I frown as I leave Ryou. He is especially vulnerable after Yugi's escape, but I cannot stay without attracting attention from his spies. Still, I do not like leaving him when the trainer is in such a bad mood.
There is much about Project Dawn now that I do not like.
My orders were clear – if I was not contacted by the scientists for 72 consecutive hours – a full three days – then I was to leave the project, and try to help the hikaris when they are released into the world. But I cannot bring myself to leave until Ryou is freed. I know what they would do to him.
The other hikaris are in far less danger. No one bothers with the first any more apart from myself and the scientists, and the fourth is too important to his plans to risk in a bad-tempered fit. Ryou and Yugi were always the most vulnerable, and now that Yugi has escaped, there is only Ryou left…
There is very much indeed about Project Dawn now that I do not like.
At least Yugi is now free. I smile at the thought, and immediately stop for fear of drawing the attention of his spies. But it is a relief to me. One of my charges is in less peril.
I pause in the corridor, and turn towards the first hikari's room. He might have been contacted by the scientists, I tell myself, and immediately recognise the delusion of the thought as wishful thinking. Why am I so worried if I can soon leave?
I am scared. For the scientists who have both disappeared, and for myself. What has happened to them? What will happen to me? Will I be able to carry out my orders to protect the hikaris?
I stop outside the door to the first hikari's room. Much as I am scared, I have to obey my orders. If I do not, then I will be left obeying him instead. I straighten my clothing, and knock on the door. "Malik? May I come in?"
*
Yugi grinned happily as he ate the ice-cream Seto had bought him. Yami had frowned slightly when Seto first suggested it, then smirked as Yugi explained that it was an attempt to get Yugi to shut up. "Don't worry, Seto," he said easily. "I'll be sure to tell everyone what Yugi thinks!" Seto growled as Anzu giggled again, and hastily bought everyone ice-creams to shut them up.
'This is actually fun, all of us together,' thought Anzu as she licked her strawberry ice-cream. She grinned at the sight of Seto and Jou sharing a raspberry ripple, and Yugi and Yami cleaning the cone of the vanilla with their tongues. Yami was very careful to avoid the area that Yugi was cleaning, but it was still obvious that he liked Yugi. Anzu pulled her mouth away from her cream. "Hey, Yugi, has Yami asked you to the dance?"
"Yep!" Yugi grinned. "Honda suggested."
Jou and Seto exchanged glances, and promptly burst out laughing. Yami pretended to ignore them, his cheeks darkening with embarrassment, while Yugi looked from one to the other, wondering what was so funny.
Finally, both of the teenagers had calmed down enough to talk again. "Speaking of Honda, why did he get out of watching Yugi get new clothes when I didn't?" asked Seto in his usual tone of voice.
"He forgot something," said Yami dismissively.
"Knife," filled in Yugi. The rest of the group stopped eating their ices and turned to look at him. "What?" he asked in bewilderment.
"Never mind," sighed Seto. Yugi pulled a face at him again. "Yami, haven't you told him yet that if he pulls a face too often, it will get stuck there?"
Yugi immediately looked worried, and turned anxiously to Yami.
"Don't worry, aibou. Seto has a strange sense of humour," Yami said, mock-scowling at Seto.
Yugi grinned in relief, and turned back to their icecream.
"So, guess the kiddo likes this, huh?" Jou asked.
//Do you, aibou?//
/Mm-hmm!/ Yugi told Yami emphatically. /Sweet-sticky-nice!/
"He likes it," Yami told the others.
Once they'd all finished their icecreams, they wondered what to do next.
"Well, we've bought Yugi some clothes, and he's staying with you," Anzu said briskly to Yami. "Where does he go to school?"
Yugi looked up at Yami. /School? What is school?/
Yami stared down at him for a moment. //You don't know?// Then he blinked. //You don't know what money is. Why am I surprised that you don't know what school is?//
Yugi shrugged at him.
"Yugi – doesn't go to school. I think," Yami told their friends.
"It's illegal for him not to go to school," pointed out Seto.
"Yeah, or I wouldn't be there," muttered Jou.
"So I'll arrange for him to begin lessons at Domino High on Monday," Seto continued, ignoring Jou's comment.
"Yay!" cheered Yugi.
The teens all stared at him. "What?"
//You're – happy – about going to school,// explained Yami.
/Yes. So?/
//…//
"The kiddo really doesn't know what school is, huh, Yami?" asked Jou.
"No, he really doesn't," agreed Yami.
*
Alone.
Silent.
Peaceful.
Look. Room. Dark-cold-empty.
Different.
Sigh. Relax.
Alone…
"Shrimp!"
Whimper. No…
"You gonna get outta the truck, or d'ya want me ta drag ya out?"
Stand.
Hurry.
Outside.
Trainer…
"You know the rules, ****-for-brains. You – don't – make – choices! Maybe I should remind you of that…" Smirking.
Belt. Strap.
Pain.
*
I sigh as I leave the first hikari's room. I do not know whether I have reached him at all, but I must hope that I have. He is my only responsibility now; Yugi is free, and Ryou will soon be joining him… I hope.
Only one left to free. And for that I will need allies, allies strong enough to stand against him. Allies with political strength and cunning, as well as physical ability.
An idea. Perhaps the young assistant could be of help…? She resigned when we first learned that he would take over the project. She knew what he would do with it, and was not interested in his money. Perhaps she could name me someone who would help, if nothing else.
Yes. I nod decisively. I will go to see Ishuzu Ishtar, and ask for her help.
*
Lavender eyes gleamed crazily. "I'll find you, hikari," Marik breathed, staring into the flame he held in his bare hand. "The others are being freed, are they not? I'll free you, beautiful. I'll hold you safe away from the world, and crush the evil you're scared by…"
"Marik?" A knock on his bedroom door. "What are you doing, little brother?"
"Nothing, sister-dear!" he chanted, closing his fist on the ball of fire. "Nice and quiet, not doing anything!"
The door didn't open, but Ishuzu's voice sounded worried. "Don't burn this apartment down, please?" she begged. "I don't think we can afford another."
"Sister!" he protested, hurt. "Got rid-of-rats! Sister-Ishuzu hated rats! All gone now," he said with a winning smile at the closed door.
"And so is the building," he heard her sigh. "Marik, just – be careful, okay?" her voice changed again, to the slightly distant sound it often took when she was reporting a vision. "The others will come and help rescue your hikari. You only need wait for a day."
Marik sat up and stared at the door with his full attention. "Help?"
"You must work with them, and he –" Ishuzu's voice was as vicious as he had ever heard it – "will be punished for his crimes. And you and those like you will be the ones who punish him."
Marik smiled in satisfaction. "Yes, sister-Ishuzu," he said confidently. "I will punish him." He opened his fist again, and repeated for the ball of flame that still burned in his palm, "I will punish him."