"This is certainly unexpected." The voodoo was quick to get over his shock, pulling away from Amidamaru and grabbing Yoh's wrist painfully tight. "I think that I shall enjoy this even more..."
"Don't touch him!" Amidamaru cried. All the action around him froze, both Yoh and the voodoo looking at him.
"Look, I'll let you... I'll let you..." the samurai swallowed. "Do what you want with me. Just don't touch Yoh."
"Amidamaru!" Yoh hissed. "Don't!"
Amidamaru turned his bloodstained face onto Yoh's
"Yoh, you have to become Shaman King. I don't care what happens to me just as long as you stay in the tournament!"
"But I care what happens to you..." Yoh whispered under his breath. The voodoo was looking from one prisoner to the other.
"As much as I enjoy this sentimental goodbye," He purred at last, releasing Yoh and cupping Amidamaru's chin with one hand, "I must now take advantage of the opportunity that I have just been given."
Amidamaru slumped backward, limp and meek, his eyes locked with Yoh's as they had a silent conversation, though neither could tell what the other was thinking.
Don't you understand? You have to become Shaman King. If it means me sacrificing everything, so be it. I don't care.
Yoh stared back in the brief moments before the voodoo would make his move.
I don't want him to hurt you – I care about you too much...
Yoh gasped and screwed his eyes shut as the voodoo thrust his tongue into Amidamaru's unresisting mouth. A strangled sob escaped the pale haired warrior, but no other sound or movement emanated from his now docile form.
There was an inhalation of breath from Amidamaru and Yoh saw, around the voodoo, a trickle of blood emerge from the side of the samurai's mouth. The voodoo drew away, grinning evilly. Amidamaru's blood stained his teeth and he licked it off gloatingly, staring hungrily at Yoh.
"As much as I love having my own personal slave to play with," He gave Amidamaru a powerful shove, sending the samurai sprawling sideways. Amidamaru bit his lip as day old whip lacerations flared into life again. The voodoo continued speaking.
"I cannot resist the idea of the boy." He finished in almost a whisper, advancing towards Yoh. Yoh backed up into the wall and Amidamaru looked up in despair. The voodoo was almost upon the young shaman when –
"Stop!" Amidamaru cried, struggling into a sitting position. "We had a deal!"
"Yes, my samurai friend," the voodoo rasped, turning away from Yoh. "There was a deal. I got bored with it, so I am changing the rules."
There was a rattle of chains as Amidamaru threw himself forwards, the restraining fetters holding him back by the wrists. He strained against them, trying to get at the voodoo, who laughed and forced the samurai onto his knees with a single shove.
"You cannot stop me." He said simply.
He turned back to Yoh, a strange hungry light in his eyes.
"I'll fight you."
Amidamaru's bland, expressionless statement caused the voodoo to freeze in his tracks.
"Excuse me?"
"I'll fight you." The samurai repeated in the same tone of voice.
"You'll fight me for him?" The voodoo asked incredulously. Then, when Amidamaru nodded, he threw back his head and laughed.
"You may laugh, but I'm not joking." Amidamaru continued. Yoh could see the steely glint in his friend's eyes and knew that the voodoo had gone too far. Amidamaru did not care about what happened to himself, but now something had threatened Yoh...
"Very well, samurai."
The voodoo produced a key from his trouser pocket and unlocked the shackles on Amidamaru's wrists. Immediately the samurai whipped his hand around the voodoo's throat. The sinister man merely laughed and threw Amidamaru from him. The young warrior hit the wall with a sickening crunch and slid down like a rag doll.
"Run, Yoh.." He coughed up blood as he spoke. "Run... get away... I'll hold him off..."
"I won't leave without you!" Yoh shouted, hurling himself at the voodoo and latching on to the man's back. With a roar, the voodoo dragged Yoh over his shoulder and threw him on the floor. Yoh rolled away, sobbing for breath, completely winded. The young shaman struggled to his feet, the image of Amidamaru's torn body flashing in front of his eyes as though someone had pasted a picture there.
Before he could attack again, however, the voodoo had thrust him backwards, trapping him against the wall. Amidamaru let out a muted cry of anger and helplessness as their captor advanced on Yoh once again.
There was the sudden, distant ringing of a doorbell. The voodoo swore quite graphically, released his hold on Yoh and dragged Amidamaru's limp form back to the shackles, fastening them on the samurai's wrists once again before slamming out of the door. After his quick footsteps had receded, Yoh crawled over to his friend.
"Amidamaru, are you all right?" He asked, frantically checking for a pulse. There was a forced chuckle.
"I'm fine..."
"That was so brave of you, standing up for me like you did." The young shaman found Amidamaru's hand and held it, massaging life and warmth back into the extremity.
"It was not bravery." The samurai coughed, blood running in tiny streams from his mouth. There was self-disgust in his voice. "I have been informed by the voodoo that I cannot die. I was therefore making no sacrifices when standing up for you."
"You were." Yoh insisted, squeezing his friend's hand to emphasize his words. "It takes a lot more bravery to face pain than death. If he can't kill you then you'll feel even more pain because you'll still be hurting after the point a mortal would have died, so... you were very brave..."
They fell silent for a while; the only sound came from Amidamaru's hoarse, laboured breathing. Then –
"He's coming back..." Yoh said, listening intently to the footsteps outside the basement door. His heart sank as he glanced back at Amidamaru, who was resting his head against the wall.
The door burst open and the voodoo again came back in. He was carrying something; it looked like a large tray of food and water. Yoh's mouth dropped open in surprise. The voodoo was walking hastily, as though rushing; his face was pale and he looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I must leave for a few days," He informed them, checking the manacles on Amidamaru's wrist. "You will find there is sufficient food."
"If you're leaving, why don't you just kill us?" Yoh asked angrily. The voodoo smiled coldly.
"It is true I want you as my toys, but I do not want you dead. Yet." He turned on his heel and prowled out of the room, though the usual spring in his step was missing. Yoh and Amidamaru were left alone in the room.
Yoh hauled himself over to the tray and carried it back to Amidamaru, whipping off the thin rag that covered it, revealing a loaf of bread, a large bowl of thin soup and several beakers of water.
"How long did he say this has to last? Three days?" He tore open the bread packet and dipped a slice into the soup, eating it.
"Disgusting." He muttered, pulling a face. Amidamaru smiled weakly. "Want some?"
The young samurai shook his head.
"No, thank you. I am not hungry."
"Really? You look hungry."
"And you look tired." Amidamaru countered. "I doubt you had much sleep before you came here?" His point was punctuated by Yoh yawning.
"You're right. I'm hammered." Yoh grinned lopsidedly at Amidamaru. "You don't mind if I go to sleep?"
"Not at all."
Yoh curled up in a tight ball to fend away the cold that seemed to reside in the stone room. Amidamaru watched him for awhile until he was sure the young shaman was fast asleep, Then he turned his head away and sighed heavily.
He could not sleep. He could hardly even close his eyes, the images that flashed in front of them when they were closed were so vivid... so disturbing... a perfect reminder of what the voodoo had done to him before Yoh had arrived...
He didn't want Yoh to know what had been done to him, how he had been treated. He didn't want Yoh to put himself in danger because of him. Well, he thought grimly, Yoh already has put himself in danger because of me. He came to rescue me. Now he's in even more danger than he could possibly imagine...
The samurai debated with himself whether to tell Yoh what to expect when the voodoo returned, but... no. It would be too mean. They would have to face the consequences when their tormentor returned, and Amidamaru silently vowed that no harm would come to Yoh while he was still conscious and able to prevent it. Some guardian ghost I'm turning out to be... he thought bitterly.
His attention was drawn back to Yoh as the boy gave a violent shudder. Amidamaru laid a hand on his friend's cheek. He's freezing...
Amidamaru looked around in a sudden panic. Yoh was freezing, he'd surely catch something if he wasn't warmed up... after all the samurai had done that day to protect Yoh, he was damned if he was going to let the shaman die of something as trivial as hypothermia.
But how was he going to warm the boy up? He couldn't take off his cloak because of the chains, and his own bare arms and chest were freezing too... his chest? Oh, Christ... he couldn't, Yoh would kill him... but if it was the only way...?
Hesitantly, he reached out and grasped Yoh's arm, pulling the smaller boy to his chest and slowly wrapping both muscular arms around the small form. Yoh muttered something in his sleep and stirred, burying his head further into Amidamaru's strong torso. The samurai smiled gently.
He felt as though the claw that was gripping his heart had loosened slightly. He had wanted this for so long without realising it, just to hold Yoh in his arms. He had always thought it to be a possibility, Yoh and Anna were engaged and he, of course, was dead. He just went straight through Yoh. But now...
He sighed again, though this time it was not with pain or depression, but with contentment. Yoh was warming up and he was too, though from the inside. It was a pleasant feeling, as though he had just drunk a cup of hot chocolate. He had almost forgotten his own pain, that inflicted on him before Yoh's arrival.
All that mattered now was Yoh. How could his feelings for the shaman have become so strong without him realising? He knew that he had at one time, while he was still a spirit, felt a desire for something, but he a cast it aside, repressed it, locked it away in his heart. Now he knew what it was he desired.
Surely this could not last. Surely Yoh would prefer Anna to him. Why would he choose a ragged, jaded 600 year dead samurai when he could have a pretty, albeit tyrannical, girl of his own age? Amidamaru shook his head slowly, eyes never leaving Yoh. He would make the most of the time they were sharing together now and face Yoh's wrath in the morning.
Amidamaru fell into a shallow, haunted sleep, Yoh cuddled up in his arms.
"Don't touch him!" Amidamaru cried. All the action around him froze, both Yoh and the voodoo looking at him.
"Look, I'll let you... I'll let you..." the samurai swallowed. "Do what you want with me. Just don't touch Yoh."
"Amidamaru!" Yoh hissed. "Don't!"
Amidamaru turned his bloodstained face onto Yoh's
"Yoh, you have to become Shaman King. I don't care what happens to me just as long as you stay in the tournament!"
"But I care what happens to you..." Yoh whispered under his breath. The voodoo was looking from one prisoner to the other.
"As much as I enjoy this sentimental goodbye," He purred at last, releasing Yoh and cupping Amidamaru's chin with one hand, "I must now take advantage of the opportunity that I have just been given."
Amidamaru slumped backward, limp and meek, his eyes locked with Yoh's as they had a silent conversation, though neither could tell what the other was thinking.
Don't you understand? You have to become Shaman King. If it means me sacrificing everything, so be it. I don't care.
Yoh stared back in the brief moments before the voodoo would make his move.
I don't want him to hurt you – I care about you too much...
Yoh gasped and screwed his eyes shut as the voodoo thrust his tongue into Amidamaru's unresisting mouth. A strangled sob escaped the pale haired warrior, but no other sound or movement emanated from his now docile form.
There was an inhalation of breath from Amidamaru and Yoh saw, around the voodoo, a trickle of blood emerge from the side of the samurai's mouth. The voodoo drew away, grinning evilly. Amidamaru's blood stained his teeth and he licked it off gloatingly, staring hungrily at Yoh.
"As much as I love having my own personal slave to play with," He gave Amidamaru a powerful shove, sending the samurai sprawling sideways. Amidamaru bit his lip as day old whip lacerations flared into life again. The voodoo continued speaking.
"I cannot resist the idea of the boy." He finished in almost a whisper, advancing towards Yoh. Yoh backed up into the wall and Amidamaru looked up in despair. The voodoo was almost upon the young shaman when –
"Stop!" Amidamaru cried, struggling into a sitting position. "We had a deal!"
"Yes, my samurai friend," the voodoo rasped, turning away from Yoh. "There was a deal. I got bored with it, so I am changing the rules."
There was a rattle of chains as Amidamaru threw himself forwards, the restraining fetters holding him back by the wrists. He strained against them, trying to get at the voodoo, who laughed and forced the samurai onto his knees with a single shove.
"You cannot stop me." He said simply.
He turned back to Yoh, a strange hungry light in his eyes.
"I'll fight you."
Amidamaru's bland, expressionless statement caused the voodoo to freeze in his tracks.
"Excuse me?"
"I'll fight you." The samurai repeated in the same tone of voice.
"You'll fight me for him?" The voodoo asked incredulously. Then, when Amidamaru nodded, he threw back his head and laughed.
"You may laugh, but I'm not joking." Amidamaru continued. Yoh could see the steely glint in his friend's eyes and knew that the voodoo had gone too far. Amidamaru did not care about what happened to himself, but now something had threatened Yoh...
"Very well, samurai."
The voodoo produced a key from his trouser pocket and unlocked the shackles on Amidamaru's wrists. Immediately the samurai whipped his hand around the voodoo's throat. The sinister man merely laughed and threw Amidamaru from him. The young warrior hit the wall with a sickening crunch and slid down like a rag doll.
"Run, Yoh.." He coughed up blood as he spoke. "Run... get away... I'll hold him off..."
"I won't leave without you!" Yoh shouted, hurling himself at the voodoo and latching on to the man's back. With a roar, the voodoo dragged Yoh over his shoulder and threw him on the floor. Yoh rolled away, sobbing for breath, completely winded. The young shaman struggled to his feet, the image of Amidamaru's torn body flashing in front of his eyes as though someone had pasted a picture there.
Before he could attack again, however, the voodoo had thrust him backwards, trapping him against the wall. Amidamaru let out a muted cry of anger and helplessness as their captor advanced on Yoh once again.
There was the sudden, distant ringing of a doorbell. The voodoo swore quite graphically, released his hold on Yoh and dragged Amidamaru's limp form back to the shackles, fastening them on the samurai's wrists once again before slamming out of the door. After his quick footsteps had receded, Yoh crawled over to his friend.
"Amidamaru, are you all right?" He asked, frantically checking for a pulse. There was a forced chuckle.
"I'm fine..."
"That was so brave of you, standing up for me like you did." The young shaman found Amidamaru's hand and held it, massaging life and warmth back into the extremity.
"It was not bravery." The samurai coughed, blood running in tiny streams from his mouth. There was self-disgust in his voice. "I have been informed by the voodoo that I cannot die. I was therefore making no sacrifices when standing up for you."
"You were." Yoh insisted, squeezing his friend's hand to emphasize his words. "It takes a lot more bravery to face pain than death. If he can't kill you then you'll feel even more pain because you'll still be hurting after the point a mortal would have died, so... you were very brave..."
They fell silent for a while; the only sound came from Amidamaru's hoarse, laboured breathing. Then –
"He's coming back..." Yoh said, listening intently to the footsteps outside the basement door. His heart sank as he glanced back at Amidamaru, who was resting his head against the wall.
The door burst open and the voodoo again came back in. He was carrying something; it looked like a large tray of food and water. Yoh's mouth dropped open in surprise. The voodoo was walking hastily, as though rushing; his face was pale and he looked distinctly uncomfortable.
"I must leave for a few days," He informed them, checking the manacles on Amidamaru's wrist. "You will find there is sufficient food."
"If you're leaving, why don't you just kill us?" Yoh asked angrily. The voodoo smiled coldly.
"It is true I want you as my toys, but I do not want you dead. Yet." He turned on his heel and prowled out of the room, though the usual spring in his step was missing. Yoh and Amidamaru were left alone in the room.
Yoh hauled himself over to the tray and carried it back to Amidamaru, whipping off the thin rag that covered it, revealing a loaf of bread, a large bowl of thin soup and several beakers of water.
"How long did he say this has to last? Three days?" He tore open the bread packet and dipped a slice into the soup, eating it.
"Disgusting." He muttered, pulling a face. Amidamaru smiled weakly. "Want some?"
The young samurai shook his head.
"No, thank you. I am not hungry."
"Really? You look hungry."
"And you look tired." Amidamaru countered. "I doubt you had much sleep before you came here?" His point was punctuated by Yoh yawning.
"You're right. I'm hammered." Yoh grinned lopsidedly at Amidamaru. "You don't mind if I go to sleep?"
"Not at all."
Yoh curled up in a tight ball to fend away the cold that seemed to reside in the stone room. Amidamaru watched him for awhile until he was sure the young shaman was fast asleep, Then he turned his head away and sighed heavily.
He could not sleep. He could hardly even close his eyes, the images that flashed in front of them when they were closed were so vivid... so disturbing... a perfect reminder of what the voodoo had done to him before Yoh had arrived...
He didn't want Yoh to know what had been done to him, how he had been treated. He didn't want Yoh to put himself in danger because of him. Well, he thought grimly, Yoh already has put himself in danger because of me. He came to rescue me. Now he's in even more danger than he could possibly imagine...
The samurai debated with himself whether to tell Yoh what to expect when the voodoo returned, but... no. It would be too mean. They would have to face the consequences when their tormentor returned, and Amidamaru silently vowed that no harm would come to Yoh while he was still conscious and able to prevent it. Some guardian ghost I'm turning out to be... he thought bitterly.
His attention was drawn back to Yoh as the boy gave a violent shudder. Amidamaru laid a hand on his friend's cheek. He's freezing...
Amidamaru looked around in a sudden panic. Yoh was freezing, he'd surely catch something if he wasn't warmed up... after all the samurai had done that day to protect Yoh, he was damned if he was going to let the shaman die of something as trivial as hypothermia.
But how was he going to warm the boy up? He couldn't take off his cloak because of the chains, and his own bare arms and chest were freezing too... his chest? Oh, Christ... he couldn't, Yoh would kill him... but if it was the only way...?
Hesitantly, he reached out and grasped Yoh's arm, pulling the smaller boy to his chest and slowly wrapping both muscular arms around the small form. Yoh muttered something in his sleep and stirred, burying his head further into Amidamaru's strong torso. The samurai smiled gently.
He felt as though the claw that was gripping his heart had loosened slightly. He had wanted this for so long without realising it, just to hold Yoh in his arms. He had always thought it to be a possibility, Yoh and Anna were engaged and he, of course, was dead. He just went straight through Yoh. But now...
He sighed again, though this time it was not with pain or depression, but with contentment. Yoh was warming up and he was too, though from the inside. It was a pleasant feeling, as though he had just drunk a cup of hot chocolate. He had almost forgotten his own pain, that inflicted on him before Yoh's arrival.
All that mattered now was Yoh. How could his feelings for the shaman have become so strong without him realising? He knew that he had at one time, while he was still a spirit, felt a desire for something, but he a cast it aside, repressed it, locked it away in his heart. Now he knew what it was he desired.
Surely this could not last. Surely Yoh would prefer Anna to him. Why would he choose a ragged, jaded 600 year dead samurai when he could have a pretty, albeit tyrannical, girl of his own age? Amidamaru shook his head slowly, eyes never leaving Yoh. He would make the most of the time they were sharing together now and face Yoh's wrath in the morning.
Amidamaru fell into a shallow, haunted sleep, Yoh cuddled up in his arms.