Reviews, Reviews, Reviews! Lalalala!
Thank you everyone who did it, but unfortunately to the many who gave me a website to go to…I didn't get it. Sorry. Stupid :sniff: Oh well, hopefully the one site I used will be enough to tell this story.
Go here for one awesome picture of Bakura:janime . netthengo to click Eng, then images, and then Thief Bakura for more pictures. I love this website it gives you so much info!
Disclaimer: Don't own.
Warning: Long chapter. Expect reviews from all of you.
"There are people you can easily categorize: from the overrated goody-two-shoes to those predictable jealous/angry murderers…It is simple just to label them "good" and "evil" and leave it at that. But then, there are some who defy the stereotype, who make you question yourself, your heart, and all of your morals. They make the line between good and evil fuzzy. You will both fear and love these complex souls...I am one of them."
- The thief king Bakura (in speech to fellow thieves)
"Errr…Bakura could you repeat that?" Nina asked confused. "I think I'm going deaf because I just heard you say YOU were going to tell ME a story." Bakura rolled his eyes and considered denying his question. But those damn blue eyes were staring up at him so openly, so brightly…
"You're not deaf. Just stupid. You heard what I said…" Bakura said softly, knowing that this was costing his pride a huge blow. For a moment Nina thought that this situation was almost laughable: Bakura was going to read a story. She tried to picture Bakura holding a bedtime fairytale like Cinderella and reading it to her, but she couldn't: it just wasn't Bakura.
Then she looked up at Bakura, and the solemn expression held in his dark, mysterious eyes. Bakura bit his lip, and Nina knew that it was costing his ego big time to say this. She saw that lost, pained boy again in him.
And her heart melted.
"No, you're right I did hear you. Now what's this story about?" Nina said kindly as she sat up, alert under her covers. Bakura went over and sat on the edge of her bed. He turned to look at her for a moment as if having second thoughts, yet despite the long silence, he still went through with it. But Nina already knew the answer before Bakura even opened his mouth.
"Me." He said softly. Regretfully. He turned his face away from Nina and his long, flowing white locks hid his face from view. He continued on, his eyes unfocused as he forgot he was in a room, sitting on a fluffy bed talking to his stupid hikari girl. Bakura and Nina were now in Egypt.
"I have done many things that would traumatize even the best of humans. At best some would call me mentally unstable…Most would call me a monster. This is no fairytale. This is no joke. This is my life."
(a/n: From this point on whatever Bakura says or thinks, he will also be relaying to Nina.)
"You know how every villain has their 'spawn of evil', well mine was in Kuru Eruna Village. My beloved home." Bakura said as his voice choked up for a moment.
"I grew up in one of those small villages where everybody knew each other. Sure, most of the people didn't have the cleanest records, but they were very kind and only wished the best for their children. And sure, it wasn't the ostentatious Palace, but as a mischievous, young boy it was more than I could ever wish for…" Bakura trailed off uncertain of how to describe it: the whole experience, the trials, the horrors he had witnessed and caused…They deserved more than mere words. Might as well start from the beginning…
"I was born on a full moon. It was supposed to mean good fortune." Bakura said bluntly as he laughed bitterly. Nina wished more than ever that his hair wasn't covering his face, his emotions.
"My parents were so happy when I was born despite the white hair that would always label me as a freak. I got it from my father…" Suddenly Nina and Bakura saw his family as if they were in Egypt, all those millenniums ago. Bakura's father was exactly like Bakura in so many ways except his spiky white hair was cropped short, and with his warm, smiling face you would never expect him to be the father of a murderer. "Ah, but it wasn't until he was dead that I found out that my father had stolen to support us in that awful year of the drought. He didn't want to, but we were so poor, and he couldn't bear to see his children's hollow cheeks, and thin, frail limbs from malnutrition."
They could see Bakura's father creeping up behind an unsuspecting noble. He was obviously inexperienced in this sort of stuff because he blundered, and stepped on a twig. The twig made a loud cracking noise, and the noble immediately looked up with his eyes, one of those "eyes" being the Millennium Eye. By the time the noble could react, Bakura's father had rammed into him, and snatched the sash filled with gold. He prayed up to Ra that he would forgive him for stealing from an old nobleman. But before he could run far, an eerie, chilling voice came from the grey-haired man.
"You think you can run…Makoto?" the old nobleman spat at the irony of the name (a/n: it means sincere, honest) as Makoto stopped in his tracks. Without turning around he said quietly, "How do you know my name?" The man chuckled cruelly. The Millennium Eye gleamed malevolently.
"I am a priest." He said shortly while Makoto thought 'Shoot.' "I know about your beloved wife, Mairi (this name seemed to cause the man particular discomfort and pain as he glared at Mairi's husband), your son, Bakura, and your little daughter, Amane." He continued enjoying Makoto's fear conveyed slightly trembling figure.
"Ah, but don't worry. Run now, and feed your wenches. Fatten them for me, because your little town of dirty brutes and whores will be my new target."
Makoto ran as fast as he could, not knowing how true those words would become.
Bakura and Nina both blinked in shock at the startling flashback they'd just received. Bakura soon recovered though and he said nostalgically, "I still can't believe our misfortune, out of all the people he had to steal from it had to be from the almighty, maniac Priest Akunadin."
Nina reached over and lightly touched Bakura's knee. "Fate is very cruel." She concurred. Bakura swatted the slender hand away. "Cruel!" Bakura barked, a haunted tired look in his face that no amount of sleep would cure. "This is nothing compared to what came next…"
"My mother was a very beautiful woman, with her prized, long mahogany hair and the warm chocolate eyes she would pass on to me. She wanted us to be educated so she home schooled us…" Bakura paused as he could see a younger version of himself and little Amane "diligently" working on the wax tablet. As soon as Mairi's attention was diverted to the baking of the bread, Bakura put down the stylus. His warm brown eyes were twinkling in mischief. He longingly eyed the only means of escape, the recently made hole behind the small stack of prized possessions that had a flimsy sheet covering it. Amane gave a disapproving frown. "'Kura! Mommy wants us to work on our hieroglyphics; you can't just run off like this."
"Am-ane! How can you think of stupid hieroglyphics on a day like this! I'm going to go out and explore," he said as he ignored Amane's pleas to stop. He couldn't use the door, it was squeaky and made noises loud enough to wake the whole town up. He needed to slip away unheard, and as he was halfway through a young Bakura realized three things.
1. Maybe you should listen to your little sister.
2. With his body stuck midway through the hole, Bakura knew he should've measured it.
3. All mothers have a sixth sense just for their children. Lucky for him. Not.
Which is how Bakura found himself staring at the bottom-half of his mother's plain white dress with her slender foot tapping impatiently. Bakura knew he had to put in a defense now before his mother could get started.
"Mom, before you start, I wasn't trying to escape, honest!" Bakura lied blatantly while mentally thinking: I am so not going to the afterlife. He continued talking to his mother's foot as he thought of an excuse, "…I was just err going to get some fresh air and-"
Mairi bent down to Bakura's eye level and said with a smirk lighting up her kind face. It looked odd, but instead of going into a tirade on Bakura shirking his studies, she simply said with a raised eyebrow, "Amateur."
Out of all the words Bakura had been expecting to hear, this was definitely not one of them. He looked up at his mother stunned.
"If you're going to escape sweetie, you should've done a distraction and then snuck up the roof via those stools. You have to learn to be clever, honey," Bakura's mother continued as she squeezed Bakura out of the hole with a small grunt.
"Where did you learn that Mom?" Bakura said in awe of his mother's cunning intellect. Mairi tweaked her son's nose lovingly, and gave him a wink as she led him back inside. "Education is a wonderful thing, no?" said Mairi as she did an antic she hadn't done for many years, before she met Makoto. She back flipped and with a cat's reflex she landed exactly on the stool.
Bakura resolved to study till his brain gave out.
…
"From later accounts many years later I learned that she had been a saucy yet kind girl in a world where such an attitude would be long put out. It was inevitable then that when she saw her wealthy, noble father beating one of his stubborn, headstrong slaves, that she would lash out. Mother denounced her family name, and eloped with the slave. That slave being my father. To help support her new husband, she performed acrobatics for money and did the occasional pick pocketing. As soon as I was born though she became a full-time mom, putting her past behind her." Bakura said wistfully. Nina longed to comfort him, touch him, to see if she could somehow grasp the mystery that was Bakura. The former tomb robber took a deep breath as he realized that he was halfway into his story, and it would all go downhill from here.
…
Mairi stood near the doorway cutting up the puny vegetables, the only food they could afford to put in the stew. Her gaunt, hollow cheeks were prominent in the dim lighting as she gave the studying children a loving smile. "Mother would always give us children her food portion…She became so thin, but she always said she could skip a meal but she couldn't live if her children starved." Bakura said as a final tribute to his beautiful, clever yet soft-spoken mother. This was one of the last images he had of her before…before it happened. He shook his head sadly at the thought, suddenly feeling as if his head couldn't support him with the awful memories it possessed. But it only lasted a moment, and Bakura continued as if nothing had happened.
"Then there was my little sister Amane. She was so small, and looked exactly like my father with the blue eyes minus the spiky hair. She was constantly following me, wanting to be as tough as her idol, big brother Bakura." Bakura said and his tone became bittersweet. His promise…broken…Amane's little face looked up at him so trustingly…
…
Bakura and Amane were walking barefooted on the cool Egyptian sand as a breeze rippled their light clothing. 11-year old Bakura tried to look annoyed as his 7-year old sister clung to his arm like they were physically glued together, but he couldn't help the grin that came from her antics. She was humming a song happily to herself.
"You know I shouldn't even be taking you here Amane. You HUMILIATED me in front of the guys…" a young Bakura pointed out.
"So?" Amane said as she continued humming her little ditty. She kicked up her heels in time for each beat as she tried to get Bakura to join her.
"So! You got father to make me take you along in our hunt? I had to carry my wee little sister while the other guys were carrying home rabbits, desert mice, and fowl! I'll never be able to show my face again," Bakura whined, trying to shake of his sister's iron grip. No use.
"So where a bag over your head next time you see them. What's the big deal nii-sama? I just wanted to watch you guys!" Amane retorted in her musical little voice as she flipped her long white hair into Bakura's face. Bakura spat out the wisps of offending white hair, and scowled at his sister.
"First of all I don't want to be your babysitter, and second of all if you wanted to watch then you should be prepared to keep up-" Bakura was cut off when he saw THE pout. No one could resist the awesome powers of this pout. This was the look Amane had given their mother when she broke the dishes with her muddy fingerprints all over them…yet she had still managed to convince Mother that it was Bakura who was on the other side of town! It sucked being the oldest.
Must…resist…
Oh, no not those darn puppy eyes!
And tears too! Ra, this pitiful heart-wrenching sight was starting to overwhelm him.
"B-but I just want to be like you nii-sama. Won't you pleez let me stay with you?" Amane said in her saddest voice as she gave Bakura her cutest pout combined with the irresistible puppy dog eyes filled with tears at the corners.
Strong, Bakura, strong…
The bottom lip started trembling and she stuttered in her cutest, most helpless voice "P-Please?"
Bakura felt his shield crack. Too much…
"Fine!" he barked, trying to sound menacing yet failing as he felt Amane's face light up in a bright grin that was so contagious that Bakura found himself grinning as well. Like a disease, Bakura thought ruefully. "Lalalala! YAY! You and me are partners in crime! Comrades! Best-est Buds! Siblings Forever-"
"Whoa, take it easy sis," Bakura cut in, with that silly smile on his face. They had reached their spot on top of the sand dune. The siblings plopped themselves down on the sand, not caring if the sand got into their white cotton. In fact, Amane wriggled her toes into the sand with a sigh of delight. Without asking for permission she rested her head on Bakura's lean chest as they both stared up at the stars. Not wanting to ruin the moment, Bakura simply grunted, but he secretly enjoyed the little being resting near him as older brother protectiveness kicked in. "'Kura, lookit at that one up there!" Amane squealed as she pointed up at a particular cluster of stars. "Settle down there, midget," Bakura said sternly, yet he smiled at her enthusiasm. "Those up there are called The Big Dipper, and those over there are called The Little Dipper. Don't they remind you sort of like Mom's ladles for cooking?" He expected an immediate response like a squeal or something but there was only silence. He waited a moment or two, before shifting his head to look directly at her face. He certainly didn't expect the solemn, thoughtful look in her eyes.
"Amane?" Bakura asked quietly, and Amane broke out of her daze but she still had a wistful smile on her face. She turned her head to meet her brother's eyes. "You know who those stars remind me of nii-sama?" she said softly.
"Who?" Bakura asked, unnerved by the uncharacteristic seriousness in Amane.
"Us." She said quietly but with solemnity. "You're that big dipper and I'm that little dipper you watch out for, if sometimes unwittingly." She said as her serious expression was replaced with her normal goofy grin.
"What's so funny?" Bakura asked, curious at the sudden mood swing.
"You. As. A dipper. A spoon!" giggled Amane as she erupted into hysterics. An annoyed Bakura rolled Amane off of him and she went rolling down the hill, clutching her sides as she was laughing to the point where her ribs hurt.
"I don't see what's so funny…" Bakura muttered as he slid down the dune. He checked to make sure Amane was okay before sitting himself next to his sister as they leaned up against the cushiony slope. Amane still continued to giggle.
"Amane stop giggling…(still giggling)…Er fine then…Amane, I just saw your star." Bakura said, trying to distract her from the current topic of him as a Big Dipper. Amane loved stories.
"My star?" No more giggles. Mission accomplished.
"Yes, your star. You never heard the myth? (Amane shook her head and Bakura gave an exaggerated look of mock horror) It's famous! You always fall asleep so you can never hear the stories Mom tells me. Shame on you." Amane rolled her eyes, but said nothing to irritate him so she could hear the story.
"Well, whenever a human being is made by the Great God, that is so exceptionally good with a pure aura, or destined to do great things, the Great God makes a star for them."
"So you're saying I have a star just for 'ol righteous, 'exceptionally good', 'destined-to-do-great-things' me?" Amane asked with what would be considered a smirk on a less cute, innocent being. Cornered!
"Yup, but notice how small that star is. Puny. Just like a certain someone I know…" Bakura said not wanting to be considered nice. Amane playfully swatted his arm. "Ah, I'll admit it's small but look how brightly it shines!" Amane said shielding her eyes teasingly.
"Ah, dearest sister," Bakura said in the mood to tease.
"Baka boy, I'm your only sister." Amane said as she resisted another eye roll.
"Exactly. Anyways, dearest, you may notice the huge, bright star to the right of your puny little one. You may wonder whose star that is. Don't worry your little head Amane, I have answers. It is mine! That star that is so beautiful, so huge, so bright-"
"So arrogant too." Amane added with a devilish smile. Bakura wrinkled his nose in distaste and said in mock admonishment, "Oh be quiet you. The all-powerful star is trying to speak here."
"More like spoon if you ask me." Amane said as she started giggling once more. Bakura groaned. "Let's just go home, it's getting cold out."
"My what a whiny little spoon you are."
"Amane I'm saying this for your own good, I don't want you getting a cold-"
"Alright Spoon, don't have a cow!" Amane said as she ducked to avoid Bakura's well-aimed swat to her head. He muttered something that sounded a lot like "Baka sister", and Amane started humming an annoying song in retaliation. Five minutes later though on their way home, Amane said softly, "They are nice stars, those two." Bakura gave Amane's petite hand a gently squeeze. "They sure are…The little one isn't too bad, but the big one besides protecting the little one…he's mighty strong, incredibly handsome…"
"Don't start with me Spoon." Amane said, but her eyes twinkled.
The two innocent children walked down the dirt path, towards their home. The two stars twinkled down at them.
Carefree they walked not knowing how their prefect world would come shattering down in an instant.
Not knowing of the horror that awaited.
Not knowing that all but one of them would die that night.
"So did you really mean that part of the Big Dipper protecting the Little one?" Amane asked, trying to be nonchalant.
Bakura stopped humming and his mischievous chocolate eyes became serious. He slung an arm around his little sister, "Of course Amane. We'll be together forever, you and I. I'll always protect you."
"Promise?" asked Amane as she tried not to betray how important this question really meant to her. She failed, Bakura could see the longing in her eyes for a source of sanctuary in a time of uncertainty and troubling drought. Although she tried to act tough, she was really vulnerable at heart. Bakura's heart warmed; his little sister was sweetly endearing in every aspect about her. He loved her, and would do everything to protect her.
"Promise."
…
Bakura took a long pause. He ran a hand through his hair subconsciously. For some reason the air seemed too be suffocating him, and his breaths were ragged. Those memories that he'd sworn never to think of were looming in front of him. Blood, screams, corpses everywhere: no one could escape.
"Are you all right Bakura?" Nina asked softly as she gently pushed back some of the hair that hid his face. Quick as a flash, Bakura deftly snatched her wrist, prepared to hurt her, until she saw his hikari's eyes. So much like Amane's…
He let go and stepped away bewildered and lost. He no longer saw Nina, he saw Amane. "No, no, no," Bakura whispered as he clutched his head. He saw his little sister reaching out to him, "Help me Bakura! I don't want to die!" with the fright being overwhelming in her eyes. Yet Bakura could do nothing. Suddenly, Amane reached out and touched his cheek softly as she said worriedly "Bakura?"
Nina had reached over and touched his cheek, hoping for a response. Nina's touch seemed to jolt Bakura out of his memory and he saw Nina in the exact position Amane was, moments ago. Nina saw the lost, pained look in his eyes as he wildly stepped back.
"Bakura, if this is hurting you, please don't continue," Nina pleaded as she stepped back from Bakura. Bakura calmed down and said softly, "It hurts…but somehow I feel that I must. I cannot keep holding these memories untold. Go now, stupid brat, before I can change my mind." Nina bit her lip but followed orders, and got under her covers once again. "I just needed a moment…to prepare myself. Don't try and interrupt me though or I don't think I'll be able to continue. I'll only tell this story once before I can finally let this terrible past go. And then maybe I'll be left alone at last."
Nina nodded, and watched in anticipation. She felt like she was watching a car crash occur, and she could neither look away or call for help. Bakura had to face this alone.
"Now where was I? (Bakura tried to say in a false light note) Oh yes after all that star-watching and Amane and me were walking home…"
Bakura's face lit up in the saddest, angriest, and scariest look Nina had ever seen on a human being. His face cruelly twisted Bakura's face into looking like a haunted demon who longed to die…but that would be too kind; Fate wanted it to suffer.
"It was then that I saw the fire…"
Nina could see Bakura's body lying on the bloodied pavement as the car struck him full on. Her fears were confirmed by that one twisted, haunted, scary, sad look that neither belonged to a sane man nor an angel.
It belonged to a demon.
…
"We were walking down the road, and then I noticed an unnatural light emitting from our town. Even then, I had a sense of foreboding, but my sister recklessly rushed ahead and I followed. The sight that welcomed me back home will be forever engraved in my mind no matter what methods I have tried to erase it."
Flames were everywhere.
Greedy, hungry flames.
Devouring the houses, and licking their crimson-orange foul tongues on whatever was left. They cruelly wished to mock us Kuru Erulnians by showing us the corpses they had already laid their marks on. By those damn flames I saw what had become of the Baker, his wife, and my friends…They were dead.
Never have I wished more for a pitch black world than in that moment…so I could never have seen their looks of shock and horror as they became trapped within their locked doors.
I guess the few that escaped the fire thought themselves lucky.
But they didn't know of the genocide that awaited.
Amane gasped and she burst into tears at all the blood. I stood there stricken as I gazed at the face of my friend Kev, whose black hair and tanned body were singed with the fire. But it was his eyes, the eyes that every victim seems to hold, that unwillingly captivated me: the terribly blank eyes were glazed with death in their moment of utmost terror.
I think I might have cried if it hadn't been for my father coming up behind us. "You're alive, thank Ra!" he cried as he put both of us in a fierce hug. His spiky white hair was singed, and the sooty ashes dirtied his face, but a grin lit my face. He was the beacon in this nightmarish hellhole. He was alive and that was all that mattered. "Dad!" I yelled as my sister sobbed tears of joy in my father's tattered chest. Suddenly, my head was buzzing with questions, "Dad, what happened! Where's Mom? Is she okay!"
"She's…fine Bakura," Bakura's father said quietly. Bakura distinctly noticed the pause.
"Dad, don't lie where's Mom?" Bakura asked once again, searching his father's sky blue eyes for answers.
"She's fine Bakura, but you two need to get out of here," Makoto said with urgency. He started ushering his children out of the burning ruin that was once their home. Bakura vaguely noted with dread that out of all the buildings in Kuru Eruna, it was Bakura's home that was the most damaged. What was going on?
They had almost reached the out-of-town boundary where all the other survivors were huddled, waiting for their leader Makoto when…
"Whose the leader of this group?" asked the captain of the Pharaoh's army as he spat the name "group" as if it were something foul. He had appeared out of the shadows near the desert trees. The captain was evil ugly piece of work with his oily, grey-streaked, mangy black hair, a showy bushy mustache and coal black eyes that seem to have no pupil, no soul behind them. Casually in his hand lay a leather whip that had surely been made of disobedient slaves' hides. If one were to judge by first impressions, Bakura would have instantly characterized the huge man as a cold-hearted villain. But he was head of the Pharaoh's army, and they're supposed to be the good guys, right?
Makoto's face became very grave as he kissed the tops of both of his children's heads whispering, "Watch out for each other, and no matter what, know that your mother and I love you two very much. I suggest you dirty your hair so you blend in, and take this coin for a hotel. Remember, you do have the power to change your destiny…"
"Daddy you make it sound like we're never going to see you again," Amane said with a light-hearted smile as she clutched her only saved possession, her little doll. After a moment of no response, Amane worriedly tugged at her Daddy's cotton trouser leg, "Right Daddy?" she asked hoping to get a big bear hug and a 'Of course not!'
Makoto didn't reply.
Bakura's mouth was set in a thin line as it all slowly began to click. Before he could realize the gravity of their situation, Bakura's father pushed them away murmuring a heated "Go now my children, go!". The children only managed to run a few steps before they felt compelled to turn around and see what was going on. They were children after all with a child's insatiable appetite for curiosity.
They watched their father stand up straight so his brilliant white hair was clearly visible. He might as well have written in kohl "WARNING: REBEL LEADER" in bold black letters as he walked up to the captain with a subtle defiance in his step. You could tell by the Captain's curled lip, that he was not pleased with the first impression.
"So you're the leader of this group of mangy curs?" he practically snarled as he towered over Makoto. Makoto didn't even flinch, and his children watched in awe of this new side to their father they had never seen before.
"Yes, Captain Gentu Himmeloff," murmured Makoto in the soft-spoken voice he used to tuck his children in. "Though perhaps 'mangy curs' is not the best of word choice?" he added politely. The townspeople were caught between gushing for their hero or standing stock still in fear of what might happen.
"I'll call them what I please, is that right slave!" Himmeloff howled as he blindly punched Makoto in his rage. Makoto nimbly missed the blow, and continued as if he heard bellowing Captains of Pharaohs' Armies all the time, "Of course, Captain knows best." Had anyone looked closely at Makoto, they would have seen the pale face and the beads of cold sweat. Very few people knew that he had ever been a slave and all but one of those people had been the type you never wish to see again.
"Are you mocking me Makoto, leader of his 'brutes and whores'!" Himmeloff said in a tirade. Only this time his comment hit home: Makoto turned stark white. Only one person had ever made that exact same comment before. He had tried warning the people about him, he had tried to leave (too poor), he had tried to forget, but unfortunately, one can always remember what one wishes to forget.
"Akunadin sends his blessings…" the Captain drawled out in a voice so low only Makoto could catch it. "Your little pigs have been fattened up, Makoto, and now it's time for the butcher. Let the bloodfest begin." Makoto tried to cry out, to warn his people of the danger, but one of the mages had subtly put a strong silencing spell so he could only watch in horror as he watched the idiotic townspeople stand there vulnerably. His horror increased as he realized his stupid children were still here! Tears fell from his cheeks as he thought how none of them would make it out alive…
Was there no justice? Tears of pain, they were, tears of pain and sorrow.
"Tears of joy! Look at your dear leader, he's crying tears of joy!" the Captain said in a falsely cheery voice. He grabbed Makoto's cheeks and forced them into a smile. Makoto simply stood there stiffly, fighting with all his might against the spell.
"Line up into a straight line! Hail the almighty and beloved Pharaoh Akunumkanon who has decided to save you by allowing you to reside in his palace," recited Captain Himmeltoff as he started to walk closer to the people, Makoto in tow. "Come now, we'll give you medical attention and a home until we can relocate you." He said with a welcoming arm. One of the townspeople, Bert, tentatively took a step forward, but before he could reach the Captain two white-haired children in the back had caught his eye.
Oh this was just too good…
There was no mistaking there parentage, that hair stood out like a sore thumb.
"Children, are you scared?" asked the Captain as he pushed past the other townspeople with a smirk. The youngest of the two, a girl with wide, sparkling, blue eyes, seemed the most vulnerable. "Don't worry little girl, we'll get you some nice clothing, and we'll fix up that doll. Come along, your daddy would want that wouldn't he?"
Amane didn't like that greedy gleam in his eyes, but if Daddy said it was alright…
"No, Amane, I don't trust him," Bakura whispered so only Amane could hear. He subtly stepped in front of his sister. "No, no I think we'll stay here for now," Bakura said quietly his eyes flashing.
"Why! You don't have a home now, you need to rest and eat," said the Captain soothingly as a mage held out some blankets and delicious fruits and meats. Wow, that food looked good. One of the mages held out a perfect doll with porcelain skin and baby blue eyes temptingly. "C'mon we'll get you all cleaned up," said the Captain as he replaced her tattered doll with the perfect one. Both children were wary of the Captain but…
Those juicy fruit were making them drool. Bakura's stomach growled greedily.
The doll was so pretty…no Amane, stay faithful to your doll…
They looked up at their father whose face was blank, and the Himmeltoff discreetly forced the head into an approving nod.
"Ok…" Amane said shyly as she took the Captain's hand with trepidation. Bakura walked alongside her, and that act seemed to urge the villagers into acceptance as well.
The Captain gave a wicked smirk as he deftly grabbed his hidden dagger from his coat, and aimed it at Amane's backside. His intentions were clear. The two children walked innocently in front having no clue of the danger.
Time seemed to slow down for Makoto. This was torture beyond imagination. He could handle his own death, starvation, but being forced to watch the murder of his children!
He felt his heart swell: he had to warn them. The spell instantly resisted, but Makoto's will was much stronger than a mere spell.
"…No…" he whispered.
He would fight. The spell was like a thousand fiery daggers into his skin, and Bakura's body ached to resist it. But…he…would…do…it.
"No!" he shouted softly in a voice so hoarse that it could barely be heard. The mage heard it though, and started rushing over to him. Makoto punched him in his jaw. His body trembled as he mustered up all his strength to shout. The dazed mage looked up at him in awe: this spell was supposed to unbreakable.
"NOOOO! RUN BAKURA AND AMANE, RUN!"
Bakura and Amane had turned around immediately, out of harm's way. They gasped as they saw their swaying, fatigued father who had put all of his strength into that one warning shout. The townspeople immediately jumped out of Captain Himmeltoff, who gave a roar of rage, his greedy black pig eyes shining with murder in their eyes. He aimed the dagger and with a evil hiss the blade cut through the air aimed at a certain former slave's heart.
"IT'S A-"
The dagger hit its target.
Every person watched Makoto slowly fall backward, his glazed eyes fixed on his children, never knowing that the sleek dagger was making its way over with a deadly purpose.
The corpse landed on the sand with a thump.
Bakura didn't remember when his sister started sobbing into his chest. All he could see was the replay of his father falling over and over again. He closed his eyes but the bloody image refused to go away. Himmeltoff gave a chuckle oblivious to the sobs of the townspeople who were all standing stock still in shock. "Stupid slave. He told you not to mess with his daughter, but you didn't listen did you? You got what you deserved," Himmeltoff said pitilessly as he kicked the body.
Somewhere inside Bakura's innocent heart a flicker of hate was born.
Gentu turned around and got his dagger back with a grunt. "Just consider this an honor. You will all die for the sake of our great Millennium Items that will help Akunadi- I mean Akunakanon rule the world as the great Egyptians were destined to. Your sacrifices are necessary." He pointed its blood-tipped point at the children's spot, "You're next,"
He flung the dagger but the two children that were there two seconds ago were gone. One was running with his kid sister riding on his back. The dust he kicked up was mocking him as the only two people to ever escape the dagger's aim actually…escaped. Or so they thought.
It had finally clicked for Bakura. His father's death had been the key to awakening his understanding of the grave situation. The fire was no accident. This was a genocide. But there was still one question bothering Bakura: Why? Why would anyone want to murder them? Out of all the towns, why this one?
Bakura looked around him at the bedraggled, poor townspeople running around in a frenzy to escape. He watched as one man deftly escaped from the soldier's grip that held him in a way only one with devilish experience could. The next moment a spear was protruding from his head. Bakura watched the man the town had called "Crooked Pete" fall.
Then he suddenly knew his answer with painful realization.
No one would hear the dying screams of the crooked, poor Kuru Erunians.
Because no one would care. They were just "brutes and whores" after all.
No one would miss Kuru Eruna.
Amane buried her head into Bakura's white hair as she tried to block out the noise of the screams and the doomed. She whimpered as she still cried silently over her father's murder. "Amane don't cry, we'll escape," Bakura said as he jumped over a fallen building and crossed an alley that was lit up by the flames burning around it.
"Bakura…Daddy's DEAD!" She wailed. "I…(hiccup)…want…(hiccup)…Mommy and Daddy! Where's Mommy! I want my Mommy!"
Bakura didn't know what to say to that. He didn't know how to console the poor girl.
"Don't worry, Mommy's here." Whispered a voice as cool hands picked up the child that Bakura had been lugging for the past five minutes. Bakura eyes widened in surprise as he recognized that voice anywhere.
"Mom!"
"The one and only." She said with a slight smile before she became serious. "You two need to get out of here. It won't take long before the soldiers come looking for people in here. Your father was supposed to usher you out…" Bakura's heart went out for their mother in that moment as he realized that his mother hadn't been with the other townspeople. She didn't know.
"Mommy…Daddy is…" Amane tried to say but she couldn't handle the next word. Saying it would make it a reality.
"dead." Bakura finished quietly. "The Pharaoh's army Captain murdered him,"
For a moment Mairi's face became stormy and tears slipped down her cheeks. "Makoto," she whispered sadly. But then she saw the fire around them and her two children looking up at her for support. This was not the time to grieve. She wiped her tears away, and stood up straight before she gasped in pain. Her children instantly became worried. "Are you alright?" they asked.
"No…(wince)…worries. Just a little (grimace) sprained ankle when I was escaping from the house. Stupid thorns and locked doors." Before the family of three could start escaping from the town soldiers' voices were heard nearby. The tension increased as they heard one of them say, "We've gotten almost all of them 'cept the white haired ones and their mother. The Captain wants us to keep her alive." Mairi's lips were pursed into a very thin line as she scowled at the mention of the Captain. "Bastard," she muttered softly. Both children got the feeling that there was an unresolved conflict between Mairi and the Captain. She smiled and limped over to Bakura and Amane. She knelt down with a wince and embraced her children with a sense of finality. They could hear the muffled steps of the soldiers become louder and louder.
"Go now. I'll distract them. If you escape through that hidden alley it should lead you out of here. A couple of miles more and you'll reach Thebes." Said Mairi as she urged her children out into the small alley way to freedom.
"But Mom, aren't you coming with us?" asked Bakura as he already dreaded her answer.
"Bakura…" Mairi said softly as she cupped Bakura's cheek. "I am sorry you have to grow up so soon. But remember I will always look after you…in whatever form."
Bakura felt tears itch his eyes as he understood what his Mom was saying.
"I love you Mom." Bakura said fiercely as he tried to subtly wipe his eyes of the burning tears in front of this brave woman.
"I love you too my Bakura. Don't worry, I am sure you will do something great. As for you Amane, Bakura will look after you…"
"But what about you Mommy?" Amane said still not wanting to believe the painful reality. Mairi's eyes filled with tears as she couldn't bear to tell her little daughter of what she was going to do.
"Mommy can't…" Mairi started.
"I think we've found them Captain,"
"Very good then. Dispose of the children…leave their mother to me." He said with a menacing growl." Said the Captain as his voice was just around the corner.
"There's no time Amane. If I don't do this you won't make it through the alley alive. I love you so much…(the two children stood there crying)…What are you still doing here! Run baka run!" she said as she shoved them into the alley before they could protest.
"Mommy!" Amane sobbed as her little fingers tried to reach out to her mother. Bakura picked her up and ignored her cries for her. For one last moment Bakura's brown eyes met his mother's exact ones. Tears were running down the cheeks of the brave woman as her pale tattered dress swayed in the wind among the flames around her. Mairi tossed Bakura a small goldenamulet with a horus eyes and an amber jewel that matched her eyes. She gave Bakura a small smile, and Bakura knew instantly that this was a family heirloom. He ran into the alley without another word.
…
Mairi wiped the tears away as soon as she saw Captain Himmeltoff's big hulking figure round the corner. He looked as if he had been prepared to gut someone with his dagger but he instantly lowered it as soon as he saw Mairi's slender figure.
"It's been so long Mairi…" he purred as he swaggered over to her.
"Not long enough." She said with clenched fists.
"Still sassy as ever, aren't you?"
"Still an asshole, aren't you?" she said. The Captain ignored this comment and tried to cup her chin. Mairi jerked out of his grip.
"Why do you still play hard to get, Mairi? There's no one left for you now. I killed him, my dear…it's just you and me now." He said in a husky voice. Mairi's warm chocolate eyes flashed dangerously. She was risking her ankle by her next move, but her anger was up to the point where she didn't care. She deftly grabbed his arm, jumped up slightly, and tossed him over her uninjured side.
"You just can't get it through your thick head, can you Gentu? I NEVER liked you BEFORE or AFTER Makoto. You murdered him and all those people just for me! That is insane! Hurt me, kill me…but as soon as you did it to my family…that is when you became a maniac." She cried in a rage. She ignored the sharp pain in her ankle.
"Oh don't flatter yourself. We didn't dispose of your precious little town just for you. There is a much bigger plan going on…you are just a bonus." He growled as he got up. He wiped the blood from his cheek and spit out a tooth that had dislodged from the fall. Gentu Himmeltoff started to walk over to her; his eyes had the murderous gleam back in their eyes.
"Where are the children, my dear?" No response. "Oh I see…trying to be the brave martyr and buy them some time to escape…how heroic…" he said saying the word "heroic" with his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm sure you'd talk to Makoto…" he said jealous.
"Of course you baka fool, he's my husband! I. WILL. NEVER. BE. YOURS."
"Shame really to see a pretty thing like you go…But if I can't have you, no one can." He said softly with his long dagger gleaming. With her injured ankle, Mairi had no chance to escape. She held her head up proudly though, as she smirked up at Gentu, at least her children would escape.
"So be it." she said softly, defiant to the end.
…
Bakura had barely made it five minutes out of the town before he heard a chilling scream of someone dying pierce the air.
He had no doubt of whose it belonged to.
Bakura only ran faster, away from the screams of the pained and dying, away from Kuru Eruna. Unused to such hard running, his heart was pounding furiously and his legs finally gave out two miles into the way. He collapsed near the cool Nile River, making sure he took the brunt of the fall. He breathed deeply for a few minutes before checking up on Amane. Amane was in a sorry state; she was traumatized by the death of her parents.
"Amane it'll be okay. I'll make sure of it." Bakura said as he stroked his poor sister's hair.
"Why did they have to die!" she wailed, pounding her small fists into his chest. Bakura looked sadly at her, wishing he didn't have to play parent. He wished he could wail along with Amane, but he would never tell her that.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. "If I could I'd change the past, I would…but I can't so there's no use in trying to change it. Amane, I'll try my hardest to give us the best possible future…" Amane lifted up her head and said quietly, "You pinky promise?"
"Pinky promise." Bakura said as he and Amane linked pinkies. Amane smiled and said in an apologetic tone, "I'm sorry I hurt you with my fists,"
"Meh, don't worry about it. You're too small to hurt me anyways."
Amane gave a weak smile as she said, "Well let me clean up before we continue."
"Okay…but make it quick, the soldiers might still be after us," Bakura said apprehensively. But he couldn't refuse her; not when she was starting to smile again.
"Just try to remain in sight," Bakura called out as he respectively kept his eyes down. He decided he might as well clean some of the cuts while he was by the river.
He would do as promised and ensure Amane a future. He could offer to work at farms, taverns, anywhere for food. It would be hard, but he could do it. He gave a small smile up at two particularly twinkling stars.
Considering the circumstances, he was pretty lucky to have made it this far. Almost too lucky in fact.
"Why hello Bakura, long time no see," said a voice that Bakura dreaded.
It was Captain Gentu Himmeltoff. Fate must really hate him.
Amane had just finished fixing up her dress, and was about to try finger-combing her hair when she felt a hand clamp about her mouth. She tried to scream to warn Bakura but the stupid hand prevented that.
"Amane, Amane, Amane don't worry. I won't kill you…yet. I want to make sure your brother hears your dying screams." he said softly in false comfort.
Which is how Amane found herself being held up by the evil Captain, a burly huge hand holding the shiny, deadly dagger pressed to her neck. As it was, she found his musky, bloody, dirty scent nauseating.
"Amane! Oh Ra, let her down you foul man!" Bakura yelled.
"I don't think so my young Bakura. You better do as I say or this knife might just, whoops, (the blade flashed dangerously and the Captain pressed it closer) slip."
Bakura's hackled raised up but he could do nothing while that blade was so dangerously close.
"I'll tell the police," he warned.
"Baka boy I am the police."
Radamnit, thought Bakura furiously.
"Bakura help me! I don't want to die!" she cried out to her nii-sama. Bakura's heart wrenched as Captain Himmeltoff gave her a hard slap to shut her up. He made a decision.
"Leave her alone. Take me instead." Bakura said quietly.
"Sacrifice does run in your family, now doesn't it my dear boy?"
Bakura said nothing. His eyes only flashed angrily as he ground his teeth and curled his fists into tight balls. The Captain noticed this with amusement.
"I asked you a question Bakura. Aren't you going to answer me?" The movement with the blade showed that this was no question; this was an order.
"Yes it does." Bakura said through clenched teeth, bitterly hating the man. "Now let her go."
"And I want you to give me that dear amulet of your mother's as well."
How did he know! But with Amane in danger, she meant more than the family heirloom. Still, he despised thinking about his mother's cherished jewel in this evil, dirty man's hand. Anything for his little sister.
"Thank you Bakura, I knew you'd protect me," Amane whispered as Bakura walked over to her.
"Let her go,"
"The amulet first."
"Amane."
"Amulet."
It was clear as to who could do the bargaining around here and it certainly wasn't Bakura.
"Fine but promise by the Gods to let her go,"
"I promise in Ra's name that I will let her go." No one could break a promise once you included one of the Gods in it or things could get…messy. (a/n: um major understatment)
Bakura thrust out the amulet and Captain Himmeltoff snatched it. But he still didn't let Amane down.
"You…promised by the Gods!" Bakura snarled. The Captain merely shrugged as he held Amane up with one arm and held the amulet in the other.
"Ah ah ah. Although I did promise to let her go…I never said when."
Oh shoot, both siblings thought using varying words to describe their situation.
"You know what I meant! Let her go!"
"Hmmmm…okay." Bakura and Amane blinked. "However, I'm afraid she must be dead before she goes. I'm sure you won't mind."
"NOOOOOOOO!"
"Please mister don't do it!" Amane begged.
He wouldn't hurt such an innocent little girl. He had to have a soul didn't he?
"Good bye little Amane."
Apparently not.
The blade cut across her beautiful innocent neck.
Bakura rammed into the Captain's legs and the Pharaoh's Captain went down with a hard thud.
Butit was too late.
"Amane," he pleaded as he stroked Amane's hair and tears ran unchecked down his cheeks. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was labored. "I'm so sorry Amane!" he sobbed. She looked like a broken doll. The blade had done a nasty work on her small body: it had run down her neck, across her abdomen, and down to her right hip. Bakura cupped her pale cheek, and tried to wipe off some of the blood to no avail.
"It's no use Bakura. I can feel Death coming for me." She said weakly.
"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have let you out of my sight." Bakura cried as he cradled his dying sister.
"No, Bakura, it's not. It…never…will…be. It's nobody's fault but the Captain's." she continued in between her gasps to hold on to life for as long as she could.
"I'll save you. We'll just wash these wounds and you'll be as good as new." Bakura said, denying her dying state. He tried to clot the blood with a strip of his cotton trousers.
"Bakura," Amane called weakly as her voice got softer and softer. Bakura had to lean in to hear her. "Stop denying it. We both know that I'm dying."
"It's not fair Amane, you don't want to die: you're too young! I should be the one he killed, not you!"
"It's not fair…but who says life is fair my Spoon?"
"I love you Amane." Bakurawhispered to the brave little girl. Her breaths were sharp with the pain she felt.
"I love you too 'Kura. I am sure you'll do great things."
"But I failed. I didn't protect you," Bakura said as he stroked her white hair comfortingly. His arms around her tightened slightly: he could feel her slipping from him.
"Don't worry Bakura you…always…protected…me." Amane in her smallest voice yet.
"But-"
Amane gave one last smile to her dear nii-sama that read 'always-the-whiner'. "Kick his ass." She said quietly before her eyes started to glaze over. Bakura gripped harder, but it was no use.
"Don't leave me alone," Bakura whispered, pleading to Ra for a miracle to happen. He got none.
"You're...never…alone." She whispered her final words before she gave one last shuddering breath, and her body became still.
Bakura howled with pain and sorrow as he held her body.
"Awww, how touching." The Captain said mockingly as he got up. He had been watching the two siblings the entire time.
The flickering flame of hate ignited. Bakura felt hatred overwhelm his sorrow as he got up, his eyes wild.
He was the one who had done it.
He had killed his father.
He had killed his mother.
He had killed his sister.
And he would pay.
"DIE!" Bakura snarled as he punched the wicked Pharaoh's Captain, hoping to wipe the smirk off his ugly face. He succeeded.
"You little bastard," the Captain growled as he kicked Bakura in the gut. He proceeded to beat Bakura up, wanting to hurt and bruise his victim, before going for the final blow.
"You (kick) know (punch) why (slap) we're (killing) you?"
"Because you're egoistical heartless bastards, who wanted a sacrifices, that's why!" Bakura howled as he gave Captain Himmeltoff a vicious scratch on the cheek.
"Well, I guess that could account for part of it," the Captain said softly (ignoring the name calling) "And I guess some of it would be your parent's fault for marrying outside of their class and ruining the natural order. We couldn't have that. (Bakura growls but doesn't do anything: he's listening) And a huge part would be for the human sacrifices required to make the Millennium Items so the Pharaoh can rule the world…(Bakura growls impatiently)…But one of the main reasons was…you."
Huh? That was unexpected.
"Me?" Bakura asked softly. Not wanting to believe it.
"Hmmm yes. Akunad- I mean Pharaoh Akunakanon reada prophecy about how a white haired stranger of mixed heritage would challenge the next pharaoh for his throne. His mixed heritage would be both his blessing and his curse. He would be vicious, ruthless and carry of cloak of blood to show all the victims he'd killed. He would control a monster that was more powerful than the Gods, filled with his hatred. He would be born on the bloody moon on the year where Egypt will be in most peril. He would the Thief King. And his destiny would be his to change." the Captain lazily recited.
"It couldn't-" Bakura started out. Because it hardly made sense. Mixed heritage…he did have a feeling mother wasn't poor…but he wasn't born on the bloody moon…and he certainly wasn't carrying a cloak dyed red for the victims he'd killed…he didn't have a Ka or anything… "This is nonsense,"
"Is it? We'll see." And with that he flung a dagger at a surprised Bakura's heart. Bakura expected to feel a heart-bursting, pain searing sensation and then blessed oblivion…but he felt nothing. This was odd. Bakura opened his shut eyes and his jaw dropped at the sight before him. It was a monster alright. But definitely an odd one. Half black, half white, as if still deciding whether it should be good or evil, it stood before Bakura protecting him. It was almost like a human except horns grew out in a triangle pattern on his head. And those little white wings didn't fit on a beast so strong. By strong Bakura meant the huge well-toned gray chest that graced the creature. The dagger had landed at his foot, and it turned around and handed it to Bakura.
"Um…thank you?" Bakura said hesitantly. The creature nodded and for a moment its gray eyes flashed a familiar blue.It then gave a weary sigh and disappeared as ifit had never been here. "I guess I have a Ka," Bakura said softly stating the obvious.
The Captain looked at Bakura stunned: could the baka boy not FEEL the immense power from his huge beast Ka? Apparently he was too stupid. Ah well: now, he definitely needed to be killed. Good thing I always have a back-up blade.
Quick as a flash, the Captain ran up to Bakura aiming at his heart, but Bakura ducked and it sliced across his left cheek. Bakura screamed in pain: it was a deep gash and would surely leave a scar. Wonderful.
Bakura was so tired…from pain…from sorrow…maybe he should just let the evil Captain end it.
'Never!Screamed the hundreds and hundreds of voices of Kuru Erunians suddenly in his head. And suddenly, Bakura felt energized. Energized and angry.
He roared and with a spurt of unexpected power he thrust the Captain's blade into his stomach for a fatal blow. The shock and surprise that registered on his face was priceless.
The blade that had killed his family had now killed its master. Bakura curled his lip and gave a pitiless smirk.
"How does dying feel Captain?" Bakura said as he twirled the blade. The sane part of his mind was screaming at him to know what in Ra's name he was doing, but Bakura had locked up his sanity far too well that night. Or perhaps for forever. He honestly hardly cared anymore.
"You'll feel it too you bastard boy. The prophecy is already coming true. (With an evil smirk of knowing what he was about to do) It was the Pharaoh who did this you know…" the evil Captain Gentu Himmeltoff said softly, knowing full well Bakura would buy his lie and cause a heck of a lot of trouble. Indeed, Bakura's glare intensified at the thought of the Pharaoh living in luxury while sending so many people to their death for the pleasure of his 'Millennium Items'
"Shut up," a cold Bakura growled. Even dying this stupid man was still causing Bakura to think painful thoughts. Perhaps the Captain should have listened and shut up here, but when you're dying tact becomes a meaningless concept.
"…(pant) How does it feel to no you have nowhere to run boy, nowhere to go?" he said as his life was coming to a rapid end. He started to laugh in his final moments, looking at the sorry boy's pitiful expression as his words hit home.
But this was the last straw.
Bakura's dark eyes hardened and he thrust the blade into the chuckling evil man's heart. The laugh instantly stopped but Bakura could swear that the smirking Captain had whispered, "That's what I thought," before slipping into the afterlife. Bakura growled and in a bloodlust he couldn't control he began to stab thelifeless bodyrepeatedly. But secretly Bakura didn't want to control this awful rage: he liked it. He wanted to see the body mangled, ruined. Maybe then it would make up for some of the twisting, overwhelming pain he felt. However, with each stab he felt his anger only increased because although he'd rather go to hell and apologize to the Captain…
He knew it was true: he did have nowhere to go.
"I'll kill that bastard Pharaoh Akunakanon, and I'll take each and every one of his damn Millennium Items…Thief king, ha! I'll make it true!" Bakura muttered angrily trying to deny the tears that were trying to trickle down his cheeks. A part of his mind was wailing 'What have I done? I just killed someone!'. His sanity. Too bad Evil had already made its way into his heart. The tears were gone. He called to his only companion at the moment, the beast/thing that he could feel growing with hate each moment. He felt grateful to the only thing that was still there for him… "My beast, I'll call you Diabound…and we will be the most feared, powerful pair in Egypt, I'll guarantee it." And although he had zilch experience,you could bet that with hisdetermination that this would come to be. Really, what else did he have to lose? He was already dead.
That flicker of hate had turned into a brush fire. And everyone knew that once a fire got started it was nearly impossible to destroy. But Bakura no longer cared about putting it out. He welcomed it. He welcomed the cruel shield around his heart: it would hide his pain. Had Bakura bothered to look up at the sky he'd see that of the two stars that were earlier there that night…one of them was gone. And as for the other? Its bright, pure light was overshadowed by the blood red moon.
Bakura walked towards Thebes, twirling his new dagger: a new wicked smirk replaced his innocent, carefree smile. Those days were gone forever.
A Thief King was born.
O.M.G. I finished this chapter! YAY! This has to be one of the hardest chapters I've ever written due to how I know zilch on Bakura's past. I'm sorry if the last half of the story didn't flow all that well, or if you didn't like it, but honestly, I tried my best. (Also sorry if i misused or mispelled the Japanese terms. I would be very grateful if any reader could tell me more of them!)
Fun fact: in his past life Bakura's name was Toukoto Ou (erm I think that's spelled right. PLEASE FORGIVE me if I'm wrong. I have a short memory span)
Anyways the next chapter will have Bakura's and Nina's reaction to this tale, but I decided that I'm going to put in some comic relief in there as well. (After such a sad tale of Bakura's past I think it'll take a lot of it to lighten the mood)
Which is why the next chapter is called: The Enlightening Effects of Truth Spells. The title says all.
Um, I'd like to add that this chapter was FRIGGIN 19 PAGES LONG! I tried my hardest to make it the best it could be (this was supposed to be updated on Friday) and I would sincerely appreciate it if EVERY reader could review!Happy Valentines Day! (though this is an ironic present, no?)
-Starlet36