-Wild Aces-

"What did I tell you, Keith," Pegasus smirked, crossing his arms while looking at his second hand and one of his other riders. "It's in the bag."

"I'd hardly call it in the bag. We lost a few good riders back there with your little plan," Keith grumbled looking over all the gauges and levers of the steam engine to make sure it was in order. "You're just lucky that I know how to drive this thing since you shot the real engineer!"

"One of the many reasons why I keep you around," Pegasus replied dryly with a wave of his hand. "Keep it steady though while I go and keep our latest prize company."

"What about the runt?" Keith asked, arching an eyebrow curiously.

"He's still our insurance."

"D-does that m-mean that… that the Wild Aces will be… after us?"

"Well we do have something of theirs, don't we Dan?" Pegasus smiled, thoroughly enjoying the trembling figure of the other rider. "So I'm betting that they'll be after us, or more like waiting for us in Daxton, and that is where I will send them to their graves… in pieces."

"You plan on using it then, don't ya?"

"I'm just itching to try out my new toy," Pegasus chuckled while turning and exiting out of the steam engine and entering another car to make his way to the treasury car.

Watching their leader saunter out of the car, Keith snorted and rolled his eyes. "Only Silver Mane would refer to a cannon as a toy," he muttered, turning back to Dan to notice the other pale even more and swallow nervously.

Making his way to the treasury car, Pegasus came to a stop as he spotted the small blindfolded and bound tri color haired figure sitting on the floor of the passenger car. Chuckling, he relished in watching the young one squirm as he took steps closer to him to hear the muffled whimpers from the little one as well.

"It's amazing that a runt like you is the key to taking down that damn Yami and his little friends."

Yugi whimpered, hearing Silver Mane's spurs jingling with every step closer. Even though he was still blindfolded, he had heard all the gunfire and dying gasps of riders and soldiers. This was too much for him to bare, it was bad enough that one of the riders had landed on him on the wagon, coating his clothes in their blood, which caused his nerves to be even more jumpy.

"I wonder what Yami has been doing since you have been taken away from him?" Pegasus mused, easing into one of the wooden benches. "Or better yet, I wonder how many he's shot by now."

'No, the others wouldn't let him loose control like that.' Yugi thought, mentally growling at Silver Mane for taking him away from Yami in the first place.

"I bet you don't even know that much about him, or how many he's left for the birds," Pegasus chuckled, watching as Yugi shook his head, obviously not believing what was being told. "He keeps the undertaker very busy."

Shaking his head, Yugi continued to try and block out the cruel remarks that Silver Mane was making about Yami. It wasn't helping as much as he would have liked though, since Yami had only told him the history of how the gang was started, but had avoided at mentioning any stories of his heists or anything, the only heist he ever heard of when the Wild Aces had robbed a stagecoach and one of the passengers had been shot in the cross fire.

Blinking back a few tears, he couldn't help but think back to the story and what he had heard Silver Mane and Keith talk about earlier. 'What if he's telling the truth…? Yami never mentions any victims, and then he didn't say who had shot the guy… and it ended up being him. No! I can't think like this! Yami isn't that heartless, he is caring and I love him to much to believe Silver Mane.'

Satisfied with his taunting, Pegasus got up from his seat and started to walk out of the car, leaving Yugi alone once again. Reaching the door, he opened then turned to look back at the little one. "I wouldn't count on a rescue any time though, because as soon as we reach Daxton, I'm going to let my new toy send Yami and the rest of those bastards to their graves."

Hearing the little one let out a choked and muffled sob, he chuckled before walking out the door and closing it behind him, thoroughly pleased with himself for filling the little one with words leaving little room for hope.

With his black boot length duster flaring out behind him like some sort of cape, Yami and Phantom looked nothing more than a black blur racing through the sandy backdrop as well as the painted hills of the ravine. Keeping his body leaning forward, he was glad that the hat deflected most of the harsh wind from stinging his eyes.

The shortcut through the ravine had taken a lot longer than he had bargained for, but apparently the passage had developed a lot of natural obstacles since the last time he had come across them. Yami was so caught up his thoughts, that he was startled as a few droplets of water splashed across his face.

Blinking out of his daze, he barely had time to ready himself as Phantom galloped out of the river to leap over a large moss covered log before hitting the ground on the other side and racing off again.

Taking a quick glimpse at the inky stallion, he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at the horse. Phantom had not dropped his racing speed since he had left the others, which was astounding in itself, but then again with the stallion's unfathomable stamina and stubbornness, Yami continued to thank his lucky stars for crossing the stallion's path.

Racing around another bend, he quickly directed the horse up a hill and smiled at seeing train tracks. Galloping alongside the tracks, Yami smiled as he noticed puffs of coal black smoke coming from up ahead. "We've almost caught the train, boy," he chuckled lightly while patting the horse to receive a happy whinny before the horse some how quickened its pace even more.

Seeing the train getting closer and closer, Yami quickly thought up a plan for how he was to get on the train in the first place. He also had to remember that the train would be loaded down with Silver Mane's gang, and he was sure that each of them were toting a pair of pistols, which meant he was going to have to do this strategically.

Tying the reins together and letting them rest against the stallion's neck, Yami pulled out a long coiled up piece of rope and unraveled it enough so that he could wrap it around his shoulder. Feeling for all four of his guns, he took a deep breath and loosened up the grip of his legs.

Getting Phantom steady with the last train car, he eyed the black iron latter at the end of it as well as the little platform. Carefully bringing up his left leg, he rode side saddle for only a few moments before leaping from the racing stallion's back to land in a crouching position on the small platform.

Straightening his stance, Yami turned and waved his hand, signaling for his horse to keep up with the train but stay to the side. Watching the stallion veer off back down the hill, he sighed before opening the door and entering into the last car to run into at least a dozen or more saddled horses. Easing his way through the herd, he was being extra careful, not wanting to set off any of the horses to alert their riders that he was in there.

Cautiously opening the door at the end, Yami walked out onto another platform and quickly jumped onto the next car platform before climbing up the ladder. Feeling the wind whip into his face, he kept his head lowered so that his hat wouldn't be blown off.

Walking over to the edge, he quickly got to his knees and while keeping his hat pinned down with his other hand, leaned over to look through the small windows at the top of the car. 'Damn,' he groaned, eyeing the cannon as well as the twin Gatling guns inside. 'Great, as if a pair of Gatlings weren't bad enough.'

Getting back to his feet, Yami carefully walked along the roof of the boxcar. Reaching the end, he looked carefully down at the next car to notice one of the riders standing out on the platform smoking a cigarette.

Smirking, he carefully jumped onto the roof of the next car.

"What the hell?"

Hearing the jingling of the other's spurs, Yami locked his hands onto the rim of the roof before swinging down to kick the other off the platform to land on the passing ground. Walking over to the edge, he looked back to find the rider still rolling from the fall. At seeing that, he couldn't help but chuckle before hearing the sound of spurs heading his way again, causing him to scurry back to the top of the car.

"Pete, what's going on out her-… Pete?"

"Where is he?"

"I don't know, he was just out here a few minutes ago."

Hearing the clicking of guns, Yami shook his head. He couldn't do his little stunt again, one of them would end up getting a shot off on him, and he really didn't feel up to dodging any close range gunfire. Wanting to keep his presence unknown, he got down on his knees and crawled over to the small door on the roof. Pushing aside the panel enough to peek inside, he internally groaned at the cluster of riders inside.

'No trace of Yugi though,' he sighed, closing the panel then crawling over to the end of the car. Peeking over the rim of the car, Yami smiled, glad that there wasn't another rider below him on the platform. Climbing down the ladder, he stepped down on the platform just as the door opened.

"You!"

Seeing the other go for his gun, Yami swiftly pulled out one of his own to aim it right at the other's forehead. "Not so fast," he stated as his crimson eyes narrowed, watching as a few more riders crowded the door way with their guns drawn.

"Toss ya guns to the side!"

Smirking at the one that spoke, Yami quickly shoved the one he had at gun point into the crowd. Dodging the random gunfire that erupted from the crowd in the car, he slammed the door shut before using the rope around his shoulders to tie around the door handle. Fighting against the tugs on the door, he quickly tossed the rope around the metal framework of ladder and tied the door shut.

Hearing the breaking of glass from the window on the door, Yami leaped over to the other car, barely escaping the rain of gunfire that managed to put a few holes into the bottom of his duster. Making it to the next car, he looked down at the pin that keep the cars together and smirked before giving the safety lock a swift kick.

Reaching down, he quickly unscrewed the pin and jerked it back, causing the two train cars to pull away from one another. Looking back up, he hissed as a stray bullet managed to graze the right side of his face then hit the car wall behind him.

Reaching up to touch the bleeding mark, he winced lightly while watching the rest of the train fall farther back before turning and walking into the next car.

Meanwhile…

Pegasus blinked at hearing the gunfire before noticing Keith racing inside the car. "What in the blazes is going on out there?"

"We just lost three of the cars!"

"What!"

"I'm going to check it out!"

"Be quick about it!"

Nodding, Keith ran out of the car and headed into the next one before running out of it and then going into the other to notice a figure standing in the middle of the car. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Well we're almost there," Joey smiled, waving a hand ahead to see the town coming into view. "Good thing I remembered all those shortcuts, ain't it?"

"Yup," Ryou nodded before looking over at Bakura, who was still grumbling from the incident that had happened at one of the shortcuts. "Oh c'mon Bakura, it wasn't that bad."

"Who knew Powder could roll down a hill that fast," Marik chuckled, earning a sharp glare from Bakura.

"I wouldn't push my luck, if I were you, Marik," Ryou chuckled, pointing at the mild bruises and ruffled look that the outlaw was sporting after Malik had managed to tackle him hard enough to knock him off his horse.

Glaring at Ryou, Marik grumbled lightly. "I just hope we hurry and get to that town, my ass is killing me!"

"What's the matter, Dynamite? Malik kick it too hard for ya?" Seto taunted, looking over his shoulder to catch the glare given to him.

"No, Smart ass!" Marik growled. "It's just if I have to ride any further, y'all will be peeling me off this saddle."

Chortling, Bakura couldn't help but look over at Marik and smirk in a smug manner. "Guess you'll be walking bow legged for a while, easy for Malik to catch."

Malik couldn't help but chuckle at the bristled look that Marik was displaying. Shaking his head, he rode his horse up closer to Marik's. "Maybe it would be safer if ya just stayed in the saddle."

"Whose side are ya on anyways?" Marik huffed, looking at Malik.

"I'd be on yours, if ya hadn't lied to me!"

"It was a little white lie," Marik whined. "Nothing to get all pissed about!"

"I don't exactly want my home and shop to be nothing but debris!" Malik growled. "It was bad enough you took out one of my windows!"

"Now don't bring that up again!"

"You two, cut it out!" Seto snapped, glaring at the quarreling duo. "We're in town now."

Exchanging quick glares between one another, the violet eyed pair smirked before shocking everyone by leaning over to kiss one another in a deep passionate kiss.

Rolling his eyes at the display, Bakura rode his horse up to Marik's before whacking him in the back of the head. "That's enough you two."

"Aw, what's the matter, Powder?" Marik chuckled, leaning over to look at Bakura while fluttering his eyes. "You want a kiss too?"

Fighting off the urge to throttle the spiky blonde, Bakura gritted his teeth while clenching his fists tightly around the reins. "I don't want what you got!"

Blinking, Marik cocked his head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Stupidity," Bakura muttered before directing his horse to be beside Seto.

"He still loves me," Marik chuckled, urging his horse to join the others.

"You know, I worry about those too?" Ryou mused, looking at Malik with a laughing smile.

"You have the moody crazy one and well I have… Ah hell even I'm not sure what I have yet, still trying to figure that one out," Malik chuckled while shrugging his shoulders.

"You have Dynamite," Ryou chuckled. "The insane one that likes to blow things up."

"Yeah, you're right," Malik sighed, shaking his head in mock defeat. "Why do I always get the loonies?"

"I'm guessing it takes one to know one," Ryou countered.

"Hey!" Malik glared, as he watched Ryou ride off to join Bakura. "Get back here, Ryou!" He called out, making his horse chase after his companion.

Joey blinked in surprise as Ryou raced by him with Malik chasing after him. Looking back at the others, he took notice of their shocked faces. "Jeez, what's with Malik?"

"My kiss must have made him hyper!"

"That or it drove him mad," Bakura chortled, ignoring the glare he was receiving from his companion. Shaking his head, he urged his horse to go after the racing others. "Malik, get away from My Ryou!"

"Hey, you can't talk to my Hellcat like that!" Marik huffed, racing after Bakura.

Sliding a hand down his face, Seto groaned. "How Yami stood those two for so long… I will never know."

Chuckling, Joey reached over to grab one of Seto's hands that were clasping the reins. "Think of how Ryou and Malik must feel."

Enjoying the feel of the other's touch, Seto shook his head while smirking at the thought. "I pity your friends."

"After this, so do I."

"Do you think Yami and Yugi will be alright?" Joey asked as the two rode into town still holding hands before pulling apart to dismount their horses and tie them to a nearby post.

Walking back over to grab one of Joey's hands in his own, Seto tugged the blond to follow him as he watched the others in their group still chasing each other around town. Marik insulting Bakura and Bakura insulting right back while Malik yelled at Ryou for him to take back his earlier comment about being a loon. All in all, Seto believed that Ryou had told the truth.

"Well pup, I think that Yugi should be alright, maybe a bit shook up at the ordeal, but more less he should be fine," Seto replied, offering the other a rare, warm smile. "The only ones you should worry about are Silver Mane and Keith, because when Yami finds them, all hell is gonna break loose."

"Will he kill them?" Joey asked, tightening his grip on the other's hand.

"Maybe," Seto sighed, pulling Joey into a comforting hug. "Yami is pissed and probably only thinking of getting Yugi back. And if something tries to stop him, well it won't be living too long."

"I think that is why he also wanted us to come here," Seto mused, lifting up the other's chin to see the other's hat cast a shadow across those honey orbs. "If something happens to Yami, it'll be up to us to save Yugi."

Sighing sadly, Joey leaned up to give Seto a gentle kiss. "I hope nothing happens to him then, because even if we do save Yugi, he would be heartbroken at not having Yami around anymore."

"I know, pup," Seto sighed, kissing the blond back. "We just gotta keep our fingers crossed and hope that Yami doesn't screw up and get himself killed."

"Yup, let's hope that all will turn out well."

Nearly jumping out of their skin, Seto and Joey turned to see Ryou and Malik walking toward them.

"Friends again?"

"Yup, as always," Malik chuckled, slinging an arm across Ryou's shoulders. "Too bad those two don't follow our fine example," he pouted, pointing over to Marik and Bakura.

"Dammit, Marik would you stop calling me that confound name!"

"Ah c'mon, Powder it just suits you!"

"Keep it up and I swear I will put a shiny bullet right between your eyes!"

"What do you want me to call you Whitey instead?" Marik asked, quirking an eyebrow while enjoying the twitch of the other's eye. Noticing a lady walk by, his eyes widened at the small white flower in the ladies bonnet. "Or how about Daisy?"

"That's it!" Bakura glared, kicking his horse to make it run toward Marik who merely turned and caused his horse to run the other way. "You just wait till I get a hold of you, bastard! I will make you eat dirt and enjoy it!"

"Never a dull moment, is there?" Ryou chuckled uneasily with a nervous look at the two outlaws.

"This is nothing," Seto smirked, noticing all eyes turning on him with a confused look. "They're usually a lot worse."

"Oh…"

"…Goody," Malik finished, looking over at Ryou as they both sweat dropped at the thought of seeing Malik and Bakura acting worse than what they already were.

"I let Yami handle those time," Seto smirked. "And that usually involves a shot gun and watching those two dance while trying to avoid the gunfire… Damn, I wish Yami was here now."

Watching Seto laugh lightly to himself, Ryou, Malik, and Joey all exchanged amused and confused looks. Apparently none of the Wild Aces were totally sane.

Glaring at the figure, Yami growled while positioning his hands to rest on the handles of the holstered guns at his hips. "Where's Yugi?"

"What, no 'howdy'?" Keith taunted, positioning one of his hands at his own guns. "Ya don't look that bad after taking a bullet at close range, Yami. I wonder if you are gonna be that lucky again."

"I ask again, Where is Yugi?" Crimson shifted into bloody garnet as Yami continued to glare at the dusty blond before him.

"Oh, that little pathetic runt of yours?"

"Where is he!"

"In one of the passenger cars, tied to the benches. For a little guy he sure has a sharp tongue, course after the turn of events, he's been as quiet as a mouse."

Growling, Yami quickly drew one of his guns and aimed it right at Keith's head. "If you've done anything to him, tell me now so that I can kill you and then be on my way!"

"Such a temper," Keith chided, taking notice of all the ammo laid around them as well as the two opened shafts on the sides, watching the scenery blur past. Smirking at a sudden thought, he took a step forward to hear Yami click the gun.

"Take another step and I will not hesitate to put a bullet between your eyes!"

"No doubt," Keith teased. "But if ya kill me, Pegasus will know that something is up and he will kill that little runt of yours!"

Growling, Yami lowered his gun. He didn't want to, but he didn't want his little one to be in any serious danger at the moment.

Seeing the opportunity, Keith reached back and quickly snapped a whip, latching it around Yami's wrist and tugging hard, causing the other's pistol to clatter to the floor. Hearing the hiss and shocked gasp, he smirked at the other. "You should've stayed down the first time I shot you!"

Glaring over at the other, Yami wrapped his hand around the tail of the whip and pulled, causing Keith to stumble toward him. Swinging around, he brought his other elbow up against the other's cheek.

Keith winced from the sudden blow, dropping the butt of the whip as he reached up at his aching cheek. Turning to glare at the shorter outlaw and noticing him unwinding the whip from his wrist, he lunged at the other.

Surprised but ready for anything, Yami toppled over from the blow while using the momentum of Keith's lunge to kick the other in the stomach, flipping him over top of him before flipping over to pin Keith to the floor. "You got lucky the last time!"

Squirming underneath the tri color haired outlaw, Keith managed to toss his larger stature around, effectively rolling Yami over and reversing the hold, but their was more fight to the other than he had bargained for as he was rolled over again.

Both of them continued to roll across the floor, throwing wild punches at one another, never noticing how close they were coming to the edge of one of the opened doors. That is until Keith was pinned down once again to feel the wind whip across his face. Looking over at the side, he growled while using the last of his strength to force Yami over and out of the car. "So long, Yami!"

"Not so fast, bastard!" Yami growled, firmly gripping the other as he was rolled off the edge. Pulling the other with him, he narrowed his gaze. "If I go, I'm taking you with me!"

Not able to twist in time, Keith let out a sharp and painful groan as his back hit the ground only to have the breath knocked further out of him as Yami landed on him before rolling off to the side to bang into some rocks.

Yami groaned at the impact, before slowly getting to his feet. Wincing as his back popped at the sudden movement, he cursed at seeing the train leaving them behind. Growling, he turned to glare over at Keith to find him no longer there. "Where the-!"

Keith cut him off by shoving Yami down fast first to the ground. Bringing up the heel of his boot, he was about to stomp down on the other's lower back, but Yami managed to roll out just in the knick of time. "Stay still!"

Huffing, Yami winced lightly while running a hand against his throbbing stomach. When Keith had shoved him, a rock had almost knocked the breath of him. Getting to his knees, he was almost on his feet, when Keith managed to land a good kick to his already throbbing stomach. Crying out, he rolled over and twisted around, laying his back against a large rock.

"I'll finish you off, once and for all," Keith sneered, pulling out a gun and cocking it before aiming it right at Yami.

Yami glared at the other, but internally he blinked at hearing the sound of thumping hoof beats coming at a galloping pace. Looking down the barrel of the gun, Yami's eyes widened as a blur of a familiar black steed plowed right into Keith, causing the gun to fire, but the aim was no good as it hit nothing but air.

Keith winced at the feeling the harsh ground once again, but as he looked up, he screamed out in pain as two ebony hooves came down on him, hitting his legs and crushing his kneecaps. Crying out, his screams of pain were nearly drowned out by the loud neighing and stomping of the angry stallion that was stomping him with out mercy with its sharp hooves.

As much as he hated Keith, Yami couldn't help but flinch at every sound of cracking bone as the black stallion continued to buck and stomp, trampling the other into nothing more than a bloody crumpled heap. Getting to his feet, he quickly ran over to the raging horse and reached out to touch the broad neck.

Phantom stomped his front hooves one last time, each hoof planted right against Keith's sides. Snorting at the prone figure below him, he turned his attention to his rider and neighed lightly before nudging his companion with his nose.

"You really are a badass, aren't you?" Yami sighed, patting the horse on the nose before pulling at the reins and climbing up into the saddle once again. Looking down at the bloodied figure, he could tell that Keith wouldn't survive much longer from all the damage he sustained.

"Go… ahead Yami! Kill… me! I know… you want to!" Keith gurgled out, choking on the blood that clogged his throat.

Shaking his head, Yami holstered the gun that Keith had drawn. "No, I don't think you need a quick death. People like you and Pegasus deserve the long and suffering death, so I'll leave you like that," he sighed, getting Phantom to walk around Keith. "I give or take an hour or less and then the buzzards will come for you, maybe they will put you out of your misery."

With that said, Yami gave a firm nudge to the stallion, causing it to rear up before breaking out into a quick gallop.

Thankfully the train wasn't that far ahead of them. Yami was thinking fast, he only hoped that Phantom would be able to catch the train again. He could already tell that the horse was wearing down from the frothing sweat that trailed down the stallion's inky chest. The train couldn't be going more than 30, 35, or maybe 40 miles per hour at the most and in his mind he knew that Phantom was faster than that.

Leaning over the horse like he done previously, he tightened his grip. "C'mon boy, don't let me down!" he whispered, getting a whinny in response, Yami could actually feel the horse's muscles tense and flex. The wind racing by them, Yami peered back to notice that Phantom's hooves were cutting so deep into the ground that he was throwing back debris, forming a dusty trail behind him.

Thinking back to what his father used to tell him, Yami smirked. His father had always told him that the reason why the legendary outlaws were never caught was because of their horses. The best outlaws always had horses that were the damn fastest things on four legs, and he believed it. Phantom had proved to be one of the fastest he had ever seen, especially when on a quarter mile.

Terrain didn't matter either, because as Yami looked ahead, he could actually see the last car of the train getting closer and closer. Thanking the horse by a series of gentle whispers, he felt a bit guilty at noticing the horse frothing even more. He didn't know how the horse kept it up, but before long, they were both beside the car he had been tossed out of.

"Thanks, Phantom," Yami praised before jumping from the saddle and into the car. Looking outside, he noticed the horse slow its pace, letting the train pass it up. Picking up his hat, Yami placed it on his head, before pulling out a gun and making his way into the next car to see nothing but gold and money. Ignoring the stash for now, he walked out of the car and into the next one to see what he had been searching for. "Yugi!"

Rushing over to the other, Yami quickly pulled off the blindfold to look down into tear filled amethyst eyes. Bringing out his knife, he gently cut the rope from Yugi's mouth before freeing the others arms and legs.

"Yami, you came!" Yugi cried out, throwing his arms around Yami before pulling back to notice the bloody trails coming from a wound on Yami's cheek. Reaching up to stroke the wound, he flinched at hearing Yami hiss.

Bringing up a hand to cup the one against his cheek, Yami used the other hand to trace the small bleeding trails that came from the corners of his little one's mouth. "Oh Yugi," he sighed, pulling the other into a warm embrace. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, what about you? I was scared that I would never see you again!"

Pulling back, Yami couldn't take the small crystalline tears that escaped the other's eyes. Kissing them away, he lifted up Yugi's chin before leaning down and claiming those trembling lips in a passionate and gentle kiss. "I wouldn't stop until I had you back in my arms."

"Isn't this touching?"

Hearing the voice, Yugi tightened his hold on Yami as he looked over in the door way to see his captor with a gun aimed at him and Yami. Feeling Yami tense, he closed his eyes at hearing the low growl coming from Yami.

Turning to look at the one that entered, Yami's crimson was back to a garnet hue as he looked over at the silvery haired outlaw to see a gun pointed at him and his little one.

"Silver Mane!"

"Not happy to see me, Yami?"