Chapter Ten
Ok, I admit that I forgot about this story, which is terrible because chapters have been written. I think I just lost interest but I decided to upload what I had written, just in case. Sorry about the OOC.
Ryou smiled as he carefully closed the top down on his laptop. Finally that report was finished, with enough time to spare too. He stole a quick glance towards the tanned teenager sitting on his bed, nose stuck in a book while she made notes on the pad of paper next to her. "Have you finished?" she asked aloud, not looking from the book.
"Yes, I'm through. How are you doing? I can help, if you like," he offered, smiling as she looked up from the book.
Malik smiled softly and shook her head. "No, I'm alright. I'm nearly done, actually. Just a few more things to note down and then I can type this thing up. It should be finished before tomorrow."
"That's good," he replied.
They fell into a silence, as Malik returned to her work and Ryou watched. She was sitting cross-legged on his bed, still wearing the clothes she wore to sleep: a white sleeveless top and a pair of navy shorts. She had been with them (Ryou and Bakura) for almost two weeks now and finally things were beginning to look up for them. Bakura's distant behaviour had slowly begun to diminish and he and Malik went back to their 'love-hate' relationship, as Ryou secretly called it. He was unsure what had happened but he was certain that it happened on the night he had stayed late.
He came back to find both Malik and Bakura sitting in close proximity (as in a space between them) on the sofa, watching some horror film that had Bakura in stitches. To Ryou this was astonishing because Bakura had hardly ventured from his room, apart from to eat and relieve himself.
He was more than aware that Malik and Bakura were as close as one would prefer to admit and when a hammer was suddenly thrown into the works it was hard to handle. Ryou knew what it was like to lose friends when he moved to Domino but he was lucky to find new friends as good as Yugi.
Ryou's musing was interrupted by a loud knock on the door. He raised his head and wondered very briefly whether Bakura would answer the door, as he was already downstairs, but thought again this. Slowly, he pushed himself from his space and walked across the room to open the door. He didn't expect to hear what he did and immediately moved forward to hear more and possible prove any assistance.
Bakura mumbled under his breath as he answered the door, crimson eyes narrowing upon seeing the person standing on the other side.
"What do you want?" he snarled.
Isis, wearing the traditional dresses she was accustomed to, stood with her hands on her hips. She did not move or answer Bakura until after she sighed heavily.
"I want to know where my brother is and what you've done to him!" she said sternly, her own eyes narrowing to match those of Bakura.
"What makes you think that I have any idea what you're talking about? Shouldn't you be managing your tomb, museum – whatever it is?"
The female glared at the smirking Tomb-Robber but did not retort. "I simply wish to know where Malik is. He has missed two weeks of school and is not been seen at home. Where is he?" she demanded, pushing her way past Bakura and into the house.
Bakura closed the door and turned to Isis. "Don't demons like you need to have official permission before you enter any house? There needs to be some kind of ward to keep the monsters at bay." He flashed Isis a dark smile.
"You are seriously trying my patience, Bakura! Where is Malik?"
"You know," Bakura began, walking behind Isis and smiling as she turned quickly. He moved closer, enough for her to hear him whisper, "I hate parasites like you. Always ruining my business…"
Isis held her breath as the platinum-haired man whispered in her ear. Did what he say mean that he had something to do with Malik's sudden disappearance? She was too engrossed in her own thoughts that she visibly jumped when Bakura moved suddenly and spoke loudly.
"Isis, how about I send you back to the Shadow Realm? I hear it's quite lovely this time of year." He surveyed her with a sardonic smile, his eyes gleaning with emotions that Isis wished never to see directed at her. He sneered quietly at her. "Prepare to meet your fate…"
"Bakura!"
Bakura turned to look at the platinum-haired boy rushing down the stairs, breathing heavily and obviously feeling very uncomfortable with the current situation.
"Bakura," he panted. "Please…"
"Why should I listen to a pathetic runt such as yourself?" he asked, amused.
"Because this isn't the way we would discuss this issue."
Bakura arched a fine brow, mentally giving Ryou two minutes before he turned his full attention back to Isis. "I wasn't involved in that conversation, because I would have clearly advised us to dispose of her, quickly and painfully. You and Malik may have mentioned such a thing but she is here now and I don't see you rushing to throw out explanations."
Isis stepped forward. "What is this? I clearly heard you mention Malik's name. Tell me!"
"I bet you really wished that you had kept that little trinket of yours close by, instead of handing it over to the pharaoh," Bakura taunted, his back still towards the female.
"Bakura…" Ryou whimpered.
"Isis!" Bakura said, ignoring Ryou. "You want to know what happened to Malik? I think Malik should explain this one." He could hear Ryou take a deep breath of air, obviously now worried. This was not what they had planned, but when did Bakura ever stick to plans and rules? "I'll get Malik, shall I? I'll be just a moment."
With that Bakura made his way up the stairs and into Ryou's room. Malik would certainly shout at him but he didn't care. This was the only way to get Isis to back off. 'She probably thinks I've killed him or something just as terrible…'
Bakura pushed the door open and saw Malik, standing and looking extremely panicked about having to face her sister.
"You have to face her sometime or another," he told her, carefully closing the door behind him so Isis or Ryou could not hear them talking.
"Can I choose 'another' then?" Malik sighed. How could she possibly face Isis looking like this? She wasn't even wearing suitable clothing for a start! Then again, Isis would be more shocked at the sight of Malik as a female other than her limited supply of clothing she wore. "Why do you always throw me in at the deep end?"
"Yes, but how many times have I jumped in afterwards to stop you from drowning?" he questioned.
"How did you do that when you pushed me in with the Ryou situation? You helped very little then - all you did was piss me off."
Bakura shook his head and sat on the computer chair. "Did you not think that I was provoking you a bit too much? More than usual? I did that to cause a reaction from you, which would cause you to forget about the tension between you and Ryou. I believe it did the job as you spend most of that conversation nagging at me, which, I am assuming, you are more comfortable in doing."
Malik was shocked to hear Bakura admit that. True, she had noticed that Bakura was provoking her more than the norm but she just felt it was the need to humiliate her in front of Ryou. But now, to find out that Bakura did that to draw attention away from her … she didn't know what to say…
"How are you gonna get me out of this one then, almighty hero?" she snorted, a small smile flitting across her face.
Bakura returned it with a half-smile. "I haven't thought that far ahead because I'm just making this up as I go along."
Malik shook her head. "I can't face Isis looking like this. I'm a state!"
Bakura groaned as he stood up and grabbed Malik's hand, dragging her along after him. "You look ravishing - lets go!"
Malik stopped as he heard Bakura. "W-What did you say?" she asked, almost shyly.
"Now certainly is not the time to let your whims get you distracted. I said you look fine, now let's go!"
Malik let herself get pulled from the room. She had heard Bakura perfectly well the first time but she wanted to clarify what he had said, just for reassurance. Her cheeks flushed a shade of red at the thought of Bakura's Freudian slip. Did that mean anything? Was it a slip or had Bakura been teasing? She could not tell with his tone. It wasn't the one he usually used to torment her, which she had become fairly accustomed to.
"Okay," she said, softly.
To be continued…
