Chapter 8-

Heba shuddered. Never in a million years did he picture himself sitting shoulder deep in a hot tub directly across from Atemu. He kept his focus on the water, his arms moving around swiftly but gently as a diversion from their awkward situation. Heba couldn't cope, the atmosphere was tense, even more so with Atemu's parents relaxing in the hot tub next to theirs. Ever since they entered the peaceful and refreshing environment, the pair hadn't said a word to each other, their previous conversation cut off abruptly as they divest down to their swimming trunks and test the waters between them. They'd send shy glances, but as always, their stubborn nature blocked them from breaking the undesired tension.

"Hey, Zak, not when the kids are around."

"Both are young adults love, not kids."

Heba raised his head towards the bickering duo only to snap it to the side abruptly, his head bowing in utter embarrassment. He felt his cheeks rise in temperature and coughed to conceal his flushed state. They reminded him so much of his parents, it was strangely bizarre considering they were entirely different people at heart and mind.

As his subconscious wandered to his parents he found himself frowning. Oh, how he misses his parents dearly. He's been on vacation for two weeks, two whole weeks without speaking to them. Not even a single phone call. He insisted that he'd be fine and they didn't need to call constantly. He thought he'd cope with the distance but was sorely mistaken. He's homesick, he misses his family, his friends.. But most of all he misses his fluffy companion, Yusei...

"Heba... Are you alright?"

That deep voice... Heba's throat turned dry, his cheeks flushing crimson from the piercing stare he received. He hesitantly raised his head and offered the concerned teen a nod, he was afraid that if he spoke up his voice would waver. He wanted to save the embarrassment and postpone it till a later date. He had no idea why he was acting the way he was, his body seemed to flare up with a wanton burn over simple things whether it be over Atemu's touch or his voice calling out his name.

Atemu sighed, dripping fingers rubbing through newly conditioned tresses. "You haven't voiced a word since we arrived, what's on your mind?"

Heba blushed profusely, his body turning until his back was towards the other. Why was he getting remarkably flustered by a simple question? Atemu had all the right reasons to assume something was wrong by his strange behaviour. It was more than true that they hadn't spoken a word since their encounter inside the school toilet. Heba's head lowered at the mental images that filtered through his mind. He was basically rejected, dammit. "Nothing is on my mind."

That was a lie. He was still in a mental battle with his inner demons that accumulated because of his blunt confession. Atemu didn't give him a solid answer, of course it's in his nature to assume the worse.

"Come here shorty." His arms opened wide in a warm and enticing invitation, however, his expression was blank, an emotionless mask forming at his own soft-spoken demand. Heba suppressed a snort that threatened to escape his lips at the lack of emotions filtering on Atemu's face, he could at least show him a little sentiment from time to time. Despite the spur of negativity, he accepted the invitation albeit reluctantly and wrapped his arms around him with little enthusiasm, but made sure to break the embrace as quick as it started. He didn't want to come off too clingy.

Even despite his own reasons for breaking the warm embrace, he couldn't stop the pain that made itself known by the sudden loss of contact.

He scowled in disgust, his eyebrows lowering with the small gesture.

Why was he so attached?

With negative thoughts swarming his mind he tried to take a step back to allow a little distance between their bodies, it was oddly needed with how flustered Heba grew from their close proximity. But as he took his first step, he found his body crashing back into a firm chest, a hand held securely on his back to keep him in place.

"Atemu.." He whispered, violet irises seeking out swirls of ruby. He inhaled deeply as the face that's the object of his attraction grew near, the short gap between them closing until it was nonexistent. Their lips met with the faintest brush, almost as if hesitant to meet and take a step further. The pace remained the same, none were willing to break the set pace nor were they willing to break apart despite the still on-going debate inside the smaller males mind.

Obviously everything came to an end, sometimes too sudden for comfort.

Atemu begrudgingly broke the kiss with great reluctance to acknowledge the strange sound off to his right, he titled his head to the side and found his lips forming a frown. He had no idea what the sound was, but his parents were nowhere in sight, putting two and two together wasn't so difficult. However, despite his own mental assurance, he couldn't shake the dreadful feeling that grew in the pit of his stomach. Something was amiss, there was definitely something bizarre about his parents absence.

"Heba." He pulled the male at arms length who gazed up at him with major confusion. Atemu ignored the glance, he had to stay focused, he needed to be on alert.

"Atemu? hey.." He raised his hand to cup Atemu's cheek, his gaze never wavering. "Is there something wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

"No." He quickly tilted the boys head to connect his lips with his own in a reassuring gesture despite the chill that trailed up his spine. He broke the kiss as quick as it started, his head snapping back towards the door in which the strange sound was coming from. He wasted no time in dragging his body out of the hot tub and pulling Heba with him, being sure to ignore whatever protest that escape the shorter boys lips. "Put your clothes back on shorty, we need to go and find my parents."

Something seemed to click in Heba's mind. His eyes finally focusing on the lack of bodies in the room, it had him on edge, he didn't understand why. "Ok." Was all he could reply, his mind wandering to all the possible scenarios to where Amy and Zak could be. He quickly went to work on adding extra layers to his body, Atemu soon following after.

But a few minutes later they found themselves at the door, Atemu taking the lead in case someone were to leap out at them. He opened the door and hesitantly peeked his head out, his head turning in every direction, left, right, up, down to make sure the coast was clear. There was nothing.. Of course.

He let out a sigh of relief, his fingers dragging through his tatted hair. "I guess I'm just paranoid."

"..Heheh.." Heba gave a nervous laugh. What could he say? He was paranoid too. "Where did Amy and Zak get up too?"

"Right here boys, we decided to leave you two love birds alone."

Two figures emerged around the corner with a milkshake in each hand. They handed one to the boys and kept one for themselves "So are you too, you know..An item?"

Just as Heba went to deny their assumptions, Atemu beat him to it but with a response he never expected.

"Of course, isn't that right Habibti?"

Heba's throat turned dry, his eyes snapping back and forth between the three present in the room. His cheeks burned, he could have sworn someone poured gasoline at his feet and set him aflame. Damn was he hot.. "Umm.." He pulled at his collar, sweat forming at his brow "Yeee-haha.. sure."

"Kawaii!" Amy squealed, her hands shooting towards her mouth to stifle her giggles.. Heba was sure that if he was in an anime, Amy would have hearts flying around her with a blinding background. Again, how could he compare her to his mother.. What the hell was he thinking?

Atemu slung his arm around the flushed teen and smirked. He was enjoying it more that he should. "Why so red faced habibti? Are you feeling alright?"

Heba immediately straightened his back and nodded almost simultaneously, his eyes anywhere but the three present in the room with him. "Maybe because it's hot in here. Yeah, that's why."

"Oh really? The temperature seems pretty cool to me, don't you think so hot stuff?"

'Hot stuff' nodded his head in agreement, his prize smirk turning more distinct. "Indeed, that's odd."

Heba sipped at his milkshake as a distraction from his extremely awkward situation. Even though he was filled to the brim with embarrassment, his mind would always tune in the words Atemu spoke mere minutes before. He had no idea what everything inquired.. Is he dating Atemu or was it just a bluff? A teasing moment?

Is he truly ready for a relationship?

-x-x-x-x-x-

Yugi leaned back in her chair, her hand held over her belly as a pain that had her groaning made itself known. She felt horrible, never before has she suffered from a bellyache as bad as she has it now. She was thoroughly exhausted and her head seemed to torment her in a way that made her wish she was unconscious. What a great way to add to all her sufferings? She let the pen drop from her hand and tuned out her irritating teacher who seemed to make it an obligation to talk constantly without taking a single damn breath. She had the sudden urge to sock him in the jaw or rip out his voice box to halt his ramblings. If she could get ANY satisfaction out of her lesson, killing her teacher would be on the top of her list.

She growled lowly in her throat, the sound reverberating deep within her chest. If it's not blood her body is after then she's clueless to what the problem could be. She hasn't fed for three days, but there's always a chance that she underfed, thus her body was never satisfied with its previous meal.

She tilted her head towards her lover who was face deep into a book unrelated to the work given out at the start of the lesson. He seemed genuinely intrigued, she ignored it. Leaning over, she hissed loud enough for Yami to hear and Yami only. He immediately acknowledged his wife with a raised eyebrow, his finger held between the pages to mark his place.

"Little one?"

She bit her lip at the tone of his voice, it had her shivering internally. "Yami." She replied coolly, her eyes falling to lock on the crook of his neck, the flawless skin presented to her called out for her to come closer, to attach her fangs onto the flesh and taste the substance concealed behind skin. Her eyes dilated, her fangs elongating subconsciously..

Yami's eyes widened, it didn't take him long to get the unsaid message behind his wife's actions. "Ok, at lunch."

She held in a whine that fought to escape past her lips, she was hoping she could feed instantly instead of waiting until lunchtime dragged on. She slumped back into her seat and endured the agony of two hours work before she could get a taste of her husband's delicious blood.

Yes, she may just kill her teacher...

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Yugi, little one, that was out of hand."

Yugi ignored her husband's reprimanding to drag him down the school hall and into a secluded area, namely the janitors closet. She locked the door behind her and pinned her lover up against the wall swiftly to not waste any precious time. Her head tilted to the side in a way that Yami would call adorable if she didn't represent a demon out for blood. Her pupils were dilated, her fangs protruding past parted lips.

She was losing her patience.

"I think I underfed." She ran a hand through her hair, the other cupping her stomach "I'm so irresponsible, I have a baby to protect.."

"Hey." Yami wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her closer, his chin resting atop her head "This isn't your fault, you misjudged your hunger is all."

She accepted the embrace wholeheartedly and wrapped her arms around her mates neck, her eyes locking with majestic crimson. "If you are sure.." She failed to understand why she was feeling a range of different emotions, mainly negative. Yes, during her last pregnancy she acted somewhat similar but her experience in the present seemed almost abnormal. Not only did she want to kill her teacher, she also wanted to walk endlessly in the dark just for the fun of it.

Odd, she knew.

Yami frowned and inhaled deeply, his forefinger and thumb rubbing at his temples. "The lack of mind link is becoming an irritation, I'm finding it hard to read what's going through your mind." His tone was filled with guilt and annoyance, two contradicting emotions clashing together. Yugi bowed her head, worrying her husband wasn't on her 'to do list'.

"I'm sorry love, I just have this strange feeling.. I can't place my finger on it." She scowled, her eyes glaring at the floor in which a range of cleaning supplies lay. "Just feed me so I can get out of this dump, the smell is revolting."

Despite his wife's words, Yami found himself smiling and wrapping her up in his arms, his head tilting to the side moderately to allow his lover access to his neck. It didn't take long for something long and sharp to brush over the flesh and penetrate mere seconds later. His grip on her tightened, his eyes closing at their close proximity. Not only did Yami enjoy the feeling of being fed from, he also relished the contact between them, something both of them can never get enough of despite being mates for over 18 years.

So caught up in his own enjoyment, he almost missed the fangs leaving his neck and the slight pat on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and smiled brightly, instantly taking note of the fulfilled and content look in his lover's eyes. "Done?"

Yugi nodded and relinquished her hold on her husband's shoulder "Yup." Her eyes glinted mischievously, Yami immediately picked up on the sudden change.

"Little one?"

"I still want to kill our teacher."

"Oh Ra."

-x-x-x-x-x-

The whispering wind moved elegantly in the night, brushing by the figure drinking in his surroundings from his position on the bench. Amethyst eyes glinted in the moonlight, two pools of beauty shining with childlike curiosity as a star shot towards the horizon and disappeared to never be seen again. He counted each and every star that glinted beside the moon, his arms wrapping around his body simultaneously to produce warmth. He was content, the night so resplendent but also mysterious. He loved every second, cherished everything that made night what it was.

"Heba, you'll get a cold out here."

Heba, never turning his gaze from the sky, reached out his hand and held up his index finger in a 'hold on' gesture. His hand dropped and immediately wrapped around his legs that were held to his chest. Still never turning away from the sky. "It's so beautiful out here, space is a mystery huh?"

Atemu never responded. He took a seat beside the smaller and followed his gaze towards the sky. Many emotions broke through his front, one distinct emotion that stood out more than anything. It was desolation, but why? It was a mystery. He leaned back and placed his elbow on the armrest, his right cheek resting on his palm.

"So Atemu."

Atemu never moved from his position, only tilting his head moderately to the side to show he was listening. He was sure that Heba would continue, but when he didn't, he decided to answer "What's up shorty?"

Heba snorted at the nickname, it was overused. "We need to talk."

"We ar-"

"-No." Heba sighed, his body fidgeting from nerves. He made sure to avoid eye contact, all he wanted was answers. "About earlier, You basically said we were dating to your parents-"

"-Oh comon shorty, I was kidding." He ruffled the kids hair and smirked playfully "I just wanted to see their reaction is all, but I have to admit that your reaction was priceless!"

Assumptions confirmed, Heba slumped further into the bench, his expression concealed by his bangs. "So it was just a joke right, a little game to make me look like a complete fool?"

Atemu immediately realized what he said and felt a pang of guilt for being too outspoken. He squeezed the smaller teens shoulder to grab his attention, but Heba wasn't having it. He didn't move a muscle. "Look Heba, I didn't mean it like that, please don't get the wrong message."

"Shove it Atemu."

"What?" Atemu's eyes widened, Heba's voice cracked in various places, there was no denying that the other teen was crying. Atemu nearly cursed in Egyptian for his own stupidity, he needs to learn how to think before he speaks his mind, or at the very least take other people's feelings into consideration.

"Why do you feel the need to crush my feelings with your bare hands? Feelings that strived to be released and voiced." He bit his lip to keep his composure, he wasn't going to cry over Atemu.. He just wasn't.

Atemu's eyes softened at those faint spoken words, if only he could take back the words he said and replace them with ones that would have the boys eyes lighting up with happiness.. After a few moments of complete silence, Atemu smiled despite their situation, a smile full of understanding and regret. "I assumed you weren't ready for a relationship, you may think you are, but just a week ago you were persistent in denying your emotions, I don't want you to be half sure only because I was the one to show you a little affection."

Heba raised his head at those words, he wasn't one hundred percent sure what Atemu was trying to get at. "What?" He asked, his eyes shining with curiosity and the tears he shamefully shed.

"People often mistake their feelings for love when someone shows them a little attention, but instead of the emotion signifying 'love' it's actually an enjoyment of affection that your body has been lacking previously. Thus when that person offers you affection, your heart immediately jumps at the chance to keep that person close to secure that desire."

"Geez Atemu, I guess you are right." Heba bowed his head as thoughts swarmed around his mind. How didn't he realize it sooner? Of course it's interpreted as a desire. His body has been lacking the affection, his mind has been in constant shambles since his time watching 'Titanic.' Love is what he desires and when Atemu came along, Heba jumped straight at the chance to gain something from him with a half conscious understanding. All in all, he used Atemu as a way to satisfy his desires.. If it was true. "How do you know all this stuff?"

Atemu stared off in the distance and placed his arms around the smaller to bring him close, all the time staying silent to process a reasonable answer which would leave his 'shorty' satisfied. He hummed in thought, clicking his tongue as memories replayed like a mental slideshow. "So there was a girl I liked, she was different, someone that I looked up to." He turned his head to make sure he was listening, smiling when big eyes shone up at him with curiosity "At first I ignored her advances, I wasn't sure what she was trying to do at the time. I was innocent I guess you could say."

"What are you trying to get at?"

Atemu rolled his eyes at the boys impatience "Long story cut short, she was the first girl who was persistent in getting my attention, she would pull me into an embrace and shower me with affection. At first it disgusted me, but as loneliness soon crept up to me and I had a full understanding of what was happening, I started to harbor feelings for her, feelings that were built up from plain want."

Heba frowned "Did you go out with her?"

"Oh yeah." Atemu winced, they weren't fond memories at all. In fact, he wishes to forget them "She was too clingy, she wanted to move our relationship to another level. I wasn't aware of the commitment, nor was I aware that loving someone would be such a huge responsibility."

Heba nodded his head numbly, his head moving to rest on Atemu's shoulder "So my feelings now, those aren't real?"

"Think about this realistically." He draped his coat over both of their bodies, his arm wrapping back around Heba's shoulders "Could you see yourself with me in a few years time? Waking up to me every morning and coming home to me at night?"

Heba so badly wanted to scream yes. The mental images that registered in his mind seemed like pure heaven. That's what he wanted, he wanted to have someone to wake up to and hold, to be held. Just as Heba was about to voice his thoughts, a loud bang had both boys jerking off the bench, their eyes frantically snapping in every direction to put a name to the sound. Atemu reached over and grabbed Heba's hand instinctively, shoving the boy behind him while he took on a protective stance. Atemu was sure it was nothing, his parents were in the house, it was plausible that they were the ones making the horrendous noise.

The air remained silent, the only noise around was from nature and the harsh breathing of the boys who's hands were in a vice-like grip. Just as Atemu let go of Heba's hand once deeming the area safe from seeing no possible threat, he failed to react in reflex as a huge blur filled up his line of vision, closely followed by a solid force that had his body snapping back almost viciously from impact. He could faintly hear the frantic cries of Heba calling out for him, followed by the numerous shouts and orders in the distance, but those sounds soon dimmed to whispers, his mind slowly being consumed by a dark force.

Everything went black.

-x-x-x-x-x-

"Did you feel that?" Yugi frowned and reached out a hand to pet the bundle of fur facing towards her. She could have sworn she felt something, but could easily be mistaken.

Feel what? Yusei's voice rang out, his nose nuzzling into the bed sheets that just so happened to have a few treats on. He scoffed them greedily, his tongue mapping out his lips once the treats had successfully been devoured.

Yugi's frown deepened, there was something wrong, but she couldn't place her finger on it. She had felt a wave of pain shoot up her spine so suddenly that the sensation almost had her tumbling over, if she wasn't lying down of course.. A few would assume that her baby would be the object of her pain, however, Yugi didn't buy it. Call it mother's instincts. "I have a bad feeling, I've had it all day, but it's appeared to have developed in intensity?"

Shall I get Yami?

Yugi shook her head, there was no need to worry her husband more that she has already. "I don't think that's necessary, I don't like to worry him."

"Worry who?"

Yugi snapped her head towards the voice and locked eyes with familar crimson that glinted with worry. She offered a weak smile in reassurance but failed miserably, she knew. "It's nothing."

Yami clucked his tongue and turned towards Yusei who hid under the covers to avoid an interrogation. Yami quirked an eyebrow at their behavior, it was odd to say the least. "Yugi, love.." Yami decided to push an answer out of his wife, he didn't want to be left in the dark. "Worry who and why would you worry them?"

"It's nothing, really." She held a hand to her forehead, her other hand playing with the bed sheets "It's nothing you don't know about, I've been iffy lately is all."

Yami smiled. He couldn't agree more. "Ok little one, get some rest alright?" Just as he made to lean down and kiss his wife, a continuous ring resounded in his back pocket, halting him in his gesture. He pulled the device out of his pocket, checked the caller and raised it towards his ear, voicing a brief 'Hello, Heba?'

"Hello there."

Yami frowned, that didn't sound like his son at all. He secured a seat on the bed and ran a hand through his hair. He had a bad feeling about the call, something in the back of his mind screamed at him to be on alert. "Who is this? Where's Heba?"

"Heba? OH! You mean the kid next to me? Oh, such a lovely boy if I do say so myself. You know, I wonder how he screams.."

Yami stiffened, something about the males tone of voice had his hairs standing on edge. His voice, authoritative and dripping with sarcasm. Yami didn't like his tone. "Listen here and listen here good, If you harm a hair on Heba's head, I will find you and I will kill you."

"Such big words for an empty threat." The male chuckled bitterly, his voice lowering in pitch "You don't scare me pal, nice try."

Yami was seething in his boxers, he had the urge to rip the guy to shreds and feed him to Yusei. Funny, that's normally his wife's way of thinking. Not but a second later, he felt a soft tap on his shoulder but didn't turn his head, he just lowered the phone somewhat in acknowledgment. (A/N Yes, Yami's boxers have back pockets, shhhhh*.*)

"Hun, what is it? Why are you shouting?" Yugi's eyes were glued to the phone, she had a clear assumption. She knew the situation must be serious, it was rare to see Yami so bitter and tense. Without even knowing who was on the other end of the line, she hated that person with an undying passion for distressing her husband, so much that she'd kill them without even an ounce of sympathy.

Yami ignored her to raise the phone back towards his ear, he needed to be sure that Heba was safe before he could assure his wife. "Where is Heba?" He snarled, his grip tightening ever so slightly on the phone. He was losing his patience, the guy was mocking him!

"Heba, what are you talking about? Yami-..Yami?"

"As I said before, he's beside me. I would let him come to the phone, but unfortunately, his hands are tied. What a shame, agreed?"

Yami's eyes clenched "What do you want with my son?"

"Oh come now, why would I tell you that?" His voice broke into a laugh "But why don't you come here, that way I'll assure the kids safety, but you.. I'm not too sure."

"You little shit." Yami bowed his head. He had no other choice but to agree to the meeting if he wishes for Heba's safe return. "Where?"

"I'll send you my location, be here before 12 otherwise your travels would be in vain."

BEEP.

"SHIT." Before Yami could drop the phone on the bed, he felt arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him back into another body. He didn't dare turn his head, he was afraid to look his wife in her eyes after the phone call.

"Look at me Yami."

"Someone has Heba, Yugi." He held his face in his hands "He's all the way in Egypt, I need to go and save him from that sick bastard."

Yugi immediately released Yami at those words, her eyes darkening with rage "Who?"

"I don't know." Yami made to work on placing on his clothes, not caring if they were from the day before. His appearance wasn't an issue at such a time. "But when I find him, I'll kill him."

Yugi glared "What do you mean you, I'll be the one making all the bloodshed."

"You are staying here, I'll bring Yusei with me." Yami's eyes zoned in on Yugi, daring her to protest. She did.

"Are you fucking insane? Do you really think I'll lounge around at home knowing my son is in danger, knowing that you could be in danger too?" She grabbed him by the collar, her arm jerking forward to pin him against the wall "Like hell Mr, you are crazy to think I wou-"

"Yugi!" Yami took hold of his lovers arms and spun her around so their positions were switched. He leaned down until they were eye to eye, his voice almost pleading "Please, love.. I know this is hard for you, but I'm only doing what I think is best! I can't do this knowing that you and our unborn child could be in danger. You are weaker than usual, you need to rest, relax. Just stay here so I know you'll be safe."

"Fuck Yami, you can't just go in there blindly, anything could happen." Yugi bit her lip, she was restraining the urge to punch Yami in hopes she'd knock some sense into him but dismissed her urges. "Let me come with you, I'll be careful, I promise."

"NO!"

Yami's shout had Yugi flinching back in absolute horror. Never before has he raised his voice to her the way he did. She bowed her head in defeat, there was no other alternative, she had to agree.

"Fine."

Yami's eyes softened, he immediately regretted how he reacted, but that was the only way he could get through to her. He brushed over her cheek with his thumb, his eyes gazing adoringly into hers. "I'm sorry little one, but I must do this, alone.." He leaned down for a chaste kiss, pulling away with a sympathetic smile "I love you."

"I love you too." Yugi's arms went slack as they parted, she already missed the warmth of her mate and she knew she could do nothing about it. She had no other choice in the matter, as a mother she has huge responsibilities.

"I'll be back." Yami decided to assure, the hurt expression on his wife's face was breaking his heart. "Please repose, ok?"

Yugi just offered a stiff nod in replication, her hand instinctively cupping her stomach as her husband, her mate, her lover; made his departure out of the room with the silent wolf following on tail. She flinched as the bedroom door slammed shut but made no move to change position or avert her gaze. She felt empty, a surge of panic flooding her system. Even though she was conscious throughout the whole conversation, her mind failed to process the events until her husband walked out on her.

Her son could be hurt..

Her mate could enter a danger zone with no awareness of the consequences..

The culprits are a mystery..

She is at home, alone..

"Baka." Yugi mumbled under her breath, her eyes trained on a particular location. "You are such a baka."

-x-x-x-x-x-

I think the next will be the last chapter, I guess it depends how long I make it;-;