Mijikai: Wow…I haven't updated this thing in what…a two years? Well this chapter is for Equilla…I hope this chapter will be okay.

Note: 'word' - when Bakura/Ryou is a wolf

II:II

Wolf Brother of the King

Chapter Eleven

It hurt, he couldn't breathe.

He tried gasping his throat, but his limbs were to heavy.

"Grandpa…Ryou," he tried calling but only a sickening choke burst from his lips.

Numbly, he noticed his lips were starting to stick together, and with a drying tongue tasted blood.

He was going to die.

A trembling took over his body as those words went over and over in his head.

'I'm going to die.'

'I'm going to die!'

'I'M GOING TO DIE!'

His eyes felt heavy.

'No! I can't!'

They started to close and his throat restricted.

He couldn't breathe!

'No!'

He felt himself choking and the room spun.

The colors darkened as his heavy lids closed.

'Yami!'

I:I

"So how shall we settle this?" Bakura asked, with a smirk.

A fist collided with his jaw, causing him to fly backwards into the wall.

"Fists will do just fine," Yami said coldly and the corner of Bakura's lips twitched as he slowly rose.

"That I gave for free," Bakura hissed and grabbed a lamp and threw it at Yami.

Yami ducked, but the distraction gave an opening for Bakura as he slammed his elbow into his spine.

He fell to the ground with an "oof" and gasped as a foot slammed into his stomach.

"And here I thought you'd be a challenge," Bakura mocked, and jammed his foot into Yami's side, laughing.

Grinding his teeth, Yami grabbed Bakura's foot and flipped him over onto his back.

Taking that opportunity,Yamipinned the evil spirit down, his knees brusing Bakura's sides and forearms pressed against the windpipe.

"So tell me, what will be the gain of killing me?" Bakura choked.

"I'll be rid of you once and for all, you monster," Yami whispered fiercely.

"But you're…forgetting one thing."

Yami's eyes narrowed.

"And what is that?" Yami spat.

Bakura only smirked before his features changed.

His blue dilated eyes became enlarged and brown, the hair becoming more neat and tamed.

Yami cursed as the boy chocked and was forced to let go.

'Damn. It's easy to kill with Bakura's face on him but not when it's Ryou's. Damn you coward!'

"Yugi?" Ryou coughed.

Seeing that Ryou was only disoriented, Yami turned towards the stairs.

'I need to check on ai…'

"ARGH!" he cried as sharp knives tore into his back.

Whipping around, Yami glanced at the grinning white wolf who was licking its bloody claws.

'You're to soft pharaoh'

"Damn…you," Yami grunted as he staggered to stay up.

'To late, I'm already damned' Bakura said and lunged for Yami, his jaws open, saliva dripping from the sharp teeth.

In panic, Yami lifted his arm up and cried out as Bakura caught it between his strong jaws.

Gasping and grunting, Yami held the wolf back and bit back another cry as Bakura bit harder.

'So what now pharaohs?' Bakura asked, his eyes glazed with glee.

"Bashing your head," Yami growled and swung the silver bat at Bakura's head.

The wolf howled in pain and Yami wrenched his bloody arm out before the jaws closed again.

Stumbling to his feet, he grasped the bat with both hands and swung it with all his might, getting the wolf in the back.

It whimpered as it struggled to retreat, but Yami placed his foot on the dazed wolf's ribs and swung the bat up high.

"Enjoy hell."

"That's enough!"

Yami paused and glanced behind his shoulder, while grinding the heel of his boot into the ribs of the wolf, to see who dared interrupt him.

"Even if you destroy him, you will destroy Ryou and I can not have that. Now please, put down the bat."

Yami stared, his eyes wide.

Standing in the door way was Yugi.

"Aibou?" Yami whispered, the bat slowly falling to his side.

Yugi stood tall, his amethyst eyes stern and his face set that dared anybody to disobey them.

He came into the room, his blond bangs swinging in his face as he gently took the bat from Yami's limp hand and set it aside.

"I am Sintamo, King of the Woodland folk. He is the brother of my younger twin, and a close friend. I can not allow any harm come to him, even if he is possessed by an evil spirit."

"Sintamo? Aibou!" Yami shouted running towards the door.

"He is alright, for now," Sintamo said, and Yami paused, hand grasping the doorway. "But he is still severely injured."

Yami cursed as he went down the stairs.

Sintamo stood in the room bent down over the injured wolf.

The poor creature was wheezing and looked at him with dilated blue eyes.

The King reached for the wolf, but it snarled and tried snapping at his hand.

"Calm down. The battle is over," Sintamo said quietly, and smoothed the fur. "It is time to let the young one take over. You are not in any position for anymore fights for today."

The wolf stared at him for a moment, and then closed its eyes.

Before Sintamo's eyes, the wolf slowly shaped itself into a boy.

Smiling, Sintamo placed a hand upon Ryou's forehead and clasped his hands together.

"I pray to the Healing Mother Mystic Elf. See this child that lays injured, and place the soothing winds of healing to mend the flesh, knit the bone, and heal the soul," he prayed and he could hear the faint song of the Mother Healer.

The wounds upon Ryou slowly healed, and Sintamo carried the boy to his bed.

"You mean a lot to my brother," Sintamo said quietly. "I can't have you getting hurt. My brother's happiness is mine."

His eyes then fell upon the Ring around the boy's neck.

'But you pose to be a very dangerous problem.'

I:I

Yami stumbled as he came into the living room, and immediately spotted his aibou laying upon the couch, his breaths coming slowly in and out.

Slowly, he reached down and brushed back the bangs of the boy and collapsed, burying his face into his aibou's chest.

"Thank Ra," he whispered. "Thank Ra."

Yugi stirred and turned over, his hand unconsciously finding Yami's sleeve and grasped it tightly.

"Yami…"

Stunned, Yami stared at the slumbering boy.

"I'm sorry, Yugi," he said quietly. "I shouldn't have left you alone."

The boy curled up like a kitten, and Yami placed a hand on his shoulder.

It was small and he could feel the bone.

Gently he moved his hand along the boy's arm.

It was also small and thin.

He was so fragile…why did he never notice it before?

'Bakura could have easily shattered this boy,' Yami thought and moved his hand to Yugi's cheek.

"I will never let you out of my sight again…I promise."

I:I

Seto sat in his booth, drinking coffee.

He heard of diners in the books of those who were once exiled to the city and frankly they weren't half bad.

Although they weren't exactly the most clean place he'd ever been too, it was warm inside, and the place gave the air of peace.

Coffee he had discovered a couple of days ago, and developed a taste for the bitter brown brew.

It was quite different from the sweet juice of fruit and wine.

He closed his eyes as a song started to play on the radio, and paused in mid-sip as he heard footsteps coming towards his booth.

A smile twitched as he heard the person slid into the seat in front of him and opened his eyes to meet those of the Woodland King.

"Your highness," Seto said as he took the sip and placed his cup back down. "Surprise in seeing you here."

"And a surprise to see you here too," Sintamo said, and shook his head when the waitress asked if he wanted anything.

"Are you here to finally admit defeat and come back home?" Seto asked.

"No."

"Then you're wasting my time."

Sintamo scowled.

"You should show more respect for me. I am your King," Sintamo hissed.

Seto looked at him.

"You are a child. And until you prove to me otherwise, I will not accept otherwise."

"I'm still your King."

"…Very well. Lets pretend I care."

Sintamo grinded his teeth as his hands gripped the table.

"So, besides your pointless excuses, what do you want?" Seto asked as he took up his coffee again.

"You've once been keeper of the Forbidden Scrolls?"

"I have."

"Then you know what's in them."

"I do. What of it?"

"Then you know of our Ancient ties to Egypt."

Seto paused in drinking the brew, and shrugged one shoulder.

"Even if it is a recording of our Ancient ties, it still has no clear reading of what caused us to live here instead of in Eygpt."

"But you still know about the Legendary items."

"Yes."

"Then you know that they are being resurfaced again."

This caused Seto to slam his cup down.

"What!"

"Yes, they're coming back."

"Who is the idiot who brought them back," Seto snarled.

"That's why I need you right now," Sintamo continued. "You are the only one right now in this city that knows about them."

Seto raised an eyebrow.

"You…need my help?"

Sintamo set his jaw.

"Yes," he whispered. "And in return, I shall return home peacefully. Do we have a deal?"

Seto stared into those purple orbs and set face.

It was odd for Seto, ever since he saw King Sintamo and his younger twin together.

Both had been identical…or so Seto thought.

Now he could see that his King, Sintamo, held a maturity that Yugi didn't.

A maturity that was the making of a King.

"Tell me what you need to know."

Sintamo seemed to relax a little.

"As you know I've been watching my little brother, and observing his life style and those he keeps around him. Well…Yugi is in possession of the Sennen Puzzle. Now, I didn't say anything because I knew from the little information that we the people are allowed to know that the puzzle hosts the Pharaohs soul. So I didn't panic much. But then I found out that the Sennen Ring was also found."

"The Sennen Ring…that hosts the darkest soul."

"Yes. If the Ring is out in the open, maybe the others are too."

"And you need me to help figure out how to relock these items."

"In a way, yes."

"Alright, then. But like you said, after this business is finished, you are coming home."

Sintamo sighed.

"Deal."

Both shook hands, and quickly parted.

"You aren't leaving?" Seto asked bluntly as Sintamo lingered and stared out the window.

The skies had started to rain while they've been talking.

"You've been my advisor for all my life."

"When you became King I was twelve and you were eight."

"The years had passed quickly," Sintamo sighed. "Six years have passed."

"And you still haven't grown up," Seto snorted. "You are irritating and I'd like nothing then to throttle you for making my life difficult."

Sintamo chuckled.

"You always were amusing."

Seto twitched.

"I best be going now," Sintamo said quietly as he got up but Seto suddenly grabbed his arm. "What are you…?"

"What makes you trust me so much?" Seto asked quietly. "Has it ever occurred to you that I could knock you out and take you home right now?"

Sintamo calmly stared at him back.

"You wouldn't do that Seto," Sintamo said quietly and Seto let go.

With those words, Sintamo left the diner.

"Humph…You wouldn't do that Seto," Seto mimicked. "I wouldn't be so trusting, my King. Idiot."

But his harsh words did not match his eyes as he watched his King walking through the rain.

II:II

Mijikai: That was fun. I think I'll update more often!

Review! Please? Even if it has only been two years.