Chapter Four-Yami Bakura's Good Intentions
Mokuba and Elizabeth were halfway into the mansion when there was a snap of a twig. The young Kaiba stepped in front of Elizabeth to protect her, before calling out bravely. "Who's there?"
"Mokuba...let's just go inside, please!" Lizzie hissed in fear. "We're so late already..."
"Inside,with the Kaibas? Is that what you really want to do,Lizabeth?" The voice of Yami Bakura asked quietly, as the thief came into view.
"Yami..." Lizzie stepped out from behind Mokuba, and stared in wonder at the ancient thief that had once possessed her adopted brother. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come to take you home." He replied, taking a step closer, and holding out a hand. He glowered at Mokuba. "This is nonsense, the way they've split them up. Those fools at Social Services couldn't possibly comprehend the bond between a brother and sister!"
"I'm on your side,really, but if you take her, they'll put Bakura in jail for kidnapping. My brother has custody of her, not him." Mokuba tried to reason with the yami, while he looked around to see where security was.
"They won't come. They're taking naps." The yami smirked, stepping closer, and grabbed Elizabeth's wrist gently, but firmly. "We'll be leaving now."
"Yami, wait! I can't just go. Mokuba's right. I don't want Ryou to go to jail. Then I'd never see him again!" The young girl resisted the yami, who was trying to pull her along. "Stop,yami. Just please listen."
"I won't." The thief replied, whirling on her. "Do you want to know how your brother is? He's a mess. He won't eat, he barely sleeps. It's a wonder Roba can even get him in to look after his own shop!" He glared at her. "If he dies, so do I. As much as I wouldn't mind rejoining my long lost sister in the afterlife....I wouldn't be able to rest in peace knowing he caused you to be an orphan. Now let's go." With a low growl, he all but yanked Elizabeth out of the estate gates, and down the street. The younger Kaiba could still be heard calling for him to bring her back. He just ignored it.
Yami Bakura didn't stop until they were right outside his hikari's house. He turned to face Elizabeth, placing a hand on either of her shoulders. "Please. Don't look at me with such upset. This is really for both of you. Now, when we go inside, Ryou will probably be sleeping, so let's not wake him up until later. You can go in your room and get some sleep yourself. What in the world were you and that fool doing outside of the mansion at this hour anyway?"
Lizzie gave in, and offered a smile. "He took me to Jollyland outside of Domino tonight. It was nice, but it made me miss Ryou so much. Please can't I see him before we go to bed?"
"Fine then. But remember, don't wake him up, okay?" He let them into the house silently. He watched her go upstairs to Ryou's room, with a shake of his head. Foolish girl. She can't even sense her own power. Well,I sense it, and I intend to help her find it too. The "something" he referred to was her Millennium Pyramid. When he'd first heard of it, he wanted to take it from her. Now,however, the spirit realized now that Elizabeth may need the item. He could feel something within her, an aura that called the Item to it, even if Lizzie could not. Well, there will be time enough to worry about that in the morning. I may be a spirit, but I do need my rest as well. With that, he resigned to the Ring, but he didn't sleep until hours later.
Bakura woke up the next morning with a start. He'd had a strange dream the night before. Elizabeth had come into his room, looking frightened. She'd walked over to his bed, and hugged him tightly. Bakura had returned the hug, and whispered to her that he was okay, and that she was safe. He'd reassured her that no one would separate them again. He'd promised. Then Elizabeth was gone again. The young British boy sat up, wiping the sleep and tears out of his eyes. Oh Lizzie......I am so sorry I could not protect you from this. I really wanted to... He rolled out of his bed, and went into the bathroom to freshen up before he got to work making his and his yami's breakfasts. Half-way to the sink, he heard giggling down the hall where Elizabeth's room was. Not daring to hope, he walked down the hall, and opened the door. "Elizabeth?!"
"Ryou!" Lizzie ran into her brother's arms,and hugged him tightly, while he returned the hug just as fiercely.
"How in the world did you get back here?" He asked, as he scooped her up.
"Your yami came and carted me away from the Kaibas'." Lizzie told him without accusation. "He said you weren't eating." She added, her young eyes full of worry.
"Well..." Bakura set her on her feet again, dazed. If his yami had truly done this, it was kidnapping. He'd get the blame of course. He headed for the phone. "I should call Seto, and explain things, before the police get involved...."
"Wait! Can't I just stay a little while?" Lizzie's eyes were sad, and pleading.
"I suppose...." Bakura replied, but he wasn't sure it was a good idea, despite how badly he also wanted to keep her there with him. "Come on then. I'll put on a pot of rice, and then we can watch some cartoons." He smiled gently, and they walked downstairs together.
Yami Bakura was sitting on the couch, thinking about how to go about explaining the Item's real power to Elizabeth when they both came down. "It's about time." He grunted to Bakura.
"Yes, well...it seems we'll have three for breakfast this morning." Bakura replied. His eyes narrowed on the thief suspiciously. He would ask about his intentions for Lizzie later. He knew the yami never did anything unless it benefited him.
"As it should be." Was all the yami would reply. He petted Oreo, whom finally came out of hiding.
"He's in a strange mood this morning..." Bakura remarked to Lizzie, as he poured her usual glass of milk. It was if Lizzie had never left his side.
"He's plotting." The girl replied, sipping it. "You forgot to give me my vitamin." She told him. It wasn't that she wanted the disgusting chewable, but if Ryou hadn't remembered it himself, her elder brother really was a mess.
"You're right." Bakura smiled at her, and retrieved the loathsome pills. "Lizzie...you know you can't stay...don't you?"
"But why not? You can't be that badly off in finances if you still have all our things!" Lizzie argued, setting her glass down.
"No, but I'm not making enough money to..support you." Bakura explained. It pained him to say it out loud. "I'm not financially capable of it..." He put some water on the stove now, and led Lizzie into the living room. "Let's not talk about that right now, okay? Let's talk about other things. How is it over at the Kaibas'?"
"It's all right but, I really miss being with you at night. It's scary in that big mansion in the dark..." Her lower lip trembled. "I'm always afraid the house will eat me or something."
Bakura pulled her closer to him, and petted her hair. "It's not going to be forever, Elizabeth. I promise you."
"I want to stay now..." The girl almost whimpered. "I want to be with you. I don't want to be a Kaiba like Mokuba said. I love him and Seto, but I love you more."
"Mokuba said you were going to be a Kaiba?" Bakura frowned. "When did he tell you this? Is Seto planning to adopt you permanently? Tell me, Lizzie!" He couldn't keep his voice from shaking in nervousness as he demanded answers.
"H-he said you might not be able to regain control of your money. I-if that happens, he said Seto would probably take me in himself." She buried her face in her hands,and felt Bakura hold on to her tighter.
"I'm not going to let that happen, Elizabeth. I swear it!" Bakura's eyes were full of tears. "Seto's a good man, and I appreciate what he did, getting you out of Rex's care, but...he will not take you away from me. I promise!" The British boy held her tightly, trying to sooth both her and himself as he rocked her gently. She will have to go back to Kaiba's,but I want to know what my yami is up to first. He doesn't just do things for me like this. As kind as it was of him. I feel much better, knowing Elizabeth is healthy, and has not given up on me yet. I don't deserve that kind of loyalty from her....at all.