A/N: Guys, hate to say, but again no Seto/Jou in this chapter. I'm sorry, but I've got to set up some of the future storyline in this one, so it's going to focus mainly on Yugi, Atemu, Mokuba, and a - surprise guest heehee. I promise, our fave bishies will return full force in the next chapter!!! Just bear with me 

Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh…NOT MINE!

Chapter 12

"It's Malik…"

Yugi's eyes widened as Atemu's words sunk in.

"Malik?" he said in surprise, his words rambling. "As in Malik, my friend Malik? Malik Ishtar? That Malik?"

Atemu nodded. "Yes, aibou," he said gravely, the dangerous fire in his eyes slowly dying out. "That Malik."

The spirit sighed as he saw the tears forming in his light's already watery eyes. "Do not cry, my hikari," he said, drawing the smaller boy into his comforting embrace. "I will find a way to rescue Malik."

"I know you will, my yami," Yugi whispered, wrapping his arms around the taller boy's waist and resting his head on the spirit's chest. "I just…Malik's been through so much already. Why does he have to go through even more? It's not fair, it just isn't."

Atemu's brow creased and he chewed on his lower lip as he contemplated the situation. If Marik was sent to the Shadows because of me, and Marik imprisoned Malik, does that mean…?

His eyes widened slightly as his thoughts slowly linked together and a plan began to take shape.

"Could it possibly be?" he whispered. "Is that it? Is that the answer?"

Yugi lifted his head to gaze at the awestruck spirit. "Yami?" he asked carefully, stepping away from his darker half. "Is what the answer? Are you ok?"

Atemu's eyes glittered with barely suppressed excitement. "Yugi, I think I know how to rescue Malik!" he crowed, clapping his hands together. "Think, aibou – if I imprisoned Marik, and Marik imprisoned Malik, if I call for the release of Marik, it will release Malik, since he's there in Marik's place!"

Yugi sweatdropped.

"If you free Marik – uh, Malik. Wait, Marik frees Malik, which frees Marik…" Yugi stammered, as he tried to process all the information. "Yami, what in the name of heck did you just say?"

Atemu laughed brightly, the rich baritone sending shivers of delight down Yugi's spine.

"Just watch, love," he said, crossing his arms in an X-shape over his chest and closing his eyes.

He began to chant in ancient Egyptian, his voice echoing confidently through the empty hallway.

Great Ra, I call upon thee.

I seek guidance and power in my undertaking

Ma'at, Goddess of Truth.

Hear my call and judge me worthy.

Isis, Lady of Rebirth.

Give life to the one whose name I cry.

I call upon the one condemned to darkness by my will

And ask for release of the wandering soul.

As Atemu finished his words, a chill wind swept through the hallway. A dark shadow seeped up through the floorboards, taking a vaguely human-like shape. The dark figure was faceless and formless, its features ever shifting, untold power radiating from it.

Yugi squeaked and ducked behind Atemu, clutching at the spirit's shoulders. Atemu stood still as a statue, his eyes fixated upon the shadow figure. A deep, commanding voice spoke, causing Yugi to jump in alarm and clutch tighter at his yami.

"You have asked for judgment and have been deemed worth great Nefer Atemu. Call upon the soul you seek."

Atemu lifted his chin, his voice confident and sure. "I call for the release of Ishtar Marik. By my will, his soul is free from the Shadows."

The deep voice spoke again, before dissipating into nothingness. "It shall be so."

A whistling howl echoed through the house, and the floor began to shake as a swirling column appeared, twisting rapidly. The wind whipped through the hallway, causing Atemu to throw his arm up over his face in protection and Yugi to bury his head in the spirit's back, whimpering softly. The noise grew louder and louder and the hurricane-like column spun at an impossible speed, until, with a final ear-splitting shriek, the column exploded in a cloud of sand and dust. Yugi screamed and Atemu stumbled back a step, as silence fell.

Recovering himself, Atemu lifted his head and stared at the clearing hallway. A figure appeared in the settling dust, huddled on the ground. He approached the shape cautiously, his heart pounding sharply in his chest, and as he got closer, he gasped in relief at what he saw.

Malik lay prone on the floor, his eyes closed tightly. He was naked, his platinum hair in wild disarray around his tanned face, his body twitching slightly.

Atemu crouched down and placed a gentle hand on the Egyptian boy's shoulder. Malik's eyes opened, his violet orbs clouded with confusion and fear. He sat up slowly and painfully, shivering with cold, and drew his legs up to his chest, wrapping his arms around himself and resting his forehead on his knees.

"Please don't hurt me anymore," he whimpered, tears forming in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry for everything, please, don't hurt me, I can't take any more."

Yugi knelt beside the cowering boy, taking off his jacket and draping it around Malik's bare shoulders.

"Malik, shh, it's ok," he said softly, gently smoothing the silverish hair back from the other boy's face. "It's ok Malik, it's me, Yugi, your friend. I'm not going to hurt you, I promise."

Malik lifted his head and glanced up into Yugi's innocent face, his eyes widening with recognition. His arms shot out, clutching onto Yugi, as he fell into the smaller boy's arms, sobbing with relief.

"Yugi, oh lord, Yugi, it really is you," he whispered, tears streaming down his face. "Thank Ra, I'm free, I'm free, oh thank Ra."

Atemu had left the room, and he returned now with blankets. Wrapping them around Malik, he sat next to the weeping Egyptian, rubbing slow, comforting circles on the trembling boy's back.

"Yes, Malik, you are free," he said. "I have called you back, and here you shall remain. Hush now, my friend. You are safe now."

Malik's tears tapered off, a final sob escaping his lips. He wiped his face slowly, staring around him in wonder.

"I never though I would see light again," he said quietly, his eyes gazing rapturously at the chandelier that hung overhead. "It was dark for so long, I began to believe that light had never existed."

His eyes reluctantly slid from the chandelier to Atemu's face, and he bowed his head. "Thank you, my pharaoh, for saving me from the shadows once again," he murmured, his voice shaking slightly. "I owe you my life, great king, and if ever I may be of service to you, you have but to ask."

Atemu smiled. "You owe me nothing, Malik," he said, shaking his head. "I would do the same for any that I call friend. However, I may require your assistance sooner than you expect. Malik, your darker half has created great sorrow, and I will need your help to right his wrongs. Marik has taken control of Jounouchi and harmed Kaiba greatly."

Malik sighed heavily. Leaning back against the wall, he closed his eyes and shook his head.

"My pharaoh, I will do what I can to help conquer my dark," he said softly. "Weak as I am compared to him. I despise him, Atemu, and whatever I can do, I will. Count on me."

Atemu nodded. "Thank you, Malik," he said. "You are worthy of my trust, and I place my full confidence in your hands. Come. There is much we must now do."

He rose to his feet, extending a hand to both Yugi and Malik, helping them both to stand.

"Yugi, please go see if either Kaiba or Jou have clothing that will fit Malik," he said. "And then you must return to the shop and alert Mokuba as to what has happened. I will go to the hospital and wait for you there. Malik, go with Yugi."

The two hikari's nodded, and Yugi headed up the staircase to find something for Malik to wear. Atemu turned to Malik, a serious look on his face.

"My friend, I sense great danger for all of us," he said, his brow knitting. "Your darker side is a powerful force, and he will not be easy to defeat. We must all be on our guard."

He placed his hands on the Egyptian boy's shoulders, his crimson eyes looking directly into the violet ones.

"I am placing Yugi in your care, Malik," he said forcefully. "Protect and shield him, for if any harm comes to him, I am lost. I am asking you to guard my greatest treasure once again, tomb keeper."

Malik's eyes widened, slightly shaken by the trust placed upon him. "I shall not fail you, my pharaoh," he said in a quiet, confident tone. "I shall guard him with my life."

Atemu nodded, saying no more as Yugi thundered down the stairs.

"Here Malik," he said, handing the platinum haired boy a pair of boxers, baggy blue jeans and a red t-shirt. "I raided Jou's closet. You're closer in size to him than to Kaiba. I hope you don't mind the casual look." He snickered slightly.

Malik smiled. "Yugi, I've been unclothed for so long, I don't mind any look," he laughed softly as he left the room to dress.

Atemu smiled as he opened the front door. "I will head to Domino Medical," he said. "Be careful, aibou." He pressed a soft kiss to the tri-colored hair youth's forehead.

Yugi waved goodbye, his brown knitting slightly. Be careful yourself, my Yami.

--

"Mokuba," Yugi whispered, gently shaking the sleeping youth. Mokuba mumbled quietly, rolling onto his side and curling into a ball.

Yugi smiled faintly, shaking the boy a little harder. "Mokuba, you have to wake up," he said, biting his lip.

Yeah, you have to wake up so I can tell you that Marik's destroyed the people you care for most in this world. Wake up so that I can shatter your world.

Yugi shook his head slightly, dispelling his thoughts. I have to tell him. I have no choice. He needs to know.

"Mokuba, come on, get up," he said louder. "Mokuba!"

The ebony haired youth stirred and stretched. Opening his eyes, he yawned, blinking sleepily up at his tormentor.

"Yugi, it's Saturday," he grumbled, rubbing his eyes with a small fist. "I wanna sleep in, ok?"

Yugi shook his head. "Mokuba, I – I need you to come downstairs," he said. "I really need to talk to you about something. Please get up, ok? I'll be in the living room." He left the room, leaving the door open.

Mokuba sighed and stretched again. Throwing back the blankets, he tossed his legs over the side of the bed and heaved himself up. Swaying unsteadily, he yawned an ear-splitting yawn and tottered out the open doorway. Stumbling down the hallway, he entered the living room, squinting his eyes slightly in the bright light of the lamp. He flopped down on the couch, noticing for the first time that Malik was sitting cross-legged on the floor across from him. He grinned, raising a hand in greeting.

"Hey, Mal!" he said cheerfully. "What are you doing here?"

Malik bit his lip nervously and looked up at Yugi, who looked back at him just as concerned. Mokuba frowned.

"What's going on, guys?" he said, his brow creasing. "What's wrong?"

Yugi sighed deeply and sat on the couch next to the small boy. "Mokie, it's – something has happened to Seto," he said quietly. "He's – he's in the hospital, Mokuba. And we don't know where Jou is either."

Mokuba's eyes grew wide as he stared incredulously at Yugi. "Seto?" he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "Nii-san is in the hospital? Jou is gone? Wha – but how? Is this a joke?"

Yugi shook his head and took Mokuba's trembling hand in his own. "I wish it were, Mokie," he said. "He was – Mokuba, Seto was attacked by Marik. His mind – I – Marik did something to his mind. I don't know what he did to your brother, but he – Seto wasn't – wasn't all there, Mokuba. Atemu thinks that Marik has – has control of Jou again, too, and taken him somewhere."

Mokuba's heartbeat sped up rapidly, and he began to hyperventilate slightly as Yugi's words filtered in. He glanced wildly around, his eyes falling on Malik, who watched him carefully. Mokuba snarled, his hands clenching into fists.

"You!" he shrieked, causing both Yugi and Malik to jump in alarm. "This is your fault! You hurt my brothers! I'll kill you, I swear I'll kill you!"

He launched himself off the couch, landing on the startled Egyptian, who fell backwards at the attack. Mokuba swung his arm, feeling his fist connect with the platinum haired boy's cheek, drawing a pained cry from Malik. He cocked his fist back, ready to swing again, when Yugi leapt forward, grabbing the small boy's arm.

"Mokuba, no!" he shouted. "Stop, please Mokuba! Malik didn't do anything! This isn't his fault!"

Mokuba growled, turning his body around to face Yugi, his face contorted with anguished rage.

Yugi stared in shock at the murderous look in the ebony haired youth's eyes. Mokuba, what the hell!?

He wrapped his arms around the other boy, catching him in a bear hug, holding him close as the younger Kaiba struggled.

"Mokuba, please, stop!" he begged. "You aren't helping Seto or Jou any by acting this way. You have to calm down!"

Mokuba twisted in Yugi's grasp, his eyes blazing with anger. Suddenly he stopped, the fight draining out of him, his shoulders slumping. He buried his face in the older boy's neck, and burst into tears, his body heaving.

"S-Seto!" he wailed, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Jouuu!"

Yugi comforted the boy, gently brushing the dark locks back from his face, petting the sobbing boy's head. "Shh, it's ok, Mokuba," he whispered. "It'll be alright, I promise. You just have to be strong. It'll be ok."

Mokuba lifted his tear-streaked face and nodded. "Seto's strong, right Yugi?" he pleaded, clutching the other boy's shirt with both hands. "He'll be ok, right? Everything will be fine. It has to be fine. We'll find Jou, and Seto will get all better. Everything will be ok."

He looked into Yugi's amethyst eyes, his own eyes stormy and uncertain. "Won't it?" he whispered, his voice breaking.

Malik quietly approached the pair and placed a gentle hand on Mokuba's shoulder. Mokuba spun around, staring up at the Egyptian with wide eyes, looking like a frightened child.

"It will be," Malik said forcefully, his violet eyes shining with confidence. "I promise you, together you and I will make it better."

He smile softly and extended a hand, helping Mokuba to his feet.

"Come, let us go see your brother," he said, taking the smaller boy's hand within his own. "Let's go start to make it right."

A/N: So? What'dya think? I kind of like this chapter LOL. So Malik's here! Wheeheehee! Lovin it! Anways, please read and review! Later, taters! 