"Wake up," Bakura said harshly.
I was in no mood to be getting out of bed. I was much too exhausted from what I was doing the previous night. I simply groaned and pulled the blanket over my head, wanting to block him out. But it didn't work that easily. Getting annoyed, he grabbed the blanket and yanked it off me. My body shrunk away into a fetal position, trying to retract from the sudden exposure.
"Leave me to sleep," I moaned.
He wasn't having any of it. Next thing I knew, I felt the ice cold sensation of water on my body. I immediately jumped up, shaking like a spooked cat. I was dripping wet and freezing. The only time this ever felt good was if I was taking a leisurely swim in the Nile. NOT when I was sleeping.
I heard him laugh. "That's a good look for you," he said.
Now I was going from shock to anger. I wanted to punch that smug look off his face. So I did. Well…sort of. I slapped him on the side where his scar was. He immediately stopped laughing and seemed surprised at what I did. "Don't EVER laugh at me," I said angrily. "I may be your prisoner, but that does not mean you can constantly treat me like dirt."
He said nothing. But even before he could, I stormed out of the house. I went as far as I could before stopping in a place where the sun was at its brightest. I knelt down and just let it and the warm breeze dry me. I felt great. I always loved the feeling of it whenever I awoke in the morning. It felt rejuvenating.
Suddenly, I felt something soft wrapped around my shoulder. It was a towel. I turned and saw it was Bakura who put it on me. I was…a little surprised. "…Why?" I asked.
"If you're expecting me to say 'I'm sorry', forget it," he said.
"…Then I guess this is as close to an apology as I'm going to get," I deduced. I quietly dried myself off.
He then spoke. "You do understand why I act like this don't you?" he questioned.
"Because I serve the Pharaoh and you hate him for something his father did, so obviously that means I and the rest of my friends just as guilty," I said, sarcasm lining my voice.
It was like I already said what he was going to. "…If only you knew the whole story," he said.
"Yet somehow I doubt you'd actually give me the whole story," I retorted.
"Oh please, I'm above many things, but I'm not above telling why I do what I do," he said. "Sit down and I'll tell you everything."
I doubted any of this would excuse what he did, but I might as well listen. So, I sat down on a broken bit of one of the houses.
"Fifteen years ago, this place was home to a tribe of thieves. It was also my home," he began. "One day, without warning, a group of soldiers attacked this village and rounded up every man woman and child, leading them down into that dark sanctuary. Then…it was nothing but absolute carnage. All the villagers were slaughtered by the soldiers."
"All…except you," I concluded.
"I witnessed EVERYTHING that happened. The bodies of my friends and family were melted together with the gold that was to be used in the dark ritual. I was…horrified," he continued. "That's when I saw the man who was leading the massacre…Aknadin."
"M…Master Aknadin?!" I said in shock. "N-No…h-he wouldn't! That goes against everything he taught me and the other priests and priestesses!"
"Then of course you wouldn't be aware of the dark secret he carries," Bakura said. "He was the one behind the ritual, the massacre, and the creation of the Millennium Items." I almost couldn't believe what I was hearing. But he wasn't finished yet. "I lost…everything that day. My friends, my family…and my life. I was completely alone in the world….until their spirits came back, giving me a new strength in the form of Diabound…and it was then that I knew I had to avenge their deaths."
I had to admit…I did feel for him. I knew his pain. I knew what it was like to witness the destruction of one's own village and the slaughtering of everyone closest to me. But…it felt odd to feel like this for him when it was his village that destroyed mine. It seemed…almost hypocritical.
"Though…I doubt you would understand what it's like," he said.
That destroyed whatever sympathy I had for him. "I…wouldn't understand?" I questioned. "I'm sorry…did you just sat I wouldn't understand?! What right do you have to tell me that?!" The high volume of my voice seemed to have him surprised. "In case you've forgotten, I lost my entire village too AND witnessed it!" I shouted. "And just to add salt to the wound, it was by YOUR village! I'm actually pretty damn thankful that Aknadin wiped them out! At least that stopped them from doing it to any other person's village!"
I had to take a breath. I never had outbursts, so it took a bit out of me. I looked up at Bakura. He was silent. I guess I got to him. But then I thought. Maybe…I took that too far. I know I shouldn't be too sympathetic with a thief and apparent murderer, but….I had to remember he was just a child when it happened. Just as I was a child. He couldn't have understood all that the older ones in his village did. It…wasn't his fault my village was destroyed. Though, it still didn't give him the right to say I didn't understand. But…I think he now understood that.
"Bakura, I…I'm sor—"
"I should just kill you right now," he said. "I can see you're just like the rest of them. Glad that my family is dead."
"But…I—" Suddenly, a bright light flashed. Once my eyes adjusted, I was met with a horrifying sight. It was his Diabound, but…much different than before. It was more monstrous and darker. I was fearing for my life now. But…I couldn't let myself be killed. I had to try to fight back. Using my lyre, I summoned forth Shining Friendship. To my surprise…it changed a bit as well. Its appendages had grown longer and its wings bigger. It was also now about the same size as I was. But…it was still no match for Diabound. Instead of attacking, it cowered by me in fright. We were both done for. It was my last defense and it failed. Diabound raised its claw to strike. That was all it would take anyway. I raised my arms in a pitiful last attempt at defending myself. I…have failed you…my ancestors…my Pharaoh….
But…nothing happened. I looked up. Its claws were just inches away. But it did nothing.
"…No," Bakura said. "It wouldn't solve anything. And it won't make me feel better."
I couldn't say anything. I was too paralyzed with fear…and now stupefied with confusion. Why…would he have a sudden change of heart? It almost didn't make sense. I managed to get only a single word out. "…why?"
He was looking away, not wanting to me in the eye. "..It's just not worth it," said. Diabound vanished and Bakura started walking away, towards the underground sanctuary.
I was alone now. But I just sat there for a long time. Thinking. And the more I thought…the more I think I began to understand. Everything he did…was a result of anger and hatred accumulating over 15 years, as well as an immense feeling of loneliness. He was alone…and he was angry about it. The violent acts he committed were a way of venting it. I…guess he just wasn't as lucky as I was…to have other people that were there to help. He was…..lost.
Hours passed and soon it was dusk. I still sat where I was, almost staring off into space, mindless tossing pebbles across the ground. I don't think I would ever grow comfortable of the eeriness of this place. I then heard footsteps. Well…I didn't need to guess who it was. I looked up. He had a different look in his eyes now. They seemed cloudy and softer.
"…You haven't eaten since you've been here," he said. "You're probably starving."
Now that he mentioned it, I was. "…Yes," said.
"Come with me," he said, extending his hand to me.
This was definitely new coming from him. But…my hunger did the thinking for me and I took hold of his hand. He helped me up. He started walking back towards the house and I followed. This was very strange. I mean…I guessed that maybe after the earlier altercation, he just…turned around. I honestly didn't know. At this point, I was too tired and hungry to think.
After we entered the house, I was given a wooden plate that had just bread and fruit on it. Not what I had grown used to living in the palace…but what did I care now? I had food. I ate it quickly due to my gnawing hunger. It was such a relief to have food after nearly two days.
"Sorry about earlier," he said.
I paused a moment. He…actually apologized? I mean, he did look guilty before he walked away from the encounter, but even I knew it wasn't in his nature to apologize for the things he did. It definitely took me aback. Then again…he was already acting out of character.
I sighed. "It's alright," I said. "No one killed each other. I'd rather just forget about it."
"I guess in my rage I forgot that you did know exactly how I felt all those years ago," he said.
I'm just glad he understood that now. And at the very least…I now understood that he was just as much a victim as I was. Despite both our villages being very black and white as far as who was good and who was evil…the distinction between whether either of us was or was not truly a victim was completely grey, even if the paths we chose after words are what made us good or bad. It was all a matter of perspective and opinion.
"…And I'm sorry, too," I said. He gave a surprised look. "For saying I was happy about what happened to your village. I also forgot you were just as much a victim as you were."
He nodded in understanding. "I guess we're not as different as I thought," he said.
"Yeah…but only by so much," I reminded. Even though we had that in common, we were still more different than alike.
"I suppose you're right," he said. "At least we have that mutual understanding…but I will ask you, why be loyal to people who you know have committed terrible acts in the name of what you consider to be 'good'?"
"Well, why do you pledge your allegiance to whatever force you are loyal to that has also committed terrible acts in the name of what you deem to be the right thing?" I countered.
"…You make a sound point," he admitted.
"Because we both follow those that we believe are doing the right thing," I finished. "And that…is why even though we have that mutual understanding…we can never go any further than that."
"Unless I could bring you over to my side," he said.
"You know that nothing you say will make me abandon my friends," I retorted.
"Maybe not a spoken offer…but maybe a promise," he said.
"…I'm sorry, but your promises don't exactly mean much to me," I denied.
"Oh really?" he said. "You see…I know that you are undermined by your so called king and his high priests. They know that you have the potential to be very powerful. Enough to be ranked higher than they are. But instead you are demoted to a simple priestess. And even despite that, to them you are used as nothing more than a musician. Meant only to entertain them. But I acknowledge the great power you can possess. And if you joined me and lent me that power, once the dark being within this place is released I can give you back that power tenfold. And you could help me rule this world."
I was silent. When I thought about it, I guess I was nothing more than a musician to them. I was barely used to perform holy duties. Maybe I wasn't given the real respect I deserved…but…no. I once again remembered Seto's words: You have a special skill. One that many people could never aspire to have. Just know that no matter what…never surrender it to anyone. I had to stay strong. And I had an important duty that I had to carry out…one that required me to remain completely loyal to Pharaoh Atem.
"…I appreciate the offer, but if I did that it would go against everything I know to be right," I said. "So nice try…but I'm far from interested."
"Then you're just as foolish as the rest of them," he said.
"So much for mutual understanding," I scoffed.
He was silent. "…Nevermind," he sighed. "Just forget the whole thing. We do have a mutual understanding, and that's all. Nothing more."
I nodded in agreement. I then let out a yawn. "I'm going to sleep," I said. I would need all the rest I could get. And as long as I could keep my nightly lessons a secret, he wouldn't think anything of it.
"Wait," he said. "Before you do, I just have one request."
"What?" I questioned.
"…Play just one song for me," he answered.
I was a little surprised. But…maybe after hearing it once the previous evening he wanted to hear more. I guess my music was pretty infectious. I took up my lyre and began to play a soft melody. It was less sad than what I had previously played, and instead was the same lullaby that I had remembered when I had heard the spirit of the tome speak to me. As I played, I looked to him. He was actually starting to fall asleep. I guess even the coldest heart could be melted by a simple melody. I continued playing. The more I did, the more he fell asleep. Finally, he was out. I stopped playing. I looked at him for a long while. I didn't want to admit it, but…he looked cute when he was asleep. Like a little child. Though I feared that this was the only time he would appear that way. But…I would savor it while it lasted. However, I soon became overcome by sleep and rested my head on the pillow of my cot…
I had just finished finally memorizing "Osiris's Thunder" and moved on to the next one: "Obelisk's Fury". As I played, I kept thinking of the day's previous events. I barely occurred to me that maybe Bakura and I had grown a little closer. We already had a better understand of each other and were already to a point of being civilized with each other. But…I couldn't let this prevent me from fulfilling my duties. I knew what I had to do and I couldn't turn my back on it. Not for anything. Period. I had finished for the night and was heading back to the house before Bakura woke up. And that's when things went south. Before I could reach the door. I suddenly felt the same sharp pain in the back of my head that I had three nights ago and became very disoriented. And everything went black...
