Everything that has gone wrong has, I lost everything that I had saved on my pc and now I'm writing everything from where I have last posted, everything! So that's why I haven't posted and why you have to wait so long for me to do so, as I have said most of you are going to have to wait on stories that you like most until I catch up, (sighs) there is a small note as always at the end so if your reading this and go 'what that's not right, it's like this.' Which I hope doesn't happen, then read the note, now or after it's not a big deal really but anyway. I also had a small plot change to what I originally had, anyway two more characters are added in this chap and the next who you'll know who they are by the end, don't worry we still have a few more going to brought in.
Warnings: This is a fictional story and nothing more. Rating M, swearing, child abuse, if this type of thing offends you then DO NOT READ! This rating will be staying the same nothing will change in it so please take note.
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
CHAP 5: Meet The Family.
"How about that breakfast?" Marik said, Malik nodded his head and followed Marik back into the kitchen.
It wasn't long when the two were eating Marik said after a mouthful. "What would you like to do today?" Marik looked up, Malik just stared at him.
Marik added. "We could do a few things around here, you could help me." Malik looked away and nodded his head and still not a word. After breakfast Marik ran Malik a bath as the boy had gotten flour all over his face and clothes, Malik had been surprised that Marik had used warm water.
Marik got Malik's clothes out and left them on the bed, he walked out and stopped by the door that was all the way open and looked in, to see Malik blowing at the bubbles in his hands and the silent giggling that followed as they floated back down and landed on his nose. Marik smirked and walked into his own room and pulled out his clothes, then walked back into the bathroom. "Are you ready to get out now?" Marik asked as he grabbed the towel and held it open.
Malik nodded and pulled the plug out and got out, Marik dried him off in the large towel and wrapped it around him. "Your clothes are on your bed." Malik smiled and left the room. Marik looked at the swamp that was once called his bathroom. "I can tell where that boy has been." Marik sighed as he closed the door.
Afterwards Malik helped Marik with the kitchen the flour was everywhere the only place it wasn't was the ceiling. A meow came from the front door along with scratching. Malik ran to the front door and waited pointing at it. Marik walked up and let the cat in to be fed.
Malik fed him with the help from Marik and patted Ra until he had finished eating; the cat left the room with Malik crawling after him on all fours. Marik chuckled at the sight, but stopped as his phone rang.
He walked into the living room and over to his desk and picked up the phone. "Marik here!"
"Hey Mare, are you working today?" Came a voice he knew all to well, and the only person in the world that dared to call him that and get away with it.
"No I got some time off, why?" Marik glanced down at Malik as the boy crawled around the dark couch in a game of followed the leader with the cat, who seem not to mind the small child.
"Good I was planning to come over and visit you."
"Really."
"Come on I was going to bring mom along as well and have dinner, I'll bring everything, and cook."
"You know that I can cook, and I do shop." He sighed but smiled as Malik crawled out from under the coffee table.
"Really Mare, and here I thought you lived on take out and donuts." A laugh came through and Marik had a less than pleased look on his face.
"You're so funny, did you come up with that all by yourself or did you have help!" He replied amused, at the mumbling that was heard.
"You wait I'll make you regret being so mean to me." The voice hissed at him.
"Bye!" Marik said.
"Mare! Don't you…" He laughed as he hung up the phone.
Marik looked down as his leg was bumped into to see Malik sitting on his rear and rubbing his head. "Come on I need help." Marik picked up Malik and helped him into his jacket and his own, he placed a soft blue hat on Malik's head and the blue mittens attached to his jacket, Malik pulled them onto his small hands then waved them about looking at them. Marik opened the door and walked out, Malik close behind him.
Marik walked around the back of the house, Malik jogged after him. He opened the door and walked in pulling out shovels, and a few other things, Malik carried a small gardening shovel. "Malik that's to plant flowers in the..." Marik smirked and let him go, they walked back around the front. "We'll shovel that walkway and driveway." Marik placed everything down. Malik walked to the end of the path and went wide-eyed, he pointed and looked over his shoulder to get Marik's attention.
"What's up?" Marik walked up to him and placed his hand on top of Malik's head in a pat and looked to where he was pointing. Kids in the street had hoses out and running water all over the road as they played ice hockey, most of the time they fell over, but got back up again. "They do this all the time, fun isn't it?" Marik looked down, Malik bit his lip, it did he had never seen anyone his age or older than him before, but these ones looked too old to play with and they were rough as the collided with each other to get the puck.
Marik went back to what he was doing and Malik helped him forgetting about the teens. After a while they stopped and had lunch then continued, they finished off with salt, spreading it all over the path and walks ways. "You know with this snow we could do a snow man." Marik said, Malik frowned and didn't know what it was.
Marik gathered the snow making the balls, with Malik's help, they walked back inside and grabbed a few things then came back out and placed the needed clothes on the snow man making him look complete and fitting the part. Malik smiled, as he looked it over, so this was a snowman, Malik spread his arms wide he just found a new favorite thing.
A car pulled up, Malik hid behind Marik as the door opened and Elder got out. "Nice day to be out." She closed the door behind her the opened the back one.
"Hey, you know I'm not working today." Marik approached her.
"Oh I know." She pulled out a few bags of food. "Isis called me and said we were having dinner here tonight." As she said that a second car pulled up. "Did you forget that I was having dinner with you tonight!" She half heartily scowled him.
"What? No, I know it just…" He left it hanging in the air, Elder walked up to him and shoved the bags into his arms and chest.
"It slipped your mind."
"You should use a post-it and place it on his forehead." Said a woman with long black hair and blue eyes, tanned skin, a long white over coat, scarf, gloves and long back pants.
"If you're going to be like this then you can go home." Marik added frowning at them. Movement at his leg made him look down, Isis opened the passenger door and helped out an older woman. Marik passed the bags back to Elder and picked Malik up in his arms.
"Malik, this is my partner Elder Hoshi." Malik hid himself within Marik's arms and buried his face into his chest.
"It's okay, we'll get to know each other by the end of the night I'm hoping we could be best friends." Isis walked over with a much older woman arms linked as they walked, the older woman had gray hair and pale skin and blue eyes. Isis stopped at seeing the small child.
"Marik?" she said.
"Meet Malik, I'll explain later" Marik shifted him a little but the boy didn't dare look, the old woman walked up to Marik with aid.
"It's about time you to had a son, what were you doing waiting until I died?"
"Mom we are not married, Elder is my partner."
"That would explain the child Marik." She said as she passed him, Elder hid her giggle behind her hand, but stopped as Marik gave her a look, she shrugged and walked inside. "Elder you really need to put more of your touch into this house, it's too, manly." The old woman was muttering some where in the house.
"I'm working on it." Marik mumbled then looked at Malik as he closed the door. "Malik I want you to meet my family, as it's yours now as well." Malik looked at him, then at Elder who smiled.
"I'm going into to the kitchen to help." She walked around and vanished out of the small entrance hall. Marik placed Malik on his feet helping him out of his outside clothes.
"Do you know what a family is Malik?" Marik asked, the child just stared at him then reached out and grabbed onto Marik's arm and smiled at him. "Malik, I'm going to be here for you for as long as I can, but the people that are coming here, are your family as well, and will do the same for you no matter what, so you don't need to be scared of them, I'm right here with you." Malik stepped forward and Marik hugged him and lifted him up and walked into the living room. "I know that you have had it hard, but not anymore Malik, now that you're with me, we are going to have fun."
Malik nodded his head and looked to be nervous. "Get to know them, you'll see they'll love you." Malik smiled at the words, he had never heard them before but it sounded nice, Marik was nice. A knock on the door and Marik sighed and got up. "Come on lets see who that is." They opened it and there stood a tall well build man with darker tanned skin than Marik, the two gave each other a brief hug. "What are you doing here?" Marik pulled back.
"Last minute change of plans."
"Your home for the holidays?" Marik asked sounding hopeful.
"Yeah got a whole month off."
"Where are you staying?" Marik asked.
"With Isis she sent me a key to her place just in case." He said taking off his jacket. "You got time off?" he gave a knowing smirking.
"Yeah I wonder why?"
"Rishid?" Isis came running in and jumped into his arms in a hug, Malik watched wide-eyed everyone looked so happy to see each other. "You're here!" He placed her back down on her feet.
"Missed me ha?"
"You bet." She smiled "We're starting in the kitchen moms here too." Isis grabbed Rishid's hand.
"Wait who's that?" He pointed to Malik who was standing back and watching them.
"This is Malik, I'll explain everything later." Rishid gave him a look but didn't say anything knowing that Marik always had a good reason to do anything he did in his life.
Marik walked into the kitchen to see his sister and Elder talking as they did the prep work for their meal later on. "Lets help them out." Marik picked up Malik and walked up to them.
Afterwards the women entertained themselves over Malik, patting and hugging him telling him how cute he was, Malik was a little shaken at first, but found the girls to be as nice as Marik had said, he helped them make cookies getting dough and flour all over himself again, Marik talked with his brother their mother helped a little in the kitchen.
The afternoon wore on and the small family sat down to eat, Malik sat right next to Marik, still not wanting to be to far away from him, he was surprised to find everyone getting along so well, as small conversations come up with the adults, Malik looked up as Marik ruffled his hair fondly, laughing at what had been said, Malik gave him a smile and went back to eating.
Afterwards Malik waited at the front of the stove watching the cookies cook and the aroma wafting through the house, as a hand was placed on his shoulder, he jumped a little and looked up into bright green eyes. "Step back a little, they're ready to come out now." Elder moved him back, and pulled the tray out, Isis lifted Malik up onto the counter.
"He's so dirty." Isis's laughed as Elder grabbed a towel and wiped his nose and face.
"I know there's a little boy under here some where?" Malik giggled, but Isis and Elder frowned as no sound came out. Elder shook her head and smiled. "Lets get you into a bath." She picked at a bit of his hair that was clumped with the flour and cookie dough.
Marik walked in and looked over his kitchen. "Was there a war that I missed?" He walked over, Malik held out his arms wanting to be picked up. "You poor child, where you a victim of bad cooking?" Marik smirked as both women whacked him on the arm, Malik's smile got even bigger. "See what I have to put up with Malik."
"Well you can always go without." Isis said.
"Don't worry we were going to clean up." Elder added.
"Yeah but what about this one?" Marik said, Malik giggled.
"It's a bath for him." Elder said reaching out for him, which Malik had no worries accepting the hold.
"Well it looks like you are all getting along." Marik said surprised, that Malik would go so willingly.
"It's the charm, all of us have it but you." Isis added playfully as she followed Elder out of the room and upstairs.
"I'll get him his clothes." Marik said but was stopped by his sister.
"No we can find it." She pushed him back around and gave him a light push back down the stairs and towards the living room.
Elder ran the bath and Isis found his clothes for the night, afterwards the girls sat him on the basin and brushed his hair and dressed him. He was a little reluctant with all the fussing, but didn't mind he liked the women really, their soft touching and patting was gentle, a stroke of the cheek or the pat on the head even the hugs, all of it made him feel like they cared for him in some way. Marik did say that they would love him, these women were different from the ones he knew, and these two wore more clothing and smelt of flowers and berries. But he didn't know any women that loved children, or anyone for that matter… but would these two end up like the rest of them? He gasped and pulled back from them. "What's the matter Malik?" Isis asked as she walked into the room.
Malik all of a sudden couldn't breathe, the air wasn't coming or there wasn't enough. "Malik!" Elder said touching him on the shoulder, Malik pulled back making her let go.
"I'm getting Marik." Isis ran out of the room, she found him talking with Rishid. "Something's wrong with Malik." She said worriedly, Marik jumped up from his chair and ran upstairs to the bathroom.
"Malik!" Marik was standing in front of him he turned to the girls. "There's a bag on the back of Malik's bedroom door get it." Elder ran out a few seconds later she returned with the bag. "It's okay Malik." Marik dug through it and pulled out a small mask and placed it over his mouth and nose, it looked exactly the same as the one he used in the hospital. Malik clung onto Marik's arm shaking. "Just breathe." Marik instructed him and wrapped an arm around Malik and pulled him closer in a hug.
"What's wrong with him?" Elder and Isis asked at the same time, Rishid watched from the doorway.
"His lungs were damaged at one stage, the doctors said they'll come good in their own time, but for now he needs a little help." Marik tightened his hold on the child, and smiled at him. Marik moved the mask as Malik was breathing better than before, Marik picked him up and walked towards the door everyone moved out of his way as Marik walked into Malik's room, the three walked downstairs.
Marik tucked Malik into bed. "Maybe I asked to much of you tonight?" Marik smiled as Malik grabbed his hand and smiled back, he could see the child was tired, "We'll take it more slowly okay." Malik shook his head. "OH I see you like the girls." Again Malik nodded his head biting his lip. "Only because they hug and pat you, 'oh Malik you're so cute!'" Marik mocked them Malik giggled holding a hand over his mouth, but they both stopped and looked over to see Elder standing in the threshold. "Can I say good night?" The young woman asked looking unsure; she held something in her arms.
"It's fine with me… but?" He looked at Malik, who looked at her then Marik then her again as if to make up his mind, the boy hesitated in nodding his head. Marik got up off the bed kissing Malik on top of his head as he walked out of the room.
Elder smiled and walked in and sat down on the edge of the bed.
Marik frowned as Elder had been upstairs for a while now, he stood outside the door leaning on the wall as he listened to Elder reading to the boy, her soft voice rang out on the top floor of the house, Marik smiled as the house seemed to feel warm and full something he hadn't felt since he moved in.
Rishid stopped near him and listened also, "Finding that a family life isn't as bad as what it seems?" His older brother teased.
"Yeah." Marik said a little dazed in his own world. "Could get used to it."
"Really?" Rishid raised an eyebrow Marik was more interested in his work than anything else that the world could offer him.
"With Malik and the right woman to play a mother for him, I could see it… I really could and with a few more kids to be his siblings, give him the really family feel, I could be happy."
"Got that woman in mind for that job?" He said meaning Elder but Marik missed it.
"Yeah." They both looked up as Elder walked out of the room holding the book in her arms.
"Hi." She smiled warmly at them. "He's asleep, poor little guy was tired." She said.
"Thanks Elder." Marik walked passed her a little and looked in to see Malik fast asleep under thick blankets.
"Oh no I enjoyed it." She walked towards the stairs Isis came up.
"I'm taking mom home." Isis said.
"Alright." Marik said as he walked towards her and Elder and Rishid followed them down and to the front door and stepped out onto the porch, the snow fell lightly. Marik gave his mother a hug.
"Marik there are no baby pictures of Malik on your wall, or any wedding ones, why not your not divorced are you?"
"No mom." Marik let it go and Elder just smiled, the older woman turned to Elder.
"You really have to get onto him about it." She scowled her, "a house isn't a home without such things."
"I will Miss Ishtar." Elder hugged the old woman who seemed to he happy with the answers she got.
"Marik, he's a lovely boy." Isis said, "call me if you need anything." She smiled and left walking to the car with their mother, Rishid gave them both a brief hug.
"We'll catch up later," He walked to his car and got in Isis pulled away and drove off with a honk of her horn, Rishid soon followed.
"Oh Marik there is a carnival coming to town… just thought that you might like to take Malik." She said taking a step out into the falling snow Marik followed her down onto the path and walked her to her car.
Even though they were both police officers, and Hoshi could take care of herself, Marik just didn't want to risk it, though the neighborhood didn't pose a threat of any kind… but why ask for it, he opened the door for her as she had unlocked it. "I'll see you at work." She got in and went to close the door but Marik stopped her.
"That carnival? We'd be happy if you came with us."
"I'd like that." She smiled. Marik closed the door and watched as she drove away.
Marik walked into the house he locked the door and walked upstairs. He checked on Malik tucking him in more into the bed, the soft light from the moon shaped nightlight next to the bed.
Marik walked out of the room and back downstairs and placed himself at the computer and got into some work that he needed to get done.
XXXXX
Now we leave this part of town and over to another side, where the clock ticks to the early morning hours, the snow falls harder and the wind howls chilling the white world. And a small poem just something a little fitting… "When all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads; and mamma in her 'kerchief' and I in my cap had just settled down for a long winter's nap. When out on the lawn… a shadow walked by to a window where it was lock picked and the window was opened with care, it was far from old Saint Nick that the children would be dreaming about.
The shadow slid in and closed the window again, and scanned the room, before moving across the room into the next he stopped every now and then listening watching, before moving yet again staying in the shadows at all times, the shadow stealthily moved into the kitchen.
It grabbed a few apples off the table shoving them into a small bag; the shadow walked around the counters still stopping and listening for movement within the house, and then continued to move towards the fridge. He knelt down in front of it and opened the door the light flooded over the shadow and some of the room, to reveal long white hair that fell in between his shoulder blades and black hard eyes and a grim look of alertness and on edge, a ratted torn gray jacket that was zipped, a quick scan of what was in the fridge before he grabbed a few things, then closed it and went for the pantry, stuffing food that would last into his bag.
He stopped when he couldn't fit anymore into his worn backpack. The shadow swiftly moved to the stairs and climbed them without sound and stopped on the landing to the top floor, he searched the area before moving again, to a bedroom, he froze for a minute at seeing a couple sleeping soundly in their bed, the guy had a book on his face and was snoring loudly the woman had on an eye mask on and a green paste on her face.
He moved to the dresser and opened the jewelry boxes, pulling out what he might get a price for and stuffing his pockets full, then leaving the room. He walked into the bathroom looking though the cupboards finding a few medication bottles. He looked them over placing a few back, he took painkillers and antibiotics that was for one of the house members must be taking for a cold or something. He placed them into his other pocket they had to help, he got a sense of panic and urgency that he had been gone to long and needed to get back right away.
He walked out going back down stairs to the window that he had entered in through and climbed back out into the freezing air. He gritted his teeth together to stop them from chartering from the cold, his jacket stopped just above his bare knees and well worn shoes.
He slung the bag over his shoulder as he stalked through the streets, passing nightclubs and the stray drunk that made a comment as he passed by, he pulled his jacket more around his thin frame and kept going.
He stopped as something got his attention, he looked into a small alleyway to see a man drop something amongst the bins, and he slowly walked in warily. His dark eyes sweeping over the narrow path and walls around him, he stopped as the man stood up, he jumped back into the shadows so he wouldn't be seen.
The man looked around for a few minutes before walking away, the small figure came out of the shadows, and walked towards what the man had left behind, as he approached he saw a young girl with long brown hair face frozen in puzzlement and fear. He knelt down and went to touch her shoulder, but pulled it back and gasped she was. "Hey you!" He spun around to find two police officers standing behind him, he went to get up and run, but he was grabbed and pinned to a wall and his arms pulled behind his back as he was cuffed. "We got you red handed your going to hang for this you freak." The man hissed.
"Let me go!" they both laughed at him as he struggled to get free.
"We've been looking for you, you sick pervert." They dragged him out and he fought them all the way out even when they shoved him into the car.
"I didn't do anything!" He yelled at them, but was ignored as the car door slammed in his face, this couldn't be happing he had to get home.
XXXXXX
Marik woke up to the sound of his phone ringing, he rolled onto his side and grabbed the clock that read six am, movement got his attention he looked over his shoulder to find Malik yet again sleeping soundly next to him, the phone rang out he reached over and picked it up.
"Marik we have the killer, the Prostitute killer, found him disposing of a body early this morning, got him and the dead girl." It took a few minutes for it to register in his sleep-fog mind.
"What?… I-I'll be right there don't do anything until I get there." He got up. "Malik get up, we're going out, get dressed." Marik grabbed his clothes and what he needed, and rushed into the bathroom.
Malik dressed himself he was picked up and carried to the front door as Marik dressed him in his outside clothes. "We're going to my work for a bit." He was picked up again, and taken outside, the wind bit into him despite the warm clothing he tried to hide himself in Marik's chest to get away.
Malik yawned as he was placed into his seat and Marik got into the drivers side, he started the car, he put his hand on the passenger side seat and had his top half turned to look out the back window, he glanced at Malik. "Sorry for the rude awakening." Malik just gave him a smile and settled for watching everything outside his window; they sped off down the road.
TBC
Just a note people, that I know very little about snow, I know that it's white and it's cold, I have never seen it but for in the movies, it doesn't snow where I live, and doesn't get that cold either, at Christmas time here it is so hot that we have water fights, stay in doors with air conditioners on. On another note still more to come any thoughts just R&R