Oh how I smile with all the lovely reviews. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Thanks so much you people are what keep this story alive. Sorry it's taken a few weeks, but finals and all suddenly appeared out of nowhere. (You can tell how much I actually pay attention.) Anyways big thanks!!!!!!!
And hey Cuteyami! Awesome story. You all should read it. It's quite good! It's another twist to demented torturing of the pharaoh! WAHAHAHA!!! Oh my…….
Read and review!! (if you want) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 9: Damn it!
Morning finally arose. I climbed up the broken stairs and placed my ear next to the door. There was nothing. Glancing back at the sleeping hikaris I gently and quietly pushed open the hatch and peered out.
My throat immediately clenched as I looked on at the destruction. It's happened again. The home was completely demolished, its debris still slightly smoldering. I stepped out from the bunker and surveyed the rest of my surroundings. There was nothing left. The streets were upturned and broken, every home you could lay your eyes upon had been destroyed to nothing but smoldering wood., lawns were blackened with ash, and the air was filled with the smell of smoke.
I turned around in a full circle taking in the damage. Not a single sound, not a single person, was heard or seen. How many? I wondered to myself. How many dead this time?
Flashback:
I rounded the corner and stopped. There he stood. A small-bloodied arm trapped in his grip. He stared at me, a sadistic smirk plastered on his face.
"Welcome Bakura. I was wondering when you'd show up." The demon laughed. "Come to help?"
"Only your sanity Pharaoh. And to stop whatever atrocity you're to perform." I growled, disgust lacing my words.
"You're a little late, Thief. The sands of Egypt have already been blackened." The demon stated.
"Then let it only be Egypt and nowhere else. Stop this, Pharaoh." I demanded. The demon laughed at my pathetic attempt.
"The pharaoh's not in control anymore!" The demon replied amused. "So you can stop your pathetic pleas."
"The Pharaoh is still in there. Whether you're willing to admit it or not!" I seethed. The demon growled and faster than I could blink an eye had his claw like hand gripped around my collar.
"You can't save him. It's too late."
"Then why is there fear in your eyes?" I questioned smugly. I yelped as my back connected with the corner of a building.
"I fear nothing." It growled. He leaped into the air with a powerful beat of his wings. I stared after him as he rose high into the air. "Good luck, Bakura! I'll be waiting for you at our next destination! Feel free to pick up the pieces!"
I growled angrily and leaped to my feet as he flew off into the distance laughing. Kicking the ground with my foot I glared sickeningly at the pile of the dead.
EndI followed him for weeks to each point of his madness. The areas started out remote targeting small villages and out of the way towns, but soon found their way into more populated and suburban locations. This was the biggest place he'd hit as of yet. He was finally opening up. God only knows how long it'll be until this becomes a media hit.
"Cassandra." I called. There was a pressure in the back of my skull as she reopened the link.
/He's gone then?/
"From here anyways." I replied. "How bad?"
/423 souls moved on./
My heart sunk.
"Any survivors?"
/Only you three./ She answered sadly.
"We need to go after him!"
/We need to come up with a plan./ Cassandra spoke softly. I took a breath hoping to calm my raging nerves.
"Do you have any suggestions?" I asked grudgingly. My mind had drawn a complete blank. I'd been bullshitting this entire time. I had no idea how I was going to save the pharaoh and I hadn't really sat down and thought about it.
/Gather the hikaris and get them a safe distance away. The only even remote possibility to save the pharaoh is to keep Yugi alive./
"You realize he wont go easily. He'll want to help."
/Forge a deal with him or if necessary use force. Either way, he must be far away from the fight./
"Is there any place to keep him from detection? The pharaoh may not see us in the bunker but he can still use the mind link."
/Distance is the easiest solution even their bond has its limit./
"With are luck we'll have to stick him on the moon." I mumbled. However, she was right. The connection in a mind link grows weak the farther apart the two people are. The connection is still there, but it will become hazy and distorted. The pharaoh and his hikari might have been strong then, but with the severe damage to the pharaoh's spirit the connection could be even weaker.
Scratching the side of my head I turned back toward the bunker. Where could I hide them? After a moments thought a devilish smirk suddenly appeared across my face. "It's been a while since I've seen them." I muttered. Climbing back down the stairs I placed my hand on their shoulders and gave them a good shake.
"Where the hell are we?" Ryo squeaked confused, his eyes snapping open to a sight that definitely wasn't his bedroom. Yugi seemed just as startled but soon a wave of realization crossed over them.
"Is he still up there?" Yugi questioned.
"No he's gone." I replied. He made a move to get up and leave but I pulled him back. "You don't need to go up there. Not yet."
"But…"
"I need you to sit and listen for a minute." Yugi replaced himself next to his boyfriend.
"What's wrong?" Ryo questioned.
"I've spoken with Cassandra and we both agree that we're no longer safe here."
"But…I thought he didn't know where we were." Ryo stated.
"That doesn't solve the problem of his ability to posses Yugi. As long as they have a mind-link we'll all be in danger."
"What are you saying?" Yugi asked warily. I sighed knowing what was to come next.
"We're leaving. Far enough away that you can no longer hold a connection."
"What?! No!" Yugi cried out. "I refuse! I said I would help!"
"And the only way you'll be able to help is if you stay alive!" I yelled back angrily. "If you die there's no hope to save him! Plus, not only will you jeopardize his small chance if you stay here you'll put everyone else in danger!! Do you want more people to die? Do you?"
Yugi shook his head and closed his mouth defeated. "No."
"Bakura, there's no need to be so harsh." Ryo spoke softly. I could see the tint of anger in his gentle eyes.
"Well until the two of you finally come to terms with the reality of this situation I will be. Everyone is in danger and until we do something about it more people will die. And unless you want to add to the body count you better as hell listen to me."
The two were silent for a moment. For a moment I thought I had actually gotten through the two but Yugi's words stated otherwise.
"I wont leave." Yugi stated.
"Didn't you just hear what I said? You have no choice! Unless you want to risk losing every bit of a possible chance…" I was cut off when he spoke again. He stared me straight in the eye his violet irises taking on a darker hue.
"I will not leave."
"You stubborn little…" I felt like picking him up right there and forcing his scrawny little ass out the door but with a calm breath I took another approach. "You have no choice in the matter, Yugi. But I'll make it easier on you. How about we strike a deal."
"Like what?" He questioned. That was a good question.
/Try his friends./ Casandra whispered in the back of my head.
It wasn't a bad idea. Yugi was very protective of his companions. If it involved there safety he would no doubt give in. The only problem was; were his friends still alive? I new from experience that the demon only attacks small areas at a time due to the amount of energy it takes. He won't move out fully until he grows a little further in strength. But I still didn't know how far of an extent his current attack was. 400 souls could only mean a small neighborhood in this city. But if that were the case, why hasn't the media or anyone discovered the wreckage. The place should be swarming with people.
I shook my head. I'll worry about that later. First things first, I had to get Yugi to yield.
"How's this Yugi. If you come along and stay out of the fight I will, as much as I hate this, bring along any of your close, and I emphasize close, friends with you. They'll be safe and out of harms way." I concealed my smile of triumph when his head snapped up in slight shock.
"My friends? But…I don't get it."
"The pharaoh's going to continue to attack whether you're here or not. I can guarantee their safety for a time if and only if you remove yourself from the fight. Is that a deal?"
Yugi turned his head to face Ryo who shrugged his shoulders in answer.
"There's only so much we can do Yugi. If you stay like 'Kura said everything could be put in jeopardy. If we leave that'll at least give us a slight chance. Plus, it'll help keep our friends safe."
Yugi's eyes drooped slightly in sadness. He really did want to help, he just didn't believe the only way he could was by running away. But Ryo and Bakura were right. This was their best option.
"Then where are we supposed to go?" Yugi whispered. I smirked as I thought of our destination.
"Back to Egypt, to meet some old friends."
NPV (holy crap!!)
Jounouchi jumped as a loud rap sounded against his apartment door. Bolting from his seat he clicked the lock undone and opened it a slight crack. Two violet eyes stared back waiting patiently as his friend hurriedly unlocked the chain.
"Yug'! What's up?" Jou greeted warmly.
"Jounouchi, we have to leave immediately." Yugi replied, his expression hard and stoic. Jou cocked his head confused, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.
"What's wrong?" He questioned seriously. Yugi pushed passed him and entered the small home. Katsuya closed the door shut and looked on at his seemingly pale friend with alarm. "Yug', what's goin' on?"
"Your sister, Honda, Anzu, none are in town right?"
"Yeah, Honda's still in the military and Anzu and Shizuka should still be in America. You know that, but… why ask?"
"Just get packed, quickly." Yugi stated ignoring his question. The man proceeded to look around for any kind of suitcase or backpack. Jounouchi reached over and grabbed his friend by the shoulders trying to make eye contact, but Yugi refused.
"Not, until you tell me what's goin' on. Did something happen to Ryo?"
"What? No, no it's nothing like that, he's waiting downstairs in the parking lot with Bak…uh…someone else."
"With who?"
"Someone else, don't worry about it." Yugi tried to break free, but Jounouchi forced his face towards him. He was shocked to the pale and haunted look on the man's usually calm features. Fear and alarm immediately coursed through Katsuya's body as he thought of the possibilities.
"Did somebody hurt you? Or Ryo? Yugi, tell me what's wrong!" Jou demanded. Yugi bowed his head as he tried to hold back the wave of emotion. Jou wrapped him in a tight bear hug, his fear escalating even more. "Yugi?"
"I'll tell you later, okay? But right now we don't have time. Everyone's in danger, we have to leave. Please, Jou."
Jounouchi nodded his head and took off to his bedroom. With in five minutes he had several items of clothing and necessities packed in a small shoulder bag. Yugi nodded and taking a deep breath led him back out the door.
"Leave them, you wont need them anymore." Yugi muttered as Jou pulled out his keys intent on locking his door. Confused he dropped the keys to the floor and followed his friend out to the parking lot.
"Ready?" Ryo questioned as the two exited the building. Jounouchi noted how he looked just as distraught as Yugi.
"Yeah." Yugi replied.
"Care to enlighten me?" Jounouchi whispered to Ryo.
"No time for that we leave now." Jou bit back a scream as Bakura sauntered out behind the alleyway.
"What the hell are you doing here!" Jounouchi cried bewildered. Confusion overwhelmed his brain as he stared at the 'supposed to be dead' Yami.
"Saving your ass, now shut the hell up and follow me." Bakura demanded.
"Do as he says, Jou." Ryo spoke seeing Jounouchi hesitate.
"Fuck no! Are you crazy?" He yelled. "He should be dead! The pharaoh killed him!"
"Haven't you ever heard of a second chance?" Bakura smirked. Jounouchi glared furiously, but a soft hand stopped him from sending the other back to the grave.
"Jou, please. It's safe." Yugi replied gently. He gave him a slight nudge and before Jounouchi could say no, he was walking briskly with the other three towards the alley.
"Step inside the circle." Bakura demanded. The three obliged and did as they were told.
"Won't he sense your magic?" Ryo questioned.
"Yes, but it wont do him any good." Bakura replied. "Hold onto each other tightly. If one of you lets go who knows where you'll wind up. "
"What's goin' on?" Jounouchi asked his voice slightly shaking as he gripped the two hikaris desperately for some kind of reality.
"We're going for a little trip." Bakura smiled. He stepped inside the circle grasping Ryo's wrist tightly. Closing his eyes he began to call upon the shadows. Black mist surrounded their bodies, slithering like snakes across their skin. Jou felt a shiver as the foreign magic flowed through his body. Tightening his grip he gazed at his two friends.
It was then that he noticed something odd.
"Where's you're guys' luggage?"
"There was nothing left to salvage." Ryo replied.
"What?!"
There was a loud crack and in an instant the group was gone.
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Shortness sadness. Sorry. What'd you think? What are you expecting? There's the question. What are your ideas on this story? What more does it need or what do you expect's going to happen next? I would love to know!! Thanks for reading!!!!!!!!!!!! I greatly appreciate it!!!!!!
Not much to say today, see you all next chapter!!!!!!!! It should be much longer.
-Tragedyluver
Coming up: Bakura is targeted mentally and magically with his confrontation with the demon!!!!!
