Sorry about the mistake of posting the same chapter twice, this has now been fixed. I think my site may have had a glitch, but is now gone. Sorry for the confusion but bare with me as I fix the chapters up and enjoy.
Fanfic100 Claim
Fandom: Yugioh
Characters: Yami Bakura/Malik Ishtar
Prompt: # 87: Life
Word Count: 10,396
Rating: M for safety.
Warning(s): Au. No spoilers here. Yaoi. Supernatural. Death. Adult themes.
Summary: Malik's life is a struggle to survive day to day. Bakura lives a quiet, odd life. Two worlds collide and maybe they can save each other.
Chapter 19: Life
Bakura awoke to feeling a lot better than he had hours ago. He removed the arm from his chest and the leg thrown over his hip with enough force to roll the now dead woman onto her back, her long blonde hair covering her face. Bakura got up and stretched his muscles and joints popping and cracking.
The bedroom that had been impeccable upon their arrival was now a mess; items lay on the floor, dresser on its side, pictures skewed but still hanging, oh but it had been fun while it lasted. Bakura walked about the room picking up his clothes and dressing. "Such a shame." He muttered looking the dead girl over, she was better than anyone he had all month.
Bakura entered the dark street and not surprised at all to find no one out at this time of night, but it didn't stop him from keeping an eye out for a possible snack to take home with him. He frowned when it started to snow and the chilly wind picked up and he recalled a weather forecast on a TV earlier that night at a bar. He couldn't recall the name of the bar or the woman he had spent his night with for that matter, the point was... A blizzard was coming and going to last a few days. So, Bakura now regretted letting his hunger get the better of him and should have kept the woman alive and offered her to spend the weekend at his house.
"Damn it!" Bakura hissed he'd have to hunt for someone to spend the weekend with before he went home. He growled it seemed like so much work and he was rather satisfied and wasn't in the mood to pick anyone up and he was better at the game when he was hungry, but the situation called for him to find someone before going home and the blizzard set in over the small town.
Bakura reached a small car-park, a grin stretched across his lips as he noticed a few vehicles, stealing a car and driving to the nearest bar, would be a better chance of picking someone up with a car then rather on foot.
Bakura walked up to the driver's side door and within moments it was open. "No!" A scream echoed in the chilly night. Bakura closed the car door and followed the direction he thought the scream had come from. "No please!" Bakura found himself standing at the small narrow alleyway that led through to another small car-park.
"Hold still!" A man a rather large one struck the young woman to the ground and grabbed by her shoulder length platinum blonde hair and dragged her towards a van.
The man had more muscle and height going for him than Bakura, but it didn't stop him from following them, contemplating on taking them both back with him.
She managed to pull free and crawled away on her hands and knees trying to find the strength to get up, only to be kicked in the back, her forehead hitting the ground hard, pinned face first to the wet dirty ground. "If you want it right sweetheart then that's fine with me." The woman's assailant laughed, unbuckling his belt and pants.
Bakura growled, watching her struggles increase as did her begging as he tore the little top off her body and did the same with her shorts, she was effortlessly flipped onto her back."No, get off me!" She kicked out which didn't have much effect at all, the man snarled grabbing her about the head and smacked it against the pavement twice, she groaned and didn't move after that as he moved her about like a doll.
"Enough." Bakura made his prescience known and made a slow approach, the man stumbled backwards on his feet.
The woman's attacker recovered quickly and didn't seem to know what to do and stood a few paces eyes darting from Bakura to the unconscious girl and back again. "I paid for that. I own it!" He sneered; like she was property to be owned.
The Human disgusted Bakura that killing him out sheer fucking principle might be worth the trouble. A soft groan from the girl her eyes opened and Bakura glanced down and truly looked at the woman at his feet, she just stared up at him, fear and panic in her tear filled eyes. No, it wasn't a woman, despite the female clothes, make-up and cheep perfume. She was a He and a very young he at that. "Please!" His lips moved before passing out a again; black tears stained his cheeks from too much make-up that seemed to enhance those light lavender eyes.
The assailant was upon the younger boy grabbing at him, Bakura moved swiftly grabbed his thick wrist preventing him from touching the younger one. "I think the child said no." Bakura shoved him away now standing between the two and ordered. "Go home." The male attacked, Bakura ducked a swinging fist and struck the man square in the chest, lifting him off his feet and sending him through the air. "Count yourself lucky." Bakura decided that killing this pathetic soul wasn't worth the effort of wasting energy on.
Bakura turned about taking off his jacket and wrapped the boy up in it and picking him up in his arms. "This isn't a place for the likes of you." He carried him back to the car.
Bakura sat in the driver's seat for a moment thinking of the next best actions to take, he glanced over and stared at the boy, noticing the thick stream of blood running from his hairline down his forehead and over his right eye, the scrapes and gashes on his knees, hands and wrists and the countless bruises in all stages of healing that weren't made just from tonight.
Bakura contemplated taking the child to the hospital, the boy needed medical care, but then Bakura didn't want to be bothered by the millions of questions the Doctors and nurses would ask about the boy's medical history, why he was so injured and then having to deal with the authorities.
Bakura started his car and pulled out onto the street.
Malik slowly awoke feeling relaxed, warm and comfortable, his face pressed against an unfamiliar soft mattress and his eyes came to focus on a crackling fire... This wasn't right, the events of his attack flooded his mind and Malik pushed himself up on the bed and made to get up to his feet. Everything around him was unfamiliar and the world tilted on its axis.
Malik's started to feel dizzy a wave of nausea washed through him and he threw up into a bucket that was suddenly there, once he stopped he pushed it way, not knowing where he was or who he was with brought a sense of panic and a need to get to some place familiar, get help, get to people that could help him. "Easy." Firm hands on his shoulders and he was being pushed back onto the bed. "You have a concussion." White hair and wine red eyes filled Malik's vision.
"Where am I? I need to... I need..." All thoughts Malik had drifted away and he never felt weaker.
"Rest." Malik could no longer focus on those unusual eyes and became so tired that he gave in and passed out. Malik drifted in and out of consciousness for short periods of time and noticed someone was always there whenever he had woken up. When Malik awoke next, he notice a male slumbering soundly in an armchair beside his bed, an open book lay on his chest, the same one that had filled Malik's vision when he came to and stared at him for awhile and drifted off to sleep again.
When Malik awoke again much later he took in his surroundings once more and looked for whoever had been looking after him. He sat up slowly and his head felt rather large and raised his hand to feel what kind of damage he had suffered, only to stop and at seeing a bandage wrapped about his hand and wrist. In fact, Malik pulled aside the blankets to see a bandage wrapped about his left ankle and inspected himself to see that his injuries had been cleaned and treated, even his clothes had been changed and was wearing a large white shirt... but who would have taken care of him? No one in Malik's life cared that much about his wellbeing.
Maybe the person looking after him was far worse than his attacker, Malik shuddered and pulled his knees to his chest and hugged himself, maybe this guy took him back to his house and now Malik was his prisoner. No way was that going to happen. Malik slipped from the bed with a hiss of pain as he tried to place his weight on his ankle, he glanced about the room in search for his clothes and couldn't see them anywhere.
Malik limped towards the door; not sure how far he'd get on his injured ankle, but he'd crawl home naked if he had too. Malik stepped out into a dimly lit hallway, which was lined with door after door and candles burned on little holders on the wall; Malik picked a direction and found stairs. He glanced about and listened for a moment, he couldn't hear anything, no tv, no movement, only the ticking of a clock somewhere.
Malik held onto the rail and made his way down, every step creaked under his foot and once at the bottom he made a dash for the front door and ripped it open, only to be met with high chilly winds that almost ripped the door out of his hands and took his breath away and stung his barely covered body and snow fell so thickly that he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him.
Malik backed up closing the door; he'd get lost and end up freezing to death before he'd find help or another house. Malik bit his lip maybe he could find some clothes dress up and take his chances with the blizzard outside.
Malik limped his way to a door on his left; it was a sliding door and pushed it open enough to get himself through. The room looked small due to every wall from ceiling to floor of shelves covered with books; puffy armchairs faced a large open fire place, a huge window that gave a perfect view of the raging blizzard outside. "What the hell?" Malik limped over to the fire place passing between the two large armchairs to the mantel, where a few shrunken heads sat looking out over the room. "They can't be real." Malik reached up to touch.
"Very real," Malik gasped turned around and yelped in pain and stumbled, the stranger caught him in mid fall saving him from possibly hurting himself again.
Malik blushed; the older male was stunning, the white hair, pale skin, sharp futures and those wine red eyes. "Thanks." Malik blushed and was placed on his feet and asked. "What happened?"
The older man raised an eyebrow stepping back a little. "You were attacked remember or do you suffer from memory loss?"
"No, I remember." Malik mumbled. "How long was I out for?"
"Two days. Follow me." Bakura started to walk knowing the child must be hungry or possibly starving.
"Two days? TWO DAYS?!" Malik yelled shocked and suddenly panicked if this was truly a kidnapping or worse something so much sinister then he could possibly imagine.
"Did I stutter?" He growled turning about those wine red eyes narrowed, Malik quickly shook his head no. "You were well cared for and safe from the blizzard, be grateful child I could have left you in that car-park." Bakura hated more than anything to repeat himself, but he did so for the dim-witted child. "Follow me."
"I am grateful." Malik spoke up again and continued. "For your hospitality, but I really should be on my way."
"On your way?" Malik bit his lip and shifted nervously on the way the other stared at him. "The blizzard even prevents me from venturing out; you won't make it to the end of the driveway."
"Could I use your phone?" He fiddled with a button on his shirt and then Bakura picked up on the scent of fear and slight panic. Bakura sighed, it wasn't his intention at all to frighten the child he had saved... then again he should have known better, Human's were often afraid of him, sure he was a little ill tempered but even trying to do a good deed always backed fired, resulting in the endless torment from his family.
"Phones are out due to the blizzard, but you're welcome to try them."
Tears filled those light pools of liquid lavender and his chin trembled. "Are you going to kill me?"
"Child!" Bakura snapped with a growl losing his patience, frightening the boy even more watching him back up with a gasp. "If I was going to kill you I would have done it by now, not bring your ungrateful ass into my home and care for you for two days!" Bakura evened his tone taking a deep breath and tried to see the situation from the child's point of view. "Now, if you are hungry follow me." Bakura turned walked away, leaving the child to do as he wished.
No sooner had Bakura taken a hot pot of soup off the stove; the boy entered the kitchen and cautiously took a place at the table. Bakura dished up bowls of warm soup and fresh bread out of the oven and brought it all back to the small round table, and sat down to eat.
"What's your name?" Bakura asked after taking a few mouthfuls and notice that the boy hadn't touched his food yet. "It's not to your liking? I apologize, I only cook for myself and this is the only recipe I know of."
"It's fine." The boy started to eat and after a few mouthfuls he muttered. "Malik, my name's Malik." They ate in silence, Bakura noticed Malik shifting nervously every now and then glancing about, either taking in his surroundings or looking for an escape.
Bakura finished his bowl and sat back in his chair, a sad look passed over Malik's face at his now empty bowl. Bakura got the impression that the child was a big eater and didn't get to eat often due to far too many bones protruding out from under his skin. What was the saying, all skin and bone?
"Please help yourself, it has to be eaten or it goes to waste." Bakura didn't miss the corners of Malik's lips slightly kick up in a hidden grin as he refilled his bowl again and again until the pot was empty and the bread gone and Malik was full.
"Thank you." Malik whispered a little embarrassed as Bakura cleaned off the table.
"If you like I can show you back to your room where you can rest the night and maybe in the morning the blizzard might have passed." Malik nodded he was starting to feel sick and his dizziness was getting worse the longer he sat at the table. He got up followed Bakura to the stairs, small candles burned in little lanterns on the walls dimly lighting the house up and not having to bother carrying about candles or flashlights... so if the electricity was out, then phones were too.
Malik hissed in pain as he stumbled on the stairs, his ankle throbbing in pain from having walked on it so much. "I need a moment." He said leaning on the rail, the staircase tilted and darkened.
"Foolish child." Bakura turned and picked Malik up in his arms and carried him, Malik protested for a moment but stopped as he was ignored. "If you're in that much pain and feeling unwell you should have said something or stayed in bed I would have come by and checked on you." Bakura placed the boy down on the bed and left the room and returned moments later with two small pills in his hand.
"No thank you." Malik shook his head.
"Painkillers." Bakura tossed the sealed packet at him and placed the glass of water on the nightstand.
Malik picked up the packet and fiddled with it nervously in his hands for a moment and asked. "Why do you keep calling me child?"
"You are a child." Bakura stopped by the door. "And one as young as yourself shouldn't have been out as late as you were, there are horrors that lurk in the shadows waiting for such easy." Bakura's eyes flashed in the dim light. "Prey."
Malik swallowed thickly and said. "I'm not a child, I'm fourteen." Bakura raised an eyebrow as he closed the door and retired to his own bedroom down the hall.
Three days passed and the storm still raged outside, each morning Malik found clean folded clothes at the foot of the bed, not the kind of clothes he was accustom to wearing, they were tan khaki pants, a shirt, a hooded jumper that were a little big, socks and sneakers were included, since his ankle was a little tender and slightly swollen, Malik got around in just socks.
Bakura tended to Malik's ankle and other injures so well in fact that by the third day Malik could walk about the house with only a slight limp and his injures didn't bother him as much and his head felt a whole lot better. Malik found he wasn't a prisoner of any kind and wandered the house freely without having his moves watched, followed or scolded for strolling in and out of rooms.
Malik had wandered into a bedroom, the bed was just as large as the one Malik had been using, books and clothes covered dressers, nightstands shelves and even the floor. Bakura walked in almost running into Malik. "Is this your room, I'm sorry, I wasn't snooping." He gushed expecting to be scowled or growled at and told to get out.
"It would be stupid of me to keep secrets where anybody could walk in and find them and then use them against me or having to explain myself to others." Bakura simply stated as he fished about the room for a moment plucking up a book and left the room leaving Malik up to his own devices.
Malik spent his time looking over the odd collections Bakura had from really old books, to paintings on the walls, statues placed on stands or on shelves about the house and the antique furniture, everything in the house looked as though it came right from the past. Bakura had stated over a meal that everything in the house ranged from about the eighteenth century onward.
Malik found Bakura was good company when his nose wasn't in a book and he was in the mood to talk. They had found out a little about each other, the obvious one was Bakura's unusual love for books and rather spend his time reading then doing anything else and Malik was grateful that Bakura didn't pry too much, in fact he didn't ask questions, though Malik could see that Bakura did by the way he studied Malik rather then looked at him.
Malik on his wanderings throughout the house had come across a huge greenhouse like room that was attacked to some kind of sun room or study, completely over grown by plants that had died and vines up walls and over the doors, everything was dead and covered in snow due to cracked or broken glass in the ceiling. The room must have been stunning in the warmer months and Malik could see himself spending all his time in here or even Bakura.
Malik found many rooms and seemed the house went on forever, he had found a music room complete with all the instruments covered in with white sheets or in their cases. He found a huge ballroom with open glass windows on one side that lead out to a balcony. He found a kitchen that was five times larger than the kitchen he ate in with Bakura.
Malik was looking at books in Bakura's study when he found the only modern technology that wasn't a phone, a TV. It was hidden under a mountain of books. He told Bakura about it and at first he seemed rather surprised to learn that he had such a thing in his home and couldn't recall ever having one let alone buying it. "You can watch it if you like."
"We can both see how much longer this blizzard is going to last and I'm sure there might be a good movie on... But the power is out." Malik suddenly remembered.
"I have a generator." Bakura turned leaving the study and Malik followed, being handed a torch. "Not sure if it works, haven't used it in a long time." Bakura opened the door that lead to the basement. "Watch your step." He was already a few steps down and turned with his hand out for Malik to take.
Malik dropped the torch with a gasp and a shake of his head and backed up to the far wall, the colour drained from his face and pure fear and panic and that Bakura could see the boy tremble. "I've been good." Malik muttered tearfully and ran.
"Malik!" Bakura called out after him.
It was late in the evening when Malik showed himself again, Bakura grinned behind his book, most likely the boy was drawn out due to hunger or the sounds of the TV. "Would you like to join me?" Malik nodded and sat down on the floor of Bakura's study and watched the weather updates. Bakura even glanced up from his book when he heard the news of the blizzard lasting a few more days and the areas that the storm had passed people were snowed in. Malik glanced over his shoulder and met Bakura's eyes for a moment. "It can't be helped." The older male muttered going back to his book.
Malik didn't mind spending a few more days in this house with Bakura, he really liked it here he had free rein to sleep in, move about the house and Bakura didn't seem to mind him at all. Malik's stomach growled and he glanced back at Bakura who was very uninterested in the TV. "Bakura," Malik rolled over onto his stomach and that's when Malik noticed it, Bakura was looking paler then usual, he had dark circles under his eyes, his hair limp and looking more gray then white, his eyes dulled from wine red to almost brown, Malik wondered if Bakura was getting sick. "Would you mind if I cooked dinner tonight?"
Bakura raised a sceptical eyebrow. "You can cook?"
Malik nodded. "I do enjoy cooking, but I don't get to very often."
"If you wish." Bakura turned back to his book.
"Thank you." Malik got to his feet with the biggest grin on his lips and rushed from the room.
The aroma of cooking soon filled the house and it was a nice change from the usual smell of the soup he cooked. Bakura unable to read as the words blurred together and he lost interest in reading. Bakura rose from his chair and walked to the kitchen and stood in the doorway watching, it was interesting to see someone else using his kitchen.
Bakura found his hunger getting the better of him, his mouth watered and stared a little too long at the youth in his kitchen. "Oh!" Malik jumped startled at the sudden closeness, Bakura moved in trapping him at the counter by his arms and leaning in. "It's almost ready if you want to take a seat." Malik said nervously placing his hands on Bakura's chest ready to push him away; shock froze Malik in place as Bakura managed to get right in close and raised Malik's chin feeling the other's breath wash over his lips.
Bakura was too close! "What are you doing?!" Malik asked a tremble in his voice; Bakura growled pressing tighter against the youth. Bakura's hand slipping under the back of his shirt, sharp nails racked down his soft skin and gripped Malik's rear end and lifted him from his feet. Malik could feel the muscles and other places pressing onto him. Malik couldn't process what was happening when he felt the warm touch of lips against his own and the moisture of a tongue in his mouth. Malik increased his struggling tenfold and all that Bakura did was moan in pleasure and Malik was pulled against the other more tightly.
Bakura focused on the younger in his arms and instantly let go and stumbled back looking horrified. "I'm so sorry." Bakura was quick to apologize, his hunger was worse than he thought and could no longer ignore it or he'd be no better than the savage bastard in the car-park, only Malik wouldn't be so lucky and escape him and no one would be around to save him. "I have to go!" Bakura muttered turned and fled the kitchen.
"Bakura!" Malik couldn't stop shacking as he followed seeing Bakura head for the front door. "I'm ok, you don't have to leave, you didn't hurt me." Malik stepped back at seeing the same look Bakura had in the kitchen. "But the blizzard..." Malik stammered over his words. "You shouldn't go... I can go back to my..." Malik yelped when he was pushed to the wall with a growl from Bakura; seeing Bakura's eyes change from dull brown to wine red, flinching when Bakura grabbed his chin forcing Malik to look him in the eyes, only they didn't look human, Bakura's eyes had a hunger to them that no food could quench.
"Would you prefer I satisfied my needs with you?" Malik trembled not liking how that sounded and shock his head no. "Well?" Bakura snapped.
"No!" Malik shut his eyes and when nothing happened he opened them just in time to see the front door swing open letting the snow and wind blow into the house. Malik rushed over struggling a little to close the door and locked it.
Malik jerked upright in bed glancing about the room, thinking he was hearing things and went to lie back down. "YOU WANT TO TAKE THIS OUTSIDE YOU ASSHOLE!" Malik grabbed the folded clothes at the end of his bed. He pulled them on and ran his hand through his hair a few times and rushed downstairs.
"Bakura!"
Malik hoped the other wasn't in some kind of trouble.
"GIVE IT BACK!" The same voice that woke him yelled again.
"NEVER!" A second voice sounded laughing in such a mischievous way.
"Quiet!" Malik heard Bakura snap. "Every time your here you give me a headache, don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"THAT'S IT!"
Malik burst into the study to find a much taller male manhandling a giggling Bakura.
"Hey, put him down!" Malik blushed and backed out of the room when he noticed his mistake, it wasn't Bakura who was getting manhandled.
"Your guest Bakura?" The Bakura look alike said as he was being held upside down. The taller male flipped the Bakura look-a-like the right way up and approached.
Malik backed up, this guy could pass as his older brother, just sharper features like Bakura and the hair was all over the place sticking out at odd ends and his skin was just as bronzed as Malik's own and so much taller and musclier and a rather crazy wild look in his eyes. "Kinda young." He raised an eyebrow not taking his dark hard lavender eyes off Malik. "But they do hold more energy." He grinned and Malik didn't like it at all. "Mind if I try him out?" Suddenly a book smacked him up the back of the head followed by two more.
"Keep your hands off pervert." Bakura's look- a-like snapped holding a book in his hands.
"Don't throw my books Ryou." Bakura growled.
"I'm sorry. I'm Bakura's..." He seemed to struggle with the right word. "Younger brother, Ryou. This moron." He slapped the taller on the chest. "Is my mate Marik." Malik raised an eyebrow at the word mate, Marik coughed. "Boyfriend, I meant to say boyfriend." Ryou quickly corrected. "Please to meet you." He smiled warmly.
"This is Malik." Bakura said, the boy stared at him for a long moment. "Make yourselves scarce." Bakura ordered, not taking his eyes off Malik.
"C'mon hot stuff." Marik picked Ryou up with one arm, making the smaller curse and threaten his life as he was carried out.
Malik laughed for a moment finding it funny and he stopped as Bakura approached him, waiting until they were gone. "I'm sorry about what happened last night." He rubbed the back of his neck, "I was way out of line. I wouldn't hurt you like that intentionally, I wasn't feeling myself... I was." Malik noticed Bakura's hair was white, his eyes wine red, the dark circles under his eyes were gone, he looked better, refreshed. "I'm truly sorry if I frightened you."
Malik smiled nervously, truthfully that had been his first real kiss. "It's ok."
"No it's not; I could have really hurt you." Bakura sighed, he could have even killed Malik if he had of gotten carried away.
Malik swallowed thickly and moved into Bakura's personal space he trembled, since he was forced into this kind of position every night, he voiced his thoughts. "If I have to be with someone I'd rather my first time be with someone like you."
"Malik," Bakura frowned and stepped back a little putting a little more space between them. "Are you going to tell me why I had to save you from that savage-pig and why you were out dressed like that?" Bakura knew, but it was hard to believe.
"You're not my father and it's none of your business." Malik shouted at him. "You have no idea what my life is like... thank you for saving me, just... just butt out!" Malik ducked out of the room, if Bakura knew what he had to do to get a little food and keep a roof over his head, Bakura wouldn't think that much of him, maybe even disgusted.
"Malik?" Bakura grabbed his arm letting go when the boy winced in pain. "Tell me." He demanded, Malik pulled free almost running up the stairs and almost bumping into Ryou as he ran for his room. "Malik!" Bakura followed.
"Bakura." Ryou stopped him. "Leave the poor thing be, you've upset him. He'll seek you out when he's ready." Ryou continued down the stairs and turned for the kitchen. "So where did you pick him up from?" Ryou gave Bakura a dark look. "I hope you're not doing anything, unnatural with him? Because if you were... I'd have to rectify the situation... personally."
Bakura sighed. "How long are you here for?"
"A few weeks." Ryou grinned. "In that time I'd like to get to know your future mate."
Bakura groaned. "I have no interest in him like that, he's just a kid I saved, he'll return home once the blizzard passes and we'll both get back to our lives."
"We'll see." Ryou giggled.
"The gods help me." Bakura muttered as Ryou patted his head; it was going to be the longest few weeks of his life.
Malik came down stairs after awhile and went in search of Bakura and the aroma of cooking filled the bottom floor and Malik followed it, his stomach twisting up in hunger.
Bakura sat at the table and Ryou cooked away in the kitchen while Marik picked at food here and there earning a few well placed smacks on the back of the hand. "Take a seat." Ryou was the first to notice him. "Lunch will be ready in a few moments."
Malik approached the table. "Please don't get up." He said when Bakura rose from his seat and approached Malik. .
"I wish to show you something." Bakura led Malik out of the kitchen, passed the study and down the hallway a little and opened a sliding door. Malik stepped in and to his surprise found a proper living room, couches, armchairs, a burning fire complete with TV and DVD player. "To help pass the boredom." Bakura said with a clear of his throat. "However you are going to have to set it up, the TV and the other gadget... I don't know how too."
Malik had been in and out of every room and this room didn't look like this before... so. Malik turned looking at Bakura disbelieving what he was seeing. "You did all this... for me?"
"It's yours, my gift to you." Bakura looked rather proud of himself.
Malik was speechless as he looked about the room and smiled to see that two of the walls were packed with a lot of books. "I don't know what to say." Malik felt a little weird, he was only a guest and Bakura was doing such things for him when they didn't really know each other and had only just met.
"Look at it as a way of an apology." Bakura said seriously. "I'm truly sorry if I frightened you."
Malik smiled nervously, leaning up on his toes and kissed Bakura on the cheek. "I love it."
Marik walked in and clapped Bakura on the shoulder. "Welcome to the twenty first century!" They ate lunch and Malik was glad that Ryou and Marik didn't ask questions about him. They more set their sights on teasing Bakura and the playful banter started, making Malik laugh.
After lunch Marik picked a movie taking up the whole couch with Ryou. Bakura sat at the end of the second couch and Malik sat on the other end. "Hey Ryou." Marik whispered in his ear.
"Twenty minutes." Ryou answered with a grin.
"Fifteen." Marik muttered.
It was about fifteen minutes into the movie and Malik had moved from his spot into Bakura's side, who had wrapped an arm around the other. Bakura rolled his eyes; the movie was nothing but gore and torturing of victims, however Malik had his face hidden in Bakura's side. "You don't have to watch it." Bakura said. "We can leave." He felt Malik shake his head no. "You'll regret it later." He mumbled.
"You owe me a blowjob." Marik chuckled in his victory, Ryou rolled his eyes.
After the movie Malik made himself busy in the kitchen baking, Bakura sat at the counter watching, their light conversation varied and learned a little more about each other. Malik found out that Bakura at times worked as a teacher from time to time and owned an old bookstore in town.
"I work at the docks outside of town most days they don't question my age and I work every other day at the animal shelter, they can't pay me much but I like taking care of the animals... but a few months ago I work..." Malik trailed off.
"The docks are a good two hours walk one way and you walk that every time?" Malik nodded his head. "When do you fit in time for school? Surely you go." Bakura was shocked that the boy should be getting himself a proper education at his age.
"I dropped out a few years go." Malik sighed, shifting nervously and biting his lip. "Money... it's hard... my family struggle so I help out... we all help out."
"You should be in school." Bakura held back a growl it didn't seem right and very strong intentions of snapping a few necks, naming Malik's parents... Why was he getting worked up over the kid, he was only a stray he had saved from getting rapped... once the blizzard was over the kid would be out of his life forever... Bakura's chest twisted up with a hollow feeling, there wouldn't be accidently bumping into the boy in random parts of the house as he explored it, or random questions, it would be just him again. His life would be how it was, not babysitting some child from a tragic life... Bakura frowned, images of the condition Malik was in when he had brought him home, the clothes and make-up he was wearing that night... what if Malik's life was tragic, what if it was far worse than he could imagine.
"Try this?" Malik said breaking Bakura from his thoughts.
Bakura took the offered cookie. "Malik you can trust me... if you're in some kind of trouble I can help you." Malik backed up from the counter and fell silent his bangs falling over his face. "Malik." Bakura walked about the counter and gripped the boy by the shoulders. Bakura had a feeling that Malik was in some kind of trouble that the poor kid thought there was just no way out. Malik covered his face with his hands and lent forward into Bakura's chest.
"You've been so good to me." Malik mumbled. Bakura held him until the boy stopped crying and pulled back enough to wipe the tears from Malik's face and glanced over when he noticed Ryou staring at them.
"It smells good in here." Ryou smiled watching Malik blush and rushing off to the stove at the sound of a chime. Ryou took a seat next to Bakura and the conversation flowed once more between the three.
Malik awoke gasping for air and drenched in sweat and he kicked at the sheets and backed himself up to the head of the bed. He groped about his nightstand for a light and all he did was knock everything off onto the floor, the window rattled and the room was too dark... Malik rolled out of a bed and fled the room, running down the hallway and slipped soundlessly into Bakura's bedroom. He moved swiftly across the room and stopped by the bed. "Bakura?" Malik whispered, but the other didn't move. Malik shifted nervously bitting his lip, he moved the covers and climbed in and curled up next to the other, surely Bakura wouldn't mind the bed would big enough and Malik would take up very little space that Bakura wouldn't even know that he was there and in no time Malik was sound sleep.
Bakura wasn't sure what woke him, only the feeling of a familiar presence in the room. He glanced about and saw nothing. He slightly pushed himself up and that's when he noticed, he lifted the covers and saw Malik curled up in a little ball next to him. Bakura raised an eyebrow; this was new as was the experience of spending the night with someone in his bed. Bakura considered kicking the boy out, for not being used to the idea since it never really happened to him before... but something about Malik prevented Bakura from doing so, with a sigh he dropped the blankets and let the boy be, after all it was only for tonight and Marik was to blame for this.
Morning came and Bakura had woken to Malik snuggled up to his back sound asleep, he had managed to get up without desorbing the boy. Bakura burned all Marik's horror DVDs he could find in the new living room to be sure that he wouldn't play that crap again and scare the hell out of Malik, but Bakura had a feeling that he hadn't even touched the surface of Marik's horror collection.
"Think about it Bakura." Ryou said cooking up breakfast.
"It was only a good deed." Bakura sighed. "And you are being ridiculous."
"Am I?" Ryou raised an eyebrow. "Firstly, you tolerate him; in fact you like him being here, like him being around you. Secondly, the boy isn't affected by you and no human is immune to our charms but one. Thirdly, you're over drive to protect him adds to one thing and one thing only."
"You are destined to be together." Marik finished for Ryou who agreed. "Why do you think he hasn't really left your side yet or the fact that he hasn't even mentioned going home or leaving. He likes it here and he likes you."
"While you two were Bahamas, how much sea water did you drink?" Bakura shook his head. He had explained every detail of the night he had found Malik and both Marik and Ryou agreed that there was something going on.
Marik glanced at Ryou who lent on the counter. "Without realizing you have found your true mate." Ryou grinned and saw that Bakura was about to protest. "Granted he is a bit young, but he'll grow, protect him, watch over him, just be there for him... you can't fight destiny." Ryou pulled away and went back to his cooking and added over his shoulder. "I can see your future; if you let him go you'll regret it." Ryou started to hum a tune in his head.
"By the way." Marik cupped Bakura's face. "You look, hungry. You should stop by our room tonight before it gets out of hand and you frighten a certain little human again."
"Good morning Malik." Ryou called out, Bakura whipped about too see a very sluggish Malik walk into the kitchen and take a seat.
Malik greeted them all with a smile, blushing a little when Bakura sat down next to him. "Sleep well?" He asked.
"I'm sorry, I should have asked first." Malik bit his lip and shifted nervously.
"I didn't mind at all... but you can use the phone now." Bakura said that twisted hollow feeling sunk in at the thought of Malik leaving and it was nothing he could do. "The blizzard passed last night, Snowplows have been up and down the street, the power and phones are back up."
"Really?" Malik glanced out the window to see it had cleared up. "Umm... thank you." Malik couldn't hold the tremble out of his voice and didn't move from his spot. "Bakura I..." Malik trailed off when Bakura glanced at him. "Nothing." Malik quickly turned and walked out of the room, it wouldn't be right if he asked to continue living here with Bakura, he'd cook for the older male, clean as a way to keep his room.
Malik shook so much that he could barely hit the numbers on the phone. It rang a few times before it was picked up. 'Hello.' He's heart sank at the sounds of her voice.
"It's me." Malik whispered.
'Where have you been?!' She didn't let him answer as she screeched at him. 'Do you know how much money you have cost me with your fucking disappearing act... you worthless brat! Wherever you are or whoever your with make sure they pay you for your time, if not make yourself useful and make up for lost time, either way, you have until tonight to come up with the money or you're going straight to the pit. ' She hung up; Malik held onto the phone for quite some time, tears burned his eyes as he hung up the phone.
"Marik!" Malik jumped back in fright as the tall male stood right behind him, hoping that he hadn't heard the woman yelling at him.
"Ya know, all you have to do is ask for help." Marik passed him heading out the door. "If you're not in a hurry, I'm shovelling snow; I could do with a hand!"
Malik wanted nothing more than to help him, over the few days of getting to know Ryou and Marik who both acted more like older brothers then just someone he met... Malik truly felt that he got a taste of what a real home life would be like, granted there was no mother or father, just a house full of older brothers. Malik wiped the tears away, it was a nice dream while it lasted, it was time to get back to his real life.
Malik walked back into the kitchen and had a feeling that he had interrupted an argument between Ryou and Bakura as they were glaring at each other and it looked as through Ryou was about ready to stab Bakura with the knife he was holding. "Bakura?"
The said male noticed right away something had changed in Malik, a frighten look was back in his eyes again, that nervous shifting on his feet. "Could I please... could you... I need to go now... home, I need to return home." His voice strained and tears filled his eyes, he bowed his. "Thank you for taking care of me." Malik turned bowed again to Ryou. "It was nice..." Malik gasped as arms wrapped about him in a tight hug.
"I'm going to miss you, you're like a little brother I never had." Ryou whispered as he let go of Malik giving Bakura a hard glare. "I'm going to help my mate in the yard before I kill someone." Ryou swiftly left the room.
The drive into town was long; Malik hadn't realized just how far out they were. Malik gave him an address and was soon getting out of the car. Bakura joined him on the sidewalk overlooking the double story house with the manicured-lawns. "Here." Bakura slipped a cell phone into Malik's hand. "All my numbers are in there; call me if you need anything and I mean anything... even if you want to just to see me." Malik gripped the phone and threw his arms about Bakura in a tight hug.
"Thank you." Malik whispered. Standing on the side walk until Bakura pulled away and vanished from sight. Malik turned and started the long walk to the other side of town.
It was dark when Malik stood out front his house, screen door falling off the hinges, rusted out car body on the over grown lawn. He approached at a slower pace and the closer he got the clearer the shouting, augments and cries got. Malik opened the door maybe he could make it to his room unnoticed, change and head to work before he was noticed. "There you are!" Malik was shoved hard from behind that he hit the wall inside the house. "Thought you ran off." His father sneered, muscles rippling as he bent down and grabbed Malik by the hair. "Time for a little re-education." Malik's struggles increased as the basement door opened.
"No please!" Malik regretted leaving Bakura now; he should have begged the other to let him stay with him. Malik screamed as he was dragged down into the darkness of basement.
"Read the paper?" Marik asked, pulling on his boots.
"I tend not to." Bakura searched for his shirt and pants.
"We'll have to move soon." Ryou hopped about pulling up his pants. "Oh... seen my shirt?"
"Ummm..." Marik glanced about. "There." He found it under the now two dead twins on the bed and pulled it out from under them and tossed it to Ryou.
"You got enough, right?" Ryou asked with a frown. "Didn't seem that you were that into it?"
"Yeah." Bakura snapped doing up his shirt and pulled on his boots. "Let's go."
"I had a great time baby." Marik slapped the dead guy's rear end as he jumped off the bed and gathered Ryou up in his arms. "You're sexy as hell." Marik purred as Ryou laughed and cupped Marik's face for a passionate kiss as he was carried out the door.
Bakura was already walking down the street when Marik and Ryou caught up to him. "Seriously I think we should move on this weekend... people are suspecting and it won't be belong before we're caught." Marik muttered.
"Oh!" Ryou turned about walking backwards. "I want to get treats from the store before going home." He held out his hand, Marik handed over his wallet. "I'll be back." Ryou jogged across the road.
"You only love me for my money." Marik called out after him, laughing when Ryou gave him the one finger salute.
"I'm not leaving." Bakura muttered. "Not until he calls me or I see him one more time." It has been weeks since he had seen Malik; it was like the kid had vanished. Bakura turned up to all Malik's work places and no one had seen him, threatening to even fire Malik if he didn't show himself soon. Bakura worried constantly about the other and didn't matter what he did, he was always in a bad mood to the point that even feeding like tonight, would have had him on top of the world. Bakura had also rang the cell he had given Malik so many times only to ring out and eventually he couldn't connect to it at all.
"Nothing we can do but hope he turns up." Marik patted his back. Bakura couldn't help but feel something bad had happened to Malik.
"I'm going home!" Bakura shrugged him off, he wasn't in the mood and for the first time in his life, he wanted Ryou and Marik to leave.
"Bakura!" Ryou called out and ran across the road and grabbed his arm. "You have to come with me now." Bakura let himself be pulled since Ryou looked and sounded worried, Marik naturally followed.
Ryou led them across the road and passed the 24 hour store and pointed across road, and there in front of an old abandon warehouse a small group of women stood, barely wearing anything for the imagination.
"Not interested, the twins were a blast." He muttered turning to walk away, Ryou always did have a large apatite.
Ryou grabbed him so hard about the arm that it was sure to leave a bruise. "Look again." He growled. "Can't you smell your own mate?"
"He's not my..." Bakura stopped and glanced over the group of woman and there in the back against the wall hiding in the shadows, was the familiar scent hidden under cheep perfume. "Malik?" Bakura jogged crossed the street, pushing by the group of woman and stopped.
"Oh fuck." Bakura whispered and he could barely hold onto his rage, he wanted to kill someone. Malik was black and blue all over, one eye so swollen that it was closed, swollen cheek, busted lip, wounds on his body that were still leaking blood and most of them were infected and staining the barely bits of clothes he was wearing, a few fingers were dislocated.
"Bakura!" Malik collapsed Bakura moved just in time to catch him in his arms.
"Why didn't you call me? I would have come." No response as Malik was unconscious. Tears filled Bakura's eyes as he held Malik to him. "I'm so sorry Malik; I'll never make the mistake of letting you go again."
Malik awoke slowly, every part of him ached, his eyes focused on a crackling fire, for the most part, he was warm and conformable. "How are you feeling?" Malik's chin was moved and he barely focused on a tall man, with frost blue eyes.
"How are you?" Malik started to panic.
"The names Kaiba, I've been your doctor for the past three days."
"I don't have a doctor." Malik gasped as his chin was again lifted and a bright light flashed for a moment in each eye. "For an Incubus's play-toy you're rather fragile and awfully young."
"A what?" Malik looked confused, what was he talking about.
"Be honest. Did Bakura do this to you? He can be rough at times?"
"Fuck you Kaiba!" Bakura hissed entering the room. "I haven't laid a finger on him."
"Your toy is awake." Kaiba moved aside.
"He's not my toy." Bakura snarled.
"Fine your mate." Kaiba rolled his eyes and added. "I'm ordering you stay in bed for another four days, complete rest and good food."
"That'll be a little hard since Bakura can only cook the one kind of soup." Marik laughed as he approached. "Good to see your awake kid." Ryou was at his side with a happy smile on his face.
"Bakura." Malik sat up and gripped onto Bakura as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry; I didn't want to leave you." Malik started crying.
Bakura wiped away a few tears with his thumb. "Why didn't you tell me how you felt, I would have let you stay... Malik, why didn't you call me when things got bad?"
"They found the cell phone and took it from me." Malik started sobbing harder and Bakura moved in and embraced the boy in his arms. "I thought this time they were going to kill me... I was in the pit for so long." Malik started to shake. Bakura glanced up at Marik and Ryou who both shook their heads.
"What is the pit?" Bakura asked, Malik shook his head and started gasping for air.
"Don't push him." Kaiba hissed moving in and cupping Malik's face and placing a small mask over his mouth and nose. "Just breathe." After a few moments he moved away and Malik was fine.
"My life has been Hell since I was little." Malik took a deep breath and explained to Bakura how his real parents died when he was three and bounced from orphanage to foster care for years... it was ok even with the older kids bulling and beating him each day at the orphanage, it was nothing until he turned nine and was shipped out to another family, that's when everything happened. His carers were nice at first while the child services called in every now and then and then they stopped, since the carers had such a clean record.
The beatings started and Malik got very acquainted with the 'Pit' as did the other three that were a few years older than Malik. They pulled him out of school when he turned ten, forced him to work to bring in money. Malik got a job helping at the animal shelter a few days a week and they paid him, it wasn't enough for his carers and soon they stopped feeding him, taking all his money so he couldn't buy anything for himself. He soon got a second job with longer hours and more days at the fishing docks despite the two hours walk each way.
He couldn't work the lack of food and sleep; he got sick a lot missed days, meant less money. Last month, Malik found all his clothes had changed, heels and boots, small shorts, little tight tops, stockings and make-up, they held onto one set of normal clothes for his work days. They forced him to dress in those clothes, make-up and all, dumping him out on the street, eighty an hour. Malik didn't understand what it meant but he had to tell everyone he saw. The grins, the grouping and crude words frightened him, so once they kicked Malik out the car, threatening him with the 'Pit' if he didn't earn any money, Malik hid in the shadows avoided people, watching the older women jump in and out of cars with fistfuls cash; no one took much notice of him if he stayed quiet and hid himself. Malik returned every morning, they'd beat him drag him down into the 'Pit' and leave him there for days.
His carer had gotten suspicious that night Bakura had saved him, they met up with their friend, offering Malik to them to do whatever he wanted with him and that she was sure that he was a virgin, untouched by male or female alike. Malik still didn't understand until they handed over the money and pulled Malik away painfully by the arm.
The night Bakura had saved him; she drove Malik to that car-park and offered him to her five of her friends. They all jumped into their cars talking about a hotel outside town ... "I didn't know what they wanted, but I knew that I had to get away... that's when... that's when I saw you."
Bakura embraced him tightly letting the boy cry into his chest. "You're with me now, no one will hurt you again."
"I have a friend in the police department that can get those other kids out of there." Kaiba flipped open his cell pressed a button.
"The police?" Marik grabbed his arm stopping him. "You know our kind can't get involved. We'll handle them ourselves."
"Relax, she's one of us." Kaiba pulled free. "Why do you think you've been in this town for so long and not been discovered?" Kaiba shook his head Marik at times was rather on the slow side. "Shizuka I have something you'll want to get your hands into." He said leaving the room.
"Rest." Bakura moved helping Malik to lie down. "Everything's being taken care of. I'll bring you something hot to eat."
"Bakura could you stay with me a little longer?" Malik grabbed onto him.
"I'll make you something to eat." Ryou said walking out the door as Bakura sat back down.
"Bakura, why did Kaiba call you an Incubus? Why did he call me a play-thing and why dose Ryou call Marik his mate rather than his boyfriend." Malik asked looking rather sleepy.
"Wow... yeah, I think Ryou needs my body." Marik said when Bakura looked at him and rushed out the room.
Six months passed in a flash, Malik's Carers were arrested, Shizuka made sure that Malik slipped through the cracks and Bakura had full custody of him should anyone come knocking and asking questions.
That year Bakura packed up his house and they moved, he had hoped that Ryou and Marik would go their own way, but instead they followed moving with them, stating they needed to keep an eye on Malik.
The new house wasn't as big, but it was nice, Malik had his own room across from Bakura's, but Malik hardly used it sleeping with Bakura or with Marik and Ryou. "You're going to be late!" Domino city was great.
"Coming!" Malik checked his uniform once more in the mirror with a huge grin and dashed out his bedroom and downstairs. He slowed down a little when he passed the 'no longer there' basement door. Kaiba had told them what they found in that basement Malik's carers had set up and just what the 'Pit' was, it had been shocking, Ryou cried for days whenever he looked at Malik and hugged him tightly. Marik had boarded up the basement in their new house, plastered over it and painted it and hung a large 'family' picture over it, which consisted of his three motorbikes. Marik also had thrown out all his horror movies after that and stuck to action thrillers, comedies and found a new love for romance which made Ryou really happy.
"Hey kid." Marik walked towards him. "First day?"
"Yeah." Malik grinned. "Finally." He had been eager to start since Bakura told him that he had to go back to school and Ryou and Marik took him shopping for his new school uniform and supplies.
"You're looking sharp." Marik slung an arm over his shoulder walking him towards the front door. "Remember anyone tries to take your lunch money, call me, I'll come down and rough them up."
Malik laughed. "Don't say that." Ryou scowled his mate. "He'll be fine, everyone will love you." He straightened up Malik's jacket and hair. "You have everything? Money? Cell? Pens? Mind your manners and play nice with the other kids, remember to share and if they pick on you... tell me their heads will roll."
"Ryou." Malik cupped the older male's face in both hands with a laugh, a small black intricate mark on the inside of his left wrist. "I'll be fine."
"But," Ryou pouted looking sad. "You've never been to high school... and I'm going to miss not having you about the house during the day, I'm going to worry about you."
"Fifteen now, I can take care of myself." Malik reassured him.
"I'll be the judge of that." Marik ruffled his hair.
"Oi!" Bakura called from the front door impatiently. "He's not a toddler." Malik kissed Ryou on the cheek and rushed for the door with a goodbye wave. Bakura grabbed his jacket and stopped Malik from leaving the house. "Coat, scarf and gloves." Bakura nodded towards the little cardboard. "It's cold and it'll snow later." Malik grabbed the items of clothes and grabbed Bakura's hand leading him out to the car.
Ryou stood at the door watching until he could no longer see the car. "Forty minutes." Marik laughed like a mad man as he grabbed Ryou lifting him from his feet and kicked the door closed with his foot, ignoring Ryou's protests of being slung over a shoulder and carried away upstairs.
"I'll pick you up after school." Bakura glanced down when Malik intertwined their fingers together. "Ryou's cooking tonight and Marik has movies picked out." He smiled as he lifted Malik's hand and kissed it, glancing at him sideways for a brief moment.
Malik just smiled. "Sounds fun." They soon pulled into the school car-park. "Thank you." Malik went to get out when he was stopped.
"Call me if anything happens... even if you just want to talk or come home. Mai did say you might feel a little overwhelmed and I don't want to push you if you feel you're not ready."
"I will be fine." Malik lent across cupping Bakura's face in one hand and placed a chaste kiss to his lips. "I'll see you real soon." Malik got out of the car and walked towards the building, glancing back only once too see his future mate pull out and drive away... that's right Malik grinned, Bakura had told him everything from what Bakura truly was, an Incubus, as well as Ryou and Marik, which explained a lot since Marik could never keep his hands to himself when it came to Ryou and most of all Bakura had marked him last month as his mate in case some other creature tried to steal Malik away.
Malik sighed he wanted to spend the day at school but for the first time ever, he couldn't wait to get home to his family... for once Life was good.
Reviews are much loved (Love and cookies)