Burning Sea

Burning Sea

hato-chiisai

Disclaimer: No own. Go away.

YAOI WARNING

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Chapter 24

Attack

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Mako looked up at Bakura, Ryou, Malik and Marik. Dinner had been over for three hours, but the four still sat there, silent. It had been a week and a half since Yami had demoted Marik and Bakura from his first and second mates, and promoted Seto to his first mate, and Jono his second. Marik and Bakura were depressed. It wasn’t their positions of authority they were grieving over, it was their relationship with Yami. They had been family, the three of them, and now the only thing Yami ever said to them was threats to make them walk the plank, or keelhaul them, or maroon them.

The entire ship had been eerily quiet. There was no laughing, no playful banter, no games on the deck. Everyone was silent, and only spoke when necessary. Tea had not been screwed in five days.

Ryou and Malik were sick with worry over Yugi, Yami would not permit them to see him. Ryou was crying constantly, and Malik had been silent as the grave.

All four looked up when Yami entered the galley.

“Mako. Do you have some soup?” He asked. Mako gulped and nodded.

“Yes captain.” He said, too afraid to call Yami by name. He began preparing some hot soup. Yami watched him, then slowly looked over to Marik, Bakura, Malik and Ryou. The four looked back at him, sadly. Yami narrowed his eyes and grit his teeth.

“Yami?” Ryou asked, softly. Yami’s eyes snapped to Ryou, and he glared. “How… how is Yugi doing?”

“Why the fuck do YOU care?!” Yami spat. “I’m surprised you take the time to ask, I thought your time was better spent getting fucked from both ends!” Ryou’s eyes widened and filled with tears. He got up from the table and ran out of the galley.

“What the fuck?!” Bakura shouted, standing up. “How dare you talk to him like that?! What did he ever do to you?! What did ANY of us do to you?!?”

“Be silent, you dog!” Yami roared. “You’re nothing but a slave. And as soon as we dock, you will be put right back into the trade you came from!!” Bakura’s eyes widened and he paled.

“Y-Yami……” Malik gasped.

“And you two are going with him!” Yami snapped at Malik and Marik. “I’m sure Ryou will make some aristocrat a wonderful bed slave.” Bakura shook his head.

“Yami!!! Why?! Why are you mad at us?!” He screamed. Yami winced, then slowly approached them. He placed his hands on the table, and got into Bakura’s face.

“I’m trying to protect you.” He muttered softly. Bakura, Marik and Malik blinked. “I’m hoping, that if you’re not in my…. Favor, so to speak, whoever is trying to kill us will not harm you.”

“Whah?”

“Just play along. Apologize to Ryou on my behalf. And tell him that Yugi is much better.” Then he stood. “I never want to see your face again.” And he struck Bakura to the floor. He took the soup from Mako, and stomped out of the galley.

"That was..... unexpected....." Marik said. Bakura said nothing, simply stared after Yami.

"Should we be grateful, or furious?" Malik asked.

".... both?" Marik suggested, weakly.

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

Yami entered his cabin and closed the door behind him. Jono, Seto, Mokuba and Otogi looked up at him.

"I told them." Yami said.

"Good." Seto said. "I can't stand it when those two are sulking."

"And Ryou and Malik have just been depressing."

".... I made Ryou cry." Mumbled Yami.

"YAMI!" Came a shout from the sofa, and Yugi's head poked up into view. "What did you say to Ryou?!"

".... I uh... I called him a... a whore, basically." Yami stammered, and Yugi's eyes darkened.

"Yami! How could you?!"

"I'm trying to protect them!"

"That was going too far! Now bring me my soup!"

"Yes Yugi."

"Ooooh!" Otogi said, and then he, Jono, Seto, and Mokuba all chorused "WHIPPED!!!" and laughed. Yami glared and flipped them off as he handed Yugi his soup.

"How are you feeling, Yugi?" Yami asked, siting in the edge of the sofa and hugging Yugi gently.

"Hungry." Yugi said, eating his soup. Yami smiled and nuzzled his face into the top of Yugi's head.

"I'm glad." Yami said. "And I told Bakura to tell Ryou that you were geting better."

"Yami... I miss them."

"I know you do, love."

"Can I see them?"

"No. Not until I find out who wants us dead."

"I think it's Tea!" Mokuba chirped. "She's mad that Yami won't stick it to--"

"MOKUBA!!" Seto gasped, slapping a hand over his mouth. Otogi snickered.

"Well, I think it's Keith!" The emerald eyed boy said, twirling a lock of hair around his finger. "He's mean. And he's always glaring at Yami and Bakura and especially Marik."

"I think it's Rex and Weevil. Those two are really slimey, if you ask me." Jono said. "And Espa may be in on it, too."

"Don't condemn me for suggesting this...." Seto said. "But.... Malik."

"WHAT?!" All the others gasped.

"Well.... Malik has yet to be the victim of an assassination attempt. All the others have... and more than once in most cases, I might add. Look, I'm just throwing out all possible options here. I don't think Malik would ever try to hurt Ryou or Yugi or Marik, but...... well... it is a bit suspicious."

"What about YOU!?" Yugi growled, furiously. "If Yami, Marik and Bakura were to bite it, YOU would end up as Captain! YOU have motive! What does Malik have?!"

"Yugi, calm down!" Yami gasped.

"He's got a point, Seto!" Jono said, prodding the brunette in the side, and getting his hand smacked.

"Yes, he does. Let's face it... anyone could be the traitor." Seto said softly, and pet Mokuba's hair when the boy scooted closer for comfort.

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All was quiet on the Black Magician. All were asleep, aside from Keith on lookout, and Tris at the helm. Tris watched Tea come out from below deck and approach him.

"Nice night?" She asked. Tris blinked.

"Yeah. Good breeze. Clear skies. Why?"

"Wanna take a break?"

"Not now, Tea. Go back to bed." Tris said, and she pounted. She moved behind Tris, picked up a cannon ball, and slammed it down onto his head. She watched him slump over, unconscious. She looked up at Keith, and waved. He nodded, then picked up a torch, and lit it. He raised it above his head, and waved it. A large ship sailed closer. He had been watching it for quite a while. The ship grew closer, and Keith climbed down out of the rigging and hit the deck, Tea coming up beside him. They watched the other ship pull up next to them and throw grappling hooks, pulling their ships together. Spanish soldiers began to creep on board.

Tris raised his head, and his eyes widened. Keith and Tea..... they were the traitors. He opened his mouth, and screamed.

"ATTACK!!!! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!!!!" The Spanish soldiers froze, and Keith and Tea whirled.

"Dammit woman! You were supposed to knock him out!" Keith snapped. The door to the galley flew open and Mako appeared. He grabbed the warning bell's rope and began to ring it. Within moments, piarates were swarming onto the deck. And the battle broke out. Yami burst from his cabin with Yugi in his arms. He ran across the deck and into the galley. He ran down to the storage rooms and blinked.

"You read my mind." He said, staring at Marik and Bakura, who were tucking a terrified Ryou and Malik behind some barrels. Yami ran over and lay Yugi down. Yugi clung to Malik. Yami turned and ran, Marik on his heels. But Bakura stopped when Ryou grabbed his hand.

"Bakura! Please!! You can't fight! You're hurt!!" He cried, laying his hand on the arm that was in a sling. Bakra smiled and kissed Ryou's forehead.

"I have to go. I have to defend you."

"Bakura, you can't! That's your right arm that you can't use!"

"See ya later, Ryou." Bakura said, smiling, and turned, walking away. Ryou got up, grabbed a nearby bottle of wine and slammed it down on Bakura's head. Bakura yelped and slumped to the floor amid wine and broekn glass.

"Take care of him." He heard Ryou say to Malik and Yugi, and felt gentle fingers take his katana from his hand. He heard Ryou turn and run from the room, and he lost consiousness.

"What?! WAIT!!!" Malik cried, but Ryou was gone. He dashed onto the deck of the ship and raised the katana. He saw some soldiers, and attacked.

"IT'S THE THEIF!!" Someone yelled, and the next thing Ryou knew, he was swarmed by a dozen soldiers. He failed to notice Marik and Yami in similar situations. He felt something strike the back of his head, and he slumped to the deck of the ship, blacking out.

"BAKURA!!!" Marik screamed, as he was thrown down and retstrained. "NO!!! LET GO!!! DAMN YOU!!!" He was bound hand and foot and dragged to the edge of the ship. He watched Bakura's limp body being passed over to the Spanish ship, and then he followed. He was dragged down into the brig, and thrown into a cell, Bakura in the one across from him. And a few minutes later, Yami was dragged down the stairs and tossed into the cell next to Marik, his head bleeding.

"Yami!" Marik gasped. Only moments later, the sounds of battle stopped, and the next thing Marik knew, the ship was sailing. He blinked, confused. It had all happened so fast, his mind was spinning. He couldn't quite figure out just WHAT had happened.....

"Marik Ishtar...." A voice said, and Marik whirled, seeing the captain walking down the stairs and into the brig. "Snared at last." He looked over at Yami and Bakura, both unconsious. Marik growled and struggled against the rope that bound him.

"You mother fuckin--"

"Hold your tongue you dog! You have been arrested along with your companions on the charge of piracy! And you will be executed upon our return to Spain!" Another man walked in.

"Sir!" He saluted. "Tea and Keith have been paid the agreed sum."

"Good."

"WHAT?!" Marik screeched. "TEA AND KEITH?!?!"

"Correct." The captain said. "I paid them to kill you and your companions, and when they failed, they agreed to help us capture you instead. They received a sum, and of course, the Black Magician and the crew, to sail and continue piracy in the name of His Majesty the King of Spain, and turn over half of their spoils to him. We will be arriving in port tomorrow afternoon." And then, he turned and left. Marik glared after him, but then let his head fall to the floor.... there was no way out of this...... and he knew it.