A/N - Blink an you might miss Malik's cameo. And before I get any hate mail, yes I'm lazy. Use your imaginations to picture the rest of the lime.

Atemu crouched down at the edge of the water and lapped at the clear liquid. He was a cat again as he knew Seto was more comfortable that way. Although one day he wished that he could be in his human form all the time around the sexy hunter.

"We should get going soon."

"Meow." Looking up and over his shoulder Atemu found Seto standing behind him. Turning around Atemu jumped up on Seto's shoulders ready to go. Settling down, Atemu was soon fast asleep once again.

As Seto walked he was quickly lost in thought. It had been only a day since his talk with the cat demon and he didn't know what to do. Currently an internal struggle was battling in his mind. Part of him wanted to kill the cat but even that part of him admitted he owed the cat demon for saving his life. But then again his life would never have been in jeopardy if it hadn't been for Yami.

The other part of him wanted to continue on with thinking Yami was just a cat. Although it had only been a few days, he had grown close to Yami in that time period. He didn't want to give up his pet.

Suddenly pausing in his trackers, Seto shoved the sleeping cat off his shoulders. "Wake up, Yami. We need to talk."

Although taken by surprise, Atemu landed gracefully on his feet. Transforming into his human form, Atemu looked up at the demon hunter with his crimson eyes alert.

"What is it Seto?"

"You said you can help me find my brother's killer."

"Yes."

"How so? I've spent five years tracing every part of the world and have yet to been able to identify who did it."

"Because you haven't been looking in the right places," Atemu explained as he sat down on the ground. Patting the earth next to him, Seto reluctantly sat as well. "You should be questioning demons, not killing them."

"So you know who did it?" Seto anxiously asked.

"No, I've been out of the demon community for a long time," Yami replied with a shake of his head.

"For what you did?"

"Yes. I was afraid to go back to my village. Facing the Elders would have been unbearable so I stayed away."

"Great so my only key of getting close to other demons has been shunned by their society." Seto sarcastically grumbled.

"That was 3000 years ago," Atemu stressed. "Anyone who remembers won't care. I was a child then and scared. Besides they would understand when they listen to my story."

"So you want me to go into the heart of enemy territory with someone who hasn't been there for 3000 years?"

"Yes."

"3000 years is a long time. How do you know things haven't change since then? They could kill me on the spot for who I am, then kill you for what you did. In my experience demons are violent individuals, who will kill mercilessly. Take your friend Bakura for example, he tried to kill me twice just for being in your presence."

"That's true, we can be violent when we have to," Atemu sadly admitted. "You're just going to have to trust me on this one. If we can get to my old village we'll be under the protection of the Elders. Even you will be protected as no one is allowed to use their powers in the village. You'd more then be able to defend yourself if attacked."

"I still don't like this," Seto grumbled as the pounded the ground in frustration. "I'm a famous demon hunter, they're demons. They aren't exactly going to welcome me with open arms."

"Have you not been listening to anything I've said?" Yami asked in annoyance. "Messalina forbids us to use our powers in our village. It's too dangerous for us as she was killed by humans who were able to distinguish her from them because of her powers. Therefore openly using our powers in our village only draws unwanted attention. You've probably even been to demon villages but never knew it as they were always hiding. Please trust me on this!"

"Trust a demon?" Seto scoffed.

Reaching up with one hand Atemu gently stroked Seto's cheek. "You've trusted me this much. All I ask is for you to trust me a little bit more."

Reluctantly Seto found himself memorized with Atemu's eyes as the cat demon continued stroking his cheek. The deep redness of Atemu's eyes drew Seto in. They were so loving and caring but at the same time strong and powerful.

"I trust you." Seto found himself saying. Atemu then quickly pulled away and stood once again leaving Seto to blink a few times as he wondered what happened.

"We should head north," Atemu suggested looking in that direction. "It'll take about two weeks to walk to Chale Jao. Have you been there before?"

"Yes," Seto replied thinking hard as he also got to his feet. "There's not many places in that area and I was forced to stop by there a few years ago. It was odd though, before I left one of the Elders told me to take care of his son. I couldn't figure out what he meant."

"How odd," Atemu quietly murmured. He supposed the elder could have been Shimon but Shimon wasn't his father and would have no clue about Seto. Then again it had been 3000 years so perhaps his parents had returned and one was now an Elder. Now more then ever Atemu wanted to return home to find out all that has happened while he had been away.

"Yami are you okay?" Seto asked breaking into Atemu's thoughts. For some reason Seto had found himself concerned when the cat demon had grown quiet. Although Seto hated to admit it the cat demon was kind of sexy in his human form.

"I'm fine," Atemu replied reassuring the demon hunter with a small smile. "I was just thinking about what home must be like by now."

"Will we also be protected from Bakura's family if we go there? You did try to kill their son and they might not want to follow the rules if they're after revenge."

"I don't think they'll give us problems," Atemu replied with a thoughtful look on his face. "If anything they were probably disappointed that I didn't finish the job. Bakura's parents really didn't like him."

"I can see why."

"He's not that bad. Bakura was my only friend growing up," Atemu quietly admitted hanging his head in embarrassment. "My parents abandoned me in the village so all the other children made fun of me. Especially an annoying brat called Claudius. They also all thought I was weak for only being able to transform into a cat."

"But I saw you become a leopard."

"No one knew until the day before I left to go to the Pool of Destiny. I was fed up with Claudius and attacked him. After that everyone knew."

"Why didn't you tell anyone before that?" Again Seto found himself strangely curious in the cat demon.

"Because I was scared. Animal morphing demons are only supposed to have on anime form. I was afraid they would shun me if they knew. Some big and powerful demon I turned out to be." Atemu kept his head low so the wouldn't to look at the demon hunter.

Taking a few steps, Seto walked over to Atemu and placed his hand under the cat demon's chin so he could raise it and once again looking into Atemu's crimson eyes. "You have more power then you can possible image. Never forget that."

"You really think so?"

"Yes." Turning away from the cat demon Seto began walking north. "Any of your kind is hard to kill. That shows you their power."

"That's not exactly flattering," Atemu grumbled while narrowing his eyes as he began following the demon hunter.

"It should be," Seto replied not looking back at Atemu. "Does it not feel good knowing you're a from a more powerful race then anyone else on this planet?"

"No." That reply surprised Seto. "Even after what humans did to Messalina she only wanted peace between the two races. She could have easily killed the humans who hunted her but she didn't. Demons are not supposed to use their powers against humans unless it's for defense. Of course just like humans some demons have evil intentions."

Satisfied with the cat demon's answer Seto continued walking along the path. The demon hunter barely flinched when he felt the lightweight of Atemu's cat body settle upon his shoulders.

Bakura stretched as he woke, his body stiff from his long rest. Reaching up, Bakura checked his wounded shoulder. It was healing nicely with no infection but it would be a few more days until it was back to normal.

Ignoring the tanned blond still sleeping next to him, Bakura rolled out of bed and stretched once again. Bakura was fast becoming bored in the town where he had sought out shelter. He had been there four days already waiting for his shoulder to heal with little to do except spend time with the sexy blond.

Atemu's attack had surprised him but at the same time Bakura was glad to see that the kitten still had some fight left in him. Defeating Atemu would now be a challenge that Bakura was looking forward to.

Dressing, Bakura quickly gather his things and left the room. He was finished with the town. He would miss the male that had shared his bed for the past few nights but nevertheless it was time to move on. Bakura knew that the kitten and the hunter could be anywhere at the moment.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty," Bakura tauntingly called out into the hazy fog of the morning air. Moving through the thick fog Bakura began his quest once again.

The days quickly went by for the demon hunter and his cat partner. For the most part, Atemu stayed in his cat form spending his days sleeping upon Seto's shoulders as the tall burnet marched along the path. At night, when Seto was asleep, Atemu would morph into a human or leopard to keep a watchful eye out for predators. Seto never knew the cat demon did that and Atemu had no desire to bring forth that information just yet as he knew Seto would insist he did not need a demon watching out for him.

Eventually the days began getting shorter, a sure sign they were reaching the northern country. As a human Seto could not travel easily in the dark, which meant the pair soon started stopping earlier in the day.

"We should be hitting snow soon," Seto commented with a small shiver. The demon hunter's home was far to the east where snow as not common, Atemu however was use to the climate and wasn't bothered by it. Currently the demon hunter was laying on his side facing away from the small black cat who was curled up against his back.

"The winter season was always fun." Rolling over, Seto was surprised to find Atemu laying next to him. It had been a week and a half since he had seen the demon in a form different from his cat one. He had almost forgotten that Yami had two additional forms. "The land would be covered in a light fluffy snow that's perfect to run and jump in. Bakura always hated the snow, he would melt as much of it as he could each day but in the morning it would all be back."

Atemu smiled at the memory. The look of horror on Bakura's face each morning had been extremely amusing. When the weather had turned warm again and the snow melted Bakura would triumphantly gloat to everyone claiming he defeated the evil snow. No matter how many years passed he would always act the same way each spring never learning his lesson.

"At least the weather is a sure sign we're heading in the right direction," Seto sighed as he shivered again. "We haven't seen a village since we left Kukai."

"Don't worry, I can find my way home," Yami reassured him along with a beaming smile.

"Even after 3000 years?"

Yami nodded his head. "Yes. Young demons of Chale Jao are required to remember the entire region in case we get lost or there's an attack on the village and we have to flee. 10000 years could past and I'd still remember the layout of the land around home."

"A handy tool," Seto murmured. "Perhaps you demons do have some intelligence."

"Thanks…I think."

"Whatever," Seto replied with a sleepy yawn. "I'm tired and am going to sleep. Do what you like since you've slept all day. Just don't bother me."

"Alright."

Atemu watched as Seto closed his eyes and still his body. Waiting a few moments Atemu eventually slid closer to Seto and wrapped his arm around the demon hunter's waist. He also buried his face into Seto's back inhaling the hunter's scent.

"What are you doing Yami?" Seto quietly asked but he did not move.

"Staying close to you for warmth. When I'm in my human form I don't gain the benefit of having fur to keep me warm."

"Did you really think I would fall for that line?" Rolling onto his back, Seto gave Yami a look.

"Yes."

"I was right with my first guess, in that you demons are dumb."

"And you need people skills!" Yami shot back as he half sat up. "I told you the truth. Moving closer to the fire isn't an option or else the sparks from the flames will hit us!"

"Yami, you're the one who needs people skills. Instead of using this lame tactic to get me into your pants you should have just said I want you to fuck me."

"Fine! I want to fuck me!" Atemu's annoyed crimson eyes. Over the past week and a half Atemu's desire for the demon hunter grew to extreme measures. Whenever he slept he would see the vision he had so long ago of the handsome burnet toppling him in bed. It was beginning to become unbearable being near his one true love but knowing that same person hated him.

"I would never become involved with a demon no matter how I felt," Seto hissed, his words venom.

"Why not?" Yami protested not giving up so easily. "Its just sex. Lots of people have sex just for fun!"

"There's a difference!"

"How so?" Atemu argued. Taking Seto's hand in his own, Atemu placed their joined hands over his hard cock so Seto could feel it. "All human, am I not? Why can't for one night you forget I'm a demon?"

"It's not that easy!"

"Seto…" Atemu said quieting down. Releasing Seto's hand, Atemu brought his own hand to Seto's cheek and gently stroked it. "I am not Yami the cat, I am Atemu the man. Now give me an honest reason why this night can't happen."

Once again Seto found himself mesmerized with Atemu's eyes as he stared into them. "You're a demon," he said his voice a whisper. Gone was the anger that had been moments ago.

"How so?" Atemu inquired. Bending over the demon hunter, Atemu placed his lips against Seto's mouth.

The kiss was sweet and gentle. Atemu could feel Seto's guard slipping as the kiss continued so he risked the chance of wrapping his arms around Seto's neck.

"For tonight I am human," Atemu whispered as he broke the kiss. Moving his lips downward Atemu began placing small kisses on Seto's neck.

"Atemu," Seto groaned as he wrapped his arms around the cat demon's waist. Rolling them over, Seto took control as placed a forceful and demanding kiss on Atemu's lips. Eagerly, Atemu gave into the demanding brunet as he began to moan into the blacken night.