Hey everyone another update for you, there is still a lot more to come, I'll update on my other stories next time.
Warnings: M Yaoi
Disclaimer: don't own Yugioh.
CHAP 21: The Hunted
They had walked through the forest along the path, "are we still leaving today?" Ryou asked, the sunlight shone like fingers through the leaves and branches and butterfly's and other winged animals flew threw the rays of light.
"When we get back we'll be leaving, I'll have to let Yami know first" Bakura said as he moved closer to Marik.
"Which we should think about going back soon" Marik stretched his arms and wings. It was getting late into the afternoon when they thought that they should head back, the boat would be ready by the time they had packed and got to the docks.
They had only gotten half way when the sun was starting to set behind the tree line casting dark shadows over them. Then all of a sudden the animals flew up from the trees in a panic, "I wonder what scared them like that?" Ryou looked at Bakura.
"I think we have company," Marik said as he looked around.
"We should get back now" Bakura took Ryou's hand as he scanned the area.
"There's five," Marik started to walk. Holding Malik's hand.
"The castle isn't that far," Malik whispered.
"Marik I don't think that we are going to get out of here without running into who ever it is first, take Ryou and go," Bakura pushed Ryou into Marik's arms.
I'm not leaving you to deal with what ever it is on your own," Marik shot back but as he did two demons came running out at them. They had there faces covered, with swords raised Bakura ran at them, he grabbed the first one by the wrist and used the guys arms against the other one, Ryou watched as two more came out, Marik and Malik ran at them. There was the sound of a twig breaking behind Ryou, he turned and his eyes widened as he ducked a sword that just missed his head and lodged into a tree.
"Ryou run!" Malik yelled at him, Ryou jumped as he started to run taking a look to see them still fighting. Ryou closed his eyes for a second then opened them as he could hear the heavy footsteps of the demon that was right behind him. Ryou was grabbed and pulled back and was backhanded across the face sending him to the floor, Ryou cried out a bruise instantly formed.
Holding his cheek Ryou kicked the demon in the knee sending him to the floor, Ryou got back up and ran, he looked back but as he did the ground wasn't there anymore and he gave a yelp as he fell forward rolling down the hill his head going over his feet until his stomach hit a stump, he hung there for a minute trying to catch his breath but it cracked and he fell rolling down it head first until his shoulder hit a rock, he cried out and it spun him sideways he continued to roll down the steep hill until violently coming to an abrupt holt. Ryou winced but before he could move the demon landed a few feet in front of him. With his sword raised he charged, Ryou closed his eyes tightly when suddenly a shield was raised around him. Ryou looked up as Marik came down from out of nowhere and tackled the demon. The other demon was quicker as he stabbed Marik through the shoulder, Marik cried out.
"MARIK!" Ryou screamed, the sword was pulled out but before the final blow was made, Marik pulled out a knife from his boot and stabbed the demon in the stomach. He got up and ran over and the shield fell, he grabbed Ryou with his good arm and leapt into the air, "Marik your hurt, you can't fly," Ryou said as blood ran freely from Marik's arm.
"We have to make it back, there's still three of them, I lost Bakura and Malik in there some where" Marik growled as he was out of breath a few arrows flew through the air, hitting Marik in the wings and a few in the back, he cried out and they started to fall, Marik flapped his wings to keep them in the air but they weren't working that well, Ryou screamed as they fell to the ground.
Marik landed on top of Ryou the two demons landed and walked over, They raised their swords but they were stopped as Marik lifted his head and a shield once again saving them but he couldn't keep it up, he had lost to much blood and was growing weak. He got up and pulled Ryou with him, they were in a small clearing on the edge of a cliff.
Ryou opened his eyes to see the water far below them and then he noticed that the shield that Marik put up was failing. Laughter rang out, "C'mon we'll make it quick and painless," they laughed again.
"Fuck you," Marik said as he spat a mouthful of blood at them, he looked at Ryou "I'm sorry." he said as he collapsed in Ryou's arms. Ryou choked back a sob. He was having trouble holding Marik up and staying on his feet.
"Why are you doing this?" Ryou cried out as he looked at them, he was covered in Marik's blood and Ryou thought that Marik would soon die if he didn't get help.
"The council is wanting to take the throne and kill Yami, but Ella wants you dead for killing her son which we're glad to do for her." They said laughing again.
Bakura and Malik, Ryou's heart stopped would they get here in time to stop them? Ryou looked down he could see the water running, he looked up to see the three demons run at him with their swords raised, the first one stabbed Marik in the lower back and cut into Ryou's side. Bakura and Malik landed they both cried out as Ryou's throat was cut and his choker fell to the ground. Bakura and Malik ran forward but were to late as they were pushed off the cliff, Ryou clung to Marik not letting go, Bakura and Malik dove after them as Malik grabbed Marik by his shirt, Ryou lost his grip on him. Malik flapped his wings furiously and pulled Marik up before he hit the water. Bakura shot past them not stopping at all his wings vanished into his back, his eyes narrowed in determination Ryou reached out his hands for Bakura they both landed in the water.
Malik landed on the shore and sat Marik down, he scanned the area "Go I'll be fine" Marik coughed out holding his side, "find Ryou," Malik looked around again to make sure that he couldn't sense anyone around.
"I'll be back" he flew over the water for a minute, Bakura came up coughing and wiping the hair out of his eyes.
"I can't find him," Bakura then dove back in, Malik folded his wings into his back so they wouldn't get water logged and followed. They had looked and even flew down the stream with no luck it was as if he had vanished when he hit the water.
"We have to stop, Marik needs help." Bakura said sadly as he looked over the water and shore now out of breath. Malik had been crying but couldn't tell because of the water "we'll come back."
"He is hurt" he looked to where Marik sat against the rocks, Bakura was right he needed help.
"DAMMIT!" Bakura shouted angrily. They flew over to Marik, Bakura lifted him into his arms holding him closely. He looked over at an exhausted Malik, they both flew off as he gave one last look before flying back to the castle.
Puddles of water on the floor in the hallways as Malik and Bakura walked hastily to Seto's room, "Seto?" Bakura called out as Malik pushed open the door, they walked in and laid Marik on the table.
"What do you?" he stopped as he saw Marik and walked over and started to heal him.
"There's something going on," Bakura said as Seto finished healing Marik then moved onto Bakura then Malik.
"What do you mean?" Seto asked as he sat down.
"We were attacked in the forest," Bakura picked Marik up again.
"I'll go and see my sister maybe she could tell us something," Malik walked to the door.
"Wait Malik," he turned to Seto "I suggest that you keep an eye on Joey," Bakura walked to the door, he walked down the hallway back to his room, closed the door and locked it they pulled off Marik's clothes and laid him on the bed and covered him with blankets.
"When he wakes up, we'll all go and see your sister," Bakura said as he lay down next to him.
"But Ryou, he could be dieing in the forest now as we speak" Malik pointed out the window.
"With Marik we'll fine him more quickly" if it was up to him he wouldn't have come back until he had Ryou with him, he was fighting everything that he had not to leave now.
Marik groaned as he opened his eyes "Ryou where is he?" Marik sat up slowly holding his side it aced a little.
"I don't know" Bakura buried his face into his chest Marik held him close as Malik climbed onto the bed and did the same, "Don't cry my loves we'll get him back."
The next day Malik and Marik sighed as they watched Bakura sit at the same cliff holding Ryou's choker in his hand, they had seen Ishizu and she couldn't tell them anything, so Bakura had been sitting there the whole day with his powers trying to detect Ryou.
"Do you think that he's okay?" Malik leant his head on Marik's shoulder. He hoped that Bakura would be able to pick something up.
"I don't know, the water is cold and he's been gone all night," Marik sighed he was only stating the obvious, Malik growled as he looked up at him.
"Marik!" Malik glared at him and he walked off towards Bakura. Marik sighed he didn't want to think of it either and all morning he had been telling himself over and over again that Ryou was alright and they would find him soon, but as the day wore on he was beginning to doubt it himself.
It was Bakura that broke his thoughts as he collapsed on the ground, Marik ran over and knelt down next to him and sat him up, "Bakura lets go back" Marik ran his hands through Bakura's hair.
"No" Bakura moved away as he started again.
"Bakura stop, your exhausted you can't keep going like this," Marik canceled out his spell.
"You go Marik I'm not" he didn't get to finish as he collapsed Marik caught him this time and picked him up. The stress was starting to take its toll on Marik as well, Bakura and Malik hadn't seen it. Marik got back to the castle he laid Bakura in the bed, Malik climbed in next to him and cuddled up to him, Marik sat in the chair in the corner watching them sleep.
Ryou opened his eyes slowly and tried to sit up only to be eased back down, he closed his eyes then opened them he tried to speak but nothing came out.
"You are in the valley of the Eldouren, the injuries that you have received have affected your voice, you have been advised not to speak," Ryou looked over to see a woman in her mid twenties, she had long light blue hair and her skin was a faded blue colour as well, her wings that shone with colours every time she moved, she had on white and pink robes.
Ryou watched her walk over to a small desk "my phantoms were supposed to have brought you here at my request but you were attacked in the forest and they helped you out" she walked over to him and dropped a pen and notepad in his lap, Ryou wrote and handed it to the women 'why have you taken me?'
She read it over, "the council wants to take over the throne by killing everyone close to Yami, but my spy found that they want you dead as well," she handed it back and she watched as Ryou wrote down on it again.
'Can I send them a message that I'm okay they would be worried about me?' he handed it back to her.
"Soon you can, but the council will know by now that your dead, you should rest your not quite healed yet, my healers had trouble," she handed back the book, he wrote down again and handed it back, she read it over, Ryou gave her a pleading look. "You'll see your mate soon," Ryou pulled himself into a ball and cried silently, he remembered Malik getting Marik so he was okay but Bakura? The fairy sighed.
"Please rest," she patted his head and walked over to the door, "I'll come back and look in on you," Ryou sobbed into the sheets.
"I know that you have your mate and two others." she said Ryou nodded his head, Malik, Marik and Bakura would be devastated if they thought that he was dead in that river somewhere, Ryou looked at her.
"The ones that attacked you work for Yami's council, they had his death planned before you arrived here and the others." Ryou went to get up he had to warn them about what was going on, she turned around and stopped him, he grabbed his notepad and wrote down on it then handed it to her.
"Bakura, Marik and Malik are they?" Ryou nodded his head "they are strong I have met them once before and they would want you safe before anything else, you are to weak to go anywhere sleep now, rest everything will be fine," she waved a hand over Ryou's face and he fell into a sleep.
"My lady, do we move now," asked a voice.
"No, we wait for now but we'll need to inform Yami, soon" she walked out of the room with the other.
Seto paced back and fourth in his room, it was getting late and Joey hadn't come back yet he growled as he looked out of his window, his view was of the waterfall and forest. As beautiful as is was he was just not interested at all. A knock at the door and he growled again, "Come in." knowing that Joey wouldn't knock.
"My lord, Yami and the council wish to see you now," Seto didn't looked at the slave he just nodded his head.
The door closed and he closed his eyes, 'where are you? I swear if anything has happened to you someone's going to pay' he turned on his heels and walked to the door pulling it open and proceeded to the throne room.
Upon his arrival he noticed not only Yami and the council but Marik as well who didn't look too happy at all but rather pissed off.
"Now that we are here, I have some bad news." Seto and Marik frowned why did she sound so happy? "Yesterday Bakura's mate was killed stabbed and fell off a cliff." Marik growled at this and stepped forward.
"He's not dead, just missing."
"I'm sure he is," she smirked, "today Yugi and Jou have gone missing as well from the human world."
"Jo's not missing he's just late coming back with Yugi." Seto waved them off but the voice in his head told him other wise.
"We found their collars after we sent out witches to look for them." Ella said as Hawk handed out the collars, sure enough there was Joey's blue choker with SK on it, Seto smirked a little Jo was right it did look like a dog collar. "We are sorry for the bad news." The three turned and left, as did Marik.
Ryou woke up he moved his hand to his side and winced as it was still tender and sore but healed and he had a bandage wrapped around his neck where the cut was. "Are you feeling good enough to get up?" the same woman from before stood at the doorway, Ryou nodded his head as he sat up.
"Your clean clothes are there get dressed and come out when your ready," she left the room, Ryou's face turned red as he noticed that he was naked under the thin sheets, he hesitated in getting up but got up anyway pulling on his clothes quickly and walked out of the room.
"I'm Mea, queen of the Eldouren's" she introduced herself "and your Ryou, I have some one that you would want to see," Mea started to walk. "The council has to be dealt with as soon as possible my army is ready to go at anytime." She stopped, as Ryou stood there not moving at all. She smiled at him. "Yami is my friend so you have nothing to worry about here we will not hurt you."
Ryou bit his lip he hated not being able to talk as he wrote down on his notepad and showed her 'You're starting a war?' Ryou followed her.
"No just taking out the councils guards and getting the three under arrest," a few guards passed them bowing their heads.
'When can I send word to them and let them know?' Ryou showed her again looking sadly, he missed his demons and Marik was hurt before they fell. She stopped and looked at him.
"After," she started to walk again. "I had a council once but they had turned on me as well and they had killed a few of my most trusted people, they were the ones that destroyed our world along with Yami's"
Ryou and Mea walked down the halls and stopped at a door Ryou lifted the notepad again, "you should be able to talk, just give it sometime, when they cut your throat they damaged your voice box," she took her had away from the door handle and looked at him, "We also found out that your dieing." Ryou sighed as he looked away.
"I take it that you know." she stated he just nodded his head and she then opened the door. She gave Ryou a light push into the room, he looked around and spotted Yugi on the bed with Joey next to him, he ran over and started to shake them awake.
Yugi groaned as he opened his eyes and gasped "Ryou?" he sat up and looked around "Where are we?" Mea stepped into the room more Joey just rolled over mumbling "I couldn't possibly eat another drumstick, okay maybe one more," he then continued to make munching sounds.
They all sweat dropped "Okay… If you're up to it, you can come with me and I'll explain everything." She gave Joey a funny look as he slowly woke up.
"Ryou who's that?" Ryou gave him a little tug on his hand helping him to stand up "Ryou?" Yugi asked again concerned, Ryou would have sighed if he could he looked at Mea for help.
"Ryou can't talk at the moment due to his injures," Yugi and Joey gave her a skeptical look then looked at Ryou not really liking what was going on.
"Did she do this to you?" Joey motioned to his neck as Ryou shook his head.
"Please we'll have something to eat and then we'll talk and send word that your okay" as she said this, Ryou wrote down and showed Yugi.
'Yami's in trouble and she wants to help him and us, she seems nice' Yugi gave her an odd look, if Yami was in trouble could she be behind it? He was going to go along with her and find out what was going on, he took Ryou's hand and walked to the door.
TBC
R&R for an update people (smiles and waves)
