Hey all! Welcome to chapter 7! It's the beginning of something... Oh yes, and before I forget: this would be chapter 8, but I took out that one little non-chapter blurb, so this is chapter 7. Chapter 6 is the new chapter 6 rather than chapter 5 and... yeah. So if you haven't read the chapter 6 that got updated last week(?), read that first. This won't make any sense whatsoever without it. Lol. NEKO FIGHT!
Akane: Should I be scared?
Me: I don't know. You tell me.
A shout-out to my amazing reviewers! Punk Rock Kitsune, kurinki, and AnimePervert! You are dah best evah!
Bakura: See Riv? This is why you don't drink. Look at that last statement. See anything wrong with it?
Me: ...ve?
Bakura: And you don't even have an excuse to say that. You're hung over, not drunk.
Me: Ve...
Italy: Ve!
Me: He is!
BTW Kitsune, the first did spell 'dedication', but the second one spelled a jumbled up 'determination'. Take that xD
To kurinki: NUUUUUUUU! Thou must not be lazy, thou must have excessive hyperactivity moments!
And AnimePervert: You gave me the inspiration for this chapter! Thanks dearie ^^
And now, on wit dah chaptah!
Bakura: *facepalm*
When the Snow Falls, chapter 7
Good and Bad Luck.
Needless to say, what Ryou told me was complex, implausible, and confusing.
"So, what you're telling me is that Bakura is an evil spirit living inside that pendant?" Akane asked him.
Ryou nodded silently.
"I know it's really weird. Sometimes I feel like this is all a bad dream that I'm not able to wake up from. And whenever I think that, he starts talking to me through a mind-link; telling me how it's all real and such. It just...frustrates me so much that I can't do anything to control him."
His emotions were clearly written on the albino's face. It was a mixture of grief, anger and helplessness. I too felt helpless. I didn't know if there was anything I could do to help him through this. I moved slowly towards him on the sofa and pulled my arms around him. He jumped initially; not expecting the sudden hug, but eventually sank into it.
"I'm sorry, Ryou-kun." I whispered.
"... Thank you, Akane-san. Even though we haven't known each other for very long, I can honestly say you're one of the kindest people I've ever met." he murmured. I perked my ears slightly, not really able to believe he had said something so nice. My mind flashed back to Bakura; his arrogant speech patterns and complete disregard for anyone else's feelings. They were polar opposites, the two whitettes. "Usually when people find out about him, they distance themselves from me. It's...really lonely."
I removed my arms from their position around Ryou's shoulders, and fidgeted with my fingers. After a long pause, I muttered
"Whoever leaves you because of someone else is obviously not worth your time... I think that people should like you for who you are, and not be swayed by that annoying bastard."
Ryou sighed sadly, and then looked me dead in the eyes.
"He's laughing at you. And calling you a fool. 'People don't care about other people with their hearts; they think with their minds about the benefits they can get out of a certain person then leave them to die.'"
I resisted the urge to laugh back at the spirit. Instead, I grabbed Ryou by his small white wrist and declared cheerfully, but still with my regular dosage of sarcasm,
"That's enough weird spirit-talk for today, alright Ryou-kun? How about we go for a walk in that park across the street?" Laughing, I continued, "Maybe harass some pigeons flying by?"
Ryou smiled back at me and nodded. We practically stampeded through the door and down the stairs to the outside, where unsuspecting birds lay in wait.
It was nearly sundown by the time we got to the park. We tormented birds for a while by chasing them around when they tried to perch, but we soon grew tired of doing so. That, and the pidgeons were starting to put on their evil faces.
In the middle of the area was a small pond, surrounded by trees and brush. The fiery red color that reflected off the surface of the water was awe-inspiring, to say the least.
"It's so pretty... It kind of makes you happy, don't you think?" I breathed quietly. Ryou turned to me, staring deeply into my smoky eyes.
"Yeah. It's amazing how something so beautiful can go on; completely unaffected by human emotions or situations."
We were now sitting near the water of the mini-lake. It was a steep, rocky cliff that was a good ten feet higher than the surface of the water. Small lichens grew over the boulders and stones, giving the area a really serene effect. Ryou cleared his throat for a second, and took a deep breath.
"I ...Akane-san, I want to ask you something."
I tilted my head in confusion.
"Hmm? What is it, Ryou-kun?"
"Why did you agree to cone and live with me? We hardly knew each other, and mind you, I was under Bakura's control when I-he asked you that. Do you really have no other family?"
I twitched slightly at the thought. It's true, I didn't know him at all at the beginning of the morning, and now were acting as if we were lifelong friends. That would strike anyone as odd, right?
"My mother is dead. My father...died this morning. I have never known any of my other relatives; that is, if they exist." I whispered. "I was never allowed to make friends at school, so I couldn't stay with one of them. You are actually the only person that hasn't been unkind to me..." My eyes glazed over for a moment in silence. Re-breaking the still, I continued, "Well, that's all in the past. Gotta keep looking to the future, right?"
I jumped up from the place I was sitting at, attempting to get to a standing position for dramatic effect. Bad idea. When I landed, it was close to the ledge where the rocks were loose. The tip of my shoe hit the stones, but proved inconsequential to a possibility of stopping as I fell towards the water below.
Ryou stared. I don't think his brain had finished comprehending what was going on. His mouth was slightly open; as if he was taking in a silent gasp, but his limbs were frozen in place.
Falling.
Falling.
Then, I hit the water.
It was cold; frigid as ice or snow. The only difference here was that it enveloped me completely. The fast current in the undertow kept pulling me deeper and deeper into the depths of that small lake. That brings me to my next point: I am terrified of water. When I was younger, maybe six or seven years old, my father tried to kill me by drowning me in the bathtub. Needless to say it left me with a fear of water and deep hatred for it. I shut my eyes quickly and pulled my arms and legs towards my torso in an instinctive defence position. As it was, that didn't help my "sinking to the bottom" predicament. To be honest, I was terrified. In the panic and lack of breathable oxygen, my mind started to wander.
Am I going to die here? I-I don't want to die... But then again, if I did, who would notice? I don't exist in this world; I've made no impact whatsoever. But if I do die, Ryou would be all alone again, and Bakura... Bakura would-
A rough pull tore me from my thoughts. Opening my eyes, I was shocked to see Ryou- no, Bakura swimming beside me in the freezing water and coaxing me towards himself. He pulled my arm again, alerting me towards the light streaming through the surface of the water. I was reluctant to let Bakura of all people help me, but if it got me out of this damn water, I'd do just about anything.
The chill of the water got worse and then everything started blurring and numbing. After that, there was nothing.
The moon was high in the starry sky that night. Despite the luminescence from said celestials, the land was shrouded in the deepest of darkness. Nothing was seen, nothing was heard. Suddenly, a weak spark pierced the night and erupted into flames. Surrounding the fire were two people, and a pair of horses tied to a nearby tree. The forms sat near the fire, warming themselves in its glow.
"Amanet, have you noticed that the palace spoils have been diminishing lately?" the male pondered. The female sighed, then muttered
"It's because Pharaoh Akunumkanon has died recently. They're preparing for his burial by putting gold and jewels in the tomb. All of its' being moved from the palace to the Valley of the Kings." She chuckled for a moment. "So Akefia, is that our next target then?"
Akefia shuffled closer to Amanet for a moment before wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Where else?"
The heist was almost perfect. The tomb was unguarded. The riches- oh the sweet success of a raid! They were practically waiting to be stolen.
I awoke. That in itself surprised me, let alone that it happened on dry land. Even more so that I was back in Ryou's apartment. My mouth tasted like water and dirt. Does water even have a taste? I groaned quietly, but then I felt something move close by. When my eyes strained themselves to see, I was surprised to see Bakura staring at me...worried?
"Ba-Bakura?" I croaked. He sighed and looked deep into my eyes. Smirking for a moment, he replied
"You owe me big time, Akane."
I wasn't sure what to say to him. It's true; I owed him my life now. Not necessarily the best thing when referring to an evil spirit. I opened my mouth to say something, but my mind went fuzzy again, and I could feel my consciousness slipping again. Before I fell into the dark abyss of my mind, I heard one last comment from Bakura:
"Silly girl. Why didn't you tell him you were afraid of water? If you did, I would have saved you faster."
A/N:
It's a bit of a blah chapter... At least I think so. I've written and rewritten this at least 6 or 7 times now, and this was the best I could come up with.
The pairing poll is now closed! The pairing has been decided! BUT ISS A SECRET! ^^ There's a new poll, it's for if I should add more Yu-Gi-Oh characters into the story. Or you could send it in a review! Gaspia!
Soo, how about that weather outside?... I think it's 'review' weather, but that's just the internationally acclaimed idea. You know, stuff.
People that review this chapter will recieve... *drum roll* a Millennium Item of your choice complete with the user of said item!
Ryou: NUUU! I'm going to be kidnapped by fangirls again!
Malik: Hey, you can't do that!
Me: It's not pornography...yet.
Everyone: o.O'
So... review? I'll definately love you forever! 333 (insert 'less than' symbol between the appearing 3's. It'll make so much more sense lol) Plus, if you review, I'll update really super quick!
Peace out.
~Riv-chan