Thank you again to all those who reviewed! This chapter: what happens when Malik discovers what happened to Ryou?
Chapter 3 – Getting back
"Crap!" Malik exclaimed as he pulled his tongue out of Marik's mouth. He had only just remembered that he had left Ryou on his own.
Marik whined in protest at the loss of contact. "Malik, don't stop," he whined pathetically.
"Sorry Marik but I have to find my friend," Malik said as he stood up and looked about for Ryou.
Malik grabbed Marik's wrist and dragged him over to where he had last seen Ryou – at their table. As soon as they got close to the table by the wall they both stopped in their tracks. "Ryou!" Malik cried as he saw Ryou sitting on a stranger's lap, kissing him.
Ryou turned round to see who was calling him. "Hi Malik," he said happily, one arm around Bakura's neck, the other waving to his friend.
Malik's jaw dropped as he looked from Ryou to the empty glasses on the table, then back to Ryou. "Ryou, are you drunk?" Malik asked incredulously.
"Yep!" Ryou replied, a wide grin on his face.
Marik smirked as he looked at Bakura, who was still in shock. "What's wrong Bakura? Don't tell me that little kiss was too much for you," Marik mocked.
Malik turned to look at Marik. "You know him?" he asked.
Marik nodded. "He's my travelling companion – Bakura."
Finally, Bakura came out of his daze and turned to Malik. "You're Ryou's friend, right?" A nod of confirmation. "Well, is what he's been saying true?"
Malik looked uneasily at Ryou, who had laid his head on Bakura's shoulder and was gazing up adoringly at him. "What has he been saying?" he asked cautiously.
"That he's the prince," Bakura replied, his voice calm but his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Malik bit his lip as he looked from Bakura to Ryou. He wasn't sure whether he should tell Bakura the truth or not. Ryou seemed to trust him. Then again, Ryou was drunk. Hold on a minute – how did Ryou get drunk in the first place when he had no money? Malik's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Why'd you get Ryou drunk? Was it because you thought it would be easier to take advantage of him that way?"
Bakura growled and glared furiously at Malik. "I could be asking you the same thing. The only reason I bought him a drink was because he told me that you wanted him to 'rectify his sinful crime of being sixteen and never once been drunk', and since you were occupied and had left your friend to fend for himself, I decided to keep him company and carry out your wish to show him a good time. I didn't have any ulterior motives, but did you?"
Malik looked indignantly at Bakura. "What? I'm his – I would never do something like that."
"Some friend – leaving him on his own when he obviously can't defend himself and doesn't know anyone," Bakura scoffed, unconsciously tightening his hold around Ryou's waist.
Malik blushed and looked down, feeling guilty for accusing Bakura when he himself had been thoughtless of Ryou's feelings. Marik looked between the two (making sure that the fight was over and wouldn't get his head bitten off) before breaking the ice by saying, "Anyone want a drink?"
"No thanks. I really should be getting Ryou back home," Malik said, still feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Which leads me back to my first question," Bakura said, still slightly glaring at Malik. "Is Ryou the prince or not?"
Malik nodded. "He is; and I'm his personal servant."
Bakura nodded then looked down at Ryou who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. 'He looks so sweet and peaceful when he's asleep,' Bakura thought to himself. "I guess you'll need some help getting Ryou back to the palace," Bakura stated, still looking down at the angel.
"We'd be glad to escort you there," Marik said enthusiastically; glad that he'd be able to spend a little more time with Malik.
"You don't need to do that," Malik said, hoping to change their minds.
"Yes we do," Marik replied. "It's dark and if you're carrying the kid then you're left vulnerable if you're attacked. And besides," Marik continued with a sly grin, "I don't think Bakura's ready to leave the little prince just yet."
Bakura glared and gave him the finger. Marik just laughed, though, and Malik tried to hide a smile. Bakura shifted Ryou's weight (so he could carry him) and stood up. Ryou whined as his comfy pillow moved, and curled in towards Bakura's chest. Bakura smirked down at him as he followed the others out of the bar.
The journey to the palace went smoothly. Nobody recognized or tried to disturb them. Malik led the way, choosing to go down deserted and dimly lit streets to avoid being seen.
Finally they reached the tall outer walls of the palace. Keeping to the shadows, they made their way towards a thick clump of bushes that clung to the thick walls. Malik stopped and turned to Bakura. "I can take it from here," he said, motioning for Bakura to hand Ryou over.
"How are you going to get in?" Bakura asked, looking round for some kind of entrance.
"That's a secret," Malik replied, holding out his arms to take Ryou.
Bakura looked down at the still sleeping boy in his arms. He really didn't want to let Ryou go – it felt so nice having his warm body next to his. But Bakura knew he had to let Ryou go. He sighed and handed Ryou over to Malik. Or, at least, he tried to. Ryou's hands had a tight hold on Bakura's shirt and refused to let go. Bakura tried to dislodge his hands but that only made them cling harder to the material.
Marik chuckled. "I guess that means the little prince doesn't want to let you go either."
Bakura and Malik both turned to glare at him. Since they both had their hands full Marik was safe. But, just to be sure, he took a step back anyway.
Malik sighed. "I guess that means you'll both be coming the whole way then." He handed Ryou back to Bakura, who received him with a smirk. Ryou let go of Bakura's shirt and snuggled closer to him.
Malik moved towards the bush and pulled back some of the branches to reveal an opening in the wall. He motioned for Marik and Bakura to go through first, then followed after them. They emerged from the bush into a small courtyard. As soon as Malik came through the hole he motioned for silence, then set off quickly towards Ryou's room, which was near the middle of one of the towers. Once again, their journey went smoothly.
When they reached Ryou's room Malik told them that it was now alright to speak. Marik whistled as he looked around the room. "It's not bad being royalty I see," he commented as he looked from the large four-poster bed, to the wooden writing desk, to the shelves crammed with books.
"I bet Ryou'd disagree with you about that," Malik said as he pulled back the sheets on the bed.
"Why's that?" asked Bakura, who was sitting in a comfy chair, still holding Ryou.
"Because the girls literally throw themselves at him," Malik replied, a smile on his face.
"And that's a bad thing?" Marik asked.
"It is if you're shy and innocent like Ryou," Malik replied.
Malik then told Bakura to bring Ryou over to the bed, and together they managed to get Ryou out of the black dress without waking him. This task was made more difficult when, once again, Ryou grabbed Bakura's shirt if he moved too far away. When they were finished Ryou was left in nothing but his boxers. Bakura felt his cheeks colour and his heart beat faster as he stared down at the beautiful boy.
Finally, it was time to say goodbye. Malik was going to lead the two thieves back out of the palace since they entered near the servant's quarters, ("So that's why there's a secret exit!" Marik had said. "The servants can sneak out to get drunk or meet their lovers and nobody's the wiser!"), but he and Marik had decided to say goodbye before they set off. That was why they were playing tonsil tennis in the corner while Bakura tried to persuade Ryou to let go of him.
"Wake up Ryou," Bakura whispered softly into the boy's ear. Ryou began to stir, and looked up sleepily into Bakura's eyes. Bakura smiled gently as the boy's grip lessened and he removed Ryou's hands from his shirt, gently laying the boy down. "I have to go now Ryou; go back to sleep."
"I don't want you to go," Ryou replied sleepily.
Bakura stroked Ryou's cheek with the back of his hand. "I'll be back soon," he whispered, as he leaned forward and kissed Ryou's forehead.
Ryou smiled softly and quickly drifted off to sleep. Bakura pulled the covers up over the pale boy and closed the hangings around his bed. He sighed in contempt at the smile the beautiful boy had given him. He then turned round and sighed in exasperation.
Marik heard Bakura's sigh and turned round, a wide smirk plastered on his face. "Hey, just 'cause you're paying for the drinks from now on doesn't mean you get to sigh at us like that." Bakura rolled his eyes and set off towards the door. "Or roll your eyes!"
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