Hi again everyone. I have updated! I CAN ACCESS MY STORIES AND INTERNET AT THE SAME TIME! What a relief…I have been unable to update for the past 2 weeks or so because of it. Turns out that AOL was malfunctioning somehow…I don't really understand it. Computers are not my area of expertise.
I noticed that I probably would never start another chapter if I didn't get at least one review. Usually, when I open the document to start typing, it's to put in the first review response, not because I really have a great idea and am desperate to type. So thank you everyone! Without all of you, this story may not have gone beyond the first chapter. Maybe none of my stories would have. Arigato!
Demonfer: Hi again! Glad you still like it. Very glad. Interesting--I don't think I've ever heard of Bjork. I'll see if I can find the song. What's it called? Don't worry, I'll update as soon as I finish typing…(clacking keys sound) DON'T HURT ME!
Fear of Falling: Too much sugar…an affliction many seem to suffer from. Or maybe that's just me. Are you sure about the kill you part? I'd rather just keep what reviewers I have, no matter how often they change their pen name. So do I have to? Oh, and…maybe this is a stupid question, but since I'm really out of it these days (I blame spring fever), what was your pen name before? Ehehe…I feel kinda stupid asking that, since you probably mentioned it somewhere.
Bakuraxryou: Sorry, I can't write lemons to save my life! Seriously. Besides, I don't want to get kicked off of I like it here. Umm…will be getting back to Bakura and Yami this chapter, actually. But this story focuses mainly on Malik and Ryou, with the other pair in the background. The sequel will mention them more. (That's Moonlit Walk, people. I started typing this when I realized that one needed a prequel to make sense. I will be continuing that when this is just about done, which should only be another few chapters. Like….2 chapters after this I think. Maybe just one. Probably two though.)
Disclaimer: Tired of typing this. Please see last four chapters, as I have no more ideas for fun disclaimers. GO AWAY, LAWYERS! WE KNOW WE DON'T OWN IT! YOU DON'T NEED TO RUB IT IN!
Ok, now that that's out of my system…I proudly present chapter 5!
Oh yeah, and I finally remembered to ask Muse what to call her. Go read her stories. She writes as PharaohYami'sGuardianCat. So, I'll call her that. Whoa…long name, Muse. Anyways, go read her stuff, people. I recommend it. Why would I ask her for ideas if I didn't? It wouldn't make sense. Ignore that I rarely make sense and just take my advice this time.
My muse helps me often, so yes, I am supporting her. (Or advertising, if that's what you want to call it, but unlike most advertisements, I speak the truth. Hehehe…)
Chapter 5
In a darkened room, a man sat in a richly adorned golden chair with a high back. The only light in the room came from a small window placed right below the high ceiling. Another man, slim and supple, knelt before him. "My pharaoh," a deep voice whispered. "I have news."
"Well?"
"The buy has been bought--more like adopted--by the High Priestess Isis's youngest brother. He is well treated and happy with his position." There were a few moments of silence before the ruler replied.
"Very well. You may go."
()()() scene change ()()()
It was a while past noon, and the sky was growing darker. However, it wasn't really all that late yet--just enough that Ra's rays shone over the wall and into the garden where two boys sat together. One leaned on the older teen's shoulder, with an arm wrapped protectively around his shoulders.
Slowly, Malik jostled Ryou awake. The younger Egyptian had actually fallen asleep there. Malik stood, stretching his arms as he did so.
"Ryou? I have to go, Isis is gonna wonder what happened to me. Come back when you're ready. If you're not home by dark, I'll come looking for you. Okay?" The younger teen nodded sleepily, smiling at his lover. "Good. See you soon, sweetheart." Malik returned the smile before planting a kiss on Ryou's fore head and walking away.
At that point, Ryou was so relaxed that he just went back to sleep, leaning against the short stone wall. Admittedly, it wasn't as comfortable as Malik's shoulder, but whatever worked…
When the young boy awoke, Ra was sinking behind the top of the high boundary wall. Ryou jumped up quickly. He hadn't realized he'd been asleep so long! Soon it would be dark, and he had very little time to walk back home. He hurried out of the garden, running as quickly as he could. The sun set quickly in this land.
Halfway back, the young teen had to stop to catch his breath. Maybe running wasn't fastest after all….
Suddenly he heard footsteps. He glanced up--and froze. The man who had just rounded the corner had spiky, tri-colored hair that he had only ever seen on one person. Pharaoh…but there was no procession, no warning…
The man suddenly noticed Ryou looking straight at him. He walked over to the young boy. "What have we here?" he whispered. "A little slave…the image of…heh." He grabbed the teen's arm and began to drag him away. At that point, Ryou found he was able to move again. He struggled all he could, but to no avail. However, he was able to slow them down. And Yami was getting annoyed. Suddenly, Ryou felt a hit on the head and fell into darkness.
When Ryou woke up, his only clue that he was still alive was his blinding headache. Not that he needed to be blinded; the room he was in was pitch black, it was impossible to see anything.
He had no clue how long he'd been sitting there in the dark. There was no way of measuring time in the pitch black, after all. 'Malik's probably worried,' he thought. 'Maybe he should be….I don't know where I am, there's no way for me to go home, and…oh gods, what's going on?'
Just then, a small beam of light slid into the room. Looking around in the dim light, Ryou could see an entrance, underneath which the bit of light came. Someone must have lit a torch in the other room or something. Listening silently, he heard faint voices coming from through the solid wooden door. One of the voices sounded…familiar…as if he knew its owner very well…
Suddenly it hit him. 'Bakura!' Ryou strained to hear what was being said, but the sounds were muffled by the thick door, and the voices were quiet anyways. All the teen could make out were a few words, such as "…No! Don't…why…quiet…" It sounded like random gibberish without the rest of the sentences.
All of a sudden the voices stopped. Ryou heard footsteps coming towards him, and shrank back into the corner. The door suddenly swung open, letting a flood of light flood into the room. The young teen threw up his arm to cover his eyes, but was still temporarily blinded by the brightness.
He felt someone grab his arm in a strong grip and begin to drag him. He still couldn't see well, and couldn't tell which way they were going. He closed his eyes to keep them from being damaged by the light.
Through his eyelids, he could see that it suddenly got a lot brighter. He guessed that they had entered the room that the light had come through before.
He heard his brother gasp, then shout, "Leave him alone!" At that point, whoever was dragging him dropped him unceremoniously to the stone floor. Footsteps echoed throughout the room, but they were going away from the young teen.
Another voice whispered, "And why would I do that?" The pale slave didn't recognize this voice, but his vision was beginning to clear. Shapes began to appear in the light, including something that looked vaguely like hair, but shaped like spiky triangles…unusual. That shape looked familiar…like he had seen it not long ago…then he remembered who had kidnapped him.
'Oh no….' he thought. 'Not him, please gods, not him…' But why would the gods listen to a mere slave? Especially when doing so would work against the Pharaoh, the god on Earth…it was hopeless. He was in real trouble now…'I hope Malik is looking for me.' The older teen may be his only chance by now.
His vision fully cleared by now, the pale slave looked around the room he was in. The room had no windows and was lit by a torch. The door he had come through looked almost the same color as the wall in the flickering firelight. It would have been almost invisible if he hadn't known it was there. There was another door, made of thick wood, against the opposite wall. There were no windows in the room, which explained why it had been so dark before. One of the remaining walls was empty. The final side of the room was where Bakura and the Pharaoh stood. With a start, Ryou realized that his brother was chained to the sand-colored stones that made up the wall.
The young teen began to listen to the…well, conversation wasn't the best term…of the other two. Bakura was still yelling, while the young ruler stood nearby smirking. The pale thief was getting more frantic by the minute…Ryou could tell that something would happen soon if he wasn't stopped.
Just then a knock rang out on the door that led to the outside. The pharaoh sighed, looking disappointed, but walked over to answer it anyways. Apparently, no one interrupted him here unless it was important.
This was important, apparently. A man stood outside the door, hidden from the view of the pale teens. "Sir, we have a problem." He said. "The High Priest requires your immediate presence. He said it was urgent."
The young ruler's expression soured. "Very well. If it is urgent, I suppose I should go." He walked off rapidly, obviously hoping to be done with this quickly.
Ryou immediately stood and ran over to his brother. Luckily, the pharaoh had left the torch behind, so he could see. "Bakura, are you all right?"
"Fine. Get out of here, before he gets back."
"No." He certainly wasn't leaving his brother behind, not when he was obviously in such a bad situation.
"Why not, dammit? It's not safe here!"
"I know."
"Ryou. Listen to me." The younger teen looked up at his older brother. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Get out of here before he gets back, go find somewhere safe."
"No." Seeing his brother's growing frustration, he explained. "Bakura…I don't want anything to happen to you either. I'll leave, but not until you come with me."
"If only one of us disappear., he may let it go. If I'm gone too, he'll definitely look for us both. Think about it! It's safer for you to leave now."
"I have somewhere to go. He can't find either of us there." Hopefully Malik wouldn't mind Bakura knowing about the garden. He couldn't think of any other solution at this point.
The older teen looked at him oddly, then sighed. "You do realize I'm stuck here, right?"
"You can pick locks." The younger brother knew his niisama well enough to realize that his question was really a form of agreement.
"I need tools. I don't have any."
"Pieces of metal, right?" The younger of the brothers grinned. "Have you noticed the bits of it lying around in the corners?"
Bakura looked up suddenly. "Are you serious?" His younger brother nodded. "I had no reason to look around, I was stuck here anyways…."
In a few minutes the older boy was free, and both of them set off for the door. Opening it slightly, Bakura glanced through the crack. A guard stood outside the door. "Damn…" he muttered. Unfortunately, that was enough for the guard to hear.
"I know you're there, you know." At this, both boys froze. It would be very bad to get caught now…they were in trouble.
At least, they thought they were, until the man continued. "Listen…I'm tired of hearing screams coming from that room. Every fifteen minutes or so I'm supposed to patrol the nearby halls. I'll just go a little early." The two teens exchanged looks of amazement before nodding thankfully.
As the kindhearted guard rounded the corner, the pair slipped through the doorway and ran down the hallway rapidly. "I'd say we've got maybe five minutes before he has to notice that we disappeared." Bakura whispered.
"Then come on! We'll have to hurry." Ryou answered, before pulling the older boy towards the older section of the palace. The garden wasn't that close, they'd have to hurry to get there within five minutes.
And I think I'll leave it there, since I am way overdue for an update. By the way, don't expect much over the summer; I'm gone for a third of it. Yea…Japan in June, Mexico in July, and camp in August. Talk about traveling. I feel lucky.
Also, I know I said there were no other doors in the chamber Bakura was in. I changed my mind. I need a closet or some other small dark area going off of it. SO I'm going to say that this door was really hard to see. I do realize my descriptions of the room contradict each other; the one in this chapter is right.
So….Review! Press the pretty purple button….(Grins like a maniac)…And maybe I'll be nice next chapter! Otherwise I will make it full of pain, because that's easier. I'm still trying to decide if I should do one or two more chapters here…ideas for the sequel are building up. In case anyone has missed past mentions of sequel (which is unlikely, considering how many times I've said this), that's called Moonlit Walk. Go read it when this is done.
Oh, and 2 questions for reviewers. First of all, how do you think this will end? I don't want to become too predictable, after all. Muse, you can't answer that one, I think I already told you. Second question: I will either be doing 2 more chapters--one short and happy and one medium length but evil--or one chapter--long, starting out happy but ending up evil. The same things will happen either way, it's just a question of whether I make them one chapter or two. Please tell me what you think!