Yami Yami Yugi: Guess who's back!

Jou: Um… you?

YYY: Good job! Here, have a cookie!

Jou: Yay!

Yugi: Hey! I want one too!

YYY: Don't worry. I didn't forget you. gives him cookie

Yugi: happy

YYY: Now one to business. I have a very good and original explanation on why I was so late.

Jou: Original!? It's the same excuse every author on this site uses!

YYY: ignoring him I've been swamped with school work, but that only delayed me a little. Besides, it's been getting easier. I've also been fixing the last few chapters a bit. Nothing so big that you have to read it over, but a few details changed. But I assure you I'll never take this long again.

Jou: snort

YYY: still ignoring him On a different note, the votes are in and it's unanimous. Ryou/Bakura Malik/Ishtar are our new pairings. Don't worry, I have a pretty good idea for this. So let's go!

Disclaimer and Warning: You know it by know.

Chapter Four

Sunlight poured into the room of the Pharaoh and peaked through the curtains of the bed. Yugi frowned and turned over, not wanting to get up. He was so warm and comfortable.

'Wait'. He thought. 'Warm and comfortable? That can't be right at all.' Yugi slowly opened his eyes and took a quick look around. For a minute he was shocked to see he was in bed with the Pharaoh, but soon remembered what happened last night. 'I just hope I can trust him, and he's not just playing some game with me.'

Just then the figure beside him started to stir. He opened is eyes and met with Yugi's. Yami smiled and brought his slave closer to him and gave him a little squeeze. "Good morning Yugi."

"G-good morning, master," Yugi said softly. He was still a little nervous about being his slave. What if he was just playing with him?

Yami slowly sat up and stretched. He climbed out of bed and made his way towards a dresser, Yugi following slowly behind, not sure if he was supposed to. Yami picked out a white short-sleeved shirt with gold woven into it and red linings along with a matching kilt and a red sash to go around his waist. "Here," he said to Yugi. "Put this on and I will be right back."

He handed the clothes to him and went to a separate part of the room. When he returned he was dressed in his normal Pharaoh's garments and Yugi had changed as well. He also carried with him a small box which he set down on the dresser. Inside were two golden armbands and a golden collar. They all had a few red rubies arranged on them as well. Yami took them out of the box and carefully placed them around Yugi's neck and wrists.

"Are they to tight?" he asked. Yugi shook his head. He thought they were rather nice and very comfortable.

"Good. These, like the clothes, mark you as my slave so nobody can do anything to you without my permission. But they are also magic. If someone does try to hurt you the rubies will light up and protect you. So it's very important that you keep these on at all times."

"Okay master." 'Wow. That's pretty cool.'

Yami gave a small smile and shook his head. "Please Yugi, I don't want you to call me that anymore. Just use Yami from now on, even when we're with other people. Can you do that for me?"

"Alright, Yami," he said sweetly.

Yami couldn't help but grin. He had fallen for this little slave so quickly. He couldn't help himself. He loved everything about him, his voice, his smile, his eyes,… And he was all his. Nobody else could have the little one. He was all his. All mine. Without thinking he bent down and gave him a small kiss on the lips.

The younger boy gasped and Yami, sensing his discomfort, slowly pulled away. "What was… why did you…" Yugi was too shocked to say anything. He had never been kissed like that before.

"Never been kissed?" Yami questioned. Yugi shook his head. "Did you like it?"

"Um…well…" Yugi wasn't quite sure how to answer. Was he supposed to like it?

"Just answer me truthfully," Yami said.

He nodded. "Yeah, I did."

He smiled. "Good, because you'll be getting a lot more of it. Now let's get some breakfast and I can show you the palace."

They left his room and started down the hallway.

"Y-Yami?" Yugi asked.

"Yes," the other asked, not looking at him.

"Do you think…well…um…oh never mind." 'I shouldn't be asking him! I'm his slave for Ra's sake. I can't ask for anything.'

"What's the matter?"

"It was nothing. I don't even remember anymore."

Yami slowed down slightly to look at Yugi. "Don't lie to me Yugi," he said firmly.

Yugi jumped. "I'm sorry…I-it was stupid…I just…Don't be mad…I-I'm sorry…" 'Oh, I just know I'm going to be punished for this."

Yami stopped and smiled at Yugi and said, "It's alright Yugi. I'm not mad. You can ask me."

"Well, I-I just wanted to know if, um, maybe later I could visit my friends? But it's stupid. You don't have to…"

Yami cut him off. "Are they here in the palace?"

"Well, yes, but…"

"Then I don't see why not."

"Really?" He nodded. "Thank You!"

They continued down the corridor, but Yami noticed that something else seemed to be bothering the boy. He sighed. The boy was keeping something else he wanted from him. "What's wrong, Yugi?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Yugi…"

The younger boy gulped. "Well, I'm worried about my other friend. I'm afraid something might be wrong."

"Well, where is he?"

"He's still back with my old master. But there isn't anything you can really do about that. I mean, he isn't even in this city."

"You know, I could sent someone to get your friend."

"Really? Oh thank you Yami! Thank you so much!" He hugged the Pharaoh who returned it with a smile before opening the doors to the dining hall.

"Oh, Seto…" he called sweetly.

The High Priest Seto growled silently as he approached the shop of Yugi's old master. It had taken him all morning to get there and would take him the rest of the day to get back to the Palace. [1] Yami was lucky he was his best friend or he would have never agreed to do this, Pharaoh or no Pharaoh. He sighed and looked over the note once more.

Once you arrive you are looking for a slave by the name of Jounouchi. He will have blonde hair, brown eyes, pale skin, and most likely to have a bad attitude. Be careful as he will put up a fight. Be sure to bring him back with you. Have fun.

He growled at the last comment and placed the note back in his robe and approached the shop. "Where is your master?" he asked the little slave girl at the counter.

She bowed to him and replied, "He is inside. Shall I get him?"

"Yes." He answered as the girl went inside.

"Master," he heard from outside.

"What?" came the reply before the crack of a whip was heard and a second voice let out a small shout. Seto didn't think anything of it. It was an every day thing for a slave to be punished.

"The High Priest is outside."

"The High Priest? Are you sure?" The girl poked her head outside and took a look at Seto. He opened his robe just enough for her to see the Millennium Rod strapped to his waist.

"Yes, I'm sure." There was a soft rustling, a yell, and the sound of a door slamming in the back before a man stepped out.

"High Priest Seto," he said with a bow. "How can I be of service to you?"

"I understand you posses a slave by the name Jounouchi. I would like to see him."

"Of coarse." He turned to the girl who stood behind him. "Anaku, bring Jounouchi out here."

"Yes master." She went inside and the sound of a door opening could be heard followed by what sounded like a big struggle. Seto raised an eyebrow when he heard a crash and three different shouts, but said nothing. The next thing he knew, two different pairs of hands shoved a young boy out the curtain and sent him tumbling to the ground. He quickly picked himself up with some trouble and brushed himself off muttering something under his breath. Judging from his condition he was the on who was being beaten earlier.

Seto looked at the slave surprised. Yami had never mentioned how pretty the boy was. He had very pale skin, but not a sickly kind of pale A few strands of his messy blond hair fell onto his face and over his eyes. His eyes that were the color of honey and had the spark of disobedience you wouldn't normally find in a slave. He liked him.

"Are you the slave that goes by the name of Jounouchi?" he questioned.

The boy glared. "Yeah, what's it to you?" His voice was very strained, as if it was taking a lot of energy just to stand up.

His master backhanded him. He hissed in pain as he was sent tumbling to the ground. "Show respect to the High Priest boy!"

Jounouchi looked up at the person that he spoke to. This was the High Priest? Okay, maybe not the right person to talk back to. Boy was he going to be in trouble. But being stupid and not to mention stubborn person he was, Jounouchi just continued to glare at the High Priest. 'Boy am I gonna get it for this,' he thought to himself.

Seto examined the boy more closely. He fit the description perfectly, blonde hair, brown eyes, disobedient,… He was the one he was looking for.

"How much is it to purchase him?"

Jounouchi looked up from his spot on the ground confused. Purchase?

"I'm sorry High Priest Seto, but unfortunately this particular slave is not for sale. He is… um… very useful to me. Perhaps one of my other slaves would interest you?"

Seto put on a fake smile. "Oh no, that's quite alright. He is really not that big of an interest to me. It would be a waist of my time to try to get you to sell him to me. Really, you need not give him up."

He man nodded and smiled. "I'm glad you see it my way."

"Of coarse," he said. His eyes narrowed. "I can always just tell the Pharaoh that you refused to give him up and have him come over here himself. It's his orders after all."

Jounouchi, who had been silently trying to stay on his feet smirked. As much of an asshole his guy may be, he had to admit, it was a very pretty sight to see someone talk back to his master.

He looked over the High Priest. A very pretty sight. His neat, brown hair, his tan skin, and his deep blue eyes. Yes, he was a very pretty sight indeed.

'Wait a minute!' he thought. 'What was I thinking? This is the High Priest. He's, like, best friends with the creep that took Yugi away. And a guy no less. I can't be attracted to him! But still…' He shook his head and looked back at the conversation.

The master gulped and tugged at his shirt. "Well since you put it that way, I'm sure I can part with this one. Is fifteen gold coins alright?"

"It's fine," he said placing some gold on the table. He grabbed Jounouchi by the wrist and roughly pulled him away.

"Hey!" Jounouchi shouted trying to pry his hand loose. "I can walk on my own you know."

"Hn," was the only response he got as Seto walked faster.

Jounouchi winced trying to keep up. The truth of it was, running hurt. He was stumbling a lot from it. Seto, however took no notice of it. He just continued on his merry way to the palace, practically dragging the poor slave behind him.

"Hey! Do you think you could slow down up there?" Jou asked after a while. The was getting pretty tired and was still hurting pretty bad. His injuries were pretty bad after all.

"No," he responded flatly.

"Well why the hell not?! It's not like it's gonna kill you."

"There would be not point in me slowing down because the is no reason." He smirked. "What possible reason do I have to slow down? You?"

"Keep talking," he muttered under his breath, "And I'll have my Flame Swordsman to slice you in half."

Seto stopped so abruptly that Jounouchi slammed into him and fell to the ground.

"You have a deck?" he asked, looking rather shocked.

"Yeah," he responded getting up then falling again before getting up properly. "So what's the big deal. All my friends have them."

"Slaves aren't allowed to keep decks." He resumed walking, although slower this time.

"Well duh! I had one before I became a slave."

"Oh, so you don't have one anymore."

"Of coarse I have one!" Jounouchi smiled. He was enjoying this.

"But how can you if you're a slave?"

"Well, my master didn't know about it. I kept it in my secret hiding place."

"So you own a deck but you don't have it with you."

"Of coarse I have it with me. It's just in my hiding place."

"Then where the hell is it!" Seto shouted. He was not very fond of this game and was losing his patience.

"Here." Jounouchi said holding out a deck in his hand.

Seto stared wide eyed at the cards. So it was true, he did have a deck. He reached his hand out to take the deck for a closer look when Jounouchi snatched his hand away. He growled and grabbed Seto by the collar bringing him down to eye level. "Don't touch my deck," he growled.

The other boy smirked. "Nice grip. Let me show you mine." He grabbed the boy's wrist and twisted it painfully. He cried out and let go and he was thrown, rather painfully, to the ground.

Jounouchi groaned as he got back up. This wouldn't have happened if he could still…hey! That was it.

"Hey!"

"What now?" Seto asked. He was getting really tired of this.

"Don't you think you should take this thing off of me?" He lifted his pants leg a little to show a bronze ring around his ankle.

Seto raised an eyebrow. "What is it."

'Damn! Now what? I can't tell him that it…wait, I know!' "It marks me as his slave," he said motioning backwards. "And since he's not my master anymore, I really don't think I should be wearing it anymore, do you?"

Seto turned around. "Take it off yourself." He started walking, but Jounouchi stopped him.

"Don't you think I would have by now if I could?" Seto turned around, walked over to Jounouchi, and hit him. Hard. He then grabbed his wrist, and continued towards the palace. This boy was really testing his patience.

Jounouchi was also in a pretty foul mood. He could just feel all his strength that was locked up inside, and was just dying to use some of it on Seto. But he knew he couldn't. Not since he got the damn thing on his ankle.

Flashback

It had been about one week since Jounouchi and Yugi had been sold as slaves. Once again, Jounouchi was in his master's room desperately trying to keep away from him. For a ten-year-old, he was very strong and was doing pretty well against the much bigger man. But like on every other night, he was becoming tired and couldn't run forever.

"Gotcha!" the master cried as he caught the slave and pinned him to the wall. Still, Jounouchi struggled.

"Let go of me!" he shouted trying to break free. The master's fist connected with his stomach. He gave a yelp of pain before he crumpled to the ground.

"You need to be taught another lesson don't you, you little brat?" He brought out the whip and cracked the whip dangerously in the air. Jounouchi growled as he tried to stand up, but the whip sent him back down. It came down three more times on his back, each time drawing more blood.

Jounouchi bit his lip. He refused to cry out. He had to be strong.

"Tsk, Tsk," the master waved a finger at the boy. "Perhaps I should bring in your little friend Yugi. He should will be a little more obedient." He stepped out of the room and returned with a struggling Yugi. Jounouchi's eyes widened with horror.

The master threw him on to the bed and climbed on top of him.

"Yugi…" Jounouchi said weakly as he tried to get up, but it was no use. He was too weak. He collapsed again and tried to look up. Yugi had stopped trying to get away and was crying as the master began to remove his clothes. His near hysterical sobs reached Jounouchi who suddenly felt a lot of power coming back to him. Inside his heart burned with rage at the master for what he was going to do.

"No…NO!" His eyes glowed blue and the next thing he knew, the master was in a heap on the other side of the room dripping wet.

Jounouchi blinked a few times before he realized what had happened. 'Damn' He thought he had better control than that, but… He looked over at Yugi who was still in hysterics on the bed. This might have been the perfect time to unleash them.

He ran over to his friend and tried to calm him down. "Shh, it's alright Yugi. He's not going to hurt you. I promise." He hugged his friend close and rocked him back and forth. [2]

"You-you…" Jounouchi held Yugi closer as he turned to the master who was staring wide eyed at him. "You're a…"

End Flashback

After that night the master made him wear that band around his ankle to keep his powers from activating. He also put one on Yugi a few days later when Yugi accidentally activated his.

He was knocked out of his memories when he bumped into the figure in front of him, once again sending him to the ground. Seto turned around and glared down at the figure before turning and walking through the now open palace gates. Jounouchi picked himself up and followed him into the palace.

YYY: I'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorryI'msorry!!!!!!!! It's been so long since I've updated! I promise the next chapter will be out much sooner! This one took so long and I don't know why! So please review and I'll get the next one out soon. Really!

[1] Last time it took two days to get from this place to the palace, but that was because they had to make a lot of stops and meet the slave traders. Seto is just going there and coming back.

[2] I've said this before, but just to remind you, this is a strict brotherly/ best friend sort of relationship. Nothing more.