AN: Enjoy. :')


Night Six: A Very Long Night.


Yami sighed softly through his nose as he leaned back in a throne that he did not want. Why did he even have to be here? What was the point of making him sit in an uncomfortable chair for hours, while trying to fight of the boredom that was driving him mad? He hated having to attend these pointless council meetings. The heads of the ten noble families only bickered about how to obtain more blood, whose offspring would marry who, and the current events happening to the humans. None of it pertained to Yami. He could care less about humans and marriages. Although, now he had to care somewhat thanks to his newly implanted pain in the ass.

Him having to claim Yugi as his feeder, was his own stupidity; no one else's.

Yami's face scrunched up in annoyance from that brief thought as his eyes flickered around the room, hoping to find something to distract him from the monotone voice of the current noble speaking and his agitating thoughts. His red eyes scan each of the Sacred Guardians. Mahaad appeared to be sleeping, propped up against one of the dark stone walls in the room with his eyes closed. Isis, Shada and Karim were alert and attentively listening to the nobles' useless words. Lastly, Ahknadin was staring rather harshly at the newest member to join the ten noble family heads; Seto Kaiba.

Yami allowed his own eyes to land on the young noble pureblood. No doubt Ahknadin was comparing this young male to his own son, High Priest Seth. Yami leaned back in his throne, crossing his right leg over his left knee. He had to actually try to keep the smirk off his face as he recalled the late priest.

Seth had been a man of many things; a priest, a son, a cousin, a rival, a friend, a guardian, a pharaoh and… a lover. He had been the one there for Yami when his lover had been lost. He was the one who assumed the role of Pharaoh for the humans so peace in the land could be kept while Yami, assumed the throne as king of the vampire race. Although, Yami could never accept the title of king himself, Everyone had quickly made the change from Atem to Yami, despite referring him to Prince and not King. Seth had been the only person who had treated Yami as he had, before Yami was forced to take up the role of leading a race.

The leader of vampires closed his crimson eyes as he he remembered the high priest he cherished so much.

Seth was the one who helped him rebuild himself, the one who help him pick up the pieces of his soul that had been shattered when his mate had been killed. He taught the uneducated Yami how to rule and gave him a purpose for living on. It took centuries for Seth to help build Yami back up to sanity and retain some of his old self, but he had done it regardless.

One would say Seth had the patience of a saint, but Yami knew for a fact the man could hardly wait for anyone or thing. Even to this day, it still confused Yami why Seth of all people, stayed with him through the many dark years following the fall of Pharaoh Atem. However, the vampire was grateful for having him by his side. If Seth hadn't have helped him out, Yami would have fallen to a rogue status and the kingdom would have lost a third king with in a single decade.

Yami shuttered physical when he thought about becoming a vampire of rogue status. They were nothing but beings who were driven mad by their own selfish desires, blood lust, and had lost their sense of mind. Creature that were given the nickname 'rogues' because of the way they had abandoned the path of sanity and morality. They didn't give a damn about who they killed or how, as long as they got what they wanted, which was most of the time blood. It was because of their selfish behavior and cruel ways, that the vampire kingdom had lost a great man and the true heir to the throne.

Once upon a time, High Priest Seth would have been the one sitting in the very throne Yami was in. However, that been a dream that died almost two decades ago when Seth was killed. It was a second time a precious life had been ended before its peak because of his own arrogance and naivety. Yami couldn't help but wonder if had Seth lived, who would have be sitting on this throne now. Would it have been himself, Seth, or could it have even possibly been Atem? The man that Seto Kaiba resembled so much, had been the one who had found Solomon Mutou and asked him to research the seal place on the Pharaoh. It had made Yami one step closer to the lost king and his chance or peace.

Opening his eyes, Yami's gaze was directed to a dark corner to his right. There he spotted the only two people who knew of his true pain; Bakura and Marik. Ironically those two had once been Atem's enemies back when he was pharaoh and ruler of two kingdoms. Now, they were his personal 'guard', in a way. When Yami wanted something done, those two were the ones to get it done without having to make a big 'event' of it. The prince couldn't list all the people he had those two assassinate for him. They were lethal killers and surprisingly, good friends. Although at the moment they didn't appear to be either of the two. Bakura was kicked by in a chair snoring rather loudly and drooling as he slept through the meeting and Marik, was clipping his toenails and flicking them at the sleeping Bakura.

Yami's lips puckered slightly as his face became un-amused. Marik was going to sweep the estate and Bakura was going to mop it, to compensate the mess they were making.

"Your Majesty, are planning on answering us anytime soon or are you to busy sleeping on the job?" The stern voice of a leader echoed in dark conference room. Red eyes flickered to the side, to see the priecing blue eyes of Seto Kabia glaring at him.

"You impudent brat! How dare you speak in such an improper way to speak to your king!" Ahknadin bellowed out in any angry voice at Seto Kaiba.

Yami merely rolled his at the two of them and smirked at Seto Kaiba as he straightened his posture. " Ahknadin your yelling isn't necessary and perhaps I was, Kaiba. I've found myself growing more… tiresome since I have took up a feeder. Now, what was I needing to answer?"

Whispers from the leaders of the ten noble families echoed around him as the head of the Tsukumo family stood up from his chair, and turned to face Yami while resting a hand on the dark oak table all the head were seated around. "My lord, many of us were wondering about the thief that your personal guard caught on the night of your birthday celebration. What happened to him and what had he tried to steal?" Kuzuma, the head of the noble Tsukumo family, asked the leader of the vampires in a stern voice that was unwavering.

Yami's smirk vanished as he became more serious as one of the noble families asked about the unfortunate event that occurred during the celebration of his birth. He didn't want to speak about the event, but he had no choice but to speak of that night.

"The human was sent by the Hunter Association, and had attempted to steal the Millennium Puzzle which had belonged to the former king, and is one of the seven items used to keep the power of an Original tamed. He was stopped and the millennium item was recovered, but due to the human's clumsiness, the puzzle unfortunately was shattered back into its original pieces," Yami looked stressed as he told the noble purebloods about the puzzle, but his voice was casual. He rested his right elbow on an arrest of his throne and held his head with his hand. "The human was apprihended and is currently waiting trial, and I will work on restoring the Millennium Puzzle to its normal state once the situation has stettled and the Gathering has passed." Yami added, he was already making mental preparations for the first round of questions and hope to have quelled some of the noble's questions.

"It was shattered?! What will happened to the power of the original that was sealed inside? Is that the reason there has been havoc and a sudden increase of rogue vampires?" Dartz, the head of the Ironheart family, asked angrily as he bolted up from his seat. "Do you realize how much danger our families are in because you had refused to bury that damned item along with its brethren, with the Pharaoh!?"

"Dartz, I suggest-"

"Lord Ironheart, none of us are in any danger from the Millennium Puzzle breaking, or any of the other Sacred Millennium Items," Arthur Hopkinz, the head of the Hopkinz family interrupt Yami, before the royal could raise his voice at the noble.

Yami kept quieth to let the elderly pureblood speak for him. Although he was more than cabaple of explaining the Millennium Puzzle's power himself, the prince could feel his anger starting effect his state of mind. Plus, Arthur rarely spoke during a meeting and Yami was interested in how he would explain the functions of the items.

"The Millennium Puzzle was simple an object that kept the Original's power in check, and kept the Original's mind sane from the shadows. It also uses the power it absorbs from the Original to fuel the other six Millennium Items which, the Sacred Guardians uses to protect our ruler and kingdom. When the puzzle is shattered, the power inside the item is distributed into the remaining six items or returns back to the Original vampire that constructed it. Therefore the item is of no danger to us, and nor did it cause the increase of rogue vampires. I suggest you pay better attention to these meeting so that would at least have basic knowledge such things, " Arthur snapped.

"And I am told by the mouth from an old man who lost his granddaughter to the hunters? I cannot fathom how your family is even allowed to take a part on the council, after that incident. You human-hugger."

"Dartz!" Yami bellowed out, anger thick in his voice. "If you do not stop speaking such vulgar words within my presence, I will have you thrown from this meeting! Do you understand me?"

The Prince angled his head upwards slightly, his crimson eyes burning bright with an angry blood red regal gaze. Yami watched as an evil aura surrounded him as Dartz looked away and mutterer a quiet "Yes, my king," before he took his seat.

"My prince," Yami blinked turning his attention towards Isis, struggling to compose himself despite his fury. "The Millennium Items we Sacred Guardians carry, have not received any additional power since the puzzle's breaking. It may be possible the former king could have inherited the power and could have-"

"Nonsense," Yami cut her off in low tone, lacking any trace of hope. He dismissed her words with a wave of his hand. "You have heard the daily reports from High Priest Ahknadin and your Millennium Necklace is unable to see a future for the previous king. The Pharaoh is either dead or close to it."

Yami turned his head away from the female vampire to avoid seeing her appalled face. He knew very well that the words out of his mouth would spark another huge debate, however, he was confident he would win that debate. Afterall, he always won in the end.

"Dead? Then there's no hope for reviving the king then?" The head of the Fudo family, Akari Fudo, questioned Yami over the loud chattering among her fellow noble household representatives. Her question cause an eerie silence to fall upon the dark conference room. The kind wife of the late Fudo family head, Yusei Fudo, had unintentionally place the burden of great stress upon her ruler's shoulders.

Yami felt his non-beating heart grow heavy as he tried to gather a logical thought to explain why he had uttered such words to one of his guardians, and in front of the noble families too. There was no way for him to take back those words, or to redeem himself. As he thought over his word choices silently, he could hear the whispers from the ten heads of the noble pureblood families.

"Is this why he suggested that he give up his claim to the throne?"

"No, this isn't true. We all know an original cannot be killed by a mere seal. Unless that human had done something to him before he…"

"Maybe he's dying of old age?"

"Originals do not die from old age. They're immortally young."

"But if Atem does die or is dead, doesn't that make Yami the next Original? He was the last person to consume Atem's blood and is his mate."

"Fool, Yami is no longer our Pharaoh's mate. He broke their bond when he shared a kiss with the late Priest Seth! It has been voided!"

"How do we even know that our beloved Pharaoh is dead? The only one who has seen his body since Lord Seth's death is Priest Ahknadin, Pharaoh Atem's uncle."

"And Yami has not either?"

"We banned him after the Mutou Family were discovered as members from the I.V.H.A. Do you not remember that you had casted your vote for that decision too, you old fool?"

"Enough of this senseless babling, let us hear Yami's reasoning for why he believes the Pharaoh to be dead, and if this is the reason why he wishes to abandon the throne."

Yami tried to avoid all the piercing glares from the ten members that made up the royal council. He kept his head low, looking down at his lap while his hands gripped the ends of his armrest with a grip as stronger than a viper's. How could he respond to them? How would explain his reasoning to them? His normally calm and composed self was starting to be chipped away by the haunting memories of both his pharaoh and his high priest.

Atem was his former mate who had saved him when his family had crumbled, gave him a home, and a future. Atem was also the first true friend he had; they had grew up together, fell in love with each other, and had almost died together. However, Seth had prevented Yami from trying to die after Atem was sealed away. Seth had gave Yami a reason to live on after Atem, a reason to move on and hope that Atem would come back to them. But Seth was also the one who had told him it was impossible for Atem to be revived, even when the Mutou family discovered a way to undo what had been done to the Pharaoh. He was the one who told him that the hope they had, was wasted because Atem could have easily undone the seal himself, despite what the Mutou researchers had said. Seth had been the one to tell him it was time to retire Atem and his legacy, to let Atem die the death he wanted.

"I was told that the Pharaoh wished for his death and there was no possible way to unseal the Pharaoh, by High Priest Seth not long before he had passed on," Yami spoke faintly, but confidently. Although he didn't say it loudly, all listening ears in the room were able to hear his words of admitted defeat. It was as if their wounded ruler had started to revert back to the coward he was right after Seth's death.

" Yami, Seth was not in his right of mind then. We all know this, even you," Mahaad spoke up, proving that he was not asleep. "Both you and I, were Pharaoh Atem's closest friends. We know Atem, the man behind the crown. He would never wish for such a thing with the blessed life he lived."

"What you call a blessing, was a curse to him," Yami growled lowly, lifting his face so his eyes filled with remorse and anger could glare into Mahaad's confident and calm grey ones.

"Only you see it as such, Yami. You think you were the only one who suffered greatly from Atem's sealing, but you weren't! How many times must I tell you this? Seth had lost a cousin, Ahknadin a nephew, the entire vampire race lost their king, friends lost their companion, you lost a lover, and I lost a brother! For two thousand, nine-hundred and twenty years, you acted like a wounded puppy and refused to let go of him and of what had happened. You were ruled by your emotion and neglected your duties as Atem's heir. When we –" Mahaad placed his left hand over his chest and gestured to his fellow guardians, "Were forced to move on directly afterwards. We had to keep our own suffering in the dark, while continuing our duties of serving the vampire kingdom and Kemet. We'ren't given the luxary of grieving for him!"

Yami did not look away from Mahaad instead, his glare intensified as the Egyptian priest continued his outburst. "We are faithful to you as our leader, but we are also faithful to Pharaoh Atem as our friend! You may think that he is dead simply because of Ahknadin's reports, Seth's words, and the loss of your human researchers; but you cannot tell us that our friend, our king is dead off of some silly reports and a dead end! Not until his flesh has rotted away and his bones have turned into ash!"

"What proof do you have that Atem is alive then!?" Yami snapped at Mahaad when the vampire had finished his scolding. Mahaad's words were like old news to Yami. For the past seventeen years he had been hearing the same thing, in similar versions, every time Atem was brought up. Yami had heard Mahaad's annoying speech so much, he couldn't stand hearing the former king's name being uttered from that man's mouth.

"You say I believe the words of false reports to make the conclusion my mate is dead, but you're wrong Mahaad," Yami stood from the throne he sat in so he could gaze at Mahaad in the eye without looking up at the male. "Atem's blood runs through my veins, have you forgotten that? Since the death of Seth, Atem's blood has been growing stronger within my body with each passing day That is all the proof I need to confirm the Pharaoh is knocking at death's door!"

Tension filled the conference room as Yami and Mahaad glared at each other. Stormy grey eyes battled silently with the fiery glare of crimson colored hues, hoping that perhaps Yami would might understand that the hope for Atem's revival was not a lost cause.

"Mahaad, I understand your feelings, but you do not feel the pain feel each passing day when my body burns with the blood from my former lover. It is a constant reminder that he is indeed dying! For the past week I've been feeling like my body has been tossed into Hell's eternal fire. It's a sign that, that fool's death is-"

Darkness. The conference room was cloaked in pure darkness and screams of surprise came from the ten noble purebloods.

"Don't panic! The power just went out," Shada's voice boomed loudly.

Yami's eyes blinked as he gazed around the darkened room. He could make out the faint outlines of the inhabitants of the room, but it wasn't the only thing he could make out in the darkness in the windowless room.

Unlike humans, vampires had better sight in the dark since originally they had been nocturnal creatures. It was one of the few reasons why Yami was able to see the angrily swirling dark matter slither along the walls and flooring of the conference room. The pureblood felt anxiety pulse through his body as he watched the black matter come closer and closer towards him.

Shadows. They were shadows.

"Prince, please call off the shadows. There's no need for them," Karim instructed Yami as the holder of the Millennium Scales tried to calm the noble purebloods.

'S-Shadows…? How? When? I didn't…' Yami's body was frozen in place. He hadn't called for the shadows and even as he tried to call them off, the black substance didn't vanish. He couldn't wield them to go away.

"Yami, call them off! Please!" Isis' frantic voice plead with the pureblood, but was of no use and the shadows began to creep towards table of noble pureblood vampires. The Prince was far too absorbed in his state of shock to acknowledge the plea.

The only vampires able to control the shadows were the Originals and those who had inherited their powers. The Originals were the direct decedents of the first vampire, the royal family. The Muran family had once had several Original vampires within its members, but throughout the early years of the vampires existence, they had decided to only allow two Original vampires at a time in the world, to exist. It had been a decision to keep a balance of peace among the vampire race and to prevent a divide within the race. The two Originals would rule together and maintain the peace and balance of the vampire kingdom, instead of it being overpowered by so many. The only Originals considered alive though, was himself and the former king. Atem, however, was sealed away and rendered powerless and was slowly dying. Therefore, the shadows should have been listening to him unless…unless…

"PRINCE, PLEASE! I BEG OF YOU!" Isis screamed at Yami while trying to fight off the shadows with her Millennium Necklace, much like the other living Sacred Guardians were doing with their own Millennium Items.

"Useless. It's useless, I can't control them," Yami's voice was faint and cracking with fear. He couldn't control them. He couldn't fight the shadows off, he was vulnerable and at their will. His body motionless as he struggled with the sudden lack of power.

"Yami, you're the only one who is able to control the shadows. You have to stop them!" Shada confirmed for the prince, hoping that Yami would call off the assault. The shadows were starting to overpower the Sacred Guardians.

The pureblood royal closed his eyes and tried to force the shadows to stop with all the power that Atem's blood allowed him to use. Shada was right, he was the only one who could stop this. The only one who could stop the assault of the dark matter and protect the noblemen of the ten noble pureblood houses.

When Yami reopened his crimson eyes, he could see his guardians all protecting the nobles in a corner of the room, along with his two assassins. He aimed his palm towards the group, silently asking the shadows to return to him. His command was ignored and answered with a violent hiss.

The Prince's eyes widened at the sinister sounds coming from the black matter. 'Rejection? They rejected me?'

Yami's narrowed his eyes at the blackness covering the entire room, but the areas surrounding him and the nobles. Determined to stop the darkness from consuming them all, Yami cursed to himself silently before biting the base of his thumb. The moment he tasted his own blood on the tip of his tongue, he withdrew his hand away from his mouth and aimed it at the shadows surrounding the guardians and nobles. "I order you to return to me at once!" He called out to the darkness.

The hisses of the shadows stopped, much to Yami's delight. Even more so when the darkness started to peel away from the other vampires in the conference room and slither towards their master.

'Blood. Blood of the master. Stolen blood of the true ruler. Return it to us!'

"What!?" Yami's barely had time to register what the shadows had hissed out loud, before the darkness that had once been creeping towards the nobles started to rush towards him at a rapid pace like a mass of angered snakes.

The pureblood wasn't given the chance to dodge the shadows' oncoming attack. The black matter had wrapped itself around his ankles by the time he tried to take his first step. Quickly, the shadows began to cover Yami's body. Consuming his legs, feet, torso and arms. The shadows felt like they were freezing his body. Although his body was burning with the overwhelming power from Atem's blood, the shadows did not soothe the internal flames. Instead, they cause the flames that burned Yami from the inside of his body, rage into a blazing inferno. The pain was so intense, that it actually had made the vampire gasp out like he was being suffocated as his breath was stolen from him.

"Prince!"


"Yami, what's with that face? You look like you ate a spoiled date again. Are you worried about something? Come on, out with it!"

That voice, the language…It couldn't be could it? No, there was no mistaking a voice with that type of concern and carefree tone. The definitely was Atem's voice from when he was younger. Back before their life had became a living Hell.

"Leave me alone, Atem. A prince shouldn't be concerned with someone like me."

"Oh? But it's a prince's duty to serve his people and you Yami of the Sennen coven, are a part of my people and you are my friend. Therefore, you are at the top of my list to help. So out with it before I make you tell me!"

Yami couldn't help but smile to himself at the fond memory. Although all he could see was a blinding light and was numb from the blazing fire inside his body, he could picture the events playing out in his own memories. It was a memory from when he had just started living with Atem in the royal house. They were both about the same age at the time, Atem only being two summers older than Yami. It was the day Yami had learned about his parents. What had truly happened to his small family.

"Is it true Atem? Is it true what the council and Pa'rah said about my mother and father?"

"…I'm not sure Yami, but if it is, you're not like them. You are warm, brave, kind, and noble"

Yami could still feel the warm hug Atem had given him for comfort. "You're definitely not like them, Yami."

The voice died away from his ears, although Yami could still hear the young voice from when he was a child along with Atem's faintly in his mind. The beauty from the dead language he used to speak and sometimes he still did with the Sacred Guardians, was still present. Even after years of neglect. His mind shuffled through the simple memories he shared with Atem when they were little. Silly pranks, stupid petty fights, Atem's crying face from being scared of the dark, his beautiful goofy smile, the false bravery he tried to show Yami when they got lost in the outer city of Theebes… it was all memories Yami had forgotten about through his years of grieving. They were his sweet blissful memories that contained his moments of true happiness.

It was memories of the great friend he had shared with Mahaad and many others.

Yami continued to listen to the soft voice from the long forgotten memories of the past he had created with Atem. Some of them were silly and cheerful, others sad or angry. All of them were precious to him and for the first time since Seth's death, Yami felt a sense of peace and happiness.

However, the warm fuzzy feeling he was enjoying ended quickly, when he heard Atem's voice that was deeper and more mature than the his higher-pitched childish voice. The words his former lover was speaking didn't make since and Yami couldn't place it to any of his memories. And from years of neglecting his native tongue, Yami had even forgotten some of the words his former lover was speaking.

"As crown prince, I accept your request my Pa'rah. My duty is to the people of my land and if I have to... I will….Even if it … Very well…I…"

The voice replying to Atem spoke gibberish, but in Yami's mind though he knew it was the commanding voice the late pharaoh prior to his lover, Atem's father. Yami closed his eyes to avoid from being blinded by the bright white light any longer, as he focused on Atem's and his father's conversation. He couldn't make sense of it and why could he hear their voices if he had no memories of being present for their talk. Just what was going on?

"Yami, I'm having to leave Theebes for a while. Will you wait for me? "

Yami felt something tug at his heartstrings when he heard Atem's deep voice and could understand it once more. He knew this moment better than the back of his own hand.

"Do you have to leave? When will you be back? The day of my birth is just-"

"Yami, I know. I won't be able to make it back in time for it. But, I'll bring you back a gift for each day I was gone to make up or it."

If his heart could beat, Yami knew it would be pounding harshly against his chest as he started to recall this moment from his memory. He could feel the heat of blush fresh on his cheeks, despite the burning pain in his body. It was a moment in his life he wished he could have avoid of ever living. Then perhaps, he wouldn't be living this damned life he was now.

"No! Gifts do not matter to me, not if you're not here with me. What is the point of celebrating my life if the person who matters the most to me, cannot even be by my side so we can enjoy it together!? I'd rather chance my life and risk death by traveling with you so we can be together on my day of birth!"

The pureblood bit his bottom lips and squeezed his eyes closed even tighter. He could still vividly remember both his own embarrassment and Atem's as the prince caught onto Yami's words.

"E-Eh?! Yami do you… does that mean…you like me?"

"NO! ...I...No Atem, I don't like you…I mean…I …I do like you… just… It's just… How can I enjoy myself when not everyone is here to celebrate with me?"

"So… you do like me?"

"I…I…"

"It's okay Yami, I like you too."

"Pr-Prince Atem…"

"Ah ah ah, what have I said about titles Yami?"

"Only to use them in front of the council, but you can't be serious. Can you? You're betrothed –"

" I like whoever I like, not some cow who gets picked for me just because they have the finest equipment for breeding. "

When the voice were no longer present in his ears, Yami could only wish that the memory in his mind would vanish from his focus. Confessing one's love to another had been one thing, but Atem himself took it a step forward and had forge the bond between themselves that night. They were stupid and young, but by gods was it the best birthday gift he had received, even though Yami regretted it.

The voices from his past came and went as he relived the many memories he had forged with Atem. It was starting to overwhelm Yami. It felt like he was just the normal seventeen year old from five thousand years ago. It made him wonder why he had given up on his mate, why he didn't wait on him, why he had moved on. Nothing he and Seth had was ever like what he had shared with Atem. So then, why had he –

"Yami, I want you to meet Heba."

Reality came crashing back to Yami, when the deep voice that belonged to Atem echoed around him.

'No. No. No. No! Not these, please don't make me remember this, please!' If the flame eating away at his body would have allowed him to move, Yami would have been pulling out his hair. Just from one simple innocent sentence, Yami's living nightmare was unleashed. His mind was flooded with memories of Atem, Heba, and himself together, Heba alone, and Heba and himself together. He wished Atem would have never introduced them. He wished Atem would have never saved that filthy human during the dark war!

As he battled with himself, Yami could faintly hear them. The last words Atem spoke to him: "Heba…is he…here? Yami… I love... –"

Those last words. That was what haunted him. Even at the end, Atem was wondering where that devil was. He never finished his sentence either. What was he going to say? That he had loved him? That he had loved Heba or perhaps, both of them? How could Atem love Heba, after the human put a dagger made of silver through his heart? Why was he wondering where he was? Why did he look so concerned in the end? Why? Why? Why? Why?!

" What's going on? My body….It…It won't move! …..Yami!? Damn…I can't see, just what in Ra's name is going on?!"

Fear and confusion. It was faint, but he could hear it in Atem's voice as it forced its way into his hearing. Never in the fourteen years he and Atem spent together, had he heard such a tone of voice being used when he spoke. Just what was going on around him?

"Yami is this a game? If so, I'm done playing it…Yami? Why won't you answer me? Can you not hear me? What about my emotions? Can you not feel them?"

Memories from after Atem's sealing, flashed in Yami's mind. The strange feelings he felt when nothing around him could cause them. The unexplained fear, anger, loneliness, chest pain, overwhelming sadness, tiredness, longing for someone's touch, and his uncontrollable mood swings. Had they all been…his doing? Were those Atem's feeling and not his own?

"What language are you learning? It's odd. …So it's the language your mother's family spoke? This Japanese…is a part of your native tongue?"

"Ew, you like that? Raw fish and rice? It's putrid. Nothing like the sweet meat of a lion."

"So you…we're staying here then? I still get my own bed. You'll still sleep with me at night, right?"

"This place, there's no scent. This bed feels like stone. Yami, are you coming to see me today?"

"What are you… Yami! Don't you dare! My Ieb*, do not let Seth break our bond! You must see through his deceiving ways! Yami! Please, I beg you, hear my voice just this once! Yami! YAMI-"

Yami lost all feeling in his body. Even the inferno he was cursed with, had died out. His mind continued to fill with the voice of his former mate. Questions, comments, demands, pleas, praises, and words of comfort. All had been death to his ears yet, had been spoken through their bond as mates. He wanted to believe so badly that this was Atem's true voice, that these words from their dead language were true. But... he couldn't believe them.

A part of his mind reminded him need to pull out of this. He needed to stop this silly dreaming, this silly wishing. A small portion of Yami's consciousness continued to stress this even as it screamed or him to just stay in this dream with his lost lover. But Yami knew he couldn't stay. These words were lies, fabricated by the shadows that had attacked dreams that tried to get him to hope and long for his dead lover. Evil nothingness that were just but a figment of his wishful imagination.

"Release me."

"Release me!"

"Release me, I must wake up, I must. Death will befall me if I do not."

He was pleading. Did that mean he was dying? Was Atem dying… or had he already died? The pureblood noticed the blinding light his eyelids was starting to fade away. This was all just…make believe. So of course not, Atem wasn't dying. He was already dead and finished suffering. Although he had told Isis that Atem was dying, and Seth had told him Atem had wished for death… he had never believed it himself. He just could bring himself to acknowledge the Pharaoh dying. He couldn't bare to think Atem was suffering still. That's why… he wanted to give up this throne. He couldn't lead his kingdom into a brighter future if he was still clinging to a false reality where his lover never suffered. He wanted out of his rule so much, he had even dragged Yugi into this mess.

The human had looked so much like Heba, Yami thought it was the traitor when he had first laid eyes on him. But through their small conversations during the school day and learning about him through Jonouchi, Yami was quick to conclude he wasn't him. That didn't mean the council would know the difference. None of them had been there to see Heba's true colors, only the Sacred Guardians. The noble only seen the detailed drawing of that sinister human and learned to hate him through the story that was passed down to them through their family and through Yami. At that time he made up a stupid plan to get thrown out of power by claiming Yugi, but look at what good it did. The council had applaud him for being able to claim a human with such similar looks!

"Thank you."

Thank you? What did that mean? Was that because he admitted his weakness to accept the reality of Atem suffering? Or had Atem finally been able to move on?

"Now then, have you realized your misdeeds Yami?"

Yami's eyes opened with a jolt. His surroundings were dark, unlike the bright light that once blinded him before. He could faintly hear someone calling out to him, trying to gain his attention but was failing miserably. The pureblood's mind was preoccupied with trying to figure out what miss deed he had performed.

What misdeeds had he done? He had loved Atem, and been upset with his loss of the man. He had help from Seth with recovery and even tried to save a few human lives along the way. He had even became close with others he used to have conflicts with in the past. He couldn't think of any major misdeeds he had committed in his life other than those that centered around Heba and the Mutou Family.

"You're blind. Could you not see the wrong in your actions? I allowed you to relive those memories for a reason, Yami. You betrayed me."

'Relived…betrayed…' The Prince searched his mind and memories for a point in time where he could have possibly betrayed someone. It would have been easier if the hissing of the shadows restraining him was silenced.

"It saddens me that you refuse to acknowledge the crime you have committed against me, and our shared disrespected us!"

'Refusal to acknowledge a crime?' The second after Yami relied the words in his mind, he was rewarded answer. The memories he shared with Atem became a reopened wound, along with the memories of himself allowing his mate's cousin to steal a kiss from him. The moment he remembered the kiss though, his lips began to burn as if acid had been poured on to them when they were chapped. Yami growled painful and closed his eyes as he tried to endure the pain.

Pain. He felt pain for kissing someone without the permission of his mate. He felt pain because he never was forgiven for his crime and had fracture the bond with his mate. His mate that had been sealed away and cut off from life. But Yami had never felt the pain when he had kissed Seth. Why was he feeling it now as the shadows hissed at him to remember the moment he and Seth had shared a deep connection? The was a beat of silence as everything clicked into place for Yami's mind.

Atem was free.

The missing magic, the out-of-control shadows, the voice yelling at him, the burning pain throughout his body... It was all of his doing! All of it was Atem's fault!

"You selfish asshole!"

"Oh? I'm a selfish asshole? That's quite amusing. Please, inform you Pha'rah why this is. "

As he started to regain his strength, Yami tried to force himself up off the ground. He managed to get to his feet before accepting an offering of help from a bronze colored slim hand. The pain from his lips disappeared, only to be replaced by his entire body combusting into an intense inferno. The sudden pain coursing through his his body, prevented Yami from giving the eerie voice his smartass retort. Instead the painful burning sensation actually forced a soft whimper of pain from the Prince. It was quiet, too soft for a human's hearing to pick up, but undeniably most of the vampire in the conference room with him was able to hear it. At the very least the Sacred Guardians had.

"Prince? What's happening?"

"My friend, what's wrong?"

"Are you ill?"

"Yami where are you hurting? I'll heal your injury just tell me where-"

"Enough, please just leave me be," Yami forced the words out of his mouth, not caring if he sound like he was in excruciating pain.

"But –" Isis began, but Yami raised his hand to silence her.

"Isis, this is not something that can be healed with your magic," He struggled to keep his voice strong and as possible as his crimson eyes glared at the swirling shadows in the room.

No, no amount of magic could heal this pain. Not unless a true Original were to extinguish the flames that were licking at his internal organs. Never had he given thought to him being on this side of Atem's anger. To think just having a simple kiss stolen from him, to have allowed himself to move on and commit one small sin with another, was able to make the pharaoh this pissed of. It was just stupid and petty. The dead being angry at the dead, Atem should be taking his anger out on his cousin not him.

"You allowed it to happen Yami. You fell for his tricks. It wasn't stolen, you gave it away."

'Enough. It doesn't matter anymore Atem, Seth is dead! ' Yami hiss in his mind at the former leader of the vampire race. His body trembled with pain as the flames started to use the blood flowing freely in his veins as fuel. These shadows were his mate's Ka* seeking revenge on him. They had to be. The way the Sacred Guardians were fawning of their ill prince was proof enough. Their ears were deaf to the angry voice of their former king, to the shadows.

"Hmph, dead eh? Who stole my kill from me then?"

The angry hissing of the shadows started to give way and Yami could identify some of Atem's true voice. Oddly enough it was making some of Yami anger towards the man ebb way. The voice was almost comforting even.

'Rouge vampires. He was killed by them,' Yami informed the shadows and closed his eyes. He couldn't take it much more; this silent suffering. He couldn't afford to let the leaders of every noble pureblood family see him cower in pain. He could never show them his weak side. Atem knew this too, but damn, why'd did he have to try to get him to break in front of the nobles. 'Are you going to kill me?'

"Tempting, but no. I plan on making you suffer for your ignorance. I'll make you submit and beg for forgiveness. I will reclaim my throne which you have stolen, in front of all and show them how weak you truly are. "

'I didn't take it from you – '

Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-

Yami quickly moved away from the Sacred Guardians stumbling as he backed away. His hands quickly went to his chest. His right hand digging into the flesh just above the area his heart was located in while his left one, tried to muff the deadly sound.

Ba-dum. Ba-dum...Ba-dum. Ba-dum... Ba-dum. Ba-dum.

"That...liar. H-He's … is trying to kill me."

His words were not rushed nor did he have a sense of panic in his tone he spoke. It was merely a statement of realization. Although it made sense to Yami, it confused the rest of the vampiress in the room. It caused panic for the Sacred Guardians. To hear such words escape from the Prince's mouth, was like observing his death. Even more so, when they had to witness Yami clawing at his own heart with his fingernails.

"Stop this madness Yami. No one is trying to kill you," Mahaad was the first to speak as he took ahold of Yami's hands and forced them away from the pureblood's chest. "If someone is, you need to tell us and stop making such a fuss in front of the nobles," He added in a hushed whisper.

"Hey Bakura, are watching this too? I think the Prince has lost it again. What do you think?" Marik's taunting voice asked his partner-in-crime as he leaned back in his chair and watched Yami's downfall with a sinister smile.

"Nah, he's not lost it yet. He's taking his sweet time with this one. Kingy wants to make em' suffer bad. Didn't you hear it?" Bakura added emphasis to the person of subject with the purpose of catching the attention of the nobles and the guardians.

"So that was his then? The Prince's heart?"Karim spoke with true shock in his voice.

" Mhmm, and what a beautiful sound it was. Oh? Will you listen to that, looks like Pharaoh decide playtime was over. He's even made it have a steady beat."

"Oh the sweet agony the prince must be in!" Marik kackled.

"What are you two idiots babbling over?" The cold tone of Seto Kaiba interrupted the taunting conversation the two assassins were having. His face showing no amusement nor any emotions other than announce. "If you two know what is going on here then please, enlighten us. Otherwise, quit your useless chatter."

Growling Bakura turned his head away, while Marik silent debated if it was worth killing the Kaiba family's head. Apparently it wasn't worth the energy.

"You fools have failed to notice these shadows, aren't controlled by Yami. If Yami couldn't tame them, then who else is the one person in this world who could?" The albino vampire leaned back in his chair and looked over his shoulder to watch the reactions from person to person.

Eyes varying all shapes, sizes and colors widened slowly as the realization slowly settled in.

"Impossible." Bakura frowned when it wasn't Seto's surprised voice that answered him back first. Instead it was Ahknadin, the Guardian who had been in charge of taking care of Atem.

"Oh? And why is that?" Marik question with a grin that could rival a demon's.

"He's dead! That child is dead. I killed him five years ago!" Ahknadin let his tongue slip and immediately, all eyes went to him. Even Yami's fearful crimson orbs.

"Opps, looks like the cat's out of the bag Bakura!"Marik said in an innocent joking tone as he smiled at the 'last' Muran.

Even through his pain and suffering Yami managed to conjure what little strength he could, to pull away from Mahaad's grip and aim his fierce angry glare at the eldest of the Sacred Guardians as stood on his own drentched in a sweat.

"You…You…Tried to kill him? Your own flesh and blood?!" His voice was one of disbelief as he bared his fangs. "Ahknadin!"

"So you didn't know of this? Interesting. "

There was soft chuckle from the voice of the shadows and with it, Yami's un-beating heart started to beat more pronounced until it was racing.

The pureblood dropped to his knees, unable to support himself as his heart thudded violent in its race. His vision blurred as he watched Atem's uncle run from the room. The fire within his body had slowly died away, but Yami's stomach was twisting into knots. The pureblood felt like if he even attempted to move any move his muscles, he would only collapse from the effort. With the sickening feeling in his stomach and his aching muscles, it wasn't hard to piece together Atem's motive for torturing him with this amount of shadow magic. The Original was forcing Yami to participate in a blood removal ritual.

"Now, give me back my blood!"

Yami, wasn't going to try and stop Atem as his heart started beat even faster and caused more pain to explode from his chest. Yami couldn't stop the Pharaoh even if wanted to, not this far into the removal process. And even if he could, he wouldn't.

Atem had allowed Yami to drink from him, just like he had allowed Atem to partake in his own blood on occasions. It had been a sign of their love for each other, but now that love had died with Atem. It only made sense that Yami gave back the blood that belong to Atem. But was it really necessary for the Original to take it from him in front of the nobles? That was a silly question he already knew the answer to. Of course it was, it would mark the end of Yami's rein and the resumption of Atem's, unless the other was blind to see there were others in the room.

The pureblood felt a sharp cramping pain in his lower abdomen that forced him to use both his hands and knees to support himself. He could feel the bile rising in his throat although, Yami knew it wasn't the gastric acid. It was something entirely different. He could already taste the sweet bitterness in his mouth. It was mixture of his own bitter blood and Atem's sweet and spicy elixir.

The vampire swallowed, hoping to keep the substance down for a little longer so he could get a few words out. "Marik, Bakura; I order you to capture Ahknadin and escort him to the prison cells. Alive. "

He watch the two smile at him happily then at each other, before running off. May the gods have mercy on Ahknadin's soul when Bakura and Marik had their way with the man. Though Yami knew they weren't going to spare the man. He'll just have to wait to give the man his punishment, when they would meet in Hell.

Just after Bakura and Mairk had vanished from his sight, Yami gagged and heaved as he choked on the blood that was being forced from his body. His crimson eyes became watery as a natural reaction from his dry heaving. The atmosphere around him grew colder as his skin became clammy. The nauseous feeling that overpowered his body and senses had caused all of Yami's thoughts about his 'image' to exit the building.

He didn't care if he would look weak. He didn't care if one of the ten leaders from the pureblood families looked down at him because of this. Sometimes even the strongest of men fall. He had seen Atem countless of times in his weakest moments, the same with Seth and some of the members within the Sacred Guardians. Yami was not expectation to this.

Yami felt his stomach give and unexpected lurch, the final push his body needed to vomit up the giant quantity of blood that was Atem's.

Sweat dripped from his forehead as he panted harshly in attempt to catch his breath, when the thick burgundy liquid finally had ceased to be regurgitated. The rapid pulsing of his undead heart slowed to a halt and allowed some of Yami bodily aches to ease away. After using one of his hands to wipe at his eyes, Yami watched as the blood he had just puked up along with the shadows in the room, started to evaporate. It disgusted him knowing that the blood he had just vomited was going to be possibly re-digested by Atem if the man was truly alive. His stomach gave another threatening lurch.

He hoped Atem wasn't going to drink that. If he did, that man's standards would have fallen even lower than a rogue's.A thought crossed his mind after he compared his former mate to a rogue vampire. Perhaps that was the reasoning behind this attack. It was very well possible Atem had lost his reasoning and had fallen to the demonic state.

"Prince!" The concerned voices of the Sacred Guardians and some nobles flooded Yami's eardrums. He leaned back, so he was sitting in a seiza* type style. He ran his left hand through his hair, pulling his bangs away from his face so he could enjoy the coolness that washed over his exhausted body. He made no protest as both Isis and Mahaad searched his body and Ba* for any wounds. Their cooling hands with heka* flowing freely from them, ebbed away his fever and slowly replenished his strength.

When the two were done, they both looked at him with questioning eyes, which Yami sighed softly at. He could feel the awaiting stares of the nobles glaring at him from all directions.

"Before you ask any questions –" Yami started before pausing to clear his throat. " I want to confirm something first. "

"Which is?" The head of the Yuki family asked in disapproving voice.

"I wish to see the late pharaoh's sealed body. Naturally, the ten nobles plus the guardians will accompany me." Yami replied with a calm voice, never lowering or raising his volume.

"Then let us take a vote," Arthur Hopkinz declared, "All in favor of letting Yami see Atem, say 'Aye'."

Out of ten nobles leaders, nine called out a soft "Aye", allowing Yami to go visit the body of the sealed king.

Yami sighed through his nose as he eased himself to stand on his feet. This was going to be a long evening. A very long evening.


Atem's mind was obviously somewhere else that much, was clear to Yugi. Had it been because of the seal's magic or if the vampire had gone into shock, the human couldn't pinpoint.

Yugi had noticed that as he helped the vampire walk along the dark streets of Domino City towards his home, Atem wasn't paying him even the slightest attention. It wasn't just now Yugi was noticing the absence of his companion's mind. He had come to that conclusion just before the former king of the vampires had asked him of his concealing stone.

Atem was acting very strange in Yugi's opinion, of course, he had no right to judge someone which he only knew stories and the sleeping form of. Still, Atem had taken his revival in stride, like he had predicted it or already knew what the world he wakening in to would be like. Perhaps now Atem was absorbing the world around and what had happened to him nearly three-thousand years ago. Maybe he hadn't noticed it at first, the fact that he had missed out on witnessing millenniums with his lover.

Yugi's violet eyes glance to the left, to the Pharaoh. Why did he even unseal this vampire in the first place? He had no connections to Atem that he knew of. He should have killed this man the moment he saw him, yet, he didn't. Instead, Yugi gave him his live back while risking his own. He was going to be a vampire hunter! Well he had been close to becoming one before…

Yugi shook his head not wanting to remember anything involving Yami biting or the letter which, was still crumbled up in his winter coat that Atem was now wearing. Yugi had resumed looking in the direction he was traveling when he remembered the bulk apparel item. He nearly left his coat there when he Atem was escaping and glad he didn't. The temperature had dropped and the wind had picked up a nasty chill. He doubted he could have found any winter clothing in the cluttered mess of offerings to the vampire, which was why Yugi was now freezing instead of Atem. Sometimes the human wondered if his selflessness traits were a curse instead of a blessing.

The human let out a sigh of relief when he spotted the familiar dim glow of the illuminating word 'GAME' above the entrance of his family's game shop. Just in time too, he thought his upper body was going to freeze. His yellow longsleeved shirt was doing little to trap in his body heat, however, his shoes and jogging pants were doing a fantastic job of it.

"Where are we?" Atem's deep voice raspy from years of neglect, questioned Yugi as the human forced his way and the vampire through the back entrance of the game shop.

"We're at my house. Where else could I take a half dead vampire?" Yugi replied in a casual tone as he released Atem, letting the vampire support himself as he closed and locked the door back.

"Your home…it looks –"

"Odd? Strange? Different?" Yugi finished for Atem with a smile as he towed the man towards the stairs that would lead the two up to living part of the home. Just as Yugi placed his foot on the first step, he paused in fear. How the heck was he supposed to explain this to his awaiting grandfather upstairs?

" Yes, but I was going to say like a shop of some sort. I've seen some like this in Yami's memories –"

"I'm doomed," Yugi interrupted Atem once more unknowingly as his body almost quivered with fear.

"Would you stop that?!" Atem snapped in an irritated tone. "Human have you forgotten that I am rightful ruler of the vampire race? I will be forced to punish you for your disrespecting ways if you do not stop interrupting my speech! Do you understand me, human?"

"I understand you, but…" Yugi trailed off fear thick in his voice, " Grandpa is going to put me through Hell for this."

"I will personally put you in Hell if that is what it will take to get you to respect my title, Human!"

"No, no, no, no, " Yugi turned to face the Pharaoh, not even trying to hide his fear. "You don't get it, Pharaoh. My grandpa he's…he's my guardian…my parent so to speak. Atem-I mean Pharaoh, imagine the worse punishment your father did to you when you were young and multiply that by ten." His distressed look seem to cause Atem joy from how he smirked, but it soon faded with Yugi's words.

"You're grandfather punishes you worse than ten lashes with a whip?"

"Possibly although, I haven't been spanked since I was thirteen," Yugi replied and shook his head. "However this, will warrant a more severe punishment."

"Like lashes on your chest and having to treat them yourself?" Atem tilted his head to his left in confusion.

"W-What!? No, oh God no. My grandpa would never do something like that! Not even to a vampire!" Yugi blurted out a little too loudly.

Atem narrowed his eyes and straightened his head to its normal angle. His bright fiery red eyes burned with unverbalized question as he watched Yugi. " You said 'possibly' earlier. Is not what being 'spanked' means?"

"No, that's when your hand makes contact with another person's rump. Why on Earth would you –" Yugi's hand collided with his forehead as he realized just exactly 'who' he was speaking with. A vampire from the ancient times.

"Never mind," The human sighed heavily, dreading his grandfather's reaction to when he came back with no Christmas presents and instead, the vampire king. He was so grounded.

Yugi started to climb the steps ascending towards his actual home. When he was half way up, he noticed the absence of footsteps behind him. Looking over his shoulder, Yugi spotted Atem standing still on the floor with one foot on the first step of the stairs. The vampire dawned an awaiting look, as if he expecting something for the human to say or do. The look itself was all the reminder Yugi needed before he was laughing to himself at his foolishness. He had forgten about the 'politeness' of vampires. Even when they were kings of dead civilization, the rule still applied. How funny.

"I'm sorry," Yugi had to muffle his silent snickering and try to hide his small quivering smile. "You can come in, Atem. Just try not to cause too much trouble."

Those simple words were all the vampire needed to beginning his ascending light steps up the stairs behind Yugi. "It is Pharaoh Atem, your majesty or my king, to you."

Yugi released another sigh and nodded his head. "Yes, yes. However Pharaoh," Yugi started pausing at the closed door at the top of the stairs. "You do realize you're no longer…" Yugi didn't finish. He didn't want to offend the royal pureblood when he was only trying to help the man out. Again he found himself questioning why he was doing that, but the question brushed off when the same calming feeling he had been practically begging for earlier in the night, washed over him.

"I'm aware, " Atem's voice was even and calm, not even a trace of any negative or positive emotion lingered in his tone. "You seem to know who I am so therefore, I expect you to still use my titles. Seeing how I know nothing of you other than you're a human who resembles a dead human and carries a stone created from my blood. By the way, " Atem narrowed those fierce eyes of his at Yugi. " Have you answered my question yet?"

So he really had been out of it earlier. "I did, but you didn't seem to be… paying attention at the time."

"I was –" Atem seem to cut himself off quickly before releasing a heavy sigh, along with some pent up tension.

"Correct, I wasn't paying attention. I was dealing with a problem, one that need my undivided attention the moment I was able to be released from my captivity. But what was your answer, Heb-Yugi?"

Yugi didn't question the vampire he explained himself, nor did he pay attention to the vampire's slight mistake concerning his name. "My reply earlier was that I wasn't aware that my concealing stone was created from you blood," Yugi used a hand to lift said gem off his neck and gaze down at it with a fond smile. I knew it was made from the blood of a vampire who wanted to protect a human, but I had no idea it was your blood. It's kind of ironic don't you think? "

Atem eyes seemed to glaze over, his fiery blood red eyes started to cool and dull into to a deep maroon. Yugi watched in bewilderment before Atem looked at him with an emotionless poker face that could rival Yami's. "It is, but that doesn't explain why you have it," The vampire pointed out in an uninteresting voice.

Yugi looked away, not wanting to explain a second time, but had no choice in the matter. "It…It came into my possession after my father died. It's an heirloom that's been passed down in my family for generations. Only the –"

"Yugi? Is that you? " The human groaned when his grandfather's voice spoke over his own. No use in trying to buy time now. "Hurry up, your dinner will go bad. Also, is that someone with you?"

The human teen winced and felt the prickling of fear claw its way back to the surface of his mind. He gave a look to the Pharaoh, a serious stare he normally only used when he went out on missions for the I.V.H.A. "Not a word, not until I explain myself."

He received a last nodded from Atem, "I shall be quiet then."

With an appreciating smile Yugi opened the door to the apartment above the Kame Game shop. " Yes Grandpa, it's me. I brought a friend home, I hope it isn't too much trouble."


Silence. Thick, heavy and complete silence that has lasted for the past hour with look that could kill.

His grandpa was pissed, beyond pissed. Yugi was scared to the point he thought he might wet himself, and Atem was…well he was being the calm and collective pharaoh he was brought up to be. Not showing announce of care, empathy or regret. Sad thing was, Yugi had known why too. This wasn't his problem it was the human's, he just had to sit back and watch the show.

None of this was in Yugi's favor and Atem staying true to his word and keeping quiet, wasn't going to get him anywhere. At least he had survived the worst of it or so, Yugi thought.

At first, Solomon was friendly welcoming Yugi and his 'friend' with a warmth and offered them food and comfort from the cold. The moment Solomon's darken version of Yugi's eyes landed on Atem's recovering frame, he had fell eerily quiet before the menacing look of the long dormant vampire hunter revealed itself. It was the first time Yugi had seen such a nasty and unexplainable expression on his grandfather's face. It was a look that was on most of the faces of killers when a murder was about to be committed out of anger. It had instantly made Yugi wished Atem had killed him, rather than confuse him for the dead Heba and acted like a newborn baby deer trying to walk.

Nothing had been said since his grandfather's greeting. Not even as he had silently beckoned his grandson and the oddly obedient observing vampire to follow him into the living room. Yugi knew his grandpa was waiting for him to explain himself, but the human couldn't vocalize his thoughts into words. Not with the death glare he was receiving from his only living relative and a deadly unstable vampire sitting next to him on the couch to his left. There was nothing to explain other than the 'why' he had done it and even Yugi himself, wasn't quite sure why he even had. Maybe it was some trait or desire he had adopted from his deceased parents.

"I hope you realize the situation you're in, the both of you," His grandfather's fierce voice finally spoke up, cutting the thick tension in the room with words and only bring birth to even more tension.

" I-I do Grandpa –"

"No you do not, young man," Solomon words caused Yugi to press back into the couch and cower away like a defenseless puppy. "If you had and knowledge of what your actions, you would have left that man underneath the Muran Estate. Did you even consider the consequences you and I would be forced with, Yugi Mutou? Because of ignorance and failure to listen to me when I TOLD you to not go near this man anymore, we could be facing our deaths! Not only have you force my well being into this mess of yours, you have also put Jonouchi's, Mailk's, Ryou's and Atem's lives on the line. Are you aware what is going to happen when Yami finds out that you released Atem and brought him here? No better yet, the I.V.H.A.?"

Yugi kept silent, letting the words of his grandfather sink in as he curled his fist in his lap and looked at them with a regretful gaze.

"Muran Estate? What place is that? Why does it hold the name of my coven?"

"I will answer your questions later, Pharaoh. For now, please remain quiet while I enlighten you and my disobedient grandson on our current situation," Solomon's voice lost some of its edge when he spoke to Atem.

"Very well," Yugi looked up to see Atem wearing an uninteresting look on his face as he crossed his left leg over his right knee and his arms were folded over his chest. "Continue with you lecture, Solomon."

Yugi wasn't sure how to react to the fact that Atem knew his grandfather's name without an introduction. Then again, Yugi didn't know who or even why his grandfather knew about Atem. Maybe it had to do with some about when he heard his voice when he had released Atem from his seal.

"Disregarding that brief interruption, do you not realize that we now have to hide the Pharaoh away until the seal has worn off? That time varies for each vampire, you know this Yugi. The association had trained you well, you just fail to apply that knowledge to the situations in your life."

"I forgot about the relapse time until after I pulled the dagger out, Grandpa." Yugi tried to defend, however, it only made his sound guiltier.

"I don't care Yugi, " His grandfather firmly stated. "The fact still remains. We now have to hide this fool in our home for what could be hours, days, months and even perhaps, years. I could just have him tossed out onto the streets for the fresh pickings of any patrolling vampire or hunter, but," Yugi heard his grandfather sigh through his nose followed by a short pause. "If the fool goes out and gets himself killed before Yami has even seen his face, then you releasing him was in vain. Someone needs to clear up the boy's mind."

"Excuse me?" Atem spoke up, his dark maroon eyes glaring at Solomon as if the elder had offended him. "I am not Yami's caretaker, " The pharaoh stressed sounding annoyed. "He clearly can handle himself and make decisions on his own. Regardless of anyone's reasoning. Mine included."

"I never implied you were his caretaker. The prince is a grown man, he can take of himself. After all, he is a fully developed vampire unlike some," Yugi immediately picked up on his grandfather's taunting. The same taunting the old man did when he first had learned his grandson had lost his virginity last year.

"Grandpa I don't think –"

"Do not speak of that so lightly," Atem's voice was dark and commanding, it was a voice of a commanding general better yet, a Pharaoh. "You may have been a man to help weaken my seal, but your discoveries from it should be kept silent. Not even Yami knows of some of the things you discovered in your research," Yugi watched as Atem's cool composure slowly started to crumble underneath his fake regal mask. The man's fist coiled tightly then released over and over again. His eyes were calculating as if there was a way out of this situation or how to turn it back into his favor. "I was young, reckless, and paranoid back then, but I do not need the world to know that. It would be wise if you would just be silent on that subject."

"So you are planning on succeeding your father," Solomon stated, not questioned as he stood up from his seat on the couch in front of Atem and Yugi. The elderly man folded his hands behind his back. "When do you plan on accepting your title as the true Original?"

Yugi's heart skipped a beat when he heard the words spill out of his grandfather's mouth. An Original, a vampire that is directly related to the first vampire born into the world. The leech of all leeches, the king of all monsters; a true demon from the deepest pits of Hell.

The human teenager scooted to the far side of the couch, away from his tan doppelganger. He really did awaken a monster and unshackle it from its binds. Any negative repercussions from Atem's actions were now going to be sins Yugi had to bare. How many lives were going to be lost because of his act of selflessness? How many lives were going to be up rooted because he pitied a vampire?

Tears of terror prickled in Yugi's eyes. He was going to be a murderer. He, a failed excuse of a vampire hunter, was going to be the reason of so much bloodshed and hatred.

A sniffle from Yugi was all that was need to draw the unwanted attention of both Atem and his grandfather. The human teen could only simply stare at Atem with his amethyst eyes in pure fear. His voice refused to work the way he wanted it. His body was shaking instead of moving to cover his face and tears, no matter how much he tried to keep them from appearing, they kept falling and streaming over his cheeks in warm rivers.

"Yugi, what is wrong with you?" Solomon's worried voice asked calmly as he moved to his grandchild's side and tried to comfort him. When he reach his tender loving wrinkled hand out towards Yugi, the boy flinched away to avoid the touch.

" Monster…I-I …I-I've unle-leashed a…a…"

"Monster," Atem finished Yugi's stuttering and choked up mess of a sentence with one calm word. When Yugi looked at Atem, really looked at him, he notice his features had soften and made the man almost look sympathetic and apologetic. "Yes Yugi, you unleashed a monster into this world. But what truly makes me this monster you speak of?" Yugi's eyes never left Atem's form as the vampire's face turned away to look down at his own hands. "Is it my fangs? Is it the blood that runs in my veins? Is it my desire to protect my mate from any more pain? Is it my desire to protect my people? Or is it my image? Does the appearance of a Pharaoh scare humans that badly? Enough to cast away all morals to send me out of this world, even if it meant taking their own life and a life of a loved one? Humans…your kind is such a 'funny' race."

Atem's words had been soft, a drastic change to his and his Grandfather's sharp words to each other. Slowly Yugi began to calm down and as he did, he could catch the traces of the helpless and loneliness feeling from when he went to visit the vampire. When his body stopped shaking, Yugi felt his grandfather pull him into a warm embrace, something he hadn't done since Yugi's parents had died.

"Yugi, my grandchild, you didn't unleash a monster. The pharaoh… He's gentle towards our kind. You've read about him. He also hasn't come of age as a vampire as of yet, am I right Atem?" Yugi's Grandfather's kind voice was soft again, it was normal.

Atem looked away shyly as if the old man had complimented him too much. " Gentle is not… the word I prefer to be use for describing me. I was just maintaining the peace my father had wished for between the two races. And… I have now, but until the seal's heka* has worn away, I'm unable to become a 'mature' vampire. "

Fear still linger in his being, but Yugi did open up to the vampire who also appeared to be hurting. The human sniffed again, wiping his face free from his tears and any stray mucus drooling from his nose. "So you haven't lost your baby fangs, yet?"

Yugi heard his grandfather's rusty warm laughter in his ear and his own soft giggles started up when Atem turned to face him, eyes wide and a read face to match them. "S-S-Shimon said it was different for everyone! It has been a very long time since I've properly fed from a human and I only did it twice in my lifetime before I was sealed! So I haven't had the chance to lose them!"

Yugi's giggles turned into full blown laughs at the sight of the most powerful vampire being embarrassed. It made him wish to forget Atem was the cruel creature he was.

"It's okay Pharaoh," Yugi's grandfather started off. "The females in this era fawn over men with small fangs."

"S-Stop that! It is not funny," The original vampire ordered, not liking the playful taunting, his face a bright shade of red like his vivid eyes.

"Okay, Pharaoh," Yugi said once he had calmed his laughter and wiggled out of his grandfather's arms.

His purple hues were joyful though his fear was still present but as the landed on the black bulky winter jacket Atem wore, he began to wonder why the Pharaoh hadn't taken the jacket that was obviously too small for him, off.

"Aren't you going to take the coat off?" Yugi asked as he slid closer to Atem by just a hair. "It's warm in the house, you don't need to give yourself a heat stroke."

"I was raised in a desert and lived every day under the watchful eyes of Ra. A piece of clothing isn't going to give me a heatstroke. Also, I'd rather not disturb you with the sight of my rotting flesh healing," Atem replied bluntly as he hugged the jacket tighter around himself. "I'm doing my best to hide the stench of it so no 'unwanted' guests will appear on your doorstep."

Yugi gave a nod to Atem and a bright smile. "Okay then," The human respected the fact the vampire before him was trying not to scare him or his grandfather. However, Yugi wished his grandpa would have too.

"You have a wound from that seal? Than that just won't do," Solomon spoke up, disapproving Atem's method of healing. "We're going to treat it so it can heal properly and maybe, you'll be lucky if it doesn't scar. Letting it heal up after years of sitting and rotting isn't the brightest idea. It'll get infected, if it isn't already, " The old man lectured the former king before grabbing his wrist and pulling him off the couch. "You're getting a proper bath, disinfectant and wound dressing. It won't take long."

Yugi watched as Atem followed behind his grandfather like a lost duckling. It was odd seeing the man who ruled over a race and a nation be pushed around and not even retaliate. Maybe the king was just too tired to fight back.

Yugi pushed himself off the couch and headed towards the kitchen to warm up his dinner. Just as he stuck the plate of food his grandpa had fixed him to nuke it, their house phone began to ring.

'I wonder who that could be. Probably Jou with a question about his homework.' Without hesitating Yugi went to the answer the wireless phone stationed in the living room. Just as the phone was on the third ring, he picked it up and pressed it to his ear to greet whomever was on the opposite end.

"Hello?"

"Yugi, I see you made it home from school without a problem," Yugi drew in a sharp breath. It was Yami's low voice echoing in his ears although, compared to Atem's he sounded nothing more than a child pretending to be an adult.

"Yes I did. Why are you calling this late?" The human casually asked. Although Yugi silently questioned how the vampire had even received his home phone number.

" I need to feed from you. Be free tomorrow evening."

"Yami, I have plans tomorrow, " Yugi quickly blabbered out, the painful memory from the last time Yami bit him was scorched into his mind. He didn't want to suffer it a second time. "Can you schedule it later?"

"Cancel them. I don't want you going out alone."

"Who said I was going alone?" Yugi snappily replied, not like how Yami was trying to seize control of his life.

"I know for a fact you're not going with any of your friends, Human. Bakura and Marik have both their feeders on lock down and Jonouchi will be with Seto doing a task for me."

"I'm going with…" Yugi trailed off. Damn, who was there to tell Yami that he was going without being caught in a lie.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT STUFF? GET THAT AWAY FROM ME –" CRASH!

"Yugi what's going on? Are you safe?" Yami's tone almost sounded concerned rather than panicked. Almost.

"I DO NOT CARE SOLOMON. IT BURNS WORSE THAN HELL'S FLAMES!" Ah. So his grandfather had introduced the glory of rubbing alcohol to their guest.

"Yugi, I'm coming over –"

"No, no. It's fine, my cousin is just trying to get away from my grandpa," Yugi laughed nervously, trying to make an excuse for the loud background noise. "Like I was saying, I'm going out tomorrow with my cousin and Christmas shopping. We've had this planned an I'm not –" Yugi winced and paused as another crash from upstairs interrupted him, " Not going to cancel my plans."

"It's not safe. There's…" Yami seemed reluctant to tell him something.

"There's? " Yugi repeated before checking his phone in case the I.V.H.A. sent out a warning about any rogues. Nothing.

Silence, there was shuffling on the other side of the phone line. "Yami?" Yugi called out slightly, thinking the vampire had hung up on him.

"It's Isis, Yugi," The familiar female voice came drifting over the phone line.

"Oh, hello –"

"I'm only saying this because it is for the Prince, but Yugi, tomorrow you need to come feed him when you get the chance. He's very low on his own blood and needs the nutrients."

Yugi blinked confused. 'He's low on blood?' "Okay I understand, but… what happened to him?"

Again silence was his answer before Isis sighed. "He was attacked. That's all I can tell you. We will speak more about it tomorrow. Good evening." – Click!

"Ah wai– She hung up…" Yugi pouted slightly, before placing the phone down and went to grab his food from the warm microwave.

"Come back here you dirty vampire! Your wounds need to be cleaned!"

"No! You're crazy! Get away from me, your Pharaoh orders you!"

The teenaged human sighed as he sat down at the dining table with his food and began to eat. The chaos upstairs was still going on by the time he had finished and cleaned his dishes.

"This is going to be a long night. A very long night," Yugi grumbled before heading upstairs to try and end his grandfather's and Atem's roughhousing before one of them ended up getting hurt.


An: One hell of a chapter. I had to cut it some, so the ending is a bit awkward. It went from 19,000 words to 14,000. I added the part I cut to the next chapter. It just semed to flow better there.

Sorry that I procrastinated on this update. Christmas time is a busy time for me.

Next chapter is a very fun one, and it's one of my favorites in part one of the story. =w=

Thank you for the lovely reviews. They are beautiful Also the favorites and follows make my happy too.

Please continue to R&R :')

Edited on: OCT. 20, 2016.


Kemet: Ancient Egypt.

Ibe; Ancient Egyptian for heart, the Egyptians believed that life revolved around the heart.

Heka; Ancient Egyptian for Magic.