Bakura: You're late!
I was busy with Broken and working on homework and other fanfics.
Bakura: Procrastinating is more like it.
Oh, who asked you!
Ryou: 'Kura's upset that you left everyone wondering what's going to happen next.
Ok. Sorry for the delay. Life happened and I was waiting for Warehouse 13 to start again. Myka's BACK!
Bakura: Who cares!
I couldn't tell if that was Shawn Ashmore as the newest member of their team, Steve Jinks. Nevermind it WAS!
Yami: You just looked it up, PhantomBrat.
Oops. I was curious...
Ryou fell asleep around ten, leaving Atemu and Akefia to talk.
"What do you think Ryou's signs are going to be," Atemu asked his ancient friend.
Akefia shrugged, "If their personalities are anything to go by, then I might be able to figure it out soon."
"Malik seems to be the leader of their little group, and therefore protective of the two and more prone to a temper. He told me of an instance where he accidentally hurt Yugi because he was upset at a number of people for not believing him when he was telling the truth," Atemu started. "Yugi is the calmest of the three and, therefore the most vulnerable. He does have a tendency towards mood swings if he's hungry or thirsty. But in all, he's the least violent."
Akefia caught on to this, "Leaving Ryou to be the one in the middle, sticking up for his friends and family. If I'm right, then Ryou's going to be the one who'll be overprotective and a bit violent with the two if they cross him with their conditions. We'll have to keep an eye on both him and Malik for awhile."
"I brought along some sedatives that Atem created for the young ones, just in case," Atemu stated before lapsing into silence.
They reached an abandoned campground around three in the morning and set up camp. The ancient vampires set up protective barriers around the camp, meant to keep the Hikaris in and other living things out. After this they laid out three packets and fell into a light slumber.
Yugi was the first to wake. He was feeling very thirsty, despite having a bag the night before. He found a packet that had been set next to him and pounced on it, draining it instantly. Feeling better, the little Hikari looked around. He realized that they were no longer at the mansion, but in the middle of a forest.
Yugi panicked and rushed over to Malik's side. This turned out to be a mistake for as Yugi touched his friend's shoulder; Malik grabbed his arm and in one fluid motion, broke it. Yugi howled in pain and this woke the other three up. Ryou saw the youngest crying in pain and lost all control. He dashed over to Malik and blocked him from Yugi, "If you touch him again, I'll make you suffer." He turned to Yugi, "Toughen up, you baby."
Yugi winced at this command, but stifled his sobs of pain. Atem and Akefia had to create individual barriers to keep the two boys from killing each other and Yugi. While Akefia tended to Yugi's arm, Atemu called the team.
Atem answered, "How is everything with the Hikaris?"
"Not good," Atemu sighed. "Yugi panicked and woke Malik, he broke Yugi's arm causing him to scream and wake Ryou. Ryou threatened Malik for hurting Yugi and then told the Little One to toughen up. If our past and their stages of the transition are any indication, I'd have to say that we're going to be here for a while. At least Akefia and I know what to watch for and can create barriers to separate them if need be."
"Just make sure that nothing else happens to either of them. Bakura's been in a foul mood and Marik's not helping. They won't admit it, but they are more at ease with their twins around."
"We will," Atemu promised his descendent. "I think that Yugi may be the first to get through this as he is showing signs of the passing of this phase. He 'fed' without falling asleep after."
Atem hung up after the ancient vampire had checked in and told him how the three Hikaris were doing. He was concerned for his twin's safety now that Atemu had told him that his friends were a bit violent towards him.
He called Bakura and told him what was going on with their brothers and asked him to pass the message on to Ishizu. Bakura had asked him if he was mad at the other two for hurting Yugi. "No," he replied. "They aren't fully aware of what's going on with them. That's why Atemu and Akefia took them out for a bit. He didn't want the Hikaris to hurt one of us by accident and then regret it when they snapped out of it."
Yugi was huddled next to his little piece of the fire, feeling very weary of his friends. Atemu noticed this, "Are you alright, Little One?"
"They scare me," he whispered, praying that the other two didn't hear him.
Malik's head snapped up, indicating that he heard the comment. "I dare you to say that again," he growled, throwing a rock in Yugi's direction, hitting him on his already injured arm.
"DON'T YOU DARE THROW THINGS AT HIM," Ryou shouted. Turning to look at Yugi, "And as for you, don't say another word."
Yugi whimpered and hid behind Atemu. The ancient vampire sighed, "Akefia, I'm going to take Yugi over to the other side of the clearing. I believe that he'll be safer there."
Atemu led the shaken Hikari to the other side of the van and set up a separate barrier. "I'm thirsty again, Atemu," Yugi complained. "Why is this happening to us?"
After handing him a bag, Atemu sat down next to the teen, "You and your friends had reached your coming of age. This happens to every young vampire once they reach the tenth or eleventh year after their Turning. Most transitions are different, causing mild behaviors to spiral out of control. Take your friend Malik for instance; it normally takes a lot to anger him. But right now, the smallest thing angers him. You are the milder of you three and, therefore you only have this thirst that bothers you."
"I hope this is over soon," Yugi yawned, feeling tired. "I want to go home."
Yugi woke up the next morning, and aside from the injuries to his arm, felt better than he had in days. He saw that there was a packet of blood near him, but set it back in the cooler. He didn't want to drink any. Looking around, he saw Atemu sleeping nearby. Yugi found a book in his backpack and decided to read it.
Atemu had stirred upon hearing a zipper and opened his eyes to see Yugi searching through his bag for something. "What are you looking for, Little One?"
Yugi jumped and looked over in his direction, "I thought that I smelled a chocolate bar in my bag, but can't seem to be able to find it." With this said Yugi turned the bag over and dumped out the contents. He grinned, "Found it."
Yami: So when are you going to post the next chapter?
Hopefully soon. Possibly when I get the rewrite for my Stargate X-over on a roll. Maybe when I get to chapter 36 for "HUNTED" and a few more chapters for other storylines done.
Yami: Just say you aren't sure.
Um...I can't do that.
Yami: Why not?
Because I'm not sure that I'm not sure!
Yami: x.x
Joey: You killed Yami!
No I didn't. He fainted!
Yugi *runs in*: Yami, you might want to get off the floor. That stack of books doesn't look too stable.