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

Chapter Twelve

He wrapped his arms around Yami's neck and took a step forward to press himself against Yami, only to fall through him.

Yugi hit the ground with a grunt, hearing Yami turn swiftly. He rolled over onto his back, staring up at Yami with a hurt look on his face. What was going on?

Yami hesitated before reaching out a hand for Yami, whimpering as their hands passed right through each other. He lowered his hand, staring at it. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. There was supposed to be a big reunion scene where they both ran to each other. There would be a hug and maybe a long kiss. And laughter, lots of laughter because they were happy to have finally found each other. But this had none of that.

It only had disappointment; heartbreaking disappointment. They both needed to be able to touch the other to make sure that they were alright and to reassure themselves that this wasn't a dream. But even that was doomed to failure.

Yugi shook his head, looking up as Yami knelt close to him, hand inches away from touching him. So close and yet so far. Yugi trembled, biting his lip and looking at his lover, forcing a smile.

"Don't do that, aibou. Don't use that smile." Yami's voice broke a bit over the words, the teenager shifting to sit next to Yugi. Yugi nodded, knowing what Yami meant. That was the smile that could fool the whole world; except for his grandfather and Yami. Yugi sighed and went to lean against his guardian angel, remembering at the last minute that they couldn't touch.

At a loss about what to do, Yugi sat up again and looked at Yami, noticing for the first time the golden halo that hovered above his head and the wings that came from his back. Yugi's eyes widened, his fingers digging into the grey substance that served as ground here. There was a chance that Yami had just been sent here, but his mind refused to linger on that. It only kept repeating that Yami had gotten himself killed and returned here, all for him.

"It's not that aibou." Yami rested his hand over Yugi's, sighing as his hand sunk through Yugi's, but he didn't pull it back. "I promise you that it's not that."

Yugi blinked, not aware that he had been so easy to read. He flipped his hand over, watching as their fingers intertwined for a minute before Yami passed through him. They both stared at their hands with equal expressions of dismay. Yami swallowed before looking back up at Yugi. "We were sent to free all of you. I can promise that I will be able to go back."

He nodded and stood up, noticing that Ryou and Bakura stood a good distance apart, probably having learned that they couldn't touch from Yugi's failed attempt at a hug. He shuffled nervously before looking at the man who was glaring at Yami, wondering what he was doing with the rest of them.

Yami stood up and began walking again, Yugi jogging to stay by his side, aware of how the glare of the man intensified. He shot a look over his shoulder before edging closer to Yami, wondering what the problem was. "Who is he?"

"Tomoya's guardian angel. He was sent along with us to help." Yami gave a snort of disgust, looking over his shoulder. "Neither he or Tomoya are not inclined to like me right now. They think that all of this is my fault or that I'm using you."

"That was only once."

"I know, aibou, but they don't believe me." Yami glared at something just ahead of them, one of his hands curling into a fist. He finally shook his head, his hand absently reaching for Yugi's hand before letting his hand drift back to his side. "But it was all my fault."

"No."

"If I had listened to you, because you were right, then none of this would have happened. And you would be safe. I should have listened."

"No." Yami looked up at him, Yugi having reached up to shake Yami's shoulders only to remember that they couldn't touch. He growled to himself before making sure to keep eye contact with Yami. "It wasn't your fault. It was my choice."

"But-"

"No." Yugi ran a hand through his hair with a long sigh. "I chose to do this so it isn't your fault. If you had listened to me, nothing would be happening; we wouldn't be close to getting out of here. It's better this way."

"Not at all."

Yugi gave a strained smile, wiping the expression off his face as he forced out a laugh. "That was the wrong phrasing, but you know what I mean."

"Yeah." Yami sighed, finally looking away to glance at where they were going. "It still doesn't stop me from regretting-"

"I don't think anything does." They two dropped into silence, Yugi looking down at where their hands nearly touched, wanting nothing more to hold hands with Yami, something he had taken for granted until now. He shook his head, trying to force himself to look away from what he couldn't have.

Wishing wouldn't get him anywhere.

Ryou glanced up at where Yami and Yugi walked ahead of them, trying to keep his gaze off Bakura, but failing. Slowly he turned to look at his lover, aware that Bakura had been looking at him the entire time. The thief gave him a quick look over, motioning with one hand as his back. "What's with the wings?"

Ryou shrugged. "I guess that this is how we see our souls. Technically, Yami and I are dead, so we see ourselves as angels."

"That makes no sense, Ryou."

"Some things in life just don't make sense." Ryou shook his head, rubbing his forehead before glancing back at his lover. "I don't really want to waste time thinking about it, I just want to get out of here and return things to normal."

"Why? I was getting too comfortable." Bakura smirked at him, obviously trying to get Ryou to react. The British teen smiled, the expression fading a moment later. His usual response wouldn't work this time. Usually he would reach out to hit Bakura, but his blow would pass right through.

Part of him was glad that it had been Yami and Yugi that had figured this out, not wanting to go through the heartbreak himself by not being able to touch Bakura and being the first to realize it. He sighed and shook his head. Although, it seemed more likely that one of them was going to break, the four of them were treading a fragile enough edge as it was.

He cast a glance back at Dartz before remembering that Bakura had spoken, looking back and finding that he was under the thief's scrutiny. Ryou just shook his head. "I enjoy that normalcy more than anything."

"Yeah." Bakura sighed, seeming to relax with the motion. "So do I."

They shared a smile, this quiet moment a rarity for them. As much as Ryou enjoyed these times of peace, he loved when Bakura was teasing him, trying to get a rise out of him that would end up in a scuffle. That was how they had existed for so long, even before Ryou had started liking Bakura, it just wasn't right if they couldn't continue to do that.

Neither one of them spoke after that, just focused on the false horizon that they were heading for, Ryou staring at his big brother and Yugi, watching the both of them slump as they talked about something. He turned his gaze away quickly, not wanting to get caught up in what those two were talking about. They deserved their privacy for this moment. They didn't get much of it anyway. Everyone in the world seemed determined to drag Yugi out into the spotlight, leaving Yami to stand in the shadows as he would. And still they would get no peace. Probably not until they both died.

Ryou shuddered at the thought, hoping that the higher powers hadn't noticed it. They had a horrible habit of doing things that would make the two of them miserable. Yugi and Yami deserved to live out their full lives together, if just for repayment for all that Yami had done and would continue to do. His big brother seemed to have become the favorite for doing all the jobs that the other angels would refuse to do or just seemed too dangerous

And he seemed to be dragged along too. But he didn't mind. He got to keep an eye on Yami.

What he did mind was the way that Bakura and Marik seemed to always be pulled into these things as well. Why couldn't they be left out?

"But, I almost would hate to go back to normal." Ryou jumped as Bakura spoke. The thief gave a shrug, making it seem like it was Ryou's fault that the British teen had jumped. "This is too much fun. Besides, what would I do with all my free time if I wasn't running after something?"

As much as Ryou hated to admit it, Bakura had a point. Life suddenly seemed more dull when he thought about it that way.

Dartz glared at his two 'partners', the two who were both against him. It had been a surprise that Ryou had appeared as an angel, but he had decided to ignore that. It wasn't important in the end. Ryou was on Atemu's side in this, both of them only talking to him when they had to. They were probably purposefully leaving him out of their conversation.

There was a perverse sense of joy from the fact that Atemu couldn't touch Yugi, physically separated from the teenager he was using to extend his life. Although, he was still forcing himself to ignore the way they both looked so shattered because of this. Atemu was just a good actor.

He could feel sorry for Yugi, hating that Atemu would continue to play with his emotions like this, even to the point of acting guilty. Yugi deserved so much better from his guardian angel and apparent boyfriend. The teenager had been through so much, if the things that Dartz had read in Tomoya's blue binder had been true. It would be an act of kindness to free him from Atemu.

But Dartz couldn't kill the teen, nor would he allow Tomoya to do it. He couldn't allow his charge to damn himself like that. So that left them waiting or finding places where Atemu would be in danger. He glared at the teenager's back, wishing that there was a way for him to get Yugi out of here while leaving Atemu here as well.

His thoughts were brought to a stop when he saw what they were looking for, staring at the mound that suddenly rose from the flat landscape. He walked faster to catch up with the rest of the group, his mouth dropping open at what he saw.

The mound was the coils of a beast, grey like the rest of the world around it. It lay completely still on the ground, a pulse of energy coming from it every once and a while. Dartz swallowed and edged closer to the rest of the group, gazing at the leviathan that he assumed was the demon they would have to face.

He thought that Isis had said that it wasn't at full power. It was huge!

He was so focused on the beast that he almost didn't notice the sword that was stabbed into one of its coils. Dartz glanced up at the sword, shivering as he realized what would have to be done.

One of them would have to go up there and pull it out. The beast's head wasn't tied down in any way. So if it woke up, then they would be doomed.

Dartz took a step back, beginning to shake as he realized the enormity of their task. There was no way he would be able to do that, not without making a mistake and waking up the creature. He gave a shudder and looked at the other four around him, knowing that he would prevent Yugi from doing it, but Atemu would probably put him forward to protect his own life…

"I'll do it."

"I'll do it." Yami opened his wings, giving Yugi a smile. He watched his lover shift before nodding, looking at the sword that seemed so far away. That was enough permission for Yami. He reached out to give Yugi a hug, stopping when he realized that they would just pass right through each other. There was a moment where they both looked down at the floor before Yami turned around. "I'll be back, promise."

He looked back at Dartz, noticing the confused look on the man's face. He told himself he didn't care, but there was some part of him that did. How could the man just assume that he wouldn't have gone to get the sword? Because that was obviously what he was thinking.

Yami looked over at Bakura, noticing the thief's thoughtful look. "Striking range?"

"Working on that." Bakura tipped his head to one side, wandering over a bit to his right before nodding. "I'll move them out of the way. Just don't wake the darn thing up, Pharaoh. I'm out of practice with this."

Yami rolled his eyes and threw Bakura a salute before pushing off the ground and flapping his wings. He rose awkwardly, never having flown during his existence as an angel. He remained far away from the beast, just flapping his wings and he got into the pattern. Once that was settled, he took a deep breath and flew towards the sword that was perched on top of the creature's coils.

He dove low over the creature, grabbing onto the hilt of the sword. He didn't want to land, partially afraid that the addition of weight would wake the creature. But, then again, the wind generated from his wings could do the same. Either way, he had to hurry.

Yami adjusted his hold on the sword, taking a deep breath before pulling back, gritting his teeth to keep any sound from escaping. He felt the sword give a bit before it caught on something, shaking his head before trying again. It moved by inches, Yami swallowing his nervousness as the creature began to move, twitching as the sword came loose.

His arms trembled as the sword finally slid loose, Yami nearly falling out of the air as it came free. He kept a hold of the hilt, staring at the creature that was writhing below him. Yami meant to fly away, but one of the creature's yellow eyes snapped open, rolling to find him in the air.

The creature laughed, speaking in a voice that reminded Yami of the devil. "So you have freed me, little angel." The creature raised his head, taking a deep breath before seeming to panic. "And too soon. I am not strong enough!"

"That's the point."

The leviathan roared, writhing on the ground. Yami flinched, moving further away from the twisting creature.

"I will not be defeated so easily!" The creature reached up to snap at Yami, falling short. "I will not allow myself to be sealed again, not after having a taste of these delicious souls provided for me by one of your own."

Yami almost dropped his sword at that, staring at the creature as it started to laugh. "So he did not tell you how I came to be fed again. Why wouldn't he? He is right there."

Yami turned to look at the ground, easily picking out who the creature had gestured at. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Dartz, feeling his hands tighten around the sword he held.

Dartz had been the one to start all of this and then he had the gall to accuse him of being unworthy to watch over Yugi. Dartz had been the one who had caused all the chaos in his part of Domino, putting people that he knew in danger. Dartz was the reason that Yugi had given up his soul for Yami.

All of this was Dartz's fault.

Yami shifted his hold on the sword, getting ready to throw it at Dartz. He was sure that he would be able to hit him from here, injure him if nothing else. Yami wasn't really sure that he could kill the angel, but he wanted to. He wanted to with all his heart.

"That's it, little angel." Yami blinked at the creature spoke again, looking down at it as it began to adjust itself. He stared at the thing, his eyes jumping to the souls that were being pulled from the realm, passing around or through the leviathan as they were freed. Yami swallowed and looked up at the sword that he was holding.

What would happen to him if he did this? As much as he wanted to hurt the angel who had caused him all this pain, he hesitated. Dartz probably had more of the angels in heaven on his side, which meant that he could convince them that he wasn't fit to watch over Yugi, which was fine with him, he would still protect his aibou. But what worried him was what the angels would resort to. Would they be above making sure he died and went to hell to keep Yugi safe from him? He couldn't be sure, especially with his record.

Yami's arm trembled for a moment before he lowered it, glaring at Dartz before looking down at the creature, transferring its glare to it. "No."

The creature hissed. "And you had such potential. You killed before and enjoyed it."

"That was different. That was a traitor." Yami didn't know why he was bothering to argue with the creature, but he found he had to justify himself. He had never thought of himself as a killer, Noa being the one exception.

"No. Before that. The lackey that got between you and your precious Yugi." Yami froze as the creature laughed, now remembering the man he had pitched into the water, silencing him so that he couldn't tell Noa about his presence on the Baroness, for all the good that had done him.

"I didn't enjoy it."

"Some part of you did." Yami glared at the creature, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes again. He was done trying to explain himself to this demon, just like he was done trying to win Dartz and Tomoya over to his side. He had tried, and that was all he could do. Even Yugi didn't hold it against him.

"Some part of me always will. But I'm not that." Yami glared at the demon, getting one heady second when the creature actually cowered for a moment before rising up.

"You have released me into the world and, I assume, that you will try and send me back here. Seeing as heaven has chosen a champion, it is only fair for me to get the same courtesy."

Before Yami could protest he felt some force slammed into his back, sending him tumbling forward. He tightened his grip on the sword, hearing screams as other souls went tearing past him. He tried to hang onto something, feeling his fingers close over something before he was torn away again, a scream torn from his throat before he was flung out into the light.

He heard a clatter from beside him as he fell, grunting as he hit something solid without any give. He rolled across the surface, partially aware that he should have been in pain with the way his skin scraped across the surface, but there wasn't anything, which meant that he was still just a soul.

Yami groaned as he came to a stop, facedown wherever he was. He remained that way for a while before pushing himself upright, cautiously opening his eyes. He saw pavement beneath him, looking up quickly and recognizing the buildings as those from Domino.

He sat up quickly, blinking at the afternoon light, looking over at his side. His eyes widened at the sight of the sword by his side, staring at the gold hilt before slowly standing up. One hand went to pick up the sword, using it to help himself stand up.

Yami stared at the mostly deserted streets, his mouth falling open in shock as the bodies that littered the ground began to twitch, a few slowly standing up and looking around in confusion. They began to go about their business again, apparently not seeing him.

He rolled his eyes and stared down the road, trying to remember where he was. If he knew that, then he could run back to Yugi, because the teenager would be waking up. Hopefully, he would be able to return to his body. But why would he still have the sword?

Yami shook his head and began to walk away, intent on going to see Yugi again.

"I wouldn't do that, little angel." Yami tensed at the sound of the demon's voice, refusing to turn around. His hand tightened where it held the sword, the only move he made was a slight turn of his head, showing that he was listening. "You were chosen as the champion for heaven. You still have to try and banish me again."

Yami chuckled, shaking his head, preparing to turn around. "I've beaten things stronger than you. It shouldn't take me so long."

"Ah, but I have a champion too. I could not possibly fight you as weak as I am."

He scoffed, rolling his shoulders. "This 'champion' shouldn't be too hard."

Yami turned around, his eyes widening as he saw who was standing before the creature, the sword that he held in his hand almost falling back to the ground as he started at the demon's champion.

"Will it be so easy now, little angel?"

*hides again*

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