Temptation One: Are you?
-grins sheepishly- I kinda had the Yamis stick around after the series was over, separate bodies and such. I know it didn't happen or anything, but it's more fun:D
Disclaimer: I own nothinnngg…I wish I owned---
Malik: clobbers Save it!
Me: Oh I will…
Atem: Hey, when do I get my cameo?
Me: I don't really know actually…
Atem: Well, that's dumb
Me: You are the one who is dumb!
"Huh? No its okay, Joey calm down!" Yugi waves his hands in front of his face apologetically and Joey stepped back from his almost fighting stance, fists clenched, sleeves rolled up in preparation to shed blood. He scratched his head and grinned sheepishly at the Egyptian who a few seconds ago, he had looked like he wanted to pummel.
"Yeah sorry about that, no hard feelings right man?"
A smile carved its way slowly onto Malik's tanned features, the expression almost painful to bear. Why was he smiling at these people? He should be on his knees, begging for forgiveness. But what was he supposed to say? 'Sorry for possessing your friends and trying to kill you, oh and by the way sorry for trying to take over the world, sending your friends to the Shadow Realm….etc etc'? But he didn't say that, he didn't grovel, he didn't burst into tears, he didn't beg for punishment he so deserved….no, instead, he said:
"…No, it's fine."
Yugi smiled, the fool. What idiot befriends one of their worst enemies? Next thing he knew, he'd be inviting Bakura and him over to watch Steel Magnolias.
"Oh, by the way, I think Bakura's meeting us at the pizza joint, Ryou's dragging him along."
For the love of Ra.
"Want to tag along?"
Malik simply shrugged, waiting for them to leave when Joey slapped his palm hard on his shoulder, surprising him. He threw his arm around Malik's shoulders and pulled him close in a friendly [if one could call it that headlock.
"C'mon man! I'll treat ya, I owe you for all those falafels back in Egypt, don't I?"
Malik looked up at him, confused.
"You do?"
"Um…maybe I shouldn't have reminded you."
Malik smiled, genuinely this time. Maybe he could delay his groveling for a bit, the other's seemed to have forgotten for now.
He felt…warm. Accepted, wanted. Maybe it was a ploy. Maybe they were going to beat him up in an alley or something…he wouldn't put it past Joey. Well… if they were planning something, they were doing a damn good job of hiding it.
He relaxed slightly as Joey released his hold on the teen and punched him playfully on the shoulder. The hell with it, if he was going to get ambushed, he'd like to get ambushed with a smile.
He had it coming, he knew. He would enjoy these few moments, the sun on his face, walking down the smooth streets with two kids who wanted him around. Maybe secretly wanted him dead, but there was still want in the thought.
Want. Desire. Yearning. For death, for finality, for forgiveness…what was he doing here anyways? In this loud place, so far away from the dunes of home…searching for forgiveness, trying to..what was the word?
A smile cracked his lips as he laughed at one of Joey's crude jokes.
To atone.
Ah, that was it.
The pizza joint Joey had been raving about was a small place that smelled of tomato sauce and grease, the booths small and cramped, their seats the color of rust. Salt and pepper shakers dotted the white tables, napkins piled neatly on their sides.
It was…quaint.
Malik spotted a certain snowy haired thief in one of the booths, his almost-twin hikari blabbing his ear off about something or other.
"Bakura!" Malik waved at him and got a glare that could melt eyeballs in return.
"Didn't expect to see you here, Tomb Keeper."
"Same to you, Bakura"
Ryou waved enthusiastically and scooted over to allow the Tomb Keeper somewhere to sit while Joey and Yugi placed their orders at the counter up front.
"How have you been, Malik?" the hikari asked, leaning over the table to greet him. Malik shrunk back a bit, Ryou's odd behavior somewhat scaring him. The kid was cute to the core, but ever so creepy.
"Erm..fine, really." He responded, shrinking into his seat as Bakura smirked across the table from him, obviously enjoying watching him squirm.
"Why did you come back here anyways?" the thief threw him an accusing look, his chestnut eyes searching Malik's violet orbs for an answer.
"Well, I wanted to start over, I thought I could go back to scho—"
"Liar," Bakura cut him off, grinning horribly. Malik had thought his cover story would work, but he hadn't counted on the yami being in their company.
"Look at you, it doesn't take a genius. Your energy is weak, pitiful. Your presence is almost as weak as my hikari's here."
"Hey!" Ryou objected, only to be ignored by Bakura who was currently making Malik wishing the Shadow Realm would swallow him up.
"You didn't think…that if you came back, crawling on your hands and knees, they'd let you back in? Accept you? What did you do, come here seeking forgiveness?"
Bakura spat the last word as if it were a piece of moldy food in his mouth and then bust into maniacal laughter. "You aren't really sorry, are you? God you are PITIFUL! What would Marik say if he were here?"
Suddenly a sharp pain spread throughout his forehead, it felt like his head was slowly imploding. He doubled over and grabbed his hair, Bakura's laughter still ringing through the resteraunt.
Yes, Malik, what would I say? Well, we really don't need to guess. You can just ask me.
Malik stood suddenly, his eyes wide and resembling that of a startled doe.
"Hes…you're…"
That's right baby, I'm back. Miss me?