This has been edited to the best of my ability.

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

Chapter 21: True Nature

Their feet touched down on snow covered ground in a rundown courtyard. The stone fencing like walls were crumbled, dead shrubs that once would have been a beautiful garden. A large house stood before them, it almost blended with the darkness, it gave an ominous feeling. "Where are we?" Ryou whispered, the only other sounds around them was the wind rustling through the leaves of a forest that was slowly trying to encroach on the fenced land.

"Not sure," Bakura frowned gathering his energy, it grew darker and colder as he sent it outwards in search of anything living. He gently placed Ryou down onto his feet. Bakura didn't know why he was lead to a place like this, had Kaiba botched the one thing he had to do, heal Marik and keep him safe… this didn't look safe.

Bakura's eyes darkened as the shadows moved like water and started to build up against an invisible wall. "Wards," he then snorted. "Nice try," he enforced his shadows to press forward and the protective wards that were placed all over the house, sparked out like small eruptions of yellow fireworks, before consumed by the darkness and the spell was effectively broken.

A small gasp from Ryou at the sight of lanterns illuminating a porch that ran the length of the house, it looked rundown even with the wards broken and oddly enough the yellow glowing lights did nothing but added to the foreboding gloom to the house. "Do not stray from my side," Bakura warned.

Marik and the Healer could be held here as Ella's prisoners, in hopes that they would never be found. It would have been possible and worked in her favour if he was an ordinary Demon and her defenses not so mediocre. "There," Bakura extended an open hand and from within the darkness yelps and screams as he called forth multiple tendrils, that rose up like snakes snagging the unsuspected foes that had been watching them from the rooftop and near the stone wall fence. Several bodies were dropped practically at his feet and Ryou took a step closer to his side. "Let's not play games, who's in-"

"You son of a bitch!" A voice bellowed out and in a blur Bakura was hit in the jaw so hard that the blow dislodging his and Ryou's hands, a hard kick instantly followed to his midsection that had his feet leaving the ground for a few seconds and slid to a stop when Bakura's back hit a large rock.

Ryou's cry of alarm didn't go unheard and his panicked words, "Seto what are you doing?!"

Kaiba using his speed a blur of large black feathers. "Give Joey back!" he snarled gathering his energy. Kaiba leapt into the air for a second, his large wings expanded out to full length and came down hard striking ground with his fist and knee that made a sicking bone cracking sound, the snow flew up into the air and the ground had split under his fist and knee like spider-webs.

Kaiba was up on his feet and his weapon summoned, wings flexed and using his Demonic speed and flew at Bakura before he could even open his mouth. Kaiba with his energy powering his speed collided into Bakura and both Demon's ended up in a heap on the ground and the clang of metal hitting metal as the pale Demon defended himself from what would have been a fatal blow to his face from the Healer. "Let me explain!" Bakura growled through clutched fangs.

Kaiba snarled baring fangs as well as he pushed his sword against Bakura's with so much force that his arms and sword shook with the effort. "You didn't have to force my hand at healing Marik by taking my mate, I would have done it without question." Kaiba kneed Bakura right in the side, feeling ribs break under the force he used.

Bakura didn't know how much more he could take of just letting Kaiba whale on him "Get off!" tendrils shot up from the ground around his body, Kaiba leapt backwards dodging each one as they reached for him and landed some feet away out of reach.

"Whatever hellish Realm are you keeping my mate in, will be nothing compared to the one I'll be sending you to, Monster." Kaiba released all his gathered energy, enough to drain everything and anything within a five city block radius and tunneled it all at Bakura. The snow once again flew up into air as all of the Healer's rage came at him and the pale Demon threw up his defenses in a form of a shield of black shadow not having enough time to absorb it and all that energy ricochet off into another direction.

"No!" Kaiba called out and he was moving forward. Bakura's blood ran cold as all that energy he had unknowingly deflected it towards his mate. All Bakura saw was Ryou's eyes widening as he took a step back and threw up his arms in front of him. Bakura's scream for him to move as he flung his arms like he was actually throwing his shadows to rise up from the ground in the path of all that energy trying desperately to stop it.

An explosion of snow, dirt, rocks and steam gushed out in a burst of white fog and a blast of chilled wind hitting both Kaiba and Bakura. "Morons!" came the familiar growl and slowly everything started to settle and clear.

Marik stood there with Ryou safe in his arms and a shield around them had effectively protected them. Bakura let out a heavy sigh of relief and the fight slipped from his mind as Ryou raised up on his toes and Marik holding him close for a rather passionate kiss. Ryou's hands linked behind Marik's neck, his feet lifted off the ground for a long moment before he was eased back onto his feet.

Bakura took a step forward as Ryou pulled away a little from Marik, keeping as much contact as he could as his mate's attention turned on him. "What have you done with Joey?" Ryou asked, his eyes darting from him to Kaiba and back again, seemingly awaiting for an answer to come from either one of them.

"He placed Joey in whatever Hellhole he was summoned from," Kaiba snarled in anger as he jabbed a finger in Bakura's direction.

"Hellhole? Summoned?" Ryou raised an eyebrow staring at the Healer. A low growl rumbled from Marik at Kaiba's choice of words.

"He's being dramatic," Bakura waved a hand in the air in a dismissive way, that didn't help the situation, rather added fuel to the fire as Kaiba tensed up looking ready to attack again.

"Let's see how dramatic you are when I rip those fucking wings right out of your back!" Kaiba growled summoning his weapon again and turned facing Bakura straight on.

"Answer me!" Ryou demanded, his eyes churning gold and glowed like animal shine in the low light the lanterns were giving off from the porch.

"The Healer's Sanctuary in Arkham City." Bakura blurted out with a frown. "I was keeping him safe. Protecting him." The time he spent listening to Ella talk about little parts of her plans for everyone on her way to obtaining the throne, while she inflicted all the pain on him that she could. It gave him every right in his actions in protecting their small group, whether anybody approved or not.

"A monster like you can't keep anything safe," Kaiba laughed, not the good kind of laugh, the kind of laugh the crazies did. "You can't even keep your bullshit together." The Healer's eyes glowed. "Look around, all this is you. You're killing the Realm because you're throwing a little tantrum. Do things you think is right by butting in where you aren't wanted and can't even keep your own loved ones safe, let alone someone else's." Kaiba stepped forward the pressure around them started to increase, his eyes darkened crimson and Bakura could see that he was losing it and he once again started an onslaught of attacks and energy that Bakura almost had difficulty defending himself against the uncontained rage of the Healer.

Bakura had the feeling it wasn't all just about him taking Joey, something else had happened to drive the usually level headed Healer off the edge like this. "You are so troublesome and stir everything up and it still all works out for you, doesn't it!" the swing of Kaiba's sword on an upward motion sliced Bakura's cheek deep enough that it instantly bleed. Kaiba relentless in his attacks left no room for Bakura to do anything other than be on the defensive, every hit with a hand, knee or foot the Healer was effectively draining Bakura's energy in an effort to weaken him and then using that same energy back at him.

This is getting serious.

"Enough!" Marik threw himself into the battle. "Get a hold of your-" Kaiba struck him hard enough that Marik slid on his feet backwards and crumbled to one knee and a hand on the ground, the other hand clutched at his chest.

Bakura without a word conjured his tendrils once more and from the small portals they rose up like octopus tentacles, wrapping about Kaiba's ankle, legs, waist, arms and shoulders then pulled the struggling Healer to his knees and held him in place. "Marik!" Ryou instantly at his side as Bakura approached and helped him back to his feet.

"That was some hit," Marik muttered rubbing his chest a little and reassuring both of them that he was fine. Kaiba struggled and strained against Bakura's tendrils and even attempted to slice them off with his weapon, until the tendrils constricted so tightly about his wrist and his body. He dropped his sword and it vanished before it hit the ground and couldn't expand his chest enough to take in a breath. "He's going to hurt himself." Marik nodded in the Healer's direction and Bakura also turned to see the Healer still struggling to get free.

"It's all your fault!" Kaiba raged and the few tendrils almost gave way, only to constrict once more and pull him back to his knees.

"Calm down!" Bakura ran hand through his wild white hair not knowing what to do. His attention momentarily focused on the serval guards he had pulled down from the roof, rose to their feet and didn't nothing else but watch them. "You know-"

"It was meant to be easy. Show up, parade about like everyone else and leave, but you!" Kaiba seethed once he had stopped struggling the tendrils loosened a little. "You go and make a mess of everything like always! And the rest of us pay for it, some worse than others."

"What is he talking about?" Marik asked with a raised eyebrow. No Gathering was easy for anyone. Ella made her presence known and who was running the Gathering. She would pick influential groups and make them her target to torment, indulged in public punishments for the smallest thing, while Yami either hid in his room or turned a blind eye.

The Gathering wasn't what it was supposed to be, a gathering of all races to come together to find their potential mates or mated couples to mingle and introduce their offspring, records were taken and family trees made longer. "What is wrong with you?" Bakura could understand that touch of insanity one went through over losing a mate or taken, it wasn't like Kaiba didn't know him. "I took him so he would be out of Ella's reach." Not to mention the hefty gold donation (bribe) to insure Joey was well tended to and protected.

Kaiba has his head down as if he hadn't heard Bakura's words and for a split second his tendrils slackened enough for the Healer to slip out of and he was charging at Bakura once more with his weapon in hand.

The strikes were swift with deadly precision that Bakura felt as though he could no longer hold back and defend himself properly and that the Healer had all intentions of either killing Bakura or getting himself killed. Why? He had explained his reasons for taking Joey, so why wasn't Kaiba rushing off to be with his mate, it's what he would be doing if it was Ryou, Marik or Malik rather than staying and starting a fight that might end in one of them dying.

"Sleep!" As the soft word filled the air Kaiba's eyes rolled into the back of his head and he slumped forward forcing Bakura to catch him as his weapon slipped from his grip. Standing behind the Healer, was Anzu with her hand outstretched and fingers splayed out and wide eyed and Siamun at her side.

"I didn't think he would have gone this far," Siamun sighed as he waved a hand motioning the guards that were standing about watching to take the Healer inside. "The poor guy's been beside himself." He had tsk sound to his voice.

"What are you talking about?" Bakura handed over the Healer and watched until he was taken inside.

"He was trying to have you end his life," the old Demon frowned. "If that fight continued any longer you might have succeeded."

"Why?" Ryou was at his side, before Bakura could ask the same thing.

"He's been exiled."

"The only person to have that power is..."

"Yami." Marik muttered the name when Bakura had trailed off. It came as a shock since Yami and Kaiba were friends, way before Marik or himself had even met them. "It's clear that he has lost his mind." Marik shook his head slightly in disbelief. "If he has cast his closet friend out."

"We are next," Bakura glanced at his lover, knowing that both of them were on the same page.

"What does that mean?" Ryou looked slightly panicked, he knew what it meant had seen it upon their arrival to the Realm, being hit with the possible reality often made it hard to put it together.

"Nothing for us to worry about now," Bakura reassured him, making a mental note to make sure to speak to his mate about it more in depth. He glanced at Anzu and thanked her and then at the old Demon, "I'll go get Joey, speaking to Kaiba will be easier with his mate present." He felt bad for Kaiba to go to such extremes of trying to end his life over a simple Exile, however, half that blame was on them for not including him on the plan should something like that occur for them. Yami was currently living up to being the ruler Ella wants.

"Where is Malik?" Bakura's blood ran cold and he froze in place, Ryou staring up at him for a moment before his gaze focused on Marik. Siamun moved forward wrapped an arm around Anzu and led her towards the house, Touzoku remained on the porch watching and listening.

"He's missing," Bakura let out a shaky breath the words came with a hollow pain in his chest. He turned about to face his lover and Ryou gripped his hand tightly. "He's been missing since the attack. I'm searching for him..." Marik's eyes glanced behind him into the darkness before focusing back onto him and that familiar feeling of failing hit him rather had, how he had failed to save Ryou who had died at Ishizu's hand and now Malik. It had already started to eat at him and the amount of effort it took to keep the thoughts at bay of what might be happening to Malik now, scared, alone, in pain. It must have shown as his eyes burned, "I couldn't protect them, my foolishness of-" he was cut off as arms wrapped about him and he was held tightly.

"Malik's strong and smart, we'll find him." Marik pulled Ryou into their embrace as well and after a long few minutes he spoke. "Best go get Joey first." Marik's expression was tight his body tense, Bakura could tell that he was barely holding it together, but how else could he have told him.

The house looked as dishevelled on the inside as it did on the outside. Ryou walked behind his brother as he was led through the house Marik followed him. Touzoku held open a door and warm yellow light danced over him and lit a part of the dark hallway up. "Let's get you checked out, something to eat and cleaned up."

Ryou's mouth watered at the mention of food, he said honestly, "sounds great." As he went to walk by his brother, Touzoku stopped him by gently grabbing onto his elbow and Ryou instantly stopped and had to look upwards to look his brother in the eyes.

"I'm sorry if your time with me had been difficult for you." Touzoku let go of his arm to rub the back of his neck and averted his gaze elsewhere. "I didn't know what else to do to keep you safe until Bakura came for you."

"I'm sorry too," he bit his lip as Touzoku's eyes met his again. "For being a difficult guest." Ryou gave him a soft smile and he was pulled into a brief hug.

While Ryou had cleaned up, dressed in the clothing that was left for him and eaten the bowl of raw meet Touzoku had brought him. Bakura had returned with Joey and by then Anzu had released Seto from her sleeping spell.

Ryou was led into another room where a Healer and Bakura awaited him. His Demon mate pushed off the wall with a strained smile at seeing him. Ryou's eyes flicked to the female Healer and his stomach flew into a flurry of butterflies at having a strange Healer examine him. "Hello Ryou," she approached and he took a step backwards, his arms covering the noticeable swelling and he came up short against Marik's chest, he missed her name. "I help Kaiba and Pegasus in the care of half-breed Fledglings, the Barer and the Sire, healing them if they need it and extended care in the Human Realm."

He'd rather no one touch him at all since he knew what they did to half-breed infants. However, he hadn't done so well being separated from his mates and he might be fine, though it was hard to tell if she was ok. He glanced at Bakura and with Marik here, he felt a little safe. He nodded at her and tried to retreat backwards even more as she approached. Marik wrapped an arm across his shoulders and held him in a hug, also watching her and even Bakura moved in standing closer. "It won't be but a moment," her smile never faulted and she placed her right hand on his chest and closed her eyes.

Her energy wasn't like Seto's it was warm and met with no resistance. She frowned and opened her eyes, glancing up at Marik and then turned her head to Bakura and then back to Ryou. "What's wrong?" Marik asked before Ryou could.

"Nothing, the Fledgling is fine between four and five months," she cupped Ryou's cheek with one hand her smile back in place. "You need proper rest your energy is all over the place due to stress." She pulled away and added. "I'll consult this information with Healer Kaiba."

Marik led them to a room he had been given to stay in once Touzoku had cured him. Ryou felt drained more than tired. The room had a fire burning in the hearth and a double bed and that was it.

"I was thinking about what Kaiba said," Marik closed the door and lent against it. "About the darkness and killing the Realm." Ryou stared at him as did Bakura. "You need to call it back before it's too late and the damage is irreversible."

"How else will we find Malik?" Bakura frowned.

"I'll find him," Marik took in a deep breath. "I'm leaving." Ryou's heart quickened and he stepped forward. "Only until I find him." he added.

"Alone?!" Bakura shook his head. "What if you are attacked, again, who'll have your back?"

"I can't be here while he's out there."

"Do you think it's easy for me?" Bakura ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "You were just healed." Ryou pressed his face into Marik's chest and wrapped his arms tightly about his waist, taking in his sent and couldn't help the tears as the feeling of losing another mate, it was horrible not knowing where Malik is and now Marik too would vanish for who knew how long.

"Ryou," a hand lifted his chin up and he had to lean back just a little as Marik bent down slightly to kiss him and all too soon and short of breath, Marik pulled back, using a thumb to wipe at the tears from his cheek. "I have always liked the name Aki for a girl," Marik gave him a smile and it faded as he look at Bakura, who had his back to them.

Ryou stepped back as Marik opened the door and stepped out into the hallway, "wait!" Bakura rushed by him and stopped him. "I'll do anything, call back the darkness, do a Summoning, give up my book collection to hire Siamun to help us as long as we need to and together we can find Malik… please Marik, I have this feeling that if you leave we'll never see you again." Ryou held his breath as he bit his lip as Marik glanced at him for a moment and then stared at Bakura. "Let's search for Malik together."

"Alright," Marik sighed.

"We are going to need a few things," Bakura kissed Marik for a moment. "C'mon Ryou, we are going to need your help." He wiped at his face and rushed towards his mates.

Sunlight streamed through the cracks of the balcony doors, dust particles danced in the fingers of light. Yami scrunched up his eyes and scrub a hand over his face. He was face down on the bed, naked and slightly confused as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight that he hadn't seen in ages. Yami reached out a hand and moved it in the light, smiling, he had missed the sun's warmth.

His mate literally sprawled out on his back, moaned and muttered something and turned his head away from the light. Yami practically purred as the memories came flooding back, it was little wild and a whole lot dirty and left him with a sense of a connection to his mate that he had never felt before. He truly felt Bonded to Yugi. It gave Yami renewed hope for their future and with it reinforced his reason to see his plans succeed by any means necessary.

Yugi rolled off while muttering incoherently and Yami instantly missed the warmth of his mate. He scrubbed a clawed hand over his face and through his hair and part way over one of his horns. He stretched and stopped, one wing trapped under his mate. He gently pulled his wing out from under Yugi without waking him and rose to his feet and stretched once more properly, groaning in satisfaction when his joints popped.

A little while later he stepped out of the bathroom dressed, he had taken a cold shower and relieved himself hoping it would help ease the wayward thoughts. Honestly, last night had felt as if they had just mated for the first time and it left him wanting more. However, he had to make an appearance and see what Ella is up to and get some breakfast for Yugi and himself.

He was pulling on his boots when Yugi sat up, his hair a mess and rubbing at one eye as he glanced tiredly about the room and when his eyes landed on him a smile broke out on his lips and very swiftly it was gone once he noticed Yami's state of being completely clothed.

"Are you leaving?" Yugi gave him a look of concern that he might have to spend another day in the room, which Yami had no intention of leaving his mate behind again.

"Not yet," Yami briefly explained on what he needed to do before they both set out to awaken his brother. "I can't keep letting Ella sneak around anymore," Yami frowned, he wasn't sure if he even could wake Atem, without the help from a creature of the Hollow. Pegasus would know of someone that could help them out.

"Oh," Yugi looked disappointed and saddened. "I was kinda hoping to have another shot of last night. You know since it was only so-so."

"Really?" Yami raised an eyebrow a slight growl to his voice.

"Yeah, my mind is a foggy blur, can't remember a darn thing." Yugi couldn't help the grin despite his efforts of trying to keep it serious. "Thought you could jog my memory since it's so poor." Yami was upon him, his hands found flesh instantly, Yugi yelped in delight and wriggled trying to escape the fingers that accidentally tickled him. He pressed his lips to Yugi's and without parting from the kiss, Yami struggled to get his shirt off as Yugi's hands fumbled at his pants button and fly.

Yugi made a frustrated sound as he managed to get Yami's pants down low enough to grab at one cheek of his rear-end and pulled forcing Yami to grind up against him and finding that both of them were hard and neither could hold in the moans that escaped them. Yami was pleased to notice since last night, Yugi didn't shy away or hesitate in touching him like he had done in the past, and he hadn't once concealed his true form.

"Human?!" the familiar voice sounded at the same time as the knock, Yami placed a finger against Yugi's lips and the raging inner-fires were instantly doused at the sound of her voice. Yami rose up onto his knees. Yugi still sprawled out naked under him, his face still flushed and instead of seeing a look of concern, it was one of annoyance.

Yami slid from the bed and helped his mate up and indicating for him to dress as he did so himself. She wasn't alone, he slipped his boots on. "Lord Yami has been horribly injured, I need you to come with me." He held in his growl which stopped as he felt the pressure of gathering energy. "Human, he's asking for you. He may die!" Ella had brought a Witch with her, though not Ishizu and a few guards, he couldn't tell.

He held in his growl and the anger that rose up inside, as he saw this as a threat against his mate. He knew Yugi wouldn't be safe here, though he never knew that Ella would come after Yugi like this. All kinds of dark thoughts filled his mind on what Ella would do to his mate once he stepped outside of the protective barrier. "Human, do you honestly not care at all what happens to your Lord and mate?"

The heavy wooden door started to bow inwards and creak, the barrier was also starting to give way. He couldn't do battle here and risk Yugi being hurt in the cross fire. He moved towards the balcony doors and opened only one. He held his hand out for Yugi, who swiftly took it.

The sky once again a bright blue with white clouds here and there and everything covered in snow. Yugi didn't have to be told as he wrapped his arms about Yami's neck. Yami's large black wings flexed and he bent his knees slightly and shot off into the sky just as the door inside the room shattered and Ella's voice yelling to search for the Human.

TBC

Updating again soon R&R