Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Tearing Down the Sky ❯ The Preparations ( Chapter 21 )

Tearing Down the Sky

Hato chiisai

YAOI WARNING

Disclaimer: I don't own Yugioh.

This fic is dedicated to Mally-chan! ^_^

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Chapter 21

The Preparations

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A week passed by before Ryou finally came out of his hibernation. Marik answered the door when there was a knock, and immediately went pale as Raphael stepped into the house. Yami peeked out of the kitchen to see who it was, licking honey from his fingers, and froze.

"Lord Raphael!" Malik gasped.

"Where is Ryou?" Raphael asked, and Malik immediately led Raphael upstairs to the room. The ArchAngel of Araboth reached out and grasped the knob.

"Uh, sir, I need to warn you…" Malik began, but Raphael opened the door and strode in. Bakura looked up and growled, threateningly, but, to Marik and Yami's amazement, tucked his tail between his legs and slowly backed away from Ryou. Raphael smiled at Bakura, then gracefully sat down on the bed. He reached out and ran his fingers through Ryou's hair.

"Ryou…" He called, gently. "Ryou, wake up." The angel stirred. "There you go. You've slept long enough. You can wake up now." Ryou slowly began to stretch himself out, and his eyelids flickered open.

"mmmmm…." He said, as he stretched his stiff body, then blinked when he felt large, gentle hands rubbing his body. "Bakura?" The ArchAgnel blinked, but smiled.

"He is here, young Ryou." Raphael said, and Ryou blinked.

"Raphael?"

"Yes." The red haired Angel said, and helped Ryou to sit up, tucking his sash around Ryou's otherwise naked body. He glanced at Bakura, who was watching Ryou's every move. He stroked Ryou's hair. "How do you feel?"

"I want Bakura!" Ryou whimpered, tears forming. Raphael smiled and nodded. Bakura's eyes widened as a great golden wing extended and wrapped around him, pulling him closer. Raphael wrapped an arm around Bakura's shoulders and moved him right in front of Ryou.

"He is here. He has not left your side." Raphael said, and Ryou whimpered, then hurled himself on Bakura, who gasped and caught him, clutching him tightly to his chest.

"Ryou…" He breathed, relieved to have Ryou in his arms like that. Raphael smiled and nodded his approval, and placed a hand on each of their heads.

"Now that you are alright, I shall leave you." He said, and stood.

"Raphael!" Ryou cried, and squirmed out of Bakura's grasp and grabbed the back of Raphael's robes. The being turned, and Ryou threw his arms around his waist. Raphael smiled and stroked Ryou's wings.

"I'm glad to see you too." He snickered at Ryou. "I am glad to see you home safe. Now rest. I will see you soon." And he turned, and left. Ryou watched him go, and blinked when leathery wings wrapped around him.

"Bakura…" He murmured, and relaxed against the demon's chest.

"Ryou. I love you."

"I know. I love you too." The boy said.

"I'll go make you some soup." Yugi said from the doorway. "Both of you."

"I'll help." Yami said with a smile, and followed Yugi out. Malik and Marik grinned at the albinos' on the bed, then ran to them, embracing them firmly.

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The doors to the council chamber slammed open, and the council watched as Tristan strode in with a scroll in his hand.

"A messeage from the Demon Council." He gasped, handing the sealed letter to Solomon. Solomon opened it, and read quickly.

"They are attacking." He said, eyes widening. "Gather the armies! Go! We move at noon! The demons are under house arrest! They are not to leave, and gaurds shall be posted! Everyone go! Prepare for war!"

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Ryou and Bakura ate their soup, and then were content to simply cuddle with each other. Bakura would allow the others into the room now that Ryou was awake, but he would not speak to anyone but Ryou, who simply sat in his lap and dozed. At least, until they heard the door slam open, and Mikado and Ahmose burst into the room.

"The demons have declared war!" Mikado gasped, and Marik, Malik, Yugi and Yami's eyes widened. Bakura looked up sharply, and Ryou squeaked.

"What?!" Yami gasped.

"The demons have declared war." Mikado said. "If we do not meet their attack, they have threatened to invade Heaven itself, and destroy everyone and everything, and enslave our people."

"What?!" Marik gasped.

"This is Keith's doing!!" Bakura snapped. "I know it."

"They know we are here." Ahmose said. "They have also demanded that the angels turn over us, and our counterparts to them."

"What is the council doing?" Malik asked.

"Preparing for war." Pegasus said as he appeared in the doorway. "The demons are under house arrest. As for you four…" And he looked at the young angels. "Mikado, you must report for your duty immediately. Malik, join your section. You are going to fight." Malik gulped. "Yugi, you and Ryou report to Healing Headquarters. You are going into action as well. You will be partnered while you go into the battle." The pair nodded and stood. "We go now. We move at noon." The four angels nodded, and watched Pegasus leave. Mikado hugged Ahmose briefly, then ran after him. Yugi did the same, as did Malik, but Bakura held tighter to Ryou.

"No. Don't go." He said.

"I, I have to." Ryou murmured, trying to wiggle out of Bakura's grasp.

"No!"

"I have to!" Ryou said, firmly, and managed to escape Bakura. "I'll be fine." He gave him a gentle kiss.

"Ryou, if you are attacked…" Ryou blinked at Bakura. "Go for the arm of the wing, and watch the tail." Ryou nodded.

"I will." He said, and went over to the closet, putting on his white tunic, and draping a green sash over his torso, showing that he was a healer. He also pulled on little cloth wrist and ankle bands, and tied another strip around his head before lacing up his sandals.

"I must go." He said, and Bakura nodded.

"Be careful."

"I will. I love you."

"I love you too." Bakura whimpered, as Ryou ran from the room. Marik and Yami slowly sat down on the bed next to Bakura, and Ahmose sank into a chair.

"Now what?" Marik asked.

"We wait." Yami said.

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Malik raced to the training ground in full uniform. His whort white tunic over dark brown leather pants, gold plates on his shins, chest, shoulder, and lower arms, and the purple sash showing him as a warrior across his chest. His sword hung at his hip, and his shield was slung on his back. He landed with his unit, and Seto, in silver armor and red sash, showing him as one of a commanding rank, nodded to him as he gather the unit into formation, now that it was under his command.

"What are they doing with the demons?" Otogi asked when Malik took his place between him and Joey.

"House arrest." Malik muttered back.

"How's Ryou?" Joey asked.

"Reporting to the Healer Hall. He's fine." Malik said, but stood at attention when Seto began barking orders.

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The demons looked up when Ahmose suddenly gasped.

"What is it?" Marik asked.

"The Hell Hounds!!" Ahmose cried, leaping to his feet, and the other three did too.

"Oh no… The angels don't know!" Yami cried. "We have to go warn them!"

"We're under guard!" Bakura said, looking out the window.

"You go!" Ahmose said. "I'll keep them busy." And he whirled and ran down the stairs. When the gaurds walked into the house a bit, telling Ahmose he could not leave, the opther three burst through the window and streaked towards the training grounds.

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Ryou and Yugi stood side by side, equipping themselves with belt packs holding bandages, a numbing salve, some anesthetics and other supplies. They were also supplied with short swords, just in case, and were all paired up with partners, Ryou and Yugi obviously together. They listened to the Head Healer shouting orders, and then, they streamed out of the Hall and reported to the training grounds, hovering above the vast armies, along with the blue-sashed Retreivers, who picked up the wounded from the Healers, and took them to the Healer Hall, where they would get full treatment, and also removed the dead from the battle field.

"I'm scared…" Yugi whimpered, and Ryou smiled and took his hand.

"We'll be fine." He said with a smile.

"DEMONS!!" A cry came from below. Ryou and Yugi looked up as they saw three demons heading towards the training grounds.

Yami, Bakura and Marik dropped down and landed before the gold-sashed Arch Angels. Solomon scowled.

"You are under house arrest!" He snapped. "ARREST THEM!"

"NO!" Yami gasped, rushing forwards. "The demons have a new weapon!" All the angels were silent. "They're breeding Hell Hounds and training them!" A horrified wave of murmurs swept through the angels. All knew of the Hell Hounds. They were brutal beasts that had hunted angels since the beginning of time. They were the only natural predator of the angels, not counting demons. They were large, burly doglike creatures with knarled wings and thick powerful tails with spikes on the end which they would use to crush an angels' wings. They had bull-like horns on their heads, and cruel bear like claws and tiger-like teeth in a head that looked like that of a Mastiff.

"Hell Hounds?!" Solomon echoed.

"Yes." Yami said. "They have created a new section of their armies for the Hounds and their handlers. They have several hundred, and they will most definitely bring them to the battle." The angels in the armies began panicking, the mere mention of a Hell Hound enough to make them tremble. Marik moved forwards.

"They have a major vein in their tail. If you can sever the tail close to the base, they will soon bleed to death. Go for the tail, the wing and the flanks. Attack from the side, or better, above." Solomon and all the angels were listening carefully. "Avoid attacking from the front, because they have horns and teeth. Below you'll face four sets of claws. Behind, you have that tail to watch. They can't raise the tail very high, but they can swing it around to the sides, so attacking from above is best. And that way, you an also get to the demons riding them. As for demons themselves, go for their wings. If you can, remove their tails."

"Why are you telling us this?" Solomon asked. The three demons blinked.

"Because we want you to win." Bakura said. "We don't want to see the angels hurt." And he looked up and looked around, spotting the healers, and then, seeing Ryou. "I don't want him hurt…"

"Let us fight with you!" Yami said, suddenly. "Please! We can't just stand by!"

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The three demons stood off to the side, feeling a bit funny in the white tunics and gold armor. They were used to red tunics and black armor.

"I can't believe they're letting us fight." Yami mumbled, swinging his sword, testing it's weight.

"I'm glad they did. We all know what to do right?" Marik asked.

"Find Keith." Yami snapped.

"Kill him." Bakura snarled, his eyes glowing slightly.

"Are you ready?" They looked up at Pegasus.

"Yes." Marik said, and Pegasus eyed them, and nodded.

"If you try anything funny…"

"We won't" Bakura said, and the three demons watched, eyes wide, as a roar filled the air as hundreds of pairs of wings lifted their owners off of the ground. They watched in admiration as the angels rose in perfect formation and waited for the command to move. The Gates of Heaven slowly swung open. The demons opened their wings and rose off of the ground as well, staying a bit off to the side. Solomon drew his sword and raised it up high. All eyes were on him. The sword fell, and as one, the masses of angels surged forwards, battles cried exploding from their throats as they shot through the gates, and then dove over the edge of the clouds, heading down. Yami nodded, and Bakura and Marik followed him, on either side and slightly behind the smaller demon. They arrowed past angels, darting through their ranks and following the steady flow of white and gold, heading down to meet the demons in battle.

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Next Chapter: The Battle