Shadows That Bleed

by YamiYugiPuzzleshipper

Pure-Bloods are said to be myths, not even well-known within stories. "A specialized genetic coding of the moon and the dire," their spoken lore proclaims. They are creatures beyond the power of mortality, gifted by the gods themselves. Known as the Eternal Ones, their existence once extinguished, resurrection foretells a powerful omen.

72. Veins

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Update schedule: Hopefully biweekly

Chapter Warnings: Bloodshed, Mild Fighting, Death

Again, SO sorry for the late update! I had a lot of work recently and basically zero time at home. Going to try to get my writing back on track sooner rather than later, but for now I'm still trying to work everything out to get this story done and get work done as well.

Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long to post and things will continue at a more normal pace again.

Anyways, apologies for the lateness! Thanks for reading~!

Chapter LXXII: Veins

Work Log Entry LXIV (Part II): April, 2008

April 22

I have attempted to see if it is his cells which are causing the slow growth rate.

I have performed a small scraping of the skin to see if I can find anything worthy of notice.

But the cells were dead the moment they shed.

Saliva stopped moving.

Blood cells ceased to fight bacteria when I exposed them to a strain of illness.

There was nothing.

April 28

They age so slowly. It is something to be envious of, I'm sure. But ever since my look alike bit me, I have been able to understand them. And I have not seen a change in my appearance in the slightest. I look like I did two years ago.

It is as if time has no bearing any longer…

Yusei was shivering as the air grew colder. He glanced over his shoulder and back. Aki was watching them with cold eyes. Mai seemed incredibly nervous. Zane was studying them with an unreadable expression. Chazz was staring at him with a tilted head and eyes full of puzzlement. Syrus was staring with wide eyes. Serena was watching Yami with a somewhat dismissive expression. And, when he turned back, he found Yugi licking at a wound on his side and Yami simply looking down at Joy. He shivered again and shook himself out. They'd been standing there for a while now, the new stray flurries of snow covering them in a light blanket. And none of them had spoken for a full ten minutes.

Yusei looked at Yami and then Yugi, flattening his ears. The air was too tense. He could feel the discontent arising from the others waiting around them. And so he lowered his head and moved to take a seat uncomfortably. He swore a bone popped in his back, as if he were too stiff to deal with it all and the tension had somehow aged him. He shivered, shook his head, and stretched his legs out to lay his chin upon them.

You didn't need to attack her.

The words were so quiet that Yusei nearly missed them. Then he blinked and raised his head. Yami was studying Yugi now. His red eyes peered at him with something unreadable and Yugi stared back at him with an annoyed expression. He was so stiff and angry that Yusei was amazed he did not lunge at him. He looked as if he wanted to do nothing more than snap his teeth into his flesh for his words.

Should I have just let her rip your throat out instead? the white wolf snapped. His eyes narrowed the smallest degree and his lips curled back slightly. The fur along his shoulders rose into a terrible bristle. I didn't realize you were in such a hurry to have that kind of thing happen to you.

The words made his red eyes darken in turn. I didn't truly consider before just how stupid you could be, he snarled, peeling his lips back and baring his teeth. Yugi responded in turn, squaring his muscles and getting to his paws as well. They glared at each other furiously in turn, all but snapping their teeth. How childish must you be all the time like this? You say such stupid things and do some equally so.

I didn't realize we were keeping tabs—

I don't know why you attacked her, either, now that he says that, Aki cut in cruelly. Yugi blinked and his head snapped around. Yami turned his head as well. Yusei, however, lowered his chin to his paws with an incredibly heavy feeling in his gut. He nearly trembled for a moment. The anger in the she-wolf's voice was so harsh that it made his head spin for a brief heartbeat. She was just telling us exactly how to see if Yami is a hellhound or not.

Yami is a Full-Blood, Yugi snarled. Every hair on his spine lifted into a furious bristle and his eyes glinted hatefully. Killing him and seeing if he might come back to life is not how to measure that.

Well, surely, if the gods were to care so much about him that they brought him back to the camp after he went missing for so long, Aki sneered, staring into Yugi's eyes, they would give him the ability to heal from a death wound now, would they not?

Yusei shivered as Yugi growled low in his throat and bore his teeth. I don't remember asking you for your opinion on anything, Aki, he snapped. His lips peeled back enough to show each of his teeth, rolling back enough to make his eyes appear wrinkled from the force of it. In fact, if I remember correctly, I can say for certain that I have never once cared for your thoughts on any matter at any time.

Yami had pricked his ears forward again, but his eyes were on Yusei; the yearling could feel it. Yusei ignored him as pointedly as he could, going so far as to close his eyes in hopes that he would cease staring at him. And he hoped to the gods that Yami might not speak to him at the moment. He truly hoped that he would not say a thing to him. He was fearful of the black-furred wolf opening his mouth.

If he were to do so, Yusei did not know how he was meant to hide away from the attention that the other wolves would grant him. It made him want to vomit for a moment. His paws were tingling with his nerves, and he was tempted to lick at them until they became raw and sore and his skin split and bled.

He had always done so when he was nervous. It was not something that he could trace back to any certain moment. And in his human form, he would scratch and scratch until they became raw and his nails would split the skin. But to do so now was hardly something that he would benefit from, he knew, and his paws were worn enough. He'd blistered them from the constant abuse and exposure to the snow along the tops of each toe when he'd spent an hour doing so fearfully due to the pack's growing malcontent. If it hit a head here, he was not sure what was going to happen.

Who was he supposed to fight? How was he meant to protect himself or anyone else? He was too rattled at the moment. As calm as he usual was, the fact that Yugi had been the one to attack Joy so terribly scared him. If Yami was his breaking point at the moment, what would that mean later? What if Yami went missing again—he hoped to the gods that he didn't—or someone in the pack truly did manage to kill him when Yugi was not there? Yami was rarely with the pack when the white wolf was not there, but on the off chance that he was…

Yusei was almost shaking at the thought. Yami could get seriously hurt if someone as stupid and vicious as Joy or Aki chose to lash out against him. Or, if Yami were truly healthy, he was not sure that they would make it out of the event alive themselves. And, should Yami kill them, the pack's malcontent would surely grow once more. It would twist and mutate as it had before.

And then what? Where would loyalties lie then?

He trusted Yugi and Yami, but to what extent was he meant to truly lay his life on the line? Was he meant to truly simply follow them like a loyal dog? Or was he free to make his own decisions regarding such a thing?

Yusei could not think straight.

When his parents had been alive, they'd told him that Atem was something to worship, to believe in and lay his life on the line for. When they'd been killed in the massacre in Alaska and he'd fled down to Canada and then to Washington, he'd forced himself to hold that as a pillar to keep himself moving. He had been desperate and frantic to keep his head up long enough to see to his own survival. And when he'd met Echo, joining her pack, she had been rather like his parents in her beliefs. She'd been rather scornful about Atem at times when they'd arrived in Hokkaido, but she had still held some kind of faith and hoped that Yugi might eventually meet her expectations.

Doubting things like this felt like a betrayal to and from himself. And his stomach lurched as he considered it, heart in his throat for a long moment. He shivered. And he knew that Yami was still watching him. But his gaze was no longer as fierce. And he wondered briefly if perhaps Yami sensed his unease. He wondered if that was what had made him turn his head towards him to begin with.

That's because you are foolish and blind, she spat. If you had a mind of your own, you would know that your "beta" is a hellhound who has pulled the wool over your eyes.

Is that so?

Yusei opened his eyes into slits. Yami had turned to Yugi and Yugi was still staring at Aki. They watched each other for a long minute. And then Aki moved. Yusei didn't have time to react. Yugi and Yami both stood frozen in place. And Yusei yelped as he was caught by the scruff. He was pulled upward, off his paws. He felt his skin split as her teeth dug further. And he was shaken once, hard enough that his head seemed to spin. He braced himself, paws and toes spread as far as possible. His claws were readied. He attempted to center his weight. If he could do that, she would be unable to move him any further.

He was dropped abruptly. And he scrambled for his paws as quickly as possible. He was on his feet, eyes huge. Aki was snarling, blood coloring the tips of her teeth. It was surreal to see his own blood there. She had never gotten into a physical altercation with him before. He bristled, snarling softly, and backed up a step.

Had she truly just struck him? The shock of it was something that made him unsure. She had sneered at him, gotten in his face, had even snapped her teeth inches from his face. But she had never bitten him before. She had always stopped seconds before it might have happened. She had never even gotten as close as Marik had.

It was enough to make him nearly tremble, shocked.

You can't attack him like that! Yusei barely recognized Syrus in the corner of his eye as the omega continued in a horrified tone. He didn't do anything to you! He's not even the one you were talking to!

Shut up before I take your head off, Aki spat, never removing her eyes from Yusei. She seemed to loom over him, taller than he'd ever seen her before. He had never considered that she made herself smaller until she was in a fight. But now it seemed almost as if she were twice as large. He could not tell if it was the shock or the fact that he was not presenting himself in an aggressive manner to match. Maybe it was just the fact that he was a yearling… I can do what I want. If Atem can run with hellhounds, why can't I attack an American pest?

Yusei backed up a step, startled by the hateful words. How long had she been looking for an excuse to attack him like this? Had it been since they'd first met? Had it been sometime after? Was it because he and Yugi got along? Was it because he did not like to meddle? Was it something else entirely? He bristled and backed up again, then drew his lips back.

If she wanted to fight him, then so be it. He could lash out just as easily as she could. And he had seen her fighting style. It would be easy to counter her attacks and defend himself. Yusei straightened and raised his head, tail rising. He bore his teeth more pointedly, snarling.

I was wondering where your damn backbone went, she sneered. She was smirking now, eyes cold and glittering and full of excitement. Yusei flicked his tongue over his teeth in warning. I'm glad to see you've found it again.

The other wolves were staring at them.

Too bad I'm going to break it now.

She leaped at him and missed. She had been knocked sideways, off balance enough that she landed next to him instead of on top of him. Yusei backed up eagerly, thankful for whoever might have intervened. But when he stepped too far back, he pressed into someone. Quickly the yearling spun around. Yami was behind him, staring expressionlessly at the she-wolf. And Yugi was still statuesque beside him. The white wolf looked dazed. So Yusei turned his head, confused and bewildered.

Chazz was standing there, in front of Aki. His shoulders were braced. His ears were pricked. He was snarling. His tail was raised. He was glaring at her, eyes gleaming like sharpened daggers. The she-wolf snorted at him, then stepped forward. And he snapped his teeth so close to her nose that she visibly flinched. The two of them stared at one another furiously.

You don't touch him, Chazz snarled. You don't touch Yusei, you don't touch Yami, you don't touch Atem. And you definitely do not ever threaten one of my pack members. Omega or not, Syrus is my pack mate and I'll rip your throat out before I'll ever let you lay a paw on him.

Yusei blinked and looked towards Zane for a moment. The larger gray male was watching Chazz with little expression, but Yusei swore he could see the faintest hint of pride there. No doubt Chazz had been one of the pack mates Zane had watched over when he was younger, long before he had taken the place of his beta. Yusei forced himself to relax slightly. When he moved, however, he brushed awkwardly against Yami who twitched as if he were trying to shake such sensation away entirely.

He licked his lips uncomfortably and looked back and forth between Yami and Yugi. But neither of them was paying him any mind. Both had focused entirely on the two betas that seemed ready to tear into each other's throats.

You think that I won't kill you first?

Try me, bitch.

They glared at each other, then stepped closer.

If you touch him, Aki, you'll deal with me. The declaration was met with turned heads and wide eyes. Yami had raised his head and was eyeing the she-wolf with a dark expression. I don't care that you threaten me. But you don't threaten others. This is between you and me. And if you'd like to fight me again, I'll gladly beat you into the ground.

No, no, that's not going to happen, Yugi interrupted, snarling. Because the next one to harm you or Yusei or Chazz or Mai or anyone else is going to have their head taken off their body. I'm done. I let this go on for too long. And now I'll gladly put a stop to it.

Bullshit, Aki snapped.

Try me, Yugi spat. His teeth chomped loudly and he padded forward. Yusei stopped short and Chazz moved quickly aside to let him past. The white wolf put his nose mere centimeters from hers. He was quivering with tension, beginning to salivate with anger. I'll rip you to pieces, I swear to every god in existence. I will kill you. And I'll make an example of you to the rest of the pack as well. Because this is ridiculous. This needs to end now.

Then why not simply test and see if he comes back? The gods must favor him some if he's—

Suggest it again, the white wolf warned, stepping closer. He raised his head and opened his jaws. Tendrils of saliva dripped from his canines. Do it. I dare you.

But Aki seemed to realize how far she had overstepped. And Yusei found himself startled by the fear he saw in her eyes. Chazz was standing a couple of steps back from Yugi, eyes wide. And, when Yusei glanced over his shoulder, he found Yami merely looking at the snow as if it might somehow hold answers. After a long minute and a half of silence and staring, Aki abruptly lowered and turned her head away and Yugi huffed. He backed up several steps, glaring at her, but dropped his aggressive stance beyond this.

So what now? Mai asked quietly several minutes later when the tension had finally faded. Her ears were flattened against her head. And she seemed to fold beneath their attention as each of them looked towards her. She wagged her tail awkwardly where it was lowered slightly towards her underbelly. We need to get the bodies back to the camp and I guess we need to move Joy and get her back as well…

You can leave her to rot for all I care, Yugi snapped at her, though he cast a glance over his shoulder at the she-wolf. Yusei had the striking urge to lick at his legs until he was bleeding and couldn't use them anymore. Had Yugi truly just said that? It horrified him to hear that from Yugi of all the wolves in their group. He had expected something like that from Chazz or perhaps Zane. He might have even expected it from Yami. But to hear it from Yugi was something that made him want to tremble.

Yami had pricked his ears, staring at the white wolf with something of an unreadable and yet somehow pitying expression as well. It is not necessary to show such disinterest in her. I am fine. You are overreacting, he said quietly, tilting his head at him and peeling his lips back into a grimace. Yugi had spun on him with a snarl and was glaring at him in annoyance. His ears were pricked and his lips were pulled back to show his sharp teeth, eyes glinting with fire the shade of sapphire. Yami backed up a step and flattened his ears, then ducked his head a small degree, somewhere between submissive and offensive as well. Chazz thought he looked as if he might be prepared to snap his teeth open and launch himself at Yugi at any moment should he show him the slightest hint of aggression.

And then the anger seemed to dissipate from Yugi entirely. The white wolf blinked, raised his head, and then turned away again. His ears flicked back and forth and Yami shook himself out in response before turning away as well.

I do not think that it would do us well to help to move her, Yami said quietly, abruptly, his words cutting through the thin air and making Yugi bristle for a split second. The white wolf turned after a moment towards the darker canine and considered him. Yami, however, did not face him. Chazz could not tell if he was nervous or if he was simply attempting to prevent any aggression on his alpha's behalf. But the tension in his body spoke clearly of defense if Yugi should turn his temper on him. His shoulders were braced, his legs spread just enough that he could easily duck down and lunge forward. I think we should leave while there is still time to get back and avoid our absence being noted.

Yugi blinked a few times, glanced back and forth between Joy and Aki, and then awkwardly looked to the other wolves. He seemed lost for a moment as Chazz watched and then he finally huffed and tilted his head, turning to Zane with a flustered expression. Take Ayukawa and Brooke first, he finally mumbled, and then take Joy. Treat her as a rat for all I care. She's not to open her mouth in front of any of the other wolves in that damn camp, do you all understand me? Do not let her speak of anything that happened here. And do not allow her to say anything about the hellhounds. I'll rip her throat out if I hear even a word of it when I return to the camp.

Zane raised his head, then nodded slowly in a respectful motion. He turned immediately to Chazz, eyes sharp and calculating. Chazz wondered if he was considering the situation or if he was thinking more of what was happening with Atem and Yami. He wondered if he suspected they might go to blows as Chazz himself was curious to know. You and I will take Joy and Aki back to the camp, Zane said slowly, eyes searching his for a moment. We will follow Mai and Yusei and Syrus while they take the bodies back. Flank formation. If either of them steps out of line, strike as hard as you feel you must.

Chazz blinked, then nodded slowly. Aki and Joy had truly upset him if he was willing to say such a thing. Normally, even with interlopers in their original territory in the states, Zane had been rather calm and judicial towards potential prisoners that the pack took during patrols and fights. He had always been easier going than he appeared he would be. The only times he had ever decreed something similar was when Chazz himself had been caught killing hellhounds as violently as he had been and his brothers had been the most prominent to punish him for it. He had been nipped and snarled at, had been lunged at and bitten hard enough to nearly knock him over.

Zane had simply watched it happen. He had told him that he deserved nothing less for such disobedience. And Chazz had accepted the punishment with as much grace as he could muster. He'd let them nip him until he'd bled and he'd ducked away when the others in the pack had grown upset with him. He had waited until Zane had come to the conclusion that he had learned his lesson. And then he'd accepted his challenge against his beta at the time, allowing him to jump into the rank headfirst.

And from there they had been rather close, if one could call them such.

They were a well-knit team when it came to orders and strategies. They often could almost predict each other's moves at times. But it was more from a standpoint of what was best for the pack than anything else. And Chazz was not foolish enough to think that he was close to Zane in any other way than this.

Because, he knew, just as everyone else in his pack did, that the only one he was truly close to was Syrus. It was familial, the only reason that the two of them interacted at all, Chazz felt. They were on opposite sides of the spectrum. It was not only rank. It was personality. Syrus was more likely to flee from a fight than he was to participate and Zane was willing to kill before he'd stop and listen to another. And, should one ever make the mistake of harming his brother, Zane would murder them in cold blood in front of the pack. He had done so several times, without so much as a blink. And he moved as fast as a snake when he came to this conclusion.

Syrus was the omega for a reason. And Zane the alpha for the opposite.

And Zane might have let the pack occasionally take their frustrations out on Syrus and the omega played his role well, but if blood were to be drawn, it was not without punishment. Zane would savagely beat another wolf into submission if he saw Syrus wounded beyond bruising and momentary limping. And no one was so foolish.

He realized now that Joy and Aki had both stepped over that fine line. They had threatened Syrus. And Zane would not stand for it in any manner. He would kill them if he got the chance. The only reason he did not do so now was simply because Yugi had said that he would do it for him instead.

Chazz cast a small glance towards Yusei. The gray wolf looked just as stunned as he was, the declaration making his royal blue eyes huge with shock. And, when he looked past him to Yami, the black male was studying him and Zane. He seemed to understand something that Chazz himself didn't because, when their eyes locked, the black wolf tilted his head and pointed his ears outwards, flattening them slightly. He turned away a few moments later and Chazz could not help but let out a breath of relief.

Then he turned to Mai and Syrus. Well, you heard him. Let's get this done. Get Brooke and Ayukawa to the camp. Yusei shall help you, Mai. And Zane and I will escort Aki and Joy back, he instructed, raising his tail and giving them sharp looks. The she-wolf in question flicked an ear and turned away to glance at the bodies. Immediately her ears flattened and she moved slowly to Ayukawa's side. Syrus quickly moved to the other American wolf's side, but paused with an uncertain bristle and wide eyes.

What? What's wrong? Yami demanded, gaze trained on the omega. What happened?

Syrus glanced at him, eyes wide and horrified. I didn't know she was pregnant.

Pregnant? Yugi muttered, turning around with a bewildered expression. His blue-violet eyes were dark with confusion and he tilted his head in open puzzlement. Who was pregnant?

Mai looked exhausted when she glanced at Brooke's body and away quickly. By the gods, she hissed, they killed her when she was pregnant.

Something seemed to flash through Yugi's eyes, violent and dark, before it swiftly passed. He flicked his ears, looked slowly to Yami, and then tilted his head slightly. He seemed to be relieved, something that made Chazz glance between them slowly in surprise. He bristled faintly, but the emotion seemed to drain quickly from the white wolf's expression as well. He seemed now to deflate, though he shook it off after a moment and looked down at the snow.

Get her back to the camp. He sounded defeated. Yami and I have to return. I will come back to the camp to figure the rest of this out tomorrow. None of you speak a word of what has happened here. If any of you speak about this beyond the deaths of your pack mates, you shall have to deal with me, understand?

And then he turned to Yami.

Let's go.

---

"Oh my god, what the hell happened to your shoulder?"

Yami spun around with huge eyes, the action making his arm jerk in a spasm. Yugi was sitting nearby and jumped to his feet, confused and alarmed. He hurried towards him, and Yami bit back a snarl of unease. Instead he jerked the jacket over the tank top as the smaller teen got to his side. He reached his other arm out, moving to block Yugi away from the wound, and thankfully the other boy took this warning and hovered at the edge of his reach. But he could feel his frustration, sharp and bitter in the air. "It's nothing."

"It's hideously bruised. And the bone is probably bruised under all of that too," Kasumi argued in a sharp tone. Her blue eyes flickered from his shoulder to Yami's face and she shook her head angrily. "You're hurt. How did it happen?"

He grunted when his shoulder twitched. The bone had most likely dislocated in the original collision with the damn hellhound. He'd rushed him so quickly that he could not have stopped himself had he tried. And the way they'd hit each other, Yami had basically body-checked him away from Aki before he'd even sunk his teeth in. Doing such a thing had been rather foolish of him and he knew that. But he'd been unable to slow and he'd been panicked when he'd done it. And it was only because of this sheer velocity that he'd even managed to pin him.

He was sure that she was right, however. It felt as if the muscle were sprained and pulled. And he had seen it in his reflection when he'd originally gone into the bathroom to change back. It had been a hideous black and blue, with a raw purple and yellow core almost like rotting flesh. But he had known it to be a bruise. And simply touching it made him want to scream. He'd ground his teeth together and shaken it away in order to cover it with his open palm, dizzy from the ache.

And now it pulled even from tugging on his jacket. It throbbed, sending pulses of pain through him, and it made his skin shudder where it rolled beneath the fabric. He watched her a moment, flustered.

"There was a small spat. It happens sometimes. I'm fine."

"Then why is your shoulder twitching like that? That's not normal."

Yami ground his teeth together and hissed, "It got hurt. It's going to be fine, though."

"I guess that super healing thing is a myth then, huh?" Kasumi said dryly, shaking her head and turning to Yugi. "You should take a look at that thing. He looks like he got hit by a truck."

Yugi looked so alarmed that Yami almost wished he could have snarled at her. But she had turned on her heel and was heading into the kitchen without a second look. He huffed and shook his head, eyes sharpened and lips curling back faintly. But then Yami blinked, startled, as something brushed against his hand. He turned, head snapping around, and his shoulder jerked and twitched as if with a spasm once more. But he froze, startled, as he realized that Yugi was standing closer than before.

And he'd moved his hands to catch one of his own. He had encompassed it in his, the warmth of his flesh making Yami almost burn with something between satisfaction and bewilderment for a moment. And then he blinked. Yugi had not lowered his eyes and was staring into his intently. But he made no move to come any closer and instead his fingers touched at the palm of his hand. He reflexively stretched his hand out, allowing Yugi to stroke at the center of his palm there.

And he seemed to trace every little small line which rested there. He seemed absorbed in this task, almost as if it might calm them both. But his eyes never lowered from Yami's and the red-eyed teen felt almost stricken and bewildered. It was odd, how Yugi continued to do this without any sense of hesitation. But the bravery seemed to fade from him after a long minute and his eyes lowered slowly to his skin. He let out a low laugh, something between cold and cynical.

Yami listened silently as Yugi muttered, "I still don't think I'm used to seeing you like this anymore."

"Did I look differently before?"

The small teen laughed and shook his head, but he did not raise his chin from where he had lowered it almost to his collarbone as he continued stroking his palm. And he never looked up, making Yami's stomach churn with unease. "Only when you were a wolf. But I guess I could see you in there too, huh? Your eyes are always the same."

"Are they?"

"Well, no, I guess not. The shape changes. Although with how long your lashes are, you can almost pretend that your eyes are black at the edges like the wolf's are." Yugi seemed to trail off for a moment. And his finger tapped gently on the center of his palm again. It was enough to make Yami stiffen for a split second, his shoulder jerking before relaxing again. "But I guess I just know you well enough. I know the way you look at me."

"Do I look at you a certain way?"

Yugi was quiet for a long minute. Yami blinked, confused and slightly concerned as well. He had never considered before that he looked at Yugi in any manner that was not the same as he did others around him. But the thought was gone in an instant. Yugi raised his eyes, the blue-violet irises sharpening like daggers as they locked with his. "Like you'd die for me," he said coldly, releasing him after a moment. And then he shook his head sharply and headed out to the kitchen.

Yami watched him go, tilting his head. And then he snorted and turned away again.

Was Yugi going to be upset with him for a while? Were they going to argue again? He hoped not. He did not think he had the energy to do such a thing. His shoulder was throbbing too painfully. And he did not think he wanted to move it any longer. But even breathing seemed to make it hurt, as if the weight of his chest expanding and collapsing was enough to send tremors of pain through him. And the limb threatened to arch upwards as if to shield his throat in a lopsided maneuver. He hated the sensation. But he would not say something against it.

It did not matter.

The bruising would heal quickly.

He was not so unhealthy that it would fail to do so.

And his stomach was knotted for the briefest of moments as he shrugged this away as well. The thought did not truly belong in his head as it was. It did not matter. The wound would heal. In the grand scheme of things, it was nothing but a minor inconvenience. Yami had no reason to worry and he did not need to concern Yugi about it either. It was a nonsensical thing for him to be concerned.

But he did know as well that he was not in the right frame of mind to reassure him of this either. Yugi was angry with him for the fact that he had rushed into that fight as he had. He had done so knowing that it would be damaging to himself one way or another. And Yugi was well aware of that fact, he knew. Because that was the only reason he might show him such anger as he did now. To say that he thought he looked as if he might die for him was a direct implication of such a thing. And he had no words to describe just how frustrating it was to consider this as more than anything else.

Yami shook this thought away, annoyed.

It would have to wait. He was not willing to confront Yugi about this when he was sure the small teen would do so for him later. He just had to hope that it would not be in a manner which might unbalance him more than usual. He was so tired and his shoulder hurt far too much to care for such a thing. If Yugi were to turn around and bare his teeth at him or snarl and spit and snap at him, Yami was sure he would become overwhelmed and thus back off sooner rather than later.

And he did not think that such a thing would do well for him.

He was sure he would lose what little favor he still had regarding the other boy. He was sure that Yugi would turn on him, angry and annoyed more than ever before. And he did not want to have such an outcome. It was stupid of him to consider that he was unable to face the smaller teen when he was upset with him, but it was enough to exhaust him as well.

But he wondered what Kasumi might have said had she gotten the opportunity to truly look at the wound with more than a passing glance. Had he not hurried to cover it, he was sure that she would have been livid. It was likely that she might have even snapped at him had she gotten the chance to see it at its fullest. And that was not something he desired in the least. Yami tilted his head and reached up to run his hand over his shoulder. The skin flared immediately with pain but the more he rubbed, the softer the tension of the bunched and throbbing muscles became. If that was the most painful he suffered at the moment, he thought it bearable.

When he wandered out into the kitchen, Yugi was nursing a cup of something in his hands. He was leaning forward, slumped across the table, and his fingers were threaded through the handle of the mug. But when he glanced up, he looked more miserable than angry any longer. And, after a moment or two, he glanced away again.

Kasumi was in the living room, he realized. He could just faintly hear the television. The channel that was on was not to her liking, it appeared, as she did not seem inclined to turn the volume up and Yami knew that if he could hardly hear it, then she most certainly couldn't. So he hesitantly glanced at Yugi and back again, flustered by the idea of being around him or her at the moment. Perhaps he should never have left the room, he realized now. It might have been easier for him to simply stay there and lay his head down instead of muddling through this of all things.

Perhaps simply lying down and sleeping for a while longer would not be as painful as this.

But some part of him was desperate to be near the other boy. He wanted nothing more than to simply take a seat and let Yugi punish him as he saw fit if only because it meant that he was paying him attention. That was something that Yami was not quite used to, but not entirely unused to either. He had felt similarly on several occasions upon interacting with his cage mate. If he was wounded and tired, he had tried more than once to get his cage mate to pay him more attention than he would have otherwise. And the other wolf would often become confused but gently ask him what it was that he was looking for out of him at that moment in time.

They would sit and talk. And he would listen and sometimes, when he was wounded enough, his cage mate might sit next to him until he would fall asleep against his shoulder, slumped and exhausted. And he would let him stay like that throughout much of the day and sometimes into hours of the night. Other times he would wake him gently and tell him that he could not stay in that position comfortably. And during those times Yami would sit and listen to him until he couldn't anymore, overcome to the point of falling asleep while the other spoke to him about things outside of the damn cages…

He was tired and resentful as he thought of this.

His cage mate had not deserved what had come to happen to him.

None of those damn wolves had deserved such a thing.

Yami shook this thought away and crept cautiously around to the other side of the table. His stomach was in knots and his heart felt heavy as he came closer to him. He pulled the chair out awkwardly, swallowing hard, and took a seat slowly across from Yugi.

"I would have made you a cup of hot chocolate if I had thought you were going to come out here," he mumbled in place of a greeting. Yami blinked and considered him with a tilt of his head. Yugi was staring at the cup in his hand. "I mean, if you wanted, you could have the rest of this?"

Yami blinked again. "No, thank you," he finally mumbled, unsure of what else he could say or do to make this situation any better. Then he grimaced and looked down at the table again. He didn't know if Yugi would lash out if he made eye contact. And he didn't want to cause more unnecessary stress. "I appreciate the offer."

"Sure you do," Yugi muttered in something of a cynical tone. It struck Yami odd to hear him say such a thing, especially directed towards him. His tone made him almost bristle, but he shrugged this off after a moment as well, refusing to look up again for fear of snapping. It was a frustrating experience. And he hated himself for letting Yugi get so far beneath his skin with such a frustrated comment. It was not even as if he had sneered at him or anything of that nature. He had simply failed to say something in a tone that was not condescending. And somehow that was more damaging than if Yugi had told him he hated him and wanted him to fuck off. "Because you appreciate everything, right?"

Yami was quiet for a moment. "Have I seemed unappreciative before? I have never meant to come off as such," he said slowly, frowning and tilting his head. He thought of his cage mate again, of how bright his green eyes had once been. And he wondered if he could be considered grateful for all the sacrifices he'd made to save him. The thought made his stomach churn and he felt sick and winded even as he mumbled, "You have my full apologies if I have done so in the past."

Yugi grunted. Then he narrowed his eyes and shook his head, looking more annoyed than anything. Yami could only see him from the corner of his gaze but it was effective enough all the same. He swallowed hard and focused on the fabric of the table cover.

"No, no, never," Yugi said, sneering at him. Yami blinked and made the mistake of raising his eyes, stunned by the sound of it. It was enough to nearly forget himself in his shock. Yugi so rarely did such a thing that it almost made him want to tremble for a brief second. "Never you. You could never be ungrateful or unappreciative, huh, Yami?"

"I'm not quite sure why you have decided to accuse me of such a thing." Yami faltered, and then he blinked, bristling, and snarled low in his throat. An image flashed through his mind, of blood spilled upon snow and of his own broken body coming back to life, the muscles healing seamlessly as his body struggled to gasp for air and his eyes peered blankly forward into the shadows. "Although, should you be referencing what I think you might, you are surely foolish to do so."

"I'm foolish? What about the person in front of me who doesn't appreciate his life or anything in it most often?" Yugi snapped, bristling and glaring at him furiously. "You say that as if you have any right. But I'm the one who doesn't want to die and you're the one who apparently thinks doing so would basically be a fun exercise for him."

Yami blinked and shook his head. "I do not fear death," he stated quietly, "because it shall come regardless of anything you or I might ever come to try. Preventing it is impossible. And if you are so foolish as to think that you can reverse such a thing, I am sorry to disappoint you in not believing the same."

"I don't think that at all!"

"Then why are you always so damn upset with me?"

"Because I care more about your damn life than you do!" Yugi burst out. He had jumped to his feet and the chair fell backwards. It rattled as it hit the ground and Yami sprang at the noise. His red eyes grew wide as he looked past Yugi and towards its vibrating form. And his stomach knotted as he shivered and studied Yugi uncertainly a moment later. He did not realize that the hot chocolate had spilled all over the tablecloth until he noticed Yugi pull his hand towards himself to wipe the dark liquid away. He seemed flustered and he looked almost sick for a split second. Yami could not take his eyes off his hand for a moment. It was red from the heat, burned but the pain long gone, he was sure. "Surely, even to you, that can't be normal, Yami!"

The red-eyed teen blinked, confused, and then brought his attention back to the smaller boy's face. Perhaps it was not normal but what was the point in fighting with death when it was inevitable? Yami had seen so much of it as it was that he did not care to think about it. He drew in a deep breath, then lowered his eyes. If Yugi knew the majority of what he had gone through when he was younger, he might have understood; hell, if Yugi had remembered half of the torture he himself had endured…

He thanked the gods for the small mercies.

It was better that Yugi did not remember.

It was hardly worth the pain…

Yami shook his head after a moment. "Death is not something that I spend my time worrying about. I go into a fight knowing what my odds are of surviving the encounters. Whether I am harmed during them is another thing entirely. But I will say that I do not regret doing anything that might minimize casualties or save a friend or pack mate."

"Is it really so bad that I wish you would care about yourself more?" Yugi spat. "I mean, the gods gave you a life for a reason, didn't they? And you saved me because you thought I had potential. Well… I think you have potential too, but you always shun it. And you always turn your nose up at things that I wish you would pay more attention to."

Yami lowered his eyes again. And he knew the argument he was about to make was a foolish one, truly stupid, but he couldn't stop himself now. His voice was bitter and quiet and he was almost sneering now himself. "You charge recklessly into situations when you think it might help me. So why am I not expected to do the same for you?"

Yugi was snarling low under his breath when he slammed his hand on the table. Yami jolted, then reflexively reached up to grab at his shoulder as it throbbed and burned from the sudden movement. "Because you're not Atem!" he snarled. But much of the anger was gone from his voice, surprise coloring it soon after. And Yami slowly raised his eyes again to consider him. The concern was clear on his face, the horror of the thought of having harmed him keen in his gaze. He looked as if he might vomit for a moment before awkwardly pulling his hand away from the table and cradling it as if it still burned. "I didn't mean to…"

"I'm fine."

"I can't believe you lost your temper enough to hit the table," Kasumi commented, raising a brow in something akin annoyed amusement. Yugi's mouth shut from where he'd opened it to respond to him, his teeth working at his cheek again. "That's impressive, Yami. I've never seen him do that before."

Yami grimaced. "I have a knack for upsetting people enough to lash out," he answered in something of a dismissive and yet anxious tone. He considered her where she was leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, eyeing them. A wave of shame crashed through him and immediately he wanted both to flee and to sneer at her in an effort to somehow defend himself. "Yugi would not be the first. Nor will he be the last."

Yugi was staring at his mom with a tilted head and narrowed eyes. He spoke through his teeth, his shoulders raised the smallest fraction. "What in all did you hear of that?"

"Not enough to warrant you glaring at me like that. Just something about you not meaning to. What happened to your hand, by the way? Is that another attack from these other wolves or is that something else?" She was eyeing him skeptically, cynical and clearly expectant of his newest lie. She gave him a tight-lipped smile and Yami bristled as he moved to stand up again. Maybe it would be best if he simply went back and lay down on the bed as he should have before. He should never have followed Yugi out there. It was a mistake, he knew, and now he regretted ever assuming otherwise. This was not helping him in the slightest. "Oh, it's a burn. You spilled the hot chocolate on your hand, huh?"

"A little bit, but it doesn't hurt anymore," Yugi answered dismissively, waving off her raised brow. "I don't think I need to do anything besides run some water over it."

Kasumi grunted, acknowledging the statement but clearly choosing not to further explore this topic. Instead her eyes became locked on Yami again. "So, is this what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life?" she asked after a long moment, looking between them and then facing Yugi. "You two running off in the middle of the night, Yugi getting pissed, arguments in my kitchen, and both of you trying to ignore the fact that I'm neither stupid nor oblivious?"

Yugi shivered. "Mom…"

"And it is not as if you have that many more secrets, Yugi." The small teen stiffened and Yami looked between them slowly, awkwardly. Something in the air had changed, Yugi considerably straight-backed with his shock, and the way it charged the room made his skin crawl violently. He felt abruptly as if he were intruding on a private conversation, even as she stared back at him so relentlessly. "I probably know more than Yami does about some of the things. And the biggest one is already out in the air. You're both werewolves. I know that already. And that's the most horrifying secret you could have. So I don't understand why the two of you even pretend to have more important ones than that."

Yugi was blushing. His eyes flickered immediately to Yami. When he saw the red eyes momentarily shoot to him as well, Yugi looked quickly away again. The small teen rubbed at the back of his head unhappily. He looked as if he were struggling not to tremble. Yami simply watched him, studying before turning away again.

"I mean, even your crush on Anzu was nothing compared to that," she continued. Yugi looked as if he might faint. Yami blinked, looking between them in bewilderment. He tilted his head and considered the smaller teen a moment longer. But, as he looked back and forth, Yugi glanced at him as well. The moment their eyes locked, however, he looked away again immediately. "I don't think it gets more alarming than someone turning into a wolf."

Yami hummed and Yugi glanced at him sideways. He tilted his head, his bangs shadowing his gaze just enough that Yami could not make direct eye contact with him. But as the two of them swapped that simple glance in each other's direction, they shared a similar thought.

She didn't know about the immortality.

That was the only reason she assumed that this was the most pressing secret either of them could possess.

"I'd be amazed if there was something else." Kasumi rolled her eyes at them. "I don't want to get in the middle of one of your arguments again. I'm going back to bed. Try not to burn the house down in a fit of rage, okay? Yeah? Great."

Yugi's cheeks had turned bright red. Yami did not blink. And then she had turned and wandered off and Yugi was facing him curiously now. Yami turned back to him after a moment. His brows furrowed and he tilted his head, studying him.

"You didn't exactly promise not to."

Yugi blinked, then frowned. He was troubled as he looked back at him, clearly assuming that he had missed something. Yami smirked in amusement. "Huh?" Yugi muttered, shaking his head in bewilderment.

"Not to burn the house down. You did not promise that you would see to it that it did not happen."

Yugi smiled in turn now, relaxing and rolling his eyes as he searched his face. "I try to make it a point not to make promises I can't keep," he teased, though he fell quiet immediately after and frowned pointedly as they considered each other. "Yami, I just want an answer to this, okay?"

"Hmm?" he coaxed, tilting his head. "What did you want an answer to?"

"Why do you not care about yourself as much as I do?"

There was long handful of minutes that were steeped in pregnant silence. Then Yami slowly shook his head, narrowing his eyes into slits and looking away. "Why do I not care as much? Truthfully, Yugi, I have little reason to. There is no immense reasoning behind my birth as there was yours," he mumbled, shrugging and regretting it as his right shoulder ached and burned. "And I am exhausted, Yugi. It is harder to wake up and face a day at times like this."

Yugi shook his head, annoyed and flustered. "You can't honestly think that I'm worth more than you are."

He tilted his head, considering him. "Worth more?" he mumbled after a moment. Yugi watched him as Yami sat back slightly and began to tug lightly on the ends of his jacket sleeves. "Well, I don't think you want an honest answer to that inquiry then."

And Yugi honestly wished for a moment that he could have hated him. He wished he could have snapped and snarled at him and said enough things to make Yami cower and truly mean them. But the very thought was exhausting and he felt the distance between them too keenly. It was too hard to think such a thing.

So now he simply shook his head with a sigh and frowned. If Yami was not going to value himself enough to remain healthy and safe on his own, then Yugi thought it would be almost impossible to change his mind on such a thing. And that was not something that he cared to consider at the moment.

"Well, then I need to do something."

Yami looked up at him, puzzled. The words made no sense to him for a moment. And Yugi stared back at him, eyes sharp with warning but soft with that usual warmth as well. They considered each other for a moment.
"I will stay here," the red-eyed teen said after a moment. "You can go to the camp and I will not follow you."

Yugi blinked and frowned. "You swear?" he demanded, voice coming out a bit harder than he'd seemingly meant it to. His cheeks became slightly pinked and Yami tilted his head the smallest fraction as his voice came out a little softer. "I won't turn around and find you behind me? I do not want you to follow me when I am not sure I can help you if something happens, Yami. Aki and Joy both have it in their heads that this is something that would be fixed by killing you and having you come back. And I do not want one of them taking that as the only thing that can be done to prove it."

Yami shook his head slowly. "I am worried and I do not want to deal with them right now. I will cross paths with them later." He was silent for a long minute, then narrowed his eyes and tilted his head in confusion. "Listen. You may go back and forth with them but I am not going to do so. I do not desire their eyes on me, not until I am healthier. Being as tired as I was after only knocking that hellhound around a couple of times is enough of a warning for me."

The small teen looked relieved as he smiled faintly and his eyes, warm and soft, searched his for a brief moment. "Good."

Yami considered him only a moment longer. Then he looked away again slowly. "I am going to lay back down now. My shoulder hurts and I do not want to stay up much longer."

"Do you want something for it?" Yami blinked and looked over. Yugi searched his face, probably looking for a sign of weakness or pain in his eyes. He was leaning against the table as if he expected Yami to do the same. "We have some medicine for pain. I can grab some for you."

Yami shook his head. "No, thank you. I think I will simply lie down. I do not think that the pain will do much more than prickle at me for a little while," he said dismissively. He hesitated for a moment, then turned to face him fully again. He opened and closed his mouth once, then lowered his eyes again and peered at the table. "Be careful while you are there with the pack."

Yugi blinked. "Yami…"

"You cannot be sure that this disdain will be limited to me. I am sure that it will spread about the wolves to regard you as well. You will most likely be regarded once more with resentment, especially once they find out that you threatened to kill Aki and Joy like that." Yami drummed his fingers on the table for a moment, then shook his head slowly. "It will not do you well. I think it will be far more damaging now than it was then."

---

The blood soaked the snow for miles. Yugi was frozen for a moment as he stepped into the camp. And then he hurried to spring forward and race into the center there. He did not smell rot as he had formerly. But the metallic scent was so harsh that it made his head spin as he stumbled forward. He pricked his ears. There were wolves breathing heavily. And, as he came forward further into the trees, his heart lurched in his chest. The wolves were all spread about, bleeding and aching. Some of them were breathing heavily and others were lying in the snow rather still.

Yugi stumbled forward, then hurried to the side of the wolf nearest him. Fuck! he snarled, alarmed as he came to a stop in front of Chazz. The wolf looked up with huge eyes, his pupils dilated and his ears pricked forward. He had begun to snarl at first but relaxed immediately upon recognizing him. His ears flattened against his head and he lowered his muzzle, wagging his tail low to the ground in a more submissive manner. Yugi wondered for a moment if he had expected him to lash out at him.

What the hell is going on right now?

Chazz panted after a moment, then moved to take a seat. His sides were slicked with blood and he was stripped of fur along his right shoulder, Yugi noticed. He had taken a rather copious beating, as had the wolf that was slinking unsteadily towards them. Yugi turned on them with a snarl and his tail in the air, warning them away before he faced Chazz again. The younger male gasped for air.

Joy and Aki managed to relay the story before we got the chance to stop them, the newcomer muttered, and Yugi blinked as he glanced over at Zane with darkened eyes. They started a riot before we could shut them up. Then the pack turned in on itself. The fighting just stopped a few minutes ago.

Yugi flicked his ears. What was this fight over?

Joy turned a portion of the pack against you, a new voice commented, making him turn his head. Yusei was limping towards them. He looked ragged and roughed up, but he was not bleeding anymore on his right leg where he continued limping. She said that if you were protecting a hellhound than it was impossible to trust you. And then we all started fighting because of how divided everyone is on the subject. A lot of wolves think that you're playing with them and could never be Atem. And now that's what the pack is fighting over.

Yugi pricked his ears forward. Great, so even more fighting, he drawled, bristling faintly. He shook his head sharply, but the anger was more violent and heated in his veins. He nearly snarled, but suppressed it before he might startle the others. I'm amazed by how divided this army of mine is.

But he couldn't truly say that without nearly rolling his eyes at himself. It was an absolute lie, he knew. In their place he would be just as divided. Hell, even as it was, as Atem himself, he was divided about it all. He could not say in the slightest that he did not understand their frustrations or confusion. And he was very keenly aware of the fact that he did not quite fit into the terms of the god that they had come to believe would be the one to lead them. And it was not as if the deaths that had accumulated had done him well in the face of their disbelief either.

Protecting Yami was probably far from helpful for him.

Well, considering that most of those who argued against you are dead as it is, Zane said, hissing in annoyance at his words and shaking himself out, I do not suppose that it matters much.

Yugi stiffened, head snapping around to face him again. What? You killed them?

I didn't personally kill any of them but Joy, the dark gray male snorted. He looked at him without much expression beyond a small sneering glint in his eyes. But I will gladly assume responsibility for more if that is what you wanted from me.

He blinked. How many deaths? How many casualties?

Chazz looked away. I believe a third of Yusei's pack was slaughtered. We had a couple of small casualties but they were more wounds than anything. Nistro's pack took the largest hit, I think. None of the yearlings were killed, but some of the older wolves were, he listed off, though now he turned to Zane. Where is Syrus? Where are Yuma and Yuya and the others?

I had Syrus take them with him when I told him to flee. They got out of the camp okay. I don't know where they headed past that, he answered dismissively. He turned to Yusei. Although, I had assumed that you would run with them when I saw you helping them out.

I had to hold Aki off when she went after Syrus, the wolf said with a shake of his head. So she tried to take my head off after that. And then Yuya attacked her when she managed to break my leg. He managed to hold her off just long enough for me to heal and get up again. And then he followed Syrus and the others after I subdued her.

You do not know where they were headed either?

Yusei shook his head again. Jack and I were fighting soon after that. I never got the chance to make sure they made it out of the camp properly. I would assume that they are fine, however. I didn't hear any screaming or yelping from that direction.

They wouldn't be able to scream or yelp if they were to be decapitated, a new voice sneered. Yugi blinked and turned his head. The pale blond wolf was sitting down near them, eyes sharp and full of hatred as he peered at Yusei. The gray yearling did not look towards him, instead facing Chazz now. The two of them seemed to be studying each other for the moment, as if they might lunge at the newcomer should he make any movements. So not hearing them doesn't mean much, now does it, Atem?

Yugi pricked his ears forward. And you would be…? he drawled. Resentful and bitter? Got it.

Yusei looked at Yugi now. That's Jack. He's the one who I was fighting before.

Now the white wolf raised his head and considered him curiously. He was the one that had partnered with Yusei on the hunt as well. He recognized those odd indigo eyes now. But he did not say anything further for the moment, instead turning to face Chazz. The younger wolf was watching Jack with sharp eyes, his muscles readied and a snarl threatening to form on his face. Then he shifted his weight and bristled faintly, as if he were ready to lunge forward at any moment.

Chazz, Yusei, Zane, I want you to make a list of who we have lost. I want an exact count. Tell me how many are lost and how many are left. If there are any wounded—be it mortally or otherwise—I want to know. Have them moved aside so that I can take care of them after I return. He turned to Jack. You're going to come with me to find Syrus and the others.

You expect me to help you find the omegas? he snarled. It's a waste of time and effort. Why would I do such a thing?

Because, if you refuse, I'm not going to tell Chazz or Zane not to rip your throat out if it so crosses their minds, Yugi replied dismissively. He turned to Chazz after a moment. When you have the total numbers, come find me, all right?

The younger male nodded, eyes flickering briefly to Zane and then back. His alpha looked dismissive more than anything when Yugi looked at him. But neither seemed to be upset in the slightest. Yugi turned away and glanced at Jack, peeled his lips back, and then turned and trotted off further into the clearing which would lead into the forest soon enough. He didn't glance back, but he could hear the other three wolves moving to run and perform their assignments at his request. He heard them wandering through the snow in opposite directions, something that he cared little for. And then he hurried towards the trees again.

It was exhausting when he did so, as it made his skin crawl to simply do this. And he could hear Jack behind him, falling in line in the snow but failing to speak and so retaining his silence for a moment. Yugi lowered his nose to the snow, looking about at the crushed powdery crystals. There was so much blood scattered across the ice that he was flustered. The trail that should have led him immediately in the direction of the wolves in question was all but completely scattered about. He nearly snarled in annoyance, shrugging his thoughts away and scenting the air.

The metallic smell was too strong to get past, so he continued to search the snow for visible clues of their passage. He'd need to find where they were before he could do much else. He would bring them back to the camp and make sure that they were okay before anything else happened. He shrugged the thought off and ignored the way he almost felt as if Jack were Marik behind him. He had the sudden inescapable urge to look over his shoulder, to ensure that the blonde wolf had not grown larger and stronger and darker in fur color as Marik had been. He blinked, wondering at the thought of the larger wolf, the way he'd nearly killed him at the lake. And now Yugi had the urge to look back at Jack more than he did even to breathe at the moment.

Yugi shrugged the thought away. Wolves couldn't just change shapes like that. Hellhounds might have been able to, but not the lycanthropes. He reminded himself of this, repeating it to himself as if in a mantra, and finally found himself relaxing the smallest degree. He sniffed at the air again. And now he could smell something that he had not expected. He could smell Yusei there, like fresh rain mist and wet leaves and soggy straw. He tilted his head and turned his head, then bristled faintly. The snow to his left was covered in blood and indentations that spoke of a fight. He could see smears where the wolves had squabbled. And he could see where tufts of fur were lying littered about the ice in a harsh covering. The smell which came from each of them made him bristle faintly before he shrugged them away and continued forward.

Jack was growling quietly behind him. Yugi paused, then turned his head to peer at him over his shoulder. But the wolf was glaring at the ground more than anything else. He was scowling and refused to face him. And so Yugi snorted in annoyance and shook his head in turn.

He was reminded again of Marik and it made him want to turn around and snap his teeth at Jack violently. He thought of the tan and gray wolf when he had come too close, how he had so often spoken up against Yami but pretended to believe his choices as Atem. He had not been the only one to consider him incapable of leading the pack, however. But he had been the only one to think that he was Atem rather than Yugi himself. He supposed it did not matter. Things would have to be sorted out regardless…

He would have to make things more stable. There was no way that he could allow things to go on as they were. It was ridiculous and he was being foolish in assuming that such a thing was possible. Yami alone was a reason for him to be more diligent about such a thing. If they were so willing to try to kill him over the fact that he looked like a hellhound, then there was a lot to be considered with their stupidity.

Yugi huffed as he came around the bend of the hill and sniffed lightly at the snow. He could see the pawprints clearly now, allowing him room to run forward without much more care than to find them. He stiffened, bristling slightly, and sniffed at the air once more. And then he spotted them.

The small group of yearlings was pacing restlessly at the edge of a frozen pond that he guessed was hardly more than a few inches deep. He could not imagine it being too terribly large. The width of it alone was probably the length of his body as it was. He shook his head as he got closer. But he still remembered the lake, how Marik had attempted to drown him beneath the ice after their fighting.

Are you all right? he asked immediately, hurrying forward and towards the small group. Yuya—he recognized him only from his eyes—and a she-wolf beside him sprang into the air in alarm, clearly startled. Syrus, however, stopped pacing and let out a small yip of what seemed to be immense relief. Beside him two other wolves were staring at him in bewilderment. I heard that you had fled. I didn't know if the fighting had gotten out this far or what.

No, it didn't manage to get this far, Yuya answered in a quiet voice. He hardly looked relieved at the moment, though, and his head was tilted to the side in bewilderment. And we're fine.

Yugi nodded slightly, though now he considered the she-wolf. He'd met her before, hadn't he? He shrugged the wayward thought off. Well then, let's get back to the camp, shall we? he mumbled. We can get back and then I can check on the others who got hurt.

Yugi glanced at Jack as Yuya eyed the pale blond wolf with a glare. You brought him with you? he growled. But he's the one who just attacked Yusei when he was trying to help us get out of the camp during all of the fighting.

I know, he admitted, but it was this or let him get attacked by Chazz or Yusei or Zane. None of them were too happy with him and I don't want any unnecessary bloodshed. It would be foolish of me to let that happen when anyone can see the devastation that has already happened, wouldn't you think?

Yuya was snarling, his fur in a bristle as he bore his teeth. Well, if he hadn't attacked Yusei after Aki did, there wouldn't be as much blood either, he grunted. He looked more distressed than angry, however. And Yugi tilted his head, facing him curiously. I mean, he…

Don't worry, Yuya. If he so much as looks at you funny, I'll kick his ass! the she-wolf beside him snarled. He won't even be able to blink before I have him on the ground!

Yuya's ears flattened against his head and he glanced at the she-wolf with a huff. I don't need you to protect me, Koroti. I can handle him myself! I took down Aki, after all.

Aki had already taken a beating, she replied dismissively. She doesn't count.

Syrus wagged his tail at Yugi, head lowered and ears flattened. Are Zane and Chazz and Yusei okay?

Chazz and Zane are pretty worried about you. But they're fine aside from a couple of wounds. Yugi wondered what would have happened if he were to say something else. And he wondered if he could quite say that any of them were okay but for a couple of wounds. Yusei had that terrible limp. Chazz had been slicked on both sides and covered in blood. It was truly only Zane who had seemed to be okay for the most part. Yugi pushed the thought aside. Both of them want you back at the camp as soon as possible.

Syrus blinked, relaxing visibly upon hearing this news. Okay. He took a seat and lowered his head to look at the snow with a flick of his ears. I'm glad to hear that they're okay.

They're all fine, he reassured him, though now he turned to Yuya and Koroti. You don't have to worry about Jack. If he so much as snarls at you, he'll be dealing with me. Let's just get a move on, all right? We can get back and I can check on the others in the camp.

Yugi! The call was so frantic that the white wolf bristled in alarm, head snapping around and eyes wide with confusion. He blinked, then focused on Yusei as he hurried towards him. He was limping so terribly that he nearly landed on his face at one point, though he caught himself and slowed, panting heavily. Y…

Yugi tilted his head and padded a couple of steps closer to him. What? What's wrong?

The gray wolf struggled for a moment, blue eyes flickering with frustration. And then he blinked and raised his head. His eyes glinted. And Yugi tilted his head further, more confused than ever. And then he saw it. It was a shattered and fuzzy image. And it made him wonder at the sight for a moment, puzzled. And then it began to slowly sharpen. It was white and red and blue. And for a moment he could not understand the colors or the shape they made. And then he stiffened, alarmed and confused as he looked back at Yusei blankly.

The figure in the image was standing before another wolf. And his head was bowed slightly. Long hair stood in a star formation, black tipped with red. The jacket on his shoulders was Yugi's school uniform, the shirt beneath a gray tank top. His eyes were shadowed due to the way his bangs fell. And the expression on his face was nothing more than blank consideration. It faded almost immediately and Yugi could not see which wolf was before him. But it made him bristle, heart hammering.

Why is he here? he demanded icily. He wasn't supposed to come here!

Yusei shook his head, still panting. He flattened his ears and lowered his eyes.

Yugi huffed and turned back to the small group. Yusei will lead you back to the camp. I have to go ahead. But then his head snapped towards Jack and he chomped his teeth aggressively, startling the younger male. The purple eyes focused on him, enlarged with shock. I don't trust you not to pick a fight so you're coming with me.

Jack awkwardly ducked his head, though he hardly looked happy. And Yugi turned abruptly to make his way up the small incline and towards the entrance of the camp again. He was running before he could rethink it, racing through the snow. And the powdered ice was blinding when he moved too quickly and nearly fell over. But, as he got closer, the wolves nearest him looked over and then scattered out of the way. He pounced into a larger dune, nearly burying himself in it, and then hurried through it again.

Well, hello, I didn't expect you to greet me with such enthusiasm, a voice snickered. Yugi blinked, slowing, and fought away the urge to pant for air as he looked over. The blue-gray male was peering at him with glittering eyes. I almost would have thought you loved me with the way you just raced so quickly here.

Yugi snorted. Sure, Obelisk, he said dryly. That's why I came running as quickly as I did. You are, surely, the light of my life in every way, shape and form.

Obelisk laughed and turned away from him. You're adorable, he murmured, though now Yugi turned away to face the newcomer as well. Yami was lazily playing with the sleeves of the jacket he was wearing. Now, as for your idea, I am relatively sure that such a thing is true. But you are asking someone that has never changed into a human form and has no desire to do so.

Yami nodded dismissively. "I can't see the veins. It should be true enough."

Veins? Yugi demanded sharply, turning to him now. What the hell are you talking about?

What is he doing here? Chazz asked, looking confused and bewildered. He had come up from near Jack's shoulder where the other was seated in the snow glaring at Yugi in annoyance. The white wolf blinked at him and then glanced back to Yami. I thought the whole reason you left was because you didn't want him in the camp after Joy…

It was. So I have no idea why he's over here either. He looked at Yami. And his fur jerked with a violent bristle for a split second. He'd said he wouldn't come. He had told him he wasn't going to come here because of his health. So why the hell had he done so? Yugi didn't care how nasty his words came out when he snapped, Care to explain?

Yami was peering at him for a moment, then he turned to Obelisk. "I guess it can never hurt to try, right?" he muttered. The deity tilted his head and stared at him for a moment. Then he wagged his tail as if in affirmation and glanced to Yugi in turn. "You're no help at all, I swear Obelisk."

I was created to oversee wars, the deity said dismissively, shaking his head and pricking his gray ears forward. That does not mean that I know everything else to do with the lycanthropes. You're oversimplifying my role in things.

"You all are furballs," he drawled in response, shaking his head and smiling in amusement. The deity tilted his head and wagged his tail slightly before flicking his ears. "That's not important regardless, I suppose. All that matters is the fact that it is something that I can try."

Yes, it is something that you might be able to try, Obelisk said with a turn of his head towards Yugi. The white wolf was staring at Yami blankly, trying to figure out what it was that they might have been talking about in the first place. He hated that he had come into this conversation in the middle rather than the beginning to hear its entirety. He had said the word "veins" and it was still ringing in his ears at this point. I suppose it would be simple to do such a thing, yes?

No, Yugi snapped, cutting into the lazy statement. He locked eyes with Yami and peeled his lips back to show off his teeth. What the hell are you talking about? I want to know what the hell is going on before I say a damn word in agreement.

Obelisk turned to consider Yami as well. The red-eyed boy frowned, considering Yugi for a moment, then shrugged and raised his voice. "Lycanthropes have fur beneath their skin. It was one of the things that the medieval Europeans used to search for when they suspected someone of being a werewolf." He looked at Yugi closely. "You can't see veins on my arms in my human form. I would think it would only be logical that the reasoning behind it is because of fur covering them, right?"

Yugi blinked and glanced around at the other wolves for a moment. Many of them were curious and interested, though a few seemed skeptical of this statement as well. One or two considered him cautiously and Yusei and Chazz appeared almost nervous. He turned back with a flick of his ears. So is that how you plan to prove that you're a lycanthrope? By cutting into your arms to show off the fur beneath your skin?

But he could not remember ever quite looking for Yami's veins along his arms. And he could not quite recall if he had ever looked at his arms after he'd gouged them open before. He did not think that he had ever seen fur. But he did not think he had ever looked, either. The truth of it was something that he could not quite remember. He had never looked and now he could not quite recall. If Yami were to cut into his arms and there was no fur, what would happen then? Would they feel that he was truly a hellhound and go to kill him in front of the rest of the pack?

He nearly shuddered. Instead he looked around again.

Is that even a proven thing? Zane asked, sounding incredibly doubtful and annoyed. I do not think that was ever really a true thing. I thought that was more just the medieval people looking to justify killing each other in the name of purging the wolves.

I do not know, Obelisk admitted with a shrug. His carefree expression infuriated Yugi, but it seemed to make Zane bristle as his lips curled back faintly to show his teeth at the god. I have never turned human. So I cannot say yes or no definitively.

So then it might not even be worth it, Chazz interrupted, sounding and looking flustered. If it's not worth it, then why do it? If it's not going to actually prove anything to us, then why risk it?

"What do I have to lose?" Yami inquired in turn. "There is no reason not to."

For the off chance that it's true, Yugi pointed out, though he was somewhat hopeful now. If Yami had fur under his skin, then that could blow it all away as easily as the subject had come up. It could be resolved… But if it's not, that doesn't quite mean anything either. I don't even know if I have fur under my skin.

But he did. He remembered it. He had grown stray white hairs in his wounds when he was recovering from Ushio's ambush. He remembered that now. It made his head spin for a split second. Yes, he had grown hair in his wounds, had been horrified and terrified by it. But he'd also realized that he was infected and that would come to happen as it was…

"Yes, well, it is a chance," Yami said dismissively. "It will have to do if nothing else."

Obelisk nodded slightly. It is an idea, even if it proves to be wrong.

"Yes." He was quiet for a moment, then he moved to slide his sleeve up into the crook of his elbow. From there he seemed to study his arms for a split second. And, finally, before each of their eyes, he moved to press his nails into his arm. It took only a quick swipe in which he tore the skin, bright red surging forward from the wounds. Yugi felt as if he might vomit, a tremble coursing through him. He didn't see any fur…

And then Yami ran his hand over it again, smearing the blood away.

It was not as if his muscles were coated in the black hair. It was only a few stray strands which showed there. He shivered, almost dizzy. And the blood did not return to push outwards from the wounds. It had faded away almost immediately and it was healing again rather rapidly.

I didn't realize we had fur under our skin! Chazz said, turning to Obelisk with huge eyes. Yugi watched him for a moment as the gray yearling huffed ad looked incredibly irate with the dismissive glance the deity cast him. No wonder we don't bleed as much as regular humans do.

Aside from your healing? Obelisk muttered in turn, though he was looking over at Yugi now. Yes, the fur would help to stunt the blood flow from a weaker point on the body. Imagine the damage he would have done to himself had that fur not been there.

Yugi grunted, unable to keep from almost shaking in disbelief. It was almost amazing to him as he turned back to the red-eyed teen. But Yami was not paying him attention in the slightest. He was licking his hand and rubbing at the smears of blood that had been there. He wiped them clean and finally pulled his sleeve down entirely and turned to Yugi.

"It cushions the veins so if someone were foolish enough to cut along them in the human form, the fur would stunt the bleeding," he said after a moment, as if he thought Yugi truly cared more than for his relief. But his eyes were somewhat warmer, as if he himself were relieved more than anything that his trick had been proven truthful. Yugi wanted to vomit for a split second. It had been a gamble, and it had paid off, but the potential repercussions could have been a thousand times worse. "But, now that this has been momentarily resolved… What the hell happened here?"

Fighting amongst the pack, Yusei supplied in a dry tone. He was sitting a few feet away, Syrus and Yuya near him sniffing at his leg. No doubt Syrus was hoping to somehow help him to heal it sooner rather than later. And Yuya was curious more than anything else. The other boy looked stunned for the most part, as if he could not believe that it had happened. Yugi frowned as he considered the small group. Over Atem.

"Over Atem?" Yami echoed, though he did not sound surprised in the slightest. And his eyes looked flat and annoyed more than anything else. "What about him?"

Whether or not we should still follow him when we were unsure of whether you were a hellhound or not, Chazz answered in an annoyed tone. And now some of them are dead because they decided to turn their back on Atem. It's as simple as that.

Yugi bristled faintly, but forced himself to relax again almost immediately. He did not want to get more attention from the other wolves than necessary. If they did not stare at him and await his reaction, he felt it would be far too soon. I need to go through and see about wounds, he muttered in a distracted tone, the red eyes falling on him again now. I don't know any of the numbers. Yusei…?

The yearling lowered his head a degree, flattening his ears and shaking his head. Fourteen dead, about twenty moderately wounded, about sixteen with deeper punctures, he explained, tilting his head and studying him for a moment. I do not think that there were too many others besides scrapes and bruises.

Right, okay. Yugi shook himself out and turned around to face some of the wolves that were resting a few feet away. He tilted his head and considered them, then glanced over towards Ishizu who was seated on the outside of the gathered group. Her head was tilted, her ice blue eyes boring into his for a moment, and she looked almost untouched but for a small splash of blood upon her muzzle and around her cheek beneath her left eye. Who do you think had some of the worst?

Me? Yusei muttered, bewildered. Zane was the one who gave me the numbers for that.

Yugi blinked and looked over his shoulder. The larger gray male was sitting, head craned back as if he were howling, the bones popping as he slowly lowered his chin again and yawned loudly. Who do you think had some of the worst wounds then, Zane? he requested.

Hmm? the alpha hummed, turning to him slowly. Chazz has some of the worst. How he's walking is beyond me. Aki should have bled out, but somehow she's still alive. Yuya's parents both have huge gashes on their chests and sides. Some of the yearlings from the pack that was already here have been pretty badly cut up. It depends on what you think is the most severe. Regardless, Chazz would be my number one concern.

And you? How badly are you wounded?

Not as badly as he is, the gray wolf scoffed. But he did not rise to his feet again and he looked exhausted, though angry more so than anything. Yugi thought that perhaps he was someone who ran on anger when he was tired and it made him almost snarl in alarm. The way he peered back at him was almost enough to make him nervous. If that were true, it made Zane volatile. And how much could he trust a wolf that ran on such violent impulses and natures? Would he do something to upset the wolf and have him turn on him soon as well? And how well could he defend against that? He didn't know enough about him, nor about his fighting style, to truly go against him. And I would think Aki is in a worse state than I am.

Great, Yugi muttered. He looked to Yami now. Come with me. I think you having hands might be a good thing right about now.

The red-eyed teen blinked, considering him, and then followed quickly when Yugi began to trot through the snow again. It took over two hours for Yugi to examine each of them, to address which bodies had been added to the death count, and to make a second lap around the camp to ensure that everyone had gotten some kind of attention. He'd groomed wounds for a large majority of time and then asked Yami to pack snow into a cast-like formation to help stifle the bleeding of many of the wounds. And, only as the third hour began to pass, did Yugi take a seat in the snow and look around at the others. Yami was sitting down a couple of inches away, legs pulled up and weight on his arms as he leaned back.

Are you all right? Your arm isn't hurting or anything after what happened, right?

Yami blinked and looked over at him. "I am fine," he said dismissively. "I did not even cut deeply, in case I was wrong. I was surprised that you could even see the fur with how shallow it actually was. I guess it truly is just beneath the surface, hmm?"

Yugi smiled at him, wagging his tail and peering at him with bright eyes. What happened to make you think of it?

Yami tilted his head, surprised by how soft and warm his tone was. He smiled faintly in turn and then shook his head, looking away. "I was asleep after you left. But then I woke up after a dream about Ra," he admitted, furrowing his brows and narrowing his eyes. "I don't remember what was said or what happened in that dream, just that I woke up with the realization that perhaps that might be the way to fix this."

Yugi stared at him for a moment. And Yami knew, even as he looked at him from the corner of his eye, that the white wolf was skeptical. He knew immediately that the white canine understood that he was lying, that he knew immediately that Yami still remembered the damn dream. And it was enough to make Yugi silent, staring at him in annoyance for a moment.

Okay. Well then that works, I guess.

"I suppose so." Yami shook his head and turned to him after a moment. "Fourteen wolves are dead, huh?"

And I have a feeling that not all of the wounded ones are going to make it through the night, Yugi said slowly, grimly. He shook his head and sighed softly before flattening his ears against his head. I don't know what to do with this. I don't know how it is that I'm meant to deal with this.

"If this is truly meant to be a war, I would assume that you would need to find a way to get more wolves brought back to the camp," the red-eyed teen said slowly. The words tasted bitter on his tongue, sounding hollow in his ears. "So, in other words, I think that you're going to have to send one of the packs back to wherever they came from in order to spread word."

Yugi was frozen for a moment, eyes wide. Then you think that I… He lowered his muzzle towards the snow and tilted his head uncomfortably. Who do you think would be the best wolves to send back?

"I would take to one with an alpha and beta, as it would seem more like a unified approach to do it that way," he murmured in an almost dismissive tone. Yami sighed and shook his head, seeing the gears moving behind Yugi's eyes as he considered. "Chazz and Zane are your best bet. They came from the states. That gives more of an opportunity for word to be spread. I don't think that you could send anyone else at this point. Echo is dead so her pack would be rather divided without their leader to guide them. And the other packs came from Europe and Sapporo. I would think that the one from Sapporo would have limited access to any other wolves in Japan. And I do not assume to think that there are many more as it is."

Yugi thought briefly of his classmates, how a few of them had seemed to notice his status as a wolf recently. And he wondered if it would be a stupid decision to bother to ask Yami for his opinion on the matter. But the thought also occurred to him then; many of those aforementioned classmates had seemingly disappeared. Many of them, even his former bullies, had gone missing. He had no idea what had happened to them at any rate. All he knew that they were gone and perhaps captured, likely being experimented on themselves now that he considered it.

Yami was likely right in the idea of sending Chazz and Zane. They were smart enough to evade notice, they knew how to contact other packs in the states, and likely they could easily get in touch with the wolves their pack neighbored as well. He had no idea how long it would be that they would have to be gone, however, and that put a small dent in the plan in terms of protection. But he was sure that between himself and Yami and the wolves that still remained in the pack despite the deaths that he expected to happen overnight, they would be okay.

How long do you think it'll be before they question the fact that you have fur under your skin?

Yami was quiet for a long handful of seconds. "I don't know. I'm amazed it even worked now." He paused and tilted his head, looking to Yugi now and narrowing his eyes with a shake of his head. "Truthfully, I think they are all just desperate in some way or another to have something to cling to that might prove more solid than their beliefs right now. I think they're desperate to have some kind of reassurance that not everything they know and believe is untrue."

Yugi tilted his head and then nodded, looking away. I can understand that.