A/N: A big fat nothing happens this chapter and I kind of hate it. I'll explain at the bottom.
"Wake up sunshine." A voice pounds into Ryou's head.
"Go away Malik." The boy groans and tosses over hoping that the Egyptian will let him sleep or bring him some sort of painkiller for the migraine he currently has.
"Someone can't handle their booze." Malik grins while pulling the covers off. "Get up."
"Please stop talking." Ryou groans each word Malik says causing a pounding noise in his head.
"How many did I even let you have last night?"
"I lost count after you forced me tequila which, by the way, don't do that again. I barely remember anything." The teen tries to pull the covers back with no luck. Malik has a firm grasp on them.
"Well Ryou, you can either stay here or you can get the hell over your hangover and come out with me."
"I'm not allowed out of the hospital." Ryou sighs staring at Malik who is grinning. Last night's drinks don't appear to have phased him. "Danger to myself and others remember?"
"Ya, the doctor says you can tonight. Something about progress and if you are with a guardian. I wasn't paying too much attention."
"Fine. Let me get ready. I'm sure I'm a mess." Ryou pulls himself out of bed and walks towards the bathroom to attempt to make himself presentable.
Last nights celebration, while fun, is obvious on the teen. His hair is a mess and smells strongly like alcohol. Not being the most eloquent of people, he probably spilt a drink on himself sometime during the night. The effects of a hangover are also apparent. Ryou has dark circles under his eyes and a look that clearly says he'd rather be sleeping in a dark room with no noise but he hasn't been out of the hospital since he was re-admitted and despite feeling low, Ryou wasn't about to give up going into town.
"You still look like crap." Malik laughs taking in his friend's job of trying to cover up his activities last night.
"And it's your fault." Ryou retorts back.
Malik had insisted that the two were to go clothes shopping and while not a hobby Ryou particularly enjoyed, he had agreed. All the clothes he owned were from before he entered the hospital and unfortunately, like most boys his age, Ryou had grown over the last while. The jeans he is currently wearing were already a few centimetres too short and he figured buying a few more shirts wouldn't hurt either.
While most the day was spent with Ryou telling Malik that no, he would not buy the form fitting or belly baring shirts, despite what they would do for his complexion or form, the teen did enjoy himself. It is social interaction that he never receives from the other patients in his wing and he was grateful that the Egyptian had forced him out of his bed.
Currently the pair is sitting in a cafeteria, Malik talking about various topics and Ryou spooning strawberry parfait into his mouth, eyes wandering and looking at the various people in the restaurant. When he doesn't see anyone, he settles on a pair of siblings.
The appear close and he wonders if Amane and him will be the same way when they are reunited or will there be tension. Years change people and there would be things he could never mention to his little sister, like being a vessel to a sadistic spirit, but Amane has a strange ability of being able to read her brother and would his unspoken words cause a divide?
"And then Kuriboh ate the Black Magician by order of the pharaoh."
"What?" Ryou asks, tearing his eyes away from the siblings confused by the statement.
"You haven't been listening to a word I've been saying. What's bothering you?" Malik looks into brown eyes that quickly flicker to the siblings before return. "You're thinking of your sister?"
Ryou takes another spoonful of the parfait and looks down not answering the question. Was he really that easy to read?
"You'll know the truth soon Ryou." Malik smiles at the boy. "Anyway, I have some good news. You're being released!"
"What?" The other asks dropping his spoon that was halfway to his mouth in the process. "You aren't serious."
"Completely serious. They want you to stay a week longer but after that you are coming home. Your dreams have decreased and as long as you keep up on the medication, you shouldn't be a danger. You've been in that place too long."
Ryou smiles at this news and picks up his spoon, starting to eat his desert once more. He hopes that this time he will be out of the hospital on a permanent basis and that maybe he can find his family without being bothered by bullies or dreams.
"So, celebration again?"
"No." Ryou shakes his head at the Egyptian. "After last night, I am never taking alcohol from you again."
A/N: So some Malik and Ryou interaction and a lot of dialouge. What does it do for the plot? Not much. I just needed someone to tell Ryou he is being released and since Malik is his guardian and all (OK well technically the Ishtars are but the other two are off in Egypt doing something. And Malik owed Ryou for pretty much using his body anyway) I figured he would be best. Especially since the jerk of a doctor returns next chapter for some Ryou psychoanalysis which we all know is my favourite thing ever. Also if you are wondering where Ryou's father is, remember he granted guardianship to the Ishtars because he is off digging in the ground or something.
Malik started calling him Ryou suddenly this chapter because I think after the year that passed that I didn't bother typing, I figure they would be close enough.
I stopped here because I had a migraine and dress rehearsal and I figured something of an update is better than nothing and the fact that I didn't want to start going into Ryou's head this chapter. It's a happy chapter! I don't know when my next update will be because the play runs this weekend and also my migraines plus other symptons along with it may be a sign of brain damage or some other brain problem and I might be in the hospital. I don't need sympathy. I'm just telling you so you don't wonder where I went.
Reviews are always loved