Sorry for the late update. I wasn't entirely happy with this chapter when I was writing it so I kept going back and altering it. Still not 100% happy with it but it'll do.

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Anzu turned slowly. Her heart pounding and her throat dry. On one hand she wanted to know who it was standing behind her on the other the fear of who it might be made her hesitate. Still she had called the voice out, despite it's reluctance to be revealed, she couldn't just back out now. She looked over her shoulder, the owner of the voice watching her warily.

What happened next was pure reaction, Anzu hadn't thought about it, she hadn't considered it she just did it.

Anzu had screamed, kicked him in the stomach, hard, jumped from the divan and skittered like a panicked rabbit to the other side of the room.

"You!" she screamed, watching fearfully as he leaned forward balancing himself on the divan, winded from the blow "You can't be, you, you're..." her tongue twisted around itself. A new wave of fear washed over her as he raised his gaze to hers, his eyes narrowed in what she hoped was pain.

"This, "he panted "This is exactly why I didn't want you to know who I was. Oh sweet Ra that hurts" he groaned as he sat down on the divan, his arms wrapped around his waist to try and stop the pain. His soft lavender eyes flicked to her trembling form.

He grimaced; this wasn't going to be as easy as he hoped.

Anzu never took her eyes off him, her body shaking lightly with fear and adrenalin. Why did it have to be him? She'd have gladly taken a total stranger over him.

Malik Ishtar, the light side of Marik and the evil mastermind responsible for this whole mess.

He looked no different than the last time she had seen him. Tanned bronze skin, long slightly pointed sand blonde hair, handsome features and mischievous calculating lavender eyes. Even his clothes were the same, a pair of black combat jeans and a sleeveless pale lavender hoodie that stopped mid waist. He didn't look any older than he did in Battle City and when Anzu caught her reflection in the mirrored wall on the opposite side of the room she saw that she didn't either. Once more she looked sixteen; her hair short and her features younger, her clothes too were the same outfit she wore in Battle City.

"W,What?" she stuttered, her reflection staring back just as bemused as she.

"Even though your body has aged your soul is still the same as it was before you entered the shadow realm" Malik's voice caught her off guard, recovered from the blow he was standing beside the divan, reading her expression carefully. He dared to take a step toward her but pulled back mid step when she flinched at the approach. He thought of reassuring her that he meant her no harm but he knew it wouldn't help much, her guard was up and he had already deceived her before. What reason would she have to believe him? He pushed the thought from his mind. That wasn't the way to be thinking right now. He'd just have to persuade her somehow. Slowly he raised his hands up, his palms flat and facing her.

A gesture of surrender or peace.

Anzu eyed him carefully, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat she stood up straight, trying to appear more confident than she truly felt. Her mind boggled with questions, so she went with the most re-occurring one.

"Why are you here?" Malik shifted slightly, his gaze looking away as his tongue wet his lips. He looked nervous at the question. When he met her eyes once more, Anzu could clearly see he was searching for the right answer to give her

"I..." he began, his gaze once more looking away, his voice lacking the confidence and arrogance it normally held "I need your help" Anzu blinked in surprise, not expecting him to say that at all.

"Help you?" she repeated just in case she misheard him. He gave a slow nod. She stared at him shocked.

Malik flinched when she started to laugh, softly at first but slowly gaining volume

"Help you? Help you?!" She stopped laughing piecing him with accusing eyes "Why should I help you? Why should anyone help you? Do you even realise how much pain you've caused? Do you even care?!"

Rage took over fear as Anzu clenched her fists, her glare unnerving Malik to the point he sweated

"Because of you I'll never see any of my friends or family again! I'll never be able to talk to them again, never laugh, fight or support them! You took everything from me, from the world!" she was screaming at him now, her voice loud and shrill enough to break the glass that surrounded them.

Malik took a cautious step back, fearful she was about to lunge at him

"Because of you I never told Yugi..." She stopped, choking on her words as tears spilled out over her cheeks furiously. She scrunched her eyes shut, she couldn't even look at him anymore.

Malik stood there, watching her silently. He didn't blame her for hating him, he deserved it and the guilt and shame was clear on his face, not that she would willingly look at him.

Anzu leaned back against the cool glass behind her, sliding down to sit on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. It all just came out. The grief she had been pushing back came rushing out, all rational thought lost she sat crying and wailing like a child. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she buried her face into her knees, her sobs croaking and hiccupping in every strained intake of breath.

Slowly Malik lowered himself to sit in a similar position, his back leaning against the side of the divan, his eyes downcast, studying the grains of wood in the polished floor beneath him silently.

Time passed slowly, Anzu's sobs grew quieter, her throat raw and her nostrils burning. Her cheeks were flushed and wet, her eyes swollen and red and when she tried to wipe them against her knees they itched in dryness. She looked like a mess. Eventually the sobs stopped, replaced with shuddering breathing and quiet sniffling. Malik raised his gaze to her huddled form

"Feel better?" he offered unsurely. Honestly he had no clue how to comfort women. The only close female contact he had ever had was his older sister and she was always so strong that he never had to even consider she would need some kind of support.

Hell forget women, he never even comforted another human being in his life. Still he deserved points for trying right? Anzu's weary, tear stained glare seemed to disagree. Malik swallowed lightly, wondering if this situation could possibly be any more uncomfortable.

"What do you want Malik?" Anzu's voice was low and cracked; her throat obviously sore from her crying session and when she said his name there was hint of disgust in her tone. Malik shifted his position so he was sitting cross-legged, never taking his eyes from hers.

"I want to fix what I caused" Malik's voice was quiet but strong. Anzu was a little impressed at how sincere he sounded but quickly reminded herself that he was a particularly good actor. When he first approached them as Namu, none of them had seen the wolf beneath sheep's clothing or even the monster lurking in the wolf. He had fooled them with his kind smile and warm charisma, all a lie to ensure his victory.

"Why should I believe you?" she asked, not at all surprised she sounded so bitter. Malik shut his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again Anzu saw something she had never seen in those pale lavender eyes.

Regret.

"I, I made a mistake. All this time I thought it was the pharaoh who killed my father but it wasn't, it was..." he trailed off his gaze downcast, his voice so feeble it barely carried across the room. "It was me " he whispered.

Anzu stared at him, unsure what she was feeling for him in that moment. She wasn't as angry as she had been, it's hard to stay angry at something that looks like a kicked puppy, even if he deserved it.

Was it pity?

Did he deserve pity?

The thought lingered. And then she recalled Ishizu's story, the story of their tortured childhood, of the pain Malik endured for a reason no child should be forced to believe.

Malik looked up, startled that Anzu was staring at him so intently. He stared back.

Blue searched lavender; searched for any signs of a lie, an ulterior motive or possible scheme.

There was none.

"So long as that, thing, controls my body I'll never be able to set things right. I know you have no reason to trust me but-"

"Fine"

Malik stopped. Did she just say...?

Anzu's gaze never left his eyes

"I'll help you" she said blandly

Slowly she pushed herself up, using the mirrored wall behind her for support until she was standing. Malik followed suite, a bit less graceful in his rise, still in shock at her answer. He stared at her cautiously. She looked tired and drained but there was still a fire in those dulled blue eyes, burning strong and powerful. It would be a fire he'd need.

He took a step forward but this time Anzu didn't flinch, he approached her until he was standing in front of her, being careful not to get too close. She was trusting him, a thin spider web string of trust that could easily snap at any second. It was small, miniscule even but Malik would do everything in his power to keep it.

"Thank you" he said, sincerely meaning every syllable. Anzu didn't smile, only nodded.

Malik's actions had led to the world's destruction and now he promised he would make amends.

And she would be there, making sure he did it.

Dun,Dun,Dun- Bet you didn't see that coming ;) Okay but seriously how many people thought it would be Malik? If you want to know how he got there and how their going to defeat Marik you'll have to review!