Well, it's been over a year since I started that damn contest and lo-and-behold I finally got to write in the winner! The prize I offered was a walk on appearance in the story and a picture of Ryou in the suggested outfit. Mind you, Ryou's new wardrobe won't be reviled till next chapter.
Malik: You should just stop dragging this out. When this fic started you told me it was only six chapters, 6 CHAPTERS!!! What is this? Chapter 13??? I think it's time for some serious contract negotiations!
LYB: I said "around" six chapters Malik, how was I supposed to know how big this idea would become?
Malik: Okay then how many chapters are left smart ass?
LYB: *thinks* about four...
Malik: You said four three chapters ago!
LYB: umm... I miscalculated???
Malik: 13 plus 4, that's 17 chapters total! That's almost three times what you started with!
LYB: Okay then, I'll pay you three times what I was going to. Happy now?
Malik: *Looks at her suspiciously* Okay then... three times.
Ryou: I know I'm getting paid with creampuffs, what we're you paying him?
LYB: *whispering* absolutely nothing.
Ryou: but... three times nothing is still nothing!
LYB: That's the point. Just don't tell him that.
Ryou: O_o u...
LYB: Doesn't really matter, Malik's not in this chapter till the very end anyway. It's all Ryou and Bakura.
YamiB: Wha???? I already have plans!
Marron: PHENIOX FIRE!!
YamiB: O_O!!!!!! I'M GOING! I'M GOING!! *runs despiritly from a huge fireball*
LYB: ^_^ Thanks Marron!
Marron: *smiles*
Cyris: -_-u ...show off.
**************************************************
Building a Mystery
**************************************************
I looked around the mall in a sort of hopeless acceptance as Bakura dragged me through the huge glass doors and down a double-floor atrium that to me may as well have been downtown New York City. People were everywhere, stores packed solid with things for the holiday season and clothes for all season. This is why I always do my Christmas shopping in November. My yami didn't seem to care though, glancing over everyone's head as if trying to find a suitable destination. "What store are you looking for, yami?" I asked, trying to see what he was looking for.
"I can't remember its name... but there's gotta be one around here. I saw it on a light board as we turned in." (A light board is what he calls any sign from neon to backlit that happens to glow... in this case he meant the malls store list sing in the parking lot)
"Why are you doing this anyway?" I blurted as suddenly he gave my arm a jerk and off I was being dragged to some unknown place again.
"You want to win Malik over right?"
I slumped over a bit more. I didn't really want to say that even after Bakura's warning I still wanted to be with him. Of course... it seemed that Bakura's opinion had shifted in the last hour. He did say he was going to make me beautiful and more up Malik's alley, whatever that pertains too. Of course that idea scares me too because Bakura and Malik have a very different idea of clothing then I do... but... if it helps, why not? Everyone needs a bit of change now and then. "Yeah..."
"He wants you, you know." He said bluntly and I coughed with surprise, stupid flu!
"Say what?!"
"He does." Bakura nodded, glancing at me and smiling in an amused fashion. "Remember I told you Malik has nothing to care about? He needs a reason to be with anyone?"
"Yeah..." I said slowly, "you said he was afraid of me."
He nodded again as if to confirm his own thoughts "Well I've found out I was right. He has a reason to care. Something about you has him seriously screwed him up. Hell I knew for a while he ~liked~ you but..."
"WHAT!" I snapped, nearly loosing my composure altogether, ignoring the shoppers who would briefly turn to give us funny looks. I could only imagine what we appear to be: two partial albino twins, one being dragged like a child and yelling like a mother, the other completely oblivious except to finding some unknown store. "And you never TOLD me??"
"What was the point? It was clear he was never going to make a move on you. That's the reason he's acting so fucked up now, he's totally infatuated with you and he doesn't know what to do about it. Or he simply refuses to admit it."
I took this all in, turning it around in my head half convinced that he wasn't being serious though I've never known him to be anything but. Mainly because, well, he never admits that something he said could have been wrong. "So you were wrong."
"I'm never wrong!" he snapped, furrowing his eyebrows. "I just failed to take this into account." He added tactfully.
I laughed, "Yeah, sure. Whatever makes you feel better Bakura."
He rolled his eyes "Oh blessed Ra; you're even talking like him. Why in all fucking heaven and Earth..." I had to chuckle again. "Will you stop that! I was serious my little infatu-ie. I wasn't wrong, so don't gloat yet."
I bit my tongue and waited for him to go on. He stopped and looked around a minute before turning to me; taking my hand he had been holding in both of his and deftly raising it to be level with his chest. Held my eyes with a gaze that told me without words what he was about to say was sincere and important. "Ryou, I've know Malik very well for a long time and I've never, EVER known Malik to be shy on a subject especially involving people. And I've never seen him in such a strange state of mind."
I blinked, "State of mind?"
He nodded and brought my hand up to his lips, resting them against it a moment before explaining, "I saw something on his face when he said he stopped my fight because you wouldn't forgive him for doing nothing – genuine concern. You know how much I've been lied to. I've been lied to so much I've learned to read faces if only to know what I'm being told is the truth. He has this undying affection for you, I could see it every time I mentioned your name. But he's afraid to... like I told you he would be. Afraid enough he couldn't even keep hold of a cigarette long enough to calm himself down." I looked at my yami intently, he just kept his eyes on our hands solemnly.
"Are you okay, yami?" I asked gently, squeezing his hand to bring him back from his own world. He smiled lightly.
"I worry about you is all, you know that." He said softly "You're my host, my light, and he's... Ra forgive me for being a cliché, but he's my best friend. I know he could be good to you. I don't know if he's just plain unlucky or he has no sense of stability or whatever it is. He does mean well, it's just that he drags things down with him and he knows it. He wants you and cares for you, enough to see that you're not hurt." He kissed my hand as if to say 'I'm sorry' then let it drop, holding it loosely with his one hand once more.
I gave a resigned sigh, sinking down into myself, wish the universe would just leave me alone. "He won't touch me then."
"I didn't say that." He replied and tightened his grip on my hand. I could hear the mischievous smirk in his voice and watched as the all too familiar clever smile spread across his face. "All you..." he paused, looking back over my shoulder leaving me hanging for him to finish the sentence and give me an explanation as to what he was plotting but instead cried out "There it is! We passed it!" and off he were again, dragging a confused me behind him.
I looked up at the store with dismay as he stopped in front of it, "You can't be serious." I groaned, "I can't shop here!" He pushed me forward a bit.
"Oh for Ra's sake it won't kill you!" he said with a roll of his eyes. I gave a small cried of mock horror and pretend to faint, making him catch me. "For fuck sake Ryou stop acting like me and start acting like me! Malik and I shop here all the time." I laughed, looking up at him, amused with myself.
"That explains the S&M wardrobe." I shot back smartly as he shoved me to my feet.
"What does that say about you considering you always steel my clothes?" He replied curtly, gesturing to my wrist where I had on a black leather cuff studded with chains. I opened my mouth to reply but I couldn't think of anything. I can't really deny I do like his taste in clothes but I never really had the courage enough to take on a whole ensemble, I always figured I'd look too much like Yogi. Besides with me, comfort wins over fashion any day.
"Okay fine!" I declared, throwing my arms up in defeat. "I'll be your porcelain doll and you can dress me up in whatever you like." He gave a maniacal laugh and jokingly pushed me forward again, marching me for the store. "But do we have to shop here?" I tacked on, looking around the store now that I was on the threshold on the entrance, its black floor and walls with clothing looking like it was all taking from a punk-rock stars tour bus.
"For the love of Ra, Ryou it's only a Hot Topic store. Trust me!"
"Why does that statement scare me so much?" I replied as finally he pulled me fully into the store.
Almost instantly Bakura became like a shopoholic woman at a 50% off sale, pulling things off shelves and sifting through clothes racks. After a few uneasy moments for me, Bakura looked up and noticed my unsteadiness. "Sorry, hikari, I forgot you don't go shopping very often. I forget sometimes you don't go to malls just raise hell like me." I giggled a bit and he held up a pair of black cargo pants. "What do you think?" I blinked.
"I like them" I smiled approvingly.
"Then come here and help me look, there's no point in doing this if you don't like what I'm buying for you." I laughed again and came to his side... in a few minutes I was just as bad as him, pulling things down left, right and center. I think I founded a new favorite store. Once I got into looking, everything we found seemed to look good... mind you a few things that looked good just didn't seem to look good on me. True I'd wear it all, I was thrilled with most of the things we found but Bakura would shake his head. I have to admit though, he was right. Most of the things I ended up trying on just didn't seem out of the ordinary. Everything just looked casual, like me going to the park on a day off school only with a finally developed punk fashion sense. As Bakura pointed out, nothing that would do for dancing. I had to trust him, what else could I do?
A couple of dog chained jeans and ripped t-shirts latter Bakura threw down the latest acquisition in frustration. "This is going no where!"
I offered a sigh and continued to sift through a rack of dark colored shirts "Well, you're the shopping expert." I replied, "At least this is fun."
"True." He admitted, scanning the store for a new display to ransack, "But I'm no specialist either, I'm more a... a..." he looked thoughtful a minute.
"A buy-what-happens-to-amuse-me-at-the-time-and-run-up-Ryou's-debit kinda guy?" I suggested.
"Yes! Exactly." Bakura grinned approvingly, then started to examine another shirt he had pulled from the shelf. "It's kind of hard to say what we're shopping for until I see it on you." He gave a growl and put the shirt back haphazardly "Surely someone who works here must know what I'm trying to accomplish." I smiled a bit and but continued to browse patiently, it was then I realized Bakura had walked passed me.
"Bakura?" I called turning about, but once more he was off on another of his hell-bent missions, this time destined for a girl who was putting a few pieces back on the wall displays. She did seem to work there, a girl of medium height and weight with dark brown-black hair that came down her back almost to her waist. "Oh Bakura, don't..." I started but I just sighed in defeat when I realized it was useless to try to stop him. After all he had already called out to her.
"Do you work here?" He asked bluntly, showing his slight irritation, leaning on the wall right next to her. She blinked at him in confounded confusion a minute.
"No..." she replied, taking a step back, "I'm on my lunch break, I work over there." She pointed to the Walden Books store across the walkway.
"Ra damn it." He cursed crossing his arms. "We're going to be here all fucking day." I rolled my eyes and stepped up beside him and taking his arm.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, because I knew he wouldn't. "He's just a bit frustrated."
"I am not!" he snapped.
"Bad day." I explained further and she laughed, this time I did get a better look at her, she had on blue jeans with the dark blue lace stripes, and an AFI t-shirt, she was a well put together girl, she did look like see knew something about clothes.
"Of course I've had a bad day!" Bakura growled, "And I was hoping this would be a bit easier then it's turning out to be."
"Well, maybe I can help." She offered, "The guy working here today is a real jerk anyway."
"That's okay, we'll be fine." I started, tugging on Bakura's arm, but he had already perked and leaned over a bit to be closer to her.
"Really? Okay, here's the thing,"
"Bakura!!" I cried out, fairly frustrated with his total lack of any form of shame and conscience. "She doesn't work here! She probably has to get back to her own job soon!"
"She offered," he shrugged.
"Trust me, it's okay, I have another 45 minutes to kill." She smiled at me in a friendly way. "I don't mind helping you and you're brother." She paused and seemed to think about that statement a minute, "I assume you're brother. It's odd to see..."
"I know the white hair and brown eyes thing, especially on two people at the same time." I chuckled. "We're twins."
"What's wrong with white hair?" Bakura asked, looking at me confused. I silently tightened my grip on his arm. I didn't particularly feel like explaining to a stranger I'm the incarnation of tomb robber who still happens to live in a ring around my neck at the time. He seemed to get the message because he nodded to her and smirked. "Yeah, but I'm the older one."
I rolled my eyes. She only shook her head and smiled before holding out her hand "Well, nice to meet you, name's Nephy"
"Ryou," I replied, taking her hand in greeting "The cocky one is Bakura."
"Well, what are you trying to find?"
"My brother here," Bakura said smartly, reaching out and messing up my hair affectionately, I glared at him mockingly out from under tussled white bangs. "Is meeting someone to go dancing tomorrow and that someone happens to like all things mysterious. So I figured we should find him something decent to wear; only trouble is we can't find anything that suits the occasion."
She looked me up and down a minute and I naturally looked away. I can't help being a bit shy, especially if someone is looking me over and I don't know them. I usually have to know people awhile before I honestly trust them... which I suppose surprises me about Malik, that I can be so free with him and not be shy. She tipped her head slightly. "On you? Well your definitely not as bold as his highness," I chuckled lightly at that while Bakura glared at her evilly, "So I wouldn't do anything too bold or flashy... something still dark but a little more simple and formal, no accessories, or complete punk just... something that brings you out. You know unaided beauty." I looked over at Bakura to see if he liked her idea, he seemed to be in a state of thoughtfulness, and then looked me over as well before turning back to her.
"What've you got in mind?"
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"Well?" a sharp voice implored from the other side of the curtain.
"Hold on Bakura," I laughed, "I haven't even started to change yet."
"Worst then a woman." He replied and I heard a light thump telling me he had leaned against the changing room wall. It didn't take much for me to visualize him in his normal stance with his arms crossed and head down.
"Is this from the one who takes 45 minutes in the bathroom on days he doesn't even plan to leave the house?" I shot back.
"Smart-ass." He hissed.
"You know, yami," I started, sorting threw the collection Nephy and Bakura had collaborated on to dress me in, so far, I was impressed "You never did say why you wanted to go shopping. You started to say something then you got distracted."
I heard him laugh under his breath. "Honestly? I had to get out of the house and just be with you for awhile. I enjoy picking on you."
I smiled to myself, "That's nothing new. Why do I always have to be the one that's picked on?"
"Because I don't have the patience after my little Egypt expedition to deal with Yami on any level, even if I am making him miserable and if I spent another 5 minutes with Malik I'll die of a laughing fit."
"A laughing fit?" I poked my head out from behind the current long enough to give him a look of questioning before returning to my dressing.
"It amuses me how thinks I'm going to skin his café-o-lait skin from his living body over you." He chuckled.
I rolled my eyes though I know he couldn't see and chucked one of the hangers over the top of the stall in roughly his direction and I was rewarded with a few light thumps and an Egyptian curse. "You still didn't tell me why we're here, sure we got out of the house, but why this game of dress-up? Your plotting something to do to Malik aren't you?"
"You're not stupid are you hikari?"
I shook my head and smiled, pulling on the last of the things presented to me. "No, you hinted I might have a chance then you smirked. I know that smirk, Bakura."
"Here's the thing about Malik," he started, "true he hasn't acted on anything yet, but he doesn't even know what he feels for you yet. He just needs to know you're the suicidal type and you don't mind his past." I threw another hanger over the stall at him. "OW! Will you stop that!"
"I'm not suicidal!" I said indigently, through I know he's only poking fun at my predicament "I just sympathize with him!"
"Whatever you say." He laughed.
"You still didn't answer the question."
"Ra, you're persistent." I could here the smirk on his voice "I know Malik's one true weakness."
"What's that?" I humored, half-expecting a smart-ass remark of some kind.
"He's impulsive. The second an idea pops into his head, it's irresistible." He replied as if it should have been obvious to me and I had to stop a second as it struck me that he was right. Malik had a habit of doing everything on a whim, be it good or bad. "Especially if he's in a very good or extremely bad mood." Bakura added on, almost as an after thought.
"But what makes you think that's important now?" I asked after a few moments of thought, trying to put two and two together.
"Trust me, I know him well enough by now to know that if something happens to be intriguing or intoxicating it's impossible for him to not leave alone. And if you happen to be that intriguing something, even if he doesn't want to admit it, he won't be able to deny you."
I smiled then laughed lightly. "You're setting us up!"
"Exactly."
I was starting to feel better about the whole thing. Something like hope was starting to come back into me, Bakura was helping me out. Looking in the mirror at the reflection looking back at me fueled the light spark too, I was awestruck at my own appearance; so much like me and at the same time... new and dark, it was amazing. Maybe there was a chance, a fleeting ghost of a chance... and as much as the thought scared me, ironically that chance would depend on something Bakura knew about him that I didn't. "Hey yami?" I called out.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." I smiled. I felt a sense of joy and affection slip through the link. It was good to feel my darker finally happy after a day of what must have been brutal heartache for him.
"Anything as long as your happy." He replied lightly, and then he clipped up, "Hey are you dressed yet? What do you think?"
"I really like it." I breathed, looking over my reflection again, even turning around to prove it was real and I had the grace to actually pull it off.
"Well, are you ever going to come out of there or what?" He said in his annoyed tone and I shook my head before actually stepping outside. He starred at me a second and then slowly a smile came across his face.
"What do you think?" I asked, turning myself around for him just because I was feeling a bit foolish and freer in this new form of dress. I liked the way that when I moved it gave me a bit of grace and at the same time I still looked bold. I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
"Ryou, if you weren't my light, I'd be all over you." He smirked, stepping back to take in the full transformation.
"But do you think...?" I started, looking at my reflection in the stores full length mirror. Bakura came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders then rested his chin on his hands.
"Hikari, you look wonderful. You look like yourself and yes, he'll be stunned." He said then ruffled my hair again. "So do you like what Nephy found for you? Or do you want something else?"
"Oh no." I shook my head, grinning like a maniac, "I don't think with our pathetic shopping skills we'll ever find something as nice."
"Good call." He said with a tone of relief, childishly patting my shoulder.
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"So..." Bakura said, sounding slightly bored, slinging the hot top bag over his shoulder while he looked dully at the book rack closest to him, "Why are we in the book store? We got the clothes, we can go home now." He twisted his lips "Or out of the Christmas shopping rush."
I stopped a second to pick up a book and read the summery on the jackets inner flap before setting it down again. "I just wanted to thank Nephy before we go." I stated and looked around the store before seeing her at the counter. She smiled and waved when she saw us and I waved back, Bakura rolled his eyes. I worked my way through the mild crowd to the counter, Bakura being his typical grouchy self following behind reluctantly.
"How did it look?" She asked, while bagging a few books and handing them to a lady over the counter.
"Wonderful!" I beamed, "I just wanted to say thanks. We would have been there all day and still never found something as nice."
"I figured a combination like that would look good on you." She smiled. "It was nice meeting you be the way. Anything else I can do for you, since your actually in my store of choice now?" she gestured to the infinite number of books along the walls.
"No. that's okay, we're just going too..." I looked around a second as an idea started to form in my mind. I never did think to find something for Malik for Yule, of course, him turning out to be a witch was a shot in the dark and it was his birthday... plus Christmas in a few more days. "Actually, Nephy... I've been looking for a book but I've heard it's hard to find."
"Oh great..." Bakura hissed, slouching over looking beyond bored.
"What is it?" she asked, looking at me curiously "If we don't have it, I'm sure I could find it in the computer and tell you some place near by that does."
"Okay." I nodded, hoping she really could help "I'm looking for the complete works of Shakespeare, the actually English edition, not any of those Random House knock-offs, the real English, nothing cut, edition."
She looked thoughtful a second, "I think I can help you with that."
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
Malik's POV
I hate shopping malls, period. I hate crowds worst. Lucky me, caught in the middle of the Christmas rush being dragged like a dog by a group of shopping frenzied women. I nearly cried with delight when they went crazy at an American Eagle sale rack that was next to the pet store. At least it was something that really interested me.
I do like animals. I never had any pets as a kid so I always sort of felt deprived of the whole pet keeping thing and living in a small apartment now I don't really think it's fair to try to keep a living creature in closed quarters. Even fish would be a pain because I'd have no where to put the tank. But that doesn't stop me from looking in pet stores now and then. I find all animals magical in some way. I especially like cats, but maybe that's just me being Egyptian and having the goddess Bast in my pantheon.
Out at the store entrance there was a box of sorts that a few people had gathered around, ooooing and aaahhhhing over. I wandered over to look for myself at the little creatures inside and had to smile at the two kittens pawing at each other. There was a little girl holding her mothers hand and the kid just looked so delighted trying to decide which one they should take home. Another old lady smiled, watching them a minute before picking up one of the adorable scuffler's and going to talk to the near by sales lady. The little girl snatched up the other and the puffball purred and cuddled as if it found a long lost friend. With that the small crowd seemed to vanish.
I don't know why, but I approached the pet box and for a second it seemed empty, then I saw this small tuft of gray fur hiding in the corner. "Poor little guy." The sales girl said following my eyes to the tiny ball, "He's not as social as the others were. It's kind of sad really, everyone wants a playful kitten. It'll be hard to turn him over to some shelter."
"Oh?" I said, glancing at her. "Their not the store's"
"Nah, they were turned in here this morning, I guess whoever owned them couldn't sell the litter. We've just been giving them away with kitten care packages all day."
"That's a real shame." I replied and knelt down, reaching my hand in to the gray fluff ball. "Hey there little guy," I said softly, a pair of green round eyes looked up at me and he ducked a bit, turning his ears flat.
"Don't be surprised if he doesn't seem to like you, he runs and hides from everyone who tries to touch him." She told me, watching as he ducked his head.
"That's okay," I told her, I don't know what inspired me to say it... maybe it was one of those Freudian slips of the tongue but I added, "I'm kind of that way myself."
I turned my attention back to the kitten. "I'm not going to hurt you," I smiled, and just to prove it I let my hand rest harmlessly near his nose without touching him. In my mind I said a small prayer to Bast asking her to help this little lost one of her favorite creators. The kitten noised my hand a second as if to test my friendliness and I gently moved to scratch the back of his ears. He cowered again for a short while but soon started to twist his tiny head toward my fingers. "It's okay, little one. I know you're afraid. You miss your mother and all your brother and sisters are gone too. The world must seem like such a scary place with all these people poking and prodding you and no one to look after you anymore, but I promise, soon someone will take you home and you'll always have a warm lap... and a nice dish of milk..." the words made a chill run through me, I almost wanted to cry. I wondered if lost souls like us ever found a place to belong... "I promise, someday we'll both have a home." I told him, as if he could understand but he started to purr as if he really did believe me and I felt a small smile come across my face.
"You know what, little fluff ball?" I said to him, coxing him up and scooping him into my arms, "I think I know someone who'd love to have you. He's really sweet and loves animals," I tickled his nose and he curled up against me scared again now that he was out of his familiar surroundings, "and I know he's been looking for a little gift for Bast just like you, so why don't I take you home? Hmm? Would you like that?" he looked up at me and then gave almost a happy mewl. "It's settled then." I said firmly and looked at the awestruck sales girl. "I think he'll be coming home with me."
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"Malik, there you are!" I heard Isis call out to me as I left the store, a small white cardboard pet carrier under my arm, along with a bag holding the care package thing I bought in order to get the kitten.
"What is it, Isis? Where are the girls?" I asked, looking around.
"They went on to the next store." She replied with her always so serious tone as we stared to walk in the general direction of wherever they headed. "What do you have there?"
"Something for Ryou." I replied lightly and she gave me a look as if to say my impulsiveness would be the death of me. What can I say? It's my greatest flaw and greatest gift. It makes life interesting that's for sure, no sense in living for the expected. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about anyway?" I asked her, I had to admit, her actions before did have me curious as to what her news was.
"I may as well just tell you, there never was any sense in putting it off." What is it with her and being so serious all the time, I swear to Ra sometimes it's like nothing ever manages to make her loose her cool. She's like a female Seto Kaiba... or considering the fact I've known her a hell of a lot longer then Kaiba, Seto is like a male version of her. But even now she seemed hesitant in actually filling me in and that worried me.
"Well out with it Isis, I know already I'm probably not going to like it."
"No, probably not..."
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Well there's a hunting way to end a chapter.
Malik: *growls* I don't know what your planning, but I'm not happy!
LYB: Till next time, hopeful in a very short while! Enjoy everyone!
Malik: You should just stop dragging this out. When this fic started you told me it was only six chapters, 6 CHAPTERS!!! What is this? Chapter 13??? I think it's time for some serious contract negotiations!
LYB: I said "around" six chapters Malik, how was I supposed to know how big this idea would become?
Malik: Okay then how many chapters are left smart ass?
LYB: *thinks* about four...
Malik: You said four three chapters ago!
LYB: umm... I miscalculated???
Malik: 13 plus 4, that's 17 chapters total! That's almost three times what you started with!
LYB: Okay then, I'll pay you three times what I was going to. Happy now?
Malik: *Looks at her suspiciously* Okay then... three times.
Ryou: I know I'm getting paid with creampuffs, what we're you paying him?
LYB: *whispering* absolutely nothing.
Ryou: but... three times nothing is still nothing!
LYB: That's the point. Just don't tell him that.
Ryou: O_o u...
LYB: Doesn't really matter, Malik's not in this chapter till the very end anyway. It's all Ryou and Bakura.
YamiB: Wha???? I already have plans!
Marron: PHENIOX FIRE!!
YamiB: O_O!!!!!! I'M GOING! I'M GOING!! *runs despiritly from a huge fireball*
LYB: ^_^ Thanks Marron!
Marron: *smiles*
Cyris: -_-u ...show off.
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Building a Mystery
**************************************************
I looked around the mall in a sort of hopeless acceptance as Bakura dragged me through the huge glass doors and down a double-floor atrium that to me may as well have been downtown New York City. People were everywhere, stores packed solid with things for the holiday season and clothes for all season. This is why I always do my Christmas shopping in November. My yami didn't seem to care though, glancing over everyone's head as if trying to find a suitable destination. "What store are you looking for, yami?" I asked, trying to see what he was looking for.
"I can't remember its name... but there's gotta be one around here. I saw it on a light board as we turned in." (A light board is what he calls any sign from neon to backlit that happens to glow... in this case he meant the malls store list sing in the parking lot)
"Why are you doing this anyway?" I blurted as suddenly he gave my arm a jerk and off I was being dragged to some unknown place again.
"You want to win Malik over right?"
I slumped over a bit more. I didn't really want to say that even after Bakura's warning I still wanted to be with him. Of course... it seemed that Bakura's opinion had shifted in the last hour. He did say he was going to make me beautiful and more up Malik's alley, whatever that pertains too. Of course that idea scares me too because Bakura and Malik have a very different idea of clothing then I do... but... if it helps, why not? Everyone needs a bit of change now and then. "Yeah..."
"He wants you, you know." He said bluntly and I coughed with surprise, stupid flu!
"Say what?!"
"He does." Bakura nodded, glancing at me and smiling in an amused fashion. "Remember I told you Malik has nothing to care about? He needs a reason to be with anyone?"
"Yeah..." I said slowly, "you said he was afraid of me."
He nodded again as if to confirm his own thoughts "Well I've found out I was right. He has a reason to care. Something about you has him seriously screwed him up. Hell I knew for a while he ~liked~ you but..."
"WHAT!" I snapped, nearly loosing my composure altogether, ignoring the shoppers who would briefly turn to give us funny looks. I could only imagine what we appear to be: two partial albino twins, one being dragged like a child and yelling like a mother, the other completely oblivious except to finding some unknown store. "And you never TOLD me??"
"What was the point? It was clear he was never going to make a move on you. That's the reason he's acting so fucked up now, he's totally infatuated with you and he doesn't know what to do about it. Or he simply refuses to admit it."
I took this all in, turning it around in my head half convinced that he wasn't being serious though I've never known him to be anything but. Mainly because, well, he never admits that something he said could have been wrong. "So you were wrong."
"I'm never wrong!" he snapped, furrowing his eyebrows. "I just failed to take this into account." He added tactfully.
I laughed, "Yeah, sure. Whatever makes you feel better Bakura."
He rolled his eyes "Oh blessed Ra; you're even talking like him. Why in all fucking heaven and Earth..." I had to chuckle again. "Will you stop that! I was serious my little infatu-ie. I wasn't wrong, so don't gloat yet."
I bit my tongue and waited for him to go on. He stopped and looked around a minute before turning to me; taking my hand he had been holding in both of his and deftly raising it to be level with his chest. Held my eyes with a gaze that told me without words what he was about to say was sincere and important. "Ryou, I've know Malik very well for a long time and I've never, EVER known Malik to be shy on a subject especially involving people. And I've never seen him in such a strange state of mind."
I blinked, "State of mind?"
He nodded and brought my hand up to his lips, resting them against it a moment before explaining, "I saw something on his face when he said he stopped my fight because you wouldn't forgive him for doing nothing – genuine concern. You know how much I've been lied to. I've been lied to so much I've learned to read faces if only to know what I'm being told is the truth. He has this undying affection for you, I could see it every time I mentioned your name. But he's afraid to... like I told you he would be. Afraid enough he couldn't even keep hold of a cigarette long enough to calm himself down." I looked at my yami intently, he just kept his eyes on our hands solemnly.
"Are you okay, yami?" I asked gently, squeezing his hand to bring him back from his own world. He smiled lightly.
"I worry about you is all, you know that." He said softly "You're my host, my light, and he's... Ra forgive me for being a cliché, but he's my best friend. I know he could be good to you. I don't know if he's just plain unlucky or he has no sense of stability or whatever it is. He does mean well, it's just that he drags things down with him and he knows it. He wants you and cares for you, enough to see that you're not hurt." He kissed my hand as if to say 'I'm sorry' then let it drop, holding it loosely with his one hand once more.
I gave a resigned sigh, sinking down into myself, wish the universe would just leave me alone. "He won't touch me then."
"I didn't say that." He replied and tightened his grip on my hand. I could hear the mischievous smirk in his voice and watched as the all too familiar clever smile spread across his face. "All you..." he paused, looking back over my shoulder leaving me hanging for him to finish the sentence and give me an explanation as to what he was plotting but instead cried out "There it is! We passed it!" and off he were again, dragging a confused me behind him.
I looked up at the store with dismay as he stopped in front of it, "You can't be serious." I groaned, "I can't shop here!" He pushed me forward a bit.
"Oh for Ra's sake it won't kill you!" he said with a roll of his eyes. I gave a small cried of mock horror and pretend to faint, making him catch me. "For fuck sake Ryou stop acting like me and start acting like me! Malik and I shop here all the time." I laughed, looking up at him, amused with myself.
"That explains the S&M wardrobe." I shot back smartly as he shoved me to my feet.
"What does that say about you considering you always steel my clothes?" He replied curtly, gesturing to my wrist where I had on a black leather cuff studded with chains. I opened my mouth to reply but I couldn't think of anything. I can't really deny I do like his taste in clothes but I never really had the courage enough to take on a whole ensemble, I always figured I'd look too much like Yogi. Besides with me, comfort wins over fashion any day.
"Okay fine!" I declared, throwing my arms up in defeat. "I'll be your porcelain doll and you can dress me up in whatever you like." He gave a maniacal laugh and jokingly pushed me forward again, marching me for the store. "But do we have to shop here?" I tacked on, looking around the store now that I was on the threshold on the entrance, its black floor and walls with clothing looking like it was all taking from a punk-rock stars tour bus.
"For the love of Ra, Ryou it's only a Hot Topic store. Trust me!"
"Why does that statement scare me so much?" I replied as finally he pulled me fully into the store.
Almost instantly Bakura became like a shopoholic woman at a 50% off sale, pulling things off shelves and sifting through clothes racks. After a few uneasy moments for me, Bakura looked up and noticed my unsteadiness. "Sorry, hikari, I forgot you don't go shopping very often. I forget sometimes you don't go to malls just raise hell like me." I giggled a bit and he held up a pair of black cargo pants. "What do you think?" I blinked.
"I like them" I smiled approvingly.
"Then come here and help me look, there's no point in doing this if you don't like what I'm buying for you." I laughed again and came to his side... in a few minutes I was just as bad as him, pulling things down left, right and center. I think I founded a new favorite store. Once I got into looking, everything we found seemed to look good... mind you a few things that looked good just didn't seem to look good on me. True I'd wear it all, I was thrilled with most of the things we found but Bakura would shake his head. I have to admit though, he was right. Most of the things I ended up trying on just didn't seem out of the ordinary. Everything just looked casual, like me going to the park on a day off school only with a finally developed punk fashion sense. As Bakura pointed out, nothing that would do for dancing. I had to trust him, what else could I do?
A couple of dog chained jeans and ripped t-shirts latter Bakura threw down the latest acquisition in frustration. "This is going no where!"
I offered a sigh and continued to sift through a rack of dark colored shirts "Well, you're the shopping expert." I replied, "At least this is fun."
"True." He admitted, scanning the store for a new display to ransack, "But I'm no specialist either, I'm more a... a..." he looked thoughtful a minute.
"A buy-what-happens-to-amuse-me-at-the-time-and-run-up-Ryou's-debit kinda guy?" I suggested.
"Yes! Exactly." Bakura grinned approvingly, then started to examine another shirt he had pulled from the shelf. "It's kind of hard to say what we're shopping for until I see it on you." He gave a growl and put the shirt back haphazardly "Surely someone who works here must know what I'm trying to accomplish." I smiled a bit and but continued to browse patiently, it was then I realized Bakura had walked passed me.
"Bakura?" I called turning about, but once more he was off on another of his hell-bent missions, this time destined for a girl who was putting a few pieces back on the wall displays. She did seem to work there, a girl of medium height and weight with dark brown-black hair that came down her back almost to her waist. "Oh Bakura, don't..." I started but I just sighed in defeat when I realized it was useless to try to stop him. After all he had already called out to her.
"Do you work here?" He asked bluntly, showing his slight irritation, leaning on the wall right next to her. She blinked at him in confounded confusion a minute.
"No..." she replied, taking a step back, "I'm on my lunch break, I work over there." She pointed to the Walden Books store across the walkway.
"Ra damn it." He cursed crossing his arms. "We're going to be here all fucking day." I rolled my eyes and stepped up beside him and taking his arm.
"I'm sorry," I apologized, because I knew he wouldn't. "He's just a bit frustrated."
"I am not!" he snapped.
"Bad day." I explained further and she laughed, this time I did get a better look at her, she had on blue jeans with the dark blue lace stripes, and an AFI t-shirt, she was a well put together girl, she did look like see knew something about clothes.
"Of course I've had a bad day!" Bakura growled, "And I was hoping this would be a bit easier then it's turning out to be."
"Well, maybe I can help." She offered, "The guy working here today is a real jerk anyway."
"That's okay, we'll be fine." I started, tugging on Bakura's arm, but he had already perked and leaned over a bit to be closer to her.
"Really? Okay, here's the thing,"
"Bakura!!" I cried out, fairly frustrated with his total lack of any form of shame and conscience. "She doesn't work here! She probably has to get back to her own job soon!"
"She offered," he shrugged.
"Trust me, it's okay, I have another 45 minutes to kill." She smiled at me in a friendly way. "I don't mind helping you and you're brother." She paused and seemed to think about that statement a minute, "I assume you're brother. It's odd to see..."
"I know the white hair and brown eyes thing, especially on two people at the same time." I chuckled. "We're twins."
"What's wrong with white hair?" Bakura asked, looking at me confused. I silently tightened my grip on his arm. I didn't particularly feel like explaining to a stranger I'm the incarnation of tomb robber who still happens to live in a ring around my neck at the time. He seemed to get the message because he nodded to her and smirked. "Yeah, but I'm the older one."
I rolled my eyes. She only shook her head and smiled before holding out her hand "Well, nice to meet you, name's Nephy"
"Ryou," I replied, taking her hand in greeting "The cocky one is Bakura."
"Well, what are you trying to find?"
"My brother here," Bakura said smartly, reaching out and messing up my hair affectionately, I glared at him mockingly out from under tussled white bangs. "Is meeting someone to go dancing tomorrow and that someone happens to like all things mysterious. So I figured we should find him something decent to wear; only trouble is we can't find anything that suits the occasion."
She looked me up and down a minute and I naturally looked away. I can't help being a bit shy, especially if someone is looking me over and I don't know them. I usually have to know people awhile before I honestly trust them... which I suppose surprises me about Malik, that I can be so free with him and not be shy. She tipped her head slightly. "On you? Well your definitely not as bold as his highness," I chuckled lightly at that while Bakura glared at her evilly, "So I wouldn't do anything too bold or flashy... something still dark but a little more simple and formal, no accessories, or complete punk just... something that brings you out. You know unaided beauty." I looked over at Bakura to see if he liked her idea, he seemed to be in a state of thoughtfulness, and then looked me over as well before turning back to her.
"What've you got in mind?"
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"Well?" a sharp voice implored from the other side of the curtain.
"Hold on Bakura," I laughed, "I haven't even started to change yet."
"Worst then a woman." He replied and I heard a light thump telling me he had leaned against the changing room wall. It didn't take much for me to visualize him in his normal stance with his arms crossed and head down.
"Is this from the one who takes 45 minutes in the bathroom on days he doesn't even plan to leave the house?" I shot back.
"Smart-ass." He hissed.
"You know, yami," I started, sorting threw the collection Nephy and Bakura had collaborated on to dress me in, so far, I was impressed "You never did say why you wanted to go shopping. You started to say something then you got distracted."
I heard him laugh under his breath. "Honestly? I had to get out of the house and just be with you for awhile. I enjoy picking on you."
I smiled to myself, "That's nothing new. Why do I always have to be the one that's picked on?"
"Because I don't have the patience after my little Egypt expedition to deal with Yami on any level, even if I am making him miserable and if I spent another 5 minutes with Malik I'll die of a laughing fit."
"A laughing fit?" I poked my head out from behind the current long enough to give him a look of questioning before returning to my dressing.
"It amuses me how thinks I'm going to skin his café-o-lait skin from his living body over you." He chuckled.
I rolled my eyes though I know he couldn't see and chucked one of the hangers over the top of the stall in roughly his direction and I was rewarded with a few light thumps and an Egyptian curse. "You still didn't tell me why we're here, sure we got out of the house, but why this game of dress-up? Your plotting something to do to Malik aren't you?"
"You're not stupid are you hikari?"
I shook my head and smiled, pulling on the last of the things presented to me. "No, you hinted I might have a chance then you smirked. I know that smirk, Bakura."
"Here's the thing about Malik," he started, "true he hasn't acted on anything yet, but he doesn't even know what he feels for you yet. He just needs to know you're the suicidal type and you don't mind his past." I threw another hanger over the stall at him. "OW! Will you stop that!"
"I'm not suicidal!" I said indigently, through I know he's only poking fun at my predicament "I just sympathize with him!"
"Whatever you say." He laughed.
"You still didn't answer the question."
"Ra, you're persistent." I could here the smirk on his voice "I know Malik's one true weakness."
"What's that?" I humored, half-expecting a smart-ass remark of some kind.
"He's impulsive. The second an idea pops into his head, it's irresistible." He replied as if it should have been obvious to me and I had to stop a second as it struck me that he was right. Malik had a habit of doing everything on a whim, be it good or bad. "Especially if he's in a very good or extremely bad mood." Bakura added on, almost as an after thought.
"But what makes you think that's important now?" I asked after a few moments of thought, trying to put two and two together.
"Trust me, I know him well enough by now to know that if something happens to be intriguing or intoxicating it's impossible for him to not leave alone. And if you happen to be that intriguing something, even if he doesn't want to admit it, he won't be able to deny you."
I smiled then laughed lightly. "You're setting us up!"
"Exactly."
I was starting to feel better about the whole thing. Something like hope was starting to come back into me, Bakura was helping me out. Looking in the mirror at the reflection looking back at me fueled the light spark too, I was awestruck at my own appearance; so much like me and at the same time... new and dark, it was amazing. Maybe there was a chance, a fleeting ghost of a chance... and as much as the thought scared me, ironically that chance would depend on something Bakura knew about him that I didn't. "Hey yami?" I called out.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you." I smiled. I felt a sense of joy and affection slip through the link. It was good to feel my darker finally happy after a day of what must have been brutal heartache for him.
"Anything as long as your happy." He replied lightly, and then he clipped up, "Hey are you dressed yet? What do you think?"
"I really like it." I breathed, looking over my reflection again, even turning around to prove it was real and I had the grace to actually pull it off.
"Well, are you ever going to come out of there or what?" He said in his annoyed tone and I shook my head before actually stepping outside. He starred at me a second and then slowly a smile came across his face.
"What do you think?" I asked, turning myself around for him just because I was feeling a bit foolish and freer in this new form of dress. I liked the way that when I moved it gave me a bit of grace and at the same time I still looked bold. I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
"Ryou, if you weren't my light, I'd be all over you." He smirked, stepping back to take in the full transformation.
"But do you think...?" I started, looking at my reflection in the stores full length mirror. Bakura came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders then rested his chin on his hands.
"Hikari, you look wonderful. You look like yourself and yes, he'll be stunned." He said then ruffled my hair again. "So do you like what Nephy found for you? Or do you want something else?"
"Oh no." I shook my head, grinning like a maniac, "I don't think with our pathetic shopping skills we'll ever find something as nice."
"Good call." He said with a tone of relief, childishly patting my shoulder.
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"So..." Bakura said, sounding slightly bored, slinging the hot top bag over his shoulder while he looked dully at the book rack closest to him, "Why are we in the book store? We got the clothes, we can go home now." He twisted his lips "Or out of the Christmas shopping rush."
I stopped a second to pick up a book and read the summery on the jackets inner flap before setting it down again. "I just wanted to thank Nephy before we go." I stated and looked around the store before seeing her at the counter. She smiled and waved when she saw us and I waved back, Bakura rolled his eyes. I worked my way through the mild crowd to the counter, Bakura being his typical grouchy self following behind reluctantly.
"How did it look?" She asked, while bagging a few books and handing them to a lady over the counter.
"Wonderful!" I beamed, "I just wanted to say thanks. We would have been there all day and still never found something as nice."
"I figured a combination like that would look good on you." She smiled. "It was nice meeting you be the way. Anything else I can do for you, since your actually in my store of choice now?" she gestured to the infinite number of books along the walls.
"No. that's okay, we're just going too..." I looked around a second as an idea started to form in my mind. I never did think to find something for Malik for Yule, of course, him turning out to be a witch was a shot in the dark and it was his birthday... plus Christmas in a few more days. "Actually, Nephy... I've been looking for a book but I've heard it's hard to find."
"Oh great..." Bakura hissed, slouching over looking beyond bored.
"What is it?" she asked, looking at me curiously "If we don't have it, I'm sure I could find it in the computer and tell you some place near by that does."
"Okay." I nodded, hoping she really could help "I'm looking for the complete works of Shakespeare, the actually English edition, not any of those Random House knock-offs, the real English, nothing cut, edition."
She looked thoughtful a second, "I think I can help you with that."
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
Malik's POV
I hate shopping malls, period. I hate crowds worst. Lucky me, caught in the middle of the Christmas rush being dragged like a dog by a group of shopping frenzied women. I nearly cried with delight when they went crazy at an American Eagle sale rack that was next to the pet store. At least it was something that really interested me.
I do like animals. I never had any pets as a kid so I always sort of felt deprived of the whole pet keeping thing and living in a small apartment now I don't really think it's fair to try to keep a living creature in closed quarters. Even fish would be a pain because I'd have no where to put the tank. But that doesn't stop me from looking in pet stores now and then. I find all animals magical in some way. I especially like cats, but maybe that's just me being Egyptian and having the goddess Bast in my pantheon.
Out at the store entrance there was a box of sorts that a few people had gathered around, ooooing and aaahhhhing over. I wandered over to look for myself at the little creatures inside and had to smile at the two kittens pawing at each other. There was a little girl holding her mothers hand and the kid just looked so delighted trying to decide which one they should take home. Another old lady smiled, watching them a minute before picking up one of the adorable scuffler's and going to talk to the near by sales lady. The little girl snatched up the other and the puffball purred and cuddled as if it found a long lost friend. With that the small crowd seemed to vanish.
I don't know why, but I approached the pet box and for a second it seemed empty, then I saw this small tuft of gray fur hiding in the corner. "Poor little guy." The sales girl said following my eyes to the tiny ball, "He's not as social as the others were. It's kind of sad really, everyone wants a playful kitten. It'll be hard to turn him over to some shelter."
"Oh?" I said, glancing at her. "Their not the store's"
"Nah, they were turned in here this morning, I guess whoever owned them couldn't sell the litter. We've just been giving them away with kitten care packages all day."
"That's a real shame." I replied and knelt down, reaching my hand in to the gray fluff ball. "Hey there little guy," I said softly, a pair of green round eyes looked up at me and he ducked a bit, turning his ears flat.
"Don't be surprised if he doesn't seem to like you, he runs and hides from everyone who tries to touch him." She told me, watching as he ducked his head.
"That's okay," I told her, I don't know what inspired me to say it... maybe it was one of those Freudian slips of the tongue but I added, "I'm kind of that way myself."
I turned my attention back to the kitten. "I'm not going to hurt you," I smiled, and just to prove it I let my hand rest harmlessly near his nose without touching him. In my mind I said a small prayer to Bast asking her to help this little lost one of her favorite creators. The kitten noised my hand a second as if to test my friendliness and I gently moved to scratch the back of his ears. He cowered again for a short while but soon started to twist his tiny head toward my fingers. "It's okay, little one. I know you're afraid. You miss your mother and all your brother and sisters are gone too. The world must seem like such a scary place with all these people poking and prodding you and no one to look after you anymore, but I promise, soon someone will take you home and you'll always have a warm lap... and a nice dish of milk..." the words made a chill run through me, I almost wanted to cry. I wondered if lost souls like us ever found a place to belong... "I promise, someday we'll both have a home." I told him, as if he could understand but he started to purr as if he really did believe me and I felt a small smile come across my face.
"You know what, little fluff ball?" I said to him, coxing him up and scooping him into my arms, "I think I know someone who'd love to have you. He's really sweet and loves animals," I tickled his nose and he curled up against me scared again now that he was out of his familiar surroundings, "and I know he's been looking for a little gift for Bast just like you, so why don't I take you home? Hmm? Would you like that?" he looked up at me and then gave almost a happy mewl. "It's settled then." I said firmly and looked at the awestruck sales girl. "I think he'll be coming home with me."
@~8~ @~8~ @~8~
"Malik, there you are!" I heard Isis call out to me as I left the store, a small white cardboard pet carrier under my arm, along with a bag holding the care package thing I bought in order to get the kitten.
"What is it, Isis? Where are the girls?" I asked, looking around.
"They went on to the next store." She replied with her always so serious tone as we stared to walk in the general direction of wherever they headed. "What do you have there?"
"Something for Ryou." I replied lightly and she gave me a look as if to say my impulsiveness would be the death of me. What can I say? It's my greatest flaw and greatest gift. It makes life interesting that's for sure, no sense in living for the expected. "What was it you wanted to talk to me about anyway?" I asked her, I had to admit, her actions before did have me curious as to what her news was.
"I may as well just tell you, there never was any sense in putting it off." What is it with her and being so serious all the time, I swear to Ra sometimes it's like nothing ever manages to make her loose her cool. She's like a female Seto Kaiba... or considering the fact I've known her a hell of a lot longer then Kaiba, Seto is like a male version of her. But even now she seemed hesitant in actually filling me in and that worried me.
"Well out with it Isis, I know already I'm probably not going to like it."
"No, probably not..."
**************************************************
Well there's a hunting way to end a chapter.
Malik: *growls* I don't know what your planning, but I'm not happy!
LYB: Till next time, hopeful in a very short while! Enjoy everyone!