Welcome back lovelies!

Hope that you enjoy this chapter. There's a teenie tiny time skip in this chapter but things are picking up.

See you soon! x

Chapter 6:

*One Month Later*

The moon hung low and luminous in the twilight sky, weighted down as if pregnant with anticipation. Stars glittered overhead, mysterious and tantalising. The warm night air whipped around the tall buildings of Domino that seemed to want to caress the stars oh so tauntingly out of their reach.

A figure ran between those very buildings before coming to an abrupt stop. She rested one hand on the building next to her as her other braced herself on her jean-clad thigh. She desperately tried to catch her breath, her eyes darted everywhere around her, like a cornered animal.

She moved into the dim light which revealed a little of her face. She was a young woman, no more than 25 years old. She was conventionally beautiful with her light lavender hair that seemed to wink in the moonlight, it was tied into a high ponytail with a neat yellow bow. Her slim shoulders heaved as she panted. The young woman eventually let out a sigh of relief, seemingly comfortable and confident that she had lost her pursuer. She leaned fully against the alley wall and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans, a scowl crept onto her face as she kicked a stray stone with the tip of her trainer.

She didn't understand what was going on! She was on her way home after her work shift when some psycho jumped her! The young woman was ready to scream and fight tooth and nail; but when their eyes met, she knew that she needed to run. There was something primal and terrible about the way the man had looked at her which sent shivers of fear down her spine.

Like prey, like I am something easy to be squashed under the heel of his boot.

She fished out her phone from her back pocket, intending to call the police. There was no way she was leaving this alley without someone with her, when Miho took off the creep followed. What if the freak was out there, watching and waiting? She shivered as fear crept its way up her spine once more, one vertebra at a time. Miho shook her head as if to physically dislodge those thoughts.

Let's just call the cops and then I can be on my merry way.

Miho clung onto the image of her flat. The worn soft leather sofa that had always promised comfort and safety. She could almost see her best friend's lopsided grin as she tossed a packet of crisps for Miho to catch so they could munch while they binged Netflix. She could almost hear the quips that her roommate would make about her scare this evening. A small smile played around Miho's lips, yes there was nothing to worry about – she'd be home soon. Safe and sound.

Fate had other plans. As she flicked her thumb across the glass of her phone to unlock it, something hit and exploded against the wall just above her head, raining brick dust onto Miho's head. She let out a squeak of shock and fear before someone wrenched her by the shoulder and threw her painfully to the ground.

A cry of frustration and terror slipped through Miho's lips as her phone flew out of her hand and skittered into the darkness of the alleyway. Before she had a chance to move, her pursuer was perched on top of her chest like an obscene bird of prey. The young woman shuddered as she looked up at the figure's eyes; they were flat and black, dull like a shark's eyes. An obscene smile split his face in two as he looked down at his captive.

"Found you!" He sang. A long nail was dragged down the side of Miho's face. "Now, you ran before I could ask any of my questions. That was naughty." A finger wagged in front of Miho's face, taunting.

"What do you want?" Miho asked out of gritted teeth. One of her attacker's knees was now planted firmly on her chest, causing her pain. Miho's arms and legs were pinned to the ground by something she couldn't see, making her look like a butterfly displayed on a corkboard. Miho's brown eyes flicked around the alley as her attacker let out a bark of laughter.

"What do I want indeed," He sang again before his fingers cruelly grabbed Miho's face. The long nails dug into her cheeks and drew blood, causing Miho to cry out in pain. "You've been touched by my prize; I need to know where it is." He released Miho's face.

"I don't know what you mean!" Miho cried. "I haven't taken anything, I swear!"

"I don't know what you mean." He mimicked Miho in a high voice. "I guess I'll have to find out another way."

Miho's eyes widened in fear as her pursuer got off her, yet she still couldn't move. "I would tell you if I knew, I promise! Just tell me what you're looking for! Please don't hurt me."

Her pursuer looked at Miho from under his hood, almost with pity etched onto his cruel face. "I don't need you to tell me. You probably don't even realise you've seen what I'm looking for. Poor girl." He stroked Miho's hair tenderly.

Miho froze as she heard growling from the shadows. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she began to frantically pull at her invisible bonds as the growling etched closer and closer.

"What the fuck are you!" Miho screamed. "Someone please help me, anyone!"

Her pursuer suddenly clapped his hands in excitement and scuttled away. "Pretty girl, time to play! Then you can tell me about my prize." His black eyes glittered with barely contained glee.

"You're crazy, actually fucking psycho!" Miho couldn't breathe now; the air was becoming heavy as her pursuer smiled down at her like a beloved toy.

His fingers were once again on Miho's head, almost lovingly brushing her sweaty, lavender hair away from her forehead. "Hush now, it's time to play." He whispered.

Those long, foul fingers caressed Miho's temples and her body unnaturally arched up to that beautiful night sky. The growling grew with intensity, like a sinuous symphony.

It was then, that Miho truly began to scream.

A month had passed by since Yami began to see Yugi in earnest, and the young detective couldn't be happier. He couldn't count the number of dinners they had had. If Yami wasn't physically with Yugi, he was thinking about him – or texting him – much to Bakura's amusement whose new favourite pastime was to tease his partner relentlessly about it. The only unfortunate part of the last month was Yami and Bakura's inability to progress the case.

Captain Valentine had been holding off the vultures that were the higher-ups but they were becoming more insistent. There had been three more disappearances for a grand total of seven now. Two more young men and a girl.

Yami was sat at his desk once again in the precinct, he growled and threw the folder he was reading onto the desk, knocking an empty coffee mug onto the ground. Thankfully it didn't smash completely from its tussle with gravity, however the handle snapped off cleanly. Yami didn't even react nor care, he just glared down at the file as it seemed to taunt him by withholding secrets. He would give anything for a lead. Ishizu had been MIA for the last month alongside the Tomb Keeper.

Yami pinched his nose and leaned back into his chair to calm himself. He thought over the last time they went to Ishmael's Antiquities:

Yami was acutely aware of Bakura's impatience as he cupped his hands around his eyes to peer through the dirty window of Ishmael's Antiquities. His Partner's loafers tapped maddingly against the concrete of the pavement as he jiggled his leg up and down. The day was overcast, yet still bright, too bright for Yami to make out anything but faint shapes through the window. Yami stepped away from the glass with a frown and he discreetly wiped his hands, that were now blackened on the one side, on his trousers to dislodge the worst of the dirt.

"Where the fuck is that maniac?" Bakura growled as he stalked forward and kicked the doorframe, hard. "Oi psycho! Open up, will you?" He barked, his dark brown eyes blazing.

"Bakura!" Yami snapped, "If you damage that door without a warrant, Captain Valentine will have both of our arses and you know as well as I do that she has been ready to rip someone's head off lately. Don't give her an excuse."

Bakura took a deep breath and ran his hand through his white mane. "Well where is he? It's been weeks and two more people have disappeared and his sister hasn't contacted us. It's only a matter of time before- "Bakura snapped his mouth shut and looked away from his partner abruptly, he glared at the pavement as if he held the Earth responsible for the disappearances.

"Before what, Bakura." Yami asked as he crossed his arms across his chest.

Bakura's gaze snapped back up to Yami once more, but he no longer looked vengeful, he looked defeated, fearful. And Yami felt his heart fly to his throat at his partner's next words.

"Before it happens to someone we love, what will I do if they take Ryou next?"

Yami was brought out of his reverie by a soft sigh. He cracked open one eye just as Ryou bent down to retrieve his broken mug. Yami felt a little relief as he realised that it wasn't the mug that Ryou had bought him for Secret Santa last year, it was a plain thick monstrosity from the communal kitchen with DPD emblazoned on the side of it.

"I'm sorry Ryou." Yami murmured as the white-haired receptionist tossed the broken mug into the bin at the side of Bakura's desk. "Thanks."

Ryou tossed Yami a gentle smile. "You're welcome. Look on the bright side, at least you won't have to wash it now."

Yami laughed "I don't think that thing had been washed for years anyway."

Ryou smiled and hopped onto the side of Bakura's desk facing Yami. He leaned back on the palms of his hands as he waggled his eyebrows, his chocolate brown eyes twinkling with mischief. "So . . ."

"So?"

"How are things going with Yugi?"

Yami groaned and leaned forward to thump his head on his desk. "Should I start calling you Malik?"

Ryou laughed lightly, "Come on Yami! I'm not asking you for sordid details like that degenerate does!"

Yami sat back up and sighed, running a tanned hand through his hair. "I suppose that's something, although you two gossips will be the end of me."

Ryou rolled his eyes as he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. "You're such a drama queen Yami. Yugi is one of my best friends and he doesn't tell me anything."

Yami raised an elegant eyebrow. "That's . . . surprising. Not that there's much to tell. We haven't fucked yet if that's what you're after."

"No!" Ryou exclaimed as he sat up straight with a blush spreading across his nose. "I wasn't prodding for details, I promise! Also, did you have to put it so bluntly?"

Yami laughed lightly. "Things have been great Ryou, Yugi wanted to take things slow considering the last couple of guys he went out with. It's been . . . wonderful really."

Ryou smiled softly at the admission and nimbly hopped off the desk. He patted Yami's shoulder gently. "I'm happy for you Yami, I know the case is getting you down and that you and Bakura are doing all you can but I'm glad that you and Yugi have found some happiness in these dark times."

Yami smiled back at his friend before Ryou walked back to his desk and threw his satchel over his shoulder, preparing to leave. Yami's crimson eyes flickered to the time that was proudly displayed on the corner of his computer. 20:15. He was on a night shift tonight and it was Bakura's night off so Yami wouldn't be leaving the station until 06:00. Yami sighed through his nose as he picked up the file he had thrown earlier. Yami hoped beyond anything that some time with his own thoughts would give him some inspiration on the case, although there was a traitorous little voice in the back of his mind that said that it was a fruitless hope. He knew in his heart that he and Bakura had been through with their investigation thus far. These people were just too careful, too good at covering up whatever they were doing. Yet, Yami still held hope in his heart that they would slip up as they moved closer to their goal. They were only human, after all.

Right?

Yami frowned as he saw an email notification pop up in the bottom left of his computer screen, from a withheld address no less. Yami set aside the folder within his grasp once more as he moved one tanned hand to his mouse. He clicked the email in the corner to expand the whole thing and began to read, his eyes narrowing with every sentence:

Good evening, Detective Atemu,

I would wish that this email finds you well, although I know that will not be the case. They are on the move and becoming more brazen by the day.

I do not have much time and I cannot reveal myself at this time, it is not safe. I am taking a risk contacting you at all.

Ealam Alzili, look it up. You might find something interesting.

Your Friend in Umbra,

mae alsalama.

Yami sat back into his desk chair in a daze. Ealam Alzili, something he hadn't heard of since he was a young child in Egypt. Without blinking at all, he leaned forward in his chair again as his free hand opened Google, his other hand flew over the keyboard to type into the search engine.

Tales of the Realm of Shadows.

Yugi groaned lowly as he turned over in bed, trying to snuggle down into the covers to escape whatever had pulled him out of his deep sleep. From behind the darkness of his eyelids he could see the faint lights of cars driving down the main road that sat in front of Millennium. As another car passed, he growled lowly, a small pale hand shot out from under his covers to grope around his bed blindly until it finally landed on its prize, his mobile phone. Yugi promptly brought the phone under the duvet with him, not wanting to leave his safe, warm cocoon. He tapped the screen with a slight scowl, lighting up the device to check the time. 05:30. The club had only been shut up an hour ago after himself and his staff had cleaned the place so he estimated that he had only been asleep for about thirty minutes or so. Yugi frowned and flopped onto his back, throwing his phone to the side in the process, he fully intended to fall back into the deep embrace of sleep as he tampered down the annoyance of something waking him up in the first place.

Yugi's eyes drifted shut once more and he let out a little sigh of happiness as he snuggled down into his pillow, enjoying the silence of the club. Just as he was about to float away into the realm of dreams, there was a noise that had his amethyst eyes flying open immediately. It was faint, easy to miss if he wasn't already half awake. Yet, there was something insidious about it either way. Yugi sat up suddenly, the duvet pooling in his lap as he did so. His usually soft eyes hardened as they flicked around his studio flat.

Yugi's eyes had easily adjusted to the dim light as he sat tense as a bow, looking everywhere around him. His studio was rather big as it covered a large portion of the club downstairs. His bed was located on a raised platform with a large window behind him that overlooked the main street in front of Millennium. At the moment, the venetian blinds were drawn to keep out the worst of the light that could easily filter through the industrial building. Directly in front of him was a living area with his light-yellow sofas that pointed charmingly towards a large wall-mounted television that had been an extravagant moving in present from a friend. To the left sat a modest kitchenette with a door in the corner that led to his bathroom. Yugi couldn't see anything amiss but regardless, he slowly scooted to the edge of his bed and reached down with one hand to underneath his bed, not once did his eyes stop scanning the flat as he did so. His hand closed over the handle of the polished wood of a rounders bat which he slowly lifted in front of him as he stood up from his bed. He blindly reached over and fished his mobile from the sea of his duvet and secured it into the pocket of his pyjamas.

Yugi padded softly across the flat until he reached his heavy front door. He noted that it was still bolted securely shut. He placed an ear against it as he slowly released the dead-bolt. He couldn't hear anything in the corridor but, deciding to be cautious, he slowly opened it with his rounders bat held defensively in front of him. Just as Yugi was about to step over the threshold, he heard rummaging from down below, causing a spike of rage to fly through the small man's heart. Had someone broken into his club? There was no way on this hellscape of a planet that someone was going to waltz into what he had been working so hard for, the blood sweat and tears of his labour and circumstances, and steal from it.

Absolutely no way, Yugi wouldn't allow it. However, he was not a reckless man despite the way his small body shook with rage. He closed the door slowly, thanking every deity that had ever existed that it didn't creak in protest for once. He retrieved his mobile phone from his pocket and halted for a second, should he call 911 or a certain handsome detective? Suddenly remembering that Yami was on duty tonight cemented the young club owner's decision as he selected Yami's number.

It rang a couple of times and Yugi's heart seized in his chest with panic before he squashed it down harshly. If Yami didn't answer then he would call 911, it was simple. Don't panic, don't panic, don't pan-

"Hello? Yugi?" Yugi almost wanted to collapse to the floor in relief as Yami's deep baritone voice echoed on the other end of the line, tainted with concern.

"Yami," Yugi stage whispered. "Yami, you need to get over here quick, I think someone's broken in."

"What?" The detective sounded outraged and if Yugi wasn't so worried, he probably would've been touched by how much he cared. Yugi could faintly hear Yami bark some orders to someone, Yugi presumed it was to some uniformed officers before he came back to Yugi. "Yugi, sweetness, are you safe?"

"Yes, I'm in my flat and I think they're downstairs."

"I need to you stay calm and stay locked in your flat, don't let them know you're there. Can you do that for me sweetie?" Despite himself, Yugi felt a smile drift across his face at the worry and concern in Yami's voice. He could hear the other man breathing hard, Yugi wondered if he was running to his car from the station.

"Yes, I will Yami." Yugi swore as he adjusted his grip on the rounders bat. "Please hurry."

"I will, stay safe Little One."

Yugi disconnected the line and reached up, fully intending to slide the dead bolt back into place and do as Yami instructed, to huddle in his flat and wait for Yami and the police to arrive. There was a sudden loud crash from downstairs, followed by some cursing, which set Yugi's blood ablaze again.

Maybe he shouldn't have thought of himself as not a reckless man.

Yugi pulled open the door once more, brandishing his bat, as he began to creep down the darkened hallway. He didn't dare put the torch on his phone in order to see, the fear of being seen by the intruders outweighing his fear of tripping and falling in the dark. Descending the staircase was an industry and Yugi had to force himself to take it slow as he avoided the steps that he knew would creak and announce his presence. It felt like it had taken forever, but it was only a couple of minutes at most until Yugi's bare feet hit the cold floor of Millennium. He crept forward, his bat still held securely in front of him as he inched through the first door. He took deep breathes through his nose as he stood with his back against the wall next to the employee door that would lead into the main bar. He did his best to quiet his heart that was currently trying to escape out of his chest. Yugi could hear more cursing and things being smashed in his bar. Yugi took another deep breath as he leaned forward, discreetly pushing open the door to get a better look. Maybe if he could identify the bastards, Yami could arrest them later if they bolted when the police got here.

Yugi couldn't see much from his vantage point through the crack of the door and the deep, foreboding darkness of Millennium. Usually, the sight of the club, even in complete darkness, would be a sense of comfort for Yugi. In this instance, the petite club owner was only too aware of the fact that he couldn't see them over the bar unless he stood up properly but then they may spot him in turn.

"Oi psycho!" Someone called into the darkness, Yugi flinched from the sudden loud voice. "Have you found it yet?" which was followed by another item being smashed. "There's fuck all in here, maybe we should try upstairs? Gotta be an office or something, right?" Yugi frowned, the voice had a strange accent and Yugi was struggling to place it. "You gunna answer me, you rude bitch?"

"My, my, what a pretty thing. Prettier than the last." A sinister voice drawled from the darkness behind him. Yugi stiffened in fear. "You reek of our prize; yes, indeed you do."

Yugi screamed as a hand painfully wrenched his shoulder from the dark. Luckily, in Yugi's case, if it was too dark for him to see the intruder behind him then the intruder couldn't see Yugi properly either. As the hand pulled Yugi around by the shoulder, Yugi used the momentum to swing his rounders bat blindly at his attacker. Yugi felt the impact of the bat against what he assumed was his intruder's chin, vibrate nauseatingly down his arm, causing even his teeth to rattle. Yugi cried out in pain as the bat jutted downwards to his wrist from his poor grip and the impact before spinning blindly into the dark. The hand released Yugi's shoulder immediately and Yugi bit his lip so hard that he drew blood at the white-hot pain that flared in his wrist before he scrambled through the employee door to get away.

Yugi saw a shadowed figure in the distance, he couldn't make out any features because he was dressed in all black and stood in deep shadow. The figure moved menacingly towards him and Yugi began to back away to the one end of the bar, fully intending to keep the thick wood between him and them as a barricade. Yugi's eyes darted around everywhere, looking for an escape. Unfortunately the one intruder over the bar was blocking the way to the front door and the second would be blocking the way to the delivery bay. Yugi heard the employee door swing open once again and the second intruder walked through, whimpering slightly. Yugi couldn't make out anything in the dark about him either, except that he was cradling his face and sniffing slightly. Yugi felt some sick satisfaction at that but he couldn't help but mourn the loss of his rounders bat, its weight brought a comfort to him despite his now – likely – broken wrist.

The intruder that had grabbed Yugi suddenly stopped whimpering and turned to Yugi startingly fast. He began to stalk towards Yugi, his fists clenched with rage. Yugi almost wept with relief as red and blue lights lit up the dim club, accompanied by the high pitch whine of police sirens.

"Shit, come on psycho we got to hoof it." The figure across the bar barked before vaulting the bar to escape through the employee door via the delivery bay of the club.

The intruder that Yugi had hit lingered for a second. "Soon, my pretty." He whispered darkly before turning on his heel to follow his companion.

Ignoring the pain in his wrist, Yugi sunk to the floor, his back against the bar as he shook in fear. His shaking hands crept up to his mouth as he sobbed. Just before his attacker had turned to leave the police lights had lit up his face from under his hood. Revealing flat, black eyes that seemed to suck in all the goodness in the world before snuffing it out.

Yugi couldn't help but think that he had just had a very lucky escape. Those eyes . . . those eyes were the eyes of a predator.