Title: The Fallen King

Genre: romance, angst, humor

Rating: T for language and some blood (might go up later)

Pairings: YamiXYugi; BakuraXRyou; MarikXMalik; SetoXJonouchi; HondaXOtogi; NoaXMokuba

Summary: Nearly five-thousand years ago, Vampire King Yami Sennen "Dark Millenium" lost his kingdom and his 'queen' to the humans. Humans sealed his 'queen' away, and now, Yami aims to search for him. But with the dhampires; humans with vampire blood; and the dreaded Crimson Phoenix; a spiritual parasite that inhabits the body of an innocent boy every 50 years, giving them the power to kill both Yami and his 'queen'. But what if the Phoenix is on Yami's side?

Me: Next chapter is up!

Lucy: So please enjoy it!

Me: The fight continues!

Lucy: And someone new shows up to assist them!

Me: Plus, Bakura learns a little something about his loyalty!

Lucy: Please enjoy!

Chapter Nine: Did He Suffer?

Ryou stared up at Bakura and slowly shook his head in sorrow. He then looked to Anzu and lifted his hand up, beckoning for her to come and fight him like a true woman.

Anzu sneered.

"Think you can defeat me?" she asked. Ryou smiled.

"I know I can. But I like a challenge. Why don't you be a good girl and give me a fight to remember?" he asked. Anzu growled and rushed him with her sword ready, but Ryou once again blocked it.

Ryou scoffed,

"Can't get by me with a magical sword," he said. Anzu grinned.

"But I can with this!" she shouted, bringing out a normal dagger and stabbing Ryou in the arm.

Ryou shouted in agony and drew back, his hand flying to his wound, blood pulsing from it. Anzu chuckled, and then felt Bakura leap from the building and land near her, grabbing her hair.

Anzu gasped as she locked eyes with Bakura.

"Don't touch him. You can fight Yami if you want, but leave my Ryou alone," he sneered.

Ryou gasped and Anzu's eyes went wide. Bakura shoved her forward and then turned to Yami. Yami stood waiting and got his own sword ready as he and Bakura rushed one another.

Anzu watched in horror.

She turned to attack Ryou, but then remembered Bakura's threat. He'd destroy her. If she so much as laid a single finger on Ryou. Anzu turned away and silently cursed herself.

She knew there was no point in attacking.

Anzu frowned and then lunged for Ryou.

"Take this, reincarnation! I don't care if Bakura kills me for this! You'll die!" she roared.

"HOLD IT!!!"

Anzu and all the dhampires immediatly stopped, turning to see a young man walking forward with a mask over his face. He wore a cloak to hide his hair, but when he stood before them, Anzu gasped.

"W-what..." she whispered.

"WHAT IS HILD MANJOURAM DOING HERE!?" she roared. Hild, as she called him, smirked evilly under his white mask.

"I am merely here to save my kawaii grandson," he said. Anzu gasped. "That's right. Ryou is my grandson. So, kill him, and I can start a war against all your dhampire kind," he said.

Anzu gasped and then stood firm.

"Draw back!" she roared.

PUZZLESHIPPING 4 EVER

"W-what are you saying, Anzu-sama?" Mokuba asked. Anzu looked to him.

"This man could wipe all of us out with one word. We have to retreat, now!" she shouted. Bakura stared as the other dhampires started retreating. He squeezed the hilt of his sword.

"Sorry, Anzu..." he whispered.

"But extinction is not... A REASON FOR ME TO BACK DOWN!!" he roared before tearing after Yami. Yami threw his hands up for protection, blocking Bakura's sword with his arm.

Bakura drew the sword back and swung it around to stab Yami, but Yami stopped it with his arm once again. Bakura snarled and took a swing, but Yami dodged it easily.

The silverette dhampire growled in anger and tried to strike, but a hand with red markings gently laid itself on Bakura's sword.

"Please retreat," Ryou said in a soft voice. Bakura gasped as Ryou drew closer to him.

"I promise... you'll get to avenge your Ryou one day," he whispered. Bakura shuddered and gripped his sword tightly, his hand starting to bleed as the blade dug into his flesh.

He whimpered softly to himself.

"T-tell me... Ryou... Did Ryou suffer?" he asked.

Ryou was silent before he slowly shook his head, eyes focused on the ground.

"What a stupid question. He was always smiling, no matter what harmed him. So no, he did not suffer. Not at all," he said. Bakura shuddered before closing his eyes as some tears fell.

Ryou smiled.

"You'll see him again," he whispered before leaning close.

His lips pressed against Bakura's, and the dhampire gasped. For a moment, he leaned into it, not caring if anyone saw him doing it. He then gasped and slowly drew away.

He frowned.

"I can't... not yet..." he whispered. Ryou frowned and then nodded.

"I understand," he whispered.

With that, Bakura retreated in an opposite direction that the other dhampires. Anzu didn't bother going after him, but rather sneered at Ryou and Yami before she vanished.

Yami looked to Ryou and sighed.

'Yugi... I better see you real soon. I need to hold you again,' he thought before turning and heading for the house.

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Me: Oh, goodness! I wonder where Bakura's going!

Lucy: It's a surprise XD

Me: But something good will happen, we promise XD

Lucy: Next Time: "Let Me Meet Him Again"

Me: More about Yugi in the next chapter, everyone XD

Lucy: So please look forward to it!