Draggy: um, I think we're all caught up now timewise, so….

Um, I'd like to apologise for the real LONG delay. Sorry this chapter looks as if its going to be choppy in view lengths but bare with me, I hope you guys are still interested. ^.~

Chapter eleven: In The Closet

The rain had finally ceased and the day was that of momentary brightness as Yugi woke with a yawn. Stretching till his back-straitened Yugi opened his eyes feeling refreshed and renewed. He did not dream at all that night. Not one single dream or image and for once he felt well rested. His joints were still sore from the day of riding now past and… the day of riding, Fang! Like a slap to the face Yugi turned and saw his mangled beast… the bright day shattering into tiny shards.

Biting his lip Yugi took a few steps back, at first in horror at the site of his friend and then to see how bad his wolf was injured. There was enough flesh cut to see not scratches but blood and Yugi didn't know how to treat his friend… how to save him. What could he do… was there anyone to ask for help? Was there anyone around? If Yugi left in search of help what would become of Fang? Could he save Fang himself? He had to, but how?

"Fang?" Fang's eye twitched. "Fang?" Fang opened am eye, upon seeing his young master he attempted to get up but Yugi pushed him back down gently. "Fang, stay still and rest okay. I'm going to look for something… anything in which to wrap your wounds with. I'll be back okay." Fang just closed his eyes and relaxed. Taking this as a good sign… since his chest was moving normally enough Yugi went into the castle… maybe some old draperies would work?

*

Tristen awoke, his head felt fuzzy, his throat was sore… no, more then sore, it ached, felt tight and his eyes felt strained. His ebb to consciousness came so slowly that he hadn't noticed he was awake. The forest seemed to loom around him, the dark trees, the rocks and roots and the chilling breeze. Tristen shifted slightly so he could feel his forehead, but ended up wiping mud on his brow… and then it all came back to him

Yugi…. The tree…. his neck… the branch… and the darkness. What- what was that?! He tried to stand, to push his weight from the ground but he was still faint and weary. Where would he go, what should he… Joey! He had to warn him that Yugi was… different, that he couldn't be trusted! If Yugi would do that to him, then Joey would be no different. Suddenly, Tristen didn't have all the time in the world; suddenly time seemed to be something he needed more of.

…Joey.

Tristen reached for the walking stick that laid still beside him, he reached, he grabbed, and he pulled himself up. He put a hand absently on his throat but even that felt too restricting to bear so he removed it quickly. He was going backwards… could he find Joey? Could he warn him on time? And most importantly- what happened to Yugi!

*

The Dragon Guardian's patience was well rewarded.

He had come.

*

His patience was wearing thin. His prey wasn't in sight, the Mysterious Puppeteer had lost Bakura and the Unknown Warrior of fiend was killed… by knife wounds.

…Where was Bakura!

Did the fool betray them? No. That was impossible. Bakura was surely not that fool hearty, no one wished for death. Besides, what could be more honourable then serving the Master? To throw away an Elite title, no Bakura was no traitor. The fool was probably lying dead in a ditch somewhere. The dark figure smiled. The only logical explanation was that the elites prey was somehow more then he could handle, the prey killed the Warrior and had Bakura in hiding. Licking his lips the figure darting from tree branch to tree branch smirked.

He hoped his prey would prove so delightful.

*

Ryou sat silently, he dared not make a noise or movement to attract his others attention. He didn't like being in the way, but he was, he always was. And his other just sat there in grudging silence, even after the rain had stopped. It was late… or he guessed it was, the darkness spread everywhere; he rolled over and went to sleep.

*

Bakura was lost in thought. Was he a fool? What possessed him to disobey the Master? He looked at his other. Ah yes- that was what. That was why he was a fool. But seconds passed that turned into minutes and minutes soon became numerous… he hadn't looked away. Tentatively, almost as if he was afraid, almost! He allowed his fingers to braze his others cheek but pulled away quickly.

This.

Wasn't.

Happening.

Bakura looked away but couldn't deny the urge to look back at the sleeping form. Curse it all, what had the boy done! Realising that the ground was indeed wet and that the boy was indeed cold he picked him up. Now with the shivering boy in his grasp Bakura really couldn't help put pull him protectively to him. He felt something weird in his chest, almost foreboding. Bakura abruptly dropped his other, he had to let go, he had to damn it!

His other hit the ground with a loud smack. The boy immediately sat upright, one hand covering his mouth, muffling what sounded quite close to unseemly language. His other was rubbing his legs frantically with his free hand.

Shit.

Bakura had forgotten about that. …And now he felt bad!

*

The castle was old and beat up. The word eerie wouldn't even begin to explain the shivers that coursed through his body. Maybe on the second floor they'd be something. Yugi walked nervously to one of the old staircases. Cautiously he started to walk up the beated and well-used steps. Yugi knew he should move faster, knew he wanted to check up on Fang as quickly as possible. But… something didn't feel right, this place sent chills down his spine.

It must have been day, for although the darkness seeped in everywhere his well-adjusted eyes could pick out shapes and objects and passageways with ease. It's just, as he moved Yugi kept thinking of old "scary" stories and movies that had, at one point in time, seemed ridiculous. Now they played in his mind, eerie music creeping its way into his subconscious. At any moment now someone or… Yugi took an intake of breath; something could be lurking in the shadows, ready to devour him! Oh, to anyone else this might seem stupid but… he was here, there are creatures here, bad ones, monsters and humans alike. The hairs on Yugi's neck stood on end.

Who knew what was in this place? …Was Fang safe?

Yugi felt like he should leave this place, it was no place for a human boy to be. Gods, how he didn't want to be here! He should have gone into the forest! But just as Yugi thought this an odd, ear-screeching sound echoed from the night. O…kay. Perhaps not.

The hallways creaked; old worn carpets left the echoing sound of lone footprints. But surely there had to be a door SOMEWHERE! Walking for another endless minute Yugi finally spotted it, oh please, he thought, please have something I can use! He hesitated a second, afraid of what he's find but thoughts of Fang shoved all his cowardice thoughts away. He slowly creaked open the door and peered his head inside.

Empty.

That was a good sign. He allowed himself into the room and looked around questionably. The first thing Yugi noticed sent another shiver through his body, this room had no windows. So okay, no drapes, yes, that's all it meant. No drapes. Yugi started pulling at dresser drawers, hoping to stumble unto well, anything. The first draw he pulled open was empty. The second was no better. Yugi moved to the other side of the room, a large dresser was here, it looked like the kind long dresses would hang in… long dresses could work, Yugi could tear the fabric apart.

Yugi went to pull on the left side handle but as reached for it, it opened by itself! The creaking of the door caused Yugi's heart to skip a beat.

A giant poopie hand reached forth from the darkness of the dresser. "Who, who is there?" Yugi said cautiously. "It is I, the giant poopie monster!" replied the beast as it came through the dresser and into the light. Yugi shielded his eyes from the horrid sight. "What? Do you find me repulsive?" asked the creature shaking its poopie arms, causing quite a poopie mess. "Go away poopie monster! You can be no help to I" with that said Yugi left the room while holding his nose is disgust. Now in the hall Yugi continued his search. What's this? Out of the corner of his eye Yugi saw what he was looking for.

With his eyes sparkling bright Yugi walked quickly to the corner of the room where his prized possession waited. A small white first kit with a red cross on its centre and the letters 'F I R S T A I D' written boldly across its surface. Quickly Yugi grabbed it and ran off to wherever it was that he was suppose to go to. Standing beside the dying [insert name] Yugi opened the kit. o_O It was empty. Nooooooo! Yugi screamed. Poopie monster came forth. Noooooo! Yugi screamed even louder.

The End!

[*laughs*… my brother (older too hehe)]

Anyway… back to my story.

Yugi went to pull on the left side handle but as reached for it, it opened by itself! The creaking of the door caused Yugi's heart to skip a beat. Unconsciously he backed away. A hand grabbed the edge of the frame, all that Yugi could see. Then, he heard a whimper, a sad pitiful whimper and a body fell through the doors, landing with a thump.

Yugi's eyes went wide. He knew who that was! It was… but she looked so … unlifelike. Quickly Yugi kneeled next to the fallen figure, resting her head in his lap. Gently he felt her forehead. It was so cold. Shaking her gently Yugi shifted stray bangs from her face. Now what was he to do? An injured Fang and a fallen magician. He couldn't just leave her. But he couldn't forget about Fang either. And there was no one to help him.

Yugi checked her pulse, she was alive, if just barely. The fallen magician managed to wheeze a shattered whisper.

"………..door…………"

"What?"

Had Yugi heard her correctly? What was it she said? Boar? Lore? Store? Hoer…err, probably not that one. Door? That one made more sense but… what?? Yugi looked back at the door he had come through. Was something out there? Were they waiting for him? This was confusing. Or it was until Yugi got that familiar creepy feeling crawling back up his spine. His eyes darted back to the dresser; it was emitting a thick black … Yugi searched for some word to describe it- essence.

Was that what was-? Carefully Yugi placed the magician on the floor and got up. Blind human instinct told him to run as far away and as fast away as possible. He edged closer, the black stuff was oozing out, it seemed to be reaching for the female magician. Maybe if he closed the door? But surely it couldn't be that simple. He reached a hand out and pushed till the hinges screeched. But it WAS moving. Okay, maybe it was that simple. Although it took effort Yugi was succeeding in closing the door.

The black oozing essence stretched out rapidly and encircled the fallen figure on the floor. It gripped at her legs and started to pull quickly back, as if it sensed its chances were lessening. A wave of panic spread thought the small teen. Not having any time to think Yugi acted and as pathetic as it was he tried to chop at the black stuff with his arm. What's even more surprising was the black essence shifted away from him, almost like it didn't want Yugi to touch it. Eyes wide Yugi tried to catch it with both it's hands, it wiggled and shifted and dodged away from him. Getting frustrated Yugi moved to the other side of the door and all but slammed his fist into the darkness, the strand seemed to screech and whiplashed back into its mass, the door slamming in Yugi's face who could only blink dumbly.

Yugi checked on his magician, her skin was already rosier, her breath now visible. Those were good signs! Gathering his strength Yugi dragged her away from the room. He gave one last glance inside the room; the door to the dresser was creaking open. Biting his lip and glowering Yugi went back in, the door quickly slammed shut. Frowning Yugi looked for something to bind the doors closed. His eyes caught a piece of rope that was dangling from the ceiling. Okay, no problem. He might be short but… he could- would get that rope!

Yugi jumped and- missed. He jumped again and missed. This would have been better if his joints and muscles still weren't stiff and aching from that rain ride last night. Oh well. Finally Yugi grabbed it, he grabbed it and pulled and his weight remained motionless as he clung for just a moment before the thing fell from the ceiling… as well as some ceiling.

Crud.

Rubbing his butt as he got up Yugi dusted the dust and rubble off, tied the doors shut and closed the hallway door. Upon a second of reflecting Yugi shoved one of the various broken down objects in the hall against the door… just in case.

Looking down at the fallen girl Yugi grimaced as he thought of the upcoming task.

Dragging.

*********

Sorry, a tad boring there BUT guess what's happening next chapter!!

That's right, the Yami/Yugi meeting!!!!!

Something that took long enough to happen!

HURRAH!!

….

…

^-^ Please review if you still want me to continue, I will update soon if I get 'em.