Okay, just to make sure that no one gets confused, this is the fight between Malik and Marik and Yugi and Yami from last chapter. I don't normally do 'doubled time' but I had a couple complaints that the fight was too short and boring – so here it is from Yugi's POV.

It's been forever, but this chapter was Hell to write, so please forgive me. (bows) At lease it is the longest chapter to this point. Enjoy!

Oh - and because I was asked by a reviewer to do this...

Jounouchi: Joey
Honda: Tristan
Otogi: Duke Devlin
Marik is theHikari and Malik is the Yami.

Chapter 13 - Missing

Yugi and Yami strolled out of the club, hand in hand, total content radiating between them. It had been so nice to just get out and have fun, without worry hanging over their heads. Yugi shifted his shoulders and smiled at his mate, who returned the gesture.

They had no warning as the men attacked. Yugi spun and faced them, pulling his mate behind him protectively.

:Yugi – there are more behind us: Yami cried through the link. Yugi swore in Latin, looking up – he didn't like blowing his cover, but… "Shit." He swore. Catwalks and metal girders formed an impassable labyrinth – he couldn't get through it with if he had to carry Yami, and leaving his mate was out of the question. :How many on your end, love:

:Four…: Yami gripped his hand. :You:

:At least eight – we'll have to try and dodge past them in your direction. When I give the signal, run.: Yugi gathered a bit of his magic, casting it at their attackers to disorient them as he turned. :NOW:

They ran for the far side of the alley, Yugi slightly in the lead – only to have Yami cry out as clammy hands grabbed him, pulling him away from Yugi. The demon turned to defend his mate, only to be grabbed himself, hands wrapping around his wrists. Hauled abruptly off his feet, a voice whispered in his ear. "Hello, Ludus."

Yugi froze for a moment as the enormity of the trap set in, then screamed and tried to break free from Marik's grasp. Another cry ripped through the night as the thugs threw Yami up against a dumpster. :YAMI: Yugi struggled harder as the older of the hunters came up beside his mate, a golden wand at the ready. :Yami, no: "Leave him alone!" he snapped at his captor. "You've got me – I'll surrender, just leave him."

"Sorry, little one." Marik tightened his grasp – Yugi felt his wrist bones grinding together as he gave an involuntary cry of pain. "Your playtoy goes back to his daddy-kins."

At that moment the puzzle around his mate's neck started to burn with a strange light. Yugi felt Yami's panic; magic, strange and powerful, lashed out through their link. His felt his body twitch and spasm as his mind was overwhelmed under a wave of purest rage. The world narrowed to one thing:

Yami was in danger.

He kicked out, connecting with Marik's ribs, pulling his hands from Marik's grasp as the demon hissed in surprise and a bit of pain. Yugi snarled, a feral sound, as he felt his fangs and claw lengthening, his wings emerging as he prepared to attack. The look of shock on the demon's face did nothing to stop him as he struck at the one who had threatened his mate.

He bit down on Marik's neck, bitter blood filling his mouth as he pumped venom into the injury. He felt the hunter return the attacks, but shrugged them off – they didn't matter. Vicious satisfaction filled him as he clawed at Marik's stomach, flaying the skin from the muscle. Again and again he bit and clawed at the screaming demon.

A steel-hard hand grabbed him, pulling him from his prey; he spun, quick as a mongoose, and buried his fangs in his new enemy's shoulder. Part of him registered that this was Malik; his attacks became more vicious as he tried to tear out the heart of Yami's attacker. The other demon threw him off and he rolled to his feet, ready to kill. His battle cry turned to frustration as Malik grabbed his twin and vanished through a portal.

The insane rage in his mind drained away, leaving him panting for breath, sickened and shocked. A glow around his body that he hadn't noticed to this point vanished, winking out as though it had never existed, taking the unnatural power with it. He shook the worst of the blood from his hands in disgust before looking up to find his mate.

Yami knelt by a dumpster, a stunned look on his face. He shivered and blinked. :Yugi: Even his mental voice sounded weak.

:I'm here.: Yugi took Yami in his arms, ignoring the blood on the walls and the fact that the shadows were moving, sponging it off with a motion eerily reminiscent of licking. He could feel his mate crying and cradled him closer. :Shh, love, it's okay…they're gone.:

:Yugi…I…I…: Yami clung to him. :I…the darkness…I was so scared…it…oh God…:

Yugi pulled away enough to look at Yami. "Love, you're babbling. Take a deep breath and calm down."

Yami nodded, choking on the air he was trying to get into his lungs. Yugi stroked his back until his mate could breath easily again. "Come on – let's go just in case there's anyone else around."

Yugi picked up Yami, cradling him in his arms, and stepped out of the alley, taking to the air in order to get Yami home as quickly as possible.

Yami curled in his arms, face buried in Yugi's chest, making little whimpering sounds. A touch on his mind told him that his mate was going into shock – probably from the attack. Yugi cursed the hunter-demons to the ninth circle and flew faster.

He reached their balcony in record time and managed to get Yami to stand long enough for him to open the door. Then he took them both to the bathroom and stripped them both of their blood-streaked, ruined clothes. Yami just stood as Yugi washed them off in the shower, while running the tub with hot water. He added some lavender bath beads before slipping inside, Yami following mutely.

Yami curled in his mate's arms, clinging to Yugi as though he were the last bastion of stability in the universe. Yugi cradled him gently, leaning back in the warm water. He wanted to shake too – he could still see the places where Malik and Marik had clawed him – he should have been paralyzed, but for some reason he'd shrugged off the attacks like they were nothing. That didn't make sense!

Unless that was what he had gotten from the mating ritual – but was that even possible? He made a mental note to talk to Ryou the next morning and turned all his attention to Yami, who had finally started to really relax.

"Yami?" he whispered. "Are you alright?"

"No." The word was thin and quiet, but it was a response and not inane babbling.

"What happened?"

"I – I saw one of the demons. He had a golden sceptre and pointed it at me – and something happened. The puzzle you gave me – it started to glow, and there was this weird sensation, like, like…I don't know how to describe it. But it happened, and all of a sudden all the shadows started moving – they ate those people! They… they… and I could hear the screams in my head, and I didn't stop it – I could have, but I didn't…" He broke off, crying into Yugi's shoulder. :I killed them all: Yami screamed inwardly, on a load of guilt and black despair. :What kind of monster am I:

Yugi stroked his hair. :If you can feel pain and guilt over their deaths, you're no monster, my sweet darkness.:

Yami pushed him away. "Don't call me that!" he screamed, hands tangling in his own hair. "It's evil! It…it kills! I don't want to be like that!"

Yugi gathered his struggling mate in his arms, whispering soothing nothings to him. "Yami, please…listen to me…"

"NO!" Yami climbed out of the tub, running out of the bathroom, still dripping wet. Yugi rose as well, wrapping a towel around his hips as he followed Yami out.

The trail of water led to the bedroom, where Yami had collapsed in a ball beside the bed, weeping brokenheartedly.

:Yami…: Yugi murmured, letting his own sorrow and apology flow over their link. :Yami, please – you'll make yourself sick..:

:I don't care: the teenager curled up tighter. :It's not right! Why did I have to kill them? I didn't want to, it just happened.:

Yugi took a comforter from the bed and laid it over Yami. :Love, you didn't mean to – that happens sometimes, and it wasn't out of malicious intent. I know you aren't a murderer. It wasn't even you, not really – your power rose to protect you. It will do that until it's trained.:

:Then I don't want it:

Yugi's eyes narrowed in frustration. :You don't have a choice.: His tone was harsher than he intended. :Your power protected both of us tonight – would you rather have allowed yourself to be killed and leave me to mourn you: It was a low blow, but it might shock him out of this mood.

:Don't even start that.: Yami snarled, turning suddenly on Yugi, his eyes red with rage and weeping. :I won't let you guilt me into accepting this! This magic turned me into a killer:

Yugi blinked at him, not saying anything, and Yami just…crumpled. :I'm sorry.: he whispered. :Now you must hate me.:

Yugi gathered him in his arms again, almost crying himself at the weight of grief and self-hatred in Yami's mind. :You are my beloved, my mate, my only love. How could I ever hate you:

:But…:

:But nothing. You are mine and I am yours, forever and ever. No matter what.: Yugi caressed Yami's hair and cheeks with his lips, laying delicate butterfly kisses along his jaw. Yami gradually quieted, until they were both resting on the floor, curled up in each other's arms.

:Actually, I'm rather proud of you.: Yugi murmured into the silence.

:Why: Even Yami's mind-voice sounded exhausted.

:You actually argued with me…when we first met you flinched if I raised my voice. I'm very proud of you.:

:Mmm.: Yami's eyes were glazed and dull. :Sleepy.:

:Then sleep, love.: Yugi managed to get them both tucked under the soft blankets as they drifted into uneasy dreams.

----

Yugi woke, sandy-eyed and still exhausted, to his mate's tired whimpers. Yami's eyes were shifting back and forth under fluttering lids; he tossed a little, seeming to deny something. Yugi reached out through their link, trying to soothe Yami's distress, and caught a bit of the dream.

The darkness crooned to him, lapping at his body like water, wanting something he couldn't - wouldn't - give it.

"Go away…" he thrust his hands at the darkness, trying to push it away, but it washed over his skin like cool silk instead. It sang wordlessly, moving all around him, tasting his skin and hair. It wanted him to accept it.

"No." He shook his head in denial, trying to will it away from him. "Go away…just leave me alone…"

Yugi pulled himself from the link, trying to re-orient himself in the real world. He shook his lover gently. "Yami, wake up."

Crimson-violet eyes jerked wide, flickering around the room before coming to land on him. Yami's hands tightened on his mate's arms. "Yugi…?"

"Shh…it was just a dream."

Yami cuddled tighter against him and started to sob, a quiet, helpless sound; Yugi ran his fingers through sweat-matted hair, letting Yami know through touch that he was there. The teen's muscles were locked tighter than a Gordian knot; even Yugi's acupressure techniques wouldn't help with that. He reached into his nightstand and pulled out a vial of scented oil he kept in there for entirely different purposes; but it would do for what he wanted. Managing to gently pry his mate off him, he warmed some of the oil in his hands and began massaging Yami's arms and chest. The teen looked at him curiously. "Yugi?"

"Shh…just relax." The demon continued his ministrations, the warmed oil giving off a spicy scent as he rubbed it into the skin. He traced each muscle with loving care – Yami's eyes drifted half-closed, a hiss escaping when Yugi would hit a bad knot and work it out. By the time Yugi reached his legs and feet, Yami was nearly asleep.

"Roll over, love – I want to do your back." Yugi murmured into Yami's ear; the teen gave a little wordless complaint but complied, rolling onto his stomach. Starting from the shoulders and working down, Yugi continued his task, taking special care with the red and inflamed skin on his upper back where the wings were coming in. Yami made little sleepy murring sounds, clearly enjoying the treatment.

By the time he reached the end of those slender legs, Yami was deeply asleep. Yugi wiped his hands on his thighs and curled up beside his love. He stroked Yami's hair and just watched him sleep.

----

Morning came all too soon for the both of them. Yugi woke without realizing he had fallen asleep; the sun pouring into the room made him glad for the thick curtains of the canopy bed, which dimmed the glare to manageable proportions. Yugi tried to roll out of bed, only to find Yami's arms wrapped around him and those exotic eyes looking at him imploringly. "I'm sorry about last night." Yami murmured, leaning over to kiss him. "I shouldn't have yelled."

"It's okay." Yugi murmured against his lips, kissing him back and stroking his bare shoulder. "Are you feeling any better?"

Yami shivered. "I don't know – yes and no, I guess. I still – I still don't know what exactly happened; all I know is that I don't want it to happen again."

Yugi blinked and stroked Yami's hair, wild with sleep. "I hate to tell you this, love, but it's not a good thing to be denying yourself or your powers."

Yami jerked out of his touch. "Are you saying…that murder is part of me?"

Yugi shook his head. "Yami, that's not…"

"You want me to accept this, don't you." The teen threw himself from the bed, stalking towards the bathroom without waiting for an answer.

:Yes…I want you to accept this, because if you don't it's going to kill you.: Yugi snapped through the link. Yami froze, then turned back towards Yugi.

:Maybe it would be better if it did.: he murmured.

Yugi blinked, horror freezing his soul. "You can't – Yami, I don't want you to die…"

"That's just a lie to get me to accept this…evil!"

"Magic isn't evil – damn it to the ninth circle, Yami, I'm telling you the truth!" He had to keep hold of his temper, but it was so hard when Yami was being this stubborn.

Yami threw his hands over his head and down to his sides, repeatedly, as though he wanted to shove his fists through a wall. "I DON'T CARE! I don't care about these stupid powers, I don't care about these stupid demons and I don't care what you want me to do!"

"Yami…" Yugi rose, reaching out for him automatically, trying to send his love through the bond.

"No! Stay away from me – you're just trying to manipulate me into accepting this lie…don't touch me! I don't want you anywhere around me, Yugi! Just go away!"

Yugi's frozen soul shattered. He didn't even know he was crying; he just heard the pain and the hate in those words. "Yami…" he whispered. "Yami, please…" But his mate didn't hear him – Yami turned away instead, stalking from the room, rage almost tangible around him.

Yugi didn't know what to do. He couldn't even feel the love between them now – all he felt was hate and pain and grief. He dressed woodenly, shaking from head to foot when he heard the door to the apartment door slamming. Hoping he had guessed wrong, Yugi walked into the living room and through the kitchen, finding them empty. Yami really had left.

He could barely see the numbers on the phone as he dialled.

"Moshi moshi?" Ryou's voice sounded on the other end.

"…" Somehow he couldn't get his voice to work.

"Hello?" Irritation and concern now. "Is anyone there?"

"Ryou…" he finally managed, choking the word around the lump in his throat. He couldn't breathe.

"Yugi?" Ryou asked. "What's wrong…did something happen to Yami?"

That was all it took – Yugi broke down, gut wrenching sobs boiling from his body, shaking it with their intensity. He couldn't even wail. He couldn't speak. He dropped the phone and buried his face in his hands.

Ryou stared at the phone in shock, hearing sobs from the other side and the 'thunk' of the receiver as it hit the wall. He looked up at Bakura, who was watching TV, flipping the channels disinterestedly. "Bakura – go over to Yugi's place, ASAP. Something's wrong, and I think it has to do with Yami."

The gaki looked up, then nodded wordlessly and strode to the window. "You want I should bring them back here?"

"Depends…I'll try and keep Yugi on the line, you get over there and find out what's going on."

Bakura nodded. "Got it." And leapt from the window, black wings booming as he caught an updraft. Ryou turned back to the phone – at least he could still hear Yugi's sobs.

"Yugi? Pick up the phone, please? Can you hear me?"

A whoosh of wind and the flap of wings announced a demon visitor – Ryou looked up to see Otogi just folding his wings, black hair still ruffled from his flight. "Hey, Ryou – what's up?"

"I don't know." Ryou answered honestly, and the tone of worry in his voice made Otogi pause.

"What's wrong?"

"Something's wrong with Yugi and Yami –I sent Bakura over to check it out…" He stopped speaking as Yugi's voice came over the phone.

"Ryou, could you please find Yami? He…he ran away and I…I don't know where. I don't care…if he hates...me…" Yugi's voice trailed away, leaving Ryou staring at the handset in shock.

"Otogi…"

"I heard – I'm on it." The incubus ran for the window, probably headed for Yugi's apartment as well – it would be the logical place to start an aerial sweep.

"Ryou? Are you still there?" Bakura's voice came over the handset.

"Yes – I'm here. What's happening over there?" Ryou worried at the phone cord with his free hand.

"Yugi's a mess – I'm bringing him over. He's convinced that Yami hates him." Bakura hung up before Ryou could reply – the storm demon replaced the handset on his end with exaggerated care. Something drastic must have happened to make the close couple fight that badly – and it was very unusual for Yugi to lose control.

Tense minutes later Bakura returned to the hotel room, Yugi cradled in his arms. The incubus seemed to have shrunk, despair curling him into a tiny, wing-shrouded ball. Bakura handed him over without a pause or word – the gaki wasn't good at the comfort thing. Ryou took over, murmuring useless nothings and rubbing gently at his lower back and wing-joints in an attempt to soothe Yugi enough to tell them what had happened.

"Bakura – I got out of Yugi earlier that Yami ran away – can you please help Otogi look for him? I don't like the idea of him running around with no protection if Kyoshori Mutou's goon or Malik and Marik are around."

Bakura nodded, running a gentle hand over Ryou's cheek before leaving again as Ryou turned all his attention to the demon in his arms.

Finally Yugi uncurled enough to look at Ryou – and promptly grabbed the storm-demon in a tight clinging hug. "He…he left…he hates me now…I can feel it…he's so angry…" Yugi rambled into Ryou's chest.

With a sigh, Ryou cuddled Yugi closer to him. He had known Yugi for most of the incubus' 600 years, and he knew that just the physical contact would help him to settle down. "I'm sure he didn't mean that." Ryou murmured. "He's a human teenager – they often say things they don't mean, even to the people they love."

"What?" Yugi blinked watery amethyst eyes. "But that doesn't make sense."

Ryou actually snickered a little at that. "For all your time with humans, you really don't understand their relationships, do you?"

Yugi shrugged. "I…" he sniffled, wiping at a tear-stained cheek with one hand. "I've never been with anyone for longer than a few days. And it's never been more than sex and a vague sense of affection."

Nodding, Ryou managed to reach a tissue and hand the thin paper to Yugi. "I'm certain you just have to give him some time to cool down. Now what exactly caused this whole mess?"

Otogi flew over the city in a search pattern centred on Yugi and Yami's apartment. Finding one mortal teenager would be difficult with all the people in Kyoto, but he knew it had to be done – the last thing anyone needed was Yami to be captured by his father. Suddenly a white flash caught his attention – Bakura was back at the apartment. He flew down, to see that the gaki was sniffing the air.

"Do you have an idea of how to find him?" Otogi asked. Bakura nodded.

"Yeah – but you'll have to stay quiet – the kid was in a lot of pain when he bolted, and I can 'smell' that… I should be able to track it, as long as he doesn't run past any other place with a great deal of emotional pain in the air." With that, the gaki slipped out the door and down the stairs to the lobby; Otogi followed.

They moved through the city, dodging people and cars until they reached a café, where they could see a familiar mess of hair. Bakura stalked into the premises, obviously intending to haul Yami out of there by force. They both expected to find an angry young man who would have to be brought back kicking and screaming.

They didn't expect to see a shattered young man sitting on a couch, staring at nothing, slow tears running down his face. Otogi touched Bakura on the shoulder, silently telling the gaki to let him handle it as he stepped up to Yami.

"Yami..?" he murmured. "We're here to take you home…"

"I can't." Yami murmured in a broken voice. "I…after what I said, he'll hate me. He'll hate me… I know he will…I can feel his pain… I'm no better than Father." Otogi put a gentle hand on his shoulders; Yami flinched away. "Don't…don't touch me…" he breathed, his lungs working to take in air. "I'm dirty, unclean… unworthy – Yugi gave me everything and… and…and I…"

Otogi watched in horror as the boy started to hyperventilate before his very eyes. "Yami… come on, kiddo. It'll be all right…just calm down…" but when he tried to touch him, Yami flipped.

"DON'T!" he screamed, thrashing wildly in an attempt to get away. "Don't..!" Otogi pulled his hands back as though burned, staring instead directly into Yami's eyes. Emerald burned into red-crimson; Otogi's magic reached out, soothing the boy almost instantly into an hypnotic state – the stronger version of a compulsion spell. Thankfully the boy hadn't gained immunity to it.

"Calm down." Otogi ordered. For a moment it looked as if Yami was fighting the spell…but then his eyes went totally glass as his mind retreated from the circumstances and his body went limp. He heard Bakura sigh in relief and finally felt the tingle of demon magic – Bakura must have set up an illusion so that no one would notice them.

"You got him?" the gaki asked.

"Get up." Otogi ordered. Yami stood; even in trance his face held a lost expression. "Yes, I have him…we should go quickly. I don't want to keep him under long, or we might not get him back."

Bakura nodded – together they led the boy from the shop, heading back to the apartment.

"I can take it from here." Otogi noted quietly. "You might want to tell Ryou and Yugi that we found him…I'll take him back to their apartment and see if I can calm him down."

"You'd better not use the wrong method of 'calming'. Bakura snorted. "Yugi would kill you."

The incubus snorted. "I'm not stupid, Bakura. I know how dangerous it is to get between a demon and his mate."

"Good." The gaki grunted, fading from human sight as he extended his wings and leapt into the air. Otogi carefully gathered Yami into his arms before doing the same.

It didn't take long to get back to the apartment. Otogi brought Yami into the bedroom and locked the door - so the boy wouldn't run for it – before releasing his hold on Yami's mind.

The teen blinked as sense returned to his expression. He looked around and quite suddenly started to shake, curling up in a ball as he collapsed on the bed. Otogi climbed on the bed, pulling Yami's head into his lap. "He doesn't hate you, you know."

"Yes he does." Yami whispered brokenly. "Why did you bring me here? I should just go back to Father's and let him punish me…"

"No." Otogi stroked Yami's hair. "It would break Yugi's heart if you did that. He loves you very much. And if you just opened yourself to him again, you would know that…"

----

"But I can't." Yugi murmured. "I can't – he won't open himself to me. Ryou…I just don't know what to do."

Ryou resisted the urge to pull his white hair out by the roots. Yugi could be so stubborn sometimes. "You can talk to him…you just have to force the matter a little. There is nothing wrong with that – and you might find that he's over his snit."

"Snit?" Yugi raised an eyebrow. "He tells me he hates me and never wants to see me again, and you call that a snit?"

Ryou just nodded. "Yes. Don't worry, Yugi – he'll get over it."

"He's right, Yugi." Bakura rumbled from the other side of the couch, startling them. "You and Yami need to talk."

"You found Yami..?" Yugi sat straight up in Ryou's lap, hope shining in his eyes as he unconsciously clenched Ryou's arm, making the other demon hiss in discomfort. "Where is he? Is he all right? Did anyone find him?"

"He's fine physically, but not so good emotionally. He's with Otogi at your apartment." The gaki growled, gently running a hand through Ryou's hair. "You need to talk, the pair of you."

"He's home?" Yugi scrambled out of Ryou's embrace, heading for the window. "I need to see him!" He leapt, wings spreading as he headed back to the apartment. :YAMI: he 'screamed' through the link. He had to know if his mate really still hated him.

----

Yami jerked in Otogi's arms; the mental 'scream' broke through his unconscious block easily. "Yugi?" he whispered, not realizing he was speaking aloud as well as through their link.

:Yami: Yugi's mind-voice was laden with so many emotions he couldn't tell them apart. :Are you okay:

"Why do you care?" Yami whispered bitterly. "I hurt you – just punish me and get it over with."

:Don't be silly.: He could swear that if he were in front of Yugi, the other would be crying. :What you said hurt – but I love you and I don't have the right to punish you.:

There was a pause, as Yugi's presence suddenly grew almost – hesitant. :Did you mean it when you said you didn't want to see me again…that you hated me:

"I…" Yami blinked, then closed his eyes and sighed, 'reaching' for Yugi's mind and soul. :I don't hate you – I'm sorry I said that – I was…I am just so scared…:

Warmth and light – Yugi's soul wrapping around his as he sighed. :I understand – I shouldn't have pushed you so hard, my sweet one. Please…forgive me:

:If you forgive me…: Yami murmured.

:Always.:

Their link, stronger than ever now, hummed as they re-pledged their love and forgiveness in pure emotion; Yami could feel Yugi coming closer and closer. :Where are you:

:Less than five minutes away…:

Yami scrambled from the bed, ignoring Otogi's startled yelp, and ran for the living room, pausing only to unlock the door to the bedroom as he did, feet taking him to the balcony where he could see his love flying towards him, black wings shining in the sunlight. A breeze had picked up; he could almost imagine the wind carrying his Yugi to him faster.

:I love you.: he sent.

:And I love you…: Yugi replied as their eyes met over the intervening distance.

Then suddenly gold flashed, two forms barrelling into Yugi from on high, throwing him into a sudden yawning portal…and he was gone.