AN: Well, it's another long chapter but not quite a double chapter. And I stopped it sooner that expected. Can't make you people wait too long or you might start lighting torches. *looks nervously at hiddencry*
The rest is taking me a bit to figure out exactly what needs to happen and what doesn't need to happen. I've been watching the fight and trying to pick out the really important stuff.
Oh and if you haven't read it yet, in Hooray for One Shots, Chapter 22 is Yami Marik's back story that I've come up with. I thought he needed one. And I know it says it might be a spoiler for later stuff in the story, but if I so go with the idea I have, it'll save me time and effort explaining stuff.
Also I've only gotten one review on it so I don't know if people even like it. XD Note, I'm not begging for reviews. Just wondering if people think it's a good idea. Besides, poor Yami Marik doesn't have a back story. He's just Marik's psychological disorder in the anime and the most people give him as a past is he was a thief and may have been TK Bakura's lover(from what I've read). I thought he needed something more interesting if not angsty.
Plus it might hold you off until I get chapter 14 done :3 Please enjoy and thanks for reading and reviewing! *heart*
Ryou awoke cradled against Tozokuo's chest, letting out a small yawn and blinking up at the thief. He could see the worry and fear written on the man's features, but something else as well. It was as if all his carefully placed barriers were down for the moment and the teen could see the deeper emotions of a man who grew up utterly alone and forsaken.
Noticing Ryou had awoken, everything the teen had seen vanished behind a mask of confidence and determination. Tozokuo gently set Ryou near the Millennium slate and brushed his fingers over the paler man's cheek before producing a coil of rope.
"Now listen," he spoke softly as he took one of the teen's hands in his own. "I'm going to bind your hands and feet now. Don't be scared, though, I won't hurt you. Besides, if I don't do it now, I may not be so gentle when the fighting starts. Please trust me my Ryou."
Ryou frowned, meeting Tozokuo's gaze. "There's still time, Akefia...you don't have to-" a gentle kiss silenced him.
"I must do this, my Ryou." He smirked, tying the teen's wrists together. "But it's nice to know you at least think I'm not beyond the point of redemption."
Ryou sighed and closed his eyes, letting Tozokuo do what he felt he had to without a struggle. 'I don't know who to pray to...but if someone up there is listening...please let everything work out some how. Tozokuo...Bakura...Yugi, Malik...I just want everyone to come out of this alive...and safe if it's at all possible...'
Priest Set raised his head, blue eyes blinking blearily as he realized where he was. He knelt beside a bed that was nothing more that a wooden plank and some sheets, his arms folded on the edge and had been sleeping with his face buried in his forearms. On the bed lay a pale woman with silver-white hair and simple clothes, draped in a linen sheet and deeply asleep.
"Am I dreaming?" he muttered quietly, reaching a hand to brush the back of his fingers against her cheek. Blue eyes widened as he remembered when he and she had first met on that fateful night. How, after rescuing her from a band of thieves, he had returned home to find his village aflame.
And had been saved by-
"Priest Set!"
The urgency of the voice startled him and he rose to his feet, looking to the door way.
"The Pharaoh has been located!" the guard announced.
"Pharaoh?" Priest Set blinked.
"Yes sir."
With a final, curious glance back to the mysterious woman, he turn to exit the room. Something nagged at him that she wasn't going to be safe in left alone in that room and urged him to take action. "Move this woman to a different room and tell no where where she is," he ordered the guard, who agreed to do so.
'Pharaoh? Hmm...'
Yugi's arms tightened around Yami's waist as they entered the ruins that had once been Kul Elna, trembling fearful as his eyes darted around.
"So...this was Bakura's home..." Malik said quietly, riding beside them. Mana clung to the Egyptian, eyes wide and searching.
"Th-there's something here," he breathed.
"By the gods..." Yami trembled himself feeling an unnatural chill in the air. "What happened here..."
A guard cried out, his horse bucking in fright and throwing him to the ground. Skeletal solders began to rise from the sand, swords drawn and approaching them. Mana, Shada, and the guards dismounted and prepared to fight.
"You three go on," Shada insisted.
"We can handle this," Mana smiled. Yami nodded and kicked his horse, charging forward. They soon came to a stop at a flight of stairs that led underground, ghastly spirits swarming the entrace.
"No turning back now," Yami said solemnly as they began their descent. As the reached the bottom steps, Yugi and Malik walked into a barrier, both teens taking a step back.
The Pharaoh looked back in concern but his attention turned to the center of the room. Seated upon a large tablet sat Tozokuo, legs folded close and elbows resting on his knees. The Millennium Ring jangled noisily as the prongs moved erratically and restless souls swam in the air around him. A faint, reddish glow covered his body as well as the slate. Seated close to the lone torch on the small dais, Ryou peered at Yami through the shadows, appearing strangely calm for someone who was bound and surrounded by spirits.
"Welcome to my home, Pharaoh," Tozokuo said with a feral grin. "So glad you could come."
"Tozokuo," Yami's eyes narrowed, trying to see the other's eyes in the darkness.
"I see you managed to come back from the dead. I have your Millennium Puzzle right here."
Yugi and Malik stood as close as possible, the blond pounding a fist against the invisible barrier and swearing under his breath. Yami raised a hand to signal that he was alright, violet eyes never leaving his opponent as he stepped closer.
"Do you see this slate behind me?" the thief asked, glancing back over his shoulder. The Pharaoh looked passed him to the stone.
"It has a niche for each of the items," he turned his attention back to the thief.
"This is the door to the netherworld," Tozokuo grinned. "The souls of the dead linger near it. That is because, by your father's command, this village and the soldiers brought here were sacrificed to create the Millennium Items." The thief grinned as he saw the shock on the other's face.
Malik felt his mouth go dry at the thought. "Live sacrifices?"
Yugi covered his mouth with his hand. "Wasn't this Bakura's village... d-does that mean-?" the teen looked to Malik but the blond was focused on the scene before them. Souls swarmed around Tozokuo as he glared at the Pharaoh.
"My father ordered this?" Yami's eyes moved to the angry spirits and then returned to Tozokuo. "Impossible! My father wanted to bring peace to Egypt!"
"A lovely story, but it's a lie. The former Pharaoh only cared about power, by any means." Tozokuo smirked. "As long as I have you Millennium Puzzle, you can't call on the gods to save you, can you Pharaoh?" Tozokuo grinned, holding a hand out toward Yami. "The spirits of the dead will devour your soul!" Spirits moved toward the Pharaoh at those words and surrounded him. Yami grit his teeth in pain, eyes going wide and falling to one knee. "Can you feel their pain, Pharaoh?" Tozokuo grinned, eyes glinting. "The son inherits the sins of the father. You will pay for what it did with your life!"
"Yami!" Yugi cried out, hands pressing against the barrier. Ryou looked up to Yugi, meeting his gaze for a moment.
"Akefia, stop! Please!" Ryou begged. 'The Pharaoh is Yami? But how? And why didn't Yugi call him Yami before?' the teen bit his lip as he tried to think of answers to his questions.
Tozokuo's eyes flickered back to Ryou for just a second before landing on the Pharaoh again, eyes widening as a bright glow surrounded him. The spirits were suddenly pushed away from Yami and the Dark Magician stood before him protectively. The barrier holding Malik and Yugi back vanished and the teens hurried to the Pharaoh's side.
"Mahado!" Yugi called to the former Priest.
"My soul will always protect the Pharaoh," Mahado shouted to Tozokuo in challenge.
"Heh, so worried about your precious Pharaoh you can't move on the the next world," the thief mocked, hiding his momentary shock behind a confident grin.
"Please rise, my Pharaoh. I only have the strength to fight is you have the will," the former priest said softly. Yami met his old friend's gaze sorrowfully.
"Did my father really have his men kill so many people to create the Millennium Items?" he asked. "I need to know the truth."
"Why are you asking him?" Tozokuo sneered. "I was there. I saw the slaughter with my own eyes. I am the sole survivor of your father's greed!" He growled, pointing back to Ryou. "Even my Ryou knows it's true!"
"Ryou?" Malik looked to the teen who nodded softly.
"I had a dream when I first came here, it's true. I saw what happened through Akefia's eyes...But that's all I know. That it happened here fifteen years ago..." Ryou's eyes looked haunted as he remembered the vivid dream.
"It did happen," Mahado agreed softly. "I felt something amiss when I inherited the Millennium Ring. I brought it to Akunumkanon's attention when I learned how they were created and he was completely broken about the matter. He hadn't known the cost. The thought of so many lives being sacrificed like that...that knowledge destroyed him. His dying wish was that you, my Pharaoh, would not suffer for his sins."
"Father..." Yami slowly got to his feet, Yugi helping him.
"Your father wasn't wrong for wanting a lasting peace. You inherited that strength from him," Mahado assured him.
Tozokuo growled. "Shut up! Spirits! Go and take your revenge from these fools!" Several spirits launched themselves toward the group. Yami stood, ready to fight, but suddenly the spirits seemed to falter and began moving erratically. "What?"
"What's going on?" Yugi asked, looking around nervously.
"Sorry, that's my fault." All eyes moved to the entrance as someone descended the steps. "Thought I'd come home for a little family reunion and I may have caused some confusion."
"Bakura!" Malik called as the other came into view.
"Che, you again," Tozokuo scoffed as he tried to call the spirits back to him.
"Me again," Bakura replied. He held a hand up before him, one of the souls ghosting over his open palm before flitting off. "Seems they can't tell which Tozokuo Akefia to take direction from." He shrugged carelessly, coming to stand beside Malik.
"Which?" Mahado looked between the two in confusion before noticing "you both hold a Millennium Ring!? How is that possible?"
"Tozokuo Akefia?" Tozokuo breathed, staring at Bakura, confusion in his violet eyes as he took a step back.
"It was my name once as well. My...friends call me Bakura now." He looked over to Ryou and gave the teen a small smile before glaring at Tozokuo once more. Ryou looked between the two thieves in confusion before his eyes settled on Bakura.
"Bakura, you..." Yami trailed off.
"Yeah. But I know something that Tozokuo doesn't." Bakura crossed his arms over his chest.
Tozokuo seemed at a loss for both words and what he should do. A red glow rose up from the slate behind him, engulfing the man and drawing a pained cry from him. When his eyes opened again they glowed a blood red and he raised his hands.
"Forget the dead souls then, let me show you my spirit!" Tozokuo grinned, lifting his dia diank. The plates separated and an image appeared on the one closest to his wrist. "Come forth Diabound!"
The creature emerged, snake-like lower half curling around it's master and Ryou while it's upper half towered over those gathered.
"It evolved again," Malik muttered, lifting his left arm and calling his duel disk. Yugi did as well, amethyst eyes looking up at the creature. Bakura's gaze remained settled on Ryou.
"Of course it did," the thief sneered. "I possess two Millennium Items now. And I have the advantage. Diabound!" he called out, the creature roaring as it faded into the shadows.
"Don't let him escape Mahado!" Yami cried. The mage nodded, taking to the air and firing seemingly random bursts around the room, striking the walls and ceiling.
Ryou cringed and closed his eyes until he felt a familiar warmth covering him. He looked up to see Tozokuo had moved to shield him, a glimmer of violet showing in his eyes as he fixed his gaze on the mage.
"You won't hit anything like that!" he snapped.
Yami smirked, looking up to the ceiling. "I disagree," he mused as Diabound passed through a shaft of light.
"Yes, nice trick," Bakura griped. "But be a little more careful, Pharaoh. You could have hurt Ryou."
"My Ryou is safe as long as I draw breath," Tozokuo growled, wincing as the crimson color dominated his eyes once more. Mahado wasted no time in launching an attack against Diabound while it's master was distracted. Tozokuo cried out in pain, stumbling away from Ryou and clutching his chest. Blood trailed down his face as he got to his feet. "So you've gotten stronger, Mahado," the thief mused. "But you still can't defeat me." He looked up at the souls that still drifted aimlessly around the room.
"I don't think so," Bakura growled, raising a hand to try and call the spirits to him.
"Shame on you, Bakura," Tozokuo tsked, pointing at him. "Batsu!"
Bakura, caught off guard, let out a strangled cry and dropped to one knee, black energy crackling around him. "Don't...touch me..." he growled at Malik, seeing the Eygptian's intent to try and help him.
"Bakura!" Ryou tugged at the ropes binding him feeling a sudden need to be with his yami. He missed the almost hurt look that flickered in Tozokuo's eyes.
Tozokuo raised his arms and absorbing the spirits. "Their anger will make my Diabound more powerful that ever!" he laughed. His Ka spirit swelled in size and roared at the Dark Magician. The mage fired another round of attacks at the creature but the vengeful souls created a shield, blocking the attack.
"We have to do something," Malik hissed, drawing a card.
"Diabound, attack!" Tozokuo snapped. A spiral burst of energy struck the mage, sending him flying back through a pillar. Yami winced in pain and looked back at his friend.
"Mahado!"
"This time don't come back," Tozokuo growled, pointing at the mage. Diabound roared and launched another attack, seeming to make a direct hit.
Malik stared at the card he had drawn, face pale and mild panic in his eyes. He only looked up with he heard Mana's voice say "Hang in there master!" Lilac eyes widened when he saw the Dark Magician Girl clinging to Mahado's hand and lifting him towards the light. Seated at the edge of one of the holes in the ceiling he saw Mana knelt in meditation. He looked over at Yugi, letting the sudden realization distract him from the card he'd drawn.
"How was I supposed to realize the Mana was Dark Magician Girl!? I've only seen her what, twice?"
"Heh heh, told you...Yu-gi..." Bakura grinned despite his pain.
"This really isn't th- ..Malik!" Yugi's eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of the card in his hand. The blond froze, looking down at the card.
"It doesn't matter how many times I draw this..." he whispered. "I can't use it..."
Yami looked down at the card. "It's your card, Malik. I can't summon the gods without my Millennium Puzzle but you should-" the Pharaoh looked up suddenly as a voice rang in his ears.
"No, he's right, Pharaoh."
Yami blinked several times, eyes readjusting to the dark room they played in and looked at Marik. "What do you mean? Why can't he play Raa no Yoku-shin-ryuu"
"Oh, hikari can play that card. That isn't the problem." The blond yami's eyes narrowed slightly. "But this isn't a card game, Pharaoh. You know that. And, while it is mostly my fault for not trying to stop him, my hikari did something terrible to Raa and fears retribution."
"Something terrible?"
"There can only be one Raa, Pharaoh. But hikari had the rare hunters make copies of him. You saw what happened to Rishid when he tried to use one of the fake cards. The real Raa punished him." Marik nodded slightly toward the table. "Even though Raa wouldn't punish him, hikari hasn't forgiven himself for it. Because of that, hikari lacks the conviction to use Raa. He would just be summoning a creature that would refuse to fight or worse. There are only two people in the world who can use Raa now. The chosen Pharaoh is one, which you can't since you're here and your character need the Millennium Puzzle to summon the gods. The other person is me."
"Well," Bakura drolled. "Technically Yugi could use it, but given this new information, I wouldn't allow it." The game master grinned. "Thanks for spoiling it for them."
"I didn't do anything. Pharaoh's hikari can't use Raa. Not the right way."
"What do you mean "not the right way"?" Yami asked, but Marik suddenly seemed to lose interest in the conversation, his eyes looking to the Millennium Rod, which he still held in his hand. The former Pharaoh frowned and turned his attention back to the game.
AN: Annnnnd I'm just about to....PROLONG THE SERIES! Wooo!
So yeah, just gonna leave it there for now. I'll play with the next chapter before and after work today and then will hopefully get it up tomorrow after work. I have Tuesday off though :x :3
Hope you enjoyed this one. Fight scenes are a pain to write (I think anyway :x) so this is pretty similar to the anime but the next chapter should diverge sufficiently. And have more Bakura ________ _____ Oops! Almost gave it away :O ;)
PS: The more red in Tozokuo's eyes, the more in control the GM is. Don't forgot ;)
PSS: "My Ryou" has become Ryou's pet name to Akefia. *giggles* The more I type it, the more it makes me giggle. XD
