Small Note

Sakura: As seen last chapter the Hunters are willing to do anything... Let's see how the King will handle the situation along with some new discoveries being made...

Chapter Fifteen

Discoveries

The truth is hard to face

The waiting was painful as Yuugi stood beside the balcony doors looking out at the rising sun. His children Kotaro and Chan laid curled up on his and Yami's bed fast asleep as they should be. Timaeus stood at his post beside the door, his eyes were closed, but Yuugi knew he was far from asleep. He had remained at that post since Yami gave him the order to come and guard Yuugi and the little ones. Jason and Raven had come earlier in the night, but the waiting was too much for them so they went to search the palace hours ago to make sure no one had entered that did not belong. Timaeus had tried to warn them it was not smart to leave and wander the palace with an attack like this, but that warning simply went in one ear and out the other. Yuugi knew the two would be fine so he left it alone and continued his staring out the window.

It was amazing how long a vampire could stand to stand in one spot most of the night and Yuugi did not feel the least bit tired. He had gotten some sleep before the explosions, but for a normal human that probably would not have been enough. The fires he had seen in the vampire district had finally been put out and the only thing left was the smoke from what was left of the blow up homes and possible businesses. Yuugi was glad Yami had left on his own because Yuugi was not sure he would be able to stomach any more deaths. The death toll was sure to be high and it would be amazing if they could bounce back after something like this.

His ears picked up footsteps outside the bedroom doors and Timaeus was immediately ready for anyone who came through that door as a threat to them. However it was the total opposite as the person on the other side knock before identifying themselves as Yami. Timaeus opened the door only slightly to make sure before he opened the door fully for his King.

Yuugi wasted no time in running up to Yami and wrapping his arms around his husband. They simply held each other while Timaeus slipped out to stand guard outside. The children did not wake, so Yami quietly lead his husband out onto the balcony so they could talk.

"How long have they been out?" Yami asked as he took a seat at the table.

Yuugi happily placed himself on Yami's lap before turning to address his husband. "I would say about five hours. It took a while for them to stop worrying about being attacked. The whole palace has been shaken up by the events."

"I'll tell you the truth Yuugi this is not going to look good. I might have to tell the people the truth about what is going on." Yami said with a sigh and he looked out over his once peaceful city. That peace was now shattered by the hunters he once feared. The hunters and priests he faced in ancient Egypt were probably long dead, but there descents were alive and well. The only humans turned away from living in vampire city were those with serious criminal records to insure the safety of his people within the city. Since that was the only reason a human would be unable to enter the city that gives Yami no clue as to what humans in the city could be part of the hunters. He just could not believe after all this time, they choose now to attack and cause destruction to his city.

Yuugi felt tears come to his eyes as he thought of what all these people were doing. "We are not some beasts who hurt people on a daily basis. I was a little uneasy when I first entered the city, but after living here for so long I grew to understand that vampires are every bit human but with immortally and drinking blood to survive." He turned to look at Yami, who looked down at him. "Then I fell in love with the one vampire who has changed my life in so many ways. It may have not been my choice, but I do not regret what I have become."

Tears came to the King's eyes as he embraced his partner as Yuugi sobbed on his shoulder. "I know there are just some people out there who can't stand others. The hunters can't stand us because of who we are and believe are race should not exist in order to keep the human race as it is. I thought all these troubles would be behind me when this city was created but it appears I was wrong."

The younger vampire took deep breath to calm down as he wiped at his tears. "How is everyone going to handle this?"

"If I tell the city the truth then it can cause panic with the vampires thus the vampires will kill any human they see as a threat," Yami explained and he really did not want that to come into play. "However if I keep quiet the city will think I am trying to cover something up and then there will be distrust in how I rule giving both humans and vampires a reason to get rid of the royal family. Either way this attack as caused a rift in the city that cannot be handled easily. Vampires need the humans in order to get blood donations so we can live and if I kick all the humans out then our race will slowly die."

The truth of it all was really hitting the two of them hard as the decision they made would change the city forever. The hunters had caused enough blood to be shed, but the people would start to tear the city apart if the King addressed his people with the truth. However by being King Yami had to make hard choices and in order to make it through this he would need the support of not only his family and friends, but the support and trust of his people that he could handle this and make the city safe once again.

"How long do you think we can stall the truth from everyone?" Yuugi questioned next since he knew Yami was more than likely going to have to tell his people the truth that hunters were here to kill vampires.

Yami remained silent for a moment as he thought over in his head how long he could seriously stall his citizens. "At most we probably have a week before I have to let everyone know. We need to have a full investigation of the murders that took place tonight and make sure this really was a hunter attack. Although I'm pretty sure it was after one of the hunters videotaped the explosions…" He finally said after thinking it over.

Yuugi looked up at Yami in surprise, before Yami continued with, "Two officers found a suspect right outside the vampire district with a video camera. He kept his face hidden from view with a mask so we have no idea who he really was. A vampire officer with his human partner told his partner to come and locate me about this. While the human found me, the vampire officer was killed by someone else we did catch on camera with the video camera that was left behind. Bakura and Marik are running prints and the face through the data base to see who is behind all of this."

"That was risky showing his face and probably leaving prints behind," Yuugi thought out loud as his face grew serious. "I mean it would be easy for us to find out who this person is and arrest him."

"They probably think we will not catch up to them. Either way I will be closing the portals down for a few weeks until this has been figured out so no human can disappear on us if they were a part of this attack." Yami said, before he heard a noise come from within their bedroom. There was the small cry of daddy and papa which meant Chan was awake. Since she was awake Yami would hold all other talk with Yuugi for later. Neither of his little ones needed to listen to all this or worry over it.

Yuugi hopped off of Yami's lap and headed into the room with Yami behind him. They found Chan awake and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She gave a lazy smile to Yami and held out her arms. "Daddy your back," She said with a yawn.

Yami chuckled and sat beside his little girl and pulled her into his arms. "Yes I am sweetie, did you sleep well?"

Chan shook her head, "I had a bad dream and I couldn't find either you or papa."

"Oh I'm sorry, but it was only a dream and both papa and I are here if you need us okay. Why don't you lie down and try to get a little more sleep. I'll be nearby if you need me…" Yami reassured her as he laid her back beside her brother and kissed her forehead.

The little girl gave Yami one more smile before she curled up and tried to fall back asleep. Once Yami was sure she would fall back asleep no problem, Yami rejoined Yuugi's side.

"I fear for our children more than anything else…" Yuugi said in a low voice so as not to wake the sleeping ones.

"I couldn't agree with you more. We will need to keep a watchful eye on the younger ones. Their appearance may fool the hunters into thinking they are the weaker ones in the family." Yami then quickly added, "Although Chan could probably give anyone a run for their money with how much she has learned in fighting from Taylor."

Yuugi couldn't help the chuckled that escaped his lips, before he embraced Yami once more. "Do you have a few minutes to relax with me before our day becomes hectic with the rising of the sun?"

Yami nodded as he lead Yuugi back out onto the balcony. "I've gotten everything covered in the vampire district for the moment and most of the vampires were relocated to the throne room to stay for the night until it is safe to go back to their homes or I can place those who may have lost their homes. It will certainly be busy today and I could use a break."

No one words were said between the two as they got comfortable watching the sun rise and making the city shine in its light. If only the sun was shining on a new bright day instead it would only bring heartache to some and panic to others. Vampire city would never be the same after that day.

As the day drifted on things were quieter in the city after the attack the night before. Yami took notice that palace workers quietly did their business and rarely spoke to one another in the hallways. The vampires who were living in the throne room for a few days were a mess with worry and Yami hated seeing his people like that. Right after breakfast Yami had visited them to reassure them that everything was being taken care of and they would have news soon, but for now they would need to stay put. They were welcomed to go into town if they wanted to, but to get back into the palace they would need to make sure they had their IDs available to be checked. If they did not have their IDs, they would have to remain in the palace if they wanted a place to stay until replacements could be made. However if they had somewhere else they could stay they were welcomed to leave if they liked. Yami was not taking any chances of someone sneaking into the palace to hurt his family, friends, or his citizens who worked for him in the palace.

A good few of the vampires did have somewhere else they could go and only about a hundred remained in the palace either because they had no home due to the explosion or they were scared to leave and risk being killed. Either way Yami would protect any vampire that wanted his help from those barbaric hunters who were plaguing his city.

The vampire district was under heavy watch and he had about fifty officers searching homes for any more bombs that may be there in the homes still standing. A good part of the distinct was left in ruins and there were no telling how many deaths. Marik had started getting a list made up of missing vampires when they got calls in with people worried about loved ones. So far the list only had about twenty names, but the number would probably go up as the day passed. The destroyed part of the city was being investigated by his best officers and detectives looking for any bomb fragments or bodies for evidence. Any injured vampires were being treated at the hospital near the district and thankfully only about ten were seriously hurt because of their weakness to fire.

News traveled quickly throughout the city and the King was already getting phone calls from reporters wanting a story about what was going on. His council wanted him to go live on the news to calm the people, but honestly Yami just did not feel ready for that. He got his council off his back by letting them know he would speak on the late night news and Yami only hoped he would be ready when the time came.

As noon came along and lunch would soon be served Yami had been heading to the dining hall to join his children and see how their day was going. The older children were just as quiet as the rest of the palace. They kept to themselves all morning and tried to help where they could. Chan and Kotaro stayed glued to Yuugi for most of the morning since Yami had work to be done. Yuugi wanted to help Yami out, but the children came first in both their eyes.

"Yo Yami wait up!" The King turned and noticed a certain blond running his way. Joey skidded to a spot and since Joey only every hung out with Yuugi or Seto he wasn't sure what Joey wanted with him.

"What is it Joey?" Yami turned to address him to at least hear him out.

"I've been looking for you. Seto's been helping Bakura and Marik out with the investigation and they found something they wanted you to see." Joey told him getting right to the point.

The idea of skipping lunch with his kids to see what those three found for him did not sound appealing, but with everything that was going on he decided to hear them out. "Alright, but if you could let Yuugi and the children know where I'm going, they should be in the dining room."

Joey nodded and headed the way Yami had been going while Yami headed back the way Joey had come. Yami hope the news was something seriously important or he would be one pissed off King.

The police headquarters for the city was located on the first floor of the palace to the right of the main palace doors. It was easy to see inside at all that was happening because half the walls were windows along with the door to the room. Police men and women in uniforms were running around, while normal office workers were sitting at computers with phones taking calls and putting the information in the computers. All phone calls to the police were sent to this office, then the dispatch would send a call to the small local stations that was closes to wherever police were needed. It helped the small local stations all over the city focus on their areas and to not worry so much about phone calls.

Yami entered the room causing all heads to turn and stare at him. There was a minute when everyone was still, before Bakura popped his head out of his office and told them to get back to work. They all did without another word allowing Yami to head to the back where the office was located and enter without problem. The small office had windows to see out at the main office area, but Bakura had closed them to give them some privacy. Marik had even locked the door behind Yami so no one would come in.

Seto was sitting at Bakura's desk typing away at the computer, while Marik and Bakura walked over to Marik's desk which had papers all over the place. The place was tidy for the two individuals who did not care about making a mess, but considering their job and people walking in and out of here it had to be at least somewhat clean.

Yami joined his two friends leaving Seto be for the moment as he typed away at a fast pace making his hands appear almost invisible. He had heard from Yuugi that Seto was a workaholic with his company back in Domino, which he still helped his little brother out with. Even though he could not be there he worked long hours to make sure his brother had time for his family. Only one complaint he had heard from Yuugi that Joey had about Seto becoming a vampire was that it gave him the ability to work longer and harder without affecting his health. Yami would never understand how one man could sit in front of a computer so long, but Seto was great with technology and was at least a good addition to his council.

"This could be good news or bad news depending on how well you take it…" Marik said as he went around and sat in his desk chair. He pushed the files on top around before finding a slip of paper, "Although first off I would just like to say the list of missing has jumped to a hundred vampires since this morning. Most likely all are dead, but we still are trying to find bodies to make sure."

"What is the news you wanted to tell me now, I would like to have lunch sometime today," Yami tried to hurry them along. He hated to hear that many vampires were missing or killed, but as Marik said until they had proof there was nothing they could report to the families.

"We are getting to that," Bakura grumbled as he threw some files at Marik, before finding the one he was looking for. He handed it over to Yami without a second thought. "We ran that human on the video through our facial software thanks to Seto along with all the prints we found on the camera and some bomb fragments that were discovered. It was amazing anything survived with fingerprints intact."

The King opened the file and started to look over it. The report was short and to the point, but it shocked the hell out of Yami. "What the hell does this mean they are not in the system?"

"Just what it says," Seto said as he stood up and joined them. "I ran the guys face that we got on the camera through the facial software since everyone gets their pictures taken when getting an ID, but it came back with no hits. Every print that was collected was also put in the system and no matches were found. Either these people are good or…"

"They entered the city illegally," Yami finished for him with a growl. The most important thing Yami wanted to know was how they got into the city. Every human is checked and no one could get through the portals without the portal holders knowing or getting pass Chloe. The idea of what happened to Yuugi entered his mind, but there was no way the hunters were coming into the city by accident. "I want this figured out now. The portals are going to be shut down for a few weeks while this mess is taken care of. If the criminals are hiding out in the city I want them found. Everyone in the city will have to show their ID to any officer who ask to make sure they are legal."

There were no more words exchanged as Yami left the office in a sour mood. The knowing that there were people here who were not citizens caused his emotions to change from worry to pure anger. This was his city and no one who did not belong was invited. If they did find some of these criminals then they were going to be in for it, because they were in his city and no one on the outside would be able to help them. As far as he was concerned death was the only suitable punishment for their crimes.

Sakura: This chapter felt slightly shorter than I wanted it to be, but I got more things planned out and this will help build up suspense by leaving it here for now. Lots more is going to happen in the next chapter so be ready!

Yumi: Review!