Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return of the Demon ❯ Resurrection of the Past ( Chapter 9 )

Xpyne: Dun dun dunn!!! This chapter is full of drama! I warn you, there's even a--dun dun dunn--character death!

Solitaire: Oh no, who is it??? ::even though she knows perfectly well:: Guess you'll just have to read and find out. Um, it's not hidden too well, seeing as it happens about ten lines into the chapter...

Xpyne: This chapter is so sad! ::sniffles:: Bust out the Kleenex. Oh, and this is the chapter where Téa acts a bit like, um, me. ^___^`

Solitaire: Yeah, Xpy-chan and I really outdid ourselves this time, trying to be really clever and all, with that whole "plot" thing.

Chibi Joey: ::hands a slightly used tissue to Solitaire::

Solitaire: O____O Ahhh! Chibi Joey?!?!? He's so kawaii!! ::glomps chibi Joey::

Chibi Joey: O.O`

Xpyne: Guess what? Soli got a scanner and a laptop, so now my pictures are, like, totally available!

Seto: You're such an airhead. ::sees Soli giving chibi Joey cookies and milk:: ::jealously:: And who let that stupid runt in here?

Xpyne: ::proudly:: He's one of my drawings. If anyone wants to see, e-mail us at bamf__@hotmail.com IM us (our sn is Soli and Xpyne), or check Mediaminer.org, which hasn't stupid been working! I do both hentai and non-hentai. I'm so excited, simply everybody must review my pix if they go look at them, okay? Um, my art's really important to me, so no flaming, or I'll go cry and prolly write a really depressing scene for this story.

Solitaire: ::looks up from helping chibi Joey tie his shoes (he has a problem with that):: Heh, that's kinda already covered in this chapter. Oh! Ha ha, there are more Ancient Egypt flashbacks in this chapter, and just to let you all know, the moral codes that Bakura quotes were from the actual Egyptian morality codes of Ptah and--

Xpyne: -_-``` Leave it to Soli to take an archaeology course and find the most hentai YuGiOh related facts.

Solitaire: ::sticks tongue out at Xpyne:: Anyway, they say, "Do not copulate with an effeminate boy ... do not allow him to spend the night doing what is forbidden; ... thus he will be calm after staving off his desire."

Cast of effeminate YGO boys: O________O;;;;

Xpyne: ::looks up from playing with chibi Joey:: Where's teenager Joey?

Bakura: Solitaire sent him away during these notes. Something about him being painfully embarrassing in the past few episodes...

Joey: ::popping up out of nowhere:: I am NOT painfully embarrassin'!!! ::waves arms around and foams at mouth::

Yugi: ~_~`` I'm not touching that one. I guess I should do the disclaimer--

Seto: I'll do it!

Yugi: ...Why do you want to do it?

Seto: ::looks at chibi Joey, who is the center of Soli and Xpyne's attention::

Soli and Xpyne: He's so cuuuute!!!

Chibi Joey: ^-^

Seto: ::clears throat loudly:: I'm doing the disclaimer now. Ahem.

Soli and Xpyne: Okay... ::briefly fight over who gets to hold chibi Joey, after getting shoved one too many times in the face, Xpyne gives up, flicks Soli in the side of the head, and grabs Yugi:: We're ready.

Seto: >_< Soli and Xpyne don't own anything, unlike me, who is a successful, rich CEO! They kind of own the plot idea, but everyone's Egypt names are ripped off from somewhere--except for mine, because they care enough about me to think up an original one. Don't sue them, or I'll get my lawyers on your ass, and don't report this story--it's been edited to 'Rated R' level, you bitch, Gem, who reported them!

Soli and Xpyne: O____________O````

Xpyne: ::still holding Yugi:: That was, um, interesting.

Solitaire: ::covering chibi Joey's ears:: *_* I didn't know you cared, Seto-kun...

Yugi and Yami: ::muttering:: He's ours...

Xpyne: Shut it, you. ::pinches Yugi::

Yugi: Eep!

Bakura: Start the damn chapter already! Hell, I'll do it! Uhhh..... Chapter ::waves arms around:: Start! ::nothing happens:: I don't get it. What do I have to--

Chapter 9 - Resurrection of the Past

"Heh heh, little boy, you're just as pretty as your stupid girlfriend. Maybe I oughtta take you for a walk in the woods instead?" He threw Yugi onto the grass, holding the knife poised.

"Now, I want you to strip."

\ HELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELPHELP \ Yugi blinked his large, frightened eyes. What could he do?? What if Yami and Seto couldn't get here in time? What if the creep turned on Téa again?! Yugi did the only thing he could think of. He slipped his hand into his pocket and clutched his deck.

"I call upon the Dark Magician!" \ <Pleaseworkpleaseworkpleasework...> \

"What the hell is wrong with you, kid?!" The man grabbed him by his neck strap. "I said--"

A loud thunderclap and sizzle of energy were all that remained of the man who had a split second ago been threatening Yugi. Coughing, sputtering, and rubbing his throat, the small teen looked up to see the purple clad magician in all his glory, poised in attack stance with a look of cold furry burning in his pale eyes.

"Wh-what did you just do?" Yugi managed.

"For attempting to harm my master," he replied, venom dripping from his voice, "I burnt him into Shadow energy." The sorcerer lowered his staff and dropped to one knee, gently helping Yugi to his feet.

Skidding to a breathless halt, Yami almost fell over in shock, and Seto nearly tripped over him for his sudden stop.

Kaiba immediately jerked back the top of the magician's sorcerer's hat and socked him in the face, laying him out on the grass. The Dark Magician sprang to his feet with superhuman grace and thrust his staff in Seto's direction, air crackling.

"STOP!" Yugi screamed, jumping between the two tall bishounen. Yami grabbed Seto's arm.

"That is not Yugi's attacker," Yami explained. Seto growled.

"I see one crazy man dressed up like a duel monster with his paws all over my Yugi." Said man narrowed his sky colored eyes at Kaiba, but remained silent.

"Uh, guys?" Téa interrupted from her position on the ground. "Will someone please explain what's going on?" Yami helped her to her feet.

"Are you alright?" She rubbed the back of her head and nodded.

"Téa and I were attacked by a sweatpants-wearing mugger and I summoned the Dark Magician to help us, only he--he vaporized the guy!" Seto made a scornful noise of disapproval at the last part.

"Oh please, Yugi!" Téa rolled her eyes. "Tell it right! The creepy rapist was at least 6'5", and he tried to drag me off into the woods! Only Yugi came up and kicked him, and he was all like, 'Oww!! You little--!' and then I kneed him in the crotch and he really got mad. He threw me against a tree, and pulled a knife on Yuug, and the huge pervert was jerking him around like a sack of potatoes, and then," she paused for effect on her enraptured audience, "he threatened Yugi with his knife and told him to strip, and I was all like, 'HELP!!!' and then..." She trailed off, turning her feminine blue eyes to the thoroughly humiliated Yugi. "And then I don't know what he did, but this guy showed up." She jerked a thumb towards the purple haired boy. "And the creep was just 'PKOW!' gone."

All eyes were on Yugi's; well, all except for the Dark Magician's, whose were focused casually on Yami's butt.

"How did you know how to summon the Dark Magician?" Yami asked carefully. Yugi glared at him, memories, as well as some of his earlier anger, returning.

"How is it even possible to summon a duel monster outside of the Shadow Realm?" he retorted. Yami sweatdropped.

"You didn't--last night-- You've summoned him before?" The spirit bit his lower lip. He glanced up at the familiar purple haired boy nervously.

"I didn't get any sleep last night--" Yami blanched. "And for some reason, 'no' doesn't seem to register in his vocabulary."

"????" Seto and Téa looked utterly confused. The magician simply stood, neutral expression firmly on face. Yugi crossed his arms.

"Uh, Téa, you may not want to hear where this is going," Yugi said apologetically. Wide-eyed, Téa glanced quickly at the four males.

"Point taken--look, there's Joey!" She ran off to their blonde friend, and led him away shaking her head at his protests.

"I accidentally summoned him last night by saying 'call upon the Dark Magician' out loud."

\\ Uh-oh. \\

"What did he do to you??" Seto demanded.

"You ask him."

"What did you do to Yugi last night?!" The magician remained silent. "Grrr!"

"Um, he's not supposed to talk in front of the High Mage," Yami said quietly.

"The who?!"

"You." Yami fiddled with one of his buckles. "Well, the High Mage Sekhmet, actually, but as I think you're his soul reincarnated, the Dark Magician won't see a distinction."

Suddenly Seto's head hurt. <That name--Sekhmet--the one from my dream--Egypt--the Palace--the...the pharaoh, and his mage.> So many images, phantasmagorias plaguing him. Were they memories? or only dreams...

Eying the duel monster as if he were Pandora's box, Yami frowned and ordered, "You may speak freely."

"Thank you, pharaoh."

"All right," Seto growled, stepping into the Dark Magician's personal space, "What happened between you and Yugi last night?" Yugi buried his face in his hands, afraid of the answer.

"I was summoned to my master's bed chamber to find not an unusual situation.

"E-lab-or-ate," Seto forced through gritted teeth. Yugi tried to hide in the puzzle, but Yami stopped him.

"I found my beautiful master unfortunately aroused by his ungrateful, unworthy mage and, of course, left unsatisfied." Seto's jaw dropped.

"We didn't do anything! -Well, I didn't do anything--I mean, ahhh!" Yugi moaned in mortification. "Ya-mi! This is your doing!"

Yami fiddled with a different buckle, avoiding the cold cobalt eyes of his love. "I had been in love with your soul for so long...and you hated me. At least I thought you did." He stopped fiddling to glare up at Seto with fierce crimson eyes. "I'm only human! Did you never notice how much you look like my favorite card?! I had the power to create and destroy life through the Shadow Realm and that puzzle, and all I wanted was a light to fill the empty void in my soul and you."

Yugi went over to Yami and timidly hugged him.

"Dark Magician, return." Yugi held up his favorite card as its 'monster' returned to it. Yami sighed.

"I made him to love me and I created a special tear in the Light Realm so I could summon him outside a duel without a summoning stone. His life essence is actually in the puzzle. I...I don't have all my memories, Seto," Yami paused, "But I know I love you. Please--please don't doubt me now..."

"Never." Seto crushed his lips to Yami's in a passionate kiss. When they parted, he knelt and drew Yugi into his arms. Looking a bit embarrassed, the brunette ventured to say, "I left you 'unsatisfied' last night?"

Yugi rolled his eyes. "I foolishly tried to use the puzzle's connection to say goodnight to you and Yami yesterday, forgetting it, um, transfers emotions, too, and, uh, you guys, well..." Seto raised his eyebrows, catching on.

"I thought I sensed you...I was rather distracted at the time, however," Yami noted. Yugi snickered.

"Understatement of the century--ooh." Seto had begun sucking on his neck and kissing his jaw line. His strong hands pressed the smaller boy tightly against him. Still attached to Yugi, Seto threw a conspiratorial glance at Yami who nodded, smirking.

"We have a lot of--" Seto breathed.

"Making up to do--" Yami continued, slipping his hands over his light and pressing himself to Yugi's back.

"--For last night," Seto finished. The pair of taller boys stood and dragged Yugi off to a more secluded part of the woods in the park.

=Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q=

"Wait just a minute! I wanna know what jus' happened now!" Joey protested as Téa forcefully led them back into the woods.

"What just happened now?" Honda inquired, popping out from behind a tree. Téa sighed loudly.

"C'mon, guys. We need to give our friends and the Dark Magician some 'alone time'."

"The who?!" Joey and Honda cried in unison.

"I'll explain elsewhere." The two teens nodded and scrambled after her as she headed away from Yami, Yugi, Seto, and the duel monster brought to life.

Ten minutes and one vivid retelling of events later, Joey and Honda were dumbstruck. It was the blonde who first broke the silence.

"So how did Yuug summon the Dark Magician?!"

"Beats me. But Yami seemed a little freaked out if you ask me," Téa offered.

"Wow. Huh, I wonder if--ah!!" The uni-spiked brunette broke off suddenly when he noticed his neglected ice cream melting down his hand. He immediately began devouring it. Téa made a face at his messy behavior.

"Slow down or you'll give yourself brain freeze," Téa scolded.

"Yeah!" Joey chimed in, "You look like a rabid squirrel on drugs! Haha!"

"What?!!" he yelled through a mouth full of cold desert. "I'll show you 'rabid'!" The two proceeded to have a shoving match, Joey gaining the upper hand as Honda only had one free hand. Téa sweatdropped.

"Assuming you've got a brain to freeze."

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Honda grinned widely and whipped out a popsicle wrapped in plastic. "I got you one, too!" Téa regarded the slightly smooshed, slightly melted treat Honda had been carrying around in his trench pocket for the past fifteen minutes. She raised an eyebrow.

"Oh my gosh, thanks so much!" she squealed, snatching the popsicle, unwrapping it quickly, and proceeded to eat it like a rabid squirrel.

"You didn't get me one?" Joey pouted.

"Nope. I didn't even know you were here, man." He took a big bite of his ice cream. "Mmm-mmm-ice cream!" he taunted.

"Ah, shut it. Don't want any stupid ice cream anyways. I was talking ta--Ryou! Whoops, he's prolly wonderin' where I am! Gotta go guys! Catch up with you later." And with that, he ran off.

"Bye Joey!" Téa called, and Honda waved. She brought her index finger to her chin thoughtfully. "What were you going to ask, Honda, before you remembered your ice cream?" She licked her popsicle happily.

"Oh! I was gonna say, 'I wonder if Yugi can summon any monster he wants.' That millennium puzzle of his is supposed to be really powerful, you know."

"No, just me," a smoother voice answered. Téa gasped.

"Seto Kaiba?' Honda turned around, confused at the familiar voice. "Ahh! The Dark Magician!!" Said mage nodded. "Whoa! And here I was thinking maybe Téa'd gone off her rocker..."

::CLUNK:: Téa smacked Honda upside the head at the insult. "Uh...not to be rude or anything, but what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Yugi or Yami?" Téa asked.

A small frown flickered over the magician's face. He looked off to the side. "My masters sent me back to the Shadow Realm." He paused. "But what they don't understand is the situation that has arisen. A tear has been made between the worlds of darkness and light. Creatures of the shadows will soon be able to cross into your reality without summoning stones--without being summoned at all."

"You mean like you?" Honda accused, stabbing a finger through the air at the purple haired one. "Who summoned you here to talk to us?!" The sorcerer smirked slightly.

"Yes; with my special connection to the puzzle, my link to the Light Realm is stronger than any other duel monsters'. I utilized the tear to come unbidden to this world and warn my pharaoh. However, as the tear grows, eventually even weakly connected monsters will be able to cross over.

"Oh man, this is really bad!" Téa cried.

"You said it!" agreed Honda.

"But wait, why are you telling us this? What can we do?" Téa questioned, confused.

"For starters, you can find the one you call 'Yugi'."

"You don't know where he is?" Honda sputtered. "I thought you were connected to the puzzle?"

"Well, he's not wearing the puzzle!" the armored boy snapped. Honda was uncharacteristically wise and kept his mouth shut.

"Yugi always wears his puzzle! Something must be wrong!" Téa wailed.

"Then he had better find him, fast," the dark one replied coolly. He did not like the idea of the small boy he'd met without the millennium puzzle. He was with the pharaoh and the High Mage, to be sure, but an ancient evil teemed in the Shadow Realm that threatened to spill into reality. He could not pinpoint the exact nature of this odious presence, but every magical fiber of his sinewy body screamed one thing:

Yu-Gi-Oh was in grave danger.

=Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q=

Ryou watched Joey run off, a small frown creasing his brow. Refusing to stay put simply because Joey told him to, the white haired boy got up and wandered off despondently, into the trees.

It was true--Joey thought he was weak, too. Just like everyone else. Sitting on the grass beneath an oak tree, Ryou pulled his legs up to his chest, resting his chin on his knees.

...Maybe he did want to be like his yami. No one ever treated him as if he would break. No one told him what to do. No one hurt him.

The teen sighed heavily. Wishing he could be more like his own yami was like wishing his yami would be more like Yugi's--pointless and disheartening.

His thoughts were interrupted as Bakura suddenly snapped, \\ What's so friggin' great about that prick pharaoh? \\ Ryou's eyes widened in surprise.

\ <I've got to figure out how to keep my thoughts to myself better.> \ "Nothing," Ryou answered dejectedly.

\\ That's right! \\ Bakura answered uncertainly. \\ Are--are you alright? \\ Ryou couldn't help but be a little shocked by his dark half's unprecedented concern. \\ You're acting mopier than usual. \\

"I just...it's just..." he trailed off miserably. He didn't want to fight with his other half. This morning...they'd reached a truce of sorts, but nothing was resolved. Yami Bakura wouldn't tell Ryou anything and couldn't seem to understand why this made his light so depressed.

\\ You're thinking about that baka Joey again, aren't you? \\

"......." \ So what if I am? I can think about him, can't I? \

Bakura paced around in his soul room, frowning. How could he protect Ryou from that idiot Joey if all Ryou wanted was to be with him?? Bakura growled.

\\ I want you to stay away from Jounouchi. \\ There was a long pause.

"But why, Yami?" \ <Could...could perhaps my yami be jealous?> \ Ryou knew Bakura wasn't telling him something big. What his dark said next, however, scared him.

\\ ...Because he doesn't deserve you. He cannot protect you. He will fill your tender heart with lies and betrayal and he will never love you. \\ Tears gathered in the corners of Ryou's large, doe eyes.

"I suppose no one will."

\\ Ryou! I-- \\ He cut himself off.

"I love him, Yami!" Ryou blurted. He covered his mouth, which resembled a perfect "o", with his hands from shock at his own words.

\\ <I loved him once, too. It won't work.> \\ Bakura convinced himself. \\ It won't work. \\

Ryou said nothing. He had nothing to say; he couldn't help his feelings. It was all too confusing. Ryou cut their mental link. He didn't want to talk to his dark side any longer. The boy sighed shakily, a few crystalline drops escaping his eyes. \ It's my own fault he doesn't love me. When I hate myself, how can I expect my other half not to do the same? \

Absorbed as he was in his thoughts, the platinum haired teen didn't hear Joey calling for him until he was only a few feet away.

"Uh, Ryou? Ryou? Where'd ya go?" There was the noise of crunching leaves as the other boy stepped through the trees, looking for him.

Ryou quickly swiped at his tears and curled up tighter, willing himself to become invisible. As it was, Joey didn't see him until he almost tripped over him.

"Oh--!" He blinked. "There ya are...didn't ya hear me callin' ya?" he asked, concerned.

Ryou looked up, feigning surprise. "Oh! No, sorry." He watched expressionlessly as the blonde plopped down onto the glass next to him.

"So what happened?" the shorter boy inquired after a moment. "Is Téa okay?"

Joey shook his head to himself. "Yeah, it's weird. When I got there, Téa was just leaving Yuug, Yami, Kaiba, an' some weirdo dressed in all purple. She said somethin' about a rapist an' the Dark Magician vaporizin' 'im...?" He gave Ryou an apologetic look and shrugged. "I've been informed that I don't wanna know."

The snowy haired boy nodded thoughtfully. It was silent for several uncomfortable minutes before Joey cleared his throat, glancing sideways at the other sheepishly. "Hey, listen: I'm really sorry fer yellin' at you. I--I just didn't want ya getting' hurt, you know?"

Ryou widened his eyes innocently, his tone unmistakably factitious. "Oh, but you left me here all by myself, all alone in the middle of the park, with no one to protect me! Heaven knows what might have happened to me, had you not come back so quickly."

The blonde teen just stared at the other; he couldn't think of a single thing to say in response to that. He'd thought he'd been protecting Ryou, but instead, he'd just been doing exactly what Bakura always pissed him off by doing--treating Ryou as if he were weak. Joey ran a hand through his hair.

"Okay, I deserved that," he admitted. Ryou pursed his lips, glancing sidelong at the other boy before finally rolling his eyes and giving him a small smile.

"It's alright. I suppose I should take it to mean you obviously care a lot about me...?" he suggested, trying not to sound too hopeful. Joey seemed to think about it for a moment before cocking his head to the side and giving the other a wistful smile.

"Yeah, I do," he said seriously. "How--" His eyes darted downward nervously. "How do you feel about me?" Ryou flushed an adorable shade of pink.

"I think maybe I obviously care a lot about you, too." He looked up shyly. The smile on his soft lips faltered for a moment when a thought occurred to him.

\ <Yami...will not be happy.> \ (A/N: His yami, not Yami Yugi.)

Joey didn't notice, however, as he was currently on his feet doing a victory dance. Ryou couldn't help but laugh at his friend's antics. "Joey!"

"Yeah. Uh-huh! Oh yea--" he broke off abruptly. Scratching the back of his head and blushing furiously, Joey glanced down at Ryou. He dropped back down onto the grass and looked off to the side, running a hand through his hair again, a nervous gesture the other teen found entirely too endearing.

"Well, um, yeah, uh, --I guess I kinda got a little carried away there, and--and--I mean, I know you're with Bakura and--I don't wanna come between you guys. I have no right to. I just--I just--Yugi said--I'm just gonna shuddup now, 'fore I shove my foot any further inta my mouth." He sweatdropped.

"What did Yugi say?" Ryou inquired curiously.

"Nothin'!" he answered quickly. Too quickly. Ryou's eyes narrowed, making him look dangerously like his darker half.

"Jou-kun, I'll never say 'yes' when you finally get around to asking me out if you don't tell me what my friend Yugi is saying behind my back," the white-haired boy said sweetly.

"It wasn't like that, all he said was--WHAT?!" Joey's jaw dropped. "You mean you'd actually wanna--" A grin spilt his face. "You'd actually wanna go out with me?" Ryou merely smiled secretively, humming innocently. "...He said yamis and their hikaris are a package deal--that ya can't have one without the other." The other's eyes widened. Whatever he'd been expecting to hear, that hadn't been it.

"I--I suppose that's true," he stuttered, thinking hard for a moment. \ <Could Joey and my yami ever make peace?> \

"But face it, Ryou. You're never gonna find someone that crazy yami a' yers likes, so you might as well take me, and--and maybe I'll grow on him?" he suggested, leaning close to the paler boy. A troubled expression flitted across his features. "O'course, I don't think it'd kill 'im ta apologize ta me..." Ryou looked down at his hands in his lap, fingers twisting nervously.

"Joey..." he began hesitantly. "Can you think of any reason why my yami would harbor such hostility towards you?" The platinum haired teen wondered if the other didn't have at least one or two memories from Egypt, if he really had lived back then. He knew Bakura would never lie about something like that, but that didn't make it any less hard to believe.

The taller boy blinked. "Shouldn' I be askin' you that? I mean, he's your yami; I would think that if anyone could understand how his mind works, it'd be you." Ryou sighed sadly.

"There are a great many things that he doesn't even tell me. Sometimes I get the feeling that he's hurting so badly inside... I wish he'd just open up to me. He knows I want to help him, but I think--I think he's afraid."

Leaning back to support himself on his hands, Joey watched Ryou as he spoke of his darker half, his voice laced with compassion, concern etched on his brow, and something else shining in those endless, chocolate pools. He gave the other a knowing smile.

"You're in love with him, aren't you?" he asked softly.

Ryou started guiltily. Then the corner of his mouth turned up, his expression somewhere between wry and self-deprecating. "Is it that obvious?"

Joey tilted his head back to peer at Ryou through narrowed eyes. "Nah..." The blonde's smile, however, told differently. The snowy haired teen was glad that Joey accepted the fact so easily, that he didn't question why, even if he couldn't understand.

Or maybe, he could.

Bakura had told him that he'd known Joey back in Egypt. Could--could they have been lovers? But if that was true, why did his yami seem to hate him so much, now?

\\ He cannot protect you. He will fill your tender heart with lies and betrayal and he will never love you. \\

Did his yami know something about Joey that he wasn't telling him? Ryou was more worried now than ever. What could have possibly happened to Bakura to make him so full of spite and hatred? Ryou glanced at Joey cautiously.

"How do you feel about Bakura?" he asked, almost afraid of the answer. After how his darker half had treated him, Ryou wouldn't be surprised if Joey hated the fiend right back.

The golden haired teen saw the slight trepidation in the other's eyes, the desire to be accepted and loved for all of who he was. Joey knew Ryou would never exclude Bakura in something like that, and he would never dream of asking him to. Joey took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully.

"I think he's a callous, manipulative bastard that doesn't give a shit about anyone else's feelings; that he's cruel an' heartless an' only cares about power." He saw the other's face fall, the boy clearly crushed and stung deeply. "But--" he continued quickly, "I think maybe that's just a front he puts up, you know? I mean, I know I don't know him as well as you do, but I just get this feelin'..." He gestured vaguely with a hand, frustrated by his inability to articulate his thoughts. "Like there's a whole lot more there that you can't see, under the surface..." He trailed off.

Ryou noticed Joey was looking through him, his expression distant and pensive, as if he didn't quite realize what he was saying.

"...Joey?"

The blonde snapped out of it. Gazing once more at Ryou, he told him seriously:

"I wouldn'a let things go as far as they did last night if it had been just anyone." He turned his eyes away, watching an ant crawl across his hand. His eyes remained glued to the insect as he continued. "But then I found out he just wanted that damn Millennium Eye..." He gave a bitter laugh. "I was stupid ta think that it mighta actually meant something to him."

Ryou placed a sympathetic hand on his knee. "I'm so sorry, Joey," he murmured sincerely. After a moment, he added hesitantly, "If it's any consolation, you mean something to me." He smiled shyly.

Joey gave Ryou a lopsided grin, slightly embarrassed. "Okay, well, um..." He brought a hand behind his head. "...Now what?"

Ryou dropped his eyes to his hands clenched in his lap. "I--um..." His eyes darted up to meet Joey's before quickly darting back down again.

The blonde was thrown completely off guard when he suddenly shot forward to kiss him on the cheek, pulling back just as rapidly. The smaller boy was crimson with embarrassment, unable to believe he'd just done that.

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, "I shouldn't--I shouldn't have assumed--"

He was cut off as Joey leaned forward and pressed his lips to his firmly. The smaller teen stiffened in shock at first before melting against the other, his hands coming up to grip the lapels of the other's jacket.

The soft contact of the platinum haired boy's pliable lips under his was slowly driving Joey insane. Needing more, he gently traced the outline of Ryou's mouth with his tongue. As the other's lips parted, granting him entrance, he was quick to take advantage, a small moan escaping him as his tongue found Ryou's. Ryou whimpered, clutching more tightly to the other as he kissed back tentatively, unaccustomed to such gentleness, but craving it all the same.

Suddenly, without warning, the gentler boy bit down hard on the other's tongue before shoving him away violently. Joey cried out in pain and landed on his back as Bakura split from Ryou, jumping to his feet.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!"

At first, Joey thought the demand was aimed at him; sitting up, he saw the furious tomb raider glaring murderously at his hikari. Grabbing the boy who now trembled in fear by the arm, Bakura yanked him roughly to his feet.

"I-I was just--"

"Just what?" his yami snarled. Not waiting for an answer, he backhanded Ryou, the teen's face turning sharply to the side with the force of the slap. Joey watched, horrified, from the ground as the other boy just took it, lowering his head submissively. He could see the angry red mark marring the pale skin that had moments ago been tinged with shy excitement.

"I told you to stay away from him!" Bakura yelled. Ryou whimpered.

"Just--just beat me and get it over with, please," he pleaded quietly.

"Git your hands off him!!" Joey shouted, rage and a sickening feeling of déja vu filling him.

"You!" Bakura glowered at the blonde, his wild spiky hair flowing down his shoulders, giving him the appearance of some kind of avenging angel. "I thought you above such lies. Five thousand years may have made you forget my name, but not how to torment me--us!" he growled, jerking on Ryou's captive arm. He yanked the weeping boy to his chest, and to Joey's dismay, the pale teen clung to his yami. <How can he seek comfort in those cold arms?!>

"They weren't lies." He clenched his fists and tried to continue through gritted teeth. "I meant what I said, an'--"

"Does it hurt you to see me beat him? Does it make you sick to watch me strike him like you used to strike me?" He hugged his sobbing light tighter to him, his cold eyes never leaving the blonde's gaping face. "Do his tears give you the satisfaction I never would?"

"Start makin' sense before I kill you for Ryou's sake." The honey-eyed boy's voice was vicious and strange, some nerve in him he never knew was there raw and burning.

The white haired fiend snatched up the ring around Ryou's neck and pointed it at Joey, all five of its dangling obelisks glowing dangerously and directed at the blonde teen.

"Ring!" he snarled. "Bring back what he has lost!"

Blinding rays of light illuminated the forest, pouring into Joey from the millennium item. His flesh burned and glowed--he tried to cry out, but his voice was not his own, his body was not his own, his eyes were but blank orbs of white, and finally, he felt the darkness claim him.

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"I think we're hidden well enough, ne?" The brunette looked to Yami for approval, panting slightly from their run into the secluded woods.

"I was good at the playground..." Yami shrugged, pulling his little angel into his arms and attacking his neck.

"Yami! Seto! We're--in the--middle of the paaark--" he moaned as Yami's hand slid down to lightly stroke his groin. Groaning, Yugi pushed the taller boy off of him. "We can't make love in public," he stated firmly, taking a wary step back from the dark one, who looked about ready to eat him. "Eep!" he squeaked as he backed into Seto.

"Why not, love?" Seto queried, swooping down to suck on his jaw line, large hands running over his hips and across his inner thighs. Yugi hissed.

"What if we tra-ah-matize some little kid?" It was hard to sound convincing when Seto kept making him pant like that.

"Do you want to stop, aibou?" Yami challenged huskily, his slender fingers cupping where Kaiba's light, teasing ones had yet to venture. The handsome brunette wrapped one arm around Yugi's waist and clasped his free hand over Yami's, moving it in rough, circular motions, causing him to knead the boy's shaft mercilessly. Yugi doubled over, keening.

"Nnuh--nnuhn-oo," he whimpered. Seto stood abruptly, leaving Yami to support his lighter half, and slipped out of his long trench coat. He tossed it dramatically to the ground, where it spread out like a blanket. Yami didn't need a mental connection with Seto to know where he was going with this and promptly tossed a surprised Yugi onto it, falling to his knees in front of him with a predatory look in his eyes. The wide-violet eyed boy gulped.

Seto looked down at the pair of petite teens sprawled out before him like a gift from the gods. He shook his head slightly. Where had that notion come from? He watched Yugi, slender chest heaving with each shallow breath, the fabric of his grey sweater-shirt clinging enticingly to his upper body's curves and planes. Seto felt his own breathing go short, pants becoming painfully tight, eying the flustered boy. Yugi's impossibly large, sparkling amethyst eyes were half-lidded, glazed with lust, and trained on Yami, who was kneeling above him, slowly removing his bound-but-never-dominated leather contraption the pair of multi-color haired boys seemed to think passed for a shirt from his lithe body, pants following it off.

Seto embarrassedly wiped a spot of drool from the corner of his lips. He peeled off his own tight clothes and dropped to his knees on the trench coat behind Yugi. He slipped his tongue along the pale column of Yugi's throat and toyed with the boy's taut nipples through the cloth of his sweater. The smaller one let out a series of short, desperate moans. He squirmed in Seto's arms, lifting his hips so Yami could declothe his lower half while Kaiba pulled off his top and set the Millennium puzzle gently on the grass.

"Oh please, S-Seto, please, ohh, uh, Seto..." Seto splayed his broad palms over Yugi's pale chest, relishing the gloriously smooth contours of his compact frame. He ghosted his lips over the small one's flushed face until he reached his damp, parted lips. Seto dipped his tongue in, twisting it around the sweet cavern of his koibito's mouth. Yugi's small hands pulled at his shoulders and he arched upwards, reveling in the heated throbbing sensation coursing though him. He broke the kiss with a scream as his darker half's hot mouth descended on him. His fully dilated eyes slid back into his head and he shuddered, sending shivers in turn through Seto's nervous system.

Yami sucked hard and deep; there was no teasing, no playing around with his angel. Yami intended to apologize fully to his beautiful, neglected little light, and the best way he could figure to do so would be to make him scream in ecstasy, come hard, come fast. He moved up and down on the teen's length, massaging his shaft with his tongue and lips. He increased the suction, his cheeks indenting with the pressure, and took his wildly thrashing aibou as far into his throat as he could. Yugi shrieked hoarsely, finding his release almost violently. He sank back into Seto's warm arms, quivering a bit in his aftermath as Yami licked him clean.

\ Thank you. \ Yami fell over.

"Thank you?? 'Thank you'!?!! Aibou, I was trying to apologize to you. Do not thank me for it." Yugi sighed contentedly, snuggling against the brunette for warmth in the cool air.

"I'm sorry."

Yami rolled his eyes, exasperated. Suddenly, an evil idea for punishing his adorable, far-too-understanding light hit him. Repressing his own lust for a while longer with the control that made him the best duelist in the world, Yami pulled Yugi from Seto and held him, Yugi's back to his chest.

"Seto? May I teach you how to suck cock?" Yugi and Kaiba's jaws dropped in unison. "I think we have a willing test subject here for you to practice on."

The brunette nodded mutely, evil smirk spreading over his face. Seeing Kaiba's trademark evil smirk brought a familiar twinge to Yugi's stomach. The blue eyed billionaire stroked the smaller one's member until it was fully aroused again, and its owner was reduced to a whimpering mass. Kaiba brought his lips tauntingly close to the shorter of the multi-color haired teens, letting his warm, panting breaths blow on him.

"Take the head into your mouth," Yami instructed. Kaiba obediently did so. Yugi hissed. "Swirl your tongue around it," he suggested, whirling his index finger for demonstrative purposes. Yugi bucked upwards under the onslaught, thrusting into Seto's hot, wet lips. "Hold his hips down. Naughty Yugi must learn not to thrust up; he could choke us," the dark one reprimanded. Seto pressed Yugi's white hips to the ground, looking up innocently at Yami.

"Like this?"

"Exactly."

"Now what?"

"Make him scream."

Kaiba sucked long and hard. Yugi tried to choke down a cry for about two seconds before realizing it was hopeless and called out, moaning. Seto's teeth grazed his sensitive skin and his skilled tongue traced his length. Yugi hollered, unable to stop himself, throaty noises escaping the light boy's lips. He'd had about enough of their domination.

He reached back to his dark half's throbbing member that had been digging into his back and stroked it hard. Yami cried out, all pretense of control gone.

\ Like this, Yami? \ He stroked his dark side's length slowly and firmly. \ Or like this? \ He repeated the motion, this time using his thumb to massage down as he stroked. Yami was shaking now.

\ How about now? \ He encircled his other with his fingers, forming a ring for his yami to fuck. Yami moaned as Yugi stroked him roughly to the rhythm of Seto's mouth on him. Suddenly, his grip became almost painfully tight as Seto forced him over the edge once more, swallowing his seed. The brunette sat back, making a face.

"Yami, you make it look like it tastes good," he accused. Yami leaned over to him, panting. He drew his tongue sloppily along Seto's lower lip, sucking off some of Yugi's essence.

"It does."

Yugi, who was yet again sprawled out quivering, blushed furiously at their discussion. He slid his small fingers over his own satiated member, collecting some of the sticky lubricant. He then stroked Kaiba, coating him. The brunette gasped, groaning heavily under Yugi's delicate touch. He looked down at the petite teen. The other gazed up at him with bashful, bright eyes.

"Seto, would you take me?" The blue eyed boy's mouth went dry. Just looking at Yugi's gorgeous, small body made his groin ache. The wide-eyed boy parted his thighs invitingly, faint blush tingeing his pale cheeks. Yami instantly drew Seto's fingers into his mouth, coating them with saliva.

\\ Yugi, are you sure you're ready for this? Your first time was only two nights ago-- \\

\ I need this, Yami. I need him.\ The gentle boy shuddered as two long fingers slipped into him.

\\ I understand. \\ He kissed Seto's temple.

"Be careful with him," he warned the tall brunette. Kaiba only nodded, unable to speak, his eyes glued to the flinching face of his sweet angel. The fact that he was about 6'6" and Yugi closer to 3'6" had not eluded him in his passion. (A/N: You think we're joking? Next time you watch tv, measure them. Yugi's four and a half heads tall, Yami's six, and Kaiba's nine.) He knew this was going to be a...snug fit.

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The ancient one, the evil one, felt, smiling. The shadows of his prison that had blinded and deafened him for thousands of years could not shroud these new feelings. He was growing stronger, no longer restrained by darkness; quite the opposite: he fed on shadows, the darkness empowered him. He could feel the millennium power surging through the realms of light and dark. How long had he waited for this? This perfect opportunity was coming soon. The taste of bitter hatred burning on the tip of his tongue. It had not all been in vain. He was not defeated, truly. He would rise again. He smiled, a gleaming, humorless slitting of tight black lips over sharp, yellowed teeth and sickly gums. The pharaoh was free, now. But so was he.

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The dark magician whipped around, robes billowing, and extended his staff in a protective stance.

"What the--" Téa cried out, staring awed at the eruption of light coming from across the park.

"Something's going down," Honda declared. The Dark Magician's cerulean eyes narrowed.

"Millennium power," was all the explanation he offered before taking off towards the source of the blinding flash. Honda and Téa stared after him a moment before Téa made a noise of impatience.

"Come on, Honda! Let's go check it out!" she cried, running after the duel monster.

"Hey! Wait for me!"

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"Here you go, Jono," Ouiji tells me as Sekhmet throws the cursing and struggling boy at my feet. "Consider him a..." Ouiji pauses, searching for th' right word. "Gift. Watch out--he bites."

I glance down warily at the white haired slave, only ta see him makin' an obscene gesture at Ouiji. Sekhmet growls and moves as if t' strike the slave, but Ouiji stops 'im. He gives Sekhmet a look, an' then the High Mage storms off. The boy on the ground snickers. ...Okaaaay... Why do I get th' distinct feelin' that I'm missing somethin'?

Ouiji turns back t' me, ignoring the slave. "He's a thief found sneaking around near one of the tombs. I figured be might be of more use to you, alive, than me, dead."

"Come on, Jono, scream for me. Come on Jono, scream--uuh, scream," he teases.

No. He's so controllin', so dominating! I'm not makin' a sound.

He takes my member back inta his scorching, wet little mouth, working me hard. I clench th' bedsheets, hold my breath, bite my tongue. He's so overwhelming! He lets me slide out of his glistening lips. Kura blows on me lightly, slight smirk playing on his beautiful face. One'a his hands encircles the base of my shaft, while the other tucks a lock of white hair behind his pierced ear.

"What's the matter?" he drawls, sliding his tongue over me, darkly lashed eyes fluttering in appreciation. "Aren't I doing it right?" He kisses the tip. I whimper, taking a ragged, much needed breath. "Or maybe you're afraid of being heard...?"

Dang. He's right, a'course.

I eye the dirty, scrawny boy in front'a me doubtfully. He looks about my age; his hair's a tangled mess, his clothes are all ripped up... I look back up at the pharaoh.

"Uh, not ta be an ingrate or nothin', Ouij, but what'm I supposed ta do with 'im?" Ouiji shrugs.

"Whatever you want; he's your prob--I mean, he's yours." He makes a dismissive gesture. Was that a sweatdrop on his brow? "Now, I'd really appreciate it if you got him out of my sight."

I grab the boy by the arm and haul him to his feet. "Come on," I tell 'im.

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

He stomps into the room with a scowl on his face and my breath catches in my throat. He's the most beautiful person I've ever seen. Now that he's been cleaned up, his skin looks as smooth as cream, his hair shines like silver, and his eyes--uh oh.

"What the fuck are you staring at?"

I mentally slap myself. Good, Jono, real good.

"A slave who doesn' have any manners, fer one thing," I retort. "Shut yer mouth 'n c'mere."

Giving me a sneer, he obeys, but takes his sweet time doing so. As he moves across the room, I can't help but watch th' muscles working beneath the pale skin, the slight sway of his hips-- What the hell is wrong with you, Jono?? I-I can't be attracted to another guy; it's wrong.

He draws me back into his mouth, abusin' me with his harsh suction an' teasing slurps. I'm thrashing around; he's drivin' me mad. He's won; I can't--

"Uhhhhh!!!" I moan loudly, unable t' stop myself. His white, slender fingers splay over my tanned hips, gripping me.

"You can do better than that," he goads, lowering his head. He deep throats me, and I'm nearly blind with pleasure. I scream, low and hoarse. The burning, electric sensation, it's so much, I c'n hardly think. He wants to dominate me. He wants ta control me, he wants this power over me, oh gods, he has it and then some! Why? Oh gods, he tortures me with his passion, oh. Why does he care? Why--he wants control. Suddenly, I get it.

Shaking with scarcely contained lust, I yank him off me by his long, beautiful hair. He gives a strangled cry of surprise. Pantin' hard, he hisses, "What the hell are you doing??"

He comes to a stop right in front of me and crosses his arms. "Well?" he snaps. I circle him, pretending to be thoughtful, but just buyin' myself time, trying to quell the butterflies that've suddenly kicked up in my stomach. Facing him again, I finally ask:

"What's your name?" A rude noise and a glare is the only response I get. I shrug. "Okay, if yer gonna be that way, I c'n always pick a name for you. Hmm, I think 'Hapi'--"

"Kura," he grunts, the look in his eyes darin' me to make somethin' of it.

"Kura??" I repeat, unable to believe my ears. I choke back a snicker. This vicious, petulant, fork-tongued boy's name is Kura? I raise an eyebrow. "Isn't that a girl's name?"

The next thing I know, I'm doubled over, holding my midsection.

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

"What in Ra's name is wrong with you?!" I throw him to the floor in the middle of the room. He sits up and calmly pushes his hair outta his eyes, smirking. He shrugs.

"I didn't like her."

I can't believe him! I throw my hands up in th' air. "An' that gives ya the right ta kill my slave girls??"

He glances down at his bloody loincloth nonchalantly. He's covered in the girl's blood. "I need some new clothes," he informs me without batting an eye.

Argh! I run a hand through my hair. "Look, I didn't say anything before when you were just bein' nasty ta th' other girls, but I won't have one'a my slaves murderin' people!"

He snorts. "That bitch was asking for it."

"I don't care! Th' point is, you're gonna get yerself executed, and more importantly, now none'a my other girls'll come near me." I cross my arms and frown at him. "An' you wouldn't happen ta have any idea why that is, would you?" It's not really a question. He hates the other girls almost as much as he hates me.

He grins up at me coyly, leanin' back on his hands and spreading his legs slightly. Almost of their own accord, my eyes trail up along th' insides of his thighs and I feel a familiar warmth coiling in the pit of my stomach.

"Not a clue," Kura remarks innocently. "But if those silly cows are depriving you of certain...'services'..." My eyes are glued to his hand as he skims his fingers along his taut belly, to hover at his navel. Oh gods... I stifle a moan as I feel myself harden. His grin widens, as do his legs. I hardly hear him as he continues.

"Oh! How stupid of me; I forgot--Master Jono doesn't like boys." His mocking use of th' honorific he so despises is enough ta snap me outta my lust-induced stupor. Damn it! If that bastard thinks he c'n manipulate me an' get away with it, he's got another thing coming. Storming over to the door, I yank it open an' call ta one'a Ouiji's guards posted outside.

"What is it, Jono?" he asks wearily.

I cast Kura a ticked off glare before leanin' against th' wall, crossing my arms. "Kura needs ta learn a lesson. Have 'im thrown inta the dungeon."

Ostensibly he's proud an' quite pissed at me fer stoppin' 'im; hell, he was even enjoying what he was doin' ta me. But his eyes. They flash with the hidden fear--the fear he's displeased me; the fear that I don't want this, that I don't want him; the fear of rejection. It's gone so fast from his cold brown eyes, I could almost c'nvince myself I imagined it, furtherin' my own personal fantasy that he actually loves me, rather than's simply attracted ta me and has no one else. But I understand his game now. I'm an idiot. He's a slave. I control him, body `n mind; he is mine and I have absolute power over 'im, and of course he hates it. So he's getting even. If he c'n control me by my dick, then he's got some power--more than just a lowly slave. Does he know I love him? If I told him, would he laugh in my face? Would he consider it a victory? I don't want our relationship to only be about this: sex, control, resentment, an' fear.

The look of self-satisfaction flees from the slave's usually controlled face. He scowls at me, dark eyes narrowing. The big oaf of a guard grins, happily yankin' my slave up by his thin arm so roughly I'da punched 'im, had I not been the one who just ordered him ta do it.

" 'Bout time!" he laughs, sticking in his dumb, unwanted opinion. I growl at his stupidity.

"Jus' get 'im outta here!" I seethe. The thickset guard pr'ceeds t' haul the Kura across the room towards the door, silent now, but infuriatin' smirk showing how much he's enjoying gettin' to live out every guard this wing of the palace's fantasy. As they pass me, I stick out a hand, pausing them. I lean in to murmur in Kura's ear.

"I'll come get ya out...sometime next week." Kura growls at the threat, then glances down significantly. He smirks. What's he smirking about!?

"Have fun with your hand tonight," he whispers, winking. I shove him and the guard out, slamming the door behind them. God damned slave. I'm gonna kick Ouij in the pants next time I see him...

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

I answer the knock at my chamber door, only ta have a dirty, beat up, and shackled Kura thrust into my arms.

"That's it, Jono," the palace guard tells me. Kura chuckles low in his throat and moves outta my arms and into th' room behind me, chains clanking the whole way.

"What's it?" I ask, confused.

"The others and I have decided we've had enough. We're sick of hunting down that slave's worthless hide all the time. This was the fifth time this month! Are you even remembering to chain him up at night?" His tone is condescending and makes me want ta punch his lights out. He an' the rest'a Ouij's guards don't think much'a me, but they're the real morons. Of course, th' truth is, I haven't been chaining Kura up; I almost never do. Th' whole enforcement-of-ownership thing has never really appealed ta me. I figure he's got it bad enough, bein' a slave an' all, so who needs ta be fettered up like an animal? It has nothin' ta do with the fact that I kinda like it when he has th' insolence to sleep in my bed 'cause he thinks he's too good for the floor. Plus, he has such delicate skin, an' the chains really chafe his--What?

The guard shakes his head. "He's your slave. From now on, you can go chase after him when he escapes."

"Hey!" I protest, "That's not fair, I--" He shakes his head.

"Forget it, Jono. We have more important things to do." I watch 'im walk off, dumbstruck, for a moment before makin' a noise of disgust and slamming the door.

Oh, this is a pretty sight. I turn around, and what do I find? A dusty, muddy Kura stretched out on my bed like he owns th' place.

"You're more ta me than sex," I tell him. 'Shocked' is the only word t' describe his face. That wasn't what he'd expected to hear. He looks...doubtful, and it hurts me like nothin' I've ever known. Can't he see I care about him? I'm breathing hard, aroused to the point of pain, and holdin' him up by a handful of silky platinum hair. He winces, and pulls my fist from his hair with a grunt. He regards me icily.

"What do you want from me?" I don't answer; I just kiss him. I can't tell him--I have ta show him it doesn't have t' be like this.

"Get offa there!" I snap. "You're filthy!" He smiles at me, but makes no move ta get up. Stupid, pompous slave, you'd think he was pharaoh, the way he acts... I sigh and step over to the bed, snapping a couple times and motioning with my fingers for him to hand it over. He blinks up at me innocently.

"Grrr, come on!" I order him. "Give it up. Unless ya want to stay chained up all night." I shove my hand under his mouth and he obediently spits out the key. I shake my head, muttering to myself as I unlock his wrist and ankle shackles.

"You are such a pain in the ass, ya know that?" He grins at me shamelessly. "You'n I both know you could avoid getting' caught if ya really wanted to. Jeez, it's almost like ya do it fer atte--" I stop and glance up at him, but he's avoiding my gaze.

No, that couldn't be it. He's always goin' outta his way to antagonize me, always telling me how much he hates me. Well, when he's not tryin' t' seduce me. But he's just messin' with me. ...Right?

"If you'll excuse me, Master Jono, I'm quite filthy, as you so perceptively pointed out, and am going to take a bath." His tone is more subdued than I ever think I've heard it, but he still manages to put some spite into the word 'master.' Confused, I silently watch him cross the room. What'm I supposed t' say? Am I supposed t' say something?

He disappears behind th' curtain that leads ta the bathing chamber and snarls somethin', causing the two girls inside to run out, squealing in terror. It takes until I hear the splash of water for realization ta dawn on me.

"Hey!" I holler. "That's my bath!"

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

"Okay Kura," I announce, coming up behind him and nudging his lower back with the toe of my sandal. "Fun's over. I found ya. Now let's get back ta th' palace; it's freezing out here."

He sits, staring unmovingly at the river as it flows past. "No."

I blink. Well this is a new one... "Whatd'ya mean 'No'?"

"I'm not coming," he replies stubbornly. I sigh.

"Why does everything hafta be a fight with you?? And why the hell not? I thought that's how yer little game works: ya escape, just ta piss me off, an' then I come down to th' river to get you, take you back to the palace an' make empty threats about chaining ya up or havin' ya thrown in the dungeon, an' then you do it all over again in a few days."

He twists his head around to glare up at me, annoyed. "Is that what you think? That it's a game?"

"Huh?" Okay, now I'm really confused. "...If it's not a game, then why don't you ever escape for real? Why do ya always wait where I c'n find ya?"

Kura climbs to his feet and makes a noise of frustration. "You really are dense, you know that, Jono?" he demands. It isn't the insult that throws me off, I'm used ta that; it's the fact that he called me 'Jono.' He reaches out and smacks me upside the head.

"Ow!! What was that for?!" I scowl at him, rubbing the back of my head.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Being that stupid should hurt."

My tongue submits to his easily, but I push him down onta his back and throw myself on 'im, one thigh coming between his two naked limbs. He arches up willingly, offering his supple body to me. His stiff desire thrusts against my hip, an' his delicate fingers find me, tempting me ta stray from my plan and allow him to finish me off with his maddenin' touch. I knock them away and spit on my hand. He raises an eyebrow at me, curious. Curiosity melts into hazed passion as I rub my slick palm over his rod, saliva mixing with his pre-arousal and lubricating him. I position myself above his straining heat. He simply stares up at me, immobile.

"Take me!" I scream at him at him. "Take me before I fucking kill you!"

A wide, manic grin is my only warnin' before he thrusts up roughly, piercing my virgin entrance. My elbows buckle and I fall on toppa him from th' pain. Oh gods, is this what I do ta him every time?? It burns and stings, and the pain is like nothing I've ever known. Kura is practically hyperventilating, and his heaving chest pulsates with his erratic heartbeat.

"Relax!" he hisses through clenched teeth. "Relax before you unman me!" His pale, muscled arms wrap around me, soothing me, and I manage to untense a bit. He sighs in pleasure.

Oh, great, he's in another one'a his "moods." I roll my eyes.

"Alright, since I'm so stupid, would ya mind explainin' it ta me?"

"I'm in love with you, you idiot!" he yells.

I stare at him in shock. I blink once. Twice. "...Whaa???" Oh, dat was intelligent. He continues as if he didn't even hear me.

"You and your damn morals!" he rants. "'Do not copulate with an effeminate boy.' 'Do not allow him to spend the night doing what is forbbide--'" I shut him up by grabbing him and kissing him, hard.

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

-ut he was doing. Oh. I don't want ta hurt him. He's gotta know. I don't want this.

I look at him strangely. He's on his knees, eyes forward an' unfocused, seein' nothing. There's already a bruise on 'is shoulder, from our love making a few hours ago. He's tense, ready for the blows I'm not delivering. He blinks slowly, and when those black-lashed lids are open again, his eyes are on my face, questioning. Neither of us move for a long time. Finally, he speaks.

"Why don't you just use a whip?" His tone is impatient, almost angry.

"No," I reply flatly, no emotion in my voice. A whip would scar 'im. I raise my arm, and he closes his eyes, his body rigid once more and I strike him. <Like this doesn't>, I think sarcastically. We can't look at each other while I do this. Soon, I figure I've done enough. I always hit him as hard as I c'n bear, in hopes that th' harder each blow is, the less I have ta do overall.

He rolls us over so I'm on bottom an' pr'ceeds to adjust himself in my tight sheath. His eyes, black with need, roll back inta his head and his lower lip trembles. I can only guess what's goin' on in his head. He grips my hips bruisingly tight, waiting. Eventually, the pain lessens. The fire lacing up my spine recedes, and I breathe a bit easier. Cautiously, I rock my hips. Kura lets out a deep moan and pulls out, only to thrust back in. I sit up halfway, crying out. He leans down and captures my lips. My mouth parts hungrily an' I pour out my fevered passion inta his equally desperate lips. He comes in and out of me, creating a slow rhythm. He tugs at my waist, encouragin' me t' meet his thrusts. When I do, he strokes somethin' deep inside 'a me, nerves I didn't know existed, and I instantly see why he takes th' pain this gives every time--Kura hits it again and I cry out--this is ecstasy, this is liquid pleasure, lit on fire. He pushes inta me to the hilt and back out again, thrusting and rocking and impalin' me until I can't take any more an' my body arches and I go rigid, I see stars, screaming out my lover's name. I feel him release as well, fillin' me in a way I've never known b'fore and I wrap my arm around him. His slender, sweat-dampened body lies limply upon me and I hug him, loving the feel of 'im in my arms and the smell of him on me.

I stop, chest heaving, cheeks wet, and silent. He's crumpled at my feet. The cruelly beautiful, ivory haired thief who blossoms every night under my touch, only t' be crushed on the mornings when I have ta hurt him. He's always a mess by the time dawn's rays slide over his white and crimson body, thoroughly punished an' waitin' for a disapproving Ra to peer in the eastern window at him. I only 'punish' him about once a month. ...So why does th' red dawn always force me to envision his broken form?!

Kura coughs wetly.

My feet are moving, legs pumping; I don't even notice. I run into th' bath chamber and vomit.

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

The white orb 'a light that filled the sky, whiting out the city, blindin' its inhabitants, finally cools and fades. What in da seven hells was that?!? I run through the market, towards th' palace, which had been th' source of dat freaky lightnin'. My lungs are burning and my muscles screaming by the time I get there, but still I run on. Through the marble archways an' cold corridors an' pointless rooms until I reach the throne room. Whereas earlier, I'd bolted through da palace without a second thought, here I stopped. Somethin's wrong, somethin' worse than I could even imagine, somethin' right beyond these doors. I c'n feel the black magic throbbing in the air, pounding in my head. Oh gods, I don't want ta open those doors, but I've gotta know. I've gotta know.

The first thing that hits me when I step inta the room is th' stillness. Like Osiris had brought up a piece 'a da underworld and I walked inta it. The second is a girl softly crying.

"Teana??" I choked out. I spotted her in the center of th' chamber on her knees over a body, shoulders wracked wit bitter sobs. The usually cheerful brunette looks up, cranin' her neck to see me, startled, her wide brown eyes watery. I hurry ta her side. I recognized th' body in her arms. It was my best friend, Ouiji.

"Oh gods!" I exclaim, dropping beside her. "What happened?!?" I couldn't see a mark on the small pharaoh; it was as if 'is soul had just been snatched straight from his body ta Osiris. Teana only throws her arms around me an' sobs harder. I'm numb, and very cold.

"Don't worry, Teana, whoever did this'll pay. They won't get away wit--" My voice is strangled off when I see what lies several feet away from us.

We lay panting and gasping for some time until finally, he rolls offa me an' turns away. I bite my lower lip. Tentatively, I reach out, slide my fingers over his hip and onto his flat stomach, draping my arm over him. Kura tenses for a long moment in which my heart skips a beat, before relaxing. He sighs, snuggling inta my embrace. I kiss the back 'a his shoulder, and his fingers entwine lightly with mine over his abdomen. His breathin' becomes heavy and regular, but I don't join him in a sated sleep. I stay awake for as long as I can, reveling in his acceptance of me, an' in the rare moment that I c'n simply love him with no one around ta see us or stop me from touchin' him. I rub my cheek along the silky skin of his back, nuzzling him. He's so soft and smooth, despite his muscles. I wish I could just hold him forever.

"...Kura?" I whisper. Burying my head in Teana's short hair, I could suddenly feel again. And all I knew was pain. Tears stinging my eyes, I manage to rasp out, "Teana, you have ta tell me what happened--"

"The Millennium items!" she wails, shakin' harder. "This was their purpose!" She's near hysterics, but I don't understand. Why would Ouiji make somethin' that'd kill him?? And how did Kura get involved?!

"He gave up their souls to save us all," she whimpers, "To save us."

No. No! They can't be gone!! Not like this, not while I couldn't do anythin', not before I could even say goodbye! NO!!! Tears stream down my cheeks and I turn away, unable ta stand the sight 'a the vacant bodies any longer.

"I never got to tell him," I whisper. "I...I never got to tell 'im." My voice cracks with my emotions. "I never told him!"

..::!::.. ..::!::.. ..::!::..

"I never told him that I love him!! I never said it!! Teana, oh Teana, do you think he knew??" Joey sobbed. "Why didn't--I--tell him?"

Ryou pulled from his dark's arms and dropped to his knees beside Joey on the grass. He ran his fingers through the blonde's locks and turned his bright coffee colored eyes to Bakura, wet with unshed tears. He took the other's still hand and tugged him down next to him. Joey rolled onto his knees and sat up, tears streaking his face. Ryou touched the ring in Bakura's hand.

"I...I saw everything as well. Through my connection to the ring," he said quietly. "Can't you see it was a mistake? A cruel misunderstanding?" Bakura's eyes were locked on Joey's. He was silent for a very long moment. When he finally spoke, his voice was small, almost fragile.

"I--you--loved me...?"

Joey glared fiercely at him, insulted, still slightly under the spell of the past. "Of course I loved you!" he shouted. Bakura flinched at his tone of voice, something Ryou had never in his life seen the tomb robber do. "I would'a done anything ta make you happy! Anything!" The dark one suddenly became defensive.

"How was I supposed to know?!" he demanded. "I was a slave; you were the master. I was your Ra-damned property. You beat me!" The blonde teen stood shakily, Ryou immediately aiding him with a gentle but firm hand on his elbow.

"That was your idea!" he hissed, trying to keep the volume of his voice under control. "I hated every second of it!"

"That didn't seem to stop you," Bakura remarked icily. Joey's eyes flared.

"How dare you say dat! I had no choice!!" All the venom suddenly left his voice, and he hung his head wearily. "They'da taken you away from me..." He happened to glance up at Ryou, who was watching the two other boys worriedly. The bruises he saw marring the smaller teen's gorgeous face sickened him to no end. Joey raised a hand to touch the side of Ryou's face, his thumb gently brushing across the other's cheekbone.

"What's wrong with us, Kura?" he murmured sadly. "Why do we hurt th' ones we love?" Ryou brought his hand up to hold the blonde's in place and gazed at him with large, sympathetic eyes.

Bakura watched the scene in front of him, feeling a sharp pang in his chest, still shaken from the memories he'd seen pour through Joey's head. How could those two love so easily?? Weren't they afraid of what could happen if they opened themselves so completely to another? ...But...but Joey had loved him; he'd seen it--he'd felt it. He was so confused. "I--"

A man clad completely in purple suddenly burst into the clearing, three pairs of eyes staring on in shock.

"What has happened here?" the tall, imposing demanded. Ryou blinked.

"Th-the Dark Magician?!" The sorcerer's eyes glanced around quickly before settling on Bakura, who continued to sit stock still, ring in hand.

"What spell did you cast?" The former tomb robber raised his eyes to glower furiously at the intruder.

"What's it to you, freak?"

"My master is in danger," he answered angrily.

"Pff. Yeah, of getting his assed ripped," he muttered sarcastically as Téa and Honda arrived on the scene.

"Huh?" Honda looked confused. Téa blushed. And the Dark Magician got a pissed off look in his eyes.

"It was just a memory incantation, as if it were any of your damn business!" he yelled. Glaring at all the interlopers, he shoved the ring into Ryou's hands and disappeared into it. Before shutting himself in his soul room, Bakura made a brief connection with his light.

\\ Tell him--Tell him... \\ Ryou could feel his other half's confusion and hurt. \\ ...We'll work it out. All three of us. \\ And then he locked himself away.

The five remaining stood in awkward silence after the spirit's departure until a relieved laugh spilled from Ryou's lips. The pale boy threw his arms around Joey, shaking with laughter.

"He said we'll work it out. All three of us," he whispered. Joey's eyes widened and he squeezed Ryou tighter.

"Thank Ra."

The Dark Magician raised a slender purple brow and turned from the pair to Téa and Honda.

"This is all irrelevant. We must find Yugi and Yami. We--" He broke off, face turning pale, eyes glazed. "The rip between a Shadow and Light Realms--has just been used--"

"YAMI!!! NOOOO!!!"" The heart-wrenching shriek tore through the woods, stunning everyone in the clearing.

"Oh my God..."

=Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q=

Bakura: x_x ::is still squished from chapter starting on him::

Xpyne: Ahhh!! What happened? ::snickers:: I know, and you guys don't.

Yugi: ::punches Xpyne in the arm:: What did you do to Yami?!?!

Xpyne: O_o` Nothing, I swear!

Solitaire: Psh. She just did that cause she was too dam-- ::glances at chibi Joey in her lap:: dang lazy to finish her lemon scene.

Chibi Joey: ::yawns and falls asleep::

Soli and Xpyne: Awww!

Seto: ::ignoring their mooning:: She'd better finish it. ::shakes fist at Xpyne:: And what the hell is that thing still doing in here??

Xpyne: You mean Chibi Joey? He's cute, duh. Why do you think we keep any of you around?

Solitaire: Hence the reason Honda's not here...

Xpyne: ::finds that very funny:: Anyway, I wanted to say to Sailor Comet ::pauses to shove mutilated effigy in a closet guiltily:: Let's just pretend that didn't happen--What I wanted to address is your complaint about making Ryou call his yami "Bakura" in the last chapter. I too don't like him calling him that, hence the reason he has never called him that at any other point in our story. But he had to call him that, so he could be reminded of the name "Kura". Yeah. Don't expect him to call his yami either of those again, unless absolutely necessary. I mean, what is he supposed to call him? "Yami" has been taken.

Yugi: And abused! ::smacks Xpyne again::

Xpyne: ::rubs arm:: I think I'm rubbing off on you. And not in a good way. ^^;;

Solitaire: ::watches, enamored, as chibi Joey blows little spit bubbles in his sleep:: ::glances over at Seto, who's glowering at her, looking neglected:: Psst! Yugi! Why don't you go cheer Seto up?

Yugi: ::obediently goes over to "entertain" Seto::

Seto: ^____^

Xpyne: ::big watery eyes:: Now who am I supposed to molest?? ::spots Ryou:: Hmm...

Ryou: Ahh! ::squeals as Xpyne grabs him::

Xpyne: Oh shush. I'll only keep you till the next chapter.

Ryou: And when will that be?!

Xpyne: Uh, about a month? ::squeezes Ryou::

Ryou: -_o```