Disclaimer: I'm going to be writing disclaimers for a long while... aren't I? I need a break. Oh, tomorrows Friday... I get a kinda break. I still have work. So here is Chapter 19. I own nothing. Nothing... Nothing (Erupts in to crazy laughter)
"We should keep moving!" Joey argued with the Millennium Knight.
"The girl is still unconscious, how will she ride. The only reason any of us are riding to Duelist Kingdom is because of her—" But his voice was suddenly drowned out by a deeper voice.
I agree Joey. She raised me and I would like to see her up and well with her unfailing strength. She's been out for three days.
That's just it Ava, Three days! I don't... He broke off in a sob and hung his head.
"What?" Tristan demanded. "All I said was that we'd travel when she wakes." And he walked away, shaking his head.
"I was talking to my Dragon, wise-ass!" Joey shot back. He recomposed himself and Serenity was at his side.
"Thirsty?" she asked, holding a water-skin out to him.
"Thanks sis, I'm sorry."
She shrugged. "Why?" He sighed and pressed his forehead against her shoulder. "Joey..." she smoothed his straw-color hair and looked over where the Lord and his Knight sat. The two moons hung in the sky, one right behind the other. She left Joey with a pat on the back and went to look in on her patient. To no surprise she found Seto sitting with his knees drawn up and a delicate fire flickering from side to side. His cheek was resting against his knees and he was fast asleep. Serenity smiled and knelt near Téa, touching her hand lightly before holding it. A knife came at her and Serenity fell back and cried out. Seto was fast awake and Téa sat up, lowering the knife in her hand and she turned from Serenity and looked at Seto. Soon, before Serenity's Seto locked Téa in a fast, strong embrace. Téa moaned lightly and tightened her grasp as he rubbed her back.
"All I remember is pain... what happened?"
"You're leg was severely hurt, you were gushing blood, the girl you pulled your knife on saved and stitched you up." Téa released him and turned to the pretty brown hair girl.
"Thank you. I could've died and you saved me." Serenity nodded weakly and smiled.
"You're welcome. But, I would've done it for anyone."
"But still..." Téa lifted the blanket and looked at her wrapped leg, the bandage freshly changed.
"Kaiba sat by your side for three days." Téa gave a shy smile but hid it from Seto by keeping her back to him.
"Thank you." She whispered, facing him. He didn't look into her eyes, instead the sapphire pools gazed at her hands and their returning color, gold and roses.
"You look stronger." She laughed softly.
"I don't feel stronger. I hope a limp isn't my reward for protecting your brother."
"You did it for a reward?" she shook her head quickly.
"I've only use that trick once. The one with that strange man that attacked us." He nodded.
"Really, I believe I did it more then three times." Téa blinked and touched his arm.
"You've fought beside other girls before?" he nodded, a lie. But why would he tell her he was lying? Perhaps he could make her jealous. But Téa hid it well. She grabbed his shoulders firmly and began to lift her body.
"Whoa, wait." She grimaced and moaned in stiff pain. He grabbed her ribs and helped her stand. She put all her weight on her good leg and cried out.
"No! No, put me down." He helped her back down and she grasped her leg, a motion used for thousands of years. It didn't help the pain much, but people believed that if they were to firmly hold the area that hurt that they could make the pain go away.
"You want air?" Téa nodded and he swept her up in her arms.
"Seto!" she cried as he lifted her outside. Mokuba came running towards them.
"Téa! Téa!" she smiled down at the more then excited Mokuba, who jumped up, trying to make eye level with her, but she was in the strong arms of Seto and Mokuba would never make height compared to his brother.
"Hello, Mokuba." She said as Seto gently sat her down near the small grotto, where water trickled down the side of the wall and pooled in the depression of the sand. The water was crystal clear and sparkling blue. Téa dipped fingers into the icy water and pressed the droplets to her forehead.
"It's good to see you up." Téa looked up to see Joey holding out an apple. She reached for it and smiled at him. "Red-eyes was worried about you, too."
"He was?" Joey nodded and crouched in front of her. Téa ran her fingers along the shine of the red apple and brought it to her lips, pressing them against it instead of biting onto it. The skin of the apple was cool and she closed her eyes as her lips were still pressed against the red shade. She took a bit into the apple and swallowed. "Thanks." He nodded, tracing the sand with his fingers.
"So why are you headed to Duelist Kingdom?"
"So that I may avenge my father's death. Lord Pegasus killed my father."
"What's with the formalities then?" for the first time Téa saw this boy with strangeness. He asked her something she hadn't dared questioned. He was right, a man who murdered her father was not a man at all in fact he was nothing more than an animal. To take a man's life because he didn't like the course of action a man took. Téa looked up and was relieved that Seto was approaching. Joey was about to open his mouth when she called for Seto.
"Can you take me back inside, I need to get something." He lifted her without a word and Joey stared after them. When they were gone he pulled down the front of his shirt and stared at the mark over his heart. Suddenly he wished Avaleer wasn't his Bond-mate. He traced the mark; the green hue tinted into a C then a tail then a separate line atop the crescent mark. Lord Devlin walked over to him.
"I'm sorry about your inn."
"Which part? The burning? Or the flooding?" the Lord smiled and Joey sat back and looked up at him. "My sister tends to be around you a lot. I wonder why." Lord Devlin gave a knowing smile and sat down beside Joey.
"I like her, she's kind and very beautiful."
"I'll see you dead before I let you touch her." That was when the Lord got back up.
"Who she associates with is her decision, Mr. Wheeler. Other than that I'll try to heed your words." He walked away and Joey frowned after him. Then pain broke through his shoulders, like he was skewered through one side of the shoulder to his other. He grasped one shoulder and cried out and toppled over. The pain burned like hot pokers and he screamed.
Joey! Joey!
Avaleer! Stop! Please, it hurts.
Help me! That was all the Dragon said, the pain burst further and he cringed as everyone came running to his side.
"Av—I mean Red-Eyes! I have to help him!" He grimaced and lifted the jade-hilt sword free from Seto sheathe.
"Surely! Just not with my father's sword!" Seto said grabbing the boy's wrist and snatching the sword from his hands.
"Use my sword"
"My Lord..." Devlin nodded to the Knight in golden armor and he handed him his Magic Sword.
"It does all the work, Tristan." The russet haired man nodded, dark eyes powerful. He helped the innkeeper's son to his feet and helped him onto one of the steeds. Seto hurried over to Téa. He brushed her hair back with one hand and kissed her forehead.
"Be safe." She nodded, touching her forehead as he ran over to his horse and climbed on, without a moments pause. Téa reached up for Mokuba's hand and pulled him down into her lap and she hugged him to her.
"I'm scared, Téa."
"I know." She whispered softly as the three horses galloped out of their view. Seto and Tristan following Joey and his sister's horse. Devlin walked over to them and sat down. "What's wrong?" Téa finally asked.
"Something about the Dragon. I hope they make it back."
"Red-Eyes! Something's wrong with him?" Téa demanded and she didn't notice the blood soaking into the bandage tight around her leg wound.
"Stop!" He commanded, grabbing her hand away from her leg and she cried out the pain too much to bear and she went into shock, falling backwards.
"Téa!" Mokuba and Devlin cried in unison.
"Quick! Get me some cold water and fresh bandages." Devlin order Mokuba and the boy, without nodding, jumped to his feet and scurried to get the requirements. Devlin grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her up, her small spasm jerked her muscles. "Mokuba hurry! Bring a blanket!" Téa slipped into unconsciousness and Duke stroked back her hair. A moment later Mokuba returned and handed him a woolen blue blanket and the water-skin filled with water. Duke wrapped her body in the blanket and opened the water skin, exposing her leg. He ripped his dagger free from the sheath and sliced open the bandage and tossed the old one to the side as he spilt freezing water onto the heavily bleeding wound. With the blood washed away, Lord Devlin quickly and tightly wrapped the cream-white bandage over the wound and around her leg. Mokuba watched anxiously as he re-covered her leg and held her to his body. "Lady, lady please listen to my voice. It's going to be fine, you'll break from this. I've seen your strength. You have to live. You're will is strong."
"Yes, Téa. Listen to the Lord; he knows it's true. Come on. Seto would be sad if we lost you. And--- and you have to avenge your father, remember your promise!" he clenched his fist and searched her face, suddenly, but very slowly Téa began to lessen in body jerks. She soon relaxed against Lord Devlin. He moved her hair from her sweat drenched forehead and drizzled water onto her forehead. Mokuba helped him pour little amounts of water into her mouth. When she swallowed they let out a relieve sigh.
"There, there." Devlin soothed. "I wonder how the others are bearing."
Too answer a few questions. I am not a fan of any Téa/ anyone but Seto. Maybe Yami or Yugi 'cause you can tell she likes him in the real Yu-Gi-Oh! series. There will be more Yami and Téa encounters you'll see why the Yami-Téa pairing is essential not soon enough but they are necessary. Okay! I hope this one was a better longer fic.