WOOOOOO! I'm so proud of how fast I got this chapter up! the next one will be up Monday! It's already pre-written!
I was super happy to write this one. After that last chapter I thought our four boys needed something romantic and touching.
This segment was loosely inspired by GoddesRouge9's Malik in Love Segment Midnight Visit, because I thought the idea of Marik visiting Yugi in the hospital while he was recovering was too cute to pass up! And another excuse for Bakura to mess with our favorite pharaoh ;)
Disclaimer: Based on the manga series that belongs to Kazuki Takehashi he owns the story and characters and i am offering an alternative extension.
Quick Note: I edited the title because I decided to do this in three parts though they will all be in this same story. The first part is called Entering the Dark, the Second will be called Echoes of the Past and the third part will be called either Dawn of the Shadows or Return of the Shadows (leaning towards the first but haven't decided yet) When each new part starts I will edit the title and the summery. I haven't decided but I think Echoes of the Past will begin with the Battle City Finals post Yugi and Possessed Joey's duel.
As always read, review, reply, critique, comment, post theories and go nuts ;)
Midnight
Marik was furious.
Absolutely enraged! He stormed vehemently through the giant white healers' building apparently called a hospital, shamelessly getting the information he needed with the Rod and ignored anyone else who dared get in his way. He didn't care that visiting hours were over. He didn't care that it was the middle of the night and everyone wanted to go home.
All he cared about was Yugi.
24 hours.
One freaking day!
That was all it had taken for everything to go straight to the fiery pits of hell—literally! Not Amit's bowels, not the damned abyss, thank Ra, but the fiery pits of hell!
24 hours and in that time hoping for a nice evening at the Black Crown Game Shop with his friends, his beloved Yugi had been separated from his foolish friends, kidnapped, had the puzzle stolen, fucking shattered, and was forced to duel the Otogis as they were called for it in a fixed game he knew nothing of (as if those greedy, worthless amateurs could ever be worthy of the King's power), and even though his beloved had won (though Marik expected that as was the unparalleled wisdom, strength and determination of his darling), the old goat had kidnapped Yugi again, attempted to face him in a Devil's Game and failing set the whole damn building being set on fire, forcing his beloved to risk his life solving the shattered Millennium Puzzle once again, while the freaking building was burning down! Almost getting killed in the process! All in a desperate attempt to restore that worthless parasitic pharaoh!
Marik was absolutely livid!
And now his beloved Yugi was in the hospital recovering from minor burns, extreme heat exposure and smoke inhalation (blessedly, all his wounds were minor and the doctors he'd possessed assured him Yugi would make a full recovery, though the doctors still planned on keeping him a few days for rest and observation).
The worst part about the whole thing? Marik had slept through it! He had purposely chosen to ignore the fact that the reason he'd slept through it was because he'd fallen out a second story window when his plans to leave his beloved another love note derailed and led to the possibility of him being caught caused him to sneak out the window and fall from said second story window through a Sakura tree and landing in a bush. He couldn't even be angry when Rishad pounded on his door until he rose begrudgingly from slumber. All his murderous impulses abandoned him when Rishad explained it concerned Yugi and what had happened. Unquestionably loyal, his brother. He debated using the Rod to drive Otogi and his father insane but relented because Yugi now considered Otogi a friend and he did help save him and was disgruntled that the puzzle beat him to it with the old man. No point in driving the man crazier than he already was besides Yugi was more important. And his beloved needed him.
He finally came to the numbered room the possessed front desk woman told him was Yugi's and went inside.
He didn't know someone was already there.
X X X
Bakura looked down at Yugi's sleeping body but his eyes are locked on the puzzle gripped tightly in Yugi's hand.
A small part of him wondered if he should check on that brat Pharaoh again. It took too much energy to keep his spirit split evenly between the Ring and the puzzle piece and Ryou only had so much. Damnit. Such a needy King! Always needing his Royal ass saved! Sure, he was strong—dare anyone to say he wasn't—but even strength could deplete...
The memory of the Pharaoh and his brat came to mind and something sharp pricked at Bakura's heart. He supposed he should be grateful for the brat if only for that.
Still...
So much had happened. So much had changed.
And he knew better than anyone the worst was yet to come. But the King would not fail.
His eyes fell once more on the puzzle and tenderly stroked the outline of its eye, smirking when he felt it warm even glow under the familiar touch. He smirked.
No, Yami would not fail, he thought grinning.
He would make sure of it.
Sharp ears caught a shadowy wisp of sound and he whirled around. Someone was coming!
Who the hell was coming at this time of night? How the hell did they even get in? How bad was the security in this place? Bakura himself was a thief and knew how to sneak in the night?
Not taking chances. The spirit of darkness slid into the shadows behind the curtains and waited. The intruder arrived in a swirl of dark purple shadows and a click of gold chains. He pulled down his hood and a mane of pale bond hair and richly tanned skin a shade lighter than the burnt ocher Bakura himself once had in a past life, spilled out. Bakura recognized him immediately as the brat's Romeo stalker and swallowed an exhale of relief. Just when he though he'd had something to worry about.
He supposed he shouldn't be surprise. Idiot probably had the same idea Bakura had and wanted to make sure his precious obsession was alive and well. All the better for Bakura.
He was about to set down his gift and leave when something he never expected happen.
The Ring was glowing.
The Millennium Ring was glowing!
Why the Hell was the Millennium Ring glowing?
Unless...
A horrible thought came to Bakura's mind and he removed the Ring from inside Ryou's shirt but kept its light shadowed by his black trench coat. Just as he feared, the two left points that should have been dangling were pointed, straight and parallel and diagonally. Towards the interloper.
It was then Bakura remembered two Millennium items were still unaccounted for.
Who the fuck is this kid!
Bakura scrutinized him one last time: found his moping eyes fixated on Yugi's sleeping form and not the puzzle. When he did spot the puzzle it was with a look of pure hatred as if blaming it for Yugi's current predicament, but otherwise made no move to take or claim it, so transfixed was he on Yugi.
Good, Bakura thought. For now he wasn't a threat. Whether or not he would become one in the future remained to be said. For now, he decided he would regroup and come up with a new plan and if the fool was an item holder than it would be easy to take it from him.
This could even work in his favor. Bakura smirked a new plan already forming in his mind. Sleek and silent as the shadows he left his offering and slipped out of the room with a silent swoop that would make any hunting predatory cat envious.
He would let the lovers be for now and if the fool did try something...well, Bakura chuckled. He would just learn the hard why one should never ever get on the Pharaoh's bad side. Especially when he was being protective.
X X X
Heartbreaking relief.
It was the only way to describe the emotion Marik felt when he saw Yugi asleep in his hospital bed.
His angel was asleep, drained and exhausted. Tiny bandages on his cheeks where he'd been scratched or scrapped and his hand had been bandaged in case of burns. But he was alive.
He was alive.
He looked so fragile like this, so helpless. It made Marik want to hold him, protect him, shelter him, take him into his arms right now and hide him away somewhere where he could be pampered and shielded and never be hurt like this ever again. But he vanquished the thought as soon as it entered his mind. For his angel was not some docile porcelain doll who would be happy being spoiled with gifts and pampering. He was smart and strong and courageous and resilient and he would fight for what he believed in and (as much as it bristled Marik to accept that he believed in and fought for that parasite false pharaoh whose fault this was and death glared the puzzle he was currently hiding in), his pure heart would not give up.
This incident was only proof of that.
And while those qualities might put Yugi in danger they also only made Marik love him more. An ibis, even one that made its home in the temple, did not stay cooped in a cage but soared high in the sky, skimmed across the pond, free and only coming to heel when it chose to and never apologized for it. One did not tame the Nile but acknowledge its rise and flow and appreciated its glittering surface knowing well the savage crocodiles and territorial hippos lurked beneath. A Lotus was not beautiful because of its lovely soft petals and golden heart but the fact that that sweet delicate flower climbed its way out of the darkness of the mud and water to reach the sun and repeated the cycle. That was his Yugi. His beautiful, wonderful, strong-willed, kind-hearted, indomitable and tenacious Yugi. His pure-hearted Angel. He deserved to be Pharaoh not the parasite. If he were Pharaoh Marik would happily, even proudly serve him, aid him. He deserved so much more than this life.
Reaching over, Marik brushed a stray gold bang from that sweet, sleeping face and tucked it behind his ear. His heart swelled when Yugi shifted in his sleep. He gave a slight moan then a smile pulled at his lips. Marik almost died on the spot. His heart burst then regrew then burst again at least six times in the span of fifteen seconds.
He had never been this close to Yugi before.
He could only observe so much from the shadows and distanced himself both out his own shyness and respect for his beloved, but here, now, so close, close enough to touch, and Yugi was so cute. It would be rude to steal a kiss from him when he was vulnerable like this and yet...
Marik braced his hand on the bed, wove something between those sleeping fingers and leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to Yugi's cheek instead. His lips barely brushed Yugi's skin when the Millennium Puzzle roared to life flowing as hot and furious as a desert sun.
Marik cursed and dashed toward the heavy curtains of the window intending to hide but the moment his hands hit the window and looked down, reminding him that this time he was at least four stories up and jumped back landing on his ass and made a mad dash for the door.
No. No! NO! I am not doing that again!
He crashed out the door and slid into the hallway hiding in the shadows and grabbed the tail of his cloak when he saw it was still in the doorway. He dared not look back but knew that blasted Pharaoh was no doubt awake in the room, jealously guarding Marik's beloved like a fantasy drake guarded its jewels.
Marik seethed, absolutely furious. How dare that selfish greedy bastard ruin everything! Hadn't he caused Yugi enough trouble already?
Marik swallowed a snort.
His habibi truly did deserve more in this life. He deserved to be loved and cherished and admired and to have all the world know of his quiet strength, kind confidence and beautiful heart.
His lips tingled with the memory of Yugi's soft lotus petal skin on his lips. The sweet taste of fruit and sugar and candied lemons.
Marik's resolve sharpened tenfold.
He would give Yugi that life. He would defeat that parasite false pharaoh and make Yugi his Queen. Not some shield or vessel to be shut away or sidelined. Not his wife, or consort, but Queen: Lord of Two Lands (or the world), his equal in every way. Yugi would wear his crown, sit on his throne and rule beside him: they would rule this world together.
Giddy excitement galvanized him to his core.
Soon my love, Marik whispered casting one last glance at his lover. Just as he expected the parasitic Pharaoh stood watching like a territorial guard dog and looking unsettled by the note and flower laced in Yugi's free hand. Marik smirked. Triumphant with pride. Let his rival know he was being challenged. Let him feel threatened.
Battle city will begin soon and then I'll have plenty of chances to win your heart and crush your capture. Marik giggled overcome with delight as he slipped into the shadows.
"I can't wait to meet you officially, my sweet angel."
He didn't notice Bakura slipping out of the shadows arms crossed and shaking his head, watching the love-struck idiot as he literally bounced down the hall. "What a dolt."
X X X
Yami scanned the room, sharp-eyed and with merciless scrutiny over every shadow and wisp of wind for any sign of a threat. Just like their cowardly enemies to attack Yugi while he was recuperating.
Over my dead body! Yami clenched his spectral fists.
After a thorough investigation of the space, the spirit deemed it safe but nonetheless remained diligent as Yugi rested. He sat himself down on the bed, offered Yugi a reassuring smile and ran a phantasm hand through his soft hair. It didn't do much but he hoped the soft touch was comforting and his heart swelled when he saw Yugi smile.
It was then he saw the note wrapped in Yugi's hand tied to some odd flowers he did not recognize. It was not the first time Yugi had received them, but how on earth did it get here? He'd noticed the affectionately shy way Yugi would press them into his school book, the bashful awkward way Yugi blushed and changed the subject whenever he'd asked about them. At the time he had not wanted to invade Yugi's privacy even with his concerns over this Khazamaa, but now? Was that who had left the flowers and the note? Yugi's secret admirer as Anzu called him? If so then how did he get in here?
Yami shook his head and stood. He was being paranoid, he knew. It had been an awful two days. He and Yugi has spent most if not all of it in his soul room comforting each other before they decided they both needed a rest. Even so, after all that happened Yami's emotions were a rapid storm.
He ran a hand through his own hair and leaned against the night stand. His fingers brushed something and he jumped back, spun.
His eyes widened.
"Yami?" Came Yugi's sleepy voice. "Are you okay?"
Yami composed himself, quickly but did not avert his eyes. "Yes. I'm sorry, aibou, I thought I heard a noise but I was mistaken. I did not mean to wake you."
"It's okay," Yugi yawned and rolled over. "You get some sleep too, okay."
Yami nodded and returned to the occupant of his gaze.
Behind him, Yugi was just about to return to sleep when he registered something laced between his fingers. His eyes widened and he swallowed a gasp so not to worry Yami. The flowers this time were a combination: one was shaped like two different sizes five pointed stars in different shades of purplish blue like his eyes, a stalk of tiny clustering golden flowers and bright golden suns with feathery petals for sunshine: Starflower for courage, Goldenrod for strength and Dandelion for overcoming hardships. The note was simple but loving: I'm sorry you were hurt my Angel. I regret even more I was unable to help you. May these flowers assure you of my love for you and hope that you recover quickly. I hope to meet you face to face soon until then stay safe and get well—Khazamaa.
It made Yugi's heart swell. The curiousty of how his admirer found out what happened and how he'd managed to come here was only half as powerful as the touching affection that he'd taken the time to do so.
Something cool prickled Yugi's cheek and he brushed his fingers over it, wondering. He smiled then and cast a loving glance towards the charm bracelet hidden among his things in the basket beneath his night stand. He placed the flowers on his nightstand and fell asleep clutching the note close to his heart.
Beside him, Yami sat eyes transfixed on the small pot sporting a colorful bouquet of tubular stems bursting tall pyramids of bell shaped flowers. The note that bore his name read Snapdragons for strength when you feel your own is depleting...
No signature. Just like the last one.
But what struck him was the flower tied around the stems: held their by thin tendrils of roots, the flower itself bloomed with a thousand tiny petals open like a daisy revealing a golden heart and its color a blue so deep and beautiful it looked violet.
When he reached out to touch it, it felt soft and solid between his phantom fingers.
A memory bloomed to life behind his eyes. A memory of scorching suns and wide desert dunes. A cool cave made up like a home. Someone leading him by the hand. Burnt ocher skin from a lifetime living beneath Ra's strength. The wide sleeved burgundy coat covering His arm. The face shadowed and obscured. A beautiful waterfall filling a sunlit pool where those same flowers rose from the darkness and bloomed to life.
He stumbled back, stunned.
It was then he recognized and remembered what it was. A water lily. A blue water lily. Specifically, and Egyptian Blue Water Lotus.
It was Yami's favorite flower.
Marik stole a kiss and Yami witnessed another memory all while our favorite thief is watching and manipulating from behind the scenes!
Man this things was fun to write!
Little note, Marik's descriptions of Yugi i actually changed because the original ones (which included a hawk, desert and fire) I felt fit Atem's boldness better where as Yugi's strength is quieter and beneath the surface: a warrior with a Pharaoh's heart hidden beneath the face of an angel ;)
And the return of the language of the flowers!
To be honest i was hoping I'd be further along in the Captive and the Cobra before I posted this segment but, oh well, foreshadowing for Intertwined Part 1!
