Hey...wow it's been a while since I've posted anything. I hope you enjoy this. (I also have a poll one my profile asking which of my stories should be updated next. please participate.)

Title: Ritual Dance

Part 1/?

Summary: Yuugi has a rare physical condition that would definately produce disdain from anyone who knew. It is because of this condition that he is whisked away from his world into a realm of parralled life. He unwittingly finds himself participating in a mating ritual of one of the many species of this new world and he is bound to the being called Atem, who claims him as his life mate.

Warnings: Swear words are being used. And this is a Yaoi. YYxY.

Disclaimer: I make no money from writing these.

~(*)~

Yuugi wandered aimlessly through his hometown of Domino. He subconsciously avoided the popular places like the mall where most teens his age hung out, and the new burger joint that people seemed to be so fond of lately. A plastic Wal-mart bag hung from his right hand while his other hand held a silver mP3 player; the music playing filled his ears.

He turned a corner, grinning lightly as a familiar building came into view. Today had been as close to perfect as he would ever get. He had woken up on time for school, summer vacation started today, and he was finally able to buy a new game to try out. His Grandpa was expected to be back from his latest expedition sometime within the next few days, so Yuugi would be able to finally see him after a month's absence.

A set of keys jingled as he pulled the piece of metal out of his short's pocket. The door swung open easily and he entered his quiet abode. He passed through the living room and emerged into the country-styled kitchen. Milling around in the refrigerator, the Wal-mart sack still in his right hand and his mP3 player safely put in his pocket, he retrieved a peach tea bottle and a box of crackers from a nearby shelf. He kicked the refrigerator door shut with his foot and made his way upstairs to his room.

His room wasn't much different from the rest of the house. Midnight blue, plush carpet spanned out from under his feet, his bed off in the far right corner by the silver-curtained window, his cherry-wood dresser and matching desk sat in the opposite side of the room with the desk sitting closer to the window, and a silver rug lay in front of his bed. Posters of his favorite banc and RPG characters were scattered over the off-white walls. A 'Final Fantasy' calendar was nailed to the wall with a giant red circle proclaiming 'summer vacation start!' on today's date.

Dropping his thing on the far end of the bed, he collapsed in relief onto the previously made bed. He burrowed his face into his pillow, breathing in deeply the scents of his shampoo. He was glad that he got that new stuff, the other brand had made his hair droop and it definitely didn't smell as good.

He groaned as he stretched out his back, wincing as his spine snapped back into place. He flipped over and reached for the Wal-mart sack and the two items he had pilfered from the kitchen. Taking a big swig of his peach tea and a bite of his crackers, he removed his new game from the plastic sack.

Yuugi's eyes lit up as he read the back of the box for the fifth time today. The play style seemed to be that of an RP, so it would definitely be more complicated than a regular board game. It seemed like the game would be a real challenge and it also had hundreds of different scenarios. There was also a one-player option.

Small hands twitched at that last thought. One-player games seemed to be the only thing he could play anymore. Games weren't really the kind of thing people his age liked to do anymore.

Yuugi sighed agitatedly, pushing the thought of his friendless position far from his mind. Someday he'd be able to make friends; he'd just have to be patient until then.

Determinedly, he set up the game. He chose a rather plain piece for his avatar and began to play. Maybe it would last until his Grandpa got home.

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It had taken Yuugi a total of two days to beat the game. He had been hoping that it would take longer, but the play style was just so interesting that he couldn't stop until it was finished.

He sighed as he put up the game in his closet and deposited the accumulating trash in the trashcan next to the desk. He quietly and quickly changed his clothes into something that better fitted the summer temperature, a loose pair of black shorts and a light blue sleeveless top, and made his way downstairs. With a quick glance into the kitchen, he noted the emptiness of the cabinets and the refrigerator. He'd have to stop by the grocery story after his doctor's appointment.

'Grr.' Yuugi growled in annoyance and discomfort. He really didn't want to go to another appointment; they were always the same and shamefully embarrassing. He didn't want to be reminded that he was different.

He couldn't enjoy the beautiful weather during the thirty-minute walk to the doctor's office, and he tried to ignore the joyful laughter of children as he passed one of the city's many parks. His mind spun with jealousy at the sight of the normal children as they went about their lives. Why couldn't he have turned out normal? If he were normal would his parents had stayed with him instead of leaving? Why did he have to have this, this…affliction?

Fate just didn't like him very much.

"Hey Runt!"

Yuugi's heart froze. He knew that voice. Against his wishes, his head slowly turned to face the oncoming tormentor. A giant, burly teen approached him with an excited gleam in his ugly black eyes. The teen, called Ushio by everyone, was one of Yuugi's worst problems. He had always bullied and beat up on Yuugi, and these beatings had steadily been getting worse as the month's passed. Yuugi had hoped on not having to see him for the summer.

Thankfully, Yuugi's body had instantly read the danger and snapped onto autopilot when he didn't give any forthright commands. The 'flight' command was given and his body flew in the opposite direction of the abusive human.

"Get back here Mouto!"

Yuugi blindly ran forward, dodging pedestrians as he went. His pupils were dilated in fear and he didn't consciously tell his feet where to direct him. One thought was planted firmly in his mind. RUN.

Ushio crashed after the diminutive teen, barreling through the people without any thought. All he could think about was catching his little punching bag and teaching him a lesson for running away.

Just as Yuugi's legs were starting to burn with the effort he was putting them through, his eyes fell on his last hope. Earlier today he would have done anything to stay away, but the circumstances had changed and he was desperate.

He could feel the brute's hands ghost over his shoulders as he dived for the partially open door, slamming it shut right in the bully's face. A mighty force thundered into the metal barricade and Yuugi was thankful that he had gotten it shut in time. Ushio wouldn't dare to drag him out of a place where there were a lot of witnesses. Yuugi shakily tried to ignore the consecutive string of curses and threats as Ushio pried himself off the door. He quickly locked said door so that the bully couldn't get in just in case he was too furious to care about people seeing.

"Just you wait, Mouto." Ushio's voice came through the metal door. "I'll get you soon enough. You can't run forever!"

Yuugi shakily sunk to the floor as he heard retreating footsteps. He had almost been caught that time. If he had gotten here any later…He shuddered to think about the consequences.

A subtle cough suddenly brought him back to his surroundings. His face flooded in embarrassment at the five pair of eyes that were staring confusedly and concernedly at him. He had forgotten that the waiting room almost always had people in it.

Yuugi shakily picked himself off of the floor, hunching his shoulders in an attempt to avoid the stares. Even the babies were staring! He shuffled to the receptionist's window, writing his name on the offered clipboard and all but ran into the back rooms when the door was opened for him.

He landed in an exhausted heap on the examination table in one of the rooms. The doctor always seemed to know which room he was in so it didn't matter his choice. His lungs continued to heave in the misplaced air and his muscles slowed tightened uncomfortably from their sudden use. He stretched as well as he could to relieve them of the ache, but there wasn't much he could do.

'Why on Earth do people always want to hurt me?' Yuugi thought despondently as he stared at the plain white ceiling. 'Does my…affliction have something to do with it? They can't know about it. I've been too careful.' Indeed, Yuugi had been extremely careful with keeping his secret. As much as people didn't openly talk with him they didn't completely ignore him either, and if anyone knew about his affliction then he would be completely excommunicated from any social activity.

Yuugi jumped, startled at the sudden appearance of the doctor. One minute he had been alone and the door shut, and the next there was this old woman in a doctor's jacket milling around with a clipboard. Yuugi shakily put a hand against his heart, trying desperately to get it to slow back down.

"Do you think that you could make some kind of noise when you enter a room?!" Yuugi whispered exasperatedly. He knew he was just taking out his rampant emotions out on the only person available, but try as he might he just couldn't get his control back.

"I could." The elderly doctor responded, taking no offense at his tone. "But where's the fun in that?" Yuugi was a little irritated at the response, but he took a deep breath and calmly counted to ten. He could hear the grandmotherly reproach in the woman's words and he swallowed what little pride he had and mumbled an apology.

"It's quite aright dear. Mood swings are a common thing in teens in this era." Yuugi had to bite his tongue with another remark that if he hadn't just been running for his life he probably wouldn't be having mood swings.

"Here." The doctor said, abruptly tearing into Yuugi's thoughts. In one of her hands there was a red-colored pill and in the other was a small cup of water. "Your muscles are probably hurting right now and this should ease the ache."

"Oh." So, the doctor did know about Ushio. Yuugi didn't know if he should be thankful that she wasn't going to lecture him about bullying like other adults or upset that she wasn't doing anything about it. Now that he thought about it, the doctor probably couldn't do anything about Ushio.

He mumbled thanks as he downed the pill, thankful for the relief that sprouted in his body moments later. 'Man, the old lady packs some serious pills.'

"That should last you the night, though you might be feeling dizzy after about an hour or so. I want you in bed by then, understand? I wont have you falling down some stairs and injuring yourself."

"Yes, ma'am." Mom. Yuugi mouthed in the safety of his own mind. The old lady probably felt some sentimentality towards him, and she was the closest thing to a mother he had since his Grandfather started taking care of him.

"Alright, let's get you checked out." The next five minutes were spent in companionable silence as the elderly doctor commenced Yuugi's check-up, jotting down a few notes on her clipboard every now and then.

"Hmm," The doctor hummed as she pulled away. "It seems that everything is normal. Have you been having any emotional or personality differences that you've noticed?"

Yuugi hesitated momentarily before answering with a negative. He hadn't felt any different except for the random mood swings but that was just a part of his affliction that he had come to accept. There had been some really weird dreams but that could just be from teenage stress and loneliness.

Sighing, the doctor removed her coat and put it up on a nearby chair. Yuugi cringed, he knew that the doctor was extremely perceptive and had no doubtlessly sensed his unease. He fiddled with his fingers as he waited for the stern interrogation that he just knew would soon follow.

"Yuugi." The doctor suddenly didn't look quite like a doctor anymore. Her distant demeanor was gone and in its place was the motherly/grandmotherly figure that he had missed growing up. Those crinkled, wise eyes stared at him with a stern yet compassionate expression and he couldn't help but feel his mental guard lowering. "What's wrong?"

Yuugi directed his line of sight to his fidgeting hands clasped in his lap. Should he tell the old lady what had been bothering him? Would she even understand?

"…I've…been having these…dreams lately." He started hesitantly. His eyes wandered off to a corner as he brought the dreams to his mind. The old lady muttered a soft sound of encouragement and Yuugi trudged forward. "…I'd always be in this sort of…clearing, like you would find in the wildlife park just east of here…I'm alone at first, and my whole body's wet like I had just jumped into a pool."

Yuugi paused for only a moment, the dream playing out behind his eyes. "Music, like I've never heard before, starts playing. I…I don't know how to explain the feeling I get here…all I remember is that I was looking for something…or something was looking for me." Yuugi closed his eyes, barely missing the dawning look of comprehension and surprise growing on the old lady's face.

"Then…" Yuugi continued. "There are these, at least I think they're people. For some reason they seem different. They…they are all…dancing, I think. I always feel like…like I want to join them. But there's…something stopping me. Like I need to wait for…something."

"And then you wake up." The old lady said, startling Yuugi out of his memory. He looked over to the doctor who was looking at him with understanding. "I don't think these people mean you any harm."

"How do you know?" Yuugi retorted without thinking. He shut his mouth with a subtle 'click', embarrassed that his voice had run away from him again.

"Call it a woman's intuition." The old lady shot back mischievously. "I knew a friend who used to have dreams like that."

"What happened to him?" Stupid curiosity! Stupid mouth that liked to run away!

"Her." The lady corrected. "And one day I'll tell you, but for now…" She trailed off, gathering her doctor's coat and returned to her clipboard. "I have a check up to finish."

Yuugi's partially good mood flushed down the drain. This was the part of the appointments that he didn't like. He crossed his arms moodily as the old lady adopted her doctor persona once again and asked him again if anything was different.

"You mean besides my condition?" Yuugi asked sourly. "My affliction has not changed."

The doctor sighed. "I've told you again and again that your condition is not an affliction."

"-Of course not. It's just a mutation of my genes."

"Well, you could have cancer or something fatal. At least you can live normally like this."

"Normal? Normal?! How on earth is this normal?! I'm stuck being a guy and a girl!"

The doctor merely watched as the teen ranted. The poor boy was just a bundle of conflicting emotions and society's view of people like him didn't help at all. His Grandfather being away and him having no friends was a big factor too. But these dreams of his caused her to know that thing would turn up for him. Once the 'other side' called him, he would never be alone again.

"I just- I just want to be normal." I'm crying now? Well, that's just perfect.' He furiously wiped the tears away with his shaking hands. Why did his mind have to be such a mess?

Silently, the doctor gathered the trembling teen into her arms, whispering calming words into his ear. She soothingly rubbed Yuugi's back as the boy dried his tears. Hopefully, the one who will choose him on the 'other side' would be compassionate to the teen's emotions and fragile personality.

"It's alright, Yuugi. Things will turn up. You just need to hold on for a little bit longer."

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Slowly, Yuugi made his way out of the doctor's office; his emotions still conflicting as he scheduled the next appointment with a brown-eyed receptionist. One side he felt as if he had gotten a load off his chest but on the other he felt as if he had gained a new one, this one a bit lighter but still there all the same.

It was getting dark, Yuugi noticed as a streetlight flickered to life above him. He should be able to make it home before dark if he didn't stop anywhere. Yuugi sighed; it looked like he'd have to wait till tomorrow to go grocery shopping.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? A little girl out after dark." Yuugi's heart thudded painfully. Ushio was still following him?! He'd thought the brute would have gotten board and given up! Girl? Was the oaf just taunting him, or…did he know?!

"Quite an interesting condition you have. It's too bad that that window was open. You might have been able to live a little longer, Freak."

He knew.

Yuugi's limbs started shaking again, adrenaline shooting through his veins in preparation for the 'flight' command.

"Now that I know you're bi-gender there are a lot of new things I can do." The bully trailed off suggestively. Yuugi's eyes widened as his pupils shrunk as he realized what Ushio was talking about.

"Who knows? Maybe you, being the sick freak you are, will actually enjoy it."

Bam. Yuugi immediately took off running in complete and utter fear. His mind took a back seat to his body's control and instinct ruled his nerves. Small feet pounded against the concrete as they fled from their pursuer.

"You wont get away this time, Freak!"

Yuugi ran blindly, his feet taking a path that he couldn't recognize. Trees began to dot the scenery and his mind suddenly cursed that fact that he let his feet do the thinking. He knew that Ushio had been herding him and he had played right into the bully's hands.

Soon enough, trees were the only things that he could see. He subconsciously noted that he was on one of the many trails in Domino's Natural Reserve Park.

'Wait a minute.' Yuugi thought as he regained control of his legs. 'I recognize this path!' True enough, he had traveled this path many times over the expanse of his life. It was one of the longer ones that lead to a rather small lake in the dead center of the Park. There was this one pine tree that was extremely tall yet had thin limbs that he used to climb all the time, his small stature and light weight made it able for him to go higher than most without snapping a tree limb and falling to his death. Maybe if he got there fast enough…

Yuugi clung to his hope as he fled from the gaining bully. Ushio would be too big to climb as high as him, but he was also a lot more tired and he was starting to get dizzy. He put on an extra spurt of speed with energy that came from desperation when the lack came into sight. He was going to make it!

Bam!

An enormous force slammed into him from behind, sending him sprawling across the hard ground. He landed right on the bank of the lake, one of his hands falling into the cool water. His lungs heaved and his muscles twitched as he stared up at the darkening sky. He had been caught.

He vainly tried to pull himself up off the ground, desperately hoping that Ushio was just as tired as he was and wouldn't be able to stop him from getting away. Unfortunately, he was proved wrong when a booted foot connected with his rib cage, forcing what little air out of his lungs.

"Got ya…Freak." Ushio wheezed. "Who…do you think you are?…Running from me like that! No one runs from Ushio!" Once again, that booted foot connected with Yuugi's rib cage. "I'm gonna enjoy punishing you."

Yuugi's mind was frantic. He knew what Ushio meant, and in his condition he wouldn't be able to stop him. 'Somebody! Please! Help me! Don't let him-Don't let him hurt me!'

Rough hands pinned his shoulders to the ground, a putrid body coming to rest over Yuugi's trembling form. Yuugi screamed as those disgusting hands touched his body, roaming in places where they shouldn't be.

"N-No!" Yuugi screamed. His struggles were rewarded with a harsh slap to his face, his head snapping to the side with the force of the blow. An angry red mark grew on the struck side of his face. His wide unseeing eyes gazed in the direction of the lake's placid surface. His mind retreated to the farthest depths of his mind as his assaulter violated him with his disgusting hands.

Why should he struggle? He was just a useless freak. His own parents had said so. He was just a freak to be used by others for their own sick purposes.

Blank purple eyes stirred as a strange sound filtered into his ears, one that wasn't from the sadistic creature above him. It was a strange melody, stirring softly in the trees and the once placid water. It called to him, called him to come and be safe where it would lead. Cautiously, Yuugi reached out towards where this sound was originating, the lake.

Ushio lustfully pinned Yuugi's outstretched arm to the ground, hearing it splash as it connected with the water's edge. He couldn't wait till he got a taste of the bi-gender, and he fiddled impatiently with his belt buckle.

Ushio paused momentarily. He thought he heard something. It couldn't have been the teen he was about to rape, he was still staring blankly out at the lake's center. It sounded like music? Harsh and angry music. The wind suddenly abandoned its calm nature as it blew harshly against the brute's back, almost dislodging him from his position atop the limp teen.

"What the hell?!"

Suddenly a fist was thrust into the giant teen's body, shoving him off with an incredible amount of force. Yuugi, however, didn't respond to the lack of weight above him, all he could think of was the calming song that was surrounding him with soft wings.

Ushio looked up furiously. How dare anyone ruin his fun! His beady black eyes scanned the area for the offender, already planning an attack. He faltered when the person that had punched him turned out to be some old lady.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" He yelled over the now thunderous wind at the old lady. How on earth could someone so old pack that big of a punch?!

"You have no right to this boy." The lady's voice was eerily calm and easily heard above all the noise. She wore a plain blue t-shirt and faded jeans, her black hair pulling free from her once neat ponytail in the fierce wind.

"The hell?! Stay out of this old lady! It doesn't concern you!" The furious brute charged at the defenseless lady, determined to silence the only witness to his offense. Almost leisurely, the lady dodged his attack and sent him flying with a counter strike.

"He has been Called for another. Leave or you will exist no more."

Sinuous funnels of water sprouted from the wild lake, charging at the terrified bully in response of his negative answer. Terrified screams echoed through the clearing as Ushio was dragged into the raging lake, his shouts silenced with a defining gurgle.

Slowly, the wild thrashings of nature calmed down to a gentle whisper, the source of their anger eternally silenced. The elderly lady made her way to the limp teen that lay next to the water's edge, amethyst eyes staring blanking out at the water's surface. Gingerly, she kneeled down and gently brushed the boy's blond bangs away from his face.

"Who will you choose on the other side?" She wondered aloud. She could feel the pull of the barrier and she carefully backed away. Pale streams of light stretched out from the smooth surface of the water, reaching for the oblivious teen.

Yuugi unconsciously gasped as he was lifted from the ground. Cool wisps of air floated across his skin and the wind stirred his clothes and hair. The song was pulling more insistently now, enticing him to follow its lead.

He didn't notice when he was pulled into the lake's placid water, nor did he see the spinning lights that surrounded him. All he could feel was the wondrous feeling that for once in his life, things would turn out good.

The elderly lady watched as the small teen was submerged into the lake. She sent a quiet blessing to him as the barrier swirled around him, the bright lights glowing intensely. With an enormous flash, the lights dispersed, taking Yuugi with them and leaving the clearing exactly as they had came.

"Be happy, Yuugi."

~(*)~

AN: Well, I hope you liked it. I have had this posted on for a while now and finally decided to post it here. Just another reminder: I have a poll on my profile, I would like to have some votes. ^^ Reviews are always welcome.