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l1teraryangel · 4 months

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In Another Life (Ch. 15)

“You can’t be so hard on them, Malik.”

Puffing his cheeks, Malik dug his lavender eyes into his sister’s azure ones. “They’re being ridiculous! And unhelpful!”

“They’re hurting and frustrated by the repeated struggle to deliver Ryou’s soul back into his body.” She tucked her jet black hair behind her ears, unwavering in her serene exterior. “Not unlike you, I’m sure.”

Kek, seated beside Rishid, quipped, “Ooh, she called you out, Albi.”

“Shut up, both of you,” Malik returned and shoved the borrowed KaibaCorp tablet away. “I don’t need an analysis. Yes, I’m freaked out and worried. But I’m still trying to do something, aren’t I?”

Tenderly touching her brother’s hand, Isis smiled. “You’ve always been one to act on your grief as opposed to sitting around wallowing. I think, however, Bakura and Touzoku-Ou are simply overwhelmed by their own emotions. This is the first true struggle they’ve faced since being reborn, and the fact that it involves the one they love most must make it much harder to handle.”

“So you’re saying I’m being a self-centered dick to them instead of empathizing?”

Her smile slipped into a pouty frown. “I would not phrase it in such a way, though I suppose my meaning is similar in nature.”

Sniggering, Kek muttered, “Leave it Big Sis to put you in your place with eloquence.” Rishid chuckled, too, but he buried his face among the pages of his book to hide his half-smirk.

With an audible exhale, Malik rapped his fingertips on the table, staring at the doorway leading out of Kaiba’s library. “Ugh, fine… I’ll go and apologize to them… Give me like ten minutes to compose a script, or I’ll ramble like a fool. Bakura would blackmail me for years to come.”

“Work on it elsewhere, Malik. You’re taking up space otherwise.”

Dumbstruck, Malik blinked and studied his sister’s stony expression. “A-Are you kicking me out?” A thought popped into his head. “Oh, is it because of Kek? Afraid we’ll be too distracting together?”

Clicking his tongue, Kek ripped a page from a spiral notebook, crumpled it, and promptly launched it at Isis’s head. “Ruuuuude.”

Without a single crack in her mask, Isis replied, “Does that answer your question, Brother?”

“I see your point. Kek, make sure to actually help out, okay? Listen to our sister.”

“You know, when you say things like that, it makes our relationship seem like incest.” Kek’s signature crazed grin spread ear-to-ear. “Kinda weird, but I can dig it.”

Gathering a spare notebook and his phone, Malik turned and waved while walking to the door. “Good luck, Sis. He’s your problem.”

He heard a distinct protest from his other self’s mouth, but the door to the library closed in time to prevent further retaliation. His eyes flitted between the end of the hall and the room where Ryou’s unconscious body and the two other-realmers waited.

“...Hurry home, Ryou…”

***

“Oh, shit…” Ryou muttered and jumped out of the bed. “Okay, don’t panic… They’re on their way, but they’re just college boys. Human. Sane. Maybe a bit horny, but not threatening.”

He knew there wouldn’t be a lot of time — how big could a college campus be? Inhaling to steady himself, he thought over the possible excuses he could use to get out of sex this time. Sick, no, tired! Too tired from his exams, could they just hang out or something…

‘That will work. Hopefully it’s a simple but convincing enough way to cool their hormones.’ Ryou puffed his breath up his forehead, disturbing his bangs, and eyed the door anxiously. ‘Okay, so when they get here, I’ll keep cool and lay low—’

Three short knocks on the door followed by some clicks that sounded suspiciously like a lock being picked brought him out of his thoughts.

“I hope he’s asleep. He’s too adorable, all curled up under the blankets, snuggling his pillow like a kitten.” There was Touzoku-Ou, or TK, as he went by here.

“Mm, I wouldn’t mind watching him sleep for a while, but I really would rather ravish him.” And Bakura, naturally, with him.

“Dibs on topping him, by the way.”

“Pfft, whatever. I’ll top you, then.”

“Think you can handle that?”

“Wanna try me?”

The lock clicked, and Ryou launched himself back onto the bed. Thankfully, due to his abrupt entry into this world, he looked plenty disheveled to play the role of having only woken up mere moments ago. He rubbed at his eyes for a convincing touch when the door swung open and revealed this realm’s Bakura and Touzoku-Ou.

“Ah, damn, he is awake,” TK whined, deflating with disappointment. “I mean, happy to see you, lovely. Just wanted to watch you sleep.”

Bakura snorted. “More like you wanted to wake him up like some perverse Sleeping Beauty.”

His accusation, rather than offending the dark-skinned man, brought a smug grin to his lips instead. “Tattletale. Well, whatever.” He hopped onto the bed without further to do, practically straddling Ryou, who in turn pushed himself upright to maintain some control of the situation. “Good morning, my beauty!”

“Not like you to sleep so late, Babe,” Bakura added and plopped down beside them. “Exams that rough?”

Ryou opened his mouth to answer, but TK cut him off. “Ryou doesn’t struggle with exams. Unlike you, he’s actually smart.”

“You’re calling me dumb, but last I checked, he tutored you, too,” Bakura bit back and shoved the other’s shoulder.

“I only needed a bit of help catching up with the curriculum. You’re the one who was too stupid to pass your classes on your own.”

“Are you picking a fight right now, asshole?”

As their argument escalated alongside their physical altercation, Ryou dumbly glanced between them. ‘A-Are they going to let me talk? More importantly, are they going to get blood on this bed? It’s such a pain to get out of sheets.’

Just when he thought TK looked as if he may strike Bakura, the two’s argument broke down into a shared chuckle. Blinking, expression confused and blank, Ryou asked, “Are you guys good now?”

Bakura’s crooked smirk and heated gaze set his heart fluttering. “Of course, Babe. Sorry, were we disturbing you?”

“Um…”

TK, smirking just as mischievously, edged closer until he and Ryou were only a breath away from one another. “Say it isn’t so, lovely Ryou.”

“I… I mean, it’s fine…”

Each of their gazes twinkled, their nearly identical expressions growing more and more fervent. A knot bobbed in Ryou’s throat, in sync with the blood surging to his loins.

“We would hate so much to be a bother,” Bakura crooned, now shoulder to shoulder with TK as he leaned over Ryou’s trapped form. “But, since exams are officially over for a bit, don’t you think we should celebrate?”

Determined to maintain control, Ryou gulped down the lump in his throat and instead offered the smallest, shyest smile he could. “Maybe we could go out for lunch?”

Their expressions split halfway between tickled and disheartened. In particular, TK seemed pouty while he mumbled, “That wasn’t what we meant, little lovely.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Ryou pushed both men back, gentle but firm. “I realize what you mean, but I’m not… quite feeling myself today.” He snuck a glance at their faces from beneath the messy bangs framing his eyes. As expected, the desire evaporated, replaced with concern.

“I told you you were pushing yourself too hard, Ryou,” Bakura chided, voice like a mother scolding their naughty child. “I bet you caught a cold or something.”

“Well, don’t yell at him for it,” TK snapped and slapped Bakura’s reaching hand away. He used his own to cup Ryou’s cheek.

Snarling, Bakura cupped Ryou’s other cheek. “I was not yelling, thank you very much, asshole.”

The urge to be pampered and fussed over nearly overtook Ryou, but he bit his lip and swallowed it down much like his earlier arousal. “G-Guys, I’m not sick, per se. Just not feeling up to… much right now.”

His words brought two shockingly stern scowls down upon him, and TK tutted, “Nuh uh, we aren’t falling for that again. Last time you said you weren’t sick, you ended up in the hospital for a week. You’re going to the doctor right now.”

‘...Gods dammit… So much for keeping a low profile.’

***

Other Ryou paused when he walked into the room where his fellow other-realmers sat bored and captive. He expected, or hoped, to see the better version of Bakura and Touzoku-Ou, but instead Yugi and Atem greeted him.

“Hey, Ryou. Everything okay?”

“Oh, uh, I mean… It’s as good as it can be for all of us, right?”

Yugi sighed. “True. What a chaotic morning.”

Frowning and stepping closer, Ryou tentatively asked, “Did something happen?”

“Those two thieves, like the idiots they are, nearly destroyed their room. And almost killed themselves in the process,” Atem muttered, shaking his head. His lighter half patted his shoulder soothingly. Neither seemed to notice the way Ryou’s face paled.

Crossing his arms to hug himself, the white-haired male whispered, “A-Are they okay?”

Yugi flashed him a smile. “Yeah, they’re fine, at least physically. Probably worn out and super stressed, I imagine, but no damage done.”

Before Ryou could express his relief, his own Bakura and Touzoku-Ou snorted, and the latter specifically sneered in Ryou’s direction. “Don’t forget who they are so worried about, little mouse.”

Bakura chuckled. “Certainly not our rabbit, if memory serves.”

A snarky response bubbled up in his throat, but Ryou thankfully managed to hold it back, reminding himself that reacting to their taunts was exactly what they wanted. He pointedly turned away from them and focused on Yugi. “I heard a racket earlier. That was them, then?”

“Correct,” Atem sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Exasperation twisted his features. “Ryou managed to make contact, but when the three of them tried pulling him through… Apparently something is blocking our Ryou from returning to this world, to his body.”

“That’s possible?” Other Ryou asked, but then he laughed. “Of course it is. That was a dumb question, all things considered.” He stretched his arms behind his back, nonchalantly eyeing the door to the hallway. “Well, I’m sure you guys have everything handled… I’ll go find some way to entertain myself.”

From where he rubbed the stressed pharaoh’s shoulder, Yugi again smiled at the other male. “Go on and relax while you’re here. This is our problem, so we should be the ones stressing over it. You can just enjoy Kaiba Mansion.”

“Appreciate that, Yugi,” Ryou replied, already enroute to the hall. “I’ll stay out of the way, so you guys do your magic thing.” He pulled the door shut behind him, a small grin on his lips. He couldn’t replace the Ryou of this world, but maybe he could enjoy his time as a substitute.

From the day he became the prey of his world’s Bakura and Touzoku-Ou, it drove him mad how attractive he found them behind their deranged personalities and cruelty. He hadn’t been lying when he told his pair of predators he could fall in love with the Bakura and Touzoku-Ou of this realm. Perhaps he’d feel different if he experienced the history their Ryou had with them, but then again, perhaps not. After all, despite that very history, hadn’t his other self fallen in love with them all the same?

Eyes sparkling with impishness, he moved to walk down the hall, only to literally ram into Malik. “Whoa, sorry!”

“Oh, no, I’m sorry,” Malik groaned, one hand rubbing the spot of his face that collided with Ryou and the other gripping a tattered piece of paper. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

Without further explanation, the blonde slipped past the other-realmer and into the room behind. Other Ryou tilted his head, curious, yet he felt no inclination to pry. Far more interesting and exciting things held his interest.

Once in front of the room housing his other self’s lovers, he peered through the crack of the doorway. His vision adjusted to the dimness of the unlit, curtained room, and there he found them, their bodies splayed in the center, unmoving. A part of him wondered if they were asleep or simply contemplating.

Quietly, he slipped in, closing the door behind him as he pondered how he should approach the situation. They certainly must be depressed over the morning’s events — they might not appreciate his company, much less any flirtations he had in mind.

His chance to greet them came to a close as Bakura’s voice called out, “Need something, little one?”

Moving closer, Ryou realized neither man’s eyes were open, yet they seemed perfectly aware of his presence. “How’d you know I was here?”

“You aren’t exactly a ninja,” Touzoku-Ou murmured, voice humored despite his evident exhaustion.

“I wasn’t being loud,” He argued back with a pout. “It’s not like I slammed the door behind me or something.”

Bakura chuckled and cracked open one eye to peer at Ryou. “You are talking to the King of Thieves. Our life depended on the ability to be aware of our surroundings.”

Touzoku-Ou turned his head, both eyes half-lidded as he met Other Ryou’s gaze. “We’re not going to be good company right now, you know. It was a rough morning.”

“I heard.”

His response earned a bark of laughter from both men, and they each sat up with clear difficulty, leaning on each other. Bakura, rubbing his face, muttered to no one in particular, “Of course you have. Let’s advertise our failure to the whole country while we’re at it.”

Frowning, Ryou dropped to his knees beside them. “Don’t be like that. There was some other… thing interfering, right? That’s what Yugi said… It’s not your fault.”

While pushing himself off of Bakura, wincing, Touzoku-Ou snorted. “You don’t need to comfort us, little one. Nothing you say will make us feel better. Not when Rohi is out there somewhere, alone and in who knows what level of danger.”

As he moved his own worn down body, Bakura grimaced, too. “The effort is appreciated, nonetheless, but you should be using this time to enjoy your freedom. Not babysit us.”

Twirling a strand of his silver hair, Other Ryou attempted his best flirty tone. “Maybe the way I want to enjoy my freedom is by babysitting you, though.”

They eyed him, equal parts surprised and amused. Touzoku-Ou laughed under his breath. “Shouldn’t you be sick of our faces by now?”

“It’s not the same when it’s you instead of them.”

A sneer tugged Bakura’s lips upwards. “Well, obviously. We are far superior.” His expression faltered, seriousness taking over. “But you should still not get so… attached. At the end of the day, the men of your world who bear our faces will only cause you pain.”

“I’m not a child, Bakura,” Ryou snapped, harsher than he meant. He definitely caught the other two men off guard, but he couldn’t force his tone to soften the edge his annoyance snuck in. He knew the difference between them and, well, them. It burned his mind, taunted, mocked. What he wouldn’t give to be able to call this pair of men his instead of those demented bastards.

Brow furrowed, he continued, “And I am not an idiot. Your shared faces don’t blur your identities in my eyes. So, please, don’t try and lecture me.”

The two thieves looked him over, almost as if they were searching for something. Finally, after a moment of heavy silence, Touzoku-Ou spoke. “We need to pick up some things from our apartment. Why don’t you tag along, put some distance between you and them, enjoy this version of Domino?”

Relieved, Ryou nodded, his mouth melting back into a benign smile. “Yes, I’d like that.”

The men gathered themselves and headed out, Bakura shooting a quick text to the group so no one scolded them for vanishing. Other Ryou lingered only a few steps behind Bakura and Touzoku-Ou, observing them as much as the environment around him.

“It’s strange how similar my Domino City and yours are,” He commented for the sake of conversation. “Mine feels almost like a dystopia to yours. Like… It’s run down, kinda sketchy, y’know?”

“We’re still in the upper city, though I’ll be curious to know if the location of your apartment lines up with ours,” Bakura replied, hands stuffed into his pockets, gaze focused straight ahead. There was an aloofness in the way he presented, like he still wanted to insist on a certain distance between him, Touzoku-Ou, and this Ryou from another realm. But, of course, having such a minimal reference for normal behavior, Ryou failed to detect the withdrawn mannerisms.

For his part, Touzoku-Ou attempted to mimic Bakura’s demeanor, but he betrayed himself by flicking his eyes back to his boyfriend’s doppelganger. Ryou smiled brightly each time they made eye contact, and the thief king finally sighed.

“...Bakura’s right, Ryou. Even if you understand we are different from them, you still shouldn’t get attached to us.”

The other-realmer narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “Why? What does it matter?”

“Because,” Bakura halted, whirling to face the other male, “you can’t stay here. Eventually you have to go back to your realm.”

The truth bit him, but his eyes rolled instinctively. “I’m aware, you two. I’m not going to throw a tantrum over it just because I like your company. If anything, it seems like you two are the ones more concerned about being attached.”

Touzoku-Ou sighed again, eyes clouding with an emotion Ryou couldn’t place. “It’s painful, seeing your face and hearing your voice. You’re identical to our Ryou in almost every way. But you aren’t him.”

Despite his efforts, Ryou felt his temper flare. “Then why invite me along with you, if I’m such unpleasant company? I would have stayed at the mansion.”

Both thieves shook their heads, and Bakura answered, “Because you wanted to spend time with us, and you deserve to be able to have things your way for once.” Pause. “And he said you were painful company, not unpleasant. We can enjoy hanging around you and find it difficult at the same time.”

“I don’t need your pity, though. And I don’t want to be a nuisance when I’m already an uninvited guest in this realm,” Ryou mumbled and shuffled his feet, avoiding eye contact as his temper faltered into guilt. “If you want me to leave you alone, all you have to do is say so.”

A hand clamped down on his head, and he peeked up at Touzoku-Ou. Sadness. The emotion glazing over his eyes was a wistful sadness. But there was warmth, too.

“We wouldn’t ask that of you. While you’re here, do what you want to, Ryou. Whatever you want to.”

Relenting, Bakura patted the brown-eyed boy’s shoulder. “You’re a free man. They won’t touch you while all of us are around.”

“Free, huh?” The word sounded foreign. “Free to do whatever I want?”

Though they nodded, Ryou couldn’t be totally comforted by the words. Because he knew all too well they weren’t entirely truthful. He was free to do anything he wanted.

Except stay.

--- --- --- --- ---

AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 15 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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#yugioh #ygo #ryou bakura #thief king bakura #yami bakura #tendershipping #gemshipping #geminishipping #malik ishtar #marik ishtar #yami malik #yami marik #yugi mutou #yami yugi #pharaoh atem #my writing

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l1teraryangel · 4 months

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Okay, everyone. I am officially working on all my writing again with enough of a clear head that I'm actually making progress. Bear with me a little longer.

Oh boy... Time for an update on the hiatus.

Hey guys, sorry it's been radio silence for... Oh my god, 6 months?! I really, REALLY had intended to come back at the end of January with new chapters and whatnot, but I have failed. Let me roll out the excuses and you can judge me from there.

So. December. I posted Chapter 14 of In Another Life, as well as 3x3, and I announced I would be going on hiatus until the end of January. The reason for this scheduled break was due to my sweet dog of 12 years being diagnosed with (according to the vet) stage 1 kidney disease. It hit me hard mentally, so I knew I needed a break.

Well, fast forward to January. I'm still really struggling with it and it's causing me writer's block. I decided I would extend my hiatus another month while I tried to get my mental health and his physical health under control.

Unfortunately, near the end of April, my sweet boy reached the stage of needing to be put to sleep. It's not clear how or why his supposedly stage 1 kidney disease progressed so fast, especially since I had him on a prescription diet and was providing him the best possible care I could. But either way, it got to a point where he was in too much pain, and the call had to be made.

As I am sure you can understand, this took my already fragile mental health and shattered it. It's been rough and I haven't felt up to writing or really anything creative. My grief is finally starting to resolve, so I'm starting, little by little, to start working on In Another Life again. The next chapter is still a bit away, and I would like to get a few chapters written before I start trying to make weekly updates, so I don't feel so pressured.

I hope you can understand and will patiently wait for the next chapter. I promise I am coming back - just not yet. I'll try to at least make another update on the hiatus status when I feel like I am getting closer to posting again.

#hiatus update #personal #my writing #yugioh #ygo

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l1teraryangel · 11 months

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Oh boy... Time for an update on the hiatus.

#personal #hiatus update #yugioh #ygo #my writing

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 14) + HIATUS

He could see them. They were so close. His body — no, his soul flew towards them, weightless, soaring through the white nothingness around him. The only color came from the red, black, and gold tendrils braided around his transparent form. Heka leashed his soul to their bodies, calling him, guiding him onwards.

‘Keep it up, guys! I’m right there! Just a few more seconds…’

He was so damn close. The sweat beading on their foreheads, dripping from their faces… The strain in their facial muscles… The subtle twitches of their fingers… He saw everything. They were reaching their limits, like he had. Desperate, he reached for their outstretched hands, using the final bit of strength to propel himself.

And right at the end, when he swore despite his spirit form he felt the warmth of their flesh and the give of their skin, the image of them shattered. A string of curses, vicious enough to rival Bakura or Touzoku-Ou on their worst days, flew from his mouth.

‘NO! I was there! I was right fucking there!’

Though no tears fell from his eyes in this form, his whole being screamed and ached. It would have been less cruel for the magic to fail while he existed in the other realm. Yet, with these thoughts playing out, he understood more than last time. Something was blocking him. It was always for a moment, a split second, but he recognized the same energy refusing him entry into his home. Why did it — whatever ‘it’ was — need to taunt him, let him get so near, then snatch his lovers away?

His spirit continued to suffer, wordless, as the white abyss welcomed him back with neither warmth nor cold. He floated, a specter once more, amid the empty space and lost in his moroseness. Until, that was, the space materialized a new passageway. An unassuming door — light brown, no scratches, a tacky gold doorknob — flouted the availability of a novel realm with brand-new mysteries and unknown dangers.

Unable to stand the maddening emptiness housing him, Ryou decided to take the plunge yet again. He brazenly threw the door open and let the realm vacuum him inside.

***

On the other side of the mirror, Bakura and Touzoku-Ou swore and cursed, their magic whipping the air and tearing apart their borrowed bedroom. They were enraged, inconsolable, and precariously lost in their own thoughts even as the rest of their friend group ran in.

Seeing the chaos brewing, Kek shielded Malik from a maelstrom of violent magic while Atem hauled Yugi out of the room, safely removing him in the nick of time before a shattered end table flung into the wall where his light would have been.

“Whoa, jeez! Guys! GUYS!” Malik shouted, but his voice drowned amidst the thunderstorm. “Fucking hell! Pharaoh, this is an appropriate time to use your godking bullshit!”

Atem squinted, trying to find Bakura and Touzoku-Ou through the twister of mangled furnishing and unruly heka. “Those idiots are going to destroy their bodies…! I’ll cut them off, but watch out — things are gonna go flying!”

Hastily, Kek shoved Mali down, using his own body to cover as much of his lighter half as possible. The maelstrom died in a flurry of golden sparks, and just like Atem predicted, the broken bits of bedroom furnishings flew in multiple directions. A piece of drawer slashed across Kek’s back, and the Egyptian hissed, tucking in tighter on Malik.

Dodging an armoire door, Atem glanced at his fellow yami. “You okay?”

“That hurt like hell, but I’ve had worse.”

“I’m sure.” Atem’s sangria-colored gaze returned to the center of the room where, choking on sobs, the two thieves sat back-to-back. It took him a minute to process the scene, never having seen the two so openly ruined. “Bakura, Touzoku-Ou! What happened?”

Yugi poked his head back in, gasping both at the men and the damaged surroundings. “Oh my gods!” He darted in, passing Atem before he could utter a protest, and dropped to his knees beside his friend’s lovers. “Guys! Are you hurt?!”

They shook their heads, silently refusing to meet his eyes, and continued to draw in stifled breath. Malik, sneaking out of Kek’s hold, joined Yugi beside them and placed a hand on Bakura’s knee.

“Hey, talk to us. What happened?”

Over his shoulder, Yugi beckoned to Atem. “Take Kek to Isis to get his back looked at, please. Let us talk with Bakura and Touzoku-Ou alone.”

Kek groaned, but he kept his arguments sealed up. He and Atem understood Yugi’s request had less to do with his minor injury and more to do with lessening the people around, hopefully allowing the thieves to speak openly.

When the two men exited the room, Bakura muttered, “That wasn’t necessary. I don’t have the energy to care if they see me falling apart.”

“Second that,” Touzoku-Ou sniffed, scrubbing at the swollen skin beneath his eye. “Who fucking cares. Something out there doesn’t want us to get Ryou back, and it is actively cockblocking us.”

“Cockblocking well.” Bakura clenched his fist until what little color his skin possessed vanished. “When I find out what is going on, I’m going to tear whatever bastard is responsible a new asshole.”

Lost, Malik and Yugi looked at each other, and the Egyptian inquired, “What are you guys talking about? What happened?”

Sighing, Bakura filled them in on Ryou’s appearance in the mirror, how he reached out to them and tried from his end to push himself through. His mahogany eyes gleamed like glass, a second round of tears ready to break out at any moment.

Yugi shook his head. “Dammit, guys, you should have called for us. We could have helped.”

“Doubt it,” Touzoku-Ou snorted, patting Yugi’s head, eyes absently staring passed him. “The issue wasn’t the connection or the amount of magic… Like I said, something is preventing Ryou from reentering our world. Something doesn’t want my Rohi back in his own world.”

Annoyed, Malik jabbed his hands into his hips. “Something being what? Work with us, guys. What stopped him?”

Bakura kicked Malik in the stomach, light enough not to hurt but firm enough to knock him onto his ass. “I appreciate your faith in our being omnipotent, Ishtar, but I assure you that is not the case. Don’t you think we’d tell you if we knew anything?”

The blonde muttered a swear in his native tongue before replying sharply, “Okay, can you describe it?”

“Annoying,” Both thieves snarled, and Yugi slapped his forehead. Malik glared daggers at them, climbing to his feet.

“Alright, fine. Pout. Be completely useless.” They glared back at him. “I’m going to take Kek and help Isis and Rishid research. Yugi and Atem can watch your lookalikes. Why don’t you do something and eat some food? You really did a number on yourselves with that stunt.”

The silver-haired thieves watched both lights leave, Malik storming and Yugi reluctantly following, glancing over his shoulder at them. When the star-haired man clicked the door closed behind him, they fell to the floor, more hopeless than ever, and stared at the ceiling.

***

Ryou’s eyes skimmed over the colorless ceiling, aloof save for the boiling contempt over once more being in another’s body. It was exhausting on all levels, and quite frankly, he was sick of it. To make matters worse, he kept finding himself lost in the things he’d done since this mayhem began.

‘I killed a man. I basically cheated on my boyfriends with another version of them while they were trying their hardest to get me back. I possibly damaged my other self’s body by using too much magic. Oh, and I abandoned poor Yugi and Malik to the demented versions of Kek and Atem. Didn’t even try to help them.’

His self-loathing hadn’t been this high since he found out the diorama he built at the museum nearly led to his friends dying. Usually, when he had a bad day where no light penetrated his thoughts, he relied on Bakura and Touzoku-Ou to pull him through. Bakura distracted him with Monster World shenanigans, either by dragging him and Touzoku-Ou into an impromptu session or by finding funny compilations on the internet. Touzoku-Ou preferred to gift Ryou things from his accumulated, and certainly stolen, treasure trove. One of Ryou’s favorite items, a polished onyx heart on a gold chain, laid inside his bedside drawer for safe keeping.

And, if all else failed, they carried him to bed and snuggled under the covers. Bakura might make a fuss about it, saying Ryou was killing his reputation, but Touzoku-Ou enjoyed the feeling of skin-on-skin contact. His counterpart would often shut up if one of the others kissed him and nuzzled into his chest. Ryou also found puppy-eyes an effective tactic when he needed to cuddle and Bakura wanted to play hard-to-get.

“Dammit…” Ryou wiped his eyes. “I’m so sick of crying. I’m too old, and I’ve been through too much shit to be acting like a baby over this.”

‘I’d better get no backtalk and all the cuddles when I get home, though.’

A buzz by his right ear captured his attention, and he grabbed the vibrating cell phone off the end table. Once the alarm was disabled, having successfully alerted him to the fact it was nine in the morning, Ryou unlocked the phone with his fingerprint.

‘Time to gather info, I guess. Hopefully this is a good realm.’

His alternate self’s text messages, open already, seemed as good a place to start as any. He saw six separate chains worth looking into: Malik, Yugi, Kek, Bakura, Touzoku-Ou, and a group thread with Bakura and Touzoku-Ou.

‘Mmkay, I’ll start with… Individuals first.’

-XX/XX/XX-

[imamura this is bakura, save my #]

[Oh, hi! Sure thing, no worries. You are officially in my contacts.]

[cool] [are we still on for studying tmw] [if not it’s fine]

[No, I’ve got my schedule cleared just for you! C:] [If you can’t make it, though, I understand! I’m sure you’re busy.]

[hardly] [guess i’ll see you after class]

[I look forward to it! Want me to bring any snacks or drinks?]

[eh idc]

-XX/XX/XX-

[hey those creampuffs were really good]

[Haha, thank you! I love baking. Want me to bring them next time, too?]

[i wouldn’t mind]

[Then I will!]

-XX/XX/XX-

[Hey, Bakura-san! Just checking that I have the right date and time?]

[shit sorry ran into some issues] [be there soon]

[No problem! Take your time. I’ll see you when you get here.]

-XX/XX/XX-

[hey]

[Hi!]

[thanks for tutoring me]

[Of course! Did you pass?]

[by the skin of my teeth… would have failed without you for sure]

[Aw, I appreciate that. If you ever have any other courses you need help in, feel free to ask!] [Do you mind me asking about what happened during our last session?]

[ah fuck i’m sorry] [those bastards love to pick fights with me] [hope they didn’t freak you out too bad]

[No, not really. I was just concerned.] [Have your injuries healed?]

[yeah they weren’t too bad] [thanks for patching me up]

[Anytime, Bakura-san.] [Um, can I ask one more question?]

[you just did but sure]

[How do you feel about maybe spending some time together outside of tutoring?]

[you asking me out?]

[I guess…?] [I mean, I’m open to hanging out as friends, too.] [Unless that makes you uncomfortable.]

[6 outside central park]

[Oh… really?] [Uh, platonic or otherwise?]

[i’ll let you figure it out when i get there]

‘Aw, that was cute.’ Ryou sighed, a wistful long shimmering in his eyes. ‘These texts are from a year ago. Guess they mainly chat on the phone or in the group text now? Okay, next… Malik’s texts go back waaaaay far, so maybe only the recent ones…’

-XX/XX/XX-

[MALIK!!!]

[RYOU???]

[HE SAID YES.]

[Told you he had the hots for you] [Seriously look at all the options for tutors and he chose you? Totally a ploy to get your number]

[I… think he genuinely needed help, too?]

[Well maybe XD he’s an idiot] [Ah didnt mean you werent a good tutor btw!!!] [(ᗒᗣᗕ)]

[I knew what you meant.] [He wasn’t clear if he considered this a date or not, though…]

[It’s obviously a date] [Go get ‘im]

[You really think so…?]

[Ryou I adore you and find your lack of confidence endearing, but cmon] [Look in a mirror and strike a pose] [Your H O T]

[My hot what, Malik?]

[*You’re] [Haha dork] [I gotta study but if he texts you anything spicy let me know] [And if he sends dick pics without your consent, I’ll spread them throughout the school]

[You’re a good friend, Mal.]

[I’m the best friend <3] [Keep me posted, smooches~]

-XX/XX/XX-

[MALIK!!!]

[Deja vu?] [Lol what’s up?]

[IT WAS A DATE.]

[I know, he told Kek] [And I beat the truth out of him]

[Uh…]

[Sexually]

[Got it…]

[Let me be clear] [It was a handjob, not domestic abuse]

[I understand, Mal.]

[Glad we’re on the same page] [You have no idea how much I’ve been wanting to text an ‘I told ya so’ btw]

[Hah, I’m not surprised. Honestly, I really wasn’t sure, but after we hung out for a while… I knew he was attractive, of course, but now…]

[Want tips to seduce him? I’ve got leftover ideas from when I wooed Kek]

[I don’t think I’m quite brave enough to use any of your methods.]

[Pfft, suit yourself] [You’re such a cutie, Ry] [Don’t understand why you’re so shy]

[I’ve never dated anyone outside Jonouchi! And that was only because Yugi kept pushing us to try.]

[Oh yeah, I remember him] [Isn’t he dating some older chick now?]

[I don’t know? We only talk when Yugi invites us out with the group.] [You’re distracting me.]

[Right, sorry] [So are you and Bakura official? Or gonna keep testing the waters?] [Ooh a quick fling might be fun if you aren’t ready to commit]

[Not sure where we stand. He said we should hang out again some time and don’t be afraid to text him.]

[Well at least he knows where he stands] [Sounds like a college lovestory if I ever heard one]

[You think so?]

[Guarantee you he’d be DTF]

[Oh boy… I don’t know… Flings and one-night stands are more difficult for me than dating, I think.]

[It’s cause you get attached so easily] [In which case, date the guy] [From what Kek told me he’d be over the moon for either] [With you specifically]

[Really?]

[My time has come] [I TOLD YOU HE HAD THE HOTS FOR YOU] [Ah, much better]

[Okay, okay. I’ll… see about scheduling a date for this weekend.]

[Why not Friday?] [Isn’t that horror movie you’ve been dying to see coming out then?]

[It is, but I have another student to tutor. He’s new to the school and will need some extra help catching up and adjusting.]

[Fine, but text Bakura before you lose your nerve] [I want a screenshot as proof]

[I’d rather call him.]

[Uuuugh, then send me your call history after]

[Alright, Malik. I’ll send it to you in a bit.]

[Good! Love you~ <3]

[Goofy… I love you, too.]

‘And there’s the screenshot proof. Maybe it’s because I lived with Bakura for so long before we became a couple, but I never remember being so timid about my feelings… Guess I was a little quieter back then, but not totally reserved… Hm.’

Ryou flicked his thumb, but the phone suddenly vibrated, slipped, and landed right on his face.‘OW! Dammit…’ He yanked the notifications down begrudgingly, yet his eyes softened when he saw Bakura and Touzoku-Ou’s group thread with his alternate self.

‘Gotta catch up faster so I can see what that’s about… Okay, next… Oh, Yugi and Kek only have a few exchanges. Kek’s messages are mainly communicating about Malik or asking general questions about my health, my relationship… Sweet, but irrelevant. Yugi’s are school-related except for one or two meet-ups… Guess we aren’t as close in this realm? Makes catching up easier, then.’

Backing out of Yugi’s thread, Ryou once again nearly dropped the phone, caught off-guard by the vibration. Tutting, he opened Touzoku-Ou’s thread.

-XX/XX/XX-

[Tahsin-san, you know where the library is, right?]

[Call me TK please] [Yeah my class let out early so I’m already here]

[Oh, sorry… I’ll be there as soon as I can!]

[Sure]

-XX/XX/XX-

[You said I can call you Ryou]

[Good morning, TK. Yes, you can.]

[Just checking]

[Okay.] [Did you need anything?]

[Not really]

[Well, let me know if you do…]

[Do you have plans today]

[Um, sort of? Not until later tonight.] [Did you want to go over more stuff?]

[No] [Wanted to ask you out]

[Oh… Uh… I’m kinda seeing someone?]

[Exclusively?]

[I… don’t suppose we are. We haven’t really talked about it yet.]

[So yes or no to me]

[I mean… Can I think about it for a second?]

[Sure take your time]

…

[Okay, I’m back.]

[Welcome back]

[Haha, thanks. If you don’t mind a lunch date or the fact that I have plans with someone else later…]

[I’ll pick you up in an hour]

[Oh. You’re very… eager.]

[You’re cute]

[Thank you?]

[You’re welcome] [See you soon]

-XX/XX/XX-

[Ryou can we go on another date]

[Good morning, TK. You have a way with starting conversations.]

[Thanks] [Date?]

[Um… What time were you thinking?]

[Now]

[I need a bit more notice than that…]

[Thirty minutes]

[I also have class today.]

[After class]

[Well, we are studying together after class. I guess you could call that a date?]

[Doesn’t count in a library] [Restaurant I’ll pay]

[I suppose I can’t argue with free food.]

[Good see you then]

-XX/XX/XX-

[Date tonight?]

[I was wondering when you’d text me.]

[Overslept]

[Maybe you should take the day off? You’ve been studying really hard.] [And you keep asking me out, which is taking up your free time.]

[I like spending time with you]

[I like spending time with you, too, but I don’t want to take up all your time…]

[Don’t have anything else to do] [Don’t know anyone really] [Plus you’re fun and cute]

[Maybe I can get my friends Malik and Kek to hang out with us? We could go to the arcade or something?]

[Hm guess so] [Why not invite that other guy you went on a date with]

[Uh… You mean Bakura-san? Wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?]

[Why we’re not exclusive]

[It just seems like it might lead to awkwardness]

[Humor me] [I also want to see my competition so I can win you over]

[You’re funny.]

[Thanks but wasn’t joking]

[Hm. If you really want me to… And it would be a group setting, so nice chance for everyone to get to know each other better…]

[Text me the time and place when you decide]

[Sure. Get some rest, though?]

[Since you’re cute ok]

‘Man, how is this me more timid but also reeling them in faster? Unfair.’ Ryou backed out of the message chain and scrolled to the group thread. ‘Alright, this is the big one. At this point, I don’t really need to read it; the dynamic is clear. But… Why not?’

-XX/XX/XX-

[Ryou date]

[geez you weren’t kidding about his openings]

[Shit didn’t mean to grab the group]

[wow asshole] [way to make me feel like a 3rd wheel]

[Don’t be dramatic]

[dramatic? me?] [you know what… if you’re gonna be a fuckhead] [ryou would you go on a date with me?]

[Hey I asked first]

[i dated ryou 1st]

[Um… Guys? Please don’t fight… Especially not over me.]

[morning cutie] [who’s fighting?] [just reminding him of his place in the food chain]

[Ryou date]

[don’t ignore me!]

[Sorry, guys, I have a big test coming up. I need to study.]

[study with me]

[Study with me]

[hah mine went thru 1st] [suck it]

[Doesn’t mean you automatically win]

[TK, Bakura-san, I need to REALLY study. You two tend to be too distracting, separate or together.]

[distracting eh?]

[But you’re cute when you get flustered]

…

[he’s ignoring us]

[Wanna go over to his dorm and break in]

[I have a deadbolt on my door.]

[he speaks!]

[Cute that you think a deadbolt would stop me]

[Guys. Seriously, I need to study. Why don’t you two go on a date if you’re so bored?]

[us date?]

[I’m bored enough to try it]

[how romantic…]

[You’re no Ryou but you’ll do]

[are you asking me out or asking me to kick your ass?]

[Eh both if you’ve got the balls]

[you cocky son of a bitch]

[GUYS.] [Take this out of the group chat, please!]

[Sorry Ryou]

[fine but i’m coming for you next cutie]

[Not if I get to him first]

[in your dreams] [get your ass over to arcade so we can settle this]

[Highest score gets a Ryou date first]

[game on mf]

[I’m turning my phone off.] [Don’t break into my dorm.]

‘So on and so on for… Wow, three months to give up on individual relationships and go for a threeway? College relationships develop so fast… I lived with them for longer than that before I started seeing Touzoku-Ou alone, and it took months after that for us to invite Bakura into the relationship.’

Smiling to himself, Ryou thumbed down the wall of messages, an occasional giggle escaping as he read the familiar-sounding shenanigans. The minutes ticked by until, at last, he reached the newest messages responsible for the bruise forming on his nose.

-XX/XX/XX-

[ryou you finished your last exam for a while right? let’s go out to a nice restaurant]

[I’ll buy]

[obviously… you’re the guy with fat wallet]

…

[you there ryou?]

[Maybe he’s asleep]

“I guess I should text them back,” Ryou muttered, biting his lip. “They seem perfectly normal, so meeting them would be safe. Maybe I should write that I’m sick, though… Buy myself some time to get out of this realm and let them have their actual boyfriend.”

His fingers hovered over his first letter when the phone buzzed extensively. The new messages poured in too fast to process.

-XX/XX/XX-

[wanna go break in?]

[Welfare check?]

[if we’re caught] [otherwise it can be a booty call]

[Race you there]

[see you both soon]

--- --- --- --- ---

AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 14 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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REMINDER: I'll be going on hiatus from now until the end of January. Thank you for reading!

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

Text

3 x 3 (Ch. 1 - A Mishap)

Chapter Warning: Sexual Content, Consensual Polyamory

--- --- --- --- ---

Two young men, Malik Ishtar and Yugi Mutou, sat upon a sectional couch in their shared home, staring at the third and final member of their household, Ryou Bakura, seated upon the floor. His tongue poked out of his lips as he studied over and over the symbols of his occult book, blissfully oblivious to his roommates bewilderment.

Yugi glanced at Malik, back to Ryou, and then Malik again. “So, Ryou… What, uh… Whatcha doin’?”

“Working on our Christmas gift,” Ryou said, smiling without looking away from his book. His matter-of-fact tone, coupled with the bizarre task he assigned himself, was endearing, or at least Malik and Yugi thought so.

“And what is this mysterious gift that requires a summoning circle?” Malik asked and gestured to the chalk painting their high quality wood floor.

Ryou’s nose scrunched, a giggle reverberating in his throat. “I can’t tell you the details! It’s a surprise.”

Unable to deny his curiosity, Yugi frowned. “Ryou, you aren’t trying to do something crazy like summon a spirit of festive joy again, are you?”

Holding a hand to his chest, Ryou gasped, “Yugi Mutou! I would not repeat a gift one year to the next! I have integrity as a creative soul.”

Malik chuckled and prodded Yugi with his elbow. “Yeah, Yugi, don’t you know your boyfriend has standards by now?" His lavender eyes twinkled. “I did like that spirit, though. Really knew how to mix a damn good drink.”

Beaming, Ryou blew Malik a kiss. “Maybe for Valentine’s, if you behave, my lovely Malik.”

“I always behave.” Both Yugi and Ryou laughed. “What? I haven’t been a crime boss in like a decade. You cannot keep holding it over me.”

The duo laughed harder, and Malik crossed his arms, exaggerating a pout. “I came out to have a good time, and I honestly feel so attacked right now. If you two are going to bully me, I’m going to lock myself in the bedroom.”

Returning to his book through his giggles, Ryou waved at Yugi. “Would the esteemed King of Games please dote on the renowned King of Drama?”

Clutching his stomach and gasping through the laughter, Yugi barely managed to crawl into Malik’s lap. “As you command, Prince of Darkness.”

The Egyptian huffed, though he grinned as Yugi coated his neck in kisses. “I just want to say that I am offended by this false title. I am the King of Kings, ruler of— aah!”

Malik shuddered, breath hitching, thanks to Yugi dropping his full weight into the blonde’s groin. A sly smirk across the shorter male’s lips revealed the intention behind the well-timed maneuver.

He sucked on Malik’s jaw, dragging his tongue over the jut of the bone, and whispered in his velvetiest voice, “Sorry, what was that, your highness?”

“I’m going to remember this, Mutou.”

“Good.”

Biting his lip, Ryou tried to focus on the last symbol, but the sounds of escalating arousal were distracting him. He couldn’t be mad since “doting” on Malik was his instruction, but seriously. Did they need to dote on each other in front of his innocent summoning circle? It hadn’t even been completed yet, and they were already polluting its purity with their ragged breaths, moaning, and grumbled swears.

Rude.

He set the chalk down, closed his book, and stood. Dusting off his hands, he stepped over the circle and stared down at his writhing boyfriends. From his position on the bottom of their stack, Malik batted his eyelashes.

“Oh, sorry, were we disrupting you?” His eyes flicked down to the budding bulge tenting Ryou’s jeans. “Need a hand, sweet prince?”

Disregarding the double entendre, Ryou glanced at Yugi. “You should have gagged him if you were gonna go this far. You know he only gets mouthier when he’s pining to be fucked.”

Yugi paused the series of stomach kisses. “The benefit to a threesome, Ryou, is you can shut him up while I cure that need of his.”

The words drew a moan from Malik, though Ryou suspected it was played up to further entice him into abandoning his summoning circle for another thirty minutes or so. Not that it was necessary, since he had already begun undoing his pants while Yugi spoke. He swiped his tongue across his lips when Malik’s hungry eyes greedily fixated on his freed erection.

“Way ahead of you, Yugi. Move over.”

The shortest of the three obliged, pulling Malik by the shirt, thus allowing Ryou to slide right behind the blonde. Said male used the opportunity to shed the clothing, which Ryou rewarded with a light kiss on his upper scars. Yugi eagerly assisted Malik by removing the rest of his obstructive clothes, leaving his beautiful tanned body bare, and Ryou tossed his own shirt to the growing pile on the floor.

“Flip over, Mal,” Ryou instructed, tickling the dip between Malik’s hip and ribs. Malik growled, slapping away Ryou’s hand, and instead yanked Yugi’s shirt over his head. “Ooh, are we playing hard-to-top?”

“Nah,” Malik snickered, unzipping and shoving Yugi’s pants off his hips. “Just want us on even playing ground. I’ll be feisty another day. Right now…”

He flipped over, ass pressed against Yugi’s hardened cock, and ducked his head down to kiss the tip of Ryou’s. His eager efforts earned a needy moan from Yugi and an involuntary, pleased twitch from Ryou. The latter guided his cock to Malik’s lips, shivering when he obediently swirled his tongue around the slit.

“Nngh…” Ryou groaned, tangling his fingers in golden hair. He saw Yugi split Malik’s cheeks, eyes half-lidded as he sucked his middle finger and waited for either lover’s cue. The sight drove Ryou nuts, almost to the point of driving his swollen shaft right into Malik’s throat.

Through gasps, Ryou tugged Malik back just enough to keep him from swallowing his cock whole. “Malik, the magic words?”

Dabbing his tongue tip-to-tip and teasing his object of desire, Malik gazed at Ryou through his flaxen lashes, passion burning through his irises. “Please fuck me, my most benevolent rulers. Use my body until you're spent.”

Being so benevolent, as Malik put it, Ryou and Yugi gladly granted his request.

***

When Malik, thoroughly fucked, and Yugi, exhausted, fell asleep, Ryou slipped away from beside them. He slid back onto the floor, cracking open his book. Mentally, he practiced his pronunciations, knowing this was a spell he could not afford to screw up. Not if he wanted to give Yugi the best Christmas present. Which he did.

A part of him always felt guilty about Yugi. After the Ceremonial Duel with Atem, when Ryou and Malik first started developing their friendship, Yugi had been alone for the first time in… who knows how long. His friends were there, of course, but they couldn’t be there twenty-four-seven. And while Ryou meant to check in on Yugi, to bond over the mutual solitude they found themselves in after losing their other halves…

He never did. He had no reason to because he found Malik. It never occurred to him during or post-Battle City that he might find a friend, let alone a lover, in the man who once used him for a puppet. Yet, the more they talked, the more Ryou realized they shared things in common. Their love of games, their snarky and occasionally morbid humor, their love of their families, their traumatic pasts. Even the things they didn’t share brought them closer together.

But when Yugi, alone and deprived, called him out of the blue one day to ask him on a date, it broke Ryou’s heart to turn him down and explain he already had a boyfriend. He thanked the gods Malik, in spite of his past feelings towards the pharaoh and his vessel, told him he was open to the idea of letting Yugi join them for a date night.

One date night led to another, then another, and evolved into a sexual threesome before any of the men knew what happened. Feelings seeped into their relationship, and the rest was history. They had been in a three-way relationship for six years, five of which involved genuine romantic feelings for everyone involved. For all intents and purposes, they might as well be married. They owned a decent-sized home together, shared a single bed despite each having their own space for personal items, spent holidays split between Malik’s siblings and Yugi’s mother and grandfather, and overall lived domestic lives.

There were unresolved feelings, however, and honestly, all three of them expressed some level of boredom with the mundane day-to-day. Life was so great, so quiet, so… average. Being with each other was the best part of the day, but compared to their teenage chaos, things were dull. And while none of them would trade their relationship for something new or more exciting, there was no reason, as far as Ryou saw it, they couldn’t add excitement into what they had.

What could be more exciting than resolving past loves and reshaping it into new love? Ryou might only have enough power and knowledge to grant Yugi’s former tenant, Pharaoh Atem, a day pass, but he knew Yugi would be over the moon. For many, many reasons.

‘Since he’s asleep, I’m going to take full advantage and make this the best surprise gift ever! He won’t know what hit him when he wakes up to Atem in our living room.’

Truthfully, he was excited for this, too. He loved Malik and Yugi, but a part of him sometimes fantasized about Atem, dressed in royal garb, seated in a chair while the three of them worshiped his body, head to toe.

Another part of him, tucked deeper into the halls of his heart, also fantasized about a man with hair the color of moonlight and eyes like the night sky. These visions usually accompanied a third, featuring a man with flaxen hair contrasted against copper skin, kohl-lined eyes and irises the color of dried Morning Glory petals.

He never confessed these desires because, given the history associated with the individuals, they were horrendously taboo. How dare he fantasize of the thief who stole and abused his body sneaking into his bed and stealing him away once more. How dare he touch himself over the man, little more than a split personality, who tortured his friends and especially Malik, regardless of how attractive his darkness was.

Keeping such secrets from his lovers left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he worried those thoughts would hurt them. Atem, at least, was harmless. Malik let go of his resentment long, long ago and even suggested Yugi roleplay as him, though the latter shot it down out of forlorn remembrance.

‘Focus, Ryou. Those sort of things are exactly why you are doing this. Malik and I might never be completely at peace with our other halves, so Yugi should get the chance. I’m going to give it to him personally.’

Double-checking the circle one last time, Ryou climbed to his feet and began to chant, funneling his focus into the words and feeling them vibrate through his soul. His magic, usually transparent white swirling around crystal blue, flowed around him in silvery gray wisps. Though it surprised him, he pushed on, refusing to ruin his gift by hesitating.

To his left, Malik and Yugi stirred, pulled out of slumber by the light shining upon their faces. Malik opened his eyes first, groaning, but he gasped when he realized what exactly woke him up. Ryou distantly recognized a poised question, likely aimed at himself, but he kept up his spell.

Yugi, rubbing his eyes, registered the scene slower. He blinked a few times, eyelashes fluttering, brain processing what must be going down. The magic spiraling in their living space intensified, a twister of Ryou’s heka tied down only by the boundaries of the summoning circle.

“R-Ryou…!” Yugi exclaimed over the roar thundering through their home. “What are you doing?”

Finishing the final declaration, Ryou beamed at his boyfriends and allowed his magic to gradually halt. They stared at him, confused and concerned, and Malik demanded, “Ryou Bakura, why did you not wait until we were all awake? You know magic is unpredictable. You could have been hurt!”

“Malik, Yugi,” Ryou sighed, contentment tempting his eyes closed. “I wanted to wake you up once the surprise was here, but I guess it’s okay that you woke up during. Guess we can wrap the gift up together, assuming he will let us.”

“What?” Yugi stared into the magic circle, trying to see past the receding silver swirls. “What is the gift, Ryou? Seriously?”

Ryou hummed and sank to his knees, exhaustion from both the sex and the spell catching up with him. “Maybe you two will have to wrap it yourselves. I’m… really… sleepy…”

Malik darted forward, holding Ryou up by his waist and shoulders. “Ryou Bakura, so help me, don’t you dare pass out until you explain yourself! That is an order.”

“I love when you’re bossy,” Ryou giggled and kissed Malik’s nose. “But, my lovely Malik, I’m tired… You two can figure it out from here, yeah?”

He leaned into Malik’s neck, closing his eyes, and listened to the magic dissipate at last. Both of his boyfriends gasped, which was the reaction he hoped for, but the way Malik began to tremble made Ryou’s emotions sour. His eyes shot open, tired though they were, and went to his summoning circle.

“What’s wrong? Did it not wo—”

His spell worked. Of course it did. He studied it over a hundred times, reciting it mentally and repeatedly confirming his understanding of the arcane symbols and words.

The problem, the one causing at least his one lover distress, was his spell worked too well. Scattered around his summoning circle, naked and unconscious, laid Atem — as intended — and two other men. The very ones Ryou privately dreamed of.

Thief King Bakhura, his former parasite, and Yami Malik, his boyfriend Malik’s sadistic alter ego.

***

“I don’t understand what went wrong,” Ryou groaned, hiding his face in Malik and Yugi’s shoulders. “The spell was supposed to bring one person — one! And I meant it to be Atem.”

Yugi smiled and rubbed Ryou’s back. “You’re so sweet, Ryou.”

The white-haired man groaned again, louder and almost angry. “No, Yugi, I’m a fucking idiot who fucked up a spell! Now, instead of a fun surprise, we have a major problem…”

“It was a sweet idea,” Malik admitted, but his voice wavered as his lavender eyes flickered to his dark personality. “What are we going to do with them? Better yet, how are we going to deal with them when they wake up? They might try attacking us and Atem.”

“Especially Atem,” Yugi agreed, face grim. “First thing’s first… Let’s put Atem into the master bedroom and lock the thief and Yami Malik in… The bathroom, maybe? Just make sure there’s nothing in there they can use against us.”

Ryou grimaced. “Like razor blades. I’ll go clear the hall bathroom. Malik, will you carry Atem to Yugi’s room? And Yugi, will you please watch them? If they start to wake up, yell for us.”

His boyfriends nodded and went forth with their plan. Malik lifted Atem up bridal style, shooting Yugi a wink as he hauled the pharaoh down the hallway. Ryou scampered after him, breaking off the shared path to dart into the bathroom and remove anything possibly dangerous. He scooped basically every item into his arms and ran it to their main bathroom, shoving it in a cabinet haphazardly so he could rejoin Yugi.

“You’re such a speed demon,” Yugi teased when he skittered to a stop beside him. “I had everything under control, Ry. They aren’t even stirring.”

Planting a kiss on Yugi’s forehead, Ryou plopped onto the couch and sighed. “Gods, I’m so sorry about this. I looked at that spell so much. I seriously don’t get what went wrong.”

“It’s fine, Ryou.”

“But it isn’t, Yugi! I’ve put us in danger!”

“You were trying to do something unbelievably sweet. Neither Malik nor I could blame you for that.”

“You might feel different if we get stabbed or murdered.”

Malik, walking up behind them, laughed shakily. “Hey, we could have loads of fun in the afterlife. Imagine all the ghost sex, Ryou. And don’t pretend the idea doesn’t get your motor going.”

Ryou pouted and crossed his arms. “Dammit, Malik, not the time for sexy talk. Especially not really sexy talk.”

“There’s our beautiful spectrophiliac,” Yugi snickered, wedging himself beneath Ryou’s arms to hug him. “Alright, if you two don’t mind, I am going to make use of Ryou’s gift and go talk to Atem.”

Waggling his eyebrows, Malik asked, “Talk or talk, Yuge?”

“I like to keep my options open,” Yugi replied just as cheekily before looking at the two unconscious men. His tone took on a more serious edge. “Do you need help getting them into the bathroom?”

Offering a shrug, Ryou experimentally lifted the thief’s upper body. Heavy, but he didn’t have to be gentle with the thief like Malik was with Atem.

“Think we can manage. Go to your Prince of Egypt, oh mighty King of Games.”

“Ooh, that’s fun and accurate. Good call, Ryou.”

The star-haired man rushed off, leaving his two boyfriends to their other halves. The two men eyed said halves, contemplating the best course of action in mutual silence.

Ryou tutted his tongue absently. “Should we stick with our own or share the burden of each other’s demon?”

With a snort, Malik slung his arm over Ryou’s shoulder. “Fuck, it’s been a decade. I can be brave enough to handle my own darkness if you can, too.”

“I’m game. Best looking between the two of us goes first.” Ryou made a show of batting his eyes at Malik. “That would be you, my king.”

“That’s subjective. What if I think you are better looking?”

“I’d argue that you have visible abs, which are worth one bonus point a piece.” He poked Malik’s stomach. “That’s six extra points.”

A grin curling his mouth, the blonde narrowed his eyes. “You’re trying to sweet talk me so you can top later, aren’t you?”

“Why, Malik! That never crossed my mind!”

“Uh-huh. Fine, I’ll go first. But I don’t take kindly to the attempted bribery, lover.”

Ryou met his grin with his own, stepping back so Malik could work. His boyfriend yanked his darker half up, arms hooked under the armpits of the unconscious lookalike, and dragged him precariously backwards towards the hall bath. Once Malik rounded into the bathroom, Ryou moved to mimic the actions, sliding the thief king’s upper body against his chest.

He barely steadied himself before he found himself flipped onto his back, a snarling man straddling him. Ryou gasped at the impact, locking onto the purple-blue eyes of his Ancient Egyptian ancestor. For a moment, he swore the man might rip his throat out using only his teeth; yet, as his heart beat into his breastbone and sweat beaded on his forehead, a flicker of recognition and disbelief graced those beautiful eyes burrowing into him.

“Landlord?”

“I, uh… prefer Ryou these days, if you don’t mind.”

The man’s hand, rough with callouses and small scars, cupped Ryou’s cheek. “You’re here?”

Swallowing the temptation to lean into the hand, Ryou exhaled a wobbly breath. “Well, yeah. This is my home, after all.”

The thief king blinked, darting his eyes around suspiciously. “...This is real? I’m in Domino, Japan?”

“Uh-huh. Could you, y’know, let me up? You’re kinda heavy.”

Considering his former host, the thief brushed a thumb over Ryou’s lips. “Why am I here?”

A blush, mainly from the caressing touch and partly from the heat building in his pants, exposed Ryou’s wandering mind and awarded him a salacious grin a la his other half. “Um, that’s because… Ugh, it’s a long story. Short version is an accident.”

Licking his lips and watching Ryou’s eyes subconsciously track the motion, the thief dropped to the side, allowing Ryou to push himself off the ground. “Yeah, it would be, wouldn’t it?” He glanced down at his nude body, and the smirk pulling at his lips doubled. “Guess you couldn’t accidentally bring me my clothes, huh?”

“I didn’t have much say in your clothing or lack thereof,” Ryou answered, averting his eyes in spite of his desire to drink in the man’s appearance. “I doubt anything of mine will fit your original body, but I could get you a towel or something?”

“My precious landlord, why would I deny you the viewing pleasure of my true body?”

Tensing, Ryou glared at the thief. “Wipe that smirk off your face. I told you, my name is Ryou. I’m not your landlord anymore.” His guest seemed unfazed by the curtness, leisurely charting every inch of Ryou’s form. “Stop that. You’re acting like you’ve never seen me before.”

“I’m not used to looking at you with my own eyes,” The thief chuckled. “So, tell me, how many years have I been lost in the shadows?”

Ryou sucked in a breath, fingers twitching as he resisted the urge to bite his nails. “Ten years.”

“Seems fitting.” The thief’s eyes betrayed no annoyance or shock. “Considering how long I hung around your neck, I mean. Where’s the ring?”

“Buried in Egypt last I saw of it.”

His smirk dropped, transforming into a more sardonic grin. “That also seems fitting. How are you these days, Landlord?”

“For the love of… My name is—”

His complaint was shut down by a pair of plump, dark lips sealing around his mouth. He couldn’t pin down what emotions coursed through his veins; they were jumbled and criss-crossed too many times. All he knew was his feelings drove him to return the kiss with little regard for who or why.

When the thief pulled back, licking the remainder of the kiss off his lips, he shot his former host a wink. “Ryou. I know.”

The other stared, wide-eyed and heart racing. “What was that for?”

“Felt like it. Why? Should I not have?” The man, on his hands and knees, crawled forward until he bumped his nose against Ryou’s. “I’m a thief. I steal what I want, consequences be damned. But if you dislike my affection, I’ll try to contain my instincts.”

“Bakhura…” Said man tilted his head, lids sliding to half-mast. “I said it right, didn’t I?”

“Perfectly.”

“Then, Bakhura, answer my question. Why kiss me? Be honest.”

Laughing softly, Bakhura nudged his face closer, mouth hovering over Ryou’s. “Such a demanding request. Honesty doesn’t come naturally to me, you know, but for you I can at least make an effort.” He brushed their lips together, crawling further so he could straddle Ryou again. “Do you know what I remember most from our final days together, Ryou? The one thing that stuck out to me amidst Zorc’s influence?”

Eyelashes fluttering, Ryou mimicked the ghost of a kiss, moaning when the thief king rewarded him by dropping into his lap, grinding their groins together. “W-What?”

“I remember you. My beautiful, mistreated host who, even after all I did, spent his last waking moments trying to get through the demon and speak to the man.” Bakhura teased his lips against Ryou’s jaw and neck. “You always held out hope for me, determined I could be saved. Right up to the last second where you were proven wrong.”

“I never fully stopped believing that,” Ryou murmured, angling his head backwards. “And look at you now. This is the real you. You’re free.”

Bakhura’s laugh vibrated on his clavicle. “By accident, right?”

“It was, but accidents don’t have to be a bad thing.”

“You’ve been thinking about me, haven’t you?” His words weren’t quite an accusation or taunt. “Thinking about us? About those few moments we stole together?”

Ryou sighed, both at the firm kiss on his pectoral and the memories floating around his head. “Sometimes the good ones get buried beneath the bad. It’s not always easy separating the ‘Zorc’ you and the ‘real’ you. Even just before you woke up, I was antagonizing myself for my mistake, trying to figure out how to deal with you being here.”

A kiss on his sternum served as his only response. “But I couldn’t forget you, Bakhura. We shared too much together.”

“Remember the first time we met? Before Battle City…” Ryou smiled at the recollection and nodded. “That was the longest we ever truly saw each other. I remember thinking to myself how lucky I was to have such a beautiful host.”

“You never said anything. You acted like you were annoyed to be around me.”

“I’m shy.”

The deadpan statement broke Ryou’s lustful haze, his lungs convulsing with laughter, making him gasp for air. “You idiot…! How can you say shit like that with a straight face?!”

Bakhura pulled back, a crooked smile replacing his usual smug expression. “How hurtful. You aren’t even pretending to buy that excuse.”

“That’s because I don’t, dummy. Gods above…” Ryou shook his head, clutching his ribcage. “Aah, now I have a cramp, you asshole. I thought we were having a heart-to-heart.”

“Too much honesty makes me jokey,” Bakhura replied and snuck a quick kiss. “Guess we’ll have to finish our talk another day.”

Laughter faltering, Ryou smiled, eyebrows bunched above his nose. “About that… This spell isn’t supposed to be permanent. It’s meant to last for a day.”

The thief king hummed thoughtfully. “You said this was an accident?”

“Bringing you here was an accident. The spell itself wasn’t. I was trying to surprise—”

“R-Ryou…!”

Jolting, Ryou spun around, clambering to his feet. Behind him, Bakhura climbed to his feet, tentatively testing his joints, and asked, “Was that Malik Ishtar’s voice I heard? What’s he doing here?”

Rather than respond, Ryou leapt over the couch and rushed to the hall bathroom. The moment he tilted his head in to see what caused Malik to cry out, he realized the thief king was not the only one awake.

Malik, trembling despite his attempt at a fierce expression, sat in the bathtub, legs flung over the side like he had stumbled into it. Above him, looking more bemused than murderous, was his darker half.

Without thinking, Ryou lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Yami Malik’s waist, tugging him backwards with all his strength. For his part, the alter ego blankly stared and allowed himself to be dragged clumsily out of the bathroom.

Ryou shoved Yami Malik out of the hall, guarding the path with his body. Catching sight of the scene, Bakhura jumped the couch and approached the blonde, curiosity not outweighed by distrust. With a whimper, Malik heaved himself out of the tub, moving to stand behind Ryou.

“Oh, hey,” Bakhura grinned, keeping one eye on Malik’s alter ego. “Man, this is familiar. Feels like a Battle City reunion, eh? How’s it going, Ishtar?”

“I’ve been better,” Malik grumbled and shot his glare directly at his other half. “You look different, Bakura. That the original ‘King of Thieves’ body?”

“Firstly, it’s Bakhura. Get it right. Secondly, not sure. If it is, magic did a hell of a restoration job, ‘cause three-thousand-years should have left me a lot more skeletal.” He flexed his muscles, winking at both Ryou and Malik. “But yes, I did look this good back then. Feel free to agree.”

Yami Malik glanced between Bakhura and Ryou, but his eyes settled on the latter. “...Bakura? I killed you.”

“Yeah, but the pharaoh and Yugi killed you. And him.” Ryou gestured to his Egyptian counterpart. “Welcome to Domino. Death doesn’t follow nature’s laws here. It’s as much a curse as a blessing.”

The blonde yami nodded, looking around the living area. “I remember dying. I remember walking the shadows, alone. Then there was light.”

Eyes hardening, the thief king tucked his arms behind his head. “Yeah, I saw that, too. Guess that was you, eh, Ryou? Our hero.”

Rubbing his head, Ryou offered a half-smile. “Guess so? Like I said, it wasn’t intentional.” His brown eyes traced over Yami Malik, who stared back, still completely withdrawn and uncharacteristically calm. “Let’s get this out of the way right now. If you try to hurt anyone in this household, I’ll do everything in my power to send you back to the shadows early.”

Smirking, Malik coiled his arms around Ryou’s ribs and rubbed their cheeks together. “What a Prince Charming.”

Bakhura cocked a silvery eyebrow at the show of affection, and Yami Malik shrugged, taking a seat on the back of the couch. “I’m tired. Too tired to hurt or kill.”

“The shadows do that to you,” the thief king muttered and yawned. “Come to think of it, I’m wiped. What’s the point of having my body back if the batteries are already dead?”

Malik frowned, flicking his eyes between the two of them. “So… You two are going to behave? We don’t need to tie you down?”

“As if that would accomplish anything,” Bakhura sneered. “Have you forgotten who I am, bitch?”

Opening his mouth to respond, Malik’s retort was cut off by both darker halves jerking to attention, staring farther down the hall. He and Ryou followed their gazes and saw, to their dismay, Yugi ambling down the hall.

“Hey!” The shorter man waved. “I heard a shout, but Atem woke up right then. What hap—”

“Atem?!” Bakhura’s body posture and tone flipped. “The pharaoh and the mini pharaoh are both here?!”

Ryou, seeing Yami Malik stand back up and Bakhura fix him with an accusatory glare, sighed. “Both of you, calm down. What did I literally just say? Hurt anyone in this household. And that goes for you, too, Bakhura.”

His darker half bared his teeth, vibrating with rage and muscles bulging with tension, but he remained where he was.

Yugi poked his head around Ryou, purple eyes wide. “Oh, shit. Sorry, I didn’t realize they woke up, too. Suppose that explains the shout.” He peered up at both his boyfriends. “You guys okay?”

“We’re fine, Yugi,” Malik answered, ignoring Yami Malik’s seething gaze and hissing breath.

With a clenched jaw, the blonde yami spat, “Traitor! Choosing the pharaoh over our victory wasn’t bad enough? Now you’re friends?”

“I’m the traitor?” Malik growled back. “You tried to cast me into nothingness, wipe me off the face of the earth so you could keep my body! My body!”

Nerves unraveling, Ryou frantically motioned to the dining table tucked into its alcove. “Okay, everyone, please. Can we sit down and take some breaths before things get more heated?”

He gave Bakhura an especially pleading look, which seemed to work since the thief dragged his feet towards the table. Yami Malik hesitated, meeting Ryou’s doe-eyed gaze with an arched brow, but he too complied. Bakhura sank into a corner seat, crossing his arms like a pouty child, and Yami Malik took the next seat over at one end of the table.

Knowing Malik and Yugi would be far less comfortable sitting beside Yami Malik, Ryou seated himself across from Bakhura, knee to knee with the spiky-haired blonde. Malik slid in beside Bakhura, leaving the seat next to Ryou or on the opposite end of the table from his alter ego for Yugi.

Nervously, Yugi scanned the table. “S-Should I get Atem or no?”

The darks immediately glared at him, snarls curling their lips, but Ryou replied, “He needs to be aware of what's going on, too. He can sit as far as possible from these two.”

Malik chuckled humorlessly. “Good call for that one, Ry.”

Acknowledging Ryou with a nod, Yugi dashed off and came back after a moment with a perplexed Atem in tow. The fireworks exploded immediately, voices crescendoing over one another.

“I don’t want the fucking pharaoh here, Landlord!”

“I’m going to rip his body and soul apart!”

“Partner, why are those two here?!”

Slamming his hand on the table, Ryou shushed the group in a hiss. “Enough! Atem!” The pharaoh jumped at Ryou’s harsh tone. “Please. Sit. We’re going to explain what happened, but I need you three to not act like bloodthirsty barbarians for a minute!”

Yugi and Malik laughed, amused by Ryou’s commanding presence over the three other halves, each of whom looked taken aback by the control he somehow commanded of them. Bakhura, being most familiar with Ryou, recovered the quickest and whistled.

“You’ve changed, Landlord. Beneath that pretty pale skin is a real pair of brass balls, huh?”

“Bakhura, if I have to correct you one more time…”

“My bad, Ryou. Please, good sir, don’t kick me out on the street. I am a humble bandit king at your mercy.”

Huffing, Ryou chose to ignore the last taunt and focus instead of the group as a whole. “Alright, I’ll cut right to the chase. I was trying to perform a spell to temporarily bring Atem back as part of my present to Yugi for Christmas, and it went wrong.”

Cheeks flushing, Yugi beamed and clutched Ryou’s right hand atop the table. “I stand by what I said. You’re so, so sweet for even trying something like that.”

The show of affection drew three pairs of eyes, each with more suspicion than the last: lavender, mauve, and midnight blue.

Continuing his confession, Ryou said, “I have no idea why, but the spell brought back Yami Malik and Bakhura, too. It was only supposed to be for one person. One person, one day. Simple.”

Atem cleared his throat. “May I see the spell, then, Bakura?”

Ryou’s lips barely parted before Yugi corrected, “Oh, Atem, call him Ryou, please. Less confusing that way.”

Shoving back his chair, Malik snorted. “Besides, after all this time calling him Ryou, hearing him referred to as Bakura sounds wrong.” He waltzed around Atem’s side of the table, ruffling the pharaoh’s hair absently as he went, much to the other’s chagrin. “I’ll fetch the book. Give me a second.”

As he said, Malik returned in less than a minute, flinging the book carelessly onto the table. “Have at it, Pharaoh.” Instead of returning to his seat, Malik slid halfway into Yugi’s chair, leaning on the table with his elbow.

“Mal, you’re going to shove me into the floor,” Yugi complained, using one leg to keep himself from tumbling. “Scoot over, would ya?”

“Bite me, Mutou. I wanna sit with my prince charming. Just be glad I’m not making you sit next to Bakhura.” Malik flopped his head onto Ryou’s shoulder, smiling as his boyfriend, with a sigh, relented and stroked his hair.

System overloaded by the latest display, Bakhura couldn’t contain his words further. “Ryou! Are you fucking Ishtar and the pharaoh’s vessel?”

Choking on air, Atem pounded his chest through a coughing fit. Yami Malik, wordless and emotionless, observed the way Yugi, Malik, and Ryou’s faces turned varying shades of ruddy brown and pink depending on their individual complexions.

Glaring at the thief, Ryou muttered, “Was it necessary to put it out there so crudely?”

“So I’m right? I mean, I can give you Malik. He’d make a pretty bedmate for a few nights before his bossiness got on the nerves. But the shrimp?”

Before Yugi or Malik could protest, Ryou again slammed his hand into the table, a rage burning behind his chocolate brown eyes. “Touzoku-Ou Bakhura. The three of us have been in a happy, committed relationship for five years. Malik and I dated for three more before that. I will not have you reduce their worth to casual sex partners, nor will I tolerate insults. Am I clear?”

His other half gawked silently, while Malik, with a Chesire grin curling his lips, fanned himself. “Man, I love it when you get protective, Ryou Bakura.”

Yugi sighed dreamily. “Same. Could make a guy swoon.”

Atem tapped the table, pulling the group’s attention back to him. “Ahem, not to interrupt, but… Ryou, the point of this spell was to bring me back?”

Brow furrowing, Ryou nodded. “Yeah? I know the spell had the right purpose, so don’t tell me that’s wrong.”

“But it… It’s meant to call forth someone the caster desires?”

Unwavering, Ryou stared right into Atem’s eyes. “Yes…? I’m aware.”

“B-But… But you cast it.”

“Uh-huh?”

“To bring me back…?”

“Yup.”

Yugi giggled at the lost expression the pharaoh wore. “Atem, the Christmas gift wasn’t only for me. It was meant to be a shared present.”

Shaking his head, Malik mumbled, “Seriously. We literally just went over how the three of us are in a relationship, and you’re sitting there wondering how it’s possible Ryou’s open-minded enough to be attracted to you?”

On the other hand, Bakhura glowered, nose scrunching. “Ryou! Have you no shame?! The pharaoh, really?!”

Banned from his pharaoh aggression and disinterested by the conversation, Yami Malik yawned and rested his head on his arms, hair cascading onto the tabletop. “Your other half has poor taste, thief.”

“Okay…!” Atem interceded, face notably more red despite his silt-colored skin. “S-So you meant for me… I got it… But if your intention was to only summon me, you should have chosen a different spell.”

Frowning, all three lighter halves gazed at the pharaoh, and Yugi asked, “What do you mean, Atem?”

“Well…” Atem toyed with one of his blonde bangs, avoiding the three pairs of eyes burrowing into his head. “The spell’s intended purpose is to summon a single person, the one the caster desires. The problem is the caster in this case didn’t have a single person they desired.” His mauve eyes flickered over to Bakhura and Yami Malik. “The reason those two are here would have to be because, to some degree, Ryou also wanted them.”

“W-What?!” Ryou’s face turned crimson, and the blush spread down his entire body as Bakhura howled with laughter and even Yami Malik chuckled at the reaction. “That’s not true! I didn’t want them here!”

Clearly doubtful, Atem shrugged and ran his fingertip along the grain of the wooden table. “Maybe having them here wasn’t the goal, but somewhere inside, you wanted them back. The same way you wished for me to return.”

Malik and Yugi whipped their heads around, meeting Ryou’s scandalized stare. It only took them a moment to process Atem’s words.

Exhaling, Malik patted Ryou’s shoulder, a gleam of mischief in his eyes. “Ryou Bakura, why am I not surprised?”

“B-But Malik…!”

“We should have known there was more space in his heart than we could fill,” Yugi solemnly whispered, wiping away fake tears. “Ryou, Ryou. Your love knows no limits.”

“He has the biggest heart I’ve ever known,” Malik agreed and leaned to hug Yugi, dramatically burying his face into the man’s shoulder. “Whatever shall we do now, Yugi?”

Ryou slapped a hand over his face. “You two, I swear…!”

“There’s only one thing we can do, Malik.” Yugi clapped his hands together, positively giddy. “It’s Christmas, after all, so let’s unwrap our presents and enjoy them.”

His words pulled Ryou out of his moment of embarrassment. The other men tuned back in, though only Malik matched Yugi’s sly enthusiasm. Narrowing his eyes, Yami Malik deliberately scooted his seat further back while Bakhura’s face contorted in disgust.

Eyes wandering, trying to find an escape, Atem mumbled, “Er, Partner, you realize your ‘presents’ might not all want to be ‘unwrapped,’ right? Certainly not in a collective group.”

A devious grin hooked the corners of Malik’s mouth. “Are you saying you don’t want to show Yugi how much you’ve missed him, Pharaoh?”

“I-I have no qualms about Yugi specifically, but…” Atem gulped as both Malik and Ryou’s eyes locked onto him, and he remembered the only form of clothing he had was a thin blanket Yugi wrapped around him. He clutched it tighter, hiding himself in it.

Malik leaned back over to Ryou, cupping a hand to the white-haired male’s ear, though his voice carried across the dining nook. “Ry, I think the pharaoh is feeling overwhelmed.”

“If the spell duration stays true to the book, we only have one day.” Ryou tapped his chin, drifting his gaze over the multiple beautiful men surrounding him. “Yugi, bringing Atem here was first and foremost a gift to you. Why don’t you lend him some clothes and go visit Grandpa? Let him breathe a bit.”

Yugi contemplated the advice briefly before breaking into a huge smile. “That’s actually a great idea! We can grab a few card packs, maybe duel a bit?”

Without waiting for his other half’s input, Yugi dragged Atem back into the hall, down to the master bedroom. Even from their spot in the nook, they heard the rapid rustling of clothing and chattering of one very excited Yugi Mutou. He darted out of the hallway past them, Atem in tow, and threw open the front door.

“Call me if you need anything! Love you, bye!”

The door clicked closed, leaving Ryou and Malik with their other halves. Malik tutted, shaking his head, and murmured openly, “Think we’ll see him again before the spell’s over?”

Ryou, seemingly pleased, beamed down at the tabletop, eyes lost in thoughts beyond their cozy dining room. “Hard to say, but I’m happy my gift, despite some unforeseen complications, was a success.”

“Oh, I’d say it was a fucking success.” Ryou snorted at Malik’s waggling brows, and across the table, Bakhura mirrored the action.

“So, Ishtar One and Two, Ryou… What shall we do with ourselves?” He looked pointedly into Ryou’s face, impish grin back in its place now that the source of his fury was gone. “Surely you have some ideas, dearest other half. Since you wanted us back so much…”

Interest piqued, Yami Malik also glanced at Ryou, gaze half-lidded and seductive — in Ryou’s perspective at least. Malik, much like his counterpart, eyed Ryou curiously, waiting to hear more about the untold affections his boyfriend harbored.

The white-haired man gulped. “U-Um… First of all, let me say… I am holding a grudge against Atem for outing me like that.” The Maliks, regardless of their bitter relationship, chuckled in sync. Though silent, Bakhura’s leer carried amusement and, unsurprisingly, a provocative glint.

“I can’t believe you never told me, Ryou. I guess Bakhura doesn’t surprise me, since you mentioned a few cuddling sessions with his human side—”

“Whoa, Ishtar, slow your roll. We did not cuddle. We sat together, chatted—”

“Held hands, spooned, napped together…” Ryou supplied, cutting his counterpart off. The dark-skinned man frowned, a hint of red rising to his cheeks. “Look, I already lost face. Don’t expect me to protect your ego.”

Malik barely hid his laughter behind his palm. “Pre-marital hand holding and spooning? You filthy sinners.” Bakhura replied promptly with a middle finger, but the blonde ignored him. “My point… I kinda suspected Bakhura meant something to you, behind all those bad memories, but my other self? Really?”

Ryou peeked over to Yami Malik, catching the amethyst eyes. “I… I don’t know how to explain that one. I mean, obviously, he’s attractive. Like you.”

“I am quite attractive,” Malik agreed and combed a hand through his hair.

“Uh-huh… And, you know, he never really scared me…”

“‘Cause you’re a kinky freak,” Bakhura quipped, winking when Ryou shot him a glare. “Big bad wolf was right up your alley, huh? Just like me: sexy man plus a sense of danger and tabooness.”

Utterly lost, Yami Malik scowled. “I killed you. How can you not be scared of me?”

Pulling his venomous gaze off his darker half, Ryou met Yami Malik’s eyes, much calmer and gentler. He bit his lip and twiddled with his thumbs, mind searching for the right words. “After dealing with Bakhura and the demon for so long, I lost my fear of the shadows. It sucked, sure, but it wasn’t the end of the world, so to speak. Plus…”

He sighed and averted his gaze, writhing as heat bloomed under his pale skin. “...Bakhura’s not wrong… You were sexy partly because of the danger.”

His other half exploded with laughter, and Malik nudged him. “And my body?”

“...Yes, Malik. And your body.”

Grinning, Malik slung his arm around Ryou’s shoulder. “Pays to be honest, Ry. While I don’t necessarily agree with your analysis of his danger factor, I can appreciate your attraction.” He stuck out his tongue at his darker half. “Since, again, it was my body at the time. Don’t go getting a big head just because Ryou thinks your sexy.”

“I don’t understand…” was the only response.

Eyes shining, Bakhura snagged Ryou’s hands, bringing them to his lips. “So, Ryou, since the cat is out of the bag and we’re working against the clock…”

Malik reached across the table and flicked the thief’s forehead. “Ah-ah! Don’t be grabby!”

The other Egyptian tightened his grip on Ryou’s wrists, baring gritted teeth when he hissed, “Fuck you, Ishtar.”

Suddenly, Malik’s expression shifted. His mouth morphed into a chaotic, wicked grin. “Well… It would be a shame not to take advantage of the opportunity, wouldn’t it, tomb-robber? You are here, after all. Flesh and blood for a day.”

Narrowing, Bakura’s eyes flitted between his previous host and his previous partner-in-crime. “You’re Ryou’s boyfriend. I’m not going to hurt him by fucking you, and you shouldn’t even suggest such a thing.”

Ryou pulled his hands free enough to rub circles on the back of the thief king’s hands. “I think Malik was suggesting more of a collaborative experience, Bakhura. Though… I wouldn’t mind if you two wanted to test the waters with each other.”

“No, no, no,” Malik chided and leapt to his feet, tugging Ryou up without warning. “He’s your secret crush. You aren’t sitting it out.”

Tucking his face into his arms, Yami Malik grunted and mumbled against the table, “You just want to watch him fuck the thief.”

Malik, shielding himself with Ryou, glared over his boyfriend’s shoulder. “You weren’t invited into the conversation, asshole.”

“Oh, Malik, we can’t leave him out here all alone,” Ryou pouted and caressed the spiked mass of hair, surprising both Bakhura and Malik when the yami allowed the soft touch. “It’s not fair to him, bringing him back and then ditching him.”

“Ryou, I love you, but I’m not fucking him.” Malik spun on his heel, marching out of the alcove. “He’s me. It’s weird.”

Bakhura cackled. “Is that your only hang-up? I figured it was the history between the two of you, but it’s only because he originated as part of you?”

“You wouldn’t get it, thief,” Malik snarked back. “You and Ryou may have shared a body, but you were never the same person. He is literally me. A split personality given way too much power by the Millenium Rod.”

While the blonde continued quipping with Bakhura, Ryou contemplated his boyfriend and potential lovers, pondering over the predicament. With Atem and Yugi out of the picture, Malik and Yami Malik were the only remaining source of hostility, and truthfully, the latter seemed more interested in taking a nap at the table than participating in arguments. On second glance, he saw Bakhura, too, sported dark circles under his eyes, though he hid his exhaustion behind overly animated banter.

He sighed because, of course, he knew the right move, his physical desires be damned. Pushing on Yami Malik’s shoulder to stir him, Ryou announced over Malik’s latest scathing remark, “Hey! I’ve got a better idea.”

“Better than sex?” Bakhura asked, exaggerating the surprise on his face. “Impossible.”

Malik gazed curiously at Ryou. “What’s the idea? Like I said, I’m not fucking him, but if you want to…”

Laughing, Ryou shook his head. “No, different plan entirely. Why don’t we go take a nap together?”

His boyfriend’s eyes widened. “Uh… You’re joking, right?”

Snorting, Bakhura tugged Ryou to him and wrapped his arms around the skinnier male’s waist. “You little lovesick pervert. Why is it that even after so much time has passed, you continue to meet my expectations?”

Yami Malik side-eyed the white-haired pair. “You’re confusing me again. First you want sex, now you want to sleep?”

“You two,” Ryou motioned to the blonde yami and poked Bakhura’s cheek for emphasis, “look absolutely drained. Whatever else I may want to explore with you two, I’m not putting it above your obvious need for sleep.”

Catching on, Malik sighed. “And you want to nap together for emotional intimacy.”

“I also just enjoy napping with other people,” Ryou shrugged, causing both Malik and Bakhura to snicker, and the thief purred beside his head, “You’re so raunchy.”

Ryou swore he could see his brain with how intensely his eyes rolled. “Shut up. Mal, will you please take this loudmouth to the bedroom? And you.” He offered his hand to Yami Malik, who stared at it blankly. “Would you please come with me?”

For a heartbeat, the lavender-eyed yami gave no indication of complying. Neither Malik nor Bakhura dared leave Ryou behind with the unknown element, so they waited, much like Ryou, for any acknowledgement. Finally, while staring into Ryou’s determined eyes, Yami Malik rested his palm upon Ryou’s.

Smiling, Ryou led the group down the hall.

--- --- --- --- ---

This is going to be a background project for when I need a break from In Another Life. There will NOT be regular updates to this - it will be more of an update-when-I-can situation. It's also my first time trying to write Yuumeishipping. Wish me luck.

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AO3 Link: 3 x 3 - Chapter 1 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Side Story II)

Touzoku-Ou stared at Ryou as he danced around the kitchen, flipping pancakes and bacon strips, scrambling eggs, shoving bread inside the toaster, squeezing fresh orange juice, and brewing a small pot of coffee. The smells lured him to his current seat at the dining table, and the way his lovely caretaker worked his magic in the room of strange modern items kept him from leaving.

“You’d make a good wife, Ryou,” He said, grinning, but he knew the other wouldn’t understand him. Ryou glanced over his shoulder and offered a sincere smile, saying something which the thief couldn’t understand in return.

Beside him, his demon self sighed. “You two are really going to make me play translator this early?” He said something to Ryou — Touzoku-Ou presumed he was sharing the wife comment with Ryou based off the blush the words brought — and then turned to him. “He said good morning earlier. Now he’s saying you’re funny, ‘cause he thinks you're joking. Ignorant host has yet to realize what I know.”

“What would that be, demon?”

“That you’re a perverted bastard eyeing him up to bed.”

Chuckling, Touzoku-Ou returned to his Ryou-watching. “You literally told me yesterday that you and I are essentially the same person, but now you’re acting like you’ve never noticed how pretty he is.”

“I haven’t,” Bakura replied dryly. “Maybe you also remember the part where I mentioned being you plus You-Know-Who? He didn’t see Ryou as anything more than our host.”

“Well, He isn’t a part of you anymore, is He?”

“So?”

“Look at our host, demon, and tell me if you still can’t see what a beauty he is.”

Bakura huffed and crossed his arms. “Idiot. I’m not ogling the landlord. He might play dumb and let you get away with it, but he’d kick me out in a heartbeat.”

“Just take a peek, coward,” Touzoku-Ou snickered and tapped his fingers along the tabletop. “Mm, you’re missing out if you don’t.”

Ryou whirled around, two plates in his hands. “Okay, I hear you two talking, Spirit. What’s going on?”

With a snort, Bakura grabbed his plate and shoved a thick piece of bacon into his mouth. “He’s a pervert, Yad— Ryou. I told you before.”

“What’s he saying?” Touzoku-Ou asked around his own mouthful. “Don’t leave me out. I wanna talk with him more.”

Growling, Bakura dropped his fork and massaged his temples. “This is fucking madness. I cannot keep acting as a personal translator for you two.” He repeated himself in Japanese for Ryou’s sake and added, “We need to find a way to fix this… communication issue.”

Slipping into his seat, his own plate in hand, Ryou thoughtfully looked over Touzoku-Ou. The thief paused his shoveling of food and grinned, his giddiness climbing as Ryou again smiled at him.

“Maybe we can ask Malik’s sister if she knows any spells. I’d say we could ask At— the pharaoh,” Ryou quickly corrected himself, knowing the pharaoh’s name might carry across the language barrier, “but I suppose you two would be opposed to that.”

Rolling his eyes, Bakura forked a helping of eggs into his mouth. “Obviously. I haven’t even told him about the pharaoh or Yugi. Figured we were doing good clearing the air over who you and I are in relation to him.”

Annoyed by the continual foreign language, Touzoku-Ou poked his fork into Bakura’s cheek, earning a snarled, “WHAT?!”

“Tell me what he’s saying, dammit. Or at least tell him I like the food. And he’s pretty.”

“Your flirting is not subtle. I don’t understand how he hasn’t deduced your intention.”

“Maybe he knows and simply wants me, too, huh? Is that so hard to imagine?”

Bakura threw his head backwards and laughed, receiving an irked scowl from his counterpart and a confused frown a la his landlord. “You keep on with your delusion. He’s too nice for his own good. That’s all.”

“I’m pretty handsome, if I say so myself,” Touzoku-Ou replied, shrugging. “Why wouldn’t he want me?”

Ryou nudged Bakura’s shin under the table. “What are you two yammering on about?”

A sly grin snuck onto the former spirit’s lips. “Why don’t we put all the cards on the table, if you’re so confident? Ryou, my past self wants me to tell you he likes the food and, as a bonus, that you’re pretty.”

Blinking, Ryou shoveled his food around his plate, avoiding Touzoku-Ou’s heated gaze. “O-Oh. Tell him thank you for me, please.”

“Just a moment,” Bakura chuckled and pulled the plate of food away, leaving Ryou no safety net distractions. “He is quite adamant about how much he wants you, y’know. And he’s an arrogant bastard unable to comprehend you might not want him back. Shall I tell him directly from your own words you’re not interested?”

Heat danced across Ryou’s cheeks. “W-What…? No, don’t tell him that.”

“Oh, so you are interested? I suppose I have to apologize, then.”

“NO! Don’t tell him that either!” Ryou awkwardly flitted his eyes back and forth between them. “D-Don’t tell him anything!”

“Well, I can’t say nothing. I already told him I was laying the cards on the table. He’ll expect an answer.”

Gaping, Ryou inhaled sharply through his nose. “Are you punking me right now? You’re messing with my head, aren’t you?”

Teeth bared behind his smirk, Bakura purred, “My precious other half, I would not dream of such a thing. If you don’t believe me, shall I tell the thief to give you a more physical declaration?”

Suddenly fueled with confidence, Ryou crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, a weak glare aimed for his former parasite. “You’re bluffing.”

“Today’s your lucky day, thief. He doesn’t believe my translations.”

Touzoku-Ou cocked an eyebrow. “Why does that make me lucky?”

“I suggested you might give him a physical declaration of your intention, and he thinks I’m full of shit.” Bakura shoved the thief’s shoulder, nearly knocking him out of the chair. “If you two are going to continue using me as a translator, the least you can do is entertain me. Go show him what happens when he doubts my honesty.”

Impish delight flashed in Touzoku-Ou’s blue heather eyes. “Oh? I have your permission to bed him? You won’t interfere?”

Scoffing, Bakura sneered, “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You have my blessing to kiss our beloved host.”

“Hm, I’ll take it.” Hunger burning in his gaze, Touzoku-Ou glanced over at Ryou, who appeared drained of some of his previous confidence.

As the thief stood and moved closer, Ryou nervously shot Bakura a look. “What is he doing?”

His anxiety made Bakura shiver, a mix of devilish pleasure and something more writhing inside his body. “Dearest Ryou, I couldn’t possibly presume to know what lurks behind that perverted mind of his. Since you don’t trust me, why not ask him yourself?”

“S-Spirit, don’t play games with me! What—”

Striking like a viper, Touzoku-Ou ducked downwards and left a quick kiss on Ryou’s cheek, hand reaching around the other’s chest to squeeze his shoulder. Yelping, Ryou tucked back into his chair, wide-eyed stare torn between the thief king’s covetous expression and plump lips.

“I figured you would go straight for the mouth,” Bakura chuckled and swiped a piece of bacon off Ryou’s stolen plate.

“I wanted to, but he looks scared,” Touzoku-Ou admitted, sighing and leaning in to rest his cheek on Ryou’s shoulder. “Ask him if I can kiss him again?”

Taking his time to chew through his mouthful of food, Bakura studied his counterpart with a touch of shock. “We’re asking for his permission now? What sort of thief are you?”

“S-Stop talking.” Ryou pulled away, climbing to his feet and stealing back his stolen breakfast. “No more talking until we find a way to remove this language barrier. I… I don’t want to talk through you anymore.”

Bakura grinned. “Really? Why is that? I haven’t lied to you once since I’ve been back.”

Biting his lip, Ryou patted a bemused-seeming Touzoku-Ou’s head, staring at his own feet when the thief pressed into the touch. “Just… Just share that last bit of information with him. These sort of discussions are best done without a third party.”

The grin increased tenfold. “As you wish, Ryou.”

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AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 13 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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#bakushipping #gemshipping #geminishipping #tendershipping #ryou bakura #yami bakura #thief king bakura #my writing #yugioh #ygo

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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No previews this week or next, but new chapters to come. Going on hiatus starting after 12/16 update while I deal with holidays and some personal hardship. Should be back end of January I think.

#personal update

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 10)

Chapter Warnings: VERY Mild Sexual Content

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Holding himself, Ryou sighed. “I know everything I’ve said seems crazy. That’s why I was hoping to wait it out, to avoid trying to explain everything.” He rubbed his arms, though the motion provided little comfort. “This is actually the second realm I’ve been in. The last one was… We’ll say rough. That’s a good summary term.”

“Have… you been here all day?”

Ryou glanced at Touzoku-Ou, whose expression suddenly seemed quite shy. “I woke up on the couch. I guess after your Ryou went to lay down from the headache?”

Bakura’s face flushed. “You… In the bed, then…”

“That’s why I tried to stop you. Why I, uh, ran away to the bathroom.” Ryou knew his face matched Bakura’s, right down to the same red cheeks. “F-For what it’s worth, like I said, this is his body. I just… It wasn’t right.” His voice trailed off, sadness clouding his eyes. “No matter how much I miss my Bakura and Touzoku-Ou… I knew it wasn’t right to let things go any further. I shouldn’t have let them go so far in the first place.”

Without warning, Diabound shoved her snout into his stomach. “Want masssster back.”

A half-hearted laugh slipped from Ryou’s lips. “I got that. Trust me, I want your master to come back, too. I want to go home.” The words shattered the dam he built up, the tears haunting him from earlier overflowing in an instant. “Fuck… I’m sorry… I just… I really do want to go home. It feels like a lifetime since I was in my own body.”

Uncertain, Touzoku-Ou petted Ryou’s head, and Bakura sighed, moving in to offer a hug. Ryou hungrily accepted the offer, burying his face into Bakura’s chest despite the other gasping and hesitating to fully embrace him. Touzoku-Ou wrapped his arms around both of them, resting his forehead on Ryou.

As the three of them stood there, awkward but desperate, Diabound gazed back towards the circus. A true laugh, unhindered by his melancholy, escaped Ryou when he heard her hiss, “Hungry sssstill.”

With a roll of his eyes, Touzoku-Ou hauled the snake onto his shoulders, grunting from the effort. “Come on, you pain in the ass, I’ll feed you. God, you could stand to skip a meal, though.”

“Issss musssscle, Masssster. Be sssstronger.”

“Uh-huh. Sure. Somehow you’ve gained weight since Ryou started feeding you. I think he’s been overgenerous with your portions.”

“Leave besssst Masssster out of thissss.”

“Oh ho! You admit it, finally! You do like Ryou more than me!”

Bakura snorted and, with his arm wrapped around Ryou’s shoulders, pulled him along behind Touzoku-Ou, who continued to argue with his snake. “Ignore them. We listen to this shit on a daily basis.”

“What, uh… What is she? For that matter, what is this world? I thought it was a normal circus this morning, but obviously, I was wrong.”

“Not sure about Diabound. Touzoku-Ou hatched her when he was a kid, said he found her egg alone in the forest. One day she started talking to him. As for everything else…” Bakura wobbled his head left to right, thoughtfully choosing his words. “Magic exists. Everyone is human, far as I know, but some of us have… talents. Touzoku-Ou, for example, can commune with spirits. Ties it into his act.”

Ryou’s smile spread from ear to ear. “That’s so cool. I can do magic in my realm, too. I’m… kinda relieved that this isn’t a magic-less world. Would have made things a lot trickier. But, then again, I wouldn’t have been ratted out by a snake if there wasn’t magic.”

Bakura hummed, amusement glinting in his eyes. “True. Diabound never keeps secrets from the three of us, so unfortunate that you chose to divulge the info to her.”

“I’m glad, to be honest. I feel better, being able to vent, being open. I think I was bordering on a mental breakdown this morning. Having you two around, listening to me, comforting me, making me laugh… It was familiar, and it worked wonders.”

“Guess I should apologize for the way we jumped you.”

“No need. You didn’t know who or what I was. Believe it or not, that was also familiar.” Ryou giggled. “I’m just not used to being on the other end of that aggression.”

The two continued their chat with Touzoku-Ou occasionally jumping in between his exchanges with Diabound. They filled Ryou in on the circus, everyone’s roles and relationships, the things they knew about the fantastical and unusual ongoings in the world. In return, Ryou told them bits and pieces about his relationship with their counterparts, the history of the Millennium Items, and the adventure he unwillingly found himself locked into.

By the time the three of them were satisfied with their information swap, the moon replaced the sun, sitting high and proud in the sky like a Cheshire grin. They barely reached the RV they all shared when Touzoku-Ou swung around, terror written across his face.

“Baku, we forgot about Mai!”

“...Shit.”

***

Separated by Yugi’s magic circle, Bakura and Touzoku-Ou sat across from their doppelgangers, mirrored save for the blood stains and bruises Isis had yet to heal. Distaste for the situation exceeding his limits, Bakura clucked his tongue.

“This is fucking boring. Does the pharaoh really need this much sleep?”

Touzoku-Ou shrugged, a sly smirk on his face. “I’ll go wake him up, if you promise to keep Yugi off my ass.”

“It’s… like half an hour until two? Those guys are probably up already, hiding away to cuddle.” Bakura feigned a gag. “Nasty bastards.”

“This is Malik’s fault for ditching his shift. We could have been cuddling, too,” Touzoku-Ou joked, laughing when Bakura pulled a face. “What, you don’t wanna cuddle me, Habibi? I see how it is, only Ryou gets your cuddles.”

Stamping his heels into the floor, Bakura rose, glaring at his lover. “I’m going to grab Kaiba’s dog and make him buy us lunch. Preference, jackass?”

“Food. Anything sounds real good. Better make it a quadruple portion, though. We should probably feed our other selves here, lest they wither away.”

“That would be a travesty.”

Bakura sauntered off, stopping only for a moment to check over Ryou and brush a kiss on his forehead. He shut the door behind him, leaving Touzoku-Ou in silence with the other-realmers. The thief king rolled his shoulders, flexed his legs, and let out a loud yawn.

“For two psycho killers, you’re awful boring, y’know?”

They studied him, unmoved by the insult. His mirrored self remarked coolly, “And what about you? Apparently some Ancient Egyptian thief, yet here you are reduced to a mundane existence where the only benefits are your partner and your comatose pet over there.”

“Both of whom are fantastic,” Touzoku-Ou returned and flopped onto his side, propped on his left elbow. “Maybe you’d understand if you treated your Ryou better.”

Other Bakura sneered. “We treat him plenty well if and when he behaves.”

“Somehow I think your idea of well differs from his.” He examined his right hand, fondly rolling an intricate gold band with two jewels, one obsidian and one white moonstone. “I pity you, trapped in such a dark state of being. It reminds me how I used to be. How I’m sure Bakura was.”

“The nerve of this guy,” Other Touzoku-Ou snapped, fingers twitching and teeth gritted. “How dare you sit there saying you pity us when you’re a slave to someone as weak as Ryou, when you live content with this average man’s life. If I had powers like yours, I’d make myself a god.”

Touzoku-Ou chuckled and dropped his hand back down. “Yup, you’re just like how I used to be. Consumed by greed, hungry for power, driven by hatred.” His eyes hardened. “The biggest difference is that unlike you, I would never hurt Ryou. He’s part of my family. I knew from the second I saw him we were meant to be together.”

Rolling his eyes, Bakura rested back on his hands, a casual posture to accompany his growing disdain. “We knew we were meant to be with Ryou, too, you arrogant bastard. The problem is he didn’t appreciate our feelings for him.”

“Given what I’ve heard of how he met you,” Touzoku-Ou snorted and twisted onto his back, arms folded beneath his head, “I can’t say I blame him for hating you. Why kill his family if you wanted him to love you?”

“Why?” Bakura echoed, expression morphing into a frightening grin. “They were useless baggage. He’s better off alone.”

“And want him to love us?” Touzoku-Ou restated and mimicked the expression of his partner. “We don’t give a damn if he loves us or not. He’s still ours. And we’re all he has.”

Touzoku-Ou sat up and snapped his fingers into an 'L'-shape. “So what you’re saying is… It’s a control thing. Get rid of anyone else so he’s dependent on you no matter what.”

“You understand,” Other Touzoku-Ou chortled and leaned forward. “Took you long enough.”

Smiling, cool as a cucumber, Touzoku-Ou replied, “Yeah, I get it. I was wrong about our biggest difference. It’s not our willingness or lack thereof to do harm to Ryou… It’s the fact that I actually love him, whereas you two only want to own him.”

They guffawed over his words, but he continued, “Do you at least love each other? Are you even capable of that much?”

Returning to a more upright position, Bakura glared daggers into Touzoku-Ou’s head. “We’re fuckbuddies, we’re partners, we’re a team. I watch his back, he watches mine, and we enjoy a good romp in the sheets when we’re bored of death games. We don’t need to put a label, especially one like ‘love,’ on it.”

“So you wouldn’t die for each other?”

“I would never ask such a stupid thing,” Other Touzoku-Ou scornfully shot back. “Nor would Bakura ask me to do something so ridiculous.”

“Humor me. If it came down to it and both of you couldn’t escape a deadly situation, you would prefer to let each other die over dying yourself?”

Total silence descended amongst the men. Touzoku-Ou wondered if the scathing glares they wore were from his insistent question or their inability to reach an answer, although he truly only asked for fun. It didn’t matter since both of them would die in the end. By whose hand was yet to be determined, of course, but he hoped it was his and Bakura’s.

Seeing the way these two treated their Ryou filled him with anger and not just on the kid’s behalf. What sort of damage had they done to his Rohi? There was no way their time with him was peaceful, and he would enjoy torturing the doppelgangers’ bodies and souls for every second of torment Ryou suffered.

“Yo, Thief King.” Bakura flicked his ear from behind. “Earth to King of Thieves. I’ve got food.”

Mouth watering at the aroma of roasted garlic and succulent steak, Touzoku-Ou snatched the food from his boyfriend. He sank his teeth into the whole garlic, salivating further over the tenderized flesh and potent taste.

“This is where you say ‘thank you, Bakura, for rewarding my bad behavior with my favorite foods,’” Bakura snarked and unpacked his own steak. “I thought about fried chicken, but I think we should save that for when Ryou wakes up.”

“Fried chicken and beer?” Touzoku-Ou grumbled around the chomps of food. “We’ll need to get him some of those tiny cakes, too.”

Bakura tore a mouthful of steak off his fork. “And creampuffs for breakfast, or he might disown us.” He gave Touzoku-Ou a dirty look when the other man leaned in and licked a dribble of steak juices from his chin. “Keep your tongue to yourself when we’re eating.”

Snickering, the thief king reached into the bag and revealed the remaining two containers of food. While not exactly thrilled to do any favors for his and his lover’s lookalikes, Touzoku-Ou resigned himself to feeding them and slid the meals into the protective circle, wincing when the magic grazed his finger tips.

“Eat up, or I’ll take that food back.”

They grabbed the food and dug right in, clearly as ravenous as their alternate selves. Naturally, they offered no thanks, but the local pair could at least enjoy the satisfaction of having control over them.

Bakura wiped more dribbles off his lips and sucked the juice off his thumb. “I told the dog just to give them scraps, but he said it would be simpler to buy them some food. I wouldn’t waste the money, but I guess Kaiba’s got enough to blow on a couple of thugs.”

Nonchalant and more interested in his own food, Touzoku-Ou shrugged. “Let him flaunt his wealth. Better not to argue with the man letting us stay here for free. We can bruise his ego later.” His eyes wandered passed Bakura to the corner of the room where Ryou laid. “How’d he look earlier, by the way?”

Setting his half-eaten steak down, Bakura followed the thief’s eyes to his former host. “Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be another soul in his body, so we don’t have to worry about possibly having triple Ryous around. Unfortunately…”

“It’s gonna be hard to track him down without some connection to his current realm.”

“Probably. I stopped by the stupid pharaoh’s room on my way back. Told him the plan and to get his ass in here sooner rather than later. We’ll see if he listens.”

The pair shared a snort, and Touzoku-Ou said, “He’d better, or I’m taking Yugi hostage.”

“If you’re taking me hostage, just know I am very high maintenance. I require the highest quality of care, or I’ll make your life hell.”

As if on cue, Yugi ambled into the room, a less enthusiastic Atem behind him. The latter carried a box of candles while the former tossed a piece of chalk between his hands.

Touzoku-Ou rolled his eyes. “As expected of a mini version of the pharaoh.”

Yugi put his hands on his hips, smiling impishly. “You two always call me a ‘mini version,’ but Atem and I are pretty much the same height. Actually, last I checked, I’m two centimeters taller.”

“Aibou,” Atem groaned while setting the box down, “don’t waste your breath.”

Sarcasm pouring from his being, Bakura clapped and mocked, “Good job, Yugi. Do you want a cookie for that accomplishment?” He couldn’t help chuckling when said man stuck his tongue out. “You get ballsier with every centimeter, I guess.”

Atem, placing candles in a circle around him, motioned for Yugi to begin drawing a circle. As his lighter half set about the task, the pharaoh spoke to his former enemies. “You understand I can’t promise anything, correct?”

Swallowing his final bite of food, Touzoku-Ou dismissed Atem with a shrug. “Just swear by your father’s corpse that you’ll make a good argument, and I’ll be happy.”

“Really?” Atem glared at the tomb-robber. “By my father’s corpse? That’s the qualifier you choose?”

“Why not? If the situation were reversed, I’d be willing to swear by Kul Elna.” The deadpan tone of the thief noticeably shook Atem. “Swear by Yugi’s life, then, if you feel that’s more appropriate. But I want your word, and I want it sworn by something you hold dear.”

Grumbling under his breath, Atem raised his right hand. “You have my word. I, Pharaoh Atem, swear by my partner’s life to put forth my best effort at convincing the gods to assist in bringing Bakura Ryou’s soul back home.”

Bakura chuckled. “So Yugi is more important than Daddy, huh? Fair enough. Corpses are such a mood-killer.”

A snarl curled Atem’s lips, but Yugi touched his shoulder, shaking his head. “You know how they are, especially when they’re stressed. Good luck, Atem. I’ll be waiting here for you.” He snuck closer to place a kiss at his dark’s temple, and the man’s annoyance melted away.

“Hopefully they’ll be able to help. Thieves,” He nodded towards the silver-haired men, “try not to cause Yugi issues for the brief time I’m gone?”

“Oh, I’m going to cause him so much trouble,” Bakura sneered, but apprehension prevented his usual rancor from coming through. “Get out of here already. Ryou’s waiting.”

Heka flowed around the circle, spiraling in towards Atem, and an Eye of Anubis shimmered onto his forehead. His eyes, a swirl of purple and crimson, grew vacant as his soul ascended beyond the mortal plane into the realm of the gods. Stars of twinkling magic blinked their way upwards to form a guiding bridge there and back.

Touzoku-Ou released a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Guess now all we can do is wait.”

***

“You’re lucky I’m a kind-hearted individual,” Mai warned, dabbing the last of black paint over Bakura’s lips. “You assholes keep me waiting for hours, and you didn’t even have the decency to do some prep yourselves?”

“No one does it as good as you, darling.” Touzoku-Ou, decked out in a scarlet suit jacket and pants over a dark gray turtleneck, blew her a kiss. “You know we’re suckers for your goddess touch.”

She laughed, and the action cleared what little exasperation clung to her face. “You’re also lucky I’m a sucker for that suit of yours, big boy, or I’d smack you for thinking you could flirt your way out of my wrath.

“He knows the power of his suit.” Spinning away from her with his completed face-up, Bakura hopped off the high stool and took a bow at the wolf whistle Touzoku-Ou awarded him.

The heavy dark circles, a mix of black and wine liners, contrasted with his all-white sclera lenses, which reduced his irises and pupils to faint gray circles. Black squiggles with a gleam of red draped down his mouth and chin, and all his features were hollowed out by Mai’s expert application of contour and highlight.

Ryou wished he had his phone. The face makeup alone put his tongue in knots; the black silk top and form-fitting spandex together with the grungy needlepoint nails sent blood right between his legs. He never thought about having Bakura or Touzoku-Ou use costume makeup in the bedroom, but he definitely would implement it. The mix of horror and his lovers’ bodies under a layer of sexy clothing… The possibilities were endless.

“What do you think, Ryou?” Mai asked, a knowing grin on her lips. “Should I take it as a compliment that you look ready to burst?”

Squeaking, Ryou yanked a pillow over himself, face burning as Bakura and Touzoku-Ou eyed him, equal parts surprised and wanting. He pretended not to see Touzoku-Ou shift his legs or the bulge Bakura’s spandex offered no privacy for.

Mai giggled and patted her unoccupied seat. “C’mon, babe, you’re next. No hiding with the pillow. They’re your boyfriends, after all, so it’s nothing they haven’t seen before, I’m sure.”

“W-Why don’t you do Touzoku-Ou’s face next?” Ryou suggested, an offer definitely made out of generosity and not to give him time to settle.

“Oh, his makeup doesn’t need approval since he’s sticking to his usual. All he needed was a quick test to make sure his suit still fit properly.” She winked and beckoned him with a finger. “Like I said, no hiding. You’re up, so let’s hear what you want to do.”

His mouth opened, but no answer popped into his head. What did his alternate self want done? Ryou knew nothing about his style preference. If it were his choice, he’d want to match Bakura in levels of creepiness, but…

Touzoku-Ou suddenly wrapped his arm across Ryou’s shoulders. When he leaned in, he placed a kiss on Ryou’s neck, which nearly dissolved the other’s restraint, and whispered, “Go ahead. We’ll do the talking.”

Clearly recognizing the problem alongside his actual boyfriend, Bakura grasped Ryou’s wrist and tugged him to his feet. Their chests collided, and he softly teased, “Just sit and look pretty. We know what Ryou was planning.”

Their erections brushed from the proximity, and Ryou whimpered a pitiful acknowledgement before dragging his feet and planting himself in Mai’s stool, again trying to ignore his other self’s boyfriends ogling and chuckling.

She beamed down at him, ruffling his hair affectionately and turning them both towards the mirror. Her hands combed through his silky white strands while experimenting with over the shoulder, tucked behind the ear, in a ponytail, and other styles.

“How about a braid, Ryou? You haven’t done that in a minute.”

“Uh…” Ryou paused, long enough to allow Bakura or Touzoku-Ou to speak up if it mattered. They remained silent, so he nodded. “Sure?”

“Don’t be so nervous, hun. It’s me and your boyfriends, not Kaiba or some creepy volunteer.” She squeezed his shoulders. “Alrighty, so what are we thinking for the overall look this time around?”

Prepared for the inquiry, Bakura jumped in. “Ryou talked about keeping the contour and highlighting mostly natural.”

“He was toying with adding some glitter around his eyes and on his lips,” Touzoku-Ou added, pointing on his own face to the suggested placement. “He wanted to try a cool-tone lip color, too. Like pastel blue or purple?”

Mai practically sparkled with excitement. “Fun! Good to see you getting out of your comfort zone a bit. Okay, picture with me, Ryou.” She described painting his lips a muted lilac and swirling the color over his cheekbones and back into his eye sockets. She dabbed her pinky gently around his high points, suggesting a blue and silver glitter combo, and motioned to a stunning set of fake white lashes on her vanity to emphasize his pre-existing ones.

He kept offering subtle nods, basically providing unlimited creative freedom, while letting his mind drift. ‘I wonder if my Mai would teach me some makeup tips. Might be fun to collaborate, too. I should suggest sitting down with her and Malik. Between the three of us, we could throw together some wicked looks.’

Her voice disappeared, replaced by her agile hands and brushes dusting over his skin, so he closed his eyes and held still, listening to her hums and occasional quips with Bakura and Touzoku-Ou. The banter soothed him, almost lulling him to sleep were it not for the uncomfortable stool holding him.

An echo, muffled to the point of being nearly indiscernible, tickled his brain while he sat there, disrupting his peace. His brow twitched as Bakura and Touzoku-Ou’s voices overlapped with… Bakura and Touzoku-Ou’s voices? The words and tones were different, but they were certainly the same voice. His ears endeavored to hear beyond the chatter beside him, and he squinted his eyes when pain bloomed in his temples.

“H-Hey, guys?” The three friends quieted themselves, their attention on him. “Sorry if this comes across as rude, but I have a headache. Could you talk a bit quieter?”

Mai’s brush hovered over his eyelid, the bristles itching his eyelashes. “Aw, hun, you should have said something. You poor thing. I lent my medicine to Jonouchi, but I can go get it if you want?”

Ryou contemplated the offer. “That would be great, honestly.”

Setting her brushes down, she offered him a smile. “Of course. Be back in a flash.”

She ducked out of the trailer, leaving Ryou with Bakura and Touzoku-Ou. He could see them tilt their heads in the mirror, and Bakura’s worried face scrunching through his makeup.

“Are you alright? Our Ryou gets bad headaches from time to time. You might be experiencing one of those.”

“Actually,” Ryou used his toes to pivot the stool, “I don’t think it’s related to your Ryou at all. Give me a second, I’m trying to…” His words disappeared as the voices, no longer overlapped, returned. Though still quiet, he could finally make out some of the words being spoken. Pressing his fingertips into his temples, he strained to hear, face wrinkled with effort.

“Three hours! It took three hours for them to basically tell us to go fuck ourselves?!”

“I told you I couldn’t guarantee anything. I tried, Touzoku-Ou, I really did.”

“The worst part is I believe you, Pharaoh! What I don’t believe is the gods are as ‘unable to assist’ as they say! What do they have against me and my families?! Long before I committed crimes against them, they damned my village, and now they’re damning Ryou, who has done nothing but dare to associate with me?!”

“Calm down, Touzoku-Ou. We’ll save Yadonushi without the gods’ help.”

“Of course we will, that’s not the issue! I truly want to know why they hate us so much! They hated me enough to let my village be massacred, they hated you enough to leave you in Zorc’s clutches—”

“Don’t say the name, dammit!”

“—and apparently they hate Rohi enough to strand him in other realms where who knows what is happening to him! You know if it was the pharaoh or his light, they would bend over backwards to help! I’m fucking sick of them treating my loved ones like outcasts!”

“Touzoku-Ou, please. I know this must be infuriating, but I do believe they are unable to help this time. I really, really don’t think they are trying to hurt you or your family this time around.”

“You’re already their favorite, Pharaoh. You don’t need to suck their cocks more.”

“Omri, don’t make me openly take the pharaoh’s side. Please. Just… Come here. Sit down. Take some breaths.”

“Fuck this, Bakura. Fuck the gods. Fuck everything.”

“Shh, c’mon, don’t cry in front of Mr. King. It’ll only make you feel worse… Let’s go back to our room for a bit.”

“I want to stay with Ryou.”

“I know, but you need to step out for a minute.”

“Hey!”

Ryou blinked at the shout, losing his focus on the faint words. He was distantly aware of droplets streaking down his face. The other Bakura and Touzoku-Ou stood in front of him, each looking into his eyes, each with concern written across his face.

Touzoku-Ou asked, “What’s going on? You started crying all of the sudden…”

“Touzoku-Ou…” The dark-skinned man leaned in, expectant. “No, sorry… Not you… He’s hurting. Him and Bakura both…” Ryou smiled sadly at them. “Thank you for being so kind and understanding, but I can’t wait here any longer. It’s a shame, I would have liked to have seen the show.”

The pair reached for him, Bakura squeezing Ryou’s hip and Touzoku-Ou grasping his hand. Gently, Bakura asked, “You think you can do it on your own? I thought you needed help from your world the first time.”

“With or without outside help,” Ryou assured him, “I need to get back to them. Being away is painful, and knowing they’re suffering breaks my heart. Don’t worry; once I vacate this body, your Ryou should come back.”

Both of them frowned, and Bakura, pulling back his hand from Ryou’s hip, mumbled, “Should? No offense, kiddo, but I’d prefer you swear it.”

“I can’t promise everything will go smoothly, but I promise to check back as soon as I can. If for whatever reason he’s not back, I’ll find a way to help you.”

They exchanged a glance, not pleased by the mysterious circumstances but nodding nonetheless. Touzoku-Ou pressed his lips to the back of Ryou’s stolen hand. His words, spoken in a gravelly purr, seemed to carry heated desire for him, not their actual boyfriend.

“Maybe it’s ‘cause you’re wearing our love’s face, but I can’t help but trust you. Make sure you come back for a first row seat and a private show sometime.”

Somewhat flushed by the sultry whisper and unexpected affection, Ryou managed a crooked smile, tearing his eyes away from them and towards the mirror. He approached cautiously, uncertain if the same trick would work again, and pushed his palms onto the glass. He dug, deeper and deeper, into his soul. The magic bubbled to the surface faster than before, lighting the mirror first beneath his flesh, then all at once. Gasps at his back encouraged him, drove him to push harder.

The surface morphed, and Ryou barely kept an elated cry in his throat when, through the haze of magic and what seemed to be a doorway, he saw his boyfriends. They laid on a bed, shoulder to shoulder, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. The men behind him saw them, too, he guessed since Bakura muttered, “That’s so freakin’ weird…”

“Please let this work,” Ryou pleaded to any force who would listen. He inhaled, deep, steady, and exclaimed as loud as he could, “‘Kura! Roh albi!”

Their reaction started gradually, like they were dazed and distrustful of their own ears. Bakura propped up on his elbows. Ryou watched his russet eyes trail over the surface of the room, diving into the shadows tucked into each corner, and at long last finding him through the doorway.

“Yanushi?” He heaved his slender body over Touzoku-Ou’s, tumbling in a very non-thief-king manner off the bed. “Ryou, is that you? Touzoku-Ou, tell me I’m not seeing shit.”

“Fucking hell!” Touzoku-Ou sprang after him. “No, you aren’t seeing shit, unless I am, too.”

They rushed the mirror, barely allowing each other through the doorway in the hurry, and Bakura reached over what Ryou assumed to be a bathroom counter. He lined his palm to Ryou’s, and the surge of energy shocked Ryou, almost making him pull back with a yelp.

Touzoku-Ou mimicked the action, and again, Ryou struggled to keep from pulling away. Their magics mixed through the glass portal, light and dark, stabbing into his palms. It wasn’t painful, he supposed, so much as powerful. Like several static shocks on loop.

“I can hardly see you, Yadonushi,” Bakura groaned, his eyes narrowing. “How did you even manage this?”

“By luck or convenient fluke, the same way everything seems to happen,” Ryou laughed, and the tears down his face no longer carried sadness. “Can you help pull me through? I’m not sure how much longer I can keep this up — it’s draining me by the second.”

Frustrated, Touzoku-Ou growled, the sound rumbling from deep in his throat. “We’re going to try , Rohi, but it didn’t work with Kek and Atem helping. Fuck, I want it to work, but…”

“It almost did, though!” Ryou laid his forehead on the glass, wishing it was Touzoku-Ou’s shoulder. “I was so close. I swore I could have touched you.”

He winced, knees wobbling, elbows shaking. His palms began to burn, and he continued urgently, “We don’t have a lot of time! This body can’t handle my heka, and I can feel myself losing strength. Help pull me through, please!”

Through the mirror, he saw their magic swell in response to his cries. Touzoku-Ou appeared to be burning in scarlet flames, while Bakura’s magic swirled from ground to ceiling like a void. He pushed himself harder than he ever had in his own body, hoping he wouldn’t leave lasting damage on his unwitting landlord, and the pure frenzy coursing through his veins told him his limit was fast approaching.

The Bakura and Touzoku-Ou behind him gasped again, stepping back from the white and gold light emanating from their lover’s body. They watched the light build and build until they couldn’t bear looking at it anymore. A sound like distant thunder boomed through the trailer, and when everything became silent, the light vanished.

The two men looked up, cautiously opening their aching eyes. Their boyfriend’s body, slumped over Mai’s vanity, began to fall, knees too exhausted to hold his weight any longer. Bakura caught Ryou easily, stepping back to brace himself as he held him. Over his shoulder, Touzoku-Ou worriedly touched the boy’s cheek.

“Ryou? Are you okay, little gem?”

To their relief, two brown eyes peeked up through mostly lidded sockets. He spoke, soft and timid. “Baku? Tou?”

They planted sweet kisses down his face, happy to hear him giggle despite his obvious exhaustion. His eyes opened a bit more, still heavy, and he asked, “What happened? I… I can’t remember anything since I went to lay down for my nap.”

“A lot happened,” Touzoku-Ou sighed and brushed the other’s bangs from his face. “And quite honestly, I’m not sure what exactly it all was.”

Bakura grunted in agreement, his gaze pulled to the mirror. “Hopefully everything worked out for him. At least you’re okay.”

“Huh? I’m confused, guys.”

They took turns kissing his forehead, and Bakura continued, “Go to sleep, beautiful. We’ll talk about it in the morning.”

--- --- --- --- ---

AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 12 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 10 Preview)

“For two psycho killers, you’re awful boring, y’know?”

“Both of whom are fantastic,” Touzoku-Ou returned and flopped onto his side, propped on his left elbow. “Maybe you’d understand if you treated your Ryou better.”

Other Bakura sneered. “We treat him plenty well if and when he behaves.”

--- --- --- --- ---

AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 1 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

#bakushipping #geminishipping #gemshipping #tendershipping #ryou bakura #yami bakura #thief king bakura #yugioh #ygo #my writing

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 9)

“Let me get this straight…” Other Ryou inhaled and pointed to the battlefield where Kek and Bakura’s cards lay. “You guys… have this children’s card game… that has literally been used to determine the fate of the world and take lives. That’s… insane.”

Bakura grinned and set a trap card behind his monsters. “Sanity is a slippery slope in this world, my friend.”

Touzoku-Ou, lying on his side behind Bakura, exaggerated a yawn. “You think this is crazy? Back in my day, we used our souls to summon monsters. If they were destroyed, you bet your ass you were the one feeling it.”

“Listen, old-timer,” Kek grunted, rearranging the cards in his hands. “I tried to recreate that shit with shadow magic, and everyone was like, ‘Kek, no! Kek, stop torturing people! Kek, you can’t use card games to invoke suffering!’ I was all for fighting as one with your monsters. The pain hurts so good.”

“You freak,” Bakura snickered. “I remember your fight with Mai. Got your head chopped clean off.”

Kek licked his lips, winking at a paling Ryou. “That was a fun fight.”

Malik feigned dragging a knife across his darker half’s throat. “If that’s what you’re into, I’ll do it, but I’m gonna be pissed if you die on me.”

The group, including Ryou, laughed. From within the protective circle, Other Bakura and Other Touzoku-Ou snorted, rolled their eyes, and physically displayed as much displeasure over the tedium as they could. Ryou, noticing how completely bored and antsy the two men were, was happy to enjoy their misery from the safety of the group surrounding him. It brought him a sense of victory to be so free while they sat in a cage.

“We should invite Mai to hang out more often,” Kek said while dealing a devastating blow to Bakura’s life points. “She’s probably lonely with so much of the friendship squad preoccupied with relationships and careers.” He nudged Malik in the stomach. “We could set her up, I bet. Opposites attract, right? Think Sister wants a girlfriend with a big ol’ pair of tits to su—”

“Nope, nope, nope!” Malik shoved his pointer fingers into his ear canals. “I don’t want to think about my sister’s love life, much less her sex life.”

Touzoku-Ou sneered at the blonde. “You’re such a priss, Malik. Wouldn’t bother you if he tried to set some other chick up with what’s her face.”

“Mai,” Bakura supplied. “You haven’t had a chance to meet her, have you? She’s not too bad. Fiery and independent. Great set of tits, if you’re into that. Think Dog-Boy had a thing for her for a while before he decided he wanted to suck the CEO’s cock more.”

“Talk about opposites attract,” Malik muttered, shaking his head. “I’m surprised he decided to give Kaiba a chance after some of the shit they’ve fought over. Kinda always thought Jonouchi would end up with Yugi, at least before Atem showed back up.”

“They talked about dating a long time ago. Like… before Battle City.” Bakura wiped Kek’s monsters from the field with a spell-trap combo. “Decided their love for each other was platonic or some shit. Personally, I would have at least gotten a blowjob before shutting away my ‘love’ for someone. But whatever floats the Mini Pharaoh’s boat.”

Kek’s points dropped below one thousand, and he narrowed his eyes at Bakura. “That was cheap. And how do you even know some of this shit?”

“That was perfectly legal, loser. As for your question… Yugi confided a lot more in Ryou than you realize, especially when it was about things that involved his other friends.”

“You eavesdropped?” Malik scoffed. “Ryou’s right. You are a pervert.”

“Call me what you want, Ishtar.” Bakura waited for his turn, a smug smirk curling his lips. “When you’re trapped in an accessory for three thousand years, you learn to take your fun where you can get it.”

His counterpart chuckled. “He told me once he used to fill Ryou’s dreams with erotic images just to watch him beat off.”

The Ishtar duo cackled as Bakura’s face turned beet red, and Malik teased, “I didn’t know you had a thing for him aaaaaallllll the way back then. Damn, things are starting to make sense.”

Bakura countered by flipping up his middle finger and taking the last chunk of Kek’s life points out. “It wasn’t about having a thing for him, it was for the sake of amusing myself. Fuck both of you. And you.” He glared at his tattletale lover.

“Hey, I would have done the same. And it would have been for perverted reasons. Aaaaand I would have owned it, because unlike you, I knew I wanted Ryou the moment I saw him.”

Kek cleared the field, handing his cards to Malik to shuffle and neaten back up. “To be fair, Bakura did have a demon goading him towards vengeance for the first however many years he knew Ryou. Hard to think about sex when you’re hearing ‘KILL THE PHARAOH’ on repeat.”

“You know that from experience, do you?” Touzoku-Ou asked, switching places with Bakura.

“Kinda. Mine was more like ‘KILL EVERYONE ESPECIALLY THE PHARAOH’. No need to dive into the specifics, though.”

Malik perched in Kek’s lap, turning his darker half’s body into a personal recliner. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you two. I managed to multitask just fine, mantra be damned.”

“You had the power of teenage hormones, Ishtar,” Bakura jeered and shuffled the deck he and Touzoku-Ou built. He offered it over to the ashen-haired man, who thanked him with a peck on the back of his hand.

“Yeah, well… Fuck you.”

“Excellent comeback, Albi. Remind me to write some down for you later.”

“Fuck you, too, Kek.”

“Eh, it’s almost our turn to be primary caretakers for the bastards over yonder. We’ll talk about that later, though. Worry not, my lovely light, your interest is accruing.”

***

After wandering around the circus grounds, efforts to find his alternate self’s boyfriends completely futile, Ryou stumbled upon someone he at least recognized inside a mostly empty tent. Relieved, he waved them down, exclaiming, “Malik! Can I borrow you, please?”

The Egyptian spun around, flaxen hair swishing over his shoulders, and Ryou froze mid-step. His Malik always sported heavily-lined eyes, usually with his favorite black kohl. Sometimes he dabbed a highlighter over his cheekbones, maybe rubbed on a smear of maroon lip color if he felt like leaving marks on Kek’s face and neck. The Malik in front of him, however, leveled up his makeup game.

Metallic gold and bronze shimmered atop his eyelids, outlined by a smoky warm brown and artistically smudged black eyeliner. His whole face showed depths of contouring and highlighting, bringing out his naturally stunning and exotic bone structure. His lips, overdrawn by a smidge to sharpen their shape, reflected the same gold as his eyelids.

“Hey, Ry! Actually, since you’re here, can I borrow you? Yugi borrowed my mirror, and I want to finish up this look so I can get fitted for tomorrow’s show outfit.”

“I-I… I would love to help…?” Ryou snapped his jaw closed, breathing through his nose. “You already look great, though. What else do you need?”

Tugging his hair back into a tight ponytail, Malik beamed and winked. “You’re sweet, Ry. I want to add more pizazz. Maybe rhinestones or beads? I’ve got some spirit gum for tomorrow, but let’s just use eyelash glue for now.”

Blankly nodding, Ryou sat beside Malik on a plastic stool. “Why not do this in a bathroom or something?”

“Bleh, we’ve been on the road for so long, I needed the fresh air. It was working fine until Yugi ran off with my mirror. Think he’s sick of being cooped up, too.”

Brushing one speck of glue at a time, Ryou applied the gold and bronze beads per Malik’s instructions, dotting them along the outer edges of his cheeks and hairline. “Have you seen Bakura and Touzoku-Ou, by chance?”

“Lost your loverboys?” Malik batted his eyelashes, smirking when Ryou blushed. “I’ve been paying more attention to my makeup, sorry. I know Bakura was with Kek at the tomb maze, but I think they should be done by now. Maybe they’re with Mai, going over outfits and makeup plans? Think Bakura is going with a darker, more demony theme for his act this time around. Bet it will look rad.”

Unable to contribute to the conversation, Ryou fell silent and finished the last bead, firmly holding it to Malik’s forehead with tweezers. The blonde hummed, his eyelashes fluttering closed, and carried on, “Has Touzoku-Ou told you what he’s doing for his look this time around? I know Kek is sticking with his classic black and gold. He worries changing it up too much might get in the way of his performance.”

“I don’t… think we’ve talked about it. I'm not sure.”

“Well, I'm sure he’ll look good whatever he wears. Hard not to with a body like that.”

“Yeah, that’s true…”

When the pressure on his forehead disappeared, Malik glanced up at Ryou. “What about you? What are you going to do?”

‘Hopefully go home, since otherwise my act will be a flop…’

Shrugging, Ryou set down the tweezers among the rest of Malik’s kit. “I’m still deciding. Guess I need to figure it out. Maybe I’ll ask around for some opinions.”

“I think you’d look good in somber black, like Bakura, but with a few flashes of red and gold, like how Touzoku-Ou usually wears. Maybe some body painting, like swirls along your curves, a paw print on your chest. Ooh, a snake on your bicep to reference Diabound? Touzoku-Ou would eat that up.”

“Um, yeah, that might be…”

Malik rose to his feet, pulling Ryou in for a hug. “I know you’re shy and prefer sticking to more plain looks so the animals keep all the attention, but going all out once in a while is fun.”

‘I’m shy…? I mean, I probably wouldn’t want to perform in a circus, but I don’t think I’m shy. Guess this version of me is a bit different. Funny that he performs, though, if he is normally so withdrawn.’

“I’ll consider it, Malik. Thanks,” Ryou sighed into the blonde hair, scrunching his face as it tickled his nose. “I should probably get back to my search.”

“Wanna walk with me to Mai? I’m sure that’s where they are. Pretty much everything is done being set up.”

Since he had absolutely no idea where Mai was, Ryou agreed and let Malik lead him out of the tent. The sun sat lower in the sky, lighting the clouds with splotches of purple tucked inside the red and orange glow. The pair walked among the stands to a large trailer — larger than the RV his alternate self resided in — decked out with fairy lights and ‘MK’ painted boldly across the door.

Malik knocked and promptly let himself in, Ryou at his heel with a bit more pause. Mai Kujaku, a vision of the usual loveliness as Ryou expected, analyzed Kek, recognizable from the back by his infamous hair. She skirted around him, viewing his face and body from every angle, oblivious to the newcomers.

“What’s cookin’, good lookin’? That what you’re going to be rocking for the show?”

Ryou couldn’t see around the door, but he sensed the finger guns accompanying Touzoku-Ou’s flirtatious tone. Malik shot back a cheeky grin.

“You know it. And what a perfect coincidence that the two handsome dorks I was looking for are here together.”

“Why?” Suspicion dripped from Bakura’s words. “What do you want?”

Waving off the question, Malik pulled Ryou from behind the safety of the door, ignoring or oblivious to Ryou’s spooked eyes and slack jaw. “I don’t want anything. Just delivering a present.”

The men jumped to their feet at the sight of Ryou. Bakura, being closest, lunged forward and wrapped the slighter male in a bone-crushing hug. Heat blushed Ryou’s cheeks while the breath on his ear shivered down his spine.

“There you are…! We were getting worried you weren’t going to come out,” Bakura whispered, low to keep the words private. He planted a kiss on Ryou’s temple and pulled back to let Touzoku-Ou squirm into the hug.

“Ryou.” He nuzzled into his neck, trailing kisses from shoulder to ear. “My precious gem… Can we step outside to talk?”

Mai called over Kek’s head, “If you’re leaving, don’t take too long. I’ve still got to work on you three, Malik, Yugi, Atem… And then I have to get everything approved by Seto. You know how picky he is about his visions.”

Malik laughed and swung his arms behind his head. “Hey, I’m easy. Slap on some black shorts, add some tulle or silk accents, send me on my way.”

“You’ll need something for the top, or we will have to brainstorm body paint designs.”

Bakura growled and pushed Touzoku-Ou and, by extension, Ryou towards the door. “Yeah, yeah. Jabber on. We’ll be back.” The door slammed shut behind them, and he jerked his chin to a tree a few meters off. “Over there, away from nosy gossipmongers.”

Ryou dragged his feet behind the two, staring hard into their backs. They weren’t angry, from what he could tell, but he wasn’t used to resolving conflict he himself caused. Of all the fights the trio experienced over the past three years, most of it came from Bakura and Touzoku-Ou. Once or twice, when their actions affected Yugi or his close-knit group, Ryou took the offensive. And, consequently, Bakura or Touzoku-Ou would apologize. They hated upsetting him, and they never got angry with him unless he put himself in harm’s way.

His lower face painfully rammed into the skull of Touzoku-Ou, which brought him back to the present immediately. The man whirled around and steadied him, eyes squinted with concern. “Are you okay?”

“S-Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

Bakura circled around and used his fingertip to massage Ryou’s sore points. “Gotta be more careful, Babe. Touzoku-Ou’s head is like a brick wall. You could have busted your lip right open.”

Kicking Bakura’s shin, more joking than spiteful, Touzoku-Ou mumbled under his breath, “You’re the hardheaded one, dipshit.” He grasped Ryou’s hands and kissed each. “Seriously, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Really.” Ryou found the patches of grass by his feet very interesting, an excellent distraction from the heat bubbling up in his body and the two attentive, strikingly handsome men in front of him. “I should be asking you. It was my fault.”

“Nonsense. This idiot could take a jackhammer to the skull and be fine,” Bakura snorted, bursting into a full laugh when Touzoku-Ou kicked him significantly harder than before. “Now, onto more important matters… Ryou, I—”

“We,” Touzoku-Ou corrected while shouldering Bakura.

The latter rolled his eyes, but nonetheless adjusted his words. “We wanted to apologize for earlier.”

Ryou’s mouth dropped into an ‘O’-shape. ‘...What?’

Touzoku-Ou scratched at his head, eyes flickering between Bakura and Ryou. “You weren’t feeling good, but I kept messing with you… And then Baku was messing with you… And we weren’t respecting your feelings.”

“We should have backed off,” Bakura agreed, and his hand reached to stroke Ryou’s cheek. “We made you feel pressured… And we made you cry.”

“We also heard you… in the bathroom.” Touzoku-Ou laid his cheek on Ryou’s shoulder. “I didn’t realize you were getting so homesick. We can go talk to Kaiba, if you want to sit this show out. I can handle your section with Diabound. And then once this part of the tour is done, the three of us can take a vacation, go back to your hometown, whatever you want.”

‘This… is really sweet. But I don’t know how to tell them they have it all wrong.’

Bakura’s gaze drove deep into Ryou’s. “Ryou… Please say something. We are sorry. So sorry.”

“Extremely sorry,” Touzoku-Ou muttered and nuzzled closer. “Please, my gem, forgive us. My heart couldn’t handle you hating us.”

“I-I could never… I don’t hate you…! You’re misunderstanding!” Ryou stammered, swallowing the nerves knotting up his throat. “I was never angry at either of you…! It’s… Um, it’s complicated…?”

They stepped back, their eyes searching his. Bakura spoke, “Then, Ryou… Please tell us what’s wrong. We love you. We’d do anything to make you feel better.”

Before Ryou could formulate a believable excuse, an unidentifiable voice rasped, “Massssterssss.”

His eyes snapped to their widest as Diabound slithered towards the trio, her colossal body flattening the grass beneath. Her silver eyes tracked him like prey while she serpentined around both Bakura and Touzoku-Ou’s legs, forcing him to stumble backwards.

“Diabound…!” Touzoku-Ou snapped quietly, throwing glances over his shoulders. “You know you aren’t supposed to leave the pen when volunteers are around.”

“Much less speak, you damnable creature,” Bakura growled and pushed her head away from his face. “Are you trying to be turned into some science experiment? What if someone heard you?”

Ryou felt his knees wobble as the snake’s mouth inched open and the gravelly, sexless voice declared, “Not my masssster. Ryou gone.”

“What are you hissing about?” Touzoku-Ou gently repositioned the snake’s head, directing her to look at Ryou. “He’s right there, you silly serpent.”

“Not my masssster,” She repeated, and the voice carried a more assertive hiss to it. “Not my Ryou. He ssssaid sssso. Give back Masssster. Want Masssster.”

Baffled by the creature’s strange behavior, Bakura and Touzoku-Ou shifted their eyes between Ryou and Diabound. Their eyes lingered on Ryou’s unsettled stance, his disquieted, doe-eyed gaze. Something clicked in their brains, and their eyebrows slanted down, narrowing their incredulous eyes.

As the two stepped around the massive snake and approached him, all Ryou could think was: ‘You friggin’ blabbermouth.’

***

“Victory!” Malik grinned and flipped his fingers into a ‘V’-shape. “Suck my dick, Mr. King of Thieves.”

“Yeah, whatever,” Touzoku-Ou grumbled. “This modern ripoff is stupid. It used to be about spiritual strength, but now you rely on trap and magic cards to save your ass. And half the stuff you pull off is bullshit.”

Bakura chuckled and kissed Touzoku-Ou’s shoulder. “Pouting over a loss is beneath you. Do what I do when Malik wins: kick his ass.”

Jokingly, Kek growled, “Watch it, tomb-robbers. I’ll kick your ass if you touch Malik.” He proceeded to pinch Malik’s exposed midriff, snickering when his other half slapped his hands away.

Other Ryou, interest piqued by Kek’s words, poked Touzoku-Ou’s shoulder for both his and Bakura’s attention. “What’s it like, robbing tombs? Isn’t it dangerous because of the traps?”

“Not if you know how to dismantle them,” Touzoku-Ou boasted and crossed his arms, lips reverting into his cocky smirk. “Which I did. I also avoided them entirely thanks to Diabound. Hard to get caught in a trap if you go right through it.”

“What’s Diabound?”

The pair of thieves considered him for a moment before Touzoku-Ou lifted himself off the ground. Malik frowned, opening his mouth to protest something beyond Ryou’s knowledge, but Bakura flicked the coin from his deck carrier directly into the center of his forehead.

“Summoning Diabound doesn’t use that much magic, Ishtar. Besides, we’re getting the gods to help, right?”

“You’re assuming they will. They might not be able to.”

Kek nosed Malik’s cheek, his tongue darting out to lick the corner of Malik’s mouth. While the other screeched in disgust, Kek leered, “Let him show off, Albi. And stop being dramatic.”

Under the assumption Malik was too distracted to argue his point further, Touzoku-Ou summoned his heka, diving deep into his soul to call forth his ka. Ryou and his fellow other-realmers watched, him awestruck and them morbidly curious.

Through lights ranging from heavenly white to scarlet and sparkling with flecks of gold, the body of a divine serpent sprung forth, coiling around Touzoku-Ou protectively. Above its snake half, Diabound’s humanoid upper body materialized. The feathered wings both at its hips and shoulder blades shimmered like diamonds.

“W-Whoa…” Ryou breathed, and he gasped when the giant beast turned to him, reaching its massive hand towards him. “Um… G-Guys?”

“It’s okay,” Touzoku-Ou chuckled. “Diabound might recognize you aren’t our Ryou, but he won’t harm you.”

Bakura also laughed, a gentle sound as opposed to his more iconic howling. “Diabound acts on Touzoku-Ou’s will, so he guards Ryou like a mother bear.”

Comforted by their assurance, Ryou touched the giant creature’s extended palm, unable to hold back breathy sounds of astonishment. The snake portion of the creature slinked over and flicked it’s arm-sized tongue along Ryou’s leg. He giggled.

“That tickles!”

Malik grumbled, “Sure, licks Ryou, tries to eat me and Kek. I see how it is.”

Kek snorted. “You would think it would be opposite, considering I know Touzoku-Ou likes to —”

“Hey!” Touzoku-Ou snapped, cheeks reddening despite his complexion. “Asshole! It was an experiment that you shouldn’t have even walked in on!”

With the outcry, Diabound faded, but Ryou couldn’t even be disappointed; apparently there was juicy drama and sexy talk afoot.

Falling to the ground, Bakura rolled with laughter. “Hypocrite! I thought you wore your pervert badge with pride?”

“It’s not perverted to explore my sexual desires and try new things! The modern world has a lot of novelty, and Ryou was perfectly happy to help!”

“Of course he was.” Bakura cured his cackling with wistful eyes and a swipe of the tongue. “Ryou loves a good experiment. Don’t you remember how we ended up with a couple of dumb blondes in our bed?”

Grimacing, Malik glared at the white-haired yami. “We agreed never to speak of that again! I do not need to remember the events of that night… And now I can’t help it. Kek!” He shook his darker half’s shoulder. “Do that thing! Repress my memories!”

“Nah, Albi,” Kek drawled, face ever so slightly flushed. “That was a good night. You’re just pissed cause you got stuck with Bakura instead of Ryou since a certain self-proclaimed king was hogging him.”

“I’m a thief. Selfishness runs in my blood.” Touzoku-Ou gave Malik a finger-gun and winked. “Maybe next time you can get to him first.”

“Oh, no! We’re not doing that again! It was a one time thing because you, Bakura, and Kek thought it’d be funny.”

Bakura smirked. “It was funny. And hot. Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it, because I don’t recall a single objection while Kek and I—”

“Shut up, Ra dammit! You know what? Fuck watching these bastards. They’re your lookalikes, so you two can take a double-shift. Kek, we’re leaving!”

Excitement tangible, Kek’s tongue lolled out his mouth. “Are we going to start working off that interest? ‘Cause with all this remembering, I could use a little one-on-one time with you.”

“I don’t fucking care what we do, as long as they,” Malik motioned to the sniggering Bakura and Touzoku-Ou, “are not present.”

Lapping at his lips, Kek swooped down and scooped Malik into his arms. “Sweet. See you guys later! Hope you don’t get blue balls.”

Ryou watched Kek rush out of the room wearing a manic grin. He expected it would be a while before he saw them again. Not that he could blame them. The image got his blood pumping, too, and he wasn’t even around for the supposed fivesome.

Touzoku-Ou stretched and helped Bakura back to his feet. “How shall we pass the time now? We know each other’s decks inside and out, so dueling will be boring.”

“I was already bored of dueling.” Bakura shrugged and cracked his back, wincing at the sensation. “Sitting hunched over on the floor is uncomfortable. We should have dragged over a table and chairs.”

“You’re getting soft,” His boyfriend teased, poking at his belly. “Maybe we should make a trip Kaiba’s gym once we get Rohi back.”

At the term he recognized to mean their Ryou, Other Ryou peered over at the still form. A part of him ached, knowing the taunts his Bakura and Touzoku-Ou threw at him earlier were true: he was only a temporary guest, a substitute for their chaste affections and flirtations. The one they really loved was trapped somewhere outside his own body. Once he returned, Ryou would be cast back into his own realm along with his murderous pair of ‘boyfriends.’

His eyes wanted to water, but he wouldn’t give the killers the satisfaction. Instead, he yawned and announced, “If you two are sticking around here, I’m gonna go take a nap. I need to take advantage of my time away from them.” He didn’t bother gesturing, knowing both pairs of men knew who he was referring to.

“Go for it,” Bakura acknowledged with a grin. “You probably need a break after everything you’ve experienced today anyway.”

“Sleep well, little one.” Touzoku-Ou winked and blew a kiss. “Sweet dreams, as they say.”

Ryou tried to hide the longing in his eyes and bit his tongue to resist the temptation of inviting the men to accompany him.

***

They dragged him away from the trailers, tents, and RVs. Every time he started to speak, they shushed him or squeezed his wrist to the point of drawing a whimper. Behind them, slithering proudly, Diabound kept her eyes on Ryou.

When they were far enough from the circus grounds, Touzoku-Ou shoved Ryou ahead of them. He managed to catch himself, but Diabound struck soon after, coiling her body around him until his knees buckled. She seemed proud of herself for subduing the imposter on behalf of her masters.

They loomed over him, blazing eyes ready to burn him to cinders. Bakura nudged him through a gap in Diabound’s hold.

“This is starting to make way too much sense. Did you enjoy listening to us prattle on about our love for the boy whose face you stole?”

Touzoku-Ou bared his teeth. “Who the fuck are you? What have you done with him, shapeshifter? So help me, if he’s hurt, I’ll strangle you myself.”

Through coughs and gasps, Ryou actually laughed. “Here I was thinking this world was normal, no magic to be seen. Now there’s a talking snake and shapeshifters apparently?” He winced as Diabound hissed by his ear. “Could you call her off? She’s heavy, I can’t breathe… How can I tell you anything?”

“Give us one reason not to let her squeeze the last ounce of air from your lungs,” Bakura sneered, crouching so they could look in each other’s eyes. Touzoku-Ou followed suit, squatting by Ryou’s head.

“How — ow! — about the fact that this is very much his actual body that you're hurting right now?” Their eyes, distrustful, full of loathing, buried into him. “Seriously? Ask your — fuck… — snake! I told her as much.” Ryou managed a weak glare at Diabound. “If you were gonna blab on me, couldn’t you at least tell them the whole story?”

“Diabound?” Touzoku-Ou nodded towards the beast. “What did he tell you exactly?”

She tilted her head, reaching into her recollection. “Not Ryou you know… Another universssse… Am ka … Egypt… Pharaoh and demon god.”

Ryou groaned, wiggling in the coils of muscle, frantically trying to remove the pressure on his spine and groin. “That’s a very — ouch! — abridged version. Kinda skipped a lot of detail.”

“Give her a minute,” Bakura snapped, and Ryou flinched, sincerely nervous the man might strike him. “She might be a magical creature, but she’s still a snake. They’re not built for memory recall.”

Diabound, ignoring their vehement argument, continued to rasp, “Not the Ryou ussssed to. Hissss body, different ssssoul. No blab.”

The two men, eyeing him, stood. Touzoku-Ou snapped his fingers. On cue, Diabound released her hold and slithered off Ryou’s body. He couldn’t resist, through inhales and exhales, grumbling, “Yet here… we are… Blabbermouth.”

“What does all that mean? Not the Ryou you know or are used to?” Bakura, rather than allow Ryou to catch his breath, demanded.

While opening his mouth, sarcastic response on his tongue, Ryou noticed the switchblade his doppelganger held. Instinct overtook him, driving him to crawl backwards, away from potential harm. They recognized his fear, and Bakura appeared to falter, lowering the blade back into his pocket. Regardless whether they felt bad for frightening him or simply disliked seeing their boyfriend’s face twisted in terror, Ryou appreciated the gesture.

Fighting through his air-starved lungs, Ryou shuddered and whispered, “I… I’m not the Ryou you know… But I am Ryou. I don’t understand all the details, and I definitely don’t know why this is happening… But I am Bakura Ryou.”

“Bakura?” Bakura echoed dubiously. “I don’t get it. Are you me or are you Ryou?”

Ryou frowned. “My full name is Bakura Ryou. Bakura’s my surname. Why? What’s your Ryou’s last name?”

“Imamura,” Touzoku-Ou answered. “Imamura Ryou. Weird that you share a name with your boyfriend. Or does your Bakura go by a different — why are you laughing?"

“So-sorry. It’s—” Giggle. “It’s a long story, but you calling it weird was just very funny. Ah, Gods above, I needed that laugh.”

His laughter eased what remained of their tension, their body postures relaxing significantly. Touzoku-Ou stepped closer, offering his hand to Ryou and helping the shaken male stagger upright.

“So, for clarification,” Bakura mused, holding his chin. “You’re saying you are Ryou, just from some weird alternate plane of existence? Where apparently you share my name?” He cocked an eyebrow as Ryou devolved into laughter again. “Am I wrong?”

Ryou waved one hand, holding his belly with the other. “Hehe, close enough. You have the right idea.”

The two men, not understanding the apparently hilarious statements they had made, waited for him to catch his breath. Diabound, gazing between her masters and master’s imposter, released a hiss-like sigh. “Boring now. Am hungry. Want foodssss.”

Much to her masters’ chagrin, her declaration restarted Ryou’s fit of hilarity.

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AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 11 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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No one mention how the AO3 version got updated by accident.

Shhhhhh... You saw nothing. I fixed it.

#personal update

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 9 Preview)

Falling to the ground, Bakura rolled with laughter. “Hypocrite! I thought you wore your pervert badge with pride?”

“It’s not perverted to explore my sexual desires and try new things! The modern world has a lot of novelty, and Ryou was perfectly happy to help!”

“I’m a thief. Selfishness runs in my blood.” Touzoku-Ou gave Malik a finger-gun and winked. “Maybe next time you can get to him first.”

“Oh, no! We’re not doing that again! It was a one time thing because you, Bakura, and Kek thought it’d be funny.”

Bakura smirked. “It was funny. And hot. Don’t pretend you didn’t enjoy it, because I don’t recall a single objection while Kek and I—”

“Shut up, Ra dammit! You know what? Fuck watching these bastards. They’re your lookalikes, so you two can take a double-shift. Kek, we’re leaving!”

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AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 1 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

#fractureshipping #how did that sneak into this bakushipping fic?#bakushipping #gemshipping #tendershipping #geminishipping #ryou bakura #thief king bakura #yami bakura #yami marik #marik ishtar #malik ishtar #yami malik #eclipseshipping #bronzeshipping #yugioh #ygo #my writing

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Side Story I)

Side by side with his lighter half, Kek waited for Malik to say something, anything. Even a sigh would put some of his anxiety to rest. They escaped the room where the bastard Bakura and Touzoku-Ou doppelgangers resided and now sat in their shared guest room, silent as death save for the electrical buzz of their bedside lamp.

After what felt like an eternity, Kek could no longer stay quiet. “Albi, please talk to me.”

“What’s there to talk about?”

His voice returned a sprinkle of joy into Kek’s words. “Whatever upset you in the other room, I would think. You want me to go kill those bastards for hurting you and Yugi? Should I tie up the pharaoh so he can’t interfere?”

“No. Leave them alone.” Sniffling, Malik turned his head away from his partner, resting his cheek on his bunched up knees. “I lost my cool. I should have been the one to stop you, not Atem. I shouldn’t have joined the fighting.”

Snorting, his other half scooted closer, bumping their hips together. “Is that what’s bothering you? Why? They deserved it.”

“I’m supposed to be your light!” Malik snapped, fists clenching. “But what I did… That Bakura is right; I’m not a good person. I’m not like Yugi or Ryou. I’m a short-tempered, violent thug, no different from them.”

“Now you’re being dramatic,” Kek muttered, rolling his eyes. He shifted and propped his elbow on his knee so he could rest his chin on the palm of his hand. “We already talked about this, Malik.”

“Don’t patronize me,” The other blond said, twisting his body farther away. “Tonight confirmed I’ve been right all along. I haven’t changed a bit.”

A hand, large yet gentle, touched Malik’s shoulder. Slowly, Kek grazed his fingertips down his boyfriend’s spine, lavender eyes observing the way the action made Malik squirm. With a chuckle, he lazily drawled, “So what?”

Malik peeked over his shoulder. “What?”

“So you haven’t changed. I don’t really agree, but let’s pretend for a minute… What does it matter?”

“Are you joking? It matters a lot!”

“Why? Our siblings, Yugi and his friendship crew, Ryou, Bakura, Touzoku-Ou… Me. We all accept you the way you are. Whether you think you’ve changed or not, you can’t deny that truth.”

Eyes widening, Malik turned his head to stare somewhere besides Kek’s face. “I’m supposed to be a good person. A light to your dark.”

“You are, though. Think about it like this,” Kek slid his hand under Malik’s shirt, gently brushing against the rough scars, “Atem, as he is, isn’t ‘dark,’ per se. But he is darker than Yugi. And you, going by your standards, aren’t necessarily a light. But you are lighter than me.”

Silence followed, so Kek sighed. “You set a really unachievable goal for yourself if you think you need to be Yugi or Ryou’s level of light.”

“Why is it unachievable, though? They’ve suffered plenty, too, but they are good people.”

“Sure, but you aren’t a bad person, Albi. Since we separated and you’ve been freed from my unconscious influence, you haven’t killed or tortured anyone. In fact, with the exception of roughhousing with Bakura or Touzoku-Ou, you haven’t been in any physical altercation.”

“Until today when I blew it.” Malik spun around and collapsed onto Kek’s lap. “I went back to fucking square one. I wanted to kill those guys so bad.”

Kek scratched Malik’s scalp lightly. “They did something to our Ryou?” Malik grunted in acknowledgement. “So you lost your temper because they hurt someone you love? Why does that reset your progress?”

“Because… Because I shouldn’t have…”

“Am I also back to square one for attacking them?”

Blinking, Malik craned his head to look up at Kek. “Of course not! You were just—”

Grinning, Kek interrupted, “Angry because they hurt you. Same as you felt after learning they hurt Ryou. Why are you playing favorites?” He poked Malik’s nose playfully. “You should learn to love yourself at least half as much as the rest of us love you.”

His eyebrows scrunching his forehead, Malik dropped his gaze away from Kek, staring thoughtfully out into the room. Wordless, Kek resumed rubbing and scratching through the mass of flaxen hair, occasionally flicking Malik’s earring to see if he would get a response. Ten minutes of total quiet came and went, and Malik reworked his position to lay flat on his stomach.

“Will you rub my back? It’s hurting a bit.”

“I’ll have to charge you.”

Malik’s lips twitched behind the strands of hair obscuring his profile. “I’m good for it.”

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Added this in between chapter 7 (the transition chapter) and original chapter 8 (the first Circus Crew chapter). Enjoy the extra bit of eclipseshipping! :)

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AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 8 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

#my writing #malik ishtar #marik ishtar #yami marik #yami malik #eclipseshipping #bronzeshipping #yugioh #ygo

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Prologue)

Saturday morning, the official start of the weekend. For Ryou, the weekend served as a break from work at the museum and a chance to catch up on household chores. Assuming his beloved boyfriends allowed such “privileges” — they preferred spending the weekend in bed (with him) or the game room or, against his own preferences, they prowled the city for pocket change and knickknacks to pawn off.

He tried his damnedest to contain any irritation over their thieving habits. How could he fault them for doing what was second nature? When one of his lovers literally held the (self-proclaimed) title of King of Thieves and the other originated from a fusion of said thief and a shadow monster… Simply put, he suspected it would take time for them to realize modern day thievery was neither wise nor necessary.

A shifting weight and grunt came from his left, warm skin rubbing on his own. A man, an almost perfect replica of Ryou himself, laid there. The doppelganger stirred gently before falling right back into his dreamworld. His name was Yami Bakura, or simply Bakura these days. He no longer instilled anxiety or anger in Ryou. The time of his evil actions were long past and replaced with more genuine affection than one would have thought possible for a fragmented soul.

His silvery white hair fluffed out beneath the weight of his head in a bushy mess, which never failed to bring a smile to Ryou’s lips. Using the gentlest of hands, Ryou brushed a few particularly haphazard strands from Bakura’s face. The former spirit’s eyes twitched at the fleeting touch, but his beautiful white lashes, flutter as they did, remained curtained over his rusted brown irises.

On the other side of Ryou, a bulkier form wiggled drowsily beneath the sheets, and a muscular arm snuck around his waist. He felt himself tugged ever so slightly against the bare chest of Touzoku-Ou Bakhura, the once-infamous King of Thieves who fought to bring justice to his desecrated village. Though his mission ended far differently than he intended, the exotic man adjusted to a happy life in the modern Domino, Japan with the help of his descendant of several millennia.

Tracing the heavy scar on his one lover’s cheek, Ryou wondered how he and Touzoku-Ou could possibly share a bloodline. Sure, three thousand years had passed between their lives, but seriously? Every single day Ryou found himself blown away by the beauty of the thief. His ashen hair, only slightly grayer than silver, and his breathtaking eyes, like lapis lazuli stone, contrasted so inhumanly well with the dark skin of his Ancient Egypt origins.

“Mm,” Touzoku-Ou sleepily moaned, his eyes cracking open somewhat. “Go back to sleep, Rohi.”

Smiling, Ryou pressed his lips to Touzoku-Ou’s, earning another sleepy moan from the man. On the other side of the bed, Bakura again stirred as if sensing shared affection he was not privy to. A slender arm snaked up to Ryou’s chest, fingers ghosting over the bare skin and scars of many years ago.

“Yanushi…” He purred, although a faint touch of grogginess clung to his usually sultry voice. “Don’t you think it’s too early? Isn’t the bed so much warmer than the rest of the apartment?”

He certainly wasn’t wrong. The chilly morning air seeped into the apartment, a reminder of imminent winter. Ryou knew without a doubt his floor would feel like ice if he stepped out of bed. Thinking on this, humming thoughtfully, he turned his gaze to his doppelganger.

“Fine, fine. We can sleep in a bit longer today.”

Touzoku-Ou nuzzled into Ryou’s neck and planted a chaste kiss along his jaw. Bakura, victorious grin upon his lips, curled in closer and dropped an equally simple kiss to his former host’s exposed shoulder.

Amused, Ryou waited only a moment before the two drifted back off to sleep. In truth, he easily could get up and do his chores now. After years of Bakura’s neglectful “borrowing” of Ryou’s body and countless hours of sleep lost, he felt well-rested on far less sleep than considered normal. Four hours felt like eight, and eight felt like luxury. Yet he refused to force the other two to wake up before they were ready. The comfort and intimacy of being snuggled between the two’s strong, heat-radiating bodies warranted no complaints, either.

***

Instead of using the time to steal an extra hour or so of sleep, Ryou closed his eyes and dwelled on the events leading up to his strange relationship. Two years after the Millenium Items were put to rest, a wave of magic swept through the streets of Domino. Average people would never notice, of course, but people who had once been in tune with magic both dark and light feltit in their very cores.

Yugi Mutou and Malik Ishtar called him within half an hour of the magic striking the city. Like Ryou, they too once housed other beings within their souls.

Yugi’s other half, Yami Yugi or Atem, once used magic as dark as Bakura. Though he was quick to abandon the evil ways, the magic still coursed through his and, by extension, Yugi’s souls. On the other hand, Malik’s other half, born of the cruelty and trauma the tombkeeper suffered as a child, forged his own connection to the dark magic of the Millinium Rod.

Malik called him first, a mere twenty minutes after the wave cascaded through Domino. He said he suffered a brief hallucination in which he was walking absently through the streets of the city, an unknown connection drawing him towards the area of town where he lived. Despite the familiar enough scene, however, Malik described a feeling of not being himself. It terrified him.

While his call with Malik went on, Yugi also rang him. Ryou quickly connected the calls so the three of them could talk through the weird occurrence. Yugi, like Malik, described a foreign sensation, an identity that was not his. He had not experienced a vision, but there was pull at his very heart urging him towards an unseen goal.

Having experienced neither situation, Ryou only offered the little input he had. Had he felt something peculiar? Yes. Was he concerned? Mildly, but more so for his friends’ sakes. He barely resigned himself to being completely unhelpful when it happened: a voice, in his head, in his ears, as if it were right behind him.

/Yadonushi…/

Fear froze the blood in his veins, and his heart rate increased to such a dangerous level, he thought his chest might explode. The voice belonged to Yami Bakura. It was a voice he never wanted to hear again. He whipped around, desperate eyes scanning his empty apartment, but there was no one else.

/Yadonushi… Can… hear…?/

Trembling, Ryou whispered into his phone, “I… I hear… his voice.”

Silence followed his confession. Malik broke it with an exclaimed, “Fucking Ra, are you kidding me?! Y-You don’t think…?”

Yugi’s voice joined in. “It’s impossible. You two were there! The souls are at peace, and the shadows are sealed away!” Pause. “J-Just to be sure… Malik, go to your sister’s. Stay there. Ryou, you should come here immediately.”

He was nodding before Yugi’s sentence was complete. “Yeah, I… I’m going to grab a few things and be there in a bit.”

Malik’s voice trembled as much as Ryou’s body. “This can’t be real…”

Carrying more urgency than before, Yugi all but commanded, “Malik! Snap out of it, okay? Get to your sister’s. She’s closer than me or Ryou.”

His tone reminded Ryou of the pharaoh who once shared Yugi’s body. Voice still wavering, Malik agreed and hung up the phone. Ryou restated that he would be at his friend’s soon and ended the call.

/Yanushi… Hear me?/

‘No,’ Ryou thought to himself, a venomous edge in his mind’s voice. ‘No, I fucking refuse to hear you. You aren’t allowed to be here, in my life, again.’

In a backpack he hadn’t used for years, Ryou threw some spare clothing and toiletries. There was no possible way this was an overnight-fix type of problem, and he knew it. He slung the bag over his shoulder, grabbed his keys, and slammed his apartment door shut behind him.

/Yadonushi… Need to… you… me?/

Blood trickled from his lower lip as he raced down the sidewalks of Domino. It occurred to him he must have bitten it. His legs and feet ached from the way he sprinted. His shoulders and arms stung each time he rammed passed some unwitting pedestrian.

/Where… harder to… stop! /

Slowly, the voice faded to silence. A victory, but hollow. The distance between them weakened the attempts to link their minds, but Yami Bakura was clever and knew the places Ryou would seek assistance. It wouldn’t be long before he found his way to Yugi’s, and that thought nearly brought Ryou to a halt. It was selfish to force Yugi into potential harm, but Gods above… He really did not want to face the creature who tormented him for years on his own.

Feet vigorously pounding the cement, lungs screaming for a moment to rest, heart stabbing into his chest, Ryou refused to stop until he saw the Kame Game Shop. He flung the door open and practically collapsed at the expectant Yugi’s feet. His friend’s voice called out to him, but Ryou couldn’t hear it over his own ragged breathing and pumping heart. Bile rose in his throat, but he kept it from escaping. A dampness at the corner of his eyes caught his attention. Tears spilled over his cheeks before he could try and stop them.

Being the true friend that he was, Yugi helped Ryou to the couch and presented him with water and food. His friend urged him to calm down and regain some of the strength he used to rush over. There was a blankness about the white-haired male as he nibbled at the snacks and sipped the refreshing liquid.

“Malik just texted and said he was maybe ten minutes out from his sister’s by motorcycle. I’ll let him know you made it here safely.”

“Thanks, Yugi.”

Once their brief exchange was over, the two sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Not too long into their quiet, a brief ding from Yugi’s phone alerted them to Malik’s confirmation of reaching his sister’s. Relieved by the news, Yugi let out a deep exhale.

He said, “You and Malik are safe.”

Meeting his friend’s shining violet eyes, Ryou shook his head. “No, Yugi. If this is really happening… We’re not safe. None of us are.”

Yugi frowned and placed his small hand on Ryou’s shoulder. “Ryou, I promise… Somehow, someway… If this is happening, I will protect you.”

Rather than argue, Ryou chose to stare out a window at the setting sun. He whispered to no one in particular, “I think I’m going to sleep… I’m not feeling much like being awake right now.”

“You can take my bed, if you want.”

“I think I’ll stay here.” He lacked the energy to scale the stairs. “...Thank you again, Yugi.”

The shorter male bobbed his head in a brief nod, and then he left Ryou to his thoughts. He slumped onto the couch, eyes fixed on the window as if he expected a face too similar to his own to show up at any moment. Hours must have passed by because the sky grew dark, and Yugi crept up the stairs leading to his bedroom.

The darkness provided no comfort, as was typical, but Ryou nevertheless allowed his eyes to slide shut. A moment, a mere beat of his heart, came and went. And then another. And another. Peace descended upon his mind in the silent blackness. His consciousness began to fade until —

/Yanushi. Come outside. Please./

***

Jolting awake with a gasp, Ryou sat up and rubbed his face. He somehow managed to fall back asleep. His chocolate brown eyes, hazy with grogginess, crawled to a focus on the empty spots beside him. A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth. Bakura and Touzoku-Ou rarely left him alone in bed unless they were up to mischief or trying to surprise him with something, such as a lovely burnt breakfast for his birthday. Neither sounded especially agreeable this morning.

With a stretch and short yawn, Ryou slung his legs over the bed’s edge and slipped onto the chilly floor. The cold shot up his spine, much to his chagrin, yet he pressed on. Dressing lazily in a T-shirt he couldn’t recall purchasing and jeans, Ryou dragged himself to the bathroom to freshen up. Brushed the teeth, tamed the hair, cleaned the sleep from his eyes... Morning routine complete.

Though his freshly splashed face woke him up more, he continued fighting off a yawn, exiting the bedroom in a tiredness-induced pace. He called out, “Good morning, you two. I hope you haven’t burned down the kit—”

An empty apartment greeted him. Total silence, a phenomena he hadn’t experienced in going on three years. Not since Bakura and Touzoku-Ou showed up in his life.

“Guys?” Ryou continued, as if they were hiding just out of sight. “Bakura, Touzoku-Ou, where are you?”

When silence once again served as the response, a hint of worry snuck into his voice. Under his breath, he muttered, “Where did those two dummies go?”

Bakura, having lived years in Ryou’s mind and soul, knew Domino like the back of his hand. His memory exceeded even Ryou’s own, granting him a more reliable recall of where exactly things were in the city, basically turning him into a living map. Touzoku-Ou, though he remembered things well enough, struggled with certain aspects of modern life, such as vehicles and navigating the repetitive maze of city streets. As long as he was with Bakura or Ryou, the thief was fine.

‘Bakura wouldn’t go somewhere and ditch him,’ Ryou told himself. ‘Well, he might, but he would go back for Touzoku-Ou eventually. And Touzoku-Ou knows better than to wander when he’s lost. They must be together, wherever they went.’

It wasn’t like either of the two men to leave Ryou entirely alone without so much as a goodbye or at least a note; yet, Ryou conceded, it appeared they had done exactly that. Odd, maybe a bit hurtful, but manageable. Ryou was far from a child and could handle himself for what would surely be an hour at most. He would use the time to prepare a scolding for them.

‘Seriously, it wouldn’t have been a lot of effort to put a sticky note somewhere. Tell me if you’re going to the store or something.’ His eyes involuntarily widened. ‘Shit, I hope they aren’t stealing anything. So help me, Ra, I will kill them. I just told them yesterday they needed to control themselves a bit more!’

The white-haired man paced his living room anxiously, nearly giving in to his old habit of biting his nails. He kept glancing over at the front door. When a quarter of an hour had passed with no activity outside indicating the two men had returned, Ryou sank into the soft cushions of his years-old couch and flopped his head backwards in defeat.

‘I hope they’re behaving. I could try to link up with Bakura, but I don’t know how far they are.’

Rather than let himself drown further in worry and doubt, Ryou grabbed the remote from the coffee table and switched on the TV. Oddly, it was on the news channel. Had he watched the news yesterday? For sure Bakura and Touzoku-Ou hadn’t. That was a funny image.

His finger lingered on the channel search button when the reporter’s words on the television caught his attention. She described a prison breakout. Apparently a medium security facility. The breakout occurred due to explosives used to destroy a large section of the walls. A total of twelve escapees, though three of them were already re-captured.

Images of the escaped inmates flashed beside the reporter alongside the name, known aliases, and crime. The first five barely registered in Ryou’s brain, as their names meant nothing to him. Then, in an instant, his heart dropped.

On the screen, complete with a smug grin, was Touzoku-Ou’s mugshot.

--- --- --- --- ---

AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 1 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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#bakushipping #gemshipping #geminishipping #tendershipping #ryou bakura #yami bakura #thief king bakura #malik ishtar #yami malik #marik ishtar #yami marik #yugi mutou #pharaoh atem #yami yugi #my writing #ygo #yugioh #self-boost

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

Text

The time is upon me...

I must re-read over my work and correct typos and formatting issues. I'll probably start with In Another Life, since it's my biggest work right now. I don't fully know how AO3 update alerts work, but hopefully I don't spam people. (˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥)

#personal update

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l1teraryangel · 1 year

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In Another Life (Ch. 8)

Chapter Rating: M+

Chapter Warnings: Mild Sexual Content

--- --- --- --- ---

Ryou sat, speechless, unable to do anything other than stare at Bakura as he looked over his Ryou’s body for signs of life or distress. The story of how this Ryou, an innocent child, awakened a vengeful spirit who then possessed him and immediately killed a man left him uneasy. Yet, after hearing the story of Malik’s father and how Kek, who he knew as an individual, started off as an alter ego to cope with trauma and then killed said father…

“I said it before, but I have to say it again: how you people are more sane than the ones in my world… Blows my mind.”

Bakura tucked Ryou in before shrugging and rejoining the other Ryou. “We didn’t start off that way. Well, technically, Touzoku-Ou was perfectly sane prior to his… our?... trauma. Atem never went insane while he was alive, but I think being sealed in the Puzzle did a number on him. He bounced back faster than me, though.” His nose scrunched. “Ugh, don’t tell anyone I gave him a compliment, alright?”

“Alive… Right, I keep forgetting. Him and Touzoku-Ou lived three thousand years ago. How exactly are they here now?”

“Hah! I couldn’t tell you. It happened about three years ago. One day I was wandering the shadows alone, totally lost and shit, and then the next thing I know… BAM! I’m alive. And Touzoku-Ou’s with me. Which is weird when you consider he and I are the same person.”

“Um…”

“I mean, we are and we aren’t? As he eloquently puts it, I’m an amalgamation of him, Ryou, and a demon god. Actually, he says it much crasser.” Bakura glared at the doorway. “Where the fuck is he? It’s been forty minutes. I swear, if he went back to sleep…”

“Is it weird being in a relationship with yourself?”

His companion grunted. “Like I said, we’re not exactly the same. We look different, for starters. And he’s a bit more… Human, I suppose. He remembers things from back then that I can’t, and I have my own memories, like actually being inside the Ring… Meeting Ryou… Possessing Ryou…” A scowl scarred his face. “Hurting Ryou. Manipulating Ryou. Working with him to build our deck, our RPG world, all while lying to him.”

Other Ryou, seeing the shimmer forming over the mahogany irises, inhaled sharply. He’d never seen Bakura, the one from his world, cry before. He doubted he ever would, but seeing this Bakura tear up let his imagination go wild.

Nevertheless, the sight hurt his heart, so he whispered, “Please don’t cry. It’s all in the past, isn’t it?”

“Maybe.” The other shrugged, rubbing his thumb and forefinger over his damp tear ducts. “The scars won’t ever fade, though. Mentally or physically.”

“Oh, puh-leasssse.”

Ryou glared at his own Bakura, who mockingly sniffled and dabbed at invisible tears. The Bakura across from Ryou turned to face his doppelganger, expression an emotionless mask.

“How dare you look like me while being such a pansy?” Other Bakura taunted, shouldering his partner who joined him in chuckling over the display. “Boo-fucking-hoo. Next you're gonna be sobbing about how much you miss your pet.”

“I do miss him.” The three other-realmers, not expecting the sudden confession, fell silent. “I miss the way he always smiles at me, like I’ve never done anything wrong to him. I miss the way he cooks our favorite foods. I miss the way he scolds us for stealing things. I miss the way he laughs when Touzoku-Ou and I fight. And want to know what I miss most about him?”

A smirk snuck onto Bakura’s lips, aimed directly for his and his boyfriend’s lookalikes. “I miss the way he chooses to be with us.”

***

‘I’m a horrible person.’

A fair arm dragged him closer, sweat and heat binding his bare back to Bakura’s exposed chest.

‘They’re going to be mad, aren’t they?’

Dark lips grazed his nose, his lips, his jaw while a pair of steel-colored eyes sank into his soul, amorous and wanting.

‘This is wrong. I shouldn’t have come in here… They’re going to hate me.’

Moisture pooled in his tear ducts, but he blinked it away. He refused to confuse and hurt the Bakura and Touzoku-Ou sandwiching him, devoting nothing but passionate love, blind to the fact he wasn’t even their boyfriend.

Nails scratched tauntingly down his spine, and he arched, mewling at the familiar sensation. The lips behind his head whispered, “You look so beautiful, Ryou. Like a succubus coming to steal our souls away.”

“Steal?” Touzoku-Ou breathed, and the moist heat clung to Ryou’s neck. “He doesn’t need to steal. He can have my soul.”

Bakura’s hand dipped beneath Ryou’s tailbone, causing him to whimper. The nimble fingers pinched and teased his cheeks, and he felt the lips by his ear form a smirk with each gasp, pant, and whine.

“Mine, as well,” The man replied, tongue lazily stroking a stripe from clavicle to ear. “The question is… How does he want to take it? Sweetly? By force? Would you like me to feed it to you?”

His finger slipped upwards and prodded at Ryou’s entrance, pulling a moan from the man’s lips. “B-Bakura…”

Touzoku-Ou answered his wanton moan, cramming his tongue inside Ryou’s mouth, exploring hungrily. They moaned and writhed together while Bakura circled his finger around the sensitive hole. When Ryou broke away, lips swelling and breath heavy, Touzoku-Ou changed his target.

Sliding over their centerpiece, Touzoku-Ou pinned Bakura by the shoulders and crushed their mouths together. The explorative finger abandoned its teasing, which Ryou secretly appreciated. He knew he needed to put a stop to this. He couldn’t commit to this act, no matter how tempting and warm the other Bakura and Touzoku-Ou were.

‘Where’s Kek and his loud mouth when I need him?’

“Beautiful gem,” Touzoku-Ou drawled and gently redirected Ryou’s face towards him and Bakura. “Let me see your eyes, Ryou. Don’t be so shy.”

Ryou tried to look away — dammit, he was trying so hard — but the rocking bodies beside him kept his gaze frozen in place. Touzoku-Ou, stripped of his pants and boxers, straddled Bakura’s hips. Meanwhile, Bakura bucked and frotted right into him, his hands dragging over Ryou’s shoulders while Touzoku-Ou praised the action with moans.

“So… handsome...” Bakura panted, gaze torn between both of the men surrounding him. “Ryou, you’re too far away. Come closer.”

“I…”

Ryou forced his eyes closed, forced the images from the morning the chaos started to the front of the mind. He saw his Bakura, hair fuzzed out beneath his head, and felt his Touzoku-Ou’s lips beneath his own. But they were not with him right now. The Bakura and Touzoku-Ou showering him in love belonged to a different Ryou. It wasn’t right for anyone involved.

“I can’t.”

The words, strained and reluctant, escaped him as a whisper. Bakura heard, or so his puzzled look implied, but Touzoku-Ou reached out for him. Hurt flashed across his eyes when Ryou jerked back, dropping off the bed clumsily.

“I can’t. I’m sorry. I just… I can’t. Not right now.”

He ran from the bed and into the RV bathroom. Locking the door behind him, he thudded his back against it and slid to the floor. Tears, no longer held back, dribbled down his cheeks.

‘Gods forgive me for whatever I did to deserve being locked away from my own world. Please, give me back my boys. I want to sit down and watch a horror movie together. I want to play Monster World and watch them argue as much in-character as out. I want to cuddle together under the blanket. I want…’

He choked on a sob.

“I want to go home…!”

***

Bakura checked the clock for the umpteenth time. “Okay. It’s been an hour and a half since I woke up. I’m officially pissed, and he’s officially in trouble.”

Laughing a bit, Ryou asked, “Want me to go get him?”

Something in the question brought a mad grin to Bakura’s face. “That’s a great idea. And here’s one better: take this!”

Ryou fumbled with the piece of plastic thrown in his direction, confused eyes analyzing it. “The alarm…? Is that really a good idea?”

“For me? No. For you…?” Bakura snickered, canines poking out from his lips. “Oh, it’ll be hilarious. Just keep a meter or so from him, in case he thinks you’re me.”

“Uh…”

“No worries. He wakes up quick. Should realize you’re not me before he tries to strangle you.”

“‘Should’ doesn’t make me feel better…”

“Add an extra meter, then. Seriously, I wouldn’t suggest it if I thought it was dangerous for you. I’ve had Yanushi pull similar pranks.”

For a second or two, Ryou continued to hesitate, but he relented and scampered off, listening to the echoes of Bakura’s cackle with a small smile. When he snuck into the room shared by the two lovers, he followed Bakura’s instructions and hovered his thumb over the alarm, eyeing the snoring man curled under the sheets ignorant to the torment looming over him.

The reaction played out much how he and, certainly, Bakura expected. Touzoku-Ou jumped about a meter in the air, a furious “WHAT THE FUCK?!” bouncing from wall to wall, yet he landed on his feet, ready to fight off the ‘threat’ daring to disturb him. Also how Bakura expected, he did lunge for Ryou, but he stopped short upon seeing the (slightly frightened) big brown eyes.

“Did that bastard put you up to this?”

Ryou gaped like a fish. “By ‘that bastard’, you mean…?”

“Who am I kidding? Of course he did. I’m gonna wreck his pretty face.”

The boy pursued Touzoku-Ou, who spared no time to register he was only in his boxers (if he cared), as he stormed down the hall. Bakura’s lunatic laughter could be heard long before they entered the room where, completely at ease and cross-legged on the floor, he smirked up at them.

“Morning, sunshine. Rough wake-up call?”

Without responding, Touzoku-Ou tackled Bakura and wrestled him into a headlock. “You fucking asshole! Dirty son of a bitch! Fight your own battles!”

Each insult only added layers to Bakura’s laughs. “Oh, please, tell me more about what a vile person I am, oh saintly King of Thieves. Truly, you are far holier than I.”

Their struggles renewed, and Ryou watched their solid bodies roll around, taking in how alluring they were and wondering again how things might have played out if the Bakura and Touzoku-Ou he knew were like them.

He chewed his bottom lip as Bakura, either by cheating or by cashing in a miracle, pinned Touzoku-Ou’s bulkier frame to the floor. “I could hear your scream from all the way back here. It was worth it.”

Growling, Touzoku-Ou tore one wrist from Bakura’s grip and shoved him off. He relaunched himself onto the thinner male, stopped only by Bakura’s foot being shoved into his jaw. “I’ll get you back when you least expect it. And I won’t send in Ryou to do it.”

With a waggle of his eyebrows, Bakura tutted and waved off the threat. “You should know I prefer fighting smarter to harder.”

“Coward.”

“Bitch.”

“You must be feeling better today, if you’re picking fights with one another.”

Ryou glanced over his shoulder. Malik and Kek stood behind him, the latter lost in a fit of giggles while the former shook his head, disbelieving the scene they walked in on.

“Get a grip, thieves. You look like idiots.”

Bakura flashed his teeth in a sneer. “Pot to kettle, Blondie.”

Touzoku-Ou, huffing over the end of both their physical and verbal battle, offered an acknowledging nod towards the Ishtar pair. “It’s our turn to watch the troublemakers, so why are you two here?”

Through his twittering, Kek replied on Malik’s behalf, “We heard the ruckus, wanted to see what the drama was.”

Malik rolled his eyes. “Apparently, Kek, it was just their usual stupidity.” He nudged Ryou with his elbow. “In case you’re curious, yes. They are always like this. How Ryou puts up with it is beyond me.”

“The same way you put up with that.” Bakura gestured to Kek, who had already grown bored and was trying to goad Touzoku-Ou into a morning fistfight. The blonde glanced at him, pausing his aggressive tugs on the thief’s messy hair, and promptly blew a raspberry.

Malik slapped his forehead. “Point taken. Ra help me.”

Kek perked up at the mention of their favorite god. “Hey, Albi, that’s not a bad idea!”

Everyone eyed him, expressions ranging from confused to incredulous. Touzoku-Ou, losing balance due to his shaking limbs, dropped to the floor, rolling as he howled.

“You did not just suggest what I think you did! That’s a fucking riot! The gods, help me? Help Bakura?”

Fueled by his lover’s contagious merriment, Bakura threw his head back and unleashed his signature laugh. “Kek, I know you are insane, but I thought you were smarter than that. If we asked the gods for help, they’d flip us the bird and throw our asses into the damned shadows.”

Kek crossed his arms over his chest. “Well, with that attitude, who can blame them?”

Malik rubbed his darker half’s head. “It’s not a bad idea. But Bakura and Touzoku-Ou are right. The gods are hardly fans of their past antics.”

“But they don’t hate Ryou,” Kek pouted and tugged Malik into his side, ignoring the rebellious squeak the other let out. “They’d help him.”

Silencing their laughter, Bakura and Touzoku-Ou sighed, in sync right down to the way they ran a hand through their hair. The more muscular of the two grumbled, “Sure, they might be willing to help Ryou, but he isn’t here. Who even knows if they’d hear him in whatever realm he’s in.”

Other Ryou frowned, unable to take his eyes off the pining pair. Seeing them so down, especially after having been in high spirits, caused a sadness to churn his stomach. “What about Atem? You said he was a pharaoh in his past life, right? Aren’t they supposed to be close with the gods?”

Now Malik took a turn to laugh. “That’s a clever workaround, but these two would never—”

Touzoku-Ou glomped Other Ryou, his eyes positively glowing as he spun him. “That’s brilliant! You’re so smart, little one!”

Under the approbatory gaze of the shorter, scantily-clad man and firmly held against his naked chest, Ryou’s cheeks blazed hues of red. “O-Oh, er… Thank you?”

Bakura nodded absently beside them. “Mr. King owes us, so he won’t even give us lip. Not that he would dare say no regardless. Yugi would put him in his place faster than you can say ‘whipped.’”

“You two are really going to ask the pharaoh for help?” Malik questioned, a skeptical scowl on his lips. “Like… Willingly? No coercion needed?”

The silver-haired pair studied him, eyes solemn and mouths neutral. Bakura replied after a beat, “I would suck the pharaoh’s cock if it were for Ryou’s sake.”

Likely picturing the scene, Kek sniggered. “Wish we were recording that. Would have made for great blackmail.”

While he and Malik chortled over the mental image, Ryou wiggled in Touzoku-Ou’s grasp. “U-Um, Touzoku-Ou? Would you let me go?”

“Hm?” Touzoku-Ou allowed Ryou to slowly slide out of his arms, smirking at the way Ryou’s face continued to burn red at the physical contact. “My bad. Sorry.”

Brow furrowing, Bakura sighed and shoved his boyfriend’s shoulder. “Go put some clothes on, you exhibitionist. Unless you want the pharaoh to see you half-naked?”

“Disgusting. Haven’t you done enough damage without making me sick on top of everything else?”

“Hey,” Malik interceded. “Even if you get dressed, don’t wake up Atem and Yugi. Let them get some rest. Atem definitely didn’t sleep much yesterday. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was up all night watching the two bastards to make sure they didn’t somehow break out of the circle.”

Kek bumped his forehead on Malik’s. “So thoughtful. I never knew you cared about Mr. King so much.”

His lighter half grunted. “Fuck no. He’s alright, for the most part, but Yugi is the one I worry about. He will be upset if we abuse the pharaoh too much.”

“Fine, whatever,” Touzoku-Ou groaned. “What should we do in the meantime then? Sit around and gossip like whores in a brothel?”

The words left his mouth and barely lingered in the air before Kek clapped his hands for everyone’s attention. “I know what we should do. Go get dressed, tomb-robber, so we can duel.”

Ryou, seeing the knowing grins on the four men’s faces, cocked an eyebrow. “Duel? Like… with swords?”

Bakura snorted, slapping his hand over his mouth before he could burst out laughing. “That might be fun, too, but I believe Kek meant Duel Monsters.”

“Oh.” Ryou nodded, brow furrowing. “...What’s that?”

***

Tucked away in the bathroom, left to cry and mope, Ryou found himself thinking back on his past with Bakura and Touzoku-Ou. The memories equally comforted and depressed him, but at least they were his, unlike the world he was trapped in.

/One last time… Humor me one last time, and if my presence displeases you, I’ll leave forever./

\There is no if, spirit. And as far as you leaving ‘forever’? I thought that last time, too. I was actually happy for a while.\

/…Please, Yad— …Ryou. /

He refused to move, less from stubbornness, more from shock. Yami Bakura never called him by name. Always Yadonushi, Yanushi, landlord, host. Occasionally a mocking “my dearest vessel."

\Fucking hell… Fine. I’ll come out. We’ll talk. But I’m telling Yugi first.\

/That’s isn’t… Okay, you know what? Go ahead. If you could keep the midget away, though…/

\Still pissed he beat you?\

/Yes, now that you mention it. But there is an actual other reason. For his… safety… Keep him out of sight./

Unsure if Bakura was threatening Yugi or not, Ryou huffed and shut out the mind link to the best of his ability. He ascended the stairs with fast, skittish steps, and he knocked lightly before letting himself into his friend’s room. Yugi was, surprisingly, still quite awake.

“Ryou? What’s up? Is everything alright?”

Ryou noticed through a brief glance that Yugi was shuffling through the deck he and Atem built so long ago. He tried not to dwell on the deck he and his own other half had built.

“He’s here, Yugi. Outside.” Yugi’s large violet eyes widened impossibly bigger. “I’m going to step out and talk to him, if only so he’ll leave me alone.”

“Ryou, that’s not a good idea…”

Shrugging, Ryou turned, fiddling with the doorknob. “I don’t think so either. That’s why I’m letting you know. I… Call me crazy, but something feels different. The way he’s talking… It’s not like before. He sounds genuinely tired… and sad.”

“Ry…”

“I know it’s probably a lie. I’m not gonna blindly throw myself at him. I’m just hearing him out so that maybe he’ll leave me alone.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

Ryou shook his head. “No, he specifically requested you not. It was weird. It didn’t seem like he was trying to keep you away out of anger or anything… Almost like he was concerned what would happen if you came out?”

Yugi frowned. “That’s… not comforting.”

“You’re telling me. Anyways… I’m not planning to stay out there too long. Maybe ten minutes. If I’m not back in at least twenty, though…”

“Oh, I’ll kick his ass if he tries anything.”

They shared a half-hearted chuckle, and Ryou escaped down the hall and stairs without further to do. His heart jumped into his throat when he reached for the front door’s knob, but he braced himself and proceeded.

\Where are you? I’m out front.\

/Around the corner./

\I’m not going to venture too far. I’m definitely not going into an alley. Just come to the front of the game shop.\

/…Okay./

Yet another bout of shock rocked Ryou’s core. He never, never expected the spirit to give in, much less without a fight.

/Before I… Before you get confused or nervous… There’s someone else with me… I’m not sure how to explain./

\Someone else? Yami Malik?\

/What? No… Why would he…? Is he back?/

\Who’s with you, then?\

/You’ll recognize him, but… Let me just…/

His words were making Ryou regret his decision more and more. He expected a one-on-one meeting, which was bad enough, but now it seemed like he walked into an ambush. He inhaled, exhaled, inhaled repeatedly to steady his shaking body, reminding himself he was only half a meter from the game shop.

“Yan— …Ryou.”

There it was, only a couple of meters away, coming from his left. His heart skipped and pattered at the voice, similar to his but slightly deeper, louder, bolder.

“...Spirit.”

It took a moment, but he managed to turn his body and fix his gaze on the creature wearing his face. Only it wasn’t his face anymore. The eyes, ruddy brown and narrow, the angular features, the extra volume in his wild hair… Yami Bakura still resembled him, of course, but the differences were more distinct than ever.

While he tried to keep a watchful eye on his untrustworthy doppelganger, Ryou’s gaze deviated, drawn by a shorter yet brawny figure idling behind. His brown eyes flashed over the smoky white, shaggy hair, the deep brown skin, the double-T scar. Finally, as the bombshell dropped, Ryou met the purple-blue eyes tucked beneath dense silver lashes.

“...That… He’s… How…?”

Yami Bakura shrugged and motioned for his company to come closer, whispering something in what Ryou presumed to be their shared ancient dialect. The King of Thieves walked a couple of extra steps, appraising Ryou cautiously, though a flicker of something more twinkled in his eyes.

“Your guess,” Yami Bakura responded, returning his attention to his former host, “is as good as mine. I’m not sure how either of us is here, and I definitely don’t know why we’re both here. Doesn’t seem possible, since we’re… Well, you know.”

“So is he the reason it was so important for us to talk?”

Another shrug. “I mean, he’s part of it. I… I don’t know. I wanted to see you. To talk to you, face-to-face. To talk about… everything.”

“I don’t want to talk about the past. Not tonight. Not with you.”

His doppelganger scowled. “I owe you an apology, don’t I?”

“Why would I want an empty apology, Spirit? What would that possibly do for me? I only came out here because you were insisting. And because you promised to leave me alone after.”

Scuffing the toe of his shoe, Yami Bakura visibly deflated. “...I will. That’s my final promise to you. I won’t bother you anymore.”

“That almost sounded sincere.”

“It is sincere. I still want to apologize, though. Maybe not for… everything… I can’t say I regret everything that happened.” He ignored Ryou’s scoff. “But for dragging you along, hurting you, making your life so hellish and betraying your trust time and time again.”

Ryou shook his head. “You expect me to believe two years of banishment is all it took for you to realize what an asshole you were?”

“Has it really only been two years? Time gets away from you in the shadows,” Bakura sighed, wistful and soft. “I don’t think it was just the banishment, though. Part of me… The part belonging to… It died along with Him, I think? I feel like I can breathe, like I can step back and see things clearly.”

Ryou noticed the former spirit swallowing a lump, saw the tiny tremors running down his gangly limbs. He waited, and sure enough, the other continued, “I understand now, at least partly, what I did to you. So… I want to apologize for that part of everything.”

The thief mumbled something to Yami Bakura, apparently losing interest in the dramatic scene unfolding. The man glared at him and muttered back a scalding reply.

Meanwhile, Ryou shakily cupped his face in his hands, absorbing the words his parasite threw at him. “...Does he not speak Japanese?”

Yami Bakura glanced back at him. “Why would he?”

Ryou dragged his hands down so he could glare at the doppelganger. “Watch the sarcasm. There’s nothing logical about any of this, so what’s the harm in fact-checking?”

Bakura looked away, almost appearing ashamed. “...Sorry. Not trying to be bitchy. I’m… I’m tired, okay? It’s been a long day.”

The thief beside him uttered something else, which Bakura rolled his eyes at. “He wants you to know you’re, and I quote, easy on the eyes.”

“...Uh, thank you?”

The thief smirked when Bakura translated the reply and added some more unknown words to the conversation. Bakura grumbled, unhappy to be playing translator. “He’s asking if you’re going to let us stay with you. His words, I promise. I’ll tell him no.”

“Really? Just like that?”

“I assumed the answer was obvious.”

“I assumed you would be asking the same.”

“Please, Yado— Shit, sorry… Ryou. I’m not stupid. I told you I only wanted to talk. I know you want me to leave. Even if you hadn’t made it clear earlier, I can see it on your face.”

Ryou gritted his teeth. “I do want you to leave. I don’t want you back in my life.”

“...Yeah, I know.”

“But…” Ryou continued and fingered his shirt, eyes trailing away from the pair of men in front of him. “...You don’t really have anywhere to go, and he has to be seriously lost, more so if he can’t speak or read Japanese.”

Notably bemused, Yami Bakura stared, furrowing his brows. “...I… guess that’s true.”

Nodding to himself more than the other men, Ryou let out one more sigh for good measure. “For now… If you agree to my rules and don’t cause problems… You can stay with me.”

“You’re… serious?”

“It would be irresponsible for me to leave two potentially dangerous individuals on the street. Besides…” Ryou side-eyed Yami Bakura. “Call me soft, but I don’t like the idea of forcing even you to sleep on the street.”

His doppelganger looked away, and Ryou swore he could see a tint of pink on his pale face. “You don’t have to… Ryou. You played landlord to me long enough.”

“Guess I’m a sucker for punishment.” Ryou ruffled his bangs away from his face, eyes falling to the sidewalk. “We’ll establish some rules in the morning… Let me go tell Yugi what’s happening so he doesn’t freak out too much, and then we can go home.”

Yami Bakura’s eyelids drooped as his expression morphed, dreamy and uncharacteristically vulnerable. “Home… Yeah… Let’s go home.”

***

Two cautious knocks pulled Ryou out of his daydream, away from the past and the men who would become his boyfriends. He sniffed and dabbed his nose with the outside rim of his shirt. The knocker’s identity was semi-obvious since only two people were currently in the RV with him.

“G-Guys, I… I need a few minutes… Please.”

“Sure, no problem, just…” It was Bakura, voice trembling with melancholy, words broken up by hesitation. “When you feel like it… Could we talk? I’m… We’re worried about you, Ry.”

Touzoku-Ou’s voice, carrying the same forlorn tone, said, “Ryou, if we’ve done something, please let us know, alright? Or… Were we being too pushy?” Bakura whispered something, though Ryou couldn’t make out the words. “Right, we’ll… talk when you feel up to it. I’m gonna go check on some things.”

“Me, too. Come find us when you’re ready, okay?”

Knowing a simple nod wouldn’t work, Ryou uttered in a half-whisper, “Okay.”

They lingered outside the door, as if they were reluctant to leave him alone. Ryou held his breath, waiting for some noise to indicate they were no longer there, and after another minute or so, the RV’s only entrance and exit thumped open then closed.

‘They’re so sweet, just like my boys. I must have hurt them a lot by pulling that stunt… I need to apologize. It’s not their fault I stole their boyfriend’s body. It’s not their fault I’m a fucking mess right now.’

It wasn’t his fault, either, a tiny voice insisted. He certainly hadn’t stolen the other Ryou’s body intentionally, nor had he meant to lose control over his emotions. Too many things kept happening, back to back, leaving him not a spare second to breath or process.

Burying his face into his knees, Ryou gulped air into his lungs, desperately fighting the tears once again threatening to slip down his cheeks. He sought comfort in the interrupted memories from earlier, choosing to dwell on the past in place of the present.

That night, when he took Bakura and Touzoku-Ou back to his apartment, after a short-lived argument with Yugi about his safety, Ryou had collapsed on his bed. Bakura watched him from the doorway of his room, Touzoku-Ou peeking around the taller man to take in all the foreign sights.

“You remember where everything is, don’t you? There’s a sleeping bag in the hall closet. I figure one of you can sleep on the couch, and the other can take the fl—”

Once again driven by boredom, Touzoku-Ou shoved past Bakura and leapt onto the bed, landing beside Ryou with a cheeky grin. He said something, which caused Ryou to look to Bakura for assistance. His darker half glared at his Ancient Egyptian counterpart and stormed off without a word, leaving Ryou to fumble with what little of the language he recalled from his years in Egypt.

“Mmkay, guess he doesn’t want to translate anymore… Can you say that again? Slower?”

Touzoku-ou stared, seemingly mesmerized by Ryou’s lips while he spoke, and placed a casual thumb over the point of interest. He traced his thumb over Ryou’s supple flesh, eyes shining like the night sky despite, or perhaps because of, the dark. Wordless, the man caressed his hand backwards from Ryou’s mouth, never letting the contact be broken, until he clasped several wisps of white hair between his fingers. A single word finally drifted among them, and Ryou recognized it.

Family.

Despite his previous vacillation, Ryou felt his heart melt. The King of Thieves, Thief King Bakhura, orphaned by the destruction of Kul Elna and left to survive the harsh world of Ancient Egypt from a young age. He remembered what little the spirit told him while they worked on the RPG diorama, remembered how much sorrow and sympathy and anger had boiled up inside him.

Without thinking, Ryou grabbed Touzoku-Ou and hugged him, repeating the word into the ashen hair, promising and praying for it at the same time. The thief stiffened at the embrace before dubiously returning the affection.

“Be careful, Ya… Ryou,” Bakura’s half-amused, half-annoyed voice called, and Ryou caught a glimpse of him back in the doorway, sleeping bag tucked under his arm. “He’s not an innocent child. He’s still a murderer and a thief. And the thief part of him has eyes on you, from what I’ve heard.”

Mildly irritated, Ryou shook his head and pulled away from the embrace, smiling at the quizzical look Touzoku-Ou gave him. “You’re being a pervert. I don’t speak the language as well as you, but I know he called me family.”

“Mm, yes… Family. Family doesn’t stop at siblings and parents. A husband and, in your case, husband are still family, Ryou.” Bakura chuckled to himself and tossed the sleeping bag on the floor in front of Ryou’s bed. He ignored Ryou’s inquiring gaze, continuing, “But hey, if banging your ancestor from three thousand years ago is your fetish, don’t let me stop you. Go ahead, enjoy your family time.”

“You really can’t resist being a bastard, even when you’re supposedly trying to be better.”

“Blame him,” Bakura smirked, gesturing towards Touzoku-Ou. The thief raised an eyebrow. “What’s left of me is all him, you, and a pitiful fraction of darkness. So either he’s to blame or you are.”

Ryou pondered his words. “Does he know who you are? What you are?”

“I didn’t really dive deep into an explanation. I was trying to find you. He saw my hair, heard me speak the old language, and just sort of… stuck with me.”

“That’s good. Modern Japan would be pretty dangerous. He might get hit by a car or something.”

Bakura shrugged, but his attempt to respond paused when Touzoku-Ou grumbled. Barking a sharp retort at the thief, Bakura flopped down onto the sleeping bag. “He’s giving me a headache. I’m going to sleep.”

“You’re sleeping at the foot of my bed?”

“He’s determined he’s sleeping in your bed. Since you don’t seem particularly inclined to kick him onto the couch, I’m staying here to make sure he doesn’t get handsy with you.” Pause. “Unless you want me to leave. Like I said, to each their own fetish. Wouldn’t want to cockblock you on your wedding night.”

“...I’m going to sleep.”

“Heh, that’s what I thought. Want me to tell your new husband goodnight for you?”

“Go to sleep, you arrogant prick.”

***

When the tears ran dry and with his heart warmed by the recollections, Ryou splashed cool water on his face and exited the RV. The sun told him it was late afternoon, and the area around the RV bustled with activity. Nameless faces ran about, carrying merchandise or material for certain stands. He assumed they were background workers or local volunteers eager to help the circus settle in.

‘I don’t know where to begin looking for them… But for my other self’s sake, I need to make sure they understand they haven’t done anything wrong.’

A hiss drew his ear, and he beamed as the looming figure of Diabound poked over her fence, massive head and slit eyes angled to see him. The reptile seemed to beg for his attention, so he happily ambled over and stroked her down the scales. She began to wrap around his shoulders, her muscles constricting to root her in place and knocking a bit of air out of Ryou’s lungs.

“E-Easy, girl,” He gasped and pushed at her body. “I don’t know if I’m strong enough to hold you by myself.”

Her nose bumped his ear and jawline, tongue tickling his cheek. She didn’t continue to climb the fence and force her weight onto him, thankfully, but she nuzzled insistently into his face. He scratched the groove centered on her skull, giggling as her tongue flickered over his skin more and more.

“That really tickles, Diabound. Hey, since we’re here together, can I tell you a secret?” She exhaled through her glottis. “You might not believe this, but I’m not the Ryou you know. I’m from another world, an alternate universe.”

Diabound inched forward, underbelly scales accordioning over Ryou’s clothing. She curled enough to look him in the eye, like she was trying to figure out what he was talking about. Ryou giggled to himself and rubbed her chin.

“Where I come from, you’re not a snake, at least not entirely. You actually have a masculine body for your upper half, and then you turn into a snake on your lower half? I don’t explain it well, but you look super cool.” Tongue flicks grazed his nose. “You’re also not a creature that just… exists. You’re Touzoku-Ou’s ka, which is like his spirit creature? Kinda hard to explain if you aren’t familiar with Ancient Egyptian culture… Which he is since that’s where he was born and grew up.

“So, you see, Touzoku-Ou was a kid whose village was slaughtered by the pharaoh… Or at least that’s what he thought. It was actually the pharaoh’s brother. But because of that, Touzoku-Ou grew up hating the pharaoh and… Well, it’s a long story.

“Bakura in my world is actually a person who was formed by a piece of Touzoku-Ou’s soul and a demon god. There’s another whole story there, and everything is convoluted. Should I make some notes for you?”

The snake gazed at him, no longer tongue flicking or moving. Ryou rubbed her chin some more. “Did you fall asleep? Sorry, I started rambling. You’re very easy to talk to.”

In a doglike fashion, the serpent cocked her head, lengthy tongue flicks absorbing Ryou’s smell. Knowing this snake represented his lover’s ka in this world, Ryou bravely bumped noses with her, secure enough to believe Diabound would never hurt him in any world. True to form, the snake allowed the odd affection, exhaling a sigh-type sound from her glottis.

Eventually, Diabound slithered off his body and back into her pen. Ryou continued to beam at her, admiring her solid body of pure muscle, marveling over the sheen of her scales.

When she settled most of herself back on the ground and only rested her chin on the fence to watch him, he whispered to her, “The point of this was to tell you I’m not the Ryou you’re used to. I mean, this is his body, but I’m a different soul. Weird, right? Promise not to go blabbing, okay? I don’t want anyone else to be as confused and freaked out as I am.”

He chuckled and walked away, not noticing the snake had once again cocked her head to the side, studying him with calculating eyes.

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AO3 Link: In Another Life - Chapter 10 - LiteraryAngel - Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters (Anime & Manga) [Archive of Our Own]

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