Hey everyone! I'm really sorry for the wait. My muse had disappeared, and I was stuck in a rut. I've also been working on getting my Yellow fic up and running and I will, hopefully, be updating that in the next week or so, although I doubt that that will happen. Okay, enough talk.

Rose Bud

Chapter 11

Desperation

xXXx

Jaden and Syrus stood in wonderment and fright as they watched Zane approach the other vampire. He moved like a cat about to pounce on a weaker target. The man against the wall moved to get away, but before he could Zane was in front of him knocking him back into the wall.

Jaden felt Chazz grab his arm before pulling him towards the hole in the wall. As they entered the room Jaden noticed Syrus being pulled in by Atticus, and Aly, Hazel, Alexis, and Joey walking in behind them, the wolf pup still in her mother's arms, the panther following. After they had all entered Atticus and Chazz ran back out into the hall. After they were gone Aly turned, whispered something, and the doors were back in place as if they were never broken.

"Wait! What about them?!" Syrus asked.

"It's okay, they can handle themselves," Joey said, putting Kimi on the floor. "Those guys are not the leaders of the vampires for nothing. Besides, they need to make sure that Zane doesn't kill Nozomu, if only so he can go on trial in front of the court."

"Who was he anyway?" Jaden asked.

"He's nobody. His name means desire, and he always seems to desire whatever Zane has," Alexis said.

"Which means Bastion," Aly finished, looking around the room.



Turning his own attention to the room, Jaden noticed that it was empty. There was no sign of Bastion anywhere. The king sized bed's sheets were strewn about and a few pieces of furniture were knocked over, but there was no Bastion.

"Where is he?" He asked.

Aly bit her bottom lip. "Slav…you can stop hiding him now. Nozomu's not here anymore, Bastion's safe."

There was a pause then a shimmer in a corner by the bed.

"Oh god," Aly said, horror on her face. Similar, more vulgar curses were heard from behind her.

Jaden couldn't believe what he saw, for two reasons. One, in the corner, curled into a fetal position, was Bastion. But what shocked Jaden the most was the fact that there was blood…everywhere in the corner, and the Slifer was suddenly overwhelmed by the stench. Bastion's shirt was nothing but shreds, clinging to his body by oozing blood. Jaden could see gashes all over his friend; gashes that no creature he knew of could conflict.

The second thing was that there was a dragon sitting protectively next to the Ra, although with everything that had been going on today he wasn't totally surprised. The creature's scales were the same sapphire as Zane's, and he wasn't much bigger than a large dog. His wings were tucked up and his tail curled around his clawed feet, his long neck was elegantly curved as his piercing blue eyes watched them.

"Bastion," Aly called as she, Joey, Alexis and Hazel practically ran over to the Ra, Jaden and Syrus too shocked to move. They watched as the four of them knelt beside their friend, gently pushing the dragon out of the way.

"He's unconscious," they heard Aly say.

"His breathing is shallow," Alexis said. "God Nozomu really did a number on him."



Joey stood up, "Alright we have to work fast. Now move him to the bed, but gently, we don't want to make it worse."

The girls listened to his commands, and placed him gently on the bed. After that Joey started making orders, he had Alexis run to the bathroom for hot water and some healing salves. Then he sent Aly to get bandages, and she disappeared and reappeared before they knew it.

As all this commotion was going on around them, the Slifers just stood still. After awhile Jaden realized that he was being watched. He looked down to see Kimi, the panther, and the dragon, Slav, sitting in front of them, watching them. He looked at them curiously, but before he could say anything the doors to the room were slammed open, and the two Slifers turned to see Keary and Chazz dragging a struggling Zane through the door, Atticus closing the door behind them.

"Let me at 'em!" Zane was yelling. "Come on let me kill him! Let go of me and let me at him!"

"Zane!" Chazz yelled back at him, as he and Keary threw him against a wall. "Calm down! Father and Yami took him away, he's not going to do anything more!"

Zane growled, "He touched what was mine, it's my right to kill him!"

"Zane calm down," Aly said, and all attention turned to her. Jaden shivered slightly when Zane's enraged eyes passed over him, but as those eyes fell on Aly, she didn't move at all. "You're correct that it is your right to kill him, but there are more pressing matters at the moment." Her steady gaze never wavered as she waited for Zane to calm down. Soon enough he relaxed, if only slightly, and Aly continued, "Nozomu really did a number on him, Zane. He's lost a lot of blood, his breathing is very shallow, and we are doing all we can for him, but none of it is having any effect."

Aly paused waiting for this to sink in. Zane seemed to be calming down more and more with each passing second. "What are you saying, Aly?" He asked. "Are you saying that he's not going to make it?"

Aly looked at him sadly, "I'm saying that there is a very slim chance."



The room fell silent and all the tension in Zane's body disappeared, his shoulders drooped and his head fell.

"But there is one way," everyone looked up at her words. Aly turned to Zane, "And you know what it is."

There was silence as the Obelisk thought, and then the tension returned. "No!" he growled. "I won't do that to him!"

Aly sighed, trying to make him see reason, "Zane either you do it or he'll die. If you do it you have the chance to stay with him forever." Zane bowed his head again. "And if you don't his death will eventually lead to yours."

Everyone stayed silent, waiting to see what Zane would do. When the Obelisk started to shake, Slav walked over to him and nudged his hand. Zane looked down at the dragon and when their eyes met, Zane knew what he had to do. "Alright," he said, "I'll do it."

Aly and the others seemed to relax at his words, but Syrus and Jaden looked at each other in confusion. "Do what?" Syrus asked, "What's going on?"

Chazz turned to them, "The only way to save Bastion at this point in time is to change him."

"Change him?" Jaden asked, "You mean into…?"

"Yes, Jaden, a vampire," Chazz said.

Syrus looked over at his brother and looked as if he would say something, but before he could a voice called out weakly, "Zane?"

Immediately everyone's attention was turned to the bed, and Zane practically ran over and gripped the boy's hand. "I'm here Bastion, I'm here." He could feel the Ra's grip trembling, and knew that he didn't have much energy.



"Wha-what's g-going o-on?" He asked shakily. He was cold, so cold, and he didn't know why. All he knew was that Zane's grip on his hand was warm, and reassuring.

Zane's sad face looked back at him, "It's okay, Bastion, everything is gonna be okay."

"Zane…answer me. What's going on? Why do I feel s-so co-cold?" Bastion tried not to stutter, he tried not to shiver, but the cold got the better of him.

Zane looked up at Aly in worry; she sadly returned the look, determination in her eyes. "You know what you have to do," she said before turning and ushering everyone else out of the room.

After the door closed behind them, Zane looked back down at his mate. Bastion looked back at him with trust in his eyes, seeming to somewhat understand what was wrong. "Bas…"

"Shhh," Bastion whispered, reaching a shaking hand up to touch Zane's cheek, to touch the skin where scales had been not too long ago. "Do what you must, Zane, I trust you…I love you."

Zane felt a tear slip down his cheek at the confession, he had been worried that his mate would be afraid of him, but he realized his worrying was all for nothing. Leaning down, Zane whispered against the Ra's lips, "I love you too," before claiming his mate in a searing kiss.

xXXx

Well, wasn't that interesting?? I know most of you know what's coming for them and are probably anxious to read what happens between the two, but you'll just have to wait two more chapters. Next chapter will be between Atticus, Chazz and their mates, and questions will be answered, so if any of you have questions, tell me now and maybe I'll answer them next chapter.

Toodles!!

Alphawolf