Haku: Today, I feel inspired.

Y. Haku: Why do you feel inspired, Hikari?

Haku: I dunno, but I feel like writing. Thus, I shall write.

Haga: OooooKaaaaay then...

Haku: Look! Early update! Be happy people! This was updated early because of the following reasons:

1. My brain is on FIRE when it comes to this fic, and that enables me to write like a madwoman. (Unlike certain other fics. -coughH.Hcough-)

2. I felt like it.

3. I was surprised with a trip to Geralton for the next three days earlier this week. (Don't worry, am taking lined paper and will update things when I get back.)

4. The fact that my scanner is fixed makes for a very happy Haku.

DISCLAIMER:

Me own? You've got to be joking. If I owned Yu-gi-oh! The characters wouldn't bullshit on about friendship at every opportunity.

~~~

Darkness dawns

~~~

Sometimes people have to do negative things to get by.

They do what they can to survive,

No matter the cost.

((Haku: Are those things getting annoying yet?))

Yugi was in pain. The spirit could sense the fear, anger and worry radiating from the boy. Neither knew what was going on, and neither was sure that they wanted to. But the fact remained that something was going on, and that was something that Atemu just didn't appreciate. If there was one thing that could be said about the Pharaoh it was that he liked to know everything about a situation before he want blindly rampaging into it, however, he would 'rampage' on occasion if the information he had gathered was sufficient to justify it, or he was going to run out of time if he didn't do so.

Atemu had the strangest feeling that the last could be applied in the case of his Aibou. He wanted to help Yugi, but how to help when one is but a spirit, and your partner grows darker by the hour?

The Pharaoh snapped out of his revere, as the boy stirred near him. It had been the same for awhile, Yugi would come to, ever so slightly darker than before, then slip into unconsciousness again, succumbing to the pain that was the throbbing red bulges on his back, that seemed to grow larger by the minute. Dull amethyst slid open, revealing pain, and weariness, and the spirit noticed that they were narrowed, and slightly less cherubic than before.

"Yugi?" The spirit asked; worry lining every syllable of his speech.

"I'm fine." The boy replied, even managing a weak smile, which looked more a grimace than anything. Atemu frowned. "No, really." The boy sat up, wincing slightly, as the Spirit felt the red welts give another painful throb. "Okay, maybe not." The boy did manage a proper smile this time though, as he gently swung his legs around, in an effort to get out of the bed.

"Yugi..." The pharaoh's voice held a hint of warning, though it was disregarded by the boy as he gently stood up, staring down at his chest, where Sugoruku had wrapped white linen around the lumps, tightly, but not uncomfortably so.

Yugi smiled at the old man's handiwork. "I'm going to go out for a bit, Mou Hitori no Boku, some fresh air is what I need right now."

"But Yugi..."

"No, Mou Hitori no Boku. I'm fine."

The corporeal being let out a low growl, determinedly following Yugi out of the house, or, at least that was his plan, though it was abruptly halted when he was unexplainably slammed back into his soul room. Caught off guard, and blinking slightly at the abrupt change of scenery, The spirit stood up, and placed his hand upon the door of his room, with every intention of coming out, and telling Yugi off for pulling such a stunt, when he was obviously unwell. Unfortunately, as he put his hand upon the doorknob, He discovered something, the door was locked. Yugi had locked him in.

~~~

Katsuya Jounouchi, ((Haku: Someone's going to kill me.)) a blonde 19 year old originally born in Brooklyn, America, but whom moved to Domino when he was very young, was happy.

He was happy in the way that only Yugi's long time best friend (Besides a certain dead spirit) and companion could be. What more could he ask for, he had a low paying job, several friends, and the respect of most of the duelling community. Well, except for one brunette, blue eyed CEO, but who could have everything, right?

To top it all off, His father was trying to stop drinking, as a sort of, Birthday Present for the teen. Whoever knew the old man cared? Thus, the factors stated above make for one very happy Jou.

One very happy Jou who'd decided to blow some time at the Arcade, where he was loosing money, and quickly.

"Awww! CRAP!" The blonde shouted as, yet again, his little fighting figure was crushed by the girl character he was up against. Next to him, his little sister and friend, Shizuka smirked triumphantly.

"See? Chun-Li can kick Ken's ass any day!" Jou scowled at his sister's choice of words. Sure, she was no longer the naŃ—ve and helpless 12 year old she had been, but she had developed a rather wild streak the past few years, and rather enjoyed using more... colourful language than the standard person.

"Oh go play Dance Dance Revolution, or something, Shizuka." He said, his happy mood vanishing as he watched her. She merely pouted and held out her hand expectantly.

Her amber eyes locked on his own, and there was a cheeky glint present, that Katsuya just didn't like. "You know the rules, big bro, looser pays for the next game."

Grumbling slightly about over eager sisters, and he didn't know WHAT he saw in her, Jou handed over the money, thinking it wiser than to test his sisters 'female state'. (His words.) Shizuka smiled brightly and ran off to another console, immediately challenging some punk 15 year old to a game of 'Superstar Grand Prix.'

He scowled. "The girl turns more into a tomboy every day, I swear." Turning, and noticing that his pockets were exceptionally lighter than they should have been, Jou went to sit in one of the booths near the window.

Counting his money dejectedly, he realised he was seventeen dollars short. He hadn't lost THAT many games, had he? He sighed; he really should stop challenging his sister. At this rate, he'd run out of money long before he even beat her once.

Secretly, he'd been wondering how she got so good, but then thought it was no real surprise, considering the amount of time she and her new, rather shady, friends spent in the arcade. Jou looked dejectedly out the window, his unfocused gaze not really concentrating on anything, until a familiar spiky mop of hair waltzed past the window.

"Yugi! Hey Yugi!" he called, cheering up immediately at the sight of his friend and companion, and racing out of the Arcade.

Briefly, Shizuka looked up, shook her head and whispered, "Idiot." Before going back to her game.

Jounouchi shot her a completely ignored look that would have read, "I heard that." had she been looking, and pounced on his friend.

Or he would have, had not a call come from the petite king of games first.

"Jou, stay back."

"Yuge?" The blonde asked, dumbfounded as the boy held up a hand to stop the amber eyed teen. Suddenly, the boy bent in on himself, eyes scrunched up in pain, gasping, screaming. Jou stared before he came to his senses. "YUGI!" He tried to race forward, but a wind erupted around Yugi, buffeting him back. He couldn't get to the boy, even as he watched in horror, as two large growths exploded from the poor unfortunate's back, dripping with black blood and what looked like a clear liquid that smelt vaguely like petrol. Blood and liquid splattered everywhere as Yugi screamed, and thrashed, trying to dislodge, or deny, the growths on his back, bits of ripped shirt and white linen hanging off them.

To say Jou was terrified was like calling the devil a bad little boy. Jou was beyond terrified, FAR beyond terrified. "YUGI!" He screamed, once again, trying to get to the boy, but once again unable to, for the wind, acting as a diffusible and invisible shield, protecting the boy from outside influence. The boy straightened, and stood, suddenly a lot calmer, though the wind still rippled about his body like some unseen curse. The blood splattered ground beneath him trembled, and a blast of raw power slammed Jou off his feet, and through the arcade window, glass ripping at his skin and biting into his body. There were screams everywhere, as people took in the sight of the creature Yugi had become, and ran, terrified in many different directions.

Jou could have sworn through the haze clouding his vision he saw Yugi smirk. The boy moved closer, the wind still blowing leaf litter around him in a small swirl, and Jou was able to finally get a good look at the growths that came out of the boy's back, even through the haze of pain and blood dripping down over his eyes.

The bat wings beat slightly, black blood already hardening upon their surface, a lacy midnight membrane stringing from one bone junction to the next. He vaguely heard Shizuka screaming.

He grinned, and let out a small bark-like laugh. "This is definitely not how I thought I would die." Yugi locked his eyes upon the Brooklyn boy, and Jou dimly registered that they had become pools of purple, so deep they were almost black, outlining catlike pupils. The last thing he saw, before he lost consciousness was a clawed hand spinning towards the side of his head.

With a sudden rush of pain, Katsuya Jounouchi blacked out.

~~~

Y. Haku: Haku, I've just read your story plan, and you realise that if you're not killed for doing that to Jou, you're definitely going to be killed for what you have planned.

Haku: Ahh well, life was good while it lasted...

REVIEW REPLIES:

(Both for Last chapter, and chapter 3.)

Vanishingact- Sorry! At least I've updated extra early this time to make up for it, ne?

Mimiheart- AND another one! PUAHAHAHAHA -coughhack-

Blaquerose- O.o I inspired you? I feel speshul! And yes, the Hikaris are evil beings in disguise I tell you! EVIL!

Y. Haku: Hikari...

Haku: Shutting up.

tati1- Wai! I'm glad you like! -Glomps- And as for your question... wait and see...

galenhiril- O.o Lady of green huh? And yeah, -points up- the ouchies were his wings.

Spiritual Winds- -shoots dark look- Leave my buddy alone... But I needed a break from writing S-ai anyways, you kinda gather these things when you start daydreaming about Yami snogging Bakura in the middle of a maths class. (Did actually happen) But I still have all the other fics with nummy bishi goodness in them. (And look out for a random outtake in this fic, okiday?)

Saiyan Jedi- yes, but I feel so guilty, I left everyone on a CLIFFHANGER! Do you know how bad that is? And sorry I couldn't make it Tea, but I do have something planned for her. -Starts cackling insanely-

Y. Haku: She'll probably kill you when she finds out who else is gonna die anyways.

Haku: SHUSH! JOU DOESN'T DIE!!!

Bayleef- Yah, I luff mah lil' Yugi-kun. Anyways, hope that wasn't too freaky...

~~~

Haku: So I hope you is happy, my fantastic readers, I is updating once again, and I feel proud!

Haga: Remember to leave a review! See you next time!