Yugi was sitting on the bed. It had been a pleasant three weeks...mostly. He had enjoyed his time with Yami, falling more in love with him the more they got to know each other. His soul was filled, but the love still grew and deepened daily. But...there was still a nagging little part of Yugi's soul that wasn't at peace. He felt horrible over leaving Atem. He wanted...no needed to make sure Atem was okay. Hearing a noise, he got up, quietly and went to the door. He saw a strange man holding ... Akeifa? Last he heard, Akeifa, Bakura, and Ryou were living with Zorc...so why Akeifa was here concerned hi...wait...was that Bakura and Ryou too? And Marik and Malik? Yugi tilted his head in confusion.

Yami walked in. "Yugi?" He called out quietly. Yugi sighed in relief and walked out. Confusion was on his face as he looked at the motley crew in the living area. Seeing Ryou, he grinned and ran, hugging him. Looking worriedly at Akeifa, he led them into the spare room.

"Lay him on the bed." Yugi commanded. The strange blonde looked at Yami, who nodded, and then the blonde begrudgingly did so. Yugi walked over to the bed, laying his hands on Akeifa as he started to chant, eyes closed. A light purple glow came from his hands, as Akeifa's wounds started healing. Yugi's wings unfolded, to the shocked surprise of everyone in the room except Yami. Moaning in pain, Akeifa writhed a bit. Jonouchi stared, hands balled in fists, but not able to do anything. He had no healing abilities. Besides, he knew Akeifa was being healed since it was an angel.

After a bit, Yugi stood. Turning to the rest, he smiled. "He's healed, but he will be sleeping for awhile. Why don't we go in the kitchen so you can explain what happened?"

Ryou looked at Yugi, smiling tentatively as Malik hung over Ryou. "Uh, yes...and perhaps you can shed some light as well?"

Yugi grinned and nodded. As he started to go into the kitchen, he pulled Yami aside. "Who is the blonde that was carrying Akeifa?"

Yami leaned down in Yugi's ear. "That's Jonouchi...he's the Elders servant. If he's down here, no good can come of it. He's not bad per se, but the Elders usually throw him into the mix when something bad is going to happen. He is a good guy. I'll explain more later. Trust me, he's not the reason anything bad will happen." Looking up at Yami skeptically, Yugi nodded and went on in the kitchen and started pulling out cups and putting water on to boil. "Why don't you all start?" Yugi suggested. Yami walked up behind him, wrapping an arm around Yugi's waist, kissing his neck. Yami then went and pulled out tea leaves, cocoa powder, and sugar.

"Well, ermm..." Ryou looked around as everyone, with the exception of Yugi and Yami, was looking at him. "Well, we've been living with Zorc...I don't really remember why, but he and Akeifa became an item, and then Bakura and I went to live with him at Zorc's. That's why I disappeared and was unable to hang out with you and Marik. We've been living with him ever since...well, at least until tonight." Malik pulled up a chair, flipping in backwards, putting his head on Ryou's left shoulder, arms around Ryou's shoulders.

Yugi turned around, bringing the hot water over, as Yami brought the cups. Yugi went and got the tea leaves and cocoa powder, as Yami got the sugar and picked up some honey. Setting them down while he served them, Yugi smiled. He remembered that Ryou had the biggest crush on Malik, so it made his heart happy to see Ryou with his crush, even if Malik was a bit...unstable. He was unstable in a I'll-cut-anyone-who-hurts-mine kind of way, as well as slightly obsessive. Yugi didn't know how long Malik and Ryou had been together, but it could be days or years with Malik.

Setting down the cups in front of Marik and Bakura, Yugi just shook his head. He had no thoughts on this one. Marik was sweet, but Bakura was...not so sweet. Ryou looked at Yugi as Bakura grunted, "Thanks, Shrimp. Now, what the fuck is up with you, the wings, and the fact that you are not fucking the Pharaoh?" Ryou winced as Yami stiffened.

Yugi sighed. Well, the Bakura he knew hadn't changed. "Long story short...Yami and I are two halves of 1 soul...I'm the angel, he's the demon. I...I left 'Te...Atem because my soul was craving it's other half...the dark side to my light." Yami came over, rubbing Yugi's arms.

"Speaking of Atem, I have to go meet him. He finally granted me an audience with one other person." Yami stated matter of factly. Yugi stiffened slightly.

"I want to go with you."

Yami looked down at Yugi. "I don't know if that is the best idea, Yugi."

Yugi's mouth set in a determined line. "I don't care." Yami nodded.

Turning to the group, Yugi looked at them. "You all stay here, and stay out of sight for the time being while we go deal with this. We'll be back as soon as we can." Stepping out of the room, Yugi came back in a few minutes with a shirt on, covering his wings. Looking to Yami, they headed out.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Approaching the palace, Yami turned to Yugi. "You can still go back now if you want."

Yugi glared lightly at Yami. "No."

Yami nodded, turning to face the palace. Walking in, guards on alert, Yami had never felt more out of place...and Yami didn't usually feel out of place. Folding in his wings respectfully, he and Yugi were escorted into the throne room. Immediately, Yami went to one knee bowing as he saw Atem sitting on the throne, Seto standing next to Atem in his formal priest robes. Yugi bowed as well.

Seto looked to Atem. Atem's knuckles were white, gripping his throne. "Speak." Atem barked. He couldn't say much else. He wasn't expecting to see Yugi. His throat was tight. His eyes were on Yugi.

Looking up, Yugi saw the pain in Atem's eyes, and the hatred in Seto's. Gulping, he looked back down.

Yami looked up, standing. "Did I tell you to stand?" Atem sneered imperiously. Yami bit down a retort and kneeled down. Yugi looked up, frowning slightly.

Facing the ground, Yami bristled. "I have a plan to defeat ... "

"Did I tell you to speak?" Atem bristled.

Yami looked up, eyes glaring daggers. As he opened his mouth, Yugi stepped forward. "Atem, you said to speak. If you were telling me to speak, you should have been clearer, as there are three other people in this room that you could have been ordering to speak."

Atem turned ice cold violet eyes to his former lover. "Beautiful. Standing up for your lover. How noble." He spat the last word.

Yugi sighed. "I know I hurt you. I am sorry for that. But this is no one's fault but mine. If you want to take out your vengeance, take it out on me. Yami was following his master's orders, just as you would expect Seto to follow yours. But Yami is here now, at great personal risk, to try to offer a truce and help you take down Zorc. So, Atem...either listen to him or we can leave. In any event, stop being a dick to Yami."

Seto stepped forward. "You insolent..." Atem held up a hand, silencing Seto.

"Oh, so now you can take the moral highroad, after fucking the demon willingly behind my back while I stayed faithful to you?" Atem sneered. "That's rich, Yugi. You know, you once told me you would never hurt me...yet here you stand, admitting that you did. How noble of you."

Yugi stood up, tall and proud. Looking at Atem, quietly, he sighed. "You said the same thing. But then you made a deal with the devil and shared me."

The silence was deafening. Seto gripped his staff so hard his hand was white. Atem just swallowed, staring at Yugi, who held the gaze. Yami kept his head down.

Standing, Atem stepped off the throne with a "Seto, discuss this with them and set up the arrangements." as he left the room.