Title: Fading

Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! If I own them, I would die a happy person.

Summary: After getting his memories back and his own body, Yami is experiencing intolerable headaches. Yugi asked Kaiba for help but can Kaiba really save Yami?

Rating: NC-17

A/N: I would really like to thank these people who reviewed the previous chapter/s. Thank you! (bows down)

Credits to starlight2005 for the ideas on this chapter, and to Aruki-sama for unconsciously correcting my grammar.

Kaiba knew what happened to Yami, but he wasn't sure about it. Please don't be confused because I got confused at that part. Thank you. :D

Italicized words are thoughts and flashbacks in this chapter


Chapter 05: Signs and Symptoms

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Signs are body manifestations that serve to indicate the presence of malfunction or disease.

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(Dream)

He knew he was inside a small container. Why? For one he couldn't move. Two, anyone who would see him would think that he looks like a chick inside a shell that's waiting for the right time to hatch. But that didn't matter to him, as of now. The real question that's bugging him right now is: why is he inside a small container?

Yami looked around him to find some answers, but then, there was none.

Why was he inside a container, he didn't know. He remembered that he was at the shop, his headache attacking him once again, that he tried to mentally rip his head into two.

He also remembered that he asked Yugi to come at the shop to help him. Where is Yugi? He must be somewhere. Yami sighed once again.

He then heard something move. The wind was getting colder and colder, but why? He is inside a container and he cannot feel nor see any whole that would give him air. He tried to look at his surroundings one more time, and then he heard something move.

He moved his hands to help him at his search. What was that? Is he not alone? So it means that someone was also here inside this container and stuck like him in that place?

His right hand felt something smooth. Without having second thoughts, he grabbed the smooth object in order for him to see it.

Yes, there was no light and therefore he cannot see the object that he had just grabbed. Unfortunately, Yami doesn't need the light to see the object he was holding. Why was that? First, because the object was moving and second, it was making sounds.

It took, however, a few seconds before Yami's brain processed the information. He gasped as the object continued to make those weird sounds and his barrier was slowly vanishing as the object coiled its body around his arm.

Yami's mind had sent the processed message: the one you're holding now is a snake, and mind you, it's a deadly snake.

Yami's eyes widened in shock at what his mind said. The snake coiled itself tighter to his arm. Yami struggled to remove him from his arm but the snake had already bit him and inserted a large amount of venom into his veins.

Yami's breaths are now fast, and unstable. He felt his heart beats twice or thrice than normal and his muscles loosened that he lost his balance.

Yami landed on the floor of the container. He imagined the venom as it passes through his veins and organs. He felt that as the venom spreads, his veins, organs, cells and his own body deteriorate and the only thing that will remain are his bones. His bones that will one day be sold to tomb raiders.

Yami stayed at his current position and closed his eyes. He's going to die now. No one will save him. No one knew he was in a container. He just felt it.

Before oblivion overwhelmed Yami, he felt something cold on his forehead but he was too weak to even touch it.

He lied there, inside the container, and waited patiently for his death to arrive.

(End of Dream)

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Symptoms are signs or indications of disorder or disease, especially when experienced by an individual as a change from normal function, sensation, or appearance.

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Yami opened his eyes abruptly and rose from bed panting. That has to be a dream; a dream that will not come true. He inhaled and exhaled and did the process for a while. When his breathing became normal, he observed his surroundings. He saw a TV near the window, a clock that told him that it was already 6:00 pm, a vase full of flowers and some medicines at a table beside him. He turned to look at the other side and saw Kaiba sleeping soundly on a chair beside him.

Yami smiled at the figure in front of him and stared at the figure for a while. And as if his hands, have a mind of its own, reached to touch Kaiba's face. Yami knew that he shouldn't do it because Kaiba for him is a god. He is a sacred individual that even a mouse is not will die if it gets contact with the CEO. His fingers were inches away from the brunette's face. He closed his eyes for him not to see the consequences of his action.

Suddenly, he felt two arms wrap around his waist. Yami abruptly opened his eyes. Kaiba was awake and the CEO pulled him to an embrace. Yami felt something wet on his neck.

"Yami…" Kaiba's voice was soft

"Kaiba, what happened?" Yami asked, "Why are you crying?"

No response.

"Kaiba, what's wrong?" Yami asked with a worried tone in his voice.

Kaiba broke the embrace and looked at Yami, "I thought I'm going to loose you."

Yami smiled, "I'm sorry Seto. Is that the reason why I'm here?"

Kaiba frowned, "You don't remember?"

Yami nodded and Kaiba narrated the story when Yugi found Yami in his room, unconscious and Yugi called him in the middle of the night. Yami gasped when the story was finished. The two remained silent afterwards.

"Yami..." Kaiba decided to break the silence.

"Gozaburo did this… He planted something inside my head." Yami confessed, "I don't know its purpose, but it seems that I'm forgetting so many things."

"Look what happened," Yami continued, "You said that I was totally covered with blood but that's not what I remember. It's different."

"So, tell me…" Kaiba said, "How did you get that thing inside you?" He was talking about the capsule but he didn't use the term so as not to frighten the former Pharaoh.

Yami was stunned at Kaiba's question. "What are you talking about, Seto? You were there, in the elevator at the VR world."

Kaiba was shocked at the smaller man's response but instead of answering Yami, Kaiba pulled the smaller man to an embrace. Yami buried his head against Kaiba's chest as tears started to escape the ex-Pharaoh's eyes. Kaiba felt his shirt was wet and tightened the embrace. Kaiba closed his eyes as he comforted Yami.

Kaiba suddenly froze as another memory of Gozaburo entered his mind.

After Kaiba leaped into the elevator, the two duelists calmed down and waited for the elevator to reach the top of the building. The elevator stopped but the doors didn't open and that made the two worry.

"Noa, what happened?" Yami Yugi called out. No response.

"Noa!" Kaiba yelled.

Once again, no response. Yami Yugi went closer to Kaiba. The smaller man looked like a child who would hold to his/her mommy whenever he/she is scared.

"We will be fine, I promise." Kaiba whispered and wrapped his arms around Yami Yugi.

A series of binary numbers suddenly appeared at the other side of the elevator. Kaiba and Yami Yugi hoped that it will be Noa and would tell them about the situation. They waited patiently until the figure completes its formation.

The two froze when the figure was complete; and to their surprise, it wasn't Noa. It was Gozaburo.

Kaiba tightened his grip around Yami Yugi's waist. Gozaburo laughed and grabbed Yami Yugi by his belt and the old man's eyes were full of lust towards the spiky-haired teen. Kaiba struggled to get away from his paralyzed state but failed.

"Don't stuggle, Seto." Gozaburo teased, "I won't harm your lover."

Kaiba didn't give up; he tried his best to get away from whatever it is that caused him not to move. While he was doing it, Gozaburo took out a remote control-like thing and pressed some buttons. After pressing, he placed it on Yami Yugi's forehead, and then the light Yugi emerge from Yami Yugi's his side.

The light Yugi, froze as he saw his dark half on Gozaburo's arms.

"Seto!" Yami Yugi called out as Gozaburo nibbled the younger man's neck. Kaiba and Yugi froze as the scenario. He moved to Yami's collarbone placing alternate kisses and bites. Yami gasped at every kiss and bite Gozaburo makes and struggles to get away from the old man.

Gozaburo warned Yami Yugi, "Follow me, if you don't want Seto and the little boy dead."

The two teens watched as their friend was being assaulted by the evilest man in the world. Gozaburo started to unzip Yami's pants and ripped his shirt.

"YUGI! DON'T LOOK!" Kaiba called out. The light Yugi immediately closed his eyes.

"Don't open your eyes until I tell you." Yugi nodded and didn't open his eyes. He heard the alternate screams of Yami, Gozaburo's moans and Kaiba's constant reminder.

Yami fell to the ground, half-conscious. Gozaburo grabbed Yami's hair and capture the younger man's lips to his.

Kaiba placed his palm on his head as he tried to absorb everything.

"Yami…" Kaiba whispered. The smaller man shifted his body in response.

Kaiba placed Yami back to bed. He noticed that Yami's eyes were open. You're sleeping with your eyes open? Kaiba thought. He looked at Yami's eyes, though. He wanted to stare at those crimson eyes that make him drown whenever he sees them.

Instead of crimson eyes, Kaiba saw those familiar golden eyes: the eyes of a deadly snake.

-TBC-


A/N:

Aura: Gozaburo, you're really a wicked man! I hate you for doing that to Yami! (sobs)

Thanks to Free Dictionary for the definition of the words sign and symptom.

I wouldn't be able to update the story for a week. I have some business to attend at my school, since classes will start on June 13. But then, I will finish this story before the classes start.

Anyway, please choose between A, B, C. You will definitely know the reason why I want you to choose. Promise!

Please review. Thank you so much! (bows down)

-Aura Serene