DIS: Welcome back to 'Whispers in the night'! Have any of you seen the movie Angels and Insects? Thanks to that movie, I got some inspiration for this fic. Plus, a book called The Dangerous Lord, a romance novel of course. Anyway, thank you to all those who reviewed. It's a honor to have you read my fic.
Marik: stop being a modest fool and do the chapter, dammit!
DIS: Touché. Enjoy!
-
Chapter Four, The will"Bakura, we have a problem." Marik told him gravely, holding a piece of parchment in his hands.
"What is it?"
"This was just sent in and it's no good news. I hope that Mazaki's sister is in good terms with you." Bakura flashed him a look that told Marik his hopes were going to fall. Bakura's tan hand snatched the parchment from him and leaned back in his chair, his eyes sliding to words.
"I don't see anything—WHAT THE HELL?" Marik winced as Bakura shot up from his lazy posture, his eyes blazing. "When did this come in?!"
"Just now."
"Damn him, damn him, damn him, damn him!!!" Bakura slammed the parchment on his desk and strode to his window, jerking the curtains back, his anger filling his whole conscience. "Well Miss Anzu Mazaki..." He murmured to himself, watching the young lass walk out to her carriage. "It seems that we'll be seeing each other much more frequently."
"What are you raging about now?" Ryou grumbled, glowering at his brother's back. He had given up reading his novel after all the commotion.
"Did you know about father's will, eh Ryou?" Bakura turned to him, his eyes flashing dangerously. Ryou fidgeted nervously.
"Me? No of course I didn't. What ever made you—" In less than a second, Bakura had Ryou pinned into the wall, his fists clenched around his coat.
"You..." He hissed at his brother. "I knew it was a mistake letting you stay with me from the start!"
"B-Bakura, I swear I knew neigh of this will!"
"BUT YOU KNEW OF IT A LITTLE, YES?" Bakura roared in outrage. Ryou gulped. The hurricane storm was coming...He just knew it.
"A-a little yes, b-but not m-much, B-Bakura." Ryou stammered out. Marik flinched. He knew what it was like to be cornered by Bakura's rage.
"Ryou...I'm giving you a chance to save yourself. What did our dear old father tell you about this will?"
"H-he just m-mentioned t-that h-he made a-a-a will s-so you could have a...have an heir and not w-waste your t-time producing...producing...producing..."
"Producing what?"
"B-bastards." Bakura glared at him.
"That had better be all. Is it?!"
"D-did you read t-the last part of the...of the will?" Cautiously, Bakura let go of Ryou and walked back to this desk, picking the will up.
"Read it aloud, Bakura." Marik ordered, interested.
"I do believe I'm the one giving orders around here." Bakura said icily. Marik shrugged. "It says, 'If he does not marry and produce and heir'—" He glared over at Ryou. "—'before his 26th birthday, his estate, inheritance and title goes to Lord Devin Rilchester.' What the hell? I thought it was going to you, Ryou?" Bakura asked, his eyes turning accusingly to Ryou. Ryou sunk back, his face growing paler and paler by the second.
"Oh, well, I told father I didn't...Want the estate, one way or another." Ryou mumbled feebly. Bakura clenched the parchment tight.
"My 26th birthday...I'll be 25 in a month. And for the heir to be born would be...9 months. I have less than 5 months to get a wife!" Bakura growled, slapping the parchment back on his desk.
"And some will surely refuse your offer if you just flounce up to them and propose." Marik pointed out. "Don't you have any close mistresses?" Bakura gave a thoughtful look. "Besides Mai?"
"The only other woman I've spoken to recently is Lady Mazaki." Bakura said. "And I've already proposed to her—For her brother's debts and she told me to go to hell." Marik raised an eyebrow at him and Ryou slumped on the ground weakly, relieved Anzu had refused his brother.
"Well you're going to have to get her to marry you. You have about 2-3 months for that to work." Marik said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "That will has got you cornered, Bakura."
"My father never did like me." Bakura growled bitterly. "Duke surely won't let me seduce his sister, though. Neither will her parents."
"I might be able to help." Ryou spoke up from his position on the ground. Bakura snorted.
"Right and Marik wants a sex change." Bakura said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
"No, really. I could warm up to her and Monsieur Julian to help me with this task. We can try to convince her to marry you." Ryou explained hastily.
"It does seem like a good plan." Marik admitted reluctantly.
"Yes, so it does." Bakura nodded slowly. "Very well, you and that fool, Julian shall try to convince Lady Mazaki in that matter. I have other things to take care of. Such as her weak brother." He smirked.
-
"I'm nearly paid off, isn't that excellent?" Duke asked his sister enthusiastically.
"Oh, very!" Anzu decided questioning him about where he acquired the money could be left for later when it was completely paid off. "How much do you have left?" He flushed a bit.
"Quite a bit, but don't let that fool you." He added quickly. "I can get the money, I swear it Anzu!" He stalked out of the drawing room and Anzu looked after him with a look of admiration.
Knock, knock, knock!Anzu hastened to the door and had the urge to slam it shut. There was the arrogant ass of her problems on her porch. He raised an eyebrow at her narrowed eyes.
"Hello, Lady Mazaki."
"Go to hell." She snapped the same phrase she had used on him the last time she had seen him.
"I wasn't here to listen to your insults." He commented, smiling wryly. "I'm here to see your brother, Lord Duke." He chuckled at her brother's name and she glared at him.
"Didn't he already pay you today?"
"Yes and that is why I'm here to see him. Please allow me to come inside." She scowled at his gentleman behavior.
"Certainly." She permitted him to pass her and she closed the door. A servant came up immediately.
"Oh no need. I won't be staying long I expect." He told the jittery servant. She cast a glance at her mistress, but Anzu waved one of her hands, dismissing her.
"Duke is in the parlor. I'll show you to it."
"Please do. Your company is most welcoming." He smirked at her. She realized that he was mocking her.
"Rake." She hissed at him, storming ahead of him.
"Indeed." He arched one of his eyebrows in response to her insult. Duke looked up seeing Bakura and seemed rather puzzled.
"Lord Bakura, what brings the pleasure of your visit." Bakura bit back his laughter. This stupid teenage boy was much too polite in front of his sister.
"I a⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪⨪66666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666m her brother to the lord and then she paled. Slowly her eyes returned to Duke, who was grimacing.
"How much...Was this money?" She asked, gulping.
"About...More than half of his debts." Anzu's blood ran cold as she remembered the scene her father had made in the dining room that morning about stolen money.
"I didn't steal father's money!" Duke said immediately.
"Yes you did! It's too coincidental! How could you, Duke?"
"What the bloody are you two shouting about down here? I really—" Lord Hathaway's eyes shot to Duke, to Anzu and landed on Bakura, who raised an eyebrow at the older man. Hathaway seemed to think that as a challenge and his eyes narrowed at Bakura.
"P-papa!" Anzu stuttered, her eyes going wide and her face full of panic.
"Anzu, what the devil is going on?" Anzu grimaced, not knowing what to say.
"Lady Mazaki and I were discussing marriage." Bakura said smugly. Hathaway's eyes bugged out.
"I do beg your pardon, M'lord!" Hathaway choked out. "What the bloody do you mean by that?!"
"He, er, proposed to me." Anzu hastened to reply. She didn't like where this conversation was going, not at all.
"Really now? You have yourself a suitor, do you lass?" Hathaway asked his daughter. She groaned inwardly. Here it comes...she thought miserably. "Am I right in assuming your pining after her, Bakura?" Lord Bakura seemed confused at first, then realization dawned on him.
Ah-ha! I can get Lady Mazaki through her father. Oh-ho, yes, this will certainly be a fun twist, hehehe.
"Yes, you're correct." Hathaway beamed at that.
"That so now? Excellent! We've been hoping we could marry the little spinster off to someone high-ranked and rich like you."
"Oh is that so? Lady Mazaki must not have told you I proposed to her earlier as well." Anzu cursed him mentally, wanting to throttle him.
"Really??" He seemed rather eager. "She didn't say a word about it! How exciting! Come along, milord, we can discuss this in more comfortable quarters." Hathaway went ahead of him and Bakura followed.
"Yes, indeed." He flashed Anzu a smug smirk and she fumed. When the door closed, Duke gaped at it.
"Now I realize why I hate that bastard so much." Duke growled.
"Duke, did you truly steal papa's money?" Anzu asked, steering the conversation away.
"What would you have me do, Anzu?"
"I...I don't know..." She mumbled, crestfallen.
-
"Hello Bakura. How did—" Ryou winced hearing the sound of his fist colliding with the stone wall. He paid no attention to the pain throbbing in his fist and knuckles.
"Damn Hathaway." Bakura growled. "He barely changed the situation one bit."
"Lord Hathaway? I thought you were meeting with Lord Duke?"
"Yes, I did Briefly, I tell you. Hathaway interrupted and he has given me his consent to marry his daughter—If that is what she wishes."
"So you still must convince her?"
"I do believe that is your job, isn't it?"
"Well. Yes, but a problem's come up." Ryou said, grimacing slightly. Bakura turned to him.
"Problem?" He repeated.
-
DIS: I'm not good a cliffies (wrinkles nose). Not big ones뀟⿐뀠㷠뀡܈뀢܈連֠逤֠뀥666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666666
