Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Promiscuous Love ❯ Within My Dreams ( Chapter 6 )

IMPORTANT: Guys, I am sorry to say that my love for YGO just—died. The reasons are personal to me and it is becoming hard for me to try and appeal to the fan base anymore for those reasons. And, even though this story was dedicated to someone special to me, I have another YYH story that can be just as special to the both of us if need be. Now, I will try my hardest to finish this story up best I can but—I apologize if it starts looking like road kill over time since my heart is not really into the characters I am controlling. But thank you guys for the encouragement to continue regardless.

 

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Ryou didn't leave Malik without company that night and forced himself in the same bed with the distraught Egyptian. He feared what Malik would do when alone by himself and though Malik claimed he was just fine, Ryou finally put his foot down and stayed with his partner whether he wanted it or not. But the events of that night plagued the young, light haired boy as he lied on his side with his cheek propped in his palm. Staring at the mirror on the other side of the bedroom that stretched across the dresser, Ryou couldn't help but think back on awful times and the times before the bad.

 

Malik had always come to visit every now and then but that was mostly to see Yugi and the gang he was always around. Since Ryou enjoyed being to himself at times with Tozokuoh dwelling inside of his Millennium Ring that he could not get away from, he stayed to himself not wanting his darkest side to pop out without his consent. The dark side of Ryou, Bakura, rarely surfaced these days to cause problems but he was still leery about being around others especially with Mariku now building back inside of Malik who Tozokuoh seemed a bit fawned of and the Pharaoh Atemu in Yugi who Bakura still hated and would cause problems with if need be. Before Mariku started festering back within his host, however, Ryou and Malik actually had great times together as close friends. The Egyptian would stop by his apartment when he was able not caring whether or not Bakura would surface on him and, though the dark spirit spoke with Malik on occasion, it died down eventually.

 

When Isis perished in the car accident leaving Malik without a family, Ryou gladly accepted the currently orphaned teen as his roommate and the two remained as such ever since. Ryou knew it would be tough to try and keep someone upbeat and happy after such an awful event since Malik loved his sister to death. He tried to help Malik but when he ended up gradually going south with Mariku's resurfacing and going to Atemu and Yugi for answers as well as Seto, Ryou felt as though he had been shoved in the corner. It hurt him a bit since deep down, during their brighter days and even during the darkness hour he loved Malik and wished he could keep his wild heart that seemed to have difficulty being tamed.

 

Looking over his shoulder at the back of Malik that faced him, he sighed a bit through his nostrils softly. He was a bit fearful to sleep after the last stunt Malik pulled but regardless of this, exhaustion eventually overtook the small boy and he closed his eyes for sleep, only to be spoken to within his dreams—.

 

 

 

Walking through the fog that seemed to gather about Ryou within his mind, the young boy eventually made his way out into a dark, desolate part of his psyche where he knew Bakura had made his home. The trees that towered over him were dead and bare with a few scattered crows roosting upon some branches to caw at the intruder. Looking above at the demonic type birds that dotted the gray sky above, Ryou couldn't help but cringe slightly at the sight of their ruby eyes that glared upon him as their vision seemed to pierce his soul.

 

Shifting his attention down the dirt road that was before him and still blocked with the thick fog, Ryou watched with interest as it parted for him to reveal the desolate building that looked as though it would collapse any second. Standing there before the entrance as he looked at what seemed to be a destroyed temple in his purest form Ryou knew he was being summoned by Bakura and couldn't help but try and muster up enough courage to enter within the center of the darkest part of his mind.

 

The large door on the left of the entrance where Ryou stood was crumbled while the other stood firm and proud with a few Egyptian designs upon it. It made entering a bit easier on him as he stepped over the rubble of the left door and entered inside of the groaning and creaking temple about him. It was eerily dark and hard to see with only a selective few torches lit, lighting the safe areas for the young boy to travel towards. But getting within the center of the Egyptian like temple, Ryou finally found the nerve to call out, “Bakura?”

 

At the sound of the echoing voice, crows quickly took flight and scattered about the shrine to escape the irritating, resonating sound. Their flapping wings prompted Ryou to jump slightly and flinch from the reverberation they returned to him as he waited for an answer from the dwelling souls within him. Embracing his naked figure, Ryou furrowed his brow in worry and a bit of fear since this section of his mind always rattled him and he knew one way or another, Bakura would make some sort of appearance to shake him up further.

 

Feeling after awhile of no communication that there must have been some sort of mistake, Ryou turned around to leave only to jump back and release a startled yelp from the figure behind him that the torchlight outlined. “Goodness—Bakura, you scared me!”

 

Looking down at his lighter half, Bakura couldn't help but smirk slightly, sidestepping Ryou to get beyond him with the candle he held within his hand. The darker side of Ryou headed towards the red pillow that was placed before an Egyptian statue of some kind—Ryou could never tell who it was of because from the abdomen up, it was destroyed, and its remains littered the floor in several tiny pieces that made it impossible for anyone to guess what it used to form. The moonlight that managed to seep through the dark, thick clouds outside lit up where Bakura sat since part of the roof above him had crumbled as well, allowing Ryou to see more of the dark spirit's natural form. Placing the candle beside him, Bakura turned around so he could view Ryou from where he was placed as he sat Indian style, “So, what seems to have you so troubled, my dear light?” His voice was eerie and yet enchanting as it beckoned to the young Ryou.

 

Creasing his brow once more in worry, Ryou looked off to the side a moment sighing mentally about the situation at hand. Holding onto his elbow with his opposite hand, he closed his eyes off to the surreal world about him for a moment. “It's Malik…I worry about him greatly.”

 

“As always,” Bakura seemed to say without a hint of worry, his hands crossed over his chest.

 

“He nearly lost it tonight, Bakura,” Ryou continued forlornly. “I worry the next time I won't be so lucky when it comes to calming him down.”

 

The dark spirit placed his cheek within his palm, propping his elbow on his thigh while he continued to listen to Ryou's story. From how he closed his eyes and contorted his face into what seemed like annoyance, Ryou was beginning to wonder if his other side even cared about what was going on. But once the pure boy halted in speaking, Bakura eventually raised his left hand a moment as if to be given a chance to preach next, “And you have yet to speak up about how you feel?And I bother to listen to this—why?”

 

Ryou couldn't help but blink a few times, expressing his confused hurt for a moment.

 

Seeing the look on Ryou's face prompted Bakura to correct himself, “Ryou, you never tell Malik how you feel and I don't know why I bother with you much anymore. How many times do I have to kick you in the ass to tell you to speak up and that it may help things?”

 

“As in—tell him how much I love him?” Ryou said, almost hating to admit it for some reason.

 

“Your voice sounded pained,” Bakura retorted slightly.

 

Embracing his body for a moment as if to keep it from shaking from the sorrowful emotions that rocked his form, Ryou collapsed to his knees a moment with his eyes shut to stop the tears from seeping through. “What difference would it make concerning all the people he touches and claims he loves? I want to love someone who will love me—only me—just me…”

 

“I think you both waste your time with him,” another voice in the darkness growled.

 

The torchlight seemed to flicker slightly from the wild wind that danced across them for a moment thanks to the new presents that had gathered within the dark temple. Ryou didn't budge from his hurting posture while Bakura seemed to growl and get on high alert once his candle light blew out beside him. The crows that were left within the temple at the moment hurried about once more at the arrival of the new being that was lurking in the darkness now and had overheard everything. Ivory hands seemed to sprout from the darkness behind the weeping Ryou before embracing his trembling figure to hold towards his own chest.

 

“Poor, poor, Ryou,” the shaggy, albino haired male seemed to whisper in eerie affection letting the hurt child rest on his broad chest. “Don't you see that you're just wasting your time with such a worthless being?”

 

Bakura got up quickly from where he sat to stare down the Egyptian side of him, “Tozokuoh, nobody asked for your opinion in this! I know what you want, and he doesn't want anything to do with you!”

 

Being the narcissist he was, Tozokuoh always fancied his lightest side of the mind and body, Ryou and always attempted to steer him down a different path then Bakura had set in mind for the body they all lived in. Though Tozokuoh could be cooperative and help the others when need be in unison, there were times he would act against it and let them know he didn't like what was going on. He was almost like Ryou's suppressed anger.

 

Keeping his arms about Ryou's neck, Tozokuoh grinned slyly as he continued to try and comfort Ryou regardless of what Bakura had to say about the matter. “We have been working with Malik for some time now,” Tozokuoh assured Bakura and Ryou, letting his ivory hands slip over the pale skin of the purest part of the form known as Ryou. “I say we just give up on him and let Yugi or whatever have him. Obviously Malik loves that little goody, goody.”

 

“That is not your decision to make,” Bakura nearly scolded, coming closer to the two. “Ryou is the onewhoneeds to step up to the plate and be a bit more assertive!”

 

Ryou could only listen to the two bicker for so long until he finally pushed himself free from Tozokuoh's grasp to head back out of the ancient temple. Tozokuoh released Ryou and let him go only to turn back to Bakura with a slight raise of his thin, silver brow as if to mock him for some reason with his expression before letting the darkness consume his body and have him disappear.

 

Ryou's bare feet slipped over the rubble that soon was engulfed with heavy fog for a time before separating to reveal a graveyard with blank tombstones—some whole while some were destroyed. Embracing his bare stature once more, the pale skinned boy headed over to one that looked had an angel with her arms open and her wavy hair short and about her neck. Oh, God…what am I going to do? Ryou wondered to himself.

 

The wind slightly picking up, the dry leaves blew about calmly at first before really beating against one another and catching his averted attention. Shifting from the marker to his right side, the little light was relieved to see it was merely Bakura and not the trouble making Tozokuoh. Shifting his brown eyes down to Ryou's, Bakura eventually sighed in attempts to let out his frustrations before speaking, “Don't listen to Tozokuoh. He just wants to cause problems with everyone at the moment. But, Ryou, in all honesty what harm would it do to speak up and tell Malik how you feel?”

 

“It could do many things…,” Ryou confessed sorrowfully causing him to close his eyes as if to avoid eye contact with anyone or anything. “And not one bit of it good. You've seen and know how Malik acts…he just wants to have anything with two legs and a heartbeat. I cannot confess my feelings to someone such as that for it would only complicate things.”

 

Bakura seemed to smirk for a moment, “You are jealous and cannot hide it from me. You are jealous that Malik has a few other people to lean on and you hate being the last one in linethat the boy comes to.”

 

Having to hear it out loud stabbed slightly at Ryou's body and caused him to flinch from the impact. It made him feel a bit selfish in a sense.

 

“Ryou,” the darker side replied, making his Hikari look at him, “I know how you feel being that we share the same mind and body. But you cannot hope to tame someone if you do not give them a reason to. Work on Malik, and if need be, I will speak with Marikuand take over the area where Atemu has failed.”

 

Looking at Bakura with his innocent expression, Ryou eventually thanked him with a bit of a broken smile. Placing his hand on the one that eventually made its way to Ryou's cheek, he held onto Bakura's strong hand before kissing his knuckles once the dark side's hand was gently pulled from where it once rested. “I am relieved to know I can at least count on someone…”

 

 

Ryou stirred slightly from his sleep to find that it was indeed morning and he had conversed with his other halves for some time. Looking over his shoulder to make sure Malik was still, he found the Egyptian still passed out with his etched back facing the curious fair skinned boy. Releasing a relieved sigh, Ryou sat upright to wipe the sleep from his eyes before tossing the covers off of his self so he could go make breakfast.

 

Malik groaned slightly as he felt the weight of the bed shift from Ryou leaving it, prompting him to wake for a moment but only to see it was morning. Being so lethargic thanks to not consuming much food, he closed his eyes once more to try and sleep till whenever he felt like moving.

 

Opening one of the kitchen cabinets to pull a few things from them that he would need, Ryou would pause a few times to think about what was said last night within the depths of his mind. Tell him how I feel…I often wonder if that is such a good idea, Ryou wondered tapping his fingers against the coffee mug he held within his hands.

 

Before he could dwell upon it any longer, the doorbell soon rang. Ryou left behind what he was doing to go and answer the door wondering who it was since rarely anybody came to see them unless it was urgent or there was a delivery. Keeping the coffee cup in his hand, he turned the knob of the door only to frown inwardly at who was there. “Hello, Yugi.”

 

“Hi, Ryou,” Yugi tried to say as happy as possible though he was aware of the situation and couldn't help but come off as sounding a bit grim. “Can I come in?”

 

Ryou wanted to say no at the moment but knew that if he turned away Yugi and Atemu, Malik wouldn't be too pleased if he were to wake and the last thing he needed was a high strung Ishtar. Closing his eyes for a moment as if to beg his other counterparts for strength, he eventually reopened them before stepping aside, “Sure.”

 

Managing a smile himself, Yugi walked into the hallway before grabbing onto his Millennium Puzzle. “How is Malik? I was worried since last night when you hung up on me so quickly. Is he okay?”

 

Shutting the door behind Yugi, Ryou pointed towards the kitchen so he could get back to making the breakfast he was working on before being interrupted. Having the short duel master follow after him, Ryou hummed in thought wondering what to say to all of that. “Malik got—a little emotional last night and I had to talk him down from suicide.”

 

“Oh my God!” Yugi nearly panicked as his grip upon the puzzle tightened slightly. “He's alright, isn't he?”

 

Ryou worked on fixing the coffee a moment though he feared where all of this would lead concerning that pain could bring people closer together and he feared the wrong people would connect. Pausing a moment at what he was doing, he looked slightly over his shoulder at the worrying Yugi. “Malik is fairing fine for the moment and I plan on working on him when I am finished making breakfast.”

 

“Do you want me to stay so I can be with him when you have to work?” Yugi insisted almost.

 

No matter how Ryou put it subtly, Yugi continued to come back with a reason to stay and help Malik and it was beginning to frustrate him after awhile. He had to work today since he could use the money and he did fear leaving Malik alone but he didn't want Yugi to be there in his place.

 

Bakura saw the problem, parting for a moment from Ryou though only the barer of the Ancient Ring could see his spiritual form sitting upon the counter. “What the hell do you think you are doing? Take a step up and say something to make him leave!”

Ryou couldn't help but have that feel as being a bit too blunt and couldn't bring himself to do it, given his nature. Rolling his tongue across his lower lip to moisten it, he unleashed his strength upon the mug within his grasp for a moment before loosening up. “You can stay by Malik's side during my absents if that is your wish…”

 

Bakura couldn't help but contort his whole face into anger, wishing to slap Ryou in the back of the head for being such a spineless wimp but reframed as he stayed planted where he sat for only his host to witness.

 

“I am making breakfast so you can sit in the living room and wait if you haven't eaten yet,” Ryou almost whispered before pouring himself a cup of coffee.

 

“No, I just came by to make sure Malik was okay since you gave us quite a scare last night,” Yugi assured before heading back into the hallway for a moment, hinting that he may leave for the moment. “Since it is Saturday, I guess I will go down to the burger place with Joey and the others before coming back to take your place as Malik's keeper.”

 

Ryou could only smile for a moment to acknowledge that he heard Yugi before taking a sip of his coffee.

 

“I will see you later, Ryou. Take care,” Yugi called as he headed to the front door to exit.

 

“Yeah…take care,” Ryou pretty much muttered to himself before looking into the murky liquid swirling within his mug.

 

Bakura hopped off of the counter to come over and scold his lighter half since he couldn't touch him in his spiritual form. “What the hell were you thinking?! You could have at least shoved his scrawny ass out the door instead of letting him walk all over you!”

 

Nodding once, Ryou kept the frown that had made itself known upon his face, “I guess that is just who I am—a person who gets walked all over.” Sighing in defeat it seemed, Ryou headed over to the three windows that were lined next to one another and were full body length. Pulling the curtains back to witness Yugi leave, he could only watch him for so long before turning his back on the duel master and letting the curtain mask his figure to the outside world. “I cannot do it. It is obvious who Malik needs and I am wondering if I should just hand him over to Yugi as Tozokuoh says.”

 

“You don't know that,” Bakura barked, coming over towards his Hikari's side to rest his hand upon his shoulder. “Malik may run to Yugi and Atemu, but who is to say that is what he needs? If you want to give up on Malik, that is your choice, but I still think that he would be better off right here than with that preachy Pharaoh.”

 

Sighing once more at the pain swelling inside of his chest, Ryou tried to plan on what to say to Malik but the more he dwelled on it, the more frightened he became at how to say what he wanted.