Yes, I am alive, I promise! I'm really sorry it's taken me so long this time, I had a lot of writer's block with this. I'm really sorry about it! -bows and offers peace pocky- Please enjoy!

Chapter 4

Yugi? Yugi, wake up!

Yugi groaned, rolling over in his bed and pulling the covers over his head in an attempt to block out the light. "Five more minutes…"

There was a deep purring chuckle. Would you rather I let you sleep all day, aibou?

"Yes."

Yugi was almost shoved out of bed as something butted against his side, and with a shriek he grabbed at the closet thing, which just happened to be the spikes just behind Yami's ears. The dragon chuckled again, drawing his head back slowly and pulling Yugi fully onto his bed.

Yugi, breathing heavily, clutched to his dragon's spikes, his violet eyes wide with shock. He then let out a shaky breath, turning his eyes to Yami's.

You can let go now, Yugi. You're not going to fall. Yami murmured teasingly, his crimson eyes sparkling faintly with laughter.

Yugi blinked, and then released his tight hold, falling back to his mattress with a soft thump. The boy stared up at the big black muzzle that filled his vision for a moment, and then he fell back to the bed on his back with a groan. "Yami, why do you have to wake me up every morning?"

Because if I didn't you would sleep all day and then we wouldn't get to spend any time together. Yami said plainly, blinking his large eyes.

Yugi shrugged a shoulder at that comment. "Yea, I suppose you're right. Besides, today's laundry day. Thanks, I guess."

If Yami could have raised an eyebrow, Yugi knew that he would have. You guess?

Yugi stuck out his tongue. "Yes. I guess. Now come on, get your huge face out of my room so I can get dressed." The boy snorted after saying that. "I still have to wonder how you even get your face in the room in the first place."

Yami grinned at him, a smile full of sharp dragon teeth. Some lucky maneuvering, I guess.

Yugi chuckled, and then Yami withdrew from the window, ambling off somewhere outside the house. Yugi pulled off his pajama pants, yanking on some jeans and a T-shirt and then bundling up the rest of his laundry.

/Hey Yami, is Grandpa awake yet?/

I do not believe so. Would you like me to wake him?

Yugi considered for a moment, and then shook his head slightly, if only to himself. /No. Let him sleep a while longer. He's been tired lately, and I want him to get his rest. I'll wake him when it's time for lunch./

There was a growl from outside. Oooo, lunch. That sounds rather good. I think I'm going to go hunting, aibou.

/Alright Yami. Don't go too far, you know I don't like to lose contact with you./ Yugi replied as he went down the stairs in the house to the laundry room, dumping one of his loads into the machine and starting it.

Of course. I'll return soon.

Yugi heard the sound of Yami's strong wings beating, but the sound faded after a while. He could still feel Yami's warmth in the back of his mind, and he held onto that, smiling as he felt a wave a reassurance from his dragon.

Even though he and Yami had only been connected for about three months, already Yugi was used to the dragon's presence in the back of his mind, and looked for it every moment. He had only lost contact with Yami once, while he had been out hunting, and it had caused him to panic.

The feeling had been awful. It had felt as though there was a huge hole in his heart, and part of his very soul felt missing. He had called and called for Yami until nightfall, when the dragon had managed to wander back within range. Yugi had refused to leave him that night, and had slept against Yami's side, the dragon's wing draped warmly and protectively over his Rider.

After placing the load in the washer, Yugi pulled out a favorite book of his, Eldest, and began reading. He wanted to learn what he could from its pages; perhaps it could help him with Yami.

A load and a half later Sugoroku wandered down the stairs in his nightcap, rubbing at his eyes and yawning. "Yugi? What time is it?"

Yugi chuckled at the question. "Didn't even take the time to look at the clock? It's about noon, Grandpa. Were you hungry? I was just getting ready to make some sandwiches for lunch."

Sugoroku nodded. "That sounds great, my boy." The elder looked around, blinking slightly. "Say, where's Yami? Usually he's right outside whatever room you're in, peeking in the windows."

Yugi pulled mayonnaise and packaged turkey out of the fridge, and then turned to get the bread. "He's off hunting. Would you like a pickle, Grandpa?"

"Yes, please."

There was a loud thud outside, and Yugi looked up. "And that would be Yami." He switched to mind speak so Yami could hear him, his eyes focused on where he knew the dragon to be outside. /Took you quite some time, Yami. Did you have trouble?/

No. I had to go a little farther than I thought, I'm sorry if I went too far. I don't want to scare you, aibou.

Yugi smiled at his dragon as he saw the large crimson eye peering into the kitchen window. /You were fine, Yami. I would have told you if I felt the connection being stretched. Don't feel bad./

Sugoroku looked out another window, looking at the sky. "It looks like a fairly nice day out. Why don't we go out and sit with Yami while we eat?"

Yugi nodded with a grin, grabbing his sandwich. "That sounds great, Grandpa."

They both went out the door, where Yami greeted them with a purr deep in his throat, a sound that Yugi loved, though he had never heard it anywhere else. It was too much like a growl to belong to a cat, but it had enough purr in it to keep it away from a dog. He couldn't place it, but it was a sound that was perfectly suited for Yami.

Yugi went to settle against Yami's dark side, but he blinked as he realized the dragon was wet. "Yami, you're all wet!"

The dragon chuckled. I went for a quick dip. I didn't think you would want me to be bloody and smell like blood. I know that you don't really like it.

Yugi related Yami's words as Sugoroku asked. The man made a face at Yami's answer. "Boy, you were right. That was very thoughtful of you Yami, thank you."

The dragon nodded, and then ambled off a safe distance before shaking himself rather like a dog. He then came back over, and Yugi patted his scales gently. "Thanks Yami."

Anything for you, aibou.

The two Motos enjoyed their lunch in the sunshine while Yami purred beside them, his black sides vibrating behind Yugi and Sugoroku's backs. Yugi suddenly blinked as a bolt of alarm flashed through him, and then Yami's comforting purr changed to a rather menacing growl.

Sugoroku blinked. "What's going on?"

Yami spread his wing over the two, protectively, crouching slightly. Yugi peeked out from behind the large black shroud, gasping as he looked up into the sky.

There were dragons there, three large ones that were flying down to rest against the ground. Though Yami was much smaller, obviously younger, than the three, he growled and snarled at them, protecting his Rider.

A man descended from the back of one of the dragons. This dragon was large and rough looking, with shimmering golden scales that flashed in the sun and large, hard lavender eyes. The man had a similar color of eyes, with bleached blond hair and tan skin. "Do not be afraid, we mean you no harm."

Yugi's eyes flicked to the other dragons. The one to the right of the golden one was a stormy gray with lavender eyes that were similar to the golden one's, and its Rider had long snowy hair and doe-brown eyes. He also had a kind smile and a gentle look, and he smiled slightly at Yugi.

The other was a tall brunette with piercing sapphire eyes that seemed to analyze everything around him. His dragon was very peculiar, a shining off-white sort of crystal color, and blue eyes that were just as piercing as its Rider's.

"W-Who are you?" Yugi questioned, patting Yami muzzle as the dragon growled, his head just beside his Rider.

The blond grinned. "My name is Marik. My dragon is Malik." The golden dragon rumbled a greeting in his throat, to which Yami hesitantly rumbled an answer.

The gentle looking man nodded to him next. "I'm Ryou, and my dragon is Bakura." The large dragon sniffed at his name, and Yugi could instantly tell that he was a prideful creature.

"I'm Seto Kaiba. Call me Seto and I'll kill you." The last one said. "My dragon, Kisara."

Yugi blinked at this. He was frightening… At his words Yami's upper lip had raised threateningly, the snarl rumbling in his throat, but the man's dragon had turned out to be much more polite than her master, and she bowed her head slightly, a musical greeting coming from her. Yami's growl faded off at that.

"Why are you here?" Yugi asked softly, resting his hand against Yami's brow as the dragon butted his leg.

"We're here to ask you to join us, the Dragonriders of Domino."