Letters and Candles

Chapter 5

Stuck with Them

Disclaimer- I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh. Wishes don't come true… for me anyway…I don't own Dr. Pepper either..or Frosty the Snowman..

"Hey, Marik. Malik." Bakura said pushing the Egyptian blondes off of him.

"You didn't show up yesterday!" Malik shouted.

"Nope. Found something better to do than come over here again," Bakura gestured to Ryou.

"Wha… Oh," The Egyptians glanced curiously over his shoulder. Ryou was looking at the tree, staring actually. Ryou blushed then looked to the glittering snow.

"Ryou?" Ryou looked at Marik.

"Yeah?"

"In love with our tree?" Bakura chuckled at Marik's crude comment.

"Uh..no. What, why?" Ryou stuttered before coughing violently. Bakura turned around as if something had just bit him.

"Hey, Malik? Let's go inside to talk," Bakura asked going to stand at Ryou's side, "I'm freezing my ass off here, and I think Ryou would appreciate it too," They could feel heat waves coming from the open front door in welcoming gusts. The two Egyptians kept the house at sweltering temperatures year round and it was all too hard not to run into the house.

Marik lead the way in closely followed by his blonde partner and the two snowy-haired teens. The smell of burning wood met their noses as they entered; a bright fire was glowing in the fireplace and stockings hung filled to bursting. When Ryou got up the nerve to glance at the tree he was surprised see it neatly decorated in multi-colored globes, bright lights and for the personal touch still chains acted as garlands and daggers glittered; on top was an extravagant, five-pointed, star. Malik followed his gaze.

"Like it? Keeps little kids and carolers away. Simple illusion that Marik did. Don't ask how I really don't know," Malik said watching Bakura and Marik head into the kitchen. Ryou was staring wide-eyed and mouth a gap at the tree.

"He did… It's an illusion?" Ryou stumbled over his own tongue. He turned quickly to face Malik, who nodded and laughed.

"Creative, huh? Personally it is a little gory, it only looks that way when you try to look in the window; but at least it's not real," Malik said disdainfully before leading the way to the kitchen.

Malik and Marik's kitchen was 100 not what you would have expected. Malik and Marik both, contraire to popular belief, enjoyed cooking. Marik off course could only use the toaster while Malik was a very refined chef. Their kitchen was like that you would find in a five-star restaurant. Only marble top counters, double ovens, two dishwashers, two sinks with one on an island in the center of the room, and the best utensils here. All in sparkling, stainless steel for the ultimate effect.

One wall of the room was entirely cabinet, 3 rows of 5. Hanging above one of the sinks was a row of gleaming butcher and carving knives; the largest had to be at least a foot long. Marik and Malik had paid a small sum on upgrading the kitchen after threatening the builder, of course. And 3,000 square feet and a half-acre back yard was more than comfortable for two people.

Malik as a vegetarian had set up an entire mini-veggie meal for him already that was sitting steaming on the counter, waiting to be eaten. Marik had also prepared a plate and now that Bakura and Ryou took a closer look they notice half the chicken was on his plate. Apparently they had been getting ready to eat.

Malik whispered, "He'll eat the other half as snacks through out the day tomorrow. Watch him." Marik was drooling like a starved animal. He shifted from one foot to the other, unaware anyone was watching. His hand suddenly shot out and grabbed a bite off his plate. "He'll eat his whole lunch like that, if I don't get to the table in time."

The smell of freshly baked bread wafted from one of the ovens, and the toaster. On the island counter, to the right of the sink, sat a roasted chicken in a clay-baking pan. A stack of toasted and buttered slices of bread sat on a plate next to it. Three pots sat gurgling on the stovetop, containing various vegetables. Another dish held fried apples and peaches. An oversized spice rack sat in the corner of the counter and even though you would expect every type of spice on the planet could fit on it, it was overflowing.

The kitchen was open to the dining room, which was a 6-person table, currently set only for two, and a large, matching, china hutch filled with glittering, white china with a gold trim. A full bar set in the corner added the finishing touch. When asked how they got the beautiful table and hutch they just shrugged and mumbled something about Ishizu couldn't fit it into her home… (I wouldn't trust them with my fine china…)

"Wow," Ryou breathed taking in the comforting yet overwhelming feeling the room created.

"Yep. It cost just a bit more than our old apartment when we were done with the builder," Marik bragged. Bakura whistled.

Ryou ran his fingers over the cool counter tops, "Hey Malik?" He turned, "Why are you celebrating Christmas?"

Malik laughed, "And miss out on gifts? Never." Marik joined in Malik's joyous laughter. Their friendly chorus filled the room and soon Bakura and Ryou were laughing along side them. "Hey, you two want to stay for lunch?" Malik asked when he was able to breathe again. Ryou looked hopefully to Bakura who nodded and shrugged.

After lunch

The four friends sat around Malik and Marik's table, Hikaris on one side and Yamis on the other. All were laughing at stories of the events from the summer and fall past. Ryou told of his job at The Cabana, Malik and Marik told of the various and creative ways they scared countless people shitless and Bakura told of getting his own apartment on the far side of town and how he had accomplished numerous robberies to pay for it.

"You really did that, Bakura? Wow, and I thought I was cruel to carolers," Marik said after Bakura finished another tale. Bakura nodded taking another drink of his Dr. Pepper. Ryou giggled beneath his hands and Malik had his eyes squinted closed picturing Bakura drunk singing his own sex-implied version of Frosty the Snowman.

"Hey, Bakura?" Marik said after the Hikari's laughing fits subsided.

"What?"

"You never told us what made you leave Ryou's place," Marik said. Ryou shifted uneasily in his seat and Bakura looked around the room. Ryou whimpered.

"I really don't want to talk about it right now," Bakura stated simply. Marik shrugged, a sigh of relief came from Ryou.

Ryou looked at a small clock hung on the wall. It read 3: 38 p.m. 'Oh, wow. Talk about imposing on someone's hospitality.' Ryou turned to Bakura. He too looked at the clock but he seemed unfazed.

Bakura turned his attention to Malik, "We better get going soon. Before the storm gets any worse. Marik laughed.

"I don't think you need to worry about that anymore." Bakura searched the room for him. He was standing by a small window above the kitchen sink. Bakura gave him a confused expression. Marik read it with ease. "You're snowed in."

Ryou's jaw dropped, "I really hope you're kidding Marik."

"Not a chance," Marik shut the curtains and returned to his seat at the table. Malik looked at him with a worried expression.

"I really hope we cleaned the guest bedroom…," he muttered. Bakura shuttered at the memory. Ryou gave confused and worried glances back and forth.

"For all our sakes you better have," Bakura griped. Ryou looked even more concerned.

Malik sighed as he looked out the small window. "You really are snowed in and it's still going too." He returned to the table and started to clear it. Ryou rushed to help.

Bakura grumbled, "Ok, Ryou and I will stay in the guest bedroom." Marik nodded. "After you clean it up." Marik rolled his violet eyes.

Ryou coughed, "So where is the guest room?"

"Upstairs the second room on your right. I think that one's the cleanest," Malik said lacing clattering dishes into the sink. Ryou nodded in reply.

"Would you mind if I.." Ryou didn't even have time to finish.

"No, go right on ahead." Ryou smiled.

Bakura shouted from the dining room, "I'm going too!"

"Thanks, Malik," Ryou responded leaving the room, Bakura hot on his heels. Malik nodded and started running water to wash the dishes. He had only gotten through a few when a shout erupted from upstairs.

"MALIK! MARIK! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY TRENCHCOAT!"

Malik and Marik both froze and flinched. They turned and gave each other worried glances.

We're dead, Hikari.

I know.

Lupe- Yes, That is the end to Ch.5. I hope you enjoyed it. I love all the compliments I've been getting! I also would like to say thanks to my dedicated fans that review after every new installment! Looking forward to new reviews! Thanks to my Wolf-Sister again for proofing my chapter! Really appreciate the ideas!