~ o ~ O ~ o ~

By the time Yugi finally woke from his lapse into unconsciousness it was completely dark. He nearly gagged as he tried to raise himself up onto his arms only to find himself lying back in the same pool of thick, tacky liquid that he had tried so hard to move away from, his skin crawling unpleasantly. The throbbing pain in his back was excruciating, the waves radiating from his crippled wing even worse.

But his disgust won out over the pain, and he used his hands and feet to scoot away from what he was sure was a puddle of his own bodily fluids. His strength gave out not long after and he collapsed back onto the mildewed stone, shivering – each movement of his body threatening to send him screaming in agony. Tears pricked at his lashes and he clamped his teeth down on the urge to cry out.

Even his training had not been this harsh. But then again he wasn't supposed to have gotten caught, so they had never planned for anything like this. Would he have to endure the same torture again tomorrow? He didn't know if he could take much more of this agony. His eyelids fluttered, welcoming darkness rushing up to meet him.

"Yugi!" A near silent whisper sounded outside his cell.

He twitched.

A moment's silence and then another call. "Yugi!"

Yugi willed his eyelids to open, not sure whether to hope that his eyes had been deceiving him earlier or not. By the third call of his name he nearly sobbed with relief, the knowledge that his old friend was still among the living giving him the strength to fight off the pain and the beckoning darkness for a few moments longer.

"Malik..." He coughed, nearly choking as a wave of pain swept through his battered frame. "What are you...doing here...?"

"Never mind that now," came the reply. "Just take this."

Something was tossed into his cell, stopping just out of reach of his fingertips from the sound of it. He inched forward, groping blindly around the floor where he had last heard it hit until he found what he was looking for, his hand closing feebly around the tiny capsule. Questions whirled around in his head as his hand took in the shape and texture of the capsule in his hand. What was Malik doing here? How was it that his old friend was still alive? Were they even on the same side anymore?

Had Malik sided with the demons…but why would they need him if that was the case? They would already have the answers they needed. Unless Malik had held out on them…he couldn't think…

"What...is it?" He gasped, bleary eyes trying to get a fix on his friend's sorely missed features.

"It'll dull the pain for a while. I've got to go before they discover that the errand Isis sent me on was a cover-up. I'll help you when I can."

"Malik...wait..."

But it was no use, his friend was long gone. Yugi fingered the capsule, wondering if he dared to trust what had been one of his most cherished friends. Malik had been thought dead for over two years. Had he been here this whole time? And why? He would have attempted to call out for him, demanded an explanation no matter how lame, had it not sent a sharp bolt of agony through his body every time he dared breathe.

Why had their righteous leader not thought to rescue Malik? Would they even bother with him after he had made the same mistake as his friend? Probably not. They were expendable even after having been told different, all three of them apparently. But he had never given a thought to what expendable meant before. Now he knew. Gods help him, now he knew. Malik had been here for over two years…there would be no one coming to rescue him.

Taking great care not to aggravate his injuries Yugi slowly reeled in his outstretched hand and set the capsule on his tongue. It was difficult to swallow when the very act brought an excruciating amount of pain, but he managed to choke the pill down all the same. What did it matter if it was poison? Not like his life was worth a pence. It was better for all concerned if he just died now.

With those thoughts weighing heavily on his mind, and the damage done taking an even heavier toll on his body Yugi retreated inside himself, allowing the small pill to work its magic.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

"Get up." A booted toe nudged his ribs.

Yugi groaned and attempted to roll away, only to hiss in agony as his back came into contact with the mold on the floor. The boot followed him and he received another kick to his ribs for his troubles. He bit down on the threatening scream, his blissful dreams dissolving as a cold reality set in. Oh, how he sorely wished for those dreams to be his reality.

"I said get up." The voice above him snarled. "You are not dead, but you will be wishing for it should you ignore my command."

Yugi glared at his attacker through slitted eyes, taking in the long legs encased in black leather, the well-muscled chest straining at the black fabric of the shirt, a momentary fear sparking behind his eyes as he noticed the ruby eyes boring holes into his. He jerked back, away from the demon king's booted foot. And then let out a scream as he ripped his damaged back open.

The king rolled his eyes, grabbing him by his hair and dragging him into an upright position. It was only by sheer force of will that Yugi remained somewhat standing – that and the hand ripping hair out of his scalp. Gods that hurt! Tears sprang to his eyes and he brought his hands up to try to dislodge the hand grasping so tightly at his hair. But even that was denied him as the chains on his wrists prevented such a movement.

"So this is what has become of the almighty assassin..." Atemu tsked, leaning in for a closer look. "You are not such a fearsome thing after all."

For some reason being referred to as a thing set him off in a way that no physical pain ever had before, and Yugi roared. "I am not...not a thing! Not an it!"

The effort cost him, though, as wave after wave of excruciating pain shot through his body, and he dropped to his knees, dangling in the other's grip. As if in agitation the king dropped him, crossing the floor to kick one of the remaining skeletons out of his way. He turned to study Yugi, as though seeing him for the first time.

"No," he began firmly. "What you are is an assassin. As of yet I am unsure what species of demon you belong to. You have the scent of a snow demon but your aura is different. Almost pure, nothing I have ever sensed before…"

Trailing off Atemu returned to his study of the prone form. His attraction to it had not diminished in the least, to his dismay. This one radiated a quiet pride, an indomitable spirit that he, against his better judgment, admired greatly. He and Isis had debated long and hard the last night over what to do with their unexpected guest. Staring at the strange being Atemu felt the attraction pulling at him. Even tortured and weak the creature would not bow before him, the first time it had ever happened.

So, this was fate. Atemu sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort not to destroy the entire cell and everything in it. His attraction to this creature had the power to damn, or save, his world as he knew it…or so he had been told. Even Isis was uncertain of which, had been adamantly unwilling to even speak of this to him. Had they not argued beforehand he was quite certain he would not have heard about either of her theories until it was too late.

Fate tied their futures together, but it was with great trepidation that he reached out to haul the creature up to its – his – feet again, unclasping the chains that held him. So be it. "Get up. I do not trust you out of my sight. So, therefore, where I go, you follow."

Yugi made to follow the one gripping his arm so tightly, staggering to his feet only to collapse back to his knees again in a whirlwind of throbbing pain. His actions caused his captor to drag him halfway across the cell before realizing that he was unable to keep up. His arm was released, only for hands to reappear on both of his overly sensitive wings. Yugi gave a deep shudder, that ended with a sob, not hearing the words chanted above him, his individual feathers ceasing to move at all, a white-hot numbness spreading out from where the hands held so tightly until he felt nothing of their presence.

"What did you do?" He shrieked when he no longer felt the appendages at all, reaching back to feel for the downy soft feathers that had been a part of his life since he was born.

"You are lucky I allow you to have them at all." Atemu responded. "You do not believe me foolish enough to allow you into the living areas of the palace without some sort of assurance that you shall not escape, do you?"

Without a word Yugi crumpled to the ground sobbing. He was truly an it now – his greatest pride taken from him without a moment's hesitation. He curled into a ball, unable to believe that his wings were useless. Why not just cut them off? Why leave him that much? Fearing his fate now more than ever he welcomed the calming darkness of unconsciousness.

"Son of a bitch!" Atemu swore as he kneeled before the still figure of his captive, his expression blacker than the darkest night.

Apparently snow demons were fragile creatures, if that's what it – he – really was. After a moment of mental debate Atemu gathered his captive into his arms and headed towards the healing ward, a small voice in the back of his head reminding him that he hadn't been that cruel to Marik's slave even after the boy had tried to kill him. He tried to reason with it, running through his list of explanations, but the voice kept nagging until he found himself at Isis's doorstep.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Isis threw open the door to Atemu's incessant pounding with an exasperated look on her face. "If you've come to continue our discussion of last night might I remind you that I have no intention of changing –"

Her eyes widened as her king wordlessly thrust a nude, unconscious figure with snowy white wings between them, holding tight to the creature's limp arms as his unholy expression dared her to finish that sentence. With a sigh she stepped back and allowed the group entry into her private chambers. Atemu crossed the room and unceremoniously dumped the catatonic figure onto one of the mats where she tended to those palace inhabitants who were deathly ill or in need of constant supervision. The guards filed silently into the room one by one and took up position around their leader.

Her eyes immediately riveted on the small figure, assessing his hideous condition as well as his youthful countenance. The snow demons must turn their soldiers out young, she thought, for this one couldn't have been much over a half score in years. Reluctantly she dragged her attention from her newest charge to Atemu's rigid form.

"I am not asking that you change your mind any more than I am asking for you to change your visions. What I am asking for is clarification of that which I do not comprehend." Although Atemu spoke to her his eyes never left the pathetic looking being laid out on the mat. "Why me…why…this?" He gestured helplessly.

She said nothing to this, merely watching how he reacted around the unconscious assassin. Atemu had been her friend from the time they were old enough to communicate and she knew he was deeply troubled by the way he fidgeted with the small ring – his father's – on the second finger of his right hand. Granted she had overwhelmed him with talk of her visions last night but she had never before seen him so ill at ease.

Finally Atemu pulled his eyes from the creature to meet hers, his tone softer – yet no less disgruntled. "It is in need of sufficient clothing if I am to allow it into the upper regions of the palace…and I suppose I should have you heal its wounds as well since I rather doubt that the palace servants should wish to clean up the bloody trail that it would leave behind. But do not go overboard, I wish for it to remember the lessons of yesterday. However, before we speak any further of this…"

Before Isis could comprehend what her sovereign was up to Atemu withdrew a wicked looking dagger from the sheath belted at his waist. He picked up his captive's lifeless hand, slashing across the palm and then turned the blade against his own. A breath of pain hissed from between his teeth as he pressed their wounds together tightly. Isis shuddered, a sudden sense that this would all go wrong flashing across her conscience.

"I bind thee to me; mind, soul and body…" There Atemu hesitated with his mouth open to speak the words, his face a mix of shock and fear. It looked as though he attempted to force the words from his mouth but something was keeping him from finishing the recitation.

A powerful gale spouted from the center of the room the moment Atemu's words stopped, forcing Isis back from his shivering form and scattering the unprepared guards. Bodies hit the ground in random directions; the guards' faces registering shock at the spectacle before them. Isis stood, slack-jawed, her hand up to her face to ward off the growing winds as she contemplated the mistake her young king had just made in stopping midway through his spell. Atemu had obviously expected the blowing gale to calm since he had not recited more than the first line – or at least his expression said thus – but the forceful winds only gained in power for every second he remained silent.

Her eyes widened as he struggled, realizing that he needed her help. "Atemu, no! Wait!" She held up a hand to prevent him from finishing, fighting the whipping winds to reach his side.

But he had recovered his composure before she spoke and went on with the spell. "…Using the gods' power your spirit I shall devour. By the command of this spell thy will belongs to only me, to do with as I please."

"Damn it, Atemu! Wrong spell!" Isis shouted above the forceful winds. But there was nothing else to be done, his path had been chosen. "Finish it – it's the only way!"

"What are you talking about?" Atemu shouted back, his eyes wild in the room-sized vortex's wrath. "I do not know this spell!"

Still covering her face, Isis yelled, "In return; for this gift, I give you mine to do with as you wish…say it!"

The instant he repeated her words the lashing gales disappeared altogether, disintegrating into a blinding light which splintered in half to enter the two now bound by blood. She rushed over to Atemu, immediately wrapping his wounded hand in a clean cloth that she kept in a hidden pocket in case of emergency. He was trembling fiercely, as was the unconscious snow demon. She gave a brief prayer to the gods that Atemu was alright if not a little shaken, ushering the frightened contingent of guards out of the room with her assurances that their ruler was unharmed but in need of attention.

"What were you thinking?" She queried sharply after shoving him into a chair beside the occupied mat. "You know better than to attempt a spell that you have not yet trained for. And even better yet you know not to stop in the middle of a spell!"

Atemu held his head in his uninjured hand. "I…that was not the spell I was aiming for, I swear it. The words would not come. They refused to be spoken! This spell I have never heard before…what happened? What have I done?"

Giving her ruler a critical eye, Isis explained. "You have bound him to you as you had intended…however, you have also bound yourself to him. The words you spoke were from the ceremonial bonding ritual. You should have let me do the binding if that is what you wished. The fates are conspiring against you right now when it comes to this young man, you know this. I warned you yesterday."

"No, what you warned me of was that our fates are tied together." He countered with a glare. "You said nothing of the fates interfering outright."

"Semantics, your Highness," she replied stiffly. "However, you have now bound yourself to a snow demon…one that hates you enough to kill you, I might add."

Atemu sighed loudly, fixing his glare on the vials and jars of potions that occupied the shelves in her room. This was not what he had been attempting to do, and yet now he was bound – for life – to this creature beside him. Beautiful though it was this was not what he had wanted to accomplish. How he had managed to recite a private incantation that was only to be performed for mating pairs…he had not the slightest idea. Had the words not automatically popped into his mind when the original ones fled he never would have voiced them.

"How did you know the incantation? It is only spoken in private ceremonies." Isis captured his attention with her hand on his face, turning his eyes to meet hers.

"You think I am unaware of that?" Atemu snapped, face ashen. "Those words were spoken without a thought to the power they held. They were there before I had even realized I spoke them!"

"So as it has been commanded, so shall it be done," she murmured mysteriously, making the sign of their first sunstar around them – their patron deity.

She finished healing his hand, and then fixed him with a steady look. "Allow me to clean him up and then you may take him with you. But permit him a period of adjustment; if he is anything like Malik then he has been brainwashed very thoroughly."

Having said what she needed Isis rose to her feet and began to attend the unconscious snow demon, her motions slow and precise as she considered this newest predicament and his place in it. Her king's chosen mate. Their new consort. This being now had the power to pass judgment on their realm's people, the power to make decisions concerning their welfare. Mistake or not, this creature was now Atemu's mate for life. She, at least, would treat him with all of the care that she treated any of those of royal blood. And while she did this she truly hoped her visions would become clearer so that she might see if this error would mean the downfall or the redemption of their people.

While she worked on her patient Atemu moved from the chair, quietly studying the kaleidoscope of colors the combined sunstars gave off in the midday. She ignored his presence, intent on trying to figure out why her senses were telling her that there was something different with her patient, something that set him apart from the last snow demon that had entered their realm. She stilled momentarily as she scanned the creature's aura, her eyes narrowing. This creature; he wasn't full blooded snow demon…what…?

She leaned in closer, concentrating on what seemed to be so different. So wrong, so out of place in keeping with the snow demon hierarchy, what was it?

She gasped. This was –

"No one needs know about this." Atemu spoke quietly, drawing her focus from the strange aura the younger demon radiated as he stood over her, his eyes serious. "It is my prisoner regardless of my error; do not mistake this infatuation for something more than just that. I could care less for its comfort, nor its misconceptions. I shall find a way to rectify this travesty."

"Atemu…I think there is something you should know –" she began, hesitant to voice her theory.

Atemu held a hand up at this point. "It matters not. I am not interested in knowing anything about it other than who sent it."

"But this –"

"–Is merely another assassin sent from the snow demons to lay me in my grave. I know of what it is you wish to discuss, and I agree it is disturbing, but that is not the question I wish to pursue," Atemu explained. "Once I have the answers I need I shall dispose of it as I would any other piece of trash."

Isis snorted. "Be that as it may, you are now responsible for his welfare as well as yours. Should you forget that the consequences shall be yours to reap. You are bound together for this life, and that is a long time."

"His?" Atemu questioned blankly.

Isis stared back, unperturbed.

A question not yet answered kept him from taking his High Healer to task for her presumption. "When it awakens will it know…?"

"No, he won't feel any different." Isis assured him. "Are you sure –"

"Then we shall speak no more of this until a solution can be found." Atemu commanded, moving to the window, a signal that their discussion was at an end.

Isis heaved a forlorn sigh and went back to working on her patient. As she figured would happen her dearest friend ignored her advice, collecting his captive as soon as she was done with him and storming out the door. Hopefully she could talk some sense into him once he had calmed down. But she prayed that he not take his temper out on the one he held in his arms while he was still in a rage. She needed to know more about these visions; their entire existence depended on it.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

For weeks Yugi existed inside a bubble of calm, deep within his own consciousness, his body on autopilot – a puppet with no strings. He could feel that his back had been healed of some of the wounds the whip had inflicted. But to his utter despair he could still not feel his wings. His captor had not loosened the spell that held them useless. He barely acknowledged the world around him as he trailed the Adarran king from room to room, from task to task – as he was forced to do – the now familiar weight of the shackles on his wrists not even a factor in his mind, the fleeting tingling on the palm of his left hand barely making a mark on his conscience.

That he still existed in this dreamlike state was much to the consternation of the demons around him, whom it seemed still hoped to get information out of him. His third visit to the woman – Isis was her name, or so he remembered hearing – gave them nothing they could use to rouse him from his walking slumber. The herbs she had forced into his mouth only sat under his tongue until no one was paying attention, the spells she cast not strong enough to force him from his self-imposed trance. Throughout it all he remained aware but unfeeling, conscious slightly, but uncaring.

Sometimes it almost felt as though she was on his side – she had even seen to it that he was bathed and fed daily when his captor was otherwise occupied – but he wasn't willing to risk a full return into the outer world to find out since he could sense the other's presence close by during those times. As was the trend over these past weeks he would peek into reality in order to familiarize himself with his surroundings and then fade back into his dreams.

He had overheard the arguments concerning his being, listening in at times when the conversation became interesting. Of how Bakura – the cruel dark-eyed demon – wished for his captor to torture him out of this state. Of Marik's statements to how the king should end his life, and thus cheat fate altogether – whatever that was about. He heard Seto – another high ranking demon – pushing for the ruler to assert his dominance over him – whatever that meant. It all meant nothing to him. He was beyond it, cocooned in his own little world, safe from their machinations.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~

Atemu sat on his bed, fingernails scratching against the soft silk of his bedding, contemplating the silent figure in the corner of his chambers as he had done so often over the past couple of weeks. He wished there was some way to pull him from his trance-like state. It was no fun to punish someone that didn't react to it, this he knew from experience. And so he was often at a loss as to how to deal with his catatonic captive.

Lately the smaller demon had become a fixation for him, one that he could not quit. He found himself curious as to how someone so young could hold such hatred for a people he knew nothing about. How someone so fragile looking could hold such an inner strength and defiance. This angelic looking snow demon defied everything he knew about their race. He was a complete mystery.

Taken aback, the young king reared up with the realization that he had just thought of his prisoner as a person, and not an it. When had he begun to think along those lines? He truly wished that Isis could divine something more from her visions. But he had heard nothing since the time that he had brought his captive up from the dungeons and nearly destroyed them all with his careless spell casting. He had heard nothing other than his intrigue with this being would either destroy all he knew, or save it from that certain destruction.

And now they were bound together completely. The magic of the spell he had recited would draw them back together each time they attempted to separate, so there would be no escaping each other except through death. And he wasn't willing to die in order to give his prisoner his freedom. Not that he was above having the other killed once he had the information he needed, but for some reason, lately, that thought seemed abhorrent to him. It didn't seem right to sentence such a beautiful creature to death, but he had no idea why he thought so.

Why did his life have to be so complicated? All he wished for was to rule his kingdom in peace. To hold to what was left of his second family, after having to dispatch his father at such a young age for such a stupid fault. He didn't need the complications of some other race involving themselves in his life. But now he had this being, this beautiful, silent being condemning him for nothing more than trying to live his life with as little strife as possible. A forlorn sigh escaped his lips and he sat up against the headboard, curling one leg in and propping a hand atop his drawn up knee.

What was he to do with this...boy, for lack of a better term? He couldn't torture him, not before Isis' visions were able to come into focus and, hopefully, show them this being's role in their future. But he couldn't allow the boy to go free either; he was a danger to their species, to him. With nothing better to do with his time, Atemu stood, stretching momentarily, to pace the length of his chambers. A knock sounded at his door, and he listlessly bade the person to enter.

Bakura smirked as he caught sight of his sovereign's troubled expression, holding a tray of fragrant foods high in a peace offering. "So, you figure anything else out about it? What you're supposed to do with it, maybe?"

Atemu shook his head, turning to make another circuit around the room. He had not told his friends of what had transpired that day in Isis' chambers. "Nothing. And the questions keep adding up."

"What is it, why is it here, who sent it." The white-haired advisor began to lay out the trays on a table as he rattled off the usual questions with an impertinent air. "What does it want...that sort of stuff. Well, we know it's not an angel, right? I mean we all remember what happened the time one of those found its way into our dimension. So then it has to be a snow demon…not that the wings give it away or anything. Besides, they're the only ones who have been so intent on killing you lately, so it stands to reason that it's one of them. The question is: why?"

"That is true…" Atemu pondered the truth of that statement even as he spoke the words.

Once he was finished laying out the food Bakura lounged back on Atemu's bed with an insolent expression, almost as if he were waiting for his sovereign to make some sort of revealing remark. It stood to reason, after all, that Atemu did not get this worked up over half-formed prophesies or angel assassins. He hadn't the last time. No, there was something else going on here, something he was not privy to yet – the key word being yet.

"I guess one important question is why these things keep thinking they're angels come to avenge their heavens." Bakura snorted. "Not even Marik's little treasure has spoken a word about its past."

Atemu snapped around with a glare, waving his arms in frustration. "And most importantly, why do I care about the entire situation! Why does he haunt me in my sleep?"

"He?" Bakura arched a brow expectantly. Here it comes…

"Shut up," Atemu returned with a snort, taking a little from each of the trays for his plate as he cut his friend off at the pass. "Know your place."

Bakura then laughed heartily at his friend's bemused expression. "Oh that's rich! So just coax him out, and –"

"Say it and I shall cut your tongue out of your mouth." Atemu growled as he set the steaming plate down where his captive could smell, and reach it. "I swear to all that is holy I will."

But Bakura was too far gone to listen to his ruler's admonishment, slapping his knees as great guffaws of laughter spilled from his lips. "Oh this is priceless! Our fearless leader –"

Frustrated and not knowing what else to do Atemu reached out and tipped the taller demon over on his ass before he could finish his statement. It didn't take much of his strength, and the confused look that it brought to his friend's cruel features had him falling back on the bed in tears – a stress induced reaction that he could not contain. It felt so good to laugh, there was so little in his life to cause such a reaction, and so Atemu willingly gave in to it.

It was that laughter that drew Yugi from his self-induced trance, out of curiosity. The smaller being came to, shaking his head to rid it of the cobwebs, only to stare in wonder at the scene before him. He shifted slowly, trying not to draw the pair's attention to him. But it was a failed attempt as the rattle of his chains brought their gazes his way. The laughter died away completely when his gaze locked with that of curious ruby, and the pair of demons rose to their feet.

"Leave us." Atemu commanded to his friend, not taking his eyes off of the being in the corner.

Yugi cringed but found that he was unable to look away from the intimidating sight. The sound of a door closing brought him back to full awareness and he sought out refuge internally, attempting to concentrate on his life before his training, before his failure.

"So help me...if you retreat back into yourself I will turn you over my knee and spank you soundly!" Atemu snapped, reaching out for his captive.

It was the only threat he could think of, not that it was all that great in terms of threats. But he had been thinking of his last encounter with the species of angels from the Celestial Eternity, and those thoughts always brought him back around to thoughts of his father's concubines and his treatment of them when he was in a mood. He nearly cringed as the words flew from his mouth. His captive was going to laugh himself to tears over that threat.

Yugi blanched but refused to shy away, his concentration shattered. "I am not an it. And I am most definitely not a child!"

Atemu's eyes widened at his captive's outburst, realization burning through his mind. This was interesting, he thought. The boy before him responded more strongly to slurs against his gender and age rather than threats of a physical nature. Very interesting indeed, considering this was the same small demon that had caused him damage twice now and not seemed to fear the consequences at all. Perhaps he could further arouse the boy's emotions and use them against him?

"Child?" The Adarran king quirked a brow at his captive, "who said anything about a child? I was thinking more along the lines of concubine..."

"C-concubine…?" Yugi swallowed thickly, rising to his feet to meet the threat head on, realizing that he had given the demon king access to his fears with that initial outburst.

The pair stood there, eyes locked, Yugi defying his captor as he again attempted to regain his concentration, hoping to succeed before the threat was carried out. But Atemu was quicker as he threw up his hand and muttered a low incantation. By the time Yugi sought his safe haven it was to find that he had been locked out of his own internal refuge by the mental image of a barred metal door. He screamed in rage and flung himself at his captor only to find that he was unable to reach, chained as he was.

All his memories of his grandfather, the world he had created on wisps of memory, faces that may have been his parents, his family - gone. Barred to him just as his freedom was. They had been his refuge, his salvation, and now they were locked away, unavailable to him. Like his useless wings…

"I'll kill you!" He howled, pulling at the chains, his eyes glowing a deep tanzanite color as he launched himself at his tormentor. "I hate you!"

"And here I thought we were finally having a perfectly civil discussion." Atemu smirked at him, standing just out of reach. Scarlet eyes hardened as the smaller demon only persisted in his efforts to reach him. "Oh come now, you have already attempted that, and failed. Why not put your energy toward something more constructive. You would make a fine addition to my harem. Your appearance is very pleasing to the eye."

Yugi hissed as he drew to his full height, his aura flowing around him, pulsing in soft waves. "Touch me and I'll –"

"You'll what, little demon?" Atemu arched a brow, unimpressed, stepping up to grab the chain connected to his captive's wrists. "You can do nothing. You are powerless before me and I can prove it, should you persist."

The demon king twisted the chain until Yugi dropped to his knees, his arms held out at an unnatural angle. He bared his fangs, biting back the scream that threatened, but was unable to do any more to keep from being forced into this submissive position before his enemy. He preferred the physical torture to this feeling of utter helplessness, this humiliation. But he bowed his head all the same, allowing his nemesis to believe that he was done fighting.

"I can touch you any way I like, little one. Do not doubt me." Atemu whispered into his ear.

A hand gently cupped the side of his face, turning him towards the demon's piercing gaze and Yugi shivered at the threat, his thoughts racing. This particular demon had a way of reducing him to a trembling mass of conflicting emotions. This was the first time he had felt this sort of fear before. It came from the marrow of his bones and radiated outward until he was sick with it. Oh gods, why didn't his captor just kill him and be done with it?

But much to his relief the demon king relented once he had asserted his dominance, wandering back over to his bed. He perched on the edge, returning to his silent study, his eyes taking on a vague, far-away look. Yugi let out a breath, sinking fully into the cushions that served as his bed. It was time for him to rethink this dilemma. There had to be some way for him to escape his captor, some way for him to get back home. Let Pegasus kill him; let his king find someone else who could take out their foe. He could not finish this mission. This particular demon frightened him on a level that he did not understand.

~ o ~ O ~ o ~