Yay! Kawai Little Angel edited this for me!!! Thank you!! I've made all my comments at the bottom today so, read on to chapter 5!!! Fanfiction.net may bitch at my rating because oh this chap... oh dear...
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Mysteries of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man.
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I blinked, opening my eyes. The first thing I noticed was that despite the fact my throat was sore, I didn't feel any of the aches I had last night, then I recalled Malik's wonderful healing touch as he lulled me off to sleep. I never thought he could be so gentle, or caring, or have such a sultry soft voice, but I was learning things I don't think anyone else ever knew about him. Next was that I was rather warm tucked in this exceedingly plush bed and my hair was sticking to my skin, something I find really annoying. I wanted to stretch out of regular morning habits, then I realized that one, it wasn't morning, it was 1 am and two a pair of strong arms and a warm body were holding me quiet comfortably. I smiled, feeling a blush come to me cheeks, and raised my hand to let it run over the strong tanned arms around me and trance the few strains of sun bleached hair that fell against my shoulders. I curled up again, snuggling against the bare chest behind me, quite content to lay there with him. A sigh crossed my lips as he unconsciously held me a bit closer, nuzzling against my hair. I really didn't know what to think, I was so completely happy just having him near. I was touched to, that he would stay with me. I didn't want to wake him, he seemed so peaceful lying there against me but I started coughing, again, and I heard him groan a bit and shift.
He grumbled something, presumably in Arabic, that I didn't understand. He rested his chin on my shoulder. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his fingers deftly stroking my arm in a loving manner. I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
"Better, thank you..."
He pressed a hand to my forehead, "Your chills are broken." he said matter-of-factly, then I felt him slip away, sitting up and I felt my heart sink. He stayed to keep me warm not to be with me. He laughed a bit "And judging by your hair your fever phase has come and gone too." I love it when he laughs, it's something so rare to hear, Malik laughing without sarcasm or bitterness. I rolled over to look at him, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to me, stretching his arms.
I blinked. I'd never seen his back before, though I had heard mine and Yugi's yami's mention it before. I could barely believe it. The picture covered ever inch of his skin in explicit detail. Ever mark done with such careful attention to detail so the small hieroglyphs were clear and the God Card pictures simple but nearly exact copies. A wide set of wings covered his shoulders arm to arm and I recognized them as the wings of Isis, a common Egyptian symbol of protection. It took my breath away. I couldn't help myself and I reached out, letting my fingers brushed against the sunken marks. He stiffened abruptly and I heard his breath catch harshly. I quickly pulled away. "I'm sorry," I muttered, a fear creeping into me "I didn't know you..."
"Forget it." He said sharply. And he reached back over his shoulder with one hand to run his fingers across the wings. "I just don't like people seeing them."
I examined them, "There so... incredible... such attention. They're beautiful."
He gave a cruel laugh "If you say so."
I looked at him curiously then it dawned on me, something horrible. "... those aren't tattoo's..."
"...No."
I bit my lip, remembering my yami telling me about why the marks were there. "Did it hurt? Do you remember... getting them?"
He turned slightly and looked back over his shoulder to look at the scars in the mirror. "Hurt like a bitch." he said completely deadpan. "I was only a kid, of course it hurt."
"Sorry," I muttered, "It's just... it's so cruel... to do that to a child."
"Yeah, it is." he said softly, I looked toward the mirror to see his face, such a sullen look. As if he were listening to a time long ago and far away.
"Is that why you always wear shirts with hoods, to hide the marks on your shoulders as well as your back?" I cringed at myself for even daring to ask him when he didn't seem to intent on exploring the subject. A smile crossed his face.
"Yeah, I suppose I do."
I smiled a bit and reached out to him again, laying my hand on the intricate ankh in the center of the picture. This time he didn't flinch as I traced the lines with my fingers. Up to his shoulders trailing my hands over the wings. "The wings of Isis... " I smiled slightly, "After she resembled Osiris body from the pieces scattered through Egypt, she turned into a falcon and breathed life into the dead body again... "
"How'd you know?" Malik asked, glancing back at me.
I blushed slightly. "I know lots of myths, mostly Celtic, Teutonic, and British. But... since I met my yami I started to read Middle Eastern."
He turned, looking at me thoughtfully, letting my fingers linger on his back. "But haven't you had your yami since you were little."
I realized my slip up. I gulped a bit. "My mother used to tell me stories..." I could hear her voice telling me of the gods and goddesses of her favourite myths. "About the deities of heaven, earth and underworlds. She used to like the stories about Morrigan, the lady of Avalon and she used to tease me with the stories about Loki the trickster. He was so bitter, and always made trouble." I smiled, "Kinda like you." He laughed, and leaned forward letting laughter run through his body. "What's so funny?"
"Loki!" Malik laughed, "He ended up bringing about the ragnarok, the end of the Teutonic gods."
I raised a brow, "How did you know?"
"How did you?" he countered.
"My mother." I offered, "She got me interested in mythology, she was a real nature child." I smiled to myself, not a bad way to avoid lying about my faith.
"I don't think I've ever seen her." Malik said thoughtfully.
"No," I said softly, curling up tighter to my pillow. "None of my friends have. She doesn't live with us anymore."
"Oh..." he said hesitantly. "Where is she?"
"The corner of Rose street and Houlton. Row 19." I buried my face into my pillow, half-hoping he didn't hear me. A strange look crossed his face.
"Rose street? But that's the... oh..." his face fell and he looked at me, then reached out, pushing my hair back from my face. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize." the was a moment of blessed silence, but I wanted him to speak again, just to know it wasn't something trivial I was holding on to. "How old were you?"
"9, almost 10... the year before I got my ring. I didn't understand it then, she went into the hospital and never came out. And... it's so stupid but I was always afraid as a kid that the same thing would happen to me." he brushed his fingers against my cheek and I smiled, he could be so soothing when he wants to be.
"I remember mine." Malik said thoughtfully, looking at me, "She had the most beautiful black hair, every time I look at Isis I see her." He looked reflective for a moment then shook his head, rose up from the bed and stretched, walking into the bathroom.
I gave a content smile, I never talked about my mother, but now I was happy too. I relaxed, intending to maybe drift off to sleep, but my hair was sticking to my forehead and I swished it away... so it started sticking to my cheeks. This was going to be one long night unless I did something about this. I sat up and felt a wave of dizziness pass me, so I leaned forward and moaned in my throat. I pushed my legs over the side of the bed.
"And where do you think you're going?" a stern voice asked and I turned my head to see Malik standing in the bathroom doorway. I felt like falling back into the bed just looking at him, standing, leaning against the door frame in only his old blue pants, his tanned skin looking radiant in the low light. I blinked and shook my head.
"I was going to take a bath and wash out my hair. I hate it when it's all clumpy and stringy."
"Get your ass back in bed, you can barely sit up, let alone take a bath! You'll drown yourself." he gave me one of those "don't you dare think other wise" looks.
"But Malik!"
"Lay down, Ryou." He directed sternly, walking toward me and I let myself fall back into the bed, not really able to sit anymore. I pouted.
"But wouldn't the heat make me feel better? It would make my cough slack off a bit, and I wouldn't feel so stiff..." He looked at me desperately.
"Don't look at me like that!" He sighed, I let my bottom lip quiver a bit. He sighed and flopped down on the bed beside me. "I don't want you choking yourself to death, you can't even sit up. But if you want your hair washed... oh for the love of Ra, I can't believe I'm going to lower myself to this." He stood up quickly. "You owe me for this."
"Owe you for whaaaAAATT!" He scooped me up into his arms, cradling me too his chest. I hugged tightly to his shoulders. Both thrilled and confused by this new closeness considering neither of us were wearing to much...
"Relax, I won't drop you." he smirked and casually let go of me, I gave a cry but barely fell as he grabbed me again. I glared at him as best I could. He just smiled slightly and shook his head, walking into the bathroom. He sat me gentle on the counter next to the sink. "Don't you pass out," he warned me "Or fall over from dizziness or something stupid." I leaned against the large mirror behind me.
"I think I can manage."
He just nodded and turned, kneeling down to the large square tub and turning on the water. I watched him carefully, something about the way he was moving was so familiar to me. He rose up and started to dig through the cupboards of the room, sorting out the bottles and soaps, getting progressively more frustrated. I was curious about his pickiness, it was only bath supplies but what really got me thinking was why everything he was putting aside were artificial ingredient thing and was keeping everything natural. Eventually it got to the point that as the room filled with steam he was muttering to himself. "No Vanilla causes... lets not go there. Lavender is too soothing, I'm not going to make him pass out... Chocolate!! I can't begin to say what's wrong with that! For the love of ... don't they make anything with primrose? Or thyme? Kaiba can't you buy anything worth buying! Ra knows your rich enough! ... ... tangerine? That might work..." I was stunned by his words, how he was able to tell which things did what, it wasn't something I would ever tag Malik as knowing.
He knelt down again, pouring all the contents of a small bottle in his hand. He closed his eyes and seemed for a moment to be deep in thought. I felt something shift in the air. Something mixed with the warm stream brushing my skin. It was like the atmosphere of the whole room changed and became sublime and soothing. He put his hands under the tap, letting the water cascade over them and washing away the clear orange liquid in them. It caught the light and shimmered as it splashed rivulets over his fingers, forming bubbles in the deepening water. The warmth of stream moved around me and I smiled, raised my head toward it slightly. It was incredible, healing almost. Something was so familiar about this, where had I felt it before? It was almost like magick... I blinked, no couldn't be. I smiled peacefully, it really was a beautiful scene. The room had taken on a tinge of warm white from the mist and it had started to collect on my skin, invisible drops that heated me up. And Malik, kneeling there, hand slowly stirring the water in a clockwise motion his tanned skin had taken on a sheen from the dewy air. I closed my eyes, enjoying the magic, the sound of running water, the swirling warmth, utterly sublime.
I think I may have dosed off a bit, because I suddenly sensed I was being watched and the water was no longer running. I opened my eyes to find my own image of an Egyptian god standing in front of me looking at me with an amused expression. The water mist gave him a golden radiance were it clung to his upper body where he had been leaning over the tub. I just stared for a moment before he crossed his arms over his chest and clucked his tongue, catching my attention. "What do you find so damn amusing?"
I blushed a bit, looking away. "Nothing," I said with a little cough from my flu infected chest. He gave me a sympathetic look and took me up in his arms again. "Um... Malik? What are you doing?"
"Making sure you don't kill yourself, because surely to god if I leave you in here alone and you lean down to rinse your hair or something you'll get dizzy and drown yourself." I couldn't deny the fact. I doubted I could even sit up without something to lean against. He held me over the tub and I looked down slightly, the hot water blinking invitingly, then something clicked in my mind and I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I blushed furiously.
"Malik, I'm not..."
He gave me a scowl. "Don't you dare say your not fully undressed, your fine in your boxers." With that he dropped to his knees, plunking me down in the water. My eyes must have been like saucers, I know I was in a state of shock because it took a minute to register that he had start to line up a few bottles along the side of the tub within easy reach. The tub itself was rather deep and the water came up to just below my collarbone. The water was so blessedly hot, and smelled wonderfully of tangerines it would have been perfect if I could just sit there and soak but my light head forced me to lean my side the tub and let my arm dangle over the side. True to what I said early, the heat and moisture cleared my chest a bit. Unfortunately the heat was also causing my dizziness to act up and I was starting to think this wasn't a good idea as I lay my head on the arm I had hooked over the tub. I felt a hand run through my hair and I turned my head slightly to look at Malik who knelt beside me on the floor. "Feeling okay?"
"A bit dizzy," I admitted sheepishly. "I think you were right about me not being able to wash my hair." He offered me a sympathetic look. I gave a relaxed smile. "But the water's nice, it's making me feel much better."
"Tangerine is good for the immune system." he smirked and let his hand trail to my shoulder. "Can you sit up a bit if you lean against your arm, I'll wash it out for you."
"Really?" I looked at him in mild shock. He shrugged.
"Why not?" he replied and tapped my shoulder playfully. I looked at him questioningly and sat up again, one arm leaning on the side of the tub, the other bracing myself against my knee. He waited till I was done shifting around before he filled a small pitcher from the bathwater and poured it over my head. I ducked my head a bit as the water hit my shoulders and ran over the back of my head. He laughed slightly, continuing the pattern of filling the picture and empting it onto my hair, "You're not used to being taken care of are you?" I shook my head no, for one my father is never home, two, though my yami really does care about me hasn't really taken it upon himself to actually take care of me. He watches out for the both of us and comes to the rescue when I need him (Or I go save his ass from whatever trouble he manages to get himself into). I let a small sigh cross my lips... I missed my yami, not in a romantic way of course. He's... I dunno... my best friend? My soul mate? He's just a part of me. Being in Egypt meant he couldn't go back into the ring because if he came out, he would be with me and not Isis.
My thoughts completely stilled, feeling a warm hand slid up into my hair and I slowly drew in a breath. I swallowed, catching the scent of lemongrass from the solution being rubbed into my hair. I felt the hands work the sweet smelling shampoo into my white locks down to the scalp. It was incredibly relaxing, apparently Malik's skills with his hand go beyond back massages. I let my body relax and closed my eyes, leaning my head back into the slow soothing massage. The soothing smell of lemongrass gave my stuffy nose a good deal of relief and Malik's hands on my hair and neck caressed away whatever anxiety I felt. His fingers ran across the neck, catching the longer tresses of hair that fell about my shoulder and I bit back a sigh. His fingers tailed down my neck, temptingly brushing against the curve of skin just below my ear, sending chills down my spine. The hands moved across my shoulder, lathering it with the sweet smelling shampoo and he shifted slightly. His thumb stroked my pale skin deftly and he seemed lost in the moment as his hand trailed down my arm a bit, allowing him to rest his cheek against my shoulder. I tried to fight back the urge to quicken my breath against the onslaught of new feelings that traveled through me with each touch. "Malik?" I whispered softly.
"Hmm?" he answered against my shoulder.
"What...?" I couldn't finish the question, his fingers rubbed across my neck again cause my breath to hitch in my throat.
"Your skin..." he murmured gently, raising his head so he was sitting up once more, but his thumb moved up to stroke the free area, "it's so soft... almost like... flower petals." he gave a small chuckle at his choice of words.
I smiled shyly at the complement. "Violets and milk." I said softly.
"Beg you pardon?" I turned a bit and smiled a bit more seeing the confusion on his face.
"Violets and milk," I repeated, feeling the blush creep back into my cheeks and I bowed my head to hide it. "It's an old legend that if you mix violets with milk and rub it on your skin no one will be able to resist you... I don't know if that's true or not but it does make your skin soft..." I turned from his gaze, completely embarrassed.
"Who could with skin like that," he said distantly, dragging his fingers across my shoulders then he seemed to catch himself and laughed taking his hands away (which was mildly disappointing) "I'm sorry, I think I have an obsession with things that are smooth." I giggled a bit, turning back around and he started to pour water over my hair again, rinsing it free of all the soap, running his fingers through it smoothly to get it all out. I smiled, liking the way the water ran over my skin, warming me up. "Think you can get up?" He asked, grabbing a towel from the rack on the wall and draping it over his shoulder. I gave him a pleading look and shook my head no, it was hard enough to stay sitting without feeling weak. Maybe that also had something to do with Malik and his talented hands...
He wrapped his arm around me, helping me to stand up and step from the water. In one graceful movement he pulled the large towel from his shoulder, wrapping it around me catching within it. "Hey, I got'ca." He said teasingly, pulling me a bit closer with the towel. I laughed but stumbled, not being all the best on my feet and I fell forward into his arms. "Hey now," he smiled at me catching me in his toned arms and I looked up at his beautiful violet eyes, "watch your step," He raised his hand to my cheek, running his thumb across my jawbone, a sultry smile on his face. I blushed a bit, my eyes traveling across his face. Something about his eyes caught my attention, as long as I've known him his eyes were stormy but now they seemed to shine, reflecting their beautiful intense violet. He blinked and I looked away a bit, embarrassed and then glanced up at his face again. The storm clouds were back.
He kept his arm about my waist, allowing me to lean on him to get back to the room. "Ryou?"
"Mmhm?" I glanced up at him and for the first time even I saw crimson flush across his bronzed cheeks.
"Can you get dressed? You may not want to lay down in wet boxers." He quickly diverted his eyes and I laughed in spite of myself.
"I can manage with that," I said, my turn to give him an amused smiled. "Can you just bring up my bag?" He nodded and he let me flop down on the bed before leaving the room. I slid myself up on the bed propping myself up on the large pile of pillows. Malik re-entered and tossed my bag onto the bed. "Thank you." I smiled. He gave a smirked and shrugged, the bowed his head slightly.
"You want anything to eat?" He asked as I started to dig through my bag, I paused a minute.
"Sure..."
"What would you like? Kaiba keeps that mini-kitchen pretty stocked with snack foods."
I thought a minute "Any type of fruit will work, I suppose eating health won't kill me." He shook his head, his trademark grin on his face.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I laughed, glancing down for a moment but when I look up again he was gone. Disappearing as mysteriously and quietly as he had always done. I pulled out so clothes from my bag, an old pair of pyjama pants and the white T-shirt I always wore to bed. I pulled both on and discarded my pretty soaked boxers, wrapping them in my towel. Then fell back into the pile of pillows. At that moment there was a rap on the doorframe. I laughed, "It's safe Malik." I said back to the knock. He entered with a grace that only the bronze Egyptian could pull off and placed a tray on the bedside stand beside me. "Enough selection don't you think?" I giggled looking through the pile of exotic fruits.
"You never said what kind you wanted." Malik replied smartly, flopping drop on the bed beside me and dropping a towel on my head "Dry your hair, wet-head." I rolled my eyes at him but started to work at towel drying my hair, finding it easier to move and not get faint being prompted up like I was. He leaned over me to grabbed the TV remote then tossed it up in the air and caught it with ease, the end pointing toward me. "Want to watch something?"
I took the controller from him and rolled my eyes "Your to cocky for your own good you know that?"
"Yes I know." He grinned smartly, "That's why I'm single."
I shook my head at him and turned on the TV, surfing through the channels, "Currently lacking a girl?" I said casually, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. Of course he didn't like me. With my luck he was probably having an affair with Tea... I almost gagged at the thought. Not that she's a bad person or anything, it's just... Tea...
"Who said anything about a girl?" He raised a brow looking at me curiously, "I just said I was single. What if I decided I was going to start seeing a boy?" That caught me off guard completely and I turned to stair at him, he broke out in a fit of laughter.
"Your such an ass sometimes." I scowled.
"I know."
I kept scanning through the channels until I found some action movie thing about Egypt. I watched a few seconds before recognizing it as The Mummy with Brandon Fraser. Sadly, I really do like action movies. I wondered if Malik had even seen it. "This okay? It's about Egypt." Malik nodded, watching with curiosity. He would know more about this type of thing then I would.
There was a moment of silence as we both got wrapped up in the movie, each of us picking at the food Malik had brought up. Then came the part where one of the tomb robbers popped a scarab thing of the wall and it turned into a real beetle and crawled under his skin, literally. I hate bugs and this part always made my skin crawl. I made a noise in my throat and turned my head, burying it into the nearest thing so I could avoid looking. I then realized just abruptly what I had grabbed onto was Malik's chest. I slowly looked up, expecting to see him glaring at me, but he just looked amused and wrapped his arms about me lazily.
"Scared Ryou-chan?" he smirked. I felt the breath go out of me when he used the affectionate nick-name.
"I don't like bugs." I admitted sheepishly. He smiled in a charmed way and pulled me to him, running a hand through my hair.
"It's just a movie, believe me, there are no creatures like that where I come from."
"I know," I blushed slightly. He laughed, running his thumb across the blush of my cheeks then holding me close planted a kiss on my forehead.
"Your really something, Ryou." I closed my eyes, a tremble passed through me feeling his lips on my skin and I curled my fingers into the thin fabric of his shirt. "Hold on as long as like." He said, his voice low and soothing. He shifted a bit, leaning back and moved me in his arms slightly so we were both comfortable. I was snuggled to his chest and his arms about me, his fingers playing with my hair. I smiled contentedly, for that moment... I wasn't sick, or lonely, I was safe in his embrace.
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The movie end, I don't know what it was called but it was pretty pathetic how they tried to copy how the group my family belongs to protect the tombs. "Maybe you should go back to bed, Ryou." I said, "Fight off your cold... Ryou?" I looked down, trailing my fingers from his hair to his cheek. He was sleeping so soundly, peacefully free of everything on his mind. I gazed at him, running my fingers over his smooth skin and let them rest on his lips. "Why did Ptah have to make you so damn beautiful?" I whispered, laying my forehead to his. "And you don't have any idea how beautiful you are. If your not careful I'm going to fall for you." I twirled a lock of his hair by his cheek around my fingers, a sadness crept into me, I refused to hurt this little delicate creature. I gave into my temptation just this one and I kissed my fingers that lingered on his lips. "Goddess, If I can't have him... please... just give me this one night to have in my memory. One night to call him my own..." I sighed softly, laying my lips to his hair and pulled the blankets around us both. I smiled, holding him to me and for one night... he was my own.
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The title of this chapter is a line from "The Creed of the Goddess ;) hehehe
Oh and as for all the things Malik screws with in the bathroom, hears why: Vanilla is for sex ^_____^, Lavender is for sleepiness, Chocolate is for faithfulness! Tangerine really is an immune booster and Lemongrass is for easing chest congestion.
That violets and Milk thing? It really is a spell like Ryou said. Feel free to try it. A handful of fresh violets heated in milk for 3 minutes, enjoy! And remember, stir clockwise.
Enkidu Thank you *blushes* I'm really thrilled you like it, mainly because your my favourite writer on fanfic.net *runs and hides, being overly sigh* I swear! I love your work! So I'm flattered!
Lady Adako Yup it's true, I'm going to keep Ryou being a freelance. But I'll have my use the celtic runes and gods in his work. Oh and as for that idea about Ryou and Malik finding out about each other? I've had something in mind, read the next chap ;)
Crossover Authoress I love Meatloaf songs too! ^__^ Heaven can wait is my favorite
Sarina Fannel I thought about doing that... hmmm... I think i'll save that idea for later *evil smirks* I know I gave a really depressing reason for why Ryou hates hospitals... ohhh now I feel bad for him!
And everyone else who reviewed THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! *gives them all pixy-sticks and Ryou and Malik plushies* YAY!! A WHOLE 51 REVEIWS!!!
~!@# PLEASE READ#@!~
Announcement: I'm having a bit of a contest! In the next chapter or two I'm going to have to dress Ryou up to make Malik drool! So here's my contest: Think of an outfit Ryou would look adorable in (leather, silk, gold, silver, Anything goes! Whatever you dream of him wearing!) and leave it in a review with your signature or e-mail so I can tell you if you've won. As for a time limit... it's open until I post the next chapter! There are 3 judges, including me and we'll be deciding which would be the best to knock the beautiful Egyptian dead. The prize is a walk on appearance in this story and a picture of Ryou dress in the outfit you suggested posted up. Thanks Everyone!!! -Lady Yami Bakura
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Mysteries of the waters, and the desire of the heart of man.
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I blinked, opening my eyes. The first thing I noticed was that despite the fact my throat was sore, I didn't feel any of the aches I had last night, then I recalled Malik's wonderful healing touch as he lulled me off to sleep. I never thought he could be so gentle, or caring, or have such a sultry soft voice, but I was learning things I don't think anyone else ever knew about him. Next was that I was rather warm tucked in this exceedingly plush bed and my hair was sticking to my skin, something I find really annoying. I wanted to stretch out of regular morning habits, then I realized that one, it wasn't morning, it was 1 am and two a pair of strong arms and a warm body were holding me quiet comfortably. I smiled, feeling a blush come to me cheeks, and raised my hand to let it run over the strong tanned arms around me and trance the few strains of sun bleached hair that fell against my shoulders. I curled up again, snuggling against the bare chest behind me, quite content to lay there with him. A sigh crossed my lips as he unconsciously held me a bit closer, nuzzling against my hair. I really didn't know what to think, I was so completely happy just having him near. I was touched to, that he would stay with me. I didn't want to wake him, he seemed so peaceful lying there against me but I started coughing, again, and I heard him groan a bit and shift.
He grumbled something, presumably in Arabic, that I didn't understand. He rested his chin on my shoulder. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his fingers deftly stroking my arm in a loving manner. I felt my breath hitch in my throat.
"Better, thank you..."
He pressed a hand to my forehead, "Your chills are broken." he said matter-of-factly, then I felt him slip away, sitting up and I felt my heart sink. He stayed to keep me warm not to be with me. He laughed a bit "And judging by your hair your fever phase has come and gone too." I love it when he laughs, it's something so rare to hear, Malik laughing without sarcasm or bitterness. I rolled over to look at him, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, his back to me, stretching his arms.
I blinked. I'd never seen his back before, though I had heard mine and Yugi's yami's mention it before. I could barely believe it. The picture covered ever inch of his skin in explicit detail. Ever mark done with such careful attention to detail so the small hieroglyphs were clear and the God Card pictures simple but nearly exact copies. A wide set of wings covered his shoulders arm to arm and I recognized them as the wings of Isis, a common Egyptian symbol of protection. It took my breath away. I couldn't help myself and I reached out, letting my fingers brushed against the sunken marks. He stiffened abruptly and I heard his breath catch harshly. I quickly pulled away. "I'm sorry," I muttered, a fear creeping into me "I didn't know you..."
"Forget it." He said sharply. And he reached back over his shoulder with one hand to run his fingers across the wings. "I just don't like people seeing them."
I examined them, "There so... incredible... such attention. They're beautiful."
He gave a cruel laugh "If you say so."
I looked at him curiously then it dawned on me, something horrible. "... those aren't tattoo's..."
"...No."
I bit my lip, remembering my yami telling me about why the marks were there. "Did it hurt? Do you remember... getting them?"
He turned slightly and looked back over his shoulder to look at the scars in the mirror. "Hurt like a bitch." he said completely deadpan. "I was only a kid, of course it hurt."
"Sorry," I muttered, "It's just... it's so cruel... to do that to a child."
"Yeah, it is." he said softly, I looked toward the mirror to see his face, such a sullen look. As if he were listening to a time long ago and far away.
"Is that why you always wear shirts with hoods, to hide the marks on your shoulders as well as your back?" I cringed at myself for even daring to ask him when he didn't seem to intent on exploring the subject. A smile crossed his face.
"Yeah, I suppose I do."
I smiled a bit and reached out to him again, laying my hand on the intricate ankh in the center of the picture. This time he didn't flinch as I traced the lines with my fingers. Up to his shoulders trailing my hands over the wings. "The wings of Isis... " I smiled slightly, "After she resembled Osiris body from the pieces scattered through Egypt, she turned into a falcon and breathed life into the dead body again... "
"How'd you know?" Malik asked, glancing back at me.
I blushed slightly. "I know lots of myths, mostly Celtic, Teutonic, and British. But... since I met my yami I started to read Middle Eastern."
He turned, looking at me thoughtfully, letting my fingers linger on his back. "But haven't you had your yami since you were little."
I realized my slip up. I gulped a bit. "My mother used to tell me stories..." I could hear her voice telling me of the gods and goddesses of her favourite myths. "About the deities of heaven, earth and underworlds. She used to like the stories about Morrigan, the lady of Avalon and she used to tease me with the stories about Loki the trickster. He was so bitter, and always made trouble." I smiled, "Kinda like you." He laughed, and leaned forward letting laughter run through his body. "What's so funny?"
"Loki!" Malik laughed, "He ended up bringing about the ragnarok, the end of the Teutonic gods."
I raised a brow, "How did you know?"
"How did you?" he countered.
"My mother." I offered, "She got me interested in mythology, she was a real nature child." I smiled to myself, not a bad way to avoid lying about my faith.
"I don't think I've ever seen her." Malik said thoughtfully.
"No," I said softly, curling up tighter to my pillow. "None of my friends have. She doesn't live with us anymore."
"Oh..." he said hesitantly. "Where is she?"
"The corner of Rose street and Houlton. Row 19." I buried my face into my pillow, half-hoping he didn't hear me. A strange look crossed his face.
"Rose street? But that's the... oh..." his face fell and he looked at me, then reached out, pushing my hair back from my face. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize." the was a moment of blessed silence, but I wanted him to speak again, just to know it wasn't something trivial I was holding on to. "How old were you?"
"9, almost 10... the year before I got my ring. I didn't understand it then, she went into the hospital and never came out. And... it's so stupid but I was always afraid as a kid that the same thing would happen to me." he brushed his fingers against my cheek and I smiled, he could be so soothing when he wants to be.
"I remember mine." Malik said thoughtfully, looking at me, "She had the most beautiful black hair, every time I look at Isis I see her." He looked reflective for a moment then shook his head, rose up from the bed and stretched, walking into the bathroom.
I gave a content smile, I never talked about my mother, but now I was happy too. I relaxed, intending to maybe drift off to sleep, but my hair was sticking to my forehead and I swished it away... so it started sticking to my cheeks. This was going to be one long night unless I did something about this. I sat up and felt a wave of dizziness pass me, so I leaned forward and moaned in my throat. I pushed my legs over the side of the bed.
"And where do you think you're going?" a stern voice asked and I turned my head to see Malik standing in the bathroom doorway. I felt like falling back into the bed just looking at him, standing, leaning against the door frame in only his old blue pants, his tanned skin looking radiant in the low light. I blinked and shook my head.
"I was going to take a bath and wash out my hair. I hate it when it's all clumpy and stringy."
"Get your ass back in bed, you can barely sit up, let alone take a bath! You'll drown yourself." he gave me one of those "don't you dare think other wise" looks.
"But Malik!"
"Lay down, Ryou." He directed sternly, walking toward me and I let myself fall back into the bed, not really able to sit anymore. I pouted.
"But wouldn't the heat make me feel better? It would make my cough slack off a bit, and I wouldn't feel so stiff..." He looked at me desperately.
"Don't look at me like that!" He sighed, I let my bottom lip quiver a bit. He sighed and flopped down on the bed beside me. "I don't want you choking yourself to death, you can't even sit up. But if you want your hair washed... oh for the love of Ra, I can't believe I'm going to lower myself to this." He stood up quickly. "You owe me for this."
"Owe you for whaaaAAATT!" He scooped me up into his arms, cradling me too his chest. I hugged tightly to his shoulders. Both thrilled and confused by this new closeness considering neither of us were wearing to much...
"Relax, I won't drop you." he smirked and casually let go of me, I gave a cry but barely fell as he grabbed me again. I glared at him as best I could. He just smiled slightly and shook his head, walking into the bathroom. He sat me gentle on the counter next to the sink. "Don't you pass out," he warned me "Or fall over from dizziness or something stupid." I leaned against the large mirror behind me.
"I think I can manage."
He just nodded and turned, kneeling down to the large square tub and turning on the water. I watched him carefully, something about the way he was moving was so familiar to me. He rose up and started to dig through the cupboards of the room, sorting out the bottles and soaps, getting progressively more frustrated. I was curious about his pickiness, it was only bath supplies but what really got me thinking was why everything he was putting aside were artificial ingredient thing and was keeping everything natural. Eventually it got to the point that as the room filled with steam he was muttering to himself. "No Vanilla causes... lets not go there. Lavender is too soothing, I'm not going to make him pass out... Chocolate!! I can't begin to say what's wrong with that! For the love of ... don't they make anything with primrose? Or thyme? Kaiba can't you buy anything worth buying! Ra knows your rich enough! ... ... tangerine? That might work..." I was stunned by his words, how he was able to tell which things did what, it wasn't something I would ever tag Malik as knowing.
He knelt down again, pouring all the contents of a small bottle in his hand. He closed his eyes and seemed for a moment to be deep in thought. I felt something shift in the air. Something mixed with the warm stream brushing my skin. It was like the atmosphere of the whole room changed and became sublime and soothing. He put his hands under the tap, letting the water cascade over them and washing away the clear orange liquid in them. It caught the light and shimmered as it splashed rivulets over his fingers, forming bubbles in the deepening water. The warmth of stream moved around me and I smiled, raised my head toward it slightly. It was incredible, healing almost. Something was so familiar about this, where had I felt it before? It was almost like magick... I blinked, no couldn't be. I smiled peacefully, it really was a beautiful scene. The room had taken on a tinge of warm white from the mist and it had started to collect on my skin, invisible drops that heated me up. And Malik, kneeling there, hand slowly stirring the water in a clockwise motion his tanned skin had taken on a sheen from the dewy air. I closed my eyes, enjoying the magic, the sound of running water, the swirling warmth, utterly sublime.
I think I may have dosed off a bit, because I suddenly sensed I was being watched and the water was no longer running. I opened my eyes to find my own image of an Egyptian god standing in front of me looking at me with an amused expression. The water mist gave him a golden radiance were it clung to his upper body where he had been leaning over the tub. I just stared for a moment before he crossed his arms over his chest and clucked his tongue, catching my attention. "What do you find so damn amusing?"
I blushed a bit, looking away. "Nothing," I said with a little cough from my flu infected chest. He gave me a sympathetic look and took me up in his arms again. "Um... Malik? What are you doing?"
"Making sure you don't kill yourself, because surely to god if I leave you in here alone and you lean down to rinse your hair or something you'll get dizzy and drown yourself." I couldn't deny the fact. I doubted I could even sit up without something to lean against. He held me over the tub and I looked down slightly, the hot water blinking invitingly, then something clicked in my mind and I could feel the heat in my cheeks as I blushed furiously.
"Malik, I'm not..."
He gave me a scowl. "Don't you dare say your not fully undressed, your fine in your boxers." With that he dropped to his knees, plunking me down in the water. My eyes must have been like saucers, I know I was in a state of shock because it took a minute to register that he had start to line up a few bottles along the side of the tub within easy reach. The tub itself was rather deep and the water came up to just below my collarbone. The water was so blessedly hot, and smelled wonderfully of tangerines it would have been perfect if I could just sit there and soak but my light head forced me to lean my side the tub and let my arm dangle over the side. True to what I said early, the heat and moisture cleared my chest a bit. Unfortunately the heat was also causing my dizziness to act up and I was starting to think this wasn't a good idea as I lay my head on the arm I had hooked over the tub. I felt a hand run through my hair and I turned my head slightly to look at Malik who knelt beside me on the floor. "Feeling okay?"
"A bit dizzy," I admitted sheepishly. "I think you were right about me not being able to wash my hair." He offered me a sympathetic look. I gave a relaxed smile. "But the water's nice, it's making me feel much better."
"Tangerine is good for the immune system." he smirked and let his hand trail to my shoulder. "Can you sit up a bit if you lean against your arm, I'll wash it out for you."
"Really?" I looked at him in mild shock. He shrugged.
"Why not?" he replied and tapped my shoulder playfully. I looked at him questioningly and sat up again, one arm leaning on the side of the tub, the other bracing myself against my knee. He waited till I was done shifting around before he filled a small pitcher from the bathwater and poured it over my head. I ducked my head a bit as the water hit my shoulders and ran over the back of my head. He laughed slightly, continuing the pattern of filling the picture and empting it onto my hair, "You're not used to being taken care of are you?" I shook my head no, for one my father is never home, two, though my yami really does care about me hasn't really taken it upon himself to actually take care of me. He watches out for the both of us and comes to the rescue when I need him (Or I go save his ass from whatever trouble he manages to get himself into). I let a small sigh cross my lips... I missed my yami, not in a romantic way of course. He's... I dunno... my best friend? My soul mate? He's just a part of me. Being in Egypt meant he couldn't go back into the ring because if he came out, he would be with me and not Isis.
My thoughts completely stilled, feeling a warm hand slid up into my hair and I slowly drew in a breath. I swallowed, catching the scent of lemongrass from the solution being rubbed into my hair. I felt the hands work the sweet smelling shampoo into my white locks down to the scalp. It was incredibly relaxing, apparently Malik's skills with his hand go beyond back massages. I let my body relax and closed my eyes, leaning my head back into the slow soothing massage. The soothing smell of lemongrass gave my stuffy nose a good deal of relief and Malik's hands on my hair and neck caressed away whatever anxiety I felt. His fingers ran across the neck, catching the longer tresses of hair that fell about my shoulder and I bit back a sigh. His fingers tailed down my neck, temptingly brushing against the curve of skin just below my ear, sending chills down my spine. The hands moved across my shoulder, lathering it with the sweet smelling shampoo and he shifted slightly. His thumb stroked my pale skin deftly and he seemed lost in the moment as his hand trailed down my arm a bit, allowing him to rest his cheek against my shoulder. I tried to fight back the urge to quicken my breath against the onslaught of new feelings that traveled through me with each touch. "Malik?" I whispered softly.
"Hmm?" he answered against my shoulder.
"What...?" I couldn't finish the question, his fingers rubbed across my neck again cause my breath to hitch in my throat.
"Your skin..." he murmured gently, raising his head so he was sitting up once more, but his thumb moved up to stroke the free area, "it's so soft... almost like... flower petals." he gave a small chuckle at his choice of words.
I smiled shyly at the complement. "Violets and milk." I said softly.
"Beg you pardon?" I turned a bit and smiled a bit more seeing the confusion on his face.
"Violets and milk," I repeated, feeling the blush creep back into my cheeks and I bowed my head to hide it. "It's an old legend that if you mix violets with milk and rub it on your skin no one will be able to resist you... I don't know if that's true or not but it does make your skin soft..." I turned from his gaze, completely embarrassed.
"Who could with skin like that," he said distantly, dragging his fingers across my shoulders then he seemed to catch himself and laughed taking his hands away (which was mildly disappointing) "I'm sorry, I think I have an obsession with things that are smooth." I giggled a bit, turning back around and he started to pour water over my hair again, rinsing it free of all the soap, running his fingers through it smoothly to get it all out. I smiled, liking the way the water ran over my skin, warming me up. "Think you can get up?" He asked, grabbing a towel from the rack on the wall and draping it over his shoulder. I gave him a pleading look and shook my head no, it was hard enough to stay sitting without feeling weak. Maybe that also had something to do with Malik and his talented hands...
He wrapped his arm around me, helping me to stand up and step from the water. In one graceful movement he pulled the large towel from his shoulder, wrapping it around me catching within it. "Hey, I got'ca." He said teasingly, pulling me a bit closer with the towel. I laughed but stumbled, not being all the best on my feet and I fell forward into his arms. "Hey now," he smiled at me catching me in his toned arms and I looked up at his beautiful violet eyes, "watch your step," He raised his hand to my cheek, running his thumb across my jawbone, a sultry smile on his face. I blushed a bit, my eyes traveling across his face. Something about his eyes caught my attention, as long as I've known him his eyes were stormy but now they seemed to shine, reflecting their beautiful intense violet. He blinked and I looked away a bit, embarrassed and then glanced up at his face again. The storm clouds were back.
He kept his arm about my waist, allowing me to lean on him to get back to the room. "Ryou?"
"Mmhm?" I glanced up at him and for the first time even I saw crimson flush across his bronzed cheeks.
"Can you get dressed? You may not want to lay down in wet boxers." He quickly diverted his eyes and I laughed in spite of myself.
"I can manage with that," I said, my turn to give him an amused smiled. "Can you just bring up my bag?" He nodded and he let me flop down on the bed before leaving the room. I slid myself up on the bed propping myself up on the large pile of pillows. Malik re-entered and tossed my bag onto the bed. "Thank you." I smiled. He gave a smirked and shrugged, the bowed his head slightly.
"You want anything to eat?" He asked as I started to dig through my bag, I paused a minute.
"Sure..."
"What would you like? Kaiba keeps that mini-kitchen pretty stocked with snack foods."
I thought a minute "Any type of fruit will work, I suppose eating health won't kill me." He shook his head, his trademark grin on his face.
"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
I laughed, glancing down for a moment but when I look up again he was gone. Disappearing as mysteriously and quietly as he had always done. I pulled out so clothes from my bag, an old pair of pyjama pants and the white T-shirt I always wore to bed. I pulled both on and discarded my pretty soaked boxers, wrapping them in my towel. Then fell back into the pile of pillows. At that moment there was a rap on the doorframe. I laughed, "It's safe Malik." I said back to the knock. He entered with a grace that only the bronze Egyptian could pull off and placed a tray on the bedside stand beside me. "Enough selection don't you think?" I giggled looking through the pile of exotic fruits.
"You never said what kind you wanted." Malik replied smartly, flopping drop on the bed beside me and dropping a towel on my head "Dry your hair, wet-head." I rolled my eyes at him but started to work at towel drying my hair, finding it easier to move and not get faint being prompted up like I was. He leaned over me to grabbed the TV remote then tossed it up in the air and caught it with ease, the end pointing toward me. "Want to watch something?"
I took the controller from him and rolled my eyes "Your to cocky for your own good you know that?"
"Yes I know." He grinned smartly, "That's why I'm single."
I shook my head at him and turned on the TV, surfing through the channels, "Currently lacking a girl?" I said casually, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. Of course he didn't like me. With my luck he was probably having an affair with Tea... I almost gagged at the thought. Not that she's a bad person or anything, it's just... Tea...
"Who said anything about a girl?" He raised a brow looking at me curiously, "I just said I was single. What if I decided I was going to start seeing a boy?" That caught me off guard completely and I turned to stair at him, he broke out in a fit of laughter.
"Your such an ass sometimes." I scowled.
"I know."
I kept scanning through the channels until I found some action movie thing about Egypt. I watched a few seconds before recognizing it as The Mummy with Brandon Fraser. Sadly, I really do like action movies. I wondered if Malik had even seen it. "This okay? It's about Egypt." Malik nodded, watching with curiosity. He would know more about this type of thing then I would.
There was a moment of silence as we both got wrapped up in the movie, each of us picking at the food Malik had brought up. Then came the part where one of the tomb robbers popped a scarab thing of the wall and it turned into a real beetle and crawled under his skin, literally. I hate bugs and this part always made my skin crawl. I made a noise in my throat and turned my head, burying it into the nearest thing so I could avoid looking. I then realized just abruptly what I had grabbed onto was Malik's chest. I slowly looked up, expecting to see him glaring at me, but he just looked amused and wrapped his arms about me lazily.
"Scared Ryou-chan?" he smirked. I felt the breath go out of me when he used the affectionate nick-name.
"I don't like bugs." I admitted sheepishly. He smiled in a charmed way and pulled me to him, running a hand through my hair.
"It's just a movie, believe me, there are no creatures like that where I come from."
"I know," I blushed slightly. He laughed, running his thumb across the blush of my cheeks then holding me close planted a kiss on my forehead.
"Your really something, Ryou." I closed my eyes, a tremble passed through me feeling his lips on my skin and I curled my fingers into the thin fabric of his shirt. "Hold on as long as like." He said, his voice low and soothing. He shifted a bit, leaning back and moved me in his arms slightly so we were both comfortable. I was snuggled to his chest and his arms about me, his fingers playing with my hair. I smiled contentedly, for that moment... I wasn't sick, or lonely, I was safe in his embrace.
***********
The movie end, I don't know what it was called but it was pretty pathetic how they tried to copy how the group my family belongs to protect the tombs. "Maybe you should go back to bed, Ryou." I said, "Fight off your cold... Ryou?" I looked down, trailing my fingers from his hair to his cheek. He was sleeping so soundly, peacefully free of everything on his mind. I gazed at him, running my fingers over his smooth skin and let them rest on his lips. "Why did Ptah have to make you so damn beautiful?" I whispered, laying my forehead to his. "And you don't have any idea how beautiful you are. If your not careful I'm going to fall for you." I twirled a lock of his hair by his cheek around my fingers, a sadness crept into me, I refused to hurt this little delicate creature. I gave into my temptation just this one and I kissed my fingers that lingered on his lips. "Goddess, If I can't have him... please... just give me this one night to have in my memory. One night to call him my own..." I sighed softly, laying my lips to his hair and pulled the blankets around us both. I smiled, holding him to me and for one night... he was my own.
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The title of this chapter is a line from "The Creed of the Goddess ;) hehehe
Oh and as for all the things Malik screws with in the bathroom, hears why: Vanilla is for sex ^_____^, Lavender is for sleepiness, Chocolate is for faithfulness! Tangerine really is an immune booster and Lemongrass is for easing chest congestion.
That violets and Milk thing? It really is a spell like Ryou said. Feel free to try it. A handful of fresh violets heated in milk for 3 minutes, enjoy! And remember, stir clockwise.
Enkidu Thank you *blushes* I'm really thrilled you like it, mainly because your my favourite writer on fanfic.net *runs and hides, being overly sigh* I swear! I love your work! So I'm flattered!
Lady Adako Yup it's true, I'm going to keep Ryou being a freelance. But I'll have my use the celtic runes and gods in his work. Oh and as for that idea about Ryou and Malik finding out about each other? I've had something in mind, read the next chap ;)
Crossover Authoress I love Meatloaf songs too! ^__^ Heaven can wait is my favorite
Sarina Fannel I thought about doing that... hmmm... I think i'll save that idea for later *evil smirks* I know I gave a really depressing reason for why Ryou hates hospitals... ohhh now I feel bad for him!
And everyone else who reviewed THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! *gives them all pixy-sticks and Ryou and Malik plushies* YAY!! A WHOLE 51 REVEIWS!!!
~!@# PLEASE READ#@!~
Announcement: I'm having a bit of a contest! In the next chapter or two I'm going to have to dress Ryou up to make Malik drool! So here's my contest: Think of an outfit Ryou would look adorable in (leather, silk, gold, silver, Anything goes! Whatever you dream of him wearing!) and leave it in a review with your signature or e-mail so I can tell you if you've won. As for a time limit... it's open until I post the next chapter! There are 3 judges, including me and we'll be deciding which would be the best to knock the beautiful Egyptian dead. The prize is a walk on appearance in this story and a picture of Ryou dress in the outfit you suggested posted up. Thanks Everyone!!! -Lady Yami Bakura