Chapter 7 Malik's game

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

I know. You guys hate me, right? Go ahead, tell the truth. I'd hate me too if I was you. (Not sure if that made any sense.) See, I have been grounded from the computer, but even so, I haven't exactly been that diligent of an authoress. I had all these ideas for this chapter, I just never got around to getting them out of my notebook and onto my computer. I'm sorry. I know, I suck. (Pardon my french, if you consider "Suck" a bad word. I don't, I think of it more of a way of saying that I'm not good at whatever I'm good at, such as trying to be the best authoress. Oh, but I'm getting off subject. Guess my ADD's kicking in. Well, Actually, I have ADHD, but that's getting off the point again. Now, where was I? Oh yeah, ranting about the word "suck". Well...I guess that's it.)

Also, as I read through my story, I realized I made a huge and possibly fatal error in my writing. While I've been calling Malik by his Japanese name (instead of Marik, as the American version has dubbed him) I've been calling Isis by her edited name. (Ishizu) Sorry for my stupid and amateurish mistake. As I said before, I suck. (But I'm not even going to get back on that subject! Lol) Anyway, here's chapter 7!

"You and your . . . paranoid . . . ness . . . " Malik's teeth chattered as Serenity unwrapped the makeshift bandage from around his wounded arm.

"Malik, paranoidness isn't a word." She said, examining the gash intently. "And even if it was, this isn't what you would call paranoia. It's precaution. I need to make sure your wound isn't infected." Her face was set in grim determination. She knew that in just a few seconds, this man who she'd come to believe she might love would be howling in agony. This was the last thing she wanted to do to him, but it had to be done.

He cast a longing glance at his jacket. "Well, hurry up." he grumbled. "I'm freezing." Ever since she had fixed up his arm, he'd come to trust her nursing abilities. When she told him she had to check his lesion for any signs of infection, he immediately complied to her instructions. But still, as he sat shivering in the cold, he couldn't help but complain. It was only natural, especially for him.

"Well, I'm sorry you're cold, but this has to be done. Unless you want your arm to rot and fall off, of course. I'd be more than happy to stop dressing your wound, and after we get out of here, you can make your way to the hospital to get it amputated. She hated to get cross with him, but what could she do? No matter how much she'd grown to care about him, she had to admit: They brought out the worst in each other. "Is that what you want?"

"..." his mouth was set in a grim line. "...No." He said finally.

"Good. Then let me see this." She looked closely at the injury. "I'm going to check for infection . . . this . . . will hurt."

"Just get on with it." He said heatedly. She swallowed and put her hands on his arm. As gently as she could, she pinched his wound so a small amount of blood rose through the area that was starting to scab over. But as soon as she added pressure, he jerked away from her, his lavender eyes wide in shock.

"Why did you do that!" He asked in disbelief. "Are you trying to bleed me to death!"

"No! I have to make sure there's no puss mixed in with your blood."

"...Ewe...that's gross..." He said. She rolled her eyes.

"You're so immature. And you think it's gross? I'm the one that has to look at it! Now, let me see your arm."

He glanced at her and turned back so she could check his arm. "Just...warn me when you're going to do it, okay?" He muttered, looking down. It would've been so easy for her to come up with a sarcastic comment at that moment, but she didn't feel like it was right.

"Okay, Malik, I'm about to pinch you now." She told him softly. He took a deep breath and she pinched him, sending pain coursing through his arm. "I've been through much worse than this..." He silently told himself. "If I could survive all the pain I've had in my life...I can surely survive...this..." But all he could think of was the sharp throb of his shoulder.

Serenity was ver thorough in checking. She went over every inch of his gash, making sure only blood rose to the surface. She looked briefly at his face. He was grimacing. She felt bad for putting him though so much pain. He was obviously trying not to cry, but to be the tough guy he always was. After wiping away the last of the blood, she tied another portion of his shirt on his arm. "I'm sorry, Malik." She whispered. "I know it hurt."

"Nah..." he muttered as she finished tying it. "It wasn't that bad." She knew he was putting on a charade, but she acted like she believed him.

"You can put your jacket back on." She mumbled.

"So..." Malik said as he slid his arms through the sleeves. "Where did you learn to be such a good nurse?"

"I took heath in eighth grade." She shrugged. "They taught us basic first aid, as well as what we should do in certain emergencies."

"So, you'd know what to do if I were to..." He put his hand to his head and fell backwards. "...faint?"

"Of course. I'd make sure you weren't wearing something that was cutting off your circulation, then I'd make sure you could breathe." She said. He sat up.

"What if I were to start convulsing?" He asked.

"Do you have seizures, Malik?"

"No, but if I did, what would you do?"

"Well, I couldn't really do anything. I'd just make sure you didn't hurt yourself."

"Hmm...what if I were to drown?"

"I really don't see how you can drown in here." She said grinning. He rolled his eyes.

"You know what I mean. What if, out there, I was to suddenly decide to go swimming, but my amazing swimming skills somehow failed me," (Actually, can Malik swim? Didn't he spend most of his life underground in the desert, thereby never allowing him to learn how? Hmm...) "and I was about to drown? what would you do?"

"Well, I would no longer feel responsible for you, so I wouldn't do anything." She said, joking.

He got a strange look on his face. "You'd really let me die?" then he began to grin. "Serenity, I'm hurt. And after I saved your life."

"You know I'm joking." She said, smiling. "And for your information, I wouldn't have needed saving if it weren't for you and your stupid ideas."

"So, you would save me?" He asked, choosing to ignore the last part of her statement. She nodded, and he continued. "What would you do?"

"I'd...give you mouth to mouth." She said. A blush crept across his face, but then he smiled mischievously.

"I think I like the sound of that." he said, grinning. "Ooh, hang on." He grabbed a bottle of water from the bag and poured it in his mouth. Serenity watched as he laid down and closed his eyes.

"What are you-"

"Shh!" He said, his eyes still closed. "I've drowned. You have only minutes to save me, and I'm sure you don't want to waste it talking. So go ahead, make with the mouth-to-mouth."

"You're nuts."

"Dying here." He said loudly. "You said you'd save me, so go ahead."

"Okay..." She crawled over to him. "Oh dear, it appears Malik is unconscious." she smirked. "Joey, come over here. I'll tell you how to give him mouth to mouth."

"Hey!" He bolted upright. "That's not fair. Joey isn't here."

"But out there he will be. I would have my brother necessitate you while I instructed him on what to do."

"Yeah, like he'd do that..."

"He'd rather do it than have me do it." She smiled. "Now lay back so my brother can give you mouth to mouth"

"Nope. You have to do it. Joey's not here right now, and it's up to you to give me the kiss of life." He laid back.

"I'm not going to..." She crossed her arms defiantly. Inside, her mind was reeling and her heart was pounding. If he was doing all this, it means he must like her, right? If he wants her to kiss him that much...

Okay, everyone! At this point, I was suddenly struck with severe writer's block. My mind is in turmoil, you see, because I know they've only been trapped together for one day. This is going really fast, and I wasn't sure if the sparks should fly yet. So, I leave it up to you: Should Serenity go along with Malik's little game and give him the "Kiss of life"? Of should she refuse, thus holding off the romance a little longer. Vote on it, and I'm sorry to leave you with such a cliffie.

Lover of Seto Kaiba

(LoSK)