Title: The Dream of Daylight

Part: 3 of ?

Author: Callow

Warnings: AU, fluff, sexual references

Genre: Romance, fantasy

Pairings: Yami no YuugixYuugi with a side of Yami no BakuraxBakura (thanks Meeg!)

Constructive Criticism: Please, yes!

Disclaimer: I own a cat. But he's not showing up in this story.

Description: There's a place where daylight's just a dream and the nightmares won't go away. Yugi follows Yami into dreamland, and if he's lucky, they'll both wake up.

Quickie A/N: Lemon content (that I'm not posting on ff net). I've never written a lemon (or even much romance) before. Feedback would be really appreciated. For those reading on ff net, if you're interested in the lemon let me know, if not, don't worry. It's not that important to the plot. What's important is that you know that it happened.

CHAPTER TWO

As Anzu had expected, Yami and Yugi became fast friends.

It had never exactly been unusual to find Yugi hanging around her living room every afternoon that Yami came to tutor her. But now, after a severe drop in her already less-than-glowing maths marks, Anzu decided it was time to find a tutor who wasn't infatuated with her friend.

Suddenly, Yami and Yugi found themselves with a whole evening all to themselves.

It was on one of these evenings, almost three months after the night at Anzu's house that the trouble began.

Rain pounded rhythmically against the windowpanes in Yugi's house, and the only light in the room came from the television screen. The credits for the movie, which neither Yami or Yugi had paid much attention to, rolled to the tune of an old pop song. Yami and Yugi were curled side by side on the couch in a cocoon of blankets and pillows.

Yami plaited his fingers through Yugi's hair.

'The movie's over.' He brushed his lips over Yugi's temple. 'I should go home.' He made no move to leave; instead, he let his mouth drift over Yugi's cheekbone to his ear.

'Mmm… It's raining. You can't walk home in the rain.'

'True,' Yami resettled himself, so that he was reclining on the couch. Yugi made a noise of protest in his throat. Yami's eyes glittered playfully. 'But I have to be home by ten…'

'It's only eight thirty,' Yugi held up his wristwatch.

Yami let his hands slide up to rest on Yugi's elbows, and pulled him down so that he lay with his head on his shoulder. 'Well, if you want me to stay that badly…' he trailed his hands down to brush suggestively over Yugi's hips. 'How will we pass the time?'

Yugi blushed. He propped himself up on his elbows and stared down at Yami.

'…Here?'

Yami met his gaze evenly. 'Why not?'

'…Uh… well… I've…' He lowered his eyes and fisted his hands in Yami's shirt. 'I'm a, um… yeah.'

One of Yami's hands drifted up and cupped his cheek.

'Are you nervous?' Yami asked, not quite managing to hold back a chuckle.

'This isn't funny,' Yugi frowned. 'Weren't you … when it was …you?'

'Well, no,' Yami said. Very carefully, he turned Yugi's face back to him. 'But I wasn't really planning on saving myself for uh… Mr. Right.' He flashed a grin. 'Besides, I was a horny teenager.'

'Yami!' Yugi buried his face in Yami's shirtfront, feeling Yami's laughter resonating in his chest.

'It's all right to be nervous. Especially if you're saving yourself,' he paused. 'You're not, are you?' The wicked grin crept back onto his face. 'I'll marry you if that the case!'

'Don't joke about that,' Yugi slapped him arm playfully.

His smile faded quickly though. He swallowed heavily, tucked his face into the crook of Yami's neck. For a few minutes, he was still and silent while Yami traced tender patterns across his shoulders and lower back. Then he said in a small voice, 'Someone told me it hurts.'

Yami's hands stilled. 'It can.' He lifted Yugi off him and sat up, cupping his chin so that he could see into his eyes. 'Is that what you're afraid of?'

Yugi hesitated, and then he nodded, cautiously.

'…I want to, though…' he mumbled. 'Everyone says it's… and I wonder…'

'Don't just do it because you're curious.'

'You did it because you were horny,' Yugi retorted.

In response, Yami kissed his lips and swept him into his arms. He rose and picked his way through the dark house toward the stairs, and on up to Yugi's room.

'Where…?'

'I want you to be comfortable, somewhere you feel safe,' Yami lay him on his bed and lay down himself, stretched out elegantly beside him.

'My grandpa – what if he hears?' Yugi asked in a whisper.

'You'll just have to be quiet,' Yami winked and tapped the end of his nose. All of a sudden he was completely serious. 'This will be a little uncomfortable for you. Are you really sure?'

Rather than speaking, Yugi rested his right hand on Yami's chest, over his breastbone and brushed his lips softly across the underside of his jawbone, slowly making his way up to Yami's lips, tickling his skin as he went. When his lips finally found Yami's, he stayed still, eyes closed. Seconds ticked by in silence, and they lay unmoving, closed lips pressed together.

Finally, Yami pulled away. 'That's a yes?'

Yugi nodded.

'Are you all right?'Yami asked.

Yugi nodded mutely and wriggled closer, pressing against Yami's chest.

'Will you stay for the night?' he asked quietly, glancing at his bedside clock. 9:38.

Yami wound his arms around him. 'I have to go home,' he said, shaking his head regretfully. 'Sister Bernadette gets… funny if you don't let her know you'll be out all night beforehand.' He gave Yugi a quick, tight squeeze and clambered from the bed.

Propped up on one elbow, Yugi watched Yami slowly wander the room, collecting his discarded clothes.

'So… you're just going to… leave?'

Yami's head snapped up, halfway through pulling on his jeans. Yugi managed to keep his expression largely neutral, but his eyes betrayed him. It was too much like Yami had gotten whatever he'd come for and now he was running away.

'Oh no,' Yami dropped his shirt and sat back on the bed, one hand under Yugi's chin. 'No. I wouldn't just leave you like that.' He leant down for a deep kiss, laden with total sincerity. 'I really do have to go home. Are you free again tomorrow?'

'Yes,' Yugi said. Feelings of betrayal were still prickling at his gut, but he tried to push them away. 'There's – there's that new movie on… maybe we can go see that?' He tried to stifle a yawn.

Yami swept his shirt from the floor and tossed it over his head. 'Sounds good,' he pushed Yugi back down among his pillows, pressed a soft kiss against his lips. 'Try to get some sleep, okay?' A warm hand stroked his hair fondly. 'I'll be over tomorrow, I promise.'

'Hmm,' Yugi wanted to say more, wanted to think more on what he'd just done, but he was already falling into a light slumber. The last thing he was aware of was a murmured endearment, pleasantly garbled by sleep.

He didn't hear Yami let himself out, nor did he see the three sudden, blinding flashes of light just up the street from his house. He didn't hear the loud crashes, the running footsteps, or the shouted threats and curses.

And he didn't hear the single, despairing plea for help.

The noise that finally woke Yugi, three quarters of an hour after Yami had left, was a dull thud followed by a string of muffled cursing from downstairs. His eyes flew open and he bolted upright.

Halfway out of bed, his sheets tangled loosely around his legs, he sat rigidly still. Listening.

Another thud, more cursing, and Yugi leapt from his bed. He threw on a pair of faded jeans and a loose fitting shirt and ran downstairs. His bare feet were almost silent on the stairs.

He slowed as he reached the living room, keeping close to the hallway wall. If he was quiet, if he could only take whoever it was by surprise… he wasn't big, he knew that, but maybe if he flipped the light on suddenly and startled them… He hoped that it was just his grandfather, or Yami.

The rain had stopped, and the light from a nearby streetlamp shone through the window. He could see the intruder silhouetted there. Whoever it was, they were even smaller, slighter of build than Yugi himself.

Curiosity overcame whatever fear Yugi had been feeling, and he flipped on the light.

The intruder was a boy, hardly more than twelve from the look of him. He wore strange clothes, embroidered at cuff and collar, under an immense grey coat. His dark hair was long and unkempt.

Momentarily blinded the light, he stumbled over the hem of his coat and sprawled on the floor.

'Ow…' he said, rubbing his elbow where he'd grazed it on the carpet.

Yugi ventured farther into the room, carefully keeping the sofa between himself and the boy.

'Who are you?' he asked. He gripped the back of the sofa with white knuckles. 'What are you doing in my house?'

The boy scrambled to his feet and took a cautious step toward him, holding out his hands palm-up.

'My name's Mokuba – I'm the Librarian… sort of,' he said. He gulped. 'I – I need your help – Please?'

'My help?' Yugi echoed, blank faced. 'Why? Where are your parents and – and why are you in my house?'

'Please?' Mokuba's eyes glistened. 'You – you have to believe me! We don't have much time – my brother – he's --!' he choked, scrubbed at his eyes with a balled fist. 'My parents are dead. You're the only one left – that – that I can come to.'

'I've never met you,' Yugi walked around the back of the sofa, so that he stood in the middle of the room, within arm's reach of Mokuba. 'Why do you think I can help you?'

Mokuba just shook his head, shoulders heaving.

Yugi sighed helplessly. Obviously this boy had been in an accident or something equally traumatic. He couldn't be thinking clearly. 'Is there someone I can call for you? A – a relative? A good friend?'

'No,' Mokuba hiccoughed. 'There was just my brother, and now he's gone to – he's gone.'

'Um… would you like to sit down? I – I can make you something to drink or … er…'

'Please. I know you can help me,' Mokuba said. 'My brother is in the same place as your friend… Yami.'

Yugi felt all the muscles in his shoulders tense. Yami… Yami was at home. Something very cold settled in the pit of his stomach. 'What?'

Mokuba breathed out heavily. 'Yami and my brother – his name's Seto – they're in the same place.'

'And where's that?' Yugi asked. Maybe if he just humoured the boy he could quietly take him off to Casualty: he must have hit his head.

'The …Other Place,' Mokuba shuddered visibly.

Yugi blinked. 'Uh… huh. And… what's the Other Place?' A horrible, icy feeling rolled down his back, like frozen hands gripping his spine. Could it be that Mokuba might not be as confused as he thought…? He brushed the thought aside.

Mokuba shook his head, his eyes wide.

'There's not much I can tell you,' he said. He twisted the hem of his shirt in his hands. 'This… has only happened a few times… I – I really don't know what to expect…'

'What,' said Yugi, 'has happened, exactly?' He sank into an armchair. Mokuba had tied a knot in the hem of his shirt.

'Yami and my brother have been taken to the other place.'

'Can't you tell me anything else?' Yugi leant forward, wincing as his lower back twinged. He braced his elbows on his knees. 'Like… where this …Other Place is? Who took Yami?'

'I… don't know,' Mokuba looked at the floor. 'I only know that they're in the Other Place.' He raised his head, face brightening suddenly. 'But I do know the way there!'

'So… you'll take me to …the Other Place,' Yugi folded his arms across his chest. 'Then what? How are we supposed to find Yami and your brother if you don't know where we should look?'

Mokuba was fidgeting with the hem of his shirt again. 'Well, er, I can't take you to the Other Place, I can only show you the way.'

'So I'm on my own,' Yugi shook his head. 'I haven't even agreed to this yet. Do you know how crazy this all sounds?'

'I – I know but,' Mokuba gulped. 'You're all there is for me.' A few fat tears rolled down his cheeks. He gazed at Yugi piteously.

Yugi sighed and lowered his face into his hands.

'You wouldn't have a map, would you?' he asked.

'You'll do it?' Mokuba wiped his cheeks with his sleeve.

'How could I not?' muttered Yugi. 'What do I do?'

'There's a um… what do you call it – a big building, lots of big windows – it's got a glowing red sign…'

Yugi thought for a moment. 'K-mart?'

'Yes!' Mokuba took a step closer, drawing in a shuddering breath, and perched on the very edge of the nearest sofa. 'Outside that, there's this, er…'

'Car park?' What's going on with this kid? Yugi wondered.

'That's what it is?' Mokuba said absently. 'Anyway, that's where the door to the Other Place opens. The one that I know about… that is…'

'Uh huh, and …where do I go from there?'

'I, er, I don't have a map… b-but! I know someone, well, I don't know him personally but I know he'll be able to help. His name's Jounouchi. He'll be able to show you the way.' He bounced suddenly to his feet. 'C'mon! We haven't really got much time.'

'Can I get changed first? Pack a bag? Leave a note for grandpa? And what about Anzu? Shouldn't I tell her where I've gone?'

'You don't have time,' Mokuba lunged at him and took hold of his arm, just below the elbow. 'You have to leave tonight – there's no way of knowing how long it'll take to find Seto and your friend.'

Yugi allowed himself to be dragged from the living room, down the short hallway and out the front door. They paused only long enough for Yugi to pull on his boots and lock the door. Mokuba shifted restlessly from foot to foot while Yugi hid the key under the doormat.

'Quickly,' he said. He set off at a half-run, Yugi jogging more slowly not far behind.

By the time they arrived in the K-mart car park, Mokuba was out of breath. He leant forward, hands braced on his knees.

Yugi stopped beside him, stared around at the empty car park. It looked completely ordinary to him: streetlamps threw a cold white light over the glistening asphalt. A short distance away, a lone plastic shopping bag drifted just above the ground, like some strange moth.

'So, where's this …gateway you told me about?' Yugi asked.

'You… have to make it appear,' said Mokuba. He straightened up. 'You've got to walk around… anti-clockwise three times and spit.'

'That's it?'

'Yes…'

'No magic words or fairy dust?'

'Please.' Mokuba looked dangerously close to tears again (Yugi wondered if he wasn't doing it on purpose). 'Don't make fun.'

With a deep sigh, Yugi started walking in a small circle. He could almost feel Mokuba watching him.

I'm just humouring him, he told himself firmly.

At the end of the third lap, he spat on the ground. Then he waited, silently, wiping his lips on his sleeve.

Nothing happened.

'This is stupid,' he muttered, running a hand through his hair.

'Take a step to your left,' Mokuba said, pointing.

'No,' Yugi shook his head. 'Look, I'm sorry about your brother, but this is just getting crazier by the minute! How can Yami – who was at my place less than an hour ago, by the way – be in some, some magical faraway place that no one's ever –'

Something collided, hard, with his right side, throwing his balance.

He stumbled a step to his left, clutching his ribs, and looked around to see Mokuba. He'd shoved him.

'Good luck,' he said. He sounded almost apologetic...

And then Yugi was falling.