Chapter Ten
Human Nature
Atem and Yugi smiled at each other from across the way. They rode their horses in the direction of town. Mahad and Seth were right behind them keeping watch. The wind suddenly picked up and swirled around them.
"Ahahaha!" A man laughed.
Seth grunted and looked up on top of a cliff as the wind dispersed. The shadowy figured became clearer.
"I've been waiting for you!" Bakura shouted manicly.
"Bakura!" Atem yelled back.
Bakura rushed through the air as fast as a bullet, headed straight for the Pharaoh.
"Let's go!" Bakura shouted.
Atem pushed Yugi onto the ground as Mahad and Seth drew their swords.
"Pharaoh!" Seth shouted.
Bakura's and Atem's blades collided. Bakura leaned in closer to Atem's face and smiled.
"Time to die Pharaoh!" Bakura shouted.
The Pharaoh's blade slipped and Bakura struck his face. Mahad and Seth rode to Bakura in his defense. Yugi crawled over to Atem and threw his arm around him, helping him to his feet.
"I can't see anything!" Atem shouted.
"Pharaoh! Where are you!" Mahad shouted.
Mahad caught a glance of Bakura heading towards town.
"Seth! We need to protect the village!" Mahad shouted.
"What about Atem?" Seth yelled.
The storm picked up and blew fiercly onto the two men. Mahad shielded his eyes and pushed forward.
"He will be fine! We must find Bakura! We both have people in town to protect!" Mahad exclaimed.
Seth grabbed onto Mahad's arm and continued to push through the sandstorm. Mahad reached his hand out and felt a wall in front of him.
"It's the city walls!" Mahad shouted.
Seth and Mahad continued to touch the wall, following it to find the entrance.
Mana looked outside the bedroom window and saw a giant dust cloud covering the village. Mana ran downstairs and opened the door. She gazed up at the sky as everyone else was.
"Is this a storm? Or maybe a spell?" Mana said to herself.
Mana heard laughter behind her and she quickly turned around, pointing her wand.
"Is that any way to say Hello?" Bakura asked.
Mana stared aggressively at Bakura as he chuckled.
"Leave this village or pay the price!" Mana exclaimed.
Bakura laughed and walked slowly over to Mana, nonchalantly. Mana felt two hands grab her shoulders and lift her from her feet. Bakura leaned close to her face and smiled.
"You're out-numbered." He said.
Bakura's followers hit Mana upside the head and she was knocked out. Bakura nodded as they handed her to him.
"Gather more of the Royal Court. I want to devastate the Pharaoh with these losses." Bakura said.
His minions smiled and ran through town, terrorizing the people. Bakura turned to the castle and smiled as it became engulfed by the storm.
"To the castle." Bakura said.
Mahad and Seth reached an opening and heard the shrill sounds of people screaming. Mahad and Seth ran through the gates to see mayhem. People were being attacked and buildings were being burned. Mahad and Seth ran to aid the people.
"Mahad! I'll help here! You go to the castle and get everyone out!" Seth exclaimed.
Mahad nodded and ran in the direction of the castle. The storm gusts threw him harder as he got closer, and it became harder to see. Mahad glanced at the building to his left and saw it was his home.
"Mana!" Mahad shouted.
Mahad ran up the steps and turned the knob.
"It's locked!" He exclaimed.
Mahad backed up and forced his whole body weight towards the door, smashing into it trying to open it. The door flew wide open and black smoke billowed out of the door. Mahad walked in and covered his mouth with his cloak.
"Mana!" He yelled, running up the steps.
He opened the bedroom door and she wasn't there. Mahad's expression turned to worry.
"The castle!" Mahad shouted.
He flew down the stairs and out the door. As he entered the street, he stopped in his tracks. He saw Mana's wand laying on the ground. He knelt down and held the wand in his hands. HE clenched it in his fist and ran towards the castle garden.
"The castle! She would take refuge there if it was unsafe!" Mahad thought.
Bakura walked over the top of the castle and threw Mana to the side. He watched the city become ravaged as the sun slowly began to set. Bakura closed his eyes and listened to the sound of screaming.
"That's better." He said.
Mana opened her eyes and saw Bakura standing at the edge, smiling while holding his sword. Mana started to tear up and hold her stomach.
"I can't win. I'm not strong enough without Mahad." Mana thought.
Mana closed her eyes as her tears fell from her eyes and she clenched her stomach.
"I'll never see his smile again. I wish I could have seen it one last time." She thought.
Bakura turned his attention over to Mana. Bakura saw Mana sobbing.
"Ah, so you have awoken." Bakura said.
Mana, startled, opened her eyes as she jumped. Bakura walked over to her and knelt down, inches from her face.
"Killing you will be a shame, such a pretty face." Bakura said.
Mahad ran up the east wing stairs and saw Isis running towards him.
"Isis!" Mahad exclaimed.
Isis ran into Mahad and placed her hands on his chest.
"Mahad! Bakura has taken refuge on the roof!" Isis shouted.
"I'll help you get the others out." Mahad said.
Isis pulled away and shook her head.
"No! He has taken Mana prisoner!" Isis stressed.
Mahad clenched Isis' shoulders in his hands and looked directly into her eyes.
"Help everyone to safety. I'll deal with Bakura." Mahad said.
Isis nodded as he ran away towards the west wing. Isis held her millennium necklace in her hands and frowned.
"I can not see the official outcome of this tragedy." She thought.
Bakura picked Mana up by her arm, forcefully. Bakura pushed towards the edge of the roof and she fell down. She looked behind her, looking at how far she would fall.
"Scared yet?" Bakura said.
Mana looked back at Bakura and whimpered. She inched away from him as he walked towards her.
"P-please, I-I have n-" Mana stuttered.
"No, but you are part of the Pharaoh's circle. I plan on devastating him with all the losses of his beloved friends." Bakura said.
"Why are you doing this!" Mana exclaimed.
Bakura grabbed her by her dress and pulled her near him. He grabbed his knife and ran it along her neck.
"His family made mine suffer." Bakura said.
Mana stared back at him, shaking uncontrollably. Bakura sighed as her tears overflowed.
"Enough waiting." He said.
Bakura picked Mana up by her dress and held her up on the edge.
"N-no!" Mana screamed.
"How about we drop you in front of the main entrance, so the Pharaoh has to see it." Bakura said.
Mahad forced the door open and gazed upon Bakura holding Mana over the edge.
"Bakura!" Mahad shouted, panting.
Bakura turned himself and Mana away from the edge to look at Mahad. Bakura smiled and bowed.
"Hello, Priest." Bakura said.
"She is of no importance to you! I'm part of the Royal Court!" Mahad exclaimed.
Bakura laughed and threw her to the side. Bakura ran his tongue along his knife, licking up the blood left from Mana's neck. Mahad looked over at Mana and saw her holding her hand to her neck.
"She is of importance to you I see. Well, I'll kill you first and then let her watch. She'll die of a broken heart." Bakura said.
Mahad pulled out his staff and settled into a defensive stance. Bakura lunged himself towards Maha, wielding his knife. Mahad countered with his staff and smiled. He pushed on his rod, shoving Bakura off. Bakura smiled as the sun completely set and the night fell over the city.
"My turn." Bakura said.
Bakura became shrouded in black mist, also covering the roof. Mahad squinted his eyes to find Bakura.
"Over here." Bakura whispered.
Mahad heard his voice and swung to his left. Bakura's laughter echoed through the mist.
"Too late." Bakura said.
Mahad heard his voice behind him. Mahad attacked by forcing his rod backwards behind him. Bakura screamed and disappeared into the mist. Bakura forced his whole body into punching Mahad. Mahad fell to the ground, wind knocked out of him.
The mist cleared and Bakura stood over Mahad smiling.
"You can't beat me." Bakura laughed.
Bakura lifted his leg and stomped down on Mahad's stomach. Mahad turned over, writhing in pain.
"Don't!" Mana yelled.
Bakura and Mahad turned their attention to her as she lay on the ground clenching her tummy. Bakura smiled at Mahad and walked over to her. Her grabbed his knife and held it to her neck.
"I think I'll just kill you now." He said.
Mana's whole body started shaking and she became unimaginably frightened.
"Please! I'm pregnant!" She cried.
Mahad's eyes widened and he pulled all of his strength together to pick up his staff.
"Thousand Knives!" He yelled.
Mahad's staff began glowing as bright as the sun when thousands of knives flew towards Bakura. Bakura flew out of the way and over the edge of the roof.
Mana still in shock, fell over and passed out from the stress. Mahad pushed himself off of the ground and steadily rose to his feet. He looked up as a breeze ran across his face, and stared up at the stars. The stars twinkled brighter that night.
"I understand." He said to the sky.
Mahad turned and walked towards Mana, passed out on the cold ground. He knelt down and ran his fingers across her face as she slept.
"I have two to protect now." Mahad whispered.
He put his arms underneath her to pick her up off the ground, and hold her in his arms. He gallantly walked to the door and left the roof.
Isis touched her Millennium necklace as it began to glow. Isis saw a new vision and smiled.
"The future is safe for now." Isis whispered.
Mahad kicked open his bedroom door and gently laid Mana down on the bed. The movement disturbed Mana and she opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry as she reached her hand up.
"Mahad?" She said.
"I'm here." He replied.
"I'm so sorry." Mana said.
She frowned and closed her eyes. He smiled and pulled her into his arms, squeezing her firmly in his grip.
"It's always darkest before the dawn." He whispered.
"I'm sorry for leaving you alone, and for keeping your child a secret for so long." Mana said calmly.
Mahad rested his hand underneath her chin and softly lifted it. He looked directly into her eyes an smiled.
"You touched my heart and you live in my soul. You changed my life and all of my goals. My heart was blinded by you." He said calmly.
"But-" Mana said.
Mahad put his finger on her lips, signaling for her to stop talking.
"I've seen you cry and I've seen you smile. I've shared all of my dreams with you. I've been addicted to you. We've had our doubts, but now we are fine." Mahad said softly.
Mana reached her hand up and rested it on his face.
"I love you." Mana said.
Mahad leaned down and pressed his lips against hers and rested his hand on her tummy. Mana let her hand drop onto his, lovingly.