Buisness Hours

"Ryou will be okay
everyone, Malik me you and him need to talk but not tomorrow when Ryou feels a
bit better would be best." Were not going to do this anymore Malik, I don't
care how but we can't it's just not possible anymore especially for Ryou...I
wouldn't let him out again otherwise he'll start letting the customers hurt him
again." Yugi said knowing what Ryou would do just not to feel anymore.

"But..." Malik began
"I understand what you want Yugi and I agree but it's not that easy we
need this money to afford this place I can't go to live my sister you have no
one else but you father who is probably either dead or in ICU and all Ryou has
is an abusive uncle and neglecting father...the apartment's are to small to
hold six people we have nothing and nowhere to go." Malik said

"...You could call in a
favor..." Yugi said noticing Malik go slightly ridged.

"I don't want his help
Yugi, I’ve accepted his help once I won't do it again...he might actually
forget what he has done to us and decide to take something in return and I
won't let him use me like that." Malik said

"I know it sounds crazy but
he's the only one who we can turn to and I don't think he'll do that Malik...I
think he might actually be our only life-line at the moment." Yugi said

"Who?" Bakura spoke up ominoming curious as the two boy's realized that they were talking without even
noticing the other three were hanging on their every word.

"Seto Kiaba." Malik
growled "I used to work street corners and such, I’ve been doing this much
longer than Ryou and Yugi have and one night it got bad and afterward I called
Seto for help...he helped and we ended up sleeping together the next day."
Malik sighed "He thought it was more than it was and tried to get me to be
with him using most unpleasant tactics and I nearly gave into him but he
finally stopped...he said if we needed him he would help us." Malik stood
up and punched the wall "But the last thing I want is to be near him! I
don't want that bastard to think that by helping us it's a way to redeem
himself for hurting me and my friends!" Malik bellowed

"Malik Ryou needs
help!" Marik said "He cannot do this anymore just like Yugi said if
he is forced to continue this he'll either end up going insane or killing
himself...you and Yugi are not far from the same situation, before you reach
that point please use this Seto guy...we'll be with you every step of the way I
swear it to you we won't let him hurt you." Marik said going to his knees
to look Malik in the eye as the said boy broke down and ran to Bakura hugging
him and crying into his shoulder.

"I'm so sick of being hurt!
I don't want to be hurt anymore I just want to love and live without anymore
shame!" Malik said crying desperately on Bakura’s shoulder who tried to
sooth him. Yugi sniffled burying his head in the crook of Yami’s neck and
silently let a few tears slide, when Malik broke dow was was hard for Yugi not
to cry with him, he wad his support and if it broke it brought him down too.
Marik leaned up against the wall burying his face in his hands wanting to cry
but not allowing himself to do so he was shocked when pale arms encircled him
as he found Ryou in his arms although he was silent Marik accepted his loves arms
as he buried his face in his white hair letting a few tears fall in happiness
and sadness at their situation. He hoped Malikld mld make this call so he could
hold his lover without his love having the blank expression and silence as he
did now...He loved Ryou with all his heart and only wished his happiness, if he
had to sacrifice everything just to make him happy...he would.

The Next Morning…

Malik
glared at Seto's house. He would come alone, knowing Seto woult het help if
he'd brought someone with. He sighed and ran a hand through his platinum hair.
Nothing made him hate this house more, than knowing the smug smirk he'd meet on
the other side of that door. "No help comes without a price...and I don’t
want to pay it..." Malik mumbled, slowly walking towards the door.
"He hurt my friends...tried to use them to make me play into his hands
again...and here I am...walking into them." he murmured, now inches from
the door. He sighed again, looking very miserable, and very angry at not only
Seto, but at himself, before he gave the door an irregularly soft knock.style='color:black'>

The butler walked to the door
opening it and staring oddly at the boy before him "May I help you?"
He asked keeping a firm hand on the door so the boy wouldn't be able to push
past him if he tried.

"I'm
here to see Seto" Malik mumbled, sounding very unhappy about it.
"Just tell him it's Malik...He'll know who I am." he grumbled,
crossing his arms and looking away. The longer he stayed, the more he just
wanted to curse Seto out, and storm away...but there wasn't another option to
take...

The butler nodded noticing the
name, "He's in his study, go into the parlor and he'll be with you in a
moment." The butler said walking away after pointing to the direction of
the parlor.

Seto sat at his desk making modifications to his latest technology as the
butler told him Malik was there. Seto frowned slightly.

"Should I send him away?" The butler asked,

"No, I’llk tlk to him." Seto said standing and walking into the
parlor going unnoticed by Malik who was staring blankly at the carpet.
"Malik? What are you doinre?&re?" He asked shaking his head slightly.

Malik
glared. "I need help..." he mumbled, before looking away. He was
hoping to keep this as short and sweet, as possible, should Seto decide to get
any cruel or bastardy ideas.Seto tilted his head to the side
"Since when? You would usually kill before asking me for help...even after
I left you alone you treated me like the plague, what has changed?" Seto
asked folding his arms true he could use Malik easily but he didn't want to boy
to really hate him anymore then he already did, besides he promised if Malik
really needed him he would help.

"Trust
me, if there was someone else who could help, I wouldn't have come. I didn't
want to come as it was...but..." Malik sighed. "Are you going to help
or not?" he said, changing the subject sharply. "Because if you're
not, I'd rather you just turned me down, rather than making it seem like you
will."

"I told you I would help if
you ever needed, it wasn't just a line to get you to trust me again...that
ideas a little far-fetched, but what is it you need?" Seto asked

"Money..."
Malik mumbled. "We just need some money..." he said shaking his head.
"We can’t make rent this month...and Yugi and Ryou cant do this
anymore."

Seto nodded "What about
you?" He asked going to his desk and pulling out his checkbook

"What
does it matter to you?" Malik said defensively. "We just need
rent."

"It matters because you used
to be my best friend!" Seto said standing also becoming defensive
"Jesus your so fucking paranoid, I plead temporary insanity for what I did
to you and to your friends and I’ve said I’m sorry a million times and I know
it doesn't make it all go away but the least you could do it try and forgive
me...besides Otogi just won't let you quit, he might let one of you go but all
three of you I wouldn't count on it...where you are staying now isn't going to
keep you safe Malik." Seto sighed "You and I both know Otogi can be a
decent guy but if you get on his bad side he'll make you pay for it dearly,
aside from me he's the only one who knows where you live Malik, what if that
changed? What if he told everyone where you and your friends live?" Seto
said seriously knowing that if Otogi got mad enough he could really hurt Malik
and the others.

Malik
sighed. "Just stop it...we'll figure something out." he murmured,
looking away.

"Malik...I’m not trying to
hurt you okay." Seto said gently turning his face so he could look into
his eyequotquot;There has to be something else I can do besides give you rent
money, I could give you a place to stay while you could find a way to relocate
and I would be the only one who would know where you were, not even Otogi would
bother you." Seto suggested.

"No."
Malik said flatly. "Even if I forgave you for hurting my friends, I don’t
think I could stand living in the same house as you." Malik grumbled
stubbornly, pulling away from Seto. "I don’t want you thinking you could
sweet talk me anymore Seto. Last time I turned to you for help, I was confused,
and you got some idea that I loved you. I don’t want you to think that idea is
still holding some truth to it." Malik said shaking his head. "I
don’t like the idea Yugi and Ryou being near you either, I doubt they'd be glad
to see you."

"I doubt that as well, but do
you honestly think with all the money I have I only own one house?" Seto
said he knew Malik wouldn't agree to staying in the same house with him, but he
wanted to help "I have a country home not to far from here, it's kind of
out in the middle of nowhere and there’s no one close by...but it'll be safe
for you, Ryou, and Yugi." Setusedused "I'm not trying to trick you
Malik, I swear I’m not trying to sweet-talk you in to trusting me it's to late
for that, I’m not a complete idiot but if there’s a way I can help I want
to...I don't even use the place I’m so busy so you can stay as long as you need
to...please Malik, you don't have to prove to me that you can take care of
yourself I know you can but you have two other people who need you as well,
accept what I’m trying to give at least for them." He said

Malik
sighed and glared a bit. "No strings attached. Nothing? Just
generosity?" he asked, not wanting a hidden trick sprung on him.
"Just you wanting to help. I wont have to repay this at all?"style='color:black'>

"Nothing attached, no repaying,
just generosity." Seto said glad that the teen seemed to accept He wrote
down the address and directions as he handed it to Malik along with a blank
check "Try not to drain my bank account but feel free to use that check
whenever it's needed, I’ll take care of the bills at the country house, they
are all off currently but they’ll be up and running by this afternoon." He
went into a little lockbox taking out the key's o the house. "Hers the
keys, it's not to far from here but still a good distance you need a ride or
can someone take you?" Seto asked<>

< sty style='mso-bidi-font-size:13.5pt;color:black'>"We
can get there on our own." Malik said softly. "Thank you." he
added after a moment, getting up and heading towards the door. "Yugi and
Ryou need this." he added, before disappearing out the door. Now they had
a place to go, and a place to hide, plus emergency money. Malik sighed in
relief. "Maybe I can trust him...once and a while."style='color:black'>

Seto smiled to himself,
"Weird, that actually felt good...at least good-deeds are not completely
selfless." He sighed going back to his office and going back to work.

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