WOW...Three reviews for the last chapter...
Special thanks to:

Spindlegal
RedGlowingHeart
Doragon-Chan

I'm glad that you all enjoyed Hunted so far...Your enthusiasm has inspired this chapter. I hope that you enjoy what your glowing reviews have helped create.

PhantomBrat out...

Atem met Seto just outside of the tunnels near the dungeons. "I didn't realize that you were leading the rescue mission, Seto," Atem greeted his superior and cousin.

"Someone had to protect the Hikaris," Seto pointed out. "Now let's go and save Yugi's Soul Crystal."

Tea went to see what was taking Ishizu so long in checking in on Yugi's unconscious form. Nothing could prepare her for the sight of him sitting on his own and speaking to Ishizu. "It's nice to see you're awake, Yugi," Tea managed to get out.

'Yugi' looked at her, "I am not your Yugi. I am Atemu, his ancestor. Yugi was given a 'gift' and he accepted it. I am here to keep his body alive until he can be brought back."

Akefia and Mariku had caught the scent of the escaped prisoners and their rescuers. "You go that way and head them off," Akefia told his partner. "We'll block them off and capture them easily."

Mariku nodded and rushed ahead of the group of Hunters. Akefia thought back to his 3000 years on earth.

*****Flashback*****

Akefia and Mariku had been friends with the prince of Egypt and his cousin, Atemu and Seth. They had arranged to meet outside the palace walls to sneak off to their favorite oasis near the city. Seth had been excluded since he was too busy with his studies to become a priest in the Pharaoh's Court. They were caught unaware by a small band of vampires in their favorite place. The three friends were dragged to the Vampire Lord and given one choice; to become his 'children' willingly and protect their families and future descendants from their fate and at the same time make Egypt off limits to the vampire community or be forced and have their bloodline eliminated.

They gave in, knowing that they were going to lose everything either way. About 500-1000 years ago, Raiden had gotten fed up with Atemu's refusal to eliminate a band of Hunters and sealed his soul into a Soul Crystal before placing it in a drawer and locking it.

Raiden was going to have Atemu's shell tossed out, but he and Mariku had secretly recovered it and were tending to the empty form, hoping that they could somehow retrieve their friend's soul. Akefia had discovered 250 years ago that not all of Atemu's soul was sealed away. The Egyptian Gods had somehow managed to retrieve part of it before he had been trapped completely. There was still hope for their friend.

Until they could somehow manage to steal the Soul Crystal to return Atemu's soul to his body, they were going to do their best into luring Raiden into a false sense of security.

About 26 years ago, Akefia had discovered that he and his friends had descendants in Domino City. He decided to slip out and see what they looked like and how they were. He hacked into the city records and found out that the three pairs of parents were expecting children or had at about the time he found at the top of the files.

He headed to the hospital to check the nursery. He wasn't prepared to see three sets of twins. He was even more shocked to see that one set had tri-colored wisps of fine baby hair; another set had snow-white hair, while the third pair had pale straw-colored baby hair. One of each set looked like they might not live to see their first year. He noticed that the stronger of each set was crying, as if they missed their other halves. Akefia felt for the innocent infants. To be so close to the other for nine months and then separated would be hard for a pair of identical twins. He sighed and said an ancient prayer for their protection and health before leaving the ward.

Akefia checked on the children periodically to see how they were doing. He was always careful to keep these little trips secret. He found that shortly after he had left the nursery, the stronger of all but the white-haired twins had been adopted out. This remaining set had been tragically separated during a family boating trip. The smallest twin had been swept overboard by a massive wave. He managed to locate the twins that he thought would have died shortly after his first visit. They were alive and well. He discovered that a young child had been found by an archeologist and later adopted by the man. The three had the fortune to end up as neighbors and close friends. Not long after he last checked whatever files he could on the twins, the three smaller boys vanished without a trace.

Just ten years ago, Raiden had been bragging about having three heirs to his powers, but after a while his boasts stopped completely and there were a few deaths. Akefia could care less because they were part of the Experimentalists. Shortly after the deaths, he heard that two of Raiden's 'pet's' escaped and that there was a bounty placed on their heads. He wanted them brought back to him alive. About a year later, another so-called 'pet' escaped and a bounty was placed on it as well.

Akefia had reason to believe that Raiden was behind the three innocents' disappearances. If he found this to be the case, Raiden's life was forfeit. He would see to it that Raiden Takeshi was killed himself if need be.

Mariku heard voices approaching his hiding spot.

"I can't believe that your brother called me a puppy," a soft voice complained.

Another replied, "I can't help it if Marik's a bit weird, Ryou."

"Hey, I's not weird, I's gifted," a third voice proudly stated. "Baka-ra's the weirdly one."

"Watch what you say, Crazy-Boy," a fourth voice snapped.

"Bakura," a stern voice warned the fourth. "I suggest you and Marik cut it out."

"Atem's right, you two. We aren't going to get Yugi's soul back without teamwork."

The fourth voice replied, "Fine Seto. I'll refrain from trying to maim Marik until we finish our mission."

"Hey, Malik," the third voice called out. "Gots any sweets or drinks?"

"I couldn't carry anything in falcon form. Sorry brother," was the response.

Mariku smiled to himself. He had discovered the names of some of the Hunters. But then he frowned because some of the names sounded too close for comfort. He shifted into his falcon form and flew towards the group to get a better look at them as he passed. He was shocked to see two sets of boys that looked like him and Akefia and two others that reminded him of Seth and Atemu. He had to tell his old friend.

Nothing prepared him for when the smaller of the Akefia copies shifted into animal form and chased after him. "Ryou," his older copy cried out. "Get back here!"

Akefia was silently approaching his target when a falcon flew past him. He was shocked to see a jackal chasing after it. He was nearly trampled by a figure chasing after the jackal. He dodged into a nearby recess before the form spotted him. "Ryou, for the last time," the figure called out. "Get back here before I lose my temper."

The jackal ceased chasing after the falcon and crept back to the person. "Don't you ever go off like that again," the person scolded the canine.

Akefia was shocked to see the jackal shift into a younger version of him and dumbfounded when the person in the shadows stepped forward to the boy. Both of them looked like him! "I'm sorry, Bakura," the smaller of the two said. "I had a feeling that that falcon was one of the 'others' sent to recapture us. Why else would it be so far in the tunnels and still alive?"

Three other people joined the first two. "Hikari-Ryou's a bad Hikari, running after Hikari-Malik's copy-bird," one of them scolded in a way almost like Mariku's.

"Um, Atem? Did Marik get hit in the head during your fight with the Vampire Lord," the smaller of the three asked.

"I am not sure, but with the way he's currently acting it is possible," was the reply. "Don't worry, Malik, it should clear up. If not, Ishizu has a remedy for him at the mansion."

Akefia was shocked to hear variants of his two friends' names being used. The three stepped out into the light and he almost fell out of his hiding spot in shock. The three looked almost like his two friends.

"Hikaris should stay with brothers, safer that way," Mariku's closest look alike stated. "Too bad Hikari-Yugi not here for his brother Temmie. Need to rescue Hikari-Yugi's soul from creep-face with…" He was cut off when the taller of Akefia's copies smacked him on the back of the head. "What that for," Mariku's copy complained holding the abused spot.

"Shut up, Crazy-Boy," the white-haired man growled. "You went too far this time. When we get home, I'm going to make sure that Ishizu straps you to the table until you can speak straight." The smaller of the Mariku clones went to speak, but the man cut him off, "Malik, don't even think about it. This is for the best. Besides, he doesn't even need to get any damage to his head to act this way. All he has to do is miss a dose of his medication to act like this."

'Malik' kicked a loose rock, "I wish there was something that could remove the vampire genes and turn us back. Don't get me wrong, I mean we were reunited with you guys and all, but being a vampire stinks."

"But you three aren't like any other vamp," Atemu's copy stated. "You are a completely new species of vampire. Why else would you, Ryou, and Yugi be called Hikari Vampires and placed under the protection of the Council? We need to get back to the group and figure out our strategy."

Akefia waited until the group left and then shifted into his animal form to follow them quietly. Mariku rejoined him and hopped from rock to rock in falcon form.

Raiden decided that he should summon his pet from wherever the Hunters had hidden it and use it to hunt the escapees.

Atemu felt a strange pull and looked at Ishizu, "Someone or something is calling for this body. I feel that this summons is familiar. I must answer it if I am to rescue the Little One's soul from its captor."

"Please be careful and should you see the others, stay with them," Ishizu called out as Atemu/Yugi vanished from sight.

Atemu vaguely recognized Raiden and decided to make him believe that he still had control over Yugi's body. "Stand," Raiden commanded. Atemu stood up and waited for the next order. "I want you to hunt down the intruders and bring them back here, alive. Now go."

Atem/Yugi left and went to find Yugi's friends and brother, but had not intention of bringing them to Raiden as prisoners. No, he was going to lead them to the demon that had destroyed his and his friends' lives.