Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ Fateful Disclosures ( Chapter 28 )

AN:

Yes yes I know it has been an age since you had a chapter from me. But I have a good reason. The last six weeks have been three weeks of packing my life into boxes, moving house, finding a job, and another three weeks of taking my life out of boxes again. And throw a side order of urgent gardening that needed doing and I was either exhausted or out of time/will/inspiration to write. But at last I have settled in the new place and I can write again and I have a shiny new, extra long update for you. But I don't think you are gonna like me for it…

 

*goes and puts armour and helmet on and hides in a bunker*

 

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Whilst the two lovers were making up in the best way possible, in another part of Domino friends were getting in touch. Yugi had actually been fidgeting by the phone for a while debating on who he should call. His immediate thought had been Ryou, but all of the group knew of the fight he'd had with Bakura, their friend had spent quite some time talking with them all in the wake of it. And as yet none of them knew that the two were currently in each other's arms. But he just had to talk to someone, and given Malik's propensity to make any of them feel uncomfortable when talking about relationships, dating or anything remotely related to the subject, he was looking for another option. He hated thinking that left Joey as if he was a last resort as he was anything but, a good and safe pair of hands in this kind of field, even if he did have a slight tendency to tease as well.

 

Across town Joey was in a similar predicament, though for slightly different reasons. He was utterly frustrated, the atmosphere in the house was stifling, being around Seto was unbearable but he had an issue. It was his day off and he had already done every chore conceivable as a distraction, and finding something plausible to do so he could avoid speaking to his tenant was nigh on impossible. But going out without a valid reason was as bad as running from the problem so he wasn't doing that either. In consequence when the phone rang he didn't care if he looked eager as he picked it up.

 

“Hello.” He answered it as cheerfully as he could.

 

“Hi Joey.”

 

“Hey Yug' good to hear from ya' what can I do for you pal?”

 

“I… I was hoping to just talk you know, Yami and I had a date...”

 

Joey grinned, glad for his friend and equally glad to be smiling for the first time that day.

 

“That's great… so you want to talk it over?”

 

“Yeah, I wondered if you wanted to come over or something, you know how the phone is…”

 

“I know, not very personal, sure thing.” Joey interrupted, thinking that there had to be a God and he was answering his prayers as he now had a valid reason to get out of here. “I'll get my coat and I'll be right over.”

 

But Yugi was no fool, had picked up on the over eagerness in Joey's voice.

 

“Is everything alright?” He asked concerned for his friend.

 

“Yeah I'm fine,” he brushed Yugi off. “We'll talk when I see ya'.”

 

Yugi got the message; something was bothering his friend, but not something he wanted to talk about over the phone, possibly because someone might overhear.

 

“Okay, I'll see you soon then.”

 

The two rang off and Joey took a deep breath. Okay… now to tell Seto he was going out. He took a deep breath and headed into the living room where Seto was sat scowling. Yes his tenant was in a foul mood and had made that very plain from the moment he got up. He also knew he was the cause of that ill temper. He had hoped that Seto might just retreat to his room and stay there to sit and stew till he calmed down enough to talk to, but he had not been so lucky. It seemed that Seto refused to `hide' from him so he was having to weather the storm. But thanks to Yugi he had a get out clause to get out of the house for a while. He stood in the doorway and looked on nervously at Seto who was absorbed in a book. Or so it appeared. In reality Seto could not concentrate on the words on the page, currently in turmoil. When Joey cleared his throat his head snapped up, his attention easily gained, he might as well have been holding the book upside down for all the reading he was actually doing.

 

“I'll… I'll be going out for a while, Yugi wants me to help him out with something.”

 

Seto eyed him coldly before turning back to his book, or rather the pretence of reading. Joey was too desperate to be out of there to notice that he wasn't actually reading. Joey sighed.

 

“I'll… I'll just go then shall I?”

 

“Hnn,” came the terse grunt of reply.

 

Well that was more talkative than he had been all day, which was progress… wasn't it? Seto just sat staring at the page until he heard the front door close behind Joey. Then finally he put the book down and growled slightly.

 

“Damn you Marik!” He snarled.

 

This was all his fault, it had to be, everything about this situation was. The Devil and his bloody games. But now that Joey was gone he could do some talking of his own. He'd sat back too long. There was a simple way to bring an end to all this and he was going to take action. He grabbed the cell phone that Bakura had given him and dialled the only number in its memory.

 

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Bakura was lying staring at the ceiling, Ryou's ceiling in fact, and was smiling. Why shouldn't he be? He had Ryou currently lying next to him, head resting on his chest, the scent of jasmine filling his nose, both having an arm wrapped around the other possessively. They were just content to be holding each other, not saying anything, and Bakura could feel the happiness radiating off his lover. It made his heart swell with pride to know that he was the one who made his beautiful partner feel that way. He was gently running his fingers through Ryou's hair while the smaller of the two was tracing random patterns on his chest with gentle fingers. This… this was heaven on earth in Bakura's mind, and he didn't give a crap if that was blasphemy. So he was lying here with a satisfied, and possibly slightly silly, grin on his face while his lover listened to his heart beating. It only beat for him anyway.

 

When his phone rang from within a discarded pocket somewhere he groaned and thought to ignore it, content to be where he was. But by the third ring Ryou was getting up.

 

“Where do you think you are going?” He asked his lover, grabbing at him just a little too late to stop him getting up off the bed.

 

Ryou chuckled as the swipe missed. “To get your phone, though I am surprised it is still working with the soaking you gave it,” he teased as he went through Bakura's pockets having found the wet jeans where they had been discarded on the floor.

 

“Pff, not like you were complaining,” Bakura threw back.

 

“Answer it, I am going for a shower.” Ryou smiled before he tossed him the ringing device.

 

Bakura watched as Ryou walked away picking up one of the towels when he went. With a sigh he answered the call.

 

“Hello?” He answered without looking at the display.

 

“You took your time.”

 

Bakura's heart sank as he recognised the voice and moreover the tone with which he spoke. Fuck Seto, way to kill the mood.

 

“Well, if you are calling it must be the end of the fucking world or something. What's up?”

 

“We need to talk.”

 

Bakura couldn't help but notice the unusual amount of venom in the angel's voice.

 

“Did something happen?” He asked curious.

 

“Just get your ass down here,” Seto growled.

 

Normally Bakura would just blow him off, but there was something in his tone that made him think he should actually give him the time of day.

 

“Fine,” he agreed reluctantly. “But you are in for a bit of a wait, I need to clean up and shit.”

 

“What?! No don't answer that, just do it alright. Joey's out and I don't know when he'll be back, I don't want him hearing this.”

 

Ah, so this was about their true identities, not something he could take lightly, well not if he wanted to live if Seto's tone was anything to go by.

 

“Okay, I'll be as quick as I can.”

 

With that he rung off, and started to worry about the subject of clothes. He was a mess and his clothes were wet. Great just great, why did he have to pick now to have some fucking crisis or another? He was staring at his wet clothes and wondering what to do when Ryou returned.

 

“What's up?” He asked.

 

“Oh Seto is just having some fucking crisis, needs me there now and my clothes are soaked,” he muttered.

 

Ryou chuckled. “Go have a quick shower and you can borrow some of my clothes.” He looked outside for a moment. “Well the rain has stopped at least and you have to be about my size.”

 

“You don't have to do this.” Bakura was grateful but he didn't want to put Ryou out.

 

“Don't be silly, I can wash and dry your clothes and you can have them back later. Now go, I put towels in the bathroom for you anyway.”

 

Bakura smiled, Ryou bringing his mood back up again. “Thanks love,” he murmured before stealing a quick kiss and heading to the bathroom.

 

He cleaned up quickly and when he got out of the shower clothes were waiting for him. Well that was going to save him a side trip home at least. He dressed quickly and found that he and Ryou were a very close match in size, okay the trousers were a touch loose on him for his liking but he could handle this. He regretted having to leave Ryou's side at all but he would have had to go home at some point anyway. So it was that he left Ryou with a heavy heart, not liking at all what this meeting with Seto was likely to hold.

 

***************************************************************** *************

 

Yugi smiled when there was a knock on the door, knowing who it would be. Sure enough, when he opened it, a slightly worn looking Joey was stood there.

 

“Goodness Joey, you look tired.” Yugi was instantly worried for his friend as he stepped aside to let him in.

 

“I'm alright, just didn't sleep that great was all.”

 

“You better tell me about it.”

 

Joey chuckled. “Not until I get to hear bout this date of yours.” He said with a grin.

 

Yugi looked away shyly. Next to Ryou, Joey was the one he felt most comfortable talking about things like this. Possibly the reason why Joey was not higher on the list was also the reason he was comfortable at all talking to him, their rather drunken night together. Neither regretted it, though it was a strictly one time thing, that had been agreed upon in the morning by both of them with ease. In fact the reason for any misgivings talking to Joey about this kind of thing at all was that he felt it might hurt Joey that he was talking to him about other guys. Maybe he was being stupid he didn't know, but that was just who he was in the scheme of things. But either way they were getting comfortable and for all his tiredness Joey was smiling and looked happy to be here.

 

Yugi opened his mouth only to close it, laughing to himself for a moment.

 

“Look at me, I ask you over here and now I don't know what to say. I mean it wasn't anything special and I have gone to all this fuss…”

 

Joey chuckled. “Look Yug' even if I hadn't had the night from hell last night and wanted out of the house, you could've had the most boring date on earth and I will still wanna know about it. We're pals, so quit with the doubt and tell me how it went already.”

 

Yugi chuckled. This was precisely why Joey was so good for this kind of thing.

 

“Oh it wasn't anything much. Took me to see a movie, a horror no less, you know what I am like with those.”

 

Joey laughed, he had been the one who had nearly ended up with a lapful of Yugi in previous attempts at horror movies - he, Marik and Ryou were all fans but not Yugi.

 

“Oh man, he had you pegged from the get go. Spend the whole thing hiding in the safety of his arms?” He asked with a smirk.

 

Yugi blushed slightly, nodding shyly.

 

“Oh I was so embarrassed you wouldn't believe. He must have noticed, I… I didn't mean to be funny with him after, I really didn't but it was just… oh those movies get to me. I didn't want him to get the wrong idea, he had been so nice. Yeah I was clinging to him but he didn't try to take advantage or anything, he was really nice the whole way through. But just being round him… I dunno I just feel...” He trailed off not knowing how to describe it.

 

“It's not something you can describe, but it's this kind of pull, like butterflies in your stomach and yet it's not. It's an ache, one that only seems to get stronger with time…”

 

Yugi sat astounded as Joey, in softly spoken words had managed express something he could not. And the tone… it was as if he knew what he meant intimately and he wondered just what had happened last night for him. There was definitely something going on in his life that he had not been telling his friends about.

 

“Yeah,” he said softly, not wanting to set off his friend. He worried about what had brought on this change of mood, it was so strange and sudden.

 

But as suddenly as the strange mood had come, Joey brightened as if he had never been contemplative.

 

“So come on, what happened?” He asked with a grin.

 

The quick 180 back to his usual self left Yugi reeling a little and it took him a moment to get his train of thought back to where it should be.

 

“Oh… well, he was so sweet. He was actually worried he had done something wrong. I was blushing so hard when I explained what was really on my mind. He just laughed, you know he's got this gorgeous laugh, so deep and rich and free…” He trailed off as he realised how he sounded, and yep, Joey was chuckling. He coloured a little as he continued. “But that was when he kissed me. Oh Joey I thought I was going to melt right then and there.”

 

Joey was grinning. From where he was sitting Yugi was like a crazy schoolgirl in love. It was cute, it was adorable, and he was happy for him.

 

“That's really great Yug'. So you gonna see him again?”

 

Yugi nodded shyly. “Though I only agreed as long as I got to choose the next movie.”

 

“Good man.” Joey grinned.

 

But Yugi's concern for his friend had not abated. “Now come on, you have to tell me what happened. You aren't yourself.”

 

The blond sighed, resigned to his fate, but also glad to be talking about it too.

 

“Last night… let's just say I did something stupid…”

 

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Bakura was stood outside the front door to Joey's house. The reason for that was that he was currently bracing himself. When Seto got like this it could not be good news. He hated to put a dampener on such a good day. He had not felt so at peace as he had when he had lain with Ryou in his arms in post coital bliss. It had felt so right, like it was meant, and now he had to deal with a snarky Avenger, just an hour or so later. It didn't seem fair. But he took a deep breath and knocked on the door. It was opened a mere three seconds later, Seto with a face like thunder as he did.

 

“Get in.” He snapped.

 

Bakura raised an eyebrow in surprise and disdain of being spoken to in such a way. Well this was a far cry from the angel who had broken down and spoken of Kisara. What the Hell had brought this on? He followed Seto inside, who walked straight into the kitchen. As he walked in he pulled out a chair and took the time as he was sitting down to observe Seto. Yup, this was not going to be good. But he didn't get the chance to question the angel, he was already venting.

 

“This has to end Bakura. We are all getting too involved. Yami and I shouldn't even be here and what Marik is up to is ludicrous.”

 

Bakura sighed. “Well you better tell me what the Hell happened, because you seemed fine the other day. Now this? What the fuck shoved the stick back up your ass?”

 

Seto snarled at Bakura for that but he was right, and so he began to relate the events of the previous night.

 

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Joey was marvelling at the situation. The past couple of days round Seto had been… well he couldn't define it. But he just loved the atmosphere between them now that his tenant had lightened up some. He was starting to see a softness in him that hadn't been there before. And hell, he had even seen him smile once or twice and the expression was wonderful on him. Though the worrying thing was that on occasion he had caught himself sitting there watching Seto just to see if he might smile, and even if he didn't smile he didn't mind, he just enjoyed watching him. He wasn't stupid, he knew what this all meant, he just couldn't figure out when in the scheme of things he had become attracted to Seto. It wasn't the ideal situation. He didn't know which way the tall brunette swung and he was his tenant. The situation could get messy. But that wasn't entirely what was on his mind right now. Nor was it on the mind of his tenant.

 

Seto was wondering just how they had gotten here as well. When making dinner Joey had suggested they have wine to drink with it. He had been a little dubious but had not wanted to cause trouble. He had found to his surprise that he liked red wine, and after dinner the two had continued to share a couple of glasses of the rich drink. He was currently sitting slouched in the arm chair, feeling mellower than he could ever remember being, though in some part of his mind he was thinking he had never been mellow, that was a human emotion and state. But he liked this feeling. And it was in this state that the mask was slipping, his face becoming more expressive than it had been in millennia.

 

“You know, you are really quite pretty when you aren't hiding yourself away.”

 

Joey's words cut though his thoughts, making his awareness sharpen, draw him from this internalised state. Joey was immediately musing that he might be acting too obvious or forward but the words had just escaped him.

 

“And you're more attractive when you are trying so hard to be liked.” Seto shot back in kind.

 

He was naïve enough not to spot the subtext in Joey's words, or to realise the subtext in his own, which while unintentional, was also an accurate representation of his feelings towards the blond.

 

“Is that your way of telling me I should shut up more often?” Joey chuckled taking a sip of his wine.

 

Seto smirked. “Maybe.”

 

Joey shook his head. Oh he had no idea how attractive he was when he teased like that. That light that came into his eyes, the softness to his features. And under the influence of the wine, blue eyes that seemed to bore into your soul closed slightly, lending him a sensuality that the man before him had to be unaware of it was so unaffected. But Seto's attention had now slid to his empty glass, frowning ever so slightly, making him pout a little, an expression utterly adorable on the normally stern and stoic features. But Seto's mind was on another glass of the delicious substance that he knew he could procure from the kitchen. So he rose elegantly from his chair, unaware of amber eyes watching him go.

 

He quickly identified the half empty bottle - their third for the evening - and was pouring himself a generous glass. Sure he recognised the signs of intoxication from the last time he had been drinking, the incident with Yami and Bakura was burned into his mind, but like many an inexperienced drinker, thought that he was in control of it. So focused on his task was he that he was unaware of his landlord coming up behind him.

 

“Mind if I…”

 

Joey had been reaching for the bottle, but his words had stalled as his hand accidentally closed over Seto's, the angel stiffening at the contact. It wasn't the contact as such, but that in this state he was much more sensitive to the other's aura. It was in contact with his own, making the contact more intimate than the human would ever realise, and making the angel aware of the blond's attraction to him with sudden acuteness. Joey withdrew his hand feeling stupid for somehow having made Seto feel uncomfortable, the brunette turning to face him. But as cerulean eyes met amber ones, gazes locking, neither could move. In an electric moment to Joey's eyes, the brunette looked a little confused, his feelings finally wide open to be seen, and the way the taller man had to look down at him as they stood in such close proximity, he had never looked so attractive.

 

He wasn't sure what possessed him, but in that moment he was so utterly drawn to the other man, leaning forward to softly kiss slightly parted lips. The normally logical Avenger found that he couldn't think. It wasn't his first kiss by any means, but as an angel all his kisses had been chaste. Now he was in a more human form, complete with hormonal responses and emotions he didn't entirely understand. The shiver that ran through him was new to him, and he wasn't really aware of leaning into the kiss, something primal within him longing for that affection and wanting more. The soft sound that escaped him was a mixture of surprise and desire for more, and was elicited by Joey's tongue softly entering his mouth to stroke his own.

 

His body felt like it was on fire, suddenly burning with emotions and sensations he didn't know and didn't understand. All he knew was that it felt good and he wanted more. Joey was surprised to find how hesitant, how inexperienced Seto seemed in the kiss, but was more than happy to take the lead. Though as gentle hands slipped to softly grasp at his waist the angel froze. Suddenly he was all too aware of what he was doing, what the implications of this were. No! He couldn't do this, he was an angel, he would not sink to the depravity of daemons! But it wasn't just this thought that had him shoving Joey away roughly. He was overcome by anger.

 

If he had been calm enough to examine the situation objectively then he would have realised that his anger was not at Joey, but at himself. He had allowed this to happen, had missed the subtle signs of the other's attraction to him and not actively discouraged him. He should not have let it get this far. But even under all of that there was anger at something else. Something within him screamed that kissing someone else, and worse, enjoying it, the other being human no less, and had even felt a flash of carnal desire that had scared him, that this was a betrayal. His heart belonged to Kisara, even though she had been gone so many long millennia, this was a betrayal of all they had shared. And not only that, after what he had done, he didn't deserve the warmth of another's love, having destroyed it once before.

 

Though at the hurt look he saw in amber eyes, Joey looking for all the world like a kicked puppy, something inside him that he didn't know he had twisted painfully. But he was already storming out, unable to alter his course now he had chosen it. Joey was left standing dejected, flinching as the door to Seto's room slammed shut.

 

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“…and things have been weird ever since. I just… I don't understand. One minute he was enjoying it, the next he looked panicked, utterly freaked on me. That look is what kept me up last night.”

 

Yugi nodded, knowing this had to be rough on his friend.

 

“Has he said anything?”

 

“Not a word, he just closed down, a grunt if I am lucky. He's been in a real foul mood all morning, but that's my fault I guess. It's been impossible. I just wish I knew what about it set him off.”

 

Yugi sighed sitting back in the armchair.

 

“I'm not so sure that you did anything wrong. We don't really know him. Who knows why he got so upset.”

 

Joey sighed. “Yeah, I've had some rejections in the past, but this has to be the roughest.”

 

“Well trying it on when you've been drinking, especially with someone you live with was possibly not the best of ideas,” Yugi said lightly.

 

Joey chuckled. “Told you it was stupid.”

 

Yugi smiled, only Joey could remain joking when he was as miserable as he evidently was.

 

“What are you going to do?” He asked gently.

 

“Learn my lesson not to make the moves on the wrong guy?” He asked only half joking. “I guess I'll let him calm down a bit, getting out of the house for a while has probably helped. But yeah, apologise when I get back I guess, as long as he'll hear me out. Though this is so not gonna do us any good that we are livin' together. It's gonna be awkward but I'll try at least.”

 

Yugi could only nod sympathetically. His heart went out to Joey. Rejection was tough on anyone but that was quite the way to be turned down. It had to hurt.

 

“Maybe he's a little scared. I mean, I know he looks tough and all but doesn't he seem a little… I don't know… naïve to you?”

 

Joey nodded, he knew exactly what he meant.

 

“Yeah, he's odd like that. Trust me to fall for the handsome but weird guy,” he joked at his own expense. “But I guess I'd best get back and get to apologisin'.”

 

Yugi smiled softly. “Do you want me to walk with you?”

 

He was a little concerned for his friend right now, but Joey brushed him off.

 

“Nah, I'll be fine. The walk will do me good, give me some time to think of something to say.”

 

Yeah, while it had been good to get out and talk he needed some time on his own to think, something that had proved impossible on the way over here. Thinking just wasn't his strongest point, and boy did he have a lot to think about. Though as he got himself together to leave he paused at the door.

 

“I'm happy for you Yug' you gotta know that. It's great that you and Yami are coming together. Don't let my problems upset ya' pal.”

 

Yugi was about to tell him that he had done no such thing but Joey was already walking away and all he could do was watch. He hated the way his shoulders drooped in a physical expression of the pain he felt within. But there was nothing he could do other than be there for him when he wanted him to be. He just hoped that this situation could be resolved.

 

Joey was glad to be out in the open air and on his own for a while. Things did not seem so bad now he had talked them over a little. Sure it was going to be hell apologising, trying to work out the awkwardness between them, but he could do it. And maybe, just maybe, he might get to understand that look in Seto's eyes and he might get to fix it. Yeah right pal, wishful thinking much? But as he neared home he recognised a head of white hair. What was Ryou doing in his neighbourhood?

 

“Hey Ry'!”

 

Ryou turned startled at the call, immediately relieved to see who it was.

 

“Hi Joey.” Though now that his friend had come up beside him he could barely look him in the eye.

 

“So what're you doin' in my neck of the woods?”

 

Ryou sighed knowing he would have to fess up.

 

“Well Seto called Bakura earlier, and going on how annoyed he was I'm a little worried about him.”

 

“Wait a minute. Aren't you and Bakura fighting? How did you know he called?”

 

Though right about know he was feeling a tight knot in his gut. Three guesses what Seto had called him to talk about…

 

“Um…” Ryou looked away sheepishly gaining his attention. “We kind of… sort of… made up?”

 

Joey just couldn't help the grin that split his face.

 

“Ry' you really are a dark horse aren't ya'? Way to go. Good to see you two sort things out. You're doing better than me anyway.”

 

“Why, what's up Joey?”

 

The blond sighed. Well Ryou might as well know, Bakura would probably tell him anyway.

 

“Long story short and all, we had a few glasses of wine last night, I then was an idiot and kissed Seto, who the kinda freaked out.”

 

“Oh my. Are you okay?”

 

Come to think of it, Joey was looking tired and unhappy, and he was ashamed that he was only just noticing that.

 

“I'm fine, just cursing my lack of judgement is all.”

 

Ryou reached out to stroke his friend's arm comfortingly, more than a little guilty at feeling so good when his friend was having a rough time of things. It was Ryou's nature that he connected to people so much emotionally, something that had always been ever since he was little. Resultantly right now he was keenly feeling his friend's pain. But Joey was smiling, Ryou didn't need this.

 

“So you're hanging about wondering how Bakura is. Stalking him much?” Joey teased.

 

Ryou blushed quickly at the accusation, no matter how gently meant it was. He was mortified that there was some truth in what Joey had said, made all the more embarrassing by Bakura's comments in the past. But Joey spared him a response, which was a good thing considering that he seemed incapable of producing one right that moment.

 

“Come on then. I'm sure you can find a reason to drag Bakura off. I need him outta the way so I can do some serious apologisin' anyways.”

 

With that Ryou was grateful to fall in step beside his friend, utterly embarrassed at being caught like this, but Bakura had been so obviously upset after Seto's call and after their spat recently… and of course the make up, well he just wanted to be close to Bakura. He followed Joey up the path in a world of his own thoughts.

 

***************************************************************** *************

 

Bakura groaned.

 

“Okay, now I know you have severe social interaction issues but did you have to be so fucking brutal to him? It's not his fault you are an antisocial asshole.”

 

Seto growled at him, which Bakura ignored. It was kind of expected of the brunette anyway.

 

“I think you are missing the point.”

 

“Am I? I think the point is that you are an emotionally retarded bastard who doesn't know a good thing when it jumps up and kisses him.”

 

Oh if looks could kill Bakura would be dying a thousand excruciatingly painful and exceedingly horrible deaths right about now. Through clenched teeth the Avenger was determined to make his point.

 

“We are getting far too involved. Its bad enough that Yami and I are here in this ridiculous plane of existence at all, but Marik has this… relationship with that boy, even Yami is getting involved. The whole situation is unbearable given what we are and it has to come to an end.”

 

Bakura snorted. Well someone was evidently freaking out. Seto continued to glare at him, utterly unimpressed for his lack of enthusiasm at his pronouncement.

 

“We are divine beings, even if Marik and the others have Fallen. We both know this situation isn't tenable. We will have to leave soon enough.”

 

But Bakura was not blind, he unlike Seto could spot the subtle undercurrents in what the other was saying and leapt on it.

 

“Ah, is someone attracted to a certain blond?”

 

From the look he was given Bakura got the feeling that Seto was dearly wishing he had his sword to hand and could cut him down where he stood. He wasn't quite sure why he hadn't been punched yet, he was seriously pushing buttons.

 

“That doesn't matter!” Seto snapped.

 

“So you admit it.”

 

“I did no such thing!”

 

“Yeah right.”

 

“By all that is Holy stop that!” Seto yelled. “We can't all be like you. Unlike you the rest of us have certain duties and obligations. Even Marik will have to stop playing these silly games sooner or later and get back to doing his job.”

 

Bakura merely shrugged at the rant, though secretly he was enjoying watching Seto lose his cool like this, and getting that admission, however vague, was absolutely priceless. But neither of them had heard the front door opening quietly, or this conversation would have been shut down. Both were lost in the moment, and Seto's anger was getting the better of him.

 

“And what about you and your little lover?” He sneered. “Told him yet?”

 

At the tone that question was delivered in, Joey and Ryou froze where they stood in the next room.

 

“I don't know what the fuck you are on about.” Bakura snapped back, beginning to get annoyed himself now that Seto was pushing back.

 

“Have you told him what you are, that you are living a lie, and this little thing you have going is more fantasy than reality?”

 

Bakura growled darkly, wishing he could shut Seto up.

 

“Of course I haven't. You know full well that I can't.”

 

“And that makes you the biggest fool of us all. You claim that you care for him but you are letting this charade go on, only to be hurting his feelings later. When are you going to tell him that you can't stay, that you have to leave? A few weeks, months even? Don't tell me you had years in mind.”

 

Bakura was angry, but mainly that was because Seto was right. There was the major flaw with his relationship with Ryou and one that he had been avoiding facing. After a few years his lack of aging would become apparent, and before that the way he healed would most likely be noticed. Now, sticking around in a relationship for any amount of time wasn't feasible and he just didn't want to admit that it might have been kinder to let the relationship end after their recent fight. No matter how earthbound he was, he was still an angel and it was only a matter of time until he was forced to move on.

 

“How long do you think you can keep this up before he notices?”

 

Suddenly Bakura had just about all he could take of this. Seto was hitting a very raw nerve and he didn't want to hear anymore. It was the truth and damn it hurt.

 

“You know fuck this shit, you can have your little crisis on your own. I've had it up to here with…”

 

His words trailed off into stunned silence as he turned to storm away only to see hurt brown eyes shining with tears and betrayal. What the fuck was Ryou doing here and oh crap, oh fucking shit he had just heard what Seto had said! Oh by all the agonies one could suffer in Hell this was bad. But before he could find out just how much had been heard Ryou was pushing past an equally stunned Joey and bolting out of the house.

 

“Have you any idea what you have just done!” He roared at Seto. “Damn you to fucking Hell to rot and burn!”

 

He was after Ryou as fast as his legs could carry him. Shit, shit, shit, fuck, shit, mother fucking son of a bitch! Oh fuck, God only knew what damage Seto had just done. Even if he hadn't heard the angel and daemon part what Ryou had heard would still be hurting him badly and now he had to try and repair that. Yeah right, like that was going to be possible. Ryou should not have had to find out like this - it just wasn't right! He was running after the youth with every ounce of speed he had but by God's wounds he was fast.

 

“Ryou wait!” He yelled after him, even knowing the futility of such an action.

 

Oh shit this was one fucking spectacular mess. Once he caught up with Ryou and did his utmost to deal with this he was going to march right back to Joey's, drag Seto out by his hair and tear him limb from limb. No matter how hard he chased Ryou, he never gained any ground. But as he spotted an alley he saw his chance. He had a damn good idea of where Ryou would be going, and if he shot down there then he could cut Ryou off. It was a gamble but seeing as a straight chase was getting him nowhere he took the chance. Though as he ran he was so focussed on getting to Ryou that he didn't notice the figure stepping out of the shadows until too late and barrelled into them.

 

“Get the fuck out of my way!” He snarled, pushing past the obstructing figure.

 

“I think not.”

 

The words were delivered in a tone that was as cold as ice and as sharp as steel, and the voice was one that he recognised. It was that which made him pause long enough to hear in the silence between them the sinister click, and feel something blunt press into his back. Bakura froze, turning ever so slowly to see Duke stood behind him, a nasty grin etched onto his features, gun in hand.

 

“What the fuck?” Oh shit, things had just gone from bad to fucking terrible.

 

Duke's smile widened, turning sickly sweet and rotten.

 

“No one lays a hand on me and gets away with it,” he purred with that same cloying sweetness.

 

Oh fuck, this was the last thing he needed especially not now. While he really didn't have time to deal with this fucking head case, right now the gun was a pretty damn unavoidable issue. If Duke shot him things were going to get so fucking complicated. Even he wouldn't be able to a avoid the consequences of a bullet to the brain

 

“Now take it easy…” He said gently, starting to back away slowly towards the end of the alley, looking for an escape.

 

Duke merely responded by raising the gun to head height and pulling the hammer back, making Bakura freeze in place.

 

“Good, I think we understand each other.”

 

“Look, I'm sorry alright. I didn't realise how much I upset you.” He was willing to say just about anything to get out of this situation sans bullet.

 

Duke just shook his head, green eyes shining. “I didn't want it to come to this. You could have just walked away, you could have named your price. But you just had to be fucking stubborn now didn't you?”

 

“Look, I apologise for hitting you, it was wrong and I shouldn't have done it,” he said with as much sincerity as he could muster in the circumstances, frantically trying to buy time and find a way out of this.

 

Duke just chuckled darkly. “You fucked with me, nobody fucks with me.” Green eyes flashed with anger and hate. “Oh, and one last thing. I always get what I want.” The smile turned almost serene. “Bye-bye now.”

 

He pulled the trigger.

 

***************************************************************** *************

 

Ryou could barely see through the haze of his tears but ran as if he had the Devil on his heels. He felt so utterly betrayed, so used. How could Bakura have done this to him, to lie to him from the start? When he heard Bakura call his name he only ran harder. He didn't want to hear it, hear the excuses, the lies. He'd heard enough of them to last him a life time, each one a shard of glass piercing his heart. Why? Why did he always manage to get involved with people who use him like this? But what made his heart shatter was that he had thought Bakura was different, and he had been. He'd been so kind, so attentive and understanding, and he'd been happy with him, making the betrayal hurt more than it ever had. He had even slept with him, given up his virginity at last. Bakura had played him worse than any of them.

 

Though in some ways he wanted Bakura to run after him, part of him wanting to reject what he had heard. Bakura cared about him, loved him, he knew that in his heart. But why, why would Seto say these things? And worse, why didn't Bakura deny them? He looked over his shoulder to see if he was still behind him, proof that he mattered to his lover, and to his shock he wasn't. He stopped, hurting and confused, looking around not understanding until he saw a head of white hair. Something in him lifted as he realised Bakura was still coming for him, but then he registered what he was seeing and his blood ran cold. Duke's horribly serene smile, gun pointed at Bakura. All the anger and hurt suddenly vanished, his heart clenching in fear. No! This couldn't be happening. Then he was moving, feet moving of their own accord, running into the road, his eyes fixed on the horrifying scene before him.

 

“Bakura!”

 

Then the world went impossibly still, the sound draining away until they were all swallowed by an eerie silence. The choking lack of sound was punctuated by blood pumped by racing hearts, whooshing loudly in their ears. In agonising slow motion Bakura's head whipped round at the sound of his name cried so desperately. Ryou gasped as Bakura stiffened, a deafening report shattering the strange silence surrounding them. Tyres screamed and smoked as a driver slammed on his brakes as the figure stepped out in front of him, the vehicle's movement ending in the sickening sound of metal meeting flesh, the body arcing high into the air, before falling to the tarmac limply. Then everything was quiet, still. Nothing moved, nothing was heard, then the agonised scream rent the air, full of grief and sorrow, fear and anguish. You could hear the heart breaking, the sound ripping into the minds of those that heard it.

 

The world was still, snow white silk stained by spreading crimson.

 

***************************************************************** *************

 

AN:

Yes I did leave it there. Now you might recall warnings about cliff-hangers. Well here is the first, and I am gonna run for it before the rocks start flying. *throws Duke at the mob as a distraction and runs for it*