Chapter Four-Release

"Seth, why are you doing this!" Yami cried, tears flowing freely. The former had challened him to a battle of Magick and Wizards and had killed nearly all of his mages. Now the two faced each other in a dark duel-for the throne.

"You are a weak ruler, Nahkti. You cannot guide Khemet into the light of the future effectively. For the sake of the great kingdom, I shall take the throne as pharaoh!"

"Why, Seth?" Yami asked, feeling his heart shatter. "What made you like this? What has happened?"

"I am not Seth...I am the lost child of dragons...I am Khemet's guiding light!" He raised the sennen rod. "You are no longer pharoah. Die, weakling!"

Yami's crimson eyes flew open, shimmering with tears. He sat upright, hugging his thin arms to his body in an effort to calm himself. His emotions wavered-he was simultaneously overjoyed and dispairing that his memories were returning to him now, after his fruitless search, but hadn't forseen the likelihood of reliving that terrible day in his mind. He drew a shuddering breath, and released it slowly, allowing his mind some time to focus.

Where was he now?

He recalled losing consciousness out of doors, but he realized that someone had taken the liberty of bringing him into their home, since what he was sitting on was, presumably, a bed. It was too dark to really tell, even with his enhanced senses. The space seemed large, considering the way the shadows fell, created by the sparse moonlight which filtered through the curtains on the other side of the room.

Had the voice brought him here?

Yami was intent on finding out. Shakily, he slid from the top of the bed, stepping lightly onto the hardwood floor. He extended a hand in front of him as not to run into anything, and proceeded forward, taking slow, cautious steps.

Seth watched his diminuative lover with amusement. He was slightly concerned when the pharoah collapsed earlier, but figured it was an adverse effect of the Sennen Rod's mind-link ability. Seth knew his lover had been highly telepathic before, and figured he would be even now. It was the easiest way to get his attention, quickly, since Seto had a knack for avoiding the dark one and his miniature version. The fates working against the two of them, no doubt, and Seto's greatest misfortune.

Seth was determined to rectify that situation.

He had formed a dreamlike scenario in his mind that the four of them would be able to dwell in this mansion, away from the rest of the world, and things would be as they had been before with himself and the pharaoh, though before what, Seth hadn't a clue. And the hikari's would get along well with each other, voluntarily or otherwise. He sorely missed his dragons and the airy palace and felt he could easily re-create that, with a little work, of course.

So, after he'd tamed Nahkti...again...the two of them would collect the rest of the items, and use their combined magic to control the world...again. And Seth had ALWAYS gotten what he wanted in the past, so the modern world simply had no choice but to surrender to his will. And if not, Yami would kill them personally. He really didn't like being sliighted in the least, and Seth would make sure he stayed on his better side.

Perfection.

But, it seemed his lover's abilities hadn't fully returned to him in this form, since Yami was failing abysmally to locate him, even though he was sprawled across a straight-backed chair, which was probably never made for someone of his stature to lie across it without breaking their spine. Seth sighed silently, rising from the chair making as little noise as possible. He stepped directly behind his lover and followed him to the curtained windows, keeping in step.

The darkness of the room, while comforting, was a hindrance. Seth closed his eyes and drew the curtains slowly, a simple trick of telekinesis that would leave the other stunned enough to drop his guard.

Yami stopped in his tracks, and stared at the windows, confused, and a bit apprehensive. Seth took that moment to grab the smaller one, closing a hand over his mouth and and arm around his waist, and life him clear off the floor.

Yami yelped in shock, unable to turn around and just barely catching a glimpse of his captor in the window reflection, but not enough to identify him. He struggled fiercely, trying to claw at his assailant who merely gripped him tighter as he carried him back to the bed. He bit down on the soft skin covering his mouth, only to elicit a surprised grunt and receive a nip on his bare shoulder in return.

*Be a good boy, and do not bite...unless I allow you, that is...*

The owner of the voice tossed him roughly onto the bedspread, which Yami observed was a deep blue color, the color of a blue flame. He landed face down so he was able to fleetingly catch the scent that managed to permeate the room, even though it seemed relatively unused.

He knew that scent.

"Kaiba." He spat, rising to sit partially on his feet and keeping his back turned to the other.

"Good guess. It certainly took long enough, Yami. I am beginning to think the mutt is rubbing off on you." Seth spoke those words with grace, drawing upon Seto's memories and his command of the language to deceive his lover even more. He had taken the liberty of altering his appearance a bit, to appear more boyish and a lot less like himself.

Yami frowned. What in the seven hells did Kaiba want with him? "I thought you were above kidnapping, Kaiba." He shifted around until he was facing the other, posture making him appear casual, unconcerned. He carefully studied the boy's expression, sesning something definitely wrong, even though he appeared to be the same Seto Kaiba he had faced in Battle City just months ago. "Looks as if I was wrong. You seem to find a new low to sink to every time I see you."

Seth smirked. The pharaoh hadn't lost his edge. "And you grow more vulnerable by the day. I was embarrased that I was able to take you so easily." He dared to allow a laugh escape him, enjoying the moment for what it was. "Now we can duel without that little fanclub of yours."

This is about a damned duel?! Yami thought. "Kaiba, have you completely lost your mind!?" He yelled, jumping to his feet. "Have you no control over how obsessive you can get?!"

He found himself on the floor, his face stinging. Kaiba had slapped him, hard. Yami truly wanted to throttle the young man, and would have if he didn't have Mokuba to consider.

"Watch your mouth, corpse." Seth growled, glaring at the former pharaoh fiercely. His hand was still bleeding and hurt from the bite, and slapping Yami had made it no better. "You would be wise to not insult me own my own grounds, Yami. Yu-gi may just have to witness my displeasure."

Yami paled, hearing the slip. The accent was heavy, but cleverly disguised. This was not Kaiba.

"Who are you?" Yami asked, eyes wide. He picked himself off the floor, preparing himself for anything. "What have you done with Yugi?!"

"Seto Kaiba." Seth said airily, letting himself flop down on the bed. "Who else would I be? And as for Yu-gi, he is safe, for the moment. Now, let us play our game." He reached into his pocket and pulled out Kaiba's dueling deck. "Here are the terms. You have three guesses to figure out who I am, and I will provide you with three hints. At the same time, you can stall by drawing a card from this deck, as will I. You will earn extra hints by drawing a card that ranks higher than mine. Only monsters are here."

Yami growled. "Do not toy with me."

"This is a game, you idiot."Seth sighed, wanting to just ravish him already, but unwilling to relinquish his entertainment. "If you win, you find out my true identity, and you will do as you please from there. You can walk away, or even kill me, it does not matter. If I win, the same goes. Understood? Or would you rather let Yu-gi take the fall for you?"

"You are insane, Kaiba!"

"Please, try and make as little noise as possible. Mokuba and Seto are still sleeping, you know."

"Fine, Kaiba I will comply."

Seth offered the deck to Yami to let him shuffle it, as he looked over his lover in the moonlight. Same slender arms and thighs, short neck, well muscled chest, and bright, laughing eyes. Eyes that were now blood-murky with rage, confusion...and fear.

Yami sat down on the bed, as indicated, and placed the deck between them.

Seth smiled, pulling both their essences into the Shadow Realm. "Begin game!"

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~Nakoruru~