*runs in happily* Oh wow! Thankyou all you wonderful reviewers! It's amazing... I didn't ask for sympathy on my last chapter - in fact I refused it - but you still gave me it! For the grotty parents and the... other thing - thankyou all! And you all hate Set - that makes my life so much easier! *runs round huggling everyone in sight*
Even better... none of you wanted to see me in a dress! *huge smile* I'll just keep to the black eyeliner alone!
Now... to the reviews!
To Dami, SoulDreamer, Koneko-Neko-Chan, Kittkat, Emriko and Silverlily aka Blood Moon: You guys are officially in the anti-Set squad (for this ficcie at least ^_^) Thanks for the reviews, and don't worry - I never let the bad guys win... even if it takes a sequel...
To Shadow-Specter and Ty: Thanks for the support guys! ^_^
To AnimeObsessed: Nah, I've still got all you wonderful fans *huggles everyone* My life ain;t the worst ever, but yeah, it'd keep a soap opera sorted for a few months ^_^
To Youko Demon: Yeah, Yami is hot ^_^ And my fic has gold stars now! Yippee!!!
To Zypher Dragon a.k.a. Diamond: Here you go!
To Chaotic Bystander: More fluff? Now would I ever miss out on an opportunity?
To 'Dark Queen': Here's more... and we'll just see about the ending.
To silver-fox20: *blink* Did you mean 'please update soon'? If so, here it is!
To lotrprincess: You have faith there'll be a happy ending? Hehe... well, ultimately yes...
And last but no means least... To Ame: *big huggle* Thankyou so much for everything :) I just want to tell you you mmade the whole thing just wash away with your words, and I could never thank you enough *special huggle*
Oh, and warning people, this chapter is an angst, so beware!
*~*~*~*~*~*
Crying out in frustration, Bakura lashed out with his foot at a nearby pile of boxes, sending them scattering from the corner. His teeth gritted and his lips drawn into something halfway between a snarl and a grimace, he stormed back to the other end of the room, smashing his fist into the wall. Bringing his other hand up, he battered both fists against the wall continuously, unaware of the pain each impact brought and unaware of how badly his knuckles were being split. After a seeming eternity of beating uselessly against it, Bakura's impacts slowly grew more feeble until he slumped against the wall, his head rested on one arm, and began sobbing, choking on his ragged breaths.
"Malik…" he whispered, tears streaming freely from his eyes and wetting his arm. "Where have they taken you?"
As soon as Bakura had heard of Malik's capture, he'd flown into a frenzy and headed straight for the Royal cells. He searched each individually, calling out his lost love's name and attacking anyone who tried to stand in his way, his bloodlust fuelled by his mad desire to see Malik returned safely to his arms once again. But he hadn't been there. After that, Bakura had gone everywhere he could possibly think of in a vain bid to find his target, growing more desperate as he drew each new blank, but still couldn't find Malik anywhere. It was as if he'd vanished off the face of the earth.
"Malik…" he whispered again. He felt his strength leaving him, and he slowly slid down the wall, sinking to the floor and resting his head against the wall, sobs shaking his broken frame.
"That family has already taken one I love…" he choked. "I can't let it happen again…"
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
Bakura sat on the floor of his house, playing a simple game of dice with his brother. He picked up his die, which his brother had carved from a bone for him, and rolled it.
"Five!" he squealed in delight, his ten year old's voice not broken yet. He smiled happily up at his brother with adoring eyes. Their father and mother had been killed in the last war, leaving him and Ryou as orphans. Ryou, the eldest of the two by five years, had raised Bakura alone, relying purely on what little he could remember of what his parents did and on his natural instincts. Now, three years after their parents had died, Ryou was more than a brother to Bakura; he was a best friend and, at the tender age of fifteen, was already well adapted to the role of father too.
Ryou returned the smile and winked. "Six to win… no problem," he teased as he picked his die up, juggling it on his knuckles before catching it in his fist. He shook it about, ready to throw… but never got to finish that last game.
With a roar, four of the Pharaoh's personal guards burst into the room, swords drawn. Bakura cried out in fear and Ryou instinctively moved to protect him, ignoring the demands the guards were issuing. Ryou didn't know why they'd come, but going by the approach it meant trouble and that he'd be better off not being caught. Scooping Bakura up in his arms, he fled to the back of the house, planning to escape by running across the fields. He was fast and very fit, Bakura was light and the guards had to worry about the weight of all their armour and equipment - he'd outrun them with ease. Unfortunately Ryou, in his rush, hadn't been able to predict the two burly guards blocking that exit.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Bakura and Ryou were dragged from the house, a guard on each arm. Ryou, who had blood trickling from a cut lip, was unconscious and limp. Bakura, on the other hand, was fighting as hard as he could, kicking out at the guards, trying to bite them, screaming - anything he could think of. He had to go and see if his brother was going to be okay.
"Quiet!" one of the guards snapped. "If you're not careful we'll have you facing the Pharaoh alongside this traitor!"
Traitor? That one word forced Bakura into a stunned silence, unable to believe that was what all this was about. He'd heard about what had happened to spies during the last war, and the thoughts sent a shudder down his spine. Ryou wasn't a spy - Bakura would swear it to Amun and Osiris themselves if he had to - but now he was being treated as one. Bakura felt tears welling up in his eyes as the reality of what could happen began to sink in. "Big brother!"
Ryou moaned slightly, slowly coming to, and he carefully raised his head. "…Bakura?"
"Ryou!"
Ryou snarled. "You bastards! Why did you bring him too?" His only reply was a blow across the back of the head, causing him to cry out as the spot he'd originally been hit in to be knocked unconscious protested furiously.
"Silence, traitor. Save your breath for the Pharaoh. But just watch what you say to him…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"So this is him? I was expecting someone a little more… dangerous."
The Pharaoh Tuthmises eyed Ryou critically. He certainly didn't seem to be spy material. In fact, he looked pathetic stood before the Pharaoh right now, wrists and ankles manacled and a defeated look on his face… but then, you can never be certain. His brother, young as he was, offered more resistance, even now struggling to free himself from the arms of a guard.
"Well boy, do you know why you are stood before me?"
Before Ryou could answer, Bakura called out. "Because your low-life guards trashed our home, attacked us and dragged us here! If you -" Bakura was silenced as a guard slapped him across the face, causing Ryou's eyes to flare angrily.
"No, *Pharaoh*," he replied through gritted teeth.
"You are accused of betraying your nation and spying for the Hittites. Do you have anything you wish to say in your defence?"
Ryou stared at the Pharaoh blankly, gaping. The accusation had struck him like a club. "The… Hittites?" was all he could manage. He was totally numb - his brain felt like it had died, and he couldn't bring any words to his lips. He wasn't a spy - he'd never betray the Pharaoh, nor his nation. How could they think he had? He had gone into a state of total, silent shock, barely aware of anything around him. As the harsh reality of the accusation sunk in, he felt his world fading out of existence.
"I'll take your silence as an admission of guilt. Guards, take him away."
Two of the guards approached Ryou and took an arm each. "What is his punishment, oh Pharaoh?"
Tuthmises considered this for a moment, before a cruel smile crossed his hard, thin lips. "Public execution. Make an example of him." He waved his hand, and an unresisting Ryou was led away. The whole room was enveloped in silence, save for Bakura's tears and pleadings as he watched Ryou being taken away from him for the last time.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Bakura sat on the street, curled up, leaning against a wall and sobbing. His brother was gone, forever. Nothing would change that. His life had been cut short, and Bakura's with it. He had no home to go to now, nor did he have any family to turn to, or money to sustain himself…. He had nothing. The Pharaoh had taken all Bakura had ever known and loved and destroyed it like it meant nothing.
The small boy curled up tighter, his face buried against his knees, harsh sobs shaking him with every choked breath he took. Ryou had done nothing to anyone, not even when the guards attacked him. He had spent his whole life caring for others, and now he was dead. The least deserving of so unjust a fate had been snatched away.
"Why, Ryou? Why couldn't you have looked out for yourself, just once?"
Bakura felt his lip begin to quiver, and his sobs turned into full-blown tears, choking, hiccupping and wailing all at once. Ryou was really gone. He was never coming back. Bakura would never hear him laugh again, or see his happy smile. He'd never kiss him goodnight again, couldn't cuddle him when he was scared. They'd never play dice again, or fish together in the Nile, or…
Tears dried against his cheeks, Bakura lay down on the floor, curling up all alone. Through his blurred vision, all he could see was a cruel, twisted world, an evil place that existed simply so fate could laugh at your pain.
"Ryou…" Bakura whispered, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry… I couldn't help you… the one time you needed it, I couldn't do anything… I'm so sorry." He felt his eyes filling up again, and he blinked the tears away furiously. No more tears, he promised himself. He felt something of Ryou's brave spirit within himself, swelling and taking form, and his small hand clenched into a fist. Until he loved again, no more tears.
Slowly, a wretched figure pulled himself back into a sitting position, and gradually eased himself up onto his feet. His eyes flashing furiously, he glared at the dirt he'd just been lain in. "Ryou… No matter what it takes… somehow, I'll avenge you…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Four years on, Pharaoh Tuthmises passed away. His only son ascended to the throne, taking on the Pharaonic name Yamises. This detail didn't interest Bakura - all he knew was that now was the time for his brother's vengeance. In the dead of night, he stole away to the Pharaoh's new tomb.
A week after ascending, Yamises learnt that his father's tomb had been defiled by an unknown criminal, in what could only be described as a clear act of hate-filled revenge. The guards had all been slain, apparently in as long and painful a way as the assailant had been able, and their blood had been smeared about the walls. The carvings of Isis and Nephthys on the sarcophagus had been broken, as had all the cartouches. Every mention of his name in the hieroglyphs had been removed, chipped out of the solid rock. The gifts left by the people had been broken and strewn about. Much of the treasure had been stolen. The list went on, seeming endless, and all the new Pharaoh could do was acknowledge it. The list of people would could have done it was longer than the list of acts carried out, and a search would be pointless. In all fairness, Tuthmises hadn't been a very just ruler, and the people would be somewhat unwilling to cooperate.
At fourteen years old, Bakura's years spent training - every day since his brother's murder - had finally paid off. His quest complete, he kept to what he knew plying his trade as he saw fit. From that day forth, surviving on simple day-to-day thievery, he set out to become the most feared tombrobber in history.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Now, the most feared tombrobber in history lay curled up on the floored, his head buried in his knees, sobbing over the memories of one lost loved one, and the possibility of another. Bakura's heartache now rivalled that day eight years ago, and each tear burned like fire. "Pharaoh…" he sobbed. "Your father took my brother from me… you won't have Malik. Whatever it takes, you won't have him…"
Bakura slowly sat up, fire burning in his bloodshot eyes. "Whatever it takes Pharaoh… I swear…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Well, there you go people... a *real* dose of angst! If you liked that, my other angst works include 'Bright Eyes' (has so far driven 15+ to tears) and 'One Last Breath' (still finding new criers every update) Also, if you people have the time, could you please look at 'Loving Pain'? It's a song I wrote for my band, based around Ryou x Bakura and why in so many fics Ryou lets Bakura hurt him.
Well anyway, you know the drill by now... Review if you want more! I think there's about five chapters left, plus a very important announcement once this fic's done. So enjoy it while it lasts! ^_^
Even better... none of you wanted to see me in a dress! *huge smile* I'll just keep to the black eyeliner alone!
Now... to the reviews!
To Dami, SoulDreamer, Koneko-Neko-Chan, Kittkat, Emriko and Silverlily aka Blood Moon: You guys are officially in the anti-Set squad (for this ficcie at least ^_^) Thanks for the reviews, and don't worry - I never let the bad guys win... even if it takes a sequel...
To Shadow-Specter and Ty: Thanks for the support guys! ^_^
To AnimeObsessed: Nah, I've still got all you wonderful fans *huggles everyone* My life ain;t the worst ever, but yeah, it'd keep a soap opera sorted for a few months ^_^
To Youko Demon: Yeah, Yami is hot ^_^ And my fic has gold stars now! Yippee!!!
To Zypher Dragon a.k.a. Diamond: Here you go!
To Chaotic Bystander: More fluff? Now would I ever miss out on an opportunity?
To 'Dark Queen': Here's more... and we'll just see about the ending.
To silver-fox20: *blink* Did you mean 'please update soon'? If so, here it is!
To lotrprincess: You have faith there'll be a happy ending? Hehe... well, ultimately yes...
And last but no means least... To Ame: *big huggle* Thankyou so much for everything :) I just want to tell you you mmade the whole thing just wash away with your words, and I could never thank you enough *special huggle*
Oh, and warning people, this chapter is an angst, so beware!
*~*~*~*~*~*
Crying out in frustration, Bakura lashed out with his foot at a nearby pile of boxes, sending them scattering from the corner. His teeth gritted and his lips drawn into something halfway between a snarl and a grimace, he stormed back to the other end of the room, smashing his fist into the wall. Bringing his other hand up, he battered both fists against the wall continuously, unaware of the pain each impact brought and unaware of how badly his knuckles were being split. After a seeming eternity of beating uselessly against it, Bakura's impacts slowly grew more feeble until he slumped against the wall, his head rested on one arm, and began sobbing, choking on his ragged breaths.
"Malik…" he whispered, tears streaming freely from his eyes and wetting his arm. "Where have they taken you?"
As soon as Bakura had heard of Malik's capture, he'd flown into a frenzy and headed straight for the Royal cells. He searched each individually, calling out his lost love's name and attacking anyone who tried to stand in his way, his bloodlust fuelled by his mad desire to see Malik returned safely to his arms once again. But he hadn't been there. After that, Bakura had gone everywhere he could possibly think of in a vain bid to find his target, growing more desperate as he drew each new blank, but still couldn't find Malik anywhere. It was as if he'd vanished off the face of the earth.
"Malik…" he whispered again. He felt his strength leaving him, and he slowly slid down the wall, sinking to the floor and resting his head against the wall, sobs shaking his broken frame.
"That family has already taken one I love…" he choked. "I can't let it happen again…"
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
Bakura sat on the floor of his house, playing a simple game of dice with his brother. He picked up his die, which his brother had carved from a bone for him, and rolled it.
"Five!" he squealed in delight, his ten year old's voice not broken yet. He smiled happily up at his brother with adoring eyes. Their father and mother had been killed in the last war, leaving him and Ryou as orphans. Ryou, the eldest of the two by five years, had raised Bakura alone, relying purely on what little he could remember of what his parents did and on his natural instincts. Now, three years after their parents had died, Ryou was more than a brother to Bakura; he was a best friend and, at the tender age of fifteen, was already well adapted to the role of father too.
Ryou returned the smile and winked. "Six to win… no problem," he teased as he picked his die up, juggling it on his knuckles before catching it in his fist. He shook it about, ready to throw… but never got to finish that last game.
With a roar, four of the Pharaoh's personal guards burst into the room, swords drawn. Bakura cried out in fear and Ryou instinctively moved to protect him, ignoring the demands the guards were issuing. Ryou didn't know why they'd come, but going by the approach it meant trouble and that he'd be better off not being caught. Scooping Bakura up in his arms, he fled to the back of the house, planning to escape by running across the fields. He was fast and very fit, Bakura was light and the guards had to worry about the weight of all their armour and equipment - he'd outrun them with ease. Unfortunately Ryou, in his rush, hadn't been able to predict the two burly guards blocking that exit.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Bakura and Ryou were dragged from the house, a guard on each arm. Ryou, who had blood trickling from a cut lip, was unconscious and limp. Bakura, on the other hand, was fighting as hard as he could, kicking out at the guards, trying to bite them, screaming - anything he could think of. He had to go and see if his brother was going to be okay.
"Quiet!" one of the guards snapped. "If you're not careful we'll have you facing the Pharaoh alongside this traitor!"
Traitor? That one word forced Bakura into a stunned silence, unable to believe that was what all this was about. He'd heard about what had happened to spies during the last war, and the thoughts sent a shudder down his spine. Ryou wasn't a spy - Bakura would swear it to Amun and Osiris themselves if he had to - but now he was being treated as one. Bakura felt tears welling up in his eyes as the reality of what could happen began to sink in. "Big brother!"
Ryou moaned slightly, slowly coming to, and he carefully raised his head. "…Bakura?"
"Ryou!"
Ryou snarled. "You bastards! Why did you bring him too?" His only reply was a blow across the back of the head, causing him to cry out as the spot he'd originally been hit in to be knocked unconscious protested furiously.
"Silence, traitor. Save your breath for the Pharaoh. But just watch what you say to him…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
"So this is him? I was expecting someone a little more… dangerous."
The Pharaoh Tuthmises eyed Ryou critically. He certainly didn't seem to be spy material. In fact, he looked pathetic stood before the Pharaoh right now, wrists and ankles manacled and a defeated look on his face… but then, you can never be certain. His brother, young as he was, offered more resistance, even now struggling to free himself from the arms of a guard.
"Well boy, do you know why you are stood before me?"
Before Ryou could answer, Bakura called out. "Because your low-life guards trashed our home, attacked us and dragged us here! If you -" Bakura was silenced as a guard slapped him across the face, causing Ryou's eyes to flare angrily.
"No, *Pharaoh*," he replied through gritted teeth.
"You are accused of betraying your nation and spying for the Hittites. Do you have anything you wish to say in your defence?"
Ryou stared at the Pharaoh blankly, gaping. The accusation had struck him like a club. "The… Hittites?" was all he could manage. He was totally numb - his brain felt like it had died, and he couldn't bring any words to his lips. He wasn't a spy - he'd never betray the Pharaoh, nor his nation. How could they think he had? He had gone into a state of total, silent shock, barely aware of anything around him. As the harsh reality of the accusation sunk in, he felt his world fading out of existence.
"I'll take your silence as an admission of guilt. Guards, take him away."
Two of the guards approached Ryou and took an arm each. "What is his punishment, oh Pharaoh?"
Tuthmises considered this for a moment, before a cruel smile crossed his hard, thin lips. "Public execution. Make an example of him." He waved his hand, and an unresisting Ryou was led away. The whole room was enveloped in silence, save for Bakura's tears and pleadings as he watched Ryou being taken away from him for the last time.
*~*~*~*~*~*
Bakura sat on the street, curled up, leaning against a wall and sobbing. His brother was gone, forever. Nothing would change that. His life had been cut short, and Bakura's with it. He had no home to go to now, nor did he have any family to turn to, or money to sustain himself…. He had nothing. The Pharaoh had taken all Bakura had ever known and loved and destroyed it like it meant nothing.
The small boy curled up tighter, his face buried against his knees, harsh sobs shaking him with every choked breath he took. Ryou had done nothing to anyone, not even when the guards attacked him. He had spent his whole life caring for others, and now he was dead. The least deserving of so unjust a fate had been snatched away.
"Why, Ryou? Why couldn't you have looked out for yourself, just once?"
Bakura felt his lip begin to quiver, and his sobs turned into full-blown tears, choking, hiccupping and wailing all at once. Ryou was really gone. He was never coming back. Bakura would never hear him laugh again, or see his happy smile. He'd never kiss him goodnight again, couldn't cuddle him when he was scared. They'd never play dice again, or fish together in the Nile, or…
Tears dried against his cheeks, Bakura lay down on the floor, curling up all alone. Through his blurred vision, all he could see was a cruel, twisted world, an evil place that existed simply so fate could laugh at your pain.
"Ryou…" Bakura whispered, his voice cracking. "I'm sorry… I couldn't help you… the one time you needed it, I couldn't do anything… I'm so sorry." He felt his eyes filling up again, and he blinked the tears away furiously. No more tears, he promised himself. He felt something of Ryou's brave spirit within himself, swelling and taking form, and his small hand clenched into a fist. Until he loved again, no more tears.
Slowly, a wretched figure pulled himself back into a sitting position, and gradually eased himself up onto his feet. His eyes flashing furiously, he glared at the dirt he'd just been lain in. "Ryou… No matter what it takes… somehow, I'll avenge you…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Four years on, Pharaoh Tuthmises passed away. His only son ascended to the throne, taking on the Pharaonic name Yamises. This detail didn't interest Bakura - all he knew was that now was the time for his brother's vengeance. In the dead of night, he stole away to the Pharaoh's new tomb.
A week after ascending, Yamises learnt that his father's tomb had been defiled by an unknown criminal, in what could only be described as a clear act of hate-filled revenge. The guards had all been slain, apparently in as long and painful a way as the assailant had been able, and their blood had been smeared about the walls. The carvings of Isis and Nephthys on the sarcophagus had been broken, as had all the cartouches. Every mention of his name in the hieroglyphs had been removed, chipped out of the solid rock. The gifts left by the people had been broken and strewn about. Much of the treasure had been stolen. The list went on, seeming endless, and all the new Pharaoh could do was acknowledge it. The list of people would could have done it was longer than the list of acts carried out, and a search would be pointless. In all fairness, Tuthmises hadn't been a very just ruler, and the people would be somewhat unwilling to cooperate.
At fourteen years old, Bakura's years spent training - every day since his brother's murder - had finally paid off. His quest complete, he kept to what he knew plying his trade as he saw fit. From that day forth, surviving on simple day-to-day thievery, he set out to become the most feared tombrobber in history.
*~*~*End Flashback*~*~*
Now, the most feared tombrobber in history lay curled up on the floored, his head buried in his knees, sobbing over the memories of one lost loved one, and the possibility of another. Bakura's heartache now rivalled that day eight years ago, and each tear burned like fire. "Pharaoh…" he sobbed. "Your father took my brother from me… you won't have Malik. Whatever it takes, you won't have him…"
Bakura slowly sat up, fire burning in his bloodshot eyes. "Whatever it takes Pharaoh… I swear…"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Well, there you go people... a *real* dose of angst! If you liked that, my other angst works include 'Bright Eyes' (has so far driven 15+ to tears) and 'One Last Breath' (still finding new criers every update) Also, if you people have the time, could you please look at 'Loving Pain'? It's a song I wrote for my band, based around Ryou x Bakura and why in so many fics Ryou lets Bakura hurt him.
Well anyway, you know the drill by now... Review if you want more! I think there's about five chapters left, plus a very important announcement once this fic's done. So enjoy it while it lasts! ^_^