A/N: To avoid confusion because I don't really know if it's obvious enough:

Sorcery Chance – Yugi
Wolf Bite – Joey
Azure Magicmancer – Tea

I had to read through this story before I could start working on it again and I'm just wondering why no one has accused me of being a lunatic because of my weird a/n's and disclaimers. I actually do kind of remember deciding I'd do a really batshit disclaimer for each chapter because it gets really boring seeing the same ones over and over but still omg I'm such a weirdo.

Disclaimer: Not mine. (Lol I'm a hypocrite.)

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Malik (Fast Fist?) was in one of those moods where nothing was going right and all he wanted was to beat his head against the wall until he was in a coma. (Coma diets are magic. He'd lose so much!) He found himself, instead, touching ground on the dumpster by the record store where he sometimes left his stuff before school. It was smelly and disgusting, but also isolated and quiet and that's what he wanted.

Before he could do much thinking, a high-pitched voice called out to him from the opening of the alleyway.

He turned and saw the big, sweet eyes of Domino's own Sorcery Chance.

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"Lookie here, pal," Sorcery Chance began, his short arms crossed and his body set in a proud, heroic stance. "We've got some things to talk about with you!"

A deep growl that was a lot less menacing than it should have been given Malik's 'I could totally go for murdering a helpless child right now' mood rolled from the tall figure behind Sorcery Chance. "Sorce, lemme handle this clown. I'll take him out right here and we'll get this settled tonight."

The pair seemed to be alone, missing the female of the trio. Malik briefly wondered where she was before he remembered that he didn't care. Sorcery Chance and his companion, the tall, slender dog-based hero named Wolf Bite were a big enough inconvenience without the obnoxious, large-breasted Azure Magicmancer to stink up the alley worse than the dumpster.

Malik eyed the two heroes, an eyebrow raised even though they couldn't see. He let out a sigh. "Guys, I'm really not in the mood for this tonight, so if you don't mind, fuck off."

"No way Fast Loser, you're not getting away that easy," Wolf Bite said, his brash insult sounding even more stupid with his accent thrown in.

Sorcery Chance looked at his companion. "Well, if he's having a bad night, maybe we should just go and see if he wants to talk later. I mean it's not like he's doing anything wrong…"

Sometimes Malik wondered how people as naiive as this kid made it through natural selection. Technically, he should have been grateful for the kid's kindness, but honestly the scene unfolding before him was the very reason he and Lynx had been so successful in their mission. The heroic trio was pretty much just a joke.

"Exactly. I'm seriously just sitting here. What the hell do you guys want?" Malik hopped off the dumpster and brushed off his bum.

"We want answers," Sorce said, ignoring the defensive stance Wolf Bite took at his side. WB was loyal, just like his themed creature, standing at his master's side and waiting for the command to go. Malik pondered fleetingly why the two were so close before he once again remembered that he really didn't care that much.

"And we have a proposal."

His interest was a little bit piqued by the last part, but he didn't let it show. "Answers to what?"

"Do you know who is causing all this mischief, Fast Fist?" The look in Sorcery Chance's eyes was serious, but hopeful. Maybe he thought Malik was jealous of whoever was stealing the spotlight from him—jealous enough to rat him out.

"Maybe. What does it matter? It's not like you guys could do anything about it even if you knew," Malik wore a proud smirk, and if his hair was down, he would have flipped it sassily.

"Why I oughtta—!"

Sorcery Chance cut WB off with an outstretched hand, and the dog stopped barking, steaming quietly at his master's flank.

"So that means you don't know who it is," he stated, his childlike voice sounding much too grave to fit his personality. Maybe he had a small amount of brains after all, but it took some digging to get it out.

Malik stayed silent, leaning against the dumpster coolly.

"Well, do you want to help us find out?" Sorcery Chance asked the question much too casually, wolf Bite tense at his side, like he would pounce at any second and rip the Egyptian villain up with his bare hands.

"And what do I get out of this little deal?" He asked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Sorcery Chance smiled, though there was something behind it. Shame, maybe. "We won't bother you for three months. You can do whatever you want, as long as no one is physically injured. Does that sound good?"

Malik let the alley fall silent for a long time, until he noted a decent amount of nerves building up in Sorcery Chance's eyes—the only part of his body aside from his mouth that was visible through his costume.

"Look kid," he began, a small smile on his lips. He let the words out eerily calmly and quietly, echoing through the alley: "I don't know what kind of traitorous shit you may be, but don't you dare think that I would ever take part in your little preschool triad. Fuck you both, and don't ever talk to me again."

Malik had already started willing himself off the ground, and with that, he left the two heroes with egg on their faces, his mood slightly lifted knowing he'd showed them up.

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First period wasn't for another hour, but Malik found himself fully dressed in the same pants he'd worn the day before and a baggy t-shirt that he'd changed into for dinner the previous night, walking up the stairs leading to the school.

Since he had that excuse about having to leave home early and he'd stayed out so late, he didn't see the need in going back home at all. He didn't even have his bike, because he figured if he had to he could get a ride home from Mariku or Ryou, or even fly home and lie about getting a ride with Ryou.

He was mess, having not slept the night before and doing the most out-of-character thing and showing up to school looking like a straight fifteen-year-old boy.

Not much of him cared—except for when he heard Ryou's voice call out his name. The he got a bit more self-conscious, reaching up to fix his hair before turning to face his friend (that's right, friend and only friend).

"Hey Ryou," he greeted with a smile. "Why are you here so early?"

"Oh, uh, no reason. I just couldn't wait for…school," Ryou faltered, tugging at his shirt sleeve.

Malik raised an eyebrow. "So do you want to tell me the real reason you're here?"

Ryou looked scared for a moment, but he seemed to have a thought that relaxed him and he smiled. "Oh, that's right. You know about the blackouts now. I woke up in my car here and I, uh, saw you. And I was just wondering if you're okay?"

"I'm fine, I just didn't really sleep last night so I decided to leave a little early," Malik lied, feeling slightly guilty for forcing Ryou to be honest with him but never really returning the favor.

"Well where's your motorbike?" He inquired, looking around with his big mocha eyes.

It was Malik's turn to falter, chuckling and averting his eyes to the pavement. "I…yeah. I've had a long night, Ryou."

The other boy smiled, and instead of demanding an explanation, which was pretty cool of him, he said, "Why don't we go get some coffee then, Malik? My tre-eat!"

The way he drew out 'treat' made it impossible for Malik to say no, though the calorie-rich drink didn't sound too appealing to his brain (but maybe it did to his stomach, just a bit).

"Sure, why don't we?"

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The café smelled of vanilla lattes and a busy morning crowd.

Malik sipped at his steaming black coffee (no cream = virtually no calories) the richness of the brew putting off the notion of sleep in his mind.

"Yesterday, I blacked out and when I woke up…" Ryou looked around and leaned in toward Malik, lowering his voice. "I had a wallet in my hand. And I was in the middle of the mall. I didn't know what to do, Malik."

Malik's brow furrowed. "Do you know where you got the wallet?"

Ryou shook his head. "But I gave it to a security guard and he said he'd find the owner for me. I sure hope he did that, because I'd feel awful if that person never got it back."

"I mean it had to have had an I.D. card in it, Ryou," Malik said. Silently, he commended the kid for returning it. Malik would have kept it, but then again Malik kept a lot of things he "found" that didn't belong to him. But he did have to admit that he wondered where it came from, and most of all what was happening to Ryou that made him lose so many of his memories.

"I didn't look," he admitted, fiddling with the cardboard grip on his coffee cup. The two fell silent for a solid minute, both of them watching people pass by. It wasn't awkward, which Malik found refreshing.

Finally, though, Ryou spoke up. "Hey, Malik?"

"Yeah, Ryou?"

"I've been thinking about this a lot lately," the Brit said, a blush staining his pale cheeks. "You told your sister that we weren't 'officially' dating about a week ago at dinner. What does that mean?"

Malik smirked, an eyebrow raised in amusement. "It means we're not dating but Ishizu needs to think we are or are at least considering it so she doesn't give me a lecture on anonymous sex."

Ryou was visibly relieved, and Malik wasn't sure if he should be hurt or not. He didn't really like Ryou that much, but he didn't think it would be too horrible if Ryou liked him.

"Well that's good, because I like having you as a friend, Malik. And I just recently admitted to myself that I'm gay and I don't really think I'm ready to date anyone yet." Ryou was staring contemplatively at the edge of the round, yellow café table. "I have a lot I need to figure out about myself right now."

The last part made Malik frown. He wasn't disappointed by the thought of Ryou wanting some time, honestly. He was cute, but Malik didn't think they would last long in a relationship. Not once the goody Brit found out about his pastime, anyway. Plus, he was certainly right about needing to take some time for himself. The blackout thing was a huge issue in itself, and Malik really did feel sorry for him that he had to deal with it on a daily basis.

Malik smiled comfortingly, placing a hand on Ryou's forearm in a friendly, positive way. "That's fine, kid. I agree completely. Friends?"

Ryou smiled, the sun nearly reflecting off his pale face. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Malik gave his forearm a squeeze and then finished his coffee.

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A/N: So, I have no idea how I want to end this, or how long I'm planning on making it. If there's anything you guys want to see come out of this story, can you let me know in a review or a PM? Thanks for reading this and supporting me!