Demons at the Gate

Ryou squeezed Seto and let out a cry when the door opened.  Steven and  Cinetti 
entered the room and their jaws dropped in disbelief.  Seto could
feel Ryou’s heart stop and leap into his throat.  Ryou’s hands became wet and he buried his head into 
Seto’s chest.  Seto’s eyes narrowed as Ryou’s
fingers dug into him.  Cinetti and Steven stood in disbelief. “Who is this, Ryou?”  Steven growled at his son.  
Ryou whimpered and a river
of tears left his eyes.
“I knew it!  I knew you wouldn’t be satisfied with just one man!  Who’s next?”  Cinetti screamed in fury. 
Ryou climbed behind Seto and wrapped his arms around Seto’s shoulders.
“Seto, don’t let them get me!  Please.”
Cinetti and Steven approached the two boys, but Seto stood up blocking their way to the pleading boy behind him.
“What did you do to Jessica, you little brat?” Cinetti glared at Ryou.
Seto looked behind him and saw Ryou clutching onto him tightly.  “That woman  you hired for Ryou was completely unnecessary.”
“I’m disappointed in you, son,” Steven clenched his fist.  “You didn’t even try to take her!”
Ryou opened his eyes and looked sadly at his father.  “Dad…I love Bakura.  I didn’t want to…I couldn’t…”
“You ungrateful little brat!” Cinetti seethed.  “We get you a perfectly good girl and this is how you thank us?”
“You don’t get your son a prostitute for his birthday in hopes of changing his sexual preference!  You are both sick!”
Steven looked up at the tall, handsome, CEO (permission to drool granted, everyone).  Ryou clutched Seto tighter. 
“Please, Seto.”
“Seto?” Steven glared at Seto Kaiba.  “Are you Seto Kaiba of KaibaCorp?”
“What’s it to you?”
“I didn’t expect one of the most powerful men in the world to be like my son.  Who would have guessed?”
“That is none of your damn business!  Who would have guessed you would be a big ass about your son
sleeping with someone who he truly cares about.”
“It’s not just a someone,” Cinetti sputtered.  “It’s a man!”
“Are you screwing my son, too?” Steven sneered.

"It's time we teach you some manners, Ryou," Cinetti said cracking his knuckles. 

"Father, please don't hurt Seto!  You don't understand!"

"Quiet, Ryou!  I ought to wring your neck, you little man-whore!"

Ryou stood on the bed pointing at his father accusingly, his cheeks red from crying. 

"Seto and I aren't lovers!  You don't understand!  Why can't you understand that I love Bakura? 

Why can't you just accept me, daddy?  I'm your son."

Steven stepped forward seething as Seto clenched his fists ready for the man to attack.

 Seto seen the terrible things he had did to

Ryou…the bruises…the red cheek from an earlier assault…the boy didn't deserve that, especially from his father. 

"You are not my son!  You are a disappointment."

"No I'm not!  I am your son, dad!  I love my yami.  I am not going to give him up because of

this," Ryou held up his hand with his wedding ring.

Cinetti growled.  "You married him, too?!"  Steven dived for Ryou, but Seto grabbed onto his

 hand before he could grab Ryou's shirt. 

"To get him, you have to deal with me first.  I don't care for child abusers."  Cinetti swung his fist at

Seto's jaw making him release Steven.  Ryou and Steven exchanged glances .  Ryou ran for the door,

 but Steven grabbed Ryou's hair and yanked back hearing his son yelp.  Seto ducked Cinetti's other blow and

connected his fist with Cinetti's rib.  Cinetti staggered back and Seto punched his face sending him collapsing on the bed. 

Cinetti kicked Seto's stomach and pushed him into the struggling father and son sending them to the ground. 

Cinetti leaped for Seto crashing his foot into Ryou's stomach.  Cinetti grasped Seto and picked Ryou off the floor

and slammed him into the wall. The CEO struggled to breathe as he looked at Ryou's terrified face and Steven getting off the floor..

"Well, Ryou," Cinetti breathed heavily.  "If you don't prefer women, maybe I could turn you to the straight and narrow path."

"Emphasis on 'narrow'," Seto sneered.  Steven punched Seto.

"Maybe you would like me as a birthday present instead," Cinetti's lips crashed onto Ryou's. 

Cinetti's lips crashed onto Ryou's sending the boy thrashing against the wall.  Ryou gasped and tried to push

Cinetti away muttering a whimper.  Seto growled and punched Cinetti in the side.  Cinetti bit down causing a yelp

 from the victim in his hands.

 Seto punched Steven's face and he staggered back.

Cinetti turned away allowing Ryou to breathe.  "Cinetti, please! No! Stop!"

Seto grabbed Cinetti and ripped him off of Ryou making the boy lean against the wall. 

"I've had enough of you!"

"What's the matter, Ryou? Don't find me attractive?"

Ryou let out a sob.  "I want Bakura."

"You already screwed that boy.  What's one more?"

Steven kicked Seto and punched his jaw again sending him back.  Steven grabbed Ryou again and

 threw him on the bed pinning him down.  "How many more are there, Ryou?  Ten?  Twenty?" 

"I never slept with Seto, dad.  I was upset about that woman you sent here.  Why did you do it, dad?  Why?"

"Because I didn't want…..this.  I wanted a normal kid….not you."

Ryou froze stiff.

Cinetti threw Seto on the bed with Ryou.  Ryou wrapped his arms around Seto.  "What purpose do you serve, Ryou? 

Your mother would be ashamed."

"She loves me, dad!  She isn't ashamed of me!  She loves me…she loves me, Seto…tell me she loves me."

Ryou closed his eyes, but couldn't close his ears.  "I love Bakura." 

Cinetti kicked Ryou's leg causing him to release Seto. "I dare you to say that again!"

Cinetti grabbed Ryou off the bed and held him. Steven held Seto down.  "One more time so I can hear you…pansy."

Ryou gasped for breath.  He was dizzy and tired.  "I….love..Bakura." 

One more kick landed Ryou on the ground.  Steven and Cinetti left the room.  Seto kneeled to Ryou on the ground.

 "Daddy…" Ryou closed his eyes and Seto shook his shoulder lightly. 

"Ryou? Ryou?"  The doorknob turned again and Seto dashed for it wanting nothing more than to tear Cinetti and Steven limb from limb.

 The door was locked.  Seto banged on the door.  "You bastard!  Let us out of here!" 

Seto stopped and listened.  "That little slut is not leaving his room." 

"This is abduction!  Let me out of here!"  Seto stopped and gasped for breath.  He took Ryou's pulse.

It was weak, but present.  He was afraid to move Ryou for fear of dislodging something internally.

 Seto knew Ryou needed medical attention.  Seto left his cell phone in the car outside. 

Seto opened the window and stepped lightly onto the branches of a tree outside Ryou's room.

Seto jumped down and ran outside to his car. 

"Seto Kaiba!" Bakura ran up to him.  "I thought I told you to watch my hikari!"

"This man and his dad came home."

"Man?"  Bakura grabbed Seto's jacket and he winced.  Bakura released him quickly  and pulled

down the shirt slightly to see his jaw and his chest were bruised.  Bakura suddenly tensed. 

"Only one man could do that kind of damage!"  Bakura gave Seto the cake and flowers to hold.

 Bakura ran to the front door and banged on it.  "Ryou!  Answer me!"

Steven opened the door and grabbed Bakura dragging him inside.  Steven banged him against the wall.

"Why did you do this to my son?  What did you do to my son to make him the way he is?"

"Ryou!  Ryou! Are you hurt?"  No answer.  "How dare you order a whore to sleep with your son for his birthday!

  Have you no decency?  What happened to the traditional birthday cake?"

Steven punched Bakura's stomach.  "I would ask if you had decency, but then again, that is a silly question." 

Bakura saw Cinetti come from the stairs. 

"So we have another one of our little faeries!  Should I make a quick job of him, too?" Cinetti grinned. 

"If you so much as laid a finger on him, I will feed you to the jackals!"

"I wouldn't worry.  He's resting now.  He's had a lot of exercise."

Bakura growled and emitted a blinding light from his Millenium Ring.  Bakura ran upstairs to Ryou's room,

but it was locked.  Bakura ran back out of the house to Seto.  "I know how we can get into the room."

Seto put the cake on the picnic table in the back of the house.  Bakura and Seto climbed the tree. 

Bakura looked inside and saw Ryou on the floor.  "Seto, hold my leg while I reach over."

  Bakura opened it and hurried inside to Ryou.  Bakura kneeled beside him and carressed his cheek when it suddenly felt wet. 

His lip was bleeding.  "Dear Ra…no.  Seto, get me a tissue."

Seto crawled in and handed him a tissue.  Bakura cleaned Ryou's lip.  "What happened here?"

"I was here with Ryou when they came in.  They thought I was sleeping with Ryou."

Bakura's heart raced as he inspected Ryou for more injuries.  The bruises on his stomach returned

"They locked us in."

"Ryou, open your eyes. It's Bakura.  Come on, my love, open your eyes."  Bakura bent down to kiss Ryou's hot cheek.

 Ryou opened his eyes, but they looked out of focus.

"He's awake!"

"It looks like he doesn't even see you."

"He knows I'm here."

Ryou coughed and some more liquid came out.  "Called me a slut."  Bakura growled furiously.

"I did my best to protect him, Bakura."

Bakura turned to the CEO.  "You did fine, Kaiba.  I'm afraid to move him."  Bakura took Seto's hand and put it around Ryou's hand. 

"Don't let him go.  I'll be right back.  I'm getting him some ice and water."

Bakura climbed down the tree and knocked on the back door.  Steven drew the curtain. 

"I need some ice and water for your son." Steven threw back the curtain.  "I can't believe you!

 I've seen cobras that were more compassionate than you!"

Bakura needed help for Ryou, but didn't know where to turn.  The neighbor next door was watering his lawn and waved to him. 

Bakura remembered him from the other morning.

"Do you have an icepack and water?"

"Why?  Son, you don't look too well."

Bakura found himself touched by the older man's compassion.  "Please.  Ryou has been beaten

up by his own father."

The man dropped the hose. "Is the boy hurt?"  Bakura nodded.  "Bring him over here.  I'm no doctor,

but I'll see what I can do." 

Bakura rushed up the tree and returned to Ryou's side.

"I'm tired, yami," Ryou whined. 

"I know, Ryou, but I only have one way to help you.  I have to carry you."

Seto gaped at him.  "Can we even move him?"

Bakura moved his hands lightly over Ryou's ribs.  Nothing was broken, but anything was better than leaving

Ryou in pain on the floor.  A few places were swollen indicating some

cracking of the ribs, but he couldn't leave Ryou here where his father could come back and finish his dirty deed.

 Seto helped Ryou to his feet. 

Bakura turned around.  "Wrap your arms around my neck, Ryou.  That's it.  Gimme your leg." 

Seto helped Ryou onto Bakura's back.  Seto grabbed another shirt for Ryou seeing as his shirt was stained with a little red. 

They climbed back down the tree drawing cries and whimpers from the boy on Bakura's back. 

Bakura was surprised at how light Ryou was becoming. 

"You get the flowers and cake.  It's still Ryou's birthday.  Let's see if our friends can come

over to the neighbor's house instead."

Bakura carried Ryou to the neighbor's house whispering to him.  "We'll clean you up, Ryou."

"So tired….yami."

"I know, Ryou. I know."