Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Could've, Should've, Would've ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

CouldÕve, ShouldÕve, WouldÕve.Disclaimer: Unfortunately for me (fortunately for the characters) I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh in any way, shape or form. After all, if I did, there would be so much shonen-ai moments that it would not be at all funny.Warning: Yaoi/Shonen-Ai! If you don't like, please don't read! Rated for mentions of torture. Casteshipping- (Pharaoh AtemuXTouzokuou Bakura)Flames shall be extinguished with great force because it is bush-fire season and I hate bush-fires. Many Australians do.--------------------------------------------------------Hey! This is currently a one-shot, but I may decide to do a follow-up later. If you like this, try my other Darkshipping (YamiXBakura) story- Nature's Law)This is what I believe could have happened, should have happened, would have happened- But sadly, didn't. Hence the title.Anyways, hope you enjoy this! Reviews are much appreciated!Smile:DIreinaHe peered into the unrelieved darkness of the dungeons. He had seen a young boy, not much older than he, be carried down a while ago, and he had since heard screaming. They were torturing him, he knew. He may have been a mere ÔchildÕ, but he knew the skills of certain members of the household were both feared and renowned throughout Egypt- and Nubia and Greece as well. ÔWhat could that boy possibly have done to warrant such cruelty?Õ he thought angrily.Well, he certainly wasnÕt going to just let them do it.The door to the dark, damp dungeons opened and a priest swept out, waves of rank air billowing out behind him. Silently the small boy slipped into the foul dungeon.Keeping to the shadows, he tried hard to ignore the screams from other prisoners- as well as their sibilant whispers.A blue-robed priest exited a room, and the boy leapt back into the shadows of a nearby pillar. The priest paused, and then spoke.ÒIf anyone happens to be looking for a certain child, they would do well not to search this room.Ó he said loudly, before continuing past the pillar. ÒBe careful cousin. DonÕt get caught.Ó he whispered into what appeared to be thin air as he passed.The boy grinned silently.Checking that all was clear, he crept towards the room the blue-robed priest had just left. Peeking in, he saw no-one but the unfortunate boy chained to the stone table.Jiggling the handle, he found it to be locked. ÒSet take it!Ó he cursed. Reaching into the wellspring of Shadow within the Item around his neck, he extricated a thin tendril of power and sent it into the lock.With a quiet hiss, it clicked open, smoking slightly. He smirked to himself. Much too easy. He gave it a slight push and it smoothly slid open.The boy gasped. The other lying on the table in front of him was a mess! HeÕd been expecting signs of torture, but nothing could have prepared him for this. Blood covered his skin, both old and fresh, and soaked into his hair.What looked like burn-marks adorned his arms, and the boy was fairly sure a finger or two were broken. He was also sure that cut under his eye would also be likely to scar.ÒRa, Set and Isis!Ó he exclaimed softly. He stepped forward and softly brushed his fingertips over the bruised skin of the boyÕs cheek.His eyes snapped open, fear and defiance in his bloody-hued eyes. ÒSendingÉ childrenÉ to doÉ it now areÉ they?Ó he whispered venomously, voice cracked and harsh from screaming.ÒWhat did you do for this to be done to you?Ó the boy said in a stunned voice.The chained boyÕs face twisted into a bitter parody of a smile. ÒI wasÉ the onlyÉ survivor ofÉ a massacreÉÓ he said. ÒBut I donÕt knowÉ what theyÉ thinkÉ I can tellÉ them.ÓFury flared in the smaller boyÕs eyes. ÒThis is too much, even for a hardened criminal!ÓWith that, he touched the locks on the otherÕs wrists, preparing himself.ÒWhatÉ are youÉ doing?Ó demanded the other. ÒIf youÉ free meÉ youÕll be theÉ next one chainedÉ here! BesidesÉ itÕs noÉ use. One of themÉ took theÉ keys.ÓThe boy whipped his head around to the chained one. ÒIÕd like to see them try.Ó He sent streams of power into the locks. ÒAnd who needs keys?ÓSuddenly freed from the shackles holding him upright, the other slumped forward with a cry and the boy caught him. ÒBy the way, what is your name?Ó he asked, grunting slightly at the weight. The other boy was slightly taller, but for his height, he was surprisingly light. Not having time to wonder why this was, he merely thanked whatever benevolent deity watching that he would be able to support the other boyÕs weight.ÒAkefiaÉ Bakura. AndÉ you?ÓThe boy paused. ÒYou may call me Atemu.Ó No one ever called him by his name, (save his father and mother) only ÔMy PrinceÕ, or ÔYour HighnessÕ or something equally formal, so it would be just not possible that this commoner knew it.Besides which, he hated being known by his title- Gods he hated it! To be called by his name like he was a normal child would be a nice change.ÒAtemuÉ hm? How are youÉ going toÉ escape with meÉ slowing youÉ down?ÓThat gave him pause. ÒIf I can get you to the East Wing unnoticed, we should be safe. Shadows should be capable of that.Ó he said thoughtfully.ÒNot badÉ for aÉ ten year old.ÓÒIÕm thirteen thank you very much!Ó Atemu said indignantly. Just because he was a touch shorter did not mean he was ten years old, thank you very much!Bakura seemed taken aback slightly. ÒMy ageÉ then.Ó he said thoughtfully, voice weakening at the end.ÒJust be quiet, rest your throat or youÕll lose your voice. LetÕs go. Besides which, if you make a noise youÕll be discovered.ÓThe two made their way quietly through the dungeons and into the East Wing.ÒHere.Ó Atemu whispered quietly, lightly pushing open a door which opened to reveal a fine suite of rooms.ÒLargeÉ rooms.Ó commented Bakura weakly. ÒWho doÉ theyÉ belong to?ÓÒActually, theyÕre the smallest in the palace, save the servantÕs quarters.Ó Atemu responded, neatly sidestepping the question of whose rooms they were. Steering Bakura onto the bed, he told him; ÒDonÕt worry, here you should be safe. Just lie down. IÕll get some water and things for those injuries of yours.ÓQuickly the small boy laid a light glamour over the room so that anyone who looked in would just see himself asleep.First on his list was to get a hold of warm water. As he went into the adjoining room that led to the rest of the palace, atop the small table laid a bowl of slightly steaming water and several bottles of differently coloured substances. Beside those were several scraps of clean linen and bandages.AtemuÕs eye widened. He stepped forward to take a closer look, and noticed a small piece of papyrus atop the linen.He picked it up and smiled as he read the note explaining what the bottles held and how best to use them.His smile stretched as he saw the name at the bottom- the name of a certain blue-robed high priest.He continued to smile as he carried the warm bowl and everything into the room with the gravely injured boy.He dropped a linen cloth into the water and left it there to soak whilst he removed the glamour on the room so as to be able to see Bakura.Gently as he could, the young prince peeled BakuraÕs tunic off, the ripped and bloody garment sticking slightly as the injured boy winced, hissing in pain.Atemu couldnÕt stop a horrified gasp escaping his mouth as the full extent of the poor boyÕs injuries were revealed.They had starved him, and that had been the reason heÕd been so easy for the smaller boy to carry. His skin, which had begun to pale dramatically in that chamber in the bowels of the palace was pale, dry and like paper to the touch.There was hardly an inch of skin without severe bruising, and there were many cuts, all of which appeared deep. Several burns graced his skin across his chest, complementing the ones on his arm.ÒOh BakuraÉÓ the royal said, brushing tendrils of blood-stained white hair from the uninjured skin of his forehead.Said boy looked up at him defiantly, as though daring him to say something.Knowing that the boy was proud enough not to want his pity, Atemu shook his head and said nothing as he instead squeezed out the linen and began to gently bathe the blood and filth from BakuraÕs pitifully thin frame.Bakura stared silently up at Atemu, only wincing in pain every so often. He was very surprised, but the other boyÕs touch was gentle over the grievous injuries. Besides which, the boy was obviously a noble from the way he knew the palace and that habit he had of speaking as though expecting to be obeyed. What was really bugging him though was the smaller childÕs reason for rescuing him from the torture chambers.Was he being saved only to be handed over for death? He had no clue, and Bakura did not like not knowing what was going on.ÒWhy?Ó he asked. Atemu had finished cleaning his many injuries and was now delicately dabbing a pungent green salve onto his cuts.The boy paused in his ministrations. ÒWhy what?Ó he said, pretending not to know what the other was talking about before returning to his task.ÒWhy did you risk your neck for me?ÓAtemu sighed and rocked back onto his heels. (HeÕd been sitting on the bed beside his ÔpatientÕ) ÒBecause to treat anyone that badly is a crime in itself.Ó he said quietly. Òto do it to an innocent is even worse.ÓBakura thought. It seemed a legitimate enough answer. Gods knew he agreed with it. But he hadnÕt expected to hear that sort or response from a noble- usually as long as it wasnÕt them or one of their own, anything went. ÒDo you truly believe that Atemu? And youÕd better not be lying to me.Ó He wanted to believe this boy. He really did.The other boy made a face. ÒYou sound like one of those priests, ÔTrulyÕ?Ó he mocked. ÒYes, I do believe that. If I were Pharaoh, then torture would be the first thing to go.Ó he said, shooting a sidelong glance at Bakura, who didnÕt really notice.ÒYes, but thereÕs no chance of that is there? The PharaohÕs already got himself an heir- probably a little brat just as bad as all those other nobles.ÓAtemu shook his head silently and continued to spread the salve over the remaining cuts, bandaging them as he went. He re-checked the note, and saw that for the burns he would need to apply the contents of the yellow jar (which turned out to be several different dried herbs) with the blue salve as a poultice. He ÔtskedÕÒWhat? WhatÕsÉ wrong?Ó asked Bakura weakly.ÒI just hate making poultices. Thank Ra IÕm not going to be a healer or priest of Bastet.Ó he replied wryly. ÔActually, is it even possible for a male to be a priest of Bastet?Õ he questioned himself. Nevermind.Bakura gave a small chuckle. ÒI suppose youÕre right.ÓÒHold still. ThisÕll probably sting. Typical Seto, didnÕt have painkilling herbs in all of thatÉÓ the last part being addressed to himself, applying the poultices to the several burns scattered across the other boyÕs body.ÒSeto? You canÕt meanÉ the High Priest?Ó Bakura asked sharply.Atemu knew heÕd made a misstep. ÒWellÉÓÒYesÉ or no, Atemu.ÓÒYesÉÓÒWhy would the High-Priest help you assist me?ÓÒBecauseÉÓ Atemu trailed off, applying the last poultice. If he told the other who he was, the boy would be very likely to run off, he obviously held no affection for the royal family. But lying to him didnÕt sit well with Atemu. ÒÉ My family is acquainted with him, one might say.Ó A very tidy half-truth if he did say so himself.Bakura narrowed his eyes, before apparently accepting the statement as fact. ÒMakesÉ sense I suppose.ÓAtemu breathed a sigh of relief. ÒNow, IÕll have some food sent up and you can have something to eat. YouÕre practically a skeleton!ÓBakura gave another bitter smile. ÒThat was their plan.ÓThe food arrived, and Bakura ate like there was no tomorrow. Atemu found this so amusing he ended up pushing his own plate toward the boy with a half-smile.As they finished, Atemu put their plates back onto the trays at the side of the bed and said; ÒYou need rest. Go to sleep- remember that youÕre safe here.Ó before making as though to leave.ÒStay, please stay close by.Ó came the slightly worried request.The future monarch gave a gentle smile, an odd feeling of protectiveness coming over him. ÒI wasnÕt going to leave you in the suite by yourself, donÕt fuss.ÓThe other boy gave a tentative smile in return.Atemu was semi-dozing in the small room adjoining the bedroom after having warded the suite of rooms against noise and sight as well as locking it, when he heard a loud and tearful scream.He jumped up, heart racing in fear and he raced into the bedroom, sat beside Bakura and awkwardly tried to wake him from his nightmare.ÒBakura, wake up! Please Akefia, itÕs all right, wake up!Ó he said, shaking his shoulders.The boyÕs blood-red eyes snapped open full of fear and anguish. ÒAtemu! Oh Ra, it was horribleÉ horrible!Ó he sobbed, clutching onto AtemuÕs tunic, fingers clenching into the material.Awkwardly the prince put his arms around the distraught child, rubbing his back as he sobbed into the fabric of his tunic.ÒHush, itÕs all right now. IÕm here.Ó he said. Slowly the shuddering sobs ceased, and though Bakura had released AtemuÕs clothing, somehow heÕd managed to slip his arms around his waist instead, and his head lay on AtemuÕs chest, head tucked under his chin.ÒAtemu?ÓÒMmmhmmm?ÓÒStay with me.Ó Bakura whispered.Atemu paused. ÒAll-right.Ó he answered softly.Atemu initially stayed on top of the blankets so as not to cause an awkward situation, but as the night fell and deepened, the baking heat of the day gave way to the freezing cold of the desert at night, forcing the young man under the blankets beside his new-found friend.Not one nightmare touched the white-haired boy while he lay within the circle of AtemuÕs arms.When the morning came, Bakura was the first to awaken, eyes fluttering open. He felt something heavy across his chest and looked down to see the slightly smaller figure of Atemu, deep in sleep.Remembering the events of the night before, he smiled slightly. The other boy had obviously tired himself out rescuing him and tending his wounds.The smaller thirteen-year-old had a kind soul, that had been obvious when heÕd run in to wake Bakura from his nightmare and then stayed to comfort him.Deciding the added weight on his chest was oddly comfortable (and ignoring the stab of pain as the other shifted in his sleep), he idly scanned his surroundings, careful not to move and awaken the boy currently using him for a pillow.The room they were in was richly decorated, he noted. ÔAlmost fit for the prince.Õ he thought idly. Atemu shifted again, arms tightening around his chest. Bakura suppressed a hiss of pain at the pressure on the many wounds scattered across his body, then gave a small smile and softly stroked the oddly coloured hair of the other boy.Then he noticed something. HeÕd already seen the thin gold armband Atemu wore, so he knew the other had some form of money, but atop the dresser, lying as though carelessly tossed off lay a golden diadem.That wasnÕt even the kicker. What really gave him a shock was the Eye of Ra engraved deeply into the valuable metal.The symbol of the royal family.His mind froze for a brief minute, before putting two-and-two together. The smaller, thirteen year old who had fearlessly snuck into the dungeons, released him from torture and possibly death, had tended the wounds heÕd gained whilst there; who had fed him and comforted his nightmares; who now lay beside him under the blanketsÉwas the son of the man who had destroyed his village and murdered his family- and heir to the royal throne of Egypt.He looked down at the prince, who was snuggled into his chest. ÔIt would be so easyÕ he thought. Ôto slit his throat right now and avenge my family.ÕAtemu nuzzled up into BakuraÕs neck, smiling slightly in his sleep.ÒAkefiaÉ safeÉÓ he murmured.Said boy closed his bloody-hued eyes, a tight feeling in his chest. ÔI canÕt. I donÕt want to kill him.Õ He opened his eyes and studied the smaller boy. That odd feeling heÕd had before as Atemu had tended his wounds, the one heÕd felt at every touch of the other boyÕs skin against his own intensified. ÔIn fact, odd as it sounds, I think I wantÉ toÉ wellÉ kiss him.ÕBakura shook his head, trying to clear his mind of the foreign impulse. By the gods, Atemu was a male! Not to mention the prince- they were in entirely different social circles.There were so many reasons he shouldnÕt feel this way; (not that he was sure he knew exactly what Ôthis wayÕ was.) but frankly, as he looked down at the sleeping boyÕs face, he found himself barely able to recall a single one.Bakura was completely unaware that heÕd leaned into the other boyÕs face until he found himself looking into a pair of sleepy ruby eyes, inches from his own.ÒBakura?Ó came a half-asleep voice, and said boy shivered at the sensation of the otherÕs warm breath on his face. ÒWhat are you doing?Ó the prince asked, not moving his face away from BakuraÕs and looking curiously up at the taller boy.ÒN-nothing.Ó he said, not trusting himself to move.ÒButÉ why is your face right in front of mine?Ó came the innocent question. ÔAh. He would have to ask that.ÕÒUm, wellÉÓ Oh yes, that would get him out of this mess.ÒOw! SomethingÕs poking my stomach!ÓBakuraÕs eyes widened. Oh no. Surely he hadnÕtÉ And there wasnÕt anything he could do about it either. ÔThis could be embarrassing.ÕAtemu reached under the blanket and Bakura closed his eyes. This couldnÕt be happening.ÒAha!Ó From under the blankets the boy in his arms pulled a gold pendant shaped like an upside down pyramid that heÕd apparently forgotten to take off his neck before going to sleep.Bakura breathed a sigh of relief. Thank Ra for that. Now he had to leave- if a peasant were to be discovered in the royal wing, especially in bed with the Crown PrinceÉBut before he left there was no reason not to satisfy that strange urge to kiss him. After all, the did live in different worlds- theyÕd never meet again. So he wouldnÕt have to worry about the princeÕs reaction.While Bakura was convincing himself to actually go through with it, he felt a warmth brush his lips softly. He snapped back to himself with a start and saw the prince looking at him with an expression of surprised mortification on his face.ÒIÕm so sorry Bakura, I donÕt know what came over me- I donÕt know why I did thatÉÓ he started babbling frantically.In order to shut him up, Bakura did the only logical thing- he leaned in and returned the kiss.ÒShut up.Ó he commanded, and the two young men shared several more kisses. ÒGo back to sleep.ÓThe slightly stunned prince complied (strangely enough) and soon was back in a deep, trance-like sleep.Carefully, Bakura slipped out of AtemuÕs embrace and slid off the bed. He looked back and laid a light kiss on AtemuÕs forehead.ÒThank-you.ÓHe paused at the window for a last time and said; ÒSweet dreamsÉ my prince.Ó he said with a bittersweet smile on his young face before slipping out the window and disappearing into the rising sun.Owari.Hope you all like! Please leave me a review:DIreina