Chapter 22- The Second Task
Bakura's hand reached out from under the bed covers, groping for the clock. Finding the small device he brought it closer. Opening an eye groggily he looked at the time. Both eyes widened when the information being sent to his brain finally registered. "Shit!" he cried, jumping up and dashing about madly to find clothes. Doing this he raced out of his room to the lake. In his hurry he didn't notice that he had been the only one in the bed all night.
The commotion Bakura caused woke everyone else. They too dashed about like head-less chickens, trying hard to get down to the lake before the Second Task started.
Bakura raced through the grounds pushing anyone unfortunate enough to be in his way to the ground. As those poor unfortunates tried to get up they were pushed down again by the others running after Bakura. Yugi shouted apologies for everyone behind him, so it was alright.
Bakura skidded to a halt in front of the judges, effectively coating Fleur in mud. She glared at him but Bakura was too busy getting his breath back to notice. Recovered, he looked up to see Harry skidding to a halt next to him, covering whatever bits of Fleur's robe that Bakura hadn't already smeared with dirt. Bakura inconspicuously leaned towards Harry and asked "Did you find a way to do this?"
Harry nodded, breath still coming out in short wheezes. "Plant," he managed to get out.
"Care to share some?"
"Minute."
Bakura turned to the judges while Harry kept breathing heavily. "So what is it that we're supposed to be retrieving?" he asked.
"Something very precious to you," Dumbledore answered.
"Yes, yes – I know that. What I want to know is the exact thing you have taken."
"The person you hold dearest to your heart."
Bakura was about to demand a more specific answer when realization dawned on him. The only person he actually cared about was Ryou. He hadn't seen Ryou since last night when he had left him in the library. Ryou had not been in bed this morning. Ryou was gone.
Bakura was suddenly overcome by a burning rage. He barely noticed Bagman dragging him slightly to his left so that all the champions were spread out. It was a good thing that the starting whistle was blown seconds after because Bakura charged into the water without getting the Gillyweed from Harry.
As soon as the water was deep enough Bakura dived under, kicking the water harshly as he headed down into the depths of the lake. The only air he had to use was the small mouthful he had taken before he dived. It didn't take long to run out and Bakura (mad as he was) could not be immune to the screaming pain in his lungs.
Eventually he could hold his mouth shut no longer and water gushed up his nose and down his throat. Bakura doubled over, his hands pressed against his throat as he choked. He tried to cough up the water but it kept seeping in; his vision blurred as he became light-headed. Bakura stopped struggling as he ran out of air…
Bakura opened his eyes to find that he could breathe normally. Looking around he was surprised to find that he was still below the surface of the lake. It turned out that he didn't need to breathe underwater. His theory had been correct! His body had just needed time to realize that it was dead and didn't actually need oxygen to survive.
Bakura floated absently for a few moments, basking in the knowledge that he was a genius. That is, until he remembered that he had something precious to rescue. With renewed determination Bakura swam quickly through the murky water, past small silver fish and forests of weeds. His thieving abilities once again came in handy since his physical stamina was much higher than most people's. He ploughed through the water easily; gaining the distance he had lost while unconscious.
Everything was going fine until something grabbed his ankle. Bakura turned to see an ugly green thing grinning at him as it held tight to his ankle. Bakura also noticed that its friends had decided to come play too. Bakura frowned irritably – he had no time for this. The Millennium Ring glowed and the entire troupe of green creatures disappeared into the Shadow Realm. Bakura nodded, satisfied. He then swam down into the deepest part of the lake.
As Bakura passed over an expanse of black mud he noticed something in the distance. Drawing closer he saw that they were crude dwellings. Things that he supposed were mermaids swam around the dwellings watching him curiously. They were much uglier than the legends like to say, Bakura noted. He did not hang around to study them more though since he was (he assumed) very close to finding Ryou.
Turning a corner Bakura found the hostages. They were all tied to the tail of a gigantic statue of a merman. By the bubbles escaping from Ryou's mouth Bakura assumed that he was still alive.
Bakura put on an extra burst of speed and headed straight towards Ryou. Reaching him, the first thing he did was check for a pulse. Bakura smiled when he felt the steady beating in Ryou's neck. He then made as if to sit cross-legged. He reached into the bottom of his jeans and pulled out a small dagger. He was doubly thankful that Ryou hadn't found this one and confiscated it.
Placing one hand around Ryou's waist he pulled the boy to his chest. With his free hand he cut away the rope that bound his beloved. Ryou came free and Bakura kicked his legs, propelling them upwards.
As they ascended Bakura spared a glance at the mermen below. There was another champion at the statue untying their friend. Since the black mop of hair was close to the red mop of hair he assumed it was Harry saving Ron. That was good news; Bakura wasn't last.
After a time the water around Bakura didn't seem as dark. Bakura paced himself, tried to keep the joy that he was about to reach the surface under control so that he didn't tire himself out by putting on that extra burst of speed too early.
It was only when Bakura could see blurry shapes above him did he swim as fast as he could. The images became clearer and clearer the nearer he got to the surface. In an instant he broke from the water out into the biting air. Bakura made his way to the bank of the lake to the sound of applause and rejoicing cheers. In his arms he felt Ryou stir and slightly slowed his pace.
"Nearly there Ryou. Just swim," Bakura breathed, not wanting to waste too much energy talking.
Ryou heard Bakura and pulled away from him so that he could swim on his own. It wasn't long until they reached the shore where they were immediately pulled out of the icy water and wrapped up tightly in thick blankets. They were then pulled away from the shore by the matron. She forced a steaming potion down their throats before leaving them to their own devices.
Bakura and Ryou sank down onto the grass. Bakura opened his blanket invitingly. Ryou crawled onto Bakura's lap and was encompassed by both a blanket and a pair of arms. "Are you alright?" Bakura whispered.
Ryou nodded. "It wasn't that bad. We were taken to Dumbledore's office last night and given a potion to make us sleep. What about you?"
"I'm tired but I'll live."
Ryou smiled sleepily. It was strange that he felt tired even though he had been asleep for hours. "I'm so proud of you for finding out how to do the challenge."
"Actually, I didn't figure out how to do it."
Ryou dropped his smile and sighed. "You got help from Harry did you?"
"No actually. I did ask for his help but it turned out I didn't need it. You see I just dived in there when I heard that you were the thing I had to recover. I didn't think about taking some of Harry's plant; I just jumped. After finding out what it feels like to drown (not pleasant by the way) I found out that since I'm dead can breathe under water."
Ryou chuckled. "You're really stupid sometimes Bakura."
Bakura glared down at him. "I could always give you back to the merpeople you know."
"You didn't let me finish," Ryou countered. "I was also going to say that it was very romantic how you forgot self and just dived in to rescue me. You're very brave Bakura."
Bakura smiled and tilted Ryou's chin up towards him. He leaned down, their lips met, they shared a passionate. This was how their friends found them when they came to congratulate the two for surviving. "Maybe we should congratulate them later," Jou said quietly. They all agreed and let the two get warm together.
Later, they all came back so that they could bask in Bakura's glory as the points were announced. "Ladies and gentlemen, the judges have made their decision," Bagman announced to the anxiously waiting crowd. "Points are awarded out of fifty. Firstly we have Mr Bakura who employed…his own magic to rescue his hostage. He was the only champion to successfully save his hostage within the one hour time limit and for that we award him fifty points!"
Cries of joy erupted from those around Bakura. These cries continued for a long time so that nobody around them heard the rest of the scores. The cheering only stopped in time for Bakura to hear that the third and final task would take place on the twenty fourth of June at dusk and he would learn more about it a month before the task. After hearing this the gang headed up to the castle, intent on celebrating another one of Bakura's victories.
When they reached the common room Malik and Marik went off to their hidden store while Ryou and Bakura took showers and changed into warm, dry clothes. When they were all assembled the Ishtars revealed to the rest the wide selection of alcoholic drinks they had brought for everyone's enjoyment. It was at this point that Yugi pointed out the flaw in the part plan.
"Guys, it's only eleven O'clock. What happened to no drinking before twelve?"
Everyone stared at him, dumbstruck. Marik threw the can of beer he had been about to open to the floor. "Damn, now we have to wait until we get pissed. Why couldn't they have held the stupid Task in the afternoon?"
"Why don't you just get drunk anyway and screw the stupid rule like you screw all the rest?" Seto asked impatiently.
Malik, Marik and Bakura were horrified. "You can not break this rule – it is sacred!" cried Malik.
"Yes, and unlike you Seto we are not sad and depressed and have alcohol problems," Bakura added.
"I am not an alcoholic," Seto said sternly.
"If you have no regards for the twelve O'clock rule then there is no doubt that you are," Marik said, licking his finger and making a vertical slash in the air.
Seto just rolled his eyes. "Idiots," he muttered before walking away to mess about with his computer. (Did that sound wrong to anyone else?)
After that the group dispersed since there was no longer going to be a party. Ryou was about to follow them when Bakura wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him back against him. "Just because the others can't have a good time doesn't mean we can't have one in the bedroom," Bakura whispered seductively.
Ryou shook his head, rolling his eyes at Bakura's logic. "Isn't it a bit early for that sort of thing?"
"No," Bakura replied, placing light kisses up Ryou's neck.
Ryou wriggled out of Bakura's grasp and pushed him back when the other male tried to capture him again. "There is a time and place for these things Bakura. Just as you refuse to drink before noon I refer to have sex."
"We can go into the bedroom and not have sex," Bakura offered.
"True," Ryou admitted, "but I'm sure we'll both get carried away and one thing will lead to another…It's best if we just abandon the whole idea."
A low growl escaped Bakura's throat. "That's enough Ryou. You've been coy for long enough. Don't make me drag you in there."
Ryou gave a fleeting smile before running away. "Rape! Rape!" he shouted, attracting other people's attention.
Bakura growled and chased after his boyfriend; not happy with the way he was acting, especially after Bakura had saved his life. It was only as they circled the common room for the third time that Bakura realized what was going on. Ryou was the prey and he was the hunter. It was one of their foreplay role-plays.
With a lecherous grin Bakura speed up until he was right behind Ryou. He jumped and knocked the boy to the floor. Without wasting time Bakura threw Ryou over his shoulder and carried him into their room where he would show his captured prey exactly who was the dominant one in their relationship.
When the door slammed the people who had been watching lost interest. But not without commenting first.
Jou sighed dramatically. "Ah, young love."
"I think you mean young lust," Malik corrected.
"It's all the same with teenagers. Take it from me – I've been eighteen for over a thousand years," Yami told them.
Nobody doubted his wise word.
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