Chapter Two

Happy Birthday, My Young Thief

Ryo coughed as Atem moved his knee upward. He only has been made love to by one person, and one person only: Arken. He struggled to get loose of Atem's clutches, but nothing worked. Atem held Ryo's hands behind him and wrapped one piece of Ryo's shirt around his victim's wrists, and tied the other piece around his ankles to keep him from running.

"Keep quiet." Atem said tightening the knot on the rag around his legs.

Ryo mumbled but moaned as Atem pulled down his pants.

"Atem! Leave me alone!" Ryo said

"Why should I?"

"I am…"
Ryo moaned.

"You were saying?"

"I am sure that Arken will kill you for this."

"You know this how." Yami said giving the hikari below him a slight grind.

"Ugh…. because I am his."

Back at Ryo's house, Arken shuffled back and forth. It was 3:54 in the morning of September 2nd, and Ryo hasn't returned yet.

"Dammit, why didn't Ryo come home yet? I hate worrying about him, even though I love him with my life…"

Arken paused right in front of the main closet in the living room. He cursed and punched the door, leaving a slight hole in it. "Where could he have gone?"

Ryo tried to free himself from Atem's grasp. Nothing worked. All he could do is pray and hope that his only love would come and find him.

Arken…save me… please.

Atem smirked and gently brushed the hair out of Ryo's face. "Shhhhh… It's ok."

"What's so ok about this? You, maybe, are ok, but me? No, I am stuck on school grounds with you, my pants half way down, my shirt torn off, and I'm tied up."
The pharaoh let out a small, simple laugh. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you…."

"Yeah…."

Atem reached down and grabbed Ryo, smirking at the screams it brought from him.

"...yet."

Arken wrapped his arm up, grabbed his trench coat, and ran outside. He looked everywhere that he thought his hikari might be, but and he could barely sense his aura.

"Wait…he must be at school."
Arken ran towards the Domino High School, but before he stepped onto school grounds, he heard screams of pain and torture coming from the picnic table area.

"Ryo! Are you ok!
Atem ran his fingers up Ryo's chest.

"Arken! Help!"
Arken ran towards Ryo's voice, and stopped at Atem against his love.

"Ryo? What is the meaning of this?"

"I'm so sorry, yami."

"Shut up, dammit." Atem said grabbing Ryo's arms.

Arken growled. "Don't you dare."
Atem gave a little smirk, and threw Ryo on the ground, creating major wounds on his wrists, ankles, and waist. Arken ran to his side, and held Ryo in his arms.

"What the hell was that for?"

"Your hikari isn't any fun."

"That is not what I asked you, you pathetic excuse for a mortal being."

Atem waved his hand in the air. "Feisty now are we?"

Arken, quite irritated, set Ryo on the ground gently and covered him up with his coat, and walked towards Atem in a very enraged manner, sending shivers up his spine.

"You will regret you ever did this."
The pharaoh backed up. "Arken, cant we settle this a different way…."
Arken pulled a dagger from behind him.

"…without using violence?"

"Why should I not use violence? You hurt Ryo, that just isn't worth an apology."

Atem paused. "Fine…come get me, you delinquent thief."

This made Arken pissed. He lunged himself towards the pharaoh. Atem jumped behind Arken, blocking the first assault, but Arken stopped quickly and turned around. Atem became petrified, and backed up a few steps. Arken ran towards him, surprising his victim, and stabbed him in his arm. Arken smiled and jumped back to help his hikari. Blood ran down Atem's arm, he grabbed his shoulder and tightened his grip trying to stop the throbbing, but cried out in pain instead.

"That's what you deserve."
Arken picked up his hikari and walked home, leaving Atem there moaning in pain.

Once inside Ryo's home, Arken sat down with Ryo and tended to his wounds immediately.

"Ryo, are you ok?"

"I…am…fine…"

"Ok, now, love. Don't lie to me. What happened?"

"Well, you remember when I left without telling you where I went?"

"Yeah…I remember."

"Well, I went to the school to think. Then Atem popped out of no where and started asking me questions, then he started to get close to me."

"Then what?"

"He ripped my shirt off and tore it in half, and used my shirt to tie me up. Then he kissed me and started to pull down my pants…but before he got any farther, you came and rescued me."

"Do you know why he did this?"

"Actually, I don't know."
"Hmph…" Arken walked out of the room. "Get dressed, today is your birthday."

Arken disappeared back to his room. Ryo didn't want to get dressed yet, so he grabbed a towel from the closet and headed towards the restroom. Ryo shut the door and undressed, and set the bath to the correct temperature.

"I can't celebrate my birthday like this, I have to wash all of this blood off."

Once the bathtub was full, he turned off the water and sat in the temperate water.

He thought to himself, remembering all the events that happened today.

Why did Atem do that? He usually doesn't act like that, but when he met me at the school, he seemed like he was…crazy. I would've died if Arken did not come and save me. I know he loves me a lot, but did he really have to stab Atem?

Ryo tipped his head back to get rid of the blood within his hair. He held onto the rails so he wouldn't slip. He sat there, quiet as a mime, not answering any questions, well, questions that his mind was asking. He didn't want to recall any of the events, even though each scene raced through his mind. He looked down at the water and noticed it was crimson red because of all the blood that was on him. He stood up and dried himself off; he wrapped the towel around him and brushed his hair. Ryo unlocked the door and opened it slowly. There, right in front of him stood his yami. He was sad but blushing, he had something on his mind. Ryo looked down at the floor and blushed. He didn't want his love to see him like this. Scratches, burns, bruises, scars, any possible mark was on his body. Arken gently took hold of Ryo's wrist and pulled him close to him. Their bodies against each other's. Ryo gasped but sent a surge of pleasure throughout Arken's body.

"Umm…Arken? Is everything all right?"

Arken breathed heavily and pulled Ryo closer, their eyes locking. "I'm fine, hikari."
Ryo's face turned bright red, and stood on his toes, reaching to kiss his love. Arken bent down and their lips met. Tears fell from Arken's eyes, he just now realized it. He already knew that he was in love with his hikari, but he soon was madly fell madly in love with him and vowed he will protect his hikari with his life. Arken wrapped his arm around Ryo's waist and pulled him up. Ryo broke the kiss and whimpered, as Arken carried his love to Ryo's room. It was only 6:22 p.m. and the Ryo's birthday party was at 7:00 p.m. Ryo kissed Arken's neck, the moved up and nibbled on his ear. Giggling at the whimpers coming from his yami. Arken lay on Ryo's bed with his love. Both boys sat side by side, holding each other, and snuggling close to one another.

"Ryo? I will protect you with my life."
Ryo smiled and licked Arken's cheek. "Why?"

"Uh…."

"I will protect you with my very life, too, Arken."

"Heh…" Arken kissed Ryo's neck, causing Ryo to groan. "…Your mine, that's why."

Ryo smiled, but paused because Arken moved his hand down his bare chest. He became worried, thinking that Arken will get out of control and try to hurt him again like he did before, or do exactly what Atem did. Ryo glimpsed at the clock, and his eyes widened. He pushed Arken away gently and sat up.

"What's wrong?"

"Arken! We only have fifteen minutes left to get ready!"

"Crap, this isn't good. I'm going to leave and get the decorations set up, you get dressed.

"Yeah."

Right before Arken walked out of Ryo's bedroom, he turned around and stared at his hikari.

"You owe me."

"I owe you what?"

"After the party, when everybody leaves…"
Ryo pulled the towel around his waist up a little. "You were saying?"

"Heh, you…me…guest bedroom."

Arken walked out and shut the door behind him. Ryo knew what he was talking about, except he didn't mind. He started to learn to take care of himself. If something happened, he would fight back, and if that bastard of a pharaoh tried to get close to him again, he would make him wish that he were never born.

Ryo looked through his drawers and found an outfit suitable for the party. He picked up a black t-shirt with the phrase 'Akuryou' on it. He pulled out a pair of boxers and dropped the towel. He put on his boxers and put on a pair of loose, baggy, blue jeans. Ryo looked in the mirror and brushed his hair. He smiled and walked out of his room. When he arrived in the dinning room, the decorations were already put up and the guests were waiting for him.

"Hey! Happy Birthday Ryo!"

"Hello Joey. Oh, Hiya Marik and Malik."
Both Marik and Malik smiled.

"Hey, Yugi, hey…………"

Ryo paused. He noticed that right beside Yugi was his yami, Atem. Yugi was unaware of his Yami's 'misbehavior', but instead acted like he always did around his hikari.

"Ryo? Arken? Did you hear about Atem? He was wounded in the arm a few days ago, and nobody knows what happened."
Ryo looked at Atem's shoulder wrapped in bandages. He trembled and said he knew nothing of it. Arken, on the other hand, crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall.
"How about you Arken? You know anything?"

"No."
Ryo jumped up, wiping sweat off his face. He was scared that Atem would try again.

"Time to eat!"
Arken walked towards the refrigerator and opened the door. He pulled out a big birthday cake, and set it on the dinning room table. Ryo looked at the wonderful piece of work and read the message on the top.

'Ashita moshi kimi ga kowaredemo…Happy Birthday Hikari!'

Ryo smiled and thought to himself.

I don't think anybody else understands it, but I know why he put 'Ashita moshi kimi ga kowaredemo' on my cake. That phrase means 'If you were broken tomorrow.' He is telling me that he is sorry, and that I have to forget my past, and pay attention to my future.

Yugi did the honors and lit the candles. Ryo smiled and everybody started to sing. When the song was done, he made a wish and blew out the candles.

"Great, now Ryo, time to open your presents." Marik insisted.

Everybody nodded and headed towards the living room, where all the presents were. Everybody sat down. Marik sat by Malik, Joey sat between Yugi and Atem, and Ryo sat on Arken's lap. The whole group didn't mind, then Ryo turned his head and took a glimpse in Atem's direction. Atem glared at Ryo with eyes full of lust and desire. Ryo shuddered and hugged his yami.

"Hey, Ryo. Duke and Tristian are out of town again for business trip. They told me to give you their present they both bought for your birthday, so here they are."

"Thank you, Joey."

Joey handed the gift to Ryo. It said 'to: Ryo' and 'From: Duke and Tristian.'

"They shared a gift. How sweet."

Ryo ripped the paper open slightly; he cut the box open and saw dice from Duke's game store. Inside the box was a note.

Dear Ryo.

Happy Birthday! I bet you noticed the dice; well this is a personalized set. It has all the cards in your dueling deck as dungeon dice monsters; an instruction manual is in the box, and keys to your own dice monster stadium. I hope you enjoy it.

Sincerely,

Duke and Tristian

"Wow, they must have spent a lot of money on me. I can't wait to see what the rest of you got me."
Marik and Malik raised their hands. "Hey, here is your present."

They handed a box to Ryo, except this one was much bigger then the one Joey handed to him. Ryo ripped off the paper and his eyes widened. It was a duel disk. He really wanted one. He never really owned one, but when he was in Battle City, he stole a kids duel disk. After the finals were done, he returned it.

"Oh, thank you Marik, you too, Malik."

They both blushed. "No problem.

Joey started to think that the present he had for Ryo was a little off the edge, or weird, but he didn't care. It was a birthday after all, and knowing Ryo, he will love any gift you give him.

"Umm…Ryo…here is your present, It's from me and Yuge."

"Oh, thank you." Ryo said picking up the small bag Joey handed him.

"It might be a little weird, though."

"I hope you like it, Ryo." Yugi said cheerfully.

"It's ok, Joey. It's the thought that counts." Ryo whispered.

Ryo grinned and pulled the ribbon off. He opened the bag and pulled out a glass case. His face lit up as he saw a music box in his hand.

"Thank you guys! I love it!"

"You do?"

"Yes."

"Well, wind it up."
"Hehe, ok."
Ryo took the key and wound up the music box. When it was done, the box started to play an Egyptian lullaby, and inside the glass case were seven royal priests and the pharaoh sitting behind them, just like in Egypt. Ryo hugged the music box, and then set it down. Ryo moved over a little and snuggled his yami. Arken blushed and hugged his hikari, and pulled a large, flat box from behind him, and gave it to his love.

"Here, I think you will like it."
"I will Arken."
Ryo opened the box slowly and pulled a picture frame out of it. Ryo looked confused at first, then read it and understood what it meant. In the picture frame was a sheet of papyrus with a royal scripture from Egypt inscripted on it. On the very bottom were symbols that Ryo didn't know, besides one. The only one he recognized was a cross-looking symbol with a loop at the top. It was an ankh. An Egyptian symbol that stood for life and death. Ryo hugged his yami again, and kissed his check.

"Thank you Arken, for everything."

About an hour later, the party ended and Ryo was picking up trash in all the bedrooms. He walked into the guest bedroom and picked up napkins, cups, and plates. He forgot everything his yami told him earlier, so he was unaware of what was going to happen. He bent over and picked up a cup that was at the edge of the bed. Arken snuck in and stood right behind Ryo, sadly, he didn't notice. Arken wrapped his arms around Bakura's waist and pulled him close. Ryo turned around, and Arken tightened his grip. Their bodies against each other's, they both started to pant. The yami ran his hands down Ryo's back and slipped them into his pants, causing Ryo to start panting heavily. Arken led Ryo against the bed, and pushed him up so they both sat on the bed together. Arken let go and bent over and kissed his hikari deeply, Ryo didn't mind at all. For about one whole hour, the boys were expressing their love for each other in the most lustful way. Eventually they both fell asleep. Morning came and Ryo and Arken lie in bed together, the hikari on his yami. Both without a shirt, covered up in a blanket. The doorbell rang, but they didn't hear it. It rang again. No one answered. The front door slowly opened and Yugi glanced inside. He couldn't see Bakura or Arken anywhere so he walked inside. He looked in Ryo's room. No one was there. He did the same with Arken's room, and the same thing, no one was there. He turned around and saw a door shut to a different bedroom. He grinned and slowly opened the door. He found them, he heard them sleeping. Yugi decided to see what was in there, so he turned on the light, and immediately Arken sat up and held Ryo close to his chest and growled.

"What do you want?"

"Umm…did I interrupt something Arken?"

"Oh…" Arken covered up his hikari and stood up.

"You should put on a shirt, you can't go to the exhibit like that, now can you?"

"Oh, yeah."

Yugi smiled.

"Can you wait outside, I have to wake up Ryo."

"Ok." Yugi walked outside the guestroom and shut the door behind him. Arken searched through his drawers and found an outfit. It was similar to the clothing in Egypt except it was more like clothes from the present instead of the past. He silently walked to his hikari, sleeping like an angel, and kissed him on the forehead. Ryo woke up and looked at his yami and smiled.

"Wake up, sleepy head."

"Hey, Arken. Good morning."

"Good morning to you too."

"Get dressed, Ryo. We are going somewhere."

"Where?"

"It's a surprise."

Ryo nodded and got out of bed. The yami walked out of the room so Ryo could get dressed.

Once they were both dressed, they walked outside to meet Yugi. Joey sat in his car in the front and waved Bakura and his yami. They opened the doors and got in. Yugi sat in the front with Joey, and Bakura and Arken sat in the back.

Ryo leaned over to his yami and whispered. "Arken? Where are we going?"

"I said it was a surprise." Arken said nibbling on Ryo's ear. Bakura whimpered.

"Hey! Save that for later, you guys!" Joey said looking back. "We don't need that yet."

Arken nodded and pulled his hikari close to him, and wrapped his arms around him. Ryo did the same and smiled slightly.

Joey and Yugi looked in the rear-view mirror and saw Bakura and Arken hugging, while he was placing subtle kisses on his hikari's face and hands. Yugi and Joey smiled and continued on their destination. Ten minutes later, they arrived at a museum not to far away school. Joey got out of the car and helped everybody out. Arken looked up.

"Ryo? We're here."

Ryo poked his head from behind Arken. "Where are…. the museum? Why here?"

"Well, we all thought that you should take a trip to see a convention, so we brought you here. To the Egyptian Convention."

Ryo's face lit up. He was incredibly happy; he hugged his yami tightly then grabbed his hand and ran up the stairs with Arken by his side. Joey and Yugi followed.

The four boys walked around the convention until they all got to a section that was speaking about the great pharaohs, but better yet, the information specialist on Royal Egyptian History was Ishizu Ishtar, Malik's older sister

"Hey! Ishizu!"

"..and they….oh! Hey Joey!" Ishizu said. "Pardon me, Odeon take over for me!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Ishizu jumped off the stage and ran towards Joey and the gang. He looked like she was worried about something.

"Guys! Have you seen my brother?"

"Marik? And Malik? Nope, haven't seen them at all. Sorry."

"Ok, I was just wondering.."

"Uh huh."

Ishizu smiled.

"Hey Yuge. Let's stay around this area to figure more about your yami."

"Ok. We will see you two later."
Bakura and his yami smiled and turned around, heading towards the north end of the convention. "Are we actually going to pay attention to this convention?"

"Only if you want to." Ryo smirked.

"Heh. Fine by me."

Arken and Ryo passed up a hallway filled with golden cartouches and paintings. Scrolls and Gold offerings and the pieces of Obelisks filled every glass case. Arken elbowed Ryo gently.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Thought you would never ask."
Arken took Ryo's hand and quickly jolted towards the pharaohs' treasure display at the end of the hall. He found a room that was off limits leading to a staircase to the upper level. The room was empty, more like abandoned.

"This is perfect."

"Will anybody catch us?"

"I hope not."

"Oh, that's very assuring."
Arken smiled, and looked into his hikari's eyes. Ryo walked close to his yami and hugged him tightly. He shivered as Arken kissed his forehead. He slowly lifted Ryo's chin so that they were at eye level, and kissed Ryo gently on the lips. Both of them blushed.

Arken broke the kiss to take a breath.

"Hikari? Do you want to…."

"Not here, we can get caught, and get thrown out. Not on my birthday."

"How about later then?"

"Fine by me."

"Then what can we do in here?"

Ryo put his hands on Arken's shoulders and pulled himself up, giving his yami a kiss.

"We can still kiss each other, right?"

"Yeah, your right."

Arken pulled Ryo closer and deepened the kiss.

Joey and Yugi walked through the convention to a hall that had things of the pharaohs past inside it. Wall to wall, everything was about the past Egyptian pharaoh. Glass cases were filled with artifacts and jewelry that was worn by him. Joey's eyes widened and he pointed to a tablet hanging on the wall.

"Look, Yugi! It's your yami!"

"Huh? Wait…that is my yami!"

"What is he doing in here, though?"

"Umm…Joey? Think! We're in a convention on ancient Egypt."

"But why is your yami here?"

"He's the pharaoh, maybe?"

"Oh…yeah…I remember. Sorry, Yuge."

"It's ok. What do you think Ryo and Arken are doing?"

"Knowing them, they are probably out having fun."
Yugi laughed. "Want to go find them?"
Joey nodded and followed Yugi down the hall. They passed up the door in which Arken and Ryo were, and bumped into Kaiba. Yugi looked over at Joey, who was blushing and sighed. Kaiba laughed and glared at Joey.

"I wasn't expecting you to be here, Wheeler."

"Neither was I…"

"Well, why are you two here anyways?"
Yugi smiled. "Were here because it was a gift to Ryo, yesterday was his birthday."

"Oh, him. Then why isn't he with you?"

"He said he was going to look at a few things… why are you here Kaiba?"

Seto coughed and continued walking and stopped by a door. "Oh, and your friends…"

"You mean Arken and Ryo?"

"Yeah, those two, there in that room."

"How do you know?"

"I saw them…"
Seto smiled at Joey and walked off.

"That freak. Well, lets go see if their in there Yugi."

"Okay."

Yugi and Joey walked up to the door of the room and Joey wrapped his fingers around the doorknob. Yugi shut his eyes as Joey opened to door. There was Ryo and Arken, sitting beside each other, sleeping.

"Awww… look at that."

Joey sighed and wrapped his arm around Yugi's waist. "Like us, eh?"

"Yea, hold on. Lets wake them up and start heading home."

"Okay."

Yugi shook Ryo till he opened his eyes. Ryo smiled and looked at his yami sleeping beside him. "Oh, hiya Yugi." He yawned. "What's going on?"

"It's time to go. Wake up your yami."

Ryo nodded and kissed Arken on the cheek, waking him up.

"Hikari…what's going on?"

"Wake up, 'Kura. It's time to go."

"Already?"
Arken stood up and brushed off his pants and walked out of the room with Ryo. They both smiled and followed Yugi to the car. As soon as they were in the car, Arken fell back asleep on his hikari.

"Hmm…."

"Hey Ryo, what were you guys doing anyway?" Yugi asked.
"Umm…nothing really. Lets go home."

Yugi and Joey dropped off Ryo and his yami at their house, and Ryo helped his Arken in the house. He let Arken lay down in his bed and shut the door and left.

"Today was a big day. Lots of action…"
Ryo giggled and lay down on his yami's bed and fell asleep. Ending the day with a silent slumber.

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