/Ryou's POV/
"Mariku!" I called; completing my side of our daily ritual as I gently closed the door behind me and entered the small home I shared with the Egyptian yami. Everyday, upon arriving home, Mariku would jump me at the door, and describe in great detail every happening of his day whilst I was gone. It was rather cute, really, seeing a figure I had once viewed as pure evil jumping about with wide eyes, excited just to see me. His youthful, beautiful grin and naive eyes seemed so out of place on the tan face of a twenty-six year old man, especially one who was once so tainted; so cruel. But I had become accustomed to it, after watching the man, the boy, for so many years, and his revert back to a childish mentality had grown on me. Poor, sweet Mariku; he has been like this ever since… he left.
But today was different: I wasn't jumped from behind as I put my coat away, or bombarded with stories and questions as I went to get a drink of water. Even my calling of his name remained unanswered.
"Mariku?" I said again, gently, while making my way from the kitchen, through the dining room and towards the living room, keeping an eye out for him as I went. Surely he had to be around here somewhere…
And then I saw him. He was nearly hidden by the living room sofa; his back leaned against it and his legs drawn up to his body. His arms were crossed over his knees, and his head lay upon them, his hair falling forward and obscuring his face. Even from the doorway, however, I recognized the position; even from this distance I could distinctly see his shoulders rising and falling uncontrollably. It was exactly how I'd found him, nearly seven years ago; his body racked with sobs and his mind somewhere else.
The glass I was carrying slipped from my hand, shattering at my feet, but I barely noticed. It seemed so irrelevant compared to what I knew I was facing.
"Oh Gods," I whispered, "What has he done now…?"
Quietly I walked over and kneeled beside my traumatized friend.
"Mariku?" I questioned, gently shaking the other's shoulder, "Mariku, please: tell me what happened."
He looked up at me, slightly grinning; I was terrified to see his look of insanity that so often used to frighten me showing through, slightly, on his tear-soaked features.
"He's gone, Ryou," he said, in a barely audible whisper. "He's gone…"
"He's always been gone," I answered in an equally low but firm tone, "What do you mean?"
Slowly he arose, bringing me back to my feet with him, and embraced me. I had grown quite a bit since the time I met him, but I still felt so dwarfed, entangled in his long and powerful arms.
"Mariku…?"
He released me and stepped back, reaching into his right-back pocket and removing something.
"Here"
He extended an envelope towards me, and I took it warily.
I started to ask: "What is it?" but he shook his head, and I got the message:
Just read.
Slowly, with trembling fingers, I opened the already unsealed envelope, and pulled a folded sheet of paper from inside. I carefully unfolded it, scared to death of what could have brought Mariku to this state; even more terrified that I already knew; and then looked down at the letter.
My eyes widened as I read, instantly filling with tears.
"Oh Ra, no…" I whispered.
I felt my legs give out from under me, and I fell onto the couch; the paper dropped from my weakened grip and fluttered to the ground. Holding my head in my hands, the tears freely flowing, I lost all comprehension of what was happening around me. Ra only knows how long I could think of nothing; I just sat there: sobbing.
I don't know when Mariku sat next to me, nor when he took me into his arms, all I know is that when I next looked up I met his eyes; as wet and blood shot as mine; and somehow, it was comforting. I leaned my head against his chest and curled up, trying to get as close to him as I could.
And there we stayed, unable to relax, unwilling to move, afraid to sleep; having both just been forced to come to grips with something we had always thought, but had never wanted to believe…
Malik really is gone.