Malik was a larger person than Ryou had realized. Somehow, his shoulders were broader than Marik's, his arms stronger, his legs longer, and this stretched form allowed Ryou to lose himself entirely in the other's embrace. He was swallowed up by the other man's will and warmth as they reveled in the afterglow of their victory. Those strong limbs shifted amidst the purple bed sheets, pulling Ryou closer to himself so he could reach that pale shoulder with his mouth.

Ryou giggled at the tickle of teeth, loving that he was being marked. Someone wanted him. Someone cared about him. Someone loved him. Let Malik be possessive; it meant that Ryou finally belonged.

Malik's love had been gentle at first but got rougher as he got excited and his control slipped. It wasn't too different from being with Bakura, actually, except he didn't feel afraid. Malik's bulk and strength were comforting to him, not frightening. He liked the thought of fading away into Malik's desires, but the thought of losing himself in Bakura had terrified him, even when he'd wanted it.

This arrangement suited him much better, he decided, drowsy and content.

Ryou was half asleep on Malik's chest when the rumble of his voice roused him.

"The fight isn't over, you know."

Brown eyes opened.

"What do you mean?"

"I will need to defeat the Pharaoh. He's the reason Marik and I were imprisoned in the first place." He moved his hand to rub Ryou's shoulder in a comforting gesture, his thumb rubbing at the lingering teeth marks. "Besides, he's the only person powerful enough to send me back to the shadows. Once I have my vengeance on him, we'll be free to do as we please." Lilac eyes considered his willowy lover thoughtfully. "What would you like to do after we win this tournament?"

"You have your body, and I have you." The words were so simple, so easy. "That's enough for me. I don't need anything else, as long as you're happy."

"That's not a real answer." Malik smirked.

"I'm serious, though." Ryou peeled himself from Malik's skin to sit up, leaning one arm on his chest for support. "I want your attention and your love. I want to be the only one you care about. Nothing else matters to me."

Malik tilted his head, eyes narrowed in thought.

"What about your friends?"

"They're not really my friends," Ryou sighed, the admission still hurting. "They don't really care about me. I don't think they ever did."

"They pretended to care about you?" Malik's expression slowly shifted from peaceful thought to burning anger. "They pretended to care, until you became… an inconvenience for them?" he guessed in his gravelly voice.

"Yeah, that pretty much sums it up." Ryou lay back down on his chest, snuggling into him as he got comfortable for a nap.

"I'll get revenge on them all for you," Malik promised.

"Okay." Ryou yawned and closed his eyes again. "Not Kaiba, though."

"Why not Kaiba?"

Ryou giggled.

"Because he never pretended to care. He doesn't care about anyone, and he never behaves otherwise."

Malik chuckled.

"I can appreciate his honesty, but I might not be able to spare him. If he stands between me and the Pharaoh, I will take him down like the others."

"That's fair," Ryou mumbled, his eyes closed, not giving Malik's words any deep thought. He wanted to not care about those people, and if he didn't think about it, then not caring became so much easier.

They could all go to the Shadow Realm, he decided. Why not? They were selfish, especially Kaiba. They were oblivious, especially Tristan. They were stupid, especially Joey. They were vapid, especially Téa. They were weak, especially Yugi. Let them all suffer in the shadows forever.

"Has revenge made you happy?" Ryou asked quietly, his eyelids growing heavier.

"I got revenge on the Spirit of the Ring for you," Malik answered. "I found that quite pleasing; didn't you?"

Ryou smiled and murmured his agreement. His thoughts turned back to what the other occupants of the blimp deserved.

"Please, spare Kaiba if you can." Ryou yawned again. "He's an asshole, but Mokuba doesn't deserve to be abandoned."

He himself had been abandoned, and he wouldn't wish that on another child, not even a Kaiba.

"I will try, but I will take him down if he stands in my way." Malik looked at the golden scepter that lay harmlessly next to their bed. "I do not like the way he interferes with my Millennium Rod. He cannot control it, but he's still the source of the problem."

Ryou could hear his words, but he was half asleep now, and drifting further away.

"Striking him down might be the best option," were the last words that Ryou heard before he lost his grip on consciousness.