Crystal Waters

Part 17

Gecko_grl_2

Notes: I'm so sorry it took me so long! Please forgive me! I'm not super happy with how I wrote this, but it's growing on me. I hope you enjoy the climax of Crystal Waters!

~(*)~

"There has to be a way." Yugi whispered desperately as he looked around the lab. He had stayed up all night looking for something that could help Yami escape. He knew that the ocean wasn't too far away, and if he could just get him to the beach…but it was still too far for Yuugi to carry him on foot. His body wasn't built to carry loads, and he wasn't that fast anyway.

Yuugi hated this feeling of uselessness. He wanted desperately to save Yami, his only friend, but it seemed like there was nothing he could do.

"Yuugi…" Yami whispered. Yugi flinched, aware that the merman had been listening to his thoughts again. He hunched his shoulders inward, trying to ward off his negative feelings. Yami was the one really suffering. He was the one being tested on and sold for someone's viewing pleasure.

"Yuugi…it'll be ok." There was a brush against his mind, an attempt at comfort that Yuugi felt he didn't deserve.

"How can you say that?" he whispered back, mortified that he was actually voicing what was going through his head. "You're going to get put in an aquarium! How can you be so calm!"

"What else can I do?" Yami yelled back, emotions thick in his 'voice.' "I can't survive on land. My magic won't work unless I'm in my ocean! We can't work your human technology, and there is no one else to turn to!" Tears began to roll down Yugi's face. "What else can I do, Yuugi?" Yami whispered miserably.

Defeated, Yugi sat down against the tank. Yami wrestled with his own emotions as Yugi stared blankly at the wall. What could he do? What could he do? He wasn't strong, or fast, or very smart, and he didn't have any authority over anyone.

There wasn't anything he could do.

Silence reigned as the minutes ticked by. In only two hours that man was going to come and take Yami away, and Yugi would never see him again. All alone for the rest of his life.

"Yami?" Yugi whispered, emotion clogging his throat. "I…I'm going to miss you." What sounded like a sob came from Yami, and the merman drifted down next to Yugi. He pressed against the glass, head-to-head and hand-to-hand.

"I'm going to miss you, too."

And there they sat, until the door swung open and hour later.

Yugi jumped, startled at the sudden noise in the silent room. Yugi and Yami stared with wide and worried eyes as a tall figure strode through the threshold. It's too early! Yugi thought frantically. Dartz shouldn't be here for another hour!

"Yugi!"

"Mokuba!" Yugi yelled as the black-haired teen appeared from the doorway. The tall figure revealed to be Seto, who brushed past them all to start typing on the main computer.

"Come on!" Mokuba urged, tugging on Yuugi's arm. "We need to hurry!"

"Hurry?" Yugi hesitated. He could feel Yami's wariness and the slow-growing curiosity. He didn't want to leave Yami's side.

"Yes!" Mokuba finally managed to pull Yugi away from the tank as the whir of machines echoed in the lab. "Dartz will be here soon; we've got to get you guys out of here quickly."

Disbelief washed over Yugi. Mokuba and Seto were helping them? Why?

"We're your friends, Yugi." Mokuba smiled. "Friends help each other."

They dashed up the ladder, Yugi hesitating a moment as his fear of water pulled at him. The golden cobra glittered on his skin, and a feeling of safety and reassurance enclosed his mind. It was a weird feeling, but it allowed Yugi to press on. His grip was tight on the railing, and he tried to turn his thoughts away from the all-consuming water.

The rumble of the crane lowering towards the surface of the water, and the distorted image of Yami swimming underneath helped to distract his queasy stomach.

"Yuugi?" Yami called through their connection. "What's going on?"

"Yugi." Mokuba drew his focus back in. "Can you tell Yami to get in the container? We are going to move him to a transport cart."

It finally clicked then, what was going on. A miracle had happened. Yami was going to be rescued.

"We're getting you out of here, Yami!" he yelled, forcing through the nausea to step into the knee-deep container. "Come on! Seto and Mokuba found a way to get you back to the ocean!"

Yami surged up to the surface, his head emerging from the water with a splash. "H-how?"

"Hurry up, Yugi!" Mokuba yelled as he darted back down the ladder.

"No time to explain!" Yuugi reached out his hand. "Trust me."

There was no hesitation as Yami took his hand. They shared a brief smile, and then Yugi pulled upward, Yami adding an upward movement from his tail, and they successfully pulled Yami's body over the edge and into the container. Once the merman was secure, Yugi stepped out back onto the overhang. In a span of a few seconds, the crane whirred to life again. Yami's hands pressed against the walls of the container to give him some stability as the crane carried him to where Mokuba had pulled up a dark green four-wheeler, decked out with a wide platform on the back.

Yugi kept a watchful eye on the crane and container as he climbed down the ladder. Minutes ticked away as the crane settled onto the back of the four-wheeler, and Mokuba instructed Yugi on how to attach it and the lid. Once the final bolts fell into place and the container was secure, the crane released its hold and the four-wheeler dipped under the added weight.

"Hurry up." Seto barked, leaning into the driver's seat with a silver briefcase in his grasp. "It won't be long until they realize the virus I put in their database came from this lab." Mokuba dashed into the passenger's seat, and Yugi hesitantly climbed into the back seat, twisting so that he could put a hand on Yami's container.

The four-wheeler started rolling forward, and Yugi murmured reassuringly to Yami. Nervousness fluttered in both their stomachs, but determination was bright in Yugi's face.

"Yuugi…"

Yugi blinked at Yami's tone. He sought out the merman's red eyes and quizzically tilted his head. There was something off about the emotion he could feel through their connection.

"Everything will be alright, Yami." He reassured, laying his hand against Yami's. "We'll get you back home."

"Yuugi…" Yami interrupted. "What about you? They're going to know that you helped me escape, and I doubt they will let you go free…."

"Don't worry about me." Yugi deterred. "I'll be fine."

Any further communication between the two was disrupted by an alarm.

"Damn!" Seto cursed. "They changed the code already."

"W-what?" Yugi stammered. Were they going to be stopped even before they could get out of the lab?

"Don't worry." Mokuba urged. "Seto can break it; he's a master at computers!"

"Shh!" Seto commanded. Yugi watched with worry as the brunette typed away at the keypad. Two seconds later, something beeped and the doors whirred open.

"Hold on!'

They lurched forward, right as the doors to the lab began to rattle. Outraged voices were lost in the drum of the four-wheeler, and they peeled out of the lab.

The sunlight momentarily blinded Yuugi, causing him to raise a hand to shield his eyes. A twinge of discomfort told Yugi that Yami was having a similar problem. It had been quite a while since either of them had been outside, Yugi's pale skin testified to his time in the lab, but Yami quickly began to soak it up.

Squinting, Yuugi managed to open his eyes. The sun was still rather high in the sky, yet several large cloud formations nearby threatened a dark evening. The wind was blustery, and it pushed against the four-wheeler.

"A storm?" Yugi whispered worriedly. Would Yami be safe getting home?

A siren went off suddenly, causing Yugi to jump and Seto to swear. The four-wheeler was pushed to its fasted speed as Seto tried to gain more lead on the security guards.

"Yuugi…I can feel it."

Something Yugi didn't recognize rose within Yami. It was strong enough to be felt through their connection and it sent weird electrical tingles through the snake looped around his shoulders.

"It's so close!"

The ocean came into view as they crested a hill; it's wide blue surface glittering in the sunlight. Waves crashed along the shore, beating against the rock formations that framed the beach. It was very beautiful, yet very terrifying to Yugi. Nervousness and nausea pressed against his throat, and he forced himself to think about something else. He was helping Yami get back home; he could push through a little nausea.

He turned to look behind them. A trio of security carts tailed them, making Yuugi nervous despite the giant lead they had. They were gaining though, and Yuugi prayed that they would make it in time.

"Shit." Seto yelled. They had just reached the beach as a black car rolled to a stop at the top of the hill, where the road ended. A sinking feeling drilled a hole in Yugi's stomach. He knew without a doubt whose car that belonged to.

"Yuugi!"

They swerved to a stop, the wheels spinning uselessly in the sand. They were very close now, not even five meters from the rolling waves.

"Hurry up!" Seto and Mokuba dashed out of the four-wheeler, leaving it running in their haste. "Undo the bolts! We'll have to carry him from here."

Yugi quickly relayed the message to Yami, whose emotions were cresting and crashing like the nearby waves. The message seemed to have been understood, but it was difficult to tell.

The bolts came undone with little resistance, and Yugi reaching in to grab Yami's arm. The merman mirrored his grasp, while Mokuba grabbed his other side and Seto grabbed his tail. Yami's obvious discomfort at Seto touching him was almost comical, but the sight of guys in suits charging towards them disrupted it. They heaved Yami out of the container, and proceeded to drag him towards the crashing waves.

There was a loud bang as a bullet struck the ground nearby. Yugi jerked up to see the suits rushing at them, guns at the ready. Bullets rang out, startling them all to loosen their hold on Yami. Seto and Mokuba fully released their grip, Mokuba yelling out in fright and Seto yelling for him to get down. Yugi struggled with the merman's full weight.

N-no! "Stop it!" he yelled fearfully. They were going to kill Yami! Just a few more feet!

"Yugi!" Seto yelled at him. "Get over here!" The two brothers were huddled behind the four-wheeler, a cell phone clutched against Mokuba's ear. "Hurry up!"

Time slowed down and sound was muffled. Yugi looked back to Yami's fearful expression, and felt the tight grip the merman had on his arm. He…he couldn't just leave Yami here.

It was then that Yugi realized how he could actually do something for the first time in his life.

He grabbed Yami under the arms and heaved. He was going to get Yami home! They were so close now! Not even two feet away rolled the waves of the ocean. He had to succeed!

"A-ahhh!" Pain tore through his thigh, drowning out the sudden buzz of the snake on his shoulders. He dimly heard Yami gasp as they fell towards the water; the liquid's cool touch on his shoulder did little to soothe the pain.

"Yuugi!"

It hurt! The pain was nothing compared to anything he had ever felt before! They shot him; they have actually shot him!

"Y-Yami…" Run away, Yami! Hurry!

There was a snap as something clicked into place, and Yugi was consumed with pain and water.

~(*)~

Yami barely understood what was going on. He knew that they were so close to the ocean, and that those cursed humans in black garments were wielding some kind of weapon. Kaiba and Mokuba have abandoned them because of this weapon, so it had to be something to be feared.

Yet, Yuugi was still there, dragging him towards the water with a grim determination. The men were still far enough off that they could make it. If he could just touch the ocean and reconnect with his magic source….

The protective charm he had given to Yuugi buzzed in warning about two seconds before a band and sudden stab of pain tore through their connection.

"Yuugi!"

They fell, and the ocean's waves rushed up to greet him. His magic snapped back in to place, and in an instant the atmosphere of fear changed.

A strange mix of fear for Yuugi and the euphoria of his ocean magic crashed upon him. Save us. Yami commanded, wrapping his will around the surrounding water.

The humans in black had rushed at them, malicious intent etched on their indistinct faces. Anger rose within him, and the water responded to his emotions.

No, he was in his element, his power, now. They would not take him!

Violent eddies of water swept past Yami, striking at the humans. Uselessly, they fired their weapons, and uselessly, they struggled against the water. A superior grin lit on Yami's face, as he saw that blue-haired man, the one who had wanted to 'buy' him, watched. His miss-matched eyes were unreadable as the sun withdrew beneath the thunderhead clouds. Ominous crackling struck through the clouds. The storm had finally come.

Just try. Yami dared the cursed human. Just you try. Give me a reason to end your pitiful existence. You cannot contain me!

A tidal wave rose high above him, spurred on by his empowered rage. He would teach them a lesson. He would teach them all a lesson! No one can own the Prince of the Ocean!

A frightened and pain filled groan whispered along the edge of his mind, accompanied by the warning of the protection charm. His drunken rage was diverted momentarily, to the creature clinging to him.

"…Yuugi."

Instantly, his rage broke. He gathered the shaking human into his arms. Blood was flowing from his thigh, and the sea salt was driving daggers into the wound.

Yuugi…Yuugi was hurt. He had to help Yuugi!

He gave the cursed human one last withering glare, before turning his back to it. The water rose up around Yami, and swallowed him (and Yuugi) whole, leaving behind the sound of thunder and sirens.

A current swept them out, taking them quickly away from the shore. Yuugi's pain called out to him, and the charm clamored for soothing to heal the pain. His breathing was erratic, despite the protection charm's attempts to calm it.

They were drawn into a small underwater cave, and Yami's magic sealed off all the entrances. The sharks would be around soon, and he didn't want them near with Yuugi injured so.

"Yuugi!" Yami called, holding the human tightly. He pressed his hand against the bleeding wound, willing it to close. A sharp cry from the human forced Yami to pull his magic back. The power was confused. It had never before healed a human wound, and was unsure how to heal it. Yami pushed against the power's wish to 'fix' the human flesh, unsure as to what it would actually do to Yuugi. He would wind up with one less leg or some strange mutation.

"Y-Yami!"

But Yuugi was in so much pain. What should I do? Yuugi could be dying from such a wound!

He would not let Yuugi die; not after all the human had done for him.

"Hold on, Yuugi." Yami pressed his forehead against the Yuugi's clammy forehead, and restrained the human against his body. "This will hurt."

He let the magic take over. A 'fixed' human was better than a dead one, and he had no other choice.