SANDCASTLE
By Starflower Sakura

DISCLAIMER: Yuugiou doesn't belong to me, and I'm making no profit out of this. It's only for the entertainment of others, and my love for the characters.

To readers/reviewers: I really appreciate your reviews. It really made my day. Before I continue, let me just say that Malik is such a fun character to write. Hopefully I'm really able to keep him sort of in character. If not, then I have failed in writing Malik altogether. How depressing.

Started: Saturday, January 07, 2006
Completed: Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Sandcastle
Chapter 2 – A New Friendship

"Malik-chan!"

As much as I hate to say it, if there was anything I feared in this world, it was him. Ishiyama Marik. Absolutely nothing in this world, or the next, scares me like he does. I love the dark (that's when little kids are most easily spooked). Monsters in the closet or under the bed don't even stand a chance against Isis-neechan when it comes to being scary. Death has no effect on me as it's already an accepted fact that everyone will die someday. Why else do you think I live life to the fullest and wreak havoc with Bakura wherever we go?

I ducked my head and hoped that he won't notice me. When it comes to him, I never have any luck, though. I cringed as his eyes lighted up when he spotted me. Looking over at Bakura, I saw that he was pointing at me. That damn bastard tipped him off! I growled, and plots of revenge already began to fill my head.

I didn't have any time to work on the details of my revenge, though, as Ishiyama had quickly strode over, and latched onto me. I gave a yelp, and soon everyone was looking at us. What did I ever do to deserve this?

"Ishiyama," I began through gritted teeth, "would you kindly let go of me?"

"But Malik-chan is nice, and soft, and…" He paused, and to my horror, took a sniff of my hair. "…And Malik-chan smells like flowers."

I burned with anger and embarrassment as Bakura just sat idly beside me, smirking! SMIRKING! I'll kill him. I really will. Just he wait. I mean, what kind of best friend just sits around while I'm being hugged by a psychotic… thing!

The class snickered, and I felt ready to tear them all apart. Limb by limb. Slowly, and painfully. I shuddered as Ishiyama hugged me even tighter. I wanted to punch him, and I would've too, if his arms didn't encircle me, keeping my arms from moving an inch. I knew from experience that squirming was no good either because doing that just made him squeeze tighter.

The screen door slid open again, and the reprimanding voice of Bakura-kaichou rang out from the doorway.

"Ishiyama-sempai! What are you doing to Ishtar-kun?"

"Hugging him," he replied with a cheeky grin. Why that…

"Well, let go. Now," he added when he saw that Ishiyama was nowhere close to letting me go. "You should know better than to bother students in their classrooms, and I suggest you go back to yours."

Ishiyama, with a sigh, slowly released his grip on me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I rubbed my sore shoulders after being squeezed so tightly.

"I was just trying to set a good example to inform people that everyone should get along is all, Bakura-kouhai," Ishiyama said with a grin.

Bakura-kaichou sighed, and moved away from the door to let Ishiyama walk through, "Although I appreciate what you were trying to do, please go back to your classroom."

Ishiyama gave a small frown, but left anyways. Bakura-kaichou also has lots of power in this school. Unlike Bakura, though, he wasn't feared, but respected. That's the only reason why Ishiyama let go of me. If it was anyone besides him, or a teacher, he would've probably clung onto me forever! What a scary thought…

When I was about to thank him for saving me as he walked by, Shimokawa-sensei walked in.

"Sorry, everyone. I was caught in traffic. Now, let's not waste any more time, and start with roll call."

Turning my attention to the front of the class, I made up my mind to thank him during lunch.

-------

"Where are you going?"

With my backpack carelessly slung over my right shoulder, I set off in the opposite direction while Bakura stared at my retreating back. I could tell that he was irritated at me for ignoring him, and I grinned. Ah, revenge sure is sweet.

Waving a hand without turning back to face him I said, "Finding my savior to thank him."

"Savior? What savior?"

"You know," I replied, looking over my shoulder at Bakura who still stood in the same spot where I left him, "the only one who did anything while Ishiyama practically molested me in front of the class."

Bakura rolled his eyes. "You mean that wimp of a class president?"

I didn't answer, but just continued walking. I heard him give a snort of disgust and walked off. I smiled good-naturedly as I continued on my walk towards the library. From what I've heard, Bakura-kaichou is usually found reading there. Why anyone would go read in a library during lunch, I would never be able to guess. I mean, don't they make us read enough in class? Why and go read something willingly? I shuddered slightly at the thought. I would've thanked him right after the bell rang signaling the beginning of lunch, but after trying to avoid the stampede of my classmates, I lost track of him. I let out a sigh. If I wasn't so intent on thanking him, I wouldn't even be going to the library. Actually, come to think of it, this will be the first time I've ever stepped inside one. There's a first time for everything I guess…

The door to the library creaked open and I peered inside, hoping to catch sight of Bakura-kaichou before actually stepping inside the place. Apparently, my presence is more noticeable than I thought as all heads turned towards me when I stuck my head in. Hmm… seems likes my sexiness doesn't go by unnoticed from the bookish girls either, as many of them blushed a bright red and ducked back behind their book. It's good to be loved wherever I go.

Smirking my sexy, and not I'm-going-to-kill-you (that one belongs to Bakura, and Bakura only), smirk, I made my way into the library. Taking care not to let them know that I know they're all watching me, I made my way to the back of the library while peering at each table to see if Bakura-kaichou was sitting at any one of them.

Finally finding him sitting at a table at the very back of the library next to a window, I plopped down (gracefully, of course) on the seat across from him, and I held back a grin as a startled expression fleeted across his face. I glanced down at the book he was reading, and a horrified expression crossed my face. I guess my horrified expression got him out of his shock as he was once again smiling pleasantly. That got me thinking. Does Bakura-kaichou show any other sides of him besides his calm, friendly-to-everyone side, and his serious, I-have-to-carry-out-my-duties-as-class-president side? Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen him genuinely laugh. Hmm…

"Is there something you wanted from me, Ishtar-kun?" he asked, that pleasant smile still on his face as he tilted his head sideways in curiosity.

"Ah, yes! I wanted to thank you. So I guess, thank you," I said while smiling sheepishly. I wonder if it was that obvious that I don't say my "please" and "thank you" very often. Add "sorry" to that list as well.

"For what?" he asked, his eyes showing surprise and curiosity. I wonder if his eyes were always so easy to read.

"For uh… saving me… from… ah… Ishiyama," I muttered the last part quickly, but his name still left a bitter taste in my mouth.

For a few seconds, it seems like he didn't know what in the world I was talking about, but I can see the realization dawn on him.

"Oh! It was nothing, really! I was just doing my duties," he replied, that irritatingly soothing smile came back onto his face.

"Ah, well… I wanted to thank you, anyways. Since… you know… you were the only one who actually tried to do something…"

"It was nothing," he repeated in that soft tone of voice that only he, as a guy, could possess and not get teased about it. He might sound incredibly feminine (and his looks do nothing to help), but it suits him, and he never has to raise his voice to command attention. Unless it's Bakura, that is. Bakura is just… impossible.

"So uh…" I rubbed the back of my neck in embarrassment as I searched for something to say. Then my eyes landed on that horrendously thick book in front of him, and I blurted out, "what are you reading?"

"Hmm? Oh, this? It's supposedly the most thorough book in the school library on Egyptian history, myths, and such."

I'm quite perceptive, if I do say so myself for I could see that the smile on his face has changed. Just a little bit, but it did change. It was still a nice and pleasant smile, but the edges of his mouth lifted just a little higher, and the excitement that wasn't there before, shone in volumes from his eyes.

"You're interested in Egyptian stuff?"

"I know it might be strange, but I'm completely fascinated by it. My father's an archeologist, and his excavations are usually somewhere in Egypt, and, every once in a while, he'll send me something he finds."

"Oh, really?" I asked, getting a bit interested myself. I think this was the first time he ever mentioned anything about his family, or that I know of.

I probably just imagined it, but right after he said that, he stiffened, and immediately returned to his book. Although I wanted to ask about his father, his reaction after just talking about him told me to avoid that subject… for now. Wonder why his father was such a touchy subject.

Seeing that he was getting really uncomfortable in my presence, but not yet wanting to leave, I changed the topic. "I'm from Egypt, you know."

"Oh, is that so? That's really wonderful," he murmured without looking up for his book.

I frowned, and tried another tactic. "My Onee-chan brought a lot of books from Egypt to Japan, and, I guess you can say, she's a historian of sorts and specializes in Egyptian history. If you want, I can ask her to let you borrow some books, and maybe you can also have a talk with her or something. God knows she's been dying to have someone to talk to about it ever since we left Egypt, but I'm not that interested in that stuff so…" I trailed off, waiting for his reaction.

He lifted his head up slowly, and I saw that the excitement was slowly returning to his eyes.

"Really?" he asked in a rather breathless tone. Sheesh, he must really like this stuff…

"Uh… yea… why not?"

He stared at me with such awe that I felt myself blush from under his gaze. His eyes really don't hide anything. The ring of the bell alarmed both of us as he reeled back in shock, and I literally jumped out of my seat.

"Hehehe, I guess lunch just ended."

"Yea," he murmured, putting a bookmark between the pages of his book before closing it.

When he turned back towards me, my eyes widened in surprise. He had a smile on that I've never seen before. It was a bright, joyous smile, and not the calm, placid smile he always has on. If he keeps this up, I might have a rival for the females' affections.

"Shall we go? We have math with Kiyama-sensei next, and you know how she hates it when we're late."

"Yea, let's go."

As he walked in front of me, hugging that gigantic book against his chest, I smiled. Although I don't think we're official friends yet, I think we will be very good friends in the future. I wonder what Bakura will say to that. I grinned widely. He'll be so mad it won't even be funny. It'll be hilarious! There's nothing more entertaining then a fuming Bakura as long as you have the insurance that only comes from being his best friend.

"Um…" Bakura-kaichou stopped in front of me, and turned around to face me. "Although I don't mean to sound pushy or anything… um… just when exactly do you think I might be able to go and meet your sister?"

I laughed, "Don't worry, Bakura-kaichou! You can come anytime you like. We usually don't have anything to do, so just pop by whenever you have time."

He looked completely appalled at my suggestion. "Oh, but that won't be right! To show up uninvited doesn't show very good etiquettes, and I don't wish for your sister to get a bad impression of me and kick me out before I get to ask her any questions!"

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Alright. Alright. I'll ask her today, and I'll give you the answer tomorrow."

He smiled that bright smile at me again, and I'm surprised I wasn't blinded yet.

"Thank you, Ishtar-kun! You really are a very kind person despite… Oh! Um… never mind…"

"What is it?"

"It's nothing, really! It's quite terrible of me to even think of such a thing and…"

"You can tell me. Come on!"

He bit his lower lip, and sighed, "Well… despite… the fact that you hang around with Ryusaki-kun."

"Bakura? He really isn't such a bad person once you get to know him. Still sadistic as hell, and probably psychotic as well, but not a bad guy."

He gave me a "hmm" that didn't really mean anything before walking into the classroom, but I could tell he was still quite disbelieving of the fact that Bakura wasn't all that bad. So it was a bit hard to believe. Alright, really hard to believe, but Bakura isn't all bad. He's just being… Bakura.

Hearing a low grumbling, I looked down at my stomach. Oh… right… I didn't get any lunch. Damn it. Taking a glance at the clock as I settled into my seat, I groaned. Two more hours without any food in my stomach. I'll never survive!

To be continued…

A blooming friendship between Malik and Ryou? What will Bakura think? What will Marik think? It will be a Marik x Malik and probably (most likely) a Bakura x Ryou, though. So the friendship that's supposed to blossom between Malik and Ryou will remain a friendship. Unless I decide to get a little more evil then usual and mess with their emotions even more… -grins-

- Starflower Sakura