A/N So. Long time no see huh? Okay, here's my excuse: birthday party on Saturday pushed back my school work which pushed back my writing. And then this chapter refused to write itself easily and -sigh-. I'm sorry. I'll never update this late again.

AU. More tornshipping ship tease than you can shake a stick at.


To us, family mean putting your arms around each other and being there. ~ Babara Bush


Malik sighed. Life kind of sucked.

He passed the money to the cocky shop owner, glaring the whole time.

Bastard, he thought, making profit off a demon invasion. If Bakura were here, he'd just rob you. Or kill you. Probably both.

The man smirked, revealing a gap in his teeth. He dangled the bullets ever so slightly out of Malik's reach.

"I think you should show better manners, kid. Bullets are a rare commodity these days and I gave you a great price."

Malik licked the front of his teeth. (If Ishizu had been here, she would have caught the warning sign and she would have gently tugged on his arm, calming him.)

The shop owner grinned wider, "Say please."

But Ishizu was dead. So…

Like a flash of lightning, Malik snatched the cartridge of bullets from his meaty hands. Before the shop owner could utter another word, Malik punched him in the face. He tumbled over and knocked over a rack of guns.

"Please," Malik said, with a small smile.

"You little punk!" the shop owner shouted, struggling to get up.

"I prefer brat, actually," Malik replied, thinking wistfully of Bakura's nickname for him. Maybe he'd pay the other boy a visit.

"See you around!" Malik called and strolled out of the store. He wasn't scared at all. Honestly – what was the worst that could happen? That gap-toothed bag of flesh would call the police? Ha. Malik was already one step ahead of him – he'd been on the run from the Domino Police for months now.

Malik rounded the corner of the street, the midday sun giving him an extra boost of happiness. (Which he really needed because of the whole 'his life sucked' thing.)

The Domino Police weren't even that big a deal. Bakura was on the run from the Domino Police for ten years and the Pharaoh's guard for seven years.

Malik scowled. He was thinking of Bakura too much. He needed to get more friends. Or just friends, in general. But Malik wasn't the most friendly person and plus the whole demonic invasion, every-man-for-himself, blessed-bullets-are-like-gold type of world he lived in wasn't exactly helping his friendship crusade.

Friendship crusade. Yeah. He was totally going to knit Bakura a sweater with the words FRIENDSHIP CRUSADER on it for his birthday.

Did Bakura even have a birthday?

Damn it all! He was doing it again.

That's it. No more thoughts about Bakura for the rest of the walk home.

In order to achieve this, Malik focused intently on his surroundings, analyzing every little detail. Flowers wilting, bee nest hidden in someone's rundown apartment complex, some idiot walking around with no visible weapon, a kid with white hair running into the alley.

Wait – what?

Was that Bakura? It had to be. Who else would have white hair?

Before Malik had conscious knowledge about it, he ran across the deserted street and into the alleyway. Some part of him (okay, most of him) realized that this was about the biggest no-no when it came to Malik's Guide to Surviving and Kicking Demon Ass. Running into alleys with no idea why had to be at least number seventeen on the list.

Regardless, he was halfway to Bakura when he saw it. Them.

Malik had never seen so many demons in one place. And not the sissy 'I'm going to torture you for kicks' or 'I'm just here to tasty your delicious cinnamon flavored blood!' demons. Shadow demons. Malik had heard rumors about what they looked like, and he knew that was what these things had to be. Tall, humanoid (but so wrong), shaped things built out of billowing darkness. They had slits where eyes should be and they were a dark – darker than blood – red.

There had to be at least twenty of them. Maybe even thirty. Holy hell, what had Bakura gotten himself into?

The white haired boy swung his sword (note to self: ask Bakura where he suddenly got that awesome sword from and why) wildly at them, but the long gash that ran across his back prevented him for getting a good swing at them. Malik cringed. He'd never seen Bakura bleed before. The shadow demons stretched and engulfed each other, becoming one circle of darkness. Bakura, panting, lifted up his sword again to attack – when a tendril of darkness lashed out at him.

The shock of seeing shadows demons in the flesh worn off in an instant. Malik, with the ease that came from doing something for the last three years, loaded his gun and began to fire.

The bullets, of course, hit their target with ease. A bright white light burst from wherever the bullets hit. But unlike the demons Malik was used to, they didn't run or fight back. They just ignored him, continuing on with whatever it was they were doing.

What were they doing? Malik leaned in for a closer look. Bakura was slouched against the wall as a black wisp whipped at him. It made contact with his skin, shimmered a light blue for a second, and then struck him again, this time forcing its way into Bakura's mouth. (Malik had his 'What in the Nine Circles of Hell?' look on his face right about now.) The darkness retreated, pulling along a thin, fluttering, strand of light blue…stuff.

What the hell. What the hell.

"Are you…are you eating his soul?!" Malik shouted at the demons, who finally acknowledged his presence.

So much for rule number seven in Malik's Guide – 'If a demon doesn't notice you, do everything in your power to keep it that way.'

A section of their giant black cloud (which didn't sound too scary when Malik phrased it like that, you know, ignoring the whole soul eating thing) broke off.

Malik licked his teeth and clenched his fist. If he was going to down, he was going to go down fighting. He fired all the bullets he had left in his gun, blowing a huge hole through the middle of the darkness chunk.

Something shiny glinted from the corner of his eye. Bakura's new random sword!

Malik dashed towards it, gripped it tightly, and then swung. He slashed widely, trying to keep them away from the already freakishly white boy who was only getting paler by the minute. But his eyes were still half way open, so he wasn't done yet. They weren't done yet.

The shadow demons had pulled apart from each other into their separate forms, surrounding Malik. He just swung harder. The sword was nothing like his gun. It was heavy and brutal and when it hit the demons it didn't burn through the darkness like his bullets did, it sliced.

Soon there was only ten. Then five. Then none.

Malik collapsed to his knees, gasping for air. But he couldn't help but smirk.

I just took out a whole herd of shadow demons, he thought, I'm awesome.

Before Malik could gloat more, the sword disintegrated in his hands. No, seriously. It faded away into a soft sky blue light, then vanished. That might have freaked him out, but he had more important things to worry about.

Malik turned his attention back to Bakura, who was unconscious and still slumped against the brick wall. Even though his muscles cursed his name, Malik wrapped his arms around Bakura's shoulders and hoisted him. He needed medical care like now, and the only place Malik knew of that would have the right medicine was Bakura's house. After all, if there was one thing that was consistent about Bakura, it was that he was always prepared.

-0-

Bakura was cute when he was unconscious.

Wow. That was a whole string of words Malik never thought he'd say.

But he was. Not in a cute crush kind of way – cute like a stray kitten who was sleeping. His face, instead of twisted into Bakura's normal sneer, was light and serene. Even his hair looked calmer.

As Malik dragged Bakura down the street, he realized he really should have brought his motorcycle with him. That would have made things so much easier. Oh well, at least Bakura didn't live too far away. Just a couple more streets…

Malik collapsed onto the front steps of Bakura's house with a groan. Not that you could really call it a house. Or front steps. It was really just granite wall. But Malik had the key. Bakura hadn't given it to him, of course, Malik had to steal it. Then a few days later Bakura would realize Malik stole it and then he'd make another one. That Malik would steal. Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

Grabbing the key from his pocket, he stuck into the dented rock. The wall gave a small hiss; it opened just a tiny crack. Just as Malik was pushing in, someone pushed him out.

"I thought I told you to stop coming by here, brat," said a cold, flat voice.

Malik took a step back, shaking. No. Freaking. Way.

Bakura (Bakura?!) took a step out of the shadows and into the daylight. His arms were crossed and he looked both bored and annoyed at the same time.

"What the h– how are y– but I just-!"

"You're rambling, Malik."

"Well excuse me, I was too busy getting over the fact that you've suddenly gained the ability to be two different people at once!" Malik shouted, on the brink of hysterics.

Bakura arched a brow.

"What are you talking ab–" Bakura looked down by Malik's feet, "Oh."

"Yeah, 'oh'!" Malik yelled, "Mind explaining to me why you aren't dead?!"

Bakura tapped the not-Bakura with his foot, and then let out a loud chuckle.

"You're such an idiot, Malik."

"W-what?" Malik sputtered, "How dare you! I just saved your life you ungrateful bast-!"

"Correction," Bakura interrupted, "You saved his life."

Both of them turned to stare at the white haired boy lying on the ground, who let out a small moan.

"I can't believe he's still alive," Malik whispered and then he remembered his fury.

"I can't believe I just risked my life for some random stranger!" he screamed, along with some other choice words. Malik yanked the boy by his stupid lying white hair, pushed back Bakura, and dragged the not-Bakura into Bakura's house.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Bakura asked, shutting the wall door behind them.

Malik began to rummage through Bakura's crates of random crap. Bakura was an excellent thief after all; his house was full of meaningless (at least to Malik) objects, medicine, knives, and ammunition.

"I'm finding something to heal his wound."

"Why?" Bakura scoffed, looking at the pathetic boy collapsed on the floor.

"Because I just fought off like six billion shadow demons and I'll be damned if I let my investment go to waste!"

Bakura's eyes narrowed.

"Shadow demons?"

"Yup," said Malik, tossing items aside, "Okay so maybe there weren't six billion, more like thirty but then they all became this big wall of black inky stuff and then they like sucked out that kid's soul or something. It was weird."

"Shadow demons don't eat souls," Bakura patronized, "They don't eat at all. They harvest energy."

"Well I guess he must have a lot of energy because they were treating him like an all-you-can-eat buffet."

Bakura glowered, "Don't be stupid. You know humans don't have energy sources. Only–"

"Only demons and angels blah blah blah, yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before."

"And yet your ignorance never ceases to amaze me."

"I don't need to know anything about demons," Malik hissed, "All I need is my gun and plenty of bullets."

Bakura rolled his eyes and stepped towards Malik to help find the proper medical supplies.

"Why are you helping me?" Malik asked, eyeing Bakura askance.

"The faster you get the stuff you need, the faster you and your new friend get out of my house."

Malik was about to retort when the mysterious sword-swinging, not-Bakura stirred. He opened up his eyes, a deep brown. Not quite the same color as Bakura's (not enough red) but close enough. He rubbed his head and then looked away. Something seemed to click inside of him because all of sudden the boy was frantic. He kept clutching his throat and tried to reach his back, all the while looking for something.

"Hey!" Malik said, "Who are you? What's your name?"

The boy ignored him, becoming more and more panicked as he continued to search for…whatever it was that he was searching for.

"Hey!" Malik shouted again, "I asked you a question!"

The boy would not listen to him.

Bakura let out a growl, "Enough of this."

The thief grabbed the other boy by his collar and shoved him into the wall.

"Calm down," Bakura whispered icily.

"Smooth," Malik muttered under his breath and walked towards the two.

The boy did stop panicking though, instead, he glared down at Bakura. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it immediately.

"I guess this would be the perfect time to ask you your name," Malik sneered.

The boy titled his head at Malik, then flashed him a huge smile. He opened his mouth and it moved…but no sound came out.

Bakura loosened his grip on the boy.

"Can you speak?" he asked.

The boy shook his head, white bangs covering his eyes.

Bakura dropped the boy completely and walked off to a corner of the room. When he came back, he had a marker and a pad of paper in his hand.

"Isn't there anything you don't have?" Malik asked, incredulous.

The white haired boy in question shot him one of his signature 'Shut up, Malik' glares. Bakura thrust the marker and pad of paper into the boy's hands.

"Write," he ordered.

Eagerly, the boy scribbled down on the pad. A few seconds later, he ripped it off and gave the note to Malik, much to Bakura's annoyance.

It said:

Thank you for saving me. My name is Ryou.

Malik smirked. Finally, someone was grateful for his amazing act of heroicness earlier today.

"You're welcome, Ryou," Malik said, trying out his name, "I'm Malik. And your twin over there is Bakura."

'Bakura, Malik' Ryou mouthed, though no sound came out.

Ryou went back to his pad.

I can't remember all of what just happened. Can you tell me? Do you know where my sword is?

Oh, so that's what he was looking for.

"Okay," said Malik, starting his story, "I saw you running away from something and I thought that you were him so I took off after you. There were like thirty shadow demons you were fighting, but they formed this big shadow demon blob and cornered you. They started like sucking out this blue thing from your mouth–"

Ryou gasped. Or at least his face did, because no actually sound came out. He scribbled on the pad.

My voice – They took my voice!

Malik blinked and turned to Bakura, "They can do that?"

"Finish the story," Bakura responded.

"Right. So they sucked this blue thing out of your mouth and then I started to shoot them. Then I grabbed your sword and killed all of them. It was probably the most amazing thing ever. Anyway, as soon as they disappeared, your sword kind of did too. I didn't do anything too it, it just…poofed! Vanished."

Ryou pulled his knees close to his chest. The poor kid looked like he was going to cry.

Malik felt a bitter tang welling up in his mouth. He was overcome with this bizarre urge to…to apologize.

"Hey," Malik said, gently tapping him on the shoulder, "We can get you a new sword. Bakura has tons of knives and crap lying around - don't you Bakura?"

Bakura scoffed. "He's your charity project, not mine."

Both Ryou and Malik glared, though Ryou's was a little more heartbroken. He took the marker to the paper yet again.

I'm not a charity project! I'm a - But that sentence was crossed out as soon as Ryou wrote it.

No. You're right. I should go. Thank you again for my life, Malik.

Ryou placed the pad down and struggled to get up.

Malik read the note eagerly as Ryou collapsed back to his knees.

Bakura rolled his eyes.

"Obviously, you're not going anywhere until you're healed," he said, "Stay there while I find you some medicine."

"So," Malik said, sitting down beside Ryou, "What happened to your back?"

Terra-shadow attack.

Malik stared at the paper.

"What's a terra-shadow?" he spat out.

From the other side of the room, Bakura called, "One of the elementals – an earth demon. Not that hard to figure out, Malik."

Malik grimaced and turned to Ryou, "Then why didn't you just call it an earth demon?"

Ryou frowned.

Because that's the proper terminology. They're not demons – they're shadows, borne from the magic and hate of this world. Calling them demons or elementals – the Pharaoh's Guard angels – is just slang. Detrimental slang at that! Demons implies something from another world, but they come from us –

Malik snatched the marker out of Ryou's speeding hand.

"I get enough history lessons from Bakura, okay?" he said to the pouting Ryou, "Geez, you two don't just look like each other, you act like each other."

Speak of the devil. Bakura waltzed over towards them, handing a small vile of clearish yellow liquid to Ryou.

"Drink it," he ordered.

Ryou stared at it for a long time before reaching for the glass. He downed it in one gulp.

Malik pressed his lips together, "Why do you look like Bakura anyway?"

Ryou did his head tilt thing again. Then, he picked up the marker.

Coincidence?

Both Bakura and Malik snorted at that.

Ryou huffed a little bit and returned to his pad.

I don't think we look that much alike.

Malik laughed in a short burst, "Now I know you're delusional, because you're Bakura's spitting image. Right, Bakura?"

"Shut up!" Bakura snapped, moving closer to the wall.

"What's your deal?" Malik said back, recoiling.

Ryou's posture tensed.

"You heard it," Bakura said, stepping closer.

Ryou nodded rapidly and clawed at the wall until he stood up. His mouth opened, but then his cheeks flushed pink and he quickly shut it.

"Heard what!" Malik said, sulking, "What are you guys talking about?"

Bakura was just about to tell Malik to shut up when a blast of black energy ripped through the house. It sent Bakura and Malik flying to the wall on one side, Ryou to the other.

Malik, shaking, stood up. The darkness pulled rocks from the walls and ground. They swirled and spun with the darkness, until the darkness was coated in it. The demons had no face, but Malik knew that it wasn't him they were looking at.

Ryou took a step back before his eyes hardened in determination.

The demons let out a terrible screeching noise and in a blur of brown and mud lashed towards Ryou.

Something flared inside of Malik.

"Get away from him!" Malik snarled, running full speed towards the trio of earth demons.

Behind him, Bakura swore and began to run too.

By the time Malik reached one of them, he realized that his gun was out of bullets, so he did the only sane thing there was to do. He threw the gun at them. It hit the rock coating with a small thunk and then ricocheted from the demon to floor.

"Hey! I just wasted about fifty dollars worth of bullets on that kid – if you want him you'll have to go through me first!"

The three demons shifted ever so slightly, though Malik still couldn't really tell if they were looking at him or not. Because of the whole lack of faces thing.

One demon stepped forward and the other two walked closer to Ryou.

Before Malik could give the other two a piece of his mind, the demon closest to him raised his rock covered arm. It grew longer and slimed down, casting away useless rock until it was nothing but a solid, stone whip.

Oh sh–

The whip lashed towards Malik, who just barely dodged in time. The demon pulled the arm like whip thingy back–

Malik stared, eyes wide opened, as a white light pierced through the demon's round midsection. The soil and rock around it gurgled and then exploded with a hiss.

Bakura, knife in hand, glared.

"Get out of my house."

Malik gazed at him for a few moments longer, until a small smile broke across his face.

"Got a spare?" Malik asked, with a thankful smirk.

Bakura indeed had a spare and tossed it to him. Malik twirled the thing in his hands. Plain black handle, and the blade could have been sharper and longer, but beggars can't be choosers…

"Let's go!" Malik said and rushed towards Ryou.

The remaining two demons had formed a tight circle around him. (What is it with demons and creepy circles? Malik thought bitterly.) Rocks were flying between the gaps of the circle, and both demons were moving closer and closer at a steady rate.

Holy crap. This kid was like demon cat-nip or something.

"Hey! We're over here!"

The demons sent a few rocks flying their way, but for the most part continued their focus on Ryou. The mute boy still had that look of steely determination in his eyes. His lips were moving so fast, Malik couldn't even begin to make out what words he was trying to say.

Well he couldn't just stand here and wait!

"I said 'We're over here'!" Malik yelled, chucking the nearest item of junk that was visible. The demon hit screeched and then seconds later three smaller versions of the rock monster formed around both him and Bakura.

"Nice going," Bakura glared.

"Just shut up and fight!"

The demons pounced, showering rocks and mud at them. Malik dodged, and stabbed one in the middle of its body. The entry wound glowed white and the demon stopped attacking long enough for Bakura to take his knife and slice it in half. The rocks it used for its form dropped to the ground with a loud thud.

Victory was short lived.

They'd attracted the other, bigger demon's attention, which was good because that's what Malik had been aiming for the whole time. It lumbered closer, each footstep of rock booming louder.

Why had he wanted this again?

Malik turned his gaze to the white haired boy, struggling to stand in the corner. His lips were still moving.

Stupid kid, Malik thought, you are going to owe me your life by the end of this.

Out of the corner of his eye, Malik saw that Bakura was staring at him too. He looked pissed, for sure, but he also looked – suspicious, confused? – damn, he could never tell. Bakura's scowl always looked the same.

To the right of him, Malik heard a swirling sound. And that's when he remembered he was still fighting demons.

"Move!" Bakura snarled and pulled Malik by the sleeve of his shirt. They both fell to the floor as the three demons morphed into one very wide, very dripping, mud-covered rock demon.

Both Malik and Bakura swore and charged.

It hissed at them and shot its contents of dirt, mud and whatever at them, not even really aiming, just firing. Malik knew that it knew that they could only dodge for so long. Eventually it would hit them.

Malik swore. Keeping them at a distance was to that thing's advantage too. They couldn't kill it with their knives if they weren't closer to it.

The demon launched a particularly large rock at Malik, breaking up Malik's thought.

"Bakura–!" Malik called out, but before he could finish the demon wailed – screeched – screamed – in agony. He'd never heard anything like that before. Like the demon was being torn apart from the inside out.

A wooden chair broke over its head.

The demon's rock sizzled and folded into itself, collapsing into a black gooey mess.

Ryou was standing (shaking, but determined) behind it.

Malik looked down in horror. The hell? Since when do chairs take down demons? Since when do they melt? Could this day get any weirder?

Bakura looked at the black pool with disgust, as well. The black pool of mush was…bubbling.

Oh god–

Malik felt his face turn green.

Bakura glowered at Ryou, "Just how exactly did you do that?"

Ryou's eyes widened and it even looked like was blushing for a minute, but then he settled back into a defiant glare. He didn't make a move to his pad.

Bakura growled and before Malik knew it, he pounced on Ryou. The smaller boy quickly fell to the ground and then Bakura reached up his shirt –

what?

"Bakura!" Malik shouted, wrapping his arms around the other boy's waist and trying to pry him off, "What the hell are you doing?"

Bakura, with ease, kicked Malik in the stomach and shoved him away. After a few more seconds of fondling (or man-handling or whatever the hell Bakura was doing to that poor kid) he shoved Ryou to the ground. Brushing himself off, he stood up.

"Heh. So you really are human."

Ryou glared. (The expression didn't look quite right on his innocent face.) He wrote down a few words that filled up a whole page of his pad.

You're a jerk.

"You're a bastard," Malik corrected for him, helping Ryou off his feet.

Bakura rolled his eyes, "Call me whatever you like. It's natural for those demons to be so interested in a normal human – I had to be sure he was one."

"Then why didn't you just ask him?" Malik exclaimed, exasperated.

"He could have lied."

"Yeah, because obviously this is the face of pure treachery and deceit," Malik sighed, pointing to Ryou's wide eyes and partial pouting lips.

"You don't know anything, Malik," Bakura sneered, "Angels aren't allowed to if they're angels. It's against their code."

Malik's rage finally bubbled over, "How do you know everything!?"

Suddenly the black goo made a soft hiss. Ryou eyes widened and he hastily scribbled down a note.

They're reforming. We have to leave now.

The now was underlined.

Bakura looked like he might strangle Ryou, but then he just snorted. He turned around, surveying the damage to his house. Finally, his gaze landed on Malik.

"I don't think I've ever actually seen your house, Malik. Seeing as how you got mine trashed, I do believe you owe me."

Malik was just about to insult him when Ryou tugged on his arm. His face was frowning, eyes big and urging.

Malik swore and turned around.

"Fine. Fine!" he shouted, "I guess it's just Slumber Party at Malik's tonight!"

-0-

"Here it is," Malik grumbled, motioning to the house. It was medium sized, bigger than the apartments in the city like where Bakura lived. But not as big as the mansions in downtown Domino by Kaiba Corp. and the Pharaoh's 'palace'. The white paint was chipped, weeds were overgrown in the front yard and for the most part, it looked like no one had lived there in years.

The walk hadn't taken as long as Malik had originally thought it would, considering he lived half way across town. It hadn't been a pleasant walk, though. Way too silent. Bakura never talked because he was, well, Bakura and Ryou couldn't even talk if he wanted to. Occasionally he would write a note or two, but mostly he just looked up to the sky. He didn't seem to ever notice the daggers Bakura would glare at him.

Malik sighed. He really didn't want them to be at his house.

"Hmmph, "Bakura smirked, "I was expecting something better."

"You ungrateful bast-!"

Ryou tugged on his shirt. The kid seemed to do that a lot.

"What?" Malik snapped.

Ryou handed him a note.

Do you live alone?

"Of course," Malik snapped bitterly, "Who am I going to live with – him?"

Ryou blinked. Then he wrote.

Aren't you two close? You saved me because you thought I was him.

"We are not close!" Malik said, flustered.

Bakura eyed him with a mix of annoyance and amusement. Malik hated that look.

"I hate you," he said.

"Obviously. That's why you risked your life for someone who bears only a passing resemblance to me," Bakura said, smirking.

"Passing resemblance?! What planet are you two living on?"

Then, Bakura's words sunk in.

"And I didn't do it for you!" he growled.

Ryou and Bakura both gave him 'Oh, really?' looks.

Bakura crossed his arms, "Then why did you do it?"

Malik was taken aback.

"Because I…" Malik struggled for an excuse, "I'm…I'm a decent person! And I wanted to save him! And stuff."

Wow. Even he didn't believe that.

Bakura laughed out loud and walked to the door.

Ryou gave Malik a little pat on his shoulder. Malik glared – why was this kid so touchy-feely? He offered Malik a note.

It's okay. You kind of remind me of a friend of mine.

Malik stared at the note for a long time. It hadn't really occurred to him that this boy had friends. Or a life, or a back-story at all. He just sort of fell from the sky, but obviously he had to come from somewhere.

"Are you two coming or not?" Bakura said, "You do realize that they'll be coming back."

Ryou's sympathetic look turned solemn.

"What!" Malik exclaimed, "How do you know?"

Bakura sighed, "Just when I think you can't get any more stupid… They marked their scent all over us."

Malik's face contorted in disgust at the thought of them marking him. He ran up to the door where Bakura was.

"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" he asked.

"I assumed you knew. Anyone with half a brain would know, Malik. Besides, it doesn't matter as much when we're travelling. It's only once we've settled that they can be attracted to the scent."

Malik stared at him, both his hands clenched into fists.

"Are you going to stand there gaping at me or are you going to let us in so that we can take showers and delay their return for a day or two?" Bakura asked, a small smirk on his lips.

Malik, muttering darkly under his breath, opened the door.

The place was a mess. There was one bed in the middle of the living room, with a stained mattress and sheets, and apart from that there was no furniture. Cobwebs hung in every corner, and the hardwood floor was covered in a coating of dirt.

Ishizu had always done most of the cleaning…

"Nice place," Bakura said, "Do you even have a shower?"

"Of course I have a shower!" Malik scoffed, "It's down the hall to your right."

Bakura walked off without another word. When Malik turned around, Ryou was already plopped down on his bed. He gave Malik a small smile.

Before he realized it, Malik was sitting down next to him.

"So," Malik said as nonchalantly as possible, "How exactly did you wind up here?"

Ryou blanched. His marker began to move.

It's a long story.

"Bakura seems like the type who takes long showers."

Ryou sighed, though no sound came out.

I don't really want to tell you.

Malik was slightly hurt for a second before his eyes settled into a glare.

"Well I saved your life so I think you owe me."

Ryou shifted his position uncomfortably, but then began to write.

I was…well, I was sneaking away from home when it happened. A bunch of terra-shadows corned me in the alley and started attacking me. I fought them off, but one of them…

Ryou's marker trembled.

injured my back. I got away…I was trying to get home! But they attacked again and drove me deeper into the city. Then, they just disappeared when the shadows came…I ran for miles before they finally attacked me in that alley. Then I met you.

Malik reread the words again, trying to detect the subtext. Finally, he replied.

"Well, that sucks."

Ryou nodded his head in agreement and leaned against the wall. There was a small silence between them before Malik felt a slight tug on his shirt.

Ryou had a note to give him.

Who's that?

The white haired boy pointed to a small picture wedged between the floorboards. Damn! He thought he'd gotten rid of all the pictures of Ishizu.

"My sister," Malik said gruffly, turning away. He didn't want to talk about this. The last thing he wanted was sympathy.

Another soft tug on his shirt. Like a child.

"What!" Malik snapped, "I'm not going to tell you about her or what happened so don't even ask!"

Ryou recoiled a bit, but still had the small piece of paper in his hand. Malik snatched it from him with a snarl.

I had a sister, too.

Malik gasped slightly, startled by the words. They were so soft, just like Ryou's hair, or his little smile that seemed more like a secret than an expression, or the tender look in Ryou's eyes…

And Ryou offered Malik that secret smile again, just like he'd offered him that note.

Malik leaned in closer to him, to get a better look and…

"Am I interrupting something?" came a dark voice, with the God-awful mix of annoyance and amusement. Smug.

Ryou's smile faded into a harsh pout, which Malik assumed was him trying to glare. Mentally cringing (if that's what Bakura's voice sounded like then what would he look like?), Malik turned around.

Bakura was standing there, arms crossed, leaning against the door way with that damned smirk of his plastered over his face. His normally spiked and puffy hair was flatter, being dripping wet and all. The towel around his shoulders really didn't do anything. The water trickled from his hair down his throat and then down to his chest – his bare chest –

...

"Put a shirt on!" Malik barked, feeling enraged like he always did when Bakura was around.

Bakura ignored him.

"You," he said, looking at Ryou.

"His name's Ryou," Malik said.

Again, Bakura ignored him but Ryou at least flashed him a small smile and his lips said 'Thank you'.

"You never did tell us why those demons are after you."

Something flashed through Ryou's eyes. Slowly he turned to his paper.

I don't know.

Bakura stalked closer. (Malik suddenly had another urge to yell at him and tell him to put on a God forsaken shirt already.)

"Liar," he said, "Whatever secrets you're hiding – for yourself or whoever – are meaningless now. You got me and Malik marked, and we saved your miserable life on two separate occasions. Which means your loyalties lie with us now, Ryou."

Out of the corner of his eye, Malik thought he saw Ryou shiver.

"The truth. Now."

Ryou hunched over in defeat and picked up his marker yet again.

Fine. My friends –

Ryou scratched that out.

My family are part of Atemu's guard, fifth level Archs. The demons probably smell them on me and that's why they're hunting me down. If you could take me to the palace, they'd probably know what to do. They could help.

"The palace?" Malik asked, "You mean like the Pharaoh's palace?"

Ryou scrunched up his face. It was kind of cute.

He's not a Pharaoh. That's just slang.

Good God, this kid and his technicalities.

"And slang is bad," Malik said, sighing.

Slang is bad.

Bakura said nothing, just stared at Ryou for a long time. Finally, his gaze fell to the blonde.

"Take a shower, Malik."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Malik shouted (he was still mad because Bakura still did not have a shirt on), "This is my house."

"Go," Bakura said again.

Malik cursed but turned away regardless. A shower could actually be just what he needed right about now.

-0-

Bakura was going to get this little boy to crack if it was the last thing he ever did.

It was painfully obvious that the boy was lying; he was fidgeting all over the place and refused to look Bakura in his eyes. That story he'd fed to Malik and himself was half-truth at best. Bakura knew the Pharaoh (his fists clenched just thinking about their last encounter), he didn't associate with humans.

Humans. Malik was human. Bratty, jaded and with exceptionally good aim, but still human. This boy was not. He was too accustomed to demons and their ways, he was too quiet, and he was too kind.

Bakura suppressed a growl. So what the hell was he?

He had felt his back. There were no wings. But what kind of human would survive multiple demon attacks and then have their voice sucked out?

He was a mystery. And Bakura hated mysteries.

A small ripping sound caught Bakura's attention. The boy pulled off the sheet of paper and offered it to Bakura – a reserved sort of a hopeful expression on his face.

Bakura scoffed. "If I wanted to hear something from you, I would have asked."

The boy's wide eyes trembled a bit, but his face remained the same. So he was trying to control his emotions.

Another note was presented. Persistent little kid.

Bakura instead pretended to be unfazed and shook his wet hair. The boy's face flushed a light red. And then he glared.

He scribbled down another note but instead of handing it to Bakura with an unsteady gaze, the boy balled it up and then chucked it at Bakura's face.

Bakura, snarling, unravelled the note.

Stop ignoring me!

Before Bakura could give an adequate response, another note fell next to his feet.

Please.

Bakura looked up to find the boy's expression had changed. His eyes were wider and he was rubbing his arm, looking away. Was he scared?

"What?" Bakura said, giving in. Maybe if he talked to this kid for a second he would stop bothering him so he could figure this whole mess out.

The boy took his marker and wrote. Bakura was beginning to regret ever giving that thing to him in first place.

Why do you hate me so much? You didn't have to save me from those shadows.

"I hate everyone. What makes you so special?"

You don't hate Malik.

Bakura growled. He added 'observant' to his growing list of reasons to hate this kid.

There was a pause between them. Finally, Ryou wrote again.

How do you know so much about shadows?

"I could ask you the same question."

Ryou's marker momentarily dropped from his hand and Bakura seized the chance. He pulled Ryou by the wrist and shoved him into the bed.

"Just now – you were still lying, I could tell," he whispered.

The boy opened his mouth to protest, but then quickly shut it when he realized that no words would come out. So he simply shook his head violently, brown eyes far too wide for his face.

Bakura, for what felt like the five hundredth time that day, rolled his eyes.

"You were," and then Bakura added, "You're not human."

Like a match being lit, something sparked in Ryou's eyes. Genuine anger. He kicked Bakura in the chest – harder than Bakura would have expected from someone so weak – and then for extra measure pushed Bakura to the edge of the bed.

Ryou, blushing and glaring furiously, reached for his pad and shortly after shoved a note in Bakura's face.

I am human.

The words were written so hard that the ink had stained the sheets.

Bakura barely glanced at the note, instead focused on the boy's eyes. They were narrowed in his glare, but also…it looked like he was holding back tears. Or holding back some sort of emotion.

"What are you hiding?" he asked, softly. He hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Ryou blinked and then retreated back into a slumping position. He picked up the marker, ran his fingers across it, and then sighed soundlessly. Words soon flowed from his hands.

I wasn't always though…

The words were barely legible he was shaking so much.

I mean I –

Ryou crossed it out and started over.

I shouldn't be telling you this –

Crossed out yet again.

It's just that I'm –

Bakura grabbed onto to his trembling hand.

"Relax," he said. The boy stiffened for a second and then reached for the marker one last time.

I was a guardian but my wings were ripped off.

Impossible. Wings couldn't be pulled off without some sort of heavy machinery and then for sure it would have killed the body attached to them. And if by some miracle he'd survived that, there would have been a mark left – and then he would have died from the sudden lack of energy.

"You should be dead," Bakura said bluntly, running a hand through his hair.

But I'm not.

The look in his eyes was almost regretful.

Above all else, Bakura hated that boy for his eyes.

Before anything else was said, a small sizzling sound was heard. Both Bakura and Ryou tensed automatically. They knew that sound. Their eyes met and, though no words were said, they spoke to each other.

Malik.

Within seconds they both launched themselves from the bed.

"Keep that marker and pen with you," Bakura ordered as he put on his shirt and readied his knives, "It's the only way we can talk."

Ryou nodded and put them in the pocket of his torn up and bloodied sweater.

Bakura took two gliding steps into the hallway and broke open the door to the bathroom.

"What the hell!" Malik shouted as he wiggled his shirt over his head, "I was getting dressed you–"

"No time, Malik," Bakura hissed, pulling on his arm and dragging him out of the bathroom. The sizzling sound grew louder in Bakura's ears.

Ryou came rushing towards them. Not bothering with the pad of paper he wrote on Malik's shirt. Ignis - Fire. Outside. 134.

"Where?" Bakura asked.

Malik's face went blank when he read the 134.

Ryou again took hold of Malik's shirt.

Surrounded.

Another whistle-type sound buzzed through Bakura's ears.

Damn.

"Where's your motorcycle?" Bakura said, turning to Malik.

Malik ignored him.

"One hun-hundred and thirty four demons outside," he stuttered, taking hold of Ryou's hand, "How is that even possible? How can you even know that?"

"Malik!"

"Shut up Bakura, I'm having a meltdown!"

The windows burst open and the heat of the flames outside was finally felt.

That snapped Malik out of it. He started racing to the end of the hallway.

"Back porch!" he called as Bakura and Ryou ran after him.

They couldn't fight off all of them, not in the state they were in right now. That motorcycle was their only chance of survival.

Malik kicked down the back door as Bakura felt cold hands press against his chest. Ryou looked up at him, and then tore the knife straight out of his shirt.

A small earth demon, about half Ryou's size, emerged from the wall and leapt out at him. With no hesitation (for once the kid was standing up straight) Ryou stabbed it, creating a large white hole, and then sliced the demon all the way through.

Bakura stood in wonder.

Ryou looked unfazed and offered the knife back to him with a slightly guilty look on his face.

"Keep it," Bakura said as they stepped out into the fading sun.

"Hey!" Malik yelled, revving up the motorcycle, "Are you guys coming or not?"

Ryou squirmed at the sight of the cherry red bike. Bakura sneered. So he could stab a demon without a second thought, but he was scared of a motorcycle? Unbelievable. This kid really needed to get his priorities straight.

Without so much as a syllable, Bakura lifted Ryou off the ground and threw him onto the motorcycle. He squished Ryou up against Malik so there was no way he could fall off.

A deep roaring sound boomed past them as all the rocks from the house were sucked away, slowly forming into demons.

"Drive!"

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

In an instant, the world went from solid shapes and figures to nothing but colors and stripes. Everything flew past them, even the heat of the fire demons. Bakura wasn't worried, though. Fire demons were notoriously slow.

The rumbling and chaos of Malik's now destroyed house faded into the distance. They were in silence for an uncountable amount of time. No noise but the engine and each other's breathing.

Finally, Malik turned his head back towards Bakura.

"I'm almost scared to ask," Malik muttered, "But where are we going?"

Bakura looked down at Ryou. The boy's lower lip quivered a bit, but then he stopped and steadied himself. He gave Bakura a curt nod.

"Downtown Domino. I think we owe a certain Pharaoh a visit."

-0-

Ryou may look like a walking marshmallow, Malik mused, but God if he doesn't have grip.

Since they first propelled themselves away from Malik's house (which, he was trying very hard not to remember, was destroyed), Ryou hadn't loosened his grip. Not once.

He had asked the kid if he was alright an hour back, but he had just nodded and returned to squeezing onto Malik's waist for dear life.

Bakura hadn't said a word, other than the occasional command or snide comment. But this was Bakura he was talking about after all, that wasn't really a new development.

But still. Some conversation would have been nice. Downtown Domino was so creepy now. The buildings loomed down at him, threatening to engulf him, and the faint smell of burning incense always seemed to linger.

It looked nothing like it had when Malik was a child. It had been so alive back then, cars always in traffic jams, and you never had elbow-room when you walked.

But now the streets he'd driven down so many times were deserted and it was just…wrong.

A tug on Malik's shirt brought him out of his thoughts.

Ryou was pointing at a street on the left.

"Do you want me to turn?" Malik asked.

Ryou nodded.

Malik turned and with a faint smirk he realized Ryou was holding on to his waist again. Then he saw the building.

It wasn't that impressive, when he really thought about it. Domino had plenty of skyscrapers, and this one wasn't even the tallest. Kaiba Corp. was. And just because it had a lot of windows didn't make it prettier either. The only thing worthwhile about the building was the faint white glow around it. It was subtle at first, but the closer Malik looked the brighter it became.

Yeah. Glowing buildings.

What had his life come to?

He didn't like the Pharaoh. Not that he disliked him personally, he didn't know the guy. He hated him and his stupid company. The angels he employed or whatever. It didn't seem right that he built a business out of justice and protecting people. Those things should be for free.

But at this point in time Malik had been through several near death experiences and he honestly didn't care anymore.

The motorcycle stopped and before Malik could take the keys out of the ignition, Ryou was racing to the door of the building.

"Ryou!" Malik called, dashing after him, "Ryou – wait!"

Bakura didn't bother to run after them.

Ryou burst into the office building, with a panting Malik close behind.

For being the main office of a building that could glow, it was pretty lacklustre. There was a girl with light brown skin and dark brown hair typing away at the computer in the corner of the office. A couple of black couches in the middle of the room served as a waiting area, complete with a table of magazines. Thankfully, no one was inside but them and the receptionist. Malik really wasn't in the mood for other people.

Malik looked at Ryou, who to his shock, looked like he was going to cry. As Bakura sauntered in, Ryou ran up to the receptionist's curved desk.

The girl didn't look up from her computer but smiled anyway.

"Good evening! My name's Mana," the girl pointed to her name tag, (which indeed did say 'Mana'), "If you have an appointment, please tell me your name and scheduled time. If you'd like to make an appointment please visit Anzu on level three. If you'd like to file a complaint, please talk to Jounouchi on level five. If you have any questions, feel free to ask!"

Malik folded his arms. This Mana girl was ridiculously happy for being a secretary.

Ryou didn't say anything, instead gently tapping on the table.

Mana looked up. Then she let out a scream.

"Ryou! Ryou!" she hollered, tearing her headset off and jumping across the table, tackling Ryou to the ground.

Malik looked down at the scene, a series of emotions swirling in his head. Each one was different but by far the loudest one was 'Get off him!'

But Malik didn't say anything because he was a good friend and didn't want to upset Ryou.

Malik blinked, replaying that thought in his head again. Since when were he and Ryou friends?

Mana finally got off of Ryou, but she hadn't stopped the screaming.

"You're alive – you're alive! I can't believe it! Atemu's going to be so happy! And Yuugi – Yuugi! He was so heartbroken all this week…I thought I'd never see him happy again…But that doesn't matter because you're back! You're alive!"

She hugged him once again before turning around and typing something into her computer.

"What does she mean 'back'?" Malik asked and Ryou at least remembered his presence.

He took out his pad and wrote.

Ask Bakura.

Malik gazed at Bakura, who had a look of utter death on his face. Like at any moment he was going to pounce and skin some poor soul alive.

The lavender eyed boy snorted. Ask Bakura. He didn't have a death wish.

Mana came bouncing back before Malik had a chance to ask Ryou more questions.

"So I just unlocked the fiftieth floor and you need to go up there right now! You still remember the password right? Well of course you do, you've only been gone like a week!"

Ryou smiled and started to walk towards the elevator. Malik and Bakura followed.

Mana waved, "I'm so glad you're alive!"

-0-

"Who was that?" Malik asked with fire in his eyes, as soon as the elevator doors slammed shut.

Ryou frowned, surprised at his tone. He took out his marker.

A friend of a friend. We worked together.

Malik still glared, but felt a little bit better now with an explanation.

Bakura, meanwhile, was sulking. He radiated hatred from every pore, though most of it was directed at Ryou. Malik thought about asking him what was wrong but didn't want that hatred burning him. Bakura was scary.

Ryou wasn't afraid though, either that or he was just plain stupid and wrote down on his notepad.

What's wrong?

Bakura sneered and ignored him.

Ryou eyes narrowed.

Tell me. Or I'll start throwing the papers at you again.

"Again?" Malik asked, "When did you start?"

Bakura glowered harder at Ryou, if that was even possible.

Ryou wasn't taking the hint because he wrote down yet another note.

I'm glad you're here.

Bakura's mouth dropped opened.

"Just what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Before either Ryou or Malik could respond the elevators dinged open but instead of a room, the doors opened to another wall that had a small electronic box on it.

Malik sighed. This place was so weird.

Ryou stepped towards it with ease and typed in a pass code. The wall opened and this time there was actually a room. Okay, so it was more like a hallway decked out in way too much red, but still. Better than being trapped in an elevator.

The next three things happened very quickly, and Malik in the depth of his stomach knew that it was important.

Two boys, almost identical in the same way that Ryou and Bakura were almost identical, walked into the hallway. They had the craziest hair Malik had ever seen, and he knew Bakura.

The second thing was that Bakura tensed dramatically, the way he did when he was about to kill a demon.

The final thing was that Ryou jumped out of the elevator so fast it almost knocked Malik over.

"Ryou?" Malik gasped out.

That got the attention of the other two boys. The slightly smaller looked up for one second and then tears spilled from his eyes.

"You're alive. Ryou! You're alive!" the boy cried out running into his arms like Mana had done just moments before.

Except this time, Ryou returned the hug with just as much enthusiasm as the other boy had.

Malik stood there, seething. What had these people done for Ryou to get him to hug them? Malik had broken at least every rule in his Guide, gotten his house destroyed, and more or less scared himself mentally for the rest of his life and all he ever got was a couple of smiles here and there. Never a hug.

Not that he wanted a hug. Or something. Yeah.

Malik was sure that an hour had passed before they stopped hugging.

The other boy, the taller one, older too by the looks of it, stepped forward.

"Ryou," he said and gave the boy a warm smile. Then he turned his eyes to Malik.

"Just who exactly might you be?" the man asked, voice smooth and prideful. Malik hated him already.

"You first," Malik snapped back.

The man seemed shocked for a second by Malik's attitude and was only stopped from talking when Ryou handed both Malik and the man two pieces of paper.

Malik looked down at his.

The taller one is named Atemu. He's the Pharaoh. And the other one is Yuugi. They're both my friends so please try to be nice.

Scoffing Malik crumpled the note to the ground.

"So your name's Malik," Atemu said.

"It is."

Malik was determined to give the shortest answers possible, just to be a prick.

"And you saved Ryou from the shadows."

"Yup."

Atemu was visibly getting frustrated and the sight was so pleasing to Malik that he couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, I'd like to..." Atemu took a deep breath, "Thank you for returning Ryou to us. If you talk with Mana at the front desk she'll tell you about your reward."

Returning? He's not property, Malik thought. And if he was Bakura and I would own him like seven times over by now.

"Spectacular," Malik said, with a fake smile.

Atemu eyes hardened and his posture shifted.

"You can leave now," he said.

Malik snarled, "I'm not leaving until I know he's safe!"

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ryou blush.

"He's perfectly safe here!" Atemu huffed, "He's safer with us than he could ever be with you. He belongs with us."

That did it.

"Like hell he does! Do you know how many times I've risked my life for this kid over the past couple of hours? Do you really think we are just going to let him go so easily?" Malik shouted.

Yuugi was taken aback by this, but Atemu narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

"What do you mean by 'we'?" he asked, glaring at Malik.

Bakura calmly stepped out of the elevator.

"He means me."

Atemu's eyes widened to ridiculous proportions.

"Bakura!"

"You know each other?" Malik asked, bewildered.

Bakura ignored them both. He waltzed over to the dazed Ryou, pulled him by his arm and slammed him into his chest.

Ryou's face flushed a bright red and his already confused face only escalated.

"We're leaving," he said, to both Ryou and Malik.

"Fine by me," Malik said, already beginning to turn away.

Ryou finally squirmed his way out of Bakura's hold. He reached down for his pad, only to find there was no paper left and threw it to the ground in frustration. Ryou reached for Bakura's hand, pulled up his sleeve and then wrote a single word, underlined three times.

Family.

Bakura's eyes found Ryou's. They were so determined, so needy, practically screaming at Bakura that he needed to understand and he needed to let go.

Damn it all! He hated this stupid kid who just showed up on his doorstep and had the nerve to shake up Bakura's perfectly content life – and it was bad enough already because of Malik – and this boy he –

The marker was pressed to his skin again, breaking his thoughts.

Where else can we go?

We. He was beginning to loathe the invention of that word.

Bakura shook the boy off him.

"We're not leaving," he said.

Ryou smiled, but only a bit.

"I should have you arrested!" Atemu snarled.

Suddenly, Bakura remembered that that bastard was here and still alive and still breathing.

A whole new wave of rage washed through him.

Before Bakura could put the Pharaoh in his place, there was a soft sound, like the sound of scratching or whistling. Bakura looked down and saw that his shadow had moved itself away from him.

Atemu, Ryou and Yuugi saw the same.

"Yuugi," Atemu said. Yuugi nodded. White feathery wings expanded from their backs.

They both opened their hands ever so slightly and a beam of red light shimmered in the air above them, Atemu's a darker red then Yuugi's, until the light solidified into a sword.

"Hey that looks just like the one Ryou–" Malik's sentence was cut off when a shadow demon wrenched itself from the core of Malik's shadow. He stumbled into Ryou's arms, gasping a bit, before he pulled out his gun and shot.

"You know, last time we met you might have caught me off guard," he fired three more shots, "But this time I'm prepared."

The demon fizzled out. Bakura would hardly call that a victory.

All around them, shadows emerged from every corner. They walked towards them, darkness and pure energy crackling around them.

It was twice as hard to kill a shadow demon than any other type of demon when you were using mortal weapons – without any infuse of magic.

The demons' eyes, red and endless, seemed to devour Bakura on sight.

By instinct alone, Bakura stole a glance at Ryou. He was looking down, but only for a second.

They met each other's gaze.

Ryou clenched the handle of the knife tighter and gave Bakura an unsure nod. Somehow, Bakura understood.

If we go down, we go down together.

And then the darkness was upon them.

-0-

Malik felt an icy pain slash through his right arm. He shot even harder, pushing back the pain and the absurd coldness. His body shivered despite himself.

"Ryou!" Malik shouted, "Bakura!"

Another dose of that icy pain. Malik fell to his knees. He couldn't shoot at anything. The darkness was all around him, consuming him, killing him–

He was going to die.

Malik cried out their names one last time.

-0-

Ryou had never been good with words. Especially before he came to work for Atemu. He had always slipped up or stumbled ("Sorry! Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean it like that.") so eventually he just gave up.

He didn't mind being quiet. He liked watching. He didn't miss his voice that much.

(The darkness lashed out at him again, but Ryou didn't really feel it.)

That was why Ryou had agreed to work for Atemu. Not because he believed in what they were doing, like Yuugi and Mahaado and Jounouchi did, but because it made him feel powerful. They gave him the words (words that he normally couldn't grasp), the spells, and he could perform them and do something. Be worth something. He wanted…needed…that.

Needy.

Amane had called him that once. Maybe. It was hard to tell in the darkness he was in right now, it distorted memories.

He should have just died. When the demons ripped off his wings he should have just died like anyone else would have. Then they wouldn't be in this mess right now – then everyone would live.

But then…then he never would have met Malik or Bakura.

A small light bloomed in his chest at the thought of them, so when the darkness whipped at him, it hurt.

Ryou let out a cry of pain (it's okay to be weak here, no one's watching...). Why did it hurt when he thought about them? He'd known Yuugi for five years and Yuugi had always been so sweet and kind –

But when the darkness hit–

Pain, but bearable.

Hm. He still wasn't dead. Was Malik? Was Bakura?

They'd hate him. While dying. (The thought fills him with so much grief he didn't even move when the darkness hit him.) They'd curse him for bringing this on them, when their only crime had been saving his life.

He'd never get to say sorry. He'd never get to see them again.

He would never see Malik's smile, or the way he got flustered whenever Bakura said just about anything to him. He would never see the way Bakura's expression softened when he thought no one was looking.

The darkness clawed at him.

He just wanted to see them again…just once if he could…

Ryou looked up and in the distance; through the darkness he saw a soft wispy strand of blue light.

There – right there – it had been there all along!

Ryou reached for it, and without saying anything, without a single word, he knew.

-0-

It started softly.

A small whisper in the background. Malik ignored it, just as he ignored the whispers from his sister. He wasn't stupid. He knew the darkness was trying to trick him.

But then the sound grew. Louder and louder until Malik had no choice but to turn around and ask whoever that was if they would mind shutting up so that he could die in peace.

He didn't see a person though. Not yet. A beam of pale, beautiful blue light shone in the darkness and as the words grew louder, the light grew bigger. Bigger and bigger, pushing back the darkness until Malik could see Bakura right by his side. Where he'd always been.

They exchanged looks, and Malik knew that he knew.

The blue light burst.

"Ryou!"

The darkness disappeared.

It hissed and reached out but the light forced it away. Ryou forced it away. He didn't have wings, like Yuugi or Atemu did, but he was still flying with his sword in his hand, shining like some sort of beacon.

Malik couldn't help but smirk. To his right, Bakura snorted.

Ryou looked down at them. The sword disappeared, as did the blue light. His feet landed on the ground.

And he smiled.

"Thank you," Ryou said, "for saving me."

-0-

"So the Pharaoh's not going to have you arrested, which is pretty awesome, right Bakura?" Malik chattered on.

Bakura rolled his eyes, "The Pharaoh couldn't arrest me if he tried. He just wants an excuse to stop trying."

"I still don't understand how that nickname started in the first place," Ryou muttered under his breath.

Bakura stopped for a second and looked at him. It was still odd, even though it had been three days, to hear his voice.

"You sound like a girl," Malik said.

Ryou huffed, "At least I don't dress like one."

Before Bakura knew it, the laugh ripped right out of him.

Malik glared, "Shut up."

"Don't be mad because he has a point."

Malik let out an aggravated sigh, "I don't know how I put up with you two."

Ryou's eyes, like always, found Bakura's.

"You put up with us?" Bakura asked, crossing his arms.

"Yes! I put up with you!" Malik snapped, "I put up with you being all cryptic and anti-social all the time! You still haven't told me how you and Atemu even know each other in first place."

"I haven't told Ryou either, so don't feel left out."

Malik glowered, but continued, "Plus! You two got my house destroyed and still no one has told me just what happened that day or how Ryou got his voice back or just why you and Ryou look so much alike – "

Ryou opened his mouth.

"If you say coincidence I'm going to slap you."

Ryou closed his mouth.

Malik sighed, "It's obvious I'm the victim here."

Ryou laughed lightly at that. They walked out of the giant glowing office building and into the new Domino City. Ever since that day, demon attacks had gone down by over eighty percent. People weren't afraid anymore.

"Do you think they'll come back?" Ryou asked, looking at the crowded street, "The shadows?"

"Yes," Bakura said automatically, "They always do."

Ryou sighed heavily and stared at the ground. Malik wrapped his arm around the boy.

"Well then I guess it's a good thing that we can totally kick any type of demon ass, right?"

A blink, and then Ryou smiled.

"Right."

They walked together without words for a moment before Malik spoke again.

"If they come back would you go back to Atemu again?" he asked.

"No," Ryou said, certain, "Even if I wanted to, I can't. I'm human, remember?"

Bakura snorted at that.

Malik looked into Ryou's eyes.

"So why did you change your mind?" Malik said, slowly, "Why did you stay?"

Ryou tilted his head but then reached for Bakura's arm. He didn't say anything as he rolled up Bakura's sleeve. Instead he simply pointed at a single word written, underlined three times.

Family.


A/N This chapter gave me so many issues you don't even know. A review would totally brighten my day! Please review!