Fit for a King chap 17

Chap 17 Testing the water

Ishizu and Rishid had left sometime late in the afternoon not too long after Malik had arrived to check up on the group. His arrival had gone well enough, although his goal of finding a reasonable place for the still reclusive thief had proven less than productful and had him in some irritable spirits as his time for searching would be hindered for the rest of the week unless he got lucky, to which Ryou calmly urged him to take his time as he was sure things would turn out ok so long as he gave the thief his space until he settled.

Malik accepted the comment, although Ryou suspected it wasn’t well taken, and simply stated he’d still give some time looking after school, to which Ryou accepted as well as he could. Given he was grateful that he had a friend who was so concerned for his well-being he was a bit shy about the lengths he was taking. He paused as his mind hooked on the subject of friends and he felt himself pale more than he normally was, “Ah… Malik. You haven’t told the others have you?? About him?”

Malik, who had immediately looked to the hall in response, looked back and blinked, “You mean Yugi and the others?” Ryou nodded stiffly, to which Malik immediately understood why, “No I hadn’t Ryou… Not about Akefia. Gods no… Otherwise I’m sure Jounouchi and Honda would have already made a mess of things…”

Ryou gave a light chuckle, “With Yugi right in the middle trying to stop them…” he commented, easily picturing the scene in his head of two angry guys who were known to pick fights arguing as both attempted to get through the door first, when another, shorter kid with peculiar hair pleaded sternly in vain to stop them.

Malik chuckled, also imagining the scene, “That’s about right. But no I hadn’t told them about Akefia… although they might know something of his effect.” Ryou looked back questioningly to which Malik continued, “Well it’s not exactly a secret now how you up and left, Ryou. Like I said Anzu and I went a bit nuts looking for you and Anzu actually called Yugi for his help, which got to the others as you can imagine…” Ryou felt his head shrink into his shoulders in shame, “It’s ok. When we found out where you were, we quickly told them you were ok… although you can expect to hear an earful tomorrow. Probably wondering about what all happened; I’m sure Anzu mentioned something about a man being found in the ruins by your father and likely they’ll want to know about that. They didn’t show up today because I figured it best to say you’d be in late but would be at school tomorrow. Mostly to prevent unwanted confrontations…”

“I see…” Ryou managed, feeling an inward dread at the thought, “Thank you for that Malik… I really appreciate it.”

Malik hummed, “No problem.” He said simply.

“It’s a huge help. I’d like to break this news to them myself if I can… I’m not sure how they’ll take it. But I’d prefer it at school than for them to show up here and find out themselves. That would be a nightmare…”

Malik nodded understandingly, “Exactly… and I’ll leave that to you. If I’m in the cafeteria at that time I’ll help you out… but be sure that I’ll tell them exactly what I think of the situation.”

Ryou nodded, “I understand.”

Malik paused at his own comment, leading him right back to a question of his own, “Ryou. I know you’re a good guy, more than a lot of people I’ve ever known… but I can’t help but find myself questioning you. Had it been anyone else on earth I would have said “well that’s just Ryou.” But for you to take in the one person in history that you fear the most?” he looked at the silverette intently, “If you would, explain that to me.”

Ryou paused at Malik’s question and looked at the floor, uncertain of how to word it, “I guess I’m still just being me Malik…” he said at length, “I can’t exactly tell you why I thought to take him in. You’re right. I am still afraid of him for all he’s done in the past… Maybe it’s because in a way I feel sorry for him being basically all alone. I know how that feels and maybe I just thought that if I offered him some sense that he was welcomed in it might do more good than if he’d been turned away. Plus…” he paused a moment, unsure if he should continue.

“Plus….?” Malik inquired when he saw Ryou begin to shift uncertainly.

“I don’t know Malik… it’s… stupid really because even I berate myself for it, but I can’t help but think that even though he was in the Ring he himself wasn’t the one doing all those terrible things to me and other people. That was… Zorc.” he managed, still uncomfortable saying the name as if by uttering it it would call the demon back from hell, “I guess I’m just thinking that we were more or less in the same boat is all and maybe there’s no reason for me to actually be afraid of him.”

Malik listened carefully, still trying to grasp Ryou’s reasoning, but found he was still more or less in the dark, and more than likely from his demeanor at the moment, so was Ryou. At length he sighed, “Hmm… I suppose it’s no surprise you’d want to help where you can. And if it goes over ok, then I guess it’ll count as a win. And if this somehow helps you get over your own fear I guess that just adds to it.”

Ryou nodded, “Yeah. I know it doesn’t make much sense… but if anything I can say I did my part in it in the end, even if it amounts to little.”

Malik gave a wry smile and was about to reply when his phone went off drawing his attention, “Ah. Hold on Ryou, It’s Anzu.” He explained as he stood and headed to the side.

Ryou nodded and looked to his hands, subconsciously running his return to school in his head… how that would go he could only guess, and he hoped that it would go smoothly. He smiled some. His friends were good, and with Malik and, without a doubt, Yugi, things might go on without a real issue. His thoughts were interrupted when Malik said his goodbye,

“Everything ok?” Ryou asked.

“Oh yeah. Anzu just got out of a dance class and needs a ride.”

“Oh. I suppose you’ll be heading out then?” Ryou replied with a faint knowing smile.

Malik smiled back, “Yeah, I better. Don’t want to keep her waiting too long. It’s getting colder out…” he finished dully making Ryou chuckle a bit. Malik was still not too keen about the chilling weather in Japan and was having issues adjusting.

“I understand.” Ryou said standing and following Malik to the door, “You be careful out there.”

“No worries. I will, and you-” Malik froze, his eyes fixed passed Ryou’s shoulder.

Ryou blinked and looked back over his shoulder and also froze as he spotted Akefia standing in the hallway entrance watching the two intently. Ryou only partially relaxed when he noticed that his eye was trained on Malik with the softness of a jagged flint rock.

“So he finally shows himself.” Malik began in Egyptian.

Akefia gave a shallow chuckle that sounded more like a low grumble, “Hardly. I’ve been here for quite a while.” He finished, emphasizing that he’d been there long enough.

Malik stiffened. If that was true, he hadn’t even heard the door open let alone his footsteps, “And what for might I ask?”

“Tense aren’t we?” Akefia asked smoothly in a manner he knew would irritate the younger male. Much to his own irritation he didn’t show it if it had worked, to which he merely huffed, “I’m hungry, and your presence is making me ill.”

Malik snorted back and chose not to retort, knowing full well that that was what the thief wanted. Plus he didn’t want to be the cause of trouble in Ryou’s home. Tearing his gaze away as he noted Akefia smirking over some form of victory he looked to Ryou, “He’s fine. Just trying to provoke me more than anything I think… seems he’s hungry and I’m sure his “highness” wants service.”

Ryou took a subtle breath and calmed himself enough to notice the sensation of vague amusement and almost normal annoyance that he normally felt in the past few days. The Thief had now stepped out of the hall and was standing more or less in the living room as he continued to glare back at Malik, to which Ryou spoke up to try and settle the growing tension, “Well then I guess we both don’t want to keep company waiting. You go on ahead and go get Anzu and I’ll try and settle him down.”

Malik looked to Ryou, “Will you be ok with that?”

Ryou smiled assuringly, “I’ll be alright. He’s been cooped up in the room all day so he probably is really hungry and I can feel he’s irritated for it. I’m sure he’ll focus on food if I start preparing it.”

Malik blinked a moment before looking back at the thief who had yet to budge and sighed roughly, “Sounds about right actually… considering his frailty.” Akefia’s eye twitched slightly at the comment, getting the idea he’d just been insulted, “Alright then. I best go get Anzu then.” He said at length, still uncertain it wise that he leave now that the thief was in the room.

“Go on ahead. I’m tougher than I look Malik. And like you said he’s not exactly top shape, I’m sure I could in the very least outrun him if I had too.” He halfheartedly joked, to which Malik let a smile flicker momentarily, “Go ahead and I’ll call as soon as he heads back to his room.”

Malik nodded and turned back to the door, “I’ll likely call as soon as I get Anzu. But alright, I’ll see you in the morning then.”

“Count on it.” Ryou said with a smile before watching his friend cast one last warning glance at the thief before vanishing back down the hall reluctantly as if awaiting some sound of trouble.

When at last he was out of sight Ryou sighed and turned to look at Akefia who was now focused on him. Forcing back a cringe at his dagger sharp glare he smiled, “Hey…” Akefia perked a bit making Ryou withdraw momentarily before he spoke slowly, “You’re hungry, huh?”

Akefia glared at the boy who was speaking rather slowly to him which, for a brief moment, irritated him that he was being spoken to like an idiot, the flicker of anger was not missed on the boy who visibly tensed. Thinking a moment Akefia pushed his irritation aside as he realized that the boy speaking slowly could actually be helpful… also he doubted the boy would openly mock him while his fear was still strong. Tilting his head he looked at Ryou evenly, “Hungry…?”

Ryou paused and looked back at Akefia who repeated the word a bit harder urging him to respond, “Yeah. Hungry. You’re hungry?” he slowly moved to the kitchen, “I can make you food real quick. Erm… sit if you like.” He said slowly, making gestures with his hands as he spoke.

Akefia watched and listened intently, mentally noting every word the boy said, and much to his interest as well as benefit, along with what the boy was motioning to with each word, ‘Pisses me off to be spoken to like a foreign slave… but I suppose it’s not to be helped much.’ He thought dryly as he glanced to the motioned couch. For a moment, Akefia remained standing keeping his eyes trained on the boy who was obviously not too keen on turning his back to him. The thought amused him as that was normally a wise decision, but after a moment he snorted and allowed himself to sit down on the couch to allow the boy to settle down some, “Hungry.” He repeated a bit roughly, mostly to cover the rumble that was rising in volume.

Ryou felt himself relax a bit despite the irritable sensation radiating from the thief as he sat down and nodded, “Alright. Just wait there a minute ok?”

Akefia watched the boy as he headed into the kitchen, the sound of opening and closing doors soon following along with peculiar sounds he wasn’t completely familiar with. Most having a humming sound. The boy returned shortly with a bag in one hand which he held up to him, “These are chips.” He said pointing to the bag and then proceeded to open it revealing odd thin slices within, “They’re good.” He replied taking one out and eating it before offering the rest to him. Akefia took the bag with nothing less than a quick and well placed swipe before taking out a slice. Given the boy had randomly eaten one he figured it was well enough good to eat. After a quick sniff he popped a chip into his mouth and only gave a moment’s pause to register the taste before he began to delve more enthusiastically.

As some of the irritable sensation died away, Ryou felt himself smile a bit feeling that he’d managed a small victory in some manner or another. Still, watching Akefia swiftly downing the small bag of chips, he realized that would not keep him satiated long so he proceeded back into the kitchen to make grilled cheese and a drink.

When he finished he quickly noticed Akefia had once more took to standing and was keeping his eye trained on what he had in his hand. Ryou gulped, the sensation of being watched so closely was unnerving, more so by who was doing the watching than anything else, ‘It’s ok… if he wanted to hurt me he’d have done so by now…’ he repeated over and over as he approached, ‘Besides. He’ll probably just take his food and go back to his room.’

Akefia however, did not return to his room. Rather he took the plate from Ryou and once more set down on the couch and proceeded to stuff the sandwich into his mouth as quickly as possible, pausing only a moment to figure out what the stretching yellow mess in the sandwich was, having never seeing it melted before.

“It’s Cheese.” Ryou said softly, barely catching Akefia’s attention.

Akefia huffed and continued to scarf down his meal, which took little to no time at all. He gave a short, sharp cough from the dry item and began to gulp down what he found to be juice of some kind, the fact interesting to him seeing as the taste was rich and cold. Glancing at the boy he wondered briefly if the boy was in fact of a higher class, how else could he manage such luxury?

As he looked at him, Ryou averted his gaze and shifted uncomfortably, not unlike a timid dog. Licking his lips of his drink he grunted to get the boy’s attention, “I want more. And be quick about it boy.” He said firmly in his own native tongue, much to Ryou’s tension.

“I… I don’t understand.”

Akefia frowned irritatedly and grabbed up his plate and made a gesture to the kitchen, “More.” He said again firmly.

Ryou looked at the plate and then to the thief’s gesture almost dazed in his tense confusion, “Ah… you want more?” he questioned. A low growl from the increasingly impatient male made him recoil a bit, but the thief did nothing beyond his sharp irritated glare. After a moment he hummed to himself, “Well… It is a light meal… I suppose it would be ok for just one more. But I can’t give you any more after that….. ok?” he said slowly, worried that his words were more than likely failing miserably to reach the thief, which might make him even further aggravated.

Akefia continued to glare at the boy as he spoke, listening closely. His glare softened only slightly in the light of an interesting realization; although broken and scattered badly, many of the boy’s words were somewhat understandable. Much of what he recognized came from many of the scattered bits of foreign memory just enough for him to grasp some form of idea of what the words meant. This still left him in the somewhat frustrating predicament of attempting to piece what the boy was getting at as if he was trying to put together a shredded papyrus.

Seeing the thief appeared to be deep in thought, Ryou slowly took the plate and cup from Akefia and headed back into the kitchen, shortly returning with another sandwich, which the thief wasted no time in eating, although slower it seemed as he still appeared to be thinking of something.

Ryou at length sat down in the chair opposite Akefia and took a timid bite of his own sandwich, trying to find some means to somehow break the shaky silence, “Seems you like grilled cheese.” He paused as Akefia glanced at him from just under his mess of white hair, “The sandwich.” He said timidly pointing to the item in his hand to which the thief made no response other than a grunt before he continued eating as if he’d said nothing at all.

That one fact allowed Ryou to settle his arms on his knees in a semi relaxed manner as he continued to eat. He found himself feeling a bit more at ease that the thief was actually ignoring him more than anything else… still. Thinking of the moment he found it almost surreal. He’d never had any experience directly with the Spirit of the Ring so far as he could actually remember; whereas Yugi had stated many times that he could actually see and interact with him in some way. Thinking back on it he recalled feeling jealous of that fact despite knowing what lurked within, at least Yugi was never alone. Looking at Akefia as he gulped down his drink, the clatter of the cup as it set down, he found it odd that he was interacting with an actual flesh and blood person from an ancient era as opposed to his spirit alone. In the quiet of the moment Ryou found himself thinking of the Ring, the question Akefia had once asked of him, {When did it first show signs of its abilities?}

Ryou hummed to himself. That question, although one he didn’t like to dwell on, was one he found he couldn’t help but wonder about. He couldn’t remember when exactly his first experience with the Ring had been… somehow in the back of his mind he felt it was important, but it only brought a welling of dread in him. The sound of a rather rough belch interrupted his thoughts and made him look up to see Akefia sprawling out on the couch leisurely as if he well owned it, digging in his ear as he did so. The sight made Ryou groan shallowly, the thief’s mannerisms being the worst he’d ever actually seen recklessly displayed in front of him before. He couldn’t help but think that Jonouchi had better manners, which he almost immediately changed to as a fact as Akefia wiped his hand on his shenti.

“King indeed…” he muttered despite himself, which drew the thief’s gaze prompting Ryou to sit at attention, “Ah… well seems you ate your fill. Talking is a bit of a stretch I think. Perhaps you’d like to watch something?” he stopped. He wasn’t sure how Akefia would react to a TV, the thought of an outburst making him rethink quickly. He stopped as he looked to the large apartment window and blinked. That was a slow step he supposed.

Akefia remained laying on the couch, not quite filled to his liking but more so than the usual. Thinking about it he found himself preferring the hollow fill to the idea of vomiting, so he opted to accept it for the moment. Hearing the sound of soft footsteps across the roomwide carpet he watched his host head to the far wall where light curtains hung, which he pulled back revealing a view of lighted windows and, if one were to stand in front of the window, the street itself below. The sight made Akefia withdraw only a moment, still not completely comfortable with the way cities were now, but it was more open in the room now, which suited him better and caused him to relax slightly until Ryou’s phone went off, which to his annoyance he answered without hesitation. Bored with listening to a conversation he couldn’t well understand he stared at the open window for only a few minutes before the room once more fell silent.

The following silence allowed the sounds of traffic below to slowly drift into the apartment; the sounds, although foreign, served to let Akefia once more sink into the realization of his predicament. Glancing at the boy he frowned; the decision to leave Egypt had been, he admitted, a rather rash one. Knowing his abilities both physically as well as mentally had been limited he supposed there hadn’t been much choice in the end. He had plenty to benefit from leaving his homeland if he was to continue his existence… he shuddered as he bit back the pang that pierced him as his mind drifted to the reason he was here in the first place.

“You shouldn’t dwell on bad thoughts…”

Akefia’s eyes cut to the boy who’d interrupted his thoughts and stared at him in his usual irritable manner which made Ryou look away, “I know you can’t understand me… But it’s not good to let yourself think about bad times.” He said unconsciously rubbing the scars on his chest, “It just makes it hurt if you do... That’s why it’s good to have company. They help you get your mind off your problems… had you ever had company before?”

Akefia huffed, now looking straight out the window, only partially listening now as the boy continued, “I can imagine you didn’t often… didn’t you have anyone to look to? Family maybe…?” Ryou felt himself laugh faintly as he found himself talking to someone that couldn’t even respond, “I guess not huh?”

Akefia blinked somewhat annoyed as he looked at the boy, “I find it rather interesting that you’d start talking when you know damn good and well I have no clue what you’re talking about.”

Ryou stared back at Akefia for a moment and then sighed detecting the thief’s agitation, “Ah… sorry. You have no idea what I’m saying.” he paused and gave a short laugh, “Wow. I’ve actually been talking to you… kind of a first huh?”

Akefia just stared back at him, annoyance clear on his face, to which Ryou sighed, “Right… Sorry…” he said before he sat back down allowing the silence to settle in. Glancing to his backpack, which was still sitting beside the couch he carefully got up and reached for it, making Akefia shift agitatedly for a moment prompting Ryou to back off slightly, still holding his bag, “I’m just getting this.”

Akefia eyed the boy for a moment before he huffed and slowly reclined as Ryou sat back down, removing a small book of papyrus and slowly began to focus on a book intently, leaving the room once more silent aside from the scratching of a pencil as Ryou completed well overdue work.

It was late by the time Ryou finished his work, smiling a bit and inwardly joking to himself that his old schedule of skipping had briefly appeared and was only slightly behind again. He smiled inwardly thinking he’d have to thank Yugi for dropping off his homework, noted by the note left in his bag from his thoughtful friend.

As he set his homework down on the coffee table he looked up to see Akefia still on the couch apparently sleeping. Ryou rubbed his neck, he wasn’t sure it would be a good idea to disturb the thief lest he lash out at him. After a minute he swallowed and decided to begin turning off the lights. On the first click he jumped as Akefia sat bolt upright, head immediately in the direction of the sound, poised as if ready to strike.

“I’m just turning out the lights. See?” Ryou said after gathering himself, flicking the light on and off again hoping to calm the thief.

Akefia blinked and looked around, the room having gone considerably darker even with the window open, leading him to think that night had come on quickly. He hummed and after a moment more settled back down as Ryou headed to the kitchen, “Uhm… I’m turning out the lights now. I’ll leave the hall light on just in case…”

Akefia watched the boy turn off the main lights, leaving his main source of light the window and the hall light. To Akefia it was all the same. The night was his time and the dark proved to calm him considerably; likely he’d head to his room later… if he felt like it.

Ryou noted Akefia didn’t seem inclined to move, and for once he couldn’t feel anything particularly troublesome, leading him to think it best he leave him be and he made his way to his room. Taking a long deep breath Ryou sighed and smiled… the day had gone very well actually, his present company some less intimidating that he initially thought he’d have been. Still, he quietly locked his door and soon found himself in bed and sighed once more… tomorrow was going to be an interesting day for sure…