Mallowshipping (Ryo x Ishizu x Shizuka)
Shizuka had fallen asleep. Her head leaned back against Ishizu's shoulder, her red hair stark against Ishizu's dark hair. Ryo smiled, carefully taking the dangling marshmallow stick from her loose hands before she dropped the marshmallow into the fire.
"She's completely out," Ryo said.
Ishizu smiled, reaching up to stroke the young girl's hair, like a mother.
"Yes. It's been a long day."
Somewhere in the near distance, Ryo could hear Jonouchi and the others still shouting and laughing. They appeared to trying to play beach volleyball, but the setting sun was making it difficult for them to see.
"Heads up!"
"Yugi, over here!"
"Gah, Honda, get your head of the way!"
"Marik, Marik, I'm open, I'm open!"
"Geez, Anzu, you throw like a girl - OW!"
"Haha, she punches like one, too, Jou."
"Shut up, Mai!"
"Who's winning?" Ishizu asked.
"Hard to tell. They're not playing by any civilized rules that I'm aware of," Ryo said, squinting through.
"Well, when my younger brother is involved, I'm not surprised," Ishizu laughed softly.
Ryo smiled, turning both his and Shizuka's marshmallows over the fire slowly.
The sun only peeked an inch of orange above the ocean, sending glimmers of gold across the dark waters. They had been on the beach all day, but still, the rest of the group showed no signs of slowing down, their cries of laughter floating down the beach to where Ishizu, Shizuka, and Ryo remained by the bonfire.
"It's really nice out," Ryo said, closing his eyes against the cool breeze.
"It would be perfect if not for the shouting," Ishizu said, smiling.
Ryo smiled. However, he didn't quite mind the muffled laughter and shouts for attention from his friends. It brought a measure of joyful life to the darkening beach.
Shizuka stirred, but did not waken. Ishizu slid her arm around the younger girl to support her better.
She's so cute, Ryo thought.
Her hair was falling partially in her face. She looked so peaceful, breathing in and out slowly, causing her bangs to flutter with each breath. Ishizu caught his gaze and smiled knowingly. Ryo blushed. He looked back down to the marshmallows.
"Shizuka-chan is a very sweet girl," Ishizu murmured.
"I know," Ryo said.
"I...always wanted a sister."
Ryo glanced up at Ishizu through his bangs. The Egyptian woman wasn't looking at him now. She was staring at the flames, the fire glittering in her blue eyes that were seeing something other than a smoldering bonfire. Her hand continued to stroke through Shizuka's hair, almost absent-mindedly.
"She's going to miss out on her marshmallow," Ryo said, lifting the perfectly browned marshmallows away from the fire.
Shizuka's eyes fluttered. Ishizu smiled.
"Oh, I think you woke her," Ishizu said.
Shizuka yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"My arm fell asleep," she mumbled. "Hm? Why did you guys wake me...?"
"You looked so peaceful," Ishizu said. "It would have been a crime to disturb you."
Shizuka smiled sleepily.
"Want your marshmallow, Shizuka-chan?" Ryo asked, holding it out to her on the end of the stick. "Careful, it's hot."
"Oooh, thank you, Ryo-kun!" Shizuka said, brightening.
She wiggled the marshmallow from the stick and popped it into her mouth, closing her eyes to savor it.
"Mm," she said. "I've never had a toasted marshmallow before."
Ryo and Ishizu shared a quick smile.
She really is adorable, Ryo thought. He slid down the bench so that he was sitting on the other side of her. The trio sat in a comfortable half-silence, listening to their friends cheer and laugh, the waves roll in, the fire crackle.
It was, Ryo thought, a very perfect night.
A/N: I can totally see Ishizu being all motherly to Shizuka. These three get along well, I think. Next is Mainshipping (Seto x Jonouchi x Yami no Yugi x Yugi).
