Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Acquainted With the Night ❯ One-Shot

Acquainted With the Night

The Panasonic Princess

***Update***: I am working on a sequel! Look for 'Dying of the Light' in a little while (but I have to finish it first, so it'll be a long while). It should be better than this came out. ^.^

I have been one acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in rain-and back in rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat

And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

When far away an interrupted cry

Came over houses from another street,

But not to call me back or say good-by;

And further still at an unearthly height

One luminary clock against the sky

Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right

I have been one acquainted with the night.

~Richard Frost~

It was nearing midnight when Yami Mutou sat on a cold, wooden bench overlooking the frozen park. Behind him, the trees of the small woods were covered in snow. Yami smiled weakly as he picked the cold snow up off the ground with his ungloved hand. The white powder was still flaky and light. The park was breathtaking under the now cloudless sky. It looked like the wonderland you only read about in fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The snow around him remained untouched except for where he himself had crushed it beneath his feet, leaving behind the temporary proof that he had been there that night to drown in his own sorrows. Part of him wished he were able to die again, and just let himself freeze over in the coldest night of the year, but he knew that it was impossible. He'd just go back to the Puzzle and continue living his meaningless life.

He continued to stare at his otherwise gorgeous view, and words came to him, words that he could remember coming from the lips of his precious hikari.

"Between the woods and frozen lake… The darkest evening of the year…" he whispered to himself, and he squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears from falling. Surely, they would freeze in this weather…

The thought of his hikari brought back to his heart the sharp ache that he'd been trying to smother all night, and heartbroken sobs racked his body. He'd never experienced a pain like this…

It wasn't Yugi's fault. The hikari was entitled to his own life, his own decisions, but Yami couldn't help but feel a little empty. After all, he'd been in love with the teen since the moment he'd laid eyes on him…

Tonight was the night that Yami was finally going to confess everything, but when he got home… it went a little differently. He had gone into the living room, ready to proclaim his love, and there was his hikari on the couch… making out with Ryou Bakura.

Never had Yami wanted to commit murder so badly as he did then. Suddenly, he had the terrible urge to tear the albino away from his hikari and just… hurt him so badly that he would never go near Yugi again.

The jealous fury he'd felt scared him to no end. He left before either hikari could realize he was there, and ended up here several hours later. It was bitterly cold, but Yami was impossibly numb, and it didn't bother him. He liked being numb. It was bliss not to feel anything, to know you were moving, but to have your very nerves not register it. It was the kind of feeling he wished he had all over his body… inside and out.

"Yami…"

There was a voice calling him, but Yami's world was turning dizzy and dark, and he wasn't able to recognize whose voice it was. He was pulled to his feet, and the last thought that ran through his mind before his world went completely black was that the stranger whose arms he was in had the prettiest violet eyes he'd ever seen…

He woke up with the sun shining full in his face, and he turned in the warm bed to escape it. He couldn't stand the sun in the morning. Sure, it was there day after day in Egypt, shining though his window just like this, but that didn't mean he liked it. That's why he loved his time in the Puzzle. There was no sun to wake him up-in fact, there were no mornings at all. A very familiar voice was calling him, but he ignored it. He needed more sleep; he wasn't ready to wake up yet…

Then he remembered: He'd been at the park, and a violet-eyed stranger had caught him as he fell…

"Yami, are you awake?" the voice asked, and Yami opened his eyes to finally meet its owner.

Marik Ishtar was standing above him, a tray in his hands. His violet eyes shone in the morning light, and Yami couldn't help but stare at them.

"I got you breakfast, fern-head," he snapped, and the spirit couldn't help but smile a little as he sat up.

"Thank you, Mr. Sunflower," he replied cheerily, taking the tray, "Malik cooked, seeing as you're not feeding me a poisoned, charcoaled mess."

"Damn right, Malik cooked," Marik growled, "And I wouldn't have fed you anything charcoaled…"

Yami rolled his eyes and began to nibble at the eggs on the plate, and Marik turned to leave the room.

"Thank you," Yami said suddenly, feeling like it should be said. Marik turned back around and looked at him.

"For what?" he asked.

"For… taking me in last night," Yami replied. Marik nodded once, then turned around again.

"Yeah, well… you probably would've done the same thing for me, you righteous bastard," he said, then left the room.

Malik came to get the tray about an hour later, and he asked Yami how he was doing.

"Okay, I guess," he said, and Malik smiled.

"What were you doing out there in the middle of the night? You're lucky Marik goes out there every once in a while to kill things."

"What was there to kill in that weather?" Yami asked. Malik sighed.

"Trust me, he'd find something," the blonde replied, "But you didn't answer my question. What were doing out there?"

"Thinking."

"What could be so important that you had to think about it in the middle of the night in below zero temperatures?" Malik asked, his hand on his hip. Yami was strongly reminded of a mother scolding her child.

"Well… I never said it was a good idea."

"What were you thinking about?"

"It's… a long story."

Malik threw his hands up in surrender.

"Fine, fine… I won't pry. Are you still hungry?"

"No, not really. I'd like to get up, though," Yami said, "My legs are probably still asleep."

"Sure, but I have to get going. I'm meeting Bakura in an hour," Malik replied, a smile on his face, "So you'll be here alone with Marik. I'm forbidding him from leaving the house."

"Why?"

"Let's just say that he likes getting his hands on matches if an eye's not kept on him. I threw all the matches in the house away after he burnt down the kitchen."

"Isis must have been pissed."

"No, not really. She hated that kitchen. I suspect she's the one who gave him the matches in the first place."

They laughed, and Malik stood up to leave.

"There's food in the fridge, if you're hungry. You can have anything in there. Marik will probably take over the living room television, but there's one in Isis's room if you want to watch something. If you wanna leave, please take Marik with you. I don't trust him here alone."

"No problem."

"Great," Malik said, smiling, "Well, I'll see you later!"

"Bye."

Malik left, and Yami got to his feet, taking a few steps. He wobbled a little, but straightened himself out and left the room to go downstairs.

Like Malik had predicted, Marik was in the living room, watching something that Yami suspected was Jerry Springer. Yami sat next to him, but the blonde didn't notice.

"Um… hey," he greeted, and Marik turned to him.

"Oh, hi. You're not dying or anything, are you?" Marik asked. Yami rolled his eyes.

"I'm already dead, Marik. I'm not dying again," he snapped. Marik grinned.

"I know that. I'm trying to be fucking caring."

"Oh, is that what you call it?"

There was silence then as they watched two transvestites try to beat the crap out of each other. Yami had to admit he understood why Marik would be the one to like this show. Bakura probably liked it, too.

"So… what were you doing last night? Trying to kill yourself? 'Cause you said yourself that you're not able to."

Yami glared at him.

"No, I wasn't trying to kill myself. I was thinking."

"About what?"

"I just went through this with Malik, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him: It's a long story."

"We've got time," Marik replied, "And I'd like to know why I had to drag your ass all the way here in the middle of the night."

Yami considered this and smiled.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

He proceeded to pour his heart out to Marik, who had looked apathetic from the start (he was probably just bored), but Yami didn't care. It felt good to get all this off his chest.

He finished, and silence reigned again.

"Wow, that's quite a story," the blonde said after a while, "So… you're just giving up?"

"What can I do? If he's with Ryou, I can't do anything about that," Yami replied. Marik barked a laugh.

"So? I join Malik and Bakura, and they don't mind…"

"I don't think Ryou and Yugi have gone that far, yet…"

Then the very air around them changed. Yami didn't know what it was, but it suddenly became very tense. Marik moved in very close, and Yami knew what was on his mind. He could feel the blonde's spicy breath on his cheek.

"I have. Does that mean you'd join me?" Marik whispered in his ear, and Yami shivered as he felt warm lips on his neck.

"Why me?" he asked, "You have Malik and Bakura. Why bother with me?"

Marik grinned evilly.

"Because I don't like to share," he growled. Yami scowled.

"That's it?" he asked, "So you want me because you're sick of sharing your lovers? What if someone decides that they want me for more than my ass?"

"Then I'll beat the shit out of them," Marik purred, "I want you for more than that. If I were just interested in sex, I would have already found a much more willing partner, don't you think?"

"How do I know you're not just shitting me?"

"Yami…" Marik whispered, but shook his head, "Nahkti… you should know me well enough to know that I wouldn't lie about this…"

Marik leaned over and captured a tearful Yami's lips softly, chastely. Nahkti… he hadn't heard that name in three thousand years. And the way Marik purred it so fervently made him want to forget the world around him and just give himself to the passion…

Their kiss deepened, and Yami let it, allowing Marik to slip a moist, warm tongue past his lips. There was something familiar about this, something that made Yami feel as though he'd been in this situation before…

"Mariku…" he whispered as they lay on the bed together, devouring each other frantically…

Yami couldn't remember ever lying down on the couch, but at one point he must have, because Marik was suddenly stretched out on top of him, his hands exploring the ex-pharaoh's body, their mouths still fused together. On instinct, he wrapped a leg around one of Marik's and pulled the blonde closer to him, giving a soft moan. The silky tongue explored his mouth slowly, memorizing every crevice and indent, it seemed. Yami's breath came in small pants, and he found it hard to focus on anything but the gorgeous blonde on top of him (who was attacking his neck with his lips and teeth and tongue…).

"You don't remember, do you, Nahkti?" Marik growled into the skin of Yami's neck. Yami looked through the haze that had filled his mind so that he could see the violet eyes. Slowly, as if there was a movie playing in his head, visions came to him…

Nahkti paced his room nervously, glancing out the window at the setting sun. It was almost nightfall-if his lover didn't appear to him soon, he wasn't coming at all. The night discriminated against no one, not even the pharaoh's concubine…

The door behind him opened and closed, and Nahkti turned to see his lover standing there, his wild blonde hair plastered to his forehead. It looked as though he had been running. With a grin, the young pharaoh swept across the room and enveloped himself in his lover's arms, not caring that sweat was still pouring down the man's cheeks and neck.

"Mariku…" he gasped, "You scared me! I thought for sure you wouldn't come tonight!" (A/N: I use Mariku and Nahkti because I'm brain dead and I'm too lazy to research proper Egyptian names… live with it.)

There was a slight pause, and Mariku began to laugh softly.

"Oh, Nahkti… I would never leave you here alone!" he replied affectionately, "I couldn't imagine you sleeping alone, with no one to keep you warm… Unless you have someone else to take my place…"

"No, never!" Nahkti breathed, waiting for those elegant lips to claim his. Mariku grinned and wiped at Nahkti's cheek, catching some of the kohl that had escaped with a bead of his sweat. The pharaoh leaned into the touch, his breath going shallow. He needed Mariku's touch; he was driving himself insane…

Their lips met, and Nahkti felt raw passion sweep over him. He loved this-he lived for this. Mariku kissed him hungrily, his tongue sweeping past his lips. They stayed fused for several moments, and broke away when air was becoming an issue. Mariku attacked his neck, slowly pushing him back over to the bed. They collapsed on it simultaneously, Mariku's hand deftly tracing its way up Nahkti's thigh. The pharaoh's vision went blurry, and suddenly, he knew he would never feel this way in anyone else's arms…

"Mariku…" Yami whispered, and brought his hand up to caress the blonde's cheek. The fellow yami shook his head slowly.

"No…" he whispered back, "Not Mariku, not anymore. Just Marik."

"Marik… why did you wait so long? Why did you go through that whole thing in Battle City? If you loved me still, why would you put me through that?"

Marik sighed.

"Yami, when I was reborn, I was in the same state you were. I had little actual memories. All I had left was the memory of your face, and I knew that there was something about you that was important to me. I was angry. I was frustrated. I aimed all that at you, because I didn't know whom else to aim it at. You and Malik were all I knew. I wasn't sure what else to do. Slowly, my memories began to piece together. I've known we were lovers for quite some time now. I was waiting for the right moment to come to tell you."

"And the right moment is during Jerry Springer?" Yami replied sardonically. Marik glared at him.

"I said I was waiting for the right moment. I never said it came. I was just sick of waiting."

"Well… I'm glad you did."

Marik smiled at him, and leaned his head down to capture the ex-pharaoh's lips chastely. Yami sighed contentedly as his lover stoked his neck lovingly.

"I've waited to hold you again," Marik whispered, "And it killed me. When I saw you in that park last night, my heart broke for you. I wanted to just hold you again, keep you safe from the world. Do you know what could have happened to you out there in the state you were in?"

"I wasn't thinking," Yami murmured, his eyes clouded.

"I know you weren't. You have that tendency. But that doesn't excuse it."

"Look at it this way: If I wasn't out there, you would have never found me, and we wouldn't be here together."

"True," Marik agreed, and his voice got suddenly small and soft, "Will you let me keep you warm tonight?"

"Do you need to ask? The answer will always be yes," Yami replied, and Marik moved. His violet eyes bored into Yami's, and the spirit gasped at the love in his koi's eyes.

"I should have never let it be different," the blonde said, "I'm so sorry, Nahkti. I never meant to cause you or your hikari any harm. I never wanted to leave you. I-"

He was cut off by Yami's fingers on his lips, and they lay there, breathing heavily for several moments, until Yami spoke.

"You've already been forgiven," he replied, "There's no need to do it again. I love you, Mariku. You love me. That's all we should be concerned with right now. We can worry about the technical difficulties later. Now… all I know is you. I want you to love me."

Without another word, they kissed desperately. A tongue snuck into Yami's mouth, and he moaned, trying to get closer to the blonde… Damn clothes…

They made out wildly, stopping only to catch their breath. In a matter of minutes, they were both half-dressed, and Yami's hands were fisted in golden blonde hair as Marik licked and chewed his way down his chest and stomach.

"Mariku…" Yami gasped breathlessly. His breathing grew hitched and ragged as his torso was attacked by his lover's teasing tongue. He felt his jeans (borrowed from Malik) being undone and pushed away (and his own hands were busy doing the same thing). Then, there were no barriers between them, and, for the first time in three thousand years, Yami was able to gaze upon the deliciously nude body of his habibi, his koibito…

It was well worth the wait.

They kissed again, Marik's hand slipping between Yami's legs, squeezing and caressing him. Yami moaned, his hands gripping Marik's blonde hair tighter.

"Oh, Ra, Mariku… just fuck me… please…"

Marik's touch had always managed to do this to him, and he had hated it. He'd hated being weak… he'd hated begging. But now, everything was different. He still felt helpless in these arms, yes, but it was a feeling he relished. He loved the possessiveness in his lover's touch. It had been something he'd taken for granted as pharaoh.

Yami cried out as a slender finger pressed into his entrance, and he happily spread his legs to allow Marik better access. Another finger joined the first one, eliciting a desperate moan from the pharaoh.

"Shit… just do it already…"

Marik growled, grinning, as he scissored his fingers, stretching the smaller man, and Yami squirmed, grabbing the back of the couch. The fingers were removed as Marik licked his neck. With one thrust, he fully sheathed himself within the willing body. Yami cried out, but didn't complain. Marik was a rough lover; he liked his sex fast and hard. Yami was more than willing to give him what he wanted.

They stilled for a moment, and Yami placed a chaste kiss on the tanned neck.

"Fuck me…"

With a groan, Marik began to thrust into him, and Yami cried out again as his prostate was hit, sending stars through his vision.

"Yes… harder… fuck…"

The blonde thrusted harder, as per his lover's demand, and Yami's moans got steadily louder in volume as heat began to pool in his abdomen. Marik went faster and faster, and they created a steady rhythm.

"Nn… yes… don't hold back… just fuck me…"

Marik pounded into him mercilessly, and Yami found himself nearly screaming as the Egyptian found that little bundle of nerves with every thrust. Legible thought escaped him. His vision got clouded with passion, and his climax came suddenly, tearing a scream from his throat. Marik grunted with his own release, and he collapsed on top of Yami, but the pharaoh didn't mind. He enjoyed the closeness of his lover.

"We should go upstairs," Marik whispered into his ear a few moments later, "Malik could be home at any time. I don't care for him to find us here like this. It poses too many blackmail opportunities."

"Hmm… okay…" Yami replied dreamily, "But you'll have to carry me. I don't think my legs are going to support me."

"Very well then."

The comfortable weight lifted off of him. An arm hooked around the back of his shoulders, and underneath his knees, and he was lifted up. Somewhere between the living room and the bedroom, he must have fallen asleep, because he didn't remember being put into bed. The last thing he knew was Marik's gorgeous voice as he hummed an ancient Egyptian lullaby…

Malik took his key out of the keyhole of his front door, his lover trailing behind him. He listened intently. It was quiet. Had Yami and Marik left?

He guided Bakura to the stairs, and froze when he heard a moan come from upstairs. Was that Yami? He exchanged a look with Bakura, and they went upstairs.

There was another moan, coming from Marik's bedroom. I swear, if he's torturing people in the house again…

He flung open Marik's bedroom door, and gasped at what he saw. Behind him, Bakura gasped too.

Yami and Marik, completely nude, unaware that anyone had walked in on them, were engaged in what Malik could only describe as very advanced foreplay. Yami's breath was shaky and hitched. They had been at this for a while. Yami's moans became louder as Marik touched him, and Malik's grip on the door panel tightened. He felt an arm snake around his waist, and he looked back at his lover.

"Why don't we leave these two to themselves," Bakura purred, "I think they can take care of each other." He pulled Malik out of the room and shut the door. Malik gasped as he was swung up into Bakura's strong arms and carried to his own room.

"There's something I want to know, though," Bakura said thoughtfully as he deposited Malik unceremoniously on the bed and crawled on top of him.

"Oh? What?"

Bakura smirked.

"Why can't you moan like that?"

An hour later, the phone rang at the Mutou's home, interrupting its two occupants from their make out session. Yugi Mutou smiled as he leaned across his lover to pick up the phone and speak into it.

"Hello?"

"It worked."

Yugi's eyebrows rose.

"Already? I thought you said it would take time."

"Well… Marik's a little eager, I guess. You know how he is."

"I hope this will help Yami's memory. This is good for him," Yugi smiled, "I just want him to be happy."

"What was he doing out in the park last night?"

"He ran after he walked in on me and Ryou kissing, like I told you on the phone," Yugi sighed sadly, "I really didn't want him to find out like that. Who got him out of the park?"

"I sent Marik out after you called. He found Yami passed out on a bench."

"Does he suspect us?"

"No, I don't think so. Would Yami be angry if he knew we set him up?"

"Probably. You know how proud he is. It's best he doesn't know. He'll be happier that way."

"I'm glad this all worked out."

"Me, too," Yugi replied, "You never told me-How did Bakura know about all this?"

"I don't know. I'll ask him later. He's asleep."

"At two o'clock in the afternoon?"

"Well… he was tired."

"Ah… I see. Say no more. I assume Yami's still asleep?"

"Yup. You want me to tell him to go back home when he wakes up?"

"No, let him stay there. He'll come home when he's ready. I want him to have fun."

"Alright. I'll see you later."

"Thanks, Malik. Bye."

"Bye."

Yugi hung up the phone and smiled at Ryou.

"It all went according to plan," he said, "I'm surprised it went so well."

"So am I," Ryou replied, but then sighed, "It seems like it went too well. It's got a kind of foreboding feel to it."

"Really? I'm sure it's nothing."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I'm just afraid of something happening to us, just when everything's gone right."

"Well, we can worry about that later."

Ryou nodded, and, without another thought of the albino's bad feelings, they resumed their make out session.

Five months later, all the snow had melted, and the weather turned warm. A beautiful May weekend found Marik, Yami, Ryou, and Yugi at the park. The two hikaris were walking hand in hand, the yamis trailing behind them. Marik smiled. The day was perfect. The sun was shining and everyone seemed happy.

It's like déjà vu… he thought. He knew he'd been in this situation before, and he knew why.

"Why don't I go get some snacks for us?" Yami suddenly asked, "There's a store not far from here."

"That would be nice, Yami," Yugi said, smiling.

"Marik, can you stay here with them?"

Marik smiled at his lover.

"Of course, Nahkti."

Yami left, and the three sat at a bench, hovering in silence. It was almost awkward, and Marik didn't like it.

"Hey, Marik?" Yugi asked, breaking the quiet, "There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Well… Bakura told us how Yami died…"

"And?"

"You were his lover. You had to have been there. Do you know who killed him?"

Marik grinned.

"I do."

"Really?" Yugi gasped, anxious, "Who was it?"

"Well… as you know, history always repeats itself. You'll just have to find out for yourself."

Marik Ishtar smirked as he unsheathed the dagger at his side.

Finis

Well, that's it. You likey? Review! Please?