~*Dance of Death*~
The next eve, when the sun was setting, a stake was being set up in the town square. Kaiba and Mokuba watched some of the villagers piling up the haystack.
"Why Kaiba?" Mokuba looked up at his brother. "Just because you caught Hotaru making time with Yugi in the caves doesn't mean we have to send Yugi to an execution.
"There's another personal reason why I do this Mokuba. Keep that in mind." He then turned to Joey and Tristan. "You two. Get the prisoners. We are to burn within the hour."
"Man, it's like yesterday we stoned lesbians. Today…today I feel like a traitor." Joey was leaning on the walls before unlocking Yugi's cell.
"You know you don't have to go through this execution Joey." Yugi just stood there, his arms and ankles still shackled. "I can forgive you for turning your back on me the last time you accused me of witchcraft."
"Don't start that small talk." Joey chained the ring of keys to his trousers. "The last I spared you, I had severe whippings. The pain lasted for weeks. You can't imagine how I felt."
"Joey," Tristan came running towards him. "We have to get to Reverend Kaiba immediately." He had a body draped over his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Joey the looked at the body Tristan held. Both Yugi and himself gasped with shock. "Ishizu?"
"I found her lying on the ground." Tristan laid her on the ground, exposing Ishizu's neck, revealing two punctured holes.
"Shit," Joey was stunned. "This is no ordinary rat bite!"
"Indeed it ain't." Tristan picked up Ishizu. "Something tells me there is more than just witches in Salem."
"What is that s'posed to mean Tristan? You're starting to freak me out." Joey opened the cell, grabbing Yugi by the collar of his shirt. The two started to make their way out of the prison grounds, dragging the bodies. Finally, they were outside as Joey laid Yugi on a stake in the shape of a cross.
"You better hope God will have mercy on your soul." Yugi glared at Joey.
"Look," Joey gazed down at Yugi as he tied the ropes that had bound his wrists and waist. "Yugi, there's nothing I can do. Kaiba's got the power to make the final say."
"But you know I am no witch." Yugi kept his eyes on him. Joey was ignoring him as he raised the stake. Yugi continued rambling. "Don't make a mistake that you'll regret like how you were when Serenity was hanged and burned. Yami and I thought you were nothing more of a cold-hearted bastard who hated his sister ever since she somewhat lost her virginity to my brother, that you couldn't care less whether she died."
This made Joey stand there, as if Yugi struck a point. He had been livid when he found out Serenity had been sleeping around with his former best friend. He took a glance at Yugi bound on the stake that stood eight feet high.
"Hey Joey!" Tristan made his way towards his friend. "Kaiba wants the stake up, pronto!"
Joey's eyes slowly turned towards Tristan before handing him the stake. "Here, you do it."
"Hey, are you okay?" Tristan looked over Joey, concerned.
"I don't feel good right now. Don't think I have the strength to carry the stake."
Tristan caught the stake, watching Joey saunter away from the town square. "Gee, I wonder what's bugging him?" he then stood the stake up, piling stacks of hay on the bottom.
The hour passed by as villagers gathered at the town square. Yugi was the only one who hung on the stake. Tristan and Kaiba had torches in their hand.
"I can't believe you guys are going through this." Mokuba looked at Kaiba. "Brother, you know Yugi's innocent by all means."
Kaiba ignored Mokuba as he watched the sun set. "Sundown. Let the burning begin.
"Seto please!" Hotaru ran towards her brother, weaving through the crowd. "This has gone too far! Stop the execution while you still can!" she then tried to grab the torch from his hand.
"Stay out of this Hotaru!" Kaiba was livid as he shoved her to the ground as hard as she could. "I have enough of your shit!" Along with Tristan, they placed the flame on the hay, which started to spread almost instantly.
Hotaru slowly looked up, seeing the flames. Her eyes widened as she realized what had took place. "Nooooooo!!!!" her eyes gazed up at Yugi who struggled against the ropes, hoping to break free. As the flames drew near, Yugi's gaze shifted towards Hotaru. Their gaze locked for a long time before his body had finally been engulfed in flames. The crowd cheered as he was trapped in the fire but nothing could break the silence more than the cries of Hotaru.
"Oh no, we're too late!"
Tea and Yami, along with Mai had finally reached the town square.
"It can't be! This can't be happening!" Yami watched his brother being burned on the cross. He then fell to one knee, his fists clenching tightly. "If only we came earlier…if only we left earlier…I…Yugi, I…"
The three watched the burning from blocks away, away from the crowd. Mai then turned and left. "I can't bear to watch this anymore," she then turned to Tea. "Keep an eye on Yami. He's much worse than he was with Serenity."
Tea watched Mai disappearing into the night. She then turned to the burning stake, tears streaking down her face. Her gaze moved towards Yami who couldn't keep his eyes off the fire. She knelt before him, putting one arm over his shoulder. Yami shifted closer towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Tea wrapped her around him as the two watched the flames embracing the cross.
Hotaru sat on her bed, sobbing, her face buried in her hands. It had been an hour but the image of Yugi in the flames bored into her mind.
"I heard of what happened child." Hotaru looked up at Shadi as he entered, sitting next to her. His arms reached out to her, pulling her to his lap. "I know how hard it is to lose one so close to you."
"I know you practice the dark arts Shadi. Can't you bring Yugi back?"
"I'm afraid I can't child." Shadi looked down at her. "That's only interfering with death."
"No! I know you can do it Shadi! I just know you can…" her desperation only turned to sobs. "It's not fair!"
Shadi tried to hush her, rocking her back and forth, his hands massaging the back of her head and shoulder as he felt her head resting on his chest. He then whispered, "Would you rather die to be with him?"
Hotaru was surprised at what Shadi had asked. She thought over the question before nodding. "I don't see how I can continue living knowing he's no longer here."
Shadi nodded, standing her up. "Go to the forest on your horse. Someone will meet you there."
Hotaru left the room. She raced towards the door and got on her horse, riding off. Minutes, which seemed like hours, later, she finally reached deep in the forest grounds. Getting off of her horse, she looked around before leaning against the tree.
"What brings you here Hotaru?" Ryou appeared right beside her, leaning on the same tree.
"Ryou?" Hotaru was startled.
"I know, I know," he then made his way towards her. "Shadi told me you wanted to join Yugi.
"I can't bear to face my brother Kaiba anymore. Not after what he did."
"My child, you have to be willing to face death and embrace him before I do what I have to do."
"I have never feared death." Hotaru said with determination. "I just want to be with Yugi."
"Very well," Ryou then withdrew his dagger from his sheath, taking her arm. With the blade, he then slitted her wrist, placing his lips over the cut, feeding off of her blood. Hotaru's eyes widened, a soft moan escaped her lips. A half-hour had passed on as she started to feel weak, though her eyes kept on Ryou. He finally released his lips from her wrist, looking down on her. Hotaru fell to her knees, collapsing to the ground, her eyes finally closed.
Ryou gazed at her pale body, wiping the blood from his mouth. He then picked her up and climbed onto her horse, riding into the village. He finally reached Reverend Kaiba's home, knocking on the door.
Instantly, Kaiba answered it. His eyes gazed towards Ryou before to Hotaru.
"M'lord," Ryou's eyes kept on the reverend. "I found her in the forests. It seems that she took her own life."
"Hotaru?!?" Kaiba took her body, shaking and slapping her. "Wake up! Don't play these games at this hour!" he then noticed how pale her body was and that it was cold as ice. "Hotaru…" he then fell to his knees, nearly dropping his sister's body, screaming at the top of his lungs.
~*To Be Continued*~