Lion Heart

Melodiez07: Yay! You’re reviewing me here too XD yes, you were the first reviewer, and as such, you get a cookie! °hands over cyber-cookie° Enjoy it!

Tavi: There really is a lack of great YxYY fics around huh? Well, never fear, Leila is here! Glad to see you like the fic enough to read it for a third time XD

J Chan: °randomly glomps back° Glad you likei t so much ^^

Right_read_time: Well, here’s the next chap, hope you like it!

Cosmic Tomato: Glad you agree with me about the lemon thing. I honestly think a lemon would actually make the story less good somehow, so I’m stubbornly keeping it out. Well, enjoy the new chapter!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yay! Look at me! I’m updating! °grins° On top of that it’s my b-day tomorrow and I’m throwing a party tonight so that’s why this update is relatively early for my doing. Anyway, enough of my ranting and onwards to the chapter! R&R!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--: 01 :--
Hikari

The soft running of a beast on four legs was heard through the silent night’s air as barely audible pants were let out in a constant rhythm combined with it. Ebony fur and long golden blonde manes that seemed to hold an amethyst sheen to them shone under the full moon sky with a thin layer of sweat, as half-lidded amethyst eyes tried to focus on the road ahead.

Hearing a crash behind him, the beast risked a glance back to see his pursuers hot on his tail and not willing to give up any time in the near future. Quickly the amethyst orbs looked back ahead, the owner of the eyes forcing his body to go even faster even though he knew he wouldn’t be able to withstand much more. He also knew that if he was caught now, all would be lost and his Pharaoh would never make it through the war at hand alive.

“That damned lion just won’t give up! We have to catch it before it reaches the palace!”

“Don’t you think I know that? Run faster you moron!”

The lion ignored the two insignificant voices behind him and tried to focus on the road he was running on again - something that seemed very hard as exhaustion had already claimed him a long time ago, and his body was working on reserves it shouldn’t even possess.

The two trying to catch him were nothing, mere minions with no power whatsoever in a world that was waging a war. The two would normally pose no threat to him, and if nothing had happened he would’ve easily defeated them with no problems at all. It was just too bad that he had used up everything he had in a battle against Mariku, one of the two leaders of the opposing side. A battle that had only led to him being exhausted and hurt, and Mariku escaping.

The lion started to slow down even more, his strength leaving him more and more as the seconds passed by. His vision became more blurry and large amounts of sweat covered his fur everywhere. At long last the palace came in sight, a grand sight to behold and something the lion had stared at many hours from the nearby village. Although the ebony lion was glad he was almost back to his Pharaoh, he wasn’t there yet and he couldn’t give in to the sleep wanting to take him away from reality yet. If the two minions did catch him and brought him to their leaders, Thief King Bakura and Assassin Mariku would have no mercy on him and would make the Pharaoh surrender just for his safety; something that couldn’t happen no matter what.

“Shit, he’s there! We’re too late!”

Groans were heard followed by two ‘thump’s and the lion knew his pursuers had finally given up. With his last strength he rushed passed the palace guards who only registered a blur of black with golden manes, knowing immediately their most trusted ally had returned and was in a hurry. Suspiciously they eyed the darkness in front of them, trying to see if anyone had followed the beast, but no one was seen, although they knew the darkness was hiding a lot in it.

The lion rushed into the palace, ignoring all the gasps and startled cries. Guards sprang into action as soon as they heard him coming, but relaxed again as soon as they saw who he was, and let him pass without any problems. The lion rushed along the corridors that seemed to form rather a maze than a palace, until he finally got to the room where he had been heading for. By now his speed had slowed down to a mere walking pace, and the guards seeing his state opened the grand doors for him with concerned eyes. The lion took no notice of it and merely walked into the room before collapsing onto the floor as soon as he was inside, barely able to keep his eyes open.

“Hikari! What happened?!” The lion looked up as the name that had been given to him by the Pharaoh himself was spoken in a deep baritone voice, only to look up into warm, concerned crimson eyes. The Pharaoh kneeled down next to the young lion and lightly stroked the fur on his back while looking into the eyes of whom he considered his best friend.

/ I got into a fight with Mariku. I only barely escaped and didn’t manage to kill him off. / The voice echoing through Pharaoh Atemu’s head was soft, tired, and sounded disappointed in itself. Softly Atemu smiled at the lion in front of him and continued to stroke the ebony black fur that felt more like silk than hair.

“You did fine, I’m just glad you escaped, although your state…” Atemu trailed off and watched a small smile grace the lion’s features as well as amethyst locked with crimson again. It seemed his friend was merely tired and needed a lot of rest. “Sleep, you’ll need it.”

Slowly the Pharaoh helped Hikari to a ‘bed’ of pillows and blankets in the corner of his bedchamber. Although Hikari was only a lion and almost never accepted an invitation to stay for the night, Atemu saw him as a dear friend and enjoyed the time spent with the other. Besides, Hikari was no normal lion and everyone knew it.

For one, he could speak in other’s minds as if he had spoken it out loud. For two, Hikari wasn’t even a real lion. Not many knew that Hikari was in reality a human being roaming the streets of the cities and none except Hikari himself knew who that human being really was. Atemu had tried many times to find out who his friend really was and how it was that he could transform into a strong, yet young lion with fur as black as the night, manes that seemed to be made out of gold, and warm, shining, innocent amethyst eyes, but all attempts had failed. Hikari didn’t say anything to stop Atemu from looking, but would never reveal who he was, himself. Even so, Atemu trusted the other with his life and no one was closer to him than Hikari.

As soon as Hikari lay down, his eyes closed and the exhaustion of all the events of the day claimed him, taking him away from reality for the night and bringing him to the world of dreams. During the night he didn’t wake once like he would normally, though the magic used to keep him in his lion form kept flowing through his veins, his guard never going down and all senses still alert. Hikari slept until far after Ra rose the next morning and the Pharaoh let him sleep with a smile on his face, glad his friend was resting and would probably be back to normal as soon as he awoke.

At noon amethyst eyes finally opened slowly and looked around the room he was sleeping in. The first thing that registered was that he was in Atemu’s room, the second was that he had been a fool to stay since his lack of energy could’ve cost him his transformation. If he had transformed back into his human form over night, Hikari would’ve never forgiven himself. Of course he trusted Atemu enough to let him know who he really was, but information like that was better kept to himself so no one could ever confront Atemu with it.

Hikari’s eyes met those of his Pharaoh and all thoughts of being a fool left his mind. The Pharaoh smiled at him before coming over and sitting down on the pillows next to him, before looking back at him with those warm crimson eyes Hikari adored so much, “I see you’re awake again. Feeling better?”

/ Yeah, I’m fine again though I think I slept half of the day and my friends must be worried about me… / Hikari looked away at the searching look Atemu gave him, knowing the Pharaoh wanted nothing more than to know who he really was. They’d been friends like this for a year now, ever since Atemu had become Pharaoh. Atemu’s father, Aknunkanon, had made a big mess of Egypt and had caused the war that was still raging throughout the entire nation. Atemu had been left to clean up that mess and had done a very good job so far. The only ones still opposing him were Mariku and Bakura it seemed. Sadly they were very convincing and although no one opposed Atemu in action, many agreed with the two.

Ever since Hikari had been a 10-year old, he had wanted to help the other in any and every way possible. With his ability to transform into a lion, he had started helping Atemu fight Bakura and Mariku and many saw him as the savior of the country since he had defeated a lot of opponents for Atemu. Of course Atemu himself hadn’t been doing nothing either; he had fought right beside Hikari most of the time and the two had grown really close… maybe too close in Hikari’s case.

“Maybe you should go see them then, if you feel up to it.” Atemu mentally sighed as he saw Hikari look back with a smile before nodding slowly and getting up. He quickly patted the lion’s soft fur, gaining a soft purr from the other before watching his friend leave. Ra, what he wouldn’t give to know who Hikari was in reality. Probably his entire country.

Hikari in the mean time ran out of the palace at top speed, wanting to get to his friends as soon as possible so they wouldn’t worry about him. None of his friends knew he was the lion everyone talked about at least once a day, and he didn’t want them to find out either. Of course this gave quite some problems since two of his friends were quite nosy, but he’d managed so far.

As soon as Hikari left the palace, he ran to town and into an alley before anyone could see him. Making sure no one was there to see him, he slowly let the magic keeping him in his lion form dissipate and transformed into a normal, maybe a bit short for his age teenager. Letting out a sigh he grabbed the bundle of clothes lying there to change – since walking around naked wasn’t really an option and lions didn’t wear clothes.

“There just has to be an easier way to do this,” he grumbled softly as he tied the red sash around his waist.

“Easier way for what?” The teen jumped and his eyes widened in shock as he heard an impatient, familiar voice behind him. He was busted, and the one who had caught him was going to keep nagging him about this until he came up with a good answer… which he didn’t have.

“Uhm… hey Malik… nice weather huh?”

“Yuugi, where have you been?! We’ve been worried sick about you and you start talking about the weather?!” The teen now known as Yuugi sighed as he listened to his friend rant on about how worried he and the others had been, and that this had to stop since it had happened too often already. Of all the people who could’ve found him, why did it have to be Malik and not Ryou for instance? Ryou would’ve never gone crazy like Malik was currently doing, and would’ve just let it slide for the umpteenth time.

“You could’ve told us where you were going and all those other times you were suddenly gone and are you even listening to me?” Malik sighed as he got no response from his friend and snapped his fingers in front of the other’s face to draw the attention back to reality, “Yuugi!”

Yuugi jumped as he gave Malik an apologetic look. Of course he’d zoned out again, knowing his friend would continue to ramble on for a while about things he’d said a million times before, “Sorry Malik, I was just… gone. I’m fine so stop worrying.”

Malik narrowed his eyes at hearing the same excuse as always, “And where did you go then?”

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s go find Jou and Ryou. They’re probably worried too.” Yuugi carefully passed his friend and started off towards the center of the town, trying as hard as he could to ignore the piercing look Malik was giving him.

“Well maybe if you told us where you were going we wouldn’t worry so much.”

“I doubt it.” Yuugi mumbled under his breath, being careful so Malik wouldn’t hear him. “What does it matter Malik? I’m fine right?”

“That’s not the point! You’re always running off to Ra-knows where and worrying everyone else sick!” Malik let out a sigh before shaking his head and giving up, “I give up, you’re hopeless and you’ll never listen anyway.”

Guilt stabbed at Yuugi’s heart for having to lie to his friends so much, but telling them the truth would be just as bad as telling Atemu the truth. It would only put them in danger if someone ever found out they knew the real identity of Hikari.

Both boys walked in silence for a while - though Yuugi could feel the suspicious and half angry look boring into his back – until the amethyst-eyed boy heard someone cry out before being tackled to the ground by a blur of blonde. Blinking as he hit the ground, Yuugi glanced down to see Jou hugging him tightly and of course ranting about how worried he’d been as well. At hearing a soft chuckle, Yuugi glanced back up to see his strangely pale white-haired friend Ryou trying to suppress his laughter at the sight of Jou lying on top of Yuugi – the blonde was much bigger after all.

“Jou! Get off me!” Yuugi playfully swatted the blonde on the head, laughing himself at the pout Jou gave him for the action.

“But Yuug! You were gone and we were worried and den Malik disappeared too and we were even more worried and-” Yuugi sweat dropped as his friend went into a new rant. This… was going to take while unless he did something.

“Guys, help?!” Yuugi looked pleadingly at both his other friends as Jou just continued to ramble on. Instead of getting help though, Ryou just laughed more and Malik smirked evilly at him. ‘Well nice friends I have!’ Yuugi pouted but let Jou – who was still lying on top of him – rant for a while, knowing it was useless to try and stop him since he’d just start all over again.

After Jou had finally stopped with his rant and had helped Yuugi to get up, he gave the other an apologetic look, “Sorry Yuug, I guess I went overboard again huh? But seriously, where were ya?”

Yuugi let out a sigh. How much guilt could a person feel at the same time for crying out loud?! It wasn’t like he really had a choice, but it still felt wrong to lie to his friends so much, “Nowhere Jou, I’m fine.” Yuugi smiled reassuringly and Jou seemed to drop the subject without any doubt, Ryou was just too… Ryou to really want to push the subject anyway, but Malik gave him that suspicious look again. Yuugi was mentally sweating since he knew how pushy his friend could be, but Malik seemed to stick to looking without saying anything. Not that that was any better for his nerves.

“So what are we gonna do?” Jou looked at his friends curiously, as usual having no idea himself and therefore just deciding to let his friends choose.

“Let’s just hang around, there isn’t much to do.” Ryou smiled his usual friendly smile as he looked at his friends. There wasn’t much to do anyway; the city they lived in, although it was the closest one to the palace, was the main target of Bakura and Mariku, so not many people even lived there anymore.

“Yeah, we’ll just go see what’s up at the town square or something.” All nodded at Malik’s suggestion and headed for the center of the small town. As they walked they didn’t even seem to notice the destroyed buildings all around them, obviously too used to the sight by now.

The entire town had been attacked so much that people didn’t even bother to repair the damage anymore, knowing it would be destroyed in no time anyway. The only place that the small group of people still living in the town for one reason or another kept rebuilding was the town square, since that was where the bigger events where held and the where market was too.

The group of friends entered the town square and just looked around the small market that was being held while goofing around. Jou and Malik managed to get into trouble by almost wrecking one of the stands, but luckily Ryou, being the polite teen he was, managed to set it straight without any punishment. Jou and Malik were very grateful for this and mockingly threw themselves at the feet of the white-haired teen, saying that they’d do anything to repay their friend, before bursting out into laughter together with Yuugi and Ryou.

Malik wiped the tears streaming over his face away before suddenly noticing the slight shaking of the ground below them. All glanced at each other questioningly, before looking in at the entrance of the town with fearful eyes. Seeing a dust cloud coming closer to them, all knew what was coming towards them and what would happen next.

Bakura and Mariku were coming and seeing the dust cloud, they felt like destroying everything quickly this time.

“We gotta get outta here!” Jou started running away from the main square, followed closely by Malik and Ryou. Yuugi on the other hand let out a frustrated sigh; he’d only just recovered from his last battle with Mariku and now he was going to have to battle both Bakura and Mariku at the same time? This was not his day.

Glancing back and seeing his friends too panicked to notice him not following, Yuugi ran into one of the alleys with a scowl set on his face; this was going to be very hard and he could only hope Atemu would come to help him in time.

Quickly getting out of his clothes, Yuugi let the magics in him flow through him and in a swirl of golden sparkling streams of that magic, his body slowly transformed into that of Hikari.

Hikari growled as he heard explosions, meaning that Bakura and Mariku had already started their little party without him. ‘Damn.’

Quickly he ran out of the shadows to see that indeed Bakura and Mariku were using the magic of the Millennium Ring and Rod to destroy everything in sight while laughing maniacally. Hikari growled again before roaring menacingly to draw the attention to himself instead of the people still trying to run.

Bakura was the first to stop laughing and look at the ebony lion glaring at him. A smirk formed on his face as he stared mockingly at the lion, “Well, well, well, if it isn’t our little cat. Come to play without your master this time kitty-cat? Well, I guess he finally showed his true colours.”

Hikari resisted the urge to pounce Bakura for speaking about Atemu so disrespectfully, but stopped himself knowing that it would only be playing into Bakura’s hand.

/ Mock all you want, Bakura. But you’re going to have to go through me before you can destroy this town. / Hikari glared defiantly at the two in front of him. Mariku had calmed down in the mean time too, looking at the lion with the same mocking look as his friend was.

“Well the last time we fought I believe it was you who bit the dust first, and now you have to deal with us both.” Although Hikari knew Mariku was right – which took a lot to admit – he wasn’t about to let these two go on destroying everything around them just for fun; he’d rather die than let that happen. Besides, the fight between Mariku and himself had ended in a draw.

/ Well then, we’ll just have to see if you’re right about that, won’t we Mariku? /

Mariku and Bakura smirked at each other before getting ready to fight their furry opponent. Since Atemu wasn’t there, Hikari didn’t stand a chance if they worked together and they knew Hikari knew that too. For them, this was going to b a lot of fun.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
… Did I just end my first chapter on a somewhat cliffie? I mean, seriously, first chapter and already it begins. Ghe, that must speak really positive of future chaps huh? Oh well, it’s not so big a cliffie °cough°thitime°cough° so I’m sure you’ll all survive. I hope you all enjoyed the chap and I’m going off to my party! Gimme some nice reviews as b-day present ne?