Yami: *carries Nickey into the room*

Me: *kicking and screaming* Yami! Put me down! Yugi! Control your boyfriend!

Yugi: *sweatdrops* I tried to Nickey, but he just doesn't listen...

Yami: This is chapter 21 and you ARE helping us with introductions from now on!

Me: But I don't wanna! T.T

Yami: -_-' You really think that the puppy dog eyes are going to work on me?

Me: *looks at Yugi* Yugi?

Yugi: *gives Yami puppy dog eyes*

Yami: o_o Why do you do that to me?!

Me: I took it as a challenge... ANYWAY! On to chapter 21 of Kotonaru!

Yami: To the reviewers!:

To puredarkwolf: Glad you liked it ^w^

Yugi: Nickey doesn't own YGO or anything pertaining to YGO...

Kotonaru

Chapter 21

Training

Yami fell over from exhaustion in the (melting) snow. He was panting and out of breath "Damn it. I knew I shouldn't of pushed it." He'd been practicing for a week and a half now, and he'd made quite a few improvements. Now he was past his limits, laying on the wet ground.

Looking up he saw a bunch of colorful sparkles floating in the air, causing him to raise a brow. "Did I do that?"

He got his answer quickly when the giant shadow creature appeared. "Oh shit.. Nope didn't do it" he yelped as he jumped to his feet.

"GO BACK!" The shadow creature shrieked, taking a swing at Yami.

Yami jumped out of the way, barely missing the large hand. "What the hell do you want from me?! You always come here trying to hit me! Go away!"

"Go back!"

"No! You go back! No one wants you here!"

The shadow creature chased after Yami, swinging its limbs every which way. "Well shit, now I pissed it off!" Yami whined as he ran. "Don't you have a hobby? Maybe you should take up a job as a destruction worker!"

"Go back!" It yelled as it swung its arm at him again.

"I told you! You go back!"

Yami backflipped, hand springing out of the way as another blow came his way. "Damn it. I can't keep doing this. I don't have enough energy." His hands began to glow green "That's it! Go!" He yelled dropping down and hitting his hands against the ground. Trees began to sprout, going up and wrapping around the beast, stopping it in its tracks. "Take that you dick!"

"Go back!" The beast screeched, disappearing in an explosion of glitter.

"Well.. that.. was.." Yami didn't get to finish his thoughts as he fell over, collapsing from the lack of energy, and transforming back into a wolf.

"Yugi?" Zana called up the stairs where Yugi was sitting with his friends.

"Yeah?" Yugi called back, opening his door as they all walked out.

"Is Yami up there with you?"

"No. He still hasn't come back yet?"

"No. I-"

Just then the front door tumbled open and Yami fell in, his eyes half lidded. "Yami!" Zana yelled as they all ran to him. "Yami are you okay?"

"So.. Tired" he got out before falling unconcious.

Zana ran a hand through his fur "Joey, can you take him to his room?"

"Sure can" Joey said, picking Yami up from the floor. He carried the wolf to his room, laying him on the bed.

"Thank you Joey."

"Not a problem."

Yami groaned as he opened his eyes, wherever he was, it was dark. He couldn't see a thing, and his eyes weren't able to adjust. "Hello?" He called out, his voice echoing off walls that weren't visible. He turned his head side to side, trying to see something, anything in that vast darkness.

A pair of glowing red eyes shot open, staring him down, causing Yami to jump back. "Go back!"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Yami screamed, shooting up in bed, having changed back into his human form after regaining his energy.

Zana and Yugi came busting through the door. "Yami, are you okay?"

"You're sweating. What's wrong?"

Yami panted, trying to catch his breath as he looked around the room. "Great" he sighed, wiping the sweat from his brow "Now it's haunting me in my dreams."

"What are you talking about?" Yugi asked.

"That shadow creature that keeps coming after me. It was in my dream."

"I'll go get you a water" Zana said, walking out of the room.

While she was gone Yugi sat by Yami on his bed, wrapping his arms around his neck. "It's okay" he whispered "It's gone."

"For now" Yami mumbled into Yugi's shoulder.

"Want me to stay with you?"

"You don't have to do that, Yugi."

"I want to" he giggled, jumping under the covers.

Yami chuckled, watching as Yugi made himself comfortable. Zana came back in with a bottle of water and handed it to Yami. "Thank you" Yami said, taking the bottle of water.

"You're welcome. Goodnight boys."

"Goodnight mom."

"Goodnight Zana."

Yami took a drink of water, sitting the bottle on the night stand before laying down next to Yugi. Yami laid on his back, his hands behind his head as he stared at the ceiling, afraid to fall asleep. Yugi laid on his side, facing towards Yami and watching as he stared at the ceiling. "Yami?"

"Hm?"

"You should get some sleep."

"I can't."

Yugi proped his head up on his hand and looked at Yami "Why not?"

"I-I'm afraid."

"C'mere" Yugi said softly, wrapping his arms around Yami. Yami turned on his side and buried his head in Yugi's chest. Yugi's eyes widened when he felt Yami tremble.

"I feel like that beast is going to get me. It gets stronger, and I feel as if I'm getting weaker."

"Shhh, we'll talk more in the morning. It's not going to get you, I won't let it take you from me" Yugi whispered.

Yami lifted his head to look Yugi in the eyes and smiled "I won't let it take me" Yami whispered back. He cupped Yugi's face in his hands, leaning in and taking Yugi's bottom lip in his mouth. Yugi supressed a moan when Yami pulled back, only to lean back in and deepen the kiss. They broke apart with a small noise, putting their foreheads and noses together with a smile. "Goodnight Yugi" Yami whispered.

"Goodnight Yami" Yugi whispered back, pecking Yami on the lips once more before closing his eyes slowly.

Yami put his lips against Yugi's forehead gently, wrapping his arms around Yugi's shoulders and falling asleep. The beast didn't come back, but what Yami didn't realize was that he had put up a magical barrier, keeping the beast at bay. His instincts taking over to protect Yugi without him being aware of it.

Me: Okay... Just okay... I am working my ass off to get ahead. :) So until next time ladies and gents! *waves* Goodbye!