Disclaimer: If I owned Yu-Gi-Oh, Rishid would get so much more love than he does... Grr. But I don't. So he remains ignored and abused. Poor Rishid. : pets him:

Malik Ishtar was doing some serious thinking. Rishid had been missing for forty-eight hours, Marik had vanished mysteriously an hour ago, and the men he'd sent to foray into the Black Dragon's territory were all dead or seriously injured What if something happened to Marik? What if he was jumped in retaliation? Gods, I couldn't handle it...

It never occurred to him how utterly dependent he now was on the ex-gang leader. Oh, not in matters of the gang... Malik ruled absolutely, his word was Law, and everyone knew it. Even Marik. But in terms of his personal sanity, Marik was the stabilizing factor. Remove him, and Malik would have had very severe problems. Whether he wanted to admit it or not.

He decided to roll the question of where in the hell his brother was for a while. Where is Rishid? He's never just... vanished like this before. If I didn't know him so well, I'd be worried... but he gets like this sometimes. I think he misses Egypt more than he wants to admit. Malik worried his lip a little, leaning back in his chair and playing with the ice in his glass. I suppose it's acceptable... He is my brother, even if not by blood... and I did up and leave with him without so much as a "by your leave"... Dragged him halfway around the world too. He hates cities, I think. It would surprise me if he headed out to some little temple for the weekend.

The thought of his brother in a temple amused him greatly, and he snickered. Rishid? In a temple? Whichever God the temple is too would probably smite him on sight for everything he's done...

But the question remained- where was he? Why had he not at least called his brother to report his whereabouts and his condition? Had something happened to him? Gods, could he be truly dead? No, no, not my brother, not Rishid. The only person harder to kill than he is is Marik...

Speak of the Devil and he appears. Marik opened the door and sauntered in easily. "Hello, Malik-koi."

Malik blinked and masked his total relief that Marik was all right with a scornful glare. "And where have you been?"

"Oh, I checked the area out and went over to Rishid's... apartment." The last was said very tactfully- the place Rishid lived could hardly be called a hole in the wall. He was not the neatest of people, if he was alone. "He wasn't there."

Malik played with an ice cube thoughtfully. "He hasn't called either," he mused out loud. "I wonder why..."

Marik smirked slowly. "You know my beliefs, Malik..."

Malik's eyes sparked. "Yes, and as I recall, I told you to keep them to yourself..."

Marik simply held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, an action completely unlike him. "You did, my love, you did... But... surely they seem... just a little more plausible now?"

Malik licked his lips slowly, unconsciously bringing the ice cube up and running it along his lips. Could Rishid be betraying me? Could he have run off? Is it possible for him to do that to me?

Marik stared at Malik's lips, fighting himself. He knew Malik wasn't consciously trying to seduce him, but Malik's subconscious was a sneaky, sneaky bastard, and when Marik got on a subject Malik didn't like, he usually ended up getting Marik to tear his clothes off and pound him into the nearest solid surface. Even if he didn't realize he was doing it. Dammit. I'm just as enthralled with him as he is with me... Damn.

Malik broke from his trance and grabbed his coat. "I'm going over to Rishid's," he said without preamble. "If he's there, I'll talk to him. If not, I'll search his apartment for clues as to his whereabouts, and I will assume nothing!"

Marik smiled slowly, though it looked more like a smirk. "Of course, my love. You should never assume anything..."

Malik nodded and stalked out of the house quickly, eyes blazing, furious at Rishid, furious at Marik for making him even consider such lies, and furious at himself, for not having the will to resist him.

Rishid sat down in his apartment slowly, gingerly, and with a great deal of regret. He had forced himself to leave Serenity's bed before she'd woken up that morning, leaving a small note for her explaining where and why he had gone. He hadn't wanted to leave. The thought pained him, and even now, he longed for her.

Get your brain back in your head and out of between your legs. Or hers, he chided himself. Focus now. You have been, essentially, MIA for the past two days. Malik cannot and will not miss that. So. A reason.

He brooded a little, sinking lower in his chair and turning on the TV to give him background noise. He had only half-formulated a plausible excuse, then the door flew open and Malik stalked in. "Malik..." he blinked, somewhat surprised, but not totally shocked.

Malik turned on Marik, scowling. "You said that he wasn't here!"

"He was not when I stopped by," Marik said coolly, glaring at Rishid, who returned the glare with just as much force. "I for one would like to know where he was."

Rishid schooled his features to what he usually wore when Marik began interrogating him- mild boredom, annoyance at the repetitive situation, and outright contempt towards his questioner. "I left. I do that every so often, don't I, Malik?"

"You usually warn me before you leave," Malik snapped sharply. "I would have appreciated it."

"I apologize, Master Malik," Rishid nodded calmly, eyes lowering slightly. "I simply felt... oppressed."

Malik relaxed slightly. "I understand, brother." He patted Rishid's shoulder gently, missing the infuriated and wrathful look on Marik's face. "I worried."

Rishid felt something twist painfully inside of him. Three days ago, if Malik had said that, he would have fallen in love with him all over again. Now... there was no love there, only guilt, and he knew it showed on his face, so he used it to his advantage. "I am very sorry, my brother," he said very softly, eyes on the floor. "I will not do that again. I swear it."

Malik smiled and hugged him gently, then turned back to Marik, who had composed himself by this point and resumed his expressionless mask. "See, Marik? I will have no more doubts about Rishid. Is that understood?"

"Clearly, sir," Marik said calmly, though Rishid could see the naked rage in his eyes, directed at him. I have made a dangerous enemy. He has always been my enemy, but I have made a mistake, and he knows it... and he is going to exploit it... I will have to be extra careful from now on.

"Good." Malik smirked and headed out, gesturing for Marik to follow. "We'll call if we need you, Rishid."

"If I do not answer here, call my cell phone." Rishid raised an eyebrow at Marik. "Which I had on me at all times and you could have called to confirm that I was unharmed."

Marik ground his teeth. "We'll remember that."

Malik, on the other hand, laughed. "Of course, thank you brother."

Rishid watched them leave, then sat back and stared at the TV. Slowly, very slowly the realization of how dangerous Marik truly was in his current position dawned on him. Oh, hell. He's going to try to have watchers on me twenty-four-seven. Tap my phone line, as well, no doubt. Thank the Gods, he can't tap a cell phone. He fished out his cell phone and stared at it, for a moment, considering calling Serenity, then he put it away. Laa... She doesn't want to hear from me, not yet. Maybe later. Besides, I don't know who's listening... He settled back in his chair and closed his eyes, letting his mind drift. It quickly headed to Serenity, to her smooth skin and soft hair, to the way she felt beneath him...

His eyes opened quickly and he sighed, muttering to himself in Arabic as he headed for the bathroom. He had more than enough time for a cold shower.

Serenity stirred and yawned, reaching for Rishid to cuddle him, and froze. He was gone. But- but he was here last night... he was! It wasn't a dream, this weekend was not a dream!

Her eyes filled with tears and she tried to choke them back. I... I thought he was different... that he loved me! He said he loved me! That he'd never leave me, that we could make this work! Bastard! She hit his pillow, and was rewarded with the crinkling of paper. ... What's this? She slowly unfolded the note and blinked at it.

"Serenity,

"I know this isn't the best way to do this, but if I waited until you awoke, I know that I would never leave you, and I must... I will come back, but I don't know when or where. I can't let my brother or Marik get too suspicious, or my death will be much sooner than I'd like. I want to spend many years with you, my love, many, many years... Unfortunately that means I must leave you for now. I'll call you sometime when it's safe for me, and we'll pick a place to meet. Always remember that I love you.

"Rishid."

Serenity swallows, smiling now, but with tears still in her eyes. So he didn't lie after all... the schmuck... But he's a sweet schmuck.

She carefully folded the note and put it in a little box her mother had left her. I love you too, Rishid. I really do. I can't wait to see you again.

She jumped a bit as someone knocked on the door. Oh, shit, I forgot Tristan still technically lives here... "Just a sec!" She got dressed quickly and opened the door, blinking at her brother. "Jou? Oh my God, are you hurt? What happened?"

Jou sat down slowly, smiling at her. "Thank God you're ok, sis... I got shot last night... I don't know by who, but I wasn't the main target." He frowned faintly. "I was more of... in the way. I don't know who it was... I never saw his face..."

"Was it the Dragonslayer?" she whispered softly, biting her lip. "I've heard he's totally ruthless, and once he takes aim on you, he'll never stop..." She continued quickly, disguising her fear for Rishid out of her fear for her brother. Guilt spiked through her at being more concerned for her lover than her brother, but she couldn't help it.

"Nah..." Jou shook his head. "If it was the Dragonslayer, he wouldn't 'ave wasted his bullet on shooting his own man, 'cause he wasn't totally in the way of me."

Serenity relaxed fully. "Thank God..." She hugged him tightly and closed her eyes. "I'm glad... So where were you then? Why didn't you call?"

"Eh, I didn't want ta worry ya..." Jou patted her head a bit. "I was at Kaiba's, an' he took good care a' me, ok?"

Serenity nodded, lips thin. "I should hope so! He loves you, that's what he's supposed to do!"

Was it her imagination, of did Jou look slightly sheepish? "Yeah, yeah, I know he does, I know... Look, I just wanted to stop by and see if you were ok... Triss said you didn't leave the house all weekend... at least, that's what he says. And since I know damn well he was screwing Devlin the whole time..."

Serenity giggled faintly and shook her head. "No, I stayed home... I just wanted to stay in and avoid people for a little bit, that's all..."

Jou raised an eyebrow and brushed her hair aside revealing a rather livid hickey on her neck. "...uh-huh. Time away from people, huh?"

Serenity blushed hotly and looked away. "Joouuuu... It's- it's-"

"I shoulda known you couldn't stop. All that bullshit you fed me about turning over a new leaf," Jou crossed his arms. "Shoulda known better."

"Fine words coming from you," Serenity shot back. "At least I love the man I'm sleeping with! Which is more than I can say for you, Jounouchi Katsuya! You don't love Kaiba-kun, do you? You never have! You probably never will! You're just as bad as I ever was!" She turned away from him and crossed her arms. "Get out of my house, Jou."

"This is not your house, Serenity, I bought it, I bought it for you an' Tristan, an' since Triss isn't living here anymore, I should make you move back in with me," he glared at her. "That oughta discourage this lover of yours..."

Serenity turned on him and the anger on her face made him take a step back. "Don't you dare," she all but shrieked. "Don't you even think of daring! I'll leave! I'll run off! Forever!"

Jou glared at her coldly. "You really think you could survive on your own?"

"Yes," Serenity shot back, just as coldly. "And you know I could."

Jou opened his mouth to argue, then shut it, turning away. "Fine. Fine! You go off and fuck this mystery man. But I'll be watching, Serenity, I'll definitely be watching you, if not him, and if you ever so much as look as unhappy, I'll hunt him down and kill him."

Serenity swallowed and closed her eyes, dropping her head. "Right, niichan. You're welcome to do so." If you can even come close to killing the Dragonslayer. If I'm even still alive by the time you'd know to kill him.

"'Renity..." Jou sighed and rubbed his forehead. "If... if he's The One, it's ok... it's ok. But if not, just... let me know, ok?"

"I will, niichan," Serenity said softly.

There was another moment of awkward silence, then Jou coughed a bit. "'Renity...?"

"Yes?" Serenity tried to keep herself calm and not annoyed at her brother. "What is it now?"

"...gimme a hug?"

Serenity turned and smiled at him, moving over and hugging him tightly. "Oh, of course Jou... You're still my big brother, no matter what."

Jou smiled gently and hugged her back. "Good... an' you'll always be my little sister."

Serenity smiled in a way that didn't betray the slight despair in her heart. "I know, niichan, I know." I know I'm your little sister now... but what about when- if!- you find out who and what my lover is?

What will I be to you then?

Kupo: Heh, no, it's not quite like Romeo & Juliet... God, I hated that play... : shakes head:

Dark Celery: ... : pets: Umm... Thanks? Ummm... : more petting: Breathing is good, you know... breeeaaatheeee...

Fireclaw: Yeah, yeah, typos happen... : shifty eyes: Stupid typos. Hope this helps your wondering. XD

DemonicMistress Kree kun: Heh... hehehe... funny you should mention that... : shifty eyes: Maaaaaaaybeeeeee...

nicole-purple: Yes, the... ah... urge to feel alive is common after trauma. I've read about it before. Heheh. Enjoy the Romanian song! Muahahahahaha!

Leaf Zelindor: Heh. Well... yeah. Since I don't have your review anymore... : snorks: Whatever. : huggles: