Tenshi-wow, you really have been keeping up with this story.
Spirit-i think i've become obsessed with it...which is a bad thing cause i'm not getting enough sleep even for me.
Tenshi-which is not a good thing, and here's the next chap for you guys.
Shout Outs!-
Sailor Ra-O.O...Vegeta is actually Likeing my story...someone call an ambulance cause i think i'm going to have a heart attack. lol jk. well i'm glad you both like it. and thanks for the review.
pyro the dark angel, Harpygirl, Saturn's Spawn- glad you guys liked it, and thanks a ton for your reviews!
Pairings- Hotaru/Bakura, Rei/Marik, Makoto/Seto
Names- the reason i have this is because i am using Yami's past names.
Yami-Atem Kaiba-Seto Yami Bakura- just Bakura Tea-Anzu
Disclaimer-i don't own anything except a few minor characters and the plot. got it? good!
88 Last Time 88
"I need you to act as bodyguard for my sister, the princess Rei. She is in Mut right now and will soon be returning, but what with the raids I need someone protecting her. Can you do this?" he asked. Hotaru looked towards her brother who just looked at the floor. She knew he didn't want her to do this, he wanted her to stay safe within the palace walls...and since when did she do what he wanted? She knew the dangers and such and quickly thought it over before nodding.
"Yes, I will." she said. Atem thanked her and told her she could go prepare to leave, and would depart in a few hours.
88 This Time 88
Once Hotaru had left he turned to the priests and Tombkeepers."You are also dismissed for now,..but I would like to talk with Seto in private." they nodded and all left except for the said priest. Atem returned to his throne and sighed.
" Seto I know you don't want her to go, but that is not what I want to discuss with you." Seto raised an eyebrow at him.
"Then what is it?" he asked annoyed. Atem looked him strait in the eye, and he saw sorrow within them. Seto's expression soften. "What happened?" he asked. Atem sighed.
"A few days ago...a group of travelers found some men slaughtered in the desert. They reported it and some guards were sent out. When they came back..they had their bodies...one was your father." he said. Seto stood frozen.
"W-what?" he asked, unable to believe the news he was receiving from him.
"I'm sorry Seto...but your father is dead." Atem stood and walked down till he was beside Seto. He placed an arm on his shoulder. "I thought it would be best for you to tell your family." with that the Pharaoh left the room and Seto to his thoughts.
Once Atem was out of the room. Seto collapsed to his knees and hands. How could he tell his mother? Or even his sisters for that matter? Hotaru was to leave in a few hours, he couldn't tell her then. Once she returned he would, this also meant he couldn't tell Anzu till she left. His thoughts were all to jumbled, not letting him think clearly. He had to get away from the palace for awhile. Going to his room he dressed commonly and left the palace to go on a walk.
He walked the streets of the markets not paying attention to the calling salesmen or people pushing past him. His father was gone. His sister might be next if the princess really is attacked. She had surprised Bakura back at their home. If it had been a regular battle Hotaru probably wouldn't have made it out of there. But then it was a fair battle against Atem, even if they didn't exactly finish it. She proved to have some skill and a knack for any kind of staff working.
"Are you lost?" came a chipper voice. Seto blinked and looked around. He had unconsciously walked into a alleyway. Looking next to him he saw a girl with brown hair tied up and green eyes starring at him. She was leaning out of a window.
"Huh? oh..no I was just wandering. Leave me alone." he said coldly. She frowned.
"Well aren't you pleasant? I was just trying to help you know." she snapped. Seto glared at her. How dare she speak to him like that. She was nothing but a commoner and he was a High Priest. Then again he didn't exactly look like one at the moment.
"Makoto!"someone shouted from within the building. She looked over her shoulder fearful then jumped out of the window and grabbed his wrist. She took off, dragging Seto behind her. At first he was surprised at how strong her grip was but then realized she was running off with him. He stopped running and pulled his arm back causing her to fall back and knock him over.
"Get off me girl!" he snapped. She scrambled up off him and looked around. They had run just outside of the city and were hiding behind one of the buildings. Seto grumbled and rose off the caked ground. "What was that for?"
"Sorry, I guess I wasn't thinking when I grabbed you. The inn keeper was probably going to-...never mind. I'm just sorry." she said and started walking away. Seto watched her for awhile then quickly caught up with her and grabbed her wrist. She spun around in surprise. "What?"
Seto didn't say anything, instead he examined her arms more carefully. Bruises ran up and down both arms. He could see she had tried to hide them by covering her arms in a thin layer of dirt. No doubt she had more bruises on her body. When he looked up at her face he found she was looking away. "Did the inn keeper do this to you?" he asked. She didn't respond. Instead she just pulled back out of his grip and refused to make eye contact with him.
"Why do you care? You hate me remember?" she said.
"I never said I hated you, but I didn't say I liked you either." he said trying to hide his concern for her. Hell why was he concerned? This wasn't how he usually acted and he was only this nice to his family. Even the great Pharaoh could never manage to get him to act nice.
"Then you should be indifferent to me." she said. Seto sighed, she was stubborn, like Anzu and Hotaru. Are all teenaged girls this way? He grabbed her wrist again and began to lead her back to the main street. He didn't know why but something told him he should help this girl.
"Wh-where are you taking me?" she asked, thinking he was taking her back to the inn.
"To the palace, you'll be safe there." was all he said and continued on. "My name is Seto Kaiba by the way. I'm one of the Pharaoh's high priests. What's your name?" he asked. She just continued to stare at him in shock. When she didn't answer he stopped and looked back at her. He glared at her for ignoring his question. "I asked you your name."
"What? Oh it's Makoto, Makoto Kino." she replied, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. He raised an eyebrow and was about to say more when a rather huge and dirty man snatched her out of his hands.
"Where do you think yer goin! I've been calling ye all day and ye didn answer." he said shaking her. Seto growled at him.
"Unhand her, she's coming with me!" with that he took her hand and pulled her till she was behind him. The man blinked then snarled.
"Why you lil rat! That's my slave yer stealin. I'll report you to the Pharaoh I will!" he cried.
Seto smirked. "Who would the Pharaoh believe? A low class inn keeper like you or one of his trusted high priests?" he then took out his Millennium Rod as proof of his ranking. The inn keeper stepped back, bowed while mumbling an apology, and ran off. Seto's smirk only grew and he concealed the item once again.
"You...you really are a high priest?" he turned to see Makoto starring at him wide eyed. He nodded then began to lead her to the palace, still holding her hand.
88888
"Hotaru are you in here?" Anzu asked as she opened the door to her sisters room. She stepped in and closed it then proceeded in looking around the room. Hotaru soon came into view with a pack on her back and wearing mens clothing. Anzu just starred at her in surprise. It wasn't until Hotaru felt like someone was watching her did she turn and see her sister.
"Oh Anzu what are you doing here?" she asked. Anzu walked up to her.
"Well I was hoping you'd join me in sneaking out to the market but it seems you are already going. I hope you weren't thinking of going with out me." she said. Hotaru's face fell and she looked at the ground sadly.
"I'm...not going to the market. I'm going to Mut." she said. Anzu's eyes widened.
"Mut? But why? Are you running away? You can't do that, haven't we treated you well? Why are you leaving us?" Anzu asked in a panic, it almost made Hotaru want to laugh.
"I'm not running away. The Pharaoh asked me to go and play bodyguard for his sister. I'll be back in just one days time or so." she explained. Anzu claimed down some, relieved that Hotaru wasn't permanently leaving.
Then her face twisted in confusion. "Why you? Don't tell me Seto told him about that whole Thief thing?"
"To tell you the truth I don't think Seto said anything. He seemed mad when I agreed to the Pharaohs wishes. Maybe one of the priests mentioned it." she said and finished packing. She slug the pack over her shoulder and faced her sister with a smile. "Well wish me luck. I'm off to go protect a princess and slay a thief... gee don't I feel like a prince charming?"
Anzu laughed at her sisters sarcasm then smiled warmly and hugged her. "Luck to you Hotaru. Then again I think it's the world that will need it once you go to face it."
Hotaru hugged her sister back then left the room. Anzu followed her out but parted and went to her own room. Now there was only one thing left for the violet eyed girl to do...tell her mother. Taking in a deep breathe she walked up to her mothers door and knocked. Shuffling was heard inside and soon her mothers beautiful face appeared with a sad smile. It appeared she already knew as she quickly hugged Hotaru.
"You be careful out there. If your father should return before you I'll make up some story to tell him." she said and released her daughter. Hotaru nodded and hugged her mother one last time before running back to the throne room where the guards who would be going with her were waiting.
88888
Hotaru yawned as she rode her camel through the desert. They had been riding for six hours. Why couldn't she have taken a horse? They were much faster, but then again that was the only good thing about them. Camels were smarter and required less rest then a horse. Plus they could hold more water in them and where perfect in sand storms. But they were soooo sloooow.
The five guards also rode the beasts. To Hotaru the men looked more like assassins then guards. They wore all black and carried many weapons. She was ordered to dress the same and keep her face hidden so none suspected she was female. Her glaive was strapped to her back and she carried two dessert style swords as well. She wished Jasmin was with her, but she had left the wolf with Anzu telling her to watch over her sister. Hotaru may be trouble but so was Anzu, it was only when they were together when all hell would break loose.
Hotaru smiled at the memories of their pranks on Seto and the stable hands at their home. "Bomani, drink some water." Hotaru was surprised when she turned to see one of the guards had rode up beside her without her knowing. She excepted the water and drank it.
Bomani was a males name. It meant warrior in Egyptian. They had started calling her that once she had concealed her face at the palace gates. She had guessed it was also to help keep her gender a secret.(she's wearing the same thing as them)
She handed the man back the flash, "thank you, what's your name?" she asked. He seemed surprised by the question.
"My name is Tau, The spear master." he said indicating the two spears strapped to his back. She nodded and he looked back ahead.
They would soon be reaching the city. Unfortunately night was also soon approaching and they were not allowed to stop. They were ordered to retrieve the princess as soon as possible, which meant traveling back at night. This plan did not sit well with Hotaru, as she felt something stirring in the vast desert.
Spirit-Mwahahahahahaha. sorry i just love it when Evil starts to stir.
Tenshi-that's because your evil youself.
Spirit-ah but if i was truely evil i would never update this again.
Tenshi-you realize if you did, all the reviewers would come after you with torchs and pitchforks.
Spirit-yeah, that's why i update it. anyways if you actually do want me to update tomorrow please Review! Ja ne
Death
