Hello, hello! How are you all? I'm right on time this time. Nanowrimo is going pretty well. I managed to write five chapters so far and I believe by the end of the month chapter 22 will be ready as well. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with this writing schedule next month too, but I can make no promises. I think that working at home helped me this month because I don't have to spend hours and hours travelling from place to place. Sometimes I work on the story during work too, scribbling sentences here and there as my students work on their tasks.

This chapter is quite intense, and I'm sorry to tell you but it ends in a cliffhanger. So, I'll try to update sooner than usual. I must admit that the last scene was really hard for me to write and I felt quite strange after completing it.

So, I'd like to warn you that this ends with a scene that may be a bit disturbing. It's nothing sexual or too descriptive but there is a mention of a fire.

As always, I want to thank everyone for your support. This story has been a difficult and yet enjoyable journey for me. There are so many characters I love and I'm dedicated to giving them time to shine. The plot may not move as fast as some of you may wish but you'll get the full experience as things come together. Naturally, I want to thank my greatest supporter and companion in this story, my Bakura. She's seen me down, doubting myself, and scolded me for that. I also want to thank Julia who keeps reading the chapters even though she's so busy and gives me her comments privately. And Kathy. Kathy, I miss you so much. Come back soon!

Chapter 16

As soon as Seto delivered his line, silence filled the room. Marik and Atem spotted similar horrified expressions and, even though, Bakura was much more composed, it was obvious he wasn't unaffected by the situation. His brown eyes had turned towards the younger tricolor haired boy, curious to see his reaction, knowing by now that it'd be nothing like what they expected. He wasn't disappointed.

"Do you mean someone may be after me?" Yuugi slowly let each word escape his mouth. His eyes were on Seto who gave a reluctant nod. "I'm not sure why they'd do that or even what that means but…" he slightly paused, measuring his words, and when he started again, his words were directed towards Bakura and his friends, "this shouldn't stop you from doing what's best for you." He slowly ran a hand through his hair. "I admit I don't get what's going on or why anyone would be after you, but if you believe leaving is the right thing to do, you should do it." There was a break in his voice and he coughed trying to hide it.

He knew that somehow he was in danger but he didn't want to let this knowledge sink in just yet. He didn't want to be the reason the three boys would have to stay. Of course, he wished they would stay. He wished things were simple so he could just get to know them more and discover why being around them felt so natural, but he wouldn't make them stay for him.

"You all seem to believe I'll be used as some kind of bait but the logic behind this plan is flawed." He spoke in a calm collected voice, keeping his eyes trained on Atem. "You barely know me. It's stupid for whoever is after you to believe you'd sacrifice all you worked so hard for in order to protect someone you don't even know. If these people know you, they'll realize it sooner or later." Atem wanted to protest but Yuugi didn't give him a chance. "If you're worried about me, don't be. I have a feeling I'll be well protected." He raised an eyebrow towards Seto.

"It'll be easier if you cooperate." Seto's answer was clearly a yes, even if his voice was filled with frustration.

"I won't cause much trouble." Yuugi's voice had such a mischievous undertone that made the brown haired boy narrow his eyes at him. "You'll help them relocate, right?" Whatever Seto was about to say changed as Yuugi gave him a soft smile.

"Sure. It'll help with any potential troubles." How could someone so small give him such a huge headache? "But you and I need to talk." The younger tri-color haired boy nodded in agreement.

Atem would have found the interaction between the two boys amusing if he hadn't be utterly annoyed by the ease Yuugi felt around Seto and how Seto chose to do whatever Yuugi wanted with barely any protest. Honestly, it was such a surprise seeing the different sides of Yuugi. The boy was soft and understanding but also assertive, not giving in, fighting for what he wanted and believed. At times he seemed to have no idea how charming he could be but then he would use his smiles and beautiful eyes to disorient and persuade. He was an enigma and Atem felt himself itching to uncover all the mysteries that made Yuugi such a paradox.

"You'll retrieve your things. Hinata will come with you and make sure you return here safely." Seto gave instructions, resisting the urge to rub his temple. "You need to be fast. Take only what's necessary."

Hinata moved forward, a tablet in his hands. "Our informant let us know a team was ordered to surround the area. It'll take them a couple of hours to be prepared and take their spots. We can be in and out by then. The only person who has approached the building is the other tenant."

Hearing the report, Seto turned to the three magic wielders. "You'll spend some days here. As soon as we have some coherent plans about your relocation, you'll leave. That way we'll know where you are and you can reach your destination in safety. Following your previous pattern of fleeing, they'll expect you to be out of town by tomorrow. They'll never guess you're still here."

"They must know you're my cousin. Won't they come searching for us here?" Atem asked, not understanding why no one thought of that. Secretly, he didn't like how reasonable everything Yuugi and Seto had said sounded.

"They won't come here." The brunette's voice was definite.

"What makes you so sure?" Bakura challenged, not trusting his future in the hands of an arrogant rich boy. "If you want us to trust you, you better tell us more."

Seto sighed deeply, making it seem as if he was dealing with a room full of unruly children. "They won't come here because I made it clear when they approached me that I won't be part of this madness." Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. "They've been persuaded their plans are a hindrance to my business and my way of life so they know that I won't help you. Helping you would mean throwing myself into this mess once again. And I can be quite a hindrance to theirs. So, they'll stay away from me to avoid that." A slow grin spread on his face. "So, you see why they wouldn't search for you here. Why would I care about a cousin I barely know when I have an empire to build?"

It was crystal clear there was more to the story than what Kaiba was letting them know but they didn't have the time for that. The three magic wielders discussed things among themselves for a moment and decided Bakura and Atem would go retrieve their things. Marik would stay behind and try to gather information. He would also make sure Yuugi was safe, even though with his family being there none of them believed the young boy was in any danger.

Meanwhile, Kaiba had a heated discussion with Yuugi who didn't seem to be as cooperative as he had promised to be.

"Won't they believe I ran away with them or was kidnapped by them if I don't return home today?" The younger tri-color haired boy was saying. "I'll be expected to return home."

"Is this your definition of "I won't cause too much trouble"?" Seto narrowed his blue eyes on the boy who only rolled his in return. "It's been taken care of."

"We abruptly left the apartment. Won't they know something is wrong?" Yuugi tried to reason with him.

"We weren't so careless." Hinata decided to talk and fill in the gaps. "After we left, my men used a device to alter their voices. The story is that your brother came to get you and the other three decided it was better to let you go. Then, they had to go to work. By the time they get to check The Dice and the apartment, everyone will be back in the mansion." The young bodyguard took in the way Yuugi's shoulders fell seeing his argument shot down. "We're monitoring both the apartment and the game shop. No one suspicious has approached any of them so there's plenty of time. "

"That means it's safe for me to go home!" Yuugi's instantly lit up with hope. "If anything happens, I promise I'll call you." Seeing the young CEO ready to argue, Yuugi continued. "It'd be really suspicious if I disappeared the same day the others did or if I didn't spend the night at home. I promise I won't leave the game shop."

Seto narrowed his eyes, feeling the urge to rub his temple to sooth the wrinkle that was surely there. Dealing with Yuugi was always a headache. The boy was the only person other than his brother that could throw off his plans and get away with it.

"Alright, but it comes with conditions." He tried not to growl at the look of victory that momentarily appeared on Yuugi's face before the other could school it into one of polite interest. "First of all, the moment anything happens, even the smallest of hint that you're in danger appears, you'll be packing and my people will bring you here. Second, if you set one foot outside without my permission you'll be brought here without even packing. And third, after you rest tonight, we need to talk."

Yuugi extended his hand for a handshake not missing the look of amusement in Seto's eyes. "You've got yourself a deal."

Ignoring the extended hand and his own amusement, the brunette turned towards Hinata and gave him his orders. The brown haired bodyguard nodded and moved towards the trio of magic wielders telling them it was time to go. Marik stayed behind and the other two followed the bodyguard without a word. Marik thought that would be a good chance to talk to Yuugi but before he could even stand up, Mokuba approached him. The young boy offered to show him to the room he would be staying in and the dark iris-eyed boy could find no good excuse to stay behind, especially seeing how Yuugi had already made his way towards his family.

He was about to leave the room when he caught Yuugi's eye. "I'll text you." He mouthed before following Mokuba, not waiting to see Yuugi's response.

Even though Yuugi had said they were friends when they were outside, Marik needed to be sure. A lot had happened that night and now because of them, the boy was in danger. They really needed to talk but the Egyptian could wait until the next day.

The tricolor-haired boy smiled, tiredly. So many things had happened in such a brief time, and he felt so exhausted. All he wanted was to get in his bed and sleep everything away. He could face his problems in the morning. The new day would bring some really important discussions. "Let's go home."

Both his brother and grandfather nodded and gathering their things, they moved towards the door. Yuugi stayed behind for a moment. He removed the jacket Atem gave him and placed it on a chair. "Will you make sure Atem gets it back?"

"I will." Seto didn't even look at the jacket. Instead, he moved closer to Yuugi who didn't move an inch. "You will be safe."

"I know."

"Your family as well."

"I know."

And Yuugi did know it. He knew that Seto would do anything in his power to protect them because he was Seto Kaiba and he didn't do things in halves. Deep inside, the tricolor-haired boy knew Seto had more reasons to protect him than pride but he was way too tired to allow his mind to linger on that thought. He would have plenty of time to think about everything in the morning; preferably while eating some breakfast and drinking some coffee.

"Good night, Seto." His voice was soft as he spoke the words, not allowing the other boy to say anything else. He turned and, with quick steps, he left the room hoping he was done with this craziness for the night. He had no idea how wrong he was.

Yuugi may have been really exhausted but his mind still worked perfectly fine. So, as soon as he was in the quietness of his brother's car, finally alone with his two family members, he decided to address something that really puzzled him.

"You didn't say anything while Seto and I discussed things." His voice was casual but his words were sharp and to the point. "That's not like you at all."

The car was dark and, from the back seat, he could only see a small fraction of Joey's face reflected in the mirror but it was enough to know his words had caused a reaction. Still, he didn't get a reply. Both Joey and his grandfather chose to pretend he hadn't talked at all. It was quite a surprise for the young tricolor-haired boy. The silence was heavy and he didn't like it. It was ominous.

An ugly thought crossed his mind and no matter how hard he tried to push it away, it started taking root in his mind. Could it be that his family had wanted him to stay in the mansion? Did they consider him a danger? If anyone was to come for him, they could hurt them all. He could be the reason Joey or his grandfather or both were hurt. Was that why they were silent? Had they expected Seto to persuade him to stay? But even if he had stayed, would that have solved the problem?

His family were involved in something dangerous but they had managed to avoid detection for years. Had he led them to danger? Had he put their lives and work at risk? By now whoever was after him would know he was Solomon Mutou's grandchild. No, it was worse than that. Being his grandchild was hardly any concern. The problem was that they knew everything he had said in the apartment. He wasn't even supposed to know anything about the Millennium Items. Why had he mentioned them?

Panic rose inside him. Suddenly all the arguments he had used to reassure Seto and the others weren't valid anymore. He had thought of himself as just Yuugi, just a boy Atem and the others had met. He was unimportant on his own as a piece to use against the three boys. However, he had failed to consider himself as a connection to his grandfather's secret. How could he when he'd always thought his grandfather was just an archaeologist and his brother a policeman in training?

Even if he asked them to be taken back to the mansion, would it matter? They already knew who he was. They would visit the game shop anyway because now they knew Solomon was familiar with more than he had allowed the public to know. Yuugi's words were proof of that. They would come. Seto's bodyguards would make sure no one would hurt them that night. But if these people were after Atem and the others for years, they wouldn't give up that easily. They would keep coming back until they had the answers they needed. Seto could surely keep them safe for a while but he didn't want to be involved with those people and Yuugi knew he couldn't ask him to jeopardize his company and future for them.

"You should go back to the mansion. Seto will surely let you stay over for a while until you can figure out things." He said with a voice he barely recognized as his own when the car stopped in front of the game shop. The apartment on top of the shop was devoid of any lights. Usually, his grandfather would leave a light on but that night he probably forgot. "I'll stay here."

"What are you talking about?" Joey turned around to face his brother, killing the engine.

"They will come for us." Yuugi's continued as if he was reciting a list from memory. He needed his mind to be detached from his heart in order to send them away. "It's better if they find only one of us here. I was the one who led them to you anyway." He tried to choke the guilt that filled him and keep his voice neutral. "I'm pretty sure you have some kind of plan in case something similar was to happen. I'll stay here and keep them busy. We don't know if they'll try anything yet and if they do, Seto's bodyguards will keep me safe for a while. That will buy you some time."

The look his brother was giving him was incredulous. Was Yuugi serious? Did he honestly think they would leave him behind? Of course, he did. He always thought so little of himself. He was always so ready to let himself be hurt for someone else. Joey knew that better than anyone else. He had seen what happened the last time Yuugi put himself in danger to save someone else. He had vowed it wouldn't happen again.

"Let's go inside, Yuug'." He only said, opening his door and exiting the car. If he banged the door a bit louder than usually, it wasn't out of anger. No. He wasn't angry at his brother. He was scared. "Come on, brother."

"Yuugi, my boy, you've got things wrong." His grandfather finally decided to speak as he unlocked the door to the game shop and let them in. Joey had to actually pull Yuugi all the way to the door because the boy was still unconvinced. "None of these things is your fault. We always knew we are fighting destiny. We always knew these people may catch up with us. Maybe we should have talked to you about this but we didn't want you involved. We were hoping everything would end long before you learnt anything about this story."

Fighting destiny. It sounded quite heavy and not reassuring at all. Yuugi wasn't even sure if he believed in destiny. If destiny was the one behind the stirring wheel, did they have no saying in what was to happen? Maybe certain events were destined to happen but surely it was their decision to see them through. Their choices mattered.

"I know you have a lot of questions, my boy. I'll try to answer them to the best of my abilities. But you need rest. You had a really eventful day. Your health is still delicate. We can talk in the morning."

Yuugi didn't know if he wanted to protest or not. On one hand, he wanted to finally know who the people that were after them were. He needed answers to so many questions. On the other hand, he was exhausted. He felt as if his body would give up anytime soon. Suddenly, he wasn't sure if he even had the energy to climb the stairs to his room.

"Can you do magic?" The question left his lips before he could stop himself. He needed to know at least that, even if the way he put it into words sounded wrong. Marik had described it to him. He had told him how it felt, and something in his words sounded familiar.

"No." The old man answered without hesitation. "We cannot. And magic isn't like the way it is shown in most movies, my boy. There is magic, though. It is quite faint in our times but some people have it and certain items can help you channel it."

"The Millennium Items." The words sent a shiver down Yuugi's spine. Something about the Items made him feel a strange mixture of fear and longing. "Atem, Marik and Bakura." Even saying the three boys' names caused Yuugi pain. They would leave. Would he see them again?

"We'll talk tomorrow." His brother promised him, slightly pushing him towards the stairs. "Yuug', you look as if you're ready to collapse." Worry sipped through the blonde's voice but the tricolor-haired boy could barely hear him. "Yuugi?" Joey felt more than saw his brother tumble and barely had time to grab him from the back of his shirt before he met the cold floor. "Yuugi! What's wrong?!"

Yuugi could no longer hear or see Joey. The world around him was an explosion of red and black. Smoke filled his nostrils and his mouth was full of ashes. The game shop, his apartment and his family were gone, replaced by a small crumbled living room attached to an even smaller kitchen. Fire licked every surface, roaring around him. His body ached as he tried to reach for something, anything. Desperately, he tried to see through the smoke and flames, but the more he tried the less he could perceive. Everything was slowly swallowed by the inferno and Yuugi's only consolation was that the place was devoid of life.

As if that thought set things in motion, a door opened and a figure appeared in Yuugi's field of view. There was no mistaking the identity of the person walking towards him. His star-shaped hair was a dead giveaway, even if the young boy couldn't make out its exact color. Yuugi tried to reach the other boy. He pushed his heavy body with all his might but no matter how much he tried, he didn't seem to move at all. Still, the other boy kept moving. His movements were sluggish as if each one of them caused him great suffering.

It was then that Yuugi finally managed to get a good view of him. Bile filled his mouth and tears his eyes at the sight of the charred body in front of him. And still, he kept trying to reach for him. He desperately needed to reach the other boy. He pushed and pushed until he was just about to touch the older boy's arms.

"Just a bit more." He urgently thought.

Light as the touch of a butterfly's wings, his fingers brushed the other's blackened skin. But the relief he felt was short-lived because as soon as their skin touched, the other left an unearthly scream and pulled back. Shocked, Yuugi could do nothing as the other screamed and screamed, and the room exploded with a deafening sound.

"ATEM! GET OUT OF THERE!" Joey heard his brother screaming before the boy went limb in his arms.

Once again, I want to apologize. This ending is a cliffhanger. It ends in such a serious moment with such a disturbing image. But I'll try to update next week. I've based Yuugi's reactions to mine in a situation that was nothing like this but was dangerous nevertheless. The logic he used while trying to persuade people. The panic he felt thinking people would be hurt because of him. It's so Yuugi and so me in the same time. Sometimes, what you fear the most is not what will happen to you but what will happen to everyone around you.

To lighten things up, what do you think of Seto and Yuugi's interactions? I think it's quite funny and cute how Yuugi can dance around Seto and Seto allows it.

See you soon!