Author Notes:
LB: YES! My go with the boys...nyuck nyuck..oh, by the way...spiffing Anzu bashing, old boy, well done *pats the Muffin on the back*
TM: *twitches* Anzu… *twitches* ARGH!! Get away from my Ryou!! *dives onto Anzu effigy and starts ripping it to shreds*
LB:.....*drags The Muffin away by the shirt collar*
TM: Nooo! *gnashes teeth frantically* Must…destroy…Friendship Whore!
LB:....oh dear....*snaps fingers*
cardboard cut-out of a topless dark magician is wheeled in
TM: Eeeeeeeee!!! *pounces on the cardboard cut-out and cuddles it* Purr purr
LB: that worked...wha---at?
Celtic Guardian:....where did you get that?
LB: *glares* none of your business!
CG+DM: Eeep! *hide back in Muffin's deck*
TM: *carries on purring*
LB: hmph..*holds up a sign*
disclaimer: neither of us own Yu-Gi-Oh or any of its characters. They are owned by the uber cool Japanese guy who created them
TM: Purr purr purr ^^.
LB: i give up..*wanders off*
TM: *blinks* Erm...on with the fic! *huggles Dark Magician cut-out*
Chapter 3 by Lightning BarronIt was dark. It was unmistakably in the early hours of the morning, nothing stirred outside save the wind and the odd shower, no living thing was awake at that hour of the morning, not even the song birds were thinking of beginning there day yet. But in Ryou Bakura's house, things were anything but quiet.
"If you think your so damned good, why don't you find the answer to this problem?!" Bakura screamed at his sidekick, throwing one of Ryou's notebooks at him for added effect. Marik had made some off-hand remark about Bakura being useless at trying to find solutions to their problems, reminding him of the time that he couldn't even turn Ryou's computer on to look up hentai for him. Marik dodged the book easily, leaning up against the wall of the living room, which enraged Bakura even more. He proceeded to storm about the dimly lit room, swearing and threatening death to all those stupid enough to cross him ever again. Marik sighed; he wanted to go to sleep. He had gotten bored of the little things he had found to amuse himself, such as playing Ryou's computer and ordering an X-rated movie from the satellite station. However Bakura had refused point blank to even consider the possibility until they had gotten somewhere with trying to recover their hikaris. But they had spent all night on it and still nothing. He watched as Bakura continued to rage about the room, kicking the already gravely abused sofa and the chairs and cursing in ancient Egyptian in a voice that made Marik wince…although, not in a bad way…
"Bakura…we obviously aren't going to find the solution tonight, can't we just give it a rest? We can try again tomorrow…do you want the neighbours complaining?" he said, yawning between every other word. Yami's still needed their sleep, and Marik was particularly fond of his.
"Fuck the neighbours" came the heated reply, "did you hear me?! I said fuck the neighbours!!" Bakura raged, banging his fists on the wall. Marik sauntered over to him and caught the flying fists, pulling the tomb robber round and slamming him into the wall behind him,
"Quit it….I wanna go to sleep…I'm tired" Marik stated in Bakura's face, watching his pale features soften from their rage induced frown. The two stared each other in the face for a while until Bakura went limp and sighed,
"Ok, have it your way…we'll go to sleep. But in the morning, were going round to that damned….." his rambling voice was silenced by Marik's warm lips, forcing themselves onto his. Bakura groaned and protested, but Marik wasn't letting up. Eventually, Bakura managed to slip out from beneath him; grabbing the front of his cloak he threw the bewildered yami onto the sofa and leaped cat-like on top of him. Drawing himself up until their noses were almost touching, he pinned him down further;
"Ok, we'll go to bed….." he growled. Marik grinned, reaching for the remote and keying in the ordered film and turning the volume up loud. The neighbours will be fucked, he thought.
…,,,***~***,,,…
Malik and his white haired companion were now sitting in the alleyway trying to think of ways to 'blend in'. But all of the ways so far had all came to the same dead end. Money….they couldn't buy anything to help disguise them because they didn't have any of the local currency…whatever that was at this time in history.
"I hate to suggest this…but the only logical thing we can do is trade something in for money" Ryou mused in the shade of the ally…he never liked the heat, it burnt his delicate skin and made him turn pink, inviting comments such as pink and white candy floss boy.
"Like what…what can we trade?" asked the ever-flustered Malik. He was different from Ryou in that he was born in a hot climate, and found the days weather quite mild, although he swore that Ryou was making him hotter by having to watch him fan himself with his hand constantly.
"Take your jacket off Ryou, it might help" he said sarcastically. Ryou blushed and mumbled an apology as he took his cream cord jacket off, now only slightly damp from the downpour that was going to occur in about five thousand and one years. Ryou set it down beside him and suddenly had a thought…their jackets….
"Malik, we could trade our jackets in…they might offer us a lot of money for them, being of foreign materials an all" he suggested,
"What?! Sell this?! Do you know how much it cost to have matching leathers made to your exact requirements?!" the blond Egyptian boy yelled. Ryou shook his head. Malik cocked his head in an 'exactly' manor.
"..b-but…it might be our only option. If you sell your leathers and my jacket, we might get enough money to buy our disguises…and ill bet they have never seen yellow cows before" the pale boy pressured, nodding towards the coloured parts of Malik's jacket. Malik scoffed and folded his arms to match his legs. He looked over at Ryou, who was staring at him with those adorable chocolaty eyes, pleading with him to give in.
"Gahhh…."
Approximately fifteen minuets later, Malik was wandering around the bustling Egyptian market looking for some clothes to buy with his traded in money. He was by himself, as he figured that Ryou's pale complexion would stand out a bit in amongst the raven haired Egyptians. He was pushing his luck with his platinum blond locks, but at least he had tanned skin. He continued to move through the crowds, picking up bits of random conversations. He had devised a plan that he would try to pas himself off as a rich kid and Ryou as his 'out of town' slave. After all, who would believe that Ryou was from Egypt…He wandered about a bit more before finally coming to rest on a stall with all kinds of clothes ranging from white linen to colourful embroidered cloaks. He smiled to himself,
"Perfect"
"W-what?!" Ryou exclaimed as he eyed his outfit. It consisted of a single white linen skirt, a pair of leather sandals and a collar with a rope attached to it.
"I-I can't, my skin will burn!" Ryou whimpered in an attempt to come up with a better excuse than 'I'm too shy to wear it' Malik growled at him. Ryou looked at Malik, then at his clothes, then back at Malik.
"Oh…alright, if I have to…." He sulked off to change in privacy…behind an abandoned trades cart at the end of the alleyway. Malik snickered to himself, Ryou's gonna look so cute in that little number. He failed to tell Ryou that he had bought him a shawl as well to keep the sun off of him. He'd bring that up when he'd finished looking at him. Malik sighed and started to undress, having no such shyness problems. He'd brought himself a white tunic that had a plunging neck and did up at the waist with a plaited gold rope and a huge blue robe with a pair of leather sandals. He was just in the midst of tying up his tunic when he spotted Ryou creeping up the ally, trying to stay in the shadows, either to stay out of the sun or to try and conceal his bare body. Malik let out a soft chuckle,
"What's the matter, Ryou?" he laughed. Ryou looked at him and frowned,
"Its okay for you, you have a robe! I'm…well, I'm….naked!" he cried, creeping closer.
Malik continued laughing,
"Naked? That's not naked, this is naked!" Malik announced and promptly opened up the front of his tunic. Ryou let out a little yelp and covered his eyes, blushing madly,
"Malik…how could you!?" he whimpered. Malik's laughing had amounted into a roaring guffaw as he doubled over, clutching his sides,
"Y-you…silly….Ahahahaha...I'm still wearing….my underwear…Ahahahaha!!" he managed to get out between breaths. Ryou cracked his fingers open and saw that he was indeed still wearing a pair of black boxer shorts,
"You didn't think I would really go commando, do you? I happen to like my underwear….. I hope you still have yours on….." Malik asked, raising an eyebrow at little Ryou. Ryou nodded quickly as Malik tied his tunic up again.
"Good" he replied. Malik picked up the last remaining piece of clothing that was left. The collar. He held it out to the bewildered Ryou, who took it and examined it. Finally he loosened it off and slipped it over his head, pulling all of his soft white hair from underneath it and letting it flutter down along his back again. Malik looked on with a funny feeling in his tummy. He couldn't quite pinpoint it, what was Ryou doing to him? Was he…
"No…" he said aloud, catching the attention of Ryou,
"Hmmm? Did you say something?"
"Ahh…nothing…just, thinking aloud" Malik replied quickly holding his hands up. Ryou nodded and went back to fastening the collar around his neck. Finally, he succeeded and turned to face Malik,
"I'm not…too exposed…am I?" he asked, holding his arms out. Malik shook his head.
"You look fine….slave" he grinned as he said the last word. Ryou blushed for must be the hundredth time that day and looked at his feet.
Malik chuckled, "c'mon, let's get going, we have to find a way out of this….somehow…"
Malik grabbed the piece of rope attached to Ryou's collar and dragged him out the ally.
Both boys tried anxiously to blend in and act normal, trying desperately not bump into anyone or do anything out of the ordinary. Malik instructed Ryou that he should walk with his head hung and slightly shuffley, to make it look like he was slightly afraid of his master. As for himself, he decided not to act too aloof as this may get him in even more trouble, if anyone asked, he was from outside Egypt and Ryou was from a far away land called 'Japan'.
They had been walking around for the best part of an hour and they still hadn't learnt anything. Malik was even asking a few of the stall holders for bits of information. They either stared at them funny or tried selling them something for a ridiculous price. Finally, Ryou had dragged them both into another ally way stemming off from the market place for a rest.
"My skin is on fire…we haven't found anything! All we have for our hours wandering is burnt skin and a developing reputation for being weirdo's…" Ryou whined, planting himself on the floor in the shade. Malik sighed and was about to drag the disgruntled boy back to his feet again when he heard hushed voices at the end of the ally way. He crouched down next to Ryou, still clutching his arm and listened.
"Malik, what is…oop" Ryou was silenced by Malik's hand clamping over his mouth and a sharp hiss. The voices were speaking in hurried Egyptian, there were three, one quite high, but defiantly a man's voice, one a mid tone and a deep voice. Two of them sounded like they were disagreeing on something and the third was intercepting here and there. Finally, a metallic sound was heard and hurried footsteps lead away from where they were sitting. Malik and Ryou stood up and craned their necks to see if they could get a glimpse at the owners to the voices. Ryou was just about to take a step forwards when he was again stopped by Malik's arm,
"What...uhoh..." the two boys froze as a largely built figure rounded the corner at the end of the ally and began to walk towards them. Malik swore softly under his breath and shoved Ryou behind him,
"Quiet Ryou," he hissed, "that's a royal guard, one of the pharaoh's…we're in trouble if he catches us" Malik heard Ryou gasp softly and step closer to him. The guard spotted the two boys and began to walk towards them; his imposing figure seemed to grow bigger as he finally towered over them. He said something hasty in what Ryou figured must have been Egyptian. He shrank even closer to Malik. Silence followed and Ryou though that they were done for when suddenly Malik began replying in the guards native tongue;
"Ahhhhh…erm, were just taking refuge in the shade for a while…the noonday sun is quite hot" he gestured to the market place. The guard eyed Ryou suspiciously. Malik caught on and wrapped his arm around Ryou's shoulder and pulled the bewildered boy close to him,
"My flaxen slave here is a real beauty don't you think?" Malik said in his most alluring voice and winked, burying his nose in Ryou's hair for added effect. Ryou was left blushing like mad as Malik hissed in his ear,
"Play along…." This was easier said than done as he didn't have a clue what Malik was saying. So he just smiled shyly and pressed himself closer to Malik's chest. Malik looked back up at the guard and arched his eyebrows. The giant guard muttered something and pushed his way past the boys out into the market. Ryou stepped back from Malik and looked at the tanned boy, who was scowling at the ally's exit,
"I am not queer…" he mumbled.
"Malik, what did you tell him?" Ryou asked nervously. Malik turned away from his scowling and regarded Ryou,
"I told him you was my slave…he didn't seem to like it all that much" Ryou looked at the floor. That was an unexpected thing for Malik to do, how was he to know what he was saying to the guard. But he was awfully…soft, and he smelt nice too, a kind of…
Ryou was wrenched from his fantasising as Malik took his arm and began to lead him to where the guard came from.
"What are you doing? Why are we going down here, the markets the other way!" Ryou protested, but Malik kept dragging him;
"There was something odd about that conversation…I'm sure I heard something about the pharaoh and a bribe…I dunno, but it's the best thing I've heard all day so were going to see if we can catch them up" he justified.
The two boys ran down many alleys and turns before finally coming out in the open. The site that greeted them took Ryou's breath away. Standing before them was a vast palace, surrounded by a high wall that was patrolled by many soldiers. Beyond the wall and before the palace stood a huge statue of the current pharaoh, it towered above and kept guard over the tall entrance. But there was no sign of their pursuit. Ryou studied this statue before gasping;
"Great scott! Do you know who that is? Its Yami!" he said, pointing at the statue. Malik squinted and tilted his head to one side;
"…oh yeah…."
"Oh dear more like…"
The boys continued to stare until the guards started to make them feel nervous, so they retreated back into the ally where they had came from and sat down.
"Great…were stuck in ancient Egypt, in pharaoh Yami's reign no less, and we haven't a clue how to get home" Malik sulked, planting his head in the palm of his hand and resting it on his knee. Ryou played with his rope, winding it around his fingers and tugging on it occasionally;
"So…we may be stuck here forever…well never see our friends again…my father will be digging his own son up in about five thousand years" Ryou exclaimed. Malik leant against the wall behind him and shut his eyes. He would never see his sister again, Rashid…they were all gone.
Malik and Ryou sat in the ally until the sun began to set on their day in the past, the sun casting orangey hues through the ally way, the air began to get chilly in the absence of the celestial object. Malik looked up as Ryou shivered, trying desperately to warm himself up with his hands. Malik remembered the shawl he had in the small sack bag that was sitting next to him. But that wouldn't help the shivering wreak now, it was only meant to keep the sun off of you. A sudden pang of guilt surged through Marik. It was his fault. He chose the outfit for his 'slave'…and now he was shivering and cold across from him. Sighing, he climbed up and walked slowly towards him;
"Ryou? Are you okay?" Malik asked softly. The white haired boy looked up at him and smiled through chattering teeth;
"Fine…a little…c-cold" he stammered. Malik sat himself next to Ryou and patted the ground next to him. Ryou looked at Malik smiling at him, confusion registering over his pale features.
"C'mon…you'll get cold, we'll share the cloak…it's huge after all" he said warmly. Ryou nodded and shuffled himself close to Malik as he put his arm around Ryou's shoulder and wrapped the cloak around him.
"Can't have my slave catching a cold, can we?" he chuckled as Ryou curled up against Malik;
"…Thank you…" he whispered and shut his eyes.
…,,,***~***,,,…
Malik woke up the next morning with a yawn. Stretching his arms out in front of him he realised Ryou was still asleep, curled up with his head resting on the Egyptian boys lap, his breathing soft as he slumbered on. Malik smiled and placed his hand on the snowy white head and stroked it gently, missing the soft whispers that sounded like 'Bakura' emitting from the little angel's lips. Ever since they had met yesterday (or in five millennium) he had a growing feeling of warmth towards the shy English boy. They way he stumbled over his words and hid his face when he blushed were all so adorable he couldn't help but get attached. The sleeping figure stirred slightly, seeming to draw closer to Malik's caressing touch. A small stretch and a squeak showed that the small boy was finally awakening from his slumber. Malik quickly withdrew his hand before Ryou could sense its presence. Ryou sat up slowly and rubbed sleep from his eyes, yawning several times in the process. He turned his head slightly and saw Malik, observing him lazily whilst leaning against the wall behind him;
"Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
yes, especially with your soft skin and silky hair laying in my lap, your scent drifting into my senses every now and again, your soft moans of slumber and the gentle words you speak in your unconscious state…
"…yes, I did. You?"
Ryou nodded his response. He climbed to his feet and scratched the back of his head. The morning sun was already quite high in the sky and pouring golden light into the ally way. Malik remained on the floor, having taken his earrings out and was now inspecting them and cleaning them on his robe.
"Thank you" mumbled Ryou, almost inaudibly. Malik stopped midway through putting his earring back, the small gold object making a small tingling sound;
"Heh…don't worry, I couldn't just let you freeze, now, could I?" Malik shrugged, replacing his jewellery. Ryou blushed and turned away, gazing at the palace that was just visible at the end of the ally. He wandered to stand at the exit and placed a hand on the cool plaster wall of the building. Malik came up behind him, throwing his robe over his shoulders and crossing his arms;
"What are you thinking?" he asked the pensive albino. Ryou shook his head;
"…I don't know…"
The boys stood there for a moment, taking in the scene around them. What little hope they had of getting home seemed to fade.
"…there is hope…"
"What the?!" Malik exclaimed, whirling round. Standing behind them was the mysterious mystic Shadi, his association with the millennium items was well known to both boys.
"Shadi" said Malik, now calm. He knew this item holder wasn't dangerous, well, not in Bakura and Marik's sense, anyway. Ryou walked to stand beside Malik, smiling slightly.
"You are probably wondering why I am here" his slightly accented voice stated calmly. Both boys nodded.
"Your being thrown back in time is no coincidence, destiny has brought you here" Malik snorted at this comment and crossed his arms; Ryou gave him a small nudge, reminding him of his manners. Malik had finished believing in destiny a while back.
"Think what you may, it is the truth" Shadi continued. "You must complete the task that is set to you in this time, or else the consequences will be catastrophic. The voices you heard in the back of the ally the previous day were those of your yami's, the thief and tomb robber Bakura and his counterpart, Marik. They were bribing one of pharaoh Yami's not-so-loyal guards to letting them into the palace" he trailed off.
"Bribing him? For what?" Ryou asked quietly.
Shadi brought his eyes up to meet theirs slowly…. "they intend to kill pharaoh Yami"
Ryou's face was that of utter shock. Malik's was a blank, until it cracked up and started laughing, that is.
"Haaa! Oh, great…so we have to stop our darks from assassinating that ponce of a pharaoh? Yeah right..." he laughed.
"I'm being deadly serious, Malik Ishtar. If you do not stop them, the shadow games will never be contained…who knows what will happen" the mystic said forebodingly. Ryou bit his lip, stopping his yami was no easy task. Indeed, he had failed many times to 'stop' him from doing the various things he did. Who knows how strong he'd be in this age, in his original body, not a copy of his own feeble frame. Malik was also having similar thoughts, though he wasn't as frail as Ryou his yami was still formidable.
"I shall leave you now, my work here is done…remember the consequences…if you fail" with that, Shadi began to disappear. Malik stepped forward;
"Hey! You can't just leave! What are we supposed to do?!" the small Egyptian screamed, but the mystic had already vanished, leaving the ally as it was before.
Ryou had turned back to the palace and was eyeing it thoughtfully. Malik came up behind him again, still slightly flustered;
"So, we're really gonna do it?"
"We have no choice, Malik-kun" Ryou stated softly.
Malik sighed, "So, how are we gonna get in?"
"Pharaohs have days were people from other lands present him with their wealth right?"
"Ahhhhh…I get you"