Return of the Demon

Bakura awoke some time later, more than moderately uncomfortable.

“Oi, you’re broiling me alive!” he accused, struggling to escape Joey’s overly-warm embrace. “And you were supposed to watch out for Shadow Realm creatures.” Joey only sighed in his sleep, arms wrapping around himself now that Bakura had slipped out of them.

\ I was watching over us. \ With a soft glow, Ryou split from his darker half.

“Hey! Get back in your soul room,” he ordered. “It’s not safe out here.” The innocent looking boy made a little pouting face.

“It’s lonely in there. If anything happens, I’ll go back right away,” Ryou offered.

“Yeah, right,” the darker boy muttered. “Wake that lug up.” Ryou crawled over to the sleeping blonde. He leaned in and kissed him. Joey stirred, but didn’t wake. The slightly shorter teen climbed into his lap and kissed him more insistently. Joey let out a soft moan and his eyelids fluttered open, lips curving into a smile.

“Hey, Ryou...what are you doin’ outta the ring?” The lithe teen shrugged.

“I missed you two.” Ryou reached up and wrapped his arms around the blonde’s neck with a grin before leaning forward to kiss him again, now that he was fully conscious.

Bakura watched the pair silently. For once, it didn’t make him jealous...it made him happy. He scooted a little closer, looking on with mild disapproval as one of Joey’s hands found its way to Ryou’s waist, sliding up a little under the hem of his shirt as he pushed him onto his back. Their kisses were becoming increasingly sloppy, and Bakura was having a hard time telling whose tongue was whose.

Splaying himself atop Ryou, the blonevenever broke the kiss as he moved his hand up a little farther. The platinum haired teen was letting out a steady stream of small wet noises and threaded his hands into the other’s hair, pulling him impossibly closer.

“This is hardly the time or place, you two,” he growled in exasperation.

His comment went completely ignored as the pair on the ground continued to suck face like it was going out of style. The blonde’s hand slid even higher, presumably to brush over a nipple, and Ryou stiffened minutely, a look of fear flashing in his eyes. A look the dark spirit had to admit he’d put there many a time himself. Bakura caught the movement, and in one swift motion, he leaned forward and fisted a hand in the slightly larger boy’s shirt collar and yanked him back.

“Damnit, Joey,” hissed the darker one, “you’re scaring him! He only admitted his feelings for you today, and you’re already trying to get into his pants!” He released the blonde with a small shove that sent him rocking onto his backside.

Eyes wide, Joey stared between the two. “Oh, jeez, I-I’m sorry, Ryou, I shouldn’tve...sorry.” Ryou propped himself up on his elbows, panting softly, face flushed. Taking in the amber-eyed boy’s cowed expression, he glared at his yami in annoyance.

“I’m fine!” he protested. Bakura narrowed his eyes and glared right back. He ran a slender finger over the ring that hung around his neck as his other sat up.

“I can feel you’re scared.” At that the softer boy bowed his head, cheeks tingeing pink.

“It’s--the good kind of scared.” He peered through snowy bangs, rubbing his hand nervously over his own chest, mussing the thin fabric of his striped tee. He was very aroused, and rather embarrassed--a combination he seemed to feel in abundance lately. He glanced down mournfully at the juncture of his legs, where his jeans were pulled suspiciously tight. He sighed.

Bakura threw up his hands in frustration.

“Argh! Really, I will never understand you. Or you,” he addressed the blonde, crossing his arms. “Go on. Both of you. Continue. I don’t care if you don’t care.” He frowned. Joey exchanged an abashed look with Ryou. The paler boy chewed his lower lip.

“Why--wha...uuh,” he attempted to say something but quickly gave up. There was a long, awkward silence, until finally Bakura growled.

“What? You want to say something? Say something!” he challenged. Ryou shook his head, not meeting his yami’s eyes. His hands nervously began to rub over his own forearms, fingering the light crisscross of thin scars on them. The sight of those scars made Bakura feel distinctly ill.


The blade bit into the white flesh, a thin cord of vermillion slipping from its edge. In a single moment, all fear, all shame, all suffering went mute, and he only knew pain. Sharp and distinct, fiery blood flowed from the slice on his forearm.

\[ Are you going to listen now, and stop being such a goddamned weakling? ]\

The razor dropped from his grasp, clattering onto the tiled floor with a splatter. His snowy haired head bowed submissively, muffled, broken sobs his only response.


Bakura pulled Ryou’s arms apart, thumbs caressing them lightly. He hesitated.

“Are you still afraid of me? Either of you?”

There was no reply for a moment until Joey answered, “No” at the same time Ryou answered, “Yes.”

Joey blinked. [ Ryou’s still afraid of him?? How can he fear him when he’s in love with him? ]

“Ryou...” the white haired spirit murmured. “...Ryou, I’m sorry.” His dark eyes darted over to capture Joey’s. “I’m sorry...and I want to make it better. Ryou?” He tilted the teen’s chin up to face him. “I don’t want you to worry when I’m angry...to wonder, when I kiss you... Or to--to flinch when I touch you.”

For the first time, Joey noticed the multiple raised lines on Ryou’s forearms. Hardly visible, yet their meaning hit Joey with shock. When he found his voice, he managed to speak up.

“I don’t know too much ‘bout yer guys’ relationship before I met you...but I’m not giving up on you, or ‘us.’” Ryou’s gaze was fixed downward again, as countless thoughts unknown to his two koibitos flooded through his mind. Finally, he whispered:

“I love you, Yami-no. And I need you.” Bakura threw his arms around his other, pulling him close.

“I need you, too. Not the ring, not a host, you. I need you, aibou, and that baka over there.” Tentative hope swelled in Ryou’s heart.

[ He didn’t promise not to hurt me, he didn’t say he wanted this, he didn’t even say he loved me. ] But when he looked up, glistening doe eyes meeting worried, emotional dark ones, it didn’t need to be said. He hugged his dark side tightly, tears escaping the corners of his eyes. Bakura lifted his chin once more, this time to press a reassuring kiss to his lips. Ryou smiled, wiping at his eyes. Joey gave a nervous grin.

“You mean dat, Kura? You actually need me?” The platinum haired boy nodded. To everyone’s surprise, he leaned over to kiss the blonde’s cheek. Joey turned his head, however, and met the other teen with his lips.

At first their lips merely pressed together, insistent and searching, until finally Bakura slanted his mouth on the blonde’s, sliding his wet muscle into the other’s cavern. Joey responded, placing his hands on Bakura’s shoulders and pulling him closer. The snowy haired fiend ran his palm roughly over the juncture of Joey’s legs, igniting a bolt of lust in the other.

“Oh, jeez.” Joey’s voice was strangled as firm, circular pressure rolled over his groin. “Kura!”

Ryou still cuddled against his yami’s chest, watched him make Joey moan with wide eyes. Hesitantly, he glided his own fingertips up Joey’s thigh. When they reached his hip, he curled them under the waistband of Joey’s jeans. Joey laid back, giving them better access.

\ Go on. \ The yami’s tone was calm and encouraging. Ryou quickly popped open the button on the blonde’s fly, then shyly retracted his hand as fast as possible. Bakura snorted, his ministrations on the muscular teen pausing.

“Ryou.” His tone was low and seductive. “If you’re going to undo his pants, undo his pants.” Bakura proceeded to yank off Joey’s jeans and boxers.

“Hey! I--wha-ahhh...” Bakura’s hand resumed its previous activity. Ryou’s breath was coming short and his cheeks were lightly flushed; he was getting quite excited, watching his koi reduce Joey to a rigid, squirming mass on the grey earth. Lifting his pale fingers to hover over the pantless boy’s waist, he chewed on his lower lip.

Bakura curled his grasp around Joey’s rock hard erection, causing him to shove his hips up off the ground, groaning. Feeling braver, Ryou pushed up the blonde’s red t-shirt, exposing a well-cut torso. Joey’s hips were arching upward in rhythmic thrusting, his head tossing back and forth.

The light boy leaned over the handsome one on the ground, dipping his head down in time with his thrusts to draw his pink tongue up the bare stomach.

“Ah!!” Joey cried out, his hands clutching at a tree root above his head. “A-ah!!”
Abruptly Bakura stopped stroking him, leaving Ryou to pleasure him with his tongue-tease. “K-Kura?” he panted, looking up to see the former slave watching him.

It was back. The insatiable urge, the desperate craving: he had to please Jono. He’d always wanted, wanted to make Jono happy with him. Always wanted Jono to fall in love with him. Bakura leaned down, wetting his lips. He recalled how he had teased the other the night before.

“I...think I owe you something,” he murmured. Just as his lips were about to close around the straining arousal, Joey stopped him.

“No!”

Ryou looked up from his current task of trailing kisses up Joey’s chest. He could feel his dark half’s sting; he had taken the protest as rejection.

“What’s wrong, Joey?” the softer boy asked, unsure. The blonde pulled Bakura on top of him by his shoulders. He stared into deep chocolate pools that were attempting pitifully to look indifferent.

“You don’t owe me anything,” he stated before capturing the other’s soft little mouth in a fierce kiss. One hand clasped the fiend’s tight rear, driving their groins together, and the other reached out, feeling for Ryou, all the while never breaking the heated liplock. His hand found the hikari’s crotch, only to discover Bakura’s hand already there.

Ryou moaned as the two worked in unison, declothing him with amazing speed and skill, considering they were tongue-sparring at the same time.

Bakura made to break away, but leaned in for a few more quick kisses before rolling partially off him. He opened his jeans, pushing them down just enough to free his burgeoning arousal with a satisfied sigh. He moved between Joey’s legs, an indecent grin spreading over his kiss-swollen lips.

“That’s it??” Joey protested. “Yer undoin’ your pants? You’re not even gonna take them off?” Bakura’s grin became a smirk.

“We’re in the Shadow Realm,” he explained, as if Joey had forgotten. “Should anything happen, I wouldn’t want to be caught with my pants around my ankles. Literally.”

“Ryou’s naked!” Said boy blushed.

“He can return to the ring.”

“I’m half naked!”

“Well, how else would I be able to shove my cock up your ass?” It was Joey’s turn to blush.

“...I wanna see you naked,” he complained, but was quickly distracted by the feel of something hard pressing against his entrance.

“Yami!” Ryou exclaimed.

“What??” he practically growled, lust racing through his body.

“You’re not even going to use--lubricant?” he blurted out.

“I’m going to spread him open and thrust into him like one would run a sword through a Nubian. Do you have any lube?”

Even Ryou’s ears were pink now. Joey gulped, his breath coming in ragged, heaving gasps. Ryou straddled Joey backwards, facing his yami and pushed at his chest.

“For heaven’s sake, I’ll do it. Lay back,” he ordered.

“Ryou...” He gave the other a questioning look.

\[ Am I...am I doing it again? Am I taking advantage of him? He’s still...still ]\

“I’m not afraid anymore,” the gentler teen whispered.

The dark spirit darted forward, pressing a warm, hard kiss to his other’s lips, a piece of his protective shell crumbling. Bakura leaned back on his elbows, keeping his eyes trained on his blushing hikari.

The pale teen seemed to almost glow in the dreary landscape, his white skin and silvery hair lustrous in the dim light. He leaned over Bakura, pulling his jeans down another inch or so and sliding his striped shirt up a few.

Joey groaned, as in the process of leaning down, Ryou was pressing his own hardness against the similar part of the blonde’s anatomy.

The slender boy slid his tongue over Bakura’s rod, feeling his own arousal heighten. His yami could be so... dirty.

“Kura,” he whispered, swirling his tongue around him.

“Unh, nani?” Ryou’s soft, silken hair was tickling his hips, his warm breath tickling his member.

“Tell me what you’re going to do to Jounouchi when I’m done with you.” He took Bakura’s length into his mouth.

“Oh gods. I-I’m going to press into him. My dick will fill him until he cries out in pain, though I won’t be able to stop thrusting into his tight little ass--but I’ll make him beg for it by the end, just like you begged for it, Ryou. I don’t think anyone screams as fucking much as you, but he’s going to enjoy being my bitch. He’s going to want to spread his legs for me every damn chance he gets, and I’m going to have to take turns fucking him and fucking you, because I need you both, I want you both, I--uhh, oh fuck, ahh...” He pushed Ryou’s head up. “Ra, I was going to come.”

His two lovers didn’t seem in much better shape. Grinding against each other, their lower halves were slick with sweat and other fluids. Bakura sat up laboriously and peered around Ryou to see the dreamy half-grin plastered on Joey’s face. The dark one sucked on two fingers.

“Well,” the blonde demanded, breathing heavily. “Do it already.” Bakura thrust the two spit-slickened digits into him. “Ah!”

“Try to relax,” Ryou suggested, turning around to face Joey, gazing at him adoringly. Joey clutched at the bare hips of the boy on him.

Bakura felt the passions arisen in him, more than lust, more than need. Fire coursed through his trembling body, scorching his very blood in a throbbing, ceaseless rush. His cock ached to rip into his koi. He wanted more, even though he already had more than he could handle. He felt like he was dissolving at the seams. He drove into Joey, eliciting a scream from both Ryou and the golden haired boy. He pushed Joey’s thighs further apart, trying to settle in as deep as he could.

Joey struggled to adjust, gripping Ryou around the middle hard enough to bruise. The pain was sharp and seemed to radiate throughout his entire body. His toes curled.

Bakura began to rock, but Joey wasn’t ready and he cried out. Ryou was still straddling his waist and laying lightly on him. The slighter boy pushed the red t-shirt out of his way and licked a pert nub, laving the skin. It served not to soothe Joey, however. It only brought the spike of arousal sharper through his heart.

The former tomb robber slid out, only to drive back into the other with measured force, and cried out, reveling in the suffocating heat. He could hardly breathe or see, but he could move. His body seemed to plunge into the blonde of its own accord, taking all it could get. His need pulsated, threatening to shove him over the edge, and he fought the urge to control anything, just letting his instincts flow.

Joey groaned, feeling himself stretching and protesting the rough motions into his body. He moaned, thrusting up to meet Bakura. His eyes flew open in shock as something was touched inside him that sent off fireworks.

“Oh god--!” He began to move in unison with the platinum haired thief, each heaving, flowing movement strangling pleasure out of every inch of their bodies. He pulled at Ryou’s hips until the boy was on his hands and knees above him. He wasn’t exactly sure what to do, but he figured he couldn’t do it too badly. He swallowed half of Ryou’s swollen member, and judging by the teen’s resulting shriek, he figured he was doing all right.

Ryou was having a hard time supporting himself, his limbs were trembling so much. Luckily, Joey held his hips securely, timing his relentless suction with the tumultuous rhythm he and Bakura were riding. He cried out as slender fingers invaded his passage. He managed to glance over his shoulder in time to catch a cheeky grin from his yami, who was now thrusting his fingers into him and his length into Joey. The pressure building in his abdomen was near torment in its intensity; he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. The fingers found the spot within him that sent him over the edge.

“OH GOD! JOEY!” he gasped. “KURA!” He released into the blonde’s mouth with a scream, his slim frame shuddering. Joey arched off the ground, clutching Ryou to him, his insides cramping with ecstasy.

Bakura reached down with his free hand and gave Joey a few harsh strokes that had him climaxing as well, his body clenching around the spirit. With one last set of thrusts into his respective lovers, he surrendered to his flesh’s demands and orgasmed.

When he felt he could move again, Bakura opened dark, hazy eyes, finding himself sprawled out next to Joey, who had Ryou curled up in his arms. The pair were still breathing just as hard as he, and had tired, content looks on their faces.

Groaning, the dark boy sat up and cleaned his satiated member off with the corner of Joey’s jacket.

“Hey!” Joey yanked his coat tail from the tomb raider, but the damage was done. Whistling, Bakura refastened his pants.

“Hurry up and get dressed, lazy-asses,” he ordered cheerfully.

“My jacket!” Joey whimpered. “You couldn’a done that on Ryou’s?? He could at least put it in th’ ring or somethin’,” he grumbled.

Ryou, meanwhile, had slipped on his boxers and jeans. Joey stretched, sighing. He sat up on his elbows and surveyed the mess on his stomach. Ryou tugged on his striped t-shirt and pulled his blue over-shirt casually out of Joey’s reach.

“Got a leaf, or somethin’?” Bakura rolled his eyes and crawled over the blonde, licking him clean. When he’d finished, Joey’s cheeks were pink and he was getting a little stiff.

“Don’t expect me to clean that one up, too.” He ran his tongue over his lips suggestively. Joey quickly pulled on his boxers and jeans, making a face as he slipped on his black jacket. Ryou giggled and kissed his cheek.

“I’ll wash it for you when we get back.” His remark was light, but it served to remind the trio of their purpose for being here and what they had to do before any of them would be getting back.

“We better get goin’ again,” Joey suggested.

Bakura nodded. Fingering the ring lightly, he looked off towards the depths of the strange forest.

“I can feel it emanating from that direction,” he stated, gazing into the darkening woods. Ryou stood, and the others followed suit. By silent agreement, Bakura and Joey placed Ryou in the middle and trekked off into the dreary landscape.

________

“What was dat??”

“What was what?”

“Get in the ring, Ryou.”

“There wasn’t anything.”

“There it is again!” A faint rustling of leaves and underbrush could be heard in the distance. Ryou reluctantly stepped behind his taller lovers, but refused to retreat to the ring. The rustling came closer.

“Do ya think it--”

“Shhh!” Bakura whipped a card out from his pocket and grasped the millennium ring with the other hand, body tense and ready to act. Ryou found himself clinging to Joey’s arm, despite trying to look unafraid. The noise was just ahead of them now; whatever it was would cross their path soon.

\ It’s powerful...I can taste it. \

As it approached, they could see a dim golden light coming towards them. Bakura let off a blast from cardcard in his hand, Chain Energy.

“What the f--” The bolt collided with a blinding energy field and was sent hurtling back with a frightened scream. Wide-eyed, Bakura and Ryou ducked.

“Eh? Ooph!” Joey was sent smack into a tree, energy chains wrapping him securely to its trunk.

“Yugi??” Bakura called. The originator of the little scream answered shakily.

“Ba-Bakura?

“Yeah--”

Seto burst into the clearing, his trench coat billowing and magic crackling about him, Yugi not far behind.

“What the hell did you throw at us?!” he demanded. His eyes shifted to Joey.

“Chain Energy. I thought you were a threat.” Seto fisted a large hand in the spirit’s shirt, narrowing his icy glare. Normally, Bakura would have told him to screw off, but something about the way the mortal seemed to throb with unnatural power gave him pause. The brunette towering over him lifted his arm a bit, forcing Bakura onto his toes.

“Seto--I’m fine.” Yugi tugged beseechingly at his koibito’s arm. “Let him go.” Kaiba dropped him and stepped back, a scowl on his face.

Keeping his sharp brown eyes on the billionaire as if he expected him to attack or something, Bakura raised the blank card in his hand.

“Energy return.” The bolts flew back into the card and Joey fell to his knees.

“Are you alright?” Ryou slipped his arms around his blonde’s waist, helping him up. Joey nodded. With Seto and Bakura sizing each other up, and Ryou fussing over him, Joey seemed to be the only one to notice the detached look in his best friend’s eyes coupled with the eerie way his millennium puzzle’s glow was reflecting in them. He wasn’t exactly spaced out like when he talked to Yami; on the contrary, he was focused, on something that must have been too arcane for the other power wielders to understand--or perhaps just too insignificant to have caught their attention. The blonde scratched his arm absently.

“--Yuug?”

The lanky CEO’s gaze slid to the smallest of the group, who had turned to stare off through the trees. Yugi’s fists were clenched by his sides and he fairly radiated tension.

“Yugi...?”

“He’s close...” the spiky-haired boy finally responded. “This way!” He took off like a shot, jumping over tree roots and weaving between enormous trunks of deadwood; the little circle of light thrown off by the puzzle bobbed and flickered in and out of view.

“Yugi-kun!” Ryou hollered in dismay.

“Fuck,” Joey stated succinctly. Bakura nodded cheerfully in agreement.

“Yugi!” Seto gave chase, and the fading sounds of swearing could be heard as the tall youth ducked under some branches and caught others in the face.

“Come on!” The gentler of the remaining trio tugged on Joey’s hand, pulling him along as he aft after the others.

“Ryou!” the platinum haired fiend bellowed. “Get back in the ring!”

Seto fought valorously against the panic that had taken up residence in his chest and pushed past yet another tree. Yugi’s diminutive size was an asset in such densely packed forest terrain and he had quickly outpaced the others trailing after him. Darkness encroached all around the blue eyed boy, fairly choking him as he tried to run without the glow of the puzzle to ward off the shadows. Kaiba heaved a sigh of relief as he spotted the circle of light ahead and to the right. Quickening his step, he soon came upon Yugi in a large clearing. The petite duelist was craning his neck to look upwards.

“Yugi...?”

“Here,” he responded softly. What exactly was “here” was not apparent to Kaiba. He attempted to follow Yugi’s gaze, but there was nothing but more grey-green undergrowth and dark, wet trees. Doubting there was anything, he felt compelled to reach out anyway.

He lifted a hand to touch a spot in the air tentatively, and his fingers met resistance. To his shock the light touch caused some unseen surface to ripple, igniting a crackling of dark energy. He took a step back, lips parted in surprise, and watched as a swirling, opaque force seeped from his originating fingerprint, spreading smoothly like black mercury. It rapidly crept upward beyond his vision and fanned out on both sides, effectively blocking their path.

“Right...here,” Yugi murmured. Kaiba turned his gaze downward, noting somewhere in the back of his analytical mind that Yugi hadn’t backed away from malevolent field, as had been his own gut reaction. Purple bolts of electricity bubbled across the surface of the wall like lightning, agitating the air.

“What...is it?” he inquired innocently, quite sure he knew the answer. For some reason, he had to hear Yugi say it. He didn’t think he could bear letting the words spill from his lips like so much blood from a wound, not this time. He wanted Yugi to break the bad news to him.

“Heka khem,” came the reply. “Black magic.”

The brunette turned to watch as the spirit of the ring made his way over to them with a grave look on his face. Ryou and Joey weren’t far behind, panting to catch their breath.

“Black magic?” Seto repeated skeptically, taking pleasure from the scientific part his brain’s mocking the mere idea nightmares existed. He glanced back to where he had touched earlier, the spot still discernable, strangely, even as the rest of the black magic swirled and throbbed around it. As if his nearly imperceptible intrusion on the dormant power had left a mark that it couldn’t erase. Or that it didn’t want to forget.

[ That’s stupid...it’s not alive. ] The force field seemed to swell and quiver. [ It’s just black magic...all black magic isn’t necessarily bad. ] he reminded himself. He stepped closer to the wall. It didn’t seem so evil anymore...the opposite, even. It seemed to be soothing, coaxing. Whispering to his hidden senses, convincing him to touch it, stroke it, once more. He skimmed a lengthy forefinger along the crinkling barrier. It sparked and crackled where it came in contact with his skin, and there was an unpleasant tingling sensation, similar to the pins and needles one experienced when the blood returned to a limb that had been sat on too long. He withdrew his fingertip with a frown. After a moment’s hesitation, he recklessly plunged his hand into the power.

“I have a bad feeling about this...” Ryou murmured.

“What’s on the other side?” asked Joey curiously.

The brunette could not hear them; all sound was drowned out by a rushing in his ears. A boy screamed--someone was crying, the knife flashed--the sting of a beating rung in his head, gold poured into his eyes, blinding him, acrid bile burned his tongue, a feeling like thick wind flowed over his skin, making him shiver in repulsion: a thousand terrible visions fluttered through his mind, and a low, smooth, silken voice comforted him: “Sekhmet....Sekhmet....don’t cry little boy...tears are weakness, and you don’t want to be weak, do you? ...No, I didn’t think so....it’s alright....come here. That’s right. Come here, to me, the only one who loves you...what’s wrong?”

“Hell if I know. But it can’t be anything good.” Bakura narrowed chocolate colored eyes. “Kaiba??”

The three fair-haired teens stepped closer and Bakura blew his bangs from his face. “Kaiba, what are you doing?” The brunette had one hand buried in the black energy, and was leaning forward so his nose almost touched the force. There was a frightened, blank look in his eyes that just didn’t belong.

“The pharaoh doesn’t love you, no, don’t argue, Sekhmet. Only I do. Only me. Now, come on. Call out the blue eyes...let them finish what we began. Call out the blue eyes, Sekhmet, I know you can...”

“I can...” The voice was the only respite from the agonizing emotions moaning through his head. Focusing on it blocked out some of the pain...

“Seto...?” Yugi whispered timidly, somehow knowing Kaiba couldn’t hear him.

The snowy haired fiend looked up at the brunette soberly through his bangs. “Kaiba--shit...” He placed a hand on the much larger teen’s shoulder, shaking him a little. “I don’t think you should--”

“I call upon the Blue Eyes White Dragon!!”

“What the fuck?? Kaiba, you idiot; you’re a mortal! You can’t support...” The words died on his lips as a deafening roar to the contrary split the silence, reality as it was cracking open to accommodate the arrival of one immense, fiery blue-eyed, shining white scaled, magnificent dragon.

“Kill him!! Kill him now!!!”

“K-kill...?”

“Seto?” Yugi whispered once more, scared, shaking as the terrible, yet beautiful beast his lover’s heart identified with stared at him, making ready to attack. Bakura and Joey grabbed either side of the blue eyed teen and yanked hard, but to no avail; his wrist was firmly sunk into the barrier, and Kaiba wasn’t budging. The dragon appeared to have its sights set on Yugi.

“Now Sekhmet, petekh! Petekh!”

The oily voice was strong, commanding him to obey. [ Petekh...overthrow. Overthrow the dark little pharaoh...] But something else...was strong.

“Petekh...” Seto turned his glassy eyes from the hypnotic visions of horror assaulting him and gazed upon the wrathful Blue Eyes... his Blue Eyes. It was frightening with its array of deadly powers that could tear apart any enemy in his path. It was strength. It was power. It was light--he didn’t need the voice. The voice, so slick and smooth, and encouraging--the blue eyes gave him comfort, the blue eyes protected him, the blue eyes tuned out all else in his mind. He turned back to the barricade, ripped his hand from the clouded surface and shouted,

“Blue Eyes, attack!”

Yugi’s breath caught in his throat and he fell back in fear. The graceful creature raised its smooth head, neck arching back, blinding white-blue energy crackling in its massive jaws.

“Oh my God,” Joey gaped as Bakura shoved him and Ryou away from the incensed animal. Seto whipped around to face his guardian, fire shining in his own blue eyes.

“Petekh!”

\[ Seto would never hurt me, Seto would never hurt me, Seto would never hurt me! ]\ Yugi’s mind shrieked. \[ Seto will never hurt me!! ]\

The white dragon blasted its target.


=Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q= =Q=

“Mes-en kekewey, shebi hedj--!”

“Come again?”

“Um, Honda? I don’t think he’s even speaking our language...”

The Dark Magician shook his head against the shock he’d felt and returned his attention to the two mortals he had become rather fond of.

“Born of darkness, changed to light...” he murmured in way of an explanation that was lost on the other two. “There is no battle yet the Blue Eyes White Dragon has been awakened. Why?”

“Beats me!” Honda mock stabbed the air with his lance, not too concerned. “What do we do about it?”

“If a Blue Eyes White Dragon has been summoned, that means Kaiba’s in trouble! And if Kaiba’s in trouble...” Téa trailed off tremulously. Honda’s eyes widened.

“Hunh, yeah, then we better--”

“We do nothing.”

“But--”

“The Blue Eyes will protect, as is its duty.”

“...Then it will protect Yugi and Seto?”

“Un,” he responded rather noncommittally. What he didn’t mention was that the Blue Eyes had attacked--he could sense it. As its official timeless adversary, they were linked together in ways their masters had not foreseen upon their creation. The Dark Magician was sworn to protect Yu-gi-oh, and whenever there was no conflict of interests, the High Mage as well. But the Blue Eyes White Dragon had no loyalty to the pharaoh or Yugi: only Sekhmet. And Sekhmet’s loyalties, as far as he was concerned, were questionable. Unsummoned, however, he could do nothing.

“Dark Magician, do you think--”

“I have a name, you know,” he interrupted, wishing to change the subject. This bit of knowledge stunned them more than he had anticipated. There was silence for a long moment.

“...Really? I thought your name was ‘Dark Magician’,” Honda exclaimed. Said magician rolled his eyes.

“It’s my title, yes, and that of all dark spellcasters of my kind, but not actually my name. I have a name that is mine alone, as you do.” Téa lifted her thoughtful blue eyes to meet his colder stare eagerly.

“What is it?”


“My father left me; my mother left me; Sekhmet might as well have left me--ever since he came back from his priests’ excursion, he’s been so different! Even Jono is acting strange as of late! My own best friend avoids me and secludes himself--can I rely on no one?” the little pharaoh stopped his pacing, close to tears he refused to shed.

“You can rely on me, my pharaoh.” He dropped into my lap, and my arms wrapped around him protectively, a natural habit. I will always protect him.

“I love you, my magician, but you aren’t real...not the way humans are real.” I was quiet for a while; I did not know what to think. My existence was to serve him, I loved him, but I did not understand the answer to his questions. Usually I just listened to him, and held him, and made love to him, and destroyed any who threatened him. But tonight, I sensed he needed an answer. Tonight holding him would not be enough.

“...I am not human, so my feelings will not change; I will love you forever. And I will always be here for you, when it is not possible for someone real to be. You can trust me.” He looked up, surprised at my uncharacteristic reply. His crimson eyes bored into my own blue ones for a long time.

“I think it’s time I gave you a name...you deserve the honor of one.” I blushed, smiling.

“What would you have my name be?” He thought for a moment, then leaned up and kissed my cheek.

“Djet.”


“Djet.”

“Djet?” she repeated.

“It means ‘forever.’” The two brunettes looked at each other, mulling over this new information. Honda smiled.

“That’s neat--Djet.”

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“You bastard, what’re you playing at!?!” Joey shouted. Kaiba growled, and his Blue Eyes followed suit. Undeterred, the hotheaded blonde continued yelling. “You could’a killed Yugi! Does that mean nothin’ ta you??”

Yugi was currently curled up in a ball on the ground, little hands covering his head in a futile attempt to cover himself. He was still in a bit of shock, which was understandable, considering a giant Blue Eyes White Dragon had just blasted the hell out of the magical barrier two feet above his head. Kaiba glared daggers at Joey.

“I would never,” he spat coldly, the mere suggestion insulting him very deeply... especially since, for just a moment, he hadn’t been himself. He dropped to the earth beside Yugi and pulled him into his strong arms.

“Yugi? Ibi, are you alright? I’m--I’m sorry I scared you,” he whispered so only his tiny koibito could hear him. “Tell me you’re alright.” Yugi nodded against Seto’s chest. Seto brushed his golden bangs from his forehead, guilt already seeping through his veins. This was the second time in as many hours he’d hurt his love.

“I’m alright. It was just kinda scary,” his voice was very small. “I didn’t--I mean I know you wouldn’t, but--” he broke off, embarrassed. The ice colored dragon pawed the ground impatiently, round, cobalt eyes rolling around in their sockets, taking in the battle field. Joey backed up a little more, lacing hands with Ryou, who just stared up at the creature in awe.

“Blue Eyes, return,” Seto muttered, and his magnificent dragon disappeared with a scream of lightning. He inspected the damage his beast had done to the dark magic. The swirling of the blacks and purples was much more erratic now, and a glowing, white-blue splinter marred its surface, like the spider-web crack a rock would leave on a windshield. Yugi reached out to touch the barrier, but Seto’s hand shot out to catch his wrist.

“No!” he cried vehemently. Yugi turned is head to blink wide, startled eyes at him.

“But Yami is on the other side.”

“We don’t know that.”

“I know that,” he retorted, returning his gaze to the fractured wall spread before them. “I can feel it.”

“What...what did it do to you, Kaiba-kun?” The blue eyed boy craned his neck to stare back at Ryou defiantly, searching for any hidden malice, some sign he was asking to extort blackmail material. But there was nothing besides concern. He hung his head in shame.

“I--I saw things, terrible things I don’t recognize. And I heard a voice. I know I’ve heard it before, I just can’t remember where--it told me to...” he stopped. No one pressed. They’d heard what he’d said in his trance. Kaiba looked away.

\ Petekh... \

\ What does that mean, Kura? \

\ ...I don’t know. \ he lied.

Yugi pressed his soft lips to Kaiba’s, his arms wrapping tightly around his neck. Kaiba returned the embrace, and after a moment, parted his lips slightly in invitation. Yugi slid his tongue into the other’s cavern, tasting his lover’s now familiar mouth. It didn’t really taste that much like anything--no overwhelming flavor--but it was Seto, and he’d know the know the feeling on the back of his taste buds for the rest of his life. They parted after a long moment of entwining tongues, panting. Yugi stood, gently pulling Seto’s arms off of him and stepped forward so he was only a breath away from the undulating power. It seemed to accelerate excitedly at his proximity, like it was anticipating a fresh victim.

“Yugi, don’t do it; we’ll find another way.” The tri-color haired boy didn’t look back at the pale spirit, but he smiled, appreciating the honest concern in the other’s rough voice.

“Goshinpainaku. The wall is only a front: a guardian. Just step through it, and don’t stop.” His gaze flickered to Kaiba. “Don’t get caught in its illusion.”

“An’ what da heck makes you so certain we can just walk right through this??”

“Have faith, Jounouchi-kun.” And with that, he disappeared into the electric shadows, allowing them to swallow him up with a shudder of energy.

Kaiba stood, eyeing the barrier warily. “Kaiba, gambare,” he whispered to himself and crossed into the shadows as well, letting them absorb him once more.

“Kuso!” the fiend growled in exasperation. “You!” he ordered, grabbing Ryou. “Here!” Bakura pulled his lighter half into his body and shut him away in his soul room. “And you--here!” He gave Joey a hard shove that sent the blonde boy stumbling into the swirling mass of black magic with a yelp. The former slave took a deep breath before resolutely stepping through the energy field himself.

\[ ...May Ra preserve out souls. ]\


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Solitaire: Oh....right, uh, that thing Bakura said about the Nubian--

Xpyne: Who’s paying attention to Nubian references during a lemon??

Solitaire: -_- I was just going to explain that they were a big enemy of the ancient Egyptians. Yeah. So you would....kill `em with a sword...I guess....

Xpyne: ::laughing her ass off:: Yeah, whatever. Anyway, there was lots of self-explanatory Egyptian, and some Japanese, for color. Goshinpainaku is “don’t worry.” The whole “be brave” thing was from this essay about Hiroshima survivors that I had to read for school. It had this one part where a Japanese man, when the bomb went off, knelt and whispered “’ Sasaki [his name], gambare’ as only a Japanese would.” I thought that was pretty cute. ^__^

Solitaire: So please review. That’s 32 freaking pages! And we love the long ones where you guys take out lines of the text and explain what you like about them. ::not so subtle hint-hint:: ^_^``

Xpyne: ::hangs head:: If there were any lines you liked...

Solitaire: ::huggles her:: Hey, they’d better--we worked our butts off on this chapter!

Xpyne: ::randomly tossing a lemon around:: Oh, if there’s some stuff you maybe don’t quite get about the Egypty stuff, well don’t worry ^__~ There’s...

Yugi: Drumroll!

Xpyne: Gonna be a sequel!

Solitaire: You mean prequel! The prequel’s next. The sequel’s after that.

Seto: ::scratches his head:: So you plan on finishing this trilogy in, what, three years?

Xpyne: ::smacks him with a paddle:: This story’s almost done. We have to think about the future! ~__~