Forgotten Love

Chapter 4

By egyptionkitty

Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh… I wish I did, but we can't ALL have what we want, now can we? If we did, we would be a hell of a lot happier.

Finally, chapter four is here. I was going to update last week, but due to… okay, well, nothing, I just didn't. I didn't feel like it. But then I decide to FINALLY write the chapter on the weekend I actually have tons of homework. Stupid me. By the way, have any of you seen the Fruits Basket anime? I am in LOVE with it, and I have it saved on my compute… but its in Japanese, which makes it so much COOLER! It has Japanese subtitles. Well, you don't really care, so I'll just get on with the chapter.

o o o o o

Midnight on December 23rd, Marik's birthday

Katara knew that December 23rd was Marik's birthday, and that Marik celebrated his birthday alone, due to the fact that Katara's mother had come up with a cold. Even though it seemed minor, Katara's father decided it would be best if they stayed at home, where they are protected from the humid, cold weather. Katara expected Marik to knock on her window anytime now, and was prepared for the adventure ahead. Katara had put on a black dress, which was not nearly as elaborate as the other dresses in her closet.

Katara hummed silently to herself the tune of a song Zeinab used to sing to her when she was 5, and a song that Ishizu said was supposedly supposed to give you luck. Katara didn't necessarily believe in good luck and bad luck, but she still sang it. Katara felt as if she was no longer in her home, but in her own little world. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine what Egypt was really like. The pre teen could barely contain her excitement, and started to close her eyes, trying to imagine how Egypt would look. Would it be full of boisterous people, advertising their products? Or a silent place, mysterious and puzzling?

Katara was so busy imagining what Egypt was like, she didn't notice or hear a shadowy figure silently walking in the hall. The door creaked slightly, as a shadow of a person appeared at the doorway. Katara suddenly stopped and whipped around, as she almost screamed.

Zeinab put her hand over Katara's mouth, muffling the high-pitched scream to a squeak. Zeinab smiled softly as she whispered, "I wondered where you wondered off to. I didn't tuck you into bed, so I was almost sure you weren't asleep," Zeinab glanced at Katara's black dress, and black cloak and frowned, "Are you planning to go anywhere…?"

A sudden flash of fear came upon Katara's face as she looked pleadingly at her caretaker.

"Don't tell mom or dad Zeinab, please! This is really important… they can't know!" Katara looked around wildly, as if expecting her parents to come in at that instant. Zeinab smiled softly and said, "Does it have something to do with the Ishtar boy?"

Zeinab looked accusingly at Katara raising her eyebrow slightly. Katara blushed slightly and nodded but said quickly, "But it's not what you think!"

"Oh really?" Zeinab said in a mild voice, and her eyebrow went even higher, "Then what, Ra tell, is it?"

Katara shifted uncomfortably in her seat and glanced up at her caretaker. In her mind, she was wondering whether or not she could trust her caretaker, even though she had fed her and raised her like a mother.

"It's… it's…" Katara started to whisper, but was interrupted by a sudden rap on the window. Katara jumped in bewilderment, but not nearly as high as Zeinab did. Katara secretly smiled as she started to wrap a scarf around her head.

"What in the…?" Zeinab started spluttering, and then stopped dead when she saw Marik's grinning face at the window, waving to Katara and motioning to her to open the window.

Marik's face turned pale when he saw Zeinab sending him wicked eyebrow messages, as she started heading for the window. Katara suddenly snapped back into reality when she saw the furious 30-year-old heading for the window, rolling up her sleeves.

"NO!" Katara yelled, as she pulled on her caretaker's sleeves in attempt to stop her. Of course, she failed, but she managed to get her attention.

"'It's not what you think' is it? What a load of bullshit! So, what are you planning to do? Escape from under Egypt?" Zeinab said ferociously, laughing at her joke at the end. Katara remained silent for a minute and whispered, "That's exactly what we're going to do."

Zeinab gaped at the child for a few minutes and gasped, "But… but… but you're children! How are you going to…" Zeinab stopped and spotted Odeon sitting next to the worried looking Marik. She stared up at Katara in disbelief and whispered, "But what if your parents should find out?"

Katara rested her orange colored orbs upon the servant and said pleadingly, "They won't… as long as you don't tell. Please swear you won't tell mother or father!"

Zeinab gawked at the young master. Then she cleared her throat and muttered, "Your wish is my command…" then Zeinab walked out of the room and towards her quarters in the servant's wing.

Katara let out a sigh of relief as she opened the window, which let in a slight air of iciness. Marik stared at Katara and with a slight trace of a grin on his face asked, "So she found out?"

Katara nodded regretfully and said heatedly, "But she promised not to tell! I can trust her… I think…"

Marik stayed silent and then broke out in a grin. "Okay. We can trust her, right? After all, she is a servant."

Katara felt a little angry with Marik for saying that her lifelong caretaker was merely a servant, but shook it off. It didn't matter, because now, they were going to see Egypt! Katara was in a daze as Odeon led them to a small carriage nestled comfortably between Katara's home and a garden beside their home.

Later

After sitting in the carriage for what seemed like ages, Odeon muttered, "We have arrived…" Katara instantly perked up and was all of a sudden alert; unlike she had been during the ride, nearly sleeping on Marik, who was getting a bit sleepy himself.

"We're here!" Katara breathed excitedly, as she shook Marik awake, who groggily got up.

"Wha..?" Marik said, half asleep, as he rubbed his eyes.

"We're HERE!" Katara almost screamed, as Marik jumped in his seat. He gave Katara a dirty look, but then peeked outside the carriage. The breathtaking view was amazing; they were on a bridge going along the Nile River. City lights blinked in the distance as horns of cars honked, and the foul smell of donkeys and gas filled the air. Katara breathed in the sweet scent and squealed in excitement. The carriage then abruptly stopped on the edge of the street, leaving the two children and Odeon free to roam the marvelous city of Giza, Egypt.

Katara was in a daze, as she held onto Marik's arm for support, hardly believing that they were actually out of the prison they had called home. Marik was grinning so wide, Katara wondered if his mouth hurt or not. Odeon walked with them expressionlessly, but with a hint of a smile on his face as he eyed the two 12-year-olds walking together, and Marik pointing to the various signs and exclaiming excitedly when he saw a street performer playing with flames. Marik stared with interest as the performer manipulated fire and stuck a flaming torch down his throat, and laughed hysterically as the man started gasping for water.

"I know YOU could do much better," Marik whispered to Katara as the pyromagician still was running around the street like a maniac. Not only was there entertainment, but there were also frail, sickly people sitting on the dirty sidewalk, their hands outstretched, asking for money. Marik stood there, pitying them, and went so far as to taking of his precious gold earrings and almost handed them to a beggar, who stared eagerly and greedily at the earrings, but Odeon stopped him in the nick of time. The beggar gave a dirty to Odeon as he passed by and cursed at him in Arabic.

"Wow, what did you do to make him call you ibn al kalbah, huh Odeon?" Marik asked blankly, unaware that Odeon prevented the beggar from striking it rich.

"I don't know why he called me a son of a bitch, Marik," Odeon said stiffly, as they continued to walk on the dirty sidewalk.

The rest of the time above ground passed almost instantly, and Katara immensely enjoyed herself, giggling at the fact that Marik waved to almost every car that passed by. Also, there was a dashing young boy about their age who winked at Katara, earning him a dirty look from Marik.

"Yahmar!" Marik cursed at him, and gave him one of his special dirty looks. The boy slumped away, sulking that Katara already had a guy with her.

Katara was so happy that she didn't want the night to end, and became sad whenever she thought about it, but still tried her best to enjoy herself, in which she succeeded. Katara almost cried when they had to go back in the carriage, and buried her face in Marik's chest, whom stared bewildered at her. He didn't know what else to do but comfort her, so he started stroking her hair and comforted her in a soothing voice.

"It's okay," Marik said softly, "Maybe we'll do it again some day. But, I have to admit, that was the best birthday I ever had."

Katara looked up and smiled, as she gave Marik a hug and said, "Happy birthday, tomb keeper,"

Marik's smile faded a bit when remembered that the very next day, he was going to receive his tomb keeper initiation. Katara pulled back from the embrace, and seeing his worried expression, covered her mouth and said, "Oh, Ra, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to remind you! I promise I'll come over right before you receive it to comfort you. I'm sorry…"

Marik shook his head and said in a false valiant voice, "No, it's no big deal. I can deal with it. I just hope father doesn't find out we've been out…"

It was then Katara's turn to comfort him. She whispered in his ear, "It's going to be alright… I promise."

Marik smiled warmly as they stopped abruptly in front of Katara's house.

"Good night, Katara. See you in the morning." Marik said in a false happy tone, as he gave Katara a parting hug. Katara Smiled back, blushing slightly as she opened the window and disappeared inside. Marik sighed as the carriage continued to move, and he slumped in his seat resignedly. Odeon glanced at Marik quickly and said, "Did you enjoy yourself, Master Marik?"
"Of course I did, Odeon," Marik said irritably, totally unlike he was a few minutes ago.

They were silent for the remainder of the ride, and the carriage stopped in front of the Ishtar residence.

"This is our stop," Marik sighed, as he sluggishly got out of the carriage and into the Ishtar gate. (No, not the Mesopotamian one XD) Odeon walked briskly besides him, keeping a watchful eye for anyone who might see him or her. Marik was walking rather slowly, and Odeon didn't want to tell hi to walk faster in fear of another loud, irritable remark. Then they would be caught for sure.

"Master Marik? Odeon?" Came a strange voice form the darkness.

Odeon whipped around to see a gate guard staring at them, stunned. Odeon quickly picked up the sluggish boy and ran inside the house. He ran into Marik's room, quickly undressed the boy, and put him in his nightgown. Then he quickly stuck him in his bed and then Odeon hid in Marik's closet so he could listen in on the guards' conversation. Odeon could hear voices in the hall of gate guards as they trampled in the room. They looked around the room, and saw Marik's dirty clothes thrown on the floor as if rushed.

"They were out, I just know it."

"Yes, I can see the dirt marks on the boy's clothes,"

"And the mud on their shoes is fresh."

"Yes, we must report this to Mr. Ishtar at once!"

The guards left the room muttering to themselves on how much trouble 'that wretch Odeon' was going to be in. Odeon cursed to himself and cursed at the guards as he stomped to the servants' quarters, knowing how much trouble they were going to be in the next day.

o o o o o

I'm FINALLY done! I started this chapter weeks ago, but then I was too lazy to finish it. Please forgive me, and REVIEW! It would make me very happy. 21 reviews for 3 chapters makes me really happy, and I want to see how many reviews I can get by the end of this fic. I know you guys won't let me down! Luv ya all! I hope you guys like the chapter, and I'll try to update soon, since I have Friday off, including today. TTFN!