The Home I Love, The Home I Lost

Marik woke up on the couch stretching yawning loudly. Malik wasn't next to him which was very rare.

Malik always slept beside him. The yami stood off the couch and cracked his back. "I'll never sleep on that couch again!

Not any support. Stupid back." He walked into the kitchen. Malik wasn't making breakfast. Odd, his hikari would be

up by now making his coffee and breakfast. The yami grumbled up the steps yawning more quietly remembering Ryou

was probably still asleep and the last thing he wanted was to wake a sick person out of a sound sleep. Marik decided

to check on Bakura. He noticed Bakura ran upstairs upset the night before, but he never asked if anything was wrong.

Marik opened the door slowly and saw Bakura sleeping alone on the bed. Where was Ryou??? He opened

the door to Ryou's bedroom and covered his mouth to stop from the shock. His hikari and Ryou…..were……naked.

Together. Marik ran into Bakura and covered his mouth. The tomb robber opened his eyes in shock when he saw his friend covering his mouth.

"Bakura, you HAVE to see what I just saw!! Promise not to scream!"

Marik removed his hand and Bakura who glared angrily. "I was just dreaming the best dream of my after life and you have to spoil it!"

"This will make it up to you."

Bakura turned beside him. No Ryou. Bakura leaned over the side of the bed. "Where's Ryou? Marik, where is he? Is he Ok?"

Marik pulled him out of bed. "I'm sure Ryou is feeling fine after what I just saw."

Bakura followed Marik to the hikari's bedroom. Marik threw open the door and Bakura's eyes went wide.

Ryou had his leg wrapped around Malik, who was cuddled up in Ryou's chest. Malik's arm was wrapped around

Ryou's waist. A melted black cherry candle sat on the side table. It was obvious from the two naked boys lying on a bed

with no covers that something had happened the night before.

"Our lights….slept together," Bakura said surprised. "Ryou slept with Malik?"

Marik walked closer to the sleeping boys and looked them over. "They look like two little angels, don't they, Bakura?"

Bakura walked behind Malik. Ryou was smiling into Malik's hair. Their bodies were still touching even in their sleep.

"We better not wake them." Bakura leaned down and kissed Ryou's cheek. "It's Ok, Ryou. I'm not angry. I love you so much.

My everything. My beloved Ryou."

Marik kissed Malik who smiled and giggled in his sleep. "Sleep peacefully, Malik."

Bakura and Marik left the room and went down stairs where Bakura made tea and coffee. Marik sat at the table reluctantly

stirring batter for blueberry muffins that Bakura was going to make for breakfast when their hikaris woke up.

Marik watched Bakura put the muffin cups in the muffin pans. "Penny for your thoughts, Bakura."

Bakura looked up as he separated the cups for the muffins. "Why?"

"Well, we just caught our hikaris naked in bed together. You are married to Ryou. I--well…..I love Malik, too.

I guess what I'm asking is, are you angry?"

Bakura put water on for the teabags and put the tea on the stove. "No. Why should I be? I'm more shocked that he did,

but I'm not angry at him. I love him too much to hold it against him. Ryou has endured so much hardship this past week because of me.

Besides, I like Malik. Do you like Ryou?"

"It's hard not to. You look too much alike."

Bakura chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'm not angry at Ryou. Besides, how can I be angry at him? I slept with both you and

Malik at the same time! If I yell at him, it wouldn't be right."

Marik pushed the bowl away from him. "Will you tell Ryou? You owe it to him."

"I will tell him. And he will not be mad at me because I am not angry at him for sleeping with Malik."

"Ryou is very forgiving. I've done some nasty, cruel, and evil things to him in the past. He have solved our differences.

I love Ryou with all my heart. He loves me. Nothing can change that."

Bakura gave Marik a spoon and shoved the muffin pan over to him. "Fill the cups for me with the spoon."

"Malik does the cooking."

"He is not awake yet. You have to do it. Just spoon it in, it's not rocket science."

Marik dipped his finger in the batter. "This is really good. Wanna taste?"

Bakura put on the pot of coffee and took out the butter from the refrigerator. "I am trying to cook your breakfast.

Are you going to help or not?"

"Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed."

"May I remind you that you pulled me out of bed."

They heard footsteps upstairs. "Our hikaris are awake, Marik, and don't eat all the batter!"

Bakura pulled the bowl of blueberry muffin batter away from the other yami and the muffin pan. He spooned the batter

into the cups himself when he heard Malik and Ryou coming down the steps.

Ryou ran into Bakura. "Good morning, yami!" Ryou planted a large kiss on Bakura's lips. Ryou wrapped his

arm around Bakura who smiled into the embrace.

"You look much better this morning. How do you feel, my love?" Bakura felt Ryou's head. His head was a little cooler.

"I'll take your temperature later. I have blueberry muffins ready to go in, hot tea, and coffee."

Malik wrapped his arms around his yami's neck in a hug tightly. "Good morning, Marik! How are you this great morning?"

Marik shifted his eyes. Malik was unusually happy. Just as he thought…Malik and Ryou were "together."

"Fine. What about you?"

"Great! I'm so hungry!"

Ryou pulled on Bakura's arm. "Yami, I have to speak to you. Alone."

Bakura knew what this was about. His hikari was going to get all emotional about last night. Bakura and Ryou promised

not to have any secrets in their marriage. They promised to be open and honest.

Bakura finished putting the muffins in the stove.

"I'll watch it for you, Bakura. I have to talk to Malik."

"What did I do this time?" was Marik's reply.

Ryou pulled Bakura to the living room and sat Bakura on the couch. Ryou kneeled before Bakura penitently, his eyes full of tears.

He grabbed Bakura's hand.

"Yami, before I start, I want to say that I love you with every fiber of my being. You mean everything to me.

We promised we would never have any secrets when we were married. I have to be honest with you. I slept with Malik

ast night," he said choking out a sob. "I'm sorry, yami. I'm sorry." He began to tremble on Bakura's leg.

"Please don't be angry with me.

I do love Malik, but you will always be my true love, the one I adore. I would die a thousand deaths if it would allow

me to look upon your face. I would do anything for you, yami. Anything!"

Bakura stroked his hikari's white hair. The crying, whimpering boy kneeling before him meant more to him than life itself.

Ryou thought he was the only one who had sinned. Bakura couldn't hide his confession in good conscience from his penitent lover.

"Ryou, please don't cry," Bakura said wiping a tear from the brown eyes and pale cheeks. "You are not the only guilty one here."

Ryou straightened his back and he curiously looked at his yami.

"I also must tell you. I also slept with Malik ….and Marik…..together. You were here with your father. Just like my

love for you, Ryou, I do not regret it. I never wanted to hurt you, Ryou , and I know you never wanted to hurt me.

We have both transgressed here. Both of us are guilty of the same sin. You are the world to me, Ryou."

"I can't stay angry at you, yami. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

Bakura smiled and took Ryou in his arms. He ran his fingers over Ryou's cheek, following every contour of the face.

"Like you have told me so many times before, my loving soul-mate, my lovely, my beloved, my all, my passionate flame,

you are forgiven."

Bakura covered Ryou's mouth with his as he kissed his lover. Ryou's mouth opened and once again the two lovers

were bound in a passionate kiss. Bakura opened his eyes and saw little teardrops fall silently from Ryou's eyes.

"No more tears, my love. I don't wish to see you in pain."

"You've made me so happy, yami. So very very happy."

Bakura kissed Ryou's neck holding Ryou close to him. The yami lightly nipped and played with the skin pulsing with

Ryou's heartbeat.

"Thank you, yami. Thank you."

"Don't cry, my love. Let's go make sure Malik and Marik aren't burning the muffins." Bakura gave him one last kiss.

"I love you, Ryou. Nothing can take that away."

Ryou smiled and led Bakura into the kitchen hand in hand with his yami. In the kitchen, they saw Malik in the same state of

confession. Marik was stroking his hikari's cheek softly as Malik's face was buried in his yami's chest.

"Malik, I don't want you to cry on me. It'll be alright. I'm not angry." Marik looked up at the couple who entered the kitchen.

Ryou was wiping his eyes. "Bakura, you would think these two committed murder or something! Malik, it's alright, stop crying."

"You aren't angry at me? I'm so happy! I love you, Marik Ishtar!" Malik wrapped his arms around his yami's neck and

Ryou began crying again taking Bakura into his arms.

The yamis exchanged glances at each other holding their respective crying, whimpering hikaris. Bakura pet Ryou on the

head and broke from him to check the muffins.

"All right, everybody stop crying, breakfast is done."

Ryou sniffled as he took out four coffee mugs and cream and sugar. Marik loaded his coffee with sugar, Malik put so much

cream in his coffee, it looked white. Ryou and Bakura had tea with their muffin. Bakura brought out the blueberry jam.

Marik buttered his muffin. "We are not angry at you two. We want you both to know that. We would do anything for either of you."

"Marik's right. We want you to know that it is ok. We love you both. Ryou, I love you."

"Malik, I love you."

Ryou smiled at his yami. "Thank you, Bakura. This changes nothing between us. I still love you."

Bakura nodded. "Ryou, eat yours slowly. I'll give you your medicine and take your temperature and it's back to bed with you."

Ryou yawned. "I'm not sleepy, Bakura."

"You just cried yourself to sleep almost, Ryou. It's time for you to go back to bed."

A knock came at the door and Bakura put down his muffin. He opened up the front door and there stood a man in a black suit.

He held a briefcase and reached out his hand to Bakura. Bakura just looked at it with mistrust.

"Ryou Bakura, I presume?"

"No, I am his….brother….twin brother. Who are you and what do you want with Ryou?"

"I am here on behalf of the City of Domino Municipal Court. I need to speak with Ryou Thomas Bakura or Ms. Isis Ishtar."

Marik joined Bakura at the door. "My sister is not here. What do you want with him?"

"This matter concerns only him. I am not at liberty to discuss this without consent of Ryou Thomas Bakura."

Bakura looked the man up and down and let him in. Ryou came out of the kitchen with Malik. He saw the man in

black charge up to him with an extended hand.

"Ryou?"

Ryou sheepishly extended his hand. "Yes, I am Ryou. Can I help you?"

"I am here personally to give you this." The man handed him an envelope. Malik heard a truck pull up to the front of the house.

He ran to the door and opened it. It was a moving truck.

Ryou opened up the letter and read it:

To the Attention of Ryou Thomas Bakura:

It is the ruling of this court that the residence at 3827 Highland is to be removed of all furnishings and occupants and is

to be sold on the market as payment of legal fees for Steven Bakura. Forthwith, the said residence is to be cleared of

all furnishings as soon as possible. The property and capital inside the house shall be sold also as payment for legal fees

of Steven Bakura. Any items removed from said residence must be cleared, reported, and documented with a

representative of the Municipal Court of Domino. Any item removed from said premises without prior authorization

is hereby considered stolen property. Ryou Thomas Bakura is financially responsible for any damages incurred during

transportation of the residence furnishings to a proper auction facility.

Ryou became pale and he leaned against Bakura. He looked up sadly at the man in the black suit. Tears filled his eyes

and the moving men knocked on the door.

"You're…..you're….kicking me out of my house?" Ryou's voice cracked with emotion. "Why?"

"Your father's legal fees need to be paid."

"He has money. Why does he need to take my home away from me?"

The man put his hand on Ryou's shoulder. "That is how life is, kid. You can't stay here anymore."

Bakura took the paper and read it over.

"I can't leave this house! This is where my mother and I played on the floor! My father and I did homework

in the kitchen when I was a kid!" Ryou broke into sobs. "My mother died here! I can't leave this house!

This is the only house I've ever known!"

Malik locked the door on the moving men. "You can't just throw Ryou out of here! He has no where to go!"

"That is not my concern. My job is to collect all the furniture and sell it to pay for his father's legal fees."

Ryou fell to his knees. "Please don't take this house away from me! I've lived here my whole life! My mother

rocked me here in the living room! My father used to hold me on the couch when I couldn't sleep when I was a child!

I played here! This is my home!"

Malik ran to Ryou and picked him up gently. Ryou's sobbing fell on deaf ears. Ryou ran upstairs to his parents' bedroom

and grabbed his mother's wedding ring and her jewelry. He fell to his knees beside his mother's side of the bed

clutching his chest in pain. His father had once said that his behavior would cost him everything he had. Daddy was right.

Ryou had no family. No home. The moving men climbed the stairs and began to choose what furniture they would move

first in Ryou's room. Daddy was taking everything away. Ryou was suffering another death. Malik and Bakura saw Ryou

kneeling sobbing on the side of his mother's bed.

Bakura took him in his arms. Malik wrapped his arms around the couple. Ryou grabbed his chest sobbing into Bakura's chest.

"This is where my mother died, Bakura. I don't want to leave it…..this is my home. The home I love. My mommy

died in this room protecting me from Cinetti. Cinetti tried to kill me twice here. Even my own father tried! Where can I go?

I have nothing else! My daddy has abandoned me and left me for dead. I only have you guys left. You are all I have left.

Promise you won't leave me, too."

Bakura kissed Ryou's forehead and Malik kissed Ryou's cheek. "You have Marik and I, Ryou. Come live with us.

We will take care of you."

"My home….my home…..I've lost my home."

The man in black came upstairs and saw the boys huddled together. "You have one hour to get packed. After that, you must leave."

"My memories are all here. I have nothing else but my memories."

"I'll pack your stuff, Ryou. Bakura, you'll stay here with Ryou?"

Bakura nodded as he rocked Ryou. "Your chest hurts, Ryou?"

"It hurts, yami. It hurts a lot now."

"You're upset, Ryou. Try to concentrate on your breathing."

"How can I afford that heart operation that I need now, yami? I have no money. I don't even have enough money to

save my own life now! I need that stupid heart operation because of my father who took everything away from me!

I get nothing back in return!"

Bakura stroked Ryou's cheek. "I know you are upset. I didn't tell Marik or Malik about the need for the heart operation.

I didn't want to worry them yet. Now we have to tell them."

"They'll let us move in with them?"

"We have no where else to go, Ryou. You were right. We have no where else to go."

Bakura held onto Ryou tightly as Malik and Marik packed Ryou and Bakura's belongings. Bakura helped Ryou downstairs.

Bakura grabbed the fish and Ryou grabbed a picture of him and his mother. They left the house and Ryou clutched his chest

again with a sob. As he turned back to see the house one last time, the man in the black suit was hanging a "For Sale" sign

on the lawn. Ryou turned away from the house clutching his mother's picture against his aching chest.

"My mommy died there."

Next Chappie: Ryou moves in with Marik and Malik.