SS-Hey minna-san. I know what you're going to say...I'm very sorry that this took forever!!! I won't trouble you with my reasons though, I'll just start now and explain little by little later on.
Tym-She hasn't been working much on her other fic (Hold my Hand) either, so don't think that she blew this one off to continue that one. SS doesn't work like that.
SS-Yea, I update my fics together, so HmH's next chapter will come out today just like this one. But anywayz...
Tym-DISCLAIMER: We don't own YGO or DGM...if we did, we'd never get the next episodes out anywayz.
&words to readers&
~I can't believe you dudes and dudettes are still hanging in with this fic! TKX A BUNDLE! Well, I got my life back on track, so this should start rolling along again. And I see new names! Cool! Welcome to the fic! Enjoy the ride! (Even if it's a slow one =) Tym-Let us begin!
Last Time
~Yugi tried to tell Ryou about the angels, but he wouldn't listen or believe him (Who would?). But after some convincing from Yami, Bakura decided to show himself. However, he found that explaining things to Ryou was going to be a harder job than he had expected.
~*~*~*~*~
Sent to Save Me
Chapter 4
****In Ryou's room****
It had been about 2 hours since Ryou had asked that fateful question, but the two were still engaged in an interesting conversation. Bakura had already told Ryou about Yanazi, Yami, his friends, most of the rules, and his mission and the boy already seemed confused. He felt like he had only scratched the surface of his story, but he didn't want to trouble Ryou's mind anymore than he had to.
"So...that's basically it right?" Bakura decided to end it there, and if the need should arise, he'd explain further.
"Yes, that's pretty much it." Ryou nodded, got up from his bed, grabbed the phone, and began dialing Yugi's number. "What are you doing?"
"I have to talk to Yugi about all of this, and apologize while I'm at it." Bakura would have continued the argument until Ryou hushed him. "Hello, Yugi?"
"Ryou? Hey...what's up?"
"Yugi, I need to talk to you about all this...uh...angel business. Can you meet me at the park?" He noticed that Yugi perked up a lil, probably glad that Ryou was giving this situation more consideration.
"Sure! I'll see you there in a few minutes." He hung up and prepared to leave...then his guardian cut in.
"Wait a minute, aren't you forgetting something?" Ryou's confused look was answer enough for him. He sighed, then tossed the ring at him. Ryou caught it promptly and put it on, but he was still clueless. "You have to wear that ring at all times. It's our only link, without it, I won't be able to keep track of you."
"Oh, ok. I'll remember that." He turned and left.
"You had better." He disappeared into the ring, following his charge out the door.
****At the park****
/I hope Ryou understands everything now./
//I thought he did. Isn't that why he asked you to meet him here?// Yugi shifted his feet in the sand.
/Uh...not exactly. He just said that he wanted to talk to me about the angel thing. He didn't actually say he believed it./
//What?!//
/Don't worry, I'm sure everything'll turn out ok.-/ Yugi snapped out of his trance when Ryou tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up.
"Yugi, are you ok?"
"Um hm. I was just...uh...thinking." Ryou sat next to him (On the swings) and took a deep breath before talking.
"Well Yugi, first of all, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"For not believing you earlier. I had to find out the...weird way that you were right."
"Oh." /I guess that means that Bakura showed himself./
//That's good. I wonder how much he told Ryou though.//
/I think I'm about to find out./ "So, your angel came out?"
"To put it simply, yes. He told me about everything I think. The head elder, his assignment, and your angels as well. Uh...they're with you now, right?"
"Yea. In my puzzle." Yugi fingered the puzzle slightly, a small smile appeared on his face.
"My guardian is in the ring, he said that I have to carry it around with me wherever I go. Otherwise I might lose our...connection or something like that."
'Hm...Ryou said that Bakura told him everything. How could he leave out the part about the link?' He would have mulled it over some more until the ring started to glow. A figure appeared that looked almost identical to that of his friend. He stared at Yugi for a moment, then called for the angel within the puzzle.
"Yami. Yami get out here now." Almost immediately Yugi's twin emerged, staring at him. "Come, we need to talk." Yami followed, but was stopped by his charge's call.
"Yami? What's going on?" He turned to face the lil boy.
"We just need to talk, that's all. I'll be right back." After receiving an 'ok' nod, Yami resumed his walk into the brush. Yugi turned from the bushes to Ryou, who was simply a lil stunned.
'I can't blame him for being shocked, I was too when I discovered the truth about Yami. Hm...wonder what they're talking about?'
****Behind the brush****
When the two were a little into the brush, Yami turned to him. "So, why have you called me here?"
"I just wanted to let you know that I thought of a plan for what to do about the abuse problem." Yami was sorta shocked that he had thought of something so quickly.
'I wonder how much thought he put into this.' "Well, what is it?"
"It's simple, just get rid of the problem." Once again, Yami was shocked. He raised an eyebrow at him.
"Just...get rid of the problem?" He paced a bit. "Sure...you can just make abuse disappear. Make it fly right out the window...right?" Bakura shook off the comment quickly.
"No, but you're surprisingly not far off. All I have to do is remove the source of the abuse. His mother." Yami thought about that for a moment. He had to admit it, the idea did have some reason in it.
'Get rid of the mother, put her in jail? Send her to a recuperating center? I didn't think that Bakura would think that rationally.' "That could work. What are you going to do? Send her to a center to get help?" The other chuckled lightly, obviously amused by his friend's reply.
"What kind of an angel do you take me for Yami? If I send her to a center there's no guarantee that she'll recover."
"Then what did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking of getting rid of her...permanently." Yami's teasing expression faded instantly. He pulled some branches back to see if either of the charges had heard him. Then he walked right up to Bakura.
'I knew he could never think of something rational quickly.' "Are you serious?!" Bakura backed away, clearly uncomfortable with the invasion of personal boundaries.
"Does it look like I'm lying Yami? Of course I'm serious! It's a perfectly reasonable solution to the problem." Yami walked right up to his face again.
"What cloud did you fall from!? How can that idea be rational?! Teenagers need a mother, especially at this weird stage in life. Even though I didn't show it, when I was Ryou's age I needed my mother. You can't just get rid of her! There's no way in heaven Ryou will get near you after he finds out!" The first thing Bakura did was push Yami away, keeping at least 5 feet between them.
"Look, I just wanted to tell you my idea, I don't recall asking for your advice on it." The white haired angel turned away from him.
"Don't ignore me!" He grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. "Please tell me that you'll at least consider what I said."
"Do I ever?"
"Take this seriously Bakura-"
"You make me take everything seriously Yami." Yami released his grip, went over to the bushes and pulled back some branches.
"Remember Bakura, if you want to be a Permanente guardian, you can't break his heart. Heaven knows I would never have been Yugi's if I had screwed up a part of his life-"
"Wait a minute...who said I was screwing up his life?" Yami let go of the branches, causing a slight rustle that caught the attention of someone on the other side.
"How could you not be?! You're killing his mother just so that you might be able to get what you want!" Bakura couldn't stand it anymore, he wasn't going to stand for it.
"All right Yami listen up! It's my assignment, he's my charge, and I never even asked you for your advice! It doesn't matter how I do it as long as I get Ryou away from harm-"
"Even if it means possibly causing him more pain?!" Silence. It was only for a minute, but it was enough.
"Yes. Maybe." They stared at each other, oblivious to everything around them, so how could they have heard their charges behind the bushes? Bakura walked past Yami, slightly pushing him against the shoulder as he did so, and approached the boys on the other side. Yami sighed heavily, then followed him.
'He just doesn't get it...' When Yami reached the swings again, he saw Bakura talking to Ryou...though...it didn't look like the younger of the two was really listening. Bakura sighed and returned to the ring, then Ryou got up and left without so much of a goodbye to Yugi. Yugi yelled something at him, it sounded like 'Wait, or maybe they were wrong' but Ryou wouldn't stop. The lil boy turned to Yami, sadness shown in his eyes. 'Did he hear us?'
"Yami?" The guardian walked towards him, stopping when he was beside the boy.
"Yes?" Yugi looked up at him, tears threatening to fall.
"Did he mean it?" Yami met his gaze, it pained him to see Yugi like this.
"Did who mean what?"
"Is Bakura really going to get rid of Ryou's mother?" Yami's expression didn't change much, but he was shocked.
"You...you heard us?" Yugi lowered his head, Yami took that as a yes. "How?"
"Well...it started a couple minutes after you and Bakura left..."
~$^flashback^$~
"So...Yami always helps you?" Yugi nodded.
"Uh huh, that's what a guardian does. Doesn't Bakura help you out?"
"Well...he heals me...I guess that counts."
"It's a start-huh?" Yugi looked to the bushes.
"What is it Yugi?" Yugi got off his swing and walked over to the source of the sound, Ryou followed.
"I thought I heard something." He pulled the branches back and hushed Ryou as they listened to their guardians. Apparently Bakura had said something awful to cause Yami to yell.
"How could you not be?! You're killing his mother just so that you might be able to get what you want!" Bakura couldn't stand it anymore, he wasn't going to stand for it.
"All right Yami listen up! It's my assignment, he's my charge, and I never even asked you for your advice! It doesn't matter how I do it as long as I get Ryou away from harm-"
"Even if it means possibly causing him more pain?!" Silence. It was only for a minute, but it was enough.
"Yes. Maybe." As the two stood in silence, Yugi gently let go of the branches.
"I'm...I'm sure Bakura didn't mean it...Ryou?" Said boy had returned to the swings, he was staring at the sand beneath him, but no tears appeared. Yugi walked over to him and sat down. "Ryou? Ryou...he didn't mean it."
"Did you know?" Yugi blinked.
"About what?" He sniffled.
"About my mother?" Yugi looked down too...he wasn't sure if he should tell him the truth.
"No...but I won't tell anyone-" Bakura came out, which silenced Yugi then and there. As he appraoched the two, Ryou looked up for a second, then back to his feet.
"Ryou, are you all right?" No answer, but he didn't get mad at his charge, he just asked again. "Ryou? Are you ready to leave?" He nodded slightly, so Bakura vanished into the ring. Then he got up and left.
~$^end flashback^$~
"So that's what I heard before."
"Yea...Yami?"
"What is it?"
"Is Bakura going to go through with it?" Yami looked up, contemplating his charge's question.
'I wish I could say no...but I don't think I got through to Bakura. He'll do anything to get what he wants, but would he really go that far?' "I'm not sure Yugi...maybe..."
****In Ryou's room****
No matter how much Bakura said, Ryou didn't talk to him the whole way home. Even when he had returned to his room he didn't say anything to his guardian. He just tossed the ring onto his bed and sat at his desk. And when Bakura appeared and talked to him in person, Ryou would busy himself with 'homework' or 'projects' and tell Bakura to go away.
Bakura was very annoyed with his behavior, but didn't act upon it. He just decided to see what caused it later. And he had a feeling it had to do with that boy...Yugi.
****In Yugi's room****
It was late at night when Yugi brought up the guardian subject again, since he was out shopping with his parents the entire day he couldn't talk to Yami about it. However, now Yugi was tired, which meant he only had a few minutes to talk before Yami made him go to sleep. Right now Yugi was climbing into his soft bed and Yami was covering him with the fluffy sheets.
*yawn* "Yami?"
"Yes?"
"What are we going to do about Bakura? I mean *yawn* we can't just let him get rid of Ryou's mother."
"We aren't going to do anything, but I will. Don't worry Yugi, Harlon, Kelina and I will think of something." Yugi protested.
"But Ryou's my friend, I have to do something." Yami shushed him, turning off the lights as he did so.
"I know Yugi, I know. You can...talk to Ryou about all of this. Maybe explain why Bakura is doing this and prove that he's only thinking of his safety." Yugi didn't seem satisfied with the answer, but it had to do. "And while you're at it, try and help him with the whole abuse topic in general."
"I suppose I could...but how can I convince him that Bakura is only trying to help him when I don't-*yawn*-don't believe it myself?"
"Well...start with the abuse and ease your way into the guardian business." Yami noticed that Yugi was growing more and more sleepy as the conversation continued. He knew that Yugi wanted to keep talking (since they always had their best talks at night), but didn't want to deprive him of his much needed rest, especially if he was going to talk to Ryou in the morning. "But for now...you need to sleep."
"Aww..." Yugi pouted, he was just like a newborn puppy who had been taken away from his mother. It was very hard to say 'no' to him (even if he wasn't pouting) but he couldn't call himself a guardian if he didn't think of Yugi's health first.
"Yugi. Sleep. Now." Yami's stern look matched Yugi's pout, so after a few seconds Yugi broke into a smile and snuggled into his blankets.
"Kay, nite Yami!" Yami sighed, it was a good one though. He brushed Yugi's smooth hair, and kissed his forehead gently. He would have stayed there beside his sweet charge longer, until he felt another presence in the room. He turned his head to see Bakura, half hidden in the shadows, half bathed in light. He phased outside and expected Yami to follow. He was going to, but couldn't leave Yugi alone.
//Harlon...Harlon!// Yami was surprised when he didn't answer. //Harlon!//
^Don't waste your breath Yam, Harlon left a few minutes ago.^
//Left? Where did he go?//
^I don't know, he jus told me that Yanazi had to speak with him. I s'pose he has an assignment.^
//How? He's down here helping me.//
^I got no clue Yam, but what do you want? Maybe I can help instead.^
//Yea, ok. I need to take care of something. Can you stay here with Yugi until I return?// He got his answer when the girl came out of the puzzle.
"Sure sugar. I'd love to watch over the lil cutie." She sat down next to Yugi's bedside, fixing his covers. "Don't worry Yam, everything'll be fine. Now, you go do...whatever it is you need to do."
"Um hm. Thanks Kel."
"It's no problem sugar, no problem at all." He phased out of the room and appeared on the street next to an annoyed Bakura.
"It's about time."
"Sorry, but I had to make sure that Yugi was going to be ok before I left...unlike some other guardian I know." Clearly still unhappy about their previous meeting, Bakura cut to the chase.
"Look Yami, I only came to ask you a question, then I'll take my leave." Yami nodded, so he continued. "What did your charge say to Ryou?"
Yami tilted his head.
"When?"
"You know when...at the park. We were in the bushes, and they were on the swings. What did Yugi say to Ryou?!"
"How should I know? I don't ease drop on my charge, especially when I'm doing something else. I'm an angel Bakura, not a physic."
"Well he said something because Ryou isn't talking to me at all. He's ignoring me! And I can't do anything to help him if I he won't talk to me!" Yami smiled, he almost forgot that the two boys had listened to their conversation.
"Huh...I almost forgot, you don't know."
"Forgot what?" Yami was about to tell him. Then again, it might be better if he didn't know. It would sure show him a thing or two.
"You know...I don't really feel like telling you. I think that this is one thing you need to learn by yourself." He turned away, but Bakura grabbed his arm.
"Who do you think you are, Yanazi? Besides, how can I figure out what happened when Ryou won't say anything to me?!?" Yami just shrugged.
"Don't push me Yami, I wouldn't want to get the information out of you the hard way." He raised an eyebrow at him, what could he possibly do? They were both angels...equal in power, but not in knowledge.
"What are you going to do? Kill me?" Yami smiled, amused by the situation.
"I know that I can't hurt you, but *looks up to the window* your charge...is another story." Yami's smile dropped instantly, he quickly turned Bakura around and pinned him to the wall.
"Lay a finger on Yugi and I'll make you wish you were still buried 10 feet under." He didn't raise his voice, he merely emphasized every word. And that was enough, for Yami had the power to back up his threats.
"Then tell me what you know, after all, so many accidents can happen at night." Yami released him, deciding to tell him what Yugi had told him. he didn't want to risk his charge's safety, even though Bakura probably wouldn't do anything to Yugi, he had to be sure.
"Remember when I let go of the branches at the park?" A nod, he continued. "Well, they heard, so Yugi and Ryou came up to see what it was. They heard everything we said from that point on...including your brilliant plan." Bakura cursed and started pacing. "You see? You can't go through with it. If Ryou won't speak to you when he only heard your idea, do you really think he'll be open with you if you carried it out?" Bakura sighed, it was an angry one, and thought about it.
'The baka has a point...my plan won't work if Ryou won't talk to me. I have to think of something else.' "What should I do then?"
"Oh...now you're asking me for advice."
"Cut the talk, what should I do?"
"I already suggested taking her to a center or something like that-"
"No, that won't work."
"I'm only trying to help, but you're right. He's your charge, and it's your assignment-" Yami looked up, he felt something.
"What?"
"It's Yugi...he's awake." Bakura didn't see any point in that statement besides the obvious.
"So?" Yami answered by disappearing, and reappearing in his charge's room. The other angel sighed and followed. When Yami looked around the room, he noticed that Kelina was gone, and found Yugi sitting up, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Yugi, where's Kelina?" He yawned again, then pointed to the note on the puzzle. Yami picked it up and read it to himself.
Yam, I'm sorry but I got to go. Yanazi's callin' me for some reason. Don't worry though, lil Yugi's jus fine. Cya sugar.
;* Kel
'That's weird, now both of them are gone.'
"Yami?" He went over to Yugi.
"Yes?"
"Where did Kelina go?" Yami fingered the note.
"Yanazi called her, I'm not sure why though..." He must have forgotten about Bakura, for the angel was getting quite annoyed.
"Eh Hrm..." Upon remembering, Yami turned to face him. The other just sighed and walked out into the hallway.
"Yami?"
"I'll be right back, you just try to go back to sleep all right?" The younger nodded, and snuggled into his blankets again. Yami smiled, and quickly fixed the covers before heading out into the hallway.
"You know...you care about him too much. It's a weakness."
"Don't get off the subject Bakura, this isn't about me or Yugi."
"I know, I'm just saying I don't think you realize that you depend on him more than he depends on you."
"What?"
"Now that Yugi's healed, he doesn't need you anymore. Or at least, not all the time. You watch over him too much, and I don't think you realize it."
"I'm not with him all the time anymore, at least, not since I decided to help you out. And I'm supposed to watch over him...it's my job."
"Fair enough...just know that there's a difference between protecting, and being over protective." Yami didn't like the way this was going, so he cut it off.
"You know, Yugi's going to talk with Ryou tomorrow, so why don't you consider my ideas now and we can devise a proper plan later." The other smiled, though...there seem to be more behind it than happiness.
"All right, see you tomorrow." He turned to leave, then glanced back for a second. "Don't forget to consider my idea about being over protective too." There was that smile again, Yami would have said something, but he vanished. So the angel just went back to Yugi's room. He closed the door on his way in and sat in the chair that was still at his bedside. Yami fixed his covers and was about to brush his hair away from his face when Bakura's words flashed in his mind again...
"I know, I'm just saying I don't think you realize that you depend on him more than he depends on you."
He quickly shook his head. 'What am I thinking? Yugi needs me, that's why Yanazi made me his permanent guardian.'
"I'm not with him all the time anymore, at least, not since I decided to help you out. And I'm supposed to watch over him...it's my job."
"Fair enough...just know that there's a difference between protecting, and being over protective."
He thought about it longer, and the more he had time to think, the more it seemed true. 'Am I being over protective of Yugi?'
"You know...you care about him too much. It's a weakness."
'But...it's my job. He doesn't know what he's saying.'
"I know that I can't hurt you, but your charge...is another story." His smile dropped instantly, he quickly turned Bakura around and pinned him to the wall.
"Lay a finger on Yugi and I'll make you wish you were still buried 10 feet under."
"Then tell me what you know, after all, so many accidents can happen at night." Yami released him, deciding to tell him what Yugi had told him. he didn't want to risk his charge's safety, even though Bakura probably wouldn't do anything to Yugi, he had to be sure.
'Then again...now that Yugi is healed...what does he really need me for? Maybe that's why Yanazi called Harlon and Kelina back, because there isn't much that they need to do here.' He looked at Yugi, then retracted his hand. He got up, placed the chair back to its spot by the desk and gazed at the puzzle. 'What does he need me for now? Is Bakura right?'
"...just know that there's a difference between protecting, and being over protective."
'But...if he is...no. The day Bakura is right is the day the world will end.' He looked back to Yugi one more time, then sighed, and vanished into the puzzle.
~*~*~*~*~
SS-Yes I'm ending it there. But don't worry! I found new inspiration for this fic. so everything will keep running!
Tym-That means that chapters should be coming out quicker...SHOULD.
SS-Uh huh, so plz r/r! And 'bout Yami's lil situation...it'll be resolved soon, so don't worry about him!
Tym-Iono SS, you're taking a risk with the Yami thing...
SS-It's my fic! He'll be fine! *whispers* I think....
Tym-And no offense to Bakura fans...we just needed a statement to give Yami a lil more confidence.
SS-Right, so I guess I'll cya all later! Sweet Dweams!
Tym-Ashes minna-san!