STRAWBERRY TEA


»Malik! Malik!« Bakura shook Malik to wake him up. Malik slowly moved and moaned a bit »Yes?« he asked with a whisper. »Why are you sleeping already?« Bakura asked »You know you have work to do.« Marik curled up, trying to hide his face in the blanket »I know. I will do it…just…later« he said quietly, falling back asleep. »Malik, you said you would manage. Now do so.« Bakura said. Malik tryed to stay awake and managed a whisper »…I will…just let me rest a bit…« »Yeah, yeah.« said Bakura, dragging Malik out of bed.

He did not know how tired Malik was. Malik hadn't had a good sleep in over a week. He was working over night just to save up some money.

»Okay« said Malik when he was standing and slowly returned to his work and Bakura returned to the couch to watch TV. »Come on« Malik mumbled and rubbed his face to wake himself up. He sighed and continued washing the dishes. When he was finished he brought a bowl of chips for Bakura into the living room. He set it down and returned to the kitchen.

Ryou got lucky and Bakura let him in control again. He smiled and followed Malik to thank him. Malik shook his head but it did not help. He thought of drinking some coffee but he hated it and he probably did not have any. He oppened the water and put his head under it. He sighed. The water was not cold.


--

Malik oppened his eyes and saw dark around him. He was lying on his bed. 'What? But…I was awake… When did I get…' he touched his hair and felt it was wet. 'I fell asleep in the kitchen? Bakura probably couldn't wake me and took me here. Now I'm going to get yelled at.' He sat up and looked at the clock. It was 4.30 a.m.. Malik thought it would be best if he got up and finished his work. But he could not get up. He was too tired. »Whatever« he said tired and frustarted and lyed back down.


»Malik« a soft voice called his name »Malik, wake up«. Malik oppened his eyes into the soft morning light. »Good morning« Malik rubbed his eyes and saw Ryou's soft smile. »Ryou…you're back« Malik said surprised. »Mhm« Ryou nodded. Malik sat up and reached to hug Ryou. Ryou sat down on the bed and hugged Malik. »I missed you« said Malik, feeling so relieved and safe in the soft hug. »I missed you too« said Ryou and gave Malik a soft kiss on the cheek. »Was Bakura torturing you again?« Malik only chuckled a bit in response. »I wish he would be nicer to you« Ryou said. »I guess he's still a bit upset that you picked me over him.« Malik said. »But I like it this way« said Ryou, looked into Malik's eyes and smiled. Malik gently stroked Ryou's soft cheek »I missed you…« he said sadly. »I know. Me too.« Ryou said and leaned into a soft kiss. Malik wished it could last forever. It could not have lasted more than 10 seconds but it felt like an eternity, like heaven. Malik smiled widely at Ryou and both then continued kissing, enjoying the wonderful feeling.

»Bakura could take over at any time, right?« Malik asked what was randomly on his mind. »Yes, but I doubt he would take over as long as we're like this« Ryou said and comfortably laid his head on Malik. Relaxing even more when Malik began to stroke his hair.

»Would you like some tea?« Ryou asked. »Yes, that would be nice« Malik said with a smile. Ryou got up and went into the kitchen and made some tea. When he returned Malik wasn't lying anymore. Well, actually he was not even there anymore. It was Marik. He was sitting on the bed, listening to his MP3 USB player, slighty nodding with his head along the rhythm.

»Hy, Marik« Ryou said. Marik looked up at Ryou and smiled »Oh, hy, Ryou. You'll get Malik back soon, okay?« »Thank you« Ryou smiled and gave Marik the tea. Marik nodded as a thank. Ryou left Marik alone so he could enjoy in his music. They got along just fine. Marik always liked Ryou. But they never had anything to talk about.

Ryou thought it was awfully sweet of Marik to let him talk to Malik, even when it was his time to be in control. Malik and Marik had a nice arrangement – Marik could be in control on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – and both of them were happy with that.

Ryou tidied up the living room and opened the window lo let some fresh autumn air in. Marik was leaning on wall and listening to his music, thinking about random things and chewing on a metal piece of his braces. He had pretty teeth …it was just that he was missing one in the front and needed a fake one.

»Mind if I open the window?« Ryou asked. Marik took the braces
in his hand and said »No« »I still can't believe he did that« said Ryou. »I'm sorry« »It'ss okay« said Marik with a smile »Exccept for thfe hisssfing« Ryou chuckled a bit and was glad Marik or Malik weren't blaming him for what Bakura has done.

Ryou went over to the window but a step away from it he suddenly stopped »O- …« was the only sound he made before Bakura took over. He arrogantly smiled and opened the window. »Hey, freak« he greeted Marik. »Hey« said Marik with a little smile. He did not get angry when Bakura insulted him, well at least not today. He was in a good mood. Bakura looked at Marik's missing tooth and bursted into laugh. »You get uglyer everytime I see you« Bakura laughed. Marik shrugged and did not care.

It was a good thing Marik took the most of the insults quietly. But when Bakura did not stop teasing and he had enough he fought back, but not with words. The Yamis fought quite hard. Sometimes it looked more like a catfigth and other times Ryou and Malik found themselves laying on the floor covered in bruises and with nosebleeds. One was more helpless than the other. They could only shake their heads, smile to each other any try took care of each other's wounds. One of those fights was also responsible for Marik's missing tooth. Bakura pushed Marik down the stairs and after let Ryou take control. But it was too late for Ryou to do anything, but to take Marik to a doctor. Marik was lucky enough that he did not break his nose or suffer a concussioun.