By Shadows and Lights
by: jade_tiger
Disclaimer: I don't ownYu-Gi-Oh! or any of its characters, merely borrowing
it for my fic. I am not making any money from this pick, I wish I were, but
I'm not.
Warning: This fic is slash, which means...you guessed it male/male pairings! So if you have problems with this sort of thing, how did you get all the way to this chapter without noticing all the previous warnings? Also this fic is AU and many characters are and will be OOC.
A.N. Ryou Bakura - Ryou Hunter, Yami Bakura - Bakura Kageshi, Yami Yugi - Yami Taiyou, Seto Kiaba - can and will be referred to as Kai (short for Kaiba), Seto and Yugi ARE ADOPTED BROTHERS and will refer to one another as brother.
*"words"* - spoken telepathically, 'words' - thoughts, "words" spoken out loud.
Two days later: Saturday
Chapter Eleven: Pictures of the Past
"They're going to be here soon Kai," said Yugi excitedly, jumping up and down slightly. Yami, Joey, and Bakura were coming over to work on their project and it was the first time that they were going to have guests. Yugi was ecstatic, although from Seto's and Ryou's point of view Yugi's excitement was, more than likely, caused by the large amount of sugar the small teen had consumed during breakfast.
"Calm down Yugi, you're going to wear yourself down," Ryou said laughing slightly at his friend's antics. Yugi was usually an energy filled person but on a sugar high, it wouldn't surprise the white haired teen at all if his friend began bouncing off the walls at any moment.
"Yugi why don't you go watch TV. or something?" Seto said in tired tones, Yugi had been jumping around for a while now and just watching his brother was making him tired.
"But Kaaaaiiiiiii!! I don't wanna!" Yugi gave a short bark of laughter and climbed on the arm rest of the couch standing in position for a moment before executing a perfect back flip to land on the carpet and flop on the ground giggling. Seto sighed and closed his eyes resting his head against the couch cushions.
"Well at least he's not insisting on painting this time," Ryou said good naturedly taking a seat next to the brunet and watching Yugi roll around on the floor.
"Thank God for small blessings," Seto mused rubbing his temple as the beginnings of a headache made itself known. Ryou looked at his friend and frowned at the strained look around his friend's ice blue eyes.
"We can cancel the meeting Kai," he said quietly, putting a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "If you don't feel up to it there's no reason for us to meet today, we have plenty of time to work on this project."
"No I'm fine," Seto replied, his eyes remaining closed. "I just didn't get much sleep last night." Opening one eye he gave his white haired friend a small smile of assurance before closing his eye once again and sinking deeper into the cushions, a moment later he felt a weight land on his lap and elbows prop on his chest. Opening both eyes his gaze was met with the large violet eyes of his brother, who looked at him seriously, all side effects of sugar erased from his cherub like face.
"Seto you're not feeling well, and you know it, you need rest. You didn't sleep at all last night. I heard you in your room," Yugi looked at his brother his gaze darkened with worry. "You can't get sick now, go upstairs and sleep, when the others get here we'll take care of everything. Go rest, please," he continued to look at his brother his eyes silently pleading. He could feel Seto's emotions, and it was like feeling the turmoil in a storm.
Seeing the genuine worry in the smaller teen's eyes Seto smiled and nodded agreeing silently that he would rest. Yugi instantly smiled and hugged his brother around the neck. The sign of affection made Ryou smile, it wasn't rare that the brothers showed such acts, but it was a rare thing to see Seto allowing Yugi to take care of him, usually it was the other way around and Seto was watching over Yugi.
*"I'll bring you some lunch later Kai, just get some sleep now,"* he sent the message telepathically not wanting to end the silence that had fallen into the room. Seto nodded and stood as Yugi moved off of his lap and silently made his way up the stairs and into his room for much need sleep.
"He's working himself too hard," Yugi said once they heard Seto's door close.
"I know Yugi, but what can we do? We can't stop him from hunting; like us it's the only thing keeping him in this world, keeping his sanity. He continues to live because of his need to find Simon and Mokuba, we can't take that from him." Ryou looked down sadly at Yugi, whose violet eyes were clouded with intense sadness.
"He's getting desperate, I can feel it, he's starting to lose hope. He hides it well, even from himself, but he's slowly slipping from us. I can't lose him Ryou, he's the only family I have...he's the only one." tears silently made their tracks on Yugi's cheeks as the thoughts of losing his brother dominated his mind. Ryou closed his eyes, the thoughts as equally unbearable to him and hugged Yugi in an attempt to comfort. Yugi buried his face against his friend's neck, the pain overwhelming, allowing sobs to tremble through him.
"We won't lose him Yugi, he'll stay with us. Seto Kaiba is not someone who gives up easily, he'll fight, until the end he'll fight," Ryou whispered into Yugi's ear tightening his hold comfortingly, closing his eyes tighter to prevent the tears from falling. The two sat unmoving, holding onto each other in silent comfort, both lost in thought. Neither heard the door open and close, nor did they hear the hushed voices moving closer to them.
"Err.... are we interrupting something?" Yugi and Ryou instantly parted and look at towards the doorway ready for and attack. There standing at the door to the living room was Joey smiling mischievously at Ryou and Yugi, who looked equally surprised and embarrassed at being caught unaware, Yami stood next to him his expression impassive. The last figure stood behind the first two, Bakura stood unusually stiff, his crimson tinted eyes flashing with an unidentifiable emotion, his face, in complete contrast with his eyes, was expressionless as if carved in marble, or ice.
"The door was open, we assumed you had left it for us," Bakura said his tone cool. "We didn't mean to walk in on you.... off guard." Though his face remained impassive and his tone uncaring, anger seemed to radiate from him in waves, catching Yugi's empathy. The anger engulfed Yugi, causing him to give a small groan of pain as the strong emotion continued to bombard him.
*"Yugi? What is it?"* Ryou inquired seeing his friend's sudden paleness.
*"Rage Ryou it's directed at me.... it hurts."* As Yugi's breathing quickened Ryou immediately threw his own powers at Yugi strengthening his friend's mental defenses enough so the pain decreased marginally. Seeing their hosts distracted Yami frowned and turned to look at Bakura, who was glaring at the two humans, particularly Yugi. The Ancient instantly knew something was wrong and the white haired vampire was at the root of it.
*"Stop whatever it is you're doing Bakura,"* he telepathically ordered the younger vampire. *"You're hurting the boy." The reprimand was clear and earned Yami a fierce glare, which he answered with one of his own. Bakura sneered in annoyance before complying and ceasing his attack. As soon as the mental bombardment stopped Yugi opened his eyes and gave Ryou a reassuring smile.
"Hey, you two ok?" Joey inquired breaking the silence.
"Yes, sorry about that," Ryou said standing from his seat and gesturing for the three to come in. "Come in and sit down, are you hungry? Would any of you like something to eat or drink?" Ryou smiled hospitably.
"No thanks, we've already...eaten," replied Yami taking a seat on an empty couch, Joey joining him, Bakura remained standing until Ryou smiled and gestured for him to join them.
"Where's Seto?" Yami looked at Ryou and Yugi, and listened intently for the sound of the third occupant of the house.
"He's sleeping, he said to just start without him," Yugi supplied, glancing up the stairs.
"We can't really start today, research wise, but we can start figuring out what we're going to do," Ryou said sitting back down next to Yugi. "So what do you guys think we should do? Do any of you know a lot about...vampires?" Ryou could not keep the remorse from his voice when he said this. Joey raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic look of contempt on the teen's face.
'Hmmm, I wonder,' he thought to himself looking at Ryou and Yugi with a calculating look in his eyes. 'Maybe we don't have to look too hard to find those we're searching for.'
"Actually none of us is really into the supernatural and that sort of thing," Yami said, Joey nodding in agreement absentmindedly. "Personally I doubt vampires and such things can be real."
"Actually Yami, throughout the years there have been mysterious killings and disappearances that just might prove you wrong," Bakura said for the first time since sitting down, his comment earning him another glare form the older vampire.
*"What the hell do you think you're doing Bakura?!"* Yami yelled in Bakura's mind, his anger flowing through their mental link. *"I've already told you not to call attention to us and you say something like that!"* Bakura merely smiled at this friend's mental tirade and continued.
"There was news a few years back on mysterious killings at some city, they say the bodies were found but the cause of death was.... unusual. Rumours had it that the bodies that were found were dry." Bakura relished the thunderous expression forming on Yami's usually calm face. "They called it the 'Dracul Killings' and some people claim that it was vampires. There was one killing though that really got to me, vampire or not it was sick." Bakura's face lost all expression, hardening into a stone like mask. "There was a..."
"A little girl," Ryou said cutting Bakura off. "Only about seven years old, they found the her body after she was missing for about a week." The others, including Bakura remained silent allowing Ryou to finish the story. "W-when they found the.... her body it was mutilated as if it was ravaged by wild dogs, but the bite marks were like nothing anyone had ever seen. It was also the last killing they had in that area," at this point Ryou's voice had hardened, his eyes narrowed making him look more identical to Bakura than before.
Yugi looked at his friend seeing the obvious changes and feeling the helpless rage Ryou felt and instantly knew. The killing had been a vampire, and the little girl had been the last because Ryou has gotten the killer before he could kill again, however in Ryou's mind he had not made the kill on time and blamed himself for the senseless killing of the little girl. Instantly Yugi reached for his friend's mind to reassure him, only to find himself blocked out, shielded, not by Ryou but by something, or someone very powerful and very protective.
Ryou sat his eyes unfocused, trying to prevent the images of the past from entering his mind. Just as the first images invaded his mind's eye he felt someone block him from the pain, someone unknown yet closely familiar, someone he knew yet was a stranger to him.
*"It's alright my little Light,"* the mental voice that spoke to him was like a warm comforting breeze. *"You did what you could, do not let the past hurt you. Do not take the blame for something beyond your control,"* the voice was calm and soothing, so eerily familiar that Ryou found himself instinctively reaching for the other mind.
*"Who are you?"* he asked as he basked in the other's presence.
*"A memory, my little Light, a memory."* With that the other presence disappeared with a final wave of warmth. Ryou instantly became aware of Yugi gently shaking him.
"Ryou are you ok?" Yugi waved a hand in front of Ryou, who looked down at him with, dark brown eyes confused. "You were zoning out there. Are you all right? Maybe you should get some rest, you didn't get much sleep last night too."
"No, I'm fine Yugi, just thinking."
Yami sat back and watched the two humans talk to one another, turning away his attention was caught by some photos lined up along the shelf of a bookcase located at one side of the room. Standing up he walked to the bookshelf and picked one of the photographs up. He looked at the figures standing, frozen in that one joyful moment in time, smiling happily at the camera. Yami easily identified two of the figures as Yugi and Seto; a few years younger than they were now, the older man and woman were unknown to Yami, who dismissed them. The last face, however, cause Yami's eyes to narrow and a small furrow appeared between his brows. There standing next to Seto, a big smile on his happy face, a small hand clasping the young brunet's was someone Yami knew, someone he had helped a few years back and was almost like a brother to him.
'Mokuba,' Yami thought in wonder his eyes widening in realization. 'Seto is the brother Mokuba spoke of, and Yugi must be his other older brother.' Yami closed his eyes and remembered the tattered pictures Mokuba had shown him; one of which showed a small brown haired child smiling at the camera as he held a younger boy in his arms, and the other showed the same brunet with a spike haired little kid. 'Seto and Yugi are Mokuba's brothers, they are they're the hunters the vampire who took Mokuba was talking about,' the thoughts ran through his mind quickly, his hold on the frame tightening with a force enough to shatter the delicate glass protecting the picture.
"The Lights," he whispered to himself, putting the picture back in its place he looked at the other framed images on the shelf. Another picture caught the Ancient's eyes, one that filled in the empty spaces in his revelations. The picture was of three teens, different in sizes, expressions, in all aspect but one. 'The Three Lights, Seto Kaiba, Yugi Moto, Ryou Hunter.' Yami's eyes lost their usual guarded look and began to burn with undecipherable light.
"I've found you."
"Found who Yami?" Joey suddenly asked appearing behind the shorter vampire.
"No one Joey, no one," with that Yami returned to his previous seat and once again was lost in his thoughts. 'The Lights did begin making their kills a few months after Mokuba said he was taken, could it be that they hunt because of Seto and Yugi's loss? Then why would Ryou hunt with them?' The questions circled through Yami's mind causing him to block out the conversation around him. 'They said they met Ryou only a few years ago.... I wonder.' Yami looked at the white haired teen that was now laughing slightly at a comment made by Joey. 'What do you have to do with all this? How did you get involved in this Ryou Hunter?" As the name reverberated through his mind more pieces of the puzzle fell in place.
'Hunter, of course! Ryou Hunter, the last of the Hunter blood,' Yami thought in awe. 'No wonder the lights are so successful in killing, one of them is a Hunter, a natural blood born vampire hunter,' crimson eyes narrowed further in thought. 'But I thought the Hunter bloodline was destroyed,' the revelation opened new questions for the Ancient Pharaoh, who turned and looked at his friend. 'Bakura you never failed on a mission in all the lifetimes I've known you. What happened all those years ago? Why is it that a Hunter lives?' Not expecting a reply Yami was surprised to receive one.
*"Do not concern yourself too much Pharaoh, you will receive all the answers you seek and all will finally be clear,"* a mental voice said, the vampire who owned the voice was not one Yami recognized and he instantly sent his mind out to search for the source.
*"Who are you? How dare you enter my mind,"* Yami's demand was hard and backed by an unquestionable rage.
*"Who I am is irrelevant at this time, Pharaoh, but soon you, all of you, will know exactly who I am."* With that the other vampire retreated leaving not even a trace of its presence. Yami looked around at the others in the room trying to determine if it could have been one of them, seeing nothing out of the ordinary the Ancient dismissed the possibility of the Lights being able to communicate mentally.
'Whoever that was knew a lot more than he let on. He said soon, well I'll wait, I'll wait until my unsuspecting prey is within reach.' Yami snarled, startling Joey and Bakura, as they were the only ones to see their friend's show of temper. Yugi looked at their three guests in confusion, one moment Joey and Bakura were discussing the project with them, and the next they were staring at Yami looking slightly shocked for no apparent reason.
*"What's the matter Yami?"* Joey asked his mental tone serious.
*"Did you find something out?"* Bakura inquired sharply, he would not be surprised if Yami had somehow found something out. Something that could endanger Ryou and cause a rift between the two Ancients that could push two of the most powerful Ancients into a battle against one another.
*"No, no it's nothing,"* Yami's reply was sent to both, but his crimson eyes were locked onto Bakura's dark brown gaze.
'You know,' both thought immediately as they looked into one another's eyes, which remained free of their hidden knowledge.
"We should go," Yami said rising from his seat and walking towards the door followed by Joey and Bakura. "I'm sure we can meet again another time, the project isn't due for a while, and we really should do this when Seto's here."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Yugi agreed smiling at the three. "Thanks for coming over."
"It was no problem, it was fun," Joey said smiling at Yugi and Ryou.
"We'll see you later, bye." Yugi and Ryou watched from the door as the three walked away.
"I should prepare Seto something to eat," Ryou said closing the door and walking to the kitchen followed by Yugi, talking quietly about the afternoon's events.
The tall teen stood in the center of the field, fog rolling through the tall grass that grew to his knees encased in denim. Ice blue eyes scanned their surroundings, hands fisted at his side, coat fluttering in the wind. Turning his eyes fell on his two companions, who were standing as still as he, ready to fight at any moment. Feeling eyes upon him he turned to face invisible enemies, but what met his eyes caused his heart to stutter in his chest. Glacier blue eyes met storm cloud gray, identical in shape. Years had passed yet it was as if only minutes had gone by since the two colours had met.
"Mokuba," the name left the teen's mouth, a whispered prayer. The apparition smiled the same familiar curling of the lips reminiscent of childhood memories.
"I'm coming soon, big brother," the promise left the vision's lips with a widening smile. "We'll be a family again Seto."
With that the dream faded and Seto sat up, cold perspiration cool on his skin, his hair sticking to his brow.
"Mokuba," he whispered in the dark room. Turning, he picked up a photograph placed on his side table. It had been taken at the orphanage, and was of he and his brother standing in front of a huge tree; his arms wrapped around the black haired ball of energy that was Mokuba Kiaba. Seeing the smiling image of his brother, a gentle smile bloomed on the tall teen's face and hope on the brink of disappearing for good flared once again in his heart.
"Hello? Yeah it's me," Yami held the cell phone to his ear and listened to the other person at the other end reply. "So can you come here soon? There's something, or rather someone here that I'm sure you'd love to meet. Ok, see you soon, bye." Yami pushed the end button and looked up at the moon through the window.
'Soon, soon everything will be answered.'
to be continued
tiger: i'm sorry i'm sorry i'm sorry im sorry!!
Bakura: you damn well better be!
Yami: let's see...you're what? two months late on your update?
Bakura: that is lazy lazy work, tsk tsk i am so very ashamed
tiger: ;__; i is sowwy *puppy dog eyes*
Yugi: i forgive you *hugs tiger* after all we short people gotta stick together ^___________^ tiger: *sniffsniff* thankies!! *huggles Yugi* i wove you, you wittle cutie pie!!
Yugi: ^__________^* hehehe
Ryou: Bakura you apologize now! that was mean!! you too Yami, that was mean!!
Bakura: but i dun wanna!! *pout*
Ryou: apologize now or *whispers in Bakura's ear*
Bakura: O_O you wouldn't!!
Ryou: o wouldn't i now?
tiger: yeah!! you show him who's boss snow bunny!!
Seto: snow bunny?
tiger: yep! doesn't he remind you of a cute little bunny rabbit? so cute *glomps Ryou* Ryou: err.....thanks tiger, i think hehehe ^_________^
Bakura: hands off of him!!
tiger: no, not 'till you apologize
Bakura: fine...i'm sorry
tiger: good ^_______^ i is happy now
tiger: i'm sorry i'm sorry really i tried to get this out as quick as i could!!
!!please review!!
Warning: This fic is slash, which means...you guessed it male/male pairings! So if you have problems with this sort of thing, how did you get all the way to this chapter without noticing all the previous warnings? Also this fic is AU and many characters are and will be OOC.
A.N. Ryou Bakura - Ryou Hunter, Yami Bakura - Bakura Kageshi, Yami Yugi - Yami Taiyou, Seto Kiaba - can and will be referred to as Kai (short for Kaiba), Seto and Yugi ARE ADOPTED BROTHERS and will refer to one another as brother.
*"words"* - spoken telepathically, 'words' - thoughts, "words" spoken out loud.
Two days later: Saturday
Chapter Eleven: Pictures of the Past
"They're going to be here soon Kai," said Yugi excitedly, jumping up and down slightly. Yami, Joey, and Bakura were coming over to work on their project and it was the first time that they were going to have guests. Yugi was ecstatic, although from Seto's and Ryou's point of view Yugi's excitement was, more than likely, caused by the large amount of sugar the small teen had consumed during breakfast.
"Calm down Yugi, you're going to wear yourself down," Ryou said laughing slightly at his friend's antics. Yugi was usually an energy filled person but on a sugar high, it wouldn't surprise the white haired teen at all if his friend began bouncing off the walls at any moment.
"Yugi why don't you go watch TV. or something?" Seto said in tired tones, Yugi had been jumping around for a while now and just watching his brother was making him tired.
"But Kaaaaiiiiiii!! I don't wanna!" Yugi gave a short bark of laughter and climbed on the arm rest of the couch standing in position for a moment before executing a perfect back flip to land on the carpet and flop on the ground giggling. Seto sighed and closed his eyes resting his head against the couch cushions.
"Well at least he's not insisting on painting this time," Ryou said good naturedly taking a seat next to the brunet and watching Yugi roll around on the floor.
"Thank God for small blessings," Seto mused rubbing his temple as the beginnings of a headache made itself known. Ryou looked at his friend and frowned at the strained look around his friend's ice blue eyes.
"We can cancel the meeting Kai," he said quietly, putting a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder. "If you don't feel up to it there's no reason for us to meet today, we have plenty of time to work on this project."
"No I'm fine," Seto replied, his eyes remaining closed. "I just didn't get much sleep last night." Opening one eye he gave his white haired friend a small smile of assurance before closing his eye once again and sinking deeper into the cushions, a moment later he felt a weight land on his lap and elbows prop on his chest. Opening both eyes his gaze was met with the large violet eyes of his brother, who looked at him seriously, all side effects of sugar erased from his cherub like face.
"Seto you're not feeling well, and you know it, you need rest. You didn't sleep at all last night. I heard you in your room," Yugi looked at his brother his gaze darkened with worry. "You can't get sick now, go upstairs and sleep, when the others get here we'll take care of everything. Go rest, please," he continued to look at his brother his eyes silently pleading. He could feel Seto's emotions, and it was like feeling the turmoil in a storm.
Seeing the genuine worry in the smaller teen's eyes Seto smiled and nodded agreeing silently that he would rest. Yugi instantly smiled and hugged his brother around the neck. The sign of affection made Ryou smile, it wasn't rare that the brothers showed such acts, but it was a rare thing to see Seto allowing Yugi to take care of him, usually it was the other way around and Seto was watching over Yugi.
*"I'll bring you some lunch later Kai, just get some sleep now,"* he sent the message telepathically not wanting to end the silence that had fallen into the room. Seto nodded and stood as Yugi moved off of his lap and silently made his way up the stairs and into his room for much need sleep.
"He's working himself too hard," Yugi said once they heard Seto's door close.
"I know Yugi, but what can we do? We can't stop him from hunting; like us it's the only thing keeping him in this world, keeping his sanity. He continues to live because of his need to find Simon and Mokuba, we can't take that from him." Ryou looked down sadly at Yugi, whose violet eyes were clouded with intense sadness.
"He's getting desperate, I can feel it, he's starting to lose hope. He hides it well, even from himself, but he's slowly slipping from us. I can't lose him Ryou, he's the only family I have...he's the only one." tears silently made their tracks on Yugi's cheeks as the thoughts of losing his brother dominated his mind. Ryou closed his eyes, the thoughts as equally unbearable to him and hugged Yugi in an attempt to comfort. Yugi buried his face against his friend's neck, the pain overwhelming, allowing sobs to tremble through him.
"We won't lose him Yugi, he'll stay with us. Seto Kaiba is not someone who gives up easily, he'll fight, until the end he'll fight," Ryou whispered into Yugi's ear tightening his hold comfortingly, closing his eyes tighter to prevent the tears from falling. The two sat unmoving, holding onto each other in silent comfort, both lost in thought. Neither heard the door open and close, nor did they hear the hushed voices moving closer to them.
"Err.... are we interrupting something?" Yugi and Ryou instantly parted and look at towards the doorway ready for and attack. There standing at the door to the living room was Joey smiling mischievously at Ryou and Yugi, who looked equally surprised and embarrassed at being caught unaware, Yami stood next to him his expression impassive. The last figure stood behind the first two, Bakura stood unusually stiff, his crimson tinted eyes flashing with an unidentifiable emotion, his face, in complete contrast with his eyes, was expressionless as if carved in marble, or ice.
"The door was open, we assumed you had left it for us," Bakura said his tone cool. "We didn't mean to walk in on you.... off guard." Though his face remained impassive and his tone uncaring, anger seemed to radiate from him in waves, catching Yugi's empathy. The anger engulfed Yugi, causing him to give a small groan of pain as the strong emotion continued to bombard him.
*"Yugi? What is it?"* Ryou inquired seeing his friend's sudden paleness.
*"Rage Ryou it's directed at me.... it hurts."* As Yugi's breathing quickened Ryou immediately threw his own powers at Yugi strengthening his friend's mental defenses enough so the pain decreased marginally. Seeing their hosts distracted Yami frowned and turned to look at Bakura, who was glaring at the two humans, particularly Yugi. The Ancient instantly knew something was wrong and the white haired vampire was at the root of it.
*"Stop whatever it is you're doing Bakura,"* he telepathically ordered the younger vampire. *"You're hurting the boy." The reprimand was clear and earned Yami a fierce glare, which he answered with one of his own. Bakura sneered in annoyance before complying and ceasing his attack. As soon as the mental bombardment stopped Yugi opened his eyes and gave Ryou a reassuring smile.
"Hey, you two ok?" Joey inquired breaking the silence.
"Yes, sorry about that," Ryou said standing from his seat and gesturing for the three to come in. "Come in and sit down, are you hungry? Would any of you like something to eat or drink?" Ryou smiled hospitably.
"No thanks, we've already...eaten," replied Yami taking a seat on an empty couch, Joey joining him, Bakura remained standing until Ryou smiled and gestured for him to join them.
"Where's Seto?" Yami looked at Ryou and Yugi, and listened intently for the sound of the third occupant of the house.
"He's sleeping, he said to just start without him," Yugi supplied, glancing up the stairs.
"We can't really start today, research wise, but we can start figuring out what we're going to do," Ryou said sitting back down next to Yugi. "So what do you guys think we should do? Do any of you know a lot about...vampires?" Ryou could not keep the remorse from his voice when he said this. Joey raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic look of contempt on the teen's face.
'Hmmm, I wonder,' he thought to himself looking at Ryou and Yugi with a calculating look in his eyes. 'Maybe we don't have to look too hard to find those we're searching for.'
"Actually none of us is really into the supernatural and that sort of thing," Yami said, Joey nodding in agreement absentmindedly. "Personally I doubt vampires and such things can be real."
"Actually Yami, throughout the years there have been mysterious killings and disappearances that just might prove you wrong," Bakura said for the first time since sitting down, his comment earning him another glare form the older vampire.
*"What the hell do you think you're doing Bakura?!"* Yami yelled in Bakura's mind, his anger flowing through their mental link. *"I've already told you not to call attention to us and you say something like that!"* Bakura merely smiled at this friend's mental tirade and continued.
"There was news a few years back on mysterious killings at some city, they say the bodies were found but the cause of death was.... unusual. Rumours had it that the bodies that were found were dry." Bakura relished the thunderous expression forming on Yami's usually calm face. "They called it the 'Dracul Killings' and some people claim that it was vampires. There was one killing though that really got to me, vampire or not it was sick." Bakura's face lost all expression, hardening into a stone like mask. "There was a..."
"A little girl," Ryou said cutting Bakura off. "Only about seven years old, they found the her body after she was missing for about a week." The others, including Bakura remained silent allowing Ryou to finish the story. "W-when they found the.... her body it was mutilated as if it was ravaged by wild dogs, but the bite marks were like nothing anyone had ever seen. It was also the last killing they had in that area," at this point Ryou's voice had hardened, his eyes narrowed making him look more identical to Bakura than before.
Yugi looked at his friend seeing the obvious changes and feeling the helpless rage Ryou felt and instantly knew. The killing had been a vampire, and the little girl had been the last because Ryou has gotten the killer before he could kill again, however in Ryou's mind he had not made the kill on time and blamed himself for the senseless killing of the little girl. Instantly Yugi reached for his friend's mind to reassure him, only to find himself blocked out, shielded, not by Ryou but by something, or someone very powerful and very protective.
Ryou sat his eyes unfocused, trying to prevent the images of the past from entering his mind. Just as the first images invaded his mind's eye he felt someone block him from the pain, someone unknown yet closely familiar, someone he knew yet was a stranger to him.
*"It's alright my little Light,"* the mental voice that spoke to him was like a warm comforting breeze. *"You did what you could, do not let the past hurt you. Do not take the blame for something beyond your control,"* the voice was calm and soothing, so eerily familiar that Ryou found himself instinctively reaching for the other mind.
*"Who are you?"* he asked as he basked in the other's presence.
*"A memory, my little Light, a memory."* With that the other presence disappeared with a final wave of warmth. Ryou instantly became aware of Yugi gently shaking him.
"Ryou are you ok?" Yugi waved a hand in front of Ryou, who looked down at him with, dark brown eyes confused. "You were zoning out there. Are you all right? Maybe you should get some rest, you didn't get much sleep last night too."
"No, I'm fine Yugi, just thinking."
Yami sat back and watched the two humans talk to one another, turning away his attention was caught by some photos lined up along the shelf of a bookcase located at one side of the room. Standing up he walked to the bookshelf and picked one of the photographs up. He looked at the figures standing, frozen in that one joyful moment in time, smiling happily at the camera. Yami easily identified two of the figures as Yugi and Seto; a few years younger than they were now, the older man and woman were unknown to Yami, who dismissed them. The last face, however, cause Yami's eyes to narrow and a small furrow appeared between his brows. There standing next to Seto, a big smile on his happy face, a small hand clasping the young brunet's was someone Yami knew, someone he had helped a few years back and was almost like a brother to him.
'Mokuba,' Yami thought in wonder his eyes widening in realization. 'Seto is the brother Mokuba spoke of, and Yugi must be his other older brother.' Yami closed his eyes and remembered the tattered pictures Mokuba had shown him; one of which showed a small brown haired child smiling at the camera as he held a younger boy in his arms, and the other showed the same brunet with a spike haired little kid. 'Seto and Yugi are Mokuba's brothers, they are they're the hunters the vampire who took Mokuba was talking about,' the thoughts ran through his mind quickly, his hold on the frame tightening with a force enough to shatter the delicate glass protecting the picture.
"The Lights," he whispered to himself, putting the picture back in its place he looked at the other framed images on the shelf. Another picture caught the Ancient's eyes, one that filled in the empty spaces in his revelations. The picture was of three teens, different in sizes, expressions, in all aspect but one. 'The Three Lights, Seto Kaiba, Yugi Moto, Ryou Hunter.' Yami's eyes lost their usual guarded look and began to burn with undecipherable light.
"I've found you."
"Found who Yami?" Joey suddenly asked appearing behind the shorter vampire.
"No one Joey, no one," with that Yami returned to his previous seat and once again was lost in his thoughts. 'The Lights did begin making their kills a few months after Mokuba said he was taken, could it be that they hunt because of Seto and Yugi's loss? Then why would Ryou hunt with them?' The questions circled through Yami's mind causing him to block out the conversation around him. 'They said they met Ryou only a few years ago.... I wonder.' Yami looked at the white haired teen that was now laughing slightly at a comment made by Joey. 'What do you have to do with all this? How did you get involved in this Ryou Hunter?" As the name reverberated through his mind more pieces of the puzzle fell in place.
'Hunter, of course! Ryou Hunter, the last of the Hunter blood,' Yami thought in awe. 'No wonder the lights are so successful in killing, one of them is a Hunter, a natural blood born vampire hunter,' crimson eyes narrowed further in thought. 'But I thought the Hunter bloodline was destroyed,' the revelation opened new questions for the Ancient Pharaoh, who turned and looked at his friend. 'Bakura you never failed on a mission in all the lifetimes I've known you. What happened all those years ago? Why is it that a Hunter lives?' Not expecting a reply Yami was surprised to receive one.
*"Do not concern yourself too much Pharaoh, you will receive all the answers you seek and all will finally be clear,"* a mental voice said, the vampire who owned the voice was not one Yami recognized and he instantly sent his mind out to search for the source.
*"Who are you? How dare you enter my mind,"* Yami's demand was hard and backed by an unquestionable rage.
*"Who I am is irrelevant at this time, Pharaoh, but soon you, all of you, will know exactly who I am."* With that the other vampire retreated leaving not even a trace of its presence. Yami looked around at the others in the room trying to determine if it could have been one of them, seeing nothing out of the ordinary the Ancient dismissed the possibility of the Lights being able to communicate mentally.
'Whoever that was knew a lot more than he let on. He said soon, well I'll wait, I'll wait until my unsuspecting prey is within reach.' Yami snarled, startling Joey and Bakura, as they were the only ones to see their friend's show of temper. Yugi looked at their three guests in confusion, one moment Joey and Bakura were discussing the project with them, and the next they were staring at Yami looking slightly shocked for no apparent reason.
*"What's the matter Yami?"* Joey asked his mental tone serious.
*"Did you find something out?"* Bakura inquired sharply, he would not be surprised if Yami had somehow found something out. Something that could endanger Ryou and cause a rift between the two Ancients that could push two of the most powerful Ancients into a battle against one another.
*"No, no it's nothing,"* Yami's reply was sent to both, but his crimson eyes were locked onto Bakura's dark brown gaze.
'You know,' both thought immediately as they looked into one another's eyes, which remained free of their hidden knowledge.
"We should go," Yami said rising from his seat and walking towards the door followed by Joey and Bakura. "I'm sure we can meet again another time, the project isn't due for a while, and we really should do this when Seto's here."
"Yeah, you're probably right," Yugi agreed smiling at the three. "Thanks for coming over."
"It was no problem, it was fun," Joey said smiling at Yugi and Ryou.
"We'll see you later, bye." Yugi and Ryou watched from the door as the three walked away.
"I should prepare Seto something to eat," Ryou said closing the door and walking to the kitchen followed by Yugi, talking quietly about the afternoon's events.
The tall teen stood in the center of the field, fog rolling through the tall grass that grew to his knees encased in denim. Ice blue eyes scanned their surroundings, hands fisted at his side, coat fluttering in the wind. Turning his eyes fell on his two companions, who were standing as still as he, ready to fight at any moment. Feeling eyes upon him he turned to face invisible enemies, but what met his eyes caused his heart to stutter in his chest. Glacier blue eyes met storm cloud gray, identical in shape. Years had passed yet it was as if only minutes had gone by since the two colours had met.
"Mokuba," the name left the teen's mouth, a whispered prayer. The apparition smiled the same familiar curling of the lips reminiscent of childhood memories.
"I'm coming soon, big brother," the promise left the vision's lips with a widening smile. "We'll be a family again Seto."
With that the dream faded and Seto sat up, cold perspiration cool on his skin, his hair sticking to his brow.
"Mokuba," he whispered in the dark room. Turning, he picked up a photograph placed on his side table. It had been taken at the orphanage, and was of he and his brother standing in front of a huge tree; his arms wrapped around the black haired ball of energy that was Mokuba Kiaba. Seeing the smiling image of his brother, a gentle smile bloomed on the tall teen's face and hope on the brink of disappearing for good flared once again in his heart.
"Hello? Yeah it's me," Yami held the cell phone to his ear and listened to the other person at the other end reply. "So can you come here soon? There's something, or rather someone here that I'm sure you'd love to meet. Ok, see you soon, bye." Yami pushed the end button and looked up at the moon through the window.
'Soon, soon everything will be answered.'
to be continued
tiger: i'm sorry i'm sorry i'm sorry im sorry!!
Bakura: you damn well better be!
Yami: let's see...you're what? two months late on your update?
Bakura: that is lazy lazy work, tsk tsk i am so very ashamed
tiger: ;__; i is sowwy *puppy dog eyes*
Yugi: i forgive you *hugs tiger* after all we short people gotta stick together ^___________^ tiger: *sniffsniff* thankies!! *huggles Yugi* i wove you, you wittle cutie pie!!
Yugi: ^__________^* hehehe
Ryou: Bakura you apologize now! that was mean!! you too Yami, that was mean!!
Bakura: but i dun wanna!! *pout*
Ryou: apologize now or *whispers in Bakura's ear*
Bakura: O_O you wouldn't!!
Ryou: o wouldn't i now?
tiger: yeah!! you show him who's boss snow bunny!!
Seto: snow bunny?
tiger: yep! doesn't he remind you of a cute little bunny rabbit? so cute *glomps Ryou* Ryou: err.....thanks tiger, i think hehehe ^_________^
Bakura: hands off of him!!
tiger: no, not 'till you apologize
Bakura: fine...i'm sorry
tiger: good ^_______^ i is happy now
tiger: i'm sorry i'm sorry really i tried to get this out as quick as i could!!
!!please review!!