Me: Well, Dree nagged me. So you get another chapter.
Dree: W00t yo.
Bakura: What the hell?
Reb'd: I don't get it either..
Dree: *sweat drop* Nevermind.
Me: Er..yeah.the story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ch 10: Azure's Tears
Azure
"It's done," I whispered. "Lekhb has been destroyed."
Yugi caught me as my legs gave out from under me. I felt the shield drop. "Soon," I whispered "soon."
"AZURE," I heard a familiar voice cry.
"REB'D!" I cried forcing myself to stand, I found myself in her arms.
"I have missed you so," Reb'd said softly.
I felt Shadow Creatures of all types joining us. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Yugi charge at Darm, Dira and Virden. He looked so happy.
A moment later Dew joined us, in his human form, carrying a small girl with red eyes, white hair and lips.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"Dree," Reb'd said "Our daughter."
"You're a Red Eyes White Dragon?" I asked, studying her unusual appearance.
The small girl, Dree, nodded smiling at me "Yes."
I looked around at everyone, smiling happy, "It is time for me to go home."
Everyone froze and stared at me, grief stricken. "What?" I asked. "What? I go back, don't I?"
"No Azure," Reb'd whispered "You never came back."
"NO," I yelled "I'm going back."
"But you don't. You never came home Azure. We waited for you for so long, but you never came," a harsh voice said.
"Bakura!?" I whirled around to find myself staring eye to eye with my cousin. "The Ring," I whispered.
"I sensed you and the little one were here. I came to see what was going on," he said.
"I go home Kura, don't I?" I implored.
"No Azure," he said firmly "You never came home."
Yugi
I watched, horrified, as Azure was told she never returned home. "No," she whispered "Bakura, please."
"I'm sorry," Bakura said, sorrow crossed his face and I knew he remembered everything.
As if sensing my realization Bakura turned towards me, and nodded. "Yes little one. I remembered, I always remembered."
Azure had completely broken down, and was sobbing incoherently; "Come here," Bakura took her in his arms.
I looked away, ashamed, when I heard a sharp, worried voice yell "YUGI."
"YAMI!" I turned and ran towards him, jumping into his arms. "I missed you so much!"
"Aibou!" he cried. His eyes had dark circles under them "Where have you been?" He held me tightly for a moment, then let me go, studying me.
"I'm fine. I was in the past. In your past," I said.
"What happened?" Yami asked me, his eyes wide.
"It's a long story," I said.
"Is the girl sobbing on the tomb robber part of the story?"
I nodded "Yes. That's Azure. She and Bakura are cousins. In the past, Azure was sort of like your teacher and advisor. Things in the past are..different. People were different. Bakura was different."
"Why is she crying?" Yami asked.
I felt myself starting to cry as well "She was supposed to go back after she brought me here and we defeated Lekhb, but Reb'd and Bakura said she never came back. She is sad because she wants go home. She left someone behind. She loved him very much."
Bakura, meanwhile, was trying very hard to calm Azure down, but she refused to be calmed down.
"What happened?" she demanded.
"What do you mean?" Bakura frowned.
"After Kuri, the little one and I left," Azure said "What happened?"
Bakura's face became clouded "We defeated The Wizard, but Arden died in the fight."
"Arden died?" I heard myself gasp.
Bakura nodded "The Wizard killed him."
"No," Azure whispered "Not Arden."
"Arden died," I whispered to myself, how could Arden have died? The realization hit me. I'm five thousand years in the future. They had all died.
Bakura continued "We didn't know it then, but The Wizards final act had been to infect Seth with Change of Heart."
"No," Azure whispered.
I started to cry harder, knowing what Bakura was going to say. "He betrayed Yami. He betrayed us all."
"NO," Azure yelled.
Eventually Azure's sobbing lessened enough for her to ask "You and Rain?"
Bakura smiled softly "We settled down. Got married and had a bunch of brats."
Azure managed a smile "You really did?"
"I did," Bakura affirmed.
"And Yami? What happened to Yami?" Azure asked.
"Why don't you ask him, he's standing right behind you," Bakura informed her.
"Yami?" Azure whirled around frowning. Her eyes locked on The Puzzle and she nodded to herself "I understand now. You used The Puzzle. That's how Yugi knew you; The Puzzle came to him in this time." Azure forced her self to smile, swallowing her tears. "At least I still have you and Kura."
Yami frowned at her, looking unsure, and didn't say anything. Azure hesitated and glanced at me. I glanced at Bakura, to see if he would tell her, but Bakura shook his head. He had crushed her enough already. He would say no more.
"He doesn't remember his past Azure."
"What?" Azure frowned.
"He doesn't remember his past. He doesn't remember any of it. He doesn't know you, Seth, Arden, Rain or any of them. He doesn't know. He doesn't remember." I looked down, ashamed to hurt Azure so. Kuri took my hand and smiled at me.
I looked behind Kuri and saw a great hoard of Kuriboh. I smiled and nudged her gently, "Go see your family. They have missed you." Kuri smiled at me, and then disappeared into the masses of Kuriboh.
I looked back to Azure, Bakura was holding her up. She had gone back to sobbing incoherently. The only words I could here were; Seth and home.
I never should have let Azure come here. Didn't I know she didn't go back? Hadn't I suspected it at least? The tablets Ishizu had showed me. Azure was not on a single one. She was never even mentioned. Why hadn't I stopped her, sided with Seth at the meeting? At that moment I was ashamed of myself. I was one hundred percent responsible for Azure's grief.
Bakura eyes found mine "What are we doing to do with her?" he asked me.
I noticed Yami tense at Bakura's presence, but Bakura just ignored him. I had a sudden insight to Bakura's dislike of Yami. Yami let Azure come here.
Still ashamed of myself I asked "Can you and Ryou take her?"
"Ryou's father is in. He will become suspicious. Can you take her?"
I nodded "Yes."
With Azure still sobbing, Bakura scoped her up into his arms. "She can't survive here long. She's too weak."
"Let us go then," Yami spoke up.
At that, Kuri was next to me again. We all turned to go, but Dew called "Wait!"
I turned to him "What?"
"Take Ao with you," he said quickly.
"What? Why?" Ao demanded.
"You can't go on like this Ao. You need to make peace with the past. And someone needs to look after Azure," Reb'd said softly, looking into Ao's eyes pleadingly.
Ao nodded "Only for you Reb'd," she said.
Reb'd sighed, relieved, and nodded "Thank you."
"Lead the way Pharaoh," Bakura said mockingly.
I nodded to Yami, but hung back slightly and walked with Bakura. "What was that about?"
"Reb'd no longer lives in Azure's castle. She has a new master; she cannot leave the Shadow Realm. Ao has no castle, and no master. She can look after Azure for Reb'd."
"Reb'd and Dew have a daughter," I said.
Bakura allowed himself a slight smile "Yes, they do."
I frowned "I know Dew is in Kaiba's castle, but whose castle is Reb'd in?"
"Didn't you guess when we were in the past?" Bakura said. "She's in your friend's castle. She's Joey Wheelers Red Eyes."
Azure
I woke up, confused for a moment. When I remembered where I was, and what had happened I let out a slight sob as a dull ache filled my chest. I would never see Seth again. I lay there for a few moments, calming myself. Then, brushing my hair from my face, I blinked and slowly opened my eyes.
"Bakura," I called looking around.
"He's upstairs with Yugi and Ryou. They're making breakfast," Yami said, he was sitting in a chair next to my bed.
"Ryou," I frowned "That name sounds familiar." I remembered the little one mentioned him.
"Ryou is Bakura's light. The Ring came to him," Yami said.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Yugi's grandfathers house. Apparently you, Kuri and Ao are to live in the basement. It's sort of a mini apartment."
I was clueless about what a mini apartment was, but I didn't say anything.
"Oh! Your awake," a small white haired boy entered carrying a tray of food.
"You must be Ryou," I managed to smile at him.
The boy nodded to me "Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Not really," I said.
"Eat anyway," Bakura's voice came, he and Yugi entered behind Ryou.
Yugi shot Bakura a look "Azure, please eat."
I eyed the food suspiciously. I had no idea what any of it was. The drink looked normal enough, so I sipped some of it.
"I know it's not what you're used to," the little one said quickly "But it is very good."
To please him, I ate a little of something Bakura identified as a cheese and mushroom omelet.
"Kura, do you live here too?"
Yami looked startled and the little one laughed, saying "He lives with Ryou. It's not far from here though."
"I image you two have been getting into all sorts of trouble," I smiled at Bakura and Yami.
"Not exactly," Bakura said uneasily.
"Don't tell me you're robbing tombs again? Bakura! You gave your word," Azure said.
"We aren't in Egypt. There are no tombs here," Bakura said.
"What do you mean, we aren't in Egypt? Where the hell are we?"
"Japan," Bakura supplied.
"Things are complicated Azure," the little one said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"They hate each other," he supplied.
"What?" I asked taken a back.
Sure Bakura had robbed tombs, but Yami had always looked the other way. They had an unspoken truce about what Bakura could and could not do. As long as Bakura stuck to it, Yami let him be, because of his Shadow power and because he was my cousin. They had even almost been friends.
"You're joking," I said in disbelief.
"No," Bakura said firmly.
"But why," I asked him.
"It might have something to do with Bakura trying to take over the world," Yami said dryly.
"Kura," Azure chastised.
He reddened slightly and growled, "I had my reasons."
Ryou
I was completely shocked. I had never seen Bakura blush, or even hint on that he was embarrassed. I had never known he had been married, or that he had had kids. His demeanor seemed to completely have changed with this girl, his cousin, around. I thought Bakura didn't care about anyone. I was wrong. He cares about Azure. He cares for her very deeply. It's because of her that he hates Yami so.
Yugi
"Where are Ao and Kuri?" Azure asked.
"Sleeping," I supplied.
"Tell me about this Kaiba person. Why did Seth's castle merge with his?" Azure asked.
Both mine and Bakura's eyes widened. Yami opened his mouth to speak, but Bakura cut him off quickly.
"Not much to tell. He's a rich jerk."
"Well, he will pay for disrespecting my grandfathers Blue Eyes in such a manor."
I glanced at Bakura, who looked uneasy. Now was not the time, but we would have to tell her eventually, lest she see Kaiba before warned.
"He has paid in away," Ryou offered "When Yugi defeated him."
Bakura suddenly stood "We're leaving Ryou."
"Uh, okay," Ryou stood as well.
Azure looked up at him silently. "I'll come see you again soon," he promised.
"Bakura," Azure called.
"Yeah," He looked over his shoulder.
"You had kids?" she asked.
He nodded, grinning roguishly "Yeah," he said before continuing on his way out.
Ryou
"You had kids," I said jogging to keep up with Bakura's stride.
"Yes," he said simply, rolling his eyes.
"How many," I asked
"Four," he replied.
"What were their names?"
"Arden, Azraa, Iana and Hasani," he said, quickening his pace so I practically had to run to keep up with him.
"Arden died defeating The Wizard?" I asked quickly. I knew little of his past, but I did know about The Wizard and I had thought he said someone named Arden died during the battle.
"Yes. Arden was my wife's twin. We named our first son after him," Bakura's voice softened.
"What was your wife's name?" I asked; I was curious about his past.
"Why are you so full of questions?" he snapped.
I sighed, lowering my eyes, same old Bakura. I guess it was too much to hope he would be nice to me now.
"I was only curious," I said.
"Curiosity killed the cat Ryou," he said.
"Wha-what?" I said, frightened my eyes flying up to his, but I stopped when I saw he was smirking.
"Your teasing me," I accused, slightly astounded.
Bakura was silent, but his smirk widened.
Yugi
Azure sighed slightly, lying back down, resigned. "Azure, I am sorry," I said.
"It's not that bad," Azure said softly "At least I have Bakura and you still."
"Don't forget Yami," I said, but Azure was silent.
"It gets easier," I said.
"That's right, this must be similar to how you felt when you found yourself in the past," Azure whispered. "It gets easier?" she asked me "Does the hurt go away?"
I glanced at Yami out of the corner of my eye "It lessens," I whispered.
Dree: W00t yo.
Bakura: What the hell?
Reb'd: I don't get it either..
Dree: *sweat drop* Nevermind.
Me: Er..yeah.the story.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ch 10: Azure's Tears
Azure
"It's done," I whispered. "Lekhb has been destroyed."
Yugi caught me as my legs gave out from under me. I felt the shield drop. "Soon," I whispered "soon."
"AZURE," I heard a familiar voice cry.
"REB'D!" I cried forcing myself to stand, I found myself in her arms.
"I have missed you so," Reb'd said softly.
I felt Shadow Creatures of all types joining us. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Yugi charge at Darm, Dira and Virden. He looked so happy.
A moment later Dew joined us, in his human form, carrying a small girl with red eyes, white hair and lips.
"Who is this?" I asked.
"Dree," Reb'd said "Our daughter."
"You're a Red Eyes White Dragon?" I asked, studying her unusual appearance.
The small girl, Dree, nodded smiling at me "Yes."
I looked around at everyone, smiling happy, "It is time for me to go home."
Everyone froze and stared at me, grief stricken. "What?" I asked. "What? I go back, don't I?"
"No Azure," Reb'd whispered "You never came back."
"NO," I yelled "I'm going back."
"But you don't. You never came home Azure. We waited for you for so long, but you never came," a harsh voice said.
"Bakura!?" I whirled around to find myself staring eye to eye with my cousin. "The Ring," I whispered.
"I sensed you and the little one were here. I came to see what was going on," he said.
"I go home Kura, don't I?" I implored.
"No Azure," he said firmly "You never came home."
Yugi
I watched, horrified, as Azure was told she never returned home. "No," she whispered "Bakura, please."
"I'm sorry," Bakura said, sorrow crossed his face and I knew he remembered everything.
As if sensing my realization Bakura turned towards me, and nodded. "Yes little one. I remembered, I always remembered."
Azure had completely broken down, and was sobbing incoherently; "Come here," Bakura took her in his arms.
I looked away, ashamed, when I heard a sharp, worried voice yell "YUGI."
"YAMI!" I turned and ran towards him, jumping into his arms. "I missed you so much!"
"Aibou!" he cried. His eyes had dark circles under them "Where have you been?" He held me tightly for a moment, then let me go, studying me.
"I'm fine. I was in the past. In your past," I said.
"What happened?" Yami asked me, his eyes wide.
"It's a long story," I said.
"Is the girl sobbing on the tomb robber part of the story?"
I nodded "Yes. That's Azure. She and Bakura are cousins. In the past, Azure was sort of like your teacher and advisor. Things in the past are..different. People were different. Bakura was different."
"Why is she crying?" Yami asked.
I felt myself starting to cry as well "She was supposed to go back after she brought me here and we defeated Lekhb, but Reb'd and Bakura said she never came back. She is sad because she wants go home. She left someone behind. She loved him very much."
Bakura, meanwhile, was trying very hard to calm Azure down, but she refused to be calmed down.
"What happened?" she demanded.
"What do you mean?" Bakura frowned.
"After Kuri, the little one and I left," Azure said "What happened?"
Bakura's face became clouded "We defeated The Wizard, but Arden died in the fight."
"Arden died?" I heard myself gasp.
Bakura nodded "The Wizard killed him."
"No," Azure whispered "Not Arden."
"Arden died," I whispered to myself, how could Arden have died? The realization hit me. I'm five thousand years in the future. They had all died.
Bakura continued "We didn't know it then, but The Wizards final act had been to infect Seth with Change of Heart."
"No," Azure whispered.
I started to cry harder, knowing what Bakura was going to say. "He betrayed Yami. He betrayed us all."
"NO," Azure yelled.
Eventually Azure's sobbing lessened enough for her to ask "You and Rain?"
Bakura smiled softly "We settled down. Got married and had a bunch of brats."
Azure managed a smile "You really did?"
"I did," Bakura affirmed.
"And Yami? What happened to Yami?" Azure asked.
"Why don't you ask him, he's standing right behind you," Bakura informed her.
"Yami?" Azure whirled around frowning. Her eyes locked on The Puzzle and she nodded to herself "I understand now. You used The Puzzle. That's how Yugi knew you; The Puzzle came to him in this time." Azure forced her self to smile, swallowing her tears. "At least I still have you and Kura."
Yami frowned at her, looking unsure, and didn't say anything. Azure hesitated and glanced at me. I glanced at Bakura, to see if he would tell her, but Bakura shook his head. He had crushed her enough already. He would say no more.
"He doesn't remember his past Azure."
"What?" Azure frowned.
"He doesn't remember his past. He doesn't remember any of it. He doesn't know you, Seth, Arden, Rain or any of them. He doesn't know. He doesn't remember." I looked down, ashamed to hurt Azure so. Kuri took my hand and smiled at me.
I looked behind Kuri and saw a great hoard of Kuriboh. I smiled and nudged her gently, "Go see your family. They have missed you." Kuri smiled at me, and then disappeared into the masses of Kuriboh.
I looked back to Azure, Bakura was holding her up. She had gone back to sobbing incoherently. The only words I could here were; Seth and home.
I never should have let Azure come here. Didn't I know she didn't go back? Hadn't I suspected it at least? The tablets Ishizu had showed me. Azure was not on a single one. She was never even mentioned. Why hadn't I stopped her, sided with Seth at the meeting? At that moment I was ashamed of myself. I was one hundred percent responsible for Azure's grief.
Bakura eyes found mine "What are we doing to do with her?" he asked me.
I noticed Yami tense at Bakura's presence, but Bakura just ignored him. I had a sudden insight to Bakura's dislike of Yami. Yami let Azure come here.
Still ashamed of myself I asked "Can you and Ryou take her?"
"Ryou's father is in. He will become suspicious. Can you take her?"
I nodded "Yes."
With Azure still sobbing, Bakura scoped her up into his arms. "She can't survive here long. She's too weak."
"Let us go then," Yami spoke up.
At that, Kuri was next to me again. We all turned to go, but Dew called "Wait!"
I turned to him "What?"
"Take Ao with you," he said quickly.
"What? Why?" Ao demanded.
"You can't go on like this Ao. You need to make peace with the past. And someone needs to look after Azure," Reb'd said softly, looking into Ao's eyes pleadingly.
Ao nodded "Only for you Reb'd," she said.
Reb'd sighed, relieved, and nodded "Thank you."
"Lead the way Pharaoh," Bakura said mockingly.
I nodded to Yami, but hung back slightly and walked with Bakura. "What was that about?"
"Reb'd no longer lives in Azure's castle. She has a new master; she cannot leave the Shadow Realm. Ao has no castle, and no master. She can look after Azure for Reb'd."
"Reb'd and Dew have a daughter," I said.
Bakura allowed himself a slight smile "Yes, they do."
I frowned "I know Dew is in Kaiba's castle, but whose castle is Reb'd in?"
"Didn't you guess when we were in the past?" Bakura said. "She's in your friend's castle. She's Joey Wheelers Red Eyes."
Azure
I woke up, confused for a moment. When I remembered where I was, and what had happened I let out a slight sob as a dull ache filled my chest. I would never see Seth again. I lay there for a few moments, calming myself. Then, brushing my hair from my face, I blinked and slowly opened my eyes.
"Bakura," I called looking around.
"He's upstairs with Yugi and Ryou. They're making breakfast," Yami said, he was sitting in a chair next to my bed.
"Ryou," I frowned "That name sounds familiar." I remembered the little one mentioned him.
"Ryou is Bakura's light. The Ring came to him," Yami said.
"Where am I?" I asked.
"Yugi's grandfathers house. Apparently you, Kuri and Ao are to live in the basement. It's sort of a mini apartment."
I was clueless about what a mini apartment was, but I didn't say anything.
"Oh! Your awake," a small white haired boy entered carrying a tray of food.
"You must be Ryou," I managed to smile at him.
The boy nodded to me "Are you hungry?" he asked.
"Not really," I said.
"Eat anyway," Bakura's voice came, he and Yugi entered behind Ryou.
Yugi shot Bakura a look "Azure, please eat."
I eyed the food suspiciously. I had no idea what any of it was. The drink looked normal enough, so I sipped some of it.
"I know it's not what you're used to," the little one said quickly "But it is very good."
To please him, I ate a little of something Bakura identified as a cheese and mushroom omelet.
"Kura, do you live here too?"
Yami looked startled and the little one laughed, saying "He lives with Ryou. It's not far from here though."
"I image you two have been getting into all sorts of trouble," I smiled at Bakura and Yami.
"Not exactly," Bakura said uneasily.
"Don't tell me you're robbing tombs again? Bakura! You gave your word," Azure said.
"We aren't in Egypt. There are no tombs here," Bakura said.
"What do you mean, we aren't in Egypt? Where the hell are we?"
"Japan," Bakura supplied.
"Things are complicated Azure," the little one said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"They hate each other," he supplied.
"What?" I asked taken a back.
Sure Bakura had robbed tombs, but Yami had always looked the other way. They had an unspoken truce about what Bakura could and could not do. As long as Bakura stuck to it, Yami let him be, because of his Shadow power and because he was my cousin. They had even almost been friends.
"You're joking," I said in disbelief.
"No," Bakura said firmly.
"But why," I asked him.
"It might have something to do with Bakura trying to take over the world," Yami said dryly.
"Kura," Azure chastised.
He reddened slightly and growled, "I had my reasons."
Ryou
I was completely shocked. I had never seen Bakura blush, or even hint on that he was embarrassed. I had never known he had been married, or that he had had kids. His demeanor seemed to completely have changed with this girl, his cousin, around. I thought Bakura didn't care about anyone. I was wrong. He cares about Azure. He cares for her very deeply. It's because of her that he hates Yami so.
Yugi
"Where are Ao and Kuri?" Azure asked.
"Sleeping," I supplied.
"Tell me about this Kaiba person. Why did Seth's castle merge with his?" Azure asked.
Both mine and Bakura's eyes widened. Yami opened his mouth to speak, but Bakura cut him off quickly.
"Not much to tell. He's a rich jerk."
"Well, he will pay for disrespecting my grandfathers Blue Eyes in such a manor."
I glanced at Bakura, who looked uneasy. Now was not the time, but we would have to tell her eventually, lest she see Kaiba before warned.
"He has paid in away," Ryou offered "When Yugi defeated him."
Bakura suddenly stood "We're leaving Ryou."
"Uh, okay," Ryou stood as well.
Azure looked up at him silently. "I'll come see you again soon," he promised.
"Bakura," Azure called.
"Yeah," He looked over his shoulder.
"You had kids?" she asked.
He nodded, grinning roguishly "Yeah," he said before continuing on his way out.
Ryou
"You had kids," I said jogging to keep up with Bakura's stride.
"Yes," he said simply, rolling his eyes.
"How many," I asked
"Four," he replied.
"What were their names?"
"Arden, Azraa, Iana and Hasani," he said, quickening his pace so I practically had to run to keep up with him.
"Arden died defeating The Wizard?" I asked quickly. I knew little of his past, but I did know about The Wizard and I had thought he said someone named Arden died during the battle.
"Yes. Arden was my wife's twin. We named our first son after him," Bakura's voice softened.
"What was your wife's name?" I asked; I was curious about his past.
"Why are you so full of questions?" he snapped.
I sighed, lowering my eyes, same old Bakura. I guess it was too much to hope he would be nice to me now.
"I was only curious," I said.
"Curiosity killed the cat Ryou," he said.
"Wha-what?" I said, frightened my eyes flying up to his, but I stopped when I saw he was smirking.
"Your teasing me," I accused, slightly astounded.
Bakura was silent, but his smirk widened.
Yugi
Azure sighed slightly, lying back down, resigned. "Azure, I am sorry," I said.
"It's not that bad," Azure said softly "At least I have Bakura and you still."
"Don't forget Yami," I said, but Azure was silent.
"It gets easier," I said.
"That's right, this must be similar to how you felt when you found yourself in the past," Azure whispered. "It gets easier?" she asked me "Does the hurt go away?"
I glanced at Yami out of the corner of my eye "It lessens," I whispered.