Pale lavender eyes glinted in annoyance as they were fixed on a linen clad, broad back, rich tan skin revealed when the shirt ended at the back of his companions neck, before sun caught in wild, ashen blonde strands. Ever since they had left the entrance of the under earth labyrinth, Mariku hadn't spoken a word, only mumbling his thanks when the Veildra had vanished to celebrate the possession of the Anwyn's Crystal … which amused Malik somehow, considering it wasn't worth anything, and would shatter to useless pieces of glass when the sun would set. The boy remembered the stunned expression of Mariku's when he had told him, and watched him awaken in his arms. Yet, Malik had expected something more.

Though, what did he expect? Hugs? Overjoyed thanks? Kisses?

No. No, Malik told himself, he did not expect anything intimate from the tall thief. No.

Lunen Forest seemed like it was spring and fall at the same time. The sun winking through the thick, vivid green tops of the trees, the ground beneath his feet cushioned with moss and the fallen leaves of last fall, giving the heavy, fresh scent of pines… the very scent of nature. Yet it also crept Malik out big time, and he was sure he could see shadows scurrying through the shadows of the bushes, hiding behind trees and rocks, ever watching, ever waiting … daring him to make a wrong move, step on something special, or walk too far away from his mighty companion, who didn't seem to acknowledge him at all at the moment. Malik bit his lip, and blamed it on the Veildra attack.

It would have been hell for him, kept as a pet to an ugly monster. It was hell for him to think he was a burden for Mariku, only ever to be rescued. Yet, he was great himself, thank you very much! After all, he had made it through the labyrinth maze, befriended a scary dragon, and rescued Mariku from the Veildra by giving them the Anwyn's heart!

Then again …

He had lost Ryou to Bakura, whom he didn't trust at all, wouldn't have made it past the huntresses without Mariku's help, and wouldn't have been in trouble in the first place if he had listened to the thief. In fact, he was pretty pathetic.

With a squeak, he dashed forwards as a twig cracked close behind him and paranoia had kicked in once again, thinking of the biggest, scariest, ugliest thing who wanted to eat him, clinging to the man's muscled arm now, burying his nose in the folds of Mariku's shirt, on the side of his chest. He was sure the thief looked at him oddly now … and he flinched, uttering a terror filled scream which made the birds fly from the tree's they'd been resting in noisily, as something landed on his hair.

Then, chuckling. The body he was clinging to gently heaving with the chuckles, and a large tan hand came up, and plucked something out of his hair. "We're close."

Malik blushed, eyes snapping open, and he let Mariku go, stepping back. "Wh- I'm sorry!"

"Not like that …", Mariku said, arching an eyebrow at the boy, finding the blush quite adorable … in fact, he did think Malik was quite the adorable little thing anyways. Nothing even close to an angel of course; this boy was heaven to look at, but hell to get along with really. Sigh. "We should be in the hide-out very soon.", he explained, grinning.

Malik huffed, crossing his arms tightly in front of his slender chest, glaring up at the tall thief through his bangs. "You're evil!"

"Me? No, I think the thing behind you is much more evil than I am…"

Lavender eyes going wide, the boy froze, actually feeling hot, moist breath in the back of his neck, eyes boring into his back. "Y-you think..?" Came the meek reply, and Malik whimpered as something behind him stepped onto a dry twig, making it crack. "D-do someth-thing!"

"Hmm, I don't know, should I? Should I not? It looks rather hungry Malik, you better not turn around..", Mariku taunted, grinning widely, enjoying how skitterish he could make the boy, in a sadistic way. Tears gathered in those lovely eyes, he noticed, and felt his heart melt at the sight; even if it annoyed him big time that it did that. It wasn't supposed to do that. He wasn't supposed to… to fall in love. Shaking wild ashen locks about to chase away the thoughts, he settled to smirking again.

"I just might save you, you know."

"Do it! I-I …"

"On one condition.", Mariku said, grinning again. Malik tilted his head, shivering slightly, inquiringly looking up.

"Kiss me."

"WHAT!"

"Oooh, I think you just made it angry … it's really ugly, but those teeth look sharp enough…"

With a yelp, Malik dashed forwards into the protective circle of the thief's muscled arms, his own wrapping around the man's neck, meshing his lips to Mariku's in a heated, desperate embrace… and the man actually blinked, and let out a strangled gasp, arms curling around the slender waist.

It was… it was… electrifying, Mariku mused as the boy's soft, soft lips moved against his, pretty lavender eyes closed in the sweet, young face. He could feel Malik melt against him as he started to kiss back – though, it only lasted a few seconds, until Malik noticed Mariku did nothing to protect them against whatever it had been behind him. Arms stayed firmly around him, no motion to grab the dagger. Gathering all his will, Malik pulled away, trying to glare at the man through the haze in front of his eyes.

"There wasn't anything behind me really, was there."

"Nope."

"I hate you!"

Mariku chuckled, brining up one hand to stroke the heated cheek of the child with his knuckles. "Nice to know though what you'd do for safety. Be glad I'm the one protecting you, anyone else would have had you pinned to the ground by now." Lowering his head to bring his lips against the corner of Malik's stunned, softly pouting mouth affectionately, he pulled away from the boy right afterwards, continuing to walk. Yet … something inside of him screamed for him to take the child, and kiss the living daylights out of him, to satisfy his desire to be loved. Then again, another large part of his being wanted to rip the clothes off the soft, tanned body and make him his the hard way; though, Mariku gritted his teeth, deciding to do anything just yet. He cared for the strange boy, he found, quite deeply in fact. Otherwise, he wouldn't have faced the Veildra like he had. Oh well.

Malik was left dazed, staring after the man before hesitantly looking over his shoulder to find out why the twig had cracked – only to find a fluffy, red squirrel tilt his head and blink cutely at him before scurrying off to mind its own business.

Damn it.

(Breathe)

Violet eyes opened slowly, blinking dazedly, before fixing onto a spot on a heavy, greyish cloud above, a small head tilting lightly. Yawning, and stretching, and Prince Yuugi wondered why he could move again suddenly … a small smile fixing on childishly soft lips, indicating his persona was vulnerable, easily hurt. He yawned again, and squealed in surprise as his body sat up, sat up, for the first time in what had felt like months!

Looking around, he found himself resting on an endless plain. He figured it had been a field of beautiful, brightly coloured flowers once, but fall had come early as it seemed, leaves falling from wherever the trees were … not that Yuugi could see any trees. He liked trees though! Atem had always climbed trees when he had been very little, and Yuugi had envied him so much – he never had been allowed to climb trees! Then again, so hadn't been Atem…

And then, his older brother almost never had time for him anymore, always doing this and that and ruling the kingdom whenever their father was away. Yuugi missed Atem.

As he now thought about it, pouting and standing, hugging himself even though he was amazed he could actually stand without having difficulties to breathe and stay upright, he whimpered softly, noticing he was … quite alone.

And the clouds became darker, thunder rolled over the endless lands in tune with the child's soft whines, lighting flashing over the dark sky as Yuugi's tears rolled down his soft cheeks. He knew he was cursed now … cursed with a small, sickly body, so unfitting for a prince who should stand proud and strong, like Atem did! Cursed with disease after disease after disease, cursed with making his beloved older brother sad all the time! And now …he was cursed to be alone. Yuugi hated to be alone.

When he had been younger, Atem often had joined him in his room at night, holding him close to his strong, warm body to chase the monsters of his nightmares away. Yuugi cherished those memories. And now … what if he never found back?

It began to rain. The more Yuugi cried, the more it rained and stormed, and the more it stormed, the more Yuugi cried. He hated thunderstorms. Sobbing uncontrollably now, a voice seemed to worm into his head.

Come …

Yuugi looked up, fists still rubbing his eyes, sniffling. "Hmmm?"

Come … come to me …

"Who is there? Where are you?", the boy asked, looking around, but there was nothing more than the withering grass, and the chilling wind blowing his tri-coloured locks around his head, and crept beneath his soft, light clothes, making him shiver.

Come to me, child …

"Mommy..?", Yuugi asked unsurely, vaguely remembering the voice; it couldn't be Atem or their father, for they of course were both male, and this voice was soft and breathy and warm and gentle and … female, doubtless. The eleven-year-old took a step forwards, hesitantly, and the scenery changed rapidly, that fast it made him feel dizzy, and he stood in a closed room, stone walls all around him, a corridor leading to another room, which was dark. There were runes on the walls, and Yuugi knew he should remember what they meant, but he couldn't.

Drawn forwards by the voice, he felt as if he was in a trance, only flinching when a scream echoed through the air, sounding so devastated and desperate and so full of sadness he didn't recognize the voice, but it made him sad too and made him feel guilty as well …

Yuugi …my child, my baby … come to me, come, hurry! I want to hold you in my arms for all eternity …

At the end of the corridor, in the doorway, appeared something bright, vaguely looking like a woman's body. Flawless, transparent skin, long, bright white hair that flowed around her even there was no wind, elegant slender limbs shown as she stretched her white arms out to him, warm blue eyes fixed on him.

"Mom … Mommy…"

Come to me, Yuugi … you won't ever be alone again.

"What about Atem, Mommy?"

He will be fine … He has to care about the kingdom now, not about you. Stay with me.

"Mommy…"

And as Yuugi took another step forwards, he could hear crying, sobbing, gasping breaths drawn into clenching lungs, muffled by he assumed were hands on the face that cried. For him? He doubted it…and he took another step.

And Atem cried, as he sat on his only brothers bedside, witnessing as the young child fell into a coma.

No one dared to disturb the young King as he mourned, because that was what he was …an hour earlier, a message had been delivered to him. They had found the old King's corpse, finally, which made Atem the ruler …

A ruler without any of his family left.

(Breathe)

A/N: .. Fluff and Angst … what a blend!

ladywolfTerri: Not too much about the legend for now … my plot is developing veeery slowly ;-; I'm glad you liked though!

Marina-Kashu: Confused … indeed … thank you though! Yes, reviews are very nice!

Carmen5-Nemrac: Thanks ;

Blueeyesbakura: I wonder too.. Won't let loose perverted mind on And yep, I am, as you probably saw by now XD Even if it was short.

Anime Crazed: He definitely liked it! Who wouldn't like to get groped by Kura? I would … erm. Lol! Thank you!

Pork Steak: What was that about? Oo;;

Chelley Angel: Thanks!

OBSESSED Uber Rei Model 07: Oh come on, let Bakura touch him .. it's such a nice bum he has after all, who wouldn't grope Ry-chan? Yeah, seems Veilna doesn't have the right taste in pretteh things!

Esther'nEra: I will, and thanks, Wyn-chan likes to hear that.