Dark Crimson Night: Darkened Light
Author's note: And here we have chapter two. Enjoy!
Warnings: Yaoi, cussing, death, blood, mass destruction, lots of dark things and who knows what else at this point.
Pairings: Not going to tell yet. ^_~
Disclaimer: *shakes head*
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Bakura winced at the sharp pain in his head, rubbing his temple slowly to help relieve some of the pressure. The pain he had felt earlier had returned and was slowly building, building to the point where he was considering actually asking Seto to seal him back in the Ring until Ryou was found. Having a physical body was turning out to be a pain.
The thief sighed. On second thought, even a headache of this magnitude wouldn't stop him from relishing in his moments of freedom. Jou had come into the room a few times, glancing at him with a mildly worried expression. From what he could pick up, Bakura had learned that the others, with the exception of Seto, Jou, and now the three yamis, were living in a second underground base outside of the lower city where it was slightly safer.
Bakura jumped when he heard the door of the rundown apartment swing open and then slam. Footsteps and what sounded like something dragging could be heard from the hallway. Suddenly the door to the small living room swung open to reveal an extremely harassed looking Seto. Jou's eyes widened and he had to fight the urge to chuckle at the former CEO. Bakura too was about to laugh until he noticed the figure Seto had half-dragged behind him.
The tomb robber stood sharply, wincing at the pain in his head. The figure was about his height, clothed in tattered rags with a dark bit of fabric wrapped around his shoulders to serve as a cloak. Platinum blonde hair fell in spiky wisps to the boy's shoulder while angry lavender eyes glared out at him through bleached bangs.
"Masaka…" There wasn't anything else he could say. Seto rolled his eyes and pulled the boy forward. A gasp from Jou told the two that he had noticed the familiar features as well.
"I caught him trying to steal from my shop," the sapphire-eyed man told them.
"I told you, I need it!" the captive boy yelled in frustration, an expression near panic in his eyes. He struggled blindly against Seto's stronger grasp, only to have his other wrist caught and restrained as well.
"Hold still, you'll only make things worse," his captor hissed. Bakura couldn't help but smirk at the thought of Malik getting caught. Some of his thieving skills must have become rusty during the course of his rebirth.
"What did he try to steal," Jou asked, still staring at the tan boy.
"An antidote for wraith poison," Seto answered shortly. Bakura's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Antidote?" he asked. He was answered by a curt nod from Seto. "Just let him go already Seto," the thief told him with a suppressed sigh. "What's your name?" Malik blinked as his wrists were released, rubbing them slowly to bring back some sense of circulation. The way the pale being was looking at him was becoming unnerving. It was almost as if he already knew the answer.
"Malik," he murmured, watching the white haired man carefully.
"Impossible!" A shocked voice turned their attention to the door near the back of the room, the very same door that led down to Seto's underground lab. Yami was standing there with a look of pure shock on his face, his crimson eyes wide as dinner plates. From behind him, the group could hear a second surprised gasp. Bakura's own eyes widened when Ishtal emerged from the shadows, pushing past yami and freezing before his long lost hikari and staring at him in shock.
Suddenly Malik found himself wrapped in an extremely tight embrace as his strange look alike clung to him for all he was worth. The dark yami rubbed his cheek against Malik's hair affectionately, like an over large cat. A low growl registered in his throat when Bakura tapped his shoulder.
"Ishtal… you're scaring him," the thief murmured. The tanned being spun, dropping Malik so quickly that he stumbled only to be caught by the tri-colored haired man from before. The crimson eyed being helped him back to his feet with a wry grin as his strange twin glared at the pale man who had spoken to him, eyes lighted with an insane, panicked glint. The darkened lavender eyes were wide with confusion and annoyance.
"Who are you?" Malik asked uncomfortably. The pale being blinked suddenly, broken away from his glaring contest with the tanned man. He stared for a moment, then broke out laughing, a maniacal cackle that no sane person could manage. Malik's twin blinked, glancing back at Malik over his shoulder with his head slightly tilted in confusion. Yami, Seto and Jou all had to fight the urge to chuckle in amusement at the surprisingly innocent expression on Ishtal's face.
"Boku wa Yami no Malik desu," the tanned creature murmured, eyes like a confused child's watching Malik carefully. "Ne? Malik-kun." Malik gasped, his eyes widening as he stepped back involuntarily.
"Yami no… Darkness of… how… what?" the boy asked weakly, stumbling over his words. A gleeful cackle from Bakura broke the awkward silence.
"Boku wa Yami no Bakura Ryou," he murmured with a playful wink, his headache all but forgotten in the amusement of the moment. "Call me Bakura." The reaction the thief received, however, was not what he had expected. Malik's eyes widened desperately as he froze.
"Ryou…" the boy spun, dashing for the door only to be caught by Seto.
"Where do you think you're going?" the blue-eyed man asked. Malik struggled desperately with renewed strength. He had forgotten in the confusion of the moment and all this time Ryou was dying without him.
"Let me go! I have to get back! He'll die!" he yelled in frustration. Bakura's eyes narrowed, his headache returning with full force. He had a feeling there was more to this than Malik realized.
"Who?" he asked sharply.
"My friend," Malik snapped back, desperate to get back as soon as possible. "Damn it, he could be dead by now and you're just trapping me here! Even if I can't get the antidote I won't let Ryou die alone!" Bakura froze suddenly. He stepped forward, gripping Malik by the arm and pulling him towards the door.
"What do you think you're doing Bakura?" Yami yelled after him.
"Do you expect me to just stand here? This is too big a coincidence! He could easily be talking about my Ryou," the thief hissed back.
"Then at least take this," Seto told the thief, handing him a small vial of brilliant green liquid. "I'm guessing this is why you tried to steal from me?" Seto shot Malik a sharp look. The tanned boy nodded, then tensed as Ishtal stepped forward. His strange twin held in his hands what appeared to be some kind of golden staff.
"Take this hikari," he murmured. Malik nodded numbly, his hand wrapping around the long end of the staff. Sudden strange warmth filled him, as if a piece of his soul that had been missing had suddenly been replaced. The strange being leaned towards him, placing a light kiss on his lips before vanishing into thin air. Bakura sighed. So that was how their new bodies would work. Malik could only stare in shock at the glimmering golden object in his hands.
"The Sennen Rod is yours Malik," Yami murmured to him. "We'll explain more when you return." Bakura nodded a curt thanks to Yami, before tugging Malik towards the door. As they dashed through the darkened streets, Malik could sense a familiar presence in the back of his mind.
I'll protect you, hikari… this time, and always…
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Ryou shivered in the consuming darkness, lost in the unconscious void of his mind. Strange visions flashed through his head, dreams he couldn't understand. A pair of dark, uncaring, almost cold eyes dominated his feverish dreams, glaring at him from the darkness.
"Yadounshi," a harsh voice called to him, beckoning him into the darkness. Silvery light filtered by, shimmering as it covered the darkness, calming him, seducing him into just giving in. Suddenly sharp gold lights shot through the silver, slicing them in half and banishing them from his mind. Ryou cried out, struggling as the golden light wrapped gently, almost protectively around him.
"Yadounshi!" The voice called him again, this time more frantic. "Yadounshi, hikari… wake up!" Soft brown eyes snapped open, blinking rapidly as the pale boy fought to slow his racing breath. He was covered in cold sweat and shaking lightly. Gentle hands ran through his soft hair, calming his nerves slightly. Lavender eyes stared down at him with worry.
"Malik?" the boy rasped weakly, his voice hoarse. The tanned boy nodded, sighing in relief.
"Yokata," he murmured softly.
"What happened?" Ryou asked him, fighting the urge to just drift into sleep as the hands continued to caress his pale locks. Who was doing that anyway?"
"You were struck by a wraith," A new, oddly familiar voice made the pale boy jump. He looked up, finding what appeared to be his dark twin hovering over him with a dark frown. The strange being was stroking his hair lightly, worry creasing his sharp face. Ryou gasped, lifting a hand to rub his eyes. The pale man pushed his hand away, smirking slightly. "I assure you, I'm no dream Ryou."
"How do you know my name?" the boy murmured softly.
"I know a lot more than that," the strange man answered. Malik gazed at him, curiosity evident in his lavender eyes now that his friend was out of danger. In his hand, he clutched the Sennen Rod close; still marveling in the feeling it gave off.
"You said you'd explain," Malik reminded him. Bakura nodded in answer.
"I will, but not here. We need to get Ryou back to the apartment," he murmured, standing and lifting the thin body from its nest of blankets. Ryou unconsciously snuggled into his chest, his body too tired to struggle. Bakura couldn't help but smile at the boy, a smile Malik noted that he hadn't seen on the man's face before. Finally, his hikari was back in his arms, back safe where he could protect him. Finally…
"Who are you?" Ryou asked, voice soft as he began to drift off into sleep.
"The other half of your soul."
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A tiny figure dashed through the streets, hurrying from the screeching calls of the wraiths that followed him. A dark cloth was wrapped around the being's head, hiding everything but his large violet eyes from view. The small figure ran as fast as his short legs could carry him, dodging rubble and broken wood with practiced speed and agility. The wraiths behind him were coming closer…
Suddenly he was pulled into a darkened alley by a strong arm. A hand reached over his mouth, silencing him until the wraiths had passed. As soon as they were gone, the small boy began to struggle wildly, biting the hand over his mouth. His savior yelped, dropping him immediately.
"Is that any way to repay someone who saved your life?" the taller figure demanded, emerald eyes glaring down at the boy. Brilliant violet eyes glared back with equal force.
"Considering I don't know who you are and what you want with me I think it's valid," the boy snapped. The emerald-eyed man snorted, twirling a lock of his dark hair between his fingers.
"Is it so hard to believe I just thought you could use some help?" he asked. The violet eyes were skeptical as they gazed back at him.
"It wouldn't be the first time someone's tricked me," the boy muttered in reply. "I suppose you want some kind of payment for saving me." The emerald eyes watching him widened slightly. There was a light sigh.
"No believe it or not I don't want some kind of payment," the man answered. The violet-eyed boy breathed an audible sight of relief, relaxing slightly. He didn't like accusing people, but someone like him had to be careful. He had learned that much at least.
"What's your name?" the boy asked out of idle curiosity. The other man shrugged.
"Call me Otogi," he answered calmly. The violet-eyed boy nodded, lifting a hand to the cloth around his head and pulling it down around his thin shoulders.
"I'm Yugi," he murmured, smiling slightly at his rescuer. The reaction he got, however, was not one he had expected. The emerald-eyed man froze, fingers still twisted in his midnight hair, eyes widening to amazing proportions. Yugi's eyes narrowed warily, unsure of what to think. He took a step back, prepared to run for it if this Otogi proved a threat.
The man shook his head, blinking as if trying to clear his thoughts. He was about to step forward when he noticed Yugi's wary stance. The boy had changed since his rebirth; Otogi could see it in his eyes. HE understood betrayal, pain and sorrow, and he didn't trust as easily as he once had. Otogi raised his hands in front of him, trying to show the boy that he meant not harm.
"I'm not going to hurt you Yugi," he murmured. Violet eyes told him that the smaller figure didn't quite believe him. "But I do have to ask you to come with me." Yugi tensed as Otogi continued. "It's up to you, but Kaiba'll have my head if you get hurt." Yugi tilted his head at the strangely familiar name. He couldn't remember where he had heard it but…
"You swear you won't harm me?" the boy asked him. Otogi raised his right hand with a small grin.
"On all the honor I have left."
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Author's notes: And there's chapter 3. ^_^
Yami: How come Bakura and Ishtal get to find their hikari's first? *pouts*
Bakura: *grins and cuddles Ryou* Mmm… hikari…
Yami: *eye twitch* Baka tomb robber.
*sighs* Oh just wait… there's more in store for them. *smirks evilly* Hope you like so far. Please review. ^_^