Der Vater hält das Kind jetzt fest / The father is now holding onto the child
Hat es sehr an sich gepresst / and has pressed it tightly against himself
Bemerkt nicht dessen Atemnot / He doesn't notice its difficulty in breathing
Doch die Angst kennt kein Erbarmen / But fear knows no mercy
So der Vater mit den Armen /So with his arms the father
Drückt die Seele aus dem Kind /squeezes the soul from the child
Diese setzt sich auf den Wind und singt/ Which takes its place upon the wind and sings:
Komm her, bleib hier / Come here, stay here
Wir sind gut zu dir / We'll be good to you
Komm her, bleib hier / Come here, stay here
Wir sind Brüder dir / We are your brothers
--- Dalai Lama - Rammstein ---
Chapter 26
Too Weak To Move
Shuffling was heard in the other room. Keith's head shot up. Walking over to the door he opened it slightly and looked out. Glaring at the stumbling man walking to a room he silently closed the door, to not draw any unwanted attention from the drunk outside the room.
Sighing softly he walked back over to the bed where he little neighbor laid. The dirty blond remembered the first day he saw the boy, well parts of it any way. After all he had been drunk. Not a day he wanted to remember anyway. He thought about the day he had rescued the child from a speeding car, and how great it felt for once doing the right thing. Though he kept thinking nothing would ever make up for the way he treated the boy the first time. Then the man's mind drifted to the gun scene. He was really terrified when he had heard that gun shot come from Yami's house. Though he'd never admit it to any one, but when he saw the child sitting on the front sidewalk, bleeding, his heart seized. Thinking the boy had been shot by a drive by he raced over. Then anger swelled inside when he noticed that the boy had shot himself. No he was not angry at the child, but his guardians. How could they let that happen?
Placing his face in his hands he roughly rubbed his eyes. Trying to stay awake, since he got no sleep last night from another job.
"Mister?" Bandit Keith looked up when he heard a soft voice. Yugi was sitting up in his bed awake. "Are you ok?" Keith smiled slightly and nodded.
"It's alright don't worry about me."
"But...I do." The boy said hesitantly. "Aren't you my friend?" The child looked away from the man afraid he said something wrong and the man would leave him alone in this scary place.
'Children are so confusing. Why would he want to be my friend?' Keith stood up and watched as the boy's eyes shot up suddenly. The boy tensed and tears pooled threatening to spill.
"Don't leave. Please. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. Don't leave me here alone. Pl-" Keith was shocked that the boy thought he was going to just get up and walk away like nothing had happened. Walking over to the bed he sat on the edge and hushed the child before he could speak another word. A small sob escaped from the little boy's throat.
"Hush now. I'm not leaving. It's alright. Come here." Yugi shot into the man's arms. Two strong arms circled around the boy's back. Then the blond pulled the boy in his lap. "Of course I'm your friend. Who would want to be friends with you, hmm?" The boy's eyes widened and tears slipped down his cheeks. A huge grin split across the 5 year olds face as he pressed his tear stained face in the man's shirt. Lifting the boy against him he slowly stood to not startle the boy. A knock was heard.
"Keith! We're ready to send the boy once his parents are here." A voice warned.
"My parents?" The man nodded down at the child. Tears trickled down the boy's cheeks at the mere thought of returning to his other parents. "Don't let them take me. Please." The boy whimpered miserably. "I'll die! I'll die." He choked out before he broke down into sobs.
"Hush now. I'm not going to let anyone take you. You just hold on. Alright?" He said softly while rubbing soothing circles on the boy's back. "Better?" The 5 year old nodded wiping his nose, before hiding his face. "Now lets see what we can do to get out of here, hmm?" Shifting the boy in his arms he reached down and grabbed his heavy leather jacket and placed it over the boy's shoulders. Keith understood that the boy was probably frightened to death so he hid the child's face in his jacket and said, "Listen to me. I want you to go away. Some where in your head, alright?" Without waiting for an answer he continued, "Don't think about what's going on right now. Imagine you are far away from this place."
"How?"
"Imagine child. Pretend you are with Yami or in your own bed at home. Somewhere. Anywhere but here. Close you eyes." Yugi looked up at the man from under his jacket and then slowly closed his eyes. "Good. Now think about where you want to be. Think hard. Got it?" At the boy's hesitant nod he continued, "You're doing great. Do you see it? Imagine everything. Smells, what you would be hearing, everything." He felt the boy's breathing even out and his tense muscles relax. "That's it. Listen to my voice. Keep this in your head. Remember." He rubbed the boy's back. "Don't come out of this place until I say. Everything will be ok. Just stay hidden, no one will hurt there. I'll protect you here." (hey that rhymes doesn't it... I broke the mood didn't I? sorry)
Standing Keith smiled as the boy drifted unaware of what was going on around him. Holding the small bundle close he walked over to the window. Opening the old window he looked down below. With one arm he held his neighbor and with the other he grabbed on to a near by water drain. Getting up on the ledge he jumped and half slid half fell to the ground below. Looking up at the window he made sure that no one was looking down that had seen him jump. Straightening himself he started to walk away.
"Hey Keith!" Keith broke into a run. "Get back! The kids gone! Where is he!" Growling the man pushed harder as he ran into a near by small wooded area. Knowing the ground pretty well he'd make sure not to go too deep in, unless it was unavoidable.
"Mi-Mister?"
"Shh...child." The man huffed.
"What's going on?" The boy looked up at his friend worried. Hearing the boy's fear the man held the boy tighter.
"It's alright. Remember what I said?" He gasped for breath to speak before continuing, "Close your eyes, child. I got you."
"O-ok. I trust you." Then the boy fell silent and relaxed once again. Smiling inwardly he pressed on. Hearing the gang follow behind him he started to look for a place to hide. Eyes quickly scanned the grounds looking for the nearby cave. Racing along an edge of a near by river bed he came in eye sight of the cave.
He didn't notice the root sticking up above the ground. The root hooked his foot and he was heaved toward the ledge. Bracing himself and the child against him he prepared for a crash landing. The boy didn't even make a sound as they fell toward the ground. Keith was the first to hit the side of the ledge and he saw white. His vision going black the next thing he remembered was being face first in soggy mud and grass. Groaning he lifted his head and shook it clear. Hearing voice above him he suddenly remembered what had happened. Scanning the area he saw Yugi only laying a few feet away from him. Reaching over he crawled silently over to him.
The child groaned as his small body protested. Then a hand clasped over his mouth making him panic. They had him. He tried to scream but the hand pressed tighter and he was pressed up against another's body. He gripped at the hand and tried to tear it away from his mouth.
"Hush child. It's only me." A voice whispered. The boy imminently calmed down. Then he too heard the voices and his body went ridged against the older man. Looking ahead he saw a small river not too far away. He then remembered what his friend had taught him. Looking deep into the sparkling river he imagined himself far away for everything. Slowly his body relaxed as he lost himself in the slow currents of the blue river. He listened to the calming splashes and completely forgot the angered voices above him.
Suddenly he was gently turned as this strange man kneeled in front of him.
"Yugi. Can you hear me child?" The 5 year old's eyes held no recognization. "Listen to my voice, child. Come back. You're safe now. I'm here. Close you eyes." The boy complied. "Now follow my voice out. That's it. Come back to me. Come back to your friend. Good. Do you see me?" At the slight nod he smiled. "Open your eyes, child." Opening his amethyst eyes his eyes focused on the man before him.
"Hi." The boy said softly.
"Hey there young one. Are you alright? That was quite a fall." He asked looking over the boy. At the boy's shrug he became worried. "Come here." He pulled the boy into a hug when the child leaned into him. "You did great. I'm really proud of you." He felt the boy smile against his chest. "Lets wash off, hmm?"
'Geeze it almost feels like this is my own child.' The thought brought a smile to his face. He carried the boy over to the small river and they both quickly clean off the little mudded that was splatter over their faces and hands. 'Well I won't let him end up like my own child.' A pang of pain entered the man's heart. He knew it wasn't a good idea joining this gang and he went and done it any way. Then as revenge for one of his victims his only daughter was killed, no shot down. On her way home from school. He watched as the boy lifted his arms wanting to be held. He had so many memories of his own child doing this and him refusing. He regretted it now.
Smiling he reached down and lifted the boy up. Before turning to leave he grabbed his jacket and once again placed it around the child's small shoulders. Then they continued to tread in the opposite direction of the gang's hid out, knowing well that they haven't given up yet.
---
Yami was resting in his bed. He could just feel something was wrong. Yugi hadn't returned and Alas was pacing the hall outside his room.
"Alas?" The tri haired man asked. Alas slowly entered the room with a sad smile. "What's wrong?" Replaying the earlier conversation between her and Tristan in her head made the room spin. What if they never found him? Or if they did...hurt or worse... No she couldn't think that.
"Yami-" Pausing she gathered he thoughts. Sitting on the edge of his bed she smiled softly. "Now please hear me through. I don't what you getting any crazy ideas." The young man just nodded, and gently encouraged her to continue. "Yugi...he was kidnapped earlier today. We had lots of people out searching. And you don't need to worry-"
"Wait. What! How! Weren't they in the station? How could that happen!" Alas put up her hand.
"They were outside. Sleeping in a tent and he was taken. They aren't sure how exactly it happened." He whispered the last part. "They didn't hear or feel anything." Yami struggled to sit upright. Throwing his legs over the ledge of the bed his body hissed in protest. "Yami! Stop! No stay in bed! You'll be no good like this!"
"I have to do something! Anything! Ra I should have never let him go. Help me up!" Yami ordered trying to stand.
"No Yami. You just got back from your work out. You are too tired. Stay. Please Yami. For Yugi. He needs you to be healthy and to get better. He'll be ok. I just know it Yami." Alas pushed Yami back down to the bed. The young man weakly struggled against her.
"No I have to help. I can't just sit here. I just can't Alas-" He broke off into a sob. Alas sighed sadly and held her friend.
"Shh...it's alright. Everything will be ok." She said soothingly...'I hope.'
Have a happy christmas everyone. Wanted to give all my loved readers a christmas present! Hope you enjoyed & makes up for that little prank! I'll see If i can survive it. hehe... I don't really like little get togethers. Ya know. I think my family is better apart since I believe they hate each other. Well...at least my father's side is far enough away that we barely see them but that means I'll be going on a little trip there...sigh. Sux. I'm really a tomboy if u haven't noticed. I usually get one present there and guess what it was? Any one? A pair of Powerpuff Girl toe socks! Oh my God! I was like...urm...thanx...NOT lol. Actually I was keeping myself from laughing. Guess what went to Good Will that day? Any one? lol. Well anyways hoped u liked the chappie. HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
THANX!
Uchika na Kage
jennifer
ladygodess
Moon'sHope
Keeper of the Times
Masami Mistress Of Fire
blood-fire-dragon
suekosa
HikaruNoJingoku
Kaimei Tenshi
Hikari Skysong
Yami-Yugi3
blue-soljah
IwishChan
mobileholmes
spidy007
butterflybg
Thanx for the ideas! They are great. Ya I think that would be a good idea for a seq. Hmm... Lets see if I can get those gears spinning again huh? lol. Thanx again.
Dragonheart7
That was a great little poem. Laughs It brought a smile to my face. Thanx.