Hey everyone, I've managed to make another chapter. This one deals solely with YuGiOh. I believe the next chapter will as well. I'll see how I write. Anyway, since I know that at least one person is reading and continuing to read and enjoy, I feel much better about putting up the next chapter.
Normal disclaimer, I own no one mentioned from the shows.
And as always, ENJOY %__%
"What do you mean Mai? What kind of sick joke is Kaiba playing now?" Yami tightened his grip on Yugi protectively but otherwise did not move.
"No, you don't understand. Kaiba didn't put me up to this. I I just can't stand by and watch him beat and degrade you and Yugi anymore. I found a way out, I haven't had the courage to try yet, but if we can get there than we will be guaranteed a way out." Mai pleaded, her blonde hair swaying with her movements.
"Why the sudden change in heart Mai, you've made no move to help in anyway before this."
"I know, and I'm sorry, but can't you see what Kaiba is doing? He doesn't care if Yugi dies, he's easy enough to bring back: it's you and the puzzle that he can't afford to lose. What if he does kill Yugi, what would you do to have him brought back, and what would Kaiba demand of you?" Yami's eyes widened at that, he didn't like to admit it, but Mai had a very good point. Despite what coming back would mean, Yami knew he could not live without Yugi, and would do anything to prevent that from happening.
"So when do you plan on breaking us out?"
"Now, before I lose what little nerve I have, just hold still while I get those manacles off." Reaching into a fold in her sleeve she removed a slender piece of metal, which she expertly worked into the locks around Yugi. When he was free she removed those from around Yami's ankles. She paused however when she reached for his wrists. Standing abruptly Yami spoke without looking at her.
"Don't even bother with those. Only Kaiba can remove them, we must hope that he does not come out and find us." He looked at her then, waiting patiently for her to lead the way, while clutching Yugi to him. She looked torn for a moment before speaking up.
"If he does come by, it would probably be best if I carried Yugi." She almost backed up a step at the sudden glare she received from Yami but continued on nonetheless.
"After all, if he does manage to find us and prevent you from escaping, I could at least get Yugi out of here. Maybe once we are out we could come up with a way to return for you." Yami's eyes softened and he wordlessly allowed Yugi to be transferred from his arms to Mai's. Once the youth was resettled Mai headed towards the door, knowing without checking that Yami was close at her heels.
It appeared that they were simply wandering without direction to Yami, every corridor looking like the last, but Mai strode on with confidence, her steps never faltering. After what seemed an eternity he heard Mai sigh in what could only be relief, so they were close. But, apparently, not close enough. Yami sensed the others before he heard them, turning slightly he saw a few of Kaiba's most trusted guards, as well as Kaiba himself. Turning back to Mai he knew that silence was no longer needed.
"Run, they found us. RUN!" He yelled at Mai, giving her a push in order to ensure that she was running before following suit.
Mai had nearly reached the corner, and then her destination when some unseen but undeniable force caused her to look back. She was dismayed when she saw Yami struggling to move forward, his legs pushing against the floor or simply swinging in the air, as his arms seemed glued in space. Determined she took one small step back….
Yami saw Mai stop and was horrified when she turned back towards him. Kaiba had a hold on his wrist manacles; he was struggling purely out of reflex. When she began to take a step back he fought back the panic.
/No, you promised you would get him out!/
"Forget me, just get Yugi out like you promised. We knew this might happen. Please, Just GO!!" It seemed an eternity before she turned and sprinted around the corner.
Mai reached her destination and quickly pulled open the secret hatch, holding Yugi tightly with one arm she jumped inside and slammed the hatch shut behind her, locking it out of instinct. She took only a moment to adjust to the sudden pitch black surrounding her before sprinting off in a direction she knew by heart.
/I'm sorry Yami, I'm sorry./ Sobbing slightly she clung to Yugi and ran for all that she was worth.
The guards stormed past Yami, who now stood silent, arms still pinned at his sides. He furrowed his brow in concern when the guards turned the corner and did not immediately return empty handed. Sighing in relief when a few returned in order to go down the other set of corridors Yami felt safe in knowing that whatever Mai had been planning had worked.
He felt, more than heard, Kaiba come up and stand behind him.
"I hope you don't harbor any illusions or beliefs that those two actually have managed to escape me. You should know by now that no one can succeed in that endeavor." Kaiba's voice was ominously calm and collected, but Yami was not fazed.
"Of course I do Kaiba, the very fact that you have to mention it ensures me that they have escaped." Yami was rewarded for his confident tone by a low growl and a smack on the back of his head. Kaiba moved a few steps in order to stand beside Yami and deftly caught his chin, forcing Yami to look up and into his eyes. Kaiba's cold, yet aggravated cobalt blue, met Yami's defiant and determined crimson.
"You are lucky I don't feel like snuffing out what little confidence you may have just gained tonight right away, but I'll deal with it first thing in the morning. In the meantime, you will remain with me. I have plenty of room for you. There is a perfect spot right at the end of my bed, I'm sure you will be very comfortable there." Suppressing a shudder, Yami glared at Kaiba when he finally let go of his face. Yami waited until he felt the power on the manacles cease before crossing his arms and spinning on his heals, in order to march back the way he had come.
Crossing his own arms, Kaiba followed closely behind. He intervened occasionally with a hand rather forcefully on the back of Yami's neck, herding him towards the desired location. Kaiba could only grin and chuckle softly every time a soft growl was heard when he redirected Yami's footsteps, quietly reveling in the smaller youths discomfort.
~~~~~**~~~~~
Yugi whimpered softly in his sleep, fidgeting in a futile attempt to find a comfortable position. Mai had tended to him as best she could. Even knowing how he had been treated she had been unprepared for the amount and severity of his injuries. It hadn't helped that Yami was no longer there to comfort him; Yugi seemed to know that they had been separated and was not taking it well. Removing the cloth in order to rewet it and wipe his forehead Mai clenched her teeth in fury at her helplessness regarding Yugi.
Her escape route had worked, and now she was hiding in some sort of hidden room. She had stumbled upon it purely by accident. In an effort to watch all directions at once she had tripped and Yugi had slipped from her grasp. She had cried out in fear when he seemed to disappear into the bushes. Fighting the urge to scream she had scrambled forward and soon found herself in a rather large hideout, well provisioned and safe from prying eyes.
Somehow she knew that Joey and those with him had set this up, and that put her mind slightly at ease. Realizing that Yugi was in no condition to travel she decided quickly that she would stay where she was for a while. Though being so close to the castle was unnerving.
It had been a long and tense night and day, and night was once again rapidly changing into the gloom that counted as day now. Knowing she needed sleep as well she settled herself against the trunk of a tree at one end of the hideout. She was asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes, and therefore she never heard the approaching footsteps or the whispering voices.
"Where is he again? I can't sense him anywhere." One of the two people who now walked just outside the place where Mai and Yugi lay. His amber eyes searching the area intensely.
"He is right here, somewhere. Don't you think that I would know?" The second snapped, blue eyes glaring at his companion. He sighed in frustration and stopped moving forward, causing the other to stop as well.
"If he is here, where is he?"
"That is a stupid question, if I knew exactly where he was then I wouldn't be looking for him still now would I?" His voice had begun to rise causing the other to nervously try and quiet him.
"Hey, keep your voice down, we really can't afford to run into any of Kaiba's monsters. Since we are trying to remain discreet." He made a move showing that he was prepared to cover the others mouth at any given time.
"All right, just calm down. I can really sense him here, look around closely." They both began to search the area they had stopped in. It seemed too much of a coincidence when they both were drawn to a small clump of bushes.
"Did you hear that?" The amber eyed asked of his companion.
"Yes, yes I did." With a silent motion he indicated for his friend to go first while he stayed behind to cover his back. Moving ahead he pushed aside some of the bushes and nearly fell forward at the sight that met his eyes. Yugi lay on the only bed in the small hideout. Nearby, leaning against a tree trunk Mai was fast asleep. Moving into the room he called back to his companion.
"Well, it looks like you were right, he is right here." As soon as the other saw the scene he rushed forward without thought. His movements awoke Mai, who didn't hesitate to put herself between them and Yugi.
"Who are you and what do you want with Yugi?" She demanded, pleased with the forceful tone in her voice despite the absolute terror she really felt.
"Come Mai, don't you recognize us?" The blue-eyed man said with a sly smile. Catching her breath when they knew who she was she looked closely at the two who stood in front of her. The one who had spoken watched her with soft blue eyes, while his face was surrounded by shoulder length violet hair. He wore a pale purple T-shirt and dark purple jeans with black boots. The second had lime colored hair, not quite as long as the other's which fell over long pointed ears. He wore an earth brown jacket, over an egg white T-shirt, with celery colored jeans and dark brown boots. Once her examination was complete it took only another moment before realization dawned.
"Oh my god! You, you're Yugi's Dark Magician and Celtic Guardian!!" She managed to keep her voice down, to prevent from waking Yugi, but she still froze in shock. The Celtic Guardian walked up to Mai and graciously took her hand in his before kissing it.
"Of course, Lady Mai. And we are here but to serve." The Dark Magician rolled his eyes and Mai found herself grinning. She turned serious though when she looked down at Yugi.
"Can you help him?" She moved so that the two duel monsters could take a closer look at their small master. Dark attempted to use some of his magic, but he was soon frowning in concern.
"What's wrong Dark?"
"I can't heal him. My magic won't work. Is there anything you can do Celt?"
"Let me try." Switching positions Celt tried a few of his own tricks. Unfortunately, none of them were working either.
"Is it possible for him to get better on his own?" Mai asked with concern. Dark and Celt shared a look, a look that told each other all they needed to say.
"I don't think so. These are not ordinary wounds. Kaiba didn't inflict this damage himself Mai, did he?" Dark asked of Mai.
"No, not really. He made Yugi duel him, only any damage to his monsters or to his life points inflicted real physical damage to Yugi himself. He only made him duel a few times, but he never let him fully recuperate after each one."
"Then the damage is from the shadow realm itself. I can't heal him, not alone. While I do not believe he will get any worse, until we can find someone to heal him, he will most likely not wake up."
"What about the millennium puzzle? Shouldn't that be able to heal him?"
"I believe something about what is going on with the shadow realm having taking over this realm is causing the items to not work properly, also the pharaohs separation might be contributing to the problem as well."
"So what do we do?"
"We have to get him away from here. It is far too dangerous this close to the castle. Dark and I have a place that is as safe as any place can be now. We'll bring the two of you there tomorrow. Hopefully we can come up with some answers then, right Dark?"
"We can only hope. You rest tonight Mai, we will travel hard tomorrow. Don't worry, Celt and I will keep watch." With that the two duel monsters left the hideout and Mai settled back down in order to attempt some much-needed sleep.