Attention: Hey everyone here's the next piece of this series. Hope you enjoy the conclusion to the last chapter.
"Humanity is stuck in it's on rut." My Quote
xXx
Bakura:
The shadow monster and I ran through the back streets towards the hideout. Each step I took I knew that Yuki's life was slipping away. 'Hold on a little longer Yuki were almost there.' I thought, as the hideout was just a head. I didn't wait for the doorman and pushed right passed him as I made my way down the hall and down the stairs heading for the healer. When I forced the doors open she jumped,
"My King must you be so rude…"
"No time for that now! Her life is in danger!" I snarled at the healer as the shadow monster set Yuki on her side on the bed to keep from injuring her back any further. The healer took one look at her and started rushing about the room gathering things, and calling for her two assistances in the other room both of whom were girls as well. Marik skidded to a halt next to me with a look of sadness and dread written all over his face and touched Yukihara's pale cheek with a trembling hand. Next second he had pushed me outside the room as the healers closed the door, and was glaring at me as he pushed me up against the wall with considerable force.
"What the hell happened to her Bakura? Damn you to eternal darkness! You said she wouldn't get hurt if you tried to attack the Pharaoh today! I trusted you when you said she would go with you and not get hurt!" He shouted in my face as angry tears fell down his cheeks. I pushed him off and walked towards the wall next to the doors of the infirmary, and hit the stone hard with my fist.
"I had promised that Marik, but how was I to know that she would try and attack the Pharaoh herself just as I had set the monster at him."
"What do you mean? I thought those guardians of his hurt her." I turned back to look at him and he had a confused look upon his face.
"No. Those bumbling fools aren't the ones who hurt her. It seems that she went up the stairs to try and attack the Pharaoh and stopped right in front of him as the monster brought down it's own swing, and it struck her in the back." I said looking over at the monster and saw that it's arms and torso were covered in her blood. My eyes stung but I didn't let the waiting tears fall just yet. I would only let them escape once Marik was gone, for I will never let him see me cry about anything. I recalled the monster and the Diadiankh folded back up, and I was kicking myself for not telling her to stay behind me so that she couldn't get hurt. Marik was still trembling with pent up anger,
"So what…that doesn't matter Bakura. You should've done something…like told the monster to avoid her…or at the least made it get her out of there first."
"I had one shot Marik, and I wasn't about to waste it…" He cut me off with a death glare,
"So then you'd rather risk the life of your sister then try again for a better chance at him! How cold are you Bakura? I thought you at least cared a little about her, but now I'm not so sure anymore!" He shouted and stormed off back up stairs. He was hurt that Yukihara lay in the next room bleeding to death, and there was nothing he could to help her. I know that he cares for her as if she truly is his sister, and it hurt me to see him in such a state and to know that I was the one who caused it. I slumped down the wall and rested my head on my knees, and for the first time…I cried for Yukihara. Whenever she had gotten hurt when we were little it was always something mild like a scrapped knee or something and I always told myself she'd been fine. That she would be able to help me against the Pharaoh someday, but now I wept for her because I didn't know if she would live and that scared me more then anything. For the first time since I offered her to come live with me I see her now as my young sister whom was injured because of my foolish actions. 'This is my fault and if she lives I will not accuse her of being the one at fault. I'll do my best to make it up to her and hope she forgives me for this.' I thought as I sat there weeping silently and sleep took over soon enough.
xXx
I felt a hand on my shoulder and woke up to see the face of the elder healer holding a candle.
"My sister how is she?" I asked hearing that the words sounded weird as they rolled into the air. The healer looked grave and I was worried that the worst news I could ever hear would come from this old woman in the darkness that surrounded us.
"She lives my King, but she is terribly weak from the loss of blood. I know not how long she will sleep, and am grave to say that she may never wake up. The young Princess may end up sleeping forever." This news wasn't the worst but it did nothing to lighten my mood.
"May I see her before I retire to bed?" The old woman nodded and I got up slowly for I was stiff from sitting curled up for who knows how long. She opened the door and led me inside and went towards the bed. It had been pulled over to the window, so that Yukihara could see outside. 'If she wakes up.' I thought as my eyes started to sting again. The moonlight fell upon her face and she seemed as pale as the white silk sheets that covered her, and the amethyst necklace she wore around her neck seemed to absorb all the color and light around her and hide it within itself making it look black.
"Thank you for doing what you could." I said gently picking up Yukihara's slim hand and thought that if I held it to tight it surely would snap.
"You are quiet welcome my King, but I suggest you head upstairs. You seem to need rest yourself." I nodded and set Yukihara's hand back down and left the room. As I was heading to my room I heard chatter and talking coming from the main room, and headed there instead to see all of the men minus Marik sitting around waiting for something to happen. The room went quiet as I stood in the doorway.
"Bakura are we going on any raids tonight?"
"Yes can we go stealing?"
"Or how 'bout we storm the village, burn it to the ground, and go after the Pharaoh?"
"Yeah how's that Bakura?" I glared at them and the noise stopped at once.
"There will be no one leaving here tonight. Is that perfectly clear? If I find that anyone has disregarded my order I will see to it that they will endure punishment for a month. Understood?" I asked in an eerily calm voice and they all nodded and then went straight for their own rooms. I went to my own and as soon as I fell into bed I felt exhausted and was glad that I could rest for the first time all day, and drifted off into and uneasy but much welcomed sleep.
xXx
Marik:
After shouting at Bakura I felt a little better, but was still really worried about Yuki. I sighed and stretched out a little on my bed. 'Wonder when it'll be ok to sneak down and check on her. I know I have to be careful in case Bakura shows up.' I thought as the hours stretched by and the sun went down. I heard Bakura walk to his room, and then he walked down the hall to the main room. For a few minutes there was excited chatter, but that stopped quickly and I smirked knowing that Bakura wouldn't want any of the men out and about after what had happened today. Soon I heard all the men head to their rooms and heard Bakura walk past my room and heard his door close. I smiled and got out of bed, grabbed something from the kitchen, then snuck back down the hallway and went down the stairs. I knocked lightly on the door and the younger of the two assistances greeted me with a nervous look and looked behind me to see if anyone else was with me.
"May I help you sir?" She asked and I smiled in a sad way,
"Yes I would like to see the Princess please." The girl looked nervous but nodded and let me in. I went over to the bed and sat in the chair that was next to her, and placed my hand over hers.
"Hey Yuki. Heard you saved the Pharaoh. That was a slick move you made you know. When I meant for you to warn him I didn't think you'd try something like this." She didn't open her eyes, and didn't move. She looked so pale and the moonlight didn't help her look any better. It was as if her skin couldn't hold the color that was around her and so it just hovered over her skin making her seem so pale and frail that she could break easily if someone tried with out much force, her skin seemed unable to soak up the light and brighten her features and make her look strong like the moonlight always did. I sighed and bit into the pear I had taken from the kitchen stock. Pears where her favorites and I had hoped too much that she might wake up and want a bite. I sat back against the chair and closed my eyes, thinking it would be wonderful for her to say,
"Marik you silly what are you doing here? Go to bed I'll be fine in the morning, this is nothing more then a mere flesh wound." But alas again I hoped too much. I sighed and took another bite of the pear, thinking that maybe I should return upstairs.
"Ph-pharaoh…please don't cry…" My eyes snapped open at the little voice that just spoke and stared at Yuki. Her hand was in that air slightly as if she was trying to pick it up and touch something…or someone. Her hand came back down to rest on the bed but her color seemed to have improved, for she wasn't as pale as before. I smiled and leaned closer to her,
"Don't worry I'll keep an eye on him for you, and tell him tomorrow that you're ok. Night sleep tight…sister." I said kissing her cheek and left for my room knowing that I would have to find a way to get to the palace to inform him that she was mending and thinking of him. I curled up in bed with thoughts running around in my head hoping that one of them would present itself in the morning as acceptable.
xXx
Pharaoh:
I stayed in my room for quite some time till there was a knock on my door, while I was watching the sun begin to set. I ignored the knock, until someone spoke through the door.
"Pharaoh it is Isis, may I come in?" I sighed heavily, not really wanting anyone to talk to me right now but I couldn't ignore her,
"Yes come in." The door opened and closed but I didn't turn to look at her. "How is it that you have been the only one to come and check on me?" I asked trying to keep the sorrow from my voice, knowing that at the moment I couldn't accomplish such a thing.
"The rest of the Guardians and I informed everyone that you ordered no one to come to your quarters. Of course that was a small lie, but we felt that you needed some time by yourself after what happened today. The others do not know that you have affections for the girl, I made sure to steer them from any odd questions they might have asked if they came." She said answering my other question, and I sighed again.
"Why else have you come Isis? I would rather like to alone for now and I don't care if everyone finds it awkward that I don't come down for dinner tonight. I'm not very hungry as I'm sure you well aware of." I said catching the small noise she made as I cut her off. White-hot tears had started to stream down my face again and I placed my head in my hands.
"Ph-pharaoh…please don't cry…" I looked up to see Yukihara standing near the balcony door. She was translucent again and I could she had bandages underneath the long gown she was wearing. My heart skipped a few beats as she drew nearer and she smiled softly.
"Do not worry, I still live my Pharaoh. These wounds are deep I must admit, but not so deep as to kill me." I sighed a little out of relief,
"Well I shall leave you two to chat. Will you be coming for dinner Pharaoh?" Isis asked as she went over to the door.
"I'll think about it Isis." I said and heard her chuckle as she left and closed the door.
"You should really eat Pharaoh. It would be unwise for you to skip a meal. You would regret it in the morning for you might get a headache from not eating." Yukihara said smiling as she sat down on the floor in front of me.
"True you're right, but something more important first. How are you able to project yourself like this while you sleep?" I asked and she looked rather puzzled.
"Truthfully I have no idea how I can do this Pharaoh. I have figured out though that when I'm happy I can heal at a faster rate the other people, but when I'm sad I heal just like anyone else. I have no idea what else I can do with my emotions for I am afraid to try anything." She said looking down and her hands were clenched tight. I chuckled a little and she looked up at me,
"Well then I guess you and I will have to figure that out together once you're well. That is if you want to of course." I said smiling as her face brightened,
"Oh yes that sounds like a wonderful idea…but how are we going to do this when I need a good amount of jewels and such to please Bakura?" She asked as her face was set in a frown, an I could hear the displeasure in her voice,
"We'll set up more details later. For now I must go and join the others in the dinning hall, and I suggest you get some rest. There's no telling how this effects you yet alright, and then you can come back tomorrow night." I said and she nodded and stood up.
"Thank you so much Pharaoh for everything. You have no idea how much this means to me." She said taking a hold of one of my hands with both of hers, but when I tried to touch her my hand passed right through her and she giggled.
"Seems that I can only touch you. I guess I have to work on this a little more. Good night Pharaoh and sleep well."
"You as well Yukihara." I said and she smiled as she closed her eyes and vanished. I grabbed my cloak again and headed for the dinning hall. Isis gave me a small warm smile but said nothing, and it seemed that no one else was bothered that I had come a little late. I looked down at my left hand. My mind was still swimming with our little chat, and could still feel the warmth from her hands as they held mine.
xXx
Marik:
There was a knock on my door and I turned over to try and ignore it. For a long while it was quite and I sighed a little loving the quite. I heard the knocking again, and grumbled as I got out of bed and opened the door to find the young assistant there looking quite nervous.
"Oh hello can I help you?" I asked running a hand through my hair to try and straighten it, which failed like always.
"The young Princess is drifting in and out of consciousness and muttered your name Marik sir." She said in a quite voice and looked around the hall.
"Ok but have you gone to see Bakura 'bout this yet?" She shook her head,
"She muttered to go to you first. It seems that she wants to talk to you about something." I sighed a little and nodded.
"Ok lead the way." I said and she took off without a sound down the hallway, which was a little surprising. I had to tread lightly past Bakura's door and followed the girl down stairs and she was gone around the corner to her room as I went over to Yuki and sat in the chair.
"M-Marik?" She said in a tiny voice and I smiled a little as I put my hand on hers.
"Yeah it's me sis, what did you want to talk about?" I asked and she took a minute to answer.
"Saw Pharaoh…last night. Told him I was fine…need you to give him something…" She said. Her sentences were broken up a little because I assumed it hurt her to breath and talk at the same time. I held her hand tight,
"Sure what do you want to give him Yuki?" Her left hand trailed up to her neck and touched the amethyst necklace she still had on. "Oh that. Sure I'll give it too him. Want me to tell him to hang on to it until you can come see him yourself?" I asked and she nodded with a weak smile. She lifted her head a little and I got the necklace and put it in my pocket.
"What about Bakura, won't he ask about it?" I said looking back at her,
"Not if he thinks I haven't woken up yet…really sleepy…" I smiled and nodded as she did her best to keep her eyes open,
"Ok you rest up and I'll go give this to him for ya." She smiled and relaxed, just as Bakura came in looking tired.
"Any changes?" I looked down a little and shook my head,
"No she's the same as she was yesterday." I said and Bakura sighed,
"Alright then I'll sit with her for the day. You go on and get out of here for awhile, you need some time by yourself." I smiled a little inside for this was the perfect chance to go see the Pharaoh.
"Sure ok, sounds like a good idea." I said getting up with a sigh and passed him as he took the chair. I closed the door to the infirmary with a little smile on my face, and did my best to keep myself from running as I headed upstairs and got outside. I walked a good way from the hideout with my cloak up, and then when I was clear or the hideout I broke into a run for the palace. Since it was still pretty early I figured the Pharaoh would be found in his room, I hoped. I took Yuki's path and found it led straight to the palace walls. I looked up and jumped but missed reaching the top of the wall by a few inches for I had felt the stone slip from under my fingers. 'How in the heck does she get up there in one jump?' I thought as I looked around to see if any guards were coming by. Thankfully there weren't any, for it seemed that Yuki had chosen a great place to get in and out of the palace without being seen. I licked my lips and tried again, feeling my muscles tensing then releasing as I jumped again. This time I felt the stone beneath my hand and hung on as I pulled myself up and looked down. 'Man that's higher then I thought it was, and since she's been doing this for years I guess it's no wonder how she can get up here without any trouble. Though how she did it when she was younger is a complete mystery to me.' I thought as I ran along the wall and spotted the Pharaoh's room. I peeked around the corner and saw him getting ready to leave. I jumped down quietly onto his balcony and got down on one knee.
"My Pharaoh please do not be alarmed, I have a message from Princess Yukihara." I said calmly and hoped he wouldn't call for his guards. A long minute passed and I heard him move slightly.
"Princess Yukihara? How is she a Princess and what is her message? Rise and name yourself." He said and I sighed as I got up slowly, and kept my gaze a little below his even though we are about the same height.
"My name is Marik, and I am Yukihara's messenger. Bakura is the Thief King and she is his sister, so by those means she is the Princess of Thieves. Her message is that she doesn't want you to worry about her," I said and took the necklace from my pocket, "She also said that she would like you to hang onto this until she can come and see you again." I said smiling very slightly as his eyes traveled to the necklace. He seemed hesitant about taking it but I didn't blame him. For all he knows is that I could be an assassin sent by Bakura to kill him, but after a minute he took the necklace from me and looked at it with sorrow hidden in his eyes.
"Please take care of my sister Pharaoh. She has had many things taken from her when her parents were killed, and I would love to see her with some one that can keep her happy." I said and he looked at me with a questioning look.
"She is your sister as well?" I smiled a little as I took a few steps back,
"Well yes since she wouldn't take me as her lover insisting you were the one for her. I now she how much you care for each other I can settle with her being my sister." I said and that stunned him a little, and I could see the blush rising in his cheeks.
"She truly said that she didn't want anyone else other then me?" He said his shoulders relaxing and his whole posture was set off balance. I smiled and nodded,
"Yep she definitely kept saying that you're the one she will love even if the laws forbid it and you keep her away for her safety, her heart will never falter. I must take my leave and stay in the village should Bakura send someone to look for me." I said bowing very low,
"Thank you for coming Marik. I need to hear that she was doing well." He said and I heard he had regained his stiff tone. I smiled at how hell these tiny lies made him feel better and jumped from his balcony and almost missed the wall by a few inches. 'Maybe a few more times as a messenger and I'll get the hang of it.' I thought as I ran along the wall and dropped down. I was able to get back into the main part of town safely, and stayed in an area where Bakura felt safe to send one of his men or if he came looking for me if he felt he needed to. I sighed and was able to separate a bag of gold coins from someone passing me, and went to buy a drink.
xXx
Well there you go folks, and hope you enjoyed it. I'm still working on the next piece and thank you for waitng for this this chapter to come out. Till next time then everyone