If You Feel Better

Chapter 36

Aya's entire body screamed for relief. It ached from top to bottom, and her head throbbed with a migraine the likes of which she had never before seen. Her head sunk heavily onto the dusty earth, spreading dirt haphazardly across her cheek. She could hear the spirits of Kul Elna, but she did not pay them any attention, only staring straight through them when they passed in front of her eyes. She had grown accustomed to their screaming, their laughter, and their occasional unwelcome touch as they breezed over her, prickling her skin. She could nearly block them out entirely now.

Bakura was brutal, punching her or sweeping her leg without mercy at every chance he got. He was exceedingly stronger than Shada or Mahad, and harder to gauge his movements at every turn. There was always a weakness, always an opening for him to exploit, but he provided none in return. He was practically unbeatable in Aya's mind.

After a hard day of physical abuse in the name of becoming a stronger fighter, Aya laid fatigued on the ground at the feet of her abductor. They had been fighting all day, Aya now fighting to breath air and Bakura not the least bit winded. "Come on, Aya," he stated, arms disappointedly folded across his chest. "You haven't been able to land a single hit. You must try harder!"

"No," Aya retorted in between breaths, not having the strength to continue on. "I give up. I acknowledge you will forever be stronger than me. I can't keep going. I can't."

Bakura growled, rolling her onto her back with his foot. His scornful, violet eyes stared into her listless, unfocused blue ones. She was looking up at him, but only seemed to look through him as if he were merely one of the spirits. "That's not good enough!" he scolded. "Get up!"

"No," she repeated, unresponsive to Bakura's chastising. "I have no more left in me. I'm done."

Bakura sneered, shoving her body with his foot before grabbing his robe and walking away. "Pathetic," he scoffed.

Beaten, battered, and bruised, Aya remained a lump in the dirt, staring at the frayed rope used to bind her, now discarded to the side, at least temporarily. She eventually peeled herself off the ground, her entire body shrieking and throbbing in protest. She tried to stand, but her legs immediately gave out underneath her, tumbling her back to the dirt.

Hearing her pitiful yelps, Bakura turned to watch the miserable girl struggle, finding her unable to get anywhere above a kneel. Rolling his eyes, he went back over and knelt in front of her grabbing her elbows while she grabbed his. "Get up," he said, pulling her up, supporting her as her legs wobbled underneath her. But the moment he let go, her legs buckled and gave out, nearly sending her back down again. But quickly Bakura stabilized her, turned himself around, and lifted her up onto his back.

Aya hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck to avoid falling off, Bakura carrying her piggyback taking her by surprise. His skin was still bare, pressed up against her clothed front. She could feel his muscles gently nudging against her with each step they took and his exposed shoulders rubbed against her uncovered arms, feeling soft and strong at the same time. She blushed at the contact, but turned her mind away from it, instead focusing on the entrance of the village behind them that was growing farther and farther away.

Bakura lightly pressed into Aya's thighs as he carried her. He had never been able to touch her bare skin there in all the time he'd had her. Her dress was short enough that he felt her unclothed legs against his fingers, which he silently savored. He admired the slight give her thighs gave under his gentle squeeze and couldn't concentrate on anything else but that beautiful sensation.

He quietly carried her further into the village toward their underground chamber, but instead of going inside, he walked right past it much to Aya's confusion.