I disclaim yugioh, blah blah blah
Enjoy the Tendershipping Goodness!
Chapter Eleven
Bakura arrived at the palace gates just past sunset, the sky already shifting from sunset red to a deep violet. He dismounted his stallion as a guard walked over to him. The same guard, he noted, whom he had knocked three teeth out of when he'd called Ryou a whore.
He felt immensely smug as he drew himself up regally and handed him the reigns, "Take my horse to the stables and see that he's taken care of, will you?"
The guard sneered at him but took the reins. "To think I am reduced to servicing a thief..."
"And to think I am reduced to servicing the Pharaoh. Life isn't fair. "Bakura shot back, sauntering past the livid man and into the palace. With the spell book tucked safely into his robes, along with some better suiting robes for Ryou, he went about searching for the Pharaoh's closest friend, and greatest magician, Mahaad.
As it turned out, his search wouldn't last very long as he turned the corner, only to have Mana run into him carrying an armload of scrolls.
"Oof!" the girl grunted as she fell backwards onto her bottom, "Ouch, that's gonna hurt later..."she said, wincing. She looked up at the thief king, her eyes widening, "Oh! Bakura, you're back! Master Mahaad was wondering when you'd show up."
"More like IF I showed up" Bakura said with a knowing smirk. Mana's cheeks tinged slightly as she gathered her scrolls, "Well...maybe that too..."
"That's what I thought..." Bakura said as he knelt and took the scrolls from the magician in training, "Allow me."
Mana looked surprised at the unexpected help, but beamed, "Wow! Thanks, Bakura!"
"Just because I'm a wicked, murderous thief doesn't mean I don't have manners," he grinned, "Just don't go thinking I've gone soft or anything."
Mana shook her head vigorously, "Of course not!"
"Good. Then you can repay me by taking me to your master; I have business regarding the pharaoh to discuss with him."
"Oh! You're in luck, that's just where I was heading with these scrolls. Master Mahaad and Lady Isis are teaching the students." She straitened her dress and led him down the hall, "Right this way, Bakura."
Bakura followed behind the magician in training, the scrolls tucked securely under his arm.
Mahaad and Isis stood before the pupils whom had been placed into their tutelage by the loss of their teacher in the raid. Some were training to be priests. Others to be magicians. So it was a large, diverse class.
"Alright now, students..." Mahaad said, " For those of you studying magic, I know you've covered binding spells, so we're going to move on to summoning spells as soon as Mana arrives with our scrolls."
As if on cue, Mana skipped into the room, "Here are your scrolls Master Mahaad!" she said, dropping them onto the large stone table around which the students were sitting. Mahaad frowned, "This is only half."
"Oh, well that's because-" Mana started, turning just as the thief king entered, smoothly placing the Scrolls beside the ones Mana had carried. Bakura tossed his bangs away from his face, "Your student was having some difficulty carrying the scrolls. Perhaps you should have sent someone to assist her. Not very gentlemanly of you at all."
"Bakura!" Mahaad said, surprised.
"That's my name, don't wear it out" he replied with a wink.
The students gasped, murmuring amongst themselves. Isis clapped her hands to get their attention, "Everyone calm down! Bakura has come to an agreement with the council and is currently helping us to locate the Pharaoh."
"Speaking of which," Mahaad said, pulling Bakura aside, "Did you not say you had something that might help us in our search?"
"As a matter of fact I did," Bakura said reaching into his robes, letting his fingers dance over the books spine, "But none of the other guardians may be involved in its usage but yourself."
"Why should I-" he started
"Do you want to find the Pharaoh, or don't you?" Bakura interjected, leaning against a wall lazily examining his nails.
Mahaad grit his teeth, sighing, "Very well, I give you my word as a Magician..."
"Excellent. After your lesson I'll be more than willing to oblige."
Atem opened his eyes. He felt hot and heavy. He moved to sit up, a small hand pushed against his chest, forcing him back down.
"Don't move, or you'll make yourself worse..."
Atem grunted, glancing up at his hikari, who was crouched beside him with a look of deep concern and concentration furrowing his brow.
"Aibou?"
Yugi gave a small smile, holding a flask of water to his mouth. "Here, drink this...You must be thirsty."
As soon as the flask touched his lips, Atem clamped his mouth around it, swallowing the liquid down greedily as he realized just how dry his throat was. When he finally pulled away, he panted, catching his breath. "Where are we?"
"I don't know...an underground dungeon somewhere I think. Our captors brought us here."
"What for?"
"I don't know... To hold us for ransom I think? They don't seem to have thought this out very-"
Ccrreeeeeaaaakkkkkkkk...
The door to the dungeon opened as the sound of footsteps approached. A tall figure dressed in black stepped forward. He was slightly taller than Kaiba. His skin was a deep chocolate brown, but his eyes were green.
"Oi. You awake, Pharaoh?"
Atem tried to sit up, but was overcome with dizziness and lay back down. Yugi brushed his bangs out of his face, turning to the guard, "He has a fever, and he needs medicine."
The thief frowned, stalking over and briefly touching Atems head and dropping a water skin full of wine at Yugi's feet, "Make him drink that, it'll do no good to ransom a dead pharaoh. Make him well, or we'll take it out of YOUR flesh, servant boy."
"But he needs medicine! Don't you have any herbs?" Yugi protested as he headed for the door. Their guard snorted, " I'll talk it over with the boys and see what they think. Just keep him alive for us, brat" he said shutting the door and barring it. His footsteps echoed down the hall as he got further and further away. Yugi sighed, turning to Atem, "Sorry about that, Pharaoh..."
Atem shook his head, laying his head in his hikari's lap, "No, Aibou. I'm sorry that you had to get drawn into this catastrophe."
Yugi ran a hand through the Pharaoh's hair, "If I know the guys, they're probably already on their way to find us."
"I hope you're right Yugi... I just hope Bakura's blind hatred doesn't affect their search...There's much more at stake here than just our lives..."
"I know Atem...believe me, I know..."
Kaiba entered the room where Joey and the others were, following the priest. Personally, he thought this guy was kind of a pill. So preachy about loyalty and how his place was at the pharaoh's side and blah blah BLAH! Quite frankly it was starting to get on his nerves...
Seth sauntered over to the blonde, sitting beside him, "I see you've awakened at last, Puppy. How does your back feel?"
"Like I got run through a meat grinder and cooked. Not to mention I'm itchy as hell."
Seth chuckled. "I have no idea what a meat grinder is, but the itching, well, that's to be expected. It's time for me to re-dress your wounds."
"Hurray..."
As he moved out of the blonds sight to retrieve supplies form a nearby table, Joey glanced at the modern day incarnation of the priest He crossed his arms under his chin, propping himself up slightly.
"Well if it isn't Mr. Stoolpigeon himself. You just couldn't keep your mouth shut on the fact we're from the future, could you?"
Kaiba smirked, "Nice to see you too, Wheeler."
"So, what'd Shadi bring YOU here for anyway?" Joey asked, taking more relaxed position now that the obligatory insults were out of the way. Kaiba cracked his knuckles, taking the seat Seth had just vacated and crossing one leg over the other. "To help save the world, what else? You dweebs SERIOUSLY need to find a new hobby..."
"Hey, it's not like we PURPOSELY get ourselves into these messes. It just happens."
"Is that the excuse you use on your girlfriends, Wheeler?"
"Why I oughta- OWWW!" He turned to Seth, who was in the process of removing his bandages, some of which were stuck to his skin from both herbs, and his own blood, pus, and other various bodily fluids trying to seal or fester the wounds. "Easy on those bandages! You tryin' to kill me?"
Seth frowned in concentration, not glancing up from his work. "I am being as gentle as this sort of thing allows. They must come off, so you'll have to grit and bear through a little tugging."
Joey turned back around, groaning, " Why is it when YUGI plays hero, he walks away unscathed, but when I do it, I end up looking like a half wrapped mummy?"
"Ooh, 'Unscathed' that's a big word, mutt. Congratulations. I'll have to remember to get you a dog biscuit as a reward for such advanced knowledge."
"Zip it, Kaiba, or I'm gonna-OW! Damnit!"
Kaiba laughed.
Ryou frowned at him, "That's not very nice, Kaiba. Joey's laying in a hospital bed with third degree burns, show some compassion."
"That's right, Joey wouldn't tease YOU like that if the situation was reversed" Tea defended.
"Yeah I would. That's how we roll, right rich boy?" Joey asked, smirking up at the millionaire.
"Whatever, dork."
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It was almost a full 20 minutes before each of the linen bandages had been removed, some opening up wounds that had begun to heal an scab over, while some just revealing open, gross orifices. Seth then went about the methodical process of washing the wounds of their old herbs and healing medicines, along with the aforementioned puss and blood. Naturally, this was incredibly painful. Joey however, ever playing the role of 'tough guy,' just kept on talking to his friends and pretending as if he weren't in excruciating pain as the priest scrubbed his wounds with a warm wet cloth.
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The door opened as a servant entered, "Master Seth, Bakura has returned; he is with Master Mahaad."
The priest looked up "Good. When I am done here, I shall call a meeting to discuss this mysterious thing that will supposedly help find our beloved pharaoh."
As the servant turned to leave, Ryou touched his arm, " Where is Bakura exactly?"
"In Master Mahaads Study."
"I'm very busy, but I can give you the directions" he offered as he led him out of the room and down the hall
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Kaiba had to admit himself-unwillingly- impressed at Joeys ability to keep a straight face and ignore what very obviously a painful process. He himself would be bitching and moaning if he was in his place; he secretly was a bit of a prima-donna and was unfond of pain of any kind. No one except Mokuba, Roland, and the few servants he kept around the house knew of this little fact, and there was no way he'd ever admit it if anyone called him on it. Not that the few that DID know would try to call him on it...
Except possibly Mokuba.
The boy respected him, but he was by no means a pushover. He spoke his mind when he felt the need and was quick to assert his opinion. He was a bright, intelligent, and spunky. EXACTLY the sort of brother someone would expect of the Kaiba name!
Kaiba flinched as the image of the vision Shadi had given him flashed through his mind. He shook his head.
NO.
That would NOT happen. He wouldn't LET it happen. He was Seto Kaiba damnit, no one fucked with him OR his brother! Especilly not some hokey kidnappers from 500 years ago that decided t screw up the timeline. Whoever had decided to try to kidnap the pharaoh was in for a curb-stomping he'd NEVER forget!
"What's eating You?" Joey asked, seeing the annoyed look on his face.
"None of your business, mutt" he snapped.
Joey pursed his lips, looking away with a huff, "Fine, I didn't care anyway, ya jerk."
"Oh, a jerk huh? You must like jerks, seeing as you sent me those chocolates on Valentines day."
"That was a joke!"
"I'll bet..." Kaiba said, rolling his eyes.
A moment of silence passed
"...Did you eat 'em?" Joey asked, breaking the empty atmosphere hanging in the air since his freinds had went to bed about a half hour ago. when Seth had finished the bandages and had retired to his room.
Kaiba shrugged, "I did. I have a sweet tooth and there's no use in wasting perfectly good chocolate..."
"You liked it?"
"It was passable. I've had worse... MUCH worse"
"What's you think of the one with the marshmellow filling?" Joey asked, eager for an opinion
"It was interesting...I liked the one with the cherries better."
" Yeah, me too, but those are SOOO hard to make... I had to look up how to do it in one of my neighbor's cook books."
"You can read?"
"Shut up."
"Make me."
"Nah, I'd hate to mess up that pretty face of yours" Joey said with a chuckle.
Again a silence.
"Hey, wait a minute, if you ate my chocolate, how come you didn't send me anything on White day?"
"I've never seen a book this old before..." Mahaad said as he skimmed the pages, "Some of these symbols are strange to me..."
"Magicians' writing," Bakura filled in, "Easy enough to decipher if you know how."
"Where did you get this?"
"You could say it's a family heirloom..." Bakura said, "As I inherited it form my father."
"You didn't rob his grave did you?"
Bakura shot him a dark look
"What grave?"
"What's THAT suppose to mean?" Mahaad asked.
"Ask Aknadin, I'm sure he'd be GLAD to tell you."
Mahaad decided to change the subject, "Let's get to work with the spells. If we work together, I'm sure we can find the proper one to locate the Pharaoh...It's quite generous of you to offer your assistance Bakura."
"I assure you, GENEROSITY is far from my list of motivations." Bakura stated, turning back to the book, "I merely don't want someone else stealing my glory. I shall be the one to destroy his royal highness. Besides, there's far more on the line then you've been led to believe."
"Such as?" the priest asked.
Bakura smirked, "I'm not at liberty to say..."
Mahaad scowled, but did not pressure him for an answer, as that would surely be a waste of time. Time was something they couldn't AFFORD to waste.
"Let's just look at the book..."
"Yes. Let's."
The servant had instructed him that Mahaads study was somewhere in the east wing. Ryou had long since forgotten the directions he'd been given over the past two hours he'd searched and had resorted to calling for Bakura verbally.
"Bakura? Hello? Can you hear me? Bakura...?"
A figure wearing a turban and a cream colored cloak stepped from a corner, Ryou had to stop himself from running into him. "Oh! Pardon me, I should have been looking where I was going, Mr...?"
" My name is inconsequential. "
"Oh. Well, never mind...Have you seen a man about this tall with short messy hair and lavender eyes and a scar on his face?"
"The one you know as Akefia-Bakura shall lead you astray, young one. You would do well to abandon him now while your soul is intact."
"What? Now see here, I don't-"
"Ryou?"
"Bakura?" The whitenette turned at the sound of his name being called in what he easily recognized as Bakura's voice.
"Remember my warning, boy...Your life may depend on it..."
Whipping back around to scold the mysterious figure, he was surprised to find him gone. He crossed his arms, an annoyed look on his normally pleasant, placid face. He felt a pair of strong arms wrap around his middle "Ryou, who were you yelling at?"
Ryou reached up, wrapping an arm around his neck "No one important. Some servant probably...Wanker..."
"What did he say?"
"Just nonsense about you."
"I'm not surprised."
"I hate it when people say those things about you."
"Why? They're true enough."
"I don't care. There's more to you than just being the thief king! Honestly it makes me so angry I could throttle someone!"
Bakura grinned "Have I ever told you how cute you look when you're angry?"
Ryou pushed him away scoffing, "Don't get any funny ideas."
Bakura grinned wickedly, "Come now, Ryou, haven't you ever wanted to make love in a library? There's one right over there you know..."
Ryou turned his back, "And what makes you think I'd want to have sex with YOU?" he teased.
"Bakura squeezed his hips, pulling him against him with a growl, playfully nipping his neck, "Who says I'm giving you a choice?" he asked, running a hand under his tunic and rubbing it in circles on the boys abdomen, circling his belly button with his index finger in a suggestive manner. Ryou shivered at the hot touch, "Oh, are you going to ravage me, most wicked and evil thief king?"
"Oh most assuredly..." Bakura affirmed with a nod "The only question is where? The library as I suggested? Our bedroom? Or maybe I should take you right here against the wall for any passersby to stop and BURN with jealously that you belong to me and are mine to do as I please."
"Don't you mean to do WITH as you please?"
"I know what I said..." Bakura said, pushing the boy against the wall and claiming his mouth with his own, making it quite clear conversations were not to be had for the rest of the night unless they involved cries of pleasure or pleas for fulfillment.
Shadi watched from some distance away, unseen by the lovers. His face emotionless and blank as ever.
"If that boy knows what is good for him...He will heed my warning..."
Yugi's head nodded as he started to drift off. He sorely wanted to sleep. Remembering their captor's threat to take it out on HIM if the Pharaoh didn't recover quickly however, he fought to stay awake and do just that. Atem, whose head was still on his lap, reached up and touched his face. "Aibou, you should rest, it's late."
"I have to stay awake and tend to your fever..." he yawned. He hadn't slept in nearly two days and it was catching up with him.
"It'll do neither if us good if you make yourself ill from lack of rest."
Yugi had to admit he had a point.
" Sleep. I shall be fine...I'm feeling much better now, honestly..." the king said, smiling up at the boy with whom he'd spent the majority of his new life and was responsible for his resurrection and liberation from the millennium puzzle.
"If the men come back-" Yugi started.
"I'll wake you immediately" the Pharaoh assured. Yugi finally gave in and lay down, the pharaoh's head resting on his stomach.
Atem waited until he was sure Yugi was asleep before shifting position. He sat up, leaning against the stone wall, panting from the small effort as his head reeled and throbbed with pain. He pulled the youths head into his lap, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry I let this happen..." he said, "I should have been able to prevent it..."
Atem closed his eyes and steepled his hands. He hadn't prayed to the gods of his ancestors in a long time. But this was an emergency. And he wasn't above a little faith. "Almighty gods of Egypt...I humble myself before you in my time of need...Please...Please help us..." He coughed, trying to muffle the noise as he continued "Give me strength -COUGH- to guide Yugi and myself-COUGH COUGH- until our friends come to our aide..." His coughing fit finally subsided and he inhaled shakily. "I know they'll come...Keep them safe in their journey. Safe and whole...For if I fall, they must guide the people of Egypt to peace. I place my life in your hands..."
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Isis watched, her vision blurred with tears as the images faded and the real world came back into sight. She clasped her hands together. "Ooh...my Pharaoh..." her shoulders shook as tears leaked down her cheeks "...Don't worry, my king...we WILL find you...No matter what it takes..." she said, looking up at the moon steadily climbing the sky as it grew late.
Her nephew, Namu, with sandy hair and an appearance not unlike that of who would become a descendant of their family by the name of Malik Ishtar, peeked into the room, "Aunt Isis, Are you alright?"
Isis turned to him, "I'm fine...go back to sleep, Namu. You'll need your rest. I'll be along in a moment."
"Yes, aunt Isis" he said, obediently shutting the door and returning to the room he shared with his aunt, now his only remaining family member. Isis stared at the moon a moment longer, "Goodnight, my pharaoh..." she said, turning to change into her sleeping garments.
"Stay safe..."
End of Chapter Eleven
hey guys, sorry for tardiness, college and general lack of motivation and inspiration due to to chronic writers block have kept me busy on other things and neglecting this story. Sorry !
::bows repeatedly::
hope you enjoyed. tis a bit shoter than I'd like, but it's good enough for now. next will hoepfully be longer!