Sodom: And here i go again on my own! Going down the only road i've ever know!
Syrus: Shut up! *throws lamp* You're making my ears bleed!
Sodom: You will listen to my singing and enjoy it!
*Random arguing in the background*
Love: Sorry for that! Well...I guess i have to do the disclaimer and start the story, huh?
Tenoch: Nope! I will! Sodom doesnt own Yugioh, as much as she wishes for it to be, its too awesome for her!
Chapter 4
Yugi sped out of the big top to get to his grandpa's tent, but slowed to a stop behind a smaller tent as he saw people guarding the entrance to the bigger tent.
"Who's that?" Ryou's voice whispered in his ear and Yugi jumped away in surprise.
"Ryou, you scared me!" Yugi hissed and breathed slowly to calm his racing heart.
"We came too!" Malik waved as he came to a stop beside Ryou with Jounouchi bringing up the rear. Yugi rolled his eyes in annoyance, but was glad that his friends were there.
"What are you guys doing here?" Yugi whispered to them. "This isn't really about you guys and I just wanted to check on grandpa."
"If it concerns grandpa, it concerns us too, Yugi." Jou reasoned and Ryou and Malik nodded.
"Yeah. The circus is our home and grandpa is the heart of it. If someone messes with him, he messes with all of us." Ryou said fiercely, and Malik smiled.
"We're all family now, right? We need to protect each other!" Malik cheered and initiated a group hug. Yugi giggled and wiggled to get out of the bone-crushing hug his friends were giving him.
"Thanks guys." Yugi smiled, and then turned to focus on the matter at hand. "So how are we going to get past these guys?" he asked and a shiver of fear ran up his spine as he caught sight of Malik's evil expression.
"Don't worry, Yugi. I got this covered." He chuckled darkly and nudged Jounouchi. Jou nodded and smirked.
"We can distract the guys in front while you guys sneak in through the back, got it?" Jou locked eyes with Yugi and the small boy nodded in understanding.
"Right! Now let the show begin!" Malik said with a little bit too much enthusiasm and both taller boys walked away from the protection of the smaller tent.
"Ready for this, Ryou?" Yugi whispered and the white-haired boy nodded.
"Then let's go." Ryou nodded and both ducked around the back and swiftly made their way to the back of the big tent.
"I hear something." Ryou whispered and both pressed their ears against the tent.
"…all this for the small boy." A low baritone voice said and the boys listened harder.
"And which small boy would that be?" Yugi heard his grandpa say back to the voice. The voice chuckled."
"Why, Yugi, of course." Yugi and Ryou stiffened as he said that and Yugi's breath caught in his throat. There was a short pause, then Solomon's booming voice was equal in volume to what he used to address an audience.
"WHAT?! HOW CAN YOU ASK ME TO SELL MY OWN GRANDSON!?" Solomon shouted with the force that was equal to a lion.
"It's a simple negotiation." The voice said calmly, no hint of wavering in his voice. "In exchange for the boy, I will give you enough money to make sure that your circus will stay in business for years to come." The voice reasoned and Yugi thought this was a good enough time to interrupt their conversation.
"Yugi, no…" Ryou hissed and tried to hold Yugi back, but the star-haired boy broke free of his friend's hold and ducked under the tent flap to enter.
"Someone talking about me?" Yugi smirked and walked to stand by his grandfather to face the two robed figures in front of him.
"Yugi, you shouldn't be here." Solomon said to him in a strained voice. Yugi put his hand on his grandpa's shoulder comfortingly.
"It's ok, grandpa. I got this." He said soothingly and locked his eyes with the lead hooded figure. Yugi couldn't see any features on the man except for the penetrating crimson eyes that sent a shiver throughout his body.
"Little Yugi." the lead figure chuckled and Yugi's eyes narrowed into a glare. "I take it you heard our negotiations?"
"Yeah, I heard you." Yugi replied and crossed his arms over his chest.
"So what do you think? Will you agree to our negotiations?" the red-eyed hooded man asked calmly.
"No, Yugi! Don't!" Solomon begged and clutched at the hand that was still on his shoulder.
"Now, now, Solomon." The red-eyed man shushed him. "Since Yugi is now here and he's old enough, he can make the decision by himself." Yugi didn't like the look in the man's eyes. They reflected greed and vanity and gave off the impression that he always got his way.
"Besides, even if you say no we'll take you anyways. So would you leave peacefully, or forcefully?" the red-eyed man said threateningly and Yugi flinched slightly before looking at the ground.
Yugi thought miserably. 'But if I go willingly, the circus at least gets money out of it and probably won't get attacked.' Yugi looked back up, fire in his eyes. 'I guess I have to…'
"Alright. I accept your offer." Yugi nodded and steeled his heart for what was to come.
"No! Please, Yugi, no!" Solomon cried and turned to cling to his grandson.
"No, Yugi! Dont leave!" Ryou suddenly burst from the back of the tent and the other hooded figure in the room shifted.
"Don't leave, Yugi! Don't let them take you!" the knife-thrower threw his arms around Yugi's waist and held him tight.
"I have to, Ryou. If not then..." Yugi tried to convey to his friend, but then two other figures burst in from the entrance.
"YUGI!" Jou rushed to hug his friend as he had heard the entire conversation as well.
"NOOO! DON'T GOO!" Malik shouted and latched onto Yugi as well.
"Guys, I have to. If not, then they'll take me anyways and I get the feeling that they won't be as nice as they are now." Yugi reasoned with them and tried to hold back tears. Ryou was already shaking with sobs and Solomon was crying his eyes out.
"Then at least take us with you!" Jou said and clung tighter to Yugi.
"Yeah! Take us too!" Malik turned to plead with the red-eyed figure.
"Yeah, why not take them. Or at least Malik anyways. I like him!" one of the guards poked his head through the tent flap, followed shortly by the other.
"Yes. I think it's a good idea. Jounouchi is pretty cool." The other guard argued and the figure that had remained silent while in the tent threw in his opinion as well.
"Making Ryou come with the shrimp might not be so bad of an idea." The brown-eyed guard grumbled. The red-eyed figure was getting frustrated and put his head in his hand, exasperated. All he wanted was to come in, get Yugi, then go home. Was that too much to ask?
"No guys. You can't." Yugi choked out, finally letting the tears flow as he tried to pull out of everyone's crushing embrace.
"Why not!?" Malik whined and hung onto Yugi to prevent him from leaving.
"Because if you go, you would leave Grandpa all alone, not to mention taking away all of the best acts from the show!" Yugi cried and looked directly into the eyes of his friends.
"But-!" they tried to protest, but Yugi silenced them with a look.
"This circus needs you guys to keep it going. I need you all to stay here and take care of it while I'm gone. Can you do that for me?" Yugi said gently, wiping away the tears of all his friends.
"W-we can do th-that…but...Yugi!" Ryou sobbed.
"You don't have to do this, Yugi." Solomon looked mournfully at his grandson and Yugi smiled at him gently.
"I'll be fine, grandpa. You know that I can take care of myself." Yugi assured and hugged his friends before untangling himself. He stepped forward and stood in front of the red-eyed figure, giving him a steely glare.
"I'll go with you on one condition." Yugi said and the crimson eyes widened a little in surprise but he maintained his calm façade.
"And what would that be, little one?" A hint of amusement was evident in the man's voice as he spoke.
"I want to be in one last performance." Yugi locked eyes with the man to show that he was serious.
"Is that all you want, little one?" the man asked and Yugi hesitated. Was there anything he wanted to know?
"No, just one more thing." Yugi looked down at the floor, his bangs shading his eyes. The tilted his head curiously.
"And what would that be?" he asked. What else could the boy want? He was honestly curious.
"Why would you pay this much just to get at me?" the boy's eyes were still shaded as the red-eyed man tried to catch a glimpse of his eyes.
"I will reveal that to you when I finally have you." The man said with a smirk.
"And I will be expecting that explanation." Yugi's head snapped up and the red-eyed man saw flames in the boy's young amethyst eyes that shocked him. Oh yes, he would definitely be amused with this boy.
"Don't worry, boy. You'll get your explanation." The man chuckled and nodded to the brown-eyed guard. "Now, you can do your last performance, but I'm leaving Bakura here to make sure you don't run off or anything." The red-eyed man chuckled at the scowl Yugi sent him and began to walk out. "I'll wait for you when the show is over." The man threw the offhanded comment over his shoulder and left, the two guards outside following him.
'Dammit.' Yugi thought and let the tears he had been holding back rolling down his cheeks, not caring if the brown-eyed guard saw. 'What do I do now?' he thought and collapsed to his knees, hugging his shaking frame.
Sodom: I hope this will keep ypu all satisfied for a while, because i will be late on chappies alot. I have no net at my house, so i hafta find other places where i can post.
Syrus: Nice going. moron...
Sodom: Not my fault! Now shut up and take pictures of your kids!
Syrus: Fine...
Sodom: Sorry for this unfortunate news, but i will try to keep up with the chapters, regardless! R&R and stay true, everyone!