"To Love the Dark"
By JessieHeart
~ Disclaimer: Nope... I STILL do not claim ownership of Yu-Gi-Oh! or related items. And... *sniff* someone ate the last pocky stick... But I'll continue writing through my tragedy... ~

Chapter Six-
'Foreshadow'
*

Seto Kaiba was NOT a patient man.

Fingering his dragon necklace, he tapped his foot impatiently. A beautiful Blue Eyes White Dragon stared back at him.

"You have entered MY cave, mortal..." the dragon growled, "You know that you stand on sacred ground, doubtless..."

"I fear no man or beast," Kaiba sneered. The dragon let out an insulted growl.

"I am interested on why a human would disturb my slumber," the Blue Eyes prompted. Then he raised his head slightly. "Or, I could eat you right now."

Kaiba tore the Blue Eyes White Dragon pendant from his neck and held it above his head. He shouted, "I HAVE COME TO CLAIM WHAT IS MINE!"

At the sight of the necklace, the dragon let out a great, painful roar. He fell to the bottom of the cave, as if injured. "Only the Dragon Master is supposed to wield that... that wretched thing."

Kaiba laughed. "Dragon, do you not see? I AM the Master of all Dragons!!"

"Then... I am at your command... As will be all dragons you enslave with that necklace..."

"Dragon, I want you to find your brother and sister; Re-create the Trinity!"

"The Trinity...? That is when all three white dragons are combined. We would have the power to destroy anything. For what kind of battle would you need that kind of strength?"

Kaiba turned and began to exit the cave. "MY battle," he snapped. His eyes narrowed, imagining the pharaoh's face when he saw the Trinity...

Yami, your reign in about to end..., he thought.
*

Mai leaned back onto the pillows, satisfied. She was glad they had gotten past their stubbornness, and into each other's arms. Jounouchi was on top of her, kissing the side of her neck and letting his hands roam.

At last he rolled over, breathing deeply. Mai sighed. After a moment, she set on Katsuya's chest, brushing stray hairs out of his face. She lay down, putting her cheek on Jounouchi's chest. She silently enjoyed his body heat, his breath... the warm noon sunshine...

The sun crossed Jounouchi's face, making his eyelids twitch. It must be lunchtime, he thought.

Suddenly, his eyes opened wide. "LUNCH?!" he cried.

"What's wrong?" Mai asked, sitting up. Jounouchi stared to ramble.

"It's lunch time- and I'm the pharaoh's servant- he's gonna notice that I'm missing- how long have I been here-?"

"Jounouchi, stop!" Mai interrupted. "What's the problem?"

Jounouchi moved so they were both sitting on the bed. "I help bring trays of food into the pharaoh's chambers everyday at noon. When he and his warriors are done feasting, I help clear the trays and feed the leftovers to the dogs." He grasped his hair, tugging at it nervously. Although he felt kind of stupid explaining his chores to Mai, he continued. "Unless Yami has gone riding for the day, he's gonna notice my absence... I'm gonna have a lot of explaining to do..."

Mai raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem with just lying to the pharaoh?"

"Whaaa...?" Jounouchi considered. "What... would I tell him?"

Mai reached out to him. "That I needed your assistance... Your love... YOU..."

Jounouchi looked away. At last, he said slowly, "Mai, I love-"

The sorceress placed a finger on his lips. "You don't have to say it..." she brought his hand up her heart, "Because I already know it."

Jounouchi still did not look at her.

Narrowing her eyes, she shouted, "Jounouchi Katsuya, stop being so damn stubborn and noble, and kiss me!"

Jounouchi laughed and she kissed him demandingly.

Now I understand, he thought, why I love her.

With her mind reading power, Mai heard every word.
*

Unknown to Jounouchi, Pharaoh Yami HAD taken his troops out on horses back into the desert. Anzu had seen them go.

Every time the Pharaoh left, Anzu and her handmaiden Miho would stand at the palace gate and watch them depart.

Today, they returned to Anzu's chambers, and Miho began to brush Anzu's hair.

"He never says good-bye," Anzu said. She was talking about Yami.

"You know he loves you. The pharaoh is a cruel gambler to everyone else, but he treats you kindly," Miho counseled. The pharaoh's mistress told her everything. Glad that Anzu could not see her blush, Miho folding fingered the yellow ribbon Honda had given her. She always wore it in her hair.

Anzu sighed. "I know... I know. Yami loves differently than others. But sometimes, I wish that he didn't."

A quiet knock came at the door. Miho rose to answer it. A small, timid boy stood in the doorway.

Anzu recognized the boy as Yuugi. He was used sometimes as Yami's decoy, because they looked so much alike. Except, somehow the pharaoh's harsh features were softened in him.

Yuugi blushed. "Excuse me," he said, "But Miss Anzu's presence is requested in the dinning hall."

Anzu stood up and walked over, smiling at him. "Of course. Thank you for delivering the message."

Yuugi's blush grew deeper as he looked up at the maiden. He smiled broadly. "Now I understand why the pharaoh favors you so much. You're beautiful!"

Anzu laughed and thanked him. I wish Yami would tell me that himself, she thought as they walked down to the dinner hall.

She looked at Yuugi. Was he what she was looking for?
*

A second Blue Eyes White Dragon roared a greeting.

"Brother!" she cried. The first dragon landed on his sister's snow covered mountain and folded his wings. "It is good to see you, brother. It's been many centuries since I've seen you."

The male Blue Eyes smiled, but then told her the bad news.

"THE Dragon Master?!" his sister proclaimed. He nodded.

"He wishes us to form the Trinity, so he may reign destruction over this land," he said sadly. The female shook her head.

"Humans..." she muttered disapprovingly. "We dragons are not meant to obey them. Humans are thoughtless and cruel..."

"Never the less, Kaiba wields the necklace to control us. We must do his bidding."

His sister let out an enraged white lightning into the sky.

"Where is out brother, then?" she asked.

"Somewhere to the east." the white dragon answered. Together, the two flew off to find the third Blue Eyes White Dragons.
*

End of Chapter Six
*

Author's Note:
Wheee... insanity has gone to my head... Sorry for dragging out the Mai/Jounouchi scene. I was having fun with it.
Betcha didn't expect to see Yuugi pop up! What do you guys think? Please review, tell me Anzu should fall for him!
More Matjutsushi and Keiko-ness to come next chapter...
*