A/N:
Akiko: Hey everyone. It's Akiko and Ely! I edited this chapter so I get to do the author's note. Haha. We hope you guys like the next chapter! R & R! Well I'm sure Ely has something to say so I'm gonna do the disclaimer and hand it over to her.
Ely: Yes I am! Like she said this is the next chapter so I hope you'll all enjoy this! See you all later!
Akiko: We don't own Yugioh or the characters.
Chapter 2
Yugi and Ryou couldn't help but stare at the castle. "Is something wrong?" Akefia asked smirking.
"I-it's so big." Ryou says he amazement as he continues to look.
"Well it's a castle so it's supposed to be big." Atem chuckles.
"Well yeah. But this. This is HUGE! How many rooms are there?" Yugi asked amazing. Akefia laughed a bit.
"Enough." he answered.
"Enough?! Its looks like the entire village can live here! And still have enough land to farm!" Ryou says in amazement.
Atem chuckles at the two excitement. He could wait to see their reaction once they're inside.
"S-so can we go in?" Yugi asked. He couldn't wait to see where he and Ryou were going to stay.
"Of course. This is now your home." Atem smiles at them as he leads them inside.
The inside was even more glamorous than the outside. It was huge! "Wow." Yugi whispered. "I would get lost in a heartbeat. Ryou we are now putting the buddy system in effect."
"Yes we are." Ryou holds Yugi. "I take back my statement from earlier this can fit the entire kingdom!" He says as his eyes look at everything.
Akefia laughed "Would you like to go see your rooms?" Yugi looked at him with disbelief then he realized what he said and shook his head. "Oh no, not rooms. Room. We will share a room." He said.
"Wouldn't you like your own room after sharing one for so long?" he asked confused. Yugi couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Of course not! How could you even think that!? We have been together our entire lives! I would feel much better with Ryou close to me. I-it'll be easier on us."
"I am not separating from Yugi. Nope, never!" Ryou hugs Yugi tightly.
"Okay okay, we will show you two to your room." Atem smiles. "We won't separate you I promise."
Yugi sighed in relief. "It's not that we don't appreciate that you wanted to give us separate rooms, because we do. It's just too much at once." He said. "And I promise we won't be a burden. You won't even know we're here."
"We understand. Now you two will never be a burden. If you need anything all you need to do is ask. As long as you live here you get anything you want." Atem says
Yugi nodded. "Can we see our room now? I'm a little tired. It's been a long day." Yugi said slightly leaning on Ryou.
"Of course." Atem picks up Yugi as Akefia picks up Ryou.
"W-what are you doing?!" Ryou blushes as he stutters.
"Since you two are tired we are carrying you to your room." Atem says as they start to walk them to their room.
"W-we can walk on our own." Yugi said. He started to squirm only to have Atem hold him tighter. He started to pout. "Ryou I'm stuck."
"I am too." Ryou pouts cutely as he crosses his arms.
Akefia laughed "Why don't you just enjoy the ride? By the way, that's a very cute look for you Ryou."
Ryou looks at Akefia and blushes as he looks away. "I-it is not."
"I love that color on you, as well." Akefia said seductively. Yugi just shook his head. He was thankful Atem wasn't this way towards him. "Akefia can you please not make my friend uncomfortable?" he asked in a tone that clearly told him to stop
"Akefia you can get to know Ryou more later they need their rest." Atem chuckles as a maid opens the door to Yugi and Ryou's room.
"Wow! This is so big! This can fit the entire river!" Ryou says as he looks amazing as he forgot all about Akefia holding and flirting with him.
"Oh. My. Ra. What are we supposed to do with all this space!?" Yugi asked. They didn't have a ton of stuff.
"Don't worry you'll have many things in due time for now you two rest." Atem puts Yugi down softly on the bed.
"Ok." Yugi said softly yawning. Akefia put Ryou down next to Yugi.
"Get some rest and don't worry you two are safe here." Akefia said as Yugi couldn't help but start to doze off.
"Thank you both." Ryou yawns cutely as he dozes off.
"They're so cute." Atem chuckles see the two rest like angels.
"How long do you think it's been since they've been safe enough to actually rest like this?" Akefia asked sadly.
"Far too long. From the looks of it they'll probably even sleep in." Atem brushes some hairs off of Yugi's face.
Akefia sighed "This is not how our subjects should feel." he shook his head. "This is bad."
"We need to have a talk with those villagers too. No one should treat another badly just because they're pure." Atem sighs.
"It doesn't help that they've been on their own almost their entire lives." Akefia sighed. "Well we aren't going to get much done if we don't get some sleep ourselves. Come Atem let's let them sleep." he said starting to walk out
"Good night Yugi and Ryou. May you both have pleasant dreams." Atem says as he walks out as well and closes the door.
Two dark figures came up to look at the castle. "I knew they were special to them." one sneered. "Hm looks like those two have a soft spot."
"We can use it to our advantage. Hehe this is perfect and once a little rumor start all the other kingdoms will know. Plus we get to watch those two wither away." The other one smirks. "Their kingdom will be ours."
They smirk and leave. Yugi awoke the next morning. He looked at Ryou next to him. "It all feels like it was a dream. I guess i better get some berries before he gets up."
Ryou is still asleep as he had somehow grabbed Yugi's shirt and he is refusing to let go.
"Ok ok. I won't leave." he tried to loosen the grip but failed. "Ryou? Ryou what's wrong?" he tried to shake him awake but it wouldn't work. "Ryou? Please wake up."
"Magical flying pony..." Ryou starts to sleep talk. "Pretty flowers." He starts to talk nonsense about magical rainbows and flowers.
"W-what? Ryou please go into this state. It's ok. We're safe." Yugi shook him a little harder. "Hey if you wake up. I'll get your favorite berries for breakfast."
"Hmm? Berries where?!" Ryou jumps up and hugs Yugi. "Berries." He smiles brightly.
"Yes. Yes. Berries. But first you have to take a bath." Yugi said like a parent.
"I don't want too." Ryou pouts as he drags them in bed again and nuzzles his neck. He planed on sleeping again.
"Ryou you have to. Or you can have the bitter berries for breakfast." Yugi said in a parenting tone. "Now you wouldn't want that would you?"
"No." Ryou grumbles like a child. "Will you take one with me?" He asks using his famous puppy dog eyes on Yugi.
Yugi sighed. "Fine. But you have to wash your hair young man." Yugi gently pulled him out of bed. They went to the bathroom and Yugi was amazing by the huge bathtub. He filled it with warm water and undressed himself. "Let's go Ry. Let's get you washed up for breakfast."
"This is not possible. No matter what no one can have such a big bathroom." Ryou says as he undresses himself and follows suit and sits next to Yugi.
Once they were washing their hair Akefia burst through the bathroom door and fell in the tub with the two pure demons.
"Um excuse me. What do you think you're doing!?" Yugi shouted. Akefia looked at them and blushed. "Oh shit. I'm sorry! When we didn't find you in your bed, we thought you ran off. I came running in here and tripped over your clothes." Akefia said. "Well do you mind getting out so we can finish getting washed up so i can make us breakfast?" Akefia looked at him for a second then jumped out of the tub. "Oh jeeze. Um you don't have to make breakfast. That's what the castle cooks are for." Yugi shook his head. "We do not eat meat. I will get berries for us. I promised Ryou his favorite berries if he took his bath."
Ryou nods as he blushes. He hides behind Yugi. He didn't feel comfortable with anyone seeing him naked except Yugi.
Atem walks in the bath and tries to hold off his laughter.
"Ok that's enough! You are making him uncomfortable! Now GET OUT!"Yugi shouted. This made them all jump. He turned to Ryou. "It's ok. They were just leaving." He said in a voice that said he meant business. "Yes we were. Um Atem let's go um well anywhere but here." he pulled Atem out of the room and shut the door behind them. "Wow Yugi is small but he can be scary when he wants to be." Akefia said looking at him.
"Haha yeah. He's very protective of Ryou." Atem chuckles. "I still can't believe you fell in the tub with them hehe. That was too funny."
Ryou plays with the bubbles as he puts some on Yugi's head. "Hehe this is fun. Well except that surprise fall." Ryou giggles.
"Don't worry. It won't happen again. For a couple of kings they can be some real bakas. Ok time to wash your hair." Yugi said putting shampoo in his hand.
"Yes they are." Ryou says as he lets Yugi wash his hair as he plays with the bubbles. "Why couldn't they knock first?"
"Because they don't think anything through." he said rubbing the shampoo in. "Ok time to rinse. Close your eyes tight, ok?"
"Okay." Ryou closes his eyes tight as he feels Yugi rinse the shampoo off. He shakes his head as water droplets start to fly off.
"Hey hey!" Yugi shouted throwing up his hands to block his face. He looked at himself then at Ryou. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked getting out grabbing a towel for him.
"Feed me berries?" Ryou says cutely as he gets out as well.
Yugi laughs. "Of course. But guess what, Ry." he said wrapping Ryou up and then himself.
"What?" Ryou asks as he dries off.
"I think I'll be able to get enough berries to fill your belly completely." he said leading him back to the bedroom. He got dressed. He pulled out some clean clothes of Ryou's and handed him them. "Now I want you to get dressed and wait here while I go get them. Understand?" he looked around and found a book. He walked over and picked it up. "Here Ry. Why don't you look at this? And I'll get all the berries i can find."
"Yes mommy." Ryou giggles as he grabs the book and puts it on the bed as he changes into his clothes.
Yugi gave him a hug and then left to find those two baka kings. When he couldn't find them he found some staff and asked them. They told him they were in the throne room. He walked in to find them sitting and talking.
"Atem, Akefia. Can we talk?" he asked bowing to them. 'They may be bakas but they are still the kings.' Yugi thought.
"Please rise. Yes what is it?" Akefia said. Yugi stood straight.
"Ryou has reverted back to being a child again. I promised him I would get enough berries to fill him up. Do you have a garden? And it needs to be fast he doesn't like being alone when he's like this."
"Yes we have a garden. I shall send a servant to fetch you as many berries as you want." Atem says as he snaps his fingers to summon a servant to come to him. The servant bows as Atem speaks. "Bring the finest berries in the garden please."
Yugi bowed. "Thank you. I must get back to him." said rushing out before they could respond. He practically ran to the room.
A few minutes before Yugi went to the room, Ryou woke up to himself again. "Huh? Yugi? Yugi!" Ryou looks all over their room in panic. "No no no! Yugi!" Ryou runs out of their room in search of Yugi.
When Yugi got back to the room it was empty. "Ryou? Ryou?" When he got no response he started to panic. "Oh no. He must have run out looking for me or...or...maybe he was taken. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh Ryou." he ran out of the room. "RYOU! RYOU! PLEASE RYOU COME OUT!" Yugi ran and ran looking for him. Soon he couldn't run anymore. He slid down a nearby wall and pulled his knees to his chest. He started to cry into them. "I failed him. I should've never left him. What was I thinking?"
"Yugi! Yugi! How can anyone find their way in here! Yugi!" Ryou runs around. He hasn't seen Yugi or the Kings. "No no no please Yugi come out." Ryou falls on his knees. "Yugi I'm sorry I broke my promise." Ryou starts to cry. "Yugi!"
"Yugi?" Atem kneels to Yugi's height. "What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Atem holds him.
Yugi looked up at Atem tears pouring from his eyes. "I failed him. I lost Ryou. I can't find him. He either ran off or was taken. I failed him Atem and now he could be hurt...or worse." Yugi cried hysterically.
Akefia stumbled upon Ryou on the ground crying. He kneeled down and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Ryou what is it? What happened?" He asked.
"Now now shhh it's okay. It's okay. I'm sure he's just lost. Come I'll help you find him but first you need to take a breath. I'm sure Ryou wouldn't want you crying now would he?" Atem says as he wipes Yugi's tears away.
"Yugi Yugi! I can't find him! He wasn't in the room and I look everywhere! Oh no what if those people came back for him." Ryou cries harder. "What if they're hurting him!? Oh no I failed! I promised to protect him. I-I wasn't strong enough. I'm so sorry Yugi." Ryou cries harder as he holds his head.
Yugi looked at Atem. "Are you sure?" he looked up at him hopeful.
Akefia pulled Ryou into a hug. "I'm sure he's ok. He came to us this morning to ask if there is a garden I bet he is there getting your berries. Why don't we go look?"
Akefia held his hand out to Ryou.
"I am." Atem smiles gently. "Maybe he's outside. You did say he wanted berries. Maybe he went to the garden to look for you there." Atem holds Yugi's hand. Yugi nodded and followed Atem to the garden.
"Really? Can we look?" Ryou looks at Akefia with hope as he takes his hand.
"Yes of course." Akefia said. He led him to the garden. Yugi sure hoped that Ryou was there.
After a few minutes later
"Well this is the garden." Atem says as he continues to hold Yugi's hand.
Ryou follows Akefia with a beating heart. He didn't know why it beat so loud. He guessed it was because he was scared for Yugi.
Akefia lead Ryou to the garden. "Here it is. I'm sure he's here. Take a look around." Yugi looked around. "Ryou please be here." he whispered walking around. Soon he noticed a thin figure with longish white hair. He smiled from ear to ear. "Ryou?" he whispered to himself.
"Yugi!" Ryou starts to shout when he turns and notices a small star shaped figure. "Yugi!" Ryou smiles brightly.
"Ryou!" Yugi ran to him and pulled him into a tight hug. "Oh Ryou I'm so sorry. I never should have left you alone. I should have that of you coming out of that state. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry." Yugi kept apologizing.
Ryou hug's him tightly with some sobs. "I'm sorry I shouldn't have left the room. I-I need to learn to stop going into those states. I'm so sorry Yugi. I'll never leave again I promise." Ryou keeps promising and apologizing.
Yugi pulled him to arm's length. "Uh uh. Don't do that. You know you have that state for a reason. I was the one who in the right state of mind. I should have known better. Don't Ryou. None of this is your fault. Do you understand me?" Yugi said sternly.
"B-but if I never go into those states you never have to worry and I wouldn't have to bother you. It's my fault." Ryou sniffles as he looks down ashamed of himself.
"Stop that right now!" Yugi shouted making Ryou jump, "Just stop! You listen to me! You are not a bother to me! You are not a burden! Those states you go in are a coping mechanism! We have been through so much! You want to know what I do to cope? I try to channel it all out. But you? You go back to being an innocent child. You go back to remembering that there are beautiful things in the world. I don't mind watching over you when you do that. Because I remember that you can see the good in the world. So just please stop. Please. Don't try to shut it out like me. Please don't." Yugi said. By the end he collapsed to his knees.
"Yugi." Ryou gets on his knees and hugs him. "I promise I won't shut it out. And I want you to talk to me when your stress. I don't want you hurt." He sobs and smiles. "I care too much for you and I thank you for always being there for me. You're the best thing in the world."
Yugi hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry I flipped."
Akefia and Atem heard the yelling and came running to where the teens were. They found them on the ground in tears. "Ryou, Yugi." he whispered.
"It's fine." Ryou whispers to Yugi.
"Are you two okay? Are you guys hurt?" Atem check on them.
Yugi looked up at him. "Y-yeah. I just may have flipped out on Ryou. It's not his fault. It was mine. I shouldn't have left him and from now on, I won't leave him." he then got up and bowed to him. "I deeply apologize for the concern I caused." He then turned to Akefia and did the same to him.
"There is no trouble. You were just worried. As long as your both safe it fine but umm Yugi can I talk to you for a second?" Atem asks as he motions him to come closer.
"Oh um ok." Yugi turned to Ryou. "Please. Please stay with Akefia." he then turned to Akefia. "Don't let anything happen to him. Please." Akefia nodded.
"Of course wouldn't think of it." He smiled and turned to Atem and nodded.
Ryou nods and smiles at Yugi.
"Come here for a second." Atem leads them a bit far away so no one can hear them but close enough that Ryou could see them. "I think you shouldn't baby Ryou a lot."
"What do you mean?" Yugi asked shocked. "I-I don't understand."
"Look I know your just doing the best for him but just think if you keep babying him what will happen when you're gone or when you grow up? You can't expect him to live with you forever. He looks like he doesn't know how to socialize or even feed himself if he's not told to. What would happen if you had to go away? Ryou would die because he can't take care of himself because you baby him." Atem says. "Look I don't want to sound mean but it's the truth."
"Look I-I know you mean well but I just look out for him. He does the same for me. Only...I shut out everything. I sometimes wonder what the point of going on is if that life was all we had. But then I think of Ryou and how he can still see the good and beauty in the world. I'm sorry if it seems like I'm babying him. I just don't want him to start thinking like I did and well still do." Yugi looked down. He had never told anyone about how he would think. Not even Ryou and now he had told someone he knew for what? A day?
"Maybe perhaps you're doing this because you're scared of him leaving?" Atem asks. "Look maybe your just babying him because you don't want him hurt or it's because you really want to protect him. I'm sure he wants to explore the world but unless you can see the world like he does I'm sure he won't leave you but you should let him go. At least take little steps." Atem hugs him. "The world isn't a scary place. You should try to see it a different angle. Maybe you'll see what Ryou does."
Yugi thought for a moment. He sighed "I-I don't know. I guess maybe I am babying him. B-but I don't know how to not to. I know he won't leave me but at the same time I feel like if he really sees me he'll leave. And I don't want him to think I'll leave like his father." Yugi said. He looked down. He willed himself not to cry.
"I don't think he would leave you. I'm sure if you explain yourself to him he would understand. But first I think the first step is for you to admit it." Atem says as he holds Yugi to his chest.
He let the tears fall when Atem held him. "I...I suppose...you're right. It...It's just...hard." Yugi said between breaths.
"I know it is. You must take your time with it. Shh it's okay to cry." Atem rubs his back. "Shh it's okay cry."
He pushed from Atem slightly "No. I can't. I can't let this get to me. If i do i fail. I fail Ryou and i fail all i have left. I have to shut it out or else I'm gonna break."
"It's okay to cry you know. I'm sure that if Ryou knew you were keeping all this in he would be very sad. I don't think you want that." Atem says softly as he keeps him close.
He let it all come out once he heard he could hurt Ryou like this. "I'm so scared Atem. I'm scared of losing Ryou. I'm afraid of him dying. I'm afraid of dying myself and leaving him alone. I'm afraid of dying myself. I'm tired. So tired. Tired of struggling just to live. Tired of running from people who want nothing but to harm me. I'm tired of not being able to trust anyone. I'm just ready to give it all up."
Yugi said. He then started to sob. 'I just want it to be all over.'
"It's okay. It's okay now. Your both safe. You never have to fear of being alone or Ryou being alone." He rubs his back. "You're safe here. You can trust me and Akefia. We will keep you guys safe. You'll never have to feel like this ever again." Atem says as if he was saying a promise to him.
Akefia came up and found them like this. "Is everything ok?"
"Yes." Atem says but then he looks around. "Umm Akefia. Where's Ryou?"
As they look to where Ryou is supposed to be but he's not there.
"He was right there." Akefia said. Yugi he jumped away from Atem. He looked around but couldn't find him. "No no no. You lost him. You lost him! No! Ryou! No! He's gone! The only one I have left is gone! I never should have left him. No." Yugi dropped to his knees and hugged himself. "I knew I should have stayed with him. This is what happens when I give in to weakness. He's gone." He looked towards Akefia and Atem. "Find him. I don't care what you do. Find him!"
"We will. Don't worry he probably just went to see some flowers." Atem says as he glares at Akefia. "How could you leave him alone?" Atem whisper to Akefia.
Ryou was being held by two people in a nearby tree.
"One down one more to go." The really pale one chuckled.
Ryou struggles to get free as he tries to scream for help.
"I didn't think he would go missing with me just a bit away." Akefia whispered back.
The other one covered his mouth. "Ah ah ah. You wouldn't want to do that. You see, we still have to get your little buddy. You wouldn't want something to happen to him would you?" the man smirked. "Bakura, you want to watch him while I get the other?" He asked.
"Yugi stay here I promise we will be right back with Ryou." Atem motions Akefia to move out as they look for Ryou.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure this little one won't escape." Bakura smirks darkly as Ryou's eyes widen.
'Yugi help me!' Ryou thinks as tears start forming.
Yami nodded and headed off towards the garden. He found the other sitting on the ground alone. "Oh they are making this way too easy." he whispered walking up to him. When the boy didn't notice him he kept going.
Yugi just sat there. He couldn't move. Ryou was gone and he couldn't help him. He faintly heard someone behind him then he was roughly grabbed. "Who..." he went to ask but his mouth was covered.
"Don't make a sound or your friend will be in immense pain. Understand?" Yugi nodded. The man uncovered his mouth tentatively. "ATEM! AKEF..." his mouth was covered again.
"That was definitely the wrong move to make. Let's go." Yami said and roughly dragged the boy towards where Bakura was waiting for him.
Ryou's eyes widen as he saw Yugi and the other guy coming. 'Yugi!' Ryou tried to go to Yugi but Bakura held him tightly.
"Good job. Now let's go before those two notice this one gone." Bakura smirks.
Yami nodded. He looked at the two boys. "Either of you make a sound we hurt the other. And this one already made a wrong move so we need to punish him when we get there Bakura." Yami said pointing at Yugi. His eyes widened. He looked at Ryou. 'Please stay quiet Ryou.' He knew he was just thinking but maybe he could see it in his eyes.
Akefia and Atem heard the scream that came from the direction Yugi was. They came running back to find him gone. "Shit! We're such idiots! Why didn't we take him with us!? Damn it!" Akefia screamed.
"That's just perfect." Bakura chuckles as he spreads his wings. "I'm sure you won't make a sound little angel." Bakura grabbed Ryou's chin and looked in his eyes.
Ryou nods no in fear as he didn't make a sound. He didn't want Yugi hurt. No never.
"Good. Let's go Yami." Bakura chuckles.
"Damn it. Spread out find them!" Atem says as he spreads his wings and goes to the air.
Akefia follows his lead and they head in opposite ways.
Yami pick up Yugi and unfurled his wings. He took off and started to fly south.
Akefia looked everywhere in his direction and when he didn't see them he headed back to where he took off. "I really hope Atem found them."
Atem saw two figures flying away. He recognizes them and screams. "BAKURA! YAMI!" Atem starts to fly after them.
"Damn that was too fast." Bakura growls.
"Yeah let's not chance that again. Now what are we going to do with you two?" he sneered at Yugi and Ryou. Both remained silent. Yugi hoped they would punish him by hurting HIM and not Ryou.
Akefia landed and waited for Atem to come back.
"Hmm you did say this one broke the rule." Bakura smirks evilly. "Punishment is required."
Atem growls as he flies back to Akefia. "Sound the alarm Akefia! War! I demand it!" He growls.
Akefia looked confused "War on whom exactly?"
Yami nodded. "Yes so now to think of a punishment. We could always do something to his pal but that one actually listened. Seems this one doesn't care about his pal enough to keep his mouth shut."
"Bakura and Yami! They kidnaped Yugi and Ryou." Atem yells.
"Hmm then I guess we can torture this one." Bakura grabs Yugi's chin.
"L-leave him alone!" Ryou yells as he closes his eyes.
"Those bastards!" Akefia screamed. "They are going to pay for this!"
Yugi's eyes widened. "Ryou no. I'm gonna be fine." He said.
"Wow you two really suck at following rules!" Yami said disbelieving what was going on.
"Grab our weapons and rally our allies this is war." Atem growls.
"Hmm is someone being naughty?" Bakura grabs Ryou's face and pulls it close to his. "I advise you shut the fuck up before your little friends punishment gets worse." Bakura says before he slaps Ryou.
"Atem calm down. You aren't thinking rationally. If we try to start a war it might give them all the reason to hurt or kill them." Akefia said running after Atem.
Yugi tried to get away and get to Ryou. "No! Don't touch him! He's just scared! He isn't thinking anything through! Ryou are you ok!?" He screamed.
"Shut up! You both need to shut up!" Yami screamed throwing Yugi on the ground. Yugi's wings came furling out. Yami and Bakura gaped at him. "Do you see what I see Bakura?" he roughly grabbed Yugi and pulled him from the ground.
"Then what are we going to do? Huh? The longer they are there the more they'll get hurt!" Atem screams.
"Oh my, these wings. Angel wings? This little demon is a pure heart one." Bakura says in amazement.
'Yugi!' Ryou says in his mind as he tries to move to Yugi.
"Ah ah ah." Bakura shakes his finger as he grabs Ryou's hair. "We need your little friend for a bit. Be a good boy and stay put unless you want him hurt." Bakura says as he drags Ryou to a room.
"We go after them. On our own. We can get them back. I just hope they don't find out about them being pure hearted." Akefia said.
Yami looked at Yugi "Now I understand why those two cared so much for you." Yugi looked at the ground. 'They know. Oh crap they know.' Then he realized something. 'They only know about me. Ryou is still relatively safe.'
"Do you realize what someone on the black market would pay for him?" Yami asked Bakura.
"We can only pray. Now let's go." Atem says as he flies up to the sky.
"Oh they would pay millions to have this one. Hmm I wonder if he's all pure." Bakura smirked as he had just finished throwing Ryou inside a room and locked the door. "Now little pure demon, you will tell us everything you know or else your little friend dies and I'll make sure you see it."
Akefia followed him and they headed towards the direction of Yami and Bakura.
"Please I don't know anything. Just please let us go. We won't tell anyone it was you. If not me let him go. He didn't do anything. He's here because of me. I keep putting him in danger. Just...let him go." Yugi begged.
Yami laughed. "But when we have him we have control over you. And when we have control over you we can control Atem and Akefia. Now tell us what you know. I'm sure your parents told you about being a pure heart." he said as he pinned him to the wall. "And no lying. Bakura stands by his word."
"Oh it's true. I will kill him or even worse. He looks like he follows you. Maybe I should take away his little purity a demon can have." Bakura smirks as he takes out a pitch black knife. "Now tell us what you know.
Yugi's eyes widened. "Ok ok. Just don't hurt him. All I know is that the pure hearted are very rare and we can NOT kill no matter what happens. It goes against everything in our beings. My wings are white instead of black. That's all I know. Now please let him go. Do what you want to me. Just...let...Ryou...go."
Yami seemed to consider this for a moment. "Do you know any other pure hearts?" Yugi didn't answer right away. "Remember Bakura has no problem using that knife." Yugi tensed "No! I mean no. I don't know any others. None." Yugi said.
"Hmm. Not one?" Yami asked.
"N-no." Yugi said
"I think your lying." Bakura smirks as he lets the knife softly trail at Yugi's jaw. He doesn't cut him but it looked like at any moment he would. "Now one more time. Do you know anyone else who has a pure heart?"
Yugi watched the knife as he tensed up. 'Don't tell them. He will be in danger.' "No. I don't." Yugi said.
"Hmm alright. Now a little punishment for earlier." Bakura smirks as he kicks Yugi in the guts hard. "Next time don't break our rules."
Yugi doubled over holding his stomach and coughed. Yami just watched him. Yugi was in massive pain. "W-what are you guys gonna do with us?...With me?" he asked after coughing up a storm.
"You are going to the black market while your little friend, well I'm sure he'll be a good sex toy for a while." Bakura smirks evilly.
"Keep him with you Yami. I'll see when the next auction is for this little one." Bakura says as he walks away.
Yugi's eyes widened "No! Leave him alone! He has nothing to do with this!" He yelled at Bakura as he walked away. "Please!" he looked up at Yami. "How could you!? I understand you aren't pure but neither are Atem or Akefia! They protected us!" he shouted.
"They protected you!? Are you kidding!? They didn't give a damn about you! If they did they wouldn't have left you two all alone as easy targets! They didn't care then and they don't care now!" Yami shouted.
Yugi felt tears come. "No. You're wrong. They care. They saved us." Yugi said.
"If they cared so much then where are they?" Yami asked. Yugi just looked away from him.
"Yugi! Yugi! Please let me out! I need to go to Yugi!" Ryou bangs on the door. His arms and hands red from all the banging. "Please. Please don't hurt Yugi." He cries as he lets his wings go out. "Yugi...Yugi."
"Oh would you shu-" Bakura was about to tell him off when he saw Ryou's pure white wings. "So the squirt did lie." He cracks a grin.
"Yugi." Ryou looks up with tears as he reverted to a child. "Where's Yugi? Yugi!" Ryou runs out of the room which surprised Bakura.
"Hey get back here!" Bakura runs after Ryou.
"Yugi!" Ryou calls out as his wings cover his upper body.
"Ryou? Ryou! No put your wings away!" Yugi shouted. Yami looked at Ryou then at Yugi. "You little bitch. We warned you what would happen if you lied!" Yami shouted. He slapped Yugi across the face. He grabbed him by his throat and lifted him up against the wall. "Now you need to pay." He nodded towards Bakura.
Bakura nods as he was about to grab Ryou but Ryou pushes Yami.
"Don't hurt Yugi!" He cries as he grabs Yugi and hugs him. "Yugi did they hurt you? Yugi don't die please." Ryou cries as his wings wrap around both of them.
"That little fucker." Bakura growls as he grabs Ryou's hair and pulls him up. "His wings are whiter. He's purer than the squirt." He says as he continues to pull on his hair.
"Ahh stop! Yugi! Help me!" Ryou cries as he tries to get Bakura to stop pulling his hair.
Yugi watched as Ryou was about to be dragged away. He felt the urge to protect him. Suddenly he saw a light. Yami never saw it coming. Yugi gained a ton of strength out of nowhere. He pushed Yami who went flying across the room. He looked at Bakura who stood in shock. "Let. Him. Go."
"What the hell? The little prick, you're going to pay for that!" Bakura yells as he throws Ryou at the wall. "Don't think you can fight against me squirt. I won't be as nice as Yami." Bakura's wings spread as he launches himself to Yugi.
Yugi spread his wings and grabbed Bakura. He was strong. Yugi had a hard time. He tried to pin to the wall.
"Not happening." Bakura grabs Yugi by the throat and slams him on the wall.
Ryou looks up and shows pure fear as there is a hole and cracks on where Bakura smashed Yugi.
"Y-Yugi..."
Yugi tries to pry his hands off. His wind pipe was being crushed. His lungs were beginning to burn. His vision going black. 'No. I need to protect Ryou. I can't die yet.' Yugi took all of his strength and put it into his arms and hands. He started to push with all he had.
"You're better as a throw rug." Bakura puts a bit more strength to it but suddenly he feels a burning sensation. "Ahh!" Bakura screams as he lets go of Yugi.
Ryou's body is engulfed in a bright glow of light that reach the two.
"What the hell?" As the light got brighter the more it burned Bakura. "Shit. This isn't over you bastards." Bakura flies out the window.
Yugi collapsed to the ground. His eyes barely open. "R-Ryou..." said as he began to lose consciousness.
Akefia and Atem had finally made it. They had gotten to where Yami and Bakura took Yugi and Ryou.
"Yugi!" Ryou cuts out the light and goes back to a child. "No Yugi. Wake up! Wake up! Don't leave me! YUGI!" Ryou cries.
"What the hell happened?" Atem almost screams as he notices many broken things. He was more worried about Yugi and Ryou. "Yugi!"
Akefia runs over to Yugi's limp body. He looks for a pulse. "He's there. But only just. We need to get him a healer. And fast." he said looking at Atem.
"Then let's take him." Atem picks up Yugi and spreads his wings. "Take Ryou and hurry out." Atem flies fast back to the castle.
"Yugi! Yugi!" Ryou cries as his eyes are just filled with sadness his wings spread as he tries to fly.
Akefia grabs him firmly but gently. "Shhh. Yugi is going to see the doctor. He's a bit sick." He lifted Ryou. "How about we get some flowers then pay him a visit. I'm sure he'd like that, don't you?" he asked trying to get Ryou to calm down.
"Flowers? Yugi flowers." Ryou says looking at Akefia with sadness and loss of hope.
"Yes let's get him some flowers. Which ones are his favorite?" He asked.
"Purple flowers." Ryou says as he holds Akefia's hand. "Forest." He starts to pull on it.
Akefia put a smile on. "Ok. Let's go get him purple flowers." he let Ryou lead him.
Ryou smiles a little as they get out of the castle. He liked the forest when the bigger demons were not mean to him or Yugi. "Flowers hehe flowers!" Ryou giggles as he starts to skip. "Hurry."
"Ok ok. I'm coming." Akefia stumbled after.
'I sure hope Yugi wakes soon. If Ryou is like this while he is still alive. I can only imagine what he'll be like if Yugi doesn't wake up' he thought
Atem flew as fast as he could back to the place. "Hold on Yugi." He mutters as he flies in the castle. "Isis emergency!"
Isis, the head healer, runs to him. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure just heal him." Atem says as he lays Yugi on the healing bed.
"Yes sir." Isis starts to work on healing Yugi.
Yugi dreamed of Ryou. He dreamt of his soft smile and how he can make a person feel at ease. Then his dream turned nightmare. He found Ryou laying the ground covered in blood. He wasn't moving. "Ryou? Ryou wake up! Please wake up!" he shook him. After a while he could just look at his hands covered in blood. Ryou's blood.
After a while Isis had mange to heal him. "He needs rest and bed stay. He shouldn't move for a while too." Isis says.
"Thank you." Atem picks up Yugi and walk to Yugi's room.
After Akefia and Ryou got as many flowers as they could both carry they went back to the castle. They entered the teens' room and found Yugi sleeping in the bed and Atem sitting next to him.
"Yugi!" Ryou runs to Yugi and hugs his sleeping form and cries. "I'm sorry I'm sorry." He continues to apologize.
Yugi's eyes flutter open and he looks down at Ryou. He puts a weak hand on his back. "Now now. None of that. Its ok little man." He said smiling at him softly. "Just happy my little guy is safe."
"Yugi!" Ryou hugs him more. "You're awake!" He smiles and kisses him all over his face. He had turned back to his normal self. "I'm so sorry if I didn't let myself get captured this would have happened." He says sadly.
"No Ryou. Stop. Don't even think about going that way. We are safe and that's what matters. You saved us. If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here." Yugi said.
"But I-I'm sorry." Ryou looks down and shows him the purple flowers he and Akefia got for him. He blushes a bit as he closes his eyes.
Yugi looks down at the flowers. He sighed. He took them. "Ry, they're gorgeous. Thank you." Yugi handed them to Akefia. "Can we please have a vase for these?"
Akefia nodded "Of course." he walked off.
"Now Ry crawl into bed buddy. It's time for bed. You need your rest." Yugi said patting beside him.
"But I'm not tried." Ryou yawns as he rubs his eyes cutely.
"Clearly. But just amuse me and lay down will you?" Yugi said. "For me?"
Ryou smiles and nods as he climbs into bed pushing Atem away as he lies against Yugi's chest.
"Okay maybe I deserved that." Atem mutters as the looks at them.
Yugi just glared at him slightly. He remembered what Yami had said but pushed it from his head. He wrapped his arms around Ryou and fell asleep. Ryou had fallen asleep already as there were some flowers stuck in his hair.
"Such a troublesome pair. One is a child while the other is an adult who's a child." Bakura chuckles as he appears on the window.
"Bakura." Atem glares.
"Calm down I'm not here to fight. In fact I'm here to warn you." Bakura says as Yami appears next to him.
"Warn me?" Atem gives them a confused look.
Yami nodded. "Yes."
"You see those two can kill you." Bakura smirks. "These burn marks are the proof of how the paler one can try to kill a demon." He shows the marks. "I'm sure you think there nice but when we had them they showed many, many holy things." Bakura says as he sees the shock face on Atem and Akefia, who just got there.
"We cannot possibly trust these two. We did once and look where it put those two." he said pointing to the teens on the bed.
"Oh well look at Yami." Bakura says as he motions Yami to tell them what happen with Yugi.
Yami nodded. "I had Yugi pinned. Suddenly Ryou came running out and everything went crazy. Bakura grabbed Ryou. Next thing I know I'm being thrown across the room. This is the result." Yami turned and showed his wings. They were bruised and cut. One had a huge gash on it.
'That's too much to be a lie.' Atem thinks as he looks at Yami's wings. "Shit."
Akefia couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. "How can these two small and weak boys do this kind of damage?" he asks
"Because they're not. Do you two even know why pure hearts are rare?" Bakura asks.
"No?" Atem says but he questions.
"Because they can kill other demons with holy powers. They're angels born into a demon body. That's why they don't look harmful, it's to trick you." Bakura explains.
"No, no. I can't believe it. I won't. There's no way those two are killers. They must have had a good reason for their actions." he thought for a moment. "Yami, you said when Bakura grabbed Ryou that's when Yugi threw you right?" Yami nodded. "Well how did he grab him?"
"He grabbed him by the hair and started to pull him away from Yugi." Yami answered.
"Ok and Bakura when Ryou burned you were you hurting Yugi?" Akefia asked
"Choking him in the air to be exact." Bakura says as he wasn't ashamed of what he did.
"No wonder. They did it to protect each other. I doubt even they know what they did." Atem says with a sigh.
"Exactly! They didn't do it consciously. They were protecting each other. When you hurt one the other protects." Akefia said.
"Che, it doesn't matter. Even if you two don't hurt them you might end up in even worse conditions they are. We are still demons after all. The light of the holy will kill us." Bakura says
"Well see here's the difference between us and you. We don't plan on hurting them." Akefia said in a low deadly voice. "You can't honestly still stand by them." Yami said in a disbelieving tone.
"Of course. We promise them we would never leave them. We will protect them." Atem says.
Bakura and Yami look at each other before they start to laugh.
"You protect them! Ha! What a laugh!" Bakura laughs. "You couldn't even protect them today!"
This comment made Akefia's blood boil. "Yes we know ok! We let them down today. And knowing Yugi? He'll remember. He won't let Ryou out of his sight. It was bad enough before all this when Ryou recessed to being a child. Now it's going to be ten times harder to gain his trust completely. And it's my fault! I left Ryou alone. If i hadn't then none of this would have happened." Akefia said. "But you know what it won't happen again. I promise you. If you even think of harming them in any way i will not hesitate to rip you to shreds. Understand?"
"Oh? Don't tell me you actually fell for these pure hearts." Bakura sneered.
"That is none of your concern! Now I suggest you leave." Akefia said
"Oh why don't you make me Akefia?" Bakura smirks. "You do know that if you ever defile a pure heart they lose their wings." He smirks.
"Oh I'd love to. And yes I do know that." Akefia said.
"Bakura let's go. I don't have the energy for this. Its bad enough flying with my wings." Yami said.
"Fine. Until we meet again." Bakura smirks as he brings out his wings and flies out.
Atem glares at the two as if he glares hard enough they would burst into flames.
Akefia sighed. "Come Atem we must rest." he said making his way to leave
"It's not true you know." Ryou says in his sleep. "We don't lose our wings. It's actually a myth created by the demons who didn't want pure hearts to reproduce."
"Ryou. I apologize for waking you. Please do go back to sleep." Akefia said.
"I am asleep. You're talking to a sleeping person." Ryou mutters out as he cuddles closer to Yugi.
"Well the only thing Bakura said was true. They truly are a weird pair." Atem says as he walks out of the room.
"I agree." Akefia said following him.
Akiko: Ok guys we hope you liked this chapter. We'll be posting chapter 3 as soon as I get it edited. Warning the chapters get longer haha. Ely and I don't know how it just happens. Well R&R! I'll hand it off to Ely now.
Ely: Yeah it gets out of hand sometimes. Oh well, haha. See you all later. Ciao Ciao.