Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Fly Away Home ❯ A Serpent's Charm ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: Plain and simple. I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh.

A/N: Sorry I'm late with this! I'll try not to make it a habit. Not much to say this time, except there is some more Sprite-y goodness for Banjodog and for everyone else who like Yami/Yuugi fluff. I've tried to make the fluff serve some purpose to the story other than entertainment, but the more I think on it, the more I don't think it matters. Ignore my ramblings. They don't even make any sense to me. I hope you enjoy the chapter! It was a lot of fun to write!

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Fly Away Home

By Ocean

Chapter Seven: A Serpent's Charm

The two occupants of the store observed their cards carefully, years of experience alerting them to combinations and possible counterattacks as their eyes perused the gingerly crafted images. It was nearing the end of lunch hour, and the many patrons of the Kame Game Shop slowly trickled out through the welcoming doors and back to their jobs. Only Yuugi and Sugoroku remained, the older of the two by the cash register and his grandson leaning over the counter, facing him. Yuugi's easel sat forgotten by the window as its artist immersed himself in the game before him.

"I play Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress, in defense mode," Sugoroku said as he laid his elaborately decorated card on the counter. The tension between him and Yuugi had been staggering since the night Yuugi had chosen to place Yami's welfare above all others. The decision had pierced Sugoroku more deeply than any blade could ever hope to, causing him to bleed slowly from the inside.

Yuugi clucked his tongue as he lazily analyzed his cards, his mind attempting to discern his grandfather's strategy. It was funny how something as simple as a game could bridge any gap between them. Yuugi agreed that things had been... tense... around the house for awhile, but he was grateful for the distraction Duel Monsters offered.

"Armored Lizard in attack mode, attacks Winged Dragon, he wins," Yuugi said absently as he placed his card on the counter. Yuugi had found it increasingly difficult to focus on his daily tasks. After the night of Pegasus' phone call Yami had been far more affectionate towards him. Touching him, petting him, holding him, smelling his hair... Yuugi couldn't say he disliked the attention, though it was rather embarrassing to have another man nuzzling him in front of his grandfather. It was difficult to enjoy the touches when Sugoroku would glare disappointedly and leave the room with an irritated grunt.

Sugoroku removed the defeated card and placed it in his discard pile. He tapped his finger against the glass of the counter, each tap representing a thought that passed through his mind.

"You always told me not to do that, Ji-chan," Yuugi reprimanded without taking his eyes from his cards. "You don't want to develop any habits that may alert an observant opponent to what is in your hand."

"The operative word being `observant,' Yuugi," Sugoroku replied as he placed two cards face down on the table. "It is something you have hardly been as of late."

Yuugi frowned slightly at the verbal dig, not pleased with his grandfather's words. Apparently Sugoroku was more upset with his recent behavior than Yuugi had originally been led to believe. He would prefer for his grandfather to simply tell him how he felt rather than attacking him at random intervals.

Yuugi heard a slight growl come from his grandfather. Before he was able to raise his eyes to see what had drawn the sound something long, cold and orange was placed in front of his face as an arm was draped heavily around his shoulders. Yuugi gaped at the popsicle. Yami had never followed him into the shop before, always being side tracked by the refrigerator and its hidden wonders. Yuugi looked at him out of the corner of his eye, cheeks growing warm at the smirk that adorned Yami's lips.

Yami placed the tip of the popsicle against Yuugi's mouth, leaving it still a moment so that its chill could penetrate the warm flesh. Yuugi's breathing quickened at the sensation, the duel sense of the warmth on his shoulders and the coldness against his lips sending pleasant shivers down his spine. His mouth parted slightly as he tried to force down a breath of air, and Yami took the opportunity to slowly guide the popsicle past Yuugi's moist lips and further into his mouth, resting the watery confection lightly on Yuugi's tongue.

Yuugi's eyes doubled in size at the action, the coldness of his once warm mouth shocking his previously occupied intellect. His lips closed instinctively around the popsicle, their warmth melting slightly into the treat. Yuugi's brain conveniently forgot to tell his body to breathe, his body frozen as rigid as the popsicle in his mouth.

Yami's smirk intensified as he watched Yuugi's reaction. He found such pleasure in catching the little one off guard. It was such a simple task that he found himself at no loss for ideas. He noticed with slight disappointment that Yuugi was not tasting his dessert. Well, Yami couldn't have that. The food that was kept in that cold place was his most favored of all the new delicacies he had tasted. Therefor, it was only proper that he share his find with his favorite person.

Yuugi blinked when he felt the popsicle twist slightly in his mouth, rotating over his tongue and coating it in its orange sugary goodness. He realized that Yami wanted him to taste the popsicle and decided that if he ever wanted it removed from his mouth he was going to have to comply. Flicking his tongue quickly over the frozen water, Yuugi's brow crinkled as he noticed that there was another flavor along with the orange. He tasted it again... It was a little salty, kind of like butter, and contrasted greatly against the sweetness of the popsicle. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to place the taste before realization dawned on him and he snapped his eyes open.

Turning to stare at Yami, Yuugi found himself hypnotized by the knowing look in Yami's eyes. When he was certain that Yuugi had tasted everything he was supposed to, Yami gingerly removed the popsicle from Yuugi's mouth, slipping it past his lips before turning around and walking over to Yuugi's abandoned easel, running his tongue along his reclaimed treat.

Yuugi stared after him for a long moment, unconsciously licking his lips in an attempt to save the flavor that clung to them. So that was what Yami tasted like...

"It's your move, Yuugi," Sugoroku snapped. "I played while you where otherwise... occupied."

"Huh...?" Yuugi said, trying to refocus his thoughts by shaking his head. "Oh, right." Yuugi looked suspiciously at his hand, unable to figure out exactly how he was still holding his cards.

Yami strolled casually through the store, ignoring the merchandise as he focused his attention on the popsicle in his hand. He was quite pleased with himself; the stunned expression on Yuugi's face when he noticed it was Yami's flavor he tasted embedding itself into his mind. A sly smile painted his lips... yes, things were progressing very smoothly.

With a final bite Yami finished his popsicle and snapped the wooden stick in two, fingering the pieces lightly as he came around and stood in front of Yuugi's easel. His little Hikari was certainly the talented artist. The ease and grace he would guide his brush through his paints and onto the paper was reminiscent of the lapping waves of a river against its banks on a calm summer's day.

Yami idly wondered what other movements of Yuugi's were as serene and rhythmic.

Yami furrowed his brow slightly as he looked more closely at Yuugi's unfinished painting. His eyes fractionally widened as he continued to stare at the image, apprehension building in his chest. He turned sharply, looking at Yuugi and Sugoroku as his mind reeled with the force of memories he long thought dead.

Yami strode hastily to Yuugi and took a hold of his hand, intently examining the cards he grasped. Yuugi startled at the touch, but allowed Yami to shift through his cards as he muttered a few choice words in exasperation. Concern creased his brows as he watched Yami's face tense in aggravation and frustration.

Yami half whispered, half snarled as he took a card from Yuugi's hand and flung it across the room. Yuugi dropped his remaining cards, the game forgotten as he slowly stood so he could comfort Yami. He didn't have a chance to though as the shrill sound of chimes announced the arrival of a new customer.

Yuugi's mind froze with the speed of Yami's movement. In a single blink of his eyes, Yami went from standing next to him at the counter to forcing the customer against the wall at the other side of the store. He had moved so fast that not even a blur of color could trace his actions. Yuugi turned to face his grandfather, confusion and shock and disbelief and curiosity and awe shinning brilliantly from his eyes.

"I believe there are a few things I should tell you about him," Sugoroku sighed. He was certain that not even the legend of the Shadow Magics had the power to deter Yuugi from associating with his dark stranger. He saw the look of admiration in his grandson's eyes, not the fear or suspicion that should have been there. Whatever spell Yami had woven on Yuugi had completely blinded him to the dangerous situation he was putting himself into.

Yami's grip tightened around the throat of his captive as he shoved his other hand into his shoulder, forcing a small gasp to escape from the man's lips. His breathing was shaky, harsh, full of the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins. He felt dizzy and lighted and hot and staggering and burning and intense - infusion - pain - anguish - power - fear - heat - passion - screaming-

"Eh, Yami?"

Yami blinked, his thoughts halting with the force of a train hitting a brick wall as he focused his vision on his hostage.

"Youz okay `ere, pal?"

Yami blinked again. What... what was...? Slowly he pulled himself away from Yuugi's friend, the one he called `Jou.' Yami swiveled his head, regarding his surroundings and bringing himself back under control. His eyes cleared of the confusion that had clouded their surface and with a deep breath he turned and dashed out of the shop and into the kitchen.

"Jou! Are you okay?" Yuugi asked as he ran up to his friend, placing his hands on Jou's face and turning it from side to side so he could better examine his neck.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine, Yug," Jou said with a chuckle as he shooed Yuugi's persistent hands away. "No `arm dun. Wha' spooked him though?"

Yuugi sighed as he reluctantly stopped his perusal of Jou's non-existent injuries. He brought his hand to his face and covered his eyes before threading his fingers through his hair. "I don't know, Jou. One moment he's... uh, fine," Yuugi fought the blush that threatened to rise to his cheeks. "But the next he's scowling at my cards and he looked... angry, and almost scared."

"Him? Scarred? Dat dun make no sense. Wha' could poss'bly scare `Mis'er I'm-suave-I'm-sexy-and-I-know-it' dat much?" Jou smirked at the momentary gleam of jealousy that flashed across his best friend's eyes. "Aww com'on, dun tell me ya haven' noticed? How could ya not when ya have someone who looks like dat walking `round yur house all day?"

"Jou," Yuugi admonished as he returned his attention to his grandfather. "Tell me what?" Yuugi asked as he walked back to the counter, his tone slightly suspicious. "What do you know about him that you haven't told me?"

Jou trailed behind his friend, casting nervous looks between Yuugi and Sugoroku. He could feel the tension between the two. Heck, he could almost see it, reach out and grab hold of it. He didn't know about Yuugi's choice of Yami over Sugoroku, but he could certainly tell that Yuugi and Sugoroku were not on good terms at the moment.

Yuugi listened quietly to his grandfather's retelling of the Shadow Magics and the sealing of an ancient pharaoh. His expression remained even as the tale was finished, giving no outward sign to signify if he believed or disbelieved Sugoroku's narrative.

Sugoroku looked equally as even at his grandson. He was unnerved by his Yuugi's lack of reaction. Yuugi was usually a very easy person to read, but at the moment a carefully constructed and uniformly impenetrable wall hid his emotions completely.

"Wow," Jou breathed. That was one of the most incredible stories he had ever heard! Obviously Sugoroku was just pulling their chains. "Good one, Grampa," he chuckled. "Youz ha' me goin' `ere fur a minute." His laughter died in his throat as he noticed that neither Sugoroku nor Yuugi were sharing in his amusement.

Yuugi shifted his attention to Yami, who had reentered the shop during Sugoroku's speech. He noticed the golden luster of the puzzle and was surprised to see it in Yami's hands, tilting his head to the side as Yami knelt before him. Yuugi made to kneel as well but Yami halted him with a gentle hand on his waist, looking at him imploringly. Yuugi nodded and remained standing.

During his absence Yami had gone into Yuugi's room, rummaging through his many drawers for the item he was looking for. Eventually he came across a long, thin, silver chain belt that was cool to the touch and reflected the light brilliantly. Grasping the chain in his hand he had then gone to the kitchen, approaching the puzzle with both caution and determination. Steeling himself against the inevitable sting he was about to receive, he placed his hand on the flaxen item, raising it and threading the silver chain he had found through the loop present at the top of the puzzle.

Kneeling before Yuugi now, Yami gingerly raised the puzzle to Yuugi's hip, holding it in place with one hand as he wrapped the attached chain around Yuugi's waist. Securing the puzzle in place, Yami took both of Yuugi's hands in his own before looking into his plum colored eyes.

"S-htp, n wi," Yami whispered, emphasizing his desire for Yuugi to wear the puzzle with the intensity of his gaze.

Yuugi squeezed Yami's hands in return, nodding his agreement. He was confused by Yami's sudden change in behavior, but if his wearing of the puzzle would help ease the mind of his desert beauty, then so be it.

Jou starred at the two unblinking for a moment before vigorously shaking his head. All of this was giving him a headache. "Wha'ever. Now com' on Yug," he said as he took hold of his sleeve and dragged both him and Yami - who had yet to release Yuugi's hands - towards the door. "We have places ta go and people ta see."

Yuugi freed one of his hands from Yami's grip and pointedly removed Jou's hand from his arm. He gave a curt wave to his grandfather before guiding both Jou and Yami out the shop's door. He hesitated a moment; this was the first time Yami had been outside that he was aware of. He glanced at him over his shoulder only to find Yami starring at the gray sky above them. He could feel the apprehension in him, the stiffness in his body tightening the grip on his hand. He shook his arm gently, offering a warm smile to Yami when he gained his attention.

"Alrigh', off we go," Jou said as he sauntered over to his beat-up car.

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It was dark out, so no one could see. The black cloud cover that had suddenly appeared did well in blocking out the penetrating light of the sun.

It was quiet out, but no one could hear. The woman's screams died with her as the wind carried her voice briskly away from those who might be troubled by the sound.

She was no one, so no one would care. A life barely noticed except by those who occasionally sought her business would not be missed by the masses that chose to perpetually ignore her.

A pair of gloved hands reached down and took hold of the woman's shoulders, pulling her roughly into the intruding shadows of a forsaken alley. The ominous clouds withdrew as unexpectedly as they had arrived and the polished glory of the sun was able to shine on the world once again. The newly exposed crystal blue sky dominated the horizon, effectively erasing from the minds of the people the horrible action that had just taken place.

Stepping from the shadows, Croquet tediously removed the black gloves on his hands, sneering at them in disgust before placing them back in their packaging and in his suit pocket. He stood beside his boss, who for some reason unbeknownst to him had adorned himself in lavishly pink apparel with a white and frilly hem.

"So how many does that make?" Croquet asked as he brushed some lint off his shoulder.

"Not enough," Pegasus answered. He sighed as he straitened one of his cuffs. "Her soul was weak, not very much energy at all. I will never get anywhere at this rate."

Croquet didn't respond, frowning slightly at his boss's flippant attitude toward human life. He knew his disapproval was irrelevant, however, and so let his mind travel to other matters. "But I thought that the completion of the puzzle was all that you needed?" Croquet asked as he and Pegasus strolled down the sidewalk.

"Apparently not. I thought that by releasing the Shadow Magics I would have more than enough energy to complete my plans."

"Perhaps that boy knows something useful," Croquet offered.

"Hardly. Did you not see his reaction to the puzzle? Yuugi didn't even know it existed until he saw it in the hospital room," Pegasus sneered.

"I wasn't talking about him, sir."

Pegasus stopped, glancing to his side at an unimpressive window display for women's swimwear. Maybe his assistant had a point. There was much he didn't know about the Shadows, what little knowledge he had coming from inadequate translations of incomplete texts interpreted by whoever would do the work for the least amount of money.

So what exactly did Pegasus know? Ancient magics, black and dark and oily in nature. An ancient pharaoh, one who was bound to the magics and able to wield their power. Pegasus had freed him from his unholy prison and in doing so had introduced the Shadows to the modern world. Only he hadn't done it right... though the pharaoh had returned the bulk of the Shadow Magics had not. Only the magics contained within the pharaoh himself had returned to the world, but they were useless so long as the mind of the pharaoh was less than intact.

Then came the puzzle and Yuugi. From what Pegasus could gather from their last incomplete conversation, the puzzle had been solved and Yami... he smirked as he thought of the enraged voice that had drifted over the phone line before the connection was lost. Apparently Yami was back to his old and cheerful self of lore.

Pegasus had nearly fainted from the pain as the Shadow Magics ripped and clawed and tore their way back into the world. They were tired of being imprisoned, tired of the black void that offered no freedom or comfort or dignity or respect or pleasure or space. Tired of not being able to use their power for anything other than playing with their son. And there was the main reason for their anger. Their son had been savagely taken from them, torn from their loving embrace screaming and kicking and strenuously with horrible violence.

They wanted their son back.

But now that they had tasted the freedom of the living world once again, they were unwilling to return to their prison.

They wanted their son back, and they were going to reclaim him, but they had another agenda now as well.

"Where are the other items?" Pegasus asked distractedly as he continued to walk down the sidewalk.

"Safe, sir. I personally placed them in the vault, and only you and I know the combination."

Pegasus nodded his understanding, abruptly turning the next corner and reaching inside his pocket for his cell phone. He was looking at this the wrong way, making the situation far more complicated than need be. Croquet was wrong again, as he often was. The pharaoh had served his purpose. He had been the portal for which the Shadow Magics were able to reenter the world. Pegasus no longer needed him.

But he did need soul energy. And he knew a good place to continue his gathering.

"Have the chauffeur bring the car around, Croquet. We need to pay a visit to an old friend."

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Everything was going by so fast! Streaks and blurs and hazes and color and wait! They were stopped? But how does a chariot stop so quickly while going so fast? And now they were moving again?

Jou chuckled as he watched Yami out of his rearview mirror, a smile plastered on his face as Yami's eyes widened in wonder and awe at the motion of the car. Surprisingly, it had taken little coaxing to get Yami into the vehicle. Yuugi was the one to put up the most protest.

"Are you serious? You couldn't have delivered those boxes before you came to pick me up?"

Yuugi was referring to the two very large and very cumbersome boxes that inhabited the front passenger seat of Jou's car, meaning that he and Yami would have to somehow squash themselves into the less than spacious backseat. When Jou had politely reminded him that it was either the back seat or the city bus, Yuugi had promptly stopped his complaining and dragged Yami into the car.

"He ne'er been in'a car before?" Jou asked as Yami knelt on both his hands and knees as he starred out the window.

"It doesn't look like it, does it?" Yuugi answered as Jou came to a stop at a red light. Yami took the opportunity to quickly scramble to the other side of the car, effectively pinning Yuugi to his seat with his arms and legs on either side of his waist. Yuugi gasped at the suddenness of the action, pushing himself as far into the cushion as possible to keep from being crushed by the larger man.

Yuugi smiled lightly as he observed Yami, his face plastered against the window as he stared at a large fountain in front of an equally impressive building. Yami acted as though everything was new to him... as if he was seeing everything for the first time with the wonderment of a child. It was a refreshing outlook on life, and another of Yami's characteristics that Yuugi found irresistible.

"I can' wai' `ill we ge' `ere!" Jou exclaimed from the front seat.

Yuugi had to shift his position, bracing himself against Yami's body as it fell towards him from the motion of the now moving vehicle. "Why are we going to the zoo again?" he asked as he supported the still awe-struck Yami.

Jou released a long-suffering sigh. "`Cause, my naive li'l friend," he pointedly ignored the glare from the back seat, "the zoo iz magical an' mystical an' full a all `ose li'l food carts filled wit candied apples an' soda an' frozen bananas an'..."

Yuugi chuckled as Jou rattled on about the many amenities the zoo afforded. He turned his attention back to Yami though, the warmth and closeness of his body slowly seeping into him. His vantage point allowed him an... unusual, if not welcomed view of Yami's athletic frame, the smooth lines of his body filling Yuugi's vision. He allowed himself another moment to admire Yami before turning his eyes so he too looked out the window.

Unexpectedly, the window that Yami had attached his face too opened, startling both him and Yuugi as a gust of wind hit them roughly in the face. Boisterous laughter could be heard from the front seat, and both Yami and Yuugi turned surprised faces to the back of Jou's head.

"Sorry guys, I jus' couldn' resis'!" Jou managed between laughs.

While Yuugi glared at his not-so-comical friend, Yami lowered his eyes and looked through the space created by the frame of the car and the driver's seat. He minutely tilted his head to the side, curious to see Jou's finger on a silver switch. Turning to look at his own door, he noticed that he too had access to a similar device. Deliberately he lifted his right hand and applied pressure to the mechanism.

Both Yuugi and Jou stopped their glaring contest and turned to Yami, who was currently lowering the window even further. He squinted his eyes at the sudden intrusion of air, but quickly opened them and leaned his head out the window.

"Di' you...?" Jou began.

A huge grin enveloped Yuugi's face as he shook his head, pride glowing on his features. "Nope. He did that all by himself. I told you he was smart," he announced triumphantly.

Yami was enjoying himself immensely. He loved the rugged feel of the wind in his face; his hair wiping wildly about him as the currents played with the long black strands. It was one of the most tremendous feelings he could remember. He felt invigorated, rejuvenated... he felt alive. And that was the most wonderful feeling of all.

Yuugi's smile faded as he noticed Yami wince, uncertain what had caused his beauty pain. He narrowed his eyes as he quickly looked over Yami's frame, trying to pinpoint the source of discomfort. His search stopped on Yami's left wrist. He was favoring it slightly, keeping his weight from fully falling on it.

Yuugi gingerly placed his fingers on Yami's wrist, causing him to flinch in response to the touch. He cupped the wrist gently, applying pressure to different points to try to determine exactly where it hurt.

"Sumthin' wrong?" Jou asked as he pulled his car into the zoo's parking lot.

"I'm not sure, Jou. His wrist is bothering him," Yuugi answered, twisting Yami's hand slightly through its range of motion. Yami clenched his jaw and shut his eyes, but reacted in no other way to the pain that shot up his arm. He was hoping that nagging injury would have healed itself by now. The gods knew it certainly had had sufficient time.

"So, kiss it an' make it better," Jou stated as he waved an obscene gesture to someone who had taken the parking spot he had designated as `his.'

"K-kiss?" Yuugi stuttered as his he snapped to attention, gapping at the back of Jou's head.

"Yeah. Kiss. It's no' dat foreign a concep'," Jou said as he finally settled on a parking spot close to the zoo's exit. He turned in his seat to face the occupants in the back of his car. "Ya know, kiss it an' make it better." And then, with a cheeky grin, "Dun ya wanna? Dun ya wanna kiss `im?"

"... Kiss?" Yuugi repeated. He was feeling really dumb at the moment, knowing that there was no possible way Jou would ever let him live this moment down. Did he want to kiss Yami? Of course he did. Want was not a problem. But... in front of Jou? He didn't think he could take the humiliation.

And then there was the whole issue of Yami and if he wanted him to.

Yami turned his eyes to Yuugi, raising an eyebrow in question. His little one was flustered. His cheeks were turning a light shade of red and his eyes were wide and bright with uncertainty. It must have something to do with that word he and Jou kept repeating.

"Kiss?" he asked softly. Yuugi's eyes darted to his own, only heightening Yami's curiosity. "Kiss?"

"You see, Yug? Even he wan's ya to! So kiss `im already!" Jou exclaimed, barely containing his excitement.

"He doesn't even know what the word means, Jou," Yuugi stalled, trying to breath as Yami continued to look at him with his curiously mesmerizing eyes. He knew Yami wanted him to demonstrate the meaning of the word, just as he had with the other words of Yami's sparse Japanese vocabulary. The power of association. Only this was far from the simplicity of `open' and `close' and `light' and `darkness.'

Yuugi released a small sigh and gathered his courage before raising Yami's hands to his lips and quickly kissing the back of his wrist. "Kiss," he explained.

Jou groaned his disappointment and bluntly exited his car. He was hoping Yuugi would provide him with something more dramatic than a simple kiss on the hand. He wanted full-blown lip action. He leaned against the side of his car with his arms crossed, sulking as he waited for his friends to hurry up and move their butts.

Yami blinked after Yuugi released his wrist, surprised by the quick yet gentle action. Yuugi's lips had been surprisingly soft, and with their brief moment of contact had managed to make Yami forget the pain that was throbbing in his wrist.

Yuugi's eyes were lowered, starring intently at the folded hands in his lap, so he missed the smirk that crept its way onto Yami's face. He heard a hum come from Yami's throat and raised his head to see what he wanted...

... when his whole world was turned upside down.

Yuugi's eyes doubled in size as Yami leaned forward and pressed his lips against his own. He found himself unable to blink, unable to breathe, unable to move, unable to think. Yami's lips were immaculately soft, and all other observations were promptly ignored. What was it about Yami that his skin always seemed to be burning with some internal fire?

Yuugi suppressed a small whimper as he looked into Yami's intense eyes, amusement shining through them as Yami parted his lips and traced his tongue between Yuugi's lips. Both men closed their eyes in pleasure as Yami pushed his tongue into Yuugi's mouth, stroking his tongue fully along Yuugi's in one agonizingly slow motion. The thoroughness with which Yami moved allowed both him and Yuugi to thoroughly taste each other and catalogue the flavor in neatly wrapped boxes.

Yami pulled back slowly, not releasing Yuugi's bottom lip from his own lips until the last possible moment. Yami captivatingly opened his eyes and waited for Yuugi to recover from the encounter, smirking at the uneven breathing of his Hikari. Yuugi finally opened his eyes, and the smile in Yami's heart softened the corners of his mouth.

"Sn," Yami purred, brushing his fingers along the side of Yuugi's leg. He held Yuugi's gaze for a moment longer before moving away and exiting the vehicle.

Yuugi sat in stunned silence, moving only when Jou wrapped his knuckles against the window. Jerking to attention, Yuugi quickly unfastened his seat belt and opened the door, but hesitated before getting out of the car.

"Damn! Dat... dat was... oh wow," Jou said. "Hey Yug, are youz alrigh' `ere, pal?"

"I..."

Yuugi couldn't think. And he thought it was amazing when Yami had eaten that popsicle from his hand! This, this was just so much... more. He had been right before, Yami did taste like hot melted butter.

"I..."

Hot and sweet and salty and smooth and soft and intense and lingering and tempting and inviting and alluring...

"I..."

"Wha' man? Spit it out!" Jou commanded, patience thrown to the wind as he waited for Yuugi to spill the details.

Yuugi turned to look at Jou, his eyes wide and his mouth open as the thought finally coalesced in his mind. His words sent Jou reeling and caused him to hang his head in his hands.

"I forgot to kiss him back!"

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This certainly was an... odd, place. Yami waited for his eyes to adjust to the sudden absence of light before following Yuugi into the darkened room. He could detect the faint outline of many children, those with their faces pressed against the various cages illuminated more clearly by the light. In the middle of the room a demonstration was being held, a zoo employee presenting an example of the inhabitants of the enclosure to eager little eyes, and a few excited adults as well.

Yami's mind froze at the sight. There were far too many people here. Other than the company of his Hikari, Yami did not appreciate the presence of others.

Yuugi, on the other hand, was thrilled to be in the enclosure. Jou had gracefully made his exit after visiting all of the food stands, declaring that now that he was full he had the energy to deliver those boxes cluttering his car. After a stern lecture from Yuugi on the consequences should he not return to the zoo in a timely manner, Jou hastily made his way to his car, leaving Yami and Yuugi to battle the heat of the day and the crowd on their own.

Hence Yuugi's joy to be in the comparatively cool and darkened reptile enclosure. It offered a reprieve from the glaring influence of the sun and the oppressing mass of spectators who had come to observe the multitude of animals the zoo housed. Taking a deep breath of the cool air, Yuugi began to slowly peruse the specimens on display.

Several small screams of surprise drew Yuugi's attention from the gecko he was looking at and to the center of the room. Furrowing his brows in slight confusion, he made his way over to the group of children. Several of the them turned and clasped onto Yuugi's legs, burying their faces in an attempt to hide from the object that had scarred them. Yuugi looked at the man who had been giving the demonstration, a questioning look in his eyes.

"One of the snakes got loose," the man said quickly. "An Egyptian asp, very poisonous." The man quickly herded Yuugi and the children away from the table he had been using and left to get his snake handling equipment.

Yuugi lowered his eyes to the floor, his eyes searching for the brown snake that would be difficult to spot in the darkness. He had to admit that he was a little nervous to be standing in an open floor surrounded by kids with a potentially deadly snake lurking about unseen and unheard and he wasn't doing a very good job of acting like the adult in front of the children.

The lights were turned on without warning, effectively blinding all inhabitants of the enclosure. Blinking several times to rid his eyes of the spots that now clouded his vision, Yuugi couldn't help but shake his head in amusement when he caught sight of Yami.

Yami was kneeling on the floor, his arm extended towards the snake in a welcoming manner. There was the faintest hint of a smile on his lips as he starred at the snake whose attention he held. Slowly, the snake slithered forward and onto Yami's hand, flicking its forked tongue along his skin as it continued to climb up his arm.

Yami's smile remained on his face as he stood, the snake coiling around his wrist as it rose its head to look Yami in the eye. The snake appeared to be hypnotized by Yami's gaze, a feeling Yuugi could relate to. It remained perfectly still in Yami's firm grip, the only movement being the emergence and disappearance of its serpent tongue.

Yami turned his eyes from the snake to look at Yuugi, a playful smirk forming on his lips as he noticed that he had the little one's full attention. He looked back to the snake and with a silent command, the cobra uncoiled itself from Yami's wrist and glided gracefully up his arm and onto his shoulder. Yami extended both his arms to the side as the snake continued behind his neck and onto his other shoulder, extending its body along the length of Yami's reach.

Yuugi disentangled himself from the children wrapped around his legs and slid over to Yami, his head tilted in interest at Yami's mastery over the serpent. He came and stood directly in front of him, waiting for Yami to open his eyes and look at him. Yami had immersed himself in the serpent's movements, swaying from side to side as smoothly as the serpent slithered around his body.

Yami lazily opened his eyes and looked at Yuugi, his eyes appearing to be liquid fire as they swirled with brilliant shades of red. He stilled his movements and raised his hand in front of Yuugi, the snake obediently coiling itself around his arm. With a very slow and extremely alluring wink, Yami motioned for Yuugi to extend his hand and pet the serpent.

Yuugi's expression fell in line with Yami's, both of them smirking at each other and their eyes burning with an internal passion. When he looked into his eyes, Yuugi no longer doubted that he was in love with this man. The strength and passion that radiated from him seemed to penetrate straight into Yuugi, making him feel more alive and confident and assured than he ever had. He was a different person when around Yami... a better person in his opinion, regardless of what his grandfather thought. He trusted him completely, and trust was a very difficult thing to earn from Motou Yuugi.

Yuugi reached out his hand to pet the head of the snake. The snake, however, did not appreciate the action and flared its hood in preparation to strike. It hissed before launching itself forward, intent on sinking its fangs into Yuugi's soft hand and injecting its potent venom.

Yuugi's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden movement. Yami instantly grabbed the snake around its head with his free hand, halting it before it reached Yuugi's hand. His eyes had turned hard, anger making itself known as he roughly turned the snake to face him. He clucked his tongue at the serpent, releasing a sigh of frustration in an effort to calm himself.

"Ir(i) nn StA," Yami scolded the snake softly, tapping it on the end of its nose.

Yuugi blinked. His Yami certainly was full of surprises. And he had demonstrated his flexibility extremely well in Yuugi's opinion.

It was at this point the zoo employee returned, horrified to see Yami holding his snake and Yuugi standing mere inches from its striking range. He ran quickly over to the two, scolding them for doing something so foolish as toying with a dangerous animal. Yami merely raised a dignified eyebrow at the man, scowling as Yuugi became the benefactor of his lecture.

Yuugi was barely able to suppress the laughter that bubbled in his throat as Yami held the snake in the zoo keeper's face, moving his finger so that the serpent's head came dangerously close to the man's nose. The man noticeably paled, frozen in place as the cobra extended its tongue and flicked his nose. Gulping, he slowly extended his hand and gripped the asp around its head, taking him from Yami.

Yuugi's laughter immediately filled the air as the employee took the snake back to its container, falling against Yami as he did so. Yami snorted lightly in amusement, wrapping his arm possessively around Yuugi's thin waist. Yuugi didn't respond as he continued laughing into Yami's chest, the extra warmth around his waist serving only to increase the pleasure he was feeling.

The lights suddenly went out, and though Yuugi wasn't bothered by the sudden darkness, he felt Yami's body go rigid. The arm around his waist gripped him tightly, almost to the point of being painful. Yuugi looked up into Yami's face, only to see his eyes wide and darting around the room in a state of heightened alertness.

They were there. He could feel them. Yami took a step backwards, making sure to bring Yuugi back with him. Yuugi started to question what was wrong but Yami silenced him with a quick and commanding "Hikari."

Yuugi was worried now, his hands gripping Yami's shirt tightly as the two continued to back their way towards the exit. Yami was agitated, tense, alert, and with the grip around his middle, perhaps a little scared as well. What was going on?

He didn't have time to think any further on the matter as he was thrown to the ground, Yami's larger body landing roughly on top of him. He grunted at the force, the puzzle around his waist digging sharply into his hip. His instinct to raise his head and look around was thwarted as Yami pushed him down forcefully and covered his body with his own. Yuugi could feel the hot and ragged breath of Yami as their faces were crushed together with the force of Yami's grip.

It was darker than the blackest night. Screams were heard and the ground shook with the force of lightening and tables were knocked over as easily as flowers and light fixtures fell from the ceiling and sparks flew through the air...

... And then all was silent for Yuugi as his consciousness left him.

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Okay, time for translations.

S-htp, n wi - "Please, for me"

Sn - "Kiss"

Ir(i) nn StA - "Do not be difficult"