Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Psyche ❯ Faults ( Chapter 16 )

Disclaimer: Yugi-oh is the property of Kazuki Takahashi, who is a genius.

 

This is the third part of the Chrysalis series. You will enjoy this more if you read Chrysalis and Emergence first. You will get lost!

 

Psyche

Chapter Sixteen: Faults

 

~*~*~*

OCs

~*~*~*

Ahmose: (Egyptian for: The moon is born) Yami's son back in Egypt.

E'on: Jonouchi's Red Eyes Black Dragon.

Jame: Kaiba's obsessive-compulsively organized secretary who wants to be fired.

Kallon: The Dark Sage and one of the three rulers of the Shadow Realm, though he tries hard not to be.

Kisara: The only female Blue Eyes White Dragon. (Not really an OC)

Koori: (Japanese for: Ice) The largest male Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Ledowr: The Magician of Black Chaos, also one of the three rulers of the Shadow Realm, and is trying even harder not to be. He is also Yuai's husband.

Pepi: Yami's third wife back in Egypt. She is Ahmose's mother, which will be covered later.

Shimo: (Japanese for: Frost) The other male Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Yuai: Yugi's girlfriend, sort of..., one of three rulers of the Shadow Realm. Though she's been slacking lately. She is married to Ledowr.

 

~*~*~*

Seto and Jo

~*~*~*

“Jo, should I be worried?” Seto watched as his brother romped out of the garden with a grinning Shimo. The two were off to dive bomb the remnants of the herd of niwatori. “You for all apearences get killed by a psycho and tossed into a river gorge. I get blown up by another wacko. His nanny has been transformed into a duel monster. He's now standing in the middle of the Shadow Realm and all I get is a hug and a “Big Brother, are you alright?” and he's off to chase giant chickens with a dragon.” He looked back over his shoulder at the blond. “I'd send him to therapy, but who would I send him to?”

 

Jo smiled and shrugged.

 

Seto sighed, turning around and heading back into the castle. Jo trailed after him, mentally cataloging where dragons were. Shimo was now off with Mokuba. Koori had been ordered to watch over the two of them, and Kisara was MIA with Mahaado. His own Red Eyes was still stuffing himself with niwatori. There were no Petite Dragons floating around. Jo eyed Kaiba as they went up the stairs towards their rooms. There had to be a trick someplace. After all this time plotting how to pounce on his lover, he knew a dragon was lurking someplace.

 

“When we get home. I am giving up dueling.” Seto shook his head unhappily as they entered the suite of rooms they shared. “If it's between the game and Mokuba's welfare, I'm going to have to stop.” He dropped onto the edge of the bed, arching his back and twisting as if working a know out of his muscles.

 

Jo checked around the room, opening the wardrobe, sticking his head into the other rooms, and even checking under the bed. No dragons.

 

“I can't give up my Blue Eyes though.” Seto sighed and settled back onto the bed, adjusting the pillows and laying back with a soft murmur of contentment. “I suppose I could get them framed.”

 

Jo looked at the sprawled brunet and went over to the balcony to check for lingering giant reptiles. He eyed the roof top out side their rooms, checked under the bench and peered over the railing. All clear.

 

Seto sighed again softly, “I'll give the rest of my cards to Yugi. At least they won't be in the hands of a idiot.” He rolled on his side and pillowed his head against his arm to look at Jo. His other hand trailed down to scratch his stomach lightly. “When you're at the mansion, you'll have to give up dueling too. I won't have it around Mokuba. Not anymore.”

 

Jo nodded absently, and gave the curtains around the windows and balcony doors a good shake, just in case a Petite Dragon was hiding in them. Not even dust rose from the heavy fabric.

 

“Maybe I'll take up chess again. I noticed that Ryou seems to enjoy the game.” He stretched back out then, frowned and sat up taking his shoes off. “Chess is a less stressful then dueling. I don't think anyone's soul ever got sucked out over a game of chess.”

 

Pausing in his inspection of the bathroom, Jo nodded. He looked into the tub, gave the shower a careful perusal, and glanced warily at the commode.

 

“Or maybe Go. I used to really enjoy that game.” Seto pulled off his socks and stuffed them into his shoes, dropping them both to the floor. “Some of the strategies used in it are amazing.” He pulled off his tunic and tossed it over the back of a chair then stretched back out on the bed, half naked, looking up at the ceiling, and running one hand through his hair. “I wonder where I put my Go set.”

 

Jo shrugged and looked behind the potted tree in the corner. He then poked his Rainbow Flower, that began singing a loopy version of American Pie. He stood up on a chair and checked a hanging plant for any nesting dragons.

 

“Maybe not, I heard a disturbing rumor about Go players. It sounded a lot like the whole yami-hikari set up, but with a haunted Go board. Chess would be less risky.” Seto nodded, ruffling his hair one last time and glancing to where Jo was now searching through the chest of drawers. “What are you looking for?”

 

Jo jerked guiltily and gave Kaiba a sheepish grin.

 

Seto shook his head and rolled over on the bed, muscles stretching in a silky languid ripple. He propped his chin on his folded arms and watched the blond check under the chairs. He sat up and wiggled out of his breeches and threw them at Jo. “Buy a clue, love. I'll loan you the money.”

 

Jo blinked at his now naked lover, then, with a grin, pounced.

 

~*~*~*

Yugi, Malik, Marik, Honda, Anzu, Mai

~*~*~*

“Yami!” Yugi yelled looking around. “Yami!”

 

“I can't see him over here.” Honda's voice came from a distance to the left. “Yami. Where are you man?”

 

“Damn pharaoh, it was a simple transfer. Where the fuck is he.” Marik's voice floated back from a distance. “Pharaoh, get your royal ass over here.”

 

“Yami?” Anzu's voice called from the right.

 

“Could he be back in the other realm?” Malik asked from the darkness and shadows.

 

“No. I checked.” His yami snarled back. “His royal pharaohness wasn't there.”

 

“Yami.” Mai called from someplace past Anzu. “You there? Yami?”

 

“Everyone get back together. We don't need anyone else lost.” Marik's voice called. “The pharaoh can take care of himself. We need to get going.”

 

Yugi jogged to where he heard the yami's voice, trying hard not to panic. “I can't feel him. It's like he's…gone.” His voice caught on a sob. “My yami's gone.”

 

Malik appeared out of the swirling shadows and pulled him into a hug. The rest of the gang gathered around them.

 

It had been a simple plan. They went to the park, the yamis insisting that they needed room to transfer so many people to the Shadow Realm safely, with only a quick stop at the game shop to get a few snacks and a thermos of tea. Yami and Marik had spent a few minutes grumbling to each other about the best way to transfer so many people, then had shooed them to the center of a small clearing, and used the Puzzle and the Rod to shift everyone to the other side. However, Yami never made it. When they arrived, they had all been in the same positions they had been in before, but with Yami's spot noticeably vacant.

 

“I knew it. I knew it.” Yugi sobbed. “I knew something bad was going to happen to Yami.”

 

“One out of seven isn't bad.” Marik looked around and shrugged. “Let's go find the thief and the little Kaiba. For all we knew, the prima dona pharaoh went directly to them.” He patted Yugi's head. “This is the Shadow Realm little one, it messes up mental links. If Malik wasn't right here, I probably couldn't sense him.”

 

Is that true Yami? Malik looked over his shoulder at his darkness.

 

Partly, it would take a lot of distance, but it would make sensing each other difficult. Marik sauntered off into the shadows. If the pharaoh is that far away, we're going to need the thief to find him. “Coming?”

 

Malik pulled Yugi along with him as he started to follow. And how are we going to find Bakura if we can't even find Yami Yugi?

 

Bakura can find us. He's got the ring. Marik glanced back as the gang trailed along after his hikari.

 

Not a great plan. What if he doesn't use the ring and just grabs Ryou and heads home? Malik scowled at his other. Won't we be wandering around the shadows like a pack of Hoppy Meals for monsters?

 

Marik shrugged. Just toss the friendship girl at them. It'll be a win-win situation. Either the monsters will eat her, or she'll start talking and drive them off.

 

~*~*~*

Jonouchi

~*~*~*

That had been an unqualified disaster. Jonouchi looked over to the sleeping form of his lover and slumped dispiritedly into a chair. He'd plotted, schemed and watched for even a small chance to get his hands on Kaiba's beautiful body, and when he finally got his wish, he'd blown it. Not that Kaiba would ever say anything, no he even apologized to Jo for the whole episode, taking the blame for the entire mess, but the fact was, it had all been his fault. Kaiba's overblown sense of responsibility couldn't change the facts.

 

Jo bit his lip and forced the sting in his eyes away. It had began fine enough. He had enthusiastically jumped at the chance that Kaiba was handing him. He felt starved for the taste of his lover's silky flesh, had dreamed of letting his hands stroke down smooth curves of muscle, had longed to wind his fingers into soft, glowing chestnut hair. Damn.

 

He had gleefully pounced on Kaiba, hungrily kissing his lover as his hands slid around the already naked body beneath him. The first small hint that something was wrong had been the tiny twitch of unease that shifted through him when Kaiba's hands started pulling the clothes away from him. He'd firmly shoved it aside, believing it nothing more than the now ingrained expectation that a dragon was lurking nearby to spoil is fun. He had broken the kiss only long enough to catch a breath, and allow his shirt to slide off over his head, before sealing his mouth over his love's, slipping his tongue back into the silky heat of Kaiba's mouth. When he felt the first tug at the waist of his breeches, he had jerked away, feeling a sharp spike of fear. He'd masked it quickly, dropping his mouth down to nip at a sensitive spot on Kaiba's throat, that he knew would make the brunet melt beneath him. He'd been rewarded with a low moan and the body that he had pinned to the bed arching up against him eagerly. He'd let his fingers slide down, along the curve of his lover's back, delighting in the shivers running though the tense muscles. When Kaiba regained enough sense, his fingers again tugged at his waist band, pulling the clothing down to the point where Jo could kick them off.

 

They'd rolled over, still kissing, their hands reacquainting themselves with the familiar planes of muscle and bone. Kaiba had shifted, nuzzling little kisses and nips down Jo's neck. When he got to the curve of Jo's shoulder and bit down a bit harder, a move that the blond usually appreciated, Jo felt nothing more then a flare of panic. He'd quickly shifted out from under his love, and took a deep breath.

 

“Jo?” Kaiba had sounded puzzled .

 

He'd managed a shaky smile.

 

His love had rolled to lay down next to him, pulling him back into his arms. “You want to go slower?”

 

Jo had shaken his head, his body had been demanding relief and he hadn't been about to let whatever glitch that was happening in his head mess up his chance of getting what he needed. He'd reached over and pulled Kaiba back to him, twining his arms around his neck and shoulders.

 

Kaiba had looked at him questioningly, but then smiled and pinned him to the bed. The panic had returned nearly full force as he was pressed down into the bed by the taller, heavier body that moved demandingly against his own. Kaiba's hand had grasped his cock firmly and started stroking and pulling him to hardness, even as he bit demandingly at Jo's throat.

 

Jo had writhed beneath him torn between wanting and fearing. His breath coming in ragged gasps, as he'd wrestled between the two extremes. He hadn't wanted to give in, to ruin this, not after wanting it for so long. He'd bucked demandingly up into his love's hand, pulling his head up to kiss him.

 

He'd felt Kaiba shift and stretch, reaching to the side table. Then he'd been back, his hot tongue lapping at his nipples even as his free hand slid down his leg, lifting it and nudging it aside, opening him, leaving him vulnerable. He'd moaned softly, twisting in need and fear.

 

Slick fingers had entered him, stretching him. He had felt cold sweat shiver down his back, as he arched up into that touch. He'd twisted against his lover, shaking. Faster, Seto, faster, before it catches up to me.

 

The fingers had withdrawn and Kaiba had moved between his legs, his hands pulling them up and around his waist. “Jo..” Jo had looked into his lover's eyes, nodding, lifting himself slightly to Kaiba, who pressed forward.

 

Then they had been joined and the panic clawed it's way free. Jo had thrashed, kicking away from his shocked lover and rolled off the bed. Kaiba had fallen to the side, gasping from a kick to his stomach, as the blond fell to the floor.

 

Jo had lay on the floor shaking and crying silently.

 

“Jo? What the hell…” Kaiba had crawled to the side of the bed, one arm wrapped around his abdomen, and looked down at his lover. “Jo?”

 

Jo had looked at him wildly, fear still ruling him. He'd scrambled back, away from his lover till he bumped into a chair, then he sat still, watching Kaiba with wide terrified eyes.

 

“Jo…” Kaiba had pulled himself out of the bed, wheezing a bit, his arm tightening around his belly. “It's okay Jo. It's okay.”

 

Jonouchi had only shaken his head, scrambling around the chair. Kaiba had slumped against he side of the bed, closing his eyes a moment, then he shook his head and looked steadily over at him. He'd glanced out the balcony window, frowning, then looked back at Jo. “Calm down Jo. You need to calm down, now.”

 

Jo had shaken his head, watching the brunet with wide frightened eyes. He had known that Kaiba wouldn't hurt him, that he loved him. He had known that he was acting like a idiot, but he couldn't stop. He'd shivered as Kaiba got to his feet and walked over to his clothes and started pulling them on, deliberately turning his back on Jo, giving him time to pull himself together.

 

Then, the door had slammed open, and Kaiba had stepped nimbly aside as E'on nearly fell into the room, the Red Eyes looking as panicked as Jonouchi felt. “Master!”

 

Jo had nearly buried himself in his dragon's arms as the Red Eyes dropped to his knees next to him.

 

“I'm sorry Jo. This is my fault. I should have known that you weren't ready for this.” Kaiba's voice had sounded sad.

 

Jonouchi had looked over to where Kaiba stood across the room, now fully dressed. E'on then hissed softly at the brunet and the brunet nodded.

 

“E'on will stay with you.” Kaiba's shoulder's had sagged, “Calm him down. If you need anything, let me know.”

 

E'on had growled softly, pulling Jo closer, as Kaiba walked out the door.

 

It had taken awhile, but he had managed to calm down. Koori had come in a few minutes after Kaiba had left and between him and E'on had managed to coax him back into bed and gotten him to drink a cup of something bitter tasting.

 

When he had poked at it suspiciously, E'on had shrugged. “So, we're drugging you. Got a problem with it?”

 

He'd gulped it down, hopping that it might somehow make the whole mess go away. It hadn't, but it had made his taunt, stressed muscles and nerves relax. Not only did it not make the problem go away, it had made him terribly aware of just what kind of mess he'd made of everything. His only comfort was the if Kaiba was really angry at him, Koori wouldn't be hovering attentively nearby. He'd miserably pulled the blankets up and covered his head with a pillow.

 

When E'on's drink had finally wore off, it was late evening and he was alone. His Rainbow Flower had already been closed up tight, and it's pot was snoring softly. The balcony doors had been left open, and he had guessed that a dragon was lurking on the roof outside. He hadn't minded, but he'd looked sadly at the other side of the bed, were Kaiba should have been, and pulled himself out of the clutches of warm blankets and soft pillows to go find his love.

 

He hadn't gone far, just next door. Jo had let himself into the room and sat watching him sleep.

 

I really messed it up. Jo watched Kaiba's chest rise and fall in deep even breaths.

 

E'on's voice sounded sleepy. What did you break now?

 

It was all my fault. I didn't tell him. He bit his lip as Kaiba shifted slightly in his sleep. I just kept going and didn't let him know.

 

I think he got the idea. E'on slipped into the room and stood next to him. You might want to try not kicking people in the stomach to let people know what your thinking, but if it works for you…

 

Jo wondered if Kaiba would be angry if he slipped into bed with him.

 

I'd leave it till morning. E'on touched his elbow. Then see if he's got a bruise. If he does, we'll go camping till the bruises fade. People forgive things better when their not in pain.

 

Jo allowed the dragon to lead him back to his room. He crawled into bed and snuggled down against Kaiba's pillow. He heard E'on walk out to the balcony, then a soft whoosh of air as the dragon went back to the roof tiles where he had been before.

 

~*~*~*

Seto and Seth

~*~*~*

Seth listened to the blond walk out of the room and then sat up. It had taken less then one hour for his hikari to get himself into trouble. He'd been sleeping soundly in his hikari's bed when a jolt of pain woke him up. He'd staggered to the door of the soul room to find his hikari hurt, confused and upset. Not usually a situation that he would have worried about, his light had proven to be quite durable through the years, but in Seto's present condition, it was dangerous.

 

Seto, let me handle this. He'd gently caught his hikari's shocked, upset form and pulled him away. You need to rest.

 

No! Jo needs me. Something's wrong. Seto had fought him, but he'd taken the energy back that he'd given, and Seto had slumped weakly against him.

 

I'll take care of it. He'd sent his light back to his room and stepped in to find a terrified Jonouchi crouched behind a chair. It had taken less then a second to asses the situation, his hikari's still slightly aroused state, Jo's nakedness, the mess on the bed, the protest of bruised muscles.

 

He'd glanced out the balcony door, finding the sleeping mind of Jonouchi's sated dragon. E'on! Come here now! Jonouchi's hurt!

 

He hadn't paused to hear the little dragon's squeaked questions. He'd looked at the panicking blond, and realized his presence was only hurting the other, so he's got up, got dressed, and as soon as the little dragon showed up, left. He'd stepped out into the hall, and leaned against the wall, listening to E'on sooth the boy.

 

Master? Are you alright? Koori had came to stand in front of him.

 

“I'm fine.” He'd nodded to the room he'd just left. “Go help with him. I need to take care of Seto.”

 

Koori had hurried inside and Seth walked down the hall to a unused room and collapsed onto the bed. Seto had used up a lot of the energy he'd loaned him, and he was happy to have a soft place to drop their body.

 

As he'd stepped into Seto's room, he found his light curled up on the floor, crying and still awake. He'd scooped the fragile figure up and walked over to the bed.

 

“I raped him.” Seto had whispered, tears still streaking down his gaunt cheekbones.

 

“I sincerely doubt it.” Seth had put him down and gently started looking for injuries. “He's been chasing me around for weeks. I doubt he protested when you took him to your bed.” As he'd guessed, across the taunt fragile skin of his light's belly a deep bruise was already forming. He, then had run his fingers along his lower ribs, frowning when he noticed depressions that shouldn't have been there.

 

“I knew something was wrong.” Seto's voice had barely been above a breath. “He was acting strange. But I didn't stop.”

 

“Did he motion for you to stop.” Seth then had carefully turned Seto to look at his back. Some of the deeper cuts had reopened and were seeping fresh blood.

 

“I should have known.” Seto had closed his eyes with a small gasp as Seth lifted him up.

 

“If he wanted you to stop, he would have let you know. Now stop fretting about it.” Seth had walked out of Seto's room and across the hall to his own.

 

The room resembled a temple, with carved stone columns rising into the darkness above. Polished stone floor stretched into the receding shadows that masked the labyrinth of stairs that rose upwards. The soft scent of incense wisped through the room, and small flutters of light danced in the shadows like fireflies. Seth had nodded respectfully to the carved statues of gods that lurked in various nooks amongst the columns as he walked past carrying his hikari, mentally apologizing for not doing a more through obeisance to them. He'd made his way up one set of stairs and after twisting this way and that, through the maze of his soul, came to a small room with a low bed in it. He'd then laid Seto down on it and covered him with a soft blanket.

 

“He'll never forgive me.” Seto hadn't even bothered to open his eyes.

 

“You're just tired.” Seth had slipped into bed next to him and pulled the far too delicate form against him. “Go to sleep now. I'll deal with this in the morning.”

 

“What will I do without him?” Seto had refused to give up.

 

“You won't have to find out. Now go to sleep. We're both tired.” Seth had put his hand over Seto's eyes and murmured a few words in Egyptian. Seto had instantly gone limp in his arms. Seth had pulled him closer and went to sleep too.

 

Now, he was awake again, and if not at his best, he was good enough to deal with the problems that were bound to have cropped up. Seto was still asleep, and the spell would keep him asleep for a good while longer. A quick check found Shimo still tending Mokuba, who was now neck deep in kuribos. Koori was perched up on the roof, keeping a watchful eye on both him and Jonouchi and Kisara was…with Mahaado, who was hiding from a white haired tomb robber.

 

He stretched and stood up. Koori rumbled a soft question, but Seth ordered him to stay. He opened the door and stepped out into the hall, noting that the candles in the castle's halls had already been lit. He strode down the hall, towards were Shimo was keeping Mokuba well distracted.

 

“Big brother!” Mokuba grinned lifting a kuribo for him to look at. “You have got to feel this. It feels like a koosh ball.”

 

Seth nodded, and motioned for Shimo to leave. “Have you eaten dinner yet?”

 

Mokuba shook his head. “I was waiting for you and Jonouchi.”

 

Seth caught the calculating look on the child's face and smiled. “I see you're going to be just as bad as the others.” Did Seto really take care of himself so poorly?

 

The kid grinned back. “So, where's Jo, I want to eat.”

 

“He's not feeling well.” Seth walked out the door with the child at his side. “He's not as strong as he pretends to be.”

 

“What's wrong?” Mokuba stopped, looking questioningly upwards. “Is he okay?”

 

Seth nodded and nudged the child along. “He pushed himself too far and needs to rest.”

 

“He looked fine, before.” They walked into the dinning room with it's strange bowers. A few monsters were scattered around the room. A fire princes was finishing up her meal and flirting with Neo, who looked rather embarrassed. The Witty Phantom sat by himself at the edge of the table, with a sheaf of papers stacked in front of him. Seth guided Mokuba to the other end of the table.

 

“As you know, there is a difference between looking fine and being fine.” Seth settled down in a chair at the table.

 

A small platoon of Beaver Warriors marched out of a nearby shadow and started depositing platters, bowls and cups onto the table. They all scrambled hastily back, however, when Shimo prowled into the room and glared at them. Only when the Blue Eyes sat down across from his master, did the little troop finish their culinary maneuvers and disappear.

 

Seth glanced over to where Shimo was sitting eyeing him suspiciously, then noticed that Mokuba was giving him the exact same look. “You can both stop that.” He served himself some soup, giving them both a defiant glare. “I do know how to eat.”

 

“I'm just making sure. You might be out of practice.” The kid gave him a cheeky smile.

 

Apparently the answer to my question is yes, Seto did take care of himself poorly. Seth sipped his way through the soup thoughtfully.

 

Mokuba gleefully gobbled everything in sight and reached for seconds. “This stuff is great.” He mumbled between bites. “Who knew Beaver Warriors could cook.”

 

Seth set his bowl aside and found a full plate of food instantly deposited in front of him. He looked up at Koori. “I thought I told you to stay with Jo.”

 

I came to get him something to eat. I could hear his stomach growling from outside. Koori held another plate of food in his hands. Kisara and Mahaado are keeping my watch.

 

“Come on Big Brother, eat up. This stuff is good.” Mokuba grabbed what looked like a lopsided cupcake. “Can we take a few Beaver Warriors home? Hmmm?”

 

“Only if you carry them.” Bakura thumped down next to Mokuba, with Ryou settling shyly next to him. The thief eyed Kaiba carefully, then turned to start filling his plate. “We're leaving in the morning. I want to get home and hunt the bitch that sent Ryou here down.”

 

“Was it really Yuai?” Mokuba looked over at Ryou.

 

“Well, I guess you could say that.” The white haired hikari took a roll and sipped a cup of something that might have been tea. “It might be fairer to say it was someone who looked like Yuai, seeing that Yuai is now here.”

 

“Yuai or not, she's dead.” Bakura started tearing through his food with wolfish abandon. Mokuba shifted closer to Kaiba to stay out of reach of bits of flying food.

 

Seth kept his attention on his food. Say one word thief and there'll be bits of you flying through the room.

 

Bakura glanced over at him and gave him an evil grin. “So. Long time no see. How've you been?”

 

Seth bared his teeth in a snarl. “Fine. Let's see if this time we can make it longer before we see each other again.”

 

The thief snorted, gnawing through a piece of steak. “My heart is breaking.” He placed one hand dramatically against his chest.

 

“Yami, can you pass me those asparagus things?” Ryou nudged him.

 

“No.” Bakura eyed them. “I don't want you eating anything that is still moving.”

 

“They're moving?” Ryou and Mokuba chorused together. Ryou looked sick and Mokuba grabbed the bowl to watch the long green shoots slither around their bowl.

 

Seth quickly checked to make sure none were on his plate and found one lurking under his mashed potato things. He speared it and watched it thrash around, sending soft potato like substance around the table. Koori! What the hell did you put on my plate! You better not be feeding this to Jo.

 

He could hear his dragon's embarrassed voice. They are a bit under cooked, aren't they. And no, it escaped before I got to the room. It's now hiding under a candle stand in the hall.

 

He pushed his plate away and grabbed a roll. Shimo frowned at him. He frowned back. “No. I am not going to finish, and Mokuba, put that bowl down.”

 

“Hey, look! They purr if you pet them.” Mokuba set the bowl down, stroking the flared head of one green shoot.

 

“That really looks disturbing.” Bakura muttered, eyeing the kid. “Stop playing with your food!”

 

“Watch your tone thief.” Seth growled.

 

“Well, look at him. He's fondling his food. Tell me that doesn't look perverted.” Bakura gestured to where Mokuba was still stroking the green shaft.

 

Seth shuddered as he glanced at his hikari's brother. “Granted. But watch your tone.”

 

“Can I keep one?” Mokuba laughed as the one he had been petting wiggled around his finger purring.

 

The only way this could get worse is…Seth watched in horror as the little green shoot spat at Mokuba. “That's it. Dinner's over.” He grabbed the bowl, slammed it down on the table and yanked the child out of his seat and down the hall towards the exit. Shimo trailed after them. “Tomorrow morning thief. We'll meet you in the court yard.”

 

Bakura watched him storm out the door, absently plucking a green shoot out of the bowl and munching on it. “Haven't changed much, have you, priest?”

 

~*~*~*

Yami

~*~*~*

He was in his bedroom, the unchanging one from his soul room, but it had changed. The normally softly glowing walls weren't glowing. It was dark, gloomy. Instead of the normal warm solitude he enjoyed when in the room, a chilling breeze fluttered through the open balcony doors, and women shuffled in muted grief through the room, occasionally lifting their eyes to stare at him coldly. On the bed, with its out of place pillows, Pepi was curled in a sobbing ball around one of them. Her long black hair twisting in rat tails down her back as she cried.

 

Seth was leaning tiredly against the wall, absently holding a child's toy. The same carved wooden cheetah that always sat on the floor at the foot of the bed. He didn't look at him, or even seemed aware of the other people in the room. He looked out the doors blankly, fingering the tiny animal. His normally clear eyes clouded and tired.

 

“Ahmose. Please, please let me see him.” Pepi looked up at him, pleading.

 

He shook his head, unable to meet her eyes. “He's gone. There's nothing to see.”

 

“Please.”

 

Seth shifted slightly as the door opened and more women hurried into the room, with steaming cups and small charms to ward off evil. He gave his head a shake and dropped the toy to the carpeted floor, where it bounced to the end of the bed and landed on it's side. “Has anyone informed Kallon and Ledowr?”

 

Yami didn't know. He shook his head, feeling helpless.

 

“Please. Just for a moment. Please.” Pepi shivered, pulling herself off the bed, showing that she was swollen with another child. “I just want to see him. Just once. Just for a moment.”

 

Yami remembered the pillows now, as if that small detail was important. The pillows had been a gift to Pepi from a distant queen. He remembered the woman had been a soft, round person with a gaggle of children hovering around her. The pillows had been to make Pepi more comfortable when she was pregnant with their first child, Ahmose. He forced himself to go sit down on the bed next to his wife, trying to not notice those pillows, guilt making his feet drag heavily across the floor. When he finally managed to make it to the side of the bed, he carefully pulled Pepi into his arms. “I would like to see him again too, just once, but there's nothing to see, Pepi. Nothing.”

 

“You. You.” Pepi pushed him away. “You and your games. Why?!”

 

“It was an accident.” Seth's voice sounded thin and worn. “An accident. The door…”

 

“I'm sorry.” Yami didn't know who he was apologizing to, Seth, Pepi, the women who ghosted around the room, staring at him with accusing eyes, Ahmose, or Yuai. Maybe all of them.

 

The door opened again and Isis came in, holding more charms and a scroll. “My pharaoh, Lord Kallon is waiting for you in your study. He said you'd know why he was here.”

 

Pepi, who a moment before had been pushing him away, suddenly grabbed onto him. “No. Don't leave. No, don't.”

 

He pulled her close resting his cheek against her hair. “Shhh. I'll stay.”

 

Seth nodded. “I'll go talk to him.” He pushed himself away from the wall tiredly. “Isis, have you seen Akhenaden or Shimon?”

 

“They are down in the main court dealing with some of the courtiers. Rumors are already spreading.” Isis looked down at the charms she held. “Mahaado and Shada are preparing Yuai to go back to her people and Karim is helping with the guard.”

 

Seth frowned, then shrugged. “Then this will be my task.” He bowed to Yami then walked out the door.

 

Pepi shivered against Yami, he slender arms wrapping around his waist. “Isn't there something, anything, that can bring him back?” She looked up at him with her soft brown eyes. “Anything?”

 

~*~*~*

Review please. I was playing with time and tenses this time. Do you like straight past tense, or did the character's looking back at things that had already happened work better for you? Part of me likes the layering of looking back, another part thinks it puts too much distance to the action. What do you think? (I need to get a life….)