I have had this practically written for months now. I'm sorry it has taken so long. I have been having trouble staying motivated to continue writing. Thank you all for your support during the break!
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or any of the characters.
Summary: All he has ever seen was darkness. But even he knows there is a difference between the blackness he used to see and the darkness that has haunted him for years. (Bakushiping)
Thank You:
Sayanoyoru for favoriting
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Time-Stopping-666 for the review and following. I have been doing well. I'm on track to graduate from college this December. Sorry I took so long
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Crazy and random child for the review. This is one of my favorites too. I'm sorry for the long wait. I'm trying to stay calm. I'm going to be finishing up here in one more semester but then I'm starting my master's degree right away. Also, thank you for following and favoriting
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Klagana1 for favoriting and the review. It will get better for him… hopefully
DDLDarkHeartofWater for the review. Thank you for sticking with me through my stories. I'm sorry for taking so long with an update.
Guest for the review. I understand how you feel. College is wearing me down too. I hope it goes well for you.
GirlFish for the review. Hey! It's good to see you again. He will be out of it for now. I have a pretty good idea of how I want to end this story. I'm working on having the two one-shots for Jaden and Mai done before the end of April. I think I will have Mana involved somehow in Mai's story, but I need someone for Jaden's. I can't really tell you which situation is more likely, but I promise it will interesting. Mai will be needed because she is the leader of one of the rebel groups.
Chapter 2- One of Three
When I woke up, it felt like someone was rocking me. Arms were holding me tightly to a chest and we were moving rhythmically. I soon realized that we were riding on horses, as I could hear their hooves. I could feel the sun on my face. From the smell of the person holding me, I knew it was Bakura. He smelled like the earth and clean air. The wind blowing around us was colder and I turned to press my face into Bakura's chest.
"Are you awake?" He asked me.
I was nervous about replying, but I nodded into his chest. I felt a hand run through my hair. I knew it was probably Akefia, since Bakura's hands didn't move. I also didn't think that he would let anyone else touch me.
"Can you speak Ryou?"
I hadn't spoken in years, but I think I might be able to. My throat felt rough and I might sound like a frog if I begin talking. I nodded to answer his question.
"You don't have to talk yet Ryou. We just want to make sure there is nothing wrong with your vocal cords."
I understood that, but I wasn't ready to talk yet. I chose to bury my head into Bakura's chest completely. Bakura held me tighter.
"Alright, you don't have to talk yet. But can you hear us clearly?"
I nodded again.
"Do you want your face covered from the sun? We don't want you to get burned but we also don't want you to be uncomfortable. Your skin is very pale."
I shook my head. I wanted to feel the sun on my face. It meant that I had escaped that hell in the mountain. I was free of Zorc and the darkness that always surrounded me. I shuddered thinking about them, I could still feel them touching me.
"Are you alright, Ryou?"
I nodded. I'm okay now.
I slept most the journey to the palace. When we came closer, Bakura woke me and explained where we were going. Akefia told me what the palace looked like. It sounded beautiful and ornate. I could hear Malik talking to his demons nearby, he was saying that the palace still looked like a fancy prison and then laughed. Two demons growled after what he said. I assumed the growls came from the Marik and Mariku that Mana said were coming for Malik in the caves.
Zorc had been after Malik too. I knew that he needed us for something. He was looking for another as well. He often talked about his curse.
"Don't think about that place, Ryou." Akefia said as the horses slowed to a walk. I could hear something large being opened.
I didn't want to think about it, but I can't forget about it.
"We'll help you Ryou. We can shield your mind from what happened. But not until you are healthier."
I was confused as to what he was talking about. Maybe there were powers that demons had that could do that. I didn't feel sick either. I felt more tired than usual, but I rarely moved in the last few years. I felt thinner, my bones stuck out from my skin. I wondered what Bakura and Akefia thought of me. Were they disgusted with how I looked?
The noise around me increased. We were riding past a crowd. I could hear some selling to others. I could also hear cries of pain. The journey through the town was short and we soon came to another door. This one was not as large due to the sound of it opening. Once we were inside, Bakura slowed his horse to a stop. There were riders dismounting all around us. I could hear Malik arguing with his demons. They both wanted to carry him, but he insisted on walking.
"Hand him to me." Akefia told Bakura. I was passed down to him and then Bakura got down from his horse. Someone was walking toward us.
"Atem is calling for a meeting in an hour. Isis said don't be late." I didn't recognize the voice.
"We won't be late, Seto. We also don't need you acting like our mother. Why don't you go make sure Mariku and Marik aren't late?" Akefia growled.
There was laughing all around us as we began walking. I could tell immediately when we entered a building. It was warm inside and the breeze stopped. I felt nervous when I didn't feel the sun on my face anymore, but I knew that Bakura and Akefia wouldn't let anything touch me.
We must be walking through the palace, because our footsteps sounded like we walking on stone. We traveled through a few corridors before reaching the room they wanted to enter. The room they brought me to, smelled like fresh air, just like they did.
"How about a bath Ryou? And then some food?"
A bath sounded great. I couldn't even remember what it felt like to be clean. I didn't want them to see me naked. Bakura must have sensed my hesitation because he laughed.
"I'll be a perfect gentleman I promise. So can I wash you?"
I nodded and smiled.
"I'm going to pick up some food for you, Ryou. Have a good bath."
I heard the door open and close as he left. Bakura walked until he came to something soft to lay me on.
"I'll be back in a moment. Need to find some clothes for you and then we will go take that bath."
I curled into the couch. It was soft and smelled like them. I heard a closet opening.
"Luckily, we still have your clothes."
I twitched. I have never been here before. There is no reason for them to have some of my clothes. Bakura seemed to notice my confusion.
"Sorry, Ryou. I guess we haven't told you yet. We will explain everything to you after the meeting."
He lifted me up and we entered another room. There was sunlight in this room, and I could feel it on me. It was also humid in this room. I was laid back down on a bench where Bakura removed my clothes. I shivered as cold air hit my skin and from the fact I could feel his eyes on my skin.
"You're still beautiful, Ryou. Just remember that. When your healthy again, you will be radiant."
I could hear him removing his clothes and then he lifted me back up. He took me into the water. It was the perfect temperature. The feeling of the water flowing through my hair. I moaned.
Bakura chuckled softly. "Feels good?"
I nodded. Bakura gently dipped me into the water, so that my hair was completely wet. He then opened a bottle to squeeze some soap onto my hair. He sat me on the side of the bath to scrub my hair and them dipped me back into the water to wash it out. I have been told my hair was white, but I doubt that it had ever been perfectly white. But I could now believe that it was. He put some more soap on a cloth to wipe down my body and my face. He was very gentle washing around my eyes. We stayed in the water for a few moments longer enjoying the warm water before we exited the bath.
"Can you stand Ryou?"
I nodded. I probably could if I had something to hold onto.
"Put your hands on my shoulders."
I fumbled around for a minute before I found them. I was blushing with embarrassment because my hands were all over his chest before I found his shoulders. His shoulders were toned and strong. I was certain my face was bright red.
He began drying my body, drying me quickly so I wouldn't get cold. Bakura walked me back to the bench and showed me my clothes. I began to slowly dress myself, balancing on the bench, as Bakura dried and dressed himself. He fixed my clothes before taking me back into the first room.
"You look better now, Ryou." Akefia told me. I jumped a little in Bakura's arms from being startled.
Bakura took me closer to him. We sat next to him and leaned me against him.
"I'm sorry for scarring you. I will make my presence known next time."
I smiled and shook my head.
"Here is some soup. Open your mouth." Akefia told me.
I did and I felt a warm cup put to my lips. The soup was vegetable flavored and soothed my throat. I swallowed a few mouthfuls before the cup was taken away. I coughed a little, trying to clear my throat. Akefia brought the cup back to my lips. I could feel Bakura shaking his head behind me. Were they talking to each other? I finished drinking the cup of soup. Feeling warm and comfortable now, and all I wanted to do was sleep.
"We should be going to the meeting now."
I moaned, annoyed at them.
"You can sleep through the meeting. Yugi is excited to see you again, and Malik wants to check up on you. We will wake you then."
I have never met Yugi, but I had heard Zorc say his name. He was one of the humans needed to break the seal along with Malik.
"We also have the trial for Siegfried." Akefia reminded Bakura.
"Hopefully he can shed some light on just how powerful Zorc can be." Bakura growled in a deep voice. He reached to lift me up so I was cradled in his arms.
They walked in silence for a long while. The rocking motion of Bakura carrying me was making me drowsy. I was scared to sleep because I wanted to learn more about the demons around me. And more importantly what they were going to do about Zorc. I do not want Bakura or Akefia to fight him. They wouldn't win. You can't destroy darkness.
We paused for a second while a large door was opened. A male voiced called to us when we entered the room.
"Your early. We didn't expect you to be here yet." The voice was a deep baritone. I heard a soft whisper after the voice stopped.
"We wanted to talk with you before the meeting, Atem. This will involve all of us after all. Hello, Yugi." Bakura said as we walked into the room and sat down, with myself situated in his lap. Akefia sat down next to my head.
"Hi." A soft voice answered. Right after a different voice spoke "We will be able to talk after the meeting and trial along with Marik and Mariku. How is Ryou?"
The arms holding me tightened. I pretended to be asleep, though I doubted Bakura and Akefia would be fooled. I wasn't ready to talk or be the center of attention.
"He is underweight, but other than that, unharmed. It could have been worse. Malik, Yugi, and he should be involved when we talk later. This will involve all three of them, since Zorc is after them." Akefia told them running a hand through my hair.
"We agree," Atem said as the door opened. "Welcome, members of the council. There is much that we must discuss. But first we have a trial to deal with."
I am updating every 2-3 weeks now. The next update will be either February 19th or 26th
I wanted to have the trial in this chapter, but I couldn't wait to put this out any longer. The meeting and trial will be in the next chapter.
Please review! All criticism is greatly appreciated. It allows me to learn from my mistakes and make a better story.