"I`ll make a deal with you Pharaoh, I get back my Neko and you can have your friends back." Akefia said
"Fine but I want my friends first."
"As you wish but I keep a hold of them and your Neko."
"No! I agreed to let you have your Neko back but I never agreed to you touching my Neko, never the less keeping him hostage."
"Well it`s that or you don't get your friends back."
"Wait, I didn't know anyone was taken from you and placed in the dungeons so I don't know where he is being kept but Yugi does."
"What are you getting at?"
"Yugi has the scent of your Neko meaning Yugi can lead us to him, but he can`t do that if you have him held hostage."
"You have a good point."
"How about this, you go collect Bakura and Marik, a few of your raiders and come with me to the palace,-before you say anything listen- you won`t be harmed I will be there the whole time Yugi will lead us to your Neko and I will release him to you, but then you must release my friends and I will let you leave freely and un-followed."
"How can I trust you?"
"What do you want?"
"If you say that I will be un-harmed, then make it so no guards walking around the palace with us and no guards at the gate when I leave."
"Done, also to ensure your safely furthermore wear cloaks to keep yourself covered."
"How long are you willing to wait?"
"I have a few hours, because Yugi and I must be back before sunset."
"I will be back in a few hours, you better still be here."
"I will." Then he nodded and walked off. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding before walking over to where Yugi was and sitting down
"Where Neko man?"
"Don`t worry Yugi he`ll be back soon, but I need you to do me a favour when we get back to the palace."
"What me do?"
"I need you to find that Neko you have the scent of can you do that?"
"If me smell Neko man`s fingers gain."
"Alright, I will tell him but you can't say anything to anyone about this okay? We are helping out someone we really shouldn`t but I can`t stand a Neko being in a cage or begin hurt in any way."
"Me help Pearoh." I smiled
"Thank you Yugi."
-Two hours later-
Yugi was sat curled up in my lap and I was scratching behind his ears when he suddenly began hissing. I continued to scratch behind his ears which instantly calmed him down
"You`re still here." Akefia said
"I told you I would be, I said I would help you get your Neko back and I intend to do so."
"Why?"
"Because I can't stand Neko`s being hurt or locked up that's why." I lifted Yugi up onto my shoulders which he then curled his tail around my neck and I stood up and turn to face Akefia to see only him and two others in cloaks
"Where are-" he removed the hoods on the cloaks to reveal badly beaten up Bakura and Marik who had gags in their mouths
"I told you I`d bring them."
"What about your other raiders?"
"They wouldn`t come, cowards."
"They don`t seem to be very loyal."
"The only one I trust is Ryou."
"Ryou is?"
"Neko, Ryou is Neko."
"Oh, thank you Yugi."
"He told you Ryou was the Neko huh?"
"Yes he did, we best get going now if you want to get back from the Palace before sunset."
"Yes we should." I walked over to my horse and climbed on. I then moved Yugi so he was sat in front of me
"Wait, how did you get them here?" Akefia looked at me and smiled
"I`m not that cruel, I let them use the horses they were on when we first caught them, we don't kill animals."
"Alright let`s get moving." He nodded and climbed onto his horse. I looked behind me and saw Marik and Bakura on their horses. They nodded at me and I smiled before breaking the horse into a run causing Yugi to cling onto me. I smiled and wrapped an arm around him to keep him from falling. I looked over my shoulder to see them following me and keeping up. We arrived back shortly after setting off and I dismissed the guards before leading the three men to the stables. Once there I climbed off my horse and placed Yugi on my shoulders again before dismounting my horse and turning to face the other three
"You kept your word in dismissing the guards at the gate." Akefia stated
"I always keep my word, now we are going to find Ryou, but Yugi needs to get the scent again so he needs to smell the tips of your fingers."
"Alright." He walked over to me and held out his hand to Yugi who lent forward and sniffed before pulling back
"Me got it." He jumped down from my shoulder and headed to the door
"Keep the hood on your cloak up." Akefia nodded and followed me and I followed Yugi out of the stables. We followed Yugi until we arrived at the door that led down to the dungeon; I opened the door and followed Yugi down the stairs. When we reached the bottom Yugi turned and walked away from the cells
"Where is he going?" Akefia asked quietly
"I don't know." We continued to follow him until he started scratching at a door at the end of the hall
"Is he in there Yugi?"
"Neko inside."
"Alright." I opened the door and walked in after Yugi who ran in and over to a cage and began clawing at the lock. There was a figure inside who was shaking
"Ryou!" Akefia called and rushed over causing the figure to look up and cry
"A- Akefia." He said
"Don`t worry Ryou, we`ll get you out of there." I noticed the keys on a hook by the door out of the corner of my eye I picked them up and walked over to the cage. Akefia moved out of the way as did Yugi where at Ryou looked scared and tried to move as far as possible from me. Is sighed and unlocked the cage before picking up Yugi and walking over to Bakura and Marik to untie them
"You guys alright?"
"Yeah we`re good." Bakura answered and stroked Yugi who purred in response
"It`s good to have you two back."
"Did the council really give up on us?" Marik asked
"Unfortunately."
"Hey." I turned to the sound of Akefia`s voice. I saw he had his cape wrapped around Ryou and was holding him close
"Ready to go?"
"Actually, Ryou wants to speak to your Neko, if that`s okay?" I noticed him rubbing his side
"Um, sure as long as he`s not in any danger or his brother would have my head."
"I won't hurt him, I wouldn`t dare hurt a Neko no matter who they are with or take a liking to."
"Me sense no danger."
"Are you sure Yugi?" he nodded
"Me careful, me promise."
"I know you`ll be careful, I trust you Yugi, it`s him I don`t."
"Me said no danger!" I sighed
"Alright Yugi."
"You-you h-had t-the s-spell p-put o-on y-you." I heard Ryou say
"Yeah I did, I wanted to understand Neko`s especially Yugi, considering he`s only two."
"Really? No wonder he`s so playful and active." Akefia said
"Touch him and I take back my word." I clutched Yugi closed to me
"I already said I would hurt him, plus Ryou wouldn`t let me, even if I wanted to."
"I-I'll m-make s-sure h-he`s u-unharmed, I-it`s o-only f-for a-a f-few m-minutes." Ryou said. I sighed and nodded before walking over to them and handing Yugi to Ryou before stepping back to stand with Bakura who placed a hand on my shoulder, I looked at him and saw him nod which I smiled slightly at. I listen to the quiet conversation between the two Neko`s
"Thank you for helping save me young one."
"It okay, me glad help."
"You really are cute, my name`s Ryou."
"Me Yugi, me have big brother here."
"Really? What`s his name?"
"Jono, he glad Pearoh ound me."
"Jono? I never thought I`d hear that name again." I saw Yugi`s ear twitch before he began hissing towards the door
"What`s wrong with him?" Akefia asked in alarm
"Someone`s coming and Yugi already doesn`t like them."
"How do you know that?" Marik asked
"Yugi doesn`t like Mana, and he had every right not to...I`ll explain later." Suddenly the door opened and a guard walk into the room
"Time to play- Thief king! How did you get in here?" He demanded
"That`s none of your concern." Akefia replied, the guard pulled out a sword and ran at the three
"Yugi!" Akefia pushed Ryou and Yugi towards me but Ryou tripped and I barely caught him
"AH!" I looked over to see the guard had stabbed Akefia right threw the stomach and was twisting his sword
"Bakura, Marik!" both ran over and pulled the guard away. Akefia stumbled a bit but managed to stay up right
"P-Pharaoh." I stood up and walked over to him and caught him as he fell and carefully lowered him to the ground
" Akefia, I-I`m sorry, there isn't much I can do."
"Heh, you broke your promise Pharaoh."
"I know, I didn`t-"
"Shut up, I don`t have long and I want to talk to Ryou as well to listen...I want you to take Ryou in, care for him and watch over him, make sure no harm comes to him."
"The only way I can ensure that is if he becomes a personal servant."
"Then place him with Bakura, Ryou took...a liking to him...promise me he won't come to me before his time."
"I promise."
"Good now get me Ryou." I nodded and looked over my shoulder at Ryou
"Ryou you can come over now." He rushed over and knelt down next to Akefia setting Yugi down as well who came over to me
" Akefia, don`t leave me you can`t."
"I`m sorry Ryou, but you knew this would come eventually, listen I don`t have long...Pharaoh has promised me no harm will come to you- but the only way for that is to become Bakura`s personal servant, I know you like him Ryou, just promise me this don't try to hurt yourself, and don't come to me before your time okay?"
"I-I won't, I-I Promise." I saw Yugi place his hands on Akefia stomach near the wound and I saw his hands begin glowing Amethyst
"W-what`s he doing?" Akefia asked
"Me help, no pain, peaceful rest, see my daddy, no bad place for you."
"He says he is helping with the pain so you can have a peaceful rest and also you won't be going to Anubis, you`ll be going to see Yugi`s father he`ll greet you there." Ryou smiled and Akefia stroked Yugi`s head
"Thank you young one, but you don`t have to, I deserve to go to Anubis."
"You go bad place, you no see Ryou."
"He says if you go to Anubis you won't get to see Ryou again."
"He`s making it so I can watch over Ryou?" I looked down at Yugi and saw him nod
"Yes he is." Soon Yugi`s hands stopped glowing and he pulled back slightly before walking over to Ryou and placing his hands on his chest before they started to glow again
"What`s he doing now?" Akefia asked as he sat up slightly and pulled the sword out
"Me make Ryou be see you in sleep."
"He says he`s making it so Ryou can come see you when he is asleep."
"God that kid is clever, and he`s what? Only two?"
"Yes, but from what I've learnt Neko`s learn faster than we do." Soon after Yugi had finished and he walked back over to me and curled up next to me before yawning
"That must have taken a lot out of him." Akefia said as he laid back down
" Akefia?" Ryou asked
"Time for me to go, I`ll see you soon." Akefia then closed his eyes and stopped breathing. Ryou broke down crying but was pulled into a hug by Bakura
"Marik took the guard to a cell." Bakura said. I nodded and looked back down at Yugi
You did a good thing Yugi, even though he knew he didn`t deserve it."
"Everyone eserves a econd chance."
"I guess you're right." Marik then walked back into the room along with Isis and Mahad and a couple of guards
"Pharaoh?" Isis asked
"I want him cleaned up so a proper farewell can be given."
"He`s the thief king why would-"
"Stop questioning the pharaoh and get it done!" Bakura yelled at the guard who had questioned me
"Yes sir." I picked a sleeping Yugi up and stood up, Bakura did the same with Ryou and followed me as I walked out of the room
"Two day`s Isis, that`s all you get." I walked out of the dungeon and down the hall but ended up walking right into Seth
"Atem? Why do you have blood all over your tunic? Bakura? Is that you and Marik? Who`s that in your arms Bakura? And why have you all just come from the dungeon?" Seth asked