Here's the next chapter.

Sorry it's been nearly a month since I updated this story. I'll try and not let that happen again.

Just so you all know I might not be able to update for the next two or so weeks. I've got my dads parent up visiting and it might be hard to try and write stories while they are here. I will be writing as much as I can but I might not be able to update. I will once they leave.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 16

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Previously: "I can't sleep in a bed in this form so I have to wait till I've digested my food before I can change back. So enjoy the bed to yourself while you can."

Akefia curled his head in with the rest of his body before going completely still. Ryou looked at him for a second before taking his shoes off and curling up under the blanket on the bed. Ryou stayed close to the edge of the bed in case Akefia changed back and wanted to sleep in the bed.

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"Bold" In snake form talking.

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The Next Morning

Yugi was finally waking up. He didn't feel well at all. He felt cold even though he was under a lot of blankets from what he could see. Yugi's eyes slowly focused to find what he thought were blankets were actually animal skins, keeping him warm. Yugi weakly sat up and pushed them away before looking around to find a set of crimson eyes looking at him. Yugi shook when he realised the eyes belonged to the naga that looked similar to him and also from one of the snakes they saw when they first arrived in the temple. Yugi whimpered and tried to move backwards but the bed stopped him.

"It's alright Yugi. I'm not going to hurt you. Please stop panicking or you'll make yourself worse." Yugi just whimpered more and picked up a pillow and threw it at the snake, but it landed short of him. "I'm going to change back now and make you something to drink."

Yugi watched with mild fascination as the upper body changed. Yugi was now looking at the half human, half snake form of Atemu. Atemu moved over to the fire place and placed a pot full of water over to sit on the coals as he set about to make Yugi something warm to drink and food for everyone.

"I want my friends." Yugi said softly, scared of upsetting him.

"They'll be here soon, don't worry. We meet here for breakfast at the moment. Now why don't you lay down and keep warm while I make you something to drink."

Yugi hesitated for a second before curling up under the only blanket there was, keeping his eyes on Atemu. Atemu tended to the water and waited for a few minutes as it boiled before taking it off and pouring the water into two cups. Atemu turned and moved over to the bed, climbing on and turned to Yugi, who was shaking in fear.

"It's alright. Sit up and you can get something into you. I'm sure you are hungry and thirsty. You won't be hurt. I promise. Why don't I tell you the same rules I told your friends." Yugi just whimpered in fear. "Here, this will help to warm you up." Atemu said holding out the cup, while Yugi eyed it warily. "It's not poisoned. If I wanted to hurt and kill you I would have done it the instant you found the statues."

Yugi thought it over before nodding. Yugi took the cup from him and carefully took a mouthful before sighing as it provided warmth to his body. After a few minutes he had devoured the whole cup before setting it on the bedside table and curling up more. Atemu soon finished after Yugi and took the cups and placed them by the fire.

Yugi watched as Atemu moved off the bed. He watched in fascination how his body moved as he slithered over to the fire place, mainly watching how his tail moved. Yugi frowned when he felt his throat start to tickle before he covered his mouth and coughed. It wasn't one but many. Yugi curled onto his side as the coughing shook his whole frame. He felt strong hands gently patting his back to help him.

Once he recovered he lay there breathing heavily trying to get air back into his lungs. The strong hands were now gently rubbing circles on his back as if to sooth the pain that may have been caused by his patting. When he opened he saw Atemu sitting behind him rubbing his back and he tensed up.

"Relax I'm not going to hurt you."

"But you were so cruel yesterday."

"You mean the day before yesterday. You've been asleep all yesterday." Yugi's eyes widened. "Yes we've been worried. I know I was cruel along with my friends but it was more to just scare you into obeying. It worked on you and Ryou, Malik on the other hand is going to keep Mariku busy." Atemu chuckled.

"Are they ok?"

"Yes, Ryou has a slight cough but otherwise they are both fine. Malik is an interesting one."

Yugi smiled. "He'll keep everyone on their toes."

"He already has."

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Malik blinked as he woke up. He still was chained to the bed head but at least he could move his hand around. Malik blinked again feeling something flick across his belly slightly. Malik moved the sheet away to find Mariku's tail there. It was draped over the top of his stomach and the end had curled back up from the bed and every so often twitching and flicking.

Growling Malik moved to climb off the bed when the tail slammed against the bed and crushing slightly into Malik's side. Malik winced and rolled onto his back relieving some of the pressure on his body. Malik sighed and looked over at Mariku to find him lying with his back to him. Malik growled in annoyance and turned on side again so he had his back to Mariku.

Malik lay there for a while till he gasped in pain. Mariku's tail had crushed itself to the bed as Mariku cried out in pain. Malik soon gave his own cry of pain as he tried to move off the bed. He couldn't move an inch with the heavy tail crushing against him. Malik cried in pain as he gripped the tail and one of the scales slid under his nail. Malik gripped it and in desperation for breath and the loss of pain, he pulled the scale back the opposite way. Mariku screamed again and dragged his tail away in defence. Malik gasped and slid off the bed and to the floor.

Mariku gave one last cry of terror and woke up, panting for breath. Mariku hissed in pain, which was coming from his tail as he rubbed the area.

"Malik?" He called when he saw he wasn't in the bed and the chain led to the ground beside it.

Malik's head popped up a minute later. "What?"

Mariku could hear pain in his voice and see it in his eyes. It was also visible because of the tears falling down his face. Mariku climbed off his side of the bed and moved around. Malik tried to push back further as Mariku came towards him but he just hit the bedside table. Mariku lowered himself closer to the ground and looked at Malik.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying?" Mariku asked as he reached out and wiped away Malik's tears but they were just replaced by more.

"Because of you."

"What?"

"You hurt me. Your tail nearly killed me."

"How? What are you talking about?"

"You slammed your tail down and screamed. I couldn't get it off. I had to pull one of your scales back. I'm sorry, but I couldn't breathe."

Mariku's eyes widened. He had awoken by a nightmare and it explained why his tail was sore. Mariku reached forward and slid one arm around his back and the other under Malik's legs. Malik ended up flinching slightly before he was lifted from the ground and placed on the bed. Mariku lifted his shirt to see a large red mark on his side from where his tail had pressed against him. Mariku gently prodded along his rib cage, getting small yelps from him.

"I don't think there is any major damage, just bruising."

Malik just pulled his shirt down and held his side. His tears had faded but his eyes were still red from crying.

"Malik I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You were having a nightmare. What was it about?"

"Something that happened a very long time ago."

"Tell me."

~~∞Ω∞Ω∞~~ End of Chapter 16 ~~∞Ω∞Ω∞~~

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