Xenoshipping (Rishid/Odion x Ishizu/Isis)
"Well, this is it," Ishizu said softly.
Rishid Ishtar set down the two small bags he carried, glancing around. Marik Ishtar didn't even hesitate, automatically slipping off his shoes and stepping further into the apartment.
The apartment was small and almost bare, but well-kept. Despite the apparent lack of furniture, the cold wooden floors and the plain white walls, every surface shone with cleanliness. Not a speck of dust invaded the interior. Still, Rishid couldn't help but feel that he had entered a tomb – not the kind for the dead, but the kind for the lonely. It was cold and empty because its owner was too.
"It's a little cold," Marik said. "I'm surprised."
"The landowner likes to keep the air conditioning on," Ishizu said. "I'm sorry – I know it's not much, but...well...I've been living alone for a while."
Rishid caught the shake in Ishizu's voice, and turned to her. However, Marik was faster.
"It's okay, Ishizu!" he said. "We don't need much – at least we're all together again, right?"
Ishizu hid a quiet sob, and smiled.
"Yes. We are together again, aren't we?"
Her canvas-colored dress fluttered as she ran to envelop Marik in a hug.
"Oh gods, I'm so glad you're here," she said. "Both of you."
Rishid's heart panged. Marik had said exactly what he had wanted to say. He closed his eyes to steady himself. Well, he was right, anyway. That was all that mattered – they were finally together again. The Ishtar family could finally live in the light.
Ishizu pulled away from Marik, wiping away a tear.
"Well, let's make sure everything gets in. There's only one other bedroom, but I'm sure you and Rishid don't mind sharing, right?"
"We've only been doing it for the last six years," Rishid observed.
Marik laughed a little, and Rishid was pleased to see that there was a sparkle in the younger boy's eyes. It had been so long since Marik had smiled like that.
"Hey, Ishizu, let me help with that!" Marik said.
Rishid pulled out of his reverie. Marik took the heavy bag from Ishizu, hefting it easily.
"Where do you want this?"
"We can put everything on the couch in the main room for now. That's the only real furniture in here, anyway."
Marik trotted off towards the living room with his bag.
It was only then that Rishid realized he and Ishizu were alone.
Ishizu stooped to retrieve her own tiny bag, and her dark hair fell in waves around her face. Light glinted across the raven strands – Rishid couldn't stop his sharp intake of breath. How many years had it been since he had seen Ishizu – since he had really seen Ishizu? They had run across each other a few times in the middle of Marik's search for the god cards – but he had only seen her from a distance. He had only caught the barest glimpse of her softly curved face, her brown eyes with the sparkle dampened by fear and loss.
Ishizu didn't straighten. She just stood there, gripping the handle of her bag.
"Ishizu?" Rishid said softly.
Her shoulders started to shake, and tears turned silver by the setting sun rolled down her cheeks.
"Ishizu!"
Ishizu fell to her knees. Rishid knelt beside her, unsure of what to do – he couldn't remember the last time Ishizu had cried. What had he done when they were children? Did he even have the right to take her in his arms and comfort her anymore?
"Oh, Rishid," Ishizu sobbed. "Rishid."
"Rishid...please – take care of your brother and sister. Protect them...please."
Rishid hesitated only the briefest of moments. Then he pulled Ishizu to him, wrapping his arms around her as though he could protect her from everything just like that.
Ishizu sobbed into his chest. He couldn't think of anything to say, but Ishizu spoke first.
"It's been so long," she whispered. "I've been alone for so, so long."
She choked a little, and started to pull away from him.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't be like this. Not when you've just come home."
Her eyes still glinted with tears, and Rishid found that he couldn't let go of her.
"No," he said. "It's fine. You need this."
Ishizu stared at him with wide, barely believing eyes.
"It's okay to cry, Ishizu," he said. "Please: let it out. I'm here."
Her eyes wavered, the sparkle rippling with water. Then she allowed him to hold her, and the tears ran free.
"It's been awful, Rishid! Coming home with the lights dark and the rooms so cold and empty. All those days, right after it all started, when all I could do was watch Marik spiral downwards, and every time I tried to close my eyes to hide from the nightmare I was living in, the nightmare of father's death flashed through me – and then you were both gone, and there was nothing I could do! I – I –"
Rishid squeezed his arms around her a little tighter, her raven hair falling in a waterfall across his arms.
"I'm...so sorry, Ishizu," he murmured. "Mother asked me to take care of both of you. When Marik decided to leave, I knew I had to protect him. I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect both of you."
Ishizu sobbed softly into his chest. Her fingers dug into his shirt, clinging to him as though he was going to disappear again.
"Don't leave me," she said. "Please, don't ever leave me."
"You're not alone anymore," he whispered. "I promise you will never be alone again.
"Never again."
A/N: aw, how sweet! I must say, despite this pairing's obvious potential, I can't really support it. After all, Rishid is Ishizu's big brother. Maybe they're not blood related, but they've grown up together as siblings. I don't know about you, but I don't think I could fall in love with my brother even if we weren't really related. (Though Ichi from Mamotte! Lollipop and Utau from Shugo Chara seemed to be able to...and Utau actually was related to Ikuto. Gross.) Next up is Wreckshipping (Yami no Marik x Yami no Yugi x Seto). Geez. This should be fun.
