Chapter 13- Where do I belong?

Yugi sat on his bed, his back pressed against the wall. His knees were drawn up in a tight hug against his chest. He starred into space as he sub-consciously recalled the events of the past...few days? It had seemed like an eternity that he had been there, though he wasn't sure. Yugi sighed deeply and looked at his arms, once covered in cuts, were now covered in bandages. Yugi furrowed his brow and remembered the strange encounter with Irakih.

Flashback

Yugi lie still on the cold floor, chains still wrapped tightly around every limb. His empty eyes starring at the door emotionlessly. Blood smeared the walls, marking his attempts to get away from the beasts that had been attacking him. Now he just didn't seem to care. Yami wasn't coming back and he was going to spend the rest of his days with an abusive replacement.

Suddenly the door cracked open. Irakih's eyes scrutinized him carefully. He poked his head in and gazed over his bloodied body. Yugi thought he may have saw him shudder but refused to look at him. He kept his eyes on the crack in the opposite wall, letting his breathing come in rough gasps as they had all night.

"Yugi?" that calm, almost concerned voice floated around him. When Yugi made no move, Irakih sighed and opened the door fully, allowing himself entry. "Yugi?" He walked over to the broken body and knelt on his knees. Carefully he flipped Yugi's frail form to his back. When Yugi still refused to meet his gaze he spoke. "Please talk to me."

The soft command made Yugi meet those blood red eyes. The words that Irakih spoke with seemed to be filled with concern and desperation. Yugi frowned slightly and tried to get up. A broken rib ripped his attempt away from him and he once again fell limp in Irakih's arms.

Another sigh. "I know I was...hard on you to say the least. But you must realize that I do care for you deeply. I always have." He whispered as he stroked Yugi's cheek lovingly. When the teen moved his head from his reach Irakih dropped his hand, a scowl written on his face. Yugi flinch, expecting to be hit. When nothing came he opened his eyes and looked up at Irakih. His gaze met a smile. "I'm sorry."

Yugi was confused. Sorry?

Irakih quickly released his new companion from his chain like prison and picked him up bridal style. Yugi was too weak and confused to fight back. Irakih took the younger one out of the dark room and back onto the bed set in the corner of the lite room. The smell of lavender drifted around them. Yugi was relieved to be on a soft surface and sighed comfortably when Irakih set him down carefully on the fluffy surface. Irakih lay next to the hikari and smiled sweetly. "Comfy?"

Yugi nodded timidly.

Irakih grabbed the blanket and at the end of the bed but then frowned. He studied the teen for the longest time, making Yugi blush under those judging eyes. "I can't let you sleep like this." He stated simply and left to the room next door. Yugi heard the sound of metal squeaking and...running water? Yugi tried to turn his head but his vision was obscured by the wall. Irakih returned several moments later. He picked Yugi up again and carried him to the room. "Easy now."

Yugi gazed around the room, shocked at what he saw. Again, more lavender scented candles but this time, hot water was running out of a spicate in the wall. Yugi frowned slightly as Irakih set him down next to the warm bath being drawn.

"I may not have complete control over you but I can control what goes on in your mind." Irakih tried to explain but it only seemed to make Yugi more confused. Irakih smiled...gently? "Okay, lets get these off of you." A hand went and started unbuttoning his shirt. Yugi let out a whimper and squirmed away. Irakih took a shaky breath. "I trying to get you cleaned up. I don't think that you will be able to take these clothes off. Allow me." He tried once again but Yugi again shrank away. Irakih was losing patience.

He forced Yugi to lay down by straddling his hips and clasping both hands above his head with one hand. Yugi growled slightly at the abrupt position he was put in. He whimpered. "..s-stop." he begged but Irakih paid no heed. He ripped off Yugi's shirt and threw it to the side. Yugi closed his eyes and looked away, ashamed of what was happening to him. Irakih's hands traveled to his pants and jerked them down his slender hips roughly. Next came the boxers and before Yugi knew it, he was completely naked.

Irakih took one sweep over the bloodied innocent body before he looked away. He gently placed the unsuspecting boy into the warm water below. Yugi hissed slightly as the warm water took away the cold and soreness his body had experienced. Yugi turned quickly to Irakih who gave him an exasperated look. "I told you. I'm just trying to clean you up." Irakih stated innocently. "I don't expect you to sleep covered in your own blood. I may be a bad-ass but I'm not that cruel."

Yugi gulped slightly before allowing his body to be driven into the warmth of the bath. Yugi closed his eyes, letting the warmth break away the stress he had been experiencing. That was until Irakih grabbed one of his arms and lifted it out of the bath. Irakih grabbed the soap that had suddenly appeared in his hand. Yugi shivered as Irakih moved the soap up and down his arm, making sure that the crusted blood was all gone. He placed Yugi's arm back down in the bath before grabbing the other arm, lathering it quickly.

Yugi watched him curiously. Surprised how Irakih was treating him. Not like his slave but like a companion. Yugi's eyes widened as Irakih went...lower to clean his entire body. Yugi shrunk away but yelped at the pain of his broken rib. Irakih sighed heavily. "Come here." he demanded and when Yugi didn't move he grabbed his arm harshly and jerked him towards him. Yugi was about to tell him to let him go when Irakih moved his hand over Yugi's broken rib. Deciding it was probably better for him if he said nothing Yugi remained silent.

Irakih closed his eyes, allowing magic to flow through him into his hand. Yugi let out a gasp as the pain in his chest suddenly disappeared. Yugi sighed slightly as he examined his chest and moved around slightly. No pain.

"S-see?" Irakih panted, out of breath from using magic. "I'm only trying to help you." Irakih continued to clean Yugi's body and this time Yugi didn't resist. He watched Irakih intently, confused at Irakih's bipolarness.

"...are you hurt?" Yugi whispered as Irakih carefully scrubbed his leg. Irakih looked up at him and shook his head. "Wh-what's wrong then?" Yugi asked again, trying to start some kind of conversation.

Irakih looked up at Yugi, his eyes softened like Yami's would when under Yugi's gaze. "I am already using a lot of magic to control your body. Healing takes a lot more energy than it may seem." Irakih gave a fake smile and continued to clean Yugi's wounded throughly.

Yugi watched him for some time before commenting. "You could just let me take control for a while."

Irakih chuckled at this. "Afraid not. Not until I have broken his spell over you."

Yugi flinched slightly when Irakih scrubbed a cut on his leg too hard. He apologized immediately before cleaning Yugi's feet. Yugi stirred at the ticklish feeling and Irakih smiled again. After another moment of silence Yugi spoke. "Why won't you say his name?"

Irakih didn't look at him but allowed a towel to suddenly appear in his hand. He walked over to Yugi's back and Gently lifted his from the tub, wrapping the towel around him tightly. "Saying his name is like pledging your soul to the devil himself." Irakih placed Yugi on the bed before toweling him off. "Let us speak no more of the subject. It displeases me." Irakih's tone made Yugi think his request wasn't such a bad idea. Yugi blushed slightly as Irakih removed the towel and his naked body was once again vulnerable. Yugi shivered in the cold as he tried to cover himself up. Irakih backed away from his hand held out a hand. "Imagine your favorite comfortable outfit and it will appear."

Yugi closed his eyes and imagined his black sweat pants and favorite tee shirt. Sure enough, his body felt warm at the clothing's contact. Yugi looked at his body and couldn't help but mutter a wow.

Irakih sat next to him and pulled him into his arms. "I can give you anything you want, whenever you want it. Just ask and I'll give. I love you little one."

Yugi flinched at the nickname but relaxed into Irakih's tight hug. It felt good to be in the arms of someone. "Are you really planning to take over the world?" Yugi asked before yawning.

Irakih was silent while he collected his thoughts. "Of course I do." He felt Yugi shift uncomfortably in his arms. "But, I will allow anyone you wish to roam free from my wrath. Just name the people and I will spare them and allow them to rule by our sides."

Yugi opened his mouth. "But I don't want to rule the—,"

"Of course you do." Irakih smiled calmly. "It is in your blood, little one." Yugi yawned again and rested his head against Irakih's chest. Irakih ran his finger's through Yugi's damp hair before laying down with Yugi slightly on top of him."Rest now. I shall speak with you when you are full in strength."

Yugi felt warmth on his arms as he drifted off to sleep.

End of flashback

Yugi starred at his bandaged arms. Irakih must have done it for him while he was sleeping. Yugi frowned confused. Irakih was acting like a completely different person since he last locked him up with the shadows. Yugi sighed and banged his head against the wall a few times. He was trapped in this room. Wherever Irakih wanted him to be he stayed there, whether he liked it or not.

Yugi looked around before starring at the wall in front of him. He was completely bored. There was nothing to do. Yugi crossed his bandaged arms and sighed in boredom. Irakih was in control of his body fully now. He could feel his presence everywhere. This meant that Yugi couldn't have his company.

"You mustn't trust him." A shady voice came from the wall.

Yugi sat completely up immediately feeling his defense response flare through him. "Who is there?" Yugi sounded harshly. "Show yourself!"

A see-through figure suddenly appeared in front of him. A white towel wrapped in his hair and a white cloak around his body. "As you wish, young master."

Yugi bit his lip in disappointment. He have hoped it was Irakih coming back to give him company. "What do you want, Shadi?" Yugi asked irritably.

Shadi looked taken aback by Yugi's tone but stated his business quickly. "I have come to warn you of an appending danger. Irakih must not be trusted. You must break free from his control. The pharaoh will soon be here to help you with this eternal battle." Shadi took a breath, noticing Yugi's surprise at the mention of his Yami. "Yes, Pharaoh Atemu will soon be by your side once again."

Yugi wanted to sneer but restrained himself. "Why?" he asked with complete disdain. "He wants nothing more to do with me. Mahado said—,"

Shadi interrupted the pure one's statement. "Mahado may have said a lot of things that he doesn't mean. The priest meant no harm to you or Atemu. Only to bring the former king back to his own land, back to his former glory. The only way that he could accomplish this was to separate you too."

"Hm." Yugi mumbled.

Shadi studied Yugi slightly. "His poison has already started to reshape your soul. You mustn't listen to the lies that he tells you. Atemu is the only one that loves you not this man. If you continue to act the way you are now, all hope will be lost. Not only to you and Atemu but the whole world. Iraikh plans to—,"

"Take over the world, yeah I know." Yugi muttered. He wasn't interested in anything that Shadi had to say. In fact, he wasn't even sure if it was Shadi at all. "How do I know that you aren't some slave of Irakih's trying to find out where my loyalties lie? Why should I be trusting you? You could be the one giving me the lies. Atemu doesn't love me. He never did."

Shadi's normally expressionless face came to life in surprise. "If you honestly believe that then you are already lost and I shall tell Atemu there is no need to save you. But if your heart stills hold's love for him then I shall do all I can to protect what he loves most. He has already seen through Mahado's illusions and I doubt that he will go unpunished for them."

Yugi glared at the ghost. "Irakih has all borders of my mind closed to outsiders. How is it you got in without him detecting you? I'm sure that if he did, you would have been destroyed you immediately."

Shadi crossed his arms in defiance. "I am a but a spirit. I have no need to ask for his permission to enter your mind."

Yugi snorted at his remark and turned away. "Irakih has been kind to me for sometime now. I'm beginning to think that what he says has more truth in it than anything Atemu ever said to me." Yugi's eyes traced the outline of the room before returning to Shadi. "Did you know I killed him in another life?"

Shadi was silent, looking at the floor.

Yugi bit his lip. Shadi knew and never told them. He had to hear it from someone else. "Leave." he demanded.

Shadi's head snapped at him sharply. "But young master, you must listen to me. He will destroy Atemu and the rest of the world for that matter. He cares nothing of you. All you truly wants is your acceptance to gain complete control of your sub-conscious. I won't let this happen to the only pure thing left on this raw earth." Shadi tried to explain.

Yugi stood immediately outraged. "You're just like Atemu you know that? Thinking that I'm a weak little runt that isn't even strong enough to make decisions for myself! I'm sick of it! Get out before I call—,"

"Yugi?" A raspy voice came from his side. Irakih stood at the door to where his bath had been. "Who are you talking to?" His gaze floated from Yugi to the ghostly figure at the opposite wall. Rage filled the man as he stepped towards Yugi. Yugi expected him to strike him for speaking to someone other than Irakih himself. Shock and Surprise coursed through his veins as Irakih stood in front of him...defending him?

Shadi stood firmly in this spot..

"Who the hell are you?" Irakih asked, his voice on the edge of menace.

Shadi spoke calmly but slowly, choosing his words carefully. "The messenger who is prepared to top you." Shadi explained before disappearing.

Irakih starred at the spot he had been in for the longest time. He turned abruptly to Yugi. Scorn written in his features, his eyes softened when he met Yugi's gaze. "Did he harm you in any way?"

Yugi shook his head.

Irakih watched Yugi carefully. "You didn't want him here. You did not seem to enjoy his presence." A hand came up and a figure trailed up and don Yugi's cheek. "What did he say to hurt you so, little one?" He asked Yugi.

Yugi didn't flinch away at Irakih's touch. It was soothing and he felt he needed it right now. "Nothing but lies." Yugi growled through gritted teeth. He felt Irakih's eyes trace his figure before he brought him closer.

"He will do nothing to bother you again." He said still trailing his finger up and down. They stood apart for some time before Irakih made a bold move. He leaned forward and captured Yugi's lips in a lustful kiss. Yugi didn't shrink away. Yugi didn't fight him off. Yugi didn't even whimper is defeat. Yugi closed his eyes and accepted the dominance of the other. Shadi was wrong. Atemu's place could be easily taken.