Yami took Yugi back to his house. Upon entering, Yami saw that everyone was asleep. Quietly pulling Yugi with him to their bedroom, he slipped out of his clothes. "We need as much rest as we can get." He whispered. Nodding, Yugi disrobed as well. Crawling into bed, Yugi wrapped his arms and wings around Yami. Nodding off into a restless sleep, Yami didn't notice that Yugi lay awake, holding him, eyes staring vacantly off into the distance.
()()()()()()()()()()
Bakura awoke Marik with a gentle shake. "Time to get up." He stated quietly. Marik opened his eyes, lilac soft with sleep.
"Morning Bakura." He whispered, smiling sleepily. Bakura looked down on the sleepy form of his sun kissed lover and swallowed hard. He was falling for this kid. And that sucked, because Bakura knew he may not make it back from fighting to the kid.
Bakura nodded, saying nothing, but getting up and slipping on some khaki pants, wrapping black leather cords around his legs in x patterns from his ankle to his thigh. Slipping on various knives, both over and under clothes, he slipped on a shirt. Marik looked at him worriedly, saying nothing. Bakura turned to him. "You're not going to let me fight, are you?" Marik asked quietly.
"No." Bakura stated with finality. Marik pouted, opening his mouth to protest. Bakura stopped him with a hand. "You're not fighting. But I am taking you to the sidelines so you can treat our wounded, along with Ryou. Neither of you are fighters, but you can be healers."
At hearing that he would at least be able to help, Marik smiled, getting up quickly and looking for clothing he could wear. He then went out to the cupboards, searching for herbs, bandages, cloth, needles, thread, anything that could be used to heal. Bakura followed him out, knocking quietly on the door where his younger brother was. "Ryou, Malik, get up. We have to get ready."
()()()()()()()()()()()()
At the time of the knock, Malik and Ryou were in a quiet, but heated argument. Malik was refusing to let Ryou leave the house, and Ryou was refusing to stay in said house. "I cannot fight, I know this...but I do have healing abilities. I am going. Stop fighting with me about this. We are about to go into a dangerous battle, and I do not want our potential last words to be a fight."
Malik stopped cold, the crazed look in his eyes moving to sadness for a few moments. "You aren't going to die Ryou. I will go to hell and back to save you." Malik stated, in an eerily calm voice. Leaning over, he kissed Ryou gently on the lips. "Let's go eat. I need you healthy and strong to heal my ass."
Ryou smiled gently, and headed out with Malik. Going over to Marik, he gave a quick hug to the saner blonde and started grabbing supplies as well. Both jumped as they heard a baritone voice chuckle. "Do you like raiding my house for supplies?" Turning, both saw Yami walk out, in a white sleeveless tunic and khaki pants. Yugi walked behind him in similar attire. Yami winked at them both. Yugi went into the kitchen and started pulling out fruit, eggs, bread and cheese, a somber expression on his face. Yami, Bakura, and Malik sat down at the table, laying out plans.
"Let's get started. We can get Jo in a bit." Yami stated. Nodding, the three started looking over the plans as Yugi cooked breakfast and the other two packed supplies.
()()()()()()()()()()()
Akeifa opened his eyes. He was stiff, but not as sore as he should be. Turning his head, he saw the blonde guard...Jo...asleep on a chair, head on his chest, breathing slow and deep. Akeifa remembered various flashes of what happened...his brothers! As Akeifa sat up, Jo opened his eyes. "Where do ya think you're going?" He asked.
"My brothers, I have to make sure they are safe!" Akeifa sat quickly, muscles screaming in pain. Jo walked over, gently putting a hand on Akeifa's chest.
"They're fine. They're here. We are at Yami's house. They are gearing up for battle with Zorc. Let's get up and meet up with them so we can get briefed."
Nodding, Akeifa stood, stretching quickly and wincing, trying to loosen his muscles. Standing, he grabbed a shirt out of the closet, slipping on some pants he found as well. They were short, and a bit tight, but they were better than nothing. Walking out, Akeifa saw Bakura at the table, and Ryou packing up herbs. Sighing softly in relief, he noticed the men at the table were working on battle strategy. Saying nothing, he sat down, Jo sitting next to him. A cup of coffee appeared in front of each. Bakura looked up, worry flickering through his eyes. "You up to fighting?" was his only question. Akeifa nodded once, Bakura nodded at Yami his approval, and the men resumed the planning.
Marik and Ryou had finished collecting supplies, so they went to packing food for meals, depending on how long this battle would last. Yugi sat down plates and drinks, crawling in Yami's lap when he was done and started eating. Yami kissed Yugi's temple, still in deep thought between bites. "Thank you, Aibou." Nodding, Yugi ate. Marik sat a plate down for Bakura, who grunted a thanks and Marik pulled up a chair next to Bakura, starting to eat. Ryou simply laid a plate down by Akeifa and one by Jo, then took a plate to Malik. As he was about to go sit on a stool with his food, Malik grabbed him around the waist, pulling him onto his knee. Putting his plate on the table, Ryou ate as well. Everyone quickly and quietly ate, staring at the plans on the table, each lost in their own thoughts.
The group quickly gathered supplies. Yami pulled on black form fitting armor with red filigree embellishments on it. Yugi pulled on similar armor, form fitting, with amethyst filigree. "I don't have any more. However, I do believe Seto will have some at the palace." The others nodded, the group heading out to the palace.
After about ten minutes of walking, Jo slowed down to match pace with Yami as Akeifa went to check on Ryou who was walking with Malik. Looking at Yami, Jo's eyes narrowed knowingly. "We aren't all coming out of this alive, are we?"
Yami kept marching ahead, not sparing a look to his side. "Don't ask a question you already know the answer to."
()()()()()()()()()()
Entering the throne room promptly at ten, the group noticed that the Pharaoh's guards were armored up. One of the guards came to Jo and offered him armor. Jo handed it to Akeifa. The guard smiled. "We have armor for them too...this is more your size." Noticing that other guards were approaching the group, handing them armor, Jo put his on. Bakura refused, as did Malik, stating something about it interfering with their knives. Jo shifted his focus to the dias, where he saw that Seto was in brilliant silver armor, so bright that it was almost white. The Pharaoh was in golden armor.
Looking at the group, Atem locked eyes with Yami. "What is your plan?"
Yami looked at Seto, then at Atem. "I need soldiers to attack his soldiers. While his soldiers are distracted, I need to make my way to him. I have a vial of poison, from the green dragon Sha'getheth. If I can inject it into him, it will kill him."
Atem looked at Yami. "And if this plan fails?"
Yami stared at Atem. "We are all dead."
