Ayumu: It's finally here! Finally, all the hot cocoa, tears and musical inspiration have created this masterpiece (hopefully)!
Kikico: Isn't the saying, 'all my blood, sweat and tears'?
Ayumu: *looks at her funny* Where's the creativity in that?
Kikico: *face-palms*
Malik: Are we going to die in this chapter?
Ayumu: *looks at him funny* No. Why do you ask that?
Malik: 'Cause I'm going to meet a- mmph!
Ayumu: *covers Malik's mouth* Don't tell them that! You're gonna ruin the surprise!
Yugi: Since Ayumu and Kikico are busy keeping Malik from talking I'll do the disclaimer. Ayumu does NOT own any of the YuGiOh! characters NOR does she own Kikico.
Ayumu: *pops up* Now on to the story!
_Chapter 10: Caught At Last!
(Last time…)
I gave them one last glance before I leapt through the vortex. No time to question the past. Now is the future and the hunt is on.
I landed in a crouch and I growled out, "I want them found by dusk. Let's move."
(Ra's POV)
Bakura and Marik both nodded. That was affirmative that Yami's orders would be followed.
They glanced up at the sun and noticed that it was about an hour till dusk. Yami watched as Bakura and Marik both walked off into the forest.
Bakura's path had a dense, dark canopy. A tangle of vines blocking his lower half from getting very far. As he left Yami let out a sigh.
Yami then turned right to see that Mariks was just as bad of a choice.
Marik's was a thick underbrush that looked to be accessible only to animals. A few eyes glinted through the branches and several snaps indicating escaping animals.
With a depressed shake of his head Yami took a glance straight ahead and found a trail. It was almost cut out of the rock it was so treacherous. Letting out a chuckle at his luck Yami took a step forward.
A 'challenge accepted' smirk crossed his face as he began the trek up the mountain side. This hunt was turning out to be way if easy.
'Come out, come out where ever you are…' They all thought.
(Joeys POV)
As we quieted down a scent drifted into the cave. I looked at Serenity and found her looking at me. I nodded as I jumped up to scout out the entrance.
I heard Serenity tell Yugi, Ryou and Malik about the scent. Then they were all next to me. I pointed down the path and said, "There are three scents that branch off to cover more ground."
They all nodded. The three paths were all suited to their different modes of battle. As they looked at them I noticed how each suited them.
One was a dense, dark canopy. A tangle of vines block legs while there are plenty of branches to swing from. Yugi relied on his vampire and nymph genetics so he chose the forest on the right.
Malik likes to hunt as an animal. The left side of the trail had a thick underbrush that looked to be accessible only to animals. A predatory glint flashed as Malik sped off in wolf form. A terrified rabbit darted out a second later.
Ryou looked at me and I let out a sigh. He was asking me to help with his since he had a near perfect defense but a crappy offense.
We set off back down the trail and soon came across one of the three scents. His smelled challenging so I began to growl.
Ryou let out a gasp and said, "When you see this guy don't hesitate to knock him out. Malik is hunting his prey to the right if us and Yugi is to our left."
I nodded. 'It's a bit weird dat Ryou put an emphasis on Yug's name but I guess there was a reason for it.'
(Ra's POV)
Joey crept off to the forest beside the path and snuck beside Ryou. As he walked the scent got closer and the closer it got the more confident it smelled.
Then Ryou stopped. Down the hill a ways a man stood. Joey stared in shock before Ryou's words resounded in his head, Yugi is to our left.
Yami, on the other hand, was more mad than confused. 'Why is Bakura in a dress shirt?' Then it hit him. The figure a ways up wasn't Bakura. 'If that's not Bakura then who is that?'
The figure smiled and said, "I don't know who your friend is but if you are mistaking me for him the must be a remarkable resemblance."
Yami stiffened. The voice from the Bakura-look-alike was soft, kind and a bit higher than Bakura's
The look-alike sighed and said, "My name isn't the Bakura-look-alike." This got Yami's attention and he asked, "How did you?" The boy shook his head then made his way down the path a bit more.
Yami took a few more steps up himself and he was soon in arms reach of the boy. 'He would expect me to grab him first if he was a run away. I'll wait a minute before I make a move.'
Ryou heard his thoughts and held his left hand straight down to signal Joey to wait.
Yami stared at the boy then he said, "Have you seen anyone come through?" 'a group maybe?' He thought.
The boy gave him a funny look before he said, "Why are you hoping that a group came by?" Yami stared at Ryou and said, "I didn't say-" "No, but you were thinking it." Yami lunged at Ryou's right hand but he was dodged.
'Guess this kids pretty quick.' Ryou smiled at him and Yami frowned before he lunged again. This time he aimed for his right shoulder. Ryou dodged again and Yami let out a growl.
Joey had gotten behind Yami at this point and, at Yami's growl, leapt out. The leaves broke and branches snapped. Joey sped towards Yami, who whipped around, or at least tried to.
Joeys speed got him behind Yami and let him get a strangle hold on him. After a few seconds Ryou signaled for Joey to loosen up.
Yami was still standing so Joey knocked him out. Then he picked the guy up and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
As they walked back to the cave Ryou got to look at the sunset. As he looked at the cave he noticed everyone else was out as well.
He saw Serenity turn around and she gave him a smile before she thought, 'Did you two get him? We have two more knocked out and tied up in the cave.'
Ryou let out a chuckle before he said to Joey, "How good is your sister with knots?" Joey laughed and said, "Did someone give her the rope again?"
Serenity, who heard the conversation had to giggle before she thought, 'They're the ones that don't know how to tie a proper knot. I mean really, the one thing I got to do all day and it was hog tying two grown men! Are you kidding me?'
Joey listened as Ryou tried to mimic her voice as he read her thought. They were in tears laughing by the time they reached the top. Joey passed his load off and sat back while the master got to work binding the guy to his friends.
Malik had caught a deer on the way back so they started a fire, ate and talked. They even dried some of the meat and left it for when the three men awoke.
As the fire began to die it was only Yugi, Ryou and Malik who were awake. They all took a glance at the men. They each had a look alike it seemed.
They all began to laugh quietly. Then Ryou said, "When I first saw Yugi's look alike I thought it was him. Then I heard the guy's thoughts."
Yugi and Malik laughed before Malik said, "You know their names?" Yugi shook his head 'no'. "My look a like's name is Bakura. My catch mistook me for him so he must be the albino."
Malik frowned, "So we won't know the other twos names till tomorrow?" Yugi and Ryou nodded.
All three sighed before laying down to rest at last. An owl twisted its head and hooted, its eyes reflected the full moon before it took flight to the forest floor.
Chapter 11: B-Bounty Hunters!?
Ayumu: Ah, nothing like a good twist in a plot in the morning...
Yami: Why do you hate us? Did we wrong you in some way?
Yugi: No. She probably just wanted it to be hard on you all. Like life.
Yami: *looks at Yugi* Why would she want that? It's a fantasy isn't it? Happy ever after?
Ayumu: You obviously have never heard 'Fairytale' by Sara Bareilles. What kind of a childhood did you have?!
Mokuba: Do I have to answer that?
Ayumu: No. No you don't Mokie. That was directed at Yami, not you.
Mokuba: Okay! *turns to readers* Please remember to read and review! Your input is greatly appreciated!