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.

76. Freedom

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Update schedule: Hopefully biweekly

Chapter Warnings: Mild Fighting, Violence, Mentions of Murder, Mentions of Torture, Mentions of Self-Harm

Okay, so, I meant to get this chapter up DAYS ago, when things settled down, but they didn't settle down ENOUGH to actually get things done. There were way too many things that went on for me to get everything set up and then posted so eh. And I won't bore anyone with the details. Anyways, point being, my apologies for that. It was going to be posted on the first, since it was the second anniversary posting this story (I'm still honestly floored it's two years old and I thought for a long time this would be a year old before but nope, it's TWO).

The chapter has been edited over a series of days, so I don't remember more than the biggest parts of it that are necessary for warnings. If you think I should add something, please tell me.

Aside from that, enjoy the chapter.

Chapter LXXVI: Freedom

Work Log Entry LXVII: September, 2008 (Part II)

September 11

Due to her inability to change as of the moment, the hellhound has not lashed out against the rest of the pack. We are waiting for this to happen.

September 21

Atem has shown no change in any manner.

The pack has shown no change of any kind, either.

September 30

Atem is becoming antsy. No one knows what has caused the sudden change in behavior. But he has begun to pace his cell. He occasionally presses against the walls as if he can break them apart. But he has not done anything to dig through as he once did.

Thankfully he has kept to simply pacing anxiously and ignoring much of what has been going on around him.

Yami was chewing on the haunch of a deer carcass. Yugi had taken them to the woods for a hunt, but the rest of the pack had awkwardly straggled behind them. Many of the American wolves had drifted back and all but hidden away at times, trailing behind them with curious and somewhat fearful expressions. Yami had killed the buck, ignoring Yugi when he'd offered to let the others eat some of the catch. It had only been when one of the other wolves had approached—Mana, Yugi remembered, because she'd been hesitant but tried to be friendly—that Yami had torn one of the back legs off and trotted away. He now rested a few feet away, finishing his meal and chewing on the bone between his paws, eyes burning with a sense of hatred that Yugi was winded upon seeing.

But his meal had continued for over an hour now. The wolf was clearly using it as an excuse to avoid speaking or interacting with any of them. Yami would lick his jowls, chew hungrily, then pull at one piece of meat or another with a distracted movement of some kind. He would occasionally crack the bone further open. But he ignored them whenever he noticed someone flinch at the noise, glancing his way or moving away with wide eyes.

Yami had become the personification of a self-contained storm, hateful and violent in the way he kept to himself. His anger was noticeable, the distance between himself and the other wolves all too apparent. And he continued to ignore them, occasionally moving away from them entirely should someone drift too close.

Not once had he so much as growled at anyone, however.

And that thought was enough to make Yugi want to tremble with relief.

Yami was not willing to turn his teeth on anyone else. It meant more to him at that moment than he could admit. The black wolf could easily devastate them if he turned on them, and Yugi was pretty sure he didn't have the means to stop him if he decided to take his aggression out on them. He'd made it clear the day before that he did not care if someone realized he had bitten Yugi and not vice versa. Maybe Jonouchi and Otogi had not commented, but he was sure they had caught on at some point. And the phantom pains, he was sure, would not stop Yami for long if he turned on him as well…

He was all too aware of the fact that they were all on edge. Yami made no effort to hide his anger. He would snarl only when Yugi came too close to him. And he would turn and trot away with his food should he so much as drift within a foot of him. He had ignored him when Yugi had tried to instruct him on the best way to avoid the deer's antlers, charging and catching one in his mouth. He'd snapped them clean in half with the bite, scissoring them nearly at the base as if with a saw. He'd snapped a leg when it had come for his face, then clamped onto its skull as if it were nothing but a toy. Blood and brown fur had gone flying. And then he'd gutted the ungulate without even trying. Its belly had been cut clean open, its legs snapped, the skull fractured, the antlers broken, its muzzle crushed from bites so powerful it splintered the bones.

After they'd all eaten, Yami had grabbed up the antler he'd ripped off its head, going on his own to lay down and gnaw on it. His growing ferocity in doing so had shaved it nearly halfway towards the center on one side. And Yugi shuddered as he considered that he'd done this with only the right side of his mouth.

Yugi looked around. Yusei was staring at Yami, twitching uneasily. Aki was avoiding any form of eye contact, flinching occasionally when she heard a hard enough snapping sound. Chazz was staring at Yami as if he thought the black wolf was some kind of foreign and exotic species. Ishizu was stretched out on her side, facing Yami and watching with a somewhat fascinated expression, her mouth still partially smeared with blood. Mai had begun anxiously scratching at her chin and Otogi was panting with mounting distress. Zane had begun to watch Yami with an unreadable expression, Jack looked incredibly unsure of himself at the moment, Jim was studying Yami's jaw as if it might give him some clue as to how he could be so strong, Jonouchi was shaking, Syrus was crouched in the snow with his paws over his eyes. All of them were seemingly unable to look away from the vicious display.

I was thinking that now would be a good time to do some training, Yugi announced awkwardly a moment or so later. He couldn't take his eyes off Yami as the wolf tore into his antler more fiercely than before, almost cracking it in half from the sheer force once more. I wanted to see if any of you can beat me in a fight.

Yugi found himself stunned by the distinctly horrified and shocked looks he was cast. Mana caught his eye for a single second, then turned away with a tremble. Yusei refused to look at him. Chazz stared as if he couldn't understand what he was saying to him. And Zane peered at him as if he had three heads. All of them turned away the moment he locked eyes with them, however, and he found himself tilting his head in confusion.

But when he glanced back over his shoulder, the black wolf rose to his paws and turned his body away completely. He plopped down, showing Yugi his back, and dug into his antler more pointedly. But his shoulders had risen, becoming squared, as if he were bracing himself for a violent attack of some kind.

Yugi flicked his ears about, unsettled as he considered them all uncertainly. He tilted his head, eyeing them, and then looked slowly over his shoulder towards the other wolves once more. Many of the American wolves refused to so much as look in his direction. His fur rose and fell in a shuddering bristle and he tilted his head uncertainly. What about you, Chazz? He was almost begging as he considered the gray yearling in turn. But the beta simply flattened his ears, tipped his muzzle to the ground, and tucked his tail between his legs. Don't you want to try to kick my ass since we never exactly got to see who was the strongest?

When his suggestion was met only with Chazz rolling over onto his side, Yugi huffed. He turned to Aki, flustered. What about you then? he requested, tilting his head. The she-wolf turned away, shaking her head immediately, and lay down with her chin on her paws. The position shocked him, the submissive stance she'd taken and how unlikely she was to change it.

Yugi looked around awkwardly, pricking his ears and considering the others. But Zane wouldn't look at him and Jim was still staring blankly at Yami despite being unable to see his jaws any longer due to the new positioning. He bristled, turning his head now, and looked over at Yami as well.

The black wolf refused to turn around.

Okay, so… No one will challenge me, then? It's just training.

It's a sin to turn one's teeth on their alpha, Yusei provided in a whimper. He was turned so far away from Yugi that the white wolf could barely see his muzzle. What remained of the hoof he'd been chewing on had been abandoned in his desire to twist away from him so fully.

Yugi blinked. A sin to…? But we wouldn't even be drawing blood! No one would even get hurt! He couldn't stop staring, fur rising and falling in a bristle for a split second. How could it possibly be a sin? Hadn't they all fought with their alphas at some point or another? He would have thought it to make more sense if they thought it was a sin to turn their teeth on Atem, honestly.

But no one would look at him. Not a single wolf turned to him.

Not even Shay Obsidian, who was still watching Yami eat his antler, would face him. His eyes were on the black wolf, his ears pricked, his expression curious and yet annoyed. Yugi wondered if he truly thought he could pick a fight with him and win.

And then he turned to his alpha as well. Yami refused to look at him. And he wished more than ever that Yami might turn around. He wished that he would help him. But the cold shoulder was enough to make his skin twitch. And his stomach knotted uncomfortably. He'd been ignoring him for the last twenty-four hours and Yugi knew that wouldn't just change like he was hoping. He shivered, then moved slowly forward in the snow.

Aibou?

Yami ignored him steadfastly. But he knew he heard him. His ears pricked forward and his fur rose into the smallest of bristles along his shoulders. He had stiffened further, head tilted as he chewed harder.

Yugi crept closer. Then he awkwardly hesitated. Yami would turn to him if he pressed hard enough. He knew that. It was something that all of them knew, he was sure. In fact, if he asked, he was sure all of them would say so. It would not be hard to do, either. Yami's temper was frayed and so close to the surface that even the smallest nudge in the right direction would set him off. Yugi shivered, the thought alarming but pleasing him as well. And so he crept forward regardless.

Yami's ears flicked. His jaws stopped moving. The antler quivered in his mouth for a split second. His red eyes slowly flickered towards him, locking with his. And his lips peeled back where his teeth clenched his antler. He didn't snarl, however, eyeing him with such anger that Yugi almost hesitated again.

Yugi drew his lips back and snarled.

And Yami dropped the antler. He was on his feet in an instant. His tail was lowered to the ground, his chin tilted downward as well. He trotted several feet away, plopping down and refusing to look over.

Yugi stared after him, stunned. For a split second he wondered if he was afraid of him. And then he remembered his anger, how close it was to the surface, and it made him bristle. Yami was simply following the others' leads. He did not care to fight him at the moment, not because he wouldn't but because he did not wish to cause an uproar among the other wolves.

Had he not been upset, he would have agreed to the training without issue. Now, however, he sat with his back to him and seemed to wait. Yugi counted the seconds, watching him. But Yami was steadfast in his refusal to turn to him. And so he considered him a moment longer.

Yami was posed to snap.

He knew it.

Yami knew it.

All it would take was a proper nudge.

And then Yami would turn on him…

Yugi turned around abruptly, trotting away from the black wolf. His abandonment went unacknowledged for a few long minutes. And then he noticed Yami sniff at the air. The black wolf had his ears posed to listen to every little movement around him. And then, finally, Yami turned his head to look over. When Yugi refused to move, the black wolf hesitantly sniffed at the air again. And, finally, he got to his feet and made his way back over to his food.

Yugi immediately shot forward. His tail was up, a snarl rising from his throat.

Yami stopped short. His head rose the smallest fraction. His eyes locked with Yugi's. For a moment he stood still. Then he stepped forward. The movement was cold and stiff. His fur was in a bristle. And his head rose another fraction. His ears pricked. He did not snarl or snap. He stood in front of his meal, staring at him.

Yugi followed his lead now.

But Yami abruptly lost his aggressive stance.

He lost his stiffness. His head lowered, his tail tucked, and he slunk back to his former spot. Yugi watched him, startled. But the black wolf simply lay down and refused to look at him once more.

Fine. Yugi huffed. They could play this cat and mouse game as many times as Yami wanted. The black wolf was at the point of lost patience. All he needed was a small nudge in the right direction. It would throw him over the precipice. And then the wolf would turn his teeth on him as he wanted. He'd fight him and let out some of his frustration. And then maybe he could move past all of this anger…

The other wolves were watching now, Yugi noticed. He turned his head a fraction and saw most of them sitting up and staring. Yusei looked horrified, Aki stunned, Zane curious, Otogi uncertain, Mai uncomfortable. Syrus was hiding behind his brother, peeking out behind his back with wide eyes. Jack had a cold, curious countenance, Ishizu was staring, Mana was bristling in alarm, Ute was looking rapidly between them, and Shay was sitting up with an excited expression.

Yami finally returned to his food. He snapped at the deer leg, pulling the meat off rapidly and gulping it down. And Yugi was struck with the sudden idea that perhaps he truly was just trying to enjoy his meal. His heart sank at the thought. Yami had refused to eat at the house, after all. He'd even fled when Yugi had tried to remind him that there was something for him to eat. Maybe eating the deer haunch for an hour now had been more than just ignoring him. Maybe he had been trying to enjoy it…

Still, Yugi forced himself to ignore that bit of guilt in his belly. He shot forward, charging him once more. Yami turned tail so quickly Yugi was stunned. He skidded to a halt, eyes wide. And the black wolf remained facing the opposite direction. The white canine blinked, pricked his ears, and looked at the haunch uncertainly.

Yami was polishing it completely clean of its flesh. He was close to eating it entirely now that he noticed it. And the antler beside it was sheered almost entirely in half. He looked at it for a moment, then glanced once more towards Yami.

Hey, stop it! Yugi jerked at the protest. His head snapped around, eyes wide. Syrus was cowering behind Zane, but he was glaring up at him as well. Zane, however, had turned to his brother with a snarl on his face, though the omega ignored him. He's just trying to eat! There's plenty of food left!

Zane curled his lips back with a furious expression. Do not meddle, Syrus. You'll get yourself hurt, he growled in annoyance. But he turned to Yugi as well, ignoring his younger brother's horrified glance.

Yugi blinked, stunned by the outburst. Did he truly think he meant to hurt Yami? The thought was almost horrifying to him. But another part of him was tempted to go with such an idea. In truth, he had little to bar him such a thing. And Yami was not defending himself at the moment—

Movement in his peripheral made his head turn.

Yami was inching closer again. His eyes were trained on his food. And for a split second Yugi almost backed away entirely. He thought to move away from him altogether. And then he steeled himself. He growled low in his throat, pricked his ears, and came forward again. Now Yami stopped, raising his head. His eyes locked on Yugi and he circled slowly as if to try to get around him.

And then he lost whatever patience he possessed.

Something in his eyes seemed to glow. And then his ears pricked forward. His lips drew back. He bunched his muscles. He lunged forward in the snow with a feinting snap. His entire body was in a bristle. His tail was raised. He snapped and spat at him. And Yugi raised his own, glaring at him in turn.

Don't fight! Ute protested, eyes wide. We can't afford any bad fights…

What the hell, Yugi? Mai spat. Stop being a prick and let him eat!

This is stupid, Chazz muttered. He sounded irritable and perhaps defensive as well. Yami hasn't even done anything. Why the hell are you acting like this?

This isn't about food, Shay sneered, glancing at Mai as if she were one of the stupidest creatures he'd ever laid his eyes on. I don't know what the fuck is going on between them, but seriously? I want to see this. Don't interfere where you aren't needed, you dumb bitch.

The silver and gold-furred she-wolf ignored him. Damn it, Yugi, knock it off.

He's treating him like an omega, Zane commented softly, tilting his head. Syrus was pressed up against his back, staring at the two wolves. Yami and Yugi were simply glaring at each other now. And he has no right.

According to you, Jim scoffed. We don't know what might have happened between the two of them.

No, this doesn't make sense, Aki spat in turn. Her ears were pricked forward, brows furrowed slightly, eyes glowing with confusion. Yugi would never turn on him like this.

Maybe he really fucked up and Yugi is over it, Jonouchi countered.

Yami is allowed to make mistakes just like the rest of us, Mai snapped. And starving him as punishment goes against everything that makes us wolves.

He's hardly starving, Jim snorted in turn, ignoring him and shaking himself out. He's got to be a few pounds heavier than he was just a few days ago. That doesn't suggest starvation.

You're disgusting.

And you're a dumb bitch.

Oh, shut the fuck up already, Shay snapped, it's about to get good.

Abruptly Yugi sprang forward. Yami sidestepped. The black wolf turned on him. His teeth snapped. His fangs missed his face by inches. Yugi had barely dodged with his nose unscathed. Yami circled him, bristling. Yugi followed suit. They snarled, snapping their teeth at each other. Their tails were still raised. Every inch of their bodies seemed to be stiff and squared in preparation.

Oh, dear Lupa, please let this be over with quickly.

Why pray? Yugi wouldn't hurt him. Syrus sounded sure of himself for only a moment. But he looked incredibly shaken when he turned to Yusei. The gray wolf was watching them with uncertain expressions. W-would he?

Yusei pricked his ears forward. I don't know, Syrus. I have no idea.

Yugi missed the bite to his shoulder. He jerked back. Yami aimed for his leg. His teeth clipped shut violently. Snow rained across his muzzle. His ears pricked, eyes furious and glowing. The two dodged each other again.

Why would he be so upset with him?

Maybe he overstepped his boundaries.

It could be a rank issue, maybe.

You mean, like…Yami challenging him for leadership or something?

Aki let out a scornful laugh. Yami challenging him for leadership? Don't be ridiculous. Yami wouldn't do that. Yugi would never be able to hold his own against him, anyways. Yami is way too strong for him.

Yes, but Yugi is a lot faster. Yusei trailed off for a moment, getting up and coming a few steps closer before tilting his head and wagging his tail. He's not attacking him! He's not even trying to outpace him either!

So then what the hell are they even doing?

Maybe they're just…playing? Syrus said hopefully.

That's not how you play with someone, Chazz bit back at him, shooting him an annoyed look. You don't play with someone when you're glaring at them like that.

Yami's teeth sank into his cheek. Yugi grunted, snapping his teeth. Yami squared his shoulders. Then he tossed his head violently. Yugi was almost thrown entirely off his paws. He snarled, tensing every muscle in his body.

Abruptly Yami jerked back. Then he slammed forward. Yugi was thrown off balance. His paw slipped. And he found himself hitting the ground. Yami loomed over him. His red eyes were glowing, pupils blown in his anger. His legs were on either side of his shoulders. His teeth were lowered to his throat. His breaths were hot against his neck, tickling his fur. When he moved his head, Yami snapped his teeth inches from his eye.

The white wolf hesitated a moment. Then he whined, wagging his tail. His paw came up, nudging gently at the black male's nose. Yami huffed, growling. But he let Yugi put his paw on his forehead and push gently. The black wolf mouthed at it, biting it a moment. And then he turned and moved away from him entirely.

Yugi was on his feet immediately. He shook himself out and stretched. Then he wagged his tail and dropped into a play bow in front of him. Yami cast him an annoyed look, snorted, and slowly wagged his tail once. His eyes were full of caution and his lips had drawn back slightly as he went back to chomping on his food.

Uh… Yusei tilted his head. Maybe they were…just playing then?

I don't think that's what it was, Mai muttered uncomfortably. She flattened her ears, tilting her head. She glanced at Jonouchi but the golden-furred male didn't look at her. But I don't know what else it could have been so maybe…

Yugi pawed at him. His paw tapped his side. Yami wagged his tail, but kept eating. Yugi tried again. And the look he was given was full of rage. The red eye visible to him was dilated to a mere ring surrounding his pupil. And his teeth were bared where he was digging into his bone. Yugi could see the whites there after a moment, against the black lids of his eyes. Each of his teeth looked like daggers.

Yugi flattened his ears and lowered his head, then turned away. He plopped down a couple of feet away, chin on his paws. Yami was still eyeing him, gaze cold and glittering with anger, and Yugi made sure to avoid locking gazes with him.

Yami, on the other hand, continued eating. He ignored him entirely, refusing to look towards any of the others. It was only when he'd finished that he finally moved. Yugi yelped when Yami sprawled out on top of him. His paws were in the air, back pressed against Yugi's side as he fell back off his shoulder.

Yugi turned to him, wagging his tail immediately. His entire body was quivering with excitement now. But Yami simply looked at him. For a moment he looked as if he might speak. Then he got up, shook himself out, and trotted away a few yards.

Maybe it's from the experiments? Yusei finally muttered. Maybe that's why they aren't…communicating properly…?

The comment was met with an uneasy silence. The wolves all swapped looks and Syrus shivered as he considered the others. Chazz had tilted his head, seeming to contemplate the words and likeliness of the suggestion. Aki abruptly got up, snarling, No, Yami knows damn well how to communicate properly and Atem shouldn't have any issues, even if he was raised in those fucking labs. If he is having trouble it's because of something else entirely.

Syrus shot her a bewildered, almost concerned look. Like what?

How the hell would I know? Aki spat. Her eyes shot to Ishizu and she bristled, baring her teeth at the other she-wolf. Why don't you tell us, Ishizu? You're the psychic.

Yusei had the oddest feeling that Aki was terrified. There was something in the way she held herself, in how she stared at Ishizu so blindly. He couldn't tell if it was because of the suggestion something was wrong with Atem or if it was the idea that Yami truly could beat Yugi or if it was something else entirely. But he was sure of it the longer he looked at her. She was all but shaking, her pupils mere pinpricks and her eyes almost vibrating with intensity. She was trying to find something to focus on, to ease her panic…

The blue-eyed she-wolf was ignoring them, however. She had curled up into something of a ball, though not as tightly as a wolf might before they would sleep in the snow. Yusei considered her, tilting his head, but his stomach was in knots as she watched Yami and Yugi impassively once more.

I don't think Ishizu wants us to bother her.

That's nice. I didn't ask for any of you to bother me and yet you all do, Aki spat in turn. She snapped her teeth as him as she passed and Yusei watched her with his ears against his head. He wouldn't object to her being so angry with him; it didn't truly get them anywhere as it was. She would just turn on him harder and more fiercely than ever. He shook himself out and watched as she got to Ishizu's side. Ishizu.

Those pale blue eyes flickered to her. But she did not respond beyond this. Her eyes were hollow, as if gutted somehow, and she stared at Aki as if she had never seen her before in her life. The red-furred wolf bristled for a moment, then exhaled slowly.

What was all of that?

It's not a big deal. If she doesn't want to talk she doesn't have to, Yusei bit out, feeling a sudden swell of panic crash through him. Something was wrong with the she-wolf; she had seen something that the others hadn't, and he was terrified now. If she told them, she'd break them. He knew it somehow, somewhere deep in his bones. And he trembled as Aki turned to him with a startled expression. I don't think she's in the mood to—

Ishizu raised and turned her head now. Her eyes slowly fell onto him, like ice crawling slowly across the surface of water. He felt cold and sick now, trembling harder, and the she-wolf peered at him as if she might see through him. Then she looked away, past him and into the snow that stretched beyond him.

Yusei turned his head, relieved but terrified as well.

All he could see where she might be looking was…Yami?

He blinked, eyes widening. The black wolf was sitting lazily in the snow. His head was tilted, his nose working, his eyes half-closed. His eyes were on the trees stretching out before him and his ears flicked occasionally. But he did not look as if he might leap up at any moment. Whatever it was he was listening to, he realized, was not actually in the woods. It was too often that his ears flicked and the direction was wrong for him to be focused so keenly ahead of himself.

Abruptly the red-eyed wolf turned his head. His eyes locked on something past Yusei's shoulder and the yearling realized he must have felt Ishizu staring at him. Immediately he turned his head as well, and the she-wolf stretched herself out, shaking snow from her coat. She lifted her tail, then dropped it, taking a seat and craning her neck back until it popped.

Yugi and Yami are fighting, she mumbled in a cold tone. Yusei had never heard her voice so distant and icy before. He bristled, glancing swiftly back over his shoulder. But Yami was no longer looking at her. He had turned away again, had gotten up and was sniffing at the snow as if he might find something beneath the layers of ice. They had a fight yesterday, a verbal spat that neither of them have recovered from. Yugi is trying to make amends but Yami is not receptive.

So…Yami is holding it against him? Syrus asked after a moment. He looked confused and thoughtful, head tilted and eyes wide. I mean, isn't that kind of bad, though? They're both our first in command…

Yes, well, personally, I would never forgive Yugi for what he said, Ishizu sneered. She got to her paws after a moment, then trotted forward. Yusei stiffened considerably when she stopped a couple of inches away from him, head tilted. Are you truly so afraid of me, little Yusei Fudo? Does the future terrify you so much?

He bristled, backing up rapidly. I, uh…I-I don't like someone else knowing what's going to happen to me or—or anyone else…

She nodded slightly, a distant look to her eyes again. It is not a pleasant thing to know the future. Especially when one's visions are shrouded by death, she mumbled. She didn't look at him again when she trotted past him.

Yusei spun around, breathless for a moment. Shrouded by death? Was that all she saw? How people would die? When they would die? How had she lived like that before? How could she live like that now?

Yami turned his head to focus on her again the moment she was within a yard of him. His red eyes were sharper, cruel and glittering. His head was tilted, ears pricked. Yusei could see the flash of fury that swelled in his gaze for a single second. And then the black wolf got to his feet waited for her to get to his side. They walked out of the camp as if they were best friends, inches between them, Ishizu with her muzzle turned towards him and Yami with his head raised as he kept pace with her.

When Yusei turned his head, relieved but also terrified—because what could she want from Yami? Was something going to happen to him next?—he found himself frozen. Yugi had been watching the exchange as well. He was bristling, head raised and eyes on the two darker wolves as they disappeared from his line of sight. His lips were peeled back, his teeth showing, and his ears were flat against his head. He looked more upset than Yusei had ever remembered seeing him.

He wondered if that was what jealousy looked like on a wolf. Or if perhaps Yugi were just as scared as he was that whatever Ishizu might have to say to Yami might be an omen they couldn't recover from.

It took only a moment for Yugi to turn his head and regard him, however. His ears pricked, his lips fell back over his teeth, his head tilted, his fur lost its bristle. His blue-violet eyes were suspicious and glittering with frustration, but he no longer looked as if he might lunge forward. Yusei shivered. He had never seen Yugi so bitter and angry before. He had never seen him so mad that his eyes looked like cold gemstones and his stance was squared and rigid.

It took him a moment to realize who he was looking at as well, Yusei realized. But then Yugi wagged his tail slightly and turned away. He settled on his stomach, putting his chin on his paws and staring out into the woods.

And Yusei noted that although everyone else moved around and settled into more mundane behavior—eating, playing, napping—in the two hours it took for them to return, Yugi never moved. He did not even close his eyes beyond to blink. But when they returned, Yugi was on his feet immediately. He took off towards them.

And Yusei could see why he was bristling so furiously now.

Yami looked exhausted, eyes darkened and head somewhat lowered. Ishizu looked absolutely ancient. Neither of them seemed to acknowledge him at first, though Yami did turn his head after a moment. Whatever Yugi said to him did not seem to go over well; the black wolf stared at him blankly, snorted loudly, and turned away with his ears pricked.

Yusei wondered abruptly if Ishizu knew. Did she know about what Yami had told him that day in the woods? Did she know the truth of what he'd told him after Echo had died? If she did, how could they be so calm now? Yami had been quick to tell him he'd kill him if he opened his mouth. Perhaps the psychic put fear even in him as well. Or perhaps he had known she knew for a while now, but she had requested audience with him to discuss something else entirely.

He shivered.

Yugi was glaring at Ishizu, the she-wolf was sitting in the snow lazily, and Yami had gone about ignoring them entirely. The tension came over the pack tenfold now, anxiety creeping immediately on its heels seconds later. Yusei was winded by the force of it, the way the air seemed to grow colder and press upon him further. He drew in a deep breath, considering. But they did not turn on each other. Aside from dirty looks shot at one another, the occasional snarl and the wrinkling of noses, none of them seemed too terribly upset.

Yami finally turned and wandered off. Yugi stayed to—Yusei assumed—argue for a few moments longer. Ishizu was staring at him with a bored expression and the white wolf finally turned to chase Yami instead. But Yugi turned his head after a moment, slowing drastically in his steps. It took Yusei a moment to realize he was staring back at him and the yearling quickly wagged his tail, lowering his eyes.

---

Yami was chewing on the second antler an hour later. He was on his belly, chewing aggressively but with a distracted manner as well. He'd missed the antler twice before, chomping his teeth on dead air before he realized it had slipped out of position. Then he'd go right back to it, repositioning it and digging in more furiously than ever. Yugi had been watching him since the moment he'd come back to the camp. Yami had made it abundantly clear that he wanted him nowhere near him, so he'd taken to sitting by himself closer to the trees where he could watch him more pointedly. He'd witnessed him snap the antler in half on more than one occasion, sometimes with a pleased expressions but others with bewilderment.

So, what was that about earlier? Are you guys still fighting?

Yugi blinked, startled away, and turned his head in confusion. He had recognized the voice somewhere in the back of his mind, but it took him a moment to understand that Jonouchi was talking to him. He blinked again, mind quickly working to repeat the statement to him in order to catch him up on the thing he'd missed.

He furrowed his brows. Why did Jonouchi look so concerned? It wasn't as if anyone were hurt. Yami was fine. He was fine. Yami hadn't decided to try to kill him or anyone else. Why was he so worried about it? He nearly snorted, then tilted his head and studied him a moment. What? What do you mean? he finally asked, shaking his head the smallest bit. What happened earlier? Who was fighting?

Jonouchi stared at him in open bewilderment. His head tilted, his ears pricked forward, and his lips drew back into a grimace. Something almost akin pity crossed his expression for a single moment. You and Yami were fighting earlier, remember that? His tone was slightly flustered, the smallest bit mocking as well. He shook his head slightly. As in, you guys literally had a fight right in front of all of us. Right here. Just earlier. You and Yami were literally attacking each other.

Yugi blinked, confused. And then he shook his head. You mean the food thing, he realized quietly, flicking an ear. He went to reassure him that they weren't truly fighting, but Jonouchi scoffed loudly.

Yeah, if that's what you want to call it, he said wryly. He pricked his ears forward again and Yugi almost wanted to snap at him for the snide remark. But then he turned his head again. The others in the clearing were still uneasy, watching Yami if they were not trying to ignore the aggression he exuded at the moment and sleep instead. A sharp cracking noise came forward and Yugi watched the antler break in half, falling in a strangely pristine diagonal cut. He shivered and Jonouchi made a disturbed noise in the back of his throat. Anyways, Yugi, what was that about? You guys were fighting and all of us were pretty freaked out about it… Well, besides Shay, but that's because he's a psycho.

Yugi almost laughed at the comment. It sounded about right, in truth. Shay had to be psychotic to think he could fight Yami, no matter how emaciated he was. He shook his head. I wouldn't call it that. It wasn't really all that intense or anything. Honestly, I just wanted to let loose some pent up energy, he finally mumbled. But even he realized how stupid he sounded and his stomach rolled for a moment before he huffed out a small breath. He really was such a bastard, wasn't he? He'd hurt Yami a lot more than the black wolf could even process, he realized. He'd slept under the bed, had refused to come out for the rest of the day until Yugi had said he was going to the camp. And then, by some miracle, about ten minutes into having changed and started walking, he had heard him coming after him. When he'd turned around, Yami had been yards behind him, head down, nose pointed towards the snow, eyes lowered, ears pricked and so much smaller in stature than he'd ever seen him before. He'd looked broken, tired, and cold.

And Yugi had diminished him to that state.

And over what?

Otogi making him angry?

Yugi squeezed his eyes shut tightly for a moment. Yami had not deserved that backlash. He hadn't deserved him using that against him. And he should never have spoken like that to him in any manner as it was.

You were fighting before you left the woods, Jonouchi said quietly, forcing his way through Yugi's thoughts. The white wolf turned his head, eyes snapping open. And I might not be the most observant person in the world, but even I know he hasn't forgiven you. And he hasn't spoken to you or acknowledged you all day. So I'm guessing that you are still fighting.

I shouldn't have said that to him. He has every right to be mad at me, Yugi answered coldly after a moment. He turned his head again, flicked his ears, and finally faced Jonouchi once more. He felt hollow and small in front of him, as if the golden-furred wolf were judging him for something he was not quite sure he was looking for. If I had something like that to you, would you be all that happy with me?

Jonouchi stayed quiet. His eyes were slightly sharp, but they softened after a moment. And he turned away from him, tilting his head and looking at the snow. When he still didn't answer for a long minute, Yugi turned away.

I don't think he's ever going to completely forgive me for that, he admitted quietly. And I can't blame him. I don't think I ever could either.

Jonouchi didn't respond. And Yugi felt as if he were being suffocated. He hurried forward, darting into the snow as quickly as he could to make his way towards the center of the clearing. The others all looked up with bewildered expressions, though he heard a protest from Syrus that sounded suspiciously like He's not going to attack him again, is he? But no one else seemed to speak up. And Yugi slowed his steps as he got within a yard of him.

Yami had gotten up. His ears were pricked towards him, his head lowered so he could not even see his face properly. His antler fell from his mouth with a sharp cracking noise and the black wolf let out a low, anxious snarl.

You know I'm not going to attack you. Why are you getting up?

Is that so? I know that? Why do I know that?

Yugi blinked, stunned by the accusatory statement. When he went to respond, he found himself frozen. Yami was staring at him. His head was turned, his right eye exposed to him. It was glittering, hateful and exhausted but full of warning. The shadows that played across his face at this angle made it hard to see if his lips were wrinkled or not. But his breathing was steady at least. And his muzzle was still pointed towards the ground. His ears were focused on him, however, and he realized they were his only warning. Yami was not going to turn tail this time. He'd gotten up to move, but not away from him. If Yugi had not stopped, he would have dropped the antler sooner and gone for his face.

Apparently I was not even smart enough to realize that it was stupid of me to tell you anything from my past. I was so foolish that I thought you might be the one person not to use it against me.

Yugi recoiled, the blow enough to wind him. He drew in a sharp breath after a moment, shook himself out, and forced himself to remain still. Yami was not going to let him closer. If he stepped any nearer, he'd show him why the rest of the pack was afraid of him. He knew that. He was playing a dangerous game at the moment. Yami could easily destroy him. He had a higher threshold for pain than him. He was sure he could kill him without the phantom pains slowing him down if he felt it necessary…

Yami, I…I'm sorry. He hesitated, tilting his head slightly. He sounded like an idiot. He sounded so weak and pathetic that he could hardly breathe any longer. He drew in a deep breath and forced himself to continue. Let him sound pathetic, but if he could get the words out, then at least they'd sound genuine and Yami might believe him… I'm so sorry. I never meant to say something like that. You know I would never hurt you on purpose. I've never wanted to hurt you! And I…I lost my temper. You're my best friend! Why would I want to hurt you?!

Yami snorted so loudly that Yugi flinched. His eye flashed, full of laughter and mockery for a moment. And then he jerked his nose towards Jonouchi where he was watching on the hill past them. Yugi saw his teeth, bright white like glaciers and dripping with saliva in his growing rage.

And what of him? Do you mean to tell me he is no longer your best friend? Will you lie to me like that? The black wolf's voice was cold, quiet enough that Yugi almost could not hear him. And what of this apology to me? Do you ask forgiveness from me? Me? Is that your desire? For me to forgive you?

A small surge of indignation came through him and he stepped closer, daring Yami to lunge at him. But the black wolf merely peeled his lips back further and now Yugi could see that he'd chewed so violently his gums were raw. Blood dribbled from his flesh for a long moment and Yugi bristled with alarm, immediately thinking to check on him and make sure he had not gouged them open too deeply. But the longer he looked, the less blood there was, and he could see the flesh stitching itself together as if it had never been harmed to begin with.

Do you honestly think that I don't consider you one of my closest friends? That you are not easily my best friend? That you don't rank higher to me than anyone else? Yugi muttered, narrowing his eyes and staring at him. Yami didn't so much as blink, staring at him with that same cruel, glittering look to his visible eye. I took you in without knowing if you'd kill me or my family. I let you sleep in my bed with me. I nursed you back to health. I helped you outrun hunters. I put you above my friends and family. I spend my time with you more than anyone else. I care about you more deeply than I ever have anyone. You've been the focal point of my life for months now!

And will you use that against me as well? Yami questioned, eye narrowing the smallest degree. His lips peeled back further, his teeth rigid peaks and his tongue a hideous pink color in the darkness. Are you going to tell me you wish to hold me accountable for that as well? I did not ask you to shelter me. I only wished for you to bandage my arms. I did not once ask you to extend your home to me. I never asked you to feed me or spend money or—

I know that! Yugi objected, almost spitting the words at him. The increase in volume made Yami turn his head a fraction more. His other eye was just slightly visible now. And Yugi had the sudden thought that if Yami turned his head entirely, he'd lunge for his throat then and there. Yami was struggling to restrain himself… I know you never asked for those things. I offered them. I offered because I cared enough to. You needed help and I cared enough to ask you to stay where I knew you would be okay and recover well.

Yes, before we became friends, is that not right? Yami sneered. His ears flicked and Yugi realized one of the wolves was moving, pacing anxiously. So then none of your argument is truly valid in light of that, yes?

Yugi blinked, stunned by the statement. He stared at him a moment, heart clenching in his chest. Do you honestly hate me so much?

Yami peered at him with those same glittering eyes, unblinking and fierce and full of something he couldn't quite read. He considered him a long minute and a half. And then he turned his head away, just enough that he was no longer able to see both of his eyes again. No, I do not hate you, he finally spat. I do not hate you. But I do not have the energy for forgiveness either.

Yugi almost trembled with relief. And his first instinct was to get closers, but the better half of him reminded him to stay still. Yami was posed, ready to kill him should he get too close. He was ready to lash out. He was ready to lunge and rip into his flesh. He drew in a deep breath. I can wait on forgiveness! I just…I couldn't deal with it if you hated me.

Yami was silent for what felt a lifetime. Then he turned away, snatched his antler off the ground as if to keep his mouth busy, and slowly forced himself to lay down. I do not hate you, he repeated slowly, chewing again.

Do you mind if I lay with you? Yugi asked uncertainly, abruptly certain that failing to acquire permission would cause more of a rift between them. He shivered when Yami stopped short, the keratin soaked red from his vigorous gnawing, and his lips pulled back furiously. For a moment he stared at him, that single red eye gleaming with power and intensity before it slowly faded with acknowledgment. I-I'll move away if you want me to, but…

Do as you wish.

It was not the response Yugi had wanted, but it was permission all the same. He shivered and moved closer, then laid a couple of inches away from him. He was close enough that he could have rolled over and landed on him should he try. Yami was turned away from him entirely, chomping on his antler and making the keratin sound like glass being broken as he chipped away at it.

So, uh, I didn't realize you were going to follow me out here.

One of us must lead this pack, Yami said scathingly. He eyed him again, turning his head just enough to look at him once more. Yugi almost flinched away. His expression was thunderous and he was certain he was too close, that Yami was trying not to lash out and was losing. His eyes were frozen chips of blood. His ears were pricked forward. His lips were peeled back into a snarl. Yugi knew the sharp c-shape of his lips where he exposed them around the antler. And you have not done so well that I should hand the task to you.

Yugi looked away, lowering his head to his paws and exhaling sharply. Take out as much anger as you want. It doesn't change anything. I didn't mean what I said. But that doesn't mean anything either, I know, because I already said it. And I'm sorry that I'm such a fuck up. But it's not easy, okay? The pack already doubts me and I doubt myself and Otogi opened his mouth and it just…it made sense to lash out. It doesn't have anything to do with you, Yami.

Fuck you, the other wolf snapped.

Yugi hesitated for a moment, then turned his head to face him. Yami was glaring at him fully now, head turned to make eye contact. I shouldn't have said it. I know that. And I'm disgusting for doing it, aibou. But that's why I said it. And I… You're probably tired of hearing me apologize by now… I… Look, thank you for staying.

Yami stared at him for a moment, with anger and then bewilderment. He blinked and considering him, tilting his head slightly. Yugi thought it was the closest he would get to flummoxed with that antler in his mouth and such a rigid stance.

You could have just turned and left on your own.

I could hardly survive on my own, Yami scoffed, voice full of scorn and self-deprecation. The antler cracked and split from the force of his bite and now Yugi could see blood across it like oil. He shivered, flattening his ears against his head, and Yami watched him with cold eyes. I would get myself killed.

You'd find a way, Yugi argued with a small shake of his head. You've managed to do it before you met me. You could do it again.

The hellhounds were not loose then, he snapped. I am clearly incapable of surviving their attacks with minimal damage. Considering you were not even as badly wounded as I was, I should imagine that it is you who might fare on their own.

Yugi blinked. That's not true. You know that. I can hardly keep from falling over my own paws half the time. And I really only survived all of those things because you were there to help me. If you weren't there, you know I would be long dead.

Yes, and wouldn't that be such a terrible shame?

Yugi flinched, startled. He blinked, then flattened his ears against his head and lowered his chin to his paws.

A pregnant pause settled between them for a long handful of minutes. And then Yami abruptly flipped his antler over his paw, knocking it against Yugi's muzzle by accident. My apologies, the wolf mumbled as Yugi glanced back. That was uncalled for.

Not really. I said worse.

And how might you measure yours to be worse? Yami said with a dismissive snort. He was staring at what remained of the antler with a disappointed expression. Yugi could tell he wasn't going to try to get it back from him at any point. So my cage mate is dead, as are the rest of my friends and family. They have been so for years or months now. And I made a comment that your death would not be so terrible. Is that truly a fair trade to you?

If it makes you feel better.

You disgust me, Yami snarled, spinning on him now. His fur was in a bristle, his mouth opened wide as his eyes glowed furiously. You value yourself so damn little?

It took everything in him not to laugh at the statement. Yami wanted to discuss low self-worth? He wanted to broach the subject of low self-esteem? Yugi looked at him sideways now, trying not to sneer at him. I would do anything to ensure you and my friends and family are safe at the end of the day. Is that really so bad?

You are Atem, you idiot. You are meant to be valued above all others. By others and yourself. Yami fell silent for a moment, a faraway look crossing his features before he shook it off sharply. You are meant to be a god.

Gods can be demure too. Haven't you ever heard of the Greek gods who used to come among mortals and pretend to be wounded in order to test their hearts? Yugi grinned at him slightly when Yami stared at him in bewilderment. The goddess of the hearth in Greek mythology gave her spot in the pantheon for Zeus's son, Dionysus, when no one else wanted to.

Yami snorted. And Anubis allowed himself to be stripped of title for the sake of Osiris becoming the god of the dead while Anubis became the deity of mummification. What is your point?

Yugi wagged his tail slightly. Yami did not look angry any longer. In fact, besides the confusion, there was only amusement in his eyes now. Yugi wanted to laugh, but also to tremble with elation. That some gods aren't meant to be aggressive and all-powerful. Don't you think sometimes that archetypes aren't worth conforming to?

Yami scoffed softly. I suppose one could consider Slifer rather subdued. She does not boast of her strength and she is rather patient for the most part. He hummed. Perhaps you take after her.

Yugi hesitated for a moment, briefly wondering if he meant more along the lines of death stalking his paws than anything else. But he shrugged it off before he could ask that, instead watching him a moment.

I learned more from you.

Yami stared at him blankly in turn, clearly puzzling through such a statement.

Power wise, I mean. I know how to display it and when. I know when not to and how to step down when it's necessary. And we all know I'm not that vicious or strong. But I know how to make myself seem bigger and more assertive. I got my mannerisms from watching you. But I'm still…me.

Yami eyed him skeptically for a moment. His eyes wandered towards his antler again but he simply turned away once more. I suppose so, he grunted dismissively, lowering his chin to his paws.

Yugi moved slightly closer. The other wolf tensed, spinning on him. His eyes were wild, his shoulders squared. His ears pricked forward and his lips peeled back. His gums were as white as his teeth, almost as if he were in shock from blood loss. Yugi froze in place, stunned by the sight. And then he thought of the way Yami had reacted to conversation about his cage mate, how his gums had been bright white then as well. And his stomach knotted.

Yami was shaking when he got up. It took a long minute for him to stand completely, his tremors so intense Yugi thought he was seeing doubles for a split second. Then the black wolf shook himself out, stumbling, and made it a few feet away before he stretched out again and lay down. He dug his teeth into his front paw, chewing anxiously, and spat, Do not get so close to me.

Yugi stayed where he was for a long minute. He sat up and watched him, heart aching as he tilted his head. Okay, he finally mumbled. But he felt cold and numb. I won't do it again. I don't want to make you more uncomfortable, so if I'm doing that you can always tell me.

I just did.

I know. I'm just reminding you.

Yami turned on him with a snarl. Just because I do not always say something does not mean it is okay, he spat. He glared at him, but his anger dissipated quickly and he turned away again, laying his head on his paws. You should know better. If you truly pay me so much attention as you so often claim, you would understand that without waiting to hear it from me instead.

I know that, Yugi sighed, shaking his head. I know when you're uncomfortable. As a human you start to get quieter. You tend to let your eyelids droop slightly. Sometimes your fingers twitch and other times they don't. Your stomach muscles tighten because you have to steady yourself and remember that you're still seated or standing up.

Yami's head snapped up, eyes wide. He bristled, blinking at him in surprise, but made no move to stand.

As a wolf you're more likely to tense up all along your body. It's because you're more used to this body and you know better how to react and attack quickly. As a human your reflexes are just as good but you don't have as much control. You lash out hard and fast but I don't think you know how to measure the force you use. You like to be able to yield your arsenal as effectively as possible but you don't know your limits as a human because you've never tested them. Yugi fell quiet for a moment. He looked away when he saw how anxious Yami appeared now, his words having cut through him like a knife. I was just hopeful. I saw you tensing up but I was so hopeful that I overlooked it. I wanted it to be okay between us and that's why I decided not to heed it.

Yami stayed silent. And Yugi was terrified of the way his heart sounded in his ears, hammering and thundering and making his stomach lurch. He licked his lips, shifting his weight, and flattened his ears against his head as he waited.

I…was not aware you paid such attention to me, Yami admitted quietly. He sounded uncertain, almost tired and perhaps slightly broken, as if somehow the realization had shattered him. Yugi wanted to look over at him, but every muscle in his body bid otherwise and so he stayed still, watching the ground and wishing for a moment that he could hide under the snow. Why would you do that?

Yugi flicked his ear. The rest of the pack had gone still and they were trying to listen in, perhaps confused and bewildered, or maybe just concerned that they might fight again. Yugi ignored the eyes he could feel on him. Because I… You're my best friend.

You mean to tell me you know such things about Jonouchi as well?

I know them about Anzu, not Jonouchi. He almost cringed at the admission. But Yami already knew about that, didn't he? He didn't want to hear it, he didn't want to acknowledge it, he wanted nothing to do with it, but he knew. So, regardless, Yami knew exactly what he was hinting at. But I know when he's trying not to be rude because there's a little crinkle that comes across the bottom of his left eye. And when he's really upset he sometimes twitches. Sometimes he ends up tapping his foot or bouncing from foot to foot. His reflexes are already pretty fast, honestly, so I don't know how much better they could get. And he hits pretty hard anyways, so I don't know how much stronger he is now.

Yami stayed quiet for what felt like a lifetime. And then he narrowed his gaze and growled, How odd. I was not aware any human might pay that much attention to their friends. Normally they require more obvious social cues. Although, I suppose your genetics being as they were even then, it should not be such a surprise to me.

Yugi priced his ears forward, raising his head slightly to peer at him. You mean being related to Ra?

I would believe so.

Maybe. It was a dismissive, noncommittal statement, and Yugi sniffed at the air, watching him. Yami was studying him again, seemingly unnerved but no longer upset by any means. So Yugi wagged his tail, hoping to ease some of the tension, but the dark wolf simply stared. Either way, though, you wanted to know. And that's what I know about you. That's all the body language I noticed a second ago, when you apparently didn't think I was paying attention to you.

Yami pricked his ears. You are an odd creature.

You already know that. Yugi tilted his head and wagged his tail wildly for a moment. He seemed more amused than anything, no longer as unnerved as he had been before. Yami was still staring at him, however, eyes somewhat sharp but not full of the anger or wildness he'd worn before. You've known that for a long time now.

True enough, I suppose.

They settled into a companionable silence. Yami laid his chin on his paws a few minutes later and Yugi finally crept closer, stopping with at least a foot between them to curl up on his own. Yami did not object to the proximity and Yugi relaxed, though he still felt estranged to the other boy now. It took another handful of minutes before he wandered closer and Yami merely blinked at him when Yugi began to lick his fur, grooming him vigorously in an effort to keep himself busy. Whatever stress Yami still suffered faded just enough that he fell asleep.

Yugi groomed him a few more minutes, then yawned and stretched out beside him. He moved close enough to press into his side, relieved when Yami did not wake and snarl at him. Instead he continued to sleep just as Yugi himself synced his breathing to his and fell asleep as well.

His rest was dreamless. And he wondered upon waking if he'd even truly fallen asleep.

Yugi looked around when he blinked his eyes open. The other wolves were mostly napping, though the yearlings were awake for the moment. Mana and Yusei were playing tag, Chazz was playing with Syrus and both were mouthing each other and pinning one another as their tails wagged. Yugi sat up awkwardly, throwing his head back so that his neck snapped from the pressure. He got up, stumbling, and shook himself out. No one seemed to notice him but to glance for a few seconds and then turn back to what they were doing.

Yami was still fast asleep beside him, fur twitching along his shoulders. But nothing else seemed uneasy in his stance. He was stretched out beside him, head still on his paws. His ears remained pricked forward. His eyes stayed closed. He was comfortable…

Yami, he mumbled as he looked up. It was sunset. His mom and grandpa would not be happy if they remained away for too much longer. But the black wolf did not respond to his name. Yugi hesitated a few moments longer, then leaned forward to nudge his shoulder gently with his nose. Hey, wake up. Aibou, we need to go back home.

Yami didn't move for a moment longer. Then he blinked an eye open, one which rolled forth from the back of his socket and seemed for a long moment too cloudy and dazed to understand or focus. Then his pupils expanded and the sleepiness faded from his expression. He blinked, red iris burning, and slowly sat up and stretched as well.

Why?

Mom and Grandpa will be waiting for us. He hesitated, heart hammering in his chest as he reconsidered the statement. They would be waiting for them, yes, but that didn't mean that Yami had to come back… Unless you want to stay here, I mean. Did you want to stay at the camp for a little while?

Yami stared back at him for a moment, his focus frosty and zeroed in on his face. He blinked at him, then pricked his ears forward, and thought for a long moment what it was he should say. Then he narrowed his gaze, slowly turning away with a curl of his lip.

No, I will not remain here for the night. Yami sounded dismissive and cold again, as if the statement had offended him. He got to his paws, shook himself out, and moved forward on stiff limbs. Yugi thought it was from the cold at first, but then realized the other was bristling again as he got closer. He lagged behind a step and put a few inches of distance between them again.

We'll be back tomorrow, Yugi called out before he could stop himself. He had not truly considered it. Returning was not really something he'd thought about before he'd said it. Yami blinked at him, surprised by the statement, but turned away just as quickly, as if Yugi had simply greeted him instead. Are you okay? You seem upset.

Upset? Yami scoffed softly. Why might I be upset?

I just figured with the way you act like your tail is on fire…

No, not at all. I simply wish to return to the house and resume resting. He sounded as if Yugi were a petulant child he was attempting to pacify. And Yugi wondered if he'd overstepped, though he realized that he must have regardless. Yami had not invited him so close to him; he'd simply assumed he could be. I am still tired.

Okay.

They traveled in silence for a long handful of moments. Yugi found himself shivering. His ears pricked forward and he hurried to keep pace at his side. They continued down the hill and he nearly bristled with discomfort. His stomach coiled for a long handful of seconds and then he licked his lips and considered him. He shook his head and slowed a step.

Can I ask you something?

Yami did not so much as blink in response. When he did not continue, the black wolf grunted in a noncommittal affirmation, staring straight ahead as they continued forward. Yugi hesitated, but continued beside him. He exhaled harshly, closing his eyes a moment or so later. And then he shook himself out.

I just… Do you know what my name stands for?

Yami was quiet for a moment, then looked sideways at him, as if he were uncertain what he was meant to say in response. Your name Yugi translates to game in other languages, he said slowly, watching him and narrowing his gaze. If you mean the acronym for which Atem stands for, yes. It is Apex Timeless Evolutionary Mutation.

Yugi tilted his head and pricked his ears. Were you told that in the labs?

Yami blinked. The labs? he asked softly. No… Why might they have told me such in the labs? They did not want to let me have a name there, remember? If we were bred there we were not given names. Or, at least I do not think we were. I know they refused to acknowledge me by anything other than my project code. They did not want to give me a proper name and I was considered a backup to you, so I was not thought to need a name of any kind.

He frowned. Then did you hear it somewhere else? He laughed after a moment, turning to him and grinning sloppily as Yami stared in bewilderment. Did you follow me to the hospital and happen to hear Shizuka when she told me?

Shizuka? Yami echoed, voice scornful but puzzled as well. Yugi blinked, confused as his red eyes glittered with open bewilderment. A sudden and startling clarity crashed through his gaze a moment or so later. And then he stopped short, bristling, and peered at him with a snarl on his face. Jonouchi's younger sister?

Yugi blinked, hesitating when he noticed the shift of his stance, how much colder and harder his expression had become. Yeah, his little sister. She was kidnapped when she was younger. I…I think she got injected with lycanthropy soon after that. He bristled and backed up when he noticed the hateful but stunned expression on Yami's face, heart hammering in his chest. Why are you looking at me like that?

I had all but forgotten about her entirely.

Yugi blinked. Huh? He shivered, stopping short and peering at him in open bewilderment. Yami was glaring at him for whatever reason now. His fur was up in a jagged bristle and his expression was cold and sharp again. Why are you so upset right now?

Because I had not thought of her since you said you found her dead in her hospital bed, he snapped irately now, ears pricked and lips pulled back into a sneer. I did not know that she was the one to tell you the meaning of his name.

I thought I told you she had. Why did I think that…?

Perhaps you did. Yami flicked an ear and huffed out a snarl. I likely blocked the memory out for the sake of ignorance being bliss. I did not consider that I might have supposed it before now.

What? Why would you block it out?

Yami peered at him for a long minute. And then he burst out laughing. His teeth flashed coldly when he bore them at him, eyes wide and stunned as he considered him. You…you did not recognize it then? He looked stunned, full of more laughter than Yugi could stomach.

Recognize what? Yami, you're freaking me out. What are you even talking about?

Yami wrinkled his nose. My scent.

Your…scent? What do you mean I didn't notice your scent? Why do you think I didn't notice your scent? Wait, why would I have noticed it? When would I have noticed it? What are you even talking about right now?

Yugi could feel his heart hammering again. His limbs felt numb, his chest tight and his heart leaping into his throat. His tail drooped and his lungs threatened to tighten. Realization was creeping through him like bile. He could feel it trailing through him, hot like fire but cold as ice as it began to seep into his blood and slow his pulse. He was almost shaking, thoughts racing as he forced himself to remain standing. He wanted to collapse, heart breaking.

You?

Yami tilted his head. Yes.

You…? Why? Why the hell would you…? Yugi shook his head slowly, stunned and horrified, winded as he struggled for air once more. He swallowed hard, flattened his ears against his skull, and tried to convince himself not to fall. He tried his hardest to convince himself that he could hold his own weight. But it was almost impossible and he found himself shaking so hard he could not understand what he was doing. Aibou, no… H-how…? That doesn't make any sense. I don't… How the hell could you have even known about her to begin with?

Yami was silent for a moment. He was statuesque, then he blinked slowly. His red eyes were glazed over, somewhere far away for a moment. He shook his head, slowly at first and then with increasing speed. The entire front of his body jerked with the wild motion and he raised a paw to claw at his muzzle. He snarled and bit at the air, then glared at him as if he were the reason it had happened. He squared his shoulders, looming over him for a single second, and bore his teeth hatefully.

I followed your scent, he spat eventually, breathing heavily and snarling low in his throat. You had not returned yet. And I was worried about you. I went to check on you. But I followed your scent to the hospital and when I entered the nurses treated me as if I were you. They said that Jonouchi had just left, but that Shizuka had been asking for someone to talk to. I realized they must have assumed we were the same person, that I was supposed to be you, so I let them lead me to her.

Yugi was winded. Asking for someone to talk to?

Her loneliness had led to her death? Was that truly what Yami was telling him? That a simple mistake from the nurses and her loneliness had led to this happening?

She wanted someone to talk to so that she could fall asleep. The nurses claimed that they could not make her comfortable enough to sleep without a speech of some kind. Apparently the nurses with overnight shifts would sit in a chair in the corner of her room and read to her until she fell asleep. He blinked and his eyes grew distant again for a single moment. Yugi had the abrupt thought that perhaps his cage mate had told him stories or something like that until he had managed to fall asleep on nights that the experiments were at their worst. Regardless, they took me to see her. She asked me to approach the bed when I mimicked her voice. She said I did not smell like you and I did not have the heart to tell her that I was not you.

So, she mapped your face then?

Yami was silent. And then he looked towards him slowly. His eyes seemed almost to glow again, frustration crossing his expression. He pricked his ears forward, focusing on him once more.

No, at first she tried to but I would not let her. I just held her hands until she stopped. It took her explaining her insistence for me to do so. But I relented eventually. She mapped my face out, spoke to me about the tortures at the labs and told me that while I can mimic you, I cannot walk with the weight distribution and my…presence is much colder. Yami looked away from him now, tilting his head and staring at one of the nearby trees as if it might help him in some manner. She told me that she wished for freedom.

Freedom?

She wanted to escape.

Yugi bristled slightly. His head was spinning, his lungs constricting painfully. Okay, so…

She asked me to set her free.

He shook his head slowly, stunned and disgusted. A wave of shame crashed through him immediately after, and the smallest surge of hatred came with it. He shook his head again, pricking his ears, and stared blankly at the darker wolf.

Abruptly Yami burst out laughing again, turning to him. His eyes were full of loathing and his voice was spiteful now. I told her no. I said I could help her recover if that was what she wanted. But she refused. She said she did not want me to help save her like that. She said she did not want to have the memories of torture so fresh every day. He peeled his lips back to show off his brilliant white teeth. He was snarling low in his throat again, tilting his head and Yugi felt as if he were being smirked at. She said she wanted freedom again and again and again. She repeated it until I couldn't take it anymore. And then she kept saying it. I got frustrated. And then she…said something. She said…

Yugi managed to quell his tremors for a single moment. What did she say? He snapped the words, startling himself. What made you snap?

I did not snap. I knew damn well what I was doing. Yami shot him a furious look, as if he were disgusted that Yugi might have considered it something else. He shook his head and turned away, drawing his lips back further. But rather than a snarl, he seemed more than ever to be smiling for a split second. Yugi felt shaky, horrified, but a part of him wondered. Was his mind twisting these things around? Was his mind warping his features to make him seem more malicious? You cannot call it a lapse in judgment. It was not, Yugi. I did it for a reason.

But he offered no explanation for a long moment. Yugi almost got anxious enough to ask right before Yami shook himself out and continued.

She said she remembered me and how much I had been experimented on. Apparently she'd memorized my features long before she'd lost her eyesight. She said my cage mate was… He fell silent again, then snarled low in his throat and glared at Yugi. I cannot say it. Regardless, it upset me to hear her say such a thing. I hardly thought about it. She was still talking about him. She kept saying it to me. She kept saying it constantly. She said it until I could no longer take it.

Yugi nodded. She said something about your cage mate and you lost your temper.

My temper? It was not my temper. It was nothing to do with my temper. She broke my heart when she said it. She was not wrong. And I hate myself for what she said. I want to vomit. I want to claw my wrists open. I cannot think of what she said without wishing to hurt myself for it. He fell quiet again, shaking his head sharply. She said it again. I begged her to stop. I begged her, Yugi. But she would not. So I…

You were still human?

As you said yourself, I do not properly know my own strength in this form. I struck out in a panic and I do not know how I did it. Perhaps it was the angle. Maybe it was just my claws. I don't know. But her head came off. And she bled everywhere. I fled through the window and since she did not have the chance to scream, I do not believe they noticed.

Yugi shook his head slowly. No, that doesn't make sense, Yami. Her blood was still pretty…fresh when I went to see her again. There's no way that her blood could have stayed fresh like that or they missed it for such a long time that she was dead. Her monitor would have gone off at the very least…

Yami stayed silent for a moment. Then perhaps she was left there in the hopes that you would come across it. But blood does not always dry without a day or two to pass. The blood on the walls would have dried first…

Yugi bristled. Okay but why would they not…?

They likely have contacts in the hospitals. Maybe that is why you were never brought in for questioning about the fact that you knew her before she'd died. Maybe that is how Fuwa knew about you as well.

He hesitated, considering him and flicked his ears uncomfortably. You think so?

It cannot simply be a coincidence.

Yugi shivered, staring at him. The statement in and of itself was extremely truthful. And it made a lot of sense when Yugi truly considered it. But it was not this that managed to keep him horrified. It was that Yami was simply watching him now. He had lost his anger and his unease. Now he stared at him rather blankly. His red eyes were slightly disoriented, his ears pricked and his head tilted. But the distortion in his eyes was more a haze than anything else.

Do you…think they thought you and I were the same on video? Do you think it was grainy enough that it seemed like the two of us were the same? Yugi hesitated, studying him for a long moment. And he almost wished Yami might apologize or something of that nature. However, the black wolf did not look even mildly upset any longer. We look close enough, right?

Yami blinked slowly, then snorted. Yes, it would make the most sense. I don't know why it is that they might have thought you and I were the same when they must have known I'd killed her earlier. They make nightly rounds, do they not? They must have known. And then they must have seen you before you fled out the window just like I did.

Yugi was quiet for a moment. The window had been shut when he'd fled. Did that mean they'd even closed it after Yami had left? Was that truly what might have happened? He shivered. The thought made him want to snarl for a brief moment.

Do you think maybe it looked more like I killed her the second time?

No, I think they knew where it happened. I just don't think they know why or how I managed to do it.

Yugi wished with everything in him that Yami would not say such a thing like that. He wished he would just say that he didn't know how she would die or why. But his heart ached. Shizuka hadn't deserved that, no matter what she might have said. And he wished he couldn't believe Yami when he said that this had happened. But it made sense. Yugi had not shown up immediately home that day and Yami could easily have followed his scent to the hospital. He'd left and wandered to the library because he hadn't wanted to come home that night and Yami would have likely headed to the school and tracked him from there. He would never have known to go the opposite way to find the library. When Yugi had come home, Yami had been in the clinic and Valon had been there with him. They'd been talking by then.

Had Valon smelled Shizuka on him? Had he known that Yami had killed her? Yami had seemingly been upset in some manner even after they had settled in his room. Even when he'd simply talked to him about Valon saying that all three of them were unnatural and he'd mentioned Atem, Yami had seemed somewhat uneasy. And he had not truly focused on it, caught up on Valon's words more than anything.

Between the mixture of things going on, it was almost impossible that he would have noticed something like Shizuka's scent on him regardless. Although he did think Yami was wise enough to get rid of the clothing and evidence, so he did not suppose that it might have helped him figure it out earlier. But now he understood why Yami had been in the woods the day after. He was pretty sure Yami had said he'd been hunting that day, but Yugi had the feeling that he'd been searching for him again. And what he'd found had been Yugi, Ryota, Ryuzaki, and Haga fighting each other.

His heart ached.

If he'd gone home earlier, would it have prevented him killing Shizuka? Or would it have simply gotten worse? Would he have done it regardless? But it didn't make any sense. Yami had gone to find him. He'd gone to see where Yugi had gone, to make sure he was okay. If he had found him, Shizuka would have still been alive. Yami wasn't stupid. He wouldn't have gone to see her if Yugi had mentioned her. He would have simply blown him off, tried to talk him out of believing her words.

But then he wondered…

If Yami had known she was talking about Atem and Yami had felt that it was a threatening situation, would he have hunted her down? Yugi shook his head to toss the thoughts away, to force himself to focus on something else entirely. He had to tell himself that he wouldn't have done that if it had not been for circumstances. He had to convince himself that Yami would not have killed her senselessly.

He did not want to think of Yami as a murderer—

Yami…

The black wolf focused on him abruptly, eyes sharp and burning. He did not respond verbally, however, gaze piercing and seemingly threatening to cut into him. His ears were pricked forward and he stood straighter than before.

Do not ever tell Jonouchi about this. When Yami blinked, Yugi bristled and stepped closer, bristling and snarling. He may not have known her as well as he would have liked, but he still loved her. And I don't think he'd be okay if you ever told him something like that. He would probably try to kill you.

He could try. Yami shook himself out and leveled him with a cold stare, voice almost wistful as he added, You could try if you'd like as well.

The white wolf blinked, startled. What? he snapped. What kind of stupid comment is that?! Of course I wouldn't try to hurt you on purpose.

Yami scoffed softly, shaking himself out once more. His eyes fell on the snow for a moment and then he moved past him. She was apparently your best friend for all that day you were with her.

Yugi flinched, stung. That's not true. I was curious and she was Jonouchi's little sister. And she knew stuff about Atem. That's why I… If he were human, he would have become flushed. Now he simply sighed, shaking his head and staring at him in distress. I just thought she would know more but…

And you're just going to pretend that you are not upset about the fact that I decapitated her like that?

Of course I'm upset, Yami. But it's not as if I hate you and I am not going to turn on you over it! You know that—

Oh? Because the first time you found I'd killed someone else you once knew you did not believe me when I tried to explain to you why. You accused me of being bloodthirsty. I will be amazed if you do not plan to do the same now.

Yugi bristled in surprise, stunned by the harsh words. W-what? His eyes grew wide, shocked by the outburst. He shook his head slightly, huffing a breath out and searching his face. I did not know why you did that to Yoshimori. If it was not for that, I would never have questioned you about it! I'm sorry for that, okay? I'm sorry that I always apparently fuck up everything, all right? I didn't mean to make you think I would turn on you for every little mistake you make. I'm sorry.

Yami shook his head, turning away entirely. After a moment he began walking again, fur rising along his hackles. He drew his lips back to show his teeth for a single second. It no longer matters. It is over and done with. Yoshimori is dead. Shizuka is dead. If you decide I am too dangerous then I should assume you would turn your back on me. That is your right.

No! Yugi spat. He overtook him, spinning around to snap his teeth at his face. Yami stopped inches from him, eyes wide and startled. Damn it, Yami, stop it! You know I'm not going to turn on you or ignore you or anything like that! You know that. Damn it, stop acting like this. Are you really that upset with me? If I didn't kick you out when your wrists healed, why would you think for even a second that I would do it now?

Because you would be wise to, he snarled. He trotted around him, glancing at him sideways in annoyance. How did you not understand that?

Yugi huffed out a deep breath, glaring at him. Really, Yami? You don't think I know that maybe it would be easier if one or both of us were out of the picture? But that doesn't mean I'm going to let someone kill me for the hell of it and I'll be damned before I let you end up dead because of me.

Yami narrowed his eyes, baring his teeth. You overestimate yourself. You might damn well be incapable of helping me should something happen.

I can try.

Trying leaves room for error and failure.

You can't always succeed, either.

And that is why promises are worthless.

---

Yugi shot past him and quickly turned around again. The door was opened but Yugi had gotten through first, standing in the doorjamb and blocking him. His stomach rolled as he considered. If he stretched his arms out, Yami would likely lash out. If he did not, he would likely play the safer route than anything. He drew in a deep breath, watching him with sheer determination. Yami might back down if he showed him enough at the moment. But he might also show him more ferocity than anything else.

Yami's red eyes narrowed and for a moment Yugi thought he might lash out and punch him. But he also looked exhausted, his lips drawn back into a grimace. His head tilted the smallest degree to the side before he shook it slightly.

"Do you plan to move or am I meant to sleep on the couch now?" he finally asked. His voice was low and cold and his eyes narrowed further. "If I am sleeping on the couch, I must say that it seems like a cruel and unusual punishment."

Yugi rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "You know that's not what I'm doing," he answered calmly. But his eyes fell on his hands as his fingers twitched, as if he, too, had considered that Yami might punch him in the gut. And the red-eyed teen wished more than ever to punch him hard enough to wind him. He frowned, tilting his head, and slowly raised his eyes to Yugi's again, pressing his lips into a thin line now. "But I'm also not going to let you hide under the bed again."

"Hmm?"

Yugi shook his head, watching him more pointedly. "Yami, I don't want you to hide under the bed again, okay? It honestly really freaks me out. And I'm not upset with—"

"It. Has. Nothing. To. Do. With. You."

He blinked, stunned by the aggressive response. "Huh?"

"I said that it has nothing to do with you. It has nothing to do with whether you are upset with me. It has to do with whether or not I might attack you. You do not realize how thin the ice is that I'm treading on right now. I'm tired and I'm angry. And I want nothing more than to lash out. You do not realize how often I want to do nothing but that. And I might not mean to take it out on you, but if you are in my line of sight, do you truly think that I will not? I could easily attack and mutilate you without warning. You could become just like Shizuka. You do not understand. You assume that I hide because I think you're upset with me. No. I can handle your anger directed towards me. But the truth of all of it is that if I do not separate myself from you and your family, I do not always know what might happen."

"You're not violent by nature, Yami."

"What would you know of my nature?" Yami snarled in turn, laughing harshly and shaking his head at him. His canines looked like daggers when he smirked at him. "You may pretend to know me so well as you might like, Yugi, but the truth of it is you have no idea who I actually am."

"You're Yami."

The simple response startled him. He lost his smirk, blinking in surprise, and then furrowed his brows and shook his head. "That's not—"

Yugi shook his head, scowling. "It is! It is true. You're Yami. You're the one who bit me in the alleyway to save my life. You're the one who helped me during my first Change. You're the one who asked me to bandage his wrists. You're the one who stole a pancake from me when I first made you breakfast. You're the one who played fucking charades with me in the woods and finally took pity on me when I begged for my clothes. You're also the only guy that has ever slept in my bed with me. You're the only one I've taken out for hot chocolate and bakery treats. You're the one who worries so much about me that you're willing to throw yourself into battles with hellhounds just to help me. And you're really going to tell me that I don't know you?"

Yami shook his head. "You're naming things I have done," he said softly, stubborn in his convictions. "But you have not said a single thing which might make me think you are right."

Yugi huffed out a breath, shaking his head again and glaring at him. "You'd rather play in the snow when no one is watching. You like to run when you're in the trees. You like the way wind feels in your fur. You love the look of the moon overhead and the stars against the night sky. You have nightmares about the wolves that died in the labs. You would rather hurt yourself when you're scared than have another wounded for your sake. You still can't find it in yourself to forgive the fact that you escaped the labs when your cage mate couldn't. You don't want to live life more than necessary because you miss him and you want to punish yourself for things you couldn't prevent."

His shoulders rose, defensive rather than with the intent to lash out. His red eyes narrowed slightly and his mouth drew into a grimace.

"You don't hate people, even though you have every right. You're loyal to a fault and you're willing to leap into a fight for me no matter how little preparation you have. You're willing to help me even when you're upset with me. You…" He shook his head slightly again, letting out a small sigh. "You're always willing to help me even when I fuck up and hurt you."

Yami tilted his head the smallest fraction.

"Look, I don't… I can't say that I don't care that you killed her. I do. It's horrifying and I just… But I will say that I don't believe for a second that you would hurt me. I don't believe that you would hurt my family or friends either. If I had ever believed for even a moment that you would, I would have never let you stay here for so long. Do you really think I would have told you to stay if it wasn't for the fact that I trusted you wouldn't hurt them?"

"That's great and all, Yugi, but you are still missing the point. You do not think I might lash out at you in frustration simply because you believe me to be a good soul is that truly what you wish to tell me?" He curled his lips back slowly and bore his teeth at him with a shake of his head. "Apparently I did not hit you hard enough yesterday in the woods, hmm? You're sorely mistaken if you do not believe that might happen again. You know nothing of my temper, Yugi."

"I know that you lose it when things turn out terribly. I watched you beat that she-wolf in the woods that day, remember? She upset you and you nearly tore her throat out." He shook his head, watching him. "I fought with that day in the woods after you'd killed Shizuka. You and I argued when you killed Ryuzaki, remember? And I saw you snap Obelisk's neck in the woods in that fight. I know what your temper is like."

"Then why are you testing it so foolishly right now?"

"Because you're not going to hide under the bed all night, okay? I don't want you to. I want you to sit and talk with me. You won't answer me when you're under the bed and I know once you go under there you won't be happy and I won't see you again until tomorrow. I don't want it to happen again, okay? Yami, really. Please. Stay with me. Don't hide."

Yami stayed quiet for a long handful of minutes. His eyes narrowed and flickered towards the end of the hall as if it might somehow give him an answer. But, amazingly, perhaps because of their lowered voices, Kasumi and Sugoroku did not seem to be too entirely alarmed by their argument. Perhaps they did not even hear them speaking. But he hardly believed that. Perhaps they had sensed the tension in the air and had known to stay hidden for the night.

"Very well," Yami finally relented. His skin felt cold and itchy along his fingers. A small voice in the back of his head reminded him he could easily toss Yugi aside and hide regardless of his wishes. But he was tired. The energy it would take to physically lash out and grab at Yugi or toss him aside would be too high a cost. His fingertips felt as if they were burning, the nerves drenched in fresh poison. The air felt hot in his throat, his lungs constricting almost painfully. He turned back to him, jaw clenching as he considered Yugi closely. "But we can stop and I can leave or anything I desire if I get uncomfortable, yes?"

Yugi nodded immediately. "Of course!"

Yami curled his lips back the smallest degree further before nodding in turn. He looked down but watched him from his peripheral as he backed up to allow him room to enter. The red-eyed teen shivered, moving around him and thinking for a moment to make a dive for under the bed regardless.

"Just tell me the moment you get uncomfortable."

He nodded slightly, then moved past him and towards the corner of the room. He hesitated, glancing at the window for a brief moment. He considered it, moving closer to pull the window open an inch or two. The cold air did well to help his tensed muscles. He shivered and shook his head.

"What did you want to talk about?" he muttered. He pressed against the wall and slowly slid down until he was seated. The two walls joining behind him were comforting and he narrowed his eyes. His fingers sunk into the indigo carpet and he tugged for a moment, scratching his nails against the base of the fibers.

"Just… Well, anything, honestly. It doesn't have to be about…Shizuka or…anything like that, you know?"

A chuckle left his lips and he looked up with a sneer. "You would dare bring murder into the house?"

Yugi blinked. "Well, it's not like it's the first time I've mentioned it."

"Yes, but what of your grandfather next door or your mother at the end of the hall?" He smirked at him, unable to hide his growing amusement. "Do you honestly think that it is such a good idea to do so?"

He tilted his head, frowning the smallest bit and biting the inside of his cheek. "They both know you're dangerous. And if they don't, then they haven't been paying you much attention." He paused, and it was clear he was trying his hardest not to sound bitter and spiteful. He took several small breaths, then exhaled loudly and stared at him with a more intense expression. "Either way, it's fine to talk about if you want to. If you don't want to, then we'll talk about something else. I'm just saying, anything you want to talk about we'll talk about. Anything you'd rather not and we'll avoid it."

"What ever shall we speak of if I tell you that Shizuka and Yoshimori are off limits?" Yami hissed in disgust. He shook his head and looked away, narrowing his eyes into slits. "I am tired and do not wish to speak of either of them."

"Okay," Yugi agreed readily, heart pounding in his chest as he watched Yami. There was a long minute of silence and Yugi took a seat on the bed, drawing in a deep breath. It was relieving that he was there. But it was also terrifying. A part of him saw nothing but bloodshed, Shizuka's head missing from her body and the red that had painted the white of the walls in hideous streaks and splatters. "How about this? I was thinking of making some hot chocolate later today. Would you like some?"

The red-eyed teen blinked in surprise. "Were you now? Or did you simply decide that you should do such a thing now because of the fact that you spoke of it a few minutes before?"

"Uh, no…I'd actually planned to try to get you to talk to me when I made it." He laughed awkwardly but the comment only gained him a cold, glittering stare that made his throat feel tight. He rubbed the back of his neck and swallowed hard. His fingers caught on the back of his choker and he felt the impulse to tug until he was too lightheaded to remain conscious any longer. "I figured that it would be a good idea to do that, you know? I figured you wouldn't want to speak to me for a long time so I thought I would just try that…"

"Does my silence upset you so much?"

"Upsetting you upsets me so much." He shook his head awkwardly, smiling and scratching at the inside of his wrists. He could hardly convince himself not to grab at his choker and tug now, tension sweeping through him as his heart raced once more. But if his hands were moved away, then it would make it harder to reach for it again. Yami was watching him too closely. Reaching for it would be too obvious. And he wasn't ready for the fight he knew would come from that. That thought was the only thing that stilled his hands entirely. "If it wasn't for the way I'd upset you, I would never have thought to try to bribe you with hot chocolate…"

"A splendid bribery, I suppose."

The smaller teen rolled his eyes. "I think so. It was that or trying to take you out to that café again, but I didn't know if you would want to do that." He hesitated, opening and closing his mouth once before looking away. "So I figured I could make some hot chocolate for you with some mini marshmallows using my mom's recipe. It's pretty great too…"

"Is it?"

Yugi found himself floundering. Yami looked noncommittal, sounding dismissive and annoyed. "Yeah, it's awesome. I forgot I haven't made it for you before," he said softly, trying his hardest not to let his voice crack. Yami was staring at him, his red eyes like sheets of glass. "I made it a while back for my friends but I haven't done that for you yet."

Yami ignored him for a long minute. His eyes had lowered to the carpet and Yugi felt sick. He looked as if he thought the floor held all the answers, as if the color of the fibers was the most important thing he'd ever contemplated. Yugi felt small and childish now and he wondered if Yami had been telling the truth before. Had he truly meant it when he said he did not hate him? Or had he simply meant to assure him and get back on his better side? Yugi swallowed hard, narrowing his eyes once more.

Could he truly afford to be so suspicious of him? Surely Yami would sense that radiating from him soon enough and he would either become annoyed enough that he fled under the bed, or he'd go through the window. The thought made Yugi's mouth grow dry and for a moment he looked at the other boy.

But all he could see, for a long minute, was blood splattered across his face, his eyes glowing with hatred, and his mouth set into a snarl. And his mind raced again, stomach lurching and pulsing, as the thought came unbidden once more—What did she say to you? What the fuck did she say?

He forced it away before he could make the mistake of speaking the words. Yami had already admitted the thought of the words made him want to hurt himself. If he asked him and it triggered him into a negative reaction, Yugi was certain he would never be able to rebuild their relationship from there. Yami was already having trouble trusting him not to turn on him in one manner or another. He was already expecting him to lash out verbally or to kick him out regardless.

He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I'll make it in a couple of hours if you want?"

Yami hummed softly. "Perhaps."

But if Yugi had felt small and childish, Yami felt sick and numb. The prospect of hot chocolate or food in general made him queasy. He remembered briefly the way his cage mate had once rubbed his back when his experiments had made him vomit for hours straight. He wondered if Yugi would do the same if he were to do so now as well. His heart was in his throat now, and he tasted blood…

He could not remember if Yugi had ever done such a thing for him.

But Yugi had done a million more things for him than that. So what did it matter?

He shook his head. "I do not believe it to be of necessity if you would rather not."

Yugi seemed almost to flinch in his peripheral and Yami slowly raised his eyes to look up. The smaller teen was gnawing his lip now, blood swelling from beneath his teeth, and he had the smallest inclination to get up and go to stop him. But he did not care anymore, he realized. He did not care enough to try to move…

"Not for the moment." He felt ill to deny him something so simple. It was clear Yugi wanted to do it, if only for him. And it went against everything he cared for. His instincts did not support such a thing. It was natural for a wolf to hoard and attempt to possess every little scrap of food or water offered them. Resource guarding was meant to sustain, and while it was far more apparent in wild wolves, in a werewolf it was amplified when a wolf was ill. For him it would remain for a while, he was sure.

And now he could not understand if it was the desire that he guard his resources or if it was because he knew of the effect it would have on Yugi. Denying him of something made him so often want to vomit…

"Maybe tomorrow."

"Are you really that upset?"

"I don't want to relive the experience of what I did," he snapped, speaking between his teeth. "I don't want to think about it anymore and you're making me think of it and it's…"

He stayed quiet, then sighed and looked at the comforter. "Do you still want to hide?"

"If that were not something when I had agreed not to do, I would be." Yami narrowed his eyes, rage making his blood heat. "I do not know why I agreed to this."

"Because you were trying to make me happy."

Yami bristled. "Yes," he mumbled, "and I'm sure I've failed at that as well, haven't I?"

"Failed at…" Yugi let out a sigh that made him almost cringe. And then he heard the mattress squeak gently beneath his weight as he got up, the soft carpet folding and springing up again as the smaller teen came closer to him.

Yami was unaware he was shaking until Yugi held him so tightly he couldn't anymore.