First: Thanks ever, ever, ever so much to my second reviewer on this fic: Mooguri Klaine! How will I ever thank you enough?

Second: Thanks and kudos to Nachzes-Black Rider who had been beta-ing my fics since I posted chap five of this one. I owe so very much to her and her wonderful editing skills...THANK YOU!!!

Chapter 7: Confrontation

"Ah, Yam–"

"Shhh, don't speak…."

"…Mmmm…unh…Ya-miii!"

"Having fun yet?"

"Mmmm…."

"Yu–" He was interrupted by a sharp rap on the door.

"Come in!"

The door creaked open and Jounouchi tentatively poked his head in, trying to steer his gaze away from the bed. "Uh, Yami, you're not gonna believe this, but, uh…Ryou wants to see you."

Yami's head perked up from its previous location at Yugi's neck. "Ryou? You mean…Bakura's Ryou?"

"Yeah. He just showed up at the Gates asking for you. Dunno why he didn't just come in, but the watchman said he looked a little off."

"Well, go tell him he can come in!" Yami ordered. Jonouchi scurried off to obey as the god tried to lift himself off his hikari.

About fifteen minutes later, Yami and Yugi walked into the Receiving Hall and noticed that there was definitely something off about the angel. It wasn't until Yugi had settled himself in his throne that Yami jumped up, finally realizing what it was.

"Ryou! What did Bakura do to you?! You look like–"

"A vampire, I know," Ryou answered forlornly. "I'm okay, I guess. It was just a punishment, and he promised to change me back as soon as I find the Ring."

Yami noticed that Ryou seemed to be deliberately avoiding eye contact, and he wished he knew why. "What did you do?" he asked, if only to keep Ryou's melodic voice talking.

The young vampire turned his head to stare at the floor near a wall. "I…I…wait!" He snapped his head around, now staring straight into Yami's eyes. "Why the hell do you care anyway?! And it had better not be that same damn reason you told me ten years ago!"

"Well…I…" the god stuttered, trying to think of a good reason while his thoughts were muddled by Ryou's blood red eyes.

"Yami, answer him," Yugi hissed, instantly bringing the god out of his perverted thoughts.

"I'm just curious, is all," Yami said, shrugging. "It must have been something bad for him to do this to you."

"Like I'll believe that excuse," Ryou scoffed. He turned his back on Yami and began pacing about the hall. "I'll have you know that I wouldn't ever be here of my own free will. In fact, I'm debating whether I should just go home now. But Bakura wouldn't like that." He turned his head and stared contemptuously at them. "He sent me here to question you."

"What for?"

Ryou smirked slightly and began pacing again. "We've gotten a report that you've been lying lately. About the Puzzle I mean. We've heard you still have the Puzzle, and you're just trying to discredit Bakura by saying it's gone."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Ryou," Yami answered bluntly while trying not to think about how hot the seraph looked when he was smirking like that.

"We believe," Ryou went on, ignoring Yami's frank denial, "that you have not only been lying about the Puzzle, but you also managed to steal the Ring, though I have no idea how you could have done that. Even I haven't been able to do that, and I was taught by the best." He paused, eyes full of admiration at the thought of Bakura. "Anyway, I've come to get the Ring back from you." When Yami didn't move, the seraph sent him a plainly contemptuous look. "I'd like it back now."

"You forget you place, Ryou," Yami answered, annoyed at how impertinent the 'vampire' was being.

"Actually, Pharaoh, I think you've forgotten yours," Ryou answered, smiling slightly. "Like the fact that you're weaker than Bakura, that I was almost a god, giving me certain privileges, that you're a–"

"That's enough!" Ryou watched, slightly amused, as the pharaoh sputtered and cursed at the rank he was being given. To think, he was weaker than even a mere seraph? Ah, but this seraph was special, and he had gotten special privileges after almost being deified. Not that he ever used them.

"So, is the truth hitting you hard, Pharaoh?" Ryou asked mockingly. "Do you find it...humiliating that I could be higher ranking than you? Poor, poor, Pharaoh. To think, he could be outranked by a mere angel–"

"Ryou, what's wrong with you?" Yugi interrupted; he was now standing on his feet out of concern for his friend. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like...the Thief or the Traitor," Yami said, indicating Bakura and Malik.

Ryou glared up at him and his raven wings stretched to their full width. "Because I'm a VAMPIRE, and this is how I act when I'm a vampire! Like Bakura! Now, do you have the Ring or not, Pharaoh?"

"I don't," Yami answered.

"Then there's no reason for me to stay here any longer," Ryou stated, pulling his wings back in. He turned towards the door the Hall only to find the doors being blocked by two thickset guards. Glancing angrily back at the god, he yelled, "Why is my way being blocked?" The guards didn't move.

"Because I don't want you to leave, Ryou," the Pharaoh answered as he stood up from his chair.

"You are not keeping me here," the 'vampire' hissed, but when he tried to instantly teleport out of the Realm and back to Bakra, he found he couldn't.

"Actually, I'm keeping you here for three days," Yami said quietly. "And until that time ends, you won't be able to let so much as a hair escape Elysium." He motion for Yugi to come near, whispered something in the seraph's ear, and with a look of remorse, Yugi ran out of the room.

"Yugi? Where are you go–"

"He has an errand to take care of, so he won't be able to come between us," Yami answered as he stepped down from the platform where his throne sat and started walking towards Ryou.

"Pharaoh, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to see how you really feel about me–"

The 'vampire' growled softly as he backed up against a wall. "Now it's you who has forgotten his place."

"And yet there's nothing you can do about it," Yami murmured. In an instant he had the seraph's arms pinned against the wall, rendering the boy almost helpless.

"Pharaoh, please don't do this! You can't! You're not allowed!" Ryou pleaded as Yami began to gently kiss him on the neck.

"And yet I don't seem to care–"

"Yugi! Please come back! Help me, please! Someone, hel–"

"Your cries for help are useless, Ryou," Yami muttered softly. "We'll be alone for quite some time."

Ryou's scream was silenced when Yami kissed him fiercely, his hands holding the seraph hard against the wall. One hand left the boy's arm to pull out a small dagger, and Ryou took the opportunity to try punching him to see if he would go away, but the Pharaoh didn't even react. Instead, with three swift, but careful, movements, he slashed open Ryou's shirt and pants.

Oh Gods, this is why I didn't, couldn't come back, Ryou thought hopelessly as Yami pressed against him again. He struggled desperately to escape, punching and twisting and squirming, even though he'd know for some time that it would do no good. Please Bakura! Please help me!

The pain hit Bakura like a train and it was all he could do to keep from collapsing where he stood from the anguish flooding into him. Ryou hadn't known that Bakura always had a connection to him and could have used the mind-link if he wanted...and had he known. But now the god almost wished it didn't work that way; maybe then he could see clearly. The fire burning his soul was from Ryou's emotions; something very bad was happening to his lover.

Bakura screamed as severe pain flooded his soul, oddly in sync with one of Ryou's screams. The god struggled to his feet and slammed a hand against on red button on the wall. He may not be able to enter Elysium–the Pharaoh had blocked his energy signature years ago–but he did have allies in the Upper Realms that could.

Within moments, a tall figure appeared in the room, wearing a simple scribe's linen and a reed pen behind one ear. His inky hair was long at pulled back at the base of his neck into a loose ponytail. He frowned as he looked around the room, finally noticing Bakura leaning against the wall, wincing and breathing heavily.

"Bakura, what is the reason that you have called me here?"

"My hikari..." Bakura cried out as fire streamed through his body again. "Lord Thoth, I...I sent, Ryou to Elysium...and...and now something's happened to him, but...I can't go after him! Yami blocked me ages...ages ago. He's...he's in so much trouble...and...it's all my fault!" He screamed again and fell to the floor sobbing. "Please help me..."

"You sent Prince Ryou to Elysium?" Thoth asked as if to clear it up. When Bakura nodded silently, he went on, "I would have thought you'd be more intelligent than that. And you want me to go and help him?"

"Yes...."

Thoth sighed. "Very well. I suppose you're getting punished enough for doing something so stupid...and I would like to see what happened to him for this to happen." The greater (AN: and my patron!) god nodded once and disappeared, instantly reappeared in Yami's Receiving Hall. Bakura sighed slightly as the pain in his soul eased, but he continued sobbing on the floor.

Ryou was also sobbing on the floor with Yami onto of him when Thoth appeared in the Hall. Yami looked up in surprise; the god of writing was not supposed to be here right now, and he had a feeling Bakura was behind it.

"Yes, can I help you?" Yami asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

Thoth narrowed his eyes at the scene and crossed his arms. "I have come for Prince Ryou. I suggest you get off of him."