Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Frozen Tears ❯ A Meeting of Different Worlds ( Chapter 3 )

Randomasdf (Grace): Hey hey everyone! First of all, I apologize for posting so slowly - I write my stories one chapter at a time, and it kind of takes me awhile, factoring in school and stuff. Oh - and if this story reloads, it's probably because I edited something. Anyway, THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF THE REVIEWS!!! I AM SO HAPPY!!! And special thanks go to priestessofthemoon, lunarotimas, and Fallen Hikari for adding me to your favorite authors list! ^.^

Bakura: For the love of Ra! Please get on with it!

Randomasdf (Grace): <glares at Bakura> I think that the readers deserve recognition and respect for reading my fic.

Bakura: That's for sure! I'm surprised they are still reading it!

Ryou: Bakura! Be nice!

Bakura: Whatever.

Randomasdf (Grace): Uh - right. ANYWAY, this chapter is the OFFICIAL meeting of the characters! YAY! There will also be some light fluff! (There will be heavier fluff later!)

Yami: Finally! You made us wait SO LONG!

Randomasdf (Grace): That can't be helped.

Yugi: What do you mean "that can't be helped?" You're the author of this story!

Randomasdf (Grace): Oh yeah. Don't worry though - you'll have your moments! <winks at Yugi and Yami>

Yugi and Yami: <blushes> About time.

Bakura: What about Ryou and I???

Randomasdf (Grace): <sweatdrop> Uh - you guys too.

Ryou and Bakura: <looks at each other, then turns away blushing>

Randomasdf (Grace): Phew! Good thing I don't have to deal with -

Malik and Marik: <pops out of nowhere> Konnichiwaa! Miss us?

Randomasdf (Grace): I thought you guys were Egyptian not Japanese??? <shakes head> Never mind. You two weirdos too.

Malik and Marik: <grins broadly at each other and beams insanely at Grace>

Randomasdf (Grace): Um - right. Say the disclaimer so that I can start the fic now - before I get killed.

Malik and Marik: Grace does not own anything related to Yu-Gi-Oh! although she wouldn't mind if she did. Happy now?

Randomasdf (Grace): Yes, very. Now onward!

A/N: Since I'm going to introduce the Millennium Items that the characters have, here are some clarification points: 1) Yami has the Millennium Puzzle like usual, and it glows scarlet. 2) Seto has the Millennium Rod, since he's the High Priest and there was an episode where it said he had it in Ancient Egypt, and it glows blue. 3) Bakura has the Millennium Ring like usual, and it glows green. 4) Marik has the Millennium Eye, but instead of having it on his eye, it's going to hang from a chain/band like the Ring and the Puzzle, and it glows violet. (Gomen nasai, but I don't like the idea of having the eye stuck to you.) Oh - and Bakura and Marik do not know what their items are called.

And now - chapter three!!! Enjoy!!!

~*~*~*~*~*~ = Scene Change

|-|Frozen Tears|-|

By Randomasdf

~CHAPTER THREE - A MEETING OF DIFFERENT WORLDS~

Bakura glanced around the tomb, making sure he didn't leave a single piece of treasure behind. Satisfied with his work, he turned to leave the dark crypt. However, as he rotated toward the entrance, a circular golden object embedded into the wall caught his eye. Ambling to the mysterious article, the silver-haired thief ran his fingers across the pendant, examining the intricate eye design in the center and the carefully constructed pointed parts around the outside. He gingerly pulled the item out, and as he did so, it began to glow a faint greenish hue. Surprised by the object, Bakura pocketed the mystifying ring and slipped out into the scorching heat.

Upon seeing a lavender-eyed merchant, the tomb robber called out. "Oy Marik! Take a look at this!"

Marik looked up just in time to see Bakura thrust an artifact at him. Interested, the blond Egyptian brought the object to his face to observe it more carefully. The plunderer snickered at the vendor's sudden fascination toward the ring.

"Bakura, maybe you should take a look at this," Marik finally stated after thoroughly studying the article.

From under his cotton shirt, the spiky blond pulled out a spherical, also golden item hanging from a leather band around his neck. Bakura shot a quick glance at it, then quickly leaned in and took the object into his palms.

"Marik, do you think that these THINGS are related?" the cold brown-eyed teen wondered.

Marik looked apprehensively at the two circular articles that lay in his hands. After a few moments, his lilac orbs lit up with realization.

"I remember now!"

Bakura turned his head slightly, chocolate meeting light mauve, as he stared intently, waiting for an answer.

"My family gave this to me two years ago, on my fifteenth birthday. I vaguely remember my parents telling me that it has been passed down from generation to generation within our family. Oh - and my sister, Isis, said that it held dark secrets and peculiar powers."

The plunderer opened his mouth to speak, but gasped when he the mysterious ring began to glow a soft light green tinge. Both Egyptians held their breath and watched awestruck - the THING was floating toward Bakura! Glancing hesitantly at each other briefly, Marik came to a realization.

"Hmmm - now I remember! My father once told me that the item chooses the owner, and only that owner is endowed with the energies it has to offer. This -" he cut off for a moment, holding up the gold sphere. "Gives its master the ability to read people's thoughts. I can use it whenever I want, but I never believed it - until now."

Bakura listened carefully, not knowing whether to accept this as true or not. "Try it," he stated bluntly.

The merchant stared. "Try it? I haven't done this before," he replied, with a tentative sigh.

"Well, you are the owner aren't you?" the white-haired teen asked.

By this time, the ring had placed itself around Bakura's neck, settling in the folds of his obviously stolen powder-blue shirt.

"Fine. Think of something that I probably can't guess," Marik told Bakura.

The tomb robber closed his eyes slowly and racked his brain for a random thought.

The teen with sandy tresses concentrated and closed his eyes as well, hoping to Ra that this was going to be a safe experience. Unknown to both boys, the "eye" glowed with a mellow violet tint.

`I wonder what or maybe who those four shadows are behind Marik.' Bakura's voice echoed slightly in his head.

"Well?" Bakura questioned, his cold brown eyes waiting in anticipation.

"You want to know what/who is hiding in the shadows back there," he answered.

Bakura looked shocked at first, but it soon faded into an expression of amazement.

"What do you think your ring does?" the vendor inquired.

"I don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out soon. Meanwhile, we should probably find out what is lurking over there," the burglar retorted.

Marik shot a quick glimpse at the building behind them. There, he saw four distinct figures huddled together, as if planning or contemplating something.

"Oy! You four over there - what are you up to?" Bakura shouted with a suspicious tone.

The four bundles looked toward the commotion. Bakura's harsh coffee orbs locked upon kind chocolate ones, so much like his own, yet so different. Marik's angular, light purple eyes immediately found ones almost identical to his as well, gasping softly as they met.

At the same time, round, frightened, deep amethyst gazed silently upward and around at the taller people around him, and a certain blond was glaring hard with his honey-amber oculars.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Yami's intense crimson gaze landed upon the makeshift podium, while discreetly making sure his dusty gray hood shrouded his face. Pulling at his own worn cloak, Seto's icy cerulean irises studied the line of nervous slaves, each looking more broken than the next. The Pharaoh snickered to himself, laughing at how easily his people were dispirited. Hearing his friend next to him, Seto turned to face him.

"Yami - maybe coming here wasn't such a good idea - I mean, we have a lot of work to do at HOME," he said calmly, hinting at the last word.

"Nonsense, Seto. We came here to pick up some new slaves, and that is what we shall do," came the reply.

Suddenly, shouting was heard from a building nearby, and the king's tri-colored crown snapped toward the arguing men.

"What do you mean they're gone! I paid fifteen gold coins for EACH of those four Ra-damned slaves! Don't stand there and tell me they are gone!" one man yelled.

"It's not my fault! One minute they were working, the next, they disappeared!" the other man retorted loudly.

Rustling could be heard as the first man took the second by the scruff of his neck.

"Find them. NOW! If you fail to do this, you'll have hell to pay," he growled low I his throat, as he threw the other male against the wall, creating a smacking sound. "Remember - two blonds, one with white hair, and one with tri-colored hair - scarlet, black, and blond."

While the High Priest was contemplating the situation, Yami was wondering silently to himself.

`There's not a doubt those four slaves he was talking about ran away. Hmmm - interesting. Slaves that remain unbroken? I would like to find these people myself,' he added wordlessly.

Seto gulped nervously at the somewhat evil-looking sneer across Yami's face. "Shall we return to the auction?"

"No need, Seto. We have a new event just scheduled on our agenda," he said, walking down the crowded dusty street with a tall brunette in tow.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"What are your names?" Bakura demanded maliciously, while casting a suspicious gaze with one eyebrow raised high.

Marik looked at each of the four boys carefully.

"Jounouchi," the first of the group stated bluntly, not lifting his glare from the two strangers.

"Ryou," the teen with white-silver locks said in a trance, his brown eyes still tracing Bakura's facial features inconspicuously. `Gods, he looks almost exactly like me!'

"Malik," the fair-haired, sun-kissed Egyptian snarled at the two unfamiliar people, lilac still meeting mauve. `We could pass for twins!'

"Y-Y-Yugi," the last member of the company stuttered fretfully. The poor boy glanced up desperately at his friends, pleading for aid and comfort.

`My Ra - he look's almost exactly like the Pharaoh!' Marik gasped. Although the Pharaoh's appearance was a mystery to most, his family was special - and they knew all the secrets behind their ruler.

The first three teens pushed Yugi behind them protectively.

"What do you want?" Malik spat indignantly.

"My, my, my. SOMEONE needs to mind their temper," the tomb robber said with a wide sneer plastered upon his lips.

"Yeah - and SOMEONE'S gotta watch their attitude," Jou answered acrimoniously.

The leer that played upon Bakura's face grew wider.

"Bakura - leave them be," Marik commanded softly. Turning to the four adolescents, "Why are you here and how much of the conversation did you hear?"

"Well, to answer the first question, we can't tell you why we are here, and secondly, we have heard enough to press charges," Ryou said in a mild, almost mocking tone.

"Oh no you won't - you wouldn't dare!" Bakura roared.

Ryou cocked his head to the side. "And why not? Are you going to kill us or something?" he shot back.

The infamous thief gulped. Those gentle warm brown orbs seemed to see right through him. His knees became weak and millions of thoughts ran through his head. Never before had he felt this way toward anyone. Could it be that -?

`No,' he told himself, pushing away his previous thoughts, `there was no way he was attracted to this boy - he just met him! And on top of that, he looks almost exactly like me and he is MALE nonetheless!'

Meanwhile, Marik was having a similar dilemma. He was lost, deep within those intense light violet eyes, making his queasy to his stomach and his breath coming in short, quick spurts.

`Am I imagining things? I feel dizzy AND it's because of that BOY! He looks almost identical to me! His name is also like mine! Is this right? What is it that I'm feeling?' he asked himself.

Malik and Ryou held a quizzical expression upon their faces when they felt Marik and Bakura's gaze. How was it that these strangers looked almost identical to them?

Meanwhile, Yugi and Jou stared at their friends and then shifted their gazes toward the two strangers.

Marik examined the worn clothes that the group wore. Their long filthy outer cloaks were torn in many places, and the rips seemed to be stitched up crudely. "You four wouldn't HAPPEN to be runaway slaves would you now?" he inquired skeptically.

Jou sent a momentary nervous glance toward Yugi, which soon turned into a hard glare targeted toward the vendor and the robber.

"What's it to you?" the teen with the tousled blond hair raised an eyebrow.

"Oh nothing," Bakura said as innocently as possible, yet failing miserably.

"Right - and I'm the Pharaoh of Egypt," Ryou shot back, rolling his eyes.

The plunderer faltered when he heard Ryou's soft caressing voice before responding. "How about a deal? Your silence for our silence," he stated simply with a smug tone.

Malik seemed to ponder the options. "Fine," he finally breathed.

Marik melted under Malik's words. `So, he is - I mean - WAS a slave,' he contemplated.

"You still haven't told us YOUR names," Jou demanded more than asked.

"Marik," the lavender-orbed teen said in a quiet tone.

"Bakura," the teen with the platinum tresses growled harshly.

Everyone flinched slightly under Bakura's tone of voice.

"N-n-nice to meet you," Yugi whispered shakily.

"DON'T SCARE YUGI LIKE THAT!" Ryou, Malik, and Jou shouted at the thief.

Bakura jumped visibly. Yugi was glad for the protection his friends offered him, but he wasn't THAT weak.

"It's okay," he said. Noting his companions' incredulous looks, he added, "Really."

"Why don't you come with us?" Marik offered, hoping that at least Malik would accept, while Bakura shot him a death glare, though secretly, he wouldn't mind being closer to Ryou. "Bakura, we could use the company AND I could use some help selling my merchandise."

"Really?" the shortest boy squealed.

"Alright. But no leaking my secret," Bakura gave in.

The four ex-slaves looked at each other. "Okay," Jou said finally, as Ryou and Malik nodded in agreement.

"Come on then," Marik suggested good-naturedly.

Four grateful former slaves and one ill-tempered tomb robber followed him behind the curtain to help him organize the inventory just as two covered figures rounded the corner onto the same street.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Pharaoh Yami studied each of the displays of goods in front of him with his right hand, while his left was fingering the Millennium Puzzle under his outer garment, his graceful motions tracing the intricate designs.

Seto, on the other hand, kept a firm grip on his Millennium Rod behind him, keeping an eye out for assassins, although most people have never seen the Pharaoh before. Those who did were either his High Counsel or dead by now. The High Priest shuddered violently.

Yami, who noticed this, questioned Seto's actions non-verbally with a puzzled gaze. Seto dismissed his expression with a quick wave.

"Whatever, Seto," Yami mumbled, then turning his attention back to the baubles and the merchants around him.

After much interrogating, the king still knew nothing about the runaway slaves besides their appearance. Snarling to himself, Yami reached the last display. A lone man sat behind the glittering gold and silver jewelry. Suddenly, the seller snapped his head up toward the footsteps to see two shrouded individuals.

"Oh great," Marik mumbled cynically. "I hope they buy something at least."

"What was that?" Yami's commanding tone boomed.

For the second time today, Marik flinched. "Nothing, sir, it's been a long day," he said, sighing softly.

Seto placed a warning hand on Yami's shoulder, reminding him of his masquerade.

Yami frowned at the tall cobalt-eyed High Priest, but he knew that Seto was right.

"What's your name?" the undercover Pharaoh commanded once more.

"Marik, sir," the merchant replied humbly. "I'm not from Cairo, I travel around, selling my wares - sir."

"Have you seen four suspicious-looking adolescents lurking around? They are runaway slaves and we are looking for them," Seto asked politely.

"No," Marik answered quickly. "It's just me."

Yami directed an apprehensive look toward the traveler.

"What? Don't you trust me?" a sly grin made its way across Marik's lips.

"Actually I don't," the teenaged ruler retorted.

Just then, the dark curtain moved a bit, and a silky, black, scarlet, and blond bit of something poked out from the side.

`Oh shit,' was Marik's only thought.

Yami seemed to notice something as well, unfortunately for the four friends and one certain tomb robber. "If you are so confident, would you mind if I looked around?" he asked in an unquestionable tone.

`Double shit,' echoed in Marik's mind once more.

"Fine," he stated through clenched teeth. "HOWEVER, you won't find anything!" he finished in an almost a screaming manner, hoping that the five behind the curtain would catch on.

"Why are you yelling?" Seto inquired.

Marik shrugged. "No reason."

"Um - okay." Seto was beginning to become doubtful himself.

The Pharaoh strode past the black folds and entered a shadowed room filled with boxes and shelves. First taking a brief glance at everything, he began to examine the areas more closely. Unknown to the king was the fact that five beings were hiding for their lives - literally.

Bakura, who was more agile and experienced, dove under a shelf while surrounding himself with boxes, which gave off the illusion of no space for anyone to hide. Ryou jumped into an empty barrel near the entrance. Jou looked frantically around before jumping under a pile of dirty cleaning rags, knowing that no one would touch them. Malik calmly strode out the back entrance, positioning himself right next to the doorframe. Poor little Yugi - he was out of hiding places before he even thought of concealing himself! Hurrying as fast as his short legs could carry him, he hurdled behind a bookshelf with little room behind it. Unfortunately for the group, however, was the fact that a small piece of Yugi's unique hair stuck out from behind the volumes.

Marik immediately saw the problem. `Damn that cursed hair!' he mentally swore, hoping to Ra that he wouldn't be found out. `Oh yeah - I have that weird eye thing of mine,' he reminded himself.

He concentrated hard and focused on reading the strangers' minds, with the obnoxious one first. He began to probe his mind, but suddenly felt a strong fortress - a block from his power.

`What in the Underworld is going on?' he pondered, sweating.

At the same time, Yami felt the mental intrusion, and immediately sensed another Millennium Item using his now glowing scarlet puzzle. He snapped his graceful head toward Marik, whose Millennium Eye was radiating a lavender color from under his shirt.

"So, merchant, you have the Millennium Eye," he said dryly.

Seto shot him another warning look.

`Millennium Eye? Oh right - that was what it was called - Isis told him right before he left,' he reminded himself. `But how would this STRANGER know this?'

At the same time that Marik was still contemplating, Yami began to look around once more, while keeping an eye on Marik at the same time. His gaze finally stopped at a dusty bookshelf. The same silky, black, scarlet, and blond piece of something was sticking out from behind it.

`Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit,' ran through Marik's head, disturbing his original train of thought.

Yami, being very curious, reached out and placed a firm grasp upon the strange THING poking out before giving it a big yank upward.

A small yelp of pain was heard as large shiny amethyst orbs locked upon the glaring circles of crimson before him. For a split second, time stopped and the usually calm and collected Pharaoh faltered slightly under the soft gaze.

`What in the Underworld is going on?' Yami gasped after mentally slapping himself back to reality. The resemblance between this CHILD and himself was amazing. Seto took in a sharp breath at the same time.

Suddenly, it came together - the gasp, the mysterious aura, the knowledge about the Millennium Items, the harsh tones. Marik reached out and jerked the hood from the figure's face, revealing -

the Pharaoh.

Only Marik, Seto, and Yami himself knew this, however, seeing how none of the others knew what he looked like. They were frozen in their places of concealment - the shock of seeing Yugi having such a similar appearance to this strange teen added to the previous bewilderment concerning Bakura and Ryou and likewise with Marik and Malik, which, if I may add, they still were not over with. Marik composed himself just in time, however.

"Pharaoh Yami. At least we meet," Marik stated with an almost mocking tone of voice. Turning, he added, "High Priest Seto."

"Huh? What? How -?" Yami began, while Seto's jaw was hanging open.

"Well, it's quite simple," the vendor cut in. "You knew about the Millennium Items, you were demanding, AND you look like poor Yugi's twin. Ah yes - and the Pharaoh doesn't go anywhere without his High Priest, of course," he added, nodding at Seto.

At the mention of the foreign name, Yami turned his attention back to the petit child, whose hair he still gripped. He let the lock of hair go as if it was on fire when he heard the small whimper of pain once more. Somehow, he did not want to hurt this boy. He had a sudden urge to PROTECT him. A foreign emotion pierced his frozen heart slightly, but he dismissed quickly, not wanting to dwell on it.

The Pharaoh placed two cool fingers beneath the boy's chin and gently lifted his face so that their gazes met.

"Tell me, child, what is your name?" he asked lightly.

Yugi scowled at the mention of "child."

"My name is Yugi, sire. And I am fifteen years old - not a child," he replied, lost within crimson depths. A warm fuzzy feeling ran throughout his veins.

Seto glanced nervously at his friend, afraid for Yugi - no one corrected the Pharaoh!

But Yami just emitted a deep chuckle that sent shivers up Yugi's spine. What was wrong with him? He NEVER laughed in public!

Yugi shuddered. That voice - so frightening, yet soothing in an odd way.

Letting out a sigh of relief, Seto shifted - only to see a peek of golden tresses from beneath oily rags. He glided over to the heap and heaved it to the side, and what he saw made him gasp.

A boy, most likely a teenager, lay sprawled upon the floor, and jerked up suddenly when he felt his protection leave him.

"Jou!" Yugi squealed out of fear for his friend.

At that moment, Jou raised his blond head, and Seto's world began to spin, lost within those deep amber orbs.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Randomasdf (Grace): Sorry about that cliffhanger - I wanted to get to a somewhat decent stopping point so I could post this! It's been so long since I've posted!

Yami: <snorts> No really.

Yugi: Be nice, Yami!

Randomasdf (Grace): I'll start working on the next chapter ASAP! I hope I can finish it soon! By the way, if you were wondering, this chapter is 13 pages on Microsoft Word!

Bakura: I didn't have enough "moments" with Ryou!

Ryou: Well, we just met in the story! Plus, Grace is saving the heavy fluff for later - the light fluff in this chapter will just have to do - for now.

Marik: I hope you're right.

Ryou: I KNOW I'm right.

Malik: Who died and made you Kami-sama?

Ryou: Actually, no one died, and Grace did.

Yugi, Yami, Bakura, Malik, and Marik: <turns and stares at Grace>

Randomasdf (Grace): WHAT???

Seto: Oh nothing - they just want to know why you made Ryou a god.

Randomasdf (Grace): Seto? What are you doing here? Um - Ryou's a god?

Jou: Honestly - do you EVER pay attention to what you are writing?

Randomasdf (Grace): Jou? Uh - I don't know?

Yami: Was that a question or a statement?

Randomasdf (Grace): Uh - I don't know?

Yugi, Yami, Malik, Marik, Ryou, Bakura, Seto, and Jou: <sweatdrops and slaps forehead>

Randomasdf (Grace): WHAT???

Yugi: Never mind her.

Malik: <to readers> Just review, onegai???

Jou: Don't worry - Grace will be back to normal soon.

Seto: I hope.

Yugi, Yami, Malik, Marik, Ryou, Bakura, and Jou: WE HOPE!!! For the sake of this story!!!

Randomasdf (Grace): Uh - right. Until next time everyone!