Resurrecting The Darkness

RAGE

******************************************************************************************************
disclaimer: Nothing has changed--I still don't own and I'm still writing for free
******************************************************************************************************

As predicted, Mariku was livid when Malik revealed everything he had learned from Yugi about his relationship with Atemu. He raged against the cursed spirit of the Pharaoh. A long suppressed urge to maim and destroy filled his mind. He trod dangerously close to the edge of insanity; so reminiscent of his personality before Yami and Yugi defeated him in the Battle City Finals. Eventually, Malik's words, his touches, his loving kisses, calmed the furious Egyptian.

"How could he?" the angry blonde growled. "How could he treat his hikari so callously?" He ran his fingers through his tangle of spiky hair. "Doesn't he understand how precious, how special the relationship between a yami and hikari is?"

Malik pulled his pacing koibito towards the plush leather recliner. "Sit," he commanded, pushing lightly against the strong, well-muscled chest.

Compliant, he pulled his koishii down onto his lap. The hikari was only too happy to snuggle against that firm expanse of well-toned flesh. He pressed a gentle kiss on his yami's sensitive neck.

"I don't think he remembers how bonded his and Yugi's souls were before his spirit was allowed to pass into the afterlife." The slender teen stopped, puzzlement etched on his beautiful features and reflected in his expressive eyes. "Something happened to change him, Mariku....but what?" Frustrated, he chewed lightly on his full bottom lip, trying vainly to determine what could have caused the Pharaoh to become so autocratic, so demanding.

The yami stroked the silky strands of his lover's hair, the subtle scent of sandalwood teasing his senses. "Was it something that occurred in the underworld or did something go wrong with the resurrection?"

A long sigh emerged from the tired yami. "Shadi warned me that sometimes problems arise with the spirits being resurrected." A sad laugh passed between those sensuous lips. " I promised that if the need arose, I would 'correct' the problem."

No explanation was necessary--the younger one understood that his yami would have to return Atemu's spirit to the afterlife, unless they could prevent him from emotionally and physically abusing Yugi.

"What about Bakura?" Malik asked, reminding his partner that they had two yamis with obvious personality disorders.

Agitated, Markiu lifted his hikari up and resumed pacing. "I don't know, Malik. At first I thought that perhaps their personalities had gotten tangled, but after spending the day with them, I am absolutely positive that isn't the case. Kura may have been a twisted psychopath, but he didn't deliberately and viciously abuse Ryou. Especially after he realized that he had fallen in love with his innocent hikari.

He paused, staring out the window into the endless sea of darkness, lit only the twinkling stars above. "And Yami? Yami was never timid and unconfident. He was sensitive to Yugi's needs and wants but never submissive to him or anyone else." The frustration, anger, and sadness returned, causing the young man to resume his pacing.

A pair of slender arms encircled the lean waist. Mariku turned swiftly, staring down into a pair of glowing lavender eyes; eyes that were filled with love for him. The depth of devotion and commitment reflected in those crystal pools caused his breath to catch in his throat. The unspoken reminder of their eternal connection, their bonded spirits, eased much of the confusion swirling around in his mind and soul. Exhaling deeply, he returned the loving embrace, placing a gentle kiss on the silky tanned cheek. "Thank you, hikari."

Malik smiled, his eyes glowing, his face radiant with love and happiness. Silently, he pulled his unresisting koibito to their king-sized bed. Brazenly, he unbuttoned and unzipped his lover's jeans, easing them down over the slender hips and lean legs. Mariku sank down onto the plush pillows, watching his koishii hikari slide the material free of his feet. Lavender eyes locked, feelings were communicated as Malik stripped his own clothes off, leisurely stretching out beside the impressive form of his nude koi.

Sensing the refusal coming, Malik covered the sensuous lips of his darker half. "Mariku, tonight I just want you to hold me. I want to feel your arms around me, your body touching mine. I need to wrap our love around us, to know that nothing will ever change between us, no matter what it is--time, distance, death. There is no force on Earth on in the heavens that is capable of altering or destroying our love for each other."

"My love, you ask so little of me. How could I possibly refuse such a beautiful request?" The first genuine smile of the evening crossed his face, lighting up his exotic eyes. He pulled the smaller one to him, cradling him in his arms, loving the feel of his koishii's head on his chest, his gentle breath warm on his sensitive flesh. The tension drained away; his eyes closed as weariness claimed him.

The next week passed swiftly; Malik and Mariku had spent very little time with their friends. Atemu was keeping Yugi a "prisoner" and Bakura was too reticent and shy to be truly comfortable with anyone besides Ryou. Rishid called, giving the teens the perfect excuse for getting everyone together.

"Malik, as you know, tomorrow is your sister's birthday. I'd like to have a surprise party--nothing fancy or extravagant, just you and Mariku, Yugi and the Pharaoh, and Ryou and Bakura. We could have a cookout and laze around the pool."

Agreement was automatically granted. This impromptu gathering provided the long-desired opportunity to observe the couples as they interacted with each other. The slender youth wasted no time in securing everyone's acceptance of the party invitation. He sent his dark lover to talk with Ryou and Kura; he didn't trust Mariku to maintain control of his volatile temper if he sensed Atemu abusing Yugi in his presence.

The Pharaoh answered the hesitant knock, his arrogance evident in his stance, the gleam in those unusual crimson orbs unnerving. Malik wasn't surprised when the former ruler quickly accepted the invitation, those piercing eyes falling on his silent hikari standing behind him, eyes lowered, staring at the wooden floor. A myriad of emotions-- pain, anger, hatred--raced through the slender Egyptian at the desolation in those normally sparkling amethyst jewels. The bubbly, optimistic innocence of his friend was missing; replaced with despair and hopelessness. Those beautiful eyes were now dull, flat, lifeless.

Rage, hot and demanding, filled his mind, his heart, with the urge to destroy the imperious and uncaring Pharaoh. Fearing to linger, he hurriedly fled the oppressive atmosphere, running for the loving embrace of his koibito.

Meanwhile, Mariku was facing demons of his own as he visited with the albino couple. His heart twisted as Bakura deferred to Ryou, allowing the gentle hikari to make decisions for them. Sorrow filled his mind as he remembered the "old" Bakura; the one who fought, schemed, controlled. The man sitting on the loveseat being cuddled by his lighter half, was a mere shadow of the fearsome Thief King.

Ryou accepted the invitation eagerly; he was more than willing to visit with his friends. He loved his yami with every fiber of his being, but being in control was wearing on him. He wasn't sleeping well, nor did he have any appetite. Dark shadows had appeared underneath the dark chocolate orbs, and his clothing was hanging loosely on his already thin body. Truthfully, he didn't know how much longer he could remain the dominant half of this relationship.

Sensing Malik's pain and anger, the Egyptian excused himself and hurried back to his bedroom, having determined that was where his koi was headed. Meeting him at the doorway, he caught the slender one as he lunged for him. Carrying him into their room, he sank down into the large recliner, holding his furious hikari against his chest.

"Relax, koishii, and tell me what is wrong. How can I help if you don't talk to me?"

Too upset to speak, Malik opened their mind-link to communicate the Pharaoh's actions, Yugi's lifeless spirit, and his own feelings about the couple.

Mariku's rage was absolute. His self-control was slipping; he struggled with himself to resist the urge to thrash the uncaring Atemu within an inch of his life.

Frightened by the inner battle he detected within his beloved yami, Malik opened their link again, this time sending his love and adoration, praying to Ra that his devotion would calm his darker half.

It must have worked. Mariku closed his eyes, his dark lashes hiding that exotic lavender gaze. Taking several deep breaths, he once more was in control of his anger. He placed a light kiss on his koibito's lips, before rising to his feet, carefully placing his soul-mate in the recliner. "I'll return in a little while, tenshi. There is someone I need to see."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Okay, just two more chapters to go.....You'll find out in the next chapter why Atemu and Kura are behaving so strangely, so keep checking back for the update. I hope to have it up by next weekend. Meanwhile, please review and let me know what you think!!