Disclaimer: I think we went through this a few times already. I don't own Yuugiou! And I don't own Marilyn Manson-- or Softcell, for that matter.. Oh screw this. I don't own the song used in this chapter, okay? Okay! Woo!

Rating: Still muffin! (Muffin R)

Summary: Trapped in a dream.. not able to wake up.. again.

Author's Notes: I'm mean to Mai. I love this song, and hey! Somebody new who people keep bugged me about.. omg.. he's here already so shush. :P

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She was mildly aware of everything going on around her-- not that 'everything going on around her' was much of of anything at all. Every half an hour or so, she'd more see than feel the girl leaning over her and asking quietly why she refused to wake. Her eyes may have been clenched as tightly shut as possible, but, for some reason, she could still see the outlines and some minor details of everything that was in her line of vision. The ceiling, and the light(which glowed a ghastly pale green) and a very small bit of a corner of the nightstand; and, of course, her daughter, who refused to go to sleep, and instead remained to watch quietly.

It was strange - Rayne never sleeping, that is - Mai couldn't remember the last time she had seen her daughter not completely wide awake, and it disturbed her. People had to sleep, if people didn't sleep, they couldn't function properly, right? Right. So why was it that a tiny girl of eight years never seemed to rest, ever?

Sighing, Mai tried to roll onto her side to get more comfortable. But, in doing so, she became suddenly aware of the fact that she couldn't sigh, and that she couldn't move, for that matter.. It was as if her bones had been switched with a cement that refused to budge, and as if her nose had been closed off(as she couldn't get her mouth to open) so that she couldn't make any noise. Yet she could still blink(mentally, at least), and she was still aware. Aware of everything around her.

Definately one of the weirdest things ever to happen to her yet..

----

An hour and a half later, Mai was again aware of her daughter leaning over her and whispering quietly to see if she was okay. This time, though, the words didn't seem to come out clearly, and it sounded like a completely different voice from Rayne's warily quiet one. It was.. deeper, and sounded far more masculine. The words stayed scrambled for a while, before slowly starting to make sense.

"I love you so much, you know that..?"

With a sudden shock that hit her whole body and felt like electricity, Mai was suddenly aware of her eyes being wide open, and staring up at a pair of blue; framed by dark brown hair, and much cloudier than usual. It took every bit of willpower that Mai had to not just scream and run, because it was happening again. She was remembering things, and it was scaring her. Sometimes she would remember something good, and sometimes she would remember something dreadfully.. bad.

Seto's voice was dangerously low as he spoke again, ".. more than anything."

"More than anything?" repeated Mai, without really thinking about what she was saying. Sometimes she'd have control of it, and sometimes she wouldn't. She supposed that this was one of those times where she couldn't speak on her own, and decided to concentrate more on where she was.

"Mmmhm..," Seto hummed, practically purring, as he nuzzled his cheek against Mai's-- making her shiver. Again, she became aware.

Looking around slightly, Mai just nodded and smiled, not saying anything. They were at home, obviously, and in their room. Mai sighed quietly, and, suddenly, she was in control and completely aware of every feeling from that moment from lord knows how long ago. She shifted slightly, to get comfortable, and bit back a moan when she realized that she was pinned beneath a completely naked Seto, and that she herself was devoid of any clothing. Despite how incredibly.. warm.. she was, Mai started to shiver, and almost whimpered in disappointment when Seto lifted his head back up to look at her properly; his voice full of something that could at least pass for concern, as he asked:

".. Is something wrong?"

"Hmnh.. what? No, Seto. Nothing's wrong."

Sometimes I feel I've got to,

Run away.

I've got to,

Get away.

".. I think you're lying," he breathed, leaning down and brushing his lips against Mai's momentarily, ".. and that you should tell me what's wrong."

"Nothing is wrong, Seto," Mai stated, before asking, as a bit of an afterthought, "Why would I lie to you about something like that?"

"Ooh..," he pushed his body down and against Mai's, raising an eyebrow at her, and smirking slightly when she started shivering again, "but you've lied to me so many times before."

Mai remained silent, biting her lip. And this is where the bad bit starts..

From the pain you drive,

In the heart of me.

The love we share,

Just seems to go nowhere.

Oh, I've lost my light;

And I toss and turn, I can't sleep at night.

Seto sat up slightly, pushing down on Mai's shoulders and growling quietly, "And about so many things, too.."

"Seto.. don't."

"Don't what?" Seto sneered, "I never said I was going to do anything, did I? But.. now that you mention it.."

Mai grabbed at Seto's wrists, and tried to pry them off of her shoulders; wincing when all that she succeeded in doing was making him tighten his grip. She shook her head, closing her eyes halfway, and pleading quietly, "Please.."

"No."

Once I ran to you, (I ran)

And now I'll run from you.

This tainted love you've given;

I give you all a girl could give you..

Take my tears,

And that's not nearly all.

Leaning down again, Seto opened his mouth to say something else, but was interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by a hopeful, "Big brother? Are you and Mai awake?" scowling, Seto bit down on Mai's lower lip and growled quietly, before letting go of her and getting up. Grabbing a pair of his pyjama pants and just putting those on before going to answer the door. Not really caring if Mai wasn't dressed yet, or not. Sighing, she just grabbed at the blankets and pulled them over to cover herself. Waiting quietly.

"What do you need, twerp?"

Tainted love..

Tainted love.

The boy smiled up at his brother, and asked quietly, "Could you help me with something, Seto?"

".. Can't it wait?" asked the older of the two.

"No. This assignment is due tommorow..," Mokuba started, "and I really need to get it done, and all.." even though she couldn't see him clearly, Mai could practically feel it when the younger boy did his little puppy dog eyes routine.

Seto hesitated, and glanced back over his shoulder at Mai, who sighed, and shivered slightly again. Frowning, he looked back over to his brother, nodding. "Fine. Fine..," he agreed, "I'll help. But I'm only going to give you about ten minutes of my time. I'm.. busy."

Mokuba peeked around his brother to look in at Mai. He smiled reassuringly, and just kind of nodded to her - knowing perfectly well what was going on between her and Seto - before looking back up at his brother, and grabbing his wrist to drag him out of the room, "Let's go, then!"

Now I know I've got to,

Run away.

I've got to,

Get away..

Throwing the blankets to the side, Mai rolled off of the bed and stood up properly. Wandering over to the dresser, and not really paying attention to whatever it was she was pulling out of the drawers. She had to leave.. if not forever, then at least for a little while.

Mai blinked a few times when she noticed that the clothing she had retrieved was a pair of Seto's boxers, and one of his black turtlenecks, but she didn't want to waste any time to get something else, and just got dressed. Nothing exactly fit perfectly, but it was really better than not having anything.

Rubbing one of her shoulders, Mai exited the room, looking around for no real reason, before just making her way down the hall and going downstairs. Upon stepping down into the main foyer, Mai shivered, and cocked her head to the side, glaring at the wide entranceway that lead into one of the living rooms. It was stupid.. it was fucking absurd.

Why was Seto already there?

You don't really want any more from me,

To make things right,

Need someone to hold you tight..

And you think love is to pray--

"Leaving so soon?"

--but I'm sorry,

I don't pray that way.

Eyes widening, Mai just stared; shocked and confused-- how the hell did he get away from Mokuba so fast? Shivering again, the blonde shook her head, and bit her lip; stumbling over her words, "I-- .. no..? I'm not.. going.. a-anywhere.. Seto.. What--" she took a step or two back when she saw the look on her husband's face, ".. what are you going to do to me?"

His grin was twisted, and his words sounded equally so: "Again.. Who said I was going to do anything to you? But, you know.. since you keep bringing it up.." in simply five long strides, Seto had made his way across the foyer, and stood directly infront of Mai, who took another two steps back, and tripped on the bottom stair; landing sprawled across the last few stairs and most of the landing. "Since you keep bringing it up..," repeated Seto, narrowing his eyes, ".. you really should stop giving me ideas."

Mai pushed herself up so she was sitting, at least; her eyes darting back over in the direction of the living room. Maybe she could make a break for it?

Once I ran to you.

Quickly jumping up to her feet, Mai shoved Seto back - catching him off guard, and making him stumble backward and fall flat on his ass - she bolted for the other room.

Now I run from you.

"Goddamn bitch-- Mai!!" the shouting followed Mai into the living room, and momentarily distracted her. She ran headlong into one of the couches, and tumbled over the back of it; hitting the cushions at an unfortunately wrong angle, and going the rest of the way; hitting and breaking through the glass coffee table, before finally reaching the floor. And after that, she didn't bother trying to get back up again.

This tainted love you've given,

I give you all a girl could give you.
Take my tears,

And that's not nearly all.

She wasn't sure which hurt more.. the shards of glass sticking through her skin and clothing.. or the fact that she had started to cry.

Tainted love..

Tainted love.

"Very smart, Mai. I'd give that a 10.5, at the very least," muttered Seto as he made his way around the couch, and glared down at his wife. "You just keep getting better and better at trying to run away, don't you?"

Well, that certainly made up her mind-- the sarcasm hurt more than both glass and tears.

"What now, Mai?" he whispered, leaning down and grabbing Mai's arms; pulling her up to her feet, "Going to give up, or should I let go so you can attempt to get away again? Not that you'll make it very far.. You'd probably trip over something else."

It wasn't like he'd honestly give her a choice, anyway..

Seto threw Mai back against the couch, and moved quickly to straddle her so she wouldn't be able to move. Smirking, he moved in to kiss her, and didn't bother stopping when she didn't start kissing back. Mai shivered beneath him, and he payed no attention to it; forcing Mai's lips open with his own, and muttering something quietly. She growled; and when she bit down, sharply, on Seto's tongue, he pulled away and brought one of his arms around to backhand her.

Mai's head jerked to the side, and she just narrowed her eyes. Facing Seto again to spit her blood in his face; but he just smirked, and raised an eyebrow. Honestly.. she'd never understand how all of this turned him on so damn much.

"Fighting back, are we?" he exclaimed, rather than questioned, sounding far too happy about it all, too, "You haven't done that in a long time.." his hands slid down along Mai's arms, grabbing and pinning her wrists to her sides. Still smirking, Seto pushed himself closer, and nuzzled his face against Mai's throat. "You know how much I love it when you do.."

Don't touch me, please.

I cannot stand the way you tease..

I love you, though you hurt me so..

"Seto.. just.. stop.."

"No."

But now I wanna pack my things, and go.

Seto let go of one of Mai's wrists, and his hand slid up under the sweater she wore; pressing against and starting to lightly rub Mai's abdomen. He lifted his head up slightly - breath hot against Mai's neck and ear - and muttered: "You're so fucking hot when you wear my stuff.."

"Hmph..," she scoffed-- unwittingly letting herself start to feel safe again, "you say that as if I'm not hot all the time."

"Hn.. good point."

Mai grinned somewhat, "No.." she pushed herself upward slightly; slowly rubbing her body against Seto's; shifting a bit with what little amount of movement she could manage in her position; grinding against Seto's arousal as best as she could-- once. He grunted, and her grin switched to a smirk, "That is a good point."

He just growled-- his alternate means of calling Mai a bitch.

"Aren't I, though?"

Touch me baby, tainted love..

Touch me baby, tainted love..

Touch me baby, tainted love,

Touch me baby, tainted love!

Seto's somewhat gentle massage suddenly changed, and he was roughly rubbing his thumb along Mai's abdomen, now. Hard enough to start bruising right away. Mai flinched, and tried to pull away, completely forgetting that there was no way for her to do so.

Once I ran to you,

And now I run from you.

This tainted love you've given;

I give you all a girl could give you..

"Seto.. stop it," Mai murmured, wincing again and trying to force Seto off of her, "please.. just don't.."

"Don't stop, you say?" he grinned; and Mai glared:

"Goddamnit, Seto! You know what I meant!"

Seto shrugged, and began to tug up on Mai's top; still grinning as he spoke, "Yeah. So?"

"Seto, stop!" shouted Mai, grabbing at Seto's shoulders again, and giving him antoher hard shove. When he wouldn't budge, she just gave up, and decided to angrily repeat herself-- shocked to find that she wasn't the only one yelling:

"Stop it, Seto!"

"You're hurting her!"

Muttering, Seto let go of Mai's sweater, and quickly punched her in the stomach, before just letting go completely and getting to his feet. He turned to look at Mokuba, who was standing by the arm of the couch, and snarled, "I know, and that's why I was doing it." glaring quickly at both his little brother, and then his wife, Seto turned again, and left.

Take my tears,

And that's not nearly all!

"I wish he loved me as much as he does you," whispered Mai, as Mokuba crawled over the arm of the couch to see how badly she had been hurt.

Mokuba sighed, and wrapped his arms around his sister in-law'sshoulders, pulling her over to hug her tightly, "He loves you more than he loves me," stated he, before adding, as a bit of an after thought, "or Victoria. He just hurts you, because he's afraid you'll stop loving him and leave, and he's trying to scare you into staying."

"Bullshit."

"I know it is. But I'm not joking when I say that he loves you more than anything, Mai."

Mai pulled back slighty, and searched the gentle, gray eyes of the concerned boy holding her. She bit her lip, and nodded, before leaning against him again; agreeing silently, before letting out a tired sigh.

Tainted love..

Tainted love.

Tainted love,

Tainted love!

---

"Wake up."

She stirred slightly, and managed to mumble quietly. She couldn't see, which didn't make much sense for a few minutes, until it finally hit her that she must've actually woken up, and gotten out of that simple state of.. awareness. Her eyes were merely closed, but she still couldn't open them. Not yet. They felt like lead weights..

".. Wake up.. Come on.."

She tried to sit up, but simply couldn't; she didn't have the strength to do it. Wincing, Mai leaned back against the pillows again, and went back to trying to open her eyes. Fortunately, she succeeded. Unfortunately, the set of blue eyes that waited for her were not those of her daughter's.

"Mai?"

Mai groaned quietly, and clenched her eyes shut again. Mumbling under her breath, but loud enough for Seto to hear: "Why.. the hell.. are you over here?"

"I'm not."

".. I'm too fucking tired to understand that.. Elaborate."

"Well..," he started to explain, "If by 'over here' you mean at Victoria's house.. I'm not here. You're at home, Mai."

"Why the shit?" she blinked.

Seto frowned, and bit his lip. He just lowered his voice a bit, starting to sound honestly concerned, "You've been asleep for the past two weeks."