Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!

Summary: A new enemy brings new dangers and more turmoil then even before. But there's something different about this one. Could it be the fact that he isn't exactly human? (Warnings: shonen-ai, vampires, language, mature content, ect)

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Duel Eleven: Missing

Rumen sighed as he sat down on the bed. 'Why am I afraid? Armand wasn't here before. There's no way he knows we're here. But I'm still so scared. Could he somehow find us?'

"So what were you and Mokuba up to?" The pharaoh asked as he sat beside the other.

Rumen looked at Yami and smiled. "Not much. He just wanted to show me something. Maybe tomorrow night, I can show you?"

Yami nodded. "Sure."

The pharaoh pulled back the covers and lay down in the spot closest to the wall. Rumen lay down with him under the blanket and sighed contently as Yami pulled his back flush against his chest. "Goodnight, Yami."

The pharaoh yawned as he said goodnight and soon drifted off. All Rumen could do was simply close his eyes. The fear in his heart was keeping him up, but while in Yami's arms he felt so much safer. Yami's protective hold of his torso made him feel so reassured.

'Armand won't come. He'll never find us. Raphael said so himself.' Satisfied with the answer, Rumen pulled the blanket up more and slowly fell asleep.

XxX

Athene sighed. She paced back and forth in her room, waiting anxiously for her master and Rumen to return.

At the moment, she was furious with this "master" of hers. Why was he doing this? Would Armand hurt Rumen when the boy was found? She stopped pacing at the very thought of it.

Athene cared for Rumen as much as a friend could care for him. And part of being friends is to be concerned for their well-being. She was most certainly worried and terrified for Rumen right now. What would Armand do to force Rumen back into his arms?

Athene shuddered. She sat down and rubbed her arms, trying to calm down her nerves. 'I don't know what's going to happen to you, Rumen. But please, don't let him hurt you. You could easily over power him. He isn't as strong as you think he is. Please . . . be safe.'

XxX

It was dark now. Everyone within Kaiba's mansion slept peacefully. One person woke up when the blanket was slowly dragged off him. He opened his eyes and started to turn over. "What's wrong-" He immediately sat up and gasped. "Armand!"

The vampire smiled. "Hello to you as well. But have you forgotten him?"

Armand slowly opened the side of his oversized trench coat to reveal the one who was under his control and had his arms encircled around the vampire's waist. The boy gasped. "Yami! What have you done to him, Armand?!"

He laughed. "Nothing at all, my love." Armand gently moved Yami in front of him. He snaked a hand down Yami's shirt to caress his chest. "Yet."

Rumen was about to protest but Yami put a finger to his own lips and hissed in a silencing way. "Hush, Rumen. We do not want you to wake any one up."

Rumen gasped. 'Armand is speaking through Yami now. He's completely controlling him. I have no choice but to obey him.'

"Stop it, Armand." He whispered. "That's enough."

Armand raised an eyebrow. "Is it? But we have not even had any fun yet. And Yami will be so disappointed if we did not . . . enjoy each other's company for a moment."

Rumen growled. "What do you want with him, Armand?" Rumen quietly demanded.

He chuckled. "I only want you, Yuugi, my pet."

Rumen glared. "I told you before I wouldn't go with you! You can't make me!"

"No? I cannot, you say?" Armand laughed darkly in his throat. "Oh Yuugi, you should not have said that. You know how much I love a challenge. If you say I cannot do something, I will simply have to prove you wrong."

Armand brought his other hand forward to rub Yami's stomach ever so gently. He traced the edge of Yami's pants a few times to excite the pharaoh in his arms. Once Yami had closed his eyes and arched against him, Armand slowly dipped his fingers underneath the pharaoh's pants.

He teased Yami by quickly removing his hand and pulling further away. Yami gave out a disappointed whimper and raised his hips up towards Armand's hand. The vampire smiled. "Well, my Yuugi, I can see why you would have chosen this mortal." Armand inhaled Yami's scent deeply. "He is delectable."

Rumen stared in shock. "You . . . Armand, you wouldn't!"

'It seems I have struck a nerve.' Armand smirked. "What is it, my love? Would you prefer to drink from him first?"

He flinched. "N-no! I won't let you hurt him!"

Armand removed his hands from Yami's body and simply held his shoulders. Yami was panting, trying to calm down his beating heart. He stared at the floor with half lidded eyes. Rumen felt guilt start to resonate from his chest. 'It's all my fault. If I hadn't come here, Yami never would have been involved.'

"Yuugi, my dear, there is one way you could save him from damnation." Armand said. "You have to come with me now."

He outstretched his hand to Rumen. "If you come with me . . . Yami will be safe. He will be spared from my bite and neither of us will ever have to see him again."

Rumen bit his lip. He didn't want to leave Yami, but going away and never coming back was the only way to protect him from danger. Taking a shaky breath, he said, "All right. I'll go with you."

Armand grinned. "Good."

He released Yami's shoulders and the pharaoh's limp body fell forward onto the bed. Rumen knelt beside him and went to touch his back, but Armand grabbed his hand and pulled him off the bed and into a kiss.

Rumen gasped from shear shock of the kiss accidentally allowing Armand entrance into his mouth. Tongues rubbed against each other in a rough caress. Rumen only went along with it because he feared resistance would get Yami injured. He sat still and permitted Armand to do with him as he pleased.

The vampire grabbed both of Rumen's arms and pushed him down onto the bed. Armand climbed on top of him and pinned the other's arms up over his head. "You know, Yuugi, I have it in my mind to take you right here." He kissed his ear. "Right now."

Rumen shook his head. "You can't do that. It would wake everyone up."

Armand grinned. "You are right. It would awaken them. But maybe it is time that this one-" He gestured to Yami who was laying on his stomach beside them. "See you in the arms of his true lover. After all, it was he that tried so hard to take you away from me."

"Please! Don't!" Rumen's tears started to overflow. He couldn't take much more of this mind game. 'But if Yami sees me like this with Armand, he'll think I betrayed him! I can't let that happen! I love him too much!' He sobbed. "Armand, please don't do this. You'll have made him suffer enough when he sees that I'm gone again. Please just let him be. You promised you would."

Armand paused. 'So, he wants Yami to be safe from more then simply my bite does he? Could Yuugi have been deceived so much? He is more unfaithful now. His devotion is only to his once friends. I must change that or else he will run away again. And I won't allow that to happen.'

He held Rumen's arms with one hand while the other gently caressed his soft cheek. "As you wish, my love. Now that you have requested something from me, I will request something of you."

Rumen started to tremble a bit. "W-what?"

Armand grinned temptingly. "I have promised to leave Yami alone. Now you must promise to submit to me. If you do everything I ask, be utterly faithful and believe in only me, you will be safe as well."

Rumen's brown wrinkled in confusion. "W-what do you mean . . . I'll be safe?"

The elder lost his grin. 'If you are unfaithful to me ever again, I will not hesitate to kill you. But not before I take you, of course.'

"Yuugi . . . you know the Laws." He lied. "A pet must always be ardent and never doubt their lover when they are taken into a clan. You have violated these rules and would have taken on another lover. The sentence for your desertion is death. However, you are my pet. So if you promise to be forever faithful to me, you will be spared."

Rumen gulped. 'I had no idea I was in so much trouble. But how was I supposed to know? Armand hasn't told me all of the Laws set down from the Ancient Ones. I don't care about my life. If Armand is going to kill me then let him. I just want Yami and my friends to be safe and happy. And there's only one way to ensure all this.'

He nodded. "I promise, Armand."

Armand stroked Rumen's cheek again. "You learn fast, my pet. You know better then to resist me."

Rumen had to bit the inside of his lip to keep from shying away from Armand's touch. He had to go along with everything Armand did to keep Yami and the others safe. Armand gently held Rumen's hands and helped him stand up before pulling him into a lover's embrace.

"Yuugi . . . I have missed you so much." He stared into the boy's eyes. "I love you . . . and I am not mad at you. It was not your fault these mortals kept you from me. It was theirs."

Rumen nodded his head. He knew the truth, but again, he had to agree. Armand smiled. "Now, we will take our leave and return to the clan . . . forever."

He gulped nervously. He unfolded his wings the same as Armand and they prepared to depart. Rumen took one last look at Yami before being pulled out the window toward the opposite edge of town.

--

Athene couldn't believe it. Rumen had returned to the cave, completely unharmed! Why didn't Armand beat him? She was so sure he would, but maybe Athene had him figured out all wrong. She ran up to Rumen and gave him a hug. "Are you all right?"

He nodded sadly. "Yes. I'll be fine."

"Athene. Take Yuugi to Samuel and make sure he is given a suitable weapon. Watch over him while he's training." Armand commanded.

She bowed and pulled him down a corridor. Rumen blinked. "What training?"

"On the night of the moonless sky, the Kimi of Beijing clan will fight with us for supremacy of Domino City." Athene explained. Rumen remembered when the Kimi of Beijing clan arrived in their city. It was hell from the first moment Armand and Mazal laid eyes on each other.

Rumen found their fighting very odd. Armand and Mazal were very much alike. Both were leaders of their clans. They were the same height, same build, and both were very attractive. Mazal even has a pet whose stature is much like Rumen's.

Rumen had only met Mazal's pet once. He wasn't sure of the name, but Rumen believed it to be Hanzi. Unlike Rumen, who was shy and scared, Hanzi was brave and outspoken. Along with Mazal himself, Hanzi shouted certain insults when the conflict first began.

For some time, the two clans had never physically acted out. It was only verbal attacks that were shared between them. Rumen guessed someone must have done something to disturb the balance and set off the upcoming war.

Athene had led Rumen to a cave in the back of their lair. Rumen had never been to this room before. For the first time, he saw weapons of any kind imaginable. There were swords, bows and arrows, axes, spears, everything! There was armor and shields with helmets of all kinds and sizes. "How long has this been here, Athene? Why haven't I ever seen it before?"

Athene scoffed. "Armand doesn't want you to know he's just a blood thirsty killer."

Another vampire entered the room with a scowl on his face. "What do the two of you want?"

"Armand said he wants Rumen to be prepared for battle, Samuel." Athene explained. "Give him a weapon."

Samuel laughed. "This scrawny little pipsqueak? He couldn't handle any of my swords and he can't control a bow. Or perhaps an axe is what you had in mind for him!" He sighed. "Really, Athene, be reasonable."

She shook her head. "First of all, if Armand knew what you were saying about Rumen, he would kill you. And second, shut the hell up and find a suitable weapon for him!"

Samuel scoffed. "Fine." He stared at Rumen, calculating every aspect of the boy. "So, you're Rumen are you?"

He took a step closer to Athene and nodded. "I am."

"You're so small . . . but I might have something you could handle. You two stay here and don't touch anything!" Samuel disappeared through an entrance after his final words to Athene.

She rolled her eyes. "Is this guy paranoid or what?"

"Athene, who is that?" Rumen asked quietly.

She sighed. "That's Samuel. I heard that back in the days he was human, Samuel was the best sword smith in the country. But he had one hell of an ego and was so prideful; he would only work for the upper-class people. He thought so much of himself and his work. His swords weren't good enough for the lower class.

But one day, he realized that he would die someday. He didn't want some apprentice to try and continue on his work. So he made a deal with a vampire from this clan. 'Give me eternal life and I give you my life.' And here he is today, still making swords."

Rumen frowned. "How sad."

Athene raised her eyebrow. "Why is that sad?"

"Well . . . he gave away his humanity just to continue his work. Could his swords truly have been worth it? I could never imagine becoming a vampire just so I could keep going on with something. I just don't think it would have been worth it." He shrugged.

Samuel returned with a sword still in its scabbard. He pointed the handle of the sword to Rumen and instructed him to take it out. Rumen slowly pulled the sword out of its casing and gasped. It was bright steel that shined, even in the dim light of the caves. It practically sang once it was removed. It was so light he could have mistaken it for a feather. "Samuel, it's beautiful."

Athene nodded. "Yeah, it's not too bad. I'm impressed."

He scoffed again. "What would you know about it? Can you tell the difference between two identical swords? You don't know anything. Now take your sword and leave."

Athene exhaled sharply. "Fine. Let's go, Rumen."

He nodded. After a moment of silence, Rumen posed a question. "Athene, what am I going to be doing with this?" He lifted up the sword and turned it to either side as if admiring it.

Athene sighed. "You'll be fighting with it. Armand wants you to help him kill the members of the Kimi of Beijing clan."

"WHAT?!" He stopped walking. "Why!? Why would he-"

Athene turned on her heals. "Come on, Rumen. You were there! You knew the clans would fight."

Rumen nodded. "I knew they would fight . . . I just didn't know people would die."

She sighed. "Don't be so stupid, Rumen. Of course people would die. Now let's go."

They continued down the halls in silence. Athene felt sorry for Rumen but there wasn't any thing she could do even if she tried. He would be forced to fight by Armand's side no matter what happens. Even if he can't kill someone, he needed to learn how to defend himself.

The Kimi of Beijing clan ruled by Mazal was infamous for sparing no one, vampire or mortal. When they were involved in a battle, every one on the opposing side would be dead. They were the worst bloodthirsty killers out there.

It seemed odd though. Kimi of Beijing, herself, was a kind, calm, and peaceful vampire. She hated war and set down a Law that any one of her clan must not fight with the other clans or with each other.

'How stupid. There's no way any one would actually follow that Law.' Athene thought.

But what did it matter? The Ancient Ones are dead. So Athene supposed with the threat of an Ancient One coming after you no longer hanging, the clans could do pretty much whatever they wanted.

Rumen frowned. Would that mean more clans would fight? He hoped not. Rumen hates fighting and doesn't want any part of it. But in this case, he had absolutely no choice.

"Athene!" They turned around. Another member of their clan stood where the voice had originated. Unlike Samuel, this one had a smirk on his face. Just one glance at this vampire and Rumen knew he didn't trust him. "This is Rumen isn't it?"

She nodded. "Armand said-"

"I have already been instructed. I know what the master wants of me." He walked forward and kneeled in front of the boy. He was about the same height as Kaiba but with a few extra inches. "So, you're Rumen eh? Well I can tell what the master sees in you."

Athene pushed Rumen behind her. "That's enough. You know what he would do if you even tried to lay a hand on Rumen!"

He laughed darkly. "Oh I am very aware." He stood up and brushed his knees off. "Well, Rumen? Shall we start your training?"

He slowly stepped out from behind Athene. "T-training?"

"That's right." He took a few steps back and pulled out a small axe. "The first lesson is dodging!" He threw the axe and it zoomed it way toward Rumen's chest.

XxX

"Yuugi, my dear, there is one way you could save him from damnation." A voice said. "You have to come with me now. If you come with me . . . Yami will be safe. He will be spared from my bite and neither of us will ever have to see him again."

There was a long silence. Then finally, another voice said, "All right. I'll go with you."

Yami fell off the bed as he awoke from his dream. He breathed deeply to try and calm his racing heart. "What was that?" He slowly sat up and rested his arms on his knees. 'I don't know why . . . but it felt like a memory.'

He whipped around to find to bed empty and the window and curtains wide open. "Oh no!"

Yami searched in every nook and cranny of the room, but couldn't find Rumen anywhere. He burst out of the room and ran down the halls. "YUUGI!" He cried. "Where are you!?"

He opened every door and looked under any furniture he found. "Yuugi! Please come out! Tell me where you are!"

A door opened just across from him that he hadn't opened yet. But instead of seeing the shorter version of himself, he saw a blonde haired teenager. "Yami, what the hell are you doing?"

He stood up. "Jounouchi, Yuugi's gone missing! When I woke up the curtains and the window were wide open and I can't find Yuugi anywhere!"

The blonde gasped. "WHAT?!"

Honda and Anzu crept from their rooms. "What's with all the yelling?"

"Yuugi's gone!" Soon everyone was helping to try and find their friend. Even Seto was helping. He ordered some of his staff to search inside and outside the perimeter of the estate. But everyone came back with out a single clue or hint.

Jounouchi's hands became fists. "Damn it! What's going on here? Where the hell did he go?!"

"You won't find him in here." Raphael said with a grim look on his face. "Armand took him away again."

Everyone gasped. Could it have been true? "But how did he find us in the first place?"

Raphael sighed. "I don't know, Yami. I don't have an answer this time."

"So what now? Do we just sit here or do we go to that cave and get out friend back!" Jounouchi said.

The vampire glared at him. "Don't be such an idiot, Jounouchi. Armand's entire clan would outnumber us ten to one! We can't just go charging forward with unseeing eyes. We have to think of our safety and Rumen's safety. Because if he wanted to, Armand would kill Rumen."

Yami's entire body stiffened. "Then what do we do? How can we save him without Yuugi being harmed?"

He took a deep breath and let it out. "The only way is to kill Armand. To be truly successful, we have to get rid of the danger factor. He's the only real danger to us and to Rumen. But that alone is going to be nearly impossible."

"Why?" The pharaoh inquired.

Raphael leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Because Armand controls Rumen's fate, I already told you."

"Well there has to be something we can do!" Yami shouted. "I can't just sit here and let Armand do whatever he wants to Yuugi!"

He nodded. "I know. I want to save Rumen as much as you do."

Anzu rolled her eyes. "Then let's go save him! Yuugi is our friend and we can't let him down!"

Raphael paused. "You know what? I might have an idea. But it involves all of you staying here and not doing anything."

"No! I refuse to just sit here!" Yami shouted, enraged.

"Well it's all we can do, pharaoh!" He retaliated. "I know it'll be hard, but it has to be done. I need to go back to your house, Jounouchi. All of you will stay here and wait for me to return."

Yami sighed. "Fine. But first, tell us your plan."

Again, he paused. "Truthfully, I don't really have a plan. It's just an idea and I don't even know if it would work. But I have to go test it out first. If it doesn't work, then we're basically screwed."

He turned to the couch where he had put all his travel clothes. But it seemed he was missing one of his scarves. "Oh I know where it is." Mokuba said. He bit his lip. 'Oh no! I should have just kept my mouth shut!'

Raphael smiled. "Can you show me where it is?"

The child reluctantly agreed and led the way to his room. Thankfully, no one but Raphael followed him. When they were both inside Mokuba's room, Raphael shut the door behind him. He could tell the child was scared and he smiled. "Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk."

He sat down on the bed and patted the spot beside him. "Sit down. It's ok."

Slowly, the child approached the bed. He sat down and sighed. "So, what were you and Rumen up to last night?"

Mokuba hesitated. He didn't really want to tell him, but he knew it would be wrong if he withheld any information. "Do you promise not to get mad at me?"

With the vampire's word, Mokuba began. "Last night . . . I was showing Yuugi the stars out on the roof. We were having a lot of fun, but when we decided to come back inside . . . Yuugi said he saw something."

Raphael nodded. "Did you see what it was?"

He shook his head. "Nothing was there. That I could see, at least. But he started freaking out and . . . when we got inside; he said we had to stay low to the ground. Then when he looked out the window and jumped back. But I looked just for a second and nothing was there.

Then he pulled me into the bathroom and started muttering to himself. After that, he ran back outside and said it was gone. But there was nothing here in the first place. There really wasn't."

Raphael's brow wrinkled. 'Rumen was afraid that something was here when there wasn't anything here in the first place. If it were Armand, I would have caught his scent. What does all this mean? How could Rumen have seen Armand if he wasn't actually here? What does it mean?'

The silence from the usually talkative vampire seemed to bother him a bit. Mokuba gulped. "Did I do something wrong?"

"No. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm glad you told me, Mokuba. Now, I want you and your brother to stay here. Enough people have been involved and since Armand knows where you live, he might come after you." He paused. "In fact, go back downstairs and tell the others I'll be down in a few minutes ok?"

Mokuba was a little confused, but he decided Raphael knew what he was doing. Once the child left the room, Raphael unhooked the chain that hung around his neck. It was hidden under his shirt so no one, not even Armand, knew about it. It was a necklace that had a small, circular pendant with an intricate design of a Celtic knot in the center. He remembered getting it from his sister when he was younger. Not when he was a mortal, but when he was younger.

He stood up and gently held it in his hands after closing his eyes. He whispered in an ancient language and the necklace began to glow. After a moment or two, he stopped chanting and opened his eyes. The necklace was still glowing a bright blue. He held the pendent in one hand and punctured his thumb with his fang.

A few drops of blood fell onto the pendent and it started to glow blue and red. He smiled at it. 'I'm glad my sister taught me this spell. I never thought it would come in handy.'

Raphael left Mokuba's room and entered the living room where everyone sat waiting for him. He stood in front of Mokuba and put the chain around the child's neck and stood back. The light surrounding the necklace faded a bit to a dull glimmer.

"What's this?" Mokuba asked.

Raphael smiled. "You wear a very important necklace, Mokuba. You are now appointed the duty of protecting this mansion. As long as you stay inside while wearing the necklace, a barrier will be set up keeping unfriendly creatures outside. No one will be allowed in unless Mokuba, and Mokuba alone, says they can."

He blinked. "Me?"

Raphael nodded. "Only you."

"Mokuba can't handle something as huge as this." Seto bluntly said. "Give me the necklace."

Raphael glared. "Why do you doubt your brother? He can handle it. He has better judgment then you so he'll know who to let in and who to not let in. It's not like there's a spell he has to learn or an incantation. He'll be fine."

Mokuba tugged on Raphael's jacket sleeve. "But Raphael, how am I supposed to use it? What do I do?"

He shrugged. "You just treat it as if it were a doorway. If you think someone that's knocking on your door is dangerous, you don't let them in. If it's a friend, you would allow them in, knowing it's safe."

Yami leaned forward to look at the necklace. "But how does the necklace work?"

"It reacts to Mokuba's emotions." Raphael said. "If he ever sees a stranger with say a knife or a gun, he'll be afraid. The barrier will react and no one can get in. But say if he sees Jounouchi, he knows it's safe and isn't afraid. The barrier will allow Jounouchi to pass and Jounouchi alone."

Mokuba blinked. "Do you really think I can do this?"

Raphael laughed. "Of course you can. You are very capable of doing this and it's very safe. The necklace won't hurt you no matter how it reacts." He then shifted his gaze to the pharaoh. "Yami, do you all promise to stay here?"

Yami stepped towards him. "They will, but I won't. When you go to rescue Yuugi, I am coming with you."

He sighed. "We'll discuss that once I get back. Just promise me none of you are going to leave this mansion tonight."

Raphael slipped his coat on and got himself ready to travel in the sunlight. It was about eleven in the morning that Raphael left for Jounouchi's apartment. Everyone was restless, wondering what Raphael could possibly be planning. But for now, they'd have to trust him.

XxX

Rumen held his bleeding arm. He panted from pure exertion and felt as if he would collapse. He was completely exhausted and his vision was starting to get blurry. He knew the amount of blood he lost is what was making him feel so weak and tired. But he wouldn't give up. Michael smirked. "What's wrong, Rumen? You look tired. Perhaps you should-"

"I'm not giving up!" He nearly screamed.

He raised an eyebrow. "And why not? You can barely stand let alone fight. We've been at this for half an hour now. Your position is pretty hopeless. I haven't even gotten a scratch and you're covered in your own blood. There's no way you can win."

Rumen stood up straight. "I don't care. I won't give up. No matter what, I can't forfeit. I won't run like a coward. I'll face you until the end."

Armand smiled as he watched the two continue to fight. "It is amazing. Yuugi is too stubborn to realize he's already beaten."

Athene watched in a sad silence. Rumen had been hurt badly. If he lost more blood, he might have another Blood Lust. It's too soon for that again. "Master, please stop this. Rumen is seriously injured."

He scoffed. "Please. He will be fine. You forget, Athene, he is my pet. He will not perish so easily." Armand paused. "You also forget your place in this clan. Am I not the leader?"

"Yes, you are." She said sadly.

Armand never looked at her as he spoke again. "Then never demand something of me when it is against my will."

Athene stood strong and did not look him in the eye. She continued to look down upon Rumen from the perch she and Armand stood on. After a few minutes, Armand finally stopped the fight. Rumen collapsed instantly once Michael backed off. He lay on the ground trying desperately to catch his breath and heal his wounds.

Athene jumped down and ran to his side. She gathered him in her arms and asked if he was all right.

"Athene!" Armand called out. He too jumped down and slowly walked up to her. "Do not treat him as if he were a new born. Yuugi is fine. In an hour the sun will set. Take him out to feed then return so his training will continue. After all, we must fit him for his armor."

She lowered her head as if bowing. "Yes, master."

Armand turned his back, letting the almost cape like feature of his trench coat spin as he went. It flailed out behind him when he started to walk away and Athene wished she could set it on fire. For some reason, she felt as if his jacket was mocking her.

"Athene . . ." Came Rumen's weak and shaky voice. "Did I do all right? I didn't fail did I?"

She looked back at him with an unsure look in her eyes. "Are you wondering if you impressed Armand?"

He slowly shook his head. "No. I don't care about that. I just . . . wanted to know if I did all right."

Athene smiled. "For your first time, you did very well."

He smiled. "That's good. I would at least like to learn how to defend myself for when the time comes."

Athene then took Rumen to sit with here near the entrance of the cave while they waited for the night. They spoke of light conversation only. If Armand heard them talking about Rumen's mortal friends now, he would become very mad and possible kill her. "Athene . . . why did Armand choose me for his pet?"

She was taken back by Rumen's strange question. But it was one that she herself had wondered from time to time. "In all honesty, I have no idea. He's never revealed any word of it to anyone or me. No one really knows why except for Armand himself."

Rumen paused. "Well . . . don't the Laws say that . . . you can't turn a mortal and make them your pet . . . if that mortal is in love with someone?"

"Yes, they do. Why?"

He started to blush. "Well . . . when I was a mortal . . . I think I might have fallen in love with someone."

Athene covered his mouth and pulled him close. "Shh! Rumen, are you insane?! You can't speak of this here! Not now! Armand will hear you and he will kill you!"

He nodded. When Athene removed her hand, he apologized. She forgave him then helped him to stand. They unfolded their wings and set of into the night. Rumen suggested after the feeding that they sit in the trees of a clearing in a park. Athene agreed. It sounded nice.

Rumen was instructed to wait in the cover of a tree while Athene searched for a good meal. She sniffed one out . . . but it was a child. She couldn't kill such a small and innocent human being. Instead, she chose a young teenage girl. Athene bit into her neck first and drank her fill, which wasn't much. The girl whimpered as Athene passed her into Rumen's arms. "Don't worry." He gently whispered. "We won't kill you."

It was true. Neither of them would kill nor turn her. They just needed to take some of her blood and leave enough to let her live so she could stay a human. Rumen reluctantly drank the blood that leaked out of Athene's bite. He took less then he needed but knew he would survive.

After that, they released the girl and ran into the park. Rumen took her to the tree where he was constantly drawn. This was also the place where he first met Raphael or, as he was known then, 'Brother'.

Rumen now loved this tree. He might never have met Raphael if it weren't for the wonderful plant. He sat in the same branch as he always did. Athene lay down on the branch just beside him on her back. She put both her hands behind her head and looked at him with a smiled. "So tell me. Who did you fall in love with?"

He blushed. "Well . . . I think I loved him even back when I was a mortal. His name is Yami and he was and is one of my best friends. He looks a lot like me . . . only he's different."

Athene raised an eyebrow in silent confusion. "Well . . . his eyes are a blood red color . . . almost crimson. And he's a little older. He has more blonde in his hair and he's . . ." Rumen sighed. "It's hard to describe what he is."

Athene nodded. "Well, forget the looks. Tell me what you feel whenever you're around him."

He sighed again. "What don't I feel? When I'm with Yami, everything is better. I feel happy and safe, like he'll always protect me and be there for me. He barely left my side when I was with him. And when he slept in the same bed at night, he would hold me close."

Rumen unknowingly wrapped his arms around himself as he stared up at the stars. "He was always so warm. I could feel the blood running through him . . . but I never wanted to taste it. I didn't have to restrain myself. Everything just felt natural with Yami. And when he did hold me . . . it's like . . . I could feel my heart beating again. Like I was alive. Like I was human again."

Athene blinked. "Wow. That's love all right. Well, what about him? Does he love you back?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe . . . but I don't really know. I don't really know what love looks like."

Athene smiled and patted his lower leg. "Don't worry. You'll know one day."

She suddenly sat up and sniffed the air. "Rumen, I have to go. Listen, I want you to stay here. Don't go back to Armand but don't go to your friends. He'll just find them again and this time they might not escape without a scratch."

He nodded. "All right. But what's wrong? Why are you leaving?"

"I have to go talk to someone. I won't be too long ok? I'll be back long before the sun rises." After saying goodbye, Athene took off into the sky and flew to where his scent was coming from.

XxX

Back at the Kaiba mansion, Mokuba held the necklace in his hands. It was on a long chain so he could see it properly.

Even after Raphael left, it was still glowing. The light was beautiful as it surrounded the pendent in a dome of luminosity. It wasn't too bright and it wasn't dull. While he held it in his hand, Mokuba swore it felt warm.

He smiled. 'I can't believe Raphael thinks I can handle this. I'm not that strong but he said I was. Does he really mean it?' Mokuba paused in his thoughts. 'I think he does. Raphael is smart and I'm sure he knows what he's doing. I just hope he'll bring back Yuugi safe and sound.'

He closed his fingers around the pendent and shut his eyes. 'Please be safe Yuugi. I want to look at the stars with you again. Don't die.'

With his eyes closed, he could see Raphael. It was as if a security camera had turned on in his head. The vampire was standing on the fence and it looked like he was waiting for something. Mokuba realized he couldn't enter. 'It's ok. Let him in. Raphael isn't dangerous.'

He saw an opening in the barrier and the vampire smiled. Mokuba opened his eyes and gathered everyone in the living room. Not more then a few seconds later did Raphael enter with a smile on his face. "I'm very proud of you, Mokuba. You handled that necklace very well."

The child blushed. "Thank you."

Yami sat down with Raphael and the other's crowded around them. "So? What happened? Is Yuugi all right?"

"Ok. Rumen should be just fine, but I can't know for sure. I didn't see him with my own eyes. But here goes. I went back to Jounouchi's apartment to talk with a friend. Her name is Athene and she is part of Rumen's clan. The two are actually friends.

Any way, while we were staying at Jounouchi's, Armand had sent Athene to spy on us in case we moved without him knowing. One night, I caught her spying, but she made a deal with me. She would meet with me whenever I needed her and tell me what she knew if I didn't kill her." He said.

Yami nodded. "And that's who you met tonight?"

He sighed. "Yes. Athene told me . . . that Rumen's clan and another clan are at war. On the night without a moon, they will rage against each other in a terrible battle."

The pharaoh blinked. "The night without a moon? You mean the New Moon?"

Raphael nodded. "Yes. That's in two days. She also told me that since his return, Rumen has been training. He's being taught how to fight. Maybe even how to kill."

Everyone gasped. Would their best friend really become a killer?

"In a way, this all works out in our favor." Raphael said. A smirk had formed on his face. "This is my plan. When the war starts, Athene will pull Rumen to the side and they will hid away from the battle. Then, I will go there and hopefully be able to save Rumen."

"But what about Armand?" Honda asked.

Raphael sighed. "The best I can say is that he'll be too busy with the war to worry about Rumen. But if he does try to stop me, I'll take care of him while Rumen makes his escape."

Yami nodded. He understood what he was supposed to do. "But does Yuugi know our plan?"

He shook his head. "No. I've instructed Athene not to tell Rumen anything. If Armand suspects something is up, the first person he'll try to get anything out of will be Rumen. And trust me, he knows how to get information out of the boy."

Yami clenched his fist. 'Armand. I swear I'll kill you if you hurt Yuugi in anyway!'

Raphael smiled. "Don't worry, Yami. In two days we'll save him."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tula – Come

Kela – Go away