Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Business Hours ❯ Buisness Hours-Chapter 22 ( Chapter 23 )

Just so everyone now's I'm going on Hiatus, I will update when I can but with college and such I need to concentrate on my schoolwork. Once I finish my web site I will go off Hiatus and start updating again, please enjoy!

Yami walked into the bedroom and looked at Yugi who was softly petting Ryou's hair and humming to his friend softly. Yami wanted to rush and embrace him, he had missed him so terribly and now he was back however, all Yugi could think of was other people. Yami didn't blame him honestly, he knew Yugi blamed himself for anything that happened to Ryou he even blamed himself when Bakura had gotten hurt…he was like that he would rather take the blame than anyone else, Yami supposed it was easier on him somehow. Yugi looked up and gave Yami a sad smile as he looked down at Ryou who had fallen asleep in his lap.

"Whatever mental state he had gotten himself into he seems to be out of it now...but that's not going to last Yami, Ryou can't do this anymore and neither can I...Malik too we can't do this anymore not anymore." Yugi said firmly shaking his head. "I'm tired of being hurt and pushed around by people lower than myself even I'm tired of living this way...I want a fresh start and I want this to all stop now...please Yami, help us?" Yugi asked pleading with his eyes to the man who said he loved him.

"Of course I will Yugi." Yami said unable to hold back the urge to hold and hug the boy as he lifted him gently from the bed so not to wake Ryou and left the room hugging, kissing, and reassuring Yugi as they made their way to the living room where everyone seemed a little distraught.

"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 becoming 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 down it 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 Malik would 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 would not 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.

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'll talk 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 doing here?" 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 eyes. "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." Seto paused "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?"

"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

"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."

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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