Hunting Passion

Title: Hunting Passion

Part: 13/?

Author: Usagi-Atemu-Tom [miakalikestamahome at hotmail dot com]

Warnings: hints of future incest

Genre: Romance, Angst, Supernatural, AU

Pairings: Yami no Yuugi x Yuugi, Malik + Rishido

Criticism: Constructive criticism welcomed

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine, I don't make money from fanfiction.

Description: They came at midnight. He didn't know how they were able to intrude into his house, but somehow they succeeded. They were a male and a female. HE, was the leader, obviously. She seemed to be some kind of apprentice to him. Not that it really mattered. For they were both strong and deadly.

But when a young teen is able to run from the grasp of his captors, it is the start of a long game of hide and seek. He finds a new side to himself he would have never dreamed he had. And it helps him to keep the game to his advantage. But he knows the game will never end, at least not before his death. Because his hunter is a vampire.

Thanks to my betareader Lee-Ann for the usual quick work. ^^

Sutato - Start

 

---

 

Sutato

 

For the rest of the day Jounouchi acted a bit easier around Atemu. Yuugi suspected that with the promise of a talk after school given, his best friend was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now and to trust whatever the shifter was doing.

 

Furthermore when classes started once more, the students noticed Kaiba Seto had vanished yet again. Yuugi could not help but assume that the brunette CEO had either been to school that day just to make sure he accepted the invitation to the tournament, or he decided to call it a day because he wanted to take the god card he received to safety.

 

At least the CEO's absence caused Jounouchi's mood to improve, inspiring him and his friend Honda to fool around in the small breaks without having the CEO glare down at them as he sometimes did when he was present.

 

When the day ended and the bell rang to announce the last of their lessons had finished, Yuugi knew it was time to take aside his best friend. Luckily Jounouchi and he shared part of the same route home. Therefore, they simply said goodbye to their friends one by one until Jounouchi, Yuugi and Atemu were the only one left.

 

"Let's go to the park over there", Yuugi suggested, pointing to the entrance on the other side of the main road they were currently standing at. "We'll have all the peace and quiet to talk we need."

 

"What about Atemu?" the tall blonde wanted to know, but the vampire simply grinned at him. And for a second Jounouchi thought he saw unnaturally sharp and pointy looking teeth in the other's mouth.

 

"Oh I am part of the whole topic, as I am sure you already suspect, Jounouchi-kun", he mentioned casually before simply walking forward, crossing the street. He looked back over his shoulder to see Yuugi trying to reassure his friend that it was okay.

 

"Coming?" Atemu called in a rather challenging tone, which seemed to do the trick. Weather Jounouchi felt threatened in his manly pride, or simply trusted Yuugi, the blonde went forward, crossing the street as well, quickly followed by Yuugi.

 

The three walked inside the park until the vampire found a secluded area. Just to be certain, he as well as Yuugi, who changed first into a small dog, then into a falcon, checked out the surroundings with all senses offered. When it was clear that no one was nearby, both Mutou's settled down in the grass, though Jounouchi was hesitant to follow. An awkward silence followed with was only broken when the brash blonde had more than enough.

 

"All right, so what's the deal?" he turned directly to the shifter, his honey brown eyes penetrating the teen in an unusual serious stare. Yuugi opened his mouth to answer when he was interrupted by Atemu laying an arm on his shoulder, shaking his head with a small grin.

 

"Don't say anything yet, Yuugi", the vampire advised before turning slightly glowing eyes to Jounouchi. "I want to hear it out of his own mouth what he suspects."

 

While Yuugi looked unsure, his best friend already started to growl, the smirk of the vampire baiting him.

 

"What the hell do you want me to say?" the blonde rudely addressed the vampire who looked unfazed, smirk widening.

 

"I think you already know who or better WHAT I am", he purred before glancing at Yuugi whose body was reacting with a shudder to the tone of his voice, eyes however wide over the bold words towards his best friend.

 

Giving his small built friend a short glance, Jounouchi glared back at the older, eyes fierce and without fear.

 

"You are the vampire that has been following Yuugi all around the world", the blonde bluntly stated which caused his counterpart to smile.

 

"Very good", Atemu praised before glancing at his side. "And you are the one, who gave my prey shelter on the first night he escaped. I  recognised your scent immediately, of course. Yuugi, I leave further explanations to you."

 

Shaking his head in exasperation, Yuugi threw a small glare at his namesake as well.

 

"Damnit, mou hitori no boku, if you continue acting like this you two will never be friends", the younger teen complained a bit frustrated. The vampire just grinned.

 

"You really want us to be friends?" he asked, just to be sure. "Yuugi, you certainly are a strange one."

 

Shaking his head once more, the shifter turned his attention to Jounouchi, who had been watching the exchange with a raised eyebrow.

 

"Please forgive him, Jounouchi-kun, but, he's not happy if he does not get a challenge", Yuugi explained, a small smile of his own gracing his lips. His best friend looked officially confused now.

 

"Challenge?" the blonde wondered and the shifter nodded.

 

"Atemu here is a gambler, just like me; he enjoys a challenge", he told him and he could not help the grin of excitement that showed on his face as he continued. "The higher the stakes, the better. We played Duel Monsters that night after the two of us met, Jounouchi-kun and it was the most exciting game ever."

 

"So, he gave you a challenge?" the tall built teen wanted to know, eyes wide in wonder and unexpected excitement. He was a duellist as well, who held a deep passion for Duel Monsters after Yuugi introduced him to the game.

 

"Truthfully, Yuugi challenged me, but yes, that would be the gist of it", Atemu interrupted to add his own opinion into the story. "And he is a good duellist. Never before has someone been able to beat me."

 

At these last words, Jounouchi could not help but grin.

 

"Yeah, Yuugi is a rather amazing player, isn't he?" the blonde agreed excitedly. "He beat even the oh so great Kaiba, gaining unofficially the title 'king of duellist', though Yuugi still has to prove confirm his title in an official tournament."

 

"I know", the vampire replied glancing at the small built teen with a grin. "And I know I'll enjoy watching him struggling through the challenges greatly."

 

"Hey!" Yuugi immediately protested, puffing up his cheeks in a frown of disagreement. "That's not very supportive of you to say!"

 

Now both of his friends were grinning at him.

 

"Great, NOW you get along", the shifter grumbled lowering his gaze, but hidden by his bowed head was a small smile playing around his lips. Jounouchi and Atemu both heard the mumbling and exchanged a look when both realised the truth of the small built teen's words.

 

Coming to a final decision Atemu held out his hand to Jounouchi.

 

"I'm called Atemu now, but my real name would be Mutou Yuugi", he introduced himself, grinning at the blonde with sharp, pointed teeth. Sucking in a breath of surprise - it was one thing to suspect, but another to have one's suspicions confirmed - the tall built teen stared first at the hand offered, then at the vampire for a long, questing moment. He also chanced a glance at Yuugi, who nodded encouragingly, watching both of them with a hopefully smile.

 

Finally grasping the offered hand, Jounouchi shook it with a small smile.

 

"Jounouchi Katsuya, Yuugi's best friend", he introduced back before furrowing his brows in a frown. "And now, beside the obvious question, you have to tell me why your original name is exactly like Yuugi's."

 

Shortly after, all three men were absorbed in retelling events that happened ever since Yuugi returned to Japan. When Atemu reached the point about their Duel Monsters game, Jounouchi's eyes were glowing, especially after he heard about the shifter's win.

 

"That's Yuugi for you", he laughed, grinning at the slightly embarrassed teen. "He's always won any game you play with him, but in Duel Monsters he's especially talented. Never had a chance in my life so far and I am no longer bad, mind you. Became second in all of the smaller competitions Yuugi and I joined", he stated proudly and Yuugi smiled.

 

"He's really good", the shifter confirmed, grinning. "Give him a bit more time and he might be able to give Kaiba-kun a run for his money."

 

"Hey, what do you mean 'givet him a bit more time'?" Jounouchi protested, scandalised. "I'm ready to kick Kaiba's ass now!"

 

Atemu listened chuckling to the discussion of the two, watching the blond pulling the smaller built teen into a friendly headlock by the end of it.

 

"Maybe we can play against each other one time, too, Jounouchi", the vampire finally declared with a grin. It was an invitation the taller eagerly accepted.

 

The three men stayed at the park until it became dark. Since Jounouchi thankfully enough did not have to work that day, his time was unlimited. However, Yuugi and Atemu were still expected home therefore, when the sun went down, the three of them decided to call it a day. Animatedly talking till they reached the point of separation, Yuugi waved happily goodbye to his best friend, when the blonde took his usual route home.

 

He and Atemu watched the taller built teen vanishing around corner, before the shifter looked up the vampire with shining eyes.

 

"Thank you for treating him nicely, mou hitori no boku", Yuugi said with a smile that the vampire returned.

 

"It was my pleasure, Yuugi", he purred before simply snatching the surprised teen's hand and clasping it with his own. "Let's go home?"

 

Not waiting for a real answer since his actions once again left the shifter spluttering, he gently dragged his company forward, back to their home. And while Yuugi obviously was embarrassed with the bold actions, it occurred to both of them that he never protested the handholding itself, nor did he try to pull his hand away.

 

---

 

Weeks passed as Yuugi's unusual life slowly turned into routine once more. While Atemu did not accompany him to school any longer and returned to being more active at night and sleeping at day, Yuugi still spent all of his free time either with the vampire alone or they met up with the rest of the shifter's friends in town to have fun.

 

Within two weeks Yuugi was so used to having his former hunter around, that he was at a loss when one day his parents returned home causing his namesake to vanish without a word. Yuugi was not really concerned. He knew Atemu could more than look after himself and he had warned him some days before that he might vanish when the house became full. Still, the small built teen found himself missing Atemu's company greatly for more reasons than one.

 

While his parents were rather surprised to find him home, Yuugi's mother was obviously glad to have her son back. She praised him for his courage and she accepted proudly the final results the teen had been sent from Professor Hopkins not too long ago.

 

Yuugi of course found himself not above using her good mood to his advantage. Carefully worded and with the help of his jii-chan, the shifter explained to her about the tournament he was invited to, and ended up nearly begging to be allowed to join.

 

While Yuugi's father voiced his concern about Yuugi losing sight of his school work once more, in the end it was decided by his mother and Sugoroku that Yuugi could join. After that day, the shifter spent his days trying to keep up with school in fear of his parents reconsidering if he really started to worsen and preparing for the upcoming tournament. Since Jounouchi, as soon as the announcement was officially out, signed up as well, both teens could be found duelling every free second they got.

 

In between Yuugi and Sugoroku both kept eyes and ears open for any sign of the vampire, but strangely enough it seemed Atemu vanished from the face of Earth. The loss of his former hunter left the shifter unusually sad and restless, not to mention his dreams returned the moment Atemu was out of the house. With the intensity he experienced in his dreams it was at least clear to Yuugi that his namesake must be well and still within the city.

 

Two days before the beginning of the tournament Kaiba visited school once more to personally give Yuugi a copy of the rules and to make sure the teen's parents had nothing against him entering. After Yuugi confirmed his entry to the CEOs satisfaction, the shifter and all his friends could be found on the roof during their midday break, studying the new rules.

 

The theme of the tournament was surprising, to say the least.

 

"A team duel?" Jounouchi exclaimed surprised when they were done reading. His eyebrows furrowed and he exchanged a confused look with Yuugi, who was equally taken aback.

 

"If Kaiba wanted to play and win against you, that's a strange way of doing it", Honda also commented with a dry voice.

 

"Yeah, knowing him I am not sure he expects to fight against Yuugi before the finals", Otogi agreed, a wry grin on his face. "Yet only the preliminaries are single duels."

 

"Not to mention Kaiba-kun has never struck me as team player", Ryou carefully voiced his own doubt.

 

"Hey, have you read the backside of the flyer already?" Anzu suddenly interrupted their discussion, a small smile on her face. "Because that explains the rules of this 'Nakama-Tournament'."

 

Curious Yuugi turned the piece of paper in his hands and there indeed was a small description about the reasons for the unusual rules. Even though Kaiba could have pulled the tournament all on his own, the CEO had organised a sponsorship with various companies. Every single yen the tournament collected, was supposed to be donated to local children hospitals and other institutions that cared about children in need. That kind of gesture was not even unusual for Kaiba Corporation, since the young business man was known for his strong support of children. However, the sponsors it seemed set the condition that the tournament was supposed to teach children the value of camaraderie and friendship.

 

"So this is why there will be sixteen finalist to be teamed up", Yuugi concluded. "That makes it eight finals, where teams fight against other."

 

"Man, I already feel sorry for the poor soul that ends up with Kaiba as partner", Jounouchi chuckled, a wide grin on his face while he shuddered. "To be in his 'high and mighty' presence will be no fun."

 

"Maybe you'll end up being his partner", Honda commented slyly which caused the others to snicker, while the blonde slapped his friend on the head.

 

"Very funny, Honda", Jounouchi drawled, grumbling as his friends chuckled.

 

"By the way, Yuugi, where is Atemu?" Ryou all of the sudden wanted to know when he stopped laughing. The shifter blinked at his white haired friend for a moment, taken by surprise. He then scratched his head looking a bit sheepish.

 

"I don't know, to be honest", he admitted and his friends eyes widened. "Uhm not what you think", the small built teen hastily corrected, a small smile on his face. "He's around somewhere. But opposite to us he's visiting and of course wants to see a bit of this place. Therefore, when my parents returned from their holidays, he decided to better leave for a while and do a bit of sightseeing. Especially since my parents can be rather annoying. You guys know my mother and her nagging about school."

 

"But you've become much better in school, Yuugi", Anzu pointed out, smiling kindly. "The exchange really has increased your abilities in most subjects."

 

"Thanks, Anzu", the shifter exclaimed, smiling back. Of course no one besides Jounouchi knew that during his travels he more often than not had nothing better to do than to look over the notes he made every time his best friend revealed what he saved about their school subjects. Being alone in the wild and without a game to play, it had helped fighting the loneliness and boredom he sometimes felt. Additionally Yuugi had taken the one or other book from the schools he visited, though no more than would fit in a small backpack.

 

When the small built teen experimented with the shifting, he noticed that small things he had with him during a change, became part of his animal body as well. However, at one time he had taken a bigger backpack with him and that one he was unable to change with him. That day Yuugi learned it was not easy if not downright difficult to take a fully loaded backpack with him while in animal form, even if it was a strong form.

 

Pulling out of his memories from the past travels - even if they were still rather fond ones - Yuugi and his friends continued talking about school, his improvements through the exchange and when Atemu might possibly return, the last a question the shifter was unable to answer of course.

 

"So, where is Atemu really", Jounouchi later wanted to know when Yuugi and the blonde were alone, after their day of school ended. The small built teen shrugged his shoulders with a sigh.

"I really don't know, Jounouchi-kun", he confessed. "Most of what I said is the truth. He vanished the day my parents returned home, I guess mostly because they don't know him of course and we can't exactly tell them about relatives they haven't known about. He did forewarn jii-chan and I about his absence though and he is still in town, I am sure of that."

 

"Huh, how can you tell?" Jounouchi wondered surprised and watched with slight amusement as Yuugi all of the sudden turned red.

 

"Uhm, I... always had this feeling", he stuttered. "It's not something I can describe but believe me, Jounouchi-kun, the way I feel now is one I only have when he is still around."

 

Of course the shifter would rather die than tell Jonouchi that the intensity of his dreams was responsible for telling him that his namesake was still nearby. In all honesty, Yuugi was already embarrassed enough as it was and the fear of his jii-chan or even worse, his mother noticing anything was a nightmare in itself.

 

Smiling at his blonde friend in an attempt to distract himself from uncomfortable topics, Yuugi continued talking.

 

"I even think we might catch a glance at him during the Nakama-Tournament", the small built teen told Jounouchi optimistically. "After all, Atemu had been looking forward to the challenges I'll face. I cannot imagine he would not want to watch from the shadows."

 

"I guess you are right", the taller built teen agreed before smiling brightly at Yuugi. "Speaking of supporters, my sister called me last night. She heard about my registration for the tournament and she announced to come and cheer for me during the duels."

 

"Really, Shizuka-chan will come and watch?" the shifter exclaimed surprised before grinning happily back at his best friend. "Jounouchi-kun, that's great!"

 

"Yeah it really is", the blonde nodded before making a small face. "Though, I will not like the part where she has to watch you kicking my ass."

 

"Hey who knows, we could always and up in a team together against Kaiba-kun for example", Yuugi kindly replied with a smile, shaking his head.

 

"Hey, you know what? You are right", Jounouchi realised, eyes widening before a wide smirk showed up on his face. "In fact, that would be perfect. Shizuka would never see me lose, and Mr. High and Mighty gets his ass kicked by us."

 

"Uhm, Jounouchi-kun...", Yuugi started but trailed off, when the tall blonde continued to rant about taking down Kaiba Seto. The shifter knew from experience, after Jounouchi started it was hard to stop him. Therefore he allowed his friend to complain to his heart's content which ended with Jounouchi dragging him to the next card shop, wishing to buy more Duel Monsters cards before he wondered if Yuugi would play against him.

 

"Again?" the small built teen exclaimed wide eyed, not sure if he heard right. "But Jounouchi, we have already duelled three times each break in school for a week now. And you still need to change your deck, because by now I know your cards in my sleep."

 

"Yeah, I know that, Yuugi but", the blonde smiled slightly before padding the other's head, "of course you understand that I wish to keep the deck I plan to use in the tournament even from your eyes, right?"

 

Blinking twice, Yuugi stared at his best friend before showing one of his rare smirks.

 

"You've really improved, Jounouchi-kun", he praised and the teen puffed his cheek. "I am already looking forward to see your duels during the tournament. And I hope we'll at least make it to the finals."

 

"We'll do our best and then we win", the blonde replied optimistically. "Come on Yuugi, let's go."

 

Nodding, the small built teen turned around and stepped out of the cards shop, ready to play another round with his friend. They would continue to train and refine their skills until they day of the tournament started.

 

That would be the day they planned to try their skills in the first big tournament they had ever entered.

 

---

 

Time flew by as Yuugi continued his routine of duelling and discussing strategies with Jounouchi, making sure he kept the good marks his mother expected and dreaming of Atemu at night, while wondering where the vampire might be at day.

 

Already two weeks before the start of the tournament, advertisments had suddenly showed up all over Japan. One day before it began, Domino all of the sudden was full with strangers, all of them duellist, who were eager to enter and win.

 

When the day of the tournament arrived, Yuugi was already up bright and early on a Saturday, much to his parents' surprise. His jii-chan only gave him a smirk, declaring that he would be within the crowd together with Yuugi's friends to cheer his duels later that day.

 

The shifter was rather touched that even his jii-chan wanted to watch, and secretly he hoped that he would be able to find Atemu within the crowd as well, even though it was day and the vampire preferred the night.

 

Yuugi met up with Jounouchi near the place of event. The tournament was to take place in one of the newly built buildings from Kaiba Corporation, a very modern looking structure with lots of glass. At first both duellists wondered how they were supposed to duel inside this slightly oval looking building, but once they crossed the first floors, following the signs to the registration confirmation, they realised that the whole building was nothing more than three upper stories of stadium.

 

One of the guides explained to them that all duellists would start in the first story with the preliminaries. After half of the duellists were eliminated, the tournament would be taken to the next level. The finals however, were supposed to take place in the top story, the only one of the three that was open. While the lower levels contained twenty arenas, and ten duel areas waited in the middle level, the upper part had only one duelling area where the finalists would duel one after another.

 

Being excited both teens let their identities be confirmed in the registration, before they were instructed to separate to certain rooms.

 

"There are twenty different rooms", the young girl at the registration explained to the both of them with a smile. "Mutou-san is listed for room sixteen, Jounouchi-san you are in room three. Please remember your rooms, because after the introduction to the crowd on the main stage you are supposed to duel at the arena with the same number."

 

Both nodded their understanding of her explanation, before receiving their participation cards and left towards the instructed direction. At one point the floor divided into two directions, and Jounouchi had to turn right, while Yuugi's room was signed to be left.

 

Grinning at each other, the shifter and the blonde high fived, their duelling spirits at their highest level.

 

"Good luck, Jounouchi-kun", Yuugi told his best friend, grinning widely. "Please be nice with the people you are in a room with."

 

"Hmpf, you sound as if I'm like that Kaiba", the blonde countered good naturally, before smirking back. "Don't let them tease you for your height."

 

He laughed as Yuugi puffed his cheeks, his small build one of the few sensitive subjects. But Yuugi of course knew his friend was only teasing, therefore he smiled soon enough once more.

 

"Let's go, Jounouchi-kun, the arena is awaiting us!" Yuugi exclaimed and both nodded at each other one last time. Then they went their separate ways, ready to face the challenges they would soon meet.

 

tbc...