AN: Holy cow, this chapter took a LONG time. I hope you like it (it gets better as it progresses…Well, I think) so please enjoy. (School's almost out! Yay!)
Thanks to…
dragonlady222: Ryou's dark side isn't really a second, separate person, like Yami and Yugi or Marik and Malik, ya know? I also hope Ryou doesn't get himself killed in the process, or doesn't kill in the process. Thanks for the review!
Shamise: No problem. Thanks for the review!
FlyingShadow666: Let's hope Marik survives, yes? Thanks for the review!
Anime WarriorSkye: Cool, lol. Thanks for the review!
Tails7651: The dark side of Ryou isn't really a separate part of him, like Yami and Yugi or Bakura and Ryou, etc. It's just the 'dark' side, when someone's pushed too far, ya know? Let's hope Ryou doesn't kill, or get killed…Then again, he is lost to a more violent side of himself. Thanks for the review!
Chapter Twenty Three: Reason
Alec winced as someone's sword bit into his side. He grunted in annoyance before he shifted his weight away, making the attacker stumble right past him. Letting out a snarl, he slammed his own broadsword right into the Roman's back before turning to face his next opponent.
He knew. He knew that the room he was guarding held no little prince. Yet he grimly tightened his grip on his weapon and assumed a ready stance as he awaited the enemy. The Romans didn't know. They thought the young prince was hidden away, safe in the doors behind Alec's back.
This was all he could do to repay the Pharaoh for the kindness and mercy he had shown the foreigner. Despite the fact that Alec didn't really like the way his sovereign ruled his kingdom and family, Alec stayed faithfully by his side because he felt he had to. Protecting the Pharaoh's youngest, who could not fight, from being tainted by blood and battle was the least he could do for the man who had saved his life.
Now, seeing a few soldiers he had personally trained backing him, Alec felt confident that what he was doing was right.
However, his self-assurance shattered when a Roman screamed bloody murder and collapsed beyond the invisible border that both Egypt and their enemies had established.
There was a pause in the clanging and grunting and shouting as every head turned to witness what exactly had happened.
Alec's face paled at the sight.
Swaying slightly and covered in blood…there stood the youngest Prince of Egypt, licking the back of his hand.
Slowly, a grin spread across the child's face.
For the first time, the Royal Guards saw their leader at a loss for words. Alec nearly dropped his sword when the child smiled maliciously at him with the darkest eyes he had ever seen.
Had they always been black?
But their silent exchange broke off instantly when the little prince seemingly disappeared.
What the hell? Alec took a step back as the closest Romans screamed and collapsed. A large gash materialized onto their chests, bleeding so profusely that all the guards could see for a moment was red.
Ryou reappeared a little ways away from the dying soldiers, his eyes alight with pleasure. It was then Alec realized that the boy hadn't disappeared – he had simply moved too fast for his eyes to follow.
Alec swallowed hard, stepping back in fear despite himself.
A demon…
---
Shit! Bakura was at a fork in the maze of hallways of the Palace. The left path led to the dining hall, but the right one would take him to the sleeping quarters of the royalty. Which way?
Bakura clenched his fist hard enough to draw blood from his palms. When did Ryou get so fast? Even the thief king had a hard time tracking his movements! He could have sworn that Ryou had only gotten a few seconds on him, yet already Bakura didn't see him anywhere.
I choose…right!
The snow-haired thief rounded a corner as he charged toward the residencies, swearing to Ra that he would visit the temple every day from here on out if the Sun God would let him reach Ryou before it was too late.
As Bakura was about to turn into the last passageway, he nearly lost his footing.
F-ck! Maneuvering his weight and arms rapidly to keep from falling, Bakura barely caught himself in time.
His eyes widened as he realized what he had slipped on.
Blood.
It was all over the floor, and it was sending chills down his spine. As he stared at his distorted reflection in the red, he couldn't help but think if Ryou went this way…if Ryou…killed…
Bleakly, Bakura pulled himself together and drew a shaky breath. He could see the fighting at the end of the hall, right in front of Ryou's room.
If Ryou took anyone's life, the burden of that life will be put on my shoulders, not his.
I can atone…for our sins.
Bakura closed his eyes, preparing himself. He had to stay strong, he had to stay focused.
---
"Don't kill us, sir! Please!" a Roman man screamed, groveling and trying to scuttle away on the ground.
The small child with tainted white hair grinned, reaching out for the soldier. Within the second an inhuman cry split the air, the Roman was gone.
Without a word, Ryou turned around, his head cocked to the side as his pleased look gave way to a pout. There are no more here…time to find some others!
Before the child could take another step, a shadow blocked his path.
Who dares to stand in my way?
The dark eyes met the cold gray stones of the foreigner guard, Alec.
There was a silence that filled the air before Alec tentatively called out, "My prince?"
Ryou stiffened visibly as a low growl emanated from his throat. He is mocking you…He is pointing out your weakness that resulted in the dead of your kinsmen!
A quick gasp escaped Alec's lips as he barely put up the flat side of his blade in defense on time. He didn't have breath to spare for words, struggling with just trying to predict where this demon-child was going to strike next.
Alec fended off a blow to his chest, nicking the small hand just a bit. However, the collision was enough to send Alec sprawling backwards. When did Ryou get so strong?
Just about to assume a defensive position, the foreign guard caught sight of the boy throwing himself at him. Alec's eyes widened as he realized that he would not be fast enough to parry the child's next attack.
An offended screech forced Alec to slam his hands over his ears as Ryou smashed his hand against the steel sheaths of finely crafted silver knives.
---
Ryou grinned as he lunged forward, his hand upraised in an attack. A white man was slumped before him, his face dazed when he saw the child coming.
He was going to exercise all that raw power stimulating his body when pain exploded in his hand. A shriek resounded through the halls as Ryou's final blow was deflected by something very hard.
That hurt, idiot! Without thinking, Ryou crashed right into the person who was wielding the knives and tried to bite the shoulder.
Almost instantaneously he let out another cry. His teeth rammed into metal, making his entire jaw smart. Withdrawing temporarily, Ryou backed against a wall and examined his mouth while he glared at his adversary with tears of anger blurring the image.
He didn't recognize the man, as he didn't recognize anyone else in the Palace. Murderers, the lot of 'em! Kill them!
Kill him!
Ryou clenched his jaw and shot forward again, grabbing a short sword from the ground as he went. Vengeance was written clearly across his face as he started his offense with an uppercut.
He was going to hurt them, all those who killed his people. Those soldiers had lives – lives that had hardly been fulfilled with enough memories to last a lifetime. No one's going to get away with stealing someone else's future…NO ONE!
The enraged child's uppercut was followed swiftly by a midsection punch with the other hand, a round house, a spinning hook, and an elbow to the face. He snarled as his entire body felt like it was on fire, his hands shaking from the adrenaline rush.
Maybe it was because his hands had been shaking that Ryou had failed to notice that every one of his attacks that been deflected.
"What are you doing, you fool!" Ryou's foe shouted.
The words sent a tremor through the child's body and mind. He stopped his onslaught for a minute as he gazed at his attacker from below the bloodied bangs.
Ryou's black eyes revealed nothing as he gave a one-sided smile. "It's it obvious?" he said condescendingly. "I'm avenging my people."
"You're mindlessly slaughtering everything you see," the person accused.
That familiar voice was starting to irritate him. Ryou crossed his arms, barking, "It's everyone who was in the Palace during the attack…it's their fault! They didn't do anything to save those-"
"Ryou, killing the ones who did it aren't going to bring your people back!"
The child's breath caught in his throat. How does he know my name? He vaguely recalled those words a while ago…Don't listen to him! He doesn't want you to be a good prince…he's trying to make you a bad one!
But…but…they aren't going to come back…the soldiers, I mean…They…they're gone…
Don't listen to him! You're going to fall for his trap!
Ryou slowly started shaking his head, suddenly confused beyond what his mind could comprehend. Out of aggravation the child yelled, "Stop it!" as he dove at his adversary, his small sword brandished high.
Finally, Ryou's opponent unsheathed a knife. But to the child's surprise, they crossed blades.
A small sword pitted against a puny knife? The sword should completely dominate!
Ryou grunted as he tried to keep his arms steady. He soon found himself glaring at lavender eyes. Something in his mind flickered.
"Kid," the knife-wielder said, "you couldn't beat me with a wooden sword. What makes you think you stand a chance with a real one!"
Ryou let out a cry of surprise as he was thrown backwards. He fell hard onto his bottom, his arms shaking as untrained muscles ached.
There was a dull clank as something hit the floor. Ryou glanced down quickly at his side before he defiantly glowered at Bakura. Then, slowly, he lowered his gaze to his side again.
There, on the ground, having landed safely away from any pools of blood, laid an ivory hawk charm.
B-Bakura.
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AN: As promised, this chapter is a longer than the normal length. I hope you enjoyed it, and please review!