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: Probably my favorite chapter so far. Oh! I forgot to mention, the name of Marik's mother, Hasina, just means 'good' in Egyptian. I Googled it.

Useless Fun Fact: Malik has appeared completely naked in Yuugiou TWICE: Once as a child when Isis began her retelling of the Ishtar Tragedy, and again when Yami Malik delivered the final strike with Ra in his duel versus Bakura (his clothes burn off).

Disclaimer: Yuugiou is not mine, STUPIDS. Just kidding, I love you all.

The Attack

"Ow!"

Malik placed the stinging finger in his mouth and looked at the young bartender angrily. Their hands had only made contact briefly, and yet he felt a pain similar to when he had touched the porcelain angel. Yami shrugged and set down the boy's drink gingerly, muttering a light apology.

"Sorry, the air is dry in here. Static shock, you know?"

"Whatever," Malik said moodily, now eyeing the drink with suspicion.

"M-Malik?"

The blonde demon ignored him, determined to keep his attention focused on the cherry bobbing up and down in his drink.

Ryou cleared his throat and spoke again in a slightly more authoritative voice. "Malik, I wish to have a few words with you."

Marik smirked and placed a small kiss on Malik's cheek.

The angel flushed and shot an irritated look at Yami, who was only a few feet away. The other cherub raised an eyebrow and motioned to a small bottle filled with pink powder, the Possession Charm he had mentioned earlier. Ryou paled and turned to the other three once more. All four of them were at the bar now, having tired themselves after two hours of dancing, or as Bakura bluntly put it, dry humping. Marik and Malik were engrossed in a muted conversation, the smaller of the two giggling every now and then. Bakura looked like he was about to pass out, four empty glasses scattered in front of him, a fifth in his hand. The club was nearly empty; a few couples were slowly making their way out. Marik thought this strange, as it was only an hour until midnight, and he knew the club to stay full until early morning at times. The smaller angel suspected his 'saintly' companion had something to do with it, but avoided any confrontation.

After several more attempts and failures to get Malik's attention, Ryou put on a determined face and attempted to place his hand on Marik's.

The blonde moved his hand a millisecond before it made contact, a noticeable scowl on his face. Malik's cat-like eyes narrowed. Bakura was still gazing lovingly at his new alcoholic friend.

'Well, at least it got his attention.' The angel thought optimistically.

"Malik?"

"What?" Malik said through gritted teeth.

"Can…Can I speak with you outside?"

"No."

"Please, it's important-"

"Don't care."

"And it has to do with you personally-"

"Still don't care."

Ryou's eye twitched. Checking to see if Marik was still preoccupied (he was busy poking Bakura with a tiny umbrella), the angel hovered over Malik ear and said in a harsh whisper, "I know you're a demon Malik Ishtar and unless you come out with me I'm going to break that pearl of yours right here and now!"

Lilac eyes widened. Malik's mouth opened, poised for a question, but the blonde decided against it and stood up stiffly, glaring at the flustered angel with undiluted hatred.

"Where're you going?" Marik asked, surprised that Malik was actually complying with Ryou's request.

"Out. I'll be back in a minute." The demon's voice was strained.

"Do you want me to-?"

"No, I'll be fine," Malik said quickly. "Make sure that guy doesn't throw up on my seat."

"Okay," the other blonde trailed off, watching his small companion follow Bakura's date. As the two left, the bartender casually sauntered off to prepare a drink no one asked for. A loud snore was heard and Marik angrily banged a tanned fist against the table, effectively waking his roommate up.

"Who? Wuzzat? Marik?"

"You're a horrible drinker," the blonde said moodily.

"Where'd Malik and Ryou go? …Did they settle their differences and start making out?" At this, Bakura began to look around blearily.

"I dunno what happened. Malik and Ryou are having a talk or something…"

"Sucks that Ryou got to have his 'private conversation' before you did," the medical student snickered. "What're you planning to give him anyway?"

Marik smirked and removed a small velvet box from his pocket.

"Whoa…that's like…pure box," Bakura slurred.

"Yes," the blonde said sarcastically, "and look! There's something inside the box too!"

"Ooh…"

Marik revealed a silver chain necklace with an egg shaped locket. Inside was a scaled down photograph of the two Egyptians posing playfully; the word 'Promise' was etched onto the opposite side.

"Wow! That's even better than the box!" Bakura said incredulously.

"I'd hope so, the engraving was a bitch to pay for." the blonde said grimly. "He's always wearing that weird black pearl…"

"So you're finally throwing all that ugly denial out the window and confessing your undying love and affection for that little bitch, eh?"

"You've managed to put it so eloquently Bakura," Marik scathingly, placing the box back into his pocket.

"Last one before you take off?" Yami said suddenly, handing a drink to the taller teen. "It's on the house, no need to pay."

"I shouldn't…"

"If you don't want it, I'll take it!" Bakura said gleefully.

"You've had enough," the angel sniffed.

Marik looked at the liquid carefully. It was a startling shade of electric green, and it smelled of cheap perfume. However, the blonde was never the kind to pass up a free drink, and he DID only have one glass that night… Slowly, almost hesitantly, he brought it to his lips. After a small sip, he snorted and began coughing violently. The sweetness was overpowering, like an entire roll of Life Savers boiled down and caramelized.

"Whoa, how much sugar did you put in that?"

"Lemme try," Bakura snapped, grabbing the glass and draining it in a quick swig. "Bleh! It's like liquid cotton candy!"

Yami winced. The spiked drink was only intended for Marik…ah well. Pocketing the now empty charm bottle, Yami took the small glass and began washing it thoroughly. The two humans were still making faces over the taste of the drink, but Yami knew that as soon as Ryou returned with Malik, the effects would kick in. Speaking of the other angel…it wasn't that he didn't trust the angel to break the pearl…but…

…Who're we kidding? Ryou? Kill something? Unlikely. The only thing he was good for, the only reason Yami even brought him into his scheme was so that Marik could be pulled away from Malik, and he couldn't even manage to do that properly.

"Sorry about that guys, I guess I'd mistaken the syrup for water."

"But isn't simple syrup kind of…I dunno, THICK?" Marik said incredulously.

"I bet Ryou would've liked that drink," Bakura drawled. "It's sweet…he's sweet… (hic)."

About fifteen minutes later, Malik stormed in, hands clenched into fists and eyes slightly puffy from having cried. He quickly took his seat next to Marik and fumed quietly. Ryou entered shortly after, a miserable expression on his face. The angel looked to his superior and indiscreetly shook his head, signaling that his attempts to get Malik to 'come quietly' had failed. Yami however nodded slightly and motioned to the two humans, and Ryou was shocked to see not one, but two pairs of blank eyes.

"Wha-?"

"Malik, I was wondering if I could talk to you outside," the possessed Marik said gently, betraying his unfeeling expression, "it's really important."

Malik gulped and looked as his friend timidly, unable to see that the person sitting next to him was hardly Marik. Eventually, he stood up and followed Marik out of the club, shooting another dirty look at Ryou for good measure. Ryou however was still staring, mouth agape, at Yami, who had just slid a very shiny object to the now shadowed Bakura.

"Why Bakura?"

"Ryou, it was an accident," the older angel said dismissively, "he gulped down Marik's drink so fast I couldn't stop him. No worries though, it'll all be over soon."

The smaller angel turned bright red, his hands clenched so tight he was beginning to draw blood, "You've been saying that since the beginning of this whole mission. And guess what? IT'S STILL NOT OVER!"

Yami regarded his companion with a sick sense of amusement. "You're shaking Ryou."

"Why? Why are you doing this? Really? This is about Seto, ISN'T IT?"

"Ryou," the other scoffed, sending the other human outside with a wave of his hand, "you don't think I'd be that shallow, do you?"

"I do, actually. I'm not having any part in this. Malik's done nothing wrong, nothing. I…I talked to him. He's not exactly a saint, and I still think he's a horrible…but…Yami, the connection between himself and Marik is undeniable. I had no sense of animosity towards humans at all! In fact, he spent most of the time yelling at me for 'spying' on him and whatnot. I'm going home. And as soon as I return, I'm telling the council about your activity and you'll be damned to Hell. Maybe you can settle your score with Seto there. But this," Ryou threw his hands up, "this isn't right."

"A bit late for that, don't you think?" A smooth voice said bitterly.

Both angels looked toward the entrance, finding a tall brunette and a scruffy looking blonde lingering in its frame.

"Speak of the devil," Yami muttered distantly.

Malik looked up, tears running down his face. As soon as they had reached the cool, deserted streets, Marik had hit him so hard across the face that he was actually flung into a nearby wall. The pain was unbearable, but the reality that someone he thought he knew would do such a thing broke his heart. Had Marik been using him all along?

Then their eyes met. The usual warmth in Marik's dark eyes was missing, replaced by blank, soulless orbs. The demon gasped. This wasn't Marik…Marik would never…never hurt him…Lilac eyes shot wide open. He had received a shock when his hand brushed against the bartender's, and Ryou's words echoed hauntingly in his memory.

'The reason you feel pain whenever your skin makes contact with something that has been blessed is because the body you inhabit now has been crafted by black magic…though human in appearance, the fact remains that you are still a demon, and all the rules still apply…including the inability to touch the divine.'

Marik's dead eyes regarded him smugly, a sneer disgracing his lips.

"You actually think I'd fall for an ungrateful little bitch like you?" the taller blonde scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. The only reason I bothered hanging around all those years was because I knew that eventually you were gonna put out."

Suddenly, Malik felt himself being pulled backwards into Marik's arms, a tanned hand pulling viciously at his long hair. The demon struggled as the face he had loved for so long distorted into a cruel smirk. "And I was right, wasn't I? How about one last kiss before I send you back?"

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" Malik cried, "LEAVE MARIK ALONE!"

Not-Marik huffed and released the struggling blonde's hair, looking at him with narrowed eyes. "You're not going to kiss me goodbye then?" Malik shuddered as his possessed lover ran a wet tongue over his hand. "Alright. Then how about him?"

Malik felt a cold hand gripping his shoulder. Turning around, he witnessed Bakura materialize seemingly from nothing, the same dead look apparent in his eyes. The demon whimpered as the pale hand forced his chin upward, so he was face to face with the haunted medical student.

"Ba-Bakura?"

"How pathetic. Your boyfriend was unable to wrangle one last desperate kiss from you? He must be losing his touch."

The small blonde twisted out of Bakura grip and glared at him angrily. "So now what? You've got Marik's dumbass roommate in on your little game too? Two angels and two human just to take down a two-year-old demon, eh? If you ask me, that's what's pathetic." Malik's gaze flitted around for any sign of the angel controlling his two friends. "Too scared to show your ugly face to me or what?"

"Not half as scared as your sister was when you left her to die in that fire," Not-Bakura sneered, savoring the hateful look on the demon's feminine features. "She was screaming for help, wasn't she Malik? She begged, pleaded for you to help her, but you were too encapsulated in your own selfishness to give her a second look, you wanted to save yourself and leave her there to burn."

"Tha-That's not what happened!" Malik panted, fresh tears pouring from his eyes. "I didn't see her! I couldn't hear…I didn't mean…I didn't mean to leave her!"

"Oh, but you did, didn't you?" the pale teen cooed tauntingly, grabbing the smaller boy's hands and leaning in so close Malik started to back away. "You ran through the flames straight up to your room and tried to leave through the window, but then a slab of what used to be your ceiling unfortunately fell and barred your path. And then…" Not-Bakura chuckled, sending shivers up Malik's spine. The other boy hissed into the demon's ear, "And then everything went black, didn't it Malik?"

Malik growled and harshly slapped the angel's new puppet, forgetting for a moment that Bakura's words weren't his own. After the violent assault, the blonde blanched and looked up, a bloody bruise on the other boy's lip.

"Bakura…I…I didn't mean…"

"Heh, just what I'd expect from a little whore like you," Bakura grinned, wiping the blood off his lip and giving it a taste. "For raising an abusive hand against a defenseless human, you have forfeited your rights to wear the Ebony Pearl."

Malik was too stunned by this statement to witness Not-Bakura taking a small knife from his pocket. In a flash, the angel's puppet viciously cut into the demon's leg, right above his knee. Crimson blood spurted from the new wound, snapping Malik out of his daze. The blonde let out a pained cry, and fell to his knees, gripping the injured limb. Bakura sauntered over to the fallen demon, a grin plastered on his face.

"This dagger is a heavenly weapon…which means it can harm those empty shells that pearl creates to house your wretched souls. Does it hurt Malik? Did you miss the ability to feel physical pain?"

Malik bit his lip and whimpered, the stinging gash in his leg continuing to gush blood.

At the same time the knife began to break skin, Marik flinched, a familiar light returning to his eyes. Blinking furiously, the tall blonde held a hand to his forehead, trying to remember how he managed to get outside. The last thing he remembered was Malik returning from his chat with Ryou. In his rush, he spotted Bakura a few feet away from where he stood, holding a bloodied dagger over a broken Malik. Without bothering to understand what had gone on in his memory blank, Marik lunged forward.

"You poor thing…is your mommy at work? Is that why she couldn't watch you?"

"No," the child sniffed. "I don't have a mommy…she died a long time ago."

"Your father then?"

The blonde shook his head. "He's dead too."

"So who…?"

"My big sister takes care of me…but…she's always at school so…"

Hasina looked into the small boy's teary lilac eyes. They were so similar to her son's. Quietly she wrapped light gauze around his injured knee, taping a bandage around it. "There we go, it's all better now!"

"Thank you…"

The woman smiled sympathetically. She had just returned from the grocery store when she saw the child in a heap in front of their house, his leg covered in blood. Instinctively, she dropped her bags and tended to the five year old, discovering that he had hurt his knee from tripping on the sidewalk, and that he was one of the new neighbors that had moved in a few days earlier. After talking to the blonde a little bit longer, she was able to piece together that he and her sister were orphans; the elder sibling had been left a large sum of money in her father's will and used it to purchase a small house. However, at the young age of fifteen, she still had to attend school, leaving her five-year-old brother alone.

"What time does your big sister get home sweetie?"

"Um…sometimes in the afternoon, sometimes a little later…sometimes she even comes home really late."

Hasina winced. "Do you want to stay here when she's at school from now on? It must be very lonely in that house."

A light blush covered the boy's tanned cheeks. "Um…well…I don't know if my sister-"

"I'll talk to her," she said kindly, leading him to the kitchen, "I'm sure she'll let you stay. Are you hungry? I just bought some fresh fruit."

"Okay…"

Already sitting at the dinner table was another boy, a little taller than the boy Hasina had found. His light blonde hair fell in messy spikes, and his dark eyes narrowed suspiciously at the new arrival. The smaller child narrowed his eyes back.

"Oh Marik! I didn't know you were up."

"The cat jumped on me," he said simply, biting into a large apple. "Who's that?"

Hasina blinked. "Ah! I'm sorry, I didn't ask for your name! Well that was kind of rude of me…Um, but first let me introduce you to my son Marik. He likes…breaking things that don't belong to him."

"That lady had it coming," little Marik said indifferently, taking another chunk out of the apple, "she said I was cute."

He thought he heard the smaller boy snicker a little. The six year old raised a blonde eyebrow. "What's up? You think it's funny?"

"I think you're funny," the other blonde said coolly, "and I like your name too. But mine's ten bazillion better."

"Oh really?" Marik scoffed, "What is it?"

"Malik." The boy grinned.

Marik frowned, clearly unimpressed. "Great."

Hasina shot her son a 'be nice' look before disappearing into the laundry room. Still curious, the taller blonde hopped off his stool and inspected the other boy a little more closely. They looked remarkably similar, though Malik had a light tinge of pink mixed in with his white blonde hair and was touch lighter than the bronze colored Marik. Malik's eyes were also a beautiful shade of lavender, while Marik's shone a hazy plum.

"So what are you?"

"Huh?"

"You don't look Japanese."

"Neither do you," Malik said moodily.

"Never said I was," the six year old said cleverly. "I'm Egyptian. You are too, I think."

"You thought right."

Marik smirked. This new kid, whoever he was, knew how to hold his own in a conversation. For once Marik could talk to another person his age without them getting offended and running off crying about hurt feelings.

The smaller boy went to the living room and limped over to a low glass table adorned with picture frames of the mother and her son. Ignoring the fact that Marik was hovering over his shoulder like an oversized gnat, Malik gazed at a photograph that was quite different from the others. For one thing, it held three figures, not two. The addition was a deeply tanned man with a wise face, black hair, and eyes similar to Marik's. He had an arm wrapped around Hasina's shoulder.

Malik blinked. "Is that-?"

"No." Marik said abruptly, anticipating the question. "That guy isn't my dad." The blonde's eyes seemed to shine as he said this. "At least…not anymore."

At the sight of Malik's blank expression, he explained. "He just up and left one day. And mom says he isn't coming back."

"Oh," the younger boy said quietly, unsure how to respond.

"The last thing he said to us before he went was goodbye…" Marik looked up suddenly and placed both hands on Malik's shoulders. "So when you leave today, when you're sister picks you up or whatever…don't say goodbye."

"Bu…why?" Malik asked, confused at the strange request.

The other boy looked close to tears. "Because everyone that's ever said 'goodbye' to me has never come back! And…I want you to come back tomorrow…and the day after that…and…and…!"

Marik sighed and dropped his hands. "Listen. Just…just promise me that you'll never say it alright? Promise me that you'll always come back." He held out the smallest digit on his hand and waited for an answer.

For the first time in a long time, Malik smiled. He wrapped his own pinky around Marik's and squeezed.

"I promise Marik."

"Die Malik Ishtal!"

The demon braced himself for the final blow. What would happen when the pearl broke? Would it be as painful as his original death? Worse? Malik heaved a dry sob.

'Please…just let it be quick…'

The blonde heard the sound of ripping fabric and his lilac eyes shot up to see Marik standing in front of him, his jacket serving as a barrier between Malik and the weapon. The dagger had sliced through the black cloth and its point was still hovering dangerously close to Marik's toned stomach.

"Hn! Wore off already huh?" Bakura cackled, removing the dagger slowly. "It's a shame. If you were still unconscious then you wouldn't have to see him disappear…"

Marik stayed silent, glaring at the possessed boy with a murderous glint to his eyes. Malik gasped and began to crawl backwards, being careful not to touch his injured knee to the concrete. The two older teens continued staring at each other, the blonde trying desperately to figure out why Bakura had just tried to stab Malik.

"But I'll be nice." The pale medical student smiled eerily. "I'll just knock you back out. Then you won't have to worry about watching poor Malik's body fade away into nothing."

"Wha-?"

Bakura smashed the dagger's handle into Marik's face so hard Malik thought he heard something crack. At the sight of dark blood streaming from the taller blonde's nose and mouth, the demon tightly shut his eyes and sobbed, feeling the warm liquid dribble down to his face. Marik fell to his knees, spat out the metallic tasting substance and coughed, wiping the remaining blood from his face.

"Oh whoops, guess that didn't work," Bakura smirked. "Oh well, that's what second chances are for, isn't that right Malik?"

He cackled; raising the dagger again, he directed the metal end at Marik's face and swung down.

Two shades of purple met and in a mad dash, Malik threw himself over Marik's body, desperately shielding the other blonde's face in a tight embrace. The dagger paused just centimeters from Malik's neck.

Marik opened his eyes and looked up, finding a weeping Malik protecting him fiercely, hugging him so hard he felt he might explode. He was pressed against Malik's chest, the occasional salty tear dripping onto his face. He closed his eyes again, listening to the wracked sobs of the boy he had known for so long. Marik's breath caught in his throat. Something wasn't right. He listened again, trying to figure out what was missing. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

…Despite his close proximity to the Malik's heart, he had yet to hear it beat.

Bakura looked dazed, and after a long silence, the bloody dagger fell from his limp hand and clinked ominously on the sidewalk. The once glazed eyes flickered back to life.

Malik let out a shuddering breath and released Marik, placing a hand on his chest. He had never felt anyone's heart beat so fast. "I'm sorry…"

"What the hell is going on?" The taller blonde murmured tiredly.

Bakura groaned and held a hand to his head, shaking it a few times before reopening his mahogany eyes. "Oh God…how…how the hell did I get out here? And what the hell happened to you two?"

"You bas-" Marik began angrily, but Malik held him back, eyes shadowed by his layered bangs. "It's not his fault Marik…there's something…there's something I need to tell you…"

"Me first," a new voice said.

The three teens looked up to see a tall, handsome brunette with icy blue eyes standing in front of them, an unconscious Yami at his feet.

"That's the bartender!" Bakura screamed in surprise, eyeing the demon with a fearful look.

"Malik, are you okay?" Seto said quickly, as the angel had begun to stir. Both Marik and Bakura looked at the quivering blonde, wondering the same thing. Hesitantly, Malik nodded and moved to stand, but the gash on his leg still stung badly, and he fell into Marik's waiting arms.

"Malik, who's-?"

"We'll explain later," the tall demon barked impatiently as Jounouchi came into view, sweating. "Did you find the other one?"

"Couldn't catch him," Jounouchi panted, "too fast…"

Seto growled. "Take Malik and the other two somewhere away from here, I don't care where. You," he looked at Marik, "are you alright carrying him?"

"Yeah I can manage."

"Who are you two? And what the heck did you do to the bartender?" Bakura asked, unsure of whether this was a good idea.

"We'll answer questions later, we have to go!" Jounouchi insisted, already beginning to run.

Marik glanced at Malik, who gave a reassuring nod. At that, the two blondes followed the third swiftly (Malik sort of hop skipping along) with a confused Bakura trailing behind.

Three chapters left! Don't let me down by not reviewing!