Yasha: Oh............my..............gods................ OVER 80
REVIEWS!!! OMG!!! I'M SO HAPPY I THINK I MIGHT-!!! *dies*
Anrui: Oi vay, not again... *resurrects and is glomped by his hyper hikari* Geez, Yasha... It's just reviews.
Yasha: *beams* Oh Yami... *pokes his nose* So naive.
Anrui: *blinks* Nani?
Yasha: Not now! Have to talk to the faithful reviewers!
Okay, I'm going to try and update a LOT faster from now on. This story is moving too slow and I want to get to some good stuff...whatever that may be. ^_^;;; I should have proofread... Damn my pasting-eagerness! *hits herself with a mallet* So... I've brought in Seto, Yami, and Bakura! My three favorite bishies! *glomps them all* Yeah... I should have made Bakura a little meaner I think, but wouldn't you be kind of down if your pack died? I think so. And that one line about 'my reason for living' or whatever was soooo cheesy! I should hit myself again! *does so* I promise I will take greater care from now on, but I wrote the last one in a day and I just wanted to get it up! *sigh* Oh well, enough sob stories. It's that time again!
Anrui: *blink* For what?
Yasha: Answering my reviews! *beams*
Anrui: *rolls eyes* Why do you even care? They're just reviews by dorky little authors.
Yasha: *gasps and grows ten times her normal size as flames erupt in the background* WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?!?!
Anrui: *cowers* Nothing, Hikari-chan...
Yasha: That's what I thought... It's you reviewers that make me want to continue this story! I have VERY low self-esteem and you guys really help to make me want to write more chapters! *glomps all the reviewers* I LOOOOOVVVEEEE YOUS!
InsaneFuzieBunny: YAY! SUGAR! *eats it all and she starts to shake* Hehe... s-sugar ish goooooood...
Anrui: GAH! RUN AWAY!
Yasha: *chases after her Yami, her arms wide* Awwwwww, someone needs a HUG! COME BACK YAMI-KUN! LATER I CAN GIVE YOU A HAIR CUT WITH MY KATANA!
Anrui: NOOOOOOOO! NOT MY HAIR! GO AWAY!!! *runs like hell* Yasha: *thinks* Hey... If hell is a place... How can it run?
WolfYoukai64: Well, the kind of Rps that I usually do are with friends over AIM, I've never really tried a site RP... I'll have to do that. ^_^ YAYNESS! NEW STORY! *goes to read*
Princess Strawberry: *laughs* Part-fluff, lol. I will try, though there are no guarentees, it might take a while for more Y/Y... IF I even decide to put it in. *evil grin*
Wolfspeaker1: Me? Give up on this story? Never! This story is like my child! I would NEVER abandon it! *huggles story tightly and kisses it*
Midnight Hikari: Glad you like it! *huggles*
Evil Chibi Malik: *eats the Pocky with a huge smile on her face* Hai! 'Tis true! Kawaii-ness IS contagious! *goes chibi and kawaii and glomps* THANKIES A BILLION FOR REVIEWING!
Kitt Sseh: HAI! ^_^
Aleandra Alyra Sarienna: Really? I'm the first? *gasps and glomps AAS and the Yugi werewolf plushie* ARIGATOU! No one has ever given me a plushie before! *starts to cry* I will treasure it forever. *hugs it to death* Hm... I guess you can call it romance, though it's not really there yet... If it ever gets there (see below comment). *sniff sniff* Hai, poor Bakura- kun. *huggles Bakura tightly* It's so sad! *bawls*
Chibizoo: Wah! You serious?! *goes to write a fantabulous story* I will start right away! I wan that doujinshi!
jono-uchi1: *laughs and pats her head* You're welcome, and don't worry, It will come in time! I'm as anxious as you are to get them together too!
Genki-Rei-Chan: *smiles* I'm glad you say that, but I still think it could use some improvement...emphasis on 'some', lol. Hm... Maybe there will be more, maybe not... (see below comment). Well, I don't have too much of a grasp on their characters and I never really instended to put them in, so I think I should leave it be. Comic relief? *thinks* Lol, I guess. Crazy people are funny, just look at me!
Jadej.j: *smile* You will have to seeeeeeeeee.
Midnight Star: *shakes head* I hope not. I read that story too and I liked it, but you're right, it was a crappy ending. You know, the guy who gave me my first kiss and broke my heart (a few months ago) was named Aiden (except it was spelled 'Aidin', but it's the same basic name. He was a horny jerk and I regret ever kissing him). Maybe I should have taken the book more serious, ne? Me too! Grrr! What side do I pick?! I think I'm just gonna be neutral, lol. ^_^
sd-snow vixen: Thankies a thousand times! *glomps*
Silver Draggon: *nods* I will finish it! Thank you so much! A fanart? Hai hai!!! I would LOVE one! The Halloween Run would be sweet, I'm surprised that you remembered it! ^_^ Well, It's gonna be in the next chapter, I think (either that or the one after). So, after you read it, you could have a bit of a better idea as to what goes on and stuff. ^_^ *glomps* Arigatou, and keep reviewing, onegai!
SoulDreamer: Thankies and I will! *huggles*
Skittles the Sugar Fairy: *laughs her ass off* Buh?! LMAO! Gomen ne, I guess I should have said what the story was in my e-mail. ^_^;;;;;; Did Yami kill them? *goes all dark and freaky* I'll never teeeellllll... before the time is right!
Yasha: Thankies a million again to all that read and reviewed! AISHITERU, MINNA-SAN! *laughs* Gomen ne for my little R/B teaser. I would have killed the author if I was reading this story. ^_^ Bakura comes into Ryou's room with NO shirt, it's hot, it's night, and then the boy cries in his arms and there wasn't even a kiss! Not even one on the forehead! *falls over with laughter* And what's more? Ryou is going to be Bakura's little brother figure person or whatever... It's like I'm getting rid of all fluff possibilities and replacing it with just brotherly love. So... Gomen ne again. Hm... Maybe I might just keep them that way...and have them never get together... What do you think, Minna-san? *evil grin*
Anywho, before I forget... I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh. I wish I did, but there we are... I DO *cough* not *cough cough* own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Anrui: Hey! You can't do that!
Yasha: *blinks* Do what?
Anrui: I saw that! You put the accentuation or whatever on the wrong word! Do you want this story taken off?!
Yasha: Yeesh, fine fine... I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh. Happy?
Anrui: *growls* I ain't getting my ass put in jail because you're plagiarizing.
Yasha: *rolls eyes* Yeah yeah, whatever... You remind me of that guy who was on that one SNL Phone Booth parody. Everyone ever see that? It cracked me up! Ray Romano was the guy in the phone booth and the guys like 'Walter... Tell them that you hate black people.' (Note: No offence to anyone who is of African descent. I love all races and all people... Except for the ones who go onto 'R' stories and get them kicked off. *growls*) Anywho, the guy goes 'Do it or I'll shoot you' and then Walter says fine and goes 'I hate...blllllllaaaaaAAAAAaaaaAAAAaack............ PLEOPLE!' LMAO! Then the sniper says he'll shoot him again and Walter says it right and the black cop says 'What'd you say, bitch?!' *clutches her stomach and rolls on the floor as she continues to laugh her all off* That was hilarious! Oh gods! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *wipes a tear from her eyes* Back to the story... This is dedicated to every one of my reviewers from any one of my chapters! I love you a billion times over and arigatou for encouraging me like you have been. ^_^ With that out of the way... Here is chapter six!
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The next morning, after breakfast, everyone went to bid Bakura good luck on the rest of his journey over Asia. He was fed and rested and everyone knew that he had to continue to warn the other packs so that they would be able to protect themselves, but the need to protect the fate of the other packs didn't seem to overcome the want for the stranger to stay for some of the wolves. Sugoroku, Yugi, and Ryou seemed the most reluctant to say goodbye to the white-haired leader.
"I wish you good luck on your journey, and I hope that you will come back to visit us soon," the elder wolf said as he gazed up at Bakura.
"I will, and thank you," he replied, touching the elder's shoulder and giving a small smile.
Yugi stepped forward and shook the hand of his fellow leader. "I wish you the same, Bakura. I hope that the moon will protect you and guide you safely back to us. We will anxiously wait for your return," he said, trying to sound as leader-like as possible in the presence of the other, making his grandfather smile.
Bakura nodded and gave another smile to the younger wolf before he turned to Ryou. The boy's eyes were darker than usual and the brightness was drowned in sadness, making them murky. Bakura walked up to him and hugged him tightly as he had done the night before. "Don't cry, Ryou. I will return, I promise."
Ryou's arms wrapped around Bakura and his head nodded against the other's. "I know... I hope you come back soon," he whispered.
"I will run like the wind and come back as soon as I can. Remember what I said... I need you to be strong and not let your fear overcome you, or your pack will never have a chance of surviving. Promise me."
"I promise." After squeezing Bakura one last time, the boy let go and let the outline of a smile show on his lips. "Goodbye, naisei."
"Goodbye... Until our next meeting." The taller wolf touched Ryou's pale cheek, making the residue of his tears vanish before he turned, nodded to everyone and went out the large oak door, back into the harsh world from where he had come the day before.
*****
"But Gramps! You have us do da Run!" a certain blond wolf protested at the dinner table that night.
"Hai!" Anzu joined in. "We only do four ever year and the Halloween Run is always the one where the conditions are best and we have less chance of being seen!"
It was a tradition for all werewolf packs to do the autumn Run at Halloween, when the spirits of the dead and the supernatural are said to come out and haunt the earth, giving them a good cover story if they were ever seen by the humans. IF they were ever seen through the darkness and the trees. IF. What is a 'Run', you ask? The Runs are four of the greatest yearly events in the werewolf culture, a time when werewolves can come together for one night and be as one. They hunt together, run together, even mate together sometimes. It is on these nights that occur only once a season, that they are all equal, no matter their gender or age; they are simply one pack. Local nature reserves and the remaining forests are ideal for these events. Before the humans started to settle in cities, the werewolves were able to run wherever they pleased, as long as it was away from whatever small settlement was there. Now the human's cities were everywhere and it was becoming harder to find any large forests anymore. Thank the moon for the environmentalists. If the woods were ever completely gone there would be nothing to shield the hundreds of wolves that came from that region from the eyes of the humans, and that would be disaster. The Runs were necessary in the packs. They created a sense of unity among the wolves and enables them to remember what they were-that they were not the humans, no matter how much they looked like them. They were something entirely different, and they could not forget.
"I'm just worried about what happened with Bakura's pack. I don't want you to be attacked." Sugoroku sighed and put his graying head in his hands, his small fingers rubbing soothing circles in his temples.
"Jii-san... I don't think that they would be stupid enough to attack while there are hundreds of strong, alert werewolves around, especially with them being extra cautious since Bakura came and told them about the attack," Yugi said comfortingly.
The elder wolf sighed and lifted his head. "Maybe you're right... You will be around each other and others... But you must stay together and be wary at all times."
The five younger wolves nodded. "So we can do the Run?" Anzu asked hopefully.
"Hai... I suppose."
Various cheers and victory sounds came from the young wolves. "Thanks, Jii- san!" Yugi cried as he hugged his grandfather tightly around his neck.
"You're welcome, Yugi," the graying wolf sighed, trying to forget the uneasiness that still swelled in his chest.
*****
"What are you doing for Halloween, Yugi?" Yami asked the boy one day they walked home after staying after school again. The two of them had become very open around each other during the past month and had started walking together more and more each day.
"Nothing much," Yugi lied. "Why?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to do something, I don't know..." Yami shrugged.
"Oh... I can't..."
Yami looked over, feigned shock and disappointment in his eyes. "I thought you said you weren't doing anything."
"I'm not, but... I promised my grandpa and the rest of the guys that I would hang with them. It's sort of a tradition," he said, apology lacing his voice.
"Oh... I see..." Yami replied glumly.
"I really am sorry... I can hang with you another time, if you want."
"Sure, we can do something another time," Yami said, smiling. "I don't think that you'd like sitting in a dark room with me and watching scary movies, anyway. It would be kind of boring."
Yugi returned the smile as his thoughts turned to the image of he and Yami alone in a room together. The young wolf had always been terrified of scary movies ever since he was little. What is he got scared? Would Yami envelope him in his arms and hold him until the danger was over?
"Yugi? You okay? You're face is red," Yami said, peering over at the boy.
"Nani?" Yugi asked as he suddenly noticed the heat in his cheeks, which only made them grow warmer. "I'm fine!"
Yami laughed and shook his head. "If you're sure. This is your stop, I'll see you later."
"Ja ne, Yami-kun!" Yugi called as he stopped at his house. "See ya on Monday!" The boy walked up the driveway and into the house. "Minna-san, I'm home!" he called as he exchanged his shoes for slippers and removed his jacket. A low grumbling from the living room was his answer.
On the couch was Jou, textbooks and papers and notes which probably weren't his sprawled out around him in a giant fanning mess. "Hao," he said shortly.
"Hao, Jou... Tough assignments?" Yugi asked as he took a seat in a chair.
"Not really, I think I'm getting da hang of dis math stuff. It's the only real pro'lem I've been havin'." Despite popular belief, Jounouchi was actually really smart and got very good marks in school, he was just a procrastinator and had a tendency to grumble when he was stuck.
"That's good. We can help you if you want," Yugi offered.
"Thanks, but I'm okay fer now. If I really need yer help, I'll ask ya, kay?" Jou grumbled.
"If you say so..." Yugi said. "Are you okay? You seem a little...angrier than usual."
"I'm fine, Yug'," Jou replied lowly. "I see dat Yami walked ya home again."
Yugi blinked. "Nani? Oh, yeah. He did."
"Yous two are gettin' pretty close, ne? Is he your best friend now or somethin'?" Jou's words held a scorching harshness in them that was only present when he talked about Kaiba or some bully at school, and they were never aimed towards Yugi.
Realization for Jou's mood his Yugi and he frowned. "Hai, Yami's a friend and we're pretty close, but you're still my best friend, Jou. You have been since forever and you always will be."
Jou mumbled under his breath, too low for Yugi to make out the words. "Whatever, Yug'," he said clearly.
Yugi was stunned. Why was Jou being like this? "Jou, it's the truth! You are still my best friend!"
"Then why are ya always hangin' out wit him!" Jou retorted, his words slowly becoming acidic.
"Because he's my friend, Jou!" Yugi explained. "I can't help it if I don't live with him like I do with you and the rest of the gang! The only time I ever get to talk to him is at school and on the way home! That's not fair, Jou!"
"I don't trust him, Yugi!"
"Why not? Because he's my friend now?" Yugi yelled.
"Because he's HUMAN, Yugi!"
Yugi stared at his best friend, shocked beyond belief at his words. He had never pictured his friend being against the humans like this, considering that they all had some human friends from school. Then again, none of them had ever come as close to them as Yami had. "So...what?" the young leader said. "You don't trust me with him? You afraid that I'll tell him what we are or something?" he growled. J ou stared at his friend. "That's not what I meant, Yug'."
"Then what do you mean, Jou? Enlighten me. What about all of YOUR human friends? You trust them!"
"I don't spend as much time with them as you guys!"
"Oh! So you're worried that since I'm spending an extra hour with Yami on the way home, he's going to find out what I am?" Yugi's hair was more bristled than usual and he reminded Jou of a dog who's fur was standing on end.
"No, Yugi! Dat's not what I mean! I jus' don't trust him, I don't know what it is, but he doesn't seem right ta me! I jus' don't want ya gettin' hurt!"
"Well, thank you VERY much for your concern and your support in my making new friends," Yugi said, sarcasm dripping from every word, "but I think I can choose my own friends, thank you very much!" Fuming, the boy grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room and up the stairs to his room.
"Yugi!" Jou called to the retreating boy, but there was no answer. Frowning, he leaned back against the couch and hand a writing-exhausted hand through his thick, golden tresses. "Gomen nasai, Yugi..." he sighed before he lazily picked up his pen and resumed his homework, regret flowing through him like a dark poison, tainting his body and making him feel ugly inside.
*****
Yugi's bedroom seemed cold and lonely and offered little comfort to the feelings of betrayal and anger and repent that flooded inside him, triggering another emotion. Confusion. His homework done, the boy stared at the ceiling at the little glow-in-the-dark objects that were stuck to his ceiling with stick-tack. In the middle was a sun which was circled by seven objects, each in the shape of the different phases on the moon, with one space blank to show where the New Moon should be. Around those were the stars, arranged in no particular pattern along the black ceiling. The rest of the walls were white and covered with posters of wolves, dragons, wizards, and other supernatural scenes painted by famous fantasy artists as well as the occasional picture from a movie or an anime that the boy liked. There was an oak desk in the corner, on which sat pictures of the boy and his friends at the beach, at the amusement park, or just hanging out together. In the corner was a small violet frame what surrounded a picture of a younger Yugi beaming as he was held in the arms of a woman with eyes that held the same amethyst hue as his own-his mother.
The young leader sighed, wondering what happened to the life that seemed to careless before. 'I grew up... That's what happened...' he told himself before he was snapped out of his thoughts by a soft knock on the door. "Come in..." he said as he sat up on his bed.
The door slowly opened, revealing the figure of his best friend, his golden eyes becoming two pools of pure apology. "Hey Yug'..." he mumbled.
"Hey..." the boy replied, trying hard not to look away.
"Ano... Can I come in?" the blond asked sheepishly from the door.
"Sure," Yugi said, watching as Jou walked inside and noiselessly shut the door behind him.
"Look, Yugi..." he started off. "I'm sorry fer what I said..."
"You don't need to apologize, Jou," Yugi said. "You were just looking out for me..."
Jou's eyes dropped to his feet in shame. "Hai... I was... But dat's not entirely it..." The honey eyes rose again, catching the sight of his friend, blinking at him in slight confusion, but waiting for him to continue. "I was...jealous, I guess... Of Yami..."
"Jealous?" Yugi queried. "Why?"
"I don't know, Yugi. I guess because you've been spendin' so much time wit him, and I know now that I've been over-exaggeratin', but I dunno... I jus' didn't want ya to see him take my best buddy away..."
Yugi frowned and rose from his bed ans stood in front of Jou. "He won't take me away, Jou. We're friends, and we're good friends... But he could never take your place... I promise you."
Jou nodded. "I know dat now, Yug'. I'm sorry dat I let it get outta hand... I do trust you, but I still want ya ta be careful aroun' him... At leas' until we get ta know him better, kay?" The blond was well aware that he sounded like a parent...or an overprotective older brother.
Yugi gave a small smile and nodded. "Kay, Jou. If you want, maybe I can ask him if he could hang with all of us sometime. Then you guys could all get to know him better," the boy suggested, hopefully.
Jou pondered for a split second and grinned. "If ya say so, Yugi. I'd like ta get to know dis guy better, and know where he got the idea for his hair," he chuckled.
Yugi laughed and hugged his best friend tight around his waist. "You know who else you should get to know?"
"Who?" Jou asked.
"Kaiba," Yugi snickered.
Jou grimaced and looked like he was about to vomit. "Now, WHY would I eva wanna get ta know dat pompous little cake-eater?"
"Because maybe if you got to know him better, you would stop fighting and we could all give our ears a rest," Yugi giggled.
"Hey! He's da one who starts it, and you know it!" the blond retorted in an attempt to defend himself.
"Because he calls you 'pup' and 'mutt' all the time and makes cracks about how you have rabies and probably leave little surprises on the carpet?"
"When did he say da last one?" Jou yelled. "I'll kill that son-of-a-!"
Yugi was leaning against Jou's chest for support as he shook violently with laughter. "H-he...didn't!" he gasped through his giggles. I...made...that up!
Jou blinked. "Nani? That ain't nice, Yug'!" he pouted, only to be answered by a louder fit of giggles. "I'll give ya somethin' ta laugh about," he grumbled before he swiftly knelt down and ticked Yugi.
"Gah!" the boy cried, his body writing and his howls of laughter increasing in volume. "Stop! I give! I give!"
Jou stopped his hands and smirked. "Does this mean that I'm the leader now?" he asked in feigned innocence.
Yugi replied with another laugh. "You wish!"
Jou shrugged. "Oh well, no harm in askin', ne?"
Yugi shook his head, giggles still escaping his throat. "Guess not."
Jou smiled and rose from the floor. "I'm gonna go finish up ma homework. I'll see ya at dinner, kay?"
"Hai, see ya,"Yugi replied, still beaming. "Jou?"
The boy turned towards his friend. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for cheering me up," the smaller wolf said, sincerely.
Jou's smile widened and his golden eyes shone with mirth. "Yer welcome, buddy," he said. And with that, he left the room.
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Yasha: What do you think? I would have gone more, but I reached my limit and I thought I should leave it there and continues in the next chapter. What's in it, you may ask? THE HALLOWEEN RUN!!! WOOT! *ish so psyched about this chappie* You never know what might happen, and you will just have to wait and find out! I don't know how long it will take to write, since it's not the weekend anymore, but I hope that I can finish it by the end of the week. ^_^ Ja ne and don't forget to review!
Anrui: Oi vay, not again... *resurrects and is glomped by his hyper hikari* Geez, Yasha... It's just reviews.
Yasha: *beams* Oh Yami... *pokes his nose* So naive.
Anrui: *blinks* Nani?
Yasha: Not now! Have to talk to the faithful reviewers!
Okay, I'm going to try and update a LOT faster from now on. This story is moving too slow and I want to get to some good stuff...whatever that may be. ^_^;;; I should have proofread... Damn my pasting-eagerness! *hits herself with a mallet* So... I've brought in Seto, Yami, and Bakura! My three favorite bishies! *glomps them all* Yeah... I should have made Bakura a little meaner I think, but wouldn't you be kind of down if your pack died? I think so. And that one line about 'my reason for living' or whatever was soooo cheesy! I should hit myself again! *does so* I promise I will take greater care from now on, but I wrote the last one in a day and I just wanted to get it up! *sigh* Oh well, enough sob stories. It's that time again!
Anrui: *blink* For what?
Yasha: Answering my reviews! *beams*
Anrui: *rolls eyes* Why do you even care? They're just reviews by dorky little authors.
Yasha: *gasps and grows ten times her normal size as flames erupt in the background* WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?!?!
Anrui: *cowers* Nothing, Hikari-chan...
Yasha: That's what I thought... It's you reviewers that make me want to continue this story! I have VERY low self-esteem and you guys really help to make me want to write more chapters! *glomps all the reviewers* I LOOOOOVVVEEEE YOUS!
InsaneFuzieBunny: YAY! SUGAR! *eats it all and she starts to shake* Hehe... s-sugar ish goooooood...
Anrui: GAH! RUN AWAY!
Yasha: *chases after her Yami, her arms wide* Awwwwww, someone needs a HUG! COME BACK YAMI-KUN! LATER I CAN GIVE YOU A HAIR CUT WITH MY KATANA!
Anrui: NOOOOOOOO! NOT MY HAIR! GO AWAY!!! *runs like hell* Yasha: *thinks* Hey... If hell is a place... How can it run?
WolfYoukai64: Well, the kind of Rps that I usually do are with friends over AIM, I've never really tried a site RP... I'll have to do that. ^_^ YAYNESS! NEW STORY! *goes to read*
Princess Strawberry: *laughs* Part-fluff, lol. I will try, though there are no guarentees, it might take a while for more Y/Y... IF I even decide to put it in. *evil grin*
Wolfspeaker1: Me? Give up on this story? Never! This story is like my child! I would NEVER abandon it! *huggles story tightly and kisses it*
Midnight Hikari: Glad you like it! *huggles*
Evil Chibi Malik: *eats the Pocky with a huge smile on her face* Hai! 'Tis true! Kawaii-ness IS contagious! *goes chibi and kawaii and glomps* THANKIES A BILLION FOR REVIEWING!
Kitt Sseh: HAI! ^_^
Aleandra Alyra Sarienna: Really? I'm the first? *gasps and glomps AAS and the Yugi werewolf plushie* ARIGATOU! No one has ever given me a plushie before! *starts to cry* I will treasure it forever. *hugs it to death* Hm... I guess you can call it romance, though it's not really there yet... If it ever gets there (see below comment). *sniff sniff* Hai, poor Bakura- kun. *huggles Bakura tightly* It's so sad! *bawls*
Chibizoo: Wah! You serious?! *goes to write a fantabulous story* I will start right away! I wan that doujinshi!
jono-uchi1: *laughs and pats her head* You're welcome, and don't worry, It will come in time! I'm as anxious as you are to get them together too!
Genki-Rei-Chan: *smiles* I'm glad you say that, but I still think it could use some improvement...emphasis on 'some', lol. Hm... Maybe there will be more, maybe not... (see below comment). Well, I don't have too much of a grasp on their characters and I never really instended to put them in, so I think I should leave it be. Comic relief? *thinks* Lol, I guess. Crazy people are funny, just look at me!
Jadej.j: *smile* You will have to seeeeeeeeee.
Midnight Star: *shakes head* I hope not. I read that story too and I liked it, but you're right, it was a crappy ending. You know, the guy who gave me my first kiss and broke my heart (a few months ago) was named Aiden (except it was spelled 'Aidin', but it's the same basic name. He was a horny jerk and I regret ever kissing him). Maybe I should have taken the book more serious, ne? Me too! Grrr! What side do I pick?! I think I'm just gonna be neutral, lol. ^_^
sd-snow vixen: Thankies a thousand times! *glomps*
Silver Draggon: *nods* I will finish it! Thank you so much! A fanart? Hai hai!!! I would LOVE one! The Halloween Run would be sweet, I'm surprised that you remembered it! ^_^ Well, It's gonna be in the next chapter, I think (either that or the one after). So, after you read it, you could have a bit of a better idea as to what goes on and stuff. ^_^ *glomps* Arigatou, and keep reviewing, onegai!
SoulDreamer: Thankies and I will! *huggles*
Skittles the Sugar Fairy: *laughs her ass off* Buh?! LMAO! Gomen ne, I guess I should have said what the story was in my e-mail. ^_^;;;;;; Did Yami kill them? *goes all dark and freaky* I'll never teeeellllll... before the time is right!
Yasha: Thankies a million again to all that read and reviewed! AISHITERU, MINNA-SAN! *laughs* Gomen ne for my little R/B teaser. I would have killed the author if I was reading this story. ^_^ Bakura comes into Ryou's room with NO shirt, it's hot, it's night, and then the boy cries in his arms and there wasn't even a kiss! Not even one on the forehead! *falls over with laughter* And what's more? Ryou is going to be Bakura's little brother figure person or whatever... It's like I'm getting rid of all fluff possibilities and replacing it with just brotherly love. So... Gomen ne again. Hm... Maybe I might just keep them that way...and have them never get together... What do you think, Minna-san? *evil grin*
Anywho, before I forget... I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh. I wish I did, but there we are... I DO *cough* not *cough cough* own Yu-Gi-Oh.
Anrui: Hey! You can't do that!
Yasha: *blinks* Do what?
Anrui: I saw that! You put the accentuation or whatever on the wrong word! Do you want this story taken off?!
Yasha: Yeesh, fine fine... I do NOT own Yu-Gi-Oh. Happy?
Anrui: *growls* I ain't getting my ass put in jail because you're plagiarizing.
Yasha: *rolls eyes* Yeah yeah, whatever... You remind me of that guy who was on that one SNL Phone Booth parody. Everyone ever see that? It cracked me up! Ray Romano was the guy in the phone booth and the guys like 'Walter... Tell them that you hate black people.' (Note: No offence to anyone who is of African descent. I love all races and all people... Except for the ones who go onto 'R' stories and get them kicked off. *growls*) Anywho, the guy goes 'Do it or I'll shoot you' and then Walter says fine and goes 'I hate...blllllllaaaaaAAAAAaaaaAAAAaack............ PLEOPLE!' LMAO! Then the sniper says he'll shoot him again and Walter says it right and the black cop says 'What'd you say, bitch?!' *clutches her stomach and rolls on the floor as she continues to laugh her all off* That was hilarious! Oh gods! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! *wipes a tear from her eyes* Back to the story... This is dedicated to every one of my reviewers from any one of my chapters! I love you a billion times over and arigatou for encouraging me like you have been. ^_^ With that out of the way... Here is chapter six!
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The next morning, after breakfast, everyone went to bid Bakura good luck on the rest of his journey over Asia. He was fed and rested and everyone knew that he had to continue to warn the other packs so that they would be able to protect themselves, but the need to protect the fate of the other packs didn't seem to overcome the want for the stranger to stay for some of the wolves. Sugoroku, Yugi, and Ryou seemed the most reluctant to say goodbye to the white-haired leader.
"I wish you good luck on your journey, and I hope that you will come back to visit us soon," the elder wolf said as he gazed up at Bakura.
"I will, and thank you," he replied, touching the elder's shoulder and giving a small smile.
Yugi stepped forward and shook the hand of his fellow leader. "I wish you the same, Bakura. I hope that the moon will protect you and guide you safely back to us. We will anxiously wait for your return," he said, trying to sound as leader-like as possible in the presence of the other, making his grandfather smile.
Bakura nodded and gave another smile to the younger wolf before he turned to Ryou. The boy's eyes were darker than usual and the brightness was drowned in sadness, making them murky. Bakura walked up to him and hugged him tightly as he had done the night before. "Don't cry, Ryou. I will return, I promise."
Ryou's arms wrapped around Bakura and his head nodded against the other's. "I know... I hope you come back soon," he whispered.
"I will run like the wind and come back as soon as I can. Remember what I said... I need you to be strong and not let your fear overcome you, or your pack will never have a chance of surviving. Promise me."
"I promise." After squeezing Bakura one last time, the boy let go and let the outline of a smile show on his lips. "Goodbye, naisei."
"Goodbye... Until our next meeting." The taller wolf touched Ryou's pale cheek, making the residue of his tears vanish before he turned, nodded to everyone and went out the large oak door, back into the harsh world from where he had come the day before.
*****
"But Gramps! You have us do da Run!" a certain blond wolf protested at the dinner table that night.
"Hai!" Anzu joined in. "We only do four ever year and the Halloween Run is always the one where the conditions are best and we have less chance of being seen!"
It was a tradition for all werewolf packs to do the autumn Run at Halloween, when the spirits of the dead and the supernatural are said to come out and haunt the earth, giving them a good cover story if they were ever seen by the humans. IF they were ever seen through the darkness and the trees. IF. What is a 'Run', you ask? The Runs are four of the greatest yearly events in the werewolf culture, a time when werewolves can come together for one night and be as one. They hunt together, run together, even mate together sometimes. It is on these nights that occur only once a season, that they are all equal, no matter their gender or age; they are simply one pack. Local nature reserves and the remaining forests are ideal for these events. Before the humans started to settle in cities, the werewolves were able to run wherever they pleased, as long as it was away from whatever small settlement was there. Now the human's cities were everywhere and it was becoming harder to find any large forests anymore. Thank the moon for the environmentalists. If the woods were ever completely gone there would be nothing to shield the hundreds of wolves that came from that region from the eyes of the humans, and that would be disaster. The Runs were necessary in the packs. They created a sense of unity among the wolves and enables them to remember what they were-that they were not the humans, no matter how much they looked like them. They were something entirely different, and they could not forget.
"I'm just worried about what happened with Bakura's pack. I don't want you to be attacked." Sugoroku sighed and put his graying head in his hands, his small fingers rubbing soothing circles in his temples.
"Jii-san... I don't think that they would be stupid enough to attack while there are hundreds of strong, alert werewolves around, especially with them being extra cautious since Bakura came and told them about the attack," Yugi said comfortingly.
The elder wolf sighed and lifted his head. "Maybe you're right... You will be around each other and others... But you must stay together and be wary at all times."
The five younger wolves nodded. "So we can do the Run?" Anzu asked hopefully.
"Hai... I suppose."
Various cheers and victory sounds came from the young wolves. "Thanks, Jii- san!" Yugi cried as he hugged his grandfather tightly around his neck.
"You're welcome, Yugi," the graying wolf sighed, trying to forget the uneasiness that still swelled in his chest.
*****
"What are you doing for Halloween, Yugi?" Yami asked the boy one day they walked home after staying after school again. The two of them had become very open around each other during the past month and had started walking together more and more each day.
"Nothing much," Yugi lied. "Why?"
"I was wondering if you wanted to do something, I don't know..." Yami shrugged.
"Oh... I can't..."
Yami looked over, feigned shock and disappointment in his eyes. "I thought you said you weren't doing anything."
"I'm not, but... I promised my grandpa and the rest of the guys that I would hang with them. It's sort of a tradition," he said, apology lacing his voice.
"Oh... I see..." Yami replied glumly.
"I really am sorry... I can hang with you another time, if you want."
"Sure, we can do something another time," Yami said, smiling. "I don't think that you'd like sitting in a dark room with me and watching scary movies, anyway. It would be kind of boring."
Yugi returned the smile as his thoughts turned to the image of he and Yami alone in a room together. The young wolf had always been terrified of scary movies ever since he was little. What is he got scared? Would Yami envelope him in his arms and hold him until the danger was over?
"Yugi? You okay? You're face is red," Yami said, peering over at the boy.
"Nani?" Yugi asked as he suddenly noticed the heat in his cheeks, which only made them grow warmer. "I'm fine!"
Yami laughed and shook his head. "If you're sure. This is your stop, I'll see you later."
"Ja ne, Yami-kun!" Yugi called as he stopped at his house. "See ya on Monday!" The boy walked up the driveway and into the house. "Minna-san, I'm home!" he called as he exchanged his shoes for slippers and removed his jacket. A low grumbling from the living room was his answer.
On the couch was Jou, textbooks and papers and notes which probably weren't his sprawled out around him in a giant fanning mess. "Hao," he said shortly.
"Hao, Jou... Tough assignments?" Yugi asked as he took a seat in a chair.
"Not really, I think I'm getting da hang of dis math stuff. It's the only real pro'lem I've been havin'." Despite popular belief, Jounouchi was actually really smart and got very good marks in school, he was just a procrastinator and had a tendency to grumble when he was stuck.
"That's good. We can help you if you want," Yugi offered.
"Thanks, but I'm okay fer now. If I really need yer help, I'll ask ya, kay?" Jou grumbled.
"If you say so..." Yugi said. "Are you okay? You seem a little...angrier than usual."
"I'm fine, Yug'," Jou replied lowly. "I see dat Yami walked ya home again."
Yugi blinked. "Nani? Oh, yeah. He did."
"Yous two are gettin' pretty close, ne? Is he your best friend now or somethin'?" Jou's words held a scorching harshness in them that was only present when he talked about Kaiba or some bully at school, and they were never aimed towards Yugi.
Realization for Jou's mood his Yugi and he frowned. "Hai, Yami's a friend and we're pretty close, but you're still my best friend, Jou. You have been since forever and you always will be."
Jou mumbled under his breath, too low for Yugi to make out the words. "Whatever, Yug'," he said clearly.
Yugi was stunned. Why was Jou being like this? "Jou, it's the truth! You are still my best friend!"
"Then why are ya always hangin' out wit him!" Jou retorted, his words slowly becoming acidic.
"Because he's my friend, Jou!" Yugi explained. "I can't help it if I don't live with him like I do with you and the rest of the gang! The only time I ever get to talk to him is at school and on the way home! That's not fair, Jou!"
"I don't trust him, Yugi!"
"Why not? Because he's my friend now?" Yugi yelled.
"Because he's HUMAN, Yugi!"
Yugi stared at his best friend, shocked beyond belief at his words. He had never pictured his friend being against the humans like this, considering that they all had some human friends from school. Then again, none of them had ever come as close to them as Yami had. "So...what?" the young leader said. "You don't trust me with him? You afraid that I'll tell him what we are or something?" he growled. J ou stared at his friend. "That's not what I meant, Yug'."
"Then what do you mean, Jou? Enlighten me. What about all of YOUR human friends? You trust them!"
"I don't spend as much time with them as you guys!"
"Oh! So you're worried that since I'm spending an extra hour with Yami on the way home, he's going to find out what I am?" Yugi's hair was more bristled than usual and he reminded Jou of a dog who's fur was standing on end.
"No, Yugi! Dat's not what I mean! I jus' don't trust him, I don't know what it is, but he doesn't seem right ta me! I jus' don't want ya gettin' hurt!"
"Well, thank you VERY much for your concern and your support in my making new friends," Yugi said, sarcasm dripping from every word, "but I think I can choose my own friends, thank you very much!" Fuming, the boy grabbed his bag and stormed out of the room and up the stairs to his room.
"Yugi!" Jou called to the retreating boy, but there was no answer. Frowning, he leaned back against the couch and hand a writing-exhausted hand through his thick, golden tresses. "Gomen nasai, Yugi..." he sighed before he lazily picked up his pen and resumed his homework, regret flowing through him like a dark poison, tainting his body and making him feel ugly inside.
*****
Yugi's bedroom seemed cold and lonely and offered little comfort to the feelings of betrayal and anger and repent that flooded inside him, triggering another emotion. Confusion. His homework done, the boy stared at the ceiling at the little glow-in-the-dark objects that were stuck to his ceiling with stick-tack. In the middle was a sun which was circled by seven objects, each in the shape of the different phases on the moon, with one space blank to show where the New Moon should be. Around those were the stars, arranged in no particular pattern along the black ceiling. The rest of the walls were white and covered with posters of wolves, dragons, wizards, and other supernatural scenes painted by famous fantasy artists as well as the occasional picture from a movie or an anime that the boy liked. There was an oak desk in the corner, on which sat pictures of the boy and his friends at the beach, at the amusement park, or just hanging out together. In the corner was a small violet frame what surrounded a picture of a younger Yugi beaming as he was held in the arms of a woman with eyes that held the same amethyst hue as his own-his mother.
The young leader sighed, wondering what happened to the life that seemed to careless before. 'I grew up... That's what happened...' he told himself before he was snapped out of his thoughts by a soft knock on the door. "Come in..." he said as he sat up on his bed.
The door slowly opened, revealing the figure of his best friend, his golden eyes becoming two pools of pure apology. "Hey Yug'..." he mumbled.
"Hey..." the boy replied, trying hard not to look away.
"Ano... Can I come in?" the blond asked sheepishly from the door.
"Sure," Yugi said, watching as Jou walked inside and noiselessly shut the door behind him.
"Look, Yugi..." he started off. "I'm sorry fer what I said..."
"You don't need to apologize, Jou," Yugi said. "You were just looking out for me..."
Jou's eyes dropped to his feet in shame. "Hai... I was... But dat's not entirely it..." The honey eyes rose again, catching the sight of his friend, blinking at him in slight confusion, but waiting for him to continue. "I was...jealous, I guess... Of Yami..."
"Jealous?" Yugi queried. "Why?"
"I don't know, Yugi. I guess because you've been spendin' so much time wit him, and I know now that I've been over-exaggeratin', but I dunno... I jus' didn't want ya to see him take my best buddy away..."
Yugi frowned and rose from his bed ans stood in front of Jou. "He won't take me away, Jou. We're friends, and we're good friends... But he could never take your place... I promise you."
Jou nodded. "I know dat now, Yug'. I'm sorry dat I let it get outta hand... I do trust you, but I still want ya ta be careful aroun' him... At leas' until we get ta know him better, kay?" The blond was well aware that he sounded like a parent...or an overprotective older brother.
Yugi gave a small smile and nodded. "Kay, Jou. If you want, maybe I can ask him if he could hang with all of us sometime. Then you guys could all get to know him better," the boy suggested, hopefully.
Jou pondered for a split second and grinned. "If ya say so, Yugi. I'd like ta get to know dis guy better, and know where he got the idea for his hair," he chuckled.
Yugi laughed and hugged his best friend tight around his waist. "You know who else you should get to know?"
"Who?" Jou asked.
"Kaiba," Yugi snickered.
Jou grimaced and looked like he was about to vomit. "Now, WHY would I eva wanna get ta know dat pompous little cake-eater?"
"Because maybe if you got to know him better, you would stop fighting and we could all give our ears a rest," Yugi giggled.
"Hey! He's da one who starts it, and you know it!" the blond retorted in an attempt to defend himself.
"Because he calls you 'pup' and 'mutt' all the time and makes cracks about how you have rabies and probably leave little surprises on the carpet?"
"When did he say da last one?" Jou yelled. "I'll kill that son-of-a-!"
Yugi was leaning against Jou's chest for support as he shook violently with laughter. "H-he...didn't!" he gasped through his giggles. I...made...that up!
Jou blinked. "Nani? That ain't nice, Yug'!" he pouted, only to be answered by a louder fit of giggles. "I'll give ya somethin' ta laugh about," he grumbled before he swiftly knelt down and ticked Yugi.
"Gah!" the boy cried, his body writing and his howls of laughter increasing in volume. "Stop! I give! I give!"
Jou stopped his hands and smirked. "Does this mean that I'm the leader now?" he asked in feigned innocence.
Yugi replied with another laugh. "You wish!"
Jou shrugged. "Oh well, no harm in askin', ne?"
Yugi shook his head, giggles still escaping his throat. "Guess not."
Jou smiled and rose from the floor. "I'm gonna go finish up ma homework. I'll see ya at dinner, kay?"
"Hai, see ya,"Yugi replied, still beaming. "Jou?"
The boy turned towards his friend. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for cheering me up," the smaller wolf said, sincerely.
Jou's smile widened and his golden eyes shone with mirth. "Yer welcome, buddy," he said. And with that, he left the room.
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Yasha: What do you think? I would have gone more, but I reached my limit and I thought I should leave it there and continues in the next chapter. What's in it, you may ask? THE HALLOWEEN RUN!!! WOOT! *ish so psyched about this chappie* You never know what might happen, and you will just have to wait and find out! I don't know how long it will take to write, since it's not the weekend anymore, but I hope that I can finish it by the end of the week. ^_^ Ja ne and don't forget to review!
