Title: Embracing the Night
Part: 2/4
Author: Murasaki Rose
Beta: Mijuri Oribu
Genre: Romance/Supernatural/Horror/AU
Warnings: Blood, Violence, Character Death, Yaoi (male x male)
Pairings: YBxR, YYxY(established), SxJ(established), YMxM(established), and a dash of YxRxM
Spoilers: Yami no Yugi's real name.
Disclaimer: Here we go. Yu-Gi-Oh and all it's characters are the property of Kazuki Takahashi, Shueisha, Konami, Toei, and unfortunately, 4 Kids Entertainment. I'm not making any money off of this, I'm just having fun.
A/N: "text" = speech, 'text' = thought, ((text)) = telepathy
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Slate blue eyes narrowed as they read the latest London newspaper. The feature article detailed the account of the most recent death in a long string of brutal murders. While they had no leads the police were still convinced that it was the same suspect responsible for tearing out the throats and draining the blood from ten people in the last two months. 'Bakura. This time, you will not escape me,' the man vowed. Catching sight of a smaller article made him suddenly glad he'd brought the bulk of his team from Egypt. The article described a strange outbreak of death by acute anemia in the London area. 'Did you bring your whole clan with you?' he wondered, hoping that maybe this time, they'd catch the whole wretched lot.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
"You wanted to see us?"
Bakura turned to address the two males who'd entered the room from the window where he'd been watching the servants preparing for the party he'd arranged for Ryou. Curious expressions adorned the faces of Malik Ishtar and Yugi Mutou who stood waiting patiently for the Nb(1) vampire to explain why he'd sent for them.
"You are aware that Ryou will be here tonight?" It was more a statement than a question but the two teenage-appearing boys nodded anyway.
"Good." He fixed both boys with a serious stare, "I want you both to be on your best behavior. DON'T do anything to scare him off. I want him to relax and have fun." He smirked thoughtfully, "If all goes well, you'll be seeing a lot more of him from tonight on."
"In more ways than one?" Malik asked hopefully, grinning suggestively at the older male.
Bakura returned the grin, "Time will tell. He's only just admitted to me that he has no interest in women. I want to introduce him to the alternatives."
"Does that mean we can't play any games with him?" Yugi whined, pouting cutely.
"Only the type appropriate in public," Bakura admonished the smallest of their number. Yugi was a deceptive mix of innocence and seduction, wrapped around a solid core of loyalty and determination. His playful nature meant he was always ready for a game both in and out of the bedroom and those lucky enough to share his bed were never disappointed. But shy Ryou wasn't ready for that type of fun yet. Besides, Bakura intended on being the boy's first.
The small vampire sighed dramatically and flopped onto a nearby couch, "Okay, I'll behave."
Noticing Malik's sulky frown and realizing that Yugi's pout was genuine, Bakura felt his resistance fading. Like everyone else in their clan, Bakura had a soft spot for the two playful mry(2). "Tonight you can visit his dreams," the vampiric master relented, making the two younger vampires beam happily and glomp onto him.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Gah! Tomb-keeper! Pharaoh! Get your damn clingy mates off of me!"
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Ryou hummed happily as he got himself ready for his outing with Bakura. Over the last couple of weeks the elder man had become a very close friend to the shy teen. So close, in fact, that Ryou had gone so far as to share his hopes, dreams, and insecurities with him. He'd even trusted him with his most closely guarded secret, one that he'd been shocked to learn that Bakura shared as well. So tonight, Bakura had promised him something special. Tonight he was taking Ryou to a party unlike any he'd ever attended. Bakura had swore to him that it would be so different, that it would open the teen's horizons to a whole new world. That had been several days ago, and with all the hints that Bakura had been dropping, Ryou was actually looking forward to this party. Or maybe it was just the idea of spending more time with Bakura?
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Meanwhile, downstairs Ryou's father was receiving a most unusual visitor. An Egyptian man, dressed in a turban and long tan robes, had come with a dire warning for the Morgan family.
"Shadi, was it?" Mr. Morgan asked, gesturing for the other man to take a seat. "While I have been a guest many times in your country, this is the first I've ever received one. In your letter, you mentioned knowing not only that I have been having nightmares, but you know the cause of them."
Shadi nodded, "I did. You see, I have come to believe-"
"Father, I'm going out now," Ryou interrupted, ducking his head around the doorway. Unfortunately from his angle, he hadn't noticed his father's guest until after he'd spoken. "Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't realize we had company."
Mr. Morgan shook his head, "It's all right, Ryou. Just be sure to dance with some of the ladies at this party?"
"Yes, father," Ryou replied, ducking back out and dashing down the hall before his father started asking questions. The last thing he wanted his father to know was that there would be no ladies, at least no single ones, for him to dance with.
His father shook his head, "That Mr. Wati has certainly made Ryou more sociable. Now if only he'd bring home a wife!"
At the mention of Wati's name, Shadi's spine stiffened, could it be . . ? "Mr. Morgan," he began in a strained tone, "what is Mr. Wati's first name?"
"I believe Ryou said he was called Bakura. He's an Egyptian like yourself."
"Bakura may be Egyptian, but he is nothing like me or any other human."
"What do you mean?" Mr. Morgan asked, concern etching his features.
"I'm afraid your son is in great danger."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Ryou laughed in delight as Bakura spun him around the dance floor. The music was lively and upbeat, which fed the enthusiasm of the crowd and left the silver-haired teen feeling giddy and light-headed. He'd long since lost track of the time they'd spent in each other's arms, dancing amongst the masses of people that seemed to make way just for the two of them.
"Having fun?" Bakura asked as the current song ended.
Panting heavily, Ryou nodded excitedly, "I've never had so much fun in my life! But if I don't sit down, I just might faint!"
"Hmm, can't have that, can we?" Bakura replied, bending down and scooping the teen up into his arms.
Ryou flushed brightly in embarrassment, "Bakura! I'm not a girl, put me down!"
"You were the one who said he was going to faint," he replied, grinning smugly at the slender boy. Ryou just pouted and crossed his arms sulkily, once again testing Bakura's willpower. How did the boy manage to look more attractive without even trying?! Striding off the dance floor, the vampire carried his human to one of the benches lined against the wall. Hoping he wasn't making a mistake, he sat the boy down between Yugi and Malik, telling him to rest for a moment while he got him a drink.
"Sooo," Malik began, grinning at the pale teen beside him, "have you been enjoying yourself?"
"Oh yes," Ryou replied enthusiastically, smiling brightly in response, his slight irritation with Bakura forgotten already. "This has been the best party ever!"
"Especially with Bakura for company, eh?" the Egyptian teen teased, elbowing Ryou lightly in the ribs.
"Ah yes, well, of course!" Ryou stammered out nervously, his face turning red once more.
"Malik be nice," Yugi gently admonished, leaning across Ryou's lap to lightly slap the lavender-eyed blond on the arm. Hearing the slight hitch in the pale teen's breathing as he slowly slid upright, made him decide to make no mention of it. Like Bakura had warned them, he didn't want to do anything to scare Ryou away. Steering the conversation into safer territory, the mry and the human talked as though they had been friends for years instead of just hours. From across the room, Bakura, Marik, and Atem watched, simply enjoying the way their loved ones face lit as they conversed.
But as all good things must come to an end, so did the party. Bakura had stolen Ryou from the company of the two mry for several more dances, then whisked him away to the small garden outside.
Pulling the slender teen to his chest, Bakura cupped Ryou's chin with his free hand and tilted his face upward, bringing innocent chocolate to lock with mysterious russet.
"Ryou," Bakura breathed, leaning down slowly. He wanted to give the boy time enough to protest should he feel threatened.
Stunned, Ryou could only stare as Bakura's mouth descended towards his own. "Ba-" his soft reply was silenced by the gentle press of the other's lips on his. For the briefest of instants, a lifetime of lessons attempted to break through and ruin the moment, but they quickly faded into the background of his mind. Eyes fluttering shut, Ryou hummed his approval and leaned into his first kiss, slender arms sliding around the broad back of the older man in order to hold him close.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
It had taken Shadi a few hours, but the Egyptian hunter had finally successfully restored Mr. Morgan's memories of his attack in Cairo, but now the man was consumed with worry for his only child.
"What should I do? That monster has my son!"
"For now, nothing. We shall wait and see what transpires tonight."
"Why should I wait when my son is in danger?!"
"Because if we tip our hand too soon, the creature will simply take the boy and vanish."
"What's to prevent him from doing that anyway?"
Shadi looked pensive, "Right now, I couldn't say. This behavior is highly unusual for Bakura."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
When he finally returned home, Ryou was surprised to find that his father was awake and deep in discussion with their guest. Shrugging off his curiosity, the silver-haired teen slipped upstairs and got ready for bed, slipping under his covers with a contented smile on his face. Sleep came to him easily as his exhaustion outweighed his excitement over the events of the night. He was sure he'd have wonderful dreams.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
The next afternoon, Ryou had a rude awakening. He'd slept in very late, long past breakfast, and had only wanted to get something in his stomach to tide him over until lunchtime. Instead, he'd been hauled out of the kitchen by his harried-looking father and into his study. There both his father and their guest Shadi had taken turns grilling him for information about the previous night and making wild accusations about Bakura and his friends.
"It's no use lying child. I know they visited you in your sleep last night, their psychic stench is all over you. Now what did the creatures do to you in your dream? Were you bitten?" Shadi asked, staring right into his eyes, thoroughly creeping Ryou out.
"Of course I wasn't bitten!" he exclaimed indignantly. A fierce, deep blush creeping up over his face from the memories of his kiss and of what Yugi and Malik had done in his dream. But that's all it was, a dream . . . right?
"I don't trust Mr. Wati's intentions towards you son," Mr. Morgan told him.
"Bakura's just a friend!" Ryou exclaimed defensively, although after last night he wasn't so sure . . .
"That monster is friend to no one. He's deluding you child. Bakura is just a blood-sucking fiend from the netherworld who preys upon the innocent. You must cut off ties to him before it is too late!" Shadi warned the teen, his voice raising in urgency.
"NO! I don't believe you!"
"Whether you believe it or not, doesn't matter. Ryou, I forbid you from seeing Bakura ever again!" his father stated, believing that would end things.
"You can't," Ryou protested, shocked that his father would be so cruel.
"Yes I can, Ryou. It's for your own good."
"No."
Mr. Morgan couldn't believe his ears, "What did you say?"
"I said NO! I won't let you run my life anymore!!" he screamed, glaring at his father. He held his father's angry stare for what felt like an eternity before bolting from the room and out the front door.
-
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Afterward: There are so many myths and legends regarding vampires it's hard to choose one to follow. When I was writing this story, I tried to find a "common" hierarchy and ran into several walls. It seems every group has their own opinion. So, frustrated and not really happy with any one I assembled my own.
1 - ancient Egyptian for "master"
2 - ancient Egyptian for "beloved". In this case, it is also the term Bakura's clan uses for mates.