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A/N: Hi, everyone. I'm back with another chapter, which I hope you'll like. Now, please read and enjoy.
Chapter 7Destined Enmity and Undefined Visions
Silently, Yami assessed the scenario unfolding right before him, fully intent to prevent or make sure that the angered spirit beside him committed no permanent damage. But even that was not easy, as he himself had actually considered for the briefest moment to invoke his shadow magic on these guys. He seriously couldn't remember the last time he felt such profound dislike for someone, not even Kaiba. But upon reading his thoughts, Yugi wasted no time in reminding him that they couldn't afford to have everyone knowing their secrets just a few short hours into the magical world. And looking to Marik for help would be as useful as praying for the rain to fall immediately in the blazing afternoon.
For the first time in the day, Yami felt thankful for the crowded place as no one seemed to pay any attention to them at all. They were standing near an alleyway beside a shop that's apparently selling flying cutleries, a shop that most people seemed rather keen to avoid for a good reason. Everyone was doing their own shopping and minding their own business, he could even feel some shopping bags connecting annoyingly with his back as their owner walked passed him.
"Look, Bakura why don't we just leave? It's getting kinda late and we have better things to do than to waste our time with them anyway", said Yami in his most diplomatic voice. It's a lame remark but it was the best he could do at the moment to avert and preclude the situation that threatened to end in adversity. But for all the attention the tomb robber paid, he might as well have not spoken at all.
"My, my, the little boy has a curfew, eh?" sneered Malfoy snidely as he snorted. Under his arrogant exterior though, he was a bit thrown off by the sudden change that overcome the white-haired and the spiky haired teens. It wasn't just their expressions, which seemed to have taken on a sinister edge but something about them was different from a moment ago. But the most unsettling and disturbing fact was that he couldn't seem to place exactly what had changed. Still, he wasn't going to talk about his disconcerting thoughts.
Without waiting for a reply, he turned to go. "Come on, let's go. We don't want people thinking we're associating with them".
But Yami Bakura wasn't about to let things end like that. It was obvious from this boy's attitude that he was nothing but a snobbish and ignorant coward who thought that the world would one day belong to him. Well, he was about to find out the truth, the hard way. Without warning, Bakura reached out and grabbed the blonde-haired boy by the front of his robes, almost lifting him completely off the ground. Underneath his sweater, his millennium ring glow ever so slightly.
"Mind repeating what you just said?" asked Yami Bakura, his tone dripping with every inch of malice and his chocolate eyes, cold and calculating, narrowed dangerously. His expression took on a sadistic outlook. He could feel him squirming, trying to break the grip on his robe and the sensation filled him with a sadistic pleasure. Something he had always longed to feel in others. Fear! It amazed even himself just how easy he could instill this particular sentiment in others.
Malfoy no longer bothered to cover his fears anymore as he realized Bakura's almost inhuman strength. Bakura's grip was so strong, it was choking him. Panicked encompassed his feature as he took one look at the teen holding him. "Wh…What are you waiting for?" he screamed to his companions. Malfoy didn't know if it was just his imagination, but it seemed to be getting a bit chilly. "Get him, this guy's insane!"
Crabbe and Goyle took one look at each other, and then proceeded to help their comrade. They cracked their knuckles menacingly; both too stupid to be aware of the hungry look in Bakura's eyes. Or the sudden cold and change in their surrounding. But they never made it to the tomb robber. They stopped suddenly as though they were glued to the spot and a daze look encompassed their visage.
Meanwhile, Yami knew very well that Marik had utilized his rod. He had to put a stop before it got out of hand. The tomb robber had activated his shadow magic to prevent any outsiders from interceding but as idiotic as they were, it won't be long until those fools seen the vague black mist that's hanging around them and got suspicious.
But before Yami could think of anything, however, he felt a sudden, unexpected surge of power originating from his right pocket of his black jeans, where his millennium necklace resided. Surprised and puzzled, he reached for it. But the moment his fingers made contact with the millennium item, something strange happened and without warning, the Horus eye appeared on his forehead.
Sudden, bizarre and peculiar images began to filter through his mind eye, like he was trying to absorb a million pieces of information within a millisecond. Images that seemed to be trying to convey something to him, but he was unable to make sense of any of them. A flash showed him a dark street, line with strange domiciles. The next flash showed several tall figures, their visage obscured. Another flash showed him a dazzling and blinding white light. More flashes followed next but he was unable to keep track of them. His head felt like exploding as the result of the sudden invasion, and the images were so sudden and forceful that it thrown him off balance and Yami found himself sitting on the cold hard ground. His hand was clutching his head, partly to keep the Horus eye out of sight while he desperately tried to keep the images alive in his mind.
Marik and Yami Bakura turned to look at the pharaoh; both feeling the sudden power from the necklace. Bakura's lapsed in concentration causes the shadow realm to disappear, the black mist evaporated. Malfoy took the chance to shove Bakura away, freeing himself and looking as though he's about to wet himself.
Pointing a shaking finger at them, he muttered one last word before fleeing "Fr..freaks".
"Well, what is it this time?" asked Yami Bakura exasperatedly as Yami got back on his feet. He knew something important might be on but he couldn't help it; the pharaoh seemed to exist to spoil his fun, from thousands of years ago until now, not unlike his light. "You really know how to spoil the fun, you know. I was about to imprint some interesting images into his mind, which he'll not forget anytime soon".
"I don't know", said Yami in a shaky tone, gritting his teeth and willing the pain in his head to reside. "The millennium necklace never acts like this before" He was struggling to stand up straight; his vision was still slightly impaired by the remnants of those images he had seen a moment ago.
"What did you see?" asked Marik, straight to the point and for once, he wore a genuinely serious expression. The millennium necklace, according to his sister, can warn them of incoming danger and so on.
"I don't know. I've never seen those images before and they're not exactly crystal clear or anything. One image showed an unfamiliar place, dunno where it is, but it looked like a row of shops or something. I remember seeing flashes of some tall figures as well but I can't see their faces; it's obscured", said Yami slowly, feeling better as the pain in his head faded away and his vision returned. "There're more, but I don't quite remember. But one thing's for sure, all the images are really ominous and definitely not just a friendly warning".
"Yeah, and it hardly take a genius to figure out that all this has something to do with these obtuse and thickheaded wizards we're now associating with", said Yami Bakura sarcastically, apparently haven't forgetting the incident occurring moments ago. "This is really a mistake from the start"
"Oh, are you backing out already, tomb robber?" asked Marik in his usual way, his mocking and taunting tone returned as expected, and his familiar smirk was touching his lips once again. Old habits died hard!
"You wish", he said, a devilish grin touching his face once again. "Things are just starting to get interesting. A mistake but a good start, at the very least" Marik really had a way with the tomb robber, one egging the other on.
((See, I say trouble always follow where we go)) said Yugi, sighing.
((I know, but that can't be helped.)) ((Did you see I what I saw just now, those images?)) asked Yami mentally.
Yugi was silent for a moment before replying ((Yes))
((Good, I'd like to talk about it with you later))
((Sure)) but even though it's just a mental massage, the distress in Yugi's voice was unmistakable.
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((Why don't you just announce it to the whole world that you possessed one of the millennium items with shadow magic)) complained Ryou mentally from inside the ring, still not getting over what happened that morning. Though Yami Bakura had blocked him out in his anger, Yugi had been kind enough to relate to him what had happen when they're back in the Headquarters, that's what the wizards called their current residence.
((Two)) answered Yami Bakura in a caustic tone. He wasn't in a good mood.
((What?)) asked Ryou, confused.
((I've two millennium items, not one)) he answered dryly. ((And for Ra's sake, why can't you just give me a break?? I told you, that guy was pushing it. He should know better than to mess with me, and therefore he should get what he deserves, if not for the pharaoh. And besides, why should you care, that guy could go to hell for all we know)) said Yami Bakura, obviously annoyed.
((That's a senseless excuse and you know it. The fact is that you failed to control your anger again. And each time that happens, something bad is always bound to follow because you'd act without considering the consequences of your actions, being too overwhelmed and blinded by anger. And you'd block me out totally without a clue and then leave me to pick up the pieces of what you had done. So many things could have happen just now; those guys might have noticed the shadow mist, they might have seen the Horus eye on Yami's forehead. You know what, you're making it harder and harder for me to trust you, you know))
Whoa, thought Yami Bakura. He's really angry. But he knew Ryou was right in one thing; when he's angry, it's hard to control his actions. It was in his nature to act according to his emotions at times, so it couldn't be helped. The damage and pain he had inflicted on his light self in the past was one of the very adequate examples. But he knew he had to try assuring Ryou, he couldn't afford to lose his hard-earned trust, not now. And according to what he had just said, his light clearly didn't have a very high opinion of him.
((Ok, fine, it's my fault. But what's done cannot be undone. I promised I'd try not to let it happen again, satisfy?))
No answer.
((Look Ryou, don't push it ok?? I'll try really, really hard not to let it happen again))
((You promise?)) he asked finally.
((Yes, I can't guarantee anything but I promise to try))
((All right then))
Just then Marik came into the room where all three of them shared, wearing a grin that says 'I know clearly what's going on'. He was dressed in a sleeveless midnight blue shirt, ebony pants and donning a navy armband, and looking as gorgeous as ever. He had come out fresh from a bath, indicated by the pellets of water that was still dripping down his face and his wet blond bangs obscured his piercing lavender eyes. But the tomb robber didn't find it very hard to detect the amused look dancing in his eyes, which greatly annoyed him. Brushing aside his blond bangs, Marik took a seat beside the tomb robber.
"So, is Ryou still grumbling about it?" asked Marik, his tone mixed with mock anxiousness and clear amusement.
Bakura turned to look at him under his platinum white hair, his cold chocolate eyes peering into his lavender orbs "You seem to find everything or every single event quite amusing for reasons I'm unable to identify, you know. Or is there anything particularly funny that I missed?"
Though the tomb robber spoke in his usual sarcastic tone, Marik didn't miss the tangible coldness in his voice. He was about to answer yes, but decided not to push his luck.
"Quite contrary to what you think, I do not find this morning's event amusing", said Marik.
"Really? Where's Yugi anyway?" asked Bakura.
"He's talking with Harry in the kitchen when I last saw him. Yami's the one doing the talking actually. He's unusually serious for some reason".
"Maybe it's because what the necklace showed him?"
"Maybe. I wonder if he seen anything, you know, that regards us", said Marik tonelessly.
Bakura looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you know my sis told me sometimes the necklace shows you significant events that's about to happen in the future, events that will likely make a difference in your life, though you're not involved at all. However, sometimes it'll show you something that's about to happen to you directly, meaning you're involved directly and that event only occurred because you're there", explained Marik patiently.
"So you're saying Yami might seen something that involved he himself and us, like being attacked or something?" asked Bakura
"It's a possibility", said Marik. "Of course it doesn't necessary have to be something bad". Again, an amused smirk started to appear from the corners of his lips. "Looks like it's going to be a chaotic year for us. The school has yet to commence and things already seems complicated enough, with an apparently mad and power-hungry wizard on lose. And according to, what's her name again Hermoin or Hermoine, whatever, this wizard seems to scare the living daylight out of the wizarding community ".
"Well, we can let the pharaoh worry about it. I got enough on my mind already. Besides, if he deems appropriate to tell us, he'll", said Bakura with a shrugged. The last thing he needed was to figured out how wizards' mind worked.
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A few weeks later…"Ouch, careful!" said Ron Weasley as Yugi almost crashed headlong into the lofty teen on his way down the stairs.
"Sorry", Yugi apologized quickly, struggling with transparent difficulty with his outsized suitcase as he dragged it down the stairs with him, sweating and gasping for breath with the effort. In fact, the suitcase was practically larger than Yugi himself, loading with all his schoolbooks and equipment as well as personal belongings. His millennium puzzle, which was dangling loosely around his neck, was constantly pressed into his abdomen and causing slight pain and soreness in his belly.
He couldn't believe how this could happen. Last night, he had packed and prepared everything to make sure nothing would went wrong the next day. But the fact is, nothing was right from the beginning of the day. First of all, he and Marik and Ryou had waked up late together with Harry and his friends as well. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley had mistaken the time and didn't wake them on time. They took a quick bath and rushed down their breakfast and then went for their suitcases, as Lupin told them the car was already waiting outside.
And frustratingly though not unexpected, Marik had hardly packed at all, regardless how the countless times Yugi and Ryou had reminded him to just the night before. Most of his clothes and books were still spreading in absolute mess on his bed. And he and Ryou were forced to give him a hand and as time was running out, they virtually just forced all Marik's stuff into his luggage. And Mrs. Weasley weren't helping things by nagging and shouting at them all morning and appearing to be more anxious than any of them, except maybe Hermoine. Lupin, however, did everyone a favor by trying to calm both of them down. Now that he was finally hauling his suitcase down the stairs, he basically crashed into countless individuals all climbing strenuously up and down the stairs with their luggage as well. Some, like Ron and Ryou, kept going back to their room to retrieve things that they had forgotten to take with them, which was quite infuriating considering how they kept getting in your way. At last, Yugi finally made it outside with his suitcase.
And on the contrary, Marik was the first one ready and was already waiting for them by the limousine, arms folded in a manner that clearly professed that his patience was running thin. Yugi had to be impressed by his manner; Marik was the type who was swift and decisive in whatever he did (which include packing), unlike he and Ryou who were so vacillating and irresolute sometimes. His attitude, though cocky and arrogant, always radiated indisputable confidence, ok with the exception when he's dealing with his sister.
"I couldn't understand what in the world could take you two so long?" asked Marik rhetorically, just as Ryou was appearing behind Yugi with his luggage as well. At long last, Ryou seemed to be satisfied with his things. He was drenched in sweat as well.
"Well, you could have give us a hand, you know", said Yugi in a scathing tone.
"Oh come on, you two already packed yesterday. All you need to do was dragged them down and..", he stopped suddenly, leveling Yugi with a stare.
"Oh", he said, seemingly to realize for the first time that Yugi was barely inches taller than his suitcase. "I'm sorry, Yugi. I should have realize you'd have er…some difficulty", he said apologetically, but couldn't stop the smirk that was creeping in gradually.
"Very funny", said Yugi.
To Be Continue--------------------------------------------
Hi, every one. I'm finally backed on track after slacking off for such a long time. I'm happy to be back writing as well since I've finished my finals and I'm currently on holiday But the exam period had been a really tough time for me. Ended up crying a few times as a result of over-exhaustion and frustration. Man, I think I look a few years older after that Anyway, thanks to everyone who review and comment in the last chap (I won't be listing them out this time, it takes too long)
Still, I'd like to apologize to everyone who had been waiting tediously for the new chapter. So in order to make up for the last few months, I had made this chapter a lot longer than usual, so I hope you guys would like it. And I'd like to pay tribute to my best friend who had constantly reminded (and threatening) me to update As usual, constructive reviews and opinions are always welcomed. I'd greatly appreciate it if you can spare a few moments to tell me what you think.
Lastly, if you would like to keep updated with my progress and all, please head to my biography. I'll be updating about the how the story is coming and the coming of new fics as well. You can also visit my livejournal for frequent updates. The address is posted in my bio as well. I'd love to make more LJ friends if possible so I'll add you to my friends list if you like.
Ja ne
