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The living room of the apartment was still warm as the soft glow of the evening sunlight sneaked through the alabaster-colored curtains, a slight breeze making them wave as it entered the room; the only noises heard being the forgotten voices on the TV and the odd clanking of dishes in the kitchen.
As Ryou sat in his armchair, reading what was thought to be a lost book, Bakura came into the room. He had just finished washing the dishes; his t-shirt had gotten wet, but he still refused to wear a goddamn apron. He noticed Ryou and quietly observed him. It still amused him how much like an old man Ryou would sometimes behave. He'd make himself a cup of tea after dinner. He'd sit in that same old chair, which, if he remembered correctly, was the same one as when they first came together. His beige cardigan and even the white hair completed the look. It almost camouflaged with the swaying curtains, and would, in times of clear early daylight, give him an almost ethereal form. Bakura could only hope that, although Ryou would get older, his habits stayed. For he could watch him forever and never grow tired of it.
But he could still make time to lounge around and watch some TV.
He decided not to disturb Ryou and plopped down on the couch in front of the TV. What was on was yet another Ancient Egyptian documentary. Great. At this point even he knew everything archaeologists knew about his old homeland. And always the same topics. These people never shut up about the Giza pyramids, Valley of the Kings, and the precious pharaohs' greatness and whatever the fuck. All these things would only remind him of the bullshit 'history' that would only serve to glorify the ones that had it all. Never acknowledging the ones that were sacrificed for their undeserved glory.
Bullshit. Such bullshit.
He changed the channel with a disdainful groan.
"I was watching that, Baku-san," Ryou said with a lack of interest, still looking at his book.
"No, you weren't! You're read—" Bakura's irritating thoughts towards humanity screeched to a halt. With the sentence still on his lips he turned behind him. His brows furrowed with confusion and his slightly open mouth gave Ryou the most puzzled look.
"What did you just call me?"
Ryou nonchalantly responded, "Baku-san." He finally looked away from his book and gave Bakura a slight smile. "Do you not like it?"
Ryou's glowing smile provided warmth to Bakura's cheeks; he cleared his throat and bashfully said, "Well… I don't know. It just took me by surprise, is all. 'Baku-san'? Is that the best you could come up with? Landlord?"
Ryou's smile grew at the old nickname his lover sometimes still used. He stood up from his chair taking the book in his hands.
"Here," he said as he handed the book to Bakura, who took it and with mild interest saw the cover.
It read: Japanese Folklore: An Introduction to Yōkai
"Yōkai?"
"Yeah," Ryou replied. "They're spirits from Japanese folklore."
"Spirits? These are your Gods, right?"
Ryou took his chin in between his thumb and index finger. "Not necessarily."
He sat down next to Bakura as he explained, "Yōkai are more like spirits with special powers, but are not seen as deities. There are way too many to mention. Some are fantastical; some are spirits like the ones you hear in ghost stories; and some are just common objects with a life of their own, having personalities and even magical powers. There are good yōkai and evil yōkai. And some, while not evil, are pretty mischievous."
"Not so different from other god-sounding spirits I'm familiar with," Bakura said as he side-eyed Ryou. "But what's this got to do with this new 'nickname' you've come up with, which is basically you just cutting my name in half." He still hadn't opened the book.
"Well, what I found is…" Ryou took the book back and opened it to a page he had marked before and handed it back to Bakura as he pointed to the top. "This."
Bakura noticed the knowing smirk on Ryou. It wasn't as menacing as his own, but it did the trick. He always felt a tang of excitement whenever he saw it.
Just one more gaze towards Ryou before he finally looked at the book.
The page was titled Baku. Under it was the drawing of the strangest, most miserable-looking creature Bakura had laid eyes on. This thing had a big trunk and tusks protruding from its face, smaller than an elephant's but still recognizable as such. Sharp and yellow teeth, big claws on its paws. It had a mane around its neck which receded as it moved towards the creature's body which also seemed to be covered in spotted fur. And of course, to finish this thing off, it had the tail of a cow. What was this thing? It felt like the fusion of the leftovers of other animals. The eyes were just as off-putting as the rest of the creature. They screamed pain and vengeance to whoever fucking created it. Not even in his wildest dreams could he make something like this in a character creator from a video game.
"What the fuck is this?!"
Ryou chuckled. "That's a Baku."
"And this is why you've called me that?!" Bakura exclaimed as he pointed to the page. "That's fucked up, Ryou. Hurtful, even."
"Hey!" Ryou indignantly said. "Read what it says, you ass!"
Bakura turned back to the image of the odd creature and started reading its description.
The Baku is a devourer of nightmares, a guardian creature charged with protecting the vulnerable sleeper…
It is thought to be based on the Malayan tapir, a real animal from Southeast Asia, also called Baku and written with the same kanji. It was first written of in stories from China brought to Japan...
Their image and name are symbols of good luck and fortune and will keep bad dreams away...
Those were the highlights of the short passage but after reading most of it what really caught his attention was the next part:
While Baku are known to eat bad dreams, it is said that they consume all dreams, not just nightmares. Your dreams of aspirations, dreams of your future and dreams of hope, leaving you empty. So it is advised to call to the Baku sparingly.
He stopped reading after ingesting those last words. He frowned at their meaning. Bakura realized what Ryou had meant by calling him that. A Baku. Not just a shortening of his name. Not just a cute nickname; but more of a title. The same way Bakura had used "Landlord" all those years back.
"So… I'm your Baku. I am the creature that consumed all of your dreams. Good and bad." He turned to look at Ryou, who averted his eyes in a sad smile.
"It's a reminder," Bakura closed the book and slackened his arms. "Isn't it?"
This was Bakura's punishment. To always be reminded of what he did to Ryou. To always be seen as someone—something—that consumed his host's dreams, aspirations and hopes. He hadn't been just a dream eater. He had been a parasite. An all-consuming demon that would voraciously devour all of Ryou and leave nothing but a shell.
It hurt to think that Ryou was still preoccupied by those thoughts. He was more than justified to still see him that way, but it still hurt. But if he still saw him as this creature, why was he with him? Why had he accepted and forgiven him? Was he just pretending? If so, why was Ryou still suffering in silence because of him?!
Fucking Parasite! You're nothing but a—
"Here," Ryou said as he took the book back.
Bakura sat still as he looked to Ryou for answers, who was busy searching the page for a specific sentence. After finding it, he pointed at it with his slender finger and started reading aloud, "'There are various ways of summoning a Baku, but the most popular is to repeat 'Baku-san, come eat my dream' three times. If your request is granted, the Baku will devour the nightmare and it will never be seen again.'"
He looked at Bakura for some type of reaction but all he saw was the scowl dominating his features. Not really paying attention to what had been read.
"Bakura?"
Bakura didn't want to ignore Ryou but he could only focus on his eyes, searching for hidden blame and spite. To be called a parasite, a demon, a monster, a creature punished by the gods that deserved nothing but an eternity in oblivion.
Darkness is all you are. Darkness is all you attract.
Ryou sighed. The sun's warm glow on his skin had already died out to give dominance to the colder hues of the ever-changing images on the TV, making his skin reflect their frenetic rhythm.
"It is a reminder of what you did, yes. But it's also a reminder of what you are to me now… Baku-san." He paused when he saw Bakura's mouth twist slightly in distaste but continued, "You know, after what happened to Mom and Amane nothing was ever the same. I truly felt like I had no one. A small, lonely child who just wanted someone to be there." He looked away pensively and after a moment he chuckled. "I don't remember if I ever called on a Baku as a child, but I do remember wishing I wasn't alone anymore."
Bakura realized Ryou was talking about the times he had wished to "play games with his friends forever." What happened after that would change both of their lives forever. Bakura's supposed granted wishes—payment from a good tenant to his landlord. To Yadonushi-sama.
"But it was you that came to me," Ryou interrupted his musings. "All those years ago. It wasn't exactly what I was expecting—"
"That's a big fucking understatement."
Ryou gave another chuckle. "Might it be the understatement of… the millennium?" he offered with a smile to which Bakura reciprocated with a groan.
Ryou started giggling at his boyfriend's reaction more than at his own silly attempt of a joke.
"But…" He put his hand on top of Bakura's and said with conviction, "You came. When I had no one. It might not have been ideal, but I realize now that in your own odd and twisted way, you thought you were some sort of guardian. And no, you didn't consume 'bad dreams'; you took people's souls and... you almost consumed me."
You're an all-consuming demon. Nothing but a void.
"I'm—"
"Don't," he squeezed Bakura's hand. "Don't think I'm blaming you or throwing what you did in the past back in your face. I did pretty stupid mistakes myself. I kept trusting you and giving you chances. Heh, I kept calling on the hungry Baku. A desperate lonely child. Knowing it wasn't the wisest choice. But don't think I'm also excusing all the horrible things you did."
They stared at each other as Ryou still held onto Bakura's hand tightly and caressed the back of it with his thumb. Bakura unknowingly held his breath. Heart bouncing from his throat to his stomach, just waiting for whatever Ryou's next words would be.
I hate you. I will always—
Ryou exhaled quietly. "I'm trying to make you see how much you've changed. I want to remind you of everything good that you do to me. How happy you make me!" he smiled, but turned away at the last second, not wanting to see Bakura's eyes in fear he would let his own become overwhelmed. "How you keep consuming my living nightmare that is loneliness. You were my Baku then. And you are my Baku now."
Ryou let go of Bakura's hand, and finally regarding him held on to his cheek. He smiled warmly, never stopping his caresses.
Bakura got lost in those beautiful eyes. Were the Nile's waters ever as blue? Were his stolen gems ever as glossy? Was a scorpion's venomous sting ever as intoxicating? Had he ever felt himself being pulled towards something with such force he'd be disoriented to the point of losing control of his self, no longer wanting to resist the pull in fear of being torn in two? Maybe he had. When Zorc had been involved. But this time was different. This time losing himself didn't mean darkness, but light. This and every time he'd look into those eyes, he would let their light consume him and pull him from the oblivion he deserved. And every time he would wonder who or what had chosen him—a child abandoned by the gods—to be witness of something as divine as a devout smile from Ryou. His Ryou.
"And while most of what you consume now is the food in the refrigerator—"
Ryou's quip couldn't be finished when Bakura grabbed onto his face and kissed him as fast as he could muster. The blood in his veins, as red as his irises, would never make him feel as alive and with as much purpose as whenever he'd kiss Ryou's lips. The thrill and passion that would never be satiated without Bakura holding onto Ryou's body. Pulling him close to his own in what felt almost like desperation.
Bakura could still smell the dish soap in his hands as he held onto his boyfriend's face; he moved them to grab onto that beautiful and soft white mane. He massaged the scalp, once in a while pulling small tufts of hair. He savored the honey from Ryou's tea on his tongue. The sweet flavor a constant reminder of his loved one's sweet tooth.
Breathing meant nothing without Ryou. Feeling meant nothing without Ryou. Existing meant nothing without Ryou. This is what it meant to be alive.
Ryou moaned against Bakura as he climbed on top of him, straddling his thighs. Bakura kept achingly caressing Ryou's body, venturing under his clothing, touching the soft, precious skin with tender touches. After a few more seconds they slowly let go, still breathing each other's air as they looked into each other's eyes. A drying tear midway down Ryou's cheek before disappearing with the heat of their breaths.
"Baku-san, come eat my dream. Baku-san, come eat my dream," Ryou whispered, kissing Bakura's lips lightly.
"Baku-san, come eat my dream."
Bakura claimed those delicious, soft, reddened lips. In between kisses he said, "As you wish, Yadonushi-sama," dragging them both down on the sofa.
A show about motorcycles played on the TV and continued to be ignored the following hours.
—You ate a scary dream, so I'm not scared anymore—