectedly, Bakura was diverted almost instantly, his own eyes widening as he ran towards his lover to see what was going on. Marik seized his chance and was at Ryou's side in an instant, dragging his lover as far away as possible from the thief.
"M-Marik…?"
Worriedly, Marik looked down, noticing how Ryou didn't even seem to have enough energy to stand up. He quickly sank to his knees, holding Ryou's face in his hands, so that they could see eye-to-eye.
"Ryou," Marik breathed. "Are you alright?"
Weakly, Ryou nodded, his eyes glazing slightly from the pain. Without a moment's notice, he threw himself into Marik, wrapping his arms around his lover's waist. Marik blinked as he felt Ryou's tears leak through and dampen his chest.
"It's okay," he heard Ryou whisper. "It's okay. I understand. Kill Bakura if you have to."
"I will not!" Marik snarled. "It will get you hurt."
"Marik, it's okay!" Ryou cried. "I understand!" The boy looked up, sad tears in his eyes as he tried a weak smile. Gently, he reached up to brush away Marik's bangs, smiling softly as tears filled his eyes. "There are ….some promise you can keep," he whispered, "and some promises…that are too hard to. I understand, Marik. I know you love me. I know you would never intentionally kill me."
"I will not destroy him if it means you will suffer!" Marik hissed firmly, snatching Ryou's wandering hands and kissing each porcelain fingertip.
"I'll suffer more if you die," Ryou whispered back, tears finally leaking from his eyes in gentle droplets. "You always told me I was strong. I love you, Marik. Let me be strong for you. Destroy Bakura for me. If it means suffering pain or even dying, it's okay."
"And how is that okay?" Marik demanded, his eyes scanning piercingly into Ryou's soft ones. Ryou gave him a small smile…
"Because in the end…"
…And gently claimed Marik's lips in his own.
"… I know I'll get to be with you…"
For a solitary moment, this single kiss brought both of them in a world of compassion and only love. This single kiss was that of blossoming roses and lilies, autumn breezes, and tender skies. A kiss that bridged one another's worlds together, in a warm, sweet clasp of silk skin and passionate hearts. It hurt to break the kiss, but, as all good things were, they had to come to an end.
"Ryou," Marik whispered, closing his eyes as he gently brushed away Ryou's tears with his hand. How he longed to whisper an apology, a confession… He gently brushed away another tear, opening his eyes, half-lidded in longing and desire. "Ryou…I …"
Suddenly, a sphere of energy blasted into Marik's side, sending him flying away, breaking his passionate grip with Ryou. Pain surged through his sides, spitting fire as it ran up his torso, paralyzing him.
"Suffer, Marik," Bakura yelled, "SUFFER THE DEPTHS OF HELL!"
"Marik!" Ryou cried.
Marik was barely aware of his surroundings. The pain from his side infuriated his senses and massacred them with overwhelming agony. He struggled to stand up, despite his limp and unmoving half of his torso, his vision thick and blurry, and his ears tuned deaf.
Vaguely, he was aware of another energy sphere being gathered; it was monstrous, designed to kill. Gritting his teeth, Marik stood, feeling blood trickle from the corner of his lips, as he braced himself for an attack.
It was getting closer, the ball of energy had been released, this was the end…
…if only he could die in Ryou's arms…
Suddenly, something crashed into his abdominals, sending him backwards; he opened his eyes and they widened, golden bangs flying past his face from the force of the attack. Yet there he was, watching the ball of fire combust, no pain, no explosion of death…
"RYOU!"
The white-haired boy had flung himself into Marik's way, blocking the deathly attack with his own, frail body. Marik watched, utterly stupefied, as Ryou gave out a strangled cry, his outstretched arms trembling, his porcelain face ashen, his beautiful eyes filling with tears of pain and agony.
"Ryou! NOO!"
The ball of energy gave out one more explosion, engulfing Ryou in violent, violet flames; blood flew from his mouth, as static surged across his body, immobilizing him in a moment of infinite pain. The static gave one more explosion, before cloud and smoke surrounded the frail boy, blocking his face from view.
For a second, that solitary second that lasted eternity, Marik stared, utterly stupefied at what his love had just done for him, as Ryou stood alone, smoke wisping from his back. The clouds ebbed away, revealing him for all to see, his shirt tattered beyond repair, blood trickling from his mouth. For a single second, Ryou stood alone, before his eyes slid shut, and he collapsed forwards.
Marik instantly caught him, his hands shaking as he gently cradled Ryou into his arms. Oh, how fragile did Ryou look! The boy looked and felt so frail that Marik was worried to hold him tight, lest Ryou should shatter into the darkness. Hands shaking, Marik pulled Ryou tighter, his heart seemingly still, his throat constricting.
"Ma…Marik…"
Weakly, Ryou cracked his eyes open, his mysterious chocolate orbs clouded with pain and fogged with agony. Marik was speechless for a moment, his mouth threatening to whisper silence words of love that Ryou needed to hear out loud.
"Ryou," Marik finally cracked out. "Why? Why did you do that? Why?"
Weakly, Ryou smiled sadly, reaching up a trembling hand, and gently wiped away the thin streak of blood on his lover's lips.
"I didn't…didn't want to see you hurt…" Ryou whispered.
For a moment, Marik was silenced, his face threatening to show his own internal agony.
"Oh gods…Ryou…"
Ryou gave Marik a strained smile, his eyelids threatening to shut forever, as he gently caressed his lover's face with his weak porcelain fingers.
"I….love you…Marik…"
"Ryou….I…."
As Ryou closed his eyes, his hand fell limply at his side.
For a moment, Marik could do nothing else but hold Ryou in his arms, desperately wishing that those eyes would open again.
Suddenly, numerous balls of fire began to collide into him, throwing him back once again. Growling, he summoned all the strength he could muster, and threw a monstrous golden sphere of energy towards the smaller bullets of fire.
"DIE, BAKURA!" Marik bellowed.
"Not until you DIE FIRST!" Bakura yelled back, blocking the rebounding attack with a furious wave of his hand. When the smoke had cleared from both sides of assault, both Darknesses were bracing back, an ugly look of each of their faces. Bakura's was stark white, his narrow, hateful eyes flashing bloody crimson, and a trickle of blood had appeared from the corner of his lips.
Marik countered the thief's look of contempt with one of his own, narrow-eyed fiery amethyst, blazing with more fury than the flames of hell itself, veins appearing from the sides of his face.
"You will pay for that one," Marik said lowly, creating another ball of fire at his hand, before throwing it into Bakura. Bakura seethed, ducking it, before sending Marik a despiteful look.
"Pay?" Bakura asked bitterly. "How so? I'm down to my last 200 life points because of Ryou's stupid sacrifice. He's better off dead! If it's anyone who's going to pay, it's you!"
Both Darknesses reared back with their newly accustomed balls of fire, each more monstrous than the last, and was prepared to throw them, when
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
Both yamis' eyes widened drastically when Malik threw himself into the fiery path. Bakura's look of loathing became that of concern, of worry, whereas Marik's became surprised. There was a stupendous explosion of erupting fire and smoke, with Malik in the core the flaming eruption, before the smoke cleared away.
Malik was still standing.
Immediately, Marik felt his life points drain, and his senses once again massacred with pain and agony, though he was determined not to let it show. He growled menacingly as the smoke cleared away, with Malik leaning on his knees for support, panting like mad.
"Stop this, Bakura," Malik breathed, looking at the thief. "Stop this."
"Stop this?" Bakura repeated, his eyes narrowing into contempt again. "I'm almost finished destroying him, Malik! Then you and I can live happily with one another! What are you talking about?"
"Our happiness can wait," Malik snapped back. "Ryou's won't."
"And what do you mean by that?" Bakura seethed.
"Forfeit now, Bakura," Malik said firmly, though his eyes showed begging weakness. "Forfeit now."
"Never," Bakura seethed. "Not when you and I are so close to finally being together."
Malik shook his head forlornly. "If you're not going to forfeit, then I am."
"You can't do that!" Bakura yelled.
Malik gave him a look. "Watch me."
He somehow managed to retrieve the Millennium Rod, and slowly unsheathed the knife within. Carefully, he turned to Marik, who was eyeing him suspiciously. Taking a deep breath, Malik raised the dagger high above, staring at the fuschia line that was linked between them.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Marik demanded.
"I'm not doing this for you," Malik snapped. "I'm doing this for Ryou." And with that, he swiped down hard on the string, breaking it in half, severing the link between them. He promptly turned around and began to head towards the lying Ryou.
Smiling sadly, Malik kneeled down next to his friend, holding Ryou's hand tightly in a brotherly fashion.
"I don't want to be the one," Malik whispered, "to take Marik away from you."
He raised the dagger high above, and swiftly severed the link between Bakura and Ryou. Standing up, he glanced at the thief, a forlorn, melancholic look in his eyes.
"Please forfeit, Bakura. There's not much time left."
"I won't," Bakura said lowly.
"Please, Bakura," Malik whispered. Tears began to fill his eyes, shocking Bakura beyond comparison. "Please."
"Malik," Bakura breathed, worry and concern flooding his eyes. "What's wrong?"
Blinking his eyes to keep his tears in, Malik directed his gaze to the floor, carefully avoiding Ryou's limp figure.
"I care for Ryou, Bakura. He's like a brother to me. He's one of the few people who's accepted me as who I was. Gods, Bakura…don't take him away from me."
Stupefied, Bakura's shoulders went limp, his eyes wide as he stared at Malik through a new perceptive.
"Do you…really care for Ryou that much?" Bakura whispered. "Even I…"
"I do, Bakura," Malik whispered firmly. "He's been a brother to me ever since I've met him. Do you know how forgiving he is, Bakura? I never understood why you never cared for him. After you stabbed yourself in the arm, he should've been mad at me, afraid of me! I was the one who asked you to join my side and be with me forever. I asked you that. And you know what he did?" Malik paused, hands shaking as tears finally leaked his eyes. "HE BEFRIENDED ME, BAKURA! After all that I've done to him, he befriended me! Even after I risked his life in Slifer's attack, he still smiled at me, beamed at me! He never felt betrayed no matter how many times I almost destroyed him!"
Malik paused once more, brushing his tears roughly away with the back of his hand.
"This time, I'm going to protect him. I've endangered his life one too many times, and he's forgiven me far too often. This is the least I can do to repay him, to thank him for being such a wonderful person to me. Gods, Bakura, just forfeit! For me!"
Glancing down, Bakura battled with himself. Destroy Ryou. Be happy with Malik. Do what Malik says. Have no idea what the consequences will be. Gods, what was he supposed to do?
Finally, he looked back up, seeing Malik's lavender eyes filled with tears, and sighing, pressed the button on his duel disk.
His life points went 0.
The darkness lifted, revealing the natural darkness of the night, stars twinkling like diamond jewels against the velvet sky.
Immediately,Marik was at Ryou's side, cradling him and holding him close. His heart thumped with worry every moment that Ryou did not seem to breath, did not seem to be awakening.
"Ryou," Marik whispered. "Ryou, please wake up…"
Weakly at first, Ryou's eyelashes fluttered, before they opened, revealing twinkling chocolate orbs. Smiling a small smile, he raised his hand, caressing Marik's face with his soft fingers. Marik's eyes shot open, and Ryou's smile grew.
"Marik…"
"Oh, gods," Marik breathed. "Ryou, you're alright…"
"Marik," Ryou whispered. "You're okay…"
Grinning with relief, Marik crushed their lips together, at which Ryou passionately obliged, wrapping his arms tightly around Marik's neck, pressing them closer together.
It felt as though the world had blossomed, as though fireworks had exploded in the sky, as though magic itself lingered among their lips and sparked the truth of their hearts.
"I'm glad you two are so happy," smiled a voice.
The kiss was broken, and both of them glanced up; Marik suspicious, and Ryou confused.
"Malik!" Ryou gasped.
The transparent Egyptian Light gave Ryou a kind smile. "Hey, Ryou."
A similarly transparent Bakura floated next to Malik, weaving an arm around the Egyptian's waist. He gave Ryou a disgruntled, reluctant look. Marik was ready to banish Bakura, (the thief looking similarly dangerous) when both Lights clutched tighter, drawing the murderous attentions away from each other.
"Malik," Ryou whispered. "Why…why did you do that?"
Malik gave his friend a sad smile. "It's the least I could do, Ryou."
"But I don't want to tear you and Bakura apart!" Ryou insisted.
"Think you're even capable of that?" Bakura asked, raising an eyebrow as he tightened his grip on Malik. "I doubt it. You can't even break me."
Malik nudged the thief; the bandit smirked.
"Ryou," Malik said softly. "You couldn't tear me and Bakura apart. We love each other too much. But Ryou…" at this, Malik paused, glancing at Marik. "…I didn't want to take Marik away from you, faster than necessary."
"Faster than necessary?" Ryou repeated, eyes widening slightly.
"He's not going to be there for you forever, baka," Bakura snapped. Marik gave the thief a fierce, menacing look.
"Of course I am!"
"No, you're not," Bakura retorted smartly, giving the Egyptian an arrogant smile. "You forget, dear Shadow Master, that you have the mighty pharaoh to duel."
Ryou's heart sank. Yami Yugi! How could he have forgotten? He glanced down, staring at his lap, as he unconsciously tightened his grip on Marik. Sad, reluctant tears welled in his eyes, and closing them, he nuzzled sadly into Marik's chest. How could he had believed that Marik would indeed, stay with him forever?
Marik's grip on him tightened. "You think I'm going to lose to the pharaoh, Bakura?" Marik asked, smirking.
"If you do," Bakura said, smirking back, "that's great. Another chance for me."
"You"
"What I mean, Ryou," Malik interrupted, laying a hand on Ryou's shoulder, "is that soon, Yami Yugi is going to fulfill the prophecy. Marik will ultimately be defeated. I didn't want to take him away faster that necessary. I gave you all the time I could for you to spend with Marik." Malik sighed. "I'm sorry."
Ryou lifted his face up, tear streaks obvious on his face. Bakura looked away.
"Thank you, Malik," Ryou whispered tearfully. Sincerely, he wrapped his arms tighter around Marik's throat, burying his face in Marik's chest. "Thank you."
Malik smiled sadly. "No problem."
Bakura sighed. "Gods, do you realize exactly how sappy you hikaris can be?"
Malik smirked happily. "Do you want me to tell them how sappy YOU can be?"
"I don't give you roses and arrange little picnics," Bakura said, blinking.
Malik inched closer to Bakura suggestively. "Nooo….but…" He whispered into Bakura's ear. The thief's eyes widened drastically.
"OH NO…."
Giggling, Malik took Bakura's hand, winking playfully. He turned back, waving to Ryou and Marik. "Take care, Ryou. I'll see you soon!" He winked at Ryou. "And maybe when I come back, I can tell you just how sappy Bakura is…"
Suddenly, the thief had circled around Malik, and was holding him tight, a hand clasped over Malik's mouth. Sneakily, Bakura whispered audibly into Malik's ear: "Say a word about that and I will personally tell Ryou all the stories of you when you were four years old…"
Malik's eyebrows lifted high into his bangs, before he playfully winked at Ryou, and shook his head. "Sorry, Ryou. My lips are sealed."
"Good," Bakura said, satisfied. He turned back to Ryou, an indescribable look in his eyes. Barely acknowledging his hikari, Bakura turned back, and he and Malik, after one more wave, disappeared.
Shaking his head, Marik stood up, carrying Ryou in his arms. The Light in question, however, merely tightened his grip, and remained quiet.
"Ryou?" Marik asked.
Ryou didn't reply, and his face was hidden in Marik's chest.
They returned to Marik's room. Silence filtered through the room, tense and awkward. Ryou laid on the bed, his face buried in a pillow. No matter what Marik said, Ryou barely even looked up. It was odd…very odd behavior.
He had set Ryou on the bed, internally fidgeting at the awkwardness of the atmosphere. Trying his best to lighten up the mood, Marik purred possessively, his tongue flicking out of the corner of his mouth, and promptly pounced on top of Ryou.
"Now that we're alone," Marik teased suggestively, "I believe you do owe me something."
He crushed their lips together, feeling that beautiful, familiar hot, warm cavern, those soft, silky lips of honeyed strawberries.
He continued his ministrations, caught up in his own little world of Ryou's simple sexiness. He roamed his hands up and down Ryou's little frame, tugging a little at the ripped shirt, and eventually discarding it towards the side.
Bad move.
Instantly, Ryou broke the kiss, a distant, sad look in his eyes as he avoided Marik's.
"What is it?" Marik asked, trying to mask his concern. "Bakura's gone now…again. He's finally going to let you love me in peace. Why aren't you happy?"
At first, Ryou didn't reply, merely continuing to stare at nothingness.
"Ryou?" Marik prompted, eyes narrowing concernedly.
"Maybe we shouldn't do this now," Ryou whispered softly. He attempted to get Marik off him, attempted to roll away, but Marik had only increased his pressure and kept Ryou easily pinned down.
"Why not?" Marik asked. "You owe me, Bakura's gone, Malik says it's okay…what's the problem?"
Ryou continued to stare at the floor, fiddling a little with the sheets. "Well…maybe it's not the best time to do this…I mean, we've been doing it every night…."
"Are you saying that you're tired of it?" Marik asked incredulously.
Ryou shook his head. "No, no, that's not…the point. It's just that…" Sighing, he gently pushed Marik off him, sitting up on the bed, looking away. "Maybe we can do something better with our time…"
"But isn't this one of the best things we can do with our time?" Marik asked, teasingly as he licked the back of Ryou's neck. He was a little surprised and worried when Ryou neither moaned, nor writhed, nor whimpered. If anything, he sighed and stood up, picking up his ripped sweater in his hand.
"We're…" Ryou started, looking uneasily at his sweater, "…well, maybe we can do something else other than just sex…like maybe a dance or, a candlelit dinner, or a romantic bath, something like that."
"Why?" Marik asked, blinking.
"Because….because…" At this, Ryou's eyes swelled with tears, but he determinedly kept them from falling. "…because you're not going to be with me forever…"
"Of course I am," Marik snapped irritably.
"No you're not," Ryou whispered. "You have your duel with Yami Yugi."
"So you think I can't win?" Marik asked sardonically, raising an eyebrow.
Ryou sighed. "Just….just forget about it." He turned to leave, but Marik grasped hard onto his hand, eyes narrowing with concern.
"Ryou, what's the matter?"
Ryou looked back into the sweater in his hands, a single tear dripping from the corner. "Never mind, Marik," he sighed. "I guess when I'm feeling better, I'll come back for more romping…if that's really all you want to do with our time…"
Uncharacteristically, Marik felt guilty.
Gently, Ryou eased himself from Marik's grip, not looking his way. "I…I have to go…sew this up…"
And without another word, Ryou hurriedly left. But despite the fact that his head was bowed…
…Marik could tell, even after the door had shut, that Ryou was sobbing inside.
Marik, quite frankly, had no idea what to do. He had a vague idea as to why Ryou was upset, but he couldn't quite connect it very well. It was only after he had been staring, simply staring out into the night in his bedroom window, did he realize something.
Ryou didn't get to see the sunset with him.
Everything seemed to come to him, like a wave sweeping a flood, soaking the shores before a tsunami. Gradually, then shockingly big.
Gods, why had he been such an idiot? No wonder Ryou was so upset!
He wanted to turn around, wanted to apologize, but he knew Ryou needed more than words to convince him how much Marik cared for his well-being.
Gods, he had been such an idiot. Ryou had already hinted that morning that he wasn't ready for more romping, and Marik had to act as if he would rather spend their last days together in bed. How much more of an idiot could he have been?
What could he do to show Ryou how much he valued him?
And, with the supernatural intelligence that only an evil villain possessed, Marik began to plot.
When he had finished his planning, (including executing it), he gathered himself up, and knocked on Ryou's door. When he heard nothing, Marik tentatively punched in the code, opening the door.
The room was quiet, and rather dark. The only light that was on was the small one next to Ryou's bed, and upon it, laid Ryou, half slouching against the headboard and half lying on his side.
The sweater was clutched in one hand; the other, which lay sprawled on the bed, held a small needle and thread. There were tear tracks on Ryou's face, and he looked very exhausted and pained.
Sighing to himself, Marik sat himself down on the bed, careful not to awaken his upset lover. Gently, he eased the sweater and needle away from Ryou's hands, careful not to prick his lover as he laid the darning materials on the desk. As he placed it in the light, he had seen that Ryou had cleaned up the bloodstains, and had been attempting to sew the rips. But not very successfully. Though Ryou's attempts looked professional and talented, it simply wasn't enough to fix the damage that had been wreaked upon his only memory of his mother.
Shaking his head, Marik redirected his gaze to Ryou, who seemed to have cried himself to sleep. A pang of guilt swept Marik's heart, since he knew full well it was him that Ryou was crying over. Gently, he eased Ryou downwards, careful as to not awaken him, and slipped the covers on him. Ryou made a small moan, a soft crying whimper, but Marik simply laid his hand upon Ryou's own, immediately easing Ryou subconsciously.
He looked back at the sweater, feeling pitiful at the attempt that Ryou had made to darn the damage. Casually, Marik used shadow magic to repair it, giving it the illusion that it had, indeed, been fixed. It was a permanent illusion, because he never wanted Ryou to see his only memory of his family, destroyed again.
Once he was sure Ryou was fast asleep, he carefully blindfolded the boy, and sat back, waiting for Ryou to awaken, so Marik could apologize in ways Ryou would understand.
That huge scene with a fluffy Marik and a fluffy Ryou reminded me highly of that Pocahontas scene when she's talking to John Smith. Dunno why, I think it was simply because I was listening to that song "If I Never Knew You" and it came to me. Wow. Fluffy Marik. This chapter was intended to show the evil Marik, as per the last battle chapter, but all I did was made Bakura more Thief Baku-ish. (bangs head) Writing Marik angst is IMPOSSIBLE!
READ AND REVIEW! I LOVE YOU ALL! (gives you nude Malik tied up in ribbons.) Oh yeah…(I'll give you a nude Bakura next time to accompany the nude malik this time. XD That is, if I can catch him)
Bakura: NEVER! (runs away)
Ryou: Er…that was fast…
Malik: Bakura! You're just going to leave me here? Bakura?
Marik: Bwahahahahahaahaa, you're an idiot, Malik. See? Bakura doesn't like you!
Bakura: (comes back with a huge bat in hand) BWOP THE AUTHORESS!
Malik: I knew he'd save me!
AL : (Bakura and I fight)
Malik: Go Bakura! Go Bakura! Bash her authoress head! Hey, Ryou, look how wonderfully Bakura is defending my…(looks over at Ryou, who's being currently molested by Marik) …oh. Okay.
AL: Where's Ryou? (bashes Bakura's bat; the bat flys out and the Millennium Ring flashes)
Malik: (nodding decisively) He's busy now.
