No surprise this week kids. Damn thing isn't co-operating but it shouldn't be much longer. I'm just wrestling with the final two scenes. At any rate I was dabbling this story and I expected it to be about 18-19 chapters at this rate it's going to be 30+ (which is hopefully good news because it means a whole box of new, special and epic things for you to enjoy that I had hidden up my sleeve! Especially since I don't intend to make finding Jenzar longer rather I intend to give you a whole second arc after). Please enjoy this week's entry Darlings~


Chapter 9: Excalibur and the First Born Son

"So he dumped you?" Joey gesticulated dumbly as he tugged his shirt down over his scraggly head.

"Yeah…no…" Yami groaned tugging up his fresh jeans, throwing his sunglasses onto the couch over his bag. "I don't even know. He just can't date till he figures things out with his Ex."

"Re-bound," the blonde called in a sing song tone that Yami snorted over however dreadfully tempting. "Come on! Why the fuck not? You get to be Prince Charming: I shall forever be better than that jerk off."

"It's complicated." He gestured empathetically.

"You're so whipped it's scarring." Joey taunted wiggling his fingers like a troll hoping on one foot. "You're leaving little love blood stains everywhere."

"I want him bad." Yami admitted. "It just…argh… fuck if I know. Besides, you don't get to talk, your boyfriend's a gaping asshole."

"He's not my fucking boyfriend!" The blonde scowled. "I think…arghfuck this shit! Fucking hate romance! It's supposed to be easier between dudes! There's not supposed to be all this crap!"

"You're coming to the beach with everyone," he pointed out, "and romance screws everything over. You can't have logic and love at the same time. It doesn't work that way I don't care what your unique pants-monster looks like."

"I switched teams on the promise of Bro-ship with sex!" Joey cawed, a little too loudly for Coco's sake, pounding the back of his palms against his jeans. "Now I've got girly Fernando problems! And I'mthe bitch!"

"Not too late to switch back to the dark-side." Yami chuckled. "Heterosexuality is waiting. Though, just saying, you're not going to find a girlfriend as rich as your jackass."

"That don't sound like you Mister Romantic." He snorted.

"Fuck it," he shrugged, "Kaiba can kiss my beautiful ass. I'm all for you loving him for his money if it pisses him off."

Call it immature but Cobalt had always been rude and nasty to Atemu and now, in the Natural World, Kaiba had taken it further by knowingly letting Yami get weaselled by an angry Yugi.

"Eh whatever," Joey shrugged half to himself half to the expense of Yami's almost-joke, "it's fun for now anyway. I'll figure it out later. Not like we're going to have babies or something."

"Not without a lot of trying." Yami snorted. Had Trey borne Jenzar children? Of course he had. Probably millions of times at that and half of them had probably died of dysentery. Medical science on Earth hadn't protected infant mortality until the last hundred or so years. So Yugi had probably never had a child in a clean hospital in his past four or five incarnations waiting for Jenzar. He tightened his belt, clean denim stiff, and mulled the carpet as he rifled through his things in another check

Don't think about that, Atemu or at least what Yami registered as Atemu said, you're going out with the gang. You'll have fun. Today will be good. Just have fun with Yugi.

"Doorbell!" There was no doorbell more Yugi's announcing of such served as one as he let himself unceremoniously into the house and Yami and Joey scrambled the last few bits of clothing over themselves. Why did they bother for Yugi? Like kids in a locker room when the teacher barges in? Yami didn't know. It was something unspoke.

"Hey," he fumbled, as Yugi darted light-footed into the lounge plastic rimmed sunglasses propped just atop his fringe. "You're a little early."

"Bus was on time." Yugi laughed. "That never happens. Usually the C1 takes me to Narnia. Hey though and hello Mister Joey Wheeler!"

Yugi spread his arms out welcomingly at that and a little torn between loyalties Joey shuffled over to take the hug. You couldn't resist Yugi a hug whether he was an old friend of your current maybe-boyfriend or romantic fuck up of your best friend or neither.

"Nice to finally meet you," Yugi was smiling very freely today. Yami could feel the radiance of his core making him glow.

"Yeah you too," Joey grinned, they touched, he swore. "Ow fuck!"

"You okay?" The smaller rebounded, moving half a step back as Joey's waggled his hand angrily.

"Yeah, yeah, just that stupid static-carpet-burn-shock shit or something." He fumbled irritably and Yugi's eyes wavered cheekily over Yami's in an unspoken question the author could only shrug to.

"So do I get a hug too?" Yami called stretching his arms in the interim and still half laughing Yugi practically flew into them.

Yami felt the rush Joey must've that initial zap that was winding, followed by the warm glow he was happy to enfold. The blonde floundered at him, Yami could see, and little glances shooting between them Joey reserved to stick his tongue out at Yami as he gestured up and down Yugi's back to emphasise the author's madness.

"How long before Kaiba gets here?" Yugi supposed popping back down from his tiptoes to the balls of his feet that easily falling out of Yami's grip.

"Just a few," Joey answered, "how long's the drive?"

"Beach is about thirty mins away."

"Better go pee."

"Better," Yugi chuckled as the blonde ducked up the stairs. He was hardly gone a second before he had returned to Yami. "You didn't tell me Joey was sensitive to our sort of stuff?"

"Didn't know," Yami shrugged, tucking his hands in his pockets. "He felt your core, didn't he?"

"Oh definitely," the smaller nodded, "I'll be damned. Wonder if Kaiba knows?"

"We care?" He snorted.

"Oh no we let Kaiba figure all this crap out on his own," Yugi cackled, "glad you get it. Though-"

He almost became matronly in that second.

"I know, I know," Yami heaved, "should've locked the front door."

"All the Protection Boxes in the world are kinda pointless otherwise," he teased. "Made my morning easier though so whatever."

The doorbell did actually ring this time and as the recognition passed between them Yugi followed him easily to the front door. He leant into the wall of the hallway and Yami, overcoming mild trepidation, split open the seam of the door to find what he assumed was Ryou.

Ryou was as petite as Yugi, perhaps a smidgen taller, somewhere between he and Yami but more than that he radiated a sort of anxious prim neatness in the ruffled bouncing of his hair and the keep of his clothes.

"Oh!" He baulked a little at the sight of Yami, "hello Sennen."

It was lingeringly friendly yet uncertain and he moved very quickly to speak again, with surprising force, before Yami could invite him in or return the greeting.

"Can I speak to Yugi for a second?" He rasped politely.

"One sec Yami," Yugi answered on his behalf, slipping past the author to take the door knob in his hand and almost entirely shut the front door between Yami and Ryou with Yugi now on the top step outside in the sunlight so the pair could converse.

Yami only got a second or two to regain himself as they began muttering.

"I don't like him." Ryou hissed very lowly. "Who says he's not playing you for another book?"

"Ryou," Yugi's voice was soft but crystal clear in the regal authority of its clarity, "when has anyone evergotten away with fucking with me? Lying to me? You think I'm going to let a Reaper pull the wool over my eyes?"

"No…" the mumble came a moment later.

"He's lovely," Yugi defended, "he's just a little clueless. That was why the book got out. You'll like him. He's wonderful."

"Alright, alright," the other sighed in a heave. "Makes me all tingly and nervous!"

"You'll be fine Drama Lama." Yugi snorted and briskly swept back inside, throwing open the front door and gliding back behind Yami as if they were in some dance, some procession, some introduction of foreign dignitaries.

Ryou clasped his hands before himself, smiled anxiously, and would not move past the threshold.

"May I come in?"

Yami glanced between Yugi and Ryou curiously, dumbfounded, and Yugi nodded encouragingly.

"Yeah sure," he managed, stumbling back.

It was very old, very vampiric, to him that these creatures wouldn't come and go into his home without explicit spell-like permission. It made his house a dominion, made his doorway a threshold with a semi-permeable barrier, and added many more appropriate adjectives Yami's typewriter mind ran through as Ryou wandered in more a cautious squirrel than a fairy prince like Yugi.

"So, ah," Yami paused, "is Bakura coming with?"

"Oh God no!" Ryou rounded laughing but the loudness of his own voice seemed to pull him in, make him start, and he fell back more cautiously to explain. "He doesn't like this sort of thing. Besides, Kaiba thinks he's a bad influence on Mokuba and…well…"

He gesticulated over Yugi who, to no surprise of Ryou's, smirked folding his arms proudly.

"We have an agreement to stay as far away from each other as humanly possible." Yugi elaborated by Yami's flank.

"They don't get on." Ryou concurred with a little whistle.

"That's a mild understatement." The other asserted leaning more into one leg to cock his hip. "Ryou missed his graduation because of Bakura. Long story short when I found him he took a thesaurus to the everything."

"And since that particular broken nose we have decided the kids play better when they don't have to share." Ryou snorted in mild exasperation. "They'd be unstoppable company really but-"

"Nah," Yugi grunted belligerently, "not happening."

"See, this is what I mean about Faens," the young man sighed in motion to Yami. "Women remember every nasty thing you've ever said to them. Faens remember it four lifetimes later and they say Watchers hold grudges!"

Yami actually found it hard not to chuckle. The atmosphere didn't seem to deepen in any unfriendly manner rather Yugi and Ryou likewise seemed close to giggling.

"Well if we're going down that route." Yugi added. "Bakura didn't exactly endear himself to me when he burnt me at the stake in 1695 that whole German Witch Craze phase of his sucked."

"It was one time," Ryou grunted, raising his index finger in emphasis. "How many times have you given him a bad case of the Dead?"

"Less often than he so dearly deserves," was the retort, "and for the record I was only evil-tyrant-consort on that one planet."

"Yeah well that was a special case in general." The little wisp shuddered.

"Zaykru Sankuru." Was apparently all Yugi had to say to properly drive home the point.

"Drakasen." Ryou shot back to the amusement of the pair of them. "That planet was fucked up."

"What?" Yami decided to cut in.

"A few hops before Earth," Yugi explained briefly, "Jenz and I went through a very fun, very particular, phase of sort-of total madness on a planet called Murasi. For about six hundred years. He was a dragon-demon war god at one point and I was several evil Emperors and Empresses, sometimes in succession, it was pretty damn messy but very healthy venting."

"Oh just six hundred years?" Yami snorted grinning.

"We were saints for the following four and preceding two!" He defended.


"Get in the car losers!" Kaiba ordered.

It was stout, unyielding and at first glance totally unfriendly but Yami found Yugi and Ryou utterly ignoring the impatience as they poured themselves over Mokuba.

Knowing the youngest, friendliest, Kaiba as they did Yami could trace the lines of filial connection established between them. It was easy to see how Mokuba hung off them, soaked up the praises, and laughed freely. What was more expected, apart from Ryou and Yugi's complete disrespect to Kaiba's glowering, was how reluctant Mokuba was to cleave to Joey. The blonde grumble at the brush off the runt gave him, the adolescent grunt, but Yami rather expected it. The blonde American was a challenger to Mokuba's private sphere, an intrusion, laying claim to a sibling he had never had to share.

Yami waited, hands thrust in his pockets, as the mingling took the necessary steps. Yugi and Ryou spoilt Mokuba, Joey moved awkwardly to Kaiba to greet him in mild whispers and the brunette slung his arm almost forgetfully round the blonde's waist as they grumbled at each other leaning their weight together. Yami had pictured something like this. He had pictured how blunt and asexual the blonde and brunette would be. He had pictured to the reluctance of the group to do anything constructive till Yugi took the helm and decided it was time they shuffle into the limo.

"They always like this?" Yami chuckled into Yugi's shoulder as they leant into the car.

"Always," the Faen promised joyously sweeping his hand before the author to the open car door, "after you."


"Moon Prism Power!" Yugi and Ryou chorused eagerly from where they were sprawled on the vast mess of interlaying picnic blankets thrown across the sand. They were close eyed under the midday sun, singing, Yugi's mp3 lay betwixt them with a single set of head phones between them.

"When I'm with you it's hard to be honest. Talking to you is easy when I'm dreaming but now these thoughts are causing a short circuit-"

The milky sand was pristine on all sides, the sun was blistering but the breeze was chilling and there was something pleasing about the shrill unembarrassed chorusing of the young men given the starkness of the beach.

"How come this place is so dead?" Joey quirked, digging another chocolate bar out of his bag, as Kaiba flicked through his phone.

"Private beach," the brunette grunted, eyes wavering up over Mokuba in the waves in a cursory check.

"-I need to see you right now! I'm trying not to cry in the moonlight and callings not an option now it's midnight and if I'm so naïve what can I do?-"

"No way!" Joey baulked. "Serious? You bought a fucking beach?"

"Why not?" Kaiba grunted with disarming nonchalance. "Had to spend another 20k before the end of the tax year."

"So you got a beach?" The blonde gawked. "Cause that'spractical."

"Blame these three," Kaiba made a little gesture, "shuts them up."

"You are so retarded." Joey snorted stumped.

"You complaining?" The brunette challenged. "You rather go chill on the seedy public beach?"

"My heart is a kaleidoscope! Rebo-orn! We're guided by the light of each new moon! We'll meet by chance again and again!-"

Really Yugi and Ryou had a lovely harmony going. They had an unconscious rhythm that merged together beautifully. What on earth were they singing this time? It was cute if nothing else how much gesticulation they put into the dramatics on their backs like a pair of sixteen year old girls.

"Course not," Joey grumbled, "just seems kind of extravagant."

"I have a Blue Eyes' shaped jet." Kaiba deadpanned. "You have no idea what extravagant is."

"Dude!" He hollered. "The fuck? You burn your money in winter too?"

"I could." The brunette smirked. "I could make my shirts out of it and I'd still be the richest man in the country."

"The stars illuminating the night sky unlock secrets of the past we're ruled by. In our new lives we're born on the same planet. This is out miracle romance! Believe in this our second chance! Eternal miracle romance!"

"I think the right word for that is flamboyant." Yami intervened casually. He couldn't let Kaiba look that smug for too long now could he? Especially not knowing the brunette was a Watcher, an Atlantian, and the weasel Cobalt at that.

"What are they on?" Joey grunted with a playful jerk of his thumb to the two happy idols.

"Sailor Moon," Kaiba groaned.

"First season theme song!" Yugi called out eyes still pried shut. "And yet I still wish that the next vision of love I will see is you! And Season R! We will be together! Our love can't be broken!"

"If that's what you want then I

dare you to find it! There is a burning red kiss! A fire tattoo! Our past and future engraved upon a tattoo! I know in one look there is no way to hide it! It's in the shape of your lips, the burning tattoo, and I can feel the pain, go insane, it's Mo-on Reve-enge through!"

"How did I guess?" Yami chuckled. It was layered with double meanings he knew he wasn't misconstruing on Yugi's part but at least this particular theme song was much more jovial than FLAG.

"Cause you're a literary genius?" Yugi teased, peaking through one open eye, beaming.

"Oh of course," he agreed humbly, "new favourite song?"

"This and the Sucker Punchsoundtrack," the smaller conferred merrily, "you?"

"Ne-yo Miss Independent," Yami answered conspiratorially and Yugi, ever shrewd, smiled a little more softly.

"Go-odbye my love! After the end is where we'll meet! Where there's no meaning! Kicking and screaming! Falling head over feet! I'll never know! So many question lie ahead! Is there a future? Even with violence there's always silence form the dead!" Ryou sung out clear on his lonesome making Yugi fall into a fresh wave of giggles.

"That's Ryou's new favourite I think," he decided, cackling.

"Good choice." Yami chuckled in joking praise.

"Hey!" Mokuba hollered. "Joey! Come look!"

"You find?" The blonde called, torn between rampant eagerness to gain the teen's approval and hesitation. Joey was always quite aware of being played since his dopier high school days with Yami. Yami hadn't been a nice adolescent. He'd played on Joey's naivety once or twice as came with the gambling he had been prone to.

"A starfish," he answered. "Wanna look?"

Yugi smiled as Joey moved gangly to his feet and with a quiet little nudge Yugi knowingly stirred Ryou who popped the headphone out of from under his locks.

"Starfish?" Ryou intervened taking it upon himself to join in. "One sec!"

Mokuba stiffened ever so slightly and smiling gently Yugi lay back on the towel with his hands behind his head both headphones in as Ryou and Joey approached the teen in the lapping waves.

Whatever mischief he'd hope to wreck on his brother's poor unsuspecting lover was nullified by Ryou's presence and Mokuba was forced to play nice.

"Sharp isn't he?" Yami mumbled to Kaiba mildly now they had a second's peace.

"Which one?" The brunette grunted. "Yugi or Mokuba?"

"The pair of them."

"What do you expect?"

"You knew, didn't you?" Yami supposed. "You knew Yugi was fucking with me."

"Of course I knew." The Watcher scoffed idly only now bothering to glance up from his phone. "My IQ passes yours."

"Any particular reason you didn't feel like warning me?" He snorted. "When it was obvious, to you at least, I was clueless?"

"Yeah actually," Kaiba grinned, "three things. One, it isn't my job to save your sorry ass. Two, that's the first time Yugi's done something like that or that a Reaper like you has been so brain dead so my first protocol is to observe and not interfere. Three, well, I don't like you. Remember Atemu?"

"Look," the author grunted but felt all at once totally Atemu, "if this is about the fucking book: I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were real. As a fictional character you're an ass."

"Atemu," Kaiba chuckled, "it doesn't matter. I don't give a damn about the book or that you're Yami and you don't care I'm Seto Kaiba. As Atemu and Cobalt, when we're on duty, we don't like each other. That doesn't change cause I'm real."

"Don't worry Yami," Yugi sighed lazily jolting the pair of them. "Just cause Kaiba doesn't like you doesn't mean you're not part of the family. If he really hated you he wouldn't acknowledge your existence and he wouldn't talk shop with you. He'd pretend he was an atheist."

"Shut up Trey." Kaiba spat to Yugi's keen little smirk. "All knowing little prat."

"Comes with the gig." He teased eyes fluttering open. "We've got quite a gang: a Specialist Reaper, a Watcher, a Faen, a Ferryman-"

"Ryou's a Ferryman?" Yami baulked.

"Yeah, that's why his boyfriend's a dick." Kaiba grumbled. "Fucking Children of Lilith."

"-little Mokie's going to be something impressive if he ever tells us," Yugi continued cheekily, "and Joey well…"

"Well what?" Kaiba demanded.

"Not telling." The Faen smirked sing-song. "I'm going to leave that for you to find out all by yourself Seto-Cobalt."


Yami had fun. He always had fun with Joey but with the others as well. Ryou was delightfully sweet and eccentrically educated once you got him talking. Kaiba had a tenderness to him that seeped most vividly into Joey and Mokuba at unexpected intervals but with a little prodding Ryou and Yugi knowingly brought it out. The three of them shared something intense yet it wasn't alienating. Yami had history with Joey in the Natural World that the trio didn't share, had history with Kaiba and Yugi in the Supernatural World that no one else shared, and had an understanding of the secrets Ryou did which enfolded him into the whole unity. It felt right, surprisingly light hearted and joyous.

Yugi was, at every moment, the centre of the action in Yami's focus whether he truthfully was or not being another matter. Little Yugi was a master of swerving the conversation and the evening overall to a place where things fell into their right locations effortlessly without anyone else seeming to realize he'd applied any effort. Yami could see now how he'd missed Atreyu hiding behind Yugi's face, playing coy, and making him believe that Yami was the one with all the control when nothing must've ever escaped Yugi's control. It was a spectacular kind of magic which was, at once, his favourite part of Yugi. Yugi's whole being radiated vibes, energies Yami could sense prickling him, that were the soothing laps of a wave from that mysterious ocean. The awareness of it made Yugi totally Atreyu, clearly, and somehow made him more beautiful.

Yami's heart didn't ache so much when they ordered dinner, sending Kaiba's lackeys to pick it up which was an unaccustomed luxury Yami enjoyed, or when they began to close in in the cold. Mokuba half lulled into him, Ryou pressed against one side, Joey fidgeted, somehow Yugi ended up in his lap with Yami's arms slung low round his hips as the Faen leant back into him to make more space for everyone else. Yami was, he consoled himself, part of the coven now which nullified at least some small portion of the pain. He was close to Yugi and whatever happened with Jenzar he still had a chance to win him.

What did distress Yami and Atemu, in the layer underneath, was overhearing Yugi and Kaiba stuff the boot of the car later in the evening. Not for anything they'd done or that Yami had done but because of how it highlighted how ineffectual he was.

"How many Seers did your goons take care of today?" Yugi mumbled quietly.

"Three or four possessed kids trying to gate crash our party." Kaiba grunted.

"I'm sorry Seto." He sighed. "I drag trouble around with me."

"Doesn't matter," the brunette Watcher shrugged, "this is why I have a security detail."

"I know but I didn't used to be this much trouble to hang out with."

Yami cringed. He hadn't felt anything encroach on their afternoon. Least of all he hadn't sensed any Seers in possessed, stolen, bodies approaching like he thought he should've if Kaiba's lackeys had fought them off without anyone's notice.

"I'm sorry," Yami grumbled leaning into the back of the car as he came round from the side. Neither Kaiba nor Yugi seemed surprised that he'd been eavesdropping. "If it wasn't for my fucking books..."

"Well they did give away the true names of every Faen on Earth and detailed how guarded they were." Seto concurred mildly in his matter-of-fact way. "So yeah, if you hadn't published them no one would know Atreyu was on Earth, without a Champion, and no one would be trying to kill him off here in the Natural World. Sounds right to me, good to know we agree, eh Atemu?"

"Shut up Cobalt." Yugi snorted lowly grasping Yami's wrist delicately. "Don't youworry about it either. We deal. It's fine."

"It's still my fault. I should have known better."

"Whose fault it is," Yugi laughed gently, "is irrelevant. You didn't know any better and getting mad about it now isn't going to help. What's done is done. We just have to cope."

"You were pretty mad a week ago." Kaiba interjected.

"Yeah because we thought Atemu was publishing them knowingly," Yugi countered, "but he wasn't so I'm not. I was a bitch; I get it, now we move on. I know you love guilt tripping but you and I both know it doesn't help."

"Hey," the Watcher snorted, "I'm just saying what he's thinking."

"Isn't it your job to watch and not stick your nose in?" The Faen half snapped playfully in challenge and Kaiba grinned throwing his hands up. "You just can't help yourself can you? You really have that much fun jerking Atemu around?"

"Whether he's Atemu or Yami, this side of the Veil or the other," Kaiba smirked as he clicked the boot shut, "yeah. I do."

"Bitch," Yami huffed but he couldn't be assed to really be mad. It was surreal how little it bothered him somehow. If anything Kaiba's attitude, Cobalt's attitude, was so familiar to him after their years of mutual dislike on the Supernatural side of the Veil it was comforting.

"Dumbass," Kaiba chuckled gliding past him and Yugi sighed half laughing.

"You two," he groaned, "I swear…"


The Hive was more active today. Reapers were clustering the catacombs to visit the Gate Keeper when Atemu phased in. He and Yami were more aligned now, more at peace, than they'd been for months. Unified as they were Atemu was still trepidatious to see Atreyu now that, knowing he was Yugi, the Faen would be more irresistible than ever.

Atreyu was in the main courtyard by a sizzling bonfire smoking to the ever present sun and Atemu had raised his hand in greeting when suddenly he was beaten to the punch.

"Atreyu!" It was a man, a Reaper armed so sparsely Atemu was sure he was a Specialist, and he cried out upon seeing the Faen before Atemu could speak.

Atreyu's placid eyes widened, drifting from Atemu to the Specialist who came running and in the steps seemed to shrink till he was a child. Atemu knew that here the body, the astral form, reflected the thoughts or desires of the mind but he found it bizarre that this handsome lad would want to throw himself at Atreyu as a mere babe. The Faen seemed to morph as the man ran to him and laughing swept the child up in his arms at spun him round.

"Morphis!" He cooed, clutching the now boy against his bosom, rocking him and peppering the mantle of his forehead with kisses. "Oh Darling!"

"Trey," the boy lulled in his arms, and Atemu was at once somehow jealous of the tenderness with which Atreyu held this Reaper named Morphis.

Yet approaching lingeringly Atemu found himself dreadfully grateful that this time it was a stranger and not Jenzar Fraveous returning to Atreyu's arms like his heart had supposed horribly for a second. Atreyu twirled, half humming, cradling the boy's head, eyes closed, savouring something and Atemu came gently beside him more enamoured than ever by how sweet this creature was. Yugi and Atreyu, one and the same, were two faces of the same lovely coin. What a being, what a thought, what a lucky man Jenzar was.

"Atemu," Atreyu giggled light heartedly, peeking out from over the head of the child. As if Atemu was some fellow villager somewhere come home from a day in the fields. "Greetings to you my friend."

"And to you," Atemu smiled, gesturing over the boy. "Who have you caught?"

"Ha!" The Faen beamed, squeezing the Reaper in his arms like the boy was a treasure, "Atemu meet Morphis. Morphis this is Atemu."

The boy squirmed a little, reluctantly, in Atreyu's arms and the Faen begrudgingly let the child back onto his feet. At once the boy was a man again, a young man however, and red faced and sheepish Morphis presented his hand to Atemu with utter hospitality.

"It a pleasure," he bowed, taking Atemu's hand in both of his as the dark skinned Reaper took his initial offer. "You're the Specialist acting as Atreyu's guardian for now yes?"

"Yes," Atemu tried to smile, "you are a Specialist Reaper yourself yes?"

"Aye," Morphis smiled valiantly, "I am a Knight Reaper. I track rogue astral projections who wander where they shouldn't. Dragons mostly."

"Dragons?" Yami, more than Atemu, quirked.

"It's a complicated distinction but that's what we call them." He shrugged as though immediately embarrassed.

"It sounds like difficult work." Atemu praised. Somehow he rather liked this young man's smile and at the reverse of the nexus he rather wanted this man to like him and to be comfortable round him. "How do you know Atreyu?"

It was biting at Yami viciously to know. Reapers were all of the same cloth however many types of Specialists there were: Knights, Champions, Ferrymen, whatever Atemu was…but he'd never known Atreyu to be very doting upon acquaintances which would suppose this young man had some kind of intimate history with him. Anyone who was close to Atreyu was a fascination to him now.

"I do believe I've rather been a plight to Jenzar Fraveous and he. They were my first parents." He beamed. "In the second life where gender, time, children, death and such were more firmly established they sired, bore and raised me. They've endured me many life times since in one form or another."

Atemu stomach lurched and fell in a kind of jealous admiration. It was unbecoming of him to think it but he was jealous. This soul had been a representation of Atreyu and Jenzar's love in the Natural World and found its way to them many times since.

"You're a treasure." Atreyu consoled sincerely, arms round Morphis' waist as he lay his head against the man's back and all grown the Reaper was taller than him. "I've somissed you these past four hundred years."

"And I you," Morphis swore, laying his hand delicately upon Atreyu's. "Have you had any luck finding Jenzar?"

"Some it seems." Atreyu murmured glancing to Atemu. "The Gate Keeper called us to the Hive to share some new information on the search's progress. Apparently the Watchers have found something or at least I hope."

"I can't say I've seen head or tail of him myself," the Knight sighed, squeezing Atreyu's hand as the Faen pressed against him for comfort. Atemu could see in their every gesture the adoration seeping between them. "I wish you the best of luck of course."

"Thank you Morphis." He sighed.

"I must say I'm a little glad I haven't seen Jenzar recently." The Knight confessed oddly to Atemu who frowned at the seemingly indelicate omission. "He's been my father so many times he makes me dreadfully shy. Heh, I oft feel I'll never compare to his shadow, I feel I have to crane my neck to meet his eyes!"

"I can understand." Atemu snorted ruefully and Morphis shared a knowing, sympathetic, nod in his smile.

"Oh hush," Atreyu laughed, "Jenzar has always adored you. Sometimes you make me envious! Though, then again, he's oft been jealous of how much I love you."

"You two? Jealous?" Morphis chortled conferring with Atemu playfully as he glanced to Atreyu. "I can't imagine it."

"You shall have to try sometime." The Faen teased and seemed not to want to let go of the Knight as Morphis turned in his grasp and pulled the Faen up into his arms off his tiptoes.

"I shall," he promised. "I'm sorry darling I have a mission waiting for me. I didn't expect to catch you here."

"It's alright," Atreyu smiled, hand falling across Morphis cheek as if he were some idolatrous angel or else a lover. "You have work to do. I shall see you again."

"You will," Morphis swore sincerely, leaning close to bring their noses together in emphasis. "You aren't losing heart are you?"

"Never," the Faen promised direly. "It helps to have familiar faces around however."

"Give Amar my love then," he chuckled, pressing a firm kiss to Atreyu's forehead. "I love you Atreyu Damestaire. Shall we be in the same life soon?"

"I'll adopt if I have to." The Faen nodded.

"Good, then I can keep you company." The Knight grinned.

"Love you darling." Atreyu gushed suddenly, as if afraid, kissing Morphis' cheeks as they very delicately tore themselves apart.

"Goodbye beautiful," Morphis bowed as he strolled, "and it was a pleasure again to meet you Atemu!"

"Aye, you as well brother!" He called awkwardly as the Knight vanished.

Atreyu inhaled almost shakily smile becoming more malleable, more fluid, as his eyes shone and collecting himself Atreyu ran the back of his palm against his lids.

"Are you alright?" Atemu asked delicately, reaching to grasp the Faen's shoulder with his dark hand, at once seeing Yugi glimmering through Atreyu.

"Yes," the Faen laughed weakly, "yes I'm fine. It just feels like I haven't seen Morphis for such a long time. I love that sweet boy so much."

"I could tell." Atemu smiled mournfully. "He seems dashing."

"Oh he's always very timid and shy," Atreyu giggled, "always a Mama's boy. Always lacks a little confidence but never an imagination or a heart." The Faen seemed to catch himself and shook his head. "I'm sorry for that little detour Atemu. He surprised me as much as he did you. I apologise if that was uncomfortable for you."

"Never fear." He insisted. If anything his heart leapt at Atreyu's consideration, his care, and the realization, the solid proof, that the Faen could adore beings aside from Jenzar like Morphis, Amar, maybe Atemu and Yami too. "You mentioned the Gate Keeper called us?"

"Yes," he nodded, "shall we see what the Watchers have found in their search to report to him?"

"We best I suppose." Atemu shrugged warily. "Will it be Cobalt?"

"I don't know. I know he's been busy in his own projects." Atreyu snorted playfully. "Watching you and I in the Natural World has been his focus for a while. I think he only just joined the search for Jenzar."

"Should I come with you?" He fumbled stupidly under Atreyu's surprised frown. "I just wonder if this is something you would rather hear in private? I'm your guardian for now under instruction of the Gate Keeper but it is really none of my business. Besides after I wrote those books I thought I wasn't allowed any privileged information?"

"I explained everything to the Gate Keeper. Your name's cleared of that trespass for exposing secrets."

Yami surged with joy, Atemu bolstered with confidence, they'd been forgiven!

"Besides," Atreyu's smile tightened to that battle readied glance of conspiracy, "if you're to be my Champion in the event Jenzar has abandoned the call I should think," he swallowed thickly, "I should think this is entirely your business."

Here too Atemu and Yami, two sides of the same coin, fumbled over each other conflictingly. Atemu had the plain, simple, pleasure of Atreyu's recognition and his widening chance to be the Faen's. While Yami tempered by Yugi, the other face of Atreyu, found himself a little sheepish. Yami was pleased, guiltily so, that Atreyu really had meant to let Yami take over if Jenzar had deserted him but it wasn't an easy pleasure. Sure if Jenzar was gone Atemu would have Atreyu and vice-verse Yami would claim Yugi but this Faen, which was both of them, would be miserably heartbroken if Jenzar Fraveous, his one true Champion, had ceased caring for him or their duty without a word.


The Gate Keeper was his typical withered self on the podium when Atemu and Atreyu crept into his presence. Atemu felt the waft of power seeping off his Supervisor, God, eternal Father of the Reapers and was at peace to know he was finally back within the good graces of this most important figure in his existence. The Gate Keeper made a little gesture in acknowledgement to Atreyu that sent the Faen smiling and was affectionate even if the Gate Keeper had no face and turned to Atemu. Atemu bowed, low and proud, till the Gate Keeper beckoned him, welcomed him, to get back up to his feet like a father to his grown son and Atemu's entire spine rippled with knowing security.

The sweeping black Gate Keeper threw his palm out across the sanctum to their far right where, leaning against the wall, a stiff surly looking Watcher was standing to attention. Watchers like Cobalt tended to recline, smug and disrespectful, but this Watcher was unlike those Atemu was accustomed to.

He was tall, broad and heavily armed which was a strange paradox. Watchers never dirtied their hands, never fought or stepped in, so to see one armed was bizarre. Watchers were a totally different species to Reapers of course, children of Atlantis as the Reapers had the Hive and the Faens had Sanctuary, supervised by the Leviathan as the Reapers had the Gate Keeper and the Faens had Third Star. They were as foreign a species to Atemu as a fox to a fish so he could not begin to understand why this Watcher was so unlike the others he knew.

More bizarre still was the thick, marring, scar across the Watcher's handsome face.

The Gate Keeper said nothing but apparently no introductions were needed:

"Watcher Timaeus," Atreyu greeted knowingly. It put Atemu's hackles to some repose but the Faen was evidently uncertain in the nature of this visit, intrusion, upon the Hive. "It's been a long time."

"Aye," the man replied with an effortless wave into a bow that was much stricter than Morphis' as he approached in stride. "Faen Atreyu Damestaire."

"I didn't think you left Atlantis." He supposed with that same curiously uncertain frown as the Fairy very placidly pressed his hands together before himself in a gesture that was universally genteel and unthreatening. "I thought you and the other Guardians were still defending the Library and Dartz."

"We still do," he replied with a gruff, weathered, kindness about him. "You need not fear. King Dartz simply wished that I bring you this from the Watcher searches for Champion Reaper Jenzar Fraveous."

Atreyu frowned regally like an Empress before and Envoy, an ambassador, accepting some gift on behalf of the true Emperor currently disposed. Atemu was alerted by Atreyu's solemn confusion as Timaeus pulled something from the ether, from nothingness, and exposed it to Atreyu with a sweeping gentleness.

Atreyu gasped, Atemu tensed though he knew not why, and the Watcher withered, cringed, as the weapon he presented pulsed between his fingers.

It was a weapon. Deep, sticky, crimson shining with the shimmer of metallic sharpness that radiated splattered glory. It was a precise long, thin, sharp kind of tool. Like a lance or perhaps a trident with two uneven points at one end. Standing on its sharp tip it may have been taller than Atreyu and the Faen seemed to recognise it intimately.

"The Lance of Lazarus!" He breathed weakly, hands pulled apart and wavering. He was unsure to accept the item Timaeus had put to him but the weapon seemed to have a vicious life to it. It pulsated strongly ringing with harmonics in the Watcher's hand and seemed to pain him.

"I was certain of it myself when I saw it," Timaeus conferred. "I have never forgotten the wound Jenzar Fraveous dealt me with this blade. I cannot after all. I would never forget its distinct qualities."

Atemu watched as with his empty hand Timaeus, for Atemu's benefit, gestured to the scar across his eye. It was only for Atemu's benefit because Atreyu was solely engrossed in the weapon hovering between them. Atemu found it disconcerting. The forms here were astral. He could not image how any injury could be permanent when there was no permanent structures to wound. Unless the blade was as magical as that which it cut perhaps?

"Lance of Lazarus?" He murmured vaguely. He was ignorant.

"Champion Reapers can shape weapons, like a Faen's Needle, which are reflections of their hearts. It takes centuries sometimes as well as a great deal of willpower and magic to create something eternal which will follow them through the ages of their reincarnations. This fine astral weapon is Jenzar Fraveous' and since ancient times it has been deployed to the service and favour of Atreyu Damestaire. If you would Atreyu? I don't believe it is fond of me especially as I am keeping it from you."

"Oh!" He murmured sympathetically, flushed, and extended his hand. "My apologies Timaeus I didn't mean to impose upon you."

"Never fear." The Guardian proceeded genteelly.

Something quite spectacular occurred to Atemu's eyes but the Watcher and the Faen seemed to expect it. As Atreyu touched the blade it coiled, Atemu thought, into nothingness until he found it reformed as a red cat's eye marble in the Faen's palm small, childish, simple and entirely unthreatening. The Faen laughed. Relief swept over Atreyu's body and he was smiling in a shade Atemu had never seen as he tipped his hand to roll the back of his palm up.

"Where did you ever find it?" Atreyu marvelled as, transfixed, Atemu watched the marble become soluble, clinging to Atreyu's hand and sliding over it until as Atreyu's hand settled with its back up the marble had become a magnificent vermillion butterfly dangling on his ring finger.

It, this Lance of Lazarus, had no desire to be separated from Atreyu. Could Atemu ever forge something so beautiful, so enduring, himself?

"I'm not at liberty to say," Timaeus answered smoothly. "King Dartz would speak with you and your bodyguard on the matter in the privacy of Atlantis where we would be safe from prying ears. I've cleared it with the Gate Keeper your adopted Sovereign."

"We'll be there as soon as possible." Atreyu concurred. "Give Dartz my regards."

The Guardian bowed but did not vanish.

"If," he began cordially, gesturing over the little butterfly, "I might observe a moment or two longer?"

"You'd find all intelligence of it sooner or later." Atreyu heaved stiffly with a new pulse of nerves in acknowledgement of the Watcher's request. Atemu found it peculiar there were Watchers who fought and even stranger those chivalrous enough to ask for permission to observe.

Atreyu's hand shook almost imperceptibly to Atemu's trained eye as the Faen brought the little creature closer to his face and with dire compassion pressed his lips delicately to the tip of one slender wing. Loving, a lover's goodnight peck, Atreyu's eyes barely fluttered and Atemu felt himself anxious.

The butterfly, Jenzar's Lance, wavered then was suddenly a red pulse of light and bounced eagerly from Atreyu's hand to his clavicle. Light consumed Atemu's blinking vision momentarily until, when it settled, Atreyu was laughing sweetly. The Lance had extended itself again becoming metamorphic. It could transform at will. It now shielded the Faen from stem to stern in magnificent crimson armour. Atreyu gave himself a rather bemused once over, twisting his arms under his eyes, and Atemu found it stunning. The splendour came less from the armour and more from the joy radiating off the Faen under Timaeus and Atemu's curious observations.

"Is this good?" Atemu wondered stupidly.

"If the Lance can still react then Jenzar Fraveous' core, his soul, is still out there somewhere." Timaeus appraised. "The Lance reflects his heart and his intentions. If it exists like this then so does Fraveous."

"And if it…" Atreyu's arms pressed round his torso hugging himself. "If it would do this, if it's still warm like this, then…" the Faen stumbled a little round the lump in his throat, laughing with relief, "then he hasn't forgotten me. He still loves me."

"Aye," Timaeus answered giving Atemu no room to comment, "but if that is the case then what is keeping him from his duty? If it is clearly not his own will to be apart from you who is enforcing that decree upon him?"

"Perhaps," Atreyu frowned carefully, "Timaeus? Would you ask Dartz to pardon a minor delay for me? There's something I need to check before I'll be satisfied to take up the King's time."

"I will see it out." The Guardian consented. "All the best Faen Atreyu Damestaire."

"Thank you Timaeus." He appealed sincerely. Atreyu appeared to wish to apologise, perhaps for the wound Jenzar had dealt the Watcher what must've been millions of years ago but the Guardian shook his head as he raised one calloused palm.

"There is no need," Timaeus assured in understanding, "save your pity Atreyu Damestaire. You and he repented that ill when you cared for me with your own hand to erase what Jenzar had dealt with his. It's taught me much to take on this wound. I would not resent you or your kindness."

"Thank you Timaeus."


1 Yep, Yugi and Ryou are indeed singing Sailor Moon theme songs. Ryou's singing the English translation of the High School of the Dead theme song. If you want the versions I listen to its Christina Vee on youtube

2 Yugi's past lives will be relevant, including Zaykru Sankuru, but not until much muchlater. Don't fret too much over them now.

3 Kaiba's kind of an asshole but who doesn't love him?

4 Ryou is Yugi's Ferryman (Chapter 5-6) and Bakura is a Child of Lilith.

5 Morphis (Last name forthcoming~) just for clarification: in the second life time, gender, death, natural, supernatural, the rules… etc. were set in stone. In the second life Jenzar and Atreyu had three children. Morphis was their eldest. They didn't create his soul but he spent his second reincarnation and many since as their child (but invariably he has spent others as their friend, sibling, parent etc) so there's something of a special bond he shares with them since as a Specialist Reaper (Specialization: Knight) he remembers his past lives.

We will meet Morphis in the real world much later, we will also meet his two siblings and Morphis will become a regular fixture so I hope you like him~ You can make all sorts of jokes about Jenzar being a 'Champion Reaper' and Morphis being a 'Knight Reaper'too. I wanted to bring Trey's children into this like Amar and Sev (the other Champions of Earth) have been brought into it. At this point in time, with Jenzar gone, it makes no sense for Trey's immortal family not to support him and Yugi/Trey are very family orientated characters. If you don't like Morphis I can only promise you that he will be a lot of fun.

6 I love Timaeus and the whole Doma Arc so expect to hear more on Atlantis

7 The Lance of Lazarus! Yep, like Trey's Veil's Needle the Lance is a reflection of Jenzar's heart, something he made, and why exactly the Lance of Lazarus? Well, if you can figure that out you're a genius and I will owe you a prize

Love you all dearly. Please excuse the massive ramble at the end of this chapter. I swear this fic is going to be the delicious death of me. Hope I gave you guys a laugh or two this chapter!