Dripping Wings
Yuugi felt his heart clench in his chest.
It was just like when he mistook Jono for his old roommate, Jou. Surely, it was Honda Hiroto that was writhing on that small medical bed, and not Tristan, leader of the El-Ekehrah Dragonforces. That wasn't one of his loyal captains that was about to die, it was the rough but friendly man that had saved his hide and died for it back in Domino!
If only Jou hadn't owed people so much money. He had begged, borrowed, and stolen so much to try to pay for more than just his alcohol problem, but his sister's operation as well. Shizuka would have gone blind if she didn't get the operation done at that point in time. Her eyes would have become damaged beyond repair. He got the wrong people angry at him. Honda, stupid, friendly Honda, was just as much of a street punk as Yuugi and Jou were, but he was usually smarter about who he pissed off.
He saved Yuugi one day when some of the bill collectors came and tried to leave a message for Jou carved in Yuugi's back. Honda was only the first of Jou's friends to die as a warning.
Yuugi hadn't expected any more of those memories to pop up, especially in such an ugly circumstance as they were right then.
I couldn't help you, Honda, but perhaps I can help you here, as Tristan, instead. Now that I can help, I'm going to do everything I can for you. I owe it to you.
He shook his head roughly. He could not freeze up with emotion at a time like this.
There was a terrible aura that was surrounding the injured man. It made even Yuugi feel nauseated while being near it. Still, though, if there was anyone that could solve this, it was him. He swallowed down the bile that was starting to rise in his throat and steeled himself against his current task.
Tristan looked like he would have been considered a handsome man, if it weren't for the fact that his face was flush and covered with sweat, and that his expression was so strained he couldn't even open his eyes. He wasn't aware of anything going on around him. Not even the physical stimulus of Yuugi pushing his hand against the man's forehead caused a reaction.
His temperature was high. There was obviously some foreign entity that his body was trying to get rid of. When Yuugi checked his pulse, he realized this was going to call for measures far more drastic than the soothing pink energy of the standard healer and potions.
Yuugi summoned a ball of Cold Light into his hand. Unlike his shadows and normal light gifts, which seemed to inhabit his whole body, the Cold Light came directly from the center of his chest, right around his heart. It was also always so eager to jump into use. A cool draft moved from around his chest, down his arm, and pooled in his hand.
Yuugi pushed the energy into the heart of the man on the bed and began to manipulate it. He stretched it to fill the rest of Tristan's body and weaved it into a stronger structure of magickal lines. This action would keep his body stable, and numb to pain, which would allow Yuugi enough time to work to pull out the vile energy that was currently poisoning him.
When Yuugi began his normal sweeps of his healing gift, he noticed why this issue was indeed so horrible.
Calling it 'God-Magick' wasn't too far off from the truth. It did have divine energy running through it. In fact, it wasn't even traces, it was the whole thing. How did they get the vile energy of their god into their weapons? This was potent power that very few mages in history would be able to counter-act.
He began the extraction process. It was slow, so painfully slow as he tried to pull the poison away thread by tiny little thread.
Atemu became worried when Yuugi, who was usually so quiet and calm as he worked, cried out in unmistakable panic. "What's wrong?" he questioned urgently.
Yuugi practically snarled as he struggled. "The poison is fighting me!" A bright light filled the room as he pushed yet more energy into his task.
The occupants of the room had to shield their eyes from the onslaught of light.
By the end of it, Yuugi was practically yelling with the force of his work.
When silence finally descended, it was almost eerie. The only noise that was heard was the sound of Yuugi's labored breaths as he sat on the floor and attempted to regain his composure. His face was pale, and his eyes were barely half way open.
Atemu made his way over to him and helped him up. "What happened? Will Tristan be all right? Are you all right?"
Yuugi clutched to Atemu as he felt his warmth. That healing had seemed to suck away every last ounce of heat in his body. He looked over at the bed to double check his work, glad when he saw Tristan was silent, breathing evenly, and looked peacefully asleep. The sweat that was still on his forehead was starting to disappear. "The weapons have been charmed with Enochnral's magick. The poison has a primitive sort of intelligence all of its own, and it fights back against a healer when they try to remove it."
Marik felt like a piece of iron had been dropped in his stomach. How did any of them stand a chance against weapons like that? "How did you remove it, then?" he asked.
Yuugi gave Marik a half grin. "Because I am stronger than the magick of the poison. Unfortunately for everyone else, they aren't, and that leaves the whole army vulnerable. One hit with this stuff, even something as small as a paper-cut, would rend a warrior useless." He sighed into Atemu's arms. "But I believe I know a way to help counter some of these affects."
Everyone in the room felt their spirits raise a bit. "How?" Atemu asked.
"They've got one god. We've got thirteen. I think we can invoke some divine energy of our own to protect our armor and sharpen our weapons. Atemu, I need every Priestess in the city, and any mage or Guardian that can summon a goddess with me as soon as possible. We've got a lot of equipment to charm."
xxx
Atemu brushed away some of the sweat that coated his forehead. He leaned further over Yuugi as the smaller man slept and brushed away a lock of hair. The bed they were using was in the largest suite of the palace. It was always reserved for the current monarch, whether they ever used it or not. It was also a subtle reminder to the High Guardian of the city that they were not truly the one in charge; Sekesha's King or Queen would always have more rank, power, and status, even if they were thousands of miles away.
Yuugi had passed out not a couple of hours before sunrise. He'd spent the entire evening showing all of the priestesses and mage gifted in El-Ekehrah that could do it how to properly charm the weapons and armor of the army. The charmed equipment would help protect their army against the poisonous magick of Enochnral. Yuugi could do nothing to protect everyone from a sword cutting off a limb or running through someone's body, but he could divert the the negative effects of the magick, so long as the charmed armor and weapons were used.
Atemu was saddened by the fact that Yuugi had worked until he passed out. Literally. Atemu had to catch him as he fell to the ground after the last charm.
So far, Tristan was the only person to survive the God-Magick. It appeared that Yuugi was, indeed, the only person strong enough to remove the effects and not die in the process. All of the others that had been affected by the charmed Questchal weapons died on the battlefield. Even if Yuugi had tried, he wouldn't have been able to reach them in time.
Atemu allowed himself to lay down next to his Bonded. They had a battle to prepare for, if they wanted to take back one of the out-posts, but they weren't going to be able to command anything, much less their troops, if they didn't get some sleep. I just hope we have enough time.
Thankfully, wonderfully, Marik and Jono knew where he and Yuugi were. Jono was even there when Atemu caught Yuugi has he passed out. They would not be bothered until it was absolutely necessary to wake them. After all, Atemu had spent the entire time Yuugi was working planning out with Marik and Jono just how they were going to take back one of the out-posts. All that was left to do was gear up and head out.
He didn't know what to think about how hard Yuugi was already pushing himself. Clearly he was trying to live up to what the Goddesses wanted him to do. Atemu was afraid that Yuugi was going to kill himself early trying to live up to these expectations. No one knew just how long he had left to live, and how he was going to die, but Atemu had a feeling that it wasn't supposed to end quite so quickly.
He allowed his hand to hover over Yuugi's heart as his thoughts wandered. What would happen, if he were to run a dagger through Yuugi's heart, right then and there? Would the battle be over then? Would Enochnral die, and would Yuugi pass peacefully into the afterlife without going through the strife of war?
The treacherous thoughts caused his hand to shake and his blood to run cold in his veins.
All he wanted to do was run away with him, hide him from the world and everyone in it. If only he could protect him the way he really wanted to. If only they could avoid the consequences of running from it all. Who needed to rule a country, when they'd already found their soul mate? What more was there to life?
Atemu lowered his hand. He'd never forgive me. In fact, Atemu doubted he could forgive himself, when it came down to it, if he willingly let everyone die for the sake of Yuugi's life.
Sometimes, though...sometimes, when things seemed the hardest, he almost could.
Atemu forced himself to stop dwelling on such thoughts, and allowed himself to lay down next to his Bonded and fall to sleep himself. He needed it, after all, almost as much as Yuugi did.
He supposed, as things often go, that he shouldn't have been surprised at what happened. After all, it was war, and truly, anything was possible. However, as things tend to go, instead of the way they should, they went the way they shoudn't, and Atemu had to force his throbbing heart back down into his chest proper when the shocking news was delivered to him and Yuugi long before they were due to wake up.
It was Jono who told him of the news, followed by Marik, Tristan, and a healer he didn't recognize. "We have to move now," Jono urged. Marik was in the middle of belting on his sword and scabbard. "The last of the out-posts were attacked and sacked! Only one remains, and it is under heavy fire right now! Our borders are about to go down!"
He couldn't panic. It would solve nothing.
But Goddesses above, the border hadn't been down in over two thousand years! What was he supposed to do??
He got up and started to get his armor on. An attendant rushed into the room and began to help him. "Are the armies assembled? Dragons harnessed, Sacreds ready, cavalry, infantry?"
"Yes, Sire. We're waiting for you...and Yuugi."
Yuugi. Atemu looked over and noticed that Yuugi hadn't woken up yet. Even the panic of the conversation hadn't caused him to stir. That wasn't right. Yuugi was a naturally light sleeper. He always woke up when there was someone else in the room. He walked to the other side of the bed and shook his shoulder. "Yuugi, wake up!"
Not even a twitch on his face!
"Shit!" He screeched. "He's still out of energy! He needs a healer; someone that can give him energy. Keystones, transfers, anything! Now!"
Marik and the lower-class healer ran off to find someone else with enough ability to help him. Atemu wasn't a healer- not even close. He did not possess the ability to heal. His tutors had tried to teach him, but he had failed at even attempting to grasp the concept behind healing, much less the actual implementation of it. He was literally powerless to help Yuugi.
The person that came in was one that he should have recognized, but for the life of him he couldn't remember where. The healer had pure white hair, like most Sekeshans, and soft brown eyes. He wore a mint green robe with a silver slash- a very high class healer indeed. Silver sashes were reserved only for the very best healers. Very few were ever given out. Atemu didn't think he'd seen one for perhaps eight years, they were so rare.
The healer looked at him and bowed swiftly, then hurriedly made his way over to Yuugi's side. "Many pardons, your Highness, but we don't have time for pleasantries."
Atemu was amazed to watch as he shoved a handful of energy into Yuugi's chest, just as Yuugi had done to Tristan when he was healing him. The King had only ever seen Yuugi heal in such a way before.
The white haired healer held his hand out for Atemu in demand. "Come. I'm going to use your Blood Bond to transfer some of your energy into Yuugi. He'll accept the energy much more easily. No chance of rejection. It's the only way he's going to wake up."
Atemu handed over his hand without responding vocally. How this man knew of the bond, and why he was so familiar with Yuugi's name was strange, but he wasn't going to question until he had time.
The transfer of energy didn't hurt at all. In fact, he only felt a little winded when it was over. The man was really good at what he did.
Atemu could have almost forgotten about the war when Yuugi's eyes opened up and he spoke Atemu's name. Atemu pulled Yuugi into a sitting position and looked him in the eyes. I'm asking too much of him, but I cannot simply sit here and not tell him what's happening. "Darling, wake up. We need you. The last out-posts is under attack. Our borders are about to fall, we must go!"
Yuugi's eyes were still clouded with sleep, but he woke up quickly just the same. "So soon?" he found himself saying the same phrase again.
"Eat this, Yuugi." The healer grabbed one of Yuugi's hands and shoved into it an undefinable substance.
Yuugi looked at what was in his hand, then at the healer, and his wide purple eyes became wider. "Ryou?"
The man smiled. "Hi, Yuugi. Long time, no see."
Yuugi nearly laughed as he slung an arm around Ryou in a hug. "I can't believe it. I thought I wouldn't see you again! I'm....I'm glad you're here, though I wish you didn't have to be."
Ryou's smile became warmer. "I know, but there's no time right now. Eat that, you'll feel better, and go! I'll be at the front lines just after you. The border is about to fall."