Of Love and War: Departure
Author's note: … Ahem… I Hate My Baka Computer! I had the whole chapter ready! Despite all the writer's block and delays and conflicts and lack of time it was ready! It was all pretty and happy and ready to be posted and my damn computer lost it!!! Baka! Baka! Baka computer!!! *mad eye twitching and cursing*
Malik: *sighs* Please ignore her, she's… loosing it… but here's the chapter, finally…
Warnings: Yaoi, Au, possible OOCness, etc.
Disclaimer: *shifty eyes* I own it… really I do… *more shifty eyes* Alright fine! I don't! Happy?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ryou glanced around the bare tower room for the hundreth time, searching for anything he might have forgotten or overlooked. He bit his lip nervously, turning back to the leather traveling packs he had been arranging for Bakura and himself.
"I didn't forget anything did I?" he murmured.
"Trust me, everything we need is taken care of," Bakura answered him. The thief had been helping down in the kitchen with more of the communal provisions and from the dancing light in his eyes; he had been shooed away quite quickly by the head cook. Bakura entered their small tower room, closing the mahogany door behind him and raising an eyebrow when Ryou's shoulders dropped.
"I just want to make sure-" He was cut off by the feeling of Bakura's arms encircling him from behind. He shivered slightly, leaning back against the half-blood.
"You're nervous aren't you," the thief murmured, resting his chin on the slightly smaller elf's shoulder. Ryou sighed. No point in hiding the face since Bakura could sense every one of his stronger emotions.
"I can't help it," he answered, glancing over his shoulder at the thief. "I don't want anyone to get hurt." Bakura chuckled, nuzzling the elf's neck.
"Just like you to worry isn't it," he thought aloud. "We'll be fine Ryou. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."
"It's not really me I'm worried for," Ryou replied, glancing down at the stone floor. The slivery white fringes on the edge of the small rug near by had suddenly become very interesting. Catching on to the elf's embarrassment, Bakura wrapped his arms tighter around the boy.
"It wouldn't kill you to worry about yourself you know. It's nothing to be ashamed of. No one can save every damned soul," he murmured in a ruff attempt at comfort. In his own mind, memories were surfacing, ones he'd rather forget. The thief tensed slightly, his eyes narrowing as he fought the thoughts back. Ryou clasped the arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
"I know," he murmured. "But still…" Bakura tensed at the undisguised optimism in the young elf's voice. It was so innocent, so blindingly hopeful for one who had already seen too much. And it reminded him too much of… "Bakura?" Ryou's voice broke through his thoughts.
"Nothing," the half-blood replied, avoiding his eyes. Ryou's expression softened as he relaxed slightly against Bakura's warm chest. He already knew, both from healing the half-blood and from their bonding, that the thief's early life had been difficult and something he would prefer not to remember. Still, Ryou had to wonder. He wanted to help, somehow.
"Don't," Bakura whispered, still holding him close. Ryou's eyes lighted in confusion.
"Don't what?" he wondered.
"Don't dig into my past." Bakura's eyes were guarded, but there was no malice beneath the desperate wish to be free of it. Ryou sighed again, this time in defeat. Feeling oddly guilty, Bakura brushed a lock of silvery hair out of the elf's face. "What's done is done Ryou," he murmured as some sort of explanation. "I can't change it, and I don't want you hurt by it." Ryou smiled softly.
"I guess… I just wish I could do something," he answered.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Joey growled in frustration as he threw his old, mildly tattered traveling cloak to the floor in front of him. Off to the side, fiddling with his own pack, Seto raised an eyebrow in mock amusement.
"Hm?" he asked. The blonde sighed and slumped his shoulders in defeat.
"What is she thinking?" he muttered, anger and annoyance filtering through his voice. Seto's own eyes twitched as he recognized the source of the frustration.
"If its any consolation, Mokuba is coming as well," the half-blood mage told the blonde. Joey huffed and snatched up his cloak, eyes still narrowed in anger.
"It's too dangerous! Shizuka doesn't even have any sort of magical ability. If she gets into trouble…"
"You'll be with her. It's not like we're splitting up. It would help if you could control your powers but…"
"Damn my powers to hell!" Joey yelled, punching the nearest wall and glaring furiously at Seto. "I know I'm useless as a mage until I can control it, you don't have to rub it in my face." Seto let out a deep long winded sigh, barely controlling the urge to either laugh or slap the boy, he didn't know which.
"You're not useless…"
"Yes I am!" Joey screamed back, his temper flaring wildly. Obviously the boy was oblivious to how much power he really had because he completely ignored the low glowing embers in the fireplace as they burst to life again as if newly lit. "Damn it Seto, you know I'm useless! Don't try to lie to me, I'm better off not going!"
"And who will protect Shizuka if you don't go?" Seto stated, causing the blonde to freeze. In answering response, the embers in the fireplace faded back to scarlet glows. "She'll go whether you do or not, you know that. So will I for that matter. This is something I need to know. Do you think anyone else here is going to train you? They have enough to deal with, so stop pitying your own incompetence and face what's coming." The half-blood took a deep breath, barely controlling his own temper. "Shizuka will be fine. She may yet have a power we don't realize. You're not going to sit here and let her learn that on her own are you?"
"No." Joey glanced up at Seto, eyeing the half-blood carefully. He relaxed, shoulders falling and his breath evening out. "No, you're right. I'm being stupid."
"I can't argue that one, but…" Joey glared at the half-blood.
"You don't know when to stop do you?" Seto smirked back at him, blue eyes twinkling in amusement.
"I know when to stop, but knowing and doing are very different things pup," he answered slyly. Joey rolled his eyes.
"Come on, let's just finish packing…"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"So, what do you think?" Malik asked the taller mage before him. Ishtal was seated by the small window of their room, glancing out at the bluish sky. Excitement tensed every muscle in his body, causing him to look like a child on his birthday. The tanned mage glanced at Malik and grinned.
"I'm excited as hell. I can't wait to get on the road," he answered, standing and brushing off his clothes. Malik grinned at him.
"You've only been here a few months and you're so ready to leave already?" he asked, raising a pale eyebrow. Ishtal shrugged.
"I like adventure. And I can't say it's particularly exciting here anymore," he replied. Malik walked up to the mage and placed a light kiss on his nose, before putting on a wonderfully rehearsed fake pout.
"Than why are you still here?" he asked. To any on looker, his expression would seem a joke, but his eyes told a different story. Malik was serious, very serious. Ishtal frowned at the guarded expression in his lover's eyes, reaching up to brush the boy's cheek. Malik relaxed his fake pout, turning his eyes to the floor.
"I have my reasons Malik," the mage answered, lifting the boy's chin. "Why would I leave when my favorite adventure is right here?" Malik smiled, a relatively subdued smile for his personality. Ishtal leaned forward, kissing his lips with delicate softness. "Still, even you can't deny that this is exciting." Malik's smile grew into a mischievous grin.
"Too true. I can't wait."
"Neither can I love, neither can I."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Shizuka carefully folded and tucked away the extra clothing she was planning on bringing. Beside her, on the small bed, each and every item sat in an organized pile waiting to be stowed away. The redhead sighed, dropping her shoulders slightly. Her brother was furious, she could tell by the look he had given her in the council room. But what could she do? She had been powerless to help Joey last time, and now this journey might be even worse.
"I don't know what to do," she murmured, lifting her hand. A small glow of pale violet light flickered in her palm. From the darkened corners of her room, she heard a small cheep and looked up to find a tiny sprite curiously gazing at her. She smiled at the tiny bluish creature, holding out the light in her hand. The spirit laughed, smiling brightly as it danced around the light. "What can I do," she murmured again.
"Do what you think is best," a soft female voice murmured. Shizuka spun, shocked at finding Isis in her room. She heard the tiny sprite yelp and vanish as the light in her palm died.
"Isis-san?" she asked warily. Isis smiled, her mysterious blue eyes twinkling.
"You never mentioned a gift of your own," the High Mage spoke. Shizuka winced, suddenly finding the floor very interesting.
"I can call spirits, that's all," she murmured.
"Such a thing will be useful on this journey," Isis told her. Shizuka looked up, her amber eyes wide.
"Really?" she asked. Isis nodded.
"The place to where you are traveling is dangerous. It would be simple for your companions to loose their way. Your spirit friends can guide you and help along the way. It is they who will know the best place to find water or rest the night," the dark skinned woman explained.
The curious little spirit had reappeared, now that the surprise had faded, and was now examining Isis' hair. Isis smiled at the tiny creature, holding up a hand for it. The being smiled brightly, before vanishing again.
"Your friends may be invaluable to this journey," she stated.
"Thank you Isis-san," Shizuka murmured. "I guess even I can be of some help."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yami watched absently as Yugi folded the last of their belongings into the pack they would be sharing. His mind was wandering, mostly settling on the events of the past few days. Like it or not, he was in debt to that thief and to Otogi. Without their help, however grudging it was on Bakura's part, neither he nor Yugi would have survived. A soft sigh from the other side of the room told the prince that Yugi was thinking similar thoughts.
"Do you think we can really find a way to bring our people back together?" he wondered aloud. Yami shrugged, crimson eyes downcast.
"We shall have to see. If there's a possibility…" Yugi smiled at his elven look alike.
"We should take the chance right?" he asked. Yami nodded, smiling back. "Even if we fail at least we tried.
"True," the prince replied. Still, with everything that had happened, he wasn't certain. *We'll have trouble when we return,* he thought. *I can almost sense it.* He glanced out the window, watching a small sparrow flutter by. *I just hope Isis will be alright until we return.*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are we all ready?" the group of rag tag travelers stood at the base of the Tower's main steps, packs slung over their shoulders and dressed in nondescript traveling attire. A single black pony who carried their extra packs stood next to Mokuba, continually glancing back to its warm stall. Malik couldn't help but chuckle at the creature. It was obvious where he'd rather be. Isis stood on one of the Tower's lower steps, calmly over looking their group.
"I think we're ready," Ishtal answered her, throwing a glance over his shoulder at the travelers. Isis nodded to him, her eyes serious.
"Take care of them," she murmured to him, drawing a low chuckle from the mage. The tanned man glanced over his shoulder once more, his eyes falling to rest on Malik, who was still snickering at the poor pony. The journey-mage caught his eyes, smirking at him.
"We'll be fine Isis," he replied, grinning back at her. "You should worry about yourself." Isis didn't answer, only gazed back at him calmly. Ishtal nodded at her lack of response. The rest of their group was restless with the suspense of leaving. Bakura had a sort of anxiously excited gleam in his eyes that echoed the mage's own feelings. Beside him, Ryou looked on with a calm expression and a barely hid furrow of worry in his brow.
Mokuba looked on excitedly, clutching the halter of the hapless pony while chatting wildly to Shizuka. A little farther back, Seto was nearly failing to contain his laughter as Joey raged about something… Yami and Yugi were speaking quietly to each other. Both looked calm and mildly expectant. Near them, Otogi and Honda were also talking quietly, though their conversation appeared a little livelier. Ishtal sighed, grinning at the group. It was time for them to go.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Author's note: You know… now I don't think I'm going to kill my computer… this version of the chapter actually turned out a lot better than the original. I still want to destroy my disk though… damn disk. *hisses*
Bakura: So what's up with this whole memory thing of mine? *glares*
*shifty eyes* You'll just have to wait and see. ^_^
Bakura: *rolls eyes* Great… that can't be good…
^_^ hope you enjoyed, even though it took so long. The next chapter should come a little smoother. Thanks to all who stuck by me. ^_~
-Cat