Shadow Rising

*Demi comes in on his hind legs, dancing, and singing rather badly. Lady D’Ceandre looks up from the computer, blinks and frowns at him. Trouble, who is sitting on the arm, winces.*

D’Ceandre: Umm, Sweetie. Maybe you could turn down the volume a bit?

Demi: *Climbs the back of the chair and looks at the screen.* Hmm. Maybe Trouble could tune down the nastiness a bit.

Trouble: There’s nothing wrong with it. Now beat it, you little Twerp.

Hime: *Joining Demi.* Hey, when’s Sagira showing up?

Trouble: How ‘bout never? *Hime jumps down onto the arm, pushing Trouble off. The calico in turn pulls her rival down with her.*

D’Ceandre: Oh, boy. Well, enjoy. *Puts her headphones on so she doesn’t have to listen to the fighting muses.*

******

Yugi sighed with relief as the lights finally came on, though he didn’t move from where he sat perched on Yami’s lap. The movie had been a horror, and he hated horror movies.

Of course, Yami wasn’t all that interested in letting him go, either. He was pleased that Yugi had finally stopped fighting him, right after the first murder, when the younger boy had leapt out of his chair with a yelp and had turned to bury his face in Yami’s chest.

Yami was the last to stand, reluctantly lifting Yugi off his lap. His Aibou still clung to him, though, jumping at every shadow. And there were a few; the sun had set while they were in the theatre.

Honda took one look at his watch and realized he was late for the curfew his parents had set. Not that it would normally matter, but they had threatened to take away his bike.

Ryou frowned at Yugi and Yami, wondering why Yugi wasn’t hiding in the puzzle if he was that frightened.

:Yami’s probably got him locked out.: Bakura answered, reading his hikari’s mind.

:Locked out? I know you guys can lock us in, but… Why would he want to do that?: Ryou puzzled. Bakura shrugged.

:Maybe he’s finally decided to toughen the shrimp up a bit.:

“We’d better get going.” Malik spoke up, interrupting Ryou’s musings. “School night.”

“Really, I don’t know why everyone thinks it’s so important.” Bakura shrugged. “I didn’t go and I turned out just fine.”

“Hey, who said that?” Jounouchi asked, confused. Yami looked at him.

“Bakura did. You must be learning to see the spirits as well.”

“Sure you did.” Marik said with a laugh, ignoring Jounouchi. “That’s why you’re hanging out here, saddled with a wimp for a hikari.” Bakura glared at Marik, while Ryou blushed and Malik grinned openly. Unlike Ryou, he shared his yami’s cruel sense of humour.

“Hey, Ryou’s not a wimp.” Jounouchi said, defending his friend.

“Shut up, Dog.” Bakura bit out.

“Sit, Boy.” Malik added. Marik apparently decided his partner was having too much fun.

“Ah well, we’ll leave the delinquent with his toy. Come on, Kitten.”

“Kitten?” Bakura snorted. This time it was Malik’s turn to go red.

“Marik.” He whined. Marik smirked at him. Malik sighed, and wished he could sink into the Rod. He tried to, and realised Marik could lock him out just as easily as Yami had to Yugi.

Yami watched a moment, not sharing in the humour, then, saying goodbye to Anzu, who was now the only other one not throwing insults, lead Yugi away from the group.

******

“Let me in. Please.” Yugi begged, eyeing the dark alleys around them. Yami sighed, tired of his pleading, and dropped the barrier. Immediately Yugi disappeared.

:See, nothing happened, Aibou. I don’t know where you picked up this theory that I was going to hurt them.:

:It was after I had to hold you back from strangling Jou.: Yugi snapped back. Yami frowned.

:That was different. He had no right to go calling you a little shrimp.:

:It was a joke, Pharaoh.: Yami blinked at the tone. Maybe he had pushed a little too hard tonight.

:Little One? You know I’m only trying to protect you, right?: There was no answer.

:Yugi?: He probed the mindlink. Even that was blocked. Now he was starting to get a little annoyed.

:Yugi!: He snapped. Still nothing. Angrily, Yami surged down the link, forcing it opened. He was sure he heard Yugi yelp in fear, and pulled back.

:There was no need for that.: He rebuked. The link trembled, but stayed open.

:You do trust me, don’t you, Aibou?:

:Yes, Pharaoh.: Came the dutiful reply. Yami scowled again, knowing Yugi was only saying that because he thought it was what was expected.

:I’m beginning to see why Bakura and Marik kept such a tight leash on their hikari. It’s much easier.:

:You wouldn’t, Yami. Would you?: Came the hesitant reply. It instantly brought up a picture of Yugi’s huge violet eyes.

:Of course not.: He answered coldly. There was a moment’s silence.

:I do trust you. You just… scare me sometimes.:

:You scare me frequently, My Little One. If I were truly alive I’m sure I would have grey hair within a week.: Yami felt the bundle of nerves start to relax some, as Yugi chuckled at the thought of Yami with grey hair. With a slight smile Yami continued on his way home.

******

It was sunny out the next day, as Jounouchi and Honda walked toward the school.

“Hey. Wait up.” Yugi called. The two paused and looked back as their diminutive friend hurried to join them.

“Yug. You actually got up this morning.” Honda exclaimed. Yugi sweatdropped.

“Yami and Grandpa could wake the dead, between them.”

“And we have to, frequently.” Yami said, appearing. He smiled slightly, glad Yugi seemed to be over whatever it was that had been bothering him.

“Well, maybe if you get enough sleep, you might actually grow a little.” They looked over at Kaiba, who stood smirking at them. Yami’s eyes narrowed, and he took a step forward, as the puzzle began to glow ever so slightly. Yugi looked from his spirit to Kaiba, suddenly fearful.

“Please, don’t.” He pleaded.

“Although you’ll always be a little wimp. Just like blondie will always be a dog.” Kaiba continued.

:That’s quite enough.: Kaiba’s eyes widened.

:You are a cruel boy, aren’t you, Little Dragon?: The voice continued. :Nearly as cruel as I can be.:
“Leave me alone.” Kaiba hissed under his breath.

“Yami, don’t.” Yugi said again. Yami ignored him, gathering his strength. Jounouchi and Honda looked from Yugi to Kaiba. Jounouchi knew what was going on at Yugi’s end, but what was up with Kaiba?

:I should let the Pharaoh have his fun, but you will be no good to me then.:

Yami was about to unleash when Kaiba looked up at him, and there was something different about his eyes.

“Mine.” He mouthed, and Yami nodded slightly, then stepped back, relaxing. Then Kaiba suddenly groaned and raised a hand to his head. Turning, he hurried away at a fast walk.

“Who was that?” Yugi asked, grateful that it hadn’t turned out worse.

“The Priest.” Yami paused. “I might be stronger then him, but at the very least he’s got better control. If his power matches mine, there’d be no way I could defeat him.”

“Oops.” Jounouchi said, realizing what time it was. “We’re going to be late.” He hurried up the stairs into the school, followed closely by Honda and Yugi.

******

Kaiba stood in the boys’ bathroom, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

“I am going crazy.” He said.

:I should hope not. So far as I can tell, you’re perfectly sane, Little Dragon.: Kaiba winced.

“Don’t call me that.” He said.

:Do you know that was my nickname when I was a child. For a different reason, though. Even when I was young, my shadow powers were strong. Much stronger then my cousin’s.:

“Who’s your cousin?” Kaiba asked, not sure he wanted to know.

:The Pharaoh, of course. Speaking of him, leave the Little One alone. I don’t have nearly enough strength to fend Atemu off if you get him upset.:

“I don’t need your advice.” Kaiba snarled.

:I think you do. And if I catch you bothering Atemu’s hikari again, there will be trouble.: The voice faded away, but Kaiba slumped against the sink with a groan. He was so tired of people trying to control him. Well, this voice wouldn’t find it any easier that anyone else had. Seto Kaiba was not going to be anyone’s lapdog.

“That’s a place reserved for that ass Jounouchi.” He said aloud, then, with a smirk, headed to class.

******

D’Ceandre: Poor Kaiba. He’s really in for it.

Hime: What about Sagira?

D’Ceandre: I’ll get to her, don’t worry. Whenever have I neglected one of your characters?

Hime: Hmmph.