Ari: Yes, an update! ^_^
Yugi: About time! The date you set was TWO WEEKS AGO!
Ari: Hai, hai, but I had a History project due. PROJECT. I don't like projects. And then, I decided that releasing this on April Fool's Day would be fun… ^_^
Yugi: O_o I don't
like that tone. What do you have planned?
Ari: Oh, nothing bad… ^_^
Yugi: OO Now I'm REALLY worried.
Ari: *grumbles* Just say the disclaimer and I'll show you.
Yugi: Hai hai… Ari does not own Yu-Gi-Oh, and most likely never will, although she's attempting to make plans, but of course, she never follow plans, so she won't succeed, even if the plan would have worked, which it wouldn't. *blinks* That's a long sentence. Anyway! This story contains YAOI content, if you STILL haven't figured it out. And the pairings, as stated in the summary, are YxY ^_^, BxR (why does Ryou like him?), and SxJ (why is my best friend in love with my worst enemy?).
Ari: *smirks* You say bad things about them, but I know you love them. You love EVERYONE!
Yugi: ^_^ But Yami most of all.
Ari: Hai! Anyway, here's the story, enjoy!
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Yugi: Because you were such great readers, Ari decided to write a little extra something here, that's not tied with the plot. Uhhhhhhhh… A warning… Younger people shouldn't really read this part. It's not an actual lemon, but it might give you bad images… Ari was actually gonna upload it, but her FTP thing won't work right now. I repeat, it's not a real lemon. No flames, and no reporting!
~~~~~~~~~~SPECIAL STUFF! ^_^~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sitting comfortably on the bed, Yugi smirked and smiled up at Yami teasingly as he inserted the long, hard shaft into his mouth. His tongue swirled around the object, feeling it almost melting in his mouth, and made a little moaning sound. The spirit whimpered softly.
"You waaaaaaaaaant it, Yami-Chan?" Yugi's mouth left the object long enough to ask, then went back, plunging the shaft into his mouth, the warm cavern closing around the hilt, where his hands were. Smiling up cheerfully, the amethyst-eyed boy sucked hard.
"Aibou!" Yami gasped. "Aibou, you're not used to this. Don't' take the whole thing into your mouth, or you might choke."
Yugi removed his mouth once again to speak. "I'm fine, Yami-Chan. And you just want me to hurry up so you can do this."
The spirit snickered. "And so what if it's true?"
"Well…" Yugi considered this for a moment. "You'll just have to wait." Without waiting for a response, his tongue flicked out to lick the tip of the shaft, and Yami groaned. Smirking, Yugi took it fully into his mouth, sucking hard. He was rewarded as a sticky white substance rushed into his mouth, and he drank it down greedily, some dripping onto the bare skin of Yami's legs.
"Aibou," Yami protested, "look what happened. It's a good thing I wore shorts today, or else that Popsicle would have dripped onto my leather pants!"
Yugi giggled. "You're the one that suggested we eat lots of sugar while Grandpa's away."
"Yes, but I didn't mean in your room!"
Yugi smiled up innocently. "That was fun. We should do it again somed—"
"NO!"
(A/N: *smirks* Heehee, happy April Fool's Day! Did you have fun reading that? ^_~ BTW, I meant Popsicle as in the thing that has vanilla inside, and it's covered by a chocolate coating. ^_^)
~~~~~~~~~SAFE ZONE NOW ^_^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yugi: Okay, now, onto the REAL fic! Oh, and this chappy actually contains plot. ^_^
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Chapter Four
Whose Puppy is This?
A slap landed on a soft, white cheek, causing a red mark to appear. The white-haired owner of that hand growled, and punched the smooth-skinned boy again, watching as he doubled over. His hikari's pain brought no pleasure to him. It hurt him even more.
"I was almost ready to forgive you," Bakura hissed angrily. "You warned that stupid spiky-haired friend of yours about my plan, and ruined my chances again! I was going to let you go with only a minor beating, but this thing came! I told you that I would not accept this humiliation, and you still...!! And without telling me!"
Ryou winced, more at his yami's tone than the physical injuries. "I'm sorry..."
Bakura slammed him against the wall. "Sorry isn't good enough, you worthless hikari. Would 'sorry' bring me the Millennium Puzzle?!"
The white-haired boy hung his head in shame. He knew that Bakura really did not care, at this moment, whether he had the Puzzle or not. What raised the yami's fury was the embarrassment of seeing Ryou in the Santa suit. Which, finally, brings us back to the subject of this discussion, the red velvet suit that hung awkwardly on the boy's fragile frame.
Bakura glared at the suit, his lips curled in distaste. "That thing looks horrid on you. Take it off! I cannot believe that you're going to wear such an ugly... thing... in front of people!"
"No one's going to know it's me," Ryou tried to reason, and merely received another punch in his guts. He collapsed, sliding to the ground, unable to support the pain. A few loose tears slipped out despite his mental protests. Why was his yami so against everything he did?
"Take that thing off!" the spirit commanded. "Don't let me see it again until that party."
Ryou blushed. Take it off? There was one problem with that request. "Bakura... I'm not wearing anything underneath."
The ring spirit paused. Did he want to see his little hikari without clothes? He shrugged. Ryou looked the same as him... right? "Quit stalling and get rid of the da** thing! There's nothing that you have that I don't."
With a sigh, the white-haired boy began to remove the red, velvety piece of clothing, aware of the hungry, red-brown eyes staring at him. Bakura realized that he was, in fact, wrong. Ryou did have something that he did not -- a shining aura of sweet innocence that seemed to throb in his veins, pulse like blood. For a second, the teen turned, and Bakura gasped. He noted absently that this must have been how the Pharaoh felt when he saw his own hikari. For a moment, the ancient Tomb Robber was breathless. Ryou's hair, soft as feathers and whiter than snow, glimmered in the mid-afternoon sun as if sprayed with diamond dust. His skin was almost ghostly pale, but a healthy pink blush tinted his cheeks. Though Bakura beat him, he always made sure to heal him, that the soft, silky skin was unmarked, unblemished. A tiny, rosy mouth and large, chocolate-brown eyes, along with his long hair, accented his almost-feminine beauty, but his shoulders were broad, leading down to a very masculine body. (A/N: O_o What am I talking about...? And no, this section had no purpose except that I described Yugi enough times and wanted to describe Ryou. ^_^' Jou's probably next...) Then, he turned, and the moment passed.
"We," Bakura announced, "are going shopping. I am not eating dinner with someone with that sense of fashion."
Meanwhile, three people were tromping through the park on this relatively warm winter day, throwing snowballs at each other. Or rather, two people were tromping through eh snow, throwing snowballs at each other and at the tall figure that walked calmly behind them. The white snowflakes were everywhere on them, accenting short golden hair and standing out sharply against long raven hair. The two boys' child-like laughter ran out, much tot he amusement of their azure-eyed observer. However, that amusement ran dry as a wet clump of snow hit him smack in the face, splattering onto his short brown hair.
"Alright, who threw that?" Seto demanded, brushing snow from his face. He turned towards the sound of giggles, and saw nothing except a tree. Of course, being the extremely intelligent CEO that he was, Seto deduced that whoever it was, was behind the tree. Stealthily, he stalked towards the tree. Silence stretched all around him. Suddenly, he made a grab for whatever was behind the tree, expecting, of course, that it was either his brother, or no one at all. Surprisingly, his hands came into contact with Jou's arm.
"Seto!" the boy gasped, as his now-lover pulled him into a tight embrace. He relaxed and melted against the tall, slim body, feeling Seto's hands caressing his back, moving up to his neck. He moaned as Seto's mouth moved to his neck, sucking on his skin, slowly sliding up to his ear.
Seto smirked as Jou shivered from his breath, and gently flicked out his tongue, whispering into the soft ear. "Such a bad little puppy, throwing snowballs at his master. I might have to punish you later... in my room. Of course, we can always start right now..."
Without waiting for a response, Seto pushed the teen against the tree, his hands running through Jou's mass of golden hair.
"I didn't throw dat!" Jou protested, but allowed the brown-haired youth to continue the "punishment" anyway. "Mokuba threw dat one, not me!" However, he realized that Seto was not planning to listen, and he just gave up, letting himself be caressed thoroughly.
Suddenly, something dropped on top of them, knocking them both flat into the snow. As Jou struggled to get out from under the taller teen's body, Seto caught their assaulter. It was none other than a giggling Mokuba.
"You fell for it, Big Brother!" Mokuba cackled joyfully. "I knew that if I hid in the tree that had Jou behind it, you'll get all kissy-kissy with him and you wouldn't know that I'm here until it's too late. I tricked you, Seto!" He beamed proudly.
Seto smiled softly. "Yes, you tricked me, Mokuba. My little brother and my Puppy are both growing up now." He frowned. "Speaking of the mutt, where is he? He was here a second ago! If there's something he can't do, it's staying quiet." He looked around. "Jou? Jou! Where..."
The golden-haired boy spun around at the call of his name, his brows furrowed in thought. He remained tense as Seto ran to him, but relaxed in his arms, rubbing his cheek against the taller boy's neck.
"Jou... what's wrong? I don't like to see my puppy sad."
Jou raised a trembling hand and pointed in front of them, to a woman with short, curly, brown hair. "My mother... But where's Shizuka?"
"Shizuka?"
"My little sister... She was wit Mom. I... Seto, I think something's happened to my lil sis! I promised dat I'll always be dere fer her. I've never let her down before... But..."
Seto stroked his lover's cheek gently, lifting his chin up to face him. "Jou, I think you should tell me what happened."
The boy nodded, his eyes filing with tears, which he brushed away angrily. "Dad started drinkin' and smokin', and he and Mom were always fightin'. One day, Mom left wit Shizuka, but Dad made me stay. He was... an' he..."
The rich CEO pulled him close comfortingly. "He beat you, didn't he? He hurt you... my precious puppy..."
Jou nodded.
"What else did he do?"
Jou looked away.
"Abuse? Torture?"
"H-hai..."
"Rape?"
Jou shook his head. "He threatened to, if I didn't do work. An', an' I think he almost did, but he went ta da bar an' I ran ta da park."
Seto's hold turned more possessive. "You're mine. No one is ever going to touch you again except me. You belong to me."
"Hai..."
During this conversation, the woman was walking closer. Now, she recognized her golden-haired son. "Jou...?"
The boy tried to look tough. "Yea, Ma, it's me. I guess you're a little surprised."
Seto frowned. Jou never acted like that around his friends. He was only like that around him, before they settled their feelings. Why was he so distant to his own mother?
"Aren't you with your friend Yugi?" Jou's mother asked. "When I heard that you ran away from your father's home, I expected you to come to either me or Yugi. Who is this stranger?" Her voice lowered. "How do you know he doesn't just want you for your body?"
Jou seemed to spring away from her. "Ma, dis is Seto Kaiba, da head of Kaiba Corporations. I've been stayin' wit him fer the past few days already. His mansion's safe. No one can break inta dat!"
The woman gasped. "K-kaiba? I'm sorry, Kaiba-San. I had no idea that my son was bothering you. I'll take him home immed--"
"That won't be necessary," Seto interrupted. "He will be staying with me."
"Sir?" She was confused. "For how long?"
"Forever."
Jou's mother was pretty much in shock. "What do you mean? Why... What did he do?"
The golden-haired boy sighed, unsure how his mother was going to accept this. "Ma... Seto's my boyfriend. My lover."
"Lover? My son... has a male lover? And the richest man in our area, no less." (A/N: I'm stuck. What do I write now?)
"Ma?" Jou interrupted. "Where's Shizuka? Where's my lil sister?"
The woman hesitated. "She is... not here."
"Whaddya mean?!"
"Your father came and took her back. He... he thinks that you are with me, so he is holding Shizuka hostage until I 'return' you. Or at least, that's what he claims. I think, though, that he knows that I have no idea where you are. He... he said something about visiting your friend Yugi before he hung up the phone. I am on my way to save my daughter. I... I don't want to imagine what he might do."
Jou was seething in rage. "An' you don't care what happens ta Yug?! He's my best buddy!"
"What could I have done?" she asked. "Shizuka is my daughter. I must take care of her first."
"Ya coulda called Yug an' warned him!" Jou snapped. Without warning, he took off, running as fast as he could towards the game shop. Seto glared at the woman and followed his lover.
"Wha..." Mokuba blinked as his big brother and best friend ran off. "Where are they going?"
Jou's mother looked down. "Ah... You must be Mokuba, Kaiba's brother. Would you like to help me rescue Jou's little sister?"
Mokuba grinned. "You bet! I heard everything you said. Don't worry, I can break into houses like a pro!"
Yugi sighed and snuggled closer to Yami, yawning. He could feel the spirit's hand on his bare stomach, warming him. He had no idea when it got there, or when his shirt slipped up, but he certainly enjoyed it. Unfortunately, he had to move as he reached for the bowl of popcorn, which seemed so far away now. Grumbling, he stood up and picked up the bowl, taking it with him as he scrambled back onto Yami's lap to watch the movie on their big-screen TV. (A/N: What did you think was going on? ^_~)
"It would have been so much easier if that wizard learned to mind-crush," Yami commented. "Or I guess if would be okay if he learned the Dark Magician's Dark Magic Attack. Then, he wouldn't have fallen into that whatever-it-is thing."
Yugi giggled. They had the same discussion each time they watched Lord of the Rings. "Yami-Chan, it's a part of the plot! He was supposed to fall. And you've seen the Two Towers already. He comes back, remember? And besides, what would be the point of watching if they just mind-crushed everyone, hmm?"
The spirit sighed in defeat. "Hai, hai, Aibou. But it would have been so much easier if I was in it..."
The amethyst-eyed boy was about to retaliate, when suddenly, the doorbell rang. Knowing how much Yami was fascinated with technology, especially TVs and movies, he decided to answer the door and allow the spirit to watch TV.
He was met with a surprising visitor. "J-jonouchi-san?" (A/N: Jou's last name is Jonouchi, not Katsuya. I checked. ^_^ 'Cause Shizuka's last name is also Jonouchi.)
The man growled. "Where is my son? Where did you hide Katsuya?! As his father, I demand that you tell me where he is."
Yugi blinked. "Demo, Jonouchi-san, he's not here. I've only seen him in school. I don't know where he is right now." He hoped that his "innocent act" would work. Technically, he was telling the truth, because he truly did not know where his best friend was at that moment, but he could make a very accurate guess. It was clear, to him at least, that Jou loved Seto...
In a second, Yugi was slammed against the wall. He cried out in surprise, both out loud and in his mind. He could feel Yami coming. He just hoped that the puzzle spirit would spare the man's life. He still Jou's father, after all.
"Where are you hiding my boy?!" Jonouchi-san demanded again. "Don't play innocent. I know that he's here with you." His hands slid up to the boy's neck. "If you don't tell me in ten seconds, I'm going to choke the life out of you."
Yugi felt the hands tighten and gasped in surprise. He really is going to...!! He had met Jou's father before, and he knew that he would never do something like this if he was in his right mind. /Yami-Chan! Yami-Chan, heeeeeeeeeeelp! But don't kill him, please.../
Just as he felt as if he was going to suffocate, Yugi felt the hands loosen and gulped in air. Someone knelt down beside him and pulled him into a comforting hug. Yugi looked up in surprise. "Jou-kun? What are you doing here?"
The boy ran a hand through his sun-gold hair. "Hey, Yug, y'alright? I was worried 'bout you. See, Seto an' I were walkin' in da park, and' we saw Ma, and she said dat Da was comin' here."
Yugi nodded. "Hai, Jou-kun, I'm fine. Ne, where is your father? What are you going to do?"
Jou shuffled his feet and looked down, pointing behind him. There, Yami and Seto held Jou's father against the wall, both glaring at him angrily, one for hurting his lover, one for hurting his Aibou.
"I dun want dem ta hurt him," Jou murmured, "but I can't forgive him. He hurt me! But dat's not why. On toppa dat, he kidnapped my sister an' almost killed my best friend! But I think Seto an' Yami are more upset."
"Hai..." Yugi thought for a second. "Ne, Jou-kun, try to keep them from killing him. I'm going to call the police."
Jou sighed as the tricoloured-haired boy ran into the game shop, ready for the list of questions that the police were going to ask.
A short while later, someone showed up, but it was not the police. Three people headed towards them. One stopped a short way off, but the other two ran towards the group, one stopping near Seto and hanging onto him, one knocking Jou flat to the ground and hugging him tightly, sobbing.
"Mokuba..." Seto murmured, and the younger boy's arms tightened.
Finally, Jou had a chance to sit up. He stared at the person in front of him in amazement. He could not believe his eyes. "Shizuka?"
The red-haired girl nodded, and hugged her brother again. "Jou, it's me! Oh, Jou, I missed you. I thought that they were going to keep us apart forever." Tears ran down her cheeks. "I'm so glad that you're alright. I couldn't have made it without my brother."
Jou blushed. "Aw, shucks. I'm not dat great."
Yugi sighed, watching from the doorway of the game shop. He wished he could run to Yami and hold onto him forever, but he knew he could not. First of all, Yami was quite busy trying to keep Jou's father from doing any more harm. Second of all, he did not want to lose Yami. If Yami became disgusted with him, he did not know how he could live.
Sirens blared in the distance, and, finally, the police came. They placed handcuffs around Jou's father's wrists and took him into custody. Jou's mother, Jou, and Shizuka went as witnesses, Seto went to support his lover, and Mokuba, of course, followed his older brother. In a moment, the mass of people in front of the game shop vanished.
"Yami?" the amethyst-eyed boy asked, worried. He could not see his dark side.
Suddenly, arms encircled his waist, and he was pulled against a firm, warm body. He could smell Yami's spicy scent from the breaths on his neck. He relaxed, melting into the warmth. He wished that Yami could hold him like this forever.
"I'm right here, Aibou," the spirit murmured. He looked up at the twilight sky, deepening into night. "It's getting late. Perhaps we should eat dinner, finish the movie, and go to bed. You need your rest."
"Will you stay with me?" Yugi asked. "I'm... I'm scared, Yami-Chan."
"Shhhhhhhh, of course I'll stay with you," the ancient Pharaoh comforted him. He have an amused shake of his head mentally. This boy, to whom he gave all his attention, once was his slave. Now, thinking about that, he missed having Yugi next to him more than ever. This one boy taught him all he had never known about love. "Don't be scared. I'll protect you."
Yugi smiled radiantly, and Yami felt his heart leap. This was what he lived for.
Ryou stared in disbelief at the image standing before him. Snowy hair was tipped with silver, and large chocolate-brown eyes were outlined in black, lips in a dim red. What was more shocking was the outfit. It was all white, melting against his overly-pale skin, creating an aura of ghostly mysteriousness. But that was not the problem. The shirt was not a sweater. The pants were not jeans. Everything was tight and unfamiliar, though not all that uncomfortable. Everything was... leather.
Ryou turned away from the mirror and opened his mouth to protest when Bakura cut in. "You're wearing this, and that's final. It's a change from those big, bulky, ugly sweaters. Stop complaining. You don't look half bad in this."
"Demo, it's leather!" Ryou pouted. "I can't wear this out in public… It's not decent."
Bakura rolled his eyes. "The Pharaoh no Baka wears it all the time in public, and you've seen how all the girls – and guys – flock to him. Not that he likes anyone except that little hikari of his." The Tomb Robber shook his head. "And he doesn't even see Yugi's adoring eyes. I can't believe even Pharaoh can be that stupid."
You don't see my "adoring eyes" either, Ryou wanted to point out, but did not. After all, Yami loved Yugi. Bakura did not love him. He was so busy considering this that he forgot to argue about the clothes.
The ring spirit grinned, showing his sharp, fang-like canines as he stepped into their washroom to change. Now, if he was lucky, he would escape a certain question that Ryou was likely to ask.
There was no such luck. The boy's voice floated in from the other side of the door.
"Bakura? Where did you get the money to buy those clothes? Leather costs a lot…"
The spirit shook his head. His hikari had undoubtedly guessed, considering what his profession was in Ancient Egypt.
"I used to be a Tomb Robber!" he called out, reminding the boy.
He could not be sure, but he thought he heard a muffled, "Just what I was afraid of" from Ryou, and his smile widened, if possible, though still keeping its half-smirking feeling.
Dressed very similarly to Ryou, Bakura flung open the door, dragging his startled hikari behind him. Without checking to see whether the other was ready or not, he stepped out of the house, walking rapidly towards the newly opened medieval restaurant, his hand still around the boy's arm.
Finally arriving, the Tomb Robber presented the restaurant certificates to a waitress, who smiled at them warmly.
"Welcome, brave knight and his lady!"
Ryou blushed bright red at this comment.
"He's not a 'lady'," Bakura growled. "He's not my brother either."
The woman bowed in apology. "My mistake, sir. Will you and your boyfriend please come this way? We have a pair of very good seats for you."
Ryou's blush deepened, if possible. He was sure that everyone was staring at him, what with the bright crimson of his cheeks contrasting against the pearly white of his hair, clothes, and skin.
"He's not my boyfriend either," the spirit informed the waitress. "In fact, if you insist on the medieval theme, he would most likely be my squire. He helps me with certain… tasks… and is under my protection."
The hikari blinked as they were led to a table. How did Bakura know all that?
//I do read occasionally – usually when you're at school," the Tomb Robber replied to his unspoken thought. //But don't tell the Pharaoh no Baka that. I bet he doesn't do anything except daydream all day long.//
Ryou sensed pride welling from Bakura – a nice pride of achievement, not of putting down another. Could his uncaring yami be changing…? He held onto that hope.
That night, Yugi lay in bed, warm and happy against Yami's body. He could not dare to wish that the spirit would love him, but he was determined to love his dark half and be close to him whenever possible. The puzzle spirit's arms encircled him protectively, warning danger that to get to Yugi, it would have to deal with him first.
"Why is everything happening now?" Yugi asked, his voice a plaintive bleating. "My… my parents getting killed, Jou's father abusing him, Bakura getting mad at Ryou… Why now, of all times? Couldn't the troubles wait until after the holidays? Isn't this supposed to be a time of peace, joy… love…?" Tears filled his eyes.
"I don't know, Aibou," Yami murmured. He wished he had an answer to offer. I wish I could tell you…"
"With all this happening, I wouldn't be surprised if you…" The boy looked away. "No, I won't tempt fate."
All the same, Yami finished the unspoken sentence in his mind. "I wouldn't be surprised if you left me too." His arms tightened around the boy, offering him comfort and reassurance that he himself did not feel. "I will always be there, no matter what. I will always protect you, and I will never leave." I will always love you…
Yugi nodded, relaxing and going to sleep, and Yami breathed a sigh of relief. It took ass he had to hide just how close danger was, especially since he already had to block the love he felt for his precious Light. He cursed himself mentally for agreeing to stay so close to the boy, to touch and smell him without having him, to participate in this oh-so-sweet torture.
/Something's wrong./
Yami nearly jumped as he heard Yugi's voice. //W-what?"//
The amethyst eyes opened, and Yugi gave his dark side a look. /You're worried about something. I can tell. I'm not as young and naïve as you think, Yami. Tell me what's wrong./
The puzzle spirit hesitated. Should he tell? He certainly did not want to. But Yugi deserved to now. He sighed. //Pegasus and Malik are here.//
/Nani?!/
//They came to Domino yesterday. It's only a matter of time before they strike. They are after more than just the Puzzle…//
