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Chasing The Fire
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Yugi's feet rustled the gentle blades of grass below his feet, the softness all but forgotten since Yami's life was on the line. He felt two of the familiar scents hit him, his hold around Yami tightening once more.
"Don't slow down Yugi! Keep running" a shrill shout rang out, making Yugi's ears perk up, his steps faltering before he regained his speed. That was Ryou.. which meant that.. they were following him and Yami.
"Shit! I can sense them! Hurry up!" A snide voice snapped. Ah yes, classical Bakura.
Yugi was about to retort, looking behind him as he kept running, his speed increasing when he heard a thunderous roar and the sounds of wing beats and footsteps.
"DON'T LET THEM GET AWAY!"
"SHIT!" Yugi cried out, the two albinos catching up to the crimson streaked fox. "Shit shit shit! Does anyone know a teleportation spell or something?!"
Bakura snapped. "I do! But I'm not sure about the effect it'll have on you or Ryou!" Another shout rang out. "THERE THEY ARE! AFTER THEM"
"Fuck! Bakura, just do the teleportation spell already!" Ryou yelled, his tails bristling and ears flattening, frost covering his fingers in his nervousness.
Bakura 'tsked' "Fine! But don't blame me if you're all dizzy or I don't know what the side effect will be! Just don't blame me!" He warned, weaving his hands together and wrestling with the shadows in his hands, kneading and twisting the small tendrils to form a ball. "This'll take a while, keep running!"
And so they did, ignoring the threats put upon their lives, as the shout became clearer and the wing beats getting frantic, catching up to them. Ryou was panicking by now, reverting into his second form which was a huge white fox the size of a tall table, he was 5 feet tall in this form, his chocolate brown eyes glowing as he snatched Yugi and Bakura by the cuff, tossing them on the air and catching them, letting the two other Kitsunes' ride on his back.
Yugi yelped and clutched on Ryou's fur with one hand, seated in front of Bakura, while the latter was still wrestling with the shadows in his hands, sweat forming in his face.
"There! I see them!" Keith's voice rang out. "Men! Fire!" He commanded.
Columns of fire shot out and almost hit Ryou, the kitsune skidding and then making a left. He growled and hissed jumping over a burning log, pupils turning into slits, eyes starting to glow with a blue light. Oh! How wonderful! They were going to get burnt into a crisp!
"Ryou! Focus and don't lose yourself alright? Here I go!" Bakura warned and then twisted his body, arm pulled back and then throwing the shadowy orb into the nearest item; A tree.
The orb immediately expanded and widened both of Bakura's hands outstetched to keep it open, ignoring the burning that was happening around them. Ryou quickly jumped in but not before turning his body back to the dragons and elders, firing an icicle blast, spiraling and creating a whirlwind that blew back the elders and dragons.
The guardian elder stood up and hissed. "YOU! I WILL FIND ALL OF YOU AND KILL YOU! BUT FOR NOW WE WILL WAGE WAR UPON YOU CLAN!" He all but screamed.
Ryou's eyes widened as he back tracked quickly into the portal, Bakura immediately closing it before the fire could even get them, the meaner looking kitsune was concentrating hard, trying to find them a safe place to rest, sweat matting his forehead and panting from his effort.
Yugi whimpered, still clutching an unconcious little kitsune Yami in his arms. He looked up at Bakura, brows furrowing in concern as he saw the albino's much paler complexion. "Bakura? Are you alright?"
Bakura's strained voice filtered through. "I'm fine." It was warped, raspy, and most definitely tired from the exertion of his magic.
Yugi bit his lips and looked down, Yami's form still unconcious and breathing raggedly, his tails hanging limply in defeat. 'Why did you do that, Yami? Why? You shouldn't have.. It's my fault..' Yugi thought, moisture gathering at the edge of his eyes.
They were all silent, mourning over the loss of their clans, and realizing that they just waged war upon their clansmen.
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"I found a place," Bakura's tired voice said after a few hours of searching, his eyes had considerably darkened, dark circles formed underneath his eyes like shadows as he opened the other side of the portal.
Ryou rushed through and looked up at Bakura, pleading for him to take a rest. Bakura complied. Once Ryou was out from the portal and into the open, he immediately closed the portal and collapsed on the ground, shimmering and reverting into his first form, just like Yami, curling up on a nearby tree.
Yugi got down from Ryou's back and patted his fur, thanking his friend for bringing them to safety. Ryou managed a smile and licked Yugi's cheek as a 'your welcome' gesture, going over to Bakura, not reverting into his first form but curling behind Bakura, protecting the tired little form of their companion.
Yugi sat down besides Ryou, leaning back to rest on the ice kitsune's body, he sighed, tails draping around his legs and cushioning the sleeping kitsune in his arms. Yugi closed his eyes and buried himself in Ryou's warm fur, stroking Yami's black one as an assurance that Yami was still alive.
He was.
Ryou rested his head on his paws and closed his eyes, tails wrapping around his three other companions, keeping them and him warm as they rested away in the now cold early evening of a forest that they had no knowledge of.
They all fell into a deep slumber, unaware of lilac eyes watching them with interest.
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The bright light met Yugi and the others with it's soft Ray's and soothing winds.
Yugi twitched, opening his eyes and yawning, rubbing his eyes and looking around before looking down at Yami in worry. He was still unconcious, making the younger kitsune want to whimper.
He looked around and noted that Bakura was nowhere to be seen. Where the other male went he was not sure, maybe hunting for food?
Ryou woke up a moment later, head perking up and eyes opening. He then looked over at Yugi and chuckled. "Morning, Yugi." He said.
Yugi nodded at Ryou, smiling, although albeit strained. "Morning too you as well, Ryou." He whispered and then looked down at Yami in worry. "What is wrong with, Yami? He's not waking up after.." he trailed off, biting his lips.
Ryou blinked and stood up, Yugi straightening up in in the process as Ryou circled around him for a bit, pressing his nose to Yami's torso and closing his eyes to concentrate on what had happened to the little form of their friend.
Ryou jumped back, and stiffened, Yugi's eyes widening in shock as the large kitsune bristled, hackles rising. "Ryou what's wrong?"
Ryou met Yugi's eyes and spoke, voice grave. "His powers... They're.." he paused. "They're all drained... It's like.. it's like the sacrifice ritual sucked away his very essence.. but he's alive.."
Yugi's eyes went wide, his breath staggering at Ryou's words. "Drained his powers? How is he alive? I thought it was going to kill me but-but he saved me and why is he alive?!" He snapped, scrunching his eyes shut and trying not to panic for Yami's sake.
Ryou's eyes softened, nuzzling Yugi's cheek with his nose. "I'm not sure how, but aren't you glad he's still alive? That we're intact?" He asked softly, tails fluttering.
Yugi frowned. "We started the war of our clans though, me especially." He whispered.
Ryou snarled, making Yugi stiff all over. "Yugi! You did not cause the war! If anything or anyone did it is that foolish council of your clan that deems themselves wise when clearly they are fools to see not your good intentions! Have they no shame in their declarations that they are so bold to say that they will kill us and wage war upon our clan? How brazen!" Ryou cried dramatically, his eyes alight with anger, something Yugi did not see often, enough to scare him at such change of demeanor.
Yugi bowed his head after a moment of silence, mulling over Ryou's words and nodding slowly. "I... Alright, I believe you, Ryou. It's just.."
"Just what?"
Yugi let his hands filter through Yami's fur gently, the little form letting out a purr in the process, still asleep. The violet irises of the petite kitsune closed, letting out a breath. "Its just, I didn't expect that all of you were.. you know.. there when you saw me being a sacrifice."
Ryou nodded, his face going slack and his form beginning to relax. "Well, Bakura and Yami wanted to run away, so we sneaked into your village and well," he paused. "We found you and Yami pushed you out of the circle. It's just us now Yugi.."
Just us.
The words repeated around Yugi's head, swinging back and forth like a pendulum. He whimpered and curled in on himself, Yami snuggling to his warmth without a thought, letting out purrs.
Ryou frowned. "You should take care of Yami, I'm sure Bakura will return here shortly."
Yugi nodded. "Thank you.." he whispered and shifted into his first form, the same size as Yami who was as small as the length of Yugi's arm. He loomed over the small form of the sleeping male and licked his cheek , trying to assure himself that Yami was alive.
Yami's eyes opened briefly, his tongue flicking out to lick at Yugi's cheek back, even though it was weak. Yugi managed a smile and snuggled up to Yami, tucking his head on Yami's neck, the latter purring and turning over so that he was facing Yugi, and tucking his face on the torso of the other. Yami immediately fell asleep, too tired to even talk or move.
Ryou let out a coo at the adorable display of the two kitsunes, both dark furs creating an inky blob. He shook his head and chuckled, hearing Bakura's footsteps echo as he walked back to their camp.
Bakura raised a brow at the two cuddling kitsunes. "Did I miss something?" He asked lowly, a deer carcass slung over his shoulders.
Ryou shrugged. "Not much really, just that Yugi blames himself about the war. He didn't cause it though." He said.
Bakura huffed. "Truly, a fool of that council of the light kitsunes." He grumbled and set down the carcass, raising his eyes to Ryou. "Care to slice the meat with me?" He asked.
Ryou shrugged, turning back into his third form, human like in appearance except for the tails and ears as he went over to Bakura and knelt down. "Sure, I wouldn't mind."
In the background, two glowing lilac eyes watched them and made a move, stepping into the light and introducing their presence.
"What brings you here in the fire territory?"
Ryou and Bakura jumped, eyes set on the two foxes who stood side by side.