Nope. Yu-Gi-Oh GX does not belong to me. Just to make that clear to any layers who may be reading.

Chan: hi there. I think I better just tell you all, that I wrote this at one of the most difficult and upsetting times of my life so far. Still I am quite pleased at how it turned out.

Zane: I'm not.

Chan: of course you're not, you're never happy. Go sit in the dark Emo kid. (no offense to Emos. I am one too lol)

Warnings: peviness and creepiness on Shroud's behalf. Use of a weapon (a knife). Swearing. Yaoi. That sort of stuff.

Paring: Shroud/Zane(Hell Kaiser) bwhahahahaha!

Power Struggle

Normal P.O.V.

Zane flopped into the back seat of the limo with a sigh. Every muscle in his body ached but he let his mind numb out the pain. He removed the heavy, black collar from around his neck, holding back a wince, and placed it into the case alongside the arm bands. When he shut his eyes briefly he could still see those bright flashes of light and feel the pain ripping through him. It was what drove him to insomnia on those long cold nights.

The other door to the car opened and another, older, man sat down beside him. Shroud. Zane had hated the man on sight but had learned to tolerate him because being with Shroud meant being closer to everything he desired. As much as he loathed him, he also needed him.

"Nice duel today Zane." said Shroud, casually. It was almost as if it had been just another normal duel like all the ones he had participated in at the academy. Zane said nothing in reply, just nodded and glanced out of the window. He was almost counting under his breath, knowing exactly how long it would be until he started. Sure enough, almost exactly thirty seconds after the engine started and they'd pulled away towards the city, a hand rested on Zane's leg.

Had he resisted? Maybe. Just that once, the first time. He'd yelled and tried to push Shroud away, disgusted by the mere thought of it. That is until Shroud had caught hold of him by the throat and threatened to end any and all business they had together. It was the threat that made him submit. Zane wanted a lot of things; fame, satisfaction, power and above all, respect. And as far as he was concerned if the price to pay was letting some sick creep touch him up in the back seat of a limo, so be it.

The boy shifted his weight slightly as Shroud's hand crept higher, massaging his thigh. Zane picked up a dueling magazine and began to flick through it. Only a little longer now. He told himself, reassuringly. Just another minute or two and he'll be satisfied. Calmly the ex-duel academy student flicked to the centerfold page of the magazine and extracted it. A large picture of Aster Phoenix was there, looking sickeningly confident. There was a loud ripping noise and the next second, said picture was flying out of the window into the rain which had just started. Trying desperately hard to ignore the fact that the hand was yet to leave him, Zane skim-read the magazine from cover to cover.

He had just placed it to one side when he let out a yelp. He had good reason to.

"look...stop it." he whispered, inching away from the other, older man. The other, whose hand had just began to inch down Zane's pants, hence the yelp, tutted and flung an arm around him, pulling him closer. Tighter.

"I thought we talked about this before." shroud's voice sounded calm enough but Zane knew that meant nothing.

"yes but...that's too far." Zane may have lost all sense of honor but he still had pride. A LOT of pride. However this was stripped of him when there was a sudden rustling and he felt something cool against his throat. A blade.

"I say what's too far, got that? And I don't say that's too far." shroud hissed right in his ear. Slowly, swallowing deeply, Zane considered his options. Maybe he should just let his throat be slit. Right then and there. End it all. It was tempting, very tempting. He was on the verge of opening his mouth to tell Shroud to go ahead, when a vague memory stirred in the back of his mind.

A small, shy boy with greenish hair. Pain...a lot of pan. Someone from before. Another boy, with shoulder length brown hair and a wild grin...more pain. It hurt to think of what came 'before'. Yet more images flashed before his eyes. A girl with long blonde hair, somebody with a clear accent who seemed to have a formula for everything, a boy in a red jacket, another wearing black. A school. An island.

Painful as these memories were, they caused Zane to pause just for a moment and think. In the end he didn't say a word to Shroud, just lent against him, there body heat mingling. He could hear him chuckle darkly as the knife was put back away again.

Maybe someday Zane would be able to find a way to tell Shroud to get lost with out spilling his own blood in the process. Maybe some day he'd track down the ones he had remembered. Maybe one day he'd quit being 'Hell Kaiser' and go back to just plane old Zane...

maybe one day. But today was NOT that day. The limo drove one and inside, Hell Kaiser sat. and inside of him Zane waited.

End Oneshot

Chan: hey guys. Like I said, I'm happy with the way it turned out, but any suggestions, please comment. In fact just comment anyway! I love you all.