Hello people! More ficcies! Fun, fun. I'm sure we're all overjoyed.

I am having trouble with muses right now, meaning I have NONE (sob!) so no interestingly funny conversations. Maybe…nah. Never mind. Ignore random ramblings.

Warning: YAOI! YAOI YAOI YAOI YAOI! Don't like, don't read. Umm…if limes are kissing, there's that, but no lemons. Just not my style. Pairings: Ryou/Malik for sure, maybe others later. I'm more likely to do a specific pairing if I am asked for it. Also, my randomness, as this story is basically a melting pot for all of my Ryou/Malik ideas.

Disclaimer: umm….why do we even need to do these things? I mean, isn't it obvious that none of us own Yugioh? If we did, I sure wouldn't be writing fanfics-I'd just put my ideas straight into the TV show. Wouldn't anyone? But then it couldn't be shown on Kids WB and stuff…oh well. Too bad.

Ok, I'll stop delaying and let you read now.

Chapter 1

The night was silent, seemingly calm and serene. But the darkness was simply a cover-a cover for many things. Underneath a blanket of darkness, many creatures lurked, some good-and some not.

Ryou had been unlucky there-he'd managed to run into the bad kind. At the moment, he was running down a narrow ally trying to escape from some thugs, and managing to get more lost every minute. Where was this? He didn't see anything familiar…who would have imagined that a simple evening walk could end like this?

He kept running, although he was almost completely exhausted. 'Have to try to find somewhere I recognize…'

Suddenly he tripped over some trash that had spilled onto the ground. He went flying forwards, landing facedown on the pavement. The gang of thugs slowly gathered around him as he slowly sat up. When he glanced up, the expression on Ryou's face was one of fear and pain, as well as exhaustion. There was nothing he could do to defend himself at the moment. All he could do was wait….

"Hehehe…what have we got here? A little freak with money. And what do we do with freaks, boys?" Their leader was big, with brown spiky hair and a tattoo. At his question, all the other thugs started laughing softly and advanced on the helpless boy.

Suddenly they stopped advancing. Ryou wasn't looking anymore, but he could tell because the footsteps had stopped. The young boy looked up hesitantly, wondering why his attackers had stopped.

He saw the silhouette of another person, a boy with long, slightly shaggy hair and a slim but muscular frame. Just from what Ryou could gather from the silhouette, this was the most handsome boy he'd ever seen. The shadowed figure looked very familiar…but from where? And who did it remind him of? He couldn't remember…maybe from one of Bakura's escapades. That would make sense-he often had vague recollections of his yami's exploits, but they were never quite real, almost like a dream.

The figure spoke. "Hey, what do you idiots think you're doing?" All right, that voice was definitely familiar. How odd. It was almost like he'd actually met this person. Usually memories of Bakura's adventures were vague and barely even more than a dream.

The thugs weren't really all that scared, though. Ryou thought that the boy had made a rash decision and would probably be beaten up for his trouble. If only he'd stayed home…but he'd had to get out for a while, he couldn't stand being around Bakura for much longer. His yami was very kind to him, if slightly insane, but he could be completely overprotective. Especially since Battle City for some reason, but he wouldn't tell Ryou why. Well, Bakura often kept secrets, so this wasn't especially unusual.

A big fight ensued, and Ryou watched with a horrified expression on his face. He didn't like violence of any form. But eventually the familiar stranger sent the bullies running. (Meaning I'm terrible at fight scenes but tend to put them into stories because what happens as a result is important somehow. Why do I do this to myself?)

The oddly familiar boy walked over to Ryou. The pale boy could now see that his rescuer had long blonde hair and very tan skin. He also held a thick golden rod. How had he managed to miss that before? On the end of the rod was a ball with…the eye of Horus on it? But only the millennium Items had that. Strange…was this another one? He couldn't seem to remember…it was almost as if the memory was blocked.

"Hey, you all right?" The unfamiliar person asked. He reached down to help Ryou up.

"Yes, thanks to you. Thank you." He looked deep into violet eyes. Why was his heart suddenly fluttering? "I'm sorry, but I don't think I know your name."

"You don't remember, I suppose. Well, it was your yami I'd met before…whatever. I'm Malik." So this was one of Bakura's friends. No wonder he looked vaguely familiar.

"You sure you're OK? Those guys didn't look like they were being friendly."

"Yes, I'm positive, Malik." Ryou had to smile here. This kind of treatment was exactly how Bakura would react.

"You sure that you're sure? You could come back to my place if you want…" well, that was an appealing idea. For some reason, Ryou wanted to get to know this boy better.

"I'm sure that I'm fine, but seeing your home sounds fine to me." Ryou smiled.

The older boy broke into a smile as well. "Great! It's just around the corner. Do you need to call anyone?"

"No, it's fine. Dad's away again, and Bakura needs to loosen up anyways. He's gotten overprotective recently." Somehow being with Malik made Ryou very relaxed and calm. He felt like he could tell the Egyptian anything. Wait…how had he known that Malik was Egyptian? But somehow, he was certain of it.

He barely remembered the walk to Malik's house, as he was absorbed in a mix of thoughts and conversation. (that I'm not gonna bore you with and I have no ideas for. They just get there somehow.)

Entering the apartment that Malik called home, Ryou saw a few small but cozy and well-furnished rooms. The kitchen was clean, although not perfectly neat, and the living room had a large comfortable-looking couch and a fair-sized TV. There was a door off to the right that looked as though it led to Malik's bedroom.

Malik walked in behind him and saw Ryou looking around at everything. "Like it?"

"Oh, it's wonderful." Ryou had been so absorbed in his observations that Malik's words had startled him. "So cozy. It feels like…home, actually. Except cleaner, as Bakura still seems to find a way to get in fights with the vacuum cleaner."

They both began to laugh, imagining the white-haired spirit trying to attack the vacuum cleaner with one of his many knives. It was a funny idea. (just think about it!)

Ryou was the first to calm down, with Malik close behind. Slowly they walked over to the sofa and both sat down, still chatting like old friends.

Eventually Malik asked, "Do you want to watch a movie or something?"

"Sure." Ryou replied. "That's fine with me."

So they picked out a movie. They ended up choosing The Grudge, as Ryou had never seen it and Malik said it was good. Malik set up the movie as Ryou found some popcorn. They both settled down on the sofa, which was every bit as comfortable as it looked, just as the movie began.

Ryou had been enjoying the movie so far. There were some scary parts, but for some reason they hadn't really bothered him all that much. Usually horror movies terrified him. Hmm…Oh well. It wasn't worth thinking about. Always, the movie probably wouldn't go on for too much longer. It looked like they had passed the middle and were approaching the end of the film.

Suddenly they came to the scene where Karen found the two bodies in the closet. Ryou practically screamed and immediately buried his face in Malik's side. He held on to the Egyptian tightly and refused to let go until Malik gasped out that he couldn't breathe. At that point he loosened his grip-slightly. Very slightly.

Malik could tell that the younger boy had been thoroughly startled, and he wrapped his arm around Ryou to help calm him down. Hmm-that the only reason? Malik jumped at the sudden voice in his mind.

/Marik…DON'T DO THAT! And what are you talking about? he asked, using the mental link that was shared by all yami and hikari pairs.

Well, lets see…you step into the middle of a fight just to help out a guy who you've never really met before…then you invite him home…THEN you wrap your arm around him…gee I wonder what I'm talking about!

/I DON'T like Ryou in that way, if that's what you're trying to say!

Whatever… His yami didn't sound convinced. Malik decided to drop it. He would never admit it, but he wasn't so sure that his yami wasn't right. (note the double negative people…he means that Marik's right)

Slowly, Ryou began to calm down, and they finished the movie in relative peace, although Ryou still never did let go of Malik's arm. Not that Malik minded….and not that he would admit that he didn't mind….

Eventually, long after all of the credits had run, Ryou glanced over at the clock. He gasped.

"Oh my. This late already? Bakura will be worried sick….I should really be going."

Malik finally had to admit it to himself-he didn't want to see Ryou leave. His yami had been right-he hated it when that happened. But Ryou couldn't feel the same way, not if he remembered anything at all of Battle City. Did he remember? He hadn't acted like he did…

"Oh, all right. It is getting late." Malik didn't say what else he was thinking, either: that it would be nice to have a yami who actually cared enough to worry when you got home late. His own spirit enjoyed teasing him more than watching out for him; in many ways, Marik was really more of a younger brother to him than a yami. Albeit an insane little brother….well, that worked. After all, how many people claimed that their younger siblings were fully sane?

Ryou had retrieved his coat and was standing by the door. Malik walked over and opened the door for him, bowing as a servant might to his lord. The pale boy giggled as he walked by.

Suddenly, Malik stood straight, pulling Ryou close to him as he did. The young boy gasped as he felt himself pulled into a tight embrace. He stiffened as he felt Malik's lips brush past his, but quickly relaxed. When a hesitant tongue brushed against his lips, he opened them, allowing the Egyptian to gain entrance to his mouth.

Their tongues danced as Ryou moaned gently into Malik's mouth. He felt so…comfortable, really. Even though he'd only just barely met Malik for the first time, the first time that he could remember at least, he felt like he belonged here.

They broke apart, both gasping for breath. Malik looked shaken. He looked down, seeming startled.

"Look, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"No, really, it's my fault-"

There was a long silence. Eventually, Ryou said, "I should get going." He walked slowly, calmly, still trying to figure out what had just happened. Suddenly, he found himself outside his own front door, and he walked inside.

Bakura jumped up. "Ryou! I was worried sick, where were you? Don't do that to me!" He hugged Ryou close to him. "Really, I was afraid that something had happened."

Ryou didn't answer. In fact, he seemed lost in a pleasant dream, as he had a slight smile on his face.

"Ryou….Hikari! Snap out of it!" Bakura waved his hand up and down in front of Ryou's face.

Ryou jumped, startled. "Oh, sorry, Bakura. What were you saying?"

"Where were you? You're acting strange."

"It's nothing." Ryou was pretty sure that Bakura wouldn't approve of him having spent the evening, and part of the night at least, with one of the thief king's old allies.

"No it's not. Remember the mind link? I can-and will-find out, especially if you don't want to tell me." Great. Ryou knew what that meant; Bakura would go through the memory of the evening if he didn't know at least some of what happened. Even when he knew that his yami meant well, it wasn't a pleasant process.

He told. Big surprise.

When he finished, Bakura looked at him, the spirit's eyes filled with worry. Manu thought that the 5000 year old spirit of a tomb robber was incapable of caring, but Ryou knew better. His yami really was like an older brother to him, so of course he would worry. That was just how things worked.

"Listen," Bakura said, his voice as troubled as his eyes. "I know Malik, as he told you. But-Ryou, he's not safe. Really. Even I don't trust him. Really-

"You should stay away from him."

Well, there we go. FINALLY finished with the first chapter! Took me a while too… I'm a slow typer.

Please press the pretty purple button and review! Flames will be used to warm my FREEZING fingers. Poor fingers….I can't type with gloves on. Maybe if I get many flames my feet can stay warm too…..hmmm…..