Chapter Eight: The Music of the Night
Bakura POV
There were many times when I had encountered an angel of the light, but never before such as he. The angels that I had heard of were avenging, were strong, or were dead, cold marble monuments that merely loomed over decaying darkness. And yet, here was an angel, who was none of those things. If anything at all, he was a light of purity, a glowing luminosity of innocence and joy.
The simple way that he laid at my side, his soft, silver locks disappearing into the light clouds of fog that curled about him, the way his pale, porcelain hands held my own, so soft, so smooth, againts my own, made my mind spin and my heart race. How his black, thick lashes rested against his ivory cheeks, and how his large, effeminate eyes had glazed over in passion beneath me...how light he felt in my arms, and how his voice would bring this warmth into my chest...everything about him drove me into insanity for need. My need for him.
His nude form could be barely seen from the soft clouds of mist that surrounded him, that waved upon him and carressed his milky skin in his sleep. The same milky skin that I had ran my fingers upon, that I had carressed in my need, that I had tasted and ravaged in my hunger for him. As I watched him slumber peacefully, his face in the expression of pure, soft and utermost content, I gently ran my fingers through his hair, feeling the silken locks slip form my skeletal appendages.
For a while now, I had obsessed over him. When he had recieved the Ring, and I within it, something miraculous had happened. Something purely miraculous, but equally torturous. For the moment I laid eyes upon him...his crying, sobbing form, begging for his father in the lonely darkness of his dormitory room...I knew I wanted him, and I knew I needed him.
But I dared not approach him so...for I dared not allow myself to fall into the piteous hell of a pit that they call "love". "Love" had no place among the world, the world that I knew was filled with only darkness and empytness. A world of betrayal, and punishment, and endless pain. And yet, though I knew I could not have him, something inside of me wanted him, needed him.
But I am the Darkness, and an angel such as Ryou can not love a Darkness, as me. No matter how I wish it was so.
There was not a chance that I could tell him who I was; hence was why my soulroom, the room in which I would teach to him every night the ethics of survival in this cruel world, was always empty. If he knew what was truly its contents instead of the luscious recliner and the roaring fire and the supposedly "empty" maze beyond, he would have been terrified, and I would have lost my chance with him.
A soft whimper broke my thoughts, however, and immediately I turned to the little angel that was lying beside me. Dark lashes wavered as deep brown eyes were revealed, dazed slightly beneath the spell that I had enduced him with. A small smile appeared upon his lips.
"Angel?" he breathed, his voice a daze. "Angel?"
"I'm here, Little Ryou," I whispered, my hand softly cupping his chin. Gently, I laid my cheek upon his own, nuzzling it comfortingly. "Go back to sleep, Little Ryou," I whispered into his ear. "I shall always be with you. You are mine now...mine forever...and mine alone." I kissed his cheek. "Sleep," I whispered again. "Sleep, my little angel...my precious little angel."
My soft spell was replied with another, dazed smile, before his eyes fell shut. Once I was sure he was asleep again, I stood up, dressing myself. I slipped into the room in which I had taught him, retrieving a thin, translucent nightgown I had prepared for him. With the soft silken material in my hands, I returned back to the labyrinth, returning back to my little angel.
He was mine, and mine alone. Curse Marik for coming back into his life. He had never cared for Ryou; if he had, he would have pursued him more so, instead of obliging to Ryou's veiled need. Curse Marik. Curse Marik to the deepest pits of Hell, and Malik as well.
But it did not matter. Ryou was mine now, and as I knew, the Darkness always conquerers.
As I watched him sleep, I knelt down beside him, hearing his soft, even breaths. Even though he was soundly asleep, I proceeded to sing to him anyways, as I had done so so many nights before.
"Night time sharpens...hightens each sensation..."
As I sang, I proceeded to dress him, knowing that my voice had succumbed him further into my grasp, further into my spell. As my voice carried into the night, I knew was was lulled into my control, enraptured by my power, unable to escape, even if he wished to.
"Darkness wakes...and stirs imagination..."
Gently, I brushed his hair aside, noting his content expression, his trusting eyes. The way he was so limp in my arms, surrendering before me even before the battle had begun.
"Silently the senses...abandon their defences...
Helpless to resist the notes I write..."
No, Little Ryou, I thought. You could never leave me. Even if you wished to.
"For I compose the music...of the night..."
Sighing softly, I continued to stroke his hair, watching deeply. Around me, the soft white mist began to darken softly, curling themselves around my precious angel. How was it…that an angel such as he…could have fallen into the darkest pit of night that was my soul?
A small smile found its way upon my face. With such gentleness I was not even aware I possessed, I softly tucked his nightgown around him, allowing the mist upon the floor to blanket him with warmth.
I slowly stood up.
"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendorGrasp it, sense it…
Tremulous and tender…"
My footsteps silent and quick, I swept through the mist and into the fog, my hands feeling the knobs that I had hidden from him. Knobs and handles of doors and passageways that I could not let my angel see…no…for if he found out what truly laid in the labyrinth beyond his study room, he would never become my fallen angel again.
With easy familiarity, I grasped a knob among the mist, twisted it, and opened it quietly.
"Hearing is believing
Music is deceiving…"
A soft pale blanket wove its way upon the mist, and sweeping it up, I promptly close the door. Already, tendrils of darkness had slithered their way around the hidden doorframe, desperate to taint that I had attempted to hide so vigilantly.
But oh, how the Darkness knew how to deceive…how Love knew how to deceive…
"Hard as lightning, soft as candlelight…"
In a world where life is surrounded by night, who are we, pathetic mortals, to say what is right and what is wrong? The Gods knew nothing of what was right and what was wrong…what was beauty and what was monstrosity…what was blessing and what was an omen…no…if the Gods did not know the difference, how could a mere mortal know?
Returning to my angel, I knelt upon the ground on one knee, and swept the blanket over his still form. His soft breathing was even, exhaling quietly every so often between his pink lips. His hair was still askew, blending in well with the mist that surrounded him. The nightgown looked beautiful on him…how it curved along with his every contour, how it creased along his sleeves, how it accented his purity and innocence so vibrantly…
If the Gods could not tell the difference, could my little Ryou?
"Dare you trust… the music of the night?"
Gently, I picked the angel up, intending to bring him to the room where our studies were always held. Even though it often pained me to see him hurt, and to know that I was the one who inflicted it upon him, I often had pushed the thought aside and concentrated on his overall purpose. I needed to teach him how to survive, how to defend himself…without knowing how to do so, how could my Little Ryou possibly survive?
Curse Marik for his pathetic over-protectiveness.
Even though he was deep in slumber, my angel gave a soft, contented murmur, burying his serene face into my chest. Unable to help myself, I smiled, wrapping the blanket about him and cradling him in my arms.
"Angel?" he murmured softly into my chest. "Mmn...Angel…"
"Shh," I hushed. Tenderly, I laid my fingers upon his eyes, gesturing him to continue to sleep. "Shh…I am here, Little Ryou. I am here…" And I continued to sing.
When we got back to the study, I laid him back down on the recliner where he used to rest. The fire in the fireplace was healthy, and greatest of all, silent. My Little Ryou would need his rest…
Standing up, I closed my eyes. Staring at him…looking at him…just being near him…how he reminded me so highly of myself when I was in Egypt…innocent to those around me, gentle to those who cared for me…but nevermore…
"Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth…"
Subconsciously, my hand clenched itself, and without my will, a tear trickled down from my right eye. However, I could not feel the tear, no…no…not as it trailed down the white mask that covered what part of me I couldn't hide otherwise.
"And the truth isn't what you want to see…"
Those mortals…those pathetic, insolent mortals…palace brats, they were all the same! A difference among hair color and skin shade…was that already enough to drive them to think me an omen? Obviously. And even though it has been three millennia, no…the world is still the same…mocking my Little Ryou…laughing at him, bullying him…casting him away for his pale skin and white hair…
Slowly, I trailed my hand up towards my masked face. Slowly, I watched as my gloved finger traced down the trickle of salt. Immediately, the skin beneath my mask prickled, and eyes opening, teeth clenching with rage, my fingers slowly froze themselves into a fist.
"In the dark it is easy to pretend…!"
With an angry flourish, I brought my hand back down to my waist, staring angrily at the ground. Oh, how Malik would pay…PAY …whether it be village idiots, murderous priests, or even the pharaoh himself…they were all the same, these mortals! All the same! No…no…no, just how my human heart had just HAD to betray me, just HAD to convince me that Malik loved me, that Malik cared for me… no…
Malik would pay…
"That the truth is what it ought to be…"
Mortals, palace brats, village idiots…all the same. That is why I am no longer mortal. Knowing that there is no difference between Love and Darkness…between Hate and Light…knowing that Darkness surrounds the world and will never die…this is why…
…I am the Darkness.
Though it started out as a low chuckle, I eventually threw my head back in laughter. The mask trembled a bit before sliding and inch off my face; with haste, I caught it, still laughing lowly with the insanity that brought me to this darkness.
No…my Little Ryou…no…you cannot ever see my face…for if you do…you will go…yes…you will go…just like Malik…just like Malik did, the bloody bastard….
…and I can never let you go…
"Softly, deftly, music shall caress you…
Hear it, feel it
Secretly possess you…
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness, which you know you cannot find…"
Laughing, I knelt down beside my Ryou, feeling his soft locks within my fingers. Oh, my Little Ryou…you will never leave me, will you? No…I am your Angel, I am your lover…I am your teacher, your friend, your guidance, your love…I am everything that you are to me. You are my light, and I am your darkness.
"The darkness of the music of the night…!"
As though the Gods themselves possessed me, I threw my arms up to the empty sky above. Flurries of white doves soared through the door in which the snow-white mist floated within, soaring high above my head. White petals of roses fluttered in the air, drifting among us like snow…snow…snow…
"Close your eyes start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before…."
Again, I raised my hands in the air, and with another wild, passive flourish, I threw my arms up in the air again. This time, the doves flew faster, higher, contrasting so beautifully against the darkness. Just like me and my little Ryou…
"Close your eyes and let music set you FREE!"
And as the doves disappeared into the darkness of the sky above, a deep, satin ribbon began to drift down towards me. Slowly, more doves would evolve, each holding a bit of the ribbon within its beak. The ribbon was wound tightly around a statue in which I had created in my spare time…in my loneliness and in my lusting for my angel…my angel…
A marble statue, as tall as myself, was softly set to the ground. Obediently, the doves gathered themselves at the statue's feet, giving the Angel a more accurate impression than ever. Among the identical curves of my own Ryou hung a gown of pure satin pearl. Veils parted down the tapered waist, revealing layer upon layer of silken petticoats, laced delicately by wide, white roses. The white roses themselves were embedded with pearl in the budding, and in the hanging sleeves and bodice, were more embedded pearls.
The simple sleeves hung off my Angel statue's shoulders, revealing the identical pale skin of my Little Ryou. Among the beaded pearls, a single crimson rosebud was sewn within its center, and like the other roses, had another pearl embedded in it. A long, intricate veil was trailing from my Ryou statue's long white hair, blending perfectly with the trial of veil at the back of the tapered waist.
I circled around the wedding dress, occasionally lifting the veil, pretending that Little Ryou and I were to wed. He was certainly girlish enough to wear it. Laughing, I bowed before the statue, taking one cold hand within my own.
"Only then…can you belong to me…"
More petals drifted among the room, showering the entire study with snow white petals. Many had already begun to pile upon the carpet. White was certainly my Angel's color.
I could not describe the feeling of ecstasy that surged through my blood when I had taken him. I could not describe the opium-like haze that surrounded me, engulfed me within its purple wind. All I knew was that my Angel was near, that my Angel was mine, and that no one was going to take him away from me.
"Floating, falling, sweet intoxication…
Touch me, trust me, savour each sensation…"
Again, I filled my lungs with the deep perfume that was the many roses, and swept my way back to Ryou's recliner. Setting myself upon its cushions, I took his hand, slowly coaxing it, soothing over it. Imaging how a single ring would look upon his slender finger.
Watch out, Marik. Ryou was mine!
"Let the dream began, let your darkest side give in
To the power of the music that I write…"
"Little Ryou, let his mind wander," I whispered in his ear. "Little Ryou thought…am I a fonder of dolls, or of goblins or shoes, or riddles or frocks…" Here, I chuckled, and gently kissed my Angel's fingers. "Oh, my Little Ryou…I have gotten you your frock, and I hope you will love it as much as I do."
Gently, I bent forwards, and with a small smile on my face, I captured his lips. A soft, happy murmur escaped his own, and I was delighted to hear it. As my eyes fluttered shut, I grasped his hand, not caring that my mask was slipping off slightly.
"…The power of the music of the night!"
Releasing his lips, I straightened again, my mask refitting itself upon my cheek. No matter what I did, I must ensure that Ryou would be mine, even if he ever found out my true appearance beneath. It was not the monstrosity I was worried about…but rather, the unleashing of Darkness that it will wrack upon my soul room, possibly consuming what little light he had. No…I could not risk that….and yet, I could not risk my Ryou.
Again, I took his hand, and sung at the top of my lungs, unleashing my passion, my devotion, my love, not caring that he could or could not hear. I knew he was far too deep in my spell to react, so my heart soared through my voice and flew into the night.
"You alone can make my song take flight…!
Help me make…"
Gently, I kissed his hand, and wept against it.
"The music of the …"
Oh Ryou…my Little Ryou…my precious Little Angel…
"Night…"
Sorry I haven't updated in a while; I quickly finished up this one fast. Phantom-phans, you all know what's going to happen after this! Bakura's bubble is totally going to burst, and Ryou's going to pull a Christine! And then after that, dear ol' dashing Raoul will come in…XD. Oh, I can't wait to write the angst scene!
You know, I actually pride myself making Yami Bakura actually sound like Erik. Reading those lines, it does seem to be like how Erik loved Christine…I liked how I twisted Yami Bakura with a bit of an opium-induced haze…lol…Phantom-phans should know that one…XD Yep, I totally pride myself giving Yami Bakura Erik's way of thinking. "Gently, I kissed his hand, and wept against it"? Totally what Erik would do, and totally what Erik did.
Hopefully I can update soon, but I have tons of work. (bows) Au revoir!