Inko Midoriya (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
motherlypeace) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
inkuranmaricchanbrainrot2024-02-11 02:51 am
motherlypeace) wrote in inkuranmaricchanbrainrot2024-02-11 02:51 am
Entry tags:
[Yu-Gi-Oh! AU] Don't Think Twice before You Listen To Your Heart; Follow the Trace for a New Start
[This was supposed to be an exciting class trip.
The spring semester was about to come to a close, and Inko Hakuba's first few months in high school were supposed to end with a fun trip for everyone before the summer vacation began.
Said fun trip?
Going to Egypt.
Truth be told, she'd been looking forward to this trip for weeks; it was meant to be a trip for the senior students, but after a particular incident that was not disclosed to the public, the funds and tickets were given to the first years for free (so long as the student had a usable passport) as punishment for the students in question in lieu of barring their chances at graduation.
So Inko and her class were shuttled onto a bus, put on a plane, and were sent to Egypt as a cultural studies trip.
Her very first trip, her very first trip without her parents, and to a foreign country, no less! She was being taken to a land of adventure, full of beautiful golden sands, priceless artifacts, and ancient magic and wonder.
(Of course, it was not actually like that; but nobody had the heart to tell the poor girl that when she excitedly got on the plane. She was only fifteen, less than one month off from her sixteenth birthday, and she was clearly very excited!)
Their first stop was an outdoor market near Cairo, which was clearly trying to appeal to tourists like Inko who bought into the idea of the country rather than the reality. An old woman with graying hair reached out to Inko as she passed a stall, and stopped her as she was about to walk past.
Her classmates didn't notice that they left her behind.
"Yes...?" She asked in clumsy Arabic.
"You...I've seen you before."
The woman spoke in perfect Japanese, but it was clear that she was not a native speaker. Her mouth moved in a strange way, and they didn't seem to match her words, but Inko understood her perfectly.
"I...Excuse me?" Inko blinked.
The woman fished under the counter, pulling something out and holding it to Inko.
It looked like some kind of stone, almost the size of her fist. The image of what looked to be a tiger was carved on it, and the stone...looked old.
Quite old.
"For you. Don't worry about paying."
Inko took it in her hand and held it to her chest, and it felt warm in her hand. She didn't understand what was going on, but she nodded.
"I...if you're...thank you."
She bowed quickly, hurrying to catch up to the other students that were milling around nearby at another stall.
She dreamt of a voice that night, speaking to her. It was faint and muffled, and she couldn't understand it.
It wasn't until the next day, when they went to visit the Cairo museum, that she understood the words:
"Find me."
When she and her classmates went to the museum, she found herself stopping at a stone tablet on the wall with the same tiger etched into it; it looked like he was staring right at her...but that couldn't be right! That was a carving!
And yet...
She felt the stone in her hand growing warm, almost burning to the touch as she felt it...
Phase inside her body.
And something opened up under her, swallowing her whole as she fell into an abyss to the horrified screaming of her classmates nearby.
...
And there she was, lying in her Domino High school uniform inside what looked to be an open sarcophagus, the mummy long since removed. She was in the fetal position, short hair in disarray as she hugged herself.
She was unconscious...
And she wasn't in the museum anymore.]
The spring semester was about to come to a close, and Inko Hakuba's first few months in high school were supposed to end with a fun trip for everyone before the summer vacation began.
Said fun trip?
Going to Egypt.
Truth be told, she'd been looking forward to this trip for weeks; it was meant to be a trip for the senior students, but after a particular incident that was not disclosed to the public, the funds and tickets were given to the first years for free (so long as the student had a usable passport) as punishment for the students in question in lieu of barring their chances at graduation.
So Inko and her class were shuttled onto a bus, put on a plane, and were sent to Egypt as a cultural studies trip.
Her very first trip, her very first trip without her parents, and to a foreign country, no less! She was being taken to a land of adventure, full of beautiful golden sands, priceless artifacts, and ancient magic and wonder.
(Of course, it was not actually like that; but nobody had the heart to tell the poor girl that when she excitedly got on the plane. She was only fifteen, less than one month off from her sixteenth birthday, and she was clearly very excited!)
Their first stop was an outdoor market near Cairo, which was clearly trying to appeal to tourists like Inko who bought into the idea of the country rather than the reality. An old woman with graying hair reached out to Inko as she passed a stall, and stopped her as she was about to walk past.
Her classmates didn't notice that they left her behind.
"Yes...?" She asked in clumsy Arabic.
"You...I've seen you before."
The woman spoke in perfect Japanese, but it was clear that she was not a native speaker. Her mouth moved in a strange way, and they didn't seem to match her words, but Inko understood her perfectly.
"I...Excuse me?" Inko blinked.
The woman fished under the counter, pulling something out and holding it to Inko.
It looked like some kind of stone, almost the size of her fist. The image of what looked to be a tiger was carved on it, and the stone...looked old.
Quite old.
"For you. Don't worry about paying."
Inko took it in her hand and held it to her chest, and it felt warm in her hand. She didn't understand what was going on, but she nodded.
"I...if you're...thank you."
She bowed quickly, hurrying to catch up to the other students that were milling around nearby at another stall.
She dreamt of a voice that night, speaking to her. It was faint and muffled, and she couldn't understand it.
It wasn't until the next day, when they went to visit the Cairo museum, that she understood the words:
"Find me."
When she and her classmates went to the museum, she found herself stopping at a stone tablet on the wall with the same tiger etched into it; it looked like he was staring right at her...but that couldn't be right! That was a carving!
And yet...
She felt the stone in her hand growing warm, almost burning to the touch as she felt it...
Phase inside her body.
And something opened up under her, swallowing her whole as she fell into an abyss to the horrified screaming of her classmates nearby.
...
And there she was, lying in her Domino High school uniform inside what looked to be an open sarcophagus, the mummy long since removed. She was in the fetal position, short hair in disarray as she hugged herself.
She was unconscious...
And she wasn't in the museum anymore.]
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[Inko nuzzles against his skin, daring to press small kisses on his collarbone.]
I'm glad.
[She lets out a content little sigh.]
You're so warm...and comfortable...
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I figured you'd sleep better this way.
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She can't help it: she's so warm like this. So safe...
It's like if something happened, she knew he'd be there. She knew that this wasn't a dream, and she really was being held by the one she loves...]
Yes...
[There's a sweet, secret little smile.]
I think I'll have wonderful dreams tonight.
[A pause.]
Because I...will dream of you.
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Dream of him... She is a hopeless romantic, isn't she?]
... Get some sleep.
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[She closes her eyes and leans into his chest. His skin is so soft, and his gentle touch against her arm is so, so soothing.
She focuses on it, relaxes her body...
And in minutes, she's already asleep, holding him close with a smile like she didn't want to be anywhere else but in his arms.
She was truly, truly happy.]
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He's never needed anyone before. No point in it. People just slowed him down, got in the way. And forming a connection with someone...? Also pointless.
Yet here he laid with Inko, a woman out of time.
... And he was happy? There was no motivation for revenge. Not as much as there used to be. No, he wanted...
What did he want...?
The thief sighs and closes his eyes as Diabound curls up in the crook of his neck, the two eventually falling asleep as well.]
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There was no sun, the stars were still out, but she knew that she had a good rest. Her body was relaxed, her heart was calm...
And she could feel Bakura, still holding her close.
So warm.
He was so warm...she felt so safe.
When she was in his arms like this, she didn't miss the world beyond...
Perhaps she was an ungrateful daughter; she hardly thought of her parents, either. Not that they were home very often...her father was often out on business trips -- not that her family was particularly wealthy; in fact for all her father worked, the home barely saw a cent of it -- and her mother hardly noticed that she existed. They were protective of her in the same way they were protective of an asset, of someone to help them better their social station.
...
Her mother had been making calls about her.
She'd told her that she had 'something important' to talk to her about when she went home from Egypt.
"Take your time and enjoy yourself, Inko. When you get home, you're going to need to focus on the important things. You're in high school, after all; you don't have time for flights of fancy."
Flights of fancy...Important things...Phone calls...
...
Was she...going to get her married early? Was she trying to find her a husband? That's ridi--
--No. That's absolutely what her mother is trying to do.
Inko leans on Bakura, breathes in his scent, focuses on his beauty and his heartbeat.
She had just turned sixteen...and she was going to be used as a bargaining chip to help her mother's social station. Get married early. Likely become a mother and be forced to drop out of high school to raise the children of a man she didn't love.
She doesn't even realize that she's crying.]
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He doesn't say a word. If Inko's awake, whatever. But if she's asleep, perhaps his touch will ease her nightmares.]
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He's so good to her. So kind. He takes care of her in a way that only her dearest friends have, but...even then, not quite. There's something different in Bakura's touches and his grunting words, few that they can be sometimes.
Her tears flow more freely, but her body relaxes; there's trust in her embrace, in her soft sobs.
She knows that he's here.
Gods, she doesn't want to leave. People talk about conveniences and taking things for granted, but in this case...this kind of support is something that she's never had. In just a short time, she's grown more than she has in most of her life.
Her friends protected her. Her parents protected her.
They each had their reasons, but they prioritized her safety over her growth. Micchan tried to encourage her to grow, but it was always baby steps. It was always 'eventually's and 'someday's. It was never 'right now's.
Inko was not the same girl she was when she went to Egypt that day...and she's all the better for it.
She wants to grow more. She wants to change more. She wants to see how much stronger she can become with this man by her side.]
Thank you...
[She's even started speaking in Hieratic first. Japanese comes later.]
Thank you for fixing my wings.
[Ever since she's been here...she's felt...whole. For the first time. Like she didn't have a hole in her chest that was gaping and looking for something. Egypt called to her since she was little, but maybe it was something she just...knew.
Naturia didn't say anything, but his presence inside her rumbled, as though assuring her that he's here, too. That he's going to be watching over her.]
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She was competent, capable, and willing to learn.
That was a rarity to come by.
He remains silent as the girl sobs, simply rubbing her back, letting her feel that he's there. It isn't until Inko speak that he says something in return, an eyebrow quirked up.]
... Wings?
[Diabound flutters his own.]
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If anything...it was...
Nice.
She closed her eyes.]
I...my family and friends always...protected me. They didn't really trust me to grow on my own. When I tried to push myself, they would protect me more.
[She smiled.]
I was like a bird with clipped wings. I couldn't fly even if I wanted to.
[A pause.]
But with you...I can. You pushed me to be self-reliant in a way nobody ever did. Even if...I'm not sure if you even intended to at first. But there was something about you when we first met that made me want to prove myself. And...I still want to prove myself. I want to be strong and capable enough to stand by your side as an equal.
Maybe it seems childish, but...
...I have more here in just this short time than I ever had at home.
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She did incredibly well.
Bakura grunts, staring up at the ceiling.]
... Can't say anyone has ever told me I made them want to better themselves.
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Her expression is soft.
Gentle.]
You do. You're...amazing, Baku.
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... Baku?
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Though for all her embarrassment at the name, she doesn't even notice how her breasts are literally spilling out of her robe, dangling and exposed as the garment begins to come undone.]
In my country, you give friends and loved ones "Adana". They're...affectionate names. And...Baku is the one I thought of for you.
[After all, most nicknames seem...extremely childish. Baku seemed the most...appropriate.]
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His gaze only falls to it for a moment before returning to her eyes.]
I see.
[A shrug.]
I'll allow it.
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Thank you.
[She cups his cheek before she leans forward and kisses him on the forehead.]
You are quite generous, my lord.
[It's clear that she's teasing him from her tone, trying to keep the conversation light. She likes their banter; no matter what they've done with each other, she doesn't want that to change.]
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Please. I'm no lord.
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He's so cute.]
You're right. I've never seen a lord as amazing and handsome as you.
[Ooops, have more praise.]
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... I can't argue with you there.
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Besides...I rather prefer this place to a palace. It's like a little sanctuary.
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I hope you don't mind it's a temporary home. I plan to eventually pack up and move on.
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Living on the road...sounds nice. Going from place to place...taking care of yourself and learning new things along the way...
I know it's not easy, but I think...it's better than being coddled and told how to live your life.
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I don't know how the Pharaoh lives as he does. A pampered life, away from the hardships of the land he rules... so... disconnected from everything.
[He looks distant for a moment.]
... A graverobber isn't a glamorous life but... I have fun with it.
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Disconnected...where the priests do as they please, and so long as it's for the Pharaoh, it doesn't matter what they do.
[There's something about her voice. There's a bitterness there, but the kind of bitterness that only comes with experience. Something happened.
But what...?]
It doesn't matter who gets hurt.
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