Of Mages and Elves: Confrontation
Author's notes: Humph…. Here we go again… so, having fun everyone? ^_^ Here's chapter 7
Warnings: Yaoi, AU, possible OOCness
Disclaimer: *holds up sign* See previous chapters…
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It didn't take long for Malik, Ryou and Bakura to make it back to Ishtal's room. Once there Ryou immediately set about searching for what he needed. He bit his lip and turned to Malik, who was hovering over his shoulder. The effects of the spell he had used to find Ryou had finally worn off and he was feeling a little more energetic without millions of magical signatures plaguing his mind.
"Are you ok?" Malik asked the elf. Ryou hesitated before nodding.
"I've just never done this before," he muttered. Malik was about to say something when a thought dawned on him. His eyes widened.
"Wait… does this spell entail what I think it does?" he asked. Ryou nodded, blushing faintly. Malik resisted the urge to laugh.
"That's why I haven't performed it yet. I wanted to make sure I found the right person," Ryou told him. "I'm afraid he'll regret it later." Malik shook his head, suppressing a grin.
"I've only known Bakura for a very short time, be he doesn't seem like the type to jump into something this serious on a whim," he said. Ryou sighed.
"That's just it. I don't think he understands what it means," he exclaimed softly. Malik smirked and nodded over to the thief, who was watching Ishtal.
"I think you'll be surprised." Malik walked over to Bakura, tapping him on the shoulder and whispering something to him. The thief nodded, his gaze firm. Malik winked at Ryou.
"I'll be out scouting," he told them before leaving the two alone with only an unconscious Ishtal in the room with them. Ryou looked down, biting his lip. Bakura walked deftly up to the elf and tilted his head up, gazing into his worried eyes.
"It's alright Ryou. I want this," he assured the healer. Ryou's gaze softened slightly.
"Are you sure?" Bakura kissed him in answer, drawing the boy into his arms. Ryou parted his lips at Bakura's silent request, allowing the thief to explore his mouth slowly. He gasped as they parted, gazing into Bakura's sharp russet eyes. He smiled softly, leaning into the thief's arms. "You know," he whispered. Bakura tilted his head. Ryou's eyes drifted closed as he rested his head against Bakura's chest. "I think I'm falling in love with you." Bakura's eyes widened, then softened.
"What do you need me to do?" he asked quietly. Ryou gazed up at him solemnly.
"Take me," he whispered. Bakura stared at him in shock. The healer smiled reassuringly. "It's alright Bakura. I'll do the rest."
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A while later the two lay sated in each others arms, both content. Bakura smiled, wrapping his arms tighter around the elf and silently praying this wasn't a dream.
It's no dream Bakura, a soft voice whispered in his mind. Bakura sat up suddenly, glancing frantically around the room. Beside him, still lying on the cot, Ryou smiled. He could already feel himself regaining strength. And there was something else, a feeling of completion, something he had never experienced before. I'm right here silly. Bakura looked down at them, his shocked expression almost making the healer laugh.
"How did you do that?" he demanded. Ryou smiled and kissed his nose, coaxing the thief to lie back down.
It's part of the bond. I heard about it from my teacher. You can do it too if you try, he explained. Bakura closed his eyes, sliding back down on the cot and concentrating on the small boy beside him.
Like this? he asked. His mind voice sounded slightly strained. Ryou nodded to him.
Just like that. It'll get easier as you use it, he said. Bakura buried his face in Ryou's hair, kissing the boy's neck gently.
I don't think you're the only one who's falling Ryou, he whispered. Ryou's eyes widened. The door opened, interrupting the two. Malik poked his head in, much to the relief of the two pale boys.
"Finally," he muttered with a loud sigh. Bakura raised an eyebrow.
"What?" he asked. Malik winced.
"You could have kept it down you know," he muttered. Bakura laughed, sitting up while Ryou gave Malik the dirtiest look he could manage. Since he was beat red at the same time, that idea didn't work out as planned. Malik just laughed, soon joined by Ryou. When the three calmed down, Ryou finally sat up, smiling at Bakura before grabbing his tunic and slipping it on. Malik sat down on the cot next to Bakura as Ryou moved towards Ishtal.
"He already looks better," the apprentice murmured. Bakura nodded. Malik eyed him closely. "No regret's right? You're stuck with him for life now," he told the thief. Bakura winced. Was Ryou worried he'd regret it?
Are you alright? Ryou asked him mentally. Bakura shook his head at Malik.
I'm fine Ryou, he assured the healer. He felt the elf smile mentally.
"I don't regret a thing," he said firmly. Malik nodded.
"Good." Bakura's eyes flew wide when he saw Ryou falter on his feet. He stood swiftly and dashed to the boy's side, catching him as he slumped, exhausted, to the floor.
Ryou? Ryou what's wrong? he panicked. He felt Ryou smile.
Just tired Bakura. I healed him. Ishtal will be fine, he replied. Bakura smiled, lifting the boy into his arms and moving towards the cot. Malik stood to make room as Bakura laid him down.
"Is he alright?" the young mage asked. Bakura nodded.
"He told me that Ishtal will be fine," he replied. Malik stared at him.
"How do you know? Ryou said nothing," he stated firmly.
"Nothing you could hear anyway," Bakura replied with a smirk. Malik eyed him warily.
"What aren't you telling me?" he asked. The thief's smirk widened.
"You'll see."
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Yugi shivered, glancing around the dark tunnel they had entered. It was cold and damp, not the kind of place he would have liked to enter under any circumstance.
"You'd think we'd have found a guard or two by now," Honda muttered. Yugi nodded in agreement.
"It's too quiet."
"Don't get your hopes up yet," a voice hissed. Yami spun, pulling Yugi behind him.
"Show yourself Kaiba!" he demanded. The half-blood mage smirked as he stepped from the shadows.
"I told you to turn back. Obviously you didn't listen," he scoffed. Yugi took a step back. Yami winced. They needed help, now. Kaiba would no doubt call all sorts of Pegasus' lackeys down on them.
"Yugi," Yami whispered. "You and Honda run for it. Joey and I will hold him here. I need you to find someone who can help us." He discretely handed Yugi a small, leather wrapped portrait. It was of a young elf with pale, snowy hair and deep brown eyes. "His name is Ryou and he was captured by one of Pegasus' minions. Now go!" Yugi nodded and dashed sown the hall, Honda close behind. *Take care of him Honda,* Yami thought, before turning to face Seto.
"They won't make it far Prince. Pegasus will find them," Seto hissed. Yami glared.
"But you won't"
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Yugi ran as fast as he could, dashing past hall after hall. How was he supposed to find this boy? He didn't even know where he was going!
"How are we supposed to find this guy anyway?" Honda huffed. Yugi shrugged.
"No idea," he gasped. They turned a corner at a sprint. A flash of gold and violet was all Yugi saw before he crashed into a sturdy form. He fell and scrambled back, looking up at the figure. A pair of violet eyes stared back at him, suspicion and anger in their depths.
"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" the blond hissed, taking on a defensive stance. Yugi jumped to his feet and took a step back.
"Stay away from me. I won't let you take me prisoner!" he declared. To his surprise the tanned blond chuckled.
"Why would I do that?" he asked calmly, relaxing slightly. Honda raised an eyebrow.
"Why wouldn't you? You're obviously in league with Pegasus in someway," he snapped. Violet eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Don't push me. I'd rather rip that bastard's throat out then follow him. If you're against Pegasus then follow me. I can't have you kids getting caught and giving me away," he hissed and turned, walking back down the dark hall in the opposite direction. Yugi glanced up at Honda, who shrugged. Without a word they followed this unknown boy into the depths of the Tower.
The blond led them eventually to a discrete door, which he knocked on four times before entering. He nodded to them, ushering them inside. Yugi's eyes widened when he found himself face to face with a pair of wide brown eyes.
"Yami-sama?" a soft voice asked him. Another, sharper voice chuckled.
"That's not the Prince Ryou. Looks like him though," said the snowy haired figure leaning against the wall. His sharp dark eyes glittered with amusement.
"Ryou?" Yugi asked. The owner of the softer brown eyes nodded. Yugi sighed in relief. "Yami asked me to find you." Ryou's eyes widened.
"Yami-sama is here?" Another voice chuckled. A figure with the craziest blond hair Yugi had ever seen in his life was perched on one of the two cots in the room, a devilish smirk on his face.
"Come on Bakura. It seems the Prince has gotten himself into trouble already. We should drag him back here," he said. Bakura echoed his smirk in response.
"Kaiba attacked us in the hall. He sent me to find Ryou," Yugi explained. The mage's eyes narrowed. If Kaiba was there, then Pegasus would be nearby, if not physically then in spirit. The high mage stalked the half-blood like a personal pet.
"Malik, I want you and Ryou to stay here with these two," he told the first blond firmly. "We'll take care of this." Malik gave him a concerned look.
"Be careful Ishtal. You were only just healed," he said. The mage smirked, nodding to Bakura.
"We'll be back."
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Yami ducked a barrage of ice, throwing his own scarlet attack back at Seto. The half-blood hissed, dodging one of Joey's fireballs as well. The battle had commenced swiftly, with neither side getting the upper hand.
"I won't let you pass Prince," Seto snarled. Yami's eyes narrowed as he called forth another energy blast. He flung it at Seto only to find it absorbed by a sparkling deep golden shield. The elven Prince stared at it, dumbfounded, then froze at the deep chuckle that echoed from the shadows. Seto's eyes widened at the sound.
"Impossible," he hissed.
"Really?" a second voice whispered from behind him. He tried to spin but found a silvery blade pressed against his neck. Pale hair and cold brown eyes were all he could see of his captor. Ishtal stepped from the shadows, an eternal smirk on his face. His deep violet eyes glittered dangerously. The half-blood mage hissed.
"You were nearly dead!" he exclaimed. Ishtal's feral grin widened.
"Nearly." He turned to smirk at Yami and Joey. "Your little healer is impressive Prince."
"Where's Ryou?" Yami snarled.
"Safer then anywhere you could keep him," Bakura hissed from behind Seto. Yami's eyes narrowed.
"You!" he hissed. "You're the one…" He leapt at the half-blood thief without thinking, only to be knocked back by Ishtal's shield. The Master Mage sighed, rolling his eyes.
"You can kill each other later. For now, just come with me," he said. Seto, Yami and Joey found they had no choice but to obey.
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Pegasus smirked, his head resting on a pale fist as his mind wandered through the Tower.
"You shouldn't have left your little pet alone Ishtal. Sadly you won't return in time to see him again," he chuckled, amber-scarlet eyes glinting. He beckoned a pair of shadowed mages too him. "I have a task for you two."
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Malik jumped when he heard a soft knock at the door. Yugi leapt to his feet.
"They're back already?" he asked. Malik shrugged and stood.
"Apparently," he said. He approached the door and placed a hand on the knob. Before he could turn it, twin blasts of emerald and orange energy blasted him to his knees. Ryou and Yugi leapt forward.
"Malik!" Ryou yelled, running to the apprentice as Yugi formed a shield around the two.
"Who the hell are you?" Malik hissed, mentally cursing himself for being so careless. His violet eyes glistened in anger. Two forms stepped out of the debris.
"Master Pegasus has asked us to take care of you," one of the figures answered. Ryou's eyes widened.
BAKURA!
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Bakura stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Ryou's scream. Ishtal gave him a sharp glance.
"What is it?" he asked. Bakura shook his head to clear it and clenched his fist.
"They're under attack. Two of Pegasus' guards. He says Malik and the Prince's friend can't hold them off for long," he answered. Ishtal nodded.
"He?" Yami asked. Bakura shot him a sharp glare.
"Go Bakura. You can reach them the fastest," Ishtal told him. Bakura nodded and started to fade into the shadows.
"Wait. I'm going with you," Yami demanded. The thief smirked.
"You'd only slow me down Prince," he said, before vanishing into the shadows.
"Damn thief!" Yami cursed. Ishtal smirked at him.
"If you want to join them, then stop stalling and follow me."
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Bakura dashed back to the room as fast as he could physically move.
Ryou! Ryou what's happening he shouted through their link.
Yugi's human friend his hurt, came Ryou's frantic reply. Malik's not going to last much longer.
Are you alright? Bakura asked. Ryou nodded mentally in reply.
Hurry… Bakura growled, setting an even faster pace. The halls were all but a blur to him.
"Hang on Ryou."
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Another blast glanced off Yugi's shield, flying into the wall. The young noble dropped to his knees.
"Yami… where are you?" he whispered. Ryou knelt beside him, lending the boy some of his own strength. He too was beginning to feel faint.
"They'll make it," he answered. Yugi nodded.
"I hope you're-" he gasped as another energy blast broke his shield.
"Yugi!" Ryou exclaimed. Beside the two, Malik was breathing heavily, blood running sluggishly from a cut on his arm that he had refused to let Ryou heal.
"Give up youngsters. You might even survive if you do," one of the mages told them with a sharp cackle.
"Never!" Malik hissed. Yugi and Ryou both glared defiantly at the man.
"Fine," the mage answered. Both figures collected twin balls of energy between their hands, preparing to hurl them at the boys.
"Well, looks like this is it," Malik muttered. Ryou gritted his teeth. Bakura, I'm sorry. A sudden smile crossed his face at the reply.
I'm right here Ryou Tendrils of shadow filtered out from the walls, extinguishing the mage's powers. Both glanced frantically around as Bakura stepped from the shadows behind Ryou and Yugi. Ryou jumped to his feet, hugging the thief fiercely. Yugi glanced at Malik, who shrugged.
Thank you, Ryou whispered to Bakura. The thief smirked.
We're not safe yet, he answered. He threw himself to the side as a blast of power hurled towards him, tossing Ryou to the ground. The two mages glared at him.
"It doesn't matter how many of you there are. You're still going to die!" Bakura hissed as a blast grazed his shoulder. Beside him, Ryou winced.
*Hurry up Ishtal!* the thief thought fiercely.
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Ishtal himself was racing through the halls as fast as he could with Yami close at his heal. Meanwhile, Seto took advantage of the distraction to escape, not noticing that a certain blond had seen him and followed. He found his way back to his cambers and pulled out his scrying bowl.
"Running somewhere are we?" Seto flipped around.
"Pegasus!" he hissed as the mage came into the light. "What do you want?" Pegasus smirked.
"I want to know why you didn't tell me that the thief had escaped." Seto rolled his eyes.
"Maybe cause I didn't know until he held a knife to my throat?" he suggested sarcastically.
"Careful Kaiba-kun," Pegasus warned, wagging a finger at him. "You're treading on dangerous ground. Not only did you fail to keep the Prince out of the castle, but now because of your oversight, the healer has found a bond-mage and Ishtal is very much awake and alive, and becoming even more of a thorn in my side."
"A bond-mage?" Seto wondered. "You're not telling me that healer tried to save Ishtal without one…" Pegasus nodded.
"Keep an eye on that group. You and I will wait in the audience room. They won't defeat both of us," he said, eyes narrowed.
"What makes you think I'll help you?" Seto asked, his won eyes icy. Pegasus smirked.
"With your brother's life at stake you'll follow me to your grave Kaiba-kin." From the deep shadows, Joey watched the interaction quietly, taking in every word. *Kaiba's brother? Is that what's causing him to be like this?* he wondered. With a made up mind, Joey ran to the halls. He had a mission to accomplish.
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Author's note: A connection between Joey and Seto has formed! Aren't you proud of me ^_^ And now you know what Ryou was blushing about…
Bakura: *big grin*
Ishtal: Yeah, we know you liked it. And I'm back in action! Excellent! *evil grin*
Yami: I don't know whether to be happy or scared…
Neither do I *sweatdrop* Please Review!!