Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Burning Sea ❯ The Storm ( Chapter 7 )

Burning Sea

hato-chiisai

YAOI WARNING

Disclaimer: I don't own it, and blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda, and am I done here yet?

Chapter 7

The Storm

Yami strode up to Seto at the helm, watching the dark clouds on the horizon.

"Well? What do we know?" Ha asked.

"Looks like this is gonna be a long storm, Yami. Not too bad, but may last for a few days. It looks like we'll get the worst first. It's this beginning edge heading towards us that's bad. If we get through that, we should be fine."

"Hmm..." Yami said. "Well, let's get ready." He lifted a whistle on a chain around his neck to his lips and blew. "ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!" He called. "GET OFF YOUR ASSES AND GET UP HERE!!!" The deck of the ship came alive as at east 2 dozen men appeared, ready for their commands. "We have a storm coming, let's get ready! Close and bar all windows. Get those sails tied down, and secure the cannons and any other loose items on deck, and in the hold! Get the life lines ready and secure. You know your jobs, now do them!" The crew immediately obeyed and began scurrying around. Yami blinked when he noticed Ryou Malik and Yugi standing around looking nervous, and confused. He grabbed a nearby loose rope and swung down on it, landing before the boys.

"I thought I told you to stay in my cabin." He growled.

"You said `all hands on deck,' sir...." Yugi said. Yami blinked, then chuckled.

"I did, didn't I? Well, until I say otherwise, that does not apply to you three."

"What if we wanna help?" Malik asked, fidgeting nervously. Yami blinked again.

"You want to help?" He echoed.

"Maybe." Ryou said. "Like Marik said, this is our home now, and we want to do something useful instead of hiding in your cabin like cowards." Yami blinked again, then smiled, warmly.

"Well.... I appreciate that. For now, why don't you help move some loose items on the deck into the hold. Otogi! Show them where to take these things!"

"Yessir!" Otogi said, and Yami hurried off to help Marik and Bakura lash down a cannon. Otogi picked up a barrel and put it over his shoulder. "Okay, grab these, and follow me." The three scurried after the raven-haired pirate below deck, and down into the hold. He put his barrel in the corner, and had the boys do the same. "Bring the rest down, quickly." Otogi said. "We need to get them tied down." The four boys scrambled back and forth, bringing the barrels down, until they had them all.

"Okay, here, you take this end." Otogi said, passing a rope to Malik. "See that ring in the wall? Tie it in a double-hitch." Malik blinked.

"A what?"

"Here." Ryou said, and took the rope. Otogi, Malik and Yugi watched as he tied the rope in a complicated knot.

"Hmm. Well done." Otogi said, and pulled the rope taught, putting it through another ring, then passing it back to Ryou. "Loop it through the bottom ring. There, now back to me. Okay, now through the rings on the floor.... There." Otogi tied the rope down. "Good." No sooner was the syllable out of his mouth than the ship gave a lurch, sending Malik stumbling into Otogi.

"Let's get you guys back to the captain's cabin." Otogi said, and they rushed above deck..... Only to find the storm had arrived. "Shit...." Otogi said, and picked up some ropes. "Tie these around your waists, and don't take them off until you're at the captain's cabin. Then toss them out for others to use!" The three obeyed, and headed across the deck. They watched as the pirates fought with a rope on a sail that they hadn't gotten down in time.

"OTOGI!!" Jono called, and the boy left the trio and took up a section of the rope, and pulled.

"WE NEED MORE HELP!!!" Seto groaned over the noise of the storm. Ryou blinked, and grabbed Malik's shoulder, motioning to the straining pirates. Malik nodded his agreement as he watched Yami, Marik and Bakura join in.

Bakura blinked, startled, when Ryou moved in front of him, and began to help. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Malik and Yugi lending their strength as well. He watched as Mako, Espa, Weevil and Rex ran over, and took up the end of the rope. Finally, they began to make progress.

"BAKURA!" Yami called. "Tie it down!!" Bakura nodded, and released his hold, and ran to the end of the rope. He pulled with all his strength until he reached the proper peg, and quickly tied it securely.

"WAVE!!!" Everyone looked up at the cry from the man in the crow's nest. The crew ran to the mast, and hugged it, as a large wave plowed towards the Black Magician. Bakura frowned, and latched onto the rail, unable to make it to the mast in time. The water swept over him, and he felt himself being torn from the ship. His hands immediately went to the rope around his waist.

Ryou gasped when he saw Bakura swept overboard, and quickly looked to see that his life line was secure. To his horror, he saw the other end of the rope flying after Bakura across the deck. Ryou yelped, and leapt at the rope, seizing it a mere three feet from the very end.

"Ahhrgg......" Ryou cried out when the rope cut into his hands, but he wouldn't let go. Wrapping it around one wrist, he coiled the remainder around his waist and tied it off. Marik walked up to him, able to handle himself now that the big wave had passed.

"What are you doing?" He asked, noticing Ryou tied between two ropes. He plucked the rope that disappeared over the edge of the ship. "Fishing? What's on the other end of this?" Ryou whimpered as the two ropes threatened to tear him in half.

"Nnnnghhh...... B-bakura!" He groaned. Marik blinked.

"WHAT?!? YAMI GET OVER HERE!" Marik screamed and seized the rope, lessening the pull on Ryou's waist. Ryou gripped the rope in his bloody hands, and the pair began pulling as hard as they could, dragging Bakura back. Yami rushed over, and didn't bother with questions; he just pulled, while Jono herded Malik and Yugi into the cabin.

"What... are we bringing.... in?" Mako grunted, lending a hand. "A whale?" At that moment, Bakura was lifted from the sea, and flopped over onto the deck. He slowly lifted himself to his hands and knees, coughing up salt water. Everyone rushed over to him.

"Bakura! What happened?!" Yami gasped. Bakura coughed again.

"I dunno.... You tell me! I thought my rope wasn't secured!"

"It wasn't." Marik said, helping Bakura to his feet.

"Then... how'd you get me back?"

"........ him." Marik said, and pointed at Ryou, sitting on the deck of the ship, cradling bloody hands to his chest. "He caught your rope, and secured it to himself." Bakura blinked, shocked, then slowly approached the whimpering boy. He knelt, and Ryou looked up at him, pained tears in his eyes. Bakura reached out, and gently took Ryou's hands in his, and looked at them. The rope had cut into his skin, not only on his palms, but on his arm as well.

"Thank you." Bakura said, after while. Ryou stared at him, eyes wide.

"WAVE!!!" The lookout screamed again, and Ryou suddenly found himsefl pressed between the mast, and Bakura and Marik, as the water soaked them completely, the salt stinging his wounds.

"Come on." Bakura said, taking Ryou's uninjured wrist. "Let's get you inside." Marik and Yami followed, and entered the cabin, removing their life lines. Inside, Malik and Yugi were sitting on the sofa, devoid of clothes, and simply wrapped in dry blankets. Jono immediately rushed over and helped Marik undress Ryou, and flung a blanket around his shivering form, while Yami helped Bakura undress. Jono sat the white haired pair side by side on the loveseat, and started ruffling Ryou's hair with a towel while a nude Marik did the same with Bakura, drying their hair as much as they could. Yami threw on a robe, and came over to them witrh a tray covered in bandages, and a disinfecttant, and a numbing salve for Ryou. He knelt, and took Ryou's hands in his, and gently began to clean the blood, bringing small whimperes from the boy. Marik finished with Bakura's hair, and went to the wardrobes retrieving dry clothes for everyone. Once they were all dressed, they stood around and watched Yami smear the cream over Ryou;s wounds and bandage them, then help him dress since he was unable to do it himself with his injured hands.

"That salve should help them heal quicker. It's a secret formula that Bakura learned in India. You should be fine in two or three days." Ryou nodded. "I know that it's still after noon, but I think you've had a long day, Ryou. Into bed with you. Bakura, you too." Bakura frowned, and grunted.

"Together?" He asked, and Yami nodded.

"It WAS decided that you and Ryou will share a bed." The Pharaoh said. Bakura sighed and rolled his eyes, then looked at Ryou.

"Fine. I'm too tired to argue. And.... I guess he did save my life." Bakura said. "Well, c'mon, boy." Ryou followed Bakura to the bed, and followed him in. "Just.... stay on that side, huh?" Bakura muttered, puling the blankets over himself. Ryou sighed, and lay down, exhausted. Marik crawled into the small room, and bent over Bakura.

"Sleep well, habibi." (Arabic for `love') He said, kissing Bakura's cheek. Bakura smiled.

"G'night...." He muttered, and Marik smiled, then looked at Ryou.

"You too, Ryou." He said, and kissed his forehead, making the boy blush. Then, he backed out of the room, and closed the door. The only light now was the consistent bolts of lightning outside, flashing through the window. The ship was tossed about, and Ryou was shocked that Bakura could sleep through it. He just sighed, and closed his eyes. The storm frightened him, but he was so tired... In a matter of minutes, Ryou was asleep.

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Was that chapter kinda dumb, or is it just me? o_O;;; Oh well. Next chapter, Yami and Marik improve their relationships with Malik and Yugi as they ride out the storm.

Next Chapter: Quality Time