Half a Soul

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh, Blade, the movie Vampires, Buffy the vampire slayer, or anything else that this story may seem to have, and any song as well.

Chapter Eight

Lostris had been friendly to him all class, she was even the one to ask him to be partners with her when they went to train. When he told her that he was an extremely horrible fighter she simply laughed and told him that so was she. Joey, Duke, and Ace constantly struck up conversations with him as he read through the first hundred pages of the book in a half hour. He would reply politely and kept his eyes glued to the page.

Mr. Wheeler seemed very pleased with the fact that he could multi-task and watched the teenager with admiration. He had to stifle his laughter whenever Yami waved his hand in Joey's face in annoyance when the blonde teen was poking him for the answer to an inappropriate question. The rest of the students simply burst out laughing.

By the time that class was over at eleven for the two-hour lunch hour break Mr. Wheeler saw the book mark in the book that Yami held which once belonged to Seto and noticed that he was more than two thirds finished that book. He blinked in amazement and shook his head, that book had to last the teen the rest of his schooling for being an intermediate and junior.

"Yami, may I speak with you while you wait for Seto," he asked. Thinking that he had done something wrong Yami blushed and nodded slightly. Mr. Wheeler smiled at him reassuringly and put a hand on his shoulder, "I can tell that you are nearly done the book, you understand it's supposed to last you till July," he stated.

Nodding Yami glanced away, "sorry, it was too interesting to stop".

Chuckling Mr. Wheeler rubbed his shoulder, "it's nothing to be ashamed about. Actually your Father was much the same way, but he was not as fast as you. He finished the book just before he became an intermediate. Our teacher could not stop laughing at that," he stated.

"Really," Yami questioned, Mr. Wheeler nodded, "you knew my Father".

"Yes, he was one of my friends actually, and I was on his squadron until you were born, then he had to leave and live in Thebes and I became a teacher. Joey was already a year old by then," he stated.

"So he was put into school late," Yami asked politely.

"No, the parents decide if the child will start at fourteen of fifteen. My wife Hilary and I decided that he would be better off starting at fifteen. He was struggling with his math and we made him take another term of it so that he improved it," he expounded, Yami nodded in understanding and glanced at the doorway as a knock came to it.

Seto smiled in at them, "in trouble already Yami," he teased. The young vampire sent a glare at him and Mr. Wheeler chuckled, "no Seto, I was just going to ask if he wanted the seniors book for slayers. He is nearly finished the intermediate and junior version, and by the seems of things he likes to read," he stated.

Blinking in surprise Seto glanced at Yami only for the boy to shrug and turn to his teacher and nod, "please," he said.

Smiling Mr. Wheeler turned to a bookshelf close by and pulled out a book nearly identical to the one that Yami held, save the writing was in gold, and the design had silver and blue interlacing with the gold, as well it was thinner by a fair amount of pages.

"Thank you Mr. Wheeler," Yami thanked before pulling up the hood on his outfit and allowing Seto to lead him out of the room.

Yami had refused to move from the shade when they had reached the front entrance area, he was terrified that even the with the curtains closed that there might have been a window that they had missed for the room was still fairly bright.

"Yami, I promise you that we did not, I made sure, the light you see is from the torches, besides it's been raining outside for the past half hour, can't you hear it," Seto said trying to convince his cousin that it was all right. The vampire only shook his head frantically and kept himself pinned to the walls. Sighing he scratched his head he understood why Yami was being like this and did not blame him, but he needed for his cousin to eat before his hunger got the best of him and he attacked some one.

Sighing he went to his last resort after having tried to reason with him for the past fifteen minuets. He called Joey over and handed Yami's books to the blonde, Yami gazed at him suspiciously only for him to cry out in surprise as Seto lifted him up boldly over his shoulder and carried him towards the stairs that led down to the infirmary.

Yami growled at him, "put me down you arrogant bastard I am not a child I no longer need to be carried. Ass hole put me down or I will lay my fist across your face, fuck Seto put me down," he snapped, when Seto did not comply he punched him heavily in the head. Seto cried out in amazement and dropped Yami to the ground where the young vampire landed catlike and snatched his books from Joey's arms.

The few students that were there burst out laughing, one of them yelled out, "yeah, go Yami". The slayer glared at the said boy and turned at his cousin only to see a triumphant grin on the boy's face, "I told I would punch you, and I always follow through with what I say," he stated casually.

"And I was right also, see you have yet to turn to ash all of the windows are covered securely and you are safe," pointed out the slayer while rubbing his bruised temple. Yami glanced around only to shrug as if he did not care, "then we are even per say," he stated simply, "but I am hungry so I would suggest that you don't make me loose my temper, you should know best of all that vampires are not pleasant when they are both angry and hungry". With that he strode off showing Seto a good view of his backside.

The students stifled their laughter, Seto glared heatedly at them and they gave him a look as if say 'we are innocent, what did we do', the slayer only rolled his eyes and saying good-bye to Joey stormed off after his cousin.

When he entered the infirmary he noticed that Yami was already fussing over Angel who was scratching at the bandage on his chest.

"You fool do I have to cuff you across the face, stop doing that you'll only hurt yourself more," the teen snapped angrily as he reached forward and grabbed one of Angel's wrists.

"You obviously don't know how itchy this is do you," Angel snapped ripping his arm out of Yami's grasp and began to scratch again.

The teen startled Seto when he without a care stripped off his top and showed the bandages that covered his entire torso, shoulders, and half of his right arm, "don't even fucking start Angel, this is from my waist up, I have bandages on underneath this Ra forsaken leather. I am as uncomfortable as hell but at least I refrain myself from scratching even when I am desperate.

"And you get to lay in bed and lounge around. I have lessons to do, first it was in a classroom with twenty students, now it will be with the same amount of students in the training room. I'll be sweating like a fucking pig when I am done because I am not in the greatest of shape, plus I have not been able to bathe in the past couple of nights and I feel like a walking piece of dung. So don't even start with me right now," he snapped.

Standing up Angel sighed as he stared into Yami's eyes, "I'm sorry, I forgot," he pleaded.

"It's all right you big stubborn jack ass, just be more careful, I don't need you to harm yourself more," Yami stated reaching for his shirt. Smiling at his friend Yami rubbed Angel's shoulder before he turned to Seto and smiled, "did I offend you by chance with that little show," he asked. Shaking his head Seto went to a fridge in the corner of the rather large but long infirmary and took out two rather gigantic glasses of cold blood and carried them over to the two. Taking them the two vampires downed them in a few seconds flat.

"Will that last you will after your lessons," Seto asked, Yami nodded and sat down upon the bed and began to carefully re-move the bandages. Immediately Seto batted the teens hands away and began to unwind the wraps of linen. Gently he used a warm damp cloth and washed off the old ointment from the long jagged marks on the boy's flesh. He was astonished at how well they had healed; most of the wounds were gone save for the first few that Valick gave him with his nails dug fully into the nearly bronze flesh.

Applying more ointment and re-wrapping the wounds Seto waited for Yami to pull as shirt on them strip off his pants for the leg wounds that he had. Doing the same thing to those he ruffled Yami's hair fondly earning a glare from the boy before he turned away and waited for his cousin to pull those pants back on.

After that Yami said a quick good-bye to Angel before he allowed Seto to lead him off towards the training room. When they entered Lostris waved frantically at Yami from her position close by, Seto gave Yami a questioning look but Yami simply shrugged and dashed off towards the beautiful young girl. Seto smiled; obviously his cousin already was good with the girls. Chuckling he strode away and headed towards the lab again, he needed to help out in there.

A WEEK LATER

"There has been absolutely no sign of Valick lately, or vampires period in the streets. They have been going elsewhere," stated Seto as he stood over a map of their land of Egypt, the council members behind him as well as the members from his squadron, all of them save Yami. Pointing to the far northeast corner of the island which lay about a months travel from the coast of Kotare he sighed, "they have been attacking here for the most part, the ones from Valick's castle had either killed their victims and hid their bodies well, or are depending on the blood banks".

"Why would they do this," ask Master Fukayna, a woman who stood with dignity and a firm gaze.

"They are preparing for something," stated Blade simply, "I'll bet that it has something to do with our new charge". Sighing Seto nodded in agreement, "Valick would not just stand back and let us fully train him unless he would gain something from it. For one Yami would be a stronger vampire, and if he was bit how ever many times it would take he would be one hell of an opponent for us slayers," he explained.

"As well, he might have found something that will increase his power, or if he catches Yami, will increase his. Either way what ever they are doing it's not for our good, the last time they did this was a year ago when they raided Master Kayden Al Fahr's home and took Yami in the first place," stated West crossing his arms and glancing at each of the twelve council members in their separate chairs.

Each of the members glanced at each other with emotionless gazes then glanced back at the slayers. Akunadin leaned forward in his chair, "is either of the concoctions ready for testing," he asked wearily.

Nodding Seto scratched his neck, "both the serum and the sunlight injections are ready for trying. The cure is another question. Yami has been in the lab every once in a while with us and states that the scientist have no clue what they are doing. Whenever the scientists do things the way we have been taught, something goes wrong. But when he is in the room and he's suggesting certain chemicals, which I have no clue how he knows what they are nor the natural things that he tells us to try as well, all the tests take one step closer.

"The scientists are saying that this will take a long time of trial and error to complete. They come one step closer each time by figuring out the ingredients. But all the chemicals and what not that had been in the Great Pharaoh's tomb are in the four hundred to five hundred range. This may take until Yami is finished his training next November," he explained leaning against the polished oak table.

Master Banki sighed from his position and crossed his thick arms over his round stomach and chest, "let us hope that it does not, we do not know how long we can protect that child, Valick may attack us too heavily to be able to stop him. No matter keep the boy close by you at all times, try not to leave him on his own, and get him to help with the cure as much as possible. And train him everyday, even after his lessons train him hard. We need him to be able to properly defend himself against Valick, and we need him on your squadron as fats as possible," he said.

Master Tanu nodded in agreement, "indeed, it would be best if he was on a squadron and regularly fighting against the vampires so that he never considers residing with them".

"With all do respect sir but I doubt that he ever will," protested Joey.

Master Tanu's hard gaze lifted to him, "I know that, but if he if bit then it will help him even more to be able to fight off being fully turned. Hopefully nothing ever comes to that. But, Seto I want the concoctions to be tested immediately and tell your Father of the results tonight. We need that boy to be able to function like a normal human so that it is not as much of a shock when we find the cure. You are dismissed gentlemen," he stated.

Bowing their heads the four friends vacated the room and headed their separate ways. It was nearly ten at night and most of them needed to go to sleep, they were exhausted from the training all day and taking the intermediate and junior students on a long hike up to the Pharaoh's hidden tomb a few miles out of the city where the desert stared and rolled off in golden hills as far as the eyes could see.

Yami had been rather silent there and stayed at Seto's side the whole time with Lostris holding his arm. At one point he had whispered to Seto that he remembered this place from a dream that he used to have constantly after he was bitten. The slayer had told him that it was his ancient self-reminding him of how he had failed and how he must continue what he had not finished.

Striding into the infirmary he saw that Angel was fast asleep and his cousin was nowhere in sight, slight panic hit him since he had told Yami to stay there until he came back. Blinking he headed up to their bedchamber and confirmed that only Joey was in the room. Crocking a brow he dashed down to the weight room, no one was there, then the training room, it confirmed the same thing, Yami was not there.

He was beyond worry after he had searched all of Yami's favourite places to go and stood in the entrance area with his hand over his brow, "where could he have gone". Suddenly a sound caught his eyes, as he listened he found that it was a rich voice singing. It was beautiful, the voice was powerful, exotic, and sounded somewhat ancient at the same moment. Straining his eyes he noticed that it came from outside in the grounds, interested he strode to the door and out into the cool night air.

The voice grew stronger and he gazed around him. His eyes ran over the lush green grass, the perimeter walls, the white stone pathways, the flowerbeds, the bushes, and the small ponds. He followed the paths towards the back of the building, the walk took him several minuets but he did not care the voice only got stronger and the words became clear to him eventually. Each song that the voice ran through was either melancholy or full of hope, it was beautiful.

As he stepped into the back and gazed about at the outdoor training ring, the horse stable, the horses pasture beyond the metal bared back wall, and the outdoor pool. His gaze followed to where he could tell where the voice was coming from and he spotted a figure sitting along the side of the pool covered by the shadows of a tall Russian olive tree.

It was the figure of a young boy, one that seemed strangely familiar to him. All he wore was a kilt of the ancient attire, his hair was wet and dripping as was his body. On foot moved about in the pool water, while the other was being cradled against the boy's chest with one of his arms, the other are was by his side steadying him from falling onto the stone.

Striding forward he soon recognized the boy and held back as gasp, it was Yami.

Home is behind
The world ahead
And there are many paths to tread

Through shadow
To the edge of night
Until the stars are alight

Mist and shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fail
All shall fade

Kneeling down Seto put his arms on the boy's shoulder, Yami jumped out of instinct and turning around pushed Seto away but in the process tumbled back into the water. Crawling over to the edge of the pool Seto gazed into the water what worried him now was could Yami swim. That was instantly confirmed when Yami did not come back up.

Diving into the cool water he kicked out and immediately pulled his cousin into his arms, Yami was conscious but barely and he stared at Seto in shock as the slayer pushed up to the surface. Seto knew that full vampires could not drown in fact they could walk along the bottom of a lake and would never swallow any water, but ones with half a soul could drown if they stay under for more than five minuets without someone pulling them to the surface.

He carried his soaking wet cousin up the stairs in the pool and laid him down on the soft grass, Yami coughed a little but was more shocked than hurt. Seto smiled down at him, "silly if you cannot swim then why would you be out here with no one watching you," he stated.

Yami glared up at him, "I was sitting on the stairs for the most part, otherwise I waded out until it touched my chin. I am not stupid you know," he snapped angrily and sat up and pushing him away, "an what where you doing sneaking around like some fugitive. Bastard you scared the shit out of me".

"Language Yami," snapped Seto angrily, Yami only glared at him with more vigour, "I've been looking for you, I need to speak with you for one, and two the concoctions are ready to be tested. We need to see how well the serum works, and how well the UV serum works as well. That way you wont have to go around like you did today lathered in sun screen and none of your body left uncovered by UV repellent material".

Sighing Yami rose to his feet and crossed his arms, "can it wait till the morning," he asked.

"No," said Seto rising to his feet, "the council wants the answers by the morning. Come along, let us get it over and done with". Reluctantly Yami nodded allowed Seto to lead him back towards the castle with a protective arm around his shoulders.

After a few moments Yami began to shiver heavily and Seto removed his jacket and draped it around Yami's shoulders. His shivers subsided a little but he was still cold, "thank you," he muttered, Seto smiled at him and they kept walking.

"You have a stunning singing voice Yami, you should sing more often," Seto said suddenly breaking the silence between the two.

Smiling deprecatingly Yami shrugged, "thank you, people have been telling me that for years, but I never considered actually trying to sing in public, I get stage fright. That's why I rarely sing at the nightclubs, and when I do someone else is up there with me. My whole class wants to hear me because I told them it was my only talent," he said.

Seto smiled, "well maybe I should suggest you singing at the school dance at the end of your training. It will be in November, I am sure that I can relieve you of your fear of the stage by then," he suggested.

Yami smiled up at him, "I'd like that," he said simply.

Unexpectedly Yami stopped and began to gaze around him frantically, Seto gave him a startled look, "what is it," he asked. Blinking Yami glared up at the ramparts of the perimeter walls, "I can sense them, the elite guard," he stated, "more than ten coming from that direction". Staring down at him Seto asked, "are you sure," Yami nodded frantically.

"Come on then," he cried and grasping his cousin's wrist Seto dashed towards one of the four back doors in the castle. They never made it, a blur of black passed in front if their vision and they stumbled slightly before stopping and staring straight at the hooded figures of the elite guard. They stood still with their swords in hand and their guns ready to shoot in their halter at their waists. There was no wind this night so their long coats lay still and the hoods over their heads remained unmoving.

Yami growled at them immediately and bared his fangs his vampire instincts beginning to take charge. Seto felt this and squeezed Yami's wrist harder, "don't do anything stupid," he whispered. Rolling his eyes Yami glared at the leader of the group, "what do you want here Durza," he demanded.

The leader pulled back his head to reveal a particularly pale vampire with solid black hair and eyes that mimicked the night sky. He chuckled deeply and took a leisure step forward, "your master has missed you greatly little one, he says that your visit is over and that it is time you came back to him".

Yami laughed at that and shook his head, "well why I am not surprised, the bastard has always believed that I am a piece of property. I can tell you this much, Durza that I will not be going back there anytime soon. You can tell your master that I am disinclined to acquiesce his request," he said simply.

A feminine voice rang out in a spine chilling laugh as more of the guards appeared around them, Seto's eyes landed on a young fiery haired young vampires, she was slim in figure and gorgeous in the face. She strode with confidence and sexuality that made him shudder, he turned his gaze down to Yami who had growled in annoyance and stiffened.

"Yami Yami Yami, I am stunned to hear those words come from that striking mouth of yours," she mocked as she stood in front of them, her form fitting leather outfit very exposing, and her yellow eyes staring intently at the young vampire. Yami only snarled and glanced away, she took a casual step forward and glanced at Seto, "I take it this is that cousin of yours. He's quite striking, and delectable," she stated running her tongue over her fangs.

Seto narrowed his eyes and was about to say something only for Yami to step in between him and the female vampire, "touch him and I will rip that disgusting head off of your shoulders," he snapped.

She threw her head back and laughed in a deep mocking tone, "oh Yami love you know that you are no match for the elite guard. Event he famous Seto Kaiba, one of the best slayers probably knows that as well. Face it love, you don't stand a chance".

"Don't call me that, you know that I despise you with every fabric of my being. You're nothing but a sordid repugnant whore that would probably be dead if you did not please Valick as much as you do, along with all of his other superior officers. Now don't you have a job to do back at the castle," he said in a contemptuous tone a smirk spreading across his face.

She growled and stamped his foot, "I do no such thing and you know it," she snapped.

"Ah do I, you've always lied through your teeth to me, and Angel does not lie to me. So who do you think I will believe, Valick's bed mate, or my best friend," he stated putting his two hands out and tipping them up and down as if they were a scale, "I think my friend would be the better choice don't you".

"Bitch, you know that I am your future fiancé you should trust me more," he bellowed. Seto scratched his head as he watched this, rather amused but refraining himself for slapping his cousin for his repulsive language.

"Fuck Scarlet get this through your head," Yami yelled, "I would never ever be with you even if you were the last vampire standing. You've played around too much for my liking, plus red heads are not exactly my type, especially obnoxious and unsightly ones".

Scarlet crossed her arms in annoyance and was seemingly retraining herself from cuffing Yami across the face. Her yellow eyes stared hatefully at the young vampire, "you had better except the fact that I am the best female vampire in this world, and that I am who will be at your side when you regain your senses and become what you were destined to be".

"I am destined to destroy the race of vampires, I will never ever it upon a throne and led them to victory against the humans. That is detestable and traitorous, and like the rest of you vampires I have morals and they are defending the race that I was born as. I hate what I am, and I will never go back to that filthy half-breed master vampire and allow his fucking whore to touch me. Sorry, that's at the bottom of my list of priorities," Yami expounded angrily.

Scarlet growled, "get them guards," she bellowed and pointed at them, "he has to be taken back to Valick to be taught another lesson obviously".

Taking a step back Yami and Seto went back to back, they were surrounded and unarmed. Their odds were horrible eight to one. Normally they could handle it if they were not the elite guards and of they had a weapon in their hands. Seto swallowed the saliva in his throat and whispered, "prey to Horus that we get out of this alive," Yami nodded in agreement and they stared as the sixteen vampires advanced on them bearing their pearly fangs, sharp white claws, and their long titanium bladed swords.

Suddenly Seto knew that they only had one hope, "Slayers awaken, alarm," he bellowed at the top of his lungs. The vampires lunged forward at that and he bit his lip, hopefully this would work, otherwise Yami would be back in Valick's hands, and he would be prey to a female vampire with a temper. Funny how he did not like the sounds of that.

"Seto, if I can't say it again," Yami said fear showing in his voice, "I'm sorry for getting you into this, and thank you for helping me". Blinking Seto glanced over his shoulder at his cousin, "don't worry, you never will have to say that, we will live through this". Yami sighed, "I hope your right," he said and then they both dodged the first blows that had been aimed at them.

In their rooms West, Mahado, Blade, and Joey heard their friends cry and sat up straight in bed. Immediately they grabbed their weaponry, dressed accordingly and ran to the entrance area. Something was wrong and they fear that Seto was not the only one in danger.

A/N: holy Ra that's a long chapter, sorry to leave it like that, but hopefully the next chappie is up before Friday because I will be leaving for a camping trip. I'll probably get the next chappie up, but you never know, I have a lot to do.

Thank you all for your lovely reviews, and I thank you for tolerating my horrible grammar and constant habit of making type-ohs. You all are the best, thanks a lot.