The Path of Vengeance

“I can’t say I approve of this,” Mr. Bakura said, lifting a strand of Ryou’s hair. He gave his son a critical once-over. “You’ve lost weight,” he commented. “What’s been going on?”
Ryou tried hard not to fidget under his father’s intense stare. “I was sick,” he said. It was the first thing that came to mind.
Mr. Bakura nodded. “I suppose that’s why you’ve missed so much school?”
The teen closed his eyes briefly. “Yes,” he lied. “But I’m feeling better now.”
“Then perhaps you can tell me what happened to the guest room?”
Ryou winced involuntarily. He’d gone straight home after checking on Yami and had been asleep less than an hour when his father had come into his room, waking him. The disorientation still had not worn off. “I’m sorry,” he stammered. “I thought it would look good. I’ll change it back.”
“Indeed you will. Now get dressed, you’ve got school this morning.” He kissed his son on the cheek and left the room.
With an audible groan Ryou got out of bed. He dismissed the idea of a shower, instead pulling on his school uniform. He gathered his books and carried them downstairs. He only hoped his father would not ask why he wasn’t carrying his book bag since it had been left at Yugi’s house when he’d gone to Tokyo to get Bakura. He had just set his things on the kitchen table when the phone rang. He was about to pick it up but his father beat him to it.
“Hello…yes, he is here, who is this?” A pause. “Ryou, it’s for you…Duke Devlin?”
Ryou’s eyes widened as he took the receiver. “Duke? What’s going on?”
“Ryou, something is wrong with Yami. I’m on my way to Yugi’s house but I need you to go to my place right away.”
“What happened?”
“Yami felt someone using the Millennium Puzzle and thinks it was Bakura.”
“Oh Gods…”
“Joey’s there with him now but he won’t calm down.”
Ryou glanced at his father who was watching him curiously. “Okay, Duke. I’ll see you in school.”
“What?”
“Goodbye.” He hung up the phone and picked up his books. “I’ll see you tonight, Dad.”
Mr. Bakura’s eyebrow rose. “What about your breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry,” Ryou answered. “I want to get to school early so I can get my make-up work.”
“Very well. I’ll expect you after school.”
Ryou made a hasty exit. Utilizing all of his self-restraint he walked at a leisurely pace until his house was out of sight before breaking into a dead run to Duke’s apartment and banging on the door. “Joey! It’s Ryou!”
A strained reply came back. “Ryou! The key is under the mat!”
The teen found the key and unlocked the door. His eyes widened to see Yami lying on the floor, Joey atop him, pinning his arms down. He dropped his books and rushed inside. “Yami!” he cried. The pharaoh didn’t reply, just continued his struggle. “Joey, let him up.”
Joey shook his head. “He’s already punched me twice. He’s going to wreck his hand even worse.”
Ryou knelt down next to the pharaoh. “Yami?”
Yami’s eyes shot open. “Ryou…?”
“Let him up, Joey.”
Joey took a deep breath and slowly loosened his grip on the bronze arms. When they didn’t move he shifted his weight and sat down on the floor next to the pair.
Ryou brushed a sweat-soaked blonde strand from his boyfriend’s eyes. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“I’m so sorry,” Yami whispered, ignoring the question.
“I know.”
“No. I mean it. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you.”
Ryou took one of Yami’s hands in his, squeezing it gently. “Yami, what’s going on?”
“My puzzle…someone used its shadow power this morning.”
“Has anyone called Yugi?”
“Duke tried a little while ago,” Joey explained. “But there was no answer. He’s on his way over there now.”
Ryou nodded. “Give me one minute,” he said.
/Bakura? What’s going on over there?/
//Yugi’s trying to convince Devlin that I didn’t try to steal the Millennium Puzzle.//
/Yami says that its power was used this morning?/
//Yes. Mokuba came over this morning. Yugi wanted to help him get his hearing back. He didn’t want to try it himself so I did it for him.//
/You…helped Mokuba?/
//Your faith in me is…expected.//
/I don’t know what to say…/
//Then don’t say anything. I’ve got to go, Marik’s getting pissed.//
/Okay. I’ll be over there later this evening./
Ryou focused his attention back to Yami. “It’s okay,” he said. “Bakura used the puzzle to restore Mokuba’s hearing.”
Both Joey and the former pharaoh visibly started. “What?” they said in unison.
The teen nodded. “Everything is fine.”
“Bakura? He helped someone?” Joey stammered.
“Yes, Joey,” Ryou replied. He glanced at the clock above the television. “I’ve got to go,” he said. “I’m going to be late for school.”
“You’re going to school?” the blonde questioned.
Ryou nodded. “My father came back early this morning. It…didn’t go well. He looked in what used to be the guest room and saw all of Bakura’s things. Plus he knows that I haven’t been at school since this all started.”
Yami’s eyes widened. “Is he angry?”
“Yes. I think I’m in for quite a lecture tonight when I get home.”
“I’m going too,” Yami announced, sitting up.
“No, you’re not,” Joey said.
“If Mr. Bakura was notified about Ryou’s absence then it stands to reason that Yugi’s grandfather will be as well, if he hasn’t been already.”
Ryou’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought of that.”
“What are you going to say?” Joey asked.
“I’ll do what I have to to make sure that Yugi’s anonymity is in tact.”
“Alright. Let’s go, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“I’ll go with you,” Joey said. “Just let me get changed.”


“So do you think he’ll be able to pull it off?” Malik asked.
Bakura shrugged from his seat on the kitchen counter. “I’ve seen stranger things happen.”
“Crazy shit,” the teen remarked, taking the last bite of his bagel and brushing the crumbs off of the table onto the floor. He made the move to stand up but the tomb robber’s voice held him in his seat.
“So Malik…what’s going on between you and Yugi?”
“What do you mean?” Malik asked suspiciously.
“Even if Marik hadn’t told me some of the shit that’s running through your head any idiot could see there’s something between you two.”
/Goddammit Marik, you have a big fucking mouth./ “It’s no big deal.”
Bakura studied the teen. “So you keep saying.”
“Don’t you have other things to worry about right now?”
“Quit avoiding the question.”
“Why the fuck do you care?”
Interesting reaction. “Are you sleeping with him?”
“Gods, you sound just like Marik. No, I’m not sleeping with him. And even if I was it’s none of your business. Or yours, Marik,” he yelled toward the hallway.
“Hey, it’s not as though I care who you fuck,” Bakura explained. “And if you ask me you could do a lot worse.”
Malik shook his head. “Don’t worry about me.” He got up and went into Yugi’s room, walking right to the stereo and turning it on at a volume usually reserved for dance clubs.
Yugi stood up from his spot on the bed and raised a questioning eyebrow. “Are you okay?” he practically yelled.
Instead of replying Malik stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the teen possessively, claiming his lips in a deep, sultry kiss. Yugi’s small whimpers pushed him on and he tightened his hold, pressing their bodies together. Finally he pulled back.
“Wh-what was that for?” Yugi asked, his breath shallow and uneven.
“Because I fucking can,” Malik answered.

Yami sat uncomfortably in the chair in front of the principal’s desk doing his best to concentrate both on what the man was saying and keeping his mannerisms as Yugi-like as possible. Rather than go right to Yugi’s first class of the day he had gone directly to the administration office to try to smooth things over for his light. The principal was very glad to see him and quick to express his concern at Yugi’s long absence. The pharaoh’s first instinct had been to tell the man that “Yugi” had been sick. But the cast on his wrist told another story entirely. In the end it seemed more plausible that a nasty fall from a ladder in the game shop was the reason for the prolonged absence.
“We tried to contact your grandfather at the number he left for us but we were informed that he was on location and unreachable by telephone,” the man said.
Yami nodded. “It’s not uncommon,” he tried to explain. “I attempted to contact him myself to let him know what was happening but I wasn’t able to get him either. I did speak with him earlier this week though,” the pharaoh lied. “He knows that I had an accident and that I was planning to return to school today.”
“Excellent,” the principal replied. “Here is a note excusing you for being tardy this morning. Give this to your homeroom teacher. And welcome back.”
“Thank you,” Yami said, rising to his feet. He took the slip of paper and left the office.
“How’d it go?” Joey asked when the spirit stepped into the hallway.
“He believed me,” Yami replied. “I guess that’s something.”
“Good. Guess it’s my turn. I’ll see you in second period. Yugi and I have Math together. Your seat is the last one in the second row.”
“I really appreciate this, Joey.”
The blonde shrugged. “At least we only have one more week before summer vacation. See you later.”
Yami watched the door close behind his friend before setting off toward Yugi’s homeroom class. This was the absolute last thing he needed but it gave him a chance to do something, anything for Yugi. When he got to the classroom door he took a deep breath before stepping inside.
“Yugi. Welcome back,” Miss Tokugawa said when she saw him enter.
Near the front of the class a brunette’s head shot up. “Yugi?” she said aloud, startled.
Yami’s eyes snapped to the source of the voice. “Tea.”
Tea blinked. What was going on? She had been in lust with Yami long enough to know the former pharaoh’s voice when she heard it.
“Take your seat, Yugi. We’re taking this time to read out of our textbooks. Chapters twenty-two through twenty-four”.”
Yami met Tea’s gaze again, this time his eyes questioning.
Tea nodded slightly in understanding and nonchalantly pointed at the seat next to her, indicating Yugi’s usual place.
“Miss Gardner, please take a few moments to catch Yugi up on the assignment.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the girl replied. She scooted her desk over so that it was flush with Yami’s and placed the open textbook between them. “What’s going on?” she whispered.
“I’m taking Yugi’s place so that his grandfather doesn’t get called due to his absence from school the past several weeks.”
“What happened to your hand?”
Yami sighed. “It was my own idiocy,” he said. “My wrist is broken.”
The brunette winced. “Does it hurt?”
“Like you wouldn’t believe.”
Tea nodded. “How is Yugi?”
Yami shrugged. “He and I aren’t speaking,” he replied honestly.
“Not speaking? What happened?” She turned a page in the textbook for the benefit of the teacher.
“I really don’t want to get into great detail,” the spirit answered. “But I am no longer welcome in his home.”
“What?”
“It really is for the best, Tea,” Yami said, trying to gloss over the less than glamorous details. “He does not need me around him constantly. He is not alone at the house.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“Are you staying with Ryou?”
“Um, no,” Yami stammered. “I’m staying with Duke.”
Another page turned. “Something else happened, right?” she asked. Yami nodded. “Are you okay?”
“Not really,” the pharaoh admitted. “But as long as Yugi is happy that’s all that matters.”
Tea was silent for a long moment. “Meet me at lunch by the bike racks,” she said suddenly.
“Alright,” Yami replied.
“Now here’s what we’ve been doing…” She pulled out her notes on the assignment and began explaining the information to the spirit.


By the time lunch came around Yami was certain that he would not make it through the end of the day, let alone the entire week. It made him wish he’d paid at least some attention when Yugi was in school while they shared his physical form. While he could read the words in the textbooks he didn’t understand half of them. And mathematics might as well have been written by a two year-old. It would be a miracle if Yugi didn’t flunk every subject because of him.
“Hi,” came a voice from behind him.
Yami spun around to see Ryou watching him, a sad look in the teen’s deep brown eyes. “Hello.”
“You look tired.”
The spirit nodded. “This isn’t as easy as I’d hoped.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.”
Ryou took a step forward. “Do you want me because I remind you of Bakura?”
Yami’s eyes widened. “What…?”
“Please…just answer the question.”
Rather than blurt out the first answer that came to mind…a resounding NO…Yami took a moment to think it over. “I thought for a very long time that I was in love with the tomb robber,” he said. “He was everything I thought I wanted. But all the time I spent imprisoned in the Millennium Puzzle forced me to see myself for who I really was. I didn’t like what I saw. I grew up with every advantage and that was my downfall. I was spoiled. I was told from a very young age that as pharaoh everything I wanted would be mine. That I would have life or death control over my father’s kingdom and beyond. I had never been denied anything. Until Bakura. I handled it the same way I had seen my father handle countless insubordinates. I didn’t know any different. Did I love Bakura? I guess I did in a way. But what I came to realize since my imprisonment was that what I thought I wanted in a lover I really wanted for myself. Freedom. It’s ironic I suppose that what I killed for was denied to me even in my afterlife.” He paused, taking a deep breath. “Ryou, I love you for who you are. I would have loved you even if Bakura wasn’t your yami.”
Another step and the distance was closed between them as Ryou pulled Yami to him and held on as though his life depended on it. “I’m so sorry,” he managed as the tears began to fall. “I didn’t know what to think after Bakura told me what happened. Gods, I’ve missed you so much…”
“You have no idea,” Yami whispered, thoroughly immersed in the sensation of once again having Ryou in his arms. “I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you.”
“You just told me all I needed to hear.”
Words were no longer necessary as the pair clung to each other, neither of them noticing the curious glances that came from several other students. After several moments Yami broke the silence. “I’m supposed to meet Tea.”
“Me too,” Ryou stated. “She left a note in my locker saying to meet her by the bike racks. We should probably go before she thinks we’re not coming.” At Yami’s nod, he took his boyfriend’s hand and led the way to where both Tea and Joey were waiting.
“It’s about time!” the brunette announced. “I thought you guys had gotten held after class or something.”
“No, thank the Gods,” Yami replied.
“What’s this all about, Tea?” Ryou asked.
The girl leaned in and lowered her voice to avoid being overheard. “Joey told me about Yugi and Malik,” she revealed. Yami groaned at the mention of the tomb keeper. “This isn’t like Yugi,” she went on.
“So what?” Joey cut in. “We already know that.”
“So I called Isis. She had no idea that Marik was gone and that Malik was into Yugi. She’s going to go to Yugi’s house tonight and talk to him. If anyone can keep him away from Yugi, it’s her.”
Ryou spoke up. “I’m not saying that Yugi and Malik shouldn’t see each other. I want to make that clear right now. But I do agree that having him there all the time isn’t healthy for Yugi. He won’t go to any of his appointments and for all I know hasn’t been taking his medications.”
“Do you think Isis will get him to leave?” Joey asked.
“I don’t know,” Tea replied honestly. “But it’s worth a chance. I’m going to go over there with her and try to talk to Yugi.”
“Just don’t tell him not to see Malik,” Ryou stated firmly. “He’s looking for someone who will understand what he’s feeling, not tell him what to do.”
“Someone has to,” Joey said bitterly.
“No. Trust me, that’s not going to help. It’ll only make things worse.”
“Yugi trusts you, Ryou. Can you go with them?”
The teen shook his head. “I’ll be lucky to be permitted to leave my room with my dad there.”
“How long is he back for?”
“I don’t know yet. I’ll find out tonight, I’m sure.”
Something in the pale teen’s voice didn’t sit right with Yami. He stared at his lover quizzically though before he could voice his unease Tea’s cell phone rang. He heard her pick up and he was quickly able to determine that she was speaking with Isis. His eyes though did not leave his boyfriend.
Ryou could feel the spirit’s penetrating gaze but kept his focus, such as it was, on Tea. “What did she say?” he questioned when the brunette hung up.
“She’s going to pick me up after school and we are going to go to Yugi’s house from here. Joey, do you want to come too?”
“Definitely,” he responded. “I’m not letting the two of you go by yourselves with Bakura and Marik there.”
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. “Okay, meet me out front after the last bell.”
Joey nodded. “Come on, Ryou, we’re going to be late for Science.”
“I’ll try to call you later tonight,” Ryou said, squeezing Yami’s hand.
The pharaoh nodded. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”


“Well, if it isn’t Mokuba Kaiba.”
“Hello, Pegasus,” the boy replied. He waited a moment. “May I come in?”
Pegasus took a step back with a small laugh. “Where are my manners? Of course you may.” He closed the door behind the younger Kaiba and led the way to a spacious seating area. “Please,” he said, gesturing to the room’s many available seats.
Mokuba sat down on a rather ostentatious cream-colored chaise lounge, his posture and mannerisms exuding the power he’d seen his brother use as long as he could remember. “I’m sorry for barging in on you like this,” he said.
The man lowered himself into a high-backed chair and crossed his legs, lifting his wine glass from the table that now separated the pair. “I’ll admit that I’m a bit surprised to see you here. What can I do for you?”
“I need help,” he said bluntly. “And all of the information I’ve gathered says that you are the one that can do it.”
A pause. “Do what exactly?”
“Is it true that you discovered a way to bring your wife back from the dead using the Millennium Items and my brother’s technology?”
Pegasus very nearly choked on his drink. “Where did you hear that?” he asked once he was able to breathe again.
“That’s irrelevant,” Mokuba replied, channeling his inner Kaiba. “Is it true or not? Because if it isn’t, I’m wasting my time.”
“You sound like your brother,” the older man commented. He took a sip of his wine. “But to answer your question, yes, it is true.”
“Why didn’t you do it then?” he asked.
“Well, obviously I did not obtain all of the relics necessary.”
“All of the relics necessary?” Mokuba repeated.
Pegasus nodded. “The most important is the Puzzle. If you have the puzzle and strong enough shadow power nearly anything is possible.”
It made sense. After all, it had just restored his hearing. “So you’re saying that if you had the Puzzle you could bring her back?”
Laughter erupted from the man. “Hardly. I have nowhere near the shadow power. It would take all seven items for me to accomplish it on my own.”
“What if there was someone who had that kind of power. Could he or she do it?”
“If he or she knew how, then yes.”
“And you know how…”
“Of course I do.” Pegasus stared curiously at his young guest. “Forgive me, Mokuba, but I still fail to see where you require my assistance.”
“You know of my brother, Noa.” Pegasus nodded. “Is it possible to use the same ritual to bring him back like you would your wife?”
“Hmm…” he sat back in his seat. Several moments passed.
“Well?”
“I believe so,” he replied. “I can’t see why it wouldn’t. His physical form is deceased. His brain lives though, is that correct?”
“Yes. His body is in suspended animation.”
“You would have to pull his plug. Kill him completely before he could be brought back.”
“And using my brother’s technology you would give him physical form?”
“That’s the basic idea,” Pegasus replied.
“Very well,” Mokuba said. “Here’s what I propose. If I bring you the puzzle and someone with the power you need to help you with the ritual will you bring Noa back when you revive your wife?”
The man’s eyes widened. “You would…do this for me?”
“No,” the boy snapped. “I’m doing it for me.”
“Of course,” Pegasus replied, instantly contrite and not wanting the boy to change his mind. “Does your brother know about this?”
Mokuba shook his head. “And he’s not going to. So we’re going to have to be quick in the labs.”
Pegasus took a business card from his breast pocket and handed it over. “This is my private cell phone number. When you have everything in place call that number and I can be ready…day or night.”
“I’ll get back to you later today,” Mokuba replied, rising to his feet. “I can let myself out.”
Maximillian Pegasus watched the boy leave before turning his gaze to the portrait of Cecelia hanging over the fireplace mantle. A grin slowly graced his features.


The end credits of the movie rolled slowly across the screen, a forgotten remote tumbled carelessly to the floor. Yugi lay on his back on the sofa, Malik on top of him, pressing their bodies together as their tongues dueled together, much as they had been for the past forty-five minutes. Both teens were slick with perspiration, clinging to one another as their hands explored, seeking out bare flesh beneath damp t-shirts. Small whimpers had long since given way to deep moans of encouragement and appreciation.
The afternoon had started innocently enough. Marik and Bakura had left to go to the store leaving Malik and Yugi by themselves. Malik suggested the movie and the pair had retreated to the couch. Despite his suggestion, Malik soon grew bored. He reached over and poked Yugi in the side before snapping back into place, feigning innocence. Yugi poked him back. In retaliation Malik had tackled him, forcing him to lie back as he was mercilessly tickled. What he hadn’t counted on was the effect that Yugi’s wriggling would have on him. What started out as playful had quickly evolved into sensual.
The air was thick with sexual tension. He’d never known a lover as responsive to his touch as the small duelist writhing beneath him. The moans and whispers softly escaping the teen’s lips were driving him mad. He pressed his hips forward, grinding their fabric-covered erections together and causing Yugi to gasp in surprise at the sudden wave of pleasure that shot through him. Malik brought his legs up, supporting the majority of his weight on his knees as one hand moved lower, passing beneath the waistband of Yugi’s gray boxer shorts.
“Malik,” the teen whimpered.
“Relax,” Malik replied, his fingers brushing idly through the wiry hair between Yugi’s thighs.
Yugi’s small hands folded into fists in the white fabric covering the Egyptian’s chest. He’d never have even guessed that his body was capable of such pleasure. “Malik,” he said again.
“It’s okay, Yugi,” the Egyptian whispered. He covered Yugi’s lips with his own as his hand closed around the teen’s throbbing erection. Their kiss was broken as Yugi’s body jerked involuntarily, his head thrown back as he inhaled sharply. “Shh,” Malik soothed as his hand tightened around the taut flesh and began a slow rhythmic motion. He could feel the muscles in the teen’s legs tighten beneath him and lowered his mouth to the smooth skin of Yugi’s neck, breathing in his scent before attaching his lips and applying gentle suction.
Yugi’s hips rocked gently in time with Malik’s attentions, one hand holding tightly onto his lover’s back, the other at the base of the Egyptian’s neck. “Gods,” he breathed. “Malik…”
The bronzed teen pulled his head back slightly. “What, Yugi?” he asked, his voice low and laced with passion.
“Please,” came the strained reply. “I can’t…”
A smile formed on Malik’s face, luckily hidden from Yugi’s view lest it be mistaken for an insult. “Don’t then,” he replied. The generous amount of precum served as lubricant, allowing Malik to increase his movements. A few seconds later he felt Yugi tense beneath him before the liquid warmth washed over his hand.
“Malik,” Yugi managed. “Shit…” White specks clouded his vision and he squeezed his eyes shut. It was the most powerful orgasm of his life. His jaw clenched as Malik’s hand tightened even further, drawing every last bit from within him. When it was over his entire body relaxed and he struggled to catch his breath. A small smile played upon his lips as the tomb keeper placed a small kiss on his forehead, brushing away the sweaty strands of hair that had fallen in his eyes.
Malik pulled his hand free and reached down to the floor, wiping his hand on the discarded blanket before sliding it beneath Yugi and kissing him deeply. After several moments he pulled back and gazed into violet eyes. “Are you okay?” he whispered.
Yugi looked back at him through half-closed eyelids. “Wow…” he responded.
Malik chuckled, pulling himself into a seated position at Yugi’s feet. He ran his hands through his hair, expelling a lungful of air.
The smaller teen sat up as well, somewhat embarrassed by the dampness seeping through the front of his shorts. His eyes lingered on the bulge between Malik’s legs. He glanced at the teen uncertainly. “Can I?” he asked.
Malik smiled. “You really have to ask?”
“I, um…I’ve never…”
“It’s okay,” the teen assured him. He lifted his hips and lowered his shorts, revealing his length.
Yugi shifted closer. He reached out tentatively.
Malik took Yugi’s hand in his own, bringing it slowly to his erection, closing their hands around it. He kept his hand over Yugi’s and slowly drew it up and down, his eyes falling closed at the most welcome contact. “Just be gentle,” he instructed, removing his hand.
Yugi continued the pace, his eyes taking in the sight with wonderment. “Is this okay?” he asked.
“Mmmhmm,” Malik murmured. “Don’t stop.” He rested his hand on Yugi’s knee, squeezing it reassuringly. “Mmm…a little faster…”
The words of encouragement built Yugi’s confidence and he leaned forward, allowing him to honor his lover’s request. He squeezed a little tighter as well, drawing a low groan from the Egyptian’s lips.
“Gods, yes…keep doing that.” Malik thrust his hips upward. “Fuck yes…faster…oh gods…yes…shit, I’m gonna cum soon…”
Yugi bit his lip. He loved the sound of Malik’s voice. The hand on his knee gripped tightly.
A piercing groan escaped the tomb keeper. “Gonna…fucking…come,” he growled. “Don’t stop…”
The smaller teen watched in fascination as the thick ropes came forth, coating both his hand and the small of Malik’s stomach. “Gods…” he whispered. When his lover was completely spent he ceased his movement. “Was…was that okay?” he asked uncertainly.
“Oh yeah,” Malik replied. He pulled the soiled blanket from the floor and opened his arms, pleased when Yugi didn’t hesitate to accept his invitation. He covered them both and released a contented sigh.

A/N And there we have it, Chapter 33. If you enjoyed lemme know and thanks for reading :)