6/23/04
Warning! : This chapter is probably rated a near 'R' on an account of a lot of blood and a little teensy weensy bit of language…
Summer vacation is here! My computer is fixed! My stories have been resaved! And I have found a new internet connection source to get on the internet! That equals: A HELL OF A LOT OF WRITING TO CATCH UP WITH!
Geez, and that's a lot. Okay, I should be updating a bit more now that there's not a lot to do, after all, it's summer vacation isn't it? No school, no homework, to hinder one's writing…right? So I'll try to update frequently. I apologize profusely for my absence and there for lack of writing/updates…a lot of lack of updates/writing. But I think I'm back…again.
Indigo Tantarian: hehe, yeah that chappie was very short. I was very short of inspiration then, but now? - A medicinal encyclopedia does wonders for your inspiration doesn't it?
Master Leonheart: Um…that sounds…scary. I don't think I'd ever be able to do that. Would keep me up forever shivers have fun with the zombies -
Roae: I guess now is the time that you'll throw sharp and pointy things at me. Yeah, maybe we should have Malik in a snowstorm - would be fun.
Ms. Zeal: Thank you for thinking that about my story. To answer your first question, I'm having the yamis not be able to return because a) the distance is hundreds of miles now, not just a couple hundred feet (ex. Duelist Kingdom) and b) …there is no b lol. To answer question #2. The reason why Bakura can't use any (or much) of his Shadow Magic is because he stored all of it (or most) in his Millennium Ring, or at least that's what he told Honda/Tristan back in Duelist Kingdom again. About the distance part, perhaps, but back in the last two chapters, he was still to far away.
Karasea: squeaks at sharp and pointy things But I deserve it. I'm sorry, I can't have everyone collapsing on me now…looks at chapter 5 cont…but then again -, maybe later.
Sirithiliel: ohhh I really like your user name -, elvish indeed. I'm glad you like this fic. Oh, you'll see what happened to the eye later.
IMPROVED Uber Rei Model 06: Gah! I'm so sorry for not updating! I'm actually impressed by how fast you read the two sequels. Yeah, I kept track of the time span sorta in between your reviews -. I thought there were more LOTR/YGO serious crossovers out there. And about Yami Malik….zips lips can't say sorry. But thank you so much for your compliments, they had made my day and I'm totally floored. huggles
The American dubbed version of Yugioh is not being a very good inspiration for me anymore. sighs But here's the VERY LONG awaited update.
Chapter 5 cont: Help
"He's so hot." whispered Yugi, snatching his fingers away from Ryou's flushed and burning skin, "What's wrong?"
Rishid looked down as he carried Ryou across the desert, the man-servant was dripping in sweat now, but then again, which one of them wasn't? "I suspect that the boy might be suffering from heat exhaustion. It happens to people not used to environments as harsh and as hot as a desert is." replied Rishid calmly, his face a mask of no emotion, "We need to find somewhere with plenty of shade and water, or else this could become much more serious."
"More serious? What do you mean?" sputtered Yugi in surprise.
"He means," Malik cut in, "That Ryou might develop heat stroke. I've seen people slip into coma during these things during the days after I ran away from my home; they always died unless one of the village healers treated them. So we need to find civilization or some sort of oasis very quickly. But I do think the latter is going to be quite impossible in a hell-hole like this."
"NO! Ryou won't die!" shouted Yugi suddenly, stopping in his tracks, "He's strong, he can fight it!"
Malik looked back with…was that a look of sympathy across the Egyptian's face? "Not many can fight it. This isn't any ordinary disease, but just as lethal. No, we need to get him cooled down as soon as possible." A smile sketched across Malik's face, as he beckoned to Yugi, "Now come on, let's go find some help with Rishid." Yugi looked up to see Rishid's figure still walking farther away as if not noticing the interruption in their journey.
"Yes, let's." replied Yugi catching up to Malik, his hand reaching for his Puzzle, rubbing it worriedly, wishing that Yami where here to help him cope with this. If only Yugi knew what was happening to Yami right now.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
A trail of blood that ran from the corner of his mouth, down his chin, was drying. His normally fair skin was now covered in bruises and welts. Clothing: torn nearly to shreds and dark and dirtied with blood, dirt, and sweat. Yami's eyes roamed across the now much memorized stones of the ceiling above him. His chains had been taken away earlier and an old man with pure white hair and a beard came in with two Uruk-hai. As soon as his bonds were gone, he was immediately barraged by questions of Bakura, and ways to use the Ring. The questions about Bakura he ignored and didn't answer to. But the questions about the Ring he couldn't answer even if he wanted to. His silence and statements of unknowingness was only treated as attempts of resistance; and attempts of resistance were rewarded with beatings, threats, and subtle methods of persuasion.
He had been shown an image of Bakura to 'further loosen his tongue' as well. The other spirit looked like a black and red rag doll slumped on the floor of a cell, his long white hair had stains of blood on it and dirt, a large chunk of it had also been cut off. The sight almost made him want to retch out the little food that remained in his stomach. The old man saw the concern and fear in Yami's eyes, however quick and fleeting those emotions did pass through, and swoops down to pick upon it. But Yami could not bring himself to answer anything. It was not only the fate of one person that rested on his answering or not…he knew that. If he answered, Saruman had promised to free them both and also heal Bakura as good as new.
No, he couldn't believe that liar. As beautiful and regretful as those words had sounded coming out of the wizard's mouth. Something about them wasn't to be trusted.
Well, now he was left alone, plagued with thoughts of the others and of a bloodied tomb robber.
()
Pain. That was all that registered in Bakura's mind as his brown eyes fluttered open once, they were immediately shut again as he groaned softly at his body's rather loud and very much felt protests to the abuse he had been subjected under just a few hours ago.
So, the wizard was trying to break me, was he? snickered Bakura inwardly, Well he's going to have to try a lot harder than that. he thought nonchalantly, trying to take his mind off the building pain. But his traitorous body screamed out even harder to him, telling him of how good a job those over-grown orcs had done, he had never suffered so much, even when subjected to the tempers of the prison guards back in Old Egypt. They had never been so…creative. But, he wasn't broken, oh no, not yet. Not when he knew that his purpose in life wasn't finished yet, not when his Ring was in the clutches of that bastard.
Bakura tried to shift from his current position on the ground. He could feel the dirt rubbing into his open wounds and irritating them further. His eyes opened again and saw brown blood stains over some of the floor; they also saw the angry red welts crisscrossing across his bare, bruise-darkened chest.
Closing his eyes, Bakura grimaced. Yes, Saruman was right about one thing. He was a fool for storing most of his magical abilities into the Ring, but he wasn't a complete fool. Something round was digging into his sole as his foot was twisted on the ground in an awkward position, something that was hidden in the heel of his boot. His lips twisted into a dark smile and then a baring of his teeth…this was going to be a bit painful.
That, was the understatement of the last millennia.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
A screech of pain filled the skies and the sound of annoyance accompanied it. The fell beast writhed in the air, nearly forgetting to keep on flying as its leg were being slowly hacked off, high up in the air by the two Men it had snatched up at the command of its master. Its neck craned around as it cried out a pained roar again.
()
Ankhkare watched, eyes wide open in fear as Senui struggled to get him out of the…gigantic winged thing's clawed grasp. The judge was aiming swipes of sharp-edged Shadow Magic with the strange fan at the leg that grasped Ankhkare. The darkest red blood splattered over his green robes as the magic sliced through flesh above him. Senui was equally as bloodied as the creature's life liquid flew all over the place as it struggled, unwilling to let go of its prey. Another loud cry made him wish, for once, that he was not so empathetic. He could almost feel the pain the creature was going through with each cry. It would do no good now to feel sorry for the enemy…but then again, this wasn't exactly the enemy wasn't it? Just something enslaved to do the Enemy's bidding.
A stomach leaving tumble left Ankhkare with no other thoughts but the ground hurtling closer to them. At the last second, large wings snapped back out bringing them just barely above the ground. It was is if the creature were trying to subdue them as it tore just above the earth, letting them get scratched and bumped as the razor-sharp rocks once again reminded them why they had been called: razor-sharp. Their skin was now covered in cuts and their robes dark with blood from themselves, and the creature. Senui seemed near passing out in fatigue and pain, Ankhkare felt like passing out for the latter.
As they finally came out of the rocky hills, towards grass-filled plains, Senui aimed one more swipe at the creature's leg. With a screech, it reared up in the air and Ankhkare found himself tumbling into the tall grass below, a body fell next to him with a dull thud. A large dark shadow passed overhead as the creature sped away, not caring about its quarry anymore, nor about the screeching rider on it urging it to go back and retrieve what it had dropped.
Ankhkare struggled over to Senui's side. The judge had passed out, face and any other exposed flesh covered in deep scratches that oozed with crimson blood. Not a very pretty sight, but then again, both of them were probably a mess. Ankhkare spread out his hands over Senui and let a healing green light envelope the usually irritable spirit. Seconds later, no one would have known that Senui had been through such harrowing experiences, just minutes before. A smile alighted on Ankhkare's lips just as he lay down on the grass and fell asleep.
()
Senui rose up from a deep slumber feeling more refreshed than he had for weeks. Tall green grass rose up above his head as he sat and it waved gently in each passing breeze. The scents of sweet spring air relaxed him even more. Hmmm, this was definitely a dream. thought Senui with a smile. The feeling of someone shifting beside him startled him out of his thoughts.
He looked down to see the Ankhkare lying beside him, the healer's delicate skin horribly scratched and bloody, and his face peacefully serene as he slept. It was as if there was no injury done to him. What happened?
The sound of unearthly screeches re-surfaced in his mind, dark blood spraying all over the place, sharp and painful rocks, dropping to the ground. Senui searched himself for any injuries but found none. He looked at Ankhkare and then at himself. A look annoyance swept through his face. The fool must of used up his day's energy to heal him. He should have saved it for later use, like trekking through even more wild lands. But then again…
Senui took Ankhkare's hand in his own. "You soft fool." He murmured to Ankhkare, a soft smile on his dark face belying his words. "You care about other people way too much for your own good. Selfless prat."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
"Do you think it's safe to go and ask for help in there?" asked Malik looking suspiciously at a small cluster of skin tents. The sun had set, and it was growing dark. They had only just stumbled upon what seemed to be a small tribe of nomadic peoples.
Rishid looked at the tents and the people moving around them, and then at Ryou's worsening condition, in his deep voice, he replied, "I'm afraid we have no choice if we wish for the boy to live Master Malik."
"And we want Ryou to live. Please, Malik, let Rishid go and ask them for help. I'm sure that they'll help us." said Yugi heatedly.
The Egyptian boy looked warily once again at the campground, and then back at Ryou, to Rishid, and then at Yugi. He gave a sigh, "But we must be on our guard. There is no telling what they might do to us if they find us not to their liking. We must stay close to Rishid at all costs."
Yugi nodded, willing to do anything now to help out Ryou. Slowly the trio walked into the campsite with Ryou draped over Rishid's shoulders. Dark-skinned faces, much darker than that of Malik and Rishid, looked up at them as they came close enough to be seen clearly in the campfire light. They had already been spotted though, and men with large bows and arrows aimed at them as others advanced cautiously with spears.