Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Sweet Tomorrow ❯ Meet Ryou Bakura ( Chapter 2 )
The two finally meet after Malik saves Ryou from a bully's attempts.
Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 02.23.2003 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 362 | Status: Work In Progress
Translated Names:
Bakura = Ryou
Yami Bakura = Bakura
Yami Malik = Marik
Disclaimer: Geez, Sherlock, quit chasing my ass, will ya?
Sweet Tomorrow
Chapter 2 Meet Ryou Bakura
Ryou tucked his textbooks and homework under his arm, before closing the door quietly behind him. He darted a quick glimpse at his wristwatch. It was 12:05PM. Good, he would still have time to make it to the cafeteria to eat with his friends.
He silently sighed as he ambled slowly to the cafeteria. He wondered what it would be like tutoring his crush. 'Guess I'll find out soon enough.'
[flashback]
"Malik?" Ryou gulped. "A-Are you sure, Mr. Tenoh?"
Mr. Tenoh looked surprise. "Is he really that -- er, hard to tutor?"
Ryou hesitated. He couldn't say no. After all he hadn't tutored Malik before. But he didn't want to tutor Malik. It wasn't that he doesn't like Malik. It was because of his major crush on Malik that prevented him from saying yes. He was afraid that he was going to do something really stupid in front of the Egyptian. "N-No, I don't think so."
Mr. Tenoh looked relieved. "Then what's the problem?"
Ryou hesitated again. "I haven't tutored anyone else before."
"That's all right. You're at the top of your class. You have nothing to worry about." Mr. Tenoh assured the white-haired boy.
Ryou didn't look too sure. As much as he would love to spend time with one of his older brother's best friends, he wasn't sure he was up to it. But Ryou was never one to question a teacher's request. He reluctantly nodded.
Mr. Tenoh noticed the reluctance and hesitation. "You don't have to tutor him if you don't want to. I'll find someone else. It's just that you're at the top of the grade and I received a special request for you to tutor him."
Someone specifically requested him? Now he couldn't really turn that down. "No!" He almost shouted. Mr. Tenoh was baffled. A tiny tinge of pink unfurled on Ryou's cheeks and he replied, this time in a quieter voice. "No, it's all right. I'll tutor him."
Mr. Tenoh smiled. "I know you can do it. Now, let's go over your schedule..."
[end of flashback]
Ryou was so trapped in his thoughts that he didn't notice where his feet took him. He had anticipated that they would bring him to his destination -- the cafeteria. But they didn't. Instead, he had wandered into land no sensible eighth grader would go -- the tenth grade corridor.
Even though the tenth graders and the eighth graders were only two years apart, they shared a lot of difference. In Domino, the tenth graders almost had as much power as the oldest students of the school, the twelfth graders. And, of course, they liked to abuse these powers on the youngest students of the school, the eighth graders.
They did everything they could to make life hard for the younger students. They teased them mercilessly about their clothes or looks. Some pushed them out of the lunch line and ordered them to line up at the back. Some went even as far as bullying them. Of course the teachers never went so far to restrain them. They all saw it as a tradition. A HARMLESS tradition. Boy, were they ever so wrong.
Ryou gulped. He hadn't realized where he had gone. He better run out of here before a seriously mean tenth grader recognized him and preyed on him.
No such luck.
As he whirled on his heels and prepared to run, a harsh, calloused hand shot out and clasped his elbow so tight Ryou winced.
No doubt about it. He was found. By some mean tenth grader. And not just any tenth grader. It was Don Marco. The biggest, meanest, and ugliest bully that ever existed in Domino history. He could feel it in Don's iron grip.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here? A poor, defenseless grade eight?"
Ryou closed his eyes and braced himself. Where was Bakura when you need him? He wobbled around to face Don. His knees had suddenly turned to jelly.
Don Marco was your typical playground bully. He loved to torment kids -- or, in this case, eight graders. He was a pudgy teen, more flesh than muscle, and was all brawn no brain. His dark brown hair stuck up from his pink scalp and his beady-little eyes snapped back at the world. His devious lips formed a contented smile as his pea-sized brain clumsily registered Ryou.
"If it isn't Ryou Bakura."
Ryou gulped again audibly though not visibly. Ryou was one of Don's favourites to pick on simply because Ryou was his rival Bakura's little brother. Don and Bakura's history goes way back.
The bloody fuse all started around grade sixth, Ryou estimated. Don was cheating off Bakura's test paper in mathematics and Bakura warned him to stop. Don, obviously, didn't. To say Bakura was annoyed would be an understatement. Bakura was beyond extremely irritated. And, well, he punch Don square in the stomach. Don flew back unto a desk and banged his head against the smooth Formica tabletop.
Now, Don had been trying ever since to be able to defeat Bakura, which he failed miserably every time. Therefore resolved to vent out his anger and frustration at Ryou.
"If he bullies you ever again, come tell me," those were Bakura's words when he discovered Ryou's bruises and cuts. Ryou had faithfully obeyed him. The last time he told his older brother, Bakura had angrily marched off to find Don. Ryou heard he had severely beaten Don up then dragged him to the boy's washroom and flushed his head into the toilet. Ryou had thought it was a little too extreme, but he didn't mutter anything to Bakura.
Don advanced closer. Ryou wanted to run but Don's death grip still clutched his elbow. His slim legs turned into wiggling ropes and his shoes were stuck onto the hall floor.
"You know, I really missed our little heart-to-heart moments. You never come here anymore." Don's cruel smirk widened visibly.
Ryou knew what was happening. He closed his eyes and braced himself as Don lifted his hand.
The blow never came.
Malik staggered down the corridor of the tenth graders tediously. Another day of school. Another day of torture. His lavender spheres roved over the rows and rows of metallic lockers lined up on either side of the hall as he remembered his conversation with Mr. Tenoh earlier that morning.
[flashback]
"Yes, Mr. Tenoh?" Malik closed the class door with his heel, eyeing the young history teacher thoroughly.
Mr. Tenoh was sitting behind his large desk, reading a novel and leisurely sipping his Starbucks coffee. He glanced up at Malik behind his thin-rimmed glasses. "Hello, Malik."
Malik feigned a polite smile if not warm. "You wanted to talk to me?"
"Uh, yeah. Umm, how shall I but this..." Malik heard him mutter under his breath. "You may already know from your sister Isis that you are taking tutoring, right?"
Malik nodded, recalling his shock and annoyance at Isis last night. "Yea, Isis informed me."
Mr. Tenoh's emerald gaze locked onto Malik's lavender orbs. "Well, I haven't had a chance to talk to your tutor and arrange everything for you. But it's up to you and your tutor to arrange a consistent date or time to meet. I will give your tutor everything you need --"
"Who is my tutor?" Malik interrupted, evidently impatient.
"His name is Ryou Bakura." Mr. Tenoh replied with ease and calm.
Malik's elegant eyebrows knitted as he strained his mind to remember who Ryou Bakura was from roll call. Nothing. But the name 'Bakura' caught his attention.
Mr. Tenoh detected this and answered, "He's your friend Bakura's little brother."
Malik was taken aback. Since when does Bakura have a little brother? Actually, come to think of it, Bakura did mention before about having a younger sibling. Malik just assumed a ten-year old, not someone old enough to be able to tutor him.
Mr. Tenoh ignored Malik's shock and resumed speaking. "I have already talked to the other teachers about this so if you need the time, I'll sure you and your teachers will be able to work something out of your school schedule."
Malik turned to Mr. Tenoh, amazed. Get out of school? All right!
"Of course, they'll need to check Ryou's schedule as well."
Damn.
"That is all, Malik. You may go to lunch now."
[end of flashback]
Malik sighed. Tutoring. What did he do to deserve this? He continued to amble down the tenth grade corridor.
That was when he heard Don Marco's voice. He loathed Don Marco. It wasn't just because of Bakura's rivalry, it was a lot of things. Don Marco loved to threaten people to show off. And Malik hated people who did that.
"You know, I really missed our little heart-to-heart moments. You never come here anymore."
By the sounds of it, it looked like a poor eighth grader was being creamed again. Malik started to jog towards Don Marco and his victim. It wasn't difficult. Don's portly figure stood out like a sore thumb in the empty hall.
Malik skidded to a halt a meter away, his fists clenched at his sides. "Don't you have someplace you should be, Marco? Like detention?"
Don turned around. "No, I don't, Ishtar. Just leave me alone." He started to turn when Malik grasped his arm tightly.
"You better go now. Otherwise Mrs. Dorico will find out about your little cheating on the socials test this morning."
Don gasped. "How did you --"
"Just go!"
Don obeyed instantly. Malik watched as he walked away, his shoulders bent and his eyes on the floor, like a puppy dog with its tail between its legs. He smirked. If only Bakura could've been here to see it.
He turned to face the eighth grader. His eyes widened.
Ryou was frozen with shock. He pried his eyes open and found Malik standing in front of him. So it was Malik. A tinge of pink dusted Ryou's pale cheeks.
Malik stared at the slender figure in front of him, amazed at the resemblance of an angel. The pretty boy had silk-like ivory locks that brushed past his shoulders and chocolate eyes filled with passion and gentleness. He looked exactly like a clone of Bakura; only where Bakura's features were sharp and unmistakable, his were molded to softness.
Malik extended a hand towards the boy. "Are you all right?"
Ryou nodded. "Yes, thank you."
"You are..."
"Ryou Bakura."
Malik nearly choked on the air he was inhaling. So this is my tutor?
Call it a hunch, but when Mr. Tenoh had said 'tutor' Malik had mentally pictured a boy dressed in a checked shirt with the ends tucked into his pants; thick-rimmed glasses reinforced with Scotch tape hanging crookedly on the tip of his nose; a mouth full of braces etc.
But he certainly did not picture a slender figure with an alabaster complexion; long, snowy hair brushing against his shoulders; and soft gentle eyes made of chocolate. He had pictured anything but that.
"So you're my tutor?"
Ryou nodded. He didn't trust his voice. His eyes were riveted on the floor, his cheeks burning a fierce red now.
"Would you like to walk with me?"
- To Be Continued -
Author's Pointless Note: I am so, so, so SORRY for ending it there but I have to go to a basketball games real soon. I know I've used this excuse before but it's true. Anyway, while you're at it, why not take a second and send me some feedback? Maybe it'll help with my update **Hint Hint** ^______________________________^