A/N: More for ya Emm.... I haven't got anything to say this time, so please R&R folks! Oh, and I'm real sorry this took so long to get up! I'll try to get the next part up ASAP. Thank you!
(P.S. Sorry for updating the last part twice. I was messing around and got rid of it by accident. Note, don't keep pressing the 'Enter' button without reading. -Rolls her eyes.- Never did that before. Later!)
Responce to reviews:
bast4: Heehee, I'm like that too. Having the characters getting hurt is fun! It can be really mean, but it's still fun, heehee. You'll see in this part what's wrong with Yugi, so enjoy I liked Bekka too and I'm trying to decide if I'm going to bring her into it later on or not. We'll see Thanks for the review!
Chicary: -Hugs you- Thank you first of all for reading my fic from the start! Nice to see this is keeping you interested. The reason Bakura helped Bekka there was to help hide his identity and to mix into the group. Even the King of Thieves needs a little outside help at times, even if they're unaware of giving it. Heehee. Thank for the review and I hope you like this part!
yla/all4him: Thank you very much for the review!
Sorceress Vanessa: Sorry for not getting this up sooner! I hope that it makes up for my lapse in updating it. ; Hope ya enjoy and thank you very much for the review!
Pharaoh Star Yami: Dia is muire duit! You know Irish? Yay! I'm not alone here! Heehee Is aoibhinn liom Yami fresin! Tá sé an-déas, heehee. Ach is fearr liom Bakura. An-té!!! Working on the violence I am Hope you enjoy this and thanks for the review! Slán!
Roae: Glad you like the fic I'm enjoying typing it! Sorry this took so long to put up. Hmm... I was thinking that he looks like he did back in Ancient Egypt in aspect of skin colour but I like Domino version's hair better. You can pick really, but I've got a mix of the two in my mind, heehee. Thanks for the review!
TombRaider15: I'm glad you like. Thanks for the review!
On with píosa 4!
Golden Sands
Part Four
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An hour passed before Yami finally dismissed the group of merchants. After much negotiation they had agreed that they would receive three new camels, but Yami couldn't let them have anymore for now. The number of the animals left in the palace was depleting rapidly because almost every merchant group that went out lost at least one camel, either to death or raiders, and the royals' camels always replaced them. No more were to be handed out.
Through the rest of the day the pharaoh, followed always by Yugi, dealt with every task that had been written up for the day. There were meetings with various groups, one being with the leader of a nearby town that was seeking alliance with Yami's city. They offered their services with protection from Yami in return. The soldiers were needed, and the town was along side a river, and was known for producing vast amounts of crops. It would be foolhardy to turn down an offer like that.
After that Yami was taken out of the palace to make a quick visit to another town. He had to pick a few strong men to return to the city and train in his army. He climbed onto the back of a camel and patted its neck twice, the large animal complying to the silent command and getting to its feet and starting to walk on. Yugi walked alongside, holding a parasol over Yami. The heat made him slightly nauseous, making his fever worse, but he refused any help offered, saying, "I'm fine!" each time. The musty scent of the camels ran up Yugi's nose and he had to swallow hard to force himself not to throw up. He gratefully accepted a water container from a soldier and downed the contents, feeling a bit better afterwards.
When they stopped and Yami was inspecting the men of the town, Yugi watched from the shade of some trees. The cool shade was always a welcome in the heat but not the insects that rested in the cool air in the shaded areas. Yugi swatted flies and ants that landed on him but fatigue soon crept upon him so he closed his eyes and had fallen asleep before he knew it.
Somebody shaking him woke him from his slumber. "Hmm?" he groaned, opening his eyes and stretching his arms over his head. He looked over his shoulder into the smiling face of one of the soldiers, Honda. He was a tall man, young too, about twenty-three, with short brown hair that stuck out a little over his forehead and brown eyes to match. His sun kissed skin was partly covered in a uniform of light armour and cloth with the pharaoh's symbol on the breastplate; The Millennium Puzzle. Yugi was familiar with most of the soldiers and if his memory served him right, Honda was just promoted to the Corporal rank.
Yugi felt they were moving and he wasn't under the trees anymore so he mumbled, "Where?" and looked around. He noticed he was sitting in front of Honda on his horse and when he looked back he couldn't see the town anymore. Looking forward again the palace was in clear view and it wouldn't take them long to get there. "How long was I asleep for?" he asked, yawning and wiping his eyes.
"Ohh for the last hour at least. The pharaoh told me to take you because you needed the rest." Honda smiled. "He's right. You run around more than anyone in the palace!"
"Do not," he protested and stifled another yawn. "Who's holding the parasol for Yami?" Yugi asked, looking forward to the front of the group.
"Nobody. The pharaoh said a little sun wouldn't hurt him."
Yugi smiled and nodded. "Thanks. You're right, I needed the sleep." His eyes drooped again and he closed them, groaning a little. He held his head with one hand.
"You okay?" Honda leaned forward a little and looked at Yugi as best as he could from his position. The boy's skin did look pale.
"I've felt better, but I'll be alright." Yugi opened his eyes again and nodded reassuringly at Honda. "Just a sore head. Nothing a good night's sleep won't cure."
"If you say so. Just take it easy, pal." Honda patted Yugi on the back and kicked his horse on a bit. Ten minutes later they were back in the palace and Yugi was back to his job of following Yami around and helping him. Yami had told him more than once to take the rest of the day off but Yugi wouldn't have any of it.
"Sure who could stand walking around with a hot head like yourself for the rest of the day?" he joked once and laughed.
As the sun sank below the horizon that evening and the stars began to shine, Yami sighed and rubbed his face with a hand as he climbed out of the marble bath, water dripping onto the floor. "Thank goodness that's all over with. That was one long day," he said and took the towel one of the male servants offered him. He started to dry himself as Yugi walked around the room and tidied up. Yugi paused to look at the scar on Yami's back. He frowned, remembering where he'd gotten it from, and he still felt it was partly his fault even though Yami said it wasn't. He shook this feeling and continued to finish his small tasks.
"You're telling me." Yugi brought over Yami's pants that he wore going to bed and picked up the pharaoh's clothes from the chair they were resting on. He left and fetched a new tunic and set it ready in Yami's room. He looked up as Yami came in. "You'll sleep well tonight I'd say."
"You too." Yami pulled the covers up as he sat on the bed. "Head off now. You don't need to watch over me until I fall asleep you know. I can take care of myself." He smiled and shook his head.
"Oh you'd be surprised. Every night when you fall asleep, the shadows come alive and I have to put a spell on them to stop them from killing you!"
"What the-?" Yami stared at him, startled. 'He's able to hold a straight face pretty easy,' he thought. "Stop lying, Yugi. Go to bed."
Yugi chuckled and bowed his head. "As you wish. Be careful of the shadows now," he said and laughed as he left the room.
Yami shook his head and lay down. "The shadows by backside," he muttered and closed his eyes with a sigh. "Silly Yugi." Contrary this his believe, he actually found it hard to get to sleep. He was so used to falling asleep with a presence in the room that now with Yugi gone, it felt really strange. 'Don't be so pathetic, Yami,' he told himself and started to doze off, reaching out and touching the Puzzle for comfort, the object glowing and sending a soothing warmth through the pharaoh.
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Yugi walked down the hallway after washing Yami's clothes and hanging them out to dry. Yami had more, but Yugi liked to make sure he never had to wear the same thing twice without it being cleaned first. His whole body was crying out for rest and his temperature has soared so high that he was now struggling to find his way to his room. Everyone else was already sleeping so he was alone, so he thought.
Yugi paused and looked over at a wall when he thought he saw a shadow moving from the corner of his eye. "Huh?" He rubbed his violent eyes and looked again, but the shadow was gone. 'Weird. Like I told Yami.' He chuckled to himself and walked on. 'I'm imaging things now.' As he walked towards his room, he couldn't shake this strange feeling that he was being watched, like the feeling of a hawk watching its intended prey. The feeling got so strong that he turned around and looked behind him. Nothing but a cool breeze met him, which was welcomed on his burning skin. A wave of dizziness washed over him and he stumbled over to a wall for support. He leaned heavily against it and shut his eyes tightly. He clutched his stomach and groaned.
"You don't look well, little Yugi."
Yugi's eyes snapped open and he looked around. That voice sent shivers down his spine, the voice was familiar but he couldn't place it. "Who's there?" he demanded, leaning his back against the cool wall.
"Oh, just an old friend."
"Friend?" Yugi blinked a few times, still trying to find the source of the voice. A shadow moved across the hall from him and Yugi stepped away. 'Doesn't seem like a friend.' He swallowed a lump in his throat and he felt his stomach twist. Right now he didn't know whether that was from the sickness, or the fear that was slowly creeping up in him.
"Well no, I'm not a friend. In fact, I'm probably the most hated man around here right now." The moonlight came out from behind the clouds and cast its silver glow on the figure standing three feet away from Yugi. Yugi's eyes widened and he was about to scream the intruder's name when a strong hand pressed against his mouth and pushed him against the wall. His eyes were full of fear, which made Bakura chuckle evilly.
"What? Are you scared of me?" Bakura asked and leaned over so that his mouth was beside Yugi's ear. "You should be," he whispered, smirking as he felt the boy shivering as his hot breath grazed his young ear. Bakura looked him over and made an expression that looked vaguely like confusion. "Why would the pharaoh care so much for such a short runt anyway? Ohh well. You'll do."
Yugi's breathing quickened and he felt his heart thumping so hard he was sure Bakura could hear it in the silence of the night. He watched as Bakura reached behind his back and pulled out a sturdy wooden club. Yugi started to scream into Bakura's hand but it was muffled and then silenced by a blow across the head. Yugi stood dazed for a few seconds, eyes unblinking, unfocused, mouth hanging open, until his orbs rolled back and he collapsed in a heap on the cold floor. Blood slowly seeped through a small wound on his head, letting a few droplets behind on the ground.
Bakura chuckled and slipped his club back into the rope around his waist and he crouched down. He brushed Yugi's hair out of his face and stared at him. 'The likeness is uncanny. You could nearly mistake this guy for the pharaoh himself if he were taller,' Bakura thought. He grabbed the unconscious boy by his tunic and pulled him up easily and draped him over his shoulder like a limp sack. Yugi's arms hung down Bakura's back and Bakura held one of his ankles with a hand to keep him from falling off.
With a quick look around to make sure he wasn't seen, he ran silently through the hallways, his sandals left outside to minimise the noise. When he got to the back door he skidded to a halt and stepped back, peering carefully around the corner. Three guards stood watch, one currently sleeping on a chair at the side, the other two chatting quietly. Bakura growled and reached inside his shirt. He pulled out the Millennium Ring and held it up in front of his face, the moonlight giving it an eerie shine. "Millennium Ring of darkness and power, cast forth your monsters at this hour," he muttered huskily. The ring began to glow and a shadow grew on the floor before Bakura, drawing its energy from Bakura's own shadow, his dark soul. "Sleep let it be, do this and obey me." The shadow grew and rose up off of the floor to form the outline of a young woman. The black shape bowed its head to Bakura and then dropped to the floor like a pool of ink.
Bakura's sight followed the shadow as it flew across the floor like a deadly serpent. It snaked its way up the body of the first guard and coiled itself around his neck lightly. The shadow took shape again and seemed to press its lips, or at least where its lips would be if it were human, against those of the guard's and he collapsed to the floor straight away, sent into a deep sleep that would stay with him for at least a week.
The second guard woke the third and dropped to the sleeping man's side. He shook his friend in a vain attempt to wake him up. The shadow slipped from the first man unnoticed, the best advantage to using this spell during the night, and coiled itself around the second. Its actions were repeated and the second man fell, also sleeping. The third had started to run to escape and raise the alarm, getting the feeling that strong magic was at work, but the shadow was relentless; it wouldn't leave a job half done. It slipped from the second man and glided down the hall after the third like a moving puddle of darkness. Bakura heard a thump sound and knew the man had fallen. The shadow came back to him, took its shape as the woman, bowed and then vanished, melting back into Bakura's shadow and returning the energy that it had borrowed.
The glow of the Millennium Ring faded to nothing and Bakura stepped out, wiping the few beads of sweat that graced his forehead. 'Too easy.' He ran quickly, stepping over the bodies of the sleeping men, not without snatching anything valuable first from the fallen men at the exit, and out the door. Outside his stallion was standing patently, chewing on some rough strands of grass. The horse raised its head upon hearing Bakura's steps and snorted when he saw Yugi, remembering the boy who used to feed him. Bakura hoisted himself up onto the horse's back in a hurry and hung Yugi's limp body over the saddle in front of him. "Move it, you stupid beast." Bakura's harsh-voiced command was enough to get the horse moving. Bakura took the back exit of the city, over the sands, so as the hoof beats wouldn't make too much noise.
All the while the palace slept on, unaware of the trauma the young boy had just gone through and who was now lost in a void of darkness.
To be continued....
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Slán slán!
Ashla
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