Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seraph ❯ Chapter 6

Warning: Tendershipping with Ryou seme

 

This is AU, seriously so

 

:blah: = hikari to yami telepathy

 

-blah- = yami to hikari telepathy

 

-Aibou, could we go to visit Shadow and Seraph today?- Yugi wished that Yami would just use their names, and he really didn't get why Yami was so interested in them, why he was making such a fuss about the way Ryou acted towards Bakura. He hadn't cared that much when they were afraid Bakura was hurting Ryou.

 

:No mou hitori no boku. I've got homework and the rest of the gang's coming around for a homework party. We can't go visit them.:

 

-Then why not call them, and ask them to join you? You invited Seraph sometimes when he was pretending to be Ryou.- Yami was being much more persistent than he would be on something like this normally. Strange since he'd become less insistent in other things.

 

:I don't like Bakura, don't like him, don't trust him. You don't like Ryou anymore.:

 

-He isn't...never mind. Please aibou, can't you at least call them?-

 

:No!: Yugi only realised how harsh he'd sounded when he felt Yami almost flinch away in his mind. His other self shouldn't be reacting like that. But he had ever since Bakura'd started appearing at school. It wasn't fair that the tomb robber got his own body and Yami didn't. Wait a second, if Ryou had somehow managed to give Bakura his own body couldn't he do the same thing for Yami? :Are you trying to get on their good side so they'll give you a body of your own mou hitori no boku?:

 

-I...I hadn't even thought about it.- He sounded hesitant again, something that was happening far too often for Yugi's taste since Bakura'd stopped trying to kill them all. -I don't trust Seraph enough to ask him. Not now that I know he's been lying to us and pretending to be someone he isn't for a year. I...he was unnerving even before that, especially after we learned there was a spirit sealed in the Ring.- Yami'd always been unhappy about Yugi's loose friendship with Ryou, he'd even gone so far as to try and kill both of them, Ryou, and Bakura through him once or twice, but he'd never explained why he didn't like Ryou and Yugi'd just assumed it was a stranger thing, then about Bakura. -Now he terrifies me.-

 

:Terrifies you? Why?: He'd never known Yami to be scared except for his sake, not and admit it so freely.

 

-I can't explain it. But he told you that his Light Magic is stronger than my Shadow Magic, and he can use Shadow Magic too, as well as his healing abilities. I know you've been scared of me at times for how inhuman my use of Shadow Magic makes me. I think it's the same thing in part. And Seraph told us that he's an assassin, he's killed a lot of people, and he sounds proud of it.-

 

:Then why are you so insistent on treating him like a friend, inviting him here?: Ryou was his friend, but from what Yami said he didn't share the sentiment.

 

-I'm not. I want Shadow to know he could have friends, one at least, and I doubt Seraph will allow him to come alone.- It felt almost as if Yami was pouting, or sulking. -You seem to feel the same way about Shadow that I feel about Seraph, one's a necessary evil to have much contact with the other.- He...was right. Yugi was reluctant to accept it, but Yami was right.

 

:You can phone them and invite them over then.: And he retreated to his soul room, if Yami managed to find their number, and actually use the phone, then persuade them to come over...he wouldn't complain. And he'd even talk to Bakura if that happened. Yugi felt a little bit smug over how he'd made sure he wouldn't have to deal with the tomb robber while appearing to give Yami a chance at what he wanted.

 

Then Yami did something he hadn't expected. Yugi'd assumed his pride would have kept him from asking anyone for help and admitting that he didn't know how to use even the simplest of modern technology. He went looking for Jiisan, not Kaasan, she didn't know about the Millennium Items, but Jiisan.

 

“Jiisan, do you have time to help me?” Yami'd found him in the Game Shop, and Yugi hoped he'd say no. Yami would have to accept that.

 

“What do you need Yugi?”

 

“It's Yami, and could you help me phone Bakura Ryou please?”

 

--0--

 

Yami knew he was blushing as he asked for help doing something that his hikari and all his friends considered as simple as writing a letter had been back in his time, but he wouldn't let his pride get in the way of trying to reach out to Shadow. If he could befriend him, show him that he had alternatives he might be able to get the other yami out of what he was convinced was an abusive relationship.

 

“Why isn't Yugi doing this for you?” Normally his hikari dealt with all of ordinary life, and Yami was mostly content to have it so. If he ever resented it that he only truly lived when Yugi allowed it he would never allow it to show.

 

“H-he doesn't like Shadow, and I want to invite both Shadow and Seraph to study with us.” Jiisan didn't understand. “Seraph is Ryou's real name, and Shadow is the name of the Spirit of the Ring.”

 

“The same spirit who's tried to kill you? I can see why he'd be worried.”

 

“I...it isn't like that. Shadow won't be trying again. He was allowed one year to try to get all the Items and `lay his people to rest' is how Seraph put it. And that year is up. I trust him to teach Yugi to fight without Shadow Magic.” And that had been the best argument he could make, because Jiisan guided him through the intricacies of making a phone call, so he'd be able to do it himself in the future.

 

“Thank you Jiisan.” He smiled at the old man and turned his attention to the phone.

 

“Hello?” Yami was relieved that Shadow'd answered, not Seraph.

 

“Hello Shadow, it's Yami. Yugi is having a homework party with his friends, and I wondered if you and Seraph would like to come?” Yami couldn't understand why the idea of seeing Shadow again, even if it was just through Yugi, was so appealing to him, or why he was so nervous about making this call.

 

“I'm sorry, we can't. Seraph-sama's off on a hunting trip to stock up on meat for us, and I've got a whole bunch of cooking to do. We did all our homework last night. Besides, my hair's absolutely soaking. Perhaps another time?”

 

“I see. Next time Yugi decides to do this I'll try and get him to issue invitations to you two in advance.” Which would only happen if he knew about it, but he could try. “What about after your hair dries? Will you be able to do anything then?”

 

“Ah, no. Since he's off on a hunting trip Seraph-sama activated a set-spell on the house. I can't leave until he takes the spell down, unless I'm in imminent danger from being in here.”

 

“Set-spell? No, I don't want to know, do I?” Yami quelled the outrage he felt at the way Seraph had simply imprisoned Shadow for however long he was away. He knew he was finding any excuse to keep Shadow on the phone, and he didn't know why, but he didn't really care either.

 

“Probably not.” Laughter filled Shadow's voice as he answered. “And before you think about coming around to offer me company, the other thing the set-spell does is keep out anyone with magic of any type even half so powerful as mine, and anyone with a ki-level more than half mine. That is half mine under normal circumstances. Seraph's being paranoid I think, but if it makes him happy...” Yami didn't think he could accept living like that, but Shadow found it...funny? “I have to get started on my cooking if I want to get it all done in time.”

 

“Right, bye then.” And he slowly put the phone down.

 

-Well aibou, it looks as if you're getting what you wanted.- Yami was not going to broadcast his disappointment, but at least Yugi would be happy.

 

:Yeah, what was that about getting me to ask the psychos to our next study session?: Yugi took control again as he spoke to Yami.

 

-Who is the best student in your class?- A question that Yami already knew the answer to.

 

:Kaiba, or Ryou, depending on the subject.: And Yami was sure that in a few weeks Shadow would be one of the best. :I hadn't thought of that. But Bakura said they'd already done their homework.:

 

-It sounded like that was because they already had plans for today. If they get an invitation next time they might put it off until everyone gets together.-

 

:Maybe...: Yugi didn't say anything else, turning his attention to Jou, Anzu and Honda when they arrived.

 

--0--

 

It was no fun using magic of any sort to hunt Ryou mused as he slowly made his way closer to the herd. He'd resorted to magic to grab a yellowfin tuna from a bait ball, emerging from the Shadow Realm inside the school, and grabbing the nearest fish before returning to the Shadow Realm, taking it to his and Shadow's Light guarded sanctuary to gut and set preservation spells on. He didn't really like going after fish, he only did because Shadow asked him to. But for this hunt he'd take his time, without magic. He moved the same way the deer did, as much as possible, freezing when the herd did, and moving slowly and quietly otherwise. The deer wouldn't really notice him if he wasn't moving when they looked up, and they tended to freeze when they did. He'd lost one kill already by not realising they the wind would shift, so he'd been upwind of the herd, and they'd caught his scent, fleeing before he was close enough to catch one. This time he was staying downwind, and he didn't think it was going to shift anytime soon.

 

Now! He was close enough to the edge of the herd. He ran out and jumped onto a low-ranked buck on the outskirts where there was little to forage, breaking the neck swiftly as the herd scattered. He swung the body over his shoulders and returned to their sanctuary, to clean his latest kill, mind reaching out to check on his Consort as he did almost automatically. Shadow was still busy preparing the bread dough and noodles, Ryou usually left him alone in the house when he needed to do that, because if he didn't he knew that he was all too likely to distract his Consort and demand his attention, and Shadow would comply - resulting in disaster as far as their food went.

 

:How would you like me to split up the meat, and what do you want me to bring back with me my pet?:

 

-Half in steaks of half a kilogram, half in smaller chunks, bagged to half kilogram mass. Bring back six kilos each of fish and red meat, half as steaks, half as chunks. The organs...what did you get Seraph-sama?- He sounded almost dismissive, meaning he had to be very distracted. Shadow normally paid total attention to Ryou, and to his needs and desires, so much that at times it was almost smothering.

 

:I caught a yellowfin tuna for your fish and a deer for the red meat.:

 

-Then keep the organs, but bring back the deer's heart please Seraph-sama.-

 

:If that's what you want. I'll leave you to your baking.: And he began the slow process of butchering his kills. It took up about three hours to get the animals broken down the way Shadow had asked, but that didn't matter, any more than it mattered that he was covered in blood at the end.

 

A quick check confirmed that Shadow had finished with his cooking, and turned to working on his firewall code, but there was a vague regret that didn't quite make sense.

 

:Do you need any of the meat left out?: Ryou returned from the Shadow Realm in the kitchen, noting the comforting smells of stew and bread baking.

 

-Yes, leave one bag of chopped up tuna and the deer's heart out please Seraph-sama.- Ryou knew that his Consort was about to put everything aside to join him, but...

 

:Just keep on with your work Shadow. I need a shower and bath first, I'm covered with blood.:

 

-Then I'll go and heat the furo up for you. So that it's warm when you get in. Just leave your clothes in the kitchen, no point in trailing blood through the house. It would cause far too many questions.-

 

:Fine.: Ryou had to laugh sometimes at the way his yami would take over when he thought Ryou needed it, despite his firm belief in his own inferiority. Then, it was always to take care of Ryou in the little, homely things, and it seemed to reassure Shadow that he was cared about when Ryou allowed it. He shrugged mentally and turned to putting the meat away. The blood had dried enough by the time he'd finished that he wouldn't have been trailing it through the house anyway, but he indulged Shadow's worries and undressed, with Shadow entering the kitchen to pick the clothes up just as he left it.

 

The shower wasn't quite enough to cleanse the blood from his hair, so he resorted to his magic to burn it away, carefully before getting into the furo to relax and think about his Consort. He didn't expect Shadow to have had any trouble, but...

 

:Shadow, how was your day?:

 

--0--

 

Bakura glanced quickly at the stew he'd been preparing, it was fine, another hour or more cooking wouldn't hurt it, but he had to take the bread out in half an hour. Seraph was unlikely to be out of the bath that soon, but it would taste just as good cold, or just warm as fresh from the oven. He looked over at the clothes Seraph had left on the floor. Black denim, all of it, easy enough to clean, better than leather for certain, and it showed blood far less than other colours did. It was a fallacy that red would hide blood, it hid it well enough when it was wet, but once it dried the blood started to show he mused as he put the blood covered clothes in the laundry sink, filling it with cold water and leaving it to soak, adding the ice Seraph had removed from the freezer to fit the meat in, to chill the water even further. Seraph hunted barefoot ever since he'd ruined a pair of sneakers that Amane had chosen for him before she died in a hunt. He started from his tasks when he heard Seraph contact him.

 

:Shadow, how was your day?:

 

-Mostly just the usual, but...the Pharaoh called just after I'd washed my hair. His hikari and their friends were all getting together to do their homework, and he wanted to invite us to come along.- Bakura was still in two minds on how he felt about that. It was nice in a way to have someone trying to get his attention, but he couldn't help but suspect that at least part of it was Yami's desire for a body of his own. And he was certain that a good part of Yami's desire for their company was the knowledge of how smart Seraph was.

 

:Did you want to go then?: There was no hint of apology, in Seraph's mind, not that Bakura would ever expect it from him, just a distant curiosity.

 

-A bit, but running the household comes first, and anyone who cannot understand that is foolish. I told him a bit about the set-spell you leave on the house while you are hunting.-

 

:You cooked too much for just us. Do you want to invite the others over for dinner?: Did he? There was no point in wasting the stew, and while the bread would keep he needed to cook the deer's heart tomorrow if it was to be any good...

 

-Please, yes, Seraph-sama.-

 

:Go ahead then. Tell them to arrive in an hour and a half, that should give me time to brush out your hair, and the bread time to cool.: A bit too much perhaps, but he could put the bread back in the `cold' oven after half an hour or so.

 

-As you wish Seraph-sama.- He could leave the clothes as they were, so he did, and found the phone.

 

“Hello?” It was Yugi's grandfather and guardian who answered, which shouldn't have been too much of a surprise.

 

“Mutou-san, this is Bakura, might I speak to Yugi-dono?”

 

“What is it about?” He was rightfully suspicious of Bakura's motives.

 

“When he learned that Yami had contacted me while he was out, Seraph-sama suggested that I invite Yugi-dono and his friends over for dinner, in an hour and a half. Will that be permissible Mutou-san?” His voice showed the slight uncertainty he felt, knowing how Yugi thought of him.

 

“You can ask.” And he left Bakura waiting while he got his grandson.

 

“What is it Bakura?” Slightly impatient, but not actively angry. He could work with that.

 

“Seraph-sama has returned from his hunt, and he wished me to invite you and your friends to eat with us, in an hour and a half. Do you wish that?”

 

“What did you cook?”

 

“Stew, and a number of different breads. We tend to eat Western style meals about half our evenings. There is more than enough to satisfy even Jounouchi's appetite, I promise.” Bakura let his voice go lightly teasing on the last sentence. “I think that is one reason Seraph-sama wished me to offer this invitation, I prepared far too much.” Not that he wouldn't be able to reheat and reuse it, freezing portions from what was left if they ate alone.

 

“I'll ask the others.” Bakura could hear Yugi shouting at his friends to find out if they wanted to eat with Seraph and with him. He finger-combed his hair as he waited for their decision, echoing the essence of the conversation back to Seraph, and leaving him access to Bakura's senses.

 

“Yes, we'll be there in an hour okay?”

 

:Invite them to bring their completed homework with them, to compare.:

 

“Yes, Seraph-sama should be out of the bath by then. He thinks you should all bring your completed homework along, so we can compare answers?”

 

“Sure. See you then Bakura.”

 

“Bye.”

 

--0--

 

Ryou climbed out of the furo far sooner than he'd have liked, deactivating the set-spell that kept the water at exactly the right temperature. A quick weaving of Light Magic dried him and he pulled on a brown yukata.

 

:Come to our bedroom Shadow.: When his Consort arrived Ryou was waiting on the bed, and Shadow came to kneel in front of him.

 

“No, get up and lie on the bed.” He'd found out that this was the easiest way to brush out Shadow's hair, and when he was ten he'd figured out that it was guaranteed to send him into a half-asleep state where he was perfectly relaxed. So, before he started... “Is there anything in the kitchen that needs your attention now?”

 

“No, I've just taken the bread out to cool. The stew can be served any time in the next three hours, it won't affect the taste.”

 

“Good.” And he began to brush his yami's hair, starting at the very ends, working the tangles out there, and slowly moving up. It was very relaxing, almost a meditative exercise, and the happy, contented sounds Shadow made were like the music some of the new agers used to aid in meditation. So he continued even after he'd gotten rid of the tangles, and it came as a surprise to both of them when the doorbell rang to announce Yugi and his friends.

 

“I'll get the door, you just come down when you're ready.” Ryou patted Shadow gently on the back as he spoke, leaning over to sweep aside his hair and kiss the nape of his neck. Then he walked down to open the door. He leaned against the frame, smiling lazily as he greeted the children.

 

“Hello, come in. sorry about taking so long to get to you, but we were a bit...occupied.” The innuendo was so blatant that not one of them missed it. Then Shadow came down the stairs, perfectly composed in his black yukata, twisting his hair up in a knot.

 

“Tell me when you wish to eat. I can serve our meal at any time.” He explained as we went to the living room, picking up our bags there. “Or, if you would rather I could serve now, and we can eat in here?”

 

“Up to you lot.” Ryou really didn't care. Shadow wasn't clinging to him at the moment, because it was Yugi here, not Yami he assumed, but he was staying as far away from the young duellist as he could and be polite. “Just remember to be careful about not getting food on your homework if you want it now. And stew is quite messy.”

 

“But...I could bring some of the breads in, to snack on if you want. Some of it's plain, but mostly it's the more fancy bread, herb bread with basil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, parmesan, and beer; orange and cranberry bread with walnut; some bread with eggs and poppy seed; another with honey and whole wheat; one with tomatoes and olives; another with pepper and red onion...truth they're almost a meal in and of themselves, but please leave room for the stew. And I'll leave the plain bread for eating with it, if that is what you wish.”

 

“Well thought my pet, go and cut slices of all those breads, then. And bring in some butter too.”

 

“Yes Seraph-sama.”

 

“How did your hunting go anyway Ryou?” Yugi was the one who made the polite inquiry as they got their books out.

 

“I got a yellowfin tuna, about 150 kilos, and one of the low ranked bucks of a deer herd.”

 

“By yourself? How'd you manage that?” Jou seemed to know how hard that was.

 

“I cheated with the tuna. I'm not amphibious like Naiad, so I came out of the Shadow Realm inside a bait ball, a school of lots of fish, and grabbed the nearest before returning to the Shadow Realm.”

 

“Seraph-sama does not actually enjoy fishing, he only does it because fish are good for you, and I ask it of him.” As he spoke Shadow carried in a large platter with slices of the breads he'd made and placed it within everyone's reach before kneeling at Ryou's feet and leaning against his legs where his idle hand could loosen and stroke his hair.

 

“So I do it as quickly as I can, and I'm not above cheating. That's what using magic for hunting of any sort is. The deer, now that I killed properly. I stalked it, using all the camouflage skills I learned short of out and out magic. Then when I was near enough I jumped on its back and broke the neck.”

 

“Barehanded?” Honda sounded impressed, even if Anzu wasn't.

 

“Well, yes. It is possible. When I Work I rarely use a weapon, but I don't really have a signature style, not like some of us. I missed my first target because the wind changed, and I was too far away to catch one without a chase - and that makes the meat tougher than it has to be.” That was the end of that line of conversation. They focused on comparing homework, and after eating, on duelling strategies.

 

--0--