Full Moon

Full Moon

By Mally-chan and hatochiisai

Disclaimer: We do NOT own Yugioh. All original characters DO belong to us, such as Mikado, Ahmose and Takeru, who are hato’s.

YAOI WARNING

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Chapter 13

Full Moon

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Mikado was strangely silent this day, as he and Yami drove to the hospital. Ahmose’s black SUV had been repaired and Mikado had been able to get it back two days ago. It had been nearly two weeks since the wreck, and Ahmose remained asleep. The doctor had told Mikado that Ahmose had awoken a few times, (while Mikado was in school or at home asleep, dammit… Ahmose had the BEST timing) but had only been awake for short periods of time and seemed very disoriented and confused. He had been taken off of the respirator a couple of days ago… But Mikado was still very worried. Yami didn’t understand. It looked like Ahmose would pull through, but Mikado was getting more and more agitated each and every day.

Once the SUV was parked in front of the hospital, Ryou was the first to hop out. He was more than eager to see Ahmose, hopefully awake, and was hugging Marik in excitement. “Hurry Marik! If we don’t get there soon, he might go back to sleep or something!!!” Yami got out as well and shook his head.

“What time we get there isn’t going to determine if Ahmose wakes up or not.” He said. Marik just smiled and shook his head, and Mikado locked the car and followed them. They all went up to the ICU and headed to Ahmose’s room. It was empty. Mikado completely flipped, running to the nurse’s station in a panic. A few minutes later, the doctor came over. She smiled.

”Calm down! It’s okay. I have great news. Your brother woke up last night after you left. After a thorough checkup, I’ve moved him out of Intensive Care. He’s down on the third floor in room 342.” She said. Mikado was running for the elevator before she had even finished.

Ryou, Marik and Yami were close behind, all eager to see Ahmose. Hopefully awake. They rode the elevator down to the third floor and followed Mikado to the room the doctor had indicated. Inside, Ahmose was no longer hooked up to any machines, the only thing was an IV delivering painkillers and nutrients to his body. He was sitting up at an easy angle, but was still asleep. Mikado moved over and reached out for his brother’s hand. He blinked, then grinned and looked back at the others.

”He’s warm.” He said, looking specifically at Yami.

Yami smiled slightly and nodded. “Well of course. He’s alive.” Ryou hurried to Ahmose’s side and gave him a gentle shake, hoping he would wake up.

“Ahmose?”

“Ryou! Let him alone!!! Broken ribs!!!” Marik laughed. Mikado smiled and pulled up a chair, plopping down. Ryou pouted slightly, but took a seat as well, disappointed that Ahmose was asleep. Marik snickered and ruffled Ryou’s hair, then looked back at Yami.

”Hey. Pikachu.” He said. “Why don’t you give Sleeping Beauty a kiss, Prince Charming.”

Yami raised an eyebrow at Marik before snorting.

”Why don’t you give my ASS a kiss?” He shot back. At that, Ryou burst into giggles.

“Marik IS good at kissing ass…” He mused, and Mikado cracked up, while Marik gave Ryou a look. But Mikado shut up quick. He looked down at his hand, which was holding Ahmose’s hand. A moment later, Ahmose’s fingers twitched again. Mikado looked up into his brother’s face.

”… Ahmose?” He called, softly.

The entire group’s attention fell on the sleeping wolf in the bed. “Oh! Is he gonna wake up?!” Ryou gasped. “Wake up, Ahmose!!! Yami is here to see you!!” At those words, Ahmose twitched again and he turned his head a bit, moaning. Then, his fingers closed around Mikado’s hand, and he slowly blinked his eyes open.

Ryou let out a soft cheer. “Ahmose is awake!!!” He said eagerly. Yami however, stayed away from the bed, just looking at Ahmose. However, he did seem relieved that Ahmose was awake.

Ahmose looked at Mikado, blinking slowly. Mikado stared right back, eyes wide, grinning. Ahmose smiled slightly.

”About damn time… Been too busy to come see me?” Ahmose asked weakly. Mikado blinked, then snorted and scowled.

”It’s your own damn fault for picking the most inconvenient times to wake your lazy ass up.” He snapped. Both brothers glared at one another, then grinned.

Yami smirked, slightly. “Well, it’s good to see you’re awake at least.” He said, after a moment. “Your brother’s been worried that Takeru would try to take over the pack.” Ahmose turned and just stared at Yami, an odd expression on his face. There seemed to be hope, anxiety, and fear in his eyes.

”Dad DID try to kill you…” Mikado snorted. “I came to visit while you were still in ICU and dad was there… he had disconnected the respirator. When I walked in he hooked it back up and said that he was just wondering if you REALLY needed the damn thing…” Ahmose gave a light snort, obviously not shocked or surprised. He was still staring at Yami, and seemed not to care that his own father had tried to murder him in his hospital bed.

Yami raised an eyebrow at Ahmose before looking to Mikado. “Don’t you have things to say to your brother rather than stare at me?”

”Like what?” Ahmose asked, blinking.

Mikado sat there a moment, then stood, clearing his throat. “I’ll be right back.” He said. “I’m gonna make a few calls. Let the pack know you’re awake.” And he turned and walked out the door.

”I’m hungry. Come with me Ryou!!! We can go buy Ahmose a plant or something.” Marik said, dragging Ryou out of the room.

Ryou whined loudly. “But, but… Mariiiik!!! Ahmose!!! I don’t want a plant! And neither does Ahmose!!! Besides, if we leave who’s gonna tell him about the full moooooooooon?!”

“We’ll be back, Ryou.” Marik said, and closed the door, leaving Ahmose and Yami alone.

Yami grumbled and leaned against the wall, staring Ahmose down. “Pretty stupid thing, to just drive through a red light.” He commented.

Ahmose blinked, and lowered his eyes. “Is that what happened?” He asked. “… I… don’t really know what happened. I was looking at you in the review mirror and then…” He trailed off and shrugged.

“Didn’t they teach you in driver’s ed. To watch the road, not the rearview mirror?” Yami asked. “Now… why did you pull up beside me and try to wrestle me into your car? What was it that you had to say?”

Ahmose winced and seemed to curl up a bit, looking away. After a moment, he shrugged. “… I dunno…”

“Don’t lie to me.” Yami scolded. “You don’t try to wrestle someone into your car if you don’t know what you were going to say. You HAD something to say, now say it.”

”I… don’t KNOW what I wanted to say.” Ahmose mumbled, still not looking up. “I was just… acting. And I just knew that if I could get you into the car, the words would just… COME.”

“Well, you’ve got me in your room and that’s as good as it’s gonna get.” Yami replied, still glaring at Ahmose. “Now say whatever words come to your mind before I turn and walk out.” Ahmose winced, fisting his hands in the sheets.

”… Are you… really so angry at me still?” He asked softly.

Yami nodded. “I’m still furious with you.” He said harshly. “But even thought I’m furious, I never wished death on you.”

Ahmose crossed his arms over his stomach, staring down at his lap, and mumbled something that suspiciously sounded like “I did…”

Yami growled slightly. “Don’t be stupid.” He scolded. “No one in that pack is going to let you die. Well… other than Takeru. You have a responsibility.”

“… I know…” Ahmose whispered after a moment. “… And now that it’s mine… I’m not sure that I’m ready for it…”

“Well, it’s a little too late to be unsure of yourself.” Yami retorted. “People like Ryou are depending on you for their very protection. Or did you forget about Ryou?”

“No. I haven’t.” Ahmose mumbled, eyes still cast downwards.

Yami nodded. “Then don’t say stupid things like you wish you were dead over me.”

Ahmose said nothing for a long time. Just when Yami was about to consider leaving, he finally whispered, “I’m sorry…”

Yami snorted. “Sorry doesn’t make it better and you know it.” He said harshly. Ahmose winced yet again and rolled onto his side, hissing slightly at the pain in his ribs. He curled up, drawing one knee up to his chest, reluctant to move the other that had needed surgery.

After a moment, Yami gave a sigh. “Even though I’m absolutely furious with you, I forgive you…” He said after a moment.

“… Why?” Ahmose asked in a small voice after a while, sniffling.

“Because you weren’t the one who actually did it… even though it WAS wolves from your pack who did do it.” Yami explained.

“I’m so sorry…” Ahmose breathed, shaking. “I… I never should have left you alone… I should have known they would try to retaliate…”

Yami shrugged. “Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve. Doesn’t matter now.”

”… It does to me.” Ahmose replied.

“I don’t see why.” Yami said after a while. “You got what you wanted. You wanted me to be a werewolf, and look. Here I am. A werewolf.” Ahmose sobbed harshly.

“No!!! I never wanted this!!! I wanted you to be a werewolf, yes, but… not like that!!! NEVER like that!!! I’ll never forgive myself for this!!!”

Yami raised an eyebrow and tilted his head to the side. “You’ll never forgive YOUR self? You didn’t do it. I just said that. And there’s nothing you could have to have stopped it.”

“That’s just IT!!!” Ahmose cried, turning and facing Yami. “I DIDN’T do it!!! And it should have been ME to make you one of us!!! In a completely different situation!!! If I had just gone with you instead of being so stubborn about going to class, then I would have done it the way it should have been done!!!”

Yami snorted at that. “And how should it have been done. Is there any good way to make a werewolf?”

Ahmose blinked. “Yes… it should have been done consensually.” He said. “By someone you trusted. Not by… vicious tyrants who did it for the sake of cruelty and vengeance!!!”

“If that’s the case, then it probably never would have happened at all. I didn’t want to be a werewolf.” Yami said. “And I don’t think I ever would have.”

Ahmose stared at Yami, eyes wide. “What? But… but you said… you said that you… I thought…” He just shook his head, stunned and confused.

Yami shook his head. “Ahmose… I love you to death but… I never WANTED to be a werewolf. The idea just wasn’t very appealing. I mean, if you think about it, you wanted me to become something that became a wolf, and ate raw meat and ran around in the forest and then when I was done, walk away from it naked, around other naked people who probably aren’t very hot. And on top of that, have to take heartworm pills and flea medication. FLEAS.” Yami said for emphasis. “Just what someone like me needs. Fleas.”

Ahmose stared at Yami. “It… it’s not like that…” He said softly. “Aside from the full moon, you change at will. And even after the full moon, you aren’t automatically forced back into your human body. You would never have to be naked around the pack if you didn’t want to… and you don’t have to eat raw meat, either. Ryou doesn’t.”

Yami snorted. “FLEAS.” He said once more. “And ticks. And mosquitoes. And chiggers. All of those horrible itchy bugs that no human on the face of the earth wants to deal with.”

”And yet sometimes even humans have to deal with them.” Ahmose said. “That’s what the flea medication is for!!! It keeps them all OFF!!!”

Yami growled. “I didn’t want to be a werewolf to begin with. So you should be thanking the three bastards in your group who did this. Otherwise, it never would have happened.”

Ahmose looked down, looking very upset by this.

“… I… I’m sorry…” He whimpered, unable to look at Yami any longer. He rolled over again, closing his eyes.

Yami shook his head, sighing once more. “Anyway… I forgive you for what happened. And I’m sorry that I treated you so poorly.”

Ahmose let out a long, shuddering sigh. “I forgive you…” He breathed. “And… if you want to leave… for good… I understand… I won’t follow you, or stalk you, or…” He trailed off.

“I’m not going to dump you over this.” Yami said. “Even though I’m angry at you, I still love you. But I’m not going to be a part of your pack.”

Ahmose was silent for a long time, then slowly nodded his acceptance.

Yami sent a slight smile in Ahmose’s direction. “Are you done pouting now?”

Ahmose didn’t answer.

Yami frowned and took a few steps closer to Ahmose. “Come on now. Don’t be sad. The fight’s over.”

“… I… have a lot to… think about…” Ahmose said softly, still facing the window. He sniffed again and rubbed his eye.

“What’s left to think about?” Yami asked after a moment.

“More than you know.” Ahmose mumbled.

“Which is why I asked.” Yami said smartly.

“So many things…” Ahmose sighed. “Too many things…”

“care to tell me about them?” Yami offered. “Not like you’ve got anywhere to be.”

“But I do.” Ahmose said, finally turning to face Yami. “I have to get out of here… I have a job to do. That and it won’t do me any good to be in here during the full moon… which I believe is in a little over a week…”

Yami nodded. “Don’t dodge the question. What are you thinking about?”

“A lot of things…” Ahmose murmured. “What… are you going to do on the full moon?” He asked. “As Alpha, I’m obligated to lead the pack every full moon… I pretty much HAVE to be there…”

Yami shrugged. “Probably nothing. I’ll probably stay at home. I have no reason to go out into the woods.”

Ahmose visibly drooped at this, but he nodded. ”I see…”

Yami blinked, but then shrugged. “I don’t know why it would matter to you what I did on the full moon.” He said after a moment.

“Because… the full moons are like… holidays for us. Where we are all together with our pack… with… with the ones we love…” Ahmose said softly. “It’s a time for pack and family… And… you won’t be there…”

Yami raised an eyebrow again. “It wouldn’t matter if I went out into the woods anyway Ahmose. I would avoid your pack. I already told you, I’m not going to be a part of it. And as for a holiday with family and friends, then what better place to be than home? With my family?”

Ahmose just sighed and looked at the window, covered by the curtains. He said nothing.

Yami shook his head and sighed once more. “There’s no reason for you to pout like this Ahmose. You have your whole pack to spend the full moons with. You’ve gone all your life without me on the full moons… I don’t see why it’s such a big deal not to have me there now…”

Ahmose still didn’t look at Yami, but after a moment, tears began to fall down his face. “It’s… obviously nothing that you would understand.” He whispered.

“Well, then explain it to me.”

Ahmose looked at Yami. “YOU are my family… you are my… mate… right? You said you wanted to be… has that changed?” Ahmose asked. “As the Alpha’s mate, you should be there… it’s going to look bad Yami… and ultimately… it’s going to make things harder on both of us… if you are not of the pack, then you are a loner. And… loners are neither accepted nor tolerated. And the fact that I am mated to you…” He sighed and shrugged.

“Ahmose… I love you.” Yami said after a minute. “If that makes me your mate, then fine… I am your mate. But I do not want to be a part of your pack. I don’t care if I’m not accepted by other wolves. It hardly matters to me because I don’t accept the other wolves either. And as for complications, you can always tell your pack that I’m in a different pack.” Yami said slowly. “It’s not like I’ll ever be out in the forest for one of them to catch me all alone.” Yami sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “And if there are complications then you can tell them that I am not mated to you. It doesn’t matter what they think, it’s what we think. And if you still receive trouble after that, then you can tell them that we’re fighting and we’re on bad terms and that’s why I’m skipping out. You can make up whatever story you want. And you know that Ryou, Marik and your brother would always back you up, so no one would ever question you.”

Ahmose stared at Yami. “It’s not as simple as that.” He said. “You can’t be from another pack, packs don’t share territory. Packs don’t share CITIES. There is no other pack at all for at least seventy miles.” Ahmose sighed and shook his head. “Yami… As Alpha, I now have the eyes of every wolf on me. I can’t keep secrets from them for long. Nothing like this. I will have to have a mate eventually. A mate in the pack. Yami… if you don’t join the pack…” He shrugged. “Then all of this was for nothing. They won’t tolerate me being mated to a loner. I’ll have to… break up with you. And then, you’re beyond my protection. As a loner, they will kill you if you stay here… if I stay mated to you, they will mutiny. They will throw me out, and that’s if they don’t kill me… The pack is not as simple as you may think it is. There are expectations. Yami… We can’t dance around this. We have to ADHERE to the pack, BOTH of us, of we will FALL to the pack. There is no way around it…”

Yami slowly nodded. “I see… so… I have to join the pack to be with you, or they’ll kick you out and kill me? Okay. Fine. I’ll… ADHERE to the pack rules.”

Ahmose blinked at Yami, and perked up, smiling. “Really?” He gasped, looking like he hardly dared to hope.

Yami nodded once more. “If that’s what it takes, then yes.”

Ahmose grinned and nodded to Yami. ”I love you…” He said softly. “Thank you, Yami… I… I love you…”

Yami nodded slowly. “I love you too, Ahmose.” He sighed and turned. “I should get going.”

Ahmose blinked. “Yami?” He called, and Yami turned back. Ahmose was reaching out to him.

Yami blinked, and slowly walked over. “Yes?”

Ahmose gave Yami a look. He took his hand and pulled him close, hugging Yami, wincing.

Yami smiled and hugged Ahmose back. “I love you, Ahmose.”

Ahmose sighed, releasing Yami after a while. “Go on then…” He said, smiling. “I’m sure you have a few strip joints to frequent tonight, hm?” He asked, teasingly.

Yami shook his head. “Actually no. I’ve got other plans tonight.”

“You do?” Ahmose asked, cocking his head. “What are you doing?”

“Something important.” Yami replied. “You focus on getting better, and I’ll focus on my business.”

Ahmose blinked. “Fine, be that way.” He said, chuckling. “I’ll do that. See you later?”

Yami shrugged. “I guess.”

Ahmose smiled and nodded. “Okay then… see ya…”

Yami sighed after a moment, and leaned over to kiss Ahmose. “Bye.” He said, before walking out the door.

And a week later, Ahmose was walking out the door on crutches, refusing to stay in the hospital any longer. Mikado assured them that he would take good care of his brother. He helped Ahmose into the car, and drove away.

”Thank God…” He said. “I was worried we wouldn’t get you out of there in time.”

”Same here. Take me to the game shop.” Ahmose said. Mikado looked at Ahmose.

”What?”

”I wanna go see Yami.”

”Oh. Okay.” Mikado said, and ten minutes later, Mikado was helping his brother out of the car and holding open the door. Ahmose entered the game shop and headed up to the counter where Yugi was sitting. He smiled.

”Hey, Yugi.”

Yugi perked up immediately. “Oh, hi Ahmose!!! What brings you here?” He asked eagerly. Ahmose smiled.

”Can I see Yami?” He asked.

Yugi blinked a bit, giving Ahmose an odd look. “Um… well… The uh… Um…” He stammered. Ahmose blinked.

”… What? What’s he up to now?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Yugi began to fidget a bit. “He… didn’t tell you?” He asked, nervously. Ahmose frowned.

”… Tell me what?” He asked, softly. Mikado looked at Yugi, worried.

Yugi backed up a bit, fidgeting more. “Well uh… you see… um… Yami… kind of… uh… you sure he didn’t tell you?” Ahmose glared.

“Tell me what?!” He demanded, starting to sound worried.

“Uhg… well… um…” Yugi sighed and shook his head. “You can’t see him.”

“What? Why?!” Ahmose howled.

“Uh… well, I g-guess you can… go up to his room…” Yugi said slowly. Ahmose eyed Yugi, then turned and made his way to the stairs. Mikado went to help, but Ahmose shrugged off his assistance, slowly making his way up the stairs and down the hall. He reached Yami’s room, and opened the door.

The sight that met Ahmose’s eyes was not what he was expecting at all. The room was empty, save for the furniture. There were no posters on the wall, sheets on the bed, curtains on the window… nothing. Eyes wide, Ahmose slowly limped in, looking around. He sniffed the air. Yami’s scent was there, but it was days old… it had been a week since Yami was last here… probably the day after he had visited Ahmose in the hospital. And that made Ahmose think back on the visit…

He had said ‘see ya later?’ Instead of Yami’s usual enthusiastic affirmative, there had been a calm, quiet ‘I guess’. Instead of ‘See ya!’ he had said ‘Bye.’ He had ‘important plans’ that he wouldn’t tell Ahmose about. He had been… quiet and withdrawn. Completely unlike Yami… it was then that it hit Ahmose… hard.

Yami had left. He had been planning to leave the moment Ahmose had told him that he had to join the pack if they wanted to be together and if Yami wanted to live… Yami said he would follow the rules of the pack… but he had never said he would JOIN the pack… Now, it was obvious. He had refused to join the pack. And now, he was gone. He had left that he might live, and that Ahmose might lead the pack without the trouble his staying would bring…

Downstairs, Yugi and Mikado looked up at the ceiling at the audible thump as Ahmose collapsed to the floor, devastated.

Yugi frowned and hurried up the stairs. “Ahmose, are you okay?” He called, going into Yami’s room. “I’m sorry… I thought he had told you…” Mikado hurried to his brother’s side, concerned about his physical and emotional well being. He looked around the room, and then looked at Yugi as he rested a hand on Ahmose’s back.

”Yugi… where’s Yami?” He gasped.

Yugi sighed and looked down. “He left town almost a week ago.” He explained. “He didn’t say where he was going or… anything. He just… got on the train. The only things he left behind was the furniture. And his fuzzy dice.” He said, holding out a plush squeak toy. “I found it under the sofa.”

Mikado bit his lip and looked down at his brother, who was shaking horribly. “Ahmose…” He murmured. “Ahmose, come on… get off of the floor.”

”… I wanna go home…” Ahmose gasped, his voice tired and ragged. He slowly stood, leaning heavily on his brother.

”Ahmose… it will be easier if I can… carry you…” Mikado said softly. Ahmose paused, then slowly changed to his wolf form. Mikado gently picked up his brother, being mindful of his healing injuries. He looked at Yugi and sighed, frowning in concern.

“If you hear from him… you’ll let us know?” He asked.

Yugi nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry… I thought he told you. I mean… he’s in love with Ahmose, I was sure he told you…”

Ahmose whined miserably, tail and ears drooping, sadly. Mikado winced, but sighed and nodded.

”He knew that Ahmose would never have let him leave…” He said softly. Ahmose turned his head, sniffing over the dice in Yugi’s hands, before taking it gently in his teeth and squeaking it softly. Mikado watched him, quietly.

Yugi sighed. “It was his favorite toy. I got it just for him. He didn’t want to admit it, but I knew he loved it. I’ll bet he’s really upset that he had to leave it behind.” Mikado nodded.

”Thanks, Yugi… I’ll… be in touch.” He said, turning and carrying his brother down the stairs, Yugi following carrying Ahmose’s clothes and crutches. “I’ll pick you up for school on Monday…” Yugi nodded, helping Mikado carry everything out to the car. After quiet goodbye’s Mikado began the drive home, Ahmose squeaking the fuzzy dice in the backseat.

~*E*N*D*~