Why not have another early review? I see no reason why not! (huggles everyone)
My von fowst is sneezing and I think he might have epilepsy. o.O...so...keep your fingers crossed for my wittle baby. (sobs)
Sugar Wings: (munches on banana) Mmm! Squishy gooshiness! Lovely! Yes I love your reviews. They're cute. Not gonna kidnap the ficcie yet? (finishes banana) Woot! (although I wouldn't mind more treats) hehe
Kit-Cat-Caitlin: I know what you mean about getting angry at characters and yelling at them. I do that alot with Rurouni Kenshin. I'm like: "What the fuck are you doing That for? Idiot. -.-" (smiles) Yes. Thta's what I say...and get strange look from my family members in the process...
Blackangeltwin1: Hmm...yes, I likes the blood too...just not Kura blood. (evil smirk) don't worry. Did I ever state he'd be the only one getting tortured? Oh no no NO. Others as well...yesssss...
Tabby: I know what you mean about wanting to know how something ends but not wanting it to end at the same time...it sucks. I'm like that with every series I read. (sighs blissfully) Too bad Tolkien's dead, eh?...anyhoo, the fic's too good to be true? (smirk) Oh but we can Make it true! (huggles fic) Mine.
Lily: (laughs) I think every good psycho should have poetic talent...(like me!) (cackles) I'm a psycho but that's okay. No harm done. (sneaks off with lighter) meheehe!
KilaInverse: Well sure Malik seems to be obsessed with kidnapping our lovely tomb robber, however, there IS a reason for it, as you'll see in this chappie...ya...Kura got raped. (sobs) My poor baby! (huggles thief)
wolfjessica5: (sighs) Yes, poor Yami, Bakura, and Marik. They never DO get a break, neh? (snickers) I'm so evil! Mwahahaha!...ahem...(smiles innocently)
Roku: (laughs) Hehe! A shock collar! (presses button) (Malik: Aieeeee!...Aieeee!...) ferris: mwhehehe! (is highly amused)
TheGodFish: Okay so I missed your birthday byone day. Meh. Happy Buffday! (smiles) Von fowst sends you a musky rattie cuddle and Mladen...(glances at crab)...nevermind...ahyhoo, honey get outta Malik's lair. They have to work this out on their own (struggles to drag Godfish away)
Mitsuko: Like blood and torture, eh? Good. It's a-comin'! (more next chappie than this one, but that's okay!) Of course Malik's evil! He's damn awesome, that's what!
Zoe: (laughs) You're really on top of things! yes yes, the poem didn't specify where Yami is to go. You're way ahead of the other readers, honey. (hands box of orange tic tacs) Good for you. Don't worry. You'll find out how and where and all that juicy info this chappie!
Satra: (rolling around on the floor laughing) Honey, I loved your review. LOVED IT! So amusing. hehe. (wipes tears from eyes) I'll bet that's how it works. Poor Kura having to help Malik write his evil poems. (cackles again)
Under Finger and Thumb: (woot for squeaky ducks) And yay for us poetic psychos! We make the world go round...or perhaps we blow it up...(shrugs) Whatever. Details details...anyhoo, I truly hope you're feeling better by now! (huggles tightly while wearing germ mask thingimabob)
dragonlady222: Yes, Yami and Kura have had to come to terms with a lot of things. Our poor yamis...well, except Malik. He's just...let's just say he's gonna have loads of fun the next few chappies. Mwahahaha!
Freedom of Darkness: Gimme the fucking stick! (lunges) There. Mine. (hides stick) Mwahwha! Yes our poor Kura. Will he live? Will he die?...or take up poetry? (smirk)
KeraJeir: Now now now...Did I ever say he was the only one that was gonna get tortured? (smirk) Indeed not. That wouldn't be fair. So...Bring on the gore! Mwhahahaha!
Skittles the Sugar Fairy: Why the hell Should I deny it? I love "ye gods"! It's so...awesome! Ummm...you're gonna hang Yami by his intestines?...(smiles brightly) In Screams of Shadows I butcher tons of people and hang two guys by linking a chain through their eye sockets. It's very effective. (skittles: O.o...) hehe.
Bluegrass Elf: O.o...I think Kura's gonna need a bit more than pain meds...like some therapy...(cackles) but fear not! He's not the only one who's gonna get his ass kicked! A few other people will join him. hehehe!
xKokurox: Very nice and slightly disturbing poem. (innervoice: How is it disturbing? It's about you're freakin' story!) ferris: -.-; meh. Anyhoo, I'm glad I've inspired you to write poems. Continue to do so, honey! (throws orange tic tacs into air) Weeeee!
Broken Mirrors and Tainted Promises: I know! No one else is FUCKING UPDATING! It's annoying the hell outta me. (grumbles) anyhoo, glad you're enjoying the story, peoples!
blackalbino: (laughs) You think Malik calling Bakura his "toy" is nasty? The grossiness of our psychotic blonde yami is just beginning, oh yes! Mwhahahaha!
Silver Mirror: I know! The Nerve of that Malik taking our Kura! Meh!
Spryte: Will Marik survive? Will Yami get to Kura in time? I'm glad I've hooked you on Yami/Kura pairings. It's one of my favs! GOOSH! (coos over pairing.) Heh
StormySkys: "imagines Malik in the middle of a bunch of crumpled up papers all thoughful-like, trying to think of a good rhyme for master He's back! Yatta!" (laughs) That's awesome, honey. Damn awesome. (laughs) You thought everything was gonna be fine cause Yami'd figured it all out? Honey, you should know me better than that by now. silly thing. (pats on head)
moonlit-leaf: Of course I'm cruel. I must be. This ficcie is gorey and action-packed! Hi-ya! (hits table but it doesn't break) Ow...ow...ow...Need to work on that one...-.-;...Yes the ficcie's almost done. Three chappies to go!
NOTES: Okay after this chappie I wanna hear how you peoples think it might end. It will amuse me so! (cackles) I will give earlier updates in e-mail form for Son of Apophis if you get it. (Can anyone say "overconfident"?) Anyhoo, there is a MAJOR plot twist in this chappie that I'm betting none of you saw coming. I'll talk about that more at the end of the chappie. Onward!
Serpent
Coiled up in its darkened lair
A symbol of evil and hatred
Feared and loathed by all
With its intense, freezing stare.
Chapter 29: Unforeseen Menace
(Malik's POV)
I smirk to myself as the limo I stole from Kaiba a while back speeds down the road. I must say it's quite classy. There's a large television in the back along with a mini bar and other such things. I adjust the rearview mirror so I can see the figure on the back seat, a faint yellowish glow engulfing him.
"So, how have you been?" I ask 'pleasantly', earning a glare from my captive.
"What do you want now?" Bakura growls menacingly, hatred boiling in his intense eyes.
I chuckle, the car leaning dangerously as we go around a sharp curve. He doesn't fall onto the floor though, the Shadow magic holding him in place on the seat.
"What, you're not happy to see me again?"
"Like hell. What'd you do to the rest of them?" he asks angrily.
"Hmm?...Oh, your little friends?" I drag out the word in a mocking tone. "Oh they're alive, if that's what you're asking. For now, anyways." I catch the flint in his eyes as I say this. "I'll be visiting them again once I'm done with you and the pharaoh."
"If you so much as touch them…" he hisses, struggling futilely in the magical bindings.
I laugh, stomping the accelerator to the floor as we zoom through a red light, the cars entering the intersection slamming into one another in a crushing heap. I grin at the sound of the screaming and crunching metal. How delightful.
"It's nothing personal, thief. Believe me…Well, you did cause my image to smolder back in ancient Egypt."
"Oh like you needed any help doing that…" he mutters.
"…but it's more about the pharaoh, you see. He's my arch nemesis, not you," I continue, my fingernails digging into the leather steering wheel at the memories.
I can hear him 'cough' at this statement. "Well, if you say so. I don't see why I have to get dragged into your little revenge plot though. And I still don't see how it's my fault your image was soiled back in Egypt. Just because you couldn't manage to catch me…"
He cries out in pain briefly as the Shadow magic sends a shock coursing through his veins. Panting, he glares at me. I grin devilishly in response.
"Don't talk to your master like that, my little toy. Don't want to get fried to a crisp before your dear pharaoh comes to rescue you."
He looks up in a bored fashion, brow furrowed. "What?"
I snort. "Let me put it in simple terms for your commoner mind: You're the bait, dear thief."
I glance back in surprise when he chuckles humorlessly, shaking his head. "You actually think he'll come for me? Where the hell have you been?"
I smirk. "I know more than you think, thief. And I can assure you that he will come for you. He doesn't have a choice."
Bakura narrows his eyes. "What are you playing at?"
I grin. "His weakness."
He doesn't say any more, staring tiredly out the window in silence. I turn and focus on the road once again, my mind roaming back to Egypt…
I couldn't catch the thief, it was true. He'd managed to elude me time and time again. The pharaoh had finally gone after the little worm himself and captured him, throwing him into the dungeons where he was subject to all kinds of torture; a futile attempt to have him reveal the whereabouts of the mountains of treasure he'd stolen from the sacred tombs. I grit my teeth at these memories. My name had blackened, rumors of my 'lack of allegiance' to the pharaoh was spreading like wildfire. And my inability to capture the tomb robber had nearly completed my downfall in the pharaoh's courts. The damn bastard…banishment to a Millennium item isn't the best way to go…there are worse ways I suppose…Still, it's time to repay him for it. Oh and how he will pay…
(Yami's POV)
I scoured the house for any other sign or hint from Malik, quickly spotting the envelope on the kitchen table that had Pharaoh scrawled across it in blood. Whose blood, I have no idea. Too many possibilities. All that's in the letter is an address. Very unlike Malik who seems to have developed a taste for rhymes, psycho that he is. I'm not saying all people who like poetry are pychos…though it's quite possible...
Yugi rode to the hospital with Mr. Mutou and Marik. Jou's here with me. He called Honda who's now on his way with his motorbike. The blonde's pacing the room, waiting impatiently for the brunette to come.
"How could I let 'im get away with it? After everything we've gone through…" he rants angrily.
I frown, buckling the belt that has a packet for my duel deck around my waist. I have a feeling I'm going to need my Shadow monsters for this confrontation. The puzzle is my only advantage against Malik. He'll no doubt put some horrible twist in this that will involve Bakura. Bakura…
"Damn that bastard! Damn him!" Jou continues to shout, banging his fists into the wall.
I sigh heavily, preparing to leave.
"I'll come to the hospital as soon as I've taken care of Malik," I say quietly.
Jou stops. "What? You're going alone?"
I nod grimly. "I think it's for the best. He already has Bakura. The last thing I need is him using more people I care about for his advantage."
He stares down at his sneakers. "I guess so." We both turn as Honda rushes in, panting heavily.
"You two all right?" he asks urgently.
"Yeah. Man, let's get over to the hospital," Jou states.
Honda pauses. "What?"
Jou smiles dismally. "We're not going this time, man. This is something Yami's gotta do alone."
Honda looks like he's going to protest but seems to think better. "All right. Just be careful, man."
I nod. "Don't worry. I'll meet you all at the hospital…with Bakura."
"Take care of yourself…and Bakura, man," Jou says softly, turning and leaving with a distraught Honda who glances back at me one last time before closing the door.
I sigh, looking down at the address. That's all the way up in Corshan! Damn it! It'll take forever for me to get there. The public transportation will take an eternity and there's no way in hell I'm walking there…A light goes off in my head, and I race into the kitchen to the phone, dialing quickly. This is my only chance.
(Bakura's POV)
I scowl as Malik drags me into the apartment where it all happened. He probably thinks coming back here will make me crumble. He's sorely mistaken. It only infuriates me. There's dried blood on the carpet to my left, where Ryou had been…bleeding to death...I clench my fists, anger boiling in my veins. Malik seems to notice my reaction but mistakes it for something else.
"Glad to be back?" he whispers, releasing me from the magical barrier that's been engulfing me this entire time.
"Can't say that I am," I reply coolly. Don't let him get to you…
"Hmm…I'm afraid we're going to have to wait for a while. Your little pharaoh has to find a way to get here," he continues, striding casually across the room and sitting down in a blue armchair.
"Does he even know where 'here' is?" I mumble, wandering away a bit toward the opposite side of the room and slumping down in a chair, fatigue overtaking me. There's no way in hell I'm sitting near him, especially when all I'm clad in is a pair of white boxers. Yeesh.
Malik smirks. "I left him the address and all. Don't worry. I've been planning this for a long time."
I grin smugly. "Somehow I doubt apartments and stolen limos were included in your plot when you started scheming."
He frowns. "Of course not then. Ah the past. So many fond memories, eh thief?"
I roll my eyes. "Whatever you say."
He laughs. "Fate can be so cruel. And what a fate the two of us have had."
I glare. "I'd rather you not compare yourself to me. It's degrading for me, really."
He snarls. "Might I remind you who holds the Millennium item here?"
I snort. "But of course. It's the supremacy here, giving you a false sense of security. Besides, even if Yami does come—which he won't—the puzzle far surpasses the ring in power."
He smirks. "Perhaps I've planned ahead for that little detail as well."
I roll my eyes. "My my, aren't we impressive."
He narrows his eyes menacingly. "Don't patronize me, toy."
"Let's say Yami does come—just for a moment. What makes you so confident you can defeat him? I've faced him numerous times with the ring. Its power can't compare to that of the puzzle. And you could use me as some bartering chip, but even then all he has to do is blast you into oblivion."
Malik leans forward in his chair, eyeing me up and down. I tense, not comforted by his expression to say the least. After a moment he sits back, seeming to be satisfied with something.
"I suppose I can tell you that much…before we have some fun while we wait," he adds, eyes flashing dangerously.
I hear the warning sirens blaring in my head. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small, round, golden object. My eyes widen in disbelief.
"How…How'd you get that?" I ask weakly.
He smirks, holding up the Millennium eye in his tanned fingers. "My little light retrieved it from your room a few months ago since you were basically living at the Pharaoh's by that point. It is one of the most powerful Millennium items after all. Who knows? It may come in handy."
My body quakes, hands fisting. That does change things a bit. A lot, in fact. Of course in order to use the eye one must first…. Malik catches the disgusted look on my face, laughing manically.
"Yes indeed, dear thief. I mean to go through with the…procedure. If it will aid me in my victory against the Pharaoh, it is worth it without a doubt."
"The eye doesn't allow just anyone to install it. If one who isn't of its chosen attempts such a procedure it will eradicate their mind," I argue nervously.
He grins. "Well then, let's find out if it is my time, shall we?"
I don't have time to react as the Shadow barrier goes up around me. He's not taking any chances of me escaping. Of course, what are the odds of him being the next in line for the Millennium eye? Of all the people in the world…I watch helplessly as he holds the item up to his right eye. There's a moment when nothing happens before there's a blast of blinding light. I squint my eyes in a futile attempt to see what's happening. Amidst it all I can hear his anguished screams. He'd better scream. The bastard deserves such an ending. Suddenly the light's gone, my eyes having trouble focusing at the sudden change. My breath catches in my throat when I spot his kneeling form on the floor, hand clutched over the right side of his face, blood oozing between trembling fingers. My heart sinks into my gut when his shoulders start to shake as he begins to chuckle. His head lifts, face looking up into mine. Oh Ra…
(Yami's POV)
"I can't thank you enough for this, Kaiba," I whisper as we take off in the jet, destined for Corshan.
"I'm not doing it for you, so don't even think it," the young CEO hisses, eyes flashing dangerously.
I sigh heavily, leaning back in my seat. We're in the cockpit, me in the co-pilot seat. The CEO himself is manning the controls, which surprisingly enough doesn't worry me in the least. He's always been brilliant in all aspects of technology and the likes. I glance around and notice the Millennium rod strapped to his belt.
"I see you've finally accepted your ownership of that," I say observantly, nodding toward the item.
He rolls his blue eyes. "Like hell. I've no desire to own such a thing. However, due to recent events I haven't had much choice in whether I want to carry it around or not."
I smile grimly. "Did I ever say I want to have the puzzle with me at all times? Does this look comfortable to you?" I motion to the bulky item that's hanging from its chain around my neck.
He scowls. "I'm not planning on becoming like that where I have it with me constantly. Just until Malik's been taken care of."
I frown. "It's not that simple. It's not like I choose to carry the puzzle about with me. It just…is necessary now."
He snorts. "I'll be the one calling the shots for myself. You should get it into your spiky head that there's no such thing as fate. We make our own choices and paths. There's coincidence, true, but not destiny."
I shake my head. "True we are in charge of some things in life…but you cannot deny your links to the past…to the items. You can't call that mere coincidence."
He smirks. "You always have been one to believe it's your destiny to save mankind. That only you could defeat the great evils of the world. So tell me, how does Bakura play into your fate, hmm?"
I bristle. "Does it matter?"
Kaiba chuckles softly to himself. "It seems so, seeing as how you believe everything happens for a reason. That's fate, you know. Apparently you accept as true that you have no choices in life."
I sit quietly, mulling this over in my head. Is my and Bakura's relationship just some cruel trick of fate? Do I really have no control over what happens to me? It sure seems like a waste of an existence. Still, the coincidences are uncanny…Malik, Bakura, and I in the modern world. What are the chances that we, and Kaiba, would all get pulled into such a situation? It all really is focused around one person. Ryou. Was this the whole purpose of that boy's life? To be some pawn that pulls the rest of us together and then is just cast away carelessly when he's no longer needed?...No. It can't be true. There was so much more to the boy than that. So much. To even consider him nothing more than a mere game piece of fate is insulting to his memory. Kaiba's right (for once). I have to stop thinking that I have no control of what happens to me. It's time to write my own history, to stop depending on some invisible force to get me through. Too many people are depending on me. There are too many lives on the line for me to be second-guessing myself now.
"So what are you going to do once you've rescued him?" Kaiba asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I slowly turn, looking over at the CEO. He doesn't even glance at me, narrow blue eyes staring out in front of us as the clouds whiz by.
"I…Please don't take him back to Kaiba Corp.," I whisper. "I know you said you'd do so if something like this happened again…"
"Oh shut the hell up, Yami. I'm not going to take him away. What the devil would I do with him?" Kaiba growls.
My heart catches in my throat. "What?"
He smirks. "I know how you feel about him. I also know for a fact Ryou didn't want him to live in misery. Once Malik's gone I'll let the thief go wherever he wants…and good riddance to him."
A smile forms on my face, understanding what the CEO's telling me in his own gruff way. He wants Bakura to be happy; it's what Ryou desired for his yami. Kaiba also knows he can't give Bakura that happiness…doesn't even want to. He's going to allow Bakura to come back with me…!
"Thank you," I whisper, earning a snort in response, sitting back in my seat as we hurry onward through the skies.
I tense suddenly, the puzzle around my neck glowing faintly. Kaiba and I glance down at the rod in wonder to find it too is illuminating. We catch the look in one another's eyes, both sitting back again uneasily as the items continue to grow in brilliance before suddenly ceasing as if nothing had happened. Kaiba clenches his jaw, turning back to the controls.
"What in the name of Ra…?" I whisper running my hand over the puzzle's cold surface.
"That can't be good," Kaiba mutters.
Okay then. I'd like to point out some things so there isn't too much confusion. Corshan is a few hours away from Domino. During the scene where Malik and Bakura are in the apartment Yami and Kaiba are already on their way. They'll get there rather quickly too, seeing as how they're in a jet and all. (smiles happily) But what will our heroes find when they arrive, is the question. Mwahahahaha! (Readers: -.-;)
Now about the eye: I'm going with the thing where Kura stole it from Pegasus and all...yadda yadda yadda...I actually hadn't even the slightest thought of Malik getting it...or it even being in the story for that matter...but once again Malik has changed the story to give himself the advantage.
Kura: Why the fucking hell does HE get to change the story?
Malik: Cause I'm hot.
Kura: I'm hot too!
Ferris: O.O
Malik: Not as hot as me!
Kura: Oh yeah? (poses suggestively)
Malik: Yeah! (does even more suggestive pose)
Ferris: (drooling)
Kaiba: -.-; Just review, dammit.