Yami's koi: thank you! I've gotten reviews! (Grins.) And now for the announcement that was originally from Headstrong. The friendship between me and Neutral Man, or badboi1571, is over. He thinks I am something that I am not, and he is just being a complete idiot as to what I was feeling when I was twelve. If he could take his head from his ass for just one second, he wouldn't have been able to cope, either.
Nefertiri: and so, he's gone now. Forever.
Yami's koi: yep. So, my lovely readers and hopefully reviewers… read on! The song is gonna be… HIM, And Love Said No. Honestly, I can't find any other song to fit in with this chapter… and, plus, I need to celebrate having my Heartagram tattoo on my stomach/hip. See ya at the bottom! Enjoy!
Continue Flashback
Love's light blue… Led me to you…
The evil sounds that had erupted from nowhere began to get closer and, if Bakura was thinking correctly, he could detect a slight change of smell in the surroundings. Both heat and decomposing flesh met with his nostrils, and Bakura knew that they were getting closer. And quickly.
With that thought in mind, he tried to regain his balance whilst the ground shook, and looked around hurriedly. Bakura's mind was racing, thinking up of possible ways in which to avoid having to hack his way through an army of dead things. Again. Though it was a part of his job as a Tomb Robber, Bakura knew that there would be too many approaching for him to handle alone.
Bakura soon saw that there was nowhere, and then stared directly at the ceiling. Bingo.
Rummaging through a small pouch attached to his side, Bakura began to really panic. The sounds were getting increasingly louder, and were also affecting the Tomb Robber's ability to concentrate.
Ah-ha! As soon as Bakura's hands touched the rope, he yanked it out, gripping it tightly. In his hurry, however, the iron hook got caught on the back of his hand, scraping off layers of skin to create a bleeding gash. With no time to dwell on the pain, he aimed it at a bar that hung directly above the sarcophagus and, slamming the lid of the coffin closed, he leapt on top of it. He slung the rope high, praying that the metallic hook on the end would catch onto something. When it didn't, Bakura glanced behind him. Shadows were beginning to appear on the wall of the tomb, and again, a wave of alarm washed over his being. He had to act now!
Through the emptiness that had become my home…
Staring back up at the bar above him, praying that this would work, Bakura slung the rope up again. This time, with a loud CHINK of metal striking metal, the rope dangled down, secured.
With no time to lose, Bakura jumped up and grabbed at the rope when he was at the peak of his jump. Once he had a hold of the long band, he began to manoeuvre himself up on the rope, so that the deadly beings below wouldn't be able to get to him. As soon as he reached the bar, he pulled himself up and fixed himself onto a seating position. The pole was quite a way above the sarcophagus and, grinning as he pulled the rope up beside him, Bakura saw that he was just in time. Beings with tattered bandages staggered into the chamber below, their long swords dragging along the floor, making tracks where they cut through the sand.
Bakura watched then, fascinated, as one drew a circle in the sandy chamber's floor with his sword, casually ignoring the throbbing pain in his hand. It went all the way around the coffin and, as soon as it had been done, the mummy fell into place with the other indescribably grotesque beings. They all stood on the outside edge of the circle and, with various cracks of bones; the mummies fell into a kneeling position.
Love's lies cruel… Introduced me to you…
And all Bakura could do was watch, intrigued. What were they going to do? Worship the earthquake? With that thought, Bakura had to grab onto the bar beneath him, his grip suddenly tight. The chamber had suddenly given itself an almighty shake, and sand was falling from the ceiling above in some areas. Bakura stared at the ceiling, hoping that the roof wouldn't collapse on him. He had too many riches to be away with to die now.
And then, in a low, mumbled tone, the decaying beings beneath him began to chant an Egyptian Revival Ritual.
Now, Bakura had never seen much magic in his life, and so had never believed in any of the spells that his ancestors had supposedly used. So when the chant began, he didn't grip the bar out of fear, but from the desire to laugh.
And that moment… I knew I was out… Of hope…
But still, Bakura listened on, intent upon hearing just what the beings had to say. As they spoke, the earth shook even more, and the Tomb Robber really had to get a hold on the bar before he could fully concentrate on the words being said.
In a rough translation, they were something like this:
"He who once terrorised us shall again destroy all, everything within this midnight hour. Our holy God who was once captured will now rise again, and nevermore will he be disregarded again. Locusts and plagues will be at his feet, jackals and death his ally. He who once terrorised…"
This has been repeated thrice now and, on the fourth time that terrorised was being said, a large crack formed in the centre of the coffin, splitting it open.
A dark, cloudy being emerged from the tomb, swirling up from the black, undecorated sarcophagus. It was an evil ka, and it wailed loudly as it whirled around every decaying being, before rising and circling Bakura up above, causing him to fall stock still, gritting his teeth. The ka cackled wickedly and, with a stroke of light so bright, so swift and so powerful that Bakura almost called it lightening, it disappeared back down, through the cavern from whence it came.
But the chanting did not stop, and now, with every beat of the eerie song, the mummies bowed down in their large ring, every movement in time with each other's.
And then, suddenly, a deafening roar could be heard. A second later, a large, half-bandaged beast burst through the remains of the coffin, rising out from its prison. Bakura, startled, cried out slightly, and scolded himself for doing so. He continued to watch, almost paralysed.
Kill me… I begged and love said no…
The creature rested its large, yet oddly deformed feet on the gritty surface of the chamber. Short hair was braided in parts with golden metal pieces holding them together, but this seemed to be the only magnificent part about him. His skin was a dark black, yet was adorned with various scars and imperfections that made him look mildly frightening… or at least, from Bakura's point of view. His eyes were a dark red, lacking both mercy and happiness. Though it was hard to tell from where Bakura was, it was almost impossible to detect just what emotion the being was currently feeling. He even doubted that the mummies below could translate the emotion, either.
Yet as soon as the being stood to its tallest height, a wave of coldness chilled Bakura's innards… and instantly he knew who the creature was.
It was Set. In Egyptian religious beliefs, Set was Osiris' dearest brother… and was also the only one who hated him. Set envied his brother for everything that he had: the people who idolised him, his wife… but how could he dispose of him? Death, of course, was the first idea that came to mind.
But how to get away with it, was what Set had asked himself. And then, he smiled. He realised that if Osiris' body was never found, then no one, not even Isis, his wife, would be able to prove anything. The Legend says that Set himself did the job of killing his own brother, slicing him into fourteen pieces, and scattering them across the banks of the River Nile, where the crocodiles would have a feast.
Leave me… For dead and let me go…
This legend goes on to say that Isis brought him back to life by gathering the fourteen pieces, and Anubis, God of the Dead, breathed life back into him.
Horus, however, the son of Osiris, was to deal with Set. After a long, gruesome battle, Horus came out as victor, yet his eye was lost, stabbed out by Set during their duel. Set was then imprisoned, and became the doomed God. However, he had sworn revenge on those who had captured him, and vowed also that he would live once again at the turn of a distant Millennia.
Bakura, knowing this too well, shrunk back as far as he could when Set looked around the chamber. Raising his slightly bandaged, tattered arms, he roared:
"Followers! I have reawaken… and now I can get my revenge." He paused, a sickly smile crossing his face when the mummies brandished their swords, making grotesque noises in agreement.
"Firstly, I shall dispose of Osiris' son!" More cries of battle rang throughout the chamber, and Bakura felt a definite second shaking of the ground that was several metres below him. The walls too, shortly afterwards, began to vibrate, and the bar began to groan slightly in protest, making Bakura edgy. He listened on, watching as Set produced a long, battered spear, with a long, sharp point at the end.
"And then, after murdering my brother… I SHALL DOMINATE THE WORLD ONCE AGAIN!" A loud, ear-splitting roar echoed throughout the chamber, and the bar gave a definite jolt downwards. The motion caught Bakura off balance and, with a loud curse and manly shriek, he fell.
Kill me… I cried and Love said no…
Luckily, however, Bakura managed to grip onto the bar with his single uninjured hand, suspended just three meters above Set's head. He pushed his other hand up, blood spraying at his face as he hung on for dear life. He only prayed that every mummy in the chamber was so fascinated by the awakening of Set that they didn't dare to look around when in his presence. The Thief stared down, past his dangerously swinging feet, to watch what was occurring beneath him. The sight almost made him dizzy, even though he wasn't afraid of heights.
"TO WAR!" Set roared, using his apparently magical spear to smash through the entire chamber wall. He strode through the vast gap he created, causing Bakura to swing dangerously again, almost falling. His fingers were beginning to slip now, sweat slickening both his grip and the bar.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the mummies followed Set. An evil cackle resounded throughout every tomb, resurrecting whatever mummies had not yet done so.
When Bakura could not hold on any longer, he released his grip, not daring to look down. And so, he landed, on top of the shattered sarcophagus that now mainly resembled a pit. Dust and the smell of death billowed out to greet him as he landed, and he coughed lightly, not wanting his presence to be known again.
Love's icy tomb… dug open for you…
Now, Bakura had two choices: to either follow Set immediately… or raid whatever treasures Set had left, and then hunt him down.
And, of course, as Bakura's main interest was within the Robbing business… he choice option two.
End Flashback.
Set's eyes gleamed in the darkness, his obvious malice and cruel ideologies being relived in his mind as he retold how he was reincarnated. Ryou could hardly move, trapped by his restraints, but still tried to watch the supposedly imprisoned God.
"But… but how did you get from there to here again?" Ryou asked, searching the stone tablet he was lying on for any rough stones… anything jagged enough to suffice as a point that would erode the ropes away… then all he would have to worry about would be getting past Set…
Set regarded Ryou's shifting, bothered form thoughtfully.
Lies in a cemetery that bears my name…
"Well, obviously I was recaptured by the Thief," he admitted, seething as he glared at the wall just above Ryou's resting head, "But before he imprisoned me once again, I swore a vow to get my revenge. And that, I do believe, leads us to where we are now currently standing. You have been taken captive, acting as a bait, your mind link frozen… and all you can do is watch whilst I destroy Bakura's body. Your last thoughts will be about his mangles body, entwined with my sword th--"
"Why me act as bait?" Ryou asked hurriedly, his fingers curling around a stone. "Why not any of my other friends? And haven't you made the same vow of bringing death to everyone before now?"
Set looked at the dancing flames that cast a shadowy, eerie glow around the chamber, shaking his head.
Love's violent tune… from me to you…
"I thought you are a clever person, Ryou. Honestly, why would I bother capturing someone that Bakura would have delighted in being imprisoned? The strategic way was to capture the one he cares about most… so that a certain amount of anger and panic would be aroused… and that's what I did." He seemed to have not heard Ryou's last question.
Ryou's ears seemed to twitch, but he could tell that Set was lying. Everyone was, when they said something along those lines. And it was pointless to wish for something that could never be attained, at any rate. For that would only cause more heartache, and Ryou had had enough of that to last him three lifetimes.
"Again, why me?"
Jou and Seto
Seto was now really pissed off. He couldn't make out with Jou purely because the airhostesses seemed to have a delightful habit of walking past when they tried. They couldn't use the toilets, as they were both too smelly and cramped enough for just one person, and various others took everywhere else that they could have gone.
And, to make things worse, they were experiencing turbulence, and the pilot hadn't given them any recent updates that had promised better flying conditions. This could mean a possible delay… and it wasn't something that Seto was about to deal with.
Rips your heart out, and leave you bleeding with a smile on your face…
Ignoring the annoying light above him that informed everyone to keep their belts on, Seto flicked his open. Checking that there were no airhostesses looking in his direction, he made a run towards the pilot's cabin.
He slammed through the door, startling the sleep-ridden pilot somewhat. The CEO took the pilot by the scruff of his neck, holding him close to his face.
"Now, you listen to me. I was told that we would be in Tokyo by noon in their time. It's now eight in their time, and we still haven't crossed the half way point."
"Sir, I am sure that you will find--"
Seto wasn't in any mood to be civilised, and threw the pilot back into his chair. He threw him a small wad of cash form within his pocket.
"There. That's yours… if you can get this crap shack to move quickly enough to reach Tokyo by noon. You hear me? I know you can move this thing faster… and I'm sure that we're both clever people." Seto smirked. "Or not. But in either case, I can tell you wouldn't say no to… hmmm… how much have I offered you…" Seto mocked counting, keeping the pilot and his colleagues in the cockpit transfixed. "Hmmm… why, there's nine hundred dollars there! Think of what you could do with that…" Then Seto shrugged, flicking his finger through the bills carelessly.
Kill me… I begged and Love Said No…
"But, of course, if you can't do that for me…"
"NO! WAIT! I CAN FLY THIS THING FASTER THAN ANYONE HAS EVER DONE SO BEFORE!"
Seto had to turn to conceal his grin.
"You make sure you do… or else I might change my mind about my very generous offer."
Yami, Yugi and Bakura
Bakura finally released Yugi from his tight grasp, still grinning at the Pharaoh behind him.
"It would be better, you know, if you told him everything… Pharaoh." Bakura said slowly, in Egyptian. Yami's face paled slightly.
"You can talk," Yami retorted, taking Yugi into his arms. "You okay?" He muttered to his hikari, in English. Yugi nodded, tense. He both hated and loved being so close to Yami… it made him feel almost loved.
Leave me… for dead and let me go…
"But why are we hanging around here, anyway?" Bakura asked, eyes narrowing at the sweet love scene before him. "I need to find Ryou. I'm going now, so if you don't follow me, I'm afraid that you're finding your own ways out."
It wasn't an empty threat, either. They had lingered in that chamber for far too long, and Ryou could be in serious mortal peril. And, checking once more that their link was still damaged somehow, Bakura growled. He began stepping towards the golden, almost shimmering tomb before him, not caring greatly if he left his friends behind. Ryou was occupying his mind, which was completely expected.
Yugi started at that. "Hey, wait up!"
Bakura smirked, but didn't give any words or gestures to acknowledge that he had heard Yugi. For a moment, he almost paused; ready to raid various tombs and plinths of their prizes, but Bakura then reminded himself of two things. Firstly, Ryou was in danger. And secondly… the chambers were likely to be full of traps.
The golden archway – the opening to the tomb itself – soon approached. Bakura raised his arms to the side, a silent gesture for the two behind him to stop. He examined the doorway, pressing at the frame to check for traps. He scanned the floor, ensuring that there were no surprises there, either; and he also checked above the doorway. He found, surprisingly, nothing.
Kill me… I cried and Love Said No…
"Okay… come on," Bakura whispered, his weapons gripped tightly by his hands. He knew, deep down, that he was getting nearer to Ryou. And that filled him with great happiness… but he kept in mind that nothing would be easy.
Yugi stared at Bakura's taller figure ahead, who occasionally stopped him and Yami to search the area for traps. It truly amazed him at how such skills had become instinct, and had remained that way even after five thousand years of dormancy. He could almost see him in Egyptian Clothing, various swords sticking out of sheaths from a makeshift belt of rope… could almost see the scars that he just knew Bakura would have.
"Bakura. Why not go down that hall?" Yami asked.
Bakura turned and glared at the Pharaoh, trying desperately to contain himself. If that hallway was safe, surely he would have gone down there, right? Without saying a word, he ripped his shirt open, tearing it off his body. He held it in his fingers before allowing it to flutter down the hallway.
The effect was instant. Before the cloth even touched the ground, it was being hacked to shreds by swirling, rotating blades that came from both the walls and ceiling. Bakura grimaced at Yami, his point proven. They moved on.
Love's light blue… took me from you…
"Oh, and you owe me a shirt now, Pharaoh."
Yami almost cursed, but held himself back. Yugi giggled.
"I'd say the same thing, Bakura. That was a nice shirt."
Bakura smiled darkly and looked back at the small figure behind him. He nodded, then looked back straight ahead. He couldn't be distracted when they were in a tomb of gold, and there were traps all over the place. And, to make things worse, he was getting increasingly colder from his lack of clothing.
"Thanks, Yugi. But can we hurry up a bit please? I really am getting anxious about Ryou."
Yami smiled at Bakura's back, something that the Tomb Robber almost felt. "Why don't you just tell him how you feel when we find him?"
The reply was instant.
"Ha! After what he's been through in these tombs? Not likely. I don't want to find him alive, then kill him by telling him… you know…" Bakura's voice sounded somewhat awkward. "…That I love him."
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, you know," Yami argued, as Bakura paused to examine another doorway. Once satisfied, they moved on. "How hard will it be?"
Bakura flinched. "Like you can talk!" He snapped, whirling around. He saw Yugi's eyes widen, and Bakura paled.
And that moment… I knew I was out… of hope, again…
"Oh, shit," He whispered, "Yugi, there's no need for that. I'm just saying that… he should take his own advice."
Yugi blinked up at the Thief, then stared at Yami. They couldn't meet eye to eye anymore, especially after that outburst.
"You… like someone?" Yugi whispered, his voice breaking slightly as tears came into his eyes. Bakura shuffled away, feeling guilty and awkward. He wandered down the passage for a few steps, then eyed a lever on the wall suspiciously for a moment. He shrugged, pulling it.
Just when Yami was about to tell all, the floor dropped from beneath all three of them.
Ryou and Set
Ryou was pushing his luck, and he knew it. And, he soon discovered that the Imprisoned God was more observant than what he had first seemed to be.
"Aww, are we uncomfortable little Ryou?" He asked maliciously, an evil glint shimmering in his eye. Ryou shook his head, instinctively trying to curl himself up. He hated feeling so weak; he hated waiting for help to come… if there even was any. Bakura and the others might just think he'd fallen down somewhere, drunk, and that he would be back by evening.
Kill me… I begged and Love Sid No…
But what also made Ryou shiver was the fact that he didn't know how much time had passed. And what made him really hate Set was the fact that he had never felt so lonesome before in his life. He was cold, hungry, dehydrated, and completely alone: There was no reassuring wave directed at him from the other side of the link: there was no one there, telling him to smile and to brave this ordeal: there was no one there to hold him…
"Little Ryou… how would you like to be let go?" Set purred, stroking along Ryou's face. Ryou tried to pull away, but the restraints were too effective. All he could do was try and at least suppress that cold shiver that rang through him when Set touched him.
"I would, but I know you wouldn't let me," Ryou bit out.
Set chuckled lightly.
"Horrible, isn't it? To have no way of getting free… being unable to avoid something you despise… I was once in your position."
Ryou grimaced. "So why don't you take pity on me because you understand what I feel like?"
Set's lips curled into a smirk. "Because I wouldn't want a precious little hikari running around in my resting place, would I now?"
Leave me… for dead and let me go…
"This isn't even Egypt," Ryou argued, watching Set's eyes warily. He knew it was unwise to push his luck whilst around a being so powerful he could be dead in an instant, but Ryou was too pissed off to care anymore.
"That's what you think," Set retorted, in a seething mutter. He turned his back on the boy, staring at something Ryou couldn't quite make out. "Ignorant mortal. You'll see… I'll show you…"
Ryou rolled his eyes. "Well get on with it. I haven't got all day."
Set chuckled. "No, you have an eternity with me in this chamber… though I doubt I'll ever return, once I'm let free."
"What makes you so sure?" Ryou asked quickly, dropping his stone in excitement. He froze, keeping very still. Set turned back and regarded him curiously, backing away as he craned his neck around one of the many entrances to the chamber. He did the same for every exit, before slowly approaching Ryou.
"What have you been trying to do, Ryou?" He whispered, in a deathly low tone.
Ryou swallowed.
Bakura, Yami and Yugi
"SHIT!"
"ITAI!"
"URGH…"
Kill me…
Those were the curses, words or incomprehensible groaning that the three made when they landed. Bakura was sitting upright, rubbing the small of his back: Yugi was stock still, his face pressed into the ground: and Yami was staring up at the hole they had just feel through, his face contorted in pain.
Bakura arched his back one more time and, hearing a rather loud crack, he groaned.
"Well, I'm never coming here for a vacation again," He mumbled, staggering to a stand whilst watching the two beneath him. He took pity on Yugi and turned him over, dusting the sand from his face. "You okay?"
"Ah… I don't know." Yugi answered slowly, opening his eyes to stare up at Bakura's face. "What… what happened?"
"Yes, Bakura, what happened?"
Before Bakura could answer, he felt a harsh, unexpected impact hit the back of his neck, sending him into the sand once again. Turning and looking up at the figure before him, he felt a pang of anger rush through him.
"The hell!"
I cried and Love Said No…
Yami growled, balling his fists again. "You said you would check every single chamber before pulling anything! And now look… we could be further away from Ryou than ever!"
"Well, hello Mr Brightside!" Bakura snapped back, bringing himself up to his feet again. He felt bad about doing this, especially in front of Yugi, but it needed to be done. "And if you can do any better, then go ahead! But first, let's just see if you can pull your head out of your ass for just a second!" And with that, he glanced at Yugi.
"Look away," He warned, before swinging his fist back and colliding it with Yami's cheek. The Pharaoh fell to the floor, skidding backwards slightly.
"Now get a grip… and start acting like a man!" Bakura finished, loudly. He turned away from the yami and hikari for a moment, clenching and unclenching his fist as he stared at an ancient scar found on the back of his hand. He had so many that usually they didn't bother him, but he had always looked at this one and, for once, known that he himself had caused it. He shouldn't feel proud of this, he knew, but Bakura felt better having scarred himself than letting some other bastard have the honour.
"Bakura…"
It was Yugi. Bakura leaned against the sandy, ancient wall and turned, staring at the young light.
"I don't blame you if you want to hurt me, Yugi," Bakura said quietly, "After all, I've ruined quite a few things for you today, haven't I?"
Yugi nodded, producing his gun. He began to lift it up, and Bakura closed his eyes. This was it. Ryou's best chance was about to get shot.
The thing was, when the shot was fired, and it struck with something, Bakura couldn't feel anything.
Yami's koi: omg… it took me so long to write this… and for what!
Nefertiri: man, this was a bit of a gnarly chapter though… You didn't know where to go with it for a while.
Yami's koi: damn right! But I hope it did clear up a few things for people… Um, maybe not. But anyway! I hope this was enjoyable, and that it was different from the usually stuff everyone reads. Personally, I either go for lemons or suicide fics, but that's by the by. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing people, you all give me WAY too much credit… I don't think I'm as good as you say… I AM NOT WORTHY! I AM NOT WORTHY!
Nefertiri: She needs to get some rest. (Covers yamiskoi with blankets) There you go… Please R&R my hikari! Please! Onegai? Sil vou plait?
Well, anyway, thanks for reading. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.