So, good news...I finally managed to get to a place to update.
Ryou: Bad news...
Yugi: She didn't have a chapter written for anything.
Malik: Awesome news...
I typed one up from scratch just for YOU, my faithful READERS! Granted it took a couple of hours, but I hope it was worth it.
Yami: Enjoy!
Yugi slept through dinner and breakfast. It was nearing lunchtime when he finally woke. Shifting from his Mau form, Yugi stretched and looked around. After making sure of his surroundings, Yugi made his way to the dining hall. "You're back," Tea stated, surprised to see Yugi up and about.
Yugi was confused, "What do you mean? Where'd I go?"
"You were a little kid," Tea answered. "For the most part you were alright. At least until you decided to play 'hide-and-seek' last night. The Holy Water didn't help matters."
Yugi looked really lost, "I'm sorry?"
Atem walked up and placed his hands on Yugi's shoulders, "Don't worry about it. We have other concerns at the moment, like trying to locate Ryou and whoever took him from us."
"What happened?"
"Ryou was taken from us the night we planned the trap. Something else was out there waiting. We would have tried a rescue mission, but then A.C.T took you that night and we had to focus on retrieving you from their clutches. Mai's team is disbanded until further notice and all captures are to be handed over to the Antarctic Teams," Atem stated seriously but calmly for his brother.
Yugi nodded and rubbed at his left arm subconsciously, "Yami, could I help in getting Ryou back?"
"As soon as Isis and Ishizu clear you and you pass tonight's training with Atemu."
Atemu ran Yugi through his exercises and was pleased that Yugi hadn't faltered in his routine. "Excellent, young one. I have decided to add one more instructor to your training at this point. Mahaad has noticed that you have a spark of magic running though your veins and wants to test your possible abilities. Afterwards, I want to test you on walking the Paths of Light and Shadow."
Mahaad stepped forward and laid various objects on Atemu's desk. "I want to test a possible theory, little one," he stated as he lit a candle. "All you need do is hold your hand over the three objects I've placed on this desk. You will not be harmed."
Yugi walked over to Mahaad and held his hand over a cup of water. When nothing happened, Mahaad moved it over a plant. The same was repeated over the flame. The second that Yugi's hand got close to the flame, the fire went out. "Tell me, young one, have you ever felt like you were moving faster than you ever thought possible?"
Yugi nodded, "Sometimes, especially when my friends are in danger. Why?"
"You unconsciously use the element of wind to speed your movements," Mahaad answered. "Each of you Hikaris use an elemental property in some form or another. Malik, from what I hear, can manipulate fire or create it from nothing. Ryou is drawn to plants and can get even the weakest one to flourish with ease. As for you, Yugi, your talent is more a passive-aggressive one. You tap into your element without thinking. I want to train you to tap into it and command it at will."
Yugi nodded and bowed to the magician, "I accept you as my teacher under Ancestor Atemu."
Yugi panted heavily as he once more tried to focus on keeping the feather that Mahaad had tossed up in the air. He was steadily making progress until the magician's instruction. Without warning, the Hikari collapsed. He was asleep before Atemu could roll him over.
"Perhaps I've over estimated his endurance," Mahaad stated sadly.
Atemu shook his head, "No. The young one pushes himself to the limit for the love of his friends. He is a pure soul. He would have been made into a personal guard had he lived during my reign if he were not my son. Let's get him to bed so that he can rest properly."
Atemu carefully gathered Yugi into his arms and directed Mahaad to their private after-training room. Atem had already set Yugi's bed up with the usual water and two painkillers. The blankets were already pulled back and Yugi's Dark Magician pajamas were folded at the foot of the bed.
Mahaad paled at the sight of the nightclothes, "I should have never met with Pegasus when he was human."
Atemu chuckled as he changed Yugi out of his training outfit. "Be glad that my own descendant adores your avatar in his card games. He looks up to you. I can see it in his eyes."
"I am merely here to assist in his training and to make up for lost time, my king."
"You are my closest friend and the closest thing I have to a brother, Mahaad. You need not burden yourself this way. Stay because you want to, not because you feel obligated to," Atemu sighed.
Mahaad nodded before leaving for his and Isis's room.
Atem had Dean and Sam with Malik in the sparring room to try and burn off the anger the Hikari had. Malik was starting fires with his repressed anger. Ishizu had gotten fed up with it and had requested that an extinguisher be within reach of someone at all times. Atem decided to send the three to the sparring room to force Malik to focus on something other than his rage. He made up his mind to speak with Atemu to see what could be done about Malik's temper.
Malik punched, kicked, and dodged as he and Dean sparred. "You're fast, kid," Dean huffed as he swung at Malik.
Malik ducked, "Had to be…to keep…Ryou and…Yugi safe."
Before another punch could be exchanged, Malik stumbled to his left. Sam noticed this and caught him before he collapsed. "Looks like we're done," he announced.
Malik nodded as he panted for air. Dean tossed him a cool water and a towel, "Best challenge I've had outside of Hunting. Thanks kid."
Malik waved at him as he sipped at the water.
Shai stalked about just outside of the perimeter of the mansion grounds where the rest of his quarry lay out of reach. He wanted that little one that looked like the leader of the group. The small one faintly reminded him of someone, but the full image lay out of his mental reach. On one hand, Shai wanted to know why and who this person was while on the other hand he didn't care.
Right now, all he wanted to do was capture the last two targets and return to his master quickly as possible.
Yami: How did you manage to write a chapter in such a short time?
I set a goal of at least 1000 words and don't stop until I reach or pass it.
Malik: PhantomBrat also has preset blank chapters with LINES typed where she plans where to make switches or time-skips. All she has to do to get to the next paragraph is hit the down arrow.
*T.T* Thanks a lot Malik.
Malik: No problem.
Yugi: Until next time!