Chapter Eleven: Apollo's Lyre / All I Ask of You
Ryou POV
"They say that this youth
has set my lady's heart
aflame!"
"His lordship would, sure,
die of shock!"
"His lordship is a laughing stock!"
"Should he suspect her, God protect her!"
"Shame Shame Shame!"
I sighed sadly in my role, fiddling with my maid dress I was forced to wear. A sense of dread seemed to build within my heart, but I wasn't sure what it was. I listened idly and stole quick glances at the audience…particularly Marik…when I was bored.
I quickly did my acting and hopped over to Mai. She gave me a superior look through her makeup and waved her fan haughtily at me.
"Serafimo, away with this pretense!" she sang. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's absence…"
I bent forward and mocked kiss her. She turned smugly away and waved her fan haughtily.
"Poor fool, he makes me laugh!
Haha, ha hah ah ah ah…
Haha ha ha ha ah ah!
Time I tried to get a better, better half!"
I listened half-heartedly and raised my eyes up to the ceiling. There…there in the shadows. I frowned slightly. It almost looked like…a person…
"Poor fool, he doesn't know!
Hoho,
Hoho, ho ho ho oho ho ho ho ho!.
If he knew the truth, he'd never, ever go!"
Suddenly…that voice boomed over the chamber of the auditorium. I froze. Not him…it couldn't be him! Not now! I had been good!
"DID I NOT INSTRUCT THAT BOX FIVE WAS TO BE KEPT EMPTY!"
I gasped, covering my mouth in fear. "It's him! I know it! It's him!"
Mai looked at me sharply. "Your part is SILENT! Little TOAD…"
His voice seeped over the ceiling again. I paled.
"A toad, madame...?" his voice seeped, sweet with venom. "Perhaps it is you who is the toad…"Unbeknownst to the danger of the voice, Mai continued on in her part. As she sang, I couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency and dread welling up in my stomach. I quickly stole another glace at Marik, before I suddenly realized something.
My Angel. He was alive!
He was alive…he had his own body…I had supplied him with his own body…
I stared at horror at Marik, who had caught my gaze and was looking at me strangely. No…not Marik…please Angel, not him!
In front of me, Mai continued her song. How she ended, however, forced me back to my present surroundings.
"Serafimo, away with this pretense!" she waved her fan. "You cannot speak but kiss---CROAK!"
I was startled and stepped back, watching Mai in shock. Her eyes were wide open, equally terrified at what she had just done. Clearing her throat, she straightened again, and tried once more.
"Poor fool he makes me laugh…Hahaha..haha-CROAK."
The audience began to snicker, but above all of the little, snide chuckles, I heard the most chilling one of all. The only times I had ever heard my Angel laugh was when he was teaching me, and only then, they were soft, modest chuckles, as though he were keeping something from me. Now, his deep, enchanting voice sniggered in a string of insanity that rippled subtly throughout the auditorium.
Marik in the front row narrowed his eyes and raised his head, as though he had heard the voice himself as well. I whimpered fearfully and backed from my part on the stage. Mai was still croaking. The audience's laughter grew louder, more boisterous.
"CROAK!"
"CROAK!"
"CROAK!"
The audience was pealing with laughter, as Mai struggled to regain her voice. With a horrified scream, Mai covered her mouth and bolted from the stage, her pink dress ripping along in the way as the curtain dropped. The audience laughed again, chuckling in a most wicked, mocking manner. I felt embarrassed for Mai's sake. I also knew what it was like to be laughed like that.
As soon as she had bolted, Seto came running onto the stage, mike in hand. From behind me, Yugi grabbed my arm and tightened fearfully, as he often did when we were children. With as much gathered ground and professional air as possible, Seto tapped the mouthpiece on his microphone urgently.
"Excuse me, ladies and gentleman," he said, his voice firm and unwavering. "Ladies and gentleman! We are experience presently some technical difficulties, naturally of course, not by KaibaCorp. We please request that you remain seated and silent as to not affect our actors and their art!"
"What about Carlotta?" hissed Yugi from behind me, his voice much lower than usual. I turned to look at Yugi strangely. Huh…didn't that middle bang used to flop in front of his eyes…not streak up like that…?
Seto looked over at us, and glared at Yugi haughtily. With quick, sufficient paces, Seto managed to grab me around the arm and drag me to the front of the stage within three seconds flat. I nearly stumbled over my own feet again, being the little clumsy thing I've always been.
"And…in the unfortunate circumstances of Mai Valentine," Seto continued, "…the role of the Countess will now be played by Ryou Bakura, and will restart again shortly. Until then, we will give you the ballet scene of Act 5…Maestro…"
The little bald man with the white mustache in the front squeaked indignantly. "What?" he hissed, incredulously.
A cold glare from Seto, however, silenced him instantly, and within two seconds, the maestro had turned, (although muttering something about how he could not work under the circumstances), and Seto shoved me through the curtains.
"You have proven yourself to be a rather insolent little actor," he told me cuttingly, "and do not think of this as a promotion from your recent behavior. Under no circumstances do you sign up to become the lead role and deny your responsibilities! Is that clear?"
I nodded hastily, feeling just a little twinge of hurt that Seto had thought so lowly of me. He gave me a piercing stare and quickly shoved me to the side, before turning around the other way and strode away.
"Get off the stage, Bakura," he called as he went around the corner. "Act 5 dancers! Resume your positions!"
Squeaking, I quickly bustled my way to the sides, realizing that I was still on the stage. As soon as I headed into the wings, Yugi pulled me to the side and hushed me.
"It's okay, it's okay," he kept on telling me. I wasn't sure how he knew, but I was shaking most terribly. I weakly looked up towards the ceiling. Angel…not my friends, please Angel…not Marik…
I choked back a sob. How could my Angel turn dark like this?
"He's here Yugi," I whispered heartbrokenly. "He's here. I know it! It's him!"
"You mean…your Angel?" Yugi whispered. I nodded and bit my lip to stop myself from crying.
"He's here…he's going to hurt someone…he said something about a sacrifice…"
As I stumbled on my gibberish to Yugi, I poorly neglected the fact that in my ramblings, Weevil Underwood from beside me had slowly slipped away.
Bakura POV
Ah, it was most amusing to fool about with a body of my own. My sweet little angel…so naïve. Little Ryou, will you regret giving me such a wondrous specimen that is my new body? No….of course not…you love me, don't you, little Ryou? Yes you do…
My rocked my legs back and forth idly, enjoying my view from the dark, cold rafters above the stage. It was here where Madame Giry had clapped her hands and instructed her students, and it was here that I decided was the best place to hide.
I smirked and reached into my pocket with a gloved hand. Retrieving my fingers, I extracted a most deep, blood-red rose, and brought it to my nose. Ah, the sweet, intoxicating scent of the romantic rose…symbol of love, scent of lust…the very call card I plan to make.
I chuckled wickedly and pocketed the flower again, and lowered the brim of my top hat over my left eye. My right face was still incased in its mask, although this time, it wasn't to prevent Little Ryou from finding out my truest secrets.
The Shadow Games will begin again, Pharaoh. When you see my scar, then you will remember.
A soft footstep shuffled behind me. On my guard immediately, I turned and saw a little boy hiding behind the props. If it wasn't his green hair that ticked me off, but perhaps the gleam of his overly-large eyeglasses…
I stood to my full height, my cape billowing behind me. He squeaked and stood in fear, knowing that he was caught. I slowly smirked and bared one fang in my crooked grin.
He gave a whimper and bolted down the rafter, under the hanging strands of thick, noose-like rope. My smirk turned into a wicked, carnal grin. The sacrifice would me be made faster than I thought.
Let the games begin, Weevil Underwood.
Ryou POV
I remained in my wing, watching tensely as the girls danced.
Step one two three, one two three….
Thumping noises occurred in the rafters above us. I didn't bother to listen, too busy biting on my nail and watching the girls and Marik outside the curtains.
One two three and pivot…
The sheeps were pulled in. The audiences cooed in awe, and were obviously now in the air of utmost calm and tranquility. I whimpered and nervously tried to do my costume, the buttons and strings fumbling in my clumsy hands.
Step one two three, one two three….
From the back of my mind, a faint laughter echoed wickedly. A shock of energy jostled through me, as though from another side of the link.
Pivot…one two three and turn…
The laughing grew louder. I wanted to scream.
One…
I clamped my hands over my ears. The laughter hitched in the higher notes, echoing with insanity I had never heard of.
Two…
It was building, it was going to explode…the other side of the link…Angel…!
Three.
Suddenly, something dropped down from the rafters. When I opened my eyes, Weevil Underwood was swinging to and fro in the air, a noose around his neck. His buggy eyes were empty and hollow, as though his very soul had been taken.
Chaos ensued. Girls screamed, audiences screamed, havoc ran amok. But I…I remained there, standing, watching in horror as I raised my eyes from the taut rope and up to the rafters…and saw him.
Him.
He was there.
Staring down at me, with those red-brown, crimson eyes. His mask was still in place, though shadowed from the darkness of the rooftop. His tuxedoed chest was draped with my own Millennium Ring, although it was glowing, as though alive with some truly evil force.
He watched me, unmoving. His expression was blank.
Something crashed into me. I saw Yugi darting out from next to me, running towards the stairs that led to the rafters. I wanted to scream no, don't do it, he's dangerous, but too late, someone else had crashed me into the wing. Next thing I realized, the audience members were running through the hallways, and that's when I realized.
Marik…!
I saw him push through the people and struggle his way towards the wing. As quickly as I could, I stood up, stumbling over my dress and grabbing his hand.
"Don't ask questions!" I begged. "Please, Marik, follow me!"
"Ryou!" he called, startled. "But Ryou----"
"No time!" I cried. "Please, Marik, just come with me!"
I forced our way out and into an empty hallway. There. Down the corridor. The stairways to the rooftop. They led to the other side of the school. My Angel surely could not get us there that quickly.
I tightened my grip on Marik's hand. We ran.
Marik POV
We made our way through the empty corridor and up a winding staircase. I struggled to keep my pace with Ryou, but my curiosity was getting the best of me. A man had just died!
"Why have you brought us here?"
"Don't take me back there," Ryou whispered.
"We must return…"
"He'll kill you!" Ryou cried, turning to look at me hastily, before running up. "His eyes will find me there…those eyes that burn…"
"Don't be ridiculous…"
"And if he has to kill a thousand men…" Ryou sang fearfully, "…the Phantom of the Ring will kill and kill again!"
"There is no Phantom of the Ring…!"
He shook away and continued up the stairs.
"My god who is this man? Who hunts to kill?" Ryou cried. "I can't escape from him…I never will…"
I struggled to understand, but all I could do was sing with him to sooth his nerves. We climbed up higher, moving five steps at a time.
"And in this labyrinth where night is blind….
…THE PHAAANTOM OF THE RING IS THERE…"
We reached the top. Ryou burst through the door and onto the snowing rooftop.
"Inside….my mind…"
I stopped as soon as I had reached the roof and slammed the door. "There is no Phantom of the Ring!"
He turned towards me, his brown eyes wide and fearful. His fingers were clasped together in front of his unstrung bodice, the skirt of his costume ripped and revealing his jeans beneath them. The cold wind whispered through his hair.
"Marik, I've seen him!" Ryou cried. "Can I ever forget that sight? Can I ever forget that face,…so distorted deformed…it was hardly a face in that darkness…" He turned away, his eyes wide and hollow. "Darkness…"
He turned to me again, grabbing my hand. "Marik, I've been there! To his world of ending night! To a world where daylight dissolves into darkness…" He closed his eyes and sniffed. "Darkness…"
Slowly, Ryou turned away. Very slowly, he turned towards the fence around the roof, staring high up in the dark sky, as though seeing something only he could see. The snow continued to fall, resting against his cloaked shoulders, silently.
"But his voice…" Ryou sang softly, "filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound…In the night there was music in my mind! And through music my soul began…" He slowly raised up his arms. "…to SOAR…."
I slowly came up behind him, and wrapped an arm around his waist comfortingly.
"What you heard…was a dream, and nothing more," I whispered.
Slowly, as though just realizing what had happened, Ryou sank into my arms. His hands weakly found mine and clasped onto them tenderly, just like he did when we were kids. When he spoke, however, his voice was long, distant, filled with something I wasn't sure of.
Pity? Compassion? Love…?
"Yet in his eyes…" Ryou sang softly, "all the sadness of the world…" He raised his head, and looked high up into the night sky. "Those pleading eyes…that both threaten…and …a…dore…"
For a moment, there was only silence between us. Offering any comfort that I had, I wrapped my arms tighter around his waist, and sang softly into his ear.
"Ryou…Ryou…"
In the distance, my voice echoed. Except…it didn't quite sound like my voice.
It was enthralling, enchanting. But I didn't care.
"Ryou….Ryou…"
I slowly turned Ryou around, and raised his eyes to meet mine.
Ryou POV
Somewhere in the distance, I wasn't sure. But I though…just as I gazed into Marik's beautiful eyes…I thought that maybe…I had just heard my father's violin.
Yes…yes it was my father's violin. It played the last few strands before Marik softly began to caress my cheek. His lips hovered just over mine.
"No more talk of darkness…forget these wide-eyed tears…" He brushed away my tear. "I'm here…nothing can harm you…my words will warm and calm you…"
He paused and brushed away a strand of my hair.
Let me be your freedom. Let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here, with you beside you. To guard you and guide you."
I looked up, my eyelashes sweeping open to reveal his amethyst eyes gazing deep into mine. My hands gripped his as I opened my mouth. My voice floated into the night with such hesitant softness, I wasn't sure if he even had heard.
Say you'll love me every waking moment. Turn my head with talk of summertime.
Say you'll need me with you now and always. Promise me all you say is true.
That's all I ask of you.
He took a step closer to me. His hand continued to coax my face, ushering me to spill my heart's desire in a flow of heartwarmed words and melody. His gaze did not leave mine, and slowly, brought me closer to him. It was then when I noticed…the snow floating beautifully among his golden hair. His dark skin. His beautiful, amethyst eyes.
His voice…so warm, so low, such a beautifully, manly tenor…
"Let me be your shelter. Let me be your light.
You're safe. No one will find you.
Your fears are far behind you."
I closed my eyes and rested my cheek against his hand, my voice growing stronger, but shaking with tears. A droplet managed to trickle down my cheek and onto his hand. My heart quivered in tune with my admission.
"All I want is freedom. A world with no more night.
And you, always beside me. To hold me and to guide me…"
With so much more confidence, Marik grabbed my hands tightly into his, shaking them slightly. His usually solemn eyes filled with a wave of compassion that nearly instantly, I was drawn into them once more. His hands managed to draw me into his chest, and his arms around my shoulders. His hair tickled against my nose as I rested against his warmth. He raised his head to the night sky, and when his voice soared into the night, it was filled with such loving protection that I had lived without for so long.
"Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime! Let me lead you from your solitude!"
He looked down at me, raising my face to meet his. His fingers stroked away my cold tear, warming it up, and melting it away.
" Say you need me… with you here beside you. Anywhere you go…" He cupped my cheek. His voice grew soft. "..let me go too…."
His voice. So low, so soothing. So quiet and so handsome. So full of…
His lips lowered and hovered just above my lips. His tender breath washed against my lips.
"Ryou, that's all I ask of you…"
Tears threatened at the corners of my eyes. Emotion bubbled just beneath the lid of my heart. Memories flashed of our moments togther…our days in the sun, our nights in the dark, our feet in the sand and our hair in the river. My scarf in the storm, my scarf in his hands.
I couldn't let Marik go. I couldn't let him slip away from me forever.
Unable to contain myself any longer, I launched into his arms. I wrapped my own around his neck, my own breath puffing in the cold against his lips, just an inch above my own. My tears spilled and flew along with the snow against my cheek. My voice took wing once more, and soared into the night.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Say the word, and I will follow you!
Share each day with me, each night, each morning!"
I closed my eyes, and raised my lips against his. They shivered, just a millimeter away, quivering in tune with my whispered voice. Another tear slowly made it's way down my cheek.
"Say you'll love me…"
As though he had never even needed to be asked, Marik lowered his lips and kissed me. His lips were soft and supple against mine, so warm and tender against the cold of snow on mine. That same warmth seemed to melt the coldness that iced my lips, and instead, clasped our lips together. Marik closed his eyes.
"You know… I do…"
He slowly parted away from me, but his lips never departed father than an inch away from mine. His eyes were half-lidded in his usual solemn gaze, but behind that hard, silent mask of his…I saw his eyes. They were deep and rich…filled with every emotion alive. But most of all, they were filled with love.
He had always loved me, I realized. Ever since I tried to save him after his initiation…he had always looked at me like that. He had always loved me.
As though subconsciously, we drew closer to one another. Both of us lowered our heads, and just faintly, our foreheads touched. His hands found mine once more, and pressed them gently, silently pleading with me. I smiled sadly and choked back a tear. Marik…you didn't need to ask anymore.
"Love me… that's all I ask of…you."
Maybe I hadn't had to ask either.
As soon as those words had left our lips, something changed. The snow no longer seemed cold, and the air no longer seemed bitter. It almost felt as though a large weight had been released from my chest, and dissipated into the wind. The bitter sheets seemed like soft silk, breezing lightly around us. In the midst of the darkest, winter night, Marik and I felt warmth an spring between us.
And even in the distance, I could even hear an orchestra of violins. Especially the lead violin.
Marik heard it too. And he heard it beckoning us to return to each other, on cue. Just as Dad had taught us so long ago.
I looked up and raised a hand to his cheek. With newfound confidence, I opened my mouth, and sang as my heart bid me to do so.
"Anywhere you go let me go too!"
We hushed down as the violins fell to a whisper. Slowly, we began to draw to each other once more, our lips barely touching once more.
"Love me… that's all I ask…"
Our lips met once more. This time, I tiptoed closer, and shared with Marik, my own love.
"… of…"
We broke apart, but when we did, there were no more tears. Only the faintest of smiles.
"… you."
Slowly, we turned towards the night sky. The cragged peaks of the many houses ran along all the way to the end of the velvet horizon, blanketed with a cover of fresh snow. Very faintly in the wind, we heard my father's violin end with the sweetest of notes, before finally disappearing into the night.
Marik slowly slithered an arm around my waist. His breath washed over my ear as he whispered to me.
"We should probably get back," he breathed. "You'll catch a cold out here."
I sniffled and nodded, turning towards him. Though my eyes were still red and puffy, I raised them once more to see his, and saw that the love behind them had not left. I gripped his hand and pressed it unsurely.
"You've always loved me, haven't you?" I whispered. Marik's lips smiled softly.
"Took you this long to realize it, didn't you," Marik whispered back. "I told you. I didn't risk head and neck in a sandstorm just to get your scarf. I risked it so I could get it back for you."
I laughed weakly, feeling tears of gratitude and embarrassment leak into my eyes again. Marik's smile grew and he gently touched my cheek.
"Do you love me?"
At this question, I felt my heart sink. However, as I turned back to face the ominous statues grown on our rooftop, I had to admit the truth.
"I do," I whispered. "But I care for him as well. He's…my Angel. He's what my father told me he'd send for when he died. I can't…I can't go back on him on that."
"Ryou." Marik gently touched my arm. "The man killed a boy. He's no angel."
I hung my head. "Even so…I can't just leave him. He…He needs me."
"Does he love you?" Marik asked. I bit my lip.
"I…well…he says he hates love but…" I looked up again. "I can't leave him…"
Marik slowly turned, and managed to circle me until he was positioned right in front of me.
"If he loves you," Marik said quietly, "he will do anything to make you happy. And I know you would never want anyone hurt at your expense." Marik raised his hand and stroked my cheek. "I'll protect you from him. I promise. He may not be an Angel, but he is dangerous." Marik's eyes drifted down to the cord around my neck. "…The Phantom of the Sennen Ring."
I nodded my head, and leaned into his chest, feeling tears about to spill down my cheeks once more. "The Thief King Daddy told us about…" I whispered heartbrokenly. "Marik…I can't just leave him like this. He must have gotten though some terrible hardships to do the things he does now."
"I know," Marik said quietly. "But you can't just waste your life trying to help him. You weren't made for him." Marik wrapped his arms around me, and gave me a squeeze. "We were made for each other."
I sniffled weakly and nodded, finally feeling my tears run down my cheek and into his shirt.
"I know," I whispered. I closed my eyes. "Love me?"
At this, Marik chuckled softly, and kissed the top of my head. For once, it felt good to be able to breathe again with Marik. It was as though I had been reborn: fresh, alive, and anew. Free from the pressures and devotion to my Angel.
"You know I do."
Smiling softly, I clung onto Marik as he led me back into the school. Even just before we entered, he produced a scarf for me around my neck; it was long and white, and had desert flowers embroidered on its edge.
I smiled, touched, and let him wrap it around my neck. I brought it to my nose. It smelled like Mum.
So forth, Marik led me back into the school. I never saw the shadow that had waited behind the statues all this time.
Bakura POV
I did not understand.
All this time…hadn't I shown him how much I cared for him? All this time, hadn't I showed that I was willing to do whatever he pleased, whatever he wanted? He wanted to grow strong, I granted that wish. He wanted to sing with confidence. I granted that one as well. All this time, I had paid him as though he were my landlord, with wishes. And this..this was how I was repaid?
So this was why he denied me his hand. He had been using me all along.
I lowered my head and brought a hand up to my masked cheek. A single tear trickled down my hidden scar.
He was afraid of my monstrosity, wasn't he? Knowing this scar made him realize who I truly was. As much as he pitied the great King of Thieves, there was no hope that he'd ever love such a creature.
Just as Malik had never loved the King of Thieves either…
I shoved that idea quickly out of my head, returning to mourn over my Ryou's betrayal. My tear trickled down my cheek and dripped from my jaw, and landed onto the black of my pants.
"I gave you …my music.
Made your song…take wing…"
I raised my head and closed my eyes, my heart burning in pain that I thought I would never feel again. What had been my mistake? This same betrayal happened three thousand years ago, and I corrected everything I knew. I approached him differently. I grew to care for him differently. I changed myself and my soul's room to adapt to him!
"And now…how you repay me?
Denied me and betrayed me…"
I opened my eyes and looked up into the night's sky. "He was bound to love you…when he heard you sing…" The rose I had held between my hands slipped from my fingers. It landed onto the cold, iced snow, shattering the petals into its white oblivion. I collapsed into my knees, my tears no longer able to be held back.
"…Ryou…Ryou…"
In the distance, I heard their voices float up at me. They came from the window in the roof, where it was bright, warm, and loving. Their voices seemed to be entwined in such a beautiful duet, I began to clench my hands. Hate bubbled into my heart like never before.
"Say you'll share with me, one love, one lifetime…
Say the word and I will follow you…
Share each day with me, each night, each morning…"
My fists shook. With all my anger, I burst from the statue and bared my soul to the skies and the earth beneath me. My arms rose in rigid rage, my voice booming and filled with vengeance I swore I would eventually have.
"YOU WILL CURSE THE DAY YOU DID NOT DO…
…ALL THAT THE PHANTOM ASKED OF…"
I took a deep breath, and bellowed the rest of my anger into the skies.
"YOU!"