Author's note: Finally got that idea for this theme, which I'm very happy about, enjoy.
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Fandom: Yugioh
Characters: Yami Bakura/Malik Ishtar
Prompt: #23: Lovers.
Word Count: 8, 572
Rating: M
15/100
Warning(s): M. Yaoi, sexual themes, coarse language. AU. No spoilers here.
Summary: Not all Lovers are the caring kind and the ones that are, are often overlooked. Malik struggles with his love for Bakura and can only standby as Bakura is trapped in an abusive relationship.
Chapter: Lovers.
He pressed his face into the mattress and gritted his teeth and gripped the pillow so tightly that his knuckles turned white... Bakura needed a moment, he always did right after. The weight lifted off his back with a grunt and the bed moved as the other got up and walked away.
The shower started to run in the joint bathroom and his body earned for the relief that the hot water would bring. He sat up slowly and winched at the pain, blood on the sheet... how the other made this happen was beyond him, but then again the bruising on his body from being gripped, tugged and pulled too roughly. His pale skin showed everything too easily.
"I'm not going to be there this weekend." Kaiba muttered as he walked out of the bathroom, adjusting his tie. Bakura just grunted still trying to collect himself. "I'm hoping you'll be waiting Monday night when I return."
"Is it her again?" Bakura sighed, knowing he was losing but didn't quite want to let go.
"I'm engaged to her." Kaiba sat on the bed rather close and pulled Bakura to him in a hug and held him for a moment and whispered in his ear. It was these tender very rare moments that Bakura did love and the other wasn't so bad. "You're the only one I want... she is just for show."
The funny thing was that Serenity Wheeler was now an heiress of a multimillion dollar company, through her father. Who would have thought that the drunken bastard would have pulled his sorry ass out of the gutter long enough to have invented a new product that took the world by storm over night.
Seto Kaiba on the other hand, burned through his money and when one liked to live like a god rock-star and brought up everything from cars to shoes. The money was eventually going to run out sooner or later. "No, I'm not seeing her this weekend." Kaiba said getting off the bed and going downstairs.
A short time later, Bakura walked into the kitchen showered and fully dressed and dosed up on painkillers. "Morning Bakura!" Mokuba greeted him with a hug and a big grin.
"Hey kid." He muttered back, eyes landing on the young CEO already at the table eating, his nose in a news-paper.
Mokuba hurried about the kitchen and made a place for Bakura at the table. "Oh yeah!" The boy gushed. "We are going away for the weekend to see our aunt and uncle and they would love to meet you." He sat down beside the other.
Bakura raised an eyebrow and he would have been lying if he said he wasn't interested in meeting the Kaiba family. He had already met their Grandmother and she had liked Bakura right off the mark. "Mokuba." Kaiba said evenly in that tone that was his way of graciously telling the boy to 'shut up.'
"I've been talking to my aunt about you and she would love to meet to you and you should come, right big bro?" Mokuba stopped talking, waiting for his older sibling to say something anything. "Everyone is going to be there… well our family." The boy frowned continuing to talk. "Do you think it's about time that Bakura met the fam?" Mokuba glanced at his older brother still waiting.
"Yes." Kaiba snapped his news-paper and folded it giving the boy a level stare. "You are going to be late for school."
"Right," Mokuba let out a small giggle as he left the table and rushed off. Bakura stared at Kaiba not sure what to think.
Mokuba rushed back into the kitchen. "Bye." He hugged Bakura and then his brother and rushed to the door, stopping a moment. "Be sure to give Bakura the address." With that the boy was gone.
Kaiba sighed and wrote down the address on bit of paper. "Dinner is at seven pm tonight." He held out the paper for the other.
"You're inviting me?" Bakura stated in disbelief, in their awkward and every rocky relationship, Kaiba hadn't so much as invited him out to dinner or anything for that matter that didn't involve a bed, let alone meeting his family.
"Sure, I did say you were the only guy for me." Kaiba got up. "I have to go." He moved from the table, taking up his briefcase and left the house.
Bakura was stunned as he stared down at the address and time in his hand... this was... excellent! It was the break he was looking for. He could show Kaiba over the weekend just how great they are together and how much his family would like him and Kaiba was sure to forget about Serenity.
The small cafe was packed with people trying to escape the frigid air and snow for a little comfort in the warmth and something hot to drink. "C'mon Malik. It wouldn't hurt, would it?" A girl pleaded batting her eyes at him.
"We know you're single." The guy grinned.
"It's half the reason we come in here." Spoke up another guy.
"I'm not interested in dating at the moment." Malik added before the guy could speak up. "Tell me your orders or leave." Malik rolled his eyes as the table he was severing suddenly made him feel like a stripper as they shoved bits of paper with their phone numbers on them into his pockets of his pants and apron and sat back down. "Fine, lattés it is." Malik walked off going back to the counter.
"Rough day?" Ryou grinned at him and laughed as Malik was cornered again by three girls who shoved their numbers into the pockets of his apron and jeans, with added winks and whispers of 'call me' before they left.
"I get more numbers then orders!" Malik growled throwing them all into the bin. He approached Ryou and spun him about and brushed his hair from his face and asked. "Is there a neon-sign on my forehead that says 'I'm single and ready for a good-time?"
"No, but look who just sat down." Ryou nodded in the direction of the windows, his look turned into a concerned one when he saw his former dark spirit.
"Shit! I got this." Malik hissed at Ryou, who only nodded his head.
Malik approached the table, his eyes taking in every inch of the other and upon reaching the table, Malik lent on it and rather close to the other. "Besides your usual, it looks as though you've been dragged half way across the world and left rather unsatisfied about it."
Bakura grinned shyly, unable to move himself back, Malik with his blonde silk hair of his and the luxuriance of his long lashes. A knock-'em-dead smile complete with full kissable lips. Eyes that anyone could lose themselves in if caught looking too long. A thin though toned body that needed to come with a warning label. "I only dropped by to see Ryou." Bakura looked around Malik as Ryou approached with a look, not mentioning any names of a certain Righteous bastard with his magical ability to make sure life was miserable, all their shadow powers were restrained. Ryou and Bakura seemed still very connected to each other... which was absurd to think because... there was nothing there anymore.
"With him?" Ryou growled in disgust and loathing and Malik's mind was racing to keep up, as did most when these two were talking to each other.
"Only the weekend."
"No." Ryou just about stomped his foot like a child. "Don't go!"
"Ryou." Bakura gave him a tone that just didn't have the same seme-darkness or threat it used too... every disappointing on Malik's behalf.
"Don't make me threaten you!" Ryou slammed his hands down on the table.
"I'm going." Bakura said and Malik took a step back as Ryou exploded, in his own way.
"If you go, I'll have Yami render you back to spirit form and have him bind you to a... to a toilet for eternity." Ryou huffed and added. "For punishment." He then stormed off back to his counter and customers.
Malik's brain caught up, because there was one person in this whole wide world that could rile Ryou up like no other and it wasn't Marik. "You're going away with him. Damn it, Bakura." Malik was now just plain angry. "You don't even call him by his first name. Out of everyone you could have picked from, you chose him."
Malik roped in his anger and sighed, it didn't matter how much he voiced on his reasons, Bakura wouldn't listen. "You know I wouldn't treat you like that." Malik lent in more, so they were even closer and Bakura blushed. Bakura blushed and it made Malik sick, ever since he had dated Kaiba his personality had done a one-eighty. Bakura was no longer throwing witty crude comments or throwing that smirk that said 'I could fuck the world over and drive it into the deepest darkest pits of hell and you'd still love me.' and the way he dressed brought men and women to their knees wanting him.
Now, Bakura covered every inch of himself in clothing, as if hiding his body. "I wouldn't leave you waiting in my bed for me to return and then kick you out at three in the morning when I'm done with you. I wouldn't hide you from my family or the world. I wouldn't make you wait for me and never turn up." Malik stopped talking as his eyes landed on a bruise on Bakura's neck and his light lavender eyes darked with a barely contained anger, which was frightening; it was close to what his dark half often gave.
"I'm well aware of how you'd treat me." Bakura hissed back, he froze up as Malik reached in brushing the hair from Bakura's face and cupped his cheek leaning in even more so that his breath washed over the other's lips as he whispered out.
"With respect, love and a damn good time." Malik only got out as Bakura pulled away and rose to his feet before Malik could kiss him. "You know where I live Bakura; my door's always open for you!" Malik called to him.
"Hopefully me too." A guy shoved a bit of paper into Malik's apron on his way past.
Malik watched as Bakura talked to Ryou, who looked angry and close to tears. He smiled softly before wrapping his arms about Bakura and buried his head in the other's chest. Bakura returned the hug and kissed his former host on the forehead and left.
Malik approached watching Bakura's back all the way to the door. "He's changed so much since dating that bastard!" Ryou hissed throwing his towel down. "If I could... I'd make Kaiba, I'd make him."
"Pay in a bloody gruesome way that would have him leave town forever." Malik offered.
"Yes, that's what I would do." Ryou wiped the counter with a little too much enthusiasm. Malik laughed, Ryou truly didn't have a mean bone in his body, but that's how all hosts were meant to be. Ryou glanced up at the sound of the small chime and smiled at who walked in. "Umm." Ryou fixed his hair, dusted off his apron and straightened his shirt real quick. "I have this one." He walked to the counter as Marik lent on it, looking at the menu-board with a grin.
"I'll have you with a touch of a dinner date, tonight, followed by a movie on my couch." Marik looked at him pointy and grinned. "With a side order of a personal guide of how good my bed is and maybe breakfast the next morning?"
"Maybe breakfast?" Ryou asked with a smile and a raised eyebrow.
"For now." Marik winked at him and then looked at his former host and called out. "Coffee!"
"Yeah, whatever," Malik shot back irritated, "But you're paying this time, ya cheapskate."
"What got your apron in a knot?" Marik frowned looking at Ryou who silently mouthed 'Bakura,' He understood right away and shook his head.
Kaiba sat at his family's large dinner table, the room was full of his relatives who were talking to each other happily and excitedly to see each other again. The food on the table could put any thanks giving meal to shame and the soft music played in the back ground. "Seto?" Mokuba called worriedly with a frown, looking at his watch. "Bakura should have been here by now."
"Maybe he's running late." Kaiba spoke and went back to his meal and the conversation with Serenity. Mokuba walked back to the front windows and gazed out into the dark snowy night, unaware of what was really going on.
Bakura frowned as he pulled into an empty driveway. The double story house stood dark and silent. It didn't look like a house that was holding a party. He glanced at the time that read 7:34 pm. He got out of the car anyway and approached the door and rang the bell, he straightened up his clothes and waited.
An older woman answered with a smile on her lips. Bakura took in on how everything inside was awash with shadows of one gray or another. "I'm after Seto Kaiba?"
"Oh. I wasn't expecting Mr. Kaiba to be here until next month." She waited for him to say more.
"Thank you." Bakura muttered and she spoke a soft goodbye before closing the door. He pulled out his cell and punched in Kaiba's number and placed it to his ear, it rung a little before it was picked up. He was surprised to hear Kaiba's voice in the background asking for his cell back, a tone he only used when he was being playful with Mokuba. 'Hello?... No stop it honey! Hello?' Serenity's giggling voice came over the line... Bakura sighed and hung up without a word. 'Hello...'
It was so clear that Kaiba would never hold the same feelings for him and that he had chosen Serenity over him. Bakura took the three and half hours trip back home, they'd talk when Kaiba got back and this time, he wasn't getting himself out of this one.
Malik was laying on his couch, the phone in his hand ready with Bakura's number dialled in, wondering if Bakura ever thought of him at all. Half a bottle of whisky consumed and such thoughts flooded his mind and pulled him in a downward spiral of depression that was slowly being drowned out with every mouthful. He rolled onto his back and dropped the phone. Ryou seemed to know more on what was going on with Kaiba and Bakura and it didn't matter how they were best friends, every time Malik asked, Ryou got a look and would walk away. When it came to those two the world was always left to catch up on what was going on... what he wouldn't give just too have that same connection to Bakura and have him in his arms and away from that bastard.
He got up at the soft knock on his front door, feeling a little lightheaded from drinking, but not drunk. "Yeah?" Malik pulled open the door... he's here! His mind screamed in delight as his body froze up.
"I umm... couldn't think of any excuses to come up with on why I would turn up on your doorstep at such an hour." Bakura fiddled with the hem of his jack. 'I didn't want to be alone, I wanted to see you.' Bakura wanted to say and shifted on his feet for a moment and then turned to leave, he was grabbed by the arm.
"Stay." Malik pleaded, when the other looked down at him. "I'd never turn you away no matter the time of night or day." Bakura nodded and barely kept his balance as Malik threw himself in his arms and lips attached to his in a needy passionate kiss.
"Malik," Bakura pulled back trying to get the other off him half-heartily. He always had a small secret crush on Malik since the first day he had laid eyes on him.
"Please." Malik whispered against his lips, nibbling on them between words. "I don't care if you leave in the morning. Just... Just be mine tonight." He pulled Malik to him and kissed him while carrying him into the apartment.
Malik pulled off Bakura's jacket, dropping it to the floor as he pulled the taller male towards his bedroom. Malik hated winter, so many items of clothing to remove. Lips, nips and licks are they hungrily and passionately ravaged the other. Malik moved making their hips grind against the other, it pulled a moan from Bakura.
Malik reached up and pulled to remove the long sleeve top, "Stop!" Bakura jerked away, pulling his top down. Malik was trying to get his breath back, frowning as he sat up, eyeing Bakura over. "This wasn't such a..." Before he could finish what he was saying, Malik was right in front of him, eyes in a deadlock as Malik reached down and removed his top... upon seeing the blemishes on such perfect pale skin, Malik closed his eyes to hold back tears and his rage.
What had Kaiba being doing to him? There were finger marks from where Bakura had been grabbed too tightly, nail marks down his arms and over his shoulders and other marks that Malik couldn't tell what had made them, it all summed up in Malik's mind... Kaiba was abusing him.
Bakura went to pull away again; this wasn't like him at all... but he felt so damn lost, Kaiba his own 'keep it in the closet under locks and chains' boyfriend didn't want him... to Malik who wanted him so badly he was willing to give his heart and soul to him. It wasn't right, because Bakura right now couldn't return those feeling at this moment. "Malik, I should go..."
"Shh." Malik cut him off by pressing a finger to his lips and moving to straddle and sit on his lap. "What has he done to you?" Malik felt his heart just about break when Bakura looked way... Bakura was nothing but a shadow of his former self. "I would never hurt you." Malik whispered against his lips.
"I know." Bakura muttered back, moving and laying Malik out on his back.
"Then leave him and be mine." Malik was pleading as he patted Bakura's white hair, skimming his fingers down Bakura's cheek, neck and shoulder.
"I can't." Bakura was hovering over him, on his hands and knees and Malik... oh gods, the way the other was splayed out under him waiting and wanting, Bakura almost came undone. "I love..."
"Don't say that!" Malik growled at him, becoming angry once more. "It's not love." Malik spat out viciously, he couldn't help himself, it disgusted him that Bakura thought that way. "Have you seen yourself lately?" Bakura went to pull away to get up and leave. Malik reached up and cupped his face in both hands, tears filling his eyes and threatened to fall. "Why can't you see that I..." Malik trailed off bitting his lip as tears fell, he couldn't say it. He wanted to so desperately but he feared Bakura would only leave upon hearing the words. "Please just stay." He gently pulled Bakura back down to his lips and body.
Bakura had left before drawn; it had been so hard for him to leave the other like that. Malik had been snuggled up to his side, Malik's head on his shoulder and a leg over of his and an arm wrapped about his chest and so contently sleeping.
Bakura flushed at how Malik's touches had been warm and gentle and the way the other had wrapped about him, whimpered and groaned under him and called out his name... Bakura had forgotten and missed having someone that actually wanted him so much as Malik did that night.
Bakura had been transfixed on the way Malik had been under him, how much he had enjoyed being with him... Bakura couldn't remember the last time Kaiba had made him writhe like that. But Malik had been a sight to behold; it was something Bakura would remember for years to come.
His phone rang for... he had lost count as the ID flashed Malik's name and he picked it up and placed it to his ear. Bakura wandered what life would be like with Malik... The midday phone calls of short messages of 'I love you' and then hung up or dropping by the cafe to see Malik and watch him get pissed off at being hit on or lazy weekends in bed and to be welcomed home by someone as warm as Malik, having him throw his arms about him and a kiss for a greeting.
'Please talk me.' Malik's voice came over the line, snapping Bakura from his thoughts and he smiled at hearing Malik's voice. 'Please, just say something, anything. I just want to know that you're ok. That we're still friends.' Bakura slid down the wall hiding his face in his knees as he pulled them to his chest. The line went silent for a few moments, before Malik spoke up again; his voice seemed softer, sadder and it twisted up Bakura's chest heavily. 'I don't regret what we did that night... I only hope that we could have more like that...' Bakura hung up before Malik could finish what he was saying, fearing that he would once again cave in under Malik's advances, because once had been too much.
He hadn't seen Malik since that night but he got a lot of phone calls and messages. It didn't matter what he did he wasn't able to get the other out of his mind.
"Suck face elsewhere!" Malik growled with a note of jealousy towards Marik and Ryou, not because he wanted Ryou or Marik for himself, but for the simple fact that they were together and happy and free to do what they wanted with each other. Ryou had really stepped out of his shy shell since being with Marik... Malik was happy for them, he really was... he just wanted what they had but between Bakura and himself. Besides that, Marik was abusing Ryou's good nature and taking free food and coffee when he wanted without paying.
The chimes rang and Malik growled as Kaiba walked in and took a seat. "What does he want?" Marik said, looking over his shoulder at the young CEO.
"He never comes here without Bakura." Ryou muttered stepping away from Marik and looking towards Malik.
"I got this." Malik plated up a small stack of pancakes and a plain coffee and walked over to the table and slammed it all down before Kaiba.
"I didn't order this." He sneered in disgust as if the food was rotten.
"I don't give a fuck." Malik spat back crossing his arms over his chest. "You're going to eat it and leave, but hopefully chock on it."
"So hostile," Kaiba grinned at him.
"What are you doing here?" Malik hissed.
"I thought Bakura might have been hiding out here with the other lower forms of life." He muttered looking directly at Malik.
"What reason did you give him to hide from you?" Malik asked leaning on the table, his voice was deadly serious as was the dark look on his face. "I thought that internal tracking device you implanted in Bakura would have told you exactly where he is or is your company now making flawed goods."
"Are you implying that I watch over Bakura to closely?" That arrogant grin fell from Kaiba's lips as he gave his ice cold glare.
"The last time I looked Bakura was a free man to do as he pleased and you follow his footsteps too closely for anyone's liking."
"Someone like you would think that. But then again you would know all of Bakura's moves and whereabouts since you've been after him like a cat in heat." Kaiba took a sip of his coffee.
"It may be known that I'm after Bakura, but I'd treat him a damn-site better than you ever would." Malik was seething to the point of slaughtering Kaiba were he sat.
"You can case Bakura all you like." Kaiba sighed, his hard glare turned from his hot drink to Malik once more. "I have money and power and Bakura knows his place. I've shaped and trained him to how I like him... completely submissive and to the point of almost broken. He'll never leave me nor will he ever be yours." Suddenly the hot drink was over Kaiba's chest, hand and lap. The cup smashed to bits on the floor as Malik slapped it from his hand and grabbed Kaiba about the collar and pulled him forward. Kaiba grinned and added. "Whatever feelings you have for Bakura, I suggest you bury them in some deep dark corner of your twisted mind and find something else more to your style, streetwalker." Kaiba rose to his feet.
Malik growled as he pulled back and threw his fist, Kaiba caught it in his hand and twisted Malik's arm about behind his back and held him by the throat. Suddenly five knives flew past Kaiba's head and body, hitting the wall behind him. "The next one goes between your eyes Kaiba... let him go." Marik hadn't moved from his seat, but he was one-handed flipping said knife casually while taking a sip of his coffee.
Kaiba released Malik with a hard shave forward; he would have hit the ground if it hadn't been for Marik catching him. Kaiba walked by them and stopped as Ryou stood in his path a glare that could once rival that of Bakura.
"I may not know exactly what you're doing to my darker half." Ryou growled out taking small steps towards Kaiba. "But I do not like it nor do I like you." Ryou stopped at the last possible second glaring up at the other. "Seto Kaiba, a dark soul such as Bakura is not something for you to play with. I warn you to not continue mistreating my soul." Kaiba took a step backwards at the look Ryou was giving him; it sent chills down his spine… Ryou had always been an odd one.
Kaiba pushed by Ryou and headed for the door, stopping once more as Yami, Yugi, Anzu, Honda and Mai approached. "Receiving a warning from a Hikari," Yami spoke up as he passed by Kaiba.
"Is not something anyone should ignore." Yugi spoke up and with a serious look he added. "We do not give them out lightly."
Kaiba snorted and left the café, ignoring them all, what he did with Bakura was his own business and no one else's.
It had been almost a week when Kaiba came pounding on his door. "Where the hell have you been?" He walked in without being invited, which wasn't unusual. "Instead you make me come all the way down here to find, you." How Kaiba hated coming to the commoner's side of town and Bakura knew it. "This place is lower than a hovel." He remarked to Bakura's well kept apartment.
"I was sick." Bakura said flatly, but he realized that he had to face the other at some point and could no longer hide. Bakura walked by him, heading back to the living room, only to be stopped and shoved against the wall, the back of his head it and the air from his lungs forced out, his hair grabbed and head pulled back, not a sound came from his lips at the pain the other was inflicting on him.
"I went to Ryou's café and got ganged up on." He roughly tugged Bakura's hair, titling his head back. "Just what have you been telling them?"
"I cannot control what they do or say." Bakura stared back, so used to it that he no longer fought back.
He pressed his body against Bakura's and his other cold hand found its way under his top. "You're sulking and avoiding me, why?" Kaiba wanted to know, wanted to see if he still had his hold over the other… The long road of a married life to a woman and pretending to be straight all the time was going to do him in, if he didn't have someone like Bakura moulded and obedient to his every whim, he'd go insane.
"You were with her this weekend and so conveniently gave me the wrong address, when you just could have come out and say you didn't want me to come with you." Bakura shoved him away angry at being stood up. "So sorry, that I'm a little pissy with you right now and didn't want to see you."
The look in Kaiba's eyes almost made Bakura recoil, having once before been on the receiving end of that anger, "I got you something." Kaiba stepped back digging about in his pockets and pulled out a small velvet box. "I called off our engagement."
"Liar!" Bakura knew better, Kaiba would do anything to take over that new company from the inside and if he had to marry a girl like Serenity, he would. The thing was, Kaiba always wanted to have things his way. He would have Serenity as his wife and Bakura; well he would be waiting on the sidelines to be used whenever Kaiba felt like it.
Kaiba's eye twitched as he opened the box to reveal a diamond ring, it was something close to what Bakura would have stolen in his past and sold it to a pawn-shop for cash. "I did. That's why I didn't want you with me." He removed the ring from the box and held it up. "I told you, you're the only guy for me." Bakura just stared at the ring; he didn't move or look as though he would accept it.
Kaiba seethed through his grit teeth as it didn't play out how he thought it should have. "Do you know how easily it would be for me to call in a few inspectors and have Ryou's little dive of a café closed down? Or have the bank pull out of any further funding; Ryou will be turned away for his little upgrade, the place would be closed down." Bakura narrowed his eyes at the other; Ryou loved his shop so much.
"You wouldn't dare!" Bakura growled back angry that Kaiba would use such threats on his former host.
"You know me, by the time I'm done with him, Ryou will be homeless." Kaiba grinned.
Marik would tear Kaiba apart if he ever found out... Bakura still made no move to accept the ring.
Kaiba's grin fell and changed his approach on the matter. "You'll never be in need of anything. I'll take care of you. I'll get you a nice new apartment closer to my mansion. Ryou too, I'll pay out his Uni fees, because I know it must be weighting him down, I'll buy him a place of his own as well, get him out of that side of town." Bakura bit his lip, Ryou did live in a dangerous neighbourhood, no matter how many nights Marik stayed with him, he wasn't always able to be around to protect Ryou. Plus his former Host was also a struggling student... Bakura took the ring from him and put it on.
Kaiba grabbed Bakura's arm tightly and dragged him towards the bedroom.
Bakura lay panting and gasping on the bed, the pain that had flooding his senses left his body trembling all over. He was okay with a little bit of masochistic pain… but this time it had felt like rape, which he always categorized with woman who walked down dark streets asking for it. It didn't happen in a relationship, did it?
"Next time don't make me wait for you." Kaiba growled doing up his pants and left the other on the bed. Bakura didn't think he had enough painkillers in his bathroom to cover this amount of pain let alone reach his bathroom... at least he wasn't on the cold floor, he thought before passing out.
"It's fine." Malik said, placing down a tray of used plates and cups onto the counter. "Marik's waiting for you. I'll close up tonight."
"If you're sure," Ryou bit his lip.
"Yes, I'm sure, go." Malik gently pushed him towards Marik as further indication to leave.
"Thank you, Malik." Ryou said, taking of his apron and left.
Malik had gotten through with all the cleaning in no time, he gathered up the aprons to take home and wash when Ryou's cell phone fell from the pocket onto the floor. Malik picked it up; Ryou would get it in the morning. He placed the cell phone down onto the counter and turned to leave for the night, when the cell started to ring. Malik was going to ignore it until he saw the caller ID that read Bakura.
Malik answered it, placing it to his ear; he didn't speak as Bakura's raspy voice gasped over the line first. 'Ryou.' There was a heavy clunk like he had dropped the phone followed by uneven breathing.
Something was very wrong. "Bakura." His name fell from Malik's lips and he slapped his hand over his mouth, the line went silent for a long moment before the dead tone came over the line. Malik hung up as he rushed out of the cafe, stopping only for a moment to lock the shop up.
It wasn't long when Malik was pounding on Bakura's apartment door, Ryou's cell against his ear and the phone was rang in his ear as well as inside the apartment. He had tried Bakura's cell on the way over and it just rang.
"Open the door I'm outside!" Malik called down the line and at the door as he still pounded on it. The way Bakura had said Ryou's name like that had left him chilled on his inside. Nothing happened, no movement or sound. Malik stepped back and kicked the door in. He would pay for damages later. He rushed inside searching the apartment and found Bakura laying on the floor in the hallway, half naked. "Bakura?" Malik fell to his knees and rolled the other over. "I'm here." He held Bakura in his arms holding back his tears... Kaiba was a dead man.
It took a little time to get Bakura up off the floor and into the shower since it was the only thing he was asking for. Malik helped him get cleaned up and onto the couch; he wrapped the other up in a blanket and sat himself on the small coffee table in front of the other. Malik passed Bakura a hot drink and held himself back from throwing his arms about him.
Bakura looked away, his already death grip on the blanket and cup tightened. "I can't stay here." He muttered. "He'll come back." Bakura didn't have it in him to go and face Kaiba again, not after what he just did to him and if he didn't show up at the mansion, Kaiba would come looking for him and Bakura feared that he would be worse off again. "Help me escape him."
"Just tell him you want nothing more to do with him." Malik suggested, bitting at his lip as Bakura still looked to be a wreck.
"I can't." Bakura muttered into the blanket, hiding his face.
"What hold does he have over you?" Malik asked shocked, but knowing the kind of man Kaiba was, because Malik had dated a few here and there. The bastard would be using personal blackmail and threats to keep what he wanted.
A door slammed out in the hallway and Bakura launched to his feet and backed up. "I have to get out."
Malik followed him standing before the frightened other, he reached up and tilted Bakura's chin downward gently, wiping away a few tears. "Stay with me." Malik offered. "I have a spare room; you are most welcome to have it. Kaiba doesn't know where I live and you'll be safe and have all the quiet and time you need to work yourself out."
"I don't... I don't want Ryou to see me like this." Bakura finally tore his gaze from his front door to Malik's eyes.
"You don't have to see anyone you don't want to."
Tears willed up in Bakura's dark eyes and fell down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry Malik; I fucked up." Malik moved closer and wrapped his arms about Bakura as he broke down letting it all out for the months he had been with Kaiba.
The days rolled by slowly and Malik came and went from his apartment for work and errands. Bakura did nothing but lay in bed, the drapes drawn shut blocking out all sunlight, the t.v on and turned down low as he blankly stared at it. Malik brought him food, to which Bakura didn't touch.
How Malik missed Bakura's old mischievous, reckless, crude and carefree ways... but he was determined to see Bakura back on his feet and back to his old ways in time. For now, Malik let him be and do whatever he wanted that would help him to feel better.
A knock on his front door and Ryou's voice flowed over it. Malik opened the bedroom door. "Ryou is here, do you wish to see him?" Malik sighed when Bakura pulled the covers over his head.
Malik opened the front door to have a news paper practically shoved in his face. "Have you seen this?" The headlines of Kaiba and Joey Wheeler's wedding complete with picture of the happy bride and groom. Malik was shocked speechless; at the bottom was a picture of Serenity in tears.
Malik dropped the news paper and followed Ryou as he rushed to the guest bedroom. The t.v was showing the same thing Malik had just been shown. Ryou turned it off hoping in same way that Bakura hadn't seen or heard any of it. "It was just me." Bakura muttered a few times over and over again to himself.
It seemed to all click together for Ryou, he knew at that moment what Kaiba had done. "Bakura it wasn't you." Ryou said sitting on the bed and slowly revealing his darker half from under the sheets and blankets. "Kaiba was using everyone he could." Bakura reached out and pulled Ryou into his arms to lay down beside him on the bed.
Malik left the room so the two could talk.
Few weeks passed by and Ryou had never been happier to know that Bakura was pulling out of the relationship with Kaiba and that was all Bakura wished for him to know. Ryou was disappointed that Bakura hadn't made any moves on Malik, he kept his fingers crossed that they would hook up; knowing Malik would be good for his dark half.
Malik once again dumped a bunch of phone numbers into the trash along with a news-paper that seemed to be following Kaiba and Joey's every move. He sighed and glanced over to see Ryou, standing between Marik's parted knees, giggling at whatever the taller male was saying. "Are those two always like this?" Bakura asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well since Ryou got his attention for more than five seconds, Marik's kinda settled down." Malik shrugged. "You get used to it." Bakura hadn't liked the thought of his host going out with a complete psychopath, who turned out to be rather good for Ryou and who was he talk, when he ended up with someone so much worse.
"Ryou give it a break you're making us sick!" Bakura threw a handful of coffee beans at them, Marik growled with a comment of kicking his ass as he stood up. Bakura retorted with I can take you. It seemed the more Marik hung about Bakura, the more his old self was coming out again.
This was a good time to for Malik to prove to all that Marik was a bad influence and the only time he would admit, he was grateful for it.
The chimes went off and Kaiba walked in, Bakura hit the floor as if someone had taken out his legs. He pressed his back against the counter.
Malik caressed his cheek with a reassuring smile that he would take care of this for him. Malik didn't blame Bakura for wanting to hide or thought any less of him. Over the weeks of staying at his apartment, Malik had gotten in all the deep information about what Kaiba was like and what Bakura had been through. Poor Joey, he had no idea what he was in for... Malik was glad to know that Serenity had been practically shoved out of Kaiba's life.
Ryou pecked Marik on the lips and moved away and stood in Kaiba's path. "You are no longer welcome here." Ryou growled at him.
"I'm surprised you're still in business." Kaiba snorted back, looking around, this should have been closed by now.
"Oh yes, I got your health inspectors and the call from the bank manager, unlucky for you the health inspectors that you bribed is a friend of my father and the bank manager calling me saying that you tried to stop any further funding. Sad to say that this building was given to me by Ryuji Otogi, who funds this place as a thank you to me for getting him in with Pegasus who launched Otogi's new game a few months back. You didn't really look into your information to well." Ryou growled and drew back his fist and punched Kaiba square in the face, knocking the taller male his ass. "Don't you dare, ever use me as a threat!"
"So, Bakura's not man enough to face me, instead he's hiding behind you." He got up and was about to deal the same hit, until Marik stood up.
"I don't blame him for not wanting to see you." Malik stood beside Marik and added. "He dumped your ass rich-boy, let it go." and he had, Bakura had been a nervous wreck when he showed up at the park, a neutral place with Ryou and Marik, just in case, and Kaiba had taken it badly.
Kaiba had threatened Bakura's life and had tried to shut down Ryou's cafe to make Bakura regret leaving him. "Didn't know that Bakura would lower himself to fuck a common street whore, but then again, your standards Malik aren't that high to being with." Marik lunged up at him slamming Kaiba up against the wall with his pocket knife at his throat.
"You insult him, you insult me." A few of the customer's gasped moving away, a few ran out the door. "The thing is, I'm not afraid of you, I would be happy to remove your head and keep it for the sake of it." Kaiba gulped, out all he had dealt with in the past, Marik was the one person he always avoided.
"Marik." Ryou called out to him, hoping to get the other to back off, not because he would hurt or kill Kaiba. Ryou just didn't want Marik getting the blame or doing it in front of so many wittinesses.
"Your bitch is calling you." Kaiba smirked at the other.
Marik just glared at him for a moment. "The thing is." Marik pulled back and punched Kaiba in the stomach, who bent over gasping for air, Marik added. "I'm his." He backed off watching as Kaiba just about crumbled to the floor holding his midsection.
"You!" He straightened up a little glaring at Malik. "You convinced him to leave me! Turned him against me! Bakura loved me!" Kaiba yelled at him, Malik met his wild look with a level stare. It was pathetic to see Kaiba in a fit over something he couldn't have.
"No Kaiba." Bakura said approaching them, Malik wanted to reach out and stop him from getting any closer, but let him by knowing Bakura had to do this, to make it sink into Kaiba's head or the other would never leave him in piece. "What we had wasn't even close to love. I thought I loved you, thought you loved me, it was a lot of things, but that night, you helped make my mind up."
"I forgive you." Kaiba muttered getting up and taking a step back with each of Bakura's forwards ones.
"YOU FORGIVE ME!" Bakura exploded with anger. "Malik was the one to pick me up off the floor, where you had left me."
"What did you do to him, you son of bitch!" Ryou went for Kaiba; Marik only grabbed onto him and held him in place, letting Bakura deal with this.
"You were controlling, so violently abusive. I've told you once and I'll tell you again... it's over." Kaiba stumbled out the cafe doors into the street, Bakura stayed in the doorway. "Go home to your wife, I don't do married men."
"Bakura, wait it wasn't what I wanted, I married him... because I missed you, I needed a replacement until you came back to me... it's you I."
Bakura cut him off. "Keep coming after me or Ryou or anyone I care for I'll make sure those pictures of you find their way to the right people. I particularly like the one where you got that kid to wear that black leather teddy and high heels, he did look under age."
Kaiba paled and thought on it for a moment, that photo had gone missing. "Fuck you!" He spat, he wouldn't risk it. "You aren't worth it." He turned and walked away.
"You are to me." Malik said standing behind Bakura with a soft smile, who returned it with a grin and walked back inside to see Ryou giving apologies to everyone.
One night a thunderstorm broke with a flash of lightening. Kaiba wasn't sure what had woken him from his sound slumber... but something wasn't right. He reached out and flicked on the bedside lamp. The darkness gave way and he glanced about the room. "Who's here?" He called out to a figure standing within the shadows; he fished out his gun from the draw and aimed it.
Whoever it was started to laugh there was an insane sound to it and softly spoke up. "You were given a warning, Seto Kaiba. You like to use people for your own personal use, like dolls. Therefore you shall be a puppet." The figure moved swiftly towards him and Kaiba shot off a few rounds before his world went black.
Joey Wheeler didn't even move in his sleep at all.
The figure reached down and plucked up the small doll from the bed.
Bakura flicked through the t.v channels as Malik sat down beside him rather unnecessarily close; Bakura was now used to it and welcomed it. They had been living under the same roof for a month now and whenever he returned home, Malik always greeted him with a kiss to his cheek and a hug or would hug and kiss him with a bye as Malik rushed out the door for work. Bakura even received those small 'I'm thinking of you' messages on his cell phone from Malik through the day.
Bakura was slowly becoming his old self which Malik was more than happy to see and deal with... but it still hurt that Bakura still didn't return his affections and it didn't matter how nice and understanding Malik was, he doubted Bakura would see him as anything more than a friend. Maybe that's all that they were from the start and Malik was seeing and hoping for something that just wasn't there. "What is that?" Bakura asked, eyeing off a bit of paper in Malik's hand that read.
'I have not over looked you or the longing looks glanced my way. I'm uncertain if I'm ready for this but I'm willing to try, with you. Call me anytime, day or night.'
"It was left for me a work." Malik bit his lip and glanced at Bakura.
"Are you going to call?" Bakura asked, his eyes back on the t.v still searching for something worthwhile to watch.
"I don't know." Malik placed it down onto the coffee table and snuggled up to Bakura's side.
"If you don't call them then I will." Bakura said reaching for the note and held it out to Malik.
"But I." Malik didn't want to go out with anyone if it wasn't Bakura and if his life was going to be like this from now on, huddled up on the couch and the fleeting touches... what the hell, he would call as it was most likely that girl that hung about the cafe watching him.
Malik got up, taking the bit of paper and pulled out his cell phone and dialled the number and waited... suddenly a tone rang out from behind him.
"About time, thought you'd never call." Bakura's voice sounded from behind him and over the line.
Malik wide eyed whipped about. "This... this was you?" He held up the note talking into his cell and at Bakura.
"Didn't know how to ask you," Bakura hung up his phone and put it aside.
"But you never showed any interest and I was giving you the space you wanted and you... to hell with it!" Malik dropped his cell phone and the bit of paper and threw himself into Bakura's waiting arms and kissed him passionately... Malik didn't care to find out why Bakura didn't ask him straight up; the fact was Bakura was finally his.
'The billionaire Seto Kaiba still remains in his mysterious coma. Joey Kaiba remains close to... '
"They'll pull the plug on you in about eight months." Ryouturned off the t.v and opened his hand, arms wrapped about him and a chin upon his shoulder.
"Are you ready?" Marik asked looking down into Ryou's opened hand as well. "New doll?" Marik never mentioned Ryou's odd obsession with dolls.
"No." Ryou stepped away from him and placed the doll that had a bizarre similarity to Seto Kaiba, only in his pyjamas, on a shelf with a dozen more dolls. "He was in the making for a long time." Ryou stepped back from the shelf and was engulfed in Marik's arms yet again. "I'll get ready." Ryou pulled away and walked to the bedroom.
Marik approached the shelf and pulled down the doll looking it over, shadow magic surrounded it. "Doll on my boyfriend's shelf that has shocking resemblance to Seto Kaiba who's in a coma," Marik smirked. "A host's warning is something not even I would have the guts to ignore... but you'll be a perfect reminder for me not to piss Ryou off in the near future, right Kaiba?" Marik placed the doll back as Ryou came out of the bedroom.
"I'm ready." Ryou smiled and then chuckled as Marik took his hand and kissed his fingers.
"You are wickedly evil my love." His eyes darted to the doll and then back to Ryou.
"Ah, you're being sentimental again." Ryou tugged Marik out the door.
"I always am when I'm with you." Marik muttered as he followed Ryou down the hallway.
Lengthy I know, but I had so much fun with this one ^.^ I tried to squeeze in couples where I could, you know that little extra bit for Lovers ^.^ R&R (love and cookies)