Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Koware na Hato ❯ Zankouku na Himitsu ( Chapter 9 )

Koware na Hato

by: Yumei

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A/N: Gomen nasai, minna-san! *bow bow bow* T.T my horrible computer has been out of commission for the longest time… (Just to make it worse, my email account had 300+ letters *screams* ><) I'm sooo sorry! To make up for it, I've made my longest chapter yet! (People in the background: NOOOOOO! We're all going to die! *fall over and dies before the chapter even starts*) *sweatdrop* such support… x.x; You may all send threatening letters to me if it makes you feel better…many people do anyway n n; Standard disclaimers and things, blah, blah… Again, sorry for the long wait at that horrible cliffie >< (oh, and um… just to stop everyone from freaking out, I had no intention whatsoever to kill him off, ok? o_o; …did I just do a spoiler…? *cough* >.> whatever…)

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Ryou, still half-undressed, lay limply on the couch, his eyes still half open as blood trickled from a single corner of his mouth. He seemed to be smiling mockingly at him.

"Karakage-sama…! Karakage-sama…!" Voices danced in his head. Sickening… Crimson blood… those empty eyes… So pale… Deathly white skin… A half smile adorning his face…

"Ry…ou…" Bakura's eyes grew wide, his breath stopped in his throat, his heart skipping a beat. "Ry…ou… Ry… RYOU!"

Delirious screaming rang through the rooms…

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Chapter Nine: Zankouku na Himitsu

Just as easily as glass, the few frail fragments of glimmering hope suddenly shattered. Just as the screams had shattered the peace and serenity, it had completely shattered his last fragment of hope. There was no hope left. There was nothing left at all for him…

"Ryou, s-stop…! This isn't funny! How dare you play such a cruel trick on me! Ryou! Wake up, dammit! Stop…being so cruel…" Bakura shook the limp body in an almost delusional state, his eyes wide with unspoken fear. His hands were shaking violently when he finally dropped the pale, slim body back on the couch.

"This isn't happening," Bakura told himself, a mad look in his eyes. "Yes…yes, that's right. This isn't happening!" He laughed oddly, his shaking hands clamping on to his own soft hair, trying to convince himself of the words that came out of his mouth. "None of this is happening… I'll just yell… Just…yell at him through the link… of course… He'll just wake up. I'll have to punish him for playing such a cruel joke. Yes, yes…it's fine…fine…"

Bakura laughed absent-mindedly, his eyes still wide with a crazed look in them. He sank slowly to his knees and laughed. He slowly brought his shaking hands down to his eye level and stared at them. "Stop…!" he yelled at his hands, his eyes still wide and insane. With a mad look in his eyes, he lashed out at himself again, "Stop shaking! STOP SHAKING!"

In rage and insanity, Bakura ran to the kitchen and shakily opened a drawer to remove a large kitchen knife. He burst out in loud, delusional laughter. "This should make them stop shaking…" he said as he fingered the razor sharp edge of the shiny kitchen knife. This would surely do it… Surely… "Ha…ha… That damn Ryou! I'll teach him to play jokes on me…"

Sinking the knife into his left hand with much satisfaction, Bakura ripped it back out harshly, letting his crazed eyes feast on the sight of his own dark colored blood. The crimson liquid gushed out of the wound and rolled down to his fingers to slowly drip off his pale, feminine fingertips. Bakura stared at his hand and laughed. "No more shaking! Ha ha…"

Clutching the slippery handle of the knife, he slowly returned to the room where Ryou lay lifelessly on the couch. His left hand was nearly covered in blood and had begun to lose its feeling. Kneeling back down next to the couch, Bakura stared at Ryou's half-open eyes and stared into them with his own widened eyes. Dropping the knife suddenly, Bakura grabbed Ryou by the shoulders and shook him almost violently, ignoring the pain seeping from his hand and was starting to shoot up and down his arm. "Can you see me, Ryou? I know you can. Wake up now. Did you hear me?! Wake up! Don't be so selfish!"

Something wet slid down his face… Removing his hands slowly from Ryou's shoulders, Bakura hesitantly reached his right hand up to touch his cheek. Tears…? He looked down at his hand in disbelief. Before he could control himself, more tears began to well up and threatened to spill over. Tears… Damn, now I'm starting to cry… I…I'm not supposed to cry! Crying is unacceptable… But… But…

His tears suddenly spilled over and he covered his eyes with his bloody hands to hide his shame. Crying is wrong… But why can't I stop myself this time…? I hate you, Ryou… This is all your fault…

"My, my! I thought I'd never see the day," a voice said musingly from behind the crying tomb raider. "Who would have ever guessed that you were ever a crier, hmm, Bakura?"

Bakura froze and instantly wiped his tears away swiftly. With an icy glare on his face, he turned to face the source of the taunting voice. "What do you want and why are you here? Get out before I decide to add you to my collection of corpses! Malik!"

The Egyptian raised an eyebrow slowly and hopped lightly off of the windowsill he had been perched on. His forehead glowed with the symbol of the sennen eye. An amused smirk played at his lips as he walked to Bakura in an almost mocking way. "Don't you know how amusing it is to see you run around like a madman in your own home, cutting yourself and screaming?"

The snowy haired boy clenched his once again shaking fist and glared at Malik, but said nothing when the other boy had finally stopped in front of him, lifting his chin with one of his long, slim fingers. Bakura grit his teeth and stared Malik down. "What have you done to my host?"

Malik examined Bakura's angry, wide eyed expression for a moment before bursting out laughing. "What have I done to your host? Are you kidding me, little kitten? You should be asking yourself!" He smirked at Bakura's dawning shock and watched his fists loosen slowly before they clenched again and his eyes blazed with pure hatred and anger. Malik chuckled to himself. "You should really be more calm, Bakura. It's not as if he's dead."

For a moment, Bakura's heart stopped dead. His head spun and his blood pumped in his veins. His head was swimming with dizziness from the blood dripping from his hand. He hadn't even noticed Malik had snaked an arm around his waist and pulled him closer to his body. All he could think about was what had made Ryou like this. He had been so sure that it was some cruel joke…

Noting the dazed expression on the snowy haired boy's face, Malik smirked to himself. Bakura was so out of it, he was actually leaning on his chest. Seeing his bloody hand for the first time, Malik picked it up with his free hand and licked it in a slow, seductive fashion. He grinned evilly and pulled the pale boy closer. Leaning over slightly, he whispered hotly in his hear, "I love the taste of your blood…"

Snapping back into reality, Bakura growled and found himself smashed up against the Egyptian's perfect body. He couldn't help but to flush very slightly and attempted to jerk away. He snarled at the other boy, fighting vainly to be out of his grasp. "Let go of me, you bastard!"

Smirking to himself, Malik ignored him and sucked slowly on one of Bakura's slim, girlish fingers, licking the blood off. Once he removed his lips again, he licked his lips sensually and looked into the other boy's eyes with lust. "I don't intend to," he said sharply, his hold on the other's waist tightening. "I fully intend on having my way with you."

Bakura's mouth dropped open in surprise. Malik took advantage of the situation and kissed him thoroughly. Eyes flashing, Bakura fought as hard as he could against him, but was simply too weak. Damn! This cannot be happening! His eyes closed painfully for a moment. He couldn't breathe. So dizzy…

Opening his eyes, Malik looked up at the weakened expression on the pale face now. Deciding to let him live, Malik pulled back for some air and let Bakura gasp and pant in desperate need for oxygen. "You're so weak right now, I could just take you here and now, did you know that?"

Glowering with anger, Bakura picked up the knife he had left on the floor and held it up to Malik's neck as he advanced. "You can try," he snarled, "but you may die in the process. Now tell me about Ryou or I'll slice your throat now."

Malik grinned and stopped. This was the tomb raider he knew. "Feeling negotiable are we?" he mocked. "Well, I suppose I just may be able to tell you…" His eyes flashed wickedly. "…with the right persuasion, of course."

Bakura flashed daggers at him through his glare. "You sick bastard," he spat at him, his grip not loosening on the knife. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the Egyptian slowly raising the sennen rod. Before he knew what was happening, Bakura was thrown back against a wall, dropping the knife in the process. Cursing under his breath, he attempted to use the sennen ring to counter his attack, but he was simply much too weak. All he could do was glare at the approaching man.

"So what will it be, kitten?" Malik smirked and stopped his face a few inches from the other's face. "Will you agree to the price for the secret of your host's sudden illness? Or will you sit there pathetically, crying and stabbing your hand to see the comfort of your own blood?"

Glaring once more at Malik, Bakura spared a glance over to the limp Ryou, hoping he would suddenly wake up and scream at him to stop fighting, but…he just couldn't… Closing his eyes in hatred and defeat, Bakura mumbled a very quiet, "Fine. I'll play your game, Malik. But I expect you to keep your word. Not that there's anything trustworthy about you to begin with."

"Ah. Funny. You're very amusing, you know?" Malik muttered, his hand tracing the place between Bakura's skin tight black leather-covered legs. Closing his eyes in amusement, Malik leaned forward and licked Bakura's neck as his fingers continued to stroke other's entrance slowly. "You're so thin," Malik said sensually with a smirk, opening his eyes again as Bakura glared daggers at him, "Maybe you should eat more."

"Shut up…" Bakura snarled viciously, though he made no move to get away from him. He couldn't do much more than glare. He was disgusted at the way his body was betraying him. It wanted more and craved to be just a few inches closer to the other body before him that held him captive. Bakura nearly squeaked in surprise when Malik swiftly spread his legs apart against the wall and supported him by his waist. He bit his lip when he saw that Malik had picked up the knife he had been using earlier. What now…?

Malik licked his lips and without a second thought, sliced the front of Bakura's shirt off. He had made long cuts across his handsome chest, but not that that mattered. He liked blood anyway. Leaning forward more, Malik licked the wound almost tenderly, tearing the other boy's shirt off his shoulders until they slid uselessly down to Bakura's slim elbows. He was starting to enjoy this. Until a voice interrupted his thoughts…

"Stop! Don't do it!"

Growling, Malik stood up straight for a moment and pressed his hands against his head. He glanced at Bakura who was panting softly, eyes half lidded, but still blazing with anger. Malik licked his lips and studied the feast before him. Another piercing yell of restraint rang through his mind link that he had tried to completely block out, but was still there at least a little, much to his dislike. Narrowing his eyes, he shot back through the link and muttered under his breath, "Don't you dare interrupt me now, you worthless…"

Bakura's eyes opened and he looked curiously at the Egyptian. He had stopped. This actually pleased him, but he couldn't help but wonder why. His chest was still bleeding and he was beginning to feel dizzy again. Malik was cursing to himself, or someone else, in rapid and fluent ancient Egyptian. Bakura closed his eyes, grateful for a slight moment of peace before he was completely violated. His shirt was damaged beyond repair and hung at his elbows and his pants were starting to become of similar quality. He shut one eye in pain, but kept the other eye open to examine his rapist, he thought bitterly.

Mind pounding with protests and screams, Malik pressed his hands against his head, attempting to push it all back in. "What are you doing, you idiot?" he snapped angrily under his breath. "Don't interrupt me! Ever! Get out of my way and don't even try to interrupt again!" But it didn't seem to be doing him any good. His worthless other half continued to protest against him, trying with all his might to prevent him from deriving pleasure from the frail, snowy haired tomb raider. He had been so distracted he nearly dropped the half-naked Bakura on the ground. Violently, he pressed forward until he and Bakura were chest to chest. He cursed under his breath.

Slightly shocked at the strange conversation Malik was having with…himself, Bakura used his chance to look over his captive's shoulder at Ryou and sighed mentally. Why am I doing this…? Why? Would I really sacrifice myself again for him? (Agh! Spoiler for Battle Ship Arch ahead but probably doesn't actually have anything to do with this whatsoever! Especially since Bakura's not supposed to know Malik/Marik o.o; Sorry anyway! *bow* ><) Did I really actually care about…about him…enough that I would admit my defeat to the pharaoh? I hate him…

Gasping, Bakura's vision was suddenly blinded by a horrible feeling of pain. Malik had made another slash across Bakura's chest. He was unsure if it was done purposely or what, but it had actually hurt this time. Malik was still cursing under his breath to someone, or himself. Bakura closed his eyes and did the best he could to endure the situation for at least a little while…

"Karakage-sama!"

Bakura blinked in the bright light and squinted into the direction he had heard someone call. What was this? A dream or some kind of illusion that Malik manipulated? But that couldn't be… He was sure he had heard someone that he knew and cared about… He walked towards the voice. "Ryou? Ryou, where are you? Why won't you wake up?"

The voice laughed. "Don't be silly, Karakage-sama. Don't you think that if I had a chance to wake up, I would? Besides, you shouldn't be disgracing yourself over this simple matter."

Brows furrowed, Bakura squinted at the figure before him. It definitely sounded like Ryou, but just things that he had said…were a bit odd… A figure came into view and Bakura ventured forward. "Ryou? Why are you talking like that? Ryou?"

The voice sighed again. "Karakage-sama! Stop ignoring what I'm saying. Karakage-sama!"

Beginning to feel slightly annoyed, Bakura was finally able to clear away enough of the foggy image to see the source of the voice. He expected to see timid Ryou on the verge of tears and for some unknown reason big-mouthing at him, but instead… He blinked in utter shock. "Kawatori?!"

The boy couldn't help but roll his eyes. He smiled at the other boy, tossing his snowy hair over his shoulder. He was so close to the truth, but he simply couldn't seem to let go of the past. When would Bakura finally set him free? Kawatori sighed when Bakura rushed to embrace him. "Don't do this now…"

"How can you say that?! Don't you understand…?" Bakura looked down at the slightly shorter boy with soft eyes, wondering why he was shifting nervously. "What's wrong?"

"I want you to help me…but I don't want you to have to do something that you don't want to. Karakage-sama, don't you understand that I don't want to risk you for me?" the boy said stiffly, gently removing himself from the other's arms.

"What do you mean you?" Bakura asked, puzzled. He slowly looked at the other boy. "I'm doing what I have to so I can save Ryou. I hate to admit it, but… He's my partner and host…and it is my duty to protect him like I used to. Anyway…it's not like I have a choice in the matter anyway…"

"You always have a choice," Kawatori said simply. "It's only that there's one option that you are refusing to consider. Don't you think there are other ways to resolve your problem? I know you wouldn't give up this easily for a matter like this. Especially when it comes down to m--…Ryou…" he finished simply, a grin hanging on his lips. "You need to make the right choice for yourself. I know that Ryou wouldn't want you to be doing this to yourself either. There has to be another way, and I'm sure you know it yourself. You know it…somewhere… It's buried within you. You just need to grasp it…"

Bakura blinked. He was beyond confused. How did he get here in the first place? And how did Kawatori get here? All of his was so confusing. What was Kawatori saying? He would never give Kawatori up! Ever! But then…Ryou… "I…I have to do what he wants. How else will he tell me about what's wrong with Ryou, Kawatori?"

Kawatori smirked familiarly. "Karakage-sama… you're just as clueless as ever!" he laughed and smiled fondly at the memory painful or not. He smiled and began again, "Trust me, the answer is right under your nose. Look deep within yourself and the answer will reveal itself to you. You simply need to make that choice… You need to make the choice that you can find the answer yourself…without having to sacrifice yourself for it. Ryou would never want you to do that."

"I suppose…" Bakura looked to the boy's smiling face and felt his heart lighten slightly. His eyes glimmered with the slightest hint of tears but kept a strong demeanor. "Thank you for saving me… my vicious little dove," he laughed, letting a single tear slip down his face. "You have saved me this time, Kawatori…"

"Ah! One more thing, Karakage-sama! Don't forget! 'The building of lost memories' is where your fears, sorrows, and strength will meet! I promise to always be by your side… Forever."

Though slightly confused over these last few words, Bakura cherished them and slowly began to leave the safety and serenity of his perfect dream…

…And the last thing he could remember was that bright and innocent smile…

"Stop."

Malik looked up in surprise. Either Bakura had decided to give up on his host or he finally had some nerve returning to him. He smirked when he saw the now stern, serious expression plastered on the boy's face. "Well, well. All back to normal, are we now, Bakura?"

Bakura stared icily at the other boy. "Malik," he began slowly, getting down from the squeeze between the wall and the Egyptian's hips and landing gracefully on his feet. Quick as a flash, he kicked the dagger up to his hands and held it up to Malik's suntanned dark neck and said pleasantly but dangerously with a cold blooded, murderous tone in his voice, "Tell me everything you know, now, or I won't hesitate to kill you."

Smirking, Malik obediently removed his hands and looked directly into Bakura's burning brown eyes, his arms dropping to his sides. "Now that's the badass little tomb raider I know. Well, kitten it seems you've finally gotten your old sense knocked back into you." He grinned wickedly at the snowy haired tomb raider and continued to stare deeply into those eyes, as if he were challenging him just with his piercing violet eyes… "You of all people should know manipulation is the greatest tool."

"You better stop talking about useless topics and about the right ones fast, or your head will be plastered on the wall above a fireplace soon," Bakura snapped, holding the knife nearly close enough to draw blood, eyes unforgiving and cold. Much to his surprise, his hostage began to laugh.

"Don't think you have the upper hand in this situation, Bakura; even if my other half seems to be attempting vainly to stop me as well." His eyes flashed with a maniacal look that nearly made Bakura drop the knife. "But it is necessary that I fill in the part of what I was here to do in the first place."

Bakura narrowed his eyes. "You came here to tell me about Ryou in the first place? You damn bastard. You knew this was going to happen all along, didn't you? I bet you even planned it! What have you done to Ryou?!"

"What have I done, I repeat?" Malik laughed. "Think about it closely, Bakura. You'll soon understand that no one caused this other than yourself! Think, Bakura. I'm sure you should remember at least the name of the almost nightly ritual you performed with your host."

Glaring daggers, Bakura's eyes flashed with anger and clenched the smooth knife handle. He would not let this bastard manipulate him for anything! "What the hell are you talking about? What ritual? How dare you imply that Ryou's situation is my fault!"

"Don't be so stubborn," Malik said, licking his fingers, still covered in Bakura's crimson blood. He brought his eyes to look at the pale and dangerous beauty before him and smirked. "I'm sure you know which ritual I'm talking about. You're 'spirit transfer' of course. How could you forget? That fateful night you heroically supposedly 'saved' your darling host. It was awfully clumsy of you to forget what it costs for that! It's not as simple as you thought it was, Bakura. No, in fact it's much more dangerous than you think. Just think about it. What is the real name of the ritual?"

Anger suddenly disappeared from Bakura's face and was replaced with fear and the dawning of realization. His hands began to shake and the knife slipped from his shaking fingers to land a dangerous few inches away from both their feet. His face paled and his shaking hands found their way to lean back against the wall for support. How could he forget? "Resurrection of Past Poisoning…"

Malik smirked. "You remember what that means, don't you? Every time you even think about the past, your darling lover in this case, it slowly drains the life out of him. It's like you've planted a time bomb in your own host. This time it seems as if you were taking it a bit far. How far did you get? Judging from his condition, I'm guessing you've finally started to believe that he is actually your sweet little River Bird."

Bakura's face paled to the extent that it matched his hair. Slowly he dropped to his knees and admitted his defeat. "It was really me…" he whispered. "I'm the one responsible for this… For what I've done to Ryou… Oh gods… Why hadn't I thought of it sooner?"

"Now that's an interesting thought," Malik said as he watched Bakura shake on the ground almost pitifully. "If you had known you had the chance of killing him in the future, would you still have done it to save him in that present? You don't seem to be very bright anymore, Bakura…and for that I think you need some time to think about what a bad boy you've been."

Eyes wide and still shaking, Bakura looked up when he heard Malik's quiet footstep across the soft carpet of Ryou's apartment. He was unsure what the other boy was planning at first, but fear struck him when Malik stopped in front of the couch where Ryou lay lifelessly. "Don't touch him!"

Malik raised an eyebrow. Bakura was on the floor, shaking with delirious eyes and he was trying to tell him to stop what he was doing. Ha. There was no chance he was letting it be easy on the tomb raider this time. He had fulfilled half of his "destiny" and he simply needed to fulfill a bit more…by taking a certain dove whose broken wings needed mending…

"Stop, you bastard! Put Ryou down! Don't touch him!" Bakura made a move to stand, but his body failed him and he remained glued to the ground, watching helplessly as the blond picked up his host and studied him. "Damn you, Malik… I will hunt you down for this!"

"Oh, I fully intend on seeing you again," Malik said mildly as he held the unconscious light-as-a-feather Ryou in his arms. He grinned wickedly and headed slowly towards the window that had been left open with a gentle breeze blowing in. "If I never wanted to see you again, I wouldn't be taking this lovely little souvenir here," he said, gesturing to Ryou. Just to see the tomb raider angry, he added, "My, my… Your bird's much more beautiful than expected, kitten. I'm surprised you haven't gobbled this one up yet. Of course I'll be mending his broken wings for you. Bakura…"

Bakura reached his arm out vainly towards Malik and Ryou, his vision blurring, and his strength failing him once again. "Ry-Ryou… Don't let him take you… Please come back…"

Laughing wildly, Malik began to go out the window, sitting for a moment on the windowsill. "Well, little white bird, I suppose it's time for a little flying lesson, hmm? A little kitten would be foolish to follow." The Egyptian smirked at the helpless Bakura whose eyes had begun to well with tears again. "Don't be so weak, Bakura. I'll be expecting to see you again soon…kitten." …And then he was gone.

"Please come back, Ryou… Don't go with him…" Bakura's vision blurred, from both his extreme loss of blood and the sparkling tears that threatened to spill at any moment. His hand that was still outstretched reached just a few inches forward… But soon all was in vain; the frail glass of hope shattered. His arm fell to the ground and all become black… Why… Why did you have to leave…? Ryou… I thought you wouldn't have to leave me again. Why now…? Why…

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A/N: ><; agh…! So much depressing stuff this chapter! O.o; oh, and I've just noticed I have not been translating the chapter titles again! *sweatdrop* sorry about that! Especially to the ones that have asked! Here they are:

7) Namida no Ame - very roughly "Rain of Tears"

8) Omoide - "Recollection; Memories"

9) Zankouku na Himitsu - "Cruel Secret"

*yawn* =.=; wow… I can't believe I just spent 2 hours editing this… (not very well I might add… I may need to get a beta reader to help out and force me to work sometime >_<; ) Wow, I'm beat… *falls onto desk wearily* x_X; looks like I'll have to ask my sister or brother to drag me back to my bed. *cough* again I apologize for the lack of updates! I will really, really try to speed things up! *mutters* stupid summer school >_<! Thank you for reading and reviewing! I love you all! O_O;