Ah, my adoring public. How they love me!

Heh. Seriously, 2 whole reviews are more than enough to get me posting more chappys. Bon Appetite!

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

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"YOU LOST HIM!?!?!" The angry shriek echoed through the lair. "YOU HAD HIM IN YOUR CLAWS AND YOU _LOST_ HIM?!?!"

"My Lady - please, I beg forgiveness -"

"BE SILENT!"

The she-demon's words devolved to a whimper as she kneeled before her swarm's Lady. Every swarm had a Lady, to bear baby demons, and they ruled their swarms with iron grips. The she-demon was the only one of the swarm not spawned by this Lady. Naturally, this Lady hated her, even if she did put her in command. Now, the serpentine beast glared long and hard while thinking.

"You have received another chance," was all she said before flapping her bat-wings and vanishing into the darkness. The she-demon hid all traces of her relief as she left to send out the trackers; that Ban-Ile wouldn't get far…

Yami always slept very lightly, and so the instant Yuugi moved in his direction the next morning he woke up. He stayed still at first, letting his other senses determine his situation. It felt like a bright day out, and there didn't seem to be any immediate threats here. So Yami opened his eyes, accidentally startling Yuugi who had been looking right at his face to see if he was awake. Automatically, it would seem, the boy's hands made a sign.

"Much better, thank you," Yami said, smiling very slightly at Yuugi's new expression.

[How how yesterday you didn't understand this.]

"Just call me a quick learner," Yami said. Yuugi shrugged.

[Fine fine don't care. You look like you need a doctor Yami]

A twinge made him wince as he remembered.

"I noticed that part," Yami said.

To his surprise, Yuugi sat right next to him with a small box.

[I can fix maybe let me help]

He let Yuugi bandage him up without protest, until it came to the wings.

[Never fixed wings don't know how sorry]

Yami examined his wings himself. The one was fine, sore from overwork but that was to be expected. The other one was a shredded mess. It was still dripping fluid too. Yami took careful hold of the thing and gave it a solid yank, straightening the joint. When he took his hands away the fluid had hardened into a natural cast. When he looked, Yami saw Yuugi staring at him with astonishment.

[Wing not bite your hands]

"Hmm?"

[When I save you it cut me]

Yuugi showed him the finger with the bandage. "They do tend to do that," Yami said.

[Why what are you really] Yami thought quickly. He should tell him, the boy _had_ a right after all, but…

[Want to know. Won't leave you alone until you tell]

"Telling you would likely put your life in danger," Yami said quietly.

[Don't care tell me]

A pause.

[Probably in danger already from helping you]

That was true enough, Yami knew. He sighed.

"Very well Yuugi, if you really need to know…"

Yuugi waited patiently as Yami collected his thoughts.

"I am one of the last of a race of beings that you humans have called 'Angels'."

[Not called Angel what are you called then]

"We prefer to call ourselves the 'Ban-Ile'."

[Okay. Why are you one of the last ones]

"Our numbers were declining anyway," Yami said as his gaze settled on nothing in particular, "But then He felt the need to 'help' us along."

[Who's He]

When Yami didn't answer, because he hadn't seen Yuugi's hands, Yuugi tapped Yami on the shoulder and repeated his question.

[Who's He Yami]

"Someone I hope you never have the misfortune to meet," Yami said, and wouldn't say anything else.

And it would seem Fate, via Coincidence, was in full agreement with this sentiment, since just then Yuugi's grandfather called for him.

Yuugi gave Yami a sidelong glance as he went, but he forgot all his questions when he saw his grandpa. The old man was dressed to travel, with a big suitcase.

"Yuugi, something's come up and I'm going to have to be out of town for a while."

[What thing]

"A friend of mine that's been on a dig - Mr. Hawkins, he came and visited once, remember?"

Yuugi nodded.

"Well, he called me yesterday and asked if I could come out to the site. He thinks he's stumbled onto something big, and…"

Yuugi understood. Just like him, his grandpa loved to explore new things. Or in grandpa's case, old things - he was an archeologist.

[How long]

"Oh, I'd imagine a month at most. Can you handle things here while I'm gone?"

Yuugi nodded. In a way, this was a relief, since he had been racking his brains about how to explain Yami.

"My plane leaves in an hour, so remember Yuugi - no staying up late, and none of those wild teenage parties. Alright?" Yuugi smiled while his grandpa grinned.

[Yeah yeah sure sure. Don't forget to have fun Grandpa]

"And don't _you_ forget, you've got school tomorrow!" Grandpa said as he left.

Yuugi sighed as he went back upstairs. One of these days, he was going to make Grandpa take him on one of his trips if it was the last thing he did. He wanted to see the world too…

"What was that about?"

Yuugi jumped - he'd totally forgotten about Yami being right in the room with him.

[Thank you for the heart attack] he signed irritably.

"Nonsense, sudden shock's good for you - gets the blood flowing. What were you doing downstairs?"

[Grandpa went on a trip. Won't be back for a month] Yuugi thought for a second. [Are you hungry]

No response - Yami had already dozed off again. Yuugi felt something like a migraine coming on.