"Take it easy, Atemu," Akefia cautioned the ancient Pharaoh. "You haven't used your body in nearly a millennia."
Atemu just shook his head, "Do not worry about me. How is Yugi's body?"
"He is weak," Shadi stated. "I fear that he may not last long. Right now the only thing keeping him 'alive' is my magic, but I can only use so much before I am too week to help anyone else."
Atemu nodded, "Place the Puzzle around his neck and lay him on the bed. I will use the Puzzle to sustain him for now. My ancient magic and the Gods' blessings will be more than enough."
Atem nodded and carefully hung the Millennium Puzzle around his twin's neck. He lifted the frail Hikari from the ground and carried him to the bed that Atemu had abandoned. After laying him down, Atem looked at Atemu, "Before we do anything else, I must ask one thing. Is it true that if Raiden were to die in any way, all that were Turned by him would perish along side him?"
"No, that little 'story' was created to prevent the victim from trying to kill the one who Turned them and to force loyalty to the same," he replied. "It was meant to turn the victims into 'willing' shields should a Hunter try to kill their master. Should we manage to put Raiden Takeshi out of our misery, your brothers, as well as ourselves, would be safe."
While they were talking, the bed that Yugi was on lit up with a bright light. Flames appeared along the outside and arched over the still form, creating a protective barrier around it. Atem jumped back in shock and immediately looked for something to put the fire out. Atemu knew that Ra himself was watching over the small Hikari Vampire, "Do not be afraid, Atem. Ra has given his blessing and will protect Yugi until we can revive him. The protective barrier will also help to keep his body 'alive' until we succeed or they deem that he is beyond saving."
Atem relaxed, "Then let's go save my brother."
After they left the secret room, Akefia locked the entrance. Atemu looked at them, "I am going to go and inform the Council of the Supernatural of Raiden's activities. With the information you provided, Young Ones, they are sure to come."
"You might want to mention to the Faerie Queen about the Faerie child mentioned in the journal was likely of her own family. That might get her attention," Akefia mentioned. "But hold off on telling them of our own position in the matter as I want to see what their reactions are when they see that a bound 'promise' was broken."
Atemu nodded, "I will avoid telling them of the three Hikaris as I do not want to make them known just yet."
Ryou approached Akefia after Atemu slipped out, "Um, q-q-question."
"What," Akefia snapped. Ryou cringed. He sighed and tried again, "What is it?"
"Since my brother and I are descended from you, what would you prefer we call you," Ryou asked.
Akefia looked at him and placed his hand on the young vampire's shoulder, "You may call me Grandfather, Young One. At least for now."
Mariku had over heard this and ran over to his copies, "I's gots family toos." He hugged Malik tightly.
"I'm glad we got to meet you too, uh," Malik gasped out as his bother joined the hug.
Mariku grinned, "Me's Gramps too."
Bakura and Akefia each smacked the pair that was trying to squeeze the poor Hikari. Bakura had hit Marik on the side of his head while Akefia did the same to Mariku. "Thanks," Malik gasped out. "I can barely stand when Marik hugs me too much, but Mariku, I mean 'Gramps', hugs me I can't breathe."
Atemu had located the Supernatural Council's Keep and rang the large bell. The door opened and a small child appeared, "Name, Affiliation, and Business please."
"I am Atemu, a vampire in need to see the Council as I have pertinent information and am in need of their help."
The child stepped aside, "Please wait here until you are called."
Atemu watched as the child vanished in a mist. Obviously, the child was a Water Sprite. He sat in one of the chairs to wait. Shortly after, the Sprite returned, "The council states that they are unable to give audience today. They ask that you come back another day."
"I must tell them that I have discovered what happened to a Faerie child almost 500 years ago," Atemu stated, knowing that if the Council denied this all hope was lost.
The Sprite vanished again and within a few minutes returned, "The Council will see you now."
Atemu followed the Sprite to the meeting room where the Council had assembled. The Council was made up of representatives for the Supernatural world, the civil parts anyways. There was the Queen of Faeries, an Elf Lord, a Mage, and an Elemental Sprite just to name a few. There was one seat left empty, the Vampire representative.
The Faerie Queen stood, "Vampire, you say that you have information on the disappearance of a Faerie child nearly 500 years ago. Explain."
"I was given a copy of a Hunter's Journal by an associate and was informed of its contents," Atemu stated. He held out the copy of the entry and a Wood Sprite took them to the Queen.
She looked them over and paled, "This was my cousin that vanished. Who is this Raiden Takeshi?"
"He is the Vampire Lord, milady. He is the reason I am here," Atemu replied. "This needed to be brought to light and he needed to be dealt with."
The Elf Lord looked at Atemu, "I have heard of another one named Atemu, though it was long ago. Tell me; are you of the Pharaoh Atemu's line?"
"I cannot be as I am the same one you speak of," Atemu stated. "I was Turned 3000 years ago by Raiden Takeshi."
"Then why turn against your creator," the Mage questioned him.
Atemu stood taller, "Because I cannot, nor will not, stand for his ways. Many innocent lives were destroyed because of him. Families were torn apart. I need your help, please."
The Elemental Sprite looked at the rest of the Council, "This single Vampire could have killed the Vampire Lord, but instead has come to us for help. I believe that we should aid him as there may be more to this story than he can say. What say you, the rest of the Council?"
They all agreed that intervention was needed. Atemu bowed, "I thank you for your help, Honorable Ones."
The Elf Lord walked over to him, "I would like to offer you the remaining seat on the Council. Will you accept?"
"I am sorry, but I cannot. I am too close to the matter at hand and would allow personal feelings to cloud my judgment."
The Elf lord smiled, "Then the stories are true, you do not allow a seat of power priority over others. I commend you."
The Council had picked certain representatives to accompany Atemu back.
Raiden was returning to his rooms after searching the tunnels for the group when his best Trackers were led into the room before the Hunters. Two smaller forms, wearing hooded cloaks that were a bit too big for them, followed the Hunters into the room.
"What is the meaning of this," Raiden demanded as his Trackers walked up to him. "You are breaking a half dozen rules at this very moment."
Akefia shook his head, "You, yourself, have violated quite a few more, Raiden Takeshi."
Raiden decided to play the clueless one, "I have done no such thing, Thief."
"Vampire Lord lying. Broke promise, he dids. Yup, yup," Mariku babbled. "Makes fool of self, he does."
"Stuff it with the incessant babbling before you join Atemu, Tomb keeper," Raiden snapped. "I have not gone back on my word."
Akefia grinned evilly, "Then how do you explain these two? Boys, come here now." Ryou and Malik followed his request. "Would you kindly tell all here what you have been subject to?"
As he said this, a number of the Council had walked into the room, followed by Atemu. Both teens removed their hoods and silence filled the room. The Council was looking from the boys to the ancient vampires to their copies in the Hunter's group. Their relationship to each other was evident. Malik began, "When Ryou, Yugi, and I were just barely sixteen, Ryou had vanished. Our families looked everywhere for him. Two weeks later, Yugi disappeared. I discovered their fates firsthand just two days after Yugi's disappearance when I was taken from my room."
*****Flashback*****
Malik had a hard time sleeping, knowing that his best friends and honorary brothers had been taken from their rooms the night they vanished. He was looking through a scrapbook that Ishizu had made for him. It was a Christmas gift just the year before. In fact, she had given each of the three friends an identical scrapbook.
Malik had left the window open a crack to let the cool summer night breeze into his bedroom as the air conditioner was busted. He heard a noise behind him and watched in terror at the mirror on his door as a pair of hands pushed the window up. A figure dressed in all black climbed into the room.
"I was knocked out and given to the Vampire Lord and the group responsible for Turning us," Malik finished.
Akefia looked at Ryou, "And you?"
"I was outside with Kidbit, my puppy, taking out the trash," Ryou began, not really wanting to relive that horrible experience.
*****Flashback*****
Ryou had been asked to take out the trash after dinner to keep Kidbit out of the bin while they slept. He grabbed Kidbit's ball, planning on playing a few rounds of fetch while they were outside. Ryou dumped the trash into the outside bin and tossed Kidbit's ball to the farthest part of their fenced-in yard. It rolled into the bushes and Kidbit chased after it.
Ryou heard a small yelp and he ran to see if his furry friend was ok. Before he could reach the puppy, he was grabbed by a person in all black and carried away from his home and friends.
He was brought before a man wearing a black velvet robe over a deep red shirt and black dress pants. "Ah, you're perfect enough to be my heir, little boy," the man stated.
Ryou stuttered, "B-b-but I already have a father, and I don't want to be an heir to a total stranger." He felt a sharp pain in his neck and blackness claimed him.
"When I woke later, I knew that there was something wrong about me. Two weeks later he had Yugi taken and from what Yugi told me, he had gone through the same thing," Ryou cried. "The only difference was that Yugi was kidnapped on a stormy morning from his grandfather's game store!"
A Council member looked at the sobbing Vampire, "Where is this 'Yugi' now?"