Another chapter/episode/part thingy for all you lovely people out there and today we finally see what's happened to the 'innocents' after fifteen months. I've been waiting to write this for a long time now so I'm nearly wetting myself in excitement! Anyway, on to replies:

Pugi Muto – As usual, don't worry about the review being late! The last chapter was really your favourite? Well this chapter's quite short actually and not a lot happens in it. I actually think this is the worst one but oh well… And I wasn't mean to Yami on purpose, it's just that he's the best one coz he's so rake like! But you'll find out what's happened to the others this chapter. And by the way, why do you have the Ring? I swear my thieving ways are rubbing off on you! Grr!

Disclaimer: The usual non owning of Yu-Gi-Oh! and for this part, I non own nothing! But I do own the story and what happens in it.

Warning: Swearing and violence (practically non existent) this part but no sex. And no very bad words… Oh, I've just remembered that this will be very OOC. Well, obviously they were going to change…

Notes: Just a reminder that "blah" is speaking, #blah# is thinking and songs /blah/ is emphasis and ((blah)) is mental link between various people. xxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx are dividers in a chapter.

Chapter seven: Results of the Search

Yami and Bakura crept forward slowly as they neared the entrance, even though Bakura had the Millennium Ring and had some skills with it, there was no point in putting themselves in danger. Bakura wasn't sure why he had asked Yami along but he sensed that they might be more comfortable with him, for some reason.

As they stood at the entrance of the building, Bakura wondered how they were going to get in. After all, the door was locked of course and he didn't particularly feel like kicking it in.

((Ryou, if you can hear me please show me the way. But not through the front door. Is there an air vent or something?)) He had never used this link with Ryou before, he didn't even know they had it but it just came to him. Maybe it was the Millennium Ring trying to help him…

((Bakura…)) There was that singsong voice that Ryou had used before, in the dream. So it wasn't just his imagination then? He took out the Ring and waited for something to happen but nothing did.

((Please show me the way…))

((I can't.)) He replied, no explanation as to why this was, just that he couldn't for some reason.

((Then make it home in on you please.)) He asked, trying not to sound annoyed with him.

((Ok.))

Now the Ring was glowing, pointing to the left around the side of the building so they set off that way, Bakura smiling to himself when it automatically changed direction. It then went upwards before stopping and dropping back down to Bakura's chest. So they must be up there on one of the floors, but which one? Somehow he didn't think Ryou could help so he had to figure it out on his own.

"Hey Bakura, there's an air vent down here." Yami whispered and Bakura smiled to himself. He had forgotten about Yami, which was a bit silly of him.

"Thanks." He knelt down and lifted it away, surprised it was loose. Surely didn't they know it was a weak point?

"It's going to be ok." Yami whispered, squeezing his arm in reassurance and Bakura smiled gratefully at him, suddenly realising how nervous he was about this.

"I know…" He entered the air vent and waited for Yami to do the same before continuing forward, letting his senses guide him to where exactly Ryou and the others were.

xxxxxx

There they were, lying in the moonlight on a ward of sorts. They were on their own and were currently fast asleep, or at least pretending to be. Maybe that was the best option in this place. They walked forward and could gradually see their faces, helped by the light shining in through the windows. Yugi was nearest to them and Yami stopped for a moment to take in what was happening, almost too nervous to go any closer in case he disappeared but Bakura nodded his head and pushed him forward. Yami sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked Yugi's face, watching as his eyes slowly opened and looked up at him.

((Yami? Are you a dream?)) Despite the fact he was using the mind link, somehow Bakura could hear him and frowned. How was that possible?

"No, I'm real. We're finally here…" He whispered and Yugi sat up, hesitating for a moment before hugging Yami firmly, a mixture of a smile and grimace on his face. It was then he noticed Bakura standing behind Yami.

((Bakura? Yami, you'll have to tell him something about Ryou. He-))

"I can hear you too Yugi, don't worry about it." Bakura quickly pointed out and Yugi nodded his head in understanding.

((Of course, Ryou gave you the Ring. But Bakura, be careful ok? Ryou's changed and…)) He tailed off and Bakura frowned.

"Changed? How?"

((You'll find out when you wake him up. Do it gently though, sometimes he'll freak out if you wake him too quickly.)) Bakura walked over to Ryou, who was on the other row of beds and frowned when he saw a lamp on the desk beside him.

#Is it because of the dark?# He thought before brushing his fingers through Ryou's hair, surprised that it was still so soft. "Ryou?"

((Bakura, don't touch him there, he doesn't like it. It's where…)) He saw Yugi shudder and Bakura sighed but did as he was told. He shook his shoulder once and waited for Ryou to wake up.

Ryou sat up quickly, looking around in surprise but seemed reassured when he saw that Yugi was awake too. He looked to his right and saw Bakura staring at him with hope and he grinned, practically leaping out of bed and grabbing him.

"Big brother!" He squealed and Bakura froze.

#Big brother? Fuck, they must have messed with his mind quite a lot to make him believe that. But I can't worry for the moment, I'm just glad he's back with me.# He smiled at Ryou and held him tightly.

"Yes, I'm here now." He noticed the looks of surprise pass between Yugi and Yami but ignored them; he had to hope for the best…

"Kury, are we going to get out of here now?" He asked in a childish voice but wait a minute, it wasn't childish, it was his normal voice. Had they done something to give him the mental age of a kid?

"Yes, as soon as we've woken the others. Just sit here for a minute and I'll be right back." Ryou nodded his head and Bakura placed him on the bed, watching for a moment as he bounced occasionally on it.

"Hey Bakura, are you sure you're all right?" Yami asked quietly and Bakura nodded his head.

"Yes, I'm just glad to have him back. I can worry about this later, we need to start moving before someone realises what is happening."

"Yes, you're right." Yami replied and turned to Yugi. "Is there anything else we should know about the others before we wake them up too?"

((I had better wake Marik or he might kill you.)) Yugi said seriously and Yami frowned in disbelief. ((He's done it several times before; he has a knife under his pillow and is quite skilled with it.))

Yugi got out of bed and turned around to where Marik was, keeping away from his bed and planning to approach him gently so as to not startle him.

((Marik, it's Yugi. I'm standing by my bed and am now walking towards yours. Is it ok for me to do that?)) Bakura and Yami looked confused, not understanding why Yugi was explaining it like this. He obviously got some response as he started moving forward, although they hadn't heard anything. ((I'm by your bed now and am going to touch your arm. It's just me; you don't have to worry about anything.))

"Yugi?" Marik whispered as he opened his eyes and looked at him. "Why did you wake me up?" He sat up and saw Yami and Bakura, causing him to jump and snatch the knife from under his pillow. "What do you want?" He screamed as he kneeled on the bed, shaking in fear and anger.

"Don't be silly Mawik, it's just Yami and Kury." Ryou suddenly said with a giggle and Marik instantly calmed down, dropping the knife and breathing a sigh of relief.

"I'm sorry you two, I was surprised when I saw you." He said, bowing his head slightly.

"Not another knife incident Marik." They looked around and saw that Joey and Tristan were also awake, probably due to Marik's screaming. "Hey, who are you two?" Joey asked and Yugi smiled nervously.

((Remember Yami and Bakura? We told you about them…))

"I don't know…I know the names but…" He scowled in annoyance and covered his face with his hands. "I'm fed up of not knowing!"

((Don't worry; you'll get your memory back.)) Yugi said gently and Joey nodded in agreement before getting out of bed.

"Are we leaving?" Tristan asked and Yami and Bakura were relieved to hear that he at least /sounded/ normal. Tristan was never supposed to have been here in the first place, the authorities were just bitter.

"Yeah, we just need to get the others." Yami said and he walked to the window, slightly surprised when it opened. "Is it a trap?"

"Not as far as we know…" Tristan replied, shrugging his shoulders so Yami pushed it the rest of the way up.

"I can see them, they're quite close to us actually." He commented and while the others went to have a look, Ryou remained sitting on the bed. Yami noticed this and nodded his head in the direction of Ryou.

"Aren't you going to come with us Ryou?" Bakura asked gently as he sat down beside him.

"I'm scared Kury…" He replied, leaning against Bakura.

"Don't worry, I won't let you get hurt." He took Ryou's hand and Ryou smiled, tightening his grip slightly as he stood up. "Come on, let's see if the others have got here yet."

"Ok." Bakura watched as Duke, Malik and Seto finally reached the wall below their window and Yami leant out, looking down at them.

"We found them guys but something's happened to them." He saw the frowns on their faces and smiled in reassurance. "We'll worry about that in a minute. We're going to get them out through the window seeing as we're not too high up."

They nodded in understanding and Yami moved away from the window to let Tristan climb out, landing on the ground crouched before standing up straight and moving away so the others could get out. Soon Joey was out, insisting that he could do it himself, despite the worry of Seto. It was then they realised that Marik's fear seemed to extend to heights too.

"Come on Marik, it's only one floor up." Malik said, trying to coax him out.

"But what if I fall and hurt myself?"

((Marik, everything will be fine. You trust Malik, remember?)) Yugi suddenly said and Marik looked at him, seeming to suddenly realise who Malik was and what he meant to him.

"I do." He said quietly before sitting on the windowsill, looking down at Malik as he looked up. "All we need now is for you to start reciting poetry."

"And for you to grow your hair long." Malik replied with a grin, causing the others to chuckle, easing the tenseness of the situation.

"It is already." Marik mumbled before easing himself down, Malik holding his arms up to catch him. He did so and they held each other, whispering words unheard to everyone apart from themselves.

"Are you ok Yugi?" Yami asked him and he nodded his head, jumping down without hesitation, although his landing was slightly more ungraceful than Tristan and Joey's. He grinned and scratched the back of his head as they rolled their eyes at him.

"Do you want me to catch you Ryou?"

"Yes please." He said, squirming slightly under the intense gaze of Bakura.

"I'll have to go out first then." He pointed out, trying to get Ryou to let go of his hand but he suddenly shook his head, eyes wide in alarm.

"No, don't leave me here." He said, sniffing quietly as though he was about to cry.

"Shush Ryou, I will be gone for just a minute. And Yami will be here to look after you, ok?" He looked over at Yami for some support and he duly walked over, holding his hand out.

"Come on Ryou, stay with me for a minute and we can watch Bakura from the window." He suggested and Ryou nodded his head slowly, letting go of Bakura's hand and grabbing Yami's, smiling gently at him. "Come on, let's go to the window."

"Thanks Yami." Bakura whispered and he shrugged his shoulders.

"Don't worry about it, we just have to get him out quick." Getting the hint, Bakura jumped out of the window, landing in a similar position to Tristan and looked back up at the window.

"Ryou, I'm down now." He announced and looked back up, surprised to already see Ryou sitting on the window ledge. He must /really/ be worried about losing him again.

"Promise me?" He said quietly, seeming to flinch at everyone's gazes.

#Promise to what? Catch him?# He mentally shrugged his shoulders. "Yes Ryou, I promise."

He smiled when he felt Ryou in his arms once more, although he was lighter than before. He held onto him closely and Ryou did the same, burying his face in Bakura's hair, resting his head on his shoulder.

"Promise to stay with me Bakura, always." He murmured and Bakura's head shot up, hearing Ryou talk normally and say his full name too.

"I promise, always." He replied, hoping that maybe he was back to normal now.

"Thanks Kury." He almost cried when he heard his voice; it had gone back to what it was a few minutes ago. But for a moment there, he had spoken like before and this filled Bakura with hope, knowing that he was still in there somewhere. Maybe the child thing was just an act for protection…

"That's ok." He let go of Ryou, taking his hand almost by instinct and turned to the others to see what was happening now.

((Yami, I think we should go now. Someone's coming…)) Yugi said, causing most of the others to look in alarm.

"What's happening? Why are you all looking like that?" Seto asked and it suddenly occurred to Yugi that he wouldn't be able to understand him, the same for Duke too. He looked at Yami for support and he nodded his head in understanding.

"Yugi thinks someone's coming." Now they were all fully aware for the dangers and Bakura led the way back to the trees, knowing if they were caught it was the end for all of them.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

They sat in the same clearing as before, although now Yugi, Marik, Ryou and Joey were asleep on the ground, huddling together, more for protection than warmth. Tristan however was wide-awake, explaining to the group what had happened to them because he refused to go to sleep. He wouldn't explain why.

"So what did they do to you then? Why have they all changed so much?"

"I'm not especially sure what they did to them, they wouldn't talk about it. But the screams were enough for me. They spent most of their time trying to get me to spy on them and when I refused…well, they were a little bit more forceful then. I don't know what happened after that, maybe I said something to them without realising because they left me alone then." Tristan explained, he sounded vague but at the same time, precise.

"So you were ok then?"

"Not really." The others looked puzzled at him and he sighed. "Think about it. What's worse: being tortured or having to stand by as your friends are, unable to do anything?" He paused and watched them as they thought about this. "I felt so useless, I couldn't do anything to help them, I had no understanding of what was going through their heads. I could only sit there as I saw them fall apart gradually. Ryou pretty much retreated into his mind straight away, not so much because of what was happening though. He said that he had to watch over you guys, to guide you. I didn't really understand it but I had an idea it was something to do with the Ring. How else were you going to find us?

"Then one day he just snapped. I think it was something they did to him, he wouldn't go anywhere on his own, he was scared and confused. He did what he thought was best; to justify what was happening to him. Maybe to try and regain some of his innocence…I think they picked on that, they knew it was his weak point." He looked at Bakura, trying to make him understand what could be happening in Ryou's head and he nodded, glancing over at him.

"I knew it too…that's why I tried to help him escape, when you told me the police were coming. He wouldn't survive this, not without a major mind job… And that's what happened…" Bakura said, only just becoming aware that he had known it the whole time.

"Marik seemed to break pretty quickly too, I think he knew what was coming, only it would be worse. The fact he killed five people didn't help though, they got angrier after that, if it's possible. But they were also afraid, they weren't foolish enough to try and make him do anything so they made Yugi do it instead. They knew he could do it with the Millennium Puzzle and although Marik wouldn't do anything at first, he gave in. They used Yugi to blackmail him into submission. And when Yugi realised this, he stopped speaking. He was trying to make it better somehow; by not talking it wasn't as bad when they made Marik come with them to wherever it is they went. Yugi wouldn't even open his mouth to eat or drink until they force-fed him. Then he used the Puzzle less, only to give instructions to Marik. He never said anything to the rest of us; tonight was the first time he had spoken to us in over three months. Maybe you filled him with hope." He said the last part to Yami, who smiled sadly.

"Joey fought back for ages, he wasn't going to let anyone get hurt while he was around. And when he realised what they were going to do to make him submit, he just rebelled harder. Until he forgot who we all were. Then there was no one to fight for them, only me and I didn't know what to do. We managed to get Joey to remember who we were and the memories came back and with those, vague recollections of who you were too. But he doesn't remember who you are, he just knows the names. He doesn't even know their significance and nobody wanted to say, it was too painful for us."

"How did he remember you then?"

"It was different things for us. It could just be the way we were sitting or something we said or even just a movement. Then he would suddenly see the face in his mind and the memories of them. But without you lot near him, he could never get those ones back. Who knows when he will recognise you? He only realised who I was a month ago." Tristan tailed of, the others could tell how much this must have hurt him, they had been best friends for so long. "And that's what happened basically. Every day became a struggle to survive, especially after the thing with Marik and Ryou taking over your bodies. We realised then that you were alive, looking for us, and you weren't that far too. We weren't going to let your efforts go to waste…"

Everyone sat in silence, wondering what was going to happen now. Although they had expected them to change, they didn't think it was going to be this drastic. They had somehow turned into strangers and now they had to try and make them normal again. Where were they going to go? What was going to happen if they got to the border? Would they make it? They had always thought they had the answers to these questions but now it came down to it, they weren't sure. With the condition of the others, they wouldn't be able to move as fast and they would be followed, hunted by 'they', the ones who had tried to hurt them…and succeeded.

"Hey Tristan, who are they?" Duke suddenly asked, breaking the quiet and everyone looked at him with interest. He had a good point. Tristan frowned then moved his hand to one of his eyes, first covering it up then making his hand into a circle, peering through the hole. Then he stopped and Yami's worst fears were confirmed.

"You mean the one with the Millennium Eye don't you?" He said and Tristan put his face in his hands.

"Don't say it!" He snapped, hearing movements from the group lying on the floor. "You've done it now."

"NO!" Marik yelled, sitting up and eyes darting around, his hand near the blade he still insisted on carrying. "Where is he?" The others turned to Tristan for an explanation while Malik went over to comfort him.

"Even just hearing those words is enough to send them into a panic." He leant closer to them so they couldn't hear his next words. "He was the leader, the one who hurt them the most."

He stopped when he heard crying and Yami and Bakura looked up in panic when they realised it was Yugi and Ryou. They walked over and saw them huddled up together, shivering in what was obviously fear and so they gathered them up and brought them back to the ring of logs.

"Kury, I don't want him to come back…" Ryou whispered, sitting in Bakura's lap and putting his arms around his waist. "I don't want to hurt again…"

"Shush, he won't come back." He said, rubbing his back to try and comfort him. #I won't let them hurt my little angel…#

"Angel, Kury?" He asked and it suddenly occurred to Bakura that he could hear his thoughts because of the Millennium Ring and that he still had it.

"Yes Ryou, you are my angel. And angels have to be protected…" He took the Ring and placed it on Ryou. "Do you remember giving this to me, just before you left? You showed us the way, even when you were feeling bad…"

"Before? I remember…nothing." He said, screwing his face up in concentration. "But I said to you that I would show you the way so I did. It's bad to break promises." He pouted slightly, causing Bakura to smile.

"Well I'm glad you kept it."

xxxxxx

"You ok Yugi?"

((Yeah, it's just what he did to us…)) He shuddered and an image flashed into Yami's mind, showing an operating theatre and Marik was lying upon the table having… ((No, I don't want to remember!)) Yugi cried out and Yami immediately got rid of it.

"You'll forget in time, ok Yugi?" They hugged tightly and Yugi was calmed by the regular breathing of Yami, feeling his chest rise and fall.

((Yami, am I still your sunshine? Now that I'm tainted…)) He suddenly asked and Yami frowned.

"You have always been my sunshine Yugi and that will never change." He was surprised when Yugi kissed him on the cheek but nevertheless he returned it, causing Yugi to smile.

((I love you Yami.))

"I love you too."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Guys, what are we going to do now?" Duke asked when the others had gone to sleep. Ryou and Yugi were now asleep again while they had finally got Tristan to go with them too. They weren't sure what Malik and Marik were doing but at least they were being quiet about it and soon Malik was back with them, having got Marik to go to sleep, even though he still had the knife in his hand.

"We're going to find the border of course." Malik pointed out and Duke sighed.

"But /where/ is the border? We have no idea as to where we are and I bet it won't be long until they try and go looking for them."

"I'll ask Ryou about it, maybe he can use the Ring." Bakura said to try and pacify them; he didn't particularly feel like having to listen to the argument that was going to erupt.

"Fat lot of use that's going to be, Ryou's in cloud cuckoo land at the moment." Duke said and Bakura scowled, he didn't understand.

"He may appear stupid but he knows what's going on." Bakura growled and although he didn't act like he was bothered by the comment, it hurt him deeply. Ryou had been through so much, at least Tristan was ok.

"Look, we'll just work our way from this place, try and put some distance between us and them. Then Bakura can try and get Ryou to use the Ring." Seto suggested.

They looked over at Seto and suddenly realised that maybe he had it the worst, at least the others could remember who they were (although wrongly in Bakura's case). Joey so far had made no sound of recognition as to whom Seto was and yet he had not said a single word about it. They didn't know the truth of course but that wasn't the point, they seemed lucky compared to him.

"We're sorry Seto, are you ok?" Duke asked quietly and Seto's forehead creased as he tried to think how to answer this without raising their suspicions, especially Malik's.

"I'm…fine. One day he'll remember me." He didn't dare to look at Malik in case he gave something away. #One day…then we can talk and I will tell him the truth.#

"One day everything will be back to normal. But until then we should get some sleep." Yami said and the others nodded in agreement, drifting off one by one.

ARGH! It's too short! I'm sorry, it was /so/ not supposed to be like this. Oh well, it was bad, very bad. You were supposed to get an idea of the psychological torment they're going through but it never happened. I might put it in chapter 10 when… Wait, that would spoil the plot. Oh you'll find out…

Notes for today:

1. Nothing! I have no comments to make, which is unusual… Apart from the fact there were no songs today!

Anyway, continue to review, you know that writers need them to survive!

S. Chensu xxx.