Found Out …
XO'MagickMoon'OX
Ding Dong, Ding Dong the bell sounded. Students filed out of the school. Malik leaned against a tree growing in a secluded section at the side of the building. He was waiting for Ryou to meet him, as they had planned.
The leafy branches of the tree dappled the golden sunlight as it played across his form under the tree. The wind was chilly, bitterly nipping at his handsome face. Domino's foliage was painted, at the moment, with the yellows and oranges and reds attributed to autumn. Early November, to be exact. Malik pulled the collar of his uncharacteristic black trench coat up around his neck, holding it closed against the wind with his hand. Underneath was his usual hooded, purple vest, black pants, and golden adornments. He just didn't feel like himself without them.
The few students that passed this secluded area eyed the blonde-haired stranger suspiciously. Surely his foreign appearance and black eye make-up was a bit out-of-the-ordinary, but did they have to stare? Though, with a simple sneer or glare, the inquisitive schoolgirls and -boys would take to their heels. Malik huffed and brushed a stray lock of hair behind his shoulder. His silvery breath snaked through the air before disappearing.
Where was Ry –
"Malik!"
Ah, there he was.
"Ryou, hey!" Malik called, his voice warm with welcome.
The white-haired boy turned to see the other standing beneath a nearby oak tree. Surrounding trees and bushes hid his position well. He smiled, hurrying over to Malik.
As hear neared, Malik reached out and wrapped an arm around Ryou, pulling him close. Malik was a bit taller than Ryou and had to look down to meet the other boy's eyes.
"I don't know how you stand it here," he said. "It's so cold."
Ryou laughed. "I guess you don't get autumn weather like this in Egypt."
Malik shook his head. Then he realized that Ryou was wearing nothing but his school uniform. He frowned. "Ryou, where's your jacket?"
The other averted his gaze. "Oh, I … uh … forgot it at home."
Malik narrowed his violet eyes suspiciously. "How'd you manage to do that?"
"I'm just forgetful sometimes." Ryou looked back up at the blonde-haired boy and beamed, though it was half-hearted. The truth was, yes, he did forget it at home, but it was because Bakura had kept him awake all night, just being a jerk, and Ryou had overslept. That morning, he'd rushed out the door so as not to be late and had forgotten his jacket in the kitchen.
His father was away on business and not there to remind him about those sorts of things. It was just him and Bakura. Lucky me, Ryou thought bitterly.
Oh, I'm not that bad, am I? Bakura sneered through their mind-link.
Go away, Ryou whimpered.
Why? Do you and your little boyfriend want some time alone?
As a matter a fact …
Silence. Bakura had closed the mind-link for the time being. Why? Surely not just because Ryou had asked him.
"Ryou?"
The white-haired boy jumped at his name. "Hmm?"
"Here." Malik slipped one of his arms out of his coat and wrapped it around Ryou. The smaller boy smiled gratefully.
"Thanks." He nestled his head in the crook of Malik's neck, breathing in his tangy herbal scent. He felt warmer already.
"Hey, Ryou …"
"Yeah?" Ryou looked up, and Malik captured the smaller boy's lips with his own, pulling the white-haired boy into a chaste kiss.
Ryou reached up and wrapped his arms around Malik's neck, threading his fingers through his pale-blonde hair. Ryou's heart quickened, his breathing short and blunted. The kiss became more passionate as he backed Malik into the tree trunk and pushed his tongue against the other's lips, trying to pry them apart.
Malik teased him, not giving Ryou the liberty for another moment. Ryou was being too dominant; Malik needed some control. Finally, he parted his lips and allowed the smaller boy to explore the corners of his mouth. A small moan sounded in the back of Malik's throat as his stomach began to do summersaults. Love would do that to you ...
Malik pulled away, only to lean down again and caress Ryou's neck with his lips, eliciting a soft moan from the white-haired boy.
Yadonushi –
Ryou groaned inwardly as Malik moved to kiss his temple. Can't you just leave? he snapped.
Hey! I was going to tell you that you have some spectators, but since you decided to go and use that tone with me –
Spectators … WHAT?
Ryou pulled back, leaving the warmth of Malik's embrace and his jacket, to find Yuugi, Anzu, Jounouchi, and Honda watching the couple incredulously. If Jounouchi's jaw hung open any lower, his chin would be brushing the brittle grass. Yuugi and Anzu just blushed once they saw that they had been caught staring, and Honda was simply … well, still staring.
Told ya.
Shut-up.
Who do you think you are that you can take that tone with –
I said, "Shut-up"!
Oh, we are so having a talk later.
Silence. Finally. Ryou didn't even have time to spare any fear for what would happen with his yami later because, at the moment, every nerve he had was focused on panic.
"H-Hi guys!" Ryou smiled feebly, his pale face paler than usual.
"Ryou!" Yuugi chirped, obviously forcing the casual tone in his voice. "And Malik. It's … It's nice to see you again."
Malik gave a curt nod, his gaze watching the gang warily, arms folded. The interruption annoyed him.
"'NICE'?" Jou exploded in his customary fashion. "Yuug, have you completely lost it! This is Malik … remember? From Battle City? Ring any bells?"
"Put a sock in it, Jou," Anzu, the ever level-headed one, chastised. "It's not like he's got a gun to Ryou's head or anything."
Honda snickered. "Quite the opposite."
Anzu glared at the other dimwit, hands on her hips. "You too, Honda. Shut it."
"Well, it was good seeing you again, Malik! Later Ryou!" Yuugi said, apparently trying to move everyone away from the awkward scene.
"Yuug … but …" Jounouchi, it seemed, wasn't finished yet. "They were … They were …"
"Idiot, we know perfectly well what they were doing," Anzu growled. Ryou blushed, and Malik just rolled his eyes. "Now let's go!"
Anzu dragged Jou and the still-staring Honda away from the area, much to Ryou's relief. Moments later, Malik and Ryou were alone again. Ryou turned back to the blonde, shivering from cold and fear. Now that the whole embarrassing situation had passed, he remembered his yami's anger. Looking down at his bandaged hand, he wondered what would happen once he was alone at home with his darker half. In Malik's presence, he felt more confident and had angered Bakura with his sharp tone.
Stupid, stupid, stupid! he chastised himself, slapping his forehead with his uninjured hand. Then, he felt Malik's strong arm snake around his back again, pulling him closer. Soon, Malik had rewrapped his jacket around the smaller boy. But this time, Ryou didn't smile.
That was when Malik noticed Ryou's hand. "What happened?" he asked, his voice tinted with concern. He took Ryou's arm and held it up to his face to further observe the hidden injury.
"Oh, I … was cutting vegetables … and the knife slipped," Ryou lied none-too-smoothly.
Malik then saw the small bruise on Ryou's cheek from where Bakura had slapped him. Though his spirit had been slapped, the bruise had shown up on his cheek when he had returned to his body. "And … let me guess … you ran into the wall when you went to fetch the bandages?"
"Um … yes?"
Malik sighed wearily. "Ryou, if Bakura did this to you, you can tell me. I know what it's like to have an abusive yami. Mine tried to destroy me, remember?" He smiled dryly.
"Right." Ryou remembered. He also remembered what had drawn him to Malik in the first place: Malik understood him … probably better than anyone. "Uh … yeah … it was Bakura. Last night … he was angry with me … and he punched my mirror. And then he … slapped me."
When Ryou's chocolate eyes met Malik's, he saw nothing but compassion, concern, and empathy. He knew that already the blonde's mind was trying to figure out what he should do to help, but Ryou didn't want him to get hurt. So, to break the boy's train of thought, he reached up and kissed him.
All thoughts of revenge on Ryou's yami were temporarily swept from the Egyptian's mind as he felt the white-haired boy's warm lips against his own. He held Ryou closer, as if to protect him from some unseen force. But he knew that he couldn't protect Ryou from Bakura … not yet. He'd figure out what to do soon, but as of right now, all he could do was offer the boy comfort and love. And that was enough.
---
Bakura stood against the cold brick wall of the school, watching the happy couple in disgust. Currently, he was invisible to Ryou. Later, he'd possess the boy and teach him not to talk back to his master.
A smirk curled on his lips.
But then, he felt a twinge in his chest, right where his heart should be if spirits had hearts. He couldn't hurt Ryou. He couldn't.
But he hated Ryou. He hated everything about him. He hated his impudence, which he had to pay for.
But he loved him. He couldn't hurt him.
But he wanted to.
Rrrrgh! Damn him … DAMN him! Bakura screamed in his head. What's wrong with me? I hate Ryou … I hate him because …
I love him.
And therein lay Bakura's problem.
Okay, this is still TBC ... PLEASE REVIEW! Reviews are the fuel that keep my creative fire burning!