Summary: Malik messes with Jounochi's mind. (And with his body.) Malik/Jounochi, yaoi, oneshot, weird.

Disclaimer: I am not a male manga-ka. I am a female anime addict. That said, do you really think I own Yuugiou?

Rating: T/ PG-13 for mild language and not-so-mild groping.

Notes: For dragoncircle (on LJ), with love. Forgive me; I only vaguely remember the episode this is based on, so if I've got major events out of order, I'm sorry.

Constructive criticism is very welcome.

Phantom Hands

Waves slap against the underside of the dock and splash through the spaces between the boards. It's hard to keep my balance on the slick wood, especially with the heavy chain gripping my ankle. I want so badly to reach down and fight the chain, though I know I don't possess the strength to tear the shackle apart. Even if I were strong enough, my body is not under my control, and I can't move unless Malik lets me.

As he uses my fingers to draw cards, intent on sending my best friend to his death, I feel something cold trail down my arm. It feels exactly like an icy hand. Malik turns my eyes toward my arm for a moment, allowing me to see that there's nothing there.

The invisible hand fades, and is replaced by a hand on my chest. Under my shirt.

Malik is still gloating at Yuugi. I can see Yuugi flinch as each cruel word strikes him. Malik is holding up a card and laughing. I guess he drew something good. Both of my hands are in plain sight, but the hand on my chest is making long slow strokes across my skin.

I have an awful feeling that even if I could move of my own accord, the hand will still follow me.

Now I can feel a second hand on my ankle, right above the chain. Its fingers crawl up my leg, like a spider looking for the right place into which to inject its venom.

The hand on my chest trails lower, toward the waistband of my jeans, while the one on my leg creeps up the inside of my thigh. I'm getting scared now. This is just weird.

Malik has wrenched my face into a parody of a smile. I think the smile is directed at me. He must be happy that I'll watch Yuugi die, while the hands torment me.

Yuugi is shouting something about friendship and memories and remembering. Malik covers my ears, but some of Yuugi's words break through. He's saying I have to fight Malik. That he's got a plan, if only I can gain control for just a couple of minutes.

The clock is ticking down the last few seconds before the anchor drops. I don't have a couple of minutes! How does he expect me to fight the hands, the hands which are multiplying every second and ghosting over my shoulders and my throat and-- "Malik, get your hands off my ass!" I shout.

I...shout?

Yuugi is staring at me. Somehow I don't think those were the words he'd expected me to say once I could speak again.

Then the anchor falls, and we are flung into the icy water. As real, solid hands grab me and begin to haul me toward air, I hear Malik's cruel, cold voice inside my head. That was fun. Hope to see you again sometime.

I hope you don't, I think.

Just before I break the surface, I hear him one last time. Keep hoping, he says.