Sorry for such a long wait on the update, I don't have the money to get my laptop fixed (and definitely not enough to buy a new one) so I am doing this at a library when I got the time, it's the worse. You can only spend thirty minutes on the computer and when you do that the people waiting stare at you as if that would make you get off faster, which for me it does, so I got this out here, but I didn't have time to edit and as much as I love to give credit to all my reviewers I sadly can't this time, so I am very sorry.

Demon in the Chapel

Chapter Six

Marik is having a rampage inside of him, every hateful emotion ever known directed at him, and it hurts, makes his heart feel as if being pulled down to his stomach and brutally squeezed, but it is nothing compared to the physical pain as he battles for control over his body, his body feels tight on the inside and twisted, a rope pulled too tight yet to snap. His whole lithe form trembles as Ryou just fights to stand still. The reason the other soul is in an uproar is because before them is the chapel, Marik does not like the chapel, and honestly neither does Ryou. He had not returned to it since his father had left, that was many years ago, but now he stands in its shadow. The teen had not came this way to pray or rejoice the name of the lord, this visit is much more self-centered; he wants to see the demon, he wants to relieve himself of this burden, of Marik.

With a dismal sigh he stops fighting, his body jerking as he relieves control, he just wanted to dream for a moment, in the end he had never intended to go with his cruel thoughts, because he had done this to Marik and he had made a promise to protect the older male, no matter what.

Doing a one-eighty, that Ryou has no control over at all, has Marik's emotions in complete reverse, because standing before them is none other than Malik.

"Ryou," The Egyptian greets coming closer and the teen in turn grasps the cross that rests on his chests, it pounds in his hand, and his heart matches it. "It's a shock seeing you here."

"Y-yeah," The pale boy starts off nervously, looking off to the side so he doesn't have to meet his old friends gaze, cheeks turning a blazing red as memories from last night flash before his eyes, "I-I was actually j-just walking by."

"Oh," Malik replies with no hint of shock or even sorrow, just oh. That is the last thing spoken for a while, the boy's both standing there quite awkwardly. "Well.. I think I better go inside now."

"W-wait!" Ryou calls before he can stop it and for the life of him he can't understand why he did it. It's been a long time since he had chatted with his childhood friend, they had not seen each other for a long time after what happened to Marik and then after seeing each other at the grocery store.. He couldn't look the other teen in the eye when his dreams are haunted by his form and voice. "I-I'm sorry, I haven't called."

"What?"

"You gave me y-your number a few months ago, at the grocery store," Brown eyes stay strictly on the ground below him, toeing the road nervously, "I-I'm sorry I haven't called."

"It's fine," the answer is light and when Ryou finally chances a look up the tan teen is smiling at him, his smile hadn't changed in all these years and it makes the pale one want to smile as well. "It's been a while, why don't we go somewhere for lunch instead."

The pale teen's heart flutters in his chest and he can't tell if it's from his own emotions or Marik's, the acceptance makes him warm though and even if the necklace would allow him to refuse he wouldn't have. "Y-yeah."

It only takes a moment for the two teens to decide where to eat, a small café that opened just recently a few blocks away, more because of the convenience than reputation, neither one of them has yet to go there or heard much of its food. The walk is spent mostly with insignificant batter about daily life and school, it's strangely comfortable, as if they had never went their separate ways many years ago; it doesn't last. An uncomfortable silence grows between the two boy's when they get seated, the waitress taking their order a relief, only to leave them with the same problem when she walks away.

Demands swirl confusingly in Ryou's mind, ones he can't make out because they are too sudden and divided and the added stress along with his own overwhelming discomfort and nervousness makes his hands tremble as he busies himself with fiddling with the silverware.

"Maybe.. this was a bad idea.." Malik faces the table when he says that in an off-putting way.

"No!" The pale teen shocks himself with his little outburst, the second one he's made today. "I-I'm glad, that we're doing this," Ryou starts, with a little push from Marik, he really is though, but it's hard to have conversation with someone when your mind is full of guilt and the one you are talking to is fresh in your mind naked; the teen can't tell Malik that, "I just.. Don't know where to start."

"Oh.. So why did you stop going to the church?" Malik's try at starting a conversation has his companion flinching as if physically harmed, " I'm sorry, I also have bad memories from there."

Those words make Ryou's heart sink, like he could ever forget.

"Th-then why go back?"

"I can't tell you, you'll make fun of me," the mood thankfully changes with the more playful tone.

"I will not."

"Ok, I- oh thank you." The two have to pause in their conversation when the waitress comes to give them their plates. Heavy plates clinking against the table while the pretty, young girl makes polite conversation, yet Ryou just wants her to leave, a sick jealousy rising in his chest at the way she smiles at Malik, Marik is affecting him again.

"I need a refill," the brown eyed boy snaps before he knows what he is doing, both the waitress and Malik look over at him, shocked at his impolite behavior and it has him turning red with dread, "p-please."

"Ryou, are you feeling alright?" The blonde questions once the woman leaves to get that drink.

"Y-yeah, sorry, I guess I'm a little cranky.. I didn't sleep very well last night." It's a terrible excuse and yet he can't find one any better, it's not like he can tell his friend that his brother is possessing him through a necklace and is jealous of that woman because he has incest feelings for the blond teen, that would just sound crazy.. maybe he is crazy. "I-I'll leave her a good tip."

"I'm sure it's fine.. what were we talking about?"

"Umm.." Ryou acts as if he actually has to think about it, but he remembers clearly, "Why you still go to the church."

"Oh.. Yeah, you're gonna think it's silly, but.. You remember my brother?" How could he not, the older male haunts him daily, but instead of saying that the pale boy just nods, picking at his food distractedly, "I visit him at the hospital often, but it's like.. visiting the dead, though when I go to the church I can feel something, a presence, it has to be Marik."

There is a long moment of silence that follows that statement for Ryou doesn't know what to say, though there is a pleasant swelling in his heart, Marik's emotion not his, Ryou only feels sorry for Malik is right and wrong at the same time, there is a presence in that church, but it isn't his lost brother.

"I told you, you would think it's stupid," The blonde sighs dejectedly.

"N-No! I believe you," Ryou defends.

"You're just saying that to make me feel better," the other teen munches on a fry, "It's ok, I know how it sounds."

"I really do believe you," the boy again tries, though it's in his voice that he already feels discredited, his eyes falling to his own plate of food with his mouth stretched in a small frown.

"You don't have to look so down Ryou, if you say you believe it then I trust you, ok?" Malik immediately changes his attitude to the other teen, though he was just teasing in the first place, Ryou nods his head before starting to munch on his food. "You know.. Why don't we go together?"

The fry drops right out of the pale boy's hand at that suggestion, looking up at his friend as if he had suddenly sprouted another head.

"T-to church?"

"Yeah, like when we were kids.." Like before the accident, Malik doesn't say it but it lingers after his words or so it does in Ryou's mind, because that's when going to church was fun, when his bright-eyed mother took him and his sister. "Maybe after lunch, service will be over by then."

"Well…" Marik has been unusually settled, most likely preoccupied with his younger brother's presents, it's almost like he's not even there.. So is this his opportunity to slip inside? "Ok."

…

I'm very sorry Bakura also isn't in this chapter and also that this was not the most interesting or detailed chapter, but next one will involve the demon and will be much better… I hope.