"Well…some people just don't like that."

"Oh…okay… He's weird."

Yuugi stared out the window, trying to be patient.

Malik drained his mug of cocoa and gave a huge yawn.

"Tired?"

"No! I'm not sleepy…" Malik rested his head against the windowpane, his eyes drooping shut little by little.

"Bedtime," said Yuugi, standing up.

"No…no bed…"

"Come on." Yuugi led the yawning child to their room and put him to bed. By the time he turned out the lights, Malik was fast asleep, curled up beneath his blanket.

The next morning, though, the child didn't want to get out of bed. "Don't you want to go to school?" asked Yuugi.

"No, wanna stay here," responded Malik, shivering beneath his blankets. "You can have my homew-ACHOO!!"

Yuugi put his hand on the boy's forehead. It was rather warm, so he pulled out the thermometer. Sure enough, Malik had a slight fever on top of the frequent sneezing. Yuugi shook his head. "I guess you will be staying home today. And I won't be letting you run around in the rain anymore. Jiichan can take care of you until I get home, okay?"

"Okay," murmured Malik, burrowing down into the covers again.

"Do you want anything to eat or drink before I go?"

"No…"

"All right. I'll bring up some tea, though, so it'll be there if you change your mind."

"Domo…"

As usual, Yuugi's gang of friends walked home with him after school. Upon their arrival, Sugoroku informed them that Malik had not gotten up from bed all day.

"You mean he just lies there??" asked Jounouchi incredulously. "And you haven't called an ambulance???"

"No, I gave him some medicine, though."

"But if THAT KID hasn't moved, then something must be really wrong."

"It's just a cold, Jounouchi," said Yuugi. "I'm going up to check on him."

"Me too."

"And me!"

"And me."

"Me three."

Yuugi blinked. "Everyone? I didn't think any of you cared much about him."

Anzu looked indignant. "Of course we do! Any friend of yours is a friend of ours."

"Not counting Seto," put in Jounouchi. "And actually, I just don't want to be left behind if you guys are going somewhere."

"It's just upstairs."

"I know."

"Yeah," said Honda, though no one could be quite sure to which statement he was agreeing. So they all went up to the second floor. The light in Yuugi's room was off, and the teacup sat empty and cold outside the door.

"Malik," whispered Yuugi, "are you awake?"

TBC

R&R