A/N: The fic idea for Welcome Home hopped with tiny but deliberate jumps into my head as a newborn albino plot-bunny with a Sennen Ring around it’s neck (and an attitude problem,) when I was thinking my nightly Yuugiou thoughts to try get to sleep a few nights ago. (Yes, I know I need a life, Sempai.)

The song lyrics are from (our very own) Dave Dobbyn, and his song ‘Welcome Home’, which is, overall, a very nice song.

R&R!

Disclaimer: When I own Yuugiou, Adrian will have taken over the throne as Prince of Darkness and taken over the earth. Although he is pretty hot... (slaps self) Man, I always fall for the bad guys!

Welcome Home

“Malik, have you finished packing your bags yet?” Isis called from downstairs.

“Almost, Neesan!”

Today is an important day for me, Malik thought, as he swiftly packed away a pile of folded clothes.

Rishiid gently knocked on the doorframe.

Rat-a-tat.

Malik looked up and smiled at his foster brother.

“Good morning, Rishiid!”

“Good morning,”

Rishiid gestured towards the bed.

“Do I have your permission to come in?”

“Of course!”

-

Tonight I am feeling for you,

Under the state of a strange land,

You have sacrificed much to be here,

‘There but for grace...’ As I offer my hand...

-

Malik hastily shoved a pile of underwear into the last remaining space in the suitcase, blushing.

He quickly flipped the lid of the suitcase over his clothes and grinned sheepishly at Rishiid.

Rishiid chuckled and sat down on the bed. Malik came to sit next to him, leaning his head on Rishiid’s arm.

Rishiid looked fondly down at his little brother.

“So are you ready?”

Malik nodded.

“I think so.”

“Packed everything?”

Malik grimaced.

“Not yet.”

Rishiid chuckled again.

“I thought not. Do you need any help?”

“If you could lend a hand, I still need to take some of my posters off the walls.”

“I thought you’d done that.”

“Not quite,”

A blush spread across his face.

“I still have some behind my wardrobe door.”

Rishiid smiled.

‘Okay then.”

Malik got up and opened the wardrobe door. As Rishiid approached, he noticed that the posters behind Malik’s wardrobe door were all on a specific theme.

-

Welcome home,

Bid you welcome, I bid you welcome

Welcome home

From the bottom of my heart...

-

“Oh, Malik,” Rishiid sighed.

Malik looked at his feet, fidgeting silently.

The posters behind the door were all pictures of people, and there wasn’t one picture in which one person was alone. Every single poster on that door were of friends together, smiling, happy. Laughing with each other, sharing jokes and playing.

“I’d give anything in the world,” Malik began quietly. “For them to be sharing that laugh with me.”

Rishiid pulled Malik into a hug.

-

Out here on the edge

The empire is fading by the day

And the world is so weary in war

Maybe we’ll find that new way...

-

The last small box had been carefully packaged up by Rishiid and handed to Malik, who hugged it tightly and smiled thankfully at his older brother.

“Thank you, akhee. You don’t know how much these posters mean to me.”

“I think I do,” Rishiid looked at his little brother with a smile. “You’d give anything in the world to have even just one friend. Anything at all.”

Malik nodded slowly.

Rishiid reflected on what he’d seen just days earlier.

“What about Bakura-san? I saw him at the park once, sitting alone on a park bench.”

Malik hesitated before answering.

“He’s scared of me... I- I know he is... Well, at least, he’s scared of Him. Scared of me because of what He did to him... I don’t want to scare him, akhee.”

Rishiid smiled sadly.

“Of course not, Malik.”

But he knew that Malik wanted badly to be Bakura-san’s friend.

-

So welcome home,

See I’ve made a space for you now?

Welcome home

From the bottom of our hearts

Welcome home from the bottom of our hearts...

-

“Akhee, where are you going?” Isis asked, rushing outside.

Malik put on his helmet.

“I am going to say goodbye to them. Can I?”

Isis smiled.

“Of course. But come right back!”

-

Keep it coming now - keep it coming now

You’ll find most of us here with our hearts wide open

Keep it coming now - keep on coming now

Keep it coming now - keep on coming now...

-

Malik timidly entered the door of the Kame Game shop.

Yuugi-san, Jounouchi-san, Masaki-san and Hiroto-san were all there, and they looked up as he entered.

“Ah!” Yuugi-san smiled and rushed forward to greet him. “Ishtal-san! O-genki desu ka?”

“Ii desu,” Malik smiled back. “Minna ohayo gosaimasu!”

“Ohayo gosaimasu!” they replied.

“I just came by to see you for the last time... because I am going back to Egypt today!”

“Already?” Masaki-san was astonished.

Malik nodded.

“Hai! And I know it seems sudden, and that my time here in Domino was short... but I want to say thank you for everything, and that one day I hope I can return the favour!”

Hiroto-san and Jounouchi-san smiled at him.

“Daijoubu desu!” they replied in unison.

“Ah - Chootto matte, Ishtal-san!” Yuugi ran to a shelf at the back and collected something.

He ran back and handed it to Malik.

“Here is something to remember us by - I hope you have a nice time back in Egypt! Ganbatte kudasai!”

Malik cradled the booster packs in his hands, hugging Yuugi, Anzu, Jounouchi and Honda each in turn.

“Arigatou gosaimasu! When I play these cards, I will remember you and the things that you did for me! Minna ganbatte, to sayonnara!”

“Sayonnara!” they called back to him.

“Sayonnara, Muto-san!” Malik said, waving.

“Sayonnara, Ishtal-san!” the old man replied.

“Minna sayonnara, and give my regards to the Pharaoh!”

-

There’s a woman with her hands trembling - Haere mai...

And she sings with a mountain’s memory - Haere mai...

-

Malik was travelling down the length of the road when he saw the Kaiba’s black limousine pass him by. He did a sharp 180º.

“Kaiba-san!” he called desperately. “Kaiba-san!”

The limousine pulled over and as Malik followed, Seto Kaiba rolled down his window.

“Kaiba-san!” Malik hopped off his bike and hurried to the window.

“Ishtal-san,” the young CEO regarded him coolly.

“Kaiba-san! I - I leave for Egypt today! And I just wanted to say sayonnara, and ganbatte for the future!”

And Malik watched anxiously as Kaiba’s mouth turned upwards into a slow smile.

“Ganbatte mo, Ishtal-san! It was nice knowing you.”

And he held out his hand for Malik to shake. Malikshook it, smiling, and bent down and little, peering through the window, to salute the younger Kaiba in a friendly way.

“Ganbatte, to sayonnara, Mokuba-san!”

Mokuba smiled brightly.

“Ee! Ganbatte kudasai, Ishtal-san!”

“Sayonnara!”

-

There’s a cloud the full length of these isles

Just playing chase with the sun

And it’s black and it’s white and it’s wild

All the colours are one...

-

Malik gently knocked on the door of apartment number 801.

“Hai?... If it is you, Mr Kogarashi, I have not the rent yet!” a soft voice replied nervously.

“Bakura-san? I- it’s me! Ishtal-san!”

He heard someone fumbling with a lock, and Bakura-san’s pale face peeked out at him.

“Ah - Ishtal-san! P-please, come in...” and he opened the door to let him in.

Malik entered, and smiled at Bakura-san.

He smiled back, and Malik saw that he looked none the worse for wear. He was paler than ever, and thinner than Malik remembered, his blue eyes tired and lethargic.

“Bakura-san, your health seems to be deteriorating... you must eat, or you will starve!” he said in a concerned way.

Bakura-san’s eyes brightened a little at the prospect of someone caring for his health.

“I- I will...”

“Bakura-san,” Malik began. “I - I just came by to say sayonnara, and ganbatte kudasai, for I am leaving for Egypt today!”

“Oh,” Bakura-san looked sad.

“And - I am sorry that you and I did not become friends earlier, but it’s not too late, yoroshii ne? We can still email each other, okay? Call me whenever you feel lonely.”

Bakura-san smiled happily.

“O- of course, Ishtal-san!”

And the two exchanged email addresses and bid each other farewell.

Malik hugged Bakura-san.

“Keep in touch, okay? Be safe, and remember that safety comes in numbers most of the time.”

“Un... Arigatou gosaimasu, Ishtal-san! Ganbatte kudasai!”

And Malik said no more, for he knew it would trouble Bakura-san if he knew that his darkness was involved.

He pulled Bakura-san into a hug, and he knew that Bakura-san was crying.

“Don’t worry,” he began. “I’ll come back and visit you.”

Bakura-san sniffed.

“Okay,” he whispered hoarsely.

-

So welcome home,

Bid you welcome, I bid you welcome

Welcome home

From the bottom of our hearts...

-

Isis and Rishiid began to board the plane.

“Malik?”

Isis turned to see Malik, hesitating at the end of the ramp.

“So I guess this is it.” he murmured. “Once I step on that plane, there’ll be no coming back.”

Rishiid and Isis smiled.

“It’ll be alright, Malik. So long as you have your possessions, us... it’ll be okay.” Rishiid assured his brother.

Malik looked up at his older siblings and grinned.

“Don’t forget my motorbike.”

They laughed.

-

Welcome home...

-

Malik was gently shaken awake by Isis.

“Akhee,” she whispered. “We are here now.”

Malik stretched, smiling, and collected his travel-case.

-

See I’ve made a space for you now?

-

Malik stepped slowly off the plane, and shielded his eyes from the bright Egyptian sun.

-

Welcome home...

-

Rishiid clapped a hand on Malik’s shoulder, and Isis stood close beside them.

“This is it, akhee.” Rishiid smiled softly, murmuring into his brother’s ear.

-

From the bottom of our hearts...

-

“Welcome home...”

-

From the bottom of our hearts...

-

OWARI

A/N: I hoped you like it : )

Neesan Older sister

Akhee Brother (in Arabic)

O-genki desu ka? How are you?

Ii desu Good, fine

Minna Everybody

Ohayo gosaimasu Good morning

Hai Yes

Daijoubu desu Alright, fine

Chootto matte Wait a moment

Ganbatte (kudasai) Good luck

Arigatou gosaimasu Thank you

Sayonnara Goodbye (formal)

(Ganbatte) mo (Good luck) (to you) also

To And

Ee Yes (informal)

Un Okay

If you have no idea what I’m talking about in the disclaimer, go rent ‘Little Nicky’ from your nearest Blockbuster. It’ll be worth it ; )