Forgotten Love

Chapter 6

By egyptionkitty

Disclaimer: No… I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh… so sue me! See if I care… well, I would, but whatever. I do own the Narazrak family though. So there. Hmph. XD Ok, enough of my snobiness.

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! I haven't updated in about 2 and a half months, which is now officially a new record for me… I'm SOOOOO SORRY! I know how much you guys like this fic (well, at least I hope) so I feel like a total dork for not updating. As an apology, I promise to update soon! Well, after this chapter at least. :( sooooo sorry to keep you waiting! I feel like a total dork for not updating… By the way, we just ended on the part last time when Marik stared blankly at Katara and says, "Who is she?". Even I had to read the whole story so far all over again… trust me, I don't blame you if you have to too. Well, FINALLY on the chapter.

o o o o o

"Who are you?" Marik repeated once more, staring blankly at Katara, as if she had never existed.

Trembling, Katara looked up at Ishizu, hoping that this was some kind of joke, but all Ishizu did was stare at Katara in pity and just hug Marik all the tighter.

"M-m-m-arik…" Katara said unevenly, hoping that somehow, he would remember her… but all hope seemed to be lost now. Staring down at the panic-stricken lifeless body of Mr. Ishtar, Katara's lightless eyes stared down and the bloody heap, which was once Marik's father… until Marik murdered him.

Katara didn't even know what had come over him, but she was sure that the Marik who murdered Mr. Ishtar was not the same boy who Katara had treasured. It seemed impossible that such a sweet and loving boy would just… kill so easily. The Katara's father ran up to Katara and Ishizu hugging Marik, staring in disbelief at Mr. Ishtar's gruesome and blood-spattered body, lying in a puddle of dark red blood.

"Come, Katara," Mr. Ishtar said in an even and quiet voice, "This is not the place to be…"

Katara wanted to scream, 'Yes it is! I need to be here! I don't care if Marik doesn't remember me! Leave me ALONE!'

But, she didn't. Instead, she cried in silent pain, as she stared at Mr. Ishtar once more, as a wave of vomit churned in her stomach. The puzzled looking Marik stared up at Katara and her father, and turned to see his father in the bloody mess. It pained Katara so much she could have died when she saw Marik stare wide-eyed in horror, as he chocked out a cry of disbelief. Then he started to sob in his sister's lap, asking, "Did I do that Ishizu? Is it my fault father is dead?"

Ishizu didn't reply as she started to stroke his sandy blonde hair absently. Odeon, who had ran into the room at the sound of Marik's cry, stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Mr. Ishtar… a lifeless puppet of blood.

Mr. Narazrak started to pull on Katara's sleeve, urging her to get up, as he walked over to her fainted mother, picked her up, and headed toward the exit. He stopped once and turned around to the broken family below and said in a trembling but firm voice, "It stated clearly in the marriage agreement… that if in the event Mr. Ishtar or Marik died…" he stopped here and looked down at his daughter mournfully, as she started to cry bitterly, "that the marriage would be canceled. And since he is dead… We have nothing to do with the Ishtar family no longer. Salaam, and perhaps you will get a suitor for that… boy of yours, but no daughter of mine will ever marry one who murders his own father."

Giving one last look to Ishizu and the weeping Marik, he left with nothing else to say. Katara had the urge to run back down and embrace Marik one last time, for she would never see him again, but she didn't. Instead, she left the room, crying bitterly as she said her final words, "Marik… I… just wanted to say…"

She never finished her sentence. Katara was interrupted by Marik, who spat harshly, "Leave! I don't want to hear what you have to say! Can't you see my father's dead? Who do you think you are to say anything to me?"

And so, Katara left the only friend she had ever had in bitter weeping, weeping not only for herself, but for the one who needed help the most.

o o o

Four Years Later…

It was four years since Katara was separated from Marik, and to her, they were the most painful four years Katara had ever experienced. Not only because she missed Marik more than anything, but also because her parents were trying to betroth her to other suitors. Katara would either scream at them saying that she was already betrothed to Marik, or she would torture the suitors to no end… mentally.

On this fateful day, a foolish young man from the Talg tribe (ice) tried to win her heart by trying to convince her that Marik wasn't worth it. Katara had to admit that the young man, named Hamed, was fair, but Marik was ten times as handsome, no matter what anyone said.

"Katara," Hamed said persuasively as he touched her hand, making her flinch, "What's the point of chasing after a man who isn't in Egypt anymore for Ra's sake!"

Katara had instantly started to listen to what the imprudent young man was saying, giving an idea that he managed to finally get her to listen, "Oh, yes, I heard that he and his siblings moved to Yaban (A/N: Arabic for Japan), in a city called Domino! How silly, the name of the city sounds more like a game to me!"

It is a game, you mindless twit, Katara thought irritably, but she didn't want to say anything to stop him from saying anything, but instead thought she would turn the heat up a little.

"Oh yes," Katara said in her most seductive voice, "He's long gone now. I bet Marik is already married to another girl by now… But why should I," here she stopped and looked him in the eye, as he smiled a stupid grin, "Care? Why we…" here she started to put her arms around his shoulders, "Could get…bu-…" It looked like Katara had gone a little too far, because Hamed started lean forward, his lips puckered, as if to kiss.

He looked so stupid, Katara had to fight back the urge to laugh. Instead, she instantly withdrew her arms and started yelling at him.

"Why you foul little maggot! You really think that you could make me forget about Marik, a man ten times handsomer, not to mention SMARTER, than you'll ever be! What do you take me for, some kind of whore!"

Hamed looked stupidly up at Katara, completely confused, wondering what he had done wrong.

"But- I…" Hamed started to say, but in response was slapped by Katara, leaving a huge red mark on his face.

"GET OUT!" Katara screamed in rage as Hamed whimpered as he scurried out of the room.

When Zeinab entered the room, Katara was rubbing her temple in frustration.

"I see you're still the devious girl you were when you first met Marik," Zeinab remarked as she started to grab the laundry in Katara's basket.

"It's not my fault the suitors are all idiots," Katara muttered, as she took off her dress and started to put on a simple white sleeping gown.

"Still, you were a little hard on Hamed. I could hear you from the other room." Zeinab replied, as she eyed Katara's orange gold dress.

"Well, it's hard to find a good enough suitor when you've met the best," Katara said indignantly, "Besides, I'm getting tired… Hamed was the 24th suitor…" Katara's eyes rested on her dress, as she stared sadly at it, as if remembering pleasant yet painful memories.

"Do you want me to wash that?" Zeinab asked quietly, as she softened when she saw her master's pained face.

"Do you remember…" Katara whispered, "This was the dress I wore when I first met him…"

Zeinab realized that she meant Marik, and she stared down at the dress that had been tailored a few months ago to fit Katara's every curve, and it matched perfectly with her eyes.

"Yes," Zeinab replied gently as she patted Katara on her back, "But don't dwell on the past Katara… you'll never see him again…."

"Yes I will," Katara breathed, a smile coming to her face, "Yes I know I will. After all, I do know where he is now… at least, I have an idea."

Zeinab looked astonished as she gasped, "What? How is that possible? You know as well as I do that he moved away to some other land, unknown to us!"

Katara murmured, "Hamed told me that he was in Japan… Domino to be exact."

Zeinab frowned and said, "He's an idiot Katara, and you shouldn't believe what he says. You said that yourself yesterday."

Katara glared up at Zeinab and yelled, "He might be telling the truth!"

Zeinab just stared at Katara as she broke down on the bed, sobbing at the hopelessness of the whole ordeal.

"It's… our last hope, Zeinab." Katara sniveled, wiping her tears, "I've had enough being lied to. There's only one way to know the truth… investigating the Ishtar residence."

Zeinab shook her head and said, "Are you insane? The whole residence is covered by layers of force fields… besides, what is there to find?"

Katara remained silent for a few moments, struggling to find any reason to prove that the Ishtars were really in Domino… but she could find none. In her frustration, Katara brought out a large book, the book she had borrowed from Ishizu seven years ago…

Flipping through the hundreds of pages, Katara searched in aggravation for a way to locate Marik… scrying they called it. Zeinab shook her head sadly as she took the laundry out of Katara's room, heartbroken that Katara could never be happy without Marik. But, Katara did not give up. She read every single page over again, searching for one hint of a way to scry someone, but with no avail. After almost three days straight of reading, (well, at least she only slept for about 5 hours until she got up to search through it again) Katara finished the book.

With a wail of despair, Katara realized that there was no way she would ever see Marik ever again… In her antagonism, she threw the book across her room, where in landed in a messy heap in the corner. Sulking, Katara didn't even bother to pick it up, at least until the book looked as if it were a total goner. Sullenly, she went to pick it up, only to find papers falling out.

Oh great, Katara thought, just what I need… a jacked up book…

Crossly, Katara picked up the papers and started to read them, realizing that they were not part of the book at all, but a journal of some type… Ishizu's journal.

Wondering where it came from and why she hadn't noticed it before, Katara noticed papers peeking out of the book cover, where they had been hidden.

"By Ra…" Katara breathed as she flipped through the papers, to the most recent one, one that Ishizu had written on the day Katara and Marik met:

I had another vision today… but it was not that was pleasant. In fact, it was gruesome, and also broke my heart. It was of Marik at his Tammuz, crying in my arms over father's bloody body, which was obviously lifeless. It seems that Marik killed him, with his Yami, I suppose. Also, Marik forgets all about that precious little girl Katara. It's heart breaking to see Katara being separated from Marik, especially that it's obvious that they get along quite well, which is unusual for Marik. I don't really know where we'll go after Marik kills father… after all, it's obvious that we will not stay in Egypt, for the betrothal will be broken. My guess is that we will move to Japan… it seems that my Millennium Necklace is urging me to go there, but I have no idea why… we will just have to wait and see, as time passes by what will become of Katara and Marik….

Katara read this over and over, excitement, surprise, and anger all welling up in her at the same time. How could Ishizu allow them to be forced from each other like that? What was a Yami? And yet, a ray of hope shined through as she realized that the rumors of Marik going to Domino were true.

Perhaps I will see Marik again! Katara thought in pure excitement as her heart started beating faster and faster. She scrambled out of the room to see Zeinab, because she was planning to take her faithful caretaker with her.

But my parents will be alone, Katara realized sadly, frightened at the prospect of how they would feel if she left and came back with Marik. Would they welcome her with open arms, or shun her from the Narazrak clan? They will not know where I go, Katara decided finally as she searched for Zeinab in the laundry room.

"Zeinab!" Katara shouted excitedly, as she grabbed her arm, and started to explain the note and that Marik really was in Japan.

"Amazing…" Zeinab breathed as Katara was simply shaking with excitement, her black locks flying wildly around.

And then once more, Katara started crying… with tears of joy. Zeinab smiled wryly at the 16 year old youth, as she walked Katara back to her room.

"Besides," Katara added with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, "We really should return Ishizu her book… for all we know, she might be missing it."

o o o

Done! Yay, I'm so proud of myself. I managed to finish it! I decided to take no breaks, because I owed all of you my devotion to finishing this chapter. It's an okay chapter I guess. I suppose it's a bitter-sweet chapter, but last chapter was totally bitter, so I guess a change is welcome. I hope you people like it, and happy Super-Bowl Sunday to those of you in the U.S. GO STEELERS!