Yo! What it is, my friends! It's me and I'm back! Now as you may notice this chapter is extra long. ( 12600 words long. Jeez!) I had intended to split this up in to 2 chaps, but I decided to mesh them in to one. And I warn you it's a doozy. So buckle your seatbelts and hold on to your hats cuz this ride's gonna be VERY bumpy! So hang on and enjoy!

Betray Me

A roar of a beast. A heartbroken keen of a banshee. A desperate moan of a broken spirit. He was a monster. To break his rose...to rip his petals mercilessly with only thought of his own completion and satisfaction. When all along all he had need to do was humble himself enough to ask for it. Yami never asked for anything. Asking was in his book, a different way to say polite begging. He never begged. Not for anyone. But for Yugi, he would beg for his heart and forgiveness to the end of his days, he knew. He liked to think Yugi's kind and pure heart would accept his begging. But his wicked mind and fickle heart worked against him to whisper words of eternal damnation and to scold him as a fool for pushing Yugi even FURTHER in to Atemu's waiting arms. He wanted to shout it wasn't fair. He wanted to say love was to always be unconditional, so that meant this wrong would not be the end. That he was as worthy of love as every other man. But he wasn't a man. He was a monster. And he knew it. So he screamed as he held the boy he loved and hurt in his arms. The scream was awful. It was beastial and full of pain and regret.

It was a mistake.

The door flew open at the sound and the world stood still as Tristian gazed in horror a what he was seeing. Yugi, naked and bruised with bloodied lips lying in the arms of an equally bruised Atemu. Wait-no! The hate in his eyes, the pale pallor to his skin, not sun-kissed bronze. No. This was Yami! Scratches lined his back in small, bloodied tracks. Bruises littered his arms and one fine bruise to the side of his face was forming. It was plain as day to him. As much as his mind didn't want to process his eye's couldn't un-see: Yami had raped his friend. Righteous anger and pained fury made Tristian's body tremble. He bared his teeth in a snarl and Tristian gripped his fists hard as his body shook with anger. " Yami! You son of a bitch! What have you done to him?!" Yami smirked and trailed a hand down Yugi's bare back.

" Nothing he didn't want." He purred tauntingly.

" Get away from him! Now!" When Yami didn't move, Tristian stormed in to the room and slammed the door shut. He strode around the bed as Yami stood up silently and walked slowly backwards to the table, his eyes hard and never once leaving the chef's body.

" The doctor said he was to deal with you himself. I'm sorry, but your brother won't be able to help you out of this one. I thought you might be just damaged. But no. You're mad! I won't let you hurt anyone else. I'm going to take Yugi to the hospital. Then I'm wiring the police department." During his tirade, he had walked around to inspect Yugi's injuries, shook his shoulder to wake him. No response. He picked up the bed sheet and shook out the wrinkles as yami picked up the brass lamp on the table then slowly made his way to him as Tristian covered Yugi's body with the sheet. He never saw it coming. No sooner had he finished speaking Yami swung with all his might and brought the brass down on his head. A slight jerk, a strangled grunt, and Tristian fell to the floor, unconscious. Great. Yami dressed himself quickly, making sure to look as presentable as possible. Black slacks. Grey shirt. Black vest. Grey silk tie. Black jacket. Spotless shoes. A quick rake of his fingers through his hair. This would have to do.

He couldn't be left alone. That was the only thing going through Yami's mind. He couldn't be trusted to keep silent, and therefore he couldn't be left alone. He walked out of the room then down the hall to the linen closet. Take a sheet. Close the door. Walk back. Close the door. Pick up an unconscious body and wrap it in the cloth. Cover his face. All of these were robotic motions. Things he did comfortably and with no dilly-dally. With a grunt of effort he picked up the unconscious chef and hefted his body over his shoulder. He looked back at his rose and sighed. He wasn't going to be happy about this. But alas, it simply couldn't be helped. As he walked away he could only hope that Yugi might one day understand.

He carried Tristian through the house, then cautiously checked the grounds. Joseph was in the green house, but his back was turned. Good. He briskly walked out and quickly crossed the concrete yard to the lab. Yami secured the man's body with one hand, then using the other he quietly opened the door. Once he was on the other side of the metal he closed it again just as quietly. Good. He wasn't noticed. Now he could move about more freely. He carried the body through the tunnel and soon they were in the dead house. Finding a spare cot was no problem. Empty carts were often kept here to wait for the body that may claim it. He slung Tristian down on the first empty one he saw and panted, hands braced on his knees as he sucked in the air his lungs needed. Jesus he was heavy. He rolled his sore shoulder and with a roll of his head he cracked his neck. He sighed in relief, feeling the tension leave. But he wasn't done. Yami adjusted the sheet over the man's body and then lay him straight on the cart. Time for the next step. No one looked twice at him. No one gave pause to a man wheeling a covered body. After all, this WAS a hospital.

He was stopped however by a passing nurse, calling his name in alarm. " Dr. Sennen!" Mentally cursing he donned a mask of professionalism and let a smile bleed on to his face. The woman bustled around to him, a small framed woman with curly red hair and light hazel eyes. He recognized her.

" Miss Lilly, can I help you?"

" I was just about to ask the same of you! That bruise on your face looks absolutely terrible! What happened?!" Ah, of course. That powerful punch Yugi had delivered him during their " time" together was sure to show itself. ' Atemu' smiled kindly and dismissed this with a graceful wave of his hand, his voice gently calm and light.

" Oh, it's not so serious I assure you. I was called in to help medicate an ornery patient is all. Mental ward." By the looks of realization followed by understanding flittering across her face, he knew no more needed to be said.

" Ah, I see. But, are you sure you don't need any help, Sir?" A patient smile and a shake of his head.

" No, no. It looks worse than it feels, I promise. After I finish up here, I'll treat it with a cold steak and some menthol. I'll be alright."

" Well, if your sure..." She said, her voice uncertain. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

" I am. But I want to thank you so much for your concern. Compassion is key in any healer. You've got that in spades, my dear. Do carry on, Miss Lilly. And thank you again." He finished this off with a charming smile and a pat to her arm.

" Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir!" He turned away and began wheeling the chef's unconscious body away, grateful that she had not though to ask who was under the sheet. " Take care of that soon, you hear?!" She called. He only waved in response, rolling his eyes when she couldn't see him. Now, where was he? It didn't take long to find what he was looking for. He rode the lift down to the very core of the hospital. The basement. The walls were grey and the tile was black. Fitting for a place of death. He wheeled the chef down this hall until he came to another hall. Turn left. First door on the left. Large circular metal doors lined the walls here with other covered bodies stacked on a large wooden shelf waiting their turn. Yami opened the heavy metal door in the center of the display and then pulled out the metal tray to help him. The tray was dotted with thumb-sized holes, so that meant with hope this would be done quickly. He pulled the bed over and smoothly slid Tristian's body from the cot to the metal slab. A slight groan. Then he was still again. Uh-oh. Looked like he was slowly coming back. No time to waste. Yami slid the metal table in to the oven, then lazily bat the door shut. A tired sigh. A twist of the wrist and the door was sealed shut. He looked through the small circular window at the body and patted the metal door.

" You just had to get involved, didn't you?" He mused. Yami tsked and shook his head sadly. " Shame. You were one hell of a cook. Your pancakes were perfect, your desserts to die for... And I do have to admit; I was a slave to your lobster and shrimp alfredo pasta." Yami sighed dramatically and with a tap of his finger, he activated the oven and set the body ablaze. " Oh, well." He sighed, like a child being told he must do his homework first before going outside to play.

Then he turned around and casually walked out of the crematorium and proceeded to Atemu's office in the hospital, where he would file the necessary paperwork so that to everyone else, Atemu would be generously claiming the ashes of one unclaimed ' John Doe' to lay him to rest. But it was only a matter of time before anyone was to know the grave plaque should really read: Tristian Taylor. And if he heard frantic pounding on metal or blood-curling screams on his way out...

Well, what was he supposed to do about it?

The pain came first. Yugi felt himself slowly coming back to wakefulness, and wished in that moment he weren't. Pain burned nearly every part of his body. He tried to move in to a more comfortable position-and let out a small grunt of pain. Needles of pain stabbed at his lower half and bolts of agony shot up his spine. His whole body felt sore as if he'd been dragged through the streets by a horse. Then again, given what had happened between him and Yami, he shouldn't be surprised. Yugi opened his eyes and winced; His face felt stiff on one side. He raised a hand to touch his cheek, recalling when Yami struck him there for having the gall to fight back. " You're up." Yugi raised his head at the sound and his eyes widened. Standing at the door was none other than the steward of the house.

He was surprised when Seto entered the room. It wasn't as if they were terribly close. Only a hand full of small conversations came to memory. Why would Seto be here to see him? As if reading his thoughts Seto calmly walked to the bed and sank down gracefully on the edge of the mattress. " As steward of the house, it's my job to attend to both the order and well-being of my staff while Atemu is away." His eyes softened as he took in Yugi's haggard, bruised appearance. He had been told that Yugi had been the victim of a failed theft attempt. He had gone back out to search for Atemu again when this occurred. Or so Yami said in the note left to him on the desk. But Seto didn't buy it. Yugi would have said something to someone if he had wanted to go out again. And when questioned about Yugi's whereabouts in the house, Joseph had told him Yugi was here at home when the doctor returned last night. No, this was Yami's doing. But why he wasn't sure. Hence his visit with Yugi today. He wanted answers. This boy had them. " How are you feeling, Yugi? Can I get you anything?" Yugi shook his head-then instantly regretted the motion as it caused his head to throb painfully.

" No, thank you, Seto. I'm fine. In pain, yes. But I'll be fine." He said, his tone was convincing. But the hard edge to his eyes said otherwise. The older man hummed and crossed one leg elegantly over the other, resting his laced hands on his knees.

" Yugi, what can you tell me about your injuries?" Seto asked, his voice calm but with a tone that said ' Tell the truth, now.' Yugi knew that would be impossible. If he outed Yami, then that would only mean it would be Atemu taking the blame. So in the end, all he could say was:

" I don't remember." The two sat in silence for a time, Seto reading Yugi with his stormy blue eyes, and the boy unable to look at him at all.

" Nothing?" Seto pressed.

" Nothing."

" Well you see, I was informed that you were the victim of a failed robbery attempt. Apparently, after the police left you went out searching for Atemu on your own again. Yami claims that he found you beaten unconscious on the streets near home when he was coming back. So he brought you home and tended your injuries. Does any of this ring true to you?" So Yami had already covered his tracks. To cover his own, it seemed Yugi would have to play the game Yami's way.

" I remember seeing Yami in the street." He offered. That wasn't a lie. They HAD talked behind that shop when he was looking for him-them. " I remember running through the town trying to find him, even though I hadn't the faintest idea where to go. I was so worried about the police finding him first. I knew things could get bad if he didn't-if he hadn't come to them voluntarily. "

" That is a correct assumption to make." Seto agreed. " So you went out to find him. Then what?"

"...I don't really remember. I remember being in pain. I remember darkness. Then I woke up here with you. That's all I can tell you." Again, not a lie. Seto hummed at the information, then looked down at his own hands.

" I suppose I can understand, Yugi. Memory is a fickle being. We think we know ourselves through our memories; What makes us happy, what makes us sad. We remember childhood as our foundations and adulthood as the test we put those foundations though. And when we falter, we question ourselves and our memories-because we are our memories, after all. Questioning a memory can uncover the greatest of secrets, or wrench out the most painful of truths. That's when memory becomes selective. So therein lies the question then; Do we stay true to ourselves through our memories, or do we let our hearts and minds become just as fickle?"

Yugi wasn't naïve. He knew Seto was testing him. But what else could he say? To expose the truth would be to expose Yami. And through him, Atemu. But if Seto already knew how important it was to protect them both, as Atemu had told him, then what exactly was Seto asking of him?

" Seto..."

" Yugi." He fixed his cerulean gaze on the gentle amethyst in his line of view. " Is there something...you wish to tell me?" He asked quietly. Yes. No. Yami raped him earlier today, and that's where his injuries came from. He did it because last night Atemu and he became lovers in the truest of sense. They consummated that love-several times-and ignited yami's jealousy. He wanted to love Yami, too. But he wasn't sure what to feel after being taken as a possession and not as an equal. All he knew was his desire to protect them both, regardless of how his bruised body and heart made him feel. He wanted to say it all to him. Instead, he gave another reply.

" No, Sir."

Seto nodded once and then rested a hand on Yugi's leg through the comforter.

" Very well, then. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask it of me." He said quietly. Guilt forced Yugi's eyes away from Seto's powerful gaze and he mutely nodded with his head down. The boy had been put through enough. Seto stood up and quietly walked out of the room and closed the door. He had other business to take care of.

Alone in his room, Yugi fisted his blankets in frustration. What had he gotten himself in to now?

Something was calling to him, trying to drag him from the bliss of unconsciousness. His eyes opened slowly, groggily taking in the space around him. He was in his room. His head hurt horribly. His whole body felt sore. He wasn't keen on the idea of being wake. So he closed his eyes again, fully prepared to go back to sleep. " Atemu! Atemu, wake up!" He shot up out of bed-and instantly regretted the action. His head throbbed painfully as vertigo swayed his vision. Where was he? What was going on? He blinked blearily to the source of the voice and sat up with a groan. Seto was sitting on the bed beside him, wearing a look of concern. Him in bed, Seto beside him...he was momentarily taken back years to when they used to spend days together like this when they were boys.

" Seto? What happened?" He mumbled.

" You tell me." He said gravely. He pointed to the mirror and Atemu followed his gesture to stare at the reflection. Surprise followed by dread crept though his veins as he stared back through the silver glass at this haggard man before him. His clothes were rumpled from sleep, his hair in disarray, and he was sporting a brilliant bruise on one side of his face and a split lip. His hazy memories suddenly surged though the surface like an electrical charge. Last he could recall, he had chained himself up in the lab...the lab! On instinct he looked down to his wrist...and found it bandaged with care. Images flashed through his mind like a projector. That was right! He was worried about Yami's reaction after Yugi and he had made love. He knew Yami's wrath would be terrible, so he chained himself up in the lab to wait out Yami's tirade out before he could speak to him. So why was he in bed?! Why was his body in such pain?! Where was Yugi?! A cold laugh echoed in his ears and Atemu whirled around to the source of the sound. He slid out of bed-to find he was fully clothed and shoes were firmly on his feet- and walked to the full-length mirror. But instead of his own reflection he saw a mirage. Yami, sitting on his writing desk. His legs were crossed over knee and his arms were folded. His head was held high and a look of utter superiority graced his features. Dear God how had he escaped? What has he done?!

" Was it Yami?" Seto asked, as if voicing his fears for him. Atemu tore his gaze from the mirror and ran a hand through his mane of hair, shaking his head.

" I can't be sure... Is this why you came to me?"

" One of the reasons. There's also a couple of important matters we need to discuss." While he appreciated Seto's efficiency of their home and business, times like these he felt Seto was not just majorly efficient. He was obsessed. Atemu sighed and turned his body fully from the mirror, walking around the bed to his cousin.

" Seto, please-" A small envelope was thrust in to his hand.

" You need to see this." Seto said, his tone both dark and insistent. Wordlessly Atemu took the paper and opened the envelope to read the message inside. His tiredly curious gaze morphed more and more in to a serious frown as he scanned the message.

' Dear Mr. Kaiba,

I apologized for the hurriedness of this message, but this is a matter of great importance, I have been contacted by my family and I must take leave of the manor. The situation at hand is both delicate yet extremely important. I will send further word if I may return. I thank both you and Dr. Atemu Sennen for all of your kindness and support during my years of employ. I hope to contact you again soon.

Tristian.'

Atemu looked up from the note and matched Seto's gaze frown for frown. " This isn't right." He concluded. Seto nodded grimly.

" That's what I first thought, too. Taylor may be telling the truth, but why just leave spontaneously with only a simple letter as explanation? As he has always been a dependable employee, I expected more of him than this." Seto said. Atemu wholeheartedly agreed. But then...why did he disappear? To where? Seto sighed and pulled a folded paper from his coat pocket and handed it to Atemu. " That's not the only notification to drop on my desk today. Take a look at this." Atemu took the paper and unfolded it... What?

' DATE: September 19, 1895

It is to Mr./Dr. Atemu Sennen the remains of (1) John Doe are to be released to custody.

INVENTORY: (1) Clay urn containing ashes of (1) remains to be laid to rest.

Collection to be handled by Dr. Maxamillion Pegasus, head/chief of staff.

Pick up is at Mr./Dr. Atemu Sennen's convenience.'

" What in the world...?" He wondered aloud. Who's remains? When had he sanctioned this? Did he? Why was he being asked to-?

" And Atemu?" The doctor's head raised, his eyes edged with caution at the sound of Seto's voice. He could tell this wasn't the end of it. " There is one more thing you need to know. It's about Yugi." Yugi?! " He was brought in this morning by Yami. Apparently he went out last night to look for you after the police left. He was found beaten up and unconscious on the streets, not far from here. Yami brought him back and treated his injuries. He seems like he's gonna be okay, but he's neglected to say what happened. He claims not to remember." And he could tell by Seto's tone that Kaiba did not believe Yugi's claim of memory loss one bit.

" Nothing adds up here. Yugi was hurt, Tristian is gone, and I'm to collect a stranger's remains? All happening in the span of a day? Just what is going on here?" He wondered aloud. A snicker from the mirror was his response. " Seto, thank you. I..."

"...You need some time alone?" The brunette offered. The haggard look Atemu gave him was answer enough. Seto nodded and pat Atemu's arm through the jacket he wore then walked to the door, pausing at the threshold. " If you need anything, you know where I'll be." Without another word Seto left, the door clicking shut softly behind him. And then there were two. Atemu looked back at the mirror to face Yami's cool, impassive stare.

" Yami! What are you doing here?!" He demanded. Yami's smirk curled in to a mocking sneer at his words and tone.

" You mean after you chained me up like a dog?" He spat.

" What did you do?" Atemu paced the length of his room, eyeing the mirror with contempt. To anyone, his reflection was mirroring him perfectly. But Atemu could see him. Sitting calmly on the desk, filing his nails with a knife as Atemu paced, a smirk of superiority on his features. " I know you're hiding something! And ' John Doe' had everything to do with it! Now you tell me; Why was I told to come down to the morgue to pick up that urn today?!" He demanded. Yami merely shrugged and paused in his filing to examine his nails.

" Your asking me to explain why your bleeding heart compels you to help those who wouldn't have pissed on you were you on fire." He drawled, using the knife to pick out a lint of dirt from under a nail before he lazily began tossing the blade up and down. " You never HAD to claim anything. You can dump those ashes down the toilet for all I care. But if you want him to be laid to rest properly, then I suggest you get to it." Atemu growled at Yami's indifference. He had a hunch as to the identity of John Doe. And the very thought made his bile rise and his heart clench. Tristian had been in his employ for over four years. He was always prompt, reliable and honest. If there were indeed some family emergency that would have called him away, then Tristian would have approached the doctor personally to talk of the matter. He would have made sure someone was left to take over his post until his return. And he would have never left without saying goodbye to his friends. For him to leave a simple note for Seto on the desk in his office was drastically unlike him. But more than that, what of Yugi? The boy Yami claimed to love? If he loved him, then how in the world could he have hurt him so badly? No time like the present.

" And Yugi?! Why was he discovered hurt today?!" He demanded. From his position Yami scoffed and rolled his eyes.

" Pah! He's only a little sore, not dead, Atemu." The doctor ground his teeth so hard together in anger that it hurt.

" What. Did. You. Do?" He said, impatience and dark promise puncturing every word. Yami smiled wickedly and met his gaze unblinkingly.

" ...Same as you. Last night you deflowered my rose. Since you broke him in for me then, I thought I might as well take my enjoyment of him now." Atemu froze as if he'd been blasted with the frigid winds of winter. Yami had...Yami ... He ra...? He couldn't even finish the thought. Anguish and anger wracked his body with tremors as Yugi's condition came to mind. Seto had said he was beaten and bed-ridden. He knew EXACTLY what had happened to him. First Tristian leaves a half-cognizant letter to Seto, then he finds out he's due to collect the ashes of a stranger, and now he learns that Yami violated Yugi in the worst of ways. So much devastation in one day. He wasn't sure which atrocity frightened him most at the moment.

He didn't want to think that for even one moment that those ashes were...no. He couldn't assume. And he knew damn well Yami wasn't going to tell him a thing. If he hadn't spoken of it by now then that meant he would never tell. The only one capable of wrenching the truth from him was Yugi. But after what Yami did to him he was hell bent on keeping the two of them apart. He was angry at Yami for raping Yugi. But even more terrifying was the boy himself. It wasn't in Yugi to hate. It wasn't in him to hold a grudge. He was too pure for that. No, he would forgive Yami eventually, and that was what scared the doctor the most. Yugi would open his heart to Yami again, and give his other half the opening he needed to hurt Yugi even worse than he already has. Yugi's kindness was something to be commended. But Atemu feared it could also one day be the very death of him. Just like Tristian. If it was indeed his friend in that urn.

' But it is.' His conscience whispered. He wanted to deny it. He wanted to be able to look everyone straight in the face and tell them with a sure heart and a steady constitution that Tristian would most likely be back in a week's time. But he couldn't. Yami would never say it to him, but Atemu was, regretfully, one hundred percent certain that Tristian was dead. He chanced a glance up at Yami through the mirror. He was watching him with a curiously coy expression. Watching the mental war raging in his head with a secret smile. As if he were waiting for Atemu to put the pieces together on his own and guess his riddle. He couldn't bear the sight of him. Atemu whirled around and stormed from his room, feeling Yami's eyes on his back all the while.

The ashes were there, as promised. Pegasus handed him the simple clay urn upon his arrival. And with them came a sealed envelope. His worst fears had been confirmed with the opening of that paper. Inside was one simple, mocking message:

' Here lies Tristian Taylor,

The man who nearly became our jailer.

He saw too much-he had to go,

So no more pies or escargot.

You really ought to hire a new cook,

and teach him to just cook, not look.

So here's our chef-or what's left of him,

do as you see fit, for that's your whim.'

Atemu growled and crushed the envelope in his hand. He could just hear the playfulness in Yami's note-like a child reading a nursery rhyme to his parents for the fun of it. He took the ashes, ignoring the calculating gaze from Pegasus's one eye. He had to lay this man to rest. He had to honor him. But first, he had to find Yugi. He took the urn-which was unnaturally light in his hands. He opened the lid. The grey-cream ashes sat filled to the brim in the container. So. This was all that was left of a man's life. He took the urn and numbly walked them back to the house. He couldn't tell anyone yet. Seto, maybe. But not the others. Not yet. Not until he could find a solution to the problem Yami's presence created. The answer was simple. Separate them. He had the syrum. He could do it. The question was: Did he dare? He reached his room and closed the door. Opening his wardrobe he placed the urn in the bottom drawer, closing the door with care and locking it. Although no one would dare enter here without his permission, he couldn't be too careful. Now, where was Yugi?

Yugi wasn't in his room. Atemu had gone in hopes of talking to him. Seto had said he was hurt. Hurt enough to be bed-ridden? Last he saw Yugi he was fine. More than fine, really. So what all had Yami done to change that? Atemu had searched everywhere. The bedrooms, the library, the kitchen, the dining room, the parlor, the foyer, the sewing room, the lower-level guest bedrooms, the basement, the bathrooms, the music room and the gardens. He panted as he stood among the flowers, his white roses glaringly bright in the sunlight. Yugi wasn't in the house. Perhaps he went to the hospital for medicine? There was nowhere else to look. Atemu ran a hand through his hair and then tiredly opened the door to the laboratory. He was there. Yugi was sitting on the metal table, his legs swinging back and fourth. At the sound of the metal door opening his head lifted up. Atemu had to bite back a cry of rage.

His upper-right cheek was bruised, the wound extending up to his temple. His eyes were hollow and dark. A nice-sized split was evident on one corner of his beautiful lips. And just under the hem of his shirt sleeves Atemu could see the bruises shadowing the skin. What had Yami done to him?! " Yugi!" Without any thought of propriety Atemu ran down the lab stairs to the young man. Yugi hopped off the table and together they collided in a tight embrace. He cradled his little one in his arms, holding him tightly as if to shield him from all of the wrongs of the world. Yugi buried his face in Atemu's shoulder, letting all of his emotions go. He shook in his loving embrace as the tears he'd been holding back for what seemed like forever finally fell. Atemu rubbed his back soothingly, allowing the boy to cry. They stayed like this for a time, until Yugi was able to collect himself.

They broke apart and wordlessly Atemu took a black handkerchif from his pocket and lovingly wiped away his lover's tears. " I'm sorry, Atemu. I just..." Atemu shushed him gently and made finished drying his face.

" There's no need to apologize, Yugi. You wear your heart on your sleeve; One of the many things I love about you." He said softly. Yugi sniffled and cleared his throat to rid himself of the lump that had taken refuge there. He loved him. Did he mean it? Could he? After... Did he know?

" Atemu... Yami and I... something happened."

" I know." Yugi shot up at the words and the sorrowful expression on his face was more profound than mere words. " I know what he did to you. Yugi, I know this question is imbecilic at best but...how are you doing? Are you alright?" Yugi sighed and crossed his arms defensively in front of himself.

" I'm as well as can be expected." What else could he say about it? At the moment, Yugi had absolutely no Idea. " How did you find out?" He asked, dreading the answer.

" Seto came to me today claiming Yami found you beaten in the street. Afterwards I confronted Yami. He confessed to it." Yugi shut his eyes tightly, bowing his head. Yami confessed. Just like that. It seemed to him Yami had NO shame about what had happened. ' No. That's not true.' A small piece of him said. Yugi recalled the events of earlier that late morning, holding a crying, broken man in his arms. Yes, he did have remorse. But how much could it outweigh what happened between them? Could it? He was brought out of his musings however, by the seriousness of the doctor's next words.

" There is something else you need to know." Yugi could hear the concern in his lover's voice. No. Something more. His voice held more than just concern. He heard dread. Something was very, very wrong. " Tristian is gone." What?! " He received and urgent missive from his family and he's going to be gone indefinitely."

" But...wouldn't he have said goodbye...?" Yugi wondered. Why would he just leave? He looked up from the floor to the doctor. His head was down, eyes shadowed by his bangs as he refused to meet Yugi's eyes. " Atemu? What do you know?" Silence. " Atemu?!"

" ...As I said, he was called away due to a family emergency."

" If that's really true, then why can't you look me in the eyes?" Yugi demanded. Atemu paused, clearly at war with himself. How much could he really say?

"...I think...I suspect...he had an altercation with Yami and he was forced to leave." Yami and Tristian got in to a fight?! How?! Why?!

" I don't understand! What happened?!" Atemu didn't say a word. There was much more to this than he was telling him. And that pissed Yugi off to no end. Until now Atemu had always been honest with him and he'd never coddled him. This silent refusal to answer his questions could only mean it was much worse than he was willing to let on. " Atemu, tell me!"

"...I don't think it's important for you to know, Yugi." If he told him his friend was killed by his other half, it would only devastate him. No, he had to protect him from this.

" Important for me to know?! He's my friend Atemu! Please, just tell me!" Fear made Atemu's composed mask shatter and he gripped Yugi by the shoulders.

" It's not for you to know! Just leave it be, Yugi!" Yugi pushed himself from his arms, stunned. Wasn't for him to know? What had happened to make Atemu act this way?! He was treating him like a child...and Yugi resented it. Up until now Atemu had always been honest with him. What was so terrible than Atemu was refusing to be honest with him now? Did he not trust him anymore?

" Do you trust me?!" He demanded. Atemu shook his head.

" This isn't about trust, Yugi. It's for your own protection. The less you know, the better for you. It's what's best for you." He stated, his own anger at the boy's persistence making his tone harsher than intended. Anger had Yugi tensing his body in to stone. He knew the doctor was trying to protect him. That was one thing. But condescending him like he were a child was NOT what he expected. Of Yami? Yes. Of Atemu? Never.

" After all the secrets I've kept for you? All the lies I've told for you? The body I gave to you and NOW you don't want me involved?!" Atemu looked away, unable to meet his eyes or his face. There was only one way he was getting any answers, and it filled him with dread. Still, Yugi steeled his resolve and lifted his chin.

" I want to talk to Yami." Whatever Atemu may have been expecting, this request certainly wasn't it. His head snapped back to him and his eyes widened as he stepped back from the youth.

" No."

" I want to talk to him now."

" I said no, Yugi!" Atemu snapped.

" Why not?! If you won't be honest with me, I know he will!" He cried. A vehement shake of the head was the doctor's first response.

" Yugi, I forbid you to go anywhere near that madman again!" Yugi bristled with anger.

" Forbid me?! You can't control me, Atemu! I want the answers and if you won't help me then you're forcing me to rely on him!" He shouted. Atemu gripped his fists and shut his eyes tight.

" I won't let that monster near you again! Not after what he's done!"

" Atemu! If you ever loved me at all, then please! Let me talk to Yami!" Tension hung in the air between them. Anger, hurt and betrayal bounced back and fourth in between them as they stood opposite of one another. Yugi was asking the impossible. Atemu was almost being as controlling as his other half. In that moment, love and hate existed equally in both hearts. Atemu could feel Yami. He'd felt him at the edges of his consciousness ever since he woke up. Letting him take over would be a simple thing. His mind screamed no. His heart beat painfully in his chest at Yugi's words. ' If you ever loved me...' There was no choice. Atemu closed his eyes and allowed his mind's control to relinquish. It really was like falling asleep. The more he slipped, the more he felt Yami. Like arms wrapping around him to soothe him to sleep. He could only pray he wasn't making the biggest mistake of his life.

He slept.

Watching this transformation was a fascinating thing. He watched as the man seemed to simply fall asleep on his feet. He could sense the change in the air. Watched as his skin went pale as if he'd suddenly become very sick. His posture tensed...and Yami's eyes snapped open. They regarded each other for a time, ruby and amethyst both searching but not quite finding. " Rose." Yami greeted, his tone and face neutral as he looked the boy over. Yugi on the other hand felt he should be livid with how calm Yami was being after their last encounter. But then, this WAS Yami, wasn't it? Such a thing was to be expected, he supposed. But his feelings about the man aside, there were other things to discuss. At least, that was his intent. " Are you...how are you feeling, Yugi? I treated your wounds best I could. Are you still in pain?" Yami asked, and he seemed...nervous. Nervous? Since when was he ever anything but cold and confident? Yugi wanted to believe Yami cared about him. And he liked to think he did, in is own twisted way. But only, as he had learned, as a possession. Can guilt be associated with a possession? Or was there more?

" I'm still in some pain." Yugi confessed quietly. Yami's jaw clenched. " I heard you were the one who treated me. Thank you." Yami opened his mouth, closed it, then looked away. Yugi had a pretty good notion of what he wanted. " I was told by Seto that you found me beaten in the street. I went along with your story, so don't worry. No one will be found out." He said, tiredly. Yami shook his head.

" That's not important. I... I'm..." Was he...trying to apologize?! Yugi's eyes widened, not sure how to take this baffling development. Yami huffed out an irritated breath and his eyes hardened. Yugi had said it himself; Sorry wasn't going to fix it. So why bother? Fine. To the point then. " Why did you summon me like a servant to his master?" He snapped. Ah, it looked like Yami was coming back to himself. It made Yugi feel both better and worse.

" Tristian's gone." Yugi stated. Yami merely blinked at him.

" So?"

"...I was told you two got in to a fight and you made him leave. Did you?" Silence. " Did you?!" Yugi demanded again. Nothing. Atemu had said Tristain was forced to leave, but refused to say much more on it. Now Yami was being suspiciously silent. Immediately his mind began drawing the worst of conclusions. Yami sighed tiredly and slipped his hands in to his coat pockets.

" Yugi, he's just gone away. Really, there's no need to make such a fuss ove-" Yami was diverting him. Condescending him. Dismissing him. He felt himself snap. All of the anger, all of the confusion, all of his own helplessness and love and hate had reached it's boiling point. He let control go as raw emotion ruthlessly took over.

" NO!" Yugi grabbed Yami by the collar and forced him to retreat several steps back until he slammed him against the wall. He reached up and roughly grabbed Yami's chin and forced his gaze to his own. Yami looked in to those beautiful amethyst eyes and a jolt went through his heart. Gone was the innocent shine in his eyes. Gone was the gentleness and compassion he was so accustomed to. Gone were the flames of passion that ignited those jewels to glow bright as the stars. No. These eyes were the color of stormy skies: Black and dark purple swirled together and the coldness was to that of a winter chill. By god, what had he done to his rose? " I am done with your mind games. I want the truth from you." He growled. Yami's expression melted until his face had become a mask. No emotion. No light in his eyes. Only hollow expectancy. " Now you tell me... Did you kill Tristian?!" A faint rise of his shoulders, just enough to be called a shrug.

"... What if I did?" He asked quietly. That was as good as a confession to him. Yugi let go of him and staggered back. He turned around and gripped the cold edges of the metal table. He was dead. Tristian Taylor was dead. And worst of all, it was Yami who had killed him. Yugi gripped the edges of the table so hard the edges bit in to his hands. He didn't care. Furiously he blinked way the tears that wanted so desperately to fall.

" Did...did he suffer?" No response. Yugi shoved himself off the table, then turned around to face him. Yami was as still and silent as a statue. His eyes looked back at him with sympathy, but otherwise he showed nothing on his face. " Did he?!" Yugi demanded. Yami looked away. Yes. He had suffered. Yugi took a shuddering breath in and out. What had he done? " How was it done?" He demanded. Yami shut his eyes and shook his head.

" Yugi, please. You don't need to know. There's no reason to make yourself feel-"

" Don't!" He snapped, slamming his fist on the table. " Don't you dare tell me you're trying to spare me or my feelings. We're way past all of that now. So you tell me: How. Was. It. Done?!" Yami slowly opened his eyes, but was unable to meet Yugi's gaze. Still, he was right. Yami had never lied to him in the past. There was no reason to start now. As much as he didn't want to acknowledge it, he owed this to his rose.

" It happened in my room. I hit him from behind with the brass lamp from my writing table. He never saw me coming. I knocked him unconscious, then I wrapped him up in a sheet from the linen closet. I carried him from the home to the dead house. I found a spare cot there. Then I arranged his body to look like any other covered corpse. From there I wheeled him to the crematorium." At that moment Yugi's body went cold. His knees were shaking. His hands felt clammy. It was suddenly hard to breathe. He knew exactly what Yami was going to say next, and never did he feel so much dread in his life. " I slid his body in to the pod...and then I ignited the inferno and walked away. I heard him screaming and banging on the door to get out. I didn't look back." He concluded.

" Oh, God...!" That was it. Yugi let go of his strength and he sank to his knees on the floor. One hand weakly gripped the edge of the table as the other came up to grip his hair as the tears that he had fought so hard against finally fell. His body shook with sobs as he cried on the floor. He had been burned alive. By Yami. Sorrow and pain turned to grief and anger. Sucking in a strained breath Yugi shakily shot to his feet and charged at Yami. His hands came up to fist both sides of the man's coat collar and she shook him hard. " Why?! For God's sakes why?!"

" Yugi, you shouldn't-"

" NO! HE WAS MY FRIEND! HE WAS ONE OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS AND YOU KILLED HIM! NOW TELL ME WHY!" Yami sighed and nodded once, as if coming to an understanding with himself before speaking.

" Tristian barged in to my room just after you passed out from when we hurt each other. He saw you naked and covered in bruises in my bed, and he put the pieces together. He promised to call the authorities on me immediately. I couldn't let that threat stand." Yugi felt his grip slacken and he let Yami go as his insides curled uncomfortably. Tristian had been trying to protect him. From Yami. And Yami had killed him. " And stop looking at me like that." Yami snapped, his mood suddenly very sour. " You and I both know perfectly well that had I allowed Tristian to live, he would have had me locked up. But you forget; Atemu and I share a body. So if I go, he goes. We both would have been shackled in chains like dogs. It was either him or us, and personally I prefer us. And I know you'd never want any harm to come to your precious Atemu." He spat. He couldn't argue back. It was impossible. As much as he hated to admit it... Yami was right.

And the most twisted thing, to Yugi, about this whole tragic mess was that he completely understood Yami's logic and found little flaw in it. Tristian had been a friend. Who died protecting him. But for the men he loved, it was a practical death. It made him sick. Yugi released his hold on Yami and took a heavy step back, his chest heaving like he'd just run a hundred miles. " You murderer..." He growled. Yami smirked coldly at the boy in front of him.

" And we both know you'll keep our secret to yourself, so now you are an accessory to murder." Yami hissed coldly, a cruel smile on his face.

" Not unless I get away from you!" He challenged. Yami's eyes darkened dangerously at this.

" Get away from me?! You belong to me, Yugi! Atemu is the one who brought you to me and it is I who hold you completely! Atemu, Yami-whomever's name you scream in bed! You belong to ME!" Black fury stole whatever emotions Yugi had left. He had been right all along. Yami would only ever see him as a thing. Never a person. But he forgot one thing; Yugi was a free man. And he absolutely refused to be controlled. Never by Yami. Never again. And certainly not by Atemu, no matter how much he loved him. Loved them. But in that moment, love meant absolutely nothing to the young man. Not like this.

" Oh. " He said, his voice hollow and cold. Yugi walked past Yami, not bothering to take notice of the cold sneer on his face. He reached the doorway and paused. So he was theirs only, was he? Just a pretty flower for them to pluck and play with as they chose. He belonged to them? He turned around and smirked softly at Yami. " Really?"

His head was swimming. His body was tinging pleasantly. And to think: Only half of the laudanum bottle was gone. It made his body feel lighter, but the thoughts he had tried so hard to drink away were still there. Tristian was dead. Yami had killed him to protect himself. Atemu knew and lied to him about it. Only with Yugi's persistence had he learned the truth. Atemu had said he wanted to keep it a secret to spare him pain. Yami had admitted more. Yes, he shared Atemu's idea that Yugi was a fragile flower in need of protection. But there had been more to it than just that, now hadn't there? He had admitted he didn't want Tristian's testimony to be used against them. So only the psychotic one had been completely honest. Huh. Well right now, with his anger buzzing in his heart and his blood slowly turning in to alcohol, he was certain in this moment that he absolutely hated them both. He needed another drink. Yugi snatched up the bottle and took two hearty gulps and then promptly slammed the bottom of the bottle back down on the floor. He was buzzed. He was drunk. But not drunk enough to forget, and certainly not drunk enough to think he wasn't drunk. Another drink then.

He had found a pretty damn good hiding place for himself. He had brazenly gone through the liquor cabinet in the kitchen to find the strongest drink he could find. Amongst the vodka and brandy, the laudanum stood out in it's bright green bottle. Then he had taken the whole thing out of the house and decided to seek sanctuary in the hospital. He found an empty patient's room on the fourth floor. No one would disturb him here. Not with the door closed. And certainly not this late at night. He had drunk a glassful before falling asleep. It had been late afternoon then. Nearly sunset. When he awoke his body was in pain and his heart and head felt like they had been pushed through a meat grinder. All of it came back. The rape, the betrayal, the death of his friend, the lies and the anger... Drink. So now here he was, with the bottle more than half gone now and he sat on the cold linoleum floor in the corner, with a single oil lamp illuminating the room weakly on the bedside table. He wanted nothing more than to disappear from everything and everyone in that moment. But the universe, as he was coming to understand, was rarely kind.

A faint knock at the door made his head jerk sluggishly as the alcohol made his head swim and his thoughts cloud even more. He raised his head. Huh. Was the room tilting or was he? " Hello?" The door was quietly pushed open and Tea entered the room. Confusion adorned her face until she spied Yugi and the bottle both sitting haphazardly on the floor. " Oh my goodness! Yugi!" She rushed over and awkwardly helped him to stand. He wobbled a bit, then forced his limbs to steady themselves. Since when was moving so difficult a task? No, he was drinking. Oh. That's why. He cleared his throat and forced himself to focus on her as she sat down with him on the crisp white sheets.

" Tea? What are you doing here so late?" He was grateful that he wasn't slurring like the drunkard he felt like he was.

" I was just leaving, actually. I saw the light on in this room on my way out and I came to investigate. The rest of the floor is dark and I wasn't sure which patient was in here. What happened? " Oh, what to say, what to say? God forbid he tell her the truth. But he felt so isolated. He wanted SOMEONE to know SOMETHING. Perhaps a mild version of the truth? Whatever he said, he felt he had to say something. It was all but suffocating him to NOT say something.

"...My lover and I had a fight. My friend was forced away, and it was all because of my lover. Tea...? Can love and hate exist in the same heart at the same time? Or is love an illusion of hate? Or maybe it's that hate's an illusion of love. No, never mind. I'm drunk right now." Tea took his hand in hers' and sighed. Oh, she knew that feeling. She felt those things before when she had begun falling in love with Johnson. Just in time for him to show her the man he really was.

" Oh, Yugi. I think..." She paused to collect her thoughts. " I think it's that hate and love exist together so that we feel one or the other. Love and hate are feelings we all have, and if we didn't feel at all, then maybe that means it wouldn't matter." Yugi looked at her with stunned eyes, as if he'd never heard such a thing before. Tea flushed in embarrassment and hung her head. " I'm babbling, aren't I? I'll just shut up." Yugi shook his head and offered her a smile.

" No. That actually makes a lot of sense." They stayed silent for a time, content to simply be still. Tea knew Yugi was uncomfortable talking too much about himself. Whatever was happening now with his love, she knew getting drunk wasn't the answer.

" I'll fetch you some water. We need to get that stuff out of your system. Once you're hydrated I'll walk back to the manor with you."

" No, please. I-" He expelled a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. " I don't want to go back there tonight. Can I please just stay here? I promise to go back in the morning. Right now I... I just can't go back there." Tea stilled, considering. She saw no harm in him staying the night. She could keep the blinds to the room drawn to keep out the sun. ( Because that was going to hurt his eyes so much in the morning.) She could leave some water for him, and stay with him until he slept. She would inform Dr. Sennen as soon as possible. Sounded like a plan.

" Alright. But just for tonight. Here; I'll help you to lie down, then let's get that water, huh?" She stood up and Yugi stood to help her. She grabbed one arm to support him-and his drunken limbs pulled them both down to the floor.

" Ow." He groaned. Beneath him Tea chuckled and put a hand over her eyes.

" And we're on the floor again. Jeez, what is it with us?!" Yugi snorted and soon they were both laughing. Because really, what else could they do? Their laughter eventually died down and they simply lay on the floor. On impulse Yugi leaned down and gently kissed her on the lips. She tasted sweet like candy. He pulled back and she looked up at him with wide eyes. " Yugi?"

"...Sorry. I shouldn't have done that." And yet he wanted to do it again. So he did. He swiftly captured her lips again and they kissed. She parted her lips for him and he slipped his tongue in to her mouth. Both moaned in the kiss. Somehow they managed to stand. His hands roamed over her dress. She unbuttoned his vest and slipped off his tie. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that this was wrong. That they should stop. But the alcohol made him bold. Yami's declaration that he belonged to him made his anger return. And his anger made him rebellious. Suddenly this didn't seem like such a bad idea, and he had no intention of stopping.

They undressed in a frenzy, their clothes landing in an incomprehensible mess on the floor. They lay in the bed together, with Yugi hovering over her. Their kiss was no longer hurried and broken, but now full and slow. There was no hurry now. They could take their time. Yugi's tongue roamed every inch of her mouth, and they both moaned in the kiss. She tasted sweet as candy, and he found he quite enjoyed kissing her. He broke away and trailed kisses down her neck...then to her breasts. He took one pink nipple in to his mouth and she moaned sensually in pleasure as she arched her hips in to his. He took is time with this. Sucking , licking, and nipping the bud. He oddly like the feeling of it in his mouth. Her moans and breathy sighs gave him pleasure. To know he could make her feel like this... Now, what else could he do? He moved to her other breast, treating it with the same seductive care as his hands stroked her breasts and roamed over her body. He gave the nub one more seductive lick, then kissed his way down her ribcage, then her stomach. Her thigh. Slowly he parted her legs and she offered no resistance. Her breathing was shaky. She trembled under his hands. His tongue slipped out and tasted that special part of her. Tea let out a soft cry of pleasure.

It tasted tart, sweet and robust but there was something interesting about the flavors on his tongue. He wanted more. He parted her legs farther apart and licked her harder, faster. Her cries of ecstasy became strained, as if she were trying to control herself. But how far would she go before he could make her break control? Curious Yugi enclosed her with his lips and sucked her as his tongue continued to play with her. She arched in to his lips and her hands grasped his biceps as he pulled her hips as close to him as possible for all access. She felt her restraints go and she cried out in bliss as she released in his mouth, and he drank every drop. He licked her clean, but did not stop. His tongue was soft as he lapped at ever part he could reach. Before long he had her aching in to his lips again whimpering in want. He stopped his ministrations and surfaced to look at her. Her eyes were closed in passion. Her skin was rosy and flushed. Her breasts heaved with her breaths. And when she opened her impossibly blue eyes to look at him, they glowed in the dim light. Yugi leaned down to her and together they shared another kiss.

They both knew what was about to happen.

Yugi knew that this-all of this was wrong. Knew that this wasn't the innocent love she hoped from him. It was him asserting control over who could have him and who could not. He was aware that he was fully taking advantage of both the situation and a very sweet girl. But with the pain of the afternoon fresh in his mind and the buzz the alcohol gave him, Yugi found he couldn't care less. Atemu's love was kind, passionate and gentle. Yami's love was demanding, unrelenting and violent. But the both of them were controlling. What he could do, what he couldn't do. What he was allowed to know, and what he wasn't. Tea was different. Her love for him was trusting and free. All she wanted was him. No more, no less. And in this moment, that freedom was what he craved from her. He settled between her legs and blue met violet as they stared at each other. " Are you sure?" She had better tell him now before they went any further. Tea reached up and rested one delicate hand on his shoulder, and the other on his hip. She stroked his arm and smiled softly up at him.

" Yes, Yugi. Please, take me to you." That was all he needed to hear. He pushed his member inside of her slowly. Both gasped at the feeling assaulting them. She was warm and soft and so, so tight. Tea clung to him as he filled her completely, the sensations indescribable. He pulled back, then pushed back in and began gently thrusting against her at a slow rhythm. They moaned in pleasure as they moved against each other. Yugi angled differently with each thrust, hoping to find that spot that would have her completely under his spell. A cry of ecstasy and a sharp snap of her hips told him he had found what he was looking for. He increased his pace as he hit that spot in her again and again. Tea rolled her hips against his, meeting his thrusts and he hissed in pleasure. On impulse he lifted her leg and hitched it around his waist, allowing him to sheath himself even deeper in to her body. Tea cried out his name as he increased his strength, panting with his effort and need. Their unrehearsed symphony echoed though the room as he piston in and out of her. He could feel his release coming. He used all his speed and strength and plowed in to her relentlessly. Tea buried her face in to the juncture of his neck to muffle her own screams of passion. Her walls clenched him tightly. Her insides spasamed around him as she came. The feeling of her release triggered his own and Yugi came heavily inside of her.

They slowed their pace but did not stop. His thrusts were gentle and she moved her hips softly to meet him. This time it was slow and smooth. Yugi leaned down and kissed her neck as he came inside of her again. Tea moaned in bliss at the feeling of him filing her with his essence, but she did not cum. Not yet. She needed something more, he decided. He slowly pulled out of her, then gently rolled her over to lay on her stomach. Yugi licked her spine earing purrs of pleasure form her throat. He spread her legs then slowly entered her again, but this time from behind. Tea clutched the pillows and screamed in pleasure in the soft fabric as Yugi began thrusting again, liking the way her insides gripped him here. Yami and Atemu had both sexed him from this position, but he had never partaken of it himself before. Now he understood why they liked doing this to him. It was a different form of pleasure, yet similar and he couldn't decide which angle of her had pleasured him most. Again he searched for her prostate...and sighed in satisfaction when her loudest scream yet told him he'd found it. He drove in to her harder, faster and leaned down to kiss her spine as she cried out his name. Her release came quickly, and his sensitive dick responded again. He slowed his thrusts gently then stopped all together. He lay down on her back, still inside her. His head rested on her shoulder and Tea reached back to stroke her fingers though his hair. He kissed her shoulder. His hand ran up and down her spine as he slowly came out of her and she gave a tiny grunt of discomfort. She didn't want him to leave. He lay on the bed beside her and she at once wrapped her arms around his waist. She pressed herself to him as she hugged him close to her, and in turn he embraced her gently. He stroked her hair and she nuzzled in to his chest. Their hammering hearts slowed together as they simply lay down to rest. Tea stroked his chest slowly as she spoke.

" Is it over now?" She asked quietly. Yugi sighed and rested his chin on her head.

" I think it has to be." He asserted quietly. Tea shut her eyes to fight the tears that wanted to escape.

" Oh, please, not yet." She rose up to touch his face as she stared in to his deep amethyst eyes. " I know you don't love me, Yugi. Not in the way I love you. I know there's someone else, though you've never said who." Yugi looked away, not quite wanting to meet her eyes. Tea leaned down and kissed his chest and he closed his eyes. " But we're together now. And I know...this won't be forever. I know none of this is real. But if tonight is all we have...please..." She kissed his chest again. " Please..." She kissed his neck. " Just let me love you a little longer. Just..." Yugi reached up and touched her face. Their eyes met and slowly he guided her to his lips for a kiss. They closed their eyes as their lips opened and the kiss went deeper. He had taken so much from her already. Her body, her desire, and her unrequited love. He knew she truly loved him. That knowledge set hard cold stones in his chest. He had effectively taken away her ability to love another man and he couldn't give her a damn thing in return. Nothing but this moment and this night. Tomorrow he knew he would tell Atemu and Yami everything, and bear the weight of his consequences. But her asking him to prolong this moment was, in his mind, not such an extraordinary request. He could give her this.

" Okay." He whispered against her lips. Tea rose up on her arms and kissed him again, then proceeded to kiss his neck and down his chest. He sighed in tired pleasure as she took one of his nipples in to her mouth and sucked him gently. He stroked her hair and trailed his hand down her back. Once the stub was hard she kissed her way to the other one and proceeded to suck harder. Yugi arched in to her lips as she lightly scraped him with her teeth. Then she licked down his chest, his stomach...then softly began licking his manhood. He felt himself coming alive again under her tongue and he groaned in pleasure. Then she took him in to her mouth. Yugi cried out and fisted the sheets as she sucked him, her hands massaging where her lips couldn't reach. He panted as his walls began to tighten and he gently tried to push her away. She clung to his hips tightly and her sucks became harder and faster. He couldn't stop it. Yuig's head tossed from side to side as he came in her mouth, and she drank everything he had to give. She licked him clean, then without any pause she straddled his hips and lowered herself to his aching penis. Yugi moaned in pleasure and pain as her walls welcomed him again. She began thrusting her hips up and down in a slow and steady rhythm. Each movement pushed the aching pain back and brought the torturous pleasure forward. His need spiked again and Yugi thrust his hips up to her earning him a shout of bliss from her lips. Consumed with blinding lust he increased his power so that he was ramming hard in and out of her.

Above him Tea was barely able to keep up with his sudden urges and she panted and moaned as she bounced in his lap. She surrendered control to him completely and arched back to take him in as she bounced herself on his hips. Yugi felt her surrender and with narcissistic satisfaction he increased his thrusts. Not stopping Yugi sat up and grabbed her ribs to hold her in place. He bent his head down and licked at her breasts, persuading a breathy moan of his name from parted pink lips. He pulled her legs around his hips as he sat up fully to pull her flush to his body. Hasty kisses to lips. Dancing tongues. Their hips thrusting together striving for completion. With a final burst of strength he gave her everything he had left and she clung desperately to him as they came together for the final time. Panting heavily they broke their kiss to look in to each other's eyes. Yugi caressed her shoulder and lower back as she touched his face, her eyes full of love. " I'm sorry." He whispered. Tea smiled kindly at him and brushed his damp bangs from his face.

" I'm grateful. " She whispered back. For what, she didn't have to say. Still connected together they shared a deep kiss, savoring the moment and trying to stave off the consequences of tomorrow.

He walked the halls, feeling calm and content in the quiet. No one was awake. The patients were sound asleep. Many of the night shift staff were either reading in their respective posts or slumbering on cots in unoccupied rooms, the doors slightly ajar to hear if they were called from the outside. It was dark. It was peaceful. Almost like being in the womb. The darkness was comforting, the silence calming. No wonder the babies screamed like holy hell when they were forced from this perfect world. A light in the distance disrupted his train of thought. A light? In a patient's room? At this hour? Who? Curiosity dictated he follow the light to the end of the hall. An empty patient' room. Or, it was supposed to be. Through the patient window the lamp gave little light, but just enough to see. He looked through the open window atop the door. Perfect skin. Short brown hair. Naked bodies. Nurse Tea Gardner. Ah, a tryst in the night. Not unheard of for the staff at Domino General. Nothing so unusual. But who was her partner? Curious still he turned his head askance and leaned over to get a better view of the room. His body went cold. Yugi. Yugi Mutou. Naked. Bare. To her.

They were naked, with she straddling his lap as they kissed sensually. Hands touched everywhere. They were...they had...Yugi. Made love to her. She made love to him. He was kissing her. Touching her. Enjoying her. Letting her touch him, caress him, breathe his name... Oh, Yugi. How could he? Why did he? He didn't want to see anymore. But his eyes couldn't look away. He shifted his hips. She sighed in pleasure. He could take no more. He wrenched himself from the door and staggered away from the sight. His chest constricted. His heart was breaking. He could feel it shattering in to painful shreds in to the very lungs in his body. It was suddenly so difficult to breathe. Tears cascaded down his face from pools of anguished crimson. Yugi had told him he loved him. Shared his passion with him. Made love to him. Yet now he was giving it all to someone else. And it hurt. Love. He never knew it could feel like this. He couldn't contain his child-like sobs. It was impossible. In the laboratory he struggled around the metal table, trying to keep his straining body upright. He failed. He collapsed on to the table and curled up like a little boy trapped in a nightmare. He sobbed as the images played out in his mind over and over again. He wanted to blame him. To hate him. But after everything Yugi and he had been through, did he have a right? Did Yugi? He didn't know. He didn't want to know the answer to that right now. All he knew was that Yugi gave himself to Tea tonight and by the look of it, he didn't regret it. Another piece of his glass heart cracked and splintered at the thought.

With a cry of anguish he slammed his hand down on the table where he lay and a fresh wave of tears accompanied his agony.

Yugi...

( Ducks and hides.) Don't kill me! I promise there was a point to this! Anyways, Tea's gonna pay for this next chapter! But in what way? And how's Yugi going to deal with this muck-up he's created? And the biggest question: Who saw them? Atemu or Yami? Please R&R and as always bless your happy happiness!