Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Tearing Down the Sky ❯ The Lust ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

The Lust

The angels flew home in silence, all sobered by the "death" of their comrade. They returned to the practice field.

"Go home." Pegasus said, in a tired tone. He watched as most of the angels departed in silence. He watched Ryou's lover, Malik, fall to his knees, and cry, comforted by Yugi and Tea. Pegasus blinked, slightly surprised when Seto embraced a weeping Joey, and Tristan held Otogi to his chest. Malik shoved Yugi and Tea away, and the two settled for comforting each other. Pegasus felt his heart constrict, as he watched young Malik, crying his eyes out, moaning Ryou's name over and over, clutching the feather from Ryou's wing to his chest. Pegasus had to go report the tragedy to the Arch Angels, but he could not find it in his heart to leave Malik like that. He walked over, and knelt by the boy, wrapping his wings around him, and pulling him into his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Malik. This never should have happened. Ryou never deserved it."

"Why?" Malik cried. "Why didn't you let me help him?!"

"You are forbidden to interfere. If you had tried, your own counterpart would have intervened, and you would have both been killed."

"I'll kill that demon for what he's done." Malik wailed.

"then wait. Grow. Train. Kill your counterpart, and then, you can focus on killing the demon Bakura." Pegasus advised. Malik hiccuped, and nodded.

"Now what?" the boy whimpered.

"Now, I must go report these happenings." Pegasus said, standing. Malik looked up.

"I want to come with you." He said. Pegasus sighed, then nodded. Malik sighed, and stood. They spread their wings, and headed towards the towering spires of the council chambers. The Arch Angels were arguing over something trivial when Pegasus burst in.

"Pegasus!" The High Arch Angel, Solomon, called. "What are you doing? You should be training the young ones…" the chamber went silent at the look on Pegasus' face, and at the sight of the distraught Malik, who was well known as a trouble maker.

"Practice was interrupted." Pegasus said, firmly.

"Malik, what did you do?" Solomon demanded. Malik simply stared at him, and a tear ran down his face, shocking the man. Malik closed his eyes, and lowered his gaze to the ground, stroking the feather. Solomon gently plucked it from Malik's hands, and looked at it. Something did not feel right.

"Pegasus." He said, staring at the feather, even as Malik took it back, crying over it. "What happened?"

"We were attacked." Pegasus said. "A pair of demons on patrol surprised us. They were merely playing a harmless trick. They were bored, so they decided to scare the young angels. It has happened before. But, this time….." Pegasus sighed. "Two counterparts met." The council stared at Pegasus in shock, and horror, as a tear finally escaped the man's eyes. "Ryou was killed…." Silence. The only sound was that of Malik's bitter sobs. Solomon closed his eyes, pain in his heart. It was always terrible to lose an angel, but to lose one so young, with so much promise...

He turned and looked at Malik. The boy was devastated. Solomon embraced Malik, knowing full well, that the boy had been Ryou's lover.

"I'm so sorry, young Malik. If there's anything I can do to help you through this, do not hesitate to ask."

"Don't tell me I'm young and that I'll find someone else." Malik sobbed. "I don't WANT anyone else. I want Ryou! I WANT RYOU!"

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

"I wanna see the angel before I go." Marik said. He was the only one left; all the others had gone home. Bakura shrugged, and led Marik upstairs. Entering the bedroom, Bakura blinked.

"Where'd he go?" He asked out loud.

"You lost him already?" Marik laughed.

"He's not in the bed." Bakura said. Marik elbowed him, and pointed. Bakura looked. The angel was curled up under his wings on the floor, in the corner farthest from the bed. Bakura smirked, approaching the slim figure.

"Cute little guy." Marik said, cocking his head, looking over the angel.

"I suppose." Bakura said, rolling his eyes. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." Marik blinked.

"You sure? I could, hang around, and, put you to sleep…" Marik said, stroking Bakura's face. Bakura smirked.

"Not tonight, Marik. I want to get the angel relaxed and used to this place before traumatizing him by waking up to find us fucking in front of him." Marik chuckled.

"I'll bet you the top position next time that the kid's a virgin." The blonde demon said. Bakura grinned.

"Hah! I'll bet he is."

"You gonna remedy that?" Marik asked. Bakura gave him a look.

"Marik. Go home." The pale demon snapped. Marik laughed, and left. Bakura rolled his eyes. "Ass…." He muttered to himself. He looked down at the angel again, and frowned. He went over to his bedroom door, and closed it, then locked it, pulling the key out of the lock. He doubted that the angel could escape, but just in case. He smirked, and stripped off his clothes. He preferred to sleep naked, and the angel could just deal if he didn't like it. Bakura crawled into bed, and smirked as he remember the look on the angel's face when he stripped in front of him in the bathroom. Then, he remembered how the angel looked nude.

"Yeah, I'd like to remedy that…" He muttered, thinking of what Marik had said about the angel being a virgin. Bakura was suddenly assaulted by mental images of himself straddling the angel, face down on the bed, that soft voice crying out in passion…..

Bakura jerked himself out of that vision.

"What the hell am I thinking?" He muttered, then groaned, lifting the bed sheets to glare accusingly at his arousal. "Damn hormones…" He gave a defeated sigh, and tossed the blankets aside, shifting to his hands and knees. He slid one hand down his body, and gasped, as he curled his fingers around his shaft. "Dammit." He spat, and began pumping himself, fiercely. He closed his eyes, and moaned as visions of the angel flashed through his mind.

`Why? Why the hell am I lusting after that, that CHILD?!?' He opened his eyes, and focused them on the sleeping angel. He groaned again, and pumped himself harder; it wasn't good enough. So, finally, he resorted to a trick Marik had taught him. Bakura had only used this trick a time or two before. He spread his thighs a bit, and twitched his tail, curling it around his body. He sucked it into his mouth, and licked it up and down, before releasing it, and letting his head fall again. Then, he gently slid his tail into his entrance. A gasping moan made its way out of the demon's throat, as he began to slide his extra appendage in and out of his body. His breath came in labored gasps and his wings trembled as he continued pumping his length.

Ryou blinked his eyes open at the strange noises that reached his ears. He lifted his head off of his folded arm, looking around. The moaning triggered something in him, and he felt his face heat up. Slowly, he shifted a wing aside so he could better search for the origin of the noises. When he spotted it, he gasped, and his eyes widened in shock, and horror. The demon was on his bed, on his hands and knees, stroking his erection, and…. Ryou's mouth fell open. What, what was he doing with his TAIL?!? Ryou felt a strange feeling pooling in the pit of his stomach as he watched the demon pleasure himself. Finally, with a strangled groan, Ryou watched as his captor released, and collapsed weakly into the bed. A small squeak came from Ryou's throat, and he felt the cold fingers of fear grip his heart when the demon lifted his head and fixed his piercing glare on the young angel. Slowly, a smirk spread across the demon's face. Ryou whimpered when the demon heaved himself off of the bed, and advanced on him. Ryou pressed himself into the corner, as the demon, naked as the day he was born, knelt before him.

"Like what you see?" Bakura hissed. Ryou began to shake, drawing his knees up to his chest. Bakura chuckled. "If you don't want attention, don't draw it to yourself." A pitiful cry fell from Ryou's lips, as the demon gripped his knees, and spread his thighs slightly. Bakura grinned sadistically as the angel began to tremble violently. "What are you scared of, angel?" His tail snaked between his own legs, coiling upwards, until the tip was level with Ryou's eyes. The boy jumped and yelped when Bakura snapped out the barbs and stinger. "Is this what you're afraid of?" the demon hissed. "Or is it this?" He retracted the stinger and barbs, and his tail descended between Ryou's legs, snaking under the hem of his white tunic. Ryou gave a terrified whimper, as the demon leaned closer, until their faces were inches apart. They stared into each other's eyes, though both had most of their concentration focused on the demon's tail, making its way farther under the angel's garment. When it began to stroke Ryou's inner thigh, the angel lost his control, and screamed, and began thrashing around. Bakura quickly pinned him, chuckling darkly, bringing a frightened sob from the small body beneath him.

"Well, this certainly was fun." Bakura sneered into Ryou's ear. "But if you don't mind, I'm going to bed." And he got off of his prisoner. He headed back over to his bed. When he lay down, the angel snapped back to reality, and dashed to the door. Bakura watched in amused interest as the angel tried to open the door. A horrified cry was torn from his chest, as he found it locked. Bakura watched as the angel slumped against the door, crying, then slid to the floor, in defeat. He grunted, and rolled over, pulling the blankets over his own body, and closing his eyes, drifting to sleep to the soft sobs of his prisoner.

"So much for not traumatizing him….."

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

Malik returned to the dorm that angels in training stayed in. He slowly opened the door to Ryou's room, and entered. He had never felt like this before. There was an aching emptiness in his heart that felt like it was killing him. Not even when his sister, Isis, had been killed by her demon counterpart, had he felt this. He sat down on Ryou's bed, and looked at the bedside table. He lifted the framed picture sitting there. It was him and Ryou, curled up in each other's arms, laughing. Tears ran down his face, and he slowly lay down on his lost lover's bed, pulling the blanket over him. He buried his face into the sheets, smelling Ryou's cool, creamy sweet scent, and clutched the feather to his heart. His body shook, wracked with sobs.

"Ryou…. Ryou…… RYOU……. RYOUUUU!!!!!"

The dorms echoed with the heartbreaking cries. Few angels slept that night, as the mournful cries echoed around them. But even after they died out, sleep was not to be found.

Malik twitched in his restless sleep, his dreams filled with memories of his lover. And one dream in particular stood out. It jerked Malik out of his sleep, and tears streamed down his face. Ryou's sixteenth birthday was in a couple of days. Malik had planned to take Ryou to bed that night. Sure, they often slept together, but went no farther than cuddling. He had planned to make love to Ryou that night. They had long ago promised their virginity to one another, but now, it would never happen. Malik moaned at the pain in his heart, and made a decision then and there. Ryou had died a virgin. And so would he…

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

Bakura yawned, and stretched. After a moment, he blinked and sat up, remembering the happenings of the day before. He looked around for the angel. He was asleep, slumped against the door. Bakura smirked, and picked up a pillow, then lobbed it at the angel. Ryou jerked awake.

"Hey, angel! Can you cook?" Bakura asked, standing. The angel averted his eyes from the demon's nude form, making Bakura chuckle. Bakura dressed in his black leather, then frowned at the angel. "Take off that rag." He snapped. Ryou didn't move. Bakura bristled. "Get up!" Ryou stumbled to his feet, and Bakura went to the closet, and started digging around, until he found what he was looking for. A tunic, much like Ryou's, only black. He himself hadn't worn it since, well, since he was Ryou's age. He tossed it over his shoulder, and approached the angel. "I said take that thing off." When Ryou still didn't obey, Bakura growled. He reached up, slowly, so as not to startle his prisoner, slid the bolt of fabric off of his shoulder. Ryou's eyes widened, and stared into Bakura's. Bakura knelt, and placed his hands on Ryou's waist, and slid the garment off of his hips, and down his thighs, in a sensual manner, that made the angel tremble again. Bakura stood, eyes still locked on Ryou's. A blush spread across the angel's face, and Bakura smirked, then let his eyes drift downwards, taking in every inch of his captive's naked body. He smirked.

"Very nice…." He murmured, and the angel nervously wrung his hands together, crossing them over his manhood. Bakura chuckled. "Very shy, too……. Here." He held up the tunic. "It might be a little big, but since you seem to prefer this kind of thing…." The angel cautiously took it. "I'll be downstairs. I'll expect you down there as well, if you want to eat." And the demon unlocked the door, and went down the stairs. Ryou slowly put on the black tunic. It was a bit big for him, but it worked. He really didn't want to go down, but he hadn't eaten in nearly a day, so he sucked in his breath, and went downstairs. He heard the demon moving around in the kitchen, so he went there.

"Ah! Dammit!" He heard his captor yelp. Ryou swallowed, and peeked in. The demon was shaking his hand, a look of pain on his face. He put a finger in his mouth, and sucked it, then ran it under cold water. (AN: yes, they have plumbing. It's magic, people) Ryou swallowed. He did not want to go into a room with an angry demon. He turned, and looked around. His eyes fell on the front door. He silently made his way over to it, and held his breath. He opened it, and slipped out side. He looked around. The street was empty. He knew he'd be more noticeable in the air, so he ran.

***********

Bakura growled at his finger, then glared at the stove. He heard a throat being cleared, and looked up.

"Marik. What do you want?" He snarled. Marik shrugged.

"You aren't very good at keeping prisoners."

"Huh?"

"Y'know the angel you randomly brought home yesterday?"

"Yeah?"

"He's running down the street."

"What? Why didn't you stop him?!?" Bakura yelped, running from the kitchen, and snatching his whip from the coffee table.

"I thought it was funny!" Marik said, shrugging. Bakura ran out the front door. H couldn't see the angel. He leapt into the air, and beat his wings, rising quickly, his narrowed eyes scanning the streets. A flash of white caught his eyes, and he whirled, plummeting towards the fleeing form, followed by Marik, who was looking for entertainment.

Ryou heard a snarl, and whirled, panicked. When he saw Bakura, he screamed, and ducked. Bakura shot over him, with a startled yelp, and crashed into the ground. Marik, hovering above them, threw his head back and laughed, as the angel ran faster. Bakura lashed out, trying to grab the boy's ankle, but missed. He got onto his knees, and snapped the whip out, snagging the angel's ankle.

The boy crashed to the ground with a cry, but stumbled to his feet, tearing the whip from his foot, and leapt into the air. Bakura snarled, and followed. He pulled the whip back, ready snap it out at the angel's throat, when the boy screamed, as a black winged body slammed into his, bringing him to the ground on the next street. Bakura blinked, and ran, Marik gliding above him. He stopped, as the angel was forced around the corner towards him, a demon holding his wrists behind his back.

"Lose something, Bakura?" Yami asked. Bakura glared at him. "You know, you're supposed to keep pets on leashes."

"Shut up, Yami. I almost had him."

"Not from where I was watching."

"Yeah, yeah…." Bakura said, before turning his attention to Ryou. He glared at the boy. "You, boy, are going to regret this little episode…" the angle trembled, and backed into Yami's chest.

"You're scaring him, Bakura!" Yami scolded, amused.

"He SHOULD be scared." Bakura snapped, and reached out, seizing the angel by the back of the neck. He squeezed harshly, tearing a pained squeal from the boy, and began to march him back home. Marik followed, talking to Yami.

Once they got back, Bakura shoved the angel to his knees, then turned to Yami and Marik.

"Would you excuse us please?" He snarled coldly. Ryou glanced at the other demons, and saw Yami flash him a look of pity, before the door closed. Ryou grit his teeth, and closed his eyes. Bakura seized a handful of his hair, and jerked his face up. "That, angel, was a very, big, mistake…." Ryou stared at him with wide, frightened eyes. "I'll let you get away with it this time, but try it again, and you will get the beating of a lifetime. Now get on your feet, and get in the kitchen. We'll see if you're good at anything. The more useful you are, the longer you live." He released Ryou, and stepped back. When Ryou didn't stand immediately, he cracked the whip, making the angel squeak, and jump to his feet. "Don't make me repeat myself!" Bakura snapped, and watched the angel scurry into the kitchen. He followed.

Bakura watched the angel move around the kitchen, every now and then, asking where things were kept. Bakura's mouth watered as the boy tossed cheese and sausage into the omelet in the large frying pan.

"What else do you like?" The boy asked, softly. Bakura grunted, and went to the refrigerator. He tossed different things to Ryou, who managed to catch every single one. He watched Ryou began to cut the tomato, onion and mushrooms, then sighed, and took the onion, picking up a knife.

"I'll do it." He said. "you fry the bacon." The angel nodded, and began to do so. Bakura watched him out of the corner of his eye. "Ah! Shit!" He cursed, suddenly, and Ryou looked up. His eyes widened when he saw blood dripping from Bakura's hand.

"What happened?" Ryou asked, timidly.

"Knife slipped."

"Let me see." Ryou said, and took the amazed demon's hand. He stuck Bakura's hand under the water faucet, and rinsed the cut, then washed it. Bakura stood still, letting him, enjoying the gentle touches of the impossibly soft hands. Then, Ryou placed his fingers over the cut, and closed his eyes. Bakura gasped, when the angel's finger tips began to glow blue. The pain from his cut faded, and the bleeding stopped. Ryou opened his eyes.

"Where are the bandages?" He asked. Bakura blinked, and jerked his hand back.

"I'll do it. You just don't burn breakfast." And he stormed out of the room. He climbed the stairs.

`How did he do that? If he has powers, why didn't he use them to fight me? The boy is an enigma. What is his deal? He seems to have power, but he's the weakest thing I've ever seen! He's brave, I'll give him that, but he acts like such a coward!' Bakura entered the bathroom, and got a bandage out, and wrapped his hand. `He flies like a veteran, but he can't have been flying long. He's great in the air. I wonder how he is in bed….? No! I did not just think that! Aww…. Fine. I want to fuck that angel child. All right, I admitted it. But I said I wouldn't rape him. And I always keep my word. I won't break it. Not even to that….. boy. He must learn to trust me. I am his master, he is my slave. When the time is right, I'll make HIM want ME. And then, I'll make good use of that soft little body of his…' A feral grin appeared on the demon's face, as he thought this. He returned to the kitchen, to find Ryou finishing the omelet.

"Is it ready?"

"Yes."

"Master."

"What?"

"You are to address me as `Master.' Is that clear?" Bakura said. Ryou stared at him, a sad look in his eyes. I sent a pang of guilt through Bakura's heart, but he brushed it off. "I said, is that clear?" Bakura snarled, fingering the whip around his waist. Ryou's eyes widened in fear, then lowered to the floor, his shoulders sagged, and his wings drooped.

"Yessir…"

"What?"

"Yes….. Master….."

"Good. The sooner you accept this, the easier it will be. As long as you behave, you will be treated well. Any disobedience, or, escape attempts, will be punished. Understand?"

"Yes Master." Ryou whimpered. Bakura smirked, and picked up a pair of plates. He cut the omelet in half, and put one half on each plate, and set them on the table. Ryou watched him as he sat down, and stuck his fork into his breakfast. Bakura looked up at him.

"Well? Aren't you going to eat?" He asked. Ryou's eyes widened, surprised. Bakura chuckled. "You are my slave, angel. Not my dog. I said that if you behaved, you would be treated well. Now eat; you look like you've been starved." Ryou blinked, and slowly sat. He began to eat, slowly. Bakura watched him, through narrow eyes. The boy looked so sad. Bakura sighed.

"So…." He said, and the angel looked up at him, timidly. "What's your name again?"

"Ryou."

"Ryou. I have to remember that. I'm horrible with names, so don't be surprised if I ask you again. You're fifteen, right?"

"Yes, Master." Ryou said, and winced. His birthday was the day after tomorrow. Malik…. His heart hurt at the thought of his lover. Malik had something big planned, and wouldn't tell him. Ryou wanted to cry, as he thought about never seeing his beloved again.

"And you're the Arch Angel's nephew?"

"Yes Master."

"I'm surprised you didn't put up a fight. Pegasus' line is made up of fighters."

"I guess I'm the exception."

"I don't understand…. Even an angel your age should be able to fight a bit." He frowned, in thought. "This is really good, by the way." He said, referring to the omelet. He smiled when Ryou blushed.

"I, thank you…… Master." Ryou said, shyly. "How is your hand?" Bakura blinked, the dropped his fork. The loud clatter made the angel jump. He stared, frightened, at the sudden fierce look in Bakura's eyes.

"that's right…." Bakura drawled. "My hand. What did you do to it? Where did you learn that."

"I, that's why I don't know how to fight. I'm not to be a soldier. I mean, I get the basic training, but, I'm in training to be a Healer. We are all tested to find strengths and weaknesses, and my healing powers are very advanced. So I have been learning the skills of healing as opposed to skills of war."

"I see." Bakura said. "Fascinating. But you're getting combat training as well?"

"I was to be an on-site medic. I would be present at the battles, and go in, and do what I could. And get the wounded out and seen to."

"Ah. Yes. That's a very important job." Bakura said nodding, developing a new respect for his soft-spoken prisoner. "Who are your parents?"

"They were Yaten, and Reiko."

"Were?"

"They were killed in battle. Years ago." Ryou said, looking down at his half eaten breakfast. Bakura stared at him.

"I'm sorry." He said, after a moment.

"Why?" Ryou snapped, viciously. "Why would a demon care?" Bakura frowned, and wanted to smack the boy, but he restrained himself.

"Because, I understand what it's like. I lost my parents, too. In battle." Ryou flushed.

"Oh. I, I'm sorry. I didn't think. I….."

"It's all right. This time." They finished their meal in silence. And in silence, they cleaned the kitchen. Then, they stared at each other. Ryou stared at the floor, fingering the hem of his tunic. Bakura reached up, and gently stroked the angel's wings.

"How do you wash your wings if they soak up water like that?"

"Damp cloths. And help."

"Help?"

"My, my friends. We help wash each other's wings." Bakura frowned, continuing the strokes thought the angel's feathers.

"Hmmm…… May I?"

"Huh?" Ryou said, startled.

"May I…. Wash your wings?" Bakura said, ad Ryou stared as he flushed. Ryou felt his own cheeks heat up.

"If, if you want."

"How about this. I wash your wing, you wash mine." Bakura said. Ryou swallowed, and nodded his agreement. "Good. Bathtub. Now."

"What?!"

"Now, slave!" The demon snapped. Ryou swallowed, and silently followed him. He blushed when Bakura stripped down. "Calm down, angel. We're twins, remember. I looked like you when I was your age. Well, more muscles, but, you looking at me is like seeing yourself in a few years." Ryou sighed, and slowly removed his tunic. Bakura smirked, and gestured to the water. Ryou swallowed, and slipped in, keeping all but tips of his wings above the surface. Bakura slipped in after him.

"Come here." The demon commanded. Ryou bit his lower lip, and slowly moved towards Bakura. The demon frowned, and lifted his hands, running them over Ryou's chest and shoulders, then down his sides, lingering on the bruises. "No broken ribs. That's good. If you have healing powers, why don't you use them on yourself?"

"I, I can't. Well, I can, but it takes at least twice the energy. I'm not that strong. Not yet." Ryou sighed, and looked up at Bakura. "Maybe I never will be." Bakura frowned.

"Maybe you will. Ishizu is a healer. I could ask her to teach you." Bakura suggested. Ryou glared at him.

"I want nothing to do with her!" Ryou snapped. Bakura blinked surprised, when Ryou turned away, crossing his arms over his chest, and moved to the edge of the tub. He lifted himself out, and sat on the edge, his legs in the water, and glared at the wall. Bakura frowned, and waded over to him. He folded his arms on the angel's knees, and stared at him.

"I hit a nerve, didn't I? I didn't mean to. What's wrong?"

"She killed Isis!" Ryou choked out, and Bakura watched as a tear ran down the angel's face.

"Isis?"

"When, when my parents died, Isis took me in. Her brother was Malik. He was my best friend."

"Malik. Marik's other."

"…. Yes. Isis raised me and Malik. Their parents had been killed not long before my own. Isis became my second mother. We were months from leaving her care, and going to the training dorms when….."

"She met up with Ishizu, and was killed." Bakura finished. Ryou sniffed, and wiped his nose on the back of his hand, then nodded. "I see. I understand. I'm sorry. Isis was Malik's sister? Interesting. Ishizu is Marik's sister."

"Will, will she be here? Tomorrow with, the blonde who killed Mia?"

"Mai? Probably. She won't hurt you, angel. None of them will. They are my friends. You are safe around them. You can trust them. Me, Marik, Yami, Ryuuji, Katsuya, Mai, Ishizu….. you are safe with them. They are the few demons you are safe from."

"M-master?"

"Yes?"

"Who was that other one? The blonde one, from yesterday?"

"Katsuya?"

"N-no…. The one who you said….. tried to, rape you……" Ryou said hesitantly. Bakura frowned, and backed away from Ryou, then climbed out of the tub. He picked up a cloth, and soaked it, then moved behind Ryou and began gently running it over his wings, feeling the silky feathers under his palms.

"That was Keith." He said, after a while. "Listen to me, angel. Stay away from him. He has authority over me, and I'm afraid that you will run into him time and again. But promise me, that no matter what happens, you will not let yourself be left alone with him. He is…. EVIL. He loves nothing more than to cause others pain through his pleasure. Forgive this personal question, but you are a virgin, aren't you?" Bakura watched as the angel shyly dipped his head in response. "I thought so. That means you are in even more danger. And you being an angel, he would take you with so much force, that you would scarred for life, mentally, physically, and spiritually. He would cause so much pain, and trauma, that you would never get over it. I know. I've seen it…" Bakura stared into the water, and his slow methodical strokes on Ryou's wings stopped. Ryou looked up at him.

"What happened?" Ryou asked, softly. "Did he do that to…. you?" Bakura blinked, and shook his head.

"No. He almost did. I was rescued at the last moment. By Marik. He had seen Keith follow me, and he knew what he was up to. He stopped him."

"How did he know? what was going on, I mean…." Ryou asked, and stared at the look on Bakura's face. "It was him. He's the one you meant. That demon, Keith? He raped Marik….." Ryou gasped, and Bakura nodded.

"He's never really gotten over it. He lost some of his sanity. I mean, he was always a bit crazy, but….. He still needs help. But no one can give him what he needs." Bakura looked at the thoughtful, slightly frightened look on Ryou's face, as he chewed his lower lip.

"I, may be able to help……."

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

"Malik, please…." Otogi pleaded. "You must reconsider this!" The tan angel waved around a sword, testing its weight.

"Malik, we know it hurts. We miss Ryou too…." Tea said.

"Malik, Ryou loved you. He wouldn't want this!" Yugi cried. Malik scowled.

"How would you know?"

"He was my friend."

"He was MY lover!" Malik countered. "I knew him better than any of you!"

"Then," Joey said, "You would know better than any of us that he would never want you to do this."

"Please, Malik. It's suicide! You can't get into Hell unseen!" Otogi reasoned. "And if you did, how would you find the demon that killed him? And if you did, how would you kill the demon? His rank among his kind is Seto and Tristan among ours! He's got more skill and experience than you!"

"I don't care!" Malik snapped. "He stole Ryou from me! He didn't even leave me his body, to hold, one more time…." The boy closed his eyes, as tears leaked down his face. "You know, the day after tomorrow is Ryou's birthday." The others all looked down, weeping silently. "I had so much planned for him. And that damned demon took him! You guys, I have to do this. I will avenge his death, or die trying." The others were silent for a while, until Yugi spoke up.

"When are you leaving?"

"Tonight."