The Eye Of Horus
I'm so sorry everyone! I've been having problems with the floppys, which won't open still, and have been quite lazy…not to mention trying to solve heartache… Anyways, I'm back and will be updating, although slowly.
Disclaimer: I don't own YGO, however, I do own Tara Kasuki, the Horus Items, and any other characters not related to the show.
Please enjoy, review and keep reading!
Chapter twenty-one: The Test of Decisions
"Welcome," said a male voice that echoed throughout the chamber, "To the fourth and last test, the Test of Decisions".
A young man appeared standing by the first door on the left, dressed in a kilt and wearing golden jewelry. Afterwards, three young girls appeared standing by the rest of the doors, all dressed in fine linen dresses and wearing their usual golden jewelry.
"Choose the correct door and pass to the chamber of the Horus Items. Choose the incorrect door," the young man smirked darkly, "And pay the consequences".
"That's it? This is the last test?" Yami Marik stated, eyeing the spirit with a creepy smile, "This won't stop me from getting to the main chamber."
"We highly beg to differ," the young girl standing by the middle door said, "You won't have any clues from us. Just choose a door."
Yami Marik turned his attention to her and watched her closely. She seemed so familiar…
Tara…His heart skipped inside his chest and he recognized his hikari's voice. The sight of that spirit must have awakened Marik inside him.
'Perhaps I can use this to my advantage…,' Yami Marik thought as his eyes traveled from one spirit to the other, 'I just have to find the correct way to make it work.'
"Hurry and choose," a smaller girl said from the door at Yami Marik's left, "Or we shall place a time limit."
"No time limit can stop me!" Yami Marik replied. He laughed darkly and then glared at the young man, "I'll get to that chamber with or without the time limit!"
The four spirits exchanged glances, after which they stepped forward gracefully and stood across from Yami Marik. The young man stepped toward him.
"If you keep on having that attitude, we shall put a very short period of time in which you must choose a door," the young spirit said, "So if you wish to take all the time in the world, be silent and think to yourself."
The leader of the Rare Hunters glared at the spirits but decided to be quiet. He still wasn't quite sure if he could use Marik to help him here so he had to prepare him. In the meantime, he would check some of the doors.
He turned on his heel and gazed at the remaining Rare Hunters. Only three remained. They were all gazing at the spirits with fright, fighting to keep a serious face. He couldn't help but smirk.
'These fools, the tests have messed with their heads. No matter,' he thought as the Rare Hunters met his eyes, 'I'll make sure their misery ends soon.'
"Two of you," he said, pointing at the Rare Hunters, "Check one door each."
"B-But M-Master!" one of them said, panic flashing in his eyes, "C-Can't we -"
"- Silence! You do as I say," Yami Marik said, glaring at them, "Now move!"
Two of the three frightened men walked forward and moved slowly to a door.
The spirits watched silently from the spot they had taken, waiting to see what the men would do.
"Open them," Yami Marik ordered, eyeing each man in turn.
One of the Rare Hunters swallowed as he reached the door and gazed at it carefully. It was a large yet simple wooden door. He took in a deep breath, and tried to push it open. As soon as a crack formed between the double doors, the Rare Hunter was sucked in with a deafening sound.
Yami Marik, Odion and the two remaining Rare Hunters had to cover up their ears as quickly as the noise reached them. It was hard to resist.
The leader of the Rare Hunters watched as his minion disappeared between the doors, and they shut closed with full force. Afterward, the chamber stood in silence.
They all lowered their hands slowly watching the door with amazement, wondering what exactly had happened.
"An incorrect door was chosen," the small young girl stated as she looked over at Yami Marik, "And the price was paid. Will you share the same fate?"
"I won't share his fate," Yami Marik retorted, "I will get the Horus Items."
"Talk won't get you anywhere," a blonde girl told him, "Choose a door and end this."
"I will," Yami Marik replied, "I have all the time in the world, so I'll do it whenever I wish."
The male spirit rolled his eyes, "You better do it soon, otherwise The Eye shall enter the chamber before you do and recover the Items."
"What?" Yami Marik growled, glaring at him, "She's in here?"
"Of course, in another pathway," a black haired spirit said, "She chose a secret entrance and now she's close."
Tara…Be quiet!, Yami Marik ordered to his hikari.
"Why haven't you tested her then?" Yami Marik snapped as he turned his attention back to the spirits.
The blonde spirit chuckled. "She has no need to be tested, she is allowed in the Temple as many times as she wishes."
Yami Marik growled again, and turned to the Rare Hunter near the other door. He had not tried to open it, completely absorbed in the discussion taking place.
"Open the door you buffoon!" he bellowed, causing the Rare Hunter to jump.
"Yes, M-Master…" the Rare Hunter said as he bowed.
He stood in front of the door and, without a thought, tried to push it open. When a crack became visible, vines shot out, engulfed him and dragged him inside. The Rare Hunter screamed for his Master to help him, but Yami Marik didn't even move. He simply watched as his Rare Hunter disappeared, just like the other one.
"There are just two doors left," Odion said from beside Yami Marik.
"And one more Rare Hunter to check one of them," the yami smirked, "We'll finally be able to enter the main chamber."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the loss of your minions was pointless," the small spirit said, interrupting the small conversation.
Yami Marik and Odion gazed at her questioningly.
"What do you mean?" Yami Marik frowned.
"You see, whenever something such as this is done, the doors change," the male spirit answered as he crossed his arms, "Which means, so does the entrance. What you did was in vain."
"What!?" Yami Marik bellowed, narrowing his eyes.
"You'll have to find another way," the bold spirit told him, "And you better hurry if you want the Items."
Yami Marik growled and glared at them. He had to find the correct door. It was now or never.
-o-
"How much do we have to walk in order to get to the chamber?" Yami asked as Yugi walked beside Tara.
He had materialized as a spirit and was accompanying them in their walk down the sunlit corridor.
"Not much now, we're quite near," she assured him as she gazed around.
The carvings on the walls and columns brought back memories of when she was supervising the construction of the Temple. Pharaoh, Queen and High Priest had been there too, alongside highly skilled sorcerers. The Temple was to be the most safely guarded of all.
"Are you worried, Tara?" Yugi asked as he walked beside her.
"About what?" Tara asked as they approached a flight of stairs going upward.
"About the world, the Horus Items…," he mentioned quite casually, "Marik…"
She stopped in her tracks when she heard his name and gazed down at her friend blankly. He stopped, too, and met her gaze gently.
"It's alright to say it out loud Tara," he said softly, "It's not a sin that you might have feelings for him."
"I'm not worried," she said in a finishing tone as she advanced towards the stairs.
Yugi and Yami followed her. "You are, Tara, we can feel it. You haven't said anything about it since we left the airport that night. I half-expected you to mention him."
"The Horus Items and the world are my priority now," she replied as she hurried her pace.
"What about your heart?" Yami asked, catching up with her, "Will you ignore it when it cries out if you are forced to get rid of Yami Marik and Marik's body?"
"Why are you asking me this!" she exclaimed, stopping on her tracks, "I do not wish to talk about it! I was sent here with the purpose of being the keeper of the Horus Items, and the matter of my heart was not part of the deal. I have a task to fulfill, and I will do so, even if I have to pay the highest price to achieve it!"
"You're willing to sacrifice your heart in the process?" Yami asked as he watched her fight back some tears.
She was really sensitive when it came to Marik. She felt strongly for him; more than what the Pharaoh and Yugi could figure out.
"I have already lost it," she stated as her vision blurred. Her voice did not quaver though, "I will do what I can for Marik, but before him, the Items and the world come. That's my purpose here, not him."
With that said she proceeded to the bottom of the stairs. Everything had been fine during their trip, with the exceptions of the persecution and the capturing. Whenever Marik was not mentioned, everything was fine. But when memory brought him forward, his warmth, his arms, his smirk, his kisses, her world started to rip apart. She loved him; she truly did. But she could never risk her task for her heart. She had to forget about his existence so the walk to her destiny would be less tart.
"Poor Tara," Yugi whispered as he and Yami watched her climb the stairs, "I didn't know she was hurting so much."
"I hope Marik is saved from all of this," Yami said as they walked the distance to the stairs, "She deserves a chance to be happy."
"We're nearby, please do hurry, I sense Yami Marik in an adjacent chamber," Tara's voice said from the top.
Yugi climbed the stairs hurriedly and found himself in a small corridor leading to wooden double doors.
"At the other side of the doors await the Horus Items," Tara told him as they both gazed at the doors.
"Let's go then," Yami said, and he walked forward.
-o-
"What will it be?" the blond spirit asked, as she crossed her arms.
Yami Marik studied each door. There was only one chance to choose the correct door; if the incorrect was chosen, who knew what would happen to him. How exactly would he pick the correct one? It was then that something dawned on him.
'Of course,' he thought.
Odion watched a slow smirk crept over Yami Marik's lips and then he seemed to concentrate. What was he doing?
Marik?, he called to his hikari inwardly.
You! Let me go, I have no right to be trapped here!, Marik ordered as soon as he was called.
I beg to differ, hikari; I have plans I must fulfill, Yami Marik replied, Now you must do something for me.
I won't do such thing, Marik retorted, There's no way I'm going to help you.
Well then, I guess you don't want a chance to see her again, do you? Or to hold her in your arms? Kiss her, perhaps?, Yami Marik stated, Too bad. I guess I'll lose your body then. If I choose the incorrect door, your only chance for happiness with Tara will be blown away. And then, you'll know it was your own fault.
"Choose a door," the male spirit said, "It is time."
Yami Marik looked up at the spirit smirking, and walked forward to the door directly across from him. Odion and the remaining Rare Hunter followed him past the spirits and watched their Master stop in front of the double doors.
"Is this the one you choose?" the smaller spirit asked as they all turned to face the three humans.
Yami Marik looked at them with a dark grin, "Yes, it is."
"So be it," the blond spirit stated, "Open the door and face destiny."
The leader of the Rare Hunters turned back to the doors and pushed one of them open. It's sound filled the chamber, and a small crack became visible. The Rare Hunter held his breath and closed his eyes.
End of chapter. I find myself quite pleased with this! It feels so good to be finally writing my fics again.
Announcement: Only one or two more chapters remain until the end of the story. I'm not too sure which one is the correct statement (one or two), it depends on how the story leads me.
Please review and keep reading! I hope you haven't lost interest in the fic!