Burning Sea

Burning Sea

hato-chiisai

Disclaimer: No own. Go away.

YAOI WARNING

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Chapter 21

Rematch and a Close Call

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Ryou and Yami both returned to the captain's cabin to get their blades. Ryou pulled his dagger and eyed it, before putting it away, satisfied. He turned and followed Yami out. The dance area had been cleared, and the crews of all three ships could be seen everywhere you looked so that they could watch the match about to take place. Ryou drew his blades and Bakura took the scabbards from him, and Yugi took them from Yami. Ryou and Yami turned and faced each other.

"Hold it!" Malik called, and ran up behind Ryou, tying his hair back for him. Ryou shot Malik a smile of gratitude before turning back to Yami. The pair raised their swords in salute to the other, before crouching in a ready stance and crossing blades.

"First Blood." Yami said, glancing at Seto, who nodded when Ryou agreed to the terms.

"First blood." Seto repeated. "Lay on."

Yami leapt forwards, and Ryou leapt back, parrying the thrust from the Pirate King. Ryou backed away, completely on the defense as Yami forced him back. At least until Ryou bumped into the mast. Then, the boy leapt forwards and Yami's eyes widened as Ryou forced him back. From there, the pair circled and moved back and forth, sideways, turning in cirlces, and basically moving all over. Ryou frowned. He could tell Yami was holding back. With a snarl, Ryou began to force Yami back. The crews of the three ships stared.

"Damn you!!" Ryou snapped. "DON'T HOLD BACK!!!"

"As you wish...." Yami growled, and his sword flashed as he backed Ryou up. The boy's eyes widened. He knew he was fighting a losing battle as he backed into the railing. Their swords and daggers crossed and Yami leaned over Ryou, who was bent backwards over the railing.

"This match is mine." He said in a low tone, and with a flick of his wrist, a red line appeared down Ryou's cheek. Yami stepped back and Ryou straightened, staring at the pirate king as a small droplet of blood rolled down his cheek.

"Winner: Yami." Seto called, and the crews cheered loudly. Bakura moved over to Ryou and blotted at the cut on his face, glaring at Yami.

"You had to cut his face?!" He demanded, and Yami shrugged.

"It won't scar." He said, and took Ryou's blades, putting them away.

"That was so cool Ryou!!!" Yugi squealed, then ran off when someone announced an archery contest. Ryou smiled at Bakura who returned the smile.

"I love you." Bakura said, and Ryou sighed, resting his head on Bakura's chest.

"I love you too." Ryou purred. Those who were not watching the archery contest returned to food and drink, and to watch Malik and Marik dancing on the tables in a slightly more..... erotic fashion that usual. Ryou watched them, then let Bakura pull him back to the very back of the Shadow Ghoul where no one was. Bakura lay back on the smooth dark green wood, and Ryou curled up beside him, gazing up at the stars. After a while, Bakrua sighed.

"What are you thinking?"

"........ My dad." Ryou said softly, and Bakura felt his heart clench in guilt. "I miss him so much."

"I know you do, Angel. I know. I'm so so sorry that I killed him. Althouth... I would do it again, if I had to relive that night."

"Why?" Ryou asked, sounding upset by this.

"Because... No matter how much I regret that night, I cannot wish it didn't happen. Because it brought you into my life." Bakura said, and looked at Ryou. "You are the greatest thing that ever happened to me, Ryou. I love so much...." Ryou's angry look melted away.

"I love you too. And I think that dad would be happy with how this all turned out. For the first time in my life.... I'm happy." Ryou said, and laid his head on Bakura's chest, listening to his heart beat.

"I'm glad." Bakura murmured, and closed his eyes, hugging his beloved to him.

..........................................

Ryou and Bakura woke to a beautiful sunrise, and Mikado and Ahmose standing over them, smiling,

"As much as I like having you as a guest on my ship...." Ahmose said, offering Bakura a hand. "I think Yami wants you back." Bakura yawned and accepted the hand, standing and stretching.

"Leaving already, Ahmose?" Bakura asked, and the shorter man nodded.

"Pegasus is casting off now." He said, and Bakura turned and stared, then ran, leaving Ryou on the floor. Mikado laughed and helped Ryou up.

"Let's get you back to your ship." He said, and Ahmose wrapped an arm around Ryou's waist, grabbed a rope and swung over to the helm of the Black Magician, setting Ryou down next to Seto, who smiled at the boy. Ahmose then ran down to where Mikado was now standing with Marik, Bakura, Yami and Pegasus. The six men exchanged words, hugs and good wishes, and then, all retutrned to their ships. Ryou watched as the Shadow Ghoul and the Relinquished drifted away and set sail in opposite directions. Bakura sighed as he joined Ryou and draped an arm around the boy.

"Good morning, love." He said, and Ryou giggled.

“Good morning to you too.” He said, then looked at Marik who had come up beside them. “Where are we going?”

“Not sure….” Marik said with a grin, and ruffled Ryou’s hair before being tackled by a hyperactive Malik. The pair were soon chasing each other around the ship, bumping into things, knocking things over and just generally driving everyone else mad. Ryou sat quietly on a barrel next to the door to the galley and watched the Egyptian pair, laughing when Seto grabbed Malik’s collar and started yelling at him after he almost knocked Mokuba overboard, and Tris and Jono were sent by Yami to tackle and restrain Marik. Of course, this didn’t work out because Bakura decided that he wanted in on the mishcheif, and soon enough, Malik, Marik, Bakura, Yugi and Mokuba were tearing around like bats outta hell.

Across the ship, two people were leaning against the railing, and watching them.

“Those idiots…. You know…. We could knock Ishtar overboard…. With they way they’re acting, nobody would suspect anything…..” The first said.

“No. Marik could easily swim back. What we need to do is make sure that he would be irretraiveable.”

“How?”

“Tie something heavy to him, and then throw him off…..”

“Hnnh………”

Marik yelped as Yugi smacked him in the back of the head.

“YOU’RE IT!!” He shrieked, and ran chanting “No tag backs, no tag backs!!!” as Marik pursued him. As Marik darted around some tables that hadn’t been returned to the galley, he tripped over something. He yelped as he slammed his head into the deck, dazing him for a minute.

“Hahaa!!!” Yugi taunted, and leapt onto Yami screaming “BASE!!!” A few moments went by and Marik’s head did not reappear above the table.

“Feh….” Bakura snorted with a smirk. “The fool knocked himself out.” And he went over to retrieve Marik. But before he had even taken four steps, there was a horrified cry from Marik.

“Fuck!! HELP!! BAKURA!!! YAMI!!!! GODS!!!!” Marik screamed, and Bakura leapt over the table in time to see Marik go over the side of the boat.

“MARIK!!” Bakura screamed, and leapt forwards, snagging one of Marik’s hands, as Marik’s other hand was gripping the side of the ship. Bakura looked down into Marik’s panicked eyes, and noticed a rope tangled all over him, and one end was pulling tightly, down into the water.

“NNNGHH!!! WHAT THE FUCK IS ON THE OTHER END?!” Bakura groaned as Yami ran over and grabbed Marik’s other hand.

“A netting of c-canon balls!!!” Marik whimpered as he felt Yami and Bakura’s hands slipping.

“Hold on!!” Bakura growled through clenched teeth. Yami suddenly cried out as his hand slipped, and with a yelp and a scream from Bakura and Marik respectively, both went splashing into the water. Yami didn’t hesitate; as soon as Marik’s hand left his, he grabbed a nearby rope and leapt after them, grabbing Bakura’s leg. Yugi, Malik and Ryou screamed as the three pirates disappeared under the waves. The rope was swiftly uncoiling, and Otogi dashed over, grabbed it and tied it off to the mast. Seto in the meantime took charge.

“BRING HER AROUND!!!” He ordered, and Tris threw the wheel to the side, pulling as hard as he could to bring the Black Magician back around. Jono, in the meatime, had taken his sword and tied a piece of twine to it, which he looped around the rope holding the three leaders to the ship. He let go and watched it slid down and sink into the water. A moment later both Bakura and Yami broke the surface, clinging to the rope. They waved their thanks to the men on the ship, then dove back beneathe the waves.

“GET BACK!!!” Otogi screamed at Mako, Jono and Seto. “No one but me gets NEAR this rope!! I’m not having another life line fail!!” And Seto nodded, approving of this. There was a tense moment as they watched where the rope was cutting into the water. Then, suddenly, the rope slackened a bit, before growing taught again. Then, Yami bobbed to the surface, grasping the rope, followed by Bakura who was clutching Marik. Yami held the rope with one hand, and Bakura’s collar with the other hand.

“GET THEM IN!!!” Seto roared, and he, Jono, Mako, Otogi, Ryou, Malik, Yugi, and Keith, all grabbed the rope and began hauling them in while the rest of the crew watched. Espa, Rex and Weevil all ran up, carrying blankets for the three victims. The three men were hauled onto the deck of the ship, the rope tied under Marik’s arms. Bakura and Yami collapsed, coughing and gasping, while Marik just collapsed. Malik screamed and threw himself onto Marik, beginning mouth to mouth. Yugi knelt by Yami and Ryou by Bakura as they watched Malik trying to get Marik to breathe. Rex knelt and wrapped a blanket around Yami and Weevil around Bakura, and Espa stood holding the last, whimpering and praying that it wouldn’t be Marik’s funeral shroud. Not a sound was heard aside from the dripping of water, the wind, the waves lapping at the side of the boat, and Malik’s desperate attempts to bring Marik back.

Then, finally, Marik convulsed and gagged, then vomited up salt water as Malik turned him over and held him, sobbing. Espa dropped to his knees and covered Marik’s body with the blanket.

“Get him in bed….” Yami gasped as Yugi helped him to stand. Seto knelt and hooked his hands under Marik’s arms, while Otogi grabbed his legs. They lifted Marik up between them and ran for the Captain’s Cabin, Malik following, leaning on Jono. Yami, Yugi, Ryou and Bakura followed. Once inside, the three wet pirates were stripped and dried off, and then Bakura and Yami carefully tucked Marik into bed, and left Malik to watch over him. Then, they turned to face those waiting to hear what had happened. Bakura grunted as Ryou flung himself into the pirate’s chest and sobbed. Bakura blinked, then held Ryou and pet him, soothingly.

“Shhh…. It’s okay. Marik will be fine…..” Bakura crooned, and Yami pulled Yugi into his arms, then blinked and blushed as a smirking Seto offered him a pair of pants. Yami pulled them on, and got Ryou to release Bakura long enough so that the pirate could pull on some pants himself.

“You’re shaking….” Ryou stated as he laid his head on Bakura’s chest.

“Marik nearly died.” Bakura said, holding Ryou. “He was almost killed! He’s my best friend…. I… I was so scared…….” And he hid his face in Ryou’s hair. Yami collapsed onto the sofa and closed his eyes.

“Jono… thank you. That was quick thinking. I’m sorry… I dropped your sword.” He said, and Jono shook his head.

“No sword is worth Marik’s life. I’ll get another.” He said.

“Who… who got to the rope?” Yami asked.

“Me.” Otogi said. “I’m guessing you were hoping that someone would have the sense to tie it off quick?”

“If you hadn’t… Marik would be dead now.” Bakura said, slowly lowering himself into a chair and pulling Ryou into his lap. “Gods… I’m so tired…….”

“Rest.” Ryou said, and got up, pulling Bakura to his bed. Bakura stopped though, and shook his head. He turned and went to Marik’s bed and lightly tapped on the door before opening it. Malik looked up at him.

“Umm… would you mind if…?” Bakura let the question hang. Malik nodded and got out of the bed, watching Bakura slip under the blankets and pull Marik into his chest and stroke his hair, gently. Yami stood and also moved over to the bed, slipping inside and laying on Marik’s other side, curling arms around his waist. The group watched for a moment as Yami gently kissed Marik’s cheek and Bakura nuzzled his face into the Egyptian’s hair, and then, they closed the door and left the three young men to sleep.

After a few minutes of silence, Malik spoke up.

“Seto…. Do you think this was…. An accident?” He asked, and everyone looked up at Seto, who frowned.

“No. This was an intentional attempt on Marik’s life.” He said, and turned, sweeping out the door, followed by Otogi and Jono to take charge of the crew. Ryou and Yugi looked at Malik, who looked pale and shaken.

“Come on….” Yugi said, softly. He pulled Malik to Yami’s bed and lay down with him. Ryou followed and they both cuddled up to Malik, who could no longer keep back his frightened sobs.