No Yugi-oh owning…
Chapter Nine: Can't Stand, Can't Breath
Joey strayed from the path he was following- the one Yugi would be found in- something was calling him, something… Joey lifted his jacket above his head, attempting to see through the downpour, he had to find who was calling him. So, with that in mind he diverted his thoughts from everything except following the sound- except the sound stopped. Joey stopped as well, now what? He couldn't go back- not yet, he couldn't!
He was shivering, he was cold and wet and alone, he had a mission to accomplish and a friend to find… but he couldn't turn around, he tried to, twice, but couldn't bring himself to do it. So he trudged forward. Vegetation started to become wild and areas to walk became scarce. The rain continued to pour down on him and he was now officially soaked, yet he kept moving forward- moving in a somewhat straight line so he could backtrack to his previous path.
The vegetation grew so thick the tall blonde teen had to walk… stumble… fall through it. The plants' vines covered the floor, thorns cutting into his heels as he walked, or hands if he tripped. Once he had to pull three of the blue thorns out of his wrist. He could no longer hear the strange eerie- yet oddly comforting sounds of… whatever had called to him and he was starting to doubt how wise a choice it had been to stray from his path. He had only one path- one destination. All he had to do was follow the path set out for him, and he couldn't even do that!
Joey turned, looking back in his previous direction, the thorns spread too far back for his liking, but if he continued the thorns would only become a longer distance to travel. Sighing he took a step back, than another, then he heard it again. Now his heart was torn, back, back to his friend, or continue this perilous journey to nowhere. He stood perfectly still. Which direction, back or forward? Which?
The sound echoed once more and he felt his determination wavering. It was forward. He was travelling forward once again. But the cold was making him slow and he was tired of walking, so very tired, when was the last time he stopped to rest? He couldn't now, thorns weren't that comfortable, especially big blue ones, but if he was correct and the rain wasn't making him see things that weren't there, than there were a lot of very big rocks up ahead. He could stop to rest and, and, and probably freeze to death. Hmm, that wasn't sounding like the greatest of options. No, but it was better than freezing to death standing so he made his way to the rocks.
The odd screeching growl echoed in his ear now, he was getting closer, so close he could feel it. That was until he tripped, blast, did that hurt! He picked himself up and very carefully moved forward, watching his every step, yet he tripped again! That really hurt! This time he carefully placed every single foot, occasionally looking up to ensure he was still heading in the proper direction. He was, of course, but he still tripped, this time almost into the odd giant bulbs that seemed to surround him. Hehe… if he hadn't known better, he would have said that the plants were tripping him, but that wasn't possible, right? Right.
Joey moved a tad bit faster, paranoia making him move thus. The ever loudening growling screech resonated through his ears once again- he was getting closer, the sound was getting louder. But where was it coming from? …hmmmm? Regardless, Joey was wet, cold- frozen, and a little hungry… very hungry, and he just wanted to rest! He picked up his pace once again and stumbled- drats, the stupid vines were simply hazardous, he should have found a way to go around. Cursing to himself he finally made it close to the non-thorny rocks.
Through the rain Joey held one hand in front of his face, the rocks were a LOT larger than he had thought. How was he ever going to climb on to them? And look, the vines have grown around the black rocks as well; it reminded him of ropes… big thorny (evil) ropes. Maybe he could climb the black rocks carefully and then see what he could see from up there, yeah, that would work. Rubbing his hands together Joey prepared to jump up and then climb but just as he was about to jump the rock twitched! He reeled back in shocked horror as a giant red eye appeared out of nowhere… he landed on thorns.
"Wha' the-" the vines circled around Joey's waist, the thorns oddly just scraped him, but didn't cut him. "Wait, what, what's goin' on!" He struggled, trying to twist this way and that, yelling and screaming, the vine raised him off the ground, "HELLLLP!" But no one could here his plea, it was just him, the vines, the thorns, and the rocks- the rocks! If he could make it to the rocks then- one of the plants raised itself out of the thousands there, it opened its mouth, it's sharp and pointy and, ah man this was not going well.
"Help!" No one was there to help. Joey twisted again, he didn't have much time; he was going to be PLANT FOOD! Quickly he struggled and freed one hand, one whole hand! And reached into his back pocket, the rain was relentless, and every time he opened his mouth he got a mouthful due to the fact he was hanging upside down!
He sliced one of the tentacles, he felt the sudden surprise of the plant as he was dropped, the plant screeched its outrage and retracted- though there were still a hundred more surrounding Joey. The blonde was quick on his feet, though he landed roughly on his shoulder… upside down lunch fun, was NOT fun! He could feel a sharp pain, three thorns had dug their way into his flesh, but he was too concerted with everything else to worry about that now. With a skilful leap the tall teen jumped unto the black rocks and climbed the vines up, then sliced them off with his pocketknife. He ran to each clinging vine and hacked away at it, hearing each cry and recoil of the cursed plants.
And then the ground started to move.
The rocks to his left ripped the vines off of them as it started to spread, the same to the right of him. He heard the cry that scared and comforted him, the one that had lead him here. And then he went flying.
Joey was flung off the rocks and caught by the tentacle plant things. He had two vines grabbing his left leg while his right hang loosely. Another one wrapped around his chest and more around his arms, he hanged lopsided and now, now he knew what those rocks were.
"The-the Red-Eyes, Black Dragon!" His eyes became wide as he watched the creature in front of him snap the vines that had previously restricted its body. One by one it became free, it's glowing red eyes full of fury. I must have loosened the hold those vines had on it when I was cuttin' 'em off. Suddenly the vines started to pull at Joey's body, another snaked itself around his once free leg, his neck and his waist. They all started to pull in different directions, all at once. A pitiful sound escaped Joey's mouth. What was actually a scream of utmost pain came out in a gurgling whimper; he couldn't breath.
The Red-Eyes stopped struggling and twisted its head in Joey's direction the instant it heard his pathetic scream. The dragon brought one paw and smooshed the plants around the teenager, the vine around Joey's neck went lax… though he couldn't scream; he couldn't make a noise. The dragon stepped on another and another, one by one Joey's body was released and he fell to the flattened floor with an 'oof'.
The Dragon stepped over him and taking a deep breath it released fire all over the living plant field, with one quick- yet gentle grab with his talons, the dragon picked the rasping boy off the ground and forced itself into the sky, boy in claw. Then flew the length of the field, constantly breathing fire until the pitiful plant cries died down, then dragon flew into the sky.
Ryou finally stopped sobbing, and started to realise where he was and with whom. Belatedly he realised that his other, his other Bakura, was holding him and he felt safe, finally safe. He felt like he could live with what he had just done, like it wouldn't destroy his soul, he felt that he was not alone anymore. He'd been so lonely, so very lonely for the last, at least week. He was finally comforted. When his sobbing finally subsided he squished tighter into his other, refusing to let him go. "Don't leave me," he murmured.
Bakura gently tried to push the now semi-calmed look-alike away from him but the boy just gripped harder onto him. He tried to pry the boy off, but once again it was futile. "…You said you knew something?" his voice was unusually soft and that didn't go over too well with him. He stiffened, realising what it was he was doing. This time he forced the boy away from him. "Don't touch me."
The boy looked up at Bakura wide-eyed. He was drenched and looked so pitifully sad that Bakura regretted saying that to him. The boy just watched him, now hugging his legs a little stiffly. "What's wrong with you anyway?" His voice was tough; he wouldn't allow any of this sudden worry to leak into his voice. But the boy stayed quiet except for a few sniffles and sobs. "Well?"
"I- I- fell." The boy answered back shakily. "I'm cold, very cold." He sniffed again, tear streaks still plainly visible on his cheeks. "Ba- Bakura?"
"What?" The boy was obviously hesitant, probably warring with himself whether or not to ask his question. "Well, what is it?" Bakura continued to study the boy's face. Finally his look alike spoke up, his big chocolaty eyes piercing into Bakura's dark ones, though the look was doubtful and the boy looked so fragile and hurt and…
He moved a little closer, dragging his legs on the ground, "are you going to… um," he swallowed then looked away. What, what am I going to do? "Do you still want to…" Want to… what? "Never mind." He looked away, eyes downcast.
"What did you want to say, come on. Spit it out, now."
He shook his head. "That's okay. I- I'm afraid of the answer."
Bakura couldn't stand it! Something about this boy, something made him compassionate towards him. He hadn't killed him on sight, had hesitated, conversed even! He had fought with his own side, though now that was to be decided. Something was happening, something big. But the boy. Why hadn't he killed him! Why doesn't he kill him? Why had he had that urge to comfort him… perhaps because the boy had saved him, killed for him? Not that Bakura couldn't have won regardless.
Blast it all, but the boy looked so sad and lost and lonely. He was a miserable sight. Probably roughing it since his world disappeared on him. He was wet and cold and hurt and probably just killed for the first time, killed for his 'other's' sake. Sighing Bakura stood up and waited for the boy to do the same, but he didn't. He just stayed on the ground, not even looking up and he was shivering. Swallowing his normal cool and tough outward attitude he knelt down beside his… other, it was the only thing he could call the boy.
Ryou was trying to hold back more tears, he was afraid to move, the blood surrounded him and there was a dead body inches away from him. He was cold, hungry and wet. His other might not have accepted him and still probably wanted to- he felt something warm cover his shoulders and his back. Ryou looked up quickly to see his other place his jacket thing over him. He didn't know what to say, couldn't say anything really. "…Thank you," he murmured quietly and gratefully.
"Now, soaked one, what was bothering you?"
Ryou smiled up at his other "Nothing, I'm fine now, and thank you."
"Come on, let's go before the corpse starts to smell." Ouh, Ryou shuddered at these ill placed words but nodded his head in agreement.
"I can come with you, then??"
"You need to fill these blanks in for me. I hate it when people lie to me and keep valuable information."
"Oh…" Was that all, he was alive only until he wasn't valuable anymore?
"Well, get up, other. We don't have all day and it IS cold out here."
But Bakura's other didn't get up, didn't attempt to move. "Come on, up." The child took a deep breath and put pressure on his hands and arms, obviously trying to push himself to his feet. It looked pathetic. "What's wrong with you?" The boy didn't replay but continued to try and stand, continued and failed. Tears were forming in his eyes now but he kept on pushing upwards. He could here soft, desperate mutters of 'work, work, darn you! Please, please work!' Bakura couldn't stand it. He crouched down in front of his other. "You can walk, can't you? Stand, anything?" The sad face looked up at him and shook his head sadly.
"They- they…", a tear slid down his face. "My legs, they hurt. I don't think- I don't think I can… my legs…"
"What did you fall from?"
"Help me, other, Bakura. I don't want to not walk. I don't- Idon'twanttobehere. Idon'twanttoseethings; Idon'tlikewhatIsee. Iwantmyoldlife, IfeellikeIshouldbewithyoubutIdon'twanttodieand I- I- Ipushedmysoreandachinglegsfartoofarwhen I- I don'twanttokill,don'twantthebloodonmyhands, don'twanttobealoneandIdon'tlikeitandI…"
The boy was clearly sliding into hysterics. He had to stop this from happening. He did NOT need this unfunctional boy right now. He didn't need any of this kind of problems. Was the boy a problem? Perhaps, but he had to have some use, besides for the life of him he couldn't figure out why he did not want to part with his so called 'other'.
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Draggy: Hi all. Sorry for the delay, unintentional. Now, if my memory serves me properly than someone wants to see something, anything of Yami. Oops, sorry, but I had intentionally left him out, I suppose I wanted to do one hikari/yami getting use to each other one at a time thing. Though Yami's thoughts WILL remain unread of for now I will add him next chapter. Lol- I had a reason to the whole Joey/Tristen separating in different directions because the Change Of Heart had seen two 'creatures' meeting the Yugi description. Anyway, guess what I was getting at? Hehe. Though it's a good thing I was reminded. I tried to do that part after Joey's little screen time but I was drawing a blank, so hopefully next chapter. By then I SHOULD get everyone caught up… hopefully. ^-^
I'm also only halfway done the squirrel story right now, so hold on and I'll finish it up for later.
Though if any one has a comical or I suppose angst thing they want to see happen to/ interact with characters, I wouldn't mind knowing. Chances are I'd add it in. One person wanted me to ACTUALLY have the blood lake thing happen… hehe, maybe…