Re-wrote this chapter about three times so I hope it turned out well enough ^^;
They had agreed to meet at the docks at seven, since it should be dark enough and most if not all of the workers should have left by then. Getting out of the house after news of Ryou and Bakura's kidnapping had been the difficult part as both his grandfather and mother had been keeping a close eye on him as though they had guessed what he would be trying to sneak out. In the end, he'd used the skylight in his room to climb down the side of the house and set off towards the docks, hoping that he wouldn't be too late. Yami had told him he'd give him till half past the hour before he'd go in by himself but Yuugi wasn't about to allow that to happen. He'd seen just how worried Yami and Seto had been about Bakura in particular though he was sure that they'd also be concerned over Ryou just they didn't know him personally. Sighing, he pulled out his phone and bought up the map of the city, making sure he was taking the right pathways that he'd mapped out earlier as being the shortest route. His heart was pounding now and he knew it wasn't all down to the running.
Quarter past six and he arrived panting heavily at the locked gates that lead into the docks, finding Yami standing examining the lock though he turned and smiled as he heard Yuugi.
"Heeh, you ran here?"
"Grandfather and my mother were watching me like hawks" he gasped out, slowly standing and holding a hand up against his chest as he tried to catch his breath, "The news is full of the story of the kidnapping now and Ryou's father was even on pleading for his safe return...the bastard"
"Are you sure that man was his father?" Yami asked as he turned back to fiddling with the lock, Yuugi walking over as he nodded.
"Yes. I've never met him in person but Ryou has a picture in his home of his family… it was taken a few years ago since his sisters also there but that man hasn't changed much...and you can't pick locks can you?" he giggled a little, Yami pulling a slightly face.
"Bakura's better at this kind of thing and it wasn't a skill I thought I'd ever need" he pouted as Yuugi walked over and took out a pin, kneeling to fiddle with the lock.
"Ryou taught me a little" he smirked as he took the padlock off and handed it to Yami, "Not that he steals a lot!"
"Heeh, don't worry about it. Melvin and Bakura aren't exactly angels either. I'm sure all three of us would have landed in jail a while back without Seto's help" he grinned and took Yuugi's hand, Yuugi gazing at him in curiosity as he went over his words. All three. So that included Yami? What law had he broken then? "Right let's go then. Remember what we agreed to though. If anything kicks off you run and you don't stop running till you get to Seto's. Got it?" Yuugi gave a slight nod as he followed after him carefully though knew he had no such wishes to follow such stupid rules. If anything happened there was no way he was just about to leave Yami to deal with it by himself. The grip around his hand at the moment was almost hard enough to be painful but he found that he didn't much care. He was concerned though that whoever they were to meet was already watching them, so he pressed in closer to the side of the buildings and tried to fight back the waves of fear that were beginning to rise inside him. The darkness and the sound of the waves hitting the sides of the docks made him extremely nervous and he found himself wondering if Yami knew how to swim.
They walked silently past the many warehouses and down towards where the only source of light seemed to be, Yuugi ducking to hide behind some boxes as a figure showed herself on the other side of the walkway. Yami frowned and stopped half way towards her and Yuugi could almost sense the anger that was radiating from him.
"I know you took a friend" she started and walked more into the light, Yuugi peering out from his hiding place. She was taller than Yami, which wasn't too surprising he guessed, wearing high heels too and an outfit that barely left anything to the imagination. She stood with arms folded beneath her breast, golden curls framing her face, "Come out of hiding little one".
Yami sighed before motioning for Yuugi to walk forwards, grabbing his hand and holding him close to his side as he continued to stare at the woman. Both just stood there regarding one another for a few moments before Yami finally snapped, "Well? I'm here"
"But not alone" she flashed Yuugi a smile, "Not that it matters. The idiots I hired messed up on their job and even grabbed another brat. Here I went through all this trouble to get you away from that annoying cousin of yours" she sighed and shook her head in annoyance as Yami frowned.
"A phone call also works"
"You'd never have answered" she smirked and took a few steps forwards, Yuugi glancing between them. Was this an ex or something? "I did try Bakura a few times but I believe he may have our entire family blocked by now" she sighed and pointed towards the warehouses before pulling out a pair of dice, Yami's grip increasing tightly around Yuugis wrist. "You enjoy games, don't you Yami?" she asked, "Your friends are in one of the warehouses back there...however simply handing them over would be boring. Don't you think?"
"...this is all for some stupid game?" Yami snapped, eyes narrowing as he took a few steps closer to her, "Don't you have an ounce of concern inside that plastic body of yours? He's your brother for fuck sake! I'm pretty sure-"
"Don't even go there. An adopted alien is not earning my love. You on the other hand" she smiled and walked over, running sharp nails along his jawline, Yuugi flinching slightly as the grip on his hand got tighter, "You I could have space for" she smirked and took his free hand, handing him one of the dice, "Now let's play shall we?"
"What's the fucking rules?" Yami hissed, rolling the dice between his fingers. The woman directed them back over to the stack of boxes and held up her own dice.
"We take turns rolling. Whoever rolls highest can select the warehouse that goes boom or can choose to ask a question instead. However you can't simply ask me which one they are in or which one is safe...that'd be far too boring" she laughed a little, Yuugi staring at her like she was insane. How could anyone play with people's lives like this? If any of this behaviour was strange to Yami though he was hiding it well. He stood going over the rules in his head before nodding.
"So if I win I get Ryou and Bakura back unharmed" he stated.
"Well they are a little harmed but yes. However if I win they die and you both come with me instead, deal?" she smirked and gazed at Yuugi who glanced up at Yami before quickly nodding.
"Deal" he whispered weakly. The cold winters night suddenly felt much colder than it had previously and he was grateful when Yami wrapped his jacket around his shoulders and gave a small encouraging smile. This was purely a game of luck though but they had to win.
"I shall roll first then. There's ten warehouses remember" she smiled at Yami as she rolled her red die, the cube spinning along the wooden surface before coming to a stop on a five, Yuugi feeling as though his heart was about to burst as the woman laughed softly. Yami gazed back towards the warehouses before rolling his own white die, both boys letting out a sigh of relief as it landed on six. "Mai. I'll ask a question" Yami started as he picked up his die again, "Will you tell me the truth when I ask you questions?"
Well that was a surprise. Yuugi frowned a little watching them both before the realisation slowly dawned upon him that this wasn't the first time they had played this type of game. Mai slowly smirked before nodding, "Yes I shall always answer with the truth. My turn now". Oh so she'd only allow one question per win? Still wouldn't it be too risky for Yami to ever suggest a number to be blown up? But then wouldn't Mai just use her first win to kill them anyway? This was all beginning to make him feel dizzy and a little bit sick.
"Hmm a four" he headed her sigh before she squeaked in joy, Yuugis heart sinking as he saw Yami had only thrown a two. Grinning, Mai pulled out a small box, warehouse number six bursting into flames, making both boys jump slightly, "You have to be more careful Yami" she giggled a little, "Okay you can roll first this time"
Yuugi wasn't sure how much longer he could handle this. Yami seemed far too calm for someone who was literally rolling die to save people's life's. "Is your name Mai?". What sort of bloody question was that!? She'd already answered to the name and it was obvious that they both knew one another. Mai though looked slightly shocked at the question before giving Yami a small smile, "No" she answered, Yami smirking softly before nodding. Yuugi, confused and cold just pressed closed against Yami as Mai rolled again. They both got a six.
"So what happens in the case of a tie?" Yami asked, Mai smirking softly.
"I was hoping this wouldn't happen so soon. It spoils the fun…we both pick a number to blow up"
She smiled a little, Yami seeming to have grown a little pale before nodding, "You first then". She nodded and pressed a button, warehouse three exploding and Yuugi couldn't help but scream as it had been pretty close by. Yami sighed and gazed off towards the fires, eyes searching for some type of clue before glancing at Mai, "Four" he barely managed to get the word out before flinching as the explosion was heard, Yuugi feeling as though his wrist was going to end up breaking with how tightly Yami was holding onto him. He could feel how much he was shaking though it was obvious he was trying to hide it from Mai. "So it's only when I win outright that you lie to me" he muttered, Mai smiling brightly, "Roll Yami"
He nodded and threw a six once more, Mai sighing a little before throwing a three, tutting and crossing her arms as she waited on Yami's question, "I can't ask directly… So is the one they are in an even number?".
"Yes" she smiled, Yuugi gasping a little as he finally caught onto what was going on. Yami nodded slowly and glanced back towards the three burning warehouses.
"If we can guess which one it is can we win outright?" Yuugi quickly asked, Mai glancing towards him looking a little annoyed but shook her head.
"That would spoil the fun. Besides this is a game between myself and Yami so stay out of this okay?" she reached over and ruffled his hair before Yami slapped her hand away in annoyance.
"Roll Mai"
"Seven warehouses remain" she grinned before throwing the die, landing on a five, Yami rolling a four and flinching as warehouse seven went up next. Yuugi whimpered weakly, gazing at Yami who had closed his eyes for a moment before he picked up his die again. As warehouse eight and five joined the burning buildings Yuugi had to wonder if Yami was trying to give him a heart attack on purpose. Now only warehouse one, two, nine and ten remained and they had just both thrown a four. Yami looked almost like a ghost as he frantically searched Mai's face for any type of clue, Yuugi jumping as warehouse ten blew up next. Using Mai's earlier clue that left Yami with only one logical choice.
"Two…" He muttered weakly. Now there was only two left and if they were still alive then...wait didn't that mean it was now up to Mai if they lived or not? Yuugi bit hard on his lip as Yami won his next roll and glared across at Mai, "Are they still alive?" he growled in annoyance, Mai laughing hysterically before shaking her head, "No. Your last blast killed them" she grinned, Yuugi feeling sick but if she was sticking to her way of lying whenever Yami won outright then that would mean they were still alive...but now how did they win this game without Mai blowing them up now that only two remained? Yami bit harder on his lip and once again rolled a six "Is the warehouse a prime number?" He looked as though he was about to faint with the the amount of stress he was under and anger just continued to swell inside Yuugi as the look of pure glee on Mai's face. She was enjoying putting him through all this.
"No" she answered, Yuugi and Yami at once glancing at warehouse one before Yami swore.
"Mai we got the answer now let us go get them! Warehouse two's Fire is starting to spread there!"
"You need to win once more Yami" she smirked a little, "Or I can blow them both up instead?"
"Just fucking roll" he snapped, Yuugi taking a few steps away to watch the fires, feeling as though he was about to be sick. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning wood and fish. He jumped as warehouse nine went up, Yami speeding by him as Mai's laughter filled the air. For a moment it felt like everything was frozen before he glanced back at Mai, saw her about to press the final button and with bravery he had no idea he possessed, he ran quickly back towards her, toppling into the waters holding tightly onto her waist.
It stunk of burning wood, fish and metal, ash filling the air with a thick fog and as another explosion went off he took a small victory in the look of fear that crossed their captors face. The man had been foolish enough to believe Mai when she had told him he'd be safe remaining with Bakura and Ryou - afterall both of them were unable to put up too much of a fight. That part was true at least. Ryou was sat behind Bakura and had been knocked out again after he and his father had an argument, Mai ordering for him to be silenced as the noise was giving her a headache apparently. Bakura had awoken to find the boy being beaten senseless by one of the other thugs that had grabbed them though was unable to help much due to the gun constantly being pointed towards him and having a broken ankle did little to help either. When it was over though he'd pulled the boy behind his own body and was now sitting watching as Ryou's father grew more and more nervous with each explosion that went off. At the seventh the man had jumped to his feet and started to pace the floor yelling about how much of a lying bitch Mai was. Well Bakura wasn't about to defend her. She was a lying bitch.
Coughing, he turned a little to check on Ryou and was thankful to see he'd now woken though was too scared to move. He held a finger against his lips just in case he tried to speak, not wanting to draw attention to the fact he was awake. He dropped a blanket over him and turned back to watching the deranged man in front of him, reaching back with one hand to place a reassuring grip on Ryou's, the boy pressing against his back silently as a reply.
"You honestly believed the words of a kidnapper?" Bakura laughed before breaking out into another coughing fit. The smoke was getting worse now.
"Shut up thief. I only agreed to take this job on to get back what's mine… You took something from me"
"I did? So...I stole something and now you wish to kill me and your son?" He frowned and tried to think on what it could be. Sure he was a bit of an annoyance, he and Melvin would sometimes steal the odd thing or the odd car but they usually ended up returning it once Yami or Seto found out and it was just for the rush of things. Old habits died hard. What could it have been though? He frowned and gazed slightly at Ryou who looked just as confused.
"My son was never suppose to have been included. I told him to get away from the cafe...but he had to go and try and help you!" he paused and gave a feeble laugh, "I haven't seen Ryou for three years...three years and this is how we first see one another again...pathetic"
"Yeah you are" Bakura snapped before jumping as the eighth explosion was heard, heat at once flooding over them. Fuck. That must have been pretty close then. Only this one and one other remained. Perhaps now wasn't the time to be telling this man how much of a crappy father he was. "Look. That's the eighth warehouse. This ones likely to be next. We need to get out of here and fast" he hissed and examined the man in front of him, eyes widening as the gun was once again pointed towards him. Was this idiot really about to kill him?
"I was told to keep you two in here" he answered, his hand shaking though as he took a few steps towards them, Bakura pressing himself back more to defend Ryou, "So don't think on trying anything foolish"
"I'm not the foolish one here you stupid bastard! Just get yourself and your son out at least!" he yelled before breaking into another coughing fit, eyes narrowing as they begun to sting with the volume of smoke that filled the air now. Even Ryou was no longer able to pretend to still be asleep as he broke out into his own coughs, his father smirking a little as he just shook his head.
"We can all die together. Wouldn't it be nice to see your mother again Ryou? I bear Amane would be happy to see her big brother too" Bakura felt Ryou tense up behind him as his father let off a hysterical laugh, "Are you going to leave her alone again Ryou? It was your fault you know right? She ended up saving your life at the cost of her own...don't you think it's time to repay the debt?"
Looking back it was a foolish thing to do but rage had pushed him to the edge of reason and so, swearing at the pain of placing any pressure on his ankle, Bakura jumped to his feet and tackled the older man to the ground, just as the ninth warehouse went up, Ryou screaming and running over to try and help though froze as a gunshot split through the air, followed by Bakura's scream of pain and rage. Despite the injury though he kept going and had his hands tightly around the mans neck when Yami ran in.
"Bakura! Don't!"
"He deserves it Yami!" he growled but could feel his grip growing weaker as the adrenaline rush begun to fade and the effect of losing so much blood begun to take its toll.
"Y-Yami Bakura was shot" Ryou whispered weakly before screaming as parts of the roof begun to cave in, Yami swearing slightly as he took more steps inside. By now Bakura had at least managed to throw the pistol to the other side of the room though he wasn't sure on how long he would be able to remain conscious for. Already his vision was beginning to grow blurry and just before he could fall to the ground Ryou caught hold of him, half dragging him towards Yami, ignoring his father. Yami, lifted Bakura a little more and draped an arm around Ryou, turning to leave before holding them back as the roof chose that moment to cave in, blocking off their exit.
"Fucking hell I swear I'm cursed" Bakura laughed weakly, groaning in pain as Yami set him down against a wall and turned to Ryou, "can you see about trying to stop the bleeding? I'll try and find a way out of here". Ryou gave a small nod and knelt down in front of Bakura who was currently fighting to remain awake. It had been such a foolish thing to do but he couldn't just sit and allow that man to say such vile words to his own son. It filled him with unexplainable rage.
"Thank you" Ryou whispered softly as he lifted Bakura's shirt and gazed at the wound, "I'm sorry I wasn't much use to you. You fought to defend me". Bakura sighed a little but managed to give a small smile as a means of response. This kid was something else. How could his father fail to see the type of man his son had grown to be? He had no idea or care if there was any truth behind the words the man had spoke, that Ryou had played some part in his sisters death. All he knew was Ryou obviously regretted whatever had happened and it was something the boy lived with everyday. Now Ryou sat pressing a blanket against the gaping hole below Bakura's ribs, looking pale and scared.
"Hey" he managed to gasp out. Breathing hurt never mind talking but he felt it was important to try and reassure the person attempting to save his life "You're doing good. I'll survive okay?"
"Promise?", Ryou responded and gave him such a fierce look that he couldn't help but grin.
"I promise" was the given reply. Now he just had to keep it.
Yami returned a few minutes later, though the look on his face alerted them that something was wrong, Ryou's dad standing behind him, the pistol back in his hands and pressed against Yami's side. "Slightly forgot about him" Yami muttered weakly as the man motioned for Ryou to stand.
"Find a way out of here" he snapped, Yami kneeling down beside Bakura, "And let's stop with the games shall we? Bakura needs a hospital Ryou so unless you want more blood on your hands you best hurry up"
Like hell was he about to die in a place like this. Yami now took over for trying to tend to his wounds though he seemed to be shaking rather badly too. "You played with Mai" he whispered weakly, Yami giving a slight nod.
"She's as crazy as ever" he sighed and glanced over to Ryou, "Yuugi was with me though. I don't know what happened to him...I ran in here without him"
"Maybe he went for help?"
"Maybe...you are an idiot, you know that right?"
He laughed despite the pain before nodding, "You know me so well Yami" he smirked, Ryou running back over as the rubble around them begun to move now, the dull sound of voices being heard from the other side. Ryou's father grew a little nervous and ran over to one side to dispose of his pistol, just as the rubble begun to clear out, a soggy Yuugi standing next to some officers and a very pissed off Seto. Bakura laughed weakly at the sight before allowing himself to finally fall into the darkness, the sound of sirens and Ryou calling his name the last thing he heard before he blacked out completely.