Touch The Stars

Touch the Stars

Hato chiisai

Disclaimer: No own.

YAOI WARNING

Pharaoh- Marik- telekinetic

Emperor- Bakura- telepath

King- Yami- teleporter

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Chapter 8

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Malik followed his brother into his room after the final meeting of the day. Silently, they both moved across the room to the Nest in the corner, gazing at the sleeping boy curled up inside. Malik smiled at how peaceful the boy seemed, and gave Marik a pat on the shoulder, then turned to leave. Marik caught his little brother’s wrist, and pulled him into his chest for a hug, then let Malik go. Marik smiled after him. His brother was precious to him. But so was the little one sleeping in the Nest before him; And Marik didn’t know why.

“What do you want?” Marik jumped, startled, and looked down at the Assyrian Prince, who was staring at him with large, frightened eyes.

“Oh… I’m sorry…. Nothing, I just… Um, nevermind….” Marik mumbled, and turned and moved across the room. Ryou lifted his head slightly and watched as Marik began to undress. Ryou blushed, and was about to look away, when Marik’s bare back was revealed. Ryou’s eyes widened. What were all of those markings on Marik’s back? There were so many….

Marik finally stood there naked, then pulled on a pair of simple pants, and climbed into bed. Ryou slowly sat up.

“The bathroom is in there.” Marik called, suddenly, pointing to a pair of double doors. “And there’s water and fruit by your nest if want them.” Ryou peered over the edge of the nest, and spotted the jug of water and bowl of fruits.

“Why?” Marik opened his eyes at the soft voice, and rolled over, looking at Ryou.

“Why what, Prince?” He asked.

“Why are you, why this…. Why?” Ryou said, quietly, clutching a blanket close around him. Marik sat up and moved over to Ryou, sitting on the edge of the nest. But forgetting that it was a bowl shape, he yelped and toppled in backwards, landing in Ryou’s lap. Ryou blinked at the Pharaoh.

“Oof…. Sorry….” Marik muttered, and tried to get up, but found it difficult, so he settled for sitting in the nest across from Ryou, who had scooted away from him.

“Why….” Marik mused to himself. “Because I didn’t want you to be hurt.” Marik said, truthfully. “When Malik reported to me, I came immediately.” And he was satisfied that this too was the truth. “Please tell me that the Nerve Stimulator was the only thing you were subjected to. I know that my soldiers aren’t the most… kind men. They didn’t…. rape you…. did they?” Marik asked. Ryou stared at him, then slowly shook his head.

“No…” Ryou whispered. “They only touched me taking me to and from my cell…..” And he lowered his eyes to the blankets in his lap.

“I’m sorry.” Marik said. “I will see to it that you are treated accordingly.”

“Accordingly.”

“Fitting to your station. As a guest. Not a common prisoner.”

“But I am a prisoner.”

“Not a normal prisoner.” Marik said. “Prisoner or not, you are the Prince of a great people. And you shall be treated accordingly with your rank.”

“Then I would get my own room.” Ryou said, and Marik sighed.

“Yes… But there are many in this kingdom calling for your blood. After my own men disobeyed my orders, I won’t dare let you out of my sights. No, you will stay with me. It’s for your own safety, your highness.” And he inclined his head slightly. Ryou lowered his eyes, a light blush crossing his cheeks. It had suddenly struck him just how handsome Marik was. Everything the man did was very sensual, from the way his lips moved when he spoke, to how he looked at the boy before him, to the way he moved. Even the rise and fall of his chest as he breathed.

And Marik noticed Ryou’s blush, and felt his pulse jump. He swallowed and took a deep breath, then said, “If there is anything I can get you, let me know.”

“A transport home.” Ryou said, immediately, and fixed Marik in an intense gaze. “I want to go home. I… I want my brother.” Marik slowly lowered his eyes and shook his head.

“I will give you what I can to make your stay more comfortable, but you are still a prisoner.” Marik said, and climbed out of the bed. “And as long as your brother resists me, you will remain as such. Now I’m going to bed.” And he turned and strode across the room, climbing into his bed and closing his eyes.

Just as he was about to drift off, he heard a sniffle. He opened his eyes and slowly turned his head so that he could see the Assyrian Nest. There was another sniffle, followed by a quiet, muffled sob. Marik’s brow furrowed in his sorrow for the Assyrian Prince. But he closed his eyes and tuned out his captive, slowly drifting to sleep.

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Ryou was awoken in the morning by something cold and metallic closing around his throat. His eyes fluttered open and he gasped and jerked away from the dark face staring down at him.

“Who are you?! What do you want?!” He gasped, staring in fear at the tattoos that covered half of the stranger’s face.

“I am Rishido, Prince Ryou.” The man said in a deep, quiet voice, and bowed to Ryou. “I am Pharaoh Marik’s personal assistant.”

“His slave?”

“His assistant.” Rishido said again, and Ryou thought a moment, then reached up and touched the metal ring around his neck. “That is for your own protection. You cannot leave these chambers as long as you wear it. And for your own safety, you cannot leave these chambers. Pharaoh Marik and Prince Malik and Princess Ish—“

“Princess? What Princess?” Ryou asked.

“Marik and Malik’s elder sister.”

“Sister?”

“Yes. She is Marik’s High Advisor and sometimes Ambassador. She is Ishizu. But she, Marik, Malik and I will see to it that you will not be lonely.” Ryou said nothing. “Lady Ishizu also wants to meet with you as soon as you as she lands this evening.” Ryou remained silent. Rishido sighed, and stood. “I will leave you. I have other things to attend to.” And he bowed, and left Ryou alone in the Pharaoh’s chamber.

Ryou slowly climbed out of his Nest until his bare feet rested on the warm floor. He looked around Marik’s room, nervously, then slowly approached the glowing curtains that covered the windows. He gripped the light fabric and tore it aside, then leapt back with a yelp, covering his eyes, shielding them from the harsh light of the twin suns. After a moment, Ryou slowly lowered his arms and blinked into the light, slowly moving out onto the balcony so he could see the Imperial city of Egyptonia.

When his eyes adjusted, he was finally able to see the view. The city sprawled out around the Palace, noisy and busy. Hovercrafts moved through the streets, people and hoverscooters darting among them. At the edge, the Space Port was swarming with people and spacecrafts taking off and landing, many of them military crafts. He then turned his eyes to the landscape beyond the city, and saw nothing but dry, windy desert.

Soon, he turned away and closed the curtains, his eyes aching from the bright light. He longed for the dim, cool world of Assyria, always enveloped in clouds, the sun seldom seen. He longed for the constant gentle rain and the cool smell of the thick forests in which his people lived. But most of all, he longed for his brother…

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“You could have kept it down.” Bakura said when Yami and Seto appeared the next morning.

“Excuse me?” Seto asked, and Bakura turned and looked at the pair.

“You woke Prince Yugi and Prince Mokuba last night with your…. Antics.” Bakura said with a smirk, watching the two men flush. “They are in my room, sleeping.” Bakura said, and turned back to the window.

“Your room?” Yami asked, approaching Bakura. “Did you not sleep?”

“No.” Bakura said simply. “I can’t sleep.”

“You have to try.” Seto said.

“I have. I forced myself to sleep the night that…. well, I tried. And though I slept, I got no rest. No, I will sleep when Ryou…” He trailed off and swallowed the lump in his throat. “When Ryou is home safe.” He finished, and Yami and Seto looked at each other. Each having a younger brother themselves, and treasuring their brother more than anything, they could only imagine what Bakura was going through. Yami wisely decided not to mention the grisly nightmare he had been subjected to the night before.

“We’ll get him back for you, Bakura.” Seto said. “We swore we would. And we will.”

“Can we?” Bakura asked, suddenly. “If Marik feels threatened, he’ll kill him!” He whirled and fixed Yami and Seto with a penetrating gaze. “And if he kills him, I’ll…..” And he trailed off and turned his back on them, staring out the window again. Yami winced slightly as his mind was suddenly filled with the image of Bakura falling on his own sword in his dream. Yami’s heart lurched when Bakura finished his sentence. “If he kills him, I’ll die… He’s all I have left. My crown is nothing compared to him. He’s my brother. I can’t let him die…” Bakura let out a heavy sigh. “Maybe I will try to sleep.” And he turned and left the room, passing Mokuba and Yugi on his way, but his eyes did not see them.

“He isn’t doing very well, is he?” Jonouchi asked as he entered the room with Otogi.

“No. He isn’t.” Yugi said, shaking his head, looking after the Assyrian Emperor.

“Maybe…” Yami said, slowly. “We should make contact with Pharaoh Marik.”

“Not without Bakura.” Otogi said, and Seto agreed with a firm nod.

“We should all be there when we contact him.” Seto said. “For now, let Bakura sleep. He needs it.”

……………………..

Ryou let out an exhasperated cry and slammed his palms on the metal panel before him as he stared up at the screen. He frowned and his fingers flew over the keys again, as he tried to make contact with an Assyrian spacecraft. He hit the ENTER key and looked up, hopefully.

“DAMMIT!!” Ryou shouted, pounding his fist on the panel, as once again, the screen flashed some red writing in a language Ryou could not read.

“You need a password in Egyptonian.” A voice said, and Ryou jumped and screamed, then whirled and stared at Prince Malik, who was looking amused. “You don’t honestly think that my brother is dumb enough to let a prisoner get his hands on a way to communicate with his people, do you?” Ryou glared.

“Actually, I was surpised that your people, being as dumb as they are, has technology this advanced.” Ryou spat, and Malik’s smirk disappeared, considering that the system Ryou had been trying to use was a bit out of date; and Ryou knew it. Malik straightened up, and slowly walked towards Ryou.

“I would be careful about what I say in present company, Prince.” Malik said, dangerously. Ryou narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Well, I’m afraid that I don’t think much of my present company, PRINCE.” Ryou replied, stressing Malik’s title to remind him that they were of equal rank.

“Knock it off, I don’t want a catfight in my room.” Marik said as he strode in, and Malik glared.

“CAT fight?!” Malik said, and Marik grinned, ruffling his little brother’s hair, then looked at Ryou.

“And don’t bother wasting your time with that thing, you won’t get into the system.” He said, and Ryou scowled at him. Marik sighed and smiled slightly. “Don’t give me that look.” And he moved closer to Ryou, cupping his cheek. “It doesn’t become you at all.” Ryou’s eyes widened and he jerked away, raising his hand and swinging it at Marik. Marik blinked, and in a flash, Ryou’s wrists smacked into his palm, where Marik gripped it tightly. Ryou gasped and stared at Marik, wide-eyed as the Pharaoh gripped his wrist and glared at him.

“L-let go.” Ryou gasped, trying to jerk his arm out of Marik’s grasp.

“Then you will behave like a civilized man.”

“Let go of me.” Ryou growled, and Marik took a few steps forward, backing Ryou into the control panel.

“Stop acting like child. If I didn’t know that you were the Assyrian Prince, I wouldn’t believe it.” He snarled, and Malik smirked, seeing Ryou begin to tremble as he stared up at Marik with eyes that were growing wider. Marik growled under his breath and squeezed Ryou’s wrist, hard.

“A-AH!! LET GO!!” Ryou cried, wincing and trying to get away. Marik snorted and turned, dragging Ryou across the room. Malik watched Marik stalk by him, Ryou stumbling after, tripping over the long loose pants that were too big on him, all the while demanding that Marik release him. Malik grinned and flopped back into a chair knowing that things were about to get interesting. Marik shoved Ryou into a chair, and stood over him, glaring down at him. Ryou stared up, clutching his wrist to his chest.

“Now you listen…” Marik snarled, placing his hands on the arms of the chair, trapping Ryou where he was. “I am trying to be civilized. I am sorry that they hurt you, and I am trying to keep you from getting hurt again. But if you anger me, I will send you right back down to the dungeon! And you will return to that machine and be tortured for every scrap of information they can get from you!! Do you understand me?!” Marik glared deep into Ryou’s eyes, fire burning in his own… until he saw Ryou’s eyes begin to fill with tears. Marik blinked, and his angry expression disappeared. Ryou blinked, forcing the tears from his eyes, and they dripped down his cheeks. Marik’s eyes widened, and Malik frowned slightly, feeling that his brother was about to have a mood swing.

“No…” Marik said softly, and reached up wiping the tears from Ryou’s cheeks. “Don’t cry. You did enough of that last night.” Ryou blinked, and sniffled. Marik stood up and stepped back, offering Ryou his hand. “I’m sorry.” Ryou looked at Marik’s hand, but turned away, pulling his legs up to his chest.

“You see?” Malik snapped, standing and stalking over. “He offers you a friendly hand and you slap him in the face!! What kind of person are you?!” Ryou stiffened, nervously.

“Malik…” Marik said, putting a hand on his brother’s arm. “He’s scared.” Malik looked at his brother and sighed, shaking his head.

“You’re too soft on him.” Malik said with a frown, and Marik grunted.

“What do you want me to do?!” He asked, flinging his arms out. “I’m open to suggestions! Should I put him in some skimpy outfit and drag him around on a leash?! Do you want me to rape him? Publicly execute him and send a vid of it to his brother? Should I send him to our labs as a human guinea pig? Or should I just slap him around for while?! Come on, Malik, tell me!” Malik looked away and shifted.

“No, of course not… You just shouldn’t let him get away with stuff like that.”

“So what should I do?”

“Slap him.”

“Huh?” Marik said, caught off guard by the blunt, casual suggestion. Malik walked up to the chair and stared down at Ryou, who slowly looked up at him. In a blur of motion, Malik swung his hand out.

“MALIK!!” Marik yelped, and stared at Malik, holding his palm half an inch from, Ryou’s face. Ryou and Malik were staring at each other, Ryou looking ready to cry again, and Malik looking sympathetic. He lowered his hand.

“We’re trying to be nice to you.” Malik said. “The least you can do is be polite.”

“NICE?!” Ryou gasped, standing up.

“Yes, nice.” Malik said. “We could have left you naked and freezing in the dungeon and being subjected daily to the Nerve Stimulator. But we got you out. We bathed you, fed you, and Marik even got you a Nest to sleep in. I would consider that nice. Would your brother have done that for me if I had been taken prisoner instead of you?” Ryou stared, then lowered his face.

“Maybe not…” He said softly. “But I would have.”

“Whatever. But we are treating you well now.” Malik said, planting his hands on his hips and cocking his head.

“You think I care?” Ryou snapped. And Malik swung his hand again. And this time, he didn’t stop. Ryou yelped and stumbled to the side as Malik’s palm collided with his cheek.

“You ungrateful brat!” Malik shouted.

“I don’t want your pity!” Ryou screamed back. “I wanna go home!!!” And he turned and ran across the room, leaping into his Nest and pulling the thick comforter over himself as he began to sob. Marik glared at Malik and moved over to the Nest, kicking his shoes off and climbing in, reaching out and placing his hand on Ryou’s back. Ryou jerked and the little shaking lump under the blankets moved away. Malik snickered at the sight, and even Marik’s lips twitched. He moved closer.

“I know you want to go home.” Marik said softly, and stroked Ryou’s back. “And I promise that you will. I just don’t know when.” Malik stared at Marik, but Ryou slowly peeked out from under the blankets. Marik smiled and placed a hand on Ryou’s shoulder. “I promise you’ll go back to your brother. But for now, you must stay.” Ryou stared at Marik. “I know you want to go home. I have heard how close you and your brother are. Malik and I are very close as well.” He looked at Malik and smiled. Malik couldn’t help but smile back, and Ryou could see the affection for one another in their eyes; the same affection that he and Bakura had for each other. Marik looked over at Ryou, and then back at Malik with an almost plaintive expression. Malik looked at Ryou, and his gaze softened, and he slid down into the Nest. Marik then smiled at Ryou.

“We will not hurt you. Malik, don’t hit him again. And if you want anything, all you need to do is ask.” Marik said, and Ryou looked down at his lap. They all looked up when the door suddenly opened, and a young woman entered. Ryou watched Marik and Malik both perk up and grin.

“BIG SISTER!!!” They both chorused like a pair of young children, and both struggled from the nest and ran to the woman. She smiled gently and opened her arms, accepting one little brother into each as they flung their arms around her. Ryou watched the reunion silently as Ishizu was given a kiss from each brother on her cheeks.

“Welcome back Ishizu!” Malik squealed, and she smiled and cupped his cheek momentarily, before kissing his forehead.

“Glad your home, sis!” Marik said, and got a kiss on the forehead as well.

“Good to see you too, brothers.” She said with a smile, then turned and looked at Ryou, who swallowed. “Prince Ryou.” Ryou blinked when she bowed to him. His training kicked in and he bowed his head in return.

“Princess Ishizu.” He said softly.

“Marik, Malik, please leave us.” Ishizu said, and both boys blinked but left, looking back over their shoulders until the door closed. Ryou and Ishizu stared at each other.

“I wish to speak with you, Prince Ryou.” Ishizu said, softly. “Perhaps between the two of us, we can bring peace to our people.