Chapter 11
"Rerun"
The ball of light grew into a blinding white, forcing Bakura to shield his eyes. Fear was starting to grip him. Shadow-chan!
The Monster Army's summoner began to laugh. "Really, I'm a bit disappointed. That wasn't much of a challenge."
Shadow-chan! Bakura's mind screamed again.
Yugi looked like he was about to cry. There was no way the child could have survived that.
Seto felt numb. Dammit. If only I had held on…
There was a shriek of a beast.
What…? Ryou jerked, surprised. What was that?
The light cleared, and everybody, including the monsters, froze.
"Oh…" Marik gasped hoarsely, eyes wide.
The Shadow Monster was suspended, frozen, in midair. It was fizzing, like an image on an ancient TV.
But what had caught everyone's attention was Shadow.
The child's arm was still raised protectively over his head. But now, a golden glow surrounded him, protecting him from the Monster's attack. The light had snared the Monster, gripping it.
"It's a shield," Malik said in disbelief.
The Monster let out one last howl, before disintegrating and winking out of existence.
Fearfully, the child peeked over his arm. He blinked when he saw the magic shield that had saved him. He lowered his arm slowly. At once, the glow disappeared.
Shadow looked down, and his eyes widened.
Around his neck hung a golden, upside-down pyramid that had not been there only seconds ago.
It was an exact replica of the one that Yugi wore.
"The puzzle…" Ryou breathed. "It's back…"
"Shit!" the Summoner snarled. "I didn't think he'd be able to use his magic quite so soon...but no matter! He is still so young. Finish him, my pets!"
"Oh no, you don't," Bakura growled, snapping back to reality. He dashed over to the child, using magic to boost his speed, and scooped the boy up while throwing up a shield of his own. A second later, three Monsters crash landed, and two disappeared.
"Otou-sama!" Shadow whimpered, hugging the spirit tightly. The puzzle had settled down, and it now lay gleaming innocently against Shadow's body.
"Bakura, heads up!" Marik yelled.
Bakura ducked, Just as a Shadow Creature sailed over him. Another second and he'd have lost his head.
"Bakura!" Yugi skidded to a stop beside him. "I'll take him." He held out his arms for the child.
"No!" Shadow said, shaking his head vehemently. "I want Otou-sama!"
"Shadow-chan, you'll be safer with Yugi," Bakura murmured, though he hated it. He knew to boy would be safer out of the direct line of fire. Besides, he would be too distracted to take proper care for the young child.
"No!" Crimson eyes started to fill up with tears.
"Shadow-chan, please," Yugi begged.
"Bakura!" Malik screamed. "Damn it, you're going to get killed!"
Bakura spun around. There was a sound that resembled a gunshot. Blue light shot from the Ring, and two more of the Beasts collapsed.
"Yugi, take him." Bakura held the child out against the boy's will. Shadow started to cry as Yugi carried him off. The sound made Bakura's heart wrench.
"DAMMIT, TOMB ROBBER! PAY ATTENTION!"
Bakura dropped to the ground, letting a Creature crash into a tree, snapping the Oak in half.
Concentrate! Bakura told himself sternly. You gotta beat these guys first! Fight now, collapse later!
"Marik!" Joey cried as the hikari fell, blood pouring from a huge gash that stretched from his chest to his shoulder. The long claws of a Monster had met its mark.
"YOU!" Malik screamed. The next instant, the Monster with the bloody claws was gone.
The yami ran to his light. "Marik, hang on, please…"
Across the clearing, Seto let out a growl as he managed to exterminate another Creature.
A ball of magic sailed out of Bakura's hand at full speed. Another down, and…a whole bunch more to go.
It never going to work. Bakura thought in despair. There're too many of them. It's like for every one we destroy, another ten takes its place! As long as the Summoner has access to the Shadows…
Bakura suddenly jerked as a thought hit him. He could have kicked himself for being so stupid.
/Malik/he connected his mind with the other yami's/Malik, keep the Monsters distracted. I'm going straight to their source./
/You're kidding, right/Malik growled, while using the Rod to blast a Monster/you'll never get close enough to destroy him, idiot. And besides, what makes you think you'll win against him in a fight? You're weary, while he is fresh./
/What choice do I have, fool? If I don't, we're all going to die. Don't you get it? These Monsters won't run out until all of the Shadow Realm is drained/he raised his hand, annihilating another Creature.
Malik sighed, laying his hikari by the base of a tree and standing over the boy protectively/Ok, Bakura, I'll do my best. Just hurry, I can't hold them for long/
Malik raised his Millennium Rod to the sky. Light began to swirl around the Eye of Horus upon the Item. Then, with an angry snarl, the magic was released. It shot to every Beast, paralyzing them.
/NOW/Malik roared, his voice ringing and echoing in Bakura's mind/GO/
Bakura dashed towards the Summoner, using some magic to aide him. He was leaping at his opponent in three seconds flat.
However, the fight would not be an easy one.
He was immediately thrown backwards as he crashed into a shield. Struggling to his feet, he eyed his enemy coolly, sizing his up. I've gotta finish this quickly…
"Well, Bakura-chan, have you come to play?" the Leader of the Army laughed. "Come then, don't keep me waiting."
"Shut your mouth, fool!" Bakura roared. His ring glowed briefly, before releasing missiles of blazing hot magic at the other.
The Summoner dodged. "You didn't think that could stop me?" he chuckled, before his eyes widened in pain. Bakura had buried his fist in his opponent's stomach.
"What was that?" the yami smirked. "You shouldn't let down your guard."
The Leader cursed. A surge of shadow power forced Bakura backwards. "Well, Tomb Robber, now you've made me angry…"
/Bakura! Hurry/Malik sounded desperate.
"I don't give a shit if you're angry!" Bakura snapped. He started to gather all his energy, reaching to the depths of his reservoir. He focused his power. "I'm going to wipe you out in one blow, mighty Leader. Then you'll have all the time in the world to be angry with me."
"You will do no such thing," came the haughty reply. "You cannot."
"I can," the former Tomb Robber hissed, before unleashing all his energy, all his magic, all his power. They sped towards their target.
At the same time, the effects of the Rod vanished.
There was a blast that knocked Bakura off his feet and sends him crashing into the ground. When the air cleared and the dust settled, Bakura saw with despair that the Summoner was still alive, and only slight ruffled.
"Well, 'Kura-chan, I'd say that pets can be very useful, wouldn't you?" a thin smile appeared on the Leader's face. "Though I must say, I'm not very impressed by you. Your attack only succeeded in destroying eight of the many soldiers in my army, and I have plenty more to spare."
Bakura rose shakily to his feet. It's over, he thought in despair. I've used up all my energy-
"Otou-sama!"
Bakura spun around.
Shadow was only yards away. He looked pleased with himself for having been able to sneak away from Yugi. The child was bounding towards him, the puzzle swaying along with him.
/Ryou, what-/Bakura gasped.
/He ran away/Ryou said desperately. He was locked in a battle with a Beast. Yugi was trying to keep up the shield that was currently protecting the group from the claws of seven Monsters./He left when we were all busy! Bakura, I'm so sor-/his thought was cut off as the Monster landed a blow to his chest.
I've got to get him out of the line of fire! "Shadow-chan, stay put! I'll come to you!" Bakura ordered. He couldn't risk bringing the child anymore into the open. At the moment, Shadow was still close enough to the forest that the trees offered some protection. Bakura hurried towards the child. I've got to get to him before those things do!
"Get the boy, my pet!" the Shadow Army's Leader screamed.
The Lead Monster rose and leapt, claws extended. It flapped its great wings. The gust of wind swayed the trees and dropped Bakura to his knees.
"No…Shadow-chan, RUN!" the spirit screamed.
It was too late, and before anyone could do anything, before the puzzle could fully activate, the Monster struck.
Its claws caught the little boy's chest, ripping the flesh, and flinging the child up off the ground. A globe of Shadow Magic formed in its mouth, swirling, and crackling with power.
And while Shadow was still in the air, it parted its jaws.
The ball of magic was released. It raged forward and hammered the child's already wounded body.
Shadow flew backwards. There was a sickening crash as his body slammed into a tree.
Bakura watched in horror as the small form fell and crumbled to the ground.