Sorry about the wait. This chapter was hard to write and I was moving into
a new room and got a new computer and have to still clean up the room and
set up the new computer. Grr. Anyone know any way to download music to
burn for FREE? Stupid Kazaa.
WARNING: Well, there's a boy, and another boy and then a really little boy (who's really adorable) and then there's this thing that happens, yeah this 'thing' and the boy and the other boy have to over come it and. . .Okay, you should probably be warned about the author. She's a few clowns short of a circus. And she hates clowns!
Comments to reviews at the end of chapter.
- - -
Tis The Season
Warnings: Christmas angst. AU. No character death.
Pairings: You'll just have to wait and see.
/ thoughts /
*italics*
- - -
Chapter Eleven
Brown eyes opened slowly to gaze up at the plain ceiling that had met him every other time he'd awoken. All Bakura had done since waking the day before was stare at this fascinating flat surface in between naps. He couldn't even sigh because of the respirator - it kept his breathing nice and even. The hissing noise was going to drive him insane! And the heart monitor, how he would have enjoyed seeing that stupid piece of metal and wires fall the three stories to the ground below.
But no. He could only lie there, in that uncomfortable hospital bed and stare at the damnable off white ceiling. Exactly twenty-eight tiles, at least that he could see, the bathroom was blocking some of the glorious view. He had even begun to consider counting all the bumps in the tiles. He wasn't sure he was *that* bored yet, perhaps he'd save that excitingly fun activity for later.
He sighed - well, mentally anyway.
"I know you're restless." Linda's gentle voice came from his left. He would have responded with a snort, but he suspected it would hurt with the tube down his throat. The aging woman entered his line of sight and leaned on the bed. "Glad to see you're awake. Ryou fell asleep a little while ago. I heard you two had a rough night." She smiled sympathetically.
Rough was an understatement. It had seemed like every time Bakura would finally begin to doze off, Ryou would be woken up by a nightmare. The nightmares were always the same and Bakura had needed to comfort his child each time. He hated it when Ryou was upset and he just couldn't leave the boy to comfort himself.
"You got mowe sick and I neva' sawed you again!"
Shifting slightly, Bakura looked at the mop of silver hair nestled against his side. Ryou had slept in the same spot all night (in between nightmares), unwilling to leave the bed.
Linda chuckled softly as she too watched Ryou sleep. "He's been so worried about you. I think it was good for him to be away from here for a little bit. And he seems to absolutely adore Malik."
Ah yes, Malik Ishtar. That had been a subject Bakura was unsure about up until yesterday, at least when he'd been coherent enough to think straight. The unusual teenager confused him. At first Bakura had wanted to hate him. Malik had hurt Ryou at the restaurant, it may have been unintentional, but he'd still done it. Then when Malik had brought his little brother back and Ryou was smiling that's when Bakura noticed it.
That sadness that had always clouded Ryou's eyes was gone.
It was back now of course, since Malik had left. Sure, he'd promised he'd come back, but words were easy to break. That didn't really matter though, for a short little while, Ryou had been happy. Bakura was actually thankful to the Egyptian for that little bit of peace, and he enjoyed seeing Ryou's excitement whenever the boy told, or retold something that he and Malik had done or said.
"Dr. Andrews said that they'd be taking you off of the respirator tomorrow." Linda interrupted him and Bakura slowly moved to face her. She smiled, "You're not supposed to speak though because you'll really regret it." She warned and Bakura didn't doubt it. He was already hurting. "Now that you're awake, I'm going to go. I have a few things to do, but I'll be back around supper time, if you need anything, the nurses here are really helpful." She promised as she brushed a few of the white strands from Bakura's face. With that, Linda left the room.
Bakura mentally sighed again. Oh well, at least he wouldn't have to resort to counting those little bumps on the ceiling. While he was contemplating why he'd even thought of that in the first place, Ryou shifted slightly, making the teen look over at him. Slowly, the little body moved into a sitting position and sleepy brown eyes blinked into wakefulness. Ryou grinned before he was interrupted by a small yawn.
"Hi Batuwa!" He crawled up to Bakura's shoulder, being extra careful around the tubing, and rested his head in his favourite position, right next to Bakura's heart. Sure, he could have listened to the annoying beep of the heart monitor, but it obviously wasn't the same.
Bakura brought his arm up and hugged the boy in greeting. He wanted to speak to him, but knew it was impossible to do so for a while more. That was okay though, Ryou seemed to understand him without words. They lay in comfortable silence, both thinking of different things. Today was Christmas Eve, tomorrow would be Christmas and Bakura loathed the idea of being stuck in the hospital. The truth was, it didn't bother him that *he* was stuck there, but he didn't want Ryou stuck there for his favourite holiday.
Unknown to the older boy, his little brother was having similar thoughts. He'd left his brother's present at home and he had no way of getting it now. Ryou had so wanted to give Bakura his present on Christmas. Last year he hadn't been able to get his guardian anything because last year had been a hectic time around the orphanage and nobody had had time to take Ryou out shopping. Linda had taken him this year and they had bought the perfect gift!
But he supposed that that was okay. At least he and Bakura would be able to spend Christmas together, and that was all Ryou needed.
The small boy turned his head and looked at his brother, studying him silently. "Kuwa?" He asked softly as he sat up so Bakura could look at him without moving his head. "Tanks fo' bein' my big bwotha'." He started softly, "I wuv you and I wanted you ta know that."
Bakura would have done anything to be able to speak at that moment. Instead, however, he pulled Ryou into a hug, ignoring the slight pain it caused him from the pull on the IV tube. He needed to reassure Ryou that he loved him too.
Giggling softly, Ryou gently kissed Bakura's cheek then snuggled against his brother's warm body. Yawning to himself, he slowly fell into a light sleep.
Bakura mentally sighed, relaxing against the other body, knowing that despite being in a hospital for Christmas, Ryou would be okay. They had been all the other had had for so long that it didn't matter what happened, as long as they were together. He was kind of glad they'd never been adopted, or even looked at by couples who came into the orphanage. There would have been a chance that they'd have been adopted into different homes, since the orphanage had been so desperate to make room for all the orphans throughout the first few years they'd been there. To be separated from his baby brother had frightened him so much, that Bakura had been kept up nightly by horrible dreams.
Ryou had been confused most of the time, not understanding where his daddy had gone and why he was not coming back. The boy could barely remember the man, though he missed him. Ryou would always ask Bakura about him, wanting to know all that he could. But Bakura, even though he'd been thirteen could hardly remember anything about before they got to the orphanage. He'd seen a psychiatrist about not being able to remember and he'd been told that because of the stress he'd gone through, his mind had done what it needed to do to protect him.
It seemed all of his memories of his father had been wiped out. He sometimes remembered his mother and he remembered Ryou, but no matter how hard he tried, any recollection of his father - his image, his voice, even his smell - could not be conjured up. It was almost as if the man didn't exist, and as sleep began to make Bakura's eyelids droop, the orphaned teen wondered if their father had even looked for them.
Sleep was filled with dreamless nothingness and that very unique ceiling was smiling down at him in greeting when he finally opened his eyes. Fighting against a groan, Bakura took note of the slight weight against his chest. Upon looking down he found that Ryou had moved back to his favourite position so the beat of Bakura's own heart could comfort him. This was Ryou's usual position and it had become a comfort for him too. When he'd woken up in the hospital alone he'd been disoriented and confused. It would have been reassuring to wake with that familiar warmth against him.
The white-haired boy glanced up and blinked in confusion and a mixture of shock and surprise as his gaze flickered to the chair that Linda had occupied that morning when he'd first woken up. It wasn't the chair that made Bakura stare; it was the body sleeping within it.
He hadn't been able to really look before, but now that he could, his breath left him. Soft, tanned features remained relaxed as chocolate eyes roamed freely over soft looking lips, shining strands of gold and - dare he even think it - an adorable nose. He had purposely ignored the Egyptian's looks. Looks weren't that important to Bakura and he hated stuck up snobs. . .but looking at Malik was something else.
The time slowly ticked by and though Bakura had no idea of the exact minute, he knew an hour had at least passed before Malik's eyes began to flutter.
Purple - /No, lavender./ Bakura corrected himself - slowly cracked open then blinked. Yawning tiredly, Malik moved his body to find a more comfortable position in that highly uncomfortable chair. He was about to snuggle back into sleep when he happened to glance at the other sleeping bodies, only to find one awake. Completely conscious now, Malik sat up and leaned forward. "Hi." He greeted quietly as he looked at Ryou; "I'm not intruding, am I?" He wondered.
Carefully, Bakura shook his head, not wanting to jar the tubing in his throat. He was surprised that the other teen had come back, though he was glad because of it. Even so, he was curious as to why. Why a simple teenager would come back when adults and families wouldn't.
"Great." Malik smiled shyly, happy that he hadn't been rejected. The only other times he'd gotten to speak with Bakura, the younger boy had either been delirious with fever, or high from medications. It seemed now, though, that Bakura was in his right mind.
The white-haired teen wanted to put the Egyptian's worries to rest, but he didn't know how to aside from just telling him. Malik had looked after Ryou, that's all that mattered to Bakura.
"Are you feeling better?" Malik wondered, then continued after Bakura had slightly nodded. "Linda told me that you're going to be taken off of the respirator tomorrow and probably released before New Years." He explained.
Well, that was news to Bakura, good news of course. Unconsciously he wondered if the hospital would let him have his heart monitor. He wanted to pout. Probably not if they were to realize what he wanted to do with it.
Malik leaned back again, and sighed. To Bakura, he looked nervous, "I was wondering. . .if you'd mind a little company for Christmas." He began, avoiding Bakura's eyes. "It's my first Christmas. . .and I had wanted to spend it with you two." He explained, "If not, I understand. . .I mean, I've probably already intruded enough but. . .I was just wondering." He shrugged, finally looking at the other.
After the initial shock of the Egyptian's words, Bakura only rolled his eyes as he tried to think of a way that he could tell Malik that it was okay. Ryou would never speak to him if he didn't allow Malik to spend Christmas with them, and it was a nice idea, even to Bakura. Finally he held out his hand, it seemed the best way to go. Malik blinked in a moment of confusion and then hesitantly took the offered hand, and a gentle squeeze gave him his answer.
- - -
I hope everyone noticed Bakura's sarcasm about his lovely stay at the hospital.
About the heart monitor - Bakura probably doesn't really need it, but someone I know had a strained heart so they were placed on one.
All right, Bakura has noticed Malik. Kinda out of the blue, wasn't it? Though he did mention Malik's looks earlier in the fic. Of course, this chapter was giving me so much trouble, grr. Is it moving too fast? (The relationship between Malik and Bakura I mean.) Normally it would take years and years to gain someone's trust, but I doubt you people would like me to write it like that. And even if you do I won't! ^_^
Any suggestions on Ryou's Christmas present? He won't tell me what it is!
And I think I've finally figured out the pairings. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna tell you! You'll just have to wait a find out. Of course, I don't think many people will be happy.
COMMENTS:
Deniz reborn - *puts down entire toilet* You are so lucky you took that back when you did! Truthfully, I refuse to read any fic with even the hint of Tea/Malik. For the simple fact that Malik only belongs to six, well, seven people now (he's a slut you know.) and its against my morals to pair him with a female. It's a sin after all. ^_^ Eh, in my religion anyway. Actually, I make one exception but I can't tell you who. Don't get me wrong though, I don't hate Tea, she's just the easiest to use as the evil one. And really, when you need a bad guy Tristan and Tea come to mind first. . .if not for the real bad guys like Peggsy and Bandana-Boy. I don't mind Tea/Yugi or Tea/Yami, Tea/Joey, Tea/Tristan, Tea/Seto or anything along those lines. As long as she leaves the psychos. . .and um, Ryou alone. ^_^ Sorry, I'm in a talkative mood. You know what I mean.
Shanii - I'm steering away from the Duke/Malik pairing. Sorry. This fic was not even supposed to have them as a pairing anyway and they just kinda worked themselves in. (That's a good thing though, I love writing this fic myself.) And ya know, I don't really see much Malik/Bakura around. It's usually 'Malik' but really they mean Yami Malik. Really, Yami Malik/Marik/Mariku/insert name here, should really get an official name. Tis getting confusing. I understand about the original pairings. I refuse to read Yami/Yugi, Yami/Seto/Yugi (any kind of combination with those three.) and a few others. I occasionally get a craving for a good Bakura/Ryou fic that I haven't already read, but I can never find one when I need one. Marik/Malik isn't really a common pairing. Too many people make Marik into a loony toon that it'd be like Malik screwing a young child. And I'm sorry to disappoint you, but no lemon. I don't write lemons. At least, not very well and they take too long for me to write. I'm not sure what it is about them - I can read one but writing is totally different. It's all been done anyway and my writing skills are exceptionally crappy. I like the personality I've found for Malik. Sex is nice, but I don't like the Malik-Ishtar-Sex-Fiend personality much. I like the Malik-Ishtar-Likes-To-Cuddle-With-Partner personality much better.
Kira-Kura - I can't tell ya anything about Malik confessing to Duke or about his past. It'll ruin the ending. Sowwy.
Kaira-chan - Like Malik could've left the little bugger completely! Of course he'd go back! And if he didn't I would've just threatened to take his Marik away. That usually gets him to listen.
Kyrene (once Blood Roses - I don't read anything unless it has Ryou, Bakura, Malik or Marik it in. Or a very interesting pairing so I know what it's like. I find it weird that writing a new pairing. It's like I'm cheating on one of my characters. Gah.
To Everyone:
Sorry that the chapters are so short. The next one is kinda the second half of this one seeing as how it'll still be Christmas Eve, only you get Duke's story then.
WARNING: Well, there's a boy, and another boy and then a really little boy (who's really adorable) and then there's this thing that happens, yeah this 'thing' and the boy and the other boy have to over come it and. . .Okay, you should probably be warned about the author. She's a few clowns short of a circus. And she hates clowns!
Comments to reviews at the end of chapter.
- - -
Tis The Season
Warnings: Christmas angst. AU. No character death.
Pairings: You'll just have to wait and see.
/ thoughts /
*italics*
- - -
Chapter Eleven
Brown eyes opened slowly to gaze up at the plain ceiling that had met him every other time he'd awoken. All Bakura had done since waking the day before was stare at this fascinating flat surface in between naps. He couldn't even sigh because of the respirator - it kept his breathing nice and even. The hissing noise was going to drive him insane! And the heart monitor, how he would have enjoyed seeing that stupid piece of metal and wires fall the three stories to the ground below.
But no. He could only lie there, in that uncomfortable hospital bed and stare at the damnable off white ceiling. Exactly twenty-eight tiles, at least that he could see, the bathroom was blocking some of the glorious view. He had even begun to consider counting all the bumps in the tiles. He wasn't sure he was *that* bored yet, perhaps he'd save that excitingly fun activity for later.
He sighed - well, mentally anyway.
"I know you're restless." Linda's gentle voice came from his left. He would have responded with a snort, but he suspected it would hurt with the tube down his throat. The aging woman entered his line of sight and leaned on the bed. "Glad to see you're awake. Ryou fell asleep a little while ago. I heard you two had a rough night." She smiled sympathetically.
Rough was an understatement. It had seemed like every time Bakura would finally begin to doze off, Ryou would be woken up by a nightmare. The nightmares were always the same and Bakura had needed to comfort his child each time. He hated it when Ryou was upset and he just couldn't leave the boy to comfort himself.
"You got mowe sick and I neva' sawed you again!"
Shifting slightly, Bakura looked at the mop of silver hair nestled against his side. Ryou had slept in the same spot all night (in between nightmares), unwilling to leave the bed.
Linda chuckled softly as she too watched Ryou sleep. "He's been so worried about you. I think it was good for him to be away from here for a little bit. And he seems to absolutely adore Malik."
Ah yes, Malik Ishtar. That had been a subject Bakura was unsure about up until yesterday, at least when he'd been coherent enough to think straight. The unusual teenager confused him. At first Bakura had wanted to hate him. Malik had hurt Ryou at the restaurant, it may have been unintentional, but he'd still done it. Then when Malik had brought his little brother back and Ryou was smiling that's when Bakura noticed it.
That sadness that had always clouded Ryou's eyes was gone.
It was back now of course, since Malik had left. Sure, he'd promised he'd come back, but words were easy to break. That didn't really matter though, for a short little while, Ryou had been happy. Bakura was actually thankful to the Egyptian for that little bit of peace, and he enjoyed seeing Ryou's excitement whenever the boy told, or retold something that he and Malik had done or said.
"Dr. Andrews said that they'd be taking you off of the respirator tomorrow." Linda interrupted him and Bakura slowly moved to face her. She smiled, "You're not supposed to speak though because you'll really regret it." She warned and Bakura didn't doubt it. He was already hurting. "Now that you're awake, I'm going to go. I have a few things to do, but I'll be back around supper time, if you need anything, the nurses here are really helpful." She promised as she brushed a few of the white strands from Bakura's face. With that, Linda left the room.
Bakura mentally sighed again. Oh well, at least he wouldn't have to resort to counting those little bumps on the ceiling. While he was contemplating why he'd even thought of that in the first place, Ryou shifted slightly, making the teen look over at him. Slowly, the little body moved into a sitting position and sleepy brown eyes blinked into wakefulness. Ryou grinned before he was interrupted by a small yawn.
"Hi Batuwa!" He crawled up to Bakura's shoulder, being extra careful around the tubing, and rested his head in his favourite position, right next to Bakura's heart. Sure, he could have listened to the annoying beep of the heart monitor, but it obviously wasn't the same.
Bakura brought his arm up and hugged the boy in greeting. He wanted to speak to him, but knew it was impossible to do so for a while more. That was okay though, Ryou seemed to understand him without words. They lay in comfortable silence, both thinking of different things. Today was Christmas Eve, tomorrow would be Christmas and Bakura loathed the idea of being stuck in the hospital. The truth was, it didn't bother him that *he* was stuck there, but he didn't want Ryou stuck there for his favourite holiday.
Unknown to the older boy, his little brother was having similar thoughts. He'd left his brother's present at home and he had no way of getting it now. Ryou had so wanted to give Bakura his present on Christmas. Last year he hadn't been able to get his guardian anything because last year had been a hectic time around the orphanage and nobody had had time to take Ryou out shopping. Linda had taken him this year and they had bought the perfect gift!
But he supposed that that was okay. At least he and Bakura would be able to spend Christmas together, and that was all Ryou needed.
The small boy turned his head and looked at his brother, studying him silently. "Kuwa?" He asked softly as he sat up so Bakura could look at him without moving his head. "Tanks fo' bein' my big bwotha'." He started softly, "I wuv you and I wanted you ta know that."
Bakura would have done anything to be able to speak at that moment. Instead, however, he pulled Ryou into a hug, ignoring the slight pain it caused him from the pull on the IV tube. He needed to reassure Ryou that he loved him too.
Giggling softly, Ryou gently kissed Bakura's cheek then snuggled against his brother's warm body. Yawning to himself, he slowly fell into a light sleep.
Bakura mentally sighed, relaxing against the other body, knowing that despite being in a hospital for Christmas, Ryou would be okay. They had been all the other had had for so long that it didn't matter what happened, as long as they were together. He was kind of glad they'd never been adopted, or even looked at by couples who came into the orphanage. There would have been a chance that they'd have been adopted into different homes, since the orphanage had been so desperate to make room for all the orphans throughout the first few years they'd been there. To be separated from his baby brother had frightened him so much, that Bakura had been kept up nightly by horrible dreams.
Ryou had been confused most of the time, not understanding where his daddy had gone and why he was not coming back. The boy could barely remember the man, though he missed him. Ryou would always ask Bakura about him, wanting to know all that he could. But Bakura, even though he'd been thirteen could hardly remember anything about before they got to the orphanage. He'd seen a psychiatrist about not being able to remember and he'd been told that because of the stress he'd gone through, his mind had done what it needed to do to protect him.
It seemed all of his memories of his father had been wiped out. He sometimes remembered his mother and he remembered Ryou, but no matter how hard he tried, any recollection of his father - his image, his voice, even his smell - could not be conjured up. It was almost as if the man didn't exist, and as sleep began to make Bakura's eyelids droop, the orphaned teen wondered if their father had even looked for them.
Sleep was filled with dreamless nothingness and that very unique ceiling was smiling down at him in greeting when he finally opened his eyes. Fighting against a groan, Bakura took note of the slight weight against his chest. Upon looking down he found that Ryou had moved back to his favourite position so the beat of Bakura's own heart could comfort him. This was Ryou's usual position and it had become a comfort for him too. When he'd woken up in the hospital alone he'd been disoriented and confused. It would have been reassuring to wake with that familiar warmth against him.
The white-haired boy glanced up and blinked in confusion and a mixture of shock and surprise as his gaze flickered to the chair that Linda had occupied that morning when he'd first woken up. It wasn't the chair that made Bakura stare; it was the body sleeping within it.
He hadn't been able to really look before, but now that he could, his breath left him. Soft, tanned features remained relaxed as chocolate eyes roamed freely over soft looking lips, shining strands of gold and - dare he even think it - an adorable nose. He had purposely ignored the Egyptian's looks. Looks weren't that important to Bakura and he hated stuck up snobs. . .but looking at Malik was something else.
The time slowly ticked by and though Bakura had no idea of the exact minute, he knew an hour had at least passed before Malik's eyes began to flutter.
Purple - /No, lavender./ Bakura corrected himself - slowly cracked open then blinked. Yawning tiredly, Malik moved his body to find a more comfortable position in that highly uncomfortable chair. He was about to snuggle back into sleep when he happened to glance at the other sleeping bodies, only to find one awake. Completely conscious now, Malik sat up and leaned forward. "Hi." He greeted quietly as he looked at Ryou; "I'm not intruding, am I?" He wondered.
Carefully, Bakura shook his head, not wanting to jar the tubing in his throat. He was surprised that the other teen had come back, though he was glad because of it. Even so, he was curious as to why. Why a simple teenager would come back when adults and families wouldn't.
"Great." Malik smiled shyly, happy that he hadn't been rejected. The only other times he'd gotten to speak with Bakura, the younger boy had either been delirious with fever, or high from medications. It seemed now, though, that Bakura was in his right mind.
The white-haired teen wanted to put the Egyptian's worries to rest, but he didn't know how to aside from just telling him. Malik had looked after Ryou, that's all that mattered to Bakura.
"Are you feeling better?" Malik wondered, then continued after Bakura had slightly nodded. "Linda told me that you're going to be taken off of the respirator tomorrow and probably released before New Years." He explained.
Well, that was news to Bakura, good news of course. Unconsciously he wondered if the hospital would let him have his heart monitor. He wanted to pout. Probably not if they were to realize what he wanted to do with it.
Malik leaned back again, and sighed. To Bakura, he looked nervous, "I was wondering. . .if you'd mind a little company for Christmas." He began, avoiding Bakura's eyes. "It's my first Christmas. . .and I had wanted to spend it with you two." He explained, "If not, I understand. . .I mean, I've probably already intruded enough but. . .I was just wondering." He shrugged, finally looking at the other.
After the initial shock of the Egyptian's words, Bakura only rolled his eyes as he tried to think of a way that he could tell Malik that it was okay. Ryou would never speak to him if he didn't allow Malik to spend Christmas with them, and it was a nice idea, even to Bakura. Finally he held out his hand, it seemed the best way to go. Malik blinked in a moment of confusion and then hesitantly took the offered hand, and a gentle squeeze gave him his answer.
- - -
I hope everyone noticed Bakura's sarcasm about his lovely stay at the hospital.
About the heart monitor - Bakura probably doesn't really need it, but someone I know had a strained heart so they were placed on one.
All right, Bakura has noticed Malik. Kinda out of the blue, wasn't it? Though he did mention Malik's looks earlier in the fic. Of course, this chapter was giving me so much trouble, grr. Is it moving too fast? (The relationship between Malik and Bakura I mean.) Normally it would take years and years to gain someone's trust, but I doubt you people would like me to write it like that. And even if you do I won't! ^_^
Any suggestions on Ryou's Christmas present? He won't tell me what it is!
And I think I've finally figured out the pairings. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna tell you! You'll just have to wait a find out. Of course, I don't think many people will be happy.
COMMENTS:
Deniz reborn - *puts down entire toilet* You are so lucky you took that back when you did! Truthfully, I refuse to read any fic with even the hint of Tea/Malik. For the simple fact that Malik only belongs to six, well, seven people now (he's a slut you know.) and its against my morals to pair him with a female. It's a sin after all. ^_^ Eh, in my religion anyway. Actually, I make one exception but I can't tell you who. Don't get me wrong though, I don't hate Tea, she's just the easiest to use as the evil one. And really, when you need a bad guy Tristan and Tea come to mind first. . .if not for the real bad guys like Peggsy and Bandana-Boy. I don't mind Tea/Yugi or Tea/Yami, Tea/Joey, Tea/Tristan, Tea/Seto or anything along those lines. As long as she leaves the psychos. . .and um, Ryou alone. ^_^ Sorry, I'm in a talkative mood. You know what I mean.
Shanii - I'm steering away from the Duke/Malik pairing. Sorry. This fic was not even supposed to have them as a pairing anyway and they just kinda worked themselves in. (That's a good thing though, I love writing this fic myself.) And ya know, I don't really see much Malik/Bakura around. It's usually 'Malik' but really they mean Yami Malik. Really, Yami Malik/Marik/Mariku/insert name here, should really get an official name. Tis getting confusing. I understand about the original pairings. I refuse to read Yami/Yugi, Yami/Seto/Yugi (any kind of combination with those three.) and a few others. I occasionally get a craving for a good Bakura/Ryou fic that I haven't already read, but I can never find one when I need one. Marik/Malik isn't really a common pairing. Too many people make Marik into a loony toon that it'd be like Malik screwing a young child. And I'm sorry to disappoint you, but no lemon. I don't write lemons. At least, not very well and they take too long for me to write. I'm not sure what it is about them - I can read one but writing is totally different. It's all been done anyway and my writing skills are exceptionally crappy. I like the personality I've found for Malik. Sex is nice, but I don't like the Malik-Ishtar-Sex-Fiend personality much. I like the Malik-Ishtar-Likes-To-Cuddle-With-Partner personality much better.
Kira-Kura - I can't tell ya anything about Malik confessing to Duke or about his past. It'll ruin the ending. Sowwy.
Kaira-chan - Like Malik could've left the little bugger completely! Of course he'd go back! And if he didn't I would've just threatened to take his Marik away. That usually gets him to listen.
Kyrene (once Blood Roses - I don't read anything unless it has Ryou, Bakura, Malik or Marik it in. Or a very interesting pairing so I know what it's like. I find it weird that writing a new pairing. It's like I'm cheating on one of my characters. Gah.
To Everyone:
Sorry that the chapters are so short. The next one is kinda the second half of this one seeing as how it'll still be Christmas Eve, only you get Duke's story then.