Omega19x: Ryou had been there all night long, watching and waiting. Waiting and watching. "Isis? Isis! I think he's coming around!!"
ph33r my rod: Isis, who had been idly staring out the window, turned to look back at Malik. She moved over to the bed. "...Malik?"
Omega19x: "Malik?" Ryou rubbed his hand.
ph33r my rod: Indeed, Malik's fingers were starting to twitch. He let out a quiet groan.
Omega19x: "Malik? Can you hear me?"
ph33r my rod: "Malik... come on, talk to us..." Isis lightly stroked his hair.
ph33r my rod: Malik's eyes opened, and he stared straight up at the ceiling. "...nnh..."
Omega19x: "He's awake!" Ryou smiled. "Oh... oh thank god, he's awake..."
Omega19x: "Are you all right? Malik, how do you feel?"
ph33r my rod: Malik blinked. He blinked again. And suddenly, he yelped and sprang up from the bed, not even noticing any wires that he might've been hooked up to. He fell off of the bed with a crash.
Omega19x: "Malik!!"
ph33r my rod: He pulled himself back together and scrambled over to an empty corner, curling up into a ball. "Home! I'm not home and I have to get home or daddy's gonna...!" He started babbling to himself, rocking back and forth.
ph33r my rod: "Malik?" Isis slowly approached him. "What's wrong...?"
Omega19x: Ryou approached too. "Malik?"
ph33r my rod: "S-stay away...!" Malik looked downright terrified. He was trembling, and tears streamed down his face. "I wanna talk to Isis, or Rishid, where were they? Where am I? I... I'm scared!"
ph33r my rod: Isis looked somewhat panicked as well. "...Malik, I'm right here." She reached over to him, only to have her hand smacked away.
ph33r my rod: "You're not Isis! You're too old!" Malik curled up even further, burying his face in his knees.
Omega19x: Ryou stayed back, timidly watching Malik and Isis.
ph33r my rod: Isis stared at him for a few moments, then looked back at Ryou. "Go find Dr. Malouf, and hurry. Something's wrong with him..."
Omega19x: "O... okay..." Ryou nodded, and ran to get Dr. Malouf.
Omega19x: A few minutes passed, before Ryou had almost pulled the doctor back to the room. "He... he doesn't remember who we are... and he's scared, and I don't know what's wrong with him..."
ph33r my rod: Malik was now completely huddled on the floor, hiding his face from view.
Omega19x: "Mr. Ishtar?" Dr. Malouf approached carefully. "It is me. Dr. Malouf. Do you remember who I am? Do you know where you are?"
ph33r my rod: "I know where I'm not at! I'm not at home, and daddy's going to be so mad, I..." Malik sniffled, and buried his head even further.
Omega19x: "You are in the hospital. You were hit in the head. Do you remember the accident? At your work?"
ph33r my rod: (( .......it just occured to me that he probably wouldn't be speaking Japanese. *dead* ))
Omega19x: (maaaagical plothole)
ph33r my rod: (( Oh well. Plot hole! *swims* ))
ph33r my rod: "I don't work! I'm s'posed to stay home and wait for... for..." He finally broke down into a mass of sobs.
Omega19x: "Malik?" Ryou quivered. "Dr. Malouf? What's wrong?"
Omega19x: "It appears to be some form of amnesia." the doctor answered, turning to Malik. "You are safe here. This is a place where you were brought to get better. Do you understand that?"
ph33r my rod: After staying silent for a few moments, Malik finally looked up. He was still crying, but at least he wasn't trembling as much. "I... I'm safe?" If he wasn't at home, then he wouldn't have to go through...
Omega19x: "Yes. You're safe here."
ph33r my rod: Malik looked up at Dr. Malouf, then at Isis (he had to admit, she did look like his sister), and then at Ryou. All of them seemed familiar somehow, but... "...I don't want to do the initiation, but... I don't want daddy to be mad either..."
Omega19x: "Initiation?" Dr. Malouf looked at Isis and Ryou.
ph33r my rod: Isis blinked, then gasped as she realized... "He thinks he's nine again..."
Omega19x: Dr. Malouf thought for a moment. He had read about that kind of behavior, but associated it with dissasociative fugue, moreso than amnesia. It was primarily psychological, not physiological. But in Domino, anything was possible.
Omega19x: "Malik, how old are you?"
ph33r my rod: Malik sniffled. "Nine... but I turn ten tomorrow..."
Omega19x: "... Malik, you're not nine... You're twice that age!"
ph33r my rod: "...no I'm not! Rishid is."
Omega19x: (how old is he, really? 18? 19?)
ph33r my rod: (( Malik? 18. ))
Omega19x: (whee. guessed right)
Omega19x: "Malik, you are eighteen. You just do not remember, because you were hit on the head."
ph33r my rod: Malik shook his head. "I... no... that's not right! If I was then I'da had the initiation already..." He then covered his mouth as if he'd said something wrong.
Omega19x: "Malik?"
ph33r my rod: Malik uncovered his mouth and looked down at the floor, then up at Ryou. "...how do you all know my name?"
Omega19x: "... Malik... You... me... We're... boyfriends... we're going to get married later in the year..." Ryou answered timidly.
ph33r my rod: "...I have a b-boyfriend? But... I've never even been outside!" Malik didn't look like he objected to the idea, but he still looked really confused. "You look like you're a nice person, though..."
Omega19x: Ryou felt tears swelling behind his eyelids. Malik... didn't remember him at all...
ph33r my rod: "D-did I say something wrong?" Malik frowned and wibbled, burying his face in his knees again.
ph33r my rod: Isis looked up at Dr. Malouf. "Can he be helped...?"
Omega19x: "Sometimes the memory loss is permanent, other times, it is only temporary." Dr. Malouf answered. "The best thing to do right now is to help him feel safe and secure. Show him pictures, things that mean a great deal to him, to help jog his memory."
Omega19x: "Though I would like to keep him here in the hospital for another night, for observation. It was a nasty accident."
Omega19x: "Did... did you hear that, Malik? They're going to have you stay here another night... to make sure you're okay. But you're perfectly safe here... We won't let anything hurt you..."
ph33r my rod: Malik was silent, but he bit his lip and nodded.
Omega19x: "... and I'll help you remember... Isis will too."
ph33r my rod: "...okay." He didn't know why, but somehow he felt he could trust... whoever they were.
ph33r my rod: "...Malik?" Isis moved over to him again - slowly, so that she wouldn't startle him. When he didn't back away, she carefully wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "It's alright... we'll help you."
Omega19x: Ryou only nodded.
Omega19x: "Perhaps a private room will be less frightening. Away from the harsh sights and sounds of this ICU."
ph33r my rod: "...yes, please. He doesn't remember being around all of this, and he's so shaken..." Isis looked down at Malik, who had buried his face in her shoulder.
Omega19x: Dr. Malouf left to make the necessary preparations.
Omega19x: Ryou slowly stretched out his hand. "Malik? We'll take care of yu, okay? D...do you trust me?"
ph33r my rod: Malik timidly looked up at Ryou, something telling him that he should. He slowly nodded, reaching out with his hand, which was shaking again.
Omega19x: Ryou carefully put his hands on Malik's quivering hand. "It... it's all right..."
ph33r my rod: Malik nodded again, tugging on Ryou's hands.
Omega19x: Ryou helped him up. "I... I promise... I'll be here with you... and I'll help you remember everything..."
ph33r my rod: Malik slowly stood, Isis helping to steady him on his feet. "...okay..." He then caught a glimpse of his reflection in a window and gasped.
ph33r my rod: "...I didn't know I was so tall."
Omega19x: "You're... you're 18 now..."
ph33r my rod: He was actually starting to believe it now. "I'm really... older...?" Malik started to look scared all over again.
Omega19x: Ryou nodded weakly.
ph33r my rod: Malik sniffled again, looking at the floor. "Sorry..."
Omega19x: "...s..sorry for what?"
ph33r my rod: "Sorry I can't remember..."
Omega19x: "You... you will..."
ph33r my rod: "...we'll help you, Malik. But let's get you back into bed until Dr. Malouf comes back, first... you need rest."
Omega19x: Ryou helped Malik back to the bed. "Maybe if you rest... you'll find it easier to remember..."
ph33r my rod: Malik nodded and got back in, at least remembering how to do that. "Don't leave me alone..."
Omega19x: "I... I won't... I'd never leave you alone."
ph33r my rod: Malik sniffled one last time and closed his eyes, still holding on to Ryou and Isis' hands.
Omega19x: Ryou stayed there, holding his hand, until he finally fell asleep.
ph33r my rod: (( *wiiiiiiibble* ))
Omega19x: (*wiiiiibble*)