Angel: I'm hoping this will be a short chapter, because the summary I wrote in my outline is short, but I think that since a lot of things happen, it will mean a lot of paragraphs and therefore lotsa pages. -_-'
Hee hee... when Valentines Day comes I WILL BE FOURTEEN! Dun dun dun dun dunn!!! *drum score* *silence* *crickets chirp* Eh heh... yeah. Oookay....
I want to find a good YGO story to read. I have a list of favs a mile long (I just love The Sickness, The Red and Black Rivers, and Yugioh! Frontier) but I'm still searching for something different. I guess I want to find a story that has an "innocent" Yami Yugi, like what I like to write about. Most Yami-centered fics make him really stern and stuff or he's gay. o.O
Time to wrap it up before this a/n becomes as long as last chaps. I do NOT own YGO. No further information required. (Why do we even need to do a disclaimer? Everyone knows the owners of YGO don't write YGO doujinshi. :-( )
1. Yami 2. Hikari 3. Millennium Item 4. Yami's Power 5. Hikari's Power 6. Item's Power 7. Color
1. Yugioh 2. Yugi Muto 3. Puzzle 4. Erm... I just call his power the "Power of the Millennium Seal" as in the signature, not the animal 5. Golden Detonation Beam and something I haven't named, mwahaha 6. Sends people to the Shadow Realm, does weird things, activates at Yami's will or Yugi's emotions 7. Yellow
1. Kerihk 2. Ryou Bakura 3. Ring (it should have been the Millennium Dream Catcher ^-^) 4. ESP (aka the Balance) 5. ESP (Balance) and something else... What is it? It's a secret! *mwahaha* 6. Opens portals to the Shadow Realm, can detect other Millennium Items, can combine them (how? you'll see....), and anything else I decide it can do (with author powers!) 7. White (how ironic)
1. Kiara 2. Hikaru Daichi 3. Pendant 4. Flight/Wind/Light 5. Eh... the light in the night? I dunno what to call Hikaru's power yet... 6. Makes light in darkness, senses when others are in trouble 7. Pink
1. Setsuna 2. Ai Itsuko (her initials spell her name: A.I.!) 3. Mirror 4. Super-strength 5. Also superstrength, sometimes called the "Power of Love" cuz not only does "Ai" mean "love," but she can only use her superstrength when she's fighting for someone she loves 6. Shows other Item Bearers, shows foes, can reverse magic but it is dangerous to use it to get out of another realm cuz you might end up somewhere between the Real World and the Shadow Realm - in other words you're lost 7. Red (in Egypt red signifies evil but Setsuna and Ai are not evil so I'm using it to signify the American way - love)
1. Ahmose 2. Takehiko Midori 3. Sword 4. Fire 5. Flame (how original) 6. Gets you out of sticky situations (I guess), makes the bearer an expert fighter when he uses it 7. Orange
1. Ay 2. Dajan Hada 3. Key 4. Water 5. Eh, water as well 6. Unlocks any lock 7. Light Blue
1. Himoko 2. Misaki Hikawa 3. Spoon 4. Healing 5. Healing (no duh) 6. Stops time 7. Navy
1. Taidu 2. Tali Takada 3. Broach 4. Of neither world, acts as a go-betweener for the... um... fates? 5. Pretty much just a peacemaker 6. Taps into almost inaccessible magic 7. Green
1. Zhur 2. Pegasus J. Crawford 3. Eye 4. Wouldn't you like to know 5. Like I'd tell you 6. Captures people's souls and a lot of other stuff that I don't feel like telling you 7. Shadowy Gray
Hikari No Yuugi
Play of Light
by Angel
Chapter Ten: Jimiru Maiho-mu
Like My Home
It was hard for Yugi-tachi to believe there was a restaurant on Duelist Kingdom, however remote it was. There weren't any waiters or chefs to be seen; Kaiba thought it had been a hangout for Pegasus's goons when they were hungry after scourging the island for defeated duelists.
Even so, the fact remained that the restaurant was there. They decided to make good use of the predicament. They walked inside, flicked on a light, and found themselves in a quaint little den, complete with sleeping bags and a fire place. There was a small kitchen in the back which stored quite a bit of food, one room with a bed for the overseers to use when they stopped by, and a bathroom. (The kids all fought to be the first in the bathroom.)
Kaiba had been carrying the injured, unconscious Yami in his arms the entire time they had been searching for a place to stay. The pharaoh was quite light, considering his small size, and thin, so it hadn't been too hard. Still, he couldn't help becoming weary after a while. He was glad when he could put Yami down on the bed in the little room and give his muscles a rest.
Yami still had a fired-up look on his face, like he was dreaming intensely. This didn't concern Kaiba, though - it was his injuries he was worried about.
"Here you go, Seto," Misaki said as she came up behind him. She handed him a wet wash cloth and some bandages she had found in a first aid kit in the bathroom.
"Thanks," Kaiba replied, taking the wash cloth and dabbing the cuts on Yami's face, arms, and legs with it.
Misaki watched him tenderly dress the still figure's wounds. She smiled. 'Much as he hates to admit it, I think Seto really likes Yami,' she thought. 'Why else would he be doing this?'
"Can I help, Seto?" she asked.
Kaiba looked at her for a minute. "Yes," he answered. "Keep the others away from here, especially Yugi. Don't tell him what kind of condition Yami is in. I think it's better if he doesn't worry himself too much."
Misaki nodded and left.
Kaiba turned back to Yami. He wiped the mud and caked blood off his face, all the while trying to figure out how he managed to hurt himself so badly in a duel. When he came to the burns from the fire he stopped, wondering how to treat them. Finally he applied cold water to the burns, which luckily were few and not very harsh, and placed gauze and bandages on all his injuries. There was nothing left but to wait for him to wake up.
"Bakamono," Kaiba whispered. "You're so reckless. Think about the consequences to yourself once in while, why don't you?"
Of course there was no response. Kaiba sighed. He knew Yami would be all right, but the waiting was killing him.
'Oh well,' he thought. 'I guess I'd better go see what Mokuba is doing.'
Before he left, he remembered to turn off the lights.
~
The night went by in a flash, considering as soon as Kaiba left Yami's room everyone took to the sleeping bags for some shut-eye. There were a couple less sleeping bags than there were kids, so Mokuba and Kaiba doubled up, as did Dajan and Takehiko. As soon as the lights were turned off, everyone fell asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow.
Kaiba forced himself awake a few times in the night to check on Yami. By eleven Kaiba recognized a fever. He took a wet cloth and pressed it against Yami's forehead, wiping away beads of sweat. The pharaoh still seemed to be having a strange dream, but even so, Kaiba was surprised when he began to talk through his sleep.
Still in a state of unconsciousness, Yami groaned and suddenly reached up with one feeble, shaking hand. He grasped Kaiba's wrist unknowingly. Kaiba felt his skin; it was cold and clammy.
"Kia...ra..." Yami murmured, tears springing to his sleeping eyes. "I have to... Ryúnade... I must..."
"Yami..." Kaiba whispered, astonished. Yami's grip on his wrist weakened, and his hand fell against the sheets. He spoke no more that night. Kaiba left very confused.
Bakura was having a restless sleep as well. He tossed and turned in his sleeping bag, images sweeping across his unconscious mind.
~*He couldn't tell where he was, but wherever it was, it was dark. And cold. Bakura shivered and hugged himself.
He heard footsteps coming his way. A woman with long, flowing blonde hair and fierce, evil eyes was now standing a ways ahead of him. Curiously, Bakura watched the scene before him unfold.
The woman clenched her fist. "I will have my revenge," she growled, "on the one who destroyed me - that wretched living Chalice of Life, Kiara!"
Her head flew back, and she was engulfed by smoke. When the smoke cleared, she was nowhere to be seen.
The vision wasn't over yet. Bakura saw glimpses of each of Pegasus's Dark Shadow Gamers through the fog.
Iakara, Storm Gamer.
Jyor-lang, Dusk Gamer.
Kutu-shui, Dawn Gamer.
Zhong-wan, Earth Gamer.
Ching Din-ling, Melody Gamer.
Kim Jo-jie, Ice Gamer.
Yuu-tori, Ghost Gamer.
Hiroshi, Battle Gamer.
Kitai, Jeopardy Gamer.
Chan Nan-da, Wood Gamer.
Their faces were so cold, so lifeless. Yet their eyes gleamed with passion. They were from the Shadow Realm. How could it be possible that their existence was so real if they were merely the essence of lost souls in the dark world?
The Dark Shadow Gamers disappeared in the same manner as the other woman had. In their place grew dark creatures with glowing red eyes. They opened their wide, fanged mouths and hissed at Bakura. All around them water was flowing.
Bakura stepped back. The creatures advanced on him.
"The power!" they shrieked. "We come for the power! Power of precognition!"
Bakura's deep amber eyes widened in fear. One of the creatures lifted its clawed hand and swiped at Bakura's face. The cut stung and burned like anything. He winced, and let out an ear-splitting scream.
"Aaaaaahh -" *~
" - aaaaaaah!"
The kids awoke with a start when Bakura's scream pierced the air. Bakura was sitting up in his sleeping bag, clutching his face as if it hurt him. Hikaru was the first to react; she rushed to him and yanked his hands from his face. She put her own small, gentle hands on his cheeks.
"Ryou!" she cried. "Daijobu desu ka? Look at me, Ryou!"
Yugi put his hands on Bakura's shaking back. "It's okay, Ryou. Really, it's okay. It was only a dream."
Ai, Takehiko, and Dajan pulled themselves awake and joined the other three. Misaki and Tali stayed with Mokuba and Makiumura, who were rather frightened by Bakura's sudden outburst. Kaiba and Ro stood above the kids in confusion.
"What happened?" Ro asked. "Why did you scream?"
Bakura's head was back in his hands, but the pain had subsided and there wasn't a mark on his face. Could he have dreamed the pain too? It had been so real...
He grimaced as he remembered the sickening appearance of those - those - creatures. He gulped, and searched for an explanation. Finally he said, "I'm - uh, sorry I woke you all up. I just had a nightmare, but I'm all right now."
"Are you sure?" Ai inquired, worry in her voice.
Bakura faked a smile and nodded. "Yes. Don't worry.
Kaiba shook his head and turned around. "Well, if that's all the problem was, get back to bed, everyone," he instructed.
Yugi looked up suddenly. "Kaiba..." His face was etched with worry. "Is Yami awake yet? How's he doing?"
Kaiba looked away, trying to think of a way to tell Yugi without worrying him too much. "Still asleep," he answered slowly. "He's... got a fever, but I'm sure he'll be all right. His wounds are healing nicely. He should wake up tomorrow."
Yugi's face tensed in anxiety. "Oh... I see."
Kaiba stared sympathetically at Yami's light. "Don't worry. I know he'll be okay. Right?"
Yugi gave a small smile. "Yeah."
After that, everyone snuggled up in the covers of their sleeping bags and returned to dream land. Only Bakura and Yugi remained awake for a while after, Bakura brooding over his dream and Yugi worrying about his yami.
/Please be all right, Yami,/ Yugi said mentally, sending his thoughts to Yami in hopes of a response. Receiving none, Yugi sighed and rolled over to face the other side. He found himself looking directly into Bakura's wide-open, deep amber eyes.
Yugi smiled. "You're sure you're okay?" he whispered.
"Um..."
Yugi looked at him, concerned. "Remember what you, Hikaru, and I promised each other? We'd always be there for each other. So we'll tell each other when anything's wrong. OK?"
Bakura gave him a grateful look. "Yes. To be honest, I'm not okay. My last dream proved true. I don't understand this one anymore than the last, but if I had been able to figure out what the first one meant then maybe yamis and hikaris would still be together right now. And then there are those black-outs I've been having... I've never had anything like that happen to me before."
Yugi looked worried. "Didn't you say leukemia runs in your family?"
"Yes, from my mother's side. Both my mom and Juri died from it."
"... You don't think it's possible your black-outs might be a symptom..."
Bakura furrowed his brow. "I don't think so," he said, but his face looked confused. "I know a lot about leukemia, and I don't remember ever hearing that black-outs are a symptom. I mean, once a person is deep in cancer's grasp, they might pass out sometimes, but not before they're diagnosed."
Yugi looked relieved. "I'm glad for that! I wish there was a real cure for cancer."
Bakura nodded. "Yeah. They have chemo and radiation, and other procedures. But nothing ensures a victim's survival." His face lit up. "That's why... when I graduate, I'll go to medical school and become a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment!"
"Ah! So you can find a cure for it, in remembrance of your mother and sister?"
"Yep! I don't know if I'll be able to find a cure, but I swear I'll find a way to at least improve treatments."
"If anyone can find a cure, you can, Ryou," Yugi said happily. "It makes me happy thinking that your future occupation will be something that can help you overcome your pain. You can only get revenge for your mom's and sister's deaths by battling cancer in your own way. And while you're working for such a noble cause, you can be sure we'll all be there to back you up! Don't worry about your dreams, either. Everything will be all right."
"Thank you, Yugi," Bakura smiled, curling up tighter in his sleeping bag. "Yami will be all right, too. You'll see!"
"I know it. But now we really should get to sleep. Ryou oyasumi nasai."
"Oyasumi nasai."
The two boys buried themselves in their blankets, alone with their thoughts, until sweet sleep finally overtook them.
***
Upon awakening the next day, the kids set about making a big feast. The restaurant was deserted, that much was true, but in the kitchen they found a lot of food. They pitched together to make a delicious meal, laughing and enjoying their much-deserved vacation.
Yugi, Hikaru, and Bakura were making hamburgers together. Yugi loved to play with the meat and roll it into balls, and Hikaru was great at seasoning the meat just right. Bakura fried some onions besides them, and when the hamburger meat was ready he grilled them as well.
Ai, who was never far from Bakura, set about making vegetable goulash (a/n: ok, I have no idea if a fifteen-year-old would know how to make goulash, but whateva). She was caught watching Bakura several times by Takehiko and Dajan (neither of whom could cook, so they were setting the table), who sniggered and teased her silently. She picked up her skillet and waved it in front of their faces, all the while blushing fiercely.
Tali and Misaki were preparing mashed potatoes, and Kaiba and Ro were helping Mokuba and Makimura with the only food they knew how to make - chocolate chip cookies. The kitchen was full of warmth and laughter it had never known when Pegasus's goons had dominated it.
Hikaru sniffed the cookies that were already baking. "Mmm, they smell great, you two," she complimented. Mokuba and Makimura swelled with pride at the praise.
"Your seasoning is great too, Hikaru," Yugi said.
Hikaru blushed. "I'm really not that great of a cook. Hamburgers are my specialty. Everything else is usually a disaster."
"You're being to hard on yourself." Yugi wagged his finger, but he was blushing too. "You're going to make someone a great wife someday, Hikaru."
At that Hikaru turned even redder. She mumbled a "thank you" and busied herself with washing the cooking board.
Yugi's face bore a dreamy look as he watched her. 'I never thought I could be this much in love,' he thought warmly. 'We just met, but I feel like I've known her all my life. She's so perfect!'
Little did he realize Hikaru thought the same of him.
At that moment, the group heard knocking at the door. Tali wiped her hands and said, "Now, who could that be?"
"Be careful," Takehiko cautioned. "Don't forget that Pegasus has traps set all over the place."
Yugi, Hikaru, Mokuba, and Makimura were left in charge of the kitchen while the others went to see who was at the door. Tali placed her hand on the doorknob and waited.
"I don't think they heard us," a muffled voice said from outside.
"Try knocking again," another voice suggested. Tali's eyes widened. She recognized that voice!
She yanked the door open. "Taidu!" she exclaimed, flinging herself around her yami.
Taidu laughed. "It's nice to see you too, aibou," she chuckled, returning Tali's embrace.
Kaiba, Ro, and the hikaris gaped. There, next to Tali and Taidu, were all the lost yamis!
"Himoko!"
"Setsuna!"
"Kerihk!"
"Ay!"
"Ahmose!"
All the hikaris cried out and tackled their yamis in fits of laughter. Kaiba and Ro giggled uncontrollably, but Kiara stood off by herself. She looked up, trying to force her sad lavender eyes to dance like they usually do.
"Seto," she asked quietly, "where's Hikaru?"
Seto stared at her. She seemed... different. Her eyes looked so burdened. "She's... in the kitchen."
"No, I'm not!"
Everyone looked to the doorway. Hikaru stood there like a statue, gazing at Kiara is if in a trance. Tears pricked her large eyes.
There was silence as the yami and hikari observed each other. Hikaru's lower lip trembled, and she let out a heart-breaking cry as she ran into Kiara's arms.
"Kiara! You're here! You're here!"
"Shi-n, watashi no ai..."
Kiara pressed Hikaru against her body lovingly. "I missed you so much."
Tears rolled down Hikaru's rosy cheeks. "I felt your pain... I was really worried."
Kiara said nothing in response.
They lead the yamis into the kitchen, chatting loudly about their adventures. Upon entering the kitchen, Mokuba and Makimura shrieked happily and bounced around, holding their freshly-baked cookies. Yugi whirled around with a cheery, "Uerukamutou! We were worried about you guys!"
"Yugi-chan!" Kiara exclaimed, Hikaru's usual suffix rubbing off in her speech. She rushed at him with a hug. Cupping her hands around his reddening cheeks, she giggled, "How are you doing today, watashi no tenshi?"
Yugi was blushing thoroughly. He could hear Hikaru laughing quietly in the background, and knew the looks on the faces of his friends were ones of amusement. "I'm doing good."
"You're taking care of my aibou?"
"Of course," Yugi replied meekly, redder than ever.
Kiara patted his head a few times with a cute smile on her Egyptian face. "You're a good boy, Yugi," she complimented. Yugi wasn't sure how to react.
The queen of Egypt suddenly grew serious. She looked directly into Yugi's beautiful eyes. "Yugi, where is your Yami?" she asked, hoping no spontaneous reaction would occur if the feeling in her gut that something was wrong with Yami proved true.
Yugi's gaze traveled to the room where Yami still lay unconscious. He looked down, thinking of how to explain when he felt like he himself would begin to cry. He decided not to say anything, but took her hand and led her to the room.
Kiara allowed herself to be pulled along by her brother's hikari, whom she was beginning love as much as her own aibou. She was confused by his actions, and feared the worst. When they reached the room where Yami slept, Yugi opened the door with a look of worry and guilt on his face.
Curiously Kiara entered, while the others hung back. It was easy to spot her brother's small frame beneath the soft sheets of the bed. A shadow covered her eyes when she realized he was hurt. There were bandages on his face where the cuts had been opened and reopened many times during his battle with Jyor-lang. His hands were wrapped where the fire had scorches them, and his waist and ankles were also bandaged because the chains had sliced the skin. He looked tattered and pathetic to any human's mind, but to Kiara, he was still the most beautiful person ever.
"Yami..." Kiara swooped down on him and brushed his face with her hand. She placed her ear to his chest and listened for a heartbeat. It was there, pulsing at its usual rate, a steady and comforting rhythm that soothed her soul. Kiara's and Yami's heartbeats had always been exactly the same, in more ways than one. It was part of the reason they were so close.
She heard a gasp behind her. Setsuna and Himoko had decided not to gaze from afar, but instead get an up close view of the young pharaoh. Setsuna was the one who had gasped, her face displaying her fear.
Kiara smiled. By now all the yamis except for Yami himself knew that Setsuna was in love with the king of Egypt. Yami hadn't the slightest clue she felt that way about him, but Kiara knew, and understood what Setsuna must be feeling.
"Don't worry," she said gently to the Hebrew spirit. "His heartbeat is the same. It goes to the rhythm of the Nile, just as mine does."
Setsuna still seemed doubtful. Himoko joined Kiara by his body and laid her hands on his face. There were very few times when she could entirely heal wounds, just make them less deep or not fatal. Hopefully, since the wounds had already had time to heal on their own, she could rid him of them for good. She closed her eyes and chanted a spell while the others looked on in silence.
Moments later the spell was complete, and Himoko removed her hands. Smiling, she told the group, "He's going to be fine. The wounds are nearly gone, a lot of them have completely disappeared."
Kiara breathed a sigh of relief, and Setsuna wiped the sweat from her upper lip. They took one last look at Yami, and exited his room.
Kiara was the first to reach the doorway, and come face-to-face with Yugi. His gaze was steady and demanding, so much like her brother's. "Is he okay?" Yugi wanted to know. "Please tell me he's all right."
Before she could open her mouth to answer, little Yugi burst into a flood of tears that rolled down his face in a concurrent stream. Kiara did the one thing that came naturally to her - she spread her arms open in the gesture for a hug. Gratefully Yugi rushed into her embrace, and laid his head on her shoulder. Salty tears fell on the pink material of Kiara's jacket. She held the boy close to her just as Yami would have done if he hadn't been injured. Then again, if he hadn't been injured, Yugi wouldn't be crying right now.
She picked him up, surprised by her own strength. She really wasn't that much taller than Yugi, but somehow she knew she could carry him. She took him to the nearest chair and sat down, cradling him in her arms. Tenderly she spoke to him and reminded him that everything would be all right. Everything would always be all right.
The sobs kept sounding long after the tears had ended. Yugi's minute body shook and ached. Kiara massaged his shoulders, comforting him. Yugi opened his eyes when he realized she was singing. It was an Egyptian song he didn't recognize, but the accent rolled off her tongue like a poem. Her soprano voice was gentle and harmonious, like her heart. He looked up at her.
"Kiara, your voice is amazing," he whispered between sobs, which were becoming quieter by the second.
The princess smiled. "Don't tell," she whispered back. "I'm afraid I don't sing much anymore. Not even Hikaru has heard me. There are reasons, but I'll throw those reasons away for Hikaru or Yami, or even you, Yugi. Like I said, you're a good boy."
It was amazing, Ai thought, that a yami and hikari who weren't partners could be so tender with one another. Hikaru didn't look jealous in the least; rather, she seemed relieved that Yugi was finally letting go of all the pain inside him.
Eventually everyone else migrated to the kitchen to give Yugi and Kiara a moment alone, but Setsuna lingered behind. She looked at Yami's door. Her heart yearned to go back in that room and make everything okay. Kiara had been saying for a long time that everything would be all right. They asked her why, but she just said, "It just will. Trust me. Everything will be all right." Setsuna wanted to make sure it was.
She wanted him so badly. If Zhur didn't drive her crazy with all his tricks, her unrequited love for Yami would. How could she fall in love with him? Why was she so cursed?
Hesitantly she opened his door, then quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching. Kiara and Yugi were still lost in their own world. The others were setting the table in the kitchen. She was alone with the still body of her love.
Of course she walked in. Of course she gazed at his face with the eyes of a lover who knew they loved the most perfect being in the world. To her eyes, that was what he is. She realized she was turning into a copy of Kiara, who firmly believed her brother could do no wrong. Setsuna didn't quite believe that - she was a strong girl and didn't idolize the male gender the way most of the girls in her time had. She knew he made mistakes. That was part of why she loved him and thought he was perfect. Perfect people weren't people who didn't make mistakes. They were people who could right them with a cheerful and remorseful heart.
She hated herself at the moment. She hated that she even had a heart. She had a bad temper and ill disposition, at least that was how she saw herself. She knew now that her friends accepted and loved her, but she felt guilty that they did when she could be so mean. How could she fall in love with Yami? He was wonderful and adorable in every way. Their personalities were opposite. Completely and undeniably opposite. Even the dumbest person in the world could tell you that.
The thing was, she knew he would never love her back. Yami was carefree and naive beyond imagination. He had a head for dueling strategies and not much else. It was true he was great at practically everything back in Egypt, and the only thing he didn't seem to know how to do in this century was work the telephone (Setsuna personally despised the ringing object that made her jump every time it made that obnoxious noise). He loved his friends but emotions were foreign to him. He just went with the flow and did what his heart told him without second guesses. He couldn't fall in love because if he did, he would never realize it.
Besides, she didn't deserve him. She knew that. Knew that. But she could content herself with watching from afar, couldn't she?
By now she was by his bedside, looking at his serene face with a loving tenderness no one outmatched but his mother (and possibly, Setsuna added when she thought about it, his adorable hikari and ever-adoring sister). Despite the bandages and caked dirt, she would have to agree with Kiara - he was beautiful.
She should pull away now, before she did something she would regret later. She couldn't have him, it didn't matter how much she wanted him! But he was right there. His lips were right there. He would never know, he was asleep. Asleep and dreaming things she couldn't imagine.
Gently she leaned forward and brushed his cheek with one tanned finger. His skin felt warm, which was a good sign. She brought her face to his and lightly kissed his lips. Heat rose to his face. He was unconscious, obviously, and didn't tighten the kiss. She didn't mind. She enjoyed the feeling of warmth in her heart.
All at once she realized what she was doing. She panicked and moved away a little too quickly, tripping over a wastebasket on the floor. She screamed and toppled over.
With a jolt, Yami awoke at long last. He heard voices cry as they entered the room, but the picture was disoriented. The outline of Kiara helped Setsuna up. Yugi - was that him? He couldn't tell - was pushing the wastebasket remains back inside. He blinked and shifted his head.
The king searched for his voice. "Where..." His voice cracked. "Where am I?"
Many pairs of eyes were set upon him. He blinked innocently. He noticed the shocked looks on everyone's faces, and how bright red Setsuna was.
A smile broke across Yugi's face and he bounded to his yami's side. "Yami! You're awake! Finally!" He was bouncing up and down in sheer bliss. He hugged Yami tightly and nearly cut off his oxygen supply.
"Hey Seto, Yami's come around!" Takehiko shouted.
Yami closed his eyes. He'd missed a lot, that much he knew.
'Heh,' he thought. 'Oxymoron.'
***
Yami's head had stopped spinning and he was feeling well enough to absorb the information on what had happened. Everyone was relieved to have the old Yami back that they willingly answered all his questions.
"First of all, where are we and how did we get here?" Yami asked, back to his demanding and confident self.
Yugi giggled. "We're at one of those places Pegasus's goons use as a hang-out when they are done with their jobs for the day. It's abandoned, but there's lots of food in the kitchen and stuff. As to how we got here, well, after you defeated Jyor-lang, you passed out. Kaiba, Mokuba, Ro, Makimura, Misaki, and Tali arrived a while later, and Kaiba carried you here. This is the only bed, so since you were hurt we decided to let you use it."
Yami looked up at Kaiba, who was pretending he hadn't heard what Yugi had said about him. "Thank you," he said. "I must have been a burden for you to carry all that way."
"It was nothing," Kaiba replied hastily. "You're skin and bones. I don't understand how you walk, there is practically nothing on you. You were light."
Yami said nothing, only frowned in puzzlement. Kaiba noticed his cheeks were red. He bent over to scan his face.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "The last time I checked, you were running a fever." He placed a hand on Yami's forehead, and then felt his neck and cheeks. "Yes. You're still warm. You should probably rest some more."
"I'm fine." Yami removed Kaiba's hand, bewildered that the CEO was so concerned about him. He smiled wider so as not to worry his friends. "So, how long have I been asleep for?"
The hikaris looked at Ai, who was wearing a watch. "Well, we were all separated about two days ago," she said. "You and Jyor-lang dueled from ten o'clock yesterday until eleven. That was when you passed out. It is now..." (here she checked the time)"... twelve-thirty the day after, which means you slept for more than twenty-four hours."
Yami looked astonished. Had he really spent a whole day sleeping? He thought back to his ten-year-old birthday, when he had gone out in the rain and caught a cold, which agitated the malaria virus in a mosquito bite of his. The next day he was stricken with the deadly virus and couldn't get out of bed. He fell asleep and when he woke up, he found out his sister was turning ten that day and he had turned eleven while he was still sleeping. It had horrified him to think he had spent a year of his life in a coma. Was it a natural trait of his to always sleep for long periods of time? He supposed so. He loved to sleep.
Wait a second. How had he remembered that? "How... how..."
Taidu knew his thoughts and answered, "While you slept, you regained each of your memories. I know they were hard to go through again, but these guys -" she gestured to the other yamis "- went through it while they were awake. It was very hard for them."
Kiara blushed prettily and shifted her gaze to Kerihk, who was avoiding her eyes. Setsuna made sure Yami couldn't catch sight of her face, and Ay, Himoko, and Ahmose looked at their feet sadly.
"You mean we all have our memories back know?" Yami sucked in his breath. How much had happened since his last memory!
At that moment Mokuba dashed into the room. "Guys, Makimura is putting food on the table. It's time to eat."
"Finally!"
"I'm starving."
"I hope you didn't poison the vegetable goulash, Ai, since it seemed like you were so absorbed with Bakura to notice what you were doing."
Ai slapped Dajan across the face. Bakura raised a questioning eyebrow. He didn't know she had a crush on him.
"You should stay here and rest some more," Kaiba said to Yami.
"No, that's okay," Yami responded. "I'm fine, really."
"You've still got a fever. You're not fine."
"Yes, I am. But even if I wasn't, I can't stay here any longer. I've already held you guys up long enough. We have to reach Pegasus before he hurts our friends!"
"He'll keep them safe until we get there, trust me. It's you I'm in charge of, not them."
"In charge of? What's that supposed to mean?"
Kaiba was visibly embarrassed and angry now. "It means I'm the one everyone left to take care of you, and if I say you should stay, then you're going to stay!"
"Well, we'll let the two of you handle this one," Misaki said hurriedly. She grabbed Tali's hand, muttering something like, "Tali, would you like to serve the food with me?" Tali took the hint and helped Misaki push everyone out the door. Yugi waved once more to Yami before Tali shut the door behind them.
Now the two arch-rivals were alone with each other. Kaiba looked at Yami and crossed his arms. Yami looked back and mimicked the action.
Scowling, Kaiba declared, "You are staying."
Yami smoothed the blankets furiously. "No! I'm not tired! And you don't have any right to order me around!"
"You just don't like playing the invalid."
"Look, I feel fine! The fever will go away soon."
"Not if you don't rest and regain your energy."
"But we have to get to Pegasus's castle! Kaiba, think about it! We've lost a lot of time already! We can't -"
"YUGIOH!"
Yami clamped his mouth shut in surprise. Kaiba had actually called him by his full name! As he studied the figure of the CEO, Yami was surprised at how much he resembled his former self, the High Priest Semaret. Of course he always LOOKED like Semaret, but Yami could now remember instances in his past when he had been refusing to do something and Semaret had yelled just as firmly and solidly as he did now. In response, Yami's reaction was the same as it was 5000 years ago. He backed down meekly, silent and waiting for his mentor to continue.
Kaiba had surprised himself by his sudden outburst. His past life was stimulating his thoughts. Had he really just called Yami by his true name? The name that meant "Game King." Kaiba never wanted to admit that Yami was the Game King, but here he was, confessing it in his own little way.
He took a deep breath. "You have got to stay here, for your own good. Of course you shouldn't set off tomorrow with an empty stomach, so I'll bring you some food in here today. Tomorrow we will be having breakfast before leaving, and with any luck you'll be up before dinner today, too. But you need to stay in here for at least another hour. Even just lying down will help you gain your strength. Much as I hate to admit it... we need you. We really do."
Yami considered Kaiba's words. He looked up hopefully. "You do promise we leave tomorrow?"
Kaiba shifted the weight on one leg to the other. "Well... it depends how you're doing."
"Promise me we'll leave tomorrow no matter what, and I'll agree to what you said."
Kaiba sighed, exasperated. "Fine! We're leaving tomorrow. Promise."
Yami grinned.
"But for now, you have to rest up. I'll bring you some food."
Now the prince of Egypt put on his pouting face. Kaiba raised an eyebrow, but Yami just sulked even more.
Kaiba gave a ghost of a smile. "You know..."
"What?"
"... You look really cute when you're mad."
Yami's curses could be heard all across the island.
***
(a/n: love those asterisks!!! ^-^ Okies, almost finished here...)
Everyone was amazed that the kids could cook, or that the food would taste so superb. It probably only tasted so delicious because of how hungry everyone was, but even so, their tummies were made extremely happy.
After lunch, Hikaru and Kiara volunteered to do the dishes. Bakura offered to help as well, and began clearing the table. Kerihk stepped between his hikari and the two girls.
"Let us take care of it," he said to Kiara and Hikaru. "Seriously. Go on."
"Oh no, it's okay," Hikaru began, but Kiara interrupted her.
"All right," she said. In a whisper she added so only Kerihk could hear, "Go for it. Be careful what you say. Just remember that you love him." At the word love, she blushed again.
Kerihk nodded. "I'll try."
Kerihk joined Bakura at the sink while the others left. His hikari didn't meet his eye. Kerihk debated what subject of small talk he could use. Finally he said, "Why do we need to clean these dishes? We're not coming back here."
"We don't know that," the silver-haired hikari responded, never turning his head. "We could come back if something happens and we need to regroup. Besides, we don't want to let Pegasus know we've been here."
Kerihk turned on the faucet and dabbed the plates with a sponge. "I still say this is pointless. It's a waste of time. Who wants to spend their day cleaning? Not me!"
"No one asked you to help," Bakura interrupted, a little harsher than he'd meant.
Kerihk was startled. He kept cleaning silently and didn't speak again. Bakura felt a little guilty, but then noticed that his yami was trying to talk. Kerihk couldn't seem to find the words, so curious Bakura decided it must be something private and painful that he was afraid others would hear.
/What is it?/ he asked through their mental link.
//...// Kerihk took a deep breath. He had to say something, it was important. //... You know when people say one thing... but really mean another?//
/Yeah?/ What was the tomb robber getting at?
//Well, sometimes the person can be... really, really mean and cold-hearted... you know... and make people think they just don't care, but... sometimes people don't know the truth... you know, the person's past and how their lives are now... they just make assumptions...//
/You mean like Malik?/
Kerihk's face contorted into a look of surprise. //I suppose so, but I wasn't thinking of him.//
/Oh. Well, I was just wondering how he was doing before, so I guess he's still kind of on my mind. I hope he isn't in any trouble with any Millennium Item seekers. I wonder if he's getting along with his yami at all./
Kerihk wished they could change the subject. //I'm sure Malik and Sahure are doing fine,// he said impatiently. (Sahure was Yami Malik's real name.)
/I hope so, but they always seem to be fighting. Now that Malik knows it was Sahure who actually killed his father, he must have some ill feelings./
//It isn't like you know why Sahure did what he did!// Kerihk hissed. Bakura had no idea how much his words were hurting the tomb robber. //You don't know what his life was like back in Egypt!//
/It's no reason to kill his hikari's father!/
//How would you know?//
/Would you have killed MY father if you thought it could get me to more willingly help you collect the Millennium Items?/
Kerihk's face paled, and his sharp eyes were filled with contempt. He slammed a plate down on the counter a little too hard, causing it to break. //You little baka!// he cried as he picked up the pieces of glass.
Bakura was taken-aback by his yami's forcefulness. As Kerihk continued, Bakura heard his voice waver and crack in his head.
//You don't KNOW what it was like back there! For him and me, it was a living nightmare! How can you accuse me of ever killing your father? Do you know what it means to me?//
/I know you would do anything to collect the Millennium Items!/
//Shaddap! You know what? I thought that in a lot of ways we're the same! You lost your mother and your little sister, well I lost my entire family! But we're not the same! I wanted to tell you...Boku wo shinjite sakasou! But maybe you can't. Maybe I'm just too lost to be of any use to you now. Not that I care. Kayoi nareta michi ni mayoi komu kono goro, tachimukau watashi no tamashii. If you can't even understand me then there is no point to this conversation. I'm just going to leave you alone from now on. I will!//
Kerihk felt a lump rise to his throat no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. Bakura was one step ahead of him, and tears were already falling.
'No!' Kerihk thought in dismay. Could he despise himself any more? 'When will it all stop? Everyone is crying so much lately! I want them to always smile. It's ME who ought to be miserable, but I'm just the cause of everyone's misery!'
"If that's how you feel, then fine!" Bakura shouted. "I... I just don't care! And you're right, I don't understand you! I don't understand how you can be so - so - hateful!"
He turned and bolted out of the room, past Kiara, Yugi, and Hikaru on the couch, past Ay and Ahmose who were collecting provisions, right out the door and into the forest. He flung himself around a try and cried, all the while wondering why he was cursed with an unfeeling yami. He grabbed the Millennium Ring and held it to his face, tears streaming down his pale skin.
"I hate you," he sobbed. "I hate you..."
*
Tears brimmed Kerihk's eyes as he finished the washing vigorously. He remembered how he had been responsible for this chore in Egypt. He had been a slave of Pharaoh Ramses's, not to mention Yami's personal attendant. At home, his mother was dead and his father was never around, so whenever he was privileged to go home he would take care of the dishes to give his brother, Thutmose, a break. He hated it. He loathed it. Pharaoh Ramses didn't care about his people, and the grand vizier, Zhur, only inflicted more pain on his subjects.
Droplets fell from his deep amber eyes. His little hikari didn't know what he had gone through, but it wasn't like he had never asked. Kerihk just never chose to tell him. Couldn't Bakura see it was painful to talk about it?
"Kerihk..."
It was Yami's voice. Kerihk spun around, amazed to see the weary, feverish pharaoh in the kitchen.
"Pharaoh!" he croaked. "What are you doing up? Kaiba will kill you!"
"I heard Ryou shout. What's wrong?" Yami inquired. His voice sounded tired and hoarse.
"Nothing. We had an argument. Don't worry about it, I'm taking the blame."
"What do you mean, you're taking it?"
Kerihk rolled his eyes. "Please, I know you, like everyone else, know that I am cold-hearted and cruel. I'm ready to accept that and live up to everyone's standards. If you don't believe me, I'll throw a plate at you. Then we'll see if you believe me."
"You mean you're just giving up?" Yami looked puzzled. "But you love Ryou."
Kerihk made a hissing sound. Yami didn't take it as a good sign. He sighed.
"You do you know."
"Do what?"
"Love him. He's your aibou, and he loves you too. You have to forgive him, he doesn't know."
"Then why would he run away?"
"Well..." Yami smiled gently. "You're not that great with words, Kerihk."
Kerihk glared at him for a long time. Then, all at once, he began to laugh. He shook his head while wiping his hands on a towel. When he began to speak again, he was different. He was like the Kerihk he knew in Egypt, not the selfish, contemptuous Kerihk they had come to know and loathe.
"You really are watching, aren't you?" he said. "I want Bakura to trust me. I just don't think I deserve it."
With a happy grin, Yami answered with honesty, "I think that's for him to decide."
*
Yugi hurried after Bakura as fast as he could go. 'Why is he so upset?' the small boy wondered. 'I hope everything is okay.'
"Ryou?" Yugi called. He saw the boy leaning against a tree nearby. His eyes were red and puffy from crying. Yugi hurried over to him. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" Ryou sobbed angrily. "Why is he so mean? What did I do to make him hate me? I just wanted to be his friend! That will never happen, will it? Will it, Yugi?"
"Maybe," Yugi answered slowly, guessing his friend was talking about Kerihk. "It could happen, you know. Maybe you just had some kind of misunderstanding."
"Shyeah! And how?"
"Listen, Ryou. All the yamis just got their memories back. Do you think, possibly, Kerihk remembers something very painful that happened to him, and whatever it was you two were talking about back there affected him and caused him to act meanly towards you?"
Bakura looked up menacingly. "He's always mean to me."
//Yugi,// the raspy voice of Yami said through the mental like he shared with Yugi.
/What is it?/ Yugi asked.
//Kerihk and Ryou had an argument, something to do with Malik. If you want to help Ryou out, tell him about trust.//
/Trust? What do you want me to tell him about trust?/
Bakura waited while Yugi spoke to Yami. He looked like he was in a trance, but since Bakura had a Millennium Item of his own, he knew what it looked like when a hikari corresponded with his yami.
After Yugi got all the details from Yami, he turned to Bakura and smiled. "Ryou, when your mother and little sister died, how did you feel?" he asked softly.
The silver-haired couldn't understand where this was going, but he confessed, "Terrible. Can't you imagine that? I felt like everyone was leaving me, like they were all going off to a new world and I had to be left behind. My dad just never talks about it... I can't talk to him about much with him because after Mom and Juri's death, he just kind of shut himself up."
Yugi was having a hard time prolonging the subject when it was so tormenting for Bakura. "Did you feel like you couldn't easily trust anyone afterwards?"
"No! Of course not..." Bakura's eyes widened when he grasped what he was saying. "I did, actually. I felt like... if I let myself get close to someone, they would just leave me too. A while later, I made friends with Malik, and even then we had to say good-bye when he went back to Egypt. I've always had a hard time making friends, not because I try to be mean or unsociable, but because I'm afraid to reach out."
"Yes... well, d'you think.. maybe... you're not the only one who feels that way?"
"What do you mean?" Bakura cocked his head. "I mean, I know there are others who feel the same way, but..."
"Yami told me Kerihk lost his entire family while in Egypt," Yugi continued quietly. Bakura's face turned white. "His best friend also betrayed him, and he lost his life protecting Yami from Zhur's attack. After all that, it would take a really, really strong person not to fall into despair and distrust. Kerihk must have spent a long time living in fear to trust you. Now he wants to, but doesn't think you can trust him. Ryou... please forgive him. I - I don't know what else to say."
There was a long pause. Yugi looked down guiltily, and Bakura didn't budge from his seat on the ground. He was considering Yugi's words and thinking of how much it must have hurt Kerihk to lose his whole family. A silent tear trickled down his cheek.
"Should I leave?" Yugi asked in a hushed voice.
Bakura nodded. Yugi turned to go.
"Yugi -"
"What is it?"
A smile crossed Bakura's face. "Thank you."
***
(a/n: *huff* *huff* *huff* The marathon is nearly done... *huff* huff* *huff*)
Kaiba caught Yami out of bed talking to Kerihk. After scolding Kerihk for not sending him back to bed, he practically carried Yami to the guest room and this time locked the door. Yami laughed when he saw the key turn in the lock, remembering times in Egypt when he had refused to stay in bed so Semaret had locked him in. He fell into a sound, refreshing sleep after that, and come dinner time, he was still in bed.
Ay peered over his still body. "Should we wake him? The food is done," he inquired of Kaiba.
Kaiba shook his head. "He didn't each much of his lunch, and I doubt he's any hungrier now. But tomorrow he'll eat like a horse, so you'd better save him his share of the meal tonight just in case tomorrow's breakfast doesn't suffice."
Ay tucked the covers around the former pharaoh's shoulders, an action he would never have dared to do if the prideful king had been awake. Although the hikaris only knew Yami to be confident, strong and courageous, all the yamis knew how child-like he could be when he wasn't dueling or focused on an upcoming battle. They each had a soft spot for the son of Egypt, and liked to show affection towards him - when he wasn't awake, that is.
"You've really changed, Kaiba," Bakura said. The three of them had gone to see if Yami wanted dinner. "You used to hate both Yugi and Yami. Then you started to tolerate Yugi, but still loathe Yami. How come you suddenly like him so much?"
Kaiba blushed in embarrassment. "I don't!" he snapped. "We just need him for this. That's all. I don't care about him at all."
Ay looked at Bakura and winked knowingly.
During dinner, the table was a bustle of chatter and laughter as the kids settled down for their last peaceful night. The only two who weren't speaking much were Kerihk and Bakura, who would sneak peeks at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Kerihk really wanted to apologize for their fight, but kept holding himself back; his prideful streak had not been conquered. Bakura wasn't sure how he should begin a conversation with Kerihk.
Bakura wasn't the only one thinking of the white-haired thief. Across the table, seated between Ahmose and Hikaru, was Kiara. She couldn't keep her mind off of her love for Kerihk. She really wished she wasn't in love, because it changed everything. But now it was too late - she had fallen and fallen hard.
Ahmose noted her silence and made fun of it. "Hey Kiara, why so glum? Did the Queen of Randomness actually run out of uninteresting topics to bore the council with?" he joked.
Kiara seemed to snap out of a trance. "Huh? Oh... yeah, I guess so."
Ahmose looked doubtful. "Seriously, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned. "I haven't seen you so silent in ages."
"You wouldn't understand," Kiara sighed. She smiled. "But don't worry. It will be taken care of."
Yugi swallowed his mouthful of chicken. "OK, but just tell us if you're worried about anything."
"Yeah, Yugi wouldn't want anything to happen to his girlfriend's yami," Takehiko sniggered.
"Of course he doesn't, Takehiko! Don't you know that he is secretly in love with Kiara and is just using Hikaru as a way to her heart?" Dajan put in, laughing hysterically.
"You two are asking for a knuckle sandwich," Yugi growled, but he was pleased to see Hikaru giggling.
Misaki and Tali were talking to Ai about the latest Kaiba Corp invention while Setsuna listened with semi-interest. Kaiba and Ro got involved soon, which was Tali's plan. She started trying to beg Kaiba to invent a matchmaker game.
Kaiba sighed in frustration. "I don't know the first thing about love!" he cried. "How can I make a game with it?"
"Simple," Tali said with a grin. He had fallen into her trap. "Just have Misaki make the game with you and everything will be good."
It took a moment for Tali's imply to register in Kaiba's and Misaki's minds. When it had, they both turned bright red (a/n: they do that a lot) and turned away from each other. Tali laughed and Taidu winked at Himoko. Setsuna just rolled her golden eyes.
Half-way through dinner, Kiara couldn't take the tension between herself and Kerihk anymore. She pushed back her chair and quickly walked out of the room and out the door, much to the dismay of her friends.
Hikaru was the first to make sense of what had just happened. She slid out of her chair. "I'll be back. I want to see what's wrong." With that, she skipped outside, leaving the others just as confused as before.
*
Kiara sat down on a bench beneath a tree, letting the wind play with her hair and kiss her face. She hugged herself and shivered, even though it was relatively warm out.
"Kiara?"
The princess caught her hikari's eyes. She beamed at her. "Nan desu ka, aibou?" she asked.
Hikaru settled herself besides Kiara and leaned against her chest. Kiara slipped and arm around Hikaru's small body and held her close.
"What's the matter, Kiara?" Hikaru mumbled lovingly. "You seem so distant lately. Is it just because you're worried about Pegasus's power, or is it something else?"
Kiara sighed, blowing hair out of her face. "I can't lie to you," she murmured. "All right, here's the truth - I'm in love."
Hikaru's wide lavender eyes shifted to gaze at Kiara's beautiful face. "In love?" she repeated. "That's neat. With who?"
Smirking, the princess twirled a lock of rich brown hair. "Would you believe Kerihk?"
Hikaru gaped at her, amazed. "Really? That's awesome!"
"Well, he's awesome anyway," Kiara chuckled. She frowned. A shadow seemed to cover her face. "I can't have him, though." Her voice was like a whisper of wind, coming and going before anyone realized it was there.
"You can't?" Hikaru echoed, cocking her head in quandary. "Why not?"
Kiara gave a longing sign that was more like a moan. "Hikaru... I just can't fall in love."
"Koi ni ochite kawatteku no mo ii ne."
"I know that... but, oi! Kotoba dekinai iu jibun na. You wouldn't understand. I'm not allowed to fall in love."
"Not allowed?" Why wouldn't she stop repeating everything Kiara said? "Of course you're allowed."
"I'm not, Hikaru - I'm just not!"
Kiara jumped to her feet and rushed to the nearest tree. She placed her palms on its rough bark and leaned her head against her hands. She seemed to be battling inwardly.
She looked over her shoulder at her anxious hikari. "Gomen nasai," she said hoarsely. "I do love him. I guess you never know. Maybe those feelings will stop coming and I'll forget... but it feels like they won't stop building up inside me... doushite mo iya menai kedo. If not, then I'll figure something knew out. I don't know. Maybe love can last anything. Maybe it can't."
Hikaru placed a hand on Kiara's back. "Don't worry. I know it can. I know it can."
The hikari and yami stood in thoughtful silent as the night overtook Duelist Kingdom.
***
Night had come like a blanket overlapping a sleeping body. The hikaris and yamis all went to their designated sleeping places - couches, chairs, or (if they were lucky), sleeping bags. Everyone was ready for a good night's rest to re energize and set off early the next morning.
Ai undid her ponytail and let her long brown hair fall gracefully down her back. She noticed Takehiko and Dajan watching it fall hungrily, but Bakura took no notice. Disappointed, she lay down her head, trying to think of a way to get him to notice her.
Bakura was certainly feeling preoccupied, but even if he hadn't been he still wouldn't have cared about the way Ai's hair spread all across the pillow. He was still troubled by his argument with Kerihk, and lay awake for a long time after the lights were turned out, just like he had the night before. He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.
A finger poked his back lightly, and his eyes snapped open. He sat up to find out that the finger belonged to Kerihk. Kerihk's hair was falling over his eyes, hiding the sorrow and hurt he felt. He was so full of emotion that even though he tried to hide it, Bakura felt that his spirit was strained. He was shocked that he felt such a strong connection with his yami.
The stared into each other's matching eyes. Suddenly they both spoke out, "I'm sorry, I didn't know!"
Kerihk blinked. "Bakura, I feel really -"
Bakura placed a finger at his lips. "It's okay," he said. "Don't talk about it. Are we friends? Friends who can... trust each other?"
Kerihk beamed at him affectionately. "Yes, of course, hikari."
"If that's the case... call me Ryou."
The silver-haired yami nuzzled his hikari's forehead. Bakura enjoyed the tender moment, knowing even now that they would be rare. "Good-night, Kerihk."
"Good-night... aibou."
The two were finally able to fall deeply and peacefully asleep after that, their minds free of worry and fear. Kerihk felt joy in his heart. He didn't care if anyone else thought he was cold-hearted, all that mattered was his hikari's opinion. Bakura was glad he finally had Kerihk for a friend, like he'd always wanted.
They were sure they had been alone for that loving moment, but one other had witnessed it. Yugi felt glad that Bakura and Kerihk were at last getting along together, but his heart sank when he thought of Yami. Most of the hikaris and yamis were sleeping near each other, their presence comforting their other half. Yugi was the only one whose dark half wasn't nearby.
Slowly he sat up and made sure Kaiba was asleep. He got to his feet and tiptoed away, soon reaching the door of the room where Yami slept. He turned the knob. It wouldn't budge; Kaiba had locked it. Luckily Kaiba had left the key on a nearby chair, so he picked it up and tried to fit it into the slot. After numerous tries he finally managed to open the door, and as he did so it creaked noisily. He stopped to make sure no one was awake. All that happened was Ahmose turning over in his sleep with a grunt, so Yugi quietly stole into the room. Fleet and silent as a deer he closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief.
The pharaoh's hikari tiptoed to Yami's bedside and gently placed his hand on Yami's forehead. He was glad the fever was beginning to go down.
"Yami," he whispered, tracing his best friend's cheekbones.
The only he received was a content smile as Yugi's finger slid down his neck. Yugi took that as an invitation and climbed into bed with Yami. He pressed his face against Yami's chest and breathed deeply, finally feeling sweet sleep come upon him. Now he was sure he was safe.
Now he was sure everything would be all right.
*
A/N: DONE! DUN DUN DUN... DUN DUN!!! So much for this being short. Lessee... without including the author's note or the info on the characters, this chapter is... nineteen pages, I think. Shorter than usual (thankfully). I promise I'll try my best to cut back on beginning author's notes.
Joey: You'd better!
Tea: Cuz they're pointless and they drive everyone nuts!
Angel: *whines* But I like them! *brightens* Weren't Bakura and Kerihk cute with each other? Reminder - THIS IS NOT, NOT, NOT SHONEN AI!!! It is all completely a friendship fic, or else its girl/boy. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?
Yami and Yugi: Sir, yes, sir!
From the Desk of Ahmose, son of Ramose, Warrior of Egypt:
-tachi - and company
bakamono - stupid person
daijobu desu ka - are you all right
oyasumi nasai - good-night
shi-n, watashi no ai - shh, my love
uerukamutou - welcome
watashi no tenshi - my angel
boku wo shinjite sakasou - you can trust me
kayoi nareta michi ni mayoi komu kono goro - at this moment, I am lost in the familiar streets
tachimukau watashi no tamashii - to fight against my spirit
nan desu ka - what is it
koi ni ochite kawatteku no mo ii ne - but a chance to fall in love isn't a bad idea
oi - hey
kotoba dekinai iu jibun na - words cannot say enough
gomen nasai - I'm sorry
doushite mo iya menai kedo - no matter how I am unable to deny them
(Some of these phrases are right out of the Japanese YGO theme song, "Kawaita Sakebi," by Field of View ^-^)
No CHARACTER OF THE DAY today because I am sick of this chapter (I think it was reeeeeeally boring).
Next time: Chapter Eleven, Tsuyosa no Enjin (as told by Yami): Well, I'm feeling great today! Anyway that is what I told Kaiba. We left to go searching for Pegasus's castle, but instead that good-for-nothing nutcase with the Millennium Eye played a nasty trick on the hikaris - he made them act out a play in front of the rest of us! It was extremely embarrassing, especially for me since Hikaru's freaky character was created to be like me (I am so going to kill Zhur when I see him). But right in the middle of the performance, the stage went dark! The yamis created a Circle of Power so they would keep together, but Ay and Kerihk broke off! Meahwhile, the hikaris tried to find each other, and Hikaru managed to meet up with Ryou and Yugi. Two oracles arrived and spoke to them about much, including Ryou's dreams. Then we were broke back to the real world, only to be separated once again! There's no such thing as a free lunch for our crew, it seems.
TBC!!!
Hee hee... when Valentines Day comes I WILL BE FOURTEEN! Dun dun dun dun dunn!!! *drum score* *silence* *crickets chirp* Eh heh... yeah. Oookay....
I want to find a good YGO story to read. I have a list of favs a mile long (I just love The Sickness, The Red and Black Rivers, and Yugioh! Frontier) but I'm still searching for something different. I guess I want to find a story that has an "innocent" Yami Yugi, like what I like to write about. Most Yami-centered fics make him really stern and stuff or he's gay. o.O
Time to wrap it up before this a/n becomes as long as last chaps. I do NOT own YGO. No further information required. (Why do we even need to do a disclaimer? Everyone knows the owners of YGO don't write YGO doujinshi. :-( )
1. Yami 2. Hikari 3. Millennium Item 4. Yami's Power 5. Hikari's Power 6. Item's Power 7. Color
1. Yugioh 2. Yugi Muto 3. Puzzle 4. Erm... I just call his power the "Power of the Millennium Seal" as in the signature, not the animal 5. Golden Detonation Beam and something I haven't named, mwahaha 6. Sends people to the Shadow Realm, does weird things, activates at Yami's will or Yugi's emotions 7. Yellow
1. Kerihk 2. Ryou Bakura 3. Ring (it should have been the Millennium Dream Catcher ^-^) 4. ESP (aka the Balance) 5. ESP (Balance) and something else... What is it? It's a secret! *mwahaha* 6. Opens portals to the Shadow Realm, can detect other Millennium Items, can combine them (how? you'll see....), and anything else I decide it can do (with author powers!) 7. White (how ironic)
1. Kiara 2. Hikaru Daichi 3. Pendant 4. Flight/Wind/Light 5. Eh... the light in the night? I dunno what to call Hikaru's power yet... 6. Makes light in darkness, senses when others are in trouble 7. Pink
1. Setsuna 2. Ai Itsuko (her initials spell her name: A.I.!) 3. Mirror 4. Super-strength 5. Also superstrength, sometimes called the "Power of Love" cuz not only does "Ai" mean "love," but she can only use her superstrength when she's fighting for someone she loves 6. Shows other Item Bearers, shows foes, can reverse magic but it is dangerous to use it to get out of another realm cuz you might end up somewhere between the Real World and the Shadow Realm - in other words you're lost 7. Red (in Egypt red signifies evil but Setsuna and Ai are not evil so I'm using it to signify the American way - love)
1. Ahmose 2. Takehiko Midori 3. Sword 4. Fire 5. Flame (how original) 6. Gets you out of sticky situations (I guess), makes the bearer an expert fighter when he uses it 7. Orange
1. Ay 2. Dajan Hada 3. Key 4. Water 5. Eh, water as well 6. Unlocks any lock 7. Light Blue
1. Himoko 2. Misaki Hikawa 3. Spoon 4. Healing 5. Healing (no duh) 6. Stops time 7. Navy
1. Taidu 2. Tali Takada 3. Broach 4. Of neither world, acts as a go-betweener for the... um... fates? 5. Pretty much just a peacemaker 6. Taps into almost inaccessible magic 7. Green
1. Zhur 2. Pegasus J. Crawford 3. Eye 4. Wouldn't you like to know 5. Like I'd tell you 6. Captures people's souls and a lot of other stuff that I don't feel like telling you 7. Shadowy Gray
Hikari No Yuugi
Play of Light
by Angel
Chapter Ten: Jimiru Maiho-mu
Like My Home
It was hard for Yugi-tachi to believe there was a restaurant on Duelist Kingdom, however remote it was. There weren't any waiters or chefs to be seen; Kaiba thought it had been a hangout for Pegasus's goons when they were hungry after scourging the island for defeated duelists.
Even so, the fact remained that the restaurant was there. They decided to make good use of the predicament. They walked inside, flicked on a light, and found themselves in a quaint little den, complete with sleeping bags and a fire place. There was a small kitchen in the back which stored quite a bit of food, one room with a bed for the overseers to use when they stopped by, and a bathroom. (The kids all fought to be the first in the bathroom.)
Kaiba had been carrying the injured, unconscious Yami in his arms the entire time they had been searching for a place to stay. The pharaoh was quite light, considering his small size, and thin, so it hadn't been too hard. Still, he couldn't help becoming weary after a while. He was glad when he could put Yami down on the bed in the little room and give his muscles a rest.
Yami still had a fired-up look on his face, like he was dreaming intensely. This didn't concern Kaiba, though - it was his injuries he was worried about.
"Here you go, Seto," Misaki said as she came up behind him. She handed him a wet wash cloth and some bandages she had found in a first aid kit in the bathroom.
"Thanks," Kaiba replied, taking the wash cloth and dabbing the cuts on Yami's face, arms, and legs with it.
Misaki watched him tenderly dress the still figure's wounds. She smiled. 'Much as he hates to admit it, I think Seto really likes Yami,' she thought. 'Why else would he be doing this?'
"Can I help, Seto?" she asked.
Kaiba looked at her for a minute. "Yes," he answered. "Keep the others away from here, especially Yugi. Don't tell him what kind of condition Yami is in. I think it's better if he doesn't worry himself too much."
Misaki nodded and left.
Kaiba turned back to Yami. He wiped the mud and caked blood off his face, all the while trying to figure out how he managed to hurt himself so badly in a duel. When he came to the burns from the fire he stopped, wondering how to treat them. Finally he applied cold water to the burns, which luckily were few and not very harsh, and placed gauze and bandages on all his injuries. There was nothing left but to wait for him to wake up.
"Bakamono," Kaiba whispered. "You're so reckless. Think about the consequences to yourself once in while, why don't you?"
Of course there was no response. Kaiba sighed. He knew Yami would be all right, but the waiting was killing him.
'Oh well,' he thought. 'I guess I'd better go see what Mokuba is doing.'
Before he left, he remembered to turn off the lights.
~
The night went by in a flash, considering as soon as Kaiba left Yami's room everyone took to the sleeping bags for some shut-eye. There were a couple less sleeping bags than there were kids, so Mokuba and Kaiba doubled up, as did Dajan and Takehiko. As soon as the lights were turned off, everyone fell asleep as soon as their head hit the pillow.
Kaiba forced himself awake a few times in the night to check on Yami. By eleven Kaiba recognized a fever. He took a wet cloth and pressed it against Yami's forehead, wiping away beads of sweat. The pharaoh still seemed to be having a strange dream, but even so, Kaiba was surprised when he began to talk through his sleep.
Still in a state of unconsciousness, Yami groaned and suddenly reached up with one feeble, shaking hand. He grasped Kaiba's wrist unknowingly. Kaiba felt his skin; it was cold and clammy.
"Kia...ra..." Yami murmured, tears springing to his sleeping eyes. "I have to... Ryúnade... I must..."
"Yami..." Kaiba whispered, astonished. Yami's grip on his wrist weakened, and his hand fell against the sheets. He spoke no more that night. Kaiba left very confused.
Bakura was having a restless sleep as well. He tossed and turned in his sleeping bag, images sweeping across his unconscious mind.
~*He couldn't tell where he was, but wherever it was, it was dark. And cold. Bakura shivered and hugged himself.
He heard footsteps coming his way. A woman with long, flowing blonde hair and fierce, evil eyes was now standing a ways ahead of him. Curiously, Bakura watched the scene before him unfold.
The woman clenched her fist. "I will have my revenge," she growled, "on the one who destroyed me - that wretched living Chalice of Life, Kiara!"
Her head flew back, and she was engulfed by smoke. When the smoke cleared, she was nowhere to be seen.
The vision wasn't over yet. Bakura saw glimpses of each of Pegasus's Dark Shadow Gamers through the fog.
Iakara, Storm Gamer.
Jyor-lang, Dusk Gamer.
Kutu-shui, Dawn Gamer.
Zhong-wan, Earth Gamer.
Ching Din-ling, Melody Gamer.
Kim Jo-jie, Ice Gamer.
Yuu-tori, Ghost Gamer.
Hiroshi, Battle Gamer.
Kitai, Jeopardy Gamer.
Chan Nan-da, Wood Gamer.
Their faces were so cold, so lifeless. Yet their eyes gleamed with passion. They were from the Shadow Realm. How could it be possible that their existence was so real if they were merely the essence of lost souls in the dark world?
The Dark Shadow Gamers disappeared in the same manner as the other woman had. In their place grew dark creatures with glowing red eyes. They opened their wide, fanged mouths and hissed at Bakura. All around them water was flowing.
Bakura stepped back. The creatures advanced on him.
"The power!" they shrieked. "We come for the power! Power of precognition!"
Bakura's deep amber eyes widened in fear. One of the creatures lifted its clawed hand and swiped at Bakura's face. The cut stung and burned like anything. He winced, and let out an ear-splitting scream.
"Aaaaaahh -" *~
" - aaaaaaah!"
The kids awoke with a start when Bakura's scream pierced the air. Bakura was sitting up in his sleeping bag, clutching his face as if it hurt him. Hikaru was the first to react; she rushed to him and yanked his hands from his face. She put her own small, gentle hands on his cheeks.
"Ryou!" she cried. "Daijobu desu ka? Look at me, Ryou!"
Yugi put his hands on Bakura's shaking back. "It's okay, Ryou. Really, it's okay. It was only a dream."
Ai, Takehiko, and Dajan pulled themselves awake and joined the other three. Misaki and Tali stayed with Mokuba and Makiumura, who were rather frightened by Bakura's sudden outburst. Kaiba and Ro stood above the kids in confusion.
"What happened?" Ro asked. "Why did you scream?"
Bakura's head was back in his hands, but the pain had subsided and there wasn't a mark on his face. Could he have dreamed the pain too? It had been so real...
He grimaced as he remembered the sickening appearance of those - those - creatures. He gulped, and searched for an explanation. Finally he said, "I'm - uh, sorry I woke you all up. I just had a nightmare, but I'm all right now."
"Are you sure?" Ai inquired, worry in her voice.
Bakura faked a smile and nodded. "Yes. Don't worry.
Kaiba shook his head and turned around. "Well, if that's all the problem was, get back to bed, everyone," he instructed.
Yugi looked up suddenly. "Kaiba..." His face was etched with worry. "Is Yami awake yet? How's he doing?"
Kaiba looked away, trying to think of a way to tell Yugi without worrying him too much. "Still asleep," he answered slowly. "He's... got a fever, but I'm sure he'll be all right. His wounds are healing nicely. He should wake up tomorrow."
Yugi's face tensed in anxiety. "Oh... I see."
Kaiba stared sympathetically at Yami's light. "Don't worry. I know he'll be okay. Right?"
Yugi gave a small smile. "Yeah."
After that, everyone snuggled up in the covers of their sleeping bags and returned to dream land. Only Bakura and Yugi remained awake for a while after, Bakura brooding over his dream and Yugi worrying about his yami.
/Please be all right, Yami,/ Yugi said mentally, sending his thoughts to Yami in hopes of a response. Receiving none, Yugi sighed and rolled over to face the other side. He found himself looking directly into Bakura's wide-open, deep amber eyes.
Yugi smiled. "You're sure you're okay?" he whispered.
"Um..."
Yugi looked at him, concerned. "Remember what you, Hikaru, and I promised each other? We'd always be there for each other. So we'll tell each other when anything's wrong. OK?"
Bakura gave him a grateful look. "Yes. To be honest, I'm not okay. My last dream proved true. I don't understand this one anymore than the last, but if I had been able to figure out what the first one meant then maybe yamis and hikaris would still be together right now. And then there are those black-outs I've been having... I've never had anything like that happen to me before."
Yugi looked worried. "Didn't you say leukemia runs in your family?"
"Yes, from my mother's side. Both my mom and Juri died from it."
"... You don't think it's possible your black-outs might be a symptom..."
Bakura furrowed his brow. "I don't think so," he said, but his face looked confused. "I know a lot about leukemia, and I don't remember ever hearing that black-outs are a symptom. I mean, once a person is deep in cancer's grasp, they might pass out sometimes, but not before they're diagnosed."
Yugi looked relieved. "I'm glad for that! I wish there was a real cure for cancer."
Bakura nodded. "Yeah. They have chemo and radiation, and other procedures. But nothing ensures a victim's survival." His face lit up. "That's why... when I graduate, I'll go to medical school and become a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment!"
"Ah! So you can find a cure for it, in remembrance of your mother and sister?"
"Yep! I don't know if I'll be able to find a cure, but I swear I'll find a way to at least improve treatments."
"If anyone can find a cure, you can, Ryou," Yugi said happily. "It makes me happy thinking that your future occupation will be something that can help you overcome your pain. You can only get revenge for your mom's and sister's deaths by battling cancer in your own way. And while you're working for such a noble cause, you can be sure we'll all be there to back you up! Don't worry about your dreams, either. Everything will be all right."
"Thank you, Yugi," Bakura smiled, curling up tighter in his sleeping bag. "Yami will be all right, too. You'll see!"
"I know it. But now we really should get to sleep. Ryou oyasumi nasai."
"Oyasumi nasai."
The two boys buried themselves in their blankets, alone with their thoughts, until sweet sleep finally overtook them.
***
Upon awakening the next day, the kids set about making a big feast. The restaurant was deserted, that much was true, but in the kitchen they found a lot of food. They pitched together to make a delicious meal, laughing and enjoying their much-deserved vacation.
Yugi, Hikaru, and Bakura were making hamburgers together. Yugi loved to play with the meat and roll it into balls, and Hikaru was great at seasoning the meat just right. Bakura fried some onions besides them, and when the hamburger meat was ready he grilled them as well.
Ai, who was never far from Bakura, set about making vegetable goulash (a/n: ok, I have no idea if a fifteen-year-old would know how to make goulash, but whateva). She was caught watching Bakura several times by Takehiko and Dajan (neither of whom could cook, so they were setting the table), who sniggered and teased her silently. She picked up her skillet and waved it in front of their faces, all the while blushing fiercely.
Tali and Misaki were preparing mashed potatoes, and Kaiba and Ro were helping Mokuba and Makimura with the only food they knew how to make - chocolate chip cookies. The kitchen was full of warmth and laughter it had never known when Pegasus's goons had dominated it.
Hikaru sniffed the cookies that were already baking. "Mmm, they smell great, you two," she complimented. Mokuba and Makimura swelled with pride at the praise.
"Your seasoning is great too, Hikaru," Yugi said.
Hikaru blushed. "I'm really not that great of a cook. Hamburgers are my specialty. Everything else is usually a disaster."
"You're being to hard on yourself." Yugi wagged his finger, but he was blushing too. "You're going to make someone a great wife someday, Hikaru."
At that Hikaru turned even redder. She mumbled a "thank you" and busied herself with washing the cooking board.
Yugi's face bore a dreamy look as he watched her. 'I never thought I could be this much in love,' he thought warmly. 'We just met, but I feel like I've known her all my life. She's so perfect!'
Little did he realize Hikaru thought the same of him.
At that moment, the group heard knocking at the door. Tali wiped her hands and said, "Now, who could that be?"
"Be careful," Takehiko cautioned. "Don't forget that Pegasus has traps set all over the place."
Yugi, Hikaru, Mokuba, and Makimura were left in charge of the kitchen while the others went to see who was at the door. Tali placed her hand on the doorknob and waited.
"I don't think they heard us," a muffled voice said from outside.
"Try knocking again," another voice suggested. Tali's eyes widened. She recognized that voice!
She yanked the door open. "Taidu!" she exclaimed, flinging herself around her yami.
Taidu laughed. "It's nice to see you too, aibou," she chuckled, returning Tali's embrace.
Kaiba, Ro, and the hikaris gaped. There, next to Tali and Taidu, were all the lost yamis!
"Himoko!"
"Setsuna!"
"Kerihk!"
"Ay!"
"Ahmose!"
All the hikaris cried out and tackled their yamis in fits of laughter. Kaiba and Ro giggled uncontrollably, but Kiara stood off by herself. She looked up, trying to force her sad lavender eyes to dance like they usually do.
"Seto," she asked quietly, "where's Hikaru?"
Seto stared at her. She seemed... different. Her eyes looked so burdened. "She's... in the kitchen."
"No, I'm not!"
Everyone looked to the doorway. Hikaru stood there like a statue, gazing at Kiara is if in a trance. Tears pricked her large eyes.
There was silence as the yami and hikari observed each other. Hikaru's lower lip trembled, and she let out a heart-breaking cry as she ran into Kiara's arms.
"Kiara! You're here! You're here!"
"Shi-n, watashi no ai..."
Kiara pressed Hikaru against her body lovingly. "I missed you so much."
Tears rolled down Hikaru's rosy cheeks. "I felt your pain... I was really worried."
Kiara said nothing in response.
They lead the yamis into the kitchen, chatting loudly about their adventures. Upon entering the kitchen, Mokuba and Makimura shrieked happily and bounced around, holding their freshly-baked cookies. Yugi whirled around with a cheery, "Uerukamutou! We were worried about you guys!"
"Yugi-chan!" Kiara exclaimed, Hikaru's usual suffix rubbing off in her speech. She rushed at him with a hug. Cupping her hands around his reddening cheeks, she giggled, "How are you doing today, watashi no tenshi?"
Yugi was blushing thoroughly. He could hear Hikaru laughing quietly in the background, and knew the looks on the faces of his friends were ones of amusement. "I'm doing good."
"You're taking care of my aibou?"
"Of course," Yugi replied meekly, redder than ever.
Kiara patted his head a few times with a cute smile on her Egyptian face. "You're a good boy, Yugi," she complimented. Yugi wasn't sure how to react.
The queen of Egypt suddenly grew serious. She looked directly into Yugi's beautiful eyes. "Yugi, where is your Yami?" she asked, hoping no spontaneous reaction would occur if the feeling in her gut that something was wrong with Yami proved true.
Yugi's gaze traveled to the room where Yami still lay unconscious. He looked down, thinking of how to explain when he felt like he himself would begin to cry. He decided not to say anything, but took her hand and led her to the room.
Kiara allowed herself to be pulled along by her brother's hikari, whom she was beginning love as much as her own aibou. She was confused by his actions, and feared the worst. When they reached the room where Yami slept, Yugi opened the door with a look of worry and guilt on his face.
Curiously Kiara entered, while the others hung back. It was easy to spot her brother's small frame beneath the soft sheets of the bed. A shadow covered her eyes when she realized he was hurt. There were bandages on his face where the cuts had been opened and reopened many times during his battle with Jyor-lang. His hands were wrapped where the fire had scorches them, and his waist and ankles were also bandaged because the chains had sliced the skin. He looked tattered and pathetic to any human's mind, but to Kiara, he was still the most beautiful person ever.
"Yami..." Kiara swooped down on him and brushed his face with her hand. She placed her ear to his chest and listened for a heartbeat. It was there, pulsing at its usual rate, a steady and comforting rhythm that soothed her soul. Kiara's and Yami's heartbeats had always been exactly the same, in more ways than one. It was part of the reason they were so close.
She heard a gasp behind her. Setsuna and Himoko had decided not to gaze from afar, but instead get an up close view of the young pharaoh. Setsuna was the one who had gasped, her face displaying her fear.
Kiara smiled. By now all the yamis except for Yami himself knew that Setsuna was in love with the king of Egypt. Yami hadn't the slightest clue she felt that way about him, but Kiara knew, and understood what Setsuna must be feeling.
"Don't worry," she said gently to the Hebrew spirit. "His heartbeat is the same. It goes to the rhythm of the Nile, just as mine does."
Setsuna still seemed doubtful. Himoko joined Kiara by his body and laid her hands on his face. There were very few times when she could entirely heal wounds, just make them less deep or not fatal. Hopefully, since the wounds had already had time to heal on their own, she could rid him of them for good. She closed her eyes and chanted a spell while the others looked on in silence.
Moments later the spell was complete, and Himoko removed her hands. Smiling, she told the group, "He's going to be fine. The wounds are nearly gone, a lot of them have completely disappeared."
Kiara breathed a sigh of relief, and Setsuna wiped the sweat from her upper lip. They took one last look at Yami, and exited his room.
Kiara was the first to reach the doorway, and come face-to-face with Yugi. His gaze was steady and demanding, so much like her brother's. "Is he okay?" Yugi wanted to know. "Please tell me he's all right."
Before she could open her mouth to answer, little Yugi burst into a flood of tears that rolled down his face in a concurrent stream. Kiara did the one thing that came naturally to her - she spread her arms open in the gesture for a hug. Gratefully Yugi rushed into her embrace, and laid his head on her shoulder. Salty tears fell on the pink material of Kiara's jacket. She held the boy close to her just as Yami would have done if he hadn't been injured. Then again, if he hadn't been injured, Yugi wouldn't be crying right now.
She picked him up, surprised by her own strength. She really wasn't that much taller than Yugi, but somehow she knew she could carry him. She took him to the nearest chair and sat down, cradling him in her arms. Tenderly she spoke to him and reminded him that everything would be all right. Everything would always be all right.
The sobs kept sounding long after the tears had ended. Yugi's minute body shook and ached. Kiara massaged his shoulders, comforting him. Yugi opened his eyes when he realized she was singing. It was an Egyptian song he didn't recognize, but the accent rolled off her tongue like a poem. Her soprano voice was gentle and harmonious, like her heart. He looked up at her.
"Kiara, your voice is amazing," he whispered between sobs, which were becoming quieter by the second.
The princess smiled. "Don't tell," she whispered back. "I'm afraid I don't sing much anymore. Not even Hikaru has heard me. There are reasons, but I'll throw those reasons away for Hikaru or Yami, or even you, Yugi. Like I said, you're a good boy."
It was amazing, Ai thought, that a yami and hikari who weren't partners could be so tender with one another. Hikaru didn't look jealous in the least; rather, she seemed relieved that Yugi was finally letting go of all the pain inside him.
Eventually everyone else migrated to the kitchen to give Yugi and Kiara a moment alone, but Setsuna lingered behind. She looked at Yami's door. Her heart yearned to go back in that room and make everything okay. Kiara had been saying for a long time that everything would be all right. They asked her why, but she just said, "It just will. Trust me. Everything will be all right." Setsuna wanted to make sure it was.
She wanted him so badly. If Zhur didn't drive her crazy with all his tricks, her unrequited love for Yami would. How could she fall in love with him? Why was she so cursed?
Hesitantly she opened his door, then quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching. Kiara and Yugi were still lost in their own world. The others were setting the table in the kitchen. She was alone with the still body of her love.
Of course she walked in. Of course she gazed at his face with the eyes of a lover who knew they loved the most perfect being in the world. To her eyes, that was what he is. She realized she was turning into a copy of Kiara, who firmly believed her brother could do no wrong. Setsuna didn't quite believe that - she was a strong girl and didn't idolize the male gender the way most of the girls in her time had. She knew he made mistakes. That was part of why she loved him and thought he was perfect. Perfect people weren't people who didn't make mistakes. They were people who could right them with a cheerful and remorseful heart.
She hated herself at the moment. She hated that she even had a heart. She had a bad temper and ill disposition, at least that was how she saw herself. She knew now that her friends accepted and loved her, but she felt guilty that they did when she could be so mean. How could she fall in love with Yami? He was wonderful and adorable in every way. Their personalities were opposite. Completely and undeniably opposite. Even the dumbest person in the world could tell you that.
The thing was, she knew he would never love her back. Yami was carefree and naive beyond imagination. He had a head for dueling strategies and not much else. It was true he was great at practically everything back in Egypt, and the only thing he didn't seem to know how to do in this century was work the telephone (Setsuna personally despised the ringing object that made her jump every time it made that obnoxious noise). He loved his friends but emotions were foreign to him. He just went with the flow and did what his heart told him without second guesses. He couldn't fall in love because if he did, he would never realize it.
Besides, she didn't deserve him. She knew that. Knew that. But she could content herself with watching from afar, couldn't she?
By now she was by his bedside, looking at his serene face with a loving tenderness no one outmatched but his mother (and possibly, Setsuna added when she thought about it, his adorable hikari and ever-adoring sister). Despite the bandages and caked dirt, she would have to agree with Kiara - he was beautiful.
She should pull away now, before she did something she would regret later. She couldn't have him, it didn't matter how much she wanted him! But he was right there. His lips were right there. He would never know, he was asleep. Asleep and dreaming things she couldn't imagine.
Gently she leaned forward and brushed his cheek with one tanned finger. His skin felt warm, which was a good sign. She brought her face to his and lightly kissed his lips. Heat rose to his face. He was unconscious, obviously, and didn't tighten the kiss. She didn't mind. She enjoyed the feeling of warmth in her heart.
All at once she realized what she was doing. She panicked and moved away a little too quickly, tripping over a wastebasket on the floor. She screamed and toppled over.
With a jolt, Yami awoke at long last. He heard voices cry as they entered the room, but the picture was disoriented. The outline of Kiara helped Setsuna up. Yugi - was that him? He couldn't tell - was pushing the wastebasket remains back inside. He blinked and shifted his head.
The king searched for his voice. "Where..." His voice cracked. "Where am I?"
Many pairs of eyes were set upon him. He blinked innocently. He noticed the shocked looks on everyone's faces, and how bright red Setsuna was.
A smile broke across Yugi's face and he bounded to his yami's side. "Yami! You're awake! Finally!" He was bouncing up and down in sheer bliss. He hugged Yami tightly and nearly cut off his oxygen supply.
"Hey Seto, Yami's come around!" Takehiko shouted.
Yami closed his eyes. He'd missed a lot, that much he knew.
'Heh,' he thought. 'Oxymoron.'
***
Yami's head had stopped spinning and he was feeling well enough to absorb the information on what had happened. Everyone was relieved to have the old Yami back that they willingly answered all his questions.
"First of all, where are we and how did we get here?" Yami asked, back to his demanding and confident self.
Yugi giggled. "We're at one of those places Pegasus's goons use as a hang-out when they are done with their jobs for the day. It's abandoned, but there's lots of food in the kitchen and stuff. As to how we got here, well, after you defeated Jyor-lang, you passed out. Kaiba, Mokuba, Ro, Makimura, Misaki, and Tali arrived a while later, and Kaiba carried you here. This is the only bed, so since you were hurt we decided to let you use it."
Yami looked up at Kaiba, who was pretending he hadn't heard what Yugi had said about him. "Thank you," he said. "I must have been a burden for you to carry all that way."
"It was nothing," Kaiba replied hastily. "You're skin and bones. I don't understand how you walk, there is practically nothing on you. You were light."
Yami said nothing, only frowned in puzzlement. Kaiba noticed his cheeks were red. He bent over to scan his face.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. "The last time I checked, you were running a fever." He placed a hand on Yami's forehead, and then felt his neck and cheeks. "Yes. You're still warm. You should probably rest some more."
"I'm fine." Yami removed Kaiba's hand, bewildered that the CEO was so concerned about him. He smiled wider so as not to worry his friends. "So, how long have I been asleep for?"
The hikaris looked at Ai, who was wearing a watch. "Well, we were all separated about two days ago," she said. "You and Jyor-lang dueled from ten o'clock yesterday until eleven. That was when you passed out. It is now..." (here she checked the time)"... twelve-thirty the day after, which means you slept for more than twenty-four hours."
Yami looked astonished. Had he really spent a whole day sleeping? He thought back to his ten-year-old birthday, when he had gone out in the rain and caught a cold, which agitated the malaria virus in a mosquito bite of his. The next day he was stricken with the deadly virus and couldn't get out of bed. He fell asleep and when he woke up, he found out his sister was turning ten that day and he had turned eleven while he was still sleeping. It had horrified him to think he had spent a year of his life in a coma. Was it a natural trait of his to always sleep for long periods of time? He supposed so. He loved to sleep.
Wait a second. How had he remembered that? "How... how..."
Taidu knew his thoughts and answered, "While you slept, you regained each of your memories. I know they were hard to go through again, but these guys -" she gestured to the other yamis "- went through it while they were awake. It was very hard for them."
Kiara blushed prettily and shifted her gaze to Kerihk, who was avoiding her eyes. Setsuna made sure Yami couldn't catch sight of her face, and Ay, Himoko, and Ahmose looked at their feet sadly.
"You mean we all have our memories back know?" Yami sucked in his breath. How much had happened since his last memory!
At that moment Mokuba dashed into the room. "Guys, Makimura is putting food on the table. It's time to eat."
"Finally!"
"I'm starving."
"I hope you didn't poison the vegetable goulash, Ai, since it seemed like you were so absorbed with Bakura to notice what you were doing."
Ai slapped Dajan across the face. Bakura raised a questioning eyebrow. He didn't know she had a crush on him.
"You should stay here and rest some more," Kaiba said to Yami.
"No, that's okay," Yami responded. "I'm fine, really."
"You've still got a fever. You're not fine."
"Yes, I am. But even if I wasn't, I can't stay here any longer. I've already held you guys up long enough. We have to reach Pegasus before he hurts our friends!"
"He'll keep them safe until we get there, trust me. It's you I'm in charge of, not them."
"In charge of? What's that supposed to mean?"
Kaiba was visibly embarrassed and angry now. "It means I'm the one everyone left to take care of you, and if I say you should stay, then you're going to stay!"
"Well, we'll let the two of you handle this one," Misaki said hurriedly. She grabbed Tali's hand, muttering something like, "Tali, would you like to serve the food with me?" Tali took the hint and helped Misaki push everyone out the door. Yugi waved once more to Yami before Tali shut the door behind them.
Now the two arch-rivals were alone with each other. Kaiba looked at Yami and crossed his arms. Yami looked back and mimicked the action.
Scowling, Kaiba declared, "You are staying."
Yami smoothed the blankets furiously. "No! I'm not tired! And you don't have any right to order me around!"
"You just don't like playing the invalid."
"Look, I feel fine! The fever will go away soon."
"Not if you don't rest and regain your energy."
"But we have to get to Pegasus's castle! Kaiba, think about it! We've lost a lot of time already! We can't -"
"YUGIOH!"
Yami clamped his mouth shut in surprise. Kaiba had actually called him by his full name! As he studied the figure of the CEO, Yami was surprised at how much he resembled his former self, the High Priest Semaret. Of course he always LOOKED like Semaret, but Yami could now remember instances in his past when he had been refusing to do something and Semaret had yelled just as firmly and solidly as he did now. In response, Yami's reaction was the same as it was 5000 years ago. He backed down meekly, silent and waiting for his mentor to continue.
Kaiba had surprised himself by his sudden outburst. His past life was stimulating his thoughts. Had he really just called Yami by his true name? The name that meant "Game King." Kaiba never wanted to admit that Yami was the Game King, but here he was, confessing it in his own little way.
He took a deep breath. "You have got to stay here, for your own good. Of course you shouldn't set off tomorrow with an empty stomach, so I'll bring you some food in here today. Tomorrow we will be having breakfast before leaving, and with any luck you'll be up before dinner today, too. But you need to stay in here for at least another hour. Even just lying down will help you gain your strength. Much as I hate to admit it... we need you. We really do."
Yami considered Kaiba's words. He looked up hopefully. "You do promise we leave tomorrow?"
Kaiba shifted the weight on one leg to the other. "Well... it depends how you're doing."
"Promise me we'll leave tomorrow no matter what, and I'll agree to what you said."
Kaiba sighed, exasperated. "Fine! We're leaving tomorrow. Promise."
Yami grinned.
"But for now, you have to rest up. I'll bring you some food."
Now the prince of Egypt put on his pouting face. Kaiba raised an eyebrow, but Yami just sulked even more.
Kaiba gave a ghost of a smile. "You know..."
"What?"
"... You look really cute when you're mad."
Yami's curses could be heard all across the island.
***
(a/n: love those asterisks!!! ^-^ Okies, almost finished here...)
Everyone was amazed that the kids could cook, or that the food would taste so superb. It probably only tasted so delicious because of how hungry everyone was, but even so, their tummies were made extremely happy.
After lunch, Hikaru and Kiara volunteered to do the dishes. Bakura offered to help as well, and began clearing the table. Kerihk stepped between his hikari and the two girls.
"Let us take care of it," he said to Kiara and Hikaru. "Seriously. Go on."
"Oh no, it's okay," Hikaru began, but Kiara interrupted her.
"All right," she said. In a whisper she added so only Kerihk could hear, "Go for it. Be careful what you say. Just remember that you love him." At the word love, she blushed again.
Kerihk nodded. "I'll try."
Kerihk joined Bakura at the sink while the others left. His hikari didn't meet his eye. Kerihk debated what subject of small talk he could use. Finally he said, "Why do we need to clean these dishes? We're not coming back here."
"We don't know that," the silver-haired hikari responded, never turning his head. "We could come back if something happens and we need to regroup. Besides, we don't want to let Pegasus know we've been here."
Kerihk turned on the faucet and dabbed the plates with a sponge. "I still say this is pointless. It's a waste of time. Who wants to spend their day cleaning? Not me!"
"No one asked you to help," Bakura interrupted, a little harsher than he'd meant.
Kerihk was startled. He kept cleaning silently and didn't speak again. Bakura felt a little guilty, but then noticed that his yami was trying to talk. Kerihk couldn't seem to find the words, so curious Bakura decided it must be something private and painful that he was afraid others would hear.
/What is it?/ he asked through their mental link.
//...// Kerihk took a deep breath. He had to say something, it was important. //... You know when people say one thing... but really mean another?//
/Yeah?/ What was the tomb robber getting at?
//Well, sometimes the person can be... really, really mean and cold-hearted... you know... and make people think they just don't care, but... sometimes people don't know the truth... you know, the person's past and how their lives are now... they just make assumptions...//
/You mean like Malik?/
Kerihk's face contorted into a look of surprise. //I suppose so, but I wasn't thinking of him.//
/Oh. Well, I was just wondering how he was doing before, so I guess he's still kind of on my mind. I hope he isn't in any trouble with any Millennium Item seekers. I wonder if he's getting along with his yami at all./
Kerihk wished they could change the subject. //I'm sure Malik and Sahure are doing fine,// he said impatiently. (Sahure was Yami Malik's real name.)
/I hope so, but they always seem to be fighting. Now that Malik knows it was Sahure who actually killed his father, he must have some ill feelings./
//It isn't like you know why Sahure did what he did!// Kerihk hissed. Bakura had no idea how much his words were hurting the tomb robber. //You don't know what his life was like back in Egypt!//
/It's no reason to kill his hikari's father!/
//How would you know?//
/Would you have killed MY father if you thought it could get me to more willingly help you collect the Millennium Items?/
Kerihk's face paled, and his sharp eyes were filled with contempt. He slammed a plate down on the counter a little too hard, causing it to break. //You little baka!// he cried as he picked up the pieces of glass.
Bakura was taken-aback by his yami's forcefulness. As Kerihk continued, Bakura heard his voice waver and crack in his head.
//You don't KNOW what it was like back there! For him and me, it was a living nightmare! How can you accuse me of ever killing your father? Do you know what it means to me?//
/I know you would do anything to collect the Millennium Items!/
//Shaddap! You know what? I thought that in a lot of ways we're the same! You lost your mother and your little sister, well I lost my entire family! But we're not the same! I wanted to tell you...Boku wo shinjite sakasou! But maybe you can't. Maybe I'm just too lost to be of any use to you now. Not that I care. Kayoi nareta michi ni mayoi komu kono goro, tachimukau watashi no tamashii. If you can't even understand me then there is no point to this conversation. I'm just going to leave you alone from now on. I will!//
Kerihk felt a lump rise to his throat no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. Bakura was one step ahead of him, and tears were already falling.
'No!' Kerihk thought in dismay. Could he despise himself any more? 'When will it all stop? Everyone is crying so much lately! I want them to always smile. It's ME who ought to be miserable, but I'm just the cause of everyone's misery!'
"If that's how you feel, then fine!" Bakura shouted. "I... I just don't care! And you're right, I don't understand you! I don't understand how you can be so - so - hateful!"
He turned and bolted out of the room, past Kiara, Yugi, and Hikaru on the couch, past Ay and Ahmose who were collecting provisions, right out the door and into the forest. He flung himself around a try and cried, all the while wondering why he was cursed with an unfeeling yami. He grabbed the Millennium Ring and held it to his face, tears streaming down his pale skin.
"I hate you," he sobbed. "I hate you..."
*
Tears brimmed Kerihk's eyes as he finished the washing vigorously. He remembered how he had been responsible for this chore in Egypt. He had been a slave of Pharaoh Ramses's, not to mention Yami's personal attendant. At home, his mother was dead and his father was never around, so whenever he was privileged to go home he would take care of the dishes to give his brother, Thutmose, a break. He hated it. He loathed it. Pharaoh Ramses didn't care about his people, and the grand vizier, Zhur, only inflicted more pain on his subjects.
Droplets fell from his deep amber eyes. His little hikari didn't know what he had gone through, but it wasn't like he had never asked. Kerihk just never chose to tell him. Couldn't Bakura see it was painful to talk about it?
"Kerihk..."
It was Yami's voice. Kerihk spun around, amazed to see the weary, feverish pharaoh in the kitchen.
"Pharaoh!" he croaked. "What are you doing up? Kaiba will kill you!"
"I heard Ryou shout. What's wrong?" Yami inquired. His voice sounded tired and hoarse.
"Nothing. We had an argument. Don't worry about it, I'm taking the blame."
"What do you mean, you're taking it?"
Kerihk rolled his eyes. "Please, I know you, like everyone else, know that I am cold-hearted and cruel. I'm ready to accept that and live up to everyone's standards. If you don't believe me, I'll throw a plate at you. Then we'll see if you believe me."
"You mean you're just giving up?" Yami looked puzzled. "But you love Ryou."
Kerihk made a hissing sound. Yami didn't take it as a good sign. He sighed.
"You do you know."
"Do what?"
"Love him. He's your aibou, and he loves you too. You have to forgive him, he doesn't know."
"Then why would he run away?"
"Well..." Yami smiled gently. "You're not that great with words, Kerihk."
Kerihk glared at him for a long time. Then, all at once, he began to laugh. He shook his head while wiping his hands on a towel. When he began to speak again, he was different. He was like the Kerihk he knew in Egypt, not the selfish, contemptuous Kerihk they had come to know and loathe.
"You really are watching, aren't you?" he said. "I want Bakura to trust me. I just don't think I deserve it."
With a happy grin, Yami answered with honesty, "I think that's for him to decide."
*
Yugi hurried after Bakura as fast as he could go. 'Why is he so upset?' the small boy wondered. 'I hope everything is okay.'
"Ryou?" Yugi called. He saw the boy leaning against a tree nearby. His eyes were red and puffy from crying. Yugi hurried over to him. "Are you okay?"
"No, I'm not okay!" Ryou sobbed angrily. "Why is he so mean? What did I do to make him hate me? I just wanted to be his friend! That will never happen, will it? Will it, Yugi?"
"Maybe," Yugi answered slowly, guessing his friend was talking about Kerihk. "It could happen, you know. Maybe you just had some kind of misunderstanding."
"Shyeah! And how?"
"Listen, Ryou. All the yamis just got their memories back. Do you think, possibly, Kerihk remembers something very painful that happened to him, and whatever it was you two were talking about back there affected him and caused him to act meanly towards you?"
Bakura looked up menacingly. "He's always mean to me."
//Yugi,// the raspy voice of Yami said through the mental like he shared with Yugi.
/What is it?/ Yugi asked.
//Kerihk and Ryou had an argument, something to do with Malik. If you want to help Ryou out, tell him about trust.//
/Trust? What do you want me to tell him about trust?/
Bakura waited while Yugi spoke to Yami. He looked like he was in a trance, but since Bakura had a Millennium Item of his own, he knew what it looked like when a hikari corresponded with his yami.
After Yugi got all the details from Yami, he turned to Bakura and smiled. "Ryou, when your mother and little sister died, how did you feel?" he asked softly.
The silver-haired couldn't understand where this was going, but he confessed, "Terrible. Can't you imagine that? I felt like everyone was leaving me, like they were all going off to a new world and I had to be left behind. My dad just never talks about it... I can't talk to him about much with him because after Mom and Juri's death, he just kind of shut himself up."
Yugi was having a hard time prolonging the subject when it was so tormenting for Bakura. "Did you feel like you couldn't easily trust anyone afterwards?"
"No! Of course not..." Bakura's eyes widened when he grasped what he was saying. "I did, actually. I felt like... if I let myself get close to someone, they would just leave me too. A while later, I made friends with Malik, and even then we had to say good-bye when he went back to Egypt. I've always had a hard time making friends, not because I try to be mean or unsociable, but because I'm afraid to reach out."
"Yes... well, d'you think.. maybe... you're not the only one who feels that way?"
"What do you mean?" Bakura cocked his head. "I mean, I know there are others who feel the same way, but..."
"Yami told me Kerihk lost his entire family while in Egypt," Yugi continued quietly. Bakura's face turned white. "His best friend also betrayed him, and he lost his life protecting Yami from Zhur's attack. After all that, it would take a really, really strong person not to fall into despair and distrust. Kerihk must have spent a long time living in fear to trust you. Now he wants to, but doesn't think you can trust him. Ryou... please forgive him. I - I don't know what else to say."
There was a long pause. Yugi looked down guiltily, and Bakura didn't budge from his seat on the ground. He was considering Yugi's words and thinking of how much it must have hurt Kerihk to lose his whole family. A silent tear trickled down his cheek.
"Should I leave?" Yugi asked in a hushed voice.
Bakura nodded. Yugi turned to go.
"Yugi -"
"What is it?"
A smile crossed Bakura's face. "Thank you."
***
(a/n: *huff* *huff* *huff* The marathon is nearly done... *huff* huff* *huff*)
Kaiba caught Yami out of bed talking to Kerihk. After scolding Kerihk for not sending him back to bed, he practically carried Yami to the guest room and this time locked the door. Yami laughed when he saw the key turn in the lock, remembering times in Egypt when he had refused to stay in bed so Semaret had locked him in. He fell into a sound, refreshing sleep after that, and come dinner time, he was still in bed.
Ay peered over his still body. "Should we wake him? The food is done," he inquired of Kaiba.
Kaiba shook his head. "He didn't each much of his lunch, and I doubt he's any hungrier now. But tomorrow he'll eat like a horse, so you'd better save him his share of the meal tonight just in case tomorrow's breakfast doesn't suffice."
Ay tucked the covers around the former pharaoh's shoulders, an action he would never have dared to do if the prideful king had been awake. Although the hikaris only knew Yami to be confident, strong and courageous, all the yamis knew how child-like he could be when he wasn't dueling or focused on an upcoming battle. They each had a soft spot for the son of Egypt, and liked to show affection towards him - when he wasn't awake, that is.
"You've really changed, Kaiba," Bakura said. The three of them had gone to see if Yami wanted dinner. "You used to hate both Yugi and Yami. Then you started to tolerate Yugi, but still loathe Yami. How come you suddenly like him so much?"
Kaiba blushed in embarrassment. "I don't!" he snapped. "We just need him for this. That's all. I don't care about him at all."
Ay looked at Bakura and winked knowingly.
During dinner, the table was a bustle of chatter and laughter as the kids settled down for their last peaceful night. The only two who weren't speaking much were Kerihk and Bakura, who would sneak peeks at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Kerihk really wanted to apologize for their fight, but kept holding himself back; his prideful streak had not been conquered. Bakura wasn't sure how he should begin a conversation with Kerihk.
Bakura wasn't the only one thinking of the white-haired thief. Across the table, seated between Ahmose and Hikaru, was Kiara. She couldn't keep her mind off of her love for Kerihk. She really wished she wasn't in love, because it changed everything. But now it was too late - she had fallen and fallen hard.
Ahmose noted her silence and made fun of it. "Hey Kiara, why so glum? Did the Queen of Randomness actually run out of uninteresting topics to bore the council with?" he joked.
Kiara seemed to snap out of a trance. "Huh? Oh... yeah, I guess so."
Ahmose looked doubtful. "Seriously, what's wrong?" he asked, concerned. "I haven't seen you so silent in ages."
"You wouldn't understand," Kiara sighed. She smiled. "But don't worry. It will be taken care of."
Yugi swallowed his mouthful of chicken. "OK, but just tell us if you're worried about anything."
"Yeah, Yugi wouldn't want anything to happen to his girlfriend's yami," Takehiko sniggered.
"Of course he doesn't, Takehiko! Don't you know that he is secretly in love with Kiara and is just using Hikaru as a way to her heart?" Dajan put in, laughing hysterically.
"You two are asking for a knuckle sandwich," Yugi growled, but he was pleased to see Hikaru giggling.
Misaki and Tali were talking to Ai about the latest Kaiba Corp invention while Setsuna listened with semi-interest. Kaiba and Ro got involved soon, which was Tali's plan. She started trying to beg Kaiba to invent a matchmaker game.
Kaiba sighed in frustration. "I don't know the first thing about love!" he cried. "How can I make a game with it?"
"Simple," Tali said with a grin. He had fallen into her trap. "Just have Misaki make the game with you and everything will be good."
It took a moment for Tali's imply to register in Kaiba's and Misaki's minds. When it had, they both turned bright red (a/n: they do that a lot) and turned away from each other. Tali laughed and Taidu winked at Himoko. Setsuna just rolled her golden eyes.
Half-way through dinner, Kiara couldn't take the tension between herself and Kerihk anymore. She pushed back her chair and quickly walked out of the room and out the door, much to the dismay of her friends.
Hikaru was the first to make sense of what had just happened. She slid out of her chair. "I'll be back. I want to see what's wrong." With that, she skipped outside, leaving the others just as confused as before.
*
Kiara sat down on a bench beneath a tree, letting the wind play with her hair and kiss her face. She hugged herself and shivered, even though it was relatively warm out.
"Kiara?"
The princess caught her hikari's eyes. She beamed at her. "Nan desu ka, aibou?" she asked.
Hikaru settled herself besides Kiara and leaned against her chest. Kiara slipped and arm around Hikaru's small body and held her close.
"What's the matter, Kiara?" Hikaru mumbled lovingly. "You seem so distant lately. Is it just because you're worried about Pegasus's power, or is it something else?"
Kiara sighed, blowing hair out of her face. "I can't lie to you," she murmured. "All right, here's the truth - I'm in love."
Hikaru's wide lavender eyes shifted to gaze at Kiara's beautiful face. "In love?" she repeated. "That's neat. With who?"
Smirking, the princess twirled a lock of rich brown hair. "Would you believe Kerihk?"
Hikaru gaped at her, amazed. "Really? That's awesome!"
"Well, he's awesome anyway," Kiara chuckled. She frowned. A shadow seemed to cover her face. "I can't have him, though." Her voice was like a whisper of wind, coming and going before anyone realized it was there.
"You can't?" Hikaru echoed, cocking her head in quandary. "Why not?"
Kiara gave a longing sign that was more like a moan. "Hikaru... I just can't fall in love."
"Koi ni ochite kawatteku no mo ii ne."
"I know that... but, oi! Kotoba dekinai iu jibun na. You wouldn't understand. I'm not allowed to fall in love."
"Not allowed?" Why wouldn't she stop repeating everything Kiara said? "Of course you're allowed."
"I'm not, Hikaru - I'm just not!"
Kiara jumped to her feet and rushed to the nearest tree. She placed her palms on its rough bark and leaned her head against her hands. She seemed to be battling inwardly.
She looked over her shoulder at her anxious hikari. "Gomen nasai," she said hoarsely. "I do love him. I guess you never know. Maybe those feelings will stop coming and I'll forget... but it feels like they won't stop building up inside me... doushite mo iya menai kedo. If not, then I'll figure something knew out. I don't know. Maybe love can last anything. Maybe it can't."
Hikaru placed a hand on Kiara's back. "Don't worry. I know it can. I know it can."
The hikari and yami stood in thoughtful silent as the night overtook Duelist Kingdom.
***
Night had come like a blanket overlapping a sleeping body. The hikaris and yamis all went to their designated sleeping places - couches, chairs, or (if they were lucky), sleeping bags. Everyone was ready for a good night's rest to re energize and set off early the next morning.
Ai undid her ponytail and let her long brown hair fall gracefully down her back. She noticed Takehiko and Dajan watching it fall hungrily, but Bakura took no notice. Disappointed, she lay down her head, trying to think of a way to get him to notice her.
Bakura was certainly feeling preoccupied, but even if he hadn't been he still wouldn't have cared about the way Ai's hair spread all across the pillow. He was still troubled by his argument with Kerihk, and lay awake for a long time after the lights were turned out, just like he had the night before. He rolled over on his side and closed his eyes.
A finger poked his back lightly, and his eyes snapped open. He sat up to find out that the finger belonged to Kerihk. Kerihk's hair was falling over his eyes, hiding the sorrow and hurt he felt. He was so full of emotion that even though he tried to hide it, Bakura felt that his spirit was strained. He was shocked that he felt such a strong connection with his yami.
The stared into each other's matching eyes. Suddenly they both spoke out, "I'm sorry, I didn't know!"
Kerihk blinked. "Bakura, I feel really -"
Bakura placed a finger at his lips. "It's okay," he said. "Don't talk about it. Are we friends? Friends who can... trust each other?"
Kerihk beamed at him affectionately. "Yes, of course, hikari."
"If that's the case... call me Ryou."
The silver-haired yami nuzzled his hikari's forehead. Bakura enjoyed the tender moment, knowing even now that they would be rare. "Good-night, Kerihk."
"Good-night... aibou."
The two were finally able to fall deeply and peacefully asleep after that, their minds free of worry and fear. Kerihk felt joy in his heart. He didn't care if anyone else thought he was cold-hearted, all that mattered was his hikari's opinion. Bakura was glad he finally had Kerihk for a friend, like he'd always wanted.
They were sure they had been alone for that loving moment, but one other had witnessed it. Yugi felt glad that Bakura and Kerihk were at last getting along together, but his heart sank when he thought of Yami. Most of the hikaris and yamis were sleeping near each other, their presence comforting their other half. Yugi was the only one whose dark half wasn't nearby.
Slowly he sat up and made sure Kaiba was asleep. He got to his feet and tiptoed away, soon reaching the door of the room where Yami slept. He turned the knob. It wouldn't budge; Kaiba had locked it. Luckily Kaiba had left the key on a nearby chair, so he picked it up and tried to fit it into the slot. After numerous tries he finally managed to open the door, and as he did so it creaked noisily. He stopped to make sure no one was awake. All that happened was Ahmose turning over in his sleep with a grunt, so Yugi quietly stole into the room. Fleet and silent as a deer he closed the door, breathing a sigh of relief.
The pharaoh's hikari tiptoed to Yami's bedside and gently placed his hand on Yami's forehead. He was glad the fever was beginning to go down.
"Yami," he whispered, tracing his best friend's cheekbones.
The only he received was a content smile as Yugi's finger slid down his neck. Yugi took that as an invitation and climbed into bed with Yami. He pressed his face against Yami's chest and breathed deeply, finally feeling sweet sleep come upon him. Now he was sure he was safe.
Now he was sure everything would be all right.
*
A/N: DONE! DUN DUN DUN... DUN DUN!!! So much for this being short. Lessee... without including the author's note or the info on the characters, this chapter is... nineteen pages, I think. Shorter than usual (thankfully). I promise I'll try my best to cut back on beginning author's notes.
Joey: You'd better!
Tea: Cuz they're pointless and they drive everyone nuts!
Angel: *whines* But I like them! *brightens* Weren't Bakura and Kerihk cute with each other? Reminder - THIS IS NOT, NOT, NOT SHONEN AI!!! It is all completely a friendship fic, or else its girl/boy. DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR?
Yami and Yugi: Sir, yes, sir!
From the Desk of Ahmose, son of Ramose, Warrior of Egypt:
-tachi - and company
bakamono - stupid person
daijobu desu ka - are you all right
oyasumi nasai - good-night
shi-n, watashi no ai - shh, my love
uerukamutou - welcome
watashi no tenshi - my angel
boku wo shinjite sakasou - you can trust me
kayoi nareta michi ni mayoi komu kono goro - at this moment, I am lost in the familiar streets
tachimukau watashi no tamashii - to fight against my spirit
nan desu ka - what is it
koi ni ochite kawatteku no mo ii ne - but a chance to fall in love isn't a bad idea
oi - hey
kotoba dekinai iu jibun na - words cannot say enough
gomen nasai - I'm sorry
doushite mo iya menai kedo - no matter how I am unable to deny them
(Some of these phrases are right out of the Japanese YGO theme song, "Kawaita Sakebi," by Field of View ^-^)
No CHARACTER OF THE DAY today because I am sick of this chapter (I think it was reeeeeeally boring).
Next time: Chapter Eleven, Tsuyosa no Enjin (as told by Yami): Well, I'm feeling great today! Anyway that is what I told Kaiba. We left to go searching for Pegasus's castle, but instead that good-for-nothing nutcase with the Millennium Eye played a nasty trick on the hikaris - he made them act out a play in front of the rest of us! It was extremely embarrassing, especially for me since Hikaru's freaky character was created to be like me (I am so going to kill Zhur when I see him). But right in the middle of the performance, the stage went dark! The yamis created a Circle of Power so they would keep together, but Ay and Kerihk broke off! Meahwhile, the hikaris tried to find each other, and Hikaru managed to meet up with Ryou and Yugi. Two oracles arrived and spoke to them about much, including Ryou's dreams. Then we were broke back to the real world, only to be separated once again! There's no such thing as a free lunch for our crew, it seems.
TBC!!!