Well, hi!
This chapter hasn't changed much since the original (nowhere near as much as the previous two), but I hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I don't own Yu Gi Oh. Obviously.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Ryou woke on the fourth electronic chime of his alarm clock, the image of the wild haired man fading from his eyes. It was 8.00am and despite the watery sunlight seeping through the window, the winter chill was evident in the small room. Ryou was laying there under the duvet, coming back to life slowly, when all the emotions of the previous few weeks filled him from head to toe, like he was sinking into a warm bath.
He allowed himself to grin into his pillow, relishing the sensation of being happy for a change. He knew he was going to get a grilling from his mother because of his lateness last night, but this didn't faze him at all. All he could think about was Malik.
Malik, with his permanent grin and boundless energy.
A friend.
Ryou clambered out of bed, stretching, shivering when his bare skin was exposed to the cold air. Catching sight of his reflection in the mirror, he laughed quietly. His long white hair was a tangled mess after a whole night tossing and turning, caught tight in the hold of his recurring dream. As usual, he wandered into the bathroom to have his shower. Under the hot water, he always felt his most relaxed. His thoughts wandered aimlessly. He would normally spend the day drawing, painting or reading. It was a while since he'd been out at the weekend to do anything other than grocery shopping. When his father visited once in a while the family of three would go out to a restaurant or hotel for dinner, but these were occasions Ryou would rather forget. His parents would spend the evening eating ridiculously expensive dishes and discussing Ryou as though he wasn't there. But today, he would be doing something fun for a change.
The previous few weeks had been the best weeks of his life. Having Malik in school had changed everything. He no longer sat alone in lessons or at lunch. He had someone to talk to when Math got too boring, someone to share his annoyance at a difficult assignment or lost stationery. To anyone else, it would seem like the most mundane thing in the world, but Ryou had learned not to take anything for granted, especially when it involved friendship.
But the best thing of all was the fact that people had stopped feeling bad for him. It was like Malik was a switch that turned off the dripping tap of pity. Instead, people were jealous, or curious.
It had been funny, the first time Ryou realised what an effect Malik was having on people. It was Malik's second day in school, and the pair were sitting on the benches outside the canteen in an attempt to keep out of the wind.
"Hey, Ryou. Ryou!"
Ryou looked up from his sandwiches. "Yes?"
"Those girls are staring at us. Are they your stalkers or something?"
"Don't be paranoid." Ryou glanced up and was surprised to see that the girls really were staring at them. They turned away in a fit of giggles when they realised he'd seen them.
"Well?" Malik asked, looking for answers from behind his somewhat windswept bangs.
"I don't know. Maybe they fancy you."
"Well, that's too bad for them. I don't play for their team."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You're okay with that, right?" Malik asked half-jokingly, as if the idea that Ryou was anything but okay was ridiculous.
"I-Of course! I mean, it would be a bit hypocritical if I wasn't..." Ryou trailed off as he realised what he'd just said.
"Oh! You too, hmm? I'm guessing no one knows."
"No. I actually didn't mean to tell you either, but I have a bad case of verbal diarrhoea."
"What, did you think I would report you?" Malik laughed, shoving Ryou playfully.
"No. It's just...please don't tell. If this ever gets back to my parents, they will actually disown me."
Malik winked, "Your secret is safe with me."
"Good. You know, those girls are still staring at you." Ryou pushed his fringe out of his eyes, feeling self conscious under their gaze.
"They're not very subtle, are they?" Malik waved at them and laughed when they turned away.
They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes. Then Malik asked the question they had both been thinking;
"How long do you think this is going to last?"
"Unless you do something truly disgusting, forever." Ryou decided.
"Hmm...do you think they would leave me alone if I dated Mr Lawrence?"
An image of their bristly, somewhat overweight Maths teacher popped into Ryou's mind.
"Ew. Don't even say that! My eyes are burning."
Malik laughed again, the sound infectious.
"Malik, you've spoiled my innocence."
"Uh-oh. Sorry."
"Ryou!"
Ryou jumped. He soon realised that he had been standing there, naked and daydreaming, for about half an hour!
"Ryou! Hurry up!" His mother barked.
He got dressed quickly and rushed downstairs, tying his damp hair up as he went.
His mother sat there at the end of the dining room table, the picture of perfection. Her hair perfectly sculpted into a midnight black bob, each nail gleaming and manicured, dressed in a formal jacket and skirt. At that moment her face was one of irritation. Ryou awkwardly smoothed his shirt, feeling woefully inadequate.
"Ryou. This is not a good start to the day. We are going to be discussing your... tardiness yesterday over breakfast." She folded her arms and indicated for Ryou to sit. A solitary grapefruit half sat there on a plate. A substantial breakfast indeed. Not.
Ryou's good mood evaporated. Being late to any meal was just asking for a lecture, and being late to an already- planned lecture was plain stupid. His chances of getting out today were shrinking by the minute and they had been slim to start with. If he'd been going to an art gallery or to the theatre it would have been different, but going out to see Malik? Somehow, Ryou guessed his mother would be less than pleased with that idea.
"Ryou. As you know, I have very high expectations of you. A boy of your intelligence is perfectly able to get a good, highly regarded job, a nice house and to marry a nice woman and have a family. But gallivanting off to God-knows-where for hours on end is no way to help yourself!" she said angrily.
"I was only gone for a few hours."
"Gone where, exactly?"
Ryou stared at the floor. He'd been at Malik's, but if he told her he'd been on the other side of Domino, he'd be grounded for life. "I was...at a friend's."
"Boy or girl?"
"Boy."
His mother sighed dramatically. "Good. You're much too young for dating."
Ryou didn't bother to argue with that. He wasn't interested in dating anyway; he was just glad she hadn't realised he was gay.
"What did you think you were doing, boy? Out in Domino alone!" she said despairingly.
"I'm seventeen years old! Some people live alone at this age!"
"You have no idea what you're saying. Those are poor, disadvantaged creatures with dysfunctional families. You don't know what's out there."
Ryou flinched. He would die if Malik ever heard his mother talking like this. She was a snob of the worst kind. A pitying, self righteous snob.
"Paedophiles!" she cried, suddenly standing up and slamming her bejewelled hands down on the table. "Perverts, rapists, thieves, drunks, freaks and liars! That's what's out there!"
Ryou was stunned into silence. How can my mother be so ignorant?
"I'm only trying to protect you, Ryou." she stood up, gesturing to a silent maid, who immediately sprang up to clear the table. Ryou scowled as his untouched grapefruit was whisked away.
"Piano practise at ten, Ryou. Don't forget. I'll be in my office." His mother said, before walking out.
But Ryou had other plans.
10.05.
Ryou walked his fingers up and down the piano a few times. The piano was one of the few advantages of being rich. It was a grand piano, antique and always perfectly in tune. It made any pianist sound good, even Ryou, whose fingers were only good for wrapping around a pencil, it seemed. Although today, he didn't intend to do any practise.
It was Malik's birthday, and Ryou wasn't going to miss it. Malik had insisted that he didn't need presents, but soon realised that Ryou could be just as stubborn when he wanted to be.
Ryou took his iPod from his pocket and the speakers from the other side of the room. He had recorded himself playing a few days before, and now he played this little composition from the iPod. It had enough mistakes in to make his mother believe he was there practising, rather than out 'gallivanting'. He snuck over to the door and slipped out, closing the door as quietly as possible and tiptoeing down the stairs. He met the maid on the last flight. She gave him a questioning look.
"Do me a favour, Gail." Ryou whispered. She nodded and leaned in closer.
"Don't tell Mother I'm gone. Okay?"
She nodded again. Ryou had covered for her many times; it was the least she could do. Besides, they got along well, which was more than could be said for herself and Ryou's mother.
Ryou then dashed down the last few steps and through the spotless kitchen. He was about to leave when he remembered Malik's present.
Damn!
He looked around for something he could take, and spotted his mothers designer handbag lying on one of the gleaming marble counters. He walked over to it, feeling an idea forming. He knew that the leather purse in the bag would be stuffed with money, and she wouldn't miss £20 if he took it.
It's for a friend, he told himself, as he prised open the silver clasp and pulled out a note. Sorry, Mum.
Then he grabbed his coat and was out the door, knowing he was disappointing his parents again.
It was midday by the time he arrived at Malik's house. For a while he was scared he'd forgotten the address, but the flats were easy enough to find. Once inside, he felt his happy bubble swelling again. Knowing Malik was only a few metres away only served to enhance his glee. He bounded up to the door he remembered as the right one -21B- and knocked.
And waited.
After a few minutes out in the corridor, Ryou began to wonder what was going on. After all, he didn't know Malik well.
He could be out. We didn't exactly agree a time to meet.
He could be in there with his boyfriend...or something.
Ryou banged on the door again. He leaned his ear against the door to try and hear if anyone was in there, when...
"I'm here, already! Wha-! Ryou!" Malik yelped. Ryou was now sprawled on the floor, having been leaning on the door when Malik opened it.
"What are you doing?" Malik asked bemusedly
Ryou shook his head, embarrassed. "Don't worry."
Malik beamed "I won't! Sorry about the wait, I was in the shower. The hot water came on, at last. I thought you were Aaron, so I decided he could wait. If I'd known it was you..." The pair made their way across the living room. Malik obviously had just gotten out of the shower, because his wet hair was leaving a trail of drips across the carpet. He turned to Ryou, smiled and hugged him.
"Erm...happy birthday!" Ryou said, suppressing a laugh. Malik was so random.
"I didn't think you were coming!" Malik said, letting go of him.
"I had to walk all the way over here."
Malik looked shocked. "You walked? But you must have a car."
"My parents don't exactly know I'm here... Overprotective, you see."
Malik nodded glumly. "I'm not exactly educated company, am I?"
"I'd rather spend time with you than any of the snobs my mother would have me know." Ryou said vehemently. He hated his mother for making Malik upset, however indirectly.
"Anyway," Ryou said brightly, changing the subject. "What do you want for your birthday?"
"I want..." Malik paused, thinking.
"Yes?"
"Well... I want my belly pierced."
Ryou blinked. "What?"
"Don't you think it's boring?" Malik indicated his bare stomach.
"Erm...no?" Ryou blushed furiously.
"Well, I do." Malik said. "I need accessories, else I may perish!" he said theatrically, pretending to swoon on the faded couch.
"Consider it done." Ryou said, trying not to laugh at Malik, who had "passed out" and was now muttering about earrings.
Malik sat up suddenly, his hair flinging a trail of water across his jeans. "What?" he asked incredulously.
"I'm serious. Your birthday present from me."
Malik shook his head vigorously. "I can't let you do that. I mean, you barely know me! Plus I won't be able to pay you back."
"That's what presents are. Free. And anyway, you can pay me back."
"How?" Malik said, raising one eyebrow in a way that was uncannily like his sister.
"By being my friend."
"Let's not go there again." Malik said, remembering their awkward first meeting. "But okay. You've convinced me."
And that was how Ryou found himself standing outside a tattoo parlour. It was a rambling building wedged in between some old terraced houses, the brickwork artistically smothered in glossy ivy.
"Are you sure about this?" Ryou asked nervously. He was seriously regretting trying to pressure Malik into this. It definitely wasn't the type of shop he would normally be going into.
"Oh, come on! Don't get my hopes up and then chicken out, honey. Please?" Malik was practically bouncing up and down with excitement, any inhibitions he had well and truly hidden.
Ryou stared up at the building. It was so old it seemed to be leaning on the houses alongside it, and looked as though a particularly hefty client would have it teetering and shaking with every step.
"Come on!" Malik was at the top of the steps leading to its front door. Ryou sighed and braced himself for whatever was inside.
It was nothing like he'd expected. It seemed pretty normal. There were many intricate tattoo designs on the walls, and Ryou couldn't help but admire the artistic skill that must have gone into them. Malik, however, was much more of a "do first, ask questions later" sort of person. He'd chosen his piercing within 20 seconds, and afterwards all but skipped over to the desk in the corner, where someone appeared to be sleeping, head down amongst all the scraps of paper, broken pencils and half empty mugs.
"Excuse me?" Malik said, leaning down and tapping the guys tan arm.
"Wha..." The person grunted and sat up. Ryou stared. This person looked alarmingly like the man from his dream. In fact, they could have been twins. The same wildly spiky blonde hair and dark tan. This person seemed to be waking up as the minutes passed. He yawned widely and stretched like a cat.
"Sorry. Late night, if you know what I mean." He slumped back in his chair, eyeing both Malik and Ryou and running a hand through his platinum bangs.
"So," he said, adopting a more businesslike manner. "What can I do for you?"
"Can I get my belly done?" Malik asked, eyes shining.
"Sure thing. If you have the money." The man said, holding out a hand.
Malik handed over the money Ryou had given him, mouthing "thank you". Ryou shook his head, smiling.
"Oh. So you're the money behind this little operation? Defying the parents, are you?" the man asked Ryou, smiling slyly.
Ryou was surprised that such an idle looking person could read the both of them like an open book. There was clearly more to him than Ryou had first thought.
The man turned to Malik. "You can go in now. Akefia's waiting."
Malik grinned excitedly. "Wish me luck!" he said to Ryou, before turning and vanishing through a door next to the desk.
Silence descended upon the waiting room. Ryou wandered over to look at some of the earrings on display. They were all pretty, sparkling in the winter sun, but Ryou's fear of blood made them lose some of their appeal.
Still, he found himself saying "Do you think I should get one?" to the man behind the desk.
"No."
Ryou was surprised. "Why not?"
The man smiled wryly. "They're addictive." He turned his head, and Ryou saw that one of his ears had been pierced all along its edge. Ryou found himself counting the jewels.
"Eight?" Ryou asked. "That's a lot of needles." He shuddered at the very thought of having eight pieces of metal stapled in his ear.
"You don't want to spoil that pretty face of yours."
"You can't talk. I'm not the only one here with a pretty face." Ryou said boldly.
He then paused, shocked at himself. Although there was no denying that the man was gorgeous. His eyes were a dark, dark violet, indigo in some lights. They were heavily lidded and slightly sunken, which seemed to increase his beauty rather than detract from it. He had a wide mouth and harsh jaw line and what Ryou could see of his body was muscular but at the same time, he was slender, like a runner.
More interesting than that, however, was the hint of detachment in his face, like the feeling you get from looking at someone who isn't quite there, someone who isn't on the same wavelength. Until a few weeks before, Ryou knew he would have emanated the very same aura. But still, Ryou was beginning to regret saying anything at all.
The most beautiful people were often the most dangerous.
"I'm Marik. Who are you?" The man said suddenly, looking intently at Ryou. Ryou felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. This wasn't just a dreamer sitting here. This was something more.
"I'm Ryou...um...nice to meet you!" Ryou said, taking a slight step back.
"Ryou...nice name." Marik said, leaning back on his hand, his lazy smile returning.
Ryou smiled warily, knowing something wasn't quite right.
And judging by his rapidly beating heart, all his instincts agreed with him.
Unless, of course, that wasn't from fear.
Ryou didn't like that particular idea.
Malik stood in the back room. It was pleasantly warm, unlike the cold waiting room and the counters were strewn with interesting-looking sheets of paper. He glanced around, trying to find 'Akefia'.
"Afternoon," said a deep, velvety voice from the stairs in the corner of the room. Standing on these stairs was a tall, muscled figure. Malik stared.
"So you want to get a piercing? Bad choice. They're addictive, you know. Just take a look at Marik and you'll see what I mean." Akefia walked around the room, gesturing to chair that looked uncomfortably like a dentists. But Malik couldn't think about this. All he could think about was Akefia. He shuffled over to the seat and sat down, eyes still trained on Akefia.
"So, what piercing did you choose?" Akefia asked, shoving some of the papers aside into a messy pile.
Malik opened his hand to reveal what looked like an amethyst.
"Nice. Matches your eyes." Akefia said, smiling. Malik swore his heart stopped at that.
Akefia was gorgeous. Unfeasibly, unreasonably, and unfairly stunning. He had men and women alike staring at him in awe wherever he went, and Malik was trapped like a butterfly in a spider's web. The more he tried to get free, the more entwined he became.
He didn't even feel it when Akefia stapled the amethyst into his navel. He was hooked on Akefia's every word, his every movement.
He'd fallen head over heels in lust.
"What's your name?"
"Huh?"
Way to go. Now he'll think you're an idiot, as well as a staring pervert.
"Your name." Akefia smirked slightly. He was quite aware of the effect he was having on his young customer and rather liked it, the way a cat likes to play with a mouse before pouncing.
"It's Malik." Malik glanced down at his stomach, in a vain attempt to stop himself staring.
"Malik. Wanna come over on Monday night? We could call it a date."
Malik's jaw dropped. "What, here?"
"I live up there," Akefia gestured towards the stairs.
"You're...you're serious?"
Akefia smiled. "You're cute. And you're of age. What's to stop you having a bit of fun?" He didn't sound remotely sleazy as he said this, just extremely tempting. His voice was like treacle, Malik noted. Smooth and entirely irresistible.
"I...I don't..."
"I would invite you in now, but that wouldn't be fair on Marik."
Malik had no idea who Marik was, but felt a spark of annoyance that he was preventing him from getting Akefia right there and then.
He knew he really shouldn't.
But he also knew he wasn't going to turn down an offer like that.
I actually love Malik. Very much.
Just to say, I have actually finished Chapter 7 of this, so I am quite far ahead of myself. I know it won't last long, but I'm gonna enjoy it while I can!
If you spot any inconsistencies (especially with time e.g. 'days' instead of 'weeks') please say! Anyone who read Inspiration will know that the timescale has changed ^o^ .
Reviews?
Thank You! Kal277 xxx