Disclaimer: Firstly, Happy Halloween fanfic-ers. Yes, I have dubbed us fanfic-ers. Don't complain. Well, I really want to continue with this story based on the fact that so many people really appreciate the work I've done with this thing… I feel bad for leaving you hanging for so long, so here's another chapter! Ooh, two in one day! Crazy man!
"Forgive a foolish heart… my eyes still hold your image within their sight, gone, but not forgotten… When I stare into those radiant, piercing eyes… I'm sent to eternity over and over…"
Yami sank to the floor, his eyes closed, his body stiff and sore. Wrapping his arms around his knees, he buried his face into his hands, a slight sob echoing throughout his bedroom. These nightmarish dreams were coming to him even during the day now; these premonitions of horrible slaughter… of his beloved dead, cold, empty…
Another sob escaped his body, tears now flowing freely down his cheeks. He hadn't eaten for days, despite the council of his loved ones. He didn't care anymore. He didn't want to feel anymore.
The war was going on outside, but his own personal battle was raging inside of him. To go… or not to go… He couldn't possibly abandon his country in its time of need; especially because he was the source of the peoples misery. But what about his own misery? Would nobody listen to him? Would nobody take him into their arms to hold him? Why did he feel so torn; so alone?
"Highness?" a voice called. Startled from his thoughts, Yami quickly stood up, wiping his face. Seto stood in the doorway, his face showing evidence of lack of sleep and fear.
"Seto… Please, come in." Yami whispered softly, moving towards his bed and sitting down. Obeying, Seto quickly moved to his side, pulling him into a tight hug. Surprised at this showing of affection, Yami slowly placed his arms around the other man's shoulders, feeling the warmth of his skin.
"Golden One… You have not been yourself ever since… ever since the incident…" Seto stammered. "What did that jackal do to you? Why are you so drawn back from your people?" Yami gazed at the ground, slowly releasing his grip on his cousin.
"Seto… dearest cousin… Is it wrong to think of oneself in times of great strife? Am I merely being selfish?" he started. And then, as if a fountain had been turned on, words gushed from his lips, a river of pent-up emotion he had been dying to let loose on the world. The tears flowed freely as he spoke, louder and faster.
"Seto, I can't bear this burden any longer! I need to get out of here… I need to see Bakura. While we were together I felt so… so perfect! So good about myself! He was so… he was just wonderful and I need to see him. I can't go on with this damned war! I want it all to stop! It needs to stop right now or I… I don't know what I'll do!" he rambled, his body shaking. "I want to see Bakura! I need to see him now! Bring him to me! Find him! Take him by force if you must!! I just… I need his guidance!!!"
Seto stared at him, startled by this outburst of random revelations. For a moment, Seto's mouth hung open, words unable to form. Finally, after a few seconds of ringing silence, Seto stood, rage etched on his features.
"How DARE you? You bring this country into a war that you promised we could win and now, in its time of dire need, you wish to leave it unattended? You selfish little BRAT!" Seto cried, slapping Yami across the face. Almost immediately, the guards were on him, tackling Seto to the ground. Yami stood shocked as Seto screamed curses at him from below.
"Bastard!!! You're the only one who wanted this war! You're the cause of Egypt's downfall! And for what? Some damned thief?! How can you do this to your people?! To those that are loyal and love you? If you want that damned bandit over your most trusted people, by all means, get out of here! We have no need for a half-assed Pharaoh!!" Seto spit, his eyes locked onto Yami's. "I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!!!" he screamed as the guards pulled him off into the night.
Yami stood motionless, his face burning, his eyes still leaking. Seto… Seto was right… But how could he focus on Egypt when his thoughts were so scattered?
Quickly, Yami turned to his guards, tears stinging his reddened cheek.
"Find the thief Bakura! Bring him to me at once!!" he commanded, a look of determination on his face. He would solve this problem once and for all.
"You devil! You evil little devil!" a mother scolded her young son. "How could you steal that bread? It wasn't right and you're giving it back right now!" she yelled, taking his hand and dragging him back to the street vendor. Bakura watched in slight amusement, a small smirk on his face as he took a bite of the loaf of bread he had gotten the same way as the child had.
Sniffling and crying all the way, the little boy reluctantly gave the bread to the vendor, his lips moving in silent apology. The vendor looked at the mother, then the son, smiled a bit and spoke loudly.
"Little ragamuffin! You're lucky I don't cut your hand right off!" he yelled, holding up a knife. The little boy ran to his mother, sobbing louder than ever.
Well, thought Bakura. That'll teach him to never steal again. His eyes drifted to his own loaf of bread.
"Bakura! You know better than to steal like that!" the young woman scolded, her hands on her hips. "I want you to take that back right this second!" Bakura looked at the ground sadly, his eyes welling up with tears.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry, mommy…" he sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve. "I p-promise it won't h-h-happen again!" he wailed, his tears splashing into the dusty sand. His mother smiled a little, then bent down and looked her son in the eyes.
"Bakura… We raised you better than to be a common thief. You will amount to such wonderful things! You know that your father will give you his land… You will find a fine wife and have children of your own. We don't have to steal things from others…" she said softly. "When you are older, you will understand…"
Hmph, thought Bakura. All I understand now is hunger… and pain… and loss… and… His thoughts began to jumble together. He couldn't make any sense of them save one. Yami… Yami knew about loss. Yami knew about pain. But… not the hunger. Not the passion to feed off of the living; the temptations you are faced with when desperate; the prerogative to ruin all you come in contact with.
Shaking his head, Bakura sighed and walked away… straight into the chest-plate of a royal guard.
Yami paced the hallways, his hands behind his back, his face contorted with impatience. What the hell was taking them so long? It wasn't hard to find a man with long white hair! Gods know that there are so many of them, he thought bitterly.
He sighed long and deep, his mind tired from so much stress. Would it ever end? Would he ever really be at peace? Would being with Bakura again solve his problems? Or… would it only make them worse?
"Let me go, you damned fools!! If I weren't tied up… Oh ho ho, I would tear your flesh to pieces, dammit!!" Yami's ears perked up immediately. He knew that voice… How could he not when it haunted his dreams every night? Turning quickly, he stood face to face with the thief from KuruEruna… It was him.
There he stood. His eyes filled with rage and anger; his hair mussed from the obvious struggle that he had been put through. Bakura glared at him, his mouth forming a sneer, one lone sharpened tooth just barely showing. Yami breathed in deeply, inhaling his scent, inhaling his essence.
"B-bring him to my quarters… I want to be left alone with him. There are… things we must discuss." He breathed quietly, turning his back on the thief and walking toward his room. Yami smirked a little, trying to regain his regal composure. After all… If Bakura could play hard to get, so could he.
"Pharaoh! He is a dangerous criminal! Do you really think it wise…" the guards protested.
"YOU DARE QUESTION ME?" Yami bellowed, his shoulders stiffening. The guards stammered a reply, but argued no more. They followed him as he walked effortlessly into his chambers. Yami turned to them, snapping his fingers in a rude manner.
"Now, boys. Your services are no longer required this evening." He said teasingly. Bakura continued to glare at Yami as they released him, but kept the ropes around his legs and arms. As they departed, Yami turned to face Bakura.
"So… thief. We finally meet again."
Authors Note: shrug A so-so chapter I think. Eh. Hope you all like it. If not erm… well, I'm gonna keep updating as much as possible, so I guess you'll just have to deal with it. Personally I like this storyline a bit better than the other one… more drama you know.