THERE IS A SEQUEL, PEOPLE! There is a sequal! And Marik comes back, get it? Marik comes back! So no fear!
Anyways, I am proud to give you Never Knew 2: Second Chances. Summary? After Marik's been banished, Ryou's life is tormented with the lonliness he now as to face. The only consolation is that his darker half is soon returning to the Memory World, but who is coming back from it?
So yes, this is a story that has a bit more plot than usual, and a lot more Malik x Bakura moments. There will be possibly some lemons, I'm not too sure, but mostly in this one it's Marik x Ryou fluff and occasional yaoi. Malik and Bakura's relationship is broadened better in this fic.
Disclaimer: No own YGO. this goes through the entire ficcie.
I actually dont know what's Ryou's role in the Memory world, since I haven't actually watched it yet. My theory is that it's his duty to sort of bring Bakura there, since Bakura is indeed a major part of the memory world. This will definitely be a mix between anime and manga; this chapter happens in the later chapters are more significant in the manga. (whew) Okay.
Well, you guys know the pairings. And yes, Malik and Bakura did break up before this fic was started. Just so you know. And this chapter explains a lot about hw Ryou changes after Marik's banishment.
Here we go, Never Knew 2, chapter one!
Chapter One: Loneliness
Faded by the faint shimmering rays of the moonlight and the crevices of the shadows, the darkness slipped through, awaiting the morning daybreak. This night was dark and blank, veiled by a flittering sheen of pale silver rays, merging as one against the starless sky.
And this darkness…resided…
…in the broken hearts…
…of Ryou and Yami Bakura.
"No, Marik! Please don't go!" Ryou cried out. "Please! I love you…don't go!"
The Egyptian Darkness paid him no heed, flashing him a deathly glare as he strode towards the metal barrier. Desperately, Ryou flung himself into Marik's waist, clutching on with piteous entreaty.
"No, Marik!" he cried out again. "Please, don't go…! I love you! Don't leave me alone! Bakura will kill you!"
The Darkness was silent, his face contorting into that of rage, of despicable hatred, before his hand arched through the air, and landed hard on Ryou's face. Ryou cried out, sprawling onto the metal floor, his face a violent shade of red as dueling cards scattered throughout the air.
"A toy…." a voice whispered. 'You're just a toy…just a toy to him…"
"No!" Ryou cried, as Marik began to dissipate into nothingness, that hateful, vengeful, violent glare still on his face, his amethyst eyes flashing spitting fire. "NO! Marik! Please come back! Please don't leave me alone! I love you! Don't go…!"
"I will destroy him," whispered that voice once more. "Destroy him…right in front of your eyes!"
"NO!" Ryou screamed, as darkness began to consume him from the sides. "NO! NO! MARIK!"
"NO!" Ryou screamed, bolting up, sweat trickling down his body. He panted for a moment, staring into the nothingness of his room, except for the faint glowing of the Millennium Ring, which still hung around his neck.
"No…" Ryou whispered, calming himself down and swallowing. "No…it was…it was all a dream…just a dream…"
Groaning, Ryou leaned forward, placing his forehead upon his palm. "Just…just a dream…"
Sighing deeply, Ryou closed his eyes, his hand still clasped onto his forehead, as he leaned back and settled back upon his pillow. Moonlight filtered through his window, veiled by thin, shady blue curtains, dawning a part of his sheets in a light blue hue.
How many months had passed, since these nightmares ceased? Ryou had already forgotten. How many months had disappeared, since that fateful morning when Malik woke him up on the Battle City blimp, with a grim expression on his face? Ryou didn't even wish to remember.
/…./
Ryou startled a bit, blinking down at his bulky relic, before hesitantly replying back. Since Marik had been gone, the housing spirit within the Ring had been unusually quiet. Not that it bothered Ryou; after all, Yami Bakura had been one of the reasons that Marik and Ryou couldn't develop quite the relationship together. In truth, Ryou was a little relieved that his yami hadn't been more abusive, but although the silence from the thief was unnerving, it calmed Ryou to know that at least Bakura wasn't hurting him.
/…yami/
/Ahou/ Bakura snapped. /You were dreaming./
Ryou groaned sheepishly. /Did I…did I wake you, Bakura-sama/
/Naturally/ came back the biting voice.
Ryou sighed once more, falling back on his pillow and closing his eyes. Timidly, he sighed, before replying tentatively back. He didn't quite want to disrupt the only civil relationship that he and his yami now shared. Though the past experiences with both Ishtals had brought out the worst in both of them, now that Malik and Marik were both gone from either one of their lives, both the Light and the Darkness had made an silent truce as to ignore one another, and speak with forced politeness as to not cause trouble.
/…Is….there…something you wish to say/ Ryou asked weakly.
/You have a fever/ Bakura said lowly. /Treat it, ahou. I don't want any more of your pathetic dreams filtering back into my soul room, do you hear/
Ryou sighed, before blinking, feeling his forehead again. It was … a little hot. /Alright, yami/ he sighed again. /I'll treat it as soon as I can./
/You'd better/ Bakura growled. /Enough of having you screaming in the middle of the night for the last five months, I'm not quite too pleased to know you're getting fever dreams again./
Ryou swallowed, nodding submissively. /Yes, Bakura-sama./
/Good./ The thief snapped simply. And with that the Ring glowed once, before the thief had left Ryou's mind entirely.
Ryou sighed once more, leaning back on his pillow again, before feeling his forehead once more. It was merely a small fever; perhaps he had been pushing himself too hard. He had only recently gotten over his lover's disappearance, the Ishtals' kicking him out, and having Yugi-tachi leave him entirely, on another wondrous trip that Jonouchi, Anzu and Honda had not bothered inviting him along for.
Shuddering, Ryou squeezed his eyes shut, hoping tears wouldn't form once more. He was alone…completely alone…
How he had wished for Marik's arms right then and there. How he had longed for those arms to bring them to the Egyptian's chest, warm and comforting, possessive but protective. How Ryou missed those arms! Those eyes, those lips, those golden bangs!
Poor Ryou. He was completely, and utterly, alone.
Though Malik had still maintained wonderful friendship with the other Light, Bakura was another story. Their once prosperous relationship had been shattered when Malik decided he and Bakura were no longer compatible, for with every day the thief regained more of his memories, the darker Bakura came.
Strangely enough, Bakura didn't lash out on Ryou, didn't hurt Ryou. If anything, he merely gave Malik the cold shoulder, and left entirely, only emerging to use Ryou's body during the night. Ryou had allowed the thief to use his body during the twilight hours, since it was little the thief as asking for compared to before.
How strange that so many changes had occurred during such a short span of time.
Both Ryou and Malik had kept distant friendships from then on. They both knew perfectly well it would be rather difficult to continue being friends, especially when Ryou's darker half couldn't control himself from spitting at the Pharaoh's feet when Malik himself would gladly show off his scars to the king. Even Yami had disappeared for a time.
Sighing once more, feeling his eyes prickle, Ryou stood up, stretching slightly. Next to him, lay his leather coat (where he had gotten if from, he had entirely forgotten), and beneath it, his locked dresser, which contained the presents Marik had left for him.
"As long as you wear them, or look at them in your times of need, you will know that I'm always there, and will always come back."
Well, Ryou needed to look at them now.
It was strange. During the period of the last five months, his relationship with his own yami had been…rather odd. It seemed as though since both Ishtals had disappeared from one another's lives, both Bakuras had decided that there was no longer any worth to fight one another. They weren't friends, far from it, still enemies in the darkest part of their hearts, but they accepted one another as who they were: Spirit and Host.
There was always less bloodshed and effort when one has a truce.
And such an unspoken truce was:
Ryou would not fight Bakura when he needed the body, and Bakura would not hurt Ryou if Ryou didn't fight. Simple enough. Soon enough, the thief would grow tired of using such a weakling for a vessel anyway, and return Ryou's body to him. There was not even a chance to use Shadow magic to get rid of Ryou anyway. Since Battle City, Bakura had noticed the little loopholes in his treatment towards Ryou, a rather crucial point. "Hurt the host, ruin your chances to kill the pharaoh." Simple as that. Ryou didn't even seem to have the spiritual energy to fight Bakura off anymore anyways.
Yami Bakura, the fearsome thief of the night, had begun to receive his memories since the Battle City Blimp. He had taken Ryou's body for all usage during twilight hours, leaving Ryou utterly exhausted in the morning. Even then, when Ryou was conscious, Bakura rarely spoke, seemingly deep in his own mysterious, sadistic thoughts for the future. At times Ryou was scared of Bakura like this, so reserved and silent, but the Light passed each day going to bed, thanking any god that Bakura had not hurt him that day.
Now Ryou carefully picked the dresser with a random needle (something he was bound to learn from staying awake at night in his soul room), and was still slightly marveled that nothing was gone. His journal still laid neatly in the center, surrounded by the diamond seashell and the golden bracelet. The locket and the ring were still upon his self, dangling beneath his shirt along with the Sennen Ring.
Carefully, he took out his journal, flipping through it absent-mindedly. The recent pages had been far more mature than he could've ever imagined. His once passionate and excited and vivacious writing had soon been induced to nothing but passive wishes.
"Bakura's been so quiet lately…and although I don't mind, it unnerves me still to think what he's planning for me eventually," read one page, "At times I wish, that if Bakura does eventually destroy me, whether it's to put me in a card or another miniature idol, I just wish I could see Marik again.
Why am I always so smitten with Marik? He's gone now…and although I miss him, I can't stop living in the past. Bakura and Yami have done so and look at where they are.
I suppose Malik was right. He and Bakura could never have worked out. But did that mean that Marik and I couldn't work out? Bakura loathed everything Malik stood for: Malik worshipped the gods of Egypt and Bakura spat at their feet. Malik was good now, Bakura was more violent. Malik wanted to give Yami all the treasures including the Sennen Ring…and Bakura wanted them all…
…for himself?"
Sighing, Ryou closed the book, stretching slightly. Though the fever was small, Ryou still felt rather weak, and a little sick. It must've been fatigue. After all, Ryou had been pushing himself very hard lately. With overcoming his denial and acceptance that Marik would never come back, as well as Yami Bakura's and Yami Yugi's approaching departure for the Memory World, and his father's recent death and his inheritance and his acceptance at Oxfords…Ryou's life was more than hectic.
So many losses, so much pain.
Taking a deep breath, Ryou decided to take a walk. He knew perfectly well that it was night, very close to the twilight hours, but it didn't matter. Night had become something of an acquaintance with him. He used to love the sun, love the day, but now when Yami Bakura used up all his energy at night, Ryou just never had the time to appreciate the daylight star any longer.
Slipping into his striped T-shirt and jeans, Ryou stretched once more, before grabbing his leather jacket and heading towards the door. He'd better treat the fever soon. At least summer was coming up. He'd get some rest. If he didn't, Bakura's patience might run thin, especially since the Memory World was soon arriving. Bakura would loathe it if his host wasn't up to his best potential in a duel with the pharaoh.
Finally, he reached the front door, and eased it open, meeting with the darkness. A breeze flittered into the house, coaxing his hair with gentle grace. His apartment door was right next to a side entrance, and that door had been left open for a night. He took a deep breath, appreciative of the cool air against his warm forehead, before stepping out into the darkness.
And, making sure his leather jacket was securely buttoned, Ryou stepped down from the steps of the side entrance, and entered the darkness.
He walked endlessly for some time, simply taking in and basking the effects of a peaceful, serene walk. Shadows loomed and often a figure or two could be seen, looking quite dangerous, but Ryou paid them no heed. Deep within him, he was terrified of walking out so late, but after spending months with Yami Bakura alone, even without Malik's protection, had taught him a thing or two about protecting himself.
Because in this world, Ryou knew, he was alone. Totally, and utterly alone.
By now the darkness did not seem so intimidating. Ryou had witnessed and learned from Bakura first hand too often a time to be afraid of the darkness. And even though now that he and Bakura had finally reached a civil truce, Ryou was still passive. There were things he no longer really wished to do in life.
Even the Ishtals had kicked him out. Well, maybe not kicked him out literally, but things weren't working out with Bakura and Malik. Only Ryou knew the reason to Bakura's change in attitude, and even then, it was merely a slight bit of knowledge. After Bakura and Malik had gotten into the worse fight they had in months, Bakura literally packed up Ryou's bags and left, and Ryou didn't even so much as complain.
"I wish Marik was back," Ryou whispered softly to himself. "I really do. It's so lonely without him."
Suddenly, something launched out from the darkness, and slammed him into the lamp post. He gasped, wincing when he felt something being placed upon his neck. Weakly, he opened his eyes, and saw a shadow leering up at him, a knife nicking his skin.
"Up yours, bastard," the shadow snarled. "Wallet now or I'll slit your throat."
Trying his best not to show that he was shaking, Ryou fumbled about in his pockets, before he realized he actually had no wallet this time.
"I-I'm sorry," Ryou stuttered weakly. "I don't have any money…really…"
"Liar," snapped the shadow, before throwing Ryou gruffly onto the ground. Within moments two other shadows had appeared and pinned Ryou's shoulders upon the ground, despite his attempts to wriggle free. "Check his pockets."
Ryou cringed as he felt hands pat and dive into his pockets, and felt even sicker when they patted the back pockets on his jeans. Moaning inwardly to himself, he hesitantly knocked on the soul room door of Bakura's, but to no avail.
"Nothing," one muttered, kicking Ryou absently in the abs. The other did not release Ryou just yet, as the first shadow waved his knife dangerously over Ryou's throat.
"Take the jacket then," he snapped. "Wait. What's this?"
The shadow had seemed to notice the bulky relic hidden beneath Ryou's shirt, and the Light was sickened even further when the shadow ripped his shirt upwards to reveal the jewelry.
"God, GOLD!" the shadow exclaimed. Immediately, his knife went to cut the leather ropes that hung the Sennen Ring from Ryou's neck.
"Oi, boss," the one keeping Ryou pinned down muttered. "Look up there. The kid's neck."
For a moment, Ryou froze. He was indeed, wearing two things around his neck. The first was obviously the Sennen Ring, which Bakura never allowed him to part, but the other was a small, gold locket, from which hung a delicate gold chain….
"No! STOP!" Ryou yelled, flailing with all his might. A shadow growled and the pressure upon his shoulder increased, as another kicked him squarely in the ribs. "NO! STOP!"
"Shut up, bastard," one yelled, clamping a hand over Ryou's mouth. "Scream and die."
Clenching his eyes shut, Ryou waited as the mugger's knife came to his neck, about to cut apart the golden chain. As soon as the blade had scraped across Ryou's skin, up came Ryou's fist and his fingers closed upon the mugger's hand.
There was a "HEY!" before Ryou managed to wrench the knife out of the mugger's hand, and swiftly nicked against the shadow's wrists. The second man immediately jumped away and seethed, as Ryou promptly rolled away from his three thieves, and quickly got up.
/Yami/ he cried. / A little help/
/All the more amusing to see you get out of this/ Yami Bakura replied back calmly, though a smirk was evident on his lips. /Good luck, baka./
/Bakura, please/
/Sorry./
The three shadows stood, baring their teeth. Weakly, Ryou stepped back, holding the knife out with shaking fingers. Okay. Time to let Bakura's lessons kick in. Maybe a little punch would frighten them away. Or a kick. Just enough to make them bleed.
Or he could just do things his way a la Ryou, and run.
Well then, he decided to run.
Throwing the knife towards the shadows, Ryou hastily turned around and ran into a nearby alley, and up the side stairways to the rooftops, as the darkness of the night began to cry.
Of all his luck, it just had to rain.
Panting and quite out of breath, Ryou sat upon the edge of an apartment building, drawing shaky breaths. This was supposed to be a peaceful walk to allow his fever to retreat! Now all he ended up doing was getting mugged, before running through the entire city of Domino, and scrambling across rooftops to get away from his captors! Great. An escapade a la Ryou avec Bakura's skills.
Oh great. Now as Ryou sat upon the roof, his legs dangling over the side as rain pelted into his hair and drenched his skin, his mind couldn't help but wonder how that could've went if Marik was around.
Ryou never liked getting in such trouble, and he was sure Marik could always take care of him. Perhaps Marik would've shoved him to the side or into his arms, before attacking the opponents with sadistic gusto, instead of doing things a la Ryou and having muggers at his heels while scrambling up stairways and through alleys.
Oh, the things he was forced to do when Bakura got too drunk to get home. Of course, Ryou knew perfectly well Bakura was never too drunk to come home. The darn spirit was just lazy and liked to ridicule Ryou in a tipsy body. The very thought of it made Ryou pout and Bakura chuckle.
Finally managing to catch his breath, Ryou leant over the side. His captors seemed to have given up the chase, and there was only emptiness in sight. Relieved, Ryou grasped onto the locket, holding it with all his life. He could never have let those captors take away the locket. Never! They could've taken away the Ring for all he cared (though he'd have to suffer Bakura's lessons right afterwards), but they were never going to take away the only few things he had left to remember of Marik!
Oh well. He had to count himself lucky. These muggers weren't as bad as the ones last week. Bakura actually had to take over that one time, and ended up having the captors scared petrified. After that, Ryou had expected the worse beating of his life, but Bakura merely slapped him once and left into his soul room. And even then, it wasn't that hard. The red mark didn't even bruise!
Though the thief had been acting more civil and kindly to Ryou lately, the Light still had to tread his ground carefully. No doubt such mercy would lead to something big. Or maybe Bakura just needed Ryou's body in good shape for the Memory World.
Sighing, Ryou stood up, leaving his leather jacket upon the roof. It was his apartment building, ironically enough. His neighbors would know that it belonged to him. "It's that strange Bakura boy's."
However, Ryou was startled out of his passive thoughts, when a voice, cold and menacing, echoed in his mind. For a moment, he thought it was surely Bakura, finally making up for lost time and tormenting him.
/Yami/
/What is it, ahou/
No…though the voice was cold and menacing, Ryou was a little doubtful that it was Bakura's. It wasn't taunting him. It was just scaring him.
Ryou…Ryou Bakura…
Shivering with fear, Ryou turned around, desperate to find through the sheets of hail and rain, the source of the voice. Nothing. Nothing but gray blue darkness ahead of him, pelted by the droplets of rain.
Ryou Bakura, are you afraid, Ryou Bakura?
Shaking, Ryou nodded at the nothingness, before yelling, "Leave me alone! Who are you? What do you want?"
You can't escape, Ryou Bakura…..
Terrified, Ryou whipped around and scrambled down the stairways, slipping and tumbling against the cold, metal black bars. He wasn't exactly sure what terrified him of his voice, but even as the voice pursued after him, he could even feel Yami Bakura's wariness of the situation.
You can't run from your fate, Ryou Bakura…
Shaking with terror, Ryou managed to stumble down the steps, his hair drenched in rain and blood from the metal bars. His feet pounded through puddles, splashing against the hem of his jeans, as he ran on, hoping to get away from the voice.
What are you afraid of, Ryou Bakura? This is your fate…surrender to it!
"NO!" Ryou cried. The usage of both his first name and his surname was beginning to unnerve him. "NO! Leave me alone!"
He continued to run through the night, not even shedding a tear, despite his terror. Who was this voice? What was going on?
Buildings flashed pass, as Ryou continued to run, twisting and turning through alleyways and streets upon random, anything to get away from the cold, icy voice. He ran on blindly, his face passive, though his mind was thumping with terror and regret. What had he done now?
Ryou Bakura, can you not just hear your fate?
"What is my fate?" Ryou asked, looking back with fearful eyes. Just ignore it, he thought, ignore the voice, it's just Bakura playing tricks on you, it's just Bakura…
You have a duty, Ryou Bakura… a duty to serve …
In the distant, Ryou spied off a church. Instantly, he ran for it, his heart freezing from terror, as the voice continued to follow him. Perhaps it was a demon, or a devil of sorts…perhaps if he entered the church, he would not be harmed by this invisible attacker!
When he managed to reach the church, he stumbled in, closing the oak doors behind him. His skin was soaked to the bone, weighed down by his drenched shirt and pants. He felt so utterly exhausted. Who was this voice?
As he forced himself to calm down, he noticed his surroundings. Long, wooden benches stood between the aisle in the middle. From the front glowed soft, silent candles, upon holders which sat on velvet steps. Beyond that, upon the wall above the alcove where a grail stood alone, was the infamous cross…
Immediately Ryou averted his gaze from the cross. He never had a religion to follow by, and especially now, he didn't dare stare up to any altar or symbol of a worldly known religion. Especially not when his body was possessed by a vengeful, dark demon spirit.
Ryou…
Immediately he was startled, for the very same chilling voice was now coming from the altar! The doors behind him made an obvious click, showing that it was locked, and there were no exits. Regaining composure as best as possible, Ryou stared in front of him, focusing his gaze upon the altar.
Come here, Ryou Bakura…
Slowly, Ryou took a few steps, his gaze lingering from the altar to the candles. The candles were small, their flames flickering in silence.
You must surrender to your fate, Ryou Bakura…
"What is my fate, then?" Ryou asked, looking back at the altar. "What's my fate? What do I have to do?"
You must deliver your knowledge into the Memory World, Ryou Bakura…
"My knowledge?" Ryou repeated, looking at the altar with disbelief. All of his fears, terrors and worries dissipated almost immediately, replaced by confusion and wary apprehension. "My knowledge? I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about the Memory World…"
Yes, you do, Ryou…you know many about the Memory World. You hold the key to open it, to open the war that started once before and left, only to be begun again.
"But that's….but wasn't that Marik?" Ryou asked, confused. "Marik was the opponent Isis predicted. No one else. No one…" Suddenly, Ryou's eyes widened, as a theory occurred to his mind. "No…way….but, I don't have the key! What on earth are you talking about? I can't do this!"
Suddenly, the room was blasted with the invisible voice, booming with authority and sternness.
YOU HOLD THE KEY, RYOU BAKURA, AND IT IS YOUR DUTY TO OPEN THE MEMORY WORLD WITH IT! It bellowed. YOU HOLD THE KEY, AND IT IS YOUR DESTINY! SURRENDER TO IT!
"NO!" Ryou yelled, backing away as candles flew into the air. Suddenly, a white hot pain shot through his wrists and up his arms, immobilizing him in a moment of pure agony. "NO! NO! I don't have the key, really, I don't!"
YOU DO, RYOU BAKURA! DO NOT DENY IT! YOU POSSESS THE KEY AND YOU WILL OPEN THE MEMORY WORLD WITH IT!
"NOOO!" Ryou cried, as his hair flew into the air, and the stained windows shattered. The holy mosaics upon the windows shattered and flew into the air, mingling with the flying candles and the splintering wooden benches. "NO! Please! I know nothing! Please! STOP!"
There was a long scream from his lips as the Millennium Ring flashed, piercing through his shirt and blinding the church within its golden light. After a while, Ryou's screams died down, and with it, so did the remnants of the church. The shattered windows and glass floated to the floor, clinking next to the shoes of the young teen. Candles clattered softly and went out, and the benches lay on the floor, cracked and splintered.
Slowly, the shadow of the Item holder raised his head, before he smirked.
"And open it, he will," Yami Bakura said.