Disclaimer: Oi oi. It's time for the next update. ^_^ Yay for the happy fanfic! Anyway, this is chapter six and I am very happy with the response I've gotten from you all. The reviews have been much appreciated and the suggestions have been taken to heart.
So I'm finally going to update this. Again, I want to actually make this story GO somewhere. Heh, I don't want it to just be really pretty. So… let's see how well I can do this. Chapter six will, hopefully…, hold some revelations for both Yami and Bakura… and maybe the author will put in a little eye-candy for ya'll, if you know what I mean.
Chapter 6: The Absence of Fear
Bakura swept through the city in a mixture of anger and sorrow. He hadn't meant to actually strike Yami… merely to warn him about his quickly rising temper. He brushed his hair out of his eyes in frustration. How was he supposed to deal with a royal brat like that anyway?
Bakura stopped at a cart and surveyed the items. Nothing of use. He sighed, plopping down next to the cart. Yami…that fool. He'd never make it back to Thebes on his own.
"Well, good riddance!" mumbled Bakura, spitting on the ground next to him. "I didn't need that idiot to understand me anyway. Who the hell does he think he is anyway… spoiled brat…" He put his arms behind his head and closed his eyes. He didn't need Yami… not at all…
Meanwhile, the young Pharaoh was having issues of his own. This city was unfamiliar to him; the people looked threatening. To put it simply, Yami was terrified to be on his own, but too proud to look for Bakura. The thief was of no use to him. He could always hire someone after all…
Yami hurried towards a promising looking fellow. The man was nicely dressed… he had to be of some importance in this flea-ridden city.
"E-excuse me! Sir! Please, wait!" Yami called, running after the man. The large man turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms.
"Kid, I ain't got no time for talking to ya. I've got business to attend to, so if ya ain't got any money or nothin', I ain't interested." The man turned to continue on his intended path, but Yami latched himself onto his leg.
"Please! I need you to take me to Thebes! I promise you, you will be heavily rewarded once we get there!" Yami babbled pleadingly. "You see, sir, I am the Pharaoh! I have been kidnapped and dragged against my will to this Gods-forsaken land! I just want to go home!"
The man turned back to him, instantly interested.
"The Pharaoh of Egypt, eh?… This is getting interesting, kid. What'll ya pay me?" the man inquired, stroking his chin. Yami let out a small sigh of relief.
"Whatever you want… Just please, take me back to Thebes."
Bakura stood up reproachfully, his body heavy with the weight of the earlier events. He hated to be the one to crawl back… No. He just wanted what was coming to him, of course. He would have to find the brat and bring him back to Thebes.
Bakura let out a soft sigh. This was a nuisance. Why did he have to be the one to find Yami? Why hadn't Yami come to find him yet? Oh well, time for a bit of fun.
Bakura began to walk down the street. Things seemed quiet; normal and plain as usual. After a few blocks, things became a bit strange.
People were crowded about a small building; others quickly rushing to see what the commotion was. Bakura glanced around. Might as well check it out, he thought to himself.
As he approached, Bakura caught a glimpse of red hair at the center of the crowd. His stomach began to tense up. It couldn't be Yami… His pace quickened further. He heard laughter; ridicule. His pace quickened to a run.
Pushing people out of his way, Bakura fought his way to the center of the circle of people. After a few seconds of pushing, he finally saw, to his disgust, what they were all laughing about.
In the center of the group sat Yami. He had been gagged and bound to a small wooden chair. A crown of dung had been placed in his hair; a mock crown. Tears streamed down his face, his nose bloody from numerous hits across the face. Flies roamed around him, his shoulders heaving gently as he sobbed against the gag.
Bakura felt rage take hold of him, allowing himself to let out a fierce growl. Yami looked up from his throne at the white-haired man in front of him. For the first time, Yami had been thankful to see the thief, his eyes watering at Bakura's muscular form glinting in the sunlight. The man Yami had met stepped forward.
"Behold, demon! Worship your 'Pharaoh'!" he laughed mockingly, prodding at Yami with a small rod. Yami flinched each time the man struck him, whimpering piteously behind the tight gag.
"…You son-of-a-bitch…" Bakura whispered, glaring murderously at the man before him. Without warning, Bakura struck, his fist colliding with the man's jaw, sending the man flying backwards.
Yami watched in dismay, struggling against the ropes. The crowd had begun to dissipate, not wanting to be caught in the upcoming fight.
Yami sat by the large window in his room, watching the rain fall, spattering the ground of the city of Thebes. The young boy sighed, placing his chin on his arms. It had been three days since his father, Pharaoh of Egypt, had left to make plans for the brewing war.
His eyes wandered through the streets, watching the citizens scattering for cover. How long had it been since the last rain storm…? Quite awhile.
Yami leaned back, lying on the numerous pillows thrown about his room. He watched the darkened clouds move lazily across the blackened sky, wondering to himself when a break of sunshine would come. Suddenly, the doors to his room opened and one of their many servants wandered in.
"Young Master, your father has arrived home." He spoke in a quiet voice. Yami sprang up from the pillows, excitedly running through the door past the surprised servant.
The smile on Yami's face grew as he approached the gates to the palace. His father had finally returned! Yami flew out of the gates and caught sight of his father.
"Father, you're finally back! The Gods be praised!" Yami shouted, waving his arms. His father, however, moved right past him, pushing Yami's spread arms out of his way.
"I've got no time for you, boy. War is brewing! Don't you know that, you stupid child?!" yelled his father. Yami watched him go in sorrow, his eyes watering at the harsh words of his father. There would be no joy in the palace, even with his father's return.
Yami gazed at his father as the numerous servants crowded around him, bending to Akunumkanon's every word. How sickening, he thought. He gave a small sigh and walked off into the rain.
Yami moved his chin upward, letting the rain wash his tears from his cheeks. But still they flowed, mixing their horrid salt with the purity of the rain-water. Opening his amethyst eyes, he stared up at the gloomy rain clouds. So this was what it came down to. A young boy of his caliber standing in the rain, soaked to the bone.
He let out a small laugh but it sounded more like a whimper of a child. But he was no child. Yami narrowed his eyes in fierce determination. He was the next Pharaoh… he better damned well start to show it!
Sticking his nose up in the air as he had seen his father do numerous times, Yami proudly stalked back towards the palace. Who cared if his father didn't love him anymore? That was not what family was for. At least… that's what he'd been taught. Yami smirked to himself, knowing that he would survive; that he would live on as Pharaoh of Egypt.
After all, his father was a good man but… time was most surely against him.
Yami mentally smacked himself for thinking such a thing. How could he wish death on his own father? His father was a man of his word; a man with respect for himself and for his country. Of course his father loved him! The country, Yami realized, must always come first in the life of the Pharaoh.
And that, he decided, was how it would always be.
The man quickly crawled away, whimpering like a beaten dog. Bakura had broken his jaw. Yami could tell because of the way it was just hanging there… bloodied and barely hanging on to the rest of the man's face.
Bakura bent down and began to untie the ropes, his face hard and void of emotion. Yami stammered underneath his breath, searching inside himself for some word of thanks. Bakura, sensing the young boy's discomfort, assured him.
"No thanks is necessary, Pharaoh. Just try and keep close to me next time." Bakura mumbled softly, a slight edge to his voice; an edge that said to Yami 'I told you so'.
Yami smiled as best he could, his lips sore from the brutality that had occurred. Bakura finished quickly and tossed the ropes aside. Quickly, he extended his arm to the beaten Pharaoh.
"Please, allow me to help this time." Bakura motioned for Yami to take his arm. Yami stared at Bakura, as if for the first time realizing that Bakura really was trying to protect him.
"…Thank you so much… Bakura." Yami reached out his shaking hand and placed it gently on Bakura's arm.
I am VERY sorry that it took so long to put this chapter up. I meant to finish it last Friday, but found myself buried in homework. Ah, school how I loathe thee.
Anyway, please forgive the lateness. Anyone notice that the flashback this time was Yami's? ^_^ Hooray! Yami doesn't feel so left out anymore!
I plan to bring Seto and his father into this later, but for now they'll only be showing up in flashbacks. Sorry all you Seto fans. Keep reading, keep reviewing, and I'll keep writing! Oh yeah… I didn't mention that yet!
I am working on some ideas for a Malik/Yami Malik fanfic. Any ideas would be appreciated… they could definitely help me with some brain-storming! Keep waiting for some new chapters! I will be updating verrrrrrry soon!