Sorry this chapter has taken so long, I've had a lot of blocks on it, but hopefully I've fixed that... I'll try to get the next chapter out before long!

Chapter 6

Aibou. Aibou, come on, let us try!

/No. What if I screw it up and it hurts you or something?.!/

There was a snort at that. You could never hurt me, Yugi, I promise. Now please, you have no idea how wondrous this will be!

Yugi hesitated, stroking his fingers over the ridge of Yami's black scales, feeling along the spines. /Well…Alright… I'll try./

Yugi took a deep breath, and then reached within himself for his magic, closing his eyes. "Scarblacas Ven!"(A/N: I honestly have no idea how to spell this, I'll look it up later, I promise, I just wanted to get this chapter up before I had to go to work!)

The boy didn't open his eyes right away, he was afraid, afraid that either It hadn't worked, or he had said something wrong. The body beneath him surged as Yami flew upwards in a hill.

Come on, aibou, Open your eyes. It's amazing.

Yugi swallowed thickly, and then opened his eyes. He gasped in shock, his eyes flying wide, eyes that now had slit pupils and crimson irises. The world around him was tinted crimson, the things flying closer, like a zoom function on a camera. Yugi was in awe.

/Amazing!! Do you see like this all the time, Yami?.!/

Yami chuckled in good humor. Of course, my aibou. There were orange lights in his vision, the lights of the other dragons as they flew around Yami. They were all darting in the sky together, Mana laughing happily on Valkyria's back, Mahado flying with a small smile, his Magician calling out things to Yami.

Trim your wings a little more, Yami, you've almost got that turn tight enough. Magician said encouragingly, showing him as he flew closer.

Hold on, Yugi!

Yugi swallowed thickly, and then grasped tighter onto the spike of Yami's spine in front of him, letting out a whoop as Yami turned nearly on a dime. Mahad praised him, his voice sounding in Yugi's head s well as Yami's. Good Yami, you are getting this quickly.

"You're doing well, Yugi!" Mahad called over the wind. "Learning very fast, I'm impressed!"

Yami grinned, opening his mouth and letting out a roar that rattled Yugi's very bones. He shook his head slightly, rubbing at his ear while Yami laughed. A little too loud for you, aibou?

Yugi punched the dragon's neck. /Just a little. Careful, silly, you're going to run into someone!/

I would never! Yami snorted indignantly. I have perfect control of myself while flying, you have no need to worry.

/Suuuuuure…/ Yugi said with a chuckle, releasing the spell and letting his eyes return to normal. He suddenly grew curious, and then turned toward Mahado to see the elder motioning that they were to land.

Yami trimmed his wings, angling down and following Magician until they hit the ground. Yami folded his wings as he landed beside Valkyria, and Yugi slid down the black forearm to stand beside Mana as the girl dismounted from her own dragon. "Hey Mahado!"

The elder tilted his head as he climbed down from Magician. "Yes, what is it Yugi?"

"When will Yami be able to breathe fire?" Yugi asked, his eyes sparkling faintly as he thought of this. The idea of Yami breathing fire was wondrous to him, and he could finally fight with the others when needed.

Mana grinned. "I forgot, Yami's the only one who can't breathe fire, huh? Valkyria was able to about six months after she hatched, so I suppose it depends. She's the youngest that I know of."

Mahado nodded. "Most of the time it takes around a year, but it's been longer. Magician only took 8 months, but Valkyria's got the record of the shortest, Odion with a year and 8 months at the longest. How old is Yami now?"

Yugi thought a moment. "I believe… 6 months. Yea, that's about right. We were at the cabin for about three months, and we've been here for three next week, so that should be right."

Mana tapped her finger against her bottom lip. "It will be interesting to see when he is able to breathe fire, considering he's in our time frame now."

Let's hope it's really soon.

Yugi looked up as he heard the deep echoing voice of Magician, frowning as he looking to the dark purple dragon. "Why is that Magician?"

Yami's own voice joined the others, a soft growl echoing from his throat as Valkyria added her lilting growl. Someone's coming, and they don't seem friendly.

Valkyria lowered her head beside Mana, her feminine voice flitting through their heads. Get on Mana, I don't like the feel of this.

Mana frowned, but did as her dragon asked, settling just behind the dragon's neck. "Come on, brother, we'd better get back to the others before these intruders get here."

Yami lowered his head, hooking his teeth in the back of Yugi's flight jacket. Yugi was well used to this by now; Yami seemed to have a fondness for carrying him like a mother cat would a newborn kitten. He hung silent in the dragon's grip until he was settled on the strong shoulders, and then Yami flapped his wings powerfully, leaping into the air after Valkyria as the female took flight.

Yugi clutched to Yami's spikes as the powerful dragon flew through the rapidly darkening sky, fear flitting through him. He had seen the enemy only once since he had come to the Riders, and it had been only a glimpse before Ishizu and Ryou had hidden him away within the base. He had not been allowed to fight; Yami had not been trained.

Now that the two of them had undergone training, he had to wonder if he would be asked to fight alongside the others, and that frightened him. /What if I'm not ready?/

Ready for what, aibou?

Yugi chewed his lip, pressing a hand to Yami's warm black scales. /To fight. What if we mess up? What if someone gets hurt and it's our fault?/

Reassurance and caring washed over his mind, and Yugi breathed deeply of the cool air as he was calmed through his dragon's mental comfort. You will do fine, Yugi. We will do fine, if we are called to fight. Don't worry. I will keep you safe.

As they landed back at the base Mahado went quickly inside, and Mana, after talking with her brother briefly, went to Yugi. "Mahado is gathering the others, but he's asked me to tell you one thing."

Yugi blinked. "And what's that?"

"You are allowed to fight; brother thinks that you are ready, and so do I. Yami will keep you safe, he is a very intelligent and powerful dragon, and we'll have Duke and perhaps Mai hang back and keep an eye on you if you need the help, considering that Yami can't flame yet." Mana said, nibbling on her lip.

Yugi frowned. "I sense that there is more to it."

Mana nodded. "We just have one thing to ask of you." She looked to Yami, her green eyes serious. "Don't die. We can't afford to lose anyone right now; the enemy has just gained another dragon."

Yugi blinked at that, his heart sinking. "Well, even if I die, you'll still have Yami…"

Yami shook his big head, his crimson eyes sad. No, Yugi.

Mana nodded. "Listen to Yami. If a dragon dies in battle, his Rider will live on, and he could even find another dragon. But if a Rider dies…"

Yami lowered his head, rubbing his nose against Yugi's side. His voice was soft and sad, his sorrow nearly bowling Yugi over. So does his dragon…

Yugi gasped, hugging Yami's muzzle tightly. "That's awful… I promise, I won't die." He sucked in a deep breath. "I think I'm ready."