This chapter took me quite a while and a significant amount of effort because it needed to 'get the ball rolling' for the next part of this series. Please appreciate this and tell me the same. After all that work flames may very well make me cry or go on a killing spree... The line between those two isn't that fine, surely?
Chapter 15: InklingsYVO
//I'm still utterly confused by what Tetsuo said to me, but if he summoned himself from the Shadow Realm just to speak to me it must be quite serious. I am quickly learning that his otherwise amiable character can be utterly detestable at times; he seems to derive pleasure from talking in spirals, closer to the truth on every pass but never quite reaching it until his choosing. This, of course, is just fantastic... And just when everything was actually going smoothly too.
Yugi was kind enough to come over with the others to the house whilst I was still in the puzzle, meaning that I didn't have to walk back to get to my new home. Instead I was given the time I needed to examine the new entity in my soul-room. It's actually starting to frighten me now as I have no clue as to why it's there, how it got there or even what it is. All I know is that it isn't doing anything; just floating there and glowing impressively.
I didn't mention it to anyone, not even Yugi. I see no need to make a fuss over something that isn't actually doing anything to warrant concern. I have learnt that the hard way over the last year. Still, sensing that I still wasn't quite 'right' that evening, Seto had come to bed with me early and simply left me to sleep. I felt physically better to be honest; I was just preoccupied with Tetsuo's words and the object in my soul room to really pay others much attention. Were the two related? Should I be worried? Why had I felt sick most of the day?
Urgh. Stupid mind analyzing things when it should be sleeping...//
****
Waking quickly after feeling around idly and finding himself alone, Yami sat upright in the bed that now felt entirely too large, scrubbing a hand through his hair and yawning broadly. Still a little tired due to the fact that his mind had refused to shut down for hours last night, he flopped back onto the pillows and stared at the ceiling letting his thoughts wander.
The smell of something cooking downstairs coaxed him out of the bed a few minuets later though, and feeling his stomach twitch at the scent he quickly dressed and followed it downstairs. Finding his nose led him to the kitchen, he walked in on Mokuba's 'order' for breakfast.
"Right, I want a big greasy fried egg on a piece of toast with grilled tomato and one of those black puddingy type things."
"Sorry Mokuba but we're out of eggs," Seto replied from where he was stood over the cooker. Apparently they had decided to cook for themselves this morning, the usual chief taking a day's holiday. "Plenty of beans though.'
"Sounds good, but cook the beans first and then let the sauce soak into the toast so that it goes all- morning Yami. Um, are you alright? You don't look so good."
Seto turned around to see him himself at hearing the genuine concern in his sibling's voice, bringing with the movement the pan of beans, which were now quite visible. Yami took one look at the contents of the pan before getting a pained look and bolting out of sight, diving into the downstairs bathroom and locking the door behind him.
Thankfully he hadn't eaten in hours so t was only dry-retching, but the sensation was unpleasant all the same. Realizing that he would likely never be able to eat beans again for the rest of his life after that, Yami splashed some cold water on his face and reemerged only to find Seto's hands on his shoulders, one immediately moving to his forehead. Yami could only blink at him with wide eyes.
"You're not warm or anything. What happened?" he asked, voice laced with concern as he searched Yami's features for any sign of illness.
Yami raised his hands and placed them on Seto's, gently extracting himself from his grip. "I'm fine, really. Just the sight of-, no, I'll be sick if I think about it."
"You're acting extremely strange. Yesterday you looked bad and now this. I really think you should see a doctor."
Rolling his eyes at the fawning display, Yami stepped past him into the kitchen, happy to see that the beans had been removed from sight. Mokuba had vanished too, obviously to give them space for whatever was going to transpire next. Collecting a piece of toast from the pile in the middle of the table, he nibbled on the corner cautiously before finding that his stomach had settled enough for him to consume all of it.
"I probably got mild food-poisoning from that hotdog yesterday. Anyway, my stomach feels fine now so please don't start worrying. A doctor is entirely unnecessary. It probably has something to do with that thing in my soul-room."
//Shit! Did I just say that?! Oh Ra I can be so *mindless* first thing in the morning. That was how Yugi convinced me to go roller-blading...//
"What 'thing'? What aren't are you not telling me?" There was hint of hurt in his eyes now, which of course meant that Yami turned into proverbial goo.
"It's just this strange glowing orb that appeared above my bed. It hasn't been doing any harm, although I have no idea how long it's been there. I've only just started to feel unwell so the two may not be connected at all."
"Or it could be something a creature from the Shadow Realm has stuck in there to try and kill you! Damn it, it's probably Pegasus... I *knew* he wouldn't just let you go after that duel to get Joey, Honda and Tea back. He-"
Further musings were cut off by a hand connecting rather solidly with Seto's jaw, causing him to bring his hand up to his cheek and glower at Yami. Giving him a gentle apologetic kiss, Yami looped his arms around his neck and sought to make the other think rationally and a bit more calmly.
He had been around Pegasus enough to be able to sense if he had done something significant in his realm, and he severely doubted that the unstable man had the skill to put something in his soul room without him knowing.
Still, Seto's words held some sense. Already Yami was beginning to feel more concerned.
"Look, I'll go and see Yugi later and then go back into my soul room. I'll see if I can figure out what it is, if it's a threat and so forth. Then, I'll see if there is anything at all that could indicate Pegasus's involvement and tell you accordingly. Then you and I can go beat him to a pulp and bury him in salt. If I find no connection whatsoever, then I'll go to the hospital. Again. Does that sound reasonable?"
After turning the words over in his head for a moment, Seto nodded in agreement. "And you promise to tell me? I know you-you keep things to yourself if you think you can handle them on your own. Now that we have a relationship you have to talk to me."
"I promise," Yami replied with a smirk at the speech, immediately preventing anything else that would need to be taken seriously from coming out of his mouth by reaching up and flicking the end of his nose. Seto, on the other hand, prevented any further noise that Yami could make through his mouth by sealing his own over it.
Mokuba was smart and left the house.
****
As promised, Yami went over to the Game Shop that afternoon and explained the situation to him, not voicing Seto's speculation that it was Pegasus's doing fearing that it would get the younger boy worried about him. He did not wish to form another club again...
Of course Yugi was eager to help in any way that he could and said that Yami was welcome to stay in the puzzle as long as he needed to, sheepishly adding that he'd actually missed feeling his Dark's presence. Even though Yami had officially left the house now, Yugi still continued to wear the puzzle, as a reminder of his guardian and a comfort when he felt lonely.
After watching the light with a naive-fear that it might attack him for a few minutes, Yami had stood on the bed in the darkness of his soul room and reached a hand up to touch it again, prepared this time for the shock he expected to receive. Contact hurt but he ignored it and tried to obtain a feel for what it was, failing miserably and giving up when he felt the metaphysical skin on his hand beginning to burn.
"What in the name of Ra are you?" he murmured at it as he sat down, crossing his legs and staring up at the light in contemplation.
"The Easter Bunny."
Snapping his head round at the voice, Yami bit off the scathing remark that was on his tongue when he saw that it was Tetsuo, obviously having gotten bored in the Shadow Realm again and visiting. He was seriously beginning to think that there was more to this card than was being revealed to him.
"The what? Tetsuo do you know what this is?" Yami asked sharply, motioning to the orb with a hand whilst his eyes remained on the robed figure.
Tetsuo smiled at him even more broadly, obviously thoroughly enjoying himself as mirth was evident in his eyes. "To be honest, Yugioh, I do not know what the 'Bunny creature is exactly myself. But no matter as that isn't him."
Fuse evaporating now, Yami narrowed his eyes to slits and glared at him. When he spoke this time the tone was firmer, each word being punctuated by his hand jabbing at the orb above him. "What. Is. It?"
"For someone so intelligent you really can be an idiot at times," Tetsuo said with a disbelieving smile, shaking his head slightly as he watched Yami. Sighing and rolling his dark eyes, he stepped forward and leaned in close to Yami's face.
"Surely you realize by now? That mysterious light above your bed, your lightheadedness and the morning sickness? Please put two and two together so I don't have to."
Realization hit like a lightening bolt, Yami's eyes going as wide as saucers as he stared blankly.
"That's right. You're knocked up again. Congratulations."
Yami totally lost the ability to speak for a good few minutes, staring frozen at Tetsuo as he waited for the punch-line. When he did nothing but stare right back at him levelly, Yami found something resembling a voice and breathed out, "How?"
"Well, it all comes down to your Millennium Item. You see, it repelled the fountain's curse because your magic sensed on some level that it was somehow a threat to you and it slowly wore off, working faster the second time you got soaked because you weren't supporting a child at the same time.
"However the repulsion of the curse was only, shall we say, 'cosmetic'. The ability to create and hold life remained and shall remain until the day you die because the curse was supposed to last until the day you die. Only now, you only have to live with an element of it rather than the entire package. You are quite capable now of carrying a child to term in whatever form, although wider hips would likely be superior in terms of comfort."
"It's not possible," Yami stated flatly when he had finished explaining, his head reeling from all the information being thrown at him.
"No, and having a Duel Monsters card talking to you isn't possible either. I didn't expect you to accept this or even understand this right away. Actually I hadn't expected to have to tell you at all because all the signs are there. Kindly get past this denial of yours and see the truth for yourself in the physical realm, like you did last time."
Having said his piece and then more, Tetsuo tipped his head in a respectable farewell gesture before stepping back into the shadows, his form vanishing silently and leaving a wisp of crimson smoke in its wake.
Yami gaped at the empty space where Tetsuo had been before turning his gaze back up to the little orb. If he hadn't of known that it was just a throbbing ball of light he would have sworn that it looked smug.
//This is going to be a very long day.//
****
Returning to the physical realm, Yami found himself face to face with Yugi who actually gave a shout of surprise at suddenly having his guardian on his toes. Obviously Yami had gotten a little rusty at position when he popped back into the world. He had been about to comment before he saw the utterly shocked look on the other's face, the taller boy blinking owlishly at him.
"Yami? What's wrong? Did you figure out what that light was?" he asked instantly, grabbing his hand and leading him to the bed before practically pushing him down on it. Sitting at his side, he watched his Dark expectantly for an answer.
//Get a hold of yourself you idiot. Just. Tell. Him.//
"Aibou," he began, his voice at an uncomfortably higher pitch. Clearing his throat, he tried again. "Um, see it's. I..? It's happened again."
Yugi furrowed his brow at him, not quite understanding what in the hell he was trying to say. Actually saying it would have been a great help.
"What's happened? Why-oh!"
Understanding had hit when the smaller boy realized that Yami's face had the same hesitancy and disbelief as when he told him about Kiara. Glancing down for verification, he met Yami's confirming gaze before releasing a breath and breaking into a relieved smile.
"Thank God. I thought it was something serious."
"What in the hell do you mean *something serious*?! This is bloody-fucking serious!" Yami snapped instantly, pouncing on the relieved tone which sounded very inappropriate to his ears.
"Well, yeah, but it isn't life-threatening or anything. It's wonderful! All we have to do is take you back to the Nyannichuan fountain and-"
"Aibou, I don't *want* to go back to Nyannichuan. I do not like that female form; I'm not comfortable in it. And now that I've moved in with Seto... I think it'll be alright if I stay like this until it is actually necessary to go, then I will without hesitation. If this curse left me with the ability to conceive then I don't think it's a stretch to believe that is has also enabled me to be able to carry a child."
"So some of the effects of the curse stayed? I thought it had worn off."
"So did I. Tetsuo told me that the change was mostly cosmetic."
"Who's Tetsuo?"
"Someone I'd quite like to thump hard and repeatedly. I'll introduce you sometime. Listen, I don't want to go and tell Seto until I'm sure; this is all a little hard to believe. I'd rather have confirmation than just go on Tetsuo's word."
"Chemist's then?"
"If you wouldn't mind because there is no way in the Seven Hells I am going on my own."
****
They had locked themselves in the men's room of the arcade, Yami refusing to take the test back to the Game Shop or the Kaiba Mansion and Yugi so excited about it that he demanded to have in confirmed or denied immediately. Currently, Yami had been in the cubical for ten minutes utterly silent whilst Yugi sat on the sinks with a look of complete exasperation.
"Would you just take it already?" he shouted when he heard someone bang on the outside door for the fifth time.
"I have, Aibou," came the irritated reply.
"And?"
"I don't know. I haven't looked at it yet."
"Why?"
There was silence then so Yugi closed his eyes and felt through their link, trying to determine what was happening. "Oh, you're scared. Do you want me to look at it?"
"That would make me *extremely* happy."
"Okay. You come out here then and I'll go in there. You really are being childish about this."
"Well you're not faced with the possibility of carrying a sixty-pound baby in your gut."
"It wasn't sixty-pounds, Yami."
"It bloody felt like it."
"Oh come on, aren't you just a little excited?"
"Shut up and get in there so I can stop wondering."
"I'll take that as a 'yes' then."
"Don't be clever."
"Fine, fine. Right, you stand there and I'll see what–oh."
"'Oh' what? 'Oh' *what*?!"
****
Seto Kaiba, owner of KaibaCorp. and henceforth quite a busy person in the office, had half a mind to tear the head off of the person who seemed to think that they would just waltz into his office, particularly after he'd said that no-one was to disturb him today. He'd been spending a lot of time at home recently which meant that work had piled up and he'd have to work extremely hard to get back on schedule today. This did not help his mood.'
Looking up, the pre-prepared glare slipped off of his features to be replaced with a smile as he watched Yami approach his desk. He hardly ever came to the office, usually keeping Mokuba company or out with the entire group. When he did come to the office it was usually to distract him from work in a most effective way. His excuse? Either 'you've been working too hard' or 'I was bored'. Seto had no complaints.
Today though Yami had brought something with him; a small plastic bag that he held in his left hand. Standing with his legs a stride apart directly opposite Seto at the desk, he tipped his head to the side with a smile before rather dramatically tipping the contents of the bag onto the wood, not dropping his gaze from his eyes as they scattered across the surface.
"I thought I'd make sure," he stated flatly, coming around the desk and dropping the empty bag into the waste-paper basket before casually moving into his lap, actually looking at the mess on the desk now.
Quite bewildered, Seto reached out the hand that wasn't around Yami's waist and picked up one of the plastic sticks, turning it over until he figured out what it was. Snatching up another one he saw the same result, a quick glance across the table showing that all the tests were confirming.
"How?" he asked, twisting slightly to face Yami and returning his other hand to his body.
Yami searched his face before answering, looking for something that perhaps Seto didn't want to voice, or was afraid to. Seeing nothing except for curiosity, he quirked his brow and squirmed until his head was beneath Seto's chin, his face pressing into the warmth coming through the suit.
"Curse. Puzzle. You being too fertile for your own good. I'll explain as much as I know later. It's just-"
"A lot, I know. Hmm, should I get some strawberries in now or are you going to be craving something new and exciting this time around? Watermelon? Coffee? You can forget it if it's something sugar-laden though because I've seen how hyper you get."
Yami frowned against the material of his shirt. He hadn't expected him to take this so calmly, particularly given his own reaction. He had had to pace the arcade a few times before heading over here just to get his head straight. Oh, and to get eight more tests of different brands incase one wasn't right.
"You're not mad?"
Now it was Seto's turn to frown, squeezing the form curled in his lap reassuringly. "Of course not you prat. I've always wanted to fill up that house; it's too quiet and empty all the time. It's much better when you're around and another child would be perfect. Why? Are you less than ecstatic about this?"
"No-no. It's not that at all; I'm happy, really. I was just worried about how you'd take it, mostly because of how you reacted the first time."
"Things were different then, you know that. Should I arrange to have a car take you to Nyannichuan tomorrow, or do you want me there?"
"I'm not switching until I have to; it's perfectly fine that way thanks to the curse. By the way, *we* are going to start taking precautions in the future after this. That or you're being pregnant with the next one."
"No, I wouldn't want to steal your thunder. Anyway, I don't want to get fat-ow!"
"Say that again and I will have you crucified with your own pens."
"Hormones are making a return too then?"
"Watch it. That one looks to have a particularly sharp tip."
TBC
Well that turned out a lot longer than I anticipated. Hope you enjoyed that. Leave a review and tell me the same.