A/N: I sure took my sweet time, didn't I? I have several reasons and excuses but I won't bore you with them. I have already started writing the next chapter but I can't promise you that I'll update faster because if I do, I'll just fail at updating again. I'm not too happy about this chapter but that might be just because I've worked on it for so long. Also, it's horribly short.
Shattered Crescent
Part Twelve
When Ryou walked out of his office, he came face to chest with someone in a neat, and expensive, business suit. He blinked, getting ready to apologize, and wondered if he would dare to look up but that was solved for him when the man spoke.
"Bakura Ryou, I assume."
The cold statement made Ryou's eyes jump up to meet a pair of icy blue ones. He knew that if given time to think, he would recognize the person. "Oh," was the first thing that came out of his mouth before he realized it didn't sound too intelligent. "I mean, yes. I'm Bakura Ryou. You are, um…"
"Kaiba Seto," the man told.
"I knew that," Ryou replied, feeling every bit as stupid as the other must have thought he was. "We met once before, at Bakura's art exhibit." As if there was someone in Domino who didn't know who Kaiba Seto was.
Kaiba nodded. "You were the one Mikazuki was entertaining."
Ryou smiled a little, deciding against correcting the other. At the time, Bakura's advances had felt more like harassment. "And you were the one he was supposed to entertain. I'm sorry I kept him from you."
"Apology accepted."
A moment of silence followed as Ryou waited for Kaiba to tell why he was there but when the other just kept studying him, he took matters into his own hands. "Um, well, I was just about to run an errand and I'm sure you're a busy man so… Mind telling me why you're here?"
"I wanted to see for myself what the fuss was all about."
Ryou didn't quite follow. "Pardon?"
"You have helped solve some of the more serious crimes in Domino and now you're at it again. It's all over the papers." Kaiba didn't look all too happy about that and Ryou could sympathize with him. "And you're managed to date Mikazuki for a few weeks, which is probably the longest relationship he has ever had. Also, my brother seems to think there's something special about you." Kaiba stopped his list to smirk. "Personally, I don't see how he gets the impression."
Ryou was struck down before having a chance to feel flattered or confused. He knew he was nothing special but that coming from someone who didn't even know him made his blood boil. "I guess you're a good judge of that since we've met twice already and had such a long conversation the first time."
Kaiba's expression told that people didn't normally stand up for themselves when confronted by his superior status and insulting skills.
"So, excuse me, I have things to do." Ryou stepped past Kaiba and turned to go behind a corner before he could realize what he had just said and to whom and his polite nature forced him to go back and apologize. He could regret running off later.
Around the corner and little ways down the hall was the chief of investigation's office. The file KaibaCorp had sent him had sat on his desk long enough and he had read it through enough times to realize where the police had gone wrong.
The older man didn't seem too happy about KC contacting them when Ryou got told to sit down after explaining why he was there.
"Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" the chief asked, sitting behind his large wooden desk, not as unreachable as some people Ryou seen but angrier than he should be.
"Well, the letter said-," Ryou paused to dig out the slip of paper and hand it over. "It says that I should look at these first… so I did."
"I don't see why," the older man muttered as he read the letter through, "…don't want to interfere my ass…"
Ryou cleared his throat. "They did help us."
The man gave him a look from under his brows as if to say that the comment wasn't appreciated. He said nothing out loud, just placed the file into a drawer before turning to face Ryou properly. "I'll make sure everyone who needs to know sees it, you go back to work."
There had been an accident, something wrong with the driver and an immovable, hard object. That much Seto could recall while trying to focus his gaze to see if that blur slumped against the steering wheel was the man who wasn't supposed to screw up while driving.
Air came to him in short gasps that did no good. Mokuba always told him to wear a seatbelt. He coughed and felt as if he could fill his lungs with air after a decade of depriving himself of it. The first ounce of air got through just when the door on his side was opened. Someone stranded his lap and a cold blade was pressed against his throat before he could gather his wits. With the air returned his vision.
"Why can't you die like a good boy?"
The question was rhetorical and mocking but Seto had an answer to it. The answer came in the form of the mouth of his gun against his assaulter's gut. A smirk tipped his lips upwards as he got a good look at the other's pale purple eyes.
"Malik Ishtar," he stated, giving the boy points for just raising an eyebrow at his gun. "I expected more of you."
The Ishtar kid returned the smirk. "Sorry to disappoint."
Already tired of the chit-chat, Seto decided to cut to the point, mindful of his words. "I don't see why you would want to avenge him. I thought it was a suicide, you can't blame me for that."
Malik's eye twitched either because he was nervous or running out of patience. "You're responsible for his downfall," he accused. "I didn't come here for a chat, I-"
"Which caused all sort of trouble, not the least of all to you," Seto interrupted. He moved his free hand, careful not to provoke too much, and landed it on Malik's side. The youth flinched but made no move to stop him. "He did something to you, your father." The confidence thickly layered in the other's pose and eyes flickered. "It's not him you're avenging."
Surprised that he wasn't quite dead yet, Seto reached farther, sliding the hand underneath the ridiculously thick hoodie. The skin was warm and he suspected it would have been perfect if not for the lines of scar tissue running across it. Malik's knife hand shook and the blade dug into the skin, drawing blood but not enough to be life threatening.
The blood drops slid downwards, getting Malik's attention for a second. The look in the unusual eyes lacked the excitement Seto had seen in Mikazuki's stare whenever Mokuba had skinned his knee or he had gotten a paper cut. The look was reluctant, bordering to disgust and he knew that Malik wasn't a killer at heart. A fact that could save his life.
"You know," Seto started, drawing his hand away and replacing it on the seat. "My stepfather preferred whips."
A realization flashed past Malik's features and Seto hung to it like a lifeline.
"You're not the only one with scars."
"Are you trying to score pity-points, Seto?" The name was spat out like he had wanted to call him something nasty but couldn't come up with anything worse.
The corner of his mouth switched upwards. "No. I'm stalling."
"Are you alright in there?"
Seto unlocked the door and as it opened, the blade dug deeper into his flesh and he could hear the opposite door opening to let out his assailant. Soon someone was by his side, pressing on his throat and yelling for an ambulance.
She had let her search and rescue mission go on long enough. As much as Malik's peace of mind was important to what was left of the family, she couldn't let him succeed. It had occurred to Ishizu too late what her little brother was up to and now that she couldn't save him from getting into trouble, at least she could take him away from this country.
Now, when everything else was falling apart, the police wouldn't lift a finger to help her. Ishizu had figured that it couldn't be too hard to find someone who always stood out in a crowd, but running into Malik was unlikely.
A strange sense of urgency rolled over her as she walked out of the lobby of another hotel that had windows facing the KaibaCorp building. She called a cab and told the driver to hurry. Could it be that Malik was leaving again?
They passed by the hospital; the entrance was blocked by frustrated cameramen and anxious reported. It looked like Kaiba wasn't giving interviews. A spark of hope made its way to her features. Maybe Malik was leaving, escaping before he got caught. It wasn't his style to flee but then again, he hadn't been in situation like this before.
One of the windows on the far most wing was open and in a flash of clarity, Ishizu saw it shatter. She jumped on her seat and turned to see the window again before they drove too far. It was untouched but the feeling of unease increased within her.
Malik wasn't alright.
Kaiba was asleep when Bakura sat down next to his hospital bed. The doctor had said that the knife wound wasn't deep enough to threaten his life when treated properly. Figures Malik would blow his chance at Kaiba's life. Bakura hadn't thought he would get even this far but one can't always be right.
Mokuba had called him earlier and asked to check on the older brother. Bakura doubted he would have found out about "the accident" as fast. Kaiba sure as hell wouldn't have told him and Malik wouldn't rub his own failure in his face.
Kaiba stirred before opening his eyes and fixing his customary glare on Bakura. "I thought they'd only inform Mokuba."
"Just because you pretend to hate Me doesn't mean Mokuba has to. He was too busy to make it and someone has to look after you."
The other snorted, annoyed. "I thought that's what the hospital personnel were for…"
Bakura smiled dryly. "Almost dead and still funny, I salute you."
"I didn't almost die, my driver did." Kaiba didn't elaborate but Bakura had already heard it all from a nurse. The driver had been drugged but had gotten help on time. Bakura didn't quite get why Malik had chosen to do things the way he had but didn't care to dwell on it. Kaiba was still alive and Malik was doing whatever people did when facing failure.
"I should have never left the office," Kaiba spoke again, something Bakura couldn't place disturbing his calm façade.
"What were you doing out of your office?"
Kaiba looked away at his socks. "There was someone I wanted to see." Bakura tilted his head at this. It was almost as if the other was ashamed. The answer, now that he thought about it, was as clear as day.
"Ryou. You went to see Ryou." Bakura held his laughter in with effort, only a small "tch" escaping him. Kaiba glared at him but he paid no heed. "How was it? Did you chew him out bad?"
The glare was turned to another direction. "I think it was the other way around." Bakura couldn't hold his laugh in anymore and it burst out, filling the room and causing a nurse walking by to glance in through the small window in the door.
"I wish I'd been there," he managed through the laughter before pulling himself together. Kaiba didn't look happy but then again, he never did. "Did you find out what you wanted to?"
"I suppose…" Kaiba frowned as he spoke and Bakura didn't press it. Judging from the small, hard to see signs, the impression Kaiba had of Ryou wasn't as negative as it could be. The CEO hadn't paid much attention to what, or who, Bakura did on his free time before.
"What about Malik?" he asked when the silence had gone on long enough. Kaiba turned to him again, his face as stoic as ever.
"I'll deal with it."
Bakura raised a brow. "Not the police?"
"No." The answer was final. Bakura doubted that the other could say "yes", or anything else for that matter, with such finality. But as long as he didn't have to deal with Malik, though it had been amusing while it lasted, he didn't care what came of the whole vengeance mess. There was more important things, and people, he could be doing.
"It's not him you're avenging."
The fog on the glass prevented him from seeing the KC tower for a brief moment. Working hard on keeping his breathing slow and steady, Malik leaned his forehead on the window glass, counting the times his breath fogged up the glass.
What the hell had he meant, "not him"? It wasn't like he was getting back at Seto for…
Himself. Malik balled his fist and let it thump against the see-through surface. It did nothing for his anger. He had had his one change and it was pretty damn obvious Seto hadn't died; the city was still standing.
There was no going home for him now. He should have died trying. Malik's eyes turned away from the tower, towards the pavement down below. The windows were locked from the outside but he could always break one. The fall would kill him for sure.
He reached to touch the scar that went so much deeper than the skin. His father had been on heavy medication after the incident but Malik… Maybe he should have been the one getting treated. It had been too easy to just hand his father the pills and let him overdose. No child should be able to do that.
And so, Seto had been wrong: Malik had already avenged himself. He had no grudge against his father anymore and was free to love him again. Ishizu didn't know and Rishid wouldn't speak of it because it was better if he bore the burden alone. Until now it hadn't felt so heavy but he no longer had the chance to make it up to his father.
Malik didn't curse coming to Domino; it had been his best option; but his own incapability to do things right. He should had just gone in there, get it done and not let Seto's words or actions sway him. He had been weak. No weakness could come between him and his goal again.
A desk stood between the window and the bed, hard and wooden. It was coupled with a chair of the same dark shade. Malik took a hold of the chair and shifted it experimentally. It was light enough to lift but he hoped it would still serve its purpose. He closed his eyes for a moment to clear his mind. He didn't want to think about his family and how this would affect them. They would be devastated, at first, but he was sure that once they learned all about his past actions, the pain would lessen and eventually disappear.
A loud banging of the door snapped him out of his calming state. Anger lit his eyes and made his mind foggy as it attacked him in a sudden surge. Malik didn't even consider that he could just ignore whoever was at the door and finish what he had started.
He marched to the door and yanked it open, the yell ready just behind his lips. All his actions came to a stop when faced with the person at the door. He choked on his yell as his eyes widened. Malik had to blink to keep tears at bay.
"Ishizu…"
It's time to re-re-re-re-r-r-r-r-review!
