Title: The Ceremony
Author: Dark Temptations
Beta: Vash is my Angel
Rating: R
Warnings: Warm fuzzies
Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh or any of its characters. The elf world and its cast of wonderful characters, including Oralie, are the incredible creations of Vash is my Angel and are used in this fic with her permission. The world of the Twilight, including the Promise, is a creation of Shadow's Mirror and is also used in this fic with her permission.
Summary: It's a very special day. Two hearts, two souls and two lives are about to join together.
Author's Notes: This fic occurs in the Twilight - a small pocket universe consisting of a forest, a dozen or so cottages, a handful of sprites... and a hotspring - naturally. The Promise is something similar to a wedding vow - but it also invokes a powerful magic that creates a link between the hearts of those making the promise.
Elven words: A'mael - beloved (and what Oralie usually calls Bakura)
Japanese words: Koishii - beloved (and what Bakura usually calls Oralie)
@-->-->----
Dark Temptations Presents
The Ceremony
@-->-->----
It was almost time.
He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm his nerves and stood up from the bed where he had been sitting, waiting for the appointed hour. His hands rose of their own volition, first fiddling with the tie at his waist and then smoothing the gauzy fabric over his chest. As his fingers brushed over his nipples, the touch enhanced by the fabric between his hands and his skin, his nipples hardened into taut buds. He moaned softly and bit his lip, feeling his cheeks heat with his embarrassment at the wanton sound.
His hands lifted again, moving to brush his hair back behind his ears in a habitual motion. It would have gone unnoticed, if not for the fact that his hands were trembling so much that his fingers brushed his cheek and ear before finally finding their true target.
In all the years he had lived, he couldn't remember ever being so nervous before. But then again, he hadn't done anything like what he was about to do before, either. Perhaps, under the circumstances, the nervous fluttering in his stomach was understandable.
After all, it was not every day in one's life that one bound himself, heart, soul, mind, body and life, to another.
The small clock chimed the quarter hour and he gasped, the sound catching him by surprise and drawing him out of his thoughts. He bit his lip and swallowed hard against the sudden lump in his throat, then began to move towards the door. He felt as if he were floating, as if he were wading through a dream. Surely, any moment now, he would wake and find all of this to be nothing but idle imaginings while under the influence of sleep.
If that were indeed the case... he did not wish to wake.
The dreamlike feeling persisted as he walked slowly along the tree-shaded path. But it was only his movement that seemed affected. His senses had never been more acute.
The grass was soft beneath his bare feet and a light breeze teased at his hair and robe, causing the flimsy material to flutter around his legs and thighs. The wind carried the sweet scent of flowers and he drew in a deep breath, his lips curving up in delight.
He was still smiling slightly as he stepped from the path, emerging into the sheltered clearing where his fate awaited him. The pool beckoned, enticing him with its crystal clear waters, the faintest hint of steam arising from the surface and spiraling lazily upwards before dispersing into the air. He paused, taking a moment to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings.
Then a figure moved into the clearing from the path on the opposite side of the pool and all of his thoughts and attention narrowed to one focus.
His lover was so beautiful.
His lover's feet were bared to his gaze, as were his long legs with their sinewy muscles. His hair shone silver in the moonlight and he moved with a fluid grace that spoke of his sureness over their reason for being there. Although he too wore a gauze robe to preserve his dignity, it did little to disguise the toned and lightly muscled body beneath its folds.
It did nothing at all to hide the fact that he was gloriously aroused.
At the sight of his lover's hardness, pushing apart the front sides of his robe as it jutted proudly from his body, he smiled. As simply as that, his nervousness faded and eager anticipation took over. His own shaft hardened and rose, parting his gown also as it revealed itself to his lover's eyes.
It was time.
They stood on opposite sides of the pool and, as one, their hands rose to the ties of their robes. Two steady pulls and the ties fluttered as their robes parted. Two graceful shrugs and the robes slipped off their shoulders, the sleeves sliding down their arms until the fabric pooled unheeded at their feet. Naked, they caressed each other with their eyes before their gazes locked. They smiled almost shyly at each other as they stepped slowly into the heated waters.
Their gazes held until finally they stood face to face in the middle of the pool. Their hands reached out, their fingers entwining until their hands were palm to palm. They took a moment then, each drinking in the sight of the other before his lover broke the silence.
"I, Bakura, promise you Oralie, Healer, Warrior and Mage, that I will cherish you, respect you, protect you and be forever bound to you by the deep and unwavering love for you that resides within my heart. You are my Koishii. You are my life, my love and my heart's greatest desire. No matter where we are, no matter the distance that separates us, we two shall always be one within our hearts. I love you, Oralie."
Bakura's voice was soft and husky with emotion. Tears sparkled in his eyes but remained unshed, even as Oralie's tears broke free and began to trickle down his cheeks.
Oralie tried to speak, but his voice failed him. He closed his eyes and fought against his emotions, wanting desperately to say the words that would bind him to Bakura forever. A soft squeeze of his hands accompanied Bakura's soft voice.
"It is all right, koishii. Take your time. I am not going anywhere."
A soft chuckle escaped Oralie and he opened his eyes, tears still trickling down his cheeks as he looked into the eyes of his beloved one. Bakura was smiling, despite the tears that were now steadily falling onto his cheeks as well.
Oralie had been so afraid that he would forget the words he was to speak. He had practiced them over and over, only to forget them whenever his nerves got the better of him. Now though, they came to his mind and tongue without the smallest hesitation.
"I, Oralie, promise you Bakura, Thief, Spellcaster and Warrior, that I will cherish you, respect you, protect you and be forever bound to you by the deep and unwavering love for you that resides within my heart. You are my A'mael. You are my life, my love and my heart's greatest desire. No matter where we are, no matter the distance that separates us, we two shall always be one within our hearts. I love you, Bakura."
They moved together, their hands slipping free of each other's grasp to slide over the other's sides and back as they embraced. Their eyes drifted closed as their lips met in a deep and lingering kiss that told of their love and promised that the next union of their bodies would be the most intense and passionate joining they had ever experienced.
So much had happened between them in such a short time, but one thing was certain.
Now they were more than together, more than friends, more than lovers.
Now... they were Promised.
end