I want this done before the year is over. I know I've said that before, but I have roughly five chapters left. And I want to say I finished one chapter story! Let's go!
I know I said I'd only use the Japanese names from now on, but I have a headcanon that Ryuji goes by the nickname Duke. So that's why I have that there. I have a big YGO headcanon on my tumblr. My screenname is acornerofthesky and my headcanons are under "writings." Feel free to check them out!
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO.
Chapter 11
All That Glitters
Something felt off the moment Malik crossed the portal. He turned to go back but the shadows sealed it off. Sighing, he squeezed his eyes for a moment, trying to get over the sickness that overcame him and the brightness of the sun. He opened them slowly and looked down, noticing something very odd.
He was transparent.
"That shit!" he shouted, his voice echoing with each word. He should have known better than to trust a demon. He sighed angrily and glanced around, noticing he was on top of the airship, the same place where he was originally banished to the Shadow Realm. He looked around for Ryou—or would it be Bakura?—but found himself alone. Cross from being tricked and sluggish from the journey and a lack of a body, he turned and descended down the stairs, hoping to find someone.
It was odd travelling as a disjointed soul. Last time he was like this he was attached to the Millennium Ring so he was anchored. Now, he didn't know if a gust of wind could rip him away. Did he even dare to use his Shadow Magic? Would the shadows take him back? He stopped in his room, glad that it was empty. He looked down at his hand. Did he dare to use his Shadow Magic? Slowly, he flipped his hand, palm facing downward, and flicked his wrist out. A sliver of a shadow escaped in his motion and he smiled in relief before an unbearable pain split his head in half. He groaned in agony, doubled over, and clutched his skull.
"Shadow Magic is a no," he breathed heavily and shakily stood back up. Malik took a few breathes before exiting the room, decided that if no one was on board they would be on top of the tower he saw from the top of the ship. His ears strained against the silence. He neared the tower and saw stairs that lead to the top.
"Too cheap for an elevator, Kaiba?" he muttered, but started to climb. Everyday tasks became more arduous. By the third flight, Malik was completely out of breath.
"Damn this… lack of… a body," he cursed between breaths, but trudged forward. Halfway to the top, he started hearing familiar sounds; cheering, the electronic chime of summoning a monster, and machinery groaning. He quickened his pace though his lungs and legs protested.
He covered his eyes when he reached the top, the sudden brightness of the sun blinding him for a moment after walking in the dark. The blindness cleared and he smiled the most genuine and wide smile he had for a while.
The pharaoh was dueling Kaiba. Anzu, Jou, Honda, Serenity, and Duke were cheering from the sidelines. Mokuba was standing by his brother giving him words of encouragement. Ryou stood off in a corner, a plate of food in his hand. He was too busy in his food to even notice Malik—Can any of them even see me? He wondered—and was shoveling mashed potatoes in his mouth. The Millennium Ring hung around his neck. He looked around, but didn't see any sign of his dark or his sister.
It was the pharaoh who noticed him first. He was looking at Kaiba when his eyes slide over to the door. His jaw dropped and he almost dropped the card he was holding. "Malik?"
Everyone else looked over, their faces a mixture of shock, relief, and confusion. Ryou looked up from his food, smiling at his friend before his face fell.
"Wh-what happened?" Anzu looked at him with shock. "Why are you transparent?"
"Malik?" Ryou ran over to his friend, careful not to drop his plate. "Where's your body?"
"I was hoping you would know," he answered, still trying to catch his breath. "It's kinda hard moving around like this. Where's my sister and brother?"
"Still on the ship," Honda said, walking over to him. "Are you like a ghost or something?"
"No," Malik watched the pharaoh leave the dueling platform much to Kaiba's protestations. "I'm a soul. Where is my body? Where is my darker half?"
"It was odd," the pharaoh said, a slight edge in his voice. "I was getting ready to duel Marik when suddenly the Millennium Items started acting up. All three began to glow and they shot a beam of light at him. He collapsed and Ishizu took him down to the blimp. And now you show up." Despite being much shorter than Malik, the pharaoh was able to give him a look that could rival Bakura's. "Doesn't that sound suspicious to you?"
Malik tried not to shout. He thought Ishizu explained everything to the group. Yet the pharaoh was still angry with him? He looked over at Ryou and his face said everything; say nothing about Azazel.
"We found a portal out," Malik explained, keeping his voice even. "We started looking the moment we were banished there. I guess the moment that my soul passed through his soul was sucked in. Like a substitute."
The pharaoh stared at him for a moment longer and nodded. "Your story does check out. Ryou said about the same thing, however," he turned to Ryou and pointed at the Millennium Ring, "is Bakura there too?"
Ryou frowned and closed his eyes, concentrating. His face paled and he sighed, "Yes."
"Why wasn't he sent to the Shadow Realm then too?"
"He was," Ryou said, clearly not happy about talking about his dark. "But we were both sent there at the same time. Two checked in, two checked out. You know," he shuffled his feet, "you need light and dark."
The pharaoh nodded his head knowingly while the rest of the gang exchanged confused looks. "We should go find your sister then and get you back in your body."
Malik grinned. "I'd like that."
/…\
Ryou nearly passed out from hunger when he stepped through the portal. He stumbled forward, trying to figure out his surroundings. He was in one of the rooms in the airship, but it was just an extra. Trying not to fall over, he walked out the door and looked around.
"Hello?" he called weakly. "Anyone there?"
With no answer back, he exited the room, hell bent on finding a kitchen before anyone else. He located the kitchen and raided the fridge, eating anything and everything he could reach. Cheese and apples, grapes and leftover baked fish, milk and pickles… Ryou didn't care about the combinations of food he put together. He grabbed a bunch of stuff and threw some pots and pans on the stove; within ten minutes Ryou made himself a full course meal. He heaped mashed potatoes, fried chicken, broccoli, stuffing, and a salad on the biggest platter he could find, grabbed silverware and left the kitchen, almost running into Ishizu and Roland carrying Marik.
"Ryou!" Ishizu exclaimed. "Ho-how are you here? I thought you were banished to the Shadow Realm? How did you get out? Where is my brother?"
"We fub a bortful," Ryou swallowed and repeated, "we found a portal. And it led us here. What happened to him?" Ryou put down his platter a bit reluctantly and helped the elder Ishtar and Kaiba's henchman carry Marik into the closest, room Ishizu explaining what happened as they walked.
"I'm not sure if it's Marik of Malik though," she said.
Ryou looked at the passed out form of his friend—hopefully it was his friend—and tilted his head. Marik's hair stood up at gravity defying angles and Malik's laid flat besides his cowlicked bangs. However, the person in front of him had neither hairstyle; it was at an awkward in between stage of terrible bedheadedness.
"It looks like a transition stage," Ryou commented. "When we passed through the portal Malik must have gone straight to his body and the two must be having an internal war."
Ishizu wrinkled her forehead and took her brother's hand. "Be strong, Malik."
"I think he'll be okay," Ryou smiled at Ishizu. "Where is everyone else?"
"Duel tower," Roland answered. "Yugi and Marik were just about to battle when he passed out. Mr. Kaiba challenged Yugi to a second duel. You are welcome to go join them."
Ryou gave his friend one last look before bidding Ishizu and Roland goodbye. He grabbed his platter of food and walked toward the exit door when a glimmer caught his eye from one of the open rooms. He backtracked and looked in the door. His Millennium Ring lay haphazard on the bedside table, glowing slightly. He entered the room and looked down at it. He didn't need to touch it to know that his darker half was there. He was almost tempted to just leave it there and come back for it later, but he rubbed his chest where it usually sat and found he felt naked without it. Gingerly, he picked it up and pulled the cord around his neck with one hand.
In the back of his mind he heard a door open and close.
/…\
Bakura should've known that the moment he stepped through that portal he would've been dragged back to the Millennium Ring. He grumbled, pacing around his soul room. He couldn't sense Ryou anywhere. Miffed, he projected himself outside the Ring.
The Ring sat on a bedside table in one of the rooms in the airship. He looked out the window, but was on the wrong side of the ship to see anything except for ocean. The sound of footsteps outside the door made him disappear back in the Ring, but he felt that familiar pull when his light was near.
"Yadonashi," he called.
The steps backtracked and he saw through the Eye it was his host. But Ryou was just looking at the Ring.
"Oh, for bloody sake just put it on," he cawed. "I'll find you if you don't."
After a moment his light looped the cord around his neck and Bakura sighed, almost relieved. The connection with his host wasn't as strong as before… it may be because of the shadows tearing at the invisible strings that connected them… or because Ryou's Shadow Magic was still intact. No matter. Bakura would remedy the problem in the near future.
He opened the door of his soul room and looked across the hall, double-checking that Ryou's door was across. He sniffed in approval that it was and quickly shut the door again, deciding that the best course of action was just to watch for now.
The shocked and delighted reactions of the pharaoh and his friends were almost sickening. Ryou was obviously happy to see his friends, Bakura observed, but he could tell that the pharaoh was a bit skeptical. He glanced through the Eye of the Ring to the Eye of the Puzzle and felt the curious gaze of the pharaoh's little host looking back. Bakura so wanted to be the one to tell the pharaoh of his great escape from the Shadow Realm, but Ryou pulled a safe card, making everything sound so innocent and believable. So Kaiba and the pharaoh continued with their silly duel. Ryou shoveled more food in his mouth. Bakura watched.
However, being back in the "real world" was… different. There was a strange air about it. Almost… stale. He didn't trust that Azazel character from the start, but he did feel back at home… almost. There was something off, and he couldn't put his finger on it.
His thoughts were interrupted when a ghostly figure of Malik stumbled up the stairs.
So that bastard didn't put him directly in his body, Bakura thought. That's… unfortunate.
And of course after becoming boyfriends in the Shadow Realm his host had to rush over to see if his love was okay. Bakura rolled his eyes.
So the pharaoh deserted his duel with Kaiba much to his protestations and his little entourage helped Malik down the stairs, which was a hard project since no one could physically touch him. As they walked, everyone fired questions at them about their time in the Shadow Realm. The pharaoh at first said for them not to bug the Brit and Egyptian because the Shadow Realm is a very scarring place—Oh, like he knows, Bakura scoffed—but after Malik said it was okay they pelted them like rain.
"Did you two stay together while in the Shadow Realm?" Anzu asked.
Malik nodded. "Yes. It was a very slim, very slim, chance that we would even find each other, but the fact that we were able to stick with each other the entire time is a miracle."
"How long were you there?" Jou asked. "Does the time run differently there? It's been three days here."
Ryou and Malik looked at each other and breathed a long, tired sigh.
"It does," Ryou answered. "Time doesn't mean anything. You can only keep track with internal clocks. We were there almost five months."
"Five months?!" the group chimed together.
"I'm so sorry!" Anzu gushed.
"Oh geez," Honda exclaimed.
"Whoa!" Jou gasped.
"Oh no, guys!" Duke gawped.
"No wonder that you two are such good friends now," the pharaoh observed.
Bakura once again rolled his eyes.
Finding Ishizu was painless; she cried over the sight of her brother. Just when she was finished wiping her tears, Odion had awoken and walked into the room, causing her to start crying all over again.
The biggest shock though was when Mai walked into the room. Jou's reaction was the best; he fainted. Mai giggled and rolled her eyes and Ishizu continued to cry.
"If you give me a moment, Sis, I'll hug you," Malik said jokingly. "Where is the Millennium Rod? I think I need it to do this properly."
Ishizu agreed and pulled it out of the back pocket of Malik's body. She offered it to her brother, and her cautiously took it, breathing a sigh as his fingers wrapped around it. He closed his eyes and the Eye of Horus glowed bright on his forehead. Both Maliks began to glow brightly too and the spirit became a mist and flew into the center of the body, the Rod falling to the floor. It took a few moments, but Malik slowly woke up. He blinked a few times and gradually sat up, touching his chest, hair, face, and arms like he was making sure he was real. The smile he gave his sister was almost touching. The three Ishtar siblings hugging each other was the icing on the cake.
Bakura patiently waited in the Ring.
/…\
Malik couldn't even begin to describe the feeling of what it was like to be back in his body. He didn't want to stop hugging his sister and brother. And for the first time in his life, he felt free. Free of the burden of tomb keeping, free from his dark side oppressing him… his was in total bliss, enamored by this new feeling. He couldn't stop smiling.
The talk with the pharaoh was a bit awkward. They walked out in the hallway so he could speak to him privately. When he started to apologize, the pharaoh held his hand up.
"Your sister clearly explained all that has happened to you," he said. "I would like to say sorry for not trusting you when I first saw you today. That was wrong of me."
"My king," Malik replied. "You had every right to be wary of me. Considering what I did in the past, that does not give me a free pass. I was well aware of everything I did."
The pharaoh smiled gently at him. "Yes, but not always of your free will. Like I said, you sister explained everything perfectly. I forgive you, my friend."
"'Friend?'" Malik repeated.
"Of course!" suddenly exclaimed Yugi; Malik tilted his head down further to look at him in the eyes. "I mean, why not? We both love Duel Monsters and from what I've heard your sister say, you seem like a pretty okay guy. So, why not?"
Malik blinked before his face broke into a huge grin. "Why not!" He pointed at the door. "What about them?"
Yugi shrugged. "Anzu is pretty chill about accepting people. Course, I'd still apologize for kidnapping her."
Malik rubbed the back of his neck.
"Honda and Jou… I'd give them another three hours. They should be good by then. And you really didn't do anything to Duke, so I think you're in the clear. Same goes for Serenity, but you did hurt her brother, so be careful.
"I'd be careful with Mai. She doesn't forgive easily."
Yugi's predictions were very accurate.
Anzu was chill, as was Duke. Jou and Honda warmed up to him after a few hours. Serenity was angry for two minutes before forgiving him. Kaiba retreated to his room shortly thereafter and no one saw him once. Mokuba was generally nice to everybody. Mai just avoided him, but he was okay with that. When she wanted to talk to him, she would.
They spent the rest of the afternoon and late into the evening just hanging out, playing charades and mini tournaments of Duel Monsters as well as traditional card games like Spoons and Crazy Eights. It was celebratory party that everyone was okay; the world was no longer in danger. Yugi and his friends accepted Malik into their group and he felt like he belonged. But mostly, it was a bunch of teenagers just being teenagers.
He had the most fun in his entire life.
What made the night even better was Ryou was Ryou. It wasn't the Spirit of the Millennium Ring pretending to be his host; it was a rare occasion where he got to be himself and enjoy life. Malik figured it was because Bakura needed some cooperation time or he was plotting something, but he didn't worry about it. That was an adventure for another time.
The airship set off for the mainland at 8:00 in the morning. Kaiba set off an explosion that destroyed the island. They reached Domino around 11:00. At the docks, Malik showed his back to the pharaoh and told him what was passed down from generation to generation. He and his sister gave the pharaoh their Millennium Items; they had no need for them anymore. He was slightly sad that his Shadow Magic would no longer be as strong, but having the Rod around would be a painful reminder anyway.
The goodbyes were short; Mai forgave Malik and took off. Duke left next, saying he had to work on his game. Lastly, the Ishtars left. Malik told the pharaoh he wanted to be his guide when he came to Egypt. The pharaoh graciously accepted. Finally, Malik pulled Ryou aside.
"So this is it," Malik said.
"I guess so," Ryou replied.
They stared at each other for a long moment before laughing gut hurting laughs.
"Thank you so much for helping me not die," Ryou said.
"Thank you for keeping me sane!"
"I wouldn't have wanted to be trapped in the Shadow Realm with anyone else."
"Well," Malik pointed to the Ring, "minus him. He was a pain in the ass. You know, two's a company but three's a crowd."
Ryou's smile was small. "Don't be a stranger, you hear? Just because you live halfway across the world doesn't mean you can't visit."
"I'll drop in occasionally," Malik promised. "And I will literally drop in. I do still have Shadow Magic. I'll need more time between uses, but I can still us it."
"You know," Ryou began. "I've never had a best friend before."
Knowing where the conversation was headed, Malik beamed. "Me either."
They smiled at each other and hugged before Malik ran off to join his siblings.
:::^:::
Two months passed before Malik realized there was something wrong.
He never noticed it before, but at night when he would go out and look at the stars from their new house, he always thought the sky naturally looked like it was breathing. He asked his sister about it and she gave him the strangest look.
"Malik, the sky is still," she said. "It's space. You're probably just looking at some clouds."
The more he looked at the sky, the less he thought it was clouds.
And Odion was a lot quieter. He was quiet to begin with, but after they got home, he started speaking less and less. Malik was lucky to get two sentences out of him daily. At first he pushed it off that he was traumatized from Battle City, but as the weeks turned into months, the less he thought it was trauma.
What set him over the edge was when Ryou suddenly shadow travelled in his bedroom at 3:00 AM.
"If you see another Ryou," he raved, "he's a fake! Bakura found a way to bend shadows in our world so they look like people!"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Malik believed him. But after ten seconds of thought, he realized "Ryou's" accusations were preposterous because shadows didn't do that and he called the Spirit of the Ring Bakura.
"You aren't Ryou," Malik suspected.
"What?" Ryou exclaimed. "Of course I'm me! What makes you say that?"
"A few things," Malik started inching backwards to his bedside table where he kept his cards. "One, Ryou wouldn't show up unannounced."
"It was an emergency—"
"Two," he was about two feet away, "when Ryou entered the real world again Bakura would have sealed up his Shadow Magic in a heartbeat."
"Well his seal wasn't as strong this time—"
"And three," a foot away, he inched slowly closer; Ryou started slowly nearing him. "Ryou would never called Bakura by his first name." Malik opened his drawer and pulled out his deck, summoning the first card he grabbed. In a flurry of shadows Newdoria growled at Ryou and stood it's ground. Ryou looked aghast at his friend.
"Malik!" he cried. "You don't believe me? And after all we've been through?"
"Sorry 'Ryou,'" Malik said. "I can't take any chances.
A sudden ripping sound caused Malik to look to his right. A small rift was tearing in thin air, like someone was having a hard time shadow travelling. A hand reached up through the hole and the face of Ryou appeared.
"MALIK!" he cried, fear and anger in his voice. "That isn't me! We're still in the Shadow Realm! Spirit was right! Azazel tricked us! Help m—" he was cut off when a tanned hand flew over Ryou's face and pulled him backwards. Malik stared at his own face through the rip.
"Ryou!" the other Malik scolded. "You can't just go and try to shadow travel places! Especially someone who—" the rip closed.
Newdoria looked at Malik for a moment and disappeared in a puff of black smoke.
Malik turned to "Ryou."
"That was weird," he said.
Oh yeah. They were still in the Shadow Realm.
Yeah, I tried to set it up that Azazel did help them, but it was too obvious that they were still there. Oh well. They were convinced anyway.
It must have been a pretty kickass spell if Malik wasn't able to sense all of his Shadow Magic. It's obviously at full power in the Shadow Realm. Murzix is really good though.
Review?
Over and out,
Mahersal
