Melting

Chapter 15

Malik sat down in the diner where Ashley worked. He'd been coming here for the last three days, breakfast and lunch, hopeing to see Ashley. So far he hadnt run into her. He hadnt seen her since they went out to the bar. He really liked her and wanted to ask her how serious things were between her and Kaiba. If he was correct, things were tense and he could easily steal her away from him... And he had to remember the deal he had just made a few days ago... The Theif King was going to help as well.

Ashley walked into the diner from the back entrance. "Ashley, Your stalker is here again." Missy said as she came into the back from the front. "He's sitting in in there for the 6th time this week. I think hes hopeing to run into you."

Ashley looked out front and sighed. "I'll serve him today, i guess, I cant keep hideing in the back here from him." Ashley grabbed and apron and headed out front. grabbing a menu on her way. "Why do you keep coming here?" She asked as she set down the menu.

Malik looked up at Ashley stunned at what she had just said, she knew he was here all the other days and hadnt come out?. His hopes dropped a little. "To see you, of course!" He said with a smile. It was starting to look like he'd have to ask Akefia to get Seto out of the way.

"Look, I dont know what happened between us that night at the bar, but it cant happen again, Im in a relationship, Im not a cheater." Ashley said firmly. "We can be friends. Thats all."

"Very well." For now... He thought. "In that case then, as a friend id like to order a coffee and a clubhouse on brown." He smiled up at Ashley.

Ashley smiled. "Ok then, I will be back with your coffee in a minute."

Malik reached down and grabbed his cell.

messege sent : Akefia.'We need to talk... tonight. come by the museum 6pm.'

His phone beeped and he looked down at the screen.

messege received: 'See you soon... :) '

Seto was sitting in the livingroom looking over the classifieds, "Who'd want to hire me... most of these companies i owned at one point." He threw the paper down. He decided he was going to wait until Ashley got home and then ask her about that employment office she went threw. He looked around the house. Hed already tidied the place and there was nothing else to do but wait until Ashley got home so he decided to have a nap for an hour then walk and meet her at work.

6pm...

Malik stood in the semi dark Egypt exhibit waiting for Bakura. He was stareing off in the distance when Bakura creeped out of a shadow. "What was so important you calledme here again?" He asked.

"I need Seto Kaiba out of the way, breaking them up isnt going to work."

"Your asking me to kill some one?" Bakura smirked.

"No... I dont know... just get rid of him." Malik sighed.

"Very well." Bakura melted back into the shadows and vanished.

Malik sat in silence, had he just ordered someones death? He shivered, turned then left the exhibit. only time would tell.

Seto was waiting outside the cafe when Ashley walked out. "Hi," He greeted and walked over to her.

Ashley smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. "How was your day?" She asked

"I bought a paper, looked for a job." He said.

"Find anything you liked?"

"Nope..." He laughed, "I think its going to be a long proccess for me finding a job.."

"Ya, i understand." Ashley smiled. "So, i made a nice amount of tips today at work, did you want to go see a movie?"

"Id love to." Seto smiled and they walked in the direction of the movie theater.

Rae and Ryou sat on the couch in her apartment, eating popcorn and watching destination truth reruns. It was a marathon on OLN and they had already been watching for 6 hours. "What time is it?" Rae asked and stretched, it was a commercial break and she planned on running to the bathroom.

"Its almost 9pm." Ryou stretched and yawned.

Oh my god, really?" rae asked, coming out of the bathroom and heading to the kitchen to get a glass of water. "We are going to have to take a break from the marathon and get some planning done." Rae said as she came back into the living room. "We cant go to the wedding planner tomorrow completely empty handed." She smiled and kissed her fiancee. She was carrying a notebook she had grabbed off the kitchen table.

"Whats that?" He asked.

"Its 'The Book'." Rae laughed at his look of terror. "Dont worry, I only need your opinions on a few things."

"Like what?"

"Number of guests, budget, you can help pick the venue or location of our wedding, food choices. See, not a long list." She smiled.

Akefia steped out onto the empty side street and waited for his contact to show up.

"You the guy?" A low voice said from across the alley.

"Yes." Akefia answered.

"What can I do for you?"

"I need this device, built to those specks and brought back here in three days. A man will be here to pick it up and give you your pay." Akefia said.

"Yes sir, but three days? Impossible!"

"Make it happen!"

"Yes sir!"

Bakura melted into the shadows before the man even knew he was gone.

Phase 1 was complete...