Shadow Rising

Jeez, it’s been ages. Sorry about that. I got busy, and then my new laptop picked up a virus and messed up on me, so it had to be ghosted by the tech at the college I’m attending now. For those who don’t know what ghosting is, it’s when you take an ‘image’ of the system settings, programs, etc. on one computer and copy it to another. In short, it wipes out everything on the second computer, making it a nearly carbon copy of the first. So, yeah, lost everything I had written on the story.

But, it’s another chapter, at least, and we’re actually moving the plot along a bit in this one.

******

“I can’t believe you two did that.” Malik growled as he stomped out of the school, his yami trailing along behind with a pleased smirk. Bakura and Ryou were with them, but, though the white-haired hikari wore an annoyed look as well, he didn’t dare say anything. And the fact that Marik kept edging closer to him wasn’t helping his courage at all.

“I thought it was fun, didn’t you, Bakura?” The Egyptian asked, looking over at his partner in crime. Bakura chuckled.

“Most satisfying fuck I’ve had in a long time.” The other answered, stretching, ignoring the way Ryou seemed to wilt just slightly.

“Well, it better have damn well been worth it.” Malik spat. “You got us a week’s worth of detention. We almost got suspended.” Ryou blushed, remembering the way the Principal had reacted. And he had managed to keep a mostly clean school record, thus far. Well, so much for that…

The hikari yelped at a sudden mental ‘pinch’, looking over at Bakura worriedly, thinking that he had somehow managed to get himself into trouble again. But the yami’s expression appeared more pleased than angry, and Ryou decided he was just in a playful mood. Which could be just as much trouble in the end, really.

Ryou let out a gasp as Bakura suddenly pushed him up against a tree, pulling out the earrings he had allowed Ryou to take out before school that morning. Ryou closed his eyes and tensed up, expecting more pain, but there was none, surprisingly, though his reaction brought a laugh from the two yami, and even Malik smiled. He had already put his earrings back on.

“Hey, does anyone know where that other pharaoh baka went?” Malik asked suddenly. Bakura and Marik exchanged glances, then both shrugged.

“I haven’t seen him since the Priest’s party.” The thief answered, letting Ryou go. “Maybe he got sent back to wherever he came from, or something.”

“Well…” Ryou began, “it might not have anything to do with it, but I heard from Yugi that Mokuba’s gone missing.” Bakura snorted.

“That brat’s almost as good at getting himself into trouble as the Puppet is.” He snapped, and Marik chuckled, nodding in agreement.

“I heard him and the Pharaoh fighting, earlier today.” He informed them. “I’m not sure what it was about, but it appears that Yami’s Mini-Me has actually started to grow a backbone, shockingly enough.”

“Ha. Yami won’t let that go for long.” Bakura answered, then spotted someone he knew and moved to intercept the person. Ryou moved to follow him, but was stopped by Marik.

“Hey, Thief,” the tomb keeper called over his shoulder, “we’re going to molest your hikari.” His only answer was an absent wave as Bakura continued on his way.

Ryou backed up, finding Malik suddenly behind him, hugging him loosely.

“Relax.” He offered, smiling at him. Ryou shifted uncertainly, looking after Bakura again, but not offering too much resistance as the pair dragged him off towards their house, knowing that it really wouldn’t have stopped them even if he had fought.

******

Kaiba stared at the letter that sat on his table, reading over it again. The ransom demanded that he hand over the Millennium Rod and, supposedly, Mokuba would be returned safely. He was all for the trade, not caring one way or another about the troublesome item, but Set was in another frame of mind about it altogether.

“I’ve told you, Little Dragon. I don’t care if it’s the Pharaoh himself who was captured, you are not handing the Rod over to anyone. Not while I’m around.”

*So I’ll just have to get rid of him then. Somehow.* Kaiba thought, trying to block the Priest from his mind. Unfortunately, thus far, he still hadn’t got the hang of it.

“You are about this close to earning yourself a punishment that won’t soon be forgotten, Little Dragon.” Set warned, leaning over the desk. Kaiba jumped slightly, refusing to back down, though his hands gripped the chair’s arms tightly with the effort. The Priest moved around the desk and Kaiba watched him cautiously, torn between his pride and his fear of the spirit. The Egyptian’s eyes were dark with fury, and the CEO suddenly decided to forget his pride at the moment, turning to flee. Before he managed to get out of the chair, though, he found himself frozen in place.

“I have become quite tired of your constant fighting.” Set whispered, his voice dark with the promise of punishment, and Kaiba shivered at the thoughts of what form such punishment might take. Though, at the same time, it infuriated him that he feared this man, this spirit, who should have been long dead, and unable to affect him in any way.

The two pairs of blue eyes locked, and Set’s softened after a moment. Sighing, he moved away, setting himself on the arm of the chair, though he didn’t release the paralysis that held his hikari.

“You’re not so much different from the other hikari as I first thought.” He murmured thoughtfully, glancing at the letter absently. “You’re just hiding. You’ve had to take care of others for so long that you don’t know how to let someone else take care of you.” He smirked knowingly.

“Go to Hell.” Kaiba spat, trying to ignore him, ignore the fact that the words were at least partly true.

“I know that all your comments about not believing in all of… this… is a lie, a bluff to try to protect yourself from your fear. It wouldn’t do for the public to know you’re human, would it? The great CEO of KaibaCorp, who’s always in control. Face it, my Little Dragon, you’re afraid of not being in control. Afraid that there’s something bigger than you that controls everything.”

“Shut up.” Kaiba growled, closing his eyes, wanting to escape somehow, to flee the truth the ancient Egyptian was speaking.

:But you’ve never been in control, precious Dragon. You’re just swept along by the waves of fate, the same as we all are.: Kaiba opened his eyes as a weight settled in his lap, blinking at his yami, who was seated there, hugging him comfortingly.

“We’ll find him.” Set promised, and Kaiba sighed and leaned against him slightly, deciding to give in, for a short while. The Priest smiled, pleased at the response.

******

“Bakura…” Yami growled warningly, giving the Thief a dirty look. The whole group was gathered in Kaiba’s living room, to try to come up with a way to rescue Mokuba. Bakura was, as usual, entertaining himself by annoying Yami, which was working, of course. Perhaps a little too well. Yugi winced at how close the Spirit was to sending Bakura on another all-expenses-paid trip to the Shadow Realm. But then, with as many times as Bakura had been there, he ought to feel right at home by now. Idly, Yugi tried to count up the number of times Yami had banished the cruel Tomb Robber, but gave up finally. It was often enough to have practically become a daily ritual. And of course, Bakura always somehow managed to return.

“I don’t know what you bunch of losers think you can do about it.” Kaiba growled from where he stood, staring out the window. “I’ve got the best detectives money can buy out searching for him.”

“Yeah, well, money isn’t everything, moneybags.” Jounouchi snapped back. He sat in a chair, glancing through his deck and frowning in annoyance, though Yugi knew he wasn’t at all upset about his deck. It was as well-made as any duelist’s, good enough to give even Yami a run for his money, on occasion.

“I just hope he’s okay.” Anzu added in. “I’d hate to see anything happen to him.” Marik snorted. He was being a bit moody, since his plan for his little after-school entertainment with Ryou hadn’t gone so well. Or occurred at all, really. Yugi had phoned before they had gotten home and left a message on the answering machine for them to come to the mansion, with Yami’s comments in the background that Marik had better not try anything to get out of helping.

“Like Bakura said, that kid manages to get himself into more trouble than he does.” The Tomb Keeper pointed at Yugi. “I don’t know how the brat has lasted this long.” Malik nodded, ignoring the furious glare Kaiba threw in his direction.

“Well…” Ryou began. “What if he’s in here. It is a big mansion.”

“That’s redicu-” The furious CEO was suddenly cut off.

“Actually, that is possible…” Set said, sweeping into the room, ignoring the glare his interruption earned from his other half. “The last place most people would think of looking would be right in their own home.”

Jounouchi stared. Sure, Kaiba looked good in his outfits, but Set…Well, he fit the clothing perfectly. Yami blinked at the Priest as well, looking slightly surprised, and having to admit that his cousin was quite attractive. Yugi let out a small sound and blushed at that, causing everyone to turn to stare at him, which just made him blush more.

“So,” he squeaked, anxious to get the attention off of him, “shouldn’t we go see, then? If Mokuba’s here?”

“Right.” Yami agreed, standing. “We’ll pair off, yami with hikari. Jounouchi, you and Honda can form a pair.”

“Let’s go, guys.” Anzu stated, standing as well.

“And who elected you Leader?” Kaiba snapped at Yami. He was furious at everyone, though mostly at himself for failing to protect his brother, and, seemingly, having to ask for his help yet again. “I can find Mokuba on my own. I don’t need help from miserable dweebs like you.” Not true, and of course he knew it, but he had to lash out at someone, and at the moment, Yami was as good as anyone.

The Spirit, though, was in no mood to play games with the other, and his expression showed it.

“Cousin, control your hikari, or I will.” He warned, glaring back at Kaiba. Yugi moved slightly in between them to try and head off the tension, though he knew that if Yami chose to do anything, he wouldn’t really be all that good at stopping him.

“He’s just stressed out.” Set answered smoothly, moving over to Kaiba, who instinctively backed off at his approach, turning his furious gaze onto the Priest.

“I am not stre-” Again he was interrupted, as Set backed him against the wall and touched the rod to his forehead.

“Sleep, Little Dragon.” Set murmured, drawing Kaiba's spirit into the rod, pressing his will down on his hikari at the same time and forcing him into a deep slumber. He gazed at the item a moment, then turned to look back at Yami.

“And, beware, Atemu. Those others obey you because they have to. I obey you because I wish to.” The two ancients exchanged looks, before Yami nodded just slightly and turned to leave the room.

“Let’s go find Mokuba.”

******

And Set and Kaiba are still going at it. *Sighs.* I don’t know when they’ll settle down… Ah well. I haven’t decided yet whether I’m going to throw Jounouchi in with that pair or not, so you guys can tell me what you think about that.

Speaking of which, I don’t know if you guys are still around, but I’ll answer the reviews anyway.

Niiro_Yuuyake – Aw, I’m blushing now. I’m not that talented, really. I just write what pops into my head and try to fit it together so it makes some sense. Kind of like a puzzle.

Ayachan – Well, I’ll try to fit another lemon in somewhere, if I can manage it. And yeah, I adore Set’s character as well, even if he is a little OOC for the canon storyline. But then, I think I already stated that this was somewhat AU, so a little modifying is allowed, I suppose. And the nickname’s in here. I think it’s cute too. Though Seto probably doesn’t. lol.
And a non-feisty Seto just wouldn’t be right in any story.

Masterofgames – Unfortunately, there’s not going to be any Seto/Mokuba in here. It’s not really a pairing I’m all that fond of, though I’m not saying it’s bad or anything. They just never struck me as having quite that kind of relationship. Sorry.

Yang of the Eastern Temple – Well, it’s definitely not soon, but I did update. And, hopefully, I’ll get back on track and finish this.