Cheyenne: NOOO!!! I had the WHOLE chapter 9 typed out, and then the window just CLOSED!! DAMN IT ALL!!
Asoka: Aww! *Huggles*
Cheyenne: *Sniffling* So now I have to re-type it, and It's not going to be nearly as good as the original, sorry. *Sigh*
Yami: Disclaimer. Yui-Gi-Oh does not belong to Cheyenne.
Cheyenne: A very pissed off Cheyenne.
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//Asoka//
Asoka waited behind the large wooden doors to the banquet hall. Beside her, Inyri chattered beside her excitedly.
"Isn't this wonderful, Asoka? We could really boost our living styles! If the Prince takes a liking to us…"
"I don't give a damn if the Prince likes me! As I told you before, my heart belongs to Atem and only Atem!" Asoka crossed her arms in front of her chest, and narrowed her azure eyes.
"But Asoka, he's a Prince!" Inyri said, her short, light-brown hair was cropped so it was barely brushing her Egyptian tanned shoulders.
"Rank doesn't make a man!" Asoka snapped, and Inyri blinked.
"What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's WRONG? I might be put into a freaking concubine, Inyri! To a man I hate!" Asoka twirled a piece of her midnight black hair around her finger, the rest of which fell down in waves to the middle of her back. Questions raced through her mind.
Where was Atem? When would he get here? Would he get here in time? Would he come alone? With Bakura? With Bakura and a small army? Asoka frowned, and moved her hand up to where her dagger was concealed under her dress, its shape familiar against her skin.
"Asoka…" Inyri said quietly.
"Oh, I wouldn't worry Asoka!" A haughty voice sniffed, and Asoka looked up to see Katarr glaring down at her with her hawk-like black eyes. "The Prince isn't going to be picking you, not with me there!"
"Drop dead, Katarr! Asoka is way prettier than you and you know it!" Inyri snapped angrily, doe-like brown eyes angry. Katarr sniffed in a dignified way, and turned her back until she was staring back at the door.
"Inyri, don't." Asoka looked up at her friend. "Ryou said…"
"Ryou!" Inyri smiled. "If he wasn't taken…" the girl shrugged.
"Bakura would rip your throat out!" Asoka smirked slightly.
"I know!" Inyri whined, trying to put her friend in a good mood. "And you like Atem. Tell me, what's he like, this Atem? He must be pretty special if you're that dedicated to him. What village did you come from, anyways?"
Asoka opened her mouth, and then closed it. She hadn't seen her village in over a year! "It was just a small village," she murmured. "There was a small oasis nearby. I used to stare out my window and daydream."
"Really? There was an oasis near my village, too! 'Course that was before it was destroyed… the old noble man went down bravely, I can tell you that. They asked him to surrender the village, and he refused!" Inyri's eyes glinted proudly. "He knew they would take over anyways. The invaders killed him, but… he was brave. I think the invaders were after his daughter, but he had sent her to the Pharaoh's palace two months earlier."
"Wait, what?" Asoka fixated her azure eyes on her friend, whom she had never told her origins.
"Yeah. Sent his daughter to the Pharaoh's palace!" Inyri said absentmindedly.
"Inyri, do you know the old nobles name?" Asoka asked carefully.
"Sure do! It was-"
"Shut up you two! It's time to go!" Katarr snapped as music began playing. Inyri cast an apologetic look at Asoka, who nodded as the music seized control of her body, and she began to sway her hips along to it. As the music picked up in speed, the great wooden doors were throne open. Asoka could not help but gasp! In the center of the room was a square-shaped fountain/pool, with lily pads floating on it. The floor was a pale marble, and shined like it had been newly polished. Directly behind the fountain sat the nobles, dressed in their finery. A grizzled-looking man with a brown beard sat in a large throne, while a woman with graying hair sat beside him.
These two must be the King and Queen! Asoka thought. Her gaze then traveled to the others. Anzu! Asoka felt herself tense, but she let the music fill her again. The Princess was seated in a small throne, dressed in an over frivolous dress. A golden headdress adorned her head, but to Asoka it still looked like her hair was going to fall off at any given time. Beside her sat another man, maybe one or two years older than Asoka. He had piercing green eyes, and black hair that was tied back and held with a golden headdress of his own. He wore a necklace kind of like the ones Asoka had seen old Egyptian Pharaoh's wear. She figured it must have been a spoil from the raid! Asoka's eyes burned, but she et the music fill her again as the slaves began dancing out of the hallway one by one. Letting the music fill her, Asoka swayed her hips and followed. She knew if she didn't she could be punished severely.
And so, Asoka closed her eyes and danced, sealing her fate.
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//Atem//
"We ready?" Atem asked, swinging his head full of tri-colored hair to look at Bakura. The man was pressed up against a pillar inside the hallway. Further in front of the two men, was a huge wooden double door. Atem could faintly hear some music coming from the other side, and he knew that's where Asoka and Ryou must be.
"The men are in place!" Atem looked over at a third man, who had wild platinum blonde hair, and sparking lavender eyes ((Yami Marik)).
Atem smoothed out his white linen tunic, and the millennium puzzle hung from his neck. "Thank you, Marik!" Soon after Bakura and Atem had arrived, Marik had shown up, announcing that if they were going to storm the castle then he was coming too! Bakura had welcomed Marik aboard warmly, and it had become clear to Atem that they were good friends.
Bakura reached up to tap the long scar that stretched vertically from his right eye all the way to his right jaw. Two separate horizontal scars stretched across the vertical one, though they weren't nearly as large as the horizontal scar. "I'm ready when you all are!" The Egyptian was wearing a red robe, was hemmed by a gold-colored cloth. His chest was bare other than that, and he wore an ornate kilt which stopped right above his knees. Marik was wearing a purple cloak, and a plain black kilt. Some kohl outlined his eyes, and a small zigzag design-like thing was painted leading from the edges of his eyes to his temple.
"Same!" Marik echoed.
Atem smirked. "Good. I think they're in the middle of the banquet right now, eh? The men are positioned?"
"Yes. The arched are hiding up in the balconies, and we have 'replaced' some of their guards with some of our own men." Bakura smirked darkly.
"Ah, yes." Atem's usually violet eyes had changed to a shade of violet crimson, leaning more towards the crimson side.
"They're waiting for your signal, Pharaoh!" Marik declared.
"Alright," Atem said, as he motioned for Marik to press himself behind a column. They were just lucky the guards by the double doors didn't hear them. "We'll wait a bit, and then strike. We'll show them what happens when you bring about the wrath of Egypt!"
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//Asoka//
Asoka whirled around in a small circle as the music increased in speed, her dagger lightly bumping against her skin. Her movements were fluid and graceful, as she twirled her hands above her head and let her head fall back as if she was basking in the sunlight. She knew she shouldn't be doing this, but it was almost as if the music controlled her. It ran through her body, and sang in her mind.
Atem. She was dancing for him. For Atem, and only Atem. She could almost see him standing there…
All too soon, the music slowed, and Asoka danced into a line with the others.
"Wow, Asoka!" Inyri's doe-like brown eyes were shining as she looked at her friend. "You were beautiful!"
"Oh…" Asoka blushed and looked down before smiling at her friend. For a moment, she was lost in the aftermath of the music, but then reality crashed down onto her. "Oh!" Asoka squeaked in fear as Anzu took the stage, stepping forward until she glared down at all the slaves with contempt. Standing by the royal banquet table, Asoka spotted Ryou, whose pale cheeks had spots of red on them. Asoka guessed that Anzu had tried to flirt with him, the bitch!
"Alright!" Anzu's shrill voice rang out, and even some of the noble guests winced. Asoka closed her eyes, remembering how Anzu had spoken the same way back in Egypt. But they weren't in Egypt anymore.
"My brother has made his decision! Those chosen will come up here for the rest of the banquet, and you will serve my brother until he says otherwise. The rest of you may return to your quarters and brood about how you didn't get chosen!" Anzu's eyes glinted, and Asoka wanted to slap her.
Calm… Asoka thought to herself. I am calm…
"Katarr, Inyri, Sariska step forward!" Anzu called out the names of three girls, and Asoka relaxed, not hearing her name among them. But then she froze, realizing there should be four girls going up with the proud Katarr, quiet Sariska, and her friend Inyri. Asoka looked up, and saw Anzu looking at her cruelly, a smirk playing upon her mouth.
"And Asoka, you may follow them!"
Asoka felt like fainting. No! It cannot be! She stood rooted to the spot until one of the other slaves gave her a gentle push forward. Asoka held her head in the familiar defiant way, and marched up with the others. She briefly reached up to touch the dagger at her side, before stopping in front of Ryuuji.
Ryuuji leered/smirked at them all. He gestured for them to come forward, and kneel at the base of his throne before he reached out and grabbed Asoka's arm, pulling her towards him. Asoka let out an undignified screech, as Ryuuji pulled her close to him.
"We're going to have lots of fun tonight," Ryuuji growled in her ear.
"In your dreams!" Asoka gasped, as she struggled to free herself of his grasp.
"Exactly," Ryuuji laughed. "You have spirit, girl. I shall enjoy breaking that!" He trailed his fingers up and down her spine.
"We'll see about that!" Asoka said as she whipped the dagger out from its hiding place, and positioned it so that it was at his throat. "Touch me and I'll run you through! I won't be your freaking whore!" Her azure eyes burned with hatred, and Anzu yelled out.
"GUARDS!"
Asoka yelled and screamed as two guards came up behind her, grasping both her arms. The dagger clattered nosily to the ground, and Ryuuji picked it up.
"Let me go!" Asoka hissed at the guards. They looked down at her, with amused expressions on their faces.
"We're not who you think we are, Asoka! The Pharaoh is here, hold faith!"
"W-what?" Asoka gasped. Atem was here?
"Guards!"
"Sorry milady!" The one guard said as the two thrust Asoka roughly to the ground, and waved his hand as if gesturing to someone.
"Now to teach you some respect!" Ryuuji held the dagger upwards. He wouldn't kill her; just maybe give her a nasty scratch so she'd know not to disobey him again. He plunged the dagger down, when suddenly an arrow flew across the throne room, knocking the dagger aside. Laughter filled the air, and the stunned noble and royals whipped their heads around the room, looking for the source.
"Atem?" Asoka whispered, looking around as well as Inyri and Ryou ran up to her.
"Asoka, what's going on?" Inyri asked.
"Atem's here!" Asoka's eyes were bright and filled with joy. "He came for me!"
"Bakura's here, too! I'd recognize his laugh anywhere!" Ryou cried.
"Asoka, Ryou, I don't think-"Inyri was cut off as a strong voice filled the air.
"Stay away from her, Ryuuji!" Everyone turned to loom up at the balcony, where a striking figure in a white linen tunic stood. He wore a navy blue cloak, and a sword hung at his side. Around his neck hung a pyramid shaped necklace. Behind him, two more figures emerged.
"Bakura!" Ryou called up to his lover, as the white-haired man appeared behind the man who had spoken; the Pharaoh of Egypt; Atem.
"I told you I'd come for you!" Bakura called as he strung his bow, and fired an arrow. He watched in satisfaction as it pierced the wood of a lesser noble's chair, a strong piece of rope attached to it.
Marik just grinned.
"Atem!" Asoka whispered her loves name, as the three men used their bows to slide down the rope and onto the main floor.
"You fool!" Anzu cackled. "You really think to attack us here, when we have all these guards?"
"Are you sure it's only the three of us, Anzu?" Atem asked; his now-crimson eyes blazed as he snapped his fingered. Instantly, from behind thrones, chairs, and upon other balconies, archers and foot soldiers appeared.
"Damn you, Atem!" Anzu shrieked.
"Damn YOU, Anzu!" Asoka yelled at the Princess, as she stood up and ran over to Atem, throwing herself into his arms and kissing him deeply. "You came, you came!" She sobbed, hugging him.
"I wouldn't dare leave you, Asoka." Atem murmured, stroking her midnight black hair with his hand.
"Bakura!" Beside Asoka, Ryou also kissed his lover.
"Wha-what?" Inyri stuttered, for she now recognized two of the young men. Asoka's Atem was the Pharaoh? Pharaoh Atem? But it was the young man that was standing to the side that caught her attention. "M-Marik? Ra, is that really you, Marik?" She asked with widening eyes, and the young man turned to look at her with surprise.
"Geez, Inyri! I was wondering where you went!" He smirked as the young girl laughed and ran to her friend.
"Damn you, Atem!" Anzu shrieked again.
"Boys?" Atem said, eying the soldiers around him. "Make sure they don't follow us!" He stepped forward towards the throne, and Asoka dashed past him to retrieve the dagger, slipping it back into the scabbard as she returned to Atems' side.
"Good-bye, Anzu! Don't try and follow us!" Bakura snarled, wrapping a possessive hand around Ryou, who blushed.
"I hope I never have to see your ugly face again!" Marik chimed in, as the three turned towards the door.
"Atem, watch out!" Asoka cried as Anzu wrenched a sword from her surprised brothers side, and rushed towards them.
"Go!" Atem yelled, unsheathing his own sword to block her blows.
"Not without you!" Asoka leapt forward, unsheathing the dagger again as she leapt forward, grabbing Anzu's hair and yanking her towards the ground. "Consider this a warning!" Atem hissed as he moved towards Anzu, his expression cold and full of pure hatred.
Asoka smirked, and with a yank, hacked off an uneven lock of Anzu's hair.
"Nooo! My hair!" Anzu shrieked as Asoka and Atem rang towards the large wooden doors, laughing their heads off.
"If that were me, it wouldn't be your hair you'd have to worry about!" Bakura snarled before joining Ryou, Atem, Asoka, Marik, and Inyri.
"We're leaving, Anzu. Don't try and stop up!" Atem snapped his fingers, and his soldiers and guards withdrew.
Bakura laughed, as he and Marik closed the wooden doors behind them.
"Oh Ra, Atem!" Asoka said as they all began running to the end of the corridor. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"Never say never," Atem smirked. ((AN: That line's so overrated… BUT I DON'T CARE 8D))
"Enough mushy talk you two! We have to get out of here before-"
"There they are, get them!" A small garrison of about six guards yelled out, charging down the hallway towards the six.
"Before exactly that happens!" Bakura finished Marik's sentence.
"Lets get 'em, boys!" Marik laughed and charged, drawing his sword and stabbing it into the stomach of the first guard before he even knew what was going on.
Atem and Bakura laughed, and followed. Brandishing their swords, they flew into the thicket.
Asoka started to run, too, but Inyri and Ryou held her back.
"Hold her!" Ryou yelled as he followed Bakura, Marik, and Atem into battle.
"Damnit!" Asoka hissed in frustration. "I'm not weak!" But she let Inyri hold onto her until the four men had dispatched of the guards.
"Come on!" Atem called, as the two women ran over to them.
"Let's go!" Atem laughed as they ran the rest of the way towards the main gates.
"Open the gates!" Bakura called up to the gate guard (who was actually an Egyptian soldier).
The gates opened, and the six ran forward towards the three horses in front of them. Two were black stallions, and one was white.
"I feel like such a loner!" Marik groaned as he pulled Inyri up onto the white horse.
"That's because you are!" Bakura called back as he and Ryou mounted one of the black stallions. Atem and Asoka just laughed and climb on to the last horse.
Atem purred as Asoka wrapped her arms around his waist, as he spurred the horse into action. The soldiers followed a ways behind on their horses, which they had grabbed from the stables.
"Atem." Asoka didn't say anything else, but she knew he understood.
"I love you, Asoka. I never stopped, and I never will. No matter what happens, know that I will always be there for you." Atem murmured.
"I know," Asoka whispered as they rode towards Egypt, the moon starting it's decent from the sky. "I know."
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Cheyenne: Yay Atem! *Is actually happy I had to redo the chapter, because now it's MUCH better then it was before.*
Marik and Bakura: Told you it would work out.
Atem: *Rolls eyes*
Asoka: *Is just smiling*
Inyri: Sweet!
Ryou: We're rescued!
Cheyenne: Yep! And stand by for Chapter Ten, which'll probably be out tomorrow… *Checks time* whoops, I mean later on today! *It is 12:13 AM* Ha ha ^^ Writing mode!
Again, I hope ya'll enjoyed this chapter!