"This...this means war." Dartz snarled, stomping around Zorc, who stood silent and still, allowing Dartz to stomp. Dartz turned around to Zorc. "How the hell did they get past you?" Zorc said nothing, watching Dartz. "Answer me, damnit!" Dartz snarled, the hair on his neck standing on end.

Zorc sighed, patiently. "The smoke affected my ability to smell. As you know, I have the uncanny ability to mask my scent. But that comes with a cost...my ability to smell is limited. You knew this when you asked for my help. So do not pretend to be shocked now." Zorc stated matter of factly.

Dartz snarled. "I want my pack back. Figure out how to get them back!"

"Do I have permission to use any means necessary?" Zorc asked mildly.

"Do whatever you need to do." Darz stated with finality. "But I want my pack back...even if it is just the hides."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Ryou woke up, looking at Malik. Smiling, he got up quietly. Stretching, Ryou left the bedroom, going downstairs to look for something to eat. Rummaging through the kitchen, he finally found some cold tuna salad. Toasting some bread and grabbing some juice, he took all of it upstairs to see if Malik was hungry.

Walking in, Malik was just waking up. Yawning, he smiled at Ryou. "You are cute and fluffy even in your Anthropos form." Smelling the food, he grinned. "You read my mind. I'm starving!"

Sitting up in bed, he helped Ryou set everything down and then pulled Ryou into bed. Grinning, he started eating, offering Ryou food as well. Ryou smiled gently and started eating. Looking to Malik, he stopped, his chocolate brown eyes taking in everything and he sighed. "Dartz is coming after us soon. I'm really sorry to bring this on you all."

Malik looked up. "Don't worry. Atem will take care of us."

Ryou nibbled on his lip, but nodded. Malik knew his Alpha better than Ryou. Settling down, Ryou ate, deciding if Malik wasn't worried, he wouldn't be either.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Leaning back, Seto's eyes were wide. Joey looked up at Seto. "What? Ya think you're the only one feeling dis way? Did ya really tink I would risk so much for just a business deal?" Joey asked.

Seto swallowed hard. "I...I thought..."

Joey leaned up, kissing Seto again, stopping the stutters that were uncharacteristically coming from Seto. "You tink too much." He whispered. "Sometimes, ya just need to feel." Pulling Seto into another kiss, he growled, low in his throat at the feel of Seto.

Allowing himself to be interrupted, Seto thought that maybe, just maybe, this time Joey was right.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Bakura stalked in a circle in the bedroom. "So what? I'm now just a motherfucking part of your pack? You didn't ask if I fucking wanted to. I could have protected myself, ya dickwad." He grumbled.

Atem nodded. "Yes, you could have. However, you would have been hurt, and perhaps killed. That I couldn't accept." Atem's voice was cool, eyes watchful.

Bakura glared at Atem. "Why?"

Atem looked up at Bakura. "Isn't it obvious?"

Bakura crossed his arms, frowning. "I guess the fuck not. Why don't you fucking explain it to me?"

Atem stood, walking over and surprising Bakura by kissing him gently. "Do you really think that I would let someone overtake me, dominate me, if I felt nothing for them? Bakura, I've loved you since I met you."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Akeifa looked at Yugi. Smiling at Akeifa, Yugi put the washcloth on Akeifa's forehead again as he pushed Akeifa gently back down. "Rest."

"Yugi..." Akeifa grabbed Yugi's wrist gently. Yugi looked up, amethyst taking in Akeifa.

"Are you okay, 'Keifa?" Yugi asked quietly.

"No...we need to talk. Why did you all save us, at risk of war to your pack? Surely Atem did not care that much about me." Akeifa questioned, curious.

Yugi looked down, embarrassed. "It is true that Atem did not care that much about you by yourself...he...uh, he had some personal interest in your brother..."

Akeifa smiled. "Bakura, right?"

Yugi gulped, looking up and grinning embarrassedly.

Akeifa chuckled. "That should be an...explosive...combination."

Yugi laughed back. "You're telling me." As the laughter died in the room, Akeifa looked at Yugi's eyes, reading a seriousness in them.

Akeifa rubbed his calloused hand over Yugi's soft cheek. "What? What is going on behind those beautiful purple eyes of yours?" He whispered.

Yugi looked up. Biting his lip, he sighed. "I couldn't stand there and let you die for me again. I would have risked myself for that."

Akeifa smiled, although a bit confusedly and leaned up, pulling Yugi into a kiss. "I wouldn't have died. I haven't begun to live yet. But what do you mean when you said again?"

Nuzzling against Akeifa's hand, Yugi looked at Akeifa. "I...I felt the connection of the vision. When you were close to death, I saw the vision...and I remembered. I remembered you and I. I remembered what we had. I remembered how much I loved you. And...I remembered that you gave your life for me when I was Pharaoh. I remember how I felt...I...I went crazy after you died. I died of a broken heart four months later and then Atem took the throne."

Akeifa swallowed hard. While he was pleased that Yugi remembered their past lives through the vision, it hurt him to know that Yugi was hurting from the memories. Leaning up, he kissed Yugi gently. "My pharaoh, I would give my life a thousand times for you. You are everything to me. But that was the past...what we have now, our path now, can be different from the past."

Yugi looked at Akeifa, eyes sorrowful. "Really? Do you really believe that?" Yugi whispered.

Akeifa smiled. "Yes, I do."

Yugi thoughtfully stared at Akeifa for some time, and then, finally, smiled softly. Looking at Akeifa, he ran fingertips over Akeifa's eyebrows, down his cheeks, and to his lips. "Do you believe everything is different?" He looked up at Akeifa innocently.

"No, not everything. Not the way we feel about each other, the love we have. I believe that is there and will stay there, strong...growing stronger." Akeifa's voice was confident, love shining from his eyes fully, now that he didn't have to mask his knowledge.

Yugi smiled. "Good. Akeifa...well...uh..." Suddenly, Yugi's face went bright scarlet.

Akeifa raised an eyebrow again. "What is it Yugi?"

Yugi blushed even more fiercely. "I miss you."

Akeifa looked at Yugi, a puzzled grin on his face. "I'm right here."

Yugi was blood red now. "No...I mean...I miss you. Those visions...they kinda...well, they gave me the highlights of our relationship...and I remember you...and that made me miss you."

Akeifa pulled Yugi into a hug. "Shhh, Love, it's okay, I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I'll help protect the Reds. You don't have to miss me anymore."

Yugi looked up, rolling his eyes slightly. "You're right...not everything is different. You are still dense. I miss you in bed, you doofus. You were a porn star in bed." Yugi huffed.

Akeifa's face split into a devilish grin. "Oh, well...what do you suggest we do, Pharaoh." Grabbing Yugi, his eyes went dark and primal.

Yugi's breath hitched at the sudden change in mood. Breathing heavy, he looked at Akeifa. "I...I don't know Thief, what do you think would help me to get over missing you?"

Akeifa grinned, dark and primal, pulling Yugi onto the bed with him...