A/N: Finally! Omg. Something about this chapter just gave me more trouble. . . But here it is, a reverse b-day present (my b-day was on the 6th, and I'm 26 now, whooo!) to all you wonderful people who give me reviews and hits and thus, encouragement to continue XD and a very special thanks to Fantasy.Maker, without whom, you may have had to wait even longer :o (bricked) but ANYWAYS! On with the story XD
Solomon had difficulty getting to sleep that night, as he had every night since Atemu's return. He mulled over the same thoughts and worried over the same things again and again without coming to any different conclusions or insights. Just how powerful was his grandson, that he had walked into the realms between life and death and bent them to his will so easily. There were powerful forces that ruled the fates of souls and they did not take kindly to others messing with their domain. Which was normally not such a problem as few were even powerful enough.
His thoughts circled back around. Just how powerful was Yugi, anyways. Though Solomon guessed that the question wouldn't hang up in the air for long. If Yugi was walking the shadow realm already, it was only a matter of time before he was able to wield his light in the physical realm as well.
And then there would be the problem of what to tell his daughter. They had barely let her know about Yugi's dueling, conveniently leaving out anything about possession by Egyptian spirits or the actual dangers the group had faced and overcome.
He went over several possible ways of bringing up the topic, unfortunately, as always, each ended in disaster. Perhaps they shouldn't tell her at all unless it became absolutely necessary. They'd have a hard enough time explaining about Atemu, Yugi's Egyptian twin that now lived with them. Solomon sighed and finally fell into a light, troubled sleep, slightly relieved by the fact that Ashita wasn't due home from her latest business trip for at least another month.
No sooner had Solomon finally found his rest, than a silent alarm in his head jerked him back awake. He reached out, seeking the one responsible for breaking his wards and found it. It was something malicious, something made of darkness and shadows, a creature bent on destruction who left madness in his wake. And it was in his grandson's room.
"Yugi!" He bellowed at the top of his lungs in a voice that, he hoped, was loud enough to wake the dead. At the same time, he leapt out of bed and bolted for the door.
As Yugi's name echoed through the house, the shadow creature launched himself at the boy in desperation, trying to finish off his victim before he woke.
He didn't quite make it.
The boy's eyes flew open, and, seeing the dark blade flying at him, he threw his arms up in defense. Unconsciously his aura sprang back to life.
The edge of the knife tore through the thin fabric of Yugi's pajamas and bit into his arm before the light washed over the creature, throwing it back and leaving burns and pain in it's wake. It cried out in agony and, seeing that it was now futile to go after the bright one, it sprinted out the door and into the hallway leaving Yugi to stare after it in shock.
Atemu's conscious mind clawed its way to the surface from deep sleep. Something needed his attention, something urgent. He finally came to and sat bolt upright in bed, realizing what it was that had woken him. Yugi! Yugi was in trouble.
His heart raced in panic as he threw back the covers and darted for the door to his room. Ever since Yugi had completed the puzzle, he'd always felt the overwhelming need to protect the small, sweet boy, but the thought of loosing him now, when they'd just found something more than friendship . . .
Atemu threw himself against the door, spilling into the hall and stopped cold as Yugi's door also flew open and another figure, one straight out of his nightmares, stepped out to join him.
Impossible. Atemu stood frozen in shock at seeing the familiar silhouette. No, the evil spirit of the ring was supposed to be gone, destroyed forever, not confronting him in the hallway of Yugi's home oozing darkness and shadows and grinning at him in a way that made his blood run cold.
The creature lunged at him and Atemu reached out mentally for the shadow magic that comprised his powers. The moment he opened himself to it, he felt it pushing towards him, not the cool darkness that he could mold and shape to his will, but something twisted and wrong. Something intent on taking and controlling him. He cut off the contact immediately and blocked it as best he could but he could still feel it there, in the back of his mind, pushing at him and trying to force him to accept it. The brief contact left him doubled over, his stomach churning with nausea and it was all he could do not to empty the contents of his stomach.
The white haired thief still came at him and he tried to straighten, ready to defend himself with nothing more than fists if necessary but it never came to that as he was shoved against the wall and out of the way from behind.
He felt a shield of light blaze into existence and looked up in confusion to see Solomon standing between him and the creature, holding it at bay.
The thing that looked like Bakura spat a curse in what Atemu recognized as the language of the shadows and threw itself against the shield. It clawed at it with nails and magic, desperate to bring it down. The creature's eyes locked on Atemu as it did so, shining with possessive madness.
Atemu shuddered. He could feel the shield starting to loose strength and knew it was only a matter of time before Bakura broke through.
Yugi stumbled into the hall at that point and his eyes widened as he took in the scene before him. When he saw that his grandfather's light shield was currently the only thing keeping Bakura away from his other, Yugi began to get mad.
He knew the only logical thing to feel, what he should be feeling, was fear at the feral thing in the hallway but the only emotion that existed for him at the moment, was anger.
How dare it. How dare it break into his home, his room and try to hurt him and his dark. He just got Atemu back and no one, nothing, was going to take him away again. His anger and frustration built up inside of him and, as his desperation to do something grew, so did his awareness of the magical energies around him. Light energy in particular. He could see it, weaving silvery strands in the air, calling for him to reach out and touch it. He did so, tapping into a source that he'd never realized was there, and allowed it to fill him. He gathered as much energy as he possibly could between his hands, then, because he could think of nothing else to do with it, hurled it at the creature.
It was poorly aimed, badly held together and almost missed.
But the wild blast of raw light did manage to graze the creature's side and that was more than enough to melt away a good chunk of its shadow born flesh, leaving it screeching in agony. Meanwhile the rest of the energy was left to slam into the shield. Solomon had, at least, seen it coming and had time to prepare himself. He worked desperately to control and tame the errant magic, concentrating on feeding it into the shield else it would have torn his only defense apart. After a brief, intense struggle, he succeeded in making the barrier stronger than ever and dissipating the excess.
Bakura, now hurt and caught between a wall of light and Yugi, realized just how ill prepared he really had been for this fight and decided that a quick retreat would be best. He melting into the shadows racing down the hall, past Yugi and out the small window, effectively disappearing into the night before anyone could react.
All three felt the evil that had settled over the house leave with the creature and when it was well and truly gone, Solomon released the shield. Then they stood and just stared at each other for a moment. Yugi was the first to brake the stillness when he broke into a grin and he launched himself at Atemu.
"Did you see that? Did you see what I did? I can see the light now! I can touch it! Are you ok? That thing didn't hurt you, did it? Do you think that was really Bakura?" Yugi threw himself into Atemu's arms and pulled him into a searing lip lock. Atemu returned the kiss passionately, too relieved that his light wasn't harmed in the scuffle to remember that Yugi's grandfather was still in the room.
Solomon's eyes widened slightly but he looked away, allowing the two a moment before purposefully clearing his throat.
Startled, they stepped away from each other quickly, both flushing bright red and looking slightly embarrassed at having been caught. Yugi gave his grandfather a rather sheepish grin while Atemu just waited with a look of nervous discomfort for the elder's reaction.
Solomon just pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaustion suddenly making him feel all seventy of his years.
"Right. Apparently we have quite a bit to talk about but it will have to wait until morning. Wielding that much magic is no easy task, especially at my age so I, for one, am going back to bed. Goodnight." And with that, Solomon turned on his heal and left the hall.
Atemu groaned and buried his face in Yugi's shoulder, his face still burning with embarrassment.
"That was not how I would have chosen to tell your grandfather that we are together."
Yugi laughed lightly and patted his dark's shoulder.
"He didn't look too terribly surprised so I don't think we were hiding it very well anyways."
Atemu groaned again.
"What's wrong? Why is this bothering you so much?" Yugi asked. It was unusual for his other to get so worked up about anything. He had seen Atemu walk into life and death situations without so much as a flinch.
"I just don't want Solomon to think badly of me." Atemu admitted softly.
"Iie! He likes you! Why wouldn't he?" Yugi exclaimed, sincerely baffled.
"What? Other than the fact that I'm . . . doing things to his grandson?" He lifted his head from Yugi's shoulder to see his light restraining laughter.
"Pshaw, nothing that I don't want you to."
Yugi moved his arm and it gave an odd stinging sensation, something it had been doing for quite a bit but he just now had time to notice.
"Ow!" He brought his arm up, twisting it around in determination to find the source of the annoyance and his eyes met a blood soaked sleeve and the long shallow gash created by Bakura's knife.
"Yugi!" Atemu nearly shouted, demanding an explanation.
"Oh yeah . . ." Funny, in all the excitement, he had completely forgotten about the cut.
"What do you mean 'oh yeah?' Where did you get this?" Atemu grabbed Yugi's arm and pushed the sleeve away to assess the damage. "Yugi, there are shadows clinging to it!"
"I got it just before all hell broke loose and there wasn't any time to spare for a little cut when you could have been in danger!" Yugi snapped defensively and pulled his arm away, taking a good look at the cut as well. He could, almost, kind of see something that might have been a shady haze just covering it but shook away the thought, assuming that tiredness was making him see things. "And what are you getting so worked up over? He barely grazed me."
Atemu took a deep breath to calm himself. Yugi was right, he had been panicking slightly and it was getting him nowhere.
"I'm sorry, Yugi. Here, let me see your arm again." He reached out a hand and Yugi hesitated but put his arm in it. "For anyone else but you these shadows would be extremely dangerous. They are meant to dig into the wound and make it fester, like a kind of poison." Yugi started and stared at his arm again. Now that he concentrated, he could faintly see the actual shadows curling around the wound, looking for a way in. He wrinkled his nose in disgust.
Atemu ran his fingers gently along the cut and dispersed the shadows. At least he could still do that much. He turned and dragged Yugi into the bathroom intent on cleaning and bandaging his arm, but mainly in an attempt to keep from giving away his internal turmoil. He didn't succeed. Yugi noticed the troubled expression cross his other's face.
As Atemu bandaged his arm, Yugi wondered briefly if it was better to demand that his dark tell him what was bothering him so he could try and make it better, or just give him space and let Atemu either work it out himself, or tell him when he was ready.
Yugi suddenly missed the mind link but he supposed there was no harm in asking.
Atemu pinned the bandage and Yugi caught his eye, giving him a very serious look.
"What's wrong, Yami?"
Atemu's mouth pulled into a small smile, despite the gravity of the question. Yugi called him Yami very rarely now but it had become a sort of affectionate pet name and he always used it effectively. It made him consider, no, want to tell his light about how wrong the shadows were but he could not find the words to explain to Yugi that he would not be able to protect him for now. Or possibly ever again. It felt too much like he had failed the trusting boy. Instead, he tried to look as collected and confident as usual so as not to worry his petite love.
"Nothing Aibou." He patted the bandaged arm lightly. "There, all patched up. We should get some rest before we have to face your grandfather."
Yugi eyed the tattered, blood spotted remainder of his sleeve with disgust then pulled off the pajama top. He tossed it in the corner, promising himself that he would wash it, or even possibly burn it later. He then looked back at Atemu and promptly flushed at the way his dark was eyeing him.
"I have a better idea," he said teasingly, flirting shamelessly with his dark though he was still blushing. "I think we should enjoy our last night together before grandpa confines us to separate rooms for the rest of our natural lives."
Atemu suddenly looked very worried and Yugi couldn't help but laugh.
"You don't think he would really do that, do you?"
PHOENIX EXTRAS: And now, as an apology for being so very very late with the chapter, Jenivi7 proudly presents, as a bribe to keep you all from being too mad at her, Kisara and Mokuba vs Seto Over the Keeping of a Kitten. The following takes place . . . well, let's say a day or two before the events of the current chapter and will be considered part of story cannon. Now sit back a relax, and enjoy what is possibly, the most adorable thing I've every written.
No.
No, no.
Absolutely not.
No way.
No.
End of discussion.
Kisara gaped, slightly upset but trying not to show it and disturb the tiny white kitten currently sleeping in her arms.
The conversation with Yugi and Atemu, when they found the poor thing, suddenly made a lot more sense.
It had been raining and the kitten was small, wet and abandoned in a cardboard box. Yugi had made to take it at first until Kisara had reminded him about Solomon's reticence towards animals and had insisted on taking it herself. Yugi had looked stunned, then broke into a giggle fit while Atemu just grinned at her. She hadn't been quite sure what the joke was then, but it was beginning to become clear now. They had simply known how Seto would react.
Frankly, Kisara was stunned. Seto had never told her flat out 'no' to anything before and it left her rather speechless and at a loss.
Before she had a chance to figure something out, a high pitched squeal erupted from the other end of the room and a very delighted Mokuba bounded over to get a closer look at the bundle in Kisara's arms. Kisara smiled at him in greeting though her brow was still furrowed with worry and the smile didn't quite touch her eyes. Seto just crossed his arms and widened his stance, ready to enforce his No position against the tirade he knew was coming.
Mokuba's quick mind took in the scene. Both his brother, and the girl that he regarded as his sometimes older, sometimes younger sister, missed the calculating look that flashed across his face.
'This time,' he thought. Yes, this time he was sure it would work . . .
"Absolutely not." Seto stated again, trying to head off the argument before it began. That had, admittedly, never worked before and he didn't really expect it to work this time either, still, it was worth a try.
"Aw! But Seto!" Mokuba whined in the most annoying way he could manage.
It had the desired effect. It got his brother to look away. Seto squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose.
As soon as his brother's eyes left him, Mokuba quickly caught Kisara's eye and gave her a wink and a look that, he hoped, said 'follow my lead.' Kisara gave him a brief look of confusion but as Mokuba stuck out his bottom lip and started making his eyes very wide, she followed suit.
Seto heaved a sigh and finally looked up into a double assault of sickeningly adorable, utterly pathetic, pouting and pleading puppy dog eyes.
Damn it! Mokuba he could usually stand firm against. As much as he would like to give his brother anything and everything, he had to play the parent sometimes, being the boy's sole guardian. Kisara he could even say no to. Though it would prove to be even more difficult than saying no to Mokuba, she always respected any boundaries and rules he set. But the two of them together?
'Don't crack, don't crack, goddamnit, don't you crack.' He mentally scolded himself. He had to stay firm. Had to stand strong against the twin assault. Did he really want some flea ridden animal tearing around the mansion and clawing the furniture?
It was then, with mental images of what a cat could do to his carefully controlled environment, that he made the mistake that would be his undoing.
He looked down at it.
It really was cute.
Shit. He had cracked.
He tried to compose his features but it was too late. Mokuba already knew he had won and, with a whoop and a huge grin, ran to hug his older brother.
Seto looked up to see Kisara giving him a very warm, very pretty smile. Damn, if all he had to do to get smiles like that was give in . . .
When he managed to pry loose his brother's grip on his waist, Kisara stepped forward and deposited an awake, but still sleepy blue eyed kitten into Mokuba's care. She then stepped up close to Seto, wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered 'Thank you' before kissing him firmly on the mouth. Seto's eyes widened in surprise, then drifted closed as he put his own arms around her and pulled her closer.
Neither noticed the disgusted looks and gagging noises coming from Mokuba as he retreated, trying to shield his eyes and the eyes of the kitten from the trauma of seeing his brother make out with a girl. In fact, the sight disturbed him so much that the thought of retrieving his camera for another blackmail photo never even crossed his mind.
When the two finally parted and Seto could think straight again, he wondered just when it was that he'd handed over control of his life completely to his 13 year old brother and sweet little dragon girl. Then he also wondered why he didn't mind.
"So, does the small disruption to my household have a name yet?" he asked.
"Nailah." Kisara answered and Seto recognized it as an Egyptian name meaning successful.
"Fitting. Very fitting."