Of Love and War: Tension

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Author's note: Wait… What's this? A new chapter?! What??!! Gomen for taking so long with this. bows It's been a crazy senior year and I must and admit that both my time and my energy for writing has been on a block for most of the year. Hopefully now, with school ending I will be able to get cracking on these chapters. Thanks for all who are still with me here! For your patience, it's two pages longer then usual.

Warnings: Yaoi, Au, possible OOCness, etc.

Disclaimer: rolls eyes How many times do I have to do this? Does anyone even read these things?

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As if to answer his question, Ryou's pale eyelids fluttered, signaling his awakening.

"Ryou…" Ishtal brushed a lock of hair out of the young elf's face. Ryou blinked, his eyes focusing and unfocusing as he tried to concentrate on the environment around him.

"Where am I?" he murmured. Bakura smiled sadly, cradling the youth in his lap.

"You're safe," he replied. Ryou nodded, curling tighter in the thief's arms.

"What happened?" Bakura blinked.

"You don't remember?" The elf shook his head in reply.

"No I…" Ryou froze, his eyes falling on the dried, wrinkled body just a little ways off. his eyes widened and he began to shake. "No…" His voice was panicked. "No…" Bakura gripped the elf tighter as he began to struggle. "It's a dream… not real… can't be… no!" He broke down, tears streaming down his cheeks in uncontrollable sobs. How could this… why… he was a healer, supposed to help people… why? Ishtal sighed sadly. He had been expecting this. He drew Malik down into his arms. The young journey-mage's face was unreadable as they waited quietly for Ryou's cries to die down. The young elf remained shaking in Bakura's arms, his eyes red and full of uncertainty.

"It's alright Ryou," Bakura murmured, running his fingers through the healer's hair.

"How can it be alright?" Ryou asked him, his voice cracking slightly.

"He would have killed you Ryou, if not raped you as well," was the thief's reply.

"I'm a healer," Ryou stated, his voice firm and his cries quieted. "Killing someone contradicts everything I am."

"Does it?" Ishtal asked idly, earning a steely glare from Ryou. The mage held up his hands in defense. "Ryou, you are the most powerful healer I've ever seen, would it be so difficult to presume that you may be able to perform a spell that reverses healing?"

"Spells of that sort are legends," was Ryou's reply. Bakura stared at him, unsure of what to say. He had no idea what was going on, and it honestly scared him… though he would never admit it. As if sensing his unease, Ryou shifted himself out of Bakura's arms, standing shakily and moving away from the small group, his back turned towards them.

All around the clearing, the forms of their companions had settled back into a calm sleep, their minds safe for the moment. A tear dripped down Ryou's face as he watched them. They all had a purpose, a right to be here trying to save their torn world. What worth was a healer that could use his powers to kill? Ishtal and Malik both watched quietly as Bakura stood as well, moving behind Ryou and resting his pale, calloused hands on the elf's shoulders. Ryou flinched, shrugging him off.

"Don't… please," he murmured, his voice soft and uncertain. Bakura frowned, hurt by the action. Confident, he moved closer, wrapping his arms around Ryou's waist.

"Ryou…"

"Please…" the elf's voice cracked. "What if I hurt you too?" Bakura tensed. Was that all the youth was worried about? Hurting him?

"You won't," he answered firmly. Ryou looked up at him, uncertain.

"But what if…"

"You won't hurt me, little one," the thief stated. "Keith was trying to harm you. This was your magic's way of defending you."

"Is there anyway I can stop it?" the elf asked. "What if I loose control again? I couldn't control it, couldn't stop it… I tried but…" Ishtal frowned.

"I may be able to do something," he murmured. The two pale beings turned, facing him. Malik was glancing up at the mage as well. Bakura eyed Ishtal carefully, unsure of what the mage would do.

"Don't worry Bakura," Ishtal told the thief. "I wouldn't dare hurt your healer… though it would weaken him… dramatically."

"What can you do?" Ryou asked him. Ishtal sighed, leaning his chin on Malik's head.

"I can seal off part of your magic, enough to make sure you never have enough power to perform that spell again… but…"

"But this would effect my healing powers as well," Ryou finished for him. Ishtal nodded in reply. "Do it," Ryou told him firmly. Bakura's arms tightened around him.

"Are you sure Ryou?" Malik asked. "You'd loose almost half your power… and if the shield were to be broken, it could never be replaced." Ryou's eyes were determined. He glanced at Keith's decrepit body before looking away again and focusing his gaze firmly on Ishtal's.

"I'm sure."

"You won't have enough power to defend yourself Ryou," Bakura cut in. "If something like this were to happen again…"

"I'll learn other ways." Ryou turned to face Bakura. "You're a thief, teach me." Bakura sighed, averting his gaze. He was still worried. Ryou turned his gaze back to Ishtal. "It goes against everything I am to use my powers to harm another." Ishtal nodded.

"Then we'll do it tonight, when we stop to make camp. For now, we should wake the others and get moving." They nodded in response.

"Alright then."

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All through the day Yugi couldn't help but notice the sullen expression on Ryou's face. The others knew nothing of what had happened, as Bakura and Ishtal had hidden Keith's body before waking them up. Something had happened overnight though, Yugi was certain. Why else would Bakura hover so close, so protectively around Ryou? Why else would Ishtal continually glance back at the two with a dark frown of concern on his face? Why else would Malik appear so distracted? Yugi sighed. No one would tell them, but he knew he needed to find out one way or another. It was important, he knew it.

"Are you alright?" Yami's voice shattered Yugi's train of thought. After pausing a moment, Yugi nodded.

"I'm all right, just concerned about Ryou," he answered. "Ishtal, Malik and Bakura are acting strange as well." Yami glanced around their slowly traveling group. Jou and Honda joked and laughed a little ways away, merry grins on their faces, while Shizuka and Mokuba talked quietly under Seto's watchful eye.

None of the four Yugi had mentioned met his eyes. Bakura was hovering near an unusually solemn Ryou, while Ishtal and Malik continually glanced back at them. Only Otogi met Yami's crimson gaze, and from his expression, the emerald-eyed elf had noticed something was amiss as well. Could it have something to do with last nights terrifying nightmare… a nightmare that he had been unable to awaken from?

"We should stop soon," Ishtal spoke loud enough for the others to hear. "We're nearing the edge of this forest, and there's nothing but desert beyond it. We'll stop at the boarder tonight to gather what we need and spend tomorrow at the camp. It'll be easier to travel when it's dark." Yami caught his eyes, noting their guarded expression before nodding.

"How far does the desert run?" Honda asked curiously. Malik thought for a moment.

"We'll be there for a good week," Bakura answered before he could open his mouth. Malik glanced curiously at the thief. Since when had Bakura known much of the desert?

"Are you sure you don't want to go back to the tower?" Jou caught Shizuka's eyes and held them. The redheaded girl just smiled back.

"We'll be fine, 'nii-san," she replied. Jou shook his head and let out a long defeated sigh.

"Alright," he breathed. "Just stay close ok?" Shizuka nodded.

"Alright."

"Nii-san, what's the desert like?" Mokuba asked Seto. "I've never seen it before." Seto couldn't help but chuckle at his younger brother.

"It's covered in sand as far as your eye can see, and very hot during the day. Ishtal wants us to travel at night, when it's cooler. My only guess is he's been there before." Mokuba nodded.

"I can't wait to see it."

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Anzu jumped at a sudden knock on the door of the room she had been confined to for more than a month. With the council's declaration, there was really nothing she could do, no way for her to escape and spread the word of what had really happened. She didn't even know if Yami was still alive. The chains around her wrists clinked as she leaned back again, frowning.

The door cracked open. Anzu had to hold herself back from jumping again. But then, she reminded herself, it was probably just the guard. She couldn't have been more astonished when a head of pale violet hair poked itself around the door.

"Miho… chan…" she gasped in surprise. The violet haired she-elf looked up, then smiled brightly.

"Yokata! I got the right room."

"How did you…" Miho slipped herself into the bare room, hurrying over to Anzu and lifting one of the chains around Anzu's wrists.

"Shh…" the girl hissed, running a hand over the metal. She whispered something, then there was a soft pop and the lock sprang open. Anzu lifted her hand, rubbing her chaffed skin while Miho worked on the other chain. "I was sent to get you out of here."

"I haven't seen you in almost a year," Anzu replied, standing, as the second chain was unlocked. "Where have you been? How did you find me here?"

"Tell you later," Miho replied, grabbing her hand. "Let's go." Again Anzu frowned. Her old child-hood friend, back from who knows where suddenly jumped out of nowhere to rescue her from captivity. Why did this seem all too strange?

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By the time they made camp that night it seemed as if everyone was on edge from the tension that had been gnawing at them throughout the day. Beyond the thinning trees they could see the vast expanse of seemingly endless desert spanning out before them. Otogi's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the idea of leaving the covered safety of the trees.

"Something on your mind?" Otogi's eyes widened slightly in surprise when Honda sat down next to him. He cast his gaze down again, smiling sourly.

"It's not just me. The tension in the air around us is so thick you could cut it with that knife you have in your back pocket." Honda jumped, blushing sheepishly while Otogi only raised an eyebrow at his reaction. "It was smart of you to bring actually," he amended. "We won't always be able to watch each other's backs."

"You think something's going to happen?" Honda asked him. Otogi glanced over to where Ryou and Bakura sat, off to the side and solemnly discussing something. He noted also when Malik moved over to sit beside them, his face a mask of steel.

"I think something already has," he replied. Honda followed his gaze, sighing in frustration when he found the focus.

"I doubt they'd let us help," he commented.

"No, they probably wouldn't," was Otogi's answer.

"Onii-chan, you'll overcook our dinner!" The two smiled at Shizuka's affectionately frustrated exclamation and Joey's sheepish blush. Otogi's smile formed itself into a grin as he glanced back at Honda's face.

"So… what do you think of her?" he asked. Honda's face swiftly moved from a calm smile to a shocked glare.

"Think? Wha… Otogi! Don't you dare try anything." Otogi's only response was to smirk back and raise one eyebrow as if in challenge, then stand and walk over to where Yami sat helping Seto to stoke the fire.

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"You ready for this?" Ishtal asked Ryou, watching the healer's eyes carefully for any sign of doubt that might hinder the spell. The eyes that stared back at him were stern and strong and completely confident.

"I can't let anyone else get hurt like that because of me," he answered. Ishtal nodded, glancing over his shoulder. All around them, the rest of their companions were settling in to sleep after a long day of walking and a fairly decent meal cooked up by Shizuka and, surprisingly, Seto. Even Bakura would admit that he had never suspected the blue-eyed half-blood of a cooking talent.

In order to make sure no one was eavesdropping, Bakura and Ishtal had offered to take the first watch, while Malik faked settling in to sleep. Since it wasn't unusual for the thief and the mage to take a watch together, they were sure no one had suspected them.

Ishtal took Ryou's hand, helping the elf to his feet. Glancing around and noting Bakura's nod from the other side of camp, he began to lead Ryou into the forest, to a clearing he had staked out earlier when they had pitched camp. Bakura and Malik would stay behind to make sure they weren't disturbed.

As they went deeper, Ryou couldn't suppress a shiver of nervousness at what was to come. He knew that allowing this spell to be performed would severely limit his healing powers. As long as the shield remained in place, he would never be able to draw out the strength it had taken to bring the very mage leading him back from the brink of death a year ago, and if he did manage to draw out so much power, the sheer force would shatter the promised shield so that it could never be replaced.

Ishtal stopped.

"Ryou," he murmured, turning to peer solemnly at the young elf before him. Ryou gazed up at him, slightly awed by the presence the mage had.

"Yes?" he answered.

"This is your last chance to back down," Ishtal told him. "If you harbor any doubts during the casting, it will disrupt the spell." Ryou nodded, raising his head proudly.

"I still want this," he answered. Ishtal nodded.

"Very well." The mage backed away from him, leaving Ryou to stand under the moonless sky with only a circle of trees to protect him from the wind that seemed to grow stronger in their tips. Ishtal began to murmur, a deep metallic golden light pulsing around him. The mage's eyes were clenched shut, his entire being concentrating on the task at hand.

One of his hands shot out, a dark golden line extending past Ryou to the other side of the clearing. The line flickered, then branched out like a growing vine, extending itself into the pattern of an elemental pentagram. Ryou was mildly surprised. When Ishtal had mentioned the shield, he had expected the spell to be formed with black magic, but this pentagram, not inverted as it was, showed that the spell was one of white magic.

"Nearly all shielding spells use white magic." Ryou glanced back at Ishtal, surprised by his voice. The mage grinned, his second arm joining the first as he crossed his fingers over in the sign of bonding. "Only ones that summon nether creatures don't." Ryou nodded, smiling as the mage continued. He could feel the power rising around him, as the pentagram grew brighter. It was warm, hot almost, but not unpleasantly so. Ryou closed his eyes, drinking in the strange feeling.

"Alath mek Barel." The pentagram flared brightly and Ryou could suddenly feel his power dimming. It felt strange, and it took nearly all the will he had not to fight it. The heat grew and grew… almost burning.

Then it vanished.

Ryou felt himself slump to the ground, for some reason exhausted by the spell he hadn't even cast. He could dimly sense Ishtal walking towards him, a slight shuffle in the mage's step.

"Why do I feel so tired?" Ryou murmured, barely able to open his eyes.

"It's a natural after affect," Ishtal told him, pulling the healer to his feet. Ryou could feel the mage shaking slightly. He raised a hand, intent on calling his own power to give Ishtal strength, but the mage caught it and pushed the hand down.

"You shouldn't try to use your powers until morning," the violet-eyed mage explained. "The spell has cut you off from a good portion of your natural energy. It will take at least a good night's rest for you to adjust." Ryou nodded, trying to hold himself a little straighter as to not put pressure on the tired mage.

"What were those words… the ones you spoke?" Ishtal smiled slightly as he began to help the healer back to the camp.

"To become a master mage, some of the things you have to learn are the words of power. Not all of them. No one knows all of them. The language they are in has been dead for millennia. All modern mages know as that these words, when combined in certain forms and backed with raw power can channel magic to form their meanings. They're only used in the most advanced spells," he explained as the two limped along.

"Then that spell…"

"… was a difficult one to master," Ishtal finished. Ryou nodded.

"Thank you."

"Oiy!" Ryou smiled when he heard Bakura's call. The half-blood jogged up to meet them, his eyes betraying a slight amount of concern. "Are you…"

"Tired," Ishtal answered the thief. "But finished. The spell is complete. Now what we both need is a good night's rest." Bakura nodded, taking Ryou off Ishtal's hands. He carried the healer over to the set of blankets they shared, setting him down carefully.

"You all right?" he asked. Ryou nodded in response, sleepily smiling at his bond-mage. Bakura grinned. "Night," he whispered. Across the clearing he could see Malik helping Ishtal into his own blankets. Their shift was almost over as it was and it was about time to wake Seto and Otogi. Ryou smiled softly as he curled himself in his blankets.

Now they're safe… he thought, as he drifted off to sleep. … safe from me.

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Bakura huffed, glancing around the now dead clearing. Malik had gone off to sleep finally, keeping up the pretences that it had been Ishtal, not he who had stayed on guard. The sliver-haired thief folded his arms taking in the surroundings.

It was a relatively peaceful night, something he was sure wouldn't last much longer. Things rarely remained peaceful around him. He had been lucky for the past months, far luckier than he would have dared to hope for, but even still he could sense the darkness around him turning dangerous. The shadows seemed to eddy with a shifting energy of their own.

He had never dwelt on it much, his ability to read the currents of the shadows around him. It was like reading a sea of darkness, with its own tides and storms and emotions, something he had always been able to do. They never failed to tell him when danger was approaching, and in this moonless night so like the one only a month before when he had helped to rescue Yami from that soul sucking prison, his strength seemed at its greatest. It would be a sleepless night for him, watch or no. He never needed sleep on nights like this.

Movement caught his eyes. Seto seemed to turn over in his sleep, resting his back away from the half-blood.

"You may as well get up," Bakura told the 'sleeping' figure. There was a soft chuckle, and Seto did indeed rise from his blanket.

"It's about time you woke me anyway," the other half-blood noted. Bakura shrugged, his eyes wary.

"You haven't fallen asleep." Those blue eyes were the only things Bakura needed to see to know the truth.

"Do you know your eyes glow at night?" Seto asked him casually. Bakura shook his head.

"What?" he asked. A slow smirk was his only response.

"Go to sleep. I'll take over from here." Bakura shrugged, heading off into the forest. There would be no sleep for him tonight.

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Author's note: There you go, a whole two pages longer than usual, if not more. I wanted to get them into the desert right away next chapter so I had to finish up the spell casting here.

Bakura: I like shadows… evil grin Where the hell have you been for the past… nudges Ryou

Ryou: whispers six I think…

Bakura: Where the hell have you been for the past six months.

About five actually. Ah well… stupid school, sucking my energy away! Don't forget to review, onegai.

-Cat