Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Tearing Down the Sky ❯ The Sickness ( Chapter 13 )

Tearing Down the Sky

Hato chiisai

YAOI WARNING……. And a bit of yuri in this chap……. Kind of………

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh. ::Pouts::

Guess what Mally-chan!!! This fic is still dedicated to you!!!!! *GLOMP*

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Chapter 13

The Sickness

Mai and Ishizu looked up at a pounding on the door.

"Ignore it." Mai said from between Ishizu's legs, (AN: LMAO) and Ishizu sighed.

"I can't. It may be an emergency." She said, getting up, throwing on her robe and running to the door, Mai after her. She opened the door and blinked as Marik burst in.

"Sis! We need your help!!" Marik said, followed by the others. Ishizu blinked as Bakura rushed in with Ryou. Her eyes widened at his flushed appearance.

"Put him on the sofa!" Ishizu ordered, and Bakura obeyed. "Mai, get me a thermometer." She ordered. "Clammy skin, labored breathing, heavy sweating, shivering… what happened to him?"

"He said Keith stung him." Malik said.

"Injected venom?" Ishizu asked, and sighed when Bakura nodded. "I… I can't help him."

"What?!"

"Bakura, we don't know exactly what our venom does to angels. It can render them sick, or unconscious, and in larger amounts, death, but…. I don't know what to do…. Bakura. I'm sorry…"

"Don't let him die!!!" Bakura screamed, slamming his fists into the top of the coffee table. *PLEASE!!!" Ishizu watched twin tears trickle down Bakura's face.

"I, I'll do what I can...." She murmured, and stripped the tunic from Ryou, leaving him naked. She began inspecting every inch of his body. "I don't see a puncture wound....." She murmured, as she turned Ryou onto his stomach to look for a wound on his back. Bakura suddenly gasped and moved forwards. He brushed his fingers over Ryou's inner thigh where there was a dried trail of blood. He followed it up Ryou's leg until he reached the boy's entrance. Bakura frowned in confusion, then suddenly gasped and paled, as comprehension dawned on his face.

"That bastard... Oh, he didn't.... DAMN HIM!!!" He roared, making Ryou whimper and twitch.

"What?" Ishizu asked.

"Look! He, he stung him INSIDE!!! He put his tail INSIDE of Ryou, and stung him THERE!!!"

"So we couldn't treat it...." Ishizu gasped.

"No. So we had no proof...." Yami snarled. "He's sick.... He's really sick...." The others nodded their agreement.

"That was why Ryou screamed....." Malik murmured, kneeling by Ryou and stroking his hair.

"What's an angel's normal temperature?" Mai asked Malik as she gave Ishizu the thermometer.

"Umm... A bit lower than humans, 95, 96........" Malik said, as Ishizu checked the thermometer.

"Should I open his mouth?" Bakura asked.

"No. With the way he's shivering, putting it in his mouth could be harmful. I'll need to take his temperature anally." Ishizu said, slipping the thermometer into Ryou. Ryou cringed and whimpered again, cracking his eyes open.

"B-Bakura....?" He moaned.

"I'm here." Bakura murmured, stroking Ryou's hair.

"It hurts....." Ryou whimpered.

"Where?"

"Everywhere......" Ryou whispered, and Bakura kissed his lips, gently.

"Shhhh.... Rest. We'll take care of you." He said, and Ryou closed his eyes. Ishizu removed the thermometer and wiped some blood off before looking at it.

"101..." She read, and Malik cursed. "Ryou? How do you feel?" Ryou's eyes flickered.

"C-cold......." He murmured, and Ishizu looked up at Bakura, worried. She turned to look at Malik.

"Do you know how your people treat demon stings?" She asked, and Malik shook his head.

"We don't often get the opportunity....." Ryou mumbled, opening his eyes, slightly. He closed his eyes again, and his halo glowed brighter. They all watched as Ryou was surrounded by a gentle blue glow for a few seconds. It stopped, and Ryou whimpered, shaking even more than before.

"Ryou, don't!" Malik cried, kneeling next to him.

"What's he doing?" Bakura asked.

"Trying to heal himself. In this condition, exerting that much energy could bring more harm than good..." Malik explained, rubbing Ryou's back between his wings. Ryou continued to shiver, then rolled himself onto his side, curling up into fetal position and wrapping his wings around his body.

"M-moonknot........" Ryou gasped.

"What?" Ishizu asked.

"I just remembered... Moonknot has... Been known to counteract... the effects of demon venom......" Ryou managed to get out, before slipping into unconsciousness again. Ishizu blinked.

"Moonknot? What's moonknot?" She asked, looking at Malik.

"I don't know. I was never in healer training. That was Ryou."

"I know what it is." Yugi said. "I was in healer training for a while, remember? Then they realized that my powers were not healing." Malik nodded.

"Can you make some?" Ishizu asked, and Yugi nodded.

"If you have what I need... but, it will take a while......"

"How long?!" Bakura snapped.

"Two days......" Yugi said.

"Two days?!?!" Bakura roared, leaping to his feet.

"It's all we have! It's the only thing that may save him!!" Yugi cried, stomping his foot and ruffling his wings. Bakura stared at Yugi, and watched the boy's eyes fill with tears. "Do you WANT him to die?! Right now it's all we've got, unless Ishizu has a better way!" Bakura looked at Ishizu, who sighed.

"I'll have Yugi make it. Until then, all you can do is try to keep him alive..." She said. "He may not even need the moonknot. But then again, his life may also depend on it. Take him home and keep him comfortable. Try and bring his fever down. When the moonknot is ready, if he hasn't improved, we'll give it to him. In the mean time, give him these antibiotics." Bakura swallowed and nodded, taking the pills and dressing Ryou again. He lifted him into his arms, and went out the door, Malik and Marik following.

****************

Bakura laid the cold cloth on Ryou's forehead as Malik stripped the boy's clothing off. Marik came in after soaking some sheets in cold water. He laid them out on the floor and Bakura lifted Ryou up and laid him on them. Ryou yelped slightly and shivered as the cold sheets were wrapped tightly around him. Bakura bathed his face with the wet cloth gently, trying desperately to bring Ryou's fever down.

"I'm cold....." Ryou whined, and Malik stroked his hair.

"I know Ryou. But we need to lower your fever."

"But I'm cold....." Ryou pouted, making Malik smile sadly.

"I'm gonna kill him...." Bakura snarled. "That bastard."

"Easy Bakura." Marik said, putting a hand on the smaller demon's shoulder. "You can't just go kill your commanding officer."

"I'll tell the council what he did!!"

"They'll want proof. And Keith stung Ryou where no one can see." Marik reasoned, and Bakura frowned, laying a hand on Ryou's lower abdomen. He blinked, and rubbed his hand over it. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he began tearing the wet sheets off of Ryou.

"Shit.. Shit.... Shit...." He muttered.

"What? What is it?" Malik asked. Bakura tore off the last layer and stared at Ryou's body.

"Shit.... He's swelling." He gasped, and Malik and Marik stared. Ryou's slim waist was definitely swollen, and the flesh was turning red. "Oh, no... What do we do?!" Bakura asked, worry in his tone.

"Umm.. Wrap the affected area tightly in cold wet clothes." Malik said, wrapping the sheets tightly around Ryou's lower body. "We learned basic first aid with demon stings." He said to Marik and Bakura's curious looks.

"Considering where he was stung, I think we should keep him on a liquid diet, Bakura." Marik said. As soon as he said that, Ryou's body heaved and he whimpered. The demons and angel stared at Ryou as his body seemed to convulse, and then he groaned and vomited up the nachos from lunch. Malik made a face and Bakura stroked Ryou's forehead as the boy moaned miserably.

"Marik, could you possibly clean that up?" Bakura asked. Marik nodded. "Malik, make some broth for Ryou." Malik nodded and ran off. Bakura lifted Ryou up and took him into the bathroom, lowering him into the warm water to clean the mess from his body. Ryou moaned and clung to Bakura.

"Shhh......" Bakura crooned, stroking his angelic lover's skin. He cleaned him off then took him out, wrapping his lower body tightly in the cold wet sheets, trying to stop the swelling. Malik appeared soon and gave Bakura the broth, but Ryou would not eat. The boy simply lay curled up under his wings, shivering and sweating, moaning in his misery. Bakura sighed and knelt by the bed, clutching Ryou's hand.

"Ryou..... Please don't die." He cried, tears trickling down his face. "I love you, Ryou. I love you so much. Please don't leave me. I need you, baby. Don't go. Stay with me, beloved." Ryou smiled slightly and tried to fix his blurry gaze onto Bakura.

"I'll try." He whispered. "I have no desire to leave you… I just want to sleep right now….." Bakura smiled and nodded.

"Then sleep, love." Bakura said, kissing Ryou's forehead. Ryou smiled and closed his eyes, drifting into a fevered sleep. Bakura continued to hold his hand and stroke his face. "Marik, you can go if you like." Marik sighed.

"No. I'll stay. You need to sleep, too. When you get tired, Malik and I will watch Ryou." The demon said, and Bakura smiled and nodded.

"Thank you." He said, and slipped onto the bed next to Ryou, rubbing his chest. He cuddled close to his angel, and drifted off.

******************

Ishizu and Mai watched Yugi go through the medicines, removing what was needed. He frowned as he looked over all that he had gathered, then began pottering about, measuring and mixing things here and there. He finally got a mixture stewing on the fire.

"It need to boil for 36 hours straight." Yugi said. "Whenever it gets past the half point line, fill it with milk to the rim." Ishizu nodded and looked down at the piece of paper she had in her hand. She had written everything as Yugi did it, so she could make the moonknot. She wrote down the directions Yugi had just verbally given her.

"What then?" She asked, and Yugi took the paper and began scribbling more directions. Ishizu read them over his shoulder.

"Hmmm….. It's ingredients are very common, but the production is complicated."

"But it has saved lives." Yugi said as he handed the paper back.

"Thank you." Ishizu said, taking it. Yugi smiled and nodded.

"Come Yugi." Yami said, heading towards the door. "Let's check on Ryou."

"Yes… How could this happen to poor Ryou? Especially on his birthday?!" Yugi cried, hugging Yami.

"I don't know, Yugi." Yami said with a deep sigh. "Keith is very… sadistic. He is cruel. He loves seeing others suffer."

"I hate him….." Yugi whimpered as they left Ishizu's home. They flew down the street and headed to the soldier's quarters, reaching Bakura's quickly. They let themselves in and ran up to the bedroom. Bakura and Ryou were asleep and Malik and Marik watched over them.

"How is he?" Yami whispered to Marik, as Yugi ran to Malik.

"Not too good, but he's still alive." Marik murmured. "He's been puking, and he's all swollen." Yami sighed and reached over, petting Ryou's hair.

"Poor thing. Keith will get what's coming to him one of these days. I will see to it personally if I must…"

"We all will." Marik snarled, eyes darkening. "That fucker has gotten away with too much. If he weren't such a good commander he would have been punished long ago. Damn the council! How can they let him get away with all of this?!?"

"Because they're scared of him." Yami snarled, eyes flashing. "And because he's one of the best commanders that they have. They feel that they can't afford to loose him."

"Hmph." Marik grunted. "I could take his place if they'd give me a chance."

"Yeah, well, their age restriction kinda prevents that." Yami sighed, and looked down at Bakura, then over at Yugi, who was watching Ryou from Malik's lap. Malik was holding Yugi and had rested his chin on the top of Yugi' head.

"Ryou, please don't die……" Malik whispered, watching Bakura sigh and drape a leathery wing over Ryou.

"He won't. We won't let him." Marik said, sternly. They all looked up at a knock on the door.

"I got it…." Yami said, and went downstairs. He opened the door and yelped when Ryuuji fell into his arms, sobbing. "R-Ryuuji?! What's wrong?!"

"K-Keith…" Ryuuji moaned. Yami immediately brought him upstairs, noticing his limp. He laid him on the bed, listening to his whimpers.

"What's happened?" Marik asked.

"Keith raped him…." Yami said, grimly, and Bakura sat up.

"WHAT?!" He yelped, then got up. "Get him in the tub." The angels watched as the three demons began to care for the fourth. A few minutes later, they laid Ryuuji on the bed and Bakura covered him, sitting down next to Ryou again.

"Ryuuji, what happened?" Yami asked.

"He came to my house. I didn't know he was there when I came home. He pounced on me and raped me right there in the living room. He left, and I came here, cuz you were closest."

"Sleep. We'll take care of you." Marik said, and Ryuuji closed his eyes.

"Keith…." Yami snarled. "When will he stop?!"

"He won't. Not if our people keep letting him." Marik snarled.

"He'll stop when he's dead." Yami snarled. Ryou suddenly yelped and began to twitch. Bakura turned and stroked his face.

"Ryou… Ryou, look at me. C'mon…." He murmured. Ryou cracked his eyes open and Bakura winced. They were covered with a white film, leaving the boy all but blind. He panted and wheezed, and Yami moved over, feeling his neck.

"His throat is swollen. We need to wrap his neck to loosen the muscles before he suffocates." The demon said. Bakura ran to the bathroom and came back with a hot wet towel. He wrapped Ryou's throat in the towel and the boy moaned and squirmed slightly, still twitching.

"His muscles are locking…." Bakura muttered and the group, other than Ryuuji who was now asleep, began to massage the boy's limbs. "I don't know how we're going to keep him alive in time for the medicine." Yugi looked up.

"I can." He said, and the others looked at him. "Yami, I must stay here at all times."

"How could you save him?"

"I can channel energy."

"Channel energy?"

"Yeah. But someone needs to donate their energy. I transfer it from one person into another. And I can draw energy into myself, but I cannot channel my own energy. Should Ryou begin to leave this world, I can hold him here for a while. But not for long." The group stared at him.

"You, you can do that?" Yami gasped, amazed. Yugi nodded. Ryou whimpered again, and shuddered. The group continued to rub him down until his body relaxed and he slept quietly again.

"We need to take shifts." Marik said. "One pair can watch him while the others sleep. Malik and I will take the first shift. Bakura, you and Yami take the second. Yugi, you relax. We could need you at any time."

"I'm going to take care of Ryuuji." Yami said, and looked at Yugi. "I may have you make him something to eat in a while, okay?" Yugi nodded, and Bakura cuddled up to Ryou again.

"Bakura! Bakura, wake up!" Marik commanded, shaking the demon's shoulder.

"Huh? What?" Bakura mumbled, sitting up. "Is Ryou okay?"

"Fine. We have to go on patrol."

"Patrol? Damn… Okay."

"I'll help watch Ryou." They all turned to Ryuuji.

"How do you feel?"

"A lot better, thanks. What happened to Ryou?"

"Keith stung him."

"I see. I'll help. It's the least I can do."

"Thanks, Ryuuji." Bakura said, and followed Marik out. Ryuuji sat up with Yami's help, and looked down at Ryou. Ryou stirred, and his eyes opened again. Ryuuji gasped.

"Is he, blind?" He asked, and Yugi blinked.

"What?"

"His eyes…." Ryuuji said, pointing at Ryou. Yugi moved over and looked down at Ryou's eyes. The white film had grown thicker; his eyes were completely white.

"Ryou…" Yugi asked, taking Ryou's hand. "Can you hear me?" Ryou nodded. "Can I ask you something?" Ryou nodded again. "Have there been any cases of angels loosing their sight from a demon sting?" Ryou swallowed, and shook his head.

"I'm in the blind stage, aren't I?" Ryou whispered, hoarsely.

"The Blind Stage?"

"Is there a white film over my eyes?"

"Yes."

"…… Okay."

"Is that…. Bad, Ryou?" Yugi asked. Ryou didn't answer. He closed his eyes.

"It would be best if you bandaged my eyes." Ryou sighed, and relaxed.

"Are you feeling better?"

"A bit…" Ryou mumbled, before a spasm rippled through his form. The boy suddenly gasped and arched his back and began to writhe as if in pain. His mouth opened and closed, and he clawed at his throat. Yugi moved over.

"He can't breathe!" He gasped, and Ryuuji and Yami came over. "Ryou, lie still!" Yugi commanded, and Ryou tried to do so but his body still twitched. "Ryuuji, give him mouth to mouth! Yami, massage his chest, his lungs have frozen up! Where's Bakura's medicine cabinet?!"

"Bathroom!" Yami called, and began firmly rubbing Ryou's chest. Ryuuji began breathing for Ryou, but there was no change. Yugi ran in with a syringe and a bottle of a liquid.

"It's normal for you demons to have syringes in the home?" Yugi asked Yami.

"Actually, yes. We are given several medications and supplies, as we are expected to take care of our own injuries as much as we can so we don't overtax the healers."

"Good." Yugi said, and filled the syringe.

"What's that?" Yami asked, as Yugi stuck the needle into Ryou, between his collarbones.

"A muscle relaxant." He said, and within moments, Ryou relaxed and began breathing again. Yami nodded.

"Ryou, are you alright?" Yugi asked, and Ryou nodded, before drifting off to sleep again.

"We're home!" Marik called, as he and Bakura went upstairs.

"Bakura?" Ryou called, lifting his head, and Bakura ran over.

"Ryou!? Are you alright?" He gasped, and hugged Ryou.

"I, I want to see you…." The boy whimpered. Bakura blinked and only then noticed the cloth tied to cover his eyes.

"Leave it where it is, Bakura. He needs to stay like that. He's in the blind stage. Light can permanently damage his eyes." Yugi said. Bakura nodded and stroked Ryou's hair. The boy sighed and rested his head on Bakura's shoulder.

"I see…." Bakura said.

"Well, unfortunately, I can't." Ryou pouted, trying to lighten the mood. Bakura smiled at Ryou's effort, and kissed his cheek.

"On a lighter note, the swelling has gone down a bit." Malik offered from Marik's lap. Bakura nodded.

"But he stopped breathing for a while." Ryuuji said grimly.

"But obviously, he's breathing again." Yami said.

"With difficulty." Yugi added, and Bakura nodded, hearing how Ryou's breathing was labored. He lay down with Ryou, stroking his wings. Ryou sighed, and after a while, he had drifted to sleep. Bakura continued to hold him. After a while, Yami went downstairs and came back with sandwiches for everyone while they watched over Ryou. They ate in silence, then sat in silence for four hours. Bakura drifted off, his head on Ryou's chest. Marik watched his demonic lover sleep, watching his head rise and fall with Ryou's breathing.

Suddenly, he lifted his head and stared at Bakura. Bakura's head remained still… as did Ryou's chest.

"Fuck." Marik gasped, waking the others who had begun to doze. "He's stopped breathing!" Bakura woke at the commotion. He was shoved aside and stared in fear as Malik and Marik began working together, giving Ryou CPR.

"How long has it been since he stopped?!" Yugi demanded.

"Had to have been less than a minute!" Marik said as he shoved on Ryou's chest.

"Fuck, this isn't working!!!" Yami cried, holding Ryou's wrist, waiting for a pulse.

Bakura simply sat in frozen terror. He repeated Ryou's name over and over again in his mind.

"Move it! I'm going to channel him the energy to help his heart start up again. Malik, Marik, keep going. Ryuuji, keep waiting for a pulse, Yami, are you willing to donate your energy?"

"Yes." Yami said. "What do I do?"

"Imagine your hand as the link." Yugi said, taking Yami's hand. He closed his own eyes and took Ryou's hand. "Imagine your energy flowing through your hand and into me. I'll do the rest." Yami nodded. Bakura watched as Yami was surrounded by a reddish aura. The aura began to flow down his arm and up Yugi's, swirling around him before going down his other arm to swirl around Ryou, before sinking in. Bakura watched and prayed. Marik continued shoving on Ryou's chest.

"Switch!" Marik suddenly panted, and he and Malik switched. Malik began the chest thrusts while Marik gave Ryou air.

"There it is." Ryuuji suddenly said. "I have a pulse."

"Is he breathing?" Yugi asked, and Marik checked.

"Yes." He said. Yugi slowly closed of the energy link and they all waited. Ryou's breathing slowed, but did not stop. They watched the boy curl into fetal position, enveloping himself in his wings. His pulse slowed, but stayed strong.

"What's happened?" Bakura gasped, as Yugi checked Ryou.

*******************************

"How is he?" Ishizu asked as she came in with a bottle of a creamy white fluid.

"He's gone into hibernation." Yugi said. "We almost lost him the first night. When we got him breathing and his heart beating again, he went into the hibernation and has been in it since. I've had to give him some energy boosts but he needs that moonknot, now." Ishizu nodded.

"It's ready." He said, and handed the bottle over.

"Is this twelve ounces?" Yugi asked.

"Yes."

"Alright. Guys, try and pry Ryou out of his ball, okay?" The demons uncurled Ryou. "Hold his head up and tilt it back. Open his throat. Do you have some kind of tube?"

"I came prepared." Ishizu said, and pulled out a tube with a funnel on one end. Yugi nodded.

"He's in hibernation, so he won't be able to swallow. We need to get this down his throat." Yugi said, and Marik took the tube while Malik held Ryou's head back and opened his mouth, while Bakura held his lover. Marik began to feed the tube down Ryou's throat. The boy gagged and twitched slightly in discomfort, then writhed as the tube was forced further. Bakura winced at the sight of the rather thick tube being forced down his lover's throat.

"Ready." Marik said, looking at Ishizu, who gave the bottle to Yugi. Yugi uncorked it, and began to pour the contents into the funnel. It frothed up before calming and slipping down the tube and into Ryou's stomach. Yugi continued pouring until the bottle was empty and they were sure it had made it into Ryou's stomach. Then, Marik eased the tube out of Ryou. The angel was released and his body curled up into hibernation position again.

"Now what?" Bakura asked.

"Now we wait." Yugi said. "And pray."

Next Chapter: The Murder

Aww, c'mon, I won't kill Ryou. ^_~ So, next chapter, Ryou recovers and Ryuuji does something very foolish………

PS Okay, I'm getting kind of sick of seeing these in reviews, so here are the answers to some of your questions.

What's with all the weird symbols in your fics?

I have no clue. The stupid computer did it all by itself, and I don't know how to fix it. I'm too busy to worry about it, so live with it.

Why don't you post on mediaminer?

Okay, you know the weird symbols in my stories on ff.net? Well, everytime I try to put my stuff on mediaminer, that's all the document ends up as. Not to mention it's slow as molasses, so I've given up on mediaminer.

Are you really removing all lemons?

Yes, when I get around to it. You can find them on adultfanfiction.net, though it takes me longer to update there, but when I do, I update a crap load.

Where are the fics that you removed from ff.net?

Adultfanfiction.net and someone else's site. You can find the address in my author profile

Where is Koibito Yami and I Hate It. I Crave It?

See previous answer.

Okay, I think that's all. Oh, and one more thing. Don't send me reviews repeating he same thing over and over again. I got one that said `UPDATE!' and it filled up the entire bloody page. I enjoy getting reviews, but that's just irritating. -_-* Sorry if I sound bitchy, but I'm really busy and I'm PMSing and these things have been bugging me for a while. So now you know. Thanks! ^_^