Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Love Me if You Can ❯ One ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Important Characters:

Malik Ishtar - 23 years old; youngest of the Ishtar siblings.

Bakura Hideyoshi - 24 years old; Malik's best friend since Jr. High, he's `in love' with Malik's sister, Isis.

Mai Kujaku - 24 years old; friend of Bakura, roommate of Ryou. She is the matchmaker.

Ryou Tanaka - 22 years old; café employee studying interior design, roommate of Mai, distant friend of Anzu. Has a crush on- more like an obsession with - Bakura.

Anzu Mazaki - 22 years old; friend of Ryou; dreams of becoming a dancer. Has a grudge against men for some unknown reason.

Mariku Ishtar - 24 years old; second oldest of the Ishtar siblings. Has a grudge against Malik and is a womanizer.

Isis Ishtar-Mutou - 25 years old; eldest Ishtar siblings, married to Atemu Mutou.

Atemu Mutou - 25 years old; husband of Isis; childhood friend of Anzu's.

Malik's ex-girlfriend - 23 years old. Her name is currently unknown by all except for Malik, Mariku, and Bakura. Presumably she ran off with Mariku after breaking up with Malik - or maybe she had hooked up with him even before the breakup. She'll be referred to as She/Her.

~*~

Love Me if You Can

-Chapter One-

~*~

“I don't think this is working. We've tried everything to solve our problems, to settle our differences, but it just seems so hopeless.”

There was a long silence before a curt reply. “What are you saying?”

“...I think we should see other people,” was the answer to his inquiry. “Of-of course, I still want us to be friends, because I do cherish your friendship more than anything in the world.”

Malik Ishtar snorted, taking a half burned cigarette from his lips and throwing it on the ground, smashing it with his sneaker. He thought back on the day of their breakup, which had been almost two months ago now. “Friendship... what a load of crap,” he muttered. He hadn't heard from Her once since that day. After almost two full years of dating they had broken up, and it was as if She had disappeared from the face of the earth.

“Humph... I have no doubt about whom She disappeared with,” he thought aloud, his lilac orbs narrowing a bit. Coincidentally, he hadn't heard from his older brother Mariku in almost two months now. “Damn bastard always does this. Can't he find a girlfriend of his own, instead of just seducing mine?”

Malik walked down the street, his already dark skin soaking up the crisp, November sun. He stopped moving when he reached the building he had come all the way downtown just to see. It was a tall structure, almost ominous appearing due to the large statues that guarded the premises. It had been who knows how many years since he had last set foot near the place, and was silently questioning whether he had the gall to actually go inside.

Several women dressed in long black gowns and white headdresses looked at him in a disapproving manner as he took a few steps closer to the building. They disliked his baggy clothes, the gaudy gold jewelry adorning his body, and the tattoo on his arm. But being women of God, the only thing they could say to him was: “May the good Lord bless you,” and allow him entrance into the Domino Catholic Church.

Malik felt uncomfortable in places that were deemed holy, but still he went inside. He figured it would be good for him to go to reconciliation, so that he could be purged of malicious thoughts such as wanting to murder his elder sibling.

The church was quiet since mass had let out much earlier in the afternoon. The only people inside were the nuns who had followed him, some altar boys, and the priest, whom Malik supposed was back in the confession room. Sure enough there was a light on outside the door, which meant that there was someone inside.

Glancing over his shoulder once to make sure no one was looking, Malik quickly threw opened the door and entered the room. He sat down at the vacant seat next and sighed loudly. The priest was silent, sitting patiently on the opposite side of the room. A dark screen separated them, and the only thing Malik could see through it was the outline of the pastor's body.

Sighing again, Malik clasped his hands together and leaned forward, placing his forehead in his palms. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned...” he said slowly, closing his eyes.

The small room was quiet, and Malik figured that the priest was just waiting for him to continue. However, before he could even open his mouth to say something more, there was a small chuckle.

“You bet your ass you have,” the man behind the screen agreed.

Before the Egyptian young man could even blink, the screen was pushed roughly aside and he was met with a pair of sardonic brown eyes.

“Tell me, child, what is it you have done?” the brown-eyed man asked sarcastically, a large grin on his pale face.

Malik stood up quickly, his chair falling backwards due to how fast he had risen from it. He waited for his heart rate to slow down back to normal before he looked over at the man sitting on the other side of the room. “B-Bakura..? What are you... what are you doing here?” he yelled.

Bakura Hideyoshi sniggered. “Oh, that was priceless! You jumped, like, ten feet in the air!” he said, slapping his knee. When his friend said nothing, he laughed again. “Come on, Ishtar, don't be such a spoilsport! I think it's cute that you go to confession! Honestly!”

The Egyptian growled lowly. “I don't,” he corrected. “This is the first time I've stepped foot inside of a church since Isis made us convert,” he explained, noticing his friend sigh happily at the mention of his older sister`s name. He rolled his eyes. “I just thought that if I came here, I could get some... spiritual guidance, or something.”

“Spiritual guidance,” Bakura repeated, a dumbfounded look on his face. “Are you joking? What the hell do you need spiritual guidance for?” he wanted to know, stepping from his side of the room over into the side where Malik was.

“I don't know...” Malik said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his khaki cargo pants. “I guess to help me get over...”

“Don't even say it,” Bakura interrupted him. “Why are you still so upset about that hoe, anyways? It happened so long ago. Move on with your life already. Find some other chick.”

“It isn't that simple...”

“What's not simple about it? It isn't as though you have a hard time attracting women. They're always hanging off you whenever we go clubbing,” the brown-eyed man said, brushing some of his unruly silver-white hair over his shoulder. “Look, if you're not interested in a long lasting relationship so soon, then just hook do it with some hottie at the bar and then leave by morning. That's what I do.”

Malik could only shake his head at his friend. It amazed him to no end how little respect his best friend had for women. Well, for most women, at least. There were some that he acted gentlemanly towards, but not many. “And you wanted me to set you up with Isis,” he said, letting out a small laugh.

Bakura huffed and reached into his back pocket and took out a cigarette, raising it to his lips and then searching his clothes for a lighter. “I don't get you, man,” he mumbled.

Malik rolled his eyes and snatched the cigarette from between his lips. “You're in a church, you idiot. Try to be a little reverent.” He exhaled. “So what are you doing here, anyways?” he wondered, glancing questioningly at the other.

The white-haired man lifted Malik's fallen chair and sat down so that he was straddling it, looking up at his friend. He shrugged. “I don't know. I was bored this afternoon. I had eaten lunch at that yummy café Ryou works at, and I asked him if he had seen you at all today - he got quite offended when I asked him, by the way. You should have seen it, he got all jealous and shit; it was so funny. His face was, like, pink with rage.” He stopped, realizing he had gotten off subject.

“But anyways,” he continued, waving his hands, “he said he saw you drive by on your motorcycle a few minutes before I came in, and said it looked like you were headed downtown. So, after eating, I went downtown and saw your bike parked near this church. I went in and, sure enough, you came straight to me.” He smirked. “And now I am here to be your knight in shining armor…. I will rescue you from this self-destructive depression by taking you woman-hunting!”

Malik didn't look as excited as Bakura appeared to be with the idea. “`Kura… I'm not exactly in the mood to go `woman-hunting'. If you don't mind, I just want to go home.”

Bakura stood up quickly. “No way. I got up off my ass - on a perfectly good Sunday where I could have lazed in front of the television like I usually do - and dragged myself all the way downtown just to find you. I am not letting you escape from me this easily, Malik Ishtar.” He grabbed the blonde's arm and dragged him out of the confession room in the direction of the church's exit. “If you don't want to go woman hunting, then fine, we won't go. But you're coming with me to do my grocery shopping.”

“Why do I have to go grocery shopping with you?” The Egyptian asked once they had left the church and were back out on the streets of Downtown Domino.

“Because I get lonely,” the brown-eyed man explained, wrapping his arm's around Malik's neck.

“Get off.” Malik growled, pushing his white-haired off of him.

“Fine… meanie.” Bakura sniffed indignantly and turned his head away. “all right, well, I have my car so you just follow me to the grocery store.” He waved goodbye and wandered over to the blue mini cooper which was sat illegally in a `No-Parking' zone. He grinned, quite relieved to see that no cop had driven by and towed his car, and entered the vehicle. He started the car and pulled off into traffic, checking his rearview mirror every few seconds to see if Malik was following him or not.

Malik sighed, not really knowing why he was accompanying Bakura to the store. He figured he was going out of pity. Maybe because of boredom, even. Really, what else was he supposed to do on Sunday? He didn't have to work at the museum, and he no longer had a girlfriend whom he could surprise with a visit. There were no other options left besides following his best friend around town like the loser with no life that he was.

~*~

“Aah, Publix. Shopping really is a pleasure here,” Bakura said as he pushed his metal cart down the cereal aisle.

Malik was walking beside him, his lilac orbs scanning the list of items needed. He raised an eyebrow as he read. “This is your grocery list? Bakura, this is all junk.” He held up the list, “ "Oreo O's, Oreos, Chips Ahoy, Eggo Waffles, Toaster Strudels." …The only healthy thing you have on here is steak.” He wrinkled his nose.

Bakura grinned, snatching the piece of paper out of his friend's grasp. “Hey, I never said you had to eat over at my place, you tree hugger,” he snapped. “Which reminds me, I need milk. Come on… dairy products are this way.”

“I think I know my way around Publix,” Malik grumbled.

“Yeah, but do you even eat dairy?”

“Yes, I eat dairy. I just don't eat meat and fish.”

Bakura snorted, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “I don't get you, man. How can someone not like meat? It's just so good, especially when it's rare and bloody.” He licked his lips, becoming hungry at the thought.

The Egyptian frowned. “Just stop talking. You're giving me a stomachache.” He grabbed a carton of milk from the nearest shelf and placed it in the buggy. “What else do you need? I want to hurry up and get out of--” he stopped mid-sentence, the words having been swiped from his mind as his attention was turned to something far more interesting than their discussion.

The brown-eyed man blinked. “What's your problem?” he asked, waving a hand in front of his friend's face. He growled when his question fell on deaf ears, and followed Malik's gaze to what had captured his interest. A large grin plastered itself on his pale face and he rubbed his hands together. “And you said you didn't want to hunt for women..”

Malik ignored him, continuing to stare at the young woman who was pushing her shopping cart slowly down the dairy aisle. Her chocolate brown hair was pulled up neatly in a claw clip so that it couldn't fall into her face. Her bright azure eyes thoughtfully scanned the rows of cheese and yogurts as she passed them. She stopped suddenly to grab something that she needed and place it in her cart, then crossing that item off of the small list in her right hand.

“Psst! No wedding ring. I repeat, no wedding ring!” Bakura whispered into his ear, shaking his friend's shoulders slightly.

“Get off of me,“ Malik hissed.

Bakura straightened himself. “Go talk to her. Introduce yourself or something.”

“And what am I supposed to say? `Hey, I was just walking down the aisle with my friend when I noticed that you looked exceptionally pretty standing next to that stand of English Muffins.' I don`t think so. Let`s go.” Without waiting for a response, he put his hands in his pockets and walked away. He looked at the woman as he passed her, but she seemed to take no notice of his presence. Of course now he would be pestered by his best friend about not talking to her, but he didn't care.

`It's just… too soon still. Although She really didn't love me, I still loved Her and it won't be so easy for me to just forget Her and move on. As much as I would like a new love in my life, I'm not ready for another girlfriend, another commitment.' He sighed loudly. `I don't know what to do… This is so stupid of me to be thinking this way. I mean, I hate my ex-girlfriend for using me like She did, so why the hell is it so hard for me to get over Her? Why the hell am I still so in love with Her?'

“Hey, Ishtar.”

Malik groaned as a response. “Is there something wrong with me?” he asked Bakura, keeping his eyes averted to the floor.

Bakura was a little surprised by the question. He shook his head. “No, man. There's nothing wrong with you. You're just a normal guy who got his heart broken. It's perfectly fine to feel the way you're feeling right now. Sorry if I've been, well, pressuring you to find a new girl. I just hate to see you in this depression, you know? You're my best friend.” When receiving a nod, he smiled. “Don't worry so much. Time heals all things.”

“Wow, Bakura… that was impressively insightful and deep for you.”

The white-haired young man shrugged his shoulders. “I suppose I've been hanging around Ryou for so long that he's beginning to rub off on me.” He shook his head. “Or maybe I've just watched too many sappy movies,” he added as an afterthought before proceeding to the check out. “In any case, don't worry about it. Things will work out in the end for -- Plastic, you idiot!” He snapped at the bag boy. “You bag my groceries every fucking week; how the hell do you not know the answer to that question?”

The young teenager blanched and nodded his head quickly, taking out a plastic bag and shoving the box of Oreo O's inside of it, followed by the other items the frightening white-haired man had purchased.

Bakura snatched the bags from the bag boy and sauntered towards the exit of the store. “Honestly,” he said to Malik, “What kind of people do they hire at these places? I feel like I'm surrounded by incompetent morons every time I enter this Goddamned grocery store. I've changed my mind; shopping is not a pleasure here anymore.”

Malik rolled his eyes. “Can I go home now?” he asked, becoming bored with his best friend's attitude. Sure, he loved Bakura like a brother - probably more than he loved his own brother, at the moment - but that didn't mean he had to put up with the other's anger issues all the time. He didn't wait for Bakura to respond. He just hopped onto his bike and placed his helmet on. “I'll see you later,” he promised, flipping the kickstand up and starting the engine.

Bakura nodded, watching him leave the parking lot. He opened the trunk of his car and placed the grocery bags inside before he too left. He went in the opposite direction as Malik, deciding to make a small stop on his way back home. Being the surprisingly good friend that he was, he decided that he would help his Egyptian friend get over his ex-girlfriend. And the only way to do that was to have Malik fall in love with another woman. Thankfully he knew just the person who would be able to find Malik the perfect girl; Ryou's roommate and close friend, the aspiring model, Mai Kujaku.

~*~

“So you want me to set him up on a blind date?”

The blonde-haired, violet-eyed Mai Kujaku lounged back on the couch in the living room of the spacious Tanaka-Kujaku apartment. Across from her, seated comfortably on a black leather recliner chair, was Bakura. He had his bare feet propped up on the glass coffee table and his arms stretched out behind his head. He nodded to her question, his narrow brown eyes slipping closed for a moment.

“Precisely,” he said. “You know the name, number, and address of almost every person in this city. If there's anyone who can find Malik a decent chick, it's you.”

Mai looked flattered. She tossed a strand of rebellious hair out of her face and smiled. “Well, I do know quite a few women who are currently looking for a nice guy to settle down with. However, Malik needs someone different. Someone he won't easily get bored with; someone that will put up a small fight… you know, the `hard to get', `love me if you can' type,” she explained.

“Who do you have in mind?”

Mai glanced over at Ryou, who was over in the kitchen making tea for himself and Bakura. “Hun,” she called out to him, catching his attention rather quickly, “do you still have your old high school yearbook?” she asked.

Ryou blinked, pursing his lips as he thought for a moment. “I believe so. Why?”

“I need to see it real quick… I want to show Bakura the girl I'm setting Malik up with.”

A look of understanding came across Ryou's face and he smiled. “Oh, all right.” He walked out of the kitchen and down the hall, entering his bedroom for a moment and then coming back out with a large book in his hands. “Here you are,” he said to Mai. “Take it, it's heavy.” He handed her the yearbook and then wandered back into the kitchen to get the tea.

Mai flipped through the yearbook, stopping only when she came to the senior pages. She pointed to a specific photo on the page; it was of a girl with ocean blue eyes and shoulder-length brown hair that was tied back from her face by a ribbon that perfectly matched her pink uniform top. Her smile was bright and toothy, and her face glowed with happiness.

“Her name is Anzu Mazaki,” Mai explained. “I used to take a dance class with her until I started becoming serious about a modeling career. We still keep in touch. She's also good friends with Isis' husband.” She stopped, seeing the scowl that appeared on the white-haired man's face. She chuckled. “Stop sulking, loser. You had no chance with her even before Atemu came along,” she told him. “Now, back to Anzu. She's the same age as Ryou, and attends the same college as he does. I'm sure that he can talk to her and see what day she's free for a date.”

Ryou nodded his head, taking a seat on the couch next to Mai. He handed a cup of tea to Bakura, who took it wordlessly. “I can do that,” he said. “I see her almost every day. The only thing is…” he stopped, looking down at the drink in his hands. “She's never said anything about wanting a boyfriend. She never dated anyone in high school, not to my knowledge, at least. She said that she thought of all the guys as immature pigs; for what reason I have no idea. I don't think her opinion of men has changed any since that time.

Bakura frowned and then looked at Mai. "Why do you have to pick someone difficult, huh? Malik just needs a rebound girlfriend, not some hard to please hater of men."

"Malik needs more than a rebound girlfriend, he needs someone to actually love him. And Anzu isn't a hater of men. I'm sure she has her reasons for not dating before, but I think it's time for her to put those reasons behind her and move on because, well, she isn't getting any younger."

Ryou looked offended by the comment. "Are you saying she's old? Because then you're saying I'm old. And, need I remind you, you are three years our senior," he said, taking a sip of his tea,

"Frowning like that will give you wrinkles," Mai snapped, glaring threateningly over at Ryou. She hated when he compared their ages.

Ryou stood up and quickly ran over to the recliner where Bakura sat. He quickly ducked behind the chair, wrapping his arms around Bakura's neck for protection. "Baku-chan, do I look old?" he asked, trying to prove his blonde-haired friend wrong.

Bakura snorted, pushing Ryou away. "Lay off; you look fine." He glanced back at Mai. "So you think that he'll like her?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. At this time, he honestly had no clue what his best friend wanted. Malik seemed displeased with every woman he came across, all because he was still grieving over Her. However…

`It's time for that to change. Malik needs to move on. It upsets me to see him this way. As much as I hate to admit it, he means a lot to me… I don't want him to hurt any longer. The only way to mend a broken heart is to fall in love with someone else, someone who is faithful and trustworthy. Malik not only needs someone who will love him, but he needs someone who will stand by him no matter what.'

Bakura glanced down at the picture of the young girl in the yearbook. His brown eyes narrowed slightly and he placed his chin in his hands thoughtfully. `Can you be the one to bethere for him, Anzu Mazaki?'