Man Up! Chapter 5, a yu-gi-oh fanfic

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh!

I love this chapter! Big thanks to AiKo-Chan15 who co-wrote part of this chapter with me! Enjoy!

Chapter 5

Marik awoke the next morning still not quite over the excitement from the previous night.

He had never been so eager to go to school before. He almost wished that time would speed up so that his brother could be with him right then.

Marik was completely and utterly wrapped up in his own thoughts. That was a huge error on his part.

As per usual, Ishizu accompanied her younger brother on their silent walk to school, and split their paths once they came to the gate.

"Hello again Marik," A booming voice said from behind him as he entered the school grounds.

Oh shit! "Ushio?" The Egyptian questioned, not needing to turn around to see who it was.

"How have you been, kid? I hope no one's given you anymore trouble." The older boy's tone was definitely menacing.

"No, actually I've been perfectly fine. No one has been bothering me at all. I'm afraid I won't be able to take you up on your offer after all." Again, the younger boy had to be very careful in his wording, something he was somewhat experienced in; he had to do it enough in his life. But, to his dismay, he wouldn't be able to get off that easily.

"Honestly, you don't need to hide anything from me. I can help you." He sounds like a creeper. Can't I get him to leave me alone?

"I'm fine, I told you this before. I can take care of myself." Those words seemed a little bit truer this time.

"Marik let me help you or there's gonna be a whole new trouble for you to beware of. Can you guess who that would be?" He was leaning over his shoulder whispering these words in his ear, making the situation that much more uncomfortable for Marik.

"Please don't…" He whispered back. In that, instant memories of the abuse of his earlier childhood came rushing to his head and he could feel the tears forming in his eyes. He automatically crouched down with his hands protecting his head whimpering and whispering the same words over and over again. "Please don't." Please Daddy, stop it. The words that lingered in his mind from his 's words had hit too close to home. They were much too familiar.

This, however, did not faze Ushio one bit from going for the first strike.

Bakura and Ryou reached Domino High after their bus ride, 20 minutes before the bell signifying the start of classes for the day.

Mornings usually went one of two ways for the two of them either; Ryou staying with his brother in the yard until the bell rang or Ryou wanting to meet up with his friends and leaving Bakura behind. Ryou never very much liked leaving his brother by himself and used to try (emphasis on try) to drag him along with him (he still occasionally did), but sadly it was the way things usually ended up. Ryou wanted his brother to be more social and with the right people too. Although, Ryou believed there was good in everyone and was one of the only people who still knew there was good in his older brother.

Today was one of the days the latter option was chosen. Ryou needed to meet up with some of his friends to discuss a project and Bakura never made a habit of making friends with his peers. He had companions, other troublemakers like himself, ones he would use for his dirty work. When around them he would never accept a title under 'leader'.

As Ryou reluctantly left, Bakura decided he would wander around the courtyard for the morning until he decided he would go in (another thing Ryou did not like about leaving his big brother; he could never be sure he would go to class). Bakura walked up the stairs of the building to reach the roof.

In the white haired boy's mind it was a calm place to think, most people would be afraid of the altitude, but he found the air calming. He enjoyed this time he had in solitude, not even Ryou knew about his hideout. He could watch everything that went on in the school as an outsider; he could find amusement in the idiotic tendencies of his peers…

He could think.

And given his little meeting with the new student yesterday he had a lot to think about. He was interesting, that was for sure, but how interesting? Was he an enemy? A victim?

…an ally? No, that was preposterous; the Thief King needs no one. The kid had potential that much was true. Maybe he could be entertaining to talk to again… then again he might have to straighten him out for the way he thought he could talk to The Great Bakura. (yes that is his title and it has to be in capitals)

His annoyance began to grow at the Egyptian nuisance as he looked over the railing, thinking of what he could do to teach him this lesson.

What he didn't expect was the lesson was about to be taught for him.

"Ushio?" The boy thought aloud. The giant (and questionable high school student) was now walking, more like dragging Marik to a corner, out of view from the main office. "That can't be good, it was nice knowin' him"

Help him! A voice was yelling at him in the back of his mind. It came from a place that didn't communicate with Bakura often.

His conscience.

Why should I? he snapped back… at himself. (Maybe Jou was right)

Because he'll be like everyone else here, weak and pathetic. He can be different; you can help him to be strong.

Why would I want that?

Because you like him, he's got guts.

Bah! I am the Thief King! I help no one! I need NO ONE!

But Ryou wants you to have friends, would you do it for him?

Not even for Ryou.

Look at him, Ushio takes no prisoners; the boy will AT LEAST be hospitalized. Despite all of the things you've done you've never hurt an innocent person.

That doesn't mean I'm going to be a hero either…

Then the bell rang.

That ended Bakura's inner battle as he took one last look at the tanned boy and walked to the door. He didn't hesitate until his hand reached the doorknob. "It's dog eat dog, he's gonna have to learn that"

He mumbled something to himself as he turned the knob and made his way downstairs.

Marik tried to hold in his cry of pain. He knew that much. His father would always hit him harder when he screamed loud enough for the neighbors to hear. At the same time, he kept struggling to get out of Ushio's grip on his arm. He now knew he would have a great few visible bruises coming out of this, but he had a feeling that was not where it would end.

Marik had never been that lucky. Or had he?

Just as he was expecting Ushio's fist to once again connect with his face. Assuming there would be a much greater impact this time than the last, but the punch never came.

Marik slowly began openings his eyes. Out of the corner, he saw a tall, slender figure, hovering above the kneeling giant.

D-did he stop him? Is he helping me? He attempted to move his body into a sitting position to get a better view. He saw white. I'm not dying, right? The young blonde boy looked closer to see a familiar individual in the Domino school uniform. Is that-? Bakura?! It can't be, he wouldn't help me. Maybe he wants to finish me off himself.

Marik simply sat there and watched as Bakura threw a kick at an unsuspecting Ushio's head. His anger as he turned around was intense and immediate.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, man? You got a death wish Touzoku?" The hulk shouted as his hands fell to the back of his head, cradleing it. Bakura never challenged Ushio before and usually kept on okay terms with him, never before was he sure he could take him. Now he was.

Bakura did respond and only continued to prepare for his next attack. The lilac-eyed child noticed a fire in the whitette's eyes as he continued to fight… for him?

Not one of the boys present at the time would walk away without an injury of some kind. Although Bakura definitely had the upper hand in the fight, Ushio just would not let up. Bakura decided that it was time to pull out the big guns or should he say knife.

He then pulled the switchblade from his pocket and held it out before his eyes, examining it with care.

"Fine, man you win, I give." In the next instant, he was gone.

Now I know you could easily argue that Ushio could carry around a knife as well and would be able to throw Bakura's action right back at him. I would then say that Bakura's knife is known for being tainted with the blood of many people. In this moment, Bakura wouldn't have hesitated to use it. He loses himself when he's in a fight.

Marik thought that now would be a good time to speak up. "Um, Bakura?" He lifted his head at the mention of his name. "Thank you… for that." He choked out. "I couldn't stop him. I'm sorr-"

"STOP IT!" The Brit barked. "I don't want hear that! I didn't ask for an apology or a thank you! Don't do that again, it shows your weakness! It's why you get stepped on!"

Marik sat there, entirely shocked. "I know." He whispered under his breath.

"What was that?"

"I KNOW, DAMMIT!" he yelled. "I've been stepped on my entire life; do you think I need to hear that from you? You don't get it!"

"I don't, do I? You know what I've been through, kid. Don't show your weakness, and you won't… you can't get hurt!" He chuckled. Bakura's voice rose as he continued. "If you show them, then you're an easy target. Why didn't you call for help, Ishtar?"

Marik could, once again, feel the tears in his eyes. I couldn't. He didn't reply.

"Man up!" His voice fell. He shook his head. "You're wrong; you do need someone to tell you that. I can show you that you can." The older boy offered his hand out. "Come on, you need to get to the nurse." He said pointing with his other hand to a gash Marik hadn't even noticed on his arm.

Marik was hesitant to grasp the hand being offered to him. This Bakura Touzoku was so much different from the one Jonouchi and Honda told him of. He didn't think they were the types to lie about things like that. In the end he let Bakura help him up and bring him to the nurse's office.

When they arrived at the school's infirmary, even the nurse seemed surprised to see him help someone else there. Usually he would come alone or with the aid of his twin. Looks like they weren't lying. Marik said noticing the nurse's reaction.

Bakura left and the nurse treated Marik's wounds and told him that he could stay there for the rest of the period and that she would contact Rishid at work and call Ishizu from her class. Marik dreaded this for he knew his overprotective older sister would rush over there as fast as she could once she got the news, which she did. Her visit didn't last long after the nurse assured her that her brother was fine. Afterwards the nurse told him that she needed to leave the room for a moment to fill out some forms at the office. As soon as the door closed, it whipped open another time. He was lost when he found it was Bakura who had come in. He was visiting too now?

"She's gone now right?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah." Marik replied.

"I didn't mean to snap back there." Surely this wasn't some weird kind of apology from The Great Bakura.

He nodded. "I didn't either." The younger boy added.

Bakura was suddenly off the topic in the blink of an eye and wearing his trademark smirk. "How 'bout it, kid? Would you like to be my apprentice?"

Now Marik was confused. "What?"

"I told you I could show you that you could man up. I'm a man of my word. Which brings me back to my question…"

"I don't know." He honestly didn't know how to answer that.

"Apprentice to the Thief King. You can pass up an offer like that. It's once in a lifetime."

"Yeah, I'm sure it is."

"If you don't appreciate my charity then I'll go, have fun being stepped on…" He turned to leave, almost out the door when a voice stopped him.

"Wait!" Marik's eyes were pained as he contemplated his situation. They said not to get involved with Bakura… but I can't keep hiding from those jerks…why does he even want to?

"What's in it for you?"

"Pardon?" Bakura quirked an eyebrow, almost daring him to be a smartass.

Dare accepted.

"Surely the Great King of Thieves wouldn't help a "kid" out of the goodness of his heart. What's in it for you?"

The whitette stomped up to Marik and grabbed his collar. "First, you need to learn some respect kid. I won't hesitate to kick the crap out of you. Second, I'm gonna graduate one day…" He let go and smirked.

"I need to pass on my great legacy"

"What's so great about being a criminal?"

"I can show you if you agree."

Marik frowned "I don't want the cops on my ass thanks" Then he seemed to think about it more "but… I guess learning the ropes here isn't the worst idea in the world…"

"Good then you shall begin tomorrow"

And with that he was gone again. As quick as he had come.

"What just happened?" He said.

Flashback

Then the bell rang.

"I guess I'll be the one to teach him. I hope I'm not opening a big can of worms here." He mumbled to himself as he turned the knob and made his way downstairs.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Hope you liked it!

Please review!

-Witch12