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Chapter 2 - Darkness Falls Upon a Peaceful Path

There is no moment basking in the glow of Love which cannot be marred or utterly destroyed by an intrusion. The beast's moments with his brother were no exception. The two brothers may have looked as though they were alone in the world but there was a visitor coming. Another beast. One which, no matter their mode of transport, seemed to always arrive on a cold wind.

It was this cold wind, in reality only a subtle scent carried on a gentle breeze, which stabbed at Seto's moment of peace like a lance to the chest. The chair creaked and groaned in protest as he stood up slowly. His senses were on high alert but he tried not to betray his unease or wake the child with any swift movements. His eyes darted around the garden and he calculated the time it would take to walk to the back door. Every fiber of his being was shrieking at him to make a mad dash for the door. Unfortunately, like a cat stalking its prey the visiting beast would be enticed to give chase and pounce on Seto. There would be little hope to get Mokuba to safety after that.

"There's no need to leave on my account." A soft purr rolled out through the calm garden.

Seto's jaw locked and he continued to make his way towards the door. It was only a few yards away. If he could just manage to get to the door he could leave the boy inside or signal someone to come and take Mokuba to his room. Had his heart still functioned, a quickened pulse would have betrayed his trepidation, but his feet kept an even pace, walking towards the door. His eyes swept over his surroundings, looking for some warning of an incoming attack. This was all just a game for the stalking beast and the only way Seto could win was to stay calm.

A small white face came from behind a potted topiary. A pulse would have all betrayed Seto's shock but there was nothing but silence in him as he locked his eyes on the creature. A face so pale and perfect as to be the porcelain face of a doll looked up at Seto. A sweet smile was spread out upon its lips. Its ageless face could fool most anyone into believing that the owner was almost as young as the boy in Seto's arms, and almost as innocent. But one look into his purple eyes would shake the viewer's belief. There was something there which could never exist in the eyes of a child. Something cunning. Something dark. Something hungry.

The visitor's delicate pale hand slithered up the manicured shape of three stacked hearts and the thin fingers began plucking leaves. This beast's purple eyes lazily flowed from the heart it was molesting, to the leaves which fell from his fingers, to the ground. Then they floated up to meet the cold blue eyes staring down at them. The little mouth. The dainty nose. The large eyes. Even the colorful hairstyle. Every outward aspect of Yami spoke to a nature which was far more gentle and sweet than Seto's. However, behind that fair facade was an unbridled beast which consumed everything it touched. There were no shutters to dim or hide that fire. Only ornate screens to fool the viewer.

"This is the point when it is customary to say 'Good evening.'" Yami, seemingly with an absent mind, went back to plucking leaves. "Have your manners deteriorated so much-"

"What do you want, Yami?"

Slender fingers plucked a branch with the speed and grace of a viper striking. The unsettling snap broke the calm. "I want some sign of courtesy." His words held a hard edge, and he rolled the branch between his thumb and forefinger. The wood gave way and disintegrated, under a pressure that the casual observer wouldn't be able to imagine being exerted by such delicate looking digits. It was a pressure, however, which Seto remembered with vivid clarity. His eyes followed the pieces of wood as they fell. "Why don't you put that thing down and hold me tenderly, instead?"

Seto's eyes snapped back up. His body tensed. His hands flexed as he fought the urge to grip Mokuba tighter. He wanted to protect him more, but his fingers had the same capacity for destruction as those which had done away with the branch. Silence once more settled in over the garden, brief snaps disturbed it as Yami pulled more leaves free. There was nothing coming forth from Yami and Seto guessed that this was just another visit to see if he could be rattled. As long as Yami saw some potential to harry him, he would stay there, destroying the garden leaf by leaf. Seto decided to end the game early. He was no longer a scared child and Mokuba needed to be in bed. He took a conscious step around the potted plant. He mourned the fact that soon it would be a skeletal remembrance of itself, a reminder of Yami's toxic touch.

This could be a night when Yami was simply bored and feeling impish. In which case, there was every chance that he would make a mess before becoming so bored that he chose to go home to enjoy whatever sick pleasures he had planned for the evening. If that was the case, going inside would wrap this up quickly.

Yami was a very different class of beast than Seto. Where Seto was a focused creature who made and achieved goals. Yami was a fickle monster who reveled in the fulfillment of his own desires. He was ruled by an immature nature which bored easily and lashed out in fits of violence often. This made the appearance of his moods difficult to predict but there tended to be some pattern to his actions once he was in one. The trick was dealing with him in the moments immediately following his mood shift. One word or action could unleash a whirlwind of violence and rage. A different word or action could send him into a fit of bubbling giggles. One had to tread carefully when this monster was about.

Seto's deliberate steps had brought him temptingly close to the door. He wanted to just rush inside but it would be folly to abandon his affectation of calm while the monster was still looking. He focused on reaching his hand towards the doorknob slowly. He must not look as though he was hurrying away. He had almost gotten Mokuba inside. There would be some parting shot coming from Yami soon, if this visit followed the usual pattern. His shoulders tensed as he braced for the possibility of a physical blow. Though it was more likely that Yami would choose to make some comment about their deteriorated relationship. There was also the chance that he might extend an invitation to visit. Or the monster could just swear at him. Seto prayed for the last option. This torment would be over with quickly and he could get his brother safely inside.

"So, when are you planning to finally have sex with him?" The purr of words rolled out and crashed on Seto's back. Stunned for a moment, Seto's hand hung in the air.

"You know, it's smart to get the best out of them at that age. Before they grow up and break your heart." The words held the notes of a pout and they wafted up from just below Seto's left shoulder. Yami stood on tip toes and a doll-like hand was reaching up for Mokuba's hair.

Seto's hand flew up and shielded the boy from the disgusting touch. Reflexively, he took a step back from the smaller man. He would never let that monster lay a finger on Mokuba. That touch had so much filth and evil on it that it could infect him. Seto had an intimate knowledge of the infection that touch held. He could never be clean of it. He would never allow that monster to make corrosive contact with Mokuba.

Yami's expression was momentarily shocked. He pouted, "Oh, I see how it is! You want to be the only one who touches him. You don't like sharing, like I do…"

A functioning stomach would have turned.

"But that's ok. I don't really want him. Put him in his box or whatever and we can enjoy the rest of this evening." Yami ran his fingers over his little lips in anticipation. "I still remember the way-"

"Please go away." Still holding the boy with a protective hand behind his head, Seto didn't dare to make for the door yet.

"Oh, do you want me to leave so you can have fun with him?" Yami's eyes widened and his eyebrows rose as he made a dramatic gasp, "Oh goodness! Was tonight the special-"

"GET OUT!" Seto roared. Hating himself, he exercised a small amount of his power over his brother, as the boy began to shift in his arms. His outburst had startled the boy but he didn't want the child to wake up. He couldn't risk him seeing the monster.

Yami was shocked again, this time he frowned, "You shouldn't speak to me like that." A hard edge had entered his voice once more and he gritted his teeth. "It's fine if you want to have your alone time with your plaything but I MADE YOU!" He had begun to shake, "There is no reason that you can't just have him another night! After all! I'm busy! And I'm much more special than that- that TOY!" He spat the finally word and glared at the sleeping form.

Seto stood still, holding onto the sleeping boy, protectively. He took several steps backward and thought about whether he could run to a different entrance.

"RIGHT!?" Yami's jaw was tense. His pupils constricted as he looked at Seto. Looked him up and down. Looked for some sign that the younger was going to toss away that filthy flesh bag and come back to him. "RIGHT!?" He shrieked. A flawless little fist went through a pane of glass in the door. "I MADE YOU! I MADE YOU!" The small nightmare was screaming and heat was beginning to roll off of him. The shattered glass brought Seto back to the threat in front of him, he had to diffuse this situation before Yami lashed out at him and Mokuba was caught in the middle. Yami had pulled his hand from the window frame and begun to stalk closer to his disobedient child. "I made you and I will unmake you!"

He made to lunge but Seto stood firm, this was no longer the time to run. "That time has long since past."

Yami froze.

"You no longer have power over me, Yami." His words were firm and quiet. They were resolute. Yami stood, stunned. Seto brushed past him and walked inside. He left his otherworldly 'father' outside with his words ringing in his ears. Yami wouldn't stop his pursuit just because of a few words but at least Seto had bought enough time to get Mokuba inside. He crossed the threshold and breathed a sigh of relief as he closed the door behind himself. The protective wards over the house hadn't protected the window but they would keep Yami out. He'd worry about the monster another time. For now they were both safe, inside. For now…

'For now,' the temporary reprieve he clung to once more. He had been freed by his master decades ago and he had thought that then that he would be free. But Yami had found ways to interject himself into Seto's life over and over again. Ways to prove that he could only ever obtain temporary relief. Seto had moved farther and farther away. No matter how much distance he put between himself and his creator, it was not enough. Yami always found ways to remind him that there was no way for him to be completely removed from his former master's view.

So temporary safety was what Seto had come to embrace. And embrace it he did. He walked through the kitchen and into the hall, never turning his head to see if Yami had gone.

He walked through the quiet halls, making his way to the boy's bedroom. He laid Mokuba down in bed and pulled the covers up around his little shoulders. He settled himself in the chair next to the bed and looked down at the boy. He accepted that there was only the temporary for himself. But what about Mokuba? Could there be a way to secure permanent security for his brother? Was there a way that he could shield him from all of the ills of the world? He knew that this was impossible but still he found himself praying. Praying to the only good thing he still dared to put faith in. Love.

'Love, I ask that you watch over Mokuba. Protect him from this world. Protect him from monsters and beasts. Protect him from me. Keep him happy. Keep him safe.' Seto sighed and looked down at his shaking hands, 'If you can't do that then please give me the power to shield him from the monsters of the world.' His hands clasped, he tried to will them to stop shaking. "I'd give my very existence, every ounce of my being, to protect him…"

'Be mindful of what you wish.' Sage advice that all should heed. For prayers have a strange habit of coming true in their own way and in their own time. Unfortunately for Seto, his mind was so focused on his desire to keep his brother safe, that he did not remember this wisdom.

Woe betide unto those who find themselves making grandiose wishes when they are already firmly in the sights of Fate and Destiny.

The beast's night was only just beginning.