Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Darkness in the Light ❯ Chapter9 ( Chapter 9 )

The Darkness in the Light

by Dragondreamer and Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, Dragondreamer would have gotten Seto for Christmas.

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, get lost! You shouldn't even be reading this!

Note: *…* Ryou's thoughts and mind link to Bakura

**…** Bakura's thoughts and mind link to Ryou

/…/ Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

//…// Yami's thoughts and mind link to Yugi

[…] Joey's thoughts

[[…]] Seto's thoughts

~*~*~*~*~

DD: I can't believe this chapter took so long!

Tristan: Maybe if you didn't re-read every word you wrote ten times over, it'd get done faster!

YD: Don't bother Tristan. She's such a perfectionist.

Yugi: When are you guys going to stop torturing me?

YD: *evil grin* Never.

DD: We promise to leave you alone after this fic, okay?

YD: *whispers to DD* What about the Friends & Lovers sequel.

DD: *whispers back* We won't tell him.

Yugi: What are you two whispering about?

DD & YD: NOTHING!

~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 9

~*~*~*~*~

"Where are we going?"

"To meet Yugi and Joey." Tristan said, casting a nervous glance at Otogi. "I told you that already."

*What are we going to do?*

**I can always knock him out.**

*'kura!*

**What?! Have you got a better idea?**

*No. But you're not laying a hand on him!*

**Whatever.** Bakura, never one to beat around the bush, decided to take matters into his own hands. "We're going to Seto's office Pharaoh."

Yami stopped dead in his tracks and glared at Tristan. "I thought you said we were meeting Yugi."

Tristan shot a glare of his own at Bakura. "We are. That's where he is."

"I am not going there!"

"Yes you are." Bakura grabbed Yami by the arm. "We've all had enough of your moping. You're going to talk to him."

"Get your hands off me Tomb Robber." Yami growled at him, prying the fingers off his jacket.

"Don't mess with me on this Yami. I mean it."

Ryou sighed and stepped between the yamis. "Please Yami you need to talk to him. Don't let it end like this."

"Not a chance Ryou."

The white haired hikari reached out and took Yami's hand in his, looking into his eyes. "You still love him, don't you?"

Yami looked away, unable to meet those sweet brown eyes that reminded him so much of his own hikari's. He couldn't say no to Yugi when he looked at him like that, and he doubted he'd be able to say no to Ryou.

"Yami? Please?"

"Fine." Yami gave in. "But it doesn't change anything."

The others breathed a sigh of relief as they continued on their way.

~*~*~*~*~

Yugi sat back down on the couch as Seto got to his feet.

"Yugi, there's something I want to show you." He pulled off his shirt and sat down next to the smaller boy, turning his back to him.

"Seto…" Yugi stared at the scars decorating the other's back. Most of them were small and unremarkable, like the ones on his own chest, but there were a few that stood out, long, thin white slashes against the tanned skin. "Your step father did this to you?"

"Yes."

Yugi traced a finger over a long scar running the length of the brunette's spine. "They don't look so bad."

"They were." Seto turn back to Yugi, pulling on his shirt. "That one was a lot like the scar around your neck. When I saw it that night, I knew it wasn't caused by the car accident."

"But…" Yugi shook his head. "If it was like this…" He gestured to his neck belt.

"Plastic surgery."

"Oh." Yugi looked wistful for a moment. "That's great Seto. I mean, that must make it easier for you to deal with."

"Sometimes." Seto had seen the look on his small friend's face. "Yugi. Let me take you to see the doctor who did this."

"That's okay Seto." Yugi smiled at him. "We couldn't afford it anyway."

"I want to pay for it."

"What?!" Yugi was totally shocked. "Seto! I can't let you do that!"

"Please Yugi. I want to. I want to…I need to help you. Please?"

"I don't know Seto." The small teen blushed. "I don't like accepting charity."

"It's not charity. It's therapy. Not just for you, but me too."

"Can I think about it?"

"Of course." Seto tousled his hair. "It's an open offer, okay?"

"Thanks!" Yugi reached up and hugged the taller boy around the neck, grinning when Seto hugged him back.

"You're welcome." Seto untangled himself from the enthusiastic embrace. "I don't think it'll be able to be fixed completely, but they can make it less noticeable."

"That's okay." Yugi gave him a shy smile. "Joey kinda likes it anyway."

"Does he?" Seto lifted an eyebrow, not so sure he wanted to know.

"Yeah. My scars don't matter to him really. He says he loves me the way I am."

"I'm happy for you both." Seto looked down at his hands, hoping Yugi wouldn't see the tears in his eyes.

"Oh Seto." Yugi's own eyes filled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean…"

"It's okay little guy." The brunette smiled weakly.

"When are you going to talk to him?"

"I don't know. Do you really think he'll see me?"

"I'll make him!" Yugi's look was one of determined indignation.

Seto chuckled. "Yugi…thank you. I don't know if he'll ever forgive me, but I do want to tell him I'm sorry."

"He'll forgive you Seto. I know he will."

"I don't know. What I did was so wrong. I had no right."

Yugi was about to answer when he got a burst of emotion from Yami. He clutched his head as it overloaded his mind. Love, concern, fear, anger, and most frightening of all, acceptance.

"Yugi, what's wrong?" Seto grabbed him.

"Yami! Something's going on. He's…he's in danger!"

"Where is he?"

Yugi's eyes went out of focus. "He's here! He's downstairs!"

"Come on." Seto pulled him up and led him to his private elevator.

~*~*~*~*~

"What the hell took you so long?" Joey let them in, relocking the door behind them.

Bakura pointed at Yami.

"What are you doing here Joey?" Yami asked somewhat sternly.

The blonde consciously chose not to get upset at the other's tone of voice. "Seto called. He wanted to talk to Yugi."

"About what?" Tristan asked.

"I think that's something he should tell Yami first."

"And what makes you think I want to talk to him?"

"Oh for Ra's sake!" Bakura exploded. "You're going to talk to him Pharaoh, even if I have to tie you down!"

"Bakura." Ryou admonished. "Yami please. Just talk to him."

"It's not going to change anything."

"I think it will." Joey said quietly. "But you won't know until you hear him out."

"And if I don't want to?"

Joey looked at Yami and the Pharaoh was shocked to see tears in the amber eyes. Joey reached out and gently gripped Yami's arms.

"Please Yami." He said in a choked voice. "You have to."

Yami nodded silently, wondering what it was that Seto could possible tell him that would have Joey crying.

They crossed the lobby to the main elevators and Joey hit the button to summon the lift to take them to the top floor. They waited in silence.

Otogi leaned against the waist high planter next the elevator doors, watching Yami and wondering what was going on. He was starting to feel left out of the loop. He was just about to put an arm around Tristan when he felt a hand grab him by the hair and he was dragged around the planter.

"Tris..!" He began, but cut it off when he felt something sharp pressed against his neck.

"Shut up!" A voice hissed in his ear.

Tristan turned and saw a blonde haired man with a knife to his lover's throat. "What the fuck..!" He began to go after them when he felt someone wrap their arms around him, holding him back.

Everyone had turned at the sound of Otogi's voice and Joey had quickly grabbed Tristan. Bakura and Yami immediately stepped in front of Ryou, shielding the hikari from possible danger.

"What do you want?" Bakura demanded.

"What's mine." The man gestured with his chin towards Yami.

Yami's eyes went wide. He knew him! The man from the mirror, the devil…Yugi's father.

"Let him go." Tristan said, struggling in Joey's grasp.

"Tell your boyfriends to back off…son."

Everyone went still. Bakura glanced at Yami out of the corner of his eye, understanding dawning. He could see the rage growing in the Pharaoh's red eyes.

"Let Otogi go." Yami said.

"I'll let him go, but you're coming with me. You belong to me Yugi."

"Oh shit." Joey whispered.

Ryou clung to the back of Bakura's shirt. *Do something yami!*

**I can't. Not while he's got Otogi.**

"I'll come with you, but let my friend go first." Yami reached out to touch Yugi through their link. //Aibou. I love you. Take care of Joey. Tell Seto…tell Seth I'm sorry.//

The light went from his eyes as he accepted that he would sacrifice himself for his other. He only wished he had been able to hold Seto one last time. It was his only regret.

"Come to daddy Yugi."

Yami shuddered and took a step forward. Bakura reached out and grabbed him.

"Are you nuts? You're not going with him."

"If he doesn't…" The man pulled Otogi's head back and drew the knife across his neck.

Otogi winced, but didn't make a sound as blood swiftly beaded up from the shallow cut and ran down his neck. Joey tightened his grip on Tristan as the brunette renewed his struggles.

"Let him go. I said I'd come with you." Yami stepped within arm's reach of the man, looking into Otogi's eyes. "I'm sorry."

Otogi bit his lip against the stinging pain, telling Yami with his eyes that it wasn't his fault.

The blonde man laughed, shoving Otogi towards the others and reaching out to quickly draw Yami to him, turning him to face his friends and pressing the knife to the leather clad stomach.

As Otogi hit the floor, Tristan ripped away from Joey, going down on his knees and putting an arm around the raven haired boy, his other hand closing over his neck in an attempt to stop the blood.

Yugi's father took a few steps back, dragging Yami with him. He pressed the knife harder into Yami's stomach, eyes on Bakura who had taken a step towards them.

"Stay back." He growled at the spirit. He twisted the knife, parting the leather and cutting through the smooth skin underneath.

Bakura stepped back, clenching his fists and snarling as blood trickled down the knife, mixing with Otogi's.

~*~*~*~*~

"Yami! NO!" Yugi clutched his head again.

"Yugi, what's wrong?!"

"He's…he's…"

Just then, the elevator doors opened, revealing the scene in the lobby. Yugi bolted out into the small space between the doors and the security desk, Seto right behind him.

The small teen skidded to a halt with a choked cry.

//Aibou. I love you. Take care of Joey. Tell Seto…tell Seth I'm sorry.//

/No! It can't be! Oh gods, please, no! Yami! Don't!/ The link was blocked. Yugi couldn't reach out to his dark.

His father had a knife to Otogi's throat and Yugi froze as it was drawn across his friend's neck. He watched as Yami allowed himself to be taken.

Seto had quickly taken in the situation, realizing right away who the man was, and the fact he thought Yami was Yugi. He pushed Yugi down under the desk.

"Stay here." He whispered to the crying boy. "He hasn't seen you. Don't worry. I won't let anything happened to Yami."

Yugi didn't hear him. He had wrapped his arms around his upraised knees and was rocking himself, silently crying. /It's all my fault. Otogi's hurt. He's got Yami. It's all my fault./

Seto stepped out slowly, making his way across the lobby, hoping not to draw any attention. No such luck.

"Seto Kaiba." The man sneered. "Well, well. I suppose I must thank you for taking such good care of my son."

Seto narrowed his eyes at the man, glaring.

"Then again, maybe you should be thanking me. After all, I did break him in for you."

"You bastard." Seto clenched his fists.

"Stay where you are Kaiba." He tightened his hold on Yami's neck. "We're leaving now. And I swear, if you try to come after us, I'll gut him before you can get to him."

As he began to back them towards the door he had entered from, Yami caught Seto's eyes.

//Seth, I love you.//

[[Yami, please. Oh gods! I love you!]]

They could only stand in shock, watching as Yami was taken from them. No one noticed Yugi slip from behind the desk, running down the hall into the maze of offices.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto took a step towards the door as soon as it closed. Bakura grabbed him by the wrist, yanking him back.

"Where do you think you're going?!"

"Where the hell does it look like Bakura?! I'm going after them!"

"No you're not. He'll kill Yami if you do."

"He'll kill him if I don't!" Seto tried to twist out of Bakura's grip to no avail.

"Seto, let him get wherever it is he's going and then we'll go after them."

"He could be dead by then!" Seto's voice broke at the thought.

"Trust Yami. He knew what he was doing."

"But how are we going to find them? That sick bastard could be taking him anywhere."

Bakura ran a finger over the Ring. "I can find him."

Seto clenched his fists, fighting to control the fear and rage burning inside him. As odd as it seemed, he trusted Bakura's assessment of the situation. He turned to the others, desperately needing to focus his attention on something. Joey was on his knees next to Tristan and Otogi. He had removed his jacket and ripped the sleeve from his tee shirt, using it to stop the flow of blood from Otogi's neck.

"Let's take him up to my office. There's a first aid kit in the bathroom."

Ryou looked around the lobby, realizing someone was missing. "Where's Yugi?"

Joey's eyes met Seto's with a panicked look. "Seto?"

Seto went to where he had left the smaller boy, a curse slipping from his lips when he saw that he wasn't there.

Joey ran up to him, frantic. "Where is he Seto? Where did he go?"

"Easy Joey. There's only one place he could have gone." He pointed to the hallway that led to the lower offices.

"I'll go with you Joey." Ryou said.

Joey was already gone. Ryou ran after him.

Tristan picked up Otogi and walked over to Seto, followed by Bakura. Otogi was pale and his shirt and hair were soaked with blood.

"Gods!" Seto took in the mess. "Is the cut that deep? Maybe we should get him to a hospital."

Tristan shook his head. "He's a bleeder. I've seen him worse." His concerned eyes met those of his lover.

Otogi rolled his eyes. "Fuck you." He said weakly.

"Later." Tristan's smile was shaky.

"If you two are done..?" Bakura crossed his arms impatiently. "We do have a Pharaoh to go after you know."

~*~*~*~*~

Joey and Ryou ran down the hall, looking for any sign of Yugi.

"Yugi! Where are you?!" Ryou called.

"Wait!" Joey stopped, cocking his head to one side. "Did you hear something?"

Ryou scanned the polished doors, his eyes lighting up when he spotted one with a brass push plate. There was a small hand print on it. "The bathroom!"

They both bolted for the door, pushing it open.

~*~*~*~*~

Yugi ran down the hall blindly.

/It's my fault! He's got Yami. He's going to hurt him just like he hurt me!/

He pushed through a door and found himself in a bathroom. He ran into the closest stall, dropping to his knees just in time. His stomach heaved until there was nothing left and he crumpled to the floor sobbing.

/Yami! I'm sorry!/ He tried desperately to push through the barrier blocking their link. /Please Yami! No! I need you! Don't leave me! I'm sorry!/

He staggered to his feet, crossing over to the sinks and looked at himself in the mirror. All he could see was someone who had failed. He wanted to die. He didn't deserve to live. His other half would be broken before it was all over. And it was his fault. He couldn't stand the sight anymore.

He raised a fist and smashed it into the mirror.

"Yugi!"

Yugi pulled his hand away from the broken glass, looking curiously at his bleeding knuckles. His eyes drifted to Joey and Ryou, standing in the doorway, mouths open.

"It's my fault you know." His voice was flat, lifeless, as were his eyes.

"What's you're fault?" Ryou whispered, frightened.

"Otogi's hurt. He has Yami and it's all my fault."

Joey felt his heart shatter as he strode across the room and gathered his little lover into his arms. "It's not you fault baby, it's not."

"It is." Yugi stood stiffly in the embrace. "I should have been the one."

"Don't say that."

"It's me he wanted. I should have gone with him." His emotionless voice was beginning to seriously scare his lover and his best friend.

"Damn it Yugi! Don't say that!" Joey tilted the small face up, wincing at the cold eyes. "Please, baby…we'll get him back. Otogi's fine and we'll get Yami back."

Tears filled Yugi eyes. "It'll be too late by then."

"No, it won't. Seto and Bakura are going to find him." The blonde wasn't sure if Yugi was even hearing him.

"It's all my fault Joey." Yugi gave a small whimper and went limp in Joey arms.

~*~*~*~*~

Otogi hissed as Bakura stroked the alcohol soaked cotton across his neck.

"Oh, don't be such a baby."

"Don't be such an ass." The emerald eyes teen retorted.

Bakura chuckled and winked at Tristan who was hovering at the head of the couch where Otogi lay.

"Hurry up, would you!" Seto was impatiently pacing the room.

"Calm down Seto. We need to give Yami more time."

"I swear Bakura, if you don't…" He was cut off as the door to his office flew open revealing Ryou and Joey, who was holding an unconscious Yugi in his arms.

"What happened?!" Tristan asked.

"We found him in the bathroom." Ryou said, tears trailing down his pale cheeks. "He…he…"

"Hush, hikari." Bakura came and put his arms around the crying boy.

Joey walked across the room and sat in the armchair, cradling Yugi in his lap. "He passed out. He was ranting about how it was all his fault."

Seto knelt down next to the blonde and removed the wet paper towel from Yugi's hand that Ryou had hastily wrapped around it to stop the bleeding . He winced at the damaged knuckles. "What happened here?"

"He punched the mirror."

Seto raised an eyebrow. That definitely wasn't the Yugi they all knew.

"Seto." Bakura let go of Ryou and came to put a hand on the brunette's shoulder. "Let the others take care of him. Let's go get Yami."

~*~*~*~*~

Seto and Bakura were just exiting the elevator when the security guard stumbled into the lobby.

"Mr. Kaiba!"

"Bobby! Are you okay?" Seto could see blood drying in the man's close cropped beard.

"I'm sorry sir. I let him in. He sucker punched me."

"It's okay. We'll take care of it."

"But sir…I let him get away. He came out the back door…he…he had a knife to Mr. Motou…"

"Bobby!" Seto grasped the man by the shoulders, demanding his complete attention. "It's okay! We're going after them. I want you to get more security here immediately. I want the place locked tight. No one gets in unless they're with me. Understand?"

"Yes sir."

"The others are in my office. I want guards at every enterance, especially on that floor."

"Right away Mr. Kaiba."

Having done what he could to make sure his friends would be safe, he and Bakura fled the building, reaching the alley behind the tower in seconds.

"Where are they Bakura?"

The white haired yami lifted his Ring and channeled its power to detect Yami's Puzzle. It pointed straight down the alley. "This way."

They took off at a run.

~*~*~*~*~

Yami was shoved to his knees, wincing as he hit the concrete floor. They were in an abandoned warehouse a few blocks from Seto's office.

"You've been a bad boy Yugi, haven't you?"

Yami was numb. The shock of the pain and love he had seen in Seto's eyes had ripped his heart into a million pieces. He only hoped his love would forgive him for what he was about to do.

Yami let out a hiss as he was pulled from the floor by his hair.

"Answer me boy!" The blonde man backhanded Yami across the face.

Yami shook his head to clear it, keeping his eyes lowered. "Yes…Daddy."

The man smirked, running his hand over the neck belt Yami wore to trail down his chest to his stomach. He hooked a finger into Yami's belt and pulled him against his chest.

"I think it's time you were reminded who you belong to son."

~*~*~*~*~

Yugi stirred in Joey's arms, twitching slightly.

"He's waking up!" Joey shifted the small body into a more comfortable position. "Yugi? Yugi baby, open your eyes."

Ryou came and knelt next to the chair as Tristan stopped the task of trying to remove the blood from Otogi's hair.

"Come on Yugi. Wake up."

Yugi opened his eyes, blinking a few times before focusing on the blonde. "Hello."

"Hey Yugi." Joey brushed the hair from his face. "How ya doin'?"

"Ummm…okay." Yugi looked confused. "Where am I?"

Joey frowned. "You're in Seto's office."

Yugi seemed to think about this for a minute. "Okay. Who are you?"

~*~*~*~*~

TBC

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou: *throws his hands in the air and storms out of the room*

DD: I think we finally pissed him off.

YD: Yeah.

Joey & Tristan: All hail the Cliffhanger Queens!

YD: Stop! You're making us blush!

Yami: You guys are so dead!

Otogi: Can anyone say "lynch mob"?

Seto: I'm right there for that one!

YD: Oh come on! It's becoming expected of us!

Yugi: Yeah right…whatever!

Bakura: Hurry up and write the next chapter!!

DD: We'll get to it!

YD: Please review!!