ACM: Yay! I'm on a role! Another chapter is complete but I totally revamped this one from what it used to be. I really hope you like it because I do. I also managed write a very short oneshot about three certain hikaris and their yamis. So read that too if you can find the time, I would really like to hear your opinions on it. In any case, please read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh...-sigh- ....

How to Forgive

Moving on and Letting Go

"Almost there..." Yugi mumbled as he placed the last card on top of the House of Cards that he was busily constructing.

It was early morning and school was going to begin in another ten minutes or so. Yami sat in the desk in front of Yugi and was watching his light curiously. Ryou was helping Yugi by handing him the odd card while finishing what was left of his homework and Bakura looked like he was falling asleep. Yugi managed to place the last card on top without making the house even shudder and smiled triumphantly. That is until Bakura, who everyone thought was asleep reached over and poked a bottom card causing the whole house to collapse and cards to flutter everywhere.

"Hey!" Yugi whined.

"What? You would've had to take it down anyway," Bakura said with a simple shrug and yawned.

"I know but you made a huge mess," Yugi grumbled as he got on his hands and knees and began cleaning up the fallen cards.

Ryou frowned and nudged his dark.

"What?" Bakura growled.

Ryou motioned towards Yugi and narrowed his eyes, "You make the mess, you clean it up," he said.

Bakura was about to protest but instead snarled and bent down to help Yugi grumbling as he did.

The room was beginning to fill with students save their three friends.

"Where are the others?" Yami wondered.

"Tea has a dance competition all day, and Joey and Tristan probably slept again," Yugi explained with a shrug.

"You know we should probably stop by the dance studio and watch Tea perform. I'm pretty sure her solo is one of the last, we should be able to make it once school's out," Ryou suggested.

Yugi nodded in agreement and noticed two familiar blonds stroll into the classroom. "Oh hey Malik and its Carrie right?" he called.

"Yup you got it," Carrie said with a smile and pulled a reluctant Malik over to the group.

"Good Morning, Yugi," he said.

"What happened here?" Carrie asked indicating to a few of the cards that were still sprawled on the ground. She bent down and picked up one card, "The Celtic Guardian...ah Duel Monsters," she said with a laugh and handed the card to Yugi.

"I was bored so I made a house of cards, it was a nice one too...that is until someone knocked it down," he said and glanced at Bakura.

"Wait a minute...Yugi is this MY deck?" Yami asked when he picked up a few of the cards and looked at them.

Yugi smiled sheepishly, "I left my deck at home, and I was going to be careful with it..."

"They're all over the floor!" Yami gaped.

"That's Bakura fault, not mine," Yugi insisted.

"Hey if I had known it was the Pharaoh's deck I would have blowtorched them," Bakura mumbled.

"They're just cards..." Carrie piped in then.

It was silent and everyone looked at her. She blinked, "They are, it's not the end of the world just brush off the dirt and all is good," she said and wiped the Celtic Guardian carefully with a handkerchief before handing it back to Yami.

"Yeah sure just cards..." Yami grumbled.

Everyone else in the group knew that there was way more to these cards then meets the eye. However; they weren't about to explain it all to Carrie...That would take nearly a day if she even believed them. In any case, after all the cards had been picked up, cleaned off and given back to a still rather upset Pharaoh everyone took their seats as class was about to begin.

"By the way Malik you should come with us to see Tea perform after school, you can come too Carrie," Ryou suggested.

"Uh well, I don't know..."Malik mumbled.

"I'd love to go," Carrie said, "come one Malik it'll be fun," she implored.

"Maybe..." Malik said quietly.

Just before the bell rang Joey and Tristan burst into the room. Both looked as though they had gotten dressed in five minutes. They stood panting by the door for a moment clearly they had to run all the way to school.

"Nice to see you two here on time," The teacher said breezily as he walked past them. "Take your seats please."

Joey and Tristan hurried to their seats and class began.

"You invited HIM?" Joey asked in alarm.

The bell announcing the end of school had rung only moments ago and the gang had gathered out in the schoolyard.

"Yes we did, you have a problem with that?" Bakura growled.

Joey backed away cautiously.

Carrie bounded over to the group dragging Malik along with her. "Come on it'll be fun," she insisted to the very hesitant Egyptian.

"I don't think I'm welcomed," Malik stated cautiously when he spotted glares emanating from Joey and Tristan.

"What do you mean--?" Carrie was beginning to ask but Joey interrupted her by stepping in between her and Malik.

"Exactly what he said, he's not welcomed," Joey announced. He turned to Carrie then, "Listen, this guy is bad news, he's evil," Joey told her.

Carrie blinked and glanced at Malik and then back at Joey. "Evil huh?" she wondered.

"Yeah," Joey confirmed.

"How evil?" she asked.

"Very evil and very insane," Joey said with a nod.

"Oh insane too..." she murmured and strolled over to Malik to examine him. She poked him here and there and shrugged, "So...he's evil..."

Malik blinked and looked at her curiously.

Joey nodded.

"And insane..."

This time both Joey and Tristan nodded. Yugi and Ryou just shook their heads, while Yami and Bakura looked very annoyed.

"Well then Malik we have something in common," Carrie announced.

"We do?" he asked looking very surprised and very confused.

"Yup, we're both insane!" Carrie cried.

"Huh?" the entire group said in unison.

"Oh come on," Carrie said and rolled her eyes, "everyone is a little bit insane in their own way, if we were all sane life wouldn't be as fun."

"Life also wouldn't be filled with suicide bombers, serial killers, and crazy dictators..." Tristan mumbled to himself.

Joey was left speechless for a moment as he thought over his next response. "Well...Malik still isn't welcomed, he's just a bad guy Carrie," Joey persisted.

Carrie shrugged, "Okay, well then tell me how the performance went and wish Tea good luck for me," she said.

"You've been invited too," Ryou piped in.

"I know but it wouldn't be fair to leave Malik out," Carrie said.

Malik glanced at Carrie in shock, "You don't have to stick up for me, go with them and have fun, I didn't really want to go anyway," he told her.

"For once Malik is right, stop defending him, he doesn't deserve it," Joey said and shot a glare at Malik who looked away.

"Hey guys we should probably get going or we'll miss Tea's solo," Yugi said quietly.

"You know Wheeler you are really starting to get on my nerves," Bakura growled and grabbed him roughly by the shoulder.

"It's Carrie's choice to defend who she wants," Yami mentioned.

"Uh guys..." Yugi tried again.

"The guy doesn't deserve it!" Joey shouted.

"Can I send this idiot to the shadow realm now?" Bakura inquired.

"EXCUSE ME!" Carrie yelled very loudly catching everyone's attention even the students that still remained in the school yard for whatever reason.

"Look I really don't get what's going on between you guys and Malik but it has nothing to do with me," she began. "All I know is that for the past week or so that I've hung out with him he's a pretty nice guy and you know what? His laugh is anything but maniacal or insane," she said glancing at Malik and smiled.

Malik blushed and looked away.

"But if you guy's hadn't been so busy arguing you would've realized that you're about to miss something very important," she said.

"Oh and what's that?" Joey asked.

"Duh, you're friend's performance. I heard Tea saying the other day she would really like to see you guys there. Are you going let some stupid fight get in the way and disappoint her?" Carrie wondered.

"N-no," Joey said sheepishly.

"Let's go or we'll be late," Ryou sighed.

"Are you coming, its fine with me if Malik comes," Yugi said to Carrie.

"No, but thanks Yugi, I have a feeling it will just be uncomfortable," she said and turned to Joey and Tristan. "I hope you guys will be able to see one day that Malik isn't the guy you say he is," she told them with a smile.

The two stared at her in silent shock before being dragged off by an insistent Ryou. After the group had left Carrie turned back to Malik.

"So, it's a Friday, what do you want to do?" she began, "maybe we can rent ten or so movies and stay up all night high on sugar and caffeine, or we could camp out in my backyard and roast marshmallows. My dad just set up a fire pit," she said excitedly.

Malik sighed, "You should've just gone with them, and you don't have to stay friends with me Carrie. If it means not being able to hang out with other people," Malik told her.

Carrie tilted her head to the side. "I would never hang out with people who leave others out for no good reason," she stated.

Malik was a left speechless again by her words. "Yugi and Ryou, they aren't like that," he finally said.

"Yes I know, and they're trying their best to be middle ground between you and Joey. I'm just doing my part, since no one else has taken that role yet," she told him.

"And what's that?" he asked.

"To be your friend," Carrie said simply with her infamous smile.

Malik grinned back, "Thanks," he murmured.

"No biggie, I like being your friend," she laughed. "So back to the big question: What should we do with our Friday?" she asked.

"How about the movie idea, I'm not fond of camping," he suggested.

Carrie frowned, "Well you obviously haven't been on one of my camping adventures," she said and the frown vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "But okay, movies it is!" she said. "My place or yours?"

"Well my place is nearby and there's a little strip mall a block away," Malik said with a shrug.

"Then it's decided," she grabbed Malik's hand again and lead him away from the school. They walked for a little while before she stopped. "Um...maybe you should lead," she said with a sheepish grin.

Malik couldn't help but laugh and lead the rest of the way to his house.

----------

Eventually Malik and Carrie arrived at the front door of Malik's home. They had taken a detour and went to the strip mall to pick up some movies, some sugar, chocolate, pop and whatever else that would keep them awake until early the next morning. Malik unlocked the door and allowed Carrie to step inside before him.

"Seto is that you?" they heard someone call from the kitchen.

Malik felt his heart clench and he cleared his throat nervously. "No Ishizu, it's me," he answered.

Ishizu appeared in the hallway look surprised. "Oh, I thought it was Seto..." she murmured.

There was a quiet moment that could only be defined as awkward as the two Egyptian siblings stood motionless, neither looking each other in the eye.

"Hi," Carrie suddenly piped up breaking the silence.

"Uh..." Malik shifted from one foot to the other, "Ishizu this is Carrie, a friend from school," he explained.

"Nice to meet you," Carrie said and reached over to shake Ishizu's hand.

Ishizu smiled, "it's nice to meet you too," she said.

Another awkward moment ensued after that before Malik suggested that they set up for their long night. Ishizu led Carrie into the kitchen where she could get some bowls and glasses while Malik went into the living room to set up the DVD player.

"Good looks must run in the family," Carrie commented as she and Ishizu fiddled about in the kitchen.

"Pardon?" Ishizu inquired.

"Well you're just so pretty," Carrie laughed. "I'm kinda jealous," she admitted.

A hint of pink coloured Ishizu's cheeks. "Well thank you," she said and laughed a little too.

"So are you and Malik still fighting?" Carrie wondered. "Oops, sorry I should probably butt out, never mind," she said hastily.

Ishizu was quiet for a moment, "No it's alright," she finally said. "You're right Malik and are...still fighting, it's rather complicated," she explained.

Carrie nodded as she placed two bowls on the kitchen table; one filled with popcorn the other with potato chips. She observed that on the table lay a picture and she picked it up to examine it.

"Awe, is this you and Malik?" she asked.

Ishizu turned quickly and realized what she was holding. "Uh yes it is..." she muttered.

"You're both so cute, what game were you playing?" she asked.

"Oh, I can't remember," Ishizu admitted.

Carrie smiled fondly at Ishizu and returned the picture to her. "I can tell that Malik really loves you. I hope you two make up soon," she said.

"Yes, I suppose he does," she sighed and looked at the picture sadly.

"Of course he does, can't you tell? In the picture he isn't looking at the camera, he's looking at you," Carrie said and exited the kitchen with both of the bowls.

"Are you ready?" Carrie asked placing the bowls on the coffee table carefully.

"Ready as I'll ever be...are you sure we're going to get through all these movies?" Malik wondered indicating to the stack of DVDs on the floor.

"Of course," she confirmed, "I'll keep you awake," she assured him.

Malik shook his head but didn't argue.

Ishizu came into the room then. "Malik I'm going to pick Odeon up from the airport and then head over to Seto's again tonight..." she said and trailed off searching for the right words. "Will you two be alright on your own?" she finally asked.

"Yup I'll keep him in check, don't worry," Carrie announced.

"I think it'll be the other way around," he murmured and rolled his eyes.

"Odeon will be home later tonight," Ishizu said and hesitated, "have a good time," and she exited the room and Malik stared after her in slight surprise.

"Carrie was right," Tea sighed in annoyance.

"What do you mean?" Tristan asked.

"Well I'm happy you guys came to see me dance, but Yugi told me what happened and I'm a little disappointed," Tea explained.

"Why's that?" Joey wondered.

Yami shook his head and wondered how his best friend could be so slow.

Bakura let out an annoyed snarl becoming tired of the conversation already.

Yugi and Ryou decided listened half-interested; the argument was becoming old and pointless.

"Carrie was right," Tea repeated, "you two are so blind and immature, I can't believe you treated her and Malik like that," she said exasperatedly.

"Malik has changed," Yami repeated for the umpteenth time that week.

"Allow me to point out the fact that he hasn't blown up anything or attempted to kill anyone since he's been here," Bakura said gruffly.

"Oh and like you haven't either?" Yami laughed.

"Hey, the school should've known better than to allow me near so many dangerous chemicals and that salesman deserved it, he wouldn't leave me alone!" Bakura protested.

Ryou shook his head but couldn't help but grin, poor salesman; he was now spending his days in a nice little padded room thanks to the ancient thief.

"Thank you for proving my point by the way," Tea said, "you're treating Malik unfairly," she told Tristan and Joey.

"You know I think they're right Joey," Tristan said finally faltering from their side of the argument.

"Hallelujah!" Bakura shouted sarcastically.

Joey stared at Tristan but in his eyes there was also a sign of giving in. "I just...I just don't know guys," he mumbled.

"Why are you having such a hard time with this?" Yami asked.

"I don't know..." Joey sighed. "Maybe...maybe you were right about him taking control of me and that I'm still holding a grudge against him for that. It's not something easy to forget you know," he explained.

"I can't imagine that it is," Ryou said sympathetically.

Tea nodded, "I was in your shoes once Joey and I was scared of him too, but you have to let it go," she said.

"I know..." Joey muttered.

"We know it's hard but try and find a way to let it go," Yugi sighed.

Joey nodded hesitantly.

Yami patted Joey on the back and said, "Just let it go."

"Odeon!" Ishizu called over the crowd.

The Domino Airport was busy as usual with throngs of people coming and going. Planes were arriving and departing. Countless languages chattered and called. There were a few sprinters who were late for their flight and others milled about by the seating areas and the cafe.

Odeon as tall as he was spotted Ishizu easily and he made his way through the crowd and eventually he arrived beside her with a chuckle. "This is one thing I don't believe I will ever get used to," Odeon sighed indicating to the business of the airport.

"I'm afraid that this is just the beginning my friend, but it grows on you," Ishizu laughed.

The two embraced, anyone would have guessed that they were siblings or related in some way.

After Odeon's bags had been collected the two Egyptians made their way to the parking lot where one of Kaiba's limos waited.

"He's been treating you well," Odeon commented when he spotted the sleek and fancy limo.

Ishizu blushed.

"How are things?" Odeon pried.

"They've been going well," Ishizu said and smiled.

The two climbed into the limo and the driver placed the bags in the trunk. He strolled around to the driver's side, got in and started up the vehicle.

"How is Malik?" Odeon inquired.

Ishizu smile left her face and she looked away, "He's well," she murmured.

"Are you two still having problems?" Odeon asked with concern.

"Yes, we haven't spoken much since we arrived," Ishizu replied.

"I thought you've forgiven him," Odeon sighed.

"Yes...I have, I know that deep down I have...it's just that," Ishizu trailed off and desperately tried to find the right words. "I'm just ashamed for the way I have been acting," Ishizu sighed.

Odeon placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I'm sure you will find the strength to face him again," Odeon reassured her.

"Yes, I just hope that when I do he hasn't given up on me by then," she said quietly.

"Seto if Mokuba ever committed a crime would you forgive him?" Ishizu wondered.

She had just dropped Odeon off at her home and couldn't bear to face her brother again with Odeon with her. She strolled over to the couch and sat down beside him.

The blue eyed CEO of Kaiba Corps glanced at his girlfriend curiously. "That's an odd question..." he began.

"If Mokuba did something awful but in the end admitted he was wrong and asked for forgiveness, would you take him back into your arms?" Ishizu continued.

Kaiba thought for a moment and shifted his position on the couch. He cautiously placed his hand on Ishizu's, his movements hesitant and calculated. They had been dating for a while but having a partner was still new to him and at times he wasn't always sure how to act.

"This is about Malik isn't it?" he asked finally.

Ishizu said nothing but Kaiba knew he was right.

"Yes I would because Mokuba is all I have and it's only fair, since I have done some things that I'm not proud of," Kaiba answered.

Ishizu sighed, "I feel so ashamed and embarrassed, I'm not sure if I can face Malik. What should I do Seto?" she asked.

Kaiba shifted uncomfortably, "Look I still consider him to be a freak that crashed my tournament," he stated.

"Yes..." she sighed.

"But he's your brother and if you decide to forgive him then I'll go along with it," Kaiba added.

Ishizu looked at the millionaire in slight shock. "You will?" she asked.

"I won't like it," he said, "but I'll go along with it," he grumbled.

"You know if horror movies scare you so much why did you rent one?" Malik asked and peered down at Carrie, who was huddled up against him hiding her eyes with a pillow.

"I thought you might like them better than chick flicks," she mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.

She was right; Malik did prefer action, horror, or adventure movies over the average chick flick but that didn't mean she had to give herself nightmares just for him. The movie came to a close finally save a surprise ending that caused Carrie to gasp. Malik rolled his eyes it wasn't that shocking.

"Phew! That was so freaky..." Carrie commented.

"Why don't we watch a comedy," Malik suggested.

"Good idea..." she agreed.

Malik flicked on the lamp on and moved to the pile of DVDs that lay on the floor in front of the television. He picked one and held it up, "How about this one?" he asked it was the first Rush Hour movie.

"Sure," Carrie said and giggled.

"What?" Malik asked.

"You have popcorn kernel right here," she said and pointed to the corner of her own mouth.

Malik touched the opposite corner of his mouth, "Did I get it?" he wondered.

Carrie laughed a little louder and scooted off the couch, she wiped the side of the mouth the kernel had been on gently. "There, it's gone," she said.

Before she could say anything more Malik grabbed her wrist tenderly and pulled her closer to him.

"Malik?" she asked in sudden confusion.

He leaned in close, the tips of their noses brushed against each other for a moment and he breathed in her scent. Carrie flushed when their lips almost touched.

"Malik?"

He let out a sigh and let go of her wrist but did not lean back. "Rush Hour right?" he breathed.

Carrie blinked and pulled at the edges of her skirt shyly. "Uh yeah..." she mumbled.

Malik turned away and popped the movie into the DVD player.

"I think we should throw a party for Malik," Ryou announced.

"Excuse me?" Bakura inquired.

"A party, invite everyone and maybe if we all have a good time and get along well..." Ryou explained but trailed off.

"It's a little risky since Ishizu still doesn't seem to be accepting Malik back, and Joey is still not sure if he wants to either," Yami stated.

"I think it's a good idea," Yugi said.

"It can be a surprise that the guest of honour is Malik, that way everyone will be sure to show up," Ryou suggested.

The two spirits glanced at each other warily and then back at their lights. The party could have two outcomes; either it would be another step to forgiveness or lead Malik further down the road of despair.

----

ACM: There! Woopie! Haha even a little suspense in there for ya! Oh by the way if you're confused last chapter by "DOTS" the other screen name I use for a different sight I apologize. I accidently used that instead of ACM and I've been too lazy to change it.