A/N: I love this chapter because yay other characters and more plot development and it isn't heinously short! Also I adore birthdays and presents and it makes me sad when people say they don't get presents for their birthdays…that's not to say I think people are entitled to gifts but I am someone who LOVES to give and receive presents so not getting them is associated with sadness for me. And…since my birthday is coming up in a month or so…this chapter seems very appropriate! ;)

Disclaimer: The storyline belongs to me but the characters do not.

I remember the best birthday present I ever got.

I know that's not saying much since my family didn't really give presents, but it's stuck with me just the same.

It wasn't jewellery (though I love jewellery) or a motorcycle (I wouldn't even have been old enough to drive one at the time) but it was a simple act of kindness.

To say my school life had been miserable since my 'discussion' with Yami would be an understatement. Nobody wanted to be associated with 'the gay guy'.

Usually, I wasn't bullied too much –not intentionally anyways. Occasionally I'd hear the word 'queer' following me around, or get a little shove in the hallway, but it was nothing that any other socially awkward student might endure.

Mostly, it was just the silence that I seemed to carry like a shroud around me that I simply couldn't shake. Like people thought they'd get my 'disease' if they talked to me.

The only time it was really bad though was on the bus after school. All these boys just starting to go through puberty packed together like sardines in a tin can. It was a nightmare just waiting to happen.

Needless to say, they did not appreciate being packed in with a social pariah like me.

So I took to walking home alone. I didn't mind in the warmer months. I like the sun. It would cheer me up after a bad day.

The rainy days, though…those were always hard. It was like even Mother Nature was laughing at my misery.

My birthday was no different than any other day. Rainy, lonely, miserable, wet…and I still had at least another half hour to my trek before I got back to our apartment.

As I cut through a neighbourhood, hoping to shorten my walk a little, I heard a girl's voice calling out. I glanced up, automatically surprised to hear a female voice (going to an all-boy's school can do that).

The girl was leaning off her porch, trying not to get wet as she yelled at a group of boys that were throwing stones at a cat which appeared to be stuck up a tree.

"H-hey! Leave that poor cat alone!"

"What do you care? The stupid thing won't come down anyways!"

"That doesn't mean you can throw stones at it, you baka!"

"What you gonna do about it? Come out here and stop us if you care so much!"

This proposition was quickly followed by lots of wolf whistles from the other boys. I couldn't understand why until she bravely did exactly as they suggested and came charging towards them.

Her simple white t-shirt was quickly plastered to her body and the black fabric of her bra beneath the white was very obvious.

I ducked my head, embarrassed. I always felt uncomfortable about that sort of thing. Mostly because I knew people expected me to care and I just knew I couldn't make myself.

The boys apparently also didn't know what to do when she came running towards them, because they were pretty quick to scatter along with their bravado.

I tried to stay invisible, hugging the curb as I shuffled along in the rain with my head down. It would be just my luck if today of all days those boys decided to pick on me.

Instead, just the opposite happened. They passed by, giving me no notice, still avidly in discussion about what they'd 'seen'.

From what I could tell, there wasn't much to see, other than her bra and that was just a piece of cloth.

Still, it made me narrow my eyes, anger shaking the cold of the rain from my bones. How could those boys be so mean to such a nice girl? All she wanted to do was help the poor cat and they were talking about her like she was a piece of meat.

Glancing back carefully at the girl, I saw that she was looking up at the cat in the tree, shoulder-length brown hair falling in her blue eyes as she shivered hopelessly.

Before I could really think about what I was doing, I had turned around and was headed back towards her.

"Excuse me, Miss?"

"E-eh, don't look, you p-pervert!"

"No! No, no, no, I wasn't…that wasn't…I'm not like that! I mean…I'm not…interested in girls…I just wanted to help."

It came out awkwardly and staggered. I had never had to tell anyone about my sexuality before, and certainly never used it to defend myself.

She looked at me, confused and suspicious, obviously not sure how to react to my sudden introduction.

Flushing despite the cold rain, I questioned why I was even doing this.

Since I had already embarrassed myself, though, I might as well try and do some good. At the very least I knew the cat wouldn't judge me.

I took a step back before running at the tree with a wild, tackling jump. It was clumsy and I had very little practice climbing trees, but I managed to awkwardly shimmy my way up the trunk.

Ishizu was going to be so angry when she saw my uniform, but it was too late now.

Once I was straddling a branch, I coaxed the cat into my arms and then more or less dropped to the ground, simply praying that I wouldn't break anything.

Once again, luck was on my side, and both the cat and I landed in one piece.

Seeing how she still had her arms wrapped around herself, either for decency or protection from the cold, I offered her the cat while staring pointedly at my shoes.

I felt the furry body leave my hands after a pause.

"I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean to startle you. I only wanted to help."

There was another pause, and then:

"That's okay. My name is Mazaki Anzu. What's yours?"

"…My name's Marik."

There was a slight pause, and I wished I could look up and see her expression so I would know if it was one of disgust or appreciation. At least then I'd know if I should leave or not.

Turning around abruptly, I took off my uniform jacket, offering it to her without looking once again.

Strangely, instead of just taking it, I felt her hand touch mine gently.

"Marik-san, thank" –

Whatever she might have intended to say was cut off by the slam of a door and footsteps coming towards us. Startled, I turned to look.

My heart literally dropped to my feet when I saw none other than Mutou Yami storming towards us. His ridiculous hair-do was impossible to mistake for anyone else's.

The jacket fell from my suddenly trembling grasp, landing in the dirt pathetically.

Anzu shot me a funny look, but my feet were already moving backwards, away from Anzu and him, when he started to shout.

"Oi, Anzu! Where'd you go? I thought we were supposed to be studying?"

"Sorry, Yami. There were these boys bothering this poor cat. Then Marik here" –

"Marik? Who the hell is Marik?"

I started backing away even faster, even half turning to make a run for it when he finally caught up to me, grabbing my arm with one hand.

His intense eyes narrowed dangerously as our eyes met, zeroing in on my nervous expression.

"You!"

The danger in that single word was all I needed to hear before I ripped away, running any way that was not towards Yami, forget shortcuts home.

"That's right, you better run, faggot!"

"Yami!"

I actually stumbled in my steps, pausing a little at the sound of Anzu's chastising voice. I kept moving away, but not as quickly now, confused.

No one had ever stood up for me before.

"What? He is!"

"Who cares what he is? He was trying to help me!"

There was a grumbling pause behind me, and then:

"Whatever. Let's just go back inside before you get a cold. Here, take my jacket."

"No thanks. I think I'll wear Marik's, actually."

I can't say what happened after that, because I made it back to the main street, and out of ear shot. But I can tell you that I spent the rest of the walk with the biggest smile ever on my face.

The way Anzu stood up to Yami was truly the greatest birthday present I could have asked for.

Because as soon as I heard her say that, I knew it was okay to be myself.

A/N: Go Anzu! I know some people like to bash her, but I've always loved her character (as some of you may know from my revolutionshipping days). I totally get disliking her in the English Dub as Tea, but she's pretty much a BAMF in the original Japanese and even more so in Season 0. Also, fun fact: When I initially wrote this, I thought she was going to be at least Yami's age (2 years older than Marik) but then I decided to make her awesome and mature for her age instead (as you will realize later)! Also, I thought I'd give you guys some happy stuff this chapter because next chapter...not so happy...just a warning! ;) Hope you all enjoyed!