Right, figured I needed a second plot to intertwine with this one, or run alongside it, whatever, so I'm introducing a new element here. Not original by any means, but it'll help support another aspect that I want included later on. Who says I can't plan?!

If you are not happy with the impact said plot has on this fic or are unhappy with how it was introduced, you can piss off a cliff with a noose around your neck connected to an unyielding tree-trunk for all I care.

Excuse bluntness of new-plot-entry because this just popped up when my imagination came off strike due to all the pressure I was putting on it. You bloody people demanding chapters are the cause of that pressure by the way... Aw hell; I'M LOVING WRITING THIS THING EVEN WITHOUT THE PRESSURE!!!

Right, have told you know so will tell you something else; I was about writing about three or four chapters ahead of what you were reading before but after this posting you're back on my heels so I'm wetting myself about getting the next chapter out. Will be fine though because am cool, calm and collected and know what I'm doing... Bullshit; I'm terrified.

Flames I don't care about. Praise I adore and reward. Ideas I will build you a shrine for.

And for those of you who are sensitive to profanity, leave now because I get rather creative with it here...

Chapter 16: Discoveries

YVO

//Thanks to Yugi's phone skills everyone knew about my second pregnancy within a day, arranging to have a celebratory party the following week. On the day of the celebration, Yugi spent half the morning zipping around like a hyper-active hummingbird. As it was at the Kaiba mansion due to sheer volume of people, I spent all morning helping Yugi and Mokuba stock up on snack foods and various drinks. Seto left the office early to come and as of such was at work since the early hours to manage the workload.

It started out innocently enough; pizza, crisps and a few movies. Then Joey sprung the alco-pops and it all got a little nuts. I stayed away from any alcoholic beverage, of course, but Yugi complained that it would be boring if I was in a normal state of mind whilst the rest of them were 'tipsy'. As a result he fed me sherbet by the spoonful until I was grinning like an idiot and giggling like a maniac.

The game of 'Twister' got a whole lot stranger when my sugar-fueled mind started making changes to the rules; I am the King of Games after all. I know how to make things interesting... Covering the mat with chocolate syrup was Mokuba's idea but the punishments for failing to stick the appropriate body part on the required colour was mine. It took Joey a fortnight to even think about forgiving me, probably because his eyebrows had just about grown back.

Despite my mind's 'incapacitation', I did pick up on something unusual when we were in the middle of a game of truth or dare. When required to stretch his arms up above his head and hop around whilst singing the British National Anthem, the material of Ryou's shirt lifted so much that the skin on his stomach was exposed. I was the only one to notice the purplish marks marring the pale skin, Ryou sitting back down grinning when he had accomplished his task obviously unaware that I had seen.

I honestly thought that Bakura had stopped hitting Ryou some time ago, but obviously he has started again. I didn't want to embarrass him so I didn't mention it but I intend to today when we all go to the park this afternoon. It is in my nature to protect my friends, and Ryou is my friend. I have no intention of allowing the cruelty that his yami is showing him to continue.//

****

The weather was glorious despite it being autumn, crisp auburn leaves littering the ground as a reminder that it wasn't actually summer. The group, including Seto who had taken a hint and gotten a personal assistant, were all at the park simply enjoying each other's company.

Having been fed, Kiara was unconscious again so bringing her with them wasn't an option at all; going out when full made her cranky, which was bad and quite hard to deal with.

Yugi was off playing with Mokuba, Tea, Joey and Honda in the aptly named play area, Mai was talking to Seto about life in general and Yami, after a frustratingly long time, had managed to get Ryou away alone. Bakura was watching the larger group playing and grumbling under his breath, obviously bitching about them being childish or similar.

Trying to adopt as non-aggressive a posture as possible, Yami chose to get straight to the heart of the matter and his first sentence after the pair had walked away from the others a bit showed as much.

"When did Bakura start on you again?" he asked seriously, making a conscious effort not to cross his arms or shove his hands in his pockets, either of which he was practically itching to do.

Ryou's chocolate eyes widened marginally at that before an expression came to his features that showed his mind was already conjuring up a way to either deny or joke off the allegations. The look on Yami's face stopped him though and he sighed, leaning back against the tree trunk and sinking to the ground as Yami followed.

"About a month ago. It's not been serious," he replied with a slight shrug, watching the boy sitting cross-legged across from him, obviously waiting for a reaction from the once-pharaoh.

Yami scowled at him slightly. "If he's touched you at all it's serious. I know he's hit you in the stomach; where else? What has he done?"

The platinum-haired boy frowned in confusion at that. "Why the sudden interest? You showed concern the first time and offered action, but now it seems that you're going to confront him whatever I say."

He actually gave a small, slightly sheepish smile at the question. "I've gone from being a guardian to being maternal. Now answer my question."

Ryou shook his head defiantly. "No, I shan't tell you. I know you will only go to hurt him and I'd rather you'd didn't."

A slender brow arched. "So what has he done that would warrant me harming him?"

He gave an exasperating sigh a shook his head with an amused smile. "I'll tell you nothing. He is my yami and my responsibility."

"Fine. I guess I'll have to find out myself," Yami stated flatly before lunging forward, dragging the slightly larger boy down sideways from the trunk and running his fingers rapidly across his chest. He didn't intend to actually look; that would be a gross violation of Ryou's privacy not to mention his wishes. No, he would just torture him instead.

Actually crying from being tickled so much, Ryou brought his arms to try and shove Yami off of him, failing miserably and only accomplishing getting his wrists locked above his head with one hand whilst the other still ran mercilessly over him.

"Should I be worried about competition now?" came an amused voice from behind them.

Grabbing Yami by the collar, who yelped in response to the admittedly violent movement, Seto hauled him to his feet and pressed him against his chest with an arm wrapped tightly around his waist. Setting his eyes on Ryou who was watching in amusement as the great Game King was pulled around like a rag doll, he said in an extremely possessive voice, "Mine. Go find your own."

Holding his hands up in mock surrender, Ryou got to his feet and jogged off to rejoin the others, knowing that Yami wouldn't pursue this subject with him further.

"You're worried about him and his yami too?" Seto asked watching him leave.

Yami managed to pry himself away enough to remove his cheek from the coat and look up. "You know too huh? Yes, I thought a direct approach would be best but apparently I was wrong. Either way he doesn't want any interference despite Bakura's violence."

"And you are going to abide by his wishes and not interfere," the brunette said firmly.

Yami shoved him away forcefully at that, standing a stride away and glaring at him. "How in the hell can I not?! I know what is going on and I doubt anyone else is going to help him unless one of us steps in. You know that Bakura will only respond to violence as well as I do," he shouted with a gesture behind him in the direction that the other had left in.

"But," Seto soothed gently but firmly, stepping forward and placing his hands on Yami's shoulders, not entirely sure how much contact he was permitted with this mood in place. "I will not have you getting hurt fighting another's battle. If Ryou actually asks for help, then I'll make a phone call and have some people blow the little freak into small particles. Then you can take pleasure in burning the remains yourself."

Crimson eyes rolled with a growl. "You *know* it won't work like that."

"Nevertheless, you aren't doing anything. That baby in there is just as much mine as it is yours and you are not going to endanger it. Go off and get every bone in your body broken as many times and in as many ways as you like in a few months. Until then you're going to be good or encased in bubble-wrap," he replied in a voice that clearly stated that that was all non-negotiable.

Feeling as well as seeing the tension bleed out of the shoulders in his palms, he stepped forward and held him to him properly, propping his chin on Yami's head and skimming his hands up and down the slender back.

"Working on my forgiveness already?" Yami mumbled into his chest earning a smirk from the taller boy.

"Like I really need to work for that," he replied with mirth before reaching a hand up and cupping Yami's chin, bringing his face up and lowering his own for a kiss. Allowing him entry instantly, Yami brought his own arms up about Seto. They continued this way for several minutes until a loud and rather false cough interrupted them.

Returning his head back to its former position of leaning against Seto's chest, Yami let his disapproval at having been interrupted show on his face, watching Joey with thinning patience for whatever he wanted to say. From the sound of the heart thudding in his ear he could deduce that Seto was equally pissed.

"Sorry ta break you guys up, really, but Yugi's asking for ya Yami. Wants to know that flavor ice-cream ya want," the blond trailed off scrubbing a hand through his hair, his elbow up against the tree Ryou had previously occupied the base of.

"Chocolate, triple if they have it," Seto replied for him without hesitation, unwinding his arms from around Yami and standing to his side, a hand coming up to the small of his back to lead him gently.

Glancing to Yami for confirmation before smirking, Joey nodded in an assuring manner before walker back to where the others obviously were. The pair followed, Seto's hand now having moved from the small of his back to wrap around the slight waist.

Placing his own hand over the larger one on his hip, Yami grinned up at him briefly, whether it was from his hand around his back or the prospect of chocolate ice-cream Seto couldn't be sure.

****

With a stomach full of double chocolate ice-cream, //no triple but made up for with sprinkles so no complaints// Yami was now officially in a brilliant mood. Lying on his back with his Aibou on one side and Seto on the other, the rest scattered around lounging in the sun as they digested their meals, he was pretty much in heaven.

"That's a bear," Yugi stated, raising a hand almost lifelessly up to point at the cloud just to the right of the point Yami had just been staring at.

Neither squinting at it nor tipping his head could make the white fluff-ball look like anything resembling a bear. "Aibou, I think you just have a strange obsession with bears.

"I do not!" he shouted back indignantly.

"Right, which is why Kiara's room is full of bears of all shapes, sizes and colours, all due to your choosing," Seto replied evenly, eyes closed as he had chose not to participate in their game of cloud spotting.

"I just like them, that's all. I have not got an obsession."

"Alright. I think you're right though; that cloud does look like a bear," Yami conceded, looking up again at the cloud with a considering look, his brow furrowed in concentration. He even tipped his head to the side slightly to complete the look.

Yugi made a smug sound, crossing his arms across his chest and grinning.

"Only is doesn't have a head. See? That's it over there," he continued as he pointed to the left a bit.

Squealing in outrage, Yugi sat up sharply and thwacked Yami's chest with his hand, earning a loud laugh before he was attacked himself. Moving up and sitting on his legs, Yami began exerting the same 'punishment' that he had dished out on Ryou, Seto sitting up and watching the display laughing himself.

What could only be described as a fizzling twang in his abdomen made Yami pause, a hand going to the tingling flesh in confusion. The same feeling was coming from his soul room, probably why he could feel it in his body as well as his mind. Ignoring the searching looks from both Yugi and Seto, Yami snapped out a hand and curled his fingers around the Millennium Puzzle, feeling himself dropping into the familiar comfort of his soul room.

Immediately moving to his bed, he stepped up onto it and stared up at what he had figured was the source of the disruption. Glowering when he saw that it had grown in size from this morning, his eyes widened when it began to crack down the middle, the pulsating light coming off of it picking up in brightness and speed.

Taking an educated guess at what was happening, Yami began yelling rather pointlessly at the orb of light as it continued to split.

"Oh no. No-no, don't... Don't you fucking dare! Stoppit! Damn you! Damn you bloody ass-shit!"

Obviously it was ignoring him for now the orb of throbbing light had now divided into two orbs of throbbing light. Yami suddenly had the overwhelming urge to kill both Seto and himself, the former a lot slower and more painfully. //My body is not going to take this.//

Shuddering slightly despite himself when he felt a wave of confusion and concern flood through the walls of his soul room from Yugi, Yami gave the pair of orbs a final glare before bringing himself back into a physical manifestation.

Sitting on the grass opposite Seto and Yugi, the others approaching cautiously having figured that something was up, Yami gave Seto a rather firm glare before forcing it away. "Seto, get the car. We're going to Nyannichuan."

"Wha-why?"

"Because we are now having twins and I for one don't think my hips are going to deal with that very well. Sod comfort; I'd rather not have my kids tear me apart from the inside."

****

Despite the natural worry, Yami and Seto had joined the others in grinning like idiots all the way to the fountain at the news that their unique little family was now increasing by two. Seto was driving due to the lack of driver, something which was probably a bad thing with him being so distracted. Still, they reached the tourist attraction in record time and Yami was the first out of the car, obviously wanting to get the transformation done as fast as possible.

Getting out of the car at a slower pace to his, the others trailed after him; they knew the way due to having come here on likely too many occasions. Rounding the corner to the fountains themselves, they heard Yami before they actually saw him.

"What the hell do you mean 'it's dry'?!"

TBC

Yami: Hello! (Glances around then looks up at the ceiling) Hey! The deal was I wasn't on my own!

(Flash of light)

Bakura: What the fu-You!

Borath: Now-now, be nice. I've never dragged you into one of my fics like this before so just get on with it.

Yami: (Glaring at Bakura) Fine. Right, let's see. (Glances down at clipboard) Borath is happy about all the reviews and encourages more.

Bakura: Let me see that. (Snatches clip board) Oh this is boring! Let's just get onto spoilers.

Yami: In a minute. We have to hack into her computer for those anyway so we might as well go through this so as not to piss her off too much.

Bakura: (Grumbling) Fine. (Looks at list again) Updates are going to be every Friday again now. Yeah right, let's see how long that lasts.

Yami: (Reading again) This has stars around it so it's important. The 'fountain gone dry' idea belongs to KEIKO who has been reviewing lots and sending lots of e-mails to Borath. Hugs are sent to her in response.

Bakura: She wasn't going to include that element; it was sent around Chapter 4 time. Now it's going in because Borath is being a sadistic bitch and tormenting Yami again. Way Hay!

Yami: (Glaring at Bakura and snatching clipboard back) Hmm, it actually says that and all.

Bakura: That's it for the list. Hey, we did that in half the space it would've taken her.

Yami: Well yeah. Borath rambles, we don't.

Bakura: Onto the spoilers!

(Flash of light and laptop appears. Is on already and they go straight into the appropriate file)

Yami: Wow. I'm not happy about that; I don't like shopping. Christ she's trying to kill me!

Bakura: I think it's funny. And she's going to let me hit-

Yami: Don't spoil it too much! (Looks at reader) A new plot-line has already been introduced and-

Bakura: It's with as much subtly as a club to the head.

(Lightning bolt comes down and strikes the ground at Bakura's toes. It's a warning because Borath fears the wrath of the fan-girls too much to actually hurt him)

Yami: Right. Anyway, the Bakura/Ryou element is going to hang around for a while. Ah, and for those of you who love yaioy-goodness you'll love Chapters 17 and 18. Which isn't finished yet.

Bakura: (Looks over Yami's shoulder) That's disgusting.

Yami: (Smirking) You're just jealous because you're not getting any.

Bakura: Fuck off.

(Another warning lightning bolt)

Borath: Hey! I swear enough in the stories as it is! The reader does not need to read it from you two. And carry on with the spoilers because I reckon I'll get reviews for this...

Yami: (Shaking head) Ra, she's cheap. Moving on though...

Bakura: (Still at the laptop) Ooh, character death!

Yami: (Stares at screen) No! She would *not* do that! She couldn't!

Bakura: I reckon you might be right. Note says she doesn't know how she'll carry on after that so it may not be included. On the other hand she has some lame ideas of how to get away with it.

Borath: Actually I'm doing some research.

Bakura: She's reading other fics trying to pilfer ideas.

(Another warning lightning bolt)

Bakura: Hey that one was close!

Yami: Right, enough of this saga. Let's see what else is here.

(Flicks through a couple of files until he sees his name. Title is 'Submission')

Bakura: I'm getting the feeling that she really doesn't like you.

Yami: She loves me! She just, likes to hurt me.

Bakura: I like to hurt Ryou and I don't love him.

Yami: Thanks for that. I don't think the rating is right. It could be lower.

Bakura: She's just scared that she'll get flamed for it not being high enough. I'm happy with it.

Yami: You just want to disagree with me. Oh; another fic that's me-centric. Huh. It's not posted.

Bakura: Hmm, that'll get posted eventually I reckon. Too many fics are active here to even get to the middle of this one.

Yami: Then why the hell was she painting this morning instead of finishing all these random fics!

Bakura: Oh yeah. I think that's around here somewhere.

(Buggers off and comes back with A3 piece of watercolor paper, even though the picture is acrylic, holding it up so Yami can see too)

Yami: Cool! It's me!

Bakura: Correction; you in a dress with cleavage. Where did you get those legs?!

Yami: Told you she loves me. Hey, I look old!

Borath: I didn't like the idea of you being preggers at a young age.

Yami: But you did it.

Borath: Not in my head. (Grins smugly)

Bakura: Why hasn't Seto got the fountain on his lawn to throw you in when you change back to your usual tit-less self?

Yami: You are sick. And stop drooling!

Bakura: I'm sick? You're the one who's just slipped their calf and is going through it all again. You're the sick one.

Yami: Piss off.

Bakura: Hey, she's missing some of the golden bits of your fern.

Borath: Trial and error. They didn't look good.

Yami: Why am I holding a glass of wine?

Bakura: (Shrugs and grins) I dunno.

Yami: And why am I barefoot?!

Bakura: (Grins more broadly) Dunno.

Yami: (Eyes getting very big now) And what am I sitting on?

Bakura: (Face splits in two with big grin) A love swing-OW!

Yami: (Puts down anime-mallet) Right, scanner access doesn't exist but one is being hunted down so this might be shared with the world eventually. I wonder if it-

Bakura: Nope. Fanfiction.net is only for fanfics, not fanart.

Yami: She could do a link.

Bakura: You really think her computer skills are that advanced? (Cringes expecting another lightning bolt. None comes)

Borath: (Shrugging) I agree. (Looks at reader) When it gets scanned in I'll send a

copy to anyone who asks for one.

Yami: Aren't we dragging on now?

Bakura: I was watching television so can you put me back?

(Flash of light and Bakura is gone.)

Yami: Well, leave a review and let us know if you want us back rambling at the end of a chapter again. Until next time, toodles!

(Flash of light and Yami is gone too. Laptop is still humming away. Borath walks in and picks it up.)

Borath: Review me and make me a happy little writer.