I don't mind waiting. I have been waiting for millennia, another hour doesn't make any difference. I don't like to be kept waiting, though. I don't care how long it takes for my plans to come to fruition; but to be called and told to wait right here like a common person, that's something different. I keep pacing back and forth. It was Malik's voice on the phone, for sure. He sounded curt and abrasive as usual. He probably didn't learn anything from his whole Battle City debacle. I grin. Whatever. I don't care for Malik Ishtar.
His ramblings about how he was going to fulfill destiny however, were quite... interesting. Perhaps it's the only reason why I agreed to come out here. I have a weird relationship with destiny. I'm not sure how he knew my Host was in Egypt, searching for his father once more, going around bazaars and hotels, desperately asking around if someone had seen the man. This is Malik's homeland, he probably knew because of his contacts in the big city. It's also my homeland, but it's not speaking to me. It's been so long. Am I supposed to feel something when seeing all this rock and sand?
Anyone else might feel scared at Karnak in the middle of the night. Very little scares me, though I'm apprehensive. I hear sounds; the engines of heavy vehicles, and from the increasing noises, quite a lot of vehicles. Doors open and close, but no words are spoken. Karnak is lit by the moon only; the temple is overrun with tourists by daylight, admiring the pillars and remnants of what once used to be a grandiose place for worship and prayer. It makes me sick. Not the tourists. The worship. I cross my arms in front of my chest, covering up my Ring... but if it's truly Malik, he knows about it, of course. People approach me, wearing deep purple cloaks, hoods all pulled up so I can't see their faces. The guy in the middle though, hasn't bothered to cover himself up. I smirk.
"Malik," I say. "So good to see you."
"Bakura." He stops at a respective distance from me, and as soon as he halts, the rest halts as well. I can't count all of them, their dark cloaks mix in with the deep colors of the night, and tonight isn't a full moon. How many are there? "I appreciate you coming at this hour."
"Save the sweet talk," I say, just as curt. "You were talking about destiny."
"Yes, yes I was." He looks nervous, agitated even. "I thought I had fulfilled it when I... participated in Battle City."
"Yes, go on," I say after he falls silent. Just out of curiosity, I look him over, but I can't see if he has retrieved the Sennen Rod or not. It's supposed to be with the Pharaoh, though...
"It turned out to be different," he says, and then he flinches, as someone steps forward from all the hooded and cloaked men behind him. It takes all of my restraint to not show any surprise when I recognize the one walking up to Malik and casually putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Long time no see, thief," he says and his voice sends shivers down my spine. I scowl at him. "I knew we'd meet again. You"re as hard to kill as a cockroach."
"Why thank you," I say. "You, apparently, have made a deal with every devil known in existence."
He grins. That crazy, diabolical grin. Those pupil-less eyes, slightly narrowed, so full with contempt and hatred. He hasn't changed a single bit. He looks like he's having fun though, his own strange interpretation of fun. Malik is scared of him, and I can imagine why. He scares even me... but despite everything, he doesn't utter a threat and he doesn't challenge me. He just stands next to Malik as if he doesn't have a care in the world. There's no room for Malik no yami no jinkaku in my plans. How in every hell has he managed to come back?
But that question isn't going to be answered tonight. Instead, Malik straightens himself, talking curtly again, ignoring the one standing next to him. "Apparently, Battle City wasn't my destiny," he says, "or I didn't fulfill the prophecy the way it should be. I wasn't sure, so I looked for another way... I'm here to give you a gift."
"A gift." I repeat dumbfounded. Have I traveled all the way to Karnak to learn that this son of a bitch is still alive, and to receive 'a gift', that I don't care for? Anything Malik Ishtar is gifting me, is useless. It's not... Malik steps aside, and there's his brother, the one he told me about during the tournament: Rashid... Ramsis... no, Rishid. He's tall and strong, yet his eyes are docile. Didn't Malik used to yammer about him during Battle City and how he had fallen prey to his dark side? Rishid comes forward, and he's holding something... no, someone, in his arms. I have no difficulties recognizing him of course, the one who has destroyed my life, the one who's supposed to be a fair and just ruler? My throat runs dry and I find myself swallowing, even.
Rishid closes the distance and carefully goes down on one knee, laying down the Pharaoh on the cool sand. He's dressed in his school uniform, meaning that they probably plucked him from the street, maybe when his Other was still out... if his Other was threatened in any way or form, the Pharaoh would come out, it's as simple as that. The Puzzle rests against his chest, his hands protectively folded around it. I'm amazed. I have never used violence, always waiting for the right moment, always patient, always biding my time...
"This is a gift I like," I say. Rishid withdraws his hands and stands up. He doesn't turn around, he walks away from me backwards, keeping his head low. In his place, Malik approaches me, still nervous. "Why are you doing this?"
"I'm not the one to fulfill destiny," he says. "He is. You are. Not me. Maybe I'm helping destiny along by giving him to you, or maybe I'm screwing destiny over, I'm not sure. I'd do anything." He lowers his voice, his eyes panicked pools of unrest. "Please help me, Bakura. He's going to kill us all."
"What did you do?" I can't help but to lower my voice as well.
"He showed up all of the sudden," Malik says. "I don't know what happened. I was preparing
myself for a life above ground, with Ishizu, with Rishid... to become a family without fear, without the burden and tragedy of our past. And suddenly, he was just there. Please, Bakura. I'd do anything."
I look down, at the Pharaoh lying at my feet. Malik pulls the cloak around him. "He's asleep," he says. "He's not injured. We have apologized profusely while we restrained him, but I'm sure he'll never forgive us."
"I'll consider him a down payment," I say. This is interesting. Now I can set my plans for my ultimate Dark RPG much faster in motion than I anticipated.
"What more do you want?" Malik's voice is barely audible.
"All the Sennen Items. The God Cards. Your soul," I add as last, just to freak him out. When I see the absolute panic in his eyes, I almost take pity on him. It's a miracle he's not breaking down, right here, right now. Perhaps he's stronger than I thought. "Never mind. Just bring me the other objects."
"I'll go look for them immediately." Malik turns around and I let him go. There's nothing I actually want. The God Cards have never been important to me, and the Sennen Items aren't a prerequisite for my RPG, but still... it will keep him and his dark half out of my hair. Maybe I'll even look into it how it was possible for Malik no yami no jinkaku to return. Those eyes... In the meantime, I watch them retreat and I wait until every vehicle is gone.
Then I lower myself next to the Pharaoh and touch his cheek with my hand. "Beautiful," I say, or rather, mumble. Beautiful in every way. He doesn't react; whatever Malik has given him, it's quite powerful. I take it that he's been asleep for the entire journey from Japan to Egypt. He'll wake up soon though, and I'll have him right where I want him to be. It saves me a lot of trouble, and until then, I can savor the esthetics of his features in the moonlight, staring at him until the sun rises.