Draggy. Um… watch out for those sudden POV switches. Eh heh -_-;;
Chapter Ten: Darkness AppearsIt had been raining for what seemed like an eternity to Tristen, the ground had long since turned to mud and every step was very slippery. He mumbled something about the need of actual paths but kept moving regardless. He and Joey had parted at the very least twenty minutes ago, though it was probably longer. Who could keep track of time with so much happening? And the fact that it was freezing cold just did not help. As a chilling breeze shifted Tristen's jacket he shivered and started to walk with his hands wrapped over his chest for warmth. He was cold and alone and this place was just pure and simple freaky.
Was Joey okay? Did he fall into a ditch somewhere, trapped and alone? Had a duel monster attempted to swallow him whole… or maybe spit him back out. And Yugi. If there was anyone to worry about more than Joey, it had to be Yugi. Who knows why he had disappeared, was it of his own accord… or something else? And he's so small, perfect bait for anything that might be hungry and lurking about. Luckily for Tristen he had encountered no monsters whatsoever since the Kuribo and Change of Heart but with every breeze of the wind, every rustle of the tree and snap of a twig in the surrounding darkness he was starting to feel as if- as if he wasn't… alone. But that was crazy… pure crazyness, right? He was just letting his imagination run wild. It was a forest and forest makes sounds! …But, just to be safe, Tristen picked up a stick from the ground. A long one, a somewhat thick one. Yes, just to be sure.
He had been travelling straight ever since he and Joey departed. Not once had he strayed from the Change of Hearts direction. If there was a boulder in the way, he went around it then continued in the same direction. If the forest became to thick, he counted how many steps it took for him to move around and when it had thinned he moved back. So although it wasn't a straight line, it was as if it were.
Tristen is now utterly tired and soaked. He's hungry and starting to feel faint. And of the sightings of Yugi… naughta. Nope, nothing at all. With an exasperated sigh he leaned against a dry-ish part of a tree. He rested for at least ten minutes, just allowing his aching and sore feet to rest. And then he saw it. …Or at least, thought he saw it. Man, he must have been hallucinating. That would be the only way this made sense. Yugi was staring at him… from a tree!!! Somehow, just SOMEHOW the guy had managed to get up there, Yugi was terrible at climbing… he could, err, never reach the branches. But, there he was, just sitting up there as if it was second- no, first nature to him. Dazed and still unsure Tristen got up and walked slowly towards him. "Yug! Hey, Yug! What are you doing up there!" Yugi's gaze snapped out of its reverie and all attention was now aimed at Tristen. His eyes were sharper and seemed to bore into Tristen, they examined him. Tristen moved his fingers slightly and Yugi's eyes darted to the movement then back to Tristen's face. "Uh, Yug? You feeling okay, buddy. I mean you didn't eat a bunch of mushrooms or anything did you?"
Yugi jumped down, swiftly and surely. His legs bending perfectly to soften any impact that could be damaging. Then started to walk towards Tristen. Feeling a bit nervous he tightened his grip on the stick, which he had forgotten about till just then. "Yug? Yug, why are you-" but Yugi didn't stop when he met up with Tristen. No, instead he grabbed him by the neck, strength Tristen didn't know Yugi possessed was able to pick him up as he continued walking, not even hesitating or slowing to stop. Tristen's eyes went wide and all shock left him as he was slammed up into a tree.
With his thoughts going hazy Tristen did the only thing he could; he managed to raise the stick fully prepared to slam it on Yugi's head so he could breath. But Yugi only smirked as he easily tore the branch from Tristen's grip with his other hand. "Foolish mortal." Tristen could no longer breath and his body had gone lax, his eyes rolling back to white. He couldn't see, couldn't understand what was happening, but if he could he would realise the cold smirk playing across his murders face.
Though it was not to last, a scyr narrowly missed Yami's head, cutting a few hairs from his head, as it landed well enough away from the strangled boy.
"That's enough!"
Yami's eyes narrowed but released his captive. He turned, he knew that voice, but nobody was there. Gauging the distance from the thrown weapon he placed a heated glare where the figure last stood, somewhere up in the trees, close to where he had been standing. He turned back to the tree, inspecting the weapon, though now ignoring the still body that lay crumpled at his feet. It was definitely a scyr, the deadly blade was attached to a chain, to be thrown the person had to have used the chain to gain momentum so he could throw it but the accuracy unnerved him… or had it indeed meant for his head. Yami shuddered. Without a second thought he turned and continued on his journey.
**
Bakura looked down at his 'other', gods, he couldn't believe what he was going to do. Oh, he knew he was gonna do it, he knew he was going to hate it… and he knew he would kill anyone who saw him doing it. But he would. *sighing* he put a comforting hand on his others shoulder. "We should leave this place, not good to stay near the deceased." He saw his others eyes shift quickly to the body than quickly back. Tears welled in his soft eyes and Bakura couldn't bare it. "You really are useless, aren't you?" The second he said it he regretted it. The look his other gave him cut him in half, gods, this was so unfair.
Before anything else could happen Bakura turned his back to his other who sobbed the second he did so. "Don't go!" Huh, Bakura turned back around and laughed.
"You want to stay by the corpse?"
Seeing the confused look Bakura turned around once more, this time kneeling in the process. He waited but nothing happened. "Come on, I don't have all day you know." Finally grasping what Bakura was doing Ryou went red in embarrassment. He- he, he was going to take him with him. Now he felt stupid. "Well…" Uh, and now Bakura was waiting, feeling even dumber he wrapped his arms around Bakura's neck, as Bakura stood he tucked Ryou's legs under his arms, Ryou took a fast intake of breath but said nothing. He decided the pain was a small price to pay, it was that or nothing.
Bakura shifted his other's weight then dashed into the trees and foliage. Time was everything. They needed a private place to talk with one another, somewhere where no prying ears could hear. Besides, if it got back to his master that he allowed the mortal to live… No, best go somewhere discreet. It didn't take long before the two had found themselves at the meadow, the forests edge.
"It- it ends?" His other spoke, breaking the silence between the two.
"Of course it ends," he snapped back. "What did you think, that it went on forever?" Bakura hadn't meant to have that edge in his voice but he had to, he just had to. He didn't know how to be soft, he didn't know what had came over him before but he wouldn't let it happen again, that he would make sure. He- he wouldn't act like that.
Bakura shifted the weight on his back only to cringe inwardly as his other whimpered. Ugh, why, why did he care! "Bakura?"
"What!"
"Um… thank you."
"…What?
"Well, you-"
"Shut up!"
He felt as his other tightened in shock, then loosened his grip as if defeated, argh! Bad timing! Just, just bad timing for a conversation. Bakura dashed forward, he heard it coming, he was sure of it. Without looking back he knew when he could move forward no more and dashed down, using the tall wheat stocks to conceal himself and his other. "Bakura, what?"
"shhh."
Ryou was dropped as Bakura placed an ear to the ground, why was he suddenly so mean? Why couldn't he talk? Then something jumped! It jumped right from the forest, he- he couldn't believe his eyes, it was a giant wolf! No, no that wasn't what shocked him so much; it was the rider, Yugi! Yugi was alive… he- he wasn't alone! A smile spread over Ryou's face, he popped his head from the cover of wheat, he wanted to wave, to shout to Yugi, 'Yugi! Yugi, I'm here', waving to get his attention but before Ryou could even open his mouth his other had grabbed him and shoved him forcibly to the ground.
"Get down you moron." And Yugi was gone.
Ryou wanted to yell at his other, he wanted to tell him that it was okay, he knew the guy, but then more wolves leapt from the trees, one, two, three- five- seven. Ryou counted as the pack dashed forward. Suddenly Ryou understood. He's protecting me.
The last wolf to run by clearly looked to where Ryou was hidden; its eyes bore into the white haired boy, growled warningly then leapt off after its pry. But there was no mistaking the message; the wolf said, "I know your there, and I'm hungry." Ryou shuddered and leaned into Bakura who stiffened from his touch. Do I disgrace you that much, Bakura. He dropped his gaze and looked away.
**
Yugi was –not- having the time of his life. The rain was cold, the fur was slippery and the ground was wet, wet with mud, rain and blood. "Fang!", he yelled over the strong sharp wind caused by the acceleration of the wolf, "Fang, I don't think we're gonna- LOOK!" Before Yugi's eyes a tall, albeit dark structure seemed to loom overhead. If we made it there…. He tried to pull himself up but his joints were far too sore with the cold, regardless he managed to search for some way out of this mess, there had to be something. That castle, that dark, foreboding castle- it had to be the solution. The fact that there was no castle there weeks ago was irrelevant, in fact, Yugi hadn't even noticed. What he did notice was that the rain had filled the mote and it was overflowing with water. Why the thing had to be the size of a river, it's currents strong.
"The mote!" Fang was passed panting heavily, in fact his speed had all but deterriated but hope always has an interesting effect on those that live- it makes them want to live longer. Fang's attention, as well as his body, shifted so that he was heading for the castle. Once inside… what? Then what? But he had trust for the boy on his back and he was out of options.
Yugi watched as they gradually got nearer and nearer to the castle, just as they were about to rush over the draw-bridge though one of the wolves had successful managed to bite and lock his jaw into the Silver Fangs left hind leg. The pitiful cry of rage resonated in Yugi's heart even after Fang had stopped himself. Two more wolves stepped up from behind; their teeth barred and their snarls clear. Panicking Yugi looked ahead of him- two other wolves had placed themselves there as well.
They were trapped.
Nothing else to it, they were trapped, they were going to die and once again… Yugi's vision had proved to be wrong. How fool-hearted had it been to be afraid of that silent death. Now it seemed foolish, a silent one was better than wolf chow. Besides, he was alone then and now he was taking the Silver Fang with him.
When one of the wolves jumped at Fang his companion shifted and tossed Yugi off. However the teeth that were meant for Yugi easily bore into Fangs back instead, the boy looked on in horror as the wolf raised its head, it's yellow eyes trained on him and his large, blood oozing teeth smiling down at him.
"….no. No, this cannot be the end. It- it cannot!!"
Yugi stood up, his back stiff, and not because his joints were cold. He stared right back into the yellow eyes of that head wolf, he stared and he didn't blink.
"Release him."
The wolf allowed its tongue to fall carelessly to the side of his mouth.
"Release him. Now."
Something came over Yugi. It was different than anything he had ever felt. His voice was strangely calm, calm and strong. His words said with a definite air of command. It was all that was happening around him, all that he couldn't control… and all that he could. This feeling inside of him was not the same as when he left Tristen and Joey, it was a different kind of feeling. Re wanted- no he needed to protect Fang. That wolf, that one right there, right in front of his eyes. The one who was bleeding from many gash wounds, the one who had bore him this far, who had slept with him that night of coldness and loss. This wolf who had time and time again given himself up for Yugi.
He was exhausted, he had run.
He was weak from blood loss, and had fought.
He couldn't go further, yet here they were.
He had one to protect… and had given all he had to do it.
Yugi admired this wolf, this, this monster that had become his friend. This being who had done everything for him. He would protect this friend; he would protect this ONE life. He had failed before to do something, he won't do nothing again. Now he had something, someone to protect, and he would.
With all his heart he stared at that beast atop his friend. He stared deep into those yellow eyes and raised his arm; he held it straight at the wolf with what seemed to take eternity then unclenched his fist to expose his palm. Clear as day he spoke.
"I am not darkness, I know naught its limits. I am a child of the light and I see death." Here Yugi smiled. "Guess who?"
The cold yellow eyes bore into Yugi's narrowed and determined ones. The wolf blinked, blinked and snarled a warning though it started to back up away from them. Yugi's eyes were trained on that wolf. He did not shift his gaze to check up on Fang, did not see the reactions of the pack, they were simply steady, steady and resolute. But the wolf, the wolf could sense the aura around the boy, could feel something there, something flowing out of him- and it terrified the beast. He ran, howling a warning to the sky, it ran.
Yugi gave off a triumphant smile and collapsed onto Fang.
It had been a trying day.