Disclaimer: I don't own YGO…duh!
Chapter 7: Secret
Kazejin's opened her eyes slowly. Her entire body felt as though a chariot had run over it. She moaned in pain, and moved her head to the side, checking her surroundings.
Kazejin realized she was back in the first man's room; the one who had slapped her when she had spoken out against him. Malik. That was his name. Memories came flooding back to her; she remembered escaping, and getting into the other man's room to save Shizuka. Then, it had turned ugly. Kazejin shuddered. Malik was a saint compared to his...what was it, brother? Yes, Kazejin thought to himself, it must've been his brother. They looked so alike. Kazejin shook slightly, as she recalled the look in Malik's brother's eyes; they had been so hard and cold, and they looked at her with, well, almost hunger. Kazejin had sensed his desire to hurt her from the moment she had been dragged into the room as a captive. She had even seen him looking at her on the ride back from Kamen to Cairo.
Secretly, Kazejin supposed she was lucky that Malik had gotten to pick first; though Malik was a pompous asshole, she found him to be the lesser of the two evils. She wasn't sure how far he would've gone with her, but, she didn't think he would've beaten her as hard as his brother did.
Speaking of beatings, what had happened to her? She remembered being thrown against the wall, but after that, her mind was blank.
I must've been knocked out, she thought. But, then how did I get back into Malik's room? She stared at the ceiling, frustrated. Gingerly, she wriggled her arm, but with little success. Her injuries were too grave for her to move. However, Kazejin knew she couldn't have been asleep for long; after all, her strange ability to repair her body would've worked by now. She looked down; her dress was ripped, front gone. Her chest had been wrapped with a series of linen bandages. Checking her body, she knew she was hurt terribly, and that even with her mysterious power, she wouldn't be healthy for at least two days. Though she didn't understand the root of her ability, she was grateful for it. Now, however, with her healing time so slow, she doubted she would be able to escape.
A wave of anxiety overcame her. She had no idea where Mai, Anzu, and Shizuka were. For that matter, she didn't even know Shizuka's condition. What had happened to them? Kazejin wasn't even sure what had happened to her. She vaguely remembered Malik yelling at his brother about something.
Malik! She thought, her throat tightening. I am in his room! He'll be back for me, and he is the only one who has ever noticed my ability, seeing as how I have never really been hurt so badly. Ah, the life of a pampered noble; I've only gotten hurt once that I can remember.
Kazejin thought about the day she had discovered her powers. She was twelve, and she had snuck out to climb a tree in the backyard; she liked to study her texts there, instead of in her stuffy room. She had fallen down, and began to cry. The maids realized she wasn't at her desk studying, and hearing her wailing, ran to help her. They wiped off the blood from her cut, but were shocked to discover no openings on her skin. Even Kazejin knew this was odd, but the superstitious maids didn't say
anything to her father. She remembered them muttering that she was blessed by Mother Isis. From that day on, Kazejin knew she was different in some way. She always sensed a greater purpose brimming inside of her, just waiting to be released. Even so, to this day she had never told a soul about the incident.
Kazejin was sickened as she jolted back to the present. What would Malik do to her? And, what if he told people about her ability? Kazejin groaned, and turned her head towards the door. Malik suddenly appeared in the entranceway, holding a bowl. He strode toward her, eyes emotionless.
Speak of the devil, Kazejin thought sarcastically, as her reached her bedside.
"You've been asleep for quite a while," he stated softly. "I was just about to sponge your wounds." Deftly, he pulled up a cushioned chair next to the bed, and placed the bowl onto the bedside table. Kazejin could see a rag swirling in the red liquid. Carefully, Malik picked up the rag, squeezed out the excess water, and dabbed her forehead. Kazejin felt a sting as the mixture touched her wounds.
"Don't touch me!" Kazejin said sharply.
Malik looked puzzled. "I'm not doing anything to you; I am just trying to patch you up a bit."
Kazejin ignored him. "Where are my friends?" she asked, angrily.
Malik raised an eyebrow at her. "What have I told you about that mouth of yours? If you weren't in such pain right now, I would probably whip you."
Kazejin fell silent. "What happened to me?" she asked, after a moment, her voice somewhat less hostile.
Malik stared at her, pausing. He looked as though he wanted to say something to her, but shook his head.
"I will phrase this delicately," he began, "for I do not know how to tell you exactly what went on. Long story short; my brother Marik tried to force himself upon your friend. Shizuka, was it?" Kazejin nodded.
"Well," Malik continued, "you, of course, escaped from my chambers, and tried to save her. Marik caught and put his hands on you." He stated tonelessly. "I'm sure you remember all that. Anyway, he threw you, you hit your head, and that is how you blacked out." He stopped speaking, and wrung out the rag once more.
Kazejin gazed at him. "Did you save me?" she asked him incredulously. Then, suddenly, she gasped. "Is Shizuka okay?! Please, tell me! Did you save her as well?"
Malik rolled his eyes. "I didn't exactly go in there to save anyone. I really just wanted to retrieve you. But then I saw what he was doing to you, and even a spoiled brat like yourself doesn't deserve that. Your friend has been taken to her quarters, and is fine. Now, don't move too much." Malik continued to
gently clean the scrapes on her forehead. Upon finishing, he placed the rag back into the bowl, and turned her head from side to side. Carefully, he brushed his thumb across her lower lip, examining her.
"Your bruises are healing quite nicely, and, miraculously," he emphasized, casting his lavender eyes knowingly in her direction, "your lip has completely healed. The wounds on your chest and neck still have not. I suppose your body attends to your minor wounds first and then starts to heal the bigger ones…"
"What are you, some kind of doctor?" Kazejin asked rudely. "Why are you taking care of me anyway? Shouldn't the servants be doing this? After all, I am just a slave now, right?"
Malik gave her a hard glance. "Actually, I have been studying medical texts of late. I plan to attend the university at Alexandria to develop a medical practice of some sort, as opposed to just making war on rogue villages like yours all my life. Not that that pertains to you. And," he continued, "you have proven that you are not to be trusted. I want you under my watch so that some idiot guard doesn't make the same mistake I did. Plus, it gives me a chance to evaluate my medical skills. Think of yourself as a guinea pig, if you will."
"Humph," Kazejin muttered, "it's ironic, too. I wouldn't have to be your guinea pig if you hadn't been so gullible. It was pretty easy to get away; what makes you so sure I won't try to leave again?"
Malik grinned at her. "Your injuries. You are too weak to even attempt to run, according to my expert analysis," he drawled, smirking at her earlier comment. "Also, you certainly won't seduce me again; no one except my pervert brother would fall for that twice."
Kazejin pouted angrily. Silence filled the room, as Malik continued to sponge her facial wounds. He suddenly grimaced, apparently in pain.
"What?" Kazejin snapped. "Is your shoulder tired from reaching up to dab my forehead? Is that little movement taxing? Are the physical consequences of taking care of me too much, my lord?" she emphasized flippantly.
"No, actually," Malik replied, "I am actually sore from the physical consequences of, hm, shall we say, my brother taking care of me. But, your little smack to my jaw still hurts; you hit pretty hard for a delicate little courtier."
"I am not a courtier," Kazejin huffed. "I don't fool around with men."
"Ah, but you're forgetting you're my courtier." Malik's eyes glittered mischievously.
Kazejin flushed. "You wouldn't dare," she sputtered. "I am too weak! You said so yourself!"
"So you do want to be my courtier, then?" Malik asked slyly. "You didn't refuse me. You just said you were too weak. Don't worry, Kaze. I'm the one who has to do the work. You can just lay there, open your legs, and I'll do the rest."
"Just shut up!" Kazejin yelled, irritably.
Malik's eyes hardened, and Kazejin realized her mistake. Shit, I took it too far. Curse my impulses! Ra, what if I infuriated him? I don't think I can handle another beating.
"What have I told you about the way you speak? I have warned you several times already, throughout the course of this conversation. My patience only takes me so far!" Malik growled.
Kazejin met his gaze stubbornly. Malik sighed, and his voice lowered. "Like I said, I'll take care of that mouth of yours later." He shot her a dirty look, and continued. "Actually, sooner rather than later at the rate you're healing." Malik shook his head. "I just don't understand how your body recovers so easily. It is so medically fascinating."
"Please," Kazejin begged, changing her tone. "Don't tell anyone!"
Malik looked at her for a minute, puzzled by her panicked tone. He then laughed. "Okay, Kaze, I won't tell, if you promise to talk to me about it later when you are better. I would like to learn of your strange ability."
Kazejin nodded, not bothering to add that she knew nothing about her power, and would have nothing to really share with him when the time came for him to question her about it.