Author's notes: Chapter 24 here. Wow, I didn't realize I've already typed so far for this story. Anyway, at the previous chapter, I asked if anybody wants Ryou to live or die. Well, it seemed that it was on popular demand that he should continue living. Well, so I guess he'll live then. *smiles*
As for Bakura, well, I would say he's in for some emotion turmoil now… Gee, thank you to all reviewers and readers! As always, you all make me smile. So here's chapter 24. As always, I have to apologise for the inefficiency in my updates. I'm always so envious of my friend being able to update quickly while I'm drowned in my homework and tests. To worsen the matter, my grades are dropping a lot too, resulting in all the stress I've been getting recently… Well, I guess I have to work doubly hard for my oncoming exams in October, so I figure that that's the period of time I will completely be MIA… Enough said. Read and enjoy this chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not any of the characters in this story.
It was near dusk when a middle-aged woman walked down the dark streets, thinking of her warm, comfy chair and her soap operas that were waiting for her at home. Shuddering due to the cold breeze, she quickened her pace as she looked cautiously into the dark shadows. Nowadays, there were many cases of robbery in the town. She has to be extra careful not to fall prey to those thugs out there. Seriously, where are all the police when you need them? They the poor civilians have to rely on themselves when it comes to matters like this…
A slight movement caught her eye, and a slow rhythmic breathing was heard behind her, followed by a hiss. Fear shot from within as she felt her whole body tensed up and her eyes bulged slightly. What was that? Are they those notorious thugs that the news had highlighted so often? Clutching her handbag close to her, she looked around, feeling her hair standing on their ends. No, please, God, don't let anything happen to her. Let it be just a stray cat. Just a stray cat…
A glimmer of red appeared right before her, and then before she could utter a word, it disappeared as fast as it had appeared. Was that the trick of the light on the contrary that there weren't any light around…? A foreboding sense of doom seemed to engulf her as her stomach whirled in circles. Her chest was tight and something seemed to have stuck in her throat. 'Come on, scream! Scream!' She willed herself, but not even a croak came out from her.
A hand shot out suddenly and latched itself on the nape of her neck. The hand was cold, very cold and wet with some sticky substance, and it was slowly caressing her skin. She could feel the long fingernails…wait, were they claws? Spinning around, her eyes were mirrored with hell's fire framed by silvery white hair.
"Well hello there, sweet pie," the creature said with a hoarse and raspy voice, grinning menacingly.
Unable to contain her fear any longer, the woman gave a shrill screech as she tried to hit the monster with her handbag but before she could even do a thing, she was pushed harshly to the wall and the last thing she knew was that a gleam of pearly white fangs came into her view and settle on her neck before she felt excruciating pain and fell to the ground.
Life was unfair. All she wanted to do was to go home…
Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, Bakura kicked the already cold corpse away from him. This was his fifth victim by now, but the rage in his blood still hadn't simmered. Spitting out the remains of the blood and flesh he had torn out from the woman's neck, Bakura could still feel that blood lust in him that was not sated. He would really wish to see Atemu's expression when he found these gruesome deaths.
Although not wanting to admit it to himself, Bakura had done all this to spite Atemu, to see how he would react to the nature of vampires. He had drunk his fill tonight, letting himself lose control for once and kill all he liked. Yes, he does not need to depend on that Hunter for his blood. He can get other good blood from others. Yes, he can…
"Didn't you overdo it a little?" a soft voice permeated through the dark.
Turning around, Bakura saw Letha emerging from the dark. Guilt and shame overwhelmed him as he looked at his blood-stained shoes, unable to give a good explanation. He felt as if he had returned to his childhood days, being questioned when he had done something terribly wrong. Letha's tone was not fierce, but it sounded accusing to his ears.
"Answer me. Bakura, didn't you overdo it a little?" Letha repeated firmly, her eyes drilling into Bakura's when he looked up at her.
What should he say? That he did all this to vent his anger? It is way too childish for him to have done such a thing just because the Hunter had demeaned the vampires. He felt a sudden hollowness in him when he thinks about Atemu. What should he say?
"Why are you following me?" was all Bakura could manage, trying to change the topic.
Letha, standing her ground firmly repeated her question once again, closing in the distance between Bakura and her. Bakura couldn't help but took a step back as he willed himself to glare at Letha. Well, she had no right to question her Lord like this, Bakura reasoned with himself.
"Bakura, I know how you are feeling right now, but—"
"Don't speak anymore! You don't understand how I felt!" Bakura snapped, eyes shining with anger and frustration. "You don't understand how I felt when he said that! You just don't—"
He felt Letha's arms wrapped around him, enveloping him in a tight embrace as his insides seemed to shatter. He felt his chest constricting, and something seemed to have surge up from deep within. He felt two wet tracks on his cheeks. What was wrong with him? Why was it so painful, especially his heart? It hurts more than a slash by a stake.
"Just cry it out, child. Just cry it out," Letha whispered softly, and Bakura could hear that she was crying too. Her tears dripped softly into his hair as he heaved silently. "It's just me here. Don't be afraid. Just let it all out."
Feeling the tears spilling out, Bakura could not remember when the last time he had cry so hard was. Atemu's words had torn him, hurt him a lot. He had told himself not to remember them, but it was difficult. He could hear them replaying over and over again in his head, and he could see the cold and hard crimson orbs of Atemu when he said it.
"Why are you crying?" Bakura moaned softly, allowing Letha's fingers caress him. He missed his mother. His mother used to do this.
"I understand that pain, dear. I'm crying for you, with you." Letha replied simply and quietly.
Looking at the corpse down his feet, Bakura realized he was doing all this was just to prove to himself that he does not need Atemu. He does not need him for anything.
But he knew he was wrong, because an aching part in him tells him that his victims did not have blood as nice as Atemu's, and they did not have Atemu's warmth, and most importantly, they did not have Atemu's love.
"He knew. He knew!" Yuugi cried frantically to Ryou as he saw the pale haired boy stirring on the ground.
Ryou, who had just woken up from his sleep peered at Yuugi, unable to see clearly as Yuugi was holding the torchlight close to his eyes. Pushing the torch away from his eyes, he sat up and looked around. It was already dark. What was Yuugi doing here?
"Yes, what's the matter, Yuugi?" he asked, confused why Yuugi had looked so hysterical and his actions were a bit too dramatic.
"My brother knew that I'm seeing a vampire. He knew, Ryou! He might just barge in any moment now. We have to go. As far as we can!" Yuugi said, tugging at Ryou's shirt, trying to get him to stand up. He felt so frightened. It was worse than allowing Ryou drink his blood. This fear deep inside him seemed to have transformed itself into a huge rock, settling itself on his stomach, making him feel sick and uneasy.
"How do you know he'll find me? Did he follow you here?" Ryou jumped up immediately, alert and his body poised for any ambush.
"He didn't follow me here, but knowing him, I'm sure he'll find us soon," Yuugi replied, frustration lacing every word. God, would his brother find them here now? He's afraid, but for Ryou, he's willing to sacrifice himself, even if that meant he must fight against his brother.
A creak sounded and both Yuugi and Ryou jumped, holding each other.
"What was that?" Yuugi asked as he gripped Ryou's hand as he switched off the torchlight.
"Shh…." Ryou shushed as he placed a finger on Yuugi's lips. He could not hear anything even with his supernatural hearing. Was it their imagination? Or was it just the old factory itself?
"I got a bad feeling…" Yuugi whispered as beads of perspiration rolled down his forehead. The daunting feeling in his stomach was even more prominent, and he could feel his intestines knotting together.
The duo walked stealthily to the door and Ryou placed his ear on it to listen for any sound. He couldn't hear anything. Silence….thud!
Retreating from the door, Ryou pulled Yuugi behind him as he braced himself. He heard a hand on the knob. Who was it? A human? The Hunter? No matter what, his priority was to not let any harm come to Yuugi. The knob turned slowly and Ryou allowed his fangs and claws extend fully. Friend or foe, he's not going to let anybody hurt Yuugi. Even if it's Atemu, his old friend, he will have to get rid of him. The door opened slowly, too slowly, as if in some movie that was in slow motion mode, and the soft creaking sound from the door seemed to have intensified a thousand times more even for Yuugi who did not have the supernatural senses as Ryou had.
A foot stepped in, as both Yuugi and Ryou held their breaths. Who was that? That was their school uniform… Another foot, the torso, the pale arms, the pale hai—
"Bakura?" Yuugi cried, not able to believe his eyes. Why of all people was it Bakura? Why didn't he seem shocked to find him here anyway? Had he know? Did Atemu found out and told Bakura?
"Well, such a happy reunion," Bakura said flatly as he entered the room, eyes trailing Ryou and Yuugi as he walked towards a table and sat on it.
"How did you kno—Ryou?"
"He won't give us out, Yuugi," Ryou said reassuringly as he patted Yuugi, trying to calm him down.
"But he was with my brother! He's the one who told my brother to spy on me! He'll—"
"Excuse me, I wasn't the one." came Bakura's curt reply as he shot a glare at Yuugi who shut up immediately.
Yuugi, switching on the torchlight and shining it on Bakura, could see that Bakura's eyes were very red. Red, as if he had just cried.
"Did you…uh… quarrelled with my bro—"
"Don't mention him!" Bakura hissed and before Yuugi knew it, he felt the torchlight slipped from his hand and was in Bakura's hands instead. "And, it's not very polite shining this thing onto people's face, just so you might want to know." With a swift movement, the torchlight was smashed on the ground.
"You…how did you…" Yuugi stammered as he looked from Ryou to Bakura. How did Bakura reach him from such a far distance in just a blink of an eye? How did he do that? Confusion started clouding in his head as he tried to piece the newly found information in his head.
"Yuugi, Bakura will not tell your brother about me," Ryou said as he crossed over to Bakura's side.
"Why? How? What's happening?"
"Just so you might want to know, I was the one who turned your dearest Ryou. Do you want to have a try?"
Author's notes: So sorry it has to end here. I'm sorry for those one-liners and this chapter is really short compared to the previous ones… But I'll update soon again, so stay tune. *smiles*