Updated 12/25/04

Chapter 2: Lavender Eyes

Ah, the wonderful heat. It is great to be back in a place as warm as Egypt. thought a young man stretched out beneath the shade of a palm tree. His pale blond hair nearly seemed white in the shadows. I wonder where I am? It's a pity he knocked out Yugi and Ryou. Malik glanced at his bodyguard, brother, and . . . almost fatherly figure: Rishid. The man had thought his charge was in danger, not bothering to figure out who the 'assailants' were, he had knocked them out.

Rishid was sitting in the shadow, trying hard not to fall asleep. His eyes would droop and then his head would nod away. Suddenly, it would snap back up again, golden eyes glaring with determination and concentration. "Rishid, just rest a bit. Today was hectic." grinned Malik.

"But Master Malik I-" protested Rishid.

"Sleep." said Malik blandly waving away the older man's reasons.

Flashback:

Malik stood at the stern of his yacht, enjoying the wind as it blew through his hair and clothing. "Malik, you should come below deck. A storm is brewing." warned his sister's voice as she walked behind him.

"How do you know? You don't have your Tauk anymore." replied Malik, "There isn't a cloud in the sky."

"I listened to the weather on the radio. I don't always need the Tauk to foretell what soon comes. You better go. Or I'll have to send Rishid to fetch you down. I'll give you twenty minutes." sighed Isis heading back below-deck.

Malik turned back to look at the sky. Hmph, twenty minutes. I don't see any storm. thought Malik haughtily.

Twenty minutes later:

"Master Malik! Master Malik!" shouted Rishid shielding his eyes against the onslaught of rain drops pelting against and the cold wind threatening to blow him over. A streak of lightning crackled through the air and thunder resound loudly after it. The manservant whirled around desperately searching for his charge. He could almost make out the sound of Malik's voice. The flare of blonde hair against the dreary and dark sky, and ocean caught his attention.

"Hang on Master Malik! I'm coming!" assured Rishid.

Malik turned around. Relief filled his eyes at the sight of Rishid making his way towards him. A sudden jolt of the boat in the choppy waves knocked him off his feet. The floor seemed to hurtle towards him and a bright light seemed to tear through his vision before he stopped seeing or hearing.

"Master Malik!" yelled Rishid. He ran toward the fallen teenager. Malik had grown pale and his eyes were closed. A lump was forming on his forehead, but other than that, it was nothing he could fix. But something alerted the large Egyptian that something was wrong. He felt as if something were sucking him away. He felt himself falling . . . falling . . . falling . . .

End Flashback

Hmph, apparently they had been washed up on some distant shore. How, he couldn't guess. He felt the cool touch of metal against the revealed skin of his abdomen and shuddered. The Millennium Rod, how he wished to take it off and just throw it away, far away. But if he did, who knew who . . . or what could get it. Just as long as he didn't have to use it again, yes, then everything would be fine.

"Yes Ma. We jus' found 'im there in the alley. No weapons at all, unless you count them scales and other gold thing weapons." A voice drifted across Shadi's mind. "There was blood an' everythin' on 'im."

He finally was able to force his eyelids open and blinked a couple times taking in where he was. It was a small room, decently furnished with wood drawers, a mirror, washstand, and other necessities. Shadi tried to sit up but a wave of nausea swept over him and had stifled a groan as he fell back down. "Now look what you did Min, he was sleeping peacefully and you woke him up." said a woman with a scolding voice.

Shadi felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder and looked to see a pump middle-aged woman gazing at him kindly. "Are you alright sir? My boys found you in an alley. They say you might have been caught in a bad fight. But you have no lasting injuries. It seems like you were just exhausted."

Shadi nodded blankly trying to understand. Where was he? Where were Yugi, Ryou, the Pharaoh, and the Tomb Robber? "His eyes are strange looking." whispered the youngest boy, meaning only for the other one to hear, but Shadi could just make it out, "They're scary."

"You must be starving. You've been out for a day. Couldn't get you to eat anything during that time." smiled the woman, she turned to the boys, "Min, bring me some stew and a loaf of bread. Joshlin, some wine . . . "

"Just water please." interrupted Shadi not wanting to repeat an incident that happened when he had tried alcohol when his father was out on a long trip when he was fifteen. It involved other village boys, a lot of persuasion, blacking out, and waking up to find a very miffed Senui and a haggard looking Ankhkare. He had later found out that he had turned very . . . clumsy. As he came back home nearly revealing the sacred place to all of his friends. Ankhkare had erased the other boy's memories. Not only had that happened, but he had broken a sacred tablet of the pharaoh's memory. But it was as if Ra decided to have mercy on him, and the one broken was the one that he had copied down for lessons one day and memorized. No problem in that, except for when father found out . . . he had a sore backside for days.

"Oh, fine then." said the woman looking surprised, "Well go on boys! You know it is rude to stare." As she shooed them away.

"You aren't from around here aren't you? Never seen any person with darker skin than you before. Where do you come from?" asked the woman bustling around the room and making it neater.

"I remember some place called Amon Hen. We were attacked by these black demons. That's all I remember." murmured Shadi fighting the urge to fall asleep again.

The woman turned around and saw looked amused at his struggles, "Look here now young man. There's no use fretting yourself. You're deathly tired and it won't do your friends any good it you die on them. And Amon Hen? That sounds awfully far away from here. Just rest." she soothed folding a warm towel on his forehead and patting him reassuringly.

"Aragorn. So you think maybe all of them have been captured?" asked Legolas, "But why all of them? None of them have the Ring."

"For our other companions, I fear it isn't the Ring they want from them, but rather their powers. Don't you remember that some of them a spirits? Saruman might want them for his own uses. And we can't allow that to happen. Not while there's still some fight in us." murmured Aragorn, "We go!"

Ankhkare started at the sound of leaves crackling behind him. "Who's there?" it was hard to see anything in this darkness of the night.

"It's just me wheat-head. Why are we out here?" asked Senui trudging up behind Ankhkare.

"I didn't want to leave you here and . . ." Ankhkare trailed off.

"What?!" demanded Senui.

"Thank you." murmured Ankhkare softly.

"For what?" sneered Senui.

"For saving my life! You pushed me out of the way." said Ankhkare.

"Oh, that . . ." mused Senui, "I just saw a sword on the ground. Wanted to get it but you were in the way." Ankhkare sweat-dropped at Senui's words.

"So answer my question. What are we doing down here still?" asked Senui.

"Waiting for Aragorn and the others." replied Ankhkare, some doubt was in his voice though.

"They left us didn't they?" pressed Senui, "Hmph, left us out here to die."

"NO! They didn't do that." protested Ankhkare.

"Why didn't you go after them?" inquired Senui dryly.

"I did, but they were too fast. I couldn't catch up to them!" said Ankhkare, "And I couldn't leave you here too long or something might come have come and taken you away like they did the pharaoh and tomb robber. Master Shadi is missing too." murmured Ankhkare.

Senui hitched up his robes and started climbing back on to the top of the small ravine. "What are you doing?" asked Ankhkare.

"We're going to find them." replied Senui curtly.

"Why?" asked Ankhkare.

"I have my reasons so move!" shouted Senui. Or it will be too late. thought Senui biting his lip angrily.

"Merry . . . Merry! Are you alright?" asked Pippin. He got no answer. His cousin was still unconscious, head lolling about and mouth open. Yami and Bakura were in the same state, maybe worse. Every time one of them managed to awaken a bit. A dart was shot into their arm and they'd slump back into their unconsciousness.

An orc behind him started guzzling down a skin full of some sort of liquid. Thinking it was water, Pippin turned in position on an orc's back. "My friend is sick he needs water . . . please!" pleaded the small hobbit. The orcs stopped and the one with the water-skin watched him with a sneer on its face. "Please!"

"He's sick is he?" drawled Ugluk. "Well, give it too him!"

The water-skin was shoved into Merr y's open mouth and dark red liquor spilled down his throat. Merry suddenly came back to life retching and sputtering. "Can't take his medicine can't he?" laughed Ugluk. All the other orcs laughed as well as if the scene before them was something hilarious.

They're trying to kill him! thought Pippin. "Stop it! Stop it!" shouted Pippin.

"Or else what?" asked Ugluk thrusting his face in front of Pippin's, "Do you want some too?" Pippin shook his head quickly. "Good! Then behave. Come on!" shouted Ugluk. And the run began again.

"Merry, Merry are you alright?" asked Pippin. Merry turned his head towards Pippin to reply but was cut off, "Your hurt!"

"I'm alright Pip. It was just an act." muttered Merry.

"An act?" exclaimed Pippin.

"See I fooled you too. I'll be alright Pip. I'll be alright." murmured Merry before slumping forward.

Bakura grinned, at the scenes as they unfolded before him, he had just woken up from the effects of the drug. That midget has more guts than I gave him credit for. Hmph, now if only I could get off of his hunk of smelly meat's back. grimaced Bakura. But that was never going to happen. The drugs the orcs were injecting into him made his mind fuzzy and nauseated. They wouldn't escape quickly enough. And the pharaoh was out cold. They had just dosed him again.

The orc he was on was nearing Pippin's. Hoping that the helmet covering the orc's ears were thick enough and that his strength held long enough to put a deafening spell on the orcs ears that were in range, Bakura leaned closer to Pippin who was sobbing quietly in his sleeve. "Hey midget, Took!" hissed Bakura.

Pippin raised his head and looked in utter surprise at Bakura. "But they drugged you!" he whispered.

"That was the fool pharaoh. Hurry. We have to make an escape!" spat Bakura.

"But how? They'll just catch us!" exclaimed Pippin, Bakura cursed as some of the orcs started noticing their conversation. They were making their way to the two prisoners.

"I don't know. But at whatever chances you can get. Run for it! They want something the Ring from you and when they find out you don't have it they'll kill you and your other midget friend both." ordered Bakura.

"What about you two?" asked Pippin.

"Heh, they won't kill us. And they have no power the weaklings. We'll escape don't worry. So just go when the time comes. Don't worry about us. We'll be fin-" Bakura let out a pained gasp and his eyes glazed over and shut as unconsciousness took him. A small dart protruded out of his side.

"Hmph. What were they talking about?" asked Ugluk to the orcs around.

"Nothing. Just staring at each other. Maybe they're on bad terms." snorted another.

Pippin stared at Bakura as the orc carrying him moved ahead and then at Yami who's orc was catching up to Bakura's. Escape? It seemed like none of them ever will. I wish Merry were awake. He'd know what to do. thought Pippin.

Ryou opened his eyes and closed them again at the glare of the sunset shining in his eyes. "Ack, where are we?" he asked.

"You're finally awake? Rishid did you two a good one. Had you all out for a few hours." smiled a voice . . . a too familiar voice.

"Malik?!" shouted Ryou scooting away from the Egyptian boy's form standing in front of him. But there was no where to go, a palm tree was already right behind him and Yugi was still asleep.

Malik raised his hands in peace, "I'm not here to take anything from anyone this time. Nor do I want to hurt any of you. Just wondering where I am. You know?"

Ryou looked around. They were in a dry and barren place. A few trees popped up here and there. And a small pool of water was not too far away. Ryou walked over to it and was about to drink out of it when there was a chuckle behind him. "I wouldn't drink out of that if I were you. It's very saline, not good for the body. Here take this." A water-skin was tossed to him.

"Where did you get it?" asked Ryou.

"There's a village nearby. Rishid got it. He fits in pretty well. Big, dark-skined, tattoos. I could have gone but he ordered me to stay. He said they thought he was some sort of soldier. And gave him a nice spear. Yugi has a weapon too. Looked pretty un-used to me." grinned Malik.

Ryou looked around for his spear and remembered that he had left it back at camp, not that he ever used it. Yugi always had his sword on his in his belt. But never really had used it. In Moria (Ryou shivered at the memory of the place) Yugi had tried to jab at an orc if they came to close. But being next to Yami all the time had protected him most of the time. Ryou sighed, he had never really used his spear either.

"Looks nice." murmured Malik pulling the small hobbit-sword . . . more like knife out of its sheath. The boy gave it a few swings and grinned. "If Yugi doesn't want it. If he can't use it . . . that I don't doubt; I'll take it."

"Master Malik. You should be careful." warned Rishid. Ryou started, he hadn't even noticed the tall and silent man until that time. Golden eyes looked down at him with slight aloofness.

"Awww, come on Rishid. I'm not going to hurt myself." protested Malik.

"Hey, what are you doing?" demanded a flustered, shocked, and now awake Yugi when he saw Malik swinging his sword. The small boy clutched at his hidden cards and stared at Malik.

"Heh, you're awake too now. Don't worry, I'm not after your God Cards anymore. You can keep them. No use for me anymore. But I would like to have something else of yours." grinned Malik.

"What?" asked Yugi.

"This sword. It's a good blade. Shiny too." smirked Malik.

Yugi nodded, "Why not? I don't even know how to use it."

Malik reached out his hand. What now? thought Yugi irritably.

"The belt, I can't just hold it all the time." drawled Malik.

To be continued . . . asap

Well we introduced Malik finally. Happy good peoples?

Responses to reviews:

Nightlight5: Hope your comp gets fixed soon!

Indigo Tantarian: Seemed shorter? Oh, that's cool! Well hope you like what happened.

MysticDreamer673: LUCKY! I want opening night tickets!

MollyJean: Kuribohs! Noooo! Okay JK. Well updated. The one I read/watched was the Chinese version. Never read a translated one before. Should try.

rogue souls: heh, sorry. Yes more ROTK!

Ryou Bakura Obsessor: - thanx

'chelle: Huh? What about Bakura?

gimeGohan: Yes time for Malik! He's here! About Bakura and Treebeard . . . you'll just have to see what I have planned out soon. -

Panda X. Bear: Thanks. Wow. eats cookie good cookie! Arigatou!

Mavelus: Sorry about the name. I'm just stupid. But here's the update!

JK: YOU LUCKY PERSON! HOW? LUCKY LUCKY LUCKY! goes on and on

Orc scene from TTT extended version

So, peoples. I'm on a very hard decision here. Should Boromir go or not? Have a tie. Gotta break it somehow. How was everyone's Thanksgiving day? Happy Holidays to everyone! Happy Holidays! Got AIM! Happy!