The Thief and the King (Rei no Kaado)

[mugenginga]

Yuugi had realized it was stupid to think someone would help him. He'd realized that anyone who showed up would probably have help as the last thing on their mind. So he'd began trying to get Bakura up. The teenager was the proper weight for his height, which struck Yuugi as odd. Bakura had always been a bit underweight. Still, he had to figure out how to get Bakura out of there. He'd managed to forget about both the Ring and the cards as he tried to do so.

He heard Souji before he spoke. The footsteps. He tensed up, the only consolation being he remembered the cards. Holy Elf had been grabbed to create some kind of barrier. She was well known in the Duel Monsters world for her high defense. He realized it was Souji as the silver haired teenager was running over to him. His face flooded with relief and he dropped the card back down to provide better support for Bakura.

"I don't know... he screamed, and I ran to check on him and I found him like this..." Yuugi sat back down. With Souji here it would be saner to let the that teenager carry him, "Seta-kun, that wound can't be coincidence! Whoever attacked him had to know what Dark Ba... Anpu looked like in Ancient Egypt!"

Still, Yuugi found himself wondering about Bakura's condition. While he was sure a wound like that hurt like hell, it didn't seem enough to put Bakura like this. His breathing was so shallow, it was like someone had pushed him to the brink of death. There wasn't enough blood around here for it to be from bloodloss... so what...?

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji glared down at the wound. It could have been anyone who had seen that show Yuugi was apparently from. But the events previously were making him think differently. Of the people they knew that could have possibly have done this, the only ones that Souji could think of were all in Abel's group. And only one of them would have known what the scar looked like, if Souji was right.

His eyes moved toward the Ring on the ground. The rope had snapped... or been cut. Either way, someone had removed it before Yuugi had gotten there. He glared at it before his gaze moved back to Bakura. It would probably be a good idea to take the Ring with them, just in case Anpu was the dominant one before Bakura passed out. Souji doubted it, due to that scream, but he wasn't going to take any chances.

"...I think one of Abel's group did this. Either Cain or Atsuro. And I'm leaning more toward Atsuro. We both saw how he was acting around you, he's probably a big enough of a fanboy that he would know exactly what Anpu looked like in ancient Egypt," Souji said. "And Anpu and I had an encounter with Cain and Seth earlier today, too. I wouldn't put it past Cain to send someone after Anpu after what happened earlier."

He slowly lifted Bakura onto his back. Bakura was a little heavy. It was odd, he'd seemed a little underweight when Souji first saw him... well, Yuugi had been saying that Bakura never seemed to eat much. "We need to get him to a doctor or something. I'd take him to the hospital, but the nearest one's all the way out in Bonsai."

At the very least, they needed to (and Souji couldn't believe he was admitting this) let Adachi know what happened. Adachi had been taking care of Bakura, and Bakura was now rather badly injured.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi looked down as Souji mentioned Abel's group. He didn't want to think of any of them like that. Of what he'd seen, though, it had probably been Cain... although Cain had never struck him as much of a fan of animation. Yuugi's head jerked up as Souji mentioned Atsuro. He looked almost angry as Souji continued. Atsuro wouldn't do that. Even if Cain had ordered him, he wouldn't do that!

There was rational evidence against it as well. Atsuro seemed to know alot about him and Atem, about their homeworld and a lot of the stuff that had happened. So he had to know about how innocent Bakura was in the mess, right? He couldn't let himself even consider Atsuro as the person who had done this. That left Cain... Yuugi closed his eyes as Souji worked Bakura onto his back and gathered his cards. He hesitated over the Ring before picking it up and carefully folding it into his pocket. If it wasn't Atsuro, it left Cain and Abel. Atsuro had said, hadn't he? Abel wasn't human anymore. Yuugi's eyes popped open and he leapt to his feet.

"Wait, did you say you ran into Cain and Seth!? K1-kun wasn't with them!?"

In a flash the entire conversation with Atsuro had played back through his mind. He couldn't remember exact words, but there was something there. Atsuro had said Seth was how Abel was keeping hold on his humanity, on K1. So if Cain and Seth were there, but not Abel... Yuugi had paled. Souji was right, they needed to get Bakura somewhere, but... He bit his lip. He didn't want it to be true...

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji nearly jumped as he saw how angry Yuugi looked at the suggestion that Atsuro had been the one behind things. Yeah, Atsuro definitely seemed like the last person to do this... but Adachi had seemed like the last person to be a serial killer. You never knew anymore.

Souji stood up too once he got Bakura balanced and in a solid position on his back. The kid was fairly well out of it, but he was definitely in a bad shape. At the very least, those cuts would probably need stitches, and would definitely scar over still. Dammit, that had been whatever Bakura's attacker was aiming for, Souji knew it.

He looked back down at Yuugi as he suddenly asked if it had just been Cain and Seth.

"Yeah, and that was the odd part too. Abel wasn't anywhere nearby. Cain wouldn't tell me where he was either. He called it a matter of 'national security'," Souji said. "...I'm worried. I think something happened, and Cain just doesn't want us to know about it. Seth probably can't talk about what happened."

[mugenginga]

Yuugi wasn't in a good mood. His expression was clear on that regard. Yet, his face managed to fall more as Souji confirmed that Seth hadn't been with K1... Abel... Yuugi wondered if this had been what it was like for his friends when Atem was still sharing a body with him. No wonder things had been so confusing for them. He looked up and glanced at Bakura. He really needed medical help. While the hospital was down, there had to be a clinic somewhere, right? Then again, they couldn't lug him all over the place, either.

Yuugi looked determined as he spoke again, "We should get Bakura-kun somewhere, you're right. How about the police station? I mean... Adachi-san is probably best equipped to handle this, and Bakura trusts him. Um..." he looked behind him, "Except I have no idea where we are..."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji scowled as Yuugi voiced what he was thinking about Adachi. Yeah, they needed to get Bakura down to him. Besides, they had to be able to do something. He looked down the alley as Yuugi mentioned that he didn't know which way to go.

"I think I might be able to lead us there," Souji said. At the very least, Izanagi would be able to... speaking of which, you've been quiet. What's up?

...It's entirely possible Abel's the one who did this, Izanagi said. But right now Bakura's safety is more important. While I do not care for the person he is the host of, I would like to see some medical attention for Bakura. This condition is concerning, especially considering the posibility a demon was involved.

If Abel did this, I don't know if a normal doctor will be able to help... Souji said. He started walking ahead. It actually wasn't too long of a walk back out to the streets. It could have been worse. And it wasn't far from the alley they had found Bakura in to the police station, thankfully.

Yuugi and Souji would reach the police station just as Adachi stepped out. He seemed worried, and jumped about five feet in the air when he saw Souji.

"You guys! Wait, what are you-- Is that Ryou-kun?!" Adachi had seen Bakura on Souji's back, and then he saw the wound on Bakura's face. "What happened?!"

[mugenginga]

Yuugi looked relieved as Souji said that. He'd gotten himself lost in his concerned and hadn't had a clue what they were going to do if Souji was lost too. He looked at Bakura with pity. He didn't ask for any of this, and it kept happening. First Zorc, now Anpu... Yuugi noticed Souji had started walking as he was in his own head. He sped up to fall beside Souji. He had one hand in his pocket the entire time. The Ring was known for finding its way back to Bakura, and Yuugi couldn't be sure it was a trait of Zorc or the Ring itself.

The walk went quickly. Souji was going as fast as his passenger would let him. Yuugi kept enough focus on the outside world to keep track of Souji. He let out a sigh of relief when they left the alleys. It had taken them under five minutes, and Bakura was still out. It wasn't impossible he'd be out for hours to come, Yuugi knew.

Yuugi looked up towards Adachi. He jumped when he saw Souji and Yuugi sped up to come beside the silver haired teenager just as Adachi noticed Bakura. The color drained from his face. Yuugi was sure he'd been thinking about something else. Yuugi saw Adachi looking between Souji and himself as he asked what happened. Yuugi hesitated before coming up with an answer.

"We're not sure," Yuugi looked away, managing to come across as lying with even a half-truth, "But we found him and there aren't any hospitals near here. We don't know of any clinics, either! Adachi-san, Bakura-kun trusts you! Please help him!"

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Adachi looked like he was going to be sick. He also looked a mix of nervous and pissed off, and what Yuugi said at first wasn't helping. That kid sounded like he was lying. Maybe that was just the anger at seeing Bakura like this speaking. He looked up as Yuugi said that Bakura trusted him. Yeah, the last person anyone should probably trust.

"...Let's take him back to my apartment, I know some basic first aid; I might be able to at least do something to clean it up until we can find a place to take him," Adachi said. He still looked very nervous, though as he ran into the station again, yelled something to one of the officers running around inside before running back out.

"You guys seem rather busy. Did something happen?" Souji asked.

"There's a been a lot of things happening... we found this lady (well, we think it's a lady) bludgeoned to death in her shop, and Takahashi-san went missing today too..." Adachi said. He kept shifting his position.

"Takahashi? Isn't that the guy who kept ordering you around?" Souji asked. Adachi jumped again.

"Whoops, said too much again... A-Anyways, we need to go already! We don't need Ryou-kun's wound getting any worse!" Adachi said.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi flinched as Adachi looked at him. Well, he hadn't lied, but Yuugi wasn't any good with half-truths either. It wasn't like they knew what had happened, but he and Souji had both realized what had probably happened. Yuugi realized he wasn't saying that because he was trying to protect K1. He blinked as Adachi ran back into the building.

Yuugi didn't see it, but there was a television on and Souji might. It was more than possible Adachi was aware of it as well, for reasons of his own. One of the officers was trying to make sure no independant reporters had decided to make a deal about the incident at the shop. The media was hard to control in most worlds, but at times it seemed worse in this one. A severe storm warning was going on during the commercial. It was suspected that heavy thunderstorms would hit about midnight that night, complete with rain.

Yuugi noticed Souji get suspicious at Adachi's comments. He looked back towards Adachi as he jumped. Yuugi chose to focus on the problem at hand. He didn't like the sound of a woman (he was also curious why they wouldn't know) being beaten to death, but that was far besides the point. He nodded and looked towards Souji.

"R-right! Do you think you can carry him a bit further, Seta-kun?"

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Souji looked toward the turned on TV. A weather report? No, a severe storm warning. They usually ran those during commercials, didn't they? In any case, it looked like it was going to storm pretty bad that night. There also seemed to be an officer arguing with a reporter. Probably over Takahashi's disappearance. Souji had managed to catch the term "demoned away" being tossed around when Adachi came back out of the station.

He shifted Bakura on his back as Yuugi asked if he could carry him a bit further. "Yeah, he's not too heavy." He started walking ahead of the other two.

Adachi looked toward Yuugi. "You found Ryou-kun, right?" He sounded accusing for a moment, but his expression changed. "...Thank you. I don't know what would have happened if he'd just lain out there in that alley. he might have gotten hurt worse, o-or..." He looked toward where Souji was walking. "Oh, we should probably go catch up..."

[mugenginga]

Yuugi blinked as he heard the term demoned away. What? He jumped a bit as Adachi addressed him. He caught the last bit, and it sounded accusatory. Yuugi looked away. He understood Adachi was just concerned, but it still stung a bit. When Adachi apologized, however, Yuugi looked towards him with a puzzled expression. Yuugi's expression was sympathetic as Adachi tried to stumble through an apology.

Yuugi turned towards Souji as Adachi finished up and nodded. Adachi headed out first and Yuugi followed.

"Adachi-san...? Thanks for keeping an eye on Bakura-kun for so long. I mean it! Even back home, Bakura-kun doesn't have many people he thinks he can trust because of the mess with the Ring..."

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Adachi looked away from Yuugi as the short teen thanked him from taking care of Bakura. What could he say? He'd grown attached to Bakura. Bakura was probably the only thing in this world he had cared about for a long time. That was why he fought so hard to keep Bakura staying with him. If Anpu took Bakura off somewhere, who knew what Anpu would do.

But Bakura didn't have too many people he could trust... because of the mess with the Ring. How long had Bakura been being Anpu's puppet? If not Anpu, some other spirit? From what Yuugi said, Bakura had been having so much trouble with the Ring that he couldn't trust people too well anymore.

"I wish I could do something about that Ring..." Adachi said. "...Maybe get rid of Anpu, or separate him from Ryou-kun somehow. Just anything to get that Ring away from Ryou-kun."

He knew that there was a way to do it. But it was dangerous, and the Seta kid wouldn't approve of it. Adachi was on thin ice with him already. Honestly, he was surprised the Seta kid hadn't gone after him already.

[mugenginga]

Yuugi looked up as Adachi mentioned the Ring. In a rather stupid move, he pulled out the Ring from the pocket and held it up. The prongs chimed together as he brought it into plain view so Adachi could see it. Souji probably heard the noise as well.

"Actually, whoever attacked him cut the rope the Ring is on," Yuugi dropped both arms and looked down, meaning the Ring fell to his side as well. The rope was still attached due to being tied on at the top. Yuugi had something like a deathgrip on it, and his other hand was in a tight fist as well, "I can't guarantee it'll stay away from him, though. Honda-kun... that is, a friend of mine got it off Bakura-kun once before and it somehow got back to him..."

For the first time since Atem had started beating himself up over his choice, Yuugi felt depressed about it as well. He could tell the former Pharaoh all about not being upset over his choice. The choice that meant the Dark Games may never be sealed, the choice that meant the Millenium Items would remain in power, the choice that probably had a lot if not everything to do with another spirit entering the Ring. Yuugi's already tight fists balled up more and he closed his eyes tight. The choice had been losing Atem or his friends forever being at the mercy of the Items and the Dark Games? What kind of choice was that?

[Firebreath Fishslap]

Adachi stopped as Yuugi brought the Ring out. Whoever had attacked Bakura had cut the Ring's rope? Probably had been trying to steal it. It was a rather large hunk of gold, after all. And it was off of Bakura. Adachi could do something about Anpu after all. Drop it in the other side. Destroy it. So what if Souji went after Anpu to save him? So what if he didn't? It would probably be easier to drop it in that night; it was supposed to storm. They could find two things hanging from that telephone pole the next morning.

"I-I can make sure it doesn't get back to him. We've got this safe in the station, a-and I don't think anything's getting out of there," Adachi said. "And even if that wouldn't work... I... I've got other places I could put it..."

The last part was mumbled, and Souji didn't manage to catch all of it. But Souji had a feeling he knew what Adachi was implying.

"And the other side worked so well the last time you tried it?" Souji asked. Adachi flinched.

"Er... well... I didn't mean it... like that," Adachi said. "...Um... Hey, we really need to hurry and get Bakura home, y'know!"

[mugenginga]

Yuugi's eyes widened as Adachi muttered the last part. He knew quite well what Adachi was implying. He pulled the Ring back and looked down. No, he couldn't support that. Anpu was in the wrong, but there was no need to kill him. Atem had made the choice to not do that, and Yuugi supported that choice. If anyone could keep the Ring from getting back to Bakura, it was Atem. After all, the Items were his to begin with.

"No," Yuugi said with more force than he meant, "There's no need... besides, what if he faced his Shadow? We'd have a bigger problem."

Yuugi felt a huge feeling of guilt. He'd criticized Atem for the thought before, but it had crossed his mind more than a few times. He felt worse that the one thing that was making him not consider the option was the risk of Anpu getting the power of Persona. He clenched the Ring tightly before folding it up and sticking it back in his pocket. He gave a determined nod.

"You're right..." Yuugi looked up, "We're almost there..."

Atem is there, too...

Yuugi glanced at Adachi. Once they got Bakura dropped off, he could talk to Souji about Atem. He'd been planning to anyways. He wanted to make sure Bakura would be okay first, but he could ask Souji afterwards. Aside from the issue with Adachi, he seemed in a good mood. Yuugi gave a pained smile. Maybe the thing with Izanagi was going to work out after all.

Yuugi frowned again. Providing the world didn't end, that is...