This chapter was split into two. That way I could actually get something out to you guys
Chapter Eight: Rats (Part One)
Weevil crouched on the windowsill of the abandoned warehouse. "Do you ever even see him leave?"
Rex, leaned against the crumbling brick wall, shook his head. "Not often. At least, not in a normal way."
Weevil adjusted his glasses. He had perfect vision; he just liked the aesthetics. "What does that mean?"
Rex shrugged. "Pegasus and Dartz both mentioned that he can shapeshift. Sometimes I see a stork or something fly off of and land onto the belfry. And when it lands it doesn't leave for a very long time. And it always comes back. So I'm pretty sure it's him. Then the whole uber powerful shadow magic thing. So, he probably leaves a lot, but just escapes my attention. He does know that I'm watching."
Weevil's fingers tapped onto the brick. "I've heard he confronted you."
Rex gulped and nodded. A clammy sweat collected on his brow. "Yeah."
Weevil's beady green eyes stared at him, though the glare of moonlight off of lenses obscured them.
"It was just after I'd fed from some bimbo. He came out of nowhere." He shuddered. He didn't care close his eyes, or those crimson ones would stare back. "Jesus, Weevil. He could've ripped my throat out right there."
Weevil rolled a shoulder, sneered a grin. His fangs gleamed in the moonlight. "I don't think he's all that powerful."
Rex's expression twisted with incredulity. "Weevil, you don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, just think about it. He showed up right after you fed, right?"
"That's what I just said, moron."
"He came right when anyone could have beaten you."
Rex's mouth opened, his eyebrows twisted with offense.
"It's the same thing with me. I understand the paralysis just as well as you do. Probably more," Weevil argued. "Anyway, if he was so all-powerful, he could have confronted you at any time he damn well pleased, right?"
Rex grit his teeth. "I guess, yeah."
"So he picked after you fed for a reason, right?" Weevil smirked. "He picked your weakest moment. All of his power is just an illusion to keep the rest of us in line."
"But the stories -" Those crimson eyes, the flickering of lights, the fluttering of shadow.
"Just that. Stories. He probably started spreading them himself. He just wants us all to be scared of him." Weevil stared out at the silent church. "We'll show them. All of them. We'll have Lord of Darkness' head on a pike, and his stupid pendant, too."
The deep, warbling moan resonated through his head. It was his name, ragged, drawn. "Se...to…"
He bolted upright in bed. Sweat slicked his skin, the sharp spike of heat faded into the unending cold. Each ragged breath tore into his lungs. Blue eyes clenched closed, as if sheer force could drive the echoing memory away.
He tore the sheet away and stormed to the wardrobe. Clothes in hand, he strode into the bathroom.
The hot water pounded into his back. The heat percolated beneath his flesh with every drop. His shoulders slumped, and he leaned his forearms against the tiled wall. A domino effect, all of his muscles unclenched and relaxed.
He imagined some somnolent reptile basking itself on a rock in the sun.
With great reluctance, he pulled himself away to scrub himself down.
His dream, the memory, became but a ripple in the sea of thought.
Kaiba easily drew her into his arms and, after a moment, pulled away. Tea smiled. The corner of his lip twitched up in response. Yami, in that innocent, boyish disguise of his, watched the interaction, pensive, pleased. Tea visited frequently, any time she was able. Two weeks and a few days had passed since her first visit.
Kaiba could keep composed around her. He rarely left the room to temper his thirst.
"I'm ready."
Yami tapped a finger on his chin.
Latter that night, the musical pattering of keys filled the dim of the study.
Mokuba collapsed onto his bed. With a lazy hand, he pulled his long raven hair from its ponytail. The locks tumbled around him. He rolled onto his back, didn't care enough to tug his hair from under him. He groaned and loosened his tie.
High school, full-time. Running KaibaCorp, also full-time.
Worrying about Seto.
Full-time.
He tucked a hand under his pillow. Paper brushed his fingertips. The edges were worn. It was creased from being unfolded and re-folded innumerable times. He stared at the crisp text. His vision blurred. He set the paper to the side. His forearm draped over his eyes.
Clack
His breath stilled in his lungs.
Silence.
He exhaled. It wouldn't be the first time he mistakenly believed he had an avian visitor. The only reason he didn't think the first time was a dream was the letter in his hand.
Clack clack clack
He gasped, bolted upright.
Red eyes stared from behind glass.
He tripped over his own feet to get to the window. He whipped it open.
The bird delicately stepped inside. Red eyes stared at him. Paper was clasped in its bill. He shot his palm out. Red eyes blinked. It slowly lowered its head and parted its beak. Paper touched his skin, and he drew away to fumble the paper open.
Dear Mokuba Kaiba,
Tomorrow night you will see Seto. He will arrive after sunset. Regretfully, he cannot stay, not yet. He will not be the same as he used to be. I hope someday you will find it in your heart to forgive me for what I have done to him. Know-
The fluttering of wings.
Mokuba whipped his head up. "Wait!"
The elegant neck stretched and craned back around.
"Thank you."
Red eyes blinked. The head bobbed, a throaty croak. Dark wings unfurled again, feathers fanning out, and the bird disappeared into the murky night.
Know that it was the only way Seto could be returned to you at all.
Wishing you peace in the twilight,
A friend
"Seto."
Cold fingers thrummed on his cheek.
"Seto, awaken."
A forefinger and thumb pried his eye open.
"Seto."
Kaiba swatted the hand away. He grumbled, fisted the covers and turned over.
"I would like you to get up right now. Be grateful that I am polite about it."
Kaiba sighed. Once he was awake, he was awake. There was no going back. "It's early." The sun was still up. He could sense it.
Yami, perched on the edge of the mattress, nodded. "Yes. But you need to get physically and mentally prepared for what we are doing tonight."
Kaiba propped himself up on his elbow. Blue eyes stared blearily through tousled bangs. "What are you going on about?"
The corner of Yami's lip quirked up. "Do you not remember?"
"Pretty sure I don't even remember my name right now." He'd gotten too used to having a suspiciously sufficient amount of sleep. Not enough bogged him down.
Yami laughed, that hearty one he did where he threw his head back.
Kaiba never quite understood what he found so damn funny.
"I am going to bring you to Mokuba, Seto."
Kaiba sat up fully. "Really?"
Yami nodded. "Get up. Get dressed and ready."
Yami left the room, gently closed the door behind him.
Kaiba lifted the blankets off of his body. They were pointless; he didn't produce any heat for them to capture. But he found the weight comforting. At least he actually slept in a bed, unlike Yami, who, when he actually managed to fall asleep, just left himself draped across whatever. His desk, chairs, sofas. Kaiba even even found him on the floor once.
Kaiba supposed that when one lived as long as Yami, beds lost their significance.
"However long that is…" he muttered to himself as he dressed. Maybe he could get some of his own damn clothes while he was home.
The shaking of his fingers made it hard to button up his shirt. His breath trembled in his throat. Lately, he'd been developing a bad habit of simply shutting down all unneeded mental faculties when faced with an undue amount of stress.
It wasn't working now.
Jesus Christ. He was a vampire. How was he going to explain that?
'Sup, Mokuba. I'm a blood-sucking immortal with a propensity for severe sunburning now. This short dude over here saved my life and changed me. By the way, he can turn into animals and shadow monsters. Neat, right?
No!
Not neat. Fucking unbelievable.
Lips pressed into a tight line, he followed Yami's scent to the study.
The man in questioned was leaning against his desk, his arms folded and one leg loosely crossed over the other at the ankle. He wore a short-sleeved white shirt. The first button was undone, revealed the delicate dip at the center of his collarbone. Kaiba gulped. A blue jacket was draped over his shoulders, and navy pants hugged his thighs but hung loose at his calves. Better than a wife-beater.
"How… how is this going to work?" Kaiba asked.
"That depends upon several things," Yami began. "I will remain hidden in the shadows for the duration of your visit. Unless, of course, you want Mokuba to meet me face-to-face. That brings about the question of whether or not you will inform him of your recently-acquired undead nature."
Kaiba drifted over to a chair and lowered himself into it. He drummed his fingers on his thigh. Could he even keep it from Mokuba? He knew he didn't have to worry about Mokuba telling anyone, but could his little brother handle this information? "I don't know."
Yami nodded in understanding. "For right now, we'll operate under the assumption that it will be kept a secret. You can always change your mind later."
"And how are we going to get there?" Kaiba asked, genuinely curious and kind of sarcastic.
Yami arched an eyebrow. "Driving." He said it matter-of-factly.
"Oh, of course," Kaiba started, "because I knew you would have a need for a vehicle."
"When I am traveling with someone else, yes, and when I am under the guise of a human. I require a vehicle then."
"How do you get around when you're alone then?"
"I fly." Matter-of-factly.
Kaiba paused. "Like an airplane? Or…?" he asked testily. The shadow beast had wings. Certainly they weren't for show.
"I shapeshift into a bird."
Kaiba's molars ground together. Ah, yes, the freaky shapeshifting shit.
Before him, flesh suddenly melted into shadow, shadow froze into feathers. Perched on the edge of the desk, right where Yami had propped his hips, was a bird. It was long-billed, red-eyed. Its legs were long and delicate. A small crane or heron of some kind. Its breast was a snowy white, but the wings and the top of the head were pitch black. A single long, threadlike yellow feather descended from the top of the head and curled over its back.
Kaiba stared at it. Red eyes stared back. The head bobbed, a throaty croak.
"Holy shit," Kaiba said in quiet contemplation of the scene before him.
Dark wings fluttered, delicate feathers splaying and folding. Kaiba slowly extended a hand. Yami held out a wing, flight feathers fanned. Kaiba lightly traced his index finger along the edge of the wing. The feathers were silky, smooth, soft. He brushed the back of his knuckles against the white breast. Red eyes stared at him.
Flushing a little, Kaiba withdrew his hand.
A flurry of shadows, and a man once again stood before him.
"What kind of bird was that?"
"I believe they are called black-crowned night-herons, now."
"... Fitting."
The corner of Yami's lip tugged up. "We'll stop by the manor and walk the rest of the way there."
Kaiba slowly inhaled. "Okay."
"Did you convert this part into a garage?" Kaiba perused the area curiously.
"No. It was like this before I acquired the property."
"I still find it ironic that you live in a church."
Yami smirked. "Indeed. The priests that once attended it would roll over in their graves if they knew that a serpent sleeps in their 'House of God.'"
Kaiba blinked at his choice in words. He shook his head slightly and looked at the car parked in the garage. It was hardly as luxurious as his own vehicles, but it was sleek, a silky black. Somehow, the understated style fit Yami.
Yami swung the keys on his index finger and marched to the driver's side. "We will go at once."
"You're driving?"
"Yes."
Kaiba blinked, skeptical.
Yami raised an eyebrow drolly. "I've been driving since before you were born. My skills are more than adequate."
"Just because you've been doing it a long time doesn't mean that you're any good at it," Kaiba snapped.
"Fair point. Get in."
Kaiba snorted, but did as he was told. The seats were leather. Comfortable. Kaiba sank back.
Yami slipped into the driver's seat. Kaiba stared. Just like seeing Yami in the kitchen, but… not quite as bad. Yami was relaxed back into the seat, his knees slightly parted. Elegant fingers turned the keys in the ignition.
The garage door opened without prompting.
"Sneaky shadow tricks…" Kaiba growled.
The corner of Yami's lip quirked up. He put the car in gear, and they glided forward into the driveway. The door rumbled close behind them. The car smoothly turned onto the street.
Kaiba blinked at their surroundings. The church, behemoth and solemn, sat isolated amongst abandoned warehouses. Were they even in Domino anymore? He exhaled through parted lips. It didn't matter. It just felt good to see the outside again. He missed the sun, though. He looked back to Yami.
His left hand rested languidly on the lower left quarter of the wheel, his elbow on the door. His right hand mirrored the left. If Yami were Mokuba, Seto would've reprimanded him. But, as in all things, Yami seemed comfortable in his skin, confident in his skills. The car stopped and started smoothly, with little-to-no jerk.
In other words, Yami drove as gracefully as he moved.
Kaiba tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
If it still could, his heart would have been pounding.
Weevil thumped a fist into Rex's bicep. "He just left. Are the others ready?"
Rex gulped. "Yeah."
Weevil's lips contorted into a sadistic grin. "Good."
They pulled into the parking lot of a gas station quite a ways down the road from the manor. Yami sidled up to the shadows of the building and cut the ignition. The purr of the car faded into deafening silence.
Kaiba's palms were cold and sweaty. He twitched and rubbed them on his pants.
"How do we even know that Mokuba will be home?" He spoke through gritted teeth.
Yami looked at him. Purple eyes glowed with tender understanding. "Worry not. He will be." Kaiba grunted. "If you don't think you are ready, we can always do this later."
Kaiba hissed and jerked the door open. Yami's eyes followed him as he stepped from the car and slammed the door closed.
Yami followed, more quietly, and locked the car. He tucked the keys into his pocket.
Kaiba was already striding across the parking lot toward the road. Yami easily caught up.
Kaiba glanced at him. The pale moonlight washed his blond bangs to a bright silver. "Not going to 'hide in the shadows,' Yami?"
"I was not planning on doing that yet." Purple caught blue. "Do you wish me to?"
"Do what you want," Kaiba grumbled.
They fell into quiet. All around, the nightlife of nature sang and bustled. Insects, nocturnal birds, the denizens of dark and moonlight. Kaiba breathed in the cool, fresh air. It reinvigorated and soothed him.
"I know you are scared, Seto," Yami murmured.
"Hn."
"It is only natural to be so. Mokuba will not reject you," he said softly.
"How do you know?" Kaiba growled.
"Intuition. Wisdom. The strength of your bond will not be faltered by undeath," Yami said. "Devotion as unyielding as the one between you and him echoes through time and space, between life and death. It knows no bounds."
Kaiba snapped his head over. "What the hell does that even mean?"
Yami's head shook slightly. His bangs swayed. "I am not speaking in riddle, Seto. I mean just what I say."
"Well, it sounds… sappy," Kaiba grunted, though some of the tension drained from his shoulders, and he looked to the road ahead of him.
Yami's lip twitched up, a chortle rumbled, restrained, in his throat. "Perhaps. But that does not make it any less true."
"We'll see."
Kaiba could see the stately bricks pillars of the gates. They stood solemn at the mouth of the driveway. A cold clammy sweat slicked his palms. He and Yami were close now. Yami paused, his hand on Kaiba's forearm.
Kaiba looked at him. Those purple eyes, washed silver and black by night and moonlight, held his firmly.
"If you feel overwhelmed -"
"Leave. I know the drill."
Yami's skin looked like porcelain, poreless and smooth, his thick lashes an abyssal frame around gleaming eyes. Kaiba gulped. He once again questioned the firmity of reality. He gritted his teeth.
"I will be at your side the entire time. All you need is to call." Yami's cold fingertips brushed along Kaiba's chin. The chill seared him like a brand. "Seto, I will not allow any harm to befall Mokuba. Know that. You need not worry."
Kaiba nodded stiffly.
Yami's knuckles traced briefly Kaiba's cheek. "Relax. All will be well."
Then, his form faded into fluid blackness, melted into Kaiba's own shadow. Kaiba blinked. He couldn't see Yami, but he could feel him, smell him. Rock and incense. He took a deep breath.
He kept walking. It felt as though Yami were still walking next to him.
He breathed out. His breath itself was so cold that it couldn't fog out in the chilly night air. Pebbles scattered on the asphalt crunched beneath his shoes. He approached the gate. He pressed the button on the speaker.
The voice that crackled through caught him off guard. "Seto!?"
His shoulders sagged at the sound. "Mokuba. Let me in."
The gates immediately swung open.
He walked up the drive. Yami trailed in his shadow.
He was home.
END PART