---Rating: PG13---
"" is talking
~ ~ is for thinking and reminiscing
** is for coughs or sighs
--- --- is for mental conversations or mental voices
[] is for loudspeaker announcements.
--"( )"- Sacred Ancient language used by Shadi
--( )-Same as language except in mental conversation.
"+++++++++++" - Usually a language that is spoken by someone but the
person listening doesn't understand.
---MAJOR WARNINGS---
Yaoi - As in homosexuality (and if you don't know that word you are NOT 13 and hence should not be reading this). Nothing graphic however - not in this chapter anyway. Cursing
AN: thanks to those folks who pointed out the spelling on I's name. It's Ai and not I^^ sorry about that!
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Soft Touches and Hearts Agony
~HelphelphelpHEEEELP!!!~
Yugi was hyperventilating. He had never in his LIFE been in such a position! What if Yami came to and saw this? What would he think? Better yet what would he DO to him? Images of maiming sprang instantly to mind making him shudder. He HAD to get away! Yami had been pretty nice so far but he REALLY did not want to push that unusual streak of luck.
~Awwww, c'mon I'm enjoying this!~ a less than sane voice cooed in his mind.
~SHUT UP!~
Straining, he managed to shove Yami off, enough to scoot out from under him anyway. Once free he sat there panting and staring down at Yami who continued to, well be unconscious.
~This is so strangewhat did that maniac do to him?~
Worried of what Malik might have done, Yugi hurriedly searched Yami's face for bruises or scars. He found none.
~Thank Kami~ Yugi thought in relief, fingers gently lifting Yami's face and his eyes searching under his neck. There were no scars there either.
Yami suddenly frowned in his sleep, his entire body stiffening. Fearfully, Yugi pulled his hands away and from a safe (well as safe as being in the same room with Yami could be) distance watched him.
~If he wakes up now he's gonna see you naked~
~Could you take like five seconds to - oh I don't know - PULL ON YOUR PANTS?~
~I have to know if he's okay first!~
~Oh jeez~
When Yami did not move for a good ten minutes, an irrational fear seized Yugi. What if Yami was actually dead? Heart hammering in his chest he carefully crawled on all fours towards the unconscious boy and prodded him gently. Yami's remained motionless - so, panicking, Yugi shuffled closer to him.
Hovering the back of his hand over Yami's mouth, Yugi felt Yami exhale softly. Relieved, Yugi stooped beside him again, trying to steady his heartbeat by breathing deeply. His eyes kept a careful watch on Yami's once again still form.
~He's extremely beautiful when he sleeps~ Yugi thought wistfully, noting Yami's dark eyelashes and fierce yet beautifully sculpted features. Not even realising what he was doing he reached a finger out and gently ran his finger over Yami's eyelashes and down his cheek.
~What are you doing?~ a sharp voice snapped at him from inside his head.
~Idon't know~ Yugi replied mentally, his thoughts dreamy.
His finger had begun to trace Yami's lower lip when, without warning Yami's eyes snapped open. Snarling savagely, he grabbed Yugi's hand and flipped him over onto the cushions; Yugi barely hand time to gasp before Yami's hand clenched around his neck.
~Oh god!~ Yugi screamed mentally. ~ I'm DEAD!~
Joey glowered at the police officer, his arms crossed across his chest. He was NOT happy. First of all Yugi was kidnapped by that psycho Yami and then he, Triston and Tea had been dragged to the police station as if they were the ones who had committed the crime. He felt like punching the fool of a policeman in front of him but decided that this course of action would probably destroy the innocence they were trying to portray.
"I'm telling you, we did NOT hit that nurse! We were trying to rescue Yugi!" Tea cried exasperated for what had to be the fifth time.
"At two o'clock in the morning?" The policeman asked, in a bored tone that made Joey want to rip the stupid mustache off his stupid face.
Tea rolled her eyes and sighed, sitting back in her chair. "It's not illegal to go into a hospital at that time is it? I was worried so I wanted to check on him."
At that moment another policeman came up them and gave their policeman a file and walked off, donut in hand. Joey stared after the donut hungrily - he was STARVING.
The policeman flipped through the file and looked up at them with his dull gray eyes. "You ARE aware that this friend of yoursYugi Motou has been reported missing from the hospital?" The policeman asked.
Triston gave the guard a VERY dirty look. "Nowe're not awareTHAT'S WHY WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU THE EXACT SAME THING THIS PAST HOUR!"
"Excuse me." A smooth female voice interrupted. The voice came from behind Joey and the policeman looked up in surprise - Joey was surprised to say in the least that the policeman's face could even formulate such an emotion; it looked like SUCH an effort.
"Yes?" The man asked, his bottom jaw loose and hanging. Making his face look all the more retarded.
"Professor Isis Ishtar" (AN: I know Ishtar probably isn't her last name but they never really mentioned her last name in the anime - if anyone knows - English and Japanese I'd appreciate it again ^_^!) The woman said, giving the man a cool look before turning her attention to the three teens who sat swiveled in their chairs, eyes gazing up at her in astonishment.
She wore a beautiful white dress with gold lining just above her bosom and very long sleeves. Her hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. (AN: Yes I know her hair is out in the anime but this in an Alternate Universe and she actually WORKS in Japan) and wore no jewelry except for a necklace that was solid gold and had a peculiar eyepiece in the centre.
"You children have been cleared of charges, please come with me," she said gently holding out a hand to the door.
Joey sprang up. FINALLY! Someone with sense! He followed her out of the room closing tailed by Tea and Triston. The policeman was left stuttering and waving the file in his hand weakly.
"Thanks Ishtar-san!" Tea cried happily once free of the police station. "Those guys were really being"
Professor Isis turned swiftly, eyes serious. "What can you tell me of what happened at the hospital?"
All three were rather taken aback but Tea rushed to tell her all that had happened and how Yugi was missing. "Can you help us find him!? The police won't do a thing." she finished. She didn't know why but she trusted this woman.
"I could help you If my suspicions are trueDo you know where Professor Solomon Motou is right now?" Professor Isis replied gently.
"You know Yugi's Grandpa?" Triston asked, suspicion clear in his voice. He didn't like how this woman had come out of nowhere and was asking so many questions. "Excuse me but we don't know you - why did you bail us out?"
Joey jabbed him in the ribs. "Shut up man, she can help us, that's good enough for me."
Tea glared at Triston from the corner of her eyes. "Yes we can contact him for you. He probably knows by now that Yugi is missing. I bet you he's at the hospital right now."
"Very well." Professor Isis said and gestured to a large limo parked in front of the police station. "We must hurry though - there is not point in him going to the police. They will not be any help at all. I think Yugi is in grave danger and we have to act quickly."
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Unable to breath, Yugi could only utter a strangled gasp; Yami was pressing his knee into his stomach (a part of him thanked whatever god there was that it wasn't any lower).
"++++++!!?" Yami growled slowly, narrowed eyes flashing like burning coals.
"Y" Yugi mouthed, pulling at Yami's hand with his left hand while reaching up to touch Yami's face.
Yami turned angry eyes to stare at Yugi's hand that was straining to touch his cheek. His eyes flickered back at Yugi and the anger faded from his eyes, turning into idle curiosity. He vice-like grip around Yugi's throat relaxed and Yugi took in a large gulp of air and coughed.
Yami waited for Yugi's coughs to subside and then ran a hand through Yugi's hair gently, curiosity still in his eyes. "++++ +++ +++?" He said softly, his hand moving to run along Yugi's cheek.
Yugi stared up at him, eyes wide and fearful. What in the name of God was Yami doing? And what the hell was he SAYING? His speech was as garbled as the Black Magician in his dream!
Yami paused what he was doing and looked down at Yugi, brows creased and irritation building again in his eyes. "++++!?"
"Pardon?" Yugi stammered. "Yami, I can't."
At the name Yami, Yami's eyes widened in anger and he withdrew his arm. "++++!!" he snapped. "+++++!!"
Whatever Yami was saying it sounded angry and reproachful. Fearful that Yami might try to hit him, Yugi brought his arms up to cover his face. "II'm sorry!" He wished he had his clothes on, he wished this was some kind of nightmare.
Yami immediately stopped looking angry and grasping Yugi's wrists pulled them away from Yugi's face. He pressed his hand to his chest "+++ Yami" then paused for a second before pressing his hand to Yugi's naked chest and saying. "+++?"
~Me Tarzan, you Jane~ a VERY irritating voice said in the back of his head. ~ Just what the HELL is he doing?~
Yugi blushed, realizing what Yami was trying to say but was in deep confusion. Yami already knew his name! Deciding to play along he whispered softly. "Yugi"
Yami looked momentarily perplexed but then laughed deeply, much to Yugi's annoyance. Pulling away from Yugi, Yami stood and gazed around the room, eyes narrowed and searching.
Propping himself into a sitting position and covering himself with a pillow, Yugi watched him. Yami was standing as ifas if he owned the world. He had watched his look-a-like stand before; it was true he had a cocky type of posture, as if he had not a care in the world and no one else was important - but now
Yami's pose was pure arrogance, strength and just beyond feral; he was just indescribable. What was this transformation? It was Yami and yet it wasn't. Abruptly the stance changed and he swung around to stare at Yugi, his face hardly allowed it but Yugi swore he saw worry.
"Yugi+++++?" he asked.
It was a question that much was obvious. But he might as well have spoken Greek for all Yugi could understand of it. His knowledge of languages stopped at English and even then those were only a few words.
"II don't know what you're saying" Yugi said hesitantly, afraid that Yami might start looking angry again. "Yamiwhat's happened? What did Malik do?"
Yami glared down at him in response, obviously as confused as Yugi was. At the same time however, his eyes were running up and down Yugi's body in a way that was less than innocent observation. Yugi feel a blush traveling down his neck.
~Hooo-kay - now is the time to garb thyself oh wise grasshopper~
Standing unsteadily and still covering himself with a pillow he edged towards his clothing still lying on the floor, Yami's eyes still following him, studying him. Those eyes made Yugi's stomach flop over and he felt like collapsing right there again, his legs were shaking so hard.
He realised at this point that the person standing in front of him - looking at him like he was the only object in the room wasn't Yami. Not the Yami who he knew anyway. Yami's eyes were dangerous - angry always this person's eyes were powerful, proud and held not an ounce of fear - they were beyond dangerous - and yet they were devoid of the bitter kind of anger Yami's eyes usually carried.
~Little closeryour pants are right therepick them up, slip into themand maybe he'll stop looking at you like you're a piece of meat~
~What did Malik do? Why is Yami so different?~
~He's not possessed though - not this time~
His right foot touched the soft material of hospital pants and he bent to pick them up. He was about to attempt the difficult process of slipping a foot into the pants while holding a pillow in front of him when Yami abruptly came at him.
~AGHHH!!~ Yugi hollered mentally and lost his balance completely. A single strong hand grabbed his, preventing him from falling. Yugi gazed up at oddly gentle red eyes before the pillow was pulled away and he was pushed to the floor, the cool tiles sending a shiver down his spine. An involuntary squeak escaped him as Yami's face hovered over a bare three inches from his own.
"+++++" Yami murmured. He was straddling Yugi and gazing at his face with heated eyes.
Yugi was frozen with fear. Yami's personality had not just changed it had done a 180, if he wasn't mistaken the look in Yami's eyes was extremely
~Nowhat is~
This close to Yami all of Yugi's otherwise repressed thoughts began to shoot through his brain. All reasoning decided to take an extended vacation - Yami was warm against his naked skin and he smelt very, very nice.
Breathing was becoming haggard and vision began to blur, his cheeks were flaming and every part of his body was urging Yami to continue doing whatever he was doing. He felt like he was floating as he gazed deeper into those eyes that pulled at him like magnets.
"+++++" Yami continued to murmur, his hands coming around to entwine in Yugi's own that were lying limply by his face. Firmly but gently, Yami tightened his grip enough to keep Yugi from struggling and kissed Yugi's neck.
Yugi shivered in surprise, the sensation traveling all the way down his spine. He felt his body go limp his heart thumping in his chest.
~That feltoddly...~
Yami proceeded to kiss him just in the junction between Yugi's neck and shoulder and Yugi's vision began to glaze over the tingling sensation in his back spreading to his very fingertips.
~Don't let him stop~ a dark voice whispered in his mind.
Suddenly the puzzle around his neck flashed - and Yugi's senses became crystal clear - the burning cold of the floor becoming very noticeable.
~What am I DOING!?~ Yugi cried desperately in his mind.
"STOP IT!" Yugi cried, terrified. Yami was bloody well trying to seduce him! Right there on the tiles and he was LETTING him do it! - He had been willing to let Yami continue, had been enjoying it thoroughly.
Yami paused at Yugi's cry and gazed down at the boy who looked flushed, his bang hanging limply in his face. "Stop it Yami youyou hate me remember?! What did Malik do to you? He's not possessing you, I know he's notyou don't look possessed" Yugi tried to say all in one breath. Yami frowned quizzically an odd smile playing on his lips.
"Mal..k?" he said quizzically, the name having no obvious meaning to him.
Yugi gaped up at Yami. He didn't remember? Had Malik wiped his memory or something? He had only a second to ponder this because Yami suddenly leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips.
Yugi froze.
~He~
He did not even realize he was returning the kiss until he felt Yami release his hands, bringing them around to hold Yugi's face, the kiss deepening with a desperation that Yugi did not know he possessed. He was loosing his reasoning again - and he hoped never to get it back. His hands involuntarily gripped the sides of Yami's jacket, not even realising he was pulling it loose.
//Beautiful// a voice murmured in his mind, forceful words that echoed with a powerful intensity.
Startled Yugi broke the kiss, his cheeks burning and the voice still ringing through his head. Yami was gazing down at him - the Yami he knew - looking flushed and confused.
He was back.
"Yugi? Where am" he whispered, closing his eyes as if he had a headache - then without warning he collapsed again.
Soft pillows behind his back and the gentlest sensation of fingers moving
over his face - Where what was this? The fingers moved to his lips, caressing,
soft as petals.
~STOP!~
Yami's eyes snapped open and gazed for a fleeting moment on startled green eyes before rage set in and he had flipped the person on their back, slammed his knee into their stomach and gripped their neck - very intent on strangling them. NO ONE touched him without permission.
"WHO ARE YOU!!?" he snarled slowly, using a voice he knew terrified persons into jelly.
He then saw the person - and was shocked to say the least. This personthis person looked like him - not exactly like him - no there was a difference. Softer red hair, pale skin, green eyes - eyes that were wide with panic. Green innocent, loving eyes. A large necklace lay around his neck with an odd triangular pyramid. For a second Yami felt he should know that object but it was gone the moment he thought of it.
"Y" the person choked, a hand reaching up to touch his cheek. Yami looked at the small fingers, the delicate hand.
~This person could not hurt me if he tried~
Relaxing his hold, Yami gazed down at the boy who coughed, going red in the face. He waited until the boy had stopped choking, before unable to control himself, ran a hand through the smaller ones hair. It was silken soft and smelt even from his position, like some delicate flower.
He had to know who this person was
"What's your name?" he asked softly, moving his hand to stroke the boys face. As he suspected the boys skin was softer than velvet.
The boy looked scared when he spoke, the wide-eyed look only made him look all the cuter. "++++ Yami?" he stammered.
Yami brought his hand away immediately. Angry beyond words, this boy dared call him by his personal name!? "IMPUDENT!" he snapped. "SLAVE!"
The boy squeaked and fearfully covered his face with his arms, apparently afraid of being hit. "++++++!" Yami didn't understand what the boy was saying but it sounded apologetic - and terrified.
He felt oddly ashamed for scaring the small boy and reached out to grasp the smaller ones wrists. He would humour this little creature; he was a lovely thing, pretty as a girl, tinier than most. Holding a hand to his chest - he realised this child could not speak his language - he said softly. "I am Yami" He then placed a gentle hand to the boy's chest. "You are?"
The boy blinked and the understanding flooded his face, but there was also confusion - as if he could not understand WHY he would ask a question like that. "Yugi" he said softly.
~Game?~
Yami chuckled heartily to himself. Not only was the child adorable he had a name like Game! He saw a perturbed look on the smaller boys face but ignored it, he was suddenly curious about his surroundings. He stood up and gazed around him, aware for the first time that he had no idea where he was.
OrWHO he was
Oh he knew he was important, but something was missing - a singular memory of exactly WHY he was important. He was greater than everything around him, the slave boy but where was this? He could not remember why he had come here in particular or why a slave boy was in his chambersnaked at that.
He turned his gaze to look Yugi. "Yugiwhere is this?" he asked, momentarily forgetting the boy did not know his language.
"+++++++?" the boy babbled back to him. "Yami ++++ ++++++ Malik +++++?"
Irritation flashed through Yami as the boy used his name again but he dismissed it and allowed himself instead to feel confusion at what the boy was saying. He scolded himself for asking the question.
His eyes fell on the boy's smooth skin, pale in the darkness and his exotic green eyes. No one he knew had eyes like those. The boy had covered himself with a large pillow and was watching him in a curious, apprehensive manner.
Suddenly the boy blinked, a blush creeping up his cheeks and Yami smiled internally at the reaction. The boy got up quickly and tried to creep - this amused Yami even more - over to a pile of material, and attempted to pull on an odd legging material. This was a most interesting boy He strode over, again amused when the boy got a very panicked look in his eyes and nearly toppled over.
Yami grasped his arm, Yugi was light and he stopped his fall easily. For a few second he gazed at the blushing boy and then before he even knew what he was doing he had pulled the pillow away and pushed the smaller boy to the floor. The boy gasped at the cold tiles and stared up at him in fear - at least until those green eyes latched on to his - and became oddly calm, his cheeks became a red blush.
"Exotic" Yami murmured entwining his hands into the boys smaller ones and buried his face in the boy's neck, savouring the taste of his skin. The boy had become strangely quiet - almost submissive and Yami himself felt his mind clouding over. He gripped tighter onto the boy's hands and was just moving his kissed down the boys neck when something flashed in the corner of his eye and the boy stiffened.
"+++++ +++ Yami!!!" Yugi cried out and Yami paused, his mind still clouded - he could hardly think straight. This boy was doing something to him - and he didn't care to Ra.
"++++++ ++++++ +++++++ Malik!" Yugi cried desperately, still lying there, still looking irresistible.
Yami smiled at the odd word. "Malik? He tried pronouncing it and for some reason the boy looked unhappy, perplexed, confused all in one go. He was beautiful
Unable to resist he bent down and kissed him, gently. For some strange reason it mattered that he not hurt him.
The boy froze and then suddenly he was returning the kiss, with an equal intensity. Yami loosened his hold on Yugi's hands and brought his own up to cup the boys face with them. He didn't want this kiss to end. The boy brought his hands around and gripped the hem of the outfit he was wearing, tightly.
He smiled to himself. He wanted this boy
~Beautiful~ he murmured mentally and the boy jerked away, eyes wide and staring up at him.
Yami felt oddly dizzy
He gazed down and saw Yugi looking up at him, eyes worried and large, face red. "Yugi am I?" Yami whispered before the world went blank.
Malik growled darkly to himself. His head ached. That blasted Yami's brain was
a labyrinth of unbelievable depths, his little 'game' had backfired horribly.
No sooner had he entered an unexplored area of Yami's mind when a mental backlash
had staggered him, kicking him out and leaving him semi-conscious.
~Damn him~ he thought grouchily, nursing his pounding temples. He'd have to be more careful next time - put a shield around him. He'd underestimated Yami's mind.
He had no idea what the outcome of all of this might have been. When he had come to Yami was gone - probably led away by a servant of some kind. His head hurt him too much to even consider searching out for Yami and finding out just how far he had dug. He'd find out later anyway.
"Why do you keep wasting your time with that fool?" a cloaked figure in black growled, he was sitting on a reclining coach to the corner of the room, staring at Malik with obvious annoyance.
"His mind has somethingsomething I need. I don't' know why but he can help us." Malik growled back.
"We should just get on with searching for that damn power"
"You know we must gather monsters before we can startand only Yugi's little pyramid can get the exact location. Do not worry we will get there eventually. You are too impatient."
The figure only grunted in response.
"Déjà vu" Yugi mumbled, depression seeping into
him as he placed a cushion under Yami's head. He could scarcely believe what
had just transpired. Yami hated him! How could he suddenly just
like that
Yugi covered his face with his hands. This wasn't good the suggestive thoughts that often liked it when Yami was close were bubbling on the surface of his mind.
Laughing at him.
Taunting him.
Telling him what he already knew - had known for the longest time but had repressed.
He was falling
Falling for Yami.
~But that wasn't exactly Yamiwas it?~
~Yes there was something different - and he was speaking that language~
~This is all so confusing ~
~And I'm still naked~
"Small look-a-like is well?" a familiar voice asked softly in the dark and suddenly the room was illuminated by lamplight. Ai stood at the door, looking oddly sad.
"Ai" Yugi said, depression still clinging to his heart like a parasite. "What are you doing here?"
"Clothes for you and stupid" Ai said gently, coming over and placing two outfits on a chair. "Look-a-like looks unhappyis he unwell?"
"Oh " Yugi said trying to laugh but failing miserably. "It'sit's nothing" Yugi said, choking on the words, eyes falling on the sleeping Yami. He wasn't even aware when a tear slipped down his cheek.
~Just that I'm falling for someone who I know hates me that I'm stupid beyond reason that I know I'm gonna hurt if I don't stop feeling this way~
Ai stood looking at him, worry creasing his face. "That was not Stupid look-a-like a while ago, little look-a-like"
Yugi got up slowly, uncaring of his nudity and distractedly picked up the outfit meant for him. It was a lightweight material, white with beautiful patterns on it. "I know it wasn't him Ai" he said softly and sat on the chair. "Not the him I know anyway"
~And that's why this hurts more~
Ai looked at Yugi in surprise, who continued to look down at the outfit, tears beginning to wet the material. "Little look-a-likeis okay?"
Yugi did not reply, apparently preoccupied with looking at some stitches in the fabric and unanswered the old man left - sadly shaking his head.
When the old man was safely out of the room, Yugi glanced once more at Yami before lowering his face into the fabric of the clothing and sobbing softly.
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To be continued
AN: Argh, this one was difficult. And I'm afraid my romance sucked. I really hope everyone understood what happened in the chapter. I tried to make it as clear as possiblebut it was difficult content. Is anyone liking Ai as much I am? ^_^ I don't know, I like how he calls Yami 'stupid'.
Thanks to all who reviewed my last chapter!