Sorry for the delay. I can't believe it's been three weeks. I really like this story though, so I'll work hard to update it more habitually. Actually, I guarantee that the next chapter will be up by next weekend.

Chapter 5: Fetch

The breeze that blew in lightly from the window fell quietly on the figure in the bed. Stirring slightly, Jounouchi yawned and stretched like a cat, the comforter falling to his waist to reveal the bandage on his arm.

"Hm?" He examined his wrist with astonishment. "When did this happen?"

Suddenly the memories of the previous day came flooding back to him and his eyes went wide. Oh yes, his attempt to end his life... His failed attempt? For a moment, he remained confused, but then, reminiscence of the tall, dark stranger returned immediately to him.

"Was it a dream?"

Getting out of bed, he noticed that his towel had been draped over a chair and somehow he had been dressed in his nightclothes. This was getting weirder.

"Hello?" the blonde called, walking slowly across his room. No one else seemed to be there but him. "Maybe I was just seeing things-"

Kaiba suddenly appeared in the doorway scaring Jounouchi enough to make him jump. "It's not healthy to talk to yourself," he said through narrowed lids.

"You're still here," he said, surprised. The name came back to him. "...Kaiba." Kaiba looked at him expectantly, as though waiting for him to say something. "Oh sorry," he laughed nervously, "I'm just really kind of shocked."

It was Jounouchi's time to remain silent now and wait for a comment from the lofty brunette. As nearly a minute passed though, he became convinced that Kaiba wasn't talking. "Quiet, I see. Well, where do you live?"

Kaiba crossed his arms and said simply, "Downstairs." In a way, it was true.

"Oh, well thanks for helping me. I guess I passed out or something." Unconsciously he rubbed his wrist.

"You don't have to thank me," Kaiba stated gallingly. "I don't even know why I did it."

Jounouchi wasn't really sure what he meant by that. "Well thanks anyways."

"You know," the demon thrust his hands into his pockets. "This probably never would've happened if you weren't such an idiot."

"Excuse me?" he said, offended. "I'm not an idiot."

"Yes you are."

"I am not!"

Kaiba exhaled and gave up, closing his eyes to calm himself down. It didn't work at all. He was in deep trouble. Acting on impulse wasn't really the best thing to do... especially when it involved a stupid human, of all the blasted things! Oh, if only he had thought things through. Instead, he had interfered irrationally just because some human decides to call it quits?

"Oh, what have I done?" he asked jadedly, running a hand over his face.

Jounouchi immediately became worried. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he answered coldly. "Listen kid, can I trust you to stay here by yourself without causing bodily harm?" His mind kindly recalled that tomorrow he had a specific Bridge meeting to attend.

Jounouchi raised a brow. "I ain't a kid. Actually, I'm not too much younger than yourself."

"Then act like it."

This comment angered him. "You know, I did like you last night, but you just keep making fun of me."

"I'm not 'making fun'," he stated simply. "I'm only affirming truth."

"There you go again!" he pointed. "Maybe it was better without you here."

"I've already confirmed that."

Clenching his teeth, Jounouchi felt like a kettle warming on the stove. He was getting madder and madder and soon would blow. "I think you'd better go."

Kaiba shrugged. "If that's what you wish." Turning around, he exited the bedroom and made his way for the door. The sooner he returned to Hell, the better.

Watching Kaiba leave didn't prove to be what the blonde expected. He suddenly felt bad about the comment and rushed out of his room. "Wait Kaiba, I didn't mean it."

Later, he would be unsure about why he did this, but Kaiba actually stopped and turned to face him. "What?"

Jounouchi looked at his feet. "You... don't have to leave. I guess I should be thankful," he faced him again, "And believe me, I am. It's just that... I'm still trying to figure things out, you know?"

Not only was he speaking about what exactly had happened with the whole Kaiba-situation, but also something more complicated. He felt like he owed Kaiba for practically saving his life. This person, who didn't even know him, just barged in and helped him, no questions asked. But still, it went deeper than that.

Kaiba looked at the blonde with scrutinizing cobalt eyes before finally sighing. "Please learn to make up your mind in the future. I don't like playing games with you, it's something akin to playing fetch with a dog in my opinion." That made him smirk. "Although, I must admit. You remind me of a pitiful puppy."

Jounouchi's eyes widened. "A puppy?"

"Yes," he turned to go. "Now please think wisely from now on. I won't be able to impede any more mishaps, should they occur." He would've left right then, had a hand not grasped onto his wrist. He didn't even have to look to know it was Jounouchi.

Now if there was one thing Kaiba didn't like, it was being touched. He wasn't really a touchy-feely kind of demon anyways, usually preferring to stay as far away as demonically possible from anyone. Other demons annoyed him, and with that in mind, humans annoyed him even worse. Still, this one seemed... different.

"Yes?" he asked, pausing to turn slightly.

The blonde felt utterly stupid asking, but a part of him felt he had to. "Will you... come back?"

Come back? Was this kid insane? Hell no, he wouldn't. "Tomorrow afternoon," he answered succinctly. "Don't make me wait." Shaking free from his grasp, Kaiba exited and quickly closed the door.

How strange. Jounouchi, for the first time in a long time, had felt strangely alive talking and even quarrelling with Kaiba. It was like everything he thought had been missing came back and he was somewhat rejuvenated.

Tomorrow afternoon... He couldn't wait.

-

"What happened in here!" Malik exclaimed, looking around the bathroom.

"Oh," Bakura had to think fast. "Um... When you told me to check and see if anyone was here... I decided to be thorough."

"Thorough?" Malik repeated, looking around at the unkempt room.

Half the contents of the cupboard had been knocked onto the floor, not to mention the mirror that now had a small crack in it. The shower curtains were now hanging by only a few rings and Malik could've sworn that there were two fresh dents in the wall.

"Ah hell," Bakura rubbed his forehead. He should've never pushed Marik to begin with. That demon not only pushed back, but also sometimes even shot back.

"I do not believe this." Malik closed the door to calm himself down. He would've started yelling at Bakura right then and there had he been able to stay mad at him.

"Sorry," Bakura uttered, without really think about it.

WHAT! Had he just... apologized? The last time Bakura apologized to anyone was, well, never. Bakura did things his own way. Bakura liked it that way. No one made him feel bad. No one made him regret anything. Actually, 'No regrets' was the motto he lived by. Besides, when you're dead, no one had better even think about getting in your way. You're dead, for Hades' sake.

Still, this was Malik, and he was downright adorable. Not only was he adorable, but he likeable, possibly even lovable, and that made him very dangerous.

"I'm hungry," Bakura said, trying to think about something else.

Malik glared. "Don't even try and change the subject." Although, he was a bit hungry as well. "Let's go look for something in the kitchen."

That idea proved to be useless. Well, as useless as it can be when we're talking about an angel and demon that have no culinary arts skills whatsoever. Sure, there was food, mostly non-perishable items and what have you, but neither Malik nor Bakura had had to prepare any kind of food in a long time, or at least since they could remember.

"This can't be too hard, right?" Malik said, a look of determination on his face.

This was the part where Bakura nearly fainted. "You mean to tell me, that you have no idea how to cook?"

The angel smiled. "Nope."

Bakura suddenly felt the urge to break something. How could he grin at a time like this? This was an absolute disaster! They needed food and neither knew how to make it.

Malik, on the other hand, saw comical relief in it all. Here they were, two somewhat normal people, and they'd end up starving to death if they didn't die in the bathroom first.

"Don't worry, Bakura," Malik patted his shoulder. "Leave it to me. Food comes with instructions, right?"

Bakura's eye twitched. "You're still going to try and make it?"

"Why not. It'll be a new experience."

Running a hand over his face, Bakura let out a long sigh. "I might as well help."

"That would be nice."

-

"I don't believe this," Ryou said for at least the fiftieth time. "I do not believe this." That made the fifty-first.

The distraught choir angel was currently looking at a small hand mirror that showed the one possessing it whatever they wished. And of course, Ryou was watching Malik. Malik, his best friend for heaven's sake, making dinner with a well-known demon!

Yes, Ryou knew who Bakura was. He knew exactly who he was. Well, it wasn't really well known information; not everyone knew the tales of the feared and often dreaded Bakura. Hell's business usually remained Hell's business, and the same went for Heaven.

Still, Ryou didn't know about Bakura through his reputation... It was something else. Something very bad.

To make matters worse, Bakura just happened to be an acquaintance of Marik. Marik- the most feared demon in Hell. The demon who Ryou had actually conversed with not too much earlier.

"Oh, why did I do that?" Ryou wondered aloud, slipping the mirror in the pocket of his gown. "I should've never talked to him."

Ryou didn't particularly like Marik that much. The kind angel was generally soft-spoken and kind, and he tried to be with everyone. But, the moment Marik opened his mouth spewing utterly pretentious words, something inside of Ryou clicked and he actually felt angry.

With Ryou's luck, Marik would probably go to Hell and spew to everyone about how his friend was on Earth with an angel. That would not prove to be good. If that were to happen, a huge controversy would occur as a result at the Bridge meeting and it would be Apocalypse: Now.

Somehow, Ryou was going to have to convince Malik to come back to Heaven before something bad happened.

"Ryou, are you all right?" Yami asked, stirring him from his thoughts.

The white-haired angel smiled. "I'm fine. Sorry to worry you."

"Good. I tried to find you earlier but you were nowhere to be found."

"Oh, um, I was taking care of some business," Ryou swallowed hard.

"For the Bridge meeting?"

"Yes." Partly, that wasn't a lie.

Yami tossed back a few renegade blonde bangs. "Have you seen Malik lately? I usually see him soaring somewhere. Despite his diffidence to performing tasks, he's usually kept busy somehow."

"Actually," Ryou smiled. "I just saw him this morning. He's gotten caught up lately with stuff, so yeah."

"Stuff?" Yami repeated, blinking. It was unlike Ryou to be so careless with words. "What kind of...stuff?"

"Oh you know," Ryou waved it off, "Just stuff. I really have to go, Yami. Bye." Waving, he let his wings extend and lifted into the air, flying off as quickly as possible.

Had Yami pressed the matter any further, then he most assuredly would've found out the truth. Ryou wanted to keep it a secret for as long as angelically possible, because he was positive that news was spreading like wildfire in Hell.

In truth though, Marik was keeping quiet. He was as sure as Ryou that it was quite dangerous to spread news of that magnitude. An angel and a demon living together? It was unheard of!

"I'll bet he's telling all of the little winged brats the news right now," mumbled Marik, who was sulking in his chambers.

It was really too bad, too. The pipsqueak was actually gorgeous and were he to have been a demon, well, he would've been his, no questions asked. That reminded him suddenly of his currently single status, which automatically pissed him off. He was Marik- for Lucifer's sake- one of the only demons in Hell who could've had whomever he wanted. Bakura was another exception, but he just didn't ever seem interested. Then there was Kaiba, who was currently M.I.A., which sucked, to put it bluntly, because without Bakura there, Marik had nothing else to do. Sure, screwing around was an option but as previously stated- no one seemed to make the cut.

"He'd better be here tomorrow," Marik growled. "Or it could very well be the end of demonic existence."

-

"Aha!" Malik said triumphantly. "I told you it wouldn't be so hard."

Bakura eyed him outlandishly. "I'm still wondering why you felt the need to wear an apron."

"It kept me clean, and for that I'm thankful. Now," he looked back at the oven, "How do we know when it's done?"

"How would I know?" Bakura shrugged. "It's been in there for a while. Won't it tell us or something?"

"I'm not sure. Hopefully." He placed the bowl that still had small globules of dough attached in the sink. "Thanks for helping me, at any rate."

The demon waved it off. "It's not like I knew what I was doing. I just read the directions."

"So did I. Still, it's good having you around." Malik smiled, "It's fun."

Coming to Earth unexpectedly felt like one of the best decisions Malik had made in a while. Even if he was stuck living with a prior to homeless guy, it wasn't all that bad. Actually it wasn't bad at all.

"Fun?" Bakura repeated the word. It felt strange to say, and almost wrong. Demons didn't have fun, they were... well, they were demons. Their job was to wreak havoc on Earth and cause grief for humans everywhere, all the while trying to convince them that Hell was the place they wanted to be. "Malik... have you ever considered what might happen to you when you die?"

The arbitrariness of the question threw Malik off. "When I die?" Great, what a perfect question to ask. Because Malik was already dead, he'd have to think carefully on what he said next.

"Well I mean, where do you think you'll go?"

"You mean as in, Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory?"

"Yeah," he tried to say unfeelingly. "You think there might be any chance that you'd... I don't know... end up in Hell?"

Malik raised a brow. "Hell?" He was treading on thin ice. "Well... I don't think so."

Bakura frowned. "Oh." Who was he kidding though, really? Someone as nice as Malik would probably have a free shot at the world above the clouds. "You know though, Hell's not really..." …That bad? Was that what he was about to say? Was he actually going to try and coerce Malik into selling his soul? Though, another part of him looked at it differently. Were Malik to go to Hell, he'd be able to live with him forever. That's what he wanted, wasn't it? But... at what cost?

"Bakura?"

Malik's voice brought him to attention. "What?"

"Weren't you going to say something?"

He blinked. "Was I?"

"Yeah, I though you said 'Hell's not really-', and then you paused there."

"Oh, never mind. I was just mumbling nonsense."

"Ok then." Malik gave him a small smile and closed up the flour bag before placing it away in the cabinet. "Hopefully getting some food in your stomach will cause you to make more sense."

"Of course," nodded Bakura. Yes... hopefully. "Wait, you have some flour on your face."

Malik blinked. "I do? Where?" He started dusting off his face and of course missed horribly. "Guess they should make aprons for faces, huh?"

Bakura smirked. "It's right...here," he brushed his cheek lightly, letting the white powder fall off. Then, taking the fine chin in his hand, he leaned in close turning Malik's face this way and that making sure no more tarnished his face. "There you go."

"Thank you again," Malik grinned, and quite cutely actually. So cutely in fact, that Bakura had to hold himself back mentally to prevent himself from kissing the boy silly.

Without really thinking about it, Bakura brushed his thumb over Malik's lower lip, an action that sent a shiver up the angel's spine. They were so close again. How on earth did this just keep happening? It took willpower for Bakura not to make a move on someone when he genuinely cared about them and the serenity of the household had to be obscured just because Bakura went and developed feelings for a human? Oh, Marik would have a laugh about this.

"Screw it," Bakura muttered. Leaning in, he fully intended to lock lips with the shorter blonde and let whatever happened as a result just happen.

Destiny must've had other plans because one second into the planned kiss, the oven went off causing the demon to freeze in his tracks.

"Sorry," he mumbled, pulling back and once again thrusting his hands in his pockets. It was almost as though he were doing something wrong, and in a way, Bakura supposed he was.

"Was there something else on my face?" wondered Malik, looking expectedly at Bakura for an answer.

"Yep." If attractive lips counted then it wasn't a lie.

"Oh." Malik arched a brow and threw some oven mitts on, grabbing the pan out of the stove. "Wow! It turned out all right!"

Bakura feigned a small smile. "It sure did."

He was in deep trouble. All of a sudden, coming to earth didn't seem like such a good idea, and the whole situation left Bakura wondering how he ever fell in love with a human like Malik.

-TBC-

Ah. I'm content with this chapter. Very mellow-ish ending though. What can you do? Malik's not as oblivious and dense as he seems in this chapter, though sometimes he can be. His thoughts on everything will come out later. I like the way there's more than one plot though. That way, I don't ever get bored with it. Yami's side plot hasn't even been started yet. That won't begin until after the Bridge meeting which is next chapter. Like I said, it will be up next weekend.