I am so sorry; this is way overdue. I am not abandoning this fic. The end of the school year was more hectic than planned (haha ) and I could only get on this website a couple times. Pharaoh'sEgyptianArabian, I tried to e-mail you about the lemon, but the address posted in your profile didn't work and the last half of your e-mail address in your review didn't show up. Could you just put the last half of your e-mail address in your review? Thanks.

On With The Fic Already:

Last time…

Once I stood in front of it, I looked into its reflective depths. I reached up a hand to touch the surface. My reflection was faded and slightly transparent.

That only served to tangle my thoughts even more.

Dead & Dying

Thirteenth

Yugi's View

I heard no rustling noises of moving sheets before I found Yami beside me. "Yugi?"

"Yami!" I exclaimed, surprised. Said vampire was wearing nothing but boxers and a black undershirt, causing me to blush and squash a perverted train of thought. I slid to the side of the mirror quickly—too quickly to be natural—but Yami was either too sleepy or didn't care. "Good…afternoon," I said awkwardly, glancing at Yami's clock and finding it to be 12:07.

Yami's next question was probably something like, "What are you doing in here?" However, he reached one arm around to his neck and scratched, biting back what he was going to say and replacing it with a slow "Good afternoon, Yugi".

"Auru-kun and Rino-kun are getting ready to go downstairs for breakfast…I thought you'd like to know if you were awake," I filled in. I shifted my weight to my other foot uncomfortably.

"Right," said Yami distractedly. He blinked and straightened. "Thanks for telling me. I'll get dressed. Oh, yes…you probably want…." Yami turned and crossed the room. With his back to me, I remembered a certain change of clothes at Haven during which I'd been 'asleep'. This memory was accompanied by a further reddening of my cheeks. I squeezed my eyes shut and took a deep breath. Now was not the time for suggestive thoughts.

Yami's jacket was hanging over the back of a chair. He fished in a pocket and pulled. My duffel returned to its usual size as it was removed from its minute travel accommodations.

"Here," said Yami, holding out my duffel for me to take. As I wrapped my fingers around the handle, my hand had no choice but to touch his, brushing thumb and thumb together. His hand was cool, but I felt branded. Heat rose in my face. A flurry of imagined hands and fingers brushed me, and I took an unintentionally loud breath. Yami's fingers slipped away, too quickly for my liking.

"Thanks," I managed. I darted out of the room as Yami dealt with his own suitcase.

Once in my room, door safely closed, I leaned against the wall. Sliding down to the floor, I let my duffel drop and put my head between my knees. Yami…Kami-sama, what am I supposed to do? I'm losing my reflection to him and he doesn't seem to notice! Is the only way to get him to notice me—to touch me—by offering my blood and tempting him?

I shook myself and picked up my duffel, dumping it on my bed and yanking the zipper open. I changed into a fresh pair of indigo jeans and a light blue long-sleeve shirt. I did a cursory brushing of my teeth and splashed my face with water. The bathroom adjoining my room was floored in blue marble and tiled in white. The expansive mirror kept needling at me with my faded reflection, but I steeled myself against it and ignored the stupid thing.

I returned to the Sunrise Alcove to find Auru, sporting black jeans and loose, striped shirt. Rino, trapped bridal-style in Auru's arms, was wearing a cream turtleneck and sage green pants. They were smiling at each other, and a small curl of jealousy awoke in my stomach.

Yami came into the Sunrise Alcove dressed in deep blue jeans and a scarlet, button-up shirt that matched the edges of his spiked hair. "Do we know where we're going?" Yami glanced at the elevator.

"No. I'll ask," said Rino, attempting to squirm out of Auru's hold.

"No, you won't, 'cause I'm not letting go," responded Auru.

Yami looked up at the ceiling, containing his exasperation. "I will ask." He returned to his room and I heard the click of a phone being picked up.

I moved to the window, since Auru and Rino seemed quite absorbed in one another. Over on the mown area to the south, which was apparently a private golf course, I saw a few people and a golf cart. One of them swung at a ball enthusiastically. A small splash in a nearby lake a split second later indicated that ball's demise.

"Kaiba wants to talk with us," said Yami, coming back out of his room. "Let's go."

"Does that mean breakfast is delayed?" Auru asked. Yami, walking toward the elevator, didn't answer.

"Lunch, love. It's past noon," Rino informed Auru.

Auru grinned suddenly. "Oops. I suppose that would be my bad," he said suggestively.

"Auru!" Rino blushed. "Stop it."

The wall slid away from the elevator doors. A few moments later, a little ding informed us that the elevator had arrived. We shuffled in. "Kaiba's Office, North Tower," announced Yami.

The elevator doors whooshed shut and the glass box whisked us away. It was sunny outside in the courtyard. I realized how lucky I was that it hadn't rained the past few days. Flying in the rain would have been terrible.

We were silent in the elevator. The ride was not very long, however, and soon an unassuming ding announced the end of our journey. The elevator doors slid open, revealing the back of a wall. A plaque reading "North Tower" had been mounted on the wall, which also slid open.

A wide sea of navy blue carpet piled inches deep was revealed. Islands of winged armchairs and coffee tables dotted the soft expanse. Frosted glass floor-to-ceiling windows lined the circular room. A strong column, made of the same marble used throughout the mansion, supported a staircase spiraling up to the next floor. And that was just the foyer.

We moved out of the elevator. A couple of unsure glances were exchanged.

"Kaiba-san will see you now. Please move upstairs," said a pleasant, young voice, emanating from well-hidden speakers. I remembered the child's voice from the mansion's entrance. This voice sounded the same.

Following instructions, we crossed the field of navy blue and climbed the stairs. Auru had to set Rino down. Rino thought he was off the hook, but Auru seized him around the waist and lifted him that way instead. Rino made a surprised noise, but flopped over Auru's shoulder, resigned to being carried nearly everywhere. Since I was behind Auru, the tallest, I could see Rino roll his eyes. I gave him a wry smile and he smiled back.

On the next floor, there was a small part of the circle that had been sectioned off. A pair of dominating double doors flanked by a set of dragons separated us from Kaiba's office.

Yami gave Auru a pointed look. Auru gave in and set Rino down. Rino mouthed a discreet "thank you" to Yami, who nodded slightly and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Kaiba. Yami strode in, followed by Auru, Rino, and me.

Kaiba's office, if nothing else, proved his business skill and resulting wealth. The same navy blue pile coated the floor, one-way floor-to-ceiling windows let in the afternoon sunlight, and slightly curved bookshelves held countless volumes. He was seated at a desk in the middle of the room, reclining slightly in an ergonomic black chair. A sleek laptop and a practically flat cell phone lay in front of him. His pistol from last night also rested on his desk, fully loaded and ready to fire, in close reach of Kaiba's hand. It served as a quiet, but in-your-face reminder that we weren't guests. We were trespassers turned prisoners, only here to serve our time.

A couple of chairs clustered attentively around Kaiba's desk. We were invited to sit down, in Kaiba's clipped, chilly tone. Dressed in a black turtleneck with silver threads in the cuffs and matching pants, the CEO cut a highly professional appearance.

Kaiba started right into the subject, all chit-chat and wow-what-nice-weather-we're-having discussion bypassed. "I was going to perform the enchantment this afternoon, but considering all of you are short on sleep and what I'm trying to unlock is magically unstable, we are going to wait until tomorrow."

There wasn't any argument when Kaiba said, "You will stay the night. You can eat whenever you want. Call Yasuhito-san; he can give you choices and reroute you to room service."

Kaiba has room service in his own house How many people does he employ! That curl of jealousy that had awoken this morning wriggled more insistently.

"…there are many things to do here," Kaiba was saying. "Most of the doors will open for you and you can wander the grounds, but please stay out of the northern corner."

Yami nodded for all of us.

Kaiba picked up a pen absentmindedly. "I do need someone to help me make a couple potions for the enchantment—."

Auru yelped suddenly, having just been brought out of dreamland by a sharp poke from Rino. "Okay okay okay! I'll do it."

"That's it, then," said Kaiba, slowly swinging his desk chair to the side.

"One question," said Yami. "Do you know of anyone I can get a binding spell from?"

Kaiba gave him a sidelong look. "For the necromancer?"

"Yes," said Yami, avoiding my surprised glance. Kaiba, however, was now looking right at me, locking my eyes with his icy blue stare. It was obvious he had figured out why Bakura was after me and why Yami wanted a binding spell.

"…Yes. I know where you can get a binding spell." Kaiba broke off the eye contact. "You'll not like it much."

"Just tell me how to get it," said Yami curtly.

"In the mountains to the east, there is a pair of soul-bonded men. They specialize in various Egyptian charms, including complex binding ones. They'll want money for it, but I'm sure that's not an…issue," finished Kaiba, with a pointed look with lots of hidden meaning directed at Yami.

"No. It is not," said Yami, managing a voice just as icy as Kaiba's.

"The roof of their house is red. It's about two hours away, as the…'crow' flies." Kaiba steepled his hands.

"Thank you," said Yami, finality in his voice. "We'll rest today and help you tomorrow."

"Good," replied Kaiba. He glanced at me. "Mouto-san, you can sleep in tomorrow." It should've sounded gracious. I should've felt happy, not unwanted and jealous. All I felt, though, was a clear, harsh dismissal.

Yami's View

"Kaiba-san, may I?" I gestured to one of his windows. He flicked a switch on his desk. The window slid open.

"Go ahead," he allowed. I walked to the window and looked out and down. The tower was steep; we were at least two hundred feet in the air. I backed up into Kaiba's office.

"Yami-kun, wait a second." Rino scrawled a long sequence of runes in midair. He caught a necklace as it fell into existence. "Here," he said, tossing me the necklace. "Invisibility for you. Shadow-link Auru when you start back because I'll have to renew the charm."

"Thanks. I will. I'll be back in a couple hours, you two. Yugi…." I didn't have any words that seemed adequate. What could I tell him?

Instead, I slipped a shadow around his shoulders and catapulted out of the window.

I lost myself in the adrenaline rush of freefall for two seconds. My exhilaration continued as I summoned my shadowed wings and yanked myself upward. Indulging in several high-speed spirals, I shot off towards the eastern mountains, feeling like I was leaving all my problems behind in the halls of Kaiba's mansion. I settled Rino's necklace around my neck, feeling a slight prickle as the enchantment took effect.

Yugi's View

I watched Yami speed away, rocketing through the sky in crazy loops. I knew he was going to get something helpful, but I felt abandoned. Also, I felt useless. A burden, that's what I was. I couldn't do magic. Yami couldn't fly like that carrying me. He wouldn't even be going anywhere if it wasn't for me.

Auru got up and gave Rino a quick kiss. That curl of jealousy towards Rino was becoming harder to quash. I made to follow Rino out of Kaiba's office. The lucky, oblivious redhead bounced down the stairs. Anger and a feeling of helplessness battled for dominance in my mind and heart.

I made to go down the stairs, but Auru grabbed my shoulder on the landing. He let the door to Kaiba's office close before he said anything, but the look in his eyes was more serious than I thought it possible for him to be. I didn't so much as twitch.

Auru looked down and to the side and then took a deep breath. "Vampires have no self-control, Yugi-kun. None. Zero. They've got to learn it, every bit. Yami-kun's confused right now. He's lived for thousands of years, Yugi-kun, and he's never had to go without anything he wanted. Money, food, clothes, sex, willing victims—anything. Yami-kun was even a king once—hundreds of people were at his beck and call. Now, he has to hold back. Add to that the fact that he doesn't know whether to kill you or hug you—or both, and you can understand why he's confused. Believe me—I went through the same thing with Rino."

Auru paused and bit his lip. His voice was nearly a whisper when I heard it again.

"I nearly raped him," he said, looking down at the floor. One hand waved listlessly in the direction of the stairs, indicating Rino. "I almost did it…several times. Even though I love him so much…I nearly violated him. I never did…but I still…." Auru stopped.

"Just…don't tempt Yami. Don't do it. He'll come to you. Give him a little time to sort out what's in his head and he will, I promise."

I nodded slowly. "He'll look in a mirror one of these days and see your face. Most of the time, vampires just forget about mirrors—they're like those little paper umbrellas in Hawaiian drinks, I guess—they're there, but not usually important, unless they stab you in the eye." Auru laughed and I managed a smile. He patted my shoulder and let go. "Yami-kun will get with the program. Trust me."

Leaving me standing, quite confused, at the top of the stairs, Auru wandered back into Kaiba's office with his hands in his pockets. It was then I realized that that night at the restaurant, when Yami was drinking from me, had gotten my shirt open, and was headed south….

Somehow, Auru had known.

Auru had remembered what he had done, completely out of the blue, and had taken action to stop his friends from doing something that would seriously hurt their future.

My respect for Auru, who was not the sex-crazed simpleton he seemed, went up several notches.

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