Age of Majesty

Chapter 7

Gahiji slipped into the shadow realm. The light body over his shoulder bobbed as he rushed across the dark plane. He did not want to stay here for long; shadow monsters had a tendency to become uncontrollable once they are in their own element. Reappearing outside the palace grounds, he had just enough time to dodge a magical blow as someone followed him out.

Whirling around, Gahiji returned the attack. Seto dropped from his shoulder and crumpled like a rag.

" Who are you?" He demanded.

" I can ask you the same question." The mysterious figure hissed back.

" Why were you following me?"

" A little suspicious, that." The figure gestured, " A shadow user, sneaking about palace grounds when not employed. You do realize that is not legal, hm?"

" And what about you?" Gahiji sneered back. " I don't suppose you were strolling easily down the path like you owned it either." He knew who the other one was now. He recognized the presence.

" I got curious." Malik replied, still in the shadows. " After all, I could not see what had the great Gahiji so sleepless that he had to go to the palace to ease his ills." Moving slightly closer, he continued, " And what is that precious load of yours there? You really should take care of your items better."

Stepping so one leg was at each side of the priest's body, Gahiji went into the defensive pose, reading to unleash any type of magic if necessary.

" This is none of your business!"

" Oh, but I think it is." Malik stepped into the moonlight. " What is this? Tsk tsk." He shook his finger at Gahiji. " From a duelist too. Kidnapping? Now why would you want to do such a thing?"

Gahiji sneered. " What are you going to do about it, hm?" He challenged.

" Why, stop you, of course." Malik smiled. It was one of those very terrible smiles. " After all, can't let you get away with such a crime, stealing away the treasure of the palace. Can we?"

oO

The duel was long, and admittedly difficult, but in the end Bakura had the upper hand. Gahiji fled, escaping into the shadow realm, and Bakura was tempted to follow him. They had both received external wounds, Bakura having the worst ones to the chest, stomach, and neck, but once Gahiji's magic failed him, the thief went to inspect the treasure he named.

Seto was barely breathing, and he had lost a lot of blood from his headwound. It was dangerous and almost guaranteed to be infected. His shadow presence was a mere wisp now, barely detectable. There was blood all over him, and at first Bakura feared he had been too late, that the duel had taken too long.

It was the first time since he first became a thief, with nothing to lose, that Bakura had ever been truly frightened. Stripping a piece off his sleeve, he quickly wrapped it around the priest's head, pulling tight, cursing Gahiji and his carelessness.

Lifting the boy, his heart clenched as he felt Seto's presence fade a little further. Seto was dying.

A trip to the Shadow Realm could prove fatal for Seto, but so would remaining in this plane. With a deep breath, Bakura muttered an oath (he never prayed) and slipped into the darkness, hoping against hope that the boy would survive for him.

oO

The operation was long, and expensive, but Bakura had enough gold on him to spare. Fourteen stitches. Just how hard had the priest hit his head in the struggle? But the Egyptian doctor was good once paid, and Bakura ordered a room at a nearby inn.

He actually had no idea where he ended up, something which never happened before. However, he knew how to read, and when there was time he could go into the streets and figure it out for himself. Right now what mattered was Seto must get better.

The doctor assured Bakura that the boy should recover, though he could not promise that Seto did not suffer any permanent injuries. And the boy had been ill from the start, something that worked against their favor. Bakura stayed by Seto's side, holding him, refusing to leave unless he had to. No longer could he view the boy as just an item of beauty to snatch and shred. Seto was now a fragile jewel to be protected, a flower to be tended.

Seto had to heal.

Days passed.

Seto began stirring in Bakura's arms, movements so feeble it tugged at the heart Bakura did not know he had. The priest was cold and cuddled against the thief desperately for warmth. Bakura was more than happy to give him what he needed. At last Seto's impossible blue eyes opened and he blinked up, like a newborn fawn, at Bakura's face.

Bakura was not sure what to say. He was a thief, and had even attacked Seto, though perhaps Seto did not recognize him. How should he explain to Seto why they were in the same bed?

" You're awake." Bakura chose to say. " You had me worried."

He did his best to keep his voice low and non-threatening, not that it would have mattered. Seto blinked at him again, but did not seem all that alarmed, just confused. He moved to sit up, and Bakura let him go. The thief was not certain if it was a good idea to let Seto sit up like that, but he figured if Seto was ready it would not hurt.

In the end he just fluffed the pillows a bit. Sitting up made Seto's head hurt.

" Who are you?" Seto asked, looking at him groggily.

Before Bakura could think better of it, he replied, " Kamenwati." He wanted to smack himself. Seto's intelligence could easily see through that and read 'dark rebel' to be Bakura. It was too late now.

Except Seto did not see through that.

" Hn." The boy coughed heavily. Bakura could hear a flutter in the his throat. " Who am I?" He asked nervously, distressed.

The thief could not believe his good luck. So shocked was he that he stared at the priest in open astonishment for a full minute. Seto did not notice Bakura's lack of surprise when he asked for the thief's name, for the priest was too preoccupied with his own. Getting more anxious, Seto began coughing violently, holding his head as each cough forced pain into his skull.

" Easy there," Bakura reached for him, doing his best to repress his ecstasy, " You hit your head." He really should have expected something like this, since the doctor had all but promised him something like this would happen. " It's ok, you'll be fine. Your name is Adjo. You were ill. We were travelling…for adventure, but you got sick and fell and hit your head. You'll be alright, I'll take care of you."

Sweet Ra! Now that was an impossible thing if Bakura had ever seen one!

oO

" What?"

The young Pharaoh's voice was quiet but his red eyes flashed with fury. Mahaado glanced at the ground where Seto's blood had dried and darkened and trembled. Seto was wise, Seto was wise, for at the moment even with years of childhood friendship between tem Mahaado was not certain he could survive his lord's wrath.

" I gave him into your care." Atemu hissed, more terrible than anything Mahaado had faced. A living god. " I trusted you with his well-being. You were to take care of him, to ensure that he had whatever he needed, including protection."

Mahaado shuddered, unable to speak.

" What happened?" Atemu exploded, his voice ringing out across the grounds. " What in the name of Ra were you doing last night?!"

Mahaado fell to his knees. " Pharaoh, my Pharaoh," He shook in terror, " I…it was late, the duel, I…" What could he say? " I sensed nothing…" This made him start. He had not sensed Seto's shadow presence that night. At all.

Atemu was merciful, he was known to be, during his short reign. His punishments were both faster and more painless than the crime usually warranted. But the rage tore at him. The young King was terrified for his cousin. The Millennium Rod lay dormant at his waist, not even twitching with the energy of its master. What if Seto had already been raped? What if Seto were dead? He remembered Seto's terrified eyes, the tears, the desperate cry of horror when the boy woke. Seto needed his daily medicine, otherwise he will become very ill. He could not be merciful. He was too furious. It was impossible for him to maintain any hint of good will toward Mahaado, not when someone he loved was in danger because of Mahaado's blunder.

" Find him!" The King shouted. " Find him, or I swear, in the name of Osiris I will have you skinned and buried alive! And if he is harmed or dead because of you, I promise you, you will feel every pain my cousin has suffered!"

Trembling violently, Mahaado could not even answer. Atemu whirled away from him. " Hurry up!" He yelled, " Get up and go look for him!"

oO

The door banged loudly. " Kisara!" A man's voice called out. " Kisara I know you are there!"

Kisara looked up from the papyrus. " You can come in. You know you can." She replied quietly.

The door swung open. " Have you found it yet?"

The young woman reclined, her white hood sliding from her head. " Light magic," She lectured slowly, " Is not like your infernal Shadow magic, impatient, hasty, unthinking. It grows, it takes time to grow, and you will wait for it."

The man sat down heavily opposite her. " My son." He held his face in his hands.

Kisara sniffed disdainfully. " Many lose sons, High Priest Akenadon." She replied. " They trust to the gods to keep them safe. But you, the messenger of the gods, seem to believe you also wield their power, or that some wrong was done to you by blessing your son with all but one gift. 'Tis said man is greedy, and greed is what sorrows all."

Akenadon slammed his hand down in front of her. " You are no parent, witch." He hissed. Kisara looked at him calmly, but the man's eyes blazed with quiet rage. " Do not presume to judge what you cannot understand."

" I cannot?" Kisara lifted an elegant eyebrow. " Indeed. Let me tell you what I see. I see a man whose son is often ill, and claims to love his child very much, yet he leaves his wife and that said child to go on a pilgrimage in search, he claims, for a cure. I see the child forced into priesthood earlier than his time into the midst of political intrigues and scandals while his father abandoned his post. I see a man who would did not even return to the capital when the late Pharaoh passed, thus trusting a thirteen-year-old Pharaoh with his thirteen-year-old son. Most of all, I see a man who would search to the end of the world for one thing his son did not have, at the risk of losing everything else his son did have. Tell me what is there not to understand."

Akenadon turned from her, looking out the window that filtered the light from the streets. " My son will be the treasure of Egypt." He said softly. " The one to inspire the Pharaoh himself to bring great peace throughout the land. So it was promised to me by the Great Mother, Isis."

" In a delusion." Kisara muttered. " Such great things you wish for a mere child. Were I to see him in the streets, I will kill him myself to spare him the agony of having a fool for a father."

Akenadon whirled around upon her. " I did not hire your services so you can insult me, witch."

" Ah, and I did not accept your employment so you can insult me, former High Priest Akenadon."

Akenadon drew away from her. " How much time would he have left, if his health keeps declining?"

" All the time in the world." Kisara surprised him. " The White Dragon sleeps. He is well."

" What?" Akenadon stared at her. " How did that happen?"

" It seemed Fate has seen fit to take care of him, like it always does." Kisara sniffed. " Your precious Seto has been removed from the palace grounds, to healthier areas and states."

" What?" Akenadon repeated. " You mean he was dismissed?"

" No." Kisara laughed malevolently. For her so-called light magic, she was a conniving young wench. " I fear your Seto is no more. Perhaps you would like to find a child named Adjo."

oO

Adjo seemed, it appeared to Bakura, to adopt the kind of behavior ducklings have. He first laid eyes on Bakura (according to him) and seemed to instantly attach himself to the thief. He instantly trusted Kamenwati and believed everything he was told. The bout of amnesia took away none of his speech skills, or language and comprehension skills. It just seemed to take away all personal memory, and also a little of his motion was awkward, like he could not really coordinate, although that might also be because Seto was still slightly sick. He tried to stand even though his head still hurt and wobbled dangerously. Bakura put him to bed and assured that he would be fine, that Bakura would take care of everything.

As delighted as he had been at first, Bakura was beginning to feel unnerved. He was more used to hurting people, and not caring. Now that Seto had voluntarily placed himself into Bakura's care, the thief was a little at a loss.

But take care of him he would. Because it in itself was a challenge, for Seto was a treasure, something to be kept as perfect and flawless as he was. Not to mention, he had stayed by Seto's side, felt his living body weaken and strengthen, felt each faint shudder of discomfort, each breath of relief. He had felt his shadow presence waver, disappearing almost completely. He was not giving up Seto that easily.

Come to think of it, though, Seto's shadow presence still had not returned, despite him being awake. Bakura decided not to ponder on that. If Seto needed his protection he would get it. It was not a big deal.

Stealing some clothes from a clothing shop nearby, Bakura gave them to Seto to put on. Though Seto's own clothes were of much finer quality, the boy would not know because of all the blood and dirt that now coated it. In fact, Adjo seemed delighted that he was getting new clothes. He put them on with some help from Bakura, who did his best not to pay too much attention, and marvelled at the new smell and crisp feel. He even gave Bakura a hug.

Bakura was left feeling almost like he was stabbed.

Adjo was still pretty feeble, but like a newborn child, seemed interested in everything. Bakura had a feeling that Seto had reverted to his inner child due to the headwound. He felt torn. He was not certain what he preferred, that Seto remember everything and condemn him, so that he feels much more used to the situation, or to remain that naive child who trusted him so much.

He was never trusted in his entire life. It was strange how that felt. There was once, he remembered, when he longed for that trust, but when it became apparent that no one will, that everyone just assumed because he was born as a ragamuffin that he will become a criminal, he decided their trust did not matter.

Trust was a beautiful thing…

As if he had to add any more to his list of reasons not to harm Seto or let anything happen to him. Adjo slept a lot, to heal from his injuries, and during the day Bakura watched him like a mother watches her child. At night Adjo cuddled to Bakura for warmth, for nights were cold in the desert. At this point there was no way the thief could win that stupid tournament, but Bakura found that he did not want to anymore. It did not seem to really mean anything anymore, not now that he actually had something far more valuable, something he never had his entire life until now. And it was worth more than anything he ever stole in his life.

If he could lie to himself he could almost pretend he earned it.

Adjo slept for most of the next few days, that deep sleep that had Bakura worried sometimes. When he woke Bakura gave him some soup from the inn. He could afford to waste a bit of gold on this. And Adjo seemed to recover beautifully. There was a gradual color on his cheeks, and though his eyes sometimes cross for a moment they were more focused now.

He was getting better. But his memory still escaped him.

Still, Adjo was not that worried. Bakura wondered if it was because he forgot he needed to. Or perhaps he lost that ability.

Bakura, on the other hand, was really stressed out now. He did not really know where to go from here. He cannot return Adjo to the palace, but could he really take him to the bandits? The others were all rascals, and may be interested in Adjo the same way Bakura had initially been. But they cannot stay forever at the inn…

Not to mention, Gahiji is out there. Bakura knew that the oaf realized the priest was missing. Even if the Pharaoh could cover up this blunder, it would not be enough for people like Gahiji, who were well versed enough in the Shadow arts to tell wavering of the Shadow Realm as the Pharaoh raged. Seto's lack of magic did help in that part. If Adjo showed any signs of Shadow Magic, most likely Atemu would sense and locate him.

First he must wait for Adjo to become well enough to at least walk. Then he could worry about where to go from there.