Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Shadow of the Past; The Light of the Future ❯ The Ruins of Kul Elna ( Chapter 23 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

*runs and trips* Ow… *gets up*

Atem: …

Bakura: …

Marik: *throwing a knife in the air and catching it*

MARIK!! IF THAT KNIFE GETS INTO THE CEILING I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!!

Marik: …?? What's her problem?

Bakura: You know how she is.

Atem: …

“Talking”

`Thinking'

~Place/Time~

-??? POV-

`la la la' - song(s)

^Flashback^

><><><><><><><><& gt;<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><>< ;><><><><><><><><><&g t;<><

Like a shooting star

Across the midnight sky

Wherever you are

You're gonna see me fly

Like a shooting star

Across the midnight sky

Wherever you are

You're gonna see me fly!

Across the midnight sky~!

Where were you to hold my hand

Do the things that we had planned

Yes, I need you by my side

When things go crazy

I just need to know you care

Guaranteed that you'll be there

When I wake up in the night

Will you be my guiding light?

I don't care how far

I'll take a plane tonight

Just tell me where you are

And everything's gonna be alright

Like a shooting star

Across the midnight sky

Gonna fly

Just to be with you tonight

Like a shooting star

Across the midnight sky

Gonna fly

Just to be with you tonight

Ch. 23: The Ruins of Kul Elna

~Cave~

Atem was slowly coming out from being unconscious and opened his eyes to see a man with a gold mask and has tattoos similar to the items… but that didn't register for a moment. `Where am I?!' He thought as he quickly sat up only to feel some pain. `That's right! Bakura took the Millennium Pendant…!!'

“Don't move…” Said the man. “You're badly wounded… You need to rest and regain your strength.” He got up and headed out of the cave.

“Who are you? W… Wait…” Atem said as he struggled to get up.

The man stopped and said. “I am the one who watches all through the eyes of the light. A great battle is about to begin… be ready for it when it comes.”

Atem was on his feet and used the wall to keep him up. “Wait! I can walk!” He said as the man seemed to disappear out of mid air and only saw the night sky. `A great battle!!' He thought as the nighttime wind came in.

“Atem?”

He heard a voice and looked to see Heba.

“Atem! Are you alright?”

“Yes, for the most part…” He said as he looked at her. “And you?” He saw scrapes, bruises, and her clothes were in near shreds.

“I'm fine.” She said as she shivered. “Let's get inside, it's cold out here.” She said as she took a couple of steps then looked at the other. “Do you need help?”

He shook his head and started to walk, only to fall against the wall of the cave.

She went over to his side and placed his hand on her shoulder.

He got the idea as he tried it again this time using her as a balance support. “What were you doing outside?” He asked her as she helped him down to sit.

“Getting water to clean your wounds.” She said as she held up a really moist cloth. “We're some ways away from the Nile, but I got there and back as quickly as I could.” She started dabbing the cloth on his arm.

“It's cold.” He said, making her giggle.

“I did run up here when night started to fall.”

“Pardon?”

“When I woke up, it was daytime, and I saw that we weren't too far from the city or the river. But its still a good walk from here, and you're wounded.”

“These cuts and bruises aren't that bad.”

“That's not what I meant…” She stopped dabbing the cloth and looked down at the ground.

“Heba…?”

“I was scared… when I saw you when Slifer was attacked…” She said, fighting the tears.

He thought back on that and did feel guilty scaring her. “But I'm alright now… See… I'm still here…”

She looked at him from the corner of her eye.

“If you didn't come, I'd probably would have been dead then… and…” He didn't know what to say to cheer her up.

She returned to dabbing his wounds on his arms. “Just don't scare me like that again.” She said. “At least let me know before you do.”

“I'll try, but I won't guarantee it.” He said as she started dabbing his face. He looked at her and said aloud. “Even in your condition, you're still amazing…”

She blinked and looked at him. “Pardon?”

It was his turn to blink. “What?”

“You said something.”

“No I didn't…” A small sweat drop formed.

“Yes you did.”

“You're sure it wasn't a trick of the mind?”

“No… I'm pretty sure you said something…” She said as his sweat drop became bigger. “I believe it's between the lines of `in my condition, I'm still amazing'…”

“I was actually talking about you.”

They stared at each other for a moment before the young king spoke.

“I can't lie to you, can I?”

“I have the ability to make others guilty for not telling me the truth.”

He nodded. “Good ability to have.”

“It doesn't work all the time, but it does work.” She said as she continued to dab the dried blood from the side of his mouth when he gently grabbed her wrist and she looked from the spot she was dabbing to his eyes.

They stared at each other for a moment before he hesitatingly leaned towards her and stopped when he was only a half an inch from her, before closing is eyes and kissed her. Her eyes widened a moment before she closed her eyes as well and neither of them wanted to move from that spot.

~Next Morning: Somewhere in the Canyons~

“Great Pharaoh! Heba! Great Pharaoh!” Shada and the men called. “Heba! Great Pharaoh!” He called when one of his men came up.

“Lord Shada! We've turned over every rock in the canyons, but the Pharaoh, or Heba, is nowhere to be found…”

Shada sighed as he remembered the sight of the two falling. `It's all my fault.' He thought. `Because I couldn't protect them, they fell into Bakura's hands…' He then remembered what the thief said to Heba. `But she managed to get out of his hands before… And she was there in time to try to help the Pharaoh, even though it was pointless… Either way… I can't return to the palace until I find them! And there's something else I have to do too…' He then turned to one of his men. “Has the group following Bakura found his trail?!”

“Yes sir! We've found the thief's hideout!”

“And that is…?!” He said then thought. `The village of Kul Elna near the Valley of the Kings!!' He then looked up and noticed a ka in the sky. `Isis's ka… Spiria!'

While back at the palace, she was focusing so that she could see what her ka sees.

Back in the cave, Atem was up while Heba slept on his lap. He smiled and stroked her hair, which was responded by her nuzzling up to his hand. He then thought about the man from last night. `Who was that man?' He thought. “I am the one who watches all through the eyes of the light.” He then gently lifted her head from his lap and placed it gently on the ground and started to stand and walk out towards the mouth of the cave. `How many days have passed since Bakura stole the Millennium Pendant? I hope the palace is safe…' He thought. `I can't stay here… I have to recover the Millennium Items… No matter what…' He looked out to see Spiria, which made Isis aware.

~Palace: Hospital Wing~

Seth looked at Kisara through the bars as he thought. `The White Dragon resides in Kisara, but the dragon is her ba… the soul that gives life to her body. If I remove it, she will die…' He then remembered what the elder priest said.

“If you sacrifice the girl, then god will become yours!!”

`Lord Akhenaden actually told me to kill her so I could take the god…!' He thought. `And become the next Pharaoh!' He closed his eyes after watching the woman for sometime. `I don't understand… Lord Akhenaden is the highest of the priests. He always showed mercy, even to the worst sinners. But then I saw those hate-filled eyes. Why…?' He opened his eyes partly, but still in deep thought. `When I ascended to the priesthood, I was just a child. You were the one to teach me mortality… philosophy… the Eternal Order… the Law of Ma'at… I'm just an orphan whose Father died on the battlefield. My duty is to protect the Pharaoh, the true heir to the throne… And that's why… I want to be the heir to the one who protects the throne and the palace, I want to by your heir, Akhenaden.'

“Lord Seth!!” A guard came up. “The Pharaoh has been found! And Heba as well! They're alright!”

“What?! Seth said. “The Pharaoh lives?!”

“Yes sir!!”

He was silent for only a moment until he started laughing, which slightly creeped the guard out. He then stopped and began walking out. “Move the woman to another room at once.” He told the guards. “Don't tell anyone her location, except me!”

“Yes sir!”

“You're becoming a great man, Seth…”

He heard a voice. “Who's there?!”

“You're becoming better then you were days before…”

“Show yourself!”

“We will meet again, but for now keep up with what you are doing, and don't let the shadows of the past change you to create the same mistake…”

“Where the hell are you?!” But the voice didn't respond and he quickly headed out of the room.

Akhenaden heard the news as well, but he fell to his knees and looked completely shocked. `The Pharaoh… is alive…'

In the throne room moments later, everyone gathered to listen to Isis and Siamun.

“Isis's spirit Spiria has sighted the Pharaoh in a canyon on the edge of the city!!” Siamun said. “It seems he's hurt, but he's alive!!”

“Hooray!” The men shouted.

“Shada is the closest to his position.” Isis said. “I've sent him to rescue the Pharaoh, as well as Heba who is under the same condition.”

“So Shada and Heba are safe as well? Good…” Siamun said, slightly relieved.

“But it is possible that Bakura has stolen the Pharaoh's Millennium Item. Shada has followed Bakura and discovered the thief's lair.” Isis said

“Where is it?”

~Back at the Canyons~

“The village of Kul Elna?” Atem said as he got on the horse.

“The village that Bakura kept talking about?” Heba said.

“Yes!” Shada said as he and the men bowed before their king.

`My father trusted me with the Millennium Pendant…' Atem thought. `I can't return to the palace without it!' He looked at the others again and said. “Now that we know where he is, let's go take back what belongs to us!”

“You can't!” Shada said. “Great Pharaoh! Not with those wounds!! You should return to the palace!”

“Even as we speak, Bakura is looking for another chance to attack us! He many already be on his way! We have to take the battle to him! We can't let him do what he did last time, and use the city and the people as a shield!”

“But- -“ Shada said.

“Kul Elna will be the stage for the final battle!!”

Shada was silent when Heba spoke.

“Might as well go to Kul Elna. When he has a goal in mind there's no stopping him, I don't even think the gods would even convince him to go.”

Shada nodded understandingly.

“And that's why I'm coming along.”

Shada nearly fell when he heard that. “Bu-“

“Don't give me that Shada-sama! I may be wounded, but that doesn't mean I can still come along. And besides, even if you knock me out and drag me back to the palace and lock me in a room, I'll find a way to get myself to Kul Elna, even if I have to loose an arm and leg to do so.” She said then turned to Atem. “And don't you start. If something were to happen to you, I'll go absolutely crazy not knowing what happened to you and blame myself for not being there.”

Atem smiled. `Gods she's spent way too much time with me.' He thought as he held out his hand. “Well, come along then.”

Heba smiled and nodded before quickly grabbing his and getting on the horse.

Shada knew that he was outnumbered on this and looked a Spiria. “Spiria!!” He said, gaining its attention. “Isis… do you hear us?”

~Back at the Palace~

“Send the priests to Kul Elna at once!” Isis said. “We will fight with the Pharaoh at the Valley of the Kings!!”

Akhenaden looked shocked as he thought. `The village of Kul Elna…! That place…!'

~Desert~

The Pharaoh, Heba, Shada and his men were riding quickly towards to where the village was supposed to be. Atem looked determined as they neared the ruins.

Heba felt nervous and scared and buried her face on his back, which made the young king aware of her, but they arrived at the ruins before he can comfort her distress. She looked as well and saw energy streams going all over the ruins.

“So this is Kul Elna.” Shada said. “What a sinister aura this place has…”

She sensed the ghosts' displeasure and held the young king tightly, who then placed a hand on hers.

`Bakura…' Atem thought. `Where are you?' He held her hand which seemed to help with her distress a little.

~In the hidden shrine~

The ghosts infested the place as Bakura looked while the Millennium Ring raised two needles up. `The needles of the Millennium Ring are stirring…' He thought. `I see… This means the priests have come to join us…' He then said. “I'd like to say `welcome to our village'… But as they'll soon see… It's a ghost town.” He chuckled then said. “I'm sorry ghosts… you're upset, aren't you? You hate the owners of the cursed Millennium Items…”

~Somewhere in the Desert~

The priests rode out and headed towards the village.

`We must hurry!!' Siamun thought. `Without his Millennium Pendant, the Pharaoh can't summon the three gods!!'

`This time I'll kill Bakura with my own hands!!' Seth thought.

`Kul Elna…' Akhenaden thought. `To think that I must return to that cursed place…'

`Pharaoh… Heba…' Kalim thought. `I pray that both of you are safe....'

~Kul Elna~

The group took a moment to look at the ruins.

`Since I came to this village I feel like I can't breathe…' Atem thought. `Like something's tearing out my heart…' He then looked at a skull. `Bodies in the ruins… What happened here?' He felt Heba bury her face onto his back. `Heba can sense it as well...'

Then a guard came up to him and Shada. “My lords… a few buildings ahead, we've found a hidden trapdoor that leads underground. Several soldiers have gone to check it out.

“A trap door?” Atem said.

“Be careful!” Shada said. “Bakura may be in hiding!”

“Bakura, at this point…” Heba said in a shaky voice. “Is the least of the soldiers' problems.” She started to shake.

“Heba?” Atem said. “What's wrong?”

“I… I don't know…” She said. “I just felt… something hitting me… just now…”

He was worried. `She's sensitive to these kinds of auras…' He gave her hand a comfortive squeeze as he thought. `Bakura! I'll stop you!' He then felt the returned squeeze from the young girl.

~Hidden Shrine~

The soldiers walked down the steps into the shrine and one of them said. “This looks like a temple! Under the ground!”

Then the other soldier said. “Is anyone here?”

`Ghosts…' Bakura thought. `The party is just beginning… don't eat too much and get full…'

Then the soldiers found themselves surrounded by the ghosts. The ghosts acted like snakes, coiling around the soldiers and then entered the soldiers, which killed them from the inside.

~Outside the Shrine~

Everyone got over to the entrance of the trapdoor when they hear yells. “What in the world…?” Shada said when Heba shook violently.

“Heba…” Atem said when he heard someone calling him.

“Ph-Pharaoh!” Said a soldier. “This shrine is filled with evil spirits! Stay out for your life!” Then the ghost did its worst and killed him.

While in the shrine, Bakura looked shocked. `What?!' He thought. `Did he just say… Pharaoh?!! The Pharaoh is alive?!!' He then called. “Come on in Pharaoh! This is the temple of the dead! Do you want your Millennium Pendant? It's right here… Around my neck!”

~Outside the Shrine~

Atem slightly growled at what he heard and was about to go in when Shada blocked him. “Pharaoh!” The priest said. “You can't fight as long as he has the Millennium Pendant! The priests will be here any moment…”

“But… the soldiers will all die…!!” Atem said as he thought. “Never turn your back on what you believe is right!” `That's what my father told me when he gave me the Millennium Pendant!' He felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked to see Heba. “Heba?” He quietly said.

She smiled and said. “Be careful…” She slightly shoved him, as if saying `go for it'.

He smiled and nodded. `Thank you, Heba.' He thought as he quickly passed Shada and entered the temple. `I'll honor my father's wish… And take back the pendant with my own hands!!' He and Bakura met face to face once again when the thief said.

“Back from the brink of death… eh, `Great Pharaoh'?”

Shada then ran in. “Great Pharaoh!”

Atem went up to a surviving soldier. “Are you alright?!” He said, which was responded by a groan. “Hang in there!” He then faced the thief. “Bakura!!” He shouted.

“Calm down…” Bakura said coolly. “Take a look at this!” He pointed to a tablet that looked like a sarcophagus with holes in it.

Atem looked at it and thought. `Holes shaped like the Millennium Items…!'

“This is the cursed tablet that connects this world to the next… The Seven Millennium Items fit in these holes, do you know why?” Bakura said angrily. “This is where the Millennium Items were forged!”

><><><><><><><><& gt;<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><>< ;><><><><>

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart there'll always be a place for you

For all my life

When I think back on the times

And the dreams we left behind

I'll be glad cos I was blessed to get to have you in my life

When I look back on these days

I'll look and see your face

You were right there for me

In my dreams I'll always see you soar above the sky

In my heart there'll always be a place for you

For all my life I'll keep a part of you with me

And everywhere I am there you'll be