DECLARAION- This story has been written and produced by Cathrath (FanFiction. net ID: 609465). Distribution of any kind is prohibited without the written consent of Cathrath. If you should see this story posted anywhere other than FanFiction .net or under any other name it has been stolen so please notify the author. I do not own Yu-gi-oh.
Chapter 12 – Release
As Yami's final words echoed in his mind Yugi at last knew who he was. At the same moment Marik ordered his mind controlled slave to release the guillotine blade and kill his friend Yugi wrenched himself free of Marik's control and quickly pulled the leaver back, stopping the descent of the blade inches from Yami's neck.
Now free and realising he had to move fast Yugi turned and dived off the platform towards Marik. Marik, realising that Yugi was no longer under his control, raised the rod to re-establish the connection but was too slow. Yugi collided heavily with him, knocking him to the floor. In his surprise Marik dropped the millennium rod. Seto gave an inhuman snarl as he realised what was happening and leapt towards the guillotine. He was thrown back by a blast of energy.
"Who dares?" he spat as he climbed back to his feet and spun around to face the direction of the blast.
His eyes settled on a figure standing in the centre of the chamber.
"YOU," he shouted in fury.
Yugi stood holding the now glowing millennium rod out in front of him. The tip aimed at Seto's chest and his once gentle violet eyes narrowed in grim determination and concentration as he fuelled the rods power with his own hate.
"One step closer Seto and I will destroy you," Yugi said in firm voice.
"Only by destroying yourself in the process," Seto snarled.
"If that's what it takes."
Yugi tightened his grip on the rod. The Seto controlled form of Mokuba looked at Yugi then at Yami inches from death. He took in the distance between himself and the blade release leaver and knew he was too far away. If Yugi carried out his threat he would never make it. Seto gave a howl of frustration and then turned and dived at Yugi, knocking him to the floor. Yugi cried out as he rolled in the dust. Bakura, enraged at the recent turn of events and at being denied his entertainment turned to the still controlled forms of Jou and Honda.
"Kill him," He screamed and pointed towards Yugi.
As Honda and Jou approached, Yugi scrambled as fast as he could across the chamber floor desperate to retrieve the millennium rod that had flown out of his hand. Jou was nearly upon him when he finally grasped hold of the rod. Instantly it began to glow. Still lying on the floor Yugi rolled over to bring the rod round in front of him.
"I'm sorry Jou," he said as he fired a bolt of energy towards his friend.
Jou was thrown to the floor by the blast. Yugi quickly got to his feet and turned to do the same to Honda but not fast enough as Honda's powerful hands clasped around his throat. Yugi gasped for breath as Honda slowly squeezed and lifted him off the floor. Honda's grip tightened still and his vision began to blur. Suddenly there was a dull thud and the pressure around his throat lifted. Yugi dropped to the floor shaking and gasping for breath. As his vision cleared he saw Jou sitting on top of Honda trying to hold him down.
"Quickly Yug blast him," Jou shouted.
Realising that the blast from the millennium rod had freed Jou Yugi brought the rod round to bear on Honda. The blast struck Honda just as he broke free from Jou, hitting him in the chest. Honda fell backwards and after a short moment he sat up rubbing his head.
"Where am I?" he exclaimed.
Yugi gave a sigh of relief. Both his friends were back to normal. Seeing his slaves released Bakura decided to make a run for it. Seto had already fled and Marik was starting to raise himself groggily from the floor. Not stopping to help Marik he made a run for the door. Jou saw Bakura go and started to give chase.
"Jou stop. Leave him," Honda shouted.
"But I can catch him," Jou protested.
Honda shook his head.
"I doubt it, I suspect Bakura, being the rat that he is, knows those tunnels very well. You will just end up getting lost."
Jou signed, Honda was right. He knew it. He just wanted revenge for the humiliation he had suffered and the hurt he had been forced to inflict upon his friends. It was then that he caught sight of Marik rising unsteadily to his feet.
"What about him? Can I have him?" Jou indicted Marik to Honda.
"Yeah, now him you can have," Honda replied with a wicked smile.
"Thanks."
Jou picked up a large rock and approached the dazed Marik. Marik realised a little to late that Jou was in front of him and had no time to react before Jou brought the rock down hard on his head, knocking him to the floor, unconscious again.
"Nice," Honda said in approval.
"Thanks," Jou smiled as he retrieved his millennium item from Marik's belt.
"Guys, please you have to help me with Yami," Yugi cried as he ran over to the guillotine.
Honda and Jou rushed to his aid and together they worked to free Yami. They worked quickly, the rope had been stretching under the weight of the blade and it now hovered only millimetres from Yami's throat, a thin line of blood showed where it had rested against his skin. Yami had given in to unconsciousness. Honda took hold of the rope holding the blade and began to pull it away whilst Jou released the metal bands holding Yami in place. As the blade was lifted free and Yami was released Yugi dragged him out of danger. Suddenly there was a loud snap and the blade came crashing down. Yugi breathed a sigh of relief the rope had snapped, a few moments more and the same could have happen whilst Yami had been under the blade.
Yugi knelt beside his friend. He slipped an arm around Yami's shoulders and lifted him halfway off the floor into his arms. He hugged him tightly. Relief that Yami was safe flooded through him. A few moments more and Yami would have died.
"Yami," he called softly brushing Yami's bangs away from his face.
"Yami, please wake up. You're safe now."
At hearing Yugi's voice Yami began to stir. Finally his eyes fluttered open and he looked up into Yugi's deep violet eyes.
"Hey," Yugi said gently so as not to startle him.
Yami had a slightly glazed look in his eyes as he raised a shaky hand to Yugi's face.
"No…..we can't both be dead….I've failed you," Yami said in a sad hopeless voice.
Large crystal tears began to fall from Yami's eyes. Yugi shook him, shocked at Yami's words.
"No, you're not dead Yami. You're alive, I'm alive".
Yami continued to give him a dazed expression.
"No I have to be dead, the blade fell," he said in the same quiet, sad, echoing voice of someone who had given up, having nothing left to fight for.
Yami's condition was worrying Yugi and he shook Yami again. Yami's mind was deep in shock he didn't seem to know what was going on or where he was. He thought he was dead.
"I stopped the blade, you're not dead. Yami please, you have to snap out of it."
Realising it wasn't working Yugi started to panic. Then an idea came to him. He gently placed his fingers to the still bleeding wound on Yami neck and held up the blood-covered fingers so Yami could see.
"Look Yami, blood. The dead don't bleed."
Yami took Yugi's hand in his own and looked at the blooded fingers closely. Slowly Yugi could see coherence return to Yami's eyes. Yami suddenly sat up.
"Blood?" he said in a child like voice. Then realising whose hand he held he turned to Yugi.
"You're hurt?" he said quickly, a tone of realisation returning to his voice as he looked at Yugi checking for sign of injury.
Yugi shook his head.
"No, I'm fine it's yours," Yugi corrected and indicated to Yami's neck.
Yami reached up and gingerly felt the deep cut. He then looked over to where the blade was now imbedded into the wood of the board.
"That was close," he said quietly.
Yugi turned Yami round to face him.
"Are you Ok Yami?" he asked concerned. Yami turned once more to look at the blade and shuddered.
"I am now, thanks to you."
Yami turned back to Yugi.
"Where are Seto, Bakura and Marik?" He asked hurriedly. Suddenly remembering how he had come to be there.
"Seto and Bakura have fled and Marik, well he's a little out of it at the moment."
Yugi pointed to the collapsed figure of Marik.
"What happened to him?" Yami asked.
"Jou hit him with a rock."
Yami smiled.
"What a good idea, but Jou."
"Yes Yami."
"Next time use a bigger one."
They all burst out laughing at Yami's serious tone.
"There's nothing wrong with your sense of humour Your Highness," Honda chuckled.
Yami's brow furrowed but a slight smile played at the corner of his mouth.
"What do you mean sense of humour? I was being serious," he exclaimed.
Yugi shook his head and smiled as he stood up.
"Come on let's get out of here."
Honda helped Yami to his feet whilst Jou picked up and slung the prone figure of Marik over his shoulders. Yugi went to pick up the millennium rod once again but paused, his hand outstretched. Just like the puzzle he could hear it calling out to him. In the heat of the fight he hadn't noticed it but its song was quite clear now, it was hypnotic. He was suddenly aware that Yami had pulled free from Honda and was bending down beside him. Yugi gave a slight shake of his head to clear his senses. Yami picked up the rod and gave Yugi a worried sideways look. Yugi saw the look but said nothing.
"I think this needs to be put in a safe place don't you," Yami said.
Again Yugi said nothing. Yami stood shakily and pushed the rod into his belt. Despite his sense of humour Yami was extremely shaky and weak after his rough treatment at the hands of Marik and Bakura and he began to sway with the effort of standing. Seeing his Pharaoh in need of help Honda quickly moved to his side and without a word slipped an arm around Yami's waist for support. Yami's gave Honda a grateful look and together they moved toward the chamber exit. Yami stopped at the entrance to the corridor and glanced back over his shoulder at the guillotine.
"Jou, could you do something about that thing. I don't think it should just be left like that."
"Not a problem You Highness," Jou answered understanding Yami's meaning.
He casually dropped Marik to the floor, turned around and walked back towards the chamber and the guillotine.
"Thank you Jou," Yami said gratefully
Leaving Jou behind they began to make their way forwards into the darkness. It wasn't long before the once dark corridor lit up with the yellow and orange glow of flames flickering behind them. A short while later Jou rejoined them carrying Marik once again, a grim expression on his face.
"Good riddance," he said as the group made their way back out into the daylight.