Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ How to Save a Life ❯ How It Is: Perfect ( Chapter 10 )

A/N: As usual, I am not entirely happy with this chapter. It's way late, and it's not nearly as good as I'd hoped it would turn out. I feel as if it's too rushed, and for that I apologize profusely. Also sorry if there are any typos... such as, if I by mistake referred to Ryou as a 'she' at certain points, or anything else along those lines.

 

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This broken heart can still survive with a touch of your grace.

- Daughtry (What about Now)

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Flushing prettily, Ryou turned his attention on something else other than the charming Egyptian - a painting that hung on the wall opposite of the foyer, off-theme when compared to the rest of the oriental-type theme of the penthouse. It depicted a proudly naked woman with short white-blonde hair and eyes that were closed off from the world, though still leaking tears.

 

Silver-white eyebrows furrowed in consideration. “... Did you pick this out?” he inquired, slowly.

 

Malik nodded his head. “Yeah. She's lovely, isn't she?”

 

Ryou didn't say anything, only continued to stare at the picture, attempting to place exactly when and where he had seen it before.

 

A gentle nudge to his shoulder roused him from his thoughts and Ryou turned his head minutely to the side to discover a glass of wine directly in his line of vision. “Oh, no thanks,” he declined politely, facing the portrait of the woman once more.

 

Malik blinked. “You bring me wine and refuse to drink it? Is something wrong with it?” he joked, swirling his drink before raising it to his nose and sniffing it experimentally. “You didn't poison it, did you? Surely you don't hate me that much...”

 

Ryou grinned playfully in response, adding his two cents of, “that's debatable,” before shaking his head. “But seriously... I just can't handle alcohol.”

 

Again Malik presented him with the glass of wine and Ryou found his resistance waning. He refused all the same, shaking his head, stressing that point that he didn't have the stomach to tolerate any sort of alcohol.

 

“Not even one measly glass? Come on, Ry... You did buy it, so you might as well enjoy it. If you get sick, I'll hold your hair back for you,” the blonde promised, flashing another of his winning smiles.

 

“Charming,” Ryou snorted, rolling his eyes.

 

“I try.”

 

The drink was nearly thrust into his hand, and Ryou had no choice but to accept it reluctantly. With a sigh, he wrapped his fingers around the long stem of the glass and silently vowed that he would not take a single sip from it.

 

The Egyptian set a hand on the small of his back, guiding his dinner guest into the dining room. The polished wooden table was set for two, a brass candle lit between the place settings, the flame quivering ever-so-slightly.

 

Ryou noticed a red rose laying innocently on his plate and a slender white eyebrow shot up in surprise. “You're good,” he acknowledged, laughing softly as he picked up the rose and fingered the velvety petals. “Oh, you are good, Mr. Ishtar.”

 

Grinning in unabashed self-appraisal, Malik leaned closer. “Is that a good thing?”

 

Ryou brushed him aside, determined not to fall for the lies. “It would be, if you were trying to pick me up.” A teasing look flashed in his eyes, causing Malik's lips to stretch a fraction. “But I'm afraid,” the older male continued, “it will take a lot more than a silly rose to win my heart.”

 

“Which is exactly why I made you dinner.”

 

“You're going to entice me with food?” Ryou asked, skeptical.

 

A smirk. “Not just food... food perfectly cooked by yours truly. No one can resist me once I put on that chef's hat.”

 

Ryou openly laughed, moving closer to the Egyptian - feeling slightly more at ease. An old friend. He was conversing with an old friend. It was comfortable, familiar. “Well I don't see a chef's hat,” he pointed out. “So I guess you don't plan on wooing me after all.”

 

Malik was silent for a minute or two, contemplating the words and what his response should be. When he next spoke, his deep voice sounded hushed, tentative. He scooted his chair closer to Ryou's, expression devoid of its earlier humor. “Do you wish for me to woo you?”

 

Automatically, Ryou began to utter a smart retort, but his jaw fell slack as he locked eyes with the Egyptian. Mocha orbs sparkled wondrously as Ryou observed the sincerity in the other's bright lavender eyes, beautifully accentuated with the kohl markings traditional of his heritage.

 

Yes, he thought, moistening his lips, unable to deny it. Yes, I do.

 

He inclined his body in the Egyptian's direction, idly noticing how Malik responded by doing the same. He reached out to him, pale hands twitching in excitement, eager to once more touch the olive-tinted cheeks, brush against the dark, full, inviting lips.

 

“Malik...”

 

Malik's larger hand met Ryou's and the whitenette found himself blushing, feeling - and not for the first time in the other's presence - like a giddy young school girl.

 

Malik kissed the pale palm of Ryou's hand, smiling tenderly.

 

“Malik,” said Ryou again, unable to form any word other than his ex-lover's name.

 

Malik looked as though he were about to say something, but just in that moment, the stove beeped, signaling that dinner was ready. A sigh escaped the blonde's lip as he released Ryou's hands and stood up. Masking his disappointment about the ruined mood, he smiled.

 

“Prepare for the best meal of your life.”

 

Ryou gave an amused laugh and watched the other exit the dining room and head to the spacious kitchen. Left alone with his jumbled thoughts, Ryou took the opportunity to look around the romantically lit dining room. The walls were painted a deep shade of burgundy and gold decorations lined the wall shelves. Various pictures were set on top of a china cabinet, most of them of Malik himself, along with his siblings Isis and Rishid.

 

One of the pictures was turned facedown, which piqued Ryou's interest. Figuring that the frame had been down-turned by mistake, he chose to remedy the situation. He stood from his chair and made his way to the cabinet, opening the door and reaching out for the picture. Once it was in his possession, he flipped it around to see the photograph held within the elegant gold frame.

 

A startled gasp of recognition escaped his lips.

 

The photo was of two males, both of whom were strikingly familiar to Ryou. One of them, of course, was Malik - who, in the snapshot, had his arms wrapped possessively around the waist of a young man with outlandish red hair and bright emerald eyes. A golden ring twinkled mockingly up at the picture's viewer.

 

“I have twenty-eight hundred pounds for you - for tonight and tomorrow, with me!”

 

He's engaged!

 

“Get on the bed.”

 

Ryou knew now why this place seemed so familiar. He was not imagining things when he got the impression that he had been there before. He had been there... and with... and with...

 

Malik's husband-to-be.

 

 

 

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Can we see beyond the scars and make it to the dawn?

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Malik made his grand appearance for the second time, carrying a small foil-covered tray in his arms. Atop his head, slightly lopsided as if put on in a rush, lay a chef's hat. He set the food down on the table before glancing over at Ryou. Lavender eyes widened slightly as they caught sight of the picture the older male was regarding, and the air suddenly felt hot and thick.

 

Ryou set the portrait facedown on the table before upturning his head to send Malik a fierce glare. The Egyptian recoiled, taking a step back.

 

“Ryou,” he began, nervously trying to think of a way to explain himself.

 

“Why did you want me to come over tonight, Malik?” Ryou interrupted, not wanting to hear Malik's explanations. “Is your fiancé out of town for the weekend, so you needed a different source to get a decent fuck out of?”

 

Malik's throat tightened. “N-no... Ryou, it's not like that at all,” he fought to clarify, but Ryou would have none of it.

 

“Save it,” the whitenette snapped. “I don't want to hear anymore of your bullshit. I'm sick of being your plaything, Malik, you hear me? I'm sick of it!”

 

“You don't understand...”

 

“I understand well enough! I'm nothing to you, Malik... Just a pretty face - that's all you've ever thought of me as. You don't give a damn; you've never cared! This dinner you wanted to make me, to `make up for being such a jerk'... I'll bet you were just hoping I'd be so moved that I'd spread my legs for you.”

 

Lavender eyes widened at the accusation. Malik fish-mouthed for a few seconds before clamping his jaw shut. Across the room, Ryou breathed heavily, blinking his eyes rapidly in order to rid them of the tears steadily forming.

 

“R-Ryou…”

 

Malik's voice sounded rather shaken, as if it were on the verge of cracking. Ryou waited, bitterly hoping that his words packed enough of a truthful punch to reduce the haughty Egyptian to tears. Malik remained silent but Ryou could tell he was mentally raging war against himself.

 

The whitenette turned away from him, feeling slightly superior now.

 

“Wait! Don't leave...”

 

“Give me one good reason to stay, Mr. Ishtar,” he replied tersely, not even bothering to face the one he spoke to.

 

Malik took in a breath of tense air. “I... I love you.”

 

Chocolate-brown eyes fell shut. Ryou shook his head, a whisper of “no, no, no,” slipping past his lips as he silently vowed not to be swayed by words alone.

 

Hearing the faint words, Malik's heart thumped wildly with determination. He would not let Ryou leave. It was a big mistake, pushing the whitenette from his life in the past, and an effort Malik did not wish to repeat. He wanted Ryou, all of Ryou... he needed Ryou with him again, and he would not relent until he could hold his ex-lover in his arms and kiss him to his heart's content.

 

“Don't say that... Please, don't lie to me anymore.”

 

Maneuvering his way around the table that stood between them, Malik tentatively approached the emotionally stressed albino. Setting his hands on the bony shoulders, he drew the smaller close, resting his chin on the crown of the snow white head.

 

“I love you, Ryou. I need you. I want to make things right again.”

 

Ryou gazed traveled forlornly to the photograph. “And your fiancé?” he inquired, softly. “Do you love him, too? Do you hold him like this - whisper these same sweet promises into his ear? Do you love him?”

 

Malik shook his head automatically. “N-no... I, well...”

 

He pictured the redhead in his mind, thinking of the lithe body that quivered delectably under his touch and the sparkle of his emerald eyes, and how gentle yet rough he could be at the same time, and the little dimples that appeared when he smiled, and the golden band that bound them together. Heart lurching painfully at the realization that, yes, he loved Garrett as well, he took a step away from Ryou.

 

A flicker of pain presented itself in Ryou's mocha orbs before it was quickly doused.

 

“Yes... Of course I love him. But it's not the same. I love you too, Ryou. I really do. And I know that I've hurt you, and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I meant it when I said I wanted to make things up to you... because I want you to give me another chance... to be with me, even though I've been a selfish jerk, and I've acted immaturely, and I've hurt you and might unintentionally hurt you again.”

 

Breathing heavily by the end of his little monologue, Malik gripped Ryou tightly, his arms winding around the other.

 

Ryou gasped softly, momentarily at a loss for words. Oh, how long he'd waited to hear the Egyptian say such a thing - to admit that he was wrong and that he wanted Ryou back in his life. He wanted so much to throw his arms around the blonde and take him back, just like that, and so easily. But he couldn't... something was holding him back for once.

 

Malik's fiancé...

 

“Would you leave him?” Ryou asked, voice muffled as his lips were currently pressed against the Egyptian's collarbone thanks to the tight embrace Malik had locked them in. He felt the larger body stiffen and in response balled his hands into fists around the material of Malik's sweater. “Would you leave him for me? If I told you to choose, would you?”

 

Malik looked uncertain. Stepping out of the smaller male's arms, he peered down at her, studying the dark, tear-clouded brown eyes. He could stare at that face forever, he knew; he could wake up to that angelic face every morning, just as he used to so many years ago. Having Ryou's soft touch against his body whenever he wanted, basking in the pure, innocent presence; it would be simply divine, perfect. No man in his right mind could refuse such a tantalizing offer.

 

But... Garrett...

 

He couldn't very well abandon his fiancé. Garrett had been waiting so long for them to finally tie the knot. They'd been engaged forever now, it seemed. Garrett was familiar, and Malik did love him. He'd just loved Ryou ten years more, and he'd pushed that love away at first because it frightened him. He wanted his freedom, but with either one he chose (Ryou or Garrett) he would end up losing it - or some of it, at least. Who would he rather give it up for? In his mind's eye, who did he imagine growing old with?

 

Ryou...

 

It had always been Ryou. Sweet, safe, shy Ryou, who cared about him and put up with his childish mood swings and supported him in whatever he did, gave him all that he could and then some, and continued to love him even after being walked out on.

 

But I don't know you anymore. Are you still the same person you were back then? Innocent... and can you still love me like you used to? Could I love you like that again, keep you forever this time?

 

Garrett... Malik knew Garrett, everything about him. Ryou was still a mystery - a puzzle of broken feelings he needed to carefully piece back together. It would not be easy; to get Ryou to trust him again fully might even take years in itself. But Malik felt certain he was ready to face the challenge, and that was why after seeing the white-haired male in the restaurant on that fateful evening, he had been unable to stop his pursuit of him.

 

But Garrett...

 

All of the sudden, Malik's thoughts halted, and every ounce of coherency slipped away as a warm, talented set of lips covered his own, kissing him forcefully.

 

Too shocked to move, Malik allowed himself to be kissed, his mind going haywire over the sensation of once more having Ryou's lips over his own. Nothing else in the entire world could ever feel this good, this right. Not even Garrett's kisses, rough and stimulating as they were, had the power to render him frozen like this. It was amazing, indescribable almost, the strong emotions pouring into him as Ryou pried his mouth open to deepen the kiss to a frantic, explorative state.

 

They were teenagers again, deeply in love and proud to be so, holding on to each other for dear life as they engaged in a heated lip-lock, unconcerned of what the world thought of them - for they only needed each other.

 

I can't do this, the pale-skinned male thought, mentally breaking down. Garrett... even if he wasn't faithful to Malik, he's still Malik's fiancé! This is his house... it's his place beside Malik, not mine.

 

All too soon Ryou broke away. Malik sighed softly and dipped his head, eager to plan his mouth on Ryou's again, but the whitenette stepped back. The passion still shone in his mocha orbs, but a serious crease lined his forehead. Heart thudding painfully in his chest, he sighed and gathered strength for the words he was about to say. God above knew this was the last thing he wanted... but, it had to be done. This was not his home. Malik was not his lover anymore; he was committed to someone else.

 

If Malik couldn't choose him over Garrett, Ryou had no business being there any longer than he already had been.

 

“Unless you can decide between us, I-I think the best thing for you to do is forget about me.”

 

Malik's eyes widened skeptically and he took a step forward, arm already outstretched to take Ryou back, but the older male shied away from his touch, shaking his head.

 

“I'm sorry,” Ryou whispered, turning on his heal and quickly rushing out of the penthouse.

 

Malik stood there for a moment, arms hanging limply by his sides, a defeated expression on his face. He didn't know whether to give up or hang on for dear life to the miniscule shred of hope that existed for his and Ryou's relationship. For there was still hope; Ryou still loved him, he knew, and he loved Ryou as well. If he allowed the opportunity to slip by, however... chances of the Egyptian ever getting Ryou back were slim to none. And now, now Malik had no doubts in his mind over whether or not he still loved the whitenette. He did. With all of his heart and soul, he'd always loved Ryou.

 

Even though he loved Garrett as well, even though he hurt Ryou so many times in the past, it did not overrule the fact that he loved Ryou Bakura - had loved him, still loved him, would always love him.

 

He ran, streaking across the room, almost knocking over a chair in his clumsiness, and exiting the penthouse. He raced to the elevators, frantically pressing at the button to call the machine up to him. His heart thudded in his ears, heart in his throat; Malik felt nauseous. But he kept going.

 

Ryou had been waiting for ten years... Malik couldn't bear the thought of having him wait any longer.

 

 

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What about now? What about today?

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The sky darkened to a near pitchy gray, spitting out freezing rain at irregular intervals. On the darkened streets below, several daring people remained. Ryou shivered as he stepped out from underneath the canopy of the upscale building, embracing himself to ward off the cold, cursing himself for moronically forgetting his coat back at Malik's penthouse.

 

No matter. He could always ask Garrett to bring it to him - he had no doubt in his mind that he'd be seeing the redhead again, after all. During their twenty-four hour session, now that he was able to recall it, Garrett had been unable to get enough of him. He'd certainly be back for more, even though that meant going secretly behind his fiancé's back a second time.

 

He felt guilty. Who wouldn't? He'd slept with his ex-lover's fiancé. What would Malik think if he ever found out?

 

What does it matter? Ryou thought, bitterly. I'll never have to worry about it. Garrett would never tell of the affair, and I certainly would never tell either. Even if he did know, why should it bother me so much? It's never going to work... me and him. I was a fool to think... to think things might change.

 

The rain began to fall once again. In a matter of seconds, Ryou was soaked to the bone. Water dripped down his face, a mixture of rain and tears. He placed a hand to his face, over his mouth.

 

He's exactly the same as he used to be - and even though I love him how he is, I know he won't put my feelings before his own. He didn't even realize he still loved me until tonight - and even those words, I have no way of knowing if they're true.

 

Chocolate-brown orbs fell shut. Over the noise of the rain he could faintly make out the sound of his own name being cried out.

 

All I want is for him to show me he cares... all I want is for him to want me - only me! I don't want him to have to think about who he would rather be with... If he really loved me, he wouldn't have to think about it, right...?

 

“I know you can hear me, Ryou. Come on... please stop.”

 

Sighing, Ryou slowed to a halt and bowed his head. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't walk away. Why? Why couldn't he just end things once and for all? It would save him so much heartache, he knew that. If he left Malik he wouldn't have to feel this pain in his heart every time he thought of the Egyptian, and what they used to have together.

 

But will it really help me, or will it just hurt me more? To leave him like this...

 

“Let's talk about this...”

 

What if we could have that again? What if this is my chance and I'm walking away from it?

 

“T-talk about what?” he asked, softly, not particularly in the mood for an in-depth heart-to-heart - even if that was what he and Malik seriously needed to have. All he wanted at the moment was proof - concrete evidence that Malik honestly cared about him and would not break his heart twice. “What's there to talk about?”

 

“Well, you could tell me why you did that.”

 

“Did what?”

 

“Um... kissed me, shoved your tongue down my throat, walked down on me afterwards.”

 

Ryou's cheeks reddened. Oh yes, he had done that, hadn't he? Malik was probably most curious at the moment; he did deserve an explanation. What could Ryou say, though? That he just wanted to kiss Malik again, just to satisfy his curiosity and see if it was exactly like the kisses they'd shared ten years ago?

 

“What... what does it matter?“ he countered in an almost playful tone, trying to lighten the mood somewhat, “you've obviously wanted it, judging how you failed to refute that this whole evening wasn't just a ploy to get into my pants.”

 

Malik sputtered. “That's... that's not... Ryou, you know that's not true. That's not what this dinner was about. I wanted to apologize to you! I-I didn't plan to cheat my way into your pants.”

 

“You didn't?”

 

“No, I was quite hoping you'd let me in willingly.”

 

Ryou's face burned in anger, the humor leaving him. Even if Malik's response was said in a joking manner, he still found it rather offensive. Naturally, due to his profession, those sort of words stung at his pride quite a bit. He regretted ever opening his mouth.

 

“You're such a pig!” he accused, throwing his fist at the Egyptian's face. “What made you think I would ever - ever - do something like that? I'm not some cheap stupid whore that just jumps into the sack with everyone he sees!”

 

“Ryou! Ryou - baby - relax! Relax, I was only kidding! Good God, calm down.”

 

Placing his hands on the whitenette's biceps, Malik forcibly shoved the other away from him, narrowly dodging the aggressive, flying hands.

 

No... it doesn't bother me so much, usually. But when he says it... I don't ever want him to know the truth... I don't want him to joke about it, even. It hurts too much... the truth of what I really am. He'd hate me.

 

“No you weren't joking, you disgusting pervert!”

 

Malik grabbed Ryou's hands, slippery with rain as they were, squeezed them tightly, and pulled the smaller body closer to his own so that Ryou was flush against him. Smiling down at the pale young man, he began to set the record straight. “I won't deny being a pervert... especially when it comes to you. I also won't say that I haven't thought of making love to you... because I have thought of it, many times, since first seeing you again...”

 

Ryou's struggling only increased. One of Malik's hands moved to cup the back of the whitenette's head, drawing his face closer.

 

“And, I won't lie, it crossed my mind tonight. But... that isn't why I asked you to come over. I wanted to make it up to you, because I really am I sorry... and I really do love you.”

 

Covering the pliant mouth with his own, Malik kissed Ryou softly - not wanting to seem too forceful and scare the more emotional of the two away. Ryou finally gave up trying to fight and settled for hugging the Egyptian's hips. Then, amazingly, he began to kiss back.

 

With the exception of the fact that it tasted of salty tears and rainwater, it was just the same as the brief sample Malik had been treated with in the dining room - Ryou taking control and dominating the kiss after several moments. The blonde, too turned on by Ryou's asserting himself, did nothing to try and shirk this new submissive position.

 

“You better not be l-lying to me, you jerk,” Ryou grumbled as they pulled away for air, his chest rising and falling heavily.

 

“I'm not. I love you.”

 

“Good. Because I love you too.”

 

Ryou kissed him again, and Malik began to slowly move backwards in the direction of the apartment building. Ryou, who had so deeply desired for something like this to happen - someone to love him, especially if that someone was Malik - could not find the will to fight against this movement, despite the fact that he knew fully well what would happen if he went back upstairs.

 

He'd given himself to so many men, he figured. What was one more? This was the man he loved, after all... so didn't Malik deserve to have him more than all the rest?

 

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What if our love never went away?

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The doorman raised a quizzical eyebrow at the pair but remained silent as they passed by. Ryou and Malik failed to acknowledge his existence, stumbling their way to the elevators, fighting not to break their lip-lock if they could avoid it.

 

Thankfully the elevator was empty and they eagerly entered, entangling themselves within each other's arms as soon as the doors slid shut and concealed them. Ryou had Malik backed up against the wall, his hands around the Egyptian's waist. Malik's own hands were ensnared in Ryou's long mass of silky white hair.

 

“You know,” Malik breathed as the other latched on to his neck. “F-for someone who claims to not want me in their pants... you seem kind of eager to... get me into them.”

 

Ryou made a slight humming noise. “Maybe I want to get into yours. Ever think about that?”

 

Laughing softly, Malik located Ryou's lips once more and kissed them roughly. “You're really tuning me on, I hope you know.”

 

Ryou pressed himself closer to the Egyptian, feeling the other's excitement through the layers of clothing. “I know.” He smirked, which Malik found uncharacteristically sexy of him.

 

When they reached the top level of the building and the doors opened, Malik's shirt was forgotten on the opposite side of the elevator. When the door to Malik's penthouse slammed shut, Ryou's own shirt lay abandoned in the hallway. Their shoes remained strewn haphazardly by the door, a belt buckle hung innocently over the arm of a dining room chair. In the antechamber, a pair of pants, and just beyond the door rested another pair.

 

Inside the bedroom, no clothes were needed. Donned in nothing but sweet passion, Ryou and Malik made their ten year belated love.

 

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A/N: Hooray, they're together! Unfortunately, because life is not that simple in the HtSaL world, things most likely won't stay so happy for very long.

Here are some review responses. Yes... I finally managed to get around to those. Too bad I can only do it on MM.org, `cause FF.net is too strict to allow me to reply to reviews in chapters. >< Bah. Oh well.

Sglily ---I love reading your reviews. They always leave me feeling so happy. ^^ Thanks so much for reading/reviewing the fic. I'm so glad you like it. Haha and don't worry, I know you're joking about the Bakura thing (though seriously, I've been tempted to throw him in to the fic at certain points... just to kick the crap out of Malik and snog Ryou.

 

CurvyChickenTreasure --- Yep, Malik and Garrett... not too difficult to figure out. I'm so un-creative. XP Thanks for reading/reviewing!!

 

JoeysGal --- MxR has only recently become a favorite couple of mine, and now I just can't get enough of them. I think they're so cute together. ^^ Thanks so much for the compliments, I'm flattered! Oh, and sorry about the continuous usage of `whitenette'. I know it must bother some people, but really... it's one of the only words I can create to describe Ryou.

 

 

 

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... Review?? Please??