Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh or the song Evil Angel; they both belong to their respective owners.

Chapter Nine

Tèa was shaken from her sleep, the teenage girl rubbing her eyes and sitting up. The first thing that she saw were the brown eyes of Joey, the blonde teenager kneeling beside the couch she was sleeping on. Tèa yawned and wrapped the covers around her as she sat up, looking around Yugi's living room.

She had run over here in the early evening, frightened by the green light and the fact that her parents had yet to return. She hadn't wanted to stay in that house all by herself, so she had come to find her best friend. Unfortunately, Yugi hadn't been there. Solomon had explained that he was staying with some of Yami's friend before offering her the couch as the guest bedroom was a temporary storage room.

She had called her house at least three times before she had fallen asleep on the couch, getting no answer every time. And Solomon had insisted that she remain here.

Tèa rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked at her friends, not surprised to see Tristan hovering behind Joey. She was surprised to see Tomoya hiding behind the two of them, looking nervously towards his own house before looking back at her. Tèa shivered and scooted to the edge of the couch. "Are your parents not back either?"

"No. They're over here too." Tomoya gave a partial shrug. "Scared I guess, with all this happening. They're talking to Yugi's grandfather right now."

Tèa gave a slow nod, a glance at Joey and Tristan shared showing that they were in similar situations and equally scared. She shifted on the sofa, showing that they were free to join her, Tomoya slumping into a nearby chair.

The sat in silence for a while, looking up as Solomon and Tomoya's parents walked in. Everyone found a place to sit, all glancing at one another. Tèa looked over at Joey as the blonde muttered something about freaky things happening. She shook her head and looked at Solomon. "You said that Yugi was with Yami?"

Solomon nodded, Tèa breathing a sigh of relief. "Then he'll be fine."

And it was frightening how much they believed that to be true, so willing to put their trust in a stranger that they barely knew.

Tèa jumped as green light started filtering in through the windows, sucking in a deep breath, only barely noticing the way that Joey pulled her close. "It's happening again."

Ryou stared at the rumpled sheets that were on Yami's bed, smiling as he pushed away from the doorframe and made his way through the house. He paused as he noticed that Bakura was already up, odd for a weekend morning. Bakura wasn't usually found conscious until the afternoon.

He paused, staring at the empty bed as Marik's door opened, the Egyptian cautiously peeking out before venturing into the hallway. He glanced down at Yami's room before giving a short bark of laughter, shaking his head. "Did they get any sleep last night?"

Ryou gave a half-hearted swipe at Marik's head, the Egyptian easily dodging the blow as he walked towards the kitchen. The British teen shook his head and followed, hesitating at the foot of the flight of stairs that led to the first floor before bounding up them.

He knew that Yami and Yugi had left early this morning, he had heard them go out. And, while he thought that it was not the smartest idea, he had known that Yami wouldn't stand by and watch this happen. Yami wouldn't risk Yugi like this if he didn't have a good plan. Hopefully, this meant that there was a solution to this.

The front door was open when he reached the first floor, Bakura out wandering the street, speaking with a few people. Ryou leaned out of the door, blinking in the sunlight. He glanced up at the sky, amazed that it was so bright today, especially with winter coming. He heard Marik come up behind him, intending to turn around and speak to the Egyptian when he felt it.

It was wrong, a different wrong than most heavenly things felt. This felt like something prodding, poking gently at something as it oozed from the ground. Ryou coughed and covered his nose, barely hearing Marik ask what was wrong. And it smelled, smelled of mud and rotting grasses, things primordial and best kept locked away. It was disgusting and familiar, the feeling at least.

He had felt it every time the green light took people away.

Ryou pulled his arm away from his nose, taking a step out of the house as Marik clawed at his shirt to draw him back in. "Bakura!"

"Everyone, inside!" The warning was bellowed out, sending people scattering. They had discovered that it wouldn't dare enter houses, Marik's close call yesterday proving that.

Ryou leaned out further as Bakura sprinted towards them, eyes moving from the thief to the columns of green that appeared, signaling where people had gotten caught. The screams would start soon. The first group had been silent, scared of what was going on. The second group had learned, had seen what had happened to the rest. So they screamed. They and everyone after them screamed. He looked back at Bakura, seeing a glitter of green. Ryou opened his mouth to shout, too slowly. Bakura was caught up in the light, slamming into the front of the column and forced to stop.

Ryou lunged forward before he could think properly about what he was doing, his forward motion suddenly stopped as he felt a hand on his shirt. He barely glanced over his shoulder, turning partially to claw at Marik as he tried to reach the street.

He jerked away from the Egyptian, getting far enough to actually step on the street before Marik bodily hauled him back inside, a green column appearing where Ryou had been. He could hear Marik panting as he struggled to hold onto him, but Ryou couldn't care. "Get off me!"

"Keep him inside, damn it!" Ryou looked up at Bakura's shout, watching the thief stand in the middle of the green column, fingers tapping against his arm in a sure sign of agitation.

"Get off!"

"Ryou," Marik wheezed as Ryou's elbow hit his stomach, his hold loosening for a moment before it tightened again.

The British teen nearly screamed in frustration. He wanted to get out! He wanted to help Bakura. There had to be a way to save the trapped people, they just hadn't thought of it yet.

The scent came back again, this time stronger. Ryou gagged as he struggled, hearing the screaming of the people increase before suddenly going silent. Even Bakura was staring blankly ahead. Which meant that it was too late.

The column disappeared, Bakura immediately falling to the ground. Ryou was out of Marik's hold in the next second, kneeling beside Bakura and holding his hand. Without prior instructions from his brain, his fingers sought out a pulse point, Ryou breathing a sigh of relief when he found it. Of course, that didn't mean that everything would be fine, but it was a spark of hope.

Ryou struggled to pick up Bakura, managing it after a while and staggering back into the house. He ignored Marik, heading for the thief's room. He would allow himself to think about what exactly had just happened in a minute. Right now, he just wanted to concentrate on getting Bakura to a place where he could be watched.

He placed Bakura on his bed, automatically tucking the thief in before he broke down, tears running down his face as he curled up on the bed, hugging Bakura to him. It just wasn't fair. Bakura had never killed anyone, ever. He was just trying to make a living, like everyone else in the world. Why had it chosen him above all people?

"Ryou?" He nearly growled at the sound of his name, pushing himself up into a sitting position and viciously wiping the tears away from his face. He didn't see the shocked look on Marik's face as he stormed out but he did hear the Egyptian scrambling to keep up with him. "Ryou, what are you doing?"

He turned around and grabbed Marik, struggling to keep himself in control. "I am going to get 'Kura back."

"How?"

"Yami probably knows how to, or he is going to find out. I'll go find him."

"Not with all this going on." Marik didn't flinch at the glare that Ryou sent him. "We're only safe inside."

"Yes. But as long as we stay inside nothing gets done." Ryou stormed up the stairs and to the still open door, still glaring at Marik. "And I want him back."

He walked out and slammed the door, leaving Marik behind. He knew that Marik would make sure that Bakura stayed alive while he was gone. Marik would take over checking on people and keeping panic from spreading. Ryou had other priorities at the moment. He had to get to Yugi's house before the next soul stealing, but he didn't know when that was taking place. Ryou walked quickly through the streets, heading for the one place that he knew he could get answers from.

Yugi gripped Yami's hand more tightly as they walked out of the alley they had been traveling down, the tension leaving Yami's body. Yugi looked back over his shoulder, closing his eyes for a brief moment before looking forward again. There had been bodies back there, people reduced to a coma-like state. It had even come here.

He started out of his thoughts when Yami kissed the back of his hand, Yugi smiling at the gesture. It was meant to reassure him, even with both of them jumpy. They both knew that something could happen at anytime, and they were still far from the game shop.

Yugi followed Yami at the slight tug of his hand, walking quickly through the nearly deserted streets. Only a few people were out this morning, more from the scare that the green light was causing than anything else. But there was one good thing that had come out of this.

Yugi smirked as he realized that Yami was glancing back at him from time to time. They had both needed that on some level, a physical reaffirmation of their love or just a way to give each other the support they needed. Whatever it had been, it had been worth it. Even if he was still a little sore.

They turned down another street, Yugi feeling Yami pick up the pace. There was no way to tell when the green light would return, so it was better to move as fast as possible.

He looked over as Yami tensed, watching his guardian angel jerk suddenly before pulling him into a run. Yugi stumbled on the first step, recovering and keeping up with Yami. There were some stares from the people who were out, but most began shifting nervously.

Yugi knew better than to question what was going on. Yami was bound to be more sensitive to things that were not from earth because of what had happened to him. It was not that hard to assume that Yami could sense the green light moments before it happened. Which was why they were both running for cover.

He jumped as the first column appeared, biting his lip at the screams that started and the panic that followed. It was different in Domino, in the main part of the city.

Instead of reacting by running for cover, people just panicked. They ran all over the place, sometimes even shoving people out into the open instead of hauling them back in. Yugi thought it was sad how different the two places were, the thought torn out of his head in the next minute as Yami pulled him to a faster pace. "Keep running, aibou. We've got to find cover!"

Yugi gave a nod, not sure if Yami saw it. He scanned around for someplace to hide, his stomach twisting as he realized that there was no place that didn't have people fighting over it. And, with both of them being so short, there was no way that they would win. Yugi swallowed nervously and kept looking, he refused to give up hope so easily. His eyes darted to the road ahead of them, deserted of cars which allowed them to move faster, away from the sidewalks that were clogged with people and the green light. Yugi gulped and turned back to look forward, hoping for something that would save him.

Instead he saw a flicker of green across the pavement, his heart beating in double time as he realized what would happen. The green light would take Yami before they even reached safety. It could move faster than they could run.

Yugi looked to the side and saw one of the crystals tucked in a gutter ahead of them. That's where it would come from, when it decided to strike. It would hit Yami before either of them had the chance to blink and then Yami would be gone, just another body on the ground.

But he couldn't let that happen. Yugi shook his head, tears beginning to run down his face. He couldn't lose Yami like that again. Not after being able to finally hold him close again, not after all they had done. Especially not after last night.

Yugi ducked his head, his eyes focusing on the green crystal. Part of himself hated himself for what he was thinking, but he was more focused on the memory of a conversation, staring at the glowing crystal.

"Why did you do that?"

"I will always save you, Yugi. No matter what."

"But who will save you?"

"You'll always save me, Yugi. That's why you're my aibou."

They were partners which was why…which was why…

He saw the crystal flare through his tear filled eyes, holding back a sob as he lunged forward, pushing Yami out of the way. He swallowed his tears in the next instant. He had to be strong, for Yami's sake.

All for his wonderful angel.

Yami yelped as he was shoved forward, hitting the ground and rolling. He came to a stop looking in the direction that he had Yugi had been running, aware of some blood running down his arm from a few cuts. He groaned and propped himself up, aware that Yugi wasn't holding his hand anymore. "Yugi?"

"I'm…okay, Yami." He froze at the pause in the words and at the barely restrained tears he heard behind them. Yami slowly pushed himself upright, hearing Yugi sniff before giving a long sigh. "I'm fine."

But Yugi still didn't sound fine. Yami stood partially up, turning to look over his shoulder at where he assumed Yugi would be. And what he saw nearly made his heart stop.

Yugi was standing in one of the green columns of light, his palms pressed against the surface. There were tears running down his face and a smile on his lips, a faint one that seemed to take a lot of effort to keep up.

Yami gave a strangled cry and rushed over to stand by Yugi. If he was in there, then that meant…and they still hadn't found a way out…

And it was all his fault.

He should have listened to Yugi. Yugi was right about his greatest crime being against heaven, stealing his life back when he was dead. He should have known that he would be the biggest draw for these things. And he had still insisted on going out.

And Yugi…and Yugi…

"Aibou." His voice cracked over the word as he took the last step over, watching his hand tremble as he moved it to rest on the column of light. He saw Yugi's smile waver before the teenager placed his hand where Yami's rested on his side of the column. "Why?"

"I can't let you."

"Aibou, we don't know where the souls go!"

"You've done so much already Yami." Yugi shook his head, raising his other hand to wipe the tears from his face. "It doesn't need you, so I'll let it take me instead."

"No!"

"I love you."

"No, Yugi!" Yami felt himself being pushed back, gasping as he fell onto his back. He winced at the pain, scrambling back up in the next moment.

He couldn't do anything but watch as Yugi suddenly stiffened, his hand falling away from the column as he closed his eyes. Then, the green light was gone, the screams that had echoed in the background disappearing as well, Yami not really noticing the silence. He was too busy watching Yugi fall to the ground, crumpling as he lost his support.

And, for the longest time, Yami could do nothing but sit there and stare. He couldn't even gather a single thought as he stared at where Yugi had fallen on the pavement. He was partially aware of the people cautiously shuffling out of stores and homes to look at the bodies that were sprawled around them, some giving loud wails as they discovered a member of their family or someone close to them had been taken.

Yami finally found the strength to move, crawling the short distance between him and Yugi. He hesitated for a moment before resting his hand on Yugi's shoulder and giving it a gently shake. "Aibou?"

There was no response. Yami felt a shiver run through him, swallowing harshly before giving Yugi another shake. "Come on, aibou, look at me. I want to see those beautiful eyes of yours."

He leaned forward, reaching for Yugi's pulse point, resting his fingertips against the skin and waiting. Yami bit his lip to keep from panicking, closing his eyes and waiting for something. He pitched forward when he felt the faint pulse, catching himself before he could fall on Yugi. He stared down at his lover, slowly sitting back up. He recognized all the symptoms. He knew what had happened. He just didn't want to admit it, didn't want to think it was possible.

Because it couldn't be. Not Yugi. Not his aibou.

Yami gulped, feeling tears come to his eyes as he looked at Yugi, not liking the stillness in the usually exuberant teen. He shifted, freeing one hand to gently cup Yugi's cheek, rubbing his thumb against the soft skin. "Aibou…"

He broke then, pulling Yugi up onto his lap and cradling him close. Tears ran down his face, his whole body shaking as he sobbed.

This wasn't right. It couldn't be right. What kind of world allowed this to just happen?

Especially to Yugi.

"Aibou…Yugi…Please, come back." There was no response from the body he held in his arms. Yami shuddered, ducking his head to hide it in Yugi's hair. "It's all my fault, aibou."

All my fault. All my fault. The thoughts raced endlessly around in his mind.

It should have been me. It should have been me. "It should have been me!"

Yami didn't realize that he had screamed out the last part, his words lost to the wails of the other people, just another person who had lost someone dear. Another mourning, unimportant in the large scale of things.

He took a shaky breath, rocking Yugi gently in his arms. Yami shook his head, taking a deep breath as he moved to press a kiss to Yugi's cheek. "Yugi, aibou…I…oh aibou. Please come back. I'm…I'm…

"I'm not worth this."

*hides*

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