Of Love and War: Rescue
Author's note: Alo… new chapter… go read ^_~
Warning: Yaoi, Au, possible OOCness, etc.
Disclaimer: If you know what a disclaimer is, then you know I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh… don't bother suing me… I only got a few pennies and a stick of gum anyway -.-;
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Joey raised his hand, concentrating on the small pile of carefully gathered straw in front of him. Sweat rolled down his face and his eyes were narrowed with the strain. A small scarlet-orange glow emanated from his fingertips, growing steadily. He focused on the pile of straw, blocking all else from his mind.
Off to the side, Seto watched quietly, knowing that even the smallest noise at this point might distract his student. The wind blew through the courtyard, lifting his hair and blowing a few small leaves across the stone. A spark in the pile of straw caught his attention. It was small, only a tiny glowing ember.
Suddenly the pile of straw exploded into a violent fireball, burning to the ground faster than he could blink. Joey slumped to his knees, sighing tiredly. A small smile crept up Seto's lips as he approached the boy.
"See, you can do it when you concentrate," he told the blond. "Now we just have to work on your control." Joey glanced up at him, barely able to glare at his teacher.
"I don't think I've ever felt this tired, even when I lit the woodpile on fire back at the palace," he muttered. Seto knelt beside him, helping to support the boy as Joey slumped backward.
"This time you were trying to do it. Once you get your power under control it will be easier to summon," he answered. Joey nodded, leaning into Seto's chest without really knowing what he was doing. Seto couldn't help but blush lightly at their closeness. The half-blood sighed and shook his head. The boy was exhausted. He lifted Joey into his arms, slowly starting back towards the Tower. As they came to the steps he noticed Bakura sitting atop one of the pillars that acted as the steps sideways rail, a piece of paper in his hands and his brows furrowed. Ryou was nowhere in sight.
"Letter?" Seto called to him. The thief looked up and shrugged, smirking.
"You'll see," he answered. Seto shook his head and turned back towards the Tower's entrance, not noticing the mischievous pair of russet eyes and the devilish smirk that followed him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Once again, Otogi slipped into the darkened room where Yami and Yugi were being held captive.
"Prince?" he hissed. A short grunt was his only reply. Yami was getting weaker as the room continued to sap him of his magical energy. It didn't help that the prince now had to shield Yugi's life force from the darkness of the room as well. A brilliant flash of emerald light made the prince cover his eyes.
"Otogi?" he rasped. The council guardian nodded, before dousing his power. In reality, Otogi did not have a powerful magical gift. He was somewhat like Yugi in that he could do certain things, but did not have enough power to be trained as a mage.
"Prince, it's time," the dark haired elf told him. Yami nodded, and stumbled to his feet, barely able to stand. Otogi moved forward, keeping his eye on the crack of light from the door so that he would not loose his baring. "I'll take Yugi. You go towards the door." Yami nodded, too exhausted to do anything but comply.
Once out of the room, Otogi locked it again and surveyed the hallway. There was no movement, not a sign of any life except them. He glanced at Yami, biting back a gasp. This was the first time he had really seen the prince's face since he had been confined in that room. Yami looked at least ten years older, his face pale and haggard and his eyes dull and lifeless. He was slumped; his once proud shoulders drooping heavily and his stance wobbly. The guard nodded and urged the prince forward. They couldn't afford to get caught, not now. If Yami and Yugi were forced back into that room, it would only be a matter of days before it killed them.
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Ryou was shocked to find Bakura gone when he returned to his rooms. The tower chambers were dark, with only the starlight filtering through the window near the back. Ryou moved into the darkness, the candles lighting at his command. It was one of the small spells he had learned since coming to the Tower. He glanced around the room, searching for some sign of where his bond-mage had disappeared too. On the desk near the window, a single piece of paper lay folded.
Ryou approached the desk, lifting the piece of paper. His name had been scrawled on the top. Carefully he unfolded the note and lifted it into the light. His eyes widened when he saw the contents.
*Ryou,* it read. *I received a letter from Yami's court this afternoon. I will be back as soon as is possible. Take care and don't let Isis form an investigation party for the prince, it is already taken care of. ~Yours, Bakura*
Ryou stared at the letter. He was tempted to mind-call Bakura and ask him what this was about, but something stopped him. What did he mean 'it was already taken care of'? Was Bakura… Ryou sighed. If Bakura had gotten the letter this afternoon then he had probably been gone for a few hours already.
The young elf glanced out at the night sky. The moon was covered that night in it's monthly darkness, hiding it's silvery light from the sky. *A night for deception,* Ryou thought idly. He shook his head, then glanced back at the night sky. *Be careful Bakura…*
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*Be careful Bakura…* The thief smiled at Ryou's thought. It was pitch black where he crouched, waiting for his signal. *I can't believe I agreed to this,* he huffed. But then, who else had the ability to sneak into the elven palace unnoticed? Certainly not anyone he had ever heard of.
An emerald light near one of the palace's back doors caught his eye. That was his cue. Slowly, as to not attract any attention, Bakura hefted himself over the wall and dashed across the grounds, using his shadow magic to cover him. To say he was shocked when he caught his first glimpse of the prince was an understatement.
"Hell's fire, prince," he exclaimed. "What happened to you!?" The emerald-eyed elf beside him lifted a finger to his lips, gesturing him to stay silent. Bakura nodded and swung one of Yami's arms around his shoulders, helping to support the prince as the four made their way across the lawn. A movement from the main walkway caused him to freeze. One of the guards was making his rounds. If he saw them…
Bakura glanced at the emerald-eyed elf who had called on him for help. The young man's midnight hair fell into his eyes and his brilliant green eyes glared out ahead of them. Bakura motioned to him, pointing out the guard who was coming around the bend.
"Run for it. My magic can cover you. Get the little one over the wall," he hissed. Otogi nodded. "On three." The guard was coming closer, the light from the lantern he carried coming into plain view. "One," Bakura hissed. Otogi tensed, ready to spring. "Two…" Bakura set Yami down on the slightly wet grass. He was going to have to deal with this guard quickly, without the prince hindering him. "Three!" he cried. Otogi sprung, running in an all out sprint for the walls. The guard gave a surprised shout, only to find a silvery blade pressed to his throat.
"How… who…"
"It doesn't matter elf," Bakura whispered, silently cutting the guard's throat. The guard gurgled, blood spilling down his front as he slumped forward. Bakura dashed back to Yami, swinging the smaller elf over his shoulder. He had to get out of here before another guard noticed. Yami's dull crimson eyes glared at him, silently asking him why?
From the top of the wall, Bakura could see Otogi waving. He shifted Yami on his shoulder and dashed for it, making it to the wall in record time. He handed the prince up to Otogi, who quickly pulled him over the wall, before scaling the wall himself and leaping over. Once on the other side, Bakura let out a loud sigh. He glanced at the two elves and one human he had just saved.
"Remind me never to do that again," he muttered, again hefting Yami over his shoulder. Yami's eyes still registered that simple question. "Sorry prince. I'm only doing this for Ryou's sake. He's worried to death about you." Yami nodded, his eyelids falling. As much as he mistrusted the thief, he knew that Bakura would never do anything to harm Ryou.
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Bakura was shocked to find Ryou awake and waiting for them at the base of the steps to the Tower of Illusions when he returned. The pale healer gave him a small smile, before turning to great the other elf. Bakura sighed and set Yami down on the steps. The prince had yet to reawaken since he had fallen asleep.
"Bakura?" Ryou's voice caused the thief to look up. A pair of warm brown eyes met his. Bakura half smirked at his little healer.
"Yeah?" he asked. Ryou stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the thief's shoulders.
"Thank you," he whispered. "I know you two don't get along, but… thank you." Bakura smiled and wrapped his own arms around the elf's thin waist.
"You wouldn't have stopped worrying if I hadn't have done something," he murmured. Ryou smiled at the comment, then glanced at Otogi, who was watching both warily.
"Ryou-san?" the slightly older elf asked him. Ryou smiled.
"Just Ryou please. I'm no longer a part of Yami-sama's council," he answered. The emerald-eyed elf snorted.
"This never would have happened if you were. But then again… you probably would have gotten hurt as well," the now former council guardian answered. Ryou tilted his head.
"What do you mean?" he asked. Otogi gestured to Yami, and then nodded to Yugi who was still in his arms.
"You heard the rumor they spread, that little Yugi here killed the prince," When Ryou nodded, Otogi continued. "They imprisoned them both in one of the spirit prisons." Ryou's eyes went wide. He frantically glanced towards the prince, then back towards Otogi. Sensing Ryou's alarm, Bakura wrapped his arms tighter around the healer's waist.
"They couldn't have. That would…"
"Kill them? If they had been their another day it would have," Otogi answered him. Ryou gazed into the other elf's eyes, panic slowly fading from his own chocolate orbs. He turned to Bakura, burring his face in the half-blood's chest.
"Thank you," he whispered. "If I had known…"
"There wasn't anything you could have done Ryou," Bakura murmured, stroking the boy's hair. Ryou fought back tears. His friend, his prince, had almost died and he could have done nothing to stop it. Bakura just held him close, rocking him slightly to calm him. Otogi coughed, trying to get their attention.
"We should get them inside. They need to rest to regain their strength," he told the two pale boys. Bakura nodded and released Ryou, who watched apprehensively as the thief lifted Yami back over his shoulder. Bakura reached out to grasp his hand tightly.
"They'll be alright angel. The council can't get them here," he murmured. Ryou nodded, wiping his eyes and following Otogi and Bakura back into the Tower.
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To say that Bakura had been shocked to find Ryou awake and waiting for him in the middle of the night was an understatement, but that was nothing compared to Malik's shock at finding Yami and Yugi in the infirmary that morning. From his small desk, Ryou looked up, his eyes glazed with exhaustion.
"Ryou? Um… what the hell happened here?" Malik blurted out, unable to keep his shock concealed. Ryou gave a dull laugh, before slumping in his chair and laying his head in his folded arms.
"Bakura brought them here late last night. I've been up watching them," he muttered, dark eyes drifting between open and closed. Malik chuckled and ruffled the elf's hair. A weak moan of protest was his only answer.
"I can't say I expected this. From everything my sister was able to gather, both of them were dead," Malik murmured, staring at the pair of tri-color haired boys in amazement.
"That was what the wanted you to think," Ryou moaned in response.
"They?" Malik asked him.
"The elven council no doubt," Ishtal's voice spoke from the doorway. The blonde master mage entered the room, sending a calm glance towards the prince and his human companion. He then turned to Ryou, who was barely managing to keep his eyes open. "Am I right?" he asked. Ryou nodded slightly.
"They trapped them in the 'spirit prison'," he replied.
"Spirit prison?" Malik asked. Ishtal shrugged, not knowing what it was either.
"It's a special room designed to contain and destroy high level mages," a new voice answered. Ryou smiled slightly, his eyes closed, as a dark haired young man entered the room. At second glance, Malik could immediately tell that the man was, in fact, an elf. One he had never seen before.
"Hello Otogi-san," Ryou murmured. Otogi smiled at the pale, near asleep healer and walked up to the desk, ruffling the younger elf's hair just as Malik had done earlier. Ryou was to tired to even protest this time.
"Go to sleep Ryou. I'll keep an eye on them," Otogi murmured. Ryou barely had time to nod before he fell into a deep sleep. Ishtal raised an eyebrow at the dark haired elf, silently asking for an explanation. Otogi sighed and rubbed his forehead, twirling a midnight lock of hair around his finger. "The council's been trying to get rid of the prince for years. This whole thing with Yugi just gave them a reason to strike," he murmured.
"How do you know this?" Malik asked him. Otogi shrugged.
"Before I helped the prince and little Yugi escape, I was the head of the council's guard. By now they've probably not only fired me but also placed a bounty worth half the kingdom on my head. They do not like their plans to go wrong," he chuckled. Malik looked down at Ryou. The pale elf looked almost too innocent sleeping like that. He chuckled at the thought and lifted Ryou out of the chair and into his arms.
"I'm going to bring Ryou back to his rooms," he told them. Ishtal nodded, a small smile playing about his lips. Otogi smirked and nodded.
"Nice to meet you… erm…"
"Malik," the blond journey-mage told him. Otogi nodded.
"Nice to meet you Malik," he answered. Malik nodded and winked, before walking out of the room. Ishtal sighed and gazed at the elf before him.
"I had heard rumors of the spirit prison, but I didn't want to believe them," he murmured. Otogi nodded.
"Believe them. It's a dangerous weapon. Had the prince and Yugi been in there any longer both would have died," he murmured. Ishtal nodded.
"I think I'll stay here and wait until the prince wakes up. I have a few things I need to discuss with him," he told the elf. Otogi nodded.
"Very well."
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Author's note: And chapter four is done! Yay! Me happy. *bounces around the room*
Yami: *rolls eyes* She's not even half-way done with this fic and she's already hyper.
*glomps Yami*
Yami: erk!
Hey, I just like how it's going so far ^_^ So keep a writer happy and review please ^_~ Hope you're enjoying this so far. It'll get more interesting as it goes with what I have planned, or at least I hope it will… See ya later!