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Chapter 3

Malik was sleeping peacefully when he felt someone nudge him. He opened his eyes to see ivory hair. "Ryou?"

"No, it's Bakura. We're home now so come on inside. Ryou's already there."

Malik yawned, "Alright." Once Bakura had stepped aside, he got out, closed his door and walked back into the house.

Ryou poked his head out of the kitchen and smiled. "Well, you two actually managed to survive out there. I was getting worried."

Bakura rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen, dragging Malik by his wrist with him. He pulled a chair out from the table and pointed to it. "Sit."

Malik blinked and did so wondering what was going on. His mind was still fuzzy.

Bakura left, got a plate and came back. "Now, you're going to eat if I have to force the food down your throat. Then you can't complain that you're hungry."

Malik looked at the plate filled with some kind of rice and veggie mix. It smelled good but he was hesitant.

Bakura paused, "What?"

"What'd you put in this?"

Bakura glowered, "Nothing, now eat. Ryou, you stay here and make sure he eats every bite."

Malik asked quickly, "Where are you going?"

"To bed, of course."

"Aren't you eating?"

"No, I never eat breakfast or dinner. By dinner time I'm still full with lunch."

"What about breakfast?"

"I'm too tired in the mornings to make it. Now, if that's all, may I leave now?"

Seeing as nothing else was said, he disappeared out the door.

Ryou sighed, "You know, as mean as my brother can be, he's not doing it to be, well, mean."

"What?" Malik asked.

"He really is a good brother. He used to do the same to me for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

"Do you think he hates me?"

Ryou smiled, "No. Not at all. You just need to slowly try to get closer to him. Even if it seems hopeless, try again. It'll happen."

Malik sighed and leaned on an arm. "Ok, I guess."

"Hey, no dallying. Bakura told me to watch and make sure you finished your food. Remember?"

Malik laughed lightly, "How could I forget?"

Elsewhere in the house, Bakura sat quietly on his bed. He was thinking about some things Ryou had said back when they were in the car and Malik was asleep:

/\/\/\/\/ "Listen Bakura, Malik doesn't have many friends here or people he knows. It's hard for him to stay here and be verbally attacked by you every so often."

"He should learn to leave me alone. You of all people know that I am not a people person."

"But he really does want to be your friend, even if he doesn't show it."

"Now that, I highly doubt."

"Really, please just give him a chance. It'll make all this easier to bare."

Bakura sighed, "Alright, but don't expect a miracle." /\/\/\/\/

Bakura fell back onto his bed and closed his eyes. 'Give him a chance... hmmm...'

Not too long after, Malik came into the room rubbing his eyes. He hopped onto his bed and was about to go to sleep when he noticed Bakura. He was half on and half off his bed and not under the covers.

Malik shook his head and pulled back the sheets of his own bed and was about to get under them-'I can't just leave him like that.' He got out of his bed and walked over to Bakura's and paused. 'How am I going to do this?'

He moved on of Bakura's arms and pulled the sheets back a little, then moved the other arm allowing him to pull them back even farther. He got up onto the bed behind Bakura and, wrapping his arms around his chest, pulled him up onto the bed. He carefully hopped off and put a pillow under his head. He was about to pull up the blankets when he noticed his shoes were still on. Cursing, he undid the laces and pulled off sitting them next to the bed. After that, he took ahold of the sheets and pulled them up and over Bakura's body.

Malik sighed and stood back. "Finally, that's over." He smiled and walked back to his own bed, got in and covered up. He couldn't help looking over at Bakura once more. 'I'll try Ryou. I'll try.'

He closed his eyes and quickly went to sleep.

~"~"~"~"~"~

The next morning, Bakura cracked his eyes open and yawned. He turned his head slightly and noticed that Malik was not in his bed. 'Where on earth-'

"Good morning Bakura," someone said cheerfully.

Bakura pulled the sheets over his head, "Any morning that I have to get up is a bad morning."

"Wow, I would never have guessed that you weren't a morning person. Yesterday you were up before I was."

Bakura paused, "Malik?" He pulled the sheets back to reveal the sand-haired teen.

"Yep, and I brought you something..." he sat a small tray on Bakura's bed sending delicious smells his way.

Bakura blinked, "Breakfast?"

"Yeah, you said you were too tired to make it so I made it for you." He looked back towards the door, "Ryou?"

Ryou stepped in. "Yes?"

"Sit here and make sure he eats every bite."

Ryou smiled, "With pleasure."

Malik got up, "well, I'm on my way."

Bakura sat up quickly, "Where're you going?"

"He's just going out to get a feel for the neighborhood," Ryou said.

Bakura crossed his arms, "I'm coming with you. There's-no reason why you should go alone."

Malik smiled, "Ok, I'll wait for you by the front door. Hurry up and eat," he said and left.

Ryou looked at Bakura, "Now, that wasn't so bad was it?"

Bakura raised a brow, "You told him to do this."

Ryou shook his head, "No, he did it on his own. I myself was surprised when I woke up this morning and realized what he was doing. Now, don't you feel a little bad? He -is- nice."

Bakura picked up his fork, "I don't feel bad in the least."

Ryou smiled, "Well, eat up."

Malik stood by the front door leaning lightly against it. He really wasn't sure what caused him to do what he did, but he wasn't mad for doing it.

A tap on his shoulder caused him to jump a little. He turned around to face Bakura, same perturbed look on his face as always.

Bakura grabbed his coat and keys and opened the front door. "Well then, let's go."

Ryou ran to the front door and watched the car pull out of the small driveway with a smile on his face. Everything was going good... for now.

-

Bakura started up the street, "Well, where do you want to go?"

Malik shrugged, "Anywhere. Just show me around."

"Alright."

Bakura drove around her and there, occasionally stopping and pointing something out, or explaining something. Before long Malik realized how much Bakura talked about Ryou. Almost every place they looked at had some connection to the twins. It was either "we used to play there" or "Ryou skinned his knee there" or "that's where Ryou used to go all the time". Malik began to get the feeling that maybe Bakura did care about his brother, or at least more than he let on.

"Well, where now?" Bakura asked.

"How about that small café we just passed by," Malik suggested.

"Alright."

Soon they were back and parked and walking inside.

A short waitress with black hair stood smiling. "Hello, how many?"

Bakura looked around, "How many does it look like?"

The waitress paused for a minute looking slightly surprised, "Um-"

Malik stepped forward, "Uh, two please," he said as politely as he could and nonchalantly nudging Bakura's arm.

"Y-Yes, please follow me," she said, her smile returning but not as confident.

She led them to their table and gave them each a menu with a promise of 'being right back".

Once she was out of sight Malik leaned forward, "Bakura, why'd you do that? It was mean."

"So? She had it coming for her. I hate when they ask people that. "How many?" when they can count themselves! Besides, there was only two of us."

Malik shook his head but couldn't help from smiling. He had a point.

Bakura picked up his menu and continued reading.

The waitress came back with notepad and pen ready, "Well, what can I get you to drink?"

Bakura blinked, "This is a café. Doesn't it go without saying that we're going to drink coffee?"

"Oh, yes, of course. What kind-of coffee would you like?"

"Strong black please."

"What-kind?"

"Didn't you hear me? Black."

Once again Malik stepped in, "I'll have a snicker's mocha, and just get him a French roast...decaffeinated." 'Definitely decaffeinated.'

The waitress smiled, "R-Right. Coming right up." She left.

Bakura rolled his eyes, "I can't believe this. Worst service I've received for a while."

Malik raised a brow, "You don't go out much, do you?"

"Nah, 'sides, Ryou barely lets me."

"I can see why."

Bakura propped an elbow up on the table and sighed, "So, tell me something about you. Any family, siblings?"

"I have an older sister, Ishizu. Other than that, my mother and father passed away when I was young."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. My mother also passed away and my father might as well. He's never around. Always off on business in ancient cities or towns. Mostly Egypt. But... does he ever consider how his sons deal with this? No. I don't even think he's ever regarded the fact that we might want to come with him some time, 'cuz I mean, isn't that what families are supposed to do?" He paused, "Sorry, I was rambling."

"Yes, that's exactly what families are supposed to do..."

"Here's your order," the waitress said holding a tray.

Bakura crossed his arms, "It's about time. How hard is it to make coffee? All you do is squeeze the juice out of the beans."

"I-It's a bit more complicated than that..."

"Oh, sorry, I mean you FILTER the juice out of the beans. Jeez..."

"Uh, thank you," Malik said quickly.

The girl nodded and quickly walked off.

Bakura picked up his coffee cup and was about to take a sip-"What?" he asked. Malik was giving him an evil look. It didn't remain for long though and was almost instantly replaced with laughter.

""Squeeze the juice out of the beans?" Great explanation."

"It's true! I've made coffee before. So, what are you drinking?"

"A snicker's mocha."

"Is it any good?"

Malik slid it over, "try it."

Bakura looked at the drink cautiously and took a small drink. He seemed to ponder whether or not he liked it for a moment before nodding. "It's official, this is absolutely... delicious. You're taking mine," he said handing Malik the French roast. "Enjoy."

Malik smiled and shook his head. Ok, maybe he'd let him have his way -this- time.

Bakura sat drinking his drink and wondering what had possessed him to be so... outgoing. He wasn't acting like his usual self at all. If Jounouchi or Yami saw him like this, they'd probably die of a heart attack. He would definitely have to tone it down a notch... if he could. It was kind of hard to be serious around Malik though.

Soon they were finished and out the door and about to get into the car when Bakura held his hand out. "Oh yeah, here, you left this money in there."

"Hm?" Malik turned and gasped, "Bakura!" he started to laugh, "That's her tip!"

"What? Three dollars? That's a waste, especially on someone who can't count TWO people."

Malik sighed and smiled, "Thanks Bakura."

They got into the car and headed back home.

Bakura was still thinking. He'd actually had an ok time... not that he'd ever want to do it again or anything. Still, he remembered what Ryou said to him and as long as things stayed as they were now... he'd give Malik a chance.

It's the least he could do.

---TBC---

Thanks for reading. Please review.

Not sure what possessed me to do the waitress vs. Bakura thing but I liked it. Bakura undoubtedly won that round.

```AmethystRoze```