Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seraph ❯ Chapter 4

Warning: Tendershipping with Ryou seme

 

This is AU, seriously so

 

:blah: = hikari to yami telepathy

 

-blah- = yami to hikari telepathy

 

Yami was grateful that his hikari would have the chance to at least learn something about how to defend himself, even if it was only very basic. But he'd been disturbed by the way Seraph had humiliated Shadow by his words and by handing him over to Honda for protection. And for all that he'd suggested that he teach Yugi how to defend himself Yami was uncomfortably aware that he had no idea how to actually teach someone how to fight even if he had his own body, let alone when he was in the same body as his pupil. He couldn't teach Yugi how to fight in their soul rooms or the Shadow Realm and expect it to carry over into the real world, he remembered that much, but he'd always had the ability to use the Millennium Puzzle to make himself stronger, and he'd taken advantage of that. Yugi couldn't do the same thing, and he had no idea why not.

 

-Aibou, you remember yesterday, when I suggested teaching you how to fight without Shadow Magic?- He waited until a pause in the lesson to bring the subject up.

 

:Yes. Have you changed your mind?: His light sounded disappointed by the idea, and Yami hated to disappoint his light, but in this case he had to.

 

-In a way. I can't teach you how to fight, I don't have a body of my own. I thought perhaps we could ask Shadow to teach you.-

 

:Shadow? Just a moment...: Yugi returned to actually trying to fend off Jou's `attack' the way he'd been told to.

 

“Yami distracting you?”

 

“He thinks I need to learn how to fight without Shadow Magic-” As he was speaking Yugi completely failed to break Jou's grip the way he was supposed to.

 

“You do.”

 

“From Bakura.”

 

“What, wouldn't me or Honda do? Why ask an enemy?” Jou sounded offended, and Yami decided to `speak' up.

 

-Neither of them thought to offer earlier, and it's an excuse to watch Shadow more closely. Aibou, do you really think I'd run risks with your safety?-

 

:What were you planning on?:

 

-I'll tell you when Hitaka's gone.- The teacher was coming over, obviously not happy that Yugi and Jou had stopped practising.

 

“Tell you later, attack me again.” The two boys began to do what they were supposed to be doing again, and Hitaka explained to Yugi what he was doing wrong, going to far as to take hold of him and pull his body into the correct position. Yami stayed in the back of Yugi's mind, watching approvingly.

 

“You were going to tell me why the tomb robber.”

 

“Yami says it gives him an excuse to watch him more closely. Making sure that he really isn't dangerous I guess.” That wasn't it exactly, but it was an explanation the blond would be comfortable with...more comfortable than the truth anyway.

 

“And how's he going to keep him from taking advantage of the chance to get at you?”

 

“He's going to tell me that now.”

 

-I can set up a trap with Shadow Magic that I can activate if he causes trouble, provided I have advanced access to where you're training.-

 

“Magic.” Yami had to laugh as Yugi translated his explanation down to one word.

 

-Aibou?- Yami would not force Yugi into interacting with someone he was afraid of, but if his hikari could bring himself to learn from Shadow he would have the chance to try and figure out how consensual his relationship with Seraph really was.

 

:Are you asking permission or something?: Yugi seemed to be amused by that and Yami refused to be embarrassed by the way he'd found himself starting to defer to a boy over 5000 years younger than him.

 

-You are the one who has to work with and learn from him aibou.-

 

:I...if you think you can keep me safe with him then you can ask him to teach me at lunch. And perhaps I can learn to trust him the way you seem to.: Was that a hint of reproach in his light's mind? Yami repressed his guilt firmly. He knew that Shadow wasn't supposed to be his concern, but he was the best way to learn about Seraph and he was convinced that the assassin was a potential danger.

 

-If you'd rather not ask him yourself aibou. But...promise me that you will learn from him?-

 

:I promise.:

 

--0--

 

Bakura glanced at Seraph for permission before he began to unbraid his hair while his hikari went to buy their lunches. His braid had probably drawn less attention than having his hair loose did, but it made his scalp ache and he'd already drawn too much attention to live down.

 

:And you look better with your hair loose.: Bakura knew he was blushing as Seraph spoke into his mind unexpectedly. But at least no one seemed too surprised to see him respond to things they couldn't hear.

 

-Less feminine anyway Seraph-sama.- And the funny thing was that it was true, when it was loose his hair was always very wild, even immediately after brushing, and it distracted from the finely drawn bone structure underlying the elfin features he shared with Seraph. He pulled his fingers through his hair as a rough combing and shook it out just as Seraph reached him and wrapped an arm around his waist.

 

“Do you think we look like girls sometimes then?” Seraph sounded amused, that was a good thing, wasn't it?

 

“Yami thought Bakura was a woman at first yesterday, when you rescued him from those bullies.” Yugi sounded half amused, and half frightened. That was funny in itself, and reminded him that having his hair loose wasn't enough to keep him from looking feminine.

 

“From behind, Yugi-dono?” Bakura tilted his head, letting his hair fall partially across his face, almost like a veil to hide behind. He saw the others were surprised by the term of respect, but Yugi was a hikari, if not his, and it was important to show proper respect. It would show the pharaoh how he should treat his hikari as well.

 

“You were kneeling with your back to us, picking up your and Ryou's books. He realised his mistake when he remembered that you were wearing rubies in your hair.”

 

“The Adepts of the Children of the Fairest are always beautiful,” Seraph explained dismissively, “and since this body of Shadow's was made from mine we're almost identical. It's no surprise that he looks androgynous the way I do.”

 

Bakura began to eat, staying silent and watching the others from beneath lowered lashes. Seraph didn't say much either, he was focusing on his meal and he'd started touching Bakura again, reminding everyone that of his claim on Bakura. Neither of them had anything to really add to the conversation anyway.

 

“How can you two eat that so easily, Bakura, Ryou?” Bakura looked directly at Jou in surprise at his words. The cafeteria food wasn't good, but it was edible and plentiful.

 

“There wasn't much food available in my first life, I'm pretty much indifferent to how my meals taste. After eating snakes and scorpions you tend to get that way.” He shrugged carefully. “Besides it really doesn't taste that bad.”

 

“Better than my cooking anyway. Shadow normally prepares bentos for us, but he didn't have time last night or this morning.”

 

“You do the cooking for your household, Shadow?” Bakura didn't know why Yugi had allowed Yami to take over his body while he was eating, but it didn't matter.

 

“I learned how to cook to make me less dependent on others, and so that I'd have another use besides spreading my legs for Seraph when he got old enough to want that. Seraph-sama can cook if he wishes it, but he studied more on how to make poisons of various types.”

 

“Right.” Yami finished eating quickly, and stood, moving to stand by Bakura. “I'd like to speak with you. Alone.” He looked meaningfully over Bakura's head at Seraph.

 

“If he gets so much as a scratch while he's with you I'll make your hikari suffer the exact same damage.” Bakura recognised the implied permission and stood, waiting for Yami to arrange where to meet with the others again. He shouldn't have been surprised when Yami started acting even more overprotective than Seraph usually did.

 

-Seraph-sama, please, can you make sure...-

 

:People don't remember the way he's acting? Of course my pet. Explain to him what he's doing wrong before we meet up again.:

 

-Yes Seraph-sama.- He didn't get a chance to say anything else, because Yami pulled him into the Shadow Realm. “W-what are we doing here?”

 

“I don't want Seraph to have an excuse to hurt my aibou. I can keep you safe here better than anywhere else. I wanted to ask you if you'd be willing to teach Yugi to fight without Shadow Magic.”

 

“Why not just ask Seraph-sama?”

 

“Just because Yugi still trusts him doesn't mean that I do, and...I know I can use Shadow Magic to stop you if you hurt him, I don't know if I can do the same with Seraph.” He hadn't understood.

 

“No, I meant you should have just asked Yugi-dono to ask Seraph-sama if he was willing to lend me to him as a teacher in mundane combat. He'll need to do that anyway.”

 

“But...you're willing to teach him?”

 

“If he wishes it, yes.” Bakura didn't understand why Yami seemed so shocked, it was his duty to serve Seraph, and he couldn't neglect that without permission. “Can we return to the normal world now, please?” He couldn't defend himself here at the moment, and it scared him.

 

“If you want to.” As soon as they had returned to school Yami dragged him back to Seraph, before yielding his body to Yugi.

 

--0--

 

-Aibou, you should ask Seraph now.- Yugi really didn't like how insistent Yami was being on this, he knew that Yami would protect him, but he didn't like the Tomb Robber, or trust him one inch. -Please, aibou.-

 

:Okay Yami.: When he turned to the two white-haired boys Bakura was acting weird, almost guilty and they had to be talking to each other over their mind link, it didn't make sense otherwise. Suddenly Ryou smiled and reached out to stroke Bakura's hair, and kiss his unscarred cheek gently.

 

“It's alright, my pet. They might take more notice if it's me telling them and I need to make sure everyone knows anyway I guess. But...” Bakura looked scared for a second then, not the big `I'm-gonna-DIE' scared, but just the everyday `I've-got-a-test-I-didn't-study-for' scared. “when these drugs wear off the maid service won't be coming that week.”

 

“Thank you for being so generous Seraph-sama.” Bakura was smiling at that, looking relieved at what Ryou'd said. Yugi didn't get it. And neither did Jou.

 

“What was that about you two?” Bakura didn't say anything until he'd looked at Ryou and his hikari had nodded permission.

 

“I disobeyed an order that Seraph-sama gave me, so as punishment when I'm recovered from these drugs I'll have to do the stuff our maid service usually does on their weekly visit. It's nothing serious, just vacuuming, dusting, cleaning the woodwork perhaps. A lot of Consorts and concubines are expected to do that sort of thing all the time.”

 

“He was supposed to explain to Yami why it's a bad thing for anyone but me to act the way he was when he led Shadow from the table.”

 

“Mou hitori no boku was being a bit overprotective, wasn't he?” And now Yami was virtually radiating his sense of guilt.

 

“Yes. And it would have made people think my Consort was a slut if I hadn't made them forget what they saw. I swear, if anyone does something like that again I'll convince the entire school that I've got a fucking harem. Yugi, don't you have something you want to ask me?” Ryou sounded angry as he finished speaking.

 

“Y-yes. Yami asked Bakura if he'd be willing to teach me how to fight without using Shadow Magic, and Bakura said I had to ask you if you'd let him?” Yugi cursed how uncertain he sounded, and tried to show more confidence as he continued. “Will you? Even though Yami wants to set up a Shadow Magic trap in case there's a problem.” He had the feeling that this might make Ryou say no, and he was glad about it, even if the surprise on Bakura's face told him that Yami hadn't mentioned that earlier.

 

“Yami wants it? Yet he didn't mention it to Shadow.” Did Ryou think he was lying or something? “Yes, you can learn from Shadow. I'll even allow that insult, provided you never complain about how he decides to teach you, and obey without question during the lessons, even if it doesn't seem to make sense.”

 

-I...I won't try to influence you aibou, but can you ask a bit more about what the term Consort actually means?-

 

“I'd like some time to think about it. And, mou hitori no boku wants me to ask what the term Consort really means, I guess he wants to know what makes a Consort different to a concubine.”

 

“You have until these drugs wear off to decide, you have to give your decision the first day you see him wearing the sort of jewellery he had on yesterday. Shadow can explain to you about Consorts and concubines.”

 

“Basically a Consort or a concubine to an Adept of The Children of the Eldest, Fairest and Fallen is the equivalent of a traditional wife. The duties of such a position are to be sexually available to whichever Adept claims you at all times, however it is desired, and to take care of the household, which can range from being kept in a tiny apartment, and being expected to always have it immaculate, to living with your master, as I do, and cooking, doing the laundry and doing the grocery shopping.

 

“The major difference between the three classes, Adept Consorts, Consorts and concubines are that Consorts and Adept Consorts are expected to be able to fight to a specified standard, Consorts and Adept Consorts both at one point were able to function effectively as back-up for their Adept, within the last five years for pure Consorts.

 

“Adept Consorts are pretty rare, if a Consort isn't good enough to be effective back-up five years after testing he or she's normally allowed to drop to concubine level. As an Adept Consort I can be asked to Work if Seraph-sama gives his approval.

 

“There's just one other difference, an Adept can have only one Consort, but many concubines, and both concubines and Consorts can be lent to another, for any purpose, but it's more...important if a Consort is lent to another than if a concubine is.”

 

That was weird, but no one had time to ask anything else, because they had to get to class.

 

--0--

 

Ryou smiled to himself at how anxious for his touch Shadow was acting as they went back to their classroom. He knew that the almost ostentatious show of affection and attention was a response to the way Yami had treated him earlier, and the sort of speculations that could start, as much as an apology for his mistake and need for reassurance after explaining what his position was. Still, if he was upset enough to start the sort of public shows he hated; and Ryou had always known how much Shadow hated being touched like a lover, even if it wasn't at all indecent, when people were watching; he needed reassurance badly. The funny thing about Shadow's reluctance to be touched around others was that it was the thing that always worked best to make him feel better, Ryou knew that for a fact. With the drugs still in Shadow's system...he made a point of keeping his touches non-arousing, an arm around his shoulders or waist pulling him in for a hug every so often, and running his fingers through Shadow's long, beautiful hair. Soon enough he could sense Shadow's anxiety, almost fear, fading away, to be replaced with soft contentment.

 

“Bakura-kun.” He looked up at Nishima-sensei, absently wondering what she wanted, still more focused on his Consort than anything else.

 

“Yes, Nishima-sensei?” He was at least certain that she wasn't calling on him to read aloud. He was good at multi-tasking, and he'd been monitoring what was happening in class as well as taking care of Shadow.

 

“Please stop molesting Hiei-kun. He can't be very comfortable with the way you're groping him in front of everyone.” And right on cue Shadow's emotions shifted to depression, coupled with a creeping sense of shame.

 

“I was not groping him. And for your information he was comfortable, until you implied I was doing something wrong by touching him. Shadow...needed comfort, my touching him gives him that. Now you've got him afraid he's doing something wrong by needing me to comfort him.” He let his voice drop, casting a quick spell to keep unwelcome ears from hearing what he was saying. “You know he's had a rough life. The past year he's been catching up on all the schooling he missed on the streets, and a normal school environment still disturbs him at times.”

 

-You make me sound weak Seraph-sama. Do...you really see me that way?-

 

“Shadow? And exactly why did you need `comfort' Hiei-kun?”

 

:No, of course not, but it's an explanation she'll understand. Besides none of our classmates will hear as long as we speak quietly. But just refer to me as Ryou when you give her a story.: Ryou thought for a moment, yes Nishima-sensei was married. “Don't you use a pet name for your husband?” He spoke loudly enough that everyone would hear, and smiled as she blushed.

 

“Yesterday, one of the school bully-boys tried to molest me, I think it would have gone further if Ser-Ryou hadn't interrupted. I managed to avoid being raped when I was on the streets, but I saw a gang rape victim once, and at the moment I can't really defend myself against more than two at a time, at best. Yugi wanted to talk to me away from Ryou, and...” Shadow trailed off for a moment, before continuing in the same near whisper. “we overheard a couple of them speculating about what I was like in bed. And it sounded...” Shadow even managed to fake a blush as he trailed off again. Or maybe it wasn't faked. But he felt half amused, not ashamed anymore, and she seemed to be buying it.

 

“Could you tell who was talking about you?” Her voice had dropped to a similar pitch, she was trying to be discrete.

 

“How could I? I only heard them, I haven't been here long enough to recognise voices.” Shadow frowned then, showing a calculated uncertainty. -Should I refer to you as my boyfriend Seraph-sama?-

 

:Yes.:

 

“How is it indecent for my boyfriend to stroke my hair?” He raised his voice just enough to be heard through the classroom, and Ryou smiled as he realised how this would look to Yugi and his friends. “It isn't as if we can't concentrate on our work while he's doing that.”

 

She didn't seem to have an answer for that, and no one else bothered them for the rest of the day - or at least no other teachers bothered them.

 

--0--

 

Bakura refused to let his feelings about the arrogant bitch who'd interrupted them show, even through his link to his master. He knew that Seraph had to be at least a little pissed at her too, and he didn't want to risk compounding it, or have it transferred to him. One of the few times he'd actually been enjoying the way his master treated his body like his toy in front of everyone and anyone, and that woman had to go and ruin it. Not to mention his slip when he'd been instructed to use Seraph's personal name.

 

:It's all right my pet. I'm not angry, not at you anyway.: Seraph looked at Nishima with a cold anger in his eyes, all the time keeping up with his soothing touches.

 

-But...I slipped with the name-- It was stupid of him to bring that up, he knew, but he didn't want to risk the issue coming up again later.

 

:That was good, even if you didn't plan it. It sounded like you had some sappy nickname for me, but were embarrassed to use it, especially after she slapped me down for calling you Shadow.: And Bakura revelled in the approval Seraph was sending to him. It wasn't too much later that the lesson finished, and they all stood to bow to the teacher as she left. Then Yugi and his groupies came over to them and Bakura repressed the urge to sigh. He should try to get on better with them, after all they were Seraph's friends, and he was probably going to have to teach Yugi how to fight.

 

“Yami said you'd used Shadow Magic?”

 

“Yes, for the same reason I did yesterday, so that no one would hear what we were saying to that woman. I wanted one less reason for gossip to spread about us.” Seraph's voice was hard, with contained anger, but that wasn't a bad thing. Not when Bakura knew for certain that the anger was directed elsewhere.

 

“Right. We're going to that new arcade right after school's out. Do you two want to come with us?”

 

Bakura glanced at Seraph from the corner of his eyes, a trick he'd perfected over the years he'd belonged to him, he could see that his hikari was tempted by Jou's invitation, but...

 

“We can't. Shadow was damn near exhausted after school yesterday.” School and being fucked through the mattress, and he hadn't been as exhausted as Seraph seemed to think. “I'm sorry.”

 

-Seraph-sama, you don't have to stay at home to take care of me or anything. You could drop me off at home, then join the others at the arcade. And...- Bakura was really hesitant about his next suggestion since it wasn't his place to invite guests, but... -I think there's enough meat out for me to cook a meal for everyone if you'll tell me when to expect you.-

 

:Good idea pet.: Seraph kissed him lightly before he spoke to the others. “I can't come with you lot, but I can join you after I've dropped Shadow off at home. And he's offered to cook for us all, for say, half past six?”

 

“Yeah, that sounds great. What'll we be having?” Jou sounded eager, not too surprising considering what his home life was like, and the rest agreed as well.

 

“I dressed three rabbits from the traps last night and this morning, will that be enough for the six of us?” Seraph was looking at Bakura as he waited for the answer.

 

“It should be,” even with Jou's appetite, “especially if I make other stuff to go with it, or there's another one or two in the traps when we get home. Roasted rabbit then?”

 

“If you wish it.” Bakura frowned, thinking about what food they had stored. -We'll need to get some more vegetables and fruit tomorrow, and it would be good if you could do another hunt, it's been two months since the last time.-

 

“Get back to your seats please.” This teacher was short for a man, even here, in Japan, and he looked friendly, but Bakura remembered that he was a disciplinarian, no wonder the others almost ran back to their seats. “There will be no inappropriate displays in my classes Bakura-kun. I have heard about, and been disappointed by, your behaviour and treatment of Hiei-kun, and I expect you to keep your hands to yourself.”

 

“Yes Himura-sensei.” Seraph even managed to keep any resentment out of his voice, probably a result of playing `Ryou' for a year.

 

--0--