A/N: This chapter was one of my personal favorites to write. I'm not sure why, but it was fun writing it, and I hope you'll have fun reading it!

Thanks to: MaskYourSmile(reviewing barely two minutes after the chapter was uploaded!), Spottedpaw13, and Almond Luver for reviewing. You guys make me so happy! Oh, and Almond Luver, don't worry. You're NEVER too mature for a Disney classic. I try to watch one every night. :)

One last thing. This chapter will contain a flashback, but it's not in italics, despite what I said in chapter one. I don't know about anyone else, but I get dizzy when I read too many italics. So, just disregard what I said in chapter one about flashbacks.

The boy's names turned out to be Ryou and Bakura.

"Why don't you boys go find a seat and I'll begin the leson?" the teacher said.

Bakura made a beeline for the back of the classroom, plunking his stiff down at an empty desk. Ryou slid into the empty seat next to Marik.

"Hi." He smiled. "What's your name?"

"I'm Marik. Marik Ishtar."

"Cool name. It sounds kinda foreign."

"Well, my family orignally comes from Egypt. It's sort of a tradition that the kids in my family are given Egyptian names."

"Really? That's a pretty neat tradition. So, is this school any good?"

"Um..." Marik hesitated. "Yeah, I guess it's okay."

"Are there any jerks that I should watch out for around here?" Ryou asked. One name came to Marik's mind as soon as the question reached his ears.

"Seto Kaiba," he replied. "He's a millionaire's son, so he acts like he owns the whole school. And most kids let him. He...uh, he decided a couple of years ago that he doesn't like me and he told everyone that if they hung out with me, he would see to it personally that their lives were ruined. He just didn't specify how, exactly."

"Whoa. Do you know why he just decided that he doesn't like you?"

Marik shook his head. "No, but it doesn't matter. It's helped find out who my real friends are."

In truth, Marik knew all too well why Kaiba didn't like him, but he didn't feel very comfortable talking about it, especially since he had just met Ryou.

Kaiba hated Marik because he was gay. There had been a time - was it really just two years ago? - when they had been friends, but those days were long over. Now, Kaiba would do anything, pull every string that he had, just to make Marik's life miserable.

When class ended and Marik headed to his locker, his path was blocked by none other than Seto Kaiba.

"I can't seem to recall giving you my permission to walk these hallways freely, Ishtar. Just who do you think you are?"

Marik felt like saying, "Since when did I have to ask your permission for anything? Last time I checked, I could do whatever I wanted." Instead he muttered a halfhearted, "You're not the boss of me."

"Oh, aren't I?" Kaiba took a step closer to Marik. "Just remember, money is power. I have money, therefore, I have power. Does someone need to be taught a little lesson about obeying their superiors?"

Marik cringed. He looked at the ground nervously, shaking his head. Why couldn't he stand up for himself to Kaiba, just once? They were in the middle of the hallway, he couldn't do anything with so many people who would see him.

"Yo, Kaiba, if you're finished picking on Marik, isn't ther some sixth graders you need to steal lunch money from?" Malik was suddenly staning next to Marik, his arms crossed and a cocky smirk on his face. "And I hope you know that it's against the law to threaten someone. The school's law at least. If we decide to go to the principal, it wouldn't matter how much money you have. You'd still be suspended."

Kaiba glared at Malik for a few moments, then muttered, "It'd be your word against mine." He turned and strode away. Marik let out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks, Malik."

"I got your back, bro." Malik leaned against the wall as his younger-by-two-minutes brother twirled his combination lock and opened his locker. "To be honest, I really can't see why you let the guy intimidate you so much. So he's got money - big deal! You shouldn't let him scare you just cuz of that, Marik."

Marik winced inwardly. Of course Malik didn't know. why he was so afraid of Kaiba. Only he knew. And he would never tell anyone.

(Begin Flashback: Seventh Grade)

It was almost dark by the time Marik left the school. He had been sick the last few days, so he had stayed after to catch up on his math. (Math was his worst subject, so he couldn't risk falling behind.) He hadn't ebb nable to get a ride, so he had to walk home. Luckily, his house wasn't too far from the school.

As he passed by a dark alley, he thought he heard a slight rustling sound. Passing it off as a stray cat, he ignored it.

The last thing he was expecting was to be grabbed and violently jerked back into the dark cover of the alley.

He hit the pavement with a dull thud and strained in the dim light to see his attacker.

"Seto Kaiba?"

Kaiba roughly yanked Marik to his feet and held the Egyptian boy by the collar of his shirt. Pulling his fist back, he socked Marik right in the face. Marik recoiled from the blow, and Kaiba punched him again. Marik was aware of a warm, sticky liquid running down his face. His nose was bleeding, maybe even broken.

"Damn you, you fag!" Kaiba hissed, punching Marik between words. "I can't believe that I actually hung out with you!"

"K-Kaiba, I can't help it if I'm-"

"Shut up!" Another punch, harder than the other ones. A sickening crack resounded through the alley and Marik felt pain shoot up his jaw. Kaiba shoved him backwards and he sprawled onto the ground. His face a mask of raging fury, Kaiba kicked him in the stomach. Hard. Marik instictively doubled over.

"My father couldn't believe that I was so stupid to hang out with you. He says that he knew all along that you were gay!"

So that was it. Kaiba's father had ridiculed him again, and now Kaiba was taking his anger out on Marik.

"Kaiba, I-I'm s-" Marik was silenced by another kick to the stomach.

"If those fools would rather hang around you than me, then fine. Eventually they'll all desert you, anyway." One last kick, and Kaiba was gone, leaving a bruised and bleeding Marik curled up on the ground.

Marik forced himself into a sitting position and looked himself over. His nose wouldn't stop bleeding, his jaw hurt like crazy, and he could hardly breathe. With some difficulty, he stood up and dragged himself in the direction of his house.

He managed to get to the bathroom without being seen and washed his face carefully.

When he was done, he set the washcloth - now covered with rust-colored bloodstains - on the edge of the sink and studied his face in the mirror.

His cheek was already covered with a dark bruise and his nose was starting to take on a purplish tinge. Judging from the looks of it, he would probably have a black eye come tomorrow.

Gingerly, he touched his jaw, wincing from the pain. With a sigh, he headed downstairs.

"Marik! What on earth happened?"

He couldn't tell them. They would call the school, probably file a lawsuit, and he would get it even worse from Kaiba next time.

"I - uh - I fell down the stairs at school. That's all."

"Are you alright? You look pretty beat up for falling downstairs."

"I tripped at the top and rolled all the way down. I think I might have cracked my jaw, too."

"Good heavens! I'm calling the doctor this instant!" Mrs. Ishtar headed for the phone.

"Good idea. Sorry that I was such a klutz, Mom."

"Don't blame yourself, Marik. It wasn't your fault."

(End Flashback)

It was the biggest lie he had ever told his parents and probably ever would tell his parents. But that night had taught him a valuable lesson: Don't mess with Seto Kaiba.

Please don't hurt me! I know that I made poor Marik suffer a lot in this chapter (if you think this is bad, just wait for future chapters.) but I needed some reason for him to be intimidated by Kaiba. But if this chapter made you angry because of Marik abuse, please do not hesitate to tell me!

R&R, please!