Dark Roses

Disclaimer - If you seriously think for one moment that I own them, you need to see a psychiatrist. Immediately.

Author's Notes - not much on AN's this time around. I'm going to be creeping right back into my bombshelter after posting this and GO, so review and tell me what you think.


Chapter 14 – Return

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Yugi murmured, watching Malik climb off of his motorcycle.

“We can’t hide him forever, little one, and he needs to return to school. We’ve kept him in the mansion for over a month now . . . it’s time for him to rejoin society. And he wanted to come back. You heard that yourself.”

Two weeks had passed since that fateful party. In that time, Malik had grown restless in the mansion, wanting to get on with his life. Finally, he’d approached Yami and told him he wanted to return to school. They had all been worried that the blonde was exposing himself unduly, but as Malik had pointed out, they were all there to help him, so why continue hiding unless he was going to do so for the rest of his life?

Crimson eyes watched as Marik pulled into the spot beside Malik’s bike, climbing out of the car and walking up to join the young Egyptian on the sidewalk, wrapping an arm around the slim figure gently and brushing his lips across one caramel cheek.

The two had come a long way in the past two weeks. They were often around each other, and while neither made any move to take the growing relationship to the next level, they could often be found cuddled up together on the couch or in a chair. It was obvious they were comfortable around each other, and cared deeply about each other . . . but they were both moving slowly, as if walking through a minefield. Which, technically, Yami supposed they were.

Never knowing when something would trigger a flashback in Malik, or what lay in Marik’s mind, the two treaded warily into shaky territory with each other. It was surprising that they were holding up as well as they were, truth be told. Marik wasn’t usually a patient person, and Malik hated people treating him like he was fragile. Yet with Malik, Marik showed the patience of a saint, and Malik allowed Marik to treat him like glass. It was strange, but oddly endearing to watch.

Now Malik was plunging back into society, and Yami could already see the changes that his time with them had wrought. He greeted people as he walked up to the school with Marik by his side like some glowering bodyguard, not even flinching from accidental brushes as people moved by him.

Yami shifted as Bakura came up beside him. The pale teenager’s magenta eyes were also on Malik, and he smiled slightly before shaking his head.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” he murmured. “A little over a month ago, he could have challenged Seto for the title of ‘Ice King’. Now, he’s like any other teenager . . . open and friendly, but guarded.” Yami nodded.

“Indeed,” he replied. “Of course, Marik’s not likely to allow anyone to push him overmuch.”

“Yes . . . he is rather protective of Malik, isn’t he?” Bakura said. “It’s good to see him taking such an interest in someone finally. I’d begun to think maybe he would keep to himself for the rest of his life.” Yami smiled slightly, chuckling.

It was true that they had been worried about Marik for a while now. But it seemed that, in dealing with Malik’s issues, he was finally dealing with his own as well. He was more open and friendly than he had ever been, and spent more time among the group then alone, as had been his habit. He hadn’t returned to his room at Seto’s since Malik had come to stay at the mansion with Yami either.
In fact, he’d moved just about all of his stuff to his room at Yami’s place. It really looked like he was in with Malik for the long haul.

The bell signaling the five minutes until homeroom began rang, and the two teenagers, along with their slightly younger lover’s, moved to join the crowd of students heading into the school. Life had taken a turn for the better, it seemed. Now if only it would stay that way.


*-------*-------*-------*-------*


Marik walked Malik to his homeroom, watching the boy move through the crowded hallways smoothly. It was a far cry from what he remembered before . . . Malik didn’t shy from the extra contact with strangers, and even returned some of the greetings he received as he made his way toward class.

Of course, Malik had changed a lot since they’d first become intrigued by the Egyptian youth. He’d blossomed under their careful advances, and although he still had thorns, they were now allowed to see the beautiful rose of a soul hidden within.

He’d noticed the changes in himself as well, of course. It was hard not to. He’d begun to spend less time alone, preferring the company of Malik and his friends for the first time instead of books and music, which had been his only escapes for the longest time. He was more calm when the blonde was nearby, as well. It just felt as if there was this sudden pool of stillness that he’d never known before whenever Malik was with him, one that he could draw upon at will.

Was this what love felt like? He’d always noticed that Bakura seemed more mellow and less inclined to his sadistic tendencies when Ryou was around, and Yami had definitely become less of a commanding prick with Yugi to calm him. It seemed Malik was doing for him what Ryou and Yugi had done for his friends . . . help him to achieve balance.

Reaching the door to Malik’s homeroom, they paused together, lavender meeting violet for a moment before Malik surprised the taller blonde by leaning up to plant a light kiss on his lips.

“I’ll see you at lunch?” he murmured, and Marik nodded, watching as the lithe blonde disappeared into the room. He hadn’t expected such a public display of affection from Malik so soon . . . everything was still so new between them, so tentative.

He thought back on the last two weeks, and shook his head before making his way to his own homeroom. They’d spent a lot of time in each other’s company, merely talking and cuddling, something Marik had never enjoyed before. But with Malik it was different, as was everything else in his life.

He would walk to the ends of the earth to protect him. He only hoped it would never come to that.


*-------*-------*-------*-------*


Malik spent most of his morning classes in a daze. What had prompted him into such a public display of affection with Marik? Was he nuts?

The last two weeks had been some of the best weeks of his life, spending time with the taller blonde, getting to know him better . . . and learning more about himself in the process. That he’d been able to spend such a large amount of time in such close proximity with anyone gave him hope that he wasn’t as damaged as he had feared, and the fact that it was Marik made him feel like he could fly.

One thing had become abundantly clear . . . he had feelings for the taller blonde. Whenever he was with him, he felt safe, at peace. Somehow, he knew Marik would never allow him to be harmed, and would never push him to do something he didn’t want. It was a comforting feeling . . . which made him wonder if he was ready for more.

Yugi and Ryou had continued to spend their nights with him. Sometimes one, sometimes the other, occasionally both . . . and he felt really guilty for it. They deserved time with their loves. They shouldn’t have to baby sit him all the time. That worry had gotten him to wondering what it would be like to wake up in Marik’s arms, to feel Marik beside him at night.

However, what kept him from following through on that thought was the fact that he continued to have some very erotic dreams about the taller blonde, and lately they’d begun to have some very . . . interesting effects on his mornings. Neither Yugi nor Ryou had said anything as of yet, but it was somewhat embarrassing to wake up wet and sticky beside someone you had not been dreaming of. And he was getting REALLY tired of changing his sheets everyday.

Back to the matter at hand . . . would Marik be upset with him for his little outburst of affection in the hallway? Was it pushing the limits they had set upon themselves and the developing relationship between the two of them? He didn’t want to spoil the first good thing he’d ever had in his life.

He supposed he would know at lunchtime. Until then, he really needed to turn his attention to his classes. He’d been out for a little over a month, and while the guys had brought his schoolwork home for him, he was finding that certain concepts had escaped him. So, with a weary sigh and a shake of his head, he tuned in to what the teacher was saying, and left his worries for later.

By the time lunchtime rolled around, he felt like he’d been through a clothes wringer . . . while it was dry. His head was swimming with more information than he’d thought was possible. He hadn’t realized just how much he would miss by being out of class as he had been.

Then, of course, there was the worry that he had pushed too far with Marik that morning, which had consistently nagged at him through the morning. That worry only grew when he approached the table the others were at . . . and there was no Marik in sight. Had it bothered him that much?

Lost in thought, it startled him to no end when Yugi and Ryou both practically tackled him a hug, asking him in a jumble of voices how his morning back had gone.

“It was fine,” he said finally, when he could get in a word edgewise. “No problems whatsoever.” ‘Except for Marik,’ his mind added, and he tried to keep from frowning at that inner voice. Yes, except for his worries over Marik his morning had gone just fine. He was finally comfortable around strangers, not worried when the next person to touch him was going to hurt him.

“You looked a bit out of it,” Bakura noted. A majority of his classes were with Malik, and he’d kept an eye on the blonde throughout the morning, noting how little he actually seemed to pay attention in class. Malik shrugged slightly, but the lavender eyes darkened a bit, and Bakura exchanged a glance with Yami. It was obvious something was bothering their friend. They couldn’t help but wonder what.

“I just had a lot on my mind,” the blonde murmured in response. He nearly started out of his skin when a hand landed on his shoulder, just before a familiar voice spoke in his ear.

“Dare I hope it was about me?” Marik asked quietly, and Malik shuddered at the warm breath that teased the outer shell of his ear. “That kiss you left me with this morning wasn’t very fair of you, considering I wanted more.”

Lavender eyes rose, Malik turning slightly so that he could meet the violet gaze . . . and relaxed as he saw the warmth within them.

“I thought I might have overstepped my boundaries,” he replied, and Marik sighed before shaking his head.

“Far from it, little one,” he murmured affectionately, smiling as Malik flushed slightly with the endearment.

The others watched with something akin to amusement, and not without a hint of wonder at the two. Both of them were changing literally right before their eyes, and it was with glad hearts that they welcomed those changes. They settled in to lunch with some light hearted banter. Kaiba was absent from school again, in all likely hood running his company.

Thinking of Kaiba, Yami wondered where exactly the brunette had disappeared to this time. They hadn’t seen him in a few weeks now, and while it wasn’t abnormal for the young CEO to disappear on occasion, he usually let them know he was alive somehow.
If he’d had any idea, he would have been very worried . . . for more than one reason.


*-------*-------*-------*------*


“What do you mean, he’s coming to Japan?” Sapphire eyes snapped blue fire at his closed doors as Seto snarled his question into the open phone line.

“Ashida Ishtar just announced that he is making a diplomatic trip to Japan, ostensibly to open negotiations for a treaty. He just told us today, Mr. Kaiba. He intends to leave tomorrow.”

Light fingers ran through sable hair raggedly as Seto thought out his next move. He’d planted his spy in the Ishtar household with care, trying to come up with enough evidence to have the man put away for the rest of eternity for what he’d done to his son as well get advance notice on any of the man’s plans to reclaim Malik. Although they’d come up with nothing in the evidence department . . . Ishtar was too careful for that . . . he was glad now that he’d been spending the money to keep the guy there.

If Ashida Ishtar was coming to Japan, he was coming for one thing, and that was not for diplomatic missions. He was coming for Malik.

“Keep an eye on his itinerary, and let me know if he makes any moves toward Domino,” the young CEO growled before hanging up the phone. Standing up, he paced to the floor length windows in his office, staring out over the bustling city thoughtfully.

Yami and the others would have to be warned. He hadn’t told them of his intentions when he’d done this . . . but then, he had his own reasons for wanting to see the young Egyptian safe.

He shuddered as he remembered his own horrific childhood, his stepfather’s abuses before his unfortunate accident. Gozaboro Kaiba would never pay for his crimes . . . but Seto would consider it a step toward his own healing if Ashida Ishtar paid for his.

Grabbing his briefcase, he strode for the door after glancing at the clock to check at the time. School would be out soon . . . and he wanted to warn the others as soon as possible. Steps needed to be taken to ensure that Malik remained in safety . . . and he would see to it that those steps were taken. He owed it to himself and to the stepfather that had made him what he was today.