Into Darkness

Ame no Mizu

Author's Note: Sorry if the beginning is a little choppy and fast, but you have to remember, it used to be part of chapter three. Also, for all you who have been asking about Yugi and Yami, here ya go. Hope you like. Have fun!!!! (Oh, yeah, and reviews are nice, too. Ryou likes eating them for lunch. FEED HIM!!!!!!)

Also, I know this was supposed to be named 'Betrayal,' but I had another big idea, and now that's gonna be chapter five. This is called 'Realization.' Just so no one gets confused. Sorry.

Chapter four:

Realization

"Malik?"

Ryou sniffed and buried himself in his couch as tears pooled in his eyes. He'd woken up only to find that both Marik and Malik were gone. Had they abandoned him?

He heard the front door open and slam close. Ryou panicked, not knowing who it was at first.

"Ryou!" came Malik's broken voice from the hallway and he suddenly appeared in the doorway.

"What happened? What's wrong?" asked Ryou, noting the look on the yami's face.

"H-he took Marik. Hynes had my hikari kidnapped…"

Ryou felt himself pale.

"What? Here, in the house?"

"No. He ran off, and some guy grabbed him off the sidewalk. I couldn't get there in time to save him, and I couldn't leave you here alone." With a heavy sigh, Malik collapsed on the couch next to Ryou.

"You should've gone after him," said the hikari, "He's much more important to you. You should've forgotten about me."

"Ryou," Malik replied as the albino curled up in his seat and the yami reached out to touch his shoulder gently, "How could I forget about you? You're the vulnerable one here. Marik can take care of himself… not that you can't, but Hynes is after you. I would never forgive myself if I let him get hands on you."

"But aren't you worried about your hikari?"

"Of course. I'll get him back, you mark my words. Hynes will pay for this, all of it. However, something inside me is telling me to protect you with everything I've got." Ryou uncurled and shifted closer to Malik, "Ryou, I…I think I've fallen in love with you."

Ryou stared. It took a few moments before this new information sunk in. Malik loved him?

"Malik…" he started, "I'm glad you're being honest with me, but you're with Marik, and I'm with Bakura. I think it's best we don't discuss our feelings for each other especially with everything that's happening."

"You know, Bakura's lucky to have you," he laughed, "Such faithfulness is hard to find in a lover. No wonder everyone seems to be attracted to you," he suddenly turned away, "We have two hours before we have to leave. You can go back to sleep if you want."

"You know, I don't think I can," said Ryou truthfully, "I'm too worried. I… I want to know what Hynes is up to. He was never like this when he was after me back when we were in England. He never mentioned another person that he needed. It was always just me."

"How strange. Maybe he just realized it himself," replied Malik.

"It's just… this is one hell of a coincidence. You know, that his other target just happens to be someone I know, and a very good friend of mine, and another…" Ryou broke off, horrible realization dawning in his mind.

"And another what?" Malik asked, confused.

"Another Millennium Item holder," whispered Ryou, "That's the only thing… the only possible explanation…"

"Hynes is after the Items…" murmured the blonde yami.

"Yugi," Ryou gasped, "Yugi and Isis and the other Item holders… they're all in danger… we have to warn them!" Ryou leapt off the couch, and headed for the door, Malik close behind him, "We can't get in touch with all of them, but we can at least get to Yugi… if Hynes hasn't gotten to him first." They raced down the street, their shoes hitting the sidewalk noisily.

"What about the others?" Malik gasped.

"Well… Isis will be able to see an attack coming, she'll be fine. Shadi is in Egypt. If Hynes really wanted to get his Item, he'd have to send someone there. Shadi is too smart for any normal person. Bakura… He has the Eye, that's why he was taken. He must have had the Eye on him that morning… him and his pride," Ryou snarled uncharacteristically, "Marik has the Rod, and I have the Ring. That's everyone." They arrived at the Kame Game Shop to see the sign on the door saying 'Closed.'

"They must have closed up early," said Malik.

"I hope we aren't too late."

Ryou knocked on the door and, after a few moments, a sleepy looking Yami opened it.

"This better be good," was his greeting, "I was asleep."

"Yami," Ryou began, choosing his words carefully, "We… we think Yugi may be in danger." Yami eyes widened.

Not three seconds after Ryou said the words and Yami opened his mouth to reply, a resounding crash came from upstairs.

"Yami!"

The spirit's head whirled around and he took off up the stairs leading to the second floor and Yugi's bedroom, Ryou and Malik not far behind him.

They entered the room to find Yugi struggling against a tall, muscular man who was trying to drag him out the window. With an angry roar, Yami leapt forward and pulled his hikari out of the man's grasp, driving his fist into the man's jaw. A fight began between the man and the two yamis, Ryou grabbing Yugi and pulling him to safety out in the hall.

Then, all was silent. Yami came staggering out of the room, drawing Yugi into his arms and turning to Ryou.

"Thank you, Ryou," he smiled, "However… how did you know Yugi was in danger?"

"Long story." Ryou said as Malik came out of the room with the man's collar in his hand, the unconscious man still attached to it.

"This is him," he gasped, "This is the bastard who took Marik."

"What?" gasped Ryou, "What do you mean?"

"This is him. I recognize him."

Yami still looked confused.

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?"

Ryou and Malik exchanged glances and Malik grinned slightly.

"It's your story, Ryou."

"Lucky me," Ryou growled, "You may want to sit somewhere comfortable, Yami… this is one hell of a story."

"So… you think this guy is after the Items?" asked Yami as Ryou finished his story.

"It was just a theory before we got here, but now that Yugi's been attacked, we're almost certain," replied Ryou, "Or this could be some horrible coincidence."

"Which is unlikely," Malik added.

"So, this Hynes man has both Bakura and Marik?" asked Yugi, and Ryou nodded, "How strange. How could a mortal have defeated Bakura?" the small hikari asked his yami, "I mean, it took a lot for you to just seal him away in the Shadow Realm, and he managed to escape…"

"Well," began Yami, "Perhaps this Hynes isn't your average mortal. He may have some magic in him. It happens sometimes. He could've found a spell in a book or something and bound Bakura's powers or rendered him unconscious until the spell is lifted. However, we'd better hope it isn't one of those spells. They can be a pain to lift without the original spell caster. From what I've heard about Hynes, he won't be willing to lift it if we ask."

"So, what are we doing about this?" asked Yugi. Yami shot him a glare.

"'We' are not doing anything," he scolded, "This is too dangerous for you. I don't want you anywhere near this man."

"Woah, wait," cried Malik, "Who said you were a part of this, Pharaoh?"

"You're kidding me, right?" growled Yami, "You expect me to sit by and let this fool attack my hikari—my Yugi—and not do anything?"

"Well, Yami, Hynes said he only wanted me and Malik to go to meet him. We can't bring anyone else, or he'll destroy Bakura," said Ryou softly.

"And wouldn't that be such a loss," Yami snarled sarcastically. Ryou felt his eyes tear up.

"Yami, that wasn't nice!" Yugi cried, jumping out of Yami's arms to draw a now crying Ryou into his own, "How could you say such a thing? You know Bakura's good now!"

"You know, Yami, you've got a real attitude problem," growled Malik, "That was cruel. You made Ryou cry, even after he helped you with Yugi!" Yami slowly turned red as his eyes fell on his hikari scowling at him.

"You're right…" he muttered, "I apologize, Ryou. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry."

"That's okay," the albino whispered, "I understand. A… a leopard never changes his spots, right?" he laughed, a high-strung unnatural sound.

"No!" cried Yugi, "That's not true! Bakura has changed, right Yami?"

"Yes, of course. Ryou, I didn't mean that. I was just angry, that's all," Yami took the crying boy from his hikari's arms and held him comfortingly, "Please forgive me, Ryou. I really do like Bakura, deep down…"

To everyone's amazement, Ryou locked his arms around Yami's neck and began to sob into his shoulder.

"I want him back," he cried, "I want my yami back…" Yami felt tears come to his own eyes, but he blinked them back.

"I know, Ryou, I know you do… We'll get him back for you, I promise we will…" Yami whispered into the albino's ear, "I promise I'll do anything to get him back to you."

"Um, guys," said Yugi hesitantly, "It's quarter after three… shouldn't we be going?" After another glare from Yami, Yugi gulped, "I mean… shouldn't you be going and me locking myself in my room, out of danger?" Yami smiled, but the smile suddenly disappeared.

"What is it?" asked Malik.

"We can't leave Yugi here alone," said Yami, "What if he is attacked again while we're gone? He'll be defenseless. His grandfather is out for the day."

"You mind not talking about me like I'm not here?" Yugi growled, but was ignored.

"You're right, but isn't taking him with us just as dangerous?" asked Malik.

"How about this," said Ryou from Yami's arms, "Why don't you just ride in the Puzzle? That way, you'll stay by Yugi and Hynes won't know you're there. You could be our backup."

"You know," said Yami, "That's not a bad idea."

"Maybe we should also interrogate the man who attacked Yugi," suggested Ryou.

"Who, Sleeping Beauty here?" laughed Malik, pointing to the still-unconscious man behind him, "Not enough time to wake him up. He'll be out for a few good hours."

"Here, step aside," Yami cried impatiently, stepping up to the man. He crouched over him for a few moments, and then, Ryou, Malik, and Yugi heard the man moan.

"Woah," whispered Malik, "How'd ya do that?"

"Later," snapped Yami as the man awakened, "Who are you, mortal?"

"Tommi Calis," said the man, Tommi, in a mechanical like voice, and Malik knew Yami had used the powers of the Puzzle to force the truth out of him.

"Why are you here, Tommi Calis?" Yami demanded.

"Sent here to take the little boy."

"Who sent you?"

"My boss."

"Who is that?"

"…"

"Answer me!"

"…Hynes. Mr. Hynes."

"Why does he need the three hikaris?"

"Don't know. Never said. Very secretive."

"What else has he told you concerning this… job?"

"The little blonde is the key."

"What do you mean, 'key'?"

But before Tommi was able to answer, he fell unconscious once more.

"What happened?" asked Yugi.

"He fainted," Yami replied simply, and stood.

"Well, can't you wake him back up?" Malik snapped.

"If I do that, his body will begin to reject my magic, and it will fail. I had to use a lot of the Puzzle's power just to wake him up and keep him awake. Any more could kill him, and then he won't be any use to us."

"He said something about Marik being some key," said Ryou, "What could that have meant?"

"I'm not sure," said Yami, "But we need to be extra careful when we go to meet him, alright?"

Everyone nodded.

"Alright," said Ryou, "Let's be going, then."

Well, there ya have it. Hope you stay for chapter five!

Next time: (the real 'Betrayal'… he he…) Ryou, Malik, Yami, and Yugi go to meet Hynes, but when they do, they get one hell of a shock…

This time, I promise I'll get it right!

Ryou: Unless, of course, you get it wrong. ::smile::

Uh… yeah. So read. And review. And eat. Bye.