Chapter 35
Atrocious Admiration
The mist from the passing morning fog dotted the window outside Jail Cell 16 D.Junichi pressed his forearm against it for support as he looked at the waking city in the distance. His black hair laid in a mess teasing his eyes as he brushed them away.
His cell door suddenly opened revealing a security guard and a wet, handcuffed Marik.There was little words exchanged with the bailiff before the iron door was shut.
Turning away from the window, Junichi gave small nod.
"You took a longer shower yesterday."
Marik sighed carelessly and sat on his bed. He hunched over resting his elbows on his knees allowing the excess water drip out of his beautiful sandy hair.
"I had a different bailiff watching me today."
"Oh?"
"He complimented my ass."
Junichi smirked and walked over to his bed but didn't sit down. "It rained this morning."
"Hm." Marik rose to his feet.
"Didn't even hear it." Junichi watched his cellmate pace the room. "Marik-"
"If someone truly loves you, even if you made bad choices, would they still stand by your side?"
His friend blinked at the random sappy question and relaxed. "This is about Keket again, huh?"
For the past 3 years, Junichi had spent a lot of time understanding Marik's customs, opinions, and the female he loved.
"She hasn't called or visited me yet." Marik's voice held no sense of worry. It was more of a statement if anything else.
"Maybe she's busy."
Marik made a sarcastic noise before crossing his arms. "I highly doubt it."
"Maybe she's living her life the way you wanted her to."
"I don't recall instructing her to do so."
"Hm." Junichi scratched the back of his head. "Look, whatever it is, don't worry about it. I'm sure she's thinking of you. She's a good girl, from what you've told me, so just chill."
Junichi's words could only heal so much. It wasn't enough.
If Keket loves me, if she really wants me, she'll wait.
Breakfast in the mess hall was the same as dinner was going to be: Rice and milk. The twosome occupied a table which was conveniently located near the windows and away from the guards.
Marik played with his rice craving for the simple pleasure of a kiss, a hug or anything involving human contact.
He drowned out the lunchroom noise mindlessly humming a tune. He wondered if Keket would like his singing.
Junichi stood up with his tray. "Hey, I'm going for some Jell-O, you want some?"
His friend lifted his question with an empty gaze. "What kind do they have?"
Junichi shifted his weight and thought. "Red, blue and…orange, I believe."
"I'll take orange."
"You got it."
Marik looked back down at his tray of rice. It had turned hard and cold. He rested his head on the palm of his hand and poked the crumpling rice with a plastic fork. He was getting lonely.
"Well, what do we have here?" The masculine voice belonged to the bailiff Marik unfortunately met on shower duty.
He was a tall, burly man with an awful smirk and an even scarier gleam in his eyes. He was the bailiff who held the most authority and was known for being good with his hands.
Compared to the giant, Marik was a helpless puppy, however, with a Rotweiller's spirit. The young man, without moving, looked up at the man giving a silent warning.
"Ha, speechless aren't we? Go ahead and keep up that badass act of yours. Cause' when I get you alone with me, you'll change your ways."
The man leaned over the table running his dirty fingers through Marik's hair. "Got some pretty hair for a boy." Marik quivered inside feeling rough skin slide down the side of his face. "Your skin's soft too."
"Get away from me." In a swift motion, the younger boy pulled away swatting the offensive hand.
The bailiff's smirk escalated into a powerful chuckle he turned and left passing by Junichi who watched him suspiciously before returning to his comrade.
"What the hell was that all about?" Junichi looked behind him once more.
"That's the guy I was talking about."
"What did he say to you?" Junichi asked clearly concerned.
"Just forget it." He grabbed his orange Jell-O and ate it quietly.
After breakfast, the jailbirds were ordered to work as expected. Dirt piles specked Section B of the enormous jailhouse as holes were dung for ambivalent reasons.
Cement blocks and bricks were carried 4 miles up and down a hilly path without an actual destination. Were the bailiffs running out of punishments?
There were, however, leisure jobs such as the flowerbeds that need to be watered as well as the useless gardens in the back. Overall every prisoner was occupied with some level of work.
As intended and promised, Marik and Junichi worked side by side in the flooded vegetable patches of the jailhouse gardens. They were chosen to be the ones to pull potatoes, turnips, and rid the produce of the excess water. Though it was a simple job, they were still under heavy surveillance.
Junichi sighed heavily wiping his forehead with a muddy hand. His face, forearms and knees were all caked with moist dirt. He felt miserable feeling cold water seep into his orange jumpsuit.
"Damnit." He cursed under his breath as his fingers dug into the dampened earth searching for vegetables. "Anything would be better than this. With the way the climate is, we'll catch a cold out here."
"I don't think they give a rat's ass what happens to us, Junichi." His partner remarked.
Junichi glanced at his friend before going back to digging. "Nevertheless, they could have at least let us have an extra pair of clothes."
"I'll take this bucket." Marik stood with a bucket of potatoes in hand.
He looked just as muddy as Junichi but not the least bit tired. He was more focused keeping his eye contact and body language to a minimum.
His footsteps made a squishing sound as rubber boots met dark sludge. He frowned feeling the possibility of sinking evident.
Following a sandy path, the young man reached a small area where a table held other buckets of produce. It was old, weathered and guarded by the last man Marik wanted to see. His male admirer, if that was the proper terminology.
Several yards separated the men as Marik hesitated to move closer. His mucky grip tightened on the bucket's handle.
The oversized bailiff smirked under his large mirrored sun-glasses. "Whatcha got there?" He ridiculed in a "friendly" matter.
Marik's expression showed distrust and intimidation. The guard smirked again this time with a laugh.
"Now why are you gonna give me that look with those pretty eyes of yours? I haven't done anything to you yet." He looked the younger boy over in sickening delight. "Looks like you could use a shower."
Marik winced before mentally persuading his legs to move forward. Within seconds, he and the guard were face to face. He placed his bucket with the rest pretending to not see the guard's hidden gaze.
"There, that wasn't so bad was it?"
The young prisoner turned to leave only to be caught by the wrist that was directed behind his back. The bailiff pulled him closer leaning down to brush a few coarse fingers across his stomach.
"When I ask you a question, you answer it boy!" His voice stung Marik's ears.
The giant bailiff gasped feeling a sharp jab.Marik's elbow had made contact with the lower extremities of the guard sending him to one knee. He cursed looking up to see the shorter man still present.
"Listen, you bastard! I don't know what you're after but I'm not your bitch! Stay the hell away from me!"
Off somewhere in the distance, a whistle was blown and soon hundreds of jailers were rushing up the sandy path.
Junichi hurriedly dropped his bucket blessing the unknown whistle-blower. He drug his soaked body up the path and stopped noticing Marik standing beside the exit gate.
"What the hell?" He approached his comrade causally. "Hey, that whistle means we can go inside." He smiled. "Unless, you were waiting on me?"
Marik's eyes were focused on the ground. He blinked and lifted his head after receiving a push in the arm.
"Gosh Marik, I never knew you cared."
"Don't flatter yourself. I was doing this for a reason." Marik gave one last look over his friend's shoulder before the two of them exited the jailhouse gardens.
The inside of the building made the young men shiver. After they checked out with the guards, Marik's being nowhere in sight, they were escorted down the hallway to a large room with big windows and a sign that read:
"Waiting Room?" Junichi questioned looking at Marik. "Is someone here to see us?"
The Egyptian native's heart pounded furiously. He held his breath as he and Junichi entered the room.
"Junichi Fukuyama." A guard with a clipboard appeared from behind.
"Yeah?"
"There's no need for you to be in here. This meeting room is reserved for Marik Ishtar."
"What?"
Marik approached the guard. "Who's here to see me?" His violet eyes grew wide,
"Your sister and Mr.Mokuba.You know, the guy you killer's brother. They said they wanted to speak to you privately so that means Mr.Fukuyama won't be joining you."
"Hey-"
"That's okay Junichi." He rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. "We can talk later."
Junichi looked over the man he now considered his brother. "Sure, whatever." He mumbled disappointedly.
Marik nodded slightly watching Junichi disappear behind the closing iron door. He sighed turning around, coming face to face with his older sister…and Mokuba.They were dressed in causal colors, adorned in cotton and denim.
"Good Morning, Mr.Ishtar." Mokuba placed his hands on the table. His voice was mature and smooth.
"Mokuba."
Ishizu slowly came to her feet and strolled over to her brother with elegance and beauty.
Mokuba watched the two Egyptians stare at each other. He felt at ease wanting to spill the reason why they came to visit.
"Marik." Isis' face remained strong yet beautiful.
"I didn't expect him to show up." He nodded at Mokuba.
Unannounced, Marik's body soon came in contact with his sister's as he was pulled into a loving embrace. He clutched her shoulders softly completely stunned.
"S-sister?" He muttered looking wide-eyed at the ceiling.
"I missed you." Isis replied holding her brother's head against her chest like a child.
"W-why would you wait this long to see me?"
"I was hesitant." She finally released him. "Did Keket visit yet?"
Marik's heart turned dull. "No."
"No need to worry. You will see her soon."
Marik lifted his head raising an eyebrow.
Mokuba approached the two with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "What she means is you will no longer be a prisoner, Mr.Ishtar."
-
Dear Marik,
It's been so long since I've last seen you.However, I do see your face on TV
a lot . Speaking of which, I was possibly on the news today with Bakura.Some guy
was asking me questions trying to make it sound like you're some evil monster, but I
know better.
Keket sat on the window sill in her new room that once belonged to Marik.Bakura and she had moved to a safer part of the apartment complex for the sake of privacy and Keket's well-being.
She chewed on her pencil thinking of words that would make her letter to Marik sound perfect.
"Keket, breakfast is ready." Bakura shouted from the kitchen.
"Alright, I'll be there in a minute!" She smiled at how motherly her roommate was being.
Not to sound sentimental, but I've been thinking about you an awful lot lately and I was
wondering if you're thinking about me too?
"Boy that sounds desperate." Keket scolded herself and balled up the paper.
Dear Marik,
How are they treating you there? Good? Bad? More like a prince, huh? Bakura and I are
doing fine. I wish you were here to see how much we've changed. It's been so long.
I'm really sorry for being such an idiot to you. Lying to you, crying in front of you,
fighting with you, those are all behaviors of a child and I'm ashamed for acting that way.
I've dreamt about you last night,-
"No, no, no!" Keket tore her second letter apart and sighed. She held her notebook to her chest and looked outside the window.
Bakura knocked on the room door. "Keket?"
"Come in."
Bakura slowly entered her room with a small silver tray. "Since you didn't come to the table, I've decided to bring it to you."
"Thanks." She smiled noticing the man's low set ponytail as he sat the tray on her dresser. "What's the occasion?"
Bakura looked at her dumbfounded.
Keket pointed to her head.
"Oh, you mean my hair? Back when I was living with Marik, ponytails weren't allowed." He gave a cute smile.
"Way to go to the dark side, Bakura.I like it." Keket replied with a thumbs-up.
He sat next to her leaning against the window pane allowing his chest and her back to touch. After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"What were you doing in here?"
"I was writing a letter to Marik."
"I see."
"But I can't write one without coming on like a desperate whore."
Bakura frowned a bit at that comment. "Rather harsh words. I never recalled you being a whore or desperate for anything."
He smirked. "Then again, there is Marik."
Keket turned to Bakura with pinkish cheeks. "I'm not desperate for him! You take that back!"
"I'm sorry Keket but I cannot take back what is clearly true." He teased.
"Shut up!" She swung aimlessly.
Bakura laughed at her failed attempts to hurt him. Teasing? He was still staying loyal to his youth. He stopped the mockery after nearly falling to the floor. Catching both of Keket's fists, he held them looking calmly into the young woman's green eyes.
"Now that I know what not to say, don't worry about the letter. I'm sure Marik would be glad just to have something that touched your very fingertips."
Keket sighed looking down at her knees as her hands were released.
"Marik is in love with you, Keket.He adores your flaws. That's the reason he wanted you in the first place. You're not fake."
Unsure but feeling more hopeful, Keket glanced at Bakura and spontaneously embraced him making him fall back a little.
If they spent more time out in public, anyone would consider these two were lovers. Although nothing more than good friends, Bakura and Keket had developed a sense of need to touch each other.
Keket had accepted this tradition completely leaving the question of curiosity deficient and insignificant.Bakura, however, even till this present day, found it hard to see himself with another woman.
Nevertheless, the man was loyal to his friends and strictly made an effort to ignore the intimate possibilities.
Pulling away but keeping his hands nearby, Bakura smiled warmly.
"If only Marik could see what I see."
Keket beamed at her friend's flattering remark. "If only."
Bakura's chocolate brown eyes shifted for a moment before he stood up. "Now eat your breakfast. I made an omelet."
"You want an award?"
Bakura bent over pressing his forehead against his friend's. "My aren't we sarcastic."
"Someone has to be until Marik comes back." She frowned. "If he comes back."
"Of course he will. Something tells me Isis won't let this calamity go down in flames."
Keket sighed removing her forehead from Bakura's. "Let's just stay optimistic."
"Agreed." Bakura watched his roommate walk over to her breakfast.
He looked out the window. The sky was still a little gray.
"It still seems a little gloomy outside, huh?" Keket come up from behind him with a glass of juice in her hand.
The man nodded. "Indeed. Very atrocious." He smiled looking down at the presently dumbfounded woman.
"What does that mean?"