I Cry Tears Of Blood

Chapter 6: Like Ink On A Wound

Marik was able to get up and go to school the next day. He nervously walked beside Ryou up the steps, "I've missed so much ... I have catching up to do ... "

Ryou smiled at him, "Yeah but ... you're doing fine."

"I hope so, or else I'll get kicked out."

Ryou's smile grew bigger, "They wouldn't dare!"

Marik went close, a playful smirk on his face, "And WHY not?"

"They'd have to go through me!"

And they fell against their lockers laughing as they turned the lock to the combinations.

Their little moment was soon broken up.

Marik frowned as a boy about his age ran to the principal's office as fast as he could and banged on the door. He looked pale and frightened. Marik shrugged and reached for his history book to find it ... gone.

"What the- OH! Detention ... Must've left it in there ..."

Ryou nodded, "I'll wait."

Marik cautiously opened the door to the dean's office, "Uh, excuse me? I left my book here ... and I ... I kinda need it for my next class ..."

There was no response so Marik just walked in. It was dark and there was a horrible stench in the room.

'Smells like ... old socks!'

Marik looked over at the front desk to find the dean slumped over the desk. Marik rolled his eyes and walked over to the desk where he'd sat the previous day. Sure enough there was his book.

Smiling slightly he took it and walked out. The pale boy who had run to the principal's office a few moments before was now rocking back and forth in a corner, mumbling a few words which Marik managed to catch.

"They wouldn't ... let me see her ... need ... principal ..."

Marik frowned, "Aren't you in my history class? Dude ... it's next ... come on, let's go. That old witch, Bemure, will be furious if you're late."

The boy merely shook his head and Marik shrugged and walked away, "Suit yourself dude ... ditching means expulsion though ..."

"Bakura, Ryou?"

Ryou looked down at his desk and whispered, "Here."

"Bakura, Ryou!" repeated Mrs. Bemure, a thin shriveled woman with a pointed face and tiny mouselike eyes.

Marik rolled his eyes, "He said here!"

"I believe I asked him. He is capable of speech, is he not?"

Marik too looked at the desk.

"Is he not, Mr. Ishtar!"

"Yes, Mrs. Bemure."

"Good, then. He can speak for himself. I am sure he hasn't any speech disabilities. I won't have any hanky-panky in my class, no sir!"

Marik looked up reproachfully at what she refered to as 'hanky-panky.' The rest of the class snickered. A blonde girl up front turned around and grinned giving them thumbs up.

Ryou blushed crimson and Marik put his face in his hands.

"Grenton, Todd?"

Silence.

"Mr. Grenton?"

Marik frowned and thought of saying, 'He was here, but he's ditching.' But he thought better of it. Todd had his own reasons for staying in his corner mumbling about principals, and Marik wasn't going to interfere.

"Isstar, Marik?"

"It's Ishtar."

Mrs. Bemure glared at him and Marik glared back. One thing he wasn't going to stand for was messing with his name.

"ISHtar, Marik?"

"Present."

They were still glaring at one another, but soon Mrs. Bemure looked away.

Riiiiing.

Marik closed his book and walked to the front to turn in his assigment. He waited for Ryou near the door. As they passed him, his classmates grinned at him and whispered things like, "You and Ryou? Never would've guessed it!"

and

"You make a cute couple! I totally support you!"

or

"Hardcore man! When're you deflowering him! Or is it too late!" The group of 'obnoxious bastards' as Marik later described them in his mind, laughed heartily as they said this.

Marik was left there, chewing his tongue with anger.

'Where the hell is Ryou!'

Marik opened the history class's door to hear Mrs. Bemure say, "Try to find yourself a nice girl instead, Ryou. His crowd ... it's a bad influence."

Marik looked at the floor and prayed they wouldn't notice him.

He turned away, but caught Ryou's answer and he would havce sworn it was Bakura had he not turned and SEEN Ryou say them. It was so harsh ... so ... angry ...

"I think I can decide for myself who I date, befriend, and/or hang out with. I do not believe I have mental disabilities. Or do I, Mrs. Bemure?"

Marik's mouth dropped open as he watched the thin woman open her mouth to reprimand him for such rudeness.

But Ryou interruptred, "Do I, Mrs. Bemure!"

Marik backed away from the class as Ryou turned and walked out to meet him.

"That hag! Who does she think she is! I hate the way she speaks to you ... and me! As if I was a child!"

Marik walked alongside Ryou stiffly, but relieved his voice was back to 'Ryou voice.'

"Yeah ... Ryou? Why do you defend me so much ...? And you got so violent-"

Ryou blushed, "I ... I don't want anyone to hurt you! You've gone through enough. You haven't gotten anyone in the world and I won't stand for anyone else making your life miserable!"

Marik smiled, "Oh good. I thought you might actually be 'Bakura-izing' on me ..."

Ryou burst into tears suddenly, "I ... "sniff" ... I didn't ..."sniff" ... it just happened!"

Marik instinctively took Ryou into his arms, causing the crying boy to stiffen.

But Marik softly rubbed Ryou's back comfortingly, "It's okay ... I didn't mean it like that ..."

Ryous sniffled and pressed against Marik more, "It's like a wave of anger came over me! I wanted to protect you at all costs! I wasn't myself ... I was ... well, I ... WAS myself ... only ..."

Marik allowed Ryou to snuggled his head on his own neck, "Shh ... you were angry ... that's all. It happens ... I'd do the same for you."

Ryou looked up. His eyes red, tears clinging to his eyelashes, "Marik I ..."

Warning lights flashed in Marik's mind.

'Oh shit ... this ... he's going to ... and I'm not sure I don't want to ...'

Ryou inched closer, looking into his eyes tenderly, his face tilting to one side. And Marik, strung along, inched close as well.

Then he became very still, as did Ryou.

They, apparently, were being watched the whole time. Out of the corner of his eye, Ryou saw a flash, and was almost sure it was a camera.

They broke part quickly and made their way to the lockers, much to the dismay of their 'fans.'

"AW! Come on! Finish up!"

"Yeah! KISS! KISS KISS!"

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

"Yeah, start screwing already!"

Marik shook his head as he walked to his next class and didn't bother to wait for Ryou. He walked quickly along the hall, stopping only when he noticed a small group of people in front of the dean's office.

The principal, catching sight of Marik, beaconed him to come inside. Marik quickly did so and almost screamed when he saw the horrid sight at the desk. The lights were on, everything was just as he'd left it the day before, the dean ... was dead. Blood spilling onto his desk and onto the floor, his body slumped limply over his papers.

Marik put a hand to his mouth, "Oh gods ..."

The principal solemnly nodded to Todd Grenton who was still outside, rocking.

"He reported having seen you comeout of his office today, and I believe you had detention with his yesterday."

Marik frowned, "I came here to get my history book for-"

"Nonetheless, you are a suspect and thus are to be subjected to a search-"

"WAIT WHAT!"

Marik looked from the two officers silently approaching him to the principal, "I didn't kill him! I just came to get my frieken history book!"

One officer took his bag and started rummaging through it.

The other searched him. He touched Marik all over, that part was the one Marik didn't like.

The man felt his inner thigh and Marik slapped the man's hand away, "HEY!"

The officer said nothin as he reached into Marik's pants. The boy looked bewildered at the principal who just watched them.

"Hello! I'm being raped!"

The officer produced the Millennium Rod, from where it had been strapped onto his pants.

Marik put two and two together as he watched the principal unsheath the dagger, "WAIT NO! Listen! No ... I ... that's just my Rod ... it's just ... a thing ... to ..."

Marik looked around, desperate for an escape. He noticed a man with jet black, short hair come in, nod to them and inspect the body with gloved hands.

The principal shook her head, "Do you know who the man you've killed was?"

"He was the dean! I never even talked to him before yes-"

"He was Patrick Grenton! Todd Grenton's father and only remaining relative! His closest family member lives in Germany! You ... Marik Ishtar, are a disgrace to humanity, not to mention-"

The man with the black hair cleared his throat, "Let me see his weapon."

The officers handed Marik's precious Rod to the man with gloves. He nodded and inspected it clarefully, sheathing and unsheeathing the dagger several times.

"What is this?"

Marik's first though was to say, 'It controls pople's minds,' but thought better.

Then the door swung open and Ryou came running in, clutching his ribs,

"It's a toy! A pleasure toy ... "

Marik went very red, but tried to look as if it was true.

The jet-black haired man too looked uncomfortable and gingerly handed the Rod back to Ryou, "I see."

The gloved man, continued, "In any case, this boy ... or any boy, or girl could have killed this man. You see, it wasn't really much of a weapon that was used. You see the black ring around the wound?"

Marik frowned and edged closer as Ryou turned away.

Indeed, the wound was a hole-shaped one and there was a black ring of gunk around it ... it was strangely familiar, "It's ink."

The gloved man smiled, "Yes. It is ink. Like, from a pen. The 'weapon' was not found. This is a smart assasin. No other fingerprints were left, no other evidence except this. You can go now."

Marik nodded, grabbed his backpack,and walked out with Ryou, silently.

Ryou looked at Marik, "I ... I didn't ... mean to ..."

Marik turned to Ryou angrily and pointed the Rod at him.

A/N: CLIFFIE! HAHAHAHA! Yes! I LUB cliffies! Ooh! Makky's pissed off now! Any guesses as to who's the killer? MEHEHEHEH! R&R PLZ!