Tenshi no Kokoro

Disclaimer: refer to first chapter

Summary: Chimera has been defeated and the Angel has emerged. But now the Angel seeks only to destroy evil. Seto and Ryuuji, aided by a reborn Marik, must overcome it to find their lover. S/R/R, YY/YB, YM/R

Warnings: a bit of fluff in this chapter. Yay ! Ode to Seto/Ryou/Ryuuji fluff! Then again, there's OOC-ness by Marik here (he's got his act together and his brain has returned from eternal jellyfish-ness!). Seto, Ryuuji and Ryou muck around during a tracking-down-Yami-in-the-Otherworld planning session.

Responses to Reviews and Author's Notes:

Cool, I'm back! After all those exams of mine, it's about time I updated ne? Unfortunately, 'By Moonlight' is stuck, so don't be expecting updates on that any time soon. The next chapter to 'Infernal Affairs' would probably be in progress when this is posted and, as you may have seen, 'A Legacy Unfinished' has been discontinued. I may re-continue it later.

Ril: Yeah, I'd hate to be the blonde too! It's Keith ... if no one could guess ... but I didn't elaborate on him, so I wouldn't blame anyone

Elle-Fate2x1-2: I was really, really mad when you told me that Ryou had a smaller part in the series than Ryuzaki and Haga . It's not fair, is it? And you'll be happy to know that Ryou is following along and he's going to play yet another important part.

lilmatchgirl007: 'A spot of trouble' only begins to cover it, my friend. But yes, I suppose he most likely will come out of this in one piece ... relatively. slaps self But don't mind me! I'm just pissed that Ryou has such a small part ...

andromeda90: I tend to drag things on a bit, don't I? grins sheepishly Sorry, habit. And love does weird things to people, so I guess that's what's happened with Seto and Ryuuji ... so protective of their beloved, Angel-inflicted koi . Like I said to lilmatchgirl007, Yami usually comes out with flying colours, so don't worry ...

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Chapter Seven: Into the Otherworld

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"Marik! Get out here Marik!"

Someone was calling him; Marik could hear them through the deafening silence. But he couldn't move from his position in the corner, where he had kept himself for the past day or so. He couldn't get past the fact that Ryou didn't need him anymore . . . didn't want him.

"MARIK!"

The voice sounded oddly like Anubis.

Hehehe . . . maybe it's the jackal-headed God, coming to claim my soul for being so idiotic . . . I only wish.

"What's that noise, niisan?"

Malik came down the corridor, throwing a concerned glance in Marik's direction, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He had just pulled an all-nighter in order to study for an upcoming Biology exam and he was woken up by the sound of harsh and urgent banging on their front door.

His older brother didn't answer, only stared blankly at his knees. Malik shrugged, going to the door dressed in his pyjamas.

"Nanda kore?" he muttered.

Standing in the doorway was Anubis, panting heavily as if he had just run a marathon. Behind him was the Chosen gang, looking grim faced Ryou tired and worn-out. Malik eyed the albinos hesitantly, wondering whether or not it was a good idea to let Marik see them.

"Uh, guys, niisan isn't really feeling too well," he said slowly.

"Shimatta," Anubis cursed. "We can't afford to have him out of shape now. It's an emergency and we need to see the two of you immediately."

"You've got my attention," Malik assured him. "Come in?"

"There really isn't any time," Ryou declined. "Is Marik inside?"

As Malik nodded, Ryou passed him and into the apartment. He went straight to the living room and to the corner where Marik was huddled. His icy eyes softened at the wretched mess the former demon had made himself. Saddened that he had caused it, Ryou knelt down in front of him.

"Marik . . . Marik, I know you can hear me." He took Marik's face into his hands. "Look at me, Marik."

"Ryou . . .?"

Marik looked at him, guilt written all over his face. Seto and Ryuuji were in the doorway, but didn't go any further at Ryou's bidding. He turned back to Marik, touching his face gently.

"I don't blame you, Marik," he whispered. "It wasn't your fault. I should have explained where we stood. Gomen, Marik. Gomen." He watched as the guilt lifted from Marik's face. "But now we have something very important to do. Yami has been kidnapped and taken to the Gates of Hell."

"NANI?!"

"That's what I said," Anubis said to Malik dryly.

"You don't say?" Malik murmured back.

Ryou helped Marik get to his feet, giving a wane little smile. They, and Malik, rushed to the door. Seto and Ryuuji watched Ryou carefully as he led Marik out the door, the smile still on his face. They understood why he had kept close to Marik, but it didn't stop that tiny rush of jealousy.

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"Ne Yami, remember when we were still part of Chimera?"

"Aa, I remember. What's with the sudden questions?"

"I was trying to remember when we first met . . ."

Yami closed his eyes as he recalled a random session of pillow talk he had had with Anubis a while back. It was a few weeks after they had been reborn, when Ryou was still avoiding them. Anubis' question had been random at the time and they had spent a while trying to outdo each other in recalling the exact details.

"It was in the Otherworld!" Anubis said.

"Of course it was genius." Yami rolled his eyes. "In the Garden."

"I had just been brought there."

"Baka touzoku got lost."

"I had just gotten there!"

He concealed a grin. Oh yeah, he remembered how they had met very well. He had been wandering through the Garden of Lost Memories, trying to find other demons he could convince to join him in their revenge against the Gods. He hadn't wanted just any demon, he had wanted ones that would be of use to him.

And Anubis had just been dumped into the Garden, having been damned by the Gods. He had been filled with loathing for the deities, burning with the thirst for revenge, the perfect kind of demon he needed.

"I saved you."

"Pfft, yeah right, Pharaoh. I didn't need saving."

"Hothead almost drowned in the River, if I hadn't pulled him back."

"I was thirsty."

"Suuure."

They had hit off, literally, with a series of scuffles (Yami always gaining the upper hand). After a while, Yami 'broke in' the albino demon. They worked together afterward – if you could call trying to beat each other up while taking over the Otherworld 'working together' – and soon became a fierce gang feared in all levels of the Otherworld. They recruited every kind of demon they came across: parasites, leeches, wind, water, fire, earth demons, shape shifters, conjurers – all sorts. They gave themselves the name 'Chimera' because of the huge variety that made up their terror gang.

But we left that all behind in the Chamber of Judgement, he thought. We're no longer Chimera and we're not getting our revenge on the Gods anymore. Heh, now we're on the Chosen side, fighting for the good of the world.

And now we have a new enemy – an old ally. Insector Haga and Dinosaur Ryuzaki want to get their revenge on us, by forming a New Chimera.

Anubis, minna, get here quickly. He opened his eyes again. Or it may be too late.

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"Are we going to Domino Wharf again?"

"Iie. This is a special portal."

They were all sitting comfortably with one of Seto's limousines, one which had the largest TC networked computer Jounouchi and Yugi had ever seen. Marik sat at the front with the Elites, Malik, Anubis, Kurama and Hiei sat in the second row while Malik, Jounouchi and Yugi sat in the back. The three Elites were typing quickly into holographic keypads in front of them, fingers flashing over the keys and brows furrowed in concentration.

"There's no way we can open a portal directly into the seventh level," Ryuuji said, closing down a window. "The lowest we can manage is the third."

"The network systems have only records of travel down to there, that's why," Seto replied. "No one's ever tried going any lower. But if we factor in the density of the third level, increase it by a factor of six, we can find a way to balance out our own body densities and control the gravity around us."

"It's only an assumption that the seventh level's density is six times that of the third," Ryou interjected softly. "We don't know that for sure."

As they worked, Marik watched Ryou. The albino was frowning in concentration, sweating slightly on the temple, while his face remained pale. Sometimes he winced ever so slightly, but it didn't escape the former demon's watchful eye. There was a pain in his chest, one that Ryou was doing his best to ignore so he could keep working.

"Kaiba, Otogi," a voice boomed out from the screen.

Kurama, Hiei and the other three straightened in attention.

"Gaea-sama."

The voice seemed to shift.

"Welcome back, Bakura."

Ryou ducked his head.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Gaea-sama," he murmured.

"I have a new assignment for two of you," Gaea said. "The two who take this job will have to fly over to Australia immediately."

"Australia?" Kurama shifted. "Demo, Gaea-sama . . . we're in the middle of a very important task. You see, Yami has been captured . . ."

"I am aware of what has happened," Gaea interrupted. "However, Australia's matter is urgent. The agents over there have been killed and the remaining one has no way of protecting herself."

"Only one remains?" Ryuuji sounded shocked. "But Australia had an average of six per state and territory! What could kill forty-seven agents so quickly?"

"It is believed to be connected with Chimera."

"But we disbanded ages ago!" Anubis protested.

"A gang has called themselves the New Chimera and plans to destroy all members of The Chosen all around the world – starting with Australia. When all agents have been killed, then they can take over our world."

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Hiei and Kurama sped off on their motorcycles, Jounouchi and Yugi following close behind on their own. The two agents decided that the three Elites were the ones needed to track down Yami, so they would handle the case. Jounouchi and Yugi were their apprentices and the depth to which they were travelling in the Otherworld was far too dangerous for two novices.

"Let's just hope they can manage over in Australia," Ryuuji muttered.

"They will," Ryou assured him. "I know Kurama and he's no pushover."

A glass of water floated in front of their faces before a hand snatched it from the air. Seto, still staring intently at the screen, downed the water in a single gulp, before floating the glass back to the miniature fridge. Ryou, who was sitting next to him, slapped him lightly over the head.

"Itai!"

"Don't waste your energy using cheap tricks," Ryou scolded. He frowned when Seto kept rubbing his head. "That can't have hurt you."

"It didn't," Seto replied. He smirked. "You messed up my hair."

He ruffled the albino's one in return, earning a cry of protest from him, followed by light laughter. Marik and Malik had moved to the second row with Anubis and were watching them muck around. Malik glanced over at his older brother worriedly.

"Daijoubu ka, niisan?"

"Ee," Marik replied. His eyes were soft. "I haven't heard him laugh in ages."

"But aren't you –?"

"Jealous?" Malik nodded. "Oh yes, but just a little. I did a lot of thinking after I left the mansion the other day. I'll probably still love him, but from afar. He's found two people who would never hurt him or betray him like I have and they make him happy. He loves them."

Ryou winced and fell back against Ryuuji, who held him and mock-glared at Seto for hurting him. The CEO pulled Ryou back against him and they proceeded to play a small tug-o-war game. Marik sighed.

"Ryou can bring out the best in everyone. He's done that to me already and he's doing it to Kaiba and Otogi. Everyone who comes in contact with him has been changed for the better. It's the most I can do now to repay him for changing and forgiving me for all the things I've done to let him be with whoever he chooses."

"Snap out of it, you three!" Anubis growled. "We've got to save Yami!"

"He started it!" Ryuuji and Ryou said in unison, pointing at Seto.

"Did not."

They returned to their screens, fingers once again darting over their keypads. The limousine returned to silence for a few minutes afterwards. Finally, Ryou gave a small exclamation.

"I've got it," he whispered. "Kami-sama . . ."

"Nani?"

"Open a computer to the centre of the Otherworld," Seto said aloud, reading from Ryou's thoughts. "It's so simple."

"The centre?" Malik repeated incredulously. "But wasn't that destroyed when the Angel first appeared?"

"Oh no, the centre can never be destroyed," Ryuuji said, now seeming excited. "The centre is the core of the Otherworld's existence. As long as the Otherworld exists, there will always be a centre. It regenerates itself if any damage occurs."

"So what are we waiting for?" Anubis demanded. "Open the portal!"

"I'm two steps ahead of you, Anubis," Ryou replied with a smile.

He hit a single key and leaned back.

"Welcome," Seto said, "to the centre of the Otherworld."

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"IYAAAAAAAAA!"

Yami's hoarse cry echoed throughout the cavernous halls, making every head turn in the direction of the large double doors that closed off the torture chamber. At the door, Haga smirked to himself, absently petting the shell of a newly discovered and much loved insect pet.

The torture chamber was unlike any other torture chamber seen before. Those usually had material weapons, like racks and whips, but this was a specialised chamber. It could sense what it was its victim feared the most and it would make them hallucinate about it. No matter who it was, as soon as the chamber sensed them, they were powerless against its powers.

"That's enough!" Yami's voice cried. "Stop it! I don't want to see anymore!"

His desperate tone made Haga cackle and walk off. There was nothing better than to see his former master and torturer cry and plea – well, unless it was to see both him and the people important to him cry and plea . . . and taking over the world seemed a pretty tempting idea. One that was going to happen sooner or later, anyway.

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"Heh . . . I'm in a fix now, aren't I, Yami?"

"Yamero . . . YAMERO!"

Anubis' bloody form stood in front of him, grinning madly. There was blood running down his, matting his hair, streaking down his arms and torso, as if chunks of his flesh were missing. His red-brown eyes were bright and unsettling, staring out hauntingly from behind his stained white hair.

Yami clenched his eyes shut and clapped his hands over his ears.

"Come save me, Yami . . ." Anubis whispered, the mad grin still plastered all over his blood-streaked face, ". . . you'll come and save me right?"

"Ore . . . ore wa . . ." Yami shook his head wildly. "Iie . . . iie . . ."

"Why not? Don't you love me, Yami?"

"Ore wa . . . omae wa . . . Anubis janai . . ."

A bloody hand reached out for him, grasping nothing. Another step closer and the hand passed through Yami's head, drenching him with an icy feeling.

Yami trembled violently, curling himself up further to avoid the hand. He was afraid to open his eyes . . . afraid to see the illusion of Anubis . . . afraid that it was true. The hand passing through him was proof enough that it was an illusion, but . . . as soon as he saw it . . . all his fears that it was true came flooding back, haunting him . . . taunting him . . . reminding him that he was powerless to protect the one he loved.

"Yamero!" he shrieked.

"Come to me, Yami . . . save me . . ."

"GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"Join me, Yami . . . we will live together . . . no more having to worry about life's troubles. What say you?"

"Iie . . . yamero . . ."

"Koi . . ."

". . . Iie . . . onegai . . . yamero . . ."

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The centre of the Otherworld had not changed. It still had a vortex of different worlds revolving around them, showing the Spirit World, the Real World and the Seven Levels. The only doorway they couldn't see was the one leading into Hell, or the Gates of Cerberus.

"Uh . . . I think I might stand over there," Ryuuji said nervously, eyeing the doorway to the Spirit World. He sidled over to Ryou's other side. "I feel safer."

"Sissy."

Seto distributed something to all of them. Anubis, Malik and Marik blinked, staring down at the grey sphere in their hands. The CEO explained to them that it was a tablet they had to take, one that would balance out the body density and pull of gravity in any place. When they swallowed it, they would be able to go into the seventh level without having trouble moving.

"Swallow this thing?" Malik asked incredulously.

"Well, duh," Ryuuji said, rolling his eyes.

"It's huge!"

"And it doesn't even look like a tablet!"

Marik stared at the 'tablet' in his hand. It was the size of a peach stone and it looked fairly painful to swallow. The three former demons watched as Seto, Ryou and Ryuuji calmly broke open the huge tablet and took out a normal looking, white tablet. Rolling his eyes, Ryuuji swallowed it and disposed of the outer part.

"See?"

"The outer part is wax," Ryou explained. "It forms a hollow shell around the tablet itself to prevent any external organisms entering it."

He and Seto swallowed their own ones and threw away the wax shell. Marik, Malik and Anubis blinked, then broke the shells on their own tablets and swallowed the small tablet.

"Everyone ready?" Seto asked.

"Wait a moment . . ." Anubis croaked. He pulled a face as he swallowed. "Ugh . . . never swallow a powder tablet with a dry throat . . . yeah, I'm ready."

"Let's go."

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End Chapter Seven

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Author's Notes:

Yay! Another chapter finished! I was sort of getting stuck already, until I started actually writing the chapter. It's kinda short . . . but I'll make up for it when I have the time. Doesn't matter, does it?

Poor Yami I'm horrible to him.

The wax shell on the tablet thing? It's a fact from China. The Chinese doctors with all the herbs and stuff, they make small, round pills (I used tablets) and encased them inside a larger wax shell to protect it. It's weird, actually.

Anyway, REVIEW!

Relinquished