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: OOC-ness, Ryou-angst, Yami/Anubis (YnB) fluff
Responses to Reviews and Author's Notes:
Elle-Fate2x1-2: You're the only one who reviewed! Ah!! Anyway, thanks for the review and yes, I feel kinda sorry for all of them too.
I have more exams coming up so this may be the last update in, perhaps, two or three weeks? Really sorry about it though, minna, cos I really want to continue it, but studying is essential. 'By Moonlight' will be temporarily discontinued until further notice, but the next chapter is already in progress.
Oh, and sorry for the long wait!
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Chapter Nine: Recuperation
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How long have we been here? How long has it been since I opened the door? I can't remember . . . I can't think of anything . . . it's too . . .
Anubis' head tipped forward slightly, he himself growing weaker and weaker. His eyes stung, but he only dared to blink them once or twice, in case he saw the images again. In his arms, Yami was only semi-conscious, eyes half lidded. He was so tired . . .
I have to bring the both of us back to the door . . . the others are waiting out there for me . . . Yami is waiting for me to save him . . .
He shifted Yami's position in his arms so that he could half-carry him. Of course, being so weak meant that he could only gather enough strength to drag the two of them towards the door. It was a good thing that his eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he could just make out the doorway from where he was.
"Hold on Yami," he whispered. "I'm gonna get us out of here."
"Anubis . . ."
The silver-haired man hauled himself to his knees laboriously, dragging Yami up with him. He brought one of Yami's arms around his shoulder and kept a firm grip around his waist. Then he began to shuffle forward on his knees, slowly and painfully. The numbness in his body was beginning to fade, giving way to the prickling sensation some called 'pins and needles'.
A bright light entered their line of vision, coming from the doorway. Anubis brought the hand that was gripping Yami's up to shield his eyes, the sudden glow blinding him temporarily. He lost balance because of that and his hold on Yami failed, sending them both crashing onto the ground.
The darkness was dispelling. Yami was lying underneath him, unconscious now, the nightmares of the chamber fading with the light.
"Anubis!" a familiar voice called.
"Otogi?" Anubis croaked, trying to raise his voice. "Over here!"
"They're over there!" Ryuuji called to someone. "Come on!"
The light seemed to be dimmer . . . and the door seemed so far away . . . Anubis reached out for it, but he couldn't reach it. He felt his eyelids grow heavy, though they still stung. His hand dropped onto the ground and he collapsed, a dead weight, onto Yami.
A pair of strong hands lifted him up by the arms and he was hoisted onto someone's back. He could smell Ryuuji's scent . . . and relief washed over him. They were saved.
Let's go, Chosen, the Angel's voice said.
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He was suffocating. There was something soft and warm, but heavy, over his face. He couldn't breathe . . . couldn't call for help . . . everything seemed to be dark . . .
Suddenly, the darkness lifted. A deep, familiar voice spoke to him.
"Wake up, Yami."
The heaviness was draining away and he could breathe again . . .
"Wake up Yami."
"Anubis . . .?"
He could see a hazy figure looming over him. A cool hand rested on his forehead and then ran through his hair gently. A groan escaped his lips as the drowsiness was replaced by a sharp, stabbing pain in his head.
"He's coming to!" Anubis' voice said excitedly.
"Anubis . . .?" Yami croaked, blinking his eyes. For some reason, they stung and watered painfully. "Is that you?"
The room came back into focus and he could make out his lover's features through the blurriness of his eyes. There was a smile over the other's face, as well as an expression of relief.
"Hai, Yami, ore da," Anubis said. "I was so worried about you."
He helped the former Pharaoh up into a sitting position. Yami winced as pain shot through the various cuts and bruises all over his body. Anubis chuckled weakly as he arranged the pillows behind his back to prop him up. They were in the Kaiba Mansion, one of the lower bedrooms. He was lying in a four poster bed and the curtains had been opened to let sunlight come in.
"What happened?"
"We went down to the Otherworld to save you," Anubis told him, sitting himself next to Yami. "You were trapped in the Chamber of Nightmares."
"Oh . . ."
"When we got down there, ran into the Chamber after you. Got a lecture from Kaiba-tachi afterwards . . . hell on earth, I swear . . . you were half conscious, but neither of us could walk. Then Otogi and the Angel came."
"The Angel?" Yami tensed. "He's still here?"
"Yeah." Anubis looked out the window. "He took over when we were in the Otherworld. He saved us both."
Yami lifted his hands up to his face, looking at them. They were bandaged, but not heavily. He winced and touched his cheek gingerly, feeling a sterilised pad taped down there. Anubis grinned at him.
"You messed yourself up quite thoroughly in the chamber. Scratched yourself so deeply and so many times. I was afraid that you weren't ever going to survive the blood loss."
"How did you get out of the Otherworld? Didn't Cerberus or Haga stop you?"
"Marik killed Haga outside the Chamber." Anubis scowled. "Cerberus couldn't care less about the parasite, but we did meet Keith Howard on the way to save you. Bakura took care of him quickly enough but . . . he was succumbing to darkness, so the Angel had to take over."
"How are the two of you now?"
"Well, I was weaker than a kitten for a few days, but that quickly went away . . . the Angel is still in control of the body, but he couldn't heal his wounds entirely. He's in the next room. But you," Anubis glared playfully, "were out for two weeks. Do you know how scared I was dammit?"
"Probably do."
They grinned at each other for a few moments, before Anubis leaned in. Their lips brushed together gently. When the paler demon pulled away, he brushed back one of his blonde bangs with a smile.
"Omae wa ore no taisetsu na hito da."
"Omae mo."
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In the next room, it was much darker. The drapes over the four poster bed were drawn closed and everything was still. There wasn't a single sound in the room. On the bed, behind all the drapes, sat the albino angel.
His chest had been expertly wrapped in bandages, the wings folded behind him so that they were not in the way. Aside from this, the only thing he wore was a set of faded jeans. He had to conceal his powers and aura while in the mansion, since there was no telling what damage he may cause. It also gave him time to recuperate and recover from his wounds.
/ You can let me back out now / Ryou's voice said. The mortal albino, the Angel's host, appeared in a hazy form beside him. / I'm perfectly fine /
Even if you were perfectly fine, which you are not, I would not let you take control, the Angel said matter-of-factly.
/ Why not? / Ryou demanded, sounding angry.
Because you are still vulnerable to darkness and its manipulation of your emotions. Your love for your partners can be easily used against you and it would prove fatal to the both of us, should you be forced to do anything drastic.
Their argument was cut short, however, when the door opened. Footsteps approached the bed and the drapes were drawn open slightly. Ryuuji's face came through the heavy material. He looked hesitant.
"Isn't it a bit too hot for the drapes?" he asked.
/ Ryuuji / Ryou's form said, drifting over to the game creator. / Tell him to let me back in control. He keeps saying that I'd succumb to darkness /
The game creator smiled at his lover. He wanted, more than anything, to be able to run his fingers through the silvery hair, but he couldn't. The Angel was in control until they had all rested and returned to normal. It was a deal they had agreed on when they arrived back at the mansion.
"Gomen ne, Ryou," he apologised. "You know I can't."
What are you doing here, Chosen?
"Well, I was wondering whether or not the two of you would want to go out for a walk or something," Ryuuji admitted. "It gets really cooped up if you don't get out once in a while."
We're fine.
/ No, I think you should go outside / Ryou disagreed. / Fresh air helps clear the mind and it's good if you want to make a quick recovery /
Between Ryou's insisting and Ryuuji's expectant look, the Angel gave in. The game creator handed him a shirt, which he slipped on. He then pulled on the shoes that had been left beside the bed. With that done, the Angel followed Ryuuji outside the room.
/ I'll go see Seto / Ryou decided, already floating towards the stairs.
"Even if you can't touch him?" Ryuuji teased.
/ I'll manage / the albino smiled and waved. / Enjoy your walk /
He watched his physical form walk off with Ryuuji, still smiling. He could feel that the Angel had taken to Ryuuji. There was also no sense of insecurity within him, no hint of jealousy. If interacting more with Ryuuji would bring out a more humane side to the Angel, Ryou was willing to let them be.
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"Yes, I'm still working Ryou," Seto muttered, before the albino could speak. "I know I've been at this for two hours, but I have to finish."
/ How did you know I was here? /
The CEO smirked over the top of his computer screen as the albino's translucent form floated over to the desk.
"You've been coming to me in this form for almost two weeks now. I've learned how to detect you."
Ryou stuck his tongue out at him playfully, earning a string of light laughter from his lover. His hazy form peered at the screen in interest, noting the complex designs and statistics on the screen. Seto leaned back in his desk chair, folding his arms.
/ A new product for Magic & Wizards? / Ryou questioned.
"Ee. This is my latest project. It's a virtual reality headset, like the VR pod I launched near the end of last year, only that this is carry-size."
/ And you do realise that this will only succeed in children not paying attention in school and on their homework? /
The CEO's smirk widened.
"As long as it gets me business." Ryou rolled his eyes and floated, cross-legged, above the desk. "I know you said that I should be relaxing after the escape from the Otherworld, but really, Ryou, you know me better than that."
/ That I do / Ryou smiled in a self-suffering way / unfortunately /
"Where's Ryuuji?"
/ He's out on a walk with mou hitori no boku /
"Again?"
/ They've taken a liking to each other, I think / Ryou mused quietly. Seto opened his mouth to say something, but Ryou sensed his emotions and smiled reassuringly. / No, I'm not jealous. In fact, I think that Ryuuji may be good for him. I know they both feel something for the other /
"But don't you love Ryuuji?"
/ Oh yes, I love him deeply, but if he really feels something for mou hitori no boku, then I should let them. It's like how you accepted the fact that I would love both you and Ryuuji equally. This time, though, I think that we don't have to include mou hitori no boku into our unconventional little circle /
"Because you can feel that they probably share something different to what the three of us used to have," Seto finished, reading Ryou's thoughts. "Because times have changed since we first loved each other. We're moving on and you feel that Ryuuji may possibly love the Angel more than you."
/ I hate how you read thoughts / Ryou mumbled, looking away. He brushed back the tears that had collected in his eyes. / But yes, you're right /
This was one of the times that Seto really wished that he could hold Ryou in his arms and comfort him. But he had agreed that, unless Ryou was emotionally and mentally stable again, the Angel would have control over the body. In this way, Ryou had to take on a separate, translucent form. They couldn't touch him, nor him them, which made it difficult in the comforting process.
"Do you think you can let go?" he asked quietly.
/ Let go of Ryuuji? / the albino sighed. / I don't think I ever will. He's – he's more important to me than my life, both of you are. We've been through Hell and back, face death and separation. It's hurting now, and it always will, but I really don't see why I can't just let them do what they want /
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End Chapter Nine
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Author's Notes:
Sorry I had to cut this off short! I'm in a hurry to finish off my History homework before I have to hand it in tomorrow before school! GOMEN NASAI FOR THE LONG WAIT!
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