GEEZUS! I am so truly sorry for the super horrible late chapter! I've just been so damn busy with life and all (Yes, I have a life) not to mention the fact the Kuroneko is not going to helping anymore *sigh* we had a good run together its weird how she only stayed for a year, helping out (actually she told me to redo every story of mine). Though she promise to help with the plot but not with the actual writing part. SO...now that she's gone Ive been thinking of getting a beta...but I don't clearly understand what a beta is and how it works. If anyone has a recommendation for me or a quick summary of what to do or even if someone wants to be my beta please tell me! you can now contact me on my hotmail for any reason you want, my e-mail is posted on my profile page.
Also poster a Poll on the yes with yaoi or no with yaoi for this fic. pls take it!
Anyway enough about my tragic life who wants me to babble all day about my horrible life let go over to Ryou's horrible, tragic, suspenseful, horror, action-pack life with a pinch of romance? *wink* *wink*
Tamashī no nageki 魂の嘆き
Lament of souls
Chapter 6: toad face
Authoresses: BakaKitsuneKYA & Kuroneko
Cross: Yu-gi-oh/Harry Potter
Rating: T for Angst?
Disclaimer: not ours
"Blah" First language (Basically the language spoken most in this chapter)
"blah" Second Language
~o.O.o~blah blah blah blah blah...~o.O.o~= Flashbacks/Dreams
~"Blah"~ Arabic
[Blah] thought
Cursed be the day I was born,
and the night which whispered:
'A boy has been conceived'.
May that day be dark,
may God on high ignore it.
May no light shine upon it.
May the shadow of death claim it as its own
May a cloud dwell over it;
may blackness of the day terrify it.
Let darkness swallow that night
Let it not add to the rest of the year
let it not be included in the month.
That night- oh, let it be barren,
untouched by the shouts of joy.
Let it be cursed by those who hate the light,
sorcerers who call in the Devil.
Let its morning stars no longer shine;
let it hope for light, but have none,
and never see the first ray of dawn,
-Job 3:3- 3:9 (Biblical passage)
~o.O.o~
"No, you are not going to take my son" Arthur growled and send dagger like glares at the toad woman
Bill felt his mother's arm weave around his shoulders protectively, her body quivering with fear of losing him again. Bill trembled in her arms as he clutched onto her shirt, why are they taking him away from his family? What has he done wrong? Was it because he let the muggles die, is that why?
"That is not very wise Mr. Weasley, I suggest you let us take you son. If you do not hand him to us then you are going against the Ministry," the toad face croaked in a giggle, "That would mean a lot of trouble, wouldn't it?"
His father stood silently yet his glares did not lighten, he was protecting Bill even if it meant that he too would get into trouble. Bill couldn't let this happen, he did not want to drag his father down into his mess; this was his problem. If he gets anymore involved...the spirit might go after him and the rest of his family. As much as Bill feared the spirit he would not let him torture his family as he did to him.
"I-I'll go" he said weakly, eyes turned to his direction.
"I'll go" he said more confidently yet fear swarmed his body to the thought of leaving
"W-what?" Arthur muttered in disbelief
The toad lady took her chance, she signaled for the two men to take the eldest Weasley son. The men moved frigidly but swiftly as order, shouldering Mr. Weasley as they passed by him. Bill's siblings backed away from him as whispered by Molly yet she stayed by his side,
"I'm sorry mum" he apologized as the men seized him by the arms and pushed Molly out of the way
Yet she scurried in front of them and placed both her hands lovingly on his cheeks, her eyes watery
"Do not tell them anything" she whispered as she rested her forehead onto his, "I love you"
He tried to answer back but the men pushed her away once more, they pulled on his arms pulling him up on his feet and dragging him to the toad face's side. They turned facing the Weasley, he looked up all their eyes teary even his father's. It was a sacrifice, he couldn't save the muggles from the dark force because he was a coward. But he has to be brave now for the sake of his family. With that final thought in mind they vanished with a poof, the sight of his family disappeared.
~o.O.o~
Deep under the stony floor of the ministry of magic lay a labyrinth of tunnels and rooms; its existence known by few of the ministry. Through the halls of this unknown place a loud cry of pain echoed sending insects in a scurry. The screaming lasted long and then silence...
Bill panted heavily as his body ached, shivers ran up his spine and down, sweat dripped from the tip of his nose and tears dripping from his closed eyes. His wrist chained to the wall with rusted, rough metal handcuffs and chains.
"Will you talk now dear?" a voice chirped from the dark
Bill balled his hands into fist, his nails clawing through his dirty palm and his eyes screwed tightly closed. There was a unsatisfied grunt from the dark and the sound of heels clicking bounced around the locked room.
"Come now Bill, just tell me this last piece of information. You do want to see your family again don't you?"
Bill gathered up his weaken strength and lifted his head up, his blue eyes dull and blood shot, his pupils dilated due to the small candle burning at the other side of the room. He couldn't take it anymore, it was no use he had no strength left in him anymore. He just wanted to go home, why was he even protecting them? He did not know them, they never helped him at all. If it weren't for them the Ministry would have already let him go...
He gave up, he had enough. He had cracked. Tears ran after, dripping in a steady pace as he let out the sound of weeping which was music to his sadistic captor. He knew, in the dark that person was smiling pleased with them-self.
"You'll talk now, yes?"
Bill nodded slowly in defeat, his sniffling echoed and his breath rasp
"Good...What are their names?"
"O-one is I-Ishtar... The Ishtar clan...T-tomb keepers" he said in a raspy voice
He felt guilty, he betrayed his mother, his family. But he could no longer take the pain being afflicted to him, no man deserves this much torture. No man. Surely his family would accept his defeat as he did. But even with the acceptance of his family he still felt like a betrayer, to the person he admired the most, who took care of him like a father. After what they had gone through together, he felt he was unfaithful to him. He was sorry,
"The other?" the voice asked impatiently
Bill only discovered this a few days ago, when they stopped torturing him... for a while. They told him it was his time to think and he thought well, back to both those horrible days, he remember it as if the scenes were playing in front of him. The faces of the people he had saw and their names, he could not believe his discovery as well. He wanted to keep it a secret for this man who acted as a second father, but he has given up.
"B-bakura," He wept, "R-ryou Bakura. Son of...Th-the son of Ryouta B-bakura"
He lowered his head, the burden on his body will finally cease but the burden to his heart deepened and pierced inside of him.
"I-I'm sorry, R-ryouta...I'm sorry" he whimpered
Light entered the dark room as the only door of the room was opened, the silhouette of the plump pink person stood by the door, men gathered from outside of room. The being turned their head with a smirk
"There's no need to apologize to him Bill. There's no need to be apologizing to a dead man"...
(1)
There was a familiar feeling that ran through Ryou's body just sitting there in the quiet room while life bloomed from beyond the balcony behind him. He mastered his sitting position on the stool-like chair he sat on, bare feet at the edge of the seat and his arms wrapped tightly around his legs, chin leaning close to his knees. It was bittersweet in ways that cannot be expressed in writing but, by feeling as how Ryou felt that very moment. His eyes lowering to the bed were his best friend lay still in slumber.
The marks had stopped swelling, Ryou noted in the thought of relief. It seemed that all the work that Ishizu had done to ease Marik's pain had finally paid its price. Ryou was glad, not only has Marik healed but Ishizu was also finally able to rest.
To the thought of his Egyptian guardian there was a feeling of sadness that swelled up from inside of him. He looked away from Marik, he had this feeling, a strong sense that Ishizu did not want him with them any longer. She seemed distant from him unlike before, and those smiles that she would place on her face when they meet he knew were fake. Something was upsetting Ishizu and it was related to him. Maybe it is because of Marik, if it is then she has the right to be angry at him.
He had done nothing to help the Ishtar's at all for these past few days that he had stayed with them. He even did not do anything to heal Marik, all he did was sleep and eat like a spoiled guest. He turned his eyes back at Marik with pitiful eyes
"Maybe, should I leave Marik?" He asked his slumbering friend, "All I've been is a bother, you don't need me"
he stayed silent as if eager to hear Marik's voice answer him after so long that he had been silent. But Marik was fast asleep he could not answer anyone let alone listen, but Ryou took this is silence differently.
He released his grip on his legs and let them stretch down as he slowly stood up, he thoughts swirled with the suggestion of his leaving. But where would he go? The events that has happened these past few days, he knew even if the Ishtar siblings denied it or kept it a secret from him. That it was related to shadow magic. He might be weak but he is no fool, the event that had taken the lives of his father's co-workers were not the doing of poison gas, it was the work of an shadow magic.
It had took Ryou time to accept that the shadow magic was back as when it should not have been; even if Ishizu and Odion denies it . His reasoning was that if shadow magic was truly the cause of the deaths in the cave then it is his fault that his father is missing. If he was never involved with these shadow magic then maybe his father would not be missing now, maybe at this moment they would have been together, Marik would have been conscious and they would together be exploring tombs with his father.
To where he might go? the question returned to mind. He could not possibly stay here any longer, and to returned back to Japan would endanger the gang. Its enough for him to see his best friend unable to move for the past days but to happen to all his friends would drive him to guilt.
He knelt down besides the bed and rested his chin on the bed, staring up at Marik's face,
"Where do you think I should go Marik?" he whispered, "Somewhere no one will find me"
Just then there was a creak, the door began to open. Ryou jolted to the sudden sound in the silent room, his head bolted off the bed and looked over at the door. There stood the broad-shouldered Egyptian Odion, his eyes quickly centered at the bed to his brother then finally landing at the Albino boy sitting on the floor besides the bed.
There was a pregnant silence between the two, rarely have they talked to each other. Ryou felt uncomfortable with the older Egyptian with the gloomy demeanor. Nonetheless he tried to talk to him now
"Marik's still asleep," Ryou finally said to the awkward silence, "His fever has dropped as well"
He looked over at the Elder Ishtar with a small smile, Odion stared back but his lips straight and his face traceless of any emotion. His eyes continued to stare at him and Ryou felt slightly uneasy.
"You are unhappy, something is bothering you" The Ishtar spoke in a low voice
Did he hear what he was talking about? About leaving?
"N-nothing," Ryou sputtered, "I'm fine"
"You're lying" Odion contradicted in his monotone tone, "You are worried of your father, and Master Marik. The guilt is written on your face, you blame yourself for the misfortune of others"
Ryou's eyes widened for a fraction, how had he known that? How could he tell that by just looking at him?
"You are not a misfortune Ryou, you are not a burden to us. I know that is what you've been thinking" The stock man said as he walked towards the bed
The young teen's eyes lowered to his twiddling fingers, "I...I did not mean to cause so much trouble. I'm not even your responsibility, you shouldn't be obligated to take care of me" Ryou said in a tone of sadness yet there was a struggling smile that slipped onto his lips nervously .
"It is my duty not an obligation to care for you Ryou. You are still young to fend for yourself alone, you've been mistreated for a long time in your life, I find it my duty to take care of you as I do to Master Marik" Odion answered back
He looked down at the albino boy who neglected to look back at him. Ryou's eyes filled with tears and he struggled to keep them hidden, he never knew that Odion felt this way. To Ryou, Odion always looked annoyed or angry at him, he did not know that Odion was always looking after him. Odion always frightened him and Ryou would admit that when he comes to visit the Ishtars, he was the one who he did not want to see. He just frightened him, but now...he felt guilty of judging Odion. All he's been doing was looking after him, he guessed that he kept an eye after him from his other visits as well.
He rubbed the tears away with the back of his hand, his stiffened the sniffles daring to whimper out and slowly he rose from the floor though his head still bent down.
"P-please" his lips trembled as he tried not to sound like he was crying, "Excuse me"
Ryou scurried pass Odion whose eyes only followed him as he walked out of the room. The elder Egyptian listened to the Albino's footsteps soften as he got farther. The boy was much to emotional for Odion's liking, anything that he would try to say to Ryou would either make him frightened or cry. Still... he did mean what he said, about watching over him.
Ryou rubbed his nose with the sleeve of his shirt, his eyes closed and weary. Dried up tears visible on his cheeks buried on the notch of his arms. He sat on bed in the same position he had sat on the chair at Marik's room. He buried his head deeper into his arms as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment, he had cried! In front of Odion!
He did not know what was going through his brain to have made him cry like that, it just burst out of him. Maybe it was the fact that it was unexpected, or maybe it was because it was a new feeling for Ryou. No one had ever said that they would take care of him. He could not even remember if his father had made him that promise, they had not seen each other for so long.
His mind was clear now but all he could think of was how much did he really know of his own father? He knew his name; Bakura Ryouta, his profession; archeologist specialist and his father. He had inherited his brown eyes, but his white hair belongs to him mother. He was a kind and the best father in the world, or so he thought when he was little.
Would the best father really leave his child in another country by himself for many years? Only communication through letters and some he had gotten no response to. Would the best father not want to know what has happened in his life since they have been separated? Did he even know that he still had a son? The last living being in his own family?
Would the best father gift him with a-
Ryou stopped that thought immediately he grabbed the sides of his head and shook his head to make that thought disappear.
"He didn't know," he whispered, "It's not his fault. He didn't know there was a-"
Two menacing blood red eyes flashed to his sight, his eyelids tore open revealing frightened eyes. His father did not know of the parasite...the spirit. It was not his fault.
A harsh cold breeze blew through his open balcony sending shivers down his spine, he looked up the sun had already set and the planes were dark already. Yet the wind was colder than usual and more forceful, Ryou rubbed his hands together as he crawled off his bed and headed towards the balcony. He pulled the doors shut on it, having a slight difficulty doing so with the forceful wind pushing back. He locked the doors in place with a hook and stepped back.
The wind howled from behind the doors as they slammed against each other making a pounding like sound. Mimicking the sound of a fist pounding upon the old wood, it was as if something was trying to get inside.
BANG, BANG
Ryou's body jerked in reaction to the loud and sudden noise, he turned his head to the the door that lead out to the halls. Again it echoed, and Ryou slowly made his way towards the sound. He opened his door and poked his head out from the side, down the hall he saw the swift but rigid figure of Odion as he made his way down the stairs. Another pair of footsteps echoed from below and the moaning sound of the front doors opening creaked eerily in the manor.
Ryou slipped out of his room and walked hesitatingly towards the stairs. Were there guess downstairs? Had they expected for visitors to come? he began his climb down the stairs to only see at the bottom Odion's stiff back towards him, the Egyptian's eyes turned towards the front doors.
"Good evening Miss Ishtar, it is an honor to be meeting with you" a voice squeaked full of life and delight
The voice was definitely the voice of a woman, with the strong accent of a British citizen such as he. Other than he, why would a Britain woman come to Egypt?
His steps quicken in curiosity to find out who this person was, maybe she was a friend of his father. Maybe she knows where he is! In what hospital that they had taken him and found out that he was living with the Ishtars for the time being.
"Oh, please forgive me for my rudeness," piped the voice, "I am Dolores Umbridge...oh...good evening lad"
Her eyes landed on Ryou as he came in sight down the stairs, hearing this Ryou looked up at her. Their eyes locked together as they stared at each other, her lips twitched into a gentle smile. Ishizu snapped her head around to Ryou, her eyes widened slightly then turned them to Odion.
~"Go back to your room"~ Odion's voice was deep and comanding. Ryou turned to him understanding what he had said in Arabic
"B-but...Who is she?" he asked
~"Do not make me repeat myself, now go."~ His eyes flickered with an ordering look
Ryou took a step back up the stairs in caution or habit, he nodded slowly and turned around. His steps were slow but nonetheless he made his way back up, but he glance back once more at the woman who never seemed to take her eyes off of him. He got up back to the second floor and walked towards his room.
"What a lovely lad, who was he?" the voice of the woman chirped
"None of your concerns Mrs. Umbridge" Ishizu stated in a tone that Ryou had not heard from her before. It was the tone of distrust and hate.
In the burrow footsteps scurried through the main floor of the manor. Mr. Weasley concealed his wand beneath his coat pocket, his wife sniffled in the background as she watched her lover pack to leave. Her youngest son turned to her direction, His eyes soften
"mum," he whined in an annoyed tone, "Please don't look like that, he's going to be fine"
Four Identical pairs of blue eyes turned simultaneously towards their mother, in a split second the twins were by their mother's side
"He'll come back" one said
"After all he is-" the other continued
"A proud member of the Weasley bunch" they said together trying to lift their mother's spirit.
"Do you worry yourself too much Molly, I'll keep an eye one him" Moody said with no pun intended on the matter
By the window Sirius sat on a wooden chair nodding in agreement, he too was coming along and he too would take care of Arthur. They were of to Egypt, the driest, hottest place in the world; personally Sirius would have not wish to go but Dumbledore told him he would be under the radar of the Ministry for a while if he leaves with Moody and Arthur. So now he is going.
"Okay, just be safe dear" Molly sniffled as she walked over to her husband and planted a kiss close to his lips
Ron turned away in embarrassment, Fred and George smiled in relief, Ginny awed at the sight. But as Molly lightened up Sirius slowly rose from his seat, by the corner of Moody's eye he saw the man stand. There was something wrong
"What is it Sirius?" Moody asked
Moody and the Weasley's looked to Sirius, his head tilted up as if sniffing the air. Then his dark eyes turned to them
"Someone's coming" he muttered
Alohomora The whisper of the spell being cast mutely heard but the sound of the unlocking of the front doors clicked in horror for the people in the room. Quickly the adults whipped out their wands towards the door which slowly creaked open. Molly moved back to her children yet her wand still pointed at the door.
The door slammed on the wall gently and in the cover's of the shadow a figure stood there. They leaned against the wooden frame of the door, but slowly dragged their legs towards the light of the room. The room turned deadly eerie silent to the appearance of the figure's face, eyes widen in horror.
Molly's wand arm numbed and her grip loosen, the wand fell to the floor with a great echo in the silence. The figure's lips parted and a broken voice interrupted the silence.
"M-mum?"
Molly's heart sank deep in her to the heart breaking voice, tears bursting from her eyes and in an instant she rushed towards the door arms wide open and her wailing cry loud.
"Bill!" she cried...
I would like to mention that each different scene is not on the same day as in first scene with tortured Bill is days before Ryou's scene and even more earlier with the burrow scene.
(1)-no such thing as a torture chamber in Ministry of magic but this is my fic so deal with it.
I was planning to write more but I've made you guys wait too long, I apologize! This seems so short though after 2-3 months has passed , GOMEN! ARG SO MUCH TENSION! I just want to spoil the whole story for you guys cause I can't keep it in any longer! lol
Anyway my excuse for not updating...lets see, school hates me (this is month is Exam month) my math teacher hates me cause Im doing horrible in class. I actually started crying because of it (for the past 4 days), my math teacher is recommending me for lower level math and I would agree with her but there's a catch. If I take this lower level math then I won't be able to get a bachelor in Science or nursing. I want to become a specialist in medicine like all Asians kids too but if I take the higher level math then my teacher is 100% (She's just think of what is best for me) sure I would fail and I would not get my grade 12 credit at all (even if Im still in grade 10! confusing right? this IB thing is messed up)