Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Royalty ❯ Royalty Ch. 22 ( Chapter 22 )

Author: And continuing…the author's notes wont' get longer until the next chapter…just on with the story to the end…

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"I have mistreated you terribly for these past ten months…" Yami looked straight at Bakura, whom stared straight back at him, "One day I know the gods will punish me for my deeds…but until then…I can only give Ryou all that I have…and give you my deepest apologies…I know of no other way that I can ever undo what I have done to you."

"You will never comprehend what I have suffered Pharaoh…" the white haired teen replied, "it was the hope to see Marik…and Ryou's sudden appearance that kept me my sanity…in fact, if it weren't for Ryou's encouraging appearance…I fear that I probably would have lost my sense of self."

"I am completely guilty for that…and I know that I am wrong…though I know it is too late…I can only learn from this mistake and not treat someone else the same way… Again I offer you my apologies."

Bakura's gaze remained hard, "I accept your apology Pharaoh…but I will not …I will never forgive you for what you have done."

"I understand that… I am just glad that you have accepted my apology…" the Pharaoh shifted a bit, "Malik is free now, as are you…no more masters…"

"But we cannot remain in this palace. I was born on the streets; I was born wild…life in the palace is not for me. And Malik…Malik is so young and so eager to see what is beyond these palace walls…I'm going to take him with me."

"Ryou will miss you greatly."

"I know…but we won't truly be apart. We will try to come and visit…but the world is so large…that I am afraid that we may be apart in body for a long time…but not in soul…in soul I know that Ryou will never be apart from us…I love the boy dearly as does Malik…but we have our own paths to follow…"

"I understand," Yami continued to watch Bakura, "if there is any trouble…any need of help…I can assure you that the palace will always have its doors open for you."

"Thank you…you are a great Pharaoh," Bakura smiled, "Yami…"

When the two young men entered the Great Hall the altars were already set and ready, incense smoke swirling gently in the air. It was a small gathering; the younger Ishtar brother, Ryou and Jounouchi's sister.

There were conversations and crying. Shizuka sobbed over her brother, speaking of her life to the altar and crying about how much she misses him, unable to have had see him too many times over the years. "I only saw you once every month…ever since you became a healer…I miss you so much Jounouchi…I can only hope that the gods granted you a wonderful afterlife…I know for certain that your heart is lighter than the feather of truth…you were such a wonderful brother; you taught me so many things that I will never forget…"

Ryou burst into tears when he stepped up to the altars, "I never got to know you Jounouchi! I wanted so much for you to have taught me more…I learned so much from you! You gave me the education that I never had from my wretched childhood…you gave me something to do…you turned me into a healer…I have never gotten the chance to thank you for your kindness…your support…you healed me when I was in pain…and you made me laugh to heal my sorrow…T-T-Thank you so much Jounouchi…I will never forget what you have done to me…I promise that I will become a good healer…in your name."

Tears flowed down his face freely as he turned to the other altar, "M-Marik…you were like the brother that I never had…I remember the first day…when you washed me, I felt so scared but you continued to reassure me…you wouldn't lie to me…you told me exactly what the reality was…you looked after me all these times…you kept me away from harm…you protected me…I never had anyone in my life who would care for my well being like that… T-Thank you Marik, with all my heart…

"I dreamed a future with all of us together…but it has been torn apart so suddenly…I knew the both of you for a little more than a month…but it feels like forever…I wish that we could have been together…but your souls will always lie with me…I promise you that…"

"Jounouchi…you were the best friend I ever had in my life…" a tear slipped from Yami's eyes as he spoke, "Remember when I ran off from my lessons? I tried to jump over the gates and fell…you just came by and healed me like new…it was so funny how we had to hide from our teachers…knowing that you weren't allowed to cast spells outside your lessons…" he laughed slightly, "but we did anyways… I don't even know what caused me to grow so distant from you…ever since I was on the throne we saw each other less and less… there wasn't any forms of farewell…you just disappeared…or maybe I disappeared from your life…we were just about to come together again…I missed you so much my friend… I only wish that our reunion wasn't so short…but our friendship will last forever… I will never forget you…"

"You fool…" Bakura's voice cracked, "Always have to be so loud…so stubborn…heh…stubborn but the most loving person that I could have ever encountered…Marik…I wish I could have said that to you more often…I wish I could have told you that I love you more often…Your eyes always seemed to light up every time I said that…did I ever tell you how beautiful you were when that happened? I had planned on a good-bye…but I realize that it means nothing now…it's not good-bye Marik…because I love you…I cannot say good-bye to that…it will always live with me…to me you will always live forever…because love lives forever…This is my one chance to tell you how I feel…but words cannot express just how much you mean to me…I love you so much that even the word love itself isn't significant…not for you Marik…you are more than that…

"You were the one special thing that happened to me when I arrived at this palace…you played with me…it was over the years of your kind heart that I grew to love so much…you hid it with a curtain of tears…but you were kind…I love you Marik…so wait for me…

"Your brother…I will look after him…for he means as much as you to me… I will never stop loving you…Marik…my love…"

Malik was in tears by the time he stepped up to the altars, "M-M-Marik…I will never understand why you were taken away from me…you raised me… took care of me…you were my wonderful brother…

"You protected me all the way to the end…cherishing my life over yours…what more love and devotion can I ask from you? I love you Marik…you understood the pain we suffered…and even though it seemed as if you were trying to destroy my hopes…you just didn't want to see me broken…you were trying so hard to protect me…I wished that I was able to tell you that…I wish I hadn't taken you for granted…I'm sorry Marik…I love you…

"Bakura…he promised to take care of me now…will you allow him to love me Marik? I love him…as much as you loved him… I promise that I won't replace you…I know I won't in his heart…you are close to me when I am with him…it's as if your love still lies around us…around me… You gave your life for mine…so I will live on for you Marik…my brother…my loving brother…

"I love you so much Jounouchi…you know that…but I have to tell you again…because I know deep in my heart that there is so much more that I should say…that words cannot describe. I am so sorry that you got dragged into this battle…into this struggle for my freedom…I will never stop being thankful for all the things you have done for me…I love you so…

"Bakura…I love him so much…but I promise that he won't replace you…no one will ever replace you Jono…no one…you were my lover…no one else's but mine own…you gave yourself to me…a slave…you accepted me for who I am…not for who I was…what more could I have asked for in love? Your love was the most wonderful thing that was ever given to me Jounouchi…and I cherish it with my life and soul… I love you…from the bottom of my heart…I love you…I love you...please don't forget me…for I will never ever forget you…my Jounouchi…"

And so they stood there; siblings, friends and lovers; letting their emotions flow freely to the two young men before letting them go, knowing their souls were now free.

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