Sakura: Yugioh GX and all related franchise do not belong to me or my partner Die. All we got are the OCs and the plot. Sorry for this, I hope you enjoy~
Chapter 3: Reunions
"Man, you'd think it would be a lot harder to walk into the palace these days..." Fubuki remarked, calmly walking next to his lover and future mate into the courtyard of the castle. Yusuke sighed as they passed guards and servants alike, ashamed that the brunet was right. He spotted slicked back black hair a ways in front of them and noticed he was with company, which was strange since Manjoume's banishment and Koharu's death. "Misawa!" he called, hoping to get the attention of his commanding officer and company.
Daichi's company stiffened at the voice, but the officer smiled easily, calming him with a few words before turning to Yusuke. "Yes, Fujiwara-san?" he asked politely, his eyes widening at the sight of the redhead between the other two though he remained mum about the subject.
"Who are these two?" Yusuke asked, motioning his friend to reveal the other two. And when he hesitantly did, Fubuki and Yusuke gasped in shock and disbelief. Standing before them was Manjoume, as tall and proud as ever. But who he had asleep in his arms was what really surprised the two elder men. In Manjoume's arms – sleeping in a bridal style position – was Judai-sama!
"Manjoume, you found him!" Fubuki cried out in joy, causing some of the servants to stop and stare at the group in disbelief. When they saw their missing prince, asleep and safe, they ran to tell their king the good news.
"Shut the fuck up!" the ravenet hissed, arms tightening protectively around his burden. "You'll wake him!"
"Where did you find him?" Yusuke asked, calming his lover down and introducing Hibiki to the two ravenets.
After a polite hello was exchanged, Manjoume answered, "You wouldn't believe me, but he was walking around Aorta! He ran into a nasty noble that wanted to harm him for an accident. Thanks to my disguise," Manjoume moved his cloak as best as he could to show the soldier's uniform he sneaked so he could visit at odd intervals, "he backed off pretty quickly."
"Misawa-san, how did you find them?" Yusuke turned his attention towards the Captain of the Guard, after giving Manjoume a nod in thanks.
Daichi shrugged. "I was patrolling when I heard Manjoume here scolding Judai-sama over eating about half of the fried shrimp at the festival," he explained, distractedly reaching over to run a hand over the brunet's skin as if trying to reassure himself his youngest mate-to-be was still in the elder's arms.
"Boy, this'll make Haou-" Fubuki began, but a loud cry of anger and disbelief stopped him and awoke the brunet from his nap. As Judai yawned out his tiredness, Haou — followed by Jehu — stormed over towards the group with anger the dominant emotion in his topaz eyes.
"What is the meaning of this!" Haou commanded, startling Judai with the sound of his familiar voice.
"Haou-nii-chan?" the younger brunet asked, looking to his right to see if the person was really his long-forgotten brother.
Haou immediately stopped dead still, his anger derailed at the voice of his lost brother. "Judai?" he whispered, not entirely sure whether to believe it.
Manjoume slowly put his younger mate on his feet, keeping his arms out in case Judai lost his balance. Haou's eyes widened at the site of the younger brunet, and he slowly moved closer to him.
Judai looked back at Manjoume hesitantly, but upon receiving a tight nod, he rushed forward to hug his brother. "Haou-nii-chan!"
The shock Haou felt quickly dispersed and he returned Judai's hug, but more hesitant. "Judai," he whispered, "you're safe..."
"Haouie," the younger brunet murmured, cuddling into his brother before he squirmed out of the elder's embrace to bounce into Manjoume's arms again.
Haou raised an eyebrow when he saw Manjoume but didn't make any moves to greet him. "So where did you find him?" the king asked.
"I found him in Aorta, Haou-sama," Manjoume answered, slightly reassured by Judai's presence. "A noble was attempting to punish him over an accident on his part when I saved him."
Haou gave Manjoume a thankful nod. "So where is Edo?"
The panic on the ravenet's face gave everyone the answer. "I'm not aware of his exact whereabouts, Haou-sama," he managed, taking courage in the reassuring solidness of Daichi at his side, "but he's somewhere in the festival."
"Yusuke-" the soldier stood ready for command "-go back into town and look for Edo, and tell him his banishment is over."
After an obedient "Yes, sir!" was given, Haou's attention turned to the other adult male.
"Fubuki-" said man shivered at the slight glare given to him "-Manjoume, Daichi, report to my study, and you may follow too, young one," Haou addressed the last part to Hibiki, giving him a gentle nod. The aforementioned men quickly did as commanded, heading straight to the study, with Hibiki close by to his future mate. Judai was about to follow, but his brother held him back.
"Judai, I want you to follow Jehu to his suite. You look tired, so finish that nap before going, okay?" Haou gently guided his brother to the bluenet next to him.
"Can't I just sleep with Jun-kun, Haou-nii-chan?" the brunet asked, chocolate eyes pleading with their topaz counterparts.
"I need to have a word with Manjoume, so it will take a while." Haou fought the pleading eyes with expertise. "And you're not three years old anymore..."
"But-!" Judai tried to protest, but Haou's stern look killed it.
"Go on, Judai-sama," Manjoume encouraged gently. "I'll come back for you as soon as I can, okay?"
"Okay..." Judai followed the bluenet to his suite, the traveling he did getting him again. Daichi watched him go with longing eyes before he turned to Haou, following after his older mate.
Edo cursed as he fell to the ground, a familiar bluenet hovering over him in a mocking stance. "Why?" he breathed, struggling to get to his feet again before a boot on his back pressed him back down.
"Simple," the dark baritone voice answered, "to fully get my revenge. I found out how you really destroy the Star, and it doesn't involve royal blood..."
Edo raised his head to glare defiantly into pale blue eyes. "Why would you want to do that?" he demanded.
"Haou," the bluenet spat out the king's name bitterly, "wants the Star to fully destroy Yubel-sama. I can't let that happen."
Edo's eyes widened in realization. "You're not Ryo!" His sapphire glare regained strength, "Who are you, what have you done to the real Ryo!?"
"I am the real Ryo," the bluenet contradicted, "it was the Ryo you knew before who was the fake."
"No, your auras are different!" Edo denied. "Yours reeks of... Black Magic..." the silveret whispered, his face draining of blood as he croaked, "You're-!"
The bluenet cursed colorfully at Edo's discovery. Moving swiftly, he placed his boot on Edo's head and pushed down hard, cracking the silveret's head against the cobblestone and knocking him unconscious. "You cannot get him back, mortal," he growled stiffly. "This body is mine."
Not wanting the other male to be found, he picked up the unconscious silveret and ran into the shadows, using his ancient magic to teleport to his host's home. He dumped Edo carelessly on the couch, striding towards his room when he stopped in the doorway, his hand clenching at the doorframe to keep him from collapsing as he clutched at his heart.
"Damn," the bluenet choked out, cursing his host's weak heart. The attack lasted for a few minutes, fading into a dull pain he was used to and could ignore most of the time. He finished his journey to his room, returning to the living room with a few lengths of plastic rope specially cursed with Black Magic. The villain made quick work of tying the silveret tightly. Then he began to pace, trying to think of a way to keep the boy silent that didn't involve murdering him. He cursed soundly, angry that this brat was his host's-
A devilish smirk found its way onto the villain's face, and the dark bluenet turned to look at the attractive boy with hate and lust. He walked over and took a seat on the armchair next to the fireplace. He figured that it would be more fun if the boy was awake, so he decided to play the waiting game.
Hibiki sat himself down hesitantly in Haou's conference room, his gaze on his hands rather than the concerned gazes of either of his intended mates.
"Hibiki, are you okay?" Yusuke asked, petting the red hair in a comforting manner. The boy nodded, biting his lip.
"Common, Biki-chan, we know you're nervous," Fubuki tried to reason, "You can tell us." Reassured slightly by the brunet's assurance, he reached out and grabbed Fubuki's hand, blushing as he clasped his fingers around the thief's hand.
Just then, Haou entered the room, a serious aura around him that stated 'No nonsense!' Hibiki flushed, instantly pulling away from the brunet and looking down in fear. "Now, you have some idea as to why you all are here?" the king asked, his tone calm and serious. Hibiki was trembling lightly, the focus of Yusuke's attention while Fubuki just nodded at Haou distractedly. "Fubuki, you have left without proper explanation as to the reason-" Fubuki shrunk back at this. "- but seeing as you have returned with this young man, I'll forgive you this time."
Hibiki gulped at the mention of him, burying his face in Yusuke's shoulder in fright. "Um, not to be ungrateful, Haou-sama, but why?" Fubuki asked, a bit shocked the king would be so... forgiving. Haou gave a light chuckle at the dumbfounded group.
"Let's just say I'm in a much better mood now than I was when I woke up this morning and leave it at that," the brunet stated. "Now," Haou was back to a serious manner with this statement, "I would like your help. As you have already seen, people from other countries are attending this year's festival. They will be expecting something other than what is really here. I need you to separate and act as hosts and ambassadors."
Daichi nodded. "Of course, Haou-sama," he replied.
Manjoume scowled slightly but nodded as well. "I will follow Daichi's example for now."
Fubuki gave an easy grin. "You got it, Haou-sama!"
Yusuke dipped his head. "As you wish, Haou-sama."
Hibiki blushed an even deeper shade of red. "I would love to assist you, Haou-sama," he whispered shyly, "but I'm from Human Country, not Ayora. It wouldn't be right for me to do so."
"Well, if you don't think you can, just follow Fubuki and Yusuke. If you run into humans, you're more than welcome to help," Haou replied kindly to the young boy but seethed inwardly at how submissive he acted around authority figures.
Hibiki bowed deeply, scurrying behind Yusuke, glad to be out of the other male's glare. Haou-sama is far scarier in person than he is in rumors... and according to Father's accounts as to how my parents died...
"You are dismissed." Haou waved his hand towards the door calmly, expecting them to take leave.
Manjoume did not leave, however, and Daichi tarried by the door waiting for him. "Haou-sama, let me make this perfectly clear to you now," the ravenet stated, bristling. "My loyalty is to Judai-sama first and foremost. As such, if any of your orders interfere with his health and happiness in any way, I won't obey them."
Haou returned Manjoume's seriousness with his own. "And if I find you have neglected my brother because of my orders or harm him in any way-" Haou's topaz eyes glowed as everything in the room seemed to respond to his silent command "-you'll find out why Fulls are so dangerous..."
"Manjoume!" Daichi cried, grabbing the elder's arm in an attempt to save his intended mate. Indeed, at the reminder of his younger mate, Manjoume softened slightly, giving a firm nod to the brunet as he permitted Daichi to drag him from the room.
"You know, Yam," Yugi began, walking fingers intertwined with his mate, "Ayora isn't so bad."
"No, Aibou," the elder agreed, "it really isn't."
"Judai!" Ryou's voice echoed loudly through the square, panic edging into the tone. "Judai!"
"Was that-?" Yami tried at asked, but his worried hikari dragged him towards the source of Ryou's cries. When they got there Yugi was quick to ask "What happened?"
"Judai ran off on us and we can't find him, midget," Bakura answered, having been forced to sit on a doorstep with his hands under his ass to ensure he wouldn't steal anything while his lovers were searching for their charge.
Yami growled, "Quit calling Aibou a 'midget', you no-good thief!"
Bakura stood up from his spot, popping his knuckles in preparation for a fight. "Make me, Your Highness!"
"Bakura!" Ryou yelled, having glanced over to see the youngest of the three ready to fight someone. He ran over, getting between them and stroking his mate. "I'm so sorry, Yami, I take my eye off him for one second and he acts up!"
Bakura growled out a clear "Let me at him!" before Ryou slapped a hand over the younger's mouth. Yami seemed to calm down a bit, though he gave Bakura a nasty look, which the white-haired male gladly returned.
"Look, you two," Akefia stated, swaggering up to them, "I know you want to take them out and compare, but trust me, there are children around who do not need to see that, so keep it in your pants and do it on your own time, preferably not during my sex time." Yami and Bakura paled dramatically, making immature gagging noises while their ukes just looked like they would love to be somewhere less public.
"Some foul truth you speak! How are you this fine day?" a voice called from behind the group.
"Well enough, thank you," Yugi stated.
"Have you seen a boy with chocolate eyes and dark brown hair with an orange splash at the top?" Ryou asked, seeing as Bakura was still pretending to barf and Akefia was chuckling at the actions of his lover. "We can't find him, and I'm getting worried about him..."
"Yes, actually," answered the greenet next to the brunet who had spoken earlier, purposely standing in front of the nervous redhead, "he's at the palace, resting from his journey. How do you know Judai-sama?"
"We're his guardians," Akefia stated tersely, recovering himself enough to glare at the two.
"I assume he's found his mates then," Ryou stated, smiling softly. "I'm glad to hear that."
"Yes, but it's more like they found him!" the brunet exclaimed in excitement, his companions giving him a bland look.
"From your attire, I assume you're all from Magic Country?" the greenet asked politely.
"Yes, we are," Yami stepped in, "I am King Atemu, this young man-" the ruler gazed lovingly at his mate "-is my union mate Yugi. The three behind me are Ryou the Healer-" Ryou made a proper bow "-and his mates Thief King Akefia-" the tallest white-haired male gave a proud nod "-and my eternal rival Bakura." The youngest pale-haired male gave Yami a cruel glare while nodding to the small group. "Who might you be?"
"I'm Fujiwara Yusuke," the greenet stated, bowing slightly, "and this is my mate, Tenjoin Fubuki, otherwise known as the Blizzard Prince, and our companion Hibiki.
"Nice to meet ya!" Fubuki stated, grinning, while Hibiki just nodded, blushing.
"Ah, I've heard of you, Blizzard Prince." Akefia smirked, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "You're rumored to be my equal... care to prove it?"
Fubuki just smirked, a twist of his wrist producing the silveret's dagger and coin purse. "Top that."
Bakura smirked back, dangling Yami's belt from his fingers. "Does this count me in?"
A whimper from Akefia's direction had the two competing thieves look to see Hibiki tied up in the elder thief's arms bridal style. Akefia had a semi-cruel smile on his face as Bakura awed at his lover's skill while Fubuki stared dumbfounded someone got past Yusuke!
Yusuke looked to be panicking slightly, though the emotion was confined to his eyes. "Could you please put Hibiki down?" he asked, noticing the sheer terror in the boy's eyes. "He's not just Bucky's, you know."
"As soon as this competition is over, he'll be released!"
Fubuki could see the fear in Hibiki's eyes as well. "I forfeit!" he growled, tossing the items to Bakura. "Just leave Hibiki out of this!"
Akefia chuckled, though it didn't sound cruel and boastful like Fukubi and Yusuke thought it would. "Glad ta know you're trustworthy, Blizzard Prince." Hibiki was untied as the silveret said, leaving the terrified boy to run to his mates.
Hibiki indeed sprinted into Fubuki's arms, trembling fiercely and seeming to almost try to bury himself within the brunet's body, tears pricking at the corners of his tawny eyes. "You snatched our mate just to test me!" Fubuki growled, holding the fiery-haired boy tightly to himself, Yusuke moving closer to them with his sword hand on the hilt of his blade.
"What of it?" Akefia asked lazily, rebuckling his dagger to his belt. "I didn't mean any harm in it."
"It's just how he is," Ryou defended his older mate, though he looked peeved, "you never know who you can trust among thieves, Akefia steals people who matter to his opponents to see if they wound sacrifice their pride and greed to keep them safe. Most don't."
"I would've rather you have taken me," Yusuke stated through bared teeth. "Hibiki didn't need to be put through that."
"The more precious and excitable the treasure, the more likely a surrender," Akefia stated, his smirk strained by his lover's displeased aura.
In a movement faster than they could follow, Yusuke had Akefia pinned to the wall, tendrils of darkness wrapped around the thief's body. "Be warned, thief," he snarled, eyes flashing, "one day that concept will gain you far more dangerous enemies than we are." Bristling as he stepped back, the greenet strode over to his mates and wrapped his arms around them, pulling the redhead close to his chest.
"Okay, we're getting too serious here!" Yugi intervened, having had enough. "If you're done trying to cause trouble, Akefia, let's head to the castle. I'd like to meet Judai's nii-san." And with that said, the smaller star-haired male strolled towards the direction of the far off castle.
Fubuki scooped Hibiki up into his arms, trotting after the boy behind Yami. "Hey, wait for me! Haou-sama'll kill me if I don't at least take you up there!" The others, seeing no reason to disobey Yugi, followed their King's mate as they were led by Fubuki, carrying Hibiki, and Yusuke to the castle to meet their host.
Edo let out a groan as he awoke with a splitting pain in his head. He tried to shrink in on himself, but something held his limbs still. A short look confirmed that he was tied down by the evil plastic, and to put icing on the cake, the plastic was reinforced with Black Magic. A sinister chuckle rang from his left, so Edo tried and succeeded into sitting up to say a few choice words to his capture.
"Good, you're awake," the dark bluenet stated, smirking as he yanked the smaller boy up into his arms and carried him through the small house until he could pin the silveret to his bed with its soft gray sheets. "It's far more entertaining to abuse you awake than unconscious. Your screams will be delicious when I make you mine."
"What the hell, you fiend!" Edo struggled against the confines on his wrists and ankles. But the elder would have any of that, so he secured the bindings—making sure to separate the boy's legs for easy access—to the bed frames. At the sight of the young warrior restrained and at his mercy, the wicked bluenet licked his lips. Edo cringed at the intense heat of the evil man's lust-filled eyes, trying to put as much hate and rebellion in his glare as possible.
The villain smirked, settling between the silveret's legs. "Mmm, I'm going to have fun forcing the dominance out of you," he purred, pushing open the male's tunic to gain access to the virgin field that was Edo's chest.
Edo wasn't giving up without a fight. He growled and bucked as much as he could while trying to call his elements. He wasn't going to let this bastard win. He had too much at stake to let some minion have a one-nighter!
A single hand forced his hips down, effectively ending his struggling, and he inhaled a gasp at how much strength was in the action. "That's it," the elder encouraged, dipping down to press his lips harshly onto the younger's collar. "You know you want this just as much as I do, or at least your body does at any rate..."
"N-no!" the silveret cursed his stammer, and the fact that the villain's touch felt way too good. The other just chuckled at the response and, just to prove his point, rubbed the younger's private area roughly.
Edo couldn't help it; he threw back his head and moaned aloud at the feeling. "See?" the bluenet asked, smirking. "You want me."
Edo growled. "Fuck off!"
The other male grinned wolfishly. "That's the idea," he purred, ripping the younger's leggings from him and staring at his prize with an unreadable look in his eyes.
The look unnerved the young silveret, feeling cold with all his clothing gone. The look seemed to speak for an inner war, though it wouldn't have been possible, since this bastard would have killed Ryo...
"Edo!" the man barked, his jaw tight as he continued fighting the inner battle, "I'm going to try to release you, and when I do, I want you to get out of here, all right? Run as far and as fast as you can."
The younger didn't hesitate to obey, giving a firm nod to confirm it. The real Ryo made quick work of the plastic rope—much to both their surprise—and Edo bolted out the room. He picked up an article of clothing on the way out of the room and sped with legs possessed with held-down fear and obedience towards the nearest village. No matter what got in his way, he ran until safety was his in the village.
Ryo, left behind, began to suffer for his impudence. He clutched his head in agony, the fierceness of his punishment even bringing the slightest hint of tears to his eyes and blood to his lips. "You fool!" he hissed out in a voice that was obviously not his, "you made me lose him!"
"I-it wa-s..." Ryo fought, but the pain worsened.
"I don't care what it was!" he growled, eyes flashing silver. "He was mine until you interfered!"
Ryo managed a satisfied smirked before saying, "Sorry, but I can't allow scum like to hurt what's mine!"
The spirit's anger was immense enough to give him his own body, and he yanked Ryo's head back by the hair, bending him backwards. "You own nothing!" he hissed angrily. "Everything you had is mine!"
Ryo smirked. "There is nothing you can do to take him away from me. You know as well as I do how this kingdom works!"
The spirit yanked harder, bending down to bite Ryo on the neck hard enough to draw blood. "Yes, but it will not be you he mates with but me," he spat harshly, licking at the crimson on his lips. "And then I will be able to dominate him completely."
The Elementalist snorted, grimacing at the sharp pain in his neck. "Then you know little about our mating habits, Hell Kaiser," the bluenet drawled the spirit's name out in insult. "Only his destined mate can fully dominate, and even if you were able to do it, he'll always fight because you don't have his trust like I do!"
"And you know little about the nature of spirits, Marufuji Ryo," the other ground out, pushing his host down to the bed. "A spirit combines completely with his host, so I am you." He smirked, shackling Ryo to the bed. "Now, since it's your fault I lost my prey, I think it's only fair you satisfy me from the problem you caused..."
Sakura: I feel like such a derp for not noticing the missing chapter... Die-chan won't be able to add her comments right now, so no funny author's notes...
Muses: *cheers*
Sakura: ;~;