***And thanks to Mooks for betaing the fic!***

Ryou's heart tittered a little. His breath quickened, thick in his own throat. "Huh?"

"You said blood-filled gore fests. I want to see this game."

"O-okay."

Ryou ran to his craft closet and started pulling out cases in which he stored his Monster World items. He pulled out his latest diorama. It had a graveyard and a small hamlet surrounding a large mansion. "It's werewolves, mostly. I mean, there's zombies, and demons, and I have a serial killer quest in this one that mimics Jack The Ripper, but it's mostly werewolves. The kind that turn into large wolves, not the kind that look human."

"Can I be a werewolf?"

"Well, they're suppose to be the villains... I could probably adjust some stats to make them playable. I'd just have to adjust the level system so the game could stay balanced. Half a moment." Ryou scrambled to his laptop and started typing in stats.

He forgot all about knives, and boys with amethyst eyes, and even his cold feet as Ryou sat cross-legged on the carpet figuring out how to scale up both the monsters and leveling system while keeping the game interesting. "This won't be perfect, since I'll be winging some of it, but I think it'll be even more fun to play it this way." Ryou shook his head. "Why didn't I ever think of this?"

"Stop scratching your cuts. They'll get infected."

Ryou hadn't realized he was scratching until Mariku spoke. "I can't help it. The blood's drying."

Mariku grabbed Ryou's hair and pulled him to his feet. "Come."

"Ow. I can walk," Ryou said as Mariku half dragged him to the bathroom.

Mariku grunted and pressed Ryou against the wall again, using a damp hand towel to wash the blood away.

"Thanks, Mariku."

He looked up at Ryou, and then jerked his eyes away. "I'm not doing it to be nice. If your wounds get infected, you'll get a fever. I don't want you to be delirious when I carve you up later."

Ryou dropped his nutmeg colored eyes. "Oh... you're still going to? I-I thought maybe, since we were playing a game..."

Mariku chuckled. "Since when did me playing a game ever mean I was going to refrain from hurting someone?"

"I wasn't conscious for any of that. And honestly, I always thought it was a little stupid of Jounouchi and Mai to play a Shadow Game when they didn't have Items." Ryou held his breath for a moment when he realized he'd said something that mean out loud. "I-I mean, not that you should have hurt them. I, um, sure whatever you did was horrible, and I feel really bad for them."

Mariku chuckled, low and throaty. He leaned close, his breath warm. "There's a twisted mind behind that sweet face, isn't there?"

"I try to be nice. I just think scary things are fun. I mean, when they're fictional."

"Oh? Not having fun right now?"

Ryou's snowy lashes fluttered a little. He giggled. "Well... maybe this is a little fun."

Mariku brushed his lips against Ryou's ear, making Ryou shudder before he whispered. "That was a rhetorical question. It was suppose to unsettle you."

Ryou whispered back into Mariku's hair. "I had the Ring. It takes a lot more than a kitchen knife and some clever lines to make me feel unsettled."

"Hmm... Wonder what I could do..." Mariku slipped his hands beneath Ryou's pajama top and skimmed his thumbs up Ryou's belly, pausing at his ribs. "Maybe a broken rib or two? That wouldn't kill you, but it might humble you a little."

Ryou held his breath and closed his eyes, trying not to gasp and arch into the touch. He didn't want Mariku to know how pleasant his hands felt on Ryou's ribs. If he knew, he may break something just to make sure Ryou suffered, and Ryou would much rather stand happily pinned against the bathroom wall while Mariku merely threatened.

Mariku kept firm pressure on Ryou's ribs. "No comebacks now, my sweet?"

Ryou shook his head. "No. I'm sorry. Please let go now."

His thumbs climbed up Ryou's chest one pair of ribs at a time. "Do you know there are twelve pairs? I could break several."

"Ngh." Ryou did start to arch a little, unable to help it as Mariku's hands climbed. Every touch was a thrill, and Ryou was having trouble pretending he was frightened.

"You look delicious when you squirm."

Ryou reached out, digging his fingers in Mariku's hair. He wasn't sure what he was about to do, besides tugging on Mariku's spikes. But before instinct could decide for him, a loud knock on the front door broke the spell and jerked Ryou back into the moment.

"Oh - dammit, Yugi," Ryou jerked his hands away from Mariku's hair and tore off his blood-stained top. "I better get that. Don't worry, I'll get rid of them."

Ryou ran to the door, trying not to look flushed or out of breath. When he saw the two officers, Ryou did his best to look surprised. "I-is something wrong?"

"There was a noise complaint. Someone heard screaming?" The police office frowned at Ryou.

Ryou felt completely naked instead of topless. He bowed as low as he could. "I-I'm sorry. My roommate and I were watching a movie. The volume was probably too loud. I promise to be more considerate to my neighbors in the future."

"Your roommate?" The other officer shone a flashlight beam into Ryou's apartment.

Mariku appeared from the hallway, smiling like a hungry cat. "We'll make sure we keep it down the next time we watch a movie."

Ryou's face burned with Mariku's insinuation. He wished he had a shirt on more than before.

The police lectured them for a moment and then left. Ryou shut the door, ground his teeth, and spun around. "Why'd you have to say it like that?"

Mariku grinned. "Like what?"

"Like we were doing something kinky."

"Got rid of them, didn't it?"

"But that's not socially acceptable in Japan!"

"What? Sex?"

"Not when it's two guys."

Mariku snorted. "I don't care."

"I care." Ryou marched to the diorama and plopped down to the carpet on his stomach.

"So why didn't you turn me in?" Mariku asked, his voice softer than before.

"I want to be a werewolf." Ryou lifted his eyes up to look at Mariku.

Mariku lowered himself to the carpet, crawling on hands and knees until he loomed above Ryou. He flipped Ryou on his back and pinned Ryou's wrists over his head. "Doesn't that mean I have to bite you?"

"You have to roll for initiative first."

He released Ryou's wrists so that Ryou could grab a pair of ten-sided dice. Ryou rolled a 63 and Mariku rolled a 17.

"Dammit."

Mariku licked his lips with a broad tongue. "So I take it the low number wins?"

"A double zero acts like a critical while a 99 is a fumble, so yeah..."

Mariku bit into the crux of Ryou's neck and right collarbone. Ryou shoved his left wrist into his mouth and bit down to muffle his scream. Pain and pleasure blended together until he couldn't tell them apart anymore. Ryou bucked up and squirmed. He dug his nails into Mariku's bicep, still biting on his opposite hand, and just when his brain was starting to draw a line between the conflicting sensations, Mariku started lapping at the teeth marks he'd left in Ryou's white skin.

His teeth had been a mixture of pain and pleasure; however his tongue was simple bliss. Ryou moaned into his wrist, jerking his hips up to press his body harder into Mariku's as he lapped and sucked at his throat.

Ryou lowered his wrist and caught his breath before speaking. "You're a werewolf, not a vampire."

"Wolves like the taste of blood and flesh." He pushed himself up on his arms, bodyweight still firm against Ryou. He stared at Ryou's flushed face and frazzled hair, looking confused. "You're not afraid."

"Um... I'm sorry, but we never actually established if my character was afraid or not. You didn't chase me; you just bit me. And I did say I wanted to be a werewolf, so that suggests my character came to your den on purpose, but now I'm going to have to roll for fortitude to see if I survive the attack or not. I should really be narrating all this better so we don't get confused."

Mariku grabbed Ryou's hair in one hand and his throat in the other, pressing him hard against the carpet. "Not in the game. You. You're not afraid!"

Ryou stayed still, breathing slow and shallow through the light pressure on this throat.

Mariku moved his hand from Ryou's throat. "Why aren't you frightened?"

"I am... a little," Ryou whispered, brushing stray hairs away from his burning cheek. "But..."

"But what?" Mariku growled, not unlike the wolf he was supposed to be portraying through roleplay.

"I don't know. This is nice. You're warm, and on top of me, and your hand's in my hair-"

"It's suppose to hurt."

"It does a little bit. That's why it's so nice."

Mariku clamped his mouth shut, thinking. He started laughing. "What a surprise you are, a little dove that enjoys when the snake bites."

"Oh, that reminds me." Ryou reached out for his dice. He had to feel around for them because Mariku had him pinned. Once in hand, he tossed them to the side. "What did I roll?"

Mariku's lilac eyes darted to the side. "Three."

"Oh good."

"What does that mean?"

"It means I survive your bite. Specifically, it means that I don't even get sick from it. I'll wake up a werewolf in the morning."

"Why did your character want to be a wolf?"

Ryou shrugged. "In this world it seems like everyone is food except the wolves or Hunters." Ryou winked. "I think I like the company of wolves better. What about you? How did you become a wolf?"

Mariku stared at the diorama. "I was born one."

"Ah, remind me when you first level up. I think there's a racial bonus for that."

Mariku glanced at Ryou. "Does it really feel good? My hand in your hair?"

Ryou blushed. "I mean... it'd be better if we were fooling around while you did it, but on its own... it's a little exciting, especially while pretending we're werewolves."

Mariku grinned, leaning closer to Ryou's mouth. Ryou's breath stuck in his throat. He licked his lips, anticipating a kiss. On a whim, Ryou reached up and slipped his fingers through Mariku's hair.

"Ah," Ryou gasped. "Your hair's so soft."

He combed close to Mariku's scalp, moving in upward strokes. Mariku purred. His own fingers slacked as he began petting Ryou in return.

"That's nice, too. My scalp is sensitive from the tugging, so that's really nice."

Mariku gave a single grunt in answer, settling down on top of Ryou's chest as they ran their fingers through each other's hair. Ryou began to hum.

"That's pretty."

"It's from a horror movie."

"Keep humming."

"Well." Ryou smiled against Mariku's chest. "I really have no choice. I don't want you to break my ribs."

"You're such a good pet," Mariku teased. "So obedient."

Ryou hummed again, toying with Mariku's thick, regal spikes and curling up in his body heat until they were both asleep on the floor.

A pounding on the door dragged Ryou from his sleep. "Go away," he murmured while he snuggled into the broad, warm chest beside him.

But the pounding didn't go away and muffled shouts joined in, so Ryou stumbled to his feet and pulled the door open.

"Yugi? Atem?" Ryou rubbed his eyes, forcing them to focus. The light stung and his head throbbed. He'd gotten maybe two and a half hours of sleep and all Ryou wanted to do was crawl into his bed.

Yugi wrapped his arms around Ryou, crushing him with surprising strength. "I'm so glad you're okay. I called three times."

"Sorry." Ryou glanced at his phone on the floor. "I was knocked out. Uh, not literally. Just sleeping. Come in."

"What's he still doing here?" Atem asked with a slight frown.

"Sleeping," Ryou answered.

"But... why didn't the police arrest him?" Yugi asked.

"Because he wasn't doing anything illegal."

"He was holding you hostage."

Ryou's brow furrowed. "Actually, when the police came, he was cleaning up the cut on my throat."

Atem and Yugi exchanged an unsure look. Atem shifted his mauve eyes to Ryou. "What about the bruise on your wrist?"

"What bruise?" Ryou blinked, looking at both his wrists. "Oh. I did that. Our Monster World game turned into sort of a LARP."

"And the bite mark on your neck?"

Ryou pursed his lips together. He didn't exactly appreciate the Pharaoh coming into his apartment and lecturing him like he was Ryou's long lost father. He understood they were concerned, and appreciated the sentiment, but he hadn't slept enough for an interrogation. "What about the bruises on Yugi's neck?"

Yugi jumped at the statement, blushing and holding the spot on his neck where three, small purple bursts of color marked the skin.

Ryou walked towards the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I should be offering you tea. Where are my manners?"

"Ryou, wait." Yugi chased him into the kitchen. "It's not the same."

"How do you know it's not the same?"

"I don't have teeth marks."

"Well, I'm sorry if Atem was only half-way into it."

"Ryou! What's gotten into you? You sound like Bakura."

Ryou held his breath to control his temper when he heard the comparison. In a way, it was almost flattering to be told he was a little like the snarky, confident Ring-Spirit, but it irked Ryou that any comments he made that were less than friendly would be forever compared to the spirit that once possessed him - as if Ryou himself didn't have a right to sarcasm.

"I'm sorry, Yugi. I'm tired."

Yugi watched him for a moment while the water heated in the kettle. "Look... I'm sorry if - if you're hurt because..." Yugi looked away. "I know we were getting close."

Ryou exhaled the breath he still held. His eyes fluttered close. "It's okay. I mean it. I'm okay with this. You belong with Atem - even I know that. What hurts - what feels like betrayal - is that you called the police when I asked you to trust me." He opened his eyes so he could look at Yugi. "And then you guys come here and started grilling me before I even had a chance to wake up."

"Well..." Yugi shrugged. "You have a way with getting into trouble. Like how you stole the Ring back after Battle City."

"You didn't have a right to lie to me about having it."

"I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Then you should have been honest. Although, even if you had, I may have reminded you that it was the Spirit that protected me from Slifer when I came to bleeding on a blimp with no idea what was going on."

"And then I'd remind you that it was the Spirit that got you into that predicament in the first place."

Ryou grinned. "Yeah, him and Marik."

Yugi smiled back, the tension in the air somehow smoothed over. "Yeah, what's up with them?"

A shrill, steaming whistle blew from the kettle, and Ryou fixed four cups of tea. "That's a long story, and I don't think the Ring-Spirit would like me to tell it. He comes off like a lovestruck hero in it."

Yugi shook his head. "But I guess things didn't turn out since Marik's other half got the Ring?"

"Sometimes I think he lost that duel on purpose."

"Ha! No way. He'd never lose anything on purpose." Yugi took two of the cups from Ryou, adding sugar to one and milk to the other.

"If he'd won, Marik's body would have been destroyed. He'd never admit it, but I don't think he could handle that thought."

"It's still strange to think about... Then again, so is the thought of you sleeping with Marik's other half."

Ryou opened his mouth to correct Yugi, but it somehow turned into a smile as he carried the other two tea cups to the living room. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for boys with spiky hair and purple eyes."

Yugi rolled his own purple eyes, following Ryou into the living room. Atem stood over Mariku's sleeping figure. It frightened Ryou, to see Atem standing over Mariku's helpless form with the look of a ruler wanting to sentence a criminal to his death. Ryou found himself setting down his teacups and gently leading Atem away from Mariku and towards the sofa.

"Don't wake him up," Ryou said, trying his best to smile. "He looks like an angel when he's asleep. It would be a shame to ruin that."

Ryou pulled a throw off of the couch and used it to cover Mariku's shoulders. He knelt on one knee, petting Mariku's hair for a moment before sitting in his favorite oversized chair and caging his fingers together while looking at Atem and Yugi.

"Thank you," Ryou began. "for being concerned, and for checking up on me to make sure I was okay. But you have to understand that it isn't fair to summon Mariku back from the Shadows, and then displace him onto the streets." Ryou nodded towards Yugi. "You said you wanted him to have a second chance, but he can hardly do that with nothing but the clothes on his back. How long do you think it'd take before a street gang picked him up? And how long until he's running said street gang? How long before he's more powerful than the Yakuza?" Ryou shook his head, as if to deny his own scenario. "Him staying here is better for everyone. I get it if the other's don't want to come around the next time everyone meets up. I get it if you're unhappy about this. But it's my decision, and I want Mariku to stay here."

"What if he hurts you?"

Ryou frowned. "He won't." He paused, trying to think of how to explain. "I'm part of his pack now."

A loud yawn interrupted the conversation. Mariku stretched out on the floor, an artwork of gold and bronze. He blinked his eyes opened and frowned, looking around as if he didn't know where he was. When he saw Ryou, he smiled. Mariku stood up, walking straight to Ryou's chair and half-draping himself across Ryou's lap and chest so they both fit into the single seat.

"Ryou, don't talk to the food. You'll get attached."

Ryou's fingers went straight for Mariku's hair, combing and smoothing stray hairs back into their spikes. "These humans are my friends. Don't eat them."

"Shouldn't I have to roll a Will save to see if that's even possible?"

"Do you feel like getting the dice?'

Mariku frowned, opting for nuzzling Ryou's shoulder instead. "Fuck it. I'm too tired to get back up."

Ryou pressed his forehead against Mariku's. His mind felt like a buoy bobbing in a turbulent lake. Ryou exhaled, almost falling back asleep until his exhausted brain reminded him that he had company.

"Oh." Ryou gasped, jerking his eyes back open. "Sorry, I almost dozed off there."

"Shut up. I'm trying to," Mariku mumbled.

Atem and Yugi both looked surprised.

Ryou tilted his head. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Yugi stood up, smiling. "Maybe you're right, Ryou. Come on, Atem. We should let them rest."

Atem nodded, following Yugi.

Yugi walked up to Ryou's chair. "If you need anything, call me, okay?"

"Sure," Ryou said.

Yugi leaned in to hug Ryou goodbye, but Mariku snarled, making Yugi jump back.

"Don't touch Ryou. He's mine."

Yugi pursed his lips. "Fine." He scruffled Mariku's hair and then jerked his hand back before Mariku could do anything about it. "I'll touch you instead."

"Get the fuck out of my apartment!" Mariku grumbled.

Satisfied with his game of counting coup, Yugi took Atem's hand and they exited the apartment. Ryou unwound himself from Mariku and stood up, locking the door. "Well, that was a nice, friendly, passive-aggressive morning."

"Those guys are assholes," Mariku mumbled.

"Don't worry, I don't think they'll be back for a while now that they're convinced you won't kill me."

"I never wanted to kill you. I just wanted to torture you, and you ruined that by liking it."

"My sincerest apologies." Ryou smiled. "I'm going to bed. Want to come with, or would you prefer the couch?"

"Like hell I'm sleeping on the couch." Mariku stood up.

Ryou walked to his room. He turned around to see Mariku disrobing. "Um..."

Before Ryou could finish his half-formed thought, Mariku tackled him onto the mattress. "Now that those assholes are gone, we can go back to sleep."

Ryou flushed at the sight of Mariku's naked chest. He gave a grunt of agreement, and then sighed in disappointment when Mariku rolled to his own side of the bed. They lay in silence, but Ryou couldn't drift off because Mariku kept tossing from one side to the other.

He grabbed Ryou's shoulders and growled, breath tickling Ryou's face. "You piss me off."

"Sorry?"

He turned away from Ryou, a bashful look twisted his usually angry features. "I can't sleep unless you run your fingers through my hair. Do it. Now."

Ryou grinned. Both his face and his coffee-colored eyes lit up at the command. His hands lifted to stroke through the soft strands of gold. "You don't have to order me. I love touching your hair. It reminds me of an angel's hair."

Mariku snorted. "An angel of death."

Ribbons of sunlight broke through the blinds in Ryou's bedroom. They struck the gold in Mariku's hair and made each spike glow like and angel's flaming sword. "A golden haired angel of death," Ryou whispered. He started humming themes from some of his favorite horror games, mostly Silent Hill music.

Mariku's fingers twitched. He reached up, and then jerked his hands back down as if debating his actions. After another moment he grabbed two fistfuls of ivory hair. Ryou gasped, his cheeks and lips blushing with the rough pull. Mariku's eyes studied Ryou, his thick lips parted. The hold on Ryou's hair diminished, softer... softer... and then it wasn't a grip but rather a series of soft caresses.

Ryou couldn't stand it. His hands already lost in Mariku's hair, he leaned up and pressed a soft kiss against Mariku's lips.

The former alter ego jerked away, falling off of the bed and staring at Ryou as if Ryou stabbed him. Ryou stared back, steady and calm. Mariku blinked. For a moment, his face burst into a kaleidoscope of emotion, but the moment past and he lunged back onto the mattress, holding Ryou's jaw and attacking his lips with clumsy, wet presses of his full lips.

Mariku interrupted his novice attempts of kissing with a precise bite. He tugged on Ryou's lower lip, skilled in his violence, and Ryou accepted Mariku's teeth as eagerly as he accepted his lips. Mariku pulled away, going to the bite wound on Ryou's neck and ghosting his lips across the bruised flesh.

Ryou gasped, shut his eyes, and held his breath, trembling. It wasn't the pressure on the bite, though it did sting, it was the gentleness Mariku used. It was too unexpected - Ryou couldn't guard against it. It felt like Mariku's lips slipped past Ryou's skin and touched his soul.

Mariku pulled back, tugging hard on Ryou's hair once again. He kissed Ryou's lips firmly, but with more finesse than his first attempts. Ryou gave in to the experience, allowing Mariku to drag them through each kiss, their chests pressing together and sweat dappling their skin.

Lost as he was, Ryou clung to Mariku, his arms circling and palms smoothing over Mariku's lateral muscles. Mariku called out, breaking their chain of kisses.

"Did it hurt?" Ryou jerked his hands back.

Mariku panted, staring at Ryou with lavender fire in his eyes. "No one's ever touched my back before."

"Never?"

"Maybe when Marik was a child, but not since he created me."

Ryou shook his head. "I'm so sorry." He reached out, drawing over each scar with his fingertips and filling in the spaces between with the barest of touches. "You deserve better than you ever got."

A savage growl rumbled low in Mariku's throat, but the anger in it wasn't directed at Ryou. Ryou's hand rubbed circles along Mariku's lower back and teased up and down his spine. Ryou sang again. It was only You're Not Here from Silent Hill, but that song felt right - the proper mix of horror and love. Ryou Bakura could not comprehend when having a knife to his throat changed into the privilege of touching the old remains of wounds so damaging that they tore a child in half, but that was what Mariku and Ryou had somehow become - horror and love.