Light crept into the bedroom. Ryou scrunched up his face, hating the setting sun. Even in his sleep stupor, he was aware that the window to his bedroom faced westward. And the fact that it was waking him up now gave him a sense of how much time had passed. This case was throwing his biorhythm off and turning him nocturnal.

He could hear someone shift next to him, probably also irritated at the sun that had slipped through the curtains. The thought had Ryou's eyes fluttering open. When he had gotten home earlier that morning, he had changed into a clean shirt, only for it to be wrinkled with his daylong nap. That didn't seem like a concern as he looked over at the body next to him.

That was the other thing on Ryou's mind.

Malik had followed him home, making sure he made good on his promise. Ryou obliged, even though it was clear that Malik was just as tired, if not more so than Ryou was. So when Malik took away his research to make sure he went to his bedroom, he ended up trailing him. He had fallen next to Ryou, promising it would only be for a few moments before he got up a left.

Ryou rolled over onto his side, watching Malik. He didn't really know what to make of this. Ryou was aware that he found Malik attractive, no doubt, but that hardly meant he would act on it. He had gotten in trouble with the law before (in the most mortifying way) and it nearly cost him his job as well as his life. Ryou was reluctant to open himself to anybody.

Ryou hadn't meant for Malik to learn about his attraction to men. After Kaiba blurted out that information, the damage was already done. Yet the fact that Malik didn't seem disgusted or angry at his behavior was a relatively good sign. The fact that he was so laissez-faire about the whole thing was not only astonishing, but also unnerving.

Could it be that this revelation didn't horrify Malik because he wasn't bothered by that sort of attraction? Or even that Malik shared the same sort of feelings?

Ryou shook his head, his face burning at the thought. He was projecting his own feelings onto Malik, hoping that they would be reciprocated. That was wrong for him to do, as that would place unfair expectations on his friend. Just because Malik treated him kindly and considered him a friend did not mean his affections ran any deeper than that.

And in all fairness, he doubted Malik was interested in men. If he were, he had not expressed that in any manner or form. Though Ryou did have to wonder by the way he treated him and guarded him selflessly…

Ryou snorted, a smile playing across his face. Malik was a good friend and he wouldn't dare betray that trust. He had his duty to find his sister and Ryou intended to make good on his word. He didn't want to think about the case, the warmth and comfort of his bed too alluring and the sight before him too lovely to ignore.

With a begrudging sigh, Ryou sat up, running his fingers through his hair. A quick glance into the mirror sitting on his bureau was enough to tempt Ryou to run and grab his brush. His hair stuck out in a crazed mess and it would be a nightmare getting it into a ponytail later. Still, sleep clung to him, Ryou gazing down as Malik slowly started to wake. His lavender eyes fluttered open.

"… I feel like shit," the soft words came tumbling from Malik's lips.

Ryou chuckled, admiring how the sunlight shimmered and brought out the different hues of gold in his hair. It made the jewelry he wore on his wrists seem dull in comparison. "Yeah. We slept all day, but I don't feel like I got any rest. I could sleep the night away."

"Can we?" Malik asked, shoving his face back into the blanket.

Ryou only hoped that he was imagining his face growing warm. He hated being so pale and his embarrassment always being made public to the world. He didn't want his mind going down the trail of having Malik over in his bed all night. "We really should do some work at least. I would hate to waste the whole day."

Malik let out a frustrated moan, still not moving from his spot. Ryou felt the smile widen on his face, amused that Malik was reluctant to get up. Ryou's hand twitched, eventually caving into the desire to pat Malik's shoulder. Surely that wouldn't be too familiar? It wasn't any more unusual than their contact earlier today.

Ryou hated that he was starting to overanalyze their friendship. He decided to not let his overanxious tendencies towards people he was close to get in the way. He rubbed Malik's shoulder, his heart skipping a beat when Malik sighed and relaxed into his touch.

Ryou felt a knot in Malik's shoulder blade, applying only light pressure as he tried to massage it out. It only took a few moments for Ryou to realize that it wasn't a knot he felt. He frowned, turning his head slightly. Malik was still wearing his button-down shirt, his vest thrown aside when he laid down to rest earlier. Though it covered his back, the collar had fallen low, revealing the nape of his neck.

Ryou returned his gaze towards Malik's face, his profile relaxed and his eyes closed. Daring to get a closer look, Ryou continued to get rub Malik's shoulder. He tilted his head to the side, catching a glimpse of the skin hiding beneath his shirt. He froze as he saw the varied texture carving ravines in what should have been a smooth expanse of copper skin.

Ryou licked his lips, his question hesitant on his lips. "Malik…"

"My father."

Ryou flicked his eyes down, noticing that Malik still hadn't moved. His eyes remained closed under Ryou's touch. "I'm sorry?"

"It was my father. He was often angry and short-tempered. I did what I could to stay out of his way, but…" Ryou felt the shoulder under his hand shift, a small attempt at a shrug. "I was a kid. I wasn't always good at doing that."

"Oh…" Ryou felt stupid for not having any more to say. He couldn't detach himself like he often did on the case or while investigating. There was no distance between him and Malik, nothing grand separating them. Only the thin layer of cotton separated the two physically and the expanse of silence weighed on them.

"… You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Ryou offered, already feeling bad for having brought it up.

He felt Malik shift, slowly sitting up. Ryou's hand fell away, falling into his lap as he watched Malik brush the hair out away from his face.

"It's alright. I don't mind talking to you about it."

Ryou felt something clog in his throat but he didn't speak, unable to tear away from the soft, lilac eyes. Malik didn't seem bitter or tragic or mourning – a detached air hung about him, separating him from his pain. Perhaps that was the only way to deal with such trauma.

That was how Ryou had dealt with his own pain for years. Suffering couldn't touch him if his defenses were strong enough. Only after speaking to Malik had the cracks in those walls finally appeared.

Malik stretched, his bones cracking as he sat up. He looked over at Ryou. "Remember my elder brother? How he had odd birthmark on his cheek?"

Ryou nodded, thinking back on their meeting the other day. He had noticed an odd, gaping trail from his cheekbone down to his chin, but decided not to remark on it out of respect. He had a sense that what he had thought was a birthmark was not so.

Malik raised a hand to his cheek, as if tracing the mark on his brother's face. "That was from my dad. After Rishid tried to step in and protect me from... well, you felt my back."

"I'm sorry," Ryou whispered, words rushing into his mind before he could properly filter them. "I should have asked to touch your back before doing so – I had no right to-"

Malik took Ryou's hand, effectively cutting off his rant. Malik held his hand in both of his, Ryou's hands ice-cold compared to the warm pair that encased them. A small smile played across his face. "It's okay. I don't mind."

Ryou raised an eyebrow, suspicious still. He wouldn't put it past Malik to be hiding his feelings to spare Ryou's. "If you're not okay with it, just say so-"

Malik shook his head, tilting his head. "But I am. It's strange. I usually don't like people touching my back, but I'm fine when I know it's you… I don't know. Your touch is warm."

Ryou snorted, thinking about how his hand seemed to drink in the heat from Malik's hands. "Hardly. My hands are always freezing."

Malik chuckled. "Perhaps. But you're always warm." He raised the pale hand up to his cheek.

Ryou's breath froze in his chest, his fingertips resting on the soft skin. The air caught in his throat, his eyelashes fluttering at the sudden intimate touch. He wanted to drink in the moment, terrified that he would linger too long. He wanted so much more and all he could think was how he could be struck dead right now and Ryou would have already discovered true bliss.

Malik pulled back, realizing what he did, and let go of Ryou's hand. Despite every instinct telling Ryou to brush his fingers along Malik's cheekbone to see if he could a get a blush to stain past his caramel-colored skin, Ryou let his hand drop into his lap. If he had been braver and more daring, perhaps Ryou would have pushed his luck, but he couldn't do that. He was too reserved and careful to dream of such behavior.

Malik coughed, glancing around the room. "So… Yugi's report? Do you want to get back to it?"

It was Ryou's turn to flop back on the bed, his amorous affections thoroughly dashed by the recollection of his work. He groaned as he stared at the ceiling. "Not particularly. It's turning into another dead end."

"No named suspects turning up again?"

"Worse." Ryou raised a hand to brush back his bangs. "All of the homes connected to Jack the Ripper were rented out a week prior to the killing. And each property was taken out in the name of someone recently deceased and with two months' rent already paid."

He heard Malik swear under his breath, realizing the issue. "So we still have nothing. We can't even interview the owners of the property."

Ryou nodded, closing his eyes as he sighed. "All business transactions were done through the mail. They never even saw who was renting out these flats because they were so desperate to get money off their property. And the names of all the dead individuals are names that could be found in a local obituary."

"… He really thought all of this through."

"Yeah." Ryou felt less enthralled by the killer and more fed up by this new revelation. He suspected his lack of sleep took away any sense of admiration he normally held. "It's really pissing me off."

Malik leaned back until his back pressed against the wall. The two fell into silence as Ryou contemplated what to do now. Nothing seemed to fall into place. What he had hoped would give them a clue in the right direction was still a dead end. And although Namu had confirmed the hearts of all the victims were missing, it did little to actually incriminate any potential suspects. For that matter, Ryou didn't have any suspects outside of Bakura.

But he knew Bakura didn't do it. So he was back to square one, with all the information and no answers.

He didn't know how to fix everything and he didn't know what to do. Everything had flown by so fast that Ryou was so sure that they were making progress, but it felt like nothing of real value was accomplished. At the end of the day, he had nothing to indicate progress on the case, nothing that would help them catch a killer.

Malik sighed, pulling Ryou away from his spiraling thoughts. "So we have nobody to interview at all? No one who might have seen something- anything relating to the case?"

Ryou was about to scoff and dismiss the question when his answer got caught on his tongue. He paused for a moment, his eyes fluttering open. He turned his head towards Malik, hope not yet lost as an idea cross his mind. "I know one person who we haven't interviewed…"


Ryou had debated internally whether to go that night but decided that he would rather not surprise their host so late into the night. He took some time to gather his thoughts, bathe and be alone. Since Malik arrived, everything had gone by in a blaze and he struggled to keep everything straight in his head. He needed to reflect on all that had happened and clear his mind for what was to come.

Malik ended up going home for the night. Even though Ryou had anticipated this, it made sleep difficult despite how exhausted he still felt. He had grown so accustomed to Malik's presence in his life that his absence made him feel hollow.

The next morning, Ryou found Malik sitting in his living room, shadows under his eyes gone and a small smirk gracing his face. Ryou blinked, glancing over at his door. "I thought I locked it last night."

"You did. I let myself in."

"I should be annoyed but honestly, I'm more interested in knowing how you learned to pick locks."

Malik glanced away, a slight tinge of pink slipping through his dark complexion. "... When my dad got angry, he'd lock me in the closet. It was always so dark in there and I hated it..."

Ryou felt stupid for asking again. He seemed to hit every land mine in their conversation recently. "Shit, sorry."

Malik shrugged, standing up to stretch. "Stop apologizing. I'm fine now. It took me quite a few years to get to where am I now... I eventually realized if I broke the lock, I could escape the dark. So I taught myself."

Ryou nodded. "Makes sense. Bakura learned in a similar way to escape his fear."

"He's afraid of the dark?"

Ryou bit his lip, reluctant to reveal past secrets. "No... fire." His mind flitted to the image of Bakura as a child, desperate to escape the fire that took his family and countless others living in the neighborhood.

Malik frowned, his gaze meeting Ryou's for a moment before glancing away. Ryou shook his head, not wanting to linger on such sad thoughts so early. "We should get going - you can teach me the art of lockpicking in exchange for breakfast."

Malik laughed at that, his usual smile slipping back onto his face. "Deal."

After Ryou picked up a mug of coffee for each of them and some biscuits to share, they were on their way. Malik informed Ryou of the mechanisms of breaking open a lock as they walked briskly in the cold, misty air dusting the London streets. It seemed the sun would not be able to break through today despite its best efforts. That's what they got for living in this cloudy, damp city.

It didn't take them long to find the residence in question. A couple of larks hung close to the windowsill, where a few seeds remained scattered. Ryou eyed them for a moment before stepping up to the black door framed by white stones. He waited after a few knocks, the door cracking open to reveal a young man with blond hair and hazel eyes.

"Ryou?"

The detective offered a polite smile. "Hello Joey. I hope this isn't a bad time."

Joey shook his head, his eyes flicking over to Malik curiously. He stared blankly at him before finally catching himself. He shook his head, blond hair scattering across his eyes before stepping back. "No, not at all. I just wasn't expecting visitors this early. Come in!"

Ryou slipped into the dimly lit home, lamps far and few down the hallway. He flicked his eyes towards Malik, who met his gaze but said nothing as he focused towards the light coming from the kitchen. Joey rushed down the hallway, seemingly flustered by his sudden company.

"You'll have to forgive me- I'm not much of a homemaker." Joey laughed nervously as he cleared off two chairs for his guests. He slid the toolboxes onto the desk, papers bunching up as he tried to clear a space. "I don't believe I got a name?"

Malik spoke before Ryou could even think of making introductions. "I'm Malik Ishtar- I'm working on the Jack the Ripper case with Detective Ryou. A pleasure to meet you."

Joey paused long enough to shake Malik's hand, a relaxed smile on his face. "Likewise. Can I get you anything to drink?"

Ryou shook his head. "We just had some coffee before getting here. Thank you though."

An awkward silence fell between the three men, Joey sitting down as he looked back and forth between his two guests. He fiddled with a broken pocket watch that sat on the table, removing some of the gears as he continued to gut the instrument. Ryou vaguely remembered that Joey worked for a watchmaker – he suspected that recent events had made it difficult for him to leave home and so he opted to repair clocks from his residence.

The occasional ticks of pieces falling out kept like a steady timer, Joey reluctant to address why they were here. He pulled out the interior frame, sighing from his spot at the table. "You're here to see Serenity."

Ryou didn't say anything, glancing down at the table. He knew that Joey was against the idea – the last time he tried to speak to her about the case, she fell apart into tears. It had been too soon after the attack to try talking about the trauma she experienced. But although Ryou didn't wish to upset her, he also needed information.

Joey set the clock down, a frown on his face. "Does it have to be now?"

Ryou swallowed, keeping a straight face. "I wouldn't have come if it weren't necessary. If she has a moment now, I have a few questions."

Joey considered his words, a mixed sense of frustration evident on his face. He finally caved, standing up as he left the pocket watch on the table. Ryou and Malik stood up as well, exchanging a quick glance. Joey led them around towards the living room. Ryou blinked, remembering that Serenity's bedroom was upstairs. "Is she already awake?"

Joey paused in front of the door. "She is, but she doesn't stay in her bedroom any more. The stairs are too difficult. It's safer to keep her on the same floor."

Ryou nodded as he considered this, standing back as Joey knocked on the door. A soft voice heralded them in as the three men entered. He could see Serenity from a profile, sitting next to the open window with seeds in her hands. She hummed to herself as the birds chirped and hopped nearby, trying to snatch some feed.

It wasn't until she turned to face towards the door that her scars became evident. Everything about her was soft and elegant, except for the jagged lines decorating her eyes. Her lids remained shut, but the swollen lines remained, leaving her unable to open her eyes. Although Ryou had known this was her likely fate when he had first met her at the hospital, it still shocked him to see her with the bandages gone.

Serenity leaned back in her chair, her head tilted. "Joey, is that you?"

Joey walked over, kneeling down next to his sister. "Yeah, how are you today?"

Serenity smiled, reaching a hand forward. Joey took it without saying a word. "I'm doing alright. Did someone drop by this morning? I heard a knock at the front door."

Joey grunted, his eyes flicking over to Ryou. He took this as his cue to approach slowly. Joey spoke for him; "Yes. You have a visitor today. It's Detective Ryou and another gentleman helping him on the case – you remember Ryou, right?"

Serenity lifted her head in recognition, a thoughtful look on her face. "I do. Detective, you're working on my attacker's criminal case, right?"

Ryou nodded, realizing afterwards that he would need to verbalize all of his responses for her benefit. "Yes. I'm happy to see you Serenity – it's been awhile."

"A couple months now. How are things at the police station?"

Ryou huffed, blowing a tuff of hair out of his face. "Hectic at times." Technically not a lie.

"I see. How… how is Commissioner Kaiba?" Serenity's voice trailed off, her words hesitant, ears burning.

Ryou raised an eyebrow, but withheld his own thoughts, trying to be as truthful as possible. "He's well. The case has consumed his life as of recently so I've been seeing a lot of him." Ryou didn't mention how Kaiba nearly fired him in his rage, grimacing at the memory.

Serenity nodded, her cheeks rosy. "Good… good." Her voice trailed off, head turned away from the detective. The pieces started to click in Ryou's mind, but he didn't voice these thoughts, letting the young woman keep her secrets.

A heavy pause hung over them before Serenity finally asked her next question, trepidation in her voice. "Is the case going well?"

Ryou knew that giving her a run-down of the case would only serve to stress her. Encouragement that he was making progress would put her mind to ease. "It's been slow, but I've gotten definite results in the last few days. That's why I'm here today. I'd like to ask you a few questions – if that's alright with you."

Serenity didn't say anything, letting the seeds fall from her free hand onto the windowsill. Her silence was enough indication to let them know how reluctant she was to speak. Joey spoke up, a thumb rubbing her knuckles. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

Serenity shook her head, her brows furrowing in a silent frown. "No. It's okay. I want to help… or at least try to."

Ryou took a deep breath, pulling a chair forward. He felt Joey's gaze on him, stern and guarded. Ryou had thought about this carefully. He wasn't going to try agitating her. He had specific details he needed and he planned on avoiding any triggers.

"Do you remember which street you were on when it… happened?"

Serenity didn't respond immediately, her hand shifting in Joey's. "… I was walking down Cable Street. I had gone to visit Mai for the day and got lost on the way home."

"Do you remember seeing any other people walking around at that time of night?"

Serenity shook her head. "Only a few women pacing around. You know… um, sex workers."

"Were you wearing a shawl or any sort of head covering?"

He heard Joey let out an annoyed sigh. "What does that have to do with anything?"

Before Ryou could try to explain his logic, Malik finally snapped from his spot against the wall; "Just let him do his job."

Serenity's head jerked up at the new voice, her hand tightening for a moment before remembering that she had two guests. She bit her lip, brows furrowed. "I… think I was. It was pretty cold out, so I wrapped up in a red scarf Mai had given me to keep warm."

Ryou raised an eyebrow at this. Though perhaps a fleeting detail, it raised a question of why the killer had picked Serenity out. He would have to fully flesh this idea out with Malik, but a narrative was starting to form.

Still, Ryou had one last question that was at least worth a try.

"One more question – do you remember anything about your attacker?"

Ryou could feel Joey glaring at him but kept his eyes on Serenity. She didn't move at the question, her face a mask free from emotion. He knew what he asked was cruel, but if he could capture the man who blinded her, it would be worth it. She pulled her hand away from Joey, surprising all in the room. She held her hand out, tentatively searching.

Ryou realized what she asked for, reaching out his own hand. Her hand was smaller, softer than his own, though much warmer. She must have had the same thought when she giggled. "Your hands were freezing the last time I saw you too."

"You're not the first to remark on that," Ryou offered wryly, his eyes flicking back to Malik, who gave him a cheeky grin.

Serenity nodded, focusing on the hands before her. "I don't remember his face. I don't think I will. I remember how his voice terrified me to my core though. I can't ever forget the fear his words instilled in me… though I imagine that doesn't help you on your case."

She leaned forward, a small pout on her face. "I… I think I remember a crest? It was a pin on his jacket. It was a circular golden pin with an eye at the center… It looked old, so maybe it was a relic or something? I'm not really sure." Serenity let out a sigh, a bitter smile on her face. "I doubt that's helpful."

Ryou shook his head before again realizing his mistake. "No, no, that's all good. It's something I can work with."

"Definitely."

Ryou jerked his head back when he heard Malik confirm this, a sharp glint to his lavender eyes. This caused Ryou's heart to race, hope rising in him. He hadn't held his breath on Serenity's description, knowing that a golden pin was a stretch. But perhaps it wasn't such a useless clue after all.

Ryou clasped Serenity's hands in his own. "Thank you so much for your help. I know how hard this is for you."

Serenity nodded, a small smile growing on her face. "If it catches him, then it will be worth it… Please, Detective… I don't want his voice to haunt me forever…"

He could hear the earnest plea in her voice, a cry to make her unending nightmare go away. To stop his reign of terror over London and let her find peace. And although everything seemed to swirl around him in confusion, clarity cut through like a piercing, golden eye.

"I promise."

Ryou and Malik said their quick goodbyes, thanking both Joey and Serenity for their time. They were barely a few steps away from the house when Ryou turned to Malik. "You know something, don't you?"

Malik frowned, nodding. That sharp, intelligent look had returned to his eyes, a look that Ryou could get used to. "It might be a long shot, but given the killer's past affinity for Egyptology, I don't think this is a coincidence. There's an ancient Egyptian symbol known as the Eye of Wdjat – it's the originator of the other symbols that represents ancient gods, including the Eye of Horus and the Eye of Ra."

He turned to face Ryou, his thumb trailing along his lip as he thought. "The Eye of Wdjat is just that – a golden eye."

Ryou raised an eyebrow, his mind racing. "Would this be a common symbol to have a pin of?"

"I wouldn't say a pin, but perhaps a crest. Or at least, an adapted crest to include said curator's interest in Egyptology. And he would have access to all the information needed for Egyptology."

Ryou stopped walking, his mind going a mile a minute. He felt the Eye start to fit into the puzzle laid before him. The Egyptologist gone missing. The Egyptian symbol that Serenity saw before losing her eyesight. The hieratics left behind as a clue. Possession of an ancient Egyptian artifact. The last person who saw Isis before she disappeared."

Ryou looked back up at Malik, no question in his mind. "Maximillion Pegasus."