Authors note: All right, today I get to introduce a new character. Lets see what crazy-ness unfolds when Duke gets written into the story.
Ok just a reminder I am not a basher, anything that happens to the characters is for the sake of humor. It's nothing personal.
Warnings: slight language, and Marik being his crazy old self in this chapter.
Disclaimer: It's hilarious to think that I own Yu-gi-oh! (Rolls on the floor from laughing so hard.) I do not own, so don't sue.
All I Want for Christmas Chapter 7: The PlanThe fire escape outside Ryou's apartment
Malik watched as the fruitcake sailed out the window, he also saw who it was headed for. "Watch…" the Egyptian began to shout, but it was too late.
"Owwww!"
"out." Malik finished lamely.
Duke Devlin lay in the snow successfully disoriented after being hit on the head by a U.F.B. (Unidentified Falling Backed-Good)
"Why do I get the feeling he's going to blame this on me?" Malik sighed.
Game Shop
"Ok guys." Joey said taking out a torn, crumpled, and somewhat dirty sheet of paper.
"Wow, this is going to solve all our problems." Tristan said sarcastically.
"Shudup you moron! It's what's written on the paper." The blond stated.
"What's it say Joey?" Yugi asked anxiously.
"Tomorrow is a charity event for a local orphanage, you know for Christmas and…"
Tea cut him off, "Key word Joey charity. They're going to need volunteers."
"You know," Tristan continued. "People who work for free. Sorry for sounding like a total Scrooge on Christmas, but me and Yugi need money."
"I know that." Joey said defensively. "The flier says that they'd be paying the workers, not a whole lot, but that's where we come in."
"Oh I get it." Tea said. "We all apply for jobs."
"That's right!" Joey said. "I've already got my shopping done and so has Tea. So we'll give you two our share of the pay. You can pay back whenever."
"What!" Tea cried, "Yugi just handed you three million dollars at the Dullest Kingdom tournament for Serenity's operation and never asked for anything in return!"
"Yeah Dude, if anything you should pay him back!" Tristan added. Yugi merely sighed, watching his closest friends argue.
"I was only talking to you Tristan." Joey said bluntly.
"All right then." Tea said sitting back down.
"But will there be enough to help Yugi and me?" Tristan wondered out loud.
"I could always ask Serenity," Joey mentioned. "and I could phone Mai." Joey's cheeks turned a slight tinge of pink at the mention of the other blond Duelist's name.
"Yes!" The brunet cried out jumping up. "I like that plan!" Tristan was ecstatic at the thought of spending time with the younger Wheeler.
Joey just gave him a weird look. "We could always ask Duke or Ryou, maybe even Malik."
"I'm curious though," Yugi said picking up the paper, "Why would someone pay people to work for a charity. Just who is holding the event, it doesn't say."
"Must have ripped in the trash." Joey said
"Trash?" Yugi asked raising an eyebrow.
"Long story." Tea answered for the blond. "Probably someone rich who couldn't find any help, so they're using money to lure in willing participants."
"Well they lured me hook, line, and sinker." Tristan said. "All right! I'll go
see if I can round up the others."
"We'll met at Domino Park at noon." Yugi said checking the flier before giving it back to Joey. "Then we will all head out to where it's taking place."
"Works for me." Joey replied.
Outside
'That's it.' Yami told him self. 'You are going to march in there and demand to know what is going on.'
Just as he was about to reach for the game shop door, Tristan came bursting outside. "Hey Yami, got to go!"
"Wait! What's happening?"
"Sorry Dude, sworn to secrecy!"
Yami growled, "Traitor!" he yelled after the retreating brunet.
Alleyway
"Duke how many fingers do you see?" Malik asked in concern. The raven-haired teen looked up, dazed eyes wandered around, almost refusing to look at Malik.
"Pretty stars." The emerald-eyed teen murmured.
"There are no stars Duke!" Malik stated, quickly losing his patents.
"Who's Duke?" The teen questioned.
"For the love of Isis!" Wailed Malik "He has amnesia!" 'I'm going to have to bring him home, and I'm going to get in trouble, Duke's father will think I did this to him, and Isizue will be stuck with the doctor's bill.' Malik shuddered at the thought of his sister's wrath.
Ever since that fateful day when Duke and Malik had been paired for a science project, Malik wasn't exactly welcomed at the Devlin household.
'And it's all Marik's fault.' Malik thought bitterly. The two had decided to meet up at Duke's house after school; however one thing they hadn't counted on was Malik's darker half tagging along.
Flashback
"I'm sorry Malik," His sister Isizue told him. "but I need to get to the museum and Odion is out shopping for groceries."
"But I can't control him by myself! He'll mangle someone!"
"You can control Marik just fine. He is your darker half. Just put your foot down. I don't trust him by him self in the house. Your taking him and that is that." She finished firmly.
Needless to say Duke was surprised to see both Malik and Marik. "Dude what's he doing here?" the emerald eyed teen asked nervously.
"My sister made me bring him." Malik answered, "Let's just get this over with. And you," he yelled at Marik. "Don't breaking anything!"
"Why does no one trust me?" Marik asked, faking sadness before his face twisted and he let out a maniac cackle.
"Because your a complete and total nut-case." Duke said under his breath.
"I heard that Dice-boy." Marik said scowling at Duke. "I prefer the term Psychopath, it sounds more scientific." He then grinned, enjoying the sight when Duke winced.
"Duke, is your friend over yet?" Came the voice of Duke's mom as she stepped out of the house. "Oh, there are two of you? I thought you were only having one friend over."
"Well mom…" Duke began.
"This is my brother Mrs. Devlin." Malik said, "He decided to tag along."
"I see." Mrs. Devlin said staring at Marik's gravity defying hair for just a little to long. The blond let her know this by growling savagely at her.
His lighter half promptly elbowed Marik. /Be nice/ Malik warned.
/Hey, it's rude to stare/ the psychopath countered.
/Who are you, Ryou? Since when do you care about manners/
/Shut up/
Of course to the Devlins, the conversation looked like the two Egyptians were having a very long glaring contest.
"Well, me and your father are going out to the store, we will be back in a little while." So the three were left to them selves.
Malik quickly steered his yami in front of the TV and waited. When he noticed his other's eyes had glazed over, he deemed it a good time to start their project.
Everything was going fine, the two where getting along, Malik even found out Duke had a hobby of collecting model race cars and fixing them up to run.
Yes, everything was just perfect until Duke decided to leave to get a glass of water.
Malik waited a good fifteen minuets and the raven-haired teen still had not returned.
'What is going on? He didn't leave to let me finish the project myself, did he?'
Getting angry at the thought of getting stuck with all the work the lavender eyed youth went in search for his science partner.
Duke was in fact, in the kitchen. He had been there all the while, strapped to the table, which was now turned sideways against the wall. Many knives from various kitchen drawers punctured the table, but thankfully not the teen. Duke seemed to have passed out, probably due from fear.
And where was Marik you might ask? He was standing in the other end of the kitchen, stripped to his waist. On his body were markings that he had smeared on him self, using ketchup and mustard.
"Marik!" The hikari yelled.
"What!" the yami looked up annoyed as if what he was doing was perfectly normal.
"What are you doing!"
"I'm playing a dice game with Devlin."
"Come again?"
"You heard me, every time I roll the die and get an odd number," he pointed to a lone dice on the floor, "I get to throw that number of knives at Devlin."
Malik smiled nervously. 'Duke is going to be scared for life.' He thought while Marik continued.
"Once I draw blood I win. But Dukes being no fun, he passed out. Wimp." Marik said pouting.
'Just keep him talking Malik,' the hikari told him self. "What about those markings?" The Egyptian began to edge closer to his yami.
"Oh these? There ceremonial, once I win, I'm using Duke as a sacrifice to summon a demon. Fun huh? Here it is! I knew they had another knife."
Whack!
Malik tackled his yami just as he pulled out the knife. The two rolled around the floor for a while struggling for control of the knife. At one point they bumped into the table causing it to roll, so now Duke was hanging upside down. The teen woke up finding the two Istars still fighting on the ground.
"Give it back!"
"No! Oww! You bit me!"
"Well stop pulling my hair!"
"Not the face, not the face!"
"Come on Malik, get me down!" Duke yelled
"Kind of busy!" The Egyptian shouted back, before grabbing the knife out of his dark's hand and standing up. "Ha! I win."
"No fair! I hate losing!" The yami sulked.
"What did I tell you about not breaking anything?"
"You never said I couldn't break anyone!"
"Oh My God!" cried Mrs. Devlin as she entered the kitchen
"Hello Mrs. Devlin. Back so soon?" Malik asked trying unsuccessfully to hide the knife behind his back.
End Flashback
Ever since that day Malik and Marik were forbidden to take one step within the Devlin home. Duke had explained that the Istars originally were part of a circus act and were professionals at the art of throwing knives. This at least took some of the heat off Malik. Mr. Devlin only wanted to know why they needed to demonstrate using the kitchen table.
Mrs. Devlin wasn't as convinced with her son's imaginative lie however; Isizue was the one who had to deal with the phone call about damaged property and the endangerment of her son's life. Isizue also, had to deal with the bill for a new kitchen table.
She wasn't happy about either, but it was the last time she left Marik alone with a bunch of teenagers.
"This is all your fault!" Malik yelled at the fruitcake, tossing it further down the alley.
"Whoa, I have no idea where I am." Duke stated looking around at his surroundings.
'Wait,' Thought Malik. 'I'll get the Millennium Rod at home, I'll force Duke to remember!' "Come on, I'll take you to my house."
"No way man, I don't know you." Duke replied.
"I'm your friend!" Malik said losing his temper again.
"Then how come I don't know your name?"
"Its Malik, were friends, now let's go!"
"Malik? Doesn't ring a bell."
"You have amnesia."
"Do not!"
"Do to!"
"Do not!"
"Do… Fine then what's your name?" Malik asked.
"I'm not telling some weirdo of the street." Duke said in a huff. "Wait! I can't remember my name!" he said in a panic.
"Told you, you have amnesia. Your name is Duke by the way."
"Well that's a stupid name, who names their son Duke?"
'Now if only I can get him home before someone finds him in this state.' Malik thought.
"Hey what are you two doing down there?" came a voice.
"I hate fruitcake." Malik stated turning to face the new comer.
Cliffhanger! Guess I'm in the mood to leave you in suspense. That's it for chapter 7; I suppose it wasn't Duke's lucky number. ;; I picked on him a lot this chapter. I'll be surprised if I don't have to dodge rotten fruit from all you Devlin fans out there.
Next Chapter: Yami tries to get Yugi to confess to what the 'Big Emergency' is, while Malik tries to persuade Duke to come home with him. And trouble is just around the bend for Ryou and Bakura as Mr. Greenbridge demands the month's rent.