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.

87. Regrets

Disclaimer: I do not own Yugioh

Update schedule: Biweekly due to limited time

Edit Schedule: Sporadic due to limited time

Chapter Warnings: Mentions of Bloodshed, Mentions of Death, Referenced Self-Harm, Referenced Child Abuse, Yugi Being Slightly Badass, Violence, Character Deaths, Mild Puzzleshipping Fluff, Hints of Depression, Hints of Self-Loathing

Hopefully everyone had a great last couple of holidays and year 2021 will be better than 2020. Anyways, I was going to take longer to polish and edit and work on this chapter, but considering the first half of it got polished and edited about four times already and I keep stopping at the fight scene, I figured meh let's get a move on. Plus! This day officially marks Shadows That Bleed as three years old. Happy new year!

If anyone was concerned, life got hard so I couldn't get this HUGE ass chapter updated until now. Regardless, here's chapter 87. (I have no idea when I'll get the chance to edit/post 88.) The self-harm reference is Yugi pulling on his choker.

Chapter LXXXVII: Regrets

Work Log Entry LXXVII: July, 2009

July 1

The hellhound is unusually stable whenever she is around the smaller wolf. Her friend somehow keeps her tame. I am unsure what the boss plans to do with this information but he seems even more pleased by this development.

July 6

Atem has grown disoriented and weak again. The sudden illness has knocked him completely unconscious. No one can wake him.

July 8

His brain activity is stable. It is almost as if he is simply sleeping.

July 14

Atem has finally woken again. His comatose state has expired. Somehow he shows no signs of damage but for muscle loss and being ravenous.

July 24

The hellhound has shown great improvement from prior tests. Her ability to adapt has quickly become astounding.

July 28
She is proving to be drastically more dangerous than accounted for formerly. She mutilated a guard for getting too close to her friend.

She's also proven to have a more destructive side.

During her last fight in the enclosures, she beat a grizzly bear to death after toying with it for several hours.

The boss is excited by this news.

I cannot determine why.

Yugi looked around as the pack slowly crept out of the cavern and shook themselves out. The canines surveyed the area slowly, considering the onslaught of blood against the ice and the disturbance where each fight had progressed. The white wolf watched them all as they began to inspect the camp. Some of the wolves swapped looks and others sniffed the air rapidly, as if fearful one of the hounds might still be lurking about in the shadows. But they did not hesitate to follow him or Yami; some of them even hovered about and waited almost motionlessly until the black wolf moved. Yugi knew the fight had been shared around, though he also understood that they had all gone quiet in order to avoid allowing him to see the details as well. He was not sure if they assumed he'd be upset or if it was something along the lines of fear he could not handle it and might grow distressed and despair the apparent loss.

Yami was seated a few yards away, head lowered slightly and eyes half-closed. He did not look as exhausted as he had when he'd finished the serow off, falling asleep with his face half-buried in its stripped ribcage. Yugi had tried to wake him several times. But Yami had slept through it. He'd slept so heavily Yugi had almost feared he was dead for a split second. His eyes had finally opened an hour afterwards, staring at Yugi in bewilderment before he slowly got up, whispering, I'm worse off than I thought. I'm so much worse off.

But he had refused to elaborate when Yugi pressed for more information. He had refused to speak to him in any manner as to what was worse, or if perhaps he'd somehow permanently harmed himself in some manner. Yugi didn't know, but he was afraid all the same. Between the abuse, self-hatred and grief, and the various times Yami had come back from the dead, Yugi knew there had to be some kind of mental break or trauma. And he knew it would have to rear its head sooner rather than later.

Yugi shook this thought off, turning away. He blinked, glancing around slowly. The wolves were seated, resting; the clouds had come in, blocking the sun out completely, and it looked almost like afternoon rather than early morning. He didn't predict snow; he couldn't feel any of the necessary frigid weight that came with it, but he did think the cloud coverage was heavier than it had been hours earlier.

The pack was unsettled, silent and withdrawn. None of them had moved in any manner to so much as argue. And, despite himself, Yugi was both surprised and delighted to see that the attack seemed to have brought them closer together. He wished the circumstances had been different, but they all seemed to have grown to accept Yami as well. None of them made snide remarks. None of them showed their teeth. They did not even glance in Yami's direction with anything but cautious respect.

In fact, to Yugi's amazement, Shay even wandered off to grab some prey from the kill pile for him. He didn't look as if he planned to try to challenge him for the fun of it anymore. He actually even seemed to have the smallest hint of respect in his eyes. Yugi was so relieved by the new expression he almost could have trembled.

He turned his head, facing Aki now. I want ten of the healthiest wolves to patrol at least twenty miles into the woods to make sure that the territory is secure and there are no straggler hounds. We don't want another surprise, although I'm sure even Yubel isn't stupid enough to come after us so soon. He exhaled slowly, ignoring the curious looks cast in his direction at the declaration. Some of the yearlings looked increasingly nervous, as if they had not considered any hounds lingering about. From there, report anything you find. Yami and I will check and take inventory of the body count and—

You found Barbara's body, right? Aki interrupted harshly, voice scratchy from her wounded neck beginning to heal. She pricked her ears forward, curling her lips back to show her teeth. She's dead, right?

Yugi blinked. Yes. It's—

I'll piss on it if I see it, Jim snarled, cutting him off once more. He shook himself out, baring his teeth. His remaining eye glittered. It's the least I can do to repay her.

Yami murmured, Do as you so wish in such a cold tone it startled him. Yugi looked over, watching Yami swallow the last of the rabbit Shay had brought him and licking at his paws as if to hide his frustration. Yugi could tell he was still ravenous, just by the sheer force of the black wolf's licking. He almost thought his skin would turn bright red and begin bleeding beneath his tongue. But he couldn't be selfish and demand they hand over the rest of the prey. They needed to recover just as much as Yami.

The pack had begun to divide the food to share. The most visibly wounded got food first; Yami did not look hurt any longer. Sleeping and eating had helped to heal the wounds to the point of appearing almost nonexistent. The yearlings began to dart about, distributing food as quickly as possible, and carried the largest pieces they could to the most severely wounded.

With Yami's apparent healing, there was no need to be fed twice where the others only got one. Even with regard towards physical prowess as the strongest of them, it was not justified that they bring him more food than the rest. Yugi wasn't sure it mattered; he didn't want to impose. But when Yusei brought him a rabbit, he shook his head and gestured with his muzzle towards Yami instead. The gray yearling tilted his head, but did not question it—Yugi loved him dearly for that—and simply did as instructed.

Report what you find to me when you finish patrolling and I'll go hunting in the meantime. No one is to leave camp until the patrol returns. He glanced at Yami sideways, flashing him a warning look, but the black wolf was too engulfed in his food to even consider him. Yugi turned back, pleased there was no argument presented him. Yusei, I'm giving you the task of inventory of the bodies after you finish distributing food. I'll bring back enough to replenish the pile. Mana, gather a patrol for territory reconnaissance.

Mana nodded, inspecting some of the wolves to pick her patrol. Aki did not argue, and Yugi almost thought he saw relief on her face to not be given the responsibility. No doubt she was still exhausted. Yugi turned to Yami, finding the black wolf staring at him pointedly and awaiting the chance to speak.

Take someone with you, Yami said quietly, making no move to get up. Yugi almost trembled with relief, overwhelmed by the emotion. The red-eyed wolf lowered his head to his paws and closed his gaze to mere slits. For my peace of mind, take someone with you.

A brief but powerful warmth surged through him. Then he turned around to survey the ten wolves Mana had gathered—Nistro, Yoko, Andre, Shay, Rio and her twin "Shark", Slade, Jim, Czar—and watched as she turned and led them off. The yearlings were still dividing up the remnants of the prey pile, squabbling quietly. Jack had even gotten up at some point to join them, he and Yusei sneering at each other. But the others remained resting.

He turned back to Yami. Rest up. I'll be back as soon as I'm done, okay? The black wolf flicked an ear but did not answer him. And, as he passed, Yugi turned to Zane with a small inclination of his head; the other alpha got up, limping over to him. He might have still been somewhat wounded, but he was one of their best fighters and Yugi was sure he could watch his back should something happen.

Walking past the yearlings, he could pick out Jack and Yusei snapping at each other about whether Yami needed a third piece while everyone else had only gotten one. Yugi snorted in amusement; he would let them sort that out amongst themselves, he decided with a soft snicker.

Okay, but he also fought Yubel yesterday, too! Yusei snapped. Jack sneered at him, lips drawn back to show his teeth and fur risen into a bristle. Atem even said he's our strongest fighter! We should be giving him the majority of the remainder before we give the others seconds.

Syrus flattened his ears, voice low and shy. But there are so many other wolves that got wounded.

Several wolves fought Yubel. Chazz, Zane, Jonouchi, Honda, Declan and even Moon Shadow. That bastard even died for it, but they didn't! So, are we supposed to prioritize them over everyone else, too?

I'm not saying he needs to be prioritized. I'm just saying that we need to consider if there are more than enough for the second round, making sure he gets a third would be best. He died and came back to life, Jack. Even in legends it's described as the most excruciating and exhausting thing that some can do. Every story I ever heard tells you to avoid it at all costs if you can. You can't just pretend it's not an issue.

Jack scoffed, I never said it wasn't. I never said he didn't. All I'm saying is that none of us have eaten yet, either. Yami shouldn't be the only one who gets fed just because he came back to life. You're neglecting us on top of being shortsighted.

Yusei looked properly chastised, eyes widening. His ears flattened briefly and then he huffed. I'm not trying to… He shook his head and curled his lips back to show his teeth briefly. But we're the youngest. We're more likely to bounce back! And Yugi is hunting as we speak. So, we can afford to wait on—

Is Chazz included in that too? Jack sneered. Because we haven't given him anything either and he was part of that fight, too. And what about Carly? She's half-dead as it is.

I…

Who? Syrus asked in bewilderment, tilting his head and flinching back when Jack snapped his teeth at him for the interruption. Yusei bore his teeth in defense of his friend but didn't move to step between them. Who's Carly?

Ute's pack came to the camp during the fighting, Koroti explained quietly, flattening her ears against her head. He was supposed to go and meet them so he could bring them to the camp, but I think their plane came sooner than it was supposed to. They heard all the fighting and came to help. I don't think Ute would have gone hunting with Atem and Yami if he'd known the plane would land so soon.

It doesn't matter who everyone is. It just matters that we get them fed and everyone has the chance to rest and recover some, Yuya argued, shaking his head. He ignored it when Jack snapped his teeth at him, giving him an irate look. I'm agreeing with you, shit for brains. We need to go ahead and get everyone fed—including us. After everyone is fed we can take leftovers to whoever was hurt more, like we originally planned. Other than that, we need to stick to what we always have and distribute it to everyone.

Yusei cast a small, almost hesitant glance towards Yami. Then he turned to Jack. Okay, let's get this done then and we'll worry about the rest later.

Jack waited until the others had grabbed food to take around. The hierarchy for delivering food was like that of the hunting order. They would eat in order of alpha to omega but for age range. The youngest always ate last, regardless of rank in the pack. Most were omegas due to their age regardless. But ambitions did allow some to rise in rank, such as himself, Yusei, or Chazz. He watched them take various mouthfuls of prey to the others. Then he grabbed a couple into his own and headed off to where some of the more wounded wolves were.

She lay a few feet away from the others, breathing labored as she shivered. Her sides were still caked with dried blood, her eyes dull with pain. But she looked a thousand times better than she had just few hours before. When he'd originally spotted her laying there next to one of the hound's broken bodies, he'd assumed she was dead. He'd begun to jump over her when she'd opened her eyes halfway into narrow slits of dark gray so deep they'd almost looked black. She'd stared at him blankly, then asked, in the most pathetic voice he'd ever heard, if she'd done well.

Jack had not answered her. Sartorius had rushed past then, calling for a hasty retreat. Another hellhound with glittering golden eyes had streaked past as well, barely visible against the ice, a mere ghost of a shadow. She'd curled up to protect her side when the hound had passed and it was only this which had made Jack turn his head. Had she not moved, he would have left her to die simply because he'd forgotten her existence altogether.

Carly, he murmured, dropping the prey in front of her. She blinked wide eyes, startled, and looked over. Her nose wriggled, recognizing the smell of food. She scooted forward, leaning over to grab the nearest leg of the squirrel he'd brought. She eyed the rabbit behind it but made no move to take it, digging into her squirrel instead.

How are your sides? Do they feel any better?

Carly blinked up at him, slowly wagging her tail. They still hurt, but they feel better, she answered. Her eyes had brightened, almost sparkling as they bore into his. Jack studied her a moment, the smallest touch of annoyance crossing through him. When they'd rested the night before, she'd chosen to burrow into his side as if he were her new keeper. And then she'd explained that she was youngest and she'd never had to fight before. The rest of the pack had done it for her. She'd only ever gone scouting, performing reconnaissance because of her easygoing nature and getting along with humans more than the rest of the wolves in the pack.

It was ridiculous. She was stupid. There was no other word for it. She was foolish and idiotic and pathetic. And Jack would swear to anyone who asked that she deserved getting chewed up like that for going into a fight with no idea how to defend herself. It was an unforgivable mistake. And, had it not been for that small part of him pitying her, he would have left her to die. The wounds were deadly, fatal, and she should have bled out. He still had no idea why he'd interfered. But he had. And he hated himself for it.

Jack took a seat, watching her critically. He sat there until she finished, then got up and looked over his shoulder. Yusei was staring at him from his peripheral as he gave Chazz a plump rabbit. The beta wrinkled his nose, saying something, and Yusei turned his attention to him now. Jack wondered if he was afraid to reprimand him for fear of his temper. Whatever it was they said to each other, he couldn't hear. And he didn't care to. He turned back to Carly. She was watching the two gray wolves with a curious expression now, but turned to him again with a small wag of her tail.

You weren't supposed to bring me food yet, were you?

Does it matter?

Thank you.

He scoffed, looking away again. Yusei had wandered off, speaking to the other yearlings. They seemed to be grabbing food for distribution again. He didn't bother to pretend he'd help again. He'd only done so to grab food for Carly. He didn't care to squabble with Yusei again as he had before. He wasn't in the mood for the other yearling to piss him off yet again.

He did not care enough to fight him; he could easily overpower him if he tried. He knew that much already. Yusei might have been smart, but he lacked ruthlessness. Jack had it in spades. He'd rip him to pieces if he wanted. And, if Yusei truly wanted to quarrel with him, Jack would punish him for it.

But the gray yearling never made any move to speak to them. Instead he turned and murmured, I have to go and check on the bodies like Atem instructed. I'll be back just loud enough for Jack to hear. He flicked his ears, staring at him, and narrowed his eyes. But Yusei never once glanced over his shoulder towards him in turn.

Jack turned back to Carly, considering as she finished her food and lay her chin on her paws. He narrowed his eyes, studying, and growled, Well? Are you still hungry or not?

She blinked, surprised. I don't want you to get in trouble.

Who is going to punish me? he sneered, baring his teeth. Yusei is not my alpha. And I doubt anyone else gives a fuck as long as they all get fed by the end of it.

She tilted her head, watching him curiously. I think I'm full for right now, she said softly, and Jack knew instinctively that she was lying. But he did not think he cared enough to call her out. He snorted, getting up and shaking himself out.

Wait, where are you going?

You actually think I would just stay with you? Jack scoffed, snarling as he looked over his shoulder, eyeing her in his peripheral. Are you stupid? Of course I am not going to waste my time making you feel better.

She flinched as if he had bitten her. The smallest inkling of guilt crept through him. They watched each other for a moment. She flattened her ears, looking away. Jack hesitated, stung by his own guilt, and turned to face her fully again. He searched her face, refusing to raise her eyes and look at him, clearly stunned and still too hurt by his words to risk such a thing.

I'm going to help the others distribute food. I'll be back to check on you later.

He didn't listen if she answered. He just wanted away from her. Yuya glanced up when he approached and Syrus wagged his tail hesitantly, but he ignored them both. He sniffed at the remaining food, then snatched a rabbit to take to one of the other wolves. He did not know who he cared enough to take it to, however. He supposed, in truth, Yami should have been his first inclination. But, he realized, looking at them now, that they seemed to be eating for themselves.

Is it our turn to eat?

Yuya swallowed a mouthful of squirrel. We're going to eat and then give out the rest. We can't really afford to tire ourselves out before we give everyone a piece, right? He paused, shaking his head. The yearlings had swallowed the majority of their meals; Yuya seemed to relax noticeably when he saw this. We're going to resume giving out food in a second. Yusei went to do a body count, so—

It took everything in him not to snap that he already knew that. But it was short-lived. And he did not care enough to do so. Instead he snapped, Who hasn't eaten?

Everyone has gotten at least two pieces.

Jack stiffened, startled. How long had he been with Carly? They'd gotten everyone a second set of food in that time? How had they managed that? He would have sworn he had not wasted so much time with her. He would have sworn he'd been there for all of a minute before he'd ditched her.

I'm assuming you fed Carly instead and didn't notice we were eating, Yuya said quietly, tilting his head. He didn't look upset, but it didn't stop Jack from bristling in annoyance at the words. He nearly curled his lips back to show his teeth, but Yuya had already turned away. It doesn't matter if you did or didn't feed her. I don't care; if it's helping someone else, I don't think it's a big deal. I know she got badly hurt, but I haven't checked on her. I saw her with you and never thought to.

Jack stared at him for a long handful of seconds. He debated ignoring him for the sake of not admitting to helping the she-wolf to begin with. He didn't want everyone to assume he cared all of the sudden. He was used to the other wolves being wary around him because of his lack of sympathy in regards to any mess they might have gotten themselves into. He was used to them stepping away from him when he shot vicious glances or curled his lip. He didn't want them to think it was fine to crowd around and test his patience or check on him. He came out on top because he cared for himself and no one else. Changing his stance on this matter would simply lead to weakness later.

And Jack was not weak.

He wrinkled his nose, glancing at the others. They steadily ignored him, grabbing food for distribution again. Yuya himself grabbed one of the last remaining plump rabbits—Jack was surprised by how little remained of the kill pile; it had always seemed the caches endless before then—and trotted past him. Jack watched as he approached Yami. The black wolf seemed to be asleep, until Yuya got within a yard of him. Then his eyes shot open. They glittered, cold and harsh. And he peered up at him with the beginnings of a snarl on his face. Then he blinked.

The blind confusion passed, but Jack still felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Yami had seemed not to recognize the wolf. He'd almost seemed not to understand what he was doing or why he was approaching. But then he had noticed the food. And that had been what allowed Yuya to come towards him.

Yuya wasn't oblivious. He stopped a few feet away, then slung the rabbit through air and over to the black canine. It landed an inch from his nose. Yami glanced at it, then lunged at it forcefully. He cracked the skull in half on contact. He chewed rigorously. Jack bristled, staring at him in alarm. He stood there, rigid and shocked by his aggression. He was so focused on his food that he didn't seem to care that others were staring.

No one made any comment, however. Jack wondered if Yami was losing his mind or if he didn't care around all the exhaustion. But the other onlookers, Jack noticed, seemed just as horrified as they watched.

There were thirty, Yusei said as he approached. He didn't look uncertain like the rest of them. Jack didn't know if he should admire him or consider him ignorant for the lack of caution. Yami looked up, curling his lips back, but did not snarl. It was because he'd gulped down the remnants of the rabbit, Jack realized. Thirty of the pack died.

Yami sat up slowly. His bones popped loudly as he stumbled to his paws, shaking himself out. Thirty? I had expected a higher number, he admitted quietly. When he shook himself out again, he did not look uncomfortable in the slightest. Did you recognize them?

Yusei was quiet for a moment. No…n-not all of them. A majority of them seemed to be Ute's pack. They came because they heard the fighting. From what I understand, the plane landed earlier than expected and they heard us from the Sapporo airport and came to help. His pack accounted for more than half of our casualties. The others I recognized.

Yami nodded. Names.

Yusei hesitated, lowering his head. Bolt, Flip, Bob, Moon Shadow, Fubuki, Iggy, Kari, Dextra, Ishizu, and Otogi. He flattened his ears. Aki, Mieru and Mai are the last of the mountain pack. Zane's numbers are down, and Ute's pack is only himself, Carly, and Hugo. Mana is down to five wolves instead of six. Most of the members were Ute's, but the rest were from Aki's and Zane's mostly. Nistro's pack was already hit; he and Jack are the only left of his. And Carly is the only survivor from the attack on the pack when they came to aid us.

Yami blinked, looking away. I had nearly forgotten about Otogi, he said softly, voice full of remorse. He flattened his ears, then shook himself out. I will have to tell Mai.

I'm sure she's figured it out, Jack scoffed before he could stop himself. Yami and Yusei both turned to him. Yusei looked murderous with anger, but Yami simply stared as if he'd never heard something so stupid. But the moment passed. The beta turned away, wrinkling his nose.

If Aki does not mind, I will speak to her in a moment.

The words were said carefully, with abundant respect. Jack could see her in his peripheral; the red-furred she-wolf was staring blankly into the trees. No doubt she'd known the devastation before Yusei's report. Abruptly she shut her eyes, snarling, You do it. I don't care.

Yami stared at her for a few seconds. Then he pricked his ears and started forward. Jack huffed; the black wolf was not blocking his thoughts, nor keeping the conversation private. But it was clear by the way he raised his tail that he expected them to keep quiet as he approached Mai. She was lying with Jonouchi, the golden-furred male grooming her wounded side. When she spotted Yami, she sprang to her paws and ducked her head, arching her back submissively. She wagged her tail slowly, licking at his chin.

Jack blinked in mild surprise. He'd never seen Yami turn on her before. He lashed out at everyone else, but he'd never done so with her. Her submission made no sense. Why initiate that display? He'd never shown power over her. His tail had long since lowered, even before he'd gotten within a yard of her.

Enough, Yami said quietly, shaking himself out. Mai disengaged immediately, turning around and circling to lay down with Jonouchi again. Jonouchi shivered, looking at Yami silently. The black wolf lowered his head slightly. I'm sure you are already aware.

Mai was silent for a long minute. Her purple eyes darkened with grief and she shuddered visibly as she drew in a deep breath. She lowered her eyes, staring at the snow. Yes.

Jack watched with interest as Jonouchi grimaced and lowered his chin to his paws. Apparently death had done well to make Otogi a friend of his. Formerly, they'd squabbled and Jonouchi had tried to chase him away from Mai more than once. Now, however, he mourned the dark-furred male as if he'd been a close friend.

The hypocrisy was not lost on him.

How did you find out?

I figured it out when he didn't come to the cavern after Y—Atem told us to move inside.

It was almost funny. Jack remembered watching her as she looked for him, sides slicked with blood and eyes hopeful. When it had become apparent he was not going to come, she'd visibly deflated and wandered off to lay on her own in the corner. Jonouchi and Honda had been close by, but not near enough to touch. She'd mostly spent the night sleeping, but Jack remembered seeing her look up and try again to find him. And he had the smallest feeling she'd been hopeful he'd been unable to come to the cavern the night before, but that he'd slept until then in the woods.

Yami remained silent. Then he leaned forward, licking her forehead and nuzzling her cheek. His eyes were closed into gleaming slits of red and Jack was amazed by the sincerity in his stance. He'd never seen Yami so impacted by loss before. Usually he blinked, nodded, tallied in his head the numbers they still had, and wandered off on his own for a little while. Jack didn't usually care enough to consider when Atem and Yami were apart. But he did always expect them both to have their heads up the other's ass.

You have my sincerest apologies, Yami said so softly Jack almost missed it. He bristled, stunned by the words, and narrowed his eyes. The black wolf pulled away, pricking his ears forward, and added, Tell me should you need anything.

Mai nodded, but did not answer. The beta moved past her to wander further towards the edge of the camp. He sniffed around once—Jack thought he was looking for Atem; he would have bet on it—and then turned to Jonouchi and Honda.

Mai usually partnered with Otogi for the buddy system. Our numbers have depleted rather drastically at this point. Thirty lives were lost yesterday. You and Honda will be her buddies in any future patrols or hunting parties you attend until further notice. When neither of them argued, the black wolf turned away again. His eyes settled on Jack for a moment. And then he moved past him as well, straight towards where Carly lay.

Jack stiffened, then hurried past him. It was instinctive when he positioned himself between them, snarling softly with warning. He bore his teeth, bristling, and raised his tail. But Yami did not so much as glance at him. His eyes were locked on the she-wolf behind him.

I am sorry you came to the camp in such disarray, he murmured. Jack could hear her tail wagging briefly, but didn't look to see if she was shaken by the attention. The black wolf leaned forward, scenting her before his eyes flashed. You survived, however. You survived where the others did not. I commend you for that.

Jack felt awkward with tension, turning his head to eye her in his peripheral. Carly wagged her tail again, ducking her head and flattening her ears as she said, Thank you.

But he couldn't figure out why she was thanking him. He sounded almost skeptical, as if he were making fun of her in some way. But his expression harbored no malice. And he truly seemed to mean what he was saying. He seemed to understand how hollow his words were, peering at her with something guarded in his expression.

He didn't believe in his words, Jack realized abruptly. He was not happy to say them. And he did not want to speak them. Saying the words to her was a matter of duty, nothing more. He did not want to deal with her in the slightest. But he felt the need to acknowledge her, give her some kind of praise, even if he did not believe in it.

Yami turned away, padding to his former spot. Jack watched him, lifting his head and losing his bristle. But Yami had settled again, refusing to look at them again. He lay down, chin on his paws, eyes closed. He almost looked peaceful, as if he might rest, but there was a tension still visible in his stance.

He didn't mean a word he just said.

Jack blinked, head snapping around. What? he asked, so startled he said the word louder than he'd meant to. No one turned to look, however. No one tried to listen in. They simply kept to themselves as they had before. He blinked, staring at her in confusion. What are you talking about?

Yami. He congratulated me, but he didn't mean it.

I wouldn't have meant it, either, Jack scoffed. He turned away. Why should he have?

He thinks I'm going to die.

He stopped short. He blinked, eyes widening. And then he turned back, bristling. What?

He thinks I'm going to die, she repeated, shaking her head. I saw the pity in his eyes. He thinks I'm going to die. That's why he came to speak to me.

Jack blinked, something coiling and burning inside of him. The strain made his voice harsh and cold. It's his job as beta to welcome you. He glared at her, curling his lip back to show his incisors. He's supposed to welcome you to the pack. His timing is just shit.

No, Jack, I'm not stupid. She shook her head again, putting her chin on her paws. Her eyes were full of exhaustion and she looked as if she might pass out at any moment. Jack bristled more furiously at the resignation in her expression. I'm not. He thinks I'm going to die. And I know he's trying to show me attention because he wants me to feel accepted. That is his job as beta, to give acceptance even when the recipient is going to die. If he'd cared and thought I'd survive, he would have introduced himself properly.

He's not in the right frame of mind. He got into a fight yesterday and came back to life—

Jack, stop. She shot him a furious look. I already know I'm going to die. I shouldn't have survived in the first place. You're the only reason I'm alive right now. You happened to find me when the fight ended. But I'm not stupid enough to doubt that I'll die from this.

Why would you say something so damn stupid?

Because, I… She fell quiet for a moment. Then she looked at him. Will you lay with me?

He stared at her, swallowing the impulse to sneer at her that he had a million better things to do. Instead he got up hesitantly, moving around her to lay down curled up on her side. When she didn't speak again, he almost snapped at her. Then he realized she'd fallen asleep before he'd even settled.

She'd need rest to heal. He knew that. So, he did not bother to try to shrug her off. If she was comfortable and asleep, why should he do anything to disturb her? He scoffed at the thought of letting this continue for much longer, but did not bother to argue and wake her regardless.

He remained with her even when Atem returned.

The white wolf came into the camp, shaking himself out. His entire head was smeared with blood. His mouth was stained. His neck was coated in dried, flaking flesh and grizzle. His blue-violet eyes were dark, his tongue darting over his nose. His ears were pricked forward. His trot was stiff and almost angry. Zane was a few steps behind him, quiet and similarly soaked in blood.

Mana and the others will bring the food in a moment. He turned away, heading over to Yami without any acknowledgment of the surprised looks cast his way. Zane turned and headed over to lie down with his brother. Chazz didn't bother to raise his head from his position nearby. His eyes remained closed and, had he not looked, Yugi might have thought he was dead. But he saw his sides rise and fall, his breathing steady. The white wolf paused in front of Yami, examining him.

Yami did not look over at him but for a single flicker of his eyes. His gaze was cold, glittering. There were a million shadows in his eyes and something tried briefly to flit through Yugi's mind, but he could not focus on it and it was gone immediately after. The quick dissipation was nothing more than a shadow imprinted briefly in his head. They stared at one another for a moment before Yami closed his eyes again, turning his head just enough to lay his cheek across his paws.

Are you hungry?

Let the others eat first. I can come back from the dead. They cannot.

Yugi stiffened. Why was he thinking about that right now? He exhaled slowly, studying him and ignoring the urge to argue. He turned away, curling his lip and focusing on the ground. How many are dead?

Thirty. Most of them were Ute's wolves. They came, and they died for it.

Yugi fell silent, struggling to think of a way to reassure him it wasn't his fault. But guilt nagged at his insides and he wondered briefly if they'd have survived had he and Yami left Ute at the camp rather than taking him hunting. If he had been at the camp, it was more likely he would have realized they were there and gone to retrieve them. They might have had a better chance of survival if he had been able to get to them first.

I suppose they did as they were meant to. The wolves answering the call for Atem and the offer of allegiance are all marching to their deaths. I should not be surprised. Sacrifices are to be made in war, no? Casualties are meant to happen and death rules the battlefield. He chuckled abruptly, voice low and hideous. I wonder. Do you think if they knew death stalked our paws that they would still offer us aid?

Yugi stared at him, flustered. I don't know.

Yami was silent for a long moment. Then he blinked his eyes open, peering at him. We need to train them. We cannot afford such numbers again.

I'm aware. But they won't train with me.

No. And I do not expect them to. They shall train with me.

Yugi blinked. You're in no state to train.

It has to happen. I have nothing else to offer them. And they will die without proper guidance. It has to be enough. Do you understand? We have to do this regardless.

You can afford to heal some—

Sartorius is the one we must worry about right now. For the moment, Yubel is disabled. I do not expect to see her for a while longer. But I do not believe for even a moment that Otogi managed to land a crippling blow to Sartorius. He's a powerhouse. Otogi was a pup compared to him.

Yugi stared at the black canine for what felt a lifetime. He drew in a shaky breath, flattening his ears. I know. I just…

We will have to risk my health for a few hours. I can always heal after a session. And I'm no longer limping. It will be fine.

Yugi didn't believe that for even a second. Some part of him bristled with alarm and frustration. But he could not find it in himself to argue. He was tired. And he knew Yami would dig his teeth in and refuse to let up. So he closed his eyes, nodding, and reminded himself arguing with Yami would get him nowhere.

---

Yami shook himself out, limbs stiff as if frozen. He had managed to shake the limp from his legs long before, moving almost as fluidly as his body was meant to. But he still stumbled at times. And each time he was met with Yugi's darkened eyes, studying intently. But it was not as if Yami could explain it to him. The truth of it was that their sleeping position had ruined his ability to rest properly. Yugi had curled up against him when Yami had taken a nap before the training session. He'd laid his head on Yami's shoulders and his legs had become almost entangled with his due to proximity.

At some point he'd even leaned forward and craned his neck enough to lay his chin on Yami's paws so that he'd have to put his own on Yugi's head. They'd kept much of the same position through the nap. And it had ruined much of Yami's mobility now. He had been unable to convince himself to tell Yugi to move He had not wanted to explain, nor to inflict such guilt on the other wolf. He knew Yugi would have been horrified and apologetic. And, as he had been so tightly snuggled against him from dawn to afternoon, Yami had felt disgusting just trying to request he move that little bit to get more comfortable. So, he'd settled for awkwardly craning his neck back when it became stiff and wriggled his toes when they felt almost numb.

Each time, Yugi had given him a questioning look. He'd watched him pointedly throughout the hours; every twitch was observed, each shift of weight recorded in his thoughts. And it was not as if he did not understand these observations. Yugi had agreed to let him train them. He'd agreed to let him do as he wanted, to teach them as necessary.

Yugi was a few steps behind him as they walked now.

What are we doing out here? Honda asked, visibly confused as he looked to Yami with an expression that begged for explanation. His ears flattened against his head where he'd lowered it, as if he were fearful someone might lash out and lunge. His hazel eyes flickered briefly toward Yugi, then to Jonouchi beside him. Yusei blinked once, then turned quickly away again with an uncertain expression. I mean, are we hunting or something?

Yami shook his head, curling his lip. No, we will not be hunting, he answered softly. He shook hismelf out, almost falling straight into the snow as his legs quaked beneath his weight. He blinked, narrowing his eyes against the pain. He was almost amazed how intense it was; he had not gotten nearly as much food as he had the night before attack, however. And it had not helped that after the serow and the following handful of rabbits, Yugi had lay down with him.

We have something else planned for the day, Honda.

Like what? Jonouchi asked, curious and confused as he tilted his head. I mean, this isn't some kind of huge patrol or something, is it? We're not going around the entire territory or whatever, right?

He was still visibly limping, his side crusted overnight. But Yami was sure if he opened the wound it would heal more. It needed more air; scabs were not so beneficial to wolves when it came to healing. But he did not know how to tell him that. And he didn't want to explain how he knew. But, thankfully, Yubel had not poisoned Jonouchi. He would never have survived the interaction without intervention and Yami doubted Yugi would have been able to aid them both.

No, it's not a border patrol. We would be running right now. And this would be a stupid number of wolves for that. If we did that, I'd want a minimum of ten wolves at a time, Yugi answered. He blinked, glancing at him sideways. The words were oddly surprising, rather cold, and he did not know what to make of it. He realized Yugi meant to minimize potential bloodshed with the new number of wolves necessary for the patrols. He'd announced the new rule soon after they'd gotten up, barely an hour or so later when the wolves had become anxious and hungry. He'd told them about the state of Barbara's body, projecting an image, and then told them the buddy system was required even within the camp. He expected them to run in pairs and if not in pairs then in groups of three or four.

When they'd left the camp, Mai had been paired with Aki to replace Honda and Jonouchi. The two of them had swapped looks and the beta had subsequently turned her back on the golden-furred she-wolf. But Yami had expected nothing less; had they swapped words he would have been amazed. Rather, in her depression Mai did not want to move from the spot she'd chosen at the edge of the camp. And Aki was still exhausted from the fight, her neck still healing from her near decapitation. Yugi had truthfully made the perfect choice in pairing them, as they were both aware neither would be moving away from the camp any time soon.

We're doing something completely different from border patrol or hunting.

Training? Yusei asked cautiously, sounding unsure of himself. Is that what we're…?

Bingo, Yugi answered. He sounded rather annoyed and resentful for a split second. We're going to find a spot in the woods and train there. I wanted it far away enough from the camp that the others wouldn't hear it and come running. And I thought the three of you would be the easiest to train. I don't want to have huge groups like we did before, not when Yami is in this state.

You're incredibly neurotic today, Yami snorted in answer. He wagged his tail when Yugi shot him a furious look of bared teeth and glittering eyes. He turned away, picking his way down the steady incline of the hill they'd crested. They were nearing the lake, he noted curiously, bristling for a split second. He had, of course, only been there a handful of times. In truth, he thought he only remembered seeing it four times in his life. He knew it from the night Espa and Panik had attempted to hunt them, when the hunter had shot Yugi in the shoulder, when he'd attacked Yugi in his feral state, and when he'd fought Noah soon after.

They slowed as he came to the cliffs. Yami was unable to suppress the memory of Yugi's quick wit, how he'd had him climb into one of the crevices and use it as a den, covering him in ice until he was no longer visible from the outside. His heart hurt. He could not help but wonder if Yugi suffered such conflicting emotions, but some part of him was wondrous of the idea that he himself felt such a way.

He glanced around once more, making his way nearer to the steep wall of stone and ice. His stomach rolled, and he looked sideways toward the white wolf. Yugi almost seemed not to even notice him. The thought made him uncomfortable and almost shaky. But it was gone again within seconds. He blinked, looking away from him as quickly as he could, narrowing his gaze the smallest degree.

Here? Jonouchi hissed, voice slightly annoyed. Yami glanced at him over his shoulder, startled by his aggravated tone. Jonouchi narrowed his eyes and shook his head as he came forward another small step, peering at Yami uncertainly. Why are we here? I mean, not to be an ass or anything, but I don't really want to be here when I almost drowned here before.

Join the club, Yugi said in a despondent voice. He ignored their stares, huffing out a breath. Yami shook himself out, forcing himself to keep going over the side of the bank into the ice. He felt small and tired, wanting nothing more than to lie down. His stomach ached bitterly with hunger. Anyways, guys, we chose here because we know the others won't hear us from the camp. We can move a few yards back if you want, but we need to get started.

Uh, yeah…o-okay, Honda mumbled. He'd sensed the tension in Yugi's voice. He kept glancing between them anxiously now; Yami ignored the near desperation in his hazel eyes. Instead he turned to Yugi, waiting for him to take the lead again. Guys…? How are we doing this?

Yami scoffed when Yugi offered no answer. You each will train against me. He huffed when he was offered silence in response. I'm a better fighter than Yugi at the moment. And I'm more patient when it comes to fights. I should be able to teach each of you at least one thing in battle should you need guidance of any kind.

Okay, Yugi announced, studying Yami with a sideways look. Yami wondered now if maybe he was thinking of the times they'd been at the lake as well. Every other second Yami swore he felt Yugi staring, as if in affirmation he was still alive and not frozen to death at the bottom. Same rules as before. Do not draw blood. If one of you gets too tired—or feels like Yami is too tired—just back off. Show submissive posturing if you think it's necessary, but I doubt Yami is going to try to hold you in place if you've already begun surrender. If you're pinned, you're done and someone else gets to take your place.

Yami shook his head, snarling. I. Am. Fine, he snapped. He turned to the others, raising his tail and huffing. Yugi turned on him with sharp eyes, lips drawn back. Yami ignored him pointedly. Who wants to train first?

No one spoke or moved, until finally Honda came over. Every step was faltering and his eyes darted around rapidly as if begging for help. Jonouchi and Yusei refused to look at him. Yami snorted as Honda turned back, surprised by the glint of fear in his eyes; he did not know if it was because he was afraid of hurting him or if he remembered all too well the fight he'd had with Yubel just the day before. Yami wagged his tail, dropping into a play bow. Honda hesitated, looking around again, and turned back. Yami wagged his tail faster, springing.

Honda moved away by pure instinct. He barely managed to dodge him. Yami was not extremely fast. His limp was more apparent now. He almost stumbled as he caught himself. But he was also well aware of every muscle in his body. He knew his size. He knew his weight and height. He knew how to make himself appear larger, unavoidable. And it was easy to throw himself in a manner that made avoidance impossible. It was his limp now that hampered him. His limbs were too stiff; his muscles burned.

Yami could have easily knocked him over with his shoulder. He could have easily thrown him off balance with a hit to the ribs. He could have thrown him to the ground. Had he not been so stiff, had he not been so tired, he could have done it in a matter of seconds.

The black wolf circled him for a moment. Honda shivered. Yami watched him closely. Then he sprang again. His mouth opened partially. What greeted him was a flash of an image. Blood splattered across snow. Teeth were buried in flesh. An eye popped beneath pressure. Blood spurted through the air. A hideous screaming noise echoed in his skull. Yami's ears tingled as he landed. He stumbled, almost winded by the sheer force of the image. His mind raced, struggling to understand.

Honda backpedaled rapidly. Yami blinked, startled. He hesitated, studying him. He did not recognize the brown-furred wolf for a second. All he saw was Yubel's bloodied face, Yami clinging to it as if his life depended upon it. When he was tossed away, her eye was removed, her countenance mangled. Yami blinked, forcing it away. Then he moved forward again.

This time he did not spring. He barely feinted towards him. Honda dropped to the ground. His tail was between his legs. He was on his back. His throat was exposed. Yami blinked, then raised his head. Yugi was staring at Honda with a horrified, stunned expression.

Honda is too new to do this, Yami said softly, voice full of suppressed laughter and disbelief. Had Honda truly thought Yami might inflict the same damage on him that he had Yubel? He'd seemed terrified of that. Yami turned his head to look at Yugi and Jonouchi. Jonouchi was frozen in place, staring with a mirroring shocked expression.

Yugi's expression had grown intense, as if he might find an answer to his bewilderment. Yami doubted he would explain, however. The black wolf would offer no answer in turn. He would not be the one to relay such an image to Yugi; he didn't want the responsibility of Yugi's ire or pain.

Yugi knew Honda as a scrapped; he knew that. It might not have been as a wolf that he'd fought, but it was still fighting all the same. Yami did not want to explain Honda was terrified of him. But now he could see another image. He watched himself stumble to his feet, intestines falling from his belly. When Yami turned to him again, Honda ducked his head. His ears were against his head and his eyes were on the snow. He looked as if he might panic, just as he had when Yami had grabbed prey that morning and glanced around upon feeling that he was being watched.

Honda was shaking now. Yami wondered if the realization had finally sunken in for him. Did he finally realize how powerful the wolves truly were? Had it finally sunken in just how prominent the danger was now that he was a wolf? Did he finally understand that even just Yugi or Yami were powerful enough to warrant the fear and respect the wolves showed them? Honda had finally gotten to witness what a terrible and virtually perfect beast the Pure-Blood truly was. He had finally gotten to see what being Atem meant.

Jonouchi made no move to take Honda's place. Yusei was silent for what felt a lifetime. Yugi and Yami swapped looks, both wondering at how to encourage them. And then, to Yami's amazement, the gray yearling slunk forward.

I'll take his place then, he said softly, reluctantly. He glanced at Jonouchi as if expecting him to gather the courage to take his place, but the golden-furred wolf refused to so much as glance at him. He'd ducked his head, staring at his paws. He would not look at Yami, Yugi or Honda. Yusei frowned, looking away from him, and tilted his head as he turned to Yami.

He stopped a few inches from him. Honda scrambled away as if he'd been bitten. Jonouchi shivered. Yusei wagged his tail uncomfortably at Yami. The black wolf blinked, bewildered. After a moment he returned the gesture. But he couldn't suppress the troubled feeling coming through him. A few seconds passed. Then Yami sprang and Yusei dodged away. He moved abruptly to the right.

Yugi watched Yusei lunge. His teeth caught Yami's scruff. The black canine growled, shaking his head. The yearling released him, darting away. Yami trotted after him, wagging his tail. Yusei feinted away. Yami spun to face him when he dashed past him. Yusei circled once, then sprang.

Yugi was amazed when Yusei grabbed him again. He caught Yami by the throat. And his grip was in just the right position to prevent Yami reaching him. The black wolf snapped his jaws. His head lowered, his eyes hardening. He stumbled back a step. He tried to pull Yusei off his paws. But it simply made him stumble forward. Yami tried to shake him. But it was clearly impossible.

Yami lowered his head further. He moved quickly, as if bobbing. He abruptly tossed himself sideways. His muzzle crashed into the snow. He landed hard on his side. Yusei stumbled. He was jerked off his feet. Yami reached out with his other paw. He nearly managed to claw his neck. Yusei blinked, startled.

Yami twisted, writhing. Both forelimbs wrapped around his neck. His mouth opened wider. He snarled, kicking. His claws barely missed Yusei's eye. The yearling startled. He released him, scrambling back immediately. But Yami was on his feet in an instant. He spat, snarling. He eyed him furiously. And then he lunged without warning. Yusei yelped, hitting the ground as teeth dug into his flesh.

He bore down on him. He snarled, tearing at him. He shook his head rapidly. Yusei yelped, trying to get away. But all he could do was scream as he tossed bodily about.

Yugi sprang forward, snarling. Yami, stop! he cried. He bristled fiercely, heart rocketing in his chest. Yami paused. Yusei had gone limp in his mouth. But he was still breathing. Yugi could see that. His eyes were glazed over. But he was panting as slowly as he could. He was trying to play possum.

Yugi stopped a step away. Yami's eyes were unfocused. They peered at him, hollow and distant. His body was stiff, fur rising slowly along his scruff. The white wolf squared his shoulders. Back off! Don't hurt him.

Yami stared back at him. His eyes were wild. His ears were pricked forward. But his eyes slowly slid to Yusei. He glared, that hollow look all-encompassing. Yugi shivered. Then he came forward again.

They were mere inches apart.

Yami spun on him. He quivered, eyes burning. He dropped Yusei as if he were a toy. The yearling lay there, winded. He blinked wide, horrified blue eyes. Yami remained motionless. Yusei shifted his weight to get up. His teeth chomped an inch from his eye. But his attention was focused on Yugi now.

This was a bad idea. Yugi had felt it was too soon. Yet Yami had insisted it would be okay. He should have known. He should have argued. He should have ignored him. He should have asserted himself. He should have tried harder.

Enough, he snapped. Leave it alone.

Yami didn't respond.

Yugi turned to Yusei. Are you—?

Teeth caught his ear. Blood spurted through the air. Yugi spun on him. He opened his mouth wide, showing his teeth. Then he lunged, hoping to scare him. Yami jerked to the side, snarling. But he didn't back away. Yugi moved to circle. Yami mirrored him. Yugi raised his tail. Yami did the same. The black wolf sprang. He hit him hard in the shoulder. The momentum threw him off balance. Teeth snatched at his scruff. Yami shook his head roughly. Yugi nearly lost his balance. Yami bore down on him. He shouldered him harder. His hip slammed into his. Yugi hit the ground on his side, snarling. Yami loomed over him.

Yugi waited. Yami snapped at his face. Yugi kicked him in the stomach. Yami startled, snarling. His teeth clicked shut. They clipped the hair at his throat. Yugi kicked harder. Yami snapped again, catching his cheek. He shook violently. Yugi kicked harder. He snapped his teeth and tossed his head. He moved just enough to slip his back legs out from beneath Yami. He arched his back as if to curl up. Then he kicked.

Yami was winded from the force. He stumbled sideways. The second kick knocked him over. He landed on his side, blinking. Yugi didn't try to get up. He simply lunged. Their teeth locked for a moment. Yami's paw pushed at his shoulders. He snarled. Yugi trembled, furious. He released him a moment later. He snapped at his cheek again. Yami squirmed, trying to kick him away. It took a blow to his hip to push Yugi aside.

Yami scrambled to his belly. Yugi snarled, glaring. He bore his teeth, readying himself. Yami sprang forward. He opened his jaws wide. His head tilted to the side. He aimed for his throat. Yugi snarled, startled. He shifted his position. Yami missed the jugular. Yugi threw himself downward into the snow. Yami spat out a mouthful of fur, looming over him again. Drool fell in strings from his long canines.

Yugi was halfway on his stomach and side. His back legs kicked. But he missed. Yami grabbed him again. Yugi's jaw was pressed forcefully into the snow. He snarled, kicking harder. Yami shook him violently, making his neck ache. The white wolf snarled. Then he went quiet. He stiffened, hardening every muscle in his body. The weight made Yami falter. He huffed out ragged breaths against his throat.

Yugi kicked him violently. Yami released, snarling. Then he snatched at his foreleg. Yugi had risen halfway, hoping to dodge past him. But Yami's teeth sank into his shoulder. Yugi snapped at his face. Yami shook him violently once more. Yugi stiffened his body again. But Yami didn't falter now. He shook harder. Yugi yelped, shoulder wrenching from the force.

And then the bone popped. Yugi swallowed down his scream. Yami let out a high-pitched yelp. He released him as if scalded. He wheeled back several steps. Yugi blinked, collapsing. He lay there, staring at him with wide eyes. He tilted his head back, raising it enough to look at him. But Yami merely stared at him. He looked dazed, confused.

Yugi blinked wide eyes. He scrambled to his feet. His bones ground against each other. He nearly collapsed again. Yami had pulled his leg completely out of its socket. He stumbled, blinking at him again. Yami stared, clearly shocked. And then he flattened his ears and looked away.

Whatever rage he'd possessed formerly had been replaced with avid shame and regret. His head was lowered towards the snow and he looked incredibly small, as if he'd shed most of his fur and lost half his body mass in the last few seconds. Yugi's heart ached.

You're all right?

Yes, I'm okay, Yami. He stumbled a step, looking him over. Are you?

It's not as if I didn't just dislocate your leg, Yami snapped. He drew his lips back into a hideous grimace. He shifted his weight and looked so small he barely seemed a splotch of black against the ice. So why are you even thinking to ask me that?

Phantom pains, right? That's what made you react that way, yes?

Yami huffed a breath out, narrowing his eyes. Yes. He shook himself out again, voice cold and resentful for a moment. Abruptly he turned away, trotting a few steps and taking a seat with his back to him. Yugi watched him for a few seconds longer. Then he turned to Yusei again. The yearling was silent now, eyes lowered to the snow. But he still glanced at them sideways, visibly unsure.

I'm fine, he said softly. Yusei refused to look at them. But Yugi noticed Yami tilt his head in the corner of his eye. He was staring at him blankly. There was no fire to his gaze. And he wondered briefly if Yami felt sick. He certainly did. Yusei flattened his ears against his head. Shame crawled through Yugi as he looked at the gray yearling; his blue eyes were lowered and his muzzle was tilted slightly away from Yami, as if fearful he might lunge. I'm okay. He didn't do any actual damage. He just scared me.

He'd knocked the wind out of him, more like it. Yami scared him so badly Yusei must have thought he was going to kill him. But the black wolf hadn't been in the position to do so. He'd been enraged, something in him triggered—likely because he'd tugged at his neck as he had; he should have known better, Yugi realized now—but he had not been trying to kill him. He'd been trying to neutralize him, because, like Yusei, Yami had panicked. Yugi's interference had simply triggered him to lash out because he thought he had no other choice. If not for that, he would have been fine. If not for that, he would have simply stepped back after Yusei had gone limp.

Yusei had tried to trick him, to make him think he was too wounded to move. But Yugi wondered now if it would have calmed him or set him off again. Yami's frame of mind was so weak at the moment that Yugi should have known better than to even allow a session to happen. It occurred to him that he could have very easily triggered Yami to kill Yusei. Yugi's intervention had saved him should his plan have gone wrong. But he had also scared Yami so much that he'd retreated and simply run on instinct.

Yugi was quiet for a long handful of seconds. Is that so? he finally asked. He sounded more flustered than he would have liked. He blinked, turning away. His ears flickered about several times as he considered Honda and Jonouchi. Yusei was watching them all nervously from the corner of his eye. Yugi noticed Yami still refused to raise his eyes or turn his head in acknowledgment. His heart hurt, squeezing tight, as he looked over at him.

It had been a mistake. And, in truth, all of them could have done something to prevent it.

I promise I'm okay.

The quiet declaration startled Yugi from his thoughts, but the black wolf refused to look over. He did blink, however. His head tilted slightly towards them. And then he huffed out a heavy breath. That's good, he finally acknowledged softly. He sounded almost broken and tired from the ordeal of even summoning the energy necessary to answer him. I'm glad you're okay.

Yusei wagged his tail. Then he glanced awkwardly to Yugi as well, parting his mouth in a sloppy grin. I'm okay, he repeated, searching his face for a moment. Then he looked away, exhaling slowly. Yugi knew there was nothing else he could say to make either of them feel better. And he did not want to risk setting them both off into another quarrel. A-are we still training?

A quiet Yes was met with a much louder and far more aggressive No.

Both Yami and Yugi startled. Yami spun around to face him. Yugi ignored him for a long moment, trying hard not to snarl with frustration. And then he found himself unable to keep from looking at him. Their eyes locked. Frustration boiled over into rage for a single moment. Yami's lips curled back, something hideous and bitter lighting his eyes. But it passed. Just as Yugi almost thought they might go to blows again, Yami turned away. The action was slow, forceful, his lips curled back to show each tooth. The hair on the back of his neck had risen into a hideous bristle. His eyes seemed to glow with anger as he glared at the snow.

Yugi kept his eyes on the other wolf for a long moment. Then he turned away, ears pricked and nose wrinkled with a suppressed snarl. He lowered his eyes to the snow to mirror his beta. But he could see that Yami had slouched into a more submissive, yet passive aggressive stance. And he could not deny the tension in his own muscles. He was so rigid in stance that he almost shook whenever he drew a breath.

We're done, Yugi stated forcefully, shaking his head. He came forward a step. Yusei looked up with wide, startled eyes. Yami flicked an ear in his direction, refusing to turn his head. We're completely done. I don't want to risk anyone else getting hurt.

The other wolves were smart enough not to argue. Yusei did not try to reassure them again. He simply looked at Yami, tilting his head. Yugi cast a small glance over as well. Some part of him had thought Yami might argue with him. He was even almost excited for it. He'd anticipated it. But Yami only raised and turned his head to look at him. His eyes were unsure, hesitant, and Yugi thought he looked hurt. Yugi felt his own rigid stance become a slouch, crestfallen with the realization. Yami was not going to fight him. And he was hurt Yugi had assumed he would. Yugi looked away, flattening his ears. Yami turned and shook himself out, stumbling to his feet in Yugi's peripheral.

You think we'd get hurt? Jonouchi asked, shaken. His eyes locked on Yami, head tilted slightly to the side and his expression mildly flustered. Yugi turned his head to answer, but Yami gave the curious wolf a sneer, pretending to lunge. Jonouchi flinched so hard he almost fell backwards. Yugi sighed loudly, glaring at his beta and then Yami in turn.

I know Yami didn't mean to hurt Yusei as he did a minute ago, but he lost his temper and I don't blame him. He was just in a huge fight yesterday, as we're all aware. Hell, you guys are more aware than I am because you and Honda saw it and I'm sure you've been shown some of it, Yusei. His jumpiness isn't a surprise to me, Yugi said softly. His voice was apologetic, soft, when he faced Yami again. The black wolf was startled by how warm and gentle his expression was when he looked over at him. He should have been irritated, angered by his loss of control. Honestly, in his position, I'd be resting all day and then working around to doing things later. Maybe we can try again with training sessions another day. Maybe after school tomorrow.

After school? Jonouchi echoed, eyes widening. You're going to school?

I don't think Yubel is in any hurry to cross paths with us again… At least not for now, anyways. But I do think it would be good for me to make an appearance at some point.

Yugi couldn't help but feel bewildered when he noticed Yami's surprised expression as well. Jonouchi was silent, staring. Only Honda was brave enough to speak now, mumbling, Won't that look a little weird? We just had that huge fight yesterday and, now, here you are going to school the day after. I mean…? I would probably be a little confused and upset if I were from the pack.

And if they get upset, then can come to me with it, Yugi dismissed. He glanced at Yami, sharing a sidelong stare. Then the black wolf turned away again, expression dismissive and eyes lowered. Yugi swore he saw him dig for a split second before settling to take a seat once more. There's no reason for you to guys to worry about it. It's just going to look bad on me, not you.

Yami huffed. Bad on you? Can you afford to have that attitude at such a time?

I don't know. Can I? Yugi snorted. He shot him an annoyed look. Even if I can't, that's my attitude, Yami.

The black wolf snarled in turn, curling his lips to show his teeth in a hideous sneer. The tension crackled between them. A heartbeat passed; they both looked away. Finally, heart hurting too much to keep the argument going, Yugi made his way over to him. He nuzzled his cheek, licking his forehead. Yami looked as if he were unsure how to respond, plopping into a seated position beside him so close their fur brushed.

I think it would be best for you to stay here for a while. I'll go to school and if anything happens, I'll contact you guys. He groomed Yami's ear rigorously as the black wolf eyed him. I think I'll go ahead and grab a couple of waterproof bags and maybe have a spot for us to put our phones, you know? Might be a good idea to have a place to hide them when we're apart. I mean, it's probably an odd thought, considering you can't really text me as a wolf, but…

Well, it's not impossible for one of us to just stay human the majority of the time we're here, Honda mumbled with a quick glance towards, then away from Yami. The black wolf tilted his head, looking over at him. Honda shook his head. One of us can always check someone else's phone if we have to.

Yami pricked his ears. I suppose that would not be a bad idea. It is not as if it would hurt to do so in some manner. He tilted his head slightly, looking sideways towards Yugi. He wondered abruptly at their anger; if they'd end up fighting again. He wondered if the emotions festering and seething between them would burst, that they'd turn on one another violently. Would they reach the point of hurting each other purposefully? I do not know that it might be too beneficial for me myself. But I'm hungry and I think it's time for me to go catch something to eat.

Yugi almost made the offer to help him, but the sheer ferocity in Yami's eyes stopped him. The white wolf blinked, tilting his head the smallest fraction, and turned away again. I'll go ahead and bring your phone back to the camp tomorrow, he announced. In the meantime, the pack needs to stick together and remain safe.

---

Jack woke to Carly moving to stand, stumbling around in a circle. He grunted as she collapsed against him again, yawning and closing her eyes. She laid there, exhausted, and mumbled, Sorry, Jack.

He scoffed. Stop moving and you won't have to be sorry, he snapped. He closed his eyes, ignoring the urge to snarl as she shifted closer. He pricked his ears forward, wrinkling his nose. Stop moving.

I'm sorry. I can't get comfortable.

Jack would have rolled his eyes had he been human. Instead he huffed a breath, pressing his chin more forcefully into his paws. He bore his teeth, annoyed, as she shifted her weight once more. But he did not snap his jaws at her as he might have someone else. She settled again for a moment, more or less motionless but for her breathing.

Can you tell me a story?

When did I become a babysitter? he snapped, flicking his ears and refusing to answer her further. He closed his eyes again, yawning, and bore his teeth. She was quiet for a long handful of seconds; the stillness and lack of answer made him bristle in alarm. He turned his head, staring at her in confusion. She was watching him in turn, studying as he sighed softly. Fine. What kind of story do you want to hear?

She stared at him blankly, gray eyes awash with frustration. Why are you here, Jack? You told me earlier you didn't care about me or whether I died. So, why are you here with me right now?

He blinked at her, bristling and curling his lip. I don't have to stay here with you. But who else will? If you're right and Yami thinks you're going to die and refuses to even properly introduce himself, do you really think anyone else will bother helping you? Do you think anyone will care to stay with you if not for me?

She shook her head. No, but at least they would not be so cruel as to spend time with me like this and give me the cold shoulder so constantly, either.

He did not answer for a long handful of seconds. Then he lowered his chin to his paws, closing his eyes. He curled his lip in annoyance, voice spiteful and sneering. You're too pathetic to leave on your own.

Carly grunted softly beside him. Then she sighed through her nose, the noise surprisingly light and heavy all at once. Jack tilted his head, opening an eye to study her. She was staring at him blankly again, but she looked crestfallen more than anything. After a moment she closed her eyes, shaking her head.

I'll tell you a story then.

He snorted. Why would I want to hear a story?

Because I want to tell it to you. How cruel would you be not to listen?

Jack almost snapped his teeth at her face. But the urge left him almost immediately after. He shifted his weight, peering at her in turn, curious and wondering as he studied her. Okay, go ahead then.

She was quiet for a moment. Then she exhaled softly once more. She seemed to relax, ears flicking back and forth once. When she began talking, Jack found himself bristling. There once was a girl, about five years old, who wasn't protected by the people who were supposed to. A man attacked her and her father denied it when she tried to tell him. Her mother ran away from home soon after she told her and never came back. She was prodded at, touched, and forced to do things she never have had to. When she was eight, she ran away. She lived on the streets for another three years, eating bread crumbs and foraging through trash.

Jack flattened his ears against his head. Carly…

At twelve, she was struck by a car. It left her mangled and nearly broken. And she was happy to die from it. It seemed a relief. But something prevented it. Something attacked her soon after the car fled the scene. She was bitten and scratched all over, picked at, and scarred along various parts of her body where the animal tried to eat her. A passerby scared the wolf away and it never returned to finish her off. She was taken to the hospital, where she waited to die. But it never came. The pain went away, the wounds healed, the scars lingered, and the full moon came around. She changed on her own, hiding behind a pier when she was in too much pain to move any further.

Stop. Please—

She changed back and decided she would return to school a year later. She wasn't stupid so she figured out how to play the system. She still remembered things from her former life with her parents. Her father was long since dead—he'd overdosed on drugs. Her mother never came back to claim her. So, she grew up working odd jobs until she decided she wanted to become a journalist. She fell quiet for a moment, then laughed aloud and shook her head. But journalism doesn't work well with lycanthropy. So, she had to work on extremely flexible freelance articles and couldn't afford to be tied down to any one company. She bounced back and forth from one state to another in order to play the tourist for travel articles.

Jack blinked, shaking his head and narrowing his eyes. Carly—

Please don't interrupt, Jack, she mumbled, I'm getting tired.

He fell quiet, nodding after a moment. She sighed, eyes glittering with relief, and exhaled gently once more. She shifted her chip atop her paws, looking up at the sky, voice soft and quiet as it had been before. He thought it sounded like windchimes dancing in a small breeze, lyrical and warm.

She eventually found a pack and even began to enjoy her life. But the happiness faded soon after. She got tired of being in a pack; there was a void that she could not fill. She tried everything to do so, but there was nothing to fix it. She closed her eyes. Someone told her a story about how a wolf had been born in Japan, a lycanthrope named Code Name Atem. Someone told her the story and she influenced Ute to go to Japan and check it out. And from there she and the others came to Japan.

Jack flicked an ear, tilting his head and watching her closely. Her voice was getting quieter; he couldn't tell if it was the strain of focusing long enough to speak or if it was because she was falling asleep.

And from there she realized she could finally give up if things went well enough. You wanted to talk about pathetic, but you don't even know the half of it, Jack, she said softly, voice trickling away. Then she opened her eyes into narrow slits, yawning. He did not know if she was stressed or if she was truly tired. I'm only fourteen and I'm ready to die. I'm ready to die for the sake of release. I fought that hound knowing he'd kill me. The fact he didn't is amazing in and of itself. But I killed him before you got there. And I was waiting to die…when I saw you.

Jack went to answer, but the look on her face was enough to quiet him. She'd turned to him with a snarl, teeth bared and nose wrinkled back hideously. Her eyes glittered with anger. He forced himself to relax, nodding slightly and she lost what little tension remained in her form.

I'm telling you this because if you want to call me pathetic, you should know why. She turned away, yawning again, and closed her eyes. And, seeing as Ute and Hugo are the last of my pack, I don't see that I have much else to care for. And I don't have a pack to care for any longer but the wolves here. And none of them care for me. Yami expects me to die. They all do. So, what else is there to live for?

Jack hesitated, flattening his ears. I'm…sorry, Carly. You didn't deserve all that.

No one does. But it happened. It's over with now. She yawned again. You have to tell me a story when we get up later. But I'm going to sleep now. I don't want to stay awake anymore.

The blond wolf stared at her, then shifted closer and buried his nose into the fur of her scruff. I'll figure out a story for you later, he promised.

---

Aki looked up when Yami got closer. He wasn't facing her, looking straight ahead and ignoring her altogether. But he had stopped there, his eyes darkened and ears pricked forward. He was motionless but for breathing. The way he stood so stiff almost made her think he was staring at prey. Every muscle was honed in on something further ahead of him and he looked as if he might lunge forward at any moment. Then he blinked, turning to her abruptly and staring. For a long minute he was silent, then he murmured, I am sorry about Otogi.

She blinked, startled, and wrinkled her nose back. What does it matter?

He did not so much as blink at her aggressive answer. Instead he looked away before glancing at her sideways. You and Mai and Mieru are the last of your pack. I did not even truly realize the numbers had fallen so drastically. I am sorry I did not pay enough attention to prevent that happening.

She bristled. The fuck do I care for your regrets?

He shrugged, looking away again with pricked ears. I did not expect you to.

Then why are you even speaking to me?

Yami turned his head, facing her. He stood still for a long handful of seconds, then tilted his head. His eyes focused intently on her. She almost thought he might lunge forward and snap his teeth at her face. Then he snorted softly, wagging his tail slightly. You seemed almost lonely. I assumed I would be nice and try to make conversation. He curled his lip slightly, shaking his head. No. I just felt that your pain deserved some acknowledgment as well. I spoke to Mai earlier, but I did not do so with you.

She blinked, studying him. He seemed sincere, she realized. He did not look as if he were mocking her. He was truly offering condolences simply because he felt it the right thing to do. It was odd to look at him and see that in his expression, how comfortable he was even saying it to her. It seemed almost impossible. Why should he have cared in the slightest?

But the assumption wasn't fair, either; she recognized that. After all the time she'd spent with him in general, she knew he was not so easily put in a box as the pack had hoped. Between the stress of his attack on Annie before he'd fled and the time it took for him to return after he and Atem had suffered whatever fallout they'd had, to now, Yami had never fit in that box. He was not the traitor they'd assumed him to be after all the lies. But he had not admitted to being the second Code Name Atem until the fight with Yubel. And Aki prized her keenness.

She knew for a fact that there was more to Yami and Atem than just the supposed bite they both swore by.

She did not know all the details, but she wasn't stupid enough to believe it all boiled down to that.

But whatever it was, she did not truly think she cared to contemplate it.

Regardless, you have my sincerest apologies, Aki, whether you accept them or not.

She went to respond, but Yami turned away again abruptly, wandering away and ignoring her stare. He was limping slightly and looked as if he might collapse at any moment. But he continued forward, looked at Atem as the white wolf came to his side, and then both of them paused to chat for a few seconds. Whatever was said made Yami snort and Atem wag his tail rapidly. Their eyes were sparkling with laughter.

Atem turned away a moment later, shaking himself out. Yami turned away to face the other wolves, a handful of which passed so slowly it made Aki's skin crawl. Yami pricked his ears forward and turned away as if to wander once more before slowly taking a few steps. But he turned back to the white wolf, studying him with a tilt of his head.

For a few seconds, they simply stared at each other. Then Yami turned away and Atem called out, If you aren't fit to hunt, return to the cavern. Everyone initiate the buddy system in order to remain vigilant of one another should you leave the cavern for any reason. I will keep vigil once more tonight.

The announcement was met with a few quick glances at one another. Some of them were wry, other surprised. She herself was mildly inclined towards bewilderment, if only because of the idea Atem was taking so much care to cater to their needs. He'd never quite seemed to care for them before then. The difference in his behavior now from then was rather drastic. And it made it even more amazing that he and Yami had remained for the fight.

Aki rose to her feet after a moment. The other wolves moved to stand as well, then gather around and trail into the cavern as instructed. Both Yami and Atem came to the front of the pack.

Wounded to the middle as before, and I will take to my spot on the ledge as I was. There was a long pause to follow his words. Aki glanced around at the others, wondering as they shifted their legs awkwardly and looked as if they'd been scolded. The wolves were all silent as they filed into the cavern again; Aki could see Yusei picking his way painfully across the snow with Jack and a she-wolf she didn't recognize. Both of them were helping to support her weight. She stumbled and limped, nearly collapsing more than once.

The sight was a rather pathetic one.

She watched Jack slip into the cavern first. Yusei grabbed the she-wolf by the scruff, helping to lower her down to the ledge. Aki leaned forward, ears pricked as she watched. Yusei slowly maneuvered her downward and Jack nuzzled her side to brace her up against the wall. From there, they both worked their way carefully down while Yusei scrambled awkwardly after them.

Aki followed him. The gray yearling looked over his shoulder to see her. He hesitated, then wagged his tail slightly, and limped over to where Jack and the she-wolf had moved. She'd taken a spot towards the center, Jack curled up around her almost like a blanket. Aki could not tell what she was saying, but she could tell they were speaking. And, judging by the look on Jack's face, it had to be something rather…touching.

He looked almost warm.

Aki was almost stricken by the idea. This she-wolf had power if she had managed to bring such warmth from the blond wolf. It was bewildering to her. Jack was cold and harsh. He was vicious more often than not. He snarled, snapped his teeth, and bristled without reason. He was as nasty as they came.

And yet, somehow, this girl had managed to warm him. It might have only been enough to keep him from snarling and snapping, but it had happened all the same. Aki wondered at the idea. But she did not suppose it was so important it warranted more attention.

You look upset.

Her head snapped up. She turned towards the source of the noise, bristling and staring. In front of her, Yusei stood with his head tilted and tail down. He looked very bit the yearling he was, tall and lanky with slight coloration appearing in new places along his face and chest, with a pelt that made him look far larger than he truly was.

She flicked an ear, dismissive as she sneered, What's your point? Why are you being nosy?

He blinked, clearly surprised, and looked away with a huff. But he didn't seem upset, wagging his tail slightly and eyeing her a moment longer. I was just curious. You don't have to be upset about every little thing, you know?

She would have rolled her eyes if she were human. Instead she wrinkled her lips to show her teeth and looked, disgusted. Yusei wagged his tail again in her peripheral. Yearlings were so weird; nothing truly kept them down. She wondered if that was naivety on their part or if it was something as simple as the ability to bounce back from anything and everything happening around them.

She had lost that ability long before, when she was younger. Annie sinking her teeth into her throat and preparing to shake her until her neck snapped had managed to do enough to break her spirits in such regard. And being around yearlings only made things harder. They had the ability to come back from almost anything emotionally and mentally. They were steadfast in believing things could and would eventually get better. It was almost disgusting, but it was also the innocence of younger wolves that didn't know the end could be any second.

Aki pricked her ears forward, considering him. He was still staring at her, expectant as he wagged his tail. But it was clear he wasn't phased by her anger. And she could not find any more disgust or ferocity to show him at the moment. She turned away, studying Jack and the she-wolf as she lay his head on her paws and he lay his on her neck.

Who is she?

Yusei was quiet for a single second. Her name is Carly Carmine. She's from the states. She's one of Ute's wolves that came to help when the fight broke out. He fell silent again for a handful of breaths. Then he murmured, Are you okay? Your sides look pretty bad.

Aki glanced at him sideways, tilting her head and giving him a sharp look. Yusei lost his relaxed stance, tensing and staring with a cautious, uncertain expression. She curled her lips back to show her teeth, snapping, My sides will heal. I am more worried about the various deaths we've encountered just yesterday. The death toll was higher than I was ready for.

Yusei sighed softly. I didn't think they'd be this high, either. And then I ran across Otogi and… Yami seemed to take it harder than I thought he would, you know? He seemed almost in shock when he saw him; he even got so stressed out he began drooling.

Aki shot him a sideways glance, snarling softly. Why are you still speaking to me right now?

You seemed lonely and I thought I would try to keep you company.

There was a lot moment of silence that stretched between them. Finally she turned her head, then came forward with her tail wagging. Yusei stared at her in surprise, eyes widening before he returned the gesture happily. She stopped in front of him.

I'm going to rip your side open if you don't fuck off.

Yusei faltered, eyes wide as his tail dropped. After a moment he blinked, then darted forward to lick her nose and dash down to the floor of the cavern again. Aki was frozen in place, startled by his audacity, as he took a spot near Jack and Carly that was close enough he could help should they need it. She watched him a moment, then dropped her tail and came forward, glancing over her shoulder to face the other wolves.

He was insane to show such bravery in licking her like that. It was the only thing she could truly focus on, if only for a split second. It faded away again almost immediately, however, as Yami and Atem entered the cavern. Yami had made to move towards the end of the stone shelter, but Atem moved towards the center as if to take shelter to heal his petty former wounds.

But she wondered at the distance between them. It was rather acute, jarring, so large it demanded the attention of any onlookers. Several of the other wolves paused to look over at them in surprise. And Aki knew she was not alone in the fact they were staring so openly. Some part of her was riddled with anxiety at the reminder of the fight they'd gotten into earlier that day; Yami had been willing to inflict rather heavy damage.

And yet, somehow, for some reason, he'd stopped.

She wasn't stupid. Yusei had not relayed the end of the fight, claiming exhaustion. But Jonouchi and Honda had been rather clear in their dismissals. They'd wandered off, told them otherwise and not to worry whenever it was mentioned. But she did not care enough to ask any further details. Her suspicions had risen considerably just from what she'd witnessed of it.

It was not much of a theory to run with, but she was almost certain.

It was simply because of the fact she did not care for the anarchy such a revelation might produce that she failed to speak the words. But she was sure of it. Yami and Atem were bonded in a much stronger, more apparent and dangerous manner than what they would have had Atem truly bitten him.

Aki was far from stupid.

So she did not bring it up. Not only would it gather the wrong attention, the highest momentum, and the heaviest criticism, the uproar would be immense. And they could not afford such a thing between them. The pack would end up killing itself should they find out. And she did not care for the bloodshed to come.

Aki turned away from them, dropping from the ledge and heading for the wall closest the waterfall. The spray did well to soak her and cool her wounds, denser with an icy touch. It was just enough nurture her pained muscles.

She was half-asleep when she heard voices. Her eyes snapped open, ears angling forward, and for a split second she almost raised her head. But the tones were hushed, the conversation clearly meant to be private. They had waited long enough that they thought the others asleep, then spoken. The fact she was awake now had to do with pain rather than noise. She wondered who else was in the same position.

Yugi said it was Barbara who led Yubel to us, Yusei mumbled, voice low and soft enough that Aki almost had to strain her ears. He stared over at where Jonouchi had opened his eyes in the dark and was staring at him. She'd heard him, Aki realized; the golden-furred wolf had spoken a little louder than he'd meant to when he'd answered whatever Yusei had said to him. Beside him, Honda had cracked an eye open, watching them both curiously.

Barbara brought Yubel here? Why the hell would she do that?

Yusei flattened his ears. She hated Yami. I think that's a strong motivator, especially for wolves—

Aki flicked an ear dismissively. There was more to it than that, she scoffed. All three of them turned to her with wide eyes, ears pricked and muscles tensed as if they were children caught with their hands in the cookie jar. She yawned and lowered her chin to her paws again, ignoring their shocked expressions. There was a lot more to it.

There was a long handful of seconds in which none of them answered. She couldn't tell if they were hesitant or if it was because they were nervous. And then, quietly, sounding unsure of himself, Yusei asked, More to it…like what, Aki?

Barbara was one of Annie's favorites. She was jealous when Yami came to the pack the first time because all the attention our mother gave us was suddenly given to Yami instead. And he never did anything to deserve the adoration. He was just there. He laid around, he ignored us, he refused to eat, and he spent much of his time just watching us. Barbara was infuriated. Things grew worse from there, because she was convinced he was just there to take up space and eventually lead the hellhounds here.

There was an uncomfortable moment of silence. All of them swapped looks.

But somehow she wound up doing that instead, Honda scoffed. All because of a jealousy issue?

No, another voice interrupted, mild and amused, it was because she thought it would help you all.

Aki focused on the black wolf immediately, bristling faintly along her neck. He had not even bothered to open his eyes. And he lay almost perfectly still but for his breathing. Occasionally a twitch rippled through his fur when he shifted his weight too much, but for the most part he seemed comfortable and almost looked as if he were sleeping at the moment.

Help us? Jonouchi snarled. She almost got us all killed.

Yes, well, the intent behind the act was to save you by bringing Yubel to me. Yami's eyes snapped open; he raised his head, stumbling to his feet. The action sparked immediate attention. Several wolves got up instantly. Atem sat up from his position on the ledge. Everyone focused in on the beta, as if expecting him to be but a phantom in front of them. The admiration and respect in their eyes as they stared at him was almost enough to make Aki snarl.

Yami?

The black canine turned his head, eyeing Atem curiously for a second. Then he yawned, circled around twice, and plopped down with his entire body bunched. The action looked painful and his sides rippled as if in agony. Aki shuddered and a couple of other wolves seemed to flinch at the sight. Yami ignored them, however, and closed his eyes.

She thought that if she brought Yubel here, to me, she'd be able to put an end to me. And if I was killed, then Atem would be a better leader. Her intentions weren't as unkind as you might have believed before. And she did it with the idea that she'd be saving the pack rather than destroying it. Likely the deal was for Yubel to come alone and she didn't expect her to have the others with her. When Yubel betrayed her, Barbara probably tried to run or even howl and Yubel killed her like she'd planned to do the moment they crossed paths. Yami tucked his head further against his side, muzzle under his tail. His body jerked in a spasm from the action, entire frame wracked with painful twitches. Yubel was alone when they first crossed paths, I'm sure, and she sensed weakness in Barbara and sought to exploit it. Barbara could not have held her own against Yubel and she wasn't brave enough to bother fighting me because of Atem's favor. She didn't want to directly challenge Atem, so she went about it behind our backs and made the deal. Yubel let her live for as long as it took for Barbara to show her the path to the camp.

There was a long moment of silence amongst them, the waterfall crashing behind them an almost distant roar from the suffocating weight of the words. A few seconds passed. Then the wolves began to swap looks; all of them were awake now. Whoever had been asleep before had raised their heads to give him their undivided attention, as if he were truly a god before them. Aki shivered and took a small glance in Atem's direction; the white wolf was staring at his beta with glittering blue-violet eyes, as if he were disgusted he'd spoken the words to begin with. But it passed when he blinked and lifted his eyes towards the entrance again.

It doesn't matter why she did it, Yami continued a few moments later. It's over and done with. The more pressing matter is that Yubel knows where we are and how to get to us.

Don't start fear mongering, Atem growled, turning to him and curling his lip. We'll deal with it as we need to. Scaring them won't help anything.

Why should I wish to scare anyone? Yami scoffed. He didn't bother to open an eye or twitch a muscle now. His breathing had evened out as if he might fall asleep at any moment. I'm stating the truth. Fear mongering would do me no good.

Atem sighed loudly, turning back to look out the brambles as he had before. What Barbara did was stupid and naïve. Yubel planned to kill her the moment she saw her, but she knew she could manipulate her because Barbara was so easily read. If things were not going her way, she would lose her temper and grow further upset as time passed and things remained unresolved. Yubel preyed on that because that's what Yubel has always done.

Yami seemed almost to be asleep now. Aki flicked an ear as a few looks were shot in her direction, almost as if in askance of her agreement. She ignored them and lowered her head to her paws again. Yusei was staring at her, blatant and studying, and Jack had even turned his head to regard her. She curled her lips back to show her teeth, fighting back the urge to snarl and lunge at them both.

But Aki was right as well, Yami said quietly, abruptly, startling the others into turning to him once more. She was jealous of the attention I gained. And she was even more dead set on my deception when I almost killed her mother. I drove her mad with envy and my silence was enough to infuriate her. She brought Yubel here to rectify the situation, because she thought I was a hellhound meant to kill you all. Yubel promised her what she wanted to hear because she could not follow Atem as well in the snow as she could me and I was not in the camp often enough for her to track me in the time she was allowed out of the labs. She was forced to return at certain times in order to report reconnaissance and avoid punishment. Because of that, she could only trail me for long enough to get to the woods and never to the camp. She knew I was aware of her whenever she was nearby. It became a game of whether she could track me without my noticing and whether I would eventually lead her back.

There was a long moment of silence.

Is that why you disliked the camp?

Yami snorted at the suggestion. No, I disliked the camp for various other reasons that do not need discussion, he answered. Aki watched Syrus lose his enthusiasm the moment the words processed. He lost his hesitantly hopeful body language and looked away. But Yubel certainly gave me more reason to avoid it.

If she is so often punished for being away from the labs, why is it that she managed to get to the camp this time rather than all of the others? Jim sneered. He had raised his head and leveled Yami with a cold expression in his remaining eye. Can you explain that, since you seem to have all the answers?

Yami cracked an eye open; it seemed to glow even against the heavy guard hairs of his long, bushy tail. Her collar was beeping when she was at the house. It was a return signal. She received a small series of shocks for disobeying. All of them did. And then she sent back a signal in response to more or less tell them to fuck off. He closed his eye again a moment later, flicking his ears. I'm assuming she sent a similar signal before the fight began and that bought her more time to attack. She's a loose cannon; they know that as well. That's why she has the collar around her neck with that kind of system.

You didn't have one similar?

Yami's eyes snapped open now. Atem had turned to him, ears pricked and eyes locked on his face. The black wolf remained still for a long handful of seconds, then slowly looked to him, gaze cold and distant. No, he snapped, I didn't.

Atem was quiet for a moment. I don't believe I did either.

It was likely implemented after the escape, Yami growled. He closed his eyes again, letting out a harsh breath. I should expect that was also because of the breeding necessary to bring someone like Yubel into the world. I'm sure they realized she had to be controlled early on.

Atem turned his head again, ears pricked forward and lip curled slightly to show a canine. Jaden said she was part of the pack he was born into. I highly doubt she was bred in the labs and then released.

Then they were caught and the tortures they performed on her were enough to make her force herself to forget all that time amongst the pack. Yami sounded dismissive and cold now. It doesn't matter, however. The point is that they likely implemented the system after we escaped. Beyond speculation, I am not certain, however. I am under the assumption that the collars were produced only after the escape happened.

Atem sat silently, flicking his ears lazily back and forth a few times. His eyes were half-closed as he considered and the pack continued swapping looks. Images were passed back and forth, though Aki couldn't entirely make them out. All she saw was an inquiry of the fight between Yami and Yubel, as well as one regarding the incident with her mother.

The blue-violet-eyed wolf turned abruptly at that, ears pricked forward and gaze glittering with a fierce curiosity. He bristled faintly along the scruff, but it passed a moment later as he murmured, Yes, why don't you show us that? I would like to know what it is that happened the day Yami fled from the camp as well.

A ripple of unease passed through them all. Some of them shuddered, others pricked their ears curiously, and then heads turned rapidly to face her and Mieru. The yearling did nothing but stare in response, lowering her head to her paws moments later and closing her eyes. Eventually the stares turned expectantly to Yami as well, as if torn between who might tell the better version of those events.

The black wolf had shut his eyes again at some point, tucking his head back beneath his tail as he had before. His sides twitched once more, his breathing even. The softness of each exhale was almost like a whisper. With his dismissal the wolves turned back to her, expectant and waiting.

But it didn't come from her.

Annie stood in the center of the camp. Aki herself stood mere feet away, brown eyes glowing fiercely. Mieru sat the edge of the group of wolves with the other yearlings. Dextra was towards the middle. The others had gathered around, staring intently. The entire pack was focused, waiting to see what it was the wolf could offer them. They all held still, as if sharing the same breath. She remembered Yami standing there, indifferent and relaxed. The aggression had not shaken him, even as their tails rose and the fur along their backs stood tall.

The lack of intimidation was enough to make them almost fearful. The slight stench was almost overwhelming to recall. They shivered with excitement. Aki remembered feeling mostly anger, a cold and terrible resentment rushing through her. She'd truly believed he was Atem back then. She'd truly thought she'd brought Atem to the pack as she was meant to. She'd believed it more than ever back then.

His silence had been infuriating and devastating. The fact that he'd wasted away before their eyes when he was meant to be a beacon of power had driven her mad. The rest of the pack had shared such frustration. The inability to even so much as retain his own health had been enough to make them rabid with anger. Annie had lost patience. She'd turned to Aki more than once with the declaration they would get rid of him.

Are you willing to speak now? Annie snarled. Her eyes were glowing, her red fur in a hideous bristle. Are you willing to defend yourself against our various accusations? Are you willing to prove yourself as Atem or shall we kill you like the imposter you are?

The silence in response was deafening before the snarling began. The wolves in front of him began to bare their teeth and come forward. There was not a single response or touch of alarm to come over him. Instead Yami stared, quiet and defiant as he always was. Aki remembered that acutely. The way he'd looked at them had been with quiet resignation and listlessness, a misery that was brutal enough it often shook them to their cores. And then, as the seconds passed, Annie came forward again.

She was slathering, eyes glowing furiously. Aki had been impatiently waiting for the command to go after him. But she'd also been desperately hopeful that he would prove himself despite his reluctance before. She'd been hopeful he'd show himself as Atem and prove that she wasn't the weakest link in the pack at the moment. Despite her rank, her insistence he was Atem had caused belief in her to dwindle. They'd claimed more than once that she was a traitor for bringing him there.

Her reputation had been on the line when he'd done this. She remembered that more than ever, so vividly it made her skin crawl.

But Annie stared, furious and resentful. Her eyes flickered in Aki's direction. The glare on her face was enough to make Aki shiver as she watched through Yami's memories.

She lunged. Her mouth opened. Drool dripped from her teeth.

Yami waited. Then he shot forward. He aimed lower. He crouched. Then he surged upwards. His teeth caught her throat. Blood sprayed the air. The sound of droplets hitting the ground was deafening. Annie screamed. Yami's jaws closed. He clamped down. Then he shook her limp. She was still rasping. Her throat looked like hamburger meat when he threw her. He eyed them. Then he turned tail, fleeing.

Kill him! Annie screamed in a gurgling voice. Kill the traitor!

The image cut off immediately after the words passed.

Yami was so still Aki almost thought him dead. But his breaths were even and slow. And she realized abruptly he'd fallen asleep. Aki blinked, surprised, and turned to Atem. The white wolf was staring at him as well, only mildly surprised. But he looked smug as well. He'd been waiting for that to happen. Atem had been hopeful he'd wear himself out and fall asleep. Atem had wanted nothing more. He'd been patiently awaiting it. The suggestion had not been purely out of curiosity; he'd been hoping Yami would fall asleep if he took the challenge of relaying the event.

Aki watched him for a long handful of seconds. Atem was still studying the red-eyed wolf as if he expected him to wake. But the dark-furred canine remained asleep. And, as Aki considered the two of them, Atem slowly got to his feet to shake himself out. When he stopped, his eyes were on Yami again, testing to make sure he remained asleep.

Atem settled once more, paws draped over the side of the ledge and chin on his legs. His eyes were only half-focused as he listened for danger, watching the bramble patch overhead.

I had thought it was bloodier, he said quietly, just loud enough for her to hear. She blinked, focusing on him again, and found Atem staring at her in his peripheral. Yami always made it sound worse than that. I had expected more blood. I almost expected you to try to fight him as well.

She bristled faintly at the reminder, turning away and pricking her ears forward. I was in the lead to chase him. And I almost cornered him at the tree bridge but he was fast enough to make the jump without having to stop. We marked the tree bridge as the end of the territory at that time, before we had any real reason to stray further. Yami was the reason we expanded it, because my mother wanted him dead no matter the cost.

Atem snorted. Annie was a fool. Yami would have killed you all if you'd managed to find him.

I'm aware, she dismissed. She stared at him, focusing entirely on the blue-violet-eyed wolf. Atem had turned away from her to look out the bramble thicket once more. The white wolf never turned to her again and Aki settled for sleep reluctantly.

---

Yami…aibou…

The black wolf shifted his weight, muscles straining with the effort. He blinked an eye open, lids feeling heavy and glued shut. It was a struggle to focus for more than a split second. He felt as if his head might split in two from the force of trying to concentrate. He blinked once more, struggling not to snarl. And, finally, to his amazement, he managed to raise and turn his head. Every muscle in his neck was strained, aching and throbbing with the force of movement. He closed his eyes halfway, then opened them wider as he drew in the features of Yugi's face.

He didn't look worried, appearing rather expectant and warm as he'd always been. The white wolf pressed his nose into his forehead, running his tongue over his muzzle. Yugi peered down at him with brightened eyes, smiling gently. Hey, glad to see you're awake, he teased, wagging his tail. His nose pressed into his cheek and he licked at his face once more. I just wanted to tell you that I'm going to school in a minute. I didn't want you to wake up and not know where I was.

Yami blinked in confusion, struggling to process the words for a moment. Oh, he mumbled, struggling to his paws; his limbs popped hideously and the noise echoed around the cavern for a split second before being swallowed beneath the roar of water. The other wolves sprang to their feet, startled by the noises and listening intently before realization passed over them. They settled again almost immediately after, curling up into tight balls as they had been before.

Did you want me to come with you to—?

No, no, Yugi said gently, moving to nudge his shoulder with his muzzle. I just wanted to let you know. I didn't want you to wake up alone and freak out.

He wanted to snarl that he wouldn't have freaked out. But Yugi was right to worry. Yami was unstable; he was tired. Lack of proper rest was disorienting. Sleep was almost traumatizing. He couldn't shake the various memories that plagued him when he closed his eyes. Even falling asleep as he had was almost amazing to him.

Yami flicked an ear and took a seat. His back popped loudly enough to rival a gunshot. A couple of wolves flinched. Others startled awake again. One or two tried to burrow beneath their tails even more than they already had. The black wolf lowered his head and yawned. Thank you.

He really shouldn't have been to the point of being afraid should he wake up alone. Yami was ashamed of that thought. He shouldn't have been at that point. There was no reason for him to be in such a state. In reality it was foolish and pathetic. But Yami almost couldn't remember a time when he hadn't been able to describe himself with such words.

He shook himself out slightly, sides stinging and twitching from the movement. His stomach rolled painfully and the skin itched. Yugi was watching him closely, studying intently before he looked away.

Aibou… He sounded exhausted when he exhaled a small sigh. I'll bring you something to eat. Just give me a second to—

I can grab my own food.

Yugi stared at him as if startled by his aggressive words but also unsurprised by them. He snorted after a moment, shaking himself out when he got to his feet again. Okay, he said, and Yami knew for a fact that he was ignoring the words and would do it regardless, that's fine.

Yami looked away, glancing around at the other wolves. Yusei had somehow drifted closer to Aki in his sleep and Jack was curled up tightly with Carly. He watched her sides rise and fall for several moments before turning away again to face Yugi once more. It was amazing to him that she was still alive. In truth, he expected her to pass in the next few days, if she would even last that long. But he did not know how to tell Yugi that. And considering it was exhausting enough.

It was more surprising to him that Carly had somehow gotten Jack's attention so intently that he was taking care of her. He had seen him grab food for her more than once in the time that they'd been resting out in the camp before training. He'd even wandered off to hunt for her at one point, as if he were somehow hoping that he might save her. And, in truth, Yami was not entirely sure he wouldn't manage it. He was rather sure if there was a way to do so, Jack was doing it. He was feeding her, keeping her warm using his own body heat, and he kept her in the middle of the cavern for the sake of protection should something happen.

The one thing Yami was sure of was that Yubel and Sartorius would not return so soon. He did not know how much time he had bought, but he'd gotten them some. The wound might not be permanent depending on her healing capabilities—he did not know properly how to gauge such a thing for a hellhound—and how well she took care of herself. For the moment, however, he knew for a fact that she and her beta would not be back. It would be a matter of days or weeks, but he did not know which was more likely.

Yami shook the thought off to consider Yugi once more. How long is school again?

It's usually eight hours a day, but because of the curfew and how little students are still here, it's only four, Yugi answered, shaking himself out and closing his eyes. He flicked his ears, focusing on him a moment later. It's not too long. I'll be back before you even really notice I was missing.

He snorted. Is that so? I won't even notice you gone?

Exactly. It'll be fine.

I am not afraid it will not be okay. I am more concerned with how much time I will be alone with the pack. He shook himself out and his shoulders ground against each other from the force. He knew for a fact he would need food again sooner rather than later. The kill pile had been replenished from Yugi's own hunt prior, but it had also been added to as the wolves had moved about the camp. Some of them had gotten restless and wandered off in groups of four to grab food. He pricked his ears forward and forced himself not to listen as some of the other wolves grumbled in frustration about the noise he and Yugi were making in moving around so much. It is not a problem for me to remain with them alone. It is more that I do not know that I can protect them or aid them in any hunts or patrols should they require such later.

I know. That's why Zane is going to be in charge of that for right now. The other alphas are all going to put their heads together and work to make this easier for all of us. You can't spread yourself too thin; you need to heal more than anything else. Others can take care of patrols or hunting.

Yami opened his eyes into narrowed slits. He drew his lips back, showing his teeth in frustration. He couldn't accept the idea he'd be using the pack as shelter for himself. He'd be hiding among them while they took care of him. He could not support the idea he would be leaving them alone to deal with possible problems. But, as he had told himself before, the likelihood of Yubel and Sartorius returning so soon was almost impossible. Yet, somehow he was still nervous. He could not shake the unnatural fear that she might damn well reappear regardless.

I know you're not happy with this, but I need you to heal. I need that more than I need the pack healed up. If you're the best fighter out of us, if you're the strongest one of us, then it's priority to get you back on your feet before the others.

I am aware of that.

I know you are. It's just important for you to remember that. Knowing it doesn't help if you argue and try to do otherwise. I can't afford for you to get hurt anymore than you already have. That includes wasting energy, getting hurt during a hunt, or even sleeping wrong.

Yami nodded dismissively. Yes.

Yugi was silent for a long handful of seconds. He leaned forward, licking his nose and pressing against his cheek for a brief moment. When he exhaled, the gust of air was enough to make his skin tingle. The white wolf pulled away abruptly, looking away and outside to the snow past the bramble bush. I'll return in a couple of seconds.

He was gone before Yami could argue. But he supposed that didn't matter. It made sense to let him help. Fighting aid was foolish. He lowered himself to his belly again. His skin twitched and jerked, a bone popping once more. His shoulders ground and he swore his jaw was loose and unhinged. He thought his teeth felt as if they were pressing against and grinding against one another. His bottom jaw felt twice as large as his top and half of his incisors seemed somehow to be pressing on one another and forcing them forward and out of place.

Yugi came back with some food; it wasn't freshly killed, but he did note that they were the larger of the kill pile they'd replenished. He knew that much as he'd seen them before. And he remembered seeing the two rabbits and the cached deer haunch Yugi was carrying. He dropped down off the ledge and spat them onto the ground in front of him.

A few wolves lifted their heads, bewildered. Others yawned and stretched. And one of them sniffed at the food before getting up and making their way out to grab their own. No one made to object to his having three—four; he hadn't initially seen the squirrel—pieces of prey. No one so much as looked disgruntled by the sight. He'd expected at least some kind of words to be expressed in argument of the action. But he realized as well that the wolves recognized the necessity.

His fight had been projected rapidly. They'd all shared what they'd seen of it. The only one he knew of that did not know the entire story and had only seem fragments of it was Yugi himself. Yami had not bothered to show it to him. And the wolves had been cautious of Yugi's ire in regards of provoking it. None of them had wanted Yugi to turn on them in his frustration. None of them wanted to face his anger.

Yami dug into the deer haunch first. The frozen meat crunched against his teeth, soothing his gums slightly where they scraped against it. The bones shattered easily beneath his touch. His eyes were half-closed as he gnawed. His paws twitched and flexed, each claw digging into the flesh so that had it not been frozen it would have bled spectacularly.

Yugi was statuesque, watching and observing him. Then he blinked and shook himself out. I'll see you after school, okay, aibou?

Yami paused halfway through swallowing the last bite to look over at him again. For a split second he'd forgotten and the words had seemed a mystery to him. He blinked, studying him. You'll be careful, yes? He said the words slowly, trying his hardest not to sound as condescending as he felt about the matter. Yugi was going back to school for no other reason than to escape him, he knew. But he also knew his temper was just beneath the surface at the moment. Yugi might not have lashed out as terribly as he could have during the training, but he knew all the same he did not have proper control of his anger, either. Usually Yugi would not have even fought back. But that time he'd lashed out, though he had not hurt him in any manner.

The last thing they needed was for his anger to rise to the surface and get him into trouble. They couldn't handle it should he lash out at the wrong person and draw attention. And he did not think that he could weather such an incident should something happen. He didn't know if it would bring the hellhounds back at full force should they come to realize where Yugi attended school or if it would make the various neutral wolves turn on him.

Yami just prayed nothing happened to draw his ire to the surface.

I'll be careful, Yugi promised, voice warm and soft. He was as gentle as always, as if afraid he might scare him off. But the moment passed. He got up, shook himself out again, and was gone before Yami could speak again.

He finished his meal a little later. The wolves had more or less settled back for sleep again. A couple were still watching him curiously but the rest hardly seemed to care. The pack had thinned out slightly, some of them wandering off to grab food of their own before it became a problem for later. Yami watched some of them return, mouths full, in order to remain sheltered in the cavern as he had. Others didn't come back until minutes later, looking happier to have eaten.

He slid back onto his belly, paws straight out in front of him, and considered the wolves around him. A vast majority of them were healing nicely; those that weren't seemed to have gotten more attention from the others. Being towards the center meant more body heat, less movement should someone get up and go outside; the wolves on the outer ring were more likely to do so. And each had a support system of at least two other wolves that were watching for and waiting on them in some manner. Yami was all too aware that they were all watching him, however, judging and studying and taking note of every movement he made.

It was nothing he was unused to. The labs had been so damn similar as well.

Yami pricked his ears forward, trying to banish the thought. When it lingered, festering like an open wound, he stumbled for his feet. His claws clicked and dragged against the stone and he noticed Jonouchi and Honda both look over in alarm. The brown wolf was the one to come running over, however, as if he might somehow help him to keep his balance. Yami ignored him when he got closer, though he curled his lips back to show his teeth in annoyance when Honda almost brushed against him.

I am fine, he spat. He was lying; every muscle in his body was screaming. Something in his blood seemed to be burning. Yami didn't entirely know how to explain all of the various aches and pains he'd since acquired. He shook himself out and felt as if his legs might crack and break beneath his weight.

You look like a newborn horse, Jonouchi scoffed from where he was watching. He had not gotten up, but he'd turned around to watch him rather pointedly now. His brown eyes were skeptical and critical. Like you don't have any idea how to use your legs or walk forward or even think straight.

Yami bristled faintly, though it was not the insult which frustrated him. It was the truth of the statement. Every part of his body was weak and tired and strained. He was no better than a newborn horse or a fawn or a top-heavy giraffe. Yami had legs made of gelatin, so wobbly they threatened to collapse at any moment. And he did not know how to fix that.

He pricked his ears forward, determined to ignore the urge to snarl and spit at the other wolf. He did not think doing so would be the best of responses. I don't need my wits about me to walk, he scoffed. But he didn't move forward, nor did he try to lie down again. His heart had begun to race in his chest, as if inflamed from the mere effort. His legs were shaking, he realized a moment later, and he found himself reluctantly trying to steady himself just long enough to take a seat. Honda moved forward to assist him, though it was clear he didn't know what to do. Jonouchi came a split second later. And then even Mai was there in front of him.

Yami? Yusei's voice mumbled, groggy with sleep. It was followed a split second later by the sound of his hurried movements to get to his side as well.

Yami ignored them, then pressed his weight into his paws, sliding to the ground again. The floor felt nice against his skin, as if he were burning otherwise. He closed his eyes and exhaled roughly. I'm okay. he managed to breathe. And he didn't know if he was trying to reassure them or himself at this point. He ignored the way his sides shuddered as if with denial, skin twitching and dancing over his muscles. He exhaled slowly, painfully, and kept himself from snarling with dismay by some miracle. I'm fine.

I wouldn't move around so much if I were you, Honda said quietly.

I don't plan to move around again at all, he snarled in response. He wished they would go away and fuck off. He didn't want all of their attention and he could hear the other wolves turning to see what was going on now as well.

If you were smart, Aki's voice cut in sharply, you would change.

Yami pricked his ears and opened an eye into a slit. She had come over to Yusei's side, though she was still a few inches back form where the yearling was inspecting his wounds. He would nave snapped his teeth at him and told him to leave him alone had he had the energy. Instead he studied the she-wolf, forcing himself to focus on at least one thing. Change?

It'll force your body to start healing again. You just ate all of that food without moving around beforehand. Not that I wouldn't have done the same as Atem, but it's counterproductive sometimes. You died two days ago, and you haven't eaten enough to sustain the energy loss. She was staring at him coldly, watching him with a blank expression that made his fur rise into a faint bristle of surprise. Changing back would force your body to start healing again.

He almost wondered why he had not thought of that himself. But then he remembered the exhaustion and the answer was clear enough. He hadn't wanted to deal with more pain; he'd wanted to lie down and rest and not wake up again. And that might not have been the healthiest mentality, but it was the best he could dig up. Yami closed his eyes tightly again, ignoring the stares the other wolves gave him. If he changed back, it would trigger the healing. But it would also leave him stranded as a human.

He didn't have the strength to change back.

He knew that all too well.

---

Yugi picked his way around a few more people. They were all talking at once; trying to catch one voice over another was almost impossible. He could just almost pick apart what they were saying. But they all rushed in on top of each other too often and so he stopped trying. He didn't know enough to determine what part of it was important or which required his attention. He bit his lip, tilting his head curiously, and looked over at the crowd. He didn't think he'd seen so many people engrossed in one thing since—

"Apparently Fuwa refuses to remain dead," a cold voice commented. Yugi startled, head snapping around. His shoulders had risen and his eyes had grown thrice their usual size. He stiffened, a snarl threatening to rumble from the back of his throat.

He forced himself to relax a moment later, however, dropping the tension in his shoulders. Valon was standing nearby, eyes sharp and glittering. His voice was full of malice. "I do not know all of the details—frankly, I don't give a fuck—but what I understand of it is that the studio sent his former partner and director here to see if they might be able to find out where he's disappeared to."

"I don't suppose I could take them to greenhouse and show them the ashes?" Yugi scoffed. He rolled his eyes when Valon snorted. "That's just what I need."

"It seems the gods like to provide what you need most," he snickered. He smirked at him, but his eyes had flickered away to lock on the crowd once more. Yugi knew he was watching him from his peripheral. "I don't know what exactly they expect to find. And no one has anything concerning wolves. I doubt that they're not well-acquainted with their friend's side job, however. So, I'm expecting them to be somewhat prepared to deal with at least a couple of wolves."

"Do you think they're dangerous?"

"I would suppose so." Valon shrugged carelessly beside him, never removing his eyes from the various people gathered in front of them. "I am more curious about whether or not they will try to corner or simply ambush someone."

"By someone, you mean me."

"I was not trying to name names. But yes." Yugi snickered at the smirk Valon shot him. His golden eyes sparkled with laughter for a split second, but it passed again when he crossed his arms and continued. "I do not know what they plan to do. I should assume they would try to lure you away as Fuwa himself did. But who knows?"

Yugi found himself remembering the way his hand had bled so profusely. He remembered the ache of it, the way every little movement had made him feel as if his head were splitting in half. He didn't want a repeat of that. He also didn't want to remember catching the hunter on fire, regardless of the fact that it had only badly burned him.

He wished more than ever that it would have killed him. If he'd simply died in the remnants of that damn restaurant, things likely would have gone a lot smoother than they had so far.

He forced the thought away.

"Right. I guess I'll just have to be extremely firm when I say I refuse to go out to dinner with them for any reason."

Valon snickered, rolling his eyes. Yugi had the urge to reach up and tug on his choker again, breathing out roughly and forcing this impulse away as well. That wasn't something he needed at the moment.

If he displayed weakness in front Fuwa's former partner or director or whoever they were, he was sure he'd catch their attention and draw their focus on him. Yugi didn't know what to do if that happened. But he realized as well that he could handle it. He just didn't know how he was meant to do so should they come after him in public. And where would they plan to try to kill him if not at that restaurant?

Yoshimori had been trying to take him to the restaurant in Sapporo, he remembered. And he recalled thinking it must have been the entire chain of them. It had to have been the entire chain that catered to hunters. It would have made sense considering both of them insisting on the restaurant being where they should go. Yugi wouldn't have expected anything less. There had to be a larger community at play than just the two of them. Sapporo made sense, though, as it was so crowded and a heavy tourist attraction. Domino City had likely been a spot they resorted to only when they'd found out about the experiments. Deceased wolves were likely handed over for skinning. And they'd probably all been involved in trying to catch Atem in the last few months.

Yugi exhaled loudly. Aileen had led them to the warehouse. They could try to take him back there for the sake of convenience and privacy. It would be easy enough. It had been investigated, but the deaths had been ruled an animal attack of some kind. The cold had preserved the bodies to the fullest, but his understanding was that the family had not wanted them to do much else before the burial. The autopsy had been short and simple; decapitation.

They hadn't identified the type of dog but Yugi was sure that was because of Tetsu rather than anything else. He was sure that had to do with interference on his end rather than lack of identification efforts.

"This is one of those few times I really wish my mom raised me wrong and I didn't care enough to show up to school," he grumbled. He shook his head and rolled his eyes when Valon raised a brow and smirked at him. He shrugged after a moment, turning away. It was better than being around Yami at the moment, however; he'd only manage to stress himself out if he'd stayed. "What? I'm not a bad kid. Before this entire thing started, I didn't tell lies and I didn't do bad things. Now I've no one else to lie to and I'm killing other wolves like they're flies."

Valon blinked, tilting his head. "Is that what makes a person good to you? Someone who doesn't lie or do bad things?" he asked curiously. He smirked and raised a brow, snickering a moment later. "That's a stupid idea. Why should that be what makes you decide someone is good or bad?"

"Because that's what bad people do. They do bad things and tell lies."

Valon burst out laughing. "Then I am one terrible kid."

Yugi smiled at him, grateful the hellhound was not going any further in the line of comment. He was hopeful that he would not say anything to make Valon turn in him. He didn't want to have a third hellhound to have to worry about. And if Valon were to turn around and help Yubel, Yugi was sure none of them would survive it. The bloodbath should Valon become involved would devastate them.

But the other boy seemed so relaxed at the moment that Yugi almost could not imagine anything setting him off. He might turn aggressive should someone manage to rile him up enough, but Yugi highly doubted he himself would be the source if it were to happen.

"I don't think so. You could be worse."

Valon snorted, wrinkling his nose. "Really? You think so, Yugi? I maim and kill little wildlife animals that come into my yard, I killed a kid from your camp, and I recently murdered my psychiatrist for the hell of it." He raised a brow, smirking wider than ever to show his brilliant, sharp white teeth. "I could certainly be worse, but I'm more surprised you haven't put two and two together where that kill came into play."

Yugi blinked, startled by the words. He tried to think of whom it was he could be talking about. Why would he have even killed a psychiatrist to begin with? The words made his skin crawl for a split second. Then he blinked and tilted his head.

"Yoshimori's friend, the one who went into the medical and psychiatric field," he mumbled, nodding slowly and considering him. "I didn't realize that you were one of his patients."

"No. Why would you? It is not as if I advertised that my foster parents wished for me to take counseling for the hell of it." He snorted and turned away. His eyes focused abruptly on the crowd again, hardening briefly. "Seiko would have lost her shit if she had figured out I did it. Can you imagine? I'd end up having to kill her."

Yugi grimaced. He'd almost forgotten that Valon wanted nothing more than to kill his adoptive parents. He'd said before then that he wished to kill them more than anything, that he would have had if he wouldn't have been the first they'd look to as a suspect. It was apparent that they were not his favorite people. He'd made it all too obvious more than once.

"Do you really think she hasn't figured out that you're…you know?"

Valon snickered. "Sociopath, Yugi. Sociopath." He gestured around them lazily. His eyes sparkled with mirth once more. "Look around you, Yugi. No one is paying us any attention. They're all still ogling the damn television van over there."

He grimaced again, his skin almost crawling as he considered. But Valon was right. There was nothing there. No one had turned their head towards them. None of them were paying attention to them in the slightest. He shrugged after a moment. "You can never be too careful."

"Caution can be taxing. The tension can cause exhaustion if you are not aware," Valon hummed after a moment and turned to face him now. His lips had thinned out and his eyes were cold. "To answer your question, she suspects something, yes. But she and my adoptive father haven't been able to figure out what exactly it is. And they're not worried about it. Or at least they do not seem to be. I have the feeling they all know and are too afraid to say the word. And I don't think they've realized I kill the animals in the yards. I often make or look like cat kills, so I highly doubt they've determined it."

Yugi nodded. "My mom was suspicious of me when she realized that I was running around late at night and things like that. But she never outright asked me. And I know she understood that whatever I was doing was something I didn't know how to tell her about." He frowned and looked away, tilting his head. His eyes narrowed faintly. "She didn't really believe it when Mazaki accused me of being the one to perform arson. She might have been upset and asked me about it, but I know she knew better. She didn't believe I'd do something like that because she knew that I was still a good kid."

Valon tilted his head. "Mazaki claimed you did it?" he asked. And then he laughed out loud. The sound made a couple of people look over at them in surprise. Yugi felt his face burn, eyes wide and startled. But Valon never responded to the stares. He smirked, shaking his head as his eyes glowed with laughter. He turned to him with another wide smirk, canines glinting almost like knives. "Really? You? He thought you did it?"

Yugi nodded slightly. It wasn't as funny as Valon seemed to think it was, but he had to admit he probably would have laughed had someone else told him the story. "Yeah. He came and took my statement and everything. He was even looking into my behavior for a while there." He frowned, tilting his head. "Although, he was technically right about it. I was the one who wound up burning the restaurant down. It wasn't really in purpose…but it wasn't an accident, either. Fuwa led us there, stabbed me with a silver knife, and I caught him on fire using his alcohol and a candle at the table. He was screaming and I think he tried to stop, drop and roll. But I don't really know anymore. Either way, it was Jonouchi and Honda and Anzu who actually caught the rest of the building on fire."

The hellhound blinked, snorted, and then burst out laughing again. Several people turned around to see what was so funny. But Valon ignored them just as he had before and kept laughing. His eyes were bright and his teeth gleamed when he smirked.

"Are you kidding?" he chuckled. He shook his head and Yugi grimaced, glancing awkwardly towards the various faces turned in their direction. Valon hardly seemed to care, but he wasn't so amused that he failed to lower his voice and hiss his next words at him. "You caught a celebrity on fire? That's fucking amazing!"

Yugi grimaced, but Valon's laughter made it hard to feel as guilty as he usually did. "Yeah," he finally mumbled, "I did. I caught him on fire. And then Yami gutted his wife's tigress and decapitated her."

The hellhound snorted. "I'm not surprised he managed to do that. I'm amazed you could kill Fuwa in such a drastic manner, though." His eyes glowed with mirth. "To think, Yugi, you did something that I would have done for the fun of it if he'd pursued me. You did it for the sake of survival, of course, but it still amazes me all the same."

"I'm pretty sure my friends were just as amazed as I was." He shrugged and cast an awkward glance at the group again. Thankfully no one was paying the two of them attention any longer. Yugi swallowed hard, closing his eyes tightly. He reached up to run his hands through his hair and faced him with another small, strained smile. "And then they met Yami for the first time after he killed Aileen and her shape-shifter."

Valon snickered. "That sounds like a nice meeting."

"Yeah, it was great," Yugi snorted with a roll of his eyes. He smiled at him hesitantly a heartbeat later. "Oh, well. It was as good an entrance as he could ever make, I guess."

Yugi had never even truly known how to introduce them. He had been struggling with the task, if he remembered right, because introducing Yami to his friends meant acknowledging that he was no longer truly human. It meant saying to them that Yami was the wolf that had helped him when he'd gotten bitten, that he was the reason Yugi had been so increasingly reclusive, that he'd lied about his grandfather. It meant acknowledging that maybe he'd changed so much that he was able to love Yami more than he did his friends or family. It meant realizing that his priorities had truly gone askew at some point he'd never quite been able to pinpoint.

But he'd lied to them as he seemingly always had. He'd done it to protect Yami once more. Rather than admitting that he'd bitten him, Yugi had claimed it was Tomoya and Yami had simply come to help him change when he'd sensed him nearby. He'd lied to himself and denied his feelings for Yami even after that, going so far as to ask Anzu onto that final disastrous date.

Maybe his mom had been wrong.

Maybe he wasn't a good kid.

He was a liar. And he had killed by then too.

So maybe he'd always lied to himself when he'd accepted that praise from her growing up.

He frowned and bit the inside of his cheek.

But had it been so damn wrong to want to protect someone else? Was it wrong of him to value someone enough to lie for them? Was it so terrible that he'd chosen to protect someone rather than tell a potentially harmful truth about them?

Kasumi had not seemed to think so. Some part of him knew that, despite the guilt that gnawed through him. She'd accepted that he'd changed, and maybe she hadn't fully been able to recognize him any longer because he himself couldn't either. Maybe his perception of himself had changed enough that it had altered her idea and understanding him as well. And maybe that had been what had truly disconnected them so terribly after Yami had come about.

But then…

He'd shut her out. He'd shut everyone out.

So maybe it was not simply his identity crisis that had put them at odds. It could have easily been the way he had pushed her away and blocked her from his life. It could have easily been his lies and his desire to save Yami but continue to hide the truth from himself. Maybe it had all come together enough to make irreparable damage in some sense. Yugi didn't know anymore. And he'd never be able to ask, either.

He drew in a deep breath. Valon was watching him with curious, almost glowing golden eyes. No doubt he was confused and curious about the distress he could surely sense coming from him. He seemed to be looking for a clue as to what might have upset him when seconds ago Yugi had been flustered and embarrassed more than anything.

But how much of that pain would Valon even understand?

"Did you always live with Seiko and her husband? I mean, were they your foster parents before they adopted you?" he asked abruptly; changing the subject might set Valon on edge. He didn't truly know enough about him, even if he considered him something of a friend. The brunet watched him with an expression Yugi did not know how to read. His stomach lurched as they considered each other. "You don't have to tell—"

"You don't truly think I care that you asked me about this, do you?" Valon scoffed. He wrinkled his nose, tilting his head, and glanced sidelong towards the group. He smirked, canines appearing far sharper than Yugi was used to seeing on a person—though he sometimes swore Yami's were too bright and looked so much more powerful than a normal person's, but never so sharp—and cast him an amused look. His eyes glittered with mirth once more. "If I gave a shit, I would never have told you I was a sociopath. No, I don't care. I just don't know how wise it would be to have this conversation outside like this."

He was right. If someone got over the thrill of seeing the director and Fuwa's partner, and happened to get curious enough to pay attention to them, things could get out of hand.

Yugi exhaled slowly, lowering his voice. "You said you'd never killed a person before."

Valon raised a brow slowly, smiling at him like the Cheshire cat. His eyes glowed. "And why would you ever believe me?" he snorted, wrinkling his nose. "Our archetype is full of lies and power plays and overall chaos."

Yugi flinched. And then he looked around once before turning to the doors to slip inside. Valon watched him emotionlessly, statuesque. And then the hellhound began to follow him with a roll of his eyes.

"Yugi!"

He spun around so quickly he almost fell over himself. Valon was motionless at the bottom of the stairs leading into the building. The brunet turned his head just enough to be able to see the speaker in his peripheral and Yugi swallowed hard. A surge of bitter frustration crashed through him; he was alone in this. Valon would not help him should this turn into a spectacle of any kind. The hellhound was far too wary. He put himself and his sister far above Yugi or anyone else. He would leave Yugi to sink or swim.

"Hey, come here real fast."

Yugi bristled; he didn't even know who this person was. How did they even know his name? But he had a feeling it had to do with the rumor they'd once spread, that he had killed the girl on the path to the nature preserve. He knew that rumor had gotten further than their grade. He'd truthfully been waiting for the rumor to rear its head again at some point.

He hesitated, narrowing his eyes slightly, and glanced at Valon sideways. "I guess we'll catch up some other time."

The hellhound arched a single brow, snorted, and then wandered past him and towards the doors. He had his phone out, as if to busy himself with it, and Yugi realized with no small amount of amusement that he was going to listen in on the discussion under the guise of being on his phone.

"Me?" Yugi mumbled. But he knew it was only him they wanted. They were clearly waiting for him. He was, after all, the only Yugi in all of Domino City as it was. The population was too small, but the name wasn't that popular as it was. He didn't think he had met a single person named Yugi all his life, in truth. He walked over cautiously, slowly, and paused a few steps from the person in question. "Uh, what's going on?"

His stomach lurched. His eyes narrowed. Everyone was humming and gesturing for him to come over now. Someone pointed and blurted out, "He's the last person who was with Fuwa!" while someone else argued, "So were his friends, though" and then there was a confused murmuring of "Where are they anyways?"

Yugi nearly flinched. Anzu was dead. Jonouchi and Honda were wolves in the mountains. And none of them knew about Yami. He hoped more than ever that Yami was fine and Jonouchi and Honda had stayed nearby for the sake of helping him. He hoped that their buddy system had extended to encompass Yami as well; they could be a group of four.

"Jonouchi and Honda are sick. Food poisoning from bad sushi," Yugi mumbled when everyone turned to look at him expectantly. He blinked and glanced past them to where the group had separated enough to show him the TV van and the men standing next to it. One had a camera trained in on Fuwa's partner but the other was watching Yugi as if he were a piece of prey to bat around like a cat. "What's going on?"

"He's with Fuwa. He's the director from his show! And he wanted to know more about the disappearance. You were the last one to spend time with him, right?" the girl who had called him over said in an overly excited tone. Yugi blinked and hoped to the gods that his face remained impassive.

"I don't know anything about what happened to him. We all went out to eat and split up again." He noticed the flash of the director's eyes, sharp and full of some immeasurable cunning and anger. He forced himself to keep from snarling and bristling to feign ignorance and bewilderment. He widened his eyes and frowned. "I don't know what happened past that. I figured he didn't care enough to stay any longer and whatever he was looking for here hadn't panned out."

The director had beady brown eyes that reminded him of a crow. They sharpened and focused on him intently, cold and vicious. His head tilted the slightest bit and Yugi almost thought the man was mimicking the scavenging bird. Yugi wondered if he was aware of Fuwa's decision to come to Hokkaido; if he was, he had to have been involved in it. Yugi watched him, calculating the odds. They were rather high, he decided. Fuwa would have had to give a reason for his decision to go to a place he loathed so openly.

Yugi did not forget his innocent expression, though anger crept through him and warmed his veins. The man stared back at him, studious and cold. And then his lips twitched slightly as if with a smirk before he changed his expression to something like friendliness.

"I didn't even know he'd been reported and considered missing until after the news report."

The words were wry in truth, but he sounded friendly enough to sound more helpful than anything. He sounded like a boy trying his hardest to offer what little he knew of a situation he had no idea about. The director hummed softly, brown eyes darkening as he continued staring at him. Yugi narrowed his eyes slightly. The man's lip twitched, somewhere between the beginnings of a snarl and a smirk.

Was he a wolf? Yugi almost laughed. He wouldn't feel nearly as guilty killing another wolf as he did a person. It was far too easy to tear a person to pieces. But a wolf could hold their own, even if it ended in his favor later. He doubted the man in front of him was a wolf, however. He didn't have the stature, the strength, or the aura which accompanied them. And Yugi was sure he would have sensed it.

He was, after all, aware of the wolves within the school and the pack far before he came into contact with them. And he knew Yami had sensed Yubel nearby when he'd taken off running for the camp two days prior.

The man was simply studying his stance, trying to mirror him as subtly as he could. He wasn't a wolf. He was just trying to make Yugi himself feel more comfortable in front of them. He was trying to gain more information and study Yugi's stance to record tension.

"Where did you go for dinner?"

Yugi smiled slightly, trying not to let the amusement creep into his voice when he spoke. It was a struggle; the man was trying to test him. He was trying to determine how big a threat Yugi truly was, if he was half as dangerous as he portrayed himself to be. He pretended to think for a long moment, looking away and towards the sky with a frown.

"Let's see…" He mumbled the words and crossed his arms. He tapped his finger against his chin, enjoying the way the man's mouth pulled into a frown. "I don't really remember. I think…it started with a B?"

The director blinked as if surprised by the statement. The cameraman focused in on him; Yugi could hear the gears grinding and twisting in order to zoom in on his features. He wondered if he was recording for a later show or if it was simply to study him for assessment later. Either way, Yugi did not think being recorded was a good thing.

They both had a gleam in their eyes, as if they were staring at a prized animal. "Bonnokazi," the director said slowly.

The Pure-Blood tilted his head, pretending to puzzle over it. Then he smiled, clasping his hands together tightly. "That sounds right!" he said, feigning remembrance. "I remember it now! He said that was his favorite restaurant and he wanted to take us out to celebrate there."

The words were sour on his tongue when he remembered what they'd been celebrating. But it wasn't as if any of them would know. It was none of their business to begin with. But, in hindsight, Yugi realized now it had nothing to do with Anzu and all to do with the perceived success that he had found the Pure-Blood. He'd been after Atem, not a date with a pretty girl.

"Didn't that restaurant burn down?" a new voice asked, cutting the director off before he could speak. Another person echoed the question, turning to stare at Yugi pointedly. Some part of him was relieved none of them knew he was the prime suspect. Another part didn't care in the least any longer.

He vaguely recognized them now, almost unsure of where he had seen him before that moment. But then his mind raced with thoughts and images, snippets of conversations he'd once had with him. He had gone to middle school with him. They'd never truly been friends. They had been neutral towards one another, friendly enough but never willing to get any closer than arms' length. But he remembered Kujirada now. He remembered him vividly.

"I think so? I think I remember hearing that."

"It caught on fire and they said was arson," Kujirada continued. Yugi locked eyes with him, wishing he'd shut up. "I think they said it burned down the day after or the same night as when you were there."

Yugi ground his teeth together. "I didn't know that much."

"Oh, well, yeah, I think I remember hearing that."

Murmurs of agreement rose up and Yugi ignored them pointedly. He turned to the director now, refocusing his efforts on him. No doubts he'd already figured out the unspoken implications. Yugi didn't care if he asked for further explanation or not. The others would likely answer for him. He hardly cared one way or the other. All he had to know was whether he was a threat or not.

Did he have the same patience as Fuwa, or would he be reckless, bolder? Was he more dangerous than Fuwa had been formerly?

Yugi could not say anything should he prove his personality opposite the redhead's. He'd revealed his hand rather foolishly. It was just as stupid as anything the hunters could do. He was acting far crueler and more standoffish than usual, vicious where he was usually soft. It was passive-aggressive, and he should have backed off in order to avoid more attention. But he welcomed it, even baiting them for the sheer feeling of excitement it brought.

It did not help they were challenging him. They were both staring as if he were a toy to be played with. They were not measuring him as a wolf, nor a human.

No one else seemed to notice, thankfully.

He didn't think there was a possibility they might have; why would they? They'd only be reacting to tension and frustration between the three of them. So far no one seemed to understand that they were all sizing each other up.

"I don't know anything past that," Yugi continued, voice light and friendly. He smiled again, though he felt like he was showing far too many teeth. "And I don't think my friends do, either, but I hope nothing bad happened to him."

"Bad?" the director echoed, clearly startled by his choice of words. Then his brow rose, slow and slyly, as if in a challenge. "What do you mean by bad?"

"I guess you don't know about the murders that happened recently. A lot of people have been found dead." Yugi tilted his head the smallest fraction, eyes caught on the two men in front of him. The cameraman swallowed hard, as if choking on his own Adam's apple, and the director narrowed his eyes. Yugi blinked, shaking his head, and smiled at them both. "I don't think anything happened to him, though. Fuwa seemed pretty smart."

He turned on his heel after a moment, ignoring the look Valon gave him and snickering as he made his way through the doors. The hellhound did not follow him; Yugi didn't truly expect him to. Yugi hurried to the bathrooms, ducking into the stall nearest the door and biting his wrist. He squeezed his eyes shut and drew in a deep breath, shaking his head.

Even when the fucker was dead, he still managed to make trouble for him.

Yugi drew in a long breath, reaching into his pocket to pull his phone out. He narrowed his eyes, resentment coursing through him. He scrolled for a moment, stopping for a brief second at the sight of Anzu's name in his contacts. It was amazing to him how she'd been so important to him before that she'd been on his speed dial for quicker access. And now she was gone, left to die by Yubel but mercifully killed by Yami.

He continued scrolling, watching for a long handful of moments. And then he exhaled slowly; who was more likely to be human? Honda or Jonouchi for sure were more likely, as they'd offered formerly. But Yami's phone probably had a higher battery percentage than theirs. His phone had been chosen especially for the battery life, as well as the color.

Yugi rolled his eyes. Did it matter who he sent it to?

Stay at camp for the next few days.

He almost expected a response. He even anticipated one. But he did not care for it a second later. He did not have the energy to fight should one of them respond. He didn't have the energy to explain at the moment either. He would do so when he got back to the camp, he decided distractedly.

A check mark appeared in the corner of the text to show that it had sent, then flashed green to notify him that it had been read. But there was no response. Even when he waited a few long minutes, expectant, none came. He relaxed then, exhaling slowly and closing his eyes.

He didn't know whether to be relieved or upset.

Did they not care enough to answer? Or was it as simple as not having a response?

---

"You didn't make yourself very inconspicuous, kid."

Yugi failed to look up from the textbook he had on the table in front of him. He flipped the page, scribbling a note, and glanced over his shoulder lazily. "What?" he asked, feigning ignorance. The librarian might not hear them where they were talking, but he was not willing to act out. It would be foolish to draw attention. The wolves at the school were more or less neutral. They turned away from help as much as they could. They would not offer him aid in any manner. Should something happen to threaten his life, he was done for. "What do you mean?"

The director scowled at him from where he stood behind him, glaring down at him. His hand was on the chair next to him, fingers clenched atop the back of it. Yugi watched him for a moment. Then he blinked, smirking before he could stop himself, and tilted his head. The man showed no sense of amusement as he glared back.

"Fuwa mentioned you," he finally spat. The words were enough to make the smirk leave Yugi's face entirely. He stiffened, narrowing his eyes, and found his jaw clenching together tightly. "He said he'd found a punk little brat that seemed to be too inexperienced to save himself."

"Yet, he cornered me twice and here I still am." Yugi considered him a moment, risking a glance around to see who else might be there in the library. It only seemed to be him, the director and the librarian herself. He wondered if she remembered leaving him there alone the day Kokurano had suffered his seizure and died on the floor. He wondered if she recalled the news of Tomoya's death that same night. He wondered if she even remembered those events at all, or if she had managed somehow to suppress it all.

"You must be smarter than you look," the man scoffed. His voice had grown lower with anger. "But that won't help you when I come after you."

Yugi snorted so loudly it startled the man. "I've bested so many hunters I can't count them on my hands anymore," he sneered. He didn't think that was true, but he could not properly remember all of the hunters he and Yami had encountered. And it was not untrue that he had outwitted a few of them. "Fuwa was just one. And you'll be another if you come after me."

"Is that so? You believe that?"

Yugi smiled wider. "Of course I do. Just like you want to imagine I'm bluffing," he answered matter-of-factly. He tilted his head, smiling widely to show his teeth. He dropped his pencil in the spine of his textbook, pulling his hands towards himself. "But I'm going to tell you something that you probably haven't considered. I was a lot more naïve back when Fuwa originally showed up. It's been months. And I'm a hell of a lot smarter and nastier than I was back then. Do you understand what that means for you?"

"I know you're not threatening me, boy."

"Take it as you so desire." He moved to stand and the man backed away as if he had been struck. Yugi raised a brow, dusted himself off as if he had collected dirt somehow in his time there, and narrowed his gaze. "Look, you can fight me whenever you so like. But I am going to kill you the moment you do. If you don't understand that, you'll need to figure it out before you come after me."

"You're still as stupid as he said you were."

"I'm glad you think so. But, truthfully, I don't care to trade any taunts and jabs anymore. You're a fool. I'm giving you a final chance to leave before I turn on you." He tilted his head the smallest degree, curling his lips back to show his teeth even further. "I'm giving you the chance Fuwa didn't give me."

"You know why he—?"

"He planned to skin me for a few hundred dollars," Yugi interrupted dismissively, wrinkling his nose. He grabbed his books and glanced around to check for other people once more. As long as no one else was there to spy, he was relatively safe. He turned back, smirking once more. "You're welcome to come after me regardless. I don't care. You can use dogs. You can use other wolves. You can use the hellhounds. You can use traps. Whatever you have at your disposal, you can use it. It doesn't change anything. I'm still going to kill you."

And if he couldn't do it on his own, he was sure he could enlist Yami's help to do it.

Yugi walked out of the library and towards his locker. The hallways were dead. The air was somewhat stiff; the heater was blazing in an effort to keep the school warm. He remembered his classmates complaining of drafts at the window seats. Many of them had rusted at the bottoms over time, rendering them unable to close properly any longer. Even as the school was restructured for a larger gymnasium, the windows had never been fixed.

Yugi wondered if it was normal to think of stupid things because of stress. His stomach coiled painfully, tightening at the thought. He opened his locker, putting his books away slowly. He shifted them lazily from one side to the other, stuffing them each in so that they settled in opposite directions. He could conserve more space that way, he decided absently.

"Yugi…"

He blinked. His hand settled on the door, his fingers drumming. He closed it after a moment, turning to the boy who stood down the hallway watching him. The small teen shifted his binder so it sat more comfortably in the crook of his arm. He remembered only then that he'd forgotten his backpack. "What?" he snapped. "What do you want, Kujirada? I'm kind of in a hurry."

He wanted to go back to the camp, for once. But it was impossible for the moment. Yugi didn't know if the two would follow him or not. And he would not lead them there to harm the wolves. They'd taken too large a blow as it was. The pack was still recovering.

But he could call Yami's phone. He was sure one of them would call him back, even if they didn't manage to answer immediately. He was sure Jonouchi or Honda would take to returning the call later.

"I wanted to ask you something."

"Make it fast." He opened his locker again, grabbed his bag, tossed his binder in, and shut the door before heading for the exit. When Kujirada still did not answer, he curled his lip in annoyance and rolled his eyes. "Why are you bothering me right now?"

There was a long handful of minutes that passed in silence. "They never figured out that Yubel was at your house that day, did they?"

Yugi blinked. He halted.

"I was wondering whether you knew that name." Kujirada sounded amazingly pleased with himself. His voice was so smug that Yugi bristled at the sound. He breathed in deeply, inhaling enough air to make his lungs ache. He narrowed his eyes, almost rethinking his reaction. It would be foolish of him to show just how much her damn name truly meant to him. "I was told you wanted to find her."

His jaw hurt from his teeth pressing so tightly together. "Find her?" he echoed. He knew where she was. He almost snarled, hateful and furious. She was in the labs. He knew that. If Yami was right, she was properly imprisoned there due to that collar around her neck. But perhaps she also went back for the fun of the chaos it caused them all. He didn't care. "You know where she is?"

Kujirada snickered behind him. "Of course I do."

Yugi grabbed the strap of his backpack and narrowed his eyes. What were the odds of that being truthful? Common sense demanded he exercise caution. His stomach lurched. His skin crawled. He narrowed his eyes. He knew better than to listen blindly. But her name infuriated him. The mere mention of it was enough to make him snarl.

He clenched his hand around the strap of his bag.

"Where?"

He shouldn't have asked. He really shouldn't have. And he doubted Kujirada knew. He had not spoken to Yugi in over two years and he shouldn't know in the slightest.

He bristled faintly. His heart hammered in his throat. His stomach churned.

Even if Kujirada didn't know where she was, he knew her name.

That alone meant something. He didn't know if she had come into contact with him at some point—why else would he know Yugi was looking for her?—but he was suspicious all the same.

Instinct warned him to be suspicious. Caution bit at his insides. He needed to remember himself. He needed to be aware. He knew better. He did. But it was hard to remind himself that his hatred should not be so consuming.

He wanted so badly to sink his teeth into her throat.

She'd killed his mother and grandfather.

And then she'd had the audacity to attack Yami.

She'd killed him.

Yugi owed her pain.

He owed her tenfold what she'd inflicted on him.

"She changes locations. And she won't be there for too long."

Yugi felt the muscles in his shoulders tightening. Kujirada was almost purring. He knew following him was far from prosperous for him in any manner. He knew for a fact that she was not outside of the labs, which further confirmed that Kujirada wished to challenge him for some reason.

It made no sense to him. There was no reasoning behind it. Kujirada wished to fight him for no reason Yugi could think of. But he supposed it didn't matter. If he truly wanted to fight with him, Yugi could do that. He'd beat him to death if it was necessary. And, seeing as the wolves refused to budge from their neutral stance at the school, Yugi could not see an interference of any kind on that end of things.

He drew in another deep breath, fingers clenching more tightly around the strap of his bag.

He turned around to face him. "So, you plan to lead me there then."

Kujirada looked startled for a split second. He seemed almost stunned by his sheer uncaring attitude towards the matter. He frowned as if Yugi had spat at him and cursed his name. And Yugi wondered abruptly now whether Kujirada meant to help Fuwa's former partners. It wouldn't have surprised him in the least had they convinced him to. Perhaps he was meant to lead him to the trap, or to distract him so that he might be sidetracked enough to kill without too much of a fight.

He blinked and considered him, then smiled widely.

Kujirada was planning to take him to the warehouse, Yugi realized. He'd appeared on his radar again because of the TV cast. And he would remain on it because of their presence. It stood to reason they had managed the persuasion necessary to get him to cross paths with Yugi once more.

He was relatively sure that they all knew he was stronger than they were. After the run-in with Souzoji months before, he was sure they were all aware of the fact that he had turned away from Yugi in sheer fear.

If the price was high enough, he was sure Kujirada would have gone for it.

He remembered him being truly desperate for money and approval when they were younger. He remembered Kujirada trying to become popular, treated like dirt when he failed to do as they demanded of him. Yugi could not blame him when they were younger. But he wondered how much he must have disliked himself even now if he was constantly changing himself to get others' approval.

It was not too much unlike himself, but he had morals and limits. And if Kujirada truly thought he was going to lead Yugi to his death, he could not have many.

"Let's go."

It took an hour to make it to the warehouse. Kujirada had claimed they had to make sure no one was following them. Yugi wasn't stupid, however; he knew the reasoning was the exact opposite. Kujirada had been planting clues as to where they were going for Fuwa's former partners to follow. He had been hiding signals for them to follow.

Kujirada made himself more conspicuous than Yugi would have ever thought possible. It was almost enough to make him laugh. But he didn't care enough to. He snorted, shaking his head in amusement. They had barely made it through the doors of the dilapidated building before the lights turned on. Bright fluorescent beams stung his eyes before they adjusted a split second later.

"Oh, I'm so surprised," Yugi said dramatically, raising a brow and turning to his school mate. He tilted his head as Kujirada frowned at his disregard. He must have been expecting something from him. But Yugi didn't care enough to even offer a better response.

He turned away, looking around. Not much had changed but for the intense lighting.

But his eyes no longer hurt. And he didn't think that even staring straight at a bulb head on would have stung them. He blinked, glancing around for a moment to check their immediate surroundings, and then turned to the catwalks.

"You didn't really think I was that stupid?" the Pure-Blood said quietly, wrinkling his nose. He reached up, shifting his snow-laden bangs away where one had drooped slightly into his line of vision. "Did you honestly not realize I already knew you were going to bring me here?"

"You followed because you thought Yubel was here."

"It was a long shot that she would be." Yugi turned to him now. For a moment he thought to speak again. Instead he simply punched him in the face. Kujirada barely covered his face in time for Yugi to miss the gush of blood. He hummed, tilting his head a fraction. "But I'm curious. Where did you manage to hear that name?"

The other boy didn't bother answering him. His eyes flashed hatefully and Yugi could hear his bones snap and break beneath his skin. Yugi huffed, watching him a moment. Then he glanced around. They were the only ones there. For the moment, it was the four of them. That was fine by him. He would easily kill anyone else who came to join them. It didn't matter to him in the slightest.

He turned back, baring his teeth into a smile. His eyes flashed as he came forward a step.

"Just so you're aware, I'm going to end up killing you."

Yugi watched him change. He was a large shaggy gray dog with floppy ears and a straight tail like that of a wolf. He watched him dismissively, smirked coldly, and then waited until Kujirada sprang for him. It was easy to dodge.

He kicked out. The dog yelped, staggering. He shook himself out. He stumbled. His lips drew back. He snapped at him. Yugi stared back.

The second kick was to the ribs. The bite to his shin was sharp and burning.

Yugi snorted.

"I hate to break it to you, Kujirada, but I'm a lot stronger than I look."

The kick sent him flying this time. Yugi shook himself out. He dropped his jacket and bag to the ground. His eyes never left Kujirada when he sprang.

The Change came in a flash of heat. He felt as if he were burning to death. But he hardly cared. His fur trembled along his spine. His skin jerked back and forth. He landed easily, still running. His nails clicked on the concrete.

He shook himself out again. Kujirada stumbled to his feet. His eyes were wide, glazed with pain. His ears flattened, lips drawing back.

Yugi wondered if he'd hit him harder than he'd expected. Or if it was as simple as he was stronger than he'd been prepared for.

How stupid of you. Yugi stalked forward. You couldn't sense that I was stronger than I look? Are you really so stupid that you failed to notice? Even someone who has only ever met me once knows I'm stronger than I look. I could kill you and never break a sweat when I do it.

Kujirada glared back, snarling. You can barely walk properly, let alone kill someone. You didn't even used to know how to yell at someone. And what about the beatings you took for no reason? He bore his teeth, wagging his tail now. You killing me is a joke.

Yugi pricked his ears forward, staring at him lazily. He tilted his head, wagging his tail slowly. He stalked closer another step. You think so? he asked slowly. I've killed more wolves than I can count on my hands now. And I've mutilated perhaps twice as many. Would you rather die or should I disfigure you instead, Kujirada?

The gray wolf-dog snapped at him. Yugi snorted. He came forward another step. He was inches from him now. The hellhound bristled, staring. He wondered if he would call his bluff. He wondered if he knew anything about Yugi now that he was infected. But he wasn't inclined to hear him speak, either. He inched forward instead, eyes narrowed and hard like stones.

I don't think you realize how big a mistake you've made.

He lunged. Kujirada narrowly dodged. His teeth snapped at Yugi's cheek and missed. Yugi tilted his head, staring. You're trembling, he murmured playfully. He thought briefly of how he'd cowered before Yami that day in the woods. The feral wolf had nearly killed him for his hesitation and astonishment. The thought made his heart ache again. Yami was still so lost even now.

And Yugi didn't truly have a solution or even the slightest way of which to help him.

Does death scare you so?

He thought of Sifer for a moment, focusing on her russet fur and glowing golden eyes. And then he thought of the way she'd saved them both from Yubel that day in the woods. She'd led them to the tunnels before that, protecting them from Panik and Espa Roba. And then, abruptly, he imagined her standing before him with her head tilted and her eyes cold like gems as she contemplated his mortality against her eternity.

He thought of the way she'd sneered at him those few times. And he thought of how she'd managed to make Yami so cold and distant with fear.

Was she all there was in death?

She led them to Paradise; was she and her siblings the first and last faces they saw before they passed over entirely?

And then he almost laughed.

Was that truly what he had once feared so terribly?

Yubel isn't stupid enough to associate herself with cowards, Yugi murmured. And it was true. She was not stupid. She was not gullible. And she was not weak. She knew damn well how to navigate her pack and strengthen it where necessary, be it with death or punishment or whatever methods she might use. She did not allow the weak links to remain as he had done with Barbara and Joy. Cowards were killed. It was how she managed to keep the pack in line, to make the world quake before her.

He approached the hybrid slowly now, lazy. He was shifting his weight more than walking, almost shuffling forward along the concrete floor. His eyes remained locked on Kujrada's.

Yubel would never have such a weakling in her ranks. So, how did you know her name?

He sprang at Yugi. The white wolf reared up on his back legs. He opened his jaws, shifting his weight. Then he surged forward, snapping at him. Kujirada fell over himself. He stumbled, hitting the ground. Yugi blinked, staring in bewilderment.

Did he truly scare him so much? Or was he just trying to stall for some reason?

Did he think that he could hold him off if he displayed himself like this?

Yugi wagged his tail rapidly. He stepped forward again, raising his head. His teeth aimed for Kujirada's throat. But he didn't bother to lunge. Well? How did you hear her name? Who told you? he continued in a sneer. He lunged when Kujirada attempted to step back. Then he pressed closer, teeth bared. Answer me, Kujirada. You only have this one chance.

One chance? he repeated, snarling. One chance to tell you? You're an idiot, Yugi.

I've heard that before a million times now. I don't think you understand how little I care. Yugi sprang for him again. They collided violently. His teeth sank into his shoulder. He pivoted his weight forward. The hellhound yelped, snapping his teeth. His fangs caught Yugi's neck.

But Yugi hardly cared.

He tossed his head violently.

Kujirada lost his grip. He screamed, tossed off his paws. He flailed, snarling. He tried to get his balance. Yugi merely shook him harder. He released him and Kujirada went flying. He hit a wall, stumbled, and collapsed. Yugi shook himself out, padding forward. He wagged his tail.

Want to tell me now? I mean, it won't save you. I still plan to kill you. But at least this way I'll do it a little faster, Yugi said cheerfully. He trotted closer, wagging his tail and narrowing his eyes. Kujirada stiffened, blinking in surprise. Truthfully? I'm disappointed. You're not even trying to fight back right now. Why not? Why not at least entertain me?

I'm not here for that. Kujirada smiled at him now. His lips peeled back enough to show his teeth, his gums pale against them. He peered at him, hateful and cold. When he snapped his jaws, Yugi simply stared. He pressed forward, looming over him. Their eyes locked, burning into each other's. I'm just here to distract you.

Distract me? Oh, for Fuwa's buddies from the TV station. Right. I'd almost forgotten about them. He nodded slightly. Kujirada blinked, as if startled. The white wolf tilted his head. His eyes narrowed further. He pricked his ears forward. You look surprised. Didn't you realize I already knew about that? You used to be smarter than this. Did you get a concussion or something before you were bitten? I don't understand how stupid you have to be in order to overlook it. I even asked you the moment we walked here. Do you even remember that?

You said that you were not stupid. He lunged. But you lied.

Yugi moved onto his hind legs. He jerked back to avoid the bite. But a sound echoed in his ears. He blinked. Something glinted in the fluorescent. His peripheral was momentarily blinded. He blinked rapidly. Something had slipped around his neck. He snarled. And then he was pulled back an inch. His throat flared with pain. Spots appeared in his vision for a split second.

Kujirada burst out laughing.

Yugi tossed himself violently. He was tugged onto his back legs. His front legs stretched outward, claws flexed. He snarled, standing awkwardly. Then he shook himself furiously. But nothing aided him to shed the restraint. He panted and snapped his teeth. He opened his jaws wider. His forelimbs stretched as he tried to force himself forward. He kept his legs splayed, holding his balance. He drew in a heaving breath. His ears pricked forward. His eyes flickered to regard his peripheral. He flicked his tongue over his nose. He spat in fury.

Fuwa's cameraman and director were standing on the walkway above him. The director had a restraint pole in his hand. The end of it was likely inches from the back of his scruff. Yugi snarled, shaking his head again violently. But the stick remained almost entirely still. He drew a furious breath. He snarled.

Something slammed into his side. Yugi spun on the source. His teeth snapped. His eyes were wild, dangerous. He gasped for air. And then he lunged. But the restraint held him in place.

He snarled, hateful. His throat felt as if it were collapsing. He clawed at the air. The hellhound clung to his side. He kicked his back leg. But it simply almost knocked him over. His balance was shot. He snarled, spitting. He struggled. He shook himself. But there was no relief. The pain was crippling. His side ached, burning.

Yugi was almost dizzy from the force of his own shaking. He snarled, chomping his teeth. He was winded. He could feel his skin burning. His flesh felt as if it were searing. It didn't feel as if he were being poisoned. It wasn't as intense as Yubel's bites formerly. So it must have been the chemical compound of the hellhound saliva mixing with his blood. The pain was not debilitating, after all.

Yugi turned his head. The director and cameraman were both looking down at him.

The director was laughing. The cameraman was nervous, however. He seemed to realize he was actively staring death in the face. His face was reddened, eyes wide. He was visibly sweating.

"I had expected it to be harder," the director commented. He laughed, tugging. Yugi's neck twisted hideously. It was past the point of howling, almost folded backwards along his shoulders. But his body was almost sideways to compensate. His back legs shook beneath the weight of the hellhound. His windpipe felt almost crushed from the pain. His forelimbs hung almost limply, straight downward. His eyes narrowed, almost glowing. He bore his teeth, breathing a whistle behind the enamel. He pricked his ears forward, snarling. "You managed to kill Fuwa, yet you're incapable of protecting yourself now."

Incapable? Yugi peered back him. But he knew he didn't understand. There was no touch of acknowledgment. They did not appear to know he'd spoken. He snapped his teeth. His tail rose, fur in a brilliant bristle. He felt the hellhound tug, but he did not allow his paws to slip beneath him. He chuckled, front paw clipping the hellhound's face. You think I'm incapable?

They both watched him. Their eyes were cold and terrible. Yugi almost laughed. He flashed his teeth, lips peeled back further. He was almost grinning visibly. His neck was straining from the force of the control stick. His side burned fiercely.

But still Yugi could not find it within himself to care.

You think you're mad now? Kujirada sneered. Just wait until I tell you who said Yubel's name.

Yugi almost sneered that he didn't care unless it was somehow Yami. And he knew for a fact the other wolf would never have come to the school. And Kujirada would have likely been ripped to pieces should they have ever crossed paths.

He almost burst out laughing at the thought.

There was a small crackling noise. He turned his head again. He could hear the two men now. They were whispering to each other, trying to keep quiet enough to be unnoticeable. Even though he couldn't quite hear their words over the roar of blood in his ears, he knew they were planning around him.

He narrowed his gaze. His lips drew back further. He flicked his tongue over his nose. He could hear a furious buzzing noise. His heart hammered louder than ever. His ears rang.

He remembered the grid lock on the floor vibrating heavily. It had shaken with that same noise. Yugi shivered. The humans were attempting to protect themselves now. They didn't want to risk recoil. They were wearing thick black rubber gloves. Both refused to take their eyes off him.

Yugi snapped his teeth. His neck felt as if it might break. The force of the control stick pressed into his throat harder, almost cutting. The hellhound dragged him down even further. It was almost enough to wind him. He snarled again.

And then felt the shock.

His entire body seized up. His legs shook but somehow held. The hellhound laughed in delight. Yugi blinked. His stomach tossed. His back had gone ramrod straight. The metal wire dug into his neck. He could feel blood pooling and matting his fur.

He breathed heavily through his nose. His eyes were unfocused, half-closed. His mouth opened partially. He gasped for air. His lungs burned and strained.

They were almost fit to burst.

He blinked again. His eyes slid slowly to focus on the humans again. Kujirada was still frozen beneath him. He wondered if the shock had impacted him somehow. Yugi held a deep breath in his lungs. Then he jerked violently. He tossed so hard he thought he might gut himself.

His classmate's teeth were deep in his skin, between his leg and his belly. He snarled, jerking harder. The humans stumbled. The second shock happened as he flailed. Yugi almost collapsed. It was the control stick that held him in place.

Yugi waited a heartbeat. His organs rattled inside of him. He drew in a deep, halting breath. Then he relaxed slightly. His body was almost limp. He drew his strength together. And then he jerked viciously.

This time they crashed into the railing. The cattle prod fell. The two of them cursed. The hellhound blinked, tugging. Yugi snarled and bit at the air. But his neck felt almost severed. His entire body ached.

His organs were still burning under his skin.

Amelda said Yubel's name was enough to bring you running, Kujirada snorted. I heard about how you got your ass kicked. She ripped you and your little fuck in half. I didn't think you'd come running to have her kill you so easily, though.

Yugi burst out laughing. In half? That's funny. He kicked hard enough to dislodge him. His back leg kicked again, flailing. He snarled and snapped his teeth. He missed him when he clawed for his eye.

But Kujirada didn't when he lunged. His teeth sank into almost the exact same spot. The flesh itched and burned from the abuse. Yugi snarled, bristling. His eyes burned furiously. He bore his teeth again.

From what I remember she managed to fight my beta. And he absolutely kicked her ass. He jerked again. The metal railing creaked violently. Both men struggled to keep their grip on the control stick.

Yugi watched them, eyes glittering. He'd rip them to pieces first. And then he'd tear Kujirada to shreds. He'd beat the information out of him and leave him to die. He bore his teeth. His breath whistled in his ears. He narrowed his gaze.

There was another creaking noise. Yugi pricked his ears. The humans looked around in confusion. Yugi blinked, jerking again. But they'd recovered enough to hold their ground. He couldn't shake them.

He bore his teeth. He thrashed.

The movement sent them into the railing again.

The director was winded. The cameraman granted. They tried to pull back. Yugi snarled, thrashing again. Kujirada tugged. The pain spiraled through him. The action nearly threw him off his feet. Yugi kicked and jerked. His neck was bleeding profusely now.

Neither gave way.

He waited a moment, breathing hard.

He needed to conserve his strength. He needed to wait a moment. He needed to stop and think. He could shake them if he tried hard enough. He could shake them if he focused all of his strength…

But the buzzing noise came again. One of them had managed to grab it off the ground. Yugi almost snarled. If he got zapped again he wasn't sure he'd have the strength necessary to shake them all.

And then came a loud thudding noise overhead. Yugi blinked, stiffening. His head jerked, eyes widening in alarm. Blood gushed from the cut in his throat.

But he didn't see anything at first.

Was it another hunter? Was it another hellhound?

Had Yubel come to find him earlier than expected?

Had there been someone else with the TV crew that he had not noticed formerly?

He couldn't make it out of this alive if it was Yubel or another hunter. Another hellhound he might be able to handle, if they were as seemingly inexperienced as Kujirada was.

His stomach flipped. He snarled, thrashing harder than ever. The ground was slicked with his blood. His paws scrabbled and slipped. His throat burned. His head spun. Dots had begun to fill his vision. His peripheral had darkened.

His muscles jerked in an exhausted spasm. He snarled. Kujirada yelped, panicked. Yugi held still, panting. His right forelimb was soaked with blood. He could see it when he strained his focus. He'd almost put his entire paw through Kujirada's eye.

The satisfaction was immediate. He could have purred.

But his eyes burned. And his body felt as if it were being incinerated. The pain sent him into a momentary frozen state. He drew air in shakily. His eyes vibrated in their sockets. He gasped for breath. He readied himself, preparing to thrash again.

But the opportunity never came.

Yugi screamed. The noise was gargled and hideous. He hit the ground heavily, crumpled. Kujirada collapsed with him. Yugi lay there for what felt a lifetime. Blood loss from the near-decapitation made it too hard to lift his head at first. Strength came slowly. His wounds tingled and the blood stopped spilling.

Tendons and veins and arteries began to slowly stitch themselves together.

Yugi shivered and gingerly raised his head. His neck burned. His body convulsed with pain. His paws twitched. His claws scrabbled. He blinked. He couldn't see at first. There were explosions of color bursting before his gaze.

And then came a brief movement, a gray blur against all of the spirals of pastel.

Then there was an agonized scream. Yugi jerked himself upright into a seated position. His head bobbed from the abruptness. The healing flesh tore and blood splattered hideously once more. The sound of it spilling to the floor was enough to make him bristle. He blinked.

Kujirada was still clinging to him. But Yugi ignored that. Someone else was there. And he didn't know who or what or why.

There was another scream.

He narrowed his eyes, trying to focus.

What the hell was…?

A body tumbled over the railing. Yugi called it such, but the man was still breathing. He could hear it. And, as his vision gave him splotchy flashes, he could see them tumble. When he hit the ground, the man was dead.

He blinked slowly. The second body was truly a corpse. It was tossed hard over the railing as well. It landed atop the first. Both of them were bloodied, though the second was clearly disfigured. The intent behind the attack had been far more gruesome. Yugi blinked again. Then he slowly raised his eyes.

It wouldn't have surprised him in the slightest had it been Yubel or Sartorius. They could have easily come just for the fun of watching him squirm before they killed him.

The person in front of them was statuesque behind the railing. Their skin was ashen. Their hair was wild. Their fingers were soaked in blood. The sleeves of a hoodie were rolled up to the elbows. Blood smeared the top of their ribcage, soaking down to their midsection. Their sneakers were drenched. The laces were shiny and looked almost swollen. Blood smeared their mouth, splattered across the left cheek. Their shoulder sagged on their right side, as if dislocated. The newcomer peered down at the bodies with clear distaste.

Yugi didn't recognize them for what felt a lifetime.

And then he blinked.

He lowered his eyes.

You tore one of their throats out? Yugi asked slowly. His voice was rough and startled, rasping from the abuse. The other boy slowly lifted his eyes to focus on him again. And, where Yugi had expected a similar sense of concern, there was only anger. Yugi flattened his ears and lowered his head. The pain that came from the action made his senses reel. How did you even…?

There was a long minute of silence.

"Have you forgotten who bit who?" Yami snarled in answer. He paced the catwalk as Yugi looked up at him without lifting his head. He stopped in front of Yugi, standing over him in a position that seemed to project him in a looming stance. "And you are not the only one who knows how to track someone."

Yugi frowned and tilted his head further to the side. Why did you come? You…didn't have to.

And he almost wished he hadn't.

Yami shook his head, staring at him. Yugi couldn't read his gaze properly. There was too much in it that he could not study. But his eyes shot away from him, towards the wolf behind him. Yugi blinked and turned to look as well. His neck flared with pain. His stomach lurched and rolled. Every hair on his body rippled and shuddered. And Yami watched Kujirada with glittering eyes. He walked past Yugi without a second glance.

Yugi realized a moment too late what Yami planned to do. He struggled for his paws and fell. But Yami did not pause in the slightest. Kujirada had long since released him. Yugi had no idea when. But the wolf didn't wait for him to ask, either. He sprang for Yami. And the teen never even blinked. He caught his upper jaw with one hand. The other went for the back of his neck. Yami held him halfway off the ground. His eyes had turned uniform in shade, a dull brick color. Kujirada screamed. Yugi could see terror bright in his eyes. Yami stared at him. And then he clenched his fingers. The one on Kujirada's scruff twisted.

The sickening snap rang in Yugi's skull for what felt like hours.

Kujirada hit the ground violently when Yami dropped him. His eyes were glazed. His mouth was open, tongue a hideous pink ribbon. Yami stared at it for a moment. And then he turned around abruptly. His eyes had fallen onto the human bodies again. He stalked over to them. For a moment he stood a couple of feet away, listening. And then he crouched next to one. He checked them both for a pulse.

For a long minute he remained like that. And then he straightened.

His voice was thunderous, vicious with anger.

"You came here why?" His voice lowered, glacial in tone. "You came here for what reason, Yugi? What could have possibly compelled you to come here? Of all the possible places in Hokkaido, you chose here. Are you so damn stupid?"

Yugi bristled, startled by his rage. But it was not undeserved. Slifer had said he could not come back from the dead. They did not know what stress he could go through before his body gave up. If things got out of hand, they could not be sure that he'd survive it. They did not know if he could have survived had things gotten worse. Yami had every right to be so enraged.

Yugi shook his head, lowering his eyes to the restraint pole as it dragged and rattled against the floor. Kujirada said he knew where Yubel was, he finally admitted, flattening his ears. I…I mostly came for that reason.

Yami stared at him coldly. "I know where she is, too. And I never would have had to lure you out here just to show you how foolish you truly are." Yugi flinched as Yami spun around abruptly. The kick he delivered snapped the director's ribs. It also sent the body flying across the warehouse and into the wall. The rattling noise as the structure shook made his ears pound. And he could not stop staring at the blood that came from the impact. The fluorescents overhead buzzed hideously. "You followed him here because you are a goddamn fool. That is why you followed him. You followed him because you wanted something to make you feel again. It had nothing to do with Yubel. It had everything to do with the fact that you wanted to feel that adrenaline rush that comes from being cornered and forced to save yourself."

Yugi flinched. Yami, I—

"You did this because you're…" Yami fell silent after a moment. Yugi didn't look up again. He'd turned away, refusing to raise his eyes. Yami didn't move or speak for what felt like hours.

And then Yugi heard him shuffling forward. He blinked, glancing at him in his peripheral. And his heart threatened to break in his chest. Yami had wrapped his arms tightly around himself. He was staring at the ground between them.

He looked so incredibly tiny. He was broken and shattered. And Yugi felt his chest constrict with pain at the sight. He looked as if he were lost. But, abruptly, Yami blinked and raised his eyes. For a moment he didn't speak or move. Yugi almost thought he'd ceased breathing. And then he came forward.

He crouched in front of him, reaching out to cup his cheeks in his hands. And then he nestled his chin on his head. When he breathed, it was a long sigh that Yugi couldn't read. But his voice was soft when he spoke again. "Little one, listen to me."

Yugi stiffened in surprise. The fur rose along his spine in confusion. He blinked wide eyes. Had Yami just called him…? Was he truly calling him "little one"? Was he truly calling him by a nickname?

Did he mean it as an equivalent to his use of "aibou"?

Yugi almost wanted to sob. But no such noise would leave him. In an effort to express some of his excitement and shock, he began trembling. His entire body was shaking as if he were a phone on vibrate.

And he was almost sobbing again as Yami drew him into a tight embrace. His arms were so tightly wrapped around his neck Yugi thought he'd have suffocated had it been anyone else.

"I know you're lost. I know you're hurting. I know that. I know I can't offer you as much as you need. I can't always help you. And I cannot always relate." He ran shaky fingers through his fur. Each nail tickled his flesh as they passed over his skin in soft strokes. "But I'm here. I'm here for you, Yugi. I care for you. And I want to help you. I want… I won't let you become as lost as I was. I won't let you become like me. If I have to remind you every day that your name is Yugi and you're not just Atem, I will."

Yugi felt his heart crack in his chest. Aibou…

His fingers dug through his fur now. His nails raked over his skin forcefully. And Yugi had the startling thought that Yami was making sure he was there. Yugi shivered, heart hammering. But Yami did not pull away. And Yugi felt breathless.

He'd scared him. He'd scared him so much more than Yugi could have ever imagined.

"Your name is Yugi." Yami sounded far away, voice soft with something like pain. His fingers dug in further. His nails cut his skin. A small bead of blood pooled beneath each. "Your name starts with Y and ends with I. Your name is half of mine."

Yugi felt his heart shaking in his chest. I'm sorry.

His alpha didn't move for a long time. When he finally did, he simply pulled back enough to examine him. His eyes were dull with pain. But it faded when he blinked. His hand stretched out, fingers running over his neck wound.

Yugi flinched. He wanted to back away immediately.

But he held himself there. He forced himself to stay there.

Yami's hand pressed gently into the bleeding mass of muscle. His red eyes darkened, impossible to read now.

"It's okay," he mumbled, voice strained and tired. "Your wound is healing nicely."

Yugi almost argued that wasn't what he meant. But when he saw the clear warning behind all of that exhaustion he could not find it within himself to challenge him. Instead the white wolf closed his eyes for a moment. And then he ducked his head, leaning forward to lick his chin. Yami blinked in visible confusion.

He'd begun absently rubbing his shoulder at some point. Yugi wasn't sure when, but the strokes were comforting and easy. The red-eyed teen shifted forward to lay his chin on his head again.

"It'll be okay." His voice was shaky. "I'll make sure of it."

Could he do that? Could he honestly make sure of that?

But Yugi wanted so badly to believe him. He wanted so badly to believe that Yami could save him. He wished for nothing else. His heart ached with such desire.

But another part of him simply wished to fall and melt into Yami. He wanted to fold into his embrace as far as he could. And he wanted to sink into him forever.

Instead he stood still as Yami continued stroking him. His palm moved to his neck. And he pressed gently against the severed flesh. Yugi wondered if he knew just how little of his pain was physical at the moment.

It took a few minutes longer for the wound to close enough to move his head without his neck screaming in open disapproval. Yami was still stroking his fur. But he'd moved his fingers from his neck. His eyes were darkened and he was staring at him as if he didn't recognize him.

Yugi tilted his head and flattened his ears. Yami?

"I want you to make me a promise." The words were said abruptly, all but spat out. His voice was quiet, unsure, and his stare grew more pressing and suspicious as the seconds passed. When Yugi blinked and nodded, he locked eyes with him again. "I want you to promise me you shall not do this again. I want your word that you will listen to me and simply understand that I wish for your safety more than anything. I do not wish to find you dead. I do wish to find you hurt. I want… Yugi, I want you to stop thinking of Yubel as your problem."

Yugi's first impulse was to snarl and shake his head. He stared at him, lips threatening to curl back. His mouth opened and closed twice. He flicked his ears, mind racing. It occurred to him to run for a split second. But it must have shown in his eyes. Yami clenched his fingers in his fur, grasping his cheeks forcefully. He could not move within the grip but to look away with his eyes. And even then he could not escape the intense stare Yami presented him for his efforts.

Yugi watched him in turn, unable to answer him. Hadn't Yubel done him the most damage? Didn't he deserve to be somewhat spiteful and furious about it all? She'd killed his family and—

And she'd killed Yami as well. She'd gutted him and planned so much worse for him when he woke. She'd been planning to utterly destroy him. Whatever had stopped her he had no idea. But he was thankful for it.

"Yubel is not your problem, Yugi. She is our problem. She's the entire pack's problem. You cannot come after her on your own like this again."

She killed them and hurt you! He found himself nearly snarling, curling his lips back slightly but swallowing the noise back. I have the most reason to want to see her dead.

"Is that what you believe?" Yami asked softly, voice laced with venom. "You think you have the most reason to hate her? Yugi, I wish her dead as well. But I cannot do it on my own. I know that. You know you cannot do this on your own either. You know you cannot afford to attempt to do such a thing on your own like this. She's too strong. And your anger cannot last forever. The energy it gives can never be boundless. She's cunning and she'll kill you without a care. You wish for revenge and you can't… Yugi, you cannot do this on your own like this."

Yugi went to shake his head, but Yami's grip was too strong. He pricked his ears forward. Then he stretched his neck just enough to flick his tongue over Yami's nose. He watched him, wagging his tail as Yami wrinkled his nose slightly. I won't. He wished again that he could melt into the embrace. He wished they could simply remain like this forever. He swore there was nothing else to make him happier. Even his desire to kill Yubel was second to this. I promise, Yami. I promise you I won't do it again.

Yami searched his face for a while. And then he released him. His hands dropped to his sides. He straightened, nodding and looking away. "Okay," he mumbled, and Yugi almost flinched. He seemed so relieved and grateful. It hurt to hear him like that.

Yami drew in a deep breath, nodded again, and rubbed his palms one his jeans. Yugi blinked in surprise at the nervous display. And then he stiffened, stunned. Yami was soaked.

He was covered head to toe in blood. He had not even noticed formerly but the streak of blond in his hair was matted red and dark brown. His fingers were shaky. From tip to wrist, they were dark and dirty. His cheeks were smeared with it. And his bangs were disgustingly stringy from where it had clumped.

Aibou? He didn't mean to sound so demanding, especially when Yami startled and looked at him in alarm. The white wolf flattened his ears. What…what happened? Are you okay? Why are you covered in blood like that? Why are your hands so shaky? Did you change too soon?

Yami blinked. Then he shook his head. "The skinnier one… He bled excessively. He bled all over me. But I suppose that's what I get for tearing his jugular out like that. I wasn't thinking when I did it."

The fact that he'd done it was still amazing to him. It was so impressive it set his heart racing again. Yugi tilted his head and wagged his tail slightly. I can't believe you did that. You…really did that…for me…

"I've done it once before to save myself. I have not done it so long before now though. I… It's almost overwhelming to think about now." He frowned, shaking his head, and looked at Yugi again. "I didn't think when I did it. I thought the damage done was far worse than it was. I thought your classmate had done much worse. I…panicked when I saw you like that."

Yugi leaned forward to lick his nose again. That's okay. It was pretty bad. He hesitated; that didn't sound too reassuring, he realized. The look Yami gave him confirmed the thought. The red-eyed teen looked more annoyed than anything at the remainder. Yugi pressed his nose into his forehead. I don't even think it'll hurt anymore in a few minutes, though.

"I should hope not." But Yugi was startled by the lack of enthusiasm in Yami's voice. The teen was still watching him, a somewhat suspicious look in his red eyes. And then he leaned forward to ruffle his ears again. Yugi could not shake the sight of so much blood caked to his skin like this. The thought made his entire body stiff, his fur rising into a bristle.

He wanted him to get a bath. He wanted him to clean up again. He didn't want to see it anymore. It wasn't that he didn't know Yami could and did kill as necessary. It was that some part of him feared Yami was lying.

Some part of him was scared Yami was hurt.

And he knew he would have recognized the smell of Yami's blood, but it still set him on edge and he could not shake that niggling fear.

He needed to get Yami new clothes, he decided. He needed to go shopping and get more clothes for the other wolf. It wasn't that he didn't take good enough care of them, but between changing and incidents like this, Yugi thought stocking up would be a far better option now than it had been before. And he needed to do so before the entire city shut down. What was it? A matter of days before a total lockdown went into effect?

And what of the hotel? Yugi could not risk Yami showing up there looking as if he'd attacked someone and bathed in their blood. He looked like he'd fucking eaten someone. No hoodies thrown over his shirt would help to change that appearance whatseover.

"But if it does, I am sure you can instruct me how to stitch it shut."

Yugi smiled and wagged his tail. I don't think it'll be that serious at all.

Yami nodded at him in an almost distracted manner, eyes blank. Something about his expression was cold and distant. Yugi found himself startled, shivering at the sight of such an abrupt change. The teenager watched him for a long handful of seconds. Then his eyes closed slowly and he leaned back on his hands, tipping his head upward slightly.

Yugi tilted his head slightly, studying him a moment longer. We can't go back to the hotel like this.

Yami nodded, eyes still shut. "I am aware. It would not do us well to show up there like this. One of us is covered in blood and the other is a wolf. I don't look enough like you to pretend that I am you and say that I am bringing you in after patching you up." He sounded almost disdainful when he continued. "And it is not as if it would fail to look suspicious regardless."

Unfortunately this is not some kind of television show where logic gets rolled over, Yugi mumbled. Yami nodded again and now his eyes opened into the smallest slits of brilliant red. Yugi shifted his weight, looking him over for a moment. He didn't look upset, at the very least. Yugi couldn't help but feel uncomfortable knowing such a thing. Some part of him wished he was. A part of him truly wished for nothing more. He'd have been upset in Yami's place. Yugi closed his eyes tightly, wondering how it was that Yami had even found the forgiveness necessary to overlook it. I can change back and get us a change of clothes from the house. I don't know if the hotel has surveillance or not, but I don't plan to risk it.

Yami made a short humming noise. "Will you be okay to visit the house?"

Yugi's eyes snapped open at the softly spoken words. Yami was staring at him intently. He frowned slightly, tilted his head, and wondered. Would he be okay to do that? Yugi felt sick considering it. His eyes screwed tightly shut again. He pricked his ears forward, bracing himself against the immediate bloodbath to greet his closed eyes. I'll have to be, he said softly in return. I don't have much of a choice.

Yami was silent for a long moment. "We can send Honda or Jonouchi." Yugi opened his eyes again, blinking in surprise. The teenager in front of him nodded slowly, red eyes locked on his. "We can just send one of them and save ourselves the hassle. And instead of implementing one of us further by crawling in through the window, we will send them to the hotel with your room key and they can grab a couple of your things for you."

I guess that would work. But I don't know if they'd find it suspicious that someone was coming in to grab things for me when we haven't been there in a little while.

"Is it likely that someone might call? If they do, I can mimic your voice easily enough." Yami's eyes darkened, a million and one different thoughts surging and crashing about as they considered each other. "I cannot see it being too hard to convince them of the fact that we sent them there to grab some of our things.

Okay, but for that reason?

"Hmm?"

Yugi tilted his head, considering him before shifting his weight and wagging his tail slightly. Why did we send them there to get our stuff? Usually that indicates that the person whose stuff is being taken plans to leave. He shook his head slowly. It wouldn't make sense otherwise, aibou.

Yami nodded slightly, narrowing his eyes. "We say that we've been with them for the last couple of days and we plan to return but for the moment we need to grab a couple of things." He frowned and looked away. "How likely are they to truly snoop?"

Yugi shook his head. Usually they would hardly be suspicious of anything like that. They might even just assume we are all hanging out doing drugs or playing games as a group. The problem is the curfew that's in effect.

"I don't think you are in the right state of mind to return to the house," Yami cut in sharply now. His eyes had lost whatever distraction they'd harbored before. Now he simply stared at him, annoyed. "I don't think you have the right mindset at the moment to do such a thing. In truth, I would imagine that it would be exhausting. I know I could not… I could not face it myself. And I am not as close to it all as you yourself are."

Yugi stared back at him blankly for a long handful of seconds. He pricked his ears forward, looking away again. He blinked and shifted his weight. His claws clicked against the cement. The two dead human bodies seemed to be staring up at him with horrified and stunned expressions. He considered them, then looked at his former classmate.

Kujirada's limp body, his stretched tongue and the way his neck was distorted, was enough to make Yugi's fur rise rapidly along his spine.

I don't suppose we could just pretend I'm healthy enough?

"No." Yami said it icily, voice low and soft. "No, we cannot."

The white wolf stayed quiet for a long handful of seconds. We'll have to hope that they do not ask anything, Yugi said uncertainly. He frowned and looked at the concrete in front of him. And then he glanced at his backpack where he'd left it near the entrance. Will you text Jonouchi for me then? My phone is in my backpack.

Yami made a noise that was somewhat distracted. But he tipped himself forward onto his toes, straightening slowly to his full height. He shook his head and looked over at the bag where it lay there, fallen and awkward. Yugi watched him, ears pricked and eyes locked on his face. But his alpha ignored him entirely, moving to crouch and pick up the phone where it lay. He was almost amazed when Yami picked the slim device up and there was not a crack to be seen.

"I do not think I will need to contact them."

Yugi tilted his head, confused for a brief moment. He pricked his ears forward and stared at him expectantly, awaiting an explanation that Yami seemed not to care enough to give him.

"I don't know how long it will take them to join us," Yami finally mumbled. He was tapping his nails against the phone screen lazily as he closed his eyes halfway. His brows furrowed faintly for a single moment before he turned to him with a tilt of his head. "They'll be here soon enough, I'm sure, however. It should not be too hard for them to track me. I lost them around the river when they were distracted. So, what do we do in the meantime?"

Yugi blinked in surprise, then snorted. You lost them at the river? he laughed. They became your buddies then? What happened to Mai?

Yami lost his amusement entirely. His lips pressed into a thin line and he looked away with a small exhale that sounded almost like a gentle sigh. He shook his head slightly, scratching lightly at his arm. "She is still too devastated after the loss of Otogi," he said with a grimace. His shoulders were sagging and Yugi swore he could see the burden it wore down on him. "She wasn't going to leave the cavern all day. I know that much."

Yugi looked away and pricked his ears forward, wanting almost for a moment to sink into the floor. He did not want to think about that. Mai had been so broken by the news the day before and the only reason Yugi had felt safe to bring Jonouchi and Honda to training without her had been for that same logic. Mai had looked so brokenhearted and tired that Yugi had almost wanted to sob when they'd left. She'd simply curled up tightly, tail over his nose and eyes tightly shut to ignore their departure altogether.

Yugi stared at one of the puddles of blood on the cement. He could see it slowly but surely creeping forward as if to touch his paws. He watched it, feeling disgust gnaw at his insides as he considered the glow of the lights against the dark surface.

I don't know, he relented when he realized he had not bothered to answer. He risked a hesitant sideways glance towards him. What do you think we should do?

Yami shook his head slowly. "Aileen and her pet tiger…" He was quiet for a long moment. His eyes were glowing with intensity, his stare sharp. Something in his gaze was cold and dangerous, gleaming with raw power. "Their bodies are missing."

Yeah. A guy walking his dog accidentally let go of the leash and the dog ran in here because of the smell. He reported it and the police came to investigate. Her body was shipped back to Canada for burial in her family plot, if I remember right. Fuwa was listed as a missing person right after that. And the daughter they adopted was apparently buried with her? I don't remember that part of it. He just remembered that they had not found an animal with her, but rather a human girl. So the body had changed back during death, though Yugi was not entirely sure how or why such a thing might have happened. He'd only ever heard of that happening before with werewolves. It was part of their mythology, not shape-shifters. But considering they were all real, Yugi didn't think he could hold much of the mythology accountable for anything. It happened when you were…gone. I'd watched the news one night when you were still missing, a little while after the incident at the river. No one had any idea what happened. Apparently the bodies were extremely well-reserved because of the cold. And they were able to find just enough DNA to say it seemed to be the matter of a random dog attack of some kind.

"You and your friends were here. They all left some trace of DNA, yes? Why would they simply claim it to be a dog attack?" Yami scoffed, searching his face for a long moment. He frowned and tilted his head, staring at him in puzzlement.

I think Tetsu got his hands on the file. Maybe he influenced some others to turn a blind eye to it or maybe he threatened them or something of that manner. It doesn't matter. But I think he did it. He's got his hands in on all of this so far. I think he's the only reason Anzu and her parents were targeted and why their deaths were never investigated further. Yugi shook his head slowly, pricking his ears forward. Domino is still small enough that most of us know each other well enough to know what's going on at almost all times. The death rate before this year was considerably low. Of course, then again, I'm guessing with the disappearances it's far less likely that it was considered safe enough to stop and raise a family for long.

Yami stayed silent for a moment. "Tetsu would explain why none of those disappearances were truly focused on." He looked away, straightening to his full height once more. "And where he would have faltered, bribes could have been managed. Or deaths were committed to keep them silent, as you suspect of Anzu and her family."

Yubel had no reason to do it. She'd been watching us long enough to know. She and I were no longer close enough to be seen as more than regular friends. And it's not like she's been following me for years. It's only been recently that she's crossed paths with us, right? So why attack Anzu and not attempt it with someone like Jonouchi or try to get her teeth into you sooner?

Yami stayed quiet for what felt a lifetime. He turned his head away, staring at the entrance as if it might give him answers. When he opened his mouth, he looked as if he might argue, but it shut again almost instantly. And then he turned and wandered past him for the stairs, making his way up the staircase and moving along the walls. He was limping slightly, eyes narrow and cold for a moment, but he did not seem upset.

He seemed distracted more than anything, as if he were trying to think of something and could not do so. For another long minute Yami remained silent. And then, abruptly, he turned back, leaning over the railing of the catwalk.

"I had not noticed the cage originally."

Yugi blinked, looking at him in open bewilderment. A cage? It took him a moment to remember; shame came through him instantly after. Anzu had been caught inside of it when he'd been injected with wolfsbane, while Yami had dealt with Aileen and the shape-shifter. He had gotten her out of there, but he had barely been concerned about her afterwards, he remembered now. Yami had been knocked unconscious by the taser. He hadn't been responsive.

And Yugi had subsequently panicked over him.

Yugi wondered now if she had even noticed the sharp spiral in their relationship back then. He certainly hadn't and now he felt foolish for never noticing such a turning point. Had she still felt so dearly about her, she would have been the one he'd run to rather than the black wolf who'd lay there unconscious.

He didn't think it was worth debating any longer, however. She was dead. And he could not even apologize to her now for his behavior back then. He shivered; there was a long list of regrets he harbored now. There were a million and one different things he'd wished he'd said formerly. And all of it stemmed around those who he could no longer speak to—his mother, grandfather, Anzu and her family…

He tilted his head a fraction, wondering now if perhaps his apology and explanation had done anything for Tomoya's father. His stomach knotted, fur rising into the smallest of bristles. The blond man had simply stared at him blankly after opening the door, listened to him talk, and then quietly asked him to leave. Yugi had done so without hesitation, apologizing again as he'd begun the trek home.

Yugi wondered now how terrible it had to have been to hear it. Tomoya's dad had always known Yugi had been involved in it. He just hadn't known how. He hadn't known Yugi had been bitten by the boy who had killed his son. He hadn't known that Yugi had been sitting on this information for months prior to telling him. He hadn't known, either, that he was liable to run like he had.

Yugi couldn't imagine the grief he'd gone through in that span of time. He couldn't imagine begging the one person he knew to have contact with his son—his son's friend, for fuck's sake—to tell him and having them run from him.

Yeah, I'd forgotten about it for the most part too, he admitted. He hated how distracted he sounded. But if Yami noticed, the red-eyed teen did not speak against it. I hadn't considered it until you mentioned it.

Yami leaned over the railing for a moment. The metal groaned beneath his weight, as slight as it was. And the red-eyed teen stepped back abruptly just as the metal fell forward and clattered to the ground. Yugi flinched back at the violent vibrating thud. The noise made his ears ring and Yugi shivered as he looked up again. Yami almost seemed as if he were in physical pain from the sound. But he made no move to cover his ears. And, after a moment, his face became twisted with disinterest.

You okay? he asked despite himself. Yami snorted and shot him an amused look. Sorry. It's a habit to ask, I guess…

Yami considered that for a moment, at first with surprise and then with a small smile. "I suppose that might be true." He looked uncomfortable, despite the usual emotional charge that would have made someone else nervous. Yugi relaxed, content with the fact that Yami at least was not one of those people. He shook himself out and wagged his tail slightly. "I wonder how long it will take Jonouchi and Honda to find us."

Yugi flicked an ear, dropping his tail. It depends on what the distraction was and how well you covered your tracks, he answered quietly. We could always go back to the camp. They wouldn't even bat an eye at us for looking like this. We could do that and then send Jonouchi out to get our clothes.

And they could avoid any further awkward moments between themselves.

Yami frowned, tilting his head. "You think so?" he asked uncertainly. "I do not know how well they will take to seeing me covered in blood and you with your side bitten like that. It might spur them to react instead—"

React? Yugi echoed. React as in what? As in attacking you? Or do you mean aggressive in general?

"The latter. They may wish to know what is going on with you more often in order to prevent an attack like this again." Yami shrugged. "They're not as tightly knit as they should be, but you've at least earned some respect in not running from that fight at the camp."

I don't remember ever really running from a fight before.

"No, perhaps not. But we were not there when the other attacks happened, either, Yugi. So we were judged for that. We missed a lot of the ambushes and are just now getting involved. I do not doubt it helps to make them feel better about their choice of following you." Yami shot him a long and measured look. "I do not know how the pack will react. Maybe they will not give a damn. I could be worrying for nothing."

I guess that's possible.

But he doubted it. He didn't think Yami's sense of paranoia stretched so far. And the wolf had more experience with them than he himself did. Yugi wouldn't have been surprised in the slightest if they turned on Yami for the state he was in. He was sure it would be resolved quickly, but it would not surprise him to find they had turned on Yami simply because they thought he'd harmed Yugi in some way.

Yami hummed, picking his way along the catwalk again. He slowed at the steps, pausing and glancing at the three bodies.

"How did he know her name?"

The abrupt question startled him. Yugi pricked his ears forward and stared in surprise. He said Amelda told him about her, that she was trying to kill me and if he wanted to really mess with me then that was the way to do it, he answered. He shook his head, looking away when Yami blinked in surprise. So, yeah, that's…that's exactly what he did. He'd told me he knew where she was so that he could get my attention.

"Do you wish for me to tell you how foolish that was?" Yami growled, voice guttural and cold for a brief second. He shook his head, then sighed softly. "You came after him because of what he said."

I already admitted to that, Yugi snapped, shame crashing through him. What's your point?

"I know." He didn't answer the question. His eyes were on Kujirada. And then he turned his head. His eyes sharpened and narrowed, catching Yugi's. They were dark from the shadows the fluorescents cast from his lashes and brows and Yugi almost thought they'd turned black. Yami stood there for a long time, motionless and staring. And then he blinked, eyes glittering brilliant red once more. "Do you ever regret the choices you've made?"

Yugi blinked, tilting his head to the side slowly. He drew his lips back slightly, startled by the distress in his voice. Regret choices I've made? What in particular should I be regretful of? he asked slowly, words chosen carefully. Yami's eyes had closed and Yugi could feel the hairs on his scruff rising with displeasure. What is it that I should be so upset about?

Yami crossed his arms and closed his eyes again, statuesque as he stood before him. "It is not so much your choices that I truly question at this point. I'm more curious as to whether you…have ever come to resent me for mine."

Resent you?! Yugi barked out, stunned. What?! Why would I ever resent you, Yami? That doesn't make any sense.

"It makes plenty of sense," Yami returned now, leveling him with a cold stare. "I want to know. Do you ever resent me for my choices?"

The white wolf stared at him for a long handful of seconds. He was so stunned he could not even fathom answering him properly for a long minute or two. He could not think straight. The very idea made his heart race and he could barely refrain from trembling. Did Yami truly think he resented him? Did he honestly think that Yugi could ever feel such a way towards him? How was that even possible?

What was there to be resentful of? Did he mean…?

Yugi stiffened, pricking his ears forward and watching him with narrow eyes. You mean biting me. He did not phrase it as a question, but Yami tilted his head the smallest bit in as close to an affirmative nod as he was willing to give him. Yami was truly so afraid of his possible retaliation that he would not relax enough to even nod. Yugi felt his heart ache for a single moment. You want to know if I resent you for biting me.

Yami stared back at him blankly. He didn't speak and he made no move of any kind of nod or even imply he was listening any longer. He simply watched him, studying intently. Yugi could not read his expression. His stomach rolled and shivered as he stared at him.

He looked at Yami in turn, searching his face. I have never resented you, Yami. I know I wasn't easy to deal with when it first happened. And I know I was extremely ungrateful. But I never resented you, Yami. And I'm sorry I made you think I did.

Yami shook his head, looking away. "You didn't," he mumbled. He tilted his head away, eyeing him sidelong. When he smiled at him, it seemed almost cruel and bitter. "It was not you. I was simply thinking of what I once heard someone else say. It made me wonder and I thought it better to ask now rather than wait until later."

Yugi shook his head, moving forward and coming to his side. I don't resent you, he repeated softly, pressing his nose into the back of his hand where he could reach. Yami startled at the touch, as if he had not even noticed he'd come so much closer. It made Yugi bristle for a moment, startled by his surprise. Yami blinked down at him, frowned, and awkwardly withdrew his hand from his reach a moment later.

"I resent the gods for letting me be born," he said quietly, tilting his head. "And sometimes I resent having bitten you."

Had Yugi not known of his self-loathing, he might have been stunned and horrified by the words. He might have truly experienced the shock he would have otherwise. But Yami did not mean he resented saving him. He meant he resented the choice he'd made in bringing Yugi into the situations he had. And he knew with certainty how much Yami despised himself for those things.

It still rattled him sometimes, he knew, because occasionally Yugi would feel him staring at him around whatever it was he was doing. And he knew, without thought, that occasionally the red-eyed boy would become more frustrated and angry around him due to this fact. The resentment he harbored for himself was enough to make him lash out, though oftentimes Yami seemed to have a grasp of it for the most part.

If he was slipping again, that meant he was spiraling just as Yugi had worried before…

Yugi closed his eyes and shook himself out. When he took a seat, he swore he felt blood beneath his paws. He ignored it, flicking his ears. I know you do.

Yami was silent for a long minute. And then he came toward him. He frowned faintly, moving to crouch in front of him. Yugi opened his eyes to look at him again. And they locked eyes for only a moment longer. Yami reached abruptly for him, hands touching gently on his neck. His fingers looped in his fur, pulling lightly. Yugi blinked, eyes wide with confusion, and pricked his ears. The rod pulled over his head, then dropped to the ground with a loud clang.

"I'm sorry. I forgot…that they'd been restraining you." Yami was looking at his neck wound again, voice soft and tired and almost nonexistent. His hands were shaking; Yugi could see that the shock he'd felt formerly still had its claws dug into his marrow. He would have noticed the restraint pole otherwise; the fact that Yugi had forgotten it had been his need to comfort Yami and keep him calm. But he'd only just managed to get him to the point of awareness of his surroundings in more than small bursts. The shock had settled back in, not as terrible as before, but enough to still make him sluggish with his attention. "I wasn't paying attention."

Yugi fought away the urge to tell him it was okay to seek comfort from him when he needed it. Instead he nodded and stretched his neck out to run his tongue over his nose. It's okay. I'd forgotten it was there as well. He tilted his head, flattening his ears. Why was it so short?

"It would make it easier to restrain you in order for one of them to stab and skin you if they could get behind you," Yami said in open dismissal. He blinked, then stiffened and grimaced as he looked away. "Sorry. I watched them do it in the labs. I'm so familiar with it now that I can't always remember that it's horrifying to someone else to hear that kind of thing."

Your depression probably doesn't help either, Yugi quipped. But Yami merely smirked and shot him an amused look. The guilt for the comment dissipated immediately and he grew comfortable once more as he took a seat again. He tilted his head, smiling at him for a moment, then looked away and pricked his ears forward. But I guess it makes sense. You're so used to things like that happening and I can understand why it might not faze you anymore.

Yami looked at him sideways. "Does that excuse my behavior?" he asked with a weak, slight smile. Yugi blinked in surprise at the question, startled by the sheer disbelief in his voice. But Yami did not seem as if he meant to ask in any way other than curiosity and mild dissatisfaction. "The fact that I've been numb to such things should be warning to me to watch my tone and words, yes? You would assume that the horror that made me this way would cause me to consider my words better when speaking of such atrocities."

Yugi shook his head. No, Yami, that's not… He sighed softly, closing his eyes. I don't believe that for a second. I think if you had gotten proper…care or—or therapy or something, then maybe that might apply. But otherwise… Yami, you didn't have any emotional support or help with everything that happened. No one can blame you if you're so removed from the situation.

The other teen watched him in turn, seeming to consider his words for a moment. And then he smirked slightly, shook his head, and mumbled, "You make far too many excuses for me, Yugi."

Yugi wished more than ever that he could have rolled his eyes. He shook himself out and scooted closer, pricking his ears forward. I don't make excuses, he argued, feeling abruptly put on the spot and perhaps even slightly betrayed. I can simply make sense of your attitude, Yami. And I can understand why you're so upset right now. It's not…

"I was teasing." He shook his head and smiled at him faintly. He looked away again and seemed to consider the restraint pole on the ground for a moment or so. Then he raised his head and smirked, snickering, "They just found us."

Yugi's first thought was of Yubel and Sartorius. He bristled, snarling. And then he faltered. Yami looked far too relaxed and extremely amused. And, when Yugi went to speak, he could hear the sound of their paws in the snow. Jonouchi was grumbling about how much of a bastard Yami was and Honda was snapping at him to just keep moving so they could find him before something happened.

For a while there was nothing but the sound of them moving about. And then he blinked. They came in through the same entrance he and Kujirada had. He pricked his ears forward. Jonouchi was panting and Honda looked around rapidly before relaxing visibly when he saw the red-eyed teen.

You fucking bastard! Jonouchi burst out, snapping his teeth in Yami's direction.

Yami raised a brow. His head tilted and he smirked wider. "Yugi would be dead if I hadn't ditched you back there," he announced lazily. Jonouchi went to snap at him, then halted and turned back. Honda blinked in confusion, pricking his ears forward and tilting his head. Yugi snorted in amusement when his friends' faces morphed into puzzled concern. "But I wasn't expecting it to take you this long to find me either."

What happened? Jonouchi snapped, ignoring the red-eyed lycanthrope now. He hurried forward to sniff at him, wrinkling his nose and tilting his head. His eyes flickered away and widened as he jerked back, straightening in visible shock. Holy shit. Who the hell are they?

Are you okay? It looks like you ate someone or something.

Yami snorted, eyes half-closed with laziness. "I am fine. I just ripped the one hunter's throat open with my teeth. I didn't think through how much of a mess it would make." He turned to Yugi, tilting his head and grimacing slightly. "Apparently Yugi decided to follow his classmate to this location. And those two were Fuwa's hunting partners."

Yugi huffed. Kujirada mentioned Yubel. I followed him because I'm an idiot. Now that we've all determined that, let's get a move on with this. He shook himself out. Those two were Fuwa's hunting partners and they were the director and cameraman for his game show. Now that they're dead, I don't know what's going to happen. But they came looking for Fuwa or clues as to what happened with his death. In other news, can you guys do us a favor?

Jonouchi blinked, tearing his eyes from the bodies and turning to him in bewilderment. What's up?

"Yugi needs to change and I'm soaked in blood," Yami snorted, gesturing as both new wolves turned their heads to look over at him. Yugi took a seat and closed his eyes, listening once more. "We can't really go back to the hotel and get into the room without drawing a bunch of attention."

Okay, yeah, we can get you guys a couple of changes of clothes, Honda said with a tilt of his head. He shook himself out, staring up at Yami as if he almost could not recognize him in any sense of the word. He shuddered, turning to Yugi immediately after in order to avoid it all. He pricked his ears forward, whispering, Is he really okay? He literally only changed forms about an hour ago, when you were at school. And he looks super shaky…

Yugi tilted his head, wrinkling his nose. He's fine. I think he's winded more than anything. And he's upset about a couple of things. But he's okay. Don't worry about it. He looked over at Yami again, searching his face and pricking his ears forward once more. Let's go back to the camp until they get our clothes, okay?

---

"So, on the same vein as your question from earlier at the warehouse," Yugi commented softly, searching his face, "do you ever regret your decision to bite me?"

Yami had been getting comfortable, turning on the television and preparing to fall asleep. But he stopped short at the question, eyes widening, and turned his head with a startled expression. He blinked, his hand tightening around the remote and eyes darkening briefly. "Regret biting you?" he repeated slowly, narrowing his eyes and tilting his head. "Are you honestly asking me that?"

Yugi shook his head. "I'm not asking to upset you," he said gently, coming forward to sit next to him. He put his hands in his lap, watching him. "Look, I'm not trying to upset you in any way. I don't mean it that way at all. I'm just asking you. You got to ask me if I resented you or your choices. So now I get to ask you about this. We don't have to talk about this if you don't want to, but—"

"No, no, we can continue speaking," he murmured dismissively, holding a hand up to silence his oncoming apology. He shook his head and closed his eyes tightly. "I'm just thrown that you're asking me this."

Yugi got a little closer to him, hovering close enough that he could have touched him had he simply reached out. But he did not want to fight him should he react badly. So he simply knotted the covers with his fists and leaned back on his arms. "Well, I wasn't expecting you to ask me to resent my choices where you were concerned, either."

Yami let out a small laugh, something strangled and full of bitterness. He turned to him with a tilt of his head, snickering. "No, I guess you wouldn't have." His lips were pulled into something of a small condescending smirk. "I sometimes forget how, even when you seem to know so much, you're not able to read my mind."

Yugi offered him a small grin. "I'm better at guessing emotional stances and things like that. I mean, I could definitely help you with your panic attacks and night terrors," he said, searching his face and relaxing further when he saw the amusement in Yami's eyes, "but I can't read minds unless you're a wolf. I'm going to need to work on getting that figured out."

Yami snorted. "I don't think you'd like it if you knew what I was thinking so often."

Yugi was relatively sure he was right about that. In truth, Yugi did not think for a moment he could deal with Yami's self-loathing or the constant blame and guilt he knew Yami bore so often on his shoulders. He didn't think he could combat them. And he wasn't sure it was truly his cross to bear in that manner. It wasn't his right to try to help Yami fight those demons when Yami was unwilling to do so himself. He could offer him support, give him as much strength as he could, but it would only end when Yami was ready to make it happen.

And Yugi did not think he was at that place yet.

"I don't think you'd like it much in my head, either," he teased. He smiled when he saw the tension in Yami's shoulders lessen. I think my opinion of you would make you even worse… "I tend to get lost in there, so I could see you doing that too, you know?"

Yami gave him a half-smile. "Likely," he agreed. "I'm not the best navigator to begin with."

Yugi smirked, turning away. "You never answered my question, aibou," he said gently. He reached over to poke him in the side. Yami was silent for a long moment, studying him closely in his peripheral. And then he shifted away from him as if he'd been burned, letting out a loud exhale that rivaled a scoff and a sigh.

"No, I suppose I didn't," he mumbled. He grabbed the remote, flipping through a few channels. Yugi did not look away from the television screen now. And he refused to speak about it again. Yami would shy away from the discussion or sneer at him if he got him riled up by prodding once more. So, he closed his eyes and waited. He listened to the heavy clicking of the remote buttons for a long time. And, finally, when he felt himself beginning to almost doze off in his seated position, Yami whispered, "Even if you had said you resented me for what I did in biting you without your consent, it wouldn't have changed my opinion on the matter. I don't regret what I did."

Yugi blinked, startled in awareness, and turned to look at him. Yami was staring at him now, though he had not turned his head and was watching him pointedly from his peripheral. The way he'd lowered his head made it had to see his eyes, his bangs obscuring them, and Yugi could see his fingers were clenched around the remote, knuckles white from the force of his grip.

"Isn't that selfish?" Yami snickered. His voice was hateful, bordering anger. Yugi watched him loosen his grip on the remote and slowly put it aside, nails tapping against the surface for a moment or two. "If you'd resented me for doing this to you, and I didn't care and still didn't regret it? Doesn't that make this all rather selfish?"

"Maybe it would have…if I'd said that," he admitted, voice faltering when Yami smirked hideously at the hesitant note in his voice, "but that requires me feeling that way. And I clearly don't."

"No, but that's because you're more alike me than I originally thought." The red-eyed teen went quiet for a moment. "You're just as self-destructive as I am."

"I'm self-sacrificing," Yugi corrected him softly, gently. "You're the self-destructive one. I would rather see myself harmed than have someone else hurt. And you just want to hurt to prove you're still alive sometimes, Yami. We both have little self-worth but it's for entirely different reasons. I know the difference."

Yami was silent for a moment. Then he turned to him. "I don't understand where your lack of esteem comes from," he answered quietly. "You're smart, you're versatile, you can do things others can't. You're amazing at games, puzzles and strategy. You're capable of amazing things. And yet…somehow you're small and timid and like to hide behind things."

Yugi shook his head. "I'm not the smartest. I'm not the bravest. I'm not the strongest. I'm average, Yami. I'm even mediocre at times. I can either meet expectations or fall beneath them. I don't have much of a place between the two. There's never a halfway for me. And I always leap with blind faith when it comes to trust and loyalty. It's a fault."

"Kindness is a fatal flaw but you manage to make the best choices regarding it." He was quiet for a moment, then looked away. "I could never imagine you as mediocre."

Yugi smiled wryly. "And I could never imagine you as weak or selfish. But you do. I know you do."

Yami nodded slightly. "This is why I don't regret anything in regards to you." He said the words quietly, finally looking over again. "You deserved that second chance at life. Maybe it wasn't what you expected of it, but you're still alive."

The smaller teen blinked, smiling at him more genuinely. "Yeah," he agreed, a small bit of warmth flooding his chest. "I'm still alive. And I'm grateful that you chose to do that for me. Thank you."

Yami opened his mouth to respond, but faltered at the last moment. He gave him a strained smile and looked away again. They fell into silence, comfortable enough for the moment. Yugi leaned over, pressing their shoulders together. Yami turned back to him, confused, and Yugi smiled. If the position made him uncomfortable, Yami did not say anything. He simply watched him, blinked, eyes softening, and finally looked to the TV again.

It was twenty minutes later that Yugi became abruptly heavier, slouched, and fell straight into his lap. Yami jumped at the sudden action. But Yugi was fast asleep. His flinch had not stirred him in the slightest. Yami watched him for a long minute. Yugi was not posed to hurt him in any way. And it was not as if he were attempting to force himself on him. He had simply passed out—and Yami wondered if it was emotional overload or physical exhaustion which overwhelmed him more—and he had fallen over. Yami hesitated, glancing around before he remembered that they were alone. There were a couple of people in the rooms neighboring them, but they were not in there with them. It was not as it had been at the house…

He frowned, looking down at him. Yugi was facing the TV. His eyelids fluttered, but his cheeks were smooth and relaxed. His brows were not furrowed in the slightest. He did not appear troubled in the least. And he looked every bit the carefree teenager he should have been. He did not look like an ancient beast with the ability to save or destroy an entire species. He did not look like an ancient creature meant to cause destruction or secure salvation.

But when had Yugi ever looked like Atem to him?

Even when he'd fought him in the woods that day, charging him as his mind told him it was kill or be killed, Yami was not sure he saw Atem. He had not seen a monster that held the fate of three species in his hands. He had seen a simple white wolf with eyes that had infuriated him. He had seen the open relief and happiness as Yugi realized he was alive. And he had wanted nothing more than to destroy it. And when he'd attacked him, seeing that light burn out, he still had not been able to quell his rage.

Yami moved his hand to smooth Yugi's hair back where a bit of his bang tickled his nose and made him scrunch his face slightly. The action brought a bout of unease through him. There was a lot of intimacy in such a simple gesture and even Yugi's stance where he lay across his lap like this was something that Yami would have usually flinched away from. He had only ever done so himself before, falling asleep in his cage mate's lap when one of his tests had exhausted him too much to remain conscious any longer. He'd been struggling so hard to keep Yami awake that day. And Yami had not made it easy on him. He'd collapsed in on himself more than once, legs buckled when he'd been instructed to walk the cage. And he'd struggled harder than ever to stir when he'd tried to wake him so many times.

But his cage mate had never held it against him. He had not even gotten upset when Yami had bitten him in a rage. He'd nearly taken his hand off and his cage mate had simply wiped the blood from the broken limb and told him to get up. When he'd finally let him sit down, Yami had slumped over a few minutes later and then fallen asleep and landed in his lap just as Yugi had his.

Yami shivered at the thought. His cage mate had forced the mating bond. He'd done it to save Yami. He'd done it so that he would be able to set into motion the escape plan he'd been coming up with since the moment he'd been caught. He'd done it to make sure he would be able to ensure Yami's safety in the manner. But not even once had he ever asked more of him than to stay alive. Even when he'd gotten the chance to flee…

Yami shook for a moment.

His eyes were glued to Yugi's face now.

The smaller boy harbored similar feelings. Yami was all too aware of it. At the end of the day, if nothing else, he knew he could rely on him. The thought was a rather daunting one, regardless of how long he'd known he could trust him. Yugi was that same blue-violet-eyed boy who had let him into his home and helped him heal. His stomach churned for a moment, uncertain as to what to think of the situation.

Yugi's feelings were altogether organic. They had been born and nurtured.

They were not forced.

Yami knew that difference well. His cage mate's bond had felt entirely estranged to him, in a manner that Yami thought of someone touching him. He felt it only when there was pressure on his skin. Anyone could do it if they only so much as reached out. But Yami did not encourage it. And until it happened he did not cast it a thought. He had no interaction with it until it was brought forth to him. He did not initiate it. He did not care for it.

So, when it had happened, he'd smelled it before he'd recognized it. The chemical change in his cage mate had set alarms off in his head. It had happened overnight and at first Yami had thought he was dying. But he'd found his vitals even and secure and steady. And it had taken a full minute of his brain scrambling to unravel it.

It was enough to wind him even now to remember.

If Yugi's feelings were organic, had never been tampered with, what did that mean for them? It was not as if they could ever act on it. Yami did not even know if Yugi would survive to see the end of the war. He did not know if the gods would even allow Yami to survive so long. And, at the end of the day, he had no answers and more questions than he could truly deal with.

But the thought of someone truly having feelings of that magnitude, which had grown to become a mating bond, was almost terrifying to him. He did not know how he was supposed to treat the situation beyond what he was already doing. He did not know if it was safe to initiate anything of any kind. And he had no idea if the two of them could ever be in a healthy enough environment to act on such a relationship.

But he wondered, what would happen if they both survived and could become stable enough? Could they actually become something?

It was not as if he was looking for that, but it was impossible not to acknowledge it at times. Yugi would never pressure him; he knew that. He'd known that of his cage mate as well. It might have terrified him when he'd originally come to understand the situation, but he had known regardless. And though all of it had been enough to paralyze him that first hour he'd woken to the change of his cage mate's scent, he'd known better.

He would never have hurt Yami in the slightest. He would never have so much as laid a hand on him if Yami did not consent to it. He had sometimes even been hesitant to sit too close to him on the makeshift cots in their cell. And he always asked before he would even reach over and touch his arm or shift closer to him.

Yami's stomach lurched.

It was almost odd to him how similar Yugi and his cage mate were. Both of them were cautious and extremely aware of him and his presence. They differed in mannerisms of how they dealt with him, but for the most part they showed him the same courtesy. They asked sometimes if they were too close. They did not touch him without consent unless it was entirely necessary to them—his cage mate when he'd struggled to keep him awake and Yugi when he'd taken care of him in his feral state. Yami had often been incoherent and unable to consent in either state that the two of them had acted without permission. And each time, they had both offered him apology for it.

He had always blown it off in either case. For the most part it had always been fine. And it truly didn't matter to him more often than not. His cage mate had always seemed skeptical when he said such things. And Yugi had always seemed rather reluctant to believe that. Both of them always spoke in soft voices and tried their hardest to make him feel more comfortable and at ease. And perhaps they had not always managed it, but that was more Yami's own fault than it ever had been theirs.

He had become so used to lashing out against things that upset him that the thought of holding himself back had never truly crossed Yami's mind until it was absolutely necessary. He felt sick, heart threatening to leap into his throat and head pounding.

His hand had knotted itself in Yugi's hair, deeply buried beneath all of the glossy black strands. He wiggled his fingers, amazed that he had not entirely tangled his hair, and slowly moved to pull his hand away.

Yugi was still fast asleep, by some miracle. He would have expected him to react to the feeling of his fingers in his hair if he were to startle awake. But the smaller teen slept just as he usually did, comfortable and at ease. And Yami knew Yugi was too exhausted now to wake even if he were to shake him gently. Usually the blue-violet-eyed boy would startle awake if Yami so much as brushed against him in his rest. Yami knew that. Despite being relaxed and somehow perfectly at ease sleeping beside him at night, Yami had always felt it when Yugi woke. He would accidentally brush against him and Yugi would wake in the dark. He did not always speak, and Yami swallowed whatever response he had to answer with, but he was aware and he would stay that way for a few minutes before settling again.

He would watch him sometimes, for minutes on end, when he thought Yami was unaware. The smaller boy would simply look at him from beneath half-closed eyes until he fell asleep should he be facing him already. And Yugi would wait for him to speak for a few moments, but it would pass when Yami never took the invitation. And at times he would look at him even if Yami so much as moved too close.

But it was comforting, despite everything.

Yami settled back on his hands, leaning into the mattress and staring at the TV screen.

When Yami woke, his head was throbbing. The television had clicked off, he realized in confusion. And he'd…been moved? Yami blinked, staring up at the ceiling as bewilderment made his bones cold. And then he blinked, closing his eyes tightly once more. He reached up to rub at his eyes. Something was…touching his pelvis; it was pinning him to be bed.

Yami blinked again, breathing in sharply. And then he tried to sit up. The bed jostled beneath him and he nearly hissed as he exhaled softly. His body felt heavy from his hips down, as if he were numb. The bed creaked slightly and he pushed himself onto his elbows. His throat ached, parched and desperate for water, and there was pressure on his pelvis that he did not think came only from the weight holding him there.

Yami blinked, at first disoriented enough that he didn't immediately realize. And then he blinked again. His eyes shot downward, intent on finding what was causing such difference in the room. He relaxed immediately after, heart calming from where it had formerly been racing.

Yugi was still fast asleep.

But if the television was off, it meant that Yugi had woken at some point; he had to have turned it off himself. And, should that be true, why had he not bothered to get up and move away? Surely this position was not comfortable. Yami frowned, his insides knotting; in fact it had to be rather painful. His pelvis was sharp and bony beneath his clothing.

But Yugi truly was still asleep.

He knew from far too many nights with the other boy that Yugi could not feign rest as well as he himself could. And the thought made him frown for a brief moment. Yugi was not good at pretending to be asleep. He had trouble keeping his breathing level and even. And Yami could catch him easily. He had never called him out on it, but he had always known…

The pressure on his pelvis was overwhelming now. He grunted before he could stop himself. He shivered, reaching forward. His hand touched Yugi's shoulder, nudging him gently. "Yugi, wake up." But the other boy still did not react. He nudged him a bit more pointedly. "Yugi, I need to get up."

The small teen let out a small noise like a displeased grumble. He stretched his arms, turned his head, and blinked sleepily up at him. For a moment he simply stared, as if confused. And then he blinked, stiffened, and peered at him in growing alarm. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. And Yugi could see his cheeks darken considerably in the low glow of the nightlight plugged into the wall on the other side of the room. His stomach lurched and he fought for an explanation, but Yugi pulled away and shifted to the end of the bed. He scrubbed at his face and cheeks, then his hair, yawning, and looked back a minute later. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that. I… Shit, I'm so sorry, Yami. I didn't…?"

Yami blinked at him, furrowing his brows. His horrified expression was enough to make him nearly forget entirely why he had needed to get up to begin with. But then he blinked, the pressure grew tenfold, and he sprang for his feet and hurried for the bathroom.

When he came out again, Yugi had taken to the other side of the room. He was scrubbing at his hair again, yawning, and he had his phone out in front of him. Yami wiped the dampness from his hands more pointedly on his shirt. Yugi looked incredibly nervous and upset.

"You…didn't upset me," he said finally, looking over. Yugi was frozen in place, so stiff he was all but statuesque where he stood there in the dim light. Yami watched him, frowning, and looked him over. "You've done that before. I let you sleep like that before, remember? Why should it bother me now when it did not then?"

"You weren't as hurt and exhausted back then as you are now." Yugi turned to him now, eyes sharpening in the darkness. His voice was soft and soothing, however, and remained so as he continued. "And I didn't know if doing that had triggered any anxiety for you. I just… I didn't want you to be uncomfortable."

Yami shook his head. "I had to pee," he admitted with a frown. "You were pressing on my bladder and I couldn't ignore it. So I had to make you get up so I could go pee."

Yugi gave him an awkward smile. "It was probably a good idea for me to move anyways. You'd really hurt your back sleeping in a position like that." But something about the way Yugi looked at him made Yami wonder if he regretted saying that, or if he was sad that Yami had woken him in the first place. And he wondered if he was upset that they were no longer so close or touching. The thought startled him but he shrugged it away again. Yugi was okay to feel that way. It did not bother Yami that he did. Yugi was one of the few people he could stand to let touch him, whether it was brushing against his side or sleeping next to him or putting his hand on his arm. All of those things Yami might have snapped at someone else for, but could accept from Yugi himself. And he did not know if that was because of the knowledge of the bond he knew Yugi felt for him or the fact that Yugi was simply someone who liked physical contact in some manner. He was still respectful of Yami's boundaries, however, and he supposed that helped to aid him in feeling comfortable enough to allow him to do so. "Anyways, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that. You okay?"

Yami snorted, giving him a wry smirk. "I am not hurt," he teased. He ignored the frown Yugi gave him, as if his attempt at humor made him bristle all the same. He snickered, moving to peel the covers back and climbing into the bed. "It's fine. We've done this before. I knew it was happening. I knew before I fell asleep. It hardly matters to me, Yugi."

Yugi grimaced in his peripheral. "Are you sure?"

"Yes." Yami looked him over now, considering him closely for a moment. When he exhaled, his blood felt oddly cold. "You act as if something has changed between us. Why?"

"It's not that anything has changed between us. It's more whether or not you're still comfortable. I don't mean that in a bad way. I just mean that so much happened recently and I wasn't sure how comfortable you were with what happened before I feel asleep, either. I didn't exactly ask if I could lean on you like that."

Yami blinked, startled for a single moment. Then he snorted, smiling wryly, and lay down to pull the covers up. "I would have told you had I been uncomfortable."

"Would you have?" Yugi asked, brow rising. "Because I don't always know if you would or not."

"You're the one who is always watching my body language. You would know."

There was an awkward silence for only a moment, pregnant and heavy. And then Yugi snorted and Yami watched his phone light up his face. He locked it a few minutes later, putting it aside, and came back to the bed. "I guess that's true," he murmured. There was an amused tone to his voice but his smile was only halfhearted. He moved to the other side of the bed, pulling the covers back. "If you're not upset about it, though, then I guess it doesn't really matter, right?"

"It's not like you were trying to molest me or something," Yami scoffed. He stared at him. The words made Yugi roll his eyes; the action made Yami smile faintly. At least he wasn't taking the comment seriously. "So, why should I have been upset about it?"

"I'm just tired and we don't usually…"

But whatever he'd meant to say went unfinished. Yugi shook his head, rolling over with a yawn. Yami watched him, waiting for a few seconds to see if he might finish, and then rolled over to face the opposing wall in turn.

Maybe he was simply disoriented from being woken from such a dead sleep. Or maybe he knew that Yami had only needed to pee and was building it up to be something to feel guilty about. Or maybe Yugi felt guilty for the simple fact that he had liked resting like he'd been. It was not as if Yami were oblivious to this, nor to the fact that some of the simplest things he did in passing for the other boy could set his heartbeat into a flurry or his breath sharper. Occasionally Yugi would even give off scents—though, thankfully, not of sexual desire—that pronounced a rush of endorphins that gave away his absolute joy.

Yami did not sleep again. It was an hour later that he realized Yugi had fallen asleep once more. Despite whatever he had been thinking about, going to war with himself over, he'd finally succumbed to rest. He was passed out beside him when Yami slowly moved to sit up, trying hard not to draw attention. He glanced at him, somewhat pleased when he realized that Yugi had not woken. And then he licked his lips and shifted his weight to sit up fully.

The blankets pooled around his hips for a moment. He rubbed at his eyes, feeling as if something were burning in him. He glanced around the room, wondering for only a moment if perhaps the darkness had some kind of answer he'd overlooked. But he was beyond such childish thoughts. He'd lost that when he was around four or five. There had not been much room to host such impulses and he especially now felt mildly scornful of such things. He wondered at the thought for a moment, then glanced at Yugi.

Did he still believe in something like finding answers to his problems in mundane yet divine ways?

He wondered if the coming of Ragnarok was still one of his favorite stories, if Fenrir losing his chains was still his most-liked. He'd surprised him with that answer, if only because he couldn't understand how someone who looked and seemed so pacifistic in nature might enjoy the end of the world in its first stages. The thought still made him tilt his head even now. But he could understand all the same. Yugi chose it as his favorite for the fact that the wolf was freed of his bindings. Were it not for that, Yami might never have understood.

He shivered, looking away from him altogether now. There was a thought in his head that he did not want to consider, forcing it aside and looking over at the window. The moonlight was so faint he almost thought it wasn't there to begin with. He saw the smallest tint of silver and white and the shadows stretched long and sharp on blue and black. The wall was bathed blue, the white of them long forgotten in the dark. And he wondered if the blue walls of Yugi's room looked black in such a state. The thought was enough to make him turn away from it as well, settling uncomfortably against the headboard of the bed.

He didn't want to think about the state of the house any longer.

It was several hours later that Yugi woke again. The light was so minimal that Yami was unsure when the sun had even begun to rise. It seemed a mystery to him. Yugi turned to him and tilted his head curiously. His eyes were groggy at first but it passed almost immediately after he blinked. He frowned at him then, mumbling, "What's wrong?"

"Wrong? Nothing is wrong." Yami fell quiet again for a long minute. His lips twisted up into something of an awkward, distracted smile. "Why might anything be wrong?"

"You've been awake for a while and I know that because you look exhausted. Did you even fall back asleep or did you stay up all night worrying about whatever was going on in your head?" he asked. His voice was dry, almost bitter. Yami blinked at him in surprise, then ground his teeth together. Yugi was blaming himself for the new behavior. "So, either I actually did make you so extremely uncomfortable earlier or something else happened."

Yami drew his mouth downward and shook his head slowly. "No, you did not make me uncomfortable," he answered. And even Yami wondered if he was lying at this point. He grimaced as he looked over again. "I was never uncomfortable with you. As I said once before, it has happened already. You did so formerly. You fell asleep with your head in my lap once before. Why should it upset me now? No, I…I was thinking of things better left without acknowledgment."

Yugi did not seem to believe him, but he did eventually nod and back down from the potential argument. He closed his eyes and nodded again. "Okay." There was a long moment of silence. "Then, do you want to rest for a little while? I was planning on taking a shower and going to meet up with the pack again later today."

Yami hesitantly nodded. "I'll try to get some sleep before we leave."

But Yami never did bother to get rest. He lay down, curled on his side as he looked pointedly away from Yugi, but he never slept. Yugi knew that much just by the sound of his breathing. It was too soft and even, measured as if he were trying his hardest to argue that he'd tried later. And Yugi had the feeling this would be the fight he put up if he were to ask him why he was not asleep.

Yugi had settled for doing homework he needed to get caught up on and waiting for the off chance that Yami might actually fall asleep. But when it never happened, he gave up and murmured, "Let's go then, aibou."

Yami followed him faithfully through the woods as they walked, inches from him at every step. The wolves in the small patrol that met him at the edge of the camp all greeted them with something of relieved expressions. Yugi could not tell if it was because of the fact that they thought they might be able to protect them or if it was simply because they'd worried something might have happened. Regardless, Yugi shrugged it off as they wandered forward, hearing sounds further into the clearing that made his ears prick further forward.

He looked over as they entered the camp. Yuya, Yusei, Koroti, Rio, Shark, Chazz, Syrus, Jack and Mieru were playing about. Yusei and Syrus and Yuya and Koroti seemed to be deep in a game of tag. Jack and Chazz were fighting and mouthing at each other, squabbling verbally and wagging their tails. Chazz was slower than usual due to the wounds, tired, but it did nothing to hinder their play. Mieru and Shark and Rio were watching and naming a winner each round. When Jack shoved Chazz off, forcing him a good couple of inches back with a small muzzle punch to his side, Rio named him the winner. The two growled and shook themselves out, then sprang once more.

Yugi noted Mana was nearby and close to her was a soft gray she-wolf, one with strange gray eyes that had an odd silver gleam towards the center of her irises. She was small and sleek, with a dark brown undercoat and long white legs, her paws tipped with black just above each toe. She had her head tilted as she watched them, but Yugi swore she was studying Jack more than the others.

He shrugged it off. Yami had wandered over to Mana, greeting her with a small wag of his tail. Beside her the she-wolf ducked her head in a respectful manner, tucking and wagging her tail even as she lowered herself onto her belly. Yami turned on her, wagging his tail again, and lowered his nose to sniff at her cheeks.

The playing had stopped, Yugi noted in confusion. He bristled, hurrying forward. Jack had rushed over, snarling, and charged straight towards Yami. Yusei and the other three had stiffened in alarm, bristling in confusion. Yami backed away from the she-wolf, turning to Jack with a curious expression, and then snorted. The blond wolf, amazingly, placed himself between them with a defiant expression.

Her name is Carly, a voice said softly. It was calm and relaxed, startling him. Yugi turned his head, bristling in alarm. Mieru was staring at him, eyes locking on his, and her gaze was sharp like glittering diamonds. He was used to seeing tension in the other wolves at his arrival; her simplicity in addressing him set his fur on end. He blinked at her, those jade green eyes burning fiercely into his. She seemed to be laughing as she continued. She is destined for tragedy for her efforts in the most recent fight.

Tragedy? Yugi echoed, startled. He thought of Ishizu, of her vague comments and the way her voice had seemed to boom in his ears when she'd spoken. He shivered. What does that mean?

She wagged her tail at him. Her head tilted and she seemed to smile at him now. Her eyes were mocking, full of laughter, and Yugi wondered what she knew that he did not. It means she's going to cause of chain of events that she has no idea about, she announced. Mieru peered at him with mild cunning and laughter once more. She will be the catalyst for a few wolves' destruction.

Destruction? he repeated softly. He felt small, as if he knew no other words than what he could parrot of what she'd said. He forced himself to shake it away, staring at her as his fur shuddered with a rippling bristle. His ears pricked forward and he narrowed his gaze. What the hell does that mean?

It means she will have a paw in the deaths of at least five. Perhaps the number will change. Maybe it will expand. Maybe it will shrink. Who knows? She sounded bored now. I surely don't. Do you, Atem? Do you see the future as I do? Or do you just listen to gods when they tell you the names of their newer victims?

Immediately Yugi looked to Yusei. His heart hammered in his chest. His stomach lurched and rolled. He shivered. And he watched, almost amazed, as Yusei blinked and looked over his shoulder at him in bewilderment. The gray yearling was clearly confused, then hesitant, and finally he lowered himself to the snow with a wag of his tail. He lowered his eyes and crept towards him, coming to lick his chin.

Yugi almost puzzled over this. And then he remembered. Most wolves greeted their alphas this way. It was a submissive, respectful greeting. Most often it was only expressed towards Yami. He had seen it more than once in play with the pack regarding the beta.

Something in his stare had scared Yusei into such an action.

He shivered, watching him. Then he forced himself to wag his tail. Sorrow enveloped him and he was driven almost to tremors, remorse crashing through him. But the reality of it was that Yusei did not know. And he did not think he had the heart to tell him. Not only that, but how would he do it?

"Oh, by the way, Yusei, Slifer told me you were going to die recently"?

Yugi didn't want to consider it for more than a split second. The very idea of attempting to tell him winded him.

Hey, Yusei, he said softly. He wagged his tail once more, hoping to appear friendly and warm. And the yearling did not seem to sense anything else from him. He seemed rather okay for the moment. He seemed comfortable with it all, unperturbed by his strange behavior. How are you?

The yearling plopped down on his stomach. He rolled over lazily onto his back. I'm good, he answered after a moment. He wagged his tail again, stretching his paws out in the air and opening his mouth. I'm kind of tired. We all went back and huddled in the cave again and every now and then someone would move and we'd all wake up and then have to get comfortable again. I woke up so often I couldn't sleep anymore.

Yugi smiled at him, stretching himself out to lay beside him. Yusei looked up at him from his upside down position and Yugi wagged his tail again. He looked so childish, and his age was highlighted again for the white wolf. His heart lurched at the thought. He wished he could tell Yusei to turn and run back to the states.

But part of him wondered what awaited him there. Did Yusei have anything to return to there? Was there anything left for him to go back to? His pack was decimated but for himself. Likely Echo had been in charge of their living spaces and everything of that matter. He didn't know how much Yusei understood of it all.

But then, would it save Yusei even if he were to run to the states again? What if his death was unavoidable and inevitable? What if the death here in Japan, brought about in this war, was more merciful than what could possibly await him in the states?

Yugi closed his eyes for a moment. Yami had some trouble sleeping too, I think. Maybe it was the moon, he teased. But he could not stop himself staring at the yearling. Yusei wagged his tail again but did nothing to deny or support the words. You guys were all playing. What was so interesting that you actually stopped?

I think Yami startled Koroti. She yelped when she spotted him and I guess it startled us, he answered. He stretched a paw out to press into Yugi's cheek, wagging his tail and smiling at him wider. He watched the yearling a moment longer, then licked his paw. But clearly it's not a problem and he was just going to speak to Carly.

Yugi stayed quiet for a long moment. I heard something about Shay sending word to his pack to come. Is that right?

From what I've heard, he did it right after Yami and Yubel fought, Yusei mumbled uncertainly, tilting his head and considering for a long moment. I don't think he wants to fight Yami anymore, either—not after he saw that, anyways. He told me about it and I can't even imagine… I was so happy that I was not there to witness it.

Yugi pricked his ears forward. What do you know of the fight? Yusei froze and shot him a confused, bewildered expression. Reluctantly Yugi explained, Yami hasn't told me anything about the fight with her but that it happened.

Oh… Yusei glanced uncertainly towards Yami and slowly rolled onto his feet to get up again. He shook himself out, lowering his eyes to the ground and flattening his ears. Shay showed me the fight but I… I don't think I want to tell you if Yami hasn't already. I'm sorry!

Yugi blinked and sighed, looking at him and shifting his weight. Okay, then don't, he said softly. He watched him as the yearling processed his words and turned to him with wide eyes. Yugi wagged his tail. Did you expect me to force you to?

Yusei was hesitant when he looked away, ears flicking back and forth. I thought you might be upset, he admitted softly. Yugi tilted his head and stared at the yearling for a long moment. You're, uh…extremely protective of him so I thought you'd be more upset about it.

No. Not this time, Yugi answered softly. He shook his head slightly and glanced aside towards where the others were. Mana was speaking to Yami now, friendly enough but clearly uncomfortable due to the close proximity, and Carly was still lying down and wagging her tail at him. Yami seemed hardly to be paying attention to either of them, however; something in his expression had grown distant and faraway again.

He'll tell me when he's ready, I'm sure. Or maybe he's smart enough to know I might snap if I find out how bad it was. Yugi looked back to Yusei again, exhaling softly and closing his eyes halfway. And it has to have been bad if Shay is no longer interested in fighting him like he was before. And if you look sick just thinking about it, I'm sure it was a lot worse than I might have imagined formerly.

Yusei remained quiet for a moment. It, um, according to Shay's memories, was terrible. But I think Honda and Jonouchi were closer to the actual fight itself than he was. But what he saw of it was… He glanced towards Yami as if unnerved and then turned away again, ears pricked and eyes wide. A small shudder ran through him and he looked at Yugi with a somewhat miserable expression. His ears flattened and his eyes lowered back to the ground. I try not to think about it often. It was…

Then don't bother thinking about it right now, Yugi dismissed easily. He gave him a somewhat comforting smile and turned to look at Yami again. The black wolf had turned away from the she-wolves altogether. He was watching Chazz and Jack play now instead, considering. If nothing else, I'll ask Yami.

He should probably be the one to tell you.

Probably, he agreed quietly. He watched Yami for a long handful of minutes. And the darker canine stared back at him in turn. And, finally, the red-eyed wolf got up to come over to him. The white wolf let him take a seat near him, though Yami did not seem to be inclined to get close enough to touch him in any manner. Yugi closed his eyes and tilted his head. So Shay sent for the rest of his pack here.

Carly told me. She heard it from Shay and Ute when they were discussing the losses.

Yugi opened his eyes to find Yami staring at him now. What? he asked uncertainly, tilting his head in bewilderment. He blinked at him, confused, and watched him a moment longer. But Yami did not move but to turn his head away and look further into the trees. Aibou?

It is nothing serious. Do not worry about it.

Yugi tilted and raised his head. It's okay! I know I'm damn handsome!

Yami blinked, clearly startled by his comment. He turned his head, eyes wide with surprise, and processed the words. When he seemed to properly realize Yugi had truly said that, he snorted so loudly that the other wolves in the clearing startled and spun to look at him. Yami turned to Yugi, laughing, and wagged his tail rapidly. You're ridiculous!

Yugi smiled at him, chuckling in turn and returning the tail wag. If I hadn't been joking, I would probably be offended by that, he said with a wider smile. Yami blinked at him and then came forward to place a paw on his head and laugh harder. Yugi licked his leg where he could reach it, wagging his tail once more. But don't you think that's the pot calling the kettle black?

Yami tilted his head. Me? he said incredulously. I would never be so hypocritical.

Yugi laughed aloud with him as well now. You told me sleeping with you would cure all my problems in life, he reminded him; he was sure to keep his voice gentle and soft even beneath all of his laughter. Yami blinked, startled, then smirked as his eyes grew warm. I think saying I'm handsome enough to be stared at is nothing compared to that.

It's a little known secret. Yami flicked his ears. But if I let someone sleep with me, they'd never have another problem in life.

Yugi laughed and pushed past his paw to lick his nose. If that's a fact, then I'm handsome enough for people to stare at me, he announced. He licked his nose again as Yami watched him lazily in turn. See how that logic works?

I never intended to argue with that statement, Yami said amicably. He smiled at him and tilted his head. His ears pricked forward, focused entirely on Yugi as he wagged his tail once more. But you said it so blatantly and I think it's hilarious. I wasn't expecting that.

Yugi went to laugh at him that he should have, then paused and blinked. Had Yami just said what he thought he had? Had he just agreed with Yugi that he was handsome enough to be stared at? He laughed at the realization, leaning forward and licking his forehead as he wagged his tail once more. He forced himself not to melt into the thought, heart racing in his chest for a split second. Then he shook himself out, smiled again, and licked his face as he had moments before.

Well, then, I'm glad you think so, too.

Yami snorted and turned away, ears pricked. He did not argue, however, and Yugi almost melted into the brilliant security the moment granted him. And he would have done so had it not been for the fact that Yami was not paying him any mind any longer. He did not want to press closer to the other wolf when there was a possibility he would not be prepared for it.

He didn't want to risk Yami turning on him and snapping his teeth in surprise or anger.

He looked away from him entirely now. His eyes fell back on Yusei as he and Yuya resumed their game of tag. Koroti was playing with Chazz now and Jack was sitting next to Carly watching the two of them. Rio and Shark were still playing referee and Mieru was no longer paying him any mind whatsoever, focused entirely on whatever it was in her thoughts. He relaxed, watching as Yusei drifted too close to Jack when dodging Yuya; Jack sprang at him and threw him straight into the snow. Chazz burst out laughing when Yusei hit the ground and Carly giggled as she wagged her tail rapidly at the sight. Yusei scrambled up immediately after, shaking himself out, and then lunged at Jack so that they both tumbled about with fake snarls.

Yugi?

His name was spoken so softly he almost missed it. Then he blinked, turning his head rapidly to pinpoint who might have spoken. At first he thought it might have been Mieru again, or possibly even Carly, but then his eyes locked on Yami. The black wolf was eyeing him with clear confusion and mild concern in his darkened gaze. What? What's wrong? he demanded, eyes wide. Had he said something he'd missed? He hoped Yami didn't think he was ignoring him in any way…

You've tensed up again. Why? Yami blinked and his head tilted almost intuitively in the direction of Yusei, the question clear in his eyes. Yugi shifted his weight awkwardly, and Yami blinked as he turned back. What upset you?

Yugi fell silent for a moment. Then he looked at Yami again, wondering for the briefest of moments about his rank as beta. Which wolves did he interact with the most? Which wolves had he bonded with more than the others? And which had he won over in his fight with Yubel? He knew the fight had been spread about within the camp. They'd all shared with one another, careful to avoid letting Yugi see. They'd all collectively chosen not to let him see the fight at any cost, it would seem.

Slifer gave me a list of twelve names, he finally said, turning away now.

Yami tilted his head. Of those to die soon? he inquired, though it sounded more like he was making a statement than truly asking a question. He was silent for a long handful of seconds before he turned his head to look at him sideways. He pricked his ears and looked at him curiously for a moment. Yusei was on that list.

Well, the problem is more that I don't know when they're going to all die. I just know that Slifer named those twelve wolves, he said quietly, shaking his head slowly. He shivered and looked away again, pricking his ears and focusing on the snow. She listed a few names of a couple of wolves that are already dead, but she listed Yusei among a couple of the others that are still alive. I thought when she originally said it that it would be in that order. I thought…

Yami blinked. You love him.

Yugi flinched at the declaration. Immediately he sprang at the idea of saying it was not in the same way. But he realized, looking at Yami, he had not meant it in a negative way. He had simply said it as a fact, meaning to acknowledge it but not challenge him with it. Yugi relaxed; Yami's eyes were calm and warm and patient and Yugi felt grateful for the understanding he offered. He's a like a little brother, he admitted, looking at him and wagging his tail. He struggled to find the words to continue, then tilted his head. I don't want to see him hurt or dead.

Yami nodded slightly, turning away again and looking at the yearling once more. Do you believe you can protect him?

Yugi shook his head. I don't know. And the worst part of the statement was that he had not tried as of yet. He was trying, more than anything, to just keep Yami safe and alive over everything else. Guilt flared through him at the thought. But Yugi could not find the words to speak to admit to such a feeling. And he had the feeling that Yami understood it far better than he could ever truly articulate. The words were regarded with a tilted head, red eyes locking with his briefly. I'm going to try if I can.

Yami nodded slightly. But if you do that, you'll be more upset than even if you didn't. He looked at him again. His eyes were almost cold when he turned back to him, staring. Because then you will have to put so much energy into saving him that it'll be more costly when you cannot save him. The disappointment in the situation and yourself would likely destroy you. So, why do you think to attempt to fight to save him when a deity has already proclaimed it impossible?

Yugi bristled, furious, and spun on him with a snarl. He pricked his ears forward, their eyes locked, and bore his teeth. So, I should keep from trying to help him because it'll disappoint me when it happens?

Yami flicked an ear dismissively. I did not say it to hurt you. I am simply pointing it out.

And if Slifer pointed it out to you that I was going to die soon, what would you do? Fail to try to stop it because it might cause disappointment for you later on?

What should it matter if she were to say that? Yami sneered back. He narrowed his eyes and bore his teeth. Honestly, Yugi? You are a Pure-Blood. We're known for being immortal and coming back from any wound, no matter how terrible.

Yugi bristled, unable to stop himself snapping, You're being a fucking dick again, Yami. The black wolf flinched at the words and flattened his ears; Yugi forced himself to swallow back his anger enough to continue in a slightly calmer voice. Yami hadn't meant to be so aggressive; his gums had been white with fear and his eyes were dilated slightly. The question had rattled him… We don't know if I can come back, remember? Slifer told you that. I've told you that. You can sense it. You knew ahead of time that maybe I would not come back.

Yami fell silent for a long minute. His eyes had turned from remorseful to sharp like gleaming daggers. And if you cannot? What happens should you try to save him and not yourself? What shall happen then, Yugi? You attempt to save him and you get yourself killed for it. Do you have any idea what might happen then? he asked, voice mild but growing spiteful as the seconds passed. What do you propose should happen then?

Yugi blinked. What?

You're willing to protect him, yes? But at what cost? Do you plan to get yourself killed in order to help him? Yami repeated himself, tilting his head and eyeing him coldly. Is that what you plan to do? Try to protect him at the cost of your own life?

He bore his teeth. What? No! I…I just don't want something to happen to him. Why are you…?

Yami snorted and looked away. You say that, but you've risked your life for me more times than I truly care to count. And, yet, you plan to tell me that you would not do the same for Yusei if you were given the chance? You said yourself that you are self-sacrificing rather than destructive. So, how am I not to expect something of that magnitude from you?

Yugi felt flushed, smaller than ever, as if Yami were looming over him and sneering at him about his various and rather abundant faults. The thought made his heart ache and his lungs squeeze tightly. He flattened his ears. I'm not… He bit back the defensive sneer that threatened to come forth, disbelief and shame crashing through him. Look, I'm not going to risk my life to save him.

Is that so? Yami said, his interest minimal. But he still tilted his head and considered him from his peripheral. His eyes narrowed and he watched him long and hard. Then he sighed and looked away. I'll watch for him. Hopefully I might be able to prolong it somewhat. If I'm here at the camp I'll try to remain close to him.

Yugi startled, then wagged his tail. But a sickening, rapid fear came through him as well. He faltered and froze and, to his horror, Yami turned to him with a bewildered and rapidly alarmed expression. Yugi locked eyes with him again, bristling and forcing his muscles to loosen.

Don't get hurt.

Yami blinked, startled.

His life…isn't worth yours.