Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Future of the Past ❯ Three- Trapped Pursuit ( Chapter 3 )

The Future of the Past

A Yu-GI-Oh! Fanfiction V2.0

By: Sanjuno Shori

Rating: R! Oh, is it ever R!

Pairings: Seto/Jounouchi, Yami + Yugi

Warnings: YAOI, AU, BDSM, lemon, and a sugar-crazed sword-wielding psychopath

The Obligatory Yet Totally Pointless Disclaimer: The Yu-Gi-Oh! Series and characters do not belong to me. This fic does. Do not take it without the Author's permission. Your cooperation is expected.

AUTHORS NOTES

Sanjuno pulls her toque firmly down over her pointed ears and glares at the thermometer. It's minus twenty degrees outside with a wind-chill of minus thirty-three. Sanjuno is not a happy demon-kitty. She reaches over and turns up the dial on the electric heater.

"Frelling Canadian winters. I hate cold."

Yugi looks at her and chances a smile.

"The snow is really pretty though."

"Yea, I truly love the snow, it's so sparkly. Especially when we get enough of it to get out of school for the day. But I really hate the goddamn cold."

Yami pulls Yugi away from the glowering author.

"Is something the matter?"

"I got my car stuck in a buggering snow bank the other day."

"Remind me not to drive with you."

She glares at Kaiba and hisses at him.

"Don't even, pretty-boy. I'm in a great deal of pain and I'm broke, so I can't even get my usual supply of chocolate and rare steak to help me through it. The incident in question was not my fault. The sun was in my eyes, I blinked, and then I was on top of the blasted snow bank."

"How's your car look?"

"It's fine, I drove up on top of snow and got stuck, dimwit. I didn't crash."

"Ah."

Sanjuno watches Raven savage the pompoms on her slippers for a while. Looking up she frowns as she tries to remember what she was supposed to be doing. She looks at her notes, at the fic chapter on the computer, the characters lounging around the room and a light bulb flashes in the air above her head with a little `ding' noise. A snap of clawed fingers brings a fluffy white rabbit racing out from under the bed; a now familiar whoosh noise and the characters fall into the fic.

Sanjuno smiles at the surprised screams. It has fangs in it.

Reiai and Shinma appear on her head with twin pops of displaced air.

"Time to re-do the next part Meijin-sama?"

"Hai Shinma-kun. Be ready you two, this one needs a lot of work."

"Iku zo!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*

Recap:

Moving his gaze to the other noble, the one who was wearing blue, Jounouchi felt a shock run through him as he looked into eyes of azure fire. Gold and sapphire met with a frightening intensity, and Jounouchi found himself unable to look away from the tall, brown haired teen.

Amber eyes took in the well-muscled form, the intent, predatory set of his features, and the gold rod that hung from his belt. Fuck, I'm gaping at the High Priest like an idiot! Jounouchi felt like reality had crashed to a screeching halt all around him, as he drowned in blue flame that reached deep inside to bathe his soul.

The Pharaoh said something to the High Priest, who nodded without taking his eyes from Jounouchi's. Then the blue eyed teen took a step forward. Jounouchi could physically feel it as the tension holding him in one place grew tighter, fierce, it scared him with its intensity. So he did the only thing he could think of...

He ran.

At which point things start to get really interesting.

Tsuzuku

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Future of the Past

Chapter 3: Trapped Pursuit, Quarry Seeks the Hunter

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The Great Pharaoh Yami was worried, Yugi, his personal companion of several years, had been stolen from the Palace and not a single soul had noticed, let alone been in a position to stop the kidnapping. Not only was this an insult to the Ruler of all Egypt, but a personal challenge directed at Yami. Yugi was, despite everything, a true innocent, and he had been taken from Yami so easily, so quickly. Now there was nothing he could do but search for his little lover. This made Yami very, very mad. When he found Yugi and his captors they had better not have hurt him otherwise... Yami left that thought hanging. Unfortunately, now that he had stopped thinking if his revenge, he started to worry again.

Damn it.

"Master Yami!!"

The sudden, unexpected cry brought all of the pharaoh's racing thoughts to a screeching halt as he focused on one thing. Whirling around in the direction of the shout Yami caught the hurtling form of Yugi as it flew into him.

"Yugi! Praise Ra, you're all right! How did you escape?"

"Oh, I'm just fine Yami, all I got were a few bruises from when I tripped while I was running."

"Gods I was worried about you! Now, tell me what exactly happened."

Seto was glad that his Pharaoh had found the little slave again; Yugi was a great help in forcing Yami to relax. The thought of Yami without Yugi around, well, it gave the bravest men the shivers. Casting off that thought, the High Priest turned to look back down the way Yugi had come. Wary of leaving his back unprotected in case of any pursuers.

A form in the shadows shifted, drawing his attention to one of the numerous side alleys. There he saw a slender form hovering at the edge of the deeper shadows. The light of their torches flickered, revealing a young teen, younger than Seto, who stood gazing wistfully at Yami and Yugi. The boy turned his face to Seto and the priest sucked in his breath, gazing into the wide gold eyes.

The Priest was utterly captivated by the golden boy. He really isn't all that far away, just five meters. I can catch him easily if he tries to run. The thought comforted Seto and he was content to continue staring at the beautiful boy. So pale, so frightened… I want to know how he tastes. Seto felt the urge to take the stranger into him arms, keep him safe from the pain that haunted his features. Seto wanted the boy, badly. Moreover, Seto wanted to make the boy want him!

"Seto."

"Yes, my lord?"

The blue-eyed teen never wavered in his fixed fascination with the wide amber eyes that held his own. An irrational fear that the beauty would disappear into air the instant the priest blinked keeping his blue gaze locked on the boy hiding in the shadows.

"Yugi says that the boy standing over in the shadows helped him escape."

"And...?"

Yami laughed, fully amused by his closest friends fixed fascination. Seto was completely taken with the boy. For a man known to deride impulsive action, it would appear that an impulse had finally taken hold of the priest… with a vengeance.

"He likes him. I think he would be a suitable companion for Yugi. He gets lonely when I'm gone all day, he would be better off with some company. Plus that other boy seems to know how to run away from danger."

Seto nodded slightly, understanding what Yami hoped to achieve by this. He knew his pharaoh well, and as well as providing Yugi with company, Yami probably hoped to find out if the slave knew anything that might help them in tracking down Yugi's kidnappers. Taking the golden youth to the palace would also provide him with protection should the kidnappers decide to use Yugi's new friend as bait.

"A good idea. However, may ask to take this one for my own?"

Yami cast an amused glance at the shadows that concealed the boy from normal, mortal vision.

"You like him?"

"His eyes are fascinating."

The words were delivered in a low murmur as if Seto was unaware that he had spoken to answer Yami's question.

The Pharaoh blinked, and decided to take that as a yes, having a great deal of difficulty refraining from outright laughter at his priest's sudden infatuation.

"Then he's all yours."

The brown haired teen nodded and stepped forward with the intent of slowly approaching the blond in the shadows. Seto felt something stretch... and started to curse as the slender teen spun around and ran down the narrow side street.

Yami shouted for the guards to follow the two, Seto barely heard his pharaoh as he sprinted after the fleeing slave.

The younger teen was fast, but Seto had the benefit of intense training and regular meals. They ducked and turned through alleyways that twisted in more ways than a snake's burrow, with the Priest managing to just barely keep the blond in within his sight.

As his prey stumbled going around a corner Seto urged his legs to supply more speed, feeling the thrill that accompanied the end of the chase as the slave started to slow. It was obvious that the amber-eyed teen was still tired after running away from Yugi's captors.

Losing sight of his quarry for a moment, as the blond turned another corner Seto never the less heard the crash. Harsh, angry voices followed by the sound of flesh striking flesh and a cry of pain. Slowing down, he carefully edged his eyes around the corner. Seto felt his rage, a familiar emotion never far from the surface, flare at the sight presented to him.

Jounouchi had run for reasons unknown to even him and some parts of Jounouchi were telling him what a complete and utter idiot he was for taking off like a startled bird.

Conflicting voices of desire, reason, fear, panic, and confusion… they all whirled around in a dizzy disharmony of mental noise. A desire to stay with his new friend a make certain that Yugi was going to be all right. Reasons to stay clashed with the reasons to run. Fear of what may happen should it be discovered that he was out after dark without permission. A panicked need to get away, away, away from the High Priest and his blue fire eyes…

-WHAM!-

Foolishly, Jounouchi had forgotten an important fact, and had run back the way he and Yugi had only just come from. Straight into the last group of people he ever wanted to see. A group of large, foul smelling foreigners built like stone walls and half as bright.

"Hey! You're tha one who run off with that little whore we was supposed ta be bringin' ta tha boss!"

The voice was loud and coarse, accent horribly mangling the words. A large hand slammed into the side of the pale face as Jounouchi scrambled to his feet, throwing the slave back to the hard ground in a daze. He was dimly aware that he had made some sort of noise; they seemed to have found his pain amusing as coarse laughter filled the street. The ringing in his ears prevented him from hearing much else.

A large boot connected with his ribs a few times, so he curled into himself. Futilely attempting to shield his body from harm with thin arms as the shouted inquiries continued.

"Where'd ya hide him ya little bitch?!"

Before Jou could even gather the breath to answer a low voice drifted out from the shadows, bringing the abuse that was being rained down on the blond to an abrupt halt.

"He has hidden nothing."

Seto stepped out into the street, confidence shading his every movement. An eyebrow lifted and a sardonic smirk twisted the corner of the handsome noble's mouth.

"Don't you know that it's rather rude to kick your opponent while he's down?"

Icy blue eyes glared at the brutish men. Seto had long since realized from the nature of their demands to the blond that the foreigners must have been the ones who took Yugi from the palace.

"That slave does not belong to you. Release him. Now."

They laughed again, stupidly secure in their physical might. Taking the lean young lord at face value, dismissing him as no threat to them.

"What're ya gonna do about it weakling? Think you cin make us?"

More laughter from them then and Seto's eyes flared bright his the gloom.

"Oh, yes. Of that I have no doubt. It is worry over the type of vermin you carry that has prevented my touching you thus far."

Jounouchi was violently kicked to one side, slamming hard into a wall as the thugs charged the brown haired teen in anger. The blonde's head cracked hard into the stone, eliciting a sharp cry of pain from the slender slave. This action only served to fuel the flames of Seto's rage. Though he was unclear, exactly, as to why. He did not, after all, have any real claim on the boy. Not yet at any rate. But soon…

Seto gripped the Millennium Rod, knuckles white, shifting it to blade form to deal with the swords the thugs pulled.

Now picture this my friends, three large grunts with swords attacking one utterly gorgeous teen with a magical item.

The outcome is obvious, three against one, a cute little thing in distress for the older teen to save; being the Hero of this encounter Seto is certain to win. The fact that Seto was trained by the best fighters, had near unlimited access to Shadow Powers and was not afraid to play rough with a bunch of common thugs, well, that works in his favor to. Having Yami show up and order the guards to arrest them was probably overkill, but whatever works.

This just goes to show you that being cannon fodder is a Bad Career Move. You never win, and your life expectancy is near to nothing. You don't even get dental.

Seto felt better after thrashing the idiots, ignoring the semiconscious thugs now being manhandled by the guard troops. The blue-eyed teen turned his attention to the slender form trying to sit up by the wall.

Struggling to clear the flashes of light from his vision as much as he was struggling to rise, Jounouchi did not hear Seto approach. Thus, the hand that landed gently on his shoulder came as a complete surprise.

"Ah! Uhnn…"

Gasping he shot upright, only to crumple with a moan, still dizzy from the repeated blows to his head. Instead of falling back to the ground, he found himself pressed against a well-muscled chest, cradled in strong arms. Jounouchi fought the flashes and whirling stars that blocked his vision for the second time that night.

"Are you badly hurt?"

Jounouchi blinked up at the High Priest in shock, Seto sighed, suddenly tired and in dire need of a hot bath.

"You can talk can't you?"

"Yes..."

Jou quickly lowered his gaze, mentally scolding himself for forgetting his place and looking the noble in the face.

"I'm fine."

Considering this answer with narrowed eyes, Seto nodded and after helping the golden teen to his feet, released Jounouchi to stand on his own. Amber eyes blinked and the blond swayed. When Jounouchi tried to move further away from the taller boy the world spun around him again. Seto sighed and caught the slave boy before he could fall too far, not so secretly glad for the chance to touch the slender body.

"Just fine, hmm? You can't even stand on your own. I suppose there's nothing for it but for me to help you."

Seto lifted the golden boy into his arms and waited for a response. The priest grinned like a shark when Jounouchi just whimpered and hid his face in Seto's chest. The still dazed teen was trying to block out the torchlight that was only aggravating his rapidly growing headache. Yami looked watched them with a smirk from were he was directing the guards to take the prisoners back to the palace dungeons, Yugi had headed for his friends the moment he rounded the corner.

"Jou! Are you all right?"

Yugi peered up at his new friend worriedly; making concerned noises over the scrapes that decorated his new friend's pale skin.

Jounouchi cracked his eye open and looked at Yugi, a large red mark from the first blow had already appeared one side of his face.

"'M fine Yugi."

"No he's not. He's had his head slammed into both the street and the wall, he can't stand on his own without falling down."

Seto frowned disapprovingly at Jounouchi who glared back at him, apparently forgetting who he was. Seto was irritated to notice that the thug had struck Jou hard enough to bruise his face. His expression grew fiercer and the slave in his arms paled, squeaked, and looked down at Yugi again.

"Oh, poor Jou! I'm so sorry!"

Yugi's violet eyes were wide in sympathy, upset that his new friend was injured because of him. The small teen was simultaneously bemused by the interaction between his master's best friend and the slave he cradled in his arms.

"Why did you run back here?"

Yugi turned a mournful look up at the blond then turned to Seto without waiting for an answer.

"He will be all right though, right Lord Seto?"

Seto smiled to put Yugi at ease. The boy really did worry a great deal for his friends, both new and old. It could be annoying at times, but was heartwarming at most, like now.

"Yes. You don't need to worry Yugi, your friend will be fine."

Yami walked up then, having finished giving the guards their orders to cart the prisoners off to the cells.

"So I see you caught him, good work Seto."

Seto smirked, amused by the comment. He never allowed his efforts to go to waste; being damn stubborn had its uses at times.

"Thank you Yami. He gave me quite a chase."

He looked down at the blond slave sagging against his chest, a warm, fuzzy feeling growing under his breastbone at the almost sleepy expression on the blonde's face. The other boy was cute, damn cute.

"I suppose we should proceed with the next order of business."

Yami hooked an arm around Yugi's waist, grinning at the heated glare sent by way of Seto for interrupting the brunette's moment of sentiment.

"Indeed. Let's get back to the Palace. It isn't that far and I for one am tired of running all over the city."

They reached the Palace gates a short while later where the sedan chairs and their bearers sat, waiting for their masters to arrive. The guards had gone ahead and warned the carriers to be ready for the arrival of the Pharaoh and Priest.

(AN: you know that chair thing on sticks that that you sit on and get carried around by four guys, those are what I'm talking about. They can also be called litters, but those ones don't have canopies.)

Getting on Seto questioned Jounouchi as to where his master's home was. Suffering from the headache produced by the blows to his head, Jounouchi still answered reluctantly. He did not feel up to taking another beating tonight. He was certain to get one for sneaking out, even if he had maybe earned the favor of the Pharaoh for helping his slave get back.

"It's on the East Side of the city... the Mathater home... it's the one with the big carving in front."

The trip to his master's house went by in a blur to Jounouchi, who was rudely jolted out of his doze when the chairs were lowered. A soldier went inside, he returned a short while later with Jounouchi's master, a large man with thick jowls, hurrying out the doors behind him.

The man prostrated himself on the ground before Yami's chair, small piggy eyes catching sight of Jounouchi's place on Seto's lap before they were lowered to Yami's sandals.

"Oh mighty Pharaoh, how may your humble servant please you?"

Seto was surprised when the blond in his lap started shaking, looking down in worry he saw that Jounouchi had buried his face in Seto's chest, obviously terrified of the man who was the master of this house. Seto found the man's overdone groveling amusing, but his new pet seemed close to bolting. Seto snarled at the prone merchant, tightening his hold on the smaller boy. The only upside was that the blond teen seemed to have forgotten his abstract fear of the High Priest in favor of a more immediate terror.

Yami gazed dispassionately at the man lying in the dirt, he had not missed the flicker of beady eyes towards the pair on his right, nor had he mistaken the viscous expression of promised pain that had briefly appeared on the mans thick face. He motioned towards Seto to direct the man's attention.

"You are the owner of this slave."

It was no question, but the man answered anyway.

"I am Great Pharaoh."

"I will purchase him."

Jounouchi started in Seto's lap and would have fallen off if not for Seto's arms around his waist. The kneeling man nodded frantically to show his acceptance.

"Of course my Lord Pharaoh, as you desire."

"Indeed. What was his price?"

The man twitched in anger, he would not be able to profit much from this, but managed to answer quickly enough.

"He cost me four gold Mighty Pharaoh."

Yami motioned to one guard who quickly counted out the gold coins, but doubled the price the man had quoted at Yami's direction.

"Something extra, for your troubles, now go."

The man quickly picked up the coins and fled as the chairs were lifted back to the bearer's shoulders. They made their way back towards the Palace.

During the trip, Seto decided to put the blond in his lap more at ease, curious about his new slave the priest began to ask questions.

"So tell me, what sort of man was your old master?"

Jounouchi started and looked up in surprise, as if he was just now remembering whose lap he was sitting on. Whose chest he had been using to rest his head against. The boy had very nearly been asleep but soon realized that since the high priest was looking directly at him, the blue eyed man was expecting Jounouchi to answer the question.

"I don't know… he was always just the guy you had to listen too, or else. I just tried to stay out of his way, same as I did with all my other masters."

The blond let his words trail off, keeping his mouth closed and began a serious study of his fingers.

"Look at me."

Seto tipped the pale face up to look at him, caressing the soft skin of one cheek, Jounouchi flinched and kept his eyes lowered.

"It's all right, you can look at me. Tell me something else, did you like living there?"

Amber eyes peeked up at the noble through thick lashes, and then Jounouchi raised his gold eyes to face the blue fire that lived in Seto's. Marveling at having permission to do so, he let his eyes roam over the priest's features. Taking in the slanted sapphire eyes, high cheekbones, the strong line of his jaw, and the hard mouth that had softened with a small smile. For some reason Jounouchi felt his heart leap into his throat as his eyes drank in the sight of the powerful man. His own voice sounded so very far away as he answered the noble's question with an honesty that he had not wanted to speak with.

"No, I hated it, just like I hated him, and every other fucking master I've ever had. I hated being treated as less than human, like I had no soul. I hate being owned. I hate not having a choice. I hate being beaten, whipped, chained and raped on a sick whim so that they can feel powerful. I hate it! I hate them! I especially hate him for making this happen! I hate being hurt all the time, gods… it always hurts, hurts so badly. They always hurt me… why do they always hurt me? I didn't do anything to them, so why? It hurts… hurts so much… please, make it stop hurting…"

Jounouchi's voice broke as he shook, unconsciously clinging to Seto as he cried silently. Amber gaze still held by the azure eyes of the other. Jounouchi saw a number of emotions flicker across the face of the man he watched through tear blurred eyes. Anger, sadness, possessiveness, and many others that he could not place name to war for dominance behind gem bright eyes.

Seto said nothing, just pulled Jounouchi into his arms, tucking the blonde head under his chin. Jounouchi felt oddly cared for, comforted by the firm hold of the muscled arms wrapped around him. The fine fabric of the noble's clothes caught the tears that fell from gold eyes that closed softly as a gentle hand ran slowly through his hair. The shuddering eventually stilled, the flow of tears slowing to a stop as exhaustion took Jounouchi's stressed mind under the blanket of sleep.

Seto continued to pet the soft blond locks until the slave fell into a light doze, and smiled slightly. The first step had been taken; he hadn't really wanted to use his power to get the truth from the boy, and he hadn't really needed to. Nothing beyond the first nudge used to get him speaking truthfully. Hopefully the little blond had begun to trust him now, after seeing that Seto would not reject him because of his past abuse. Still, it meant that Seto would have to go carefully. The next thing to do would be to show his pet that the blonde would receive no pain from his new master, only pleasure. Seto grinned at this, he would enjoy seeing how the golden youth reacted to his touch. If all things went well then he would soon be able to take the blond as a companion, instead of a slave. He would have his own little pet to love, just like Yami had in Yugi. Seto spent the rest of the trip back in smug, thoughtful silence.

Once the group reached their destination, they moved down the corridors of the Palace in the direction of Yami and Seto's rooms. Yugi was happily walking close to Yami, beaming up at Jounouchi, for Seto was still carrying the confused, sleepy blond in his arms.

Stopping at a branch in the corridor, Yami turned and smirked at his High Priest, crimson eyes dancing with ill concealed mirth at his friends over protective actions. The slave should be more than ready to walk on his own by now, but Seto simply gave him no choice. Even if Seto hadn't asked for the slave as his own already, Yami would have to give the blond to the priest now, just to watch Seto actually… coddle someone other than his little brother.

"Seto, since you are the one responsible for catching Yugi's kidnappers, you get the new slave as you requested."

Seto rolled his eyes but smirked in return, he already knew this. Yami was just letting the other two know where things stood.

"It was my pleasure, and I appreciate your generosity."

Chuckling Yami bid Seto goodnight and escorted Yugi down one hallway towards their room. Yugi giggled and waved goodbye to the two boys, Jounouchi waved hesitantly back. The blond squeaked as Seto spun and walked down the other branch.

They soon reached Seto's room where Jounouchi finally found the courage to speak up again, crossing his arms and glaring sulkily at his new master. He dredged up the familiar resentment he felt every time he was sold to a new person. For some reason, it was rather more difficult to find, this time.

"I can walk on my own you know."

Seto looked down at Jounouchi to respond but his words caught in his throat, amber and sapphire meeting once again. Full lower lip pouting out tempting a kiss, heated gold eyes shot angry sparks. Seto wanted to see what the expressive face would look like flushed with passion, he wanted to soften the hard glitter in the gold eyes with lust. The taller man silently let Jounouchi slide down until his feet could touch the floor, but the slave's slim form was still pulled tightly to the taller teen's body. Slowly, so slowly, Seto lowered his mouth to the other boys, catching the tempting pout.

Jounouchi cried out and tried to push Seto away. Furious to be caught off guard, he should have been expecting this! What else would the most powerful Sorcerer-Priest in Egypt save him for? Jounouchi snarled in anger and attempted to hit the taller man away from him. Nothing connected with enough force to make his new master take notice, the angle of the blows was wrong; his fists couldn't get any momentum while he was pressed against the noble like this. Jounouchi cursed loudly and tried to bite.

Seto took advantage of the now open mouth, squeezing the blond behind the jaw to prevent the smaller boys teeth from closing. He then slid his tongue into his pet's mouth, pushing easily past the boy's defenses. The blond tasted like sunlight and honey, warm and rich... it could easily become addictive. Breaking off the kiss before the slave recovered enough to bite Seto took a step back.

"Strip."

Jounouchi's head whipped up at the order, blond hair flying wildly as hard gold eyes flashed defiance.

"Like hell!"

"Do it, or I will do it for you."

Jounouchi had no doubts that his new master would make good on his threat, so he removed his clothes, careful to keep his deck hidden within the folds of cloth. All his care came to nothing when the priest promptly took the bundle from him and removed the bag holding Jounouchi's deck.

"No! Please, I'm sorry! I'll listen!"

Ignoring the slaves pleas Seto removed the carved box containing the blond boys deck from the worn cloth bag. Nodding to himself as he confirmed his suspicions, Seto turned his back to the smaller boy and placed the box on a high shelf. Returning to where the slave stood staring in wide-eyed fear at the priest, Seto smiled at his pet, raising a single eyebrow.

"I'm having these clothes disposed of, and I was certain that you didn't want to lose your deck by mistake."

Jounouchi just stared at his master in dumbfounded silence. He had not expected the man to act out of concern for his deck instead of a desire to have a hold over him. Realizing that Jounouchi wasn't going to be speaking any time soon Seto rang for a servant then wrapped a spare kilt around the blonde's waist. The call was quickly answered by one of the many people who waited on the royal wing of the palace.

"Take my new slave to the healer, I want those injuries taken care of, and I want him looked over. I also want him to be completely cleaned. Be very… thorough, and be certain not to miss anything. Bring him back here once you've finished."

"As you wish Lord Priest."

Bowing the servant lead Jounouchi away, leaving Seto to think wistfully about washing his new pet himself. An hour later Seto had bathed, changed into a comfortable long robe held closed at the waist, and was reading a scroll as he waited for his slave to be returned.

At the respectful knock on the door Seto rose from his seat.

"Enter."

The servant from before ushered a red faced Jounouchi into the room.

"He is as you commanded Lord."

"Good, you have my thanks. You may leave now."

Bowing the servant quietly departed from the sorcerer's rooms.

Jounouchi was glaring at the priest for all he was worth. The blond had first been taken to a kind, older woman who had healed his pains with a single touch, then looked him over for any more serious injuries. Pronouncing him uninjured and fully healed, the old healer had returned him to the clutches of the waiting servant.

After being healed he had been taken to a bath where a company of body servants had, after a comment from the original servant, immediately asked him to move into another room and lean against a table. They had then, despite his protests, followed the sorcerer-priests orders to the letter and cleaned Jounouchi more thoroughly than the blonde had thought possible. It was in no way sexual, they had been completely clinical about it, which made it all the more embarrassing for the slender blonde. After the humiliating experience in the room with the table Jounouchi had been scrubbed until his skin was pink. They washed, dried and brushed his hair. Then, after drying him off and rubbing sweet smelling oil into his skin until it shone a pale gold, he had been dressed in an indecently short green tunic and shunted back off to his master's room.

Now he was red faced and eye to eye with the reason for his torment. Trying to ignore the hollowed out feeling in his gut he glared at his master and snarled as the taller man circled him.

"I take it everything meets your approval, master?"

Seto chuckled at the stiff set of his pet's back and admired the way the green silk clung to his body. The priest purred in delight.

"Indeed."

Seto grabbed his slave and pulled him close, nuzzling the soft skin of the blonde's neck. Jounouchi stiffened in the priest's hold. Seto chuckled again trailing the tips of his fingers up the back of the blond boy's neck, if he had read things right…

Click.

Jounouchi gasped as the familiar metal of his restraint collar was removed, his hands rose to clutch at his suddenly bare neck. The priest took the opportunity to remove the shackles on his wrists as well. Jounouchi shuddered, moaning as the void where his connection to the Shadow Realm and his monsters used to be was filled by the long missed presence. His mind fuzzed out, overloaded by the sudden influx of power.

Seto grinned as his pet sagged helplessly in his arms, falling against his master as his mind blanked out. Quickly maneuvering the currently pliant blonde towards the bed Seto lay his pet down and pressed his hands up the smaller boy's flanks. The short tunic slid up under the influence of Seto's wandering hands and Jounouchi's thighs parted under their gentle pressure.

Jounouchi's mind recovered from his emotional overload only to discover that his body had let things get out of control. Physical sensations immediately bowled him over, he could do nothing but arch helplessly into his masters dominating hands. The green fabric was bunched under his arms and the priest laved one pink nipple with his tongue. Jounouchi shuddered, body seeming overly sensitive and his mind swamped with feeling.

Seto made his way down the boy's body; waiting for the moment he knew was coming. When Jounouchi was finally able to muster a resistance Seto was ready. Seto caught the punch before it landed, pulling the green tunic over Jounouchi's head and completely off. This forced the blonde's arms above his head, allowing Seto to attach the padded leather cuffs to the slender wrists. Jounouchi cursed vehemently and tried to kick the priest, but the pressure of Seto's hips against his own trapped his legs.

"Get the fuck off me!"

"I don't think so pet. Before I'm done with you I'm going to have you begging me to keep touching you."

"Not fucking likely bastard!"

"We'll see."

Seto ran his hands up the sensitive undersides of the blondes trapped arms, nuzzling into the curve of his neck. Jounouchi grit his teeth and waited for it to finish, he knew how these things went.

Seto was determined not to take the little blonde until he was begging for it, desperate for his master's touch. Only then would he claim the boy. It would take a while, but he was stubborn, and he came prepared.

Gripping Jounouchi's hip in one hand the sorcerer pulled the blondes pelvis up tight against his own, fitting the curves together. Seto began a concentrated assault against the smaller boy's erogenous zones. His neck, nipples, ears, even the underside of Jounouchi's jaw was treated to a series of licks, nibbles kisses, bites and sucks. While his hands kept themselves busy with the soft inner thighs, firm rear, brushing teasing touches along the younger boy's length, rolling the velvet balls in a cupped palm. The blonde was soon shuddering under the sensual attack on his defenses. A firm hand clasped around his length undid him, wringing a cry from his lips. Jounouchi slammed his head back against the pillows and bit the inside of his cheek, hoping to prevent another sound from escaping.

Seto watched as Jounouchi tossed his head, eagerly drinking in the sight before him, mussed blond hair, gold eyes glazed with reluctant lust, full lips swollen from biting on them to stop escaping moans. The slender frame and finely muscled body covered in soft, creamy skin. Seto leaned up to whisper in his slave's ear, words washing across the shell in a hot, damp breeze.

"Are you ready to admit you want me?"

"Go to hell! Ahhn!"

Seto laughed as he manipulated his pet's body with an expert touch. It had been quite some time since he had faced such a challenge; Jounouchi would find him more than up to the task. He snagged what he needed from the bedside table where he had set his tools out in easy reach. The blonde boy jerked in his bonds the cock ring slipped over his length and tightened around the base.

"What, nng, the fuck do you think you're doing?! Ah! Hnn!"

"You will not come until I'm inside you, pretty pet, and I'll not take you until you beg for it."

"Ba-ahh! Bastard! Hnng!"

"So they say."

Seto watched the golden youth thrash against the cuffs, still trying to deny his pleasure at his masters hands. What to do next? Seto grinned and flipped Jounouchi onto his stomach without warning.

Jounouchi squeezed his eyes shut as he waited for the inevitable, he knew it would come to this. That still did not explain the tight knot of disappointment in his chest that he tried to ignore. He had nothing to be disappointed about! This was all the priest saw in him, a convenient hole! A startled scream erupted from his lips as something hot and wet pressed against his recently scoured opening. Jounouchi bit his lip, bucking helplessly in the priest's hold as the pleasure began to wear away at his reason again.

Had he been able, Seto would have grinned. He had wanted to see what his pets reaction to tonguing would be, one of the many reasons he had ordered his pet cleaned inside and out. The slave spasms in his hands again, sounds' coming more frequently as the feeling of pleasure takes over from the previous resistance. The slender body suddenly twisted, a scream rising from the blonde's throat.

Pulling back and flipping Jounouchi once again on to his back, Seto notes that without the presence of the ring, his pet would have come just then. Delighted that the slender boy was so responsive Seto knew then what his next move should be. Narrowing his eyes the priest takes advantage of his slaves mindless state to slick his fingers and insert one into the other boys passage.

Jounouchi comes back to himself then, shouting a denial and clamping down on the invading digit.

"No!"

Seto responds to this by lifting one of the blondes legs over his shoulder, spreading the bound slave wide open despite all Jounouchi's efforts to the contrary. The blonde's entire body is weak, muscles lax in spite of Jounouchi's continued efforts. Seto can feel him trembling, and he knows that his victory is close at hand, all he needs to do is this one last thing…

"Naahhhn!"

Jounouchi screams as white sparks take over his vision, pleasure blinding him in a brilliant wash. Seto twisted his finger again, stroking the tip of his finger over the fleshy bump he'd found, earning another scream from the bound slave in the process. Then pressing his thumb against the soft skin behind the boy's balls. Bound, desperate, and driven far beyond his limits, Jounouchi feels the last of his resistance crumble to dust blown away by scorching winds.

"Please, oh gods, oh, oh, hnn! Please!"

Jounouchi sobs, twisting his needy body into the strong hands that control the flames of his desire. Seto just smirks, a twist and slide demanding another helpless wail, the slender body gleaming in the light as Jounouchi arches wantonly into his master's touch.

"Please what, little pet? Do you want something?"

Some part of Jounouchi may have denied what came next, but he was so far gone by now that all he knows is the deep voice that rumbles in his ear and the hands that control his body.

"Yes! Master, please! I, I need to finish it! Please!"

"Mm, you beg very prettily pet. Now tell me exactly what you want from me."

Jounouchi keened, there were two fingers inside him now! Scissoring, stretching him, reaching inside to strike sparks the sent the fire in his blood spiraling higher. Writhing under his master, spreading his legs wider, opening himself to the invasion, wanting it, needing it, begging his master to take him.

"Touch me, keep touching me! Take me, finish it! Please! Master, please! Let me cum!"

"Who am I?"

"Master! Ahh!"

"Whose master?"

"Mine! My master! Please!"

"No one else may touch you like this. Only I can bring you this pleasure. Remember pretty pet, I own your pleasure, just as I own you!"

"Yes, yes! My master, my pleasure! Anything! Ah! Just please, please!"

Three fingers were preparing him now, opening his body for his master. He needed it so badly now, mindless with the wanton desire for completion. He could only cum when master said so, master said he couldn't cum until master was inside him. He needed master inside him! He wanted master, wanted him to, no! The fingers were gone!

"No, master please!

"Hush love, it's all right."

Seto shushed his pet as the blonde wailed, hips bucking in a search for something to fill the sudden emptiness. Seto's robe had long since fallen open, and he now shrugged out of it in a smooth motion, slicking his length with one hand while the other held his pet still. Positioning the tip of his length at the entrance to Jounouchi's body, Seto watched the face of his slave closely.

"Watch me pretty. See who your master is."

Glazed eyes opened slowly, locking onto the face of the man kneeling above. Jounouchi gasped at the hungry expression on his master's face, struggling to keep his eyes open. Apparently satisfied by what he saw in his pet's expressive eyes Seto pushed passed the guardian ring of muscle.

"Ahh!"

Jounouchi's vision grayed, his master's length felt huge! Forcing its way into him, relentless as all the older mans actions had been. The advance never stilled until the blue eyed man was buried to the hilt in his slave's body. Forcing Jounouchi down into the sheets Seto leaned over and pressed a kiss to the blondes gasping mouth. This time there was no resistance against him, soft lips parting readily to grant the sorcerer full access to the honeyed interior.

Jounouchi kisses back, holding his master tight between his thighs, gasping helplessly into the older mans mouth as the burn of invasion sends everything careening out of control. The blonde is folded nearly in half, intimately connected to the blue eyed man in two places. He feels stuffed full to bursting; it's almost too much, too good.

Seto slips one arm under the slender leg wrapped around his waist, holding Jounouchi open, and grips the blonde slave's hips his both hands. Then he moves.

A slow glide back, savoring the clutching of soft walls around his length, before sinking back in. Jounouchi presses his heels into his master's back, hips rising to meet the forward thrusts. The speed soon increases as the tight control that Seto had held himself under for most of the night falls away. The game was long, and well played; now it was time to finish it.

Seto releases the catch on the cock ring, and a firm squeeze, another slamming thrust against his prostrate, and Jounouchi peaks with a screech. Arching against Seto as his seed falls on both their stomachs. The blue eyed man continues to move through his lover's orgasm, waiting until the aftershocks slow before letting go with a low groan. Heat coats Jounouchi's insides. His master holds their bodies tight together while he rides out his own cresting pleasure.

Seto trails lazy kisses across Jounouchi's face as he comes down of the euphoric high of release. Letting the blonde's legs fall back to the blankets and removing the leather cuffs. Dazed and close to passing out from exhaustion Jounouchi barely reacts to his freedom other than too lower his arms. Using the wash basin and cloth from the side table Seto cleans them both off before dumping the soiled top sheet to the floor and pulling his pet into his arms.

Both master and slave then drift off into well-earned rest.

The persistent demands of life could wait, for once, until morning.

^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^

Deep in the Shadow Realm a Lord of D reached out a hand to steady himself, pressing the other tight to his forehead. Straightening the spell caster looked over at the three Blue Eyes White Dragon's who had also felt the echoes of their master's pleasure.

Easily shaking it off the giant reptiles returned to the pressing business of napping. Dahk shrugged and decided to go for a walk, it was more difficult for the human shaped monsters to ignore these kinds of things. Tucking the Flute of Summoning Dragon into his belt the monster wandered off into the darkness.

Somewhere else in the Shadow Realms a very, very happy Flame Swordsman was... turning cartwheels. A pair of a Swamp and a Lava Battleguard was watching from a safe distance. Semt turned to Lesk, the Lava Battleguard; he had a pinched look on his face.

+ Do you think there's any chance of him calming down sometime soon? +

Lesk turned a critical gaze to where the other Warrior was doing handsprings and shook his head with a snort, expression rueful.

+ With everything that's happened after having the block removed then being swamped with all that sexual energy? Not a chance in Hell. +

Semt sighed, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck.

+ I didn't think so. Any idea's? +

+ Yes. +

The red-skinned monster shouldered his club and started to walk away, pointedly away from the exuberant red-clad swordsman.

+ We let someone else handle him. +

The other monster hurried after his partner, nobody wanted to be around Raji when he was this hyper.

Raji knew that they were talking about him, but he paid it no mind, they were finally free of those Gods-damned-fucking chains! He started doing back flips, his master was if not happy, then momentarily content for once. As one of his master's favorites his bond with Jounouchi was stronger than most of the others, meaning that the stronger the emotions his master felt the more they affected Raji. The Flame Swordsman had never really gotten the hang of blocking out his master's mind.

-Trip! THUD!-

Bouncing to his feet the Swordsman spun around to see who/what he had tripped over. He blinked for a moment in confusion at the expanse of black before he grinned and looked up.

+ Hello Bane!! Where's Cobalt?! +

The Red Eyes Black Dragon blinked in amusement and the bulk of the Blue Eyes White Dragon became apparent as the silver head lifted up from where it had been resting.

+ Good evening Raji, I take it that you felt the release? +

The Red Eyes and the Swordsman had been together for a long time, and both had shared the honor of being Jounouchi's favorites for much of that time. The Black Dragon had been spending a lot of time with the newest addition to the team for a while now, making Cobalt feel comfortable around the other monsters of Jounouchi's deck, but they were still best friends, and Bane knew the signs, Raji was having a hyperactive fit.

+ You betcha!! I just can't wait until tomorrow!! Master Jou is sure to call us out!! It's been so long and I miss him so much!! This is great!! +

Cobalt blinked and edged away, a rather funny sight considering the white dragons' bulk. The last time Raji had started speaking with double exclamations he had tried to dye the White Dragon red... it hadn't worked as planned. Cobalt had been pink for a week; it was not an experience that the Blue Eyes cared to repeat. And they still had not discovered exactly where Raji had gotten the dye from, or even how he had been able to get it in the first place.

Noticing both the other dragons discomfort and Raji's bouncing Bane quickly decided on a course of action.

+ It certainly is wonderful Raji. You look a little restless, why don't you go for a run to help you calm down? +

+ Sure thing!! That sounds like a great idea Bane thanks!! G'bye!! +

The Swordsman took off into a series of acrobatic moves that the heavy armor should have made impossible.

After Raji was gone, Cobalt turned to Bane, a beseeching tone in his mental voice.

+ Are you certain that he isn't a Kerebo? +

The Red Eyes chuckled, greatly amused by the way Raji made Cobalt so nervous.

+ Yes, Raji has always been like that. It was why he was sold so cheaply, he was the first card Master Jou received. I came along a few years later, when Master Jou won me in a bet. He never resented me for becoming one of Master Jou's favorites. He has never had a truly spiteful thought about any monster in the Master's deck. +

+ Hmm... He reminds me of Master Jou a great deal. +

+ Yes, they have been together a long time. +

Conversation finished the two dragons settled back down to finish their interrupted nap.

Meanwhile Dahk had decided to visit with Gician, a Dark Magician, and Ciel, a Celtic Guardian. They both belonged to the Pharaoh Yami and his lover Yugi. The monsters had to stay near their cards in case they were called out unexpectedly, and the area of the shadow realm they occupied often coincided with which duelists lived nearest each other. Because both Yami and Seto lived in the Palace, their monsters spent quite a lot of time with each other.

The three monsters were now walking along through the shadows, talking about the last duels they had fought. They all started laughing as Gician made a very pointed comment that made Ciel blush all the way to the tips of his pointed ears. Suddenly the Elf stopped laughing, eyes going wide as his jaw dropped.

+ Dahk watch out! +

It was too late.

-CRASH!-

+ ... Owie!! +

Gician and Ciel blinked, there was a Flame Swordsman sitting on Dahk's back, he was pouting.

Looking around with a frown the Warrior looked up at the two monsters, pale blue eyes huge in a puzzled face.

+ Have either of you seen my sword?! +

Dahk was getting tired of looking at the ground. Seeing as how the monster on his back didn't look like he was going to be moving anytime soon, the large Spellcaster rolled over. This caused the red haired monster to fall onto his chest with a little `oof!!' noise.

-SNICKT!-

Dahk blinked and looked at the red crystal sword blade stuck in the ground where his head had been just seconds before, implications making his face pale abruptly under his tan.

+ Ah-ha!! +

The Swordsman who now sat on his stomach spoke brightly, beaming happily at nothing in particular.

+ There it is!! +

Ciel was having problems with breathing by this point, he was laughing so hard the only reason he was still on his feet was that the Magician was holding him upright. Even the ever-serious Gician was having trouble keeping a straight face.

The Lord of D looked into bright blue eyes, and the Swordsman sitting on him grinned, the air around him almost sparkling.

+ Hello!! I'm Raji!! Who're all of you?! +

It looks like things were going to get interesting.

Tsuzuku...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*~*~*

END NOTES

Sanjuno leans back and stretches, wincing as her spine pops. Spending hours at a time hunched over a keyboard is most definitely not good for ones back.

The plot bunny returns to its home under Sanjuno's bed as the characters drop from the fic.

"So what do you think, was it better than last time?"

Kaiba sits up. Still dressed in his Egyptian clothes. Jounouchi is sprawled belly down across his lap, now dressed in the skimpy green piece from earlier in the chapter.

"You seem to have gotten better at lemon scenes."

Sanjuno grins, the lights from the cube are nearly blinding.

"You noticed! I've been doing research. I really didn't like how OoC the both of you were in the first draft. Speaking of which..."

Sanjuno reaches over and smacks Jounouchi across the head for trying to go `weepy uke' on her. Muffled curses can be heard from his general direction, but those could just be a result of Kaiba's groping.

"It was longer this time around."

Sanjuno looks up at Yami, snorts, and shows him the pages covered with red ink in her fanfiction journal.

"You think? I wasn't kidding when I said I was doing a total overhaul of this fic. I still have three parts to fix before I can start writing new chapters."

"Tell us something we don't know."

Apparently Jounouchi has managed to extricate himself from Kaiba's clutches. Mores the pity.

"Nah, you're more fun when you're ignorant."

"Are you feeling better now Sanjuno-san?"

"Eh?"

Sanjuno blinks as big purple eyes are turned in her direction.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Endorphins rock."

"O-kay?"

Sanjuno just grins then has to turn and deal with the cat on her keyboard. Raven just makes cute kitty noises and settles down in the author's lap.

"Right anyway, it's one am in the morning and I've got two exams to write later today. I'm tired, so let's get the review spiel over with."

Jounouchi suddenly sits up straight in his chair.

"Don't do it! If you review she'll keep writing! Stop encouraging her! Ack!"

A barrage of stuffed animals courtesy of the Author promptly flattens Jounouchi. Kaiba reaches in, grabs Jounouchi, and hauls him back onto his lap.

"I'd rather like to continue with this. How about you, `pet'?"

Sanjuno grins happily. She and her muses wave absently, most of their attention focused on the thought of sleep.

"Later minna."