Sleeping Dreams
Freedom
I have less then an hour to get Ryou and myself out of here before he's gone for good. Unfortunately I hadn't paid much attention to my surroundings. If I had I would have noticed that the black ink that tied Ryou to this place was not just a decoration. In one foul movement the ink came out behind me and grabbed at my leg. It pulled me so I soon found myself hanging upside down. Surprised and a bit annoyed I used my other leg to kick the oozing black substance; however it bobbed out of the way. Glaring at it, I realized this was the same thing that had taken Ryou through the floor. Angry and annoyed at it and being upside down I grabbed the Ring and using the sharp arrows as blades I swung it at the inky thing that was currently holding my leg. I fell to the floor as it released me unwillingly.
I barely had time to move out of the way as black ooze turned to blades that were aimed straight for me. Glancing back at Ryou I knew I didn't have time for this. That moment's distraction almost cost me a leg and an arm, literally. But luckily I saw it and managed to dodge. The black blade bounced back off the ground and twisted so it was heading back at me, surprised, my efforts were almost in vain. Luckily, I only lost a few hairs from my head. Knowing that simply dodging it would get me nowhere I had to figure out a way to stop it.
But how, HOW! The Ring bounced about my neck as I evaded from one attack to another. I felt like a bloody idiot who was trying to dance for the first time! Giving into frustration I simply acted on instinct. Darting closer to Ryou I made sure the blades wouldn't miss me and cut through him. Holding out the Ring's arrows I used them to cut quickly at the black stuff on Ryou's left foot.
Apparently I hurt it because the next thing I knew there were TWO dark inky things chasing after me! Okay, so that wasn't the best plan, but at least I had freed a foot… I now had NO time to worry about Ryou, though I keenly felt his strength leaving him.
I dodged left; to find another blade there, so I dodged right, only to jump back as the other blade was already bouncing back to me. I couldn't keep this up for long! I had to think of something; time was running out for the both of us!
Knowing I would loose half my remaining strength I did the only thing I could. I gripped the Ring making it glow brightly. The Blades stopped, as if it knew what was about to happen. I smiled. A huge energy seemed to surround me, then it expanded, it spread out from me and emerged as a huge surrounding white force. It rolled over Ryou with no harm done but the Black sludge that had gripped him dematerialized till there was nothing left. Ryou fell to the floor.
The two sledges that were attacking me had successfully evaded my assault but the others had not. As soon as the energy had cleared the area I fell to the floor exhausted. That was twice now that I had to use my power in this place, and the effects were really taking its toll on me. I waited a couple of minutes before I got up, I had to. After I thought I could stand sturdily I forced my body up. I walked over to where Ryou was only to find he was struggling to breath. Bending down I put my ear to his chest. Good, his heartbeat was still strong, good.
I traced my hand along his face. He was so cold and so pale. Quickly I picked him up. Holding him close to my chest I muttered. "Don't worry Ryou, we'll make it. Everything will be okay." I couldn't be sure but I think I heard a slight 'sigh' escape from his lips. I held him nearer.
With Ryou pulled close I started my search for an exit. There had to be a way out. Every second we spent in this place was killing him. All of a sudden the room I was walking in wasn't there anymore; instead I was in a green tinted and toned area. I looked about wildly for Alef, but didn't see him. "Alef! Alef, show yourself!" Still I found no answer. Narrowing my eyes I looked about frantically. I had already wasted half of the remaining hour freeing Ryou, I couldn't waste the other.
I had by far had enough of these games! I'd gotten what I came for and that's all I wanted. If I can get in on my own then I'll just have to get out on my own too. I was about to tempt our leaving when Alef had tapped me on the shoulder. Startled I turned around, Alef just smiled back. Giving him a well deserved glare I asked what on earth he could possibly want now.
Shaking his head sadly Alef spoke, "I can't let you leave, Bakura. You know I need a hikarii to become a physical form in the modern world." Alef spoke with a cheerless certainty.
Hugging the next to lifeless form closer to my chest I responded. "And you know I'll never give him up. I also need him to survive." My voice was equally serious. "Alef, I know we have unfinished business, but I won the duel. Let me pass. I have freed him but he's still dying."
Alef shook his head. "I cannot allow you to do so. But you're right. You did win our duel. Very well. So I haven't lied about the conditions of the win I will give you a small chance to escape with the hikarii." He paused. "Bakura." A Dark Green door appeared at the other end of the room. "Reach that door with the hikarii to leave this place." His voice abruptly stopped being serious and became more of the taunting voice that he had addressed Bakura with previously. "But I doubt you'll make it out alive!" With that he disappeared through the floor.
I had suspected he would do something like this. But the exit was now in my sights. I looked over my shoulders and was relieved when I saw only the green. I ran across the room. The sooner we left this place the better. Ryou shuddered in my arms. He hadn't moved at all through all the time I had been carrying him. Taking it as a warning I looked around. One of the dark ink things was coming towards me. Racing now, as if I could out run it I looked around furiously for the other one.
I found it; apparently it had laid flat on the floor until I happened to run over it. As soon as my foot put pressure on it, it grabbed me, causing me to fall. Ryou's body rolled away from me. 'No.' Slicing the sludge with the Ring I freed my foot and ran towards Ryou, picking him up in my run as I raced for the door. I was so close, SO close!
I had to side step a bit as the razor-sharp blades of the sludge kept grabbing at my flesh. I reached the door, this was almost too easy- I pulled the door open and…
I pulled the door open and felt as my spirit re-entered its body. I felt weary. Turning my head I looked over to see Ryou lying on the floor next to me. I sat up and crouched over him. I reached my hand out and felt his forehead. It was cold. Not knowing what to do I picked him up. Ra, was he light; I hadn't noticed that when I was carrying him in his mind.
I carried him over to his room. Placing him on his bed I covered him with blankets. I knew that wouldn't help him really, but I felt so useless. Now that he was freed from Alef's mind I hoped he'd get better. But the strength Alef stole was not coming back. No wonder Alef let me leave with so little fight when he was so close to winning! He is still in there. If he's able to take control again, then will I be able to save Ryou?
Nudging Ryou over I laid down next to him. Like Ryou, I had lost a lot of energy during that escapade. But he was in desperate need. And his body was still so cold. Hoping that my body heat would help I snuggled up close to him. Placing my arms around him protectively I tapped into our shared link. Although our souls were still not completely whole they were pretty close. While Alef's still in there I know he'll continue to interfere. I can't imagine going through the pain of my soul being ripped in half again. It would just be too much.
Sighing, I started to share what I could of myself to Ryou. I swear I saw his finger twitch. We laid there, him and me, till I fell asleep with Ryou in my arms. My soul was exhausted from all I had asked it to do while in Ryou's mind, let alone what I was doing with it to Ryou. I finally closed my eyes. I slept with not a single dream, snuggled close to my hikari.
(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O)(O) Draggy2