Author's Notes: I'm extremely sorry this was so late in the making. I have been RPing (Role Playing) a lot with my friend Dai-Onna and that really takes up a lot of time and creativity. To top it all off, I've been very depressed as of late, my glasses were broken so it was hard to see the screen, making it VERY hard to write stories, and the power went out for four days. So, crystal crittenden, PLEASE do not shout at me so for not posting in so long. I am trying as hard as I can.

Also, I would like all of my readers to note that I spend most of my time at MediaMiner.org instead of FF.Net, since my respect for the latter has gone down a few notches. I will, however, continue posting here until Metamorphosis is finished. That means when this story is finished, don't expect any more stories posted here. I will, however, keep posting at MediaMiner, so once this story is done go there and look for Gothic Star Girl. You can also do so now to look at a few of my drawings; despite what I say to keep my ego down, I am a highly talented artist.

Thank you for your time, and now on with the werewolves! o^.^o

Metamorphosis

Chapter Five: Plans

            Joey sighed and absently studied his switchblade, flicking the blade in and out of its sheath. They had put up a few boards over the broken window and nailed them there; it would hardly keep out werewolves but it kept out the cold, and they doubted Bakura would come back.

            They were still trying to think of a way to get Bakura in a secure enough place before anyone got killed or worse, got bitten. Or, even worse in Joey's eyes, discovered exactly what he was. There weren't that many albino people in Domino, and a white-furred, red-eyed werewolf running around with Bakura missing would cause a lot of people to put two and two together, and that meant trouble. There had already been enough ruckus when Tristan had been tearing around the city, but brown hair and green eyes was a common enough trait. The police had figured it had been some sort of bear that escaped from someone's home where they had been keeping it for a pet. Homo lupus mutare looked and sounded enough like a bear to fool people, and no one had gotten any pictures or videos of him. But Bakura....he sighed again.

            "47."

            "Yugi, stop that."

            "Well, there's nothing else to do but count how many times Joey sighs!"

            "Well, go read your book."

            "I can't concentrate, Yami."

            "You can concentrate enough to count Joey's sighs."

            "But not enough to read little tiny words."

            ".....Yugi, just stop."

            "Alright, alright...."

            So far, that was the lengthiest conversation anyone'd had in the past hour.

            "....Well, should we pack up and go home or do we stay here all night?" Téa asked after a few moments' silence.

            "Stay. It's not safe out there." Tristan replied curtly, glaring at the door Bakura had broken.

            Joey sighed again, and Yugi was tempted to count it but the silencing glare Yami gave him stopped that. Seto was pacing around, rapidly talking on his cell phone in Spanish, trying to rush the delivery of the monkshood.

            '....just pack up and leave...' Téa's words echoed in the blonde's mind for some reason. Pack up and leave...pack up....pack...pack!!

            "I got it!!" he exclaimed suddenly, startling everyone.

            "Got what?" Yugi asked the blonde werewolf curiously.

            "How we can get Bakura! My pack!!"

            "Your what?"

            "My pack! Listen, it's...well, it's kinda hard to explain. Werewolves of my kind usually form packs, but not the kind that run around and kill deer and stuff. It's more like a...support group. They train you so you can control your change and your instincts, and they help you deal with life as werewolf. We're all pacifists, but if there's anything or anyone running around that could endanger the lives of werewolves, there are a few of the group called the 'peacemakers' who'll help out. That's what we need! They'll keep Bakura still for a while until we can get the monkshood!"

            Tristan got to his feet, smiling for the first time in nearly a month. "Joey, that's great! Why didn't you tell us before?"

            "I haven't been in touch with 'em for about a year and I kinda forgot 'em, but they'll definitely remember me!"

            "I wonder why..." Seto muttered, closing up his cell phone. "And here's more good news--I got them to deliver the monkshood at least three days earlier, maybe even four."

            Yugi cheered and hugged Yami tightly, the dark spirit being the closest one to him. Finally things were turning around to favor them.

(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())(())

            Bakura groaned softly, fluttering his eyes open and sitting up sleepily.

            "Where the bloody hell am I....?" he wondered aloud, looking around and blinking curiously. The walls were dark grey and concrete and there was a damp, moldy smell in the air.

            "In a tunnel under the city." replied a dark, familiar voice. The white-haired boy squeaked and turned around to see his Yami.

            "Y-you scared me..." he murmured, backing up against the wall. 'Well, you always do, but this time more than usual...' he added silently.

            "Hn. Well, get up and get dressed. We have to get moving. They're after us."

            The lighter boy blinked a few times, curious, then blushed as he realized there wasn't a stitch of clothing on him. He curled his knees to his chest and blushed furiously, trying to cover himself.

            "Please, you don't have anything I haven't seen before. Now get dressed. We have to leave before they find us."

            ".....B-before who finds us? And where did you get clothes?"

            "That blonde boy apparently called some friends. And I stole some clothes. They should fit you—I took my time. Feel special, little one."

            Bakura blinked again. 'Little one? He's never called me that before....it's always 'stupid boy' or 'insolent wretch'....'

            "You are a stupid boy, and an insolent wretch. But right now, we are both very powerful, and you could be of some use...."

            He blinked a few more times, then shook his head, knowing his dark other had listened to his thoughts. He glanced around for his clothes and, upon finding them, quickly pulled them on and sighed softly. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to have to go along with this.

            Yami Bakura chuckled darkly. "Come on, Ryou." he said surprisingly softly, taking the lighter boy's wrist and leading him along.

            Ryou blinked for the nth time. "...W-what...did you call me?"

            "Ryou." the other replied simply.

            The silver-haired child stared wide-eyed at the other's back. He didn't even call himself Ryou, his first name. 'Could...does this mean...?'

            "No, it doesn't. But I will be...remotely civil to you, only because you are useful to me. Nothing more."

            Well, it was better than nothing.

Escape

Sorry to end it here, but I had to get this out as soon as possible. I WILL get the next chapter out much sooner, but if I don't, PLEASE do not scream, flame, or semi-flame me for not doing so.