Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return of the Demon ❯ Excursion Through Shadows ( Chapter 11 )

Solitaire: Well, five times now. Shouldn't we win some sort of award for that?

Xpyne (singing): Revel, revel, bitch, bitch, rebel, rebel, party, party--sex, sex, sex, and don't forget the violence...!

Solitaire: ...I, um, don't know what to say. I'm tired, and just so glad that this chapter is done. A big thanks to the Matrix CD, which really helped us write this.

Xpyne: Yeah, we basically sat for several hours with the CD player on repeat. The Reloaded soundtrack is awesome!

Solitaire: I'm so sad that we got kicked off again. All that progress...all those reviews. The tally is now, what? 296 lost, just on ff.net alone? Yay. -_- Well, so the unedited versions of all the chapters, including this one, are still on mediaminer.org and adultfanfiction.net, which isn't working right now...

Xpyne: Bite-Sized died.

Solitaire: No! ::cries:: I liked that one. We'll have to do another chapter, and put the edited version up soon. u_u

Xpyne: I hate censorship. Down with the man! Or, um, most likely, the stupid little 13 year-old girl. You get the idea.

Solitaire: Well, enough of our (however justified) complaining. This chapter is nice and long to make up for the wait. Xpyne and I don't own YGO--

Yugi: Yes you do, shut up!!

Xpyne: ::pets him:: No honey, we don't.

Yugi: ::cries::

Solitaire: Yeah, you'd have a pretty sweet life if Xpyne and I owned the rights to YGO...

Yugi: ....No I wouldn't. I'd be tortured constantly. But I'd get lots of sex with hot guys. ::pouts::

Xpyne: Ooh! This chapter contains, um, in its unedited form, the long-awaited R/J/B lemon threesome! ::cheers, juggling lemons:: So, in the words of the lovely Matrix song I was singing earlier, let us entertain you.

Chapter 11 - Excursion Through Shadows

Seto dropped behind, stopping, as the much smaller boy continued to trudge forward.

"Yugi..." The spiky haired teen paused, turning to face the other with a desperate, questioning look, one that clearly said, 'We don't have time for this.' Kaiba let his eyes travel over the small boy; he had dark circles under his eyes and was clutching the puzzle around his neck so tightly his knuckles were white. "I think--" The brunette sighed, running a hand through his hair. He really hated to suggest this, but the Shadow Realm was clearly starting to take its toll on Yugi, and he would not allow anything to happen to the remaining of his two loves. "I think we should stop and rest for a while." Cerulean orbs scanned for the non-existent horizon, seeing darkness and shadows pressing in from all sides. "This seems as good a place as any..."

"No!" Yugi cried, startling the other with his vehemence. "We have to keep searching for Yami. We're getting closer--we have to be!" The slightly wild look in his eyes disturbed Seto, and he closed the gap between them to lay a comforting hand on Yugi's shoulder.

"We've been walking for what must be hours. We need a break... You need a break." He was worried by the physical and mental exhaustion the small teen was exhibiting. While he, himself, oddly enough, had yet to feel the strain of existing in a world that was not his own--while he felt a strange power coursing through him, even, getting stronger and stronger--Yugi was obviously pushing himself beyond the limits of his endurance.

The younger of the two abruptly shook the brunette's hand from his shoulder, glaring up at him accusingly. "Maybe you don't love Yami that much," he hissed, "but I have to keep searching until I find him!" The young CEO took a step back, a deep hurt flashing through his eyes.

"You know that's not true, Yugi," he admonished softly. "I love him just as much as you do and will not leave this place until he is here, in my arms, but look at yourself. Would you have me lose you, too?"

Yugi knew his koi spoke with the utmost sincerity and lowered his eyes in shame. His bottom lip trembled before tears dropped from his lashes, face crumpling.

"But you don't know how it feels!" he sobbed. "It's like half of my soul is missing--my aibou. It hurts!"

With a worn sigh, Seto carefully sat on the ground and pulled the other into his lap, wrapping his arms around him tightly. Nuzzling the exotic hair and rocking slightly, the taller boy murmured small noises of comfort while his tiny lover wept into his chest. "Shh... I understand, Yugi." He didn't think he could ever hope to achieve a bond as close and complex as that which bound the little yami and hikari, but his soul was connected to theirs in other ways; he could feel it. Without Yami, there was a dull ache in his heart that ate at him, yes, but holding Yugi in his arms made it slightly more bearable. He didn't think he could survive if he lost both boys. "I understand." Yugi hiccupped.

"I-I'm sorry, S-Seto..."

"Shh. Don't be," he soothed, leaning down to kiss Yugi's forehead. "I renew my promise to you: we'll find him." The multi-color haired teen let out a deep, shuddering breath and nodded, offering a weak smile. Seto gently took Yugi's face in his hands and tilted it up to kiss away the salty wetness streaking his cheeks and clinging to his lashes. The small boy shivered at the feather-light touches and whimpered. The brunette pulled back slightly to look down at him, his gaze questioning, but infinitely patient. Yugi reached up and wrapped his arms around the other's neck, resting their foreheads together and staring into those bottomless orbs, as blue as the ocean.

"Seto?" he whispered hesitantly.

"Hmm?" the other replied, in tones just as hushed.

"...Am I a horrible person for wanting you so much when my aibou is alone and in pain?"

The corner of the billionaire's mouth curled up ever so slightly in a sad smile. "You could never be a horrible person..." He raised a hand to brush the backs of his fingers against the smaller one's downy cheek. "But you're in pain, too, ibi. Let me help heal you, if only for a little while."

Yugi's eyelids fluttered closed and he leaned into the caress. "Mmm...what does that word mean?" he questioned softly, resting his head wearily against the young CEO's chest. He yawned and wrapped his arms around the brunette, his only source of warmth and comfort from the chill he'd noticed seeping into his bones. He'd been aware of it for some time now, but could easily overlook his own discomfort for the sake of finding Yami as soon as possible. "It sounds nice..."

Seto blinked rapidly, not having realized he'd uttered the Egyptian endearment again. He hugged the small boy tighter to him. "'My heart,'" he found himself saying.

Yugi smiled weakly, snuggling into the larger teen. "I like it." He yawned again. "I'm so tired, Seto, and everything hurts. Maybe if I just take a short nap..."

"No, Yugi!" Kaiba pulled him from his chest and shook him gently. "You can't fall asleep, not yet."

Yugi blinked dull, amethyst orbs up at him and his lids drooped despite his best efforts, the dark bags under his eyes making them appear horribly sunken.

"Only for a few minutes, I promise. I'm so, so tired..." He curled up against the billionaire once more, his breathing becoming slow and shallow.

"Yugi?? Don't make promises you can't keep!"

"...sorry, Seto," he was saying, his voice hardly more than a whisper. "I tried...so hard, but I guess I really am weak...not strong, like you and Yami..."

Seto clutched him even more fiercely, his heart starting to pound. Oh gods, not Yugi, too...! He could sense his koi's life force, could feel the waning energy within the small teen. Damnit, why hadn't he suggested they rest sooner?! It made him sick how Yugi's very soul seemed to be fading away, while he felt more alive than ever.

"You'll tell him, won't you?" Yugi asked, so softly that he had to lean down to hear it. "That...that I love him, and I'm really sorry...?"

He finally stops struggling, stops the curses and insults, obviously accepting this was one situation he wasn't going to be able to make a miraculous escape from. It surprised me, as I had expected him to go down, kicking and screaming, to the very end. He glared at me one last time, but it didn't faze me in the least; he couldn't possibly understand--his loss is nothing compared to mine...

He turned away, refusing to look at me, almost as if out of shame. I could tell that whatever he was trying to say cost him a great deal to do so.

"Will--will you tell Jono that...I love him, and..." His breath hitched and he squeezed his eyes shut. "And that I'm sorry, for everything."

My mouth opened and closed soundlessly, words, for once, evading me. I never knew... I bowed my head, suddenly ashamed that I'd pushed my same pain onto someone else. ...But it can't be helped now.

"Yes, I will tell him..."

"No! I will not tell him!" Seto shouted suddenly, anger boiling within his veins. Anger that Yami had been taken from them, anger that Yugi was giving up so easily, and anger at his own inability to do a damn thing... "Don't you dare, Yugi!" < What use has my life, if I can't even protect the ones I love?? >

"You listen to me--" he threatened, "Your soul will not be consumed by darkness!" He held the smaller boy tightly in his arms, as if he could keep him with him by sheer willpower alone. Clenching his eyes shut, he refused to let his tears fall. Was he destined to a life of misery?!

"...I'll never really leave you, Seto."

"Shut up!" the blue-eyed boy snapped, pulling him impossibly closer and enveloping him completely in his arms. "I forbid you to talk like that!" His fingers were itching again and he shook his head furiously in refusal, saline drops escaping to trail down his cheeks, regardless of his efforts to hold them back. "Kekewey kheti em pen ka, pen sha-i!"

Seto's eyes blinked open as he felt a burning sensation beneath his hand and he snatched it from Yugi's cheek, only to discover the burning was not from Yugi's skin, but his own. He stared down at his hand, entranced, as a soft glow emanated from his palm. Magic sang through his veins, a power that had lain dormant for 5000 years, reawakened, and the former mage suddenly knew what should be done, as easily as he drew breath into his lungs.

He gently laid the nearly unconscious teen on the ground, the rise and fall of his chest almost imperceptible. Placing a hand over Yugi's heart, he repeated the words of power, his voice sure and commanding this time as he drew upon the magical reserves deep within him.

"Kekewey kheti em pen ka. Ahew rewi shesep, pehty a'nen. Tjaw ne anhk, hepet pen ka. Kekewey seki, pen sha-i!" {Darkness retreat from this soul. Pain take leave, strength return. Breath of life, embrace this soul. Darkness perish, I command this!}

The soft glow intensified until it became a blinding white glare surrounding the two of them and Yugi's eyes snapped open as he drew in a ragged gasp, his back arching up off the ground as the power of the spell suddenly thrust more life and energy into him than he could handle. Violet orbs settled on the brunette, eyes closed serenely as his lips moved with an indecipherable murmur, the foreign words rolling off his tongue with practiced ease, and an other worldly aura about him.

"N-Nani?" the tri-color haired boy breathed in awe, feeling himself pull back from the brink of oblivion and filled with a warmth he recognized as purely Seto. He squinted against the brightness and tentatively laid a hand on his koi's over his chest. "Seto?"

The young CEO's long lashes lifted and he gazed down at Yugi with eyes the color of the sea as the brilliant glow slowly receded, fading away to leave them in the Shadow Realm's inherent darkness once more. Seto smiled at him, and the rare expression on the brunette's face made Yugi's insides squirm pleasantly.

"Yugi."

The younger teen struggled to sit up, his eyes wide in shock, and Seto was pleased to note that the shadows beneath them were gone.

"How did you...?" The billionaire looked down at his hands, turning them over as he studied them.

"I think--I think I'm starting to remember more than just Egypt."

Yugi blinked giant, purple eyes. "...Wow." Kaiba nodded absently in agreement before getting tackled and knocked onto his back with an "oomph," hot, wet little lips attacking his neck and face.

"Seto-kun, Seto-kun!" The smaller one buried his face in his neck and the brunette could feel the warm wetness of tears against his skin. "Let's get moving again; I'm all better now." Kaiba didn't believe him for an instant.

"No."

Yugi frowned. He felt angry. This new energy that burned through his veins was goading him on, daring him to challenge Seto Kaiba, to achieve his ends no matter what the means. Even if the means involved sacrificing himself, he didn't care. He would have his way or die trying. He sat up, straddling Kaiba and fixing him with a cold glare. The billionaire propped himself up on his elbows and stared in surprise at the frosty gaze focused on him, summing him up on one dismissive, contemptuous look.

"I don't believe I feel like negotiating. The time to find him is now." The icy violet eyed boy stood and took a step back, crossing his arms. "Try and stop me---if you dare."

Seto could only gape at him for a moment, before the short teen blinked and made a derisive "hunh" noise, turning his back on the grounded brunette to start walking.

< What the hell did I do to him?? He's acting like-- > Realization smacked Kaiba rudely in the face. He began to laugh. The spiky haired boy paused at the sound, gazing back at him questioningly, raising a slender eyebrow. This only caused the other to laugh harder.

"What the heck is so damn funny?" Yugi demanded. Seto finally managed to sober and sat up to reach out and take Yugi's hand, drawing him closer. Suppressing a smirk, he explained.

"You're acting like me." And then he crushed his lips to the ones open in protest before him. As Yugi's tongue sought dominance, Kaiba felt the familiar churning of lust in his stomach and the unfamiliar churning of magic in his blood.

Suddenly Yugi pulled back, flush on his round cheeks and dazed look in his sparkling amethyst eyes. He clasped a small hand to his forehead, brows furrowing as he caught his breath. He looked up sheepishly at the brunette looming over him. Before Yugi could begin apologizing profusely, Seto cut in.

"I'm going to forgive that attitude simply because you do so often," he said wryly. Yugi leaned over and kissed Kaiba sweetly on the cheek. Blinking a bit, he pleaded softly.

"Seto-kun, can't we go on now? Please? Seto-kun? I'll tell you if I get too tired--please, Seto? I...need my yami. Our Yami."

Kaiba was at war with himself. The urge to give in to those giant purple puppy-dog eyes was enormous, but he didn't let his internal conflict show on his face. "No," he answered firmly. "Not until you've rested a while." Yugi sighed unhappily and leaned against the taller kneeling teen.

"You may have fixed my body, Seto, but you know I won't last long in this realm...or any other...without the other half of my soul." Kaiba knew it. He wrapped his strong arms around his little koi, fighting the muted depression threatening to creep over him. He felt--he felt something awakened within him--a sense he'd never known as Seto Kaiba--and all illusions dropped from his mind. In a moment of clarity, he suddenly understood his vague uneasiness.

< No, I can't be right. > Kaiba thought desperately. < This can't be what I think it is. Not in this lifetime... What's happening to me?? >

"Seto-kun?" Yugi's soft voice caught his attention, and he snapped back to himself. The multi-color haired boy leaned back to gaze into wide blue eyes.

"Yugi!" Seto yanked the smaller boy into his grasp protectively, glancing around uneasily.

"Whussa matta?" came Yugi's muffled voice from pressed against his boyfriend's chest. He turned his head so he could breathe properly, concerned, as Seto was squishing him in his strong grasp.

"We--we're not where we should be," the brunette managed cryptically. "And we're being watched."

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"Are we there yet?"

Bakura clenched his fists and stomped one foot. "For the last time, no! Stupid blonde," he muttered, and continued to trudge on, Joey following.

"Stupid--eh... Whaddya call somebody with white hair? Blonde?"

"I am not blonde."

"Well, people wit black hair are still brunettes; people wit white hair must be technically blonde."

"I'm not blonde! Ra, you're annoying," Bakura growled. He stopped and pulled a piece of gum from his pocket.

"Ooh, gum!" Joey perked up, extending his hand. The former tomb robber slapped it away.

"Not for you." Bakura set the gum down on the ground, then continued walking. Joey was puzzled.

"...You're just leaving it there? Why?" The platinum haired fiend didn't respond, and the blonde teen didn't press. About half and hour later, though, the answer became apparent.

"Kuso! I knew it!" Bakura swore. The gum they'd left behind was now lying in front of them. Joey's jaw dropped.

"How did...have we been walkin' in circles?!" he exclaimed, disbelieving. Bakura grimaced.

"I'm afraid so. There went ten hours of my life I want back."

"But--" Joey's hand unconsciously sought Bakura's for safety. "--What's goin' on?" The long haired boy pursed his lips.

"I'm not sure. But I don't think we're in the true Shadow Realm--I would know, thanks to that 'pharaoh'--and I think we're being watched."

Joey wasn't sure what to respond to first. "And it took ya `til now ta figure this out, Mr. I-know-everything-`bout-th'-Shadow-Realm??" The dark one growled.

"I know more than anyone else in the loser squad, and lucky for you, I know how to get us out of here."

"How?" Joey asked promptly. The shorter boy rolled his eyes.

"Come here." He drew the lean blonde into his pale arms and let out a slight sigh at the contact. "Where is the eye?"

"In my back pocket." He tensed as two hands slid into either of his jean pockets, one curling around the golden eye, the other around his rear. A thrill of emotion coursed through his body as the act reminded him of the guilty pleasure he'd gotten on that boat a few days ago. He tightened his grip on the spirit.

"This might hurt a bit. Just don't let go." His voice was low, warm breath caressing Joey's neck, causing the fine hairs on it to rise. The blonde felt a tingling sensation shiver through him.

"Wouldn't dream of it."

A soft light began to emanate from Bakura, encircling them both. The sennen ring on his chest and the eye behind Joey grew violently bright and glowed white hot.

"--Ah!" Joey cried, his grip faltering as the ring on his front and the eye on his back started to burn, their magic overwhelming him. An equally scorching kiss pressed itself gently to his neck.

"Just don't let go."

Joey dug his fingers into the supple flesh beneath them. He felt as if he were melting. He couldn't let go of Bakura--he wouldn't. But he strained to pull away from the searing magic. It hurt. He gripped the platinum haired boy's back harder, even as he tried to struggle out of his touch. A pained moan escaped his lips.

"Hold on a little longer. Please, Jounouchi." His voice sounded far away and strange. The air crackled with energy and he felt like his body was falling away, molecule by molecule, until suddenly, with a tremendous lurch, he was pitched forward.

He blinked open honey-colored eyes, vision spotted by the recent brightness, and took a deep breath. It was over. He glanced around in shock. He appeared to be in some kind of forest or jungle. Everything was grey-green, brown and dank looking, a sort of wet, cold, crawly feel to it. Except for the ground. The ground was warm and lumpy. It squirmed beneath him.

"Get off of me!"

"Oh!" Joey rolled off his koi, grinning sheepishly. "Sorry." Bakura frowned, sitting up and brushing off his clothes.

"Hmmph."

Joey was already on his feet and offering him a hand. He took it, but instead of helping himself up, he pulled the blonde down.

"What?"

The white haired yami fidgeted, beads of sweat collecting on his forehead. He swiped them away in annoyance. Joey guessed what the boy wanted, but what pride wouldn't allow him to say.

"I--" he began. Joey cut him off.

"As long as we're sittin' here, can we take a break? I'm tired." Joey shrugged out of his black jacket and made himself comfortable on the ground. Bakura raised an eyebrow.

"What do you have to be tired about? I'm the one carting our asses through multiple realms." Joey rolled his eyes and pulled a surprised Bakura into his arms.

"Give it a rest, Kura." He pressed a soft kiss to the other's cheek. Bakura made a face.

"Must you always be so...touchy-feely?" he demanded, but made no move to pull away. He sighed, allowing himself to relax fully for the first time in a long while, enfolded in Joey's arms. Dark lashes fluttered closed. "Wake me if a man-eater bug comes our way, ne?"

"You're kidding, right?"

A smirk graced the tomb robber's sleepy features. He murmured a last response before snuggling deeper into Joey's embrace.

"...Maybe."

"Great." As soon as the slender boy had fallen asleep, Joey felt the irresistible urge to sleep as well. < No, must stay... awake...nnuh-- > Joey's head jerked up. He yawned. It was just too comfortable to be curled up with the somniferous yami. < Need... to be... look-out.... crap... >

"Joey." Bakura's lips spoke, but the white haired fiend seemed to still be deep asleep.

"Nani?"

"I'll watch over us. You sleep, too. I'm not tired."

"Ryou?"

"Un."

"..Okay...thanks..." he managed, before drifting off as well."

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"What do you mean 'We're being watched'??" Yugi suddenly glanced around himself nervously, clutching to Seto's waist with one hand and the chain of his puzzle with the other. He hadn't really noticed if before, but now that Kaiba mentioned it... The brunette growled low in his throat.

"I don't know...but I can feel it." It made his skin crawl in a way that reminded him of when Yami had come to retrieve his soul from the "graveyard" and he'd woken to find himself chained to Pegasus's bed.

As he pushed back the sudden wave of nausea that accompanied that thought, the young CEO realized he was crushing Yugi and loosened his grip. The smaller boy turned his face up to gaze at him with startled amethyst orbs.

"And what do you mean, 'We're not where we're supposed to be'? Yami was taken to the Shadow Realm! We both saw it happen." He clenched his small fist in the fabric of Kaiba's shirt. "He's here, and we're going to find him!" he insisted desperately. Seto shook his head slightly in frustration.

"No, it's like...it's like everything is...muted, as if underwater." He stared absently at his hand before reaching out with his palm outward, as if he thought he could touch the shadows that pressed so eagerly in around them, rather than have his hand pass through them. "Don't you feel it, Yugi?" The brunette closed his eyes and sat up straighter, a look of concentration crossing his face. "It's like being in a dark room, and hearing voices on the other side of the wall, but--"

"But you can't make out what they're saying."

Kaiba looked down, surprised, at the boy in his lap. "How--?"

Small hands released their death grip on boyfriend and sturdy metal chain alike to gently lift the timeless golden puzzle that hung from his neck. "I think I can feel it, too."

Seto hated to ask, after what they'd just been through. He let out a small sigh. "Can you transport us to the true Shadow Realm?" he questioned quietly. He felt so helpless--so useless; he had this power in him, he knew--yet he didn't know how to use it. It was like trying to comprehend a nonsensically encrypted computer program; frustratingly familiar, but ultimately foreign. He could not navigate such a system any more than he could harness this new power.

"When I--was bonded with Yami, I just...knew what to do. His power was mine, ours. I can control the millennium puzzle," he asserted, wetting his lips as he gazed down at the pyramid. "But I don't have Yami's power to sustain me..." Seto cupped his hands over Yugi's, the puzzle looking near delicate, dwarfed as it was by the brunette's broad palms.

"I'll sustain you." Trusting amethyst orbs trained themselves solemnly in the lanky teen's face. "We'll do this together."

The petite one inclined his head slightly. "Together." With that word of affirmation, the puzzle began to glow. Yugi's violet eyes turned a luminous white, and the sennen eye etched itself on his forehead. A similar symbol scrawled onto Kaiba's forehead as well. The glow became a blinding, white hot glare, and the young billionaire squeezed his eyes shut against it. He felt, more than heard, Yugi whimper in pain, his fingers trembling under the nearly blistering heat that emanated from the puzzle but never loosening, his determination overriding the pain.

< The pain is because he can't handle the power. He can control it, but he can't sustain it. I need to hold the power for him. It's hurting him. > Still, Kaiba didn't know what to do, or how to do it. The slender little teen was quaking, tears of light streaming down his round cheeks. His agony was almost tangible, the air thick with his suffering. < My failure is hurting him! >

"Yugi!" he cried, his voice rough and muted. < What do I do?! >

"S-Seto--" came the strangled reply, "--please!!"

< Gods, what the fuck do I do?!?! >

"Yugi--!"

// Yugi!! // (A/N: Imagine Seto's hot Jap voice here. ^_~) In a sudden blaze of connection, the energy rushed into the brunette in a torrent.

"Aah--" The puzzle bearer nearly sagged with relief, his anguish dissipating as his koibito drew the overwhelming magic into himself. The world around them swirled and shifted.

\ Seto... \ he sighed, basking in the familiar feeling of being bonded with someone on a level beyond words or even comprehension.

Kaiba struggled against the tide of Millennium magic that washed over him in an onslaught of such raw power, it stole his breath and he began to tremble. The power wove its seductive spell ardently about the brunette, and he was suddenly struck with the distinct impression of something he had known intimately once, long, long ago; something that stirred him in a way he had thought only Yugi and Yami could, and aroused an insatiable lust deep within him that had nothing to do with pleasures of the flesh.

The former mage-priest retained the puzzle tightly in his grasp, even as he sensed the item's flow of power into him waver, the object becoming dormant once more. He clutched the sennen puzzle more fiercely as its tendrils of magic withdrew from his body, stubbornly refusing to relinquish the euphoric sensation until a pained whimper reached his ears.

Kaiba's eyes snapped open and he dropped his hands abruptly, staring at Yugi in shock.

< What did I...what was I doing?? >

The smaller boy had to peel his hands from the golden item, hissing in softly between his teeth. He kept a brave face, but the brunette knew that had to have hurt. Seto winced as he realized he probably hadn't helped any by crushing the other's hands, and for the second time wondered what the hell that had all been about, ashamed that he'd hurt his koi with his own hedonistic behavior.

"...Seto?" Yugi ventured, gazing up at his boyfriend worriedly. \< That look in his eyes, when he touched the puzzle... >\

"I'm sorry, ibi, I don't... Are you alright?"

The multi-color haired teen breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Whatever it had been, Seto seemed normal now. "Un." He nodded and gave the other a small smile. Glancing about himself, he blinked several times. "Where are we?" he wondered aloud.

The larger of the two lifted his head to survey the area as well. Rather than the monotonous, barren landscape of the past several hours, they now sat amidst a heavily wooded area. Whatever little light that had been available to them previously was now completely blocked by the encroaching trees and vines; the two could hardly make one another out, despite the fact that they were less than two feet apart.

"I haven't a clue," the brunette remarked dryly, though for some reason it sounded oddly strained to Yugi. Kaiba reached out, fumbling blindly, until his hand landed on a shoulder. He pulled the smaller boy close, his hand sliding down to grip Yugi's back tightly. The amethyst-eyed teen winced as strong fingers dug into his flesh through the material of his sweater.

"Ow! It's okay, Seto; it's not like I'm afraid of the dark," he joked. He frowned in concern when he felt how rapidly the young billionaire's heart was beating.

"........I'm sorry." Still, his grip didn't loosen until a soft glow had radiated from the puzzle, gradually intensifying until the pair were wreathed in a small circle of light. Yugi blinked up at his love questioningly, but found the brunette avoiding his gaze.

"Se--?"

"Can you sense Yami now?" Kaiba interrupted. The multi-color haired teen shut his mouth and turned his attention inward, eyes glazing over as he sought the thread of connection to his other half. He breathed a sigh of relief as he found the link slightly stronger, and coming from a definite direction now. He thought he also felt the faint pulse of another magic, but couldn't be sure.

"Aa," Yugi was glad to report. "This way. I think the others aren't too far off, either." He stood, Kaiba doing the same, and offered the blue-eyed boy a hand, which was quickly enfolded in the other's much larger one.

"....You tell me the second you feel too tired," the brunette demanded.

"Hai."

Yugi held Seto's hand tightly as he quickened his step to match the leggy CEO's stride, the two navigating their way though the dense forest by the halo of light provided by the puzzle.

\ Hold on, Yami, \ he thought. \ We're coming. \

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"Why?"

Pegasus started as Yami broke the silence that had been hanging over them like a pall since the other had left, claiming he had things to attend to, and instructed the silvery haired businessman to keep an eye on their little captive.

"Why what?" the American inquired flippantly. "Why kidnap you and bring you here? Why hold such a vendetta against you and all you hold dear? Why try to rule the world?"

"Why help him?" the multi-color haired boy growled. " I know we've had our conflicts before, but I had never considered you truly evil. To side with--"

Pegasus laughed suddenly, the sound hysterical and unsettling, and it set Yami on edge, no doubt in his mind now as to the man's waning sanity.

"'To side with such a demon,' ellipsis. What a dramatic way of wording things, as always..." He giggled. "Do you think I had a choice?!"

Sharp crimson eyes regarded him solemnly. "There is always a choice." This sent the other man into further gales of laughter.

"Do you truly believe that, Yami no Yugi?" he demanded harshly.

"I'm...sorry, Sekhmet. I have no choice." He grabs my upper arms roughly and I wince at how his fingers dig into my flesh.

"There is always a choice!" he shouts at me, hard sapphirine eyes flashing in anger. I hang my head, unable to respond. Why is he making this so difficult?? Can't he understand--? His hands suddenly drop from me and he takes a step back.

"And I see you've made yours," he states coldly.

"Yes, I made my choice! Rather than die here, wasting away as the darkness encroached on me, more suffocating every second, forcing me to face the horrors of my own soul, I chose to make a deal with the devil, so to speak. Without the Eye, I am unable to sustain myself here. In exchange for my servitude, he maintains my existence." The businessman cast a circumspect glance over his shoulder before stepping closer; close enough to lay a hand on the diminutive pharaoh's shoulder, and leaned in, his hot breath sliding over the shell of Yami's ear. "And he's promised to return Cecilia to me," he whispered excitedly. "My dear, dear Cecilia. My wife; the love of my life!"

The bound teen shuddered violently and pulled back to meet Pegasus's gaze incredulously. "You can't really believe--"

The older man began laughing again, so hard his shoulders shook and tears leaked from one sienna brown eye and one empty socket. He threw his hands into the air and tossed his head back, the crazy laughter still bubbling up from deep within his chest.

"I have to believe!" he cried. Yami shut his eyes and turned away.

\\< In that, at least, we are alike. He must believe that he will see his wife again, while I must believe my friends will be strong enough to stop this madness...and that I'll be able to see home again, to hold Yugi and Seto in my arms... >\\ Gradually, the horrible chuckling subsided, and the hand returned to his shoulder.

"It's the only thing that's kept me going," Pegasus confessed, his hand sliding up along the curve of the ancient spirit's neck to caress his cheek. "That, and the thought of seeing dear Yugi-boy again. Such an innocent, beautiful child..."

Yami felt the bile rise in his throat and jerked from the other's touch. "I will die before you get your hands on him," he hissed. Pegasus laughed softly and lowered his lips to the multi-color haired boy's ear once more.

"Oh, you'll die alright. You'll all die," he promised. Yami's jaw clenched and the white haired man smirked. "All except Kaiba-boy. Poor beautiful, damaged, delicate, tragic Seto...my 'master' has plans for him..."

The chained teen gaze a bitter laugh, his eyes holding a cold triumph as they slid to meet the other's singular gaze. "Sekhmet will die by his own hand before submitting to that monster's tyrannies again."

"Do you really think so, Ouiji?" Pegasus's eye flicked up toward the intrusion and he took a step back as the other approached.

"Your friends have been detained longer than expected, and I only enacted a simple spell." He shot a conspiratorial smirk at the American. "What chance could they possibly have against the full range of my powers? Especially if Sekhmet sides with Maximilian and myself..."

Yami scowled darkly. "Sekhmet despises you even more so than I do, if such a thing is possible." The demon graced him with an oily grin.

"He betrayed you once. What makes you so certain he won't do it again?" he inquired, his eyes glittering coldly like two black marbles.

"Damn your lies, you hateful serpent!" Yami shouted, his blood boiling at the mere suggestion, and he struggled against his bonds. He trusted Seto with his life and soul--with Yugi's. "He would never!" he spat.

The dark sorcerer's brows lifted in surprise before a perverse grin slowly crept onto his lips. Yami's blood ran cold at the implications that hideous smile held.

"My dear pharaoh...it appears the millennia have taken their toll on your memory." He reached out and took the boy's head in his hands, tilting it back so he was forced to look up at him. "Or perhaps..." he murmured speculatively, "you repressed the memory, your heart unable to bear the treachery of your beloved--"

"Ger!" {Be silent!} Yami roared, straining against his chains more fiercely than ever. Of course he hadn't regained all his memories yet, and the fact that this...this asshole would try to use that to his advantage...

"True, I am missing some of my memories," Yami declared, not about to admit that by 'some' he meant 'most,' "but your lies will not deceive me. I know what I feel in my heart." It was stated confidently enough, for a boy bound by chains of some of the strongest magic Egypt had ever known, but what worried Yami--what made the fear crawl though his stomach like a living thing--was the knowing sneer smiling down at him.

"We shall see."

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

Bakura awoke some time later, more than moderately uncomfortable.

"Oi, you're broiling me alive!" he accused, struggling to escape Joey's overly-warm embrace. "And you were supposed to watch out for Shadow Realm creatures." Joey only sighed in his sleep, arms wrapping around himself now that Bakura had slipped out of them.

\ I was watching over us. \ With a soft glow, Ryou split from his darker half.

"Hey! Get back in your soul room," he ordered. "It's not safe out here." The innocent looking boy made a little pouting face.

"It's lonely in there. If anything happens, I'll go back right away," Ryou offered.

"Yeah, right," the darker boy muttered. "Wake that lug up." Ryou crawled over to the sleeping blonde. He leaned in and kissed him. Joey stirred, but didn't wake. The slightly shorter teen climbed into his lap and kissed him more insistently. Joey let out a soft moan and his eyelids fluttered open, lips curving into a smile.

"Hey, Ryou...what are you doin' outta the ring?" The lithe teen shrugged.

"I missed you two." Ryou reached up and wrapped his arms around the blonde's neck with a grin before leaning forward to kiss him again, now that he was fully conscious.

Bakura watched the pair silently. For once, it didn't make him jealous...it made him happy. He scooted a little closer, looking on with mild disapproval as one of Joey's hands found its way to Ryou's waist, sliding up a little under the hem of his shirt as he pushed him onto his back. Their kisses were becoming increasingly sloppy, and Bakura was having a hard time telling whose tongue was whose.

Splaying himself atop Ryou, the blonde never broke the kiss as he moved his hand up a little farther. The platinum haired teen was letting out a steady stream of small wet noises and threaded his hands into the other's hair, pulling him impossibly closer.

"This is hardly the time or place, you two," he growled in exasperation.

His comment went completely ignored as the pair on the ground continued to suck face like it was going out of style. The blonde's hand slid even higher, presumably to brush over a nipple, and Ryou stiffened minutely, a look of fear flashing in his eyes. A look the dark spirit had to admit he'd put there many a time himself. Bakura caught the movement, and in one swift motion, he leaned forward and fisted a hand in the slightly larger boy's shirt collar and yanked him back.

"Damnit, Joey," hissed the darker one, "you're scaring him! He only admitted his feelings for you today, and you're already trying to get into his pants!" He released the blonde with a small shove that sent him rocking onto his backside.

Eyes wide, Joey stared between the two. "Oh, jeez, I-I'm sorry, Ryou, I shouldn'tve...sorry." Ryou propped himself up on his elbows, panting softly, face flushed. Taking in the amber-eyed boy's cowed expression, he glared at his yami in annoyance.

"I'm fine!" he protested. Bakura narrowed his eyes and glared right back. He ran a slender finger over the ring that hung around his neck as his other sat up.

"I can feel you're scared." At that the softer boy bowed his head, cheeks tingeing pink.

"It's--the good kind of scared." He peered through snowy bangs, rubbing his hand nervously over his own chest, mussing the thin fabric of his striped tee. He was very aroused, and rather embarrassed--a combination he seemed to feel in abundance lately. He glanced down mournfully at the juncture of his legs, where his jeans were pulled suspiciously tight. He sighed.

Bakura threw up his hands in frustration.

"Argh! Really, I will never understand you. Or you," he addressed the blonde, crossing his arms. "Go on. Both of you. Continue. I don't care if you don't care." He frowned. Joey exchanged an abashed look with Ryou. The paler boy chewed his lower lip.

"Why--wha...uuh," he attempted to say something but quickly gave up. There was a long, awkward silence, until finally Bakura growled.

"What? You want to say something? Say something!" he challenged. Ryou shook his head, not meeting his yami's eyes. His hands nervously began to rub over his own forearms, fingering the light crisscross of thin scars on them. The sight of those scars made Bakura feel distinctly ill.

The blade bit into the white flesh, a thin cord of vermillion slipping from its edge. In a single moment, all fear, all shame, all suffering went mute, and he only knew pain. Sharp and distinct, fiery blood flowed from the slice on his forearm.

\\< Are you going to listen now, and stop being such a goddamned weakling? >\\

The razor dropped from his grasp, clattering onto the tiled floor with a splatter. His snowy haired head bowed submissively, muffled, broken sobs his only response.

Bakura pulled Ryou's arms apart, thumbs caressing them lightly. He hesitated.

"Are you still afraid of me? Either of you?"

There was no reply for a moment until Joey answered, "No" at the same time Ryou answered, "Yes."

Joey blinked. < Ryou's still afraid of him?? How can he fear him when he's in love with him? >

"Ryou..." the white haired spirit murmured. "...Ryou, I'm sorry." His dark eyes darted over to capture Joey's. "I'm sorry...and I want to make it better. Ryou?" He tilted the teen's chin up to face him. "I don't want you to worry when I'm angry...to wonder, when I kiss you... Or to--to flinch when I touch you."

For the first time, Joey noticed the multiple raised lines on Ryou's forearms. Hardly visible, yet their meaning hit Joey with shock. When he found his voice, he managed to speak up.

"I don't know too much 'bout yer guys' relationship before I met you...but I'm not giving up on you, or 'us.'" Ryou's gaze was fixed downward again, as countless thoughts unknown to his two koibitos flooded through his mind. Finally, he whispered:

"I love you, Yami-no. And I need you." Bakura threw his arms around his other, pulling him close.

"I need you, too. Not the ring, not a host, you. I need you, aibou, and that baka over there." Tentative hope swelled in Ryou's heart.

< He didn't promise not to hurt me, he didn't say he wanted this, he didn't even say he loved me. > But when he looked up, glistening doe eyes meeting worried, emotional dark ones, it didn't need to be said. He hugged his dark side tightly, tears escaping the corners of his eyes. Bakura lifted his chin once more, this time to press a reassuring kiss to his lips. Ryou smiled, wiping at his eyes. Joey gave a nervous grin.

"You mean dat, Kura? You actually need me?" The platinum haired boy nodded. To everyone's surprise, he leaned over to kiss the blonde's cheek. Joey turned his head, however, and met the other teen with his lips.

At first their lips merely pressed together, insistent and searching, until finally Bakura slanted his mouth on the blonde's, sliding his wet muscle into the other's cavern. Joey responded, placing his hands on Bakura's shoulders and pulling him closer. The snowy haired fiend ran his palm roughly over the juncture of Joey's legs, igniting a bolt of lust in the other.

"Oh, jeez." Joey's voice was strangled as firm, circular pressure rolled over his groin. "Kura!"

Ryou still cuddled against his yami's chest, watched him make Joey moan with wide eyes. Hesitantly, he glided his own fingertips up Joey's thigh. When they reached his hip, he curled them under the waistband of Joey's jeans. Joey laid back, giving them better access.

\\ Go on. \\ The yami's tone was calm and encouraging. Ryou quickly popped open the button on the blonde's fly, then shyly retracted his hand as fast as possible. Bakura snorted, his ministrations on the muscular teen pausing.

"Ryou." His tone was low and seductive. "If you're going to undo his pants, undo his pants." Bakura proceeded to yank off Joey's jeans and boxers.

"Hey! I--wha-ahhh..." Bakura's hand resumed its previous activity. Ryou's breath was coming short and his cheeks were lightly flushed; he was getting quite excited, watching his koi reduce Joey to a rigid, squirming mass on the grey earth. Lifting his pale fingers to hover over the pantless boy's waist, he chewed on his lower lip.

Bakura curled his grasp around Joey's rock hard erection, causing him to shove his hips up off the ground, groaning. Feeling braver, Ryou pushed up the blonde's red t-shirt, exposing a well-cut torso. Joey's hips were arching upward in rhythmic thrusting, his head tossing back and forth.

The light boy leaned over the handsome one on the ground, dipping his head down in time with his thrusts to draw his pink tongue up the bare stomach.

"Ah!!" Joey cried out, his hands clutching at a tree root above his head. "A-ah!!"

Abruptly Bakura stopped stroking him, leaving Ryou to pleasure him with his tongue-tease. "K-Kura?" he panted, looking up to see the former slave watching him.

It was back. The insatiable urge, the desperate craving: he had to please Jono. He'd always wanted, wanted to make Jono happy with him. Always wanted Jono to fall in love with him. Bakura leaned down, wetting his lips. He recalled how he had teased the other the night before.

"I...think I owe you something," he murmured. Just as his lips were about to close around the straining arousal, Joey stopped him.

"No!"

Ryou looked up from his current task of trailing kisses up Joey's chest. He could feel his dark half's sting; he had taken the protest as rejection.

"What's wrong, Joey?" the softer boy asked, unsure. The blonde pulled Bakura on top of him by his shoulders. He stared into deep chocolate pools that were attempting pitifully to look indifferent.

"You don't owe me anything," he stated before capturing the other's soft little mouth in a fierce kiss. One hand clasped the fiend's tight rear, driving their groins together, and the other reached out, feeling for Ryou, all the while never breaking the heated liplock. His hand found the hikari's crotch, only to discover Bakura's hand already there.

Ryou moaned as the two worked in unison, declothing him with amazing speed and skill, considering they were tongue-sparring at the same time.

Bakura made to break away, but leaned in for a few more quick kisses before rolling partially off him. He opened his jeans, pushing them down just enough to free his burgeoning arousal with a satisfied sigh. He moved between Joey's legs, an indecent grin spreading over his kiss-swollen lips.

"That's it??" Joey protested. "Yer undoin' your pants? You're not even gonna take them off?" Bakura's grin became a smirk.

"We're in the Shadow Realm," he explained, as if Joey had forgotten. "Should anything happen, I wouldn't want to be caught with my pants around my ankles. Literally."

"Ryou's naked!" Said boy blushed.

"He can return to the ring."

"I'm half naked!"

"Well, how else would I be able to shove my cock up your ass?" It was Joey's turn to blush.

"...I wanna see you naked," he complained, but was quickly distracted by the feel of something hard pressing against his entrance.

"Yami!" Ryou exclaimed.

"What??" he practically growled, lust racing through his body.

"You're not even going to use--lubricant?" he blurted out.

"I'm going to spread him open and thrust into him like one would run a sword through a Nubian. Do you have any lube?"

Even Ryou's ears were pink now. Joey gulped, his breath coming in ragged, heaving gasps. Ryou straddled Joey backwards, facing his yami and pushed at his chest.

"For heaven's sake, I'll do it. Lay back," he ordered.

"Ryou..." He gave the other a questioning look.

\\< Am I...am I doing it again? Am I taking advantage of him? He's still...still >\\

"I'm not afraid anymore," the gentler teen whispered.

The dark spirit darted forward, pressing a warm, hard kiss to his other's lips, a piece of his protective shell crumbling. Bakura leaned back on his elbows, keeping his eyes trained on his blushing hikari.

The pale teen seemed to almost glow in the dreary landscape, his white skin and silvery hair lustrous in the dim light. He leaned over Bakura, pulling his jeans down another inch or so and sliding his striped shirt up a few.

Joey groaned, as in the process of leaning down, Ryou was pressing his own hardness against the similar part of the blonde's anatomy.

The slender boy slid his tongue over Bakura's rod, feeling his own arousal heighten. His yami could be so...dirty.

"Kura," he whispered, swirling his tongue around him.

"Unh, nani?" Ryou's soft, silken hair was tickling his hips, his warm breath tickling his member.

"Tell me what you're going to do to Jounouchi when I'm done with you." He took Bakura's length into his mouth.

"Oh gods. I-I'm going to press into him. My dick will fill him until he cries out in pain, though I won't be able to stop thrusting into his tight little ass--but I'll make him beg for it by the end, just like you begged for it, Ryou. I don't think anyone screams as fucking much as you, but he's going to enjoy being my bitch. He's going to want to spread his legs for me every damn chance he gets, and I'm going to have to take turns fucking him and fucking you, because I need you both, I want you both, I--uhh, oh fuck, ahh..." He pushed Ryou's head up. "Ra, I was going to come."

His two lovers didn't seem in much better shape. Grinding against each other, their lower halves were slick with sweat and other fluids. Bakura sat up laboriously and peered around Ryou to see the dreamy half-grin plastered on Joey's face. The dark one sucked on two fingers.

"Well," the blonde demanded, breathing heavily. "Do it already." Bakura thrust the two spit-slickened digits into him. "Ah!"

"Try to relax," Ryou suggested, turning around to face Joey, gazing at him adoringly. Joey clutched at the bare hips of the boy on him.

Bakura felt the passions arisen in him, more than lust, more than need. Fire coursed through his trembling body, scorching his very blood in a throbbing, ceaseless rush. His cock ached to rip into his koi. He wanted more, even though he already had more than he could handle. He felt like he was dissolving at the seams. He drove into Joey, eliciting a scream from both Ryou and the golden haired boy. He pushed Joey's thighs further apart, trying to settle in as deep as he could.

Joey struggled to adjust, gripping Ryou around the middle hard enough to bruise. The pain was sharp and seemed to radiate throughout his entire body. His toes curled.

Bakura began to rock, but Joey wasn't ready and he cried out. Ryou was still straddling his waist and laying lightly on him. The slighter boy pushed the red t-shirt out of his way and licked a pert nub, laving the skin. It served not to soothe Joey, however. It only brought the spike of arousal sharper through his heart.

The former tomb robber slid out, only to drive back into the other with measured force, and cried out, reveling in the suffocating heat. He could hardly breathe or see, but he could move. His body seemed to plunge into the blonde of its own accord, taking all it could get. His need pulsated, threatening to shove him over the edge, and he fought the urge to control anything, just letting his instincts flow.

Joey groaned, feeling himself stretching and protesting the rough motions into his body. He moaned, thrusting up to meet Bakura. His eyes flew open in shock as something was touched inside him that sent off fireworks.

"Oh god--!" He began to move in unison with the platinum haired thief, each heaving, flowing movement strangling pleasure out of every inch of their bodies. He pulled at Ryou's hips until the boy was on his hands and knees above him. He wasn't exactly sure what to do, but he figured he couldn't do it too badly. He swallowed half of Ryou's swollen member, and judging by the teen's resulting shriek, he figured he was doing all right.

Ryou was having a hard time supporting himself, his limbs were trembling so much. Luckily, Joey held his hips securely, timing his relentless suction with the tumultuous rhythm he and Bakura were riding. He cried out as slender fingers invaded his passage. He managed to glance over his shoulder in time to catch a cheeky grin from his yami, who was now thrusting his fingers into him and his length into Joey. The pressure building in his abdomen was near torment in its intensity; he knew he wouldn't last much longer. The fingers found the spot within him that sent him over the edge.

"OH GOD! JOEY!" he gasped. "KURA!" He released into the blonde's mouth with a scream, his slim frame shuddering. Joey arched off the ground, clutching Ryou to him, his insides cramping with ecstasy.

Bakura reached down with his free hand and gave Joey a few harsh strokes that had him climaxing as well, his body clenching around the spirit. With one last set of thrusts into his respective lovers, he surrendered to his flesh's demands and orgasmed.

When he felt he could move again, Bakura opened dark, hazy eyes, finding himself sprawled out next to Joey, who had Ryou curled up in his arms. The pair were still breathing just as hard as he, and had tired, content looks on their faces.

Groaning, the dark boy sat up and cleaned his satiated member off with the corner of Joey's jacket.

"Hey!" Joey yanked his coat tail from the tomb raider, but the damage was done. Whistling, Bakura refastened his pants.

"Hurry up and get dressed, lazy-asses," he ordered cheerfully.

"My jacket!" Joey whimpered. "You couldn'a done that on Ryou's?? He could at least put it in th' ring or somethin'," he grumbled.

Ryou, meanwhile, had slipped on his boxers and jeans. Joey stretched, sighing. He sat up on his elbows and surveyed the mess on his stomach. Ryou tugged on his striped t-shirt and pulled his blue over-shirt casually out of Joey's reach.

"Got a leaf, or somethin'?" Bakura rolled his eyes and crawled over the blonde, licking him clean. When he'd finished, Joey's cheeks were pink and he was getting a little stiff.

"Don't expect me to clean that one up, too." He ran his tongue over his lips suggestively. Joey quickly pulled on his boxers and jeans, making a face as he slipped on his black jacket. Ryou giggled and kissed his cheek.

"I'll wash it for you when we get back." His remark was light, but it served to remind the trio of their purpose for being here and what they had to do before any of them would be getting back.

"We better get goin' again," Joey suggested.

Bakura nodded. Fingering the ring lightly, he looked off towards the depths of the strange forest.

"I can feel it emanating from that direction," he stated, gazing into the darkening woods. Ryou stood, and the others followed suit. By silent agreement, Bakura and Joey placed Ryou in the middle and trekked off into the dreary landscape.

________

"What was dat??"

"What was what?"

"Get in the ring, Ryou."

"There wasn't anything."

"There it is again!" A faint rustling of leaves and underbrush could be heard in the distance. Ryou reluctantly stepped behind his taller lovers, but refused to retreat to the ring. The rustling came closer.

"Do ya think it--"

"Shhh!" Bakura whipped a card out from his pocket and grasped the millennium ring with the other hand, body tense and ready to act. Ryou found himself clinging to Joey's arm, despite trying to look unafraid. The noise was just ahead of them now; whatever it was would cross their path soon.

\\ It's powerful...I can taste it. \\

As it approached, they could see a dim golden light coming towards them. Bakura let off a blast from the card in his hand, Chain Energy.

"What the f--" The bolt collided with a blinding energy field and was sent hurtling back with a frightened scream. Wide-eyed, Bakura and Ryou ducked.

"Eh? Ooph!" Joey was sent smack into a tree, energy chains wrapping him securely to its trunk.

"Yugi??" Bakura called. The originator of the little scream answered shakily.

"Ba-Bakura?

"Yeah--"

Seto burst into the clearing, his trench coat billowing and magic crackling about him, Yugi not far behind.

"What the hell did you throw at us?!" he demanded. His eyes shifted to Joey.

"Chain Energy. I thought you were a threat." Seto fisted a large hand in the spirit's shirt, narrowing his icy glare. Normally, Bakura would have told him to screw off, but something about the way the mortal seemed to throb with unnatural power gave him pause. The brunette towering over him lifted his arm a bit, forcing Bakura onto his toes.

"Seto--I'm fine." Yugi tugged beseechingly at his koibito's arm. "Let him go." Kaiba dropped him and stepped back, a scowl on his face.

Keeping his sharp brown eyes on the billionaire as if he expected him to attack or something, Bakura raised the blank card in his hand.

"Energy return." The bolts flew back into the card and Joey fell to his knees.

"Are you alright?" Ryou slipped his arms around his blonde's waist, helping him up. Joey nodded. With Seto and Bakura sizing each other up, and Ryou fussing over him, Joey seemed to be the only one to notice the detached look in his best friend's eyes coupled with the eerie way his millennium puzzle's glow was reflecting in them. He wasn't exactly spaced out like when he talked to Yami; on the contrary, he was focused, on something that must have been too arcane for the other power wielders to understand--or perhaps just too insignificant to have caught their attention. The blonde scratched his arm absently.

"--Yuug?"

The lanky CEO's gaze slid to the smallest of the group, who had turned to stare off through the trees. Yugi's fists were clenched by his sides and he fairly radiated tension.

"Yugi...?"

"He's close..." the spiky-haired boy finally responded. "This way!" He took off like a shot, jumping over tree roots and weaving between enormous trunks of deadwood; the little circle of light thrown off by the puzzle bobbed and flickered in and out of view.

"Yugi-kun!" Ryou hollered in dismay.

"Fuck," Joey stated succinctly. Bakura nodded cheerfully in agreement.

"Yugi!" Seto gave chase, and the fading sounds of swearing could be heard as the tall youth ducked under some branches and caught others in the face.

"Come on!" The gentler of the remaining trio tugged on Joey's hand, pulling him along as he ran after the others.

"Ryou!" the platinum haired fiend bellowed. "Get back in the ring!"

Seto fought valorously against the panic that had taken up residence in his chest and pushed past yet another tree. Yugi's diminutive size was an asset in such densely packed forest terrain and he had quickly outpaced the others trailing after him. Darkness encroached all around the blue eyed boy, fairly choking him as he tried to run without the glow of the puzzle to ward off the shadows. Kaiba heaved a sigh of relief as he spotted the circle of light ahead and to the right. Quickening his step, he soon came upon Yugi in a large clearing. The petite duelist was craning his neck to look upwards.

"Yugi...?"

"Here," he responded softly. What exactly was "here" was not apparent to Kaiba. He attempted to follow Yugi's gaze, but there was nothing but more grey-green undergrowth and dark, wet trees. Doubting there was anything, he felt compelled to reach out anyway.

He lifted a hand to touch a spot in the air tentatively, and his fingers met resistance. To his shock the light touch caused some unseen surface to ripple, igniting a crackling of dark energy. He took a step back, lips parted in surprise, and watched as a swirling, opaque force seeped from his originating fingerprint, spreading smoothly like black mercury. It rapidly crept upward beyond his vision and fanned out on both sides, effectively blocking their path.

"Right...here," Yugi murmured. Kaiba turned his gaze downward, noting somewhere in the back of his analytical mind that Yugi hadn't backed away from malevolent field, as had been his own gut reaction. Purple bolts of electricity bubbled across the surface of the wall like lightning, agitating the air.

"What...is it?" he inquired innocently, quite sure he knew the answer. For some reason, he had to hear Yugi say it. He didn't think he could bear letting the words spill from his lips like so much blood from a wound, not this time. He wanted Yugi to break the bad news to him.

"Heka khem," came the reply. "Black magic."

The brunette turned to watch as the spirit of the ring made his way over to them with a grave look on his face. Ryou and Joey weren't far behind, panting to catch their breath.

"Black magic?" Seto repeated skeptically, taking pleasure from the scientific part his brain's mocking the mere idea nightmares existed. He glanced back to where he had touched earlier, the spot still discernable, strangely, even as the rest of the black magic swirled and throbbed around it. As if his nearly imperceptible intrusion on the dormant power had left a mark that it couldn't erase. Or that it didn't want to forget.

< That's stupid...it's not alive. > The force field seemed to swell and quiver. < It's just black magic...all black magic isn't necessarily bad. > he reminded himself. He stepped closer to the wall. It didn't seem so evil anymore...the opposite, even. It seemed to be soothing, coaxing. Whispering to his hidden senses, convincing him to touch it, stroke it, once more. He skimmed a lengthy forefinger along the crinkling barrier. It sparked and crackled where it came in contact with his skin, and there was an unpleasant tingling sensation, similar to the pins and needles one experienced when the blood returned to a limb that had been sat on too long. He withdrew his fingertip with a frown. After a moment's hesitation, he recklessly plunged his hand into the power.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." Ryou murmured.

"What's on the other side?" asked Joey curiously.

The brunette could not hear them; all sound was drowned out by a rushing in his ears. A boy screamed--someone was crying, the knife flashed--the sting of a beating rung in his head, gold poured into his eyes, blinding him, acrid bile burned his tongue, a feeling like thick wind flowed over his skin, making him shiver in repulsion: a thousand terrible visions fluttered through his mind, and a low, smooth, silken voice comforted him: "Sekhmet....Sekhmet....don't cry little boy...tears are weakness, and you don't want to be weak, do you? ...No, I didn't think so....it's alright....come here. That's right. Come here, to me, the only one who loves you...what's wrong?"

"Hell if I know. But it can't be anything good." Bakura narrowed chocolate colored eyes. "Kaiba??"

The three fair-haired teens stepped closer and Bakura blew his bangs from his face. "Kaiba, what are you doing?" The brunette had one hand buried in the black energy, and was leaning forward so his nose almost touched the force. There was a frightened, blank look in his eyes that just didn't belong.

"The pharaoh doesn't love you, no, don't argue, Sekhmet. Only I do. Only me. Now, come on. Call out the blue eyes...let them finish what we began. Call out the blue eyes, Sekhmet, I know you can..."

"I can..." The voice was the only respite from the agonizing emotions moaning through his head. Focusing on it blocked out some of the pain...

"Seto...?" Yugi whispered timidly, somehow knowing Kaiba couldn't hear him.

The snowy haired fiend looked up at the brunette soberly through his bangs. "Kaiba--shit..." He placed a hand on the much larger teen's shoulder, shaking him a little. "I don't think you should--"

"I call upon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!!"

"What the fuck?? Kaiba, you idiot; you're a mortal! You can't support..." The words died on his lips as a deafening roar to the contrary split the silence, reality as it was cracking open to accommodate the arrival of one immense, fiery blue-eyed, shining white scaled, magnificent dragon.

"Kill him!! Kill him now!!!"

"K-kill...?"

"Seto?" Yugi whispered once more, scared, shaking as the terrible, yet beautiful beast his lover's heart identified with stared at him, making ready to attack. Bakura and Joey grabbed either side of the blue eyed teen and yanked hard, but to no avail; his wrist was firmly sunk into the barrier, and Kaiba wasn't budging. The dragon appeared to have its sights set on Yugi.

"Now Sekhmet, petekh! Petekh!"

The oily voice was strong, commanding him to obey. < Petekh...overthrow. Overthrow the dark little pharaoh...> But something else...was strong.

"Petekh..." Seto turned his glassy eyes from the hypnotic visions of horror assaulting him and gazed upon the wrathful Blue Eyes...his Blue Eyes. It was frightening with its array of deadly powers that could tear apart any enemy in his path. It was strength. It was power. It was light--he didn't need the voice. The voice, so slick and smooth, and encouraging--the blue eyes gave him comfort, the blue eyes protected him, the blue eyes tuned out all else in his mind. He turned back to the barricade, ripped his hand from the clouded surface and shouted,

"Blue Eyes, attack!"

Yugi's breath caught in his throat and he fell back in fear. The graceful creature raised its smooth head, neck arching back, blinding white-blue energy crackling in its massive jaws.

"Oh my God," Joey gaped as Bakura shoved him and Ryou away from the incensed animal. Seto whipped around to face his guardian, fire shining in his own blue eyes.

"Petekh!"

\< Seto would never hurt me, Seto would never hurt me, Seto would never hurt me! >\ Yugi's mind shrieked. \< Seto will never hurt me!! >\

The white dragon blasted its target.

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"Mes-en kekewey, shebi hedj--!"

"Come again?"

"Um, Honda? I don't think he's even speaking our language..."

The Dark Magician shook his head against the shock he'd felt and returned his attention to the two mortals he had become rather fond of.

"Born of darkness, changed to light..." he murmured in way of an explanation that was lost on the other two. "There is no battle yet the Blue Eyes White Dragon has been awakened. Why?"

"Beats me!" Honda mock stabbed the air with his lance, not too concerned. "What do we do about it?"

"If a Blue Eyes White Dragon has been summoned, that means Kaiba's in trouble! And if Kaiba's in trouble..." Téa trailed off tremulously. Honda's eyes widened.

"Hunh, yeah, then we better--"

"We do nothing."

"But--"

"The Blue Eyes will protect, as is its duty."

"...Then it will protect Yugi and Seto?"

"Un," he responded rather noncommittally. What he didn't mention was that the Blue Eyes had attacked--he could sense it. As its official timeless adversary, they were linked together in ways their masters had not foreseen upon their creation. The Dark Magician was sworn to protect Yu-gi-oh, and whenever there was no conflict of interests, the High Mage as well. But the Blue Eyes White Dragon had no loyalty to the pharaoh or Yugi: only Sekhmet. And Sekhmet's loyalties, as far as he was concerned, were questionable. Unsummoned, however, he could do nothing.

"Dark Magician, do you think--"

"I have a name, you know," he interrupted, wishing to change the subject. This bit of knowledge stunned them more than he had anticipated. There was silence for a long moment.

"...Really? I thought your name was 'Dark Magician'," Honda exclaimed. Said magician rolled his eyes.

"It's my title, yes, and that of all dark spellcasters of my kind, but not actually my name. I have a name that is mine alone, as you do." Téa lifted her thoughtful blue eyes to meet his colder stare eagerly.

"What is it?"

"My father left me; my mother left me; Sekhmet might as well have left me--ever since he came back from his priests' excursion, he's been so different! Even Jono is acting strange as of late! My own best friend avoids me and secludes himself--can I rely on no one?" the little pharaoh stopped his pacing, close to tears he refused to shed.

"You can rely on me, my pharaoh." He dropped into my lap, and my arms wrapped around him protectively, a natural habit. I will always protect him.

"I love you, my magician, but you aren't real...not the way humans are real." I was quiet for a while; I did not know what to think. My existence was to serve him, I loved him, but I did not understand the answer to his questions. Usually I just listened to him, and held him, and made love to him, and destroyed any who threatened him. But tonight, I sensed he needed an answer. Tonight holding him would not be enough.

"...I am not human, so my feelings will not change; I will love you forever. And I will always be here for you, when it is not possible for someone real to be. You can trust me." He looked up, surprised at my uncharacteristic reply. His crimson eyes bored into my own blue ones for a long time.

"I think it's time I gave you a name...you deserve the honor of one." I blushed, smiling.

"What would you have my name be?" He thought for a moment, then leaned up and kissed my cheek.

"Djet."

"Djet."

"Djet?" she repeated.

"It means 'forever.'" The two brunettes looked at each other, mulling over this new information. Honda smiled.

"That's neat--Djet."

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"You bastard, what're you playing at!?!" Joey shouted. Kaiba growled, and his Blue Eyes followed suit. Undeterred, the hotheaded blonde continued yelling. "You could'a killed Yugi! Does that mean nothin' ta you??"

Yugi was currently curled up in a ball on the ground, little hands covering his head in a futile attempt to cover himself. He was still in a bit of shock, which was understandable, considering a giant Blue Eyes White Dragon had just blasted the hell out of the magical barrier two feet above his head. Kaiba glared daggers at Joey.

"I would never," he spat coldly, the mere suggestion insulting him very deeply... especially since, for just a moment, he hadn't been himself. He dropped to the earth beside Yugi and pulled him into his strong arms.

"Yugi? Ibi, are you alright? I'm--I'm sorry I scared you," he whispered so only his tiny koibito could hear him. "Tell me you're alright." Yugi nodded against Seto's chest. Seto brushed his golden bangs from his forehead, guilt already seeping through his veins. This was the second time in as many hours he'd hurt his love.

"I'm alright. It was just kinda scary," his voice was very small. "I didn't--I mean I know you wouldn't, but--" he broke off, embarrassed. The ice colored dragon pawed the ground impatiently, round, cobalt eyes rolling around in their sockets, taking in the battle field. Joey backed up a little more, lacing hands with Ryou, who just stared up at the creature in awe.

"Blue Eyes, return," Seto muttered, and his magnificent dragon disappeared with a scream of lightning. He inspected the damage his beast had done to the dark magic. The swirling of the blacks and purples was much more erratic now, and a glowing, white-blue splinter marred its surface, like the spider-web crack a rock would leave on a windshield. Yugi reached out to touch the barrier, but Seto's hand shot out to catch his wrist.

"No!" he cried vehemently. Yugi turned is head to blink wide, startled eyes at him.

"But Yami is on the other side."

"We don't know that."

"I know that," he retorted, returning his gaze to the fractured wall spread before them. "I can feel it."

"What...what did it do to you, Kaiba-kun?" The blue eyed boy craned his neck to stare back at Ryou defiantly, searching for any hidden malice, some sign he was asking to extort blackmail material. But there was nothing besides concern. He hung his head in shame.

"I--I saw things, terrible things I don't recognize. And I heard a voice. I know I've heard it before, I just can't remember where--it told me to..." he stopped. No one pressed. They'd heard what he'd said in his trance. Kaiba looked away.

\\ Petekh... \\

\ What does that mean, Kura? \

\\ ...I don't know. \\ he lied.

Yugi pressed his soft lips to Kaiba's, his arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Kaiba returned the embrace, and after a moment, parted his lips slightly in invitation. Yugi slid his tongue into the other's cavern, tasting his lover's now familiar mouth. It didn't really taste that much like anything--no overwhelming flavor--but it was Seto, and he'd know the know the feeling on the back of his taste buds for the rest of his life. They parted after a long moment of entwining tongues, panting. Yugi stood, gently pulling Seto's arms off of him and stepped forward so he was only a breath away from the undulating power. It seemed to accelerate excitedly at his proximity, like it was anticipating a fresh victim.

"Yugi, don't do it; we'll find another way." The tri-color haired boy didn't look back at the pale spirit, but he smiled, appreciating the honest concern in the other's rough voice.

"Goshinpainaku. The wall is only a front: a guardian. Just step through it, and don't stop." His gaze flickered to Kaiba. "Don't get caught in its illusion."

"An' what da heck makes you so certain we can just walk right through this??"

"Have faith, Jounouchi-kun." And with that, he disappeared into the electric shadows, allowing them to swallow him up with a shudder of energy.

Kaiba stood, eyeing the barrier warily. "Kaiba, gambare," he whispered to himself and crossed into the shadows as well, letting them absorb him once more.

"Kuso!" the fiend growled in exasperation. "You!" he ordered, grabbing Ryou. "Here!" Bakura pulled his lighter half into his body and shut him away in his soul room. "And you--here!" He gave Joey a hard shove that sent the blonde boy stumbling into the swirling mass of black magic with a yelp. The former slave took a deep breath before resolutely stepping through the energy field himself.

\\< ...May Ra preserve out souls. >\\

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Solitaire: Oh....right, uh, that thing Bakura said about the Nubian--

Xpyne: Who's paying attention to Nubian references during a lemon??

Solitaire: -_- I was just going to explain that they were a big enemy of the ancient Egyptians. Yeah. So you would....kill `em with a sword...I guess....

Xpyne: ::laughing her ass off:: Yeah, whatever. Anyway, there was lots of self-explanatory Egyptian, and some Japanese, for color. Goshinpainaku is "don't worry." The whole "be brave" thing was from this essay about Hiroshima survivors that I had to read for school. It had this one part where a Japanese man, when the bomb went off, knelt and whispered "'Sasaki [his name], gambare' as only a Japanese would." I thought that was pretty cute. ^__^

Solitaire: So please review. That's 32 freaking pages! And we love the long ones where you guys take out lines of the text and explain what you like about them. ::not so subtle hint-hint:: ^_^``

Xpyne: ::hangs head:: If there were any lines you liked...

Solitaire: ::huggles her:: Hey, they'd better--we worked our butts off on this chapter!

Xpyne: ::randomly tossing a lemon around:: Oh, if there's some stuff you maybe don't quite get about the Egypty stuff, well don't worry ^__~ There's...

Yugi: Drumroll!

Xpyne: Gonna be a sequel!

Solitaire: You mean prequel! The prequel's next. The sequel's after that.

Seto: ::scratches his head:: So you plan on finishing this trilogy in, what, three years?

Xpyne: ::smacks him with a paddle:: This story's almost done. We have to think about the future! ~__~