Pained screams echoed through the thick, oily darkness, followed by cracking noises, and more screams, more cracks. A tall, slightly buff figure doubled over in pain again as the whip descended once more on their back, adding another bloody stripe to the uncountable ones on the once smooth tan skin. Already brought to his knees, the man shaking tried to stand up, get away from the merciless whipping, but was in vain as so often. Dull, pupil-less lavender eyes stared into the crushing night that surrounded them, making it hard to breathe for the hurting soul.
"You disobeyed me once again.", the hooded figure behind him hissed, venom dripping from his voice, as it brought the once pure white leather whip up again for the umpteenth's time, stained with dark, crimson blood.
The soul bit its lip. He wouldn't cry out again, never again, never ask for forgiveness again, never humiliate himself again. No. Not this time. Trembling knees prevented him from standing, causing him to fall onto the ground, where he curled into a tight ball. He tried to ignore the fiery pain that seared through him whenever the whip crashed down on him, tried to block his eyes and ears against the images and sounds.
"I-I. . . I obeyed you too long.", he managed to gasp out, staring up at the hooded figure. An angry snarl was heard from beneath the shadows.
"What was that?" A tanned hand shot out, burying itself in sandy-blonde, spiky hair, tugging hard on it. The soul was lifted from the ground halfway, wincing against the pain on his head.
"I said. . . I. . . I obeyed you too long. I won't anymore."
An especially hard tug and another snarl was the result to his speech, causing him to cry out at last. The hood swept back as the person dashed the soul into one of the invisible walls that were there just temporarily, before changing once again, in a sickening fast change of scenery. The soul couldn't see, its vision was blurry. It was amazing that it still was affected by mortal weaknesses, where other souls just turned and vanished in thin air. Oh no, that was not possible for him. But the soul's will was strong, even if the only things that kept him conscious, and fighting, were memories. He slowly lifted his eyes, blinking hard, and focused on the man standing superior before him. Cold silver orbs stared down at him.
"You will obey me. And if it is the last thing you do. . . which it probably is, anyways.", the unearthly being hissed, bending down to make his threat more evident.
"You can't do anything to me. I've got nothing to lose, Seth."
"Oh, you think so?", the god asked casually, smirking evilly. He lifted the soul up by its hair again, ignored the yelp, and the scenery around them changed. The soul found it even harder to breath.
Before them, a bedroom was. And, of course, with a bed in it. On the bed though was the one thing that made the soul gasp and shake his head wildly at the unspoken threat. A blonde, tan skinned boy laid there, sleeping peacefully, halfway covered up with a black silk blanket. The soul gave a pained cry as he recognized his own bed, his own room, and tearstains on the boy's face.
"Kill him."
Wide dusky lavender eyes turned to the god, terror mirrored clearly in their depths.
"No!"
"Kill the child. He is of now use at all." Seth smirked at the memory that came to his mind; the love Anuket felt for the boy. Another way to hurt her. "Do it!"
The soul was pushed forward, crying heavily. Soft, white mist swirled around his hand in dainty, slender wisps, finally forming a silvery, see-through dagger. It was plain, but it controlled the soul's hand immediately. Feet stepped forward, stopping in front of the bed, and a tan hand reached down to brush bangs out of the child's face softly. Seth hissed as large, sleepy violet eyes blinked open, and the child yawned.
Another pained gasp escaped the tormented soul's throat – it was painful to see the young boy, not older than five years old in a minute and seventeen in the other, both child and teenager combined, making his vision blurry. "I. . . I can't. . "
"Do it."
A sharp, cold, calm order, and the soul lifted the dagger slowly. The child, meanwhile, blinked once again and turned hazy, innocent orbs upwards.
"Mariku. . . ?"
The dagger came down quickly.
-------
Ryou sat up, gasping pained, a hand clutching at the oversized white T-shirt he usually wore in bed. "Oh gods. . . "
Next to him, someone stirred, and the teen looked down though he couldn't see, a small, pale hand searching. "Bakura?"
"Mn?"
"Are you awake?"
Crimson tinted, brown eyes blinked up at him, taking the small hand in his larger one's and squeezed it gently. "Now I am. What's the matter?"
The white haired boy began to sob softly. "It's. . . it's. . . oh god. . "Bakura pulled him down, into his arms, and hugged him tightly. Ryou cried into his lover's chest, soaking the smooth skin with salty tears.
"It's M-Mariku. . . "
Bakura growled. Now the spirit already haunted Ryou's sleep? That meant war. Bloody war.
"What did he do?"
Painful seconds passed, in which Ryou cried some more, clinging onto Bakura.
"He killed Malik."
-------
"I need your help."
Yami's eyes went wide as Bakura strode into the room he occupied with Yuugi, wearing his complete work attire. Meaning, he was dressed in the black leather suit Yami came to hate already, his white hair shining dangerously in the moonlight. And, what worried Yami even more than the fact that Bakura needed his help, was the determined glare, the stony expression.
"You need what?"
"Your help. Don't act more stupid than you are, Yami. I need you to take care of Anzu."
The tricolour haired man stood, shaking his head. "I won't come anywhere near that girl." In the blink of an eye he found himself backed up against the next wall, Bakura looming over him growling. "You will."
"Why would I do that?"
Bakura backed off, glancing towards the bed briefly, where Yuugi laid, pale and breathing hard.
"I'm going."
"Where?"
Dark brown met crimson.
"To kill him."
Yami followed Bakura downstairs, to the train room, where Bakura kept his weapons. He was confused by the sudden change of mind the other man obviously had. For he'd always seemed so protective over the spirit, even now.
"Why now?"
"He has gone too far. I won't risk anything else."
While Yami wondered what Mariku could've done to anger Bakura so much that the albino left to kill him in the dead of the night, Bakura grabbed most of his paranormal weapons, stuffing them into the belts which hang on his hips or around his torso, supported by one shoulder.
"Ryou had a vision tonight."
"How so?"
"How would I know? He passed out after he told me."
Yami rolled his eyes. "What was it about?"
"Mariku killing Malik."
A gasp sounded from the doorway. Both men looked up to be met with cerulean eyes full of worry.
"Why?!"
"Go to bed, Anzu.", Yami snapped. Bakura meanwhile strode over and gave her a hug, having slight difficulties with all the equipment.
"I need you to stay with Yami."
"No way!!"
Bakura sighed. "Please?"
The girl frowned, looking away. He couldn't deny Bakura his wish, for she knew he cared about her wellbeing, but. . . she supposed Yami'd most likely kill her, given the opportunity. A kiss was brushed onto her forehead, and Bakura was gone.
"Inform Isis for me, will you."
Anzu and Yami glared at each other.
-------
Woot! Sorry it took so long . Summer break for my mind. And it wasn't the best of chapters either. But next time, the fight, part one! Be prepared!!!
Review replies!!
Fluffylittledragon: That may be a nice idea XD Where have you been?
Magicianofblackchaos23: Seto will come back, don't worry Here you got another version of the god Seth. . . the more cruel one o.o;;
Guardian Arrow: Wow! I'm proud of you! What will be the next upgrade? Thank you though. I'm rid of my writer's block! Glee!
Snow-shadow-wolf: Wah, it's alright! Really! I'm not mad at you, you simply told me what you were thinking. I appreciate that! Hey, my buddy the Pork Steak said you were going to a school in France, is that true? Thank you though. I will update 'Damn! soon, and it will have a slight change in writing style. . . it seems like Kaiba doesn't think anything else than nonsense. ;
GraveRobbers Aman: Hey there you two! Here you got an even longer time no update XD My mind was on vacation as it seemed. I'm sorry I have to hurt someone. I'm trying to think of an ending where everyone can be happy. . . but that's most likely not going to happen sigh
W-chan!!! (A.k.a Pork Steak the Grande XD): Hey there you!! Actually I'm pretty sure I replied to your review sometime when we were IM-ing. . . but anyways! I will never stop RPing! Mwahahahahah! Cause, you know, I'm addicted. Reminds me. Tomorrow's the last day T.T
Inverse-chan: Sorry if it wasn't as funny as you thought it would be. . . but I will add more fun in that arrangement! Promise!
Huh. . . that was it already? Review people! Please! It will make my mind work faster! XD Have a nice day all of you!!