Queer as Tachi – Chapter 95
Over the few days following the full moon, Yugi had his chance to subtly ask the rest of his friends whether any of them had been plagued by nightmares on that one special night, and was somewhat disconcerted to hear that they hadn’t. It seemed that his theory was looking more and more correct, then, that only those whose souls had some kind of connection to shadow magic and the similar powers of the Seal had fallen victim to the ritual’s aftereffects, but there was still no way to know for sure. Considering the rareness of lunar eclipses, Yugi hoped that the problem would not arise again for a while, if at all, but it was still something worth pondering just in case. Everything had reverted to normal, it did appear that the sole effect from the ritual was those nightmares and nothing more. Yugi had more mundane reasons for calling all of his friends – finding out about the dreams was only a small part of it – though he spoke at length with Marik about it instead of the practical things he had technically called to ask about. Fortunately, he got a hold of Marik while Ryo was still at the university, so they chatted extensively that afternoon to compare notes and share the thoughts they had mulled over in the meantime. “I am more inclined now than I was before to believe that things like eclipses can have effects on shadow magic,” Marik admitted as he stretched out on the couch with the phone to his ear. “We may not know anything for sure, but I’m willing to say that the evidence looks pretty convincing from where I stand.”
“Grandpa told me once that the sun was the supreme deity in Egyptian mythology, not the moon,” Yugi said with unusual clarity. “Is that true?”
“Well, yes, but the moon was still very important,” Marik replied. “It was no surprise to me when you first told me about the ritual, and said that it could only be performed at the full moon. To me, that’s perfectly sensible, that’s the way things are. Important rituals can be tied to either the sun or the moon.” He heaved a short sigh. “It’s getting really hard to choose my words around Ryo. He’s such an intelligent guy, if he hasn’t worked out the connection yet for himself, I would be really surprised.”
“Considering the dream he had, I hope he hasn’t,” Yugi worried. “It sounds like he’s been thinking about it, too – that he knows that he can’t let the spirit of the Ring find out anything more about the ritual than he already has.”
“That’s very true. But he studies these kinds of things in school – sooner or later, it’s going to be on a page right in front of him.”
“Not that I want to intrude on your privacy,” Yugi said cautiously, “but…if anything does happen, you’ll tell me, won’t you?”
“I’m sure Yami will want to know if the spirit of the Ring shows his face again,” Marik said warily. “In that case, of course I’ll tell you. You both will need that information.”
Yugi suddenly huffed a short sigh. “I didn’t even think of it, but…wow. I’m glad the shakeup with the ritual didn’t bring him out of hiding! If the eclipse caused the ritual magic to be unstable, it could have done a lot more to Bakura than just given him a nightmare. I didn’t realize that until just now.”
“Maybe. But I’ve had some thoughts about that.” Marik sat up instinctively as he poured his concentration into the phone. “Whatever the reason the ritual has to be conducted at the full moon, we know that the phase itself is important, not the light of the moon, or you would never have been able to do it when it was cloudy or raining or anything. And, the location doesn’t matter, because the spell was born in Egypt but you’ve been doing it here and in Hong Kong once. So, it’s just the phase itself.”
“Yeah…?”
“I don’t know, I’m only speculating, but…maybe the spell requires that sacred time in order to channel or contain the energy, somehow. Like I said, the moon was important in spells and rituals. Eclipses were important signs and sacred moments as well, so if one interfered with the normal full moon, it would interfere with the spell by causing some of that energy to…I don’t know, leak, or escape. Now that you know the effect was contained more or less to those who are connected to the same kind of magic, who have used shadow magic in the past, it kind of makes sense.” Marik curled an arm around his knees. “It’s only a theory, but it’s the best one I have. Though, why an energy leak chose to manifest itself in the form of dream manipulation is anyone’s guess.”
“It did seem to be more or less the same for all of us,” Yugi said thoughtfully. “It wasn’t like anything different happened to me because I’m the only one currently using a Millennium Item, or Yami because he’s the pharaoh, or Bakura and I because we have spirits in our Items. The same thing happened to everybody, including Kaiba.”
“I’m sure if anyone had been actually making use of an Item or related magic at the time of the ritual, it would have had a more powerful effect,” Marik pondered. “But all of the Items are at rest except for the Puzzle, and the Seal is destroyed, so you’ve told me. So none of us were in a position to channel the energy back into us – it merely found us because of our lingering connection.” His voice lowered to a sympathetic purr. “You did use the Puzzle at that moment, and you were the only one whose nightmare wouldn’t leave you alone. It kept you up all night. I’d say that’s something.”
Yugi blinked to himself as he sat listening, in the living room where he was currently alone but for Yami’s omnipresent spirit. “Yeah, that does sound kind of right. At least, it’s the best theory any of us has been able to come up with. Yami agrees, too.”
“I know you’re itching to know things like how and why,” Marik said kindly, “but in this case, theories are all we can have. We’ll never really know for sure, one way or the other – even if Yami does regain his memory someday. He might not have been the one who wrote this spell.”
“I guess all that’s left is to put it behind us,” Yugi sighed. “I hope not to have to deal with it again, I bet another lunar eclipse over Japan won’t happen in my lifetime. I’d much rather think about things going on here and now.” A smile found its way to his face and voice. “Like next week?”
Marik chuckled. “I bet your shop is really busy these days.”
“It sure is. But as of Christmas Day, it’ll be more or less over and we can relax. I really want to have another party with all my friends like I did last year – I know Joey and Mai will be busy with family, but everybody else needs a place to go for the holiday. And I won’t luck out and have Yami with me this time.”
“Well, the holiday itself isn’t any big deal to me,” Marik offered, “but I’m all for having a party with my friends. Especially since you won’t be able to throw me any kind of big birthday party like I know you want to.”
Yugi’s grin intensified; they had been over this subject many times in the past couple of weeks, but it didn’t stop him from wanting to fete Marik’s belated coming of age properly. “Well, then, maybe we’ll just have to fit it in with a Christmas party,” he said smartly. “Do both at once.”
“I could accept that,” Marik said with a grin of his own. “You’ll have to ask Ryo if he’s got any sneaky plans for me, first. I have a feeling he’s up to something, but he’s being very cute about not letting on any of it.”
The thought of Bakura flitting around his lover humming about having a secret and not telling made Yugi laugh out loud. “Okay, I’ll call him later and ask him,” he decided. “But I would guess that neither of you have anywhere to go on Christmas Day itself. Bakura isn’t very close with his father, and your family is halfway across the world.”
“That’s true. What about the others? You said Joey and Mai…”
“Yeah, with the wedding coming up, they have to spend time with their parents,” Yugi reported with an exasperated little sigh. “I know Joey’s not looking forward to that at all, but he can’t do anything about it. The last email I got from Téa said she’s not coming home over winter break because she got into a show off campus and has rehearsals all during break, so she’s out. But there’s you guys, and then Tristan and Duke. I haven’t asked them outright about coming over, but I know Tristan is still having some tension with his family over Duke, so they’ll probably be up for it.”
“It sounds like fun,” Marik said casually. “As long as Ryo hasn’t come up with any alternate plans, you can probably count us in. Keep me posted.”
Yugi promised to do so, even if he was working harder than usual to meet the needs of people who took the gift-giving nature of the borrowed Western holiday seriously, and barely had any time to himself to think, much less make plans. Without Yami’s physical presence this year, Yugi’s thoughts turned mostly to his friends, wanting to share his time and affection with those who had no family to spend the day with, by nature or by preference. It was only about a week away, but Yugi had been in contact with all of his friends enough to know which ones were available and only needed a phone call to set up the gathering. Téa had indeed emailed to tell all her friends that she wouldn’t be able to make it home from the States this holiday, but she wished each of them well and promised to mail cards with pretty pictures of the snow in New York. Joey and Mai were obligated to family. That still left more than enough friends to make for a decent party, so Yugi checked with all of them to be sure. Tristan and Duke were definitely on board – Tristan’s family had not completely let bygones be bygones over his choice to move in with a male lover, so he expected they wouldn’t be asking him over to celebrate. He planned to drop by and say hello, hug his mom, and leave small gifts, he said, but the rest of the day would be free for him and Duke to invade Yugi’s house and eat their fill of Grandpa Muto’s cooking. As Marik had suggested, Yugi called Bakura directly to double-check his plans before expecting them to show, and received a delighted assent from his friend. “It sounds like a splendid idea,” Ryo murmured happily into his cell phone. He was walking home late from the university, in the cold and the dark, so the call and the friendly voice were welcome company. “Marik and I have been working out what to do for his birthday, I didn’t really consider Christmas – except that I remembered you saying something about having us over. So, I left that day open.”
“Good thing,” Yugi giggled. “I already told Marik I was sorry we couldn’t throw him a big birthday party like everyone else, but he seems okay with that. I said we’d make it up to him on Christmas, instead. That way I know I won’t be too busy with the shop or anything – we’ll all be able to be there.”
“Yes, we’ll make up for it that way,” Ryo assured. “It’ll be all right. I sort of want to take care of Marik myself for one night. He’s been so good about helping me, taking care of me and making sure I take time off to rest now and then. I figure I need to return the favor tenfold.” His voice softened with the sweet, blushing smile that awakened on his lips. “I want to indulge him the way he has indulged me so often. Just the two of us. Something very romantic.”
“Oh, that sounds wonderful,” Yugi encouraged. “I can’t compete with that, that’s way better than having a big party with all his friends. I’m sure he’ll be very happy with it.”
“And my exams will be over by then, so he can have my complete and undivided attention,” Ryo added cutely. “I have so many ideas…so much I’d like to do to…er, with him.”
Yugi laughed. “Marik is so lucky.”
Ryo gave a soft chuckle. “I like to think I am, too.”
“Well, it sounds like everything worked out right on both accounts,” Yugi said concludingly. “You guys have your plans for Marik’s special day, and it sounds like a special one all right. And then we’ll make it a date to see you both at my place on Christmas.”
“Absolutely,” Bakura said warmly. “Count us in.”
“Good!” Yugi giggled to himself again. “Wow, it’s turning into a real Boys’ Christmas. You guys, Tristan and Duke, and me. Well, you and Marik enjoy your day together – I want to hear all about it when I see you two days later. At least the parts you can share in polite company,” he snickered.
“Yugi!” Ryo exclaimed in fake scandal. “A proper boy doesn’t kiss and tell.”
“When did you become a proper boy?”
Ryo couldn’t help the bright laugh that bubbled out of him, though he quickly clapped a mitten-clad hand over his mouth to stifle it. “All right, that’s enough of that,” he scolded his friend. “I’m almost home, I should go. After all, I don’t want Marik overhearing any of the special ideas I have planned for him.”
“Oh, all right. Go on. Tell him I said hi,” Yugi added. “I’ll see you guys next week.”
Yugi was not the only one drowning under the weight of the average retailer’s annual nightmare. Though he didn’t really say anything about it when on the phone with Yugi, Marik was working hard, long hours at the bookstore, replacing student workers who couldn’t come in on account of exams and staying through the shop’s newly-extended hours. It wasn’t that he and Ryo needed the money, but he wanted to do his best so he could find favor with the owner and perhaps be entrusted with less mundane duties, even a promotion sooner or later. He even had to work on his birthday, he didn’t dare ask for the day off after already stealing a sick day to comfort his partner the previous week. To his credit, Marik did not complain, and worked up to and through his birthday as cheerfully as he could no matter how late the hour or how harried the customers made him. Still, he found himself beginning to watch the clock that afternoon, desperately hoping the end of his shift would hurry up and get there without any more frustratingly idiotic customers getting in his way. He knew Ryo was home alone, perhaps cleaning up the flat or something, most likely preparing some kind of birthday surprise. He couldn’t fathom what his lover was up to, but it was impossible for Ryo to keep secret the fact that he had a secret; for days he had been slinking around the flat humming to himself in delight, averting his twinkling eyes in a flash if Marik looked questioningly his way. Marik found it incredibly amusing and let him put on the performance, knowing that at the end of it would be something very special.
When he finally trudged up the stairs and through the door, Marik was completely worn out and looking forward to this holiday shopping season thing being over and done with. He pushed the door open with a weary sigh, prepared to shrug off his coat and fall onto the couch for a few minutes of rest, but the nature of the ambiance which met his eyes made him pause there in the doorway. The lights were turned down to make the most of several candles lit at the nice place setting on the small table which up until now had been hidden beneath a pile of clutter, mostly Bakura’s books and papers. A small vase with a pair of red roses stood in the middle. Upon hearing the door, Ryo came out from the bedroom and lit up as brightly as the candles, opening his arms to receive his tired boyfriend. “Happy birthday,” he said hopefully, smiling despite the obvious weariness on Marik’s face. Marik wilted, but managed a smile as Ryo came up to him and hugged him, wrapping his arms around his shoulders. “You look so tired,” he cooed. “Come, let me take your coat and let you sit down and relax. Welcome home,” he added belatedly.
“Thanks,” Marik sighed, willingly letting his coat slide off his shoulders and into Bakura’s waiting hands. Rather than sit down, he paced further into their flat, looking around in interest. Not only was the table made up with a romantic setting, but some of their usual clutter had been cleared away, leaving the flat a bit neater and plenty of open spaces in which more candles had been placed. Marik could only guess what the bedroom looked like. “What’s all this?” he asked, beginning to smile more strongly. He turned to find Ryo practically beaming, his dark eyes glittering as if with stars in the candlelight. “It looks like you’ve outdone yourself.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Ryo said bashfully. He slipped his hands into Marik’s. “Tonight is all for you. Rather than go anywhere, I thought we would stay in and have the night to ourselves in a grand way. I’ve already ordered food,” he explained with a coy lilt to his soft voice, “and it’s on the way, so neither of us have to cook. After that, well…I picked up a special dessert, today, and then it’s your choice how to spend the rest of the evening.” An impish twinkle came into his eyes. “I did have one idea, if you’re up for it…”
Marik’s eyebrows raised. “Oh?” he wondered, playing along.
Ryo glanced away as if too shy to say it. “Well, I…noticed that we were out of the jasmine oil, that I got for you when you visited that one time, so…I made a trip to the special store to get some. It’s supposed to be massage oil,” he added helpfully, failing completely to feign innocence, “so maybe I could rub your back, or something…”
A grin completely filled Marik’s face. “I think it all sounds wonderful.” He leaned in and kissed his boyfriend cutely. “You’re being so good to me, thank you.”
“Well, of course.” Bakura grew serious for just a moment, focusing his lovely dark eyes on his partner’s face. “You’ve been so good to me, this term. You’ve taken care of me, and saw to it I lifted my head out of my books at the right time…you’ve kept me sane. It’s time I showed you how much I appreciated every minute of it, and how happy I am to have you, here with me. How grateful I am…that you love me,” he added, stepping closer, his voice softening. “You’re the best thing to happen to me, Marik, and I love you. I’ve been so absorbed in my schoolwork that I haven’t properly told you so.”
“Nonsense,” Marik purred, raising a hand to brush his fingers gently against Ryo’s cheek. “I haven’t felt under-appreciated at all. But, I don’t have any problem being treated extra-special just because it’s my birthday.”
“And an important birthday at that,” Ryo breathed sensually, leaning in and lifting his face teasingly up. Just before their lips met, he gave a start and gasped, “Oh! That was the other thing…”
“Hmm?” Marik only raised an eyebrow, still poised to share a deep kiss.
“On account of your coming-of-age. I picked up a bottle of wine. Since you don’t like sake,” he explained with another coy smile. “I may not know much about it, but I’ve been assured I got the right kind to go with dessert.”
Marik chuckled and gathered him into his arms, hugging him warmly and breathing deeply of his closeness and the sweet scent of his hair. “You are so wonderful. I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
They had a few minutes to themselves, in which they sat together on the couch and kissed until they were breathless, until the inevitable knock at the door signaling that dinner had arrived. Takeout itself wasn’t all that spectacular, but once it was set out on nice plates at the dining table, it became a feast for two. They sat together, facing each other across the small table, for once able to enjoy a dinner with no distractions, no books cluttering what should have been dining space, no worries about what needed to be done that night. Marik suggested they crack open the bottle of wine early, and savored one glass each over dinner just because they could. They discovered that there was plenty to talk about without bringing up Bakura’s exams, which were over as of yesterday, or the insanity of Marik’s work. Ryo asked him about his family, and any traditions he might have enjoyed in Egypt for the occasion, which led to a long, quiet talk about their respective childhoods and how amazing it was that they had both come so far. Though serious, it seemed right, despite the fact it was supposed to be a celebration. When they had both had their fill, Ryo bade his partner sit and not exert himself while he cleared away the dishes, brought back the small vase with roses, and laid out the exotic dessert he had purchased: chocolate-covered strawberries. Only one confectionery downtown carried them at this time of year, and they weren’t cheap, but he wanted the best for Marik. The gift was well-received, and they enjoyed another glass of wine with the strawberries, leaning over the table to feed them to each other and kiss the chocolate from each other’s lips. Certainly, retreating to the bedroom would not be far behind, with such decadence for an appetizer. Still, Marik enthused over the unique choice of dessert, finding it much better than any old cake, for many reasons.
After the strawberries were gone and even the little drips of chocolate on the plate had been swiped up and offered to each other on slender fingertips, Bakura rose from the table and gracefully showed his boyfriend into the bedroom, where he had prepared for a romantic night with more candles and an extra soft, warm comforter laid out on the bed. First, though, Marik wanted a shower, and to give himself time for his big dinner to settle and his head to clear before they wrapped themselves in each other and ended up in bed for the rest of the night. Ryo playfully decided to help, so they began the festivities by squeezing into the shower together, where Ryo could wash his boyfriend’s back and tenderly fondle him while the hot water poured over them both. They stopped at mere touching, there, figuring to save the rest for later. While Marik toweled off, his partner slipped into the bedroom to light the candles and make everything perfect, so that when Marik padded out of the bathroom with just a towel wrapped around his waist, he found Ryo waiting for him, sitting cross-legged in the middle of their double futon in just a pair of light flannel pants and nothing else. He smiled sweetly at his partner’s approach. “Come,” he implored softly, “sit…I promised you a backrub, didn’t I?”
“I just got all clean, and now you want to rub oil on my back?” Marik teased with a grin. “Hmm, I guess I can let you do that…”
“Please?” Ryo perked up as Marik unwrapped the towel and prowled up to him, fully naked. “I said I wanted to make this night all about you. I know how tired you are after work, being on your feet all day must be straining your whole body.” He did his best not to ogle even as Marik dropped to his knees in front of him, practically offering himself. “Perhaps you might like it if I massaged away all the knots and stresses…”
“It sounds like a great idea.” Marik sat on his heels, still clutching the towel in one hand and modestly resting it over his lap. “What do you want me to do?”
Ryo scooted aside on the bed and patted it. “Lie down. Stretch out, relax. Massage first…” He took the towel from his lover and blessed him with a little kiss. “I promise not to get too carried away. Not yet, anyway.”
They shared a cute look as Marik stretched out on his stomach, folding his arms under his head. Ryo kindly draped the towel over his ass first, and then reached to the vial of jasmine oil he had already set out on the little stand next to the bed. Marik’s cheeks flushed a bit as he felt his partner settle to a seat straddling him, sitting mostly on his thighs, but it brought a smile to his face. Then the scent of jasmine stole through the room, released from the bottle, and a moment later, soft, oiled hands kneaded across the center of his back and up to his shoulders. He heaved a long, ragged sigh at the feel of those hands squeezing the tension out of the knots in his back, closing his eyes and relaxing into the thick bedding to enjoy every second of it. Ryo concentrated on rubbing his tight muscles first, but after a bit, began to trace his thumbs over the scars on Marik’s back forming hieroglyphs, as if trying to rub oil into them and perhaps soften them so they didn’t look so hard and angry. He lovingly ran his fingertip along the raised contours of the ankh symbol squarely in the middle of Marik’s back, sighing in remembrance of what it meant. Marik purred in response, turning his head slightly where it rested on his arms so he could cast one eye over his shoulder and see his beautiful lover busy at work. The jasmine oil was warm and slick on his skin, leaving it moist and lightly scented. Ryo’s fingers splayed over the winged figure scored into the top of Marik’s back, and then pressed harder, rubbing beneath it to the muscles below his skin that needed good, tender care. Humming contentedly under his breath, Marik closed his eyes and settled in for as long as his partner was willing to continue this splendid treat.
In the middle of their quiet session together, one of the two cell phones sitting next to each other on the bedstand chirped. Both of them started at the sound breaking the pleasant silence, and Marik pushed himself up on his elbows. “Whose phone is it, yours or mine?” Ryo asked him.
“Mine,” Marik groaned, stretching out a hand to pick it up. He glanced at the display to see whether it was important or he could just let it go to voice mail, considering what it was interrupting, but his eyes widened at the number on the display. “Oh! It’s my sister.” Without a second thought he flipped the phone open and said, “Hello, Ishizu!”
Ishizu’s warm alto croon sounded over the line, though all Ryo could hear from where he sat was that it was a female voice. “Hello, Marik. Happy birthday.”
“Thanks,” Marik said happily, settling back down on his folded arms. Bakura took the hint and resumed the backrub, although more gently while his lover was on the phone. “Is that why you’re calling?”
“Well, of course,” his sister chuckled. “I’m sure it must be fairly late there, but I had a few minutes and thought, what better time to call my dear brother and wish him the best on his twentieth birthday?” Her voice sobered briefly. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“No, it’s all right. I have a few minutes.” Marik cast a little grin over his shoulder. “Ryo and I are just spending the night in, instead of going out. Kind of a quiet evening together.”
“That sounds very nice.”
Marik listened for a moment, nodded, and then added to his partner, “She says hi.”
Ryo lifted an oily hand from his back and waved. “Hi, Ishizu.”
Giggling to himself, Marik relaxed again to chat with his sister, however briefly it would be before he could get her off the phone so he and Ryo could have their night together as planned. “How is everything going? I’m sorry I haven’t been able to call – I’ve been so busy. You wouldn’t believe how much things change just because of the holiday.”
“That’s all right,” Ishizu assured him. “It’s your birthday, so it’s my turn to call you.” The siblings spoke every couple of weeks, more or less, though they did trade emails in between because it was faster and easier. They still liked to hear each others’ voices now and then, though. “Everything is fine, here. It’s very quiet. I don’t mind the peace, but I can’t help but think that it’s merely a deception, a precursor to things to come.”
“Still the doomsayer after all this time,” Marik said as a gentle tease. “Say, that reminds me, Ishizu…” The smile faded from his face, and he lowered his voice, though he knew Ryo would overhear anyway. He didn’t want to bring up unpleasant things, but there was something he needed to know. “About a week ago, there was a total lunar eclipse visible over here…”
“Yes, I know,” Ishizu said wisely.
“This may sound strange, but…” Marik took a breath before asking warily, “Did you have any unusual dreams, or even nightmares, that night? I’m sure the eclipse was long past by the time it became night there, but…”
His sister murmured thoughtfully under her breath. “As a matter of fact,” she replied in a low tone, “there was something dark and disturbing about the dream I had that night. It was about you…I dreamed you were…possessed, once again, by that dark spirit. That somehow being with Bakura brought it out of you. I know it isn’t a premonition – I haven’t had any since relinquishing the Necklace – merely one of my worst inner fears surfacing. But I don’t understand why you should ask me that, Marik,” she continued after a thoughtful pause. “Is something wrong?”
“No, not anymore,” Marik said with a shake of his head, “but several of us here had nightmares all on the same night, the night of the eclipse. We compared notes, and it seems like it only happened to those who have a connection to a Millennium Item. Like you.”
Ishizu pondered it silently for a moment. “Hmm, that is very interesting,” she said, understating her real feelings on the matter. “Do you have any idea what may have caused such a thing?”
“Maybe. I don’t want to go into it right now,” Marik said cautiously. “It’s late, I’m tired, and I’m supposed to be enjoying a nice birthday. But if I have any more ideas about it, I’ll call you again.” He then sat up a little on his elbows. “Hey, is Odeon there?”
“Maybe. I think I heard him come in a little while ago.” Ishizu was at home, sitting at her desk, but upon hearing the request from her brother, rose elegantly to go and locate their other sibling. “I suppose you would like to speak to him?”
“If he’s around,” Marik grinned.
It took only a minute to locate Odeon, and he was more than happy to take the phone from Ishizu. “So, the little one is growing up,” his elder half-brother teased him. “Congratulations, Marik. Is everything well?”
“Mm, quite well,” Marik purred happily – considering where he was at the moment. Ryo giggled subtly behind him, still working his hands in slow, kneading circles on Marik’s shoulder blades. “How are you, brother? Anything new?”
“Not since the last five times you’ve asked,” Odeon replied with a cool smile. “We miss you, especially on days like this. Your sister wishes you could be here so we can properly celebrate. But it’s my guess that the package on its way to you will make up for it?”
“Aww…you didn’t have to send me anything,” Marik protested. “Just hearing your voice is enough…”
“It’s too late. Ishizu sent it two days ago – I don’t know how long it’ll take the post to arrive from overseas, but be watching for it. Just a little taste of home, from us.” Odeon turned his back and lowered his voice, since Ishizu was still sitting at her desk just behind him, eagerly waiting to have the phone and her younger brother back. “I hope you’re getting something special for your birthday from your partner,” he added in a sneaky man-to-man sort of tone. “Are you doing anything significant on account of being an adult now?”
“Odeon,” Marik groaned. “I’ve been an adult for two years. I’m just of legal drinking age in this country, now. We did have some wine with dinner,” he smirked. “As for the rest, you’ll have to use your imagination, because I’m not saying anything.”
Odeon laughed richly. “Just don’t get carried away. Ah, your sister is practically ready to leap out of the chair and wrestle the phone away from me, I should hand you back to her. Take care of yourself, my brother.”
“And you. Thank you, Odeon.”
The second Ishizu had the phone back, she retorted, “And just what are you not supposed to get carried away with, Marik?”
The young Egyptian laughed. “That’s between brothers, Ishizu,” he retorted smartly. “Well, now that Odeon has tipped me off about the package, I shall have to thank you in advance. That was sweet of you, sister.”
“It isn’t anything of great significance,” she said modestly. “As Odeon says, a taste of home. We do miss you. It sounds to me as though you are living the kind of life you have been seeking, there.”
Marik laid his head on his arms and smiled dreamily, enjoying the way Ryo was rubbing his back. “Yes, I am,” he murmured. “Very much so. Thank you for having the courage to let me explore it.”
“As long as you are happy, my brother.” Ishizu paused, then, hearing Marik’s sigh over the line. “Wait, Marik…are you doing something…?”
Marik chuckled faintly. “Well…to be honest…Ryo is giving me a backrub right now…”
Ishizu made a little scandalized noise, clapping her hand over her mouth. “I see,” she quickly corrected herself. “You should have told me, I wouldn’t have monopolized all your time. I should let you go.”
“It’s all right,” Marik assured. “Anything else and I wouldn’t have even answered the phone.”
“All the same. You take care of yourself, Marik. I shall be in touch, perhaps on New Year’s.” Ishizu allowed herself a little laugh. “Now go and let Bakura finish what he started. I won’t keep you any longer.”
“Okay,” Marik assented, grinning lazily to himself. They traded a few more simple blessings, and then he finally clicked the phone off – and then set it to voice mail so they wouldn’t be disturbed anymore. He tossed it back on the nightstand with Ryo’s phone and turned his head on his arms to share that grin with his lover. “You’re very good at what you’re doing. I wouldn’t mind laying here all night and being treated like such a prince.”
Ryo smiled modestly, lowering his eyes, as he gave his partner’s back an extra-deep rub now that he was off the phone and could groan and sigh all he wanted. “Anything you want. You know this night is all about you. Though…” He let his hands roam lower, gentling his touch and gliding over Marik’s lower back, subtly pushing the towel aside so he could caress his ass. “…there is something more I’d like to do with you. It means I’ll have to wake you up from this sleepy mood, but…”
Marik snickered to himself, flexing his back as if to stretch and wiggling his toes. “I think I can suffer it. I do appreciate the backrub, but…” He lifted his head and gave his partner a sultry smirk over his shoulder. “…we both know that it’s not going to end here.”
Ryo smiled. “Of course not,” he purred, pushing himself up on his hands and crawling forward to nuzzle Marik’s ear and kiss his cheek. Marik rolled over beneath him, and very quickly they were wrapping each other in their arms and kissing each other breathless, indulging in every gift of the senses, scent, taste, and touch. They both wanted so much, it was clear that even if this first, splendid session of the night took them a while on account of excessive foreplay, it wouldn’t be the only one before bedtime. They had the whole evening to waste with each other, and plenty of racy ideas in their respective imaginations to make every minute worth it.
Unfortunately, neither of them noticed that they were not exactly alone. There was a third there, a lingering shadow who usually didn’t enjoy their fluffy closeness but had wakened himself on this night for his own selfish reasons. As much as Ryo believed that his desire to rub oil into Marik’s back and work out all the tension from his long work days was his idea alone, in fact, a small part of the encouragement came from the other spirit, the parasitic presence which had been keeping an extremely low profile. He still existed, he lurked deep within Ryo’s soul as a weak fragment of what he used to be, stirring out of dormancy in those rare moments when something relating to him came to his attention. The nightmares a week ago and the talk of rituals and Millennium Items had started it, but he kept quiet, knowing that Marik was watching very closely for any sign of his presence. Then, this idea blossoming in Ryo’s mind gave him incentive to stir a little more and push his vessel to go ahead and do it, to not be shy and go for it, gleefully using the lovers’ trust in each other to be able to use Marik in his own way. The whole time Marik lay chatting on the phone with his siblings in Egypt, and Ryo quieted to a meditative haze while he gently rubbed his partner’s knotted muscles, the third presence was there, taking advantage of this perfect opportunity to get a long, lingering look and study of the scriptures imprinted on Marik’s back. While Ryo blankly traced them with his finger, reverently soothing them with jasmine oil, the spirit who called himself Bakura read them keenly, committing them to memory as quickly as he could. Unlike the pharaoh, this spirit remembered the past and could read the scriptures, though they were naturally cryptic and didn’t make complete sense to him just yet. He would have to ponder them for a while, compare them to his knowledge and experiences and any behavior of the pharaoh’s spirit, before he could understand what they meant and use that information to further his own plans. Marik may have taunted him for being powerless, but the dark Bakura knew better. He was merely waiting, watching, and learning. He hated Marik’s presence in Ryo’s life, but he had been expecting that sooner or later he would have this chance. By the time Marik wrapped up the phone call and Ryo climbed off him to get their night of lovemaking off to a start, the spirit had gotten the look he wanted, and was content to back off and let his vessel fuck his boyfriend to his heart’s content. That way, no one would suspect that he was alert, and using the pair to further his own gains. As annoyed as he was with their closeness and romance, just this once, he left some part of his spirit connected to Ryo’s mind in order to feel what he felt, knowing that the young one was aroused and hot and eager to enjoy all the sensations promised by their naked bodies tumbling into bed together. It was only a shadow of reality, for the dark spirit, but it was enough to feel that pleasure and revel in the wild passion of the young Egyptian ravaging his vessel. The connection was so faint as to never rouse suspicion, but somewhere deep in the shadows, the dark Bakura grinned to himself and closed his eyes, licking his lips in anticipation of getting to vicariously feel Ryo’s impending orgasm. And another, and another, until he was exhausted and fell asleep. Pondering the scriptures could wait, the spirit decided he was owed this treat for having to put up with the pair and their relationship all these months and no way to retaliate against them. Not yet. The time was not yet right. But soon, he swore to himself. Soon, he would make Marik regret ever calling him impotent.
The following night was Christmas Eve, and once the shops and businesses closed, people everywhere were free to relax, unwind, and look forward to celebrations the next day. Yugi was ecstatically relieved to have survived the shopping season intact, though he was worn out and hoped to be allowed to sleep in a little before having to get up and make the house ready for all his friends. It was still pretty late when he finally closed himself away in his room and flopped down on his bed, lying there exhausted for a few minutes before rousing himself and going to put on his warm pajamas. There was only one thing on his mind, now: how one year ago, that very night, he had been privileged to perform the ritual and have his lover embodied for the holiday. Not this year, sadly, but at least his partner was still there, a quiet, solid presence supporting him and listening to his every thought. Yugi clicked off the lights and took the Millennium Puzzle to bed with him, snuggling into the blankets and cupping his hands around the pyramidal pendant. All he had to do was close his eyes, and he could hear Yami as clearly as if he were in the room, and even see him in his mind’s eye. “You should go to sleep,” the pharaoh’s spirit implored sweetly, coming to him and clasping his hands around Yugi’s, so they were both holding the Puzzle. “You’ve been working yourself to death.”
“Yeah, but it’s all over now,” Yugi said with happy satisfaction. “Totally over, for another year. All I have to do tomorrow is help Grandpa and have fun with my friends. I’m so glad.” He heaved a long sigh. “The only way it could be any nicer is if you were here, but I know you can’t be. We’re slaves to the full moon, and it’ll be years before it falls on Christmas again.”
“That’s all right,” Yami assured him, reaching to enfold him in his ethereal arms instead. “I am still with you. We should enjoy the days we have, rather than hope for them to fall at certain times.”
“I know. Last year was so nice, though. I’ll always remember it.” Yugi chuckled to himself. “Even the rough spots. But mostly…I remember sitting here on my bed with you, and looking up and seeing that it was snowing outside. That was so romantic,” he breathed.
Yami purred his agreement, keeping himself wrapped around Yugi to hold and protect him in his own way. Yugi’s body may have been curled up in bed, but where their minds touched, anything and everything was possible. After a few moments, Yami let a whisper cross their bond. “Would you like to spend the night with me inside the Puzzle?”
“Ooo…” Yugi’s sigh told him that he hadn’t even considered the obvious possibility. “That sounds wonderful. I’d like to be with you – in your world, if you can’t be in mine this time.”
“Then, come…” The vision faded, but it took only seconds before Yugi’s mind became entranced enough for his awareness to waken inside the world of the Puzzle, where he could push open the door connecting their minds and find Yami standing in the opposite doorway, smiling invitingly. Yugi padded up to him and leaped into his arms, snuggling him happily. His internal self was wearing the same pajamas as outside, but Yami was clad in jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt – and both bore a representation of the Puzzle which connected them. They hugged and whispered a few sweet nothings to welcome each other and express how nice it was to be together, when Yami’s arms came around Yugi and swept him gracefully to the corridor which led to their special room. “Do you want me to just take you to bed so you can rest?” the pharaoh asked kindly, and a little suggestively. “Or would you be interested in staying up a little longer with me?”
Yugi snuggled against his side. “Oh, I think I can be convinced to stay up a bit. Now that I’m here with you, I’m not really interested in going to sleep just yet.”
Chuckling deeply, Yami agreed and led the way to the stable room his mind had created, where torchlight warmed the room and gleamed sensually on the alabaster walls. The two of them ducked inside the curtain shrouding the canopy bend and sprawled out with each other on the crisp linens, curling up in each other’s arms and taking a few long minutes to snuggle. Yugi’s mind was restless, and manifested here as the desire to cuddle and kiss but also to chatter about nothing, expressing his relief and relaxation as well as his excitement about tomorrow. It made his partner laugh. “I know you’re looking forward to it,” he said, amused. “With all your planning for presents.”
“I hope everyone likes their gifts,” Yugi mused as he lay sprawled on top of Yami, stroking his chest through his tight shirt. “I wasn’t sure what to get everybody, that was special enough.”
“I’m sure they will,” Yami said gently. “You’re very thoughtful, Yugi.”
“At least Joey already got his.” Earlier that evening, just as Yugi had finally called it a day and left the store to his grandfather to finish out the day, Joey had dropped by as planned so the two best friends could swap presents and have some cocoa together in lieu of the fact that Joey couldn’t make it for Christmas. He was in quite a state, not sure what to expect out of his holiday, because it was the first time his mother and Mai’s parents were going to meet each other, over dinner. Yugi talked him down, assuring him that everything was going to be all right and he would have his sister Serenity there to support him. It was tough for him to see Joey so worked up over a situation that Yugi could not be involved in, at all, but he did his best to comfort him and cheer him up with a very lavish present. That was why Yugi had gotten to bed so late, wanting to spend as much time with Joey as he could before they both knew it was time for them to part and go get a good night’s sleep. All Yugi could do now was hope good things for him and wait to hear about it the day after. “I’m glad he got the chance to come over,” Yugi continued. “It just wouldn’t feel right if I went through Christmas without seeing my best friend. With him and Téa both away, all I have is…well,” he giggled, “everybody else.”
Yami lay in a haze of delight, slowly combing his fingers through Yugi’s bangs while they snuggled. “It should be fun. I look forward to seeing all of them, also.”
“By the way,” Yugi said sneakily, raising his head. “I got you a present, too.”
“What?” The pharaoh’s eyes widened. “When did you do that? I don’t remember…”
“Well, I wasn’t going to tell you, obviously,” Yugi smirked. “I snuck it in there. It isn’t anything big, just a plain old Christmas present.”
“What is it?” Yami peered at him as if trying to read his mind.
“Don’t you dare!” Yugi shifted in order to point a finger at his nose. “I know what you’re trying to do. You promised me you wouldn’t peek if I had a gift-related surprise for you.”
“All right, all right,” Yami relented, chuckling. “You’re right, Yugi. I’ll behave. But I’m very curious, now. I don’t remember you doing anything that struck me as secretive.”
“I’m getting better at it,” his partner grinned. “You’ll have to wait until the next full moon to get it, though. I didn’t think of it last week, I only just got it a couple days ago.”
Yami gave him a magnificent pout. “But how am I supposed to get you a gift in return? I didn’t realize we were exchanging gifts this time, I didn’t even think of one for you…”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to.” Yugi bent his head and nuzzled his lover’s chest warmly. “This is present enough…being with you. Make it two nights in a row and I might consider it more than enough.”
“All the same…” Yami tilted his head to capture his young love’s gaze with his own violet eyes. “If you went to the trouble, I should like to shower you with gifts too. But by the time the full moon arrives, it will be well past Christmas. And New Year’s.”
Yugi cocked his head in a playful show of thinking. “Well, there’s always the seijinshiki…that’s a good reason to give me a present.”
“The what?”
“It’s a special holiday in January for everybody who’s come of age in the past year,” Yugi explained with a cheery grin. “And considering pretty much every one of my friends has, along with me, we should have a really big party for all of us. Maybe all go out together.”
Yami gave him a wry smirk. “So, essentially, it’s a second birthday party just for that occasion.”
“Yup!” Yugi beamed brightly. “So if you’re that upset about getting me a present, save it for then. It’s a perfectly good excuse to get me a present even if I say it’s fine and this is all I want for Christmas.” His arms tightened, allowing him to snuggle and nuzzle his partner as a means of explaining what he meant by “this.”
The pharaoh’s deep laugh shook them both. “All right. I think I can accept that. Do you know how close the full moon comes to that particular date?”
“Mm, no,” Yugi admitted, mumbling into his lover’s chest. “I didn’t even think of it until just now. I should look.”
“You can look later.” Yami sat up a little and lunged to capture Yugi in his arms, catching him up and rolling him over on the bed, descending to nuzzle and kiss at his neck and behind his ear. Yugi squirmed and giggled uncontrollably, kicking his feet even though he had no protest at all to being pounced on and kissed that way. When he had caught his breath, he turned his head to kiss back, finding Yami ready and waiting for him. Their mouths molded together in a soft, hot kiss, and after that, all will to chat faded away. Yugi stretched out beneath his lover, curling arms around his neck and holding him down to be kissed and savored, while a hand splayed across his chest and worked its way inside his pajama top, nimbly undoing a few buttons to make access easier. Yugi breathed a soft moan in encouragement, placing his hands on either side of Yami’s neck and caressing the tender skin behind his ears as he turned his head to meet his exotic lover’s gaze. They laid there for a moment, lost in each other’s eyes, and then sank into a more gentle, loving kiss. It sealed the deal between them, opening up the rest of the night to explore one another and make love as loudly and heatedly as they wanted to, for they were alone in the Puzzle’s world. Whether or not Yugi got to sleep in, it didn’t matter. All he wanted was this, here, now, and he could sleep later. After all, once they were finished and his mind passed into dreamless slumber while his internal self slept in the pharaoh’s arms, it would more than make up for it. Plans and preparations could wait on the outside where they belonged. Here, Yugi and Yami were only for each other, and nothing could intrude on their perfect bond.