Note: I went back and re-edited the last chapter, some of the parts, Yugi and Ryou's, to save the confusion in this chapter. Sorry this took so long I was just dealing with some really hard personal RL stuff, that I needed a little time to deal with. Anyway enough with all that, I'm back, let's get going and as always, enjoy.

This has been edited to the best of my ability.

Warnings: M. M/M Yaoi. Mpreg. Supernatural themes. Language. Adult themes. The plot is mine.

Chapter 10: Hard Path To Hope.

A thin finger of light came through the crack in the balcony doors right into Ryou's eyes and woke him. He felt the bed move, his mate's arm tightly wrapped about his waist, loosened as he rolled away. Ryou sat up, having ended up by the bed's edge. He pulled the covers back and swung his legs out, his feet not even touching the cold stone floor. He rubbed at his eyes and rubbed the back of neck and paused on seeing a small vile on the nightstand among Bakura's stack of books.

He reached out and picked it up, reading the small label attached to it.

'Ryou, for pain, one drop with water, ONLY ONE drop,' Ryou frowned at it and peered at the dark blue liquid inside for a moment and placed it back on the nightstand. He glanced over his shoulder at his mate, no doubt Bakura would already know about him seeing Seto. Malik in his concern for him would have told Bakura and if he hadn't said anything at all, the vile of potion for pain would have set Bakura's questions and suspicion that something wasn't right in motion and the fact that Ryou had slept right through their return last night.

Ryou slipped from the bed not at all surprised to find himself naked and picked up a pair of pants and quietly slipped through the balcony doors. He approached the solid stone railing and lent against it. The view was stunning, Flyers darted about in the sky in flocks, much like birds above or in the distance, mountains with their white snow peeks, shimmering waters and green dark forests, groups of guests far below in the castle's gardens or venturing out past the gates towards a great lake. It seemed so busy for so early in the morning, all that is missing is a hot cut of coffee in his hands.

Ryou stretched hearing his joints pop, he hadn't recalled falling asleep last night at all. In fact he hadn't recalled leaving Seto's, though he remembered everything that was discussed between them. He ran his hand down his body and over his stomach and paused. The slight swelling more noticeable to him than ever before. She was actually there and not a figment of his insane imagination was a happy relief and it also frightened the hell out of him.

He would be trapped in this place for quite some time and be within reach of their enemies, true he was in reach of them back home. However, he is now under the same damn roof as them with only a few mere spells around their bedchamber to prevent them from coming after them while they slept, and those spells weren't under the control of his mate or lovers. Ryou didn't want to think with how easy it would be for Ishizu to break through said defenses. How crazy and in need for revenge, that is still so unclear to Ryou, beside the Witch wanting Malik back, and she would make it happen by any means possible, even if it meant tearing them all apart or killing them all off one by one to get what she wanted.

Ryou wrapped his arms about his waist, already three months along, and she was still there despite everything that's happened so far, Ishizu's attacks, Mahado blind-siding them. His child was fine now, but the deeper more forewarning feelings that things were going to get worse as they always did. He wondered if she would survive it, if they all would survive it. He didn't want to put her life in danger or that of his mate and lovers to protect him more than necessary once he told them or possibly reject him leaving him to defend himself.

It sent a cold chill up Ryou's spine and a tightening in his chest to imagine a life without them. "What are you doing out here?" Bakura asked as his arms slipped about his waist and Ryou lent back in his mate's embrace.

"Thinking," Ryou answered. "It looks to be such a beautiful day." The sky was clear blue and despite the freezing nights, the days were warm. Bakura hummed against his shoulder where he rested his forehead on, obviously not even noticing what Ryou was seeing, or that it no longer held any wonder to his mate at all.

They stood there for some time, Ryou enjoying the comfort of being wrapped up in his mate's arms and so sure that Bakura had fallen asleep standing up. "Are you hungry? If so Marik and Malik are getting ready now." One thing Ryou did miss was the freedom to walk into a kitchen first thing in the morning rather than having to spend time waiting for everyone, when he could already be cooking for them.

"Don't you mean having sex?" Ryou grinned at hearing the well timed moan through the open balcony doors. The spells worked well, blocking sound between each and every bedchamber, providing doors were closed.

"What can I say, it's Marik," Ryou could hear the smirk in his mate's voice. It wasn't only just Marik, it was also Malik that at times spurred his mate on to the point of the older Demon almost losing control and carrying Malik off no matter where they were.

"And you didn't join them?" Ryou raised an eyebrow, he was surprised that they didn't come hunt him down and carry him off to the bathroom with them.

"Too tired," Bakura grumbled.

"That's a first," Ryou teased, running his fingers along Bakura's arms that were wrapped low about his waist. Three months pregnant, how could they not notice? How could he not notice sooner?

"Have a lot on my mind as of late that you and I need to talk about a few things," Bakura placed down a bit of leather with a small pendent that looked oddly familiar. Ryou had thought that his mate would have brought up the vile on the nightstand and his visit with Seto. Perhaps those question would come soon enough.

Ryou reached out for the leather and stopped, for unknown reasons he felt a coil of unease. "What is it?" Ryou lent back into his mate wanting to get a little further away from it, not liking how it made him feel.

"It's a slave collar," Bakura informed him, Ryou turned his head looking up at his mate with a frown, and saw Bakura's eyes churn like a storm from dark brown to red and fangs visible when he spoke. "Though this one is special." Ryou confused for both Marik and Bakura had told him that they had never once owned or bought a slave, they didn't even allow them into the room to tidy up.

"Why do you have it?" Ryou didn't like the sound of it being special.

"Because," Bakura clutched his fangs together as he picked up the collar. His knuckles turned white from gripping it so tightly. He had never thought that he would be standing before his mate trying to find ways to tell him that he had to wear a slave collar.

"It's because your powers are awakening and it frightens Ella," Marik said leaning against the door-frame, in a pair of pants, bare foot and shirtless, hair still wet that droplets fell onto the towel draped over his shoulders. "She's using the destroyed Tournament arena and your attack on Mahado as an excuse to control you through the means of a slave collar."

"Control me?" Ryou stared at his lover still confused.

"Control us," Bakura corrected. "It's not just you she's after, but all of us."

"Why?" Ryou had only a few run-ins with this Ella, but surely it didn't give her reason to want to control them, not when he was only protecting Bakura and himself. It couldn't be the only time that arena had been destroyed with so many Demonic creatures showing off their powers, strengths, claiming mates that weren't their own to a willing audience.

"What better way to gain access to the greatest power in any Realm then to control a direct descendent of the Great One, reincarnated or not." Bakura said, and it all clicked into place for Ryou. This Ella must have a death-wish to threaten his already proud, protective, strong-willed and often highly dangerous Demons so openly. Ryou had seen it, those who threatened his Demons in any way, had just simply disappeared and never seen again.

It seemed that all his choices on the matter were stripped away before he was even aware of what was going on. He had been so focused on what Ishizu might throw at them next, that he didn't even consider Ella being any kind of threat to them until later on, when he began to show more.

"I have to wear it." It didn't go unnoticed how all the servants within the castle looked so washed out in a permanent drug induced relaxant state or how obedient and passive they were. Ryou saw it walking through the Auction district upon their arrival. The ones wearing the collars followed their masters about in a zombie-like fashion. The first night here seeing the Vampires feed upon a few unfortunate servants, who didn't fight back or cry out for help.

"Only when outside this room," Bakura informed him reaching out and stroked his cheek. It didn't help the uneasy feeling that intensified along with a surge of protectiveness for his unborn child against the threat that the collar represented and what it would allow others to do him in his mate and lovers absence.

Ryou mutely nodded his head, he'd wear it. He trusted his mate and lovers to take care of him, as he took care of them. Besides, Marik and Bakura always had an uncanny knack of altering the rules to suite themselves and always they came out on top, this was no different from any other time. "How will it affect me?"

"Do you think I- we would allow something like that to be placed on you, without having it altered to our advantage first?" And, there it was. Marik gave a mischievous grin as he approached them.

"Though it still contains a great deal of spells which have been, as Marik said, altered." Bakura added, leaving out how nasty a few of those spells are. "You shouldn't feel anything while wearing it." If that was the case, why did he still feel so anxious about it? Thankfully they didn't asking him to 'try it on.' Instead, Bakura held it out towards him in an open hand. He hesitated for a moment fighting against the rolling emotions that didn't seem entirely all his, and it must have shown on his face. "If it had anything harmful still active, I would be feeling it just by holding it." How did come across that he didn't trust what they were saying?

"It's not that," Ryou's heart raced as he cautiously took the collar from his mate's hand, upon holding it himself, he could feel an oddness of energy coming from it, he could feel the dangerous spells being contained with more spells to make it almost useless.

"Is it about Seto giving you the pain numbing potion on the nightstand?" Bakura sounding concerned as he lifted his chin gently, Marik moved in closer that Ryou now felt his lover's body heat at his back.

"It's the outcome of telling you that frightens me," Bakura and Marik glance at each other in a nonverbal exchange. He realized that there wouldn't be a 'best' time to break the life changing news. He's shaking so bad that he felt his knees were about to give out or he was either just going to throw-up right where he was. Ryou honestly didn't want to keep this to himself any longer; he had from the moment he felt it, felt her, confirmation from Seto or not.

"Ryou, whatever it is we wouldn't harm you," and Bakura looked just as wounded as Ryou feels, Marik's stare is so intense that it feels like his mate can read everything going on inside his head.

Ryou didn't wait for them to reassure him that he could tell them anything speech. He ducks about Marik and through the balcony doors. The Elf and her infant still rode the forefront of his mind, despite Seto informing him that he had saved them, though the threat of what might happen is still very real.

Ryou's standing in the seating area near the door by the time Marik and Bakura come in and close the balcony door securely with locks in place. "Are you alright?" Malik asks upon seeing him and approaches him fast, concern etched in his face, no doubt yesterday still with him. His half Demon also being the quicker one, is well in Ryou's personal space, his forehead pressed to Ryou's. "You had me so worried, I told them what happened when you didn't wake up last night." Malik pulled back his brow furrowed, "you look so pale are you in pain?"

"No," Ryou breathed out.

"Then what's wrong?" Malik's frown deepens and movement behind him has his attention now and a soft growl rumbles through his chest and his tone an accusing one. "What did you say to him?" It had to be them, if his Human wasn't in any pain and looked like he was about to fall apart then it was their fault. He had warned them last night when they bombarded him with so many damn questions that he couldn't answer thanks to the Healer, to go easy on Ryou when he woke up.

"I'm fine," Malik didn't look like he was going to let go anytime soon, which Ryou was used to when his lover was worried about something.

"Malik, let him go," Marik said firmly, the half Demon pulled back and taking a seat on the nearby chair's arm rest and still well within reach of Ryou. Marik and Bakura moved closer standing in the small open space the sofa, armchair and TV provided.

The situation reminded Ryou of the time they spoke to him about what they were and the nature of their relationship and what he meant to them, that hadn't been a bad thing at all at the time. However, it was Ryou that held the life changing news for them all and not knowing how they would take it. Ryou clutched his hands into fists at his sides. "My illness is gone, my lungs repaired themselves completely."

"Why does that outcome frighten you?" Marik frowned and Bakura looked confused for a moment. "If anything, that's great news," he added, just behind him, Malik's hand slipped into his and gently squeezed and Ryou gripped it tightly.

"That's not what he wants to tell us, is it?" Bakura muttered, though it is great news, though he didn't think that Ryou's powers were awakened or powerful enough to self-heal. Ryou stepped back with a gasp as Bakura now stood right before him. "I am your mate," his hand brushed against his cheek and he was drawn in closer to his Demon. "You shouldn't be frightened to tell me whatever is going on." That hurt expression was back on his mate's face. "I thought that we were done keeping secrets from each other." And again Ryou's chest constricted remembering their conversation on the Island and such promises exchanged between them.

"I'm pregnant," Ryou's heart felt like it is going to implode.

Bakura just stared at him, his eyes darted down to Ryou's stomach for way too long and then back up again with an unreadable expression. Cautiously he places his hand gently over Ryou's abdomen. Ryou pinned by his mate's stare and unable to look away and felt the sudden gentle warm wave of energy flow into him, unlike anything he had felt so far, even Seto's energy had been met with some form of aggression and a need to protect against possible harm. Ryou gasped at the kind of flutter feeling, she reacted to Bakura? Ryou rested his free hand over his mate's and suddenly he was surrounded, as more hands joined theirs against his stomach. "Did you feel that?" Ryou whispered wide eyed looking up at his mate and Marik.

Bakura pulled his hand away quickly which in turn dislodged Marik and Malik's hands and with it the warm energy seeped away almost making Ryou whimper, though the fluttering feeling remained for a few moments. "Fuck me," Marik having the lack of anything better to say as he stumbles backwards.

"Is this for real?" Malik looks bewildered and excited that at any second he'd be all over Ryou.

"How far along?" Bakura asked.

"Three months," he answered and Bakura's eyes narrowed and a look that spoke volumes of what is running through his mate's mind. "I wasn't keeping it from you," Ryou wrapped his arms about himself. "I didn't know. I felt something on the trip over and a few other times while being here. Seto conformed it for me yesterday." Ryou wanted to add that he had just felt her move for the first time, until slight panic settled in for Bakura's expression hadn't changed at all.

"Do you know what this could mean for all of us?" Marik switched to their native Demonic language, his lowered voice an almost whisper to Bakura his expression even more serious. "What Ella would do to us, do to him if she finds out and she will." Ryou stared right at his lover and then at Bakura. "Are you going to let him suffer through that?" Ryou didn't have to understand the language to know that they were talking about him or their child and none of it sounded good for the way he felt a defensive curl and a word rumbled in his 'mine.'

"And what would you have me do Marik?" Bakura glared at him fangs bared, "tell him to get rid of it? Force him if he doesn't agree?"

"You can't!" Malik growled in warning and it put Ryou on edge that his suspicions were right nothing they were talking about had to be good.

"He isn't going to be able to keep it," Marik growled back. "You are so worried that he's going to hate us for bringing him here, this is going to destroy us."

"I won't let that happen-"

"You're a fool for even thinking it," Marik snapped back his fists clutched tightly at his sides and he was visibly trembling.

"Marik," Bakura reached out to him, "It'll be alright we'll find a way-"

"No," Marik pulled back glancing at Ryou for a moment before focusing on Bakura, "I can't go through that again."

"Marik, don't be rash we can work this out," as Bakura spoke the words Marik vanished.

"Marik!" Malik tried calling him back though made no other moves to follow his mate. Ryou might not have understood a single word spoken, it was clear how Marik felt about it, tears burned Ryou's eyes.

Bakura let out a heavy sigh, he'd go after Marik later giving him the space he needs right now, before bringing him back. He placed his hand on Malik's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze as he focused Ryou, who tightened his arms about his waist as a hiss like growl rumbled in his mind. "Ryou, I don't think-"

"I don't care what you think!" Ryou growled back eyes full of tears that had yet to fall, blurring his vision considerably, Marik leaving like that left him feeling wounded and hurt that the outcome of him doing this alone might still be a possibility. "I'm keeping it!" He'd not tell them what his child's gender is unless they asked for it. "Even if you don't." Would Bakura seriously try to talk him into getting rid of what might be their only chance to have a child that is one hundred percent theirs or force him to?

"Ryou this is dangerous for all of us," Bakura's frown deepened. Ryou couldn't just throw away a creation that is the result of a magnificent collaboration, which had taken the best of Ryou and the best of Bakura and merged them, blessed them with a daughter. "Do you understand what might happen to us?"

"I know," Ryou didn't really understand the whole process of what happens with breaking such a law, but he knew enough that this wasn't to be taken so lightly. Ryou would fight until his last breath for the life he carried, and in doing so he is endangering the lives of his mate and possibly Malik and Marik's. Ryou's chest constricted and the tears that blurred his vision finally fell and his voice cracked. "I'll leave, go back home and you'll never have to see-"

"I would die if you left me," Bakura claimed Ryou's lips with his and his mate's breath hitched in his throats as Bakura's tongue pushed for entrance. Ryou accepted the insistent tongue, entwining it with his own, Bakura's hands snaking up Ryou's back, pulling him closer into the embrace.

Ryou's fingers tangled into Bakura white hair at the back of his head. He could feel Ryou's reaction to the kiss pressing against his thigh. His own pants were also feeling decidedly and delightfully tight. He smiled into the kiss and pulled his lips away from Ryou, eliciting a soft moan of protest from his Human. "Is It healthy?" Ryou nodded his head 'yes' and he was pulled closer. "Are you healthy?" again Ryou nodded his head 'yes.' Bakura sighed, he was well aware of the dangers they all faced having cross-bred, it didn't matter what sex the carrier is or if it was a mistake, it is a crime so many were punished for and so few survived. "Do you really want my hellion spawn?"

"Ours," Malik corrected him, giving Ryou a slight smile and a wink and muttered an apology about needing to go and vanished.

"Yes," Ryou again nodded his head gripping at his mate's arm.

"We'll deal with everything as it comes, trust in me to take care of you," Ryou nodded his head, it wasn't an outright acceptance of their child, though Bakura was still his and it was more than could ask for right now. "Want to join me in the shower?" Bakura said in his most sultry, seductive tone, those crimson eyes on him, dark and full of desire and lust, like wild animals in for the kill. It sent shivers up and down Ryou's spine.

"I'd like that more than anything right now," Ryou accepted another arousing kiss while being lifted off his feet and wrapped his legs about Bakura's waist and carried off to the bathroom.

The steam and the smell of fragrant soap soon fills the bathroom quickly and drifts out into the rest of the bedchamber and evaporates. Ryou groaned at how great the heat of the water hitting him, coupled with Bakura pressed against his back and running soapy hands down his front. He tenses up when his mate's hands pause over his abdomen, kneading the slight swelling of his stomach for a few moments before continuing south.

Ryou moaned as his member was taken in Bakura's hand and pumped, his other hand slid around his side and down his back and between the swells of his cheeks and one finger pressed into his body. Ryou braced his arms against the cool stone wall, his head titled back eyes closed as Bakura moves his finger in and out of his body, making sure to brush that bundle of nerve every now and then to hear Ryou gasp and his body shudder. "More," Ryou's head drops and his hands curl into fists against the stone wall. He could feel Bakura's hardness pressed against the swell of his ass-cheek.

Bakura added a second finger, he made a point of taking his time, grinning at the soft pleas of begging, increased moans, gasps and labored breathing; making sure he brought Ryou to the brink of orgasm, before pushing his body up against the stone wall, parting his buttocks pressing himself all the way in, until Bakura is tight up behind him, thighs against thighs, his chest again Ryou's bare back.

Bakura kisses his neck and rakes his fangs across his skin in a bite, though not hard enough to break the skin but pull another groan from his mate and starts to thrust. He hears Ryou breathing heavy already and speeds up. Bakura knows that he isn't going to last long, and thrusts in deeper and faster. Ryou pushes back and Bakura can tell that he's almost there by the way his body is clamping down on him. "So tight," Bakura growls and swats Ryou's hand away preventing him from touching himself. He hears his mate whimper though he complies and his hand is back against the stone wall just above his head.

Bakura leans in nibbling at Ryou's earlobe and neck, using his fangs to nip knowing his mate isn't going to last much longer and with a cry Ryou climaxes, throwing his head back and larger water droplets flying everywhere. Bakura growls as he trusts a few more times, claws raking down Ryou's sides as he cums inside his mate.

A little later that morning Ryou held the dagger in his hands and the collar he had dropped and almost forgotten about laid on the floor at his feet. His chest twisted up at the thought of Marik and how upset he had looked, did he really take the news that hard? Would he leave them and in turn Malik would naturally follow his mate anywhere as he would with Bakura. Is it fair what he is asking of them to do or selfish even that he wanted to keep her?

Why couldn't his mated life with Demons, which is fundamentally a marriage, not have the same freedoms as a Human married couple? They would have children and both parties would be happy about the new addition, in fact celebrated. However, Ryou being male and he knew that being pregnant and his relationship is all on the abnormal side. So why did he have to walk like he is on glass, be mindful and fearful that his pregnancy could be forcefully terminated and their lives ended, when he only really wanted to enjoy it.

Ryou sunk to his knees clutching at the dagger and staring at the collar, perhaps he should go see Seto, end her life before someone else does it for him. "Ryou?" arms wrapped about him, legs on either side of him as he was pulled into his mate embrace and he couldn't control the breakdown. He was already attached and loved her so much, why did the idea of wanting to keep her feel like the hardest decision he had ever had to make, wanting to mate with Bakura and entering a relationship with Marik and Malik at the same time had almost been like breathing.

Bakura held him and rocked gently in his arms, "usually sex makes you happy, am I losing my touch?" Ryou laughed a little and shook his head no as he sniffled and pulled back slightly. He had really needed that closeness with his mate, which had for a time eased out some of the stress built up over the last few days. "My mate," Bakura brushed his tears away. "Marik will come around, he's just worried about you."

"Usually he's the level headed one," Ryou brushed at his own cheek.

"Not without spazzing out first," Bakura snorted and raised an eyebrow, lent back on his arms and his hand landed on the collar. "Though, give him time and we'll have something worked out." Though it might take some hard core digging to find a loophole in the law, that was providing that he and Marik would work together to find that said loophole. Bakura's chest twisted up tightly that Marik might have meant what he said and had all intentions of leaving them, it would break Bakura's heart and Ryou's, but it was always agreed upon that both he and Marik had a mutual 'get-out-of-this-relationship-free-card' to use at any time they saw fit. Bakura had lived without them for some eighty plus years sometime after Ryou's death, though he didn't miss them as much as they missed him due to finding a cure to his self-wallowing and pity at the bottom of every bottle he consumed. This time it would be different, he is sober and they weren't fighting all the time, though he and Ryou would learn to live without Marik and Malik if it came to that.

"Do you think Marik will really come around?" Ryou asked trying to wipe away the dampness he created with his tears on his mate's shirt.

"I don't know," Bakura said honestly with a sigh, if Marik didn't by himself and he had meant it, that maybe Malik would talk to him. Bakura on the other hand was certain that all his lover needed was time and he was getting ahead of himself.

"Do you want our child?"

"Sure, why not," Bakura shrugged as he picked up the bit of leather, stretched it out and placed it about Ryou's neck. "It'll be amusing to watch me epically, fantastically and completely fail at being It's Sire." The collar tightened about his neck, though not restricting, but firm enough to not move. Ryou could feel the vibrations of energy and that coil of unease rolled though him.

"I don't think you would fail," Ryou smiled at him as he gingerly fingered the bit of leather feeling those vibrations ceasing.

"Of cause I won't, because you'll be there to fix my fuck-ups before I can permanently traumatize It." Ryou's smile widened, he knew that his mate was trying to cheer him up. However, there was a note of seriousness in his voice. Bakura claimed Ryou's lips for a few moments and pulled back, "leave the stressing to me, I'm sure it's not good for you or the hellion." Ryou nodded his head and squeaked as Bakura grabbed him and roll backwards onto his back pulling his mate on top of him and into a long passionate kiss.

Ryou pushed himself up slightly in need for air, Bakura's claws still tangled in his white hair. Bakura couldn't bring himself now to mention the severed Dragon's head in the meal hall or the ins and outs of the collar to his ready seemingly overwhelmed mate. "You want to get out of here?" Ryou nodded his head as Bakura pulled him down for one last kiss, before getting to their feet and vanishing from the room.

Yami's crimson eyes glowed a dull red and narrowed in contempt. He hid his fanged snarl behind his intertwined hands. "It's obviously clear that mates, our mates are being targeted and assassinated for reasons unknown." The speaker stood on the edges of the room concealed in the shadows where the sunlight from the only window couldn't reach.

"No one would contract an assassin to kill mates," Ella said in a dismissive tone and a look that it was the most preposterous thing she had heard in her life. Yami lowered his head a little, his gaze had been set on Ella since they arrived at the meeting last night. The book that had been stored away safely had been found by his curious mate. He had pushed those bitter memories to the far deepest darkest corners of his mind centuries ago, and he was reminded of what she had over him. His thoughts turned on ways to kill his Council, Ella mostly. He could do it right now, unleash his weapon and his fury upon her and take her life where she stood and no one in the room would stop him, blink an eye or question him.

"No one else's mates have been targeted, only those with high ranking titles." Someone at the table joined in. Yami's horns emerged unnoticed as to his Human form falling away piece by piece, with his lack of focus. She was the cause of ruining his life and still is and one action would put a stop to it, would free him, if he could just let go and accept that he would never get him back, and move on to a happy life with Yugi.

"Mates die all the time as do offspring when born out of or in harsher seasons," Ella had an eye roll tone to her voice as if they were petulant children complaining over nothing.

"We are not speaking of those who die of an accident or sickness. We are speaking of our mates that are being targeted in our own homes." Yami's fangs merged to full length as his weapon materialized at his side under the table, and his clawed hand gripped the handle tightly, his wings flexed. He could do it, wasn't like anyone else cared especially Touzoku who had most likely given up long ago. Ella though hadn't forgotten, reminding him each time he tried to pull away from her, went against any and all her decisions.

"Seven Lords of reigning regions have killed themselves in grief over the loss of their mates. I saved two of my brothers who both lost their mates, they are under constant watch now." Voices bounced about the room each having their say and in a matter of a few seconds arguments broke out and everyone was yelling over each other.

Now, he once again allowed himself to fall at Ella's feet and do her bidding, since he had no choice but to place his Yugi right before her, knowing Ella had her sights on his vulnerable Human mate as well as his friends, who were quickly turning against him, if they haven't already. Yami had never felt so alone and backed into a corner more than ever.

"Calm down," Ella rapped her knuckles on the table in a knocking fashion and it took a bit for the room to fall silent once more. "Our world has always been plagued by wars and sickness. Remember five hundred years ago when a plague swept through and killed ninety percent of Humans, half breeds, the very young and old. It's happening again. We must gather our Healers and investigate this outbreak." The room burst into an uproar of anger and disagreement.

"My mate," the Elf Queen spoke for the first time, the light catching on her beautiful face and tears filled her eyes and etched her voice. "I found him dead… an unnatural and brutal death in our home." She rose to her feet, anger and grief drove her words. "So do not stand there Demon and deny these horrible, gruesome, unnatural deaths are the cause of a rampant sickness." Ella opened her mother to which the Elf Queen silenced her. "You have never had a mate, Head Council and do not know of our concerns. A broken bond is an unspeakable torture." Yami watched Ella closely, the wrong reaction would have everyone in the room do the job for him.

"The lands that are now without a governing lord and the rulers are also in grieving, are having their lands taken over by the Demon lord and his Council." The room was once again filed with low voices muttering to each other.

"The land would be in chaos or even war if we don't hold-" Ella was cut off.

"I wish to vote the reactivation of the Peacekeepers to investigate these murders." A voice within the shadows spoke up again and murmurs of agreeing rose between everyone. "A lot of us are gathered in this castle and if any of our mates are still targets, then the assassins have to be here as well, even the one who hired them." The murmurs rose in volume, and Ella looked lost and furious and hid it well before anyone else noticed.

Ella once again tapped her knuckles against the hard wood of the table, and the room fell silent, "I remind you that all Peacekeepers, have died or gone into hiding." Only because the day of his parent's death, Ella had issued the Demon guard who slaughtered as many Peacekeepers as they could, a lot had escaped going into hiding. Ella in just a few days drove, one new controlled law over their world with the new corrupt Demon guard. Marik climbed the ranks and became Captain of the guard and with Bakura at his side, they had both almost drove out that corruption and fought against Ella, in truly keeping peace and order wherever they went.

"You have no opinion on this matter Demon lord?" Yami pulled his hand away from his weapon that vanished and his stare shifted quickly to the speaker, a plump, round reigning Goblin lord stared back expectantly. He wanted to growl back that he didn't damn well have an opinion, that he too feared for Yugi's life and could do nothing about it but to protect his mate the best he could and if it came down to it, Yami would flee and take Yugi into exile with him… but that was a life he didn't want to put his mate through.

He could feel Ella's stare burning a hole into his head. "I can look into it, see what I can find. If a Peacekeepers team can be formed I'll give an approval for an investigation." Yami didn't miss the dissatisfied looks he received or Ella nodding her head agreeing with him. Yami knew there were currently ten Peacekeepers and six of them were currently right here within the castle walls. "I'll draw up the contracts and each one of you has to sign it, a show that you all agree to be investigated." He struck a nerve as the room erupted into angry outbursts as each one had somehow taken it as direct accusation and denied having taken part in such unspeakable actions. "You all want an investigation!" Yami rose to his feet, no one was ever happy. "You want the one behind these killings, then everyone will be investigated, your families, your homes, your servants and your pets will be open to the Peacekeeper team if it's formed, even myself." Since he threw himself into being investigated also, they seemed to quieten down and nodded in hesitant approval.

"Now," Yami slumped back into his chair. "As for my Council and myself taking over ungoverned regions, it is temporary until a suitable family can be found to rule it efficiently." Few spoke up of wanting the position themselves and didn't find it fair that it was going to be left up to a handful of Demons. Yami ran a hand over his face, rubbed eyes and slumped lower in his chair with a soft growl, this was going to be a long day.

TBC

I'll be updating again soon, in fact working on the next chapter now and hoping to have it posted after the weekend. Anyway leave a comment in the Review section below, it helps to keep me motivated and as always thanks for reading.