Chapter Ten – Taken

Yugi's POV

Yugi woke the next morning to a certain energetic little furball licking his face.

"Stop, that tickles!" Yugi giggled, pushing the pup's snout away.

The door to the room slowly opened, and Aria came into view.

"So that's where you got to, you silly thing." She said, walking over and picking Tiragon up. "Sorry if he woke you, Yugi, but he seems to really like you."

Tiragon barked as if to agree with this statement, his tail wagging happily.

Yugi laughed, and said, "He has a lot of energy."

Aria nodded, "Yeah, too much if you ask me." This made Yugi laugh even more.

"Maybe he just needs to go for a walk; I'd happily take him for you after breakfast." Yugi offered.

"You will? Thank you so much. Marik said I wasn't allowed to take him that far away but I think he needs a long walk to get used to this place and to get rid of all his energy, so if you could do that I would so owe you one." Aria said hugging him.

Tiragon took this as an opportunity to lick Yugi's face some more.

"You don't owe me anything, I would be happy to help you look after him. He's a sweet puppy… if a bit slobbery…" Yugi responded, scratching behind Tiragon's ear.

"Well we'll just leave you to get ready, see you in a few minutes… you do remember where the dining room is?" Aria asked. Yugi nodded. "Good, well, see you there." She said as she left, carrying a wiggling Tiragon with her.

Yugi climbed out of bed and went to have a shower. He used the hot water to loosen his stiff muscles, letting his mind wander.

Aria is such a nice, kind, sweet girl, why does the Thief King wish to kidnap her? What is he planning? What is he really after? Who is he truly? Doesn't he understand that we're not going to let him get Aria? Aria… why does my heart beat faster just thinking about her? ARGH! Get a grip Yugi; she is a princess… and you are just… just what? I'm the King of Games, doesn't that count for anything? …Not in this case, she won't be interested in someone who spends his time playing a kid's game. You, Yugi, need to find something more mature to do if you plan on dating her… Wait is that what I want? But I like Yami... Don't I?... Then why can't you stop thinking about her? And you may like Yami but you love Aria… But… I can't… can I?... I'm so confused…

Yugi groaned, a headache starting to form.

/Aibou, you ok? I sense a great uneasy./ The ancient Pharaoh asked over their mind link.

/Yeah I'm fine, got a headache and am a little confused that's all/ Yugi replied, smiling to reassure the spirit.

/Aibou, what has you confused?/ Yami asked.

/Don't worry about it, Mou Hitori No Boku, I'll figure it out soon I'm sure./

He turned the shower off, dried with a towel and put on his usual outfit. Yugi then headed to the dining room, entering he found every sat around a rather large table eating and chatting. Tiragon abandoned his food bowl to run over to Yugi, barking excitedly. Laughing at the puppy running round his legs, Yugi took his seat in-between Aria and Joey, grabbing a slice of toast and a cup of juice as he did so.

He listened to the conversations around him as he ate. Joey and Tristan were talking about TV programs they'd watched before leaving for Egypt, Ryou and Téa were talking about places they could visit, Kaiba was on his phone to Mokuba and Marik and Aria were discussing politics. When Yugi was finished eating he washed his plate and glass.

"Aria does Tiragon have a leash?" He asked, having put the now clean objects away.

"Sadly no, but Marik said you could use this…" She replied holding up a golden headscarf.

"Wait, that's Marik's?" Joey asked, laughing.

"No, of course not, you idiot. I brought it for Aria." Marik replied, frowning.

Aria laughed, tying one end of the scarf to the puppy's makeshift collar.

"Yugi, be careful ok? This isn't the strongest of materials." She said, passing the other end to Yugi.

He nodded, "Ok, well boy ready to go?" he asked the pup.

Tiragon barked, his tail wagging faster.

"I'll take that as a yes." Yugi laughed.

With Tiragon practically bouncing next to him Yugi left the Healer's house.

"You really do have too much energy, pup." Yugi said with a smile.

Tiragon just looked up at him and barked. Laughing, Yugi walked deeper into the town, turning down a deserted side path.

Suddenly Tiragon stopped, his hackles raised and growled.

"What's wrong?" Yugi asked, looking down at the young dog.

An emotionless laugh made Yugi stiffen.

"Look what I found, master, two little mutts." A man's voice came from behind him.

"Very good, my servant, just the little tri-haired mutt I wanted to find." A different but more familiar voice spoke.

The voices sent a shiver down Yugi's spine, but before he could turn to face the speakers he felt the cold steel blade of a dagger thrust through his back. A yell of pain escaped his lips as the blade was twisted.

Tiragon tried to protect his small human friend by biting the man with the dagger, only to be hit away.

"Don't you dare try to bite me, you pathetic mutt!" the man shouted.

A whimper came from the place where the pup was now hiding. As the dagger was removed from his back Yugi fell backwards and watched in shock as his body feel forward. The man had managed to split his soul from his body.

Yugi felt someone grab his forearm, something that wasn't meant to be possible while he was just a spirit, and drag him into a small glass like cube – only just big enough for him to sit in.

Before Yugi could ask any of the questions running through his mind, the man who had stabbed him spoke.

"Before you ask, this dagger is a very special dagger made especially for splitting people's souls from their body. It also enables that person's soul to become corporal enough to be seen and touched."

Yugi swallowed, not only was his soul being captured, again, but it was being taken by none other than the Thief King.

A low groan made everyone look at Yugi's body.

Yami's POV

When Yami opened his eyes, he was lying on the floor in control of Yugi's body.

Slowly he sat up and looked around. His eyes came to rest on two figures stood next to a cube. Yami's heart lodged in his throat when he saw the content of the box, his Aibou was sat cross-legged and terrified in the cramped container.

"Yugi!" he shouted, his hands clinched into fists.

The Thief King spoke before Yami could say anymore.

"If you wish to have your precious 'Little One' back, I suggest you bring me the Princess, Spirit of the Pharaoh. I'll wait for you at midnight in the desert. Come alone with the girl or the your pint-sized host will pay the price."

"Don't you dare harm my Yugi!" Yami growled through gritted teeth.

"Oh, we won't, if you do as I say that is. Now goodbye, Spirit. See you at midnight."

As he spoke the words The Thief King threw a smoke bomb down, concealing his exit as he left with the box holding Yugi and his men.

Tiragon came out of his hiding place and ran over to the ancient spirit, his tail between his legs and his head low. As the pup whimpered, tears fell from Yami's eyes as his body was racked with sobs.

The soul of his precious Light had been taken from him, again.