The deserts' shadow – Part 4
The Realization
Recap (Atems' POV): Bakura lunges towards the man, assailing him again, but the figure soars into the air and steps on Bakura's sword with his one foot causing it to sink tip first into the sand. With the other foot he steps on the attacker's back in an attempt to leap over him but the Thief, anticipating the man's move, grabs his leg and forcefully slams him into a nearby rock. He gets up rapidly - just in time to block another strike.
The assault continues as the man manages to doge every feverous slash that comes his way...until he slips on a loose stone and momentarily loses his balance...
'The Thief King seizes this opportunity and swings his sword once more, this time, he connects with the man's arm and his blade leaves a deep gash. Both men pause momentarily, staring at each other. Bakura seems quite pleased with himself as he watches the blood oozing down the man's arm and over the silver dragon as his arm falls limply to his side.
Abruptly, something about the man changes. Nothing visibly, yet something very definite. His whole character seems to shift from defensive, to offensive.
Bakura has very undeniably noticed the change as well and looks at the man in an uncertain manner. At that moment, the man pounces forward slicing at him with both his swords having no trouble landing every blow he makes towards his foe.
Cuts and gashes appear on The Thief King's cheek, arms and torso as he stagger backwards – sending pieces of cloth flying in every direction. Bakura is thrashed at relentlessly and he is very obviously losing his edge and beginning to tire. His chest is rapidly moving up and down as he struggles to get a chance to breathe while flinging his sword and body around trying to miss the man's blades. He skids backwards away from the cloaked man in order to regain control of his now shaking body. Drops of sweat roll down his slim strapping frame and he is slightly steaming from being so hot in the unpleasantly cold air.
The man steps in front of him and seems ready to deliver the final blow when a menacing grin skulks across Bakura's face.
How strange...does he find the idea of dying pleasant? At this instant, a hand grabs hold of my broken arm and a very sharp blade is pressed to the front of my neck.
I have become so engrossed in the fight between Bakura and the man, that I did not notice Marik sneaking up from behind me. I am no longer puzzled by the Thief King's smirk. Obviously he has seen his companion slinking towards me.
Marik yells at the man with a triumphant voice.'
"Throw down your weapons or the Pharaoh dies!"
'The man solidifies in his tracks – seemly startled at the sudden engagement of a third party. He turns around at the commotion and sees what has happened. He stares at Marik...motionless.'
"What are you waiting for? Do you want me to decapitate him right here? Do not test me filth, I will not waver. Throw your blades down at my feet!"
'With this he twists my arm and drags the point of his sword down my neck making quite a painful cut causing me to groan in pain. The man stiffens and throws his blades to the sand inches from Marik and myself...they are still soaked with blood...
The moment his blades hit the ground; Bakura advances towards him and Marik loosens his grip on me. The Thief King shoves his blade around the man's neck from behind and wraps his other arm around the his chest with immense vigour trying to snap his ribs.
As he does so, his eyes widen with shock and his pupils contract.
I stare at him, uncomprehending the sudden surprise...that is...until I look down. The man has shoved one of his shuriken knives into Bakura's thigh the moment Marik loosened the swords grip at my throat. With a flash the man slips down out of Bakura's grasp and picks up a rock at his feet, slinging it towards Marik and hitting him right between the eyes with immense potency. The grip around my arm fades away and I hear the thud of his sword hitting the sand. With a plop, he sinks down and lands on his back...either dead or unconscious...I don't know which...
I look at the man and just as he turns around, he comes nose to nose with Bakura and his psychotic smile. I gasp as I realise the reason for the intense closeness. Bakura has shoved his sword into the man's side.
I stare at them – waiting for him to vanish like before only to reappear from somewhere completely unexpected...he doesn't...
Bakura laughs like a maniac and pushes forward with force causing the blade to slice even deeper into the body of my liberator. Not a sound escapes his lips, although he doubles over in pain grabbing the crossgaurd of Bakura's sword in an attempt to stop him from pushing the blade even deeper into his body. After a moment; he arches his back and in the same instant brings up his leg and kicks Bakura in the chest forcing him backwards and as the Thief falls, he pulls the sword out with him. My redeemer stumbles backwards, still doubled over, clutching his side in pain. I can hear him gasping for breath and I can see blood pouring from the wound. He tilts his head in Bakura's direction to see him recovering from the blow – also wheezing as his wind has evidently been knocked out.
In response to the Thief's quick recovery, the man rips his cloak up even further and ties a strip very tightly around his waist.
He snaps his head in my direction and I am suddenly drowned in guilt for making no attempt what so ever in helping the man who, not only saved my life, but also put his own on the line to keep it that way. He staggers towards me to retrieve his swords from the sand at my feet.
As he approaches, all I can manage to stammer out is "I...I...I am so...so...sorry..." He stops dead in front of me and looks me square in the eyes. For the first time since he made his appearance, I have a glimpse of his features. The bottom half of his face is covered with a skin tight black shirt that he seems to be wearing underneath his loose fitting clothes. His cloak still covers his head so all I can really see is a pair of electric cerulean eyes. He nods once and then bends down to pick up his swords to face Bakura once more and sinks down into a hostile fighting position.'
Bakura gets up slowly looking at the man with scepticism and worry in his eyes. He has never been beaten in a fight before...and that is a mortifying wound...how can he still be alive let alone standing and ready to fight?...His eyes suddenly fall upon Marik's motionless body. The realization on his face clear...'not good'...