8 8.Wretched Warrior

"It is because no one ever was so kind to me. Can we please change the topic now?"Akio replied in harsh tone thereby, holding back his tears.

"Yeah...ok..sure, "Mark replied, certifying the fact that he did not want to pry.

Hence, the boys spent all the night talking about everything except that topic. Akio was seemingly getting normal, which was currently Mark's only concern.

The night had passed smoothly and the next day broke. Mark and Akio reached their uni, just in time for class. However, there was a different aura about the place. It no longer had an authoritarian feel to it. Something was missing or maybe, someone.

Mark and Akio both sat down at their respective places. Mark turned back to greet Wang Xiu, his only friend. When he turned back, he was baffled. All this while, Wang Xiu was not present in the class.

"Where is Wang Xiu?"He asked Akio in a beginner level of sign language. Naturally, Akio did not understand what he was trying to say.

"I don't understand," Akio replied loudly.

The teacher heard them."Both of you right there.Yes, you."She said, gesturing towards Akio and Mark."GET OUT OF MY CLASS!"She blared in her hoarse voice, thereby deafening everyone.

Akio and Mark were thrown outside the class. They stood there like middle-schoolers awaiting detention. The teacher stood in front of her laptop and was probably documenting the detention notice. A few minutes later, she barged out of the room and shoved the note right into their faces, Asking them to leave the uni building.

Mark and Akio left the building and went to the sports' department field. Akio sat upon the stands, took out a cigarette and started smoking. However, Mark was pacing briskly, thinking regarding the whereabouts of Wang Xiu.

"Say, Do you know where Wang Xiu could be? I mean, she never skips classes without informing the uni authorities."Mark questioned Akio, waving his hands to ward off the smoke.

"NO," Akio replied, puffing out smoke.

"Can you please not smoke in here, at least?"Mark asked Akio, covering his face with a napkin.

"And why shouldn't I?"Akio asked, before puffing out even more smoke.

"Ecause ou aa a inor(Because you are a minor)"Mark replied with his mouth tightly covered.

"Can you please remove that and talk? It is very difficult to understand this way."Akio said in a prudent way.

Mark removed the napkin. He clenched his fist."My dear little 'cinnamon roll'.It is because you are a minor. If people see you, there is a chance that you will be arrested"Mark replied in a sing-song sarcastic manner.

Akio pretended to never have heard Mark. He proceeded to take another one out and put it to his mouth. Mark's fury broke out. He grabbed the cigarette and threw it down, stomping it and burning a small patch on the turf. Akio now became angry. He attacked Mark but Mark was surprisingly prepared for the attack. The boys were hitting each other with their hands. Akio slipped from the stands and dragged Mark along.

Now, the two boys were on top of each other, each glaring at the other. The time seemed to stop. They both lost a sense of reality. Their heartbeats resonated and somehow, both were loving the moment. Suddenly, a loud booming sound was heard.

"Get up you idiot!"Mark yelled, realizing what was going on.

Akio got up and they both scampered to the source of the sound. It was near a storage room, where all sports supplies are kept. Someone was cornered. The tried to peep over, but could not. They both decided to go to a high-leveled place so that they could see the people involved. They both reached the terrace and looked down. The person was being tossed around. They were severely bruised.

"Who could it be?"Mark thought.

The physical features of the person suggested it was a boy. They had a strong body and seemed agile. They did not seem like someone who could be easily bullied.

"What...would...you..get..by...doing this?"They questioned the bully, something which victims usually not do. But the voice..it seemed familiar.

"It is Wang Xiu!"Exclaimed Akio.

Mark was taken aback."How can you be so sure?" Mark asked Akio, trying to wade off the heart-grabbing feeling.

"It is Wang Xiu. The ability to remain stern even in tense situations is exclusive to her. The voice we heard just now was not from a meek person."Akio told with assurance.

What was Wang Xiu doing there? Could she be in genuine trouble? or is fate trying to lead them astray?