Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Every Grain of Sand ❯ Chapter 1

Every Grain of Sand

+Every Grain: Why Are You Suddenly Back+

My Dearest Nephew,

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write to you. As you can see, things in Egypt have been very hectic. Our government is slowly crashing and revolts have been breaking out everywhere. Do not worry though; our family is safe for now. I have not written to you just so I can speak about how poorly our country has become, but rather in celebration for what I am about to tell you next.

My dearest nephew, we have found your mother, just as I have promised. It took a long while, and I am sorry our recovery had not happened sooner, but let us not dwell on that. Your mother is eagerly awaiting your return. So I hope this gives you a new reason to fly back home.

Be weary though, my nephew, for if you do wish to return home you will be upheld with great power and in return, a greater responsibility. I had hoped that this transition from one power to the next would not have happened so quickly. But as each grain of sand flows across the desert, a new one comes to take its place instantaneously.

I do not have much time, my nephew. So I leave with a warning. Strong forces are seeking your destruction. No matter where you are, Egypt or Japan, they will find a way to get to you. Keep your friends and loved ones close, but your enemies even closer. I shall write to you once again when the time is appropriate.

Till then,

Uncle Cairo.

+Every Grain of Sand+

A letter from home, after so many years of silent waiting it had finally come. Yami gripped the edges of the paper, hands trembling slightly, as he read over the major part of the letter. They had found his mother. The letter didn't go into details about her mental and emotional stability but Yami prayed it was better than what his worst fears could come up with.

Now the choice has been thrown up in the air. Go back to Egypt or remain in Domino City?

He sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration and flopped onto his bed. Half a year into his freshman year of college and yet another stressful event was piled onto his life. If it weren't mid-terms it was hellish homework that he was certain a few trees had to suffer to produce. If not that then it was the ups and downs involved in his relationship with Yugi.

For the past three weeks the two's seemingly pleasant conversations turned vicious and feral in a matter of moments. Empty words would be thrown like daggers towards one another because both boys were too stubborn to relent. These arguments normally led to either Yami or Yugi storming out of the room in the huff leaving the other to fume and scream at empty nothingness until they both reasonably calmed down.

Just a little before Yami had opened his letter, the two were engaged in yet another heated argument which lead to Yugi storming out and leaving Yami to read his letter alone in simmer in silence.

Now with the added stress from their last argument, the delighted joy of knowing his mother was alive and well, and the smoldering realization that he may just have to drop his life here in Japan to go back to Egypt was causing a nasty headache to emerge. Sighing, Yami threw his face into his pillow and let out a scream. All his confusions, anger, joy, came out with one single burst.

“Alright, I know I got you pretty mad this time but you don't have to take it out on the pillow.”

Yami grinned wildly into the pillow, completely forgetting how mad he was at Yugi prior. This is what he loved about their fights. It tore them apart for a little but they would come back together in an instant. Like snapping a rubber band; you can stretch it as far as its limits but it always snaps back together.

“True, but the pillow won't punch me if I take out my frustrations on it.”

Yugi shook his head, eyes twinkling with amusement as he watched Yami scream into the pillow again and punch it a couple of times. It was highly entertaining to watch. After the laughter died down, Yugi carefully made his way to the bed the two shared and curled up beside his lover. The cool scent of cinnamon wafted through his nostrils and a comforting sense of peace surrounded him. Being near Yami always calmed his nerves as well as frazzled them to the extreme. It was such a weird power to have but made Yugi feel all the more safe.

“So, besides my involvement, are you going to tell me what's gotten you so worked up?” Yugi nuzzled his face into the back of Yami's neck, his fingers idly drummed on his lover's tummy. He felt Yami tense in his grip at the question, instantly alerting him that this was something far more serious than a bad test grade. Yugi rubbed small circles on his lover's taught stomach, hoping it would calm Yami down.

Yami visibly relaxed at the sensation and fluttered his eyes closed. A small moan escaped his lips as the small circles quickly turned into firm, but still soft, kneading. Then Yugi started to massage the muscle in a lethargic manner up and down his sides. The crimson-eyed teen let out satisfied sigh before turning on his side to stare face to face with his aibou.

“Your hands are magic, Aibou.” He chuckled and placed a firm kiss against Yugi's lips. They stayed their, lingering for a moment, trying to engrain every feeling, every sensation, that the kiss produced like it would be the last kiss they shared. Slowly and reluctantly they parted with goofy smiles on their faces.

“I know. Now seriously, Yami, tell me what's bothering you.” Yugi threaded their fingers together and looked Yami dead in the eye. There was no way in hell he was going to let Yami escape from his problems. He could practically see the worry and stress embedded in his lover's forehead. And his normally bright crimson eyes were darkened with emotions Yugi couldn't place.

Yami hesitated a little. Putting into words, and then voicing them, about his mother's well being would make the situation into a reality. Yami had never felt like his life was in any real danger. Hell, the only thing he thought was a major crisis was college finals. The letter from his Uncle made him rethink this. Maybe he really was in danger. His life was on the line because of his lineage he thought he'd drop back in Egypt. If what his uncle was saying was the truth, he didn't want to bring Yugi into any danger.

The look in his aibou's eyes though, they spoke of encouragement and patience. They were ready and eager to wait for as long as they had to for Yami to voice his concerns. That look made his indecisiveness disappear.

Sighing, Yami pulled Yugi into a tight hug, resting his head on top of Yugi's and wrapping his arm around his waist. “Remember a few years ago when I told you about my parents?” Yugi nodded, silently pushing Yami on to continue. “My father is God-knows-where and like I've said before, I don't really care where he ends up. But my mother… Yugi, they've found my mother.”

Tears streamed down his eyes as he sobbed for joy. His body racked from the aftereffects, but Yugi was there to be his support and hold him steady. Yugi smiled, kissing away the tears and whispering how happy he was for his lover. The little one could always sense that Yami held a piece of heartache for his mother. At nights he'd wake up to an empty spot, only to find Yami outside looking up at the stars and whispering to himself. Yugi deduced he was praying about his mother; or even trying to talk to her out of desperation from sheer loneliness that could only come from an absent mother.

Yugi knew the feeling very well.

“This is great news, love!” Yugi nuzzled their noses together and kissed Yami soundly on the lips. “You have to go to Egypt right away! Your mother is waiting for you.”

Yami felt his chuckles deflate and his stomach churn at the thought of returning to his homeland. He had buried his unwanted past deep in the sands of Egypt. Going back there would just mean having to dig them up and relive them again. Yami didn't know if he could handle that.

Moreover, his uncle's warning started to replay over and over in his mind. His life was in danger that much he knew now. If he stepped foot on Egypt soil he'd be taking responsibly of a deteriorating government. A government that probably still held hatred over the terrible deeds his father did.

`Is it even my responsibility to lead the country? I mean, I left it so long ago. The people there will probably spit on the ground I walk on. And there are memories I'd like to keep locked away till I'm lying in my grave…'

Yugi looked worriedly at his lover. Yami's face was contorted with his eyebrows scrunched in thought and worry lines appearing on his forehead. It was the look Yugi liked to classify as the “Thoughtful” look because Yami's face would always turn like that whenever the man was in deep thought. Yugi could see the inner battle Yami was facing, but what it was that he couldn't tell. He wanted to ask, but he felt like he might've been pushing it.

Yami's past was something that, although vaguely familiar with it, had learned wasn't a very pretty one. He didn't want to step on a landmine because he wasn't careful.

“Don't get so worried…” Yugi gently cupped his love's cheek so that crimson clashed with amethyst. Words were spoken between the gazes. Crimson spoke of uneasiness and fears of embarking on such a trip. Amethyst spoke soothingly, encouraging its love that whatever choice it made it would willingly follow along with it. “You don't have to make your choice now, Yami. Take some time to think it over. Egypt's not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Yugi brushed his lips against Yami's, a nimble tongue coming out to play. He wanted to take Yami's mind off of everything. All he wanted to do was comfort his love and make the tension go away. He moaned softly when he was suddenly pulled on top of Yami and had hips grinding into his.

The night was lost when the two made love over and over again; moans dancing around the room to the sound of the bed creaking. For a moment, it was like nothing really changed. Everything was still the same. No one's life was in danger. And Egypt was just a distant country that no longer had any ties to Yami's fate.

Sadly, Egypt's bonds are so hard to break…

+Every Grain: Domino International Airport+

“Son of a bitch; worst plane ride ever!” the lean man stretched his aching muscles, letting out a sweet moan as the tension drifted away. Never again would he sit in a cramped airplane for over fourteen hours for an assignment. Hell, he'd take up swimming through the Pacific if it meant he'd never have to ride in the air again.

Sandy blonde locks that spiked out in every direction - even more so from bed head - flopped around as he searched for his partner in crime. Dark sunglasses hid his purple irises that were gleaming with the intent of grabbing his partner and forcing him to buy dinner.

“Quite complaining, Marik. You're acting like a child.” His counterpart shook his head and went over to baggage claim. Marik could be the complete definition of immature when he wished to be. It was a wonder to his counterpart how he managed to move up in the ranks of the organization with his psychotic behaviors.

`It's his skill with knives, definitely.' He answered his own question and grabbed the first bag of the conveyer belt. He really hated baggage claim. You had to wait for thirty minutes until your luggage came by. And heaven forbid if someone had the same luggage you did a whole new piece of drama erupted. He told Marik to pack light, but he insisted on carrying a few clothes and other essentials.

“Hurry the fuck up, Malik, my stomach is rumbling and you're buying dinner tonight!” Marik hollered from across the room, his thumb jabbing at the restaurant behind him. The steak smelled absolutely delicious and he couldn't wait to take a bite of it.

Malik hid back every urge to kill the man where he stood only because they were in public. Marik was drawing too much attention to himself. The full was going to blow his cover in less than twenty minutes of landing in Japan! Scowling, Malik gratefully picked up the last of their luggage and trudged over to a wide-grin Marik.

“Idiot, if you think I'm going to buy you dinner in an airport than you're off your rocker.”

Marik scowled, “What the hell? I'm starving, damn it!”

“Then you should have eaten the food the airplane provided.” Shrugging off the matter, Malik pushed up his sunglasses to his hairline and scanned the crowd. His employer had made sure that a designated driver would be there to pick them up. So far he wasn't finding anyone until… Bingo.

“There's our ride.” Completely ignoring Marik's rant, Malik set off for the driver. Nodding respectfully towards the driver Malik looked behind his shoulder in hopes to see him following behind him. In reality, Marik had his face stuffed in a nearby kiosk hoping to buy overpriced sticky buns.

“Malik, lend me five bucks!”

Light purple irises hardened in a glare underneath black shades, the glare directed towards his partner. Satisfied to see a shiver dance along Marik's spine, Malik turned his attention back on the driver who looked utterly amused with the situation.

“Is that your partner?”

Malik frowned. “Sadly he is.” He shook his head in mock shame, a small smile teased his lips when Marik faithfully ran over and threw his arm around his waist. “But he's good in bed, so that weighs out his stupidity.”

The driver chuckled silently, adjusting his hat so the visor covered his eyes, and ushered them out the rotating doors. In no time he was behind the wheel with his guests snuggling in the backseat.

He gazed up into the front view mirror and smirked when he saw Marik press a kiss against Malik's lips. `Cute,' he thought as he pulled away from the curb to head out on to the highway.

Is `cute' what they call assassins nowadays?