Ch. 8: The Unexpected

Yugi said not a word as a blue glow shone from underneath Jamie's paws. She just sat there for a second, and then removed her paws at the completion of her task. Wiping away a little bit of frost on Kaiba's coat, she turned to Yugi. Yugi touched the spot that Jamie had been working with. It was cold, almost an ice cold, to the very touch. The only thing that warmed it even by a small margin was Kaiba's skin and fur.

"What did you do?" Yugi asked in wonderment.

"Yes, what did you do?" Yami agreed, chiming in from his sleeping place.

"I didn't know you were awake," Jamie told him, a little startled, as Yugi shrunk back from his brother.

"Yes, well, you and Yugi's conversation woke me," Yami shrugged.

"Anyways, I started the healing process on Kaiba's ribs, you did quite a number on him," Jamie stated. "Of course, he did quite a number on you too," she added.

Ignoring the last comment, he continued, "If you can heal his wounds, can't you heal Yugi's 'illness'?"

"No, Kaiba's wound was a physical one, Yugi's is mental, I think," Jamie stated. "At any rate, I cannot undo the damage done by darkness."

"Oh, well, at least explain what you did with Kaiba," Yami quickly instructed to hide his disappointment.

"I know he broke some ribs, so I used my power over water and froze it into ice and froze Kaiba's ribs into place so they'll have a chance to heal," Jamie shrugged. "Also, it'll cut down on the pain for him."

"How'd you do it on just the ribs?" Yami wondered aloud.

"Practice," Jamie grinned. "I've been doing it for a while."

"Oh," Yami shrugged.

He rolled over and simply went back to sleep. Jamie laid down to rest too. Yugi watched the two fo them.

He was so confused. He didn't know what was real and what wasn't anymore. The darkness had completely clouded his mind. It was eating away at him from the inside, he could feel it. He wanted to be near someone. But he was a little heistant. Then, his eyes fell on Jamie again. He knew she didn't pose any threat. She had just shown him that. So, Yugi went over and curled up beside Jamie.

Jamie was awoken a little by this, but when she saw it was Yugi, she smiled, laid her head back down and went to sleep.

The next morning, Yami was the first to rise to his feet. He watched the sun rise silently as he comtenplated their present situation. What were they going to do? If Jamie had such a soft spot for those down, then she probably wouldn't leave until Kaiba was okay. And if that happened, then Yami wouldn't allow himself to leave without her. But if they were delaid any longer than they needed to be, Yugi might be lost forever. And Yami couldn't live with himself if that happened. So what was he supposed to do?

Little did he know that Jamie was waking behind him. She watched him silently. She could tell he was thinking. He was confused. He didn't know what to do, she could tell. So she did nothing to disturb him. The third person to wake up had no such intentions, however.

Kaiba woke with a jolt. He looked his body up and down, to make sure he was alright. Then, he looked around the small camp with a snort of disgust.

"What is this, a party?" he asked in a sarcastic voice.

"Oh, you're awake," Jamie said, a little surprised.

"Yeah, I'm awake, and I'm wondering what the heck am I doing at your little 'camp'," Kaiba replied in a mocking tone.

"Well, we just helped you recover a little, that's all," Jamie replied.

"You what?!" Kaiba shouted.

"Kaiba please, there are still people sleeping," Jamie shushed him.

"What did you do to me? I don't care if you think you were helping or not, I would've been just fine on my own, thank you very much!" Kaiba continued, ignoring Jamie. "But no, you had to go and 'help' me! What kind of sorry fighter do you think I am?! Whatever made you think I wanted your help?!"

"We showed you mercy, and this is how you repay us?" Yami asked, very irritated.

"Why should I care?" Kaiba snarled back.

"Because you could've died without Jamie," Yami stated.

"I would've been fine," Kaiba replied with confidence.

"Oh really, and why is that?" Yami raised an eyebrow.

"That is classified, I wouldn't tell a complete stranger," Kaiba snorted.

"You're just mad because I beat you," Yami growled.

"Maybe I am, but it doesn't matter," Kaiba snapped back, flopping himself on the ground, back to Yami and Jamie.

"I think it does," Yami told Kaiba.

"Oh really?" Kaiba asked with mild interest. "Well, why does your opinon matter?"

"Well, I do know how these lands work," Yami stated slowly.

"Yeah, your point?" Kaiba snarled.

"You're supposed to give us something in return," Yami shrugged.

"I'm giving you passage through my lands, isn't that enough?" Kaiba asked.

"No, you're granting us passage, but you must GIVE something," Yami answered.

Kaiba growled a little. So, this outsider did know the ways of this region. Granting something isn't the same as giving something. Giving something is more like giving food, or services.

"What do you want?" Kaiba growled.

"I just want to know if you know where the Spring of Life is," Yami told Kaiba.

Kaiba let out a chuckle and says, "Yeah, I know where it is, but you'll never find it. And if you are lucky enough to get close, you won't make it."

"And why not?" Yami challenged.

"You can only find it if you know where it is," Kaiba stated.

"And I suppose you do," Yami said with extreme sarcassim.

"I do," Kaiba nodded.

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