A/N: Guys, guess what? It's a week till my birthday. Yay! I love birthdays (as can be noted from chapter 8). On a completely unrelated note, here's a new chapter to enjoy! Huzzah!

Disclaimer: Cue lazy dismissal of my ownership of Yu-Gi-Oh.

I remember the day I realized that Ishizu was way too nosy for her own good.

It was a couple months since my infamous first date. Since then, I'd become pretty close with Bakura's group of friends, and maybe a little closer with him.

It was summer break now, so I missed him a bit, but he said when I came back as a junior, I could eat lunch with his friends.

He even said that I might be invited to hang out with them after school if I turned out to be 'good company' (Ryuji had enthusiastically seconded that option).

Since school was starting again in just a week, I was pretty excited. I guess I wear my heart on my sleeve a little, but I couldn't help being cheerful.

Maybe a bit too cheerful, because Ishizu got suspicious when I offered to help wash the dishes for the third night in a row.

"You seem to be in a very good mood recently, brother. Is there anything I should know?"

"I don't know what you mean, sister. School has just been going really well. I'm looking forward to returning."

"Oh? That wouldn't have to do with anyone in particular, would it?"

"Well, I've made some new friends…they're upperclassmen though so I don't get to see them in class very much. One is even Egyptian like us."

"And is this fellow Egyptian…attractive?"

"Eh, Mariku? He's good looking I guess, not as good looking as me of course. But he's dating Ryou, Bakura's twin brother."

"Bakura? Touzoku Bakura?"

I glared over at the table where Seto HAD been working quietly. I enjoyed talking to Ishizu. If I was forced to admit it, I kind of liked washing dishes with her because Seto never helped and she paid more attention to me.

"Yah, Touzoku Bakura. You got a problem with that?"

"That boy is a money grubbing worthless thief. You'll stay away from him if you know what's good for you."

"S-Seto!"

"He is not. You don't know anything about Bakura, I'd much rather have him around than you."

"I know he's a no good thief."

"If he's a thief, then why isn't he behind bars?"

"He was touring my facilities with a group of students one day. The next day, I discovered several thousand dollars missing from one of my safes. I know it was him, I just can't prove it."

"You wish he was interested in touring your 'facilities'…"

"Marik! Why would you say that?"

"Because, Ishizu, Bakura is way better than he's making him sound! He's not a thief; he's just looking out for him and his brother! I've heard their father abandoned them and they live alone most of the time."

"You've heard? How well do you even know this boy, Marik?"

"I know him well enough! I told you, he's an upperclassman; I don't get to see him that much. But he's a good guy! He's even going to let me hang out with his friends after school this week! Ryuji will be there too, I've told you about him."

"The boy who took you on a date when you weren't old enough to be dating, much less an older boy?"

"It wasn't like that! I was just trying to make Bakura jealous, and he knew it."

"How long have you been involved with this boy, Marik?"

"Ra, Ishizu, you don't have to say 'involved' like he's some kind of street thug! He's a good guy!"

"He's a thief."

"Shut up Seto. You're just a judgemental ass."

"Marik, you will not talk to him like that!"

"I can talk to him however I like, this is my house!"

"This is not your house, this is my house, and in my house we don't speak to guests like that."

"It's not my fault that he hates me. He's always hated me."

"Marik…"

"He does! I bet he just hates gay people."

"Marik, that's terrible. Seto has never judged you based on your sexuality. I think you need to go to your room."

"You can't tell me to go to my room!"

"Yes, I can."

"You're not my mother."

"I'm your guardian and you will go to your room."

To say it was the worst argument Ishizu and I ever had would be an understatement. The air was frosty at best for days. I was determined not to cave in first.

While I did feel bad for talking to Ishizu that way, Seto had it coming. He's was asshole of the first class. I couldn't believe he would throw Bakura under the bus that way.

Okay, so I knew that he was a thief, but Ishizu didn't need to know that!

And based on their conversations that I sometimes got to be a part of, I was pretty sure that Bakura did do it to support himself and his brother.

It was almost a week before Ishizu was willing to talk to me again, and that was only because school was about to start.

"Marik, I know you're not going to want to hear this" –

"Then why bother saying it?"

"I don't want you seeing that boy. He's not a good influence."

"You can't stop me."

"I'm putting a curfew on you. If you're not home immediately after school there will be severe consequences, do you understand?"

"I understand that you hate me and don't want me to be happy."

"Marik…"

"I don't care, Ishizu. I'm never telling you anything again. You don't care about me at all."

And that was the end of that conversation. I knew it was immature, but I didn't care.

I knew that wearing your heart on your sleeve was not always a good thing.

Not at all.

A/N: I think this reflects a lot of what we see from Ishizu in the anime/manga. She's harsh, certain that she's right (which she probably is most of the time) and willing to do whatever it takes to make Marik see that. But it's really because she cares so much about Marik, so can you blame her? (When she's separating him from Bakura, yes!) Also, if any of you are having trouble following the dialogue sans speech tags, try reading it out loud (if you dare..). I find that it makes it a lot more obvious who's talking :) Let me know what ya'll think!