Regret

Sorry for the late updates I don’t have a lot of time on my
hands and when I do I’m usually doing schoolwork blah, anyway I hope you like
chapter 17 to “Regret” Oh yeah! Karen got the poem “Regret” published ^_^style="mso-spacerun: yes"> you can go see her book at href="http://www.poetry.com/">www.poetry.com Regret was even on the first
page! I hope you guys check it out!

Bakura walked inside his house instantly feeling as if
something was wrong as he glanced around.

“Ryou?” He called softly as he called his name a little louder the second time
upon not receiving a response from his little brother.

Bakura shook his head as he entered the living room but
stopping mid-step as upon seeing the furniture toppled over and his little
brother half-naked slumped against the wall. He instantly went to him lifting
him into his arms.

“Ryou!” He called franticly which seemed to make him stir
slightly but not wake. “Please Ryou, open your eyes.” He said with equal
urgency as Marik walked in behind also taken aback by the site as he rushed to
Ryou’s side as well gently stroking his cheek as Ryou’s eyes fluttered
slightly.

“That’s right baby, open your e for for me…” He said softly
as he continued to lovingly stroke his bruised face.

Ryou retracted from the hand though as he opened his eyes as
he hugged his brother seeking his protection, his mind was still hazy from the
incident…he knew that at least Bakura wouldn’t hurt him and at the moment he
wasn’t so sure about Marik. Bakura looked at Marik confused at Ryou’s behavior
he expected Ryou to open his arms to Marik but instead he turned away wrapping
his slim arm’s around Bakura’s neck. Bakura lifted him up as gently as possible
trying to avoid his back as much as he could although the welts along his legs
were totally unavoidable as he brought him upstairs.

“Would you get the first-aid kit from the bathroom Marik?”
He asked bringing Ryou into his own room.

Marik watched Bakura carrying Ryou up the stairs.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He stood there, a stricken look on his face
and unable to move. Why did he look at
me like that? He asked himself.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Then he groaned and fell to his knees,
barley catching himself with his hands before he fell flat on the floor.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> His chest was tight, and he keeps gasping
for air. "Ryou."style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He moaned.
"What have I done?"
Marik tried to hold himself steady, the living room spinning around
him. "Stop."style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He ordered himself, trying to regain control
of himself. Slowly, the world stopped
in its right place, and Marik slowly stood up.
I have to help , he, he told himself, as he began to walk to the
bathroom, thoroughly ashamed of his selfish behavior, now and then.style="mso-spacerun: yes">

Ryou sniffled against Bakura's neck who rocked him gently on
the bed "It's okay, you'll be all right." He said laying him on his
stomach and removing the little clothes, he had left on. "Thanks." He
said taking the kit from Marik opening it up, thankful that there were not many
open wound's mainly just welts and bruises. Ryou clutched the sheet's closing
his eyes lightly but still staying aware. "You all right?" Bakura
asked softly to Marik who seemed a little out of breath almost.

Marik ignored Bakura, and knelt beside the bed in front of
Ryou. Ryou turned his head, sensing
Marik's closeness. "Oh honey.style="mso-spacerun: y Don't be like that.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Please." Marik begged, lightly stroking Ryou's hair.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> "I am so sorry I did this to you."

Bakura looked at him as if he was insane "What?"
Bakura said stopping in cleaning Ryou's wound's "You weren't even here,
what are you talking about?" Bakura asked as he noticed the tension
between Ryou and Ryou didn't move however, besides the small flinchn hen he was
applying some ointment, and seemingly ignored Marik and Bakura at the moment.
"Give him a moment Marik..." Bakura said still wondering why Marik
was blaming himself for what happened.

Marik didn't say anything else, but continued to lovingly
stroke Ryou's hair. He thought he was
imagining it, but with every flinch from Ryou, he thought he could feel his
pain, the burning that he was suffering.
Marik dimly recognized that this moment was one of the hardest of his
life. He honestly could not do a single
thing. He had no idea what to say to
ease Ryou's pain. Wait a minute, he
thought. "Is that who hurt
you baby?" Marik asked, standing
over Ryou. Ryou turned on his side and
looked up at his brother and his lover, "Yes."style="mso-spacerun: yes"> He whispered. "Yes. It was
Seto. Not Marik.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Not Marik." He kept saying to himself.

Bakura loosened his hold on Ryou "Marik wouldn't hurt
you Ryou...you know that right." he said softly as Ryou slowly nodded his head
as he pushed himself away from Bakura trying to regain coherence he still felt
dizzy his eyes still hazy as he slowly embraced Marik as if he just realized he
was standing there.

Marik used all his willpower not to clutch Ryou to his
chest, not wanting to cause him any more pain.
"I am so sorry for everything, Ryou. I will regret what I have done to you for the rest of my
life."

Bakura took their talking as cue to leave, he wasn't too
keen on getting involved in peoples personal problems...not to mention he had
no clue what they were talking about as he closed the door.

"It's all right..." Ryou said softly "You
didn't do anything wrong...I’m okay he just hit me, I’ll be fine." He said
resting his full weight against Marik not that it was much to begin with anyway

"Did
he..." Marik swallowed very hard,
bracing himself for the question he had to ask. "Did he rape
you?" He asked, running his hands
up and down Ryou's arms in what he Ryou shook his head no "He
stopped..." He said softly biting his lower lip. 'I’m okay...he did stop
before he went to far' Ryou kissed Marik softly as if he was saying he was
sorry "I should have told you he kissed me...I’m so sorry." He said
miserably

Marik looked at Ryou as if he was insane.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> "Baby, why are you sorry?style="mso-spacerun: yes"> It was not your fault at all.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I have been stupid.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I love you.
I am sorry I left you here all alone.
If I had never left, this would of never happened to you."

"Your not stupid, you had every right to be angry with
me, it was better for you to vent away from me than upon me." He said
softly wrapping his arms back around Marik's neck and kissing his shoulder
gently "Promise me you won't kill
him..." Ryou said changing the subject before they could continue blaming
themselves any further

"I won't kill him." Marik said, his jaw set.
"He deserves much worse."

"Don't be this way." Ryou said taking Marik's face
in his hands, "He wasn't exactly in his right mind when he came over
and..." He paused a moment remembering how Seto said it was his fault for
flirting with him all the time...he didn't realize he was really but he did
know Seto was drunk when he came by and if any of this was Ryou's fault he
didn't want Seto to pay for it.

"There is no excuse for him. There is no excuse for me.
He will pay for it though, believe me.
However, don't think about it now, okay? It was in no way your fault so lets think about something more
pleasant."

"Can we go back to your place?" Ryou asked not
feeling very safe in his own home he never really did to begin with anyway.

"Of course. Why
don't you get dressed, and I will go down and talk to Bakura.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> On second thought, he might want to come
with us, seeing as how you have been hurt so much. Is that okay?" Marik
asked, as he got off the bed. "He
can stay in one of the guest bedrooms for awhile, until he is ready to come
home."

Ryou nodded his head yes, he was glad Bakura would be going
witem..em...despite the circumstances he was getting closer to his brother and
Bakura wasn't too worked up about him being gay...he didn't even berate him. He
shook his head slowly getting to his feet and going to his closet.

Bakura sat as the kitchen table absentmindedly stirring a
cup of coffee, he wasn't used to so much drama in one night and needed to calm
down a little. He noticed Marik walk in "Is he doing all right?" He
asked "He's not hurt too badly is he?" worried that Ryou experienced
more than just a beating.

"No, he is fine."
Marik said tiredly, sitting across from Bakura.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> "I think he was more shaken then
anything. Which is understandable.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> We are going back to my place to get some
sleep." Bakura looked up sharply
at Marik, opening his mouth to protest.
Marik interrupted him quickly.
"We both would like you to come too. I have a big house, at least big enough where you can have your
own bedroom and bathroom. Not only
would I feel safer to have someone with Ryou while I am gone, but I really
think he needs you too." Bakura
fidgeted in his chair, picking at an unseen speck on the table.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> "Um...look Marik.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I really appreciate the offer, but I really
am not into a brother thing. Especially
since, I am not a fa..I mean, a gay guy."

Marik looked at Bakura, unsure if he should punch him or
laugh. But the smile over took his
face, and his deep, booming laugh ran through out the kitchen.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> "You crazy!"style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Marik said, grabbing his sides as he tried
to get himself under control. "I
am sorry, Bakura, but I have never had a thing for brothers either.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> I meant stay with Ryou while I am at
work!"

Bal>Bakura blushed as he shook his head "Yeah...right."
He said running a hand through his hair standing up quickly. 'thank god' he
thought inwardly "Let me get something and I’ll be down in a minute he
said nearly passing Ryou on the stair's He smiled lifting him up taking him
down the rest of the way so he didn't have to move to much his legs probably
hurt a lot as he trotted back upstairs. Ryou looked at Marik curiously
"What were you laughing about?" Ryou asked walking up to him slowly.

"Nothing."
Marik said, smiling at Ryou.
"Bakura is just a great guy sometimes. Are you ready to go?"

Bakura sat
opposite of his brother, looking out the window and thinking of the past weeks
events. Jesus, he sighed, how weird his
life had become. His one and only
little brother was gay. There would be
no grandchildren for their father.
Dad's not going to like that much, he mused to himself, glancing at Ryou
and Marik, who seemed oblivious to everything except each other.style="mso-spacerun: yes"> It's not that he disapproved in honesty he
wished them the best of luck, and he wanted Ryou to be happy he wasn't a little
ball of sunshine and with good reason...but Marik could make him smile. But dad
being the strict man he was would not like his boss going out with his little
boy, did Ryou even consider Dad once when he decided to get involved with
Marik. He sighed deeply looking back out the window. ‘I guess not’ he
answered himself. People rarely do when
they are in love. He noticed the
sprawling mansions they were passing.
Besides, he told himself, admiring the richness, if Ryou stays with
Marik, he will be set for life. No
doubt about that. And Marik seems to be
doing great with him, doing his best to protect him. All in all, if dad has a problem, Bakura decided, he for one
would stand next to Ryou. It was the
only thing he could do.

Congratulate
Karen for getting her poem published! Comments or questions?

PLEASE
REVIEW!!!