Disclaimer: I definately do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! I only own me and my other characters.
If you like this chapter please review and I may post the next one.
Thanks!!!
RUNNING
Running. Running. He couldn't stop. Not now. Not after all he'd been through. He hurtled across the field and stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He crouched behind a large boulder, squinting through the pouring rain. When he saw them again, 'they' had formed a tight line so that nothing could break through.
Ryou brushed sopping wet hair out of his eyes. "Damn." he growled. He looked over his shoulder into the dark forest looming up behind him. It was his best chance. He made a dash for it, praying silently that 'they' wouldn't see him.
But 'they' did. Just as he reached the first few trees he heard a shout behind him and feet breaking into a quick jog. He increased his pace, holding the stitch in his side. Deeper and deeper he ran, until he couldn't see the dim gray light of the sun. He huddled next to a rough outcropping of rock, clutching at himself for warmth. He shuffled backwards until he was deep into a crevasse in the stone face. He glanced around. There seemed to be a pitch black spot in the shadowed rock. He edged towards it, painfully aware that his heart was beating like a drum roll.
After five minutes of careful creeping, he reached it. It seemed to be a cave, though how deep it was, Ryou couldn't tell. Glancing back towards where the lights were shining through the rain, he made up his mind. Anything was better than going back there. Anything. Maybe even death. He stumbled into the welcome darkness of the cave. The jagged stones littering the floor cut at his feet, biting into the bare flesh, but he kept going. Can't stop. Can't.
He didn't know how long he walked for. If could have been years. It certainly felt that way. He finally used up the last of his energy and slumped onto the cave's rough floor, crying softly. He looked around, hoping that his eyes would become accustomed, but they didn't. Finally he just closed them and rested.
He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew he was being lifted by large, rough hands. He tried to protest, to break free, to run, run for all he was still worth, but he couldn't. Couldn't. The thing carrying him walked on. It steadily plodded along the - pathway? Ryou couldn't tell. And didn't really care.
As the thing walked, it gave Ryou time to think about what was happening to him. Just a month ago, he had been a happy, contented student at a good high school. But that had all changed. All changed when he had been sent off to live with relatives over the summer. At first it had been all right. His aunt and uncle seemed pleasant enough. But then he had met the maid. He shuddered at the thought of her. Ratri. That evil look on her face when ever she saw him. That look that promised something bad. He didn't know why she hated him so, but he had started locking his doors and windows at night. His aunt doted on her and Ratri always wore a little simpering smile when ever she was near his aunt. His uncle didn't seem to notice her and she ignored him. For a while Ryou had thought that locking the door and windows would be enough. But he had been set straight. One night, after a social party of his aunt's, he had come upstairs to his room, tired and yawning. So tired that he hadn't noticed one of the wall panels sliding back into place. He had put his night clothes on, and gotten into bed. He lay
for a while in bed, just thinking, and talking to himself a tiny bit. He reached for the glass of water that was always next to his bed. He grasped it and pulled it towards him. He had it almost to his lips when he noticed it smelled funny. He turned on his bedside lamp. The 'water' was tinted a sickening purple and was slightly fizzy at the top. He decided he didn't
want a drink just then. The next morning he had looked for the glass, but it had disappeared. If there hadn't been a ring of blackened wood on the table, he would have passed it off as a dream. Down at breakfast, Ratri asked him if he would like a 'mushroom' omelette. He politely declined her offer. For about a week after, things seemed almost normal. Then all hell had
been set loose.
The thing carrying him stumbled slightly but regained their footing.
Ryou went back to his remembering. He hadn't been able to sleep, so he was reading in bed. It was about midnight and he was paranoid. He had thought he heard a grating of wood on wood. He pulled out the iron rod that now slept under his mattress. Nothing. He had put the rod down and went back to reading. Then he thought he heard footsteps. He picked up the rod again. They stopped. Now he was really paranoid. He kept the rod propped up against his shoulder and tried to read. He couldn't. He had the feeling something really bad was about to happen. Actually, happening because just as he began to lift the rod in answer to a creaking outside his doorway, the wall panel behind his bed slid sideways and a heavy club came out and hit Ryou over the head.'They' had covered up his disappearance very well. They packed all of his belongings and took them to his home, leaving a note for his aunt and uncle saying that he appreciated them having him to stay but he didn't wish to intrude on their hospitality any longer. They had also made his bed and left a half full glass of water on the night stand.
The thing carrying him set him down. Ryou hugged his broken arm to himself, wondering what would happen next. Had 'They' gotten him? Or had he been saved? He could hear the thing's crunching footsteps going farther and farther away. Then stopping. They walking again.
He nursed his arm and made sure that his feet were still in good, solid shape. 'They' had done this. And all for the Millennium Ring. Damn the stupid thing! It wasn't that he really cared about it, it was just he didn't know what they would do with it. 'They' had kept him chained up for a week, coming in and taunting him. Sometimes beating him. Finally, when 'they' were sure he couldn't run away, 'they' unchained him. He had played I-am-so-weak-I-cannot-stand for long enough 'they' began to believe him. One thankfully thick person had left the door unlocked. He, with his gathered strength, had made a run for it. And here he was. Away from 'them' and in a dark cave with a giant thing and a broken arm for company. Life couldn't have been more lovely.
He heard the giant footsteps coming back and with them some softer ones and a light. Ryou shielded his eyes from the piercing brightness. Something dropped down beside him. "Can you stand?" It was a deep, female voice. The burning brightness dimmed a bit and he hesitantly opened his eyes. He looked up into a set of worried eyes, yellow/green slitted ones. Two locks of gray, white, and black hair framed a square-jawed face. The rest was pulled back in a tight braid hanging down her back. He opened his eyes a bit more. Sitting next to him was a leanly built young woman. He just stared at her.
Finally he manages to come to to say something. "Uh, who are you?" He looked at her doubtfully. She seemed too thin by half and didn't look like she could help him at all. She chuckled. "You may call me Maude." She whistled and a gigantic black male wolf stalked out of the corner. "Othai, support his other side." Maude lifted him so that she had her arm around his shoulder, so that he could cradle his broken arm. He leaned on Othai hesitantly with his other arm. Maude began to lead him towards a large blue stone circle. She let go of him for a moment once they were in the center and took out a piece of black chalk. She drew a perfect circle around all of them. She pocketed the chalk and began to chant in a eerie voice. The circle began to sink lower than the rest of the floor until they were completely underneath. Ryou stared in awe and did his best not to distract Maude
Maude helped him off the circle and it began to rise. Maude muttered an arcane word and the torches around them burst into soft light. Ryou shut his eyes tightly. Then, when the light didn't burn, opened them. He stared wide-eyed at his surroundings. They were in a crystal tunnel with hieroglyph decorations all over the sides. Maude and Othai began to take
him down the tunnel and he kept missing his footing because he was staring at the ceiling. Maude finally had to promise to bring him back here once he was well if he would just keep his eyes on where he was stepping.
They finally reached a crystal door. Maude tapped on it three times. "Lilith, we've got a new friend," she shouted through a funny silver mesh hole in the door.
"Oh, blast." A higher female voice began swearing fluently in ancient dragon. "I'm coming." Ryou heard running footsteps and then the door swung open. A tall, fragile looking young woman stared back at him. Her eyes were blue/green and seemed to be constantly shifting. Her wavy black hair was tumbled around a fine boned face. Her ancient green healer's robe
made Ryou feel like singing. Maude's gray peasant clothing hadn't really given him much hope. "Hello. Come in. Maude, why is Othai big again?" Lilith helped to get Ryou into a squishy chair and turned to Maude "We just got him back to his normal size!"
"Normal size? Othai has a normal size?" Maude looked amazed. She whistled and a normal sized black male wolf stuck his head through the doorway. Maude shrugged. "I dunno, he looks pretty normal to me."
Lilith looked like a fish out of water, Ryou noticed with amusement. "Oh, hang him!! He goes to any length to make me wrong!!!" Lilith stormed out of the room. If wolves can laugh, Othai was.
Maude started to scold Othai, then remembered Ryou. "Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to ignore you. Come right this way." She led him down the hallway that Lilith had used. "Don't mind Lith. She has the temper of a dragon, but she'd never hurt anyone." Maude pulled him into a side room.
Ryou found himself in what looked like a bedroom. Two cots sat in opposite corners, one occupied by Lilith. She looked up as they entered. "Yes. You need healing, don't you." More of a statement then a question.
"Um, yeah," Ryou managed to get out.
"Come here then. I'll need to put you to sleep. It'll make it easier." Lilith began reaching for his forehead.
Ryou thought quickly. Do I really trust these people? Yes. He did. Why, he didn't know.
Lilith's hand touched his forehead and he knew no more.
When he next woke up, his arm was fully healed and his head didn't hurt. He felt for some of the other bruises. They were gone. He sat up and looked around. He was in the same room, on a cot close to Lilith. Lilith seemed to know he was awake, for she sat up too. "Awake, are we?" She looked at him inquiringly. "You've slept for seven weeks. It's never
taken that long before. I thought you were dead for a bit. But I guess I should have expected a long sleep. More than your body was hurt."
Ryou thought this over. Seven weeks. He was most likely thought dead by everyone he knew and his aunt and uncle were probably going insane. He looked at Lilith. "What should I do now?"he asked, feeling distinctly like a small child.
Lilith looked at him thoughtfully. "Maude and I have been talking about that. You can either stay here and learn to heal, speak to animals and the earth and so on. Or you can return to the world you know. Here no time ever passes. Maude and I have been eighteen for about one thousand years now. But is passes rapidly where you are from."
Maude sat up. "Wha's happenin'?" she said, groggily.
"He's deciding." That was all Lilith had to say. Maude understood.
Ryou was in inner turmoil. Stay here and learn the secrets of time, or go home to his friends. He knew that Maude and Lilith would understand if he wanted to go. They wouldn't hold him back. But all that knowledge. How could he resist it?
Maude gently interrupted his musings. "We could teach you the basics and then go visit your part of the earth, if you like. It would be nice to see the sun again, wouldn't it, Lith?"
Lilith nodded, a wistful expression on her face. "Sometimes I wonder why I chose this life. But then all I have to do is look at our library and I know why!"
Ryou chuckled and nodded. He got up slowly and Maude and Lilith followed Othai towards the dining hall.
If you like this chapter please review and I may post the next one.
Thanks!!!
RUNNING
Running. Running. He couldn't stop. Not now. Not after all he'd been through. He hurtled across the field and stopped for a moment to catch his breath. He crouched behind a large boulder, squinting through the pouring rain. When he saw them again, 'they' had formed a tight line so that nothing could break through.
Ryou brushed sopping wet hair out of his eyes. "Damn." he growled. He looked over his shoulder into the dark forest looming up behind him. It was his best chance. He made a dash for it, praying silently that 'they' wouldn't see him.
But 'they' did. Just as he reached the first few trees he heard a shout behind him and feet breaking into a quick jog. He increased his pace, holding the stitch in his side. Deeper and deeper he ran, until he couldn't see the dim gray light of the sun. He huddled next to a rough outcropping of rock, clutching at himself for warmth. He shuffled backwards until he was deep into a crevasse in the stone face. He glanced around. There seemed to be a pitch black spot in the shadowed rock. He edged towards it, painfully aware that his heart was beating like a drum roll.
After five minutes of careful creeping, he reached it. It seemed to be a cave, though how deep it was, Ryou couldn't tell. Glancing back towards where the lights were shining through the rain, he made up his mind. Anything was better than going back there. Anything. Maybe even death. He stumbled into the welcome darkness of the cave. The jagged stones littering the floor cut at his feet, biting into the bare flesh, but he kept going. Can't stop. Can't.
He didn't know how long he walked for. If could have been years. It certainly felt that way. He finally used up the last of his energy and slumped onto the cave's rough floor, crying softly. He looked around, hoping that his eyes would become accustomed, but they didn't. Finally he just closed them and rested.
He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew he was being lifted by large, rough hands. He tried to protest, to break free, to run, run for all he was still worth, but he couldn't. Couldn't. The thing carrying him walked on. It steadily plodded along the - pathway? Ryou couldn't tell. And didn't really care.
As the thing walked, it gave Ryou time to think about what was happening to him. Just a month ago, he had been a happy, contented student at a good high school. But that had all changed. All changed when he had been sent off to live with relatives over the summer. At first it had been all right. His aunt and uncle seemed pleasant enough. But then he had met the maid. He shuddered at the thought of her. Ratri. That evil look on her face when ever she saw him. That look that promised something bad. He didn't know why she hated him so, but he had started locking his doors and windows at night. His aunt doted on her and Ratri always wore a little simpering smile when ever she was near his aunt. His uncle didn't seem to notice her and she ignored him. For a while Ryou had thought that locking the door and windows would be enough. But he had been set straight. One night, after a social party of his aunt's, he had come upstairs to his room, tired and yawning. So tired that he hadn't noticed one of the wall panels sliding back into place. He had put his night clothes on, and gotten into bed. He lay
for a while in bed, just thinking, and talking to himself a tiny bit. He reached for the glass of water that was always next to his bed. He grasped it and pulled it towards him. He had it almost to his lips when he noticed it smelled funny. He turned on his bedside lamp. The 'water' was tinted a sickening purple and was slightly fizzy at the top. He decided he didn't
want a drink just then. The next morning he had looked for the glass, but it had disappeared. If there hadn't been a ring of blackened wood on the table, he would have passed it off as a dream. Down at breakfast, Ratri asked him if he would like a 'mushroom' omelette. He politely declined her offer. For about a week after, things seemed almost normal. Then all hell had
been set loose.
The thing carrying him stumbled slightly but regained their footing.
Ryou went back to his remembering. He hadn't been able to sleep, so he was reading in bed. It was about midnight and he was paranoid. He had thought he heard a grating of wood on wood. He pulled out the iron rod that now slept under his mattress. Nothing. He had put the rod down and went back to reading. Then he thought he heard footsteps. He picked up the rod again. They stopped. Now he was really paranoid. He kept the rod propped up against his shoulder and tried to read. He couldn't. He had the feeling something really bad was about to happen. Actually, happening because just as he began to lift the rod in answer to a creaking outside his doorway, the wall panel behind his bed slid sideways and a heavy club came out and hit Ryou over the head.'They' had covered up his disappearance very well. They packed all of his belongings and took them to his home, leaving a note for his aunt and uncle saying that he appreciated them having him to stay but he didn't wish to intrude on their hospitality any longer. They had also made his bed and left a half full glass of water on the night stand.
The thing carrying him set him down. Ryou hugged his broken arm to himself, wondering what would happen next. Had 'They' gotten him? Or had he been saved? He could hear the thing's crunching footsteps going farther and farther away. Then stopping. They walking again.
He nursed his arm and made sure that his feet were still in good, solid shape. 'They' had done this. And all for the Millennium Ring. Damn the stupid thing! It wasn't that he really cared about it, it was just he didn't know what they would do with it. 'They' had kept him chained up for a week, coming in and taunting him. Sometimes beating him. Finally, when 'they' were sure he couldn't run away, 'they' unchained him. He had played I-am-so-weak-I-cannot-stand for long enough 'they' began to believe him. One thankfully thick person had left the door unlocked. He, with his gathered strength, had made a run for it. And here he was. Away from 'them' and in a dark cave with a giant thing and a broken arm for company. Life couldn't have been more lovely.
He heard the giant footsteps coming back and with them some softer ones and a light. Ryou shielded his eyes from the piercing brightness. Something dropped down beside him. "Can you stand?" It was a deep, female voice. The burning brightness dimmed a bit and he hesitantly opened his eyes. He looked up into a set of worried eyes, yellow/green slitted ones. Two locks of gray, white, and black hair framed a square-jawed face. The rest was pulled back in a tight braid hanging down her back. He opened his eyes a bit more. Sitting next to him was a leanly built young woman. He just stared at her.
Finally he manages to come to to say something. "Uh, who are you?" He looked at her doubtfully. She seemed too thin by half and didn't look like she could help him at all. She chuckled. "You may call me Maude." She whistled and a gigantic black male wolf stalked out of the corner. "Othai, support his other side." Maude lifted him so that she had her arm around his shoulder, so that he could cradle his broken arm. He leaned on Othai hesitantly with his other arm. Maude began to lead him towards a large blue stone circle. She let go of him for a moment once they were in the center and took out a piece of black chalk. She drew a perfect circle around all of them. She pocketed the chalk and began to chant in a eerie voice. The circle began to sink lower than the rest of the floor until they were completely underneath. Ryou stared in awe and did his best not to distract Maude
Maude helped him off the circle and it began to rise. Maude muttered an arcane word and the torches around them burst into soft light. Ryou shut his eyes tightly. Then, when the light didn't burn, opened them. He stared wide-eyed at his surroundings. They were in a crystal tunnel with hieroglyph decorations all over the sides. Maude and Othai began to take
him down the tunnel and he kept missing his footing because he was staring at the ceiling. Maude finally had to promise to bring him back here once he was well if he would just keep his eyes on where he was stepping.
They finally reached a crystal door. Maude tapped on it three times. "Lilith, we've got a new friend," she shouted through a funny silver mesh hole in the door.
"Oh, blast." A higher female voice began swearing fluently in ancient dragon. "I'm coming." Ryou heard running footsteps and then the door swung open. A tall, fragile looking young woman stared back at him. Her eyes were blue/green and seemed to be constantly shifting. Her wavy black hair was tumbled around a fine boned face. Her ancient green healer's robe
made Ryou feel like singing. Maude's gray peasant clothing hadn't really given him much hope. "Hello. Come in. Maude, why is Othai big again?" Lilith helped to get Ryou into a squishy chair and turned to Maude "We just got him back to his normal size!"
"Normal size? Othai has a normal size?" Maude looked amazed. She whistled and a normal sized black male wolf stuck his head through the doorway. Maude shrugged. "I dunno, he looks pretty normal to me."
Lilith looked like a fish out of water, Ryou noticed with amusement. "Oh, hang him!! He goes to any length to make me wrong!!!" Lilith stormed out of the room. If wolves can laugh, Othai was.
Maude started to scold Othai, then remembered Ryou. "Oops. Sorry. Didn't mean to ignore you. Come right this way." She led him down the hallway that Lilith had used. "Don't mind Lith. She has the temper of a dragon, but she'd never hurt anyone." Maude pulled him into a side room.
Ryou found himself in what looked like a bedroom. Two cots sat in opposite corners, one occupied by Lilith. She looked up as they entered. "Yes. You need healing, don't you." More of a statement then a question.
"Um, yeah," Ryou managed to get out.
"Come here then. I'll need to put you to sleep. It'll make it easier." Lilith began reaching for his forehead.
Ryou thought quickly. Do I really trust these people? Yes. He did. Why, he didn't know.
Lilith's hand touched his forehead and he knew no more.
When he next woke up, his arm was fully healed and his head didn't hurt. He felt for some of the other bruises. They were gone. He sat up and looked around. He was in the same room, on a cot close to Lilith. Lilith seemed to know he was awake, for she sat up too. "Awake, are we?" She looked at him inquiringly. "You've slept for seven weeks. It's never
taken that long before. I thought you were dead for a bit. But I guess I should have expected a long sleep. More than your body was hurt."
Ryou thought this over. Seven weeks. He was most likely thought dead by everyone he knew and his aunt and uncle were probably going insane. He looked at Lilith. "What should I do now?"he asked, feeling distinctly like a small child.
Lilith looked at him thoughtfully. "Maude and I have been talking about that. You can either stay here and learn to heal, speak to animals and the earth and so on. Or you can return to the world you know. Here no time ever passes. Maude and I have been eighteen for about one thousand years now. But is passes rapidly where you are from."
Maude sat up. "Wha's happenin'?" she said, groggily.
"He's deciding." That was all Lilith had to say. Maude understood.
Ryou was in inner turmoil. Stay here and learn the secrets of time, or go home to his friends. He knew that Maude and Lilith would understand if he wanted to go. They wouldn't hold him back. But all that knowledge. How could he resist it?
Maude gently interrupted his musings. "We could teach you the basics and then go visit your part of the earth, if you like. It would be nice to see the sun again, wouldn't it, Lith?"
Lilith nodded, a wistful expression on her face. "Sometimes I wonder why I chose this life. But then all I have to do is look at our library and I know why!"
Ryou chuckled and nodded. He got up slowly and Maude and Lilith followed Othai towards the dining hall.