A/N: Wow, I thought I would get absolutely no reviews for this fic. To be honest, I thought my whole plot bunny was rather ludicrous. And there's one other thing I think I should explain.

In my eyes, Marik is the twisted psycho yami that came from and played upon Malik's desire to see and be in the outside world. Only this desire was so strong that Marik was easily able to manipulate him and take control of his body and do the things he did.

Malik, on the other hand, is the good, kind person who tried to stop his yami from doing things when he could. But because Marik had taken such complete control, there was very little he could do and watched helplessly from the confines of his consciousness.

Yeah, so that's my reckoning behind the whole Marik/Malik thing. And that's the one I am sticking to.

And because I like to, I'm replying to reviews!

Seagirl: Thanks. I am continuing, much to my friend's delight, and probably yours now, as well.
Hikari-neko: Yeah, I know. Poor Malik-kun. I wanted to do something a bit different for a Malik fic that didn't have him paired with Marik, or Yuugi, etc.
dakangal322: Thank you. Hope you like this chapter as well.
Star Girl11: Thanks! I mightn't be able to update with as much frequency as I would like. So I update whenever I can get a free moment. Since I do write things out on paper and then type them up, it can take me a bit. Ishizu will be showing up a bit in the fourth chapter. And Rishid (yeah, I'm not too fond of his dub name either; every time I hear it, I think 'Cineplex Odeon') shows up in this chapter. Yay!! *blows a party whistle*
dark angel5221: Oh, don't worry; Malik will eventually catch up with everything. I think being in a coma due to a crazy yami for five years is enough to deal with. ^__^

Resurrection

Chapter Three

"All right Malik, all you have to do is raise your arm up slowly. The weight is only five pounds."

Malik tried not to scowl at the man who was giving him a rather patronizing smile. He was not some child who was sulking for no apparent reason. It would be much better if he were talked to like a rational adult. But he raised his right arm up, slowly like asked.

"See? That wasn't so hard, was it?" the man beamed at him.

'Oh, just go and leave me be.' The sour thought flitted across Malik's mind. He had started the physiotherapy a month ago. And according to this bimbo, he was making excellent progress. It seemed like nothing short of a miracle to the doctors that he could walk around his room with a cane now. But it was only his room, and they made the world's biggest fuss over it.

And they kept saying it was strange how his muscles didn't atrophy. So what if they didn't shrivel up like raisins. Perhaps it was Osiris' way of saying he should leave and get back to life. Saying that he knew how much time had passed, while Malik conversed with him in the Hall of Judgement. Malik sighed as he lowered his arm and raised his left one, with a weight clutched in his fist. He truly couldn't wait to get out of the hospital. If anything, it was so that he could get away from this infuriating person here.

"All right then, Malik," the man chirped. "You're almost done your set for the day. I bet you can't wait to get back to your room huh?"

Malik simply grinned and nodded his head, raising his right arm again. If it got him away from here, he wasn't one to complain.

"Not many people even have that new platform you got. It's only been released in America."

Again, Malik nodded his head. He lowered his right and raised his left.

"You're not very talkative, are you?" the man said, cocking his head slightly.

'Perhaps because you provide very superficial conversation.' Malik smiled slightly at that thought. He hoped Ryou came by again today. Ryou, Yuugi and Shizuka visited him the most, since they were living in the area. Jounouchi was back in the Amazon basin, surrounded by Ra knew what creepy crawlies. Mai had to leave to start shooting some new film, while Otogi headed off to Italy for some big promotion round. Seto was probably buried deep in his work and couldn't be bothered to come. Not that he wanted to see Seto.

"All right. Good job today!" the man beamed. "Make sure you use that hand flexor I gave you. And try walking around your room a bit more if you feel up to it."

Malik simply nodded his head and placed the weights down. Sure his muscles didn't shrivel, but they hadn't been used much in a long time. And it ached slightly after workouts. It had been much worse when he had started initially. After his first session, he had sunk into his bed and tried, adamantly, to refuse going back t he next day. But Yuki, in all of her gentle kindness, stuck him in the wheelchair, strapped him in and carted him down to the therapy room.

He still didn't know which one was worse. Yuki, or this inane bubble headed man who was giving him back full use of his limbs. He sighed as the door opened on cue and Yuki came in with a wheelchair. He eased himself into it gratefully, not even looking back as he was wheeled out. He always felt relieved when he left that room.

"How did your session go today?" Yuki inquired.

"It went well," Malik said.

"Good. You're making great progress. I wouldn't be surprised to see you gone from here in three months."

"Really?" that honestly surprised him; every time he asked his doctor, Belved, when he could leave, all he got was a vague reply.

Yuki nodded. "You must really want get out of here. Or get away from the doctors. All they keep babbling about is you as the 'miracle patient'."

Malik chuckled slightly at that. "You have no idea. What's for dinner tonight?"

"Tonight's menu is rice with some vegetables and roasted chicken."

"Chicken?" Malik asked in disbelief. "Did you say chicken?"

"Yes." Yuki grinned at him. "Happy?"

"If it means no more gruel-"

"Cream of wheat, cornmeal and couscous do not constitute 'gruel', Mr. Istar." Yuki admonished in a stern voice.

"As you wish." Malik said in a nonchalant voice. "Is there going to be rice pudding with that?"

"How did you know?"

"Lucky guess." Malik said with a shrug. "The rice pudding I actually like."

Yuki smiled with a shake of her head. "Yes, there is rice pudding." She paused. "Have you given any thought as to what you wish to do once you get out of here?"

"No." Malik said quietly. "I haven't."

"Oh." Yuki didn't say anything for a moment. "Well, I brought your dinner up before I came to get you."

"Thank you." Malik said as he gazed at his folded hands.

Nothing but silence filled the hallway as Malik was wheeled back to his room. When Yuki paused, he reached forward and opened the door, snagging his cane that rested against the jamb. She pushed him in, bringing the chair to a halt abruptly. Malik looked back at her puzzled.

"Who are you? Another one of his friends? Visiting hours are from two to five. It's now five thirty. He's about to eat his dinner, so I suggest that you leave."

Malik looked to see a figure against the wall that pushed off and stepped forward. He felt his heart stop for a moment, taking in the tattoo and distant expression in the eyes. Rishid.

"It's all right Yuki," Malik said in a slightly hoarse voice. "He won't be disturbing me at all."

"But, visiting hours are over and-"

"Please Yuki?" he looked at her hopefully. "Can you make an exception this one time?"

"I don't know…" Yuki said hesitantly. "Just what is his relation to you anyways?"

"I'm his brother." Rishid said solemnly.

Yuki looked between the two of them before she sighed. "All right. But don't breathe a word of this to Belved."

Malik nodded his head. Belved was far more stringent about things than Yuki was. "Thank you, Yuki."

"Not at all." Yuki sniffed with a frown as she regarded Rishid. "If you need anything, simply press your button. And make sure you eat everything on your plate."

"When haven't I?" Malik queried.

"Touché." Yuki smiled at him, but it disappeared. "Remember, just press the button."

Malik watched as Yuki left the room, shutting the silently behind her. Then he looked back at Rishid. The years had been a bit kinder to him. He had put on a bit more weight; it looked like muscle from his vantage point. His face was more lined, more weather beaten. And his skin was even darker, a deep burnished copper colour, but the tattoos still stood out. His expression, which had been distant, now looked pained, joyous, and uncertain.

Grasping his cane, Malik stood up from the wheelchair. Rishid moved forward to help him.

"No, don't. I'm fine, thank you…brother." Malik made his way over to the bed and sat down.

Rishid nodded and sat down in the chair by the bed, an awkward look on his face. "Have you just finished your therapy for the day?"

Malik nodded. "It would be nice if my therapist, and some of the doctors, would stop fawning and simpering over me." He paused seeing the puzzlement in Rishid's eyes. "I am something of a resident miracle here in the hospital."

"Ah," Rishid nodded his head slowly, pressing his fingertips together, a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I see you have something to keep yourself occupied." His eyes flickered to the console that was hooked up to the TV.

"Yes," Malik looked at it. "They all bought it for me."

"By 'they' do you mean-"

"I do. They all came to visit me when I woke up. Yuugi rounded them all up." Malik paused before he reached under his pillow, drew out the book and held it up. "Though I much prefer this to that."

"You hide it under your pillow?" Rishid's eyebrow arched in amusement.

"Yuki threw a fit when she found the platform. But she set it up for me. She might go livid and forbid Ryou from visiting me if she knew I was up late reading a book he brought me." Malik pushed it back into it's cushioned grotto. "I've been wondering about Isis."

"Only Isis?" Rishid asked quietly.

"I'd rather not think about you. I almost kil- I mean, he almost killed you by my hand."

"Brother, I forgave you the moment I realized the truth of the situation. I know that it is not your fault."

"Isn't it? I managed to stop him from attacking others. But I couldn't stop him from attacking you, my own kin? You are lucky that something drew his attention away from his…task." Malik said the word with extreme distaste.

Rishid didn't say anything for a moment. "Perhaps he knew how heavily it would weigh in you mind. The simple possibility alone distresses you enough."

Malik didn't say anything, pulling the book out and stroking the cover slowly. It always helped to calm him down. He certainly didn't want to have another hysterical fit and need another shot of valium. After a few moments, he looked up at Rishid.

"How have you been?"

Rishid shrugged lightly. "Better than before I can say. I still guard the tomb, but it has become something of an closed off archaeological site."

"Others have been in there?" Malik asked, torn between horror and pride.

"Well…yes." Rishid said. "It is kept, preserved by me. It is our property and as such, we have exclusive rights to it. But it has been declared a national treasure by the Egyptian government. However, the only people there are Ishizu, and myself as well as the few archaeologists that are permitted access. And that, I can assure you, is few and far between. We still live there, if you wonder."

"Our home has been declared a national treasure?" Malik asked in amazement. "Is that part of the reason why you didn't come sooner?"

Rishid nodded. "It has been preserved since the days of the Pharaoh. According to the archaeologists, it is a find of one in a billion. Running and supervising it is something of a full time task; grave robbers still exist in this day and age."

Malik gave a slight chuckle. "Why doesn't that surprise me? But it's always been home to me. So long as I can still stay there every once in awhile." He paused for a moment. "How come Ishizu didn't come with you? Doesn't she wish to see me?"

Rishid didn't say anything for a moment. "She does brother, have no doubt. But Ishizu couldn't come herself due to certain…reasons."

A sound of disgust came from the back of Malik's throat. "First Yuugi and the others act strange when I ask for my sister. And now you sit here, a month later, telling me that she didn't come due to certain reasons. Why won't anyone simply tell me why she hasn't come to see me yet?"

"Brother," Rishid said heavily. "It is better for you to see her yourself once you get out of here. Necessary arrangements are being made so she can stay here comfortably with you here in Domino City."

"Necessary arrangements?" Malik's voice was more than a little incensed. "And do you see fit to tell me what the necessary arrangements are?"

Rishid didn't say anything for a moment. "You shall see once you leave here."

Malik didn't reply for a good five minutes, feeling slighted. "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No," Rishid said a bit startled. "I can wait until I leave to-"

"Nonsense." Malik scoffed as he pressed the button.

Yuki was there almost immediately, puffing from a red, winded face. "Yes?"

"Is it possible," Malik began without laughing, somehow; Yuki looked like she was about to burst. "That my brother can get some dinner as well?"

Yuki nodded and promptly disappeared. When she rematerialized a few minutes later it was with another sealed plate. She handed it over to Rishid, who took it with a thankful nod of his head. Then Yuki turned her gaze to Malik.

"You," her voice was accusatory. "Haven't eaten yet."

"Ah…" Malik trailed over, simply nodding his head.

"And why not?" Yuki demanded.

"Well, I was talking to Rishid." Malik offered. "And-"

"Malik Istar, I do not care if your brother is here. You will eat your dinner. When I come back in an hour to take this away, you both," she swung her gaze at Rishid pinning him with a hard look. "Will be done eating. Have I made myself clear?"

Malik and Rishid both nodded their heads in agreement. Yuki looked at them both one final time before she promptly left t he room. Rishid didn't move for a few moments, a strange smile on his lips. Malik looked at him quizzically, and was startled by the sudden, loud laugh that filled the room.

"Well, it's no small wonder you've been getting better so quickly." Rishid managed as his shoulders shook with laughter. "Look at your nurse!"

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