Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Royalty ❯ Royalty Ch. 20 ( Chapter 20 )

Author: Like I said I'm gonna write a second chapter tonight right away! Cause I really need to get this done! Ok!!! Everyone! Review and give me the boost of strength that I need! OK? OK!!!!

Bakura and Ryou and Malik: *in back corner doing….stuff*

Author: Yea…anyways! All my fellow readers! I'm begging you! If you haven't reviewed once for this fic! REVIEW!!! I'll need the ultimate boost of support for me to finish this for all of you guys!

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If it wasn't for Malik's shriek of terror Yami would have died for certain.

Instinctively he jumped to the side, and the blade plunged directly into his shoulder. He gurgled in pain as the weapon was removed, poised to strike again when he was shoved back onto the bed behind him.

Bakura stood his ground, holding his sword in one hand, the other one unable to work from his shoulder injury, "If you think I would let YOU kill the Pharaoh and take over the throne, you are insane!"

Yami stared in surprise, still clutching his bleeding shoulder as he gaped at Bakura's back, wondering why in hell did the other teen save him if he had held him in such contempt?

Malik stepped carefully over bodies to his side, immediately beginning to shred the bed covers to wrap his wound, "He may hate you but he's not stupid…" he said softly, feeling that this wasn't the time to have a conversation, "and I know he holds a certain degree of respect towards you that Seto cannot compare…"

"How touching…saving the one who condemned you to the underworld," Seto snickered, relocating the dagger once again at Ryou's throat, "finally decided to become his whore again?"

"I just wouldn't want someone like you on the throne, bastard," the wild white haired teen shot back, "Yami was a bastard and I still hate him…but at least he has a little more morality than you do!"

"Shut up!!!" clearly the comment struck a nerve. Seto's one eye was visibly twitching as he pressed his weapon closer to Ryou's neck, "I will kill him! I will!"

Ryou struggled, his airway blocked from his neck being pulled so back. Courage tried to overcome his silenced fear, and he sought his voice, "R-run!!! Go!!! Don't worry…about me…go…"

"Shut up!" the blade cut into the flesh slightly, and Ryou whimpered.

Unlike Yami, Bakura held his position, keeping his guard on the two men and hostage. From his years on the street before being taken to the palace he knew he cannot run…and he knew he cannot fall to threats…in his years of thievery…such could mean everyone's death…and he had faith in Ryou; he just needed to get him the chance… "Go ahead…I'm not his lover…I don't care…"

"BAKURA!" Yami shrieked as Malik gasped in shock.

Seto looked taken back for a second, realizing that his threat wasn't working before screeching, "I will kill him then!"

Ryou gave a wail and suddenly jerked backwards, slamming his back against the High Priest and pulled himself away violently. The knife cut into his neck and sliced a large gash, but in the sudden movement, he saved himself death. He sobbed in pain and stumbled towards Bakura as the guard hurled himself towards the boy.

The older pale teen spun in front of Ryou and holding up his sword in defense, cleaved the charging man's head in half.

Malik shrieked in horror as blood spew everywhere and various organs of the dead man's head spilled out. He had to recover quickly to catch Ryou who fell upon the bed, numb from fear.

"Ryou! Oh Ryou!" Ignoring his own shoulder, Yami tore up more of the blanket to wrap the boy's neck in.

"Yami…I'm so sorry…" the teen whimpered.

"Hush…I am here now…" Yami sobbed in relief, holding onto his lover.

Knowing his defeat Seto ran at the window in the room, slamming the barricading doors open, into the harsh rainfall, a streak of lightening flashed followed by thunder. "I will not give you the satisfaction of killing me!" he declared and leapt from the window.

"Yes I will!" Bakura whipped Ryou's noose off the boy's neck and flung it out the window after the man. The huge cord fell like a ton of lead in the rain; Bakura tied the end upon a knob at the door, hoping the large mess of ropes would catch the High Priest.

If luck would have it, the ropes fell faster than Seto did, causing the man to fall into the entangled mass of knots that were at the end when the bundle was thrown out. The rope snapped straight, straining from the weight.

Bakura congratulated himself, heading to the window and staring over the edge, barely making out the struggling figure of the High Priest trying to untangle himself from the long knots of ropes that held him. "Ha! If the rope fell straight then it would have been unfortunate. Behind these clouds Ra's light shines upon me! I'm so fortunate that the ropes were tangled when I tossed them out!" he laughed even harder when Seto managed to get free, however accidentally slipped his head into the noose at the end, immediately tightening the cord. "So I DO get the enjoyment of killing you! You bastard!" he called out in the rain.

His victory was shot lived, as with a burst of strength, Seto reached up and pulled the cord loose, opening the loop holding his head and fell to the ground, not injured however, because the ropes broke his fall. Seeing his chance to escape Seto got up and ran.

"Fuck!" Bakura jumped out the window in chase much to Ryou's cry of dismay, snatching onto the rope and sliding down, the speed causing so much friction that his palms tore open. He hissed at the pain when he landed upon the ground and followed in hot pursuit.

"After him!" Yami commanded, leaping from the bed with Malik behind him as they fled from the room and out of the palace. It was only after they were outside in the pouring rain that the Pharaoh noticed Ryou panting behind them, "Get back in there Ryou!"

"I won't leave you!" the boy responded before choking on his breath and concentrated on his running.

Having no time to argue the three ran in the direction that Bakura disappeared.

After a period of sprinting the Nile River vaguely came into view. Stopping and gasping for breath, the three young men looked around. Yami actually thanked the rain, the cold water drenching his wound, cleaning and numbing it. They looked around in the grey haze, making out two figures attacking each other with their physical strength. As they neared, they could see Bakura and Seto landing blows upon each other at the border of the river, standing at the interface before the water and land.

"Bakura's going to fall!" Ryou cried out and clung to Yami for support, weak from all that he has gone through.

When the pale teen stumbled in the fight Ryou screamed and hid his head into the Pharaoh's chest as Malik moved in to help, the only one who isn't injured.

In the confusion of the fight Seto was unable to cast any spells, too distracted blocking and delivering blows to Bakura. The other teen tripped, howling in pain when he was hit in his injured shoulder. He wound up his fist to deliver the final blow that would send the boy plunging to his death when a caramel hand shot out and pulled the teen to safety. "Fuck you!" he cursed when Malik shifted into a fighting stance, standing beside Bakura.

"Fuck YOU!" Malik returned, malice dripping from his voice, "You will die today 'Master', for the death of my lover and my brother!"

With a cry the Egyptian flung himself at the taller man, pummeling him with his fists, releasing all his years of pain, suffering, sadness, grief, frustration and anger towards the High Priest.

Seto screamed as he began to back up from the blows, trying to shove the other teen off him, but Malik was too driven, returning blow after blow to his body. He lost his footing when it landed on wet mud; with a shriek he tumbled from the banks into the running water below.

Malik panted as he watched the man surface, fighting against the waters for air, trying to swim to the side. The teen waited for the river to wash him away, annihilating his existence, but the High Priest seemed to be making good ground, steadily swimming towards the shore.

The Egyptian suddenly felt his heart freeze. Over the rain a deep growl could be heard, and Malik could make out the large form of a crocodile swimming slowly down the river to its prey.

Seto turned his head, his eyes widening at the large beast, "No!" he swan harder, the gap between him and the predator closing between them, "No! NO!!!!!! ARGH!!!!"

Knowing what is to happen to the man Malik turned away, meeting with Bakura's chest. He immediately clung to the soaked tunic, burying his face, blocking out the sight as he heard an anguishing scream fill the air.

Bakura watched as Seto was dragged beneath the water. A great wave of red blood burst through the surface before the river washed it away. He stroked Malik's wet blond hair, the rain beating upon them, "It's over…it's over…"

The tanned boy turned to gaze at the running waters, seeing no more traces of his wicked master…

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