Warning: Yaoi, M for the safe side of things.

Do not own Yugioh

Chap 12: Truth Be Told

"Ryou wait!" Serenity called out to him, he slid to a stop and ran back. "You forgot your pay." She laughed as Ryou hopped from one foot to the other, she handed over the envelope, and Ryou took it. "Now put it away so it's safe, okay." She instructed, and Ryou slipped it into his wallet then in his back pocket. "Why are you in a hurry today?"

"Malik's getting out of school, I'll get to be with him." Ryou smiled.

"But you see him every day." She said amused.

"But not today, I've been here and he's been there." Ryou jumped up and down. "Can I go now?"

"Yes." With that Ryou was off like a shot, he ran but had to control himself that he didn't use his full speed, but still he was fast enough, sliding to a stop at the lights and waited, once green he dashed across.

He ran the full six blocks to Malik's school, not even out of breath, he came to a stop for a brief second before taking off again running towards the building, he burst through the doors and looked around, the halls where empty, no one was outside. Ryou smile became a mischievous one, he loved nothing more than hunting for Malik.

Ryou bit his lip as he walked down each hallway searching the classrooms and sniffing the air. "Why are you out of uniform?" Ryou turned around and looked at the older woman.

"Have you seen Malik? I'm hunting for him." The teacher gave him an odd look.

"Yes he has detention. And looks like you do too, why are you out of class? Where's your slip?" Ryou gave her a confused look.

"I'm here for Malik, he's taking me home."

"You won't be going anywhere until five, follow me." She started to walk Ryou bounced after, it was easier to find Malik this way less fun but gave him the same result. "So what did you do to earn this?" She looked over her shoulder.

"Oh Malik likes me, and I'm not allowed to talk to people I don't know." Ryou slapped his hand over his mouth, as he realized that he didn't know her. "Don't tell Malik." He whimpered.

"Yes knowing Malik you'll be in here a lot more." She sighed as she opened the door; Ryou instantly picked out Malik's scent out of everyone else in the room and bounced into the room. "One more, found him wondering around the halls." She said to the man behind the desk who just nodded.

"Just keep in mind next time that detention is held in here." She said.

"Yes thank you." Ryou bowed and rushed over to tackle a shocked Malik in a hug, both teens almost ended up on the floor if it wasn't for the wall.

"Ryou what are you doing here?"

"I found you!" Ryou smiled purring Malik chuckled. "Oh and I didn't talk to her." Ryou pointed to the lady that led him to the room. Malik raised an eyebrow. "She said she knew where you were." Ryou looked thoughtful tapping a finger on his own lips. "It would have been quicker if I came on my own, she talked a lot."

"Really but you didn't talk to her." Ryou shook his head no vigorously Malik laughed again.

"Mr. Ishtar when you're done." The man scowled from the front, Malik looked over and blushed as everyone was watching them, he moved Ryou and sat him down next to him, and straightened up, Bakura, Marik and Jou laughed.

"What are you doing?" Ryou lent over looking at the book that was open on the desk.

"Homework when I'm done I can go." Ryou looked over and blinked at the page, taking the textbook to his side and without looking took Malik's note pad and pen, Malik's mouth dropped open as Ryou worked through every problem as if someone was giving him the answers. Ten minutes later Ryou turned the next page, when Malik stopped him.

"That all I have to do." Malik took back the book looking it over, three more books and note pads fell onto the desk, Malik looked over to see Bakura, Marik and Jou give him a wave, this time he did it even quicker within twenty minutes the four walked to the front desk and placed their work down, the teacher gave them a suspicious look.

"You can't be finished." He looked through each book, and then looked at the four teens waiting to be let go, he nodded his head, and they ran out of the room. "Ryou man you're my new hero." Jou placed his arm lazily over Ryou's shoulder. "Lets head over to the park and get an ice-cream."

Twenty minutes later Malik lay with his back to a tree eating the ice-cream that he shared with Ryou, taking lick for lick, Ryou sat purring, until Marik whispered something to him. "We're going for a short walk." Marik said louder to Malik who nodded his head.

"Can I go too Malik?" Ryou asked he had to know what water-bombs were.

"Sure." Malik smiled as he watched Ryou run off with Bakura and Marik.

Ryou stood at the water-bubbler as Bakura filled up colorful balls with water, they had quite a few, Bakura and Marik handed a few to Ryou telling him to be careful with them or they would break.

The three stopped in the walkway in the small cluster of trees, Marik took off his jacket and they placed them all in. "Now we sit in the tree and wait, couples come in here for little make out sessions, we drop these onto them." Ryou nodded his head and climbed up the tree, that left Marik and Bakura's mouth hanging open and before they knew it he was sitting on a branch waiting for them.

Bakura and Marik followed passing the water- bombs to Ryou who held them. "Any minute now." Just as he had said that a young couple walked through holding hands, Bakura and Marik smirked as they waited until the couple was right under them then dropped the bombs.

"What's up with them?" Jou asked as he sat down next to Malik, who shrugged.

"Who knows, they were most likely going for it and got caught." But it was after the tenth couple that ran out of there with the girl screaming that Malik got curious on what was going on. "Lets go Jou and find out." Malik got up and walked towards the trees.

"Ready, Ryou someone's coming." Bakura said and all three held up the bombs, but before they could see who it was they dropped them, gasps came and a soaking wet Malik looked up.

"RYOU!" The neko flinched but smiled liked the Cheshire cat and gave a wave, hoping to change that scowling look on Malik's face. "Get down here!" Ryou's smile was gone and he gave Bakura and Marik an accusing look as he was now in trouble. He climbed down, Ryou walked up to him biting his lip, "Do you have anymore?" Malik held out his hand, Ryou bowed his head as he held out four more. "You should know better than to listen to them." Malik said looking up, but gave a mischievous smirk of his own, as he broke one over Ryou's head and threw a few at the two in the tree, who fell out with a yelp, Ryou gasped, looking at Malik shocked.

"All fair in love and water war." Malik smirked, "run." He held up a few more bombs of his own, Ryou took off like a shoot passed the two that where trying to compose themselves but got bombarded with bombs, as Malik and Jou ran passed them, drenching them.

"You realize this is war." Bakura growled.

"I wasn't hoping for anything less." Malik laughed at them, they broke up getting more ready and spent the afternoon running about, Ryou forgot about his fear of being wet as he ran after Malik.

The group walked into Malik's small apartment he grabbed them all towels to dry off with, he helped Ryou get dried up and changed.

Marik and Jou worked on getting food, but a small white note slipped under the door, Jou walked over and picked it up placing it onto the table for Malik.

Malik came out with Ryou and saw the note, he growled as he picked it up and threw it away, Marik and Bakura knew what it was about but Ryou was a little confused, the doorbell rang and they got the food and paid the guy, they ate and watched a movie before halfway Ryou had dosed off to sleep.

After Bakura and Marik left but for Jou, Malik carried Ryou to bed, leaving Jou to sleep on the couch, which he was more than happy to do. Malik placed Ryou on the bed and crawled in himself and laid down, Ryou crawled over the top of him and laid down, Malik bit back a moan, Ryou's ear's twitched forward at the sound, he moved again and Malik grabbed his hips. "Don't!"

Ryou smirked playfully as he moved his hips again, but whimpered himself.

"You know your going to get into trouble doing this." Ryou titled his head to the side confused.

"In trouble?" Ryou said, Malik smirked as he ran his hand up Ryou's back then down stopping just under the hem of his boxers, and raked his nails up his sides, Ryou arched his back and purred leaning against Malik.

"Good ha?" Malik moved a little, as Ryou licked his cheek, but Malik stopped him and kissed his lips instead but he pulled back a few seconds later watching Ryou who made that sound and lent down for more, Malik chuckled and pulled him down for another kiss. "Hang on!" Malik lifted his head and saw that his door was open a little bit, he bit his lip not wanting to get up, Ryou frowned and looked at the door also, his right ear flicked and the door shut. "That was lucky." Malik smirked as he rolled them over and he straddled his hips then raked his nails lightly over Ryou's chest and sides, who giggled and shifted.

"Tickles." Ryou gasped trying to get away.

"What about this?" Malik lent in and licked up the middle of Ryou's chest, who gasped and blushed but the nails that raked over his sides, he arched his back and whimpered but purred as Malik moved up his body more licking and biting his way up Ryou's neck to his lips, he lay his larger frame on Ryou's but careful not to crush him.

Ryou titled his head back giving Malik more access as his purring got that little bit louder. Malik grinded his hips against Ryou who let out a soft moan, Malik ran both hands through Ryou's hair and pressed his lips to Ryou's sealing them together, as their hips rocked together slowly, the door opened, but it slammed closed again. "Hey Malik!" Jou called out and knocked, Malik stopped and looked at a flushed Ryou, Malik shook his head to clear it.

"Shit!" Malik growled. "Sorry Ryou." Malik rolled off him.

It took Ryou a few seconds to gather his thoughts. Malik sighed as he got up, he had well and truly fell for Ryou, and fell he had without knowing as he did try to fight it or so he thought, but who could fight against that smile and those eyes, the way Ryou hugged him and purred just won him over. "What!" Malik opened the door.

"Blankets!" Jou stepped back, Malik walked out into the small hallway and pulled them out and handed them over. "Bad night?" Jou asked having no clue.

"Bad timing." Malik snorted as he walked back to his room.

"Then set your clock man," Malik stopped and looked over his shoulder. "It helps." Jou added.

"Thanks, good night." Malik said as he closed his door. He sighed then smirked as he walked towards the bed but found Ryou sound asleep. "I guess you where really tired." Malik climbed in behind him and pulled Ryou's back to his chest and wrapped an arm around him, kissing him on the shoulder before he fell asleep.

The next morning Ryou yawned and stretched his body and sat up looking around, Malik wasn't in the bed or the room he jumped up out of bed and ran into the living room but saw Malik in the kitchen. "Hey." Malik smiled.

"Morning." Ryou smiled back at him as he sat down at the table Malik placed a plate of food in front of him, Jou sat across from him.

"I'm going over to Marik's today, you want to join me." He sat down, and Ryou nodded his head. "I have to go out tonight on my own." Ryou titled his head to the side making that sound that always put a smile on Malik's face.

Later that day Malik and Ryou walked through the park Malik and had bought an ice cream that Ryou wanted to share with him, Malik would hold it down and watch as Ryou would lick at it and smile commenting on how cold it was, their arms linked together as they walked the paths leading out of the park.

"I was thinking lately that maybe." Malik rubbed the back of his head thinking on the right words to say. "We could be together."

"But we are together." Ryou looked at him waving a hand between them both. "See me and you."

"You and me." Malik smiled, "No that's not what I meant, last night." Malik blushed looking up at the sky, as Ryou titled his head to the side watching him. "Well it's more on a personal level it's going out together." Malik said, and looked at Ryou who was still lost. "Like it's just you and me for a very long time living together as a couple."

"Oh, like the ones we wet yesterday?" Ryou frowned in thought. "But Malik I don't want to get wet." Ryou shook his head, Malik laughed and stopped walking kissed Ryou on the lips briefly.

"You're hopeless you know that?" Malik started to walk again, making Ryou followed him; Ryou hugged his arm leaning his head on his shoulder.

"I just want to be with you." Ryou mumbled.

"That's all I'm asking." Malik smiled as he pulled his arm away and wrapped it around Ryou as they walked.

"I thank you for everything that you have done for me." Ryou said and clear blue eyes met light lavender.

"You don't have to thank me I do it because, because I lo…" Malik stopped what he was about to say he didn't want to confuse him anymore, "Because I don't want you to end up like you were when I first found you." Malik bowed his head and started to walk leaving Ryou behind, and the hurt look that was now watching him, Malik stopped.

"Come on." He called back; Ryou made that high-pitched purr sound and ran after him falling into step with Malik and linked arms with him as they continued.

They walked up a long driveway that led to a very large house with green gardens nicely shaped hedges and flowerbeds and birds flew about. Ryou looked around and didn't notice when they stopped walking and ran right into Malik. "It's nice isn't it?" He smirked.

"Yes." Ryou said still looking around.

"Hello?" Said a young woman as she opened the door.

"I'm here to see Marik." Malik said.

"Come this way." She stepped aside to let them in Ryou had never seen a house so big or with so many things inside, even the floor shone back their reflection. She led the way to an office where Marik was sitting with his head down and a pen scratched on paper. "Sir." She called, making him look up at her then to Malik and Ryou.

"Malik?" He stood up and Malik walked over to him.

"I came to see you." Malik said as Ryou wondered off looking at a statue that was as nice as his angel music box that Malik bought for him. He picked it up and wandered if it played music as well. But it was heaver than it looked and slipped from his hands and smashed on the floor. He jumped back and gasped biting his lip.

"I'm sorry." Ryou said, looking ready to run.

"Marik I'm sorry I should have told him…" Malik didn't get to finish.

"Don't worry about it." Marik said with a shrug. "I didn't like it anyway." The maid moved Ryou aside as she cleaned it up. "Grace we're going to go outside." Marik said walking to the door.

"I'll bring refreshments." She looked up from the floor.

"I'm glad that you came over I wanted to talk with you about a matter at hand." Marik asked leading them outside onto a large patio with a table and chairs. Malik sat down with Marik, but as he looked up Ryou was walking away to one of the many flowerbeds that had a few butterflies sitting on the petals he didn't know what they were but they looked nice. "I'm Ryou. What are you?" He asked and huffed when they didn't answer him. He wanted to touch one they all fluttered around him before they flew off, but he jumped up to chase them running deeper into the garden.

Malik stood up to call him back. "Relax Malik he can't get lost… if he does he'll find his way back." Marik said.

"I just don't want him to do anything."

"Relax!" Marik growled. "If Bakura can stay with me for a week and my house is still standing, then I'm sure we won't even know that Ryou was even here."

"Fine." Malik said sitting back down.

"Now we need to talk" Marik said again.

"About what?" Malik asked.

"Before I say anything I want you to hear everything I have to say and see, without walking off. Every word." Marik said sternly.

"Alright." Malik said, knowing he could take anything that Marik wanted to tall him.

"I did a little digging around on Ryou." Malik gave him a sharp look as Marik reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope and placed it onto the table and got up and walked to the door but stopped beside it and pressed a button on the wall and talked into it for a second then sat back down with Malik.

"You want to know about Ryou's passed, what he went through, what they put him through."

"I was leaving it for Ryou to tell me in his own time." Malik reached out and touched the envelope lightly. Malik sighed as he pulled a trembling hand away and looked at Marik, who was watching him intently, he sighed. "I do, I want to know more about him. Not because I'm scared or anything like that, it just may help later on." Malik's brow furrowed as he turned a hard glare at Marik. "This isn't fair you placing this in front of me."

Marik reached over and grabbed the envelope and opened it and looked through the pages briefly. The maid walked over and placed a laptop onto the table. Marik started it up and started to type away. "Just so you know that I wasn't planning to do anything with the information it was self curiosity that I did this and nothing more, I promise you Malik. It was more so if they came I would know how to help you out and know what we would be up against."

"But what about Ryou's wishes on this, he doesn't want me to know yet." Malik bit his lip as he looked around. "But I want him to be safe." Malik said as he moved around and sat next to Marik.

"I was in my fathers office doing a little work for him when I came across the numbers, and you know very well were he works." Malik knew that Marik's father worked as a scientist. "I saw a document with altering human DNA with animals, but everything on it was failed. At first I was wandering what he was up to, but when I saw Ryou that day it made me think that my father could be involved with him, so I looked up the numbers again and this is what I got."

"Is he?" Malik looked around for Ryou.

"No, and these papers on Ryou are." Marik sighed. "He's a project for something."

"Are you sure, I mean I knew in away but I was hoping that he wasn't."

"He is," Marik typed for a second and sat back. On the screen was Ryou, sitting in a chair chained to it with wires and tubes coming from his body covered in bruises and cuts, his hair wasn't as white and his skin was paler. "I had to hack into a lot of systems to even see this." Marik picked up the paper and flipped through it. "But I kept coming up with the same two names with his numbers. Gozaburo and Boots."

"Gozaburo and Boots?" Malik said.

"Boots was a floater found two days ago in America." Marik said. "He used to be a college of my fathers, a brilliant man he knew his work in animal and human DNA structure."

"So he could be involved with Ryou?" Malik asked looking through the papers.

"Maybe." Marik said. "Malik it's not all."

"What else?"

"Well you heard about the missing fishing village."

"Yeah it was on the news for a month over two hundred people just up and gone without a trace?" Malik looked at him, "nothing left but for clothes, surgical pins, pace makers, watches and other types of stuff." Malik said.

"And the army platoon that was sent into the forest outside Canada for training operations." Marik glanced up from the papers.

"Yeah fifty men and women heavily armed walked in and never came back, guns and uniforms found but nothing else." Malik met his gaze.

"Yeah, Ryou's numbers 482 are at the bottom of every one of those reposts, apparently he was their target, and they were to take him out with live fire, traps, anything, and the person to sign it, was a Gozaburo." Marik said as he showed Malik the papers.

Malik read them over briefly. "He was forced… it says here." Malik said then continued. "482's progress has surpassed that of, hand too hand combat. Defence officer." Malik stopped "it's blank no name." But he continued to read out softly to Marik to make sure that he was hearing it as well, though Malik knew that he already must know. "Had arranged 482 in forest training in stealth and survival. This is dated two years ago." Malik looked up.

"He did something to them, it never says what happens to them, just that he's the only one to walk away." Marik said. "Read the next page." He instructed.

"Today by order 482 is to be tested for full strength of his powers, 482 taken to a remote fishing village. Within twenty minutes everyone was… gone. Upon our arrival, 482 was found wondering around the town." Malik sighed. "They forced him to do this, for their tests and, and, it's bullshit!" Malik half yelled. "The bastards, how could they do such things to those people and Ryou, he wouldn't hurt anybody."

"Read this one before you say something or do something you'll regret." Marik passed another piece of paper. Malik took it and stood up and began to read.

"Log 6294… 482 passed tests of electricity at highly dangerous levels for humans. After he still shows a submissive personality, shy, quite. Takes orders quite well. The Founder and Gozaburo are trying to make him more savage on the field. 482 shows signs of guilt and hesitation to all training, but he never remembers what he has done after… a side effect… maybe.

I fear that 482 with further training will become more savage, he is not aware of his own powers, and the threat of termination of 482 is hanging in the air." Malik looked up. "Signed Boots."

"There are many more testes of the body and mind, list of drugs used on him." Marik said as he threw the paper onto the table. "Hell Malik all the drugs that you can get on the street, have been pumped into him at levels that could wipe out the worlds population ten times over, others that even I have never heard of." Marik hissed. "They were building him to be a weapon, but the brain twister is that he is privatelyowned."

"By who?" Malik asked as he sat down.

"He goes by the name of Founder, that name is water marked into the paper." Marik pointed showing Malik "With little info that I could gather on this Founder, that he had one made for himself as a personal one or pet if you will." Marik closed his laptop then said. "Malik I have looked right into this. Ryou has been overly abused not just as a human but an animal as well, if you do something wrong towards him…" Marik closed his eyes then said. "You could end up like those people."

"That won't happen Ryou likes me." Malik gave a look.

"Anyway if they got their hands on him again, they will kill him." Marik said.

"I know?"

"You as well Malik, if you're around him when they come for him." Marik said sternly as he packed up the papers putting them into the envelope.

"I don't want any of this to get out, I don't want him found and I'm not changing my mind on him, I don't think that his…" he stopped as Marik grabbed his shoulders.

"Not dangerous." Marik looked up. "Maybe towards you he isn't but others."

"He hasn't hurt anyone… wait. " Malik said looking at Marik. "Ryou helped his boss she was being attacked, but when I asked him, he said they went away."

"Well it did say that he never recalled whatever he did. So maybe what he did to those people Ryou did to the men." Marik said.

"They did hurt him… Ryou was protecting himself, and it sounds to me that's all he's been doing to keep himself alive. He's not a monster a project or a weapon."

"Malik, I hope you're right." Marik said.

"I am." Malik hissed back.

"I'll help you in keeping him safe, Bakura too. But I don't think they know that he's here they would have come for him already." Marik said. "So I think you can relax… a little." He smirked.

"Marik." Malik looked at him.

"Don't worry I'll destroy anything that I have on Ryou." He said.

"Thanks." Malik smiled but turned his head as Ryou came running up to him with the biggest smile as he lent down and opened his hands.

"Look?" Ryou whispered softly, the coloured butterfly that he held delicately in his hands. "It's pretty." Ryou said as he watched it. "What is it?" He asked looking at Malik.

"A butterfly." Malik said smiling.

"They're everywhere." Ryou gasped as it flapped its wings and flew off. Malik was watching Ryou. How happy he looked when he came into contact with other living creatures. Was he truly responsible for the deaths or missing people? Malik sighed and looked at Marik. No he wouldn't think such things about Ryou. Ryou was kind and cute and wouldn't hurt anybody.

The sound of a horn from a car could be heard. "He's back." Marik said as he got up and walked into the house. Malik and Ryou followed him and Bakura walked in with bags in his hands.

"Hey!" he nodded his head to Malik and Ryou in greeting.

"Hey." Malik said, and Ryou waved, but stopped as Bakura pulled Marik into a kiss. Ryou frowned and touched his lips looking up at Malik. But it was short lived when Malik looked at his watch.

"Guys I have to be going." Malik said taking Ryou's hand.

"I'll have my driver take you home." Marik called for the maid who came out to get the orders then left.

"Thanks." Malik said.

"Have dinner with us, we'll put Ryou into his own room and you can sleep with us." Bakura walked up to him.

"I told you before that I'm not into that much." Malik stepped back a bit.

"That's right, much, and since you haven't in a while I'm sure that your body won't say no." Bakura smirked.

"But I am saying no." Malik stepped around him, and Bakura pouted.

"You know Malik's playing hard to get." Marik said and Bakura smirked, Ryou gave them a look.

"Yeah I know its more fun chasing him." He laughed madly as he walked off into another room.

"I'll see you later." With that they were gone, Ryou not once broke free from the hand that held his and in the car Ryou lent on Malik's shoulder he could sense that Malik was uneasy and a little upset but why. Was it what Bakura had said about him sleeping with them, instead of him. Ryou pouted he slept with Malik, he stopped pouting and looked down, did Malik say no because of him? And what was so special about sleeping together anyway that he and Malik didn't already do?

"Malik?" Ryou looked up at him. "Why do they want you to sleep with them, you sleep with me, right?" He bit his lip; Malik smiled and pulled him closer.

"Only you." Malik kissed the top of his head; Ryou smiled and hugged him back. They walked into the apartment and Malik stepped on a white envelope he bent down and picked it up and read over it then growled as he scrunched it up and threw it in the bin, a second reminder.

Ryou watched as Malik took out a plate of food from the fridge and placed it into the microwave and pulled out milk and filled a glass, and walked into the living room, "Eat." Malik walked out of the room. He soon came back in and Ryou had finished his meal of fish and vegetables.

"Just be good okay, and I won't be to long." Malik turned on the t.v and walked to the door, Malik was wearing a black suite and tie, "I'm sorry to leave you like this." Malik gave him a kiss on the lips.

Malik left the apartment Ryou sighed and locked the door like Malik had showed him before. A few hours later the t.v was going adding soft noises into the quite room and Ryou lay on the couch staring off into nothingness.

The door opened and Malik walked in dumping everything onto the table, Ryou sat up with a smile but Malik kept his head and walked into the bedroom, Ryou jumped up and followed.

"Malik?" Ryou said timidly, but growled at seeing Malik's bruised cheek. "Who did that?" He snapped.

"It's nothing Ryou."

"It's not nothing someone hit you." Ryou walked right up to him and pointed. "Who?" He asked again.

"Ryou it's nothing that's not new, or hasn't happened before." Malik hissed.

"You say we are together, and yet you can't tell me, seems to me it's not fair." Ryou narrowed his eyes, but softened as Malik sighed and sat down on the chair, Ryou wrapped his arms around him.

"I would never hurt you Malik ever." Ryou nuzzled into Malik's back.

"I know Ryou."

"Then don't go anymore, stay home with me, so we can cuddle." Malik smiled and turned in the chair pulling Ryou closer. "For you I will just for that cuddle." Malik smirked as Ryou's ear's pricked forward and a smile spread across his face.

"A kissing, we get more kissing?"

"Oh I'm sure we can work something out on that." Ryou tackled him in a hug.

TBC