Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh or Batman no matter how much I wish I did!
Warning: minor yaoi
Chapter 3: The Two That Survived
Ryou and Bruce ran quickly through the rain, down alley after alley, noticing that not many people remained outside this late in Domino. The seraph was searching for two people in particular, if they hadn't moved or died, as they were the only ones he could think of off the top of his head that would help him. The few people they did pass shrank back as soon as he came into sight; he'd wisely decided to keep his wings visible since most everyone knew someone with wings was under a god's protection.
He shivered as water ran down his back and ducked under a ledge to get out of it, frowning with annoyance as Bruce dutifully followed him. The man was as good a friend to him as a brother, but it was slightly annoying that Bakura thought he had to be baby-sat. He did have his own power after all.
They started off again, heading straight for a house across the street. Ryou was pleased to see that there were lights on in the house, even this late. The angel ran up to the door and pressed the doorbell, shaking the water off his wings. They heard voices inside and the porch light turned on, almost blinding him; the door opened to reveal a nut brown-haired woman in her late thirties. She looked a bit tired and confused as she looked out.
"Yes, can I help you?"
"Hi Serenity, I'm glad to see you well," Ryou answered. Her eyes opened wide, and she suddenly caught him in a tight embrace.
"Ryou-kun! How are you?! You look so young, I didn't recognize you!"
"I'm fine," Ryou said as he pushed the woman off. "Serenity, may we come in? There's something I need to talk you and Honda about."
"Of course." She opened the door wider and led them into the front hall. "Hiroto! You'll never guess who showed up!" she called. Honda poked his head into the hall and his eyes filled with amazement.
"Ryou! H-how…we thought you were dead!"
The seraph smiled and flexed his wings a bit. "I am dead. Can we sit down somewhere? We've been walking all day trying to find you."
"Is that why you're soaking wet? Sure, follow me." They followed him into the living room, and Ryou and Bruce gratefully sat down in a couple of chairs. Honda and Serenity sat across from them on the sofa, seeming to have only just noticed Bruce.
"So, uh, Ryou, who's you're friend?" Honda asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Oh, this is Bruce Wayne."
"What?! Bruce Wayne?! You know Batman?!"
"Well, Bruce died a few years ago and came to Bakura's realm. We're really good friends…well, sort of. He's more of a very trusted servant. But that's not important. I have something I need to talk to you two about."
"Ryou, I think we're the ones who need questions answered," Serenity said quietly.
"Yeah, like how are you still alive?"
The seraph smiled and shook his head. "I'm not alive, Honda. When I died, I was able to rejoin Bakura in Bakra. He made me a half angel, half vampire. So I am dead, just not completely, I suppose." He noticed their horrified expressions and added, "I'm still me, you know. Besides, Bakura already gave me blood today. I can't drink anymore without becoming a full vampire, which I don't want, so you're perfectly safe."
"That's good to hear," Honda said. "And I guess that explains why you look like you're still seventeen. Are Yugi and the others in the same position as you?"
"I don't know. Most of them probably went to Elysium, and I don't like to visit there. I haven't really left Bakura much since I died."
"So the rumors are true," the older man muttered.
"What rumors?" Ryou asked curiously.
"Our son works in the Temple of Yami down the street," Serenity said quietly, staring down at her feet. "He told us there are rumors going around that Bakura's been spoiling one of his seraphs, that this particular spirit even has his own throne in the palace in Bakra. We thought it was nothing but lies."
"They're not," Ryou said. "I can't believe the Pharaoh's been spying on us! And you two! Working for him!" The angel suddenly stood up, his vampiric nature now quite apparent in his anger. "I was wrong to believe I could trust you. Come on, Bruce–"
"Wait!" Serenity exclaimed, getting to her feet. "Please, Ryou, we want to help you. You're our friend!"
"I was your friend. I don't know how you can help me if you're involved with the Pharaoh." Ryou was starting to look more and more like his yami the longer he was detained; his wings were starting to turn black, as were his clothes.
"Ryou-man, calm down!" Honda exclaimed. "We are not part of the Temple, all right? Just tell us what the problem is and–"
"Hey dad! I'm home!" said a voice from the front hall. A tall boy with haphazard blonde hair walked in and immediately froze. "Dad, what is he doing here?"
"Katsuya, this is Ryou. He dropped by for a visit," Honda answered. "Ryou, this our son."
"I am perfectly aware of who he is, dad," the boy answered. He glared once down at Bruce before returning his gaze to the half vampire.
"I'm sorry I bothered you. I should leave now," Ryou said. He turned toward the door, ready to storm out, and found his way blocked by the Jonouchi look-alike.
"Why are you here, demon?" Katsuya demanded. "Trying to spy on us for your god, or should I say, lover?"
The seraph's eyes flashed red with fury and he turned fully vampire. "Don't speak of him with that dirty mouth of yours! I should kill you right now for spreading those rumors about him!"
"Ryou!" Honda exclaimed. He made a move to stop the angry spirit, but Bruce beat him to it and clamped his arms around Ryou, pinning his wings down.
"Prince Ryou, you can't drink any more blood today, remember? Please calm down!"
"Bruce, get off of me! He insulted Bakura! I can't let that go!"
"Calm down. The Ring is more important than revenge at the moment."
At once, Ryou stopped struggling and he began to turn back into an angel. "You're right. The Ring is more important. Thank you." He turned around as Bruce let go to face Honda and Serenity again. "I'm sure your son already knows this, if he works in the Pharaoh's temple, but the Puzzle and Ring are missing. I'm trying to find them, and I figured I should start with you guys because you're the only ones I know from before the war that actually know about the Items."
"I haven't heard anything," Honda said. He stared at his son. "Have you heard anything."
"I am not telling him," the boy answered, pointedly referring to Ryou. The seraph clenched his fists again, but didn't show any other signs of anger.
"Bakura isn't going to keep the Puzzle if I find it. Telling me what you know isn't going to harm your god."
Katsuya screwed up his face in annoyance. "Fine. The prophets in our temple are saying that someone working for Malik stole both the Ring and the Puzzle. We don't know how or why. Happy?"
"Not really," Ryou answered. "But at least I know who we can punish for this. Thank you." Ryou bowed once to Honda and Serenity. "I'll see you guys later." And then he and Bruce disappeared.
They reappeared in the throne room next to the bone fountain. Ryou left Bruce there and ran off to an adjacent hallway that led to the rest of the palace. He finally found Bakura sitting cross-legged on his bed, trying not to go to sleep and failing. Ryou climbed up onto the bed and hugged his yami.
"Bakura, were you waiting for me?" he asked.
"Yes, of course." Bakura smiled and kissed his hikari.
"Someone working for Malik has–"
"I know. Tomorrow we'll have to punish him somehow."
"Were you spying on me? You didn't have to do that."
"I was worried about you; I wanted to make sure you wouldn't get hurt." He frowned as if remembering something unpleasant. "That Katsuya boy may have to punished for hurting you."
Ryou gazed curiously up at his lover. "I didn't get hurt. No one did, thanks to Bruce."
"Yes, I saw that," Bakura murmured, slowly smoothing his hikari's hair. "You turned vampire, and I thought you didn't like to do that. Therefor, he hurt you and needs to be punished."
Ryou snuggled up against his yami's body. "I love you, Bakura," he whispered.
"You're mine, hikari," Bakura answered, and he enveloped Ryou in another kiss.