Yu-Gi-Oh was created by Kazuki Takahashi. I claim no ownership of any of the series, or characters in the series; further more I do not and never will earn any money for writing fan fiction of any sort including this fiction.

The Dragon's Child

Chapter 25: Dark Magic

The blond man had more than his fair share of ale and it showed in his stumbling gait as he left the small pub. He hadn't managed to catch the eye of the pretty barmaid he wanted and now he was so drunk he would not be able to perform in bed. He really didn't have anywhere to go since he couldn't go back to camp….not only empty handed but minus a cart and horse. He'd be punished and that he could do without.

Punishment in the thieves' camp wasn't like in civilized circles. No stocks. Public humiliation was useless in a camp of scoundrels…besides the stocks were a permanent fixture. Thieves tended to be more nomadic. No, more likely he'd be whipped until he had no skin left unmarred on his back, or worse. For losing a good cart he might have his legs broken. For losing the horse he might be drawn by two of the leader's best steeds until he begged for death.

"So Keith," A dark smooth voice called the man as he was passing a dark alley. The man froze. Instantly Keith sobered up enough to stand straight. "You and your little protégés have been missed."

Keith played it cool snorting, "You mean those two flunkies haven't made it back yet?"

"No," The deep voice seemed to have lost its humor and a hand grabbed his shoulder painfully tight. The figure was cloaked; deep ruddy eyes bored into his and the man sniffed. A grin spread across his face; an evil, terrifying, sadistic grin that promised pain to the Blond man. The figure stepped out of the shadows and surprisingly the other was not as tall nor as broadly built as the bandit, but that did not make the other figure seem less intimidating.

"Where is it?" The voice was deceptively jovial.

"What?" Keith replied in a confused tone.

Dark flames rolled off the other's fingers the evil fire ate away at Keith's tunic exposing skin which was slowly starting to blacken, "Do not take me for a fool. The Hind…The hind you came across in the woods I can smell its magic. Oh...It has been so long."

"Hind?" Keith winced his knees buckled and he fell before the man, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"A golden stag," The man hissed.

Keith's mind was so hazed with pain he could only think of that kid with the yellow hair and eyes, "A boy…the dragon took him."

The man released his hold on the taller man who fell to his side breathing hard. He hissed angrily and kicked Keith in the ribs, "Get up you fool and take me to the place you saw this boy."

The man groaned but pushed himself up with his uninjured arm the other he braced to his side to prevent further injury to his shoulder. He trudged toward the edge of the village and back the way he thought he remembered having run from the dragon. Only the gods knew if the angry beast was still there waiting to revenge the boy he had tried to kidnap.

Sugoroku was a bit ruffled. He waved his wand and a shattered teacup began to repair itself and levitated to the cupboard. Mokuba was helping the old man pick up the debris on the floor. Noah sat and watched from the tidy side of the room. The wall he faced was cracked, and shelves lopsided and bits of debris lying on them. Jars knocked off lay on the floor some shattered. The walnut apothecary cabinet was tipped on its side its content had been protected by a spell and remained intact.

Suddenly the door opened, and Seto barged in holding Jou in his arms like a bride.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Brother, we were just…is that Jou?" Mokuba jumped up from his crouched position and rushed over. When the young man thought his brother was going to reach for the blond he jerked away.

Seto looked around the infirmary and sniffed. His face was set in a scowl. This place isn't fit even for a mongrel like this to sleep in. Dr. Mutou , you your grandson and any…" he looked around, "Patients you have will be moved to another wing."

"Just the boy. He really needs to rest…I have not figured out why but his magic physically drains him and very badly at that," The old man stopped mid-spell a repaired teacup levitated next to his head. He wore a thoughtful look.

"You will pack up what you need and move to the family wing. I'll place the boy in my personal quarters," Seto turned still carrying the boy He paused briefly. Not looking back he spoke again, "I have…promised...the dragon I will watch over him."

He left the boys and man in his wake. Mokuba was shocked his mouth gaped like a fish. Sugoroku looked concerned. Noah looked irritated. He got up and breezed out of the office quietly…

…Nobody would have ever called Honda pretty. Ryugi certainly didn't think so at first. Sure the boy had a nice body. Long legs a firm athletic build…an ass sculpted perfectly by the gods. However his face was sharp…the scowl making it even sharper, but when they crossed paths with the king and some little look-a-like, a very adorable look alike, he smiled and bowed. Ryugi bowed also, but the glimpse of the boy's face when he smiled…he was so charming. His face was angular; the hard training he must go through had ensured any baby fat was gone from his body. His eyes were pretty dark chocolate and his hear was coco colored his skin slightly tan a light caramel color. Ryugi was getting hungry and not for food.

Ryugi's stomach gurgled nosily—well it had been a long journey to the castle.

Honda looked back as he led the man to his room. He laughed and said, "Don't worry they'll feed you. Certain a big feast is being prepared for the king."

Ryugi felt his cheeks heating up…

…Seto grunted and shifted Jou in his arms. He glared at the maids as they turned down his bed. Yes his personal bed. He was putting the boy there to sleep. He hardly used it. Really, he spent most of his time holed up in his office anyway and it was right next door.

"You should feel honored mutt," He grumbled then he looked to one of the maids, "You, run a bath. This mongrel needs a good washing."

"Yes sir," The girl bowed and left through the adjacent door where Kaiba's personal bath was. Kaiba followed the woman; after all there was no point in dirtying the clean bedding.

He watched as his tub filled, "Very well you may go."

"Lord Kaiba?" The woman started.

Seto didn't want the woman to see the boy. Something about the thought of her seeing—seeing and touching him angered the governor. He promised after all, and he would be the one to look after the blond boy. He scowled, "Leave if you value your position here."

"Yes sir, I'm sorry sir," She curtseyed and left quickly.

The door clicked shut. Seto unwrapped the boy and lowered him into the steaming water. Jou's legs fell apart and the older boy's eyes widened.

"What is that…blood?" He reached into the water there was a small tinge of pink and he feared that perhaps one of the guards might have violated the boy he reached in and touched the skin. A sickening thrill hit his stomach. His finger slipped inside something soft and warm.

Jou groaned and spread his legs even wider. Seto gulped and removed his fingers there was a little blood there. He washed his hand off in the water. There was something terribly wrong but the boy didn't seem to be in great pain. Actually based on the slight erection he had he was rather enjoying Seto's inspection.

"Mmmm," Jou's eyes fluttered and his head lulled. Then he gasped and sat up straight. He closed his legs wrapping his arms around himself, "What the hell?"

"You're bleeding. Did someone…" Seto trailed off not knowing what to say.

"Oh god…you saw it? No! Now you know what a-a freak I am," Jou laid his head on his knees and breathed in before he let out a scream, "Get away! Leave me alone! Get tha' hell outta here!"

"This is my bathroom," Seto growled, "I'll go nowhere. I promised that black dragon I'd look after you."

"I don't care, get away! GO!" He screamed, "PLEASE LEAVE!" He sobbed hiccupping sloppy breaths. "Please," He hissed out.

"No," Seto said resolutely, "You're hurt and I made a promise." He spoke calmly, "Now you can wash yourself but I don't think leaving you here alone is such a great idea. Dr. Mouto will be up here in a while to check on you. Until then you're bleeding. Were you…did one of the guards do something to you?"

"No," Jou looked at the pink swirling in the water and sighed, "No that is normal. It's my time for bleeding. I'm…well you saw…down there. It's tingling where he touched me still." Jou's face scrunched at the painful memory.

"Where? Who? Who touched you?"

"He touched my secret. Nobody's supposed to know about it. Ma always said it was important never to show another boy my body 'cause I'm not normal. I'm not…I'm…" Jou continued to sob but spread his legs and moved aside his wilting penis. Seto inhaled deeply; the soft wet thing he had been touching was a vagina. Though Jou really didn't have anything to be ashamed he was perfect and beautiful. Seto fought the urge to touch the boy.

"Who did that to you?" Seto was thinking that this boy was some powerful magician's toy.

"I don't know? I it was always like that," Jou screamed, "Just go! Leave me!"

"Fine," Kaiba turned and slammed the door shut leaving the sobbing mess that was Jou in the tub…

…The journey was not a long one. The walk that took Keith half a day turned to merely a few minutes with the help of the dark magic.

The cloaked figure sniffed the air around the wrecked cart was still there and so was the scent of dragon fire, and magic. Picking out the boy's scent was not so easy here it was scattered as oppose to on Keith's person where he had handled the boy.

The shorter man grabbed Keith by the throat, "Do you realize just what you let slip through your fingers?"

"No, just some pretty boy," Keith managed to choke out.

"That was no ordinary boy…no that was a fertile hind. That creature is worth more than you could ever imagine. One hundred slaves could be bought with a drop of his blood," The man dug his claws into Keith's neck, but suddenly he released him, "You have one chance to redeem yourself to our master. We will track down that boy and capture him. Perhaps the master will spare you." Keith nodded and stumbled rubbing his neck.

"Well? Do not try my patience or I will save master the trouble of riding the world of your existence," The smaller one shoved the bigger in the direction the scent trail was leading.