There was indeed quite a welcoming crew. Yuugi, Jonouchi, Honda, Anzu, and Bakura were all waiting at the airport, keeping a sharp eye out for the Ishtars. Anzu was the first one to spot them. "There they are," she said, pointing as the three Egyptians drew closer.
Yuugi waved. "Hi! Welcome to Japan!" he greeted them.
"Thank you," Isis answered with a grateful smile. "It's nice to be back here."
Anzu noticed Malik twitch at his sister's words. He stood closer to Rishid than to Isis, slightly hunched over, eyes down. Somehow, Anzu got the feeling Malik didn't share Isis's opinion about being in Domino.
"Malik, we're glad you're here," Anzu said, trying to make him feel more welcome.
Malik raised his head so that he was looking at Anzu and gave what could have been a smile, but there was no emotion in it. Then he looked down again.
There was a brief pause, everyone made uncomfortable by the brusqueness of Malik's response. Then Honda said, "So, Yuugi, did you want to take him to the arcade?"
"Oh, yeah! Malik, there's this great arcade by where we live. I thought it would be fun if we all hung out there. Wanna go?"
The Egyptian shrugged, not looking up.
"There are a lot of cool games," Bakura encouraged. "They have Capcom-vs.-Marvel, Super-Tetris—"
"And DDR," Anzu added eagerly.
Jonouchi hid a snort. "Yeah, that's what you should do first," he said. "Play DDR with Anzu. It'd be fun."
Anzu concluded, "Yeah, it'll be really fun, let's go!"
Everyone watched Malik for a response. Finally, he glanced up with a slightly forced smile.
"Great, it's decided then!" Yuugi exclaimed. "To the arcade!"
"Which car is Malik going in?" Honda asked. "Jii-chan's is just about full as it is—should he go with Mai?"
They're talking about Malik like he's not even here, Anzu noticed sadly. "Malik, which car would you like to go in?" she said, hoping everyone else would get the point.
Malik shrunk back and moved closer to his siblings.
Isis shook her head. "Rishid and I have to get to the hotel, Malik," she answered. "I need to get settled as soon as possible so I can go work on the exhibit."
"How are you getting there?" asked Yuugi curiously.
"We have a rental car arranged," Isis said with a hint of a stutter. "The museum—your father, Bakura-kun, he arranged it for us."
"Oh, right," Bakura said, fidgeting. "Yeah. I guess he… um… did he get hotel rooms for you, too?"
"Yes."
Bakura's father, of course, had done no such thing. In all likelihood, Isis had arranged for the car and the rooms herself the day before, to maintain her lie about the exhibit. But the Japanese teens did not mention this.
"So…" Yuugi said. "Which car do you want to go in?"
Malik shrugged. There was another awkward pause.
"Why don't we go over to the cars and you can decide then," Anzu offered at last.
The Egyptian agreed with a small nod. A glance passed between Isis and Rishid, and Rishid said gently, "We'll leave you with them for now, Malik-sama."
Malik started. As his eyes went from Rishid to Isis, his sister patted him on the shoulder. "We'll pick you up at Yuugi's house later, all right?"
Out of the corner of his eye, Malik looked at the Japanese teens. Then he forced another smile and nodded slightly.
The ride to the arcade was not a long one. Not wanting to ride with Mai—he hadn't forgotten the terror his other self had put her through—Malik rode with Yuugi, Anzu, and Jonouchi, who spent the whole time trying to make conversation that Malik could participate in without talking. He could tell they were striving to make him feel included.
But that was a lost cause.
Now, at Anzu's insistence, Malik was standing in a brightly-colored circle, his feet surrounded by arrows. He looked at her dubiously; he'd seen people playing this sort of game before, and he didn't think he could move his feet that fast if his life depended on it.
"Don't worry," Anzu encouraged him. "I'm putting you on an easy song." She set up for him and went to her square. "Just step on the arrow when it gets to the top of the screen." A song title appeared on the screen, and then disappeared as the song started. Obediently, Malik tried to pinpoint the arrows as they scrolled upwards, but he had horrible timing and by the end of the song, he was sick of the game. (It didn't help that, since he was missing so many arrows, the game was asking him if he was asleep.)
The moment the song ended, Malik walked off the square. Anzu followed him. "Do you like it?"
Malik shook his head once.
"I'm sorry," Anzu apologized. "It's a lot of fun once you get used to it."
Yeah, Malik thought. It's just getting used to it that's impossible. He gave Anzu a slight smile, then meandered towards the martial arts games, where Yuugi and Jonouchi were playing. They sat on opposite sides of the machine, fighting each other. Malik was not surprised to find that Yuugi was winning.
"Hi, Malik," Yuugi said, his concentration still on the game. "How'd you dance?"
Malik stared silently. There was a brief pause, and then Anzu realized the problem. "He did pretty well for a beginner," she said. "I was impressed."
Malik shook his head in denial that he had done any such thing. Yuugi and Jonouchi finished their game and Jonouchi offered, "Wanna play me, Malik?"
Though slightly overwhelmed just watching the game, Malik shrugged and took a seat in front of the game. Yuugi showed him the controls. Malik was still confused, but before he could indicate that he wanted to do a practice round first, Jonouchi had started the game.
Jonouchi had no sympathy for the first-time player. Malik's head spun as he watched the fierce, experienced attacks fly at his fighter. Defending himself was the best he could do. He abandoned all hope of fighting back and devoted his energy to blocking the attacks.
Finally he could defend himself no longer. One of Jonouchi's attacks made it through and blew Malik's fighter completely out of the ring.
K.O., declared the game. LOSE.
Jonouchi rose from the game and came to Malik's side. "I win," he said with an easy, self-satisfied grin.
Malik stared blankly for a second, then stood as a strange, uncomfortable anger swelled up within him. Hiding his face, he brushed past Jonouchi and searched for a single-player game. Only after he'd taken the controls of a pinball table did Malik allow his face to fall.
Losing—especially losing to them—still hurt.
Malik angrily yanked back on the pinball's plunger and released it. I want to beat them, he thought as the metal ball rebounded around the table. Even if nothing comes of victory, can't I at least win for once?
No, that's selfish, chided another part of his mind. I don't deserve to win against them. And it's not like my motives are completely……
It doesn't matter. I don't care if I lose.
So Malik pushed his anger aside, then scowled slightly as his ball bypassed the flippers and slid off the table. He pulled the plunger back slowly, and the ball started bouncing around again.
I love DDR.
My gosh, I wrote this chapter so long ago... Just so you guys know, I'm confusing myself greatly concerning Jou's characterization. So I'm very very very sorry if it gets screwed up. I'll try to keep it as constant as possible.
Anyway, review talk time!
Union of Darkness: Thank you so much for reviewing . Although, I'd have to agree--Malik's characterization is actually drastically different in the dub. So... yeah. Malik is my favorite character too .
ketaglass: Well you're lucky because the next one after this will be up as soon as I have time! (maybe within the next five minutes, unless it's dinner time XD). Thanks for reviewing!
The Fifth Champion:Mwahaha, I am using the dreaded element of suspense! My editor-friend hates suspense too ;. I'm so glad you agree with the relationship between Malik and Yuugi-tachi. I'm having so much difficulty . but that's mostly my own fault ; Cause I'm too lazy to buy the manga I need. :Cough: