Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Psyche ❯ Emotions ( Chapter 26 )

AN: I really had problems with this chapter. First, I realized I've been dragging my feet because I don't want my story to end. I've really had fun with it and it's winding up. While I am sure y'all are going to cheer when it's completed, I'm going to cry. So I started a Rurouni Kenshin story to cheer me up. Second, Seth and Seto kept arguing in my head. I hope you like the compromise I brokered. Now that Seth and Seto are no longer being control freaks with dominance issues, the story should flow along nicely. Last, I got busy with school and work. I'll try to behave from now on, but no promises. This chapter has not been even slightly proof read. I wanted to get it out to you as soon as possible.

 

 

Psyche

Chapter Twenty Six: Emotions

~*~*~*

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.

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.

 

~*~*~*~*

Seth

~*~*~*~*

Seth woke in his soul room with his hikari snuggled under his chin. Half asleep, he muzzily cuddled his other closer thinking vaguely that Seto must have fallen asleep, and how nice it was to wake up with his hikari safe in his arms and finally getting better. He wavered pleasantly in limbo between being awake and asleep, toying with the thought of falling back to sleep, a decadent activity he had rarely had the luxury of indulging in; and waking, going to his study, and performing the spell to give him his own body. With Seto mending, he could now step into the physical realm without feeling he was neglecting his duties to his light.

 

After a few more pleasurable moments, he carefully disentangled himself from Seto's arms and sat up, blinking the room into focus. He was mildly surprised at the sudden pounding headache he felt. Not to mention the sudden swoop of nausea and the aching protest of all his muscles at his movement. I honestly didn't think I would feel this bad…

 

He turned to his light and blinked a few more times trying to figure out what he was seeing. Seto, who last time he had seen him had been getting better, was now back to looking like the victim of a gang mugging.

 

What the…? He frowned, then with a sigh shook his head. My beloved light, you are really too prone to get into trouble. How did Jonouchi manage you for so long by himself?

 

He carefully checked Seto, decided he was more bruised then seriously harmed, covered his hikari with a blanket, and then took over their body. When he opened his eyes he found Mokuba sitting at the side of a bed looking worried.

 

“Big Brother!” The child promptly flung himself into Seth's arms.

 

Seth cautiously held the child away. “…is asleep again. What was it this time?”

 

Mokuba stiffened for a second, then drooped. “They came here to the house and Seto shoved me out the door. I didn't see…” He looked anxiously at Seth. “Is he okay?”

 

Seth nodded. “As soon as he wakes up he'll be back with you.” Seth swung his legs over and sat up. “Was anyone else hurt?”

 

Mokuba nodded, “Ryou, Bakura, Jonouchi, and Duke.”

 

“Where's Jonouchi?” Seth got to his feet and wobbled slightly as he realized the position the body had been laying in had caused one foot to fall asleep. Cursing slightly, shaking that foot, and limping ungracefully, he stumbled towards the door.

 

“In Yugi and Yami's bedroom.” Mokuba tagged along behind him as Seth made his way down the hall. “He got hurt pretty bad and Yami wanted to keep a close eye on him.”

 

Seth nodded. Since standing up, he had been making a running catalog of Seto's injuries. Mostly, as was reflected in Seto's soul form, just bruises. The only worrisome injury was a searing tingle down his right shoulder. He recognized the feeling as the after burn of a rather powerful spell. Whatever it had been, Seto thankfully had only been on the periphery of it.

 

He carefully opened the door to the pharaoh and his light's bedroom. Jonouchi was laying on the floor, nestled in a small stack of futons, with a fluffy white blanket tucked around him. His blond hair was sticking up in unruly spikes above a bandage that wrapped around his head. On the bed, Yami was sleeping, looking pale. His light hovered at his side, dividing his attention between his unconscious friend and his exhausted darkness. Seth stepped in quietly.

 

“Oh, Kiaba…” Yugi blinked tiredly at him.

 

“Seth.” Seth corrected going over to kneel next to Jo. “How are they?”

 

Yugi looked worried. “Jo hasn't woken up yet. He has a pretty deep cut on his head and…” He unconsciously reached out to touch his yami's hand, as if seeking reassurance. “..Yami says that he took most of a magic attack.” He glanced at his dark. “Yami is tired. He spent most of the night trying to help Jo and Ryou.”

 

Seth nodded, tugging the blanket down and carefully examining Jonouchi. He didn't try to look under the bandage, but gently opened Jo's eyes, watching how each one dilated. Not pleased with the results, he shifted the blond head slightly and noted a burn, down the back of Jonouchi's head that he was sure matched the one presently nipping at his shoulder,.

 

“The mark goes down most of his back and hip.” Yugi was peering carefully from his perch. “Yami thinks it was a dark magic attack.”

 

Seth nodded. That would match the feel of the burn, and the mark on Jonouchi. “How long?”

 

“It happened last night.” Mokuba was peering over Seth's shoulder. “We were watching a movie and then Pegasus went crazy and …” He trailed off, looking scared.

 

That would have been what…a couple hours at most after I fell asleep. Inwardly he gave a weary sigh. He didn't even manage to stay out of trouble one entire day…

 

“We best wait to see how he is when he wakes up.” Seth stood up, giving his light's brother an small encouraging smile.

 

Yugi nodded. “Yami thinks whoever cast it wasn't really very good at it, so it wasn't as powerful as it could have been.”

 

“True.” Seth gently steered Mokuba out of the room, mentally translating the pharaoh's message. Jonouchi had gotten off lucky. Seto, even with an unconscious yami, had some magical resistance because of his presence. Jonouchi had faced their enemy with nothing more than his stubbornness and, if the burn patterns gave him any clue to what had happened, the desire to protect the one he loved. Jo could easily have had his soul extinguished out, leaving them to mourn over his slowly dying shell. The spellcaster, though, hadn't either the skill or power to effectively cast the spell, so Jo's soul was still intact, and with any luck, unharmed.

 

“…down in the kitchen.” Mokuba was tugging at his hand.

 

“Hmmm?” Seth shook himself out of his thoughts, looking curiously at the child.

 

“Malik has snacks down in the kitchen.” Mokuba repeated. “Are you hungry?”

 

Seth nodded absently, inwardly noting that Mokuba was back to his favorite past time of getting him to eat. He wasn't particularly hungry, but at the same time, if it gave the child comfort, Seto could stand the extra food.

 

As they entered the livingroom, a groggy looking Bakura was sitting on the couch with his light's head pillowed in his lap. The thief was stroking his hikari's hair absently, while dazedly watching a small blue train talk on the television. He only gave them a half focused glance as they walked through to the kitchen.

 

The kitchen was filled with people. Honda was fixing coffee, while chewing on a piece of peanut butter covered toast. Malik was setting a plate of tiny muffins from a now empty plastic box that was laying like a dead turtle on the counter. Anzu and Mai were whipping eggs into a froth and creating omelets by the stove. Shadi was sitting with his head pillowed on his crossed arms at the table, snoring softly amidst the din of the group around him.

 

“Hey, what happened to the chopped onions?” Anzu looked around suspiciously.

Malik shrugged, “They aren't in the muffins, so don't look evil at me.”

 

“Anyone else want toast?” Honda reached over for the bread.

 

“Me.” Anzu nodded.

 

“Yeah, me too.” Mai flipped an omelet onto a plate and slid it onto the table.

 

Mokuba sat down and grabbed a mini-muffin. “Make one for Seth.”

 

Mai nodded, reaching for more eggs. “Any chance of Yugi or Yami joining us?”

 

“Or Jo?” Honda added.

 

Seth shook his head, “No, but Yugi would most likely appreciate some food being brought to him.”

 

Anzu nodded, sliding a plate under a omelet that Mai lifted out of the pan. “Yes. Some toast too, and no peanut butter.”

 

Honda smeared some butter on a couple of slices and dropped them on the plate. “Get some muffins too. Yugi likes them.”

 

“Too many breads.” Malik stuffed a muffin in his mouth, as Anzu reached over his shoulder and snagged a few to add to the plate.

 

Mai handed her a glass of juice as Anzu headed out of the kitchen. “Don't forget this and see if Bakura is finished watching Teddy the Train. Ryou could use some food.”

 

Seth sat down and found himself instantly in possession of a plate full of food. He picked up a fork with a small smile. The dragons would be so proud. “Now, would someone explain to me what happened last night?”

 

~*~*~*

Yami

~*~*~*

 

The slender trunk of the palm tree bent in the dessert wind. Yami could feel it as he leaned back against it, watching the line of priests wind down into the funerary temple. Considering the rank of the person they were attending to, the line was both short and shoddily prepared. The priest's robes flapped in ragged tatters around their frames as they dourly trudged through the sand laden wind.

 

“I always wanted to be like him.” Seth stood leaning tiredly against the tree watching the procession. “I would watch him, standing at your father's side, and think some day I will do the same.”

 

Yami nodded. “I remember.”

 

Seth didn't acknowledge the comment, his eyes locked on the ragged priests. “Every day, no matter what that day brought. I worked for that. To be him.”

 

The wind swirled around them, sending bits of sand to sting against their skin. The sound of the priest's chants whispered up to them, a sad rhythmic sound calling blessings down from heaven. A small hint of cheap incense from the temple wafted along the breeze.

 

“I remember when I was told he was my father.” Seth bowed his head. “I was proud. I wondered if I had made him proud.”

 

Yami nodded, shifting slightly so that his foot rested against Seth's, to give his cousin a physical reminder that he wasn't alone. Right now there was nothing to say, or do, except be there.

 

Seth looked down at their feet, then turned his attention back to the funeral. “Why?”

 

“I don't know.” Yami whispered, his words swallowed in the wind.

 

“He had everything. Everything I worked all my life for. Why?” Seth's voice dropped.

 

“He was a good man once.” Yami nodded to where a still form on a bier was being carried by a group of priests down to the temple.

 

“Once…” Seth shook his head, unacknowledged tears falling to the sand at his feet like the rarest desert rain. “Not anymore. His soul is damned.”

 

“He was asked to do too much and he broke.” Yami watched the priests carry the form up the stairs that lead to the temple. “My father asked for too much. He didn't consider the effect…”

 

“No. Your father only asked for the duty owed him.” Seth turned his back on the procession that was slowly entering the temple, disappearing one by one into the darkness. “My father… went too far.” He slumped down to sit against the palm's trunk as the last of the priests faded into the gloom. “And what frightens me most, given the circumstances, given that order, I would do the same.”

 

“Then I will never ask that of you.” Yami leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree, gazing at the sky. “In the end, we all die. I will not have the death of your soul on my conscience.”

“And if it isn't your life, but the lives of others? The life of the kingdom?” Seth shook his head. “Don't be naive. If circumstances were the same, you would give the same order.”

 

Yami made a sharp denying gesture with his hand. “No. I would not. I would find another way. I may gamble my soul, but I will not gamble another's. If the worse came, I would do it myself, and bear the consequences alone.”

 

“It doesn't matter.” Seth leaned forward resting his forehead against his raised knees. “In the end, because of him, we may already all be damned.”

 

Yami looked down at the puzzle that hung around his neck, then closed his eyes, and shook his head.

 

“Wouldn't it have been better, if he hadn't…” Seth's voice was muffled.

 

“Would? Should?” Yami sighed. “Wouldn't it have been better… Shouldn't we have done… What is the point of asking? We have to face the situation we are in, not the one we wish we were in.”

 

Seth didn't look up. “I'm tired.”

 

Yami touched his arm. “We still have time. We might be able to do something.”

 

Seth looked up, facing him. “We both know there is little to be done. The items are irreversibly tainted. The closer the bond… the more time spent with the item… Damn him.” Seth sat back violently, hitting his head against the tree trunk. “I was only a child when he handed the Rod to me. A reward... damn him. And you, how long have you been near the Puzzle? Since you were a babe in arms? The others might get free, but you and I…”

 

“And your father…” Yami looked back up at the sky. “he's had that eye from the beginning…”

 

Yami woke, finding himself staring at the familiar ceiling of Yugi's room. “Akenaden.”

 

~*~*~*

Bakura

~*~*~*

 

Bakura sat, being very still, all his attention on the soft sound of Ryou's breathing. A delicate sound, one that he was terrified that he wouldn't hear unless he paid absolute attention to it. Afraid, if his attention wandered, even for an instant, the sound would stop, never to start again.

 

The wound in his side was nothing; the sight of his hikari laying still in the wreckage of the fight, that was everything. He had a few blurry memories of what had happened. A half remembered image of Pegasus smiling. A faint impression of leaping at Duke. A sudden lightning flash of protective fear, of shoving Ryou's soul out of the way as something dark raced toward them, then the image of standing over Ryou, leaning on Malik's shoulder, looking down at his delicate light laying still on the floor, then silence. Silence broken only by Ryou's quiet breath.

 

“Do you think Ryou would like something to eat?” Anzu leaned over the back of the couch. He could feel the couch back dip and bulge under her weight.

 

Bakura didn't look at her. The sound of her voice was an annoyance, but he couldn't do anything about it unless he let his attention shift away, and he couldn't do that. Ryou needed him to listen, so he was listening.

 

“Well, when he wakes up. Breakfast's ready.”

 

Wake up? Bakura stroked Ryou's hair, matching his breathing to Ryou's. Wake up? The concept slipped past his grasp, only the steady inhale and exhale of air was important. Waking up? What would that mean? It didn't matter. He was here to listen, not to wake up.

 

Time shifted, passing only in measures of air. In. Out. In. Out. A terrifying pause, then a small sniffle. In. Out. In.

 

“…shock.” Another voice was speaking, quieter, accented, not the pharaoh, but familiar,. “Not surprising really. “

 

“What should we do?” A child's voice whispered from a small distance.

 

“When Ryou wakes, Bakura should as well.” A deeper voice came from behind him, the pharaoh's.

 

There was a tap of hurried feet and something warm wrapped around him.

 

“Isn't he awake? His eyes are open.” It was Anzu again, sounding a bit breathless.

 

He felt another blanket being placed over Ryou. He brushed at it, slightly worried that the weight would smoother his light.

 

“Leave it Bakura. He needs to stay warm.” The pharaoh's voice again, but it made sense and the weight didn't seem to be bothering Ryou.

 

“No, not really. He is only partially aware.” The other, accented voice. The priest? “…dreaming, probably.”

 

“Leave him be. He'll probably kill you if you wake him up.” Marik. But wasn't Marik…? No, he'd been the one who…no, wait…listen…listen. Ryou needed him to listen.

 

And they were alone again. He brushed his fingers down Ryou's cheek. His light was slightly cold. That might be the reason for that sniffle. Guilt pulled at him. He was Ryou's yami. He should have thought of the blanket. He should have thought, but he didn't and that's what got them into this.

 

~*~*~*

Yami

~*~*~*

 

Seth turned away, staring blindly at the refrigerator.

 

“It has to be him.” Yami, aware of his hikari's watchful eyes, dutifully continued to eat his omelet, no matter that he thought dried hippo meat had a better flavor. Camel was looking good to him too.

 

“Whoa. Talk about dysfunctional family reunions.” Honda sat down at the table with a thump.

 

Seth's back quivered a second, then he turned and stalked out of the kitchen heading back up to the bedrooms. Yami watched him go. Yugi stood up, but Yami pulled him back down.

 

“Leave him be.” Yami took a bite of peanut butter toast, in an attempt to get the taste of Mai's cooking out of his mouth. Peanut butter…not strong enough. How about nail polish remover?

 

“He looks upset.” Yugi worried.

 

“He has good reasons to be upset.” Yami washed the peanut butter out of his mouth with a gulp of chocolate milk. “Akenaden tried to have me assassinated to put Seth on the throne.” Yami nodded toward the door. “Seth as head of the guard was the one to hunt him down and arrest him. It wasn't… good.”

 

“Man, having to arrest your old man.” Honda grabbed a few mini-muffins and started eating. “Not good is an understatement.”

 

“And now he's back.” Mai was leaning against the counter sipping coffee. “Got a few issues too.”

 

Yami nodded. “He had issues then too. He was driven mad by the creation of the Millennium Items.”

 

“Ya mean, when he killed off…” Honda glanced toward the living room where the sleeping thief still sat patting his hikari.

 

“Yes. My father put too much on him.” Yami pushed the rest of his omelet around his plate with his fork, absently wondering if he could push it right off the plate. “He placed the entire welfare of Egypt, all those lives, on Akenaden's shoulders. Uncle was a loyal man. He did what his pharaoh asked him to, and didn't count the cost to himself as important.”

 

“And it destroyed him.” Yugi set a cup of coffee on the table and started shoveling sugar into it.

 

“In the end, it destroyed all of us.” Yami shoved his plate away, ignoring his light's reproachful look and Mai's glower.

 

“Now he wants to revisit old times.” Marik munched on his toast, leaning against Malik's chair.

 

“He wants more than that.” Yami got up. “He was obsessed with power. He wanted to set Seth on the throne. However, it became obvious, if Seth ever took the throne, Akenaden expected to rule through him.” Yami walked over to the counter and took a cup of coffee. “Eventually, he would have killed Seth and taken the throne for himself.”

 

Yami let his mind drift back to Egypt. His first unsure steps after his dark time. How under the disguise of care, Akenaden had tried to strip him of his power.

 

“He's not strong enough…”

“Don't bother the pharaoh with such trivialities…”

“Let Seth deal with this, my pharaoh, you need to take care…”

“You need rest, my pharaoh, I will…”

“You are still unwell, let me…”

“He's still not thinking clearly.”

“ Don't upset him…”

“His illness still weighs heavily on his mind, Seth can…”

“He may never truly recover…”

“He is still the pharaoh, give him respect, but Seth will…”

“Ah, my pharaoh, rest awhile longer, I can handle…”

 

Yami drank his coffee, watching his memories flutter past like dried crumbling leaves in a sand laden desert breeze. The fine edges crumbling even as he watched. He only wished they'd never come back, but then, if they hadn't… He took another drink.

 

“Akenaden is after power.” Yami frowned into his coffee. “With Pegasus's money and company, he has it.”

 

“But Kaiba…” Yugi started.

 

“Two birds, one stone.” Marik nodded. “Get his revenge and Kaiba's company. Literally, more power to him.” He turned and looked out the window. “Did anyone check to see if any pigs were flying around? The thief was right.”

 

Malik snorted.

 

“He has his moments.” Yami grinned slightly.

 

“Well, Bakura's moment aside,” Mai interrupted, “where would he be now?”

 

“Pegasus has a Domino City office.” Mokuba stood at the door frowning at the floor. “He'd probably go there.”

 

“Nice and safe. Probably a ton of security.” Marik put his cup down on the table. “We break in and we're the bad guys. We sit here and…”

 

“He recreates Enas Kuruna to get more items?” Yami shrugged. “Or maybe he'll steal your idea and turn everyone into a mind slave.”

 

“I take it you don't see him calmly creating new games for kiddies.” Mai sighed.

 

“He's after Kaiba Corp.” Mokuba shook his head. “It's a game company now, but it used to be one of the major weapons manufacturers in the world. If he gets his hands on our company…”

 

“Back to bombing the hell out of the world.” Honda stood gathering the dirty plates on the table. “He's already got a track record he's gotta maintain.”

 

~*~*~*

Seth and Seto

~*~*~*

 

Seto sat up in bed and glared around the small room. Why bother having a soul room when I always end up here? He got to his feet and grumbled his way out of the room, down the twisting labyrinth of stairs of his yami's soul room, and found himself again in the temple room. The light fragrance of incense brushed past him as he paused at the bottom step to look around. Candle light shifted through the dimness showing Seth kneeling in front of an alter, haloed in a flickering gold glow. The priest's head was bowed down, as he quietly chanted something that sounded like a prayer.

 

Seto walked over, consciously suppressing an urge to at the very least nod to the statues of the ancient gods that watched him pass. Great. He's rubbing off on me. “Hey.”

 

Seth bowed low to the statue, his forehead touching the ancient stones of the floor, his short brown hair swaying around his pale face. When he straitened, he didn't turn to Seto. His voice was clipped and cold. “Your brother is worried about you. You best see to him.”

 

Seto nodded, feeling a prick of unease. “How's Jo?”

 

Seth sat back on his heels, still looking at the god on the dais. It was Horus, the god of the pharaohs. “It is too soon yet to know. He still sleeps. When he wakes up we will be able to tell his true condition. ”

 

Seto edged closer, feeling coldness run through him. His yami, his other half was shutting him out. “Seth? What are you not telling me?”

 

“Leave me be for a time.” Seth's neck and shoulders were tense as he kept his attention focused on the god before him. “This is not something I want to burden you with now. Go to Jo and your brother. They need you.”

 

“So when I need you, you take care of me, but if you need me, I should leave?” Seto took a few steps closer to his darkness. Knowing himself, he could see every warning sign that Seth was giving him. The icy tone, the tense unyielding set of his body, the absolute refusal to turn and give attention to something he didn't want to deal with. As he took another step, he wondered when Seth would turn and attack. A couple more steps? A few more words? When the attack came, that was the moment of weakness. The moment when, in himself, he could recognize the break in control.

 

“This has little to do with yo…” started Seth snarling, then visibly winced. “No, that is not right. It has much to do with you. With us.”

 

Seto stood right behind him. He could feel the distress, the pain radiating from his yami. Odd. When since could I feel his emotions? “What? The pharaoh decide to take over the world? Let him. It's already fucked up. He can't do worse.”

 

He knew that wasn't it, but it gave him a distraction to step closer. Close enough for him to touch his other. Seth jerked at the touch, looking up at him with dark, shadowed eyes. He quickly looked away again. Almost had you…

 

“Just go Seto. Jo needs you now.” Seth even while sitting still, seemed to be sliding away from him, escaping through shields of slick ice and frozen deserts of white crystal.

 

“No.” Seto shook his head, holding on tighter. Soon. Close. He's almost there. I'd have turned and struck back by now…

 

Seth shook his hand off, standing up. “You don't… need to be here.” He gave Horus one last bow, then brushed Seto aside without looking at him, heading for the stairs. Seth's back was ramrod straight, his cloak flaring and snapping behind him, a warning glitter of cold eyes searing in his wake. The picture of don't-touch-or-you're-deader-then-dead. “You should…”

 

“Leave you alone?” Seto watched him sweep up the stairs, half annoyed and half impressed as hell. I wonder if I look like that when I storm out? Too bad you're me and I know that trick…or should I say defense? What are you hiding?

 

Seto followed him up the stairs, around all the insane twists, and right back to the room. Seto smiled. Thought so. The main chamber is a ruse, isn't it. This is the heart of your soul room. Seth glared at him as he leaned against the door watching his dark.

“Hikari…” Seth's voice was a shadowy warning of doom.

 

Seto nodded. Sorry. I know that trick too. Too bad. He stepped in closing the door behind him. “Tell me.”

 

“Get out.” Seth stepped forward, eyes narrowed and threatening.

 

Gottcha. When in doubt, attack. But two could play that game. Seto only considered a second, then reached forward. Oddly, it was Yugi's voice in his mind as he grabbed the front of Seth's robes and pulled. They keep trying to protect you. Even when they need protection. As his lips connected with Seth's, Jo's voice pitched in a comment. Yami, Yugi, Ryou, Bakura…I'd worry if they weren't together. Ya know…two halves…one whole... it would just be wrong if they weren't. He could feel Seth's surprise, the quick intake of breath, the shock of suddenly ridged muscles. Hands raised to his forearms, gripping half holding him in place, half struggling to find the will to push him away. But he had a good hold on his darkling and had no intention of letting go.

 

Seth shivered against him, pulling away. “Seto, you…don't…”

 

“Shut up, Seth.” Seto pulled him back, silencing him with another kiss, his lips and tongue demanding entrance to his yami's mouth, as he stepped forward pushing his other back a step towards the bed.

 

Seto…Jo…His yami's voice slipped through his mind. He wondered if Seth realized there was a trace of desperation in that mind touch.

 

I said shut up! Seto bit down on Seth's lip, then quickly pressed his advantage as Seth jerked slightly, opening his mouth. He could feel Seth struggling, not physically, physically Seth was still, but he could feel Seth's emotions whipping around him in a storm of frustration, anger, pain, and need.

 

Seto! Stop! Seth's voice growled, even as he opened his mouth and started fighting Seto for dominance of the kiss.

 

Seto gasped as he felt fingers pulling at his clothes. Yeah. Right. Next time try saying it when your not… he broke off that thought as Seth slipped a hand under his clothes and brushed his fingers teasingly across his stomach. …damn…

 

Seth shifted, turning them till Seto's knees hit the edge of the bed. He lifted his head freeing Seto's mouth. “I didn't want to do this. Not now.” Seth hissed, his tone angry. His hands however were skimming gently across Seto's sides, delicately dancing over his ribs. “You…”

 

“Shut the fuck up!” Seto fell backwards dragging Seth with him onto the bed.

 

They wrestled, pushing and tugging at each others clothes. Teeth bit down drawing red to the surface of pale skin as they fought. Hands caressed, grasped, pinched as their clothes scattering across the floor. Their bodies writhed together, limbs wrapping around nearly identical limbs as they struggled.

 

You drive me crazy.

 

I was perfectly sane till I met you.

 

Hardly.

 

Seto moaned as Seth finally pinned him down to the bed. His yami managing to trap his hands, and using the weight of his body hold him still. He arched up, trying to shift his other off him. Seth only snarled and pressed him down harder into the bed. Long slender fingers shifted off his wrist and slid up into his hair, pulling his head back, exposing his throat. Seth's teeth bit down hard on the soft exposed skin beneath his ear.

 

His body jolted up against him dark's as he snarled back. “Seth… You bastard. You are not…”

 

Seth's mouth crushed down on his. You wanted to push, you pushed, now take the consequences.

 

Seto gasped as Seth roughly pulled his shirt down, trapping his arms behind his back. He struggled against it, not liking not being bound. Rarely had he even allowed Jo to hold him helpless. He shuddered as his yami's hands slipped down to hold him still. Seth…no.

 

Lips lifted off his and slid downward to the bite mark, lapping it softly. Do you think I am that angry? Seth slid his hands around his waist. Do you think you are not safe?

 

Suddenly they flipped, and Seto found himself sprawled across his dark's chest. Without the weight of his body pinning him down, his arms were free. He shrugged out of the shirt, looking down at Seth who lay watching him with dark, unreadable eyes, while his hands massaged the skin of Seto's waist.

 

They keep trying to protect you. Even when they need protection. Yugi's voice whispered again.

 

He leaned down his breath ghosting across Seth's skin. The other didn't respond, only watched him silently as he lowered his head to brush their lips together. Do you feel afraid? Not safe? Seth shifted slightly under him, but didn't respond, even his hands had stilled their caresses.

 

Seth eyes remained aloof and dark, staring at a point beyond Seto's shoulder. Seto lightly nipped at his lower lip, asking for entrance, that was granted almost absently. He licked across his darkling's teeth, then slipped in deeper, tapping his tongue against Seth's.

 

Where are you Seth?

 

Seth blinked, his fingers slipping around Seto's hips, splaying across the small of his back. When they rolled this time, Seto found himself on his back, with his arms around Seth's shoulders, as Seth leaned over him on his hands and knees. He bent his head, catching Seto in a kiss, before lowering himself to press against his light.

 

Seth?

 

Seth's hands slid out from under him and skimmed down his legs, urging them to part to allow him to rest between them. Seto shifted, allowing his yami to shift him, as they continued to kiss, a slow slide of tongue coiled around tongue. When they parted, Seth lowered his head to nuzzle against his ear, nibbling on the ridge, licking under his jaw, then trailing down his throat to skim across the muscles of his chest. Seth's fingers traced delicate patterns with ghost-like touches across the insides of his thighs, then headed up his sides.

 

Yami?

 

Seth shifted down farther, his lips trailing softly across his ribs, then across the plane of his stomach. When he reached Seto's navel, he swirled his tongue around and slid his hands soothingly over the skin that quivered there. Seto felt his muscles quiver then go limp and a sigh escaped him in a whisper soft moan, as his mind took a brief siesta.

 

Jo woke me up like this one morning.

 

Seto dragged his mind halfway back to reality. Jo?

 

Seth hummed softly, his fingers stroking teasingly over Seto's belly. He and E'on were playing.

 

Seto managed a small hmmm as he all but melted into the bed. His mind was trying to tell him something, but Seth's fingers and tongue distracted him. He felt Seth shift farther down, tracing a path down to the soft brown curls that nestled between his legs. He shivered a second as the air touched his damp skin, then stilled as Seth's hand covered the area in a caress.

 

Seth's mouth slipped past his growing erection and trailed down his thigh. Seto shifted, his fingers stopped twining into his yami's hair and tugged the chestnut locks in a silent protest. Seth nipped softly, and continued to retrace the patterns his fingers had created earlier. Seto growled at him, and received another nip.

 

Tease.

 

Seth bit him a little harder and sat back, looking at him with shadow filled eyes. His fingers trailing down Seto's body to brush feather light over the tops of his thighs. Seto looked up at him, trying to figure out what was passing through his yami's mind. Seth watched him a second mere then got up and walked out the door.

 

Seto pushed himself up onto his elbows and glared towards where his dark had disappeared to then shook his head with a disgusted snort. Forgot that… When cornered, distract…Damn… Me and my defenses…

 

He quickly got up and followed after. You know you aren't getting away with that. He walked along the hall towards the study where Seth liked to sit. I know that trick.

 

Seth was sitting in his chair watching a candle that cast him into golden shadows. Seto stopped in the doorway, looking at him, but Seth didn't shift his gaze.

 

“No.” Seth's voice was barely louder than the candle's flame as it flickered.

 

“No what?” Seto stepped into the room.

 

Seth settled back into the chair and closed his eyes. Seto carefully walked over to him, keeping as quiet as possible. When he reached Seth's side, he touched his dark's arm. Seth sighed and looked up at him. Seto shifted back as a swirl of emotion eddied around him. Sadness. Doubt. Pain. Anger. Fear.

 

“If you won't talk to me, who are you going to talk to?” Seto settled against the edge of the desk watching Seth.

 

Seth reached over and pulled him down to sit on his lap. My father was a priest. He always stood next to the pharaoh and served him loyally. He nuzzled against Seto's throat.

 

And? Seto lifted his hands to wind them through Seth's hair.

 

I always wanted to be like him. It was what I worked for all my life. Seth kissed the hollow under Seto's ear. The training to be a priest is hard. To be the High Priest, it is even harder, but I wanted to inherit his position, so I did what it took. He made an agitated move, as if to get up.

 

Seto shifted his legs till he straddled his yami, keeping him pinned in place. What happened?

 

He went insane. Seth leaned his head against Seto's collar bone with a tired mental sigh. He slaughtered Bakura's home village to create the Millennium items, then later tried to get me to usurp the pharaoh's throne.

 

Seto frowned. Why are you upset now?

 

He is responsible for what happened to Jonouchi. He is the one that threatened Mokuba. He is the one who banished you to the Shadows and attacked you last night. Seth circled his arms around Seto's waist. He is angry at me, so he is trying to destroy you.

 

Seto was quite a few seconds, then shrugged. You have changed your career goals haven't you? Seto tugged softly at Seth's hair trying to get him to look up at him.

 

Seth pulled him closer keeping his head down. I understand him too well. For a time, we were the same. He could be me. I could be him.

 

And I could be Gozuburo. Seto shrugged. But I chose not to be. He taught me, but I decide what to do with it.

 

It's not that simple. Seth slipped his fingers up Seto's backbone sending little shivers through his light's body.

 

Seto hummed softly. I said the same thing when Mokuba told me that, but it's something to think about.

 

Seth slid his hands down Seto's back and leaned back in the chair, watching his light with sad eyes. It may make no difference in the end.

 

Seto sat back, looking at his dark. What do you mean?

 

My father had no intention of becoming a monster. Seth shifted again, setting his hands on Seto's hips and giving him a slight push.

 

Seto refused to move. You think that you…

 

Seth narrowed his eyes then stood up. Seto slid down to stand in front of him, one hand still threaded through his hair. Seth tossed his head, trying to dislodge Seto's grip. When he wasn't released, he reached back and put his hand over Seto's, pressing down to loosen his fingers. Seto didn't resist, taking the alternate strategy of catching Seth's hand and pulling it towards him.

 

Seth shook his head. “Let go, Seto.”

 

“No.” Seto shifted his weight and shoved, pushing Seth abruptly back into the chair. “We're not done yet.”

 

Seth growled softly, and moved to stand back up, but Seto settled himself back straddling Seth's lap. He tipped his head, pressing their foreheads together, their eyes looking back into each others, and their breath ghosting into the other's breath. Seth's hands came up to push him back again, but Seto wrapped his legs around the legs of the chair, holding them both in place.

 

“Seto…” Seth's voice was little more than a growled breath.

 

Seto pressed forward, sealing Seth's mouth with a kiss. One of his hands came up to hold Seth's head in place as the other slipped down to gently tug at the hand Seth had on his hip. Seth gave another growl, refusing to let Seto deepen the kiss, and keeping his hand almost bruisingly tight.

 

Seto growled back and shifted his hand. Two can play the same game. He gave up on the kiss and moved to the curve of Seth's neck as his hand came over to stroke over Seth's stomach. Seth arched his head back, turning in mute protest as his body quivered. Seto smiled against his darkling's skin, licking a swirl under Seth's ear. But this time I'm not going to be the one who's distracted.

 

Seth made one last effort to push him away, then with a sigh, closed his eyes and settled back into the chair, his hands falling to his sides. Fine.

 

Seto nipped him softly, then slipped down to kneel in front of Seth, trailing kisses down his chest and stomach and letting his hands come down to caress his yami's hips. Seth lifted his hands to caress Seto's shoulders, his fingers trailing up and down his light's arms, tracing the sleek muscles under his skin. Seto slipped lower, his lips trailing over his dark's growing erection in a whispery caress, then opening to take the stiffening flesh into his mouth.

 

Seth gasped, shuddering. His eyes flashed open staring at nothing, then closed again as he groaned. Seto's lips slipped downwards, engulfing him in warm, wet heat. His fingers tightened for a second, then came up to stroke Seto's hair as Seto continued, sliding his lips in a tight ring up and down Seth's shaft.

 

“Seto…” Seth shuddered as he felt pleasure curl into his stomach, sending out tight hot shivers through his body. He concentrated on his own breathing and tried to slow his reaction, to enjoy more then a few moments, but Seto picked up the pace, pushing him forward. “My light…”

 

Seto hummed in response, trailing his fingers around to join his mouth and sliding them down farther to delicately stroke Seth's sac. He swirled his tongue and added more suction. Seth shuddered, his hips arching, seeking more of the pleasure Seto was giving him. Seto moved his fingers back a bit more, then pressed up on the space of skin behind Seth's balls. Seth gave up fighting himself and let go, let his hikari have what he was demanding. His body bucked as he came with a soft cry into Seto's mouth.

 

He opened his eyes looking at the ceiling of the room, then looked down as Seto moved to straddle him again. Seto's fingers already caressing along his stomach and thighs. What are you doing Seto? Why…

 

Seto pressed forward, kissing him, tasting of sex and cum. Seth pulled him closer, twining their tongues together as Seto, rocked on his lap his unattended hardness pressing against his belly. Seth cupped his hikari's hips in his hands and shifted him even closer, letting his fingers slip down to squeeze and stroke the firm flesh of his ass. Seto rocked again, adding a downward grind to his movements, rubbing against Seth's already reawakening cock.

 

Seth pressed Seto closer. His hands sliding up Seto's back and pressing at his shoulders, bringing their chests to rub together as their bodies moved. Seto rocked harder, shifting so that their erections stroked against the other's at each inward shift of weight. Seth slanted his head, deepening the kiss, licking across the roof of Seto's mouth. He nipped down as Seto suddenly shifted his weight, raising himself, then cried out as Seto came down, impaling himself on his shaft.

 

Seto shuddered, leaning against Seth. He'd guessed it would hurt, not as much here as it would if he did this with his mortal body, but he hadn't counted on the twin stabs of pain and suddenly being even more aware of his yami. Seth's emotions and feelings suddenly swamped through him, causing his breath to catch and his body to freeze. He'd been skating along, controlling himself, trying to control this situation, only letting his body savor a fraction of the pleasure, just enough to react the way he wanted it to, but suddenly he not only felt his own excitement, his own body's demands, and they now escalated out of control as Seth's flooded through him.

 

He was lost. Was it his hands or Seth's the settled on shifting hips, guiding their movements? Who tossed their head back, crying out in a half strangled cry of pleasure? Who's body arched? Who's fingers caressed? Who thrust up into tight, hot heat and who received the jolt of pleasure as their body slammed down to meet the other's?

 

When Seto finally found himself again, they were laying curled on the floor by the desk. Seth was curled around him, his face pressed against the back of Seto's neck and his arms cradling him. Seto moved carefully, expecting a sharp stab of pain to remind him not to play uke without proper preparation, but was slightly surprised when he felt nothing. He turned slowly and looked at Seth. He watched him sleep a moment considering letting himself rest, then with a determined frown slipped out of Seth's arms and got to his feet. He checked himself carefully, while he was a bit of a mess, he felt fine. With a shrug he went back to the bedroom, grabbed a blanket from the bed, and went back to spread it over Seth. When he was done, he wound his way down the maze and out to the hall between their soul rooms.

 

Mokuba was sitting at the cheap desk that overlooked the alleyway, poking at a pile of papers. When he sat up, his brother swung around to look at him.

 

“Seth?”

 

“No. It's me…” He started, only to be cut off as he got tackled back by a black haired cannon ball.

 

“Big Brother, are you alright?”

 

“I'm fine. What's happened?”

~*~*~*

That was the hardest lemon I've ever written. They're both so dominant that it was hard to figure out who would be seme and who would be uke. But it's done. Not the greatest lemon ever, but IT'S DONE!!! And yes, finally the mystery baddie is revealed. Those who guessed Akenaden get virtual chocolate chip cookies!