Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Reunited ❯ The Criminal Underworld ( Chapter 7 )

The Criminal Underworld

Ryou looked around the dark street. He had remembered coming this way when he was visiting Joey Wheeler at his home. The streets looked eerie in the dark. Unfamiliar faces looked threatening. The smells were bitter. Everywhere he smelled booze and sex.

He had never felt so isolated or scared, even though his yami walked beside him.

"Don't leave my side unless you want your throat slit, Ryou. The streets of civilization have not become safer since five thousand years have passed."

Ryou saw two drunk women leaving with a drunk man out of the Red Dragon Inn. "Yami, I really want to go home! Please! I'll let you do anything to me! Please!"

Bakura stopped in his tracks. "Don't tell me that I have not made you grow a backbone!"

Ryou looked around. "What are we doing here, anyway?"

Bakura narrowed his eyes, focusing on the dark alleys he had always called home back in Egypt. "Along these streets sleep the scum of the Earth. In these dark alleys, the criminals lay in wait for potential victims." The yami grinned, his canines glittering in the street lights. "I am home."

Ryou felt a spark of satisfaction and belonging in the yami. How could he feel like he belonged here? It was dark, cold, eerie…..

The entire aura of the streets was creepy.

Ryou stepped in front of Bakura. "Yami, were you happy in the streets of Cairo?"

Bakura growled. "Why do you care if I was?"

"Well, it doesn't sound like it was much of a life. You had nobody."

Bakura shook his head. "Not true. I had Ishtar."

"But now you are setting out to take his Item away from him! Don't you see anything wrong with that? If you love someone, you don't seek to destroy them."

Bakura chuckled. "Poor naïve little Ryou. The first law of the streets of Cairo was 'every man for himself.'"

Ryou took Bakura's hand. "But, yami, you don't have to live like that anymore if you didn't like it!"

Bakura narrowed his eyes. "Back in Egypt, I was the 'King of Thieves.' I knew every low-life criminal. Do you know how I got that title, Ryou? I attained it by showing every criminal that I would not take shit from anyone! I dominated the criminal class and took on everyone! I am not going to lose my title! Why am I going after Ishtar? He has what I need to take down Yami once and for all!" Bakura felt his body trembling with rage at the memories of Yami tying him down to his gold bed and laughing at Bakura, naked and helpless. "You have no idea what I suffered at the hands of Yami! I am going to take down the pharaoh and I will not stop until he has been destroyed!"

Ryou squeezed Bakura's hand. "Don't you love Marik?"

Bakura blinked. "I do love him. I have been searching for him for five thousand years."

"So you are willing to betray the person you have been searching for five thousand years, all because of your anger and hatred? You're willing to betray the person you love?"

Bakura grabbed Ryou's collar. "Love is dead, Ryou! Love means nothing! My parents kicked me out of the house at four years old. Was that love? I had to suck cock since I was five years old to eat. Is that love? I don't know the meaning of that four-letter-word. For me, love died five thousand years ago."

"But you just said that you love him! Is your love for him dead, too?"

Bakura growled. "I have no other recourse. To get to Yami, I have to betray him."

Bakura dropped Ryou and walked into the nearest dark alley. A group of men in black leather stood at the end of the alleyway. Their bodies and faces were pierced. Tattoos covered their arms. They stood by a line of motorcycles.

"Hey, maggots," Bakura grinned as he stood at the entrance to the alley.

Ryou bit his lip nervously as the gang turned their heads. "Umm….yami…..I don't think that is a wise idea."

The leader growled. The group advanced on the couple of white-haired boys. "Did you call us 'maggots,' sissy-boy?"

Ryou hid behind Bakura. "Bakura, I want to go home!"

Bakura grinned, his canines sharpening. "Why, yes. I did. I thought you could have heard me with those big ears of yours."

The leader glared down at Bakura. "I suggest you leave before you get hurt, pansy."

Bakura reached behind him and grabbed his dagger's handle. "Oh, really? I'm more dangerous than you realize."

The group laughed. "What? You going to stab me with that white hair of yours, spiky?"

Bakura chuckled. "No, but this will do."

Bakura removed the dagger from his back and buried the dagger in the man's stomach. He pulled up, ripping the man in half.

Ryou jumped back in fear, the blood splattering on him. "OH MY WORD!"

The group let out shouts and removed their guns and lead pipes from their jackets. "You're dead!"

Ryou gasped. "BAKURA!"

Bakura's Ring glowed and a purple haze surrounded them. The men were frozen. Bakura laughed as the men's eyes looked around in fear at their surroundings.

"Welcome to the Shadow Realm, boys. Quite cold, don't you think?"

Ryou shivered. "I don't like this place either."

Bakura looked down at his feet as the Earthbound Spirit appeared.

"Hello, my master, Bakura."

"Get rid of this insect," Bakura said nudging the body with his foot.

The Change of Heart appeared beside Ryou. "Hello, master."

"Why are you here?"

"Bakura brought us to the Shadow Realm."

The Change of Heart bowed to Bakura. "The White Magical Hat is quite occupied right now, Master Bakura."

Bakura narrowed his eyes. "What is more important than my presence?"

"A child is demanding his time."

"A child? Whatever."

A loud dragon's roar sounded overhead. Bakura looked up and saw a black dragon soaring overhead.

"Red Eyes?"

"No. Not the Red Eyes."

The dragon disappeared.

Bakura looked down at the Earthbound Spirit. "Get rid of this body." The yami looked at the group of men frozen stiff. "I hope you can appreciate the power I wield. You also see how dangerous I can be when challenged."

The body of their leader and the Earthbound Spirit disappeared. The haze slowly dissipated and they were soon in the alley. Bakura licked the blade. "It's been a long time since I've had bitter blood. Ryou's here is sweet. The blood of the criminal is always bitter….bitter from the life they lead."

Bakura walked to one of the men brandishing a lead pipe. He traced the blade across the man's cheek.
"Brothers, I am one of you. I am like you. Growing up on the streets of Cairo have taught me the Code of The Criminals. Brothers……I am your leader. You will respect me. You will fear me."

Bakura went to another man pointing a rifle towards him. "Disrespect me, and suffer a thousand painful deaths. Aid me and I will help you. I am a powerful ally to have. But, cross me…..and you will wish you had never been born!"

The men were unfrozen and they backed away. "Who….What….are you?"

Bakura's eyes darkened and his hair spiked. His canines sharpened more and his Ring glowed. "My name is Bakura Osiris Itemri, King of Thieves."

The men exchanged glances. "What do you want from us?"

"You will help me gain that which is rightfully mine! You will help me get my hand on Marik Ishtar's Millennium Rod."

The men narrowed their eyes. "What do we get in return?"

Bakura grinned. "I promise to reward you handsomely….but only when we achieve our goal."

"Do you want us to murder? Rape? Rob? What?"

Bakura grinned. "You must be professionals! You want to know what is expected of you. Good. You will help me get that Rod by any means possible. That means…no matter what you have to do, you will help me?"

"Is there a kid involved?" a big man asked.

Bakura raised an eyebrow. "No."

The big man snapped his fingers. "Shit."

"There is a teenager involved, though."

The big man licked his lips. "Oooo…..better."

Ryou grabbed Bakura's shoulders. "No, please, yami! Don't let them rape Malik! Please!"

Bakura whipped around and backhanded Ryou's cheek, sending him to the ground. Ryou crawled to Bakura's leg and wrapped his arms around Bakura's leg.

"Please don't let these men get their hands on Malik! Please! Malik is my friend!"

Bakura kicked back and kicked Ryou in the stomach. "Stop your sniveling!"

Ryou clutched his stomach as tears rolled down his face.

The yami turned to the men again. "We live on Arendell Street. We're the house with the pretty, pussy little garden. Be there tomorrow night. I can kill two birds with one stone."

Ryou clenched his eyes shut. 'My mother worked in that garden! She loved it!'

The men nodded. "We will be there."

"If you do not show, I will wipe you out of existence….all of you."

The color drained from their faces at the threat.

"Now that we understand each other, I will leave. Oh, by the way, I suggest that you spread the word that I will not take any shit from any of you maggots! If anyone dares challenge me, they will end up inside-out. Do we understand each other?"

The men nodded. "Yes, Mr. Itemri."

"Just call me 'Bakura' or 'Itemri.' No 'Mr. Itemri' shit."

"Yes, sir."

Bakura turned on his heels, followed by Ryou. "Perfect. Everything is going according to plan. I will get Ishtar's Rod and then I will defeat the pharaoh in his own game. When we get home, Ryou, I am going to prepare our deck. Nobody will beat us! I will remain the King of Thieves!"

Ryou was silent as he walked beside his yami.

"When we get home, Ryou, I suggest you get a bath. Tomorrow night, you are to entertain Ishtar."

Ryou's head snapped up. "What?"

"Marik gets you tomorrow night. I allowed him to borrow you for the night so I can get his Rod."

Ryou shook his head. "He's not going to give you his Rod! How could you 'lend' me like an object?"

Bakura grabbed Ryou's arm. "You are an object, Ryou! You are my object! I thought you would have learned that! Just for that, Ryou, you are ordered to get a bath tonight. I need to remind you of your place again!"

Ryou lowered his head. 'I think I just made this worse.'

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

Malik looked around the dark street, remaining close to his yami. The streets looked menacing, threatening shadows were cast upon the concrete.

"Yami? I don't like this."

Marik growled. "Stop your sniveling! We have a job to do! If you can't handle it, I'll leave you here alone and you'll have to fend for yourself."

The streets were littered with drunkards, talking to themselves, some of them had passed out. Hookers waited on the corners for potential jobs. Police sirens sounded and gunfire sounded down the block.

"Don't leave me here, Marik!"

"Then stay close by and don't touch anything."

Malik jumped in front of his yami. "Why are you doing this?"

"What? Do I have to start EXPLAINING myself to you now?"

The hikari took Marik's shoulders in his hands. "Yami Marik, just hear what I have to say. Punish me if you want later."

Marik growled. "Punished? You are going to get your ass pummeled for this!"

"Why are you doing this to Bakura? I know you love him. Or, if you don't love him the way you used to, at least you feel SOMETHING for him, right?"

"Oh, so now I have to explain my sexual past to you? Fuck you, Malik!"

Marik pulled Malik's hands off of him. The hikari jumped ahead of Marik again.

"No, you don't have to explain anything to me. If you love Bakura, why do you want to do this? You know these people can take Ryou and tear him limb from limb!"

Marik growled. "I don't care about Ryou. I hate Ryou. I hate you. I feel nothing for either of you."

Malik took a deep breath. He knew this would get him beaten within an inch of his life, but he had to save Ryou from the hands of these professional killers. "You feel nothing for me, yet you killed my father for giving me my initiation. You were angry that he hurt me. Isn't that right?"

Marik snarled and his hair spiked. "I only saved you because he touched what is MINE by rights!" Marik gripped Malik's collar tightly. "You belong to me, Malik Ishtar! Don't you ever, ever forget that."

"Do you feel nothing for Bakura?"

Marik stopped. Malik was surprised he was not having his ass kicked. Through their mindlink, Malik could detect an inner struggle between Marik and his ambition. He needed to get the boundless energy of Pharaoh Yami, but it meant putting his lover in danger. It meant sacrificing Bakura and his Light to the Darkness of the Shadow Realm.

"That's it, isn't it? You still love Bakura. You don't want Bakura to be hurt, do you? Marik, can't you see? Your ambition is going to destroy the person you love most….Bakura. Look me in the eye and tell me that you don't love him like you used to."

Marik turned his head away. "I do love Itemri. I always will."

"Then why do you want to see him destroyed? Why do you want to see Ryou suffer?"

"I do not care if Ryou suffers. He is a Light. He is expendable, like you! Ryou can die a painful death for all I care, as long as it gets me what I want and what I need to take down that pharaoh! Now, no more bullshit from you, Malik, or I will leave you here!"

Malik followed Marik down a flight of stairs.

Marik grinned. "This is where we will find what we are looking for."

"And that would be?"

Marik's canines glimmered in the light. "Itemri always ruled the common criminals. I am more…sophisticated. I'm from the Nobility. He was born a commoner. So, it only goes to prove that I would have a more higher standard."

"Who are we seeing?"

Marik grinned. "The leaders of sophisticated crimes. The organizers of chaos. The most High Class of criminals, the Mafia."

Malik gasped. "We're going to confront the Mafia?! Marik, that's death! We can't do that!"

Marik laughed. "You have nothing to fear."

Malik snorted with laughter. "Oh, yeah. They'll let you talk to them, Marik. Go ahead. Try talking to the Mafia! They'll kill you five times before you hit the ground."

Marik rolled his eyes. "I'm already dead, you stupid ass! You can't kill someone who is already dead!"

Marik opened the door and saw the Japanese men turn around. "Hello, brothers."

The men narrowed their eyes and drew their weapons. A tiny squeak emanated from Malik, who jumped behind his yami for protection.

"What are you doing here?" the leader asked calmly as he rose from his chair.

"I have come for your help."

The men laughed heartily. They used the table and each other to hold themselves up.

"You come to the Japanese Mafia for help? Do you know who we are and for what you are asking?"

Marik crossed his arms. "You will help me and damn-well like it!"

Malik whimpered. "Marik?......Bad….idea."

The Japanese men grabbed their weapons and surrounded Marik and his hikari.

Malik pressed himself against Marik willingly for the first time since he had known him. "Yami?...Apologize! Say something!"

Marik growled. "Ishtars never apologize, Malik."

Malik shivered as he looked at the weapons. "Marik, these guys mean business! Say something, for the love of God!"

Marik shrugged his shoulders. "You are too easily frightened."

Malik gripped onto Marik tightly. "Please do something!"

Marik groaned. "Fine. I suggest you do not hurt my hikari and myself."

The Japanese leader laughed. "And why shouldn't we? You come in here and disrespect us! You DEMAND that we help you! Who do you think you are?"

Marik sighed and removed his deck from his pocket. "I guess I have to prove my power to you," he said calmly.

Malik screamed. "DO SOMETHING!"

Marik grinned as he pulled a card from his deck. "This will show you some respect. WINGED DRAGON OF RA, COME AND DO YOUR MASTER'S BIDDING! I COMMAND YOU!"

The lights dimmed and lightening flashed outside. A loud roar came from outside and the men froze.

"What was that?!" the men gasped.

Malik and the men ducked as part of the wall collapsed. The Winged Dragon of Ra poked its head in through the wall and leaned toward his master. Marik stroked the dragon's muzzle tenderly.

"What do you think of my Egyptian God? Impressive, isn't he?"

The Japanese men cringed at the sight of the glowing, gold dragon.

"This…this is impossible!"

Marik laughed. "No, this isn't impossible. This is the power I hold in the palm of my hand, gentlemen. My dragon can disintegrate this place with one word from me. All of you will end up as nothing but particles of dust. All I need to do is give my dragon the order."

The leader fell to his knees. "No, don't! We will help you! Just call back your mighty beast!"

Marik grinned. "I thought you would see it my way….eventually. Winged Dragon of Ra, depart."

The dragon raised its head and disappeared.

"What do you wish us to do?"

"Go to Arendell Street the day after tomorrow. There you will find a house with a prissy little garden. Outside is a mailbox with 'Bakura' written on it. Inside you will find a boy with smooth, white hair. You will destroy him."

Malik gasped. "Not Ryou, Marik! Please!"

Marik slapped Malik across the face, sending him to the ground. "Shut the fuck up, Malik! I've had it with you! You men will go to that house and destroy Ryou Bakura! If you destroy him, Bakura will be destroyed, too."

Malik pleaded on his knees. "Don't let Ryou die, Marik! Please!"

Marik grabbed a handful of Malik's blond hair. "Ryou means nothing to me, Malik! Ryou will die! Ryou must die! End of story! Then I can get his Millennium Ring!"

Malik let out a sob. "But, Ryou is my friend! I like him!"

Marik slapped Malik again. "I've had enough of you! You will be SEVERELY disciplined when we get home!"

"We will do this for you! Just don't call that beast here again!"

Marik narrowed his eyes. "Then do not give me a reason to call him. I am not an unreasonable yami, though. You help eliminate Ryou Bakura. Then I will do a job for you, no questions asked."

"Good," the leader said bowing. "We will help you."

Marik grinned. "I knew you would see it my way. I will be here that night. I want proof that Ryou is dead."

The leader bowed. "Yes, sir. We will bring evidence. Promise."

Marik turned. "You had better, or my beast will eat you alive….all of you."

"What is your name, sir, if we may ask?"

"Marik Ishtar. If you pull this job off, I will offer my services to you, as well. After all, one good kill deserves another."

Marik left the building with Malik trailing behind. "Don't look so down. You will see Ryou one more time before he is disemboweled. He's coming over tomorrow night."

Malik's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Marik chuckled. "Yeah. He's coming over so I can fuck his brains out before he dies."

Malik gasped and was ready to open his mouth when Marik turned.
"Say something and I will cut your tongue out myself."

Malik lowered his head and followed behind Marik. 'Ryou……I'm sorry.'