Hello all of you who enjoy dark-Vampyr tales!

+Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh+

Rose D.: Just so you all know,

The reason I'm rating this story T for Teen, is for vivid descriptions that some might find EWW, and – just because the whole thing is weird.

Circumstances in this story are unto themselves and have no bearing over any other stories I've written. Example: The Millennium Puzzle has been lost in this story; it won't be lost in others.

And, also, the word "butch" I use to mean: jerk, fiend, wretch, dastard, etc. In short, butch (in my dictionary) doesn't mean anything nice.

Now, on with the story!
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Yami Yu-Gi-Oh!

Dark Crisis:

Dueling the Undead in the Tower of Throe

by BBSHM A.K.A. The Duelist of the Rose
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D. Crisis Chapter 1:

The New Resolution

The boundaries of the habitation know as Domino City had been greatly extended, and it was now referred to as Domino Empire. It had been divided into two halves, one side belonging to the human Tainted; the other side, to the Monsters.

Thus the Living world was shrouded in clouds of blackness; the Undead now roamed free, and those fortunate enough to remain Untainted, were forced to run — and to hide.

Yami and Yugi darted down a dark alleyway; both were on the verge of tears. "This is madness!" sounded Yami, "Pure, unrestrained madness!"

Yugi plopped down on a pile of tattered blankets heaped in the corner beside a dumpster bin; he buried his face. "Tea—!" he wept, "Tea . . ."

Yami looked down at his younger half, stark sadness, depression, and intrenched fear on his face. They both had been greatly wounded, in heart and spirit, for their friend Tea Gardner — had become a Vampyress.

"Why did it have to happen! Of all people —!" Yugi was sobbing, "Why couldn't we have been there? To help her! We should've been there to save her!"

In his mind, Yugi could still see Tea's lengthened K9 teeth; she had come to them in their hiding, entreating them to submit to her, that it'd be best for her to turn them –taint them– rather than anyone else. Luckily, they had managed to escape before she became vicious.

At the thought, Yugi's cheeks ran wet with tears, and painful sobs racked his chest. Yami blinked away some salty water.

"Yugi," he began, "I hate to say this, but . . . how could've we known she was still alive, to be there to save her? And had we been there, what could've we done? Hmm? Please, tell me,"

Yugi looked up slowly; anger flashed in his eyes. "We could have tried." he said through his teeth.

Yami lowered his gaze, and nodded in a consenting fashion; Yugi paid no attention. For a moment, all was silent, except for Yugi's sniffling; after a minute, the boy stood.

Of course, neither of them had any idea that at that same instant, a Vampyr was very near to the vicinity, and he was searching. The Vampyr lifted his nose slightly and sniffed the currents of the air — and smiled.

"There he is," He went forward, yet stopped again, aware that the scent was moving now; both scents were moving. 'Hurry,' he told himself seriously, 'You can't let your chosen 2nd get away!'

Yami and Yugi stopped in a shadowed alcove made of gray stone, situated in the middle of Domino Park; it was overgrown with green ivy that covered a good portion of the entranceway. It was but a little sanctuary, which Yugi had grown to appreciate dearly. It was out in the open, which was always a dangerous place for those who were Untainted to be, but Yugi felt more safe within its walls than he'd felt thus far in any hiding place.

It had been roughly 6 months since the invasion of the evil Duel Monsters and the transformation of most of the humans in the original Domino City.

For the first few months, Yami, Yugi and their friends had been able to stay together and keep one another safe. That is, up until their refuge was set ablaze; they were smoked out like rats.

Thus, out of the whole of that smokey, fiery confusion, it had only been Yami and Yugi who were able to find each other . . . Since that day, they hadn't seen hide nor hair of any of their friends. Well, until Tea surface, bearing with her sharp fangs and a hypnotic stare.

And that broke their hearts.

Yugi went and sat on the lengthy stone bench, leaning his back against the wall; there was a little window near at hand, but it too was mostly shrouded in the ivy greenery.

Yami came and sat beside his heart-brother; he raised his eyes slightly and studied the now water-less fountain that had been placed at the heart of the alcove. There was a stone angel standing atop the fountain's center column with arms open, and it attributed partially to Yugi's feeling of sanctuary.

Yami glanced at Yugi, feeling bad, for it seemed his counterpart was angry with him — for what he'd said. He looked down at the stone floor, weather-stained and marked as it was with bits of earth and dead leaves that had blown in.

Yugi said nothing to the re-in-bodied Pharaoh, and looked out at the light coming through the little window. Yami stood; Yugi made no move to look at him. Yami sighed within himself and moved toward the entrance way; he stood upon the threshold, gazing out at the surrounding park area.

All was quiet; the breeze came, however, and decided it wanted to play in Yami's hair. The Pharaoh looked up at the sky, which was mostly clouded over except for a patch of sunlight that seemed to shine only on their Stone Sanctuary.

Yami half-turned and saw that Yugi had shifted positions, but still wasn't looking at him; Yami's eyes grew downcast. Yet then, he felt something, a movement so slight he could've mistaken it for the breeze playing a strand of hair against the back of his neck. But no, as he looked down his leather collar slipped from around his neck, landing its buckle with a /clunk/ against the stone of the entrance.

'What?' Yami wondered, his mind in a sudden daze; the back of the collar had been slit perfectly down the middle. The Pharaoh was about to bend and pick it up — when he was attacked from behind, swiftly and silently.

Yami tried to cry out, but all he managed to bring forth from his throat was a whimpering gasp. His eyes were wide in shock — there were teeth in his neck.

Yami struck out with his fist, but missed the face of his assailant completely. He began to panic as he realized the Vampyr was causing something dreadful to happen to him: he couldn't focus himself to make an attack, and every attack he did managed to induce himself to do, failed utterly.

'Yugi!' Yami cried from his mind. Yugi Mutoh jerked up, and the sight before him made him choke. All anger toward Yami vanished in an instant, for the only thing Yugi felt now was fear. Fear that he'd loose Yami for good, and shock, at who was taking him.

"Kaiba!" Yugi screamed, jumping forward and stopping only a yard from Yami and his assailant. The Pharaoh's former vessel was appalled, horrified. "Ge–get your teeth out of his neck!" he demanded.

Kaiba only grinned, and that was horrible, for Yugi could actually see the corporate exec.'s teeth pierced into the Pharaoh's skin. Yugi very nearly threw up.

As for Yami, he could barely make himself moved now; he felt incredibly hot, and mostly paralyzed. And worst of all, he could feel his blood fizzling in his veins.

'Kaiba?' he thought, 'It's Kaiba? Why is it he that's doing this? He's the last person I would've expected! Uhgh, it's so hot! I wish I could take my jacket off!' Yami then chided himself for thinking that last thought; such a stupid, unimportant desire at such a terrible moment!

Yugi drew up his courage; he would punch Kaiba square in the face. 'It might be too late! It may not do any good,' thought Yugi, 'But I have to do something!'

Just then, Kaiba pulled back; his teeth slid from Yami's neck, leaving identical, tiny wounds in his flesh. Kaiba would have held on to Yami to keep him from flopping to the floor, that is, if Yugi's balled fist hadn't rammed into his face.

The C.E.O. stumbled backward, cupping his hands over his face. Yami collapsed in a heap and Yugi went to him immediately.

Seto Kaiba was enraged, and when he looked upon Yugi again, he only saw red. He instantly swept forward, almost flying, and slammed Yugi back against the floor. Yugi gasped, and realized he was pinned beneath Kaiba.

"You're a nuisance." stated Kaiba, "You're always interfering, and that's getting annoying."

"Kaiba! Don't!" came Yami's strangled cry. No matter how horrible Yami felt, he was still Yugi's guardian, and while he had life & breath, he had to protect him. Yami was balancing on his knees, trembling terribly, holding one hand against his neck.

Kaiba visibly controlled himself; the Vampyr instinct within him was trying to take over again. He forced himself to remember: killing Yugi wasn't part of his plan; quite the opposite in fact. He looked back at the Pharaoh, and it took a minute or so for Yugi's eyes to follow suit.

"Oh?" asked Kaiba, "What's to stop me Pharaoh?"

Shaking, Yami looked straight at him. "Nothing. Just — don't, please."

Kaiba smirked slightly, sensing his opportunity. "Tell you what Pharaoh, I'll not only let Yugi go, I'll put him under my personal protection, rendering him taboo to any Vampire — including myself."

Yami sat back until his rear was resting on his heels; he perceived a catch. "What do I have to do?" he asked derisively.

Kaiba's grin grew. "I have plans." said he, "But for now, I want you to agree to be my blood-let."

Yami and Yugi's eyes widened at the same time. "What?" they asked.

"Uh huh," breathed Kaiba, moving off of Yugi; the boy sat up. Yami began rubbing his neck; the hideous sensation which Kaiba had rendered to him was only just subsiding.

"I don't understand," began Yami, "How can I be your blood-let, when apparently you've injected Vampyr-encoding into me? If you hadn't done so I wouldn't be alive, for you would've taken all my blood instead." Yami paused, and his brow furrowed, "Why do you want me to be a Vampyr anyway?" he queried.

Kaiba shrugged. "You'll see, but for now, I need you to be my blood-let. Is it a deal then?"

Yugi shook his head. "It could be trap Yami!" he said.

The President of Kaiba Corp. looked at him. "And why would I do that? For what reason, and in what way would I trap Yami? I have no reason to; my only goal is to kill Vampire Lord. He's the one who turned me into a blood-sucker. He was wanting me to be his 2nd: someone he could depend on, someone who would take over when he couldn't for any reason. Heh, fool! He didn't know what he was doing when he turned me into a Vampire!"

"So you go and change Yami into one?" chastened Yugi.

Seto Kaiba shifted, saying but three words. "I - need - him." He then quickly turned on the Pharaoh. "So, is it a deal?"

Yami looked down; he sighed very deeply. "I don't understand everything that's going on, but I may yet. So . . . yes. Place Yugi under your protection so that no one can touch him, and I will be your blood-let."

"Yami don't!" cried Yugi.

Kaiba snapped his fingers. "Done deal!" And in one swift move, Kaiba rushed forward, taking Yami under one arm, and Yugi under the other. He bound free from the oppressing Sanctuary, and upward into the sky.