The Final Hour

Disclaimer: I have to have one of these, it is the law. Every great story has a great, original disclaimer, please do not judge my story on this: " I do not own". Can we get on with our lives now?

Warning: This story will eventually contain Yaoi and Shounen-ai. Pairings will include Ryou/Bakura, Yami/Yugi, and Joey/Seto. If you disagree with any of these, I suggest you refrain from reading. This story is rated PG-13 for suggestive dialogue, course language, sexual situations, violence, all the good stuff, etc...

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Chapter 1: Fate is sealed

(((((((Ryou's Point of View)))))))

Darkness. Eternal. The void.

Why must all things, good and bad, begin this way?

In truth, since my Yami has entered my life that is all there has ever really been for me, all I have ever really known; the darkness I mean.

I'm still afraid of the dark… though I know I shouldn't be, a childish fear really if you think about it… but some of those nightmares just never fade away I guess. 

Moreover, I know this one will not.

He is still afraid of things himself you know, changes in life and time to be precise. Even after 5,000 years of a world with nothing but changes!  He will never admit it to anyone though, my Yami does not fear. He does not have to admit it to me either, I already know all to well that he likes control.

He would be very mad indeed, if he ever found out exactly what it was I fear; call me a weak coward, unworthy of his presence.  However, after knowing the Tomb Robber as closely as I do and for as long as I have, well I really do not see any reason not to dread him.

In fact, I seem to have every right to be just that…

Thus, I am afraid.

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A simple dream was all it took to throw everything off balance and into chaos, the now familiar madness.

No, in reality, it was much more complex than simple, but I am almost certain that to this day I will never completely understand the dream's full meaning.

A foretelling in its way, a premonition of a dark future following closely behind the first, or at least Bakura thought so.

Nevertheless, my dream took place in the past, so that means it is done and over with, right?

As far as I can or care to recall, it started out with something like this…

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An oppressive air seemed to expand on in every direction I looked to. A dark ominous cloud, which in a way seems to enclose all within was hovering over everything. Why does this scene seem vaguely familiar to me?

The night over the desert plain was in sight.

It was all rather intoxicating to be perfectly honest, but at the same time I was, and still am, justly terrified of the darkness.

Was there more to this fear than a mere phobia?

The silence itself certainly did not last forever because… and this is just one of the parts where it starts to get strange…  I could vaguely hear a clock, no two clocks, far off in the distance, ticking away seconds and time in unison.

I still wonder what that was all about…

I guess this had to be one of those dreams.

Do you know what I am talking about? The ones those are just too bizarre to be real but too real to be fantasized.

Rather gets confusing after awhile but that is the other half of the mystery.

This one in particular seemed to stir something within me.

I am aware that it is…unnatural… for people to know they are dreaming when they are asleep (they are not supposed to know how strange it really is either). Even more at odds is when they know exactly how the dream proceeds… is that even possible?

I seem to have answered my questions on my own though, and quite accurately too.

I am still not sure yet.

However, I seem to know this one dream in particular.

Watch, as I turn to the East I should be able to see a speck of gold something, yes there it is.

Okay, so any moment now the sun should rise up directly behind it… perfect.  See how the pre-dawn light drives back the remainder of the darkness?  How night flees? My favorite time of day, can you guess why?

In addition, there, lying below me in this case for I seem to float in the sky far above, are the pyramids of Giza, and then right there next to them are the sphinxes that protect them.

Yes, certainly now I can remember everything, although in a way I wish I didn't for I know what's to come… and yet at the same time I can't help but feel a tinge of regret that this will all be forgotten by the time I wake, yet again. It is beautiful.

Of course I had dreamed this dream before, I had to have right? To know it as well as I do?

In all actuality, I am not entirely sure.

No wait, I seem to have remembered something more.

 Looking closely at the sands of Kemet, no I mean Egypt, yes Ancient Egypt below me, there is evidence of blood having been spilt tonight.

Innocent blood.

The Deshret being justly named.

Okay where in the world did that come from? Moreover, what is a Deshret?

To bad, I cannot ask my Yami, he would probably know but I never seem able to remember anything of the dream once it is done.

Anyway, the desert sand already stained red and it was obvious that a battle had been fought valiantly on the sacred grounds… although under suspicious circumstances for an as of yet unknown cause.

Both reasons seem to elude me though, something more to question my Yami on if the chance ever arises, or if I ever get the nerve to do so, or both for that matter.

No, in the end, I already know the answer, yet at the same time, I do not really, but at least for once, it is not the fault of the Tomb Robber. To his credit, he may very well be one of the victims, but at least in this case not the murderer.

My heart tightens in my chest as I remember something more and in a way, it does hurt.

He was in this battle, wounded, and left to die.

At least in this case he was not the assassin though.

Little comfort I know but yet somehow, as we all know, he will survive… maybe he will even be given a second chance.

No that is not right either, for I have known Bakura for some time now and I know that he waits for no one and begs for nothing. If I am correct, according to his fierce, corrupted pride, that is beneath him and he would consider the right to live justifiably his in the first place.

Therefore, he will not be given a second chance but he will take it anyway.

Is it so wise to fight fate like that Yami?

See there, it is as I foresaw, he struggles to his feet on his last ounce of energy, despite the extent of his injuries. A broken spear shaft is all that supports him now.

I think it is beginning to dawn on him his fatal mistake.  He is chained a prisoner of war and thus, in that day and age at least, even if he could survive he was bound for a life of slavery.

Beggars cannot be choosers Yami.

My Yami does not beg.

Yet could that possibly be regret on his face, perhaps?

No, my Yami does not regret his actions either and certainly will not apologize for anything.  That is beneath him.

Still he grimaced in pain.

I think he knows though that his wounds are going to kill him, I cannot tell though if that knowledge comforts or hinders him.  In this case, his face remains carefully blank as though expectant. The men who captured him know that as well and I almost cry for him when they do not offer him any food, water, or bandages to lesson the pain.

No comfort.

I almost cry.

Almost being the key word though.

He is taken somewhere; yes the Pharaoh's palace, to receive capital punishment? Why bother, he is just going to die anyhow, everyone seems to know this, and confusion reigns over his guards.

Only Bakura does not seem to be surprised at this turn of events.

So how did you know Yami?

He is made to kneel quite forcefully in front of the almighty ruler himself, but to my surprise it is not YuGiOh, it is his father on the throne.

He was not a remarkable man by any means and almost seemed to look bored as he glanced at the traitor with apparent distaste.

Now I see, there in the corner, hidden half by darkness and revealed half by light stand the real and only Yami Yugi. It is he, I am certain, by his trademark hair and even better known stance of surety.

There seems to be a hidden meaning in his eyes as he watches Bakura brought forth.

I can only make a guess as to what it was but dare I say recognition? Surprise? Anger?

Certainly no pity dwelled within their depths, not even when their eyes met.

My Yami is emotionless to all but me and not even I can decipher what conflicting thoughts play within his mind.

Then both gazes shift to the Pharaoh and for once, I am sure I must be mistaken, for I am sworn that both orbs of the sworn enemies and opposites contain pure venom.

For what cause though? What meaning?

Bakura finally collapses in a heap as he finally gives in to death.

So they thought.

He proved them wrong though…

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A sharp pain at my side startles me awake with a yelp. A deep resonated throbbing is continuously pounding within my abdomen.

I throw the light switch on and tear back the sheets as I look in horror at the deep cut I find there, bleeding profusely. Gasping for breath to keep from fainting, I place my hand at my side shakily to forestall the blood flow, only to have it vanish at my touch.

Nothing remains of it, not a drop of red anywhere on my white sheets.

Okay now I'm frightened. The pain is only a memory. Was that, possibly, brought on by the dream?

I can still remember it.

Days, weeks, years before I was usually left with only a slight recollection of what happened before it faded away.  Sometimes I was able to write down parts of it but now my mind is frantic at all the vivid images still playing repeatedly.

I now realize that the dream never actually finished the whole way through, there was still more to come from it.

Now I definitely wish I could forget.

I cannot, however, because there is one thing in this world keeping me from doing so.

He is currently staring me directly in the eye from across the room.

How I shiver.

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End of Chapter 1

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Glossary (Egyptian):

Kemet- Egypt. Black Land named after the dark soil.

Deshret- Desert. Red Land named for a bloody time.

Pharaoh- Great House. King.

Glossary (Japanese):

Yami- dark

Hikari- light

Yaoi- Boy/Boy relationships (usually on a harsher tone)

Shounen-ai- Male/ Male relationships

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Author's note:

I have done extensive research over vocabulary and history for the sake of this story and plan to use it thoroughly in upcoming chapters. I will, however, either make the meaning clear in the text it appears in or include it in the glossary below. Please be aware that I will not be repeating words in the each glossary so you may have to resort to returning to previous chapters to look up definitions if you forgot something.

I appreciate all compliments and constructive criticism. This being my first YuGiOh fan fiction I would like to do a good job and make it something to be proud of. I try to be just as hard when editing my story for errors as when I look through the works of other people, so if you see something wrong then please point it out. I do not claim to know the entire story of YuGiOh, so any character statistics (especially about their past lives in Egypt) or information on what cards they hold would be greatly appreciated. I will be sure to include a personal thank you to whomever does so next time I post.

Thank you again for reading and I sincerely hope you have enjoyed the story so far.

~ DruidessQueen

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