Chapter 10

Yugi held Yami long after that until the former dragon fell asleep, his small body wrapped in an old blanket and his form wracked with shivers. Yugi stroked his hair gently, trying to sooth him as best he could.

Ishizu was nearby, watching the two of them with silent eyes. She knew that this had to be what the legend had meant, but she had never expected this. She looked up at her dragon, whose golden eyes were focused on Yami, and then she followed his gaze to the boy in Yugi's arms.

Yami looked surprisingly like Yugi, the same wild tricolored hair, small, petite body, and large, expressive eyes. Even though his eyes seemed older and sharper than Yugi's, they were oversized in his face. He didn't really resemble his old self, the only way they could tell what he was were the fangs in his mouth and the same brilliant crimson eyes that the dragon had had.

Yugi sighed, running his fingers through Yami's hair as he started humming softly. His mind was ringing, the emptiness echoing through his entire body. Without the link to Yami, it was as though he was empty in a way. But even though he couldn't feel Yami's emotions like he had, he knew very well what the other was feeling.

Yami was scared. Terrified. He still hadn't stopped shaking, even in his sleep, and the dried tear tracks along his cheeks were evidence of his sobs. He was trapped in a body too small and too weak for him, stripped of his power and the only thing he had ever known, his connection with Yugi. It was like taking a lion and putting it into a tiny cage, imprisoning the prideful creature in a place unfamiliar and dangerous to it.

Yami was no different. Without his flames, talons, and jaws, he was nothing more than a human, and now that Yami was no longer a dragon, Yugi's magic had declined greatly. He could still use spells, but they drained him more, and he couldn't do some of the bigger jobs. Without Yami's strength, Yugi was weakened.

Yami shifted in his sleep, whimpering and drawing closer to his former Rider. Yugi could do nothing more than try to comfort him, continuing to pet his hair gently as he hummed in the back of his throat.

The boy looked up as footsteps approached him. Mahado was standing beside him, and the tall man knelt next to him, his face soft as he looked at the shivering bundle cradled against Yugi's body. "How is he doing?"

"He's still so frightened. I don't know how to help him…" Yugi whispered, looking down at Yami's tear-stained face. "And the link… It's just gone. That's all he's ever known Mahado, that link with me. What will it do to him?"

The older man sighed. "I honestly don't know, Yugi. I've talked to some of the other dragons about it, and none of them remember a time before that link, and all of them can't even imagine not having it. Kisara remembers a time when she ventured away from Kaiba and the link was stretched to its limits, and she said it felt… empty. Cold and lonely, and she said that she did everything in her power to get back into range again. But it does scare them all, I can sense that."

Yugi frowned deeper, his fingers tightening slightly where they gripped Yami's hair. "I'm so worried about him… I can feel how scared he is, even though we aren't connected… I've never felt anything so… violent."

Mahado put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You just need to be there for him. That's all you can do for now, just let him know that he's not alone, and that all of us are here to help him."

They were silent for a moment, only the sound of Yami's stuttered breaths and whimpers piercing the quiet. Mahado left after a moment, and Yugi sat with Yami, stroking his hair gently. A moment later he heard a gentle sound and looked up to see Kisara standing near him.

May I try something? It may help him to sleep easier. You as well Yugi.

Yugi hesitated, tightening his grip on Yami, and then nodded, slowly releasing the other boy. Kisara snaked her tail forward as she lay down, setting her forelegs out in front of her to create a sort of resting place. Her tail wrapped gently around Yami's middle, dragging him and his blanket to her. She placed his wriggling body in between her forelegs, pulling him to her chest with her chin.

Yami cooed softly in his sleep, pressing his body against the warm scales presented to him. He stilled against her, finally sleeping peacefully, the warm dragonflesh on all sides comforting him as though he was back in his own dragon body.

Yugi smiled, moving forward and tucking the blanket a little more securely around his form, though it only covered his lower half. The rest of him was pressed firmly against parts of Kisara's legs or chest, trying to get closer to the female's scales. "Thank you Kisara. I suppose being around other dragons will help him right now, huh? But what about Kaiba?"

Kisara smiled with her eyes, the blue shining faintly against her white scales. Seto will be fine without me for a few nights. He told me to come. As for your other statement, I noticed when he first transformed that he clung to Valkyria and I, so I thought it would be best for him to sleep against another dragon. She paused, and then dipped her head slightly. Since you are used to sleeping with your dragon, you may join him if you wish.

Yugi hesitated, and then shook his head. "No. But thank you for the offer Kisara, I really appreciate it. I'll just stay nearby, so if he needs me I'll be there."

Kisara didn't seem to believe his words, but she laid her head on the floor, purring softly to comfort Yami as he shifted restlessly. Yugi went to the pile of blankets that had been set up nearby, climbing into them and trying to sleep.

He didn't know how much time it had been until he felt a scaly tail curling around him. He didn't move, not afraid of the presence he felt. A moment later he was placed against a warm vibrating chest, and he looked up into the kind green eyes of Valkyria. The dragon arranged him carefully against her chest, taking care to keep the blankets with him, and then she settled against Kisara's side.

Yugi looked over to see Yami only a few feet away, Kisara's head resting on Valkyria's back and the purple female's to the other side of her body. Yugi looked up questioningly, and then Valkyria chuckled lightly.

Mana said that you needed me, whether you would admit it or not.

Yugi sighed slightly, but he knew that Mana and Valkyria were right; he could not sleep without the feel of dragon scales against his back. He curled into Valkyria's touch, and quickly fell asleep, comforted by the purring of the two dragons.

Yugi was awoke sometime after sunrise by a gentle nudge against his back. He looked into Kisara's brilliant sapphire colored eyes, yawning as he did so. "What is it, Kisara?"

He's awake.

Yugi was instantly fully aware, climbing out of his next of blankets in between Valkyria's forelegs and going to Kisara. He found Yami cowering against her chest, his hands twisted in the blanket and his body pressed against her scales. Yugi moved forward slowly, carefully, not wanting to startle the other.

"Yami?"

Scared crimson eyes met his a moment later and then Yami flung himself at Yugi, wrapping his arms clumsily around the boy and nuzzling his face into Yugi's chest. Yugi could hear something babbled incoherently against him, but it was muffled by his clothes. He pushed Yami back by the shoulders, looking into his eyes.

"Are you alright?"

Yami opened his mouth, but all that escaped was a strangled sound. His face fell, and he tucked his head under Yugi's chin again. Yugi blinked, and then realized.

Yami couldn't speak. He knew how, but he didn't know how to work vocal cords to make the sounds he desired. The boy sighed, knowing that before anything could be accomplished, they had to teach Yami how to speak.

He held the body to him, his chin against the spiky hair, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. "Don't worry Yami. I'll take care of you."

Mostly a filler chapter, I know, but the next shouldn't be too long in waiting... I hope... Please review!