Moons: I'm going to make this author's note a quick one because it's getting late and I really want to finish this chapter tonight because I have I really great idea and I'm afraid that I will forget most of it in my sleep. And that's something I just can't do.
Aurora: Yes, pity.
Moons: Hush…you can't talk, I'm making this quick. Any way, quick recap for of those who didn't get the last chapter. Bakura has lead the scientists to Yami. So now we are going to see what happens.
Aurora: So get it on with it and end this 'short' AN.
Moons: Shut up!! I'm trying to get chapter seven done!!
Aurora: *rolls eyes* she is my human…just read this so she shuts up.
Unbroken
CHAPTER SEVEN
Ryou sat back on the couch and stared at nothing. His brown eyes were open wide and his mind was cluttered with thoughts that he would have normally thought impossible. But the proof they weren't was sitting upstairs trying to mentally contact someone that was supposedly a dead ringer for him. It was all way too much.
"Ryou?" Yugi's voice was soft and filled with worry. "Ryou, are you okay?"
Ryou smiled at his small friend. Well, the closest he could get to a smile at the moment. He nodded before starting to speak slowly.
"I'm fine, just trying to sort this all out." He looked up at the ceiling. "So he has powers, like a super hero?"
"Yeah," Yugi perched himself on the couch. "Except I look at him more like an X-Man. He said he can even shape shift. How cool is that!"
Ryou had to smile at Yugi's enthusiasm. This whole thing didn't seem to phase him. The fact that he could be in serious trouble if Yami's previous keepers decided to come after them. If they could keep something as powerful as Yami locked away for eighteen years, lord only knew what they could do to an average fifteen year old.
"Pretty cool Yugi." He answered with forced excitement. He didn't want to see Yugi get hurt. He cared about him too much. He just had such a bad feeling about all of what was about to happen.
To confirm his thoughts, Yami let out a terrified scream from upstairs. Yugi leapt off the couch, fear pulsing through his veins, and rushed out of the room. Ryou frowned and ran after Yugi, following him up the stairs to the bedroom. Yugi threw the door open to spot Yami on the other side of the room, curled up into a corner.
"Yami!" He cried. "Yami, what's wrong?"
Yami whimpered and curled tighter into himself. His eyes were wide with fright. Tears made salty paths down his cheeks. He hardly acknowledged Yugi or Ryou's presence.
"He helped them." Yami's voice was mechanical. "He lead them straight to me. I-I thought he was my friend."
Fresh tears poured down Yami's face as he pulled his knees tight against his chest. Ryou didn't like the sound of that. Did Yami mean Bakura, another powered up teen, was helping their enemy find him? He suddenly heard a car door slam outside and what sounded like a van door slide open.
"This is the place." A voice spoke outside. Ryou shivered. He could just tell the owner of that voice was evil. "That Tomb Raider better not have been lying if he knows what good for him."
"I'm not!" Another voice screamed. This one sounded as though it were in anguish. "But you have to keep your end of this shitty deal. You can't hurt Yami! He has to be kept safe. I couldn't live with myself if I knew I let you assholes hurt him!"
"Don't worry," The first voice spoke. "The Pharaoh's in no danger. Master just wants him back. I guess we could be considered his welcome home committee."
Yami let out a tiny cry of terror and latched himself onto Yugi. Yugi looked up at Ryou with the same fear in his eyes. There was something surreal about this whole situation. It was the kind of thing that happened in the movies, not in a game shop in Domino City.
"They're here for him." Yugi spoke in quick hushed whispers. "We have to get him out of here. We'll sneak him out the back door and use the alleys to lose them if they try to follow."
Ryou was amazed that Yugi would think up an escape plan so quickly, but nodded anyway. He didn't understand why Yugi was so attached to Yami that he would risk his life. They had only known each other for a day. But he wasn't about to let his friend down. He bent down and helped the shocked Yami to his feet.
"Let's go then." Ryou demanded. "Before they break in. We need to get Yami to a safe place."
Yugi gave Ryou grateful smile before they hustled out of the room. Yami let out quiet moan. The sound was heartbreaking. It was the sound of someone who was about to give up. But he wouldn't, couldn't. No matter what it looked like his friend couldn't be helping The Master get him back. There had to be some sort of catch or hidden flaw that he hadn't noticed. But there was no time to think about that. Yami came back into himself to realize that Ryou was supporting them as they ran down the stairs and towards the back door. He forced his feet to work and was able to take his weight off Ryou.
"Welcome back." Ryou smiled but kept running. "You had us worried there."
Yami felt a pang of guilt. He hadn't meant to worry his new friend, Yugi, but a part of him had just lost it back there. The very thought of Bakura turning against him was almost too much to handle. But there wasn't any time to think about that at the moment.
"I'm sorry." He huffed as they reached the bottom of the stairs. "But there's no time to talk. Just follow Yugi."
As Yugi threw open the back door, the front door bust in. Two men in white lab coats stood there. Behind them were two men in black suits holding a boy that was duplicate of Ryou. The only noticeable difference was the eyes on this boy were sharper. Ryou gasped and came to a stop. He couldn't pull his eyes away from his twin. He was in trouble just like Yami. Now Ryou understood Yugi's insatiable urge to help someone he had known for a day. He had only laid eyes on his look a like and he was already willing to risk a lot to help him.
"Ryou!" Yami's voice snapped Ryou out of his stupor. "Let's go!"
"There!" One of the scientists shouted. "The Pharaoh!"
Yami let out a small cry when a bullet whizzed past his head. He momentarily lost balance and started to fall. They were shooting at him? They were going to kill him? He felt a pair of arms grab him and help him to his feet. Yami looked up to see Ryou smiling at him.
"Guess it's my turn to help you." He chuckled, pulling Yami towards the back door and out into the alleyway.
"They're getting away!" The scientist felt the urge to scream as he cradled his beloved pistol.
"I see that Alan." The other scientist growled. "But you have legs. You can chase that damn test project as well as I can!"
Alan glared at his partner and started to follow the three boys when his own captive began his yelling again.
"You said you wouldn't hurt him!" The Tomb Raider screamed. "You lied! You aren't keeping you're end of the deal!"
Alan turned to yell back at that annoying brat when he noticed a terrible sight. The Tomb Raider was beginning to disappear! When he was finally gone from sight, the goons that were holding his gasped and pulled their hands back.
"No you little punk!" Alan bellowed at the empty space where the Tomb Raider had just been standing. "You can't do this! We had a deal!"
'Too bad.' The Tomb Raider's voice crept through his head. 'You aren't keeping up your end of that deal so why should I keep up mine? Hope to see you never.'
With that final thought, the backdoor the other's had just escaped through slammed shut. Alan could only stare at it through a red haze of fury. He slowly turned to the goons and his partner. The three of them just stared back at him dumbly. He felt the sudden urge to kill them all but fought it by screaming.
"AFTER THEM!"
~*~
Yami dropped to his knees in the alleyway unable to remain standing any longer. His entire world had come crashing down around so suddenly that it was almost painful. There was no way that Bakura could be fighting on their side. He just couldn't be, not after all the times the two had shared supporting each other through The Master's painful lessons. Bakura was the only reason that Yami hadn't been broken.
A sudden thought struck him. He had left Bakura all alone in that hated place. What if he had been broken without Yami's help to keep him strong? If that was the case, Bakura would have no qualms about helping The Master. But Bakura had promised the he wouldn't allow them to break him. So it had to be some kind of joke. He was hardly aware of the pair of hands that pulled at him.
"Yami get up!" Ryou cried. "You can't give up now! Get up and run. Yugi's just a little ahead of us. I can hear him."
Yami allowed Ryou to jerk him to his feet. He took a few shaky steps before stopping completely. A shiver ran down his spine. He knew this feeling. It was the feeling of being watched.
"They're close." He murmured, calling on one of his powers to protect himself. "Please don't be afraid Ryou. You must trust that I am still here with you."
Ryou was about to ask what the hell Yami was talking about when his words were cut short. Yami was fading. The teen's entire body was now almost see through. His crimson eyes were closed tight in concentration. In a final flash, Yami disappeared completely from sight.
"Y-Yami?" Ryou's voice was tiny. "Where'd you go buddy?"
'I'm still right here Ryou.' Yami's voice rang through out his head causing him to jump with a shocked cry. After a few seconds of frantic thinking Ryou recalled Yugi explaining to him some of Yami's powers.
"I had only turned around for a second and he was gone! He can make himself invisible. It's really cool."
Ryou had managed to calm himself down when an unseen hand grabbed his own. A warmth spread through him and he realized that Yami was trying to sooth him.
'Let's catch up with Yugi.' Yami spoke again. 'He must be worried.'
Ryou nodded and allowed Yami to lead him that last bit of the way. He felt Yami let his hand go as they came across Yugi, who was crouched behind and dumpster. Upon seeing his friend and only him, fear raced through him.
"Where's Yami?" He cried, rushing out to Ryou. "Please tell me they didn't get him!"
'I'm right here.' Yami's voice feel over Yugi's mind like a comferating blanket. 'I fear someone is watching us and it's safer for you if it appears to be only you and Ryou. If they find you, it will be assumed that I left you for a safer place.'
Yugi let a smile pull at his lips as he turned his gaze to a stunned Ryou. He seemed to be staring at the blank space to which he assumed Yami was standing.
"See." Yugi spoke with a hint of amusement. "I told you it was really cool."
~@~
Bakura followed the trail of magic that Yami had left behind. So he was using his powers to save whoever he was staying with. He had to find his friend and explain what was going on. He had to tell Yami how badly The Master wanted him back and how careful he really had to be. This was no petty rescue attempt. They weren't going to try and bring him back and then give up after a few failed attempts. They were going to keep going until Yami was safely back at that dreaded prison of a home.
He slowed down when he heard voices up ahead. There were two that he could pick out. As he rounded the last corner he saw three people standing there. One liked shockingly like Yami, except he was about a head shorter and had gentler, violet eyes. The other was a dead ringer for himself, but with softer eyes. And standing next to this pair was a transparent Yami. That meant he was using his power of invisibility. Only Bakura could see him then, and that was if he was invisible as well. He stepped away from the corner he was hiding around and cautiously approached the group.
"Yami?" His voice wavered and he cursed himself for it.
Yami's head jerked up at the new voice and he pushed both Yugi and Ryou behind him. They gasped at the feeling of being touched by someone they couldn't see.
"Bakura?" Yami wanted to sound fierce but he couldn't. "Bakura, why? Why'd you help them? How could you? I thought we were friends." Bakura saw his eyes narrow in sorrow and fear. "They didn't break you, did they?"
Bakura felt his heart break at feeling his only friend's hurt and suspicion. He never thought that Yami would react this way. After all, he had done this all with the fact that is he didn't they would kill Yami. And he couldn't live knowing that his normal stubbornness had gotten his friend killed.
"Yami," His voice was soft. "Yami I never meant to hurt you. I had to. If I didn't they said they would kill you. I couldn't let them do that. You're my only friend Yami. If I let them kill you I'd be alone with my guilt. But I ditched them. I've come to help you Yami. We're both free!"
Yami's eyes filled with tears as he took a step towards his old friend. Before they could reach each other a gun went off with a terrific bang. Yami cried out in surprise and pain as he dropped to his knees. His hand shot to his side, where the pain burned the worst.
"Yami!" Bakura screamed dropping down beside his friend's shaking frame.
He forced Yami to straighten up so he could see the damage done. To his amazement there was no blood. Instead an odd green liquid stained Yami's shirt. Still, Yami clutched his side as though he had really been mortally wounded.
Suddenly, and much to Bakura's horror, Yami's body started to visual centering where he gripped the tightest. Yami's eyes opened wide as he tried to fight for control over his power. But it was of no use. It was almost as if they had never been there in the first place.
"Bakura?" He gasped before pitching foreword into the arms of his friend.
"Perfect shot!" Alan's voice echoed from somewhere in the alley. Even though unconscious, Yami whimpered in Bakura's arms.
What the hell had he been shot with? He knew that Alan and the other scientist had guns, but Yami hadn't been shot by a gun. It was something different.
That's when the thought hit Bakura. It was what Alan had said while they drove around the streets of this small town. He had said that bullets in his gun were special and they wouldn't kill Yami. Bakura had just figured out what they did.
These bullets stripped you of your power.
Moons: And there you have it folks! Chapter Seven!!
Aurora: Bravo, you want a medal or a small monument?
Moons: How about you getting your ass kicked?
Aurora: V.V is that the thanks I get for giving you these ideas?
Moons: No, that's the insult you get for being annoying!! Anyway…I have a question. Does anyone know where I could go and order some of the Japanese versions of Yu-gi-oh! (with subtitles of course. No matter how much I wish I could, I can't speak Japanese) I love those, but no place around me sells them. It's actually quite disappointing. And I've lost all faith in WB ever airing the ending of the Battle City season. It's just hopeless. Please if you know…please let me know!!
Aurora: No, don't fuel her fire!!
Moons: *hits Aurora with lap top* he he
Aurora: be kind…review…x.x