Note To Readers: Hey guys! Sorry about the short chapter. I've been pretty busy. I do hope it was interesting at the very least. I didn't want to forget about Yugi and Daunte going through the Abyss Woods. Daunte and Kenshin are both very important characters. So pay close attention! Thanks for your patience and support! Here's Chapter 73!

Chapter 73: A Friend In Need, Is A Friend Indeed

"How did this happen!?" Kenshin asked as he checked Daunte's vitals. "Uh...well you see...there was this GIANT black snake and...I'M SORRY! I know this might sound a bit strange but...my other self used a Holy Spell...I think it was...and Lord Black was too close and got struck by it as well! We never meant for this to happen. Honestly..." Yugi told the bluenette.

"Daunte is from Agethrim...another part of Zaloz...he uses Black Magic and in turn, he's weak against White or Spiritual incantations..." Kenshin explained. "...By the way, who are you? And why are you with Daunte?" the bluenette asked softly. "Oh uh right sorry! My name is Yugi Moto. I actually came to Zaloz with Lord Black to find a man named Kenshin Sahiro...do you happen to know where I might be able to find him?" the scarlet eyed male asked.

"My name is Kenshin Sahiro. Lord of the Juniperian royal family." the bluenette told Yugi softly. Yugi's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean...you're..." Yugi began before Atem interrupted him. {I believe the introductions can wait...Daunte needs help} the pharaoh's voice echoed in Yugi's head. "You're probably right...um Kenshin was it? Is there a place where we can take Lord Black to get him some help?" he asked as he watched Kenshin looking down at Daunte with utmost concern before the bluenette looked back up at Yugi.

"Yes. there is a place here in Juniper that we can go. Follow me." Kenshin told Yugi and took Daunte and carried him on his back. "Alright." Yugi murmured and trailed behind Kenshin. The city was paved with marble and the buildings almost looked like mansions. Flowers and herbs grew in abundance though it looked like no one was outside for some reason. {It's so quiet...almost too quiet...where are all of the townsfolk?} Atem questioned. Yugi shook his head. "I don't know..." he confessed before they came to a library. Once they approached the front door Kenshin placed his finger up to his lips. Yugi and Atem silently looked at each other.

Kenshin raised his hand and knocked twice then three more times pausing in between each knock. Slowly the door cracked open as a young woman with messy black and pink hair wearing black leggings, a jean skirt and a ripped black sleeved shirt with a choke collar with a star and a black pink moon in the middle of it. Her eyes were two colors. One lilac the other a soft seafoam green. A thin silver hairband with gems covering her head. Silently the young woman motioned for the two to come inside and closed the door behind them.

"Hmm you know i'm not sure if we have that book in stock...i'll have to check in the back!" "...Follow me..." the young woman whispered at the end saying the other part loudly at the beginning as she led them down a secret staircase and made sure no one followed them. "Alright, no one should bother us down here...So, the prince of Juniper finally managed to sneak out of the castle huh? Impressive. Though I have to wonder if the old man will feel the same." the young woman teased. "On top of which you've brought sleeping beauty and a runt to the party." she began.

"It's nice to see you as well Kendra." Kenshin mused. "So? What do I owe this visit to?" Kenshin sighed. "Well, I was on my way to pick up my medicine when this young male came out of the Abyss Forest." "You've gotta be kidding...and the little guy's STILL one piece...bravo...kid..." the mage drly laughed. "It certainly wasn't easy...but we ran into this huge snake...and it was him or us...so I used White Magic to get rid of it...but...Daunte was too close and..." Yugi frowned. "...Ahuh...I see..." Kendra walked over to get a better look at the Black.

"Alright give me a moment..." the young woman told the boys as she rummaged through her class cabinet. Her little hide away was filled with book shelves of ancient tomes which had been passed down through the ages. In the corner was a fully shocked potions labs with liquids and herbs all bottled up ready for use. Scrolls piled high near the staircase. In short, it was an organized chaos. Kendra threw things left and right Yugi and Kenshin having to dodge each new item that came their way.

"WOAH!" Yugi squeaked as Atem pulled him back. {She's certainly...a...unique individual...still...something about her seems...almost familar...} Atem murmured. "Really?" Yugi questioned surprised. "...So...um Kenshin...just exactly WHO is she anyway?" the scarlet eyed male asked. "Her name's Kendra. She's a rather famous mage who has a talent for magic, potions, and research. She's especially interested in magic objects...well more obsessed with them really..." the bluenette told Yugi.

...Uh oh, that could be trouble..." Yugi whispered to Atem. {We'd do well to be careful...} "Yeah." Yugi murmured. "AHAH!" Kendra exclaimed as she drew a magic circle on the floor with chalk. "Though she doesn't strictly limit herself to White Magic...that's why she's situated herself down here. Many people come to her in times of trouble. But we all do our best not to raise terribly too much attention." Kenshin continued. "Well, that makes sense..." Yugi admitted.

"Kenshin do me a favor and lay sleepy head in the middle of the circle will you?" the mage spoke up as she began to cook up some sort of mixture. "Oh boy..." Yugi made a face. {Yugi perhaps now would be as good time as any to inquire about asking Kenshin for his aid} the Pharoah suggested to his other half. "Good idea." Yugi smiled before he turned towards the Bluenette once he eased Daunte off his back and laid him gently down on the magic circle. "Uh Kenshin would you mind if I asked you a question?" the scarlet eyed male began.

"Certainly Yugi. What can I do for you?" Kenshin asked softly with a kind smile. The gesture helping Yugi feel slightly better about imposing on the bluenette. "I mentioned before that there is a reason Lord Black brought me here today..." Yugi began. "Yes." Kenshin chuckled. "It truly was quite surprising seeing you show up here out of the B-" Kenshin paused as he was thrown into another coughing fit covering his mouth as his body trembled. "KENSHIN!"Yugi cried as he held the bluenette by his shoulder. Worry gathering in his scarlet eyes. Daunte silently cursed himself as he laid there. Paralyzed in pain. Not able to do a damn thing for the person he cared about the most.

"...M...Med...Medi..." Kenshin struggled to regain his voice. "M-Medicine!?" Yugi's eyes widened. Quickly the scarlet eyed male looked around the room frantically. "It's the bag over there." Kendra directed Yugi's gaze over to a brown bag. "Thanks!" Yugi took it and filled the syringe carefully. The mage instructed him on how to inject the medicine into Kenshin's arm. "Sorry..." "It's ok really. As long as you're ok."Yugi told him. Though the look on his other halves face said it all.

{...Yugi...} Atem began. "...I know...i'm starting to wonder if it's a good idea to have him come to Aura...well all we can do is ask...Kenshin...are alright? That was scary..." "...Yes, thank you..." Kenshin told Yugi. Kendra only grumbled. "You should know better, you can't go for days without taking your damn medication!" the mage scolded. "...I know..." Kenshin sighed softly. The scarlet eyed male frowned softly. "Are...are you sick?" Yugi asked the bluenette worriedly.

"...Well...Yes...unfortunately the medicine just helps in suppressing the symptoms and pain caused by the sickness. In fact, most of Agethrim is suffering under a terrible epidemic. That's why none of the Juniperians were out and about as you saw earlier...they are fearful that they too will contract the sickness..." "...But then why do you have it?" "...I visited Daunte on many occasions...and though he seems resistant to it...I was not..." Kenshin told him but forced a smile. "Fear not though it's not contagious," he assured them.

{...That must've been that feeling we got when we first entered Zaloz...I thought I sensed something very wrong with the land...} "Yeah the air was so thickened with darkness..." Yugi admitted softly to Atem. "...I feel bad asking this...but..." "Go on Yugi." Kenshin encouraged. "...There's this friend of mine...that's sick. We're not entirely sure what's wrong with her...that's why...I came here...Daunte told me that you study medicine...is there...anyway you can come to Aura and take a look at her!? Please!" Yugi pleaded with desperation in his eyes. Kenshin frowned softly.

"It's not that I would not like to help you...however my father placed a spell on me which prevents me from entering the gateway to access other worlds," Kenshin explained. "Yeah...Lord Black told me about that...but he also said he knew a way to sneak you past the gateway!" Yugi fired back. "...And...also..." Kenshin turned his attention towards Daunte. {...He's reluctant to leave him it seems...} the Pharoah murmured. "...What should we do...?" the scarlet eyed male frowned. "I might be able to help you out," Kendra's voice broke through the silence after a moment passed.

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