Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Red Rose Angel ❯ the Bandits and a Brotherly Reunion ( Chapter 11 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Diana has been kidnapped! Will Yugi come to save her? Who are these Bandits of the Roses anyways? Maybe they were hired by Rosenburg...or maybe there's someone else behind Diana's (2nd) capture.

Anime/Manga: Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Adventure | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.11.2005 | Pages: 5 | Words: 5.7K | Visits: 290 | Status: Completed

—Wow more people are reading it. I'm impressed. I was once asked if I realized that the War of the Roses was real. Yes, actually, I do know that the Wars of the Roses were real. I learned about it way back in sixth grade or something…and partially forget what I learned. Ha! Anyways, my fic, oddly enough, is nothing like the real Wars…or the video game for that matter. But, yeah, that's how it turned out I guess. Hell, so long as nobody else complains I've got no problem with it.

Chapter 11 - the Bandits and a Brotherly Reunion

Diana's eyes flutter open and she sat up, turning her head to take in her surroundings. It was just an ordinary tent and ordinary deer skin blankets that she was laying on. At her side was a handkerchief lain with dry meat and fruit. Next to the handkerchief was a wooden mug of foul-smelling liquid that was probably rum or ale. Diana refused the drink, but gratefully ate the food.

She crawled over her deer skin “sleeping bag” to open the tent flap slightly to peer out. Several young and middle-aged men were sitting around talking and joking to each other. They didn't wear as much armor as the Lancastrian or Yorkist knights and their armor was not as flashy or well-polished, but it appeared to do its job quite well. Although some of the men had a few battle scars, both fresh and old.

Diana was surprised to see that on each man's breast plate was a rose with a slash mark across it. The rose wasn't red or white or even colored for that matter. But the slash mark was half red and half white. What did this mean? Were these men in alliance with the House of Lancaster or the House of York?

“Hey, you're awake.” Diana started when she heard someone talking to her. It was a tall, blonde, young man in a brown tunic with dark colored trousers and brown boots. He helped Diana to her feet and smiled warmly. “Name's Joseph. What's yours?”

“Diana Sapphire. Wh-what am I doing here?”

Joseph pointed to his left hand, which had a bandage on it. “You bit me. I guess I deserved that though after attacking you like that. I thought you were looking for our secret hideout.”

“I'm sorry. Did you say `secret hideout'?” Diana stared at him.

Joseph nodded. “We keep a close watch on people who enter Ryou's mystic fog.”

“Who's Ryou?”

“He's a Druid. He helps protect us bandits from danger.”

“You're bandits?!” Diana covered her mouth when she realized that she had said that a little too loud.

A few men looked towards them. “The Rose Duelist woke up, eh?” asked one man with a bandage around his head.

“Sure did. Diana, meet the Bandits of the Rose, a band of Lancastrian and Yorkist men.”

“You aren't fighting in the war? None of you?”

“We have no reason to fight each other.” said a young man about Joseph's height with brown hair pushed forward into one spike. “I'm a Yorkist and Joseph's a Lancastrian and we're the best friends. Why should we start fighting each other just because the Yorkists kicked Yugi off British soil?”

“Our leader's trying to help Yugi by resolving the war without force, Tristan.” Joseph said to him.

“I have nothing against Yugi. I don't know anybody here who does. But I was just asking.”

“I guess…there's no reason why you should.” Diana said.

A man with a scar across his left eye nodded. “I'm a Yorkist too and some of my most loyal comrades are mixtures of Lancastrian and Yorkist. Hell, my mother was a Lancastrian. God rest her sweet soul. We're an example of how things ought to be.”

“And hopefully will be with Yugi on the throne and not Richard.” Joseph said. He slapped Diana on the shoulder. “Speaking of Yugi, you know him, don't you?”

“I suppose I do.” Diana said quietly. Joseph led her into the shadows of the forest. “Well, then you should talk to our leader.”

There was a large tent hidden in shadows. Joseph opened the flap and led Diana inside. There was a rickety table with two chairs and a young man who looked remarkably like Yugi. Only he was taller and his golden lightning bangs formed all around his face. His eyes were crimson purple color and he didn't wear fashionable traveling clothes like Yugi, but just a dirty white tunic and leather brown trousers with matching boots. He wore a sword identical to Yugi's at his belt, but it was his bear skin cape that made Diana's eyes widen.

“Sire, this is the Rose Duelist, Diana.” Joseph leaned over and whispered to her. “Careful. He killed that bear by himself.”

The young man with the bear skin cape laughed. His voice was surprisingly sweeter than what she thought it would have been. “Joseph, are you telling everyone that ridiculous rumor or is it just the young ladies?”

Joseph smiled and patted Diana's shoulder. “I'll leave you two alone.” He lifted the tent flap and was gone.

Diana turned back to the Yugi look alike. The young man sat down and gestured for Diana to do the same. “So, Diana…It's nice to meet you. My name is Alexander, but everyone calls me Yami.”

Diana almost fell out of her seat from the shock. Yugi's brother is supposed to be dead, she thought. How's this possible? “Y-you're Yugi's twin brother.”

“Correct. Did he tell you about me?”

Diana shook her head. “I think he's still upset about your supposed death. It was actually Simon who told me about you.”

“Ah yes. The High Druid…well, he was the one who brought you here then?”

“To this time period, yes.” Diana took a deep breath and began her story from the time she appeared in Stonehenge to just a little while ago when she was ambushed by Joseph and Tristan. When she was finished, she was surprised at another figure that had mysteriously joined them and stood off to the side, near Yami.

He looked like Bakura except his face was kinder and he seemed very timid. He wore robes similar to Simon's robes, except these robes were white. Yami gestured to him. “Diana, meet my friend, the White Druid Ryou. He conceals the bandits from the war. I apologize for Joseph and Tristan ambushing you. Many people have gotten lost in Ryou's fog and some of my men go into the fog to seek out these lost souls and try to return them to the outside.”

“But they didn't do that with me. Why?”

“Because you're the Rose Duelist. When I heard about that, I had to see proof of the Druid legend.” Yami replied.

“I hear you're helping to resolve the war in secret.”

“Yes I am. My brother is right to challenge Rosenburg by force. Frankly that bastard Seto doesn't listen to reason. From what you've told me about your encounters with him, I can see why.”

Ryou fidgeted at the mention of Rosenburg's name. Yami looked at the White Druid. “Do not worry, my friend. We'll save your lover.”

“Lover?”

“Seto has a collar on Ryou's lover. Ryou's lover was supposed to be put to death, but Rosenburg intervened and promised that if he did what Rosenburg asked, and then Ryou's lover's life would be spared.”

“Who is Ryou's lover?”

“Me.” Diana jumped to her feet when she saw Bakura enter the tent. Her hand flew to her dagger, but she relaxed as she watched Ryou and Bakura embrace tightly and affectionately. So Ryou and Bakura were in love and Rosenburg was forcing Bakura to do what he was doing because the Druid owed him a debt for saving his life.

“Bakura, why didn't you say anything about this? I could have and would have helped you.” Diana said after the lovers released each other.

“It's not your business, Rose Duelist. You want to defeat me in a duel to save Rex and Weevil…go ahead.” Bakura snapped. Ryou clutched his lover's arm and looked deep into his eyes. Bakura put a hand on Ryou's. “My love, thank you for bringing me here.”

Diana looked at Yami. “What do we do now?”

“I'm sure my brother will come looking for you. Just stay with us until then. Bakura, I promise you will be freed from Rosenburg. The House of York will fall and my brother will sit on the throne.”

“But Seto wants the throne.” Bakura said.

“The Rose Duelist has already informed me of this. I intend to tell my brother when he arrives. You should go back to Rosenburg in case that bastard comes looking for you.” Yami said.

Bakura nodded and kissed his love on the cheek before embracing him tightly. “Take care, my heart's desire.” He turned to leave, but Diana stopped him.

“Bakura, if I defeat you in a duel, will that break the collar Rosenburg put on you?”

The Druid looked at her. “We shall see, Rose Duelist.” He left and Ryou followed as far as the edge of the fog, then hurried back to Yami's tent.

Diana said back down in the chair and sighed heavily. “I don't think Yugi will come. He already has his future bride with him. What do I care?”

Yami chuckled. “You do care. Diana, I think you need to know the truth about this whole arrangement. You see, people seem to get confused about which Prince supposedly slept with three women. That rumor was originally about me, but for some reason, people seemed to start thinking it was about Yugi. I suppose it is because we are twins.”

Diana blinked. “So you slept with three women at the same time?”

Yami laughed. “Oh God no. I have yet to sleep with anyone. I believe that rumor was started by a young servant who was angry that I fell in love with Lady Tea. Tea and I were very much in love and for a time, it seemed that we would someday wed. I even promised her in front of the entire kingdom that we would get married. But then Ryou and I went to investigate the theoretical revolt. It turned out that there really was no revolt. It was just a few young men looking to stir up trouble. I tried to resolve it and ended up getting captured by the infamous Bandits of the Rose.”

“And they made you their leader?” Diana couldn't help but smile at the thought.

Yami smirked. “Not at first, but over time they learned to appreciate my leadership skills and so I became their leader. I wanted to return to Tea to let her know that I was alive and I would come for her, but then my father was poisoned and my brother was banished.”

“So you were the one Tea was going to marry. But why was she promised to Yugi?”

“The people thought that if Tea couldn't marry one brother, then she should marry the other. We look alike so it didn't particularly matter to them.” Yami said with disgust.

Diana slumped in her seat. “I feel awful about all the things I said to Yugi.”

“Diana!” called a familiar voice. Diana jumped up, recognizing her pooka friend's voice. “Diamond Dust!” Running out of Yami's tent and into the clearing where the Bandits were, Diana caught sight of Yugi, Simon and Tea in the center of a semi-circle of Bandits. The silvery gray pooka jumped into Diana's outstretched arms. “Oh Diamond Dust! I was worried about you!”

“You were worried?! Dammit, Diana, I must've worried a hundred years off my life wondering where you were.” Diamond Dust snapped. Diana hugged the pooka close.

Simon threw up his hands. “Thank you God for protecting Diana for these thieves.”

“What you you're callin' a thief, old man.” Joseph grunted.

Tea approached Diana. “Thank goodness you're okay. I came looking for you and when I saw the mark of the Bandits of the Roses, I ran back to tell the Prince.”

Diana smiled. “Thanks Tea. Oh I have a surprise for you. Someone wants to see you.” She looked over her shoulder.

“Tea?” Yami came into the light of the clearing and dead silence followed. Diana stepped aside as Tea ran to embrace Yami. The couple wrapped themselves in a passionate kiss followed by tears of joy and relief.

Diana cuddled a surprised pooka as she watched to see Yugi's reaction. Her Prince was crying too. Yami released his sweetheart and approached his brother. “Yugi, I've heard about your accomplishments and I'm very proud of you. Father would be too. You'll make a great king, Henry.”

The brothers embraced and everybody burst into rounds of introductions and explanations for what had been happening in the past. Food and drink was served and everyone ate together. Diana was happy that Yugi and Yami were together again. Now all she had to do was apologize to Yugi for her rude behavior.

While giving the brothers some time alone, Diana decided to talk to Tea. “So Tea, what will you do after the war?”

“I'll be with Yami. Whatever he wants to do after this war is over will be his decision. No matter what that is, I'll support it. If he wants to get married and maybe live in the country somewhere, then I'll gladly marry him. If he wants to continue to stay with the Bandits, then I'll stay too. They seem like good men and so friendly.”

“Like a big family. That's what you and I both need I guess. Someone to love us. You're lucky to have had Simon to care for you.”

“And you're lucky too, Diana.” Tea replied. “You have Yugi. I was looking for you to apologize for what I said during our duel.” She held out two White Rose cards. “You won them fair and square from me. Thank you for freeing me from Bakura's control.”

Diana took the cards and nodded. “You're welcome. Now I suppose I should apologize to Yugi.” She approached both brothers and waved shyly. “Hi guys.”

“Angel…” Yugi said under his breath.

Yami looked at his twin and chuckled. “You gave her a pet name already, little brother?”

Yugi turned red for the first time. Diana smiled. “Yugi, can I speak with you alone?” Yugi nodded and stood to walk with her to a quiet spot away from everyone else.

“Yugi, I…I found out what really happened. Yami told me everything and I'm…I am so sorry for what I did and said. It just all sounded so real and…I just can't trust love sometimes. I mean if my own family can't love me, then—”

“Then I will fill this void in your heart, my Angel. I will do what I can to help you trust love. You know…” Yugi chuckled quietly. “I did get the line about loving you with every beat of my heart from my brother. He really did say that to Tea.”

Diana punched him playfully on the arm. “You jerk! Thought you could try it on me, huh? See if it works…” She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips, tasting the leftover rum. “It works, silly. Congratulations.”

Yugi laughed and snaked his arms around her body. “I love you so much, my Angel. I hope you will always be with me.”

“Can I? Without changing the future, I mean.”

“I do not know. You have more knowledge about the future than I do.” Yugi said.

Diana nodded and laid her head on his shoulder. “What do we do about Rosenburg betraying Richard?”

“We should defeat Rosenburg first. Now that you have four White Rose cards, my armies stand a better chance against the Yorkist forces.” He released her gently and kissed her forehead. “I must return to my men and march onward to meet Rosenburg's forces. Angel, I want you to be there and bring your dragon. We both know that Rosenburg has a Blue Eyes identical to yours. You must use it to defeat him.”

“I…I have to defeat Bakura first. When I do, Rex and Weevil the first two Rose Crusaders will turn back to flesh and bone. Bakura turned them to stone after I won against them.” Diana told him.

Yugi sighed. “If Rosenburg falls first then the Yorkist military will be shaken. Richard himself will have to come out of hiding and command the army. That should make him more vulnerable.”

“You're going to kill him, aren't you?”

“I intend to. It's because of his persuasion that I was found guilty of my father's murder and exiled. I want to repay the favor.” Yugi said in a dangerously low voice.

Diana sighed. “All right then, Henry. I'll go after Rosenburg for you.”

Yugi kissed her cheek. “Tell Simon to accompany you.” He turned and left her standing alone.

Diana sighed heavily. “At least defeating Rosenburg will free Bakura.”

—Diana is finally gonna confront Rosenburg. Now wouldn't that make you just a little bit nervous to confront the guy who almost raped you? Seriously, would it? Yugi now wants to kill Richard III. That actually is based on one particular event that happened in the real Wars of the Roses. The real Henry did kill the real Richard III…and I just gave you a free spoiler. -smacks self- See why you need to read my useless babbling…I stupidly give away stuff. Anyway, I am in the process of writing Chapter 11, so stay tuned.