Chapter 11 (I DO NOT OWN YUGIOH)

Yugi waited in suspense when there was no reply to what he had said and he felt even more nervous when the one called Mahad finally spoke.

"Yugi, was it. You say this as if you know someone like this." Mahad said gently.

Yugi nodded his head, "Yes, I do. He's a healer like Dr. Hockings, and unfortunately I was seeing him a lot. He had an idea about what I was and he still was the one to offer to help me when the others were reluctant, in a way we were friends. He would talk to me like any of you would and he would always give special care to my wounds to make sure nothing he used would have a negative effect on me. I've asked him why someone like him was a hunter, and he told me it's what his parents were and because of that he was forced into being one. But he didn't like violence and he had a different opinion on things, thanks to that he was turned into somewhat of an outcast. But he was still more in with the hunters and knows that the younger hunters that were forced into what they are are more against the teachings, but they are too scared do anything about it."

"I see, this is an interesting bit of information." Mahad said, as he thought more deeply on what Yugi had said.

Yugi stood there waiting for someone to say something else, he expected it to be Mahad again but it wasn't, it was Seto.

"You said this kid is different, do you trust him?" Seto asked questioningly, his face the easy picture of skepticism. It was an odd question to Yugi, he hadn't really ever thought about if he trusted him or not, so he thought hard on it, and when he finally came to an answer he nodded his head. And it seemed that was a good enough answer for Seto. "Then I think it would be a good idea, providing your contact in the hunters agrees with it, that we meet him face to face." Seto continued, shocking everyone including Atem, he didn't think he had ever seen his cousin this reasonable and calm about something like this, especially when it was being told from someone he barely knew. But then again, Yugi did save his brother, Atem would bet anything that was the reason why Seto had been so reasonable, he owed Yugi for saving his beloved brother.

Atem cleared his throat getting everyone's attention, he wanted to close the meeting before Yugi got bombarded with questions that he couldn't or didn't want to answer. "Alright, it seems that we have a place to start. It will be up to Yugi to contact his friend, and until then we will all keep our questions till the next meeting." Atem made a jester with his hand and the others nodded before leaving.

Yugi sighed in relief, he wasn't used to speaking to so many people at once, and he wasn't sure he liked it.

"You did very good Yugi, you got everyone here on your side, including my hard headed cousin. And believe me, that's not an easy task to complete." Atem said, as he twined his fingers gently into the empty spaces between Yugi's. "I'm proud of you."

Yugi gave a smile and brought Atem's hand to his lips, kissing it gently. "I should get going, there's only a slim opportunity for me to talk to Ryou, and I think it would be easiest for every one if I didn't wait to long."

"What, you're going now?" Atem said a bit surprised. Yugi nodded his head and squeezed Atem's hand reassuringly before he went back to their tent to prepare for one thing he hadn't planned on doing when he had escaped the hunters. Going back to school.

Yugi looked up at the prison building that was called school, and sighed. It hadn't accorded to him that he didn't have a uniform to change into, and it was too dangerous to go back to their house to get one. So he had his grandfather make up an excuse. He sighed again before walking through the gate and heading to his first class, he would haft to wait till lunch time to talk to Ryou.

As soon as he walked through the door to the class room he heard the huge intakes of breath, as he handed the teacher the false note and walked quietly to the back of the class, the whole time feeling the others eyes on him. He was surprised at the small amount of thrill that went threw him, he had always been someone that nobody cared to notice, but he knew everyone noticed him now, and on second thought that might not have been the best idea. Considering he was trying to lay low from the other hunters, so he ducked down behind his books and tried, unsuccessfully, to blend in.

It felt like the three hours till lunch were put under some sort of slowing spell. So when that bell finally rang he was eternally relived, and rushed to the roof hoping that would be where Ryou was, and his guess was correct. He tapped the boy and took several hasty steps back when the white haired boy yelped in surprise and spun around to face him, his face slightly paler than normal.

"Yugi, it's you! I would appreciate a little noise when you walk, I don't have demonic hearing like you do." Ryou said a bit annoyed.

"Sorry, I didn't know I was walking that quietly. I guess I've been around my own kind to much." Yugi said a bit sheepishly.

"So you have found your own kind, I thought that might be the case. W-what's it like, I don't think it's like any of that bull shit the hunters try and tell us." Ryou said leaning in closer to Yugi, unmasked curiosity in his face and eyes.

Yugi thought for a moment about how to reply to that comment. "I think that's something that you should decide for yourself, Would you like to meet them?" Ryou's eyes went wide like a gapping and stunned fish with the thought, yes, he was a little scared that he could be killed, but he was really curious about it, so the only thing he could do was nod his head.

Yugi smiled, "Alright, I will make sure that nothing will happen to you, we can go after school." Ryou nodded again just as the bell signaling lunch was over rang and he left to his next class. Yugi chanced to be late and searched for that connection to Atem.

"Atem?"

"Yugi, what is it?"

"Ryou has agreed to come with me after school to meet you and the others. Just a heads up."

"Alright, thank you Yugi. I miss you, I don't like this separation between us when we know the hunters will be after you."

Yugi blushed at the truth behind those words and his own. "I know, neither do I. But we will be together soon."

Yugi watched Ryou's face closely as he lead them to the underground city. It was overwhelmed with curiosity, and his eyes bugged like a fishes when he saw the tents and all the demons in the place. Once the amazement of it all passed his nervousness kicked in and he slightly hid behind Yugi as they walked even further into the city. Yugi led him to the tent he had been in earlier that day and entered into the dimly lit room filled with demons and waited for Ryou to follow him. Ryou slipped in behind him and hid right behind Yugi, peering over his shoulder like a little kid.

Atem was the first to come over to them, Yugi felt Ryou stiffen slightly but relax when Atem offered a warm smile to him. "Welcome, Yugi had told us about you. My names Atem, and I'm the leader of our race." Atem said and held out a hand which Ryou hesitantly accepted.

"Ryou Bakura. This place is more impressive than I thought." He replied with a small smile.

Atem laughed gently, "Yes, we do what we can with what were given. Did Yugi tell you why we asked to meet with you?" Ryou shook his head, and Atem gave Yugi a playful reproaching look, which Yugi looked sheepish at. "Well then I guess we should tell you that we want to put a stop to the battle against the hunters. My people have lived in hiding for too long, we are aware that we will never be able to walk in our true forms like so many years ago, but we want to be able to coexisted peacefully with the humans without being hunted, and we would like your help with this.

"Yugi has told us there are some of the younger hunters that are skeptical about the things they are being taught about us. If you decide to help us all we want you to do is find out who these people are and if they are trust worthy enough to bring them to us and allow them to see us for what we really are." Atem finished, and waited while the surprised look on Ryou's face melted a bit and turned into a thoughtful look.

"I see what you are trying to do but won't this most likely erupt into a war, and if that happens wouldn't it do more harm than good."

"Maybe at first that would be how it feels, but we do not want a war. We want to show those that hunt us that we are not monsters that prey upon humans. We are just as human as they are. We have laws, and families, we can feel sadness and fear, and joy. No more or no less than a human could, we just want to be able to be free."

Ryou thought on what Atem had said, they wanted something peaceful, but he knew some of the hunters in the society would never except that and it would turn into a war, and that would result in someone possibly dying. And he didn't want to take that chance, he shook his head. "I'm s-sorry, but if it means people or demons could die, I c-can't help. I'm sorry." He watched as many of the hopeful faces around him fell, and he started to have doubts about his decision.

"I understand, but if you change your mind just let me know. And feel free to come here any time, as you are a friend of Yugi's you are a friend of ours." Atem said, though he couldn't keep the disappointment completely out of his voice, and he could see Yugi's as well.

"Thank you, and if I do change my mind I'll let you know." Ryou said then followed Yugi out of the big tent, once outside he let out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding. "I'm a bit surprised, are you sure you're all demons?"

Yugi laughed, "Yes, what did you think, we would bite your head off and eat your intestines like rapid wolves?" A bit of pink touched Ryou's cheeks, and Yugi laughed again. "Come on, I'll show you the way out."

"You know I don't think I've ever seen you laugh, and it surprised me. You especially surprised me when you came dressed like that, your outfit just seemed to want to scream demon, and it really makes your eyes and fangs stand out." Ryou said as Yugi followed the tunnel root out.

"I know what you mean, I've never laughed so much in my life than when I have since I've met Atem and came here and found out who I really was. That's why I wanted this to work, I'm one of them and the thought of someone like Ash out there hunting my people makes me mad. I know that not all hunters are like him, that's why I was hoping you would help us, you as a hunter could help persuade those that aren't so against the idea that were evil beings. But I know that this would be hard and awkward for you so I understand you not wanting to help." Yugi said causing Ryou to feel a bit guilty again, and they were quiet the rest of the way out.

"Well here's where I leave you, I hope to see you around." Yugi said as he left Ryou at the entrance to the tunnels. He looked back into the dark and dampness of the tunnels, and then looked up at the sky, the beautiful sunset and the fresh breeze carrying the scent of the sea on it. And his heart panged at the thought of how much of a risk any of them would be taking just to set foot outside there city to see it. He had seen children in there and elders, and none of them were able to see the sky's beauty. It was sad but there was nothing he could do, he knew no one would listen to him.