Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Redemption ❯ Fractured Messages ( Chapter 3 )

AN:

Just a quickie, before I get going. By the way I am Christian myself, but perhaps I have some rather… unique beliefs. This fic is centred round my beliefs that God is cruel but always with good intentions. With trust, faith an acceptance, we shall reach our reward.

 

For the record Seto is not evil, just cold and doing his duty. He will soften up I promise, remember that these events are way, way back in the past before angels actually learned from humanity. In my world they do not have the same emotions that we have, but simplified purer emotions, and are rational beings not emotional ones. He is emotionally detached from what he is doing, not evil. I am toying with a pairing for him, and how it would play out. Lets see how this develops as I am writing this on the fly, but seeing him again will have to wait awhile.

 

That said, onward!!!

 

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Bakura growled low in his throat as pain stabbed at him. He grunted as he flexed his shoulders, easing the pain away. That particular memory always came with the echo of the pain of having his wings torn from him. It seemed that the Lord wanted him to remember his wings, to long for their return. He laughed bitterly as he headed through the streets.

 

Here was downtown Domino, Japan. He had only recently arrived, and it was not his first visit to Japan. Hell it probably wouldn't be his last the way things had turned out so far. He had become resigned to his wanderings now. He had seen so much in his life. He tried to push aside thoughts of the numerous years out of his mind as he entered the park. He turned suddenly with a growl as he sensed a presence behind him.

 

“You can come out now.” He barked at the figure that was hidden in the shadows under a tree.

 

Bakura gritted his teeth as the silhouette became clear, the figure choosing to remain in the shadows at this point. Still it did not matter, he knew the other as well as if he had seen him in broad daylight. While he had none of his powers, his angelic senses had been left to him, and the aura the other radiated was so singular he would never forget it. The angelic core, tainted by darkness.

 

“Marik.” He growled. “What the fuck did I do to deserve this honour.”

 

Marik laughed, the gruff tones not unpleasant to the ear. He stepped out onto the path beside Bakura. Bakura did not miss the fact that he chose to hide the wings, and had his fully human appearance. This was a concession the Lord had granted for day to day dealings on earth. He couldn't wander around in his demonic form without causing mass panic, though when revealing himself to mortals he still had to use the full form, black goat legs and all. Much to his distaste. Still getting this concession wasn't easy and he was grateful never-the-less. He stood before Bakura now in a deep red muscle shirt and black pants, a gold collar at his neck, setting off the stunning blonde of his spiked hair. Bakura noted that he managed to look perfectly comfortable with bare arms despite the cold. Still, Marik wasn't of the flesh so to speak, still essentially an angel he wasn't bothered by such mortal things as the cold.

 

“Just doing my rounds.” He smirked.

 

Bakura rolled his eyes. He was occasionally visited by Marik or the other Fallen, even sometimes by a representation of the Heaven's but these visits were usually few and far between.

 

“So why now?” He asked sharply lighting up another cigarette. “It's been a few hundred years.” He sucked the acrid smoke down. Unlike mortals this bad habit was never going to kill him. Nothing could except perhaps God if he chose, not that he felt that God kept too much of an eye on him anymore.

 

“Call it around 800 and you' be close. Let's just say partly because of a mutual friend.”

 

Bakura froze gritting his teeth. Marik hadn't mentioned the name, but he didn't need to. They understood each other that well at least. And it seemed that Marik wasn't here to throw that in his face. Taking a deep drag he blew the smoke into Marik's face, his eyes holding the question he didn't dare voice.

 

“He's well enough.” Marik turned his face away in distaste. “A loyal follower to the end.” He put in mockingly, Bakura grimacing and baring his teeth at the ill disguised barb. Marik in turn narrowed his eyes, the dark scars making the lavender orbs seem menacing for a moment before the softened again. “He worries about you.” He stated seriously.

 

Bakura almost snorted in reply. “I don't know who got it worse.”

 

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself.” Marik chided, lavender locking onto crimson once more. “It doesn't suit you.”

 

Bakura laughed bitterly. Narrowing his eyes at the other he regarded the ruler of Hell once more. “Cut the crap, no matter what Akeifa has said, that is not the reason you are here.”

 

“Perhaps not, but he has a point Bakura. How long have you confined yourself to this world now?”

 

Bakura looked up to the sky, even after all this time he never tired of looking up at the stars. “I've lost count of the years. After a couple of millennia you tend to.” He snapped back.

 

“It's the 21st Century Bakura, and that doesn't record the time before Christ.”

 

“Ah yes, that rather artful piece of propaganda!” Bakura laughed, and Marik couldn't help but join in.

 

He sniggered remembering it all too well. “Well I had less to do for a while. Nothing like a few miracles to put the fear of God into the masses.”

 

“Indeed. I could barely believe it, I had to see it with my own eyes. Jerusalem at the crucifixion, you had to be there.” Bakura chuckled darkly. “But then again, you were.”

 

Marik nodded, the two had run into each other back then. As Bakura had put it, he had to see it with his own eyes. The presence of God himself, handed to mortal men to suffer and to die. Besides, it had been his part to tempt Christ in the desert. He smiled with a certain satisfaction, knowing how close that had been. God may command the heart of a man, but the flesh is an altogether different proposition. He regarded Bakura as he watched the stars.

 

“I find you much changed since then.” He posed to the other, crimson eyes regarding him with displeasure.

 

“You spend several millennia on earth as a mortal and so would you!” He snapped.

 

Marik smirked at the reaction. It was so easy to get a rise out of him. “You were not so disillusioned then, you still had hope.”

 

“Hope!” Bakura spat. “What the fuck do I have to hope for?” He snarled, anger deepening the hue of his eyes.

 

“Nor were you so bitter.” Marik continued, pointedly ignoring the question, enjoying the snort Bakura gave in reply.

 

“Fuck it, I think I have earned the right.” He stubbed out the cigarette on the ground and turned his back on Marik, he'd had enough of this little audience already. But Marik was not going to leave it at that.

 

“You can still earn your way back.” He called out to Bakura's back, suppressing a snigger as Bakura froze, his fists clenching.

 

Bakura felt the anger rise through him in a wave. It seemed to come all too easy these days, but lack of sleep and a hundred other little irritations meant that it took little to make him snap, and right now Marik was testing his limited patience.

 

“What if I don't want to, what if I no longer care!” He snarled, turning back to Marik, who stood there arms folded, smirking at the snow haired immortal.

 

“Why Bakura, don't tell me you've given up.” He taunted.

 

Bakura sucked in breath between his teeth sharply as he flinched, Marik might as well have punched him the verbal blow stung that much. Give up! Not him, he never gave up. And yet here he was, millennia later, still earthbound, bitter and twisted by his lonely existence. Perhaps… No! He would never admit to the fact that his hope crumbled a little more with each passing year.

 

“Fuck you!” He spat, returning to cursing when he was cornered as he always did. “You wouldn't give a shit if I did!”

 

Marik laughed heartily, the sound a deep but pleasing rumble in the quiet night. “Oh dear Bakura, unfortunately I would.” He sniggered and fought to calm the laughter. “Immortal souls and their ascension to Heaven are my responsibility, and like it or not, that happens to include you.”

 

Bakura rolled his eyes, clenching his fists. He was consumed by the urge to punch Marik, punch anything right now. He bit down on his tongue to control it, knowing that any such attempt would be futile and end only in his humiliation. He bit hard enough to taste blood, the pain focusing his thoughts. Whatever else, he was not about to lose his dignity. Not even God could strip him of that.

 

“In fact.” Marik continued, his eyes belying the amusement he gained from Bakura's struggle with his emotions. He was not burdened by such emotions, his nature protecting him from any of his emotions controlling him. “The further you slip from the Divine, the more you lose heart, the more my responsibility you become.”

 

A growl slipped out from Bakura's throat unbidden. Oh the bloody irony. It wasn't lost on him.

 

“It seems you are stuck with me Bakura.” Marik gloated.

 

“So I can look forward to more of these little late night visits.” He snarled.

 

“Not necessarily late night.” Marik replied with a chuckle at Bakura's answering groan . “This just happened to be convenient.”

 

“Well lucky fucking me! Can I go back to hating my life in peace again?”

 

The smile left Marik's face, now it was time to get serious.

 

“Look, beat yourself up all you want Bakura, you just put yourself more and more into my hands, you would do well to listen to your heart, your dreams once in a while.”

 

Bakura's eyes widened in shock. “So I can thank you for them giving me no rest then.” It kind of made sense, they had been upping the ante of late, leaving him irritable more and more often.

 

“Actually no.” Marik replied, the smirk beginning to return. “But it is his only way of communicating with you, and considering how worried he is getting, I think he may be getting a little insistent.”

 

Bakura groaned. Part of his heart still belonged to Akeifa, and he knew that his love would indeed try and make a point, and would keep trying till he sat up and take notice.

 

“If you want to get a good night's sleep then I suggest you start paying attention and quit moping around. After all, what is the worst that could happen, you might even redeem yourself.”

 

“You make a lousy fucking fairy godmother you know that! By rights you should have helped me on my way by now.”

 

Marik roared with laughter, now that was rich. Even Bakura found himself smirking a little at his own dark humour.

 

“Bakura you are priceless. That has to be one of the better things you have learned. I fucking love your sense of humour.”

 

In all seriousness though, Marik was putting some thought into the idea as his laughter calmed. He was bound by very strict rules and could not act directly, but what harm could a gentle nudge do. He made a mental note to look into things and see how charitable God was feeling at the moment. Perhaps he could slip something in under the radar so to speak. He found that Bakura was watching him quizzically, perhaps it was because his smirk had been widening as he had been thinking.

 

“Well, I think we have spent enough time chatting for now, but you can be certain that I shall be watching you.”

 

“Forgive me for not jumping for joy.” Bakura replied dryly.

 

“Granted.” Marik replied quickly, knowing it would irritate the other. “But think about it. Look for the message Akeifa is trying to send you. Listen and learn. At the very least you might get a good night's sleep out of it. And at least you know he still cares.”

 

Before Bakura could offer a sharp reply Marik vanished. A rather annoying habit the Fallen angel had. It was the same every time they met. Now that he was alone that annoyance along with every other welled up inside him and he let it. The object chosen for release of said annoyance and anger was an ill fated trashcan at the gateway to the park. With a roar he punched it with all his might, gritting his teeth at the pain in his knuckles. He stood there rubbing his sore hand, knowing the pain would pass in a minute, not caring if anyone had seen. He looked at the mutilated object, aware that on some level that his action had been cathartic, and somehow left him in better control of himself. Though on the other hand if Marik had been watching he was probably curled up in fits of laughter by now. But to be honest, Bakura just didn't give a shit about the Fallen angel right now, his thoughts were with another of the Fallen.

 

So Akeifa was sending him the dreams he mused as he walked. He struggled with the thought, any thoughts that involved his love always brought pain with them. Over the millennia since their last meeting their connection had lessened. While Bakura still felt love for the Fallen angel, it was not the same as it had been. His emotions were not the rational emotions of an angel anymore, now the rough rampant hormone driven feelings that the mortals experienced. In the beginning he had questioned how humanity coped with it, it seemed such a curse, but he had adapted. It was either that or go mad.

 

But was how he was now any better. It seemed that his punishment for his fall from grace had been specifically designed to make him the opposite of the angel he had been. He had become irrational, bitter and angry. The last time he had felt compassion was so long ago that the emotion was almost alien to him now. The love that he had treasured in his heart had changed, a mockery of what it had once been. But then again, that was the point now wasn't it.

 

He looked at his watch 4am. Damn! Still he headed home. Perhaps he could try and get some more sleep before morning. Coming back to the mundane world he would have to settle and get a job at some point, after all he needed money for food shelter and suchlike. Damn the needs of the fucking flesh! You would think after all this time he would be used to it, but no, it still held that same irritation. It was the bloody routine that got to him. The measured pacing of days, each one marking out the passage of time since his fall from grace, each one another day without redemption. He was beginning to think it would never come.

 

Truth be told he had ceased looking for it. After all the fist couple of millennia he spent tirelessly searching for it had not got him anywhere. He'd come to the conclusion that looking for it was of no help and therefore a pointless task. That and he simply could not be bothered anymore. He pulled out his keys as he approached the apartment block, and made his way back to his small abode. Hell it wasn't much, nothing more than a double bedroom, a small lounge, even smaller kitchen and a bathroom that was barely big enough to accommodate the bath, sink and toilet. At the thought of the latter he shuddered. The memory of the first time he had found out about that particular bodily function still did not sit well with him.

 

He hung his coat on the back of the door and decided that perhaps a showers was the way forward, perhaps help him clear his mind. Then he might be able to concentrate on whatever message Akeifa was trying to send. He snorted at the thought, was he really entertaining taking this seriously? What the fuck had gotten into him? Suddenly the shower didn't seem like a good idea. He stripped quickly and threw back the covers. He laid down, one hand behind his head, fingers entangling in snowy hair that he wished belonged to another. He lay staring out of the window at the stars and waited to see if perhaps, sleep might be kind for once and take him into it's arms.

 

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“Come with me. We both know Marik is right. It isn't right that God holds back mankind. They are a glorious race, his most divine creation and yet he holds them back. Think of their souls, their immortal souls!”

 

~

 

“It is not a question of choosing one over the other. I cannot stand by Marik, and I will not fight against you.”

 

~

 

“You see Bakura, he is willing to suffer anything for you, but you would not do the same. You could learn a lesson from him.”

 

~

 

“For you, there will be a chance at redemption. However that chance must be earned. Heaven's gates will be barred to you until you find something that you will fight for, you would give everything up for.”

 

~

 

“Judgement has been passed. There is no reprieve.”

 

~

 

“Hold on to me. This is going to hurt, but just hold on. There is a way back for you. Remember that, always remember that.”

 

“There is a way back for you. Remember that, always remember that.”

 

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Bakura woke with a start, sitting upright sharply. He was breathing hard, his body bathed in a thin coat of perspiration, and Gabriel's words ringing in his ears. It seemed his love had decided to be specific on this occasion. Regaining control of his breathing he ran his fingers through his unruly mop of hair. He no longer took as much care of his mane as he once had, but kept it long reasoning that it would please Akeifa as it had in Heaven. He smiled darkly to himself.

 

“Looks like you've been conspiring with Marik.” He muttered into the dark.

 

Still the dream had the desired effect. He was mulling on Gabriel's words, the soft whisper had held such urgency. He felt a sudden pang to see the angel again, but as yet the Right Hand of God had never visited him, and he was not at liberty to visit the other. But he had never forgotten the kindness Gabriel had shown him at his judgement. The words had been spoken with such fervour and he could hardly forget the look in the archangel's eyes. He truly believed in what he had said. That memory seemed to restore a little of the hope within his heart. He hadn't quite given up yet, and it seemed that perhaps he shouldn't. Gabriel had believed, and it was clear that Akeifa still believed in him.

 

It was only now that he took in the darkness of his surroundings. A swift look to the clock had him groaning in frustration. 5am glared back at him. Fucking hell! He threw himself back on the bed with a thump a frustrated snarl escaping his lips, and somewhere in another place entirely lavender eyes were filled with amusement as Marik laughed.

 

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AN:

Okay okay, plotline chapter with no real action I know. Please bear with honestly, I needed to do this as it set important context for the most part and set up later actions on Marik's part. He can't do things later without motive or reason, so I had to put it there. I promise things will get a little more interesting later. I am already envisaging the next chapter. So bear with, and I promise we shall get to the other characters next chapter!! I am hoping I managed to get the two more in character, after all, I find a good Bakura is a grumpy Bakura, but that is just my opinion.