A Little Fall of Rain

Summary: When the angel Ryou becomes smitten with a mortal who he believes can do no harm, he creates a misunderstanding, resulting in the wrath of the young demon Malik whose unrequited love was never satisfied in life.

Rated: T

Genre: Supernatural/Romance

Author's Note: Sorry about the cliffhanger last chapter! Here's where things start to get interesting. But first, let's welcome the return of Ryou, Yami, and Jou shall we? Did I mention we get to see Malik shower?

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Kazuki Takahashi. Even Malik! …That lucky bastard.

Castle on a Cloud

Lilac eyes fluttered open and Malik found himself in a college dorm, white walls plastered with pictures of J-Rock bands on one end and hentai on the other. His eyes traveled from the buxom beauties over to the neatly stacked books on a small computer desk which separated into two piles: Psychology and Medicine. Everything about the room seemed to be in proper order; it almost like its inhabitant was some kind of germ obsessed medical student that flinched at the thought of bacteria…but no one was that paranoid. Malik finally noticed the bandages covering the upper portion of his body, wondering why they were there, and where they came from. Then unfortunately, he remembered.

"That's right…the fire." The blonde hugged himself tightly, trying to fight the chill.

"Aw, don't look so sad! I mean, you're pretty when you're sad, but you're even prettier when you aren't."

Malik blinked and looked toward the foot of the bed, where a white haired teen with dark brown eyes was currently seated, enjoying the view. It was then Malik realized that he was, as stated in the previous chapter, naked. Bakura liked that.

However, Bakura didn't like getting an 870 page book about the spinal cord thrown at his face.

"You're sick!" Malik hissed, pulling the bed covers over his vulnerable form, "As if I wasn't harassed enough back there!"

"You mean America?" The med student asked eagerly, donning a black eye, "How was it? Is everyone there as naked and gorgeous as you?"

Another heavy book connected with Bakura's face.

"No you dumbass. They wear clothes, like I usually do. Um…but…the stupid airport lost my luggage, it's probably halfway to Ireland by now. And…I stripped my clothes before going to sleep; they're probably mixed in with all of yours. DON'T bother finding them, really. Do you uh…have any I could use?" Malik blushed a pink that nearly matched the ends of his hair.

"Sure, sure! Just stop throwing those damned books at me! Oh…and take a bath kitten. There are a lot of foreign germs on your body that I wouldn't appreciate contracting. Then I'll give you some of my clothes. Or…you can have some of Marik's old ones, but they might be too big."

"Marik? As in Marik Ishtar? He lives here?"

Bakura shot the blonde a confused look. "Yeah? That's why you're here isn't it? To see him? Suppose you used the extra key to get in here, right? You look so shocked! Didn't he ever mention ol' Bakura in the hundreds of letters he's been sending you? What an ass face, I'll be sure to get him for that."

"Uh no! Of course he's mentioned you. Not in a very nice way, but you were in a few," Malik lied walking over to the bathroom. "I hope he's not mad about me not answering. My…sister didn't approve of our relationship."

"So you considered it a relationship and he only considers it a friendship?" Bakura said incredulously, "You both are so stupid, which is to be expected considering you're both blonde."

Malik smiled sweetly and slammed the door in Bakura's face. "I'm not quite sure what the hell IT is, but you can tell me after I rid my body of all the foreign germs. Now shut up and find me something to wear!"

"Why'd I have to get stuck with people who enjoy causing me physical harm?" Bakura rubbed his nose angrily and opened his closet, "I could've gotten stuck with that wimp Yuugi, but noooo, I had to luck out and bunk with the hot psycho student…"

The blonde slowly began taking off the bandages, wincing at the ugly sight underneath. Though his arms and hands had completely healed, his back was covered in a sickly looking burn. Fortunately it could be covered by most shirts, but it would need to be hidden with more bandages until it stopped looking so…fresh. It was then Malik remembered Bakura was studying medicine; and what better way to treat a burn than with a doctor? Albeit doctor in training, but it was better than nothing.

The lithe teen stepped into the shower lightly, running the cool water over his familiar body, no wings or unsightly demon features to speak of. There was a mirror directly across from the open shower door, and the blonde took the opportunity to fully appreciate his figure. Slim, toned, tanned, sexy. Malik sighed; he was gorgeous and he knew it, no shame in hiding it. Was vanity the deadly sin that earned him the black feathers of the damned? Perhaps. But now was not the time to think about such depressing things. A squirt of gardenia shampoo was lathered graciously into a large foam, working its way through the strands of Malik's soft hair. Letting the cleanser do its work, Malik began to scrub himself with a soft washcloth, the soapy liquid traveling the length of his petit body, racing through every crevice and caressing the already silky skin. After about ten minutes of the final rinse off, Malik jumped onto the bathroom mat and toweled himself off, flinching when the cotton came into contact with his tender backside. Wrapping the towel around his waist, the blonde stepped out of the steamy bathroom to find a modest pair of bedroom shorts, checkered boxers, and a white tank top waiting for him outside. Malik took the shorts and boxers back into the bathroom and carefully slipped them on, immediately noticing they were a bit too big for his liking. Not one to complain about free things, Malik stepped outside into the main room again, grabbed the tank and revealed his back to Bakura, who had been 'studying.'

"Whoa! What the hell happened to you? …Was there flesh eating bacteria in the bath water?"

"Actually, I had a little accident while I was in America," Malik said truthfully, conveniently leaving out the fact that he died in that little accident. "I wanted to get it looked at before I came over here, but I couldn't find a doctor who would see me before my flight. I was wondering if you had anything to treat it."

"Uh…yeah! Yeah, yeah, I have a first aid kit, hold on I'll go get it."

"You haven't heard from Marik yet, have you?"

"No, not yet," he returned with a small white box and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, "but he'll be by soon, don't worry. There isn't anywhere else to go except this chummy old dorm."

Bakura dipped a large cotton ball into the peroxide and began lightly dabbing the painful looking wounds adorning Malik's back. "These burns look awful, second to third degree from what I can see. What were you doing?"

"To be honest, I can't remember!" Malik smiled, scratching his head embarrassedly, "But there was a fire, and there was pain involved, I can tell you that much."

"You poor little thing," the white haired teen cooed, wrapping fresh bandages around the small body, "You could've died… Hey, this is pretty!"

Bakura had caught sight of a black pearl around Malik's neck, and began fingering it lightly. "How strange, it's completely black! Who gave this to you kitten? Marik?"

Malik snatched the precious orb away and quickly pulled the white tank top over his head to hide it. "It was given to me by another friend. I'd appreciate you never touching it again, thank you very much."

"Ooh, a little defensive aren't we? What's wrong, don't want Marik to know you've found another man?"

"Wha-What? No! It's just that…the person who gave it to me had to endure so much just so I could wear it and…and if it were to break I would just die!"

"Alright, alright, enough with the dramatics kitten, sheesh, I was just teasing. Besides, you and Marik are just friends, right?"

"Huh? Friends? I…Did…did he say we were just friends?"

"Constantly!" The med student burst out, putting his supplies away, "I've tried to get him to say you two were a couple, but no, it's always 'We were just friends Bakura, shut up and die, Lawl!' and then wham, a book to my face. Than man is-"

"He never said anything about love? Nothing about it? Nothing at all?" Malik bit his lip worriedly, this couldn't have been a one sided crush, it just couldn't!

A silvery eyebrow rose at the now distressed beauty, and Bakura's mouth pulled into a toothy grin. "So! You weren't just friends."

"If that's what he's been telling you, then he was giving me the wrong impression for a long time," the blonde snarled, "when he gets here I'm going to… Ooh! That jackass!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, he could've been putting on an act! Don't judge him by what I've told you, wait until he comes by and then you can sock him in the balls. Have patience kitten."

"Stop calling me that!" the small blonde whirled around, thoroughly annoyed, "You've known me for a total of one hour and you're already calling me pet names? What makes you think you have any right to-!"

"Why the hell are you being so defensive? Look, I don't know what went on between you and Marik, but from what I've seen from him and from my first impressions of you, there was something going on between you guys! Now sit your ass down and cool off!"

"Don't tell me what to do! You don't even know me, much less Marik, so back off and mind your own damn business!"

"Oh, I get why Marik liked you," Bakura smirked, "Not only are you pretty, but you're a bit of a bitch too, aren't you? Yeah, yeah, I can see it!"

Bakura expected Malik to slap him after that comment. What he didn't expect was for Marik Ishtar to knock a few of his teeth out.

"Is that any way to welcome someone into our humble abode?" Marik said nastily, one arm slung around a very smug Malik. "Sorry that I'm a bit late to the party; I had to get someone a chicken sandwich."

"The kitten started it," Bakura whined, only to have a set of Anatomy books thrown at him.

"So Malik, what brings the unexpected visit?"

"Well, I just thought that you'd begun to miss me after so long," Malik said sweetly, giving his former neighbor a playful punch on the arm, "and I was totally right! So, you happy to see me Marik?"

"Maybe," Marik smiled, ruffling the smaller boy's hair, "but don't think I ain't pissed off about you not replying to my letters."

"Isis wouldn't let me," the smaller blonde pouted, "That's why I've come to Japan all by my beautiful self just to see you. It's been really lonely without you…"

"Well, such a special visitor deserves a special night on the town, right? Bakura! You wanna go out tonight?"

"To where?" Bakura said through a mouthful of chicken breast, "We going clubbing?"

"Why not? Malik, you've never been old enough to see the nightlife around Japan, right?"

"Unfortunately, no," Malik sighed, twirling a strand of Marik's hair around his fingers, "I'd love to go Marik. Even with you Bakura!"

Mahogany eyes rolled, but the med student still tapped his nose in agreement. "If you were any less adorable I would've refused. Afraid it can't be tonight though, I've got some books to finish."

"You mean you actually read?" The small blonde had never thought of Bakura as the scholarly type. "Someone's taking their studies seriously. Good for you! I loathe reading boring nonfiction. Give me some historical fiction and I'll be inside all day!"

"How unfortunately true that is," Marik grimaced. "I hardly got to see you in those months before you moved away. You were always inside studying for that stupid Calculus final. You were never very good at math, were you?"

"I still suck. Languages and art were always my strong points."

"And yet Isis still pressured you to take more advanced math classes," the taller blonde grumbled, running a hand through Malik's hair, "I shudder to think of you trapped with that horrid woman for eighteen hours on a plane."

"It was actually quite bearable, apart from her walrus-like snoring."

"Then I hope you don't mind sharing a bed with me…"

"Oh please! As if you'd ever let him sleep in the same bed as me," the white haired teen laughed.

"As if I'd ever want to sleep in the same bed as you," Malik grinned.

"Sassy little bitch aren't you?"

"Keep your comments to yourself Bakura," Marik snapped, casually massaging Malik's back, "unless you want some more textbooks to… Huh? Malik, what's with the bandages?"

"Isn't it obvious? I got burned," Malik said simply, "Just a little brush with some fire, don't worry about it, it's nothing."

"I saw some third degree burns on the kid's back," Bakura interjected, earning a nasty glare from Malik. "I suggest full medical attention before any alcohol consumption."

"Hate to say it Malik, but I think Bakura's got a point." Marik shrugged, noticing the smaller blonde's sour expression.

"But I don't wannaaaaaa!" Malik clung to Marik's dark shirt and continued his pitiful whining. "Please don't make me go Marik! You know I hate doctors! Please, please, please, please, please? Don't make me goooo…"

"Bakura, he doesn't want to go," The psychology student pouted, "and if he's standing upright and talking to me right now, it can't be that bad right?"

"Actually I've been wondering about that myself," Bakura said suspiciously, "burns like that are supposed to be hideously painful. How is it that you're able to function so normally? Can't you feel it?"

"I'm just plucky like that," the demon smiled, "sometimes there are things that can't been explained through textbooks. Get your nose into some fantasy novels why don't you?"

"The last thing I need right now is to read nonsense about angels and demons. I'd prefer to keep my feet firmly rooted in reality."

Malik shrugged, relishing in the irony of it all. "Suit yourself."

Seto prowled through the cobblestone streets of Hell, keeping a sharp eye out for a head of messy blonde hair. A few female demons winked as he passed, licking their lips suggestively. He rolled his eyes is disgust and ignored their presence, his mind set on bringing Jounouchi back to his bar, Ivory. Without the fiery Malik to help, Seto had found himself flooded with thirsty customers, all demanding the same thing. Beer, and a sight of the 'pixie.'

A rival tavern called The Mermaid's Tear was the place Jounouchi often went to brood when things weren't going his way. Learning from experience, the blue-eyed demon entered the bar casually, earning stares from the regular patrons. A tanned demon with an ornate tattoo on his face was washing mugs tiredly at the front, the ten or so customers sipping their drinks slowly, seemingly bored of even existing. Giving a small nod to his respected rival, Seto located the only blonde head in the room. His former employee was currently peeling potatoes, looking frustrated and sorrowful at the same time.

"Good to see you Rishid," Seto said curtly, "how's business?"

"Ever since word of your new barmaid got around, horrible!" The green-eyed demon laughed, "But it's not like we'll ever close shop. There won't be a shortage of damned souls anytime soon."

"Unfortunate, but true. I see you've found my stray puppy."

Rishid shrugged, "Of course. He always comes here after the two of you have had a feud. You'd think he'd know better by now."

"Take it easy on him, he was shot in the head," Seto smirked, knowing that would get on the blonde's nerves.

"What the hell are you doing here Kaiba?" Jounouchi scowled, slicing a poor spud cleanly in half.

"I've come to tell you that Malik has taken a temporary leave," Seto said coolly, crossing his arms. "So if you're tired of living in this dump come back to Ivory. I could use the help."

"Why don't you find some other blonde bimbo with a pretty face to work for you? Then you can ignore me again, won't that be fun?"

"Please. I can't believe you're jealous of Malik," the brunette frowned, leading Jounouchi away they could speak in private. "He's just a kid; he doesn't have anywhere else to go. He's young, he's scared, and he'd be in danger if I hadn't cared for him. How would you feel if I had refused to take you in?"

"That's just it, you'd already taken me in; you didn't need to take Malik in. We used to be a team Kaiba, then the brat shows up and you fawn over him like a little girl over a new kitten. Whatever happened to us? Whatever happened to it just being our bar? Our home? Our…"

"I refuse to have this conversation with you," Seto growled, showing his fangs, "You've been dead eighty years; you can take care of yourself. You've been around long enough to know how it works down here and you don't need me to hold your hand."

"But you find the need to hold Malik's? Quit giving me the lame excuses about how he's so young and vulnerable. So what? He'll learn! Just like the rest of us have! Who was there to hold your hand, huh Kaiba? Who? No one! You learned about the ups and downs of this damned fate and you turned out just fine! Why the hell do you feel the need to take in that little-"

"Is there shame in seeing yourself in someone else's eyes," the tall demon said softly, averting his gaze. "Should I feel embarrassed that in Malik I see a reflection of myself? Young? Naïve? Impressionable? It's true, I had no one to look after me when I came here, but your assumption that I 'turned out fine,' is completely wrong. There are things you don't know about me Katsuya, and I'd like to keep it that way. But all that concerns me is that this place doesn't make Malik into what I've turned into. Now come with me back to Ivory. You've got a lot of work to catch up on."

"Alright, alright," Jounouchi said cautiously, not wanting to rile Seto up any more than he needed to, "on one condition. I get to sleep with you in your room. I mean, just until Malik comes back from wherever he's gone to. Deal?"

A ghost of a smile flickered across Seto's cold features. "No deal."

Yami sipped from a golden goblet, staring taciturnly at the scene before him. Everything about heaven was perfect. The people were attractive and friendly, the cities were clean and beautiful, and the food was nothing sort of excellent. It was so refreshing, so coveted, so…boring. The angel heaved a heavy sigh. Surely Hell had to be more interesting, despite the danger and deceit that lurked its streets. At least it was interesting. Here, Yami knew exactly what to expect. Get up, walk around, talk to friendly people about friendly things and then sit down, sip wine and look perfect. The End. There was no need for work or money in heaven; clothes and luxury items just appeared when wanted. It was new and exciting at first, but now it was just annoying.

A small dove appeared before the brooding angel carrying a small apple. Yami took the apple and thanked the bird, biting into the pristine juiciness of the former forbidden fruit. Content for the moment, he wondered when everyone else would realize their precious All-Seeing Mirror had been stolen.

'Probably after the Apocalypse,' the angel thought cynically.

"Yami! Yami look!"

A distressed Ryou appeared before him, panting heavily and carrying the fake mirror. "Yami! There's a demon! A demon living with Bakura! Just look!"

Violet eyes watched the scene in the mirror's reflection. The two college students, Marik and Bakura, were talking quietly over a modest dinner of pasta and salad. The blonde then pulled in an extra stool and motioned for an unseen person to sit down. Yami's jaw dropped as the young demon that had been with Jounouchi and Seto came into view, sitting shyly at the dinner table. Instead of eating, the boy stared longingly into the face of Marik Ishtar, turning away when it seemed to other blonde had noticed. He had somehow lost his demon attributes, but there was one item that gave away his true nature. Around his neck, hidden under a flimsy white tank top was a black pearl, glowing ominously in the eyes of the pure souls.

"By God…"

"What do you think he's up to?" Ryou said worriedly, looking over Yami's shoulder, "Do you think he's dangerous? What if he hurts Bakura? Yami, we need to do something!"

"Calm down Ryou, he's just a kid," Yami said shortly, trying to comfort the distressed cherub. "He was one of the three demons who stole the All-Seeing Mirror. He didn't have any weapons, I don't think…"

"What is he doing there? What if he was sent to deter Bakura from the right path?" The white haired angel flitted around nervously, "What, what, what? New demons aren't allowed to return to Earth!"

"Some other demon must have given him the Ebony Pearl," the older angel reasoned, "It was probably Seto, those two seemed awfully close. Ryou, take the mirror to the Head Council and ask them if you can check this out. I need to pay a little visit to an old friend."

"Yami! …What…what do I do when I get down there? I can't kill anyone! Not even if it's a demon! I…I wouldn't be able…"

"There are other ways to break someone Ryou," Yami said seriously, grabbing the other angel's shoulders, "if you can't hurt him physically, there's always the psychological route. Find out what he wants and take it from him. I doubt he'll be any threat to a seasoned angel like you. Do it, they started this mess and we'll have to be the ones to clean it up."

"Break him… Yami, I can't do that!"

"It's for the good of the angels Ryou!" the other angel shouted, taking off, "Remember, demons deserve everything they get!"

"But! …Oh, it's no use. He's already gone. Break him…? I don't even know what his intentions are…" Ryou looked into the mirror again, observing the young demon closely. So far, the blonde had been very respectful of the two humans, he seemed harmless. But one couldn't be too sure…

"I'll go down, just to check… Oh please young one…please don't make me hurt you!"

TBC

Next chapter! Malik and Ryou get off to a rocky start, Yami confronts Seto, Marik and Malik share a tender moment, and Ryou finally gets to meet Bakura! Five reviews minimum for the next chapter, PLEASE REVIEW AFTER YOU READ MY STORIES! (Any grammar or spelling mistakes to this chapter will be fixed later.)