"I brought you some food."
Yugi's blush deepened as the sensual baritone voice rolled over him.
"Thanks" He managed to squeak out. He then nearly yelped as the taller gently raised his blushing face.
"You have amazing eyes."
Yugi was sure he was as red as an apple. As he thought he couldn't get anymore embarrassed his stomach grumbled, causing the red eyed man to laugh. The amethyst eyed boy was unsure as to appreciate the laugh or grumble that he was being made fun of.
"Eat."
The command snapped Yugi out of his thoughts. He sat down at the table and slowly began to pick at the food. He looked up and ruby eyes met his again. He blushed. "Do you like watching people eat? It's kind of unnerving."
"So you do talk huh?" The man smirked.
"I said thanks earlier."
"Oh? I thought you just squeaked."
Yugi's deep blush returned full force.
"And is your complexion naturally so red?"
Amethyst eyes narrowed. "You're mean."
Ruby eyes flashed teasingly. "That's no way to talk to me"
Yugi didn't spare him a glance as he continued to pick his way through the food. "Why not? I just told the truth."
"Because as your Pharaoh and Master I demand a little respect."
Yugi choked and he looked at his companion. 'Oh crap! He is actually wearing a crown! Why me?' Still coughing, he tried to get away from the Monarch. 'What's he going to do to me?' Fear coursed through his veins as tears quickly gathered.
Yami grew startled at his new slaves reaction. Had he really not realized? "Calm down, its okay. I'm not mad."
Yugi didn't hear the other over the pounding in his ear drums. How could he have been so stupid?
The Pharaoh choked as he reached towards Yugi. Emotions were pouring off the boy. Thick enough to smother, and Yami was beginning to have trouble breathing.
The amethyst eyes were clenched tight in fear, but he felt the hand grab his arm. His eyes shot open and he looked at his master in fear.
But saw no anger, only confusion.
Yami pulled the boy towards him. "Calm down." He gasped out.
Yugi took a deep breath. "I'm sorry I panicked. I'm sorry I disrespected you."
Yami ignored his apologies. "What the hell are you?"
Amethyst eyes filled with confusion. "Huh?"
"What did you just do?" The Pharaoh rephrased his question.
"I just panicked a little. I'm really sorry, I was just surprised."
"You were sent to kill me weren't you?"
Yugi's hurt expression changed to one of bewilderment. "Wha?"
"Why did King Marik send you here? Why did he give you to me?" Yami gingerly raised a hand to wipe away some tears, but quickly jerked back as if burnt. "Oh Gods, you are my death."
The shorter boy began to cry again. "I'm bad luck aren't I?" He ignored the King's confused look as he continued in his rambling. "My village was destroyed, I got captured, King Marik said he couldn't handle me anymore and then he… he… he almost…" Yugi dissolved completely into tears, unconsciously using his master for support.
Yami rubbed his back soothingly till the boy calmed down. 'Destroyed village? Influencing emotions? What did Marik say about this boy?' The Pharaoh wasn't stupid. He looked down at the boy now in his arms. "Why are you mine now?" He whispered.
The reaction shocked him. Yugi jumped back. "I don't belong to you! I don't belong to anyone!"
Yami chuckled. "You do now." He possessively pulled the slave back into his arms. "Because I'm not letting go."
Jou cringed as the attack came, he never knew how big of a shield to use. The white energy ball suddenly stopped and fizzled out.
The fairy sighed angrily. "Ryou! Stop worrying about hurting me!"
Ryou shook a little. "I'm sorry Jou, but I just can't attack my friends."
"Well get over it! I'll be fine, and if I'm not that's fine too!"
"Okay, here I go again. I think a medium strength shield will work by the way."
The attack came and Jou attempted a block, with a strong shield. He flew backwards into the dirt. "Damnit! This isn't going to work! How are you supposed to practice stronger attacks if there is no one for you to spar with?" He dusted himself off.
"I'm so sorry" Ryou began as he rushed over to help. "Maybe this was a bad idea after all."
"No, no. This is something I am really starting to understand." Jou's grim tone suddenly brightened. "Hey, I got an idea. Why don't you and I work on physical combat? No magic."
"Couldn't hurt."
The fairy began attempting to teach, but again grew frustrated. "Ugh! Damnit!" He helped Ryou off the ground after being knocked down again. "Can you at least try to stop me from hitting you?" The agitated tone caused Ryou to look down in shame.
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing! That's all you are doing. Just get it right!" Jou took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. "No, I'm sorry. I'm just a bad teacher. I'll go see what that idiotic dragons doing okay? You can just practice with the trees. Try some of those new spells I tried to teach you."
Ryou nodded and Jou turned and headed towards the camp.
Seto was studying a scroll, not acknowledging anything around him.
"Hey Mr. Heart-as-hard-as-my-scales, do you think you can try working with Ryou for awhile?"
"Why?" Blue eyes never left the paper.
"Because I suck at teaching! I have no idea how to do it!"
"And you think I do?"
"Well, you're a lot more patient with the kid than I am."
"You realize he's the same age as us right? He's not a kid."
"He reminds me of one. He's really innocent."
Seto sighed and met Jou's eyes. "That's why I can be so patient with him. He reminds me of my brother."
Jou looked startled. "I didn't know you had a brother. Why ain't ya with him?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
Surprisingly the blonde didn't push it. "So you gonna go try and help him or what?"
"Yeah."
The brunette stood and walked over to the student.
Jou watched as Ryou finally began to make progress. He saw Seto's compassionate side, and decided it worked well as a part of the others personality. When he was called upon to act as a sparring partner he jumped at the chance, and even learned a few new tricks himself.
Later that day, the white haired boy collapsed from exhaustion on his blanket.
"Should we wake him up for dinner?"
"Let's wait and decide after we figure out what we are going to eat."
Seto walked towards a nearby stream, Jou right behind.
"You know I'm an older brother too."
The dragon showed no signs of acknowledgement as he studied the fish in the stream.
"I have a sister back home."
"Well, as you put it earlier. Why aren't you with her"
The brunette suddenly dove into the water, resurfacing with fish on his claws.
Jou looked thoughtful as he took the dinner and headed towards the camp. "She's busy these days. Living her dream."
They started the fire and began to wait for it to grow hot.
"So what is your story?"
The fairy jumped. "You mean you are actually asking?" At the others genuine nod, he grinned. "Well, if I tell you mine, you gotta tell me yours."
Seto thought for a moment. "Fine."
Nearby Ryou sat up unnoticed by the two. They were too involved in one another. He listened to Jou's story about the forest fairy colony.
It began with a two children being raised by their father. An older brother and younger sister growing up in a home where mistakes weren't tolerated. The boy dreamed of exploration, the girl of helping her people.
They worked out a plan to make their dreams a reality, but their tyrant father caught on.
"You will rule this forest, or I will kill you myself' He'd always say to me." Jou sighed and missed Ryou's astonished gasp.
It wasn't a just a story, he realized, but Jou's story. He listened intently as the fairy continued.
"Well that really upset Serenity, but I still continued to teach her what my tutors tried to teach me. One day he caught us again. He was furious, but didn't want to hurt me because I was supposed to attend an important ceremony that night. Instead he decided to use her against me. It's actually surprising he didn't think of that idea earlier." Jou gave a rueful laugh. "I snapped then. He finally pushed me to far. We fought, and I won. Towards the end of the fight some of the council witnessed it. I became exactly what I dreaded. A king, and a violent one. It took a week, the worst week of my life, to make it so Serenity could be Queen. I watched her for awhile, then took off to explore. That's when I met Ryou."
Ryou cut in on the conversation. "You mean you are a King?"
"was a King"
"oh well then your majesty, can we please get back to business before the fish burn?"
The three shared a smile, and Seto eventually returned the favor of Jou's story with his own.
"God Damnit!" The outburst caused the messenger to shake in fear. "How did he know?"
"I-I don't k-know my l-lord." The servant stuttered in fear.
The sorcerer smirked cruelly. "Well then aren't you the useless one?" The pathetic figure before him screamed as his body slowly dissolved.
The other servants hesitated around the room, waiting for their master to calm.
"Some one better tell me something useful fast." The threat from their leader caused them all to jump.
"I have information." The tall figure came and knelt before the leader.
"You make speak human"
"I was among those who captured the creature. I didn't know it wasn't human. When I found out I tried to capture it back so I could bring it here."
"Your ass kissing does nothing to help the situation now does it?"
The human shook in fear at the cruel tone.
"But I've studied the creature! It's beautiful. The Vampire won't want to lose it."
Another cruel smirk. "So you're suggesting we take away the darkness's newest toy?"
Bakura knocked on the door. He usually didn't, but Yami had been on edge lately. Mahaado had told him about the strange gift and he wanted to see it for himself.
There wasn't an answer. The vampire hesitated.
'You can come in.' The whisper in his mind was something he hadn't heard in a long time.
He opened the door and ruby eyes met him.
"What's going on?" Bakura glanced around the dark room. The Vampire King was curled on his bed and a figure was apparently asleep in his lap. "It that it?" He pointed towards the lap.
Something odd flickered in the king's eyes. "this is Yugi" He spoke softly.
"Well what is Yugi?"
Again something odd fleeted across Yami's face. "He's…" He hesitated. "a Hikari."
"He gave you a Hikari?" Bakura's loud exclamation caused Yugi to stir.
"Hush!" Came a fierce whisper. The boy settled back down, and Yami finally spoke.
"Yes. I'm not sure why yet either."
"In my professional opinion he's either trying to suck up a whole lot or it's part of an evil scheme."
"I don't know what to think either, but I have to admit I feel so balanced and relaxed around him."
"Don't get too relaxed Yami. He could be here just to get your defenses down."
"Who's being paranoid now?"
Bakura sighed, and was about to respond when suddenly Yugi sat up yawning. Bakura's sighed turned into a sharp intake of breath as the Hikari's eyes settled on him.
Contentment, security, and curiosity radiated. "This is Bakura, Yugi. Say 'Hello Bakura."
Yugi giggled. "Hello Bakura."
"Y-yami, can I, uh, talk to you outside maybe?" The white haired vampire shook off his stutter. "Now?"
"Don't go anywhere Yugi." Yami stood and followed his general out the door.
"That is horrible." Bakura started once they were out the door.
"What?"
"It can control emotions! If it's loyal to Marik, he can easily destroy you with it! You can't keep it in your room."
"Please stop calling Yugi an It."
"Oh Gods! You are already attached to it!"
"Calm down. I'm not an idiot, I have a plan."
"What , Oh Great Pharaoh, might that be?" Bakura's usual sarcastic response was also laced with curiosity.
"What if it, I mean, Yugi decides to be loyal to me? What if I trained him? Used him against the shape shifter?"
"What if that's what he wants you to try?"
"I can at least try. Either way, he's made a smart move."
"Just send 'Yugi' to another room and ignore him."
"Bakura I don't say this often, but you might be right"
"Of course I am."
"but.." Yami's rebuke was suddenly interrupted.
"BAKURA!"
The two vampires turned to see Duke, cat ears popping out of his wild black hair in obvious agitation. "I'm tired and the guards won't let me in your room! Did you tell them not to let me in or something?"
"Go to your own room to go to sleep!"
"You said I could sleep with you in your bed tonight!"
Yami snickered. "Goodnight you two." With Bakura preoccupied by the Halfling vampire, Yami disappeared back into his room. Yugi sat up on the bed.
"He doesn't like me."
"He's just never seen anyone like you before."
"Like me? What does that mean?"
The vampire smiled down. "You're very special Yugi. You might be the last of your kind."
Tears welled up in his eyes. "I'm alone?"
"Of course not. I'm here aren't I?" Yami wrapped him in another possessive hug.
Yugi was used to the hugs now, and he didn't tense.
"I'm really nothing special. Am I?"
Instead of a real answer, the vampire leaned down and gave him a chaste kiss. The amethyst eyed boy was shocked at the electric tingle, but then grew scared. What if Yami did the same thing as Marik did earlier?
It was different, it felt different. The next kiss lasted a little longer, and feeling secure within Yami's strong arms, Yugi's curiosity grew. He timidly began to respond.
"Why couldn't Yugi stay?" Malik cuddled into the King.
"Because I couldn't handle two of you." The tone was gruff, but the embrace was warm.
"But I could handle Yugi! I felt so much more in control around him. My powers were so in synch, and training was a lot easier."
"That's because he has the same powers you do, he's just not trained."
"What? Then why did you give him to the vampires? They could use him against you!"
Marik sighed. "Yes that is a risk, but it was necessary. The vampires were becoming uncontrollably out of balance without any of your kind nearby. Yugi should be enough to keep them balanced for the time being. When the time is right I think I can trust on his loyalty to you to bring the vampires to their knees."
"You really thought this through huh?"
"Of course love, what kind of king would I be if I didn't?"
TBC
Okay here is a little alternate/deleted scene. It was just to boring and descriptive, not too mention I'm not quite sure if it really works with the plot. Anyway below is a Yami narrative taking place after he first meets Yugi. He is just discussing a little about how the world came to be.
Yami watched in astonishment. "I never understood why you remained passive for so long. Your kind watched as the world sank deeper into darkness, creatures turned away from the condemning light and into the seemingly welcome darkness. I had no right to complain, the darkness rewarded me beyond my greatest dreams. At first… but in the end it leaves you empty."
Yugi's tears quickly ended at the new feeling of curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"Vampires didn't just spring up out of the earth and the Gods sure don't want us here. The Gods created two beings with forms in their likeness. The Humans and the Ones of Light. The sorcerers began as a crossbreed between the two and blending with animal powers gave the ancestors to most magical beings we see today. The sorcerers today are of course much weaker than their ancestors. Vampires are different however. The Ones of Light were pure, but curious about the darkness that always flitted around. Too scared to come closer, but constantly drawn in. Finally one sought the answer to what the darkness was even after the Gods warned them not too. They were offered great power and readily went to the darkness along with several followers. Thus began the shadow mages. The sorcerers also represented unpure Ones of Light (since they were created when the Ones of Light desired an unpure human) they and all their descendents are considered dark beings in comparison to the Ones of Light. The Ones of Light felt hurt and betrayed. The exiled themselves and bred their own private villages. Villages like the one you are from."
So was that better for all you Yugi fans out there? There was even a bit of fluff!
Anyway in the next chapter: Ryou makes progress and Yugi makes a new friend! They aren't out of harms way yet though…
Thank you all so much for the supporting reviews! I really enjoy them. Is that a shameless hint? Why yes, yes it is.