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“I wanted to check in. Are you almost here?” Ishizu asked, voice slightly raised to allow Marik to hear her over the sound of flushing toilets and noisy hand dryers in the women’s restroom.
“Pulling up now,” Marik answered, clicking off his seatbelt and grabbing the bouquet of colorful red and yellow roses he’d placed beside him in the back passenger seat. “I should be down there in less than five minutes.”
“Alright, I’ll let them know as they did mention they need to start soon.” The bathroom noise faded letting Marik know she’d exited the restroom and was heading back to the infusion center.
Reaching into his jacket pocket, Marik pulled out a few bills and held them out for the driver, flashing him a small smile. “Thank you, and keep the change as a tip for your swift driving.” He stepped out, bouquet in hand, before the driver even had time to protest or respond and made his way quickly towards the sliding glass doors of the oncology center.
“I’m heading to check-in, hold them off a bit longer if you can, sister,” Marik implored.
“I’ll do my best,” Ishizu assured.
“Thank you, sister,” Marik answered, gratefully.
Ishizu made a sound, as if about to speak again.
“What is it?” Marik asked, worry seeping into his voice.
“Just that… I think it’s very thoughtful what you’re doing for him.” She chuckled then. “Boldness has always come easier to you.”
“Says the woman behind the Battle City tournament,” Marik countered.
“Well, I can’t take all the credit,” Ishizu replied.
“Don’t be modest, sister. Convincing Kaiba Seto to do anything is no small feat.”
“Alright, I’ll agree to take the compliment if you’ll take mine, deal?” Ishizu proposed. He could hear the smile in her voice.
He slowed as he neared the elevator doors. A middle-aged couple were already waiting as well.
“Deal,” he replied, reciprocating the smile he imagined she wore.
“See you in a few minutes,” she responded, and ended the call.
Marik waited beside the couple, anxiety rising a bit at the thought that they’d start without him getting the chance to see Rishid.
Finally, after what felt like far too many seconds, the elevator doors chimed open and the three of them stepped inside, pressing the buttons to their respective floors. For Marik, that meant the basement of the building. Luckily, he was up first.
As the elevator began to move downward, he took in the couple sharing the cabin with him. They sounded British and spoke softly to one another about dinner plans. He wondered what brought them to Cairo and this hospital specifically. So many stories, he mused, brought together in this place of uncertainty.
Before he could dwell on it much further, the elevator jolted to a stop and the doors slid open. He flashed the couple a small smile as he jogged out of the cabin and down the hallway towards the check in desk of the infusion center.
“Hi, I’m here to see Rishid Ishtar, I’m his brother,” Marik replied hurriedly.
The woman, perhaps sensing his urgency, wasted no time in placing the clipboard in front of him on the desk so that he could sign in. Marik quickly scrawled his name and pertinent information before handing it back to her.
She created a name tag for him and he held out his arm pointing for her stick it to his sleeve. She adhered it and smoothed her fingers over the surface briefly before gesturing towards the entrance to the patient area door. “Cafeteria is on the third floor if you get hungry.”
“Thank you,” Marik replied before making a beeline for the door. Pushing it open, he stepped inside and was met with the sound of beeping machines and the chatter of nurses behind the station area.
Unsure of where to find Rishid, Marik stepped closer to the nurse station. “I’m Rishid Ishtar’s brother,” he indicated.
“Ah, we’ve been waiting for you,” one of the nurses, tall and deep skinned, answered. “Follow me.”
As Marik followed her down a hall of curtained-off beds, the nervousness that he’d momentarily forgotten in his haste to get here, returned. He’d been planning this for weeks now. How would Rishid react?
The nurse came to a stop near the end of the hall and pulled aside the pale blue curtain halfway, and gestured for him to head inside. “We’ll be coming around to begin the chemotherapy treatment soon,” she informed them, before briskly heading back down the hallway.
Marik took a couple steps forward, and was greeted by Rishid’s bright smile and his sister seated quietly beside his bed. He shared a knowing glance with the latter.
“Marik! I thought you had to work at the shop today?” Rishid questioned, clearly surprised but delighted by his brother’s presence.
“I was able to get Raman to cover for me,” Marik explained, placing the bouquet on a nearby table as he returned Rishid’s smile.
Taking in Marik’s appearance, Rishid’s smile faltered slightly. Why are you wearing a hoodie this time of year?... Marik, what…” understanding dawned. “Marik,” he gasped. “What have you done to your beautiful hair?!
With slightly shaky hands, Marik lowered his hood to reveal a smooth bald head, freshly shaven. “I wanted to try out a new look,” Marik quipped. “After all, I can’t let you out-style me, brother.”
Rishid, still stunned, stared at him, mouth slightly a gap.
Faced with his brother’s scrutiny, Marik couldn’t help but fidget slightly, betraying his nervousness. Had he gotten it all wrong and somehow upset Rishid?
Slowly, Rishid’s features softened though, and he laughed heartily. “Well, you of all people certainly have the confidence needed to pull it off,” he responded.
“That’s what I told him,” Ishizu chimed in.
Rishid looked between Marik and Ishizu. “You both were in on this,” he noted. Then smiled fondly between them, his gaze coming to rest on Marik. “I love you both.”
“As do we you, brother,” Marik replied gently, stepping forward to place a hand on Rishid’s. IVs ran along the length of it. How he hated that Rishid, his devoted brother and friend, had no choice but to endure more suffering. His stage II testicular cancer diagnosis had caught them all off guard. “It’s the least I can do after all you’ve given me,” Marik continued. The two brothers shared a knowing look.
Then, Rishid’s eyes clouded with uncertainty. ‘Won’t you miss it?” he asked, softly. “You always loved styling your hair…”
There was no chance Marik would stand his brother enduring any more pain of guilt. He had enough to carry. So, he shrugged, “Eh, I was getting bored of the same few looks it’d tolerate.” He gave Rishid’s hand a squeeze. Besides, this way, you won’t have to go through it alone.”
Rishid’s eyes began to shine bright with tears as he gazed up at Marik. For a few moments, the three of them remained silent, overcome with emotion.
“We will walk beside you, every step of the way, Rishid.” Ishizu insisted.
Rishid swallowed visibly, holding back tears. “Both of you, your kindness and love are the greatest gifts I could ever hope to receive.” Then quietly, the tears began to slide down his cheeks.
Marik leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his brother’s shoulders and let him cry as Ishizu caressed his hand.