A Rose for the Souls of the Innocent

Chapter One:

Beware the Morning Wrath

Disclaimer: I do not own Yuugiou. The creepy man that tells me to rule China--it belongs to him. I mean Takahashi Kazuki. .

~*~*~

Ryou Bakura looked around at the four scattered forms that lay in haphazard piles near him. He did not appear remorseful, regretful, or any of those emotions humans who have done something bad tend to feel. But then, he didn't really look human at the moment either.

His eyes narrowed haughtily as they fell onto the fallen form of Yuugi Motou. The boy lay there, innocently, as though sleeping. But if he were sleeping, he would not wake up for a long time. No, this was a magical sleep, brought on by the power of a thousand-year-old Egyptian ring, and he was not likely to recover soon.

With a satisfied nod, the white haired boy turned to disappear into the forest, leaving the bodies to be discovered by some unlucky young duelist. He had important things to do now, and the most urgent was to sleep.

He sneered at the notion, but he knew it was necessary. He had nearly exhausted his mental powers maintaining monsters in the Shadow Realm. If he was going to work his way to Pegasus's castle for the Sennen Eye, he would have to be at full-strength.

Finding a spot far away from the others, he lay down on the damp leaves and tried to sleep. The dark one inside the boy immediately fell into slumber; hard years had taught him to take sleep where he could find it; but the Hikari was not so lucky. He lay staring at the stars for what seemed like hours, wondering what he had done.

How could he have betrayed the only ones that had ever found it in their hearts to be nice to the strange, pale loner? He felt awful. He shook his head and rolled over, making a pillow of his arms, and slowly drifted away.

~*~*~

The next morning, Pegasus Crawford awoke with an odd tingling in the Sennen Eye. He sat up in his lavish bed, rubbing the metal eye uncomfortably. Something was wrong terribly wrong. Something had gone awry in his plans.

He shook his head and rubbed his forehead now. Where was this feeling coming from? A knock at his bedroom door shook him from his reverie.

"Who is it?" He called, voice impassive, as usual.

"Sir," came the hesitant voice of one of his men, "We have found four bodies in the perimeter of the island."

Pegasus blinked in consternation, "Excuse me?"

"Sir, four bodies were found in the forest."

"Dead?"

The man looked uncomfortable, "No not dead, but seemingly in a coma. Mindless."

"I know the symptoms of a coma," the silver haired man snapped, "Who are they?"

"Uh they were, Honda Hiroto, Mazaki Anzu, Jounouchi Katsuya, and Motou Yuugi."

Pegasus stood up, nearly giving himself a blood rush and having to sit back down. "Yuugi was one of them? No! How? Who is responsible for this?"

The man stepped back at his employer's outburst, clearly surprised, even behind his dark glasses.

"They- they don't know as of yet, sir."

"Well, find out!" snarled Pegasus, his mood already sour. "What do I pay you for? Go! And get some medical help for Motou and the others."

"Yes sir."

The man retreated, glad to escape the morning wrath of Pegasus.

Back in his chambers, the said rich man sat back down on his bed, already lost in thought. So that was the feeling! He hadn't needed to ask his servant if the Sennen Puzzle was still on Yuugi's person. He knew it had been stolen. But by who? Who else knew of their power?

He sighed and rubbed his forehead again. He couldn't be expected to worry when he had just woken up. He'd give it a few hours, maybe after breakfast he could return to the predicament. With a yawn he stood again and headed for his dressing room. Later. He would think later.

~*~*~

TBC