Yami's koi: hey! Ya all good out there?
Nefertiri: had fun, hikari? Has one of the games that has inspired this fic, chapters, scenery, etc, beaten you again?
Yami's koi: (Pouts and puts down control) Yes. (I don't own the game, don't report me, I just admitted it!)
Readers: so all this time we've been waiting, you've been gaming!
Yami's koi: nah, just getting more inspiration. Which is a good thing, actually… I even got some of the sentences Bakura's gonna say from lyrics, and some of Yami's attitude from one of the games… still no guesses? And just to clear up a debate… Set is the Ancient Egyptian God Set in this fic, not Set as in Seto was in Ancient Egypt as a Priest Set. Confused? I would be. Lol, and thanks for the reviews people. I'll see you at the end, kk? Hope you enjoy the chap! The song is… Hmmm… Simple Plan: When I'm With You.
I'm taking my time, I'm trying to leave the memories of you behind…
Bakura's eyes had been squeezed shut, tightly. He didn't want to see himself gain another scar… it was just an old habit that would never die, not after what Marik had blessed him with.
But the bullet seemed to have missed.
And, with a loud, sickening squelch, the bullet struck something behind Bakura. Turning, the Thief saw the mummy fall to the ground, stunned for a few seconds.
"Thanks," Bakura muttered to Yugi, as they ran past the groaning figure on the Tomb floor, "But I could've done that myself very easily. It doesn't take much to kill the undead, see… But it would have been more sufficient, had you actually killed the monster. All you did was stun it."
"What choice do I have?" Yugi replied, "We need to save ammo and energy, Bakura. Whatever's gotten hold of Ryou's gonna want to keep him… so we'll need to kill it, right? And I bet that you might need some help. And I know that you don't like asking for… or getting help… no matter what you say, you're going to get it."
Yami nodded, levelling with Bakura. "He's right," He agreed, "But I wish that certain things would have been kept in the dark." He added, in Egyptian. He still couldn't believe that Yugi had shot a mummy, even if it was about to kill Bakura. And, what was even more of a surprise, was that Yami could feel no guilt, or sadness, seeping out from the other side of the link.
Bakura said nothing to that, knowing that Yami would soon take revenge, but as they skidded around a corner, he paused. Rings of metal were protruding from various points within this narrow, corridor-like chamber, on either wall. There was a gap between each one, and Bakura immediately recognised that this chamber would not be easy to get through for the two behind him.
With no shirt to activate the traps, Bakura had to be his own guinea pig. Taking a deep breath, and signalling to the two behind him not to follow, he smiled. If this would be the last thing he did, he would be thinking of Ryou.
Bakura took one tentative step forwards. Nothing happened. Bakura took another step forwards, his side almost level with the metal rings on the wall. He stepped forwards again.
At the first hint of a sound, Bakura leapt forwards, clearing several of the traps. He did, however, gain a large scratch down his left side, just as he lifted off to jump.
Glancing back, Bakura realised that the spikes would not stop. They snapped out of the wall, before slowly retreating back into their holes. And, from the looks on Yugi and Yami's faces, they were not relishing the thought of going through this chamber. Yugi's amethyst eyes were fixed on Bakura's bleeding cut that ran from down the side of his chest, to the bottom of his hip.
The Thief looked around, trying to see a way they could get through.
"You two! Crawl underneath the spikes! They can't get you, but you'd better flatten your hair out some… if you value your locks." Instantly, Yami patted his hair consciously. Yugi laughed weakly and fell into a crawl, making his way under the clinking traps just above him. Yami sighed, shaking his head and looking quite teary-eyed as he made his way under the spikes.
Once that was done, Bakura inched his way out of the tunnel. He checked this next area very carefully for any suspicious looking objects, before allowing any motion to take place. Luckily, the mummy that Yugi had shot, had merely found itself impaled on one of the spikes back where Yami had feared so badly for his hair. That bought them some time before the next undead creature made itself known, by whatever shape or form it so chose.
I'm gonna be fine, as soon as I get your picture right out of my mind…
The problem was, those creatures could approach at any time, and Bakura would have to be ready. From that point forwards, he was not only finding Ryou, but he was protecting Yami and Yugi. If he got sliced open in the process, then it was fine… because it was Bakura's fault Ryou had ran off, anyway.
Then the Thief back tracked a little, and laughed lightly. All this because Ryou didn't know how to react when Bakura gave him a little striptease. That was an encouraging thought.
Ryou
"I don't know what you mean." Ryou said defiantly, shifting himself. "Like you said, Set, I'm just uncomfortable. This thing I'm lying on isn't exactly a nice, feathered, soft bed."
Set glared at Ryou, leering over his now still form. His face was inches away from the boy's own, and Ryou cringed. Close up, he looked horrible. The bandages that were in tatters barely concealed the eroded, decapitated skin beneath.
"No mere mortal should EVER utter my name," Set growled, in an evilly low voice. Ryou turned his face away, only to have it snapped back to face Set's own by a fierce slap.
"And you should listen to me," Set carried on, like nothing had happened, "You worthless little snake! How DARE you say my name like that, without any care or admiration! Why, Ryou, I want to know. Tell me."
Ryou shrugged as best he could. "Well, you've captured me. That's not usually a thing I look for in someone before I fall in love with them."
Set's eyes flashed dangerously. "Then let me look at what you do go for, then." And with that, Set flattened his hand against Ryou's head, pressing down, hard. Ryou gasped as he realised what Set was doing… and against his own wishes, memories were flashing back before his eyes.
I wanna feel the way you make me feel when I'm with you…
Begin series of flashbacks
"Bakura… you're sorry?"
A smile, weak and without happiness. "For every single bruise I've ever given you… for every tear that I've ever made you cry… For every single way I mistreated you… I am sorry. I don't blame you if you hate me, or can never trust me again, because I doubt that I could. I just… want you to understand that I am sorry."
"I promise… I'll never let you get hurt by him again. The last thing he'll see is the Millennium Ring sending him to the Shadow Realm."s
A weak, pathetic laugh, followed by a cough that hurt. "Honestly?"
"I promise. No one will ever hurt you… Ryou, as long as I'm with you… nothing will ever dare to hurt you."
"RA BE-DAMN THIS CURSED SHIT!" An arm was raised… and with a flash of light, the alarm clock vanished into nothingness, along with its annoying bleeps.
"Bakura!" A groan, and a room appeared before Ryou's eyes, "Why set that thing so late that you knew we'd be behind with everything, and then send it to the Shadow Realm? You said that after the toaster you wouldn't."
Incoherent mumbling as the sounds of bed springs shifting back into place brought music to the scene.
(Don't worry Ryou. We don't have to bother all that much anyways. Just need some food and clothes.)
"BAKURA! STOP IT!" Ryou twitched underneath Bakura's tickling fingers, closing his eyes as his legs kicked out helplessly. No matter what he did, he couldn't get the Tomb Robber to get off of him… which, in any other situation, would have been something he wouldn't have dreamed of doing. Hell, if those thoughts complied with what he usually dreamt about, he would CRY if Bakura left him when in a situation like… that.
But Bakura would not relent, and he carried on tickling his hikari into the night, willing to do this if just to hear Ryou laugh. He would do everything to see Ryou smile, do anything to hear Ryou say he loves him…
"BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PHARAOH'S GOTTA CRUSH!" A teasing tone. He struggled for a moment, trying to force Ryou beneath the surface of the water… but, it seemed, Ryou had the same idea as his yami.
"Bloody hell, Tomb Robber, how did you guess? Is it just the way that I'm all over him that gave me away? Or… was it my light that managed to do that for you?" Yami said with a fake scowl, playing along with Bakura's tormenting nature.
Bakura paused, fending Ryou away for a moment. "As a thief, I am good at finding what is hidden. And, your erection isn't."
A grin, then, from someone who was assumed to be Bakura's enemy. "Neither is yours."
Ryou glanced at Bakura's crotch, and the Tomb Robber took advantage of the situation…
(BAKURA! I AM SO GONNA KILL YOU WHEN I GET SOME AIR!)
A smirk, followed by a mental laugh. ((And what makes you think that you'll get it? Taunted Bakura, giving his hikari some air. Never believe that I show mercy. I never do with my enemies.))
"Get off of it, Tomb Robber!" The Pharaoh cried angrily, yet meaning it in a jest, "He fucks me. No one else. And I'm not having a foursome, sod that. Not with you."
A tired, irritated look, "The only way your mind thinks, Pharaoh, is down there!" He pointed to Yami's groin.
Bakura jumped onto a nearby table, dancing as he sang:
"So how was I to know, That the single bed was always meant for two? And not just anyone… it was meant for… ME AND YOU!" And with that, Bakura pointed at Ryou, in time with when he sang the last three words of the verse. The song continued, both sung to Ryou via the link and normally.
End series of Flashbacks
I wanna be the only hand you'll need to hold on to.
Set withdrew his hand from Ryou's forehead, glaring down at the young hikari. Ryou tried not to let any emotion betray him, but the silence was making him edgy. Set was not one to be quiet, and so, Ryou knew that something was being conspired.
In the end, however, Ryou had to break the silence.
"That didn't mean anything," He said, in a dark tone, "That just shows that I love my friends… that's all."
Set's eyes glistened evilly. "One more than the other, from what I can tell. But why fall for your own yami, Ryou? He's just like a twin… doesn't that horrify you?"
Ryou shook his head. "Not anymore, no." It was true. He had gotten over that a while ago, and he wasn't going to let the Imprisoned God change him back to that.
Set grinned. "So, you do love Bakura… ah, I have so many things to thank him for…"
Ryou tensed. What the hell could that mean!
Bakura, Yugi and Yami
Bakura pressed himself up against the wall, taking one quick look around the corner before glancing at the Pharaoh and his hikari.
But every time I call you don't have time…
"What's wrong? Is something… out there!" Yami whispered, trembling in mock fear.
Bakura glared at him. "Yeah, we're fucked. One idiot, one Yugi (who I won't say anything bad about because he shot something), and one mastermind, namely, me. It does help that I've been in this Tomb before, though."
Yugi jumped at that. "You've been in this chamber before? What, today?"
Bakura shook his head, trying desperately to remember just when he had been in the tomb before. His mind was clouded; probably either from worries for Ryou or the freezing of the mind link.
"I… don't know." He admitted slowly, "… I don't think it was in this lifetime… perhaps when I was a Tomb Robber…"
Yami snorted, bursting out into fits of manical laughter. "Oh my god… are you honestly that dumb?" He asked, once he could speak again, "Bakura… fucking hell…"
Bakura narrowed his eyes. "What!"
I guess I'll never get to call you mine.
"Well, we were in Egypt then. And we're in Japan now… YOU MAKE THE LINK!" Yami roared, falling back into a laughing state.
Bakura growled. Yugi, however, gave the Pharaoh a panicked look.
"Yami! The mummies are gonna kill us if you speak too loudly!" Yugi warned, covering Yami's mouth with his hand. Suddenly, as if right on cue, a dull, low groan emerged from somewhere… and it sounded like it wasn't from behind them.
Bakura tensed, glancing back around the corner he had just checked. Sure enough, dark figures were shifting in the room; coffin lids being lifted by decayed, skeletal hands. Bakura turned to his companions.
"Ready to run?" He asked, not giving them much time to consider his query. Yugi just about got his mouth open when Bakura lunged for his jacket, and Yami's Puzzle to race them through the chamber. Bakura dodged an advancing mummy, kicking him out of the way. More of them followed what one had already done, and began to close in on the group.
Bakura growled. "GO, GO!" He cried, in Egyptian, to his friends. They immediately fled, leaving the Thief to his battle. He gripped his swords. "DIAHA!"
You're nothing at all, I know there's a million reasons why I shouldn't call.
With a chink of metal striking metal, the fight began. Bakura parried on one side, wounding and slicing on the other. His swords slid through the eroded, bandaged beings easily, the sound awakening old memories of jobs that had gone well. Sickening crushing sounds of heads, and other body parts struck the floor, as well as black, gooey blood.
"BASTARDS!" Bakura snarled, killing a mutilated being on his left, whilst ducking a swing from the right. Stabbing the offending creature in the leg, Bakura retreated away from the circle of paralysed, groaning or staggering group, seeing that he had held them off to give him at least a minute's head start. He rounded the corner that he had not yet been around, and ran into Yami and Yugi.
"The hell! You…" Bakura sighed, pushing the two along. "Nevermind. Just go, go, GO!"
Bakura darted past the two ahead, so that he could scan each new area quickly. Somehow, however, he just recognised this place… it seemed so familiar… but, like Yami said, they were in Japan… but this was identical to an Egyptian Tomb he once raided.
In fact, it bore an uncanny resemblance to the Tomb of Set. Bakura stopped dead, realising this. He extended his hand out behind him, silently motioning for Yami and Yugi to stop. He gestured for Yami to keep a guard on the entrance to this vast chamber, whilst he inspected the Hieroglyphs. Taking a nearby torch from its bracket, he raised it up against the nearby wall and began to read the inscriptions.
'To the left, the path of the sceptics. To the right, the path of the virtuous. Behind, the path to death. Ahead, the path-'
Bakura already knew what the next line said. He didn't bother to read it, and instead whispered it:
"- Of shadow and escape."
With nothing to say, could easily make this conversation last all day…
Yugi had watched this happen, quite curiously, and sought to question what Bakura was reading. "Bakura…" He only went on when the paling face of the Thief turned to face his. "… What does it say."
Bakura sighed, touching the wall as he stared up at the engravings. "Something that I read before… a long time ago." He looked at the Pharaoh. "I think we're in the Tomb of Set."
Yami snorted, glancing back through the entrance before approaching Bakura with amusement.
"Set? Ha! He was buried deep beneath the Egyptian sands, where no one would ever find him. I--"
I wanna feel the way you make me feel when I'm with you…
"I found him," Bakura cut through him, ignoring what he said entirely, "When I was about eighteen, I'd say. I was raiding this tomb, then, I grabbed onto--"
"FUCKING RUN THEN!" Yugi screamed, pushing Bakura out of the way. A mummy had finally managed to catch up to them, and was swinging its scythe in a most deadly way. It had almost decapitated the Tomb Robber completely, but fortunately for him, Yugi had been kind enough to take action against such things.
Bakura glanced at the awful, rotten creature, and his mouth formed a curse.
"Shit. Yugi, ready to shoot?" Bakura asked, throwing himself to the floor to avoid getting his head sliced off. Yugi nodded and, after taking careful aim, shot the being squarely between its eye sockets.
I wanna be the only hand you'll need to hold on to…
Bakura half-crawled, half-sprinted across the floor, quickly straightening out.
"No time for this shit… RUN!"
(Again?) Yugi asked to Yami, via their mind link, (We're gonna be toasted before we even find Ryou! And did you bring any food? My stomach feels like it's about to cave in any minute now.)
Yami swore aloud. He knew there had been something he'd forgotten. To appease his hikari, he asked Bakura if he had any (In Egyptian, mind,), and shortly after, energy bars and other stimulating foods were being thrown his way.
((There you go, Yugi,)) Yami muttered, passing him some of the energy food. Yugi sighed, tearing off the wrappers and eating them hastily. He hadn't even finished his first candy bar before Bakura rounded a corner, halting dead in his tracks.
He had definitely been here before. He had just done… exactly what he had done five thousand years ago. Forgetting about the other two, he slowly walked around the corner, a sickening feeling in his gut arising. If he wasn't mistaken…
But every time I call you don't have time… I guess I'll never get to call you mine…
A large Tomb, with torches held in the walls, shone around near small alcoves, where various artefacts stood, were the last things on Bakura's mind. He stared instead at the stone tablet, of about two feet in height, that was situated in the middle of the room. Snowy spikes trailed down the tablet, and Bakura immediately felt a husky tone bringing itself to life, as he spoke his next words with disbelief and joy.
"Ryou?"
The head turned, and a face that had a bruise to one side came into Bakura's view. The Thief's eyes widened.
"RYOU!" He cried, racing over towards his imprisoned hikari.
To his surprise, Ryou shook his head in fear as Bakura approached. The Thief paused, confused at his light's response. Surely he should be glad -
"BEHIND YOU!"
Bakura, fortunately, ducked. A long piece of metal chinked against Ryou's stone 'table', causing the innocent light to cry out in fear and shock.
Bakura swirled around, his swords at the ready. He did, however, almost drop them when he saw who had just attempted to attack him. They lowered themselves, almost, and his eyes widened in horror and realisation.
Another lesson, I didn't get to learn!
"YOU!"
Set flashed the half-mangled bones within his mouth at the Egyptian, possibly attempting an evil grin. "Hello, my rescuer." He purred, raising an arm to welcome Bakura into the Tomb. "I do congratulate you on making it this far, Bakura, but you do have a highly unfair advantage with all of this… after all, raiding this very same tomb again must be quite tiresome, right?"
Bakura's body stiffened. "But this isn't Egypt. I can't possibly be here again… no WAY." He was dimly aware of the two Mutou's behind him probably regarding Set with great awe and great terror.
Set sniggered. "What do you think the whole 'entry by cave' thing was about back there, Bakura?" He asked, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Egyptian magic was used there… but I never quite expected someone as familiar to me as you would appear… again."
At this, Ryou remembered what he had been told earlier, and decided to interject.
You're my obsession… I've got nowhere to turn…
"Bakura, he told me that you released him, all of those years ago, back in Ancient Egypt! Bakura, he's crazy!" Ryou cried, traumatised. He had waited what had seemed to be an age for Bakura to come and save him… and it had actually happened! Since when had something good occurred on this vacation!
Bakura bit his bottom lip. "Yes, well, I--"
"And he's been reading my memory and thoughts, 'Kura, saying that I am his bait and that this is a trap! I think he's going to try and possess my body so that he can live again!" Ryou yelled, tears welling up in his eyes. he felt so weak and helpless.
Bakura sighed. "Ryou… I am so sorry. I did release Set all of those years ago… but I didn't know what tomb I was in! Hell, I didn't even know how I released him, so I can't really be blamed for--"
"How can you NOT know when you've released such a terror onto earth?" Yami whispered, fear in his voice. He couldn't take his eyes away from Set, the crimson seemingly darker in the dim light. "Obviously you did something to let him out!"
I wanna feel the way you make me feel when I'm with you…
Set laughed. "Why, of course he did!" He said, raising his arms to the walls around him. "Remember that bar you sat on, Bakura? Remember how it went down a notch when you sat on it, as the earth shook? THAT WAS A LEVER YOU FUCKING RETARD!"
"THE HELL!" Bakura yelled back, glancing at Ryou's startled, almost confused face. "That thing… was a lever! But… but what about the chant?-"
"That chant was merely a ceremonial thing," Set answered calmly, smoothly cutting through Bakura's questioning. "It needn't have been said. However… I suppose it did have its purposes, as did you to me… ever wonder why I didn't kill you straight away, Bakura? That's because I thought you would be on my side, having let me go! I thought we would be on the path to destruction together!"
Bakura grimaced, walking around to the other side of Ryou's stone tablet. "I guess you thought wrong," He said softly, brushing back strands from Ryou's eyes. It didn't seem to bother the boy, but Bakura wanted to do his bit. From Bakura's pack, he withdrew a small dagger. He began working on the locks, whilst tearing the ropes that were attached to the chains. "And as for pairing up with someone? Sorry. But I worked alone in those days."
I wanna be the only hand you'll need to hold on to.
With Ryou's arms now free, the boy could move. He sat up and immediately embraced Bakura, almost weeping as a wave of emotion crashed over him unexpectedly. The Thief held him tightly, resting his head on his hikari's shoulder. He dared to kiss his shoulder blade lightly.
"Shh… I'm here now… I'm so sorry I dragged you into this…" He whispered, gripping Ryou's waist tighter before letting him go. In Bakura's eyes, there was relief, affection and happiness. He had gotten Ryou back… his love…
At this beautiful sight, however, Set's conspiring mind concocted an evil plan. He smirked.
"During Ryou's stay, I've found out something VERY interesting you may wish to know of," Set said, eyes glistening with glee. Bakura turned to face the God, scowling evilly.
Ryou, however, paled considerably. He could guess what Set was about to say.
I wanna feel the way you make me feel when I'm with you…
"Yes…" Set nodded, pleased that he had caught everyone's attention. His index finger pointed at Ryou and, with a quietly uttered spell, he stunned the hikari. Ryou was ridden unmoving, and so could not do anything to stop Set. His chocolate coloured eyes narrowed, and his face turned evil.
"Well… Ryou talked to me disrespectfully; without love or admiration in his voice."
"Who can blame him?" Yugi muttered, surprised at his own courage.
Set ignored him, carrying on. "So, I delved into his memories, wondering what Ryou did fall in love with… and what I saw was quite shocking…"
"SHUT UP!" Ryou screamed, "NO, I'M NOT READY TO TELL HIM, HE'LL HATE ME!"
I wanna be… the hand you'll need… to… hold on! I wanna make you… I wanna feel…
Now it was Bakura's turn to whirl around and face Ryou. Ryou… wasn't ready to tell someone – a he – that he was in love with them? Well… his chances seemed pretty crushed now, didn't they? Who would even want to love someone like Bakura, anyway – he was a Thief, a failure as a yami, a terrible friend, a horrid person in general… what had he been thinking? Why had he even thought that he would be able to have Ryou fall in love with him? No, he… he was too dark, too evil for someone like Ryou... and besides, Bakura didn't deserve Ryou… not after the crimes he had committed.
"SET, DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" Yugi roared, to everyone's surprise. His hands were clenched into fists, his cheeks slightly dusted with an adorable pink. His yami did not say a thing… but his eyes were wide, with both shock and anger. If Set did this…
The God laughed. "Did no one ever warn you that I was always a malicious, dangerous bastard?"
"NO! IIE, ONEGAI!" Ryou tried one last time, knowing deep down that it wouldn't work. He prepared himself for the feelings of hatred that would surely crash over him from the other side of the link. His eyes fell to a close, Bakura's image etched onto his eyelids. No matter what, he would never allow that image to fade… not until he died.
Set cackled with laughter. "FUCK THAT! BAKURA, THE ONE RYOU LOVES IS… YOU!"
Bakura froze.
But I guess I'll never get to call you mine…
Yami's koi: Dude… this is possibly the quickest Guess… update EVER!
Nefertiri: wow. It took you like, a week.
Yami's koi: I know… just so I can leave you all in suspense for another three weeks. (Ducks vase) Joke! Hey! I can show off my tattoo now, it's practically healed! Woot, woot! (Dances)
Nefertiri: and… isn't it true that this fic is almost coming to a close?
Yami's koi: um… yeah. (Stops dancing, and gets tears in her eyes.) I'm so glad that this fic got a lot of interest, but I'm sorry… there won't be many more chapters after this. I've had so much fun writing this… at first, Anzu was gonna be Set, but she was gonna ruin everything, but… wouldn't have exactly made a good story, would it? Well, what can I say now? Oh yeah, please R&R! It's the fuel that keeps me burning… and as long as my fingers can still reach out and type… then that fire shall never die. See ya sometime soon! Any fanart I will accept… um, anyone?…