Summary: The meeting isn't the beginning; the parting is not the end… Witness how a simple friendship blooms into love. And prove to yourself that no matter how far your feet go, your heart will take you back to the Cherry Road.

HunterK: Another week has passed and another chapter of cherry road is here nn;… finally! And we have a special guest… Yeah, Mister Karita is here! The 'Military-cut terror'! nn; Hope he's not pushing Malik to have his hair cut -; My 'Blood Bound' fic is scarin' the shit outta me so I'm pausing for now. Enjoy this chap, en, dun forget to R/R!

Chapter 3: Getting Acquainted

Ryou stood in front of the classroom door, gathering all his strength to face the fiercest teacher in Domino high, Mister Karita – the PE teacher, greenhorn terror, and the one who yanked his hair for walking along the corridors with a flock of girls. He took one deep breathe before knocking and slightly opening the door. All the attention was focused on him. "Good morning sir…", he said weakly.

Mr. Karita's eyes turned fiery. He glared at the kid, banging the book he was holding on his desk. "Proceed to the Guidance Office, Mr. Bakura!", the teacher's voice thundered inside the room, making most of the students cower.

Ryou didn't mind. He knew what would happen. It's a part of a daily routine. Waking up, being bullied, being shouted at, going to the guidance, it's almost as if a day isn't finished if one of it is missing. He is tired of it… very tired. He walked languidly to the guidance, eyeing the cold cement. He missed a subject again. His grades are losing ground and he doesn't know what to do.

The gray cement turned blurry. He hated himself for being a pathetic weakling. Every time he thought of it, he heard impish sounds on his head saying 'weakling-weakling!' repeatedly in a singsong voice. A tear began to drop. He quickly wiped it off with the sleeve of his school uniform. But as he willed to stop them, they just continue to slide down, like a river flowing to the ocean after a storm. He snuffled once, continuing his pace while trying to ward off the tears. He was about to turn on a corner when he bumped into someone, making his frail body fall on his behind.

He hadn't recovered from the fall yet when he heard the voice say, "It's you!" His eyes widened, staring up at the unknown cohort with tear-streak face. It was the blond kid he saw earlier!

"You okay?", Malik asked stretching his hand to help the albino. "I forgot to ask your name…"

Ryou tried to force a smile but he can't. His chest felt so heavy that he can't even manage to fake a smile. So he just nodded, reaching the other's hand with his own shaking one.

"Is there something wrong?" Malik asked with a worried voice, his smile turning into a frown.

"Nothing, I'm proceeding to the guidance office…", the silver-haired lad said weakly, "excuse me…" Malik just stared, dumbfounded.

Ryou made his way to the Guidance Office which is just a few steps ahead of him when the tanned boy tapped him on his shoulder. He turned around, staring at the other's chest, not wanting to stare him directly in the eyes.

Malik flicked a tear-wet hair off Ryou's pale cheek. "Can I accompany you?" he asked, almost a whisper to Ryou's ears. And Ryou just nodded, not wanting to believe that a stranger could be so damned nice to him.

…-…- after a few minutes -…-…-

The boys stood outside the classroom, giving strange stares at each other. "So, we're classmate after all…" Malik taunted. Ryou just nodded with an honest smile on his face.

"By the way, I'm Malik. Malik Ishtar." The tanned boy said as he held his hand in front of him.

Ryou took his hand and squeezed in a warm shake. "My name's Ryou Bakura. Pleased to meet you!" He chirped with a gentle smile playing across his face.

Malik was about to tap at the door when it slammed open, revealing a bulky man of late 40's with a weird army-cut, wearing strict grimace and the supremacy to power-trip over poor students. It was Ryou's favorite teacher!

Ryou bowed, greeting the Mr. Karita. Malik just stared. To him, he looked rather like a terrorist than a teacher! The Egyptian mentally smirked on the thought.

The teacher stared at Malik, one of his eyebrow raised. But before he can talk Ryou already supplied, "Sir, this is Malik Ishtar. He's a transfer."

The man just winced, not giving any attention at Ryou's explanation. What he wanted was, for Malik to know himself who he was… He studied the lad from head to toe, smirking like he always does to intimidate the students. It made Malik infuriated. 'Time for a power-trip!' he mentally snorted.

Ryou felt down, he knew what Mr. Karita was up to, and he can do nothing but tug on Malik's shirt.

The terror gave Malik another menacing look before asking, "Have you read the school policy, young man?" Malik nodded, "And haven't you read that boys should have their hairs cut short?", he said sarcastically, heaving Malik's hair. The Egyptian's eyes narrowed, giving the teacher a cold stare. "And you're protesting, huh?"

"Uhm, sir. He's just new around. Please forgive him.", Ryou said pleadingly, apprehension and suppressed anger etched in his voice.

"I'm not talking to you Mr. Bakura!", the teacher spat harshly, "It doesn't mean that I allowed you to wear your girly hairstyle because your father phoned, I would also allow your friends to wear freaky hairs like yours!", he shouted, making Ryou hang his head in coyness and fear. "And you mister," he turned back to Malik, holding on his elongated gold earrings, "are not allowed to wear these things.", he removed them both, slipping it on his suits pocket, "they'll make you look like a girl…" he hissed teasingly at Malik's ears before leaving the seething boy.

While the teacher walked away, still sporting his arrogant smirk, Malik pierced him with death glares, with blank eyes whose color depicts death.

AN: Thanks toHikari Flame for the prompt review... I got the fic posted and she reviewed just after 5 mins. Fast reader huh?And thanks to all reviewer too! nn