"How did it go?" Atem asked as they walked.

"Before I can go see him, I... I have to get over a fear." the other replied quietly.

"A fear? May I ask what?"

"You can, but I think you already know."

"Bakura."

" Yeah."

"Aibou... I don't understand."

Yuugi was sympathetic. His poor other half. That must be a new feeling for him altogether. "You want to know why I'm so afraid of him?"

"Not if you don't want to say."

"No, I don't mind telling you. But Atem, if you face him with this, he'll deny it without even breaking his smile."

"I... will do my best to contain myself."

"Ok. But, can we find someplace to sit first?"

"Certainly." They walked in silence until they reached their destination.

"Where are we?" the teen asked as he heard a door close.

"My chambers," was the reply. "We won't be bothered, unless it's life or death."

"Someone likes his private time, huh?" Yuugi asked as the king pulled him into his lap once more.

"Someone doesn't get private time unless he makes time for it. Now Aibou, tell me what's troubling you."

The shorter nuzzled against his other half, face forward as if he were staring straight ahead. "Bakura knows about where I was," he began as solidly as he could. "That's a fact. He was there all the time, calling us his 'toys.'"

"Toys?" the other inquired, already suppressing an excessive amount of loathing.

" I didn't have to wonder why for long. He knew exactly who I was on sight, of course, and it didn't take me long to place his voice. I... didn't know for sure if you were in this world too or not until then. He... he would tease me a lot, but once he said you were looking for me, I knew I wouldn't be there long." Yuugi squeezed the taller. "You always find me."

Atem smiled. "You started it."

The other laughed softly. "I did, didn't I?" He relaxed against the royal once more. "He told me again and again, over and over, that you'd never find me. Like... like it was nothing but a game to him."

"And he went and challenged the kings thereof. Bad boy."

"Kings?"

"We both earned that title, Aibou."

Yuugi squeezed the other again. "When he figured out that just teasing me wasn't effecting me the way he wanted, he... decided to take more... more drastic measures."

Atem barely held back the venom longing to lace his voice. "How drastic?"

"He... he was there when- whenever he could be... taking... taking me."

Atem held his partner close."He never will again, Aibou. I promise you that."

"I know...," the teen replied, tears flowing once more. The crimson-eyed royal held the other close as the teen's emotions got the best of him once more. After what could have been a few or many minutes, the sobs softened and Yuugi's body began to go limp.

"Finally worn out, hmm?" Atem asked aloud, even though the other couldn't answer. Smiling, he picked Yuugi up and tucked him into bed. Then he laid down next to him, propped up on his elbow. He gazed at the peaceful sight of his partner's sleeping face while formulating the most painful and drawn out plan he could devise against Bakura.

For almost an hour.

Then there was a tentative knock on the door. Atem answered the door with a mass of dark energy in one hand. "Who's dead and/or dying?" he asked monotonously.

Jou blinked at the bruise-colored, cloudy manifestation and gulped. " I think that would be me," he stated. "I just wanted to check up on Yug. Am I dead now?"

The king let the magic dissipate. "No, Yuugi's welfare is always of the highest importance. He finally feel asleep awhile ago."

"Good to hear. The poor guy looked like he needed it."

"He didn't on his way here?"

"None of us got much sleep on the way back. We had to be really cautious," the warrior replied, entering. "And Yug said he was too excited to sleep, despite Mai's pestering for him to. I doubt he got more than a couple hours each night. especially with the nightmares."

"Nightmares?"

The blonde had a troubled look. "Yug wouldn't talk about 'em, but they had him awake sometimes."

"How often?"

"Every hour or so."

"That's almost as long as he's been asleep." Atem turned to look at the teen, finding him still in Dreamland.

"Yeah, but you're with him now. He doesn't have anything to worry about."

"Oh, Jounouchi. That's so sweet," the royal said jokingly.

"Doesn't make it any less true. You were all he wanted to talk about."

"Jealous, Jou?"

"Pfft. Hardly."

Yuugi, although still asleep, began to get a bit restless. His mouth let out a soft cry that Atem responded to immediately. He was swiftly at his partner's side, calming him. The other curled closer to the king.

"He's the one, ain't he? The one in that old prophesy." Jou realized.

"You aren't starting any rumors, are you?"

"Me? I'm insulted."

"And I'm serious. He is not to find out about that prophesy until after he decides for himself what he wants to do. And if he wants to continue using magic here, he has a long road ahead of him. I want his choice to be made freely, do you understand?"

Even when Atem wasn't being deathly serious, his crimson gaze could be awfully piercing. Despite the fact they were good friends, the royal still had a black belt in intimidation. Jou gulped, saying only, "Clear as a bell."

"Good."

Yuugi 'hmmed' happily in his sleep.

"Looks like that deathly aura you were gvin' off had a good efffect on his dream."

"It would seem so."

"I' ll leave you two lovebirds alone, then."

"Now, Jou..."

"What? Ya sayin' he doesn't remember that?"

"I'm not sure," the other said with a melancholy smile. "We haven't exactly had a chance to cover the subject."

"I'm sure Yug'll make time once he's himself again."

The king chuckled. "Yes, I believe you're right."

Another knock sounded at the door, but this one with definite and official business to discuss. "Jou, would you?" The blonde opened the door. Mahado swept in.

"Atem, please forgive my intrusion," he said, forever the polite and formal one. It'd taken the king almost his entire lifetime to get the vizier to call him by his first name alone.

"Done," the royal replied, Yuugi still curled against his lap. "You must have had a good reason."

"Yes," he replied. "We found one of Bakura's men downstairs. He was en route to this room. We have him in custody."

Atem's eyes widened in alarm. Gently, he released himself of his partner's hold. "Jou, stay with Yuugi. I don't want him to be alone when he wakes up."

"Gatcha," the blonde replied, as the other two made their hasty exit.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Once the two had made their way to the dungeon, they found Mai holding guard with a few others. The prisoner looked down but ahead, and suddenly laughed. "The great king himself, hmm?" he asked.

"Know royalty just by footwear?" Atem asked, mildly interested.

"No. You reek the worst of the lot," the man replied, referring to the dark magic that constantly surrounded his presence.

"I am quite familiar with your scent as well."

"You would be, taking one of ours to be your little whore."

"And you would do well not to speak of him in such a manner. You stayed behind to try and take him back, yes?"

"Of course. King Bakura asked that I do him the honor."

"Do him the honor of making our lives a bit more miserable?"

"No, to rescue the poor boy and bring him home."

"Jou and Mai were the ones who rescued him. You would be kidnaping him."

"You did the kidnaping," he said, although his resolve seemed to be waning.

The royal looked mildly amused. "Were you amongst those with Bakura in my throne room this morning?"

The man nodded.

"Yuugi spoke the truth. I have done nothing to him. Light magic has a natural ability to sense lies, does it not?"

"Correct," the man spoke cautiously. "But you could easily counter it."

"You think so?"

"Yes."

"And how well do you trust your instincts?"

"They are unmistakable to me."

"And what do they tell you?"

"That I should see the boy before I commit treason and sign my own death warrant."

"Death warrant, hmm? The Land of Ligth is non too compassionate."

The man made no effort to respond.

"You'll have a bit of a wait. He finally fell asleep a little while ago, and I have no intention of waking him."

"Then I'll wait."

"What's your name?"

"Malik."

"Well then, Mr. Malik, I hope you enjoy your stay." He looked up to the guards. "Take him to a cell for now, and make sure there are always at least two of you at it at all times."

"Yes, Your Highness," the rest chorused.

Mai stayed behind. "Do you really think that wise?" she asked.

"You are far too suspicious, Mai."

"And you aren't suspicious enough."

"There's words I never thought I'd hear."

" Atem-"

"Mai, he's under guard. And I can feel no ill will from him. None. He was just doing what he was told was right. Bakura's control can be quite hard to break from."

"Yes, I know, but-"

"Mai, do you feel something is wrong, or are you just pissed I'm breaking protocol?"

"A little of both."

"Then you can supervise him and the guard. That man's life is in your hands until Yuugi wakes."

"Geez. No pressure."

"I would never dream of doing such a thing."

"Maybe not, but I'm sure you fantasize about it."

"I don't think you could handle my fantasies, Mai."

"It doesn't matter if I can. It matters if Yuugi can, if memory serves."

"Ha. Ha. Get to work, woman."

"Of course, my king."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Atem returned to his room to find the two just as he had left them. He filled Jou in on what had transpired. "He's still here, then?" the blone asked. "Mai must be pissed."

"Yes and yes," the royal confirmed. "And I don't expect Yuugi will be waking for some time yet, be it fortunate or not."

"Eh, I'll go be annoying. She'll blow off steam on me. That'll make her feel better."

"Now, now. No need to be a martyr."

"Please. I doubt any of those guys enjoyed their martyrdom."

"Ah, there's a difference."

Jou smiled mischievously and took his leave.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&