Lee: Hiya! Thankyou for all the reviews, I took them all into account & hopefully they'll improve my work! I appreciate everything you say, I swear.

Disclaimer: I don't own YuGiOh or anything wild like that, but I do own an ipod. It rocks.

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The Era of Adversity

Chapter 10: Implacable Capture

Ryou woke up expecting to be surrounded by Fiends, but he was alone in the bed. Yesterday had been scary at first with Bakura, but now Ryou realised he felt like a part of the Fiends. He felt safer in their arms, with their breath down his neck, than he did in his own home, in his own school, surrounded by humans.

He sat up in the bed and mused for a while. Was he actually better off here? Looking at the bedcover, he recollected the night before. He reached out with a wobbly hand and touched the spot where he had been laid. It all felt like a dream, like it had never happened. It was surreal, the way he remembered every kiss, every touch, every noise, every nibble, every bit of agony and pain, every bit of pleasure and content- even though throughout he felt numb with fervour. He couldn't believe it, the way he felt, never mind explain it.

Ryou shifted the quilt from his legs and stood up. As soon as he stood up, however, a twinge of pain shot through his spine and he cringed. Cold air shot up his bare body instantly. He couldn't remember where his underpants were, but he spied some shorts in the corner of the room and hobbled into them. He managed to zip them up then pull on one of Bakura's shirts. Opening the bedroom door slowly (as if an ambush was awaiting him), Ryou let himself out of the room quietly. Half-anticipating to see three figures on the sofa, he was surprised to find no one. He limped through to the kitchen and collapsed onto a chair. He let his forehead plop onto the table and took a deep breath. Where were the Fiends? Were they playing a trick on him? It seemed like something they would do.

"What's wrong, little Ryou?" Bakura's voice rang from behind the small boy. Ryou would have jumped, but he was too tired and instead just replied with a choked 'mmph.'

"The Fiends have taken their profit from you already, I see," Ryou eyes widened as the voice continued, "Such a shame. Still, not all is lost."

That wasn't Bakura's voice. It was too scratchy, like it was thousands of years old. Ryou tensed when he felt a rough hand touch his shoulder.

"No need to fear me, human. I have quite a… history with your beloved Bakura. No need to fear, Akefia will take care of you."

Bakura put out his cigarette, picked up the knife and began cutting the undercooked slab of meat sadistically into shreds. He thought about yesterday and of his past, putting two and two together. He knew now. The Purest Form wasn't something to be taken lightly. They pleased too easily, he figured. From his experience he knew what the norm was when it came to sex and now completely understood.

CRASH

Bakura swung round to Weevil's door that he had entered a long while ago. He dashed to it and began tugging on the small handle, cursing. He had known there was something in the house! A dark, unruly presence floated around, but his instincts had been subdued by his pining for the young boy that had lain asleep in the bed. The sinister company was familiar too and he knew just who it was and where Weevil had been.

Bakura tugged once more and flung the unhinged door over his shoulder, before scampering out and racing into four strong arms that held him fast.

Akefia cackled as Bakura struggled against his guards that held his arms behind his back. Bakura bared his fangs, "Akefia!"

Akefia laughed and clasped Bakura's chin and stared deep into his eyes. Bakura bit his lip as his mind swelled with images he had held back for years. His eyes glazed and his mind overflowed with pain.

"Bakura, Bakura, Bakura." Akefia leered, eyeing Bakura's new body. He had been much skinnier years previously, now his body looked stronger and more capable, but his eyes held much depth. Depth that Akefia knew he had caused, "Your pain isn't exactly the kind you can forget, is it, Bakura? You suppress it all you can but the past will always catch up with you."

Bakura couldn't say anything, his brain was in overdrive. He trembled and groaned as pain thundered around his body. Memories screamed at him; old voices cried and mature tears resumed their deed. The room swirled and his knees hit the floor, before his arms became loose and shot up to his head. The pain! The suffering and the agony hit him like a bullet. Monstrosity captured his brain and vivid pictures clasped his mind, making his body shake.

"Bakura!" Akefia grabbed his shoulders and yelled at him, cackling when he could, "You thought your pain was bad, just wait. You'll die! You'll kill yourself from the suffering! Your revenge will never come about, you complete wreck!" Bakura's head hit the floor as Akefia let go of him, "Bring the human and make sure this one can't follow."

He felt jolts of pain in his side and face and blood began oozing from his body. It hurt, but the sound of Ryou's screams hurt him more.

He'd have his revenge yet.

Ryou screamed until his voice broke and his eyes saw nothing but black. He felt cold air on his face, but everything around him was so dark he couldn't make anything out. Rough hands kept grabbing at him and he felt like a piece of luggage, unable to hinder his journey. He felt useless and vulnerable for a long period of time, until at last his view became a little clearer. Figures leapt about in front of him and gossiping commenced as he approached a pair of huge, smoky gates. Further on he was carried until the cold air ceased and he was set back upon his feet. He was led through a small passageway and into a large room filled with… cages? No. They were cells. Small cells. Ryou was guided past dozens of them, all with a small light above the locked entrance. Ryou passed some scary looking people, who had come up to the bars and began shouting insults at him.

"Akefia's new slave," one said.

"That'll save me," replied another.

Ryou trembled and stopped in his tracks now and then, which received a push from the Fiend escorting him. Slave? He didn't want to be a slave! He stopped again and this time he was thrown to the floor. He squealed as his palms hit the cold, stone floor and started to throb.

"PaniK!" A figure stood ahead of Ryou and was unlocking one of the cells, before tugging Ryou up by his thin wrist, "PaniK," he spat, "Akefia said unscathed. If you want punishing by all means throw this one about."

The Fiend behind Ryou grunted, "Let me guess. He's to be delivered to Akefia's room tomorrow morning?"

"Exactly."

Ryou was roughly shoved into the dingy cell, before the Fiends locked the door behind him and sauntered away. The lock was huge and there was absolutely no way out in one piece, so Ryou slouched onto the smelly, dirty bed provided. He sniffled and wiped his eyes, and prayed for a rescue.

"Oh Bakuraaa!" Malik sang, walking in the front door and placing the bags he carried onto the table. He frowned when there was no answer.

"I'm not your packhorse Malik!" Marik complained, stumbling into the kitchen before tossing his bags on the floor, "You shop like a bloody woman. I mean we don't even need half of this stuff. I know it's free but you still go crazy; I know we were in the Shadow Realm for a long time and shopping wasn't exactly top of the to-do list mmm mmm mmm mm m mm!"

Malik had his hand over Marik's mouth, "Ssh," he muttered, "Do you hear that?"

Marik mumbled. Then shook his head.

"Silence. What are Bakura and Ryou doing? They can't be doing much, there'd be more noise."

Marik mumbled. Then nodded his head.

The young Fiend walked up to the lounge doorframe, a little hesitant as whether to go in. "Malik…" Marik said carefully, tugging Malik back over to him, "You're standing in blood."

Malik looked down at the floor where a trail of blood led into the lounge. His eyes began to fill up. "W-what's happened?!"

The two Fiends shot into the lounge where Bakura was slumped and shaking on the sofa, encircled in a dripping puddle of blood. His hair was tinged with red at the ends and his eyelids were droopy, no energy left in him from dragging himself from the kitchen.

"Shit!" Marik exclaimed, before going back to the kitchen and opening every medical cabinet they had.

"Bakura. Oh no… Bakura!" Malik placed his hands on the now paler than white cheeks and sobbed. Bakura's lips were swelled and blue while his fingers quavered with cold and lack of blood. Malik turned the ghost-like Fiend over gently, until he was laid properly on his back, "What happened Bakura?" he whispered, clutching his companion's shoulders and continuously brushing his lips over every feature of his face.

"R-Ryou has been-" Bakura gritted his teeth, the pain still fresh and thundering around his body, "K-k-kidnapped."

Marik returned with a cloth, some bandages and a bottle of healing lotion. Very carefully he peeled the blood stained shirt from Bakura's body, before dribbling lotion on the first gash he found. Bakura groaned as the liquid attacked his flesh, "A-Akefia took him. I-I-I know how t-to get him b-back… I." Bakura sighed at his own frailty, irritated with himself at being so weak. He took in a large, agonizing breath before carrying on, "I know where th-they've gone. I-I can take us th-there." Bakura trembled worse just thinking about where Ryou had been taken, but tried to focus on Malik's touches and kisses.

"We'll get you better first," Malik said softly into Bakura's ear, while planting reassuringly sweet kisses on the cold cheeks, "You'll be ok." He held onto his ghost tightly, kissing away the pain, washing away the dried tears with his own.

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Lee: Ok please read and review! I just had to cut this one off right at that bit. I like that ending. Not that I like sad endings, I just happen to like that one. I hope you all enjoyed it!

Bakura: Why do I have to be the one that suffers?

Lee: Because. Everyone loves you so it's inevitable.

Ryou: Read and review please so I can be rescued. You wouldn't… #eyes brim with tears# wouldn't… l-leave me there w-would you?