Author's Rant: Wow, I think I was called a bitch about 3-4 times lol. And to everyone who made guesses about the circumstances of Heba's death, you're all lukewarm to cool. Enjoy!

Warning: Blood, gun violence.

Insanity

"She's asleep?"

Yugi settled back in his seat and looked forward to face the sweeping colors of mercury blue, amber gold and neon street lights, bypassing the tinted windows. "Yeah, but I think she's fighting it," he answered in a tone he hoped sounded like he'd revived his earlier jubilee, but knew, since Atem's profile refused to drop his frown, that it wasn't so. Yugi had been—yes, he knew very well he wasn't keeping good company—very lock jawed and timid when invited into conversation.

Several times, Atem purposely missed turns that would take them instantly to Yugi's address, and voiced questions that left no room for close-ended responses. Yugi was able to beat at his game him with single sentence replies and nods and eventually, resolved himself or the tour of the city's colorful frolicking. It would reach midnight soon, which Yugi secretly prayed for and counted out of the corner of his eye as he studied the digital clock illuminated like a spotlight under the ocean.

It was approaching fifteen minutes of uninterrupted silence and in the next ten minutes, Atem would near a corner turn impossible to ignore. Atem's fingers gripped the leather cover on his steering wheel. His was mind spit between simply asking the teen what was wrong or continuing to drive until Yugi spoke without being forced into it. From what Atem recalled, the evening had gone splendidly. They dined until the very last hour and loitered in the parking lot a tad longer with idle chit chat.

Between then and now, Yugi's whole demeanor alternated from mouthy and engaging to a total mute. Atem, at first, had accepted the possibility that Yugi was probably tired. Just because Atem could survive on a night owl's routine, didn't mean Yugi could do the same. However, Atem knew Yugi's so called fatigue was bullshit because he held a somewhat animated conversation with Kisara until she fell asleep.

Atem bit his lip when the corner street matching the GPS's route drew closer. He took the turn this time and a sigh pulled from his mouth as if yanked through. "You're gonna make me ask, aren't you?"

Yugi gave a bored glance out of his peripheral, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do."

"No, I don't."

"Don't play stupid."

"Don't play dumb."

"Jesus," Atem painstakingly groaned. "You have more mood swings then a bitch in heat. No, I stand corrected. A bitch has a liable excuse. You? You're just being salty. Tell me what's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong. You're being paranoid."

"Am I?"

"Yeah, you are."

"Alright." Atem's car paused right at the dirt road entrance leading to Yugi's residence. The car was placed in park, engine subtly purring and the lights, both inside and out, were dimmed. Atem's arm extended and curled around the back of Yugi's headrest. With his other hand, he reached for Yugi's jaw and turned the boy's face to face him, keeping his thumb and index fingers pinched on Yugi's chin. "We'll sit here all night until you tell me what's going on."

Yugi frowned, "You promised my grandpa you'd have me back by curfew. I thought you were a man of your word."

"I am, but I'm only human. Is it my fault certain people kept me from maintaining my promises?" Atem shrugged. "As you know, I've got nothing, but time. All you have to do is answer me and we can have you home in no time."

"You can't force me to talk."

"Oh? You wanna test that theory?"

And there, Yugi was held aggravatingly confined to the emotion, he'd grown to identify in Atem's eyes after such a story time together. An ominous, almost compelling need to flee roared to the front of Yugi's mind and like the beast demanding to be released, it was tamed back to a whimpering coward to the back of his mind. Chills spiraled up and down Yugi's spine because no one should be able to have that amount of power. Yugi's purple gaze darted in muted apprehension at the icy amusement in the Atem's expression; something else that has become an accustomed gesture on Yugi's end, being unable to speak when those eyes were focused solely on him.

Atem's eye color morphed into a dark burgundy, flooded with a diadem-like radiance. Was that what the Blue Eye Aces saw whenever Atem gave his orders, or thrust about in his noble presence? Or was it a unique gesture reserved for only taming Yugi?

Yugi knew it'd worked whatever the case because a minute later, he was pouring out like a broken faucet. "Why should I be afraid of you?" he asked in a whisper. "Do you want me to save you the trouble of working at it?"

"Hardly the case," Atem answered on point as if anticipating that very question. "The endeavor was already done when I honored you with the truth of who I am. I say you should be afraid so you'll be prepared for what's in store when dealing with me. I'm no saint, this I've told you already. I murder, I kill, I destroy lives, and I spill blood and will do so without regret."

"How can you say that so easily?"

"What is the harm in voicing my actions? What kind of leader would I be if I couldn't speak of my sins aloud?" Atem said. "Knowing this much about me, you still got in the car with me. You could've called one of your friends to pick you up from the restaurant. To be frank, I don't think you're scared of me enough."

Yugi blinked. "I am, I think. It's just . . . I feel like I'm caught in this web and no matter how much I struggle to get free, I'm only entangling myself more. And you're the spider that led me into this, Atem. Should I be worried when the spider comes for me . . . that he'll fool me into a false sense of security or openly eat me alive?"

Atem blinked slowly, dipping his head at a leisure pace that left Yugi plenty of opportunity to dodge backwards; if the hand on his chin gave him that chance anyway.

"If you really wanted to flee, you would have. I don't suspect you're willing to do so now. There's too much allure in your eyes."

"You baited me with information about my brother."

"You're free to forget and move on, if you wish. There's nothing binding you. The web is not fully fastened. If I am the spider, as you say, all I've done is dangle the bait before you. You're smart enough to know whether it's worth the bite."

Yugi had thought he was an expert at keeping an eye on his surroundings but he knew differently when between now and sometime when Atem had been talking, his arm fell from the head rest and curled around his shoulders. The warmth escaping Atem's body could substitute for an electric blanket.

"What is it really, Yugi? It can't be fear of lil' ole me," Atem's faintly amused voice grazed against Yugi's temple and—Jesus, when had he gotten so close? "There's more to it than that."

There was more; more than Atem could ever begin to understand. The urge to constantly glance over his shoulder was staggering. It was Yami; Yugi had a hidden fear of now. The man's face had entered and molested the hell out of Yugi's mind on several occasions during dinner and a few times during their journey to his home.

Now that he knew what Atem was, should Yugi continue to see him, when not too long before, he'd asked Yami if he could see him more often? There was Atem too. Yugi didn't know if he should say anything about knowing Yami because the history between them was bloody. Blue and red didn't mix. Spades always had the cutting edge, while aces could always come back with a sudden force. That was the mental struggle Yugi battled with even as he stared into Atem's eyes.

"I noticed something about you."

Yugi blinked and held his breath when Atem said those words.

"You're angry when you're confused or treated with little regard. You become distant when nothing makes sense to you. What is confusing you now, young buck? Is it so difficult that you can't say it to me?" Atem moved in closer.

The air in Yugi's lungs screamed violently to be released. He held still, perfectly frozen and nerves exploding. "It's everything, I-I wish I knew what to do. My decisions, so far they haven't been wise. I need that slate clean of being foolish. I . . . I . . . don't . . ." Atem was so close. Yugi could taste the wine from dinner on his breath as it hovered over Yugi's lips. "I don't want to be afraid of you or the decisions I make."

"You'd be better off scared, Yugi."

"Why?" Fire licked wildly in Yugi's belly.

"Because I said so. That's plenty of reason to be. I'm guaranteed to break your spirits in the end." Nose to nose, Atem lingered above, looming as a quiet predator and with the power of destruction at his beckoning. "If this isn't what you want, you better say so now." He could break Yugi in half with pure strength or wreck his mind with a single sentence. He did none of those things.

In the time lost to Yugi, Atem's hand left his chin and the teen felt the catch of fingers in his hair, the clutch yielding him forward and the sudden recline of Yugi's seat, pushing as far back as allowed. Purple eyes combated with the smothering burgundy devouring Yugi's face in one fell swoop and his entire body quivered under the touch of large caramel hands palming his cheek and slipping down to caress his throat.

Yugi knew it was coming, but the muffled sound he made still held his surprise when Atem pressed his lips to his. All the stiffening and lack of response didn't deter Atem's efforts as he moved with slow, precise motions. Yugi winched and pressed his palm to Atem's chest, though knowing it didn't possess the full desire to push him away. He was melting by slow degrees into the way Atem's lips nibbled and suckled and praised the shape of Yugi's mouth. The gliding sweep of wet warmth sent Yugi's mind reeling with every hot sensation imaginable. His stomach went in spirals and flips and gradually networked its way down to his groin.

Atem's shoulders hunched when Yugi's fingers curled around his shoulders like talons. That's always been a particularly sensitive place for him because it showed his lover's strength and ability to hold him. Yugi's grip was strong and, oh very tantalizing like the way his lips were. Atem expressed his pleasure with a vibrating growl in his chest. Yugi felt the subtle tenors coax a gentler response out of his body and hesitantly parted his lips.

Atem's tongue didn't wait to curl in Yugi's mouth and navigate through hills of white teeth and the wet bed of moisture so tart from the aftertaste of sweet tea and utterly irresistible. Their heads swiveled from side to side in silently agreed intervals, and God, where had Atem learned to kiss this way? Every arguing thought bellowing for Yugi to stop before he got burned, was engulfed by the very flame he didn't need.

Where Yugi's hands were, that's exactly where Atem wanted them to be when he fucked the insanity of him. Atem was falling at a speed indescribable. He'd meant to only sample these young lips. He didn't know tasting the buffet would lead to desiring the full course. Though Yugi's kiss was awkward, moved a bit too quickly and held still at points, his inexperienced surged shockwaves to Atem's dick. It stirred like a cobra charmed by a flute. He was glad Yugi's body count would never amount to his own. That meant fewer people to kill in the long run.

Atem's large hand was upon Yugi's crotch and cupping the bulk of what felt like a healthy grit. Yugi closed his eyes tight for a moment, and then abruptly pushed up. "No," he gasped, shaking his head. It was too fast, too sudden. Yugi pushed again when Atem didn't budge. "No," he repeated sternly and looked ready to fight.

Atemlet him go, watching the red blush on Yugi's face shine and glossed off the moon's silver glow. That had gone too far, even for his standards. His truly lessened patience was, was getting—shit, now that he had a taste, his mind was clouded with thoughts of wanting more. "Shit," he murmured, dragging a hand down his face, eyes straying out the windshield. He dared to look at Yugi's composure and wished for a larger space.

The teen's thick hair was in disarray from Atem tugging on it. One glance in the rearview mirror said Atem's composure was a little neater. He prided himself in keeping his dignity very fit in the most unspeakable circumstances. Now, there was a slip in demeanor. His eyes showed a glimpse of a broken guard.

Atem looked over his shoulder at Kisara's slumbering face and sighed. At least he hadn't scarred his daughter for life. How messed up would that be?

"Take me home," Yugi said behind the cage of the fingers tracing his swollen lips.

Atem didn't need to be told twice. He removed the gear out of park and finished creeping the rest of the way into Yugi's neighborhood, keeping a diligent eye on the red blood runners eyeing his rental car and looking for tell-tale signs of who was driving it. Atem thought, for a moment of sheer confusion and as his car tumbled on the bumpy dirt road that he spotted a car parked in the distance but dismissed the idea as soon as it entered his mind.

When he pulled to a stop, Atem left the car on and placed it back in park a couple of meters from Kame's Shop. He killed the headlights, and sighed, facing Yugi, and arched an eyebrow to find the young man staring intensely at him.

"Yes?" Atem urged.

Yugi opened and closed his mouth. Twice his eyes turned to face his door and then came to rest on Atem. "That, I mean, the kiss. It doesn't mean I agreed."

"What does it mean?" Atem thought Yugi's blush couldn't get any cuter. "That we wanna fuck worst then we did before?"

"No, it means we're both unnecessarily horny. And can you try a filter?" Yugi whisper, amusement fogging his eyes. "You have a daughter back there."

"She's heard me say worse." Atem took Yugi's hand and played with the valley of knuckles on top with his thumb. "I'd say it means you're considering it. I could give you a reason to keep it on your mind or is fear of the unknown and being caught fucking an older man, what keeps you from deciding?" He kissed Yugi's knuckles, one by one, lingering as if Yugi's taste was strong and addictive.

"It's a lot of things." Yugi eased his hand free because talking with those creamy lips touching him left his mind jumbled. "I need to figure out whether it's worth the risks." And whether it's worth continuing on with him while knowing Yami existed. Yami hadn't gone through the same initial chase as Atem, Yugi noted, but he . . . it was just something about him that drew Yugi in—

A chuckle tore his mind from Yami's imaginary face to seeing Atem step out of the car. "You're a wonder indeed, young buck."

Yugi cast one last look at Kisara, sleeping soundly in her car seat and smiled before opening the door. He jogged a few steps to match Atem's stride up the short journey to his front door. Now that the date was over, he wanted to get away more than ever, particularly because of what usually came after a date. Yugi reached the door first, well aware of the quiet steps bringing Atem closer and closer. Yugi fumbled around his pocket for his keys, cowardly refusing to turn around and face the danger mingling in this man's 5'11 frame.

Atem's hands surged forward and cupped Yugi's sides, tugging his back into his chest. Shivers raked Yugi's entire body, his chest heaved, and his lips were left agape and his shoulders bounced for every shuddering breath. Feathery kisses grazed Yugi's neck softly, barely there and gentle. "Are you running from me?"

"No, I'm just ready to go home." Or so he believed. After allowing ten of those kisses, Yugi wet his lips. It felt so good, his throat dried. The abilities Atem probably possessed were so enticing. Yugi was unnaturally nervous because he knew what Atem wanted. That sinking feeling in Yugi's stomach liquefied in a pool of lava. It was so clear and obvious Yugi wanted to fuck right now, it scared him.

Yugi quickly stuck his keys in the keyhole, turned the doorknob and pushed forward. He didn't get far.

"Nice try." Atem whirled Yugi around in his arms, bringing him closer with the wild force. Yugi stuttered incoherently but Atem was already kissing with that amazing skill and taking Yugi back to the wild world. The T.O.G. didn't waste time coaxing a way inside Yugi's mouth. He forced his way in and took what he so longingly desired. Atem stroked his tongue along the inside of Yugi's mouth, flicked and drew back to trace over Yugi's bottom lip. Yugi moaned and clung to him, because, because, he'd momentarily thought there was nothing wrong with indulging himself for once.

Would it really hurt to? Yami wouldn't have to know. Yugi would never tell him. It could be a one-time thing, just once and never again. Besides, Yugi owned Yami no loyalty of any kind. They had no ties. . . Yami. Atem put a hand on Yugi's back and steered him in expertly for a deeper penetration. Atem licked his around mouth, rolling his tongue up and down as thoughtfully as though he'd never tasted something so sweet before.

"Oh Yugi, baby, I could give you so much," Atem whispered and kissed tiny specks on Yugi's forehead, his cheeks and his mouth. "One word is all I'm looking for. Say yes instead of no."

Yugi opened his eyes. Atem's face hovered above his, and his eyes were locked on Yugi's, and they shone with a fire several degrees beyond lust. One time, would it really be only once? Atem kissed him again. He lowered himself so that his chest was fitted against Yugi's and he rocked in a smooth, up and down motion, hips brushing in a sensual grind, groins mashing and so fiery, Yugi flowed into it. The floodgates keeping his fire at bay whipped open and he felt every string and muscle joint tighten. He'd never felt this good before.

The kiss had, at long last, ended and the pair had reared away from one another when the darkness dissolved into thunderous explosions and auburn light. The air crackled two instances, very loud and very bright; Yugi whirled around with his heart clogging his throat.

A cold shudder hauled up his spine. Gunfire, someone was shooting, he understood too little, too late. The orange flare didn't die as it careened toward him and suddenly he was in an unbelievable amount pain. He flew through a region colors shadowing his gaze and the force of his heart seemed more pronounced. He-he couldn't believe what just happened. Yugi cried out, awed and horrified as a dark silhouette stepped forward and continued to release rounds.

Yugi heard four, maybe six bronze bullet shells ricochet off the ground, kicking up dirt and stone. He was vaguely aware of the chaos taking place overhead. He sunk to the ground, clutching the shattered ligaments and skin melting from his left arm. Blood seeped through his fingers. Yugi couldn't believe he'd been shot. It burned as if gasoline were being poured in his flesh and set ablaze. When he took deep breaths, he could only breathed pure agony instead of oxygen.

There were deep voices shouting, so far and swallow as if beneath the waves of the sea or going down a tunnel. Somewhere in the mist he heard his grandfather calling out and Atem forcing him back inside. Yugi wedged his eyes open, fighting through the pain to see what was really happening. He saw legs and feet sprinting back and forth and the ear piercing sounds of gunfire.

Silence hung in the air. An arm came and clasped Yugi's shoulders so suddenly; he stiffed and shut his eyes in case he would feel one of those shots first hand. But it was Atem's voice, calm, peaceful and soothing. "Get up. You can move. The bullet went straight through."

Yugi grunted when he was forced to his feet and shoved against the wall for support. "I, I can't."

"Yes you can. Stand up!" Atem ordered firmly. Yugi lazily blinked, a chill so unfamiliar enveloping his body. A soft slap to his cheek steered him from giving into the gentle sleep. "Wake up, boy! No sleeping!" A slam against solid wood jolted Yugi awake. His purple eyes skated around the darkness, apprehensively trying to pinpoint where the next shot might come. His heart was jumping beats. What happened, what was going on, who was shooting?

"Son of a bitch," click, clank. Atem loaded a new magazine in his holder and snapped it in before taking aim. "Yami! Come out here, you cowardly ass motherfucka'!" He let out three quick rounds, all in random directions.

The three shots were answered back with five.

Yugi's eyes bugged out of his head. Yami, it was Yami! His mind wailed, terrified. Yugi ducked his head down to miss the shots. He couldn't believe this was happening. Had Yami figured it out? How could he? This was too sudden and too fast. Yugi had only found out about Atem tonight!

"Yugi!"

Said teen froze with his eyes going wide and blurry. He shakily turned his head and there was Yami. Yami who was standing in the open unafraid of Atem's gun, Yami who was there and aiming his gun right back and Yami who could put the fear of God in anyone because he was one. He stood there, incredibly frightening in the darkness as if he knew it fold and cloaked it around his body. Yugi turned his head from side to side, and slid down from the plaster of his home, heavily sedated under the weight of Yami's demonic gaze.

"Yami . . ." he scarcely whispered the name as if saying it aloud would bloom a curse. "Please, don't. Please don't—"

Another shot was fired. Yugi landed hard on the ground from the rough shove and the large weight covering his upper torso. Heated metal fell by his face where the kick of salty dirt and pebbles swept into his howling mouth.

"You sat around talkin' with me while you were fuckin' with a blue blood?!" Yami shouted, his deep voice heavy with slang. "That's how you get your kicks, you lil' shit? Nobody fucks me over. You won't walk away from here breathing! I can promise you that!" Yami recoiled behind his car and stretched his arm out and below to deliver several more shots.

"I didn't . . ." Yugi said, out of sorts. "I swear I didn't know . . ."

The chaos died to an abrupt halt. Yugi dared to open his eyes when the weight left his body. He looked up and up and wished he could sink in a hole. A dark, nasty chuckle came from above and seemed to cup in his ears. "Oh . . . so that's how it is."

Yugi scrunched like a curled centipede when a size eleven shoe kicked him in his stomach. He coughed and saw stars, and ears flooded with hot blood. Vertigo was a possibly because the need to vomit was great and his vision unfocused. The next time that foot connected to his body it snapped his face to the side and remained on his cheek, digging unsightly ridge marks in his skin. There was no question about it. Yugi knew he was going to die and there was no way out of it.

"You low down, dirty dog," Atem said in a dark, hollowed tone. "I'm sittin' here trying to see if you'll ride or die, but from the looks of it, you wanna die. I can't blame you though, no. I let myself get drawn into those pretty eyes and you looked like a good enough fuck. But nah, we won't be doing that now will we?" The gun clicked. "You have ten seconds to start explaining and by five, I better have my answers or I'm gonna fill you and your grandfather with some hot shit. One."

Blinking through the tears gathered in his eyes, Yugi prayed and searched his brain for anything that might convince this man to let him live.

"Two."

Yugi's closed his eyes tight, but didn't hear the expectant projectile, pollute the air in gun powder. He licked his lips, and blinked the tears free. "I didn't know," he hoarsely said.

"Three."

"I'd met him first, Atem. I had no idea you were a blue blood until tonight. How could I say anything by then? I didn't know what to do. That's why I was scared. I would've gotten killed either way. Please, Atem!" Yugi begged pitifully and didn't care how pathetic he looked to this man. He was fighting for his life and his only weapon was a set of words that sounded like they were coming from a broken record. "I wouldn't fuck around with both of you on purpose! Do you think I'm that crazy? I had no idea, I swear!"

"Fuckin' liar!" Atem slammed his foot down, ringing a harsh cry from Yugi. "You could've told me when we were in Shay la Belle. I let you around my daughter! You had your opportunity, but I think I know where this is heading. I'll be damned if it happens to me again in the same lifetime. Fuck this, I'm at five and not convinced."

"I was scared, Atem, for god's sake!" Yugi quaked as if he were on the verge of a seizure. "I couldn't tell how you would react if I told you then or if I told you later. I-I didn't know what to do." Sobs violently tore through Yugi's body as he quivered and balled himself in a fisted defense. The pain coming from his arm and the thought of being killed left so much emptiness in his heart and stomach. What more could he do, what more could he say?

"Five, six, seven . . ."

Yugi's hopes crumbled to rubble. It was over. He was going to die. Yugi tried to force himself to fall unconscious, to go to sleep or even just die from blood loss. He would take any of those if he could simply be put out of his misery before the bullet tore through his innards. He heard the shuffle of grass beneath leather boots, and drew in a breath.

Atem tensed, obviously having been so engrossed in killing Yugi, that he'd forgotten Yami would kill him too. He quickly dug around his waist band for the small pistol—he never got the chance. The familiar tap of steamy muzzle on his temple would've ripped the air out of surprise from Atem's lips if he didn't remember how much Yami enjoyed putting the fear of the devil in his victims. Atem would hardly give the bastard the satisfaction.

"Well, isn't this a cozy sight; a union between the three of us in not-so-decent circumstances. Ah, the memories just refuse to die don't they, Yami?" chuckled Atem.

"Shut up." Yami had two barrels directed at Atem and Yugi and Atem had his gun pointed downward at Yugi's throat. The odds were stacked against Yugi, no matter what now. "How long has this been going on?" Yami growled.

"Has what been going on?" Atem answered.

Yami pulled the trigger on both guns. Yugi's eyes flew open and Atem narrowly resisted a flinch. Nothing happened but a hovering click that struck a bolt of fear in Yugi's chest. "Does it look I'm playing with you?" Yami said. "Last time. How long have you been fucking around behind my back?" He looked pointedly at Yugi out of the corner of his eye, killing him slowly with his red glare.

And Atem retrieved his gun as well, aimed for Yami's crown. "Don't ever take your eyes off me, Young Blood. It's likely to get you fucked up." Though it was the gun pointed at Yugi he had the desire to shoot more. "Now that we're even, we can do this the easy way or the hard away," he said to Yami. "We can both shoot the brat and go on our merry way or we can just start shooting and may the best man survive."

"How's about a better choice," Yami evilly offered. "I get my answers and take you both out."

"Bad idea, I have a terrible way of coming back." Atem kept his guns steady. "We'd be better off offing this kid, Yami. He would've whored himself on the both of us if he continued on."

Yugi bowed his chin to his chest, tamely staying out of the conversation and allowing his assassins to carry on. In the meantime, his brain raced, making conclusions and discarding them, trying to come up with any new ideas that might save his ass or get him killed quicker. Yugi winced where his fingers encased his bleeding wound and decided to take a risk. If he was able to succeed, then he could at least keep his grandfather safe.

Yugi swallowed thickly and opened his mouth. "Atem, Yami." Yugi shifted his head under the weight of Atem's shoes, wanting at least one of his eyes on the pair. He'd gained their haunting attention. Yugi couldn't picture a better pair of hellish guards for the underworld. If looks could kill, Yugi would've been dead yesterday. "Kill me if you want. I'm so far from giving a damn at this point. Just grant me one request, just one, and do whatever you want."

The leaders narrowed their eyes simultaneously, a chill whipping pass like wind over a frozen pond. Yugi could've laughed hysterically with relief when Atem moved his foot aside and Yami and him lowered their guns.

"That's a bit redundant, since you'll die regardless. Nonetheless, I'm not beyond giving a man his final dues." Yami crouched down to the balls of his heels and pressed his hot barrel on Yugi's neck, ignoring the teen's pained hiss.

Atem lowered his himself, grunting along the way and smacked his gun in his palm. "Speak," he quietly ordered. "If it's something stupid, so help me boy, I'll shoot your nuts off and feed 'em to your granddaddy."

Yugi gave one nod. He took a deep breath, prayed and said. "Don't kill me in front of my home. Do it somewhere, anywhere, but here. My grandpa's already suffered enough losing my brother. Please, please do it somewhere else and hide my body so that he can never find it."

"You're saying you want to die?"

"No, of course I don't. I'm scared I'll piss my pants, but really, you've already made it clear you're gonna kill me." Yugi gave the longest sigh and looked pass their shadowy faces and into the partially clouded sky. "I've already told the truth. You're just too blinded by your rage to listen. So, fuck it, I guess. Heba was like that too. He'd get so angry that he'd—"

"—lash out and question later, because it wouldn't make sense otherwise," that was what Yami whispered. Yugi's gaze zeroed solely on him and without a shadow of a doubt, he realized something disturbing.

"You knew him too," Yugi said, disheartened and quiet. "You and Atem? You both knew him? Yami, I talked to you about him in the café. You didn't say anything. Why?" His voice rose in the end. "Did you know him too? Did you?!"

Atem and Yami shared an elongated glare, more piercing and sharp as a polished blade. Yami pushed up to his feet. "Yeah, I knew him," Yami coldly said. "I knew your twisted brother and, God help me, I wish I'd never met the fool."

Yugi laid there, stunned. "Heba wasn't a—"

"Ha, like the devil, he wasn't," Atem barked in an ugly snarl. "You think us to be so vile and conniving. It's nothing compared to what your brother put us through." He pointedly looked at Yami. "Well, some of us suffered more than others—"

"Shut up!" Yami snapped. "You were no better than I was—"

"I mourned for the time loss because of him," Atem sternly corrected. "Things could've been different, Yami. You and Heba chose to fuck it up!"

"We fucked it up? Atem, you were the one who—"

"—don't you dare place the blame on me! I had our lives set. You refused to follow through—"

In a lot of ways, Yami knew he was like Heba, brash, calm and calculative lethal. That's why when he heard a car door open from behind, he didn't think about who it could be. Only that they were behind him and possibly dangerous. Yami pivoted on his heel and took aim.

She was awakened by the sounds of the city's annual firework festival and shouts of cheer. Maybe it was a dream but when she opened her eyes, Kisara saw the explosive designs of orange and red and yellow brilliantly glowing outside. Rubbing her fists over her eyes, Kisara smacked her lips and giggled when she heard the sounds crackling outside again.

She didn't see her daddy or Yugi. They had to be outside and left her in because she fell asleep. Kisara unbuckled her car seat and undid the one strapped across her chest. If her daddy knew she could get out of her restraints so easily, he was sure to give her a spanking, but she couldn't think about that now.

The darkness settled outside. Kisara crawled over the suave interior on her hands and knees to the back window, surveying the stretch of night. She didn't see anything. No Yugi, No daddy. It was a little foggy outside, kind of like when her daddy had his friends over and he never let her leave her room. She did once and the whole living room was covered in white mist.

Kisara gasped. If it was smoky outside that meant Uncle Seth was here to watch the fireworks too and so were Aunt Isis and Cousin Marik. Kisara pressed her hands on the tinted windows eagerly and glanced around. She couldn't see anyone. It was terribly dark outside. She didn't want to go out by herself but it was equally scary in the car too.

"Daddy, Yugi!" She called.

No answer. There were no voices either—wait, yes there were. Kisara suction cupped her face against the window and turned her face as far as she could against the cold glass. There was someone outside. She immediately recognized her father's figure and happily called out to him. He and someone else were huddled over on the ground looking at something. It must've been interesting because Yugi was lying on the ground with them.

"Daddy, I wanna see too!" Kisara worked on pulling the door handle until it opened. She pushed it out and landed on the dusty earth. The door slammed shut . . . and she ran out.

In many ways, Yami wasn't like Heba at all. When he saw was a small girl with a smile the spitting image of Atem's, his finger refused to pull the trigger. Six years ago . . . she was alive.

"So, you did have her," Yami murmured in a strained tone, like pulling strings to an already stretched violin.

Atem, having completely voided Yugi from the universe, held both his guns pointed at Yami's head. When the car door opened, he'd lost his heartbeat. It was the first strike of fear to ever engulf his heart and leave it raw and exposed. He'd gone insane for a split instant when Yami aimed his gun at the car. Kisara could've been killed. Blood flooded his ears and every kind of murderous intent began to carve a hole in his brain. Protect her at all costs and yet, Yami didn't shoot. That was the only reason Atem hadn't fired.

"Yes, I hadn't known until later on," Atem answered. "By then, it was too late."

Yami shook his head, gravely, tucking his gun away in his waistband. It was a sudden, stupid move, one so foolish it shocked Atem into lowering his weapon too.

"You fool, you—you incredible, damned fool," Yami whispered angrily, fists clutching at his sides. "You crippled the strength of your family for the sake of one heartbeat. How reckless. Do you have any idea what you've done?" He looked at Atem through eyes clear and pitying and enraged. "Why?"

"You know why . . ."

Yami shook his head again. No, he did know, but he refused to accept it.

Yami sunk down to his knees, bunched Yugi's shirt in his fist and yanked the teen up to his feet. Yugi was pushed to the wall, arm sore and his back aching. "Do not come near me again. You understand?" Yami slammed Yugi's back hard enough to rattle the boy out of his approaching unconsciousness. "On my life and yours, I swear I will kill you. History won't be repeated! Not with me!" One last tongue-biting slam emphasized his promise before Yami turned his gaze to Atem, just as hard and just as meaningful. "You keep away from me too."

"I don't need to be reminded of what I ready do." Atem had his turn with Yugi as well.

The slap across the teen's face struck a chord of hums in his eardrums and the metallic taste of blood added to the miserable situation. A fist of his hair was gripped and yanked, tugging his head back, forcing his eyes to thin and his mouth to gape.

"Stay away from me, my daughter and my gang. If I see you, I won't think twice about putting a bullet in your head, Yugi Muto." He dropped the boy on the ground and spat on his face. The sour saliva dribbled and sat on the side of Yugi's cheek. "Solomon! Come and get this trash off your doorstep before it leaves a stench." As if the smell were already offensive, Atem backed away and went for his car, alongside Yami.

The two split apart and went their separate ways, no glances, and no words.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Kisara asked when she was sweep up and buckled up in the backseat. "Where's Yugi?"

"Yugi is not allowed to play with you anymore, Kisara. You'll have to make new friends." Atem ducked in the driver's seat, and put the car in reverse.

Kisara sniffled, "But I wanna play with Yugi, Daddy. Why can't I?" She went unanswered and tears sprung to life in her eyes."Daddy, please?"

Well, Atem couldn't help that now, could he? "You'll learn to adjust without him."

"Yugi's my friend, I don't want another friend." Kisara hid her watery eyes inside her arms and continued to cry in quiet despair and hiccups. "I want Yugi . . . I want Yugi, Daddy."

He scowled at her through the rearview mirror. Weakness was a trait he should've weaned from her by now. When he'd been twelve, the entire Blue Eye Ace Empire was lain on his shoulders and not only had he mastered the ability to lead, he'd revolutionized the name. Kisara would learn people would come and go in life. Atem had to learn how to move on the second he learnt of someone's death. She was too young to understand a parent's choices. When it came to the safety of his daughter, he'd ensure she was alone for the rest of her life. If that guaranteed she never had to know the feeling of betrayal so many times as her father had. . .

"Please, Daddy?"

Atem sighed, prepared for an even longer night. "You'll be alright, baby girl."

This too, shall pass.

Yami entered his bullet-peppered car and whipped out his phone. He pressed in two different phone numbers and when each man answered, he said, "Come here," to both and nothing more. They'd know he needed the peace of mind. Tonight was a hammer threatening to break through his sculpted walls. Chips were gradually chiseling off the edges. That didn't mean they'd crumble. Yami would restore the cracks and keep going.

Yugi remembered flashes of blue and red, his grandfather crying and the blur of the world. But more importantly, he remembered feeling his chest concaving where his heart was, so very hollow and empty. He was alive . . . but why did it feel like he'd still died?