Disclaimer: I do not, nor will I ever, have the intelligence to own anything as worthwhile as Yu-Gi-Oh!, so buzz off.
Warning: I have no idea where the story is going, but this WILL have SLASH! Yugi is a bit depressed, there may be a few inappropriate things, and of course, violence. I doubt I own a story without any of the above...
A/N: okei, minor warning: The stupid Document Manager thing wouldn't load all of this chapter properly, so some of the stuff that's supposed to be in italics is not, and some of the stuff that's supposed to be indented isn't either. Sorry, but it won't fix it. I tried!
Next, um, 'person' reviewed and asked: 'what is slash?' So, yeah. It's boy/boy love. Um, gay relationships? If you need a bigger explanation, just email me. I didn't know before last year either. In fact, I think I found out by asking another author as well. I do wish you had sent this as an email though. Confessions are embarrassing…
Oh! But if (I'm still talking to 'person') you think that's disgusting, do me a favor and check out one or two of the better slash stories. You'll be converted, I swear! If you read Harry Potter, a good story is Flawed Lines, by diagonalist (or anything by said author) and Faith, by Dragongirl16. If you stick to YGO, good stories are: Bound Not Broken, and Kiss of A Rose. There are better, but I don't want to go to the effort of thinking of them. Sorry, 'tis my weekend.
This story is going to be slash with Seto and Yugi and Malik and Marik and Ryou and Bakura, okei? Then again, if you've read all the way to this chapter you probably do like slash since the … first? … chapter ends with Ryou and Bakura heading up to the bedroom. Never fear though, I've not written a lemon or lime (sex scene between gay people) in my life, because I'm scared I'll do it wrong.
That's another thing. Could anyone (who has a story up that I can read) write a slash scene for me? I'd like to see your work first, but I doubt I'd be courageous enough to try it on my own, so…
Thanks for all the reviews! Please keep them coming!
Here's the next chapter:
Chapter 7: Yugi Alone
Last Time…
"Tell them …" his voice croaked a bit, and his companions looked at him strangely. "Tell them to meet at my place." Mai nodded, understanding dawning on her face.
"I will," she promised.
*
Yugi jumped when the phone rang, and Malik scowled in the direction of the kitchen.
"Marik! Get that!"
"No!"
"Why the hell not?!"
"I don't want to!"
"You're closer!"
"You need the exercise!"
"Are you saying I'm fat?!"
"… yes …" Marik's voice sounded taunting. Malik was steamed, and Yugi was giggling.
"Marik!" Malik whined. There was a sigh from the kitchen.
"Fine, fine, I'll get it … Hello? Valentine, why are you calling me? … Kaiba's … why? Yugi?" They froze, and stopped their chess game. "Oh, um, yes, we'll be right there." The phone clicked down into its receiver and Marik came into the living room. He looked slightly uneasy. "Malik, you and I have to go to Kaiba's. Valentine said something about needing help for Yugi…" He shot a glace at the wide-eyed hikari.
"Stay in the bedroom and leave the upper window – the one not facing the tree – slightly open so someone can hear you if you shout. If anyone comes, hide in the closet. Keep the cell phone with you." Yugi nodded solemnly and scampered away up the stairs. Malik started grabbing discarded items: a puzzle, a hairbrush with distinctly colored hair in it – anything that might hint to another inhabitant of the Ishtar household.
And then they left, Marik locking the door behind them.
````````````````````````````
Yami was on the warpath. Joey was bound to be turned by that stupid CEO, and it was all Yugi's fault! If that stupid brat hadn't vanished everything would be developing according to plan, and his plot wouldn't be endangered. There was only one solution. He had to find Yugi and break him quickly, before anyone could stop him.
Yami wasn't stupid. He knew that Bakura and Ryou had suddenly begun whispering suspiciously with those two blondes. One of the four knew where Yugi was; perhaps had been the one to take him in the first place…
And the best way to a yami's secret was through his hikari.
```````````````````````````
Ryou hung slightly behind his yami as they headed home, rummaging through his backpack for a pen.
"Have you got it yet?" queried Bakura for the fifth time in thirty seconds, sounding impatient.
"Not yet, koi," murmured the teen, "and I don't see why it's so important that I fetch it now, of all times. It's only a pen - "
"And I want to use it!"
Ryou sighed and rolled his eyes at his yami's whine.
A rustle of clothing was his only warning, but Bakura whirled –
Too late.
Ryou's cry of shock was still leaving his lips as the Tomb Robber started angrily towards Yugi's yami, who was poised over the fallen boy. Yami smirked nastily, and lowered a hand to Ryou's head. Bakura froze at the look in the Pharaoh's eyes …
And at the glow of Shadow Magic clenched in the tri-color haired boy's fist.
"No!" he said. For the first time in his life Bakura felt the stirrings of fear. Yami Yugi couldn't be so cruel as to banish his hikari –
But he could. And Bakura should know better than anyone, having been on the receiving end of more than one of the Pharaoh's heavy-handed and bloodthirsty edicts back in Ancient Egypt. And now instead of his family, it was Ryou, his light … his love … lying on the ground at the mercy of the crimson-eyed teen. Bakura called himself several kinds of a fool for not being there to protect his hikari; for not being able to prevent this horror that could destroy the only thing he still held dear …
And Ryou's eyes were large with fright …
"Thief." Yami's voice jerked him back to the present. "Where would my hikari be hiding?" His hand, still glowing, touched Ryou's hair in an almost gentle caress. Bakura flinched, but his mind was still working.
"How would I know? Have you lost your hikari oh Pharaoh?" he mocked. Ryou whimpered as Yami's hand tightened in his hair.
"You know where Yugi is," stated the boy darkly. "Tell me where he is or I shall banish this little piece of garbage to the Shadow Realm. I'm sure I won't miss him."
"It's not that simple Pharaoh. You'll probably banish him even though I don't know where your stupid little light is," snarled the white-haired spirit, looking murderous. Yami pulled Ryou to his feet and hit a pressure point of the neck. The hikari passed out, and Yami caught him. Bakura stepped forward a tad, but Yami's hand still glowed on Ryou's neck, so he simply watched helplessly as the other yami picked up the boy and cradled him in a parody of heroism. "Put him down!"
"Well, now you can take me to where Yugi is," said Yami, knowing he still retained the upper hand. "As soon as I have Yugi, I frankly don't care what happens to you two, so Ryou will accompany me to wherever while you wait outside. Once I have Yugi I'll send your little fuck toy out and everything will be fine, ne?" Bakura clenched his fists, but what could he do? If he didn't agree then Ryou was certainly doomed, and if he did agree then at least … there would be a chance.
The spirit of the Millennium Ring nodded slowly and led Yami Yugi toward Malik's home …
````````````````````````
Yugi was bored. Once the novelty of possible discovery had worn off he had found himself sitting alone in a bedroom with no way to occupy himself. No games, no Malik to jump upon, nothing.
He sighed, and had started playing 'see-how-high-I-can-toss-the-cell-phone' when he heard the front door splinter.
Barely catching the phone on its way down, Yugi yelped in surprise and scrambled to the closet, burying himself in the laundry hamper, pushing the 'call' button as he went.
It rang.
Footsteps on the stairs.
Rang a second time.
Doors creaking as they opened.
Rang a third time.
The bedroom door swings, pushed by a hand.
Marik picked up.
"Hello?"
The closet door opened and the noises indicated the small space was being ransacked. Knowing Yami would find him anyway, Yugi gave up on being silent.
"Marik, Marik!"
"Yugi? Please let this be a prank call - "
The hamper was upturned and Yugi tumbled out. Yami went for the phone, and Yugi curled around it protectively, yelping as Yami hit him.
"M-marik! Help! Yami - " Yami stepped on the phone angrily, and it broke. He kicked Yugi out of the closet and into the bedroom, where Ryou lay, still unconscious.
"R-ryou!" squeaked Yugi. Yami grabbed his newly-found light's arm and twisted.
"Yes, R-ryou," he mocked; the first words he had said. Yugi struggled.
"What did you do to him, Yami?" he (more or less – probably less) growled. Yami hit him, making a half-healed cut break open once again.
"Don't ask questions, slave. Had you the strength to use your own powers you would not bother to ask. Instead you bounce about preaching on non-violence" He spat the word. "And taking care of one another. Honorable sentiments. For a fool." He slammed the small teen into the window, and Yugi desperately covered his eyes as glass rained down, slicing his face. "No possession of mine should think such thoughts. I had hoped to cure you of that, little Yugi." He tossed the boy to the floor and brought his foot down expertly on the hikari's ankle. There was a loud crack of the bone breaking, and Yugi screamed as the pain shot through him. Yami kept his foot on the broken section and smirked at the youth.
"You're pathetic. Not even worth my time." He stepped away and bent down so he could look at Yugi's face on the floor. Tears leaked from amber pools, and the angelic face was drawn in pain. Yugi whimpered as Yami reached out to touch him … before slapping him harshly. Yugi literally saw stars, and when his vision cleared his yami was holding a knife.
"No," he murmured, still crying and tried to drag himself away. Yami gripped his shoulder, gaze intent as he cut open the little light's shirt and drew patterns on the bruised chest, not yet drawing blood. "Please, Ya – Pharaoh, no." He keened as the blade dug in his skin; drawing deep lines wherever it would not be fatal to the fragile being Yami was slowly torturing. Yugi's cries were barely audible through his sobs, and Yami ignored him anyway.
Eventually the boy drew back, and observed the boy smugly. "You are mine, little hikari, and no one can change that. It's something you'd best remember. Who would want you anyway? You're scrawny and weak, and you cry far too easily. A mere child in a world of adults. You are pathetic, Yugi, and it's time you made yourself useful in serving me. It is only right." Yugi shook his head, weak but vehement in his determination to prevent his yami from taking power. Yami scowled at him and stood gracefully.
"Very well then, I will have to break you. First, I believe we shall begin with Ryou." He moved for the prostrate boy before pausing and frowning at Yugi, puzzled. "Ah, yes, I forgot. We must renew the mind-link for you to have the proper attitude. At least until you are broken." He pulled the Millennium Puzzle from a bag near Ryou and tossed it to Yugi, who reached for it with shaky hands, amazed and fearful that his darker side had granted him the tools for the being's destruction. He pulled it over his neck cautiously, the familiar weight of the chain reassuring him. Yami again turned for Ryou.
"Yami," Yugi whispered, "What are you doing?" His yami did not look nice as he paused above the white-haired boy's head. He raised his hands in an all too familiar movement. "Yami?"
"MIND CRUSH!"
"NO!"
*
A/N: I've seen so many other authors do this thing (the cliffee and the conversation below) that I just had to. Forgive me!
tati1: Evil? Yes, I am, thank you!
Ryou: You just Mind-Crushed me!
tati1: Calm down, I won't kill you. Take a look at the story; there're hints.
Ryou: Am I dead or not?!
tati1: You'll just have to wait for the update!
Yugi: But you never update!
tati1: (rubs head sheepishly) I try, honest.
Yami: And you made me evil!
tati1: If you have a complaint about it you should have mentioned that in the first chapter!
Yami: (sighs)
I promise to update as soon as I can, but my schedule is shot to hell at the moment. Sorry for the cliffee, but try to be patient with me! And REVIEW!!!!
PS – oh, um, note: Yami gives Yugi the Puzzle so that, with the connection renewed, he can know that there is no hope for salvation, and that it is his (Yugi's) fault for Ryou's destruction in the first place. And no, I will not kill Ryou. Or banish him. Maybe. ;)