First things first: I have to write back to a lot of reviews O_O.... wow 111!!! a whole 111 total reviews!!! *snuffles* Wow, I feel so loved ^_^ *showers her reviews with hugs and pixy-sticks* I have so many and I try to e-mail everyone back, I really do! But I just got internet back after loosing it for like, what? 3 months? grrr... anyway.
Reviews from chapter 5: I won't comment on any of the outfits as of yet, save for the people I need an email from ^____^ but I will say that after reading over all the entries, me and my two associates narrowed it down to ten outfits (Did I say narrow? ... More like spent the night bickering among ourselves over what to take for final choices before getting 10. O_O it was interesting... all of them were so good!! It was hard as hell to do!) and I'm going to start e-mailing those ten finalist to ask permission about drawing their works and posting them in my art class.
Crossover Authoress: My favourite I think is "heaven can wait" the one Malik sings. I just love that song. *drools over the image of Ryou standing wearing only jeans and the ring...* Yumm.....
Sarina Fannel: Yeah it is kinda sad... but the fluff helps make up for it ^_^ I live for writing fluff. BTW: I still love that song-fic you did where Bakura finally got his own kingdom, it's on my favourites list. How does that ever turn out *puppy-eyes* please tell me?
Ancient Enchantress: Ryou is one of my favourites too, ^_^ Thank you, I did a lot of read for this story to get the right magick items I wanted. I get to throw in more magick things in this chapter hehehehe....
Saiai No Hito Mokushi: *blushes* wow! I'm on a favourites list. ^_^ I like toe socks, but yeah it would be kinda funny to see Ryou in them. I'll keep that walk-on part in mind ;)
Enkidu (or is it EnkiduII now O_o): either way, it's awesome to get a great review from you and I'm glad I've inspired someone. Yeah, I love putting Ryou and Malik together, they just seem so cute! And I send sincere apologies I haven't updated!
Brit-chan: I love scent! I use it myself! And thanks for the hug ^_^ . My mother was christian like that too. She used little rituals when she prayed and every night used to leave a bit of bread and wine in front of a figure of Mary holding baby Jesus. She was a very religious woman, God rest her soul. Plus it just feels awesome to that from a christian! Thank you for reminding me *hugz*
Lady Adako: Yup, it is true. On Malik's official Yu-Gi-Oh profile it reads he has a leather fetish... why is no one surprised. (Malik: HEY! LYB: ^_^) It also reads that he can make his own clothes (O_o u...) and he likes to sleep outside along with a few other random things that are rather enlightening. Someday I think I'll type it up and post it. BTW: I know I said I wouldn't say anything about the outfits, but I need your e-mail for the contest or you can post you're consent in a review, just so I know I have permission to draw it :)
Kat: *blushes again* Thank you! Once more I have to apologies for my gap between chapter 5 and 6. I dunno why, but for this story, Wiccian just seemed to work. Plus I wanted to do a bit of religious rights campaigning, it's really nice to see people supporting it.
catherine: I think I e-mailed you back... if I didn't, of Isis I'm sorry because you're review was just awesome and so many questions I'm just dying to answer ^___^ hehehe foreshadowing. Yup, just to make things complicated for our hero's Yami B will be coming back MWAHAHA! *cough* I have to stop this evil laughter thing... I STILL haven't gotten over my pneumonia. Oh and Yugi is going to have a few things to say about it. Seto too. As for the "practitioners" part ^_______^ read this chapter. Yup, I have a plan :) Yeah, I really wanted to make a good fic about Wicca... and it seemed to go so well in this story to bring Ryou and Malik together.
cheesepuff: *must.... not.... drool.... AHH! Failed miserably* I would not mind a visual aid in the least ;) Just joking I don't want to be a bother or anything. ^_^
ChaosEnd: ^^... I bet Malik would like that. Hell, I wouldn't mind it ^_^ And I'm sure Kaiba has something ;)
RyogazGal: I don't know if I e-mailed you back or not, I know I made a point of it because I drew the picture you wanted. I loved drawing things for people, it makes my day. ^_^ I'm glad you liked my pic of Ryou and Bakura from Gutterflower and I'm glad you enjoyed the fic too! Both were a joy to do. But so far I will agree, I'm having more fun writing Drawing Down the Moon and I dunno why. Maybe it's because I can get into Malik and Ryou's heads and I can understand them a bit better. Whatever the reason, I'm thrilled you like my work as much as I love turning it out.
Fyredra: LOL! It's okay, humour gets me going too. hehehe I like making people feel warm and cozy and Malik is just an all around sad character so you can't go to far without making him a bit cold and depressed. I love the blonde! *hugz Malik* Malik: @_@ can't... breath...) Unfortunately, the guy in the hood in the good Malik before he goes to Domino City himself. He is adorable!!! And if you can get around the fact that they gave Yami Malik a really bad english voice, the voice of hikari Malik and Malik when he's pretending to be Namu is so drop dead sexy! Gutterflower so far has been my work of art, it's was an amazing thing for me to do. And as for Lilith.... umm... I kinda deleted it, I wasn't happy with it at all, but the basic idea of it is going into my other fic The Darkest Souls when I get the time to re-work it and I hope you enjoy that one as well. Yay! I'm on a favourites list! *blushes* And I did go read your fic btw, "The Problem with Grandpa" hehehe I did like it, a bit of comedy does the world good ^_^
Dragon Child: I think Ryou is so adorable! I have to gush over him ^_^ As for your question, I've never really been asked that before, so I don't mind answering one bit. I'm 18 and studying religion and folklore at Memorial University in Canada. I've have quite a history of writing... I've written short stories and drawn out comic and manga strips since I was still in elementary school, I can't say when for sure and as you can imagine my early work is not that great :) I really started to get heavily into writing when I was 13-14... I turned out all kinds of stuff. Since then, I've done a lot more of my own personal fiction. If you were to look me up with my real name (and since this IS the internet, I won't hack it out for the sake of the people I know) and try REALLY hard you'll find I do have a few poems, short stories and one-act play's published in random places. I'm not exactly a well known person, but anyway. Does that answer you question? Oh my, I think I've rambled to much again.... oh well ^_^.
Chibigreen Tanuki: I need you e-mail for the contest too... you can drop me a line at ladyyamibakura@hotmail.com if you don't want to post it. Or you can just give me consent to draw in a review. ^_^ I promise not to share the address
Erfaciel: *gets a nose bleed as well, while Malik droolz* LYB: hentai... Malik: You know it ^_^. LYB: anyway.... thank you for the wonderful compliment ^_^ it's actually really hard work. Keeping Malik in character is difficult because of his rather hypocritical personality, he tends to be broody and impulsive at the same time. It's hard to get Malik in a state of mind where he's content with doing something childish. Ryou's no easy feat either because of his past with his mother and sister and of course the whole Yami Bakura deal. Eep!
Chapter 6 review: I'm glad you enjoyed it, ever if it did take so long. It's great to know you enjoy my work so well ^_^ Wahoo!! I've been blessed by Ra ^___^
Yami Ishizu: ^____^ first of all, I love you're name. Yes I am a witch ^_^ but I wasn't exactly born into it, fortunately, I was born into a family where religion wasn't forced on me but something I was allowed to explore. Also to my advantage I was born into a family that has witches in it's past as well as many other religions including Celtic, Teutonic and even Hinduism. I'm a follower of the Egyptian sect, because believe it or not, I'm a bit Egyptian too. My whole family on my fathers side can trace themselves back to Egypt and it's absolutely wonderful to sit and listen to those stories then go to my mother side of the family which has a bit of Druid magick in it. And yes I will drop this to you in email form as well. I deleted Blood Moon Rising O_O... but it will be resurrected again when I re-write the Darkest Souls.
Chapter 6 Reviews: (Whoa that was a lot of writing...)
R Amythest: I was going to e-mail you back but fanfic.net was being a bitch and wouldn't let me into you're profile to get an address. So I'll write back here ^_^: You actually did a damn good job just describing it! It's Ryou's english voice only deeper and without the accent, or if this is easier to imagine, Bakura's english voice without the evil rough edge. I'm kinda think the same voice actor that does Ryou/Bakura (I forget his name at the moment) may do Malik/Ishtar as well, they sound a lot alike. I don't mind you having it copied out in the least! I trust people not to plagiarize my work so I don't mind at all. I'm thrilled you like it well enough to do that!! And I would LOVE a grammar-perfect copy, I would seriously kiss the ground you walk on because I'm sooooo bad with grammar. As for Ryou being in the coma: well, no, just unconscious. As I mentioned in the last chapter that stunt Bakura pulls with the knife leaves Ryou pretty weak for most of Battle City. When he wakes up again, Bakura is in control and goes up against Yami, making the wound break open again and Ryou nearly bleeds to death due to Malik and Bakura's ambition. Plus his body takes a blow from Osiris and that lands him in bed... again. As for being dead: You've been lied to. Well... not totally... whoever wrote that hasn't seen the rest of the series. After Bakura loses to Yami Malik (aka Ishtar) after an impressive fight, he unfortunately has to bend to the rules of a Game of Darkness as his physical body is dissolved into the shadow world so in all technicality, he and Ryou are dead. ~-~BUT~-~ Yami Bakura sealed a piece of his soul inside a piece of the millennium puzzle so when his body vanishes, he ends up in Yami Yugi's soul room! Shock, no? So Yami B is still alive and well, as for Ryou... Ishtar is self-centered and uses the shadow dissolved energy of Ryou like he did with Mai's, using it to feed his power. As well, Ishtar claims the Ring as his victory prize. So when Ishtar is banished, Ryou's body reforms and when Ryou gets the ring back (after a bit of a hassle with Yami Yugi and Honda trying to keep it hidden from him... grrr... stupid pharaoh and spike headed dumbass...) Bakura is returned to the ring and Ryou. So nope, Ryou is not dead. He comes back after Ishtar is banished by Malik and Yami. And that is the honest to the goddess truth from someone who really has read all the comic strips and knows exactly what happens. And the blood type thing? O_O... I have no sweet clue... I really don't. hmmm..... but it is something to think on... LOL! Ryou has the rarest blood type in the world! I actually knew that before and I never thought of the rarity thing till now... hmm... ^________________________^ Anyway, is this soon enough? :)
Ayrrie: Thank you! I hope to start posting them much faster... like how quick I posted this chapter faster ^_^
hato-chiisai: Yup, there will be lemon ^_^ later on but I don't plan on it being tacky or anything, just to fall in easily with the rest of the story. (and a bit of good lime in the chapter after this) I'll set it up the lemon itself so that it's in one chapter alone and those who don't want to read it can pass it over. That way everyone is happy ^_^ I'll also have to up the rating on this but that's okay.
Bakura's Baby: Yup! They finally got a kiss! I hope to keep up this rate of updating (like the one week thing) but I don't know if it will work out or not, I'll try ^_^
LYB: *Looks up at everything she's written.* O_O three solid pages of nothing but review answers...
Ryou: And this is a long chapter to boot.
Malik: No kidding.
LYB: *falls back in her computer chair and kisses her black Hamlet coffee mug* Thank God for caffeine!
Malik: So that's where you got the Hamlet mug thing from!
LYB: *growls* touch it and die.
Malik: O_o U... okaaaaaaay...
LYB: I love Shakespeare. A friend brought this back from England for me. Hamlet isn't my favourite play, but it's up there on the list. Malik reminds me of Hamlet sooooo much.
Cyris: They are a lot alike... broody, self-centered, gay, charming, INSANE... they even have that whole revenge of the fathers death thing going on.
Ryou: Only the woman in Malik's life who gets in the way is Isis not Gertrude.
Malik: Since when did you become a scholar?
Ryou: Since she started making you talk about it and I decided to read it.
Malik: Oh.... O_O Wait a tick! Gay?!
LYB: You can not convince me Hamlet hasn't had an affair with Horatio. I mean, they guy HATES women and he practically croons over Horatio.
Ryou: And then there's that whole, Hamlet dying in Horatio's arms thing.
Malik: Alright can we cut the Shakespeare shit please? I get the point!
Cyris: *rolls his eyes* Voicing this chapter is the impeccable Ryou Bakura, it's a tad long... but the mistress didn't want to break it up. Enjoy.
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Divine Interventions
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This time of year I loved, even if nothing grew or lived, it was like a break from the stress of living and the whole world slept soundly. I appreciated that need to sleep and enjoyed the peace it brought, along with the promise of a new begin the clean white pallet of snow promised. I didn't care about my cold when I took Malik outside, It was worth it just to see him smile for once. This whole new side of this beautiful Egyptian boy. He had a playfulness that was obvious from his sharp comebacks and spiteful nature. He loved and cared intensely which was clear from his quest to free his family. But to actually see those things blossoming... I doubted anyone else besides Rishid and Isis had ever seen this side of him. They insisted it existed but I don't think he trusted anyone enough to let it show... caring, happy, childlike... it was so rare. He has this hidden spirit I don't think he knows still exists, he said that he thought he had forgotten it somewhere along the way... but I'm pretty sure it's still there. I know because it's showing itself to me piece by piece; when he had me in the snow and I was laying on top of him, I saw something amazing. His eyes changed colour, yeah I know that sounds really weird, but I remember it happening last night too. For a minute, the storm clouds went away and they just shone this beautiful clear violet... almost a liquid crystal colour. I could barely believe it, that eyes that always looked angry could look so peaceful and for once, content. Now I can't help but think, was that the colour Isis missed so much?
I closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, burying my face in my hands. He was acting so strange today. A few minutes ago he had me up in his arms, laughing content and then when he went to touch me as I stood up by the stereo the most horrified expression came over his face as if he were suddenly terrified by my very presence. I've never seen that expression on him before and I don't know what to make of it, though he passed it off as quickly as it passed. And what the hell was with that kiss? I touched my lips lightly and I trembled slightly. It had been so quick I could barely register it, by the time I recovered from the utter bliss of the first contact he already had me pinned. I wanted that moment back... to feel it again, his lips were soft and gentle but at the same time demanding, his kiss was like him in a way. I ran my tongue across my lips, he even tasted like he looked, spicy and exotic... oh dear goddess I think I need a shower! Anything to calm me down! This crush of mine has gone way to far. I've never felt this giddy at being kissed before.
I feel a small smile cross my lips, I can't help it. Downstairs I can hear him singing with the music
"Said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me..."
I turn my head toward the door a bit, letting my ear fall closer to it. He has an amazing voice and I don't know why he doesn't show it off, it would blow the others away how when he sings, it's like it comes from his very soul. Like he means what he's saying. I pressed my hand to door as if to reach out and touch him, I wanted to be the one he sang to. "Just tell me what you want to be saved from." I whispered gently, then moved away from the door, afraid to subject myself to this torture any longer. I started to dig through my bag, trying to find something suitable to wear and I gave a light moan of disappointment realizing I had packed nothing but casual clothes for playing around with my friends. I don't know why, but I wanted to at least look good today for some reason. "Ryou, can't you buy anything half decent." I scolded myself, then I blinked remembering my yami saying the same thing to me not long ago... I replied by telling him to bite me. I had a hicky on my neck for a week.
Don't take that the wrong way, Bakura just likes to play with me sometimes, I think he thought it would be amusing to actually bite me. He wouldn't dare touch me any worst then that, he's like my best friend, as much as I love him I don't think I could ever FEEL for him... if you can understand that. He's my big brother almost. Yeah that's it! My big brother, always looking out for me, though he can get extremely overprotective at times. He also gives surprisingly good advice, I wish he were here now to advice me. I sigh a bit as I take off my sweater and start to pull on my typical t-shirt. I know for a fact my yami has never means anything by his games. It's obvious because for the longest time he's had this thing for Yami Yugi, though he'd never admit it. Sometimes I catch him in one of his rants after being outdone yet again by the former pharaoh. He'll pace around the house, muttering under his breath, trust me he's turned out some damn good ones. My favourite that I've heard just to prove my point is "Good-for-nothing-sexy-self-centered-prick-of-a-self-rightous-good-looking-fucking-pharaoh." He's had some other equally as hypocritical statements that I'm not sure are compliments or insults when he thinks I can't hear. I don't think he'd be so ambitious on picking on Yami if he didn't like him. He just likes to have the pharaoh's attention. Hell, Bakura likes to have everyone's attention, but he seems to really strive to get Yami's. Even if he has to rub the spirit the wrong way to get it. Damn, I could use some of yami's advice right now, even if I could just talk to him. I wonder if Kaiba would mind me placing a long-distance call to his room in Egypt. I know I only talked to him before I came up to the mountains but... it's different now.
I let out a string of coughs. Well at least their not as bad as they were last night and I walked over to the bed stand, hoping Malik had left some cough syrup around only to find he had cleaned up completely, leaving on his bag half-open on the floor. I sighed again and started to turn only to see a glint of something shiny and black catch my eye and I looked down at his bag, examining it. Half-hidden amid articles of clothes that lay closest to the top was something that looked to be made of polished black stone. From what I could see of it, it was long and not overly thin, it was face down but it looked as if it was a statue of some kind though I could only see the barest part of it. I dropped down, curious to examine it. I don't know why... but it was like I was pulled to it.
From what I could see of it without moving anything, it seemed to be a woman... maybe... the visible part was certainly the top of a head with long hair. I reached out hesitantly, I felt really bad about going through his things but curiosity was killing me and I gingerly brushed my fingers against the small stone artifact. It was warm to my touch... giving me a feeling of timeless power and I quickly pulled my hand away. I don't how, but I knew that feeling and I couldn't place it. How do I explain it? Some things just feel charged with energy, kinda like you just know by picking it up, this was someone's favourite toy as a child, or this is someone's favourite shirt. It was the same type of sensation. Maybe it's just because I'm witch and after all this time I can feel little changes in energy and I could feel power in the item of my curiosity, similar to the way I felt when I picked up my Athame or maybe I was just being foolish and my conscience was getting the better of me going through his stuff. I gently moved to push back the fabric covering it instead and I felt my fingers brush something wrapped around the black stone and I felt my heart give a bit of a jump as if I had suddenly found something of great importance. From what I could see vaguely without moving anything, it was only a red piece of yarn. "3 by 3..." I muttered absently, pressing my fingers lightly to the yarn, furrowing my brow in thought. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure what, their was no own around to hear me. "someone..." I paused and closed my eyes "angel wings?" I opened my eyes, looking at the item in thought. By now my curiosity was boiling, what was this trinket? I moved my hand to pick it up once more when I heard a cry from downstairs followed by what was probably a pretty choice Arabic curse and I jumped up. I shook my head, feeling rather guilty about going through his stuff and I quickly walked to the door, grabbing his Arabian shirt that lay regarded on the bed.
I stood at the top of the stairs and looked down at him, he had his index finger stuck in his mouth but continued to hmm to the music of the radio as he poured streaming water into the black Hamlet mug and a soup bowl. I watched him, amused with his actions as he lightly kept beat to the song with his head while he music played. He smiled a bit, taking his finger out of his mouth as the lyrics started to ring out, but he didn't take up singing again, I smiled, he really did love music. Even from my place of the stairs I could see the small red mark on the side of his finger tip, logic told me he had burned himself but at the moment he didn't seem to care, he was caught up in the music instead.
Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebody's heart break
But now I have to let you go
I have to let you go
You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go
No one's ever turned you over
No one's tried
To ever let you down,
Beautiful girl
Bless your heart
He moved about the small area with grace, getting honey from the tiny fridge and pouring a bit into the mug before stirring it a bit. Then he mixed around the stuff in the bowl a bit. "Malik!" I called and he looked up at me, a smile crossing his face as I tossed down his shirt.
"Thanks!" he called back. And quickly pulled off his sweatshirt, shaking out his blonde hair. I think I may have started to drool, he wasn't exactly shy and he wasn't exactly bad looking, tan skinned and toned chest framed out with golden form fitting jewellery. He laid his sweatshirt on the counter and pulled on his lighter one. He looks better that way... in thin fabric without all his skin covered up.
I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease
He looked up at me, laughing when he realized I was watching him. He motioned for me to come down and I chuckled slightly, walking down into the room and he held out his hand to me, approaching me, a mysterious look in his eye, body moving gingerly with the bit. Singing along with the music. Very tempting, I promise you.
"Feels like you're making a mess."
I laughed at his antics, taking his hand and letting him pull me to him.
"You're hell on wheels in a black dress"
I couldn't help but chuckle again as he put his arm about my waist before taking my hand and playfully pushing me away, letting me spin under his arm before pulling me close again.
"You drove me to the fire,
And left me there to burn"
He pressed close to me and I felt my breath quicken as he tipped over me, forcing me to bend back slightly over his arm. I hoped to the goddess he couldn't feel the way my heart was pounding. He dragged his fingers slowly over my cheek, leaning his face close to mine.
"Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life ~ oh it was magic,
Beautiful girl..."
I could feel his breath against my skin as he lingered his lips over mine, only inches apart. I swallowed, I could feel myself tremble under his touch. Why does he insist on teasing me like this? He's such a Ra damn flirt.
"I can't breathe..."
He released me, smirking like a devil as he turned around and walked away back toward the counter, arms open, hips swaying seductively as he sung and I was pretty sure I had been reduced to puddle of melted boy on the floor.
"I got a disease,
Deep inside me,
Makes me feel uneasy baby..."
He looked back over his shoulder and turned about, moving backwards, smiling at me, his hands beckoning me to him as if he had me on a leash, in honestly he may as well have, and I was more then willing to run back into his arms to dance with him again. He cupped my face in his hands as he moved with the music, resting his forehead to mine.
"I can't live without you,
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it?"
He took my hands, leading me in the free flowing, joyful dance, spinning us about the kitchen like neither one of us had ever danced in our lives. It was so childish and at the same time I loved the way he felt against me as he moved. His hands dragged across my waist, pulling me to him, yup... it's official, I've been reduced to pile of Ryou shaped goo.
"Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me.
I got a disease."
Once more I laughed as he spun me around and pulled me to him.
"I think that I'm sick,
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me."
By now we moved together, hips and shoulders swaying to the beat, it really was a good song to dance to, upbeat and fast. He tapped my lips playfully, pressing his forehead to mine in the sweetest of ways and I felt that same flattered smile cross my face.
"You taste like honey, honey,
Tell me can I be your honey?"
He gave a quick laugh and so did I as he grabbed me around the waist and lifting me up to sit me on the counter.
"Be, be strong,
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till-"
He placed the black mug in me hands, smirking back at me as he finishes his lyric.
"I'm free of my disease."
I laughed as he smiled, backing away from me to allow me to drink my tea. I took a long draught and watched him move about the kitchen, slightly disappointed both at the end of our dance but quite satisfied to listen to him sing.
"Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease..."
His voice half-trailed off as he turned on the tap, picking his index finger under the water. I guess the burn was still hurting him and I took another long drink before setting down the mug and jumping down, only two steps closing the distance between us.
"I got a disease,
Deep inside me
Makes me, feel uneasy baby.
I can't live without you ,
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it?
Keep your distance from it.
Don't pay no attention to me..."
His voice trailed off all together as I gently took hold of his wrist and pulled his injured to me to inspect it. I'm pretty good at bits and pieces of healing magick and I wondered vaguely if there was anything I could do for it, sort of to pay him back for the way he doctored me the night before. "How'd you do this?" I asked, looking at the small, rounded red spot on the side of his finger. "You swore pretty loud. What was that? Arabic?"
"Just plain Egyptian," He offered an embarrassed laugh and half-heartedly scratched the back of his head with his free hand as a shy gesture. "Isis uses that one a lot. I hit it off the bottom of the kettle when I took it off the stove. I'll be fine in a few minutes, just stings."
I glanced around the kitchen and without letting go over Malik's hand reached over to the window sill over the sink and saying a quick prayer of thanks to the plant, I cracked off the tip of one of it's thick triangle prism shaped leaves, avoiding the tiny blunt cactus like points on the leaves edges. You'd be surprised for many things people keep around their houses can be used for everyday things. I knew this plant well because I happen to have one in my own kitchen window, Aloe Vera. Aloe is easy to grow and doesn't need to be watered often to it's a pretty common thing to find, not only that, the leaves have this jell type stuff on the inside that's used in a lot of skin products... when it's raw like this it's also good for split ends, dry skin, scars and burns. I can remember me mother telling me that when I was little and my sister Amane burned her fingers on the stove. She was a bit of a kitchen witch, my mother, though I don't think father ever understood her 'odd habits'. I didn't until much later in life, I just knew mom was one way, dad was another, they didn't disagree on it; but after she died dad gave me all her statues and told me to put them away. They're now on my secret alter at home. Maybe by now he knows I'm like her, maybe not. I don't feel like upsetting him with it.
*I got a disease
I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till*
I crushed the small chunk of green material in my fingers and rubbed the jell across the burn gently as I dared so I wouldn't hurt him. His lip quirked down a tiny bit at the touch but said nothing and teasingly I brought his finger to my lips, kissing the wound. "There, all better." He smiled and I released his hand, he flicked his finger a bit.
"Yup, all better." he repeated approvingly and gave a bit of a jump, sitting up on the counter. He grabbed the bowl that had laid beside the mug and started to shovel it's contents into his mouth. By the goddess that boy can eat and I watched him thoughtfully as I drank my tea.
*I'm free of my disease
Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease.... *
The song ended and he down at me, raising his spoon again. "What?" he asked, shoving another spoonful into his mouth. I shook me head and smirked.
"Nothing. What are you eating?"
"Flavoured oatmeal I found in the cupboard. It's peaches and cream." he said, sounding like a proud child and I laughed at his teasing tone before he let his voice become serious again. "I got to thinking that... today is the 21st right?" I blinked a minute, then nodded dumbly. I'd almost forgotten about it being Yule, but fortunately for me, Malik didn't notice the enlightened look on my face. "Yeah, but, I got to thinking. I may as well eat here then get a shower before going to the main lodge. After all, you guys will probably be eating bacon and sausage and all that shit." He finished his sentence and shoved in another mouthful of oatmeal. That right, I remembered Malik was a vegetarian. "Want some of this? I can make you a bowl." he offered, I shook my head no.
"Do you eat any meat, Malik?" I asked, simply curious.
"Nope." he answered easily, then paused "No, wait... I'll eat dark meat chicken, like the leg, but only once or twice a year that's not ~so~ bad. I hate the white meat though." He looked contemplative again. "Does pepperoni on pizza count?"
"Not really," I answered honestly "It's not so sure it's real meat..."
"Last bite?" he offered, holding out the spoon to me. I looked at him questioningly. "It's good, I promise." I shook my head and laughed, opening my mouth and allowing him to spoon feed me the last bit, it was good. He set down the bowl and jumped down off the counter. "Want another cup of tea before you take off?"
"Nah," I answered, setting down the empty mug. In truth I figured this may be the only time I could get to do a ritual for Yule and as great as spending this time with Malik was, I did have the next four days with him. With any luck, most of the gang was still in bed and the main cabin would be empty for at least another half-hour or so. Even still, I doubt any of them would disturb me if I locked myself in the bathroom. "I think I'll go to the lodge and at least start the day with the rest of the gang. You'll come there when you're done here, right?"
He nodded absently, "Yeah. But don't count on a sudden appearance," he flashed one of his gorgeous smiles "I think I'm as bad as a female when it comes to time in the shower."
"Don't feel bad, I am too." I laughed and reluctantly left him to go upstairs and grab some things. The small candles, a lighter, a small leather bag filled with sea salt, an in scent cone and holder, a small sliver pentagram center piece, a light blue chunk of aquamarine stone... I would have like to of had by thin rose wood wand... or my silver and moonstone Athame... but I decided for the sake of secrecy to settle with the bare necessities. I wrapped up the small trinkets in my sweater so it would look as if I only wanted to bring a warmer article of clothing with me and tucked it under me arm. I smiled at Malik as I passed him at the top of the stairs.
"Later," he gestured as I walked by.
"See you in a bit." I replied, then bounded down the stairs and out the door, walking the path to the main cabin. Inwardly I felt like I was walking on air. It was the first time it what seemed like months I wasn't depressed. And though I still sniffled a bit from my cold which didn't seem half as bad now, I don't think I'd been that happy in a long time. Although... I paused in my thoughts, glancing over to where I could see our body prints in the snow where we had tumbled down the bank...I wouldn't mind having Bakura's advice on Malik. Maybe I was being foolish about the whole thing and taking his flirting way to seriously. Or was he even flirting at all? I've always known him to be impulsive, cocky and having little self-control, I suppose a combination of those factors can make him come off as being flirtatious.
I stopped walking just shy of reaching the main cabin's front lawn. Why did I have a feeling I was forgetting something? I went through the mental checklist in my mind... Spirit, pentagram; Earth, salt; Air, in scent; Water, crystal; Fire, candle... I mentally kicked myself, how could I have forgotten. I had been carrying these small candles around in my pack for what? Three days? I needed something to anoint them with before the ritual. I twisted my lips, cooking oil would work but that just so... unexplainable. I can see it right now when I get to the main cabin: me, digging through the kitchen cupboards, trying to slip off with a bottle of cooking oil to the bathroom and Yugi catching me half way up the stairs. I'm not even going to humour the explanations I could offer. Then it clicked in my head, Malik had mentioned last night in his ramblings about the bathroom cupboard that he had found vanilla oil. That would work perfectly. Just... getting past Malik would be a problem, but sneaking out a small bottle would be easier then sneaking in a bottle of cooking oil.
I slowly made my way back into my cabin and opened the door. Malik said he wanted to take a shower, with any luck he was probably in the bedroom still. My hope was increased by the fact that I heard no running water and in fact no sound from upstairs at all. But what interested me more was the feeling that hung in the air. Something had shifted, it seemed alive, brushing my skin in a sublime and soothing manner. Like crystals in the air, it shimmered and glowed, almost divine. You couldn't see it, but you could feel it. The same thing I felt in the bathroom the night before, and with the piece of thread, only I had no doubt what it was, it was so familiar. Someone was working magick... I blinked, no couldn't be, no one I know uses magick but me. I walked up the stairs, still hearing nothing; both the bedroom and bathroom doors were closed. I walked up to the bathroom door, I may as well take a gamble; after all I could always claim I wanted my hairbrush which I really did happen to have in there. I tapped gently on the door to give him warning enough to pull a towel around himself is he was in there, but not loud enough to let him hear if he was indeed in the bedroom. I heard something of a startled yelp and something dropped, I raised my eyebrow in question and gave him another second to get his composure back before I opened the door.
All I can say is... well... what should I say? That I didn't know what to think? Cause I really didn't. I just stared at the sight and he stared right back at me, looking like a deer in the headlights of a car. Which is needless to say an unusual expression on the normal very composed Malik. He hadn't made an effort to hide anything, but did seem to be searching his mind for some feasible explanation. The floor had been neatly cleared and he sat in the center, four candles burning in a perfect circle about him. Two small terracotta bowls sat in front of him along with a small red burning candle and a long eagle feather. A small black double edged knife with an obsidian carving of the goddess Seckmet for a handle lay slanted on the floor, obviously the item he had dropped. I blinked at it, I knew the black stone. It had been the item from his bag I was so curious about. Two small alabaster figures sat in their places on their individual thrones sat just behind the bowls, still like the statues they were, only warm with the magick mixing around them. Isis and Osiris, the Egyptian god and goddess. He had everything blended so wonderfully, the room smelled like an Egyptian temple, warm and rich. The magick was so robust and full as compared to the free, deep watery feeling my Celtic magick made. Different and the same. He wasn't angry at me, I knew he wouldn't feel it because he had obviously been grounding himself for the very beginning of his ritual, besides you can bring no negativity into a circle.
I swallowed. I knew I had felt magick but it never entered my mind it was Malik who was working it but suddenly it seemed so obvious. He knew who the gods I talked of the night before were, he knew what herbs could heal and what could hinder. What I had felt before was magick, he had tried to help heal me, I felt my heart leap at the thought. He had gone out of his way more then I thought to try to ease my pain. More importantly at the moment, I couldn't shake the feeling of glowing hope that came inside of me, Malik of all people. He was chewing on his lips thoughtfully, turning it a tempting red colour. I wanted to lick my lips, he just looked so adorable when he was scared. I have never seen him scared. I've seen him anxious and frustrated but never truly scared and as adorable as his subconsciously lip chewing was, scared just didn't seem right on him. I understood his situation though, as far as he knew, I could have been the most die-hard all-Witches-are-evil believer on Earth next to the Pope, nothing against him or anything but he's not exactly the most open guy with alternative religions, either way it certainly wouldn't be a good thing for Malik.
I bowed my head and smiled respectfully. "I'm sorry." I apologized softly, "I didn't mean to disturb your Yule ritual. I just wanted the vanilla bath oil you said was in the cupboard." He gave me a strange look at the mention of Yule, perplexed as to why I should know the word but easily let it slide and he stood up. He seemed more confused by my wanting the oil.
"In the back." He said gesturing, avoiding my eyes. I swallowed slightly and smiled, feeling a shy blush creep into my cheeks and I examined my feet carefully. What else could I do? I already felt like a moron. "Well?" he prompted, I could tell he was trying to hold back irritation.
"I can't." I answered honestly.
"Why not?" he replied, I glanced at him and felt my flush grow seeing his agitated, unnerved expression.
"Your circle." I said briefly, gesturing to the floor where the invisible line would connect the candles in a row. "It's blocking my way and I can't walk through it or it will displace your energy. You have to cut me a door." I dropped my eyes to me feet again, embarrassed. He probably hadn't thought of that. Or maybe he just didn't want to embarrass himself further.
"Come again?" He said, shock apparent in his voice.
"The circle." I repeated a bit more forcefully, "You have to cut a door to let me get to it." He blinked and starred at me a moment before snatching up his Seckmet knife and moving to where I stood. He moved fluently as if using the knife to divide a curtain and pull it back for me to step through. So my thought was right, it was an Athame. He motioned with his hand to indicate I could pass through. I stepped through and stood respectfully in the quarter until he fixed the door and walked passed me, giving me a funny look as if to say, why-aren't-you-moving? I cleared my throat a bit and cast a glance at the bowl of water glistening on his makeshift alter. "Are you going to anoint me?" I said patiently. I swear his eyes must have nearly fell out of his head and I couldn't help vainly stifling a laugh. He just looked so damn cute, starring at me, trying to decide if I was respectful, joking, or whatever the case my be. He finally picked up the bowl and dipped the index finger of his left hand in it, then used it like a paint brush to draw a five-pointed star on my forehead.
He set his bowl back down and out of curiosity I started to look over his little trinkets, most of which I could tell he had brought with him from Egypt, just like the black Seckmet knife I found earlier, they had an air of ancient magic to them. "How do know so much? Why aren't you afraid?" he said finally, sitting down in his previous spot, looking at me with confusion. "Most people would start prancing around screaming 'devil child'. Don't get me wrong, I would take for a compliment if they were just looking at me and not talking about religion."
I laughed and sat down across from him, "Devil child is a good name for you outside of this circle, but if you're what I think you are, you don't believe in the devil do you?"
"No." he admitted, crossing his legs and making himself more comfortable. "What do you think I am?"
So many ways to answer that came into my mind like a roaring freight train. Don't you dare tell me answering that question should be simple. I knew the tight spot I had placed him in and he was having a typical reaction. He wasn't about to say anything to mislead me but he wasn't about to say anything he might regret either. Fessing up is never something to take lightly, especially if you've been caught red handed. Likewise I had no idea how far his magick went, if you were expecting me to show my nature your very wrong. You've obviously never been stuck in this type of spot. Pretty much both of us were caught between a rock and a hard place. Both of us were testing the water. Me with my suggestions that I knew something about magick and him with his questions to avoid any questions I may throw at him. My I think a lot, I should probably stop over analyzing the whole thing. That's probably my biggest problem. I over analyze things and end up never doing anything about them. "I think you're someone who knows what he's doing." I answered after my moment of thought.
"You think right." He acknowledged, starting to straighten his alter a bit from after my startling entrance. "And you? You seem to know a lot."
"This is true." I admitted. This was going to go in circles, I could tell. I don't think either one of us were willing to say what on our minds. I decided to try his approach, it seemed a bit more reasonable then mine. "Are you Hereditary?" I asked in a regular tone. Personally, I thought the question was ingenious. Based on his answer I could logically tell if he was genuinely practising or just screwing around for the hell of it. To many people use of the craft as a way of gaining power and scaring people or just a scape-goat; I'll be the first to tell you those people have no right to call themselves witches. My question was designed with that in mind, people in the faith for power usually never go as far as to learn any sect terminology. If he could answer with out slipping up I'd have a good view of just how deep he was.
"No." He answered without missing a beat. "I'm insulted you should think so. I've told you about my father. Do you really think my family could take on magick and NOT abuse it? Hardly. I just brought the myths and rituals with me, the belief I built myself. No, I don't follow my family."
I gave a thoughtful nod, his answer was thought out and his voice was serene, so he obviously was complying to the rules of the circle by keeping his negativity in check. He was clever, I realized after a moment, phrasing it like I had phrased mine, trying to catch me in the same trap. I smiled, it was a battle of words. I always liked a good game and I knew Malik long enough to know words were his weapon of choice. I rested my head in my hand, leaning my elbow on my knee. "You'd probably be insulted then if I called you Wiccian instead of Witch." I remarked casually.
He shrugged, carefully arranging the eagle feather. "I'd prefer Witch, I suppose." He noted "Wiccian to me just brings to mind a modern cliché used to make people understand about the craft without using words that scared them as children. People are afraid of the word Witch from listening to all these stories about devils and evil hags in black so modern witches came up with Wicca... just doesn't sound so bad. But it doesn't matter. There interchangeable. I just like the sound of Witch better. It sounds more ancient and I follow a more ancient sect then a modern one. What about you? What are you? Gardnerian?"
"Nah." I answered. "To structured for me. I'm Solitary and kinda Eclectic, mostly Celtic. Whatever seems to fit."
He gave me a look. "So what do you do on special days?" He was trying to trap me again, he thought I only dabbled.
I avoided his choice of words to prove I knew what I was talking about. "Sabbats and Esbats? I use the Celtic sect format in all my celebrations, just the way my mother started to show me before she died." He smiled slightly.
"I should have guessed from the way you talked last night." He smirked in a friendly fashion. "Straight Ceremonial Magick for me. The gods of Egypt suit me just fine, their just me."
"You don't study anything other then high magick?" I asked, looking at him thoughtfully.
"I do." He said with a nod, "But I've never deterred from this type. It just works for me. I've used it since I was little just because I knew no other god's then my Father's. I learned my base in magick there, what each god did, what items and foods could be used for whatever. What I've learned since is what matters though, I like this way better... and you? As if the occult deck you play with wasn't enough of a clue. I feel like kind of an idiot for not seeing it before. " He flashed me a mischievous smile. "I heard a rumour you liked to talk with spirits. Now I think it's true." I could feel myself blush furiously.
"Yugi told you about the time he caught me writing to Amane didn't he?"
Malik shrugged with a soothing smile. "It's okay. Yugi thinks it was a slightly odd way of grieving. I knew your sister was dead... but I didn't know your mother was too." he respectfully looked away from me, turning the artistic knife over and over in his hand. "You meant to burn it? A way of giving the universe a message to her?"
"I miss her." I answered easily, smiling slightly. "She was such a sweet little one. Very much like her mother. Mother died not long after Amane. It was a bad year."
"I don't doubt it."
If you think this upset me in anyway, you're very wrong. I don't talk about my sister much, my mother even less. It's a rare and wonderful thing when I do. I try not to brood over losing them, though I miss them horribly and I think it shows because sometimes I feel lonely. I try to think of it as remembering the good times and honouring those memories. I know they wouldn't want me to feel bitter or malicious over them. So... I keep them to myself. Those wonderful memories and my special way of talking with them when I feel run down, though they never answer back. It's kind of my secret happiness, sharing it was a rare and amazing thing for me. It just came so freely around Malik, maybe it was because he had lost family dear to him too, or maybe it was something else. I just felt happy near him, with happiness comes a loose tongue I suppose. He was being so good about the whole thing... the two of us were connected more tightly then I had imagined. Sharing both loss and faith. The goddess has funny ways sometimes.
"Does Bakura know?" He asked, looking thoughtful.
"About my family?" I asked, "Or magick?"
"Both."
This I had to think about for a minute. "He knows about my family, yes. He shares a mind with me it's hard for him not to figure out something so important. The magick... he knows I use it regularly but never bothers with it, I think he finds it cute and amusing. You know how he is, everything remotely powerful or magickal amuses him. I really do think he assumes it's a common place thing that no one talks about." I glanced at him and felt myself blush under his brazen gaze, violet eyes examining me in this new light. "Though apparently that's not far from the truth." I added, gesturing to his small alter.
He gave a laugh and I saw the most splendid thing, he was smiling. Genuinely smiling. Not just a small, passive content smile. A delighted, thrilled smile. The kind that are rare even for a normally happy person, little own my reserved and logical Malik. Wait a tick... did I just say *my*? ... ... better not think on it to much or I'll start getting giddy again.
He looked so beautiful that way. He reached out and brushed his fingers against my cheek. "I haven't known you that long," he smiled, "But everyday I'm with you, you never cess to surprise me, Ryou Bakura." I leaned into his touch.
"And you never cess to surprise me, Malik Ishtar." I replied, covering his hand with mine. He let his hand fall away and offered it out as if to take mine.
"Will you stay?"
I placed my hand in his, "I'd be happy to stay. It's not good to spend our holidays alone. And I've never seen someone use good, solid Egyptian magick."
He smiled and gave a nod, letting my hand drop. "You're right, we shouldn't spend it alone. I'll make a deal with you instead." I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was thinking and preying that it somehow involved the two of us by ourselves with no one to bug us. "What are you giving me that look for?" He smirked, "It's not like I'll ask you to perform the Great Rite with me." I felt the red colour flame in my cheeks. I hadn't even thought of that and now the idea was stuck in my head...
He laughed seeing my blush, leaning forward a bit. "Relax, you know I wouldn't ask anything like that. But I will propose this: just for the day, we stay here, just the two of us. You're sick and all, and this is Yule... it would seem wrong to waste most of one of the best festivals all year by going to the main lodge and pretending this day means nothing to us. So why not close this circle, start a fire downstairs and curl up on the couch." I nearly laughed seeing a bit of a flush cross his tanned checks but I allowed him to continue. "Why not write a ritual for the both of us, to do tonight."
I mulled this over in my mind a bit, I'd never done a ritual with another person, but it would be a good way to learn and besides... it was Malik. I smiled and nodded yes.
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Was that way to long? @_@ even I have a time following that. Oh well.
Yup, Ryou can feel Malik's spell to draw someone to him. Actually, among witches, I find that's a pretty common thing with witches how have practised a long time. They can feel when other things have been charmed and when someone has used magick. My mother isn't a witch but she does it to me all the time, somehow she just knows what things I have blessed and when I've completed a ritual. I think everyone does it a bit, almost everyone can remember a time when you've just looked at something and said "Oh that must be special to you." it's just a feeling in your gut.
And yes, Ryou did have a sister called Amane who died and there really was an incident in the very beginning of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga and first season never aired in North America where the gang finds Ryou writing a letter to her. He tells the gang that it's because of Amane he's interest in the unknown. Yes, in the comic series Ryou is pretty well dubbed a witch or at least someone who has hidden unknown power, it's not so played up in the anime I find. I don't know why I didn't mention Amane sooner, meh. The comic isn't really clear on where Ryou's mother is, just that she's not around. You kind of assume she's either dead or Ryou's parents have spilt up and she never returned. Poor kid hasn't had an easy life. ;_;
What a place to end this, eh? What do you think? Read and Review everyone!!
Reviews from chapter 5: I won't comment on any of the outfits as of yet, save for the people I need an email from ^____^ but I will say that after reading over all the entries, me and my two associates narrowed it down to ten outfits (Did I say narrow? ... More like spent the night bickering among ourselves over what to take for final choices before getting 10. O_O it was interesting... all of them were so good!! It was hard as hell to do!) and I'm going to start e-mailing those ten finalist to ask permission about drawing their works and posting them in my art class.
Crossover Authoress: My favourite I think is "heaven can wait" the one Malik sings. I just love that song. *drools over the image of Ryou standing wearing only jeans and the ring...* Yumm.....
Sarina Fannel: Yeah it is kinda sad... but the fluff helps make up for it ^_^ I live for writing fluff. BTW: I still love that song-fic you did where Bakura finally got his own kingdom, it's on my favourites list. How does that ever turn out *puppy-eyes* please tell me?
Ancient Enchantress: Ryou is one of my favourites too, ^_^ Thank you, I did a lot of read for this story to get the right magick items I wanted. I get to throw in more magick things in this chapter hehehehe....
Saiai No Hito Mokushi: *blushes* wow! I'm on a favourites list. ^_^ I like toe socks, but yeah it would be kinda funny to see Ryou in them. I'll keep that walk-on part in mind ;)
Enkidu (or is it EnkiduII now O_o): either way, it's awesome to get a great review from you and I'm glad I've inspired someone. Yeah, I love putting Ryou and Malik together, they just seem so cute! And I send sincere apologies I haven't updated!
Brit-chan: I love scent! I use it myself! And thanks for the hug ^_^ . My mother was christian like that too. She used little rituals when she prayed and every night used to leave a bit of bread and wine in front of a figure of Mary holding baby Jesus. She was a very religious woman, God rest her soul. Plus it just feels awesome to that from a christian! Thank you for reminding me *hugz*
Lady Adako: Yup, it is true. On Malik's official Yu-Gi-Oh profile it reads he has a leather fetish... why is no one surprised. (Malik: HEY! LYB: ^_^) It also reads that he can make his own clothes (O_o u...) and he likes to sleep outside along with a few other random things that are rather enlightening. Someday I think I'll type it up and post it. BTW: I know I said I wouldn't say anything about the outfits, but I need your e-mail for the contest or you can post you're consent in a review, just so I know I have permission to draw it :)
Kat: *blushes again* Thank you! Once more I have to apologies for my gap between chapter 5 and 6. I dunno why, but for this story, Wiccian just seemed to work. Plus I wanted to do a bit of religious rights campaigning, it's really nice to see people supporting it.
catherine: I think I e-mailed you back... if I didn't, of Isis I'm sorry because you're review was just awesome and so many questions I'm just dying to answer ^___^ hehehe foreshadowing. Yup, just to make things complicated for our hero's Yami B will be coming back MWAHAHA! *cough* I have to stop this evil laughter thing... I STILL haven't gotten over my pneumonia. Oh and Yugi is going to have a few things to say about it. Seto too. As for the "practitioners" part ^_______^ read this chapter. Yup, I have a plan :) Yeah, I really wanted to make a good fic about Wicca... and it seemed to go so well in this story to bring Ryou and Malik together.
cheesepuff: *must.... not.... drool.... AHH! Failed miserably* I would not mind a visual aid in the least ;) Just joking I don't want to be a bother or anything. ^_^
ChaosEnd: ^^... I bet Malik would like that. Hell, I wouldn't mind it ^_^ And I'm sure Kaiba has something ;)
RyogazGal: I don't know if I e-mailed you back or not, I know I made a point of it because I drew the picture you wanted. I loved drawing things for people, it makes my day. ^_^ I'm glad you liked my pic of Ryou and Bakura from Gutterflower and I'm glad you enjoyed the fic too! Both were a joy to do. But so far I will agree, I'm having more fun writing Drawing Down the Moon and I dunno why. Maybe it's because I can get into Malik and Ryou's heads and I can understand them a bit better. Whatever the reason, I'm thrilled you like my work as much as I love turning it out.
Fyredra: LOL! It's okay, humour gets me going too. hehehe I like making people feel warm and cozy and Malik is just an all around sad character so you can't go to far without making him a bit cold and depressed. I love the blonde! *hugz Malik* Malik: @_@ can't... breath...) Unfortunately, the guy in the hood in the good Malik before he goes to Domino City himself. He is adorable!!! And if you can get around the fact that they gave Yami Malik a really bad english voice, the voice of hikari Malik and Malik when he's pretending to be Namu is so drop dead sexy! Gutterflower so far has been my work of art, it's was an amazing thing for me to do. And as for Lilith.... umm... I kinda deleted it, I wasn't happy with it at all, but the basic idea of it is going into my other fic The Darkest Souls when I get the time to re-work it and I hope you enjoy that one as well. Yay! I'm on a favourites list! *blushes* And I did go read your fic btw, "The Problem with Grandpa" hehehe I did like it, a bit of comedy does the world good ^_^
Dragon Child: I think Ryou is so adorable! I have to gush over him ^_^ As for your question, I've never really been asked that before, so I don't mind answering one bit. I'm 18 and studying religion and folklore at Memorial University in Canada. I've have quite a history of writing... I've written short stories and drawn out comic and manga strips since I was still in elementary school, I can't say when for sure and as you can imagine my early work is not that great :) I really started to get heavily into writing when I was 13-14... I turned out all kinds of stuff. Since then, I've done a lot more of my own personal fiction. If you were to look me up with my real name (and since this IS the internet, I won't hack it out for the sake of the people I know) and try REALLY hard you'll find I do have a few poems, short stories and one-act play's published in random places. I'm not exactly a well known person, but anyway. Does that answer you question? Oh my, I think I've rambled to much again.... oh well ^_^.
Chibigreen Tanuki: I need you e-mail for the contest too... you can drop me a line at ladyyamibakura@hotmail.com if you don't want to post it. Or you can just give me consent to draw in a review. ^_^ I promise not to share the address
Erfaciel: *gets a nose bleed as well, while Malik droolz* LYB: hentai... Malik: You know it ^_^. LYB: anyway.... thank you for the wonderful compliment ^_^ it's actually really hard work. Keeping Malik in character is difficult because of his rather hypocritical personality, he tends to be broody and impulsive at the same time. It's hard to get Malik in a state of mind where he's content with doing something childish. Ryou's no easy feat either because of his past with his mother and sister and of course the whole Yami Bakura deal. Eep!
Chapter 6 review: I'm glad you enjoyed it, ever if it did take so long. It's great to know you enjoy my work so well ^_^ Wahoo!! I've been blessed by Ra ^___^
Yami Ishizu: ^____^ first of all, I love you're name. Yes I am a witch ^_^ but I wasn't exactly born into it, fortunately, I was born into a family where religion wasn't forced on me but something I was allowed to explore. Also to my advantage I was born into a family that has witches in it's past as well as many other religions including Celtic, Teutonic and even Hinduism. I'm a follower of the Egyptian sect, because believe it or not, I'm a bit Egyptian too. My whole family on my fathers side can trace themselves back to Egypt and it's absolutely wonderful to sit and listen to those stories then go to my mother side of the family which has a bit of Druid magick in it. And yes I will drop this to you in email form as well. I deleted Blood Moon Rising O_O... but it will be resurrected again when I re-write the Darkest Souls.
Chapter 6 Reviews: (Whoa that was a lot of writing...)
R Amythest: I was going to e-mail you back but fanfic.net was being a bitch and wouldn't let me into you're profile to get an address. So I'll write back here ^_^: You actually did a damn good job just describing it! It's Ryou's english voice only deeper and without the accent, or if this is easier to imagine, Bakura's english voice without the evil rough edge. I'm kinda think the same voice actor that does Ryou/Bakura (I forget his name at the moment) may do Malik/Ishtar as well, they sound a lot alike. I don't mind you having it copied out in the least! I trust people not to plagiarize my work so I don't mind at all. I'm thrilled you like it well enough to do that!! And I would LOVE a grammar-perfect copy, I would seriously kiss the ground you walk on because I'm sooooo bad with grammar. As for Ryou being in the coma: well, no, just unconscious. As I mentioned in the last chapter that stunt Bakura pulls with the knife leaves Ryou pretty weak for most of Battle City. When he wakes up again, Bakura is in control and goes up against Yami, making the wound break open again and Ryou nearly bleeds to death due to Malik and Bakura's ambition. Plus his body takes a blow from Osiris and that lands him in bed... again. As for being dead: You've been lied to. Well... not totally... whoever wrote that hasn't seen the rest of the series. After Bakura loses to Yami Malik (aka Ishtar) after an impressive fight, he unfortunately has to bend to the rules of a Game of Darkness as his physical body is dissolved into the shadow world so in all technicality, he and Ryou are dead. ~-~BUT~-~ Yami Bakura sealed a piece of his soul inside a piece of the millennium puzzle so when his body vanishes, he ends up in Yami Yugi's soul room! Shock, no? So Yami B is still alive and well, as for Ryou... Ishtar is self-centered and uses the shadow dissolved energy of Ryou like he did with Mai's, using it to feed his power. As well, Ishtar claims the Ring as his victory prize. So when Ishtar is banished, Ryou's body reforms and when Ryou gets the ring back (after a bit of a hassle with Yami Yugi and Honda trying to keep it hidden from him... grrr... stupid pharaoh and spike headed dumbass...) Bakura is returned to the ring and Ryou. So nope, Ryou is not dead. He comes back after Ishtar is banished by Malik and Yami. And that is the honest to the goddess truth from someone who really has read all the comic strips and knows exactly what happens. And the blood type thing? O_O... I have no sweet clue... I really don't. hmmm..... but it is something to think on... LOL! Ryou has the rarest blood type in the world! I actually knew that before and I never thought of the rarity thing till now... hmm... ^________________________^ Anyway, is this soon enough? :)
Ayrrie: Thank you! I hope to start posting them much faster... like how quick I posted this chapter faster ^_^
hato-chiisai: Yup, there will be lemon ^_^ later on but I don't plan on it being tacky or anything, just to fall in easily with the rest of the story. (and a bit of good lime in the chapter after this) I'll set it up the lemon itself so that it's in one chapter alone and those who don't want to read it can pass it over. That way everyone is happy ^_^ I'll also have to up the rating on this but that's okay.
Bakura's Baby: Yup! They finally got a kiss! I hope to keep up this rate of updating (like the one week thing) but I don't know if it will work out or not, I'll try ^_^
LYB: *Looks up at everything she's written.* O_O three solid pages of nothing but review answers...
Ryou: And this is a long chapter to boot.
Malik: No kidding.
LYB: *falls back in her computer chair and kisses her black Hamlet coffee mug* Thank God for caffeine!
Malik: So that's where you got the Hamlet mug thing from!
LYB: *growls* touch it and die.
Malik: O_o U... okaaaaaaay...
LYB: I love Shakespeare. A friend brought this back from England for me. Hamlet isn't my favourite play, but it's up there on the list. Malik reminds me of Hamlet sooooo much.
Cyris: They are a lot alike... broody, self-centered, gay, charming, INSANE... they even have that whole revenge of the fathers death thing going on.
Ryou: Only the woman in Malik's life who gets in the way is Isis not Gertrude.
Malik: Since when did you become a scholar?
Ryou: Since she started making you talk about it and I decided to read it.
Malik: Oh.... O_O Wait a tick! Gay?!
LYB: You can not convince me Hamlet hasn't had an affair with Horatio. I mean, they guy HATES women and he practically croons over Horatio.
Ryou: And then there's that whole, Hamlet dying in Horatio's arms thing.
Malik: Alright can we cut the Shakespeare shit please? I get the point!
Cyris: *rolls his eyes* Voicing this chapter is the impeccable Ryou Bakura, it's a tad long... but the mistress didn't want to break it up. Enjoy.
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Divine Interventions
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This time of year I loved, even if nothing grew or lived, it was like a break from the stress of living and the whole world slept soundly. I appreciated that need to sleep and enjoyed the peace it brought, along with the promise of a new begin the clean white pallet of snow promised. I didn't care about my cold when I took Malik outside, It was worth it just to see him smile for once. This whole new side of this beautiful Egyptian boy. He had a playfulness that was obvious from his sharp comebacks and spiteful nature. He loved and cared intensely which was clear from his quest to free his family. But to actually see those things blossoming... I doubted anyone else besides Rishid and Isis had ever seen this side of him. They insisted it existed but I don't think he trusted anyone enough to let it show... caring, happy, childlike... it was so rare. He has this hidden spirit I don't think he knows still exists, he said that he thought he had forgotten it somewhere along the way... but I'm pretty sure it's still there. I know because it's showing itself to me piece by piece; when he had me in the snow and I was laying on top of him, I saw something amazing. His eyes changed colour, yeah I know that sounds really weird, but I remember it happening last night too. For a minute, the storm clouds went away and they just shone this beautiful clear violet... almost a liquid crystal colour. I could barely believe it, that eyes that always looked angry could look so peaceful and for once, content. Now I can't help but think, was that the colour Isis missed so much?
I closed the bedroom door and leaned against it, burying my face in my hands. He was acting so strange today. A few minutes ago he had me up in his arms, laughing content and then when he went to touch me as I stood up by the stereo the most horrified expression came over his face as if he were suddenly terrified by my very presence. I've never seen that expression on him before and I don't know what to make of it, though he passed it off as quickly as it passed. And what the hell was with that kiss? I touched my lips lightly and I trembled slightly. It had been so quick I could barely register it, by the time I recovered from the utter bliss of the first contact he already had me pinned. I wanted that moment back... to feel it again, his lips were soft and gentle but at the same time demanding, his kiss was like him in a way. I ran my tongue across my lips, he even tasted like he looked, spicy and exotic... oh dear goddess I think I need a shower! Anything to calm me down! This crush of mine has gone way to far. I've never felt this giddy at being kissed before.
I feel a small smile cross my lips, I can't help it. Downstairs I can hear him singing with the music
"Said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me..."
I turn my head toward the door a bit, letting my ear fall closer to it. He has an amazing voice and I don't know why he doesn't show it off, it would blow the others away how when he sings, it's like it comes from his very soul. Like he means what he's saying. I pressed my hand to door as if to reach out and touch him, I wanted to be the one he sang to. "Just tell me what you want to be saved from." I whispered gently, then moved away from the door, afraid to subject myself to this torture any longer. I started to dig through my bag, trying to find something suitable to wear and I gave a light moan of disappointment realizing I had packed nothing but casual clothes for playing around with my friends. I don't know why, but I wanted to at least look good today for some reason. "Ryou, can't you buy anything half decent." I scolded myself, then I blinked remembering my yami saying the same thing to me not long ago... I replied by telling him to bite me. I had a hicky on my neck for a week.
Don't take that the wrong way, Bakura just likes to play with me sometimes, I think he thought it would be amusing to actually bite me. He wouldn't dare touch me any worst then that, he's like my best friend, as much as I love him I don't think I could ever FEEL for him... if you can understand that. He's my big brother almost. Yeah that's it! My big brother, always looking out for me, though he can get extremely overprotective at times. He also gives surprisingly good advice, I wish he were here now to advice me. I sigh a bit as I take off my sweater and start to pull on my typical t-shirt. I know for a fact my yami has never means anything by his games. It's obvious because for the longest time he's had this thing for Yami Yugi, though he'd never admit it. Sometimes I catch him in one of his rants after being outdone yet again by the former pharaoh. He'll pace around the house, muttering under his breath, trust me he's turned out some damn good ones. My favourite that I've heard just to prove my point is "Good-for-nothing-sexy-self-centered-prick-of-a-self-rightous-good-looking-fucking-pharaoh." He's had some other equally as hypocritical statements that I'm not sure are compliments or insults when he thinks I can't hear. I don't think he'd be so ambitious on picking on Yami if he didn't like him. He just likes to have the pharaoh's attention. Hell, Bakura likes to have everyone's attention, but he seems to really strive to get Yami's. Even if he has to rub the spirit the wrong way to get it. Damn, I could use some of yami's advice right now, even if I could just talk to him. I wonder if Kaiba would mind me placing a long-distance call to his room in Egypt. I know I only talked to him before I came up to the mountains but... it's different now.
I let out a string of coughs. Well at least their not as bad as they were last night and I walked over to the bed stand, hoping Malik had left some cough syrup around only to find he had cleaned up completely, leaving on his bag half-open on the floor. I sighed again and started to turn only to see a glint of something shiny and black catch my eye and I looked down at his bag, examining it. Half-hidden amid articles of clothes that lay closest to the top was something that looked to be made of polished black stone. From what I could see of it, it was long and not overly thin, it was face down but it looked as if it was a statue of some kind though I could only see the barest part of it. I dropped down, curious to examine it. I don't know why... but it was like I was pulled to it.
From what I could see of it without moving anything, it seemed to be a woman... maybe... the visible part was certainly the top of a head with long hair. I reached out hesitantly, I felt really bad about going through his things but curiosity was killing me and I gingerly brushed my fingers against the small stone artifact. It was warm to my touch... giving me a feeling of timeless power and I quickly pulled my hand away. I don't how, but I knew that feeling and I couldn't place it. How do I explain it? Some things just feel charged with energy, kinda like you just know by picking it up, this was someone's favourite toy as a child, or this is someone's favourite shirt. It was the same type of sensation. Maybe it's just because I'm witch and after all this time I can feel little changes in energy and I could feel power in the item of my curiosity, similar to the way I felt when I picked up my Athame or maybe I was just being foolish and my conscience was getting the better of me going through his stuff. I gently moved to push back the fabric covering it instead and I felt my fingers brush something wrapped around the black stone and I felt my heart give a bit of a jump as if I had suddenly found something of great importance. From what I could see vaguely without moving anything, it was only a red piece of yarn. "3 by 3..." I muttered absently, pressing my fingers lightly to the yarn, furrowing my brow in thought. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure what, their was no own around to hear me. "someone..." I paused and closed my eyes "angel wings?" I opened my eyes, looking at the item in thought. By now my curiosity was boiling, what was this trinket? I moved my hand to pick it up once more when I heard a cry from downstairs followed by what was probably a pretty choice Arabic curse and I jumped up. I shook my head, feeling rather guilty about going through his stuff and I quickly walked to the door, grabbing his Arabian shirt that lay regarded on the bed.
I stood at the top of the stairs and looked down at him, he had his index finger stuck in his mouth but continued to hmm to the music of the radio as he poured streaming water into the black Hamlet mug and a soup bowl. I watched him, amused with his actions as he lightly kept beat to the song with his head while he music played. He smiled a bit, taking his finger out of his mouth as the lyrics started to ring out, but he didn't take up singing again, I smiled, he really did love music. Even from my place of the stairs I could see the small red mark on the side of his finger tip, logic told me he had burned himself but at the moment he didn't seem to care, he was caught up in the music instead.
Feels like you made a mistake
You made somebody's heart break
But now I have to let you go
I have to let you go
You left a stain
On every one of my good days
But I am stronger than you know
I have to let you go
No one's ever turned you over
No one's tried
To ever let you down,
Beautiful girl
Bless your heart
He moved about the small area with grace, getting honey from the tiny fridge and pouring a bit into the mug before stirring it a bit. Then he mixed around the stuff in the bowl a bit. "Malik!" I called and he looked up at me, a smile crossing his face as I tossed down his shirt.
"Thanks!" he called back. And quickly pulled off his sweatshirt, shaking out his blonde hair. I think I may have started to drool, he wasn't exactly shy and he wasn't exactly bad looking, tan skinned and toned chest framed out with golden form fitting jewellery. He laid his sweatshirt on the counter and pulled on his lighter one. He looks better that way... in thin fabric without all his skin covered up.
I got a disease
Deep inside me
Makes me feel uneasy baby
I can't live without you
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it
Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me
I got a disease
He looked up at me, laughing when he realized I was watching him. He motioned for me to come down and I chuckled slightly, walking down into the room and he held out his hand to me, approaching me, a mysterious look in his eye, body moving gingerly with the bit. Singing along with the music. Very tempting, I promise you.
"Feels like you're making a mess."
I laughed at his antics, taking his hand and letting him pull me to him.
"You're hell on wheels in a black dress"
I couldn't help but chuckle again as he put his arm about my waist before taking my hand and playfully pushing me away, letting me spin under his arm before pulling me close again.
"You drove me to the fire,
And left me there to burn"
He pressed close to me and I felt my breath quicken as he tipped over me, forcing me to bend back slightly over his arm. I hoped to the goddess he couldn't feel the way my heart was pounding. He dragged his fingers slowly over my cheek, leaning his face close to mine.
"Every little thing you do is tragic
All my life ~ oh it was magic,
Beautiful girl..."
I could feel his breath against my skin as he lingered his lips over mine, only inches apart. I swallowed, I could feel myself tremble under his touch. Why does he insist on teasing me like this? He's such a Ra damn flirt.
"I can't breathe..."
He released me, smirking like a devil as he turned around and walked away back toward the counter, arms open, hips swaying seductively as he sung and I was pretty sure I had been reduced to puddle of melted boy on the floor.
"I got a disease,
Deep inside me,
Makes me feel uneasy baby..."
He looked back over his shoulder and turned about, moving backwards, smiling at me, his hands beckoning me to him as if he had me on a leash, in honestly he may as well have, and I was more then willing to run back into his arms to dance with him again. He cupped my face in his hands as he moved with the music, resting his forehead to mine.
"I can't live without you,
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it?"
He took my hands, leading me in the free flowing, joyful dance, spinning us about the kitchen like neither one of us had ever danced in our lives. It was so childish and at the same time I loved the way he felt against me as he moved. His hands dragged across my waist, pulling me to him, yup... it's official, I've been reduced to pile of Ryou shaped goo.
"Keep your distance from it
Don't pay no attention to me.
I got a disease."
Once more I laughed as he spun me around and pulled me to him.
"I think that I'm sick,
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me."
By now we moved together, hips and shoulders swaying to the beat, it really was a good song to dance to, upbeat and fast. He tapped my lips playfully, pressing his forehead to mine in the sweetest of ways and I felt that same flattered smile cross my face.
"You taste like honey, honey,
Tell me can I be your honey?"
He gave a quick laugh and so did I as he grabbed me around the waist and lifting me up to sit me on the counter.
"Be, be strong,
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till-"
He placed the black mug in me hands, smirking back at me as he finishes his lyric.
"I'm free of my disease."
I laughed as he smiled, backing away from me to allow me to drink my tea. I took a long draught and watched him move about the kitchen, slightly disappointed both at the end of our dance but quite satisfied to listen to him sing.
"Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease..."
His voice half-trailed off as he turned on the tap, picking his index finger under the water. I guess the burn was still hurting him and I took another long drink before setting down the mug and jumping down, only two steps closing the distance between us.
"I got a disease,
Deep inside me
Makes me, feel uneasy baby.
I can't live without you ,
Tell me what I am supposed to do about it?
Keep your distance from it.
Don't pay no attention to me..."
His voice trailed off all together as I gently took hold of his wrist and pulled his injured to me to inspect it. I'm pretty good at bits and pieces of healing magick and I wondered vaguely if there was anything I could do for it, sort of to pay him back for the way he doctored me the night before. "How'd you do this?" I asked, looking at the small, rounded red spot on the side of his finger. "You swore pretty loud. What was that? Arabic?"
"Just plain Egyptian," He offered an embarrassed laugh and half-heartedly scratched the back of his head with his free hand as a shy gesture. "Isis uses that one a lot. I hit it off the bottom of the kettle when I took it off the stove. I'll be fine in a few minutes, just stings."
I glanced around the kitchen and without letting go over Malik's hand reached over to the window sill over the sink and saying a quick prayer of thanks to the plant, I cracked off the tip of one of it's thick triangle prism shaped leaves, avoiding the tiny blunt cactus like points on the leaves edges. You'd be surprised for many things people keep around their houses can be used for everyday things. I knew this plant well because I happen to have one in my own kitchen window, Aloe Vera. Aloe is easy to grow and doesn't need to be watered often to it's a pretty common thing to find, not only that, the leaves have this jell type stuff on the inside that's used in a lot of skin products... when it's raw like this it's also good for split ends, dry skin, scars and burns. I can remember me mother telling me that when I was little and my sister Amane burned her fingers on the stove. She was a bit of a kitchen witch, my mother, though I don't think father ever understood her 'odd habits'. I didn't until much later in life, I just knew mom was one way, dad was another, they didn't disagree on it; but after she died dad gave me all her statues and told me to put them away. They're now on my secret alter at home. Maybe by now he knows I'm like her, maybe not. I don't feel like upsetting him with it.
*I got a disease
I think that I'm sick
But leave me be while my world is coming down on me
You taste like honey, honey
Tell me can I be your honey
Be, be strong
Keep telling myself it that won't take long till*
I crushed the small chunk of green material in my fingers and rubbed the jell across the burn gently as I dared so I wouldn't hurt him. His lip quirked down a tiny bit at the touch but said nothing and teasingly I brought his finger to my lips, kissing the wound. "There, all better." He smiled and I released his hand, he flicked his finger a bit.
"Yup, all better." he repeated approvingly and gave a bit of a jump, sitting up on the counter. He grabbed the bowl that had laid beside the mug and started to shovel it's contents into his mouth. By the goddess that boy can eat and I watched him thoughtfully as I drank my tea.
*I'm free of my disease
Yeah well free of my disease
Free of my disease.... *
The song ended and he down at me, raising his spoon again. "What?" he asked, shoving another spoonful into his mouth. I shook me head and smirked.
"Nothing. What are you eating?"
"Flavoured oatmeal I found in the cupboard. It's peaches and cream." he said, sounding like a proud child and I laughed at his teasing tone before he let his voice become serious again. "I got to thinking that... today is the 21st right?" I blinked a minute, then nodded dumbly. I'd almost forgotten about it being Yule, but fortunately for me, Malik didn't notice the enlightened look on my face. "Yeah, but, I got to thinking. I may as well eat here then get a shower before going to the main lodge. After all, you guys will probably be eating bacon and sausage and all that shit." He finished his sentence and shoved in another mouthful of oatmeal. That right, I remembered Malik was a vegetarian. "Want some of this? I can make you a bowl." he offered, I shook my head no.
"Do you eat any meat, Malik?" I asked, simply curious.
"Nope." he answered easily, then paused "No, wait... I'll eat dark meat chicken, like the leg, but only once or twice a year that's not ~so~ bad. I hate the white meat though." He looked contemplative again. "Does pepperoni on pizza count?"
"Not really," I answered honestly "It's not so sure it's real meat..."
"Last bite?" he offered, holding out the spoon to me. I looked at him questioningly. "It's good, I promise." I shook my head and laughed, opening my mouth and allowing him to spoon feed me the last bit, it was good. He set down the bowl and jumped down off the counter. "Want another cup of tea before you take off?"
"Nah," I answered, setting down the empty mug. In truth I figured this may be the only time I could get to do a ritual for Yule and as great as spending this time with Malik was, I did have the next four days with him. With any luck, most of the gang was still in bed and the main cabin would be empty for at least another half-hour or so. Even still, I doubt any of them would disturb me if I locked myself in the bathroom. "I think I'll go to the lodge and at least start the day with the rest of the gang. You'll come there when you're done here, right?"
He nodded absently, "Yeah. But don't count on a sudden appearance," he flashed one of his gorgeous smiles "I think I'm as bad as a female when it comes to time in the shower."
"Don't feel bad, I am too." I laughed and reluctantly left him to go upstairs and grab some things. The small candles, a lighter, a small leather bag filled with sea salt, an in scent cone and holder, a small sliver pentagram center piece, a light blue chunk of aquamarine stone... I would have like to of had by thin rose wood wand... or my silver and moonstone Athame... but I decided for the sake of secrecy to settle with the bare necessities. I wrapped up the small trinkets in my sweater so it would look as if I only wanted to bring a warmer article of clothing with me and tucked it under me arm. I smiled at Malik as I passed him at the top of the stairs.
"Later," he gestured as I walked by.
"See you in a bit." I replied, then bounded down the stairs and out the door, walking the path to the main cabin. Inwardly I felt like I was walking on air. It was the first time it what seemed like months I wasn't depressed. And though I still sniffled a bit from my cold which didn't seem half as bad now, I don't think I'd been that happy in a long time. Although... I paused in my thoughts, glancing over to where I could see our body prints in the snow where we had tumbled down the bank...I wouldn't mind having Bakura's advice on Malik. Maybe I was being foolish about the whole thing and taking his flirting way to seriously. Or was he even flirting at all? I've always known him to be impulsive, cocky and having little self-control, I suppose a combination of those factors can make him come off as being flirtatious.
I stopped walking just shy of reaching the main cabin's front lawn. Why did I have a feeling I was forgetting something? I went through the mental checklist in my mind... Spirit, pentagram; Earth, salt; Air, in scent; Water, crystal; Fire, candle... I mentally kicked myself, how could I have forgotten. I had been carrying these small candles around in my pack for what? Three days? I needed something to anoint them with before the ritual. I twisted my lips, cooking oil would work but that just so... unexplainable. I can see it right now when I get to the main cabin: me, digging through the kitchen cupboards, trying to slip off with a bottle of cooking oil to the bathroom and Yugi catching me half way up the stairs. I'm not even going to humour the explanations I could offer. Then it clicked in my head, Malik had mentioned last night in his ramblings about the bathroom cupboard that he had found vanilla oil. That would work perfectly. Just... getting past Malik would be a problem, but sneaking out a small bottle would be easier then sneaking in a bottle of cooking oil.
I slowly made my way back into my cabin and opened the door. Malik said he wanted to take a shower, with any luck he was probably in the bedroom still. My hope was increased by the fact that I heard no running water and in fact no sound from upstairs at all. But what interested me more was the feeling that hung in the air. Something had shifted, it seemed alive, brushing my skin in a sublime and soothing manner. Like crystals in the air, it shimmered and glowed, almost divine. You couldn't see it, but you could feel it. The same thing I felt in the bathroom the night before, and with the piece of thread, only I had no doubt what it was, it was so familiar. Someone was working magick... I blinked, no couldn't be, no one I know uses magick but me. I walked up the stairs, still hearing nothing; both the bedroom and bathroom doors were closed. I walked up to the bathroom door, I may as well take a gamble; after all I could always claim I wanted my hairbrush which I really did happen to have in there. I tapped gently on the door to give him warning enough to pull a towel around himself is he was in there, but not loud enough to let him hear if he was indeed in the bedroom. I heard something of a startled yelp and something dropped, I raised my eyebrow in question and gave him another second to get his composure back before I opened the door.
All I can say is... well... what should I say? That I didn't know what to think? Cause I really didn't. I just stared at the sight and he stared right back at me, looking like a deer in the headlights of a car. Which is needless to say an unusual expression on the normal very composed Malik. He hadn't made an effort to hide anything, but did seem to be searching his mind for some feasible explanation. The floor had been neatly cleared and he sat in the center, four candles burning in a perfect circle about him. Two small terracotta bowls sat in front of him along with a small red burning candle and a long eagle feather. A small black double edged knife with an obsidian carving of the goddess Seckmet for a handle lay slanted on the floor, obviously the item he had dropped. I blinked at it, I knew the black stone. It had been the item from his bag I was so curious about. Two small alabaster figures sat in their places on their individual thrones sat just behind the bowls, still like the statues they were, only warm with the magick mixing around them. Isis and Osiris, the Egyptian god and goddess. He had everything blended so wonderfully, the room smelled like an Egyptian temple, warm and rich. The magick was so robust and full as compared to the free, deep watery feeling my Celtic magick made. Different and the same. He wasn't angry at me, I knew he wouldn't feel it because he had obviously been grounding himself for the very beginning of his ritual, besides you can bring no negativity into a circle.
I swallowed. I knew I had felt magick but it never entered my mind it was Malik who was working it but suddenly it seemed so obvious. He knew who the gods I talked of the night before were, he knew what herbs could heal and what could hinder. What I had felt before was magick, he had tried to help heal me, I felt my heart leap at the thought. He had gone out of his way more then I thought to try to ease my pain. More importantly at the moment, I couldn't shake the feeling of glowing hope that came inside of me, Malik of all people. He was chewing on his lips thoughtfully, turning it a tempting red colour. I wanted to lick my lips, he just looked so adorable when he was scared. I have never seen him scared. I've seen him anxious and frustrated but never truly scared and as adorable as his subconsciously lip chewing was, scared just didn't seem right on him. I understood his situation though, as far as he knew, I could have been the most die-hard all-Witches-are-evil believer on Earth next to the Pope, nothing against him or anything but he's not exactly the most open guy with alternative religions, either way it certainly wouldn't be a good thing for Malik.
I bowed my head and smiled respectfully. "I'm sorry." I apologized softly, "I didn't mean to disturb your Yule ritual. I just wanted the vanilla bath oil you said was in the cupboard." He gave me a strange look at the mention of Yule, perplexed as to why I should know the word but easily let it slide and he stood up. He seemed more confused by my wanting the oil.
"In the back." He said gesturing, avoiding my eyes. I swallowed slightly and smiled, feeling a shy blush creep into my cheeks and I examined my feet carefully. What else could I do? I already felt like a moron. "Well?" he prompted, I could tell he was trying to hold back irritation.
"I can't." I answered honestly.
"Why not?" he replied, I glanced at him and felt my flush grow seeing his agitated, unnerved expression.
"Your circle." I said briefly, gesturing to the floor where the invisible line would connect the candles in a row. "It's blocking my way and I can't walk through it or it will displace your energy. You have to cut me a door." I dropped my eyes to me feet again, embarrassed. He probably hadn't thought of that. Or maybe he just didn't want to embarrass himself further.
"Come again?" He said, shock apparent in his voice.
"The circle." I repeated a bit more forcefully, "You have to cut a door to let me get to it." He blinked and starred at me a moment before snatching up his Seckmet knife and moving to where I stood. He moved fluently as if using the knife to divide a curtain and pull it back for me to step through. So my thought was right, it was an Athame. He motioned with his hand to indicate I could pass through. I stepped through and stood respectfully in the quarter until he fixed the door and walked passed me, giving me a funny look as if to say, why-aren't-you-moving? I cleared my throat a bit and cast a glance at the bowl of water glistening on his makeshift alter. "Are you going to anoint me?" I said patiently. I swear his eyes must have nearly fell out of his head and I couldn't help vainly stifling a laugh. He just looked so damn cute, starring at me, trying to decide if I was respectful, joking, or whatever the case my be. He finally picked up the bowl and dipped the index finger of his left hand in it, then used it like a paint brush to draw a five-pointed star on my forehead.
He set his bowl back down and out of curiosity I started to look over his little trinkets, most of which I could tell he had brought with him from Egypt, just like the black Seckmet knife I found earlier, they had an air of ancient magic to them. "How do know so much? Why aren't you afraid?" he said finally, sitting down in his previous spot, looking at me with confusion. "Most people would start prancing around screaming 'devil child'. Don't get me wrong, I would take for a compliment if they were just looking at me and not talking about religion."
I laughed and sat down across from him, "Devil child is a good name for you outside of this circle, but if you're what I think you are, you don't believe in the devil do you?"
"No." he admitted, crossing his legs and making himself more comfortable. "What do you think I am?"
So many ways to answer that came into my mind like a roaring freight train. Don't you dare tell me answering that question should be simple. I knew the tight spot I had placed him in and he was having a typical reaction. He wasn't about to say anything to mislead me but he wasn't about to say anything he might regret either. Fessing up is never something to take lightly, especially if you've been caught red handed. Likewise I had no idea how far his magick went, if you were expecting me to show my nature your very wrong. You've obviously never been stuck in this type of spot. Pretty much both of us were caught between a rock and a hard place. Both of us were testing the water. Me with my suggestions that I knew something about magick and him with his questions to avoid any questions I may throw at him. My I think a lot, I should probably stop over analyzing the whole thing. That's probably my biggest problem. I over analyze things and end up never doing anything about them. "I think you're someone who knows what he's doing." I answered after my moment of thought.
"You think right." He acknowledged, starting to straighten his alter a bit from after my startling entrance. "And you? You seem to know a lot."
"This is true." I admitted. This was going to go in circles, I could tell. I don't think either one of us were willing to say what on our minds. I decided to try his approach, it seemed a bit more reasonable then mine. "Are you Hereditary?" I asked in a regular tone. Personally, I thought the question was ingenious. Based on his answer I could logically tell if he was genuinely practising or just screwing around for the hell of it. To many people use of the craft as a way of gaining power and scaring people or just a scape-goat; I'll be the first to tell you those people have no right to call themselves witches. My question was designed with that in mind, people in the faith for power usually never go as far as to learn any sect terminology. If he could answer with out slipping up I'd have a good view of just how deep he was.
"No." He answered without missing a beat. "I'm insulted you should think so. I've told you about my father. Do you really think my family could take on magick and NOT abuse it? Hardly. I just brought the myths and rituals with me, the belief I built myself. No, I don't follow my family."
I gave a thoughtful nod, his answer was thought out and his voice was serene, so he obviously was complying to the rules of the circle by keeping his negativity in check. He was clever, I realized after a moment, phrasing it like I had phrased mine, trying to catch me in the same trap. I smiled, it was a battle of words. I always liked a good game and I knew Malik long enough to know words were his weapon of choice. I rested my head in my hand, leaning my elbow on my knee. "You'd probably be insulted then if I called you Wiccian instead of Witch." I remarked casually.
He shrugged, carefully arranging the eagle feather. "I'd prefer Witch, I suppose." He noted "Wiccian to me just brings to mind a modern cliché used to make people understand about the craft without using words that scared them as children. People are afraid of the word Witch from listening to all these stories about devils and evil hags in black so modern witches came up with Wicca... just doesn't sound so bad. But it doesn't matter. There interchangeable. I just like the sound of Witch better. It sounds more ancient and I follow a more ancient sect then a modern one. What about you? What are you? Gardnerian?"
"Nah." I answered. "To structured for me. I'm Solitary and kinda Eclectic, mostly Celtic. Whatever seems to fit."
He gave me a look. "So what do you do on special days?" He was trying to trap me again, he thought I only dabbled.
I avoided his choice of words to prove I knew what I was talking about. "Sabbats and Esbats? I use the Celtic sect format in all my celebrations, just the way my mother started to show me before she died." He smiled slightly.
"I should have guessed from the way you talked last night." He smirked in a friendly fashion. "Straight Ceremonial Magick for me. The gods of Egypt suit me just fine, their just me."
"You don't study anything other then high magick?" I asked, looking at him thoughtfully.
"I do." He said with a nod, "But I've never deterred from this type. It just works for me. I've used it since I was little just because I knew no other god's then my Father's. I learned my base in magick there, what each god did, what items and foods could be used for whatever. What I've learned since is what matters though, I like this way better... and you? As if the occult deck you play with wasn't enough of a clue. I feel like kind of an idiot for not seeing it before. " He flashed me a mischievous smile. "I heard a rumour you liked to talk with spirits. Now I think it's true." I could feel myself blush furiously.
"Yugi told you about the time he caught me writing to Amane didn't he?"
Malik shrugged with a soothing smile. "It's okay. Yugi thinks it was a slightly odd way of grieving. I knew your sister was dead... but I didn't know your mother was too." he respectfully looked away from me, turning the artistic knife over and over in his hand. "You meant to burn it? A way of giving the universe a message to her?"
"I miss her." I answered easily, smiling slightly. "She was such a sweet little one. Very much like her mother. Mother died not long after Amane. It was a bad year."
"I don't doubt it."
If you think this upset me in anyway, you're very wrong. I don't talk about my sister much, my mother even less. It's a rare and wonderful thing when I do. I try not to brood over losing them, though I miss them horribly and I think it shows because sometimes I feel lonely. I try to think of it as remembering the good times and honouring those memories. I know they wouldn't want me to feel bitter or malicious over them. So... I keep them to myself. Those wonderful memories and my special way of talking with them when I feel run down, though they never answer back. It's kind of my secret happiness, sharing it was a rare and amazing thing for me. It just came so freely around Malik, maybe it was because he had lost family dear to him too, or maybe it was something else. I just felt happy near him, with happiness comes a loose tongue I suppose. He was being so good about the whole thing... the two of us were connected more tightly then I had imagined. Sharing both loss and faith. The goddess has funny ways sometimes.
"Does Bakura know?" He asked, looking thoughtful.
"About my family?" I asked, "Or magick?"
"Both."
This I had to think about for a minute. "He knows about my family, yes. He shares a mind with me it's hard for him not to figure out something so important. The magick... he knows I use it regularly but never bothers with it, I think he finds it cute and amusing. You know how he is, everything remotely powerful or magickal amuses him. I really do think he assumes it's a common place thing that no one talks about." I glanced at him and felt myself blush under his brazen gaze, violet eyes examining me in this new light. "Though apparently that's not far from the truth." I added, gesturing to his small alter.
He gave a laugh and I saw the most splendid thing, he was smiling. Genuinely smiling. Not just a small, passive content smile. A delighted, thrilled smile. The kind that are rare even for a normally happy person, little own my reserved and logical Malik. Wait a tick... did I just say *my*? ... ... better not think on it to much or I'll start getting giddy again.
He looked so beautiful that way. He reached out and brushed his fingers against my cheek. "I haven't known you that long," he smiled, "But everyday I'm with you, you never cess to surprise me, Ryou Bakura." I leaned into his touch.
"And you never cess to surprise me, Malik Ishtar." I replied, covering his hand with mine. He let his hand fall away and offered it out as if to take mine.
"Will you stay?"
I placed my hand in his, "I'd be happy to stay. It's not good to spend our holidays alone. And I've never seen someone use good, solid Egyptian magick."
He smiled and gave a nod, letting my hand drop. "You're right, we shouldn't spend it alone. I'll make a deal with you instead." I raised an eyebrow, wondering what he was thinking and preying that it somehow involved the two of us by ourselves with no one to bug us. "What are you giving me that look for?" He smirked, "It's not like I'll ask you to perform the Great Rite with me." I felt the red colour flame in my cheeks. I hadn't even thought of that and now the idea was stuck in my head...
He laughed seeing my blush, leaning forward a bit. "Relax, you know I wouldn't ask anything like that. But I will propose this: just for the day, we stay here, just the two of us. You're sick and all, and this is Yule... it would seem wrong to waste most of one of the best festivals all year by going to the main lodge and pretending this day means nothing to us. So why not close this circle, start a fire downstairs and curl up on the couch." I nearly laughed seeing a bit of a flush cross his tanned checks but I allowed him to continue. "Why not write a ritual for the both of us, to do tonight."
I mulled this over in my mind a bit, I'd never done a ritual with another person, but it would be a good way to learn and besides... it was Malik. I smiled and nodded yes.
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Was that way to long? @_@ even I have a time following that. Oh well.
Yup, Ryou can feel Malik's spell to draw someone to him. Actually, among witches, I find that's a pretty common thing with witches how have practised a long time. They can feel when other things have been charmed and when someone has used magick. My mother isn't a witch but she does it to me all the time, somehow she just knows what things I have blessed and when I've completed a ritual. I think everyone does it a bit, almost everyone can remember a time when you've just looked at something and said "Oh that must be special to you." it's just a feeling in your gut.
And yes, Ryou did have a sister called Amane who died and there really was an incident in the very beginning of the Yu-Gi-Oh manga and first season never aired in North America where the gang finds Ryou writing a letter to her. He tells the gang that it's because of Amane he's interest in the unknown. Yes, in the comic series Ryou is pretty well dubbed a witch or at least someone who has hidden unknown power, it's not so played up in the anime I find. I don't know why I didn't mention Amane sooner, meh. The comic isn't really clear on where Ryou's mother is, just that she's not around. You kind of assume she's either dead or Ryou's parents have spilt up and she never returned. Poor kid hasn't had an easy life. ;_;
What a place to end this, eh? What do you think? Read and Review everyone!!