Title: Trust
Author: supernerd3333
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.
Summary: Bakura took Yugi hostage to torture Yami. Kaiba saved the pharaoh but there was something wrong with the body. They needed to figure out a solution and save Yugi, who didn't seem to be too desperate for saving. S/YY, B/Y
Warning: Kaiba/Yami, Bakura/Yugi. Don't like it, don't read. A little spoiler for Ancient Egypt. I suck at romance, don't say I didn't warn you. I try to put some action into it, but seems like I failed. Watch out for grammar mistakes, plot holes, and a SANE Malik.
Nope, I'm not dead. Finished all my college apps. Got into a pretty good Engineering school. Just been busy watching Olympics and doing scholarship stuff. Sorry for the long wait. This chapter has lots and lots of arguing that doesn't make any sense, also a sane Malik and a not so stable Isis, so enjoy.
Flames welcome. I can take it. Just don't flame the pairing, that's stupid.
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With a faint trace of smile, the very unwelcome intruder asked in a calm yet slightly amused voice. "Am I interrupting something?"
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'Hell yeah!' Kaiba screamed mentally, but wisely didn't voice it out and instead focused on a more logical question, "Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?" He narrowed his eyes. He did not like intruders, especially intruders who liked to pop up from nowhere.
Yami, on the other hand, seemed to be overjoyed in seeing the turban guy, a fact that Kaiba did not take in very well. "Shadi, how come you know that I am here?"
A ghostly smile crept onto the other's face. "Ever since I first found you in Pegasus' castle, I've always been following you in spirit, my pharaoh." Shadi bowed as he spoke.
"Does that make you a stalker?" Kaiba glared as Shadi only smiled.
"No, more like a protector."
"Protector? Is that why Yugi was kidnapped, Yami was tortured, and then rendered immobile?" Kaiba accused heatedly.
"Everything happens for a reason, Kaiba." Shadi explained calmly. "Some things are meant to happen. Whereas I do not have the power to interfere with what fate planned for you two, I will do whatever is in my ability to help you through this ordeal. Who knows, what comes as a result may not be altogether unpleasant." A mysterious smile formed on Shadi's passive face, annoying Kaiba to no end. But just when he was ready to refute, Yami jumped in to stop the altercation.
"Shadi, you can travel by shadow, right? Can you see what Yugi is doing right now? Is Bakura hurting him?" Yami asked anxiously.
"I'm sorry, my pharaoh." Shadi bowed his head. "It seemed that Bakura had put up a barrier around his house, one which I cannot penetrate."
"A barrier? Is that why Yugi and I cannot feel each other?" Yami panicked. "Does that mean if Yugi's hurt, I can't even feel it?"
"The barrier is strong, but so is your bond. Though you two cannot communicate with each other like you used to, I believe strong emotions can seep through. If you can't feel Yugi's pain, he should not be in extreme danger." Shadi explained.
Yami was somewhat relieved. He then noticed the annoyed and confused look on Kaiba's face. "I'm sorry, I haven't introduced you two yet, right? Kaiba this is Shadi, keeper of the Millennium Ankh and Scale, also the protector of the Millennium items." Kaiba snorted at the title and a faint scowl appeared in Shadi's face.
"And I know Seto Kaiba very well," Shadi spoke before Yami, "reincarnation of High Priest Seth, holder of the Millennium Rod." Kaiba glared at the turban guy for speaking nonsense when Mr. Lame Incarnation spoke again. "I hope you will accept your destiny after this ordeal, and the feeling you've been trying to avoid."
"Feeling? What feeling?" Kabia snarled. How dare this weirdo talk about things he doesn't know nada about? "If the only thing you can rant about is my so called 'feeling' and 'destiny,' I suggest you to get your ass out of here before I call security." Kaiba brought out his cell phone from his pocket and glared at the sucker. But the perfectly dramatic situation on his part was ruined by Yami.
"Kaiba! Shadi's here to help. I know you don't like others to talk about your life, but at least try to be nice for Yugi's sake." Yami's tone changed from demanding to almost pleading.
Kaiba stared at those beautiful crimson eyes. Damn him and those eyes. He grunted "whatever," and put his phone back into his pocket, all the while glaring at the turban guy and trying to resist the urge to snatch that smile off his face.
Yami broke the silence. "So, Shadi, you have any idea how to make me able to move again?"
Shadi shook his head. "I'm sorry, my pharaoh. I don't have enough power to heal you. But you will be able to move in due time with solutions unexpected. And I believe you have two other visitors coming."
Right then, there's a knock on the door. Kaiba glared heatedly at the freak. Moving towards the door he mumbled along the lines of "stupid self proclaimed psychic turban freak who thinks he's the truth we seek."
Opening the door, he groaned at the sight. In front of him were another two psychos he didn't want to see right now, Isis and Malik. Does someone up there hate him so much that they'd bring three freaks into his room at the same time?
Isis let out an amused laugh. "Glad to see you too, priest Kaiba."
Now Kaiba knew she's using that name just to piss him off. OK, tell yourself "don't kill her" a thousand times so you won't do it. Oh, the wonderful theory of self fulfilling prophecy. Never worked that well. But he found out repeating Yami one hundred times work wonder, for reasons he doesn't want to find out. He snarled through his teeth. "Let's just go in and get this over with."
The trio walked into the bedroom and Isis immediately went up to Yami's side, praying for his well being. As Isis fuss about taking care of himself better to Yami, Malik spoke for the first time. "My pharaoh, how is it that you can't move now? We need some detail of what happened to help you."
Thus, Yami went over the lengthy detail of what happened. The room relapsed to silence as each person tries to figure out what went wrong, except Shadi who didn't look too concerned.
"I don't get it. With the power of the puzzle and rod, the healing process should be complete." Isis paced around the room.
"But obviously it didn't, or he wouldn't be lying here paralyzed now would he, Ms. No Help at All?" Kaiba oh so kindly put it.
The others are too tired to argue with his insults. They simply can't understand the reason for the problem, thus can't find the solution. Kaiba is pissed that after suffering all this with three psychos they still can't find the cause and of course, the sad look on Yami's face doesn't help the matter. He wants to gather the boy in his arm and comfort him, telling him they are going to get through this together. He was most surprised about what Yami said next.
"Isis, can I move in with you guys for a while?"
The only word formed in Kaiba's mind was "what?" After all they've been through, granted it's no yet a day, or not any time yet if you count the time zone, Yami just wanted to dump him and move in with the psychos? Why?
"Kaiba has a business to run and I am only a burden to him by staying here." Burden? Can't he understand?
"Of course, my pharaoh." Malik bowed his head in compliance. 'Of course my ass.' Kaiba thought angrily. "Malik is definitely gay and any gay man would want a piece of Yami with his tight little ass covered in… Kaiba, you did NOT just think that." As kaiba started to beat whatever is left of his imaginary brain against imaginary walls, Isis's eyes went vacant and then she shouted vehemently, "NO!"
Everyone snapped their heads toward here, except Yami who couldn't move his head. She laughed nervously and cleared her throat. "My pharaoh, as honorable as it is for us to have you in our humble abode, we simply don't have the means to truly serve your majesty. Our room isn't as large and well cleaned as this. Malik and I have to work in the museum, which give us no time to tend to your need. I believe the best choice is for you to stay here."
Shadi and Malik nodded their head. Kaiba, though whole heartedly agrees, tried his best to look annoyed. Seeing this, Yami reluctantly agrees. Then he suddenly thought of something. "Even if we can't figure out what's wrong with me, I still wonder what Bakura meant by avenging his village."
The psycho trio, as Kaiba so nicely termed them, looked among each other. "To that we may be able to answer."
"Oh?"
"Three thousands years ago, the Millennium items were built by your father's command to save Egypt from war, but by building them, a whole village is killed to complete the ritual. The only survivor is Bakura."
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"So the little boy saw his whole village slaughtered and from that day on he vowed he'd get revenge on the pharaoh."
"That is… that is so…"
"What? You scared? It's you who want me to tell you a bed time story, toddler."
"I did not." Yugi huffed indignantly. "I only said I couldn't sleep and you said a bed time story would be appropriate."
"I used to do that when my little… Whatever. Just sleep." Bakura turned away from Yugi.
Yugi, however, looked up from his temporary bed on the floor. "Is that boy in the story you, Bakura?"
"How many times have I told you not to call be Bakura?" Angered, Bakukra yelled without turning to face Yugi.
"You are avoiding the question!"
"Shut up!"
"Why do you feel the need to tell me about this? You should be hiding these things. Why did you tell me, Bakura?"
"I said SHUT UP!" Bakura set up from his bed abruptly and snarled at the boy sitting on the floor, neither backing away from the glare.
"I'm just trying to help. Tell me what it is, Bakura."
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"That's all I can tell you my pharaoh." Isis finished the narrative.
Kaiba was a bit shocked. Bakura must had a messed up life. He saw his whole village slaughtered when he was just a kid, went through god knows what to just survive, and then got stuck in the ring for three thousand years. No wonder that guy was nuts. He had a worse life than Kaiba, and Kaiba wasn't the most sane people on earth.
Yami, however, was surprisingly calm. "Thank you all for coming. I hope we'll find out a way to save Yugi and cure me. For the time being, I think it's best for us to wait for this to play out. You all have wasted enough time on me already today and should probably return home now."
The trio bowed and prepare to leave but was halted by Yami again. "If any of you are less busy and willing to take me in, I would be grateful."
"Of course, my pharaoh," came the unified response, but from the look of it, Shadi and Isis wouldn't volunteer any day soon.
Kaiba narrowed his eyes. Did the guy want to escape him that much? After all he did for him? Anger and hurt filled the heart he thought he got rid of. He marched to get his briefcase in the corner and fully intended to storm off to the living room when Yami stopped him.
"Where are you going, Kaiba?"
"To leave you some space, your majesty." Kaiba bowed mockingly.
"I knew you were going to throw me out sometime, just didn't expect it to be so soon." Yami smiled wearily.
"Throw you out? You were the one who couldn't wait to get out of here to be with your precious followers who want nothing but to get in you pants."
"Get in my pants? They are my priests and they are loyal to me. Unfortunately I can't say the same to you who wouldn't even acknowledge your priesthood."
"Why should I? I'm not trying to get in your pants."
"Seto Kaiba. If you insult my priests and me one more time, I'll not hesitate to send you to the Shadow Realm."
"Of course, that way your precious little priests would be able to pick you up and have a group orgy."
"Are you trying to go to the Shadow Realm, Kaiba?"
"Are you trying to have me throw you out?"
"You will throw me out sooner or later once you figured out keeping me here will do nothing to help your chance of beating me in Duel Monsters."
"Do you think I am that heartless, Yami? I'd throw you out because it wouldn't help me win?"
"Do you think I am that stupid, Kaiba? I don't know your temper will get the best of you?"
"Yami, who do you take me for?"
"Kaiba, who do you take me for?
"Oh, your arrogance is blasphemous."
"Only surpassed by yours."
"Haven't I done enough to prove I've changed, Yami?"
"Haven't I done enough to prove I want to help, Kaiba?"
"Help by leaving?"
"Change by insulting?"
"You are the one who wants to dump me, Yami."
"You are the one who wants to throw me out, Kaiba."
"Says who?"
"Says me."
"This is pointless."
"My point exactly."
"Yami, are you afraid I'm going to leave?"
"Kaiba, are you afraid I am going to leave?"
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"No," Bakura snarled. "I do not need to tell you anything and I expect you to address me with respect."
"I just want to help, Bakura."
"Well I don't need it."
"Yes you do and I am here to help whether you like it or not."
"Hah, you are just like your dark, always the righteous ones on the outside, but are just as selfish and cruel as everyone else in the world."
"No, we are not."
"The pharaoh killed my whole village. My little sister died right before my eyes!" Bakura blanched. He had to control himself.
"But Bakura, you said it's the only pharaoh, not Yami, who did those things. You can't hold it against him. I don't think he even knows what happened if he was born at all."
"He may not commanded it, but I know he would have done the same thing if he had the chance."
"That is not true. Yami would never do that."
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"I would never do that, Yami." Kaiba finally said after an hour of silence during which he typed and Yami slept. But for some reason, he suspects the other is not sleeping as he expects his priest to believe, maybe the same reason that Kaiba himself can't really concentrate on typing up reports.
"What won't you do?" Yami replied wearily.
"Throw you out. I'd never throw you out, Yami. I said I will help you and so I will." Kaiba stood up and set on the bed, looking into Yami's now opened ruby eyes.
"I know Kaiba, I'm sorry about all the things I said about you. I know you are a good person, it's just that…I…I was distressed." Yami closed his eyes tiredly, heaving a long sigh.
"About Yugi, or what your father did?"
"Both."
"You know what your father did had nothing to do with you." Kaiba declared urgently. "You cannot possibly have any control over what happened. Don't lose faith in yourself because of what others did." Kaiba stared into the opened eyes, hoping to comfort the other with his gaze.
"Humph." Yami chucked mirthlessly. "That's not the point. We were in a war. I would have done exactly the same thing as my father did." He then looked into Kaiba's eyes, waiting for a reaction.
Kaiba was shocked. He thought the pharaoh was a strict follower of the Egyptian equivalent of Ten Commandments, whatever that is, and is always a righteous saint who preaches heart of the cards. But now, when he looked into those bloody red eyes, he finally understood. They are not the eyes of a saint, nor a demon. They are eyes of a man willing to do whatever and risk whatever to achieve what he believed is right, good for the common cause. They are symbols of wisdom and determination, of the highest power in a kingdom long lost, with the right to kill and give at his whim. Dangerous and fragile, harsh and benign, rash and calm, dark and light, mixed together like in all man, but this one isn't afraid to act on it. For a moment, there were just two of them, him losing himself to those dangerously alluring eyes.
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You know, things are always better in your mind than on paper. I really enjoyed picturing the scene in my mind, but now reading this is just painful. Oh well, hope you liked it.
Hell's Sorrow: I hope this chapter answered all your questions. Sorry for the long wait. Thanks for the compliment.
setokaibalover25: Sorry, I don't exactly know what you mean by both ticklish. If you meant that Yami is going to be well again, it will happen in about two chapters.
Darleneartist, Soul Schuyler, jenniferLittle, Linnea the Loser, Pickle-Kitten: Glad you liked it.
Pharaoh Star Yami: You are SO right. I always have this bad habit of writing, putting everything in and stuff. But I really don't know how to change it. Maybe that's the reason why I always feel my stories suck so much. I am trying to change it, but English is my second language so it's a bit hard. Hope you'll tolerate it, though. Thanks you very much for pointing it out.
Yamizgurl4ever: Really, really sorry for the long wait. Hope this didn't disappoint you too much after the long wait.
Senko: Don't worry. I'm Chinese and English is my second language too. Your guess on the reason for Yami's paralysis isn't what I had in mind, but glad you liked it.