Chapter 16 – Another Nightmare
Later that evening, Bakura was lying awake in bed alongside his recent boyfriend. It had been announced to Yami's little group of friends a week ago, apparently. In any case, it appears that Yami was a restless sleeper. Usually, that doesn't bother the thief. In fact, he could care less. What did bother him was Yami mumbling in his sleep.
This had been occurring for a little while. Before Bakura and Yami had begun sharing a room, Malik always fetched the albino whenever they heard him scream in the dead of night. Both of them had found the former pharaoh curled in on himself with tears flowing freely from his crimson eyes. It tortured him to see the once proud king of Egypt crying himself to sleep like a helpless child waking from a nightmare.
Yami still wakes up at midnight, but no longer screaming. To Bakura, that was a small sign of progress.
He had just helped Yami fall back asleep, but now, the thief seemed to be suffering a case of insomnia himself, if only for tonight. He began hearing the crimson-eyed male start mumbling in his sleep again. Why did he sound so scared? Was it a nightmare? Or was it a horrid memory from his childhood? Or perhaps it was from the times of their shared Egyptian past?
Bakura's POV
You know, it hasn't really come to my attention just how badly the pharaoh seemed to be suffering. I'm not sure from what exactly, but he sounded somewhat like a frightened child. That, in and of itself, was a surefire sign that something was wrong.
It worries me that he's becoming so restless. I want to help him, but how can I when he doesn't tell me anything?
I wake as Yami tenses beside me. Is it another nightmare? He's been having a ton of those lately. I want to help him, but I feel so helpless. I can't help but feel as if I literally can't do anything to comfort him.
I touch his shoulder and gently shake him away. "Pharaoh?" I barely heard him, but that sharp intake was enough to tell me that it was a dangerous dream he was thinking about.
"Bakura? What is it?" he asks me. "I'm trying to sleep." Yeah, "trying" being the operative word here.
"You looked as if you were having another nightmare," I tell him, watching him patiently.
Being a criminal myself, I always gauge everyone's reactions so I know what their general response is. For example, when I hear him sigh, I knew that he was going to deny it. He always had in the past. I'm not sure if it's because of his role as a king or if it's a personal issue, but Yami didn't like it when others address his weakness, even if it's temporary one.
"I never wanted you to get involved with this, Bakura." Wait, he didn't deny it this time? That's a first.
"With what?"
"You told me that you and Malik were employed by someone to kill people every month, right?" Oh yeah, I forgot we had this talk. Well, shit. I knew this was coming.
I sigh, "Yeah, what about it?"
"What did he look like?" The question threw me. "Why? Do you know who he might be?"
"I might," he answered me, rolling over to look at my face. "But I need a description." Well, I suppose I'll indulge him just this once. "He had green hair, gold and green eyes (which is weird), and pale skin."
The silence that followed my description was unnerving. I feel that he's not telling me something. Something I think I should know about. "Yami, what do you know?" His crimson eyes flickered up to look at me again.
"That's Dartz Ayo. He… He's my best friend."
Normal POV
The news startled the albino. Dartz? This guy was his lover's best friend?! Wait… Something's not adding up here. If Dartz knew that he and Yami were together, which he assumed because there's no doubt Malik would have told him (because the bastard never keeps his mouth shut!), why would he act as if there was nothing going on between them?
Now that he thought about it, Bakura and Yami ran into him the other day. If Yami knew him, then why…?
A knock sounds on the door. Both pharaoh and thief turned to see a familiar blond standing in the doorway with a smirk. "Hey. Miss me?" he laughed, taking a step into the room.
"Malik," Yami sighed. "You're back early." Bakura stared at his friend in confusion. "I thought you weren't supposed to be back until next week!"
"I was called back. Something about your boyfriend," stated the blond, offering a shrug as an apology. "Besides, it was either this or being stuck in Peru for another week."
The couple stared in blatant confusion. "What the bloody Hell were you doing in Peru?" asked the thief. Malik snickered at the question. "You don't want to know. Trust me."
Yami sat there in silence. Malik took this as a hint to leave him alone for a while. "Hey, Bakura. Mind if I talk to you for a minute?" Bakura's puzzled look became one of understanding when he realized Yami's silence.
"Yeah, sure," answered Bakura. He turned to embrace his lover and whispered, "I'll be back in a moment, alright?" When there was no response, he climbed out of bed and followed Malik outside the room.
Shutting the door behind him, Bakura looked at the blond and asked, "So, what's the real reason you came back?" Malik smirked. "Our employer ordered a hit on me while I was in Peru. I don't know why, nor do I care. I snuck onto a plane that was headed here so I can hunt this bastard down."
"So, it's revenge," scoffed the albino. "Malik, I know I shouldn't be talking, but that's not going to solve anything. Especially since the police are offering immunity from the murders if we catch this man alive." His violet eyes widened and his face had been split by a grin.
"Wait, really? They promise? No catch?"
"No catch, no other conditions, no take-backs on it. They're desperate." The thief smiled at the blond, who had been giggling for quite some time. "Fantastic! Let's find this guy!" Bakura reached for the doorknob behind him and turned.
He opened the door and was greeted with a rather cool breeze. His scarlet eyes shot open in alarm. The window was open, the gun he had taken from Yami was missing, and the person in question was gone.
Yami was gone.
Bakura started to panic. Malik, startled, began searching the room to see if this was a prank of some kind. The thief looked out the window to see if he had committed suicide for some reason.
Looking down, there was no body, no blood, and no trace of the former pharaoh anywhere. Bakura pulled out his cell and called the police. When they picked up, his first words are, "He's gone."
He looked out the window in hopes of finding his boyfriend. "He's gone. Yami's gone and I have no idea where he could've gone." When he was told they would be there right away, Malik touched his shoulder with a sigh.
"I knew the pharaoh could be spontaneous at times and stupid at others, but I think this takes the cake on both."
Bakura clings to his best friend, shivering out of shock. *Yami,* he began to think. *What are you doing?!*
~A/N: I am so sorry this is late! I really meant to post this up the other day, but I've been really busy for the past few months! I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!
Also, for those who don't know, there is a poll I have up. Do you think I should create a sequel? I'll have the poll open until I post the last chapter (which may take a little time), so please voice your opinion! Please Review! X3
Next Chapter: Disappearing Act
"If you guys are going to be useless," Bakura started, climbing out the window as he did so. "Then I'll find him myself!"