The Path of Vengeance

Chapter 24

I know, I know...

The heavy thud of his footsteps pounding on the pavement paled in comparison to the rhythmic sound of blood rushing through Marik’s ears. He’d been running from their pursuers for the past twenty minutes, raw adrenaline the only thing keeping him upright and moving.

He ducked into a trendy shop and snuck unnoticed into the men’s room where he collapsed in the nearest stall, fighting the raging nausea that threatened him. He’d tried at least a half dozen times to contact Malik but his light had his end of their link blocked off.

With trembling hands, he pulled his wallet from his pocket. Six hundred dollars. It was enough to find another motel for the night and then some. There was no way he could get to Bakura single handedly. His only hope lay with Malik, half the world away.


Bakura sat stiffly in the seat aboard one of Seto Kaiba’s many private jets, testing and assessing the strength of the thick manacles holding him in place. He was stuck for the moment. There were seven guards total, two engaged in light conversation.

“Damn, Cooper, didn’t know we’d be flying back First Class!” Investigator Mazer said with a low whistle.

“Are you joking? Mr. Kaiba has been looking for this degenerate for almost two weeks. Of course he’ll spare no expense,” Cooper replied.

Bakura growled softly. He’d known Kaiba was responsible all along. He could only hope that Marik had gotten away.

Once the jet was airborne he laid his head against the chair and closed his eyes.

//…Ryou…//

/Bakura? What’s going on? It’s early isn’t it?/

//Were you asleep?//

/Um, no./

//You seem nervous.//

/So do you./

//Yeah, well. What’s your excuse?//

There was a pause on Ryou’s end. /Are you alright?/ he asked finally.

//I’ve been better. I’ll talk to you later.//

He closed the link and sighed.

“Everything okay?” Yami asked sleepily, his crimson eyes parting halfway.

“Yeah,” Ryou replied. He snuggled further into the pharaoh’s embrace.

“Remember, no more secrets,” Yami pushed, pulling the teen’s back flush against his bare chest. “Whatever it is you can tell me.”

“You’re not going to like it. Bakura just checked in and he seemed like something was wrong,” Ryou admitted.

“Did he say what it was?” Yami asked, trying to keep his tone level.

“No,” Ryou answered with regret.

“Well he has been around for a very long time, I am sure he can take care of himself,” Yami offered.

“I know. But the feelings I got through the link were not feelings that I normally get from him,” Ryou countered.

“Don’t worry. If there is a major problem I’m sure he will tell you,” Yami said, trying to end the conversation quickly.

Ryou heard the distasteful undertone. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I know we agreed not to talk about him.”

Yami kissed him on the shoulder. “It’s alright,” he replied. “I was the one who asked. Besides, I don’t want you to think that you can’t talk to me. Even if it’s about him.”

Ryou turned over, coming face to face with his boyfriend. He kissed him gratefully. “Thank you, Yami.” He closed his eyes. After a few moments they drifted off to sleep once again.

There was something familiarly comforting about spending time in his building during off hours. Sights and sounds that went unnoticed throughout the day were amplified in the relative silence. The crackle of the fluorescent lights, the low hum of the computers.

Seto Kaiba walked through the heavy wooden door of his office, greeted by his oversized cherry wood desk, immaculate but for an unkempt stack of papers nearly six inches thick centered on the desk calendar. His frown deepened and he picked up the first packet in the stack, reading the cover sheet. ‘Stockholder Quarterly Reports’.

“Oh, son of a bitch,” he ground out, slamming the packet back onto the desk. He took a seat in his high-backed leather office chair and turned on his computer. Once it booted up he entered his password and sat back, pulling out a $50 cigar, snipping off the end with his solid gold monogrammed cigar cutter. He gently rolled it between his lips before picking up his signature platinum lighter and igniting it. He then gently sucked on the other end till he tasted the familiar taste of success. He then stopped to ponder the flavor of his prize before taking another puff. “There is nothing like a good cigar to calm the nerves,” he spoke aloud, secure in his seclusion in the office and well aware that anything said there would stay there.

His head was pounding. The elevated blood pressure and added stress had made it magnify tenfold. He tugged open the top drawer of the desk and pulled out a bottle of prescription painkillers, opening it and lying two of the pills on the stack of reports before getting up and pouring himself a brandy which acted as a chaser.

The well-known burn of the amber liquid was most welcome. He returned to his chair and sat down again, opening his email. “What are those idiots doing?” he mused, catching up on the inter-office letters he’d been unable to get to during working hours.

Though he tried to distract himself he kept going back over the fight with Tristan in his head.

“What does he expect me to do?” he ground out. He could feel his anger rising again and walked to the bar, pouring himself another brandy. “What’s not to understand?” He sat down again, retrieving his cigar. “Why shouldn’t I take my revenge?” He took another puff of his cigar followed by a sip of brandy, totally forgetting his computer screen.

Of course he knew that Yugi had been justified in his little rant. And he’d have been happy to sit down and discuss the situation with the little bastard. But he went too far to reprimand him in front of not only Tristan, but his other rival, Yami.

She shook his head, trying to clear it of the merciless thoughts that seemed to want to linger. It was time to face fact. The only way to trounce Yugi and keep Tristan was to beat him outright in the arena. That was fine with him. If only he could keep his thoughts straight.

Ever since Tristan had walked out on him and his near-death by his own hand he’d been having more trouble than usual controlling his violent tendencies and passionate temper. The added stress of the entire situation along with the constant pain in his head and face only contributed to his irrational rage. His fist fell heavily onto the desktop, causing the pencil cup and the silver framed photographs of Mokuba and Tristan to rattle unsteadily.

He didn’t know what to do. So many contradictory emotions fought for dominance within: fury, guilt, and sorrow being the top contenders. He couldn’t understand how his focus had shifted so dramatically. Everything he’d worked so hard for was crumbling down around him. Tristan had lost nearly all respect for him; Mokuba had lost a lot of trust, not to mention his hearing. And on top of that he was losing his self control. It was only a matter of time before he snapped…again.

Yugi awoke to find himself wrapped tightly in Malik’s arms, the blanket draped loosely over them. A small smile spread over his face as he realized that the duration of his sleep had been nightmare-free. He felt good. Really good. Everything Malik had said and done for him in the past twenty four hours had already gone a long way toward healing his mental wounds.

His eyes moved slowly, taking in every inch of the exposed bronze flesh over Malik’s chest, shoulders, and face. One hand reached out and he cautiously ran his fingers over barely parted lips, smiling when they twitched slightly.

He could hear movement in the kitchen and carefully crawled out of bed. Taking care to be as quiet as possible he pulled open the door and stepped out into the hallway, closing it softly behind him.

“Good morning, Aibou,” Yami said from his place at the stove.

“Morning, Yami. Where’s Ryou?”

“Still asleep,” the pharaoh stated. “Malik?”

“Asleep.”

Yami set the burners on low and picked up his coffee cup. “Your therapist called. She said she will be here at around three.”

Yugi looked at the clock. Almost ten. “Cancel it,” he said, pulling the refrigerator door open and peering inside.

“What? Why would you cancel?” the spirit questioned.

“I don’t need it anymore.”

Yami’s eyes narrowed. “Why is this?”

“I’m handing it,” Yugi replied around a mouthful of grapes.

A pause. “Alright. Well Ryou told me last night that he’d drive you to your doctor’s appointment this morning. You might want to start getting ready.”

Yugi closed the refrigerator door. “What appointment?”

“Your follow up with the proctologist.”

Yugi froze. Images of his last round of torture flashed through his eyes. “No,” he stated flatly.

The pharaoh blinked. “Aibou, you have to.”

“No, I don’t,” Yugi replied firmly. “I’m not going.”

Yami slammed his cup down on the table. “Yugi, what’s gotten into you?”

Immediately the youth’s defenses were in place. “What?”

“You’ve been acting different lately.”

“Acting different?” Yugi echoed. “Different? And just how do you think I should act?”

“Not like this,” Yami said. “You’re acting like Malik.”

Yugi’s eyes widened. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“It is,” the spirit replied. “He’s a punk.”

Yugi laughed bitterly. “I see what this is,” he said. “You’d rather see me helpless, scared, and crying than see me with Malik.”

“That’s not true,” Yami snapped. “I just don’t want to see you avoiding your problems rather than facing them.”

“Oh you’re one to talk!” Yugi shot back. “If it wasn’t for you and YOUR problems I wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place!”

The pharaoh faltered. “W-what? You blame me for all of this?”

“Bakura did this to get back at YOU, right?”

“Yes,” Yami whispered, crimson eyes downcast.

Yugi spun on his heel and fled the kitchen. He entered his room to see Malik half awake, his lilac eyes fixed on the television. “Did I wake you?” he asked, anger still lingering in his voice.

“Yep,” Malik replied. “But it’s no big deal. What crawled up the pharaoh’s ass?”

“You,” Yugi replied.

Malik wrinkled his nose. “Not even on a bet.”

The small duelist blinked a moment before laughing. “That’s not what I meant,” he said.

“Good,” Malik replied. “Cause there’s only one ass in this house I’d like to be in.”

“I didn’t know you liked Ryou that way,” Yugi replied coyly.

Malik pushed the blankets off his lap and stood up, closing the distance between himself and Yugi, walking them back until the smaller teen’s back was flush against the closed door and pressing their bodies together. “Would it bother you if I said I did?” he asked, his voice low and raspy.

Surprising even himself, Yugi didn’t shy away. “Yes,” he answered.

“Good.” The bronzed teen whispered before bending down and claiming Yugi’s lips in a long awaited and nearly bruising kiss.

After a quick moment of surprise, Yugi allowed his eyes to fall shut and leaned into Malik, tasting the teen in a way he could never have anticipated. And to his astonishment he found himself kissing back with passion and fervor he hadn’t known he possessed.

A full seven minutes later Malik pulled back, his eyes snapping open. “Oh no,” he said.

“Malik?” Yugi said. “Are you okay?”

Malik smiled. “Yes,” he said, leaning in for another brief kiss. “Marik needs to talk to me though. Give me a few minutes.”

“Sure,” Yugi replied. “I’ll just get dressed.” He pulled some clothes from the dresser and left the room, not even trying to hide his trembling knees.

Malik sat down on the box spring. He’d just been flooded with the strongest feeling of anguish he’d ever experienced from Marik’s side of the link. /Yami?/

//Oh, thank Ra. Malik! Bakura’s been caught!//

/…what do you mean, caught?/

//It happened a few hours ago. The ones who tried to catch me mumbled something about Seto Kaiba.//

/Oh fucking Christ, Marik! Where are you now?/

//A hotel in Los Angeles. They’re probably taking Bakura back to Domino.//

/Son of a bitch. Get your ass back here./

//I can’t. They are looking for me. They’ll definitely be at the airport.//

/What then?/

//I need you to come get me.//

/What? Come get you?/

//I can fuse with you again long enough to get back to Domino.//

/You want me to fly to Los Angeles with the Millennium Rod so you can hitch a ride home?/

//Yes.//

Malik sighed. /I’ll be on the next flight./

//Thank you, hikari.//

/Yeah, yeah./ He closed the link and flopped back onto the wooden frame. It was hard to think with an erection the size of the pharaoh’s ego. Several minutes later he managed to will away the worst of it, stand up, and leave the room.

He shuffled down the hallway, coming to a stop at the bathroom door. “Yugi?”

“Yeah?”

“Hurry up I need to talk to you.”

“Okay.”

The blonde continued his journey and ended up in the kitchen. He couldn’t see Yami behind his newspaper but didn’t need to in order to feel the death glare on the other side. “Morning, Pharaoh,” he grinned.

“Get out.”

“Ooh,” Malik said, false hurt in his voice. “Someone’s cranky this morning. Bowl of Truth not settling well? How about a nice tall glass of Bite My Ass to wash it down?”

Yami was on his feet in an instant, the eye on his forehead glowing gold. “You think you’re funny, don’t you Tomb Keeper,” he hissed. His left hand slowly began to rise, almost as though he were reaching out to the blonde.

“YAMI NO,” Ryou yelled as he rushed to the spirit’s side, having witnessed most of the exchange from the hallway. “Don’t do this.”

Malik’s gaze could have frozen the heart of his own dark. He stepped forward, well into Yami’s personal space, their noses less than an inch apart. “Don’t fucking threaten me, pharaoh. Can you really afford another loss right now?”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Yami spat back, refusing to acknowledge Ryou’s pull on his arm.

“What’s going on?” Yugi asked from the doorway.

“The Pharaoh here thinks I should go,” Malik answered, his eyes never leaving Yami’s.

“Yami, let it go,” Ryou pleaded softly.

“Back off, Yami,” Yugi shouted. “You can’t tell me who to hang out with!”

“Come on, Aibou,” Yami tried to rationalize. “Can’t you see what he’s doing to you?”

“Is that your argument?” Malik laughed. “What a fucking hypocrite!”

“Excuse me?” Yami said incredulously.

“At least I’m taking his feelings into consideration,” the blonde snapped.

“Are you suggesting that I’m not?”

Malik’s hand shot out and before Yami could react he flicked the deep purple hickey that rested in the juncture between the pharaoh’s neck and shoulder. “Yugi didn’t do this, did he?”

Yami caught the blonde’s wrist and shoved him back. “Of course not,” he snapped.

“He told you he loved you and not twenty four hours later you hooked up with Ryou and have been shoving it in his face ever since!”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes it is,” Yugi spoke up.

Ryou blanched. “Yugi…” he whispered. “I’m so sorry you feel that way.”

Yugi shook his head and moved to stand next to the dark haired teen. “Don’t be,” he said. “I’m not angry at you. I’m glad you finally found someone who can treat you right. Even if he IS being a fucking ass right now.” He opened his arms.

Ryou smiled inwardly and accepted the hug.

Yami however was not pleased. “An ass?” he repeated.

“Yes, an ass,” Malik growled in Yugi’s place.

“Fuck off, Malik,” Yami spat back. “You call me a hypocrite? At least I don’t keep with the man who raped him.”

“No, instead you’re fucking the one who does,” Malik replied.

Ryou’s eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he struggled to speak. “I don’t—I mean I haven’t…I never…”

“Chill out, Ryou,” Malik said, his voice slightly less threatening. “Bakura’s your yami. Of course you can’t abandon him.” He turned back to the pharaoh. “And for your information Yugi and I have already discussed my involvement with Bakura and how it does or does not affect the two of us.”

“Oh so now you two have some sort of relationship developing?” Yami asked, his voice dripping with disgust and disapproval.

“Yami, shut up!” Yugi said forcefully. “What he and I do is none of your business.”

“Is that how you really feel?” Yami asked, his light’s words tearing through the very fabric of his soul.

“Yes,” Yugi replied. “I can’t make you like him any more than you can make me hate him. But I like having him here.”

Malik smiled at the smaller teen. “Yeah?”

Yugi grinned back. “Yeah.”

Yami straightened to his full height, a wall of mock disinterest forming habitually around him. “Very well, hikari,” he said, his voice having lost any and all traces of anger and frustration. “You’ll hear no more from me on the subject other than this. Malik, if you hurt him, even unintentionally, I will make it the focus of my remaining days to see that your life is one of unending torment.”

“Sort of like you did with Bakura?” Malik snorted.

Yami’s eyes darkened to a blood red and he fought to retain the hold on his rage. He slowly reached out and grasped Ryou’s hand in his own before stepping around Malik and leading his boyfriend into his room and closing the door.

Malik shook his head. “What a dick,” he muttered. “Are you okay?” he asked his small companion.

Yugi nodded. “I’m really sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what’s gotten into him.”

“He’s jealous,” Malik concluded. “He isn’t used to sharing you with anyone else.”

“Well he could try expressing it in another way,” he said with a sigh of frustration. He looked up at Malik. “So, what did you want to tell me?”

Malik pulled one of the kitchen chairs from its resting place against the table and sat down, patting his thigh. A satisfied smile formed on his lips when Yugi immediately complied. He waited for the teen to shift into the position that caused him the least amount of pain before sliding his bronzed arms around the tiny waist. “I heard from Marik this morning,” he began. “He’s been with Bakura this whole time.”

Yugi’s eyes widened. “He has?”

“Yes. Something happened though and Marik needs me there.”

“Where is ‘there’?”

“America.”

“You’re going to America?”

Malik nodded, his forehead coming to rest against Yugi’s. “I don’t want to leave you here with the King of Shame but I have to go.”

“I’ll be fine,” Yugi confirmed. “When are you leaving?”

“I’ve got to make a few phone calls and book a flight. Probably not until this afternoon.”

“Are, um, are you going to see Bakura?”

Malik shrugged. “I don’t know,” he replied honestly. “I don’t think so. They got separated and Marik needs me to come get him.”

“You’re bringing him back to Domino?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Does that bother you?”

Yugi took a moment to think about that. “No,” he said finally. “You have to help him.”

Malik nuzzled Yugi’s forehead until the smaller teen raised his head and then pressed their lips together. “Thanks for understanding,” he said. “I should really get going.”

“Wait,” Yugi whispered. “I need to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“Um, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being so honest with me.”

Malik shook his head. “Yugi, if there’s one thing you should know about me it’s that I’ll always be honest. Even if it’s not something you want to hear. I don’t like liars.”

Yugi nodded. “I won’t lie to you,” he affirmed.

Malik smiled. “Good.” He kissed Yugi again and they stood up. “I’m going to get my clothes and get out of here. I’ll call you as soon as I get back in town.”

“You will?”

“Sure.” He winked at the small duelist and left the room.

“Yami?” Ryou said softly once the door had been shut. He didn’t get a response. Instead he was forced to watch helplessly as his boyfriend began to shake violently. “Yami,” he said again. “Are you okay?”

“No,” Yami shook his head. “I’m not.” He released his hold on Ryou’s hand and sank to his knees on the floor, tears pouring from his clenched eyelids despite his efforts to contain them.

Ryou knelt down and placed a pale hand on the pharaoh’s shoulder. “Talk to me,” he pleaded. “Please don’t push me away.”

“He’s right,” Yami sobbed.

“Who is right?”

“Malik.”

Ryou’s brow furrowed. “Yami, I don’t understand.”

The spirit swallowed hard. “This was my fault. I can’t go on pretending it was all Bakura.”

“It wasn’t you,” Ryou said gently. “You didn’t do this to Yugi.”

Yami lifted his tearful gaze to meet Ryou’s sympathetic brown eyes. “You’re so naïve,” he whispered. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”

Ryou wasn’t accustomed to seeing his boyfriend in such a state. “Yami, please. This wasn’t your fault.”

Yami smiled sadly. “You don’t know me as well as you should, Ryou,” he said, sorrow heavily laden in his voice. “I fear that once you learn the truth about my past with the Tomb Robber you’ll want nothing to do with me.”

The teen shook his head emphatically. “Yami, that isn’t going to happen. I love you.”

“I love you too, Ryou. But you don’t know.”

Ryou squeezed the spirit’s shoulder. “So then tell me. Whatever this is it’s making you doubt my loyalty to you.”

Yami blinked rapidly. “I…I…can’t.”

“No more secrets,” Ryou reminded in a gentle, soothing voice.

The pharaoh fought back another wave of tears. “No more secrets,” he repeated. “I will tell you, love. But not now.”

Though he was dying of curiosity, Ryou nodded. “Alright,” he said. “But promise that you will tell me before it comes between us.”

“I promise.”

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And there be the long awaited chapter 24. Kinda anti-climatic, huh? I know, I suck, I suck. The next update will be sooner, I promise. What, you don't believe me? Hell, I don't blame you! Seriously though, the next one will be up soon. Oh and Su? Remember when I promised you that Bakura's sadistic side would resurface eventually? Heh, I expect a *squee* on the next chapter :)