Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ The Future of the Past ❯ Five- Dangers Present ( Chapter 5 )

The Future of the Past

A Yu-GI-Oh! Fanfiction V2.0

By: Sanjuno Shori

Rating: R

Pairings: S/J, Y/Y, DM/CG, LoD + FS

Warnings: YAOI, AU, violence, assassin crispification, and actual plot development! Wheee!

Disclaimer: (a totally useless and annoying yet generally necessary thing that gets monotonously repetitive after the first hundred time you read/write it.) I don't own them. It's not mine. Don't sue me. It's my Fic. Take without my permission, and you die. Your cooperation is expected.

AUTHORS NOTES

"Hey all, this chappy is still dedicated to Lady Geuna (and her friends Kat and Jamie,) whose supportive string of emails inspired me to get up off my duff and finish this godforsaken piece of digital literature. I'd also like to thank the people who continued to show their support by reviewing my fic. Domo arigato gozaimasu, minna-san. You've all provided me with the necessary motivation (i.e. kick-in-the-ass) to keep me doing this on a regular basis. Mwahahaha!"

Sanjuno grins and waves hello, nearly falling out of her chair in the process. Ignoring both characters and muses who stare at her in varying degrees of horror she continues to cackle as she makes mystic gestures in her little sisters direction.

"Hai! Come, join the yaoi side! Come, come to the yaoi side. You know you want to! Feel the yaoi side of the force!"

She pauses and looks at the review the gaki left, titling her head to one side.

"And learn how to use the frickin' spellchecker! Now get out of my room!"

The neophyte hentai otaku-onna, a tall girl who looks remarkably like a green eyed, brown haired Sanjuno squeaks `yes mistress!' And scurries out through the door. Yami turns back to Sanjuno.

"Who was that?"

The authoress shrugs waving a hand in dismissal.

"Meh, just one of my little sisters. She's just started reading yaoi fics, but has yet to understand the idea of quality over quantity."

Kaiba raises an eyebrow.

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, she reads everything, even the stuff that sucks. I despair of her ever learning to identify quality yaoi fics."

Sanjuno sighs heavily then brightens.

"On the upside she makes a good sounding board for new fic ideas and she takes orders really well."

Shinma snickers from his place on the cushion pile.

"Yeah, she takes orders really well. It's following them that gives her trouble."

Yugi looks at the muse in confusion but before he can ask Shinma anything Sanjuno chooses to start laughing uncontrollably.

She stops.

They all watch her warily as she looks at them with wild eyes. They start to edge away. The authoress is ... vibrating.

"Time to finish this up!"

She chirps. Yes, chirps. Be very afraid. Jounouchi actually hides behind Kaiba as the plotbunny runs by.

"For once I'm glad this is happening."

=Whoosh!=

"Bai-bai Jou-chi! All right-y Shinma-kun, Reiai-kun, let's get to work!"

"Hai!"

=pop!pop!=

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

Recap:

The red clad monster hesitated while the Lord of D waited patiently for the answer, still rather obviously upset.

+ My master was... unhappy a moment ago, panicked, then it changed suddenly and he was... er, a lot happier. +

Raji blushed hotly; the surges of echoed pleasure remaining undiminished in strength without an outlet for release.

+ Oh? +

Dahk was both amused and concerned, he had a feeling he knew what Raji really meant when he said `a lot happier.'

+ Would you tell me about your master? +

Raji eyed the taller humanoid, gauging Dahk's actual interest verses his need to get Raji talking again so that the spellcaster could stop worrying.

+ All right, but only if you tell me about yours. +

+ Very well. Shall we find a place to sit? +

Once settled, Raji began to speak...

Tsuzuku

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

The Future of the Past

Chapter Five: Memory of Past, Dangers Present

=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=

After leaving Dahk in the company of the strange Flame Swordsman, Gician and Ciel had run off to their private portion of the Shadow Realm. It was a comfortable sub pocket that vaguely resembled a small, personal temple. Inside was a common room for entertaining the occasional guest, and of course, the bedroom.

(AN. I notice that I now have your attention. ^-^ Ha, you ain't seen nothin' yet minna! Whoo-hoo!)

The blond warrior's green and brown armor lay scattered on the floor near the door. The spellcasters violet hat and over-robe lay mixed in amongst the pieces. Ciel's belt fell to the floor with a thump but Gician ignored it in favor of pulling the elf closer. The Celtic Guardian pressed his slender body flush to the Magicians lean form; violet pieces of armor clattered to the floor.

The double dose of pleasure coming from both their masters had currently erased all thoughts from their minds, save one. Now try to guess what it is...

+ Uhnn... Gic... ian... +

Ciel moaned as his lover finally rid them both of their remaining clothing, and they tumbled together onto the bed. The sweaty tangle of limbs eventually sorted itself out into Ciel and Gician attempting to swallow each other's tongues. The warrior was pinned to the bed by Gician, the spellcaster kneeling between the elf's open legs. One of the magician's hands ran up Ciel's outer thigh while the other tangled in blond hair as the elf's hands played insistently over Gician's back.

+ Ciel... +

+ Now... please, now! +

Groaning the magician flipped his mate over and drew Ciel up onto his knees. The elf responded by resting his head on folded arms and spreading his legs wider. Long fingers worked their magic and opened the tight body for invasion.

+ Damn it, Gician! Just do me! +

Gician hissed, sharply twisting his fingers in a way that dissolved Ciel's demands into incoherent cries.

+ Impatient. +

Then gave his lover just what the elf had asked for.

Crying out Ciel arched his back, driving his lover deeper inside him. Gician groaned and bent over, placing a gentle kiss on the elf's shoulder before he began to thrust. Green-gold eyes widened at the first brush against his prostrate, and the force built, Ciel's hands clenching at the sheets as he thrust backwards into his mate. The pace turned wild frenzied as they sought release together.

Finally Gician brought his hands around to stroke Ciel's aching shaft, causing the blond elf to shudder and cry out. The spellcaster slammed in one last time before he jerked and followed his lover over the edge.

Panting they collapsed together in a sweaty pile, sprawled across the sheets. Ciel curled into the other monsters chest and Gician pulled the elf closer. The warm, satisfied glow followed them as they eased into their rest.

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

Once settled, Raji began to speak.

+ My Master was the eldest and only son of a common soldier. He cared little for his father, but loved his mother and younger sister dearly. He was six years old when I came into his possession. I had been a gift to his mother's father, the old man was a very dedicated soldier who rose to the highest position in the army that a common born man could achieve. My master was originally named Katsuya, after his father, but decided to take his grandfather's name once he was older. My master's grandfather had received many cards that the nobles considered... flawed, but these gifts were mere shows. To make the nobles appear more generous. The old man did not care however, and treated us all with care and respect, even if he was very rarely able to summon us. +

+ Wait a moment. +

Dahk interrupted the other monster, pensive frown on his face and confusion coloring his dark features.

+ I thought the common people were unable to summon monsters from the shadow realm. +

Raji nodded, chewing his lip as he sought to explain.

+ Mostly truth, but this family, meaning my master, his grandfather and his sister were special. Also, except for the old man, they started very young, so any handicap that comes from their common blood was rendered moot. +

Raji grinned and shrugged, leering slightly at the spellcaster.

+ Besides, there have been cases of commoners with noble blood before, it may apply to my masters family. I think it has more to do with your spirit than your blood anyway. +

Dahk nodded thoughtfully, still frowning.

+ I see. Please continue. +

+ All right, like I said, when my master was six harvests in age his grandfather gave my card to him. It was incredible, I was rarely summoned before because I was so strange, but my master cared nothing for that. We bonded very closely. Even though the old soldier suspected that his grandchildren had the power for monster summoning, he had no idea that my master would be so able. He gave my master the rest of the cards he had chosen for him that evening. My masters little sister received a small deck made up of healers and fairies. +

+ My master had a friend, the son of a minor noble. The other boy had a deck of his own of course, but it was nothing special and he rarely used the monsters in duels. After my master's grandfather died, only a year later, his father decided to move to the capital. Before they left my master's best friend gave him a card, the Swamp Battleguard, to go with the Lava Battleguard he already had, and to remind him that they would always be best friends. A childish promise perhaps, but no less sincere or sacred for youth. +

+ A year and some after their move to the capital, my master was now eight harvests, nearly nine when he ran afoul of a merchants son. He was always quick to anger and the other boy took advantage of this. He taunted that perhaps my master should challenge him to a duel. He was surprised when my master accepted and demanded that the boy duel him. The merchants son was overconfident and full of himself, betting his Red Eyes Black Dragon on his win. My master agreed and offered the other boy his choice from his deck if my master lost. It went badly for my master in the beginning but I, along with Semt and Lesk, the Swamp and Lava Battleguard pair, were able to defeat our opponent's monsters. My master won, and claimed Bane as his prize. The merchant boy fled in shame. +

+ Soon after that my masters mother and sister fell ill with the plague that swept the lower class peoples. My master's mother died after struggling for months with the sickness. His sister survived but was left nearly blind and significantly weaker. My master's father soon turned to drink, and became abusive. It was only three moons before he sold my master and his sister into slavery. We were rendered helpless to aid him by magical restraints. He suffered for the next five years, and we suffered with him. +

+ Now the restraints have been removed, and my master is happy. It is something of a shock. +

The Swordsman's faraway look faded as he shook himself. Raji looked at Dahk slyly from under his fall of red hair, impish expression firmly in place.

+ Well...? +

+ Pardon me? +

Raji huffed, crossing his arms and pouting at his new friend.

+ It's your turn! Tell me about your master now! +

Dahk blinked, the strange, graceful manner the other monster had shown during his recounting of his masters history seemed to have vanished under the near-psychotic cheerfulness that appeared to be Raji's common state of being.

+ There really is not much to tell. My master was born the eldest son to one of the major noble houses and was raised accordingly. He was distant to his parents, and they died when he was quite young. He had no friends, caring only for his younger half brother and for we monsters in his deck. In time he took his father's place as one of the young pharaoh's advisors and soon became the High Priest after being chosen by the Millennium Rod. Now he counts the pharaoh and the pharaoh's lover as his friends, but still remains a driven individual. He cannot abide failure, both in himself and others, and it shows in the way he duels. His skill rivals the pharaohs but he takes great care that things proceed fairly if at all possible. +

+ Your master sounds like an interesting guy! +

+ As does yours. +

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

"... so after my father sold us to the slavers my sister and I were split up and I was bounced around from master to master. The old fart you guys bought me from was one of the usual type, but I've lost count of the number of times I was sold."

"Oh, that sounds terrible!"

Yugi gazed sympathetically at his friend, violet eyes sad.

"I've only ever had Yami as my master, and he never treated my cruelly. I cannot imagine what you must have gone through."

"Eh, I survived didn't I?"

Jounouchi shrugged, tugging nonchalantly at his bangs, trying not to show how much he both appreciated Yugi's concern and was irritated by what he perceived as pity. The blonde decided that the best thing to do would be to change the subject before the other slave got mushy on him.

"So how did you come to be the pharaohs favorite person in the whole wide world?"

"Oh..."

Yugi blushed slightly, turning an adorable shade of pink.

"My grandfather is famous for his ability to repair things that become damaged. When I was a very small child he began to try his hand at fixing ever more complicated things. He eventually began to fix magical items, and one day soon after Yami became pharaoh he was ordered to go to the palace. He went right away of course, and was ordered to repair one of the pharaoh's cards, the Celtic Guardian. An opponent had grown angry at his loss to the pharaoh and he accidentally tore the card nearly in half."

"No, that's terrible!"

Jounouchi was distressed, thinking privately about Cobalt,

"What happened to the loser?"

"He was punished accordingly."

Jounouchi winced at the flat tone, a little shocked by the lack of mercy in the normally gentle Yugi's expression. However even though the duelist's crime had surely earned him a slow death, he felt little pity for anyone who would willingly try to kill a duel monster just because he was a poor loser.

"Ouch. So what happened next?"

"Grandfather took the card home with him. He worked ceaselessly for days, trying to find a method that wouldn't damage the card any more than it had been. He didn't eat or sleep the whole time. Eventually he did it, I still haven't found out how, but when the pharaoh came for his card it was as good as new. Grand father was exhausted, and I wanted nothing more than for everyone to leave so that I could feed grandfather and get him into bed. At first a few of the nobles who had come to see if it had worked accused grandfather of switching the card. Then I did something a little foolish."

"You ran out and yelled at them didn't you."

Yugi blushed again at Jounouchi's knowing grin, smacking him lightly on the shoulder.

"Yes I did, now stop laughing at me! I told them that grandfather would never try to deceive the pharaoh. Yami then called his Celtic Guardian from the Shadow Realm. It was the same monster as before."

"And that proved that your grandfather was no fake."

"Yeah."

"Do you think he could fix one of my cards?"

Yugi blinked, looking at Jounouchi askance.

"How did it get damaged? I thought you hadn't been able to summon your monsters for the last five years."

Jounouchi shrugged off the inquisitive look, returning it with a bored one of his own.

"I rescued him from someone who was trying to rip the card in half. So there's a tiny tear in one side."

"It doesn't sound too serious. I think Grandfather should be able to do it. We'd have to ask him though."

"Great, you still haven't told me how you became a slave."

"Well, after Yami summoned the Celtic Guardian, everybody looked at grandfather and I, everyone noticed how much I looked like Yami right away. Yami was intrigued and decided that he wanted to keep me. He ordered that I would be his personal slave, the reason given was that I, a person of common blood, had yelled at the pharaoh's party. He then said that Grandfather would live at the palace so he could care for any damaged cards. Yami made it so that Grandfather and I are better protected than most nobles are."

"Sounds like love at first sight alright. How old were you?"

"I was six and Yami was eight."

Snickering Jounouchi shook his head, leering grin tugging the corners of his mouth.

"He must be a natural pharaoh if he could order people around so freely even as a child."

Eyes gleaming with mischief Yugi smiled, returning the blonde's amused look with a bland expression of his own. Waving a hand vaguely in the air.

"I suppose so."

Jounouchi laughed again and leaned back on his hands, gazing up at the morning sky. The two boys were sitting in one of the palaces many gardens, telling each other more about themselves. They were quickly on their way to becoming fast friends. The adventure from the previous night, along with their orders to stay together when their masters were at meetings or otherwise occupied created the necessary push to cement the foundation of trust.

"So... do you duel Yugi?"

"Huh?"

Yugi blinked, then smiled, nodding happily.

"Yes, I duel. Yami only lets me use his deck though."

Frowning Jounouchi looked over at the other boy, scratching the back of his neck.

"How does that work? Does he carry the deck around, or do you both carry half or what?"

"Oh Yami carries the deck, but I have access to it when I really need it. Why did you want to know?"

Jounouchi tilted his head quizzically but decided not to ask, and so he just shrugged and tucked a stray strand of his long bangs behind one ear.

"Just wondering if Seto will let me use my deck, or if he's planning on slapping another set of restraints on me."

"Oh, I don't think Lord Seto would do that. I'm certain that if he took the collars off he won't put anything similar to them back on."

Jounouchi smiled brightly, feeling the weight of worry lift from his shoulders.

"That's a relief, it's been worrying me all day."

"I'm glad I could put your mind at ease Jou."

Yugi smiled back at his new friend. Then the slender boy pursed his lips in thought, watching as Jounouchi lay back down on the soft cushions, wondering if his friend understood the truth of his and Yami's relationship. He decided to ask the blonde, but Jounouchi beat him to speaking.

Jounouchi sighed happily and lay back on the blanket that they were seated on, looking around at the garden as he did so. `This is nice, I've got a new friend, a decent master, and the view isn't all that bad either. The only thing that bothers me is the guards, I hate being watched all the time.' Shrugging Jounouchi looked around again then sat up in alarm.

"Hey, Yug'..."

The smaller boy turned to look at him, as Jounouchi continued to question.

"Where are the guards?"

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

`Bored. Bored, bored, I am so bored. I wish Jou were here. No, I wish that I was wherever Jou is right now. Even better, someplace with a bed.'

If they had been aware of the lusty thoughts running rampant through the High Priests mind at that moment, the various minor nobles who attending today's audiences in hopes of discovering ways of gaining favor would have fallen over in shock. However the familiar outward icy demeanor maintained Seto's fearsome reputation. The sorcerer-priest commonly adopted the stoic mask whenever he appeared in anyplace remotely public.

Yami looked bored with everything as always, people had learned to be afraid when Yami became interested; Seto just gradually started to look slightly more homicidal than usual. The endless parade of petty problems continued until a guard burst into the chamber.

He was red in the face and panting, but wasted no time before reaching the captain of the guards stationed at the foot of Yami's throne. He whispered fiercely in the other mans ear, that guard then paled and moved up the dais to whisper the news to the High Priest.

"My Lord, one of the patrols found the bodies of some of the other guards."

Seto jerked his head sharply to stare at the man, blue eyes cold.

"Where?"

"In one of the south wing storerooms. A slave opened the door and alerted them."

"Damn. What were they guarding?"

"Who my Lord Priest, they were members of the fifth unit of the Inner Guard."

Seto froze, but his eyes went from cold to shards of burning ice. Wasting no time he stood from his lower seat and informed Yami of what he had just been told. The Pharaohs expression went from bored to angry, and he stood swiftly. The two men turned and left the chamber without another word, ignoring the furious whispers of the courtiers at their exit. The officials present continued with the legalities as they had been trained to do.

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

Yami and Seto strode down the corridors, the tense expressions on their faces sending the people they met scurrying away.

"Do you know where they are?"

Seto looked at the young pharaoh in question.

"Yugi said something about showing your new slave the gardens."

Yami answered lowly.

"Then we look in the gardens first."

"Agreed."

Yami nodded and scowled, not appreciating having to worry about his love's safety in his own territory.

"How could this have happened? Twice now enemies have broken into the palace, and twice now my guards have discovered the fact too late!"

Seto did not even glance in Yami's direction as they turned the next corner, heading swiftly for the nearest exit to the south gardens.

"Obviously our enemies are very skilled. Or the talents of our guards are over rated."

"Or both."

Yami's face was grim and his blood red eyes held a terrifying glint. Seto held no pity for the one's responsible for the pharaoh's anger, the priest felt much the same.

"Either way, if any harm comes to Yugi because of this, those responsible shall pay."

"And pay dearly."

Seto finished the pharaoh's oath quietly as his thoughts turned to his golden eyed slave.

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

`Well isn't this familiar.' Jounouchi thought wryly to himself as he and Yugi ran franticly, but as silently as they could through the garden.

Moments after Jounouchi had noticed and pointed out the disappearance of their guards to Yugi, a few dozen or so heavily armed men in concealing robes had charged from the surrounding greenery. Only their forewarning and Yugi's familiarity with the garden had allowed them to escape.

Now they were running away. Oh yes, they were running very, very quickly. Too bad there was a wall in the way.

"Yugi! I thought you knew where we were going!"

"I did, but I've never been in this section of the garden before!"

"Oh, well let's go the other way then." Jounouchi spun around.

"AHH!!"

And leapt back to press up against the wall to get away from the nasty bad men with their sharp pointy weapons.

Yugi and Jounouchi both pressed back against the wall in a futile attempt to escape as their attackers closed ranks. Rough hands grabbed at the two slaves with unconcerned cruelty. Yugi cried out as heavy fingers dug into his skin and Jounouchi winced when his struggles only earned him a blow to the head. Ears ringing the blond shook his head to clear the stars from his vision and kicked out, catching Yugi's attacker in the knee. Wriggling free when the hands slackened as his attacker stumbled, Yugi darted over to Jounouchi and put all his weight behind a vicious kick to the attackers groin.

Jounouchi kicked again as he was freed, hitting Yugi's attacker in the face as he came up at the other youth from behind. The man's nose broke with a crack that resounded in the small garden clearing. The whole exchange had taken no more than a few seconds.

"Damn I'm good."

Jounouchi chuckled, cracking his knuckles.

"Jou!"

The blond then looked at the remaining men as they charged forward.

"Or not..."

The shear numbers of men that dog piled the two slaves negated any chance of them getting loose again. As the first blow landed Jounouchi futilely struggled against the new hands that held him. He heard Yugi scream and saw the smaller boy fight his captors as well. Then as the merciless pounding continued Jounouchi was unable to keep his friend in sight any longer. Black lapped at the edge of his vision and he felt himself sliding into unconsciousness.

`... help...'

Fortunately for all concerned, Jounouchi was not without friends.

Well, perhaps not so fortunately for his attackers.

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

= KRAKA-THOOM!! =

"What in..."

Yami and Seto both turned and looked through a doorway into one of the many palace gardens. Smoke and dust swirled high into the air above the trees as a thunderous roar shook the grounds. The two teens shared a look before running in the direction of the noise.

Moments later they were forced to dodge as the slightly crispy body of a large man as it crashed down through the greenery. Barely a glance was spared to the still form before they ran on.

Emerging from the shade of the garden path Seto and Yami were treated to the sight of another body flying towards them at high velocity. Seto turned back around as Yami stood up from where he had thrown himself. A shower of rubble sprayed down on them as even more dust lifted into the air, and a rumbling growl carried itself to their ears.

The dust clouds cleared slowly, but as it did more details were able to be seen clearly. The small clearing had grown substantially larger after the destruction of a section of the wall, and many large, black-clad men in various states of injury were scattered around. These details were only noted in passing, quickly acknowledged then shuffled to the back of the mind to make room for the more important things.

A brisk wind began to pick up, blowing the rest of the dust away to reveal the remainder of the clearing. Twinned glares of ruby and sapphire gazed down on the clearing, rage burning fiercely in their depths. The desert sun highlighted wings, fangs, spines and talons in glittering light. The sleek, serpentine bulks hovered like weirdly inverted guardians of silver-white and ebony black.

Jounouchi and Yugi lay frighteningly still on the ground at the far side of the clearing while a Flame Swordsman stood protectively over them. Several of the black cloaked forms were lying prone at his feet. Most of them were still smoking at the edges.

Yami took a careful half step to bring himself to Seto's side.

"Seto... correct me if I am wrong... but you have all of you Blue Eyes White Dragons with you right now?"

"Yes."

"I thought so. Then whose is..."

"I don't know."

"Ah."

Seeing that the two unfamiliar teens were staying where they were, the Flame Swordsman turned around to lean over and carefully shift the still forms of the slaves onto their backs. Yami hissed out a sharp breath and he heard Seto utter a soft curse. Even from a distance the damage done was apparent. Red marks that would rapidly become bruises stood out in livid detail on pale skin.

Ignoring the warning growls of both dragons Yami and Seto stalked forward. Alarmed the Swordsman spun to confront them only to stumble back as Seto placed a hand on the monsters armored chest and shoved. Unbalanced the Flame Swordsman stumbled back, not much, but enough for the two nobles to reach their lovers.

Yami's enraged expression was at odds with the gentle way he lifted the smaller boy into his arms. Yugi whimpered and turned his face into the comforting arms that held him.

"... yami..."

"Shh."

Yami cradled Yugi closer to his chest as his heart clenched painfully at the broken whisper.

"It's all right little one. I'm here; you're safe now. I'm here."

Seto ignored his pharaoh as he held Jounouchi to his chest. The blonds breathing hitched painfully as the tender touch invaded his semi-conscious mind. Hands clutched at the material covering the priest's upper body in a death grip.

"Jou, come on pretty. Open your eyes and look at me. Please lovely, wake up."

Struggling against the pain that tried to force him down Jounouchi obeyed the softly spoken commands and looked up in a daze. Worried blue eyes softened when their gazes met, and Jounouchi whimpered as he burrowed closer into the warm embrace.

"Seto... gods. Seto..."

The tearful voice broke and Seto lifted Jounouchi into his arms as he stood up, turning to see Yami doing the same with Yugi. The boys locked gazes, calmly noting the homicidal rage that burned just below the surface. As they turned to leave they were halted by a warning growl.

The three monsters encircled them,* but Seto and Yami just glared, not intimidated in the least.

*(A.N.: Not a terribly hard thing to do considering the size of the Blue Eyes White Dragon, natch! ^.^'')

"Get the hells out of our way or I swear to the gods I'll make you move."

Yami's voice was low and carried a wealth of threat. Seto's look was no less deadly for all he remained silent. The monsters stared back for a tense, endless moment before the Blue Eyes snorted and the three forms dissolved into light that streamed into Jounouchi's side pouch. Seto realized that the blonde obviously must have taken the deck from the shelf after the noble had left the room that morning.

Shrugging it off to deal with later the two nobles carried their precious burdens off to the healers.

Tsuzuku

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" I finished! Yatta!!"

Sanjuno does a victory dance around the room. Jounouchi shakes his head.

"You are so weird..."

Sanjuno waves a hand in dismissal.

"Ah, you know you love me."

Jounouchi sputters.

"Nani?! What the hells are you on?! Why would you think tha- mrfff!"

All watch as a Jounouchi blinks dazedly after being kissed silly by Kaiba... again. Yami looks thoughtful.

"He certainly gets a kick out of that, doesn't he?"

Yugi looks up at the spirit.

"I don't think Jou-kun would let Kaiba kiss him if he wasn't taken by surprise."

Seto just smirks. Sanjuno smirks back at him.

"Jou-chi will admit to liking it one of these days. Ne, Seto-kun?"

"Of course."

Yami just shakes his head.

"You're acting crazier than normal. Why-"

Reiai stops the spirit from saying any more, pointing instead to the half-dozen empty cans of cream soda lying beside the giggling authoress. She tilts to one side and grins vacantly.

"Well, as fun as it's been, it's time for the traditional ending."

"You mean to shamelessly beg for reviews?"

Sanjuno beams at the tall CEO.

"What else would I mean?"

They all sigh. Sanjuno just giggles and enjoys her sugar high.

"Right-y-o! Review please minna-san! The little blue box is going to be your new best friend... new chappy coming your way! More characters are being introduced to the fic too, natch!"