Note: Thankies for the lovely reviews! Sekai-no-hi reviewed loads, which makes me muchly happy. The next chapter of Brave New World will be up when I get time to type it, it's kinda lemony so I might get kicked off here again... Yeah. Flamethrower Queen, I'll definitely email you on my next day off work, whenever that might be. Your reviews are really helping me not chicken out of posting the rest of B.N.W. Can't believe I'm writing an M-preg... Even though it isn't really and possibly never will be...
Extra Note: No, I'm not killing Yami off (in this fic...), or even just maiming him a bit. He's the bad guy, I need him there for sequels, heheh. Also, I have no idea why my version of Bakura has suddenly turned so...uke. At least he's cute, right?
Dread and the Fugitive Mind – Part 10
Bakura had been about to head back to Marik and Seto when Yami stepped out in front of him. He froze, instantly realising he was alone with the man who'd killed him once before.
"Tomb robber." Yami greeted, approaching him.
"Pharaoh. Leave me be." Bakura frowned, clenching his fists as Yami came closer because his fingers were shaking.
"I want to ask you something." Yami stopped advancing and stared at him, arms folded across a leather-clad chest.
"I'm leaving. Whatever it is, I don't care." The thief hissed, turning to walk away. A hand locked around his wrist and pulled him back, startling a gasp from him.
"Tell me what they have that I don't!" Yami demanded, glaring and used to getting his own way even now. Bakura's chest tightened in fear and he yanked his wrist free, backing away with wide eyes.
"What…are you talking about?" The thief played dumb, although he knew Yami wanted him in a way he definitely wasn't comfortable with.
"Marik and Kaiba. What makes those two so special? Why do you keep running away from me?" The pharaoh demanded, and Bakura bolted. He spun around and dashed off through the trees towards where he could sense his hikari, hoping it would lead him back to the cabins and somewhere with a lock on the door. He wanted Marik and Seto with him, he felt stronger with them next to him. If he ran to them, though, he'd have to tell them everything. He'd have to remember it all, go over every detail and relive each moment. He wasn't ready for that yet, all he wanted was to be somewhere safe where Yami wouldn't come near him.
Since giving up his immortality to become mortal again he couldn't go back into the Ring, which had always been his sanctuary. He felt vulnerable without that safety, nowhere to hide that he was certain the pharaoh couldn't get in.
Breaking out of the trees at a dead run, Bakura was relieved to find himself back in the campsite. Without even stopping for breath he raced to the cabin he shared with Marik and Seto, rushing inside and searching frantically for any room with a lock on the door. The only ones were the two bathrooms, so he locked himself in the one connected to his room and pocketed the key, finally allowing himself to fall to his knees and catch his breath, exhaustion finally overriding his panic attack.
XxXxX
"Bakura? Bakura!" Marik and Seto called as they entered the silent cabin, having left Jounouchi and Yugi to find Yami and headed back to the cabin, hoping Bakura would be there.
With no reply forthcoming the two of them searched every room, turning on all the lights because dusk was falling. Worried sick, they ended up in front of the locked bathroom door, banging on it and receiving only silence.
"I have a key," Seto rushed off and fetched the key to the other bathroom, which fit the lock to either door.
"'Kura?" Marik asked as the lock clicked and the door swung open. He followed Seto into the bathroom and felt his blood run cold with fear when he finally spotted Bakura on the floor by the bath. The thief lay curled up, eyes closed and not moving, and Marik instantly thought the worst.
"He's ok," Seto assured, kneeling down next to Bakura and reaching to try and wake him, having seen that he was still breathing. Before Seto could even touch Bakura the tomb robber's eyes snapped open and he gasped, scrambling back against the side of the bathtub. His eyes were wide and it looked as though he'd been having a nightmare, because for a moment he didn't seem to know where he was.
"Bakura? Are you alright?" Seto asked in his low, soothing voice. The thief seemed to recognise it and snap back to himself, shuddering and hiding his face in his hands.
"What happened, 'Kura? Did pharaoh do anything?" Marik asked, sending Seto a worried glance. Bakura shook his head, shaking too much to speak. He'd had one of his nightmares again, and all he could see when he woke up was blood. Even now he could still feel his skin tingling, and he bought a trembling hand up to touch his throat, tracing the unmarked skin there to reassure himself.
"Come on, let's get out of the bathroom." Marik suggested, helping the slightly dazed Bakura up and leading him into the main living room, sitting him down on the couch. Seto and Marik took their places on either side of the thief and gave him a moment to collect his composure before finally asking him the question they'd avoided for so long.
"It's time to tell us, Bakura. We know Yami did something to you back in Egypt – what did he do?" Seto was the one to ask.
"Don't make me…" Bakura's voice was a whisper, struggling to keep his mind clear and not remember any details of what had happened.
"We can't help you if you don't tell us, 'Kura." Marik said, frowning.
"Why do you want to help me? Why do you even want to know?" Bakura stood up, whirling around to face them when they stood as well. "Why do you care?"
Seto and Marik looked at each other, some silent agreement passing between them, then closed in on the thief. Startled, Bakura tried to step back but Marik caught his hand and pulled him gently into their arms. Before he could speak a pair of warm lips met his own, another pair kissing his pale throat and the strong arms of two people he trusted holding his protectively. Too stunned to respond he stood in their arms, letting them kiss him as his mind reeled. When finally they released him having spoken more clearly than words what they wanted to give him and why they cared, he stumbled back a step, looking lost.
"Wh-what do you want from me?" He asked in a breaking voice, startled again when Marik pulled him into their arms once more,
"A kiss would be nice," the Egyptian smiled warmly, looking down at Bakura with no deception in his purple eyes. The thief turned to look at Seto and saw the same thing – usually cool blue eyes were warm and loving. Not knowing what to do or how to deal with everything, Bakura stared at the ground, lost, and slowly leant his head against Seto's chest. He was shaking again and Marik knew he couldn't deal with everything right now.
"Let's go to sleep, we can sort all this out in the morning." The tomb keeper suggested, letting Seto guide Bakura to their room while he switched out the lights in the living room and fetched Bakura's sleeping shirt from his room. Whatever happened in the morning, at least they'd have Bakura close to them tonight.
XxXxX
Bakurachanged into his nightshirt in a trance, not thinking about anything at all because the memories and confusion were right there, waiting to rush in on him.
As he came out of the bathroom he paused for a moment, not sure if he could do this – share everything with these two, spend the night protected by them. It seemed much easier being alone, but when Seto's arms wrapped around him from behind and Marik pulled back the covers for them his fears vanished. Maybe they could help him, maybe not, but at least he knew that between the two of them was the safest place he could be. Perhaps he'd get a decent night's sleep for once.
Silently, lost in his thoughts, Bakura allowed them to steer him over to the bed and lay down with him in the middle. Marik pulled the covers over them and Seto turned out the light before their arms draped over his waist protectively. It was warm and comfortable between them and he closed his eyes, knowing they were watching over him. With his forehead resting against Marik's chest and Seto holding him from behind, he relaxed his shaking, weary muscles and let their heartbeats and soft breathing carry him to sleep.
TBC
I can't write today. Hmm. This fic has almost 1000 hits, go me! I'm gonna go hide behind the couch now.