Title: Return to the Old Ways
Chapter 2: The Axis
Disclaimer: I do not own, you do not sue. Or, the whole thing starting with 'Kay-fuzz does not own' and ends with, 'Kay-fuzz not a company. Kay-fuzz sad'.
Warning: Part of ANOTHER x-over. This is only breifly, though, though it does get mentioned in later chapters... we think. ANYWAYS, not much really. If you know what this is an x-over with, joy for you. If not, I'm too lazy to explain it as I haven't read the books in a LONG time (they WERE in the library until about four months ago now. Then they just disappeared. Evil librarians), and I completely forget the title. Ah, the wonders of aging. And I'm not even out of High School yet.
Rating: T
Words: (Shorter than last chapter by a good 6, 000. Meh. What can you do?)
Key
:-blah-: Yugi
:blah: Yami
((blah)) Bakura
(-blah-) Ryou
He stood quietly in the shadows, watching the people walk by, minding their own business. That seemed to be the main mind-set of the city: mind your own business, and other people will mind their own. From what he could tell, there was some kind of law enforcement- however, they seemed to deal with only the big, big, BIG things. Everything else was pretty much ignored.
The hidden city was semi-permanently dark: during the day-time (or, the part of the day he had been there for) it was over-cast, and now that it was night, the moon and stars were blocked by the glaring lights from the buildings, the sky above reflecting the lights. The one time of the day that the sky was naturally something other than black was sunset, when the clouds cleared away to reveal the sun casting it's final rays on the slowly-awakening city.
He turned his steady, crimson gaze back on the people who roamed the streets. Although most people had a decidedly 'darker' personality and style of clothing, everyone seemed to be good natured, helpful, and undoubtably fearful of one that he over-heard being referred to as the "Sovereign".
:Well, aibou? Think we can survive here:
:-Hm... I think so... and we don't seem to have much choice... let's give it a try, Yami. But first... to find some place to sleep...-:
The young man referred to as Yami chuckled as he stepped out of his Shadows, which had merged with the natural ones to form a safe spot, hidden away from all prying eyes. The lights from the neon signs that lined the street illuminated his young-looking, but sharp facial feautures, the think lining of kohl around his crimson eyes, his distinctive tril-colored hair, black cloak withsilver, whiteand goldtrim and tight, leather clothing.
His sudden appearance made a few stop and stare, but they decided that he was simply a new guy to their city and continued on their way, giving him small smiles- afterall, if they were going to look like he did, they would also wear what he was.
He continued walking, looking at all the signs and people on the street. Seeing what appeared to be a bar, he went in- people here seemed helpful enough. Why not go into a bar? Afterall- if he could handle the Theif King, he could handle anyone.
:-Yami, be nice.-: His aibou scolded as he listen to his other's thoughts.
:I will, aibou. You just relax.:
:-H... hai...-: the notably younger, lighter voice replied with a yawn.
Slowly entering, his eyes searched out the bar tender, who had looked up in surprise when he had entered. Sliding into one of the seats, he address the older man.
"Good evening."
"Same to you, too. Can I get you anything?" The rough but gentle voice helped confirm his suspicions.
"Sure." He stopped to think for a moment, before addressing the man again. "What is there?"
"Whatever you want, Mr...?"
"...Yugi. Yugi Mouto."
"Alright then, Yugi."
"Can I please get some sake?"
"Sake? From a Japan, eh? You look Egyptian to me."
He shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to responed to 'a' Japan. "I... was born in Domino City, Japan, but my family comes from Egypt."
"Ah, thought so. Here's your drink."
"Thanks. How much?"
"Just toss me 500 yen, and we'll call it even."
He blinked obviously as the light from the door opening again, letting another customer in, reflected the man's salt-and-pepper hair, his dark black eyes shinning slightly blue from the sign across the street.
Taking a sip from his cup (and trying to not make a face as he tasted for the first time how strong the drink was), the one called Yami listened in on the new conversation, as the new man had sat down right beside him.
"Ah, Agni. The usual?"
"Sure, Hitobi-san."
"Stop it with the honorifics. You're not in Japan anymore."
"No." At this, the man called 'Agni' opted to take a sip from his drink, before continuing with a slightly evil tone to his voice, "But it annoys you so well, how can I help myself?"
"Why don't you help this guy here. Yugi, meet Agni. Agni, meet Yugi Mouto."
As Agni turned to say hello to him, the door opened again, letting the blue light shine on Agni's distinctive red hair with a few orange, brown and blonde hightlights, his strange, Duel Monster-like atire (though a number of people wore clothing like that it seemed) and strange arm gauntless, one of which was being held out to Yami to shake. He took Agni's hand slowly, unsure of how to react to this new character.
"Hello! As Hitobi-san just said ("Stop calling me Hitobi-SAN!), my name is Agni."
"Yugi... Mouto."
"Nervous? You're new here, right?" He nodded slowly, disturbed to find that Agni's personality was starting to be more like his aibou's. "Cool. I've lived here for about three years, now. Ever since I was kicked out of my home for being a hybrid."
He didn't know how to respond to that, other than saying, "I've been here about seven hours now, and I came here by accident."
"Accident?"
"Well, unintentionally would be more appropriate, but..."
Agni dwelled on this for a few minutes, before turning to Hitobi. "Is it possible to get here by 'accident'?"
"Yes Agni. Not everyone purposefully comes to the Axis. I certainly didn't."
Agni thought about it again, shrugged, and turned back to his new companion. "Well, whatever. I work for the government- they decided that since I worked for the... er... 'government' where I used to live that I might as well work for the government here, too. If you want, I can help you get started off, and you can decide what to do from there."
He thought about it while he sipped his sake (and noticing that after the third sip his aibou looked a bit tipsy, even if he wasn't the one drinking). Coming to his decision, he asked, "How will you help me get... er... 'started off'?"
"Oh, right. I'm pretty high-up in the government. I could get you a job around my office or some place else, and you can stay at my place until you get yourself a pad of your own."
It took barely five seconds for him to realize that as his aibou was intoxicated, he would have to make this decision on his own. "I... I guess I will. Just a warning- my personality switches sometimes."
"Oh! I get it- you're a shkitzo!" Hitobi whapped Agni over the head with a glass (which didn't shatter all over the floor), while scolding the flame-headed young man. Agni, grumbling as he rubbed his head, turned his attention back to his companion. "Sorry, I tend to generalize."
"Don't worry- a lot of people do."
"They don't here! It's way better in the Axis- that's what this city's called- than it was where I used to live! Because I'm a hybrid- oh, flame spirit/human- people were... well, afraid of me. If it was ever too hot, if there was a fire, or if it was too cold, things didn't dry properly... if anything went wrong, I was the guniea pig. 'Blame it all on Agni!' they said. My parents included. My brother and a few friends were the only people who really helped me. Anyways, as I grew up, I heard rumours from the people I worked for- being a hybrid and all- about this place that they were thinking of sending me to. It was supposed to help me with my training. So, they asked me if I wanted to go. I had also heard of here, the Axis, from some other people (who were later thrown in jail, mind you). I said I would travel towards the place my... employers wanted me to go to. I did travel there- then I took a left, went to a station, and ended up here. Haven't looked back since."
He blinked as he tried to take in Agni's story, as said hybrid leaned back in his seat- before nearly falling off, as the seats had no backs. He snorted, seeing Agni's antics, and decided that the other young man wasn't that bad.
"So, er...?"
"Yugi?"
"Right, sorry. Yugi. What's your story?"
He sighed, and leaned forward, resting his head on his hands. "Well... myself and a few others were praticing these... special abilites that we have. We had been doing this for a while- under a friend's sister's instructions. It was myself, my ai- er, twin, a set of... albino twins, and the friend who's sister was teaching us. She had ordered us to practice a new technique- we were to stay where we were, while she went out into Domino, to a place that we all knew. We would then have to work together, sense her where-abouts, and using a portal go find her. So my friend provided her energy signature-" Agni nodded his head, showing that he understood what that was. "-the albinos would pin-point her location, and it was my and my twin's job to open a portal and go find her. We did what we were supposed to do- the albinos and friend went through first, but then the portal closed. My twin and I waited for a second before opening a new portal and going through that." He thought about something for a second or so, before deciding on saying, "my twin ended up somewhere else. But I know he's safe, and so I don't worry."
Agni nodded. "That's cool. You want to get back, or-"
"It doesn't really matter. I can still feel him, and as long as I can do that much I do not need to worry. Besides- I'm sure that with enough practice I can just use the portal that I used to get here to get back."
Agni nodded again, before calling to Hitobi, "Oi! Can I get another coke down here!"
He blinked. "...coke?"
"Coca Cola, Pepsi Cola... which ever's in, that's what I drink. I'm sixteen, after all! I'm not going to have alcohol!"
He blinked again, before looking down at his drink. "...should I have ordered the coke instead of sake then?"
Agni snorted. "Are you kidding? I'm just not used to the taste. There's no alochol laws or whatever here, so you don't have to worry." At his confused face, Agni continued. "See, where some people are from they've been drinking since they were old enough to walk. And maybe that's the only thing that they can drink. So it wouldn't be fair saying, 'people under this age can't drink' or 'people under this age can't do this and that', because some people aren't used to that. That's why the laws here are slack compared to other places. All different people, from all different walks of life. Yup, the Axis is the best place to live!"
He didn't doubt what Agni said, and looked up when Hitobi walked over. "Er... can I try a coke?"
"Never had one before, Yugi?"
"Well... I've just always stayed away from sugar and caffiene... for very good reasons..."
"Dare I ask?" Agni looked slyly over at him before taking a sip from his own glass.
"My twin... well... sugar... er... let's just say that giving him anything that had sugar and/or caffiene equaled mass chaos, confusion, and accidental use of powers."
Agni laughed. "Well, that would be a good reason. Here- it's a different taste, but not as hard to acquire as sake."
He spent another hour or so, talking with Agni about differences from where they came from, hobbies, friends, and-
"You play any games?" He brought up, seeing some kind of gaming machine that looked like it should be in a high-tech arcade in the corner. Agni's gaze followed his own, and, seeing where he was looking, grinned.
"Oh, you want to play with the big boys, hm?"
"No, I want to play with the little boys who talk too much."
"You are on."
After a number of challenges (deciding that Dance Dane Revolutions wasn't the best gaming machine, and spoting more behind it, they moved on to play nearly every game, staying away from the ones that either looked like you had to dance or do some kind of physically activity), it turned out that Yami had an unnatural prowress for games.
"They don't call me 'Yu-Gi-Oh' for nothing."
"King of Games? That's it- I am so dethroning you. Back to DDR!"
"Er..."
"Not shying from a challenge, are we, your highness?"
"Ha! Bring on the dancing!"
This resulted in him finding out that dancing with his long cloak on wasn't very smart, so he proceeded to remove said cloak, throw it over the bar behind him, and continue the dance with utmost precision, earning all 'Excellents' and an A on his score. However, this also revealed the extent of his leathers, his belts, silver buckles, arm bands, and a number of odd silver, gold, and black accessories. This, therefore, caused a small problem, as Agni admitted to not having any leathers.
This was quickly solved by the suggestion of shopping from one of the people who had come to watch the Great Game Battle, which Agni and Yami quickly warmed up to.
Grabbing another drink of coke mixed with sake as they left the bar (he found that mixing the two got rid of the worst parts of both tastes), Agni began showing him around the Axis, noting different buildings, people, and places.
"See, the harbour is down there- I have no idea why there's a harbour, but most people use the shipping docks and the rest of the shore as swimming places. There's over twenty large parks scattered around the city, and about three of them are within walking distance of my flat. Walking distance is good- no individual cars are allowed here, although certain streets, while most are given over to pedestrians, are made solely for ATCs- Axis Transit Commision vehicles- or buses, trains and street cars to be more specific. Ah, there's a really good restaurant! I might take you out for dinner later, or we could order in- I think they're originally from some American place, like the US, but I think Canada, since the name is French, and the US is English and Spanish... or maybe they're from Swtizerland..."
"Or maybe you could tell me where are we going to buy clothes?"
Agni blinked, thinking for a moment. "I've... never really run into this problem. I don't really wear the same clothes that normal humans wear..."
It was about this time that he spoted a sign for a small clothing store, located below street level. When questioning Agni, he got the response, "Below street levels in this area means that there's stairs outside that lead downwards, like an upside-down porch. Nearer to home, though, it would mean that it's part of the Underground City, one of the Axis' most interesting features- what can easily be called a one-level shopping mall, spanning thirty-two blocks!"
Upon entering the store, he saw that it was indeed the kind of store that he would certainly buy things from, and quickly had Agni ladened down with different styles, types, textures and- for some reason- colors of leathers, buckles, belts and other accessories that Agni would have never thought to buy.
The young woman took one look at him, and then grinned. "Ah, loading up on the clothing, so you're new here?"
"Yes. Do you know what's the quickest way to get from here to the Underground City?"
She snorted. "Course. You see those doors opposite the ones leading onto the street? They lead onto a special tunnel that was built to connect the places around here to the Underground City. It's quickly expanding, ne? Soon, Underground will be all the shops and above ground residential and offices. I can guarantee it."
"I don't suppose there's any schools?"
"Nope. Well, there are a few that teach the basics, but then it's all apprenticeships and learning from part-time jobs that gets you through life. That'll be $340."
Agni sweatdropped as he extracted his wallet and paid the right amount of money. "As expensive as some things are, I love how there's no taxes and no cents." The hybrid explained as they made their way through the tunnel towards the Underground City, passing a large variety of shops on their way. "And she was pretty cool, too. Ah, here we are- 15th and Young. Think you can remember it?"
"Why?"
"Cause this is where we live!" Agni excalimed happily as he entered the Lobby of the obvious apartment building. A very open-concept design seemed to have been in mind, as the high ceilings allowed light from what would normally be considered the ground-floor windows to filter in. A large, sweeping flight of stairs went up to the outside doors, and comfy couches, tables, chairs, and two small Coffee Shops (one called Starbucks, the other Tim Hortons) occupied different areas of the room. Some of the residents were milling around, and they waved 'hi' to Agni as he led Yami past, quickly introducing his new room mate.
The four elevators, which were in the center of the room, arranged in a loose square with all the doors facing inwards towards a very simple control panel were all encased in glass, allowing all to see the inner workings, of which was mainly wires. The area between them with the control panel seemed to be floating ontop of a small indoor pond. It was into the pond that the elevators descended. Some lights in the bottom of the pool provided a strange lighting effect, especially with all the ripples in the pond. It was towards this that Agni led him.
Sticking a card- key he had pulled out of his pocket into the control panel, a small screen popped up before Agni. Selecting 'office' from the list, one of the elevator doors opened, and Agni and Mouto stepped inside.
The ride was silent, Yami trying to process everything that had happened, Agni allowing him to. When the doors opened, Yami felt sure that he could take on whatever challenges that were thrown his way. He stepped out of the elevator, following Agni around the elevator to the only way out of the circle of elevator doors. The hallway led them to another open-concept room, where there were desks, pouffes, couches, love seats, chairs, tables, and foot stools, not to mention a view of part of the Axis, showing that they were probably on the top floor.
"Ah, Agni. And who is this...?"
Both Agni and Yami whipped around to come face-to-face with another older man- except this one looked like he could croak any second.
:-Yami!-: Yugi giggled, having gotten over his small bout of drunken-ness, as it was not the body but his mind that had been intoxicated.
:It's true, aibou. He could be as old as I am.:
:-I really doubt that, Yami.-:
:He could:
"My name is Yugi Mouto, Mr...?"
"Ah. Just call me Kin. I own this block of lofts and apartments, as well as another three. All four buildings attach onto the Underground City. Pleased to meet you, Yugi."
"The pleasure is mine, Kin."
"You are new to the Axis?"
"Yes."
"He's here, Kin, 'cause he's living with me until he can afford a place to call his own."
"Ah. Going to get him a job at the government?"
"Maybe." Agni replied, before continuing. "Until that time, could we get a key card?"
"Ah yes, of course. If you would just come over here...?" Kin asked gently, in a kindly old grandfather kind of way. Both Yami and Yugi could tell he was sincere- they felt no fear, no apprehension- only trust and welcomes. Walking over, Yami answered all the questions, before letting his aibou take over to answer the rest. Both Agni and Kin noticed a slight change- it didn't really bother Kin, and Agni had been forewarned. Yami noticed that they noticed, and mentioned it to Yugi, his aibou. Yugi blushed openly, explaining to Kin about the personality switches, before finishing filling out the forms and legal documents.
Kin handed over his key card, and explained that whenever Yugi got his own apartment or loft, if it was still in one of his buildings, then the information could be added so that the card worked for both Agni's and his own rooms.
Leaving Kin in the office, Yugi and Agni walked back to the elevators, Yugi following Agni's instructions on how to use them.
Both soon found themselves on the seventeenth floor, standing just inside the doorway of one of the large lofts in the building. Basically a square, certain indents had been artfully made in the wall, not to mention an extra, floating area which Agni informed Yugi was his bedroom. Pointing to the area below his own bedroom, Agni told Yugi that that would be his room for the time being. Yugi smiled- it already looked perfect. And the floor-to ceiling windows (which took up the whole outer wall, all 200 metres squared of it) had sheer curtains and wooden shutters to keep out the light and/or dark.
"Get some sleep. We'll go to the office tomorrow morning, and see what we can do for you."
"Thanks Agni."
"No problem. Now, you catch some sleep. I still have a meeting to get to."
"You had a meeting? Sorry- did I make you late?"
"Nah. It was basically, 'Meet here sometime after the sun sets', so I'm not late at all. Oyasumi, Yugi-kun!"
"Oyasumi, Agni-kun!"
The government offices in the Axis were located in the middle of Slider's Park, about a half-hour walk from the Harbour Park and twenty minutes from the Eastern-most edge of the Underground City. Not to mention a whole fourty-five minutes away from the building where Agni, and now Yugi, lived. They were non-descript buildings, with typical wall carvings and designs that were in the Old City- the Eastern part of the Axis from the Underground City was the oldest part the Mega City.
Yugi (and, subsequently, Yami) soon found out that there was a good million people at least in the Axis (unregistered people entered every day, so there was probably ten times that much). The city covered nearly 80 square miles, and a large assortment of people from all over (including, apparently, different realms and worlds) made up the population. Only about 5 of the population was actually born in the Axis- the other 95 all moved in.
Yugi let his eyes wander around the lobby of the main government building, where he was sitting with Agni, waiting for their interview with one of the higher-ups (as Agni informed him, they were called Councilors. This one was in charge of the law enforcement sector, where Agni worked).
Eventually, he came down, talked to Agni in hushed voices for a second, and sent the other teen on his way. Yugi took this time to look over his appearance, while Yami was more interested in his personality.
Long black hair that seemed to be perpetually messy, fell into his face. He looked like he couldn't be more than 30 years old. He had a young face while a single, long scar from his ear to the corner of his mouth marred his complexion, while his sky blue eyes twinkled with a mischievious light. His space-age looking armor was off-set by the ancient sword that hung at his waist. A single fang earing fell from his left ear, while a red tie held the back of his hair away from his face.
"Yugi Mouto, I presume?"
"Hai. Er, you are...?"
"Juni Rosemertin, Commander-in-Chief of the Axis Guard- basically, the police force, although I always end up working with the under-cover agents. Come- as cliched as this is- step into my office."
Yugi smiled and let out a small laugh as did Juni, and they made their way up a few flights of stairs, chatting aimiably, to another very comfortable looking office. "So. You want to work for the government? Or you just want to work, period?"
"Definately work. And right now, I can't see myself not working for the government."
"Ah. Glad you think so. Well, we recently have had a job opening- not to scare, but the man was killed in the line of fire. Not a pleasant occurance, let me tell you. Of course, it's a very rare occurance, but you can't be afraid of death to become part of the Guard."
"Don't worry. I've seen somethings that you wouldn't believe, sir."
"Call me Juni."
"Alright, Juni."
"Now. If you do work under me, it will be in the undercover work. I've heard you can be... darker?"
Yugi blinked at the wording, before closing his eyes and letting Yami take over. Juni missed the small details, but did not miss the now narrowed- and crimson- eyes, the extra kohl, nor the deeping and hardening of the voice.
"You mean like this?"
Juni blinked, before applaudng. "I don't think I even need more of an interview. Excellent. Of course, you'll need training-"
"I honestly don't think I will."
"Oh?"
"Let's just say that I can hold my own easily."
"Ah, yes, but getting around... especially in the darker allies..."
"Not a problem."
Juni thought for a moment, before shrugging. "Alright. There's a small, virtually unimportant mission tonight. We'll send you in. You get in, get the info, and get out." He pulled a manilla envellope from his desk. "These are the details. You willing to take this job?"
:Well Yugi:
:-You're the yami. You'll probably end up doing it, anyways. As long as we don't get too hurt, I'm all for it.-:
:You sure, aibou:
:-You want to, I want to, Agni wants us to, Juni wants us to... why not?-:
"Of course."
Juni grinned as he handed the file folder over. Yami frowned seeing all the details. "You want me to use a gun?"
Juni's smile faltered slightly. "Well... how else will you defend yourself? You are just a human, right?"
"Ah, yes, a human that can be called... 'Kage no Mage'," Yami replied, a small smirk on his face, as he off-handedly mentioned the name that he and the other Sennen Item Holders had started to call themselves.
Juni frowned, before smiling. "Well, whatever the hell that means... welcome to the team. Hey... would you like to see your office?"
He crouched once again in the shaodws, his own Shadows keeping him from sight. Only his eyes showed in the dark, and even they were cloaked by other Shadow powers, making it so that no one who he didn't want to see him didn't see anything out of the ordinary. The alley he was in was currently filled with a number of people being arrested- all in the cover of the darkness, to not alarm everyone else. Over half the people to be arrested, though, he had taken the liberty of knocking them out and tying them up, depositing them at the jail with a simple note saying, 'Mission complete. Send others over.'
Juni, who knew his writing from the forms he had filled out, had sent out a squad- including Agni- right away to arrest everyone else.
He smirked- it had been too easy getting in, finding the proper files, and getting out again. Not to mention dealing with the guards and other people inside. He wasn't sure what the files were about, nor why these people needed to be arrested. Well, when he had started off he wasn't. A quick 'Mind on Air' Batsu no Yuugi later, and he had all the information he could possibly want about this particular opperation. It had been the Batsu no Yuugi that had spurred both him and Yugi to 'arrest' all the others.
It had been the information that had caused him to wish he had gotten those that were being arrested at that moment.
Said information was currently clutched lightly in his hands, a file folder containing some papers and a floppy disk slightly opened and resting against his leg. He decided that he did not want to see what was on the floppy, or meerly arresting the people wouldn't suffice.
Once everyone else had left, Juni sighed, and looked around. One of the guards at the entrance looked back to see Juni still standing there, and was about to walk over and talk to the Commander. Juni, however, motioned the guard stay put and turn away again. The guard did he was asked.
He saw this.
He understood what this meant.
He acted upon his instincts.
Creeping up as close to Juni as he could get as possible with revealing himself, he then let the Shadows part slightly, so that he could hold out the file. Poking Juni in the back with it, the Commander twirled around, catching the guard's attention.
And seeing your Commander take a file folder from a seemingly body-less, floating hand is not something you forget.
Taking pity on the guard, he let the Shadows completely fall away, and told them to be content with having to meerly swirl around his limbs, not emcompass his body. Juni saw this, understood what it meant, and nodded to him, before winking and walking away and he once again let the Shadows of the Axis wrap lovingly around him, so long deprived from their Master.
The guard, before following Juni away, also saw this.
And was extremely confused.
It had been nearly seven years since the Axis had been opened by the Shadows. Since then, he was sure that many searches had taken place for him- by not only the police, but also the other Kage no Mage. He was, afterall, their Pharaoh, and they would do anything to find him.
That was why it was no surprise when he and Agni were sitting around, talking about an incident that had happened about two years after he had first come to Axis, involving Agni's old circle of friends, and the moving in of his now-mate, then friend. Kazille, as she liked to be called, was currently shopping (namely at the store that Yami and Agni had found the first day Yami and Yugi were in the Axis), and the Shadows alerted him to something strange happening in the Underground City.
A large amount of Shadows from his own realm were leaking in, creating a Shadow Sphere with the same properties as the ones that surrounded a Kage no Yuugi usually had. The Fire Stones in the jewelery store nearby the Shadow Sphere had also alerted Agni to it's presence- and no doubt Kazille would be there.
Quickly packing up everything that he might need (as they were having their chat in Yugi's loft), Yami quickly ran out the door, and down to a nicely deserted end of the hallway. Agni went straight for the elevator, assuming that Yugi had already jumped in one and forgotten to hold it open for him. Yami, after being sure that no one else was there, melded back into the Shadows, before allowing them to take him down to the Sphere.
A group had gathered around, including Kazille, Juni, Kin and Hitobi. The four had become friends once Agni and Yugi introduced everyone to each other, and now they talked about what they could do about the Shadow Sphere.
"Well, it just appeared out of nowhere... maybe we could send it back?" Kazille asked, staring worriedly at it.
Hitobi shook his head. "I dunno, Kazille- the last person who touched it got sucked inside."
Kazille bit her lip as Kin said gently, "I'm sure that little girl will be alright. She's one of the few who actually grew up in the Axis- she should be able to handle herself."
Juni remained silent, recognizing the Shadows from what he had seen surrounding Yami when the two had met after one of Yami's missions.
Agni ran up then, Yami smirking while Yugi face-palmed at what Agni suggested. :-We really should have told them that big Shadow Spheres should not be messed with.-:
:Hai, aibou, but it's a little too late now. Besides, Juni at least seems to know about the Shadows from our work.:
:-Yes, but he's not trying to stop them.-:
:Looking for weaknesses:
:-Do the Shadows even have weaknesses?-:
:Erm... do I:
:-No...-:
:Then no, the Shadows don't, either.:
There was a pause as both looked from their vantage point, hidden amongst the Shadows, as Agni and Kazille tried attacking the Shadows Sphere, only to have their attacks come right back at them with double the force.
:-Did the Sphere just use Divine Wind?-:
:I have no idea, aibou.:
:-Should we tell them to stop?-:
:Probably... although this is fun for the Shadows, they might get angry if they keep being attacked.:
:-Unh. So... you going to reveal us now?-:
:Give me a couple seconds, aibou. You feel that:
:Pharaoh...:
:Er... hear that:
:Pharaoh...:
:-Yes. It's calling for you!-:
:Us, aibou, us.:
:Pharaoh...:
:-Just go out. You're keeping them waiting.-:
:Pharaoh...:
:-Did... that just sound like Ryou and Bakura to you?-:
:Pharaoh...:
:Actually, yes. You think-:
:-Considering it's those two, and the Sennen Ring, I have no doubt that it's them, and that they're trying to get through.-:
Of course, Yami and Yugi were not the only ones to hear the bodiless voices.
"Okay, add random, bodieless voices onto the list of today's weird things." Agni commented as he and Kazille backed off, standing once again among the part of the population that had decided it might be safe to watch the strange... thing.
"I'll make a note to do that." Hitobi whispered, watching in awe as the dark sphere whipped around suddenly, like mists being pulled or blown away by a fierce wind.
When the final dark wisp disapeared, the crowd was left staring a young man, no older than twenty-two, but with snow white hair and a black trench coat. Agni blinked, noticing the golden pendant immediately- and all the leathers.
The man opened his eyes, revealing a dark, chocolate brown, a definate contrast to his pale skin and snowy locks. He blinked, as though looking around in surprise, before opening his coat slightly, and gently pulling the girl from within it's folds. She looked up at him with big eyes, bright with tears. He gently touched her forehead, before turning her around and giving her a gentle shove away from him.
"Go on. You want to see your friends and family, right?"
With that, she walked away slowly, all the time looking over her shoulder at the strange man.
Agni was about to take a step towards him, sure that he wasn't dangerous, and that he had something to do with Yugi, when Juni quickly strode out and stood before the man.
The albino blinked, looking at the man that had dared to confront him. (-Bakura... you can have control later, but not right now.-)
((What am I supposed to say, hikari? No? I can feelthe Pharaoharound here- might as well try the 'diplomatic' way first... but, if that doesn't work...))
(-Hai, Bakura. If it doesn't work, go all-out.-)
With that thought, the young man turned his attention back to the new man in front of him, and put a small smile on his face. "Er... gomen... I didn't break anything... did I?" He asked gently, looking around swiftly to prove his point.
Eventually looking back at Juni's eyes, the albino sweatdropped, seeing the excited look in the other man's eyes.
Juni suddenly tugged his arm, dragging him over to the small group, the voice called Bakura growling all the way, impossible for anyone to hear other than the one Bakura called hikari. A small group of officers arrived at that moment, shooing most of the people away.
Juni looked around. "Who's loft is closest?" He asked excitedly, looking between the group there.
"Er... Yu-"
"Ah! To his loft it isthen!" Juni exclaimed, dragging the hikari away, confusion in the new-comers eyes, leaving the others to catch up.
From their vantage point, Yami smirked and Yugi giggled. :-Maybe we should get back up there?-:
:Of course, aibou. Save the Thief King from any further embarrasement:
:-Iie. Save Ryou from any lawsuits.-:
Ryou groaned as he was thrust uncerimoniously into a plush, black, fluffy chair by an open, floor-ceiling, WIDE window with crimson sheer curtains on either side that Ryou was sure couldn't keep out the sun very well, matching the furry, crimson pillow on his chair.
Juni stood over him, that strange excitement still in his eyes, while the other four stood nervously around the room, the male who didn't look quite human chosing to sit in a chair by a small table, the table still having the remenants of a small lunch on it, as well as alarge containerof what looked like some thick, redish-brown drink.
The not-human female stood slightly behing the male, both their eyes on him, nervous. The other two males had taken up positions by the two doors- one onto the balcony, one onto the hallway.
((They think that's going to keep us in if we want to get out?))
(-Iie, yami, they're just being cautious.-)
"So... what's your name?" Juni asked excitedly, making to sit down on a twin to Ryou's chair across from the hikari.
"Er... Bakura Ryou?"
Juni, forgetting about sitting, immediately stood, walking around the chair- and stopping when the hallway door slowly opened. Although the figure was hard to see, the golden pyramid shape stood out obviously around his neck.
"Yugi!" Ryou exclaimed, jumping up from his seat and startling the other occupants of the room.
Yugi's grin broadened. "Ryou!"
The two met in the middle of the room, exchanging a brotherly hug, before Ryou immediately put the other hikari in a head lock. "Where have you been? You have any idea how worried we've been? How angry Kaiba's been? He refuses to duel anyone else, as he says that they're not 'good enough opponents'. Hasn't had or participated in any tournaments, either."
Yugi laughed. "Kaiba? Giving dueling? Are you SURE the world hasn't come to an end."
"Actually..."
Both had uncharacteristic smirks on their faces, while Juni, Agni, Hitobi, Kin and Kazille stood in the background, waiting for the mini-reunion to be over.
Finally, Yugi was able to push Ryou into his chair again and got some food and drinks for everyone. Setting them down on the larger table along with some plates, cups and silverware, a mini-buffet. Ryou sweatdropped seeing this.
"Er... you hungry, Yugi?"
Yugi laughed lightly. "Naw. Just some stuff from the fridge."
"...steak comes from the fridge?"
"What? Oh, I was going to eat that for dinner..."
Agni sighed at his friend's forgetfullness. "How are you part of the Guard again?"
Juni huffed indignantly. "Because he's the best recon guy we've got! And it looks like our white-haired friend here does, too."
Ryou blinked. "Er... recon? Guard?"
Yugi laughed, sitting down beside him. "I had to get a job somehow..."
Ryou, slowly understanding (with mental prodding from Bakura) sighed. "Wonderful. You've been spending your time working for people."
"What was I supposed to do? You realize that I couldn't sense any of you from here, and I didn't exactly want to permanently live with Agni- not that it wouldn't be fun."
Ryou gave a small grin. "Ah well. The rest of the Kage no Mage have been worried. Isis nearly had a heart attack when the portal closed and you hadn't come out. It was even worse when Shadi found out."
Yugi sweatdropped. "I can only imagine."
Juni coughed. "Anyways... an introduction, if you please?"
Yugi blushed, Yami chuckling in the back of his mind. "Er, right... Ryou, this is Juni, Hitobi, Kin, Agni and Kazille." He indicated each in turn. "Juni, Hitobi, Kin, Agni, Kazille, this is Bakura Ryou, one of the Kage no Mage."
Though the name ment basically nothing to everyone else, Juni nodded his head, understanding about the different... abilities that the two had.
Ryou just shook his head. "Just call me Ryou."
Agni smiled appreciateively. "Alright, Ryou. Er... if I'm not being too nosey..."
Ryou shrugged, seeing Yugi's slightly worried look from the corner of his eye. "It depends what you ask."
"Well... I couldn't help notice that you both have... well, strange, gold pendants. What-"
Ryou cut him off, the words coming from his mouth not sounding forced nor practiced, but common words he had spoken a number of times. "They are artifacts from ancient Egypt, and members of the Kage no Mage wear them or carry them around, depending on whether they're pendants or not."
Nods went around the round,and Yugi slightly relaxed. Ryou chuckled. "I don't suppose that you guys could give me any kind of info where I ended up?"
The five launched into an explanation of the Axis, Yugi not saying all that much except when he felt an out-look on something from a Shadow Mage's perspective was in order. What he then said confused nearly everyone in the room, but Ryou knew perfectly well what Yugi meant, and nodded his head in appreciation.
Thus the day was spent, talking and sharing stories, and, the Axis people found, the more they talked to both Ryou and Yugi, the more they understood about the strange, technology-based world the two came from. And found that they still had a lot to learn.
Ryou easily collapsed into the futon that Yugi had layed out from him, while the Pharaoh went to work. He sighed appreciatively, before slowly opening his eyes a crack, knowing that his yami would be there in spirit form.
"What are we going to do, Bakura?" the hikari asked wearily, confusion clouding his mind.
Bakura seemed to be in the same state. "Why are you asking me, hikari? I'm not the one that went through a portal- without any clearance or guidance, and merely a prayer that we would end up where the Pharaoh was."
Ryou sighed. "We had found his aura signature, yami. I just followed it."
"Right into this place. Not that I don't mind... think we can get the other item holders to move here?"
Ryou laughed humourlessly. "If we had a miracle, maybe. Everyone else, with the exception of Malik, has something good going for them- even Shadi does, though I'm not sure if being a tomb tour guide is how he wanted to spend his life- er, after-life."
Bakura growled, sitting down beside the light. "The Shadows here are so deprived. They're weak, oppressed, nothing like those at home. That's why the Sphere was so noticable- all the Shadows wanted to say 'hi' to their other master."
Ryou cocked a small smile as his other's smirk, being proud of the yami that the dark was content with sharing the title of 'Master' with the Pharaoh.
"You know, we could just let him stay here."
Bakura nodded. "He can be Master here, I'll take over back home."
The light sighed. "If we can get home."
A quirked eyebrow. "You know the Keeper's aura signature. Just follow that."
"He's never been here, therefore I can't get a lock."
Bakura huffed indignantly."Well I can."
"So you want to go?"
Bakura faltered then, looking at his light slowly. "...nani?"
Ryou shrugged as he sat up, crossing his legs. "If you want to go home, we could always just leave a message here for Yugi and Yami, saying that we went back."
"We are NOT going back now, Ryou. There's too many places to see around here! Too many things to admire!"
"...too many places to rob?"
"Ah, now you're getting it, hikari. Think of this as... as a vacation, where the laws are stretched and we can stay here for an indefinate amount of time."
"I doubt that Yugi will support us for very long. We'll have to get a job."
Bakura blinked. "Ryou. Thief King Bakura. Does that not make any sense to you?"
"We'll need a legimate job, yami. The Pharaoh works for the government-"
"He IS the government, hikari."
"Not here. They said that what Yugi would be back home is what this Soverign guy would be here."
Bakura was silent, pondering that. "So... one person who is of equal rank to another is working for him? ...how does that work?"
Ryou sighed. "Listen. No matter in what way, Yugi is still part of the government- or law enforecment, anyways. We can't use YOUR way to make money. He might of not minded it back home- here, however, it's completely differnet."
"So, what kind of job do you want, hikari?"
Ryou sighed, closing his eyes, and letting himself fall back again. "Whatever I chose, you have to be content with it, too. What do you want?"
Bakura smirked. "Weeeeelll..."
Yugi sighed as he left the government buildings, almost too tired. Running around the city chasing after people wasn't tiring- it was exhilarating, giving both yami and hikari an adreneline rush that made them both feel far more powerful and free than they would ever be during a duel- but the confines of a duel made strategy all the more important, all the more needed, and, although the rush was no where as powerful as being part of the Guard, it was still exhilirating.
But doing paper work was monotonous, boring, and, more than ever, tiring. They hardly ever got paperwork- there was usually something else for them to do- but sometimes, certain parts of an investigation required either a more... thourough explanation, or a more thourough run-through before they actually went out.
Today- well, night- it was somehow both. The Guard was planning on one big bust in a weeks time, and they wanted everything- strategy, timing, and people- to be perfect. Then there was the arrest from two days ago, when Yami had been given- like the first time- not enough information on the actual opperations, forcing him to play a small game with one of the higher-ups of the illedgal business.
This, although resulting in the Pharaoh and his hikari knowing everything, also resulted in one key witness being found spouting, over and over again, what they had been doing, never stopping. The rest of the Guard was confused, and when Juni asked who had done this to the man, he had only replied, "The Shadows... the Pharaoh..." and then went back onto rumbling.
Naturally, Juni was more than angry with Yami and Yugi- only knowing the 'split' personality thing, he assumed that Yugi had done this pruposefully. Yugi denied, and, even when faced with a Temple Mage (from some place called Winding Circle or something) and a Truth Spell, the idea that it was done purposefully went out the window.
However, as Juni had thought only Yugi could control the Shadows, Yugi got stuck with the paper work.
:-Yami, can you PLEASE do something less drastic next time?-:
:What? Aibou, you know how I feel when there's too little info. I don't like sentencing people to death or imprisonment unless they deserve it.:
:-I know Yami, but other's don't. As least we got Juni to say that he would give us more info next time.-:
:Hai, but NOW he wants us to spend tomorrow night working on a write-up and recomendations for Bakura.:
:-And Ryou?-:
:...yes, and Ryou. Though the Thief will probably be doing everything.:
Yugi sighed as he almost crashed into another person, also leaving the buildings. "Gomen- er, sorry! Didn't mean-"
"It's alright, Yugi." A very familiar voice reassured.
Yugi's eye gave a definate twitch, as something tingled in the air. "Ryou?"
"Wrong one."
"Bakura."
"Bingo. And... did your eye just twitch?"
At this, Yami switched places with his hikari, confronting the King of Thieves. "We are NOT going to start this again, Tomb Robber."
"No, we won't. Especially now that we'll be working together. By the way, I love how you do paperwork- I could have blown up your office and you wouldn't have noticed."
Yami fought the urge to strangle the other dark and the even more prominent urge to let his eye twitch. "Yes, well, considering that we have to come up with a somewhat-beliveable reasoning for certain... events when on duty, you can hardly blame me."
Bakura smirked. "Of course. Even the Pharaoh must lie once ina while."
Yami growled as they began walking away. "Even the Pharaoh will lie if he needs to."
"Even the Pharaoh will speak in the third person apparently, too."
"Even the Pharaoh will send your ass back to the Shadow Realm and seal you there, too, if you don't shut up."
Both had the impression of someones giggling in the backs of their minds, and therefore both decided it would be wise to not continue this conversation for fear of black-mail material later on.
"You ever realized how evil hikaris can be?" Bakura grumbled as they entered the Underground City.
Yami sighed. "All to well."
The next morning... night... well, when they woke up, Yugi suddenly remembered what he was going to ask the other hikari.
"Ryou, why were you at the government offices?" He asked over a gourmet breakfast, prepared a la Ryou.
The hikari in question sighed. "We- well, mainly Bakura, but it sounded like a good idea anyways- decided to get a job. And Juni had been eyeing us like we were some kind of prize."
Yugi gave a small laugh. "Ah, yes, he can be like that sometimes."
Ryou rolled his eyes. "Well, we talked to him, and he told us to ask you to show us the ropes. Er- he doesn't know about-"
"Just that we're Kage no Mage- and I guess he now gets the gists that we have something to do with the Shadows."
"And that's it?"
"Well- I apparently have a split personality."
Ryou laughed then, fully. "I said I had MPD."
Yugi shook his head. "I never actually told him. I mentioned it to Agni that I might act differently from time to time, and Agni told Juni. Juni made his own deductions."
"Then he's probably thinking all of the Kage no Mage have something like MPD."
"And why should we tell him otherwise?"
It was obviously a rhetorical question, and the two sat together eating, listening to their yamis bicker with each as spirits over by the windows about something the two hikaris would rather not know about.
Yugi sighed as he stretched. "Agni should be coming over soon- I don't know if he can see spirits, though I would imagine yes."
Ryou cocked his head. "And why would he be able to do that?"
"He's a hybrid. Something about human and fire-spirit. Not too sure on the details, but he doesn't ask me and I don't ask him. Kazille's the same, but with a wind-spirit."
They both decided to lounge around that day, Ryou borrowing some of Yugi's clothing ((-He's gotten almost as tall as Yami now, ne?-) ((Did you expect him to be short forever, hikari?))), the Pharaoh's hikari taking them out the next day to shop.
A dinging noise sounded throughout the apparment, and Yami disappeared immediately, Bakura, confusion on his face, following suit.
Moments later the door opened and Agni and Kazille walked in, giving warm welcomes to the two hikaris.
"Hey! You guys want to do something tonight?"
Yugi shrugged. "I dont' have work tonight. Ryou?"
"...nothing that I know of. Sure."
Kazille's grin broadened. "Then we can show you around the Axis!"
Although both hikaris had smiles on their faces, masive sweatdrops were also apparent. "Sure... Kazille..." Yugi said hesitantly, wishing that the day would end- and soon.
Yami was silent, watching Bakura move stealthily ahead of him, keeping his thoughts to himself- and his aibou.
:-And Bakura does it again! Document # 18 is now safely in the Thief's clutches! He's making his way- oh, and theregoes another opponent, down for the count! Now, ifhe could just get back outside, he'd be home free!-:
:Would it be possible for youto stop the running commentary, aibou:
:-What else am I supposed to do? You do all the work, anyways.-:
:And Bakura does most of that now, too.: he replied wryly.
:-Aw, feeling unloved?-:
:No.: Was the sharp reply, and Yugi smirked as Bakura managed to get out of the building, Yami following immediately.
Upon finding an empty rooftop, the two decidedly 'dropped' the folders and binders they had gathered, then deciding to actually look at what was on said documents.
The first time this had happened, Yami, Yugi AND Ryou had protested strongly against it- and, upon reading what was actually in the folders, agreed with Bakura to make it a normal accident. Afterall, they'd prefer to not be sent on cases about something called 'Funny Bunnies'.
Yami gave a small sigh as he read what it said, as did Yugi and Ryou who had appeared in spirit form to read the documents. However, the sighs were for different reasons.
Yami sighed because he couldn't believe what stupid things people could do.
Ryou sighed because he as grateful that Bakura wouldn't be after Juni's head later, demanding why they were given such a stupid case.
Yugi sighed because he wouldn't have to force Yami into his soul room to keep him from murdering Bakura for attempting to murder Juni.
And Bakura, hearing their sighs, glared at all three. "What?"
A month passed by very quickly in the Axis, Ryou and Bakura realized. No wonder Yugi and Yami never truly 'tried' to go home. They atempted at first- and then quickly just gave up, realizing that fate- as much as everyone they knew suddered at the word- just didn't want them to leave.
Ryou stretched luxuriously on the couch, wondering what Malik would say or act like if he was here. A pang of guilt suddenly caught him, and he looked out the window at the city.
Yugi was currently out with Agni, having another one of their Game Battles- though whether it was actually Yugi or Yami playing, Ryou was never quite sure. He had seen enough of them to realize that the two had around the same natural talent at games, although amazingly different strategies. Apparently, Hitobi was quite enjoying their constant gaming- he was certainly making a lot of money off it, enough for him to have bought three new machines since Ryou had first been introduced to the bar on his second day there.
Bakura was quite happy to have the loft to just him and Ryou- as he made a point to remind Ryou at least twice a day (though usually more) that Ryou, as strong and what-not as he was, was still the yami's, and no one else's. Bakura had made sure that that point got through to everyone here- no one called him 'their friend' they called him 'a friend'. Introductions? "This is a friend, Bakura Ryou."
Ryou smirked as he heard a crashing from the kitchen- as much training as Yami and Yugi had done, Yami still wasn't able to have a completely solid body while in 'spirit form'. Bakura, however...
"Ryou! What the hell is this... THING?"
Ryou sighed, his smirk remaining in place, dissapearing as he heard another strange crashing sound to be replaced by a sweat-drop.
"I think that was the blender, Bakura. Maybe you should just leave it alone?"
"Only if you clean it up."
Ryou sighed again, grumbling as he stood from his spot. 'The kitchen is probably a mess...'
Contrary to Ryou's previous thoughts, the kitchen was not a mess- just... not as tidy as the rest of the house. Especially the area around the sink, as Bakura seemed to have at least tried to clean something.
Picking up some of the plates, Ryou placed them in the sink and got out a scrub brush, a cloth, and a small, red bandana he wore around his wrist. Quickly pulling his hair away from his face and wrapping the bandana tightly around his head to hold his hair like that, a quick knot in the back to make it stay that way, he set about cleaning.
All the while, he felt Bakura's eyes on him, roving over his body. It was uncomfortable at first, Ryou mused, when Bakura had first returned and they were cleaning up from diner while Isis had Yugi helping to teach Malik some of the things the Pharaoh's hikari had learnt recently in school. Ryou hadn't realized it at first, wanting to get done so that he could start on his own work, but when Isis called in that they would be heading to the library, and asking if Ryou wanted to come, his attention had become trained on his yami.
Bakura had been out in spirit form, leaning against the table, eyes never leaving his hikari's lithe frame. Ryou had called back that he would finish here and then stay back to do his own work, to which Isis replied with an 'okay' and Yugi and Malik 'aaaawwwww'ed, then continued cleaning, acutely aware of his yami's gaze.
Ryou had never questioned Bakura about why he did that, nor gave him any signs that he knew or cared. It had become comfortable, a tradition when Ryou was cleaning up alone that Bakura would materialize and watch over the light like a hawk.
Finishing, Ryou noticed that Bakura's eyes were still trained on him, which was unusual- the yami stopped the moment that Ryou did.
"...what?"
Bakura blinked, grabbed Ryou's hand and dragged him towards the couch, thrusting the light onto it. Ryou blinked up at the dark, but Bakura ripped Ryou's shirt off and began examining the lighter half.
"...hm..."
Ryou wasn't entirely sure he liked being half-naked on a couch, his yami towering over him, but gave a mental shrug.
"Have you been working out, hikari?"
Ryou blinked, eyes swivling in his head to fix his yami with a piercing glare. "What do you mean by that?"
Bakura (who had somehow managed to find a way to sit on the back of the couch and still see every inch of the light) snorted. "What, offended that I commented that you've gotten more muscular?"
Ryou blinked then, looking at his arms, chest and what he could see of his back "Er...?"
The yami flung the shirt back at Ryou, who quickly donned it again. "You are a wuss, hikari."
Ryou blanched. "What?"
"Just what I said."
"I am NOT a wuss, Bakura!"
"Then prove it."
"Fine... how?"
Bakura rolled his eyes, gesturing to the couch (which Ryou had vacated upon blanching). "Sit here, with me, with no shirt on, until the Pharaoh gets back."
Ryou went from blanching to blushing, but accepted the dare as Bakura slid down onto the couch properly and Ryou slowly took his shirt off again. He glanced at the dark, who was looking at the tv, as though willing it to turn on. Ryou sighed, forgetting about the dare already, and grabbed a small, black, square, quite unlike most TV changers.
"You might want to use this."
Grabbing the remote, Bakura gave a small glare at his other half, but began flicking through the channels. "Not bad... actually, not bad at all. Except these cooking stations-"
"Watch it, yami. I happen to like cooking."
"As we all known way to well, hikari. Ooh- Constantine. Not really a thriller, but-" Bakura left off, seeing a semi-scared look on the hikari's face. "Alright, we're watching this."
"Ba-"
"Are you a wuss, or a semi-wuss with no shirt on?"
Ryou was quiet after that, having just realized that this would be perfect blackmail material. Bakura, of course, realized that too, and decided to use it to his advantage, and torment Ryou as much as possible.
"Oh hikari..."
The sight that Yugi and therefore Yami walked in on was not something they had expected- and made them eternally glad that Agni had to go to work and they hadn't invited anyone else over.
Yes, the loft was unnaturally neat, just as they had left it. Another thing they had left was Ryou on the couch. What they hadn't left was Ryou on the couch, shirtless, curled up in a ball on Bakura's lap, who was somehow solid. The yami's arms- though nearly impossible to see from the light that was the last of the credits of some movie on the tv- were obviously wrapped around Ryou's thin- and yet slightly muscular form, his head resting on the light's.
Both were asleep, and had apparently been for some time.
Yami solidified next to Yugi, watching the scene with suspicion. :Aibou...:
:-Leave them, yami. No one's coming over, anyways. Let's leave them be.-:
Yami pouted. :Then what are we to do, my light:
A small smirk crossed Yugi's lips. :-Weeeeellll...-:
Another week passed, along with a number of hard-learned lessons. One of those being that although watching Bakura and Ryou wake up can be entertaining, it can also be dangerous to one's health should they catch you watching- and not nesecarily from the darker half, either.
Another was that although Yugi and Yami had easily gotten used to the taste of coke and sake, straight sake was not good for the light to ingest- though, not as bad as straight sugar and caffine was. Part two of the last lesson was that it is far better to let Yugi drink straight sake than coke, which rule also applies to sake rather than sake AND coke. Alcohol, sugar and caffine equals one very sleepless yami, one very hyper hikari, and another yami and hikari, both disgruntled, annoyed, and just plain angry.
Thus we find our quartet, one month and one week after Ryou and Bakura first arrived in the Axis, sitting around the kitchen table, eating some take-out (Ryou was too tired from their night's work to cook anything), and discussing their plans.
What plans, you ask? Well...
"I don't know. I do like it here, but I miss everyone." Yugi commented, stuffing some Chicken Fried Rice into his mouth.
Yami sighed, testing his chopsticks with now nearly-solid arms, hands and fingers. "I feel the same way. I've- we've' gotten too used to this place. Aibou, don't talk with your mouth full."
"Hai, Yami," before more Rice went into his mouth.
Ryou grabbed an Egg Roll from the main plate, holding it between his chopsticks as he pondered the situation. "I know how you feel. Over a month, and I don't want to leave. And you guys have been here for longer than that."
Bakura quickly grabbed the Egg Roll from Ryou's chopsticks, stuffing it in his mouth quickly as Ryou tried to eat air, blinked, and wondered where his Egg Roll went. "Frankly, I don't really care. It's fun here, it's fun at home. But there's far better prizes here than there."
Ryou nodded. "Hate to admit it, this place has some real class. They know how to live, and it seems to work really well. I looked through the documents- the last person to die of not natural causes was an officer, and that was just beforeyou guys got here."
Yugi nodded. "Yeah... we kinda were recruited to take over his job."
Yami leaned back in his chair, staring absent-mindedly at the now-empty plate in front his his hikari. "Why don't we go back for a bit? We know Agni's signature quite well by now, and should be able to find it again no problem. Just for a vacation, to see everyone."
Yugi rolled his eyes, pointing his chop sticks at his dark. "Right. And who's going to be monitoring everything here, hm?"
"I will, of course!" Another voice said from the door to the kitchen.
Yelping, Yugi and Ryou swivelled around in their seats, Yami and Bakura disapearing into their respective Sennen items, said items glowing gently.
Agni stood in the door way, leaning against the framework, Kazille and Juni behind him. A smirk graced his soft feautres, and, with a sinking feeling, Yugi and Ryou knew that the other three had realized the truth, if not from other hints along the way, but from the obvious display before them.
"So... when were you going to tell us about these... others... of yours?" Juni asked, sliding further into the kitchen.
Yugi sighed. "We weren't really sure-"
"If you could trust us? We've been working together for seven years, Yugi! And you couldn't trust us?"
Ryou quickly jumped in between the Guard and the Commander. "It's merely self-preservation. We've realized that to stay... well, alive in many situations, we can't go around telling people that we're basically..."
"Possessed?" Kazille supplied, finally stepping fully into the kitchen.
Yami and Bakura both materialized then, bristling. "We do not 'possess' them, per say." Yami informed the other three, not caring about their startled looks.
Bakura snorted. "As much as I hate to agree with the Pharaoh, we don't. We share the bodies- it's as much ours as it is their's. But our hikaris are ours, and no one else's."
Agni nodded his head in understanding. "Ah. So that's what the whole 'no saying that I'm YOUR friend' comes from."
Juni blinked at the hybrid. "Agni, you're okay with this?"
"It's self-preservation. I had to always stay in my human form if I didn't want to get massacred by everyone else. Keep it hidden, keep yourself safe."
Juni sighed. "Guess I owe you for jumping on you like that."
Yugi shook his head. "No, it's understandable."
Yami took over where his light had left off. "You thought that by now we should be able to trust you with everything- and, for the most part, you're right. But it's a habbit, and one that's hard to break."
There was silence, before Juni spoke. "So... you're going to be going back to your home?"
Yugi shrugged. "Just for a little while. There's some people there that I would like to at least say 'hi' to."
Juni sighed, stretching. "Since you've been working non-stop for the last seven years-how about a year? You too, Ryou."
Blinks went around the kitchen, before agni exploded. "Why don't Iget a year off?"
"I'm not your boss."
The fire-hybrid quieted, whilea few chuckles souded in the room. Suddenly, however, the flame-hair snapped up, eyes filled with confusion. "So who is it that I alwaysplay against in those game battles?"
Yugi shrugged. "It depends. But whoever starts is the one that continues playing for the rest of the time."
Agni smirked. "Alright, then. Next time we play, I want to know who I'm going against."
The two Pharaohs smirked back in return. "Gladly."
Kazille laughed, gathering up thedishes. "Alright. So you guys are going on a one-year vacation? We'll take care of thisplace then."
Ryou jumped up and started helping her, Bakura dispearing back into the Ring.Yami glanced around, said a quiet good-bye, before disapearing, too.
Yugi stretched, eyeing the small group of people that had come to send them off. Agni, Kazille, Juni, Hitobi, Kin, and the little girl that had been sucked into the original Shadow Sphere were there, drinks in hands, having just finished a going-away party.
Thanks toRyou and Bakura's information, Yugi had merely packed three large sacks of gold, and was planning on going straight to this hidden bank as soon as they got back to Domino, putting some into an account and exchanging some for yen. Then- well, they'd wait and see what happened.
Ryou gently smiled at everyone as Yugi blinked, and widely grinned. "Don't worry- we'll be back before you know it!"
Agni gave them a thumbs-up. "Right. And I get time to practice my gaming skills!"
Yugi replied with a thumbs-up, Kazille giving him a small hug.
The young girl walked up to Ryou slowly, her parents behind her, glaring at the albino. "Er... sir..."
"Ryou."
"Sir Ryou-"
"No." He told her gently, "Just Ryou."
"Ryou... kun?"
Ryou's eye twitched, but he ended up nodding.
"Ryou-kun, when will you be back?"
"In about a year. Why?"
"Cause you two feel... nice."
She then quickly gave him a hug, before hugging Yugi around the leg and running over to her parents, who were obviously surprised by her actions and decided that it was time to leave.
Kazille giggled. "You two would make great parents, then."
Ryou choked on air in surprise while Yugi laughed. "Which, I can assure you, we won't be for a while, Kazille."
The wind hybrid sighed, but then grinned. "Well then. I hereby name you two god-fathers to any of my children."
Agni pulled her away. "Let's talk about that later, hmm?"
Juni sighed. "It'll be hard working without you two- but I'm sure we'll get through. But remember- one year, or we'll have to replace you."
Yugi laughed. "One year. I doubt we'll be away that long, though."
Ryou nodded. "We'll see you guys soon."
Hitobi nodded, grinning as he handed both of them two slips of paper. "Five gallons of whatever you want, on the house, when you get back."
Kin clapped both of them on the shoulders, nearly knocking down Yugi who was unprepared for it. "We'll have your lofts perfect for when you get back. And yes, I said lofts- Ryou, whenever you get back, you can have your very own loft. How does that sound?"
Ryou grinned appreciatively. "That would be great, Kin."
"Alright then. I suppose it's time for you guys to leave?" Juni asked slowly, looking at his watch.
Ryou nodded. "It was four in the morning when I left, yet I got here about noon. Eight hours difference about- should be good to leave now."
Kazille sniffed affectionately. "I'll miss you guys! Have fun! And DON'T BLOW EVERYTHING UP!"
Laughs were heard on both sides as the Shadows wrapped lovingly around their Masters, bringing them back to their homeland.
Yugi starred out on noon-time, Domino City,Ryou beside him, the yamis in spirit form. Blinking away the sun after the normal darkness and shadows of the Axis, their eyes slowly re-adjusted to the sunny light of mid-July, and they promptly shrugged off the cloaks and long-sleeved shirts, leaving tanks and t-shirts visible.
Yugi stretched out his arms. "I missed the sun."
Ryou laughed. "I think I'm going to see if we can get you more sun."
Yugi blinked. "More sun? How?"
Ryou laughed. "You'll see."
They were silent, wondering what they should do first. Ryou turned to Yugi slowly, watching the other Shadow Mage out of the corner of his eye. "You know, you probably shouldn't go around town like that."
Yugi eyed the albino, watching the smirk play on the other's lips. He didn't quite understand what the Ring Holder was talking about, until Yami prodded him mentally, and comprehension began to dawn on him. "Oh. Well... where do you suggest we go?"
Ryou turned fully to Yugi, before motioning the other hikari over to a small, shadowed area. "Well... first off, some place that you won't be recognised... and you'll fit right in with your cloak, too."
A week later found the two standing outside an airport, the sun burning down on their mostly leather-clad bodies. Mostly meaning the other... 'clothing' they were wearing consisted of gold and/or skin.
Grinning even wider, Yugi laughed out loud as a small breeze whipped his golden bangs into his eyes, the sun and sand making him squint. "This is what I call sun!" His laugh was cut off my a large amount of sand being blown into his open mouth.
Ryou joined in his companion's glee, Bakura's enthusiasm at finally being 'home' become intoxicating, as was Yugi's good mood. Apparently, Yami was doing the same thing to the other hikari- and it resulted in two happy, giddy and excited people and two happy, home-sick spirits.
"He should be here to pick us up soon..." Ryou told Yugi as a crimson sports car pulled up beside them, the sandy conditions from where it certainly came from having no affect on the shinny paint.
"Hey! You guys need a lift?" The driver asked, and Yugi didn't recognize him at first, the beginnings of a mustache and a goatee and dark sunglasses hiding his face quite well. But after pondering it for a few moments, and noticing the gold, the only person that came to mind that it could be was-
"Malik!" Yugi exclaimed, happy to see the leader of the Tomb Keepers clan.
Taking off his sunglasses, Malik's lavendar eyes squinted to make out Yugi as Ryou began putting their bags in the back of the car. "Hey, Yugi! Long time no see! ...you look like a ghost. Did you turn goth?"
Yugi rolled his eyes, used to Malik's bluntness. "No, Malik. Where I was there wasn't very much sun."
"Ah. England!"
That only served for another laugh, as Yugi threw his last few bags into the back and slid into the passenger's seat, Ryou right behind them. The albino whapped Malik good-naturedly over the head, laughing. "You wish. How is Isis' exhibit there, anyways?"
Malik shrugged as he pulled onto the highway. "Ah, pretty good. But she decidedly left a few tablets and Shadow-centered things here."
Yugi cocked his head. "The Tablet of the Nameless Pharaoh?"
"Bingo. She Saw that you would be coming soon- though, for some reason, she couldn't See where you were or anything. Regardless, she packed up the exhibit in Domino and sent most of it to England, while the things we'd be intereseted in back here."
Patting the leather seating, Ryou looked for the first time at the sportscar properly. "Er, Malik?"
"Yeah?"
"...where's the bike?"
"What, you want me to get three people on a bike with lots of luggage and drive you back like that?"
"Well, no..."
"Then why are you complaining?"
Ryou shrugged, but Yugi easily picked up the conversation. "I heard that you found this Gringotts place, too. Did you get yourself this car and a new bike?"
Malik's grin widened. "How ever did you know, my dear Yugi? Of course I did! And I've even been working, trying not to spend too much or get Isis nervous about me having so much money."
Ryou sighed. "Not that Bakura really cared about that when we were living here."
Yugi nodded, understanding, and was about to ask another question when Malik suddenly turned up the volume on the stereo, and they blasted one of the many songs that Yugi was soon to get aquainted with in the next few months.
Notes
1) Yeah... this is gonna be the only actual 'note' this chapter. Obviously, a lot happened while in the Axis, some of which gets refered near-constantly. As such, whenever I finish everything else, I will start working on another little side-story. But until then, BLAH. Yes, BLAH. Don't ask- you won't understand.
And ta-dah. Yeah... now that I'm up to here, I think I'm gonna put this guy on hiatus and work my ass off at finishing Running and Secrets. I already have this whole thing planned out- no need to rush this, really. Besdies, before I do chappie five, I would like to at least read the sixth book to get my info straight, which means waiting for July. I might go on and do chappie four, though- it's already half-way written, anyways. Just need to do the begininng and the end- the middle's already over 15, 000 words.
So, yeah... and I finally found my Fallen CD- it's was hidden in the stupid CD player at the cottage- and was listening to it, when I heard Taking me Over, and I immediately wanted to do a song-fic for it. Then I realized that someone's probably already done, THEN I realized that I had already done one to this song- but for Digimon. Maybe I could check...?
Alrightie, I just checked. There's... probably ten fics that use this song, and one of them is nearly identical to my idea. So, no idea stealing, people. I might write it, then stick it on my website. Not a bad idea, actually...
And I just joined the Pharaoh's Hikari yahoo group. Oh dear, I really think that should Kristy-chan or Cely-chan get a hold of the url, I would promptly be murdered for daring to asociate with such a group. I could calssify those two as either Fangirls or Rabid fangirls- but not Rabid YAOI fanigrls. Oh, no. Cely-chan is so totally against it, and Kristy-chan just thinks its weird. (Sighs) Ah, the pain of being the only pro-yaoi person in a group of fangirls.
ANYWAYS, we're not sure what to do now. We as in me and Shila, who decided that just for a moment she would drop in and kick me in the ass. Oh yes, for those who were familiar with her and are wondering where she went, Shila decided to move. Well, she actually decided to go to some random bording school further North of here, and leave me with the other insane people here. As such... Shila shall no longer be a part of my wonderful author's notes. Though she might end up getting her own account for once...
-Song- (And hopefully candy eventually...)
"Kimi o nosete" from Kayao Miyazaki's "Tenku no shiro Laputa"
"Ano chiheisen kagayaku no wa
Dokoka ni kimi o kakushite iru kara
Takusan no hi ga natsukashii no wa
Ano doreka hitotsu ni kimi ga iru kara
Saa dekake you hitokire no PAN
NAIFU RAMPU kaban ni tsumekonde
"Otou-san ga nokoshita atsui omoi
Okaa-san ga kureta ano manazashi
Chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o kakushite
Kagayaku hitomi kirameku tomoshibi
Chikyuu wa mawaru kimi o nosete
Itsuka kitto deau bokura o nosete."
For translation, go to http/ pachome1. pacific. net. sg/ belldandy/ nosete j.htm Remove the spaces, too.
Another little thingy.
I decided to read the afore-mentioned almost-my-idea song fic. And ya know what? I realized that I read it... I dunno, a while ago. And it's not really my idea, either. Oh, no. My idea is so... dark. Depressing. From the part of me my friends call the 'pysco' or 'suicide' me. Anything that has to deal with death, really. And this one... it's more... happy-ish. And so, I shall do a song fic, AND post it here.
Yes, I've already done one to this song. BUT it's in a different section, SO it doesn't count.
Regardless, it's still going up on my website. Bah.