spiritfire: Happy New Year, everyone I'm back!!

XXIX. Guardian

Yugi decided to keep an eye on Yami despite the tiredness he has. Ever since the headmaster sentenced Noah to death, it didn't ease him one bit. Due to Rinoa's conditions, Yami has to stay for a while to adjust his wings and to heal his injuries. As for Kaiba, he confined himself to his room for quite a while after the incident and even Mokuba can't talk to his brother after he relate the tale to those who didn't know. The headmaster is now trying to silence the incident.

Yami woke up when the sun finally rose for the morning. He turned his head around and saw Yugi, whose silver eyes didn't vanish for a second. There was a knocked on the door and Rinoa came in. The prince tries to get up but his wing joints forced him to stay down.

"Don't push yourself," Yugi said as he inspecting his body for any wounds. "Even though I healed your minor wounds, you're major wounds might open up again." Yami would have never thought he would end up like this but what he would have never thought was Yugi would worry just like that even though he doesn't show it. Right after the incident, Rinoa healed the rest of Yami's wounds but one thing that the spiky-haired boy wondered: How the hell would Rinoa teach Yami to use his newborn 'wings'? And does it mean that she has 'wings' of her own?

"We'll start a simple exercise, I'll teach you how to stand up with those wings but I know it might be painful so should you ever fall, I'll be able to catch you." Rinoa said and Yami agreed so the prince was now in a sitting position. He tries to stand up but the twitching pain overwhelmed him. Rinoa was able to catch him just in time. Hours have passed and Yami was able to stand a little bit and Rinoa was pleased with the little progress he made.

"Yugi, I want you to put balm on his back, it'll speed up his recovery and get his strength back at least," Rinoa instructed as she gave a medium sized bottle to him. "Yami, you must practice the exercise we had everyday at least an hour and of course, Dark will help you." With that in mind, Yugi nodded and she left the two of them alone. Yugi told Yami to show his back and he opened the cap and applied balm on it.

"Yugi since you got you're voice back, Yami said as he felt relaxed when the spiky-haired boy began to massage his back. "What the hell happened and how did I end up like this?"

Yugi told Yami everything as the prince absorbed the news. What really surprised him is how much injuries he has and the fact that it was Noah who murdered Kisara. Or maybe the fact Kaiba confined himself to his room for quite a while and the fact that his guardian was actually Dark Magician, one of the seven magicians that they heard of.

"Speaking of Dark Magician….I still have a long awaited punishment on him!" Yugi chuckled mischievously. "But before that, Yami, please don't close your eyes and blink." Yami wondered what gives until Yugi inject some magic on his eyes. The prince rubbed it a bit and began to complain.

"It hurts!" Yami complained until the spiky-aired boy made Dark Magician appeared. To his surprised, he can see him and realized he must have done something to his eyes.

"And now, time for you to get punished!!!!" Yugi said, smiling and the spirit gulped, sweatdropped.

- - -

"HELP!!!! YOUR HIGHNESS, HELP!!!" Mahaado screamed as a T-Rexuar chased him all over the training center. Since Yami couldn't stand yet, he has to be put on a wheelchair courtesy of Rinoa plus a long blanket to hide his wings and apparently, Yugi lured the purple mage to a stakeout and made him visible temporarily.

"Don't say that," the prince said, trying to suppress his laugh. "Although, Yugi has a point you need to be punished and it was kinda funny."

"Serves you right even though you're a spirit and good thing I made you visible temporarily!" Yugi declared but Mahaado decide at least fight back so he cast his dark spells but nothing's working so he ended up being chased by a tyrannosaurus rex only a bit magic resistant.

"Okay I'm sorry and would you please get this monster out of my hair!!!!!" the purple mage wailed but Yugi and Yami were too amused right now. Too amused to stop that is.

"Only if you promise not to worry us like that again!" Yami said, worry was etched on his face and Mahaado noticed it.

"Fine! And please get this monster off me!!" Mahaado panicked as T-Rexuar was about to swallow him whole. Yugi dispelled the spell and the purple mage was now an ordinary spirit.

"I should get you back for the stunt you did." Mahaado pouted and the two teens snickered.

"You're welcome to try!" Yugi grinned and the purple mage went back inside the Valkyria key.

- - -

Meanwhile in Kaiba's room, he was having a hard time swallowing all the details up and especially that his younger brother was hiding a very important detail that the fact his girlfriend has been murdered by a jealous psychopath. At last, he decided to go out for some fresh air. As he walked by, he happens to saw Yugi and Yami at the hallway apparently, talking to each other.

"You guys …are you alright, now?" Kaiba asked and the two teens noticed that the blue-eyed teen just came out of his room. The two of them nodded and not long after, Mokuba came along holding the stuff toy that Kisara gave to him years ago.

"Hey you guys," Mokuba said cheerfully when he noticed that his brother was just there. The younger brother didn't say a word of it but Yugi knew what was going on and assumed that he told Kaiba and the headmaster everything. His silver eyes stared at the boy and wondered.

"…….Kaiba?" Yami asked but the blue-eyed teen sighed.

"I know that my stepbrother caused much havoc and mayhem but after I heard that he stoop so low to surpass me…..even if it means to hurt the two of you …I'm willing to compensate everything he has done to you guys," Kaiba said in a grave tone then turned to his brother. "And Mokuba, don't blame yourself. I kinda knew that Noah was threatening you so I accept your apology as long as you don't have to keep any more secrets, okay?"

Mokuba's eyes were wet with tears as he hugged his older brother in a tight embrace and Yugi and Yami felt good for the two of them. Nothing that can rival the bond of these two.

"So Yami, how are you feeling?" Mokuba asked.

"It still hurts but I'll be fine in a few days, I hope." Yami replied, good-naturedly and Yugi wheeled him back to his room leaving the Kaiba brothers to catch up the recent happenings.

- - -

Over the next few days, Yami practiced the exercise that Rinoa gave to him with Yugi's help. Day after day, Yami's wing joints would twitch in pain but soon afterward, the prince was able to get used to it and during the 3rd week, he was able to stand up. A few later days later, Rinoa finally showed up and was extremely pleased with the progress Yami made.

"It looks like you able to stand up now so it's time for you to learn how to fly," Rinoa said, feeling pleased. "Of course, that is if you can keep up so let's go to my secret place."

Both teens didn't know what she was taking about so to prevent anyone from seeing Yami's wings, he has to sit on a wheelchair and cover his back with a blanket. Several students passed by and it seems that no one noticed at all. Finally, they stopped to Rinoa's room and she went to the bookshelves then she slide the book and it revealed that there was a secret passage.

The three of them went downstairs and truth to be told, it was only short. A tall looking tower was there and Rinoa faced the two teens.

"Welcome to the aviary!" Rinoa declared but to Yugi and Yami, it was nothing like an ordinary tower. Nonetheless, all of them went inside and to their surprise, it was not like an ordinary tower. Inside was a wall made of marble and granite with lustrous white color and it seems that it this tower has smooth floor probably for catching falling objects and stone planks.

Rinoa released her wings and much to their awe, the color was light gold. No wonder she can teach Yami how to use his black wings, she can actually has one as well.

"Today's lesson is glides. I'll fly you up to the stone planks because your weight won't support your wings yet." Rinoa said and quickly, she caught the prince on her back. She began to fly higher and higher and Yami didn't know what's coming.

"You better look down sometime." she said as the prince tighten his grip and indeed he did for everything he saw above him was so tiny.

"It would be better if you land me on the stone plank." Yami pouted and Rinoa giggled so she did. The prince was able to see everything around this magnificent aviary. Yugi on the other hand wondered how the hell Rinoa would teach him to fly when he was about a thousand feet high.

"Okay let's start; to glide all you have to do is to keep your wings fully extended. They will catch al the air and keep you in flight." Rinoa explained as she shoved the prince down the stone plank.

"Rinoa, you bitch!!!" Yami screamed at her and Yugi couldn't help but to giggle and especially Rinoa. Air began to rush at him as his mind was screaming a few words. Keep your wings extended.

Slowly, he unfolded his wings and the air catch him to stop his fall but all of a sudden his wing joints suddenly twitched and his line of vision began to blur. He started falling again.

But then as soon as Yami fell, Rinoa quickly caught him and landed on the stone plank again wondering what just happened.

"Yami, are you alright? What happened?" Rinoa asked

"I feel like my wing joints are carrying my weight. I didn't expect it though." Yami replied and she sighed in relief.

"It's normal. Our brain is poorly structured but nonetheless your body was exactly crafted for flight," Rinoa said. "Prepared this time?"

"Don't push me this time!" Yami said and Rinoa nodded so the prince stood up getting ready to try again. He began to touch is foot on the ledges of the plank and began to dive. His wings extended and for the first time, he felt that he gain a little more height. He could get used to this and actually enjoy it.

Rinoa flew beside the beginner keeping an easy pace on him. "Are you ready to try a dive?" Rinoa asked.

"A dive?" Yami asked.

"All you have to do is close your wings tight. You'll start to plummet. When you want to stop, open your wings up again. It's very simple." Rinoa replied and the prince understood.

"Well here goes nothing." Yami said thoughtlessly and it was exhilarating. He enjoyed flying now then he spread his wings wide and started to fly again. Little did he realize how tiring he was so his eyes started to droop. Rinoa quickly grabbed him and landed him down.

"Practice this and you'll be able to use your wings. I daresay it's pretty useful in standard situation," Rinoa said as she tossed two blankets to Yugi. "You guys have to stay here until Yami learned everything I taught him and don't worry about the food and your whereabouts; I'll deal with that as well."

"Before you leave, Rinoa, where did you get those wings?" Yugi asked in a very hard frown on his face and she frown the same.

"I got this as an additional power to my magic but unfortunately, I can't just get rid of it. Mostly, I got it after those bastards tried to seal me just because I have the sorcerercess powers." Rinoa growled but in her eyes were filled with sadness.

"Okay, I won't pry anymore. I'll just keep an eye on Yami and you do your thing, okay." Yugi said, sympathizing her. She smiled and left the two teens alone.

- - -

Night has fallen and Rinoa brought food for the two teens. How she handled their whereabouts was a mystery to them. Yami was playing himself by flying around the aviary and Yugi seemed pleased that the prince actually enjoying himself for once in his life.

"I'm really enjoying this!" Yami said as he glided the marble stone. "Hey, Yugi wanna now what it feels like how to fly?"

"Uh, I don't know……." Yugi said trying to think about it when the prince caught him by both of his arms. The spiky-haired boy panicked at this.

"Yami, you bitch!" Yugi yelled but Yami paid no attention to the violet-eyed teen's screams.

"Awwwww, come on at least enjoy the flight," Yami said, his eyes were doing the puppy-dog pow imitation. Yugi sighed in defeat.

"Fine, but don't make me fall." said the spiky-haired teen and so the two of them enjoyed their flight around the aviary. Yami and Yugi enjoyed their flight and for the first time, they enjoy it at least if it makes Yami happy and so for the rest fo the night they begun to bond.

- - -

The next morning, Yugi and Yami were sleeping at the aviary below. It turns out that after the flight they did worn them out and so Yugi woke up first and seeing the prince in a peaceful slumber was a really rare ocasion. Since he was still sleeping Yugi decide to 'play' a little prank on him. He took something from his pocket and began to draw scribbles on his face. Minutes later Yami woke up and the first thing he saw was Yugi giggling and laughing till his throat hurts.

"What's so funny?" Yami asked until Yugi used his water magic in order to see his reflection. When the prince saw this, he was deeply frowned and stared at Yugi.

"Did you do this?" the prince asked calmly but Yugi tried to suppress his laughter. Sighing he used the water that Yugi casted and wipe it off with his magic. The two of them enjoy their little fun.

spiritfire: Next week is the beginning of torture and it'll be hard for me to update so please bear with me my faithful reviewers. Anyway, the schoolyear is almost over.