Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Anything For You ❯ Catch Us If You Can ( Chapter 14 )

Negacat: I will thoroughly enjoy all the plushies you gave me. Thank you!

SuperJM: It's ok. Steven deserves much more cruel punishment.

Shadow of Light: Later on it will be revealed how Bakura knows Ryou's blood so well. It was hinted in Baby of Mine, but eventually in this story we will get the whole story.

Angel Black: I know. I would have screamed my head off too. But Steven and Jessica would probably have heard. That would be a good chappie in another story…having Bakura teach his daughter the fine point of tracking blood.

Caro: Good luck on finals!

Falling Leaves: I love that card! One of my favorites.

Lunara Moonbeam: Thanks for the plushies! *squeals head off * I've got so many plushies now!!!! I just wish they were real. Start a religion after me? Interesting. I'd be interested to hear the chants involved. You're so sweet! *hugs Lunara*

Pharaoh Yami's Princess: You're getting married, too??? Congrats, babe! Mine'll be in August probably. When you planning yours? I hope your fiancé likes the story if he reads it.

Heather: I would like to learn, too. It sounds really cool to me.

Dragondreamer: You threatening me, woman??? Don't make me bring out the Millenium Paddle on your butt! *snicker *

Catch Us If You Can, Tomb Robber

Bakura kept the window open as Kaiba's limo drove to its destination. They parked where the KaibaCorp van was parked the night before and Bakura wanted to explore on foot. Bakura got out of the car and looked around. Boarded windows were the most common sight. A single tree with graffiti on it stood among the crumbling buildings and cracked walls. Marik looked down at the gutters lined with every type of garbage imaginable.

"There's a reason why we don't come here often," Marik said trying to kick some sludge that was running onto his shoes.

The other yami felt inside his pocket for his dagger. His trusted weapon was still with him. Kaiba and Joey stepped out of the car covering their noses from the putrid smell that perforated through the air.

"How can you smell anything through this?" Seto complained.

"Moneybags, Marik and I loved in ancient Egypt. You got used to human crap and camel crap…not to mention other types of crap. There were no refrigerators to keep dead fish cold. So you see, Marik and I are used to this. We've smelled worse than this."

Marik struggled to get a tiny grin. "Yeah, compared to ancient Egypt…this place is freakin' Disney Land."

Bakura began walking down the street. "I'm picking up on something….this way."

The street was silent and still with the exception of a white van pulling away from one of the buildings. The scent was really close.

Joey turned to Kaiba. "Do you think we should call him `bloodhound' from now on?"

"No, puppy. You're the only puppy here. Get used to it."

Joey sighed and followed Bakura until he stopped at an old warehouse.

Bakura checked the doorknob. The door was open. Bakura drew his dagger from his pocket and cautiously entered.

"Hello?"

Marik entered, the blade of the Millenium Rod glistening in the light streaming from the intact window panes. Bakura's voice echoed through the warehouse now filled with only a few crates and spider webs.

"Marik, open the crates and look inside. The blood is close….and I…don't want to think…the source is coming from those crates."

Seto and Joey entered the warehouse. Joey looked at the crates and webs. He saw a rat dash across the floor and let out a scream.

"AH! A RAT!"

Seto grabbed Joey's jacket. "It's only a rat, puppy. You can't be afraid of rats!"

"Well, I am! Live with it!"

Seto and Joey walked towards the tall crate with Marik. Marik pried the sides opened when Seto saw a spider. Seto slowly inched away from it when Joey noticed.

"My Master is afraid of spiders??" Joey burst out in laughter.

Seto growled. "Yes…when the spider is the size of your hand, Puppy."

Marik pried open the crate and Seto and Joey helped him remove the lid. Inside was nothing but clothes. The other two crates also held clothes.

Bakura walked through the door in the back to a long hallway. The scent was getting stronger as he proceeded. "Ryou?! Ryou! Aten!"

Nothing answered back. Bakura came to one door and stopped. The scent was coming from inside. "Ryou? You in there?"

Marik, Seto, and Joey came running. "The crates had nothing but clothing."

"There's blood behind this door," Bakura said looking at the doorknob. Bakura turned and slowly opened the door.

The room was empty with the exception of a single green crayon pointing to the northwest corner of the room. A puddle of red dried blood was also in the room. Bakura kneeled in front of the puddle and dipped his finger in it.

He rubbed his fingers over it. "This isn't Ryou's blood."

Marik gasped. "Is it Aten's blood?"

Bakura shook his head and raised his eyebrow. "I doubt it."

Joey and Seto looked around the empty room searching for clues. Bakura stood up.

"There's fresh blood in the room."

Bakura stood up and turned. The scent was coming from the direction that the crayon pointed. Bakura followed the coppery smell to the ventilation duct.

"What's this?"

Bakura pulled out a piece of paper, of which the corner was covered in fresh blood.

Bakura licked the edge of the paper. "It's Ryou's blood," he said with his voice cracking.

Bakura opened it up to reveal the picture. He raised an eyebrow. "What is this?"

Marik took the piece of paper and read it. "It says, `I love you, daddy. Horse Out of city'. Bakura, this is in Hieroglyphs!"

"'Horse out of city?' That makes no sense, Marik," Joey said scratching the back of his head trying to read the glyphs.

"I've been teaching Aten how to write hieroglyphics. It is his heritage. His history. I learned it. So can he. He's just learning. Give him some time."

Bakura took back the paper. Aten and Ryou went out of the city? Where? "Search for more clues as to where they went," Bakura ordered.

"You are ordering ME?" Seto crossed his arms looking at Bakura.

Marik grabbed Seto's jacket. "Listen, moneybags, my son is still out there with a madman. Ryou's life and his life is in danger. Just because you got Aria back doesn't mean you can just sit back and relax like the spoiled rich boy you are! Aten and Ryou are still missing. This is no time to sit back and get comfortable. You either help us or get out of our way….it's as simple as that. Now which will it be, Seto Kaiba?"

Sapphire and Amythyst eyes met each other almost daring the other to continue the brawl into something further. Seto saw anger and rage behind Marik's eyes…but there was something else….hurt…fear….frustration….three things that Marik never revealed to anyone..not even his hikari.

Seto pushed Marik away. "I came down here to help you. If you don't want my help, then fine."

Joey walked between Seto and Marik. "Hey, Seto, chill, man. Marik worried about Ryou and Aten. That's all. Cut him some slack."

Marik turned to Bakura still looking at Aten's drawing. Ryou must have known he would find it. Bakura staggered back and leaned against the wall.

"I'm going to see if they left anything behind," Marik said brushing past Seto on the way out.

Joey followed Marik to the other rooms. Joey could sense Marik's thousand thoughts running through his mind. Joey found an empty battery package, some candy wrappers, and several empty soda cans. Marik checked the other room which also had empty candy wrappers, but it also had a forgotten lipstick rolled into the corner. The color: red.

Marik picked it up when Joey entered the room.

"Hey, Marik….look on the wall."

Marik looked up and behind him. On the wall, written in the red lipstick was: CATCH US IF YOU CAN, BAKURA!

Marik growled and called to Bakura. Bakura and Seto ran to the room and looked on the wall. There it was..scribbled….CATCH US IF YOU CAN, BAKURA!

Bakura growled and tightened his fist around the paper. "I am so…going to kill…that son of a bitch….."

Marik's lip curled. "I'm gonna grind his mortal bones into dust when I find him….."

Marik held up the lipstick. Bakura took it in his hand and gasped. "Either Steven has gone through a change I don't know about…or he has a woman with him."

"Steven travel with a female? Does he know any women at all?"

Bakura gripped the cosmetic tightly in his hand. "Jessica…the woman who tried to rape Ryou. She's the only woman I know about."

The group stood stunned when they heard the ringing of a phone. It was coming from a pile of blankets on the floor. Bakura and Joey sifted through the blankets until they found a cell phone hidden among the material.

Bakura pressed a button. "Who is this?"

"Well, Bakura! I'm glad you found my little parting gift to you."

Bakura growled and banged his fist against the wall in anger. "Where is Ryou? What have you done to him?"

Steven chuckled on the other side of the line. "He's fine, as well as his son. How long that is the case depends on you."

"What do you want?"

"To let Ryou go. Let him go, Bakura. He doesn't belong to you anymore. He is my son and belongs to me."

Bakura felt tears pooling behind his eyelids. He could see Ryou shaking in a corner afraid to move…afraid to cry out to him for help. "I will not let him go, Steven! I will chase you down no matter where you go. I will not rest until I have Ryou back safe with me!"

Steven laughed. "You will never see your little sex toy again. I'm protecting my son from you and if you don't like it, run off to one of your other boyfriends. My son will never be harmed by you again."

"I'm going to skin you alive, Steven! I was not just a thief, Steven. Yami was right. I was a murderer, too. And I am capable of doing things to you that would make your skin crawl and stomach churn. When I get my hands on you, may Ra have mercy on your broken, bleeding, decapitated corpse!"

"I think not. Incidentally, I think you should also know that you cannot trace the calls made by this phone, so don't try. You may also decide to keep that phone in case I get really kind-hearted and let you talk to Ryou. But if you try any funny stuff, Ryou will pay the price. And Bakura…..he will pay dearly."

The line went dead. "Steven! Steven!" Bakura turned off the phone and kicked the wall in with a powerful swing of his foot. He banged his fists on the wall hiding his face from view.

Marik turned to Seto and Joey. "I think you guys better wait outside."

Seto and Joey left the building. Marik saw Bakura's back rise and fall rapidly with every breath. Bakura, the strong, powerful yami, was crying. Marik watched Bakura bang his head on the wall in frustration.

"Marik…you should go…I don't want anyone to see me like this."

Marik sighed and stepped closer.

"I mean it, Ishtar! Leave!"

Marik stepped another step closer and Bakura turned around defensively.

"Ishtar, I told you to go!" Bakura shoved Marik away.

Marik stood still. "I am not leaving. I lost a son, too, tenshi."

Bakura's head dropped and he covered his sobbing face in his hands. "I can't live without him. I can't….."

Marik brought Bakura into his arms and held him tightly. "We'll get him, Bakura. We'll get him together. Promise."

Bakura nodded his head. "I just don't believe this is happening."

"Me neither. But we can get through this, Bakura. After all," Marik twirled the Millenium Rod in his hand. "After all, we have some yami justice to dispense on his ass."

"You're right," Bakura said, the fire returning to his eyes. We'll get that bastard."

"But we don't know where they are going."

Bakura and Marik walked out of the building. They had no leads. No destination. Marik and Bakura stepped into the sunlight wondering where do they go from here.

Bakura looked up into the sky. "Ryou…send me a sign."