In a time where so much is unknown to mankind,
it is hard to believe that places beyond the here and now exist,
but they do,
places where wars are raged and battles are fought,
and people are killed,
they do exist, and I will tell you their stories...
Now is the time to look ahead and think of the future,
however a careless mistake could cost loyalists their lives,
the demon queen's plan is in motion,
and the victim knows who they are.
-B-l-a-c-k-e-d- -o-u-t-
Chapter four
((Too cold...))
'Cold, cold, cold, cold, freezing, freezing, freezing, freezing, cold, cold, cold, freezing, FREEZING! Those dolts had better find this note... but I wouldn't put it past them to miss it...'
((Where is she?))
Ishtar Malik and Ishtar Marik hurried through the busy streets of the mortal realm, the pair moving as quickly and subtly as they possibly could towards the point they had agreed to meet the demon queen at.
Although it was only snowing lightly at the moment, there had been a heavy fall over night, resulting in slippery sidewalks and adding to the positively miserable feel on the street. Everything seemed to be a shade of grey, people scurried along the footpaths, most had their hands stuffed in their pockets and bore thick jackets to keep the cold out.
Malik and Marik were no exception, they were wearing the thickest jackets they had been able to find, and were still freezing. The demon realm, or the 'underworld' was a relatively warm place, it never snowed, so it was never a pleasant experience coming to the mortal realm when it was snowing.
"Where were we supposed to meet her," Marik asked impatiently. Malik drew a folded, and rather tattered piece of paper from his pocket.
"The address is written there," Malik handed the piece of paper over to Marik, who examined it for a moment then handed it back.
"Where exactly is that?" Marik questioned.
"How should I know?" the other demon spat back. Marik stared at the address for a while, then he stopped to stare at a street sign.
"I think this is the street," Malik checked the piece of paper his correspondent was holding, then the street sign.
"Looks like it," Malik said plainly. The pair of demons continued walking until they reached the end of the street.
"She's not here," Marik spat, sounding just the slightest bit annoyed.
"But maybe she was..." Malik trailed off, his partner in crime took a moment longer to realize what the afore mentioned demon meant by his statement.
Malik steeped up to the street post and pulled a note that had been attached to it off.
"How do you know it's from her?" Marik asked sceptically.
"Who else do you know that would leave a note where anyone could find it?" Marik seemed satisfied with Malik's answer and the demons read the note intently.
((And so the plot thickens...))
"Yami?" the demon prince could hear the knocking on his bedroom door very clearly through the silence that currently occupied the interior of his room.
"Yes," the prince called back, a normal demon would be expected to open the door and bow respectfully to the person who was currently standing on the other side, but Yami was not a normal demon, he was a prince.
"Can we talk?" the feminine voice called back.
"I guess," the crown prince sat up and the person belonging to the voice opened the door and sat down on his bed next to him.
"What is it mother?" Yami asked casually, although he made sure to use proper language, just in case it was bad news.
"I need to talk to you about your position as crown prince," the empress said, it was hard to tell if she was about to say he wasn't the prince or she was going to tell him that he would be taking over her position as the demon ruler.
"What about it?" was the best thing Yami could come up with.
"Well," the empress began, "I believe now may be a good time to start thinking ahead, about when my reign ends and yours begins,"
"I don't understand where you are coming from," and it was true, as quick on the uptake as the crown prince was, if there was one thing he couldn't do, it was understand his mother.
"I am suggesting that perhaps it is time to put your thoughts towards your future co-ruler," the empress paused, judging by the skeptical expression on her son's face, she was going to have to say it straight out, "Perhaps it is time to start looking for a bride,"
Yami sat for a moment, unable to respond or react. Then he seemed to suddenly regain full control over his body, it was about at that point that he realized what his mother had said. And soon after that the full extent of what had been said seemed to sink in.
"Why?" was the only thing the prince felt capable of asking.
"Because it would secure the dynasty that your father worked hard to establish, and it would rule out anyone else becoming the heir," the empress said calmly.
"Is it even possible for someone else to become heir to the throne, aren't I my father's only son, or are you about to tell me that I have a long lost brother?" Yami attempted to make a joke, but he sounded just a bit more serious than he had intended.
"No," Yami's mother snapped, she smiled and gave a short laugh, "you don't have any long lost brother, but it is possible for someone else to become heir, if the people see them as more capable,"
"Who could possibly be viewed as more capable?" the crown prince had a sneaking suspicion he knew who his mother was talking about, but asked anyway.
"You are aware that there are quite a few demons who are related to the royal bloodline," the empress paused, "I have heard rumors that the warlord is looking for a bride, however I do not know if they are true,"
"You are worried that the warlord will attempt to have me dethroned?" the prince asked, slightly amused, but his amusement quickly disappeared after his mother's next comment.
"It is a perfectly legitiment concern," she snapped, "and I do fear that should he and the demon queen work out their differences, they could uncover more of the war than the people need to know,"
"What is there that the people don't know?" Yami no longer doubted that he was treading on delicate grounds here, he had to be very careful about his questions now.
"Majority of the public don't know the complete brutality of the war, they are completely unaware of how prisoners were treated," the empress exhaled heavily, "and many of their battles were for more than land or power,"
"What do you mean?" Yami's knowledge on the war was minimal, because for the part of the war he had been around for, his father had made sure that he was well guarded.
However any demon knew about the feud between the demon queen and the warlord, one being Akunadin's champion, the other being Akunamukanon's champion. They fought many battles and even after the war was finished the pair still fought, and over the stupidest things. They fought over political matters, they fought over battle strategies, they fought over matters concerning the angels, on one occasion they had even fought over who started the fight.
A pair of arguing demons was not something that anyone would want to come across, demons often lashed out and attacked other demons when they were arguing. In a few cases demons had even killed other demons while arguing, and although both the warlord and the demon queen had tried this, neither had come out successful, however the warlord had succeeded in rendering the demon queen flightless.
But that was an entirely different story.
"It is a long story, and I promise to tell you before you take my place, but I would like to keep on topic here," a smiled played on the empress's features watching her son shift position awkwardly.
"I understand that it is a bit early, but just keep an eye out, that's all I ask," the empress finished and stood up.
"I get the feeling that if I don't keep an eye out, then you will?" Yami questioned, it is impossible to live with someone for over a century and not know them enough to see through them to some extent.
"Most probably," the empress smiled and left the crown prince to think.
What his mother had said made him wonder exactly how much he knew about the war, he knew his father and his uncle had fought, and he knew that his father's champion had been the warlord, and his uncle's champion had been the demon queen, but what more was there?
Was it possible that the demon queen had a son? If she did then it might be possible for her to dethrone him and legitimize her son as the heir, perhaps that was what his mother knew that he didn't? Perhaps not...
The prince got up and walked down the corridor outside his room, when he couldn't work things out he usually walked around the palace, it sometimes helped.
The prince was so caught up in his own musings that he didn't notice another figure who was also not paying attention to the fact that they weren't alone, and of course, there was only one possible outcome in this situation.
The prince found himself set off balance slightly and steeped backwards to regain his balance, as did the other party involved.
"Watch where you're going," the other figure snapped.
Only one person would be so rude to a member of the royal party in a place where anybody could hear them, the prince didn't even need to look to know who it was.
"Maybe I was watching, maybe it was you who wasn't, Bakura," the prince said calmly, he seemed to have inherited some of his mother's charisma.
The demon warrior simply growled and kept walking, he wasn't interested in arguing with a spoilt prince, he had more important things to do, after reading the note from the demon queen...
Yami looked at the stone floor in front of him and noticed that a price of paper was lying there, 'it must be Bakura's' the prince thought and quickly went over to pick it up. He turned around to give it back to the legendary warrior, but when he did the other demon was gone.
The prince had a few options right now, he opted for the most appealing, he walked back into his room and read the note.
Bakura,
I feel it is my duty to remind you of the situation with the
prince. I have sent two of my most reliable force members
to speak with the warlord and he seemed to show some
interest towards the idea of dethroning the prince.
I myself, find the idea rather appealing, however it would
be impossible without more support, so I am asking you
for your assistance.
As a warrior I understand you will want something in
return, and I also know that simply witnessing the prince's
dethroning will not be enough.
So should you choose to assist in this most noble of
quests, then I shall reward you with what ever catches
your eye from the royal treasury.
I believe it may be obvious but I wish to remind you that if
you are unsure if someone is an ally or not, do not
mention this ploy.
Should anyone else find out we may have to abandon the
plot, which would be a dreadful loss to all involved.
Another question of yours may be why I have enlisted
your help, that is quite simple.
I know of your immense dislike of the prince, I also know
that you have been waiting for an opportunity to side
against him.
Well here it is, I am proposing a group alliance, between
you, myself, and a few others who have yet to pass their
judgment on the idea.
However I believe you should know that, should you
choose not to accept my offer, I will personally ensure
that you are slain.
It matters not to me what an accomplished warrior you
are, I am asking for your assistance because people fear
you, and that, I believe, is a weapon in itself.
I understand any reluctance you may have towards this
plan, but know this:
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, if we do nottake
action now, Akunamukanon's dynasty will become too firmly
established to challenge, now is the time to act.
I ask that if you are interested in accepting my offer that
you meet with myself and a few other potential allies
to discuss the reconstruction of Akunadin's forces.
We will be meeting in two days in the mortal realm, I have
written the address on a different piece of paper, so that
should this note be lost, you will still know the address,
and no one else will be able to find the rendezvous point.
With nothing else to say I will leave the decision in your
hands, but I ask that you consider the consequences,
whatever your choice may be.
Yami simply stared at the piece of paper, he didn't know quite how to react, people withing the court were plotting to kill him and take over the dynasty his father established. The prince stood from his position, he folded the note and quickly stuffed it inside one of his study books, then exited the room and headed for the throne room.
((Sounds deceitful, I like it!))
Malik & Marik,
It was too dangerous to stay in this realm, so I've left this
note to instruct you as to what to do.
I understand that the discussion with the warlord went
perfectly, I have written the note to Bakura.
It is now your job to discreetly persuade Akunadin
loyalists to join our cause. Make sure those who aren't
involved don't suspect anything.
I believe there is a village on the outskirts of the
underworld that is opposed to Akunamukanon's reign,
perhaps there is a good place to start your recruitment
campaign.
As of now it is also your job to observe the prince's
movements very closely, the captain of the guard used to
support Akunadin, however I believe his loyalties have
moved, so be mindful of what you say around him.
Now that I have said all that needs saying, the first phase
of the plan is in motion, so begin the preparations, our
time is nearing.
The only thing written under the note was a letter, an initial, the demon queen's initial.
T.
-B-l-a-c-k-e-d- -o-u-t-
Reviews:
mechante fille- yes it will cause quite a stir! I should know, I'm the one writing it! Your guesses were SOOOOOO close to what I had in mind, but not quite there...
TwinSanity- well, I got the reviews!
Kayrana- not quite...
pharohs-slave- another asap update! XD
Malikztiah- your on the right track with your guess, but not quite what I was thinking...
TK: same deal as last time, five reviews, then I update
SK: RR no flames
TK: Later!