The Path of Vengeance

**I don't own it.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to review. I really do appreciate it :)



Malik blinked against the harsh sunshine streaming through the windows of Los Angeles International Airport. He’d managed about seven hours of sleep and spent the rest of the time watching the in-flight movie and sipping sodas. He’d avoided contacting Marik up to this point, figuring that his yami was not in any mood to talk. Not that he was either. Too much had happened in the course of the past few days in his own life that he didn’t want to let slip out just yet.

He stepped outside into the daylight and put on his sunglasses before tucking his hands into his pockets and beginning to walk, sensing his yami’s presence in the distance.

/Marik?/

//Yeah.//

/I’m here. Where are you?/

Marik immediately perked up. //At the Airport Inn. Where are you?//

/Just got off the plane. I’m heading toward you, meet me halfway./

//On my way.//

Malik closed the link and let out a jaw cracking yawn. He quickened his pace, eager to find his yami and leave the country before Kaiba’s flunkies found either of them.


Marik was walking just as fast, if not faster, ignoring the protest of his overextended body. He’d spent the night alternately pacing the room and standing at the door, his muscles tensed and ready to flee at the slightest noise. Regardless of the physical pain though he strove forward. He had only to reach Malik and then he could rest for awhile.

Rest however was not intended as relaxation. He would use the time to devise a plan of action. He had to find Bakura at all costs. Even if it meant taking out both the obnoxious Pharaoh and the mighty Seto Kaiba to do it.

He quickly walked the mile and a half it took to reach his hikari, who pulled him into a crushing embrace.

“Don’t fucking do that to me again, Marik.”

Marik smirked. “Trust me, I don’t plan on it. Let’s go.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Malik said. “Do you want to merge now or wait until it becomes a problem?”

Marik pulled the Millennium Rod from its resting place in Malik’s belt. “It won’t become a problem. Let’s get out of here.”


Yami sat alone on the sofa in the living room, the weight of several millennia on his shoulders. He was torn between feelings of raging justification and insurmountable guilt. On one hand he knew Yugi was right. The attack had been his fault, however indirectly. On the other hand he knew that Malik was leading his light down a path that promised only destruction. He was at a loss. Nothing he could say on either matter would be accepted by his hikari. The only thing keeping him together was Ryou.

At the moment he could barely make out the muffled voices of his boyfriend and his light talking in Yugi’s room. He and Ryou had been lying together in his bed with Yugi had knocked on the door, requesting to speak with the dark haired teen. Ryou immediately complied, knowing that Yugi was having trouble sleeping alone.

Yami let out a heavy sigh. He’d never felt so helpless and unwanted. As much as he tried to rationalize that Yugi’s behavior was stemming from his recent trauma it didn’t help ease the ache in his heart. Something had to give soon or else he was going to lose it.

A faint ringing came to his ears and he stood up, heading down through the darkened shop to the front door. “Joey,” he said, surprise entering his voice.

Joey looked a lot worse for the wear. Dark circles surrounded his eyes and his clothes were faded and wrinkled. “Hey, Yami,” he replied.

Yami took a step back. “Please, come in.”

Joey shook his head. “Actually, I was wondering if you and I could talk.”

The pharaoh paused before nodding. “Of course.” He stepped out into the cool night air.

Joey led the way back to Duke’s convertible and crawled inside, gesturing for Yami to do the same. When they were both seated comfortably he spoke. “Yugi called me this morning.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. He sounds different. What’s going on, Yami?”

Yami sighed. “What did he say? How was he different?”

“He told me about that fucking asshole Kaiba. And he kept talking about how he’s spent so much time with Malik and how you’re being a ‘royal ass’. When did he start hanging out with Malik?”

“A couple of days ago,” Yami replied dejectedly. “Malik came over supposedly to see how he was doing. As it turned out he showed up just as Ryou found out about Kaiba. I ended up having to go to the hospital-” he held up his cast. “And he was the only one who could stay with Yugi. I don’t know what all that asshole Tomb Keeper told him but whatever it was has had Yugi acting different ever since.”

Joey nodded. “He told me that Malik helped him to work through a lot of things. He also told me that they’ve been ‘getting close’.”

Yami tensed. “What exactly does that mean, Joey?”

The blonde shook his head. “I don’t know. All I do know is that Malik and Bakura are friends. Who’s to say that he’s not here just to feed information back to that son of a bitch?”

Yami nodded. “That’s exactly what I’ve been telling Ryou. But he thinks that if we try to step in that Yugi will just pull further away from us. Right now he’s not talking to me but at least he still trusts Ryou.”

“What do you mean he’s not talking to you?”

The pharaoh lowered his eyes. “He blames me for Bakura’s actions.”

Joey narrowed his eyes. “And you believe him, don’t you?” he asked after a moment.

“Yes.”

“Why?” the blonde shot back.

“You don’t know the whole story, Joseph,” Yami said, unconsciously slipping into his ancient Egyptian brogue. “Regardless of how heinous Bakura’s act of vengeance might have been, I deserved it. Yugi, no, but I did.”

Joey picked through the olden accent to understand the words. “No one deserves that, Yami.”

“You’re right,” the former pharaoh replied, more to himself than his companion. “No one does. Not even Bakura.”


Bakura sat alone in a small concrete cell in the Yakatomi Prison Complex in Tokyo. Upon his arrival he’d been placed in a holding cell but after reviewing the video tape given to him by the pilot the warden had decided to move him to a solitary cell in the maximum security wing known as D-unit. It was also home to some of the most infamous and deadly criminals as they awaited their executions.

His intake had gone down on record as one of the most brutal in history. It had taken eight of the strongest guards plus the warden himself to strip search and restrain the thief after he’d escaped handcuffs twice. One of the guards now sported a broken nose and two others had black eyes. The room looked as though a cyclone had blown through.

Had the situation not been one of the worst he’d gotten himself into, Bakura would have laughed proudly. He had driven so much terror into the hearts of the prison guards and even the warden so as to be held on Death Row. Unfortunately however, this did not leave him a lot of opportunity. Though he could hear the chatter of the felons around him he could not see them through the concrete walls of his seven by five foot cell. If he could catch the attention of one of the guards he could use his shadow powers, severely impaired with the lack of the Millennium Ring, to at least frighten them into submission. Regrettably though, no one had passed the reinforced steel bars of his prison since he’d been placed there. It became painfully apparent that there was only one option left to him.

//Ryou.//

It took a few moments for a response to reach him. /Hey, Bakura. Are you alright?/

//No, hikari, I’m not.//

Worry and concern were apparent in the reply. /Oh, gods, what happened?/

//I wasn’t able to get away.//

/You’re here? Where? At the Kaiba estate?/

//No, I’m still in Tokyo. I was caught by the police and taken to prison.//

/…/

//Ryou?//

/Bakura…oh gods…/

The thief leaned back against the freezing wall. //Don’t lose it, Ryou.//

/I’ll try. What’s going to happen?/

//Not sure. They said on the way here that they are charging me with three counts of murder, robbery, and identity theft.//

/…murder?/

//Yes. And before you ask, yes, I am guilty.//

/…/

Bakura rolled his eyes. There wasn’t time enough for this bullshit. //Look, I need your help. I can’t get out of here on my own.//

/You want my help? What can I do?/

//Bring the Ring to me. I can take care of the rest.//

/…Bakura, I can’t./

//What do you mean, you can’t?//

/What would I tell Yami?/

Irritation caused the thief’s skin to crawl. //I really don’t give a shit what you tell him. This isn’t his business anyway.//

/What about Yugi?/

//Ryou, I’m not asking you to bring Yugi.//

/That’s not what I meant. He’s my friend, yami. I don’t think he’d appreciate it if I went and gave you the key to unlocking your shadow powers./
//So you’re saying that I’m on my own then?//


/…no. Damn you, Bakura. Why do you keep putting me in the middle of this?/

//Don’t make this about you, Ryou. All I want is to get out of here and find Marik.//

/I’m not saying I’ll give you what you want,/ Ryou relented. /But I will talk to Yami and Yugi and see what I CAN do./

Bakura decided to let it go…for the time being. //Alright, hikari.//

/I’ll go talk to them now and get back to you in a little while. And Bakura?/

//Yes?//

/Please don’t do anything to get into more trouble./

//I can’t promise that. If I see my opportunity I’m taking it.//


Ryou leaned against the counter in the bathroom, his knees threatening to give out. Bakura had closed off his side of the link, leaving the teen to his own thoughts. He didn’t know what to do. All he knew for certain was that Yami was not going to be happy with this new crisis.

In all honesty, he wasn’t worried about Bakura. He was worried for anyone who came in contact with him. His yami wasn’t accustomed to the latest forms of prison decorum and regulations.

That brought about a new set of questions. All Bakura wanted was out. Ryou could give him that and potentially save a lot of lives. But if left in prison the thief would likely harm a number of people and be sentenced accordingly.

He had only one option. He had to talk to Yami. The pharaoh would give him sound advice regardless of his personal feelings. Besides, he couldn’t keep another secret from his boyfriend. He didn’t want a relationship based on lies and deceit. Not to mention the fact that if Yami found out there wouldn’t be a relationship to speak of.

There was also another person he needed to talk to. Doing his best to strengthen his resolve he opened the door and returned to Yugi’s room. “Sorry,” he apologized.

Yugi looked up from the stack of CD’s on his bed. “It’s okay. What’d he have to say?”

Ryou sat down across from his friend. “Yugi, I need to tell you something but you have to promise to give me your honest opinion.”

The smaller teen narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like the sound of this.”

“Please,” Ryou pressed.

Yugi nodded. “Okay, I promise. What’s up?”

Ryou kept his eyes on the plaid comforter. “Bakura’s been caught by the police in Tokyo. They’re charging him with murder among other things. He contacted me to ask me to bring him the Millennium Ring so he can escape, find Marik, and get as far away as possible.”

Yugi’s expression was unreadable. “Are you going to do it?”

Ryou sighed. “I don’t know.”

The small duelist was quiet for a long moment. “Do it,” he said finally. “But I want to go with you.”

“Out of the question,” Yami said from the doorway. “I won’t let you put yourself in danger, Yugi.”

“I really don’t think he’s going to do much to be behind bars, Yami,” Yugi stated. “And thanks for knocking.”

Yami stepped into the room and moved to stand behind Ryou. “I’m sorry.”

Ryou reached out and took the pharaoh’s hand. “Yami, Yugi, I really want to know your opinions on this.”

Yugi was first to speak. “I say go. I know you would do the same for anyone else.”

Ryou turned to his boyfriend. “And you?”

The spirit sighed. “Go. You’re better off getting him out of there before he murders the entire staff one by one. But Yugi is not going with you. I am.”

Ryou shook his head. “Neither of you are going. I have to do this alone. Right now he needs my help and he isn’t going to get it until he answers a few of my questions. He won’t do that with either of you there.”

Yami’s eyes widened slightly. He had a pretty good idea of what Ryou’s questions were. “Ryou, wait. I don’t think you should go alone.”

“I’m going,” the pale teen insisted. “I won’t be long.” He stood up and kissed Yami on the cheek before leaving the room to make a few phone calls.

Yami and Yugi exchanged a glance. Neither liked the fact that their friend was going to face the evil that had struck their lives. But both knew there was nothing that could change his mind.


Malik and Marik sat side by side in First Class for their flight back home. Malik should have known that his dark would not go quietly. So far he’d banished about thirteen people.

“Are you still in Ryou’s good graces?” the yami asked.

Malik looked up. “I suppose so. Why?”

“When we get back we’re going to his house. He’ll get in touch with Bakura and find out where he’s at.”

The blonde almost laughed. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Ryou’s staying with the pharaoh. There’s no way you’re getting in there.”

“Then you’ll go. I’ll go persuade Kaiba to let him go.”

“No, Marik,” Malik said. “Let me talk to Ryou and find out what’s going on first.”

“Then I’m going with you.”

The teen rolled his eyes. “Fine, whatever.”


Tristan sat alone at a table for one at Kaiba’s favorite restaurant, trying to make sense of the unexplainable. Kenji and Li had conspired to get him out of the house for a couple of hours. Li was spending the evening with Mokuba and Kenji had assigned himself to the task of trailing the elder of the brothers. Both had insisted that he needed a break and neither would not take no for an answer.

Nearly two hours had gone by and all he’d accomplished was to make a list of the things he needed to do in the next week. Seto and Mokuba’s doctor visits, a meeting with Mokuba’s principal, and that damned interview with Seto’s public relations director.

He had received a voice mail from his mother as well. The school had called and warned her that if he missed seven more days of school he’d be considered a drop out and not be eligible to graduate. Of course he couldn’t leave the Kaiba brothers. He’d have to work something out later on…if he survived that long.

It was all he could do to endure Kaiba’s violent temper. Even in the beginning he’d known of his boyfriend’s brutal tendencies but he’d never seen the CEO act on them until now. Maybe it was due in part to the amount he’d been drinking since the incident. Kaiba wasn’t aware that Tristan knew, but the brunette wasn’t stupid.

Then there was the matter of Mokuba. It was painfully obvious that the youth harbored a growing sense of distrust and even fear toward his brother in the way that he wouldn’t spend any amount of time alone with him, always insisting on Kenji, Li, or Tristan to be present. It was truly heartbreaking for Tristan to see.

He was halfway through his third macchiato and no closer to making sense of the puzzle his life had become when his phone rang. He pulled it out of the pocket of his trench coat and looked at the display. Seto. He pressed the answer button.

“Hello?”

“Hi baby. Where are you?”

Tristan picked up his straw and stirred his drink. “Café Haaland. Where are you?”

“Just leaving the office. Do you mind if I join you?”

Tristan smiled in spite of the route his thoughts had been traveling. It had been a long time since Kaiba had met him after work. “No, I don’t mind.”

“I’ll be there in about five minutes. I love you.”

“Love you, too.” He hung up the phone and sat back, taking another sip of his drink.

True to his word, Kaiba pulled up just under five minutes later. He stepped out of his silver Porsche, aptly named KAIBA1, and walked the short distance to his boyfriend, leaning down to give him a kiss before sitting across from him at the small table. “You look tired,” he noted gently.

“I am,” Tristan replied. He reached up and brushed Kaiba’s bandages with his fingertips. “You need to change them,” he said. “You’ve been bleeding again.”

Kaiba grimaced. “Damn it.” He hated showing weakness. Especially now when everyone knew he was at his lowest. Oh well. He turned back to Tristan. “Why aren’t you at home with Mokuba?”

“Kenji and Li decided that I should go out for awhile. She’s with him.”

The CEO nodded. “Where’s Kenji?”

Tristan almost smiled. “Probably out on an errand or something.” He brought his cup to his lips and finished the rest of his drink.

Kaiba looked critically at his boyfriend. “How are you doing, baby?” he asked.

Tristan shrugged. “I’ve been better. Been a lot worse though.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“I don’t think so. I’m just worried.”

Kaiba slid his chair so it was directly in front of the brunette, their knees pressing together. “What are you worried about?”

Tristan lowered his eyes to their hands, now linked. “Everything,” he admitted. “Hoping Mokuba will be alright, that Yugi will forgive me for not being there for him through all of this, that my best friend will still be there for me.” He stopped, looking into that single cerulean eye. “And I’m worried about you, Seto. About us.”

Kaiba shook his head. “Don’t worry about me, Tris. I’m alright.”

Tristan shook his head. “And us?”

“Do you really think I’m going to let you go?” Kaiba asked.

“It’s not as easy as that anymore. Things are different. YOU’RE different.”

The millionaire nodded. “I know, baby. I know I haven’t been the easiest person to be around lately.”

The brunette couldn’t disagree. “I know you’re having a hard time, Seto,” he relented. “I just wish you’d let me in.”

“What do you want to know that I haven’t already told you?” Kaiba asked.

Tristan again met the CEO’s gaze. “I want to know what’s going on in your head! What were you thinking when you agreed to help Bakura? How do you plan to help Mokuba? And what the hell did you hope to accomplish by killing yourself?”

Kaiba held up his hands. “Come on now, we talked about that. I’d been drinking.”

“How many drinks did you have last night, Seto?”

The millionaire paused. “What are you getting at?”

Tristan shook his head and leaned forward, pulling his lover into a comforting embrace. “Nothing. I just worry about you. I don’t want to see you like that again.”

Kaiba slid his arms around Tristan’s waist, resting his head on the brunette’s shoulder. “You won’t,” he said. “As long as you are by my side I’ll never sink that low again.”

But what if I’m not, Tristan thought sadly.
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So it's come to this. I'd like to end this chapter on just one note. I've already begun work on Ch.27 and in it you find out just what happened in the past between Bakura and Yami. Please R&R!!