A/N: Ok, welcome to Chapter 15! Sorry it took so absolutely long to get this out, but between the holidays, writers block, and just plain laziness block, I was totally unmotivated. But I really think this chapter is worth the wait!
Update: I had to take this chapter down and fix a few minor details. Everything should be ok now!
Disclaimer: Yu-Gi-Oh…NOT MINE!
Chapter 15
Seto stared at Bakura in confusion. "My soul?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean I have to risk my life and soul? Is this another one of your tricks, Bakura?"
Bakura sighed. "No," he said, shaking his head. "No, I wouldn't trick you with something like this, Seto. I truly can help you, but it's going to be very dangerous."
Ryou stepped forward and placed his hand on Bakura's arm. "Kura, remember your promise," he pleaded. "No putting yourself or anyone else in danger. Please, yami, don't do anything foolish."
Bakura glanced over at Ryou and laid his own hand on top of the smaller boy's. "Ry, I promise I won't do anything that Seto does not agree to," he said. "This must be his decision. If, after hearing what I am about to tell him, he still wished to try my plan, then we must let him. Trust me, my aibou. Please."
Ryou sighed. "Alright love," he said quietly. "I trust you, you know that. I just couldn't bear it if anything happened to you or anyone else I care about."
Seto cleared his throat. "As sweet as this is and all," he said, spinning on his heel and sitting down on the couch. "I'm ready to hear the story, Bakura. Let's get on with it." He crossed his arms and stared expectantly at the slightly annoyed spirit.
Bakura growled softly, his eyes narrowing. Tell me why I'm doing this, he thought irritably. Tell me again why I'm putting up with these fools.
A soft hand on his arm caused him to turn his head and stare into the innocent brown eyes of Ryou.
"Please, Kura," Ryou whispered. "Don't get upset. Remember what Seto's gone through and how you would feel if you were him." He gave the spirit's arm a gentle squeeze and smiled.
Bakura sighed, his body relaxing. "Alright, Seto," he said, sitting on the chair across from the brunette. "Listen closely to what I'm about to tell you, because it will either lead you to your heart's desire, or it will destroy you completely."
--
"The Millennium Ring and Millennium Rod are connected to each other, as they are to all the other Millennium items. However, these two items have a bond that is not shared with the others. The Rod and Ring are power-bonded to each other, meaning that the bearer of one can tell where the bearer of the other is at any given time – at a price. This bond was brought about by an overwhelming force of hatred and anger fueled by the holders of the items. When, in ancient times, the items were given to their respective owners, this bond was not yet created, but the potential for it was there.
"You must realize that the original holders of the items were the trusted advisors of the pharaoh. The Puzzle belonged to the pharaoh himself, and the other items were given to his priests and priestesses: The Necklace went to Isis, the Ring to Mahaado, the Eye to Akunadin, the Ankh to Shadah, the Scales to Karim, and the Rod belonged to you, Seto – or at least to your ancient ancestor, the High Priest Seth. These devotees of the pharaoh swore on their lives to protect these items and keep them safe. And they succeeded in that endeavor – until I came into the story.
"It was how these items were created that brought about the beginning of their end. I was a child when they were forged, but it was through their making that I quickly became a man – a man fueled by anger, hatred, and a burning desire to destroy the pharaoh. You see, the Millennium items were made out of the dead – the people of a village that were killed by Atemu's father, Akunamukanon.
"Akunamukanon created the items out of what he deemed a necessity. Egypt was under attack by invaders who wanted a powerful book the pharaoh possessed, the Book of Millennium Magic. In order to preserve the kingdom and keep the book out of the invader's hands, he agreed to perform a ritual described in the book – the Alchemy of Darkness. This would create the necessary items – the seven necessary items – to protect Akunamukanon's power and people. The ritual called for the sacrifice and blood of 99 people. It was determined by the pharaoh and his advisors that the ritual would take place in a village called Kuru Eruna, a haven for thieves and robbers – and my hometown.
"My village was comprised of exactly 100 villagers. It was only through the intervention of my father that I was spared – I was 13 when it happened. He and I were in the marketplace that day, purchasing fruits and vegetables for that evening's meal. When he saw the pharaoh's men riding towards our village with their spears and swords drawn, he shoved me underneath a stall and pushed several crates in front of me, so that I was hidden from sight. He ordered me not to come out, no matter what, until he came for me. The sounds I heard that day were terrible. The screams, the cries – they still echo in my dreams at times. I tried to obey my father, but when the silence descended and the smell of death and blood began to permeate the air, I could stand it no longer. I slipped out of my hiding spot, and could not believe what I saw. The people of my village – my neighbors, friends, and most importantly, my family – were all dead, their corpses piled like firewood. My mother's body was on the edge of the pile, and her eyes, her dead, lifeless eyes, stared at me, almost accusing me of being alive when she and everyone else were not."
--
Bakura stopped for a moment, staring down at his trembling hands. Ryou placed his arms around his yami's waist and held him closely, trying to give him the strength to continue.
"Bakura, you don't have…" he began. Bakura silenced him with a swift kiss, before pulling back.
"Yes, Ry, I do," he said quietly. "I do. Seto must know what he's going to face if he chooses the path I can offer, and he's got to know the whole truth. I have to tell the tale, aibou, however much it may – hurt."
He lifted his head, and looking back at the brunette who was staring at him in fascination, he continued his story.
--
"I was unable to move, to tear my eyes away from the sight of their bodies. It was only when I heard the footsteps of a soldier heading towards me that I found the willpower to slip back into my hiding place. As I watched, two of the pharaoh's men took each body and tossed it into a large cauldron erected in the center of town. As their remains melted into nothingness, they were poured into an alloy that was used to make the Millennium items. The mold later became known as the Pharaoh's Memory. I was furious, but remained out of sight. Then I saw them pick up the body of a small child, a little girl – and my rage grew until it consumed me. They had killed my sister, my baby sister, who meant more to me than anyone in the entire world. She was my everything, my reason for breathing, and they cast her into the cauldron like a discarded toy.
"I remember screaming, racing towards the soldiers with my small dagger drawn. I must have caught them by surprise, because I killed them. I killed them both without hesitating, but did not escape unscathed. One of them had been able to draw his sword before I stabbed him, and he slashed my face with it, creating a cut that ran below my right eye to the center of my cheek."
--
He stopped again, looking directly at Ryou, who was staring at his in astonishment. "I still carry that scar, aibou," Bakura said softly. "I keep it covered out of shame for what I did, but I want you to see it."
He lifted his hand and waved it gently over the right side of his face. Ryou gasped as a large scar appeared on the white-haired spirit's cheek, splitting the fair skin. The mark was long and jagged, puckered brown around the edges, the remnants of a long-healed wound.
Ryou lifted a wondering hand and traced the edges of the scar, his eyes filling with tears. "I never knew, Kura," he whispered. "I never – why didn't you ever tell me, love?"
Bakura sighed. "Because I never wanted you to know," he said quietly. "I did what I did because I thought at the time that it was the right thing. Now I know better. I can't change the past, but that doesn't mean I have to suffer from it any longer. But there is more – much more."
Ryou nodded, and Bakura continued.
--
"After killing the guards, I ripped the tunic of one of them to use as bandaging for my cheek. I took one of their swords and left my village, wandering into the desert, never to return again to Kuru Eruna. The first few days were the worst. I was only a child, and I was alone for the first time in my life, fending for myself. But with each struggle, each time I had to sneak into another village and steal food for survival, I grew stronger. I became extremely talented at thievery – it was what Kuru Eruna was known for, after all, and I had always had a small ability at stealing. It only enhanced as I practiced it, until I became the most supreme thief of my time. The Ghost, they used to call me. 'Beware the Ghost, with his white hair and his pale skin. He will steal the very soul from your body.'
"I relished in my skills, my fame, and I grew bolder with each new conquest, until I began to rob the tombs of the dead themselves. I was the great Tomb Thief, and none could stand before me without trembling. As time came to pass, and Akunamukanon died, leaving the throne to Atemu, I realized that the time had come for my revenge, my retribution for what had been done to my people, my family.
"I decided that I would rob the tomb of the great Akunamukanon and pillage what I could. As I was doing so, I realized the potential for an even greater revenge. I stole the sarcophagus of the pharaoh himself and dragged it through the desert, to the gates of the palace of Atemu. I slaughtered the guards at the gates, and any that dared try to stop me as I made my way through the halls, until I reached the courtyard of the pharaoh.
"I threw open the doors and entered with the sarcophagus. Atemu was holding court with his advisors, the holders of the Millennium items. I dragged the coffin of his father into the sanctuary and threw it at his feet. I'll never forget the look on his face that day. I don't think I could have found a more painful way to make my entrance, and I gloated. I taunted him, tipping the lid off the sarcophagus, dumping the mummified corpse of his father into the center of the courtyard, much as the soldiers had dumped my sister's body into that awful cauldron. Standing before Atemu, I placed my foot on top of his father's mummy and – and ran my sword through his dead body."
--
Atemu sat forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "I remember that day, tomb robber," he growled, shaking off the restraining hand of Yugi. "What my father did was wrong, true, but you were no better than he in your killing of the innocent people you murdered that day in your misguided anger. I wanted to kill you myself."
Bakura shook his head. "I will not apologize to you, Atemu," he said, staring directly into the flaming crimson eyes. "Yes, I may have been wrong in my actions, but I believed them to be right at that time. I will not apologize for my beliefs, my actions or my past."
Atemu's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You not only defiled my father, Bakura, you murdered –" he began.
Bakura held up his hand. "Atemu, in good time," he said. "Let me tell the story – my story. It must be told, bak-pharaoh."
Atemu sat back, his arms crossed. Yugi wrapped his arms around the angry pharaoh's neck and held him closer as the thief continued.
--
"As I pulled my sword out of the dead pharaoh's mummy, I felt like I finally had achieved something, some measure of revenge for my family's death. But my triumph was short lived, as I realized that I most likely would not leave the palace alive. As the pharaoh's six advisors advanced on me, I swore I would at least go down fighting. Mahaado was the first to reach me. He was one of the more powerful sorcerers at the court, second only to the High Priest Seth himself. As he raised his staff to strike me with whatever magic he was preparing, I lifted my sword – and ran him through the chest with it.
"I could dimly hear Atemu shouting and Isis screaming Mahaado's name, but the blood pounding in my own ears drowned out most sound. As Mahaado fell forward, the life draining out of his eyes, I grabbed the Millennium Ring hanging around his neck, pulling until the cord it was hanging on snapped, and it was lying in my hand. I felt power surge through me, and I realized that what I was holding was created out of the blood and spirit of my villagers, perhaps even my beloved sister. I raised the Ring high over my head and it began to glow with light. Immense power flowed into my hand, and I pointed the Ring at the next person to reach me – Seth.
"The light struck him, lifting him off his feet and sending him crashing into the arms of Isis. The Millennium Rod he was holding in his hand pierced her chest, killing her instantly. As he rose to his feet, Seth stared at the blood of Isis staining his robes, his hands, his face. He pointed the Rod at me and it too began to glow. I felt my body beginning to weaken, my eyes grow dim, and the last thing I heard was Seth's voice – 'I curse you, murderer. You shall remained locked within the Ring you have taken with the blood of the innocent, until one worthy of freeing and redeeming your soul is born.'
"I remember my last words to him before I was swept into the Ring – I told Seth that I would find him, no matter what age, and I would destroy him. 'I turn your curse back on you, High Priest,' I told him. 'From this day on, my power and your power are bonded. Whosoever holds the Rod will never be free from the sight of he who holds the Ring. I will find you, Seth, mark my words.'
"And that was the last I ever saw of Seth and Egypt. For three thousand years, I languished in that Ring. I learned how to tap the immense powers it contained, and yet I could not break free. All my anger, my hatred, my loneliness…it all shifted into the Ring, until I could feel it throbbing about me constantly, tormenting me, growing stronger until it nearly consumed me. Then one day I felt the barriers holding me within beginning to weaken. I knew that the time for my release had come, and I swore that I would have my revenge, upon my freedom.
"Redemption? I wanted none of it. I would control the one who would release me and use them as a pawn. Then all at once, I was free. I was standing in the air once again, breathing, seeing things I had not seen in three millennia. And there, standing before me, holding the Ring in his hands, was my Ryou. My savior had come and all I could think of was how he would suffer at my hands. He was my gift, and I abused him, tormented him. How foolish I was. Duelist Kingdom, Battle City…he stood by me, never condemning me or my actions. Eventually I began to realize that I could no longer hurt him, because he was too important to me. I came to the realization that I loved him, needed him, couldn't be without him. And it was only then that I was finally free."
--
Ryou felt tears running down his cheeks as Bakura finished his story. He held tightly to the spirit, kissing him softly on the scar that ran down his cheek.
"Bakura, I love you," he whispered. "I love you so much, my yami. I'm sorry for everything you went through. I – I forgive you for everything you did to me, Kura. I loved you from the moment I saw you standing in front of me."
Bakura held Ryou close to him. "I love you as well, my hikari, my redeemer," he said. "I always will, you know."
He turned to Seto. "Now you know my story," he said with a sad smile. "And now I can tell you how I can help you, Seto. Within the Ring there is a chamber that allows the person who seeks it to fine the whereabouts of the Rod. All you need to do is find that chamber, and you will find the location of Marik – and of Jou."
Seto rose quickly to his feet. "Send me into the Ring, Bakura," he said, his azure eyes snapping with excitement and hope. "I'll find it, I'll find the chamber and Jou, and –"
Bakura held his hand up again. "There is great danger in this, Seto," he said quietly. "I can send you into the Ring, but once you are there, you will face all the hatred and anger that is stored within. You must pass a series of challenges before you are allowed to enter the chamber. You will be forced to relive your most painful memories, face your greatest fears. But Seto, if you fail to pass these challenges, you will – you will be locked away within the Ring, just as I was, until one worthy of freeing you is born. My imprisonment was three thousand years – I cannot tell you how long you will remain. But this is the choice you must make."
Seto stared at Bakura, the hope draining from his eyes. What the hell do I do? He thought. How can I pass up an opportunity to save Jou – but how can I take this chance?
He looked over at Mokuba, who was watching him with fear-filled, watery eyes. Mokuba stood up and walked over to his older brother, wrapping his arms around Seto's waist.
"Seto –" he choked. "This – this has to be your choice, big brother. I will stand by you no matter what you choose. I know you can do this, nii-san. You can face these challenges and find Jou – but if you don't want to take the chance, then don't. I couldn't bear to lose you forever, Seto, so if you aren't completely sure, don't take a chance."
Seto held his little brother tightly. He kissed the top of Mokuba's shaggy ebony head before stepping back and staring directly at Bakura.
"I accept," he said, his voice strong and steady. "I will enter the Ring and face the challenges."
Bakura nodded gravely. "Good luck, Seto," he said. "We'll all be waiting for your return."
He lifted the Ring off his chest, and the room was suddenly flooded with a blinding burst of golden light. When the light dissipated, Seto was nowhere to be seen. But the Ring that lay in Bakura's hand flashed brilliantly for a second, before dulling once more…
A/N: Sooo…what do you think? I think this is my favorite chapter so far, it's really rich in depth (not to brag Lol!) Anyway, so Seto's got a chance to find where Jou is! Think he'll succeed? Or will he be locked away in the Ring forever? And stay tuned for the return of Jou in the next chapter! Please read and review…I'm feelin' unloved LOL!!!