I am having so much fun writing this series!
Special thanks to Orochi-Dragon14 for helping me come up with Marik's alias! you rock girl!
Little time line note: This picks up right after Duelist Kingdom and takes place around the month of April 1996 (following the manga timeline)
Lilacs and Rosemary
Cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers as a form of secret codes and expressions of devotion was a method that had been used for millennia, but two young never thought it would affect either of them so strongly...nor the chain reaction it would entitle.
Or
Marik is hopelessly in love with Yugi but is at a lost on how to tell him—until he discovers the language of the flowers! Bakura thinks is pointless (and content knowing this definitely insane new interloper is no threat to his plans) but he can admit sending secret codes using non medicinal plants certainly has its uses...
Bakura watched Yugi happily sing as he swept the front of the Kame Game Shop with infinite patience and mild amusement. He wore the millennium puzzle around his neck on a thick rope while the Spirit that inhabited it leaned against the shop wall with all the swagger and carefree grace of a cat lounging on its favorite pillow, bowl of cream in paw. Those fiery eyes were glowing in the Japanese sunset and watching Yugi with such intensity that under different circumstance Bakura might've felt jealous. Might have.
They bantered after a while, the whole thing entirely playful—the brat teasing the pharaoh about helping with chores, said king claiming he'd "love" to if he were only corporeal and said brat countering by offering said spirit control of his body—if, of course, the Spirit was so determined to help. It continued like that until Bakura was certain his teeth had all rotted.
Apparently the brat had even come up with a new name for the Pharaoh as well, which would have certainly pissed Bakura off if it wasn't for the fact it suited him, and (though Bakura would never admit it this out loud) the fact that the former king adored it.
Yami. He tested the name in his mind.
"Yami," He said it out loud.
"Yami," He said enjoying the way it rolled off his tongue, the way it tasted, the way is sounded: smooth and dark and mysterious like the very darkness the word originated from. Oh yes, it certainly fit the Pharaoh perfectly, loathed as he was to admit it.
Pharaoh must've chosen it for himself.
It didn't bother Bakura half as much as what the actual act meant—the pharaoh, his pharaoh, was growing content: new name, new identity, new life...that thinking was dangerous.
No matter, he assured himself. Let him have his freedom for a little while longer. It would neither stop nor hinder my plans.
Eventually the curiosity would be too great for either Yami or the brat Yugi to ignore—especially given Yugi's role.
Oh yes, Bakura thought to himself with a maniacal laugh!
Everything was going according to plan!
That was when he noticed the blond-haired, bronzed-skinned, leather clad figure spying on Yugi from around the shop's corner.
X X X
"Oh sweet, merciful Ra and all his followers," Marik swore as he gazed upon the mesmerizing creature in front of him. "He's even cuter in person!"
His heart hammered so heart he could practically feel the indent it left in his rib cage (the fact it was now beating a billion miles a minute at least sure didn't help. He pulled at his hoodie, suddenly feeling overheated and knowing full well it had nothing to do with the weather—he'd ditched his cloak and hood for that very reason, and sent a silent prayer to all of the Egyptian Pantheon for their generosity, for surely what God in their right mind was foolish enough to let this brightest and sweetest and most mesmerizing of all angels slip through his fingers to dwell down here in the pathetic excuse of swineheards that was humanity (seriously he couldn't wait to take over the world so he could weed out the slimeballs, no disrespect to his Jam cards, of course.)
Oh yes his Yugi was truly flawless—the images he saw in the rod and through the eyes of his mind slaves did no justice compared to the radiant beauty that was Yugi's grace the way the real thing did. Those magnificent eyes outshined the stars with the joy and brightness they radiated. Their breathtaking violet color was so resplendent, even the deepest and most marvelous of amethysts would look dull and colorless by comparison. His silky hair danced in the breeze before falling perfectly back into place around his hair, the blond bangs framing his perfect smile like a queen's diadem, while the midnight locks shimmered between pink and red in the sunlight. The soft curves of his lovely smiling face gave him an angelic appearance, like a sweet cherub. Even now as he watched him, sweeping the side walk with the biggest and brightest and most joyous smile he had ever seen on a human being, like even the simplest of minuscule tasks brought him joy.
Marik sighed and all but melted into a pile of goop right then and there, and had to lean against the building wall to keep himself upright.
Yugi was simply, lovely: Yugi needed no make-up or adornments, and his whole appearance spoke of a stripped down elegance. His flawlessness and beauty came from his smile, his kind eyes, his natural love and zest for life. His small size and height only added to that flawlessness: his slender build, tiny waist and perfect hips reminded him of a belly dancers, and his long, graceful limbs with small muscles gave him a look that was both masculine and feminine and all over attractive. (In truth, he realized at his current height Yugi could fit in his arms perfectly! Heaven help him if that wasn't a sign from the gods!)
Even with his lack of adornments, minus the puzzle and dressed in a simple white short-sleeved shirt and jeans and sneakers he looked radiant.
He watched as Yugi stopped to take a breath, wiping sweat from his brow. Then he turned towards the sun and smiled as a light breeze played teasingly with his bangs, and oh Marik envied that breeze! He watched as Yugi set the brook down, leaned back on his heels and stretched with his arms over his head—is whole body curved in a perfect arc and shit riding up in the front as he did so revealing a sliver of soft, creamy skin. Those cherry blossom pink, flower petal lips curling into a sultry sort of smile then parted in a relaxed moan.
Marik's mouth suddenly went dry. He felt hot all over, his legs suddenly became shaky and he knees buckled, weakly. Holy Hell, he was sexy…and he didn't even know it! Oh Heaven him, Baset and Hathor both had left their mark on him.
Then Yugi paused.
Marik froze. A look of curious confusion that made Yugi look even cuter graced his face as he looked around.
Marik panicked, half-squeaked half gasped, and dove around the corner pressing his back against the shop wall out of sight and hyperventilated through his nose. He felt rather than heard his pounding heart.
He could imagine Yugi looking around, curious and confused, wondering what this bemusing feeling was. Heard him shrugging his shoulders before resuming his work.
He waited another thirty seconds before checking and sure enough there Yugi was, laughing, smiling and humming contently as he swept the front like it was the funnest thing in the whole world. The evening sunlight spotlighted him and highlighting his beauty in a way nothing else could—it was like Ra himself was shining on Yugi showing Marik in the most blatant way that Yugi as his. That he had been sent from the gods as a wonderful precious gift for him.
That Yugi was indeed his.
Thank you Ra, Bast, Hathor and all of the Partheon. Marik folded his hands together in prayer despite his knees struggling to keep him upright, I will not turn down this blessing.
He continued to watch him until Yugi finished up and headed inside. But before he went inside he turned, and for a moment Yugi thought he was talking to air—then he saw the nearly invisible specter haunting his every move.
The Pharoah!
Marik nearly jumped out and attacked him in fury but he controlled himself.
Of course, how could he forget that malicious creatin! That parasite feeding off his precious Yugi's light and wonderfulness like a ravenous, bloated leech!
No, He decided, clenching his fist in determination, watching as Yugi departed inside, the spirit of the puzzle disappearing with him, his sweet, naïve little Yugi laughing and none the wiser. Ra, what lies had that charlatan poisoned him with? His indignation transformed into fury. Then pride. Then an evil plan!
"No matter! Fear not, my sweet Yugi. Whatever that false king has done I will rescue you, my love! And I will make you my Queen!"
The realization of what he said struck him like a thunderbolt, and he covered his mouth shocked by what he'd just confessed—out loud and to himself.
Love…he was in love. Yes, that explained it! That explained everything!
Determination fueled him! Yes, he loved Yugi! He would rescue his love and after he freed him from that parasitotic spirit he would make Yugi his Queen—not his great Royal Wife as was the custom of the Ancients, but his Queen—his partner, his equal, his co-ruler. Oh yes! It was such a beautiful romantic image that Marik started dancing in circles.
Until a sudden thought occurred to him.
He knew who Yugi was…but Yugi didn't know him.
Marik shattered like a broken glass painting. Despair and dread wallowing in the bit of his being and he sank to his knees overcome with depression and sadness.
Yugi didn't know him,
And he had no hope of telling him who he was….let alone his feelings for him…not with that awful Pharaoh stalking about and commanding his lovely Yugi's every move.
Even if he could, the Pharaoh would doubtless convince Yugi he was an enemy…
Was this punishment for something? Surely the Gods were so cruel as to bless him with Yugi, the greatest and most wonderful angel that had ever graced the human plane, only to place him in the hands and arms of his most hated and horrible enemy…
No! He shot up. No, he would not let that happen! Somehow, some way he would rescue his beloved. Somehow, some way he would show Yugi the depth of his feelings and convince him that he, not that parasitic pharaoh who was a cold blooded murder, was his destined soulmate.
Now the question was how?
He sank into despair again, and sulked miserably towards nowhere, not even remembering when he'd gotten up and started walking in the first place. He was on the verge of bursting into tears of sheer helplessness when he smashed into something—and saw it was a posterboard sign. He was on the verge of sending that stupid sign that dared to kick him while he was down to the shadow realm until he read the words…and heard the chorus of angels singing in the background.
Tell the one you love your feelings without words!
He offered a hymn of gratitude to the Part heron and without thinking or looking at what the shop was or offered, dove inside.
X X X
Bakura blinked.
And blinked again.
Having witness the whole exchange from the roof and having jumped down the streets to follow this new stranger around the corner, he could form only one logical response:
"Who the fuck is this, now!?"
My guess is Yugi has a secret admirer, though I don't think I've ever seen him before? Maybe he's a new student at our school?
Bakura snorted in annoyance. "What are you going on about, landlord?"
Ryou ignored the snap. I answered your question. There was a warning in his undertone that Bakura recognized. Turning up the charm, he rubbed a hand through his bat-wing shaped bangs and smiled. "Oh relax, landlord, I told you, I've turned over a new leaf—I'm not going to hurt you or any of your friends again. I was merely curious that's all?"
It was the deal they'd made after Bakura had convinced him to seek his aid when he and the rest of the brats were trapped in that cave. Ryou had not trusted the spirit, then, but he'd kept his word and they'd formed a truce of sorts: Bakura would no longer hurt Ryou or his friends in any way (even if his previous actions of sealing his friends souls in table top icons was his ay of granting Ryou's wish of being able to play with his friends forever and ever, Ryou made it clear that in future his wishes were not to be taken so literal) and in exchange he would allow Bakura access to his body when he needed it. Surely it couldn't be fun trapped in a ring all the time. Ryou understood the spirit's need for escape—just as long as he behaved himself. Bakura had agreed, and had yet to break his word.
Well then, my theory is Yugi has a secret admirer, a crush if you will, meaning someone likes him and isn't sure how to tell him.
Bakura arched a brow. Well that sounded lame. Still…maybe he should check this new person out, he may not have been essential to Bakura's plans but Yugi still was, and if some loser was going to show up and become a distraction than that person had to go.
Bakura! Ryou snapped.
"I didn't mean it that way, Ryou," Bakura assured him. "Go back to sleep, landlord, I'm going to spy for a little bit."
Ryou groaned in his mind but consented.
Relieved to have his own thoughts back, Bakura examined the premises in which the stranger had all but bulldozed inside. A flower shop…if the abundant of planters, window boxes and rows upon rows of fresh blooming flowers was any indications—course that only brought up more questions than answers. With about as much reluctance as a fish swimming through sand, he entered the shop, slipped to the back and watched as the stranger—who introduced himself as Marik, chatted it up with a way too happy looking girl at the cash register about the sign out front.
The girl asked him about his "crush" and Ryou watched as this so called Marik all but liquefied into a pile of goo with how long and deep he sighed before launching into a sickeningly sweet and romantic description in which he paraphrased each and every way the pharaoh's brat was an angel sent from the heavens to bless the world with his presence. Bakura could practically see the explosion of pinks surrounding him
It made Bakura want to throw-up.
He never was the romantic type.
Said boy droned on and on—then nearly broke down crying when he explained how said brat didn't know he even existed and how to best confess his feelings without looking like psychopath.
Bakura was just about to leave, convinced his guy was way too stupid to be a threat when the girl said "Have you heard of the language of the flowers?"
"Language of the flowers!?" Bakura stopped and whined out making it perfectly clear that was the dumbest and most useless sounding thing he'd ever heard.
"Yup!" the way to bubbly girl smiled and whispered to Marik as if she were telling him a secret. "Back before it was okay to date, people used flowers to express their feelings for people they liked and send messages. Sort of like the Victorian version of private messaging."
Bakura snorted in disgust.
"That way," the girl continued, "If you had to deal with stuff like snobby parents or possessive suitors, lovers could exchange their own secret messages."
Now that caught Bakura's attention.
"You know, 'cause back in the day, when people were total prudes and didn't like public displays of affection and all that, people needed a way to tell each other how they felt and making plans to rendezvous—right under their warden's noses."
(Bakura would've loved to show them what exactly was appropriate in Kemet).
Lover boy looked enthralled. "So I can tell my lover exactly how I feel about him using these plants?"
"Yup!" the girls bounced over to a display table, where certain flowers in planters and in water had little messages attached to them. "Each flower means something different, so you can tell them what it means and no one else will know." She winked playfully. "Your own secret lovers code!"
Using flowers as a form of secret code to undermine the pompous aristocracy: now that caught Bakura's attention.
He slipped to the shadows watching as the idiot gushed over his choices and scrutinized each one, made notes on which one would be best to send when and formed a whole plan—out loud—on how he was going to win the brat's heart (pink hearts exploding around him for fast, Bakura purposely kept a six foot distance away from less he get struck by a rouge projectile).
Gazing over the display table, he noticed a few distinct plants with a very particular message…true he himself had never been fond of plants accept for medicinal purposes, but he recalled how a certain someone was quite fond of gardening and might appreciate a mini garden with its own secret meaning.
A wicked smile spread across his face. That could certainly work.
X X X
"Yugi! Hurry up! You don't want to be late for your first day of school!" Grandpa called upstairs in a sing-song voice while putting two slices of bread in the toaster.
"Grandpa! School started up two weeks ago!" Yugi called, thundering down the stairs and doing an impressive job of multitasking—tying his shoes, slipping his jacket and backpack up his shoulders, and managing not to fall on his butt as he hopped down the stairs—only to slip on the last step and land on his rump with a loud, painful "Oaf!"
He heard a snort and glared at his grandfather, whose pinched face and crooked smile made it perfectly clear it was taking all of the old man's willpower not to burst out laughing.
Yugi smirked. "Are you sure your soul didn't lose any brain cells on its way back to your body?" He asked sweetly, doing a bang up job of hiding a since as he stood and straightened his back.
Grandpa looked indignant. "I'll have you know, my memory is a sharp as a tact! Thank you very much!" he poked his noggin and crossed his arms boldly for emphasis. "But it certainly got your lazy but out of bed didn't it?" he grinned.
He knew his grandson.
"I was already awake!" Yugi lied, taking the roast out of the toaster and popping on into his mouth and spreading strawberry cream cheese on the other, getting his full serving of grains, dairy and fruits in one sitting. He'd been up late the night before building a new deck with Yami and binge-watching reruns of comedy shows in order to help said spirit better understand the living world, since it seemed he would be here for a while—and Yugi certainly didn't want him feeling like the only time he was allowed to use his body was to duel or when some bully ot insane teacher needed to be put in their place.
Speaking of which, You promise you'll behave this year, right Yami?
Aibou, I'm hurt. Said spirit materialized as his side, visible only to Yugi. Yugi fixed him with a hard stare that, in Yami's opinion, only made him look cute, but he bowed and promised nonetheless. As long as your teachers and classmates behave themselves I promise not to engage anyone in any penalty games. In fact I've resolved not to use them anymore from now on. If Kaiba can learn from his mistakes, who am I not to judge.
Yugi smiled. He knew well, how bad Yami felt after Pegasus' whole "evil intelligence" comment, but in truth, in the two weeks since he and his friends had started their sophomore year, Domino high had been a much…happier place honestly. Ms. Crono, the guidance counselor, all those arrogant senior students and even the gym teacher who made life at Domino high for Yugi, Ryou and their classmates hell had seemed to turn over a new leaf while those who didn't like Ushio had either left the school or were "asked to resign".
It was nice to actually relax and actually learn at school—his father and step-mother hadn't exactly been happy with his last report card, which Grandpa had sent them before Duelist Kingdom started, the traitor.
"Bye Grandpa!" Yugi called over his shoulder, and existed through the shop door, instead of the house apartment—and almost stumbled over something resting peacefully on the welcome mat.
There lying not an inch from his feet with a shimmering violet ribbon around the stem, was a single lovely white lily. He picked it up, inhaled the perfume of his it's sent, touched the golden heart of its pollen. It was lovely.
Then he saw the card, read it, and blushed.
My Angel,
Purity and Majesty are what his flower symbolizes: just as you have the purest soul and the grace, strength and regality of a Queen.
Love
Khazamaa
X X X
It was the first of many such gifts he'd received in the coming weeks.
The next day he'd received a bouquet of daisies wrapped in another violet ribbon with another card: My Angel, For the innocence of your angelic soul and the purity of your kind heart—Khazamaa.
The day after that there was a lovely magnolia on his desk at homeroom. The note read: My Angel, Nobility, because you have the Heart of the Pharaoh and the Soul of a Queen—Khazamaa.
Over the weekend, after Saturday classes he found a collection of deep purple violets on the doorstep. Tis time the note read My Angel, violets represent modesty, because yours is a natural beauty that needs no for grimcrack—Khazamaa.
The next gift he received, continued in sister to the violets: at least three beautiful pale pink and magenta hibiscus. For your delicate beauty that outshines the sun and is more resplendent then the stars.
The next week saw a theme to his gifts: a rainbow bouquet of crocus and golden honeysuckle Cheerfulness and gladness, as your smile always is and always makes me feel. The next weekend he found a lovely bouquet of white and red heart-shaped caladium For the great joy and delight that you bring me.
The week after saw a more…romantic message to his gifts. A pink camellia for longing, sprigs of lavender for admiration; a red carnation for affection and a message that read As my heart aches for you. The grand finale arrived on his desk that Saturday after class (though how Khazamaa managed it, Yugi had no idea): a brilliant bouquet of sweet-smelling, soft petaled gardenia: Secret Love. Also titled My Angel. Also from Khazamaa.
It was too much. It was overwhelming. It was…so romantic, it nearly brought tears to his eyes. It was all he could think about…At school, at home, even at the arcade—it was the only time in history Jou beat him at anything. Even Jou and Honda teasing him endlessly wanting to know who the "lucky girl" was couldn't distract him—though somehow he didn't suspect Khazamaa was a girl—he always referred to Yugi as a queen, not that he minded, despite his crush on Tea and his sexual attraction towards Mai, he'd been keeping an open-mind when it came to his sexuality. He wasn't afraid to admit he'd first found Jou attractive, thought that was just a friendship, and it was impossible not to be into Yami when the man radiated sex appeal, so he had to be at least bi right?
He sighed, and tucked the gardenia between the pages of his text book where he'd pressed the other flowers and all of Khazamaa's notes, his heart pounded as he did so and he already feel his cheeks starting to heat up. He wasn't used to this, even his new fame as king of games didn't bring the level of hope, passion and sheer joy that these secret messages seem to invoke in him. Kami, he was starting to look forward to school if it meant getting a new letter during or after classes. But with the joy came a sudden anxiety—the possibility that perhaps this was a trick, or an obsessed fan seeking the King of Games title. The very through chilled him to his core and made his heart ache. He could feel Yami's concern through the puzzle and sent him a quick, calming reply that he was alright—he didn't exactly know how to tell his other self, he had a crush.
Another sigh escaped him and he clutched the text book—the letters and flowers, to his heart, smiling. Oh Kami, he hope this wasn't a trick.
"Yo Yug! Ya coming!" Jou called breaking him out of his trance.
Yugi jumped and quickly shoved the text book into his backpack, between his other books, so not to lose any of its contents. "Yeah. I'm coming!"
X X X
Yugi collapsed on his bed in an exhausted heap. "Oh man…that is the last time I play bummer cars with Jou and Honda. Kami, I'm sore!" He moaned into his pillow content to just sleep the rest of the night away—he almost missed the present sitting peacefully on his desk.
"Huh?" he blinked sat up and scooped it up. "What's this?" he unwrapped the soft white tissue paper and a lovely sprig of tiny blossoms clustered together like lavender stars. It was so lovely he couldn't resist smelling it. It smelled so sweet and honest like heather or spring time instead of perfume. Was it from Khazamaa?
That was when he saw the note sticking out of the paper, but unlike the previous cars that were sweet and simple. This one was an entire letter! Elegantly written on soft gold parchment and wrapped in a pretty purple ribbon.
Yugi's heart pounded as he untiled the ribbon, and letter unwound itself like a flower opening. Then he began to read:
My Dearest Yugi,
My Angel, I've spent many an hour trying to form the words to convey my feelings for you and yet whenever I try, I find myself unable to form the words—I hope these flowers and the messages they convey have, in some form, been able to express those feelings. Even now as I think of a way to describe you, I find myself unable to form the words for you have left me truly speechless. I know this may sound strange, but ever since I've first laid eyes on you, on your beautiful sweet face, your expressive eyes, the sheer joy of your smile, I cannot help but admire you from afar.
Everything you do, everything about you only makes this feeling in me grow and grow: the way you walk with an almost skip in your step, you're natural zest for life, I adore that fun, carefree side of you. Your honestly and your kindness, I can only admire your pure heart, your innocent soul. But I've also seen your strength: the way you stand up for others and yourself, the way you duel with such passion, the courageous way you fight for what you believe is right, even for those who may have wronged you, and yet you never once lose that kindness—never in all my life have I seen someone with such strength in a single human. I am truly amazed by you. Everything you do touches my heart and makes this feeling grow.
It is my deepest hope that one day I will find the courage to meet with you face to face, to speak with you in person and to finally convey the words to describe the feelings you have awoken with in me. Until that time comes, I hope this gift will touch your heart as ou have mine.
Love
Khazamaa
Yugi gasped as he finished the letter, almost burst into tears. With shaking hands he clutched it to his heart. Any fear he might've had that this one some kind of trick evaporated like mists in the morning. No one could make such passionate claims without meaning them, surely, that were true?
Then he saw something peeking between the tissue papers. Still holding the letter like it was a precious child, he gently removed the trinket and gasped in wonderment.
It was a charm bracelet: a solid gold bracelet with a series of charms: the kanji for Koi, a cartouche with what he recognized was his name in hieroglyphics, a flower that at first glance looked like a water lily, the word beloved in hieroglyphs, and most wonderful of all, a beautiful amethyst jeweled heart in the center, and engraved in the band were the words: My Angel.
Yugi could hold back no longer. "It's so beautiful!" Tears of sheer joy flooded his eyes and threatened to spill out. He fell back on his bed, eyeing the lovely bracelet, the letter, unable to part with either one. "I can't believe that someone would go to all this trouble for me…to get me something so…so…sweet." Oh God, he really was going to cry. All doubts and fears of this being some cruel trick were gone. "That someone feels this strongly for me?" It was a bizarre feeling, to feel so strongly towards someone he hadn't met, but how could he not feel flattered by such an affectionate announcement, by such a display of affection?
Which brought up another question: who was Khazamaa?
He doubt it was someone he knew. Kaiba could certainly afford something as expensive as his new bracelet but he certainly wasn't the romantic type. But then who…
"I wonder…" and with that wonderment came another terrifying and exhilarating question…Did he dare pursue this?
"YUGI!" Yugi all but jumped out of his skin and screamed when he heard his grandfather scolding. "Are you still awake!? It's 11 o'clock! You should be asleep! You have school tomorrow!"
"Sorry grandpa!" Yugi called, "I'm going to bed now!"
He changed into his pajamas in a flash, brushed his teeth and climbed into bed, but before placing his love letter on his nightstand and his bracelet around his wrist.
X X X
Marik's heart just exploded! "He likes it! He likes it! He likes it!" he chanted over and over again cheering and doing a happy dance in his sheer and utter joy. Yugi loved his gift, he loved his letter, he was considering returning his feelings! The spark was there, the seed that would blossom into the brilliant glorious flower that would become their love!
"Oh Yugi, my sweet, darling Yugi! My Angel sent from Ra himself," Marik mused, casting once last glance towards the window as Yugi prepped for the night (much as he desire to see his darling in all his natural glory, he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself any longer is he stayed. He refused to violate Yugi's trust and privacy—God his face flushed and his heart burned at the thought).
With a dreamy sigh, sending a cloud of pink pooping hearts escaping him, he slid to the ground, grateful for the long, dark colors cloak and robe hiding him in the shadows. "Oh how I wish to reveal myself to you…but no matter." He had a plan for that after all. He giggled to himself at the thought. "Ishizu will be setting battle city in motion soon, and then…then…I'll have plenty of time to court you properly."
With that, he disappeared back into the shadows and head back towards the base before Rishad noticed he was gone.
X X X
"What an idiot," Bakura shook his head in disgust watching as the love struck fool vanished down the street, still trailing popping pink cartoon hearts like some anime school girl. Well, at least he knew this new stranger wasn't a threat to the Pharaoh—just some love struck moron obsessed with the brat. Him he could have.
Now then…a wicked grin slit Bakura's face as he removed something from the shadow of his trench coat. Time to make my move.
He threw back his head with a wild laugh. "You may be content for now, Princess...but sooner or later your curiosity will be too much to handle and when that happens every step you take will take you one step closer...to me!"
X X X
Yami smiled as he watched Yugi sleep. He normally did not need too, but he'd felt the strong emotions Yugi had been radiating all night and couldn't help himself but spy—if only to sedate his curiosity. He spied the lilac sprig sitting innocently atop the letter he'd received, and narrowed his eyes in suspicious. Lilac, he recalled, meant the first buddings of love or love at first sight in the language of the flowers (Yugi had become much more knowledgeable of the subject since these mysterious letters from someone calling themselves Khazamaa arrived. The name was from no language Yami was familiar with, and that alone roused his suspicions.
He was human enough to admit that he'd felt a twinge of jealousy when Yugi started reviewing letters from what his friends called a "secret admirer" yet that concept only aroused his suspicion. If this Khazamaa truly meant what he said about Yugi, what he felt then why hide his identity? Why feel the need to hide such a thing? Was it a trick? An obsessed fan? Someone attempting to usurp Yugi's rightfully won title by causing him emotional pain.
Yami slammed his fist against the wall, outrage radiating off him in waves. The very thought of someone misusing Yugi's gentle heart in such a way…he may have sown never to enact a penalty game again, but he would protect his abiou.
No matter what.
He may not know who this Khazamaa was, but he was determined to find out.
He trusted Yugi's judgement—it had never stirred him wrong before, but if one of them had to be cautious—then it would be Yami.
Something that sounded like laugher echoed behind them followed by a chill breeze that caused the curtain to brush against Yami's incorporeal shoulders like a ghost. Yami shot to attention, whirled on the interloper demanding "Who's there! Show yourself!"
Silence greeted the challenge and with the exception of the curtain swaying a bit as it returned to place, nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
With a sigh of relief, he was about to return to the puzzle when something caught his eye. Then he saw it—the planter on the window. Not a sprig of a flower in a vast left to wilt, wither and die (he never found the appeal in offering half-dead plants as gifts) but a small terra cotta pot complete with soil and several bushy plants: a mint green bush covered in tiny needles, a cluster of lovely deep blue flowers with white hearts all growing around each other and in the heart spouted two long-stemmed flowers. One a clustered bloom of spiky pale pink petals, soft to his spectral touch, but the other…the other he had to search his memory for. A golden heart surrounded by five large tear-shaped petals, its edges curled in to resemble a sort of point, and the delicious scent of freshly brewed sweet tea escaped it. A tea rose, he recalled.
Was it another gift from Khazamaa? There didn't seem to be a card.
With a hum of curiosity, he examined the labels and felt his fingers tremble with each new message:
Rosemary—remembrance
Forget-Me-Not—memory
Pink Carnation—I'll never forget you
And that lovely tea rose that reminded him of long ago gardens that he once loved…
I will remember, always.
Yami stumbled back, nearly stumbling over Yugi's desk.
He found the potted bouquet's tag and the name that was on it.
And it wasn't Yugi's.
Just wanna say this one was SO much fun to write, thought definitely tuned out longer and more serious than i originally planned but somehow it worked! I love writing Marik's more human side, since he really is such a passionate and tragic character (in the manga his hatred for Atem is to both avenge his father's death but also free his family from what he believes is a life of servitude and darkness and that everything he does, no matter how bad is in essence to accomplish that goal, which adds a whole new level of death to his character and personality that i feel got totally erased in the 4kids adaption-why the dubb version cut it i will never know)
Anyway, Marik's character is definitely the easiest to write in this series-he just comes alive whenever he's on screen and i love it! And also i love showing Bakura from behind the scenes...you know hes's got ulterior motives in all this but you almost don't know what.
Notes:
Notes on Timeline:
Once again this story follows the MANGA timeline which has some key differences from the English Anime (but not the Japanese version) the prinary of which is that the Japanese school year starts in April. Japanese schools use a three semester system. The first term runs to around July 20, when summer vacation begins. Kids return to school in early September for the second term, which lasts until about December 25. The final term begins in early January and continues to late March.
According to the manga, volume 1-6 take place during Yugi and the gang's freshman year, thus Duelist Kingdom took place in that two week period between the end of Yugi and the gang's freshman year and the start of their Sophmore year.
I estimated that this oneshot takes place through April and thus the Dungeon dice arc would take place in late April/Early May.
Marik's Religious References
Baset/Bast—Cat Goddess of dance, grace, sexual love and sexual pleasure, protector of Pharaoh and his family
Hathor—Cow Goddess of Women and Motherhood, Goddess of Romantic Love and both inner and physical beauty
(both goddesses were seen as "other halves" of Sekhmet the war goddess and were thus love goddesses and invoked upon very heavily in love powtry and courtship especially in terms of romantic and sexual love)
