Hey all! Thanks for the reviews! Bollocks luck about bein offline for a while ey?
Ok, my friend, Orange-lemons or Tassy, is having a spot of trouble with an asshole of a bloke. This guys a complete and total wanker, and I myself am under the impression that he is gay. (Not that there is anything wrong with that, it's just something to help make her feel better.) If anyone actually reads my beginnings, would they mind giving a few words of advice or encouragement for her? grins say anything you want.
Ok, back to the ficcie. Yes well, thanks again for the reviews, its nearly finished now, which means I can focus on ADDA, and the sequel, or maybe the prequel… #shrugs# what would you all like?
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Dedication: SilverSphinx (and I am glad it made you feel better )
Cookies: Dark Hikari Kamiya (showers you with Oreo's and Chocolate chip! )
Chapter 13 – Lies
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Setos pov
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#Flashback#
My whole body trembled, as I surveyed the bloody symbol carved into my chest.
It burnt and stung with physical and emotional agony.
When I looked up from it, frigid gray eyes held me poised, and my heart jumped in my chest. The face that held those eyes bore a cruel smirk, as his lips made words like poison.
"This will bind you with the memory of me, mark you to me. Forever it will remind you, haunt you."
He grinned, cruelty and malice flashing behind those desolate gray eyes.
"Forever. You. To me."
#End Flashback#
Light seeped into my eyes, as I struggled, into unconsciousness, away from my nightmares. I saw people, faces, but none of them actually reached me. All I knew, all I felt, was pain. And it was destroying me.
Inside and Out.
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Yamis pov
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I took hold of the light and pale hand, that shook slightly with each breath Seto took. His eyes were open, as he stared straight at the ceiling.
I called his name, yet he didn't respond.
When I looked into his eyes, I saw nothing, dead zones. And his silence brought near pain to my ears.
"Do you think there's something wrong with his hearing?" Marik whispered carefully.
"If so, why are you 'whispering'?" Bakura replied, obviously nervous and agitated.
Bakura was quite used to being the one to cause immense suffering, and not stick around to see the aftermath, which briefly caused me to think that the reason for this was because Bakura was a complete wimp, and seeing suffering bothered him.
This, naturally, was absolutely ridiculous.
"It wouldn't matter, he'd still see us," I murmured.
"Unless the asshole blinded him in accompanying the other injuries."
My heart flipped over. I hadn't told them about the abuse.
I couldn't, that was Setos secret to tell.
'Should he ever come back…'
But they could see as clearly as I could, the badly damaged form hidden beneath inches of bandages. I choked back my emotion, fiercely reminding myself of Bakuras words.
"No," I said determinedly, "the doctor said nothing about that, and I know he sees 'something'."
Marik shrugged, while Bakura glanced at me wearily.
"Seto?" I spoke gently.
He didn't respond.
"Seto, you're safe now, I promise, I'll never let anything harm you again. I'll keep you close, protect you." I drew in a deep, shuddering breath. "I am here, and I'll never leave your side."
The words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
Until his lips parted in a whisper…
"I'm never safe."
I swallowed sharply, as Bakura and Mariks eyes widened in shock.
"At least he's not deaf…"
I ignored them, instead speaking to Seto.
"Seto? Please, speak to me, let me help you, please?"
But the words washed over him, and he did nothing, continuing to engrave his vision upon the white ceiling.
I lowered my head, and fisted the sheets in my hand. He wouldn't speak to me, he couldn't get through, or couldn't I?
Was he that lost? Lost to me?
"Yami?"
I shook my head, clearing my vision as I glanced up.
"Mmm?"
Bakura nodded toward the door.
I turned around to see Otogi, whose emerald like gaze was locked on me, and looking worried.
"Yeah?"
"We have problems." I raised an eyebrow, thoroughly disheartened at the thought.
"Clearly."
He shook his head.
"Adding to the already enormous pile of shit we're already in."
Bakuras agitation burst forth. "Well, as long as you don't keep us waiting or anything like that!"
Otogi spared a moment to vent his frustration, by giving him the finger, before he looked back at me with a miserable expression.
"Mokuba just got home."
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Setos pov
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"I'm never safe."
The words, true and relentless, were hollowing in feeling. I didn't know who was trying to speak to me, but I heard their pleas, of safety and security. I knew, it all was a lie.
After that, I heard nothing, but the different voices echoing around inside my head.
/ You're pathetic /
/ Weak /
/ Useless /
/ You belong to me /
/ It's all your fault /
Oh God, please, release me…
#Flashback#
"Are you sure Seto?"
The plaintive voice washed around me with gentle reassurance, and was always cause for me to smile.
I turned around to see Mokuba, a small but bright and vibrant child beneath a mass of raven hair. He was staring at me avidly, with shining blue-grey eyes that always melted my heart.
"Yes Mok."
"Don't call me 'Mok' Nisama, and you're positive?"
"Absolutely."
He looked at me wearily, till I forced an uneasy yet convincing smile.
"Really Mok, I want you to go, have fun."
A smile lit his face.
"Thank you Seto!"
He bounded forward to hug me tightly, his arms warm and comforting about my waist. He looked up at me with stunning warmth.
"Sure you won't come?"
My heart constricted tightly. I felt the fear seize my insides, yet I suppressed it all with a smile. For my brother.
"Yeah. You go, I'll see you tomorrow."
He beamed up at me with love.
"Ok Seto, I'll see ya tomorrow."
He turned around and raced to the door, hauling it open with an enthusiastic tug. As he stepped out the door, he waved back at me.
"Bye Seto!"
His smile vanished, as the door snapped shut. I took a very deep breath, my body shaking slightly. Now that Mokuba was gone, the fear was winning through…
"That was brave Seto."
I shook again.
"Brave, honorable, self sacrificing."
His hand reached out to grip my waist, and I crushed every nerve in my body that instructed me to jump. His arm wove itself about my hips, as he pulled me close.
"So, you remembered, ey Seto? Remembered tonight, the 'executives dinner'?"
I barely moved. I had to let Mokuba go, I had to, or else they'd…he'd…
"Saving your weakling brother in such a way, sacrificing yourself, it's… arousing…"
My eyes widened.
His hands fell bellow my waist, as his lips came down to bruise my skin and neck. All I could do was stand there, staring straight ahead, as hatred went ringing through my head.
#End Flashback#
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Mokuba's pov
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'What are they all doing here? Cause as much as I know Seto loves Yami, he's not insane.'
Seated about him were all Yami's gang. Jou, Mai, and Shizuka took up the largest sofa, each staring animatedly at their feet.
Tristan sat on the arm rest, by Shizuka's side.
Yugi was curled up in Ryou's lap, asleep, and had been since he had arrived. Ryou was joining the others, avoiding eye contact with the young Kaiba and gazing aimlessly at the floor.
Curiously, the raven haired youth glanced at the floor, wondering if his eyes would reveal to him whatever was being shown to his friends.
He was left unenlightened, his eyes grazing over the floor to show only patches and stains on the normally pristine carpet. Seto could easily have it cleaned, he thought, shrugging it off.
Until his eyes passed over a stain.
They narrowed. It looked like a familiar colour. It was rusty brown red, could have been dirt.
But they couldn't have been anywhere near 'dirt', at least not that kind. They'd been out clubbing.
He froze, as his eyes widened.
It wasn't dirt, it was blood. He knew that colour.
He jerked his head up, mouth opening to form a question, but he stopped when the sound of feet, three sets, came thundering down the stairs.
Yami, Marik and Bakura strode into the living room.
Marik and Bakura looked weak and weary.
Yami looked utterly depleted and rejected.
Yet where was Seto? Mokuba desperately wanted to know how Seto looked, if Yami and the others looked this bad.
"Yami, where's Seto?!" The boy demanded, leaping to his feet.
The Pharaoh stared straight at him, a decrepit and dismal shadow hiding in his eyes and about his face. More than anything else though, he looked as though answering would make him scream in agony. So Bakura did.
"He's upstairs, in bed."
Mokuba looked worried in an instant, starting forward.
"What's wrong with him?!"
Yami paled, his mouth opening slightly in response, until the albino interrupted him.
"We had a row. And belted the crap out of one another," he said with a firm, definite and uncaring voice, face expressionless.
Mokuba thought this plausible, as beneath his eye, the spirit had a huge gash, and he looked like molded shit. Seto and him also never got along.
Though, he noticed, Yamis eyes dart to the spirit in brief surprise.
"Then how..."
"Am I not comatosed? I used my shadow magick."
Mokuba felt white hot anger burn his insides.
"What did you fight over this time?" the pre-teen snapped at the albino.
Bakura sighed unceremoniously, his eyes making their way around the room, around the seated people, until they settled on Yami.
"Pharaoh."
Mokuba's eyes widened in confusion, the blue-grey orbs darting to Yami and back again.
"What?"
Bakura shrugged. "I got pissed, went after Yami, Kaiba didn't like it so we belt the crap out of one another."
Mokubas mouth hung open, before he recovered. Anger flowed through him, flashed behind the shining orbs.
"You're such an immature, self centered prick Bakura!"
Ryou, Mai, Shizuka, Jou and Tristan's jaws tasted fine white carpet.
Yami's eyes widened, as did Mariks, but Bakura barely responded, just continued to stare impassively at the youth.
"Mmm, and? " The albino said it so casually, without compassion or care, so much so that everyone turned to stare at him.
Mokuba looked furious.
"Fuck you!"
Bakura smirked. "If you 'really' want to."
Everyone in the room looked at Bakura in horror.
Mokuba gazed at him with revulsion, before his face set angrily, and he stormed forward. In a swift movement, Mokuba had gone up to Bakura, pulled back his hand, and slapped him hard, across the face.
Bakuras head whipped to the side, yet he made no move to retaliate.
There was a deathly silence, in which the only sound was Mokubas heavy breathing.
Yami decided to step in, before Mokuba made any more of a mess of Bakura. He seized Mokubas arm and began pulling him toward the kitchen. Mokuba still glared after Bakura, whose eyes had begun to follow the child, behind his veil of shock white hair.
As Yami made it to the kitchen, Jou, Tristan, Shizuka and Mai, appeared after them.
Mokuba rounded on the weary Pharaoh.
"How could you let this happen Yami?! Is Seto going to be ok?! Keep that maniacal psychotic asshole away from him!"
The raven haired boy took several deep breaths.
"Setos going to be fine," Yami replied, an uneasy knot of guilt becoming his tongue as he spoke. "But I think you should go home with Jou and the others."
Five equally surprised faces looked up at Yami.
"Why?"
Yami took a deep breath.
"Well, these guys need to go home, they've been up all night and are exhausted, and I also think Seto wouldn't want you to see him like this. You know how strong and proud he is."
Mokuba paused, looking thoughtful. He implored to the Pharaoh.
"You swear you'll take care of him Yami?"
Yami nodded with reverence.
"I swear Mokuba."
The child continued to gaze at him, almost as though seeing past the tired features to the tortured soul and conscience within.
After a minute, he gave in, nodding and turning away to walk out the door, his shoulders slumped.
"Alright Yami, I trust you."
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Yamis pov
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With every minute that passed, I condemned my soul further and further into hell.
Jou had taken the others home at my insistence, only after making me swear to keep him posted on what went on here.
When I re-entered the living room, it was to stride straight over to Bakura, who sat on the previously occupied sofa, holding his face, and staring into endless space. I pulled him to his feet, and gazed straight into his eyes, which held confusion and surprise at my actions.
I pulled into a fierce embrace.
"Thank you Bakura," I whispered in to his silvery white hair.
I pulled back.
"Oh, that. Mmm, don't mention it. Ever again."
I shook my head at him. "I owe you a million."
He gave a weak but nevertheless devilish smirk.
"You know, a hundred favors is worth 'one' sexual favor."
I groaned. "Baku…"
"Ok then, maybe later."
Sighing, I spared him a small grin, before turning to make my way back up the stairs. I went alone, as I heard Ryou call Bakura to him, telling the albino spirit how impressed and proud he was of him.
At the top of the stairs, I made my way back down the hall, to Setos bedroom door. As I neared it, a voice filtered out to me.
"Are you alright? Kaiba?"
My heart quickened with my step.
"Do you want me to help?"
I stepped through the door, to see Otogi standing over Seto, his hand out as though to help lift him, an intensely worried look on his face When he saw me enter, his eyes widened in relief and dismay.
"He pulled himself up, I tried helping him, but every time I touched him his body shook or he recoiled! I thought I was hurting him! But he pulled himself up and even that looks like it hurt!"
I darted up to the bedside.
Seto was sitting up, his knees tucked against his chest, his arms wrapped about them. His head rested on his arms, as his eyes gazed off into endless space.
"Seto?" I called.
But he didn't respond, and I was left to stare at his vacant face with a hopeless expression. I took a step back, gazing dismally at the dark blue, crimson stained sheets.
"You better go back down stairs. You can go home too, if you want."
I felt Otogi stare at me, his gaze moving between myself and the huddled teen in the rumpled sheets. After a moment, his feet padded across the carpet, as he headed for the door.
"Oh, and Otogi…"
He turned slightly. "Yes?"
"Thank you."
He was quiet for a moment, before his feet moved again. Out the door, I heard him reply.
"You're welcome."
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Once again, another short chapter, but as I said, I had to cut it down into three.
Will Seto wake up? Will he remember Yami? Will Yami realise how to bring him back?
Well, naturally, to find out, you're gonna have to review, and then read ma update!