Bound
Chapter Sixteen
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A/N: I just wanted to thank all of you who have reviewed this story. Thanks especially to SerenityKirashimo (sp?) who has stuck by since the beginning! Also, thanks to ObsidianIllusions (sp again? ;) who reviewed. Knowing that you don't even like Yuugiou, but you like this story really means a lot to me and makes me feel as though I've done my duty as a writer. Anyway, thanks to all of you. Onward with the story!
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"My lord Pharaoh, please cleanse yourself, for your birthday is tomorrow," a servant suggested timidly, carrying a bucket of water in her hands with a few men behind her carrying more. Jounouchi looked from the servants to his best friend.
"How dare you speak to me of my day of birth at a time like this?" Yuugi bellowed, jumping to his feet. "Get out, all of you!"
The servant gasped in fright and quickly left his chambers, her male servants following in her hurried wake. Jounouchi slowly stood up and rested his hand on Yuugi's shoulder.
"Yuugi, calm down," he implored quietly. The Pharaoh whipped his head around to look at his friend.
"Jou, she's been gone for three days. No one can locate her." He raked a hand through his spiky, uncontrollable mane. His eyes were wild and unfocused.
"We will find her; do not worry yourself. Our best men are searching for her even now," he said and paused hesitantly. "Though I must admit to you that they are unsure of why they are searching at no ends for a slave."
"I fear for her, Jou. Never have I known fear like this," Yuugi said, shaking his head in dismay. Jounouchi lifted his head up to look him in the eye.
"Just what is this girl to you?" he asked seriously.
Yuugi stepped away and looked out onto his balcony. He clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides until his knuckles were white with oxygen loss. "I... I would make her my queen," he declared quietly.
Jounouchi's eyes widened. "You would dare?"
Yuugi whirled around. "I love her!" he shouted furiously, gasping afterwards in surprise at his own declaration. He raised his hand to his mouth in humble shock.
"How can I sit here while she is missing, perhaps... no, she must not be dead," he berated himself. He stormed over to his armory and yanked his sword from its resting place. It had been a while since he had held it, and its weight was foreign in his hand. Still, he placed the sheath at his hip, then placed the sword in it. He ripped his thin crown from his forehead and tossed it aside without heed. He slowly turned around, and Jounouchi saw sheer determination in his eyes.
Yuugi started forward quickly. Jounouchi halted him before he reached the door.
"I respect you more for knowing your feelings. Allow me to ride with you, as your servant... and as your friend," Jounouchi said solemnly, bowing his head in acknowledgment.
"Never my servant, always my friend," Yuugi replied, gripping Jounouchi's wrist tightly.
Yuugi opened his chambers door and yelled out, "Prepare my horse and Lord Jounouchi's!" His four guards bowed and quickly sent a messenger to the stable to have his bidding done.
- - -
"You're pathetic, Malik!" Anzu spat as she was dragged to her feet. The blond spared her a haphazard glance, but did not reply to her accusation. Hell, he'd been called worse. Instead, she turned her attention to her last hope.
"Bakura, how could you? I thought we were friends!" she shouted though he avoided her gaze. He walked swiftly ahead of them and soon enough, out of their sight. She narrowed her eyes at Malik. He glared right back.
"Keep your slutty intentions away from him," he sneered. Her eyes widened slightly.
"What? I don't even-- Okay, why do you care anyway?" she asked in obvious curiosity. Then her mouth formed an 'oh' of realization.
"You mean... you? And him? I-- woah," she finished in a whisper.
"What of it?" he asked offended. She ripped her arm from his grasp. She crossed both arms over her chest.
"Start treating me like a human being. You have nothing to fear from me. I'm not interested in him that way," she said matter-of-factly.
"Sorry then," he said gruffly before grabbing her by the arm and stringing her along again.
She started to protest when she was lifted onto a horse, but the stern look on Malik's face quieted her for the moment. He mounted the horse behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her from falling. Anzu was not surprised to see Bakura ride up beside them on a horse of his own.
"Stole them, did you?" she accused. Malik rolled his eyes and ignored her question.
He clicked his tongue twice. "Chi'nah, Sharah!" Upon hearing the two names, the horses immediately started a jog; they obviously were used to Malik.
"Oh," she mumbled sheepishly. As Malik held the reins, he gave her a pointed look over his shoulder.
- - -
Anzu yawned. Her and her captors had been riding for hours, and neither of them had spoken to each other, so she had no clue if they were nearing their destination. She was tempted to fall asleep, but knew she had to be on her guard.
Finally, Anzu saw a medium-sized temple over the sandy hills. It was a good thing, too. She had swallowed enough sand and dirt in this desert to satisfy her for a lifetime. Sure enough, both riders stopped at the temple and dismounted. Without a word, Malik offered a hand to help Anzu dismount, also. She took it grudgingly and followed them into the temple wordlessly.
Nothing seemed special nor out of place from what she could tell. As it were, there were not even any statues of gods. What kind of temple was this? She decided to ask.
"A special one," Bakura replied. She rolled her eyes.
"How helpful," Anzu retorted.
"We make our destinies today in this very temple, girl," Malik supplied which only gave Anzu cause for concern to mix itself in with her confusion. Her captors sped up, and she struggled to keep their pace.
Soon enough they stopped before two grand and powerful doors. Anzu stared up in awe. She reached out to touch the doors.
"No!" Malik snapped with a gasp, slapping her hand away. She frowned at him. He shook his head sternly. He turned to Bakura then and motioned for his partner to open the door.
Anzu made a sound of indignation. "How come he--"
As soon as Bakura's hand made contact with the door, three blades dropped swiftly from the ceiling above the door. Bakura skillfully dodged them. "Oh," Anzu whispered.
"That's not all," Malik said quietly and kicked the door, quickly moving his foot out of the way as the doors suddenly caught fire. He calmly stepped out of the way when the fire flung itself toward him.
"That's all -- for now," he told them, motioning for them to enter the doors he now pushed open without further incident.
"Surprised me the first time, too," Bakura whispered to her with a smirk.
"How did you know that would happen?" Anzu demanded, pointing at Malik. He raised a brow.
"I'm not just a lowly slave," he said shortly, offering no further explanation. She rolled her eyes though he failed to notice since his back was turned. Bakura noticed, however, and grinned at her.
They walked for around twenty minutes, following a narrow passageway lit only by Malik's torch. Anzu was still questioning this supposed 'special' temple -- she still had not seen one tribute statue or anything even remotely symbolizing a religious temple.
"As an unwilling participant in this little adventure, I demand to know where and when we will arrive!" she said though neither of her kidnappers spared her a glance. She flustered angrily and tugged sharply on the rope connecting her to Bakura who came flying backward. He groaned as he landed on his back.
"I've been abused enough. Malik, tell the demanding woman," he grumbled, standing up slowly. Malik rolled his violet eyes.
"I'm going to be Pharaoh, and when I am, you'll be serving me grapes on gold platter," he told her smugly. Her surprise was so great, however, that she only heard the first part of the statement.
"How can you be Pharaoh?" she questioned. They walked for a few more minutes, and Anzu realized he wasn't going to answer her. She scowled. The three of them walked in silence for a while longer until Anzu could finally spot a raised, stone table in the middle of the dark passageway. She noticed that both of her captors' eyes had started to gleam with excitement.
Once they stopped in front of it, Bakura and Malik simply stared at the three small tablets resting on top of the raised dais. Anzu stared at them, as well, but she could notice nothing peculiar about them. They were little stones with monsters on them. What was the big deal?
Malik looked as if he wanted to reach his hand out to touch them, but he stopped himself. Bakura looked at him expectedly.
"I don't know exactly what kinds of barriers are protecting them," Malik confessed.
"What could happen?" Bakura asked.
"Torturous pain or, if we're lucky, death," Malik replied. Anzu groaned inwardly, but Bakura seemed unfazed.
"Let us continue then," he said simply. Malik took a deep breath and reached out to touch one of the tablets. Anzu screamed as three black dragons with red eyes sprung up from out of nowhere.
Malik, on the other hand, wasted no time in reacting. While Bakura was busy shoving Anzu out of the way of a sizzling fireball escaped from one of the dragon's mouth, Malik was chanting quietly with his hands together.
A few more fireballs whizzed past Anzu and Bakura, each of them barely scrambling out of the way before they made impact. After what seemed like hours, but in reality no more than thirty seconds, the three dragons suddenly disappeared. Anzu heaved a sigh of great relief and shakily stood up.
However, before she could completely regain her composure, another equally large dragon appeared before the three mere mortals. Anzu gazed up in awe at the white monstrosity whom gazed back down at her with its beady, blue eyes. It roared loudly, and she sucked in a gasp of fright.
Just then, another dragon just like it appeared across from it. Anzu wanted to faint, but of course, she couldn't. She heard Malik chanting again, and yet another white dragon appeared. As if that weren't enough, a final one appeared, making four total. Bakura's look of shock mirrored her own, she was sure. Even more surprising was when the three newest dragons combined themselves together to form one three-headed white dragon. She barely registered that Malik was still chanting.
The single white dragon opened its mouth and released a white ball of energy which hit the three-headed dragon on target; however, nothing happened. Then the three-headed dragon released three of its own energy balls, one from each mouth, and they landed directly on target, destroying the single white dragon.
She released a shaky breath of relief and stared up at Malik who was breathing a little heavier than usual. He glanced down at her and Bakura, then motioned for them to stand. All three of them surrounded the three small tablets once more, wondering if anything else was going to try to prevent Malik and Bakura from taking them.
- - -
"My lord Pharaoh, I really must protest. This is dangerous!" Lord Otogi said, holding the
reins of Yuugi's personal horse. He had heard a servant delivering the message to ready the Pharaoh's and Jounouchi's horses and knew something was going on.
"Cousin, I am Pharaoh and am ordering my horse, so give him to me," Yuugi snapped impatiently, holding his hand out for the reins. Otogi paused, but finally sighed and handed over the reins. Jounouchi had already mounted his horse and was ready to leave. Yuugi mounted his own and was about to gallop off, but Otogi stopped him again.
"Wait! I am coming with you, my Pharaoh," he said, bringing forth his own horse.
Yuugi didn't know if he wanted anyone else coming, but didn't have the time nor heart to deny his cousin for wanting to help. He hadn't a clue where to start looking, and he supposed he could use all of the help he could get.
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NEXT CHAPTER: Do Bakura and Malik get what they want? Does Yuugi find Anzu?
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I don't want to spoil the next chapter, so I've just left questions that will be answered. Please review! 'Till next time...
Chapter Sixteen
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A/N: I just wanted to thank all of you who have reviewed this story. Thanks especially to SerenityKirashimo (sp?) who has stuck by since the beginning! Also, thanks to ObsidianIllusions (sp again? ;) who reviewed. Knowing that you don't even like Yuugiou, but you like this story really means a lot to me and makes me feel as though I've done my duty as a writer. Anyway, thanks to all of you. Onward with the story!
- - - - - - - - - -
"My lord Pharaoh, please cleanse yourself, for your birthday is tomorrow," a servant suggested timidly, carrying a bucket of water in her hands with a few men behind her carrying more. Jounouchi looked from the servants to his best friend.
"How dare you speak to me of my day of birth at a time like this?" Yuugi bellowed, jumping to his feet. "Get out, all of you!"
The servant gasped in fright and quickly left his chambers, her male servants following in her hurried wake. Jounouchi slowly stood up and rested his hand on Yuugi's shoulder.
"Yuugi, calm down," he implored quietly. The Pharaoh whipped his head around to look at his friend.
"Jou, she's been gone for three days. No one can locate her." He raked a hand through his spiky, uncontrollable mane. His eyes were wild and unfocused.
"We will find her; do not worry yourself. Our best men are searching for her even now," he said and paused hesitantly. "Though I must admit to you that they are unsure of why they are searching at no ends for a slave."
"I fear for her, Jou. Never have I known fear like this," Yuugi said, shaking his head in dismay. Jounouchi lifted his head up to look him in the eye.
"Just what is this girl to you?" he asked seriously.
Yuugi stepped away and looked out onto his balcony. He clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides until his knuckles were white with oxygen loss. "I... I would make her my queen," he declared quietly.
Jounouchi's eyes widened. "You would dare?"
Yuugi whirled around. "I love her!" he shouted furiously, gasping afterwards in surprise at his own declaration. He raised his hand to his mouth in humble shock.
"How can I sit here while she is missing, perhaps... no, she must not be dead," he berated himself. He stormed over to his armory and yanked his sword from its resting place. It had been a while since he had held it, and its weight was foreign in his hand. Still, he placed the sheath at his hip, then placed the sword in it. He ripped his thin crown from his forehead and tossed it aside without heed. He slowly turned around, and Jounouchi saw sheer determination in his eyes.
Yuugi started forward quickly. Jounouchi halted him before he reached the door.
"I respect you more for knowing your feelings. Allow me to ride with you, as your servant... and as your friend," Jounouchi said solemnly, bowing his head in acknowledgment.
"Never my servant, always my friend," Yuugi replied, gripping Jounouchi's wrist tightly.
Yuugi opened his chambers door and yelled out, "Prepare my horse and Lord Jounouchi's!" His four guards bowed and quickly sent a messenger to the stable to have his bidding done.
- - -
"You're pathetic, Malik!" Anzu spat as she was dragged to her feet. The blond spared her a haphazard glance, but did not reply to her accusation. Hell, he'd been called worse. Instead, she turned her attention to her last hope.
"Bakura, how could you? I thought we were friends!" she shouted though he avoided her gaze. He walked swiftly ahead of them and soon enough, out of their sight. She narrowed her eyes at Malik. He glared right back.
"Keep your slutty intentions away from him," he sneered. Her eyes widened slightly.
"What? I don't even-- Okay, why do you care anyway?" she asked in obvious curiosity. Then her mouth formed an 'oh' of realization.
"You mean... you? And him? I-- woah," she finished in a whisper.
"What of it?" he asked offended. She ripped her arm from his grasp. She crossed both arms over her chest.
"Start treating me like a human being. You have nothing to fear from me. I'm not interested in him that way," she said matter-of-factly.
"Sorry then," he said gruffly before grabbing her by the arm and stringing her along again.
She started to protest when she was lifted onto a horse, but the stern look on Malik's face quieted her for the moment. He mounted the horse behind her and wrapped one arm around her waist to keep her from falling. Anzu was not surprised to see Bakura ride up beside them on a horse of his own.
"Stole them, did you?" she accused. Malik rolled his eyes and ignored her question.
He clicked his tongue twice. "Chi'nah, Sharah!" Upon hearing the two names, the horses immediately started a jog; they obviously were used to Malik.
"Oh," she mumbled sheepishly. As Malik held the reins, he gave her a pointed look over his shoulder.
- - -
Anzu yawned. Her and her captors had been riding for hours, and neither of them had spoken to each other, so she had no clue if they were nearing their destination. She was tempted to fall asleep, but knew she had to be on her guard.
Finally, Anzu saw a medium-sized temple over the sandy hills. It was a good thing, too. She had swallowed enough sand and dirt in this desert to satisfy her for a lifetime. Sure enough, both riders stopped at the temple and dismounted. Without a word, Malik offered a hand to help Anzu dismount, also. She took it grudgingly and followed them into the temple wordlessly.
Nothing seemed special nor out of place from what she could tell. As it were, there were not even any statues of gods. What kind of temple was this? She decided to ask.
"A special one," Bakura replied. She rolled her eyes.
"How helpful," Anzu retorted.
"We make our destinies today in this very temple, girl," Malik supplied which only gave Anzu cause for concern to mix itself in with her confusion. Her captors sped up, and she struggled to keep their pace.
Soon enough they stopped before two grand and powerful doors. Anzu stared up in awe. She reached out to touch the doors.
"No!" Malik snapped with a gasp, slapping her hand away. She frowned at him. He shook his head sternly. He turned to Bakura then and motioned for his partner to open the door.
Anzu made a sound of indignation. "How come he--"
As soon as Bakura's hand made contact with the door, three blades dropped swiftly from the ceiling above the door. Bakura skillfully dodged them. "Oh," Anzu whispered.
"That's not all," Malik said quietly and kicked the door, quickly moving his foot out of the way as the doors suddenly caught fire. He calmly stepped out of the way when the fire flung itself toward him.
"That's all -- for now," he told them, motioning for them to enter the doors he now pushed open without further incident.
"Surprised me the first time, too," Bakura whispered to her with a smirk.
"How did you know that would happen?" Anzu demanded, pointing at Malik. He raised a brow.
"I'm not just a lowly slave," he said shortly, offering no further explanation. She rolled her eyes though he failed to notice since his back was turned. Bakura noticed, however, and grinned at her.
They walked for around twenty minutes, following a narrow passageway lit only by Malik's torch. Anzu was still questioning this supposed 'special' temple -- she still had not seen one tribute statue or anything even remotely symbolizing a religious temple.
"As an unwilling participant in this little adventure, I demand to know where and when we will arrive!" she said though neither of her kidnappers spared her a glance. She flustered angrily and tugged sharply on the rope connecting her to Bakura who came flying backward. He groaned as he landed on his back.
"I've been abused enough. Malik, tell the demanding woman," he grumbled, standing up slowly. Malik rolled his violet eyes.
"I'm going to be Pharaoh, and when I am, you'll be serving me grapes on gold platter," he told her smugly. Her surprise was so great, however, that she only heard the first part of the statement.
"How can you be Pharaoh?" she questioned. They walked for a few more minutes, and Anzu realized he wasn't going to answer her. She scowled. The three of them walked in silence for a while longer until Anzu could finally spot a raised, stone table in the middle of the dark passageway. She noticed that both of her captors' eyes had started to gleam with excitement.
Once they stopped in front of it, Bakura and Malik simply stared at the three small tablets resting on top of the raised dais. Anzu stared at them, as well, but she could notice nothing peculiar about them. They were little stones with monsters on them. What was the big deal?
Malik looked as if he wanted to reach his hand out to touch them, but he stopped himself. Bakura looked at him expectedly.
"I don't know exactly what kinds of barriers are protecting them," Malik confessed.
"What could happen?" Bakura asked.
"Torturous pain or, if we're lucky, death," Malik replied. Anzu groaned inwardly, but Bakura seemed unfazed.
"Let us continue then," he said simply. Malik took a deep breath and reached out to touch one of the tablets. Anzu screamed as three black dragons with red eyes sprung up from out of nowhere.
Malik, on the other hand, wasted no time in reacting. While Bakura was busy shoving Anzu out of the way of a sizzling fireball escaped from one of the dragon's mouth, Malik was chanting quietly with his hands together.
A few more fireballs whizzed past Anzu and Bakura, each of them barely scrambling out of the way before they made impact. After what seemed like hours, but in reality no more than thirty seconds, the three dragons suddenly disappeared. Anzu heaved a sigh of great relief and shakily stood up.
However, before she could completely regain her composure, another equally large dragon appeared before the three mere mortals. Anzu gazed up in awe at the white monstrosity whom gazed back down at her with its beady, blue eyes. It roared loudly, and she sucked in a gasp of fright.
Just then, another dragon just like it appeared across from it. Anzu wanted to faint, but of course, she couldn't. She heard Malik chanting again, and yet another white dragon appeared. As if that weren't enough, a final one appeared, making four total. Bakura's look of shock mirrored her own, she was sure. Even more surprising was when the three newest dragons combined themselves together to form one three-headed white dragon. She barely registered that Malik was still chanting.
The single white dragon opened its mouth and released a white ball of energy which hit the three-headed dragon on target; however, nothing happened. Then the three-headed dragon released three of its own energy balls, one from each mouth, and they landed directly on target, destroying the single white dragon.
She released a shaky breath of relief and stared up at Malik who was breathing a little heavier than usual. He glanced down at her and Bakura, then motioned for them to stand. All three of them surrounded the three small tablets once more, wondering if anything else was going to try to prevent Malik and Bakura from taking them.
- - -
"My lord Pharaoh, I really must protest. This is dangerous!" Lord Otogi said, holding the
reins of Yuugi's personal horse. He had heard a servant delivering the message to ready the Pharaoh's and Jounouchi's horses and knew something was going on.
"Cousin, I am Pharaoh and am ordering my horse, so give him to me," Yuugi snapped impatiently, holding his hand out for the reins. Otogi paused, but finally sighed and handed over the reins. Jounouchi had already mounted his horse and was ready to leave. Yuugi mounted his own and was about to gallop off, but Otogi stopped him again.
"Wait! I am coming with you, my Pharaoh," he said, bringing forth his own horse.
Yuugi didn't know if he wanted anyone else coming, but didn't have the time nor heart to deny his cousin for wanting to help. He hadn't a clue where to start looking, and he supposed he could use all of the help he could get.
- - - - - - - - - -
NEXT CHAPTER: Do Bakura and Malik get what they want? Does Yuugi find Anzu?
- - - - - - - - - -
I don't want to spoil the next chapter, so I've just left questions that will be answered. Please review! 'Till next time...