They're still discussing (arguing over) their next move when a boy (probably no older than they are) dashes through the marketplace yelling about a raiding party headed this way and how, "I think they're Haou's men!" a nearly perceptible wave of panic following behind the bearer of bad news and Ryo watches as mothers pull their children off the streets, barring the doors of shabby homes behind them. As men share exhausted, defeated, looks. As a few eyes suddenly turn towards Edo and himself, angry and accusatory and Ryo isn't surprised in the least when there's a low hiss of, "The newcomers. They lead them here."

The glance he shares with Edo is quick and cautious, a mutual bit of silent wondering as to what makes for a better plan of action. Attempting to explain to a hostile mob that, no, they're just passing through and the appearance of any raiding party ready to tear through this hole of a village is merely coincidence; or attempting to slip away as discretely as possible before the hostile mob in question has a chance to properly form.

Although the number of openly threatening glances that are being aimed in their direction is swiftly making the second option entirely unviable.

Edo shuffles to the side just slightly, inching towards Ryo and Ryo finds himself wondering if it's out of fear or that insane need of Edo's to protect that he does so. Not that it matters, because that hostile mob is swiftly forming and surrounding them. A good half-dozen muttered conversations swirling around them and Ryo can only pick out fragments of sentences here and there.

"…duelists. Look at them…."

"…no wonder. Haou's men must be searching for…"

"…turn them over…"

"They'll kill you anyway." Edo's voice suddenly rings out over all of them. His chin set stubbornly as he glares defiantly at the gathered mob. "It doesn't matter how many duelists you hand over, they'll just think you're hiding more. There is only one way to survive this." Edo pauses for a moment, so strong and sure of himself and not the slightest trace of the haunted, exhausted, boy that Ryo has become familiar with showing.

"We'll stop them."

And in that moment, Ryo fantasizes about murdering Edo. Several times over and in much more creative ways than he ever did while at his lowest.

There is scepticism, naturally. More glowers and hissed discussion but Edo is persuasive (even as Ryo quietly seethes) and this village doesn't have much in the way of defences as it is. All they can do is take Edo's word at face value and hope that if this pair of strangers falls that it will be enough to satisfy Haou's men for a little while.

"You're an idiot," is all Ryo can say as the village's flimsy gate is closed and barricaded behind them and Edo blinks up at him in a combination of genuine confusion and absolute annoyance.

"What?"

"Didn't I say that we can't get ourselves involved in this?"

"It's not like we had much of a choice, they were going to throw us to the wolves anyway. At least this is under our own terms."

"Maybe," Ryo mutters and Edo glares at him.

"You don't have to get involved if you don't want to. Just leave, I won't stop you."

For one suspended moment, it's tempting. They're not friends, after all. If anything, they're the furthest thing from friends that two people can be without actively trying to kill one another. And yet….

At the moment, they're allies. Edo is the only familiar face Ryo has in this world right now and vice versa. And no matter how infuriating the spoiled brat might be, Ryo can't turn his back on that. Sighing heavily and giving his deck a quick shuffle before replacing it in his duel disc.

"Thank you," Edo murmurs and Ryo simply shakes his head.

"This doesn't stop you from being an idiot, you know."