"Crap." Bakura whispered

"Don't move" Yami said lowly.

Yellow eyes stared at them hungrily from the trees.

" I don't see the big deal just open the shadow realm and kill it" Marik shrugged.

"Uhuh. That being super easy. We don't have the ring, rod or puzzle anymore dumbass." Bakura snapped back, keeping his eyes directed on the beast in the distance.

"Shadow magic oozes off whats-his-face. If he can get the power we can." Marik replied.

Ignoring the order not to move he turned and started limping back towards Raiki, Causing a huge Roar to erupt from the forest, a huge bipedal horse wielding a giant axe sprinted for Marik. Yami and Bakura made a leap to the side to avoid the stampeding beast.

Marik grunted as he turned. " Today is starting to piss me off" The beast approached and raised its axe above its head, gathering shadow power the golden eye appeared on his forehead

"Get out of my sight" He growled lifting his hand.

The monster threw down his axe with immense force and Marik was about to throw his own attack before Yami dived on him throwing them both to the side.

"What the hell?"

"We cant use shadow magic. Don't you think its weird how shadow magic oozes of Raiki. Something's wrong. We cant trust this." Yami exclaimed.

"You can't order me around Pharaoh." Marik stood up and without warning dark mist started to cover the entire area.

This only seemingly made the monster more angry. Swinging its axe around madly the three of them barely avoiding each swing.

"Looks like we don't have a choice" Bakura grumbled, his forehead started to glow with the golden eye. He kneeled down and put his hands on the ground. Many black smoke like arms rose up from the ground and took hold of the beast holding it in place. As the beast struggled it got increasing harder to keep hold, and without the items his power was draining fast.

Yami looked around for some sort of weapon. There must be something he could use anything instead of using the shadow realms help.

"I cant keep hold for long so you two better do something." Bakura shouted.

Marik threw what looked like a dark ball of energy at the beast exploding on impact, throwing it backwards just as Bakura's energy ran out. The thief and tomb-keeper grimaced as the monster slowly got back up. leaving its axe and charging full force as the thief with its sharp horns. Marik attempted to throw another ball but he had also ran out of power. Bakura attempted to get up but the monster was to fast, he raised his arms preparing for impact, when it never came he opened his eyes to see the monster stood inches in front of him. Blood dripping from its mouth. Yami holding onto a large pointed Tree branch that he had plunged into the beasts neck.

The mist around them faded and the monster fell to the ground.

" your welcome." Yami said pulling out the branch and throwing it to the ground.

"I thought these things were virtual." Marik asked taking a closer look at the downed creature.

"You probably made it real when you opened the shadow realm." The Pharaoh huffed as he attempted to wipe off the creatures blood that had covered his hands and splattered onto his face.

A clapping could be heard behind them as Raiki approached. "Well , Well I AM impressed. Although if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have been able to open the shadow realm. So you can thank me for practically saving your lives"

"What" Yami spat.

"Your not stupid. I don't exactly hide the fact I'm in control of the shadow realm."

"How?!" He asked getting really sick of this guys smug face.

"That's a secret. I'm not ready to tell you yet" Raiki grinned.

He ignored him, turning his back and walking towards the sound of a stream that could be heard in the distance, now that everything was quiet again. He couldn't be bothered arguing with , what would just end up him either being electrocuted or threatened. All he wanted to do was wash the blood off. But he was certain that he was going to find out somehow.

Looking around quickly, making sure nobody was around, Yami bent down placing his hands into the steady flowing river in front of him. Rubbing his hands roughly to get the blood off. He sighed pulled down his hood and splashing icy cold water on his face. Which was a large relief under the Egyptian heat. He shook his head as he looked at his reflection in the water. What was he doing. He hadn't asked for any of this, not even to be brought back... but after seeing Yugi... all he wanted was to run up to him and pull him onto him and never let go. He hadn't hit him how much he missed his aibou till he saw him and it was taking every shred of restraint he had.

Suddenly a coughing and splashing shook him from his thoughts. He quickly drew back into the shadows and looked out towards the noise. His eyes widened as he watched Yugi practically crawling out from the river onto the bank a few meters in front of him, dragging Malik along with him and collapsing onto the grass.

He waited for a few seconds, and nothing. He wasn't getting up or moving or anything.

Instinct took over Yami as he ran over to his fallen partner, forgetting about his hood.

"Oh crap!" Jou cursed as the reached a folk in the river it splitting off in two paths."What now?"

"We will have to separate." Ryou gasped for breath catching up. " You should be able to cross now its shallower and the current has died down."

Jou nodded "We Should meet back here then." He said wading quickly to the other side of the river.

"Okay, but we need to hurry! The sun in starting to set!" Ryou shouted across looking up at the sky through a gap in the trees. Turning a familiar shade of orange. Kiaba's words ran through his head.

'But be warned. after dark the monsters get stronger and the temperature drop to freezing so it would be in your best interest to find the halfway house before dark.'

Yami ran over to Malik and Yugi collapsed on the ground. Looking between the two, soaked to the bone, they must have been sweeped into the river. By the looks of them, battered and bruised they must have been hit against rocks in the fast current. Malik suddenly shifted a little without waking causing Yami to feel a small wave of relief, but nothing from Yugi. Was he even breathing? Yami bit his lip as panic started to claw its way back up him. He placed his hand on his chest and the other under his nose and relaxed once a small breath of air could be felt. He placed his hand on Yugi's bruised cheek and rubbed it with his thumb. His heart started to hammer when he realised this was the first time they had truly touched in the physical plane. A small gasp escaped him as Yugi put his hand over Yami's. Yugi looked up through half closed , dazed eyes. The Pharaoh looked down onto his light.

Ra, he forgot how beautiful his eyes were.

" Mo-Hitori-no... I must be dreaming." He said in a quiet voice as he closed his eyes once again.

A lump formed in his throat as he kissed him on the forehead. He had to get back before the others followed him and found him. It was super dangerous coming this close to his light with Raiki no doubt approaching. He hated leaving them like this but they were fine and they would be much safer with him as far from them as he could manage. He lifted his hood and stood up.

"What do you think your doing! You bastard!" Jou shouted running up from behind.

Yami attempted to run but Jou grabbed his wrist pulling him back. Yami kept his head turned away from Jou. This wasn't good. He couldn't escape Jou's grasp.

"Who the hell are you? Did you hurt my friends? I swear if you did!" He asked anger growing in his voice.

Yami remained silent as he tried to figure a way out.

"I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.!" Jou shouted pulling down Yami's hood.

A/N

Hope you liked this chapter!

Please read and review.

The monster from the beginning was Mezuki :)