The Challenge of Life or Death

By MissLadyMinxx

Warning: This fic contains yaoi, vampires, werewolves, blood, gore, possibly lemons in the future and religious statements.

If you feel uncomfortable or easily offended in any way reading this story, please DO NOT READ!

The Beginning: 04

Yami's POV

I smiled wickedly at the small child who stood below me. His amethyst eyes were wide with awe and shone with wonder. He seemed to doubt and fear me as my crimson eyes began to glow before him. I don't blame him. My eyes were always the first to fear when people looked at me. I must also say that I am slightly drawn to this small child. As I continued to glare, the innocence that glowed around him nearly blinded me and I felt myself recoil from him. This human…there was something about this one that wasn't like the others. I began to ponder on this warm feeling that suddenly engulfed my body, but I quickly pushed it aside, thinking it was nothing. His appearance was also a subject to ponder. As he tilted his head to examine me a ripple of light flew across his face, illuminating the presence of features that seemed to mimic my own. The only difference was the fact that everything about him seemed innocent and harmless.

Suddenly, his eyes turned from wonder to fright as I began to grin, my long canines flashing in the moonlight.

"Who are you?" said his shaky voice.

So…this was the boy?

I continued to grin wickedly at the boy and took him by the neck. I brought his face close to mine and grinned, flashing my large canines. The small human felt unease as I leaned in close into his face near his neck and sniffed the air around him. It was faint but I knew this was the smell of a chosen one. I grinned. "A chosen one…" I softly whispered as I felt my animal instinct began to take hold. The small one began to grow more terrified as he heard my unearthly growls.

"Let me go! Please!" the boy asked frightened as he tried to break away from my grip. He gave me a pleading look, begging me to let him go. His petrified amethyst orbs looked into my bright crimson eyes and he nearly screamed. "What are you…?"

I only smirked and threw him against the brick wall and landed onto a pile of boxes. I walked towards him, ready to change, as the moon above was bright. How I enjoyed tearing into the flesh of humans. It's been a while and I was famished. But as I continued to stare at the unconscious mortal, I noticed a faint red glow coming from under his jacket. As my hand pushed aside the jacket and lifted up his black shirt, the cause of the faint red glow was on his chest. My eyes grew wide with disbelief. "The insignia…?" I gasped and backed away. "But how? A simple child…is what I've been searching for all this time?" Yes, he was a chosen one but he was also the key...

As I continued to stare at the small boy, I realized now that he cannot be harmed for I need him to survive, I need him for my own purpose.

Yugi awoke to the loud sound of his alarm clock. His tired hand reached from under his blanket to shut off the annoying appliance. He tried focusing his weary and blurry eyes on his morning lit room. He yawned and scratched his messy bed head after sitting up in his bed. "Was…I out last night?" Yugi tiredly said to himself. He pondered long and hard if he was really out last night after meeting some strange guy in an alleyway. But seeing he was in his Dark Magician printed pajamas, he was convinced that it was all just a dream. "I guess I was here asleep the whole night." Yugi sighed and left his bed. But as he arose, a stinging pain raced through the back of his head. "Ow…why does my head hurt so much?" He rubbed the back of his head to subdue the stinging pain.

He walked into his spacious bathroom and again the stinging pain began to bother him. After taking off his pajamas, he stepped into hot steamy shower, hoping that will help the pain clear up. Yugi moaned softly as he let the hot water drenched his hair and body, feeling his tense muscles begin to relax and the pain slowly suppressing. After minutes of relaxing, Yugi grabbed his strawberry scented soap and began to wash his hair and body.

After 20 minutes, he stepped out of the shower, began to dry himself off and wrapped a white fluffy towel around his small waist. Yugi stared at his reflection at the very large mirror above the sink. He could tell he is still very tired, but he didn't know why. He was at home all night…wasn't he? And why did his head suddenly hurt? He just sighed and shrugged the subject off and began to blow dry his hair. If he didn't hurry he'll be late for school.

After putting on his school uniform and his usual and various accessories, Yugi made way through the hallway and down the stairs.

"Grandpa?" Yugi shouted for his guardian through the large house. "Grandpa, are you here?" He asked again as he walked into the roomy kitchen. He noticed breakfast wasn't on the table. There was always breakfast on the table in the morning, unless he still could be late at the office. But then again…he would have called to let him know. Grandpa was constantly worried about him when he would leave on one of his archeological digs. Yugi began to worry. "I hope he's all right." He whispered. He left for the front door and puts on his shoes. He was nearly late and didn't have time for breakfast anyway. After grabbing his backpack, he left out the door and locked it with the spare key.

Yugi sighed as he rounded the corner onto the school campus of Domino High. He noticed that students were still standing around the campus and hallways socializing. "Whew…so I'm not late after all." He sighed as he walked through the front doors of the school. The place was a madhouse. Being short, Yugi stepped carefully around a set of students, sometimes bumping into them, as they stood or walked. After making his way through the suffocating crowd of students, he finally reached his locker. He had barely entered his combination to his locker when someone began frantically shouting Yugi's name behind him, turning to see a random head of messy blonde hair pouncing through the crowds. It was none other than Jounouchi Katsuya.

"Well it looks like Jou made it to school on time for once." Yugi chuckled at the bounding blonde who nearly made a face plant as he tripped over his untied shoelaces.

"Mornin', Yug!" Jou said with his trademark grin.

Yugi smiled up to the thin, lanky blonde. "Hey, Jou!"

"What happened to you this mornin'? You weren't on the bus." Jou said as he watched Yugi fiddle with his locker combination.

"Yeah, I know. I kinda woke up late and missed the bus." He sighed as he finally got his locker opened. "I really don't why I'm so tired…and I got this splitting headache." Yugi began to gather his needed textbooks for his subjects.

"Hey, your gramp's back yet? I was thinking I could crash with you after school. I got this new videogame. It's supposed to be kick ass!" Jou grinned.

Yugi frowned. He just remembered that his grandfather wasn't home. "No, he's not back yet. He's hasn't called since yesterday morning. I'm beginning to worry, Jou."

"Yug, I'm sure he's just so wrapped up in his work that he forgot to call. Crash at your house this afternoon?"

"Today isn't good for me. How about tomorrow?"

"Sure."

Yugi smiled as he closed his locker and the loud echoing sound of the warning bell rang through the hallways. "C'mon. We're going to be late for first period." Yugi and Jou walked down the scattering hallway of students.

"Did you ever do that project? It's due today."

Yugi raised an eyebrow. "Project…? The project! I totally forgot about it!" Yugi turned white and sulked to the floor.

Jou questionably looked at his sulking little friend. "But you never forget a homework assignment!" He then chuckled.

That evening, the school bus came to a squeaky stop outside Yugi's house. He hopped off and darted across the street to his home. He quietly let himself into the two-level house, taking his shoes off at the door and tossing his backpack on the couch of the living room.

"Grandpa? Are you home?" Yugi called yet again for his guardian. There was but silence throughout the dim afternoon lit house. "Grandpa, where are you?" Yugi quietly said to himself as he sat down on the large couch. Now he began to worry even more. If grandpa wasn't home by afternoon without calling then something must be wrong. Yugi reached for the cordless phone to call him at the lab, but something…eerie was heard behind him. He felt that he wasn't alone. Yugi slowly began to panic, taking in short labored breaths. He felt a dark chilling presence gradually approach him from behind the couch.

Yugi noticed the movement of a figure reflecting off of the huge screen television in front of him. He gasped and quickly turned only to be grabbed around the neck by the shadowed intruder.

"Hello." That harsh whispering voice echoed through Yugi's mind. He gasped. That voice! It's the same voice from that night in the alleyway. Yugi was now scared out of his mind as the voice continues to whisper into his ear, very tauntingly.

"Listen boy…" Yami growled. "You have something that I need right now and only you can help me, so listen very closely." Yami could feel him shaking harshly under his hand. He noticed he was struggling for air and loosened his grip enough that he would live through the evening.

"You're going to help me one way or another. You can choose to be cooperative and live or you can choose to fight and only be half dead. It's your choice." He taunted him, knowing that he couldn't harm Yugi.

Yugi gave him a pleading look, begging him to clarify myself.

"Look, you may have not realized but you are the key I've been searching for." Yami said, trying to be a vague as possible. "To put it plainly, this is a life or death situation for me and you." Yami could see his eyes grow wide and his skin grow pale. "You are a chosen one; destined to be killed by one cursed by the New Moon; a werewolf. A chosen's ones flesh provides the strength a werewolf needs in order to survive. The only thing that is stopping me from devouring you is that it seems you carry the insignia of the key." Yami explained as he pointed to Yugi's chest.

"You and only you have the power to bring eternal darkness and death upon this world if you are sacrificed by the time of the lunar eclipse. If you are killed then I have no chance of survival, none of us will. So you see…harming you is out of the question though I am trying my best right not to kill you right now." Yami could see the confusion on his face as clear as his amethyst eyes. But if I am able to protect you before the time the eclipse is over, you'll get to live. So how fortunate for you." Yami smirked.

Yami could tell by the look in his eyes that this was far too much for him to take in. He almost pitied him. Almost being the key word. Yami stood there, waiting patiently for his reply.

Yugi felt himself slowly come out of his frightened dazed phase. So here he was with a young man who claimed to be a werewolf in a life or death situation involving him to protect him from what? All he could say was, Hold up. Wait a minute. Let's take it from the top!

"What are you taking about?" Yugi asked his face full of bewilderment. "Who are you?"

The young man before him sighed. It was bad enough he was holding a conversation with a human, but now he has to protect one! "My name is Yami. Yami Lavitius."

"I still don't understand! Why is that symbol on my chest? Where did it come from?" Yugi spoke with worry in his voice.

Yami growled and rolled his eyes. "Dammit…" He muttered. "I don't know how you got the symbol, but you are obviously chosen to be the key. And it only glows like that when…"

"When what?" Yugi asked with an eyebrow raised.

Yami just growled from all the frustration. "Never mind about that! In the meantime, you need my protection if you want to survive! In order for to keep a watchful eye out, until everything has passed, I have to stay here with you!"

Yugi just gapped at him. "You can't stay home with me! You expect me to believe all this? If my memory serves me right, it was you who attacked me in the alley this morning! What's stopping me from calling the police?"

Yugi could see him roll the situation over in his head, weighing the possibilities. He almost feared what was to come from the stranger's mouth. When he spoke, Yugi could hear a tint of normality in his voice.

"Well…" he chuckled. He actually chuckled. "Call the authorities if you wish. But I seriously doubt they'll believe in the whole 'a-werewolf-is-after-me' story. Humans these days don't believe in such nonsense. And even if someone did arrive, you will be responsible for their deaths because I will kill them without hesitation. Can your conscience handle that? You're just going to have to trust me."

Yugi was stunned by his intruder's response. Though it was a lot to take in, he had to admit it, but he was right. Yugi was a kind and gentle soul. He didn't want that on his conscience, even if himself was in danger, he always puts others well-being before his own. He timidly spoke. "And if I don't?" Yugi asked, his heart growing slightly more daring with each word he spoke.

Yami brought his hand up to Yugi's face and traced his clawed finger tauntingly down his cheek. Yugi cringed at the touch of his cold digit. "Listen, the world isn't some fairytale. This is real. And the sooner you realize that, the longer you survive! Understand?" Yami glared threateningly. "Now would you kindly show me to my sleeping quarters?"

Yugi felt himself recoil from this man. Whether or not he believed him didn't matter at this point. He decided to go along with it because he feared for his life. He had no choice but to accommodate his 'protector'. In the back of his mind, he thought how would he explain this to his grandfather or his friends for that matter?

Yugi reluctantly answered. "I understand…this way." Yugi led Yami up the stairs, down the hall and into his room.

The room was far different from the rooms Yami had seen before. It was cluttered with clothing and the rug on the floor was tossed aside. The drawer to his bedside table was thrown open, as if he had been looking for something during his previous term in his room. The bed was the only slightly tidy looking thing in the room. It at least resembled its true form.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to sleep in my room. Sorry about the mess. I didn't get a chance to tidy up today." Yugi said as he cleaned up. He turned to look at Yami. "Um, did you want something to sleep in? Yugi asked nervously, clearly not wanting him to stay with him in his room or in the house for that matter.

Yami just gave him a look and casually walked over to the bay window of the room, disregarding Yugi's question. He sat down, propping one leg onto the bench seating and the other resting on the side while looking out through the window.

"What a jerk…" Yugi thought to himself. He then continued to pick up the clothes on the floor and push them into a large hamper.

For the next few minutes Yugi tidied up the room. Well, it was mostly him. Yami didn't care to help. When it was done Yugi sat on the chair at his desk while Yami continued to sit in the spot where he was, looking out the window as the sun began to set. Yugi just sat there staring down at his hands and then timidly glanced up at Yami. There were a few minutes of silence before Yami noticed a framed picture on the nightstand of a woman and man smiling with a little boy in their arms.

Yami continued to stare at the picture of the family, reminding him so much of his own all those years ago. His eyes began to soften with sadness; he felt an ache in his heart. Remembering it was just as painful as trying to forget.

"Is that your mother and father, human?" Yami asked, watching him carefully. He looked up at Yami, nervousness clear on his face.

"Yes..." He said sadly. Yami could tell from the tone in his voice that he was trying to be brave. He sighed.

"You lost them…didn't you?" Yami softly spoke as he walked over to the nightstand and took the framed picture into his hands. Yugi stared at him in disbelief. Yami almost sounded…remorseful.

"How did you know?" Yugi asked. And why would he care he wondered.

Yami just closed his eyes and placed the frame back on the nightstand.

"Yami…where are your parents?" Yugi asked nervously, seeing his quiet state. The reason for Yugi's question was out of curiosity. Yami did look no older than a teen after all.

Yami softly hissed at Yugi and gave him a terrifying glare. "That's none of your concern, understand?"

Yugi shrieked in his seat, flinching at his tone of voice. "I-I'm…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."

There were a few minutes of silence from the two, until Yugi finally gathered up enough courage to speak to him. "So, what am I going to do with you?" Yugi asked. Yami just shrugged with an attitude problem.

"Thanks." Yugi thought sarcastically.

"The sun is set and night approaches. I must stay up and keep watch. They most likely already know where you live…and that I'm here." Yami spoke with a serious tone as he continued to look out the window attentively.

"Who's 'they'?"Yugi thought to himself.

Yugi sighed. It's been an eventful evening. All he wanted now was to get some rest. Yugi reached over to his nightstand and shuts off the light to his lamp. Instantly the room was veiled in darkness. He collapsed on his bed after a few minutes of changing into his nightclothes.

Yugi glanced at Yami, who was still focused looking out the window. "Umm…good night…" Yugi said to him very softly, but Yami said didn't speak a word in return. As Yugi drifted into sleep, he thought about every word Yami said to him, each as unreasonable as the last. The real question was how does a regular 15-year-old boy become the key to bring death to the world?

To Be Continued…