Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Seraph ❯ Chapter 11

Warning: Tendershipping with Ryou seme

 

This is AU, seriously so

 

:blah: = hikari to yami telepathy

 

-blah- = yami to hikari telepathy

 

“Yugi-dono, it would probably be a bit suspicious if you came with us when we brought Solar to the Game Shop.” This wasn't something he'd discussed with Seraph, or even something he'd mentioned to his master through their mind link, and Bakura kept his eyes cast down as he released Yugi's arm and brought up something that the others seemed to have missed. “As far as your family know you haven't even heard of him,” Bakura tilted his chin to indicate Solar, relieved that Seraph didn't seem to be angry, yet. “We needed you here so I could identify you to him, and give him the instruction to protect you and yours in your hearing, nothing else. It would surprise your family if you seemed to be aware of the situation we've made up as an excuse for him to stay with you for a while.” Bakura knew all about it of course, he'd done the hacking to provide the electronic records to support the story, including a few hospital visits and documented suspicions of domestic abuse, in another city of course.

 

“So you're telling me to what? Run along and play?” Yugi didn't sound happy about the idea, and Bakura couldn't blame him, if that was how he'd interpreted his words. It wasn't what he'd meant, but if it was what Yugi'd heard...he glanced over at Seraph for help without intending to, and his master laughed quietly.

 

“Not quite, but you could stay here and Rukaiya could teach you a few simple trick to get out some types of unwelcome hold, apparently she knew about them before Solar acquired her.” Bakura didn't want to think about how Solar had acquired her and hadn't asked, it bothered him that people were bought and sold as property now, because that was what Seraph had made him. It shouldn't have mattered to him, he hadn't actually owned any slaves when he first lived, they'd have been a liability for him, but they'd been common enough.

 

“All right.” Yugi calmed down as soon as Seraph mentioned something useful for him to do. He seemed to have forgotten that Bakura was supposed to be his teacher, but Bakura didn't mind that at all. Rukaiya'd returned with Solar's bag and the bandages while they were arguing and she'd started wrapping his ribs with startling skill. Not that Bakura would call attention to it in front of Yugi, but it was something to bear in mind for the future.

 

“Is he ready Rukaiya?” By speaking over him Seraph was humiliating Solar even more, Bakura watched his master's small display of sadism appreciatively.

 

“He just needs to dress again.” Then she turned to Yugi. “Yugi-dono, I think we should go somewhere else to practise, the garden perhaps?”

 

“Oh, yes.” Yugi sounded a little eager, and, looking at Rukaiya, Bakura couldn't quite blame him. He followed her out easily enough and Bakura slid a casual arm around Solar's waist, as rehearsed. Solar didn't need the support, but it gave the right impression, as did the way Seraph carried his bag, light as it was. They hadn't given a specific time they'd be arriving, so they walked slowly, instead of roofhopping...especially since the adults would have a hard time understanding that as they didn't know about Seraph, about what they did.

 

It was the woman who opened the door, Yugi's mother, and she looked worried to see how Bakura was supporting `his cousin'.

 

“Bakura-kun, Hiei-kun. Please come in. Is this Kage-kun? How badly hurt is he?”

 

:Tell them he's got three broken ribs, from two days ago. And a lot of bruises.: They'd agreed that Bakura would answer any questions about Solar's condition considering that he was the one claiming to be related to him.

 

“Three broken ribs, he refused to go to hospital, he's scared that his `lover' might be able to find him using that. But we bandaged him up properly, and he should recover without problems. This is the first time Himura's gone beyond bruises. I'm just grateful that this was enough to get Solar to leave him. We've been trying to persuade him to for a while now.”

 

“You need to see a doctor Kage-kun.” She sounded appropriately shocked at their story, even if Bakura found the idea of an Adept going to a doctor for something as minor as broken ribs ridiculous.

 

“Please, Mutou-san, a doctor wouldn't do anything that Bakura-san hasn't. I'll be fine in a few weeks, I just have to be careful until then.” His plea seemed to be enough to get her to agree.

 

“Very well then. But...is this all that you have? Surely you need more than that.”

 

“It was all I could get out of the house without him noticing.” Solar looked appropriately downtrodden.

 

“Mutou-san, I thought perhaps you could take him shopping tomorrow. I'll reimburse you, or you can come to my house first and Rukaiya can give you the money to fund Solar's new wardrobe.” She looked uncertain and Seraph smiled at her reassuringly. “We can afford it easily. I've got a very large trust fund, I'll never have to work a day in my life if I don't want to. That's why my father's such a well-known archaeologist, he can fund any dig it takes his fancy to.” Lies, but lies delivered so believably that she didn't question it.

 

“All right then.”

 

“Thank you Bakura-san.” After that Seraph made an excuse about Rukaiya preparing a meal for them and they left.

 

--0--

 

-Aibou, I know you need these lessons, but might I speak to Rukaiya at some point while you are with her?- Yami had been wanting to speak to the dark woman alone, or at least without Seraph or Shadow around since he'd heard about her.

 

“Rukaiya, mou hitori no boku wants to speak to you. Will that be a problem?” He hadn't expected Yugi to just ask the woman right out for some reason, he wasn't sure why not.

 

“No, I can show you a few hold breakers, and then give you time to think over them while I'm talking to your yami. Once we're finished talking I can test you on them, and correct you if I need to.”

 

:Is that okay mou hitori no boku?: Yami was surprised at the question, especially as Yugi smiled at Rukaiya. “That will be fine. Thank you for agreeing.”

 

-Yes, of course it's okay. I'm sorry to be taking from your life like this aibou.-

 

“And mou hitori no boku thanks you as well.” There wasn't even a break in Yugi's speech to Rukaiya. The woman looked confused at that for some reason, but she started teaching Yugi the hold breakers, starting with four ways to break the four different ways one person could grab hold of his wrist from in front of him. Yami liked it that Shadow was focused first on making sure Yugi could defend himself, without needing to resort to Shadow Magic, since that would make a good basis when he added Shadow Magic.

 

Yami'd paid full attention at first, but he retreated further into Yugi's mind as his hikari focused more on the techniques Rukaiya was showing him. It wasn't that he felt slighted, bored, unwelcome, ignored or anything like that, but he didn't want to distract Yugi, and he was afraid that what he remembered might leak over to Yugi and interfere in his learning. So he was surprised when Yugi contacted him.

 

:Mou hitori no boku. Rukaiya says she can speak to you now.:

 

-Thank you.- And Yami came forward to speak with her.

 

“I need to start preparing a meal for Seraph-sama and Shadow-dono, so you'll have to talk while I work.” Yami had a feeling that she wouldn't have made that demand of Yugi, but he couldn't explain why, and he didn't have any right to object, so he followed her into the kitchen. “What did you want to talk to me about? I've only belonged to Shadow-dono for five days even looking at it generously. And he's the one you're interested in, isn't he?”

 

Yami knew he was blushing, the way she said `interested in'...implied things he'd rather not think about. “I used to hate him, until I learned that he'd been playing a part. Now Seraph scares me. He doesn't scare you?”

 

“Why should he. Shadow-dono owns me, and servants rarely need to be disciplined the way concubines and Consorts do since we are less intimately linked to our masters.” That sounded unpleasant, but there was something else...

 

“Shadow owns you, not Seraph? And less intimately linked?”

 

“I belonged to Solar, when he was made bondservant to Shadow-dono he became Shadow-dono's property to dispose of as he wished, as did I and Antonia. Shadow-dono belongs to Seraph-sama himself of course, but I am still Shadow-dono's property first and then Seraph-sama's. Less intimately linked means that I will only be punished if I fail to do the work I am ordered to do, which is little enough in this household it seems.”

 

“And what about concubines and Consorts?” That was what worried him.

 

“I don't know what Seraph-sama is like, but Solar punished me for failing to meet his expectations in bed and sometimes just if he was in a bad mood when I was his concubine. I understand that is fairly common, and Consorts are always punished for slips in situational awareness, sometimes for not living up to their masters' expectations in combat as well as in bed. But I don't think Seraph-sama is like that.”

 

“But you don't know for certain.” None of this had done anything to ease Yami's worries about Shadow's situation, still Rukaiya hadn't had to answer his questions. “Thank you anyway. Might I speak to you later perhaps, when you have more experience with this household?”

 

“If Seraph-sama and Shadow-dono grant permission of course.” That was probably the best offer he was going to get.

 

“I see. Then tell me when you want to test Aibou.”

 

--0--

 

Yugi went over the moves Rukaiya had taught him in his mind as he walked home. Each one would be useful, but he knew that he wasn't anywhere near ready to actually fight yet. for the moment he was still dependent on Yami's protection. He'd never minded it before, when he knew that Ryou was being abused by his yami, he'd loved it that Yami had always thought about protecting him first, but now that Ryou had shown everyone how good a fighter he was Yugi resented it just a bit. Not that he'd ever let Yami know any of this. And anyway he was getting the training to deal with things himself now and he appreciated it, even if he didn't entirely trust his teacher.

 

:What did you want to talk to Rukaiya about anyway mou hitori no boku?: Yugi paused, he didn't want to invade Yami's privacy he was just curious. :If you don't want to tell me I'll understand.:

 

-I just wanted to learn a bit more about how a Consort lives and how Adepts treat them. I don't really trust what Seraph and Shadow say about it. Seraph because he thinks he owns Shadow and he's abused him until he accepted that, and Shadow because he's been abused so badly that he thinks the way Seraph treats him is normal.- Yugi wasn't sure that Yami's interpretation was correct, Ryou wouldn't abuse anyone, and even Bakura'd said he was right to punish him yesterday. But he'd let Yami think what he wanted, it wasn't as if he'd be able to change his mind, not easily, and it wasn't worth the trouble. After all it wasn't as if Bakura mattered now that he wasn't a threat anymore.

 

:Did you hear what you wanted to hear then?:

 

-She couldn't give me any details about Seraph; she hasn't been with him long enough and apparently she technically belongs to Shadow, not Seraph; and she wasn't willing to go into details about how Solar treated her, not that I blame her. Instead I got generalisations about how concubines and Consorts are usually treated. She said that if she gets permission I can speak to her when she has more experience in Seraph's household.- There was something strange about the way Yami hesitated before continuing. -That is if you're willing to allow me to speak to her again.-

 

:Yes, of course you can.: Yugi responded absently as he let himself into the Game Shop. It was nearly time for tea, but Yugi still went straight up to his bedroom, setting out his books for his homework. He knew he was delaying meeting with Solar, but the sheer hatred on his face when he confirmed Bakura's orders had been scary, and so had the things Ryou had said about him before.

 

“Yugi, it's time to eat!” He'd delayed a bit too long and Kaasan shouted up for him.

 

“Coming Kaasan.” They wouldn't expect him to know about Solar, so when he saw the golden haired man at the table he paused in what would look like surprise. “Who's that?”

 

“Mutou Yugi show some manners.” Yugi winced as his mother used his full name, she only did that when he was in trouble. “This is Kage Solar. He's Hiei-kun's cousin and he'll be living with us for a while.”

 

“Hello Kage-san. I apologise if I was rude.” Yugi let his distrust of the man show in his eyes and his slight anger show in his voice, Solar seemed to be a bit scared by that.

 

“You don't have anything to apologise for Mutou-kun.” Solar was making a point of keeping his eyes lowered, it probably fit whatever cover story Ryou'd beaten him up for. “You were surprised to see me. Are you sure you don't need any help with that Mutou-san?”

 

“Yes, you're our guest. You don't have to help.” Kaasan smiled down at Solar. “Besides you're not really in any condition to help out.”

 

“Please, as long as I move slowly and carefully it isn't that bad. Bakura-san gave me painkillers.” Solar glanced up at her with a slight smile, and Yugi saw how he tried to use his beauty to manipulate her. “Besides, I thought you'd agreed to grant me sanctuary for a few months, long enough that he'll lose interest in me. I can hardly be a guest for so long.”

 

“Bakura-kun insists on paying for your room and board very generously. And you're too badly injured to help at the moment.” Kaasan sounded reproving. “But...you can start helping with the chores when you're fully recovered...when a doctor gives you a clean bill of health.”

 

“Yes Mutou-san.” Yugi saw his small, smug smile as Solar looked back down to the table. Obviously this was the reaction he'd wanted, but there was nothing Yugi could do about that.

 

--0--

 

Ryou frowned at Shadow as they ate, he'd been remiss in training him recently, spending most of their time together fucking him instead. At first he'd had a good reason not to train him, after all there wouldn't have been much point in training him while he was under the influence of Solar's drug cocktail, but he should have started training him again when it wore off. But Shadow looked nervous, and he shouldn't be, he hadn't done anything wrong after all. It wasn't his responsibility to ask for training, only to maintain his abilities enough to keep his place by surviving testing.

 

“It's okay Shadow. I was just thinking that it's been too long since we worked on your training together. Have you been keeping it up by yourself?”

 

“When I can Seraph-sama.” Shadow bowed his head submissively. “I do not always have time, but I do isometrics as I can, and when I know I have sufficient free time I do a more vigorous work out.” That was good, not enough to improve his abilities, but still good.

 

“I'll spell your silver bracelets and anklets to increase their weight enough that it will keep you in training and help build your strength a bit, before we go to school tomorrow. Remind me if I seem to have forgotten.”

 

“Yes Seraph-sama.” He looked a bit dispirited by that, but accepting and he should have known better than to expect to be allowed to give up on his training like that. On the other hand...Ryou thought about his own training since his power binders had stopped working - he hadn't bothered to replace them with weighted wrist and ankle bands, and he should have. It was an easy way to make him feel better, and Shadow'd spelled Yugi's wrist and ankle bands without problems.

 

“I need to start wearing weighted wrist and ankle bands again, you can do the spells for that if you want.” Shadow glanced up at that, eyes wide with surprise before he lowered them again, a faint smile on his face.

 

“If you think that I will be able to Seraph-sama.” Rukaiya looked shocked by that, but she didn't say anything, she almost never spoke around him unless Ryou or Shadow spoke to her directly.

 

“You did well enough for Yugi. Rukaiya, you did well.” She'd proved that she was a good cook with this, and from what he'd seen she'd taught Yugi a couple of useful tricks. “Go get your bracelets and anklets now Shadow, along with some wrist and ankle bands to spell for me.”

 

“Yes Seraph-sama.” Ryou left Rukaiya to clear the table and met with Shadow to start working on the spells. They were relatively simple, but it would take a while for them to work out the right masses and make certain they would do what was needed. It took enough time to give them a chance for their meals to settle in their stomachs and Ryou began searching his collection of cards for an appropriate sparring partner for Shadow. The Flame Swordsman would do, it was common enough.

 

“Shadow, I've got a sparring partner for you, and I want to see how well you do, with no use of magic.”

 

“Sparring partner?” Shadow looked up at Ryou apprehensively. “You mean like the sort of sparring partner you had while you were training intensively?”

 

“Yes, but don't worry. The one I've picked's a bit more intelligent than most of the ones you used, he'll stick to sparring, nothing more.”

 

“You wanted powerful fighters as your opponents, the strongest that won't just blast you with magic are all animals as a rule, that or the ones that won't hold back in a fight for any reason.” Shadow kept his eyes cast down as he explained his reasoning, and Ryou laughed lightly at that.

 

“I know. And I didn't want them to hold back. Come, I want to see you fight.” Ryou summoned Celtic Guardian once they reached the garden and instructed the duel monster to spar with Shadow, standing back to watch how he did. He'd deliberately left Shadow at a disadvantage due to his lack of any weapon and he wanted to see how his Consort dealt with that. Ryou wouldn't have bothered trying to form a weapon, he'd have relied on his magic and ki to speed his healing enough to counter that and just attacked, but Shadow formed a sword of Shadow Magic, without even thinking about it apparently. He saw some weaknesses in Shadow's style and once he'd dismissed the duel monster he began to explain them to his Consort, planning how to work on them.

 

--0--

 

“Why'd you ask us to walk with you to school today? Won't you be doing that roofhopping thing you both like so much?” Bakura was a bit surprised that Jounouchi was the only one to really question their request as they made their way into school the next day. He shouldn't have been, despite his reputation the blond was smart, at least when it came to people, even if he wasn't really good at schoolwork.

 

“I've been neglecting my training, and my Shadow's training. We're both wearing weights at our wrists and ankles like Yugi is at the moment, albeit heavier. Until we've gotten used to it I don't want Shadow to risk roofhopping.” Seraph shrugged as he answered for the two of them, and Bakura kept his eyes cast down, blushing. He just hoped he'd set the spells up right for Seraph, the ones on his bracelets and anklets were just fine, even a little lighter than he'd expected.

 

“Do you mean I'm going to have to keep on wearing these for ten years?” Yugi didn't sound happy about that, not that Bakura really blamed him.

 

“No, of course not.” Seraph laughed at the idea. “Once you've gotten a decent amount of power you'll find alternatives, and besides they'll start to feel pretty light after a while. These are really more a comfort thing for me than anything else, my real training is fighting with duel monsters directly, that or sparring with another Adept.” Bakura didn't say anything about how ridiculous it seemed for these things to be `a comfort', they were harder to deal with than his weighted vest had been, even if he was sure that they didn't mass as much, even all combined. He was too busy trying to avoid showing the aches and pains from restarting his training to really pay any attention to the conversation beyond that.

 

Then he stumbled, only for Seraph to catch him and set him back upright quickly.

 

“What happened Bakura-kun?” Anzu sounded concerned about him, and he still couldn't quite understand why. He'd been their enemy for long enough, and among the Adepts no one would have cared, except to note that he was likely to be weak.

 

“I've never worn weights at my wrists and ankles before and I'm not used to dealing with how they put me off balance. The weighted vest I wore while Seraph-sama was first training me distributed the weight far more evenly.” Bakura shrugged, he knew he was blushing faintly at his clumsiness.

 

“They aren't bothering me like that.” Yugi sounded surprised by Bakura's problems and he blushed deeper.

 

“Well yours are a lot lighter than his.” Bakura smiled as Seraph defended him, pushing his hand through his hair and taking a deep breath to center himself. “Still, I expect you to be past this tomorrow.”

 

“I will Seraph-sama, I promise.” He knew that he had to be, and that his master wasn't expecting anything of him that Seraph hadn't been able to do himself, at a younger age. Besides the weights Seraph was wearing at his wrists and ankles each weighed nearly five times what the ones Bakura wore did, and he was adjusting already. And he didn't think his master was going to insist he do the same sort of `unarmed' combat training he had with the Celtic Guardian tonight as he had last night. And he wouldn't be aching for long today anyway, it was only hurting at the moment because Seraph hadn't healed him fully from the injuries last night, leaving him to finish healing overnight and ache for part of the day.

 

“We'll see. It's a good thing we don't have P.E. today. That gives you more time to get used to them.” Since Bakura wasn't allowed to wear his bracelets and anklets during P.E. while Yugi and Seraph could easily wear their weighted wrist and ankle bands without anyone noticing.

 

“Yes Seraph-sama.” Bakura bit his lip, calculating odds before he risked speaking. “Might I just do katas tonight, under your supervision, rather than sparring with a duel monster?”

 

“You should have been doing your katas without needing me to supervise from the time you recovered from that drug cocktail, even enough to keep your balance through one. You'd be in better condition now if you had.” Bakura's condition hadn't declined that much, but he knew better than to protest, especially considering what sort of condition Seraph considered normal. “But I'll decide on which katas I want to see you run through and probably show you a new one to work on your weak spots.”

 

“Thank you Seraph-sama” What else could he say?

 

--0--