Light's Sojourn

by G'ma Jloran

Light and Darkness, two forces that are opposite but are always drawn together. That's how it is for Yami and his hikari, Yugi. So what happens when Yugi decides to strike out on his own and doesn't tell his Yami? Nothing but trouble. YAOI, rating change.

11. Failed Conspiracies

Disclaimer: See previous chapters.

Chapter 10: Failed Conspiracies

A/N: Well, I thought that since I had spent so much time on Yugi, that maybe it was time to give Yami a little time in the spotlight. So here's the chapter where everyone gets to see what he's been up to while Yugi was on Earth and why he had to go on a trip in the first place. This is where a few things are made a little bit clearer, especially why Yami acted like such a jerk in chapter 2. Also, I have an announcement and a couple of warning to post about this chapter. First, I would like to announce that with this chapter, Light's Sojourn has its 100 page mark. This is by far the longest thing that I have written in years. For the warning, in one part of this it's a little graphic due to a short battle scene, so if there's anyone who finds this gross, I apologize. But it was the only real way I could make the situation more believable. I also haven't had the time that I wanted to look up Bakura's deck so the servants that he will have are limited to what I can remember and a mix of what I've seen in my manga collection. It's a little unorthodox, but since this is a fanfiction, I think it's all right. So without further ado, let's get the story started.

Time passed differently for the inhabitants of the Shadow Realm than it did for the creatures of Earth. What could be several weeks spent in one place was no more than the span of a few days in another. Which was the way that things had passed for Yami since he and his chosen servants had left the palace to journey across the Shadow Realm to the domain of Bakura. For him, he had only tried to make contact with Yugi little more than the equivalent of two days. Quite a difference when the hikari had been on Earth for nearly five weeks and counting.

Even with the major and certainly unknown difference in the time period that they had spent apart, it did not feel that way to Yami. For him, any time spent away from his hikari under the present circumstances was far too long. He had not spent any time with Yugi for several days already and that had left him craving for the company of his lover both mentally and physically. Yet that had been denied to him since Yugi had chosen to separate himself from his dark half until things between them were resolved.

And just when that would be was unknown even to Yami. He had always known that Yugi could be stubborn when he wanted to be but he never would have thought that the hikari would go to such lengths to prove a point. The most that Yugi had ever remained mad at him was for a few days. By the time that span was up, either Yami had found a way to work his way back into his lover's good graces or Yugi had decided that there was no reason to stay angry anymore. When that happened, then they were able to work passed the problem enough to where it was like it had never even occurred.

Deep inside, Yami had come to realize that that wouldn't be the case this time around. Now it would take a lot more than the usual tactics to win back Yugi or hoping that the hikari would come around on his own. It was going to take something extra special on Yami's part to be able to be with his lover again. The problem was that even after all this time, he still had no idea on just how to do that. After all, it wasn't like he could just force Yugi to speak with him. That would just make the hikari even madder than before and drive him away again.

So for the entire journey, Yami did what he had been doing since Yugi had walked out on him. Other than planning for the reason behind the journey itself, he had been wracking his brain in order to think of some way to overcome what had happened. So far with his attention having to be divided, Yami hadn't been able to think of anything decent. At least nothing that wouldn't have him getting on his knees and practically begging for his lover's forgiveness. Which he was really prepared to do if that was what it came to. He might have had his pride, but there were things that Yami was willing to sacrifice in order to see Yugi smile again.

That was something that he was going to have to wait to accomplish though. What came first at the moment was the reason behind the journey in the first place. After leaving his own territory, Yugi and a group of his most trusted Monsters had journeyed to the realm of another dark spirit named Bakura. He was a pale haired creature that was known as being vengeful as he was cunning. No one dared to cross if they valued their lives and of those that did, no one save another yami ever lived to tell of the encounter.

Until recently, that had been the reputation that Bakura had been able to claim for himself since time immemorial. Recently though, someone had managed to get on Bakura's bad side and had actually managed to live without even being caught. This was something that was unheard of by any who knew of Bakura personally or by reputation. It was an occurrence which literally had the dark spirit seeing red and not just because the perpetrators had managed to get away despite the measure that he took in order to ensure that violators didn't escape.

What really had Bakura seeing red was that those who had crossed him were a group of thieves. Their origin was unknown but their intent had been quite clear. For they were thieves who had dared to attempt to steal the thing that was most precious to Bakura, which was none other than his hikari Ryou. The attempt had been made while Bakura was away on yet another one of his forays into the deeper regions of the Shadow Realm. When he had left, Bakura had not been expecting anything to go wrong. After all, it was something that he had done countless times in the past. During which he had always left his hikari safe behind walls of traps as a defense and Monster servants who were more than willing to give their lives for one of their Masters.

So it was quite a shock for Bakura when just as he was about to figure out how to get the prize that he was after, a bolt of fear shot through to him via the link as Ryou cried to him for help. The instant he felt it, Bakura forgot about getting the treasure and started speeding towards home again. It was incoherent at first since the cry for help that Ryou had sent him was garbled by the intense fear and confusion that he was feeling at the moment. All that Bakura could make of it was that his hikari was in trouble. So much so that he needed his dark lover then and there before something happened to him.

Bakura wasted no time. Without even bothering to get his servants, he had teleported back to the palace in instant. Due to the distance and spells that he had put around them, he was unable to travel directly to their personal chambers. It was a sometimes an annoying but necessary precaution that he had made in order to make sure that no one could teleport Ryou out without his knowledge. But he was able to get close enough that Bakura could see the damage that had been done to the traps that were placed along the corridor to those rooms.

Normally, only he and those that served under him would know where the traps were. The former because he was the one who had placed them to begin with, while the second needed to know so for their own safety. Just because they had the knowledge however, did not mean that the servants always knew how to get passed them unharmed. Only the most trusted of Bakura's Monster servants were allowed that knowledge and only when they were caring for Ryou's needs.

Yet when he saw the state of the traps as he sped down the corridor, it was obvious that someone had done their homework on Bakura's tactics. All the traps along the corridor had been tripped. It had been done in a painstaking fashion, as was obvious by the lack of several blood splatters that should have been covering the walls. There was some blood scattered on the floor from where someone had not been cautious enough and had ended up with severe cuts from the blades that hung from the ceiling.

The blood ended just before the chamber doors that had been nearly blasted off the hinges. Outside the doors were several of his servants, some badly injured from what was obviously a battle and others growling and snarling as they hurried to tend to the wounded. All of these were details that Bakura ignored as he sped into the chamber himself, pushing passed the injured and working. The sight that he was greeted by was one that had literally made Bakura see red.

Like the chamber doors, the rooms themselves had literally been torn apart. By powerful magic, as Bakura feel as he moved further into the room. Not as powerful as shadow magic but strong to know that it would be something to be wary of later should it be encountered again. But that didn't matter now. No, none of what was happening around him mattered. What mattered was the sight that lay before him under the protective wing of Change of Heart.

It was his own hikari, Ryou, bleeding and confused as he sobbed into the robes of Change of Heart while one of the Zorc Arm Dragons hovered nearby. Change of Heart kept her white wing wrapped tightly around the hikari who was making no attempt to hide what he was feeling. Bakura could feel it all through their link as it was more than wide open on both ends. From this he knew that someone had blasted the doors open while Ryou had been preparing to eat the meal that had been brought in. The blast had been strong enough to knock Ryou across the room, who had immediately called out for Bakura through their link.

While Bakura had responded, the Monsters nearest to the room came to investigate the strange magical energies that they had felt gathering in that area. What they found were creatures unlike anything that they had ever encountered before. At first glance, several of the creatures appeared to have no physical form. Instead they looked to be wisps of colored smoke that floated towards a dazed Ryou. But if one were to look close enough, they would see that this was merely an illusion caused by the light dancing off the creatures' skin. It was merely a camouflage to fool enemies like they were trying now.

One of the creatures present however, most certainly was as solid as it appeared from where it stood guarding the charred and open chamber doors. The beast was most definitely of a species that none of the Shadow Realm inhabitants had ever encountered before. It stood nearly 10 feet in height, almost too large to fit through the chamber doors that had been blasted into oblivion. Dark green scales covered the parts of the body that were not covered in a thick armor that was colored gold and black. Two crimson eyes stared out from beneath a helm of similar coloration as a lion-like tail lashed in annoyance. In its two clawed hands, it held a great battle axe that crackled with the same energies that had blown the doors apart.

Here and there, a few splashes of blood could be seen dripping from the open areas of scales. A few minor cuts and one deep gash were the source of the red that flowed from the creature's body. There was no doubt for the Monsters present as to just how those wounds had been caused. They had seen the traps that had been tripped in the corridor during their rush to protect their hikari master. This had been the one who had seen to finding the traps Bakura had laid out so that the smoke-like creatures would not have to face the peril.

Upon seeing its oncoming opponents, the creature roared once and took on a battle stance. Behind it, the remainder of the invaders paid no heed. Their attention was solely upon the hikari who had finally come out of his daze. Ryou watched as the creatures approached, their intention evident to him just by watching the grim desires that danced in their pale eyes when he could see them. Fear gripped him as he stared into those eyes, leaving Ryou paralyzed with a sense of fear that he had never known before. So much so that he didn't even try to use his own magic to protect himself. As he would later describe it to Bakura, it was like he had been put into a fear induced trance.

He was partially aware of what was going on, but not enough for him to act. All he could do was sit there as the creatures made their approach. They most likely would have had him if the Zorc Arm Dragon hadn't interceded by swooping into the room. He had taken flight over the one guarding the broken doorway while the other servants finally started to battle with it. Even with the armored creature distracted though, it was a tight fit for the Zorc Arm Dragon to actually make it into the room. Only when the others had lured it away enough was he able to get inside.

With a shriek of rage as he squeezed into the room, the Dragon placed itself between Ryou and the strangers with a flurry of slashing claws and teeth. At the appearance of the Dragon, the supposed smoke creatures stopped briefly. They floated where they were for a moment, watching the Dragon as he roared again and placed himself more firmly to keep them from their prey. Their eyes flashed angrily as they hissed in reply to the challenging roars that the Zorc Arm Dragon gave to them. One even dared to come within striking distance, paying for its mistake with its life as the Dragon's claws ripped through it.

The impact of the blow brought about surprising results. Though the Dragon did manage to tear a huge chunk of flesh and bone from his target, what fell away did not remain. Instead, almost as soon as it was separated from the body, the torn flesh turned into a lump of ash. Ash which disintegrated into nothingness as soon as it hit the chamber floor as dragon and hikari watched. They continued to watch as the rest of the creature followed in a similar pattern. Beginning in the wounded area, a line of ash began to creep along the body of the creature. It let out a protesting wail as this happening, unable to stop the approach as its body soon faded into dust.

Upon seeing the fate of their comrade, the rest of the smoke creatures seemed to reach the conclusion that their prey was out of reach for the moment. They made no further efforts to push forward with their assault. Instead they backed away from the still snarling Zorc Arm Dragon and a stunned Ryou as they prepared a retreat. One which was never allowed as that the rest of the servants released a combined blast of their magic to disintegrate the remaining smoke creatures. Like their comrade, they immediately turned to ash as soon as any part of their bodies was torn away.

The same could not be said of the armored beast that the servants had had to force their way past. Though the battle against it had been brief, it had been brutal. One group of the servant and warrior Monsters had lured it away while the rest had seen to the smoke creatures. Many had been injured before the armored creature was finally stabbed in the one opening in its armor that Change of Heart had managed to find. The dual personality Monster had made no hesitation when she had seen the small slit at the base of its neck and had used a discarded sword to cut right through the spinal cord.

As soon as the bone was snapped in two, the beast let out a snarling roar of pain as it dropped its battle ax and collapsed to the ground. It attempted to thrash about but was unable to move its heavy limbs without the necessary connection. So the most that it could do was continue to voice its outrage at being defeated before finally falling silent under the heated and angered gaze of the Monsters. Once it had, the beast's body did not disappear as its companions did. Where those turned to ash, this one simply melted away until it was nothing more than a puddle of red goo which soon evaporated into nothing.

Shortly after that, Bakura had arrived and that was where things had gone from. While the servants tended to the wounded or sent out warriors to search for any more intruders, he turned his attention to Ryou. Without hesitation, Bakura had scooped up his hikari and taken him out of the chamber to the healing spring that lay buried in the depths of his palace. There, he himself attended to Ryou's wounds as he swore over and over again that nothing like that would ever happen to his lover again. Bakura promised that he would find those that had hurt his cherished one and make them pay dearly.

Which was why, as soon as he was certain that Ryou was physically healed, that he sent word to the other yamis, Marik and Yami. It was a dual message. One part was a warning to be on guard of their own hikaris, to never leave them without some sort of Monster escort. While the other was an invitation to come to his territory once he had sufficiently investigated the matter. When he had something tangible to present, he would send for them. That search had proved fruitless, as none of the attackers remained. Nonetheless, Yami and Marik eventually came so that they could discuss the problem more thoroughly in hopes of coming up with a counter offensive against further attacks.

"They were fools to believe that anyone could get passed my defenses without a fight," Bakura snarled after the discussion had gone on for some time.

The two seated across from him said nothing. They knew better than to say anything when their fellow yami was in an agitated state. Even if what they said was not meant to be offensive in nature, it wouldn't be that hard for Bakura to take it as such with the state of mind he was presently in. Something that both Yami and Marik could easily understand, as they had had similar moments in their own pasts. Especially when it came to the subject of why Bakura was so upset, the attempted kidnapping of his hikari, Ryou.

For his part, Bakura was grateful for the space that Yami and Marik were giving him. Not that he would say anything to them about that. He did have what remained of his reputation of being a sadistic creature to think about and that was not something that he was going to risk by having his fellow dark spirits think he had gone soft. So he kept his comment to himself and revealed only the agitation that was readily flowing through him.

Another felt both emotions though and Bakura knew who that was without trying as he could feel that one's emotions with ease. He could feel his hikari's soul squirm uneasily within the Ring-like relic that he always wore around his neck, but there was no big surprise to that happening. Ryou was always uncomfortable when he felt his partner's anger on the rise and there was nothing that he could do to help cool it again. It was made worse by the fact that he was now held deep within the safety of the Ring until Bakura was ready to release him.

Which, more than likely, would not be any time soon. The attempted capture of his hikari had set Bakura on full alert and he was now taking the most extreme measures that he knew to ensure that it wouldn't happen again. So, as the most effective protection he could muster, Bakura had placed Ryou's soul and body deep within the confines of his Ring. An artifact that Bakura was known to carry with him at all times and never removed.

Once he was settled there, then only a fool would risk trying to take hikari and Ring from the one who carried them. Out of all his forces, Bakura's worst weapon was by far himself and when unleashed, there was never a hope for his opponent's sanity or soul surviving unscathed. Having one of the most twisted minds in the Shadow Realm, Bakura would delight in slowly torturing anyone who came against him until nothing but a shell remained.

Right now though, as much as the thought would bring a morbid joy to him, the pleasures of torture were far removed from Bakura's mind. Now, his attention was divided between conversing with the two other yamis and his hikari. The former only had enough of his attention where Bakura could voice an opinion or a concern, while the latter had more than enough where it soothed some of the fear being expressed.

Shush, little hikari he murmured through their link, You don't need to make a fuss anymore. The ones who tried to steal you from me are gone and you are where you belong.

His only response was a burst of fear and defiance that spread through the link like wildfire. Ryou was still too upset to give a more coherent response. Which was a totally alien behavior for him in Bakura's eyes, as he was so used to his hikari being a shy and levelheaded individual. It was almost beyond him on how to return Ryou to his normal behavior while he was in such a fit. But he tried nonetheless and was constantly muttering as many reassurances to his lover that he could muster.

Come now, little hikari. Are you really that afraid? Bakura coaxed, You needn't be. You know that I will destroy anyone who dares to lay a finger on what is mine. Haven't I always done that in the past when some fool dared to insult or threaten you?

He felt an uneasy affirmation come from his hikari but no other mental responses. Silently, Bakura sent as much assurance through their link as he possibly could to see if it might make any difference. He already knew that it would do little good at this point though, since Ryou was still refusing to calm down after what had occurred. He was still convinced that the strange creatures would return again and try to take him away from Bakura. Like any hikari, that was the one thing that he feared more than anything else and often showed his greatest distress when the matter arose.

There is no reason for you to fear that anyone will take you from me, little hikari. I've already made sure of that by keeping you under my complete protection Bakura said.

Ryou sent a wordless reply of gratitude followed by another burst of fear. He was glad that Bakura was there to protect him and he was grateful for everything that the dark one did for him. Still, he couldn't shake the fear that had been nagging at him ever since the strangers had made their presence known. He didn't know what, but he knew that something disastrous was going to happen and soon.

Bakura knew better than to take such a thing lightly. Like the other yamis, he knew that the ill feelings of a hikari were often a path leading to the nearby future. The exact cause and effect of said feelings were never really known until the event occurred since there was no real way to pinpoint when something would take place. As such, it was always a good idea to take as many precautions as possible until the danger had passed. In that way, they might be able to minimize any damage that occurred.

That in itself might have been considered strange when put into association with the dark spirits. As creatures born of shadows, it was in their nature to often desire the destruction of something. Not out of mindless or calculated cruelty though, even if it seemed that way to those on the receiving end. No, the kind of destruction that yamis most often craved was the kind on a wide scale that was the signal that ended one thing and then allowed the beginning of another. For just as the yamis desired destruction, so did the hikaris welcome the onset of creation.

This was again due to the balance of things. Yamis knew that just as there must be creation and destruction in order for life to exist, so must there be a time and a place for such things. It was a given that such things were impossible to schedule as if it were part of an entertainment event. No, the time that such things ever came to be was when the fates deigned them to occur. And when they did, these were events that were bound to bring great change whenever or wherever they happened. So it was something that they tried to be ready for when possible.

For the moment though, Bakura would have been satisfied just getting Ryou calmed down enough where he wasn't in a complete panic. If he could at least manage that, then it would make things easier later on. There was only one real way that he would be able to accomplish that, as he finally realized. That would involved invoking a power he had over Ryou that he didn't often employ in consideration for his lover, but one that he knew was necessary now. It would just have to be sweetened with something that he knew that they would both enjoy later on.

If you behave yourself, little hikari, I'll show you later when we're alone Bakura promise huskily.

He could literally feel his hikari blush at that comment. Bakura grinned to himself, knowing that that would do the trick. Just like any other hikari, it was easy to embarrass his by promising an intimate encounter. There was no denying that they enjoyed the results of such things, but that didn't keep the innocence within from being shy about it. The reaction also gave Bakura the opening that he needed in order to employ the tactic that he had decided upon.

That's better. Now go to sleep, my Ryou. You're not helping yourself by wasting your strength Bakura ordered.

He sent soothing waves of calm to help enforce the command, making sure that his hikari didn't have a chance to protest too much. Ryou did try of course, there was no doubt about that. But against the power coming from his yami's end of the link and the exhaustion that was already plaguing him, it wasn't much of a fight. Soon he was lost in a deep slumber that nothing would penetrate for some time. Which suited Bakura just fine, as the one thing that he hated more than someone attempting to steal his property was to see his hikari left in such a dismal state.

Bakura kept his full attention locked on Ryou for a bit longer just to be assured that his hikari was asleep before shutting off the majority of their link. He kept enough open that he would be able to feel any changes in his hikari from the back of his mind. If there was anything that even slightly seemed to be upsetting his dreams, no matter how minute, he would know in an instant. Then he would act in a heartbeat to banish whatever dared to plague his lover.

Sitting across from him, the other two yamis watched Bakura's divided attention with knowingly. They knew that even if he had been the one to initiate the invitation, that he had other things on his mind than just handling the meeting. It was always that way when it came to dealing with one's hikari. Whenever one was upset or afraid about something, hikaris tended to need a lot of attention and coaxing from their yami in order to calm them down again. It was a delicate process that could often take a lot of time and which couldn't be ignored, even when there were other matters to deal with.

This time it would be exceptionally hard for Bakura to completely calm down his hikari and return him to his normal state of mind. Even though he was asleep for now, there would come a time when Ryou would need to be comforted. And when Ryou wanted to be comforted for any serious reason, he wasn't afraid to let Bakura know. It was one of the few times that he actually seemed fiercer than his darker counterpart. A fact which made Bakura ready to give his lover exactly what he wanted without fuss, even though he would have done as much given the circumstances.

But then, that was actually how most hikaris could be when they really wanted something. Though they might be mild tempered in comparison with their dark lovers, there were those times when even a hikari could make a yami quiver in shock or fear. Thankfully, those times were few and far between, so it wasn't a constant worry for a yami to be concerned about. Instead, a dark spirit could focus his attention upon making sure that his hikari was safe and that anyone who dared to harm their hikari was punished accordingly. And that was the situation that Bakura now found himself in, with Yami and Marik looking on with complete understanding.

Knowing that the attackers were still unknown and at large, Yami was more than glad that he had left his own hikari safely within his palace. He knew that as long as Yugi was there, then there was no chance of someone attempting to kidnap him as the strangers had tried to do with Ryou. His defenses might not have been as extensive as Bakura's or sadistic as Marik's, but Yami's were far more powerful and there were more than enough Monsters under his command to handle any threats. Otherwise, he would not have dared to leave Yugi alone. Yami would have been at his side permanently, making sure that nothing even remotely dangerous came near his little one.

Still, watching Bakura trying to soothe his hikari, Yami couldn't help but feel a longing for his own. It was impossible to reach him through their link since Yugi was still blocking his end, so any mental touches were out of the question. No, the only thing that would satisfy Yami's desire was to see his hikari in person. To feel him with his own two hands and to know that he was still a tangible presence in this world.

Getting to that goal was not an easy thing to accomplish however, given the reason for this meeting. When one yami both openly invited and allowed his fellow dark spirits into his realm without wanting to fight, then it was not something to be ignored. That was simply because most of the time, yamis kept to themselves. Though they showed different levels of control, there was no doubt that each one was secretive and very possessive of the power and territory that had been amassed under each rule. And in the presence of other yamis, one always felt a threat to what had been gathered. So in order to prevent unnecessary confrontation, each one usually kept his distance and remained in his own territory.

The only times they ever met openly with one another was either when two or more had planned a ritual duel or to have a meeting like the present one. For the duels, it was often just a display to help resolve any conflicts that there might be over new territory, artifacts, or newly discovered magic. Actual battle hasn't occurred since the early days when each of the yamis had first been created and were beginning to establish themselves in the Shadow Realm. Then things had been gory and often with considerable injury to both victor and loser.

Over time, the battles had evolved into something different to cut down on the injuries. It was not done out of the fact that the yamis had any concern for one another. That sort of thing would have been too farfetched under any circumstances. It was only done to help maintain some sort of order in the realm that they called home. Even if they didn't like one another, the yamis all knew that their presence was needed in the Shadow Realm or they would not have been created. They were the protectors of that realm after all and they had to be willing to do what it took to uphold that duty.

So now their battles were contests of skill and strategy over brute force and sheer power. The battles were chosen to take place on neutral ground so that neither side would have the advantage. Then each combatant would either select a representative from their ranks or do battle themselves. If it was the former, it was most often one of their most trusted soldiers. For there were few honors that were greater than being chosen by one's master to be their champion in the arena. For the latter, it simply because the yamis wanted to test out their own skills against each other rather than rely upon another. In either case, the battle would be settled under a strict set of rules that allowed no deviation under any circumstances. If anyone did so, then they were automatically the loser of the contest.

Since no yami wanted to be considered a loser under those circumstances, there were few if any instances when deviations occurred. Surprisingly, though each yami could be underhanded when they wanted to be, they followed the rules almost to the letter. That didn't stop them from teasing one another outside of battle however. As Marik proved as he watched Yami begin to look uncomfortable as he considered that what happened to Ryou could have happened to Yugi and how much he missed the little one at the moment.

"Getting a little antsy then, are you?" Marik smirked.

Yami glared at him. He already knew that the others were starting to sense his discomfort, even if they didn't know the exact cause. Now that he knew of it, Marik at least was going to make sport of it while he could. That was something that always occurred whenever one of the yamis was on edge. Though not linked mentally the way that they were to their respective hikaris, yamis had a way of knowing what their fellow dark spirits were feeling. And like anyone with a twisted sense of humor, they were bound to play on it when the opportunity arose.

Sometimes, the target might take the teasing lightly. As in, he wouldn't attempt to beat whoever had just insulted him into a bloody pulp. Instead, he might make a few mentions of his own from previous dealings that could be considered blackmail. This was usually enough to get the offender to lay off for a time, as none of the dark spirits liked to have their past mistakes dredged up. But that only lasted so long as the offender did not have more information of their own that they were willing to use. If that was the case, then it could easily be said that it would take quite some time to settle the matter.

For the moment, Yami was not in the mood to do any sort of battle with Marik. What mattered to him right now was seeing to Yugi. It had been far too long since he had been in personal contact with his hikari, as well as leaving his territory without his guidance. Though there was no true danger with his servants acting under his strict orders, Yami had had enough. He had come for what he had been asked to do by Bakura and it was obvious that these discussions were getting them nowhere. All that the yamis could agree on was to be alert and prepared for whatever came next. They also agreed to a temporary alliance until this matter was resolved. If any of them found out something new about the attackers, then they would inform the other immediately.

"It's none of your concern, Marik," Yami replied coldly as he got to his feet," Thank you for your hospitality Bakura, but I must bid you both farewell. I've been away from my own territory long enough."

He then rose to his feet without another word and turned towards the door. Following insynch with their Master, the Dark Magician and Silver Fang followed in his footsteps as he departed. Like the other two pairs of servants also present in the room, they had been there since the beginning. It had been their task to stay with their Masters while the meeting had been taking place. Not so much as protection for the yamis, but as a formality. It was another protocol that had been worked out over the millennia that yamis were allowed their own servants to be present in case of emergencies.

As the three left, neither Bakura nor Marik made any objections. It was no mystery to them what their fellow yami was really concerned about. With all the talk of about attempting hikari snatchings and the perpetrators still being on the loose, they knew that he wanted to return home to check up on his light. Both would have done the same if they had left their hikaris alone during such a time period. It was a given that their first instinct was to always protect their lighter half, no matter what the circumstances.

They also knew well enough that Yami preferred not to travel with his hikari very much, thanks to the dangers that often arose in their world even under normal circumstances. Neither one of them could really blame him for that, as they both felt the same way about their own hikaris. The difference was that they didn't show it as openly as they felt that Yami did on many occasions. They knew how to shield their emotions on that matter, saving it for other occasions. Such as when they were alone with their hikaris and could more properly express themselves without having to worry about losing face with anyone. For if there was one thing that yamis hated besides someone trying to steal their hikaris, it was to lose the image of dark power and strength.

After all, it wouldn't do for the most powerful creatures of the Shadow Realm to appear weak. It would just be a hindrance when it came to maintaining order and control in their territories. If others believed that they were weak, then they would also come to the conclusion that the yami was incapable of protecting what he ruled over. Thus it would make easy target for conquest. So the best way to overcome that was to know when and where to show emotion. Whether it was smiling down at a whimpering hikari who was begging for more attention or scowling down at a defeated enemy about to meet their end.

A/N: Well, I'm sorry to say that this chapter will probably be the only real appearance made by Ryou, Yami Bakura, Malik, and Marik. I know they didn't have a lot of time in this story but that can't be helped. Their role in this story was mostly one of the many catalysts that I have planned to get the story down to its climax. So if there are any fans out there who wanted them to be in here longer, sorry. If anyone flames me for that, I'll just use them to make BBQ tuna fish for Icarus and Yami Neko. Also I know that Change of Heart isn't a monster, but since it was such a big deal during Duelist Kingdom, I decided to make it an actual creature. Not the first time it's been done in the Yu-gi-oh fandom and it won't be the last. I just decided to use it like that just this once.