Sacrifice

Mikado blinked slowly at Bakura, his eyes still glazed in his fever.  He turned his head a bit, but that made him wince and groan, miserably.

Bakura pulled a bowl from a shelf nearby, and began digging in the bottles on the shelves.  He pulled three down, and put the various herbs within them into the bowl.  Once he finished, he ground them up and lit them on fire.  The room began to fill with a sweet smokey aroma.  "This will help with your sickness..."  Bakura said setting the smoking bowl near Mikado's bed.  "Just try to stay still and breathe deeply."  He stood and exited, going to get Mikado some food and medicine.

Mikado slowly closed his eyes and did just that.  He breathed the fumes deeply, and the deep breathing calmed his stomach, which had been churning sickeningly since the ride on Strigoi...

Bakura returned an hour later, carrying a large pot.  He put it down and pulled a cloth covered bowl out, as well as a spoon.  Next he pulled out a mortar and pestal, beginning to grind up more herbs.  He added some water and continued to grind it into a paste.  Once it was a fine paste, he scooped it into a spoon.  "This is going to be the nastiest medicine you've ever taken..." Bakura said softly.  "But it will heal you."  he offered the spoon to Mikado. 

Mikado winced and turned away, looking ill.

"C'mon now..."  Bakura said running his free hand through Mikado's hair.  "No one wants you to die of sickness...now just take the medicine.  I brought you a drink to wash away the taste..."

Mikado moaned, then turned back and accepted the medicine.  He jerked and spasmed as soon as it was in his mouth, making the most HORRIBLE face and turning to spit it out, gagging.

Bakrua clapped a hand over Mikado's mouth.  "Swallow it!"  he ordered.  "I know it's gross.  Just swallow it!"

Mikado gagged and heaved, then swallowed.

Once Bakura felt Mikado swallow, he offered him the cup of wine.  "It's a very fruity wine.   It'll get that taste out of your mouth."  Bakura said grinning.  "It's the only thing I've EVER found that works."

But Mikado was too busy retching and heaving and fighting to NOT throw up everywhere.

Bakura frowned.  "Breathe deep."  he whispered.  "You cant throw up… you've got nothing TO throw up, so you might as well calm down and breathe.”

Mikado whimpered, trying to breath, clutching tightly to Bakura for support.  Finally, he calmed down and was able to relax and breathe, though he still looked very ill and sick to his stomach.

Bakura offered the wine once more.  "Drink it slowly...you dont want to make yourself sicker."  He cooed placing the small bowl in Mikado's hands.  "And when you're done...your stomach should settle.”


Mikado slowly lifted it to his lips with shaking hands and sipped it.

The liquor was light and warmed Mikado's throat as he swallowed. and the foul taste of the medicine washed away with the drink.  His stomach settled once that bitter taste was gone leaving only the fruity delicious taste of the wine.

Mikado set the bowl down and lay still, closing his eyes.

Bakura smiled.  "Feeling better now?"

"...  A little..."  Mikado whispered.

Bakura began grinding more herbs to burn in the bowl.  "Do you want the oatmeal?  It might make you feel a bit better to have something solid in your stomach."

Mikado shook his head slightly.

Bakura finished grinding and put the powder in the bowl and sparked up the flame once more.  "Would you like some pillows?  Another blanket?"  He watched the fire rise in the bowly as the sweet smell strengthened in the room.

Mikado shivered and nodded.  "I'm cold..."  He mumbled.

"Alright..."  Bakura stood and left.  He returned moments later with a soft deer-leather pair of pants and two thick woolen blankets.  "Here...lets get you decent..."  he said pulling the first blanket away and tenderly putting the pants on Mikado.  Once he finished, he put the blankets on Mikado, one at a time, carefully tucking them around the youth and smiling.  "Better?"

Mikado moaned weakly and curled up under the blankets, but a moment later, Bakura heard a soft "Thank you..."

Bakura pulled a small comb from the pot and brushed through Mikado's hair slowly.  "For what?  I did nothing."

Mikado didn't answer.  He lay still, and shivered slightly, relaxing under Bakura's gentle touches.

Bakura continued brushing Mikado's hair, beginning to hum a soft lullaby, hoping to send the ill boy into slumber to heal.  He'd been harsh to Mikado... he knew he had, and he hadn't intended to save him so quickly... but the boy was sick, and had needed help.  His curse had been far more powerful than he'd ever intended. 

It wasn't long before Mikado had slipped into a deep sleep, but even in his sleep he seemed to lean into Bakura's every touch...

Bakura smiled and tied Mikado's hair back to help prevent his laying on it.  "Sleep well."  He said brushing bangs from Mikado's forehead before repacking up his pot, and carrying it away, closing the doors silently behind him.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ahmose sat in the saloon, a bottle of bourbon and a glass in front of him.  Half of the bourbon was gone, and he was already drunk...

Yami sighed peering in.  "Ahmose..."  he walked in and sat next to the doctor, pulling the bottle away.  "You cant do this to yourself..."  he gave his love a sad look.  "It's not fair."

Ahmose blinked, confused as he looked at his now empty hand.  "...  Huh?"

"You're drunk."  Yami said once more.  "You have to stop now."

Ahmose blinked again, then picked up his glass, which was just under half full, and he polished it off.

Yami sighed and corked the bourbon and stood taking Ahmose's hand.  "C'mon...lets get you home."  he said softly.  "It's time to go."

Ahmose slowly stumbled to his feet, but he was having trouble maintaining balance.

"I...  have to find...  my brother..."  He slurred, then belched.

Yami shook his head, wrapping an arm around Ahmose.  "I'll stay with you tonight..."  he said giving Ahmose a stern look.  "We can look for your brother together tomorrow.  Right now you're more important."

Ahmose snook his head and stumbled to the side, nearly slamming Yami into the wall.  "No...  I have to...  find him!!!"

"Ahmose you'll get yourself killed trying to go find him as drunk as you are!  Your brother wont want to come home to a funeral!"

Ahmose tripped when the went out the door, and tumbled down the stairs and into the street.

Yami yelped and hurried out after Ahmose.  "Ahmose I'm serious.  Do I need to arrest you?"

Ahmose hiccuped, and looked around, confused.  "...  Which...  way to the stable?"

Yami frowned and helped Ahmose up.  He lead him to the sherrif's office and locked the door behind him.  "You're not going out tonight Ahmose."  He said firmly.  "We'll go together tomorrow."

Ahmose blinked and looked around.  "Mikado?"  He called, drunkenly stumbling into the wall.

Yami sighed and lead Ahmose into a cell (which he had previously designated as Ahmose's and had added a much more comfortable cot, and blankets, as well as a clock.)  He shook his head and locked Ahmose in.  "Goodnight Ahmose."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

In the morning, Ryou awake to find it a beautiful day.  He quickly fixed and ate breakfast, watching the bunnies running in and out of their little bunny door and into the pen, delighted.  When he opened his front door, there was a large bundle of flowers on his porch, tied together with a little blue ribbon.

Ryou blinked and stooped picking it up and blushing.  "huh?"  he looked around for whoever had left the present before sniffing them and letting out a happy hum of approval.  "I love flowers..."

The bunnies at squeaked and flooded out of the house around Ryou's feet...  the pen was great, but...  THE GARDEN!!!

Ryou laughed and shook his head.  "Guys guys!  Marik built you a pen!"  He chased the little bunnies, plucking them up one by one. "I'll put some veggies in your pen for you!"

The bunnies whined...  they wanted to dig up their OWN carrots!!!

"Good morning!!!"  Came the call, and the bunnies all stood up and sniffed, ears perked.  Marik walked through Ryou's front gate, smiling and waving.

Ryou smiled and carried the bunnies back to their pen.  "Good mornin' Marik...d-did you leave me these flowers?"  he asked after he dumped the bunnies into the pen, his flowers were a little bunny-mushed, but still beautiful.

Marik smiled and blushed.  "Um...  yeah..."  He admitted.  "I mean...  after giving you the...  sack of flour I felt really...  well...  stupid..."

Ryou smiled and hugged Marik.  "Thank you.  I love flowers."  he said looking up at Marik, his eyes sparkling with glee. 

Marik grinned like an idiot.  "Glad you like them there smelly things."
Ryou blinked and raised an eyebrow.  "Good smelling things."  He corrected.

Marik blinked.  "Yeah.  Smelly things."

Ryou laughed slightly. "Smelly is a bad thing."

Marik thought about this for a moment.  "...  I thought stinky was the bad one."

"Stinky and smelly are both bad."  Ryou said shaking his head.  "Flowers are fragrant or sweet scented." 

"...  F-Fragrant?"  Marik said slowly, frowning and cocking his head.

Ryou nodded.  "Uh huh."

"What the hell is that?"  Marik asked.

"It means it smells good."  Ryou said stepping back into his house to put the flowers in a vase.

Marik followed.  "Um...  okay...  fray-grent..."  He said slowly, mulling over this new word.

Ryou put the vase on the mantle and smiled.  "Uh huh.  Fragrant.  And you're handsome."  Ryou giggled and scurried out the door once more.

Marik blinked and flushed, eyes wide.  He knew THAT word!!!

Ryou was outside, tending his garden, a blush painted on his cheeks.  He was absolutely giddy, Marik liked him...He never thought he'd come to enjoy THAT.

Meanwhile, Ahmose had a blush painted over his cheeks too.  But it was because he woke up and found himself in his underwear in a jail cell, Yami grinning at him.

Yami sat at his desk, staring Ahmose down.  "So..."  he said after a moment.  "Care to explain?"

Ahmose blinked, then turned and snatched his clothes, which were scattered around.  "Actually...  I was hoping YOU could shed some light onto this..."  Ahmose mumbled.

Yami watched Ahmose calmly, tilting his head to the side when Ahmose bent to pick up his pants.  "mmmmm...nice."

Ahmose quickly straightened, eyes wide and face red.  "Stop STARING at me!!!"  He yelped.

Yami snickered and whistled.  "Such a NICE ass!"  he commented.  "Why dont I get to see it more often?!  It's a CRIME to hide an ass like that in your pants!"

Ahmose snorted, pulling on said pants and faciong the back wall, so only the wall got to see his mixed look of horror and flattery.

Yami whistled loudly.  "Niiiiiiice!"  he called as Ahmose did that.  "I LOVE that ass."

"Shut UP!!!"  Ahmose howled, putting on his shirt and belt, then sitting on the cot to pull on his boots.

"You should get completly drunk again sometime...and next time I'll stay with you.." Yami purred.  "I'm sure you'd remember it then."

Ahmose's eyes widened and he stared at Yami, then frowned.  "NO."

"Aww..."  Yami pouted.  "But I deserve IN your pants as much as you need out of them."

Ahmose flushed, but glared.

"Even your glare is arousing."  Yami purred at that.  "You have the sexiest golden eyes..."

Ahmose's eyes widened and quickly looked away.  "Stop that..."  He mumbled.

"Stop what?  Admiring you?  I cant..."  Yami stood and walked over to the cell.  "I love you."

Ahmose flushed horribly at this.  "Uhhh..."

Yami opened the cell and pulled Ahmose into his arms, kissing him once again.  "And no matter what...I'll ALWAYS love you."  he grinned.  "Because you're the one meant for me.'

"Um...."  Ahmose said softly, blushing and staring at Yami.

Yami sighed and kissed Ahmose's cheek.  "Do you want to come out and search for Mikado with me?  No one in town knows anything… or if they do they're not telling."

Ahmose blinked, then nodded.  "Yes...  I have to find my brother..."

"Alright..."  Yami walked out of the cell.  "Well..then lets go.  I dont have a thing to go on.  Even Bakura was upset Mikado was gone.  He's lost his source of watered down booze."

Ahmose blinked then growled.  "Bastard!!!  It is NOT watered down!!!"

Yami blinked.  "Isn't that Mikado's response to that comment?"

"Yes!  Because it's TRUE!"  Ahmose cried, annoyed.

Yami blinked.  "You serious?"  He said looking a bit surprised.  "...cause that stuff IS a little weak..."

Ahmose GLARED.  "Perhaps your brother could hook us up with a stronger brand?"

"Oh yeah sure he could."  Yami said proudly.  "Yugi's got some friends over in the city, they brew some VERY powerful liquor."

"Well...  Mikado will work out a deal with Yugi...  when...  when he comes home..."

Yami nodded.  "C'mon...lets start looking."  He said walking out and to the stables.

Ahmose nodded and followed Yami.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey!!!"  Marik yelped.  "HEY!!!  Give that back!!!"  Ryou grinned and giggled as he watched Marik chase the flock of bunnies across the yard as they dragged his straw hat away.

Ryou watched, Angel sitting calmly next to him, watching Marik chase the other bunnies.  Ryou pat her on the head.  "You're such a well behaved little lady..."

"NO!!!  STOP THAT!!!  THAT'S NOT FOR EATING!!!"  Marik howled.

Ryou giggled more.  "Marik it's just a hat!"  he called.  "They're only playing!"

"They're EATING IT!!!"  Marik wailed.

"It's only straw!"

"It took me HOURS to make that!!!"

Ryou giggled.  "I'll help you make another one."

Marik frowned, watching mournfully as his floppy straw hat was torn to peies.

Ryou stood and walked over to Marik and smiled kissing his cheek.  "Dont worry...we can make an even better hat together...hmm?"

Marik pouted, but nodded.  And besides...  that hat was worht a kiss from Ryou ANY day!!!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was late afternoon when Mikado woke, blinking tiredly and looking around.

The fire in the bowl of herbs was dying down and the scent of the sweet smoke had done wonders for him.  Even though he wasn't healed he sure FELT 100% better.

He took a deep breath, and slowly sat up, wincing and clutching his shoulders.

The doors opened and Bakura came in, carrying his pot.  "You shouldn't be moving.  You'll hurt yourself."  he sat next to the bed, beginning to grind herbs once more.  "How do you feel?"

Mikado lay down again.  "Achey..."

"Still sick?"  Bakura placed the herbs into the bowl, re-lighting it. 

Mikado sighed.  "...  yes."

Bakura chuckled.  "Then I guess I have to make more medicine..."

Mikado said nothing.  He just rolled over, facing away from Bakura.

"You have to take the medicine Mikado...or you'll never get better."  Bakura said firmly.  "You know better than that."

Mikado winced.  "That...  that awful vomit worthy stuff?!"

"You're feeling better aren't you?"  Bakura said giving Mikado a smirk.  "It's nasty, but very potent."

"I'd almost rather be sick..."  Mikado grumbled.

"If you drink the wine while taking it, you wont taste it for very long."  Bakura said beginning to grind the medicine.  "Then I'll change your bandages."

Mikado sighed.  "Fine..."  He snorted.

Bakura laughed softly.  "I did some thinking today."  Bakura said as he worked.  "And I felt bad for your mare."  he added water, to the herbs and continued grinding.  "I brought her here...but she'll not be a riding horse anymore."  he scooped the paste into the spoon, and poured Mikado a cup of wine, handing both to the youth. 

"She's blind in one eye, has a bad limp and is deaf."

Mikado sat silently for a moment, turn turned and fixed one of the most vicious, HATEFUL glares Bakura had ever seen on the theif.

Bakura snorted.  "Before you glare, let me remind you who it was who pissed me off, insisted to go home because he was in the depths of hell."  He warned.  "And let me remind you that I wasn't finished.  It'd be wise to let a person finish talking before you start hating them."

Mikado ground his teeth, but turned and fixed his glare elsewhere.

"Take your medicine."  Bakura snorted. "As I was saying...she isn't a riding horse anymore.  I'll keep her here, where she can live in peace and safety."  Bakura calmly waited on Mikado to take the medicine so he could change his bandages.

Mikado took the medicine and wine quickly, but then sat gritting his teeth and fists furiously.

Bakura chuckled and suddenly (though carefully) scooped Mikado up and carried him towards the doors.  "Stop your pouting."  he said carrying him down the temple steps and through the town. 

Mikado growled, squirming slightly, obviously not happy with being carried...  or possibly just not happy with being touched.

Bakura carried Mikado out to the sunny field and over to the spring.  "So...I decided you needed a good strong horse."  he said after a moment.  "One as beautiful as you are."  He whistled loudly and a large stallion trotted over.  "I'm giving you my second stallion.  Geist."

Mikado blinked and stared up at the horse, who was... possibly not quite old enough to be called a stallion instead of a colt...  but he was old enough to not be a colt any longer...

Geist calmly laid down next to Bakura, staring at them both expectantly.  Bakura smirked.  "Geist.  This is your new owner."  Bakura said sitting Mikado next to the horse.  "You will protect him, and serve him." 

Geist sniffed Mikado over calmly, looking at the youth for a long time before snorting and flicking his ears.

Mikado eyed the horse, then turned and looked at Bakura.  "A generous gift...  but if you think it makes up for what you have done to me, you are sorely mistaken."

Bakura chuckled.  "I've done nothing to you."  He said calmly.  "You're the one who brings misfortune on yourself by acting like a horses's behind."

Geist snorted at that and nipped at Mikado warningly.  "And even the horse agrees."

Mikado glared.  "ME?!  You KIDNAPPED ME and you made me a ghost to everyone BUT you...  all to force me to stay!!!  And when I make it clear that I don't WANT to stay with you, you're willing to kill me!!!  You're willing to...  TORTURE me until I change my mind?!"

"Oh?"  Bakura laughed.  "You attacked me first.  I retaliated."  He said poking Mikado's shoulder.  "As for the curse.  You piss me off to NO ends pouting about how horrible your life is just because you're here.  You have no appreciation for things around you...and you will not leave until you learn that appreciation, or you will remain cursed."

Mikado blinked, then frowned.  "...  Why...  why does the curse not affect me in here?"

"Because."  Bakura said, beginning to unwrap the bandages to change them.  "This is where you need to be, this is where you can be thankful for all you have."  Bakura dipped a cloth into the water, washing the wounds carefully.  "Because this is the land of my people.  The land the gods gave to my people, and you are unwelcome, invading and raping the land with your buildings and watered down booze.  You could at least serve REAL liquor if you're going to rape my people's lands.”

Mikado growled and smacked Bakura's hand.  "If you think the liquor I serve is watered down then you can go find another source!!!"  He snapped.

"You're on my land."  Bakura said pinching Mikado's cheek.  "And I recieve no payment for the USE of my land.  I think I can complain about your watered down booze all I want."

"It is NOT your land!  You migrated here just like the rest of us!  If anything, this land belongs to the Comanche!!!"  Mikado spat.

Bakura gave Mikado a look.  "Ah but that's where you are wrong.  My people's land sprawls over the land NOT inhabited by Comanche, and when we arrived we made agreements with them.  This land is MY land."  He said firmly.  "The gods chose this land, we came, and the Comanche were not a part of this land at that time.  They agreed to our inhabitance, and we traded. "

Mikado snorted and looked away, wincing as Bakura tended to his wounds.

Bakura chuckled and once the wounds were clean, he began rebandaging them.  "You belong here with me."  Bakura whispered as he worked.  "The gods promised you to me...since I was left behind."  He hugged Mikado lightly.  "There is a part of your very soul...that belongs in this place."

"...  The gods have no right to promise me to anyone.  They are not MY gods."  Mikado snorted, scowling.  "Get off of me."

Bakura blinked but shook his head.  "Then you are in for a very lonely existance."  he said letting Mikado go and standing.  "Because if you leave this place...you will be cursed...and to stay here is maddening, if you are alone.'

Mikado glared at Bakura.  "Thanks to you, am I alone no matter where I go."

"You see...that's where you're wrong."  Bakura said softly.  "You choose to be alone. "

"I want to be with my friends and my family."  Mikado said, glaring.  "But you have taken that from me."  He slowly stood, shaking a bit.  "You have done this just to try and force me to be with you.  But I want nothing to do with you!!!"

"What friend did you have?"  Bakura said harshly.  "Who wanted to spend time with you?  You had aquaintences!  No one wanted to spend time with you, except for your brother.  Well here's a newsflash Mikado, your brother has a life of his own,  WITH the sherrif.  He wont always be there to coddle you anymore.  You ARE alone, but not because I made you alone."

Mikado frowned.  "I was making friends with Yugi and Ryou."  He said.  "Not to mention Malik."  He looked at Bakura.  "I invited you into my bar the other day to try to get to know you, so that maybe WE could be friends.  Maybe even more...  But you fucked THAT up REAL good."

Bakura shrugged.  "I wont beg you to be MY friend, nor will I beg you to be my lover." he said dusting his pants off and whistling for Strigoi.  "Unlike you, I can be alone, and NOT depend on my family to coddle me when something doesn't go my way."  he smirked at Mikado.  "I'm not a baby anymore.  I'm a man.  You never made that change kid."

Mikado narrowed his eyes.  "If you aren't going to lift these curses from me and let me go home, and go back to my life, then just kill me right here!!!"

"First off, I can’t lift the curse."  Bakura snickered.  "Secondly, kill your own damn self."

Mikado's eyes widened.  "W-What do you mean you can't life the curse?!"  He cried.  "Which one?!"

Bakura raised an eyebrow.  "None."

"You...  you can't...  make this destruction at my very touch stop?!  Or make me visible to anyone ever again?"  Mikado gasped, looking frantic.  "You mean I'm nothing but a...  a cursed phantom?!  For the rest of my life?!"

Bakura snorted.  "The only person who can lift that curse is you.  And you can only lift it when you satisfy the requirements.  Every curse is lifted by knowledge.  There's something you need to learn, before you can lift either curse."

Mikado just stared at Bakura helplessly, looking stunned and hopeless.

"Aren't we the fountain of confidence?"  Bakura laughed.

Mikado blinked himself out of his shocked state, and GLARED at Bakura.  "YOU SHUT UP!!!"  He screamed, shaking in his anger, and he lunged for Bakura, wrappins his hands around his throat to choke the life out of him.  "I HATE YOU!!!  I HATE YOU!!!  YOU RUINED MY LIFE YOU BASTARD!!!"

However Geist was up in an instant and bit Mikado's rump, pulling him quickly off of Bakura who kicked Mikado in the 'family jewels' as he went flying into the water.  Geist snorted and pranced kicking at Mikado as if to say 'You may be my new owner, but you're NOT hurting my old!'

Mikado choked, swallowing a mouthful of water and flailed about, finally splashing his way to the bank on the other side of the stream, floundering his way out and collapsing onto hands and knees, clutching his side where Geist's large hooves had caught him a glancing blow.

Bakura laughed at that.  "You look like a drowned cat."  He called across snickering.  "Even your horse knows I'm right.  Stop acting like an ass and maybe someday you'll lift your own curse!"

Mikado coughed up the water, then just all out threw up, before dragging himself a bit away from the mess and collapsing; the wounds in his shoulders had re-opened, and now he had a new one in his side.  He pulled his hand away from where Geist had kicked him, and stared at the blood, dully, before placing his hand back over the wound again, feeling it slightly...  he had two broken ribs...

Bakura however pat Strigoi's head.  "You want to be alone.  You can tend your own wounds."  He said calmly.  "And find your own way back to the temple.  I wont help you any further.  The shades can have your company."

Mikado's eyes opened wide at mention of the shades...  it would be night in a few hours...  but he didn't know if he had the strength to get back to the temple...  would the shades even come to this side of the stream?

"They will be everywhere...This land is covered with the memories of my village.  You will be theirs tonight, I will not carry you to the solitude of the temple.  You will have to face the shades on your own.  Alone just like you want." Bakura said coldly.

Mikado cringed...  he didn't WANT to be alone...  but he would rather be alone than be with Bakura...  He slowly raised his head and looked around...  tried to see if there was any nook or cranny he could drag himself to.

There were none.  The area was wide and clear of any hiding places.  "Goodbye Mikado."  Bakura called to the youth.  "I wont be back before the shades come."  He turned Strigoi, and the horse galloped off towards the entrance.

Mikado watched Bakura leave, before he broke down crying.  But he forced himself to his feet and stumbled back towards the stream, wading into it and heading across...  he HAD to get to the temple...

Geist snorted and walked out into the water nosing Mikado gently.

Mikado gasped a bit and stumbled away, not trusting the horse.

The horse lowered it's head and nosed under Mikado's arm, helping him stand and began walking forward, aiding Mikado across the water.

Mikado held as best he could, but between his wounds and illness, he didn't have much strength...  not even to cling to the horse.  He slowly made his way along, his eyes fixed on the temple...  but even his vision was getting weak and blurry.

Geist slowed when he felt Mikado's strength slipping and looked at Mikado snorting.  He slowly laid on the ground when they reached the center of town, and nuzzled Mikado, who had sank to the ground with him.

Mikado groaned, and stared desperately at the temple.  After resting for a bit, he forced himself to his feet and went on, despite the dizzyness setting in.

As he walked...the sun finally set and the shades began appearing.  He was still not near the safety of the temple...and the shades were appearing!

Mikado gave a frantic whine, staggering forwards as fast as he could, but he quickly fell with a pained yelp.

The villagers were walking calmly around the town square talking as if all were normal.  Their faint whispers tickling Mikado's ears, despite being unintelligible. Geist trotted over to Mikado and laid near him yawning.  He wasn't afraid of the shades.

Mikado tried to stand again, but he couldn't...  he began dragging himself towards the temple on his hands and knees, dirt clinging to the sticky blood that coated his left hand...

Geist whinnied loudly and tossed his head.  He stood and pranced lightly, worried for his owner.  But as Mikado dragged himself, a few of the shades walked past, their moccasins blocking his path as they too went towards the temple.

Mikado trembled, slightly panicky at the the shades all around him.  He still crawled forwards, eyes on the temple.

As he neared he noticed the temple steps were aglow.  Atop, ghostly smoke was rising and there was a gathering below.

Mikado stared, confused.

The flames roared up, and a man was visable at the top, holding a dagger and waving his hand.  Obviously preaching to the shades gathered below.  The whispers around Mikado increased in volume, though they were still unintelligible. 

Another man was dragged to the preist’s feet and the man smirked at the prisoner, who's head was bowed.  He had nothing but a loin cloth on, and had light colored hair.  He was not indian.

The people raised their hands and cheered as the prisoner was forced to lay across the altar at the top of the steps...

Mikado stared, eyes wide in terror.

The preacher watched the man squirm before seeming to bow his head in prayer...then he raised the dagger above his head and brought it down.  The man writhed and seemed to scream, though it went unheard above the whispers.

Mikado just watched in horror, unable to look away from the grisly scene as the man's heart was cut out of his chest, still beating.

The crowd went wild and began dancing and chanting in glee as the man's heart seemed to glow.  A moment later the man, and his heart faded and the whole city seemed to glow to life, being restored to its original grand state.

Mikado was terrified, looking around frantically and digging his fingers into the ground.

That's when his gaze fell upon some paintings along the side of the temple.  They were beautifully drawn.  It depicted the city in ruin as a single warrior rode away.  The next panel showed the bird-snake god, the dawn star sinking beneath the earth as his brother the evening star enveloped the city.  The next panel showed the city being uplifted, then another showed the warrior returning to the ruined city alone...

Mikado shook his head slightly, trying to make sense of all of this...

It was when his gaze crossed the stairs he saw the next panel.  There was a picture of two darkhaired men, one with gold eyes, the other with green...The gold-eyed one was holding bandages and a mortar and pestal...The green eyed one held a large jug, which he poured the golden contents down, into a small city...

Mikado stared, and his eyes widened.  "...  W-What?"  He breathed, and frowned slightly.  "How...  how is this...  possible?"

The next panel showed the warrior, who was strangely pale for their people, holding a spear in one hand, and medicine in the other.  His face painted and the snake god coiled around his arms and neck, seeming to whisper into the warrior's ear.  The next showed the Green-eyed male facing the warrior, both clasping hands seeming to be pushing against eachother, the darker-haired man's chest bare, a symbol painted into his chest. 

A very familiar symbol...  Mikado's fingers brushed over his own chest...  over the symbol that was there...

The next image was of the warrior, and the dark-haired man standing together this time, hands clasped in peace, below them the city was grand...rebuilt and beautiful, The dark haired man was wearing clothing of the indians, feathers woven into his hair and a large necklace over both his neck, and the pale haired man. 

Mikado frowned and shook his head.  "No...  No..."  He gasped, and then all went dark...