Chapter Four: Malik, alone.
In this chapter Malik is going to be the main character, as Ryou and Bakura are still unconscious.
Review! Review and make me happy! Um, no pressure to review or anything, by the way… sheepish grin never mind…
Oh yeah, and in case you didn't realise: the title is NOT just completely random- there is actually a chapter in The Amber Spyglass called "Mary, alone." And I thought it might be kinda appropriate to twist this title.
Yami no Yugi no Jinkaku: Yugi's dark personality
Omote no Malik: The surface/front/exterior of Malik. 'Omote' is the proper word to use where many people use 'hikari,' but I'm so used to the word hikari that I generally use that instead.
Uresei: shut up
Warnings: yaoi references and bad language
………….
Two hours later, the group arrived at the inn. It was a bit run-down for their tastes, but it would do. Will and Lyra went to the desk to ask about rooms, while Malik, Yami and Serafina sat down on some chairs.
Yami still found it hard to believe that Malik had carried Ryou all those miles without complaining or asking for a rest. Yami had asked once if he should take Ryou so Malik could get some rest, but the glare he received had been answer enough.
Will and Lyra came back, and Will said, "the woman says there is an empty room with two single beds available, another room further down with two beds."
Serafina interrupted him. "I will take the room with two beds. Ryou will need peace and quiet if he is to recover quickly."
Will nodded. "That leaves three beds for the four of us. Bags I get a bed."
"Me too!" Yami and Lyra spoke in unison.
Malik came out of his daydream and looked up. "What's happening?"
"You are sleeping on the floor," Yami informed him smugly.
Malik's eyes widened. "No way! I am NOT sleeping in the same room as you, and I am NOT sleeping on the floor!"
"What's wrong with sleeping on the floor anyway?" wondered Will.
Yami smirked. "Malik has an Obsessive Cleaning Disorder," he explained. "He'd probably have a heart attack if he slept on the floor."
Will looked slightly worried. "Maybe I should sleep on the floor."
Yami smirked again. "Don't worry, it'll do him good." Malik glared at him.
They walked up to the stairs in silence, until Malik turned to Yami. "I may have a slight case of O.C.D but, unlike you, I am lucky enough not to have O.H.F.D instead."
The Pharaoh looked baffled. "What?"
Malik smiled nastily. "Obsessive Hikari Fucking Disorder."
Yami's face turned as red as his eyes, and he punched Malik hard. Malik promptly punched him back.
"Hey, you two! Stop that!" Lyra unlocked the door, and Pantalaimon flew into the room as a bat. Malik carefully handed Ryou over to Serafina, who took the other key from Lyra and started walking to her room.
The room weren't as bad as they all thought they would be, but they came pretty close. The three beds took up most of the space, but there was a worn-out sofa and a small television set in the corner, and a door to the right led off to the bathroom.
Will stepped forward and dumped his rucksack on the bed, which groaned and sank down a few more inches. Malik looked at him. "Aren't you going to unpack?"
Will shrugged, unconcerned. "I guess." He pulled out a few spare clothes and tossed them half-heartedly into the small wardrobe.
Malik practically had a seizure. "You can't do that!" He grabbed the clothes, smoothed out the wrinkles, folded them neatly and piled them carefully in size order, all in the space of about five seconds.
Will just stared. "Ooookay…"
Malik walked over to the sofa. "And I'm still not going to sleep on the floor," he added, sitting down with his head resting on his arm. A few seconds later, he was asleep. Smirking, Will gave him a push. Malik rolled off the sofa and onto the floor, still asleep. Will grinned.
"Oops."
………
It was a week later. Yami cautiously approached Malik, who was sitting under an ancient oak tree outside the inn, gazing into space. "Hey, they're serving lunch now. Do you want anything?"
Malik looked up. "Oh, it's Yugi no yami no jinkaku. Go away."
Yami frowned. "Why can't you just call me Yami? 'Yugi no yami no jinkaku' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Or should I call you 'omote no Malik'?"
The omote in question glared at him. "Uresei, Pharaoh." One of the things which Malik really hated was being reminded of his other half.
Yami gave up. "Fine. Be like that. See if I care." He walked off in a huff. Ra, I wish Ryou and the Thief would just wake up. That stupid Tomb Keeper is so grouchy without the Thief around. He's taking this worse than I thought.
………
Pantalaimon flew back to Lyra's shoulder, in his owl shape. "I didn't know Yugi and Malik spoke Japanese. I couldn't understand any of it."
Lyra was puzzled. "Why would they speak Japanese? Why can't they just use English?" Her eyes grew round. "They-they must have something they want to hide…"
…….
The beautiful scenery was lost on Malik as he gazed, unseeing, around him. He missed Ryou and Bakura so much, but wasn't going to admit it to that arrogant, self-loving Pharaoh. Even though he knew that Yami hadn't killed his father, he still hated him. He couldn't imagine talking to Will or Lyra about any of his feelings, as he knew neither of them would understand, and besides, they were quickly becoming fast friends with Yugi and Yami.
For a second he debated trying to talk to the witch. But her gaze has unnerved him; he felt as though she could right inside him. He didn't want to think about all the things she would see. Like him…
Malik was sure that if he had been able to hold his yami back, Bakura wouldn't have been hurt. He traced the scar on his arm thoughtfully. Even though Yami Malik hadn't talked to him for weeks, Malik could still feel his presence at the back of his mind.
Malik walked up to the door of his yami's soul room. Like Ryou's it had bars on it. He pushed his face up to them and scanned the room. It was empty. Suddenly Yami Malik's face appeared from nowhere. ((Boo.))
Malik flinched and stepped back slightly.
His yami leered at him. ((Did I scare you, my little hikari?))
The omote ignored him, focusing on reinforcing the mental barriers around the door, making it as hard as possible for his darker half to break through. He tested them gently, and was satisfied. Although the guards were strong, they would be severely weakened if he became angry. His anger would eat through the barriers like acid eating through wood, allowing his yami control.
Yami Malik watched him work with amusement. ((Why do you work so hard to hold me back? It would be easier just let me out.))
(Never,) his lighter half replied. He walked away from the soul room, with Yami Malik's insane laughter ringing in his ears.
There didn't seem to be much point though. Ever since he had found out the truth - that it was Yami Malik who had killed his father and not Yami, Malik had felt his life lacked real meaning. He had nothing left to achieve. The most he could do was keep him locked away, where he couldn't kill anyone else. Even that was beginning to seem pointless. What good would it do? He couldn't hold him back forever.
Malik briefly considered suicide. No one understands what it's like having him living in your head. A thought struck him like a thunderbolt. How often did Ryou consider suicide? Malik knew he had made at least one attempt. This thought disturbed him. He had always taken it for granted that Bakura hurt Ryou; had never considered it his business to interfere. Wait. Am I comparing myself to Ryou? Or to Bakura?
But there ARE differences, he argued to himself. Bakura would never let Ryou die. Because he needs his body. That's not the point, he thought crossly. My yami doesn't care about me at all. Besides, it's all a question of mental strength. I'm stronger than he is, and Bakura is stronger than Ryou. This thought didn't console him as much as it was meant to. Bakura just mentally manipulates Ryou into thinking he is weaker than he really is. Ryou could push Bakura back if he really wanted to.
He thought of Yugi and Yami, and growled. "What right have they got to be so happy with each other?" he said out loud.
He extended the Millennium Rod's blade and toyed with it. I'm so alone. The thought surprised him as soon as it had been formed. It was self-pitying in the extreme, and he wasn't normally given to self pity.
((You're never alone,)) a voice whispered maliciously. ((I'm always here.))
Malik lashed out mentally, almost without realising it.
When his yami had recovered, he said quietly, ((You're not so different from the Tomb Robber, actually.))
(I don't care. He's my friend.) Malik knew he should drop the subject, but he was curious. /What do you mean?/
((You know how he treats his hikari. How is that any different from the way you treat me?
/You deserve it,)) Malik snapped. Then he stopped and thought about that for a second. /Oh my Ra…/
((You see? It's all a matter of opinion,)) his yami hissed. ((You're such a hypocrite. You watch the Tomb Robber treating his other self like shit, while you look on feeling righteous. Then what do you do? You treat me like-))
(Uresei!) screamed Malik.
The spirit laughed, gloating satisfaction lining his silent voice. ((You really are a little baka. You know that, don't you?))
Malik took a deep breath, trying to keep calm. (You're quite happy to sit there and insult me.) He hoped his yami couldn't hear the tremble in his voice.
((You think I'm scared? Let me out and I'll insult you face to face. Go on.))
(I'm never letting you out. Ever!)
Yami Malik gave him a mocking smile. ((Of course you won't.)) Giggling insanely, he retreated to the furthest corner of his soul room, as far away from his hikari as possible, and went back to sleep.
Malik waited, to make sure he had really gone, then got up with the vague intention of walking somewhere. Although no matter where he went it would never be far enough to get away from him.
The sudden sound of running feet made him look up, and he saw Lyra racing towards him. He stopped and leaned against the tree. "Yes?"
"Malik! Serafina wants us! Come quickly! She says-" Lyra paused and gasped for breath.
Malik regarded her impatiently. "She says what?"
Lyra gulped down air and went on. "She says Ryou is waking up."