After All This: Chapter seven
Flashback
Marik sighed as he made his way out of the Pharaoh's throne room, quickly following the steps of Prince Yami. At Yami's call he moved up so the two of them were going down the hall side by side. "What is it my Prince?"
Yami frowned slightly at the title before continuing his ranting from before in the throne room. "I cannot believe my father! I'm sixteen now and very capable of taking care of myself! I've been trained to fight and all that other stuff! Yet when it comes to leaving the palace walls to see the city, I must be surrounded by hundreds of his best guards and fighters!"
Marik shook his head at the way Yami spoke, almost like a five year old crying for a sweet. "Prince Yami, as the personnel advisor of the Pharaoh I'm in-titled to agree with him. A lot of thing's can happen to you in that city, it's full of savages and thieves and your father wishes you to be safe. Besides you're too young to be dancing out there on your own."
Rolling his eye's Yami gave Marik a knowing look. "Marik you the same age as I am and your always out there. In the city. Alone." Yami said, making a point at the last word.
Marik snorted slightly. "I live my life by the Pharaoh and I do what he tells me to, so if I must go to the city alone. I will, I might not like it too much but I do it. Trust me it's not by choice that I go alone."
This had peeked Yami's interest slightly. "Well, why's that?"
Marik quickly glanced down at the scroll he was carrying and nodded. "Well I have to go give this to the Priest, see you around Prince Yami."
"Yeah, don't forget I'm coming over to your room later so you can help me out with a way to beat my dad." Yami added.
"Oh I won't forget." Marik said, as he walked away.
Yami stood there watching Marik slowly disappear off before quickly heading to go to the library to finish off his daily studies.
Marik took only minutes to get over to the priest house, after dropping off what he was ordered he headed back to the palace to get settled in. Once in his room it took him only seconds to strip of his top, sweat glistened off his body as he fell back on his bed. "What a long day." He muttered, holding his head. "I'm hot, sticky and now I have a headache." He moaned.
"Oh! Poor baby." A teasing voice said from a corner, somewhere in the room.
Marik shot up right away; quickly glancing all over the room from where he sat. "Who said that?" He demanded, as he stood up. His attention was quickly drawn to the laughter that came from the window. He stood there in shock as a tall figure, cloaked in black came out and stood before him. "You have a lot of nerve to come climbing through windows of the Pharaoh's palace." Marik spat out.
"Climb! Good Ra Marik! Not even I would dare climb those walls! It is climbing to your own death!" The figure stated, before proudly adding. "Besides I came thought the front door."
Marik stood there frozen as the figure took a few steps towards him. "Wait, how do you know my name?"
"Oh right, sorry." A pair of pale hands came out of the cloak and pulled the hood off to reveal his face. "This better?"
Marik felt is jaw drop open, as he glanced at the boy that stood in front of him It had been a year since he had last seen him, he was still as pale as ever, his brown eyes not as soft as before, his hair was longer and more wilder and he had grown some but Marik still stood taller. All in all, there before him stood Bakura, the King of Thieves. And like he had promised the two once met. "Bakura." Marik said, breathlessly.
Bakura raised his eye's too meet Marik's a small smile washed over his face. "Marik. So... how have you been doing, here? Living life as the Pharaoh's personnel adviser?"
"Oh it's horrible I tell you! Yami the damn Pharaoh's son, always whining about this or that! His father should just let him go off in the streets alone and be done with it." Marik was breathing quite heavily after his slight out-burst.
Bakura looked as he was about to start laughing but held it in. "Well, what do you expect of the children of royalty?"
"I wasn't expecting anything." Marik mumbled. "So, umm how are ah things?"
"As well as could be expected. I guess you already know that the Pharaoh suspects someone else as the King of thieves, which is a good thing." Bakura said, as he walked over to the window. "I never realised how hard it would be to lead a group of thieves. Since my father's death, many men and women have come to challenge me for the position I guess you could call it."
Marik looked at him, confusion quickly crossed his face. "But don't you have the right of the throne by birth?"
"Oh, no. Kerean wasn't my real father, he just took me in when I was younger. But he treated me as his own and wished for me to carry things out for him." Bakura told him.
"Ah, I see." Marik said, as he took a seat near the other boy.
"How did you do it?" Bakura asked quietly. As he walked over and sat down right beside Marik.
"Do what?" Marik asked, as he watched Bakura.
"Slay them so easily?" Bakura asked. "I was asked to do it, but I was a coward and refused... but you... you did what you had to. I admire that."
Marik nodded in understanding. "It wasn't easy to kill them, all I've felt is guilt for the past year. I didn't wish to kill our fathers and I most defiantly wished I could have said no."
"Then, why didn't you?" Bakura asked, as he leaned over slightly.
"I've lived in the palace for most of my life. I know what the punishment is for thieves and traitors. It isn't that appealing either." Marik shuddered. "I'd have rather kill my own father quickly then watch him go through all that. Do you know what I mean?"
Bakura frowned and nodded slightly. "Yeah... the methods of the Pharaoh could even bring the strongest of men to his knees."
"Yep." Marik nodded.
The two sat silent for a moment or two, the only movement was of Bakura taking his cloak off.
"So, it's been a year." Marik said, suddenly.
"Yes it has." Bakura nodded. "I've been watching you this entire time, like promised. More so when the Pharaoh sends you into the city alone."
Marik smiled at the way Bakura had said the last statement. "Yes well... What happens now?"
"Now, we try to get out of here without being caught." Bakura said, as he stood up. "I want us to get to the caves before dark."
"Whoa, were just leaving here?" Marik asked, getting up and following him.
"Well, I will have you back for tomorrow. Don't worry about it." Bakura said.
Marik turned to study the position of the sun for a few seconds. "Now wouldn't be a good time, but in a moments time the Pharaoh will be involved in a shadow game, no one will notice us then."
"Okay, sounds good." Bakura said, taking a seat on Marik's bed. "So tell me what you do here?"
"I advise the Pharaoh." Marik said slowly, grinning as he took a seat on his bed across from Bakura. "What else would I do?"
Bakura just shrugged and glanced around. "Well you never know... Your umm, rather ah good looking." Bakura stuttered out, a blush rising to his cheeks.
Marik smirked slightly as a blush also came to his face. Pushing himself up, he brought his body over by Bakura's. "Your pretty hot yourself your highness."
The blush on Bakura's face deepened, as Marik brought his face closer to his own.
Soon the two were in locked in a passionate kiss. The moment came to a quick halt when a knock on the door was heard. The two boy's split apart and Marik rushed to get the door. Opening it, he frowned at seeing Yami there. "Prince Yami, why are you here?"
"I knew you'd forget." Yami sighed.
"Forget what?" Marik asked, stepping outside his door into the hallway and shutting the door.
"Your helping me prepare with my duel against my father this afternoon remember?" Yami said.
"Err, right." Marik muttered. "Just give me a second."
"Alright" Yami nodded, leaning against the wall next to the door.
Re-opening the door, Marik rushed in and grabbed his top.
"What's going on?" Bakura asked as he came to Marik's side.
"I forgot that I promised the prince that I would help him to prepare with his duel against his father." Marik explained.
"Oh, okay. I'll wait here then." Bakura said, falling back down on the bed.
"Yeah, I won't be gone too long." Marik said, heading to the door.
"Help the kid win; I'd love nothing more then to see the Pharaoh defeated at that game then by his own son." Bakura said.
Nodding, Marik stepped out and joined Yami.