He Among Us Without Sin

He Among Us Without Sin

Mally-chan & hatochiisai

YAOI WARNING

Disclaimer: We do not own Yugioh. Hato does own Mikado and Ahmose, though.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Chapter 32

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It was late afternoon when Malik guided the dappled grey horse off of the path and into seemingly untamed forest. Only elven eyes could have seen the path he was now following. It was dusk when the first lights came into view. They were lights of many colors, some of them stationary, some of them moving about. Singing reached Malik's ear, and soothed his spirit. He was home.

He guided his horse through the wall of brush and trees and into a massive clearing filled with mammoth trees. It was in these trees that his people had grown their city almost a millenia ago, speaking to the trees and asking them to grow how they wished. And the trees obeyed. Malik had no home of his own, but the elves kept quarters available for their traveling brethren. Fairies darted about in through the trees, the light coming from them filling the canopy with a living rainbow.

Malik sighed softly as he lead the horse to the stables of a traveler's nook glad to be away from Ryou, away from the Vatican, and away from his troubles for a while. He hadn't come 'home' so to speak, since he'd met Marik.

"MALIK!!!" Came a shout, and Malik turned to see a strange young man running towards him. To his shock, the man leapt onto him, hugging him tightly. "Malik! You're back!!!"

Malik blinked and grinned. "Yeah... I got fed up with being away." he said lamely. "How have things been?"

"Fine." Said the strange elf, standing back. He grinned at Malik for a moment. "You don't even recognize me, do you?" After a moment, it dawned on Malik. This young elf used to follow him around, idolize him even!!! But he was a good TWO FEET TALLER that the LAST time Malik at seen him!!!

Malik grinned sheepishly. "Would it be a bad thing to lie and say I did remember you right away...or to be honest and say I didn't?"

The boy, whose name was Torien, just snorted and waved a hand. "My own mother wouldn't have recognized me if she had been away as long as you have." He scoffed.

"Sorry Torien." Malik said grinning. "So I guess the wind told you I was coming home then..." he made a face. "Is everyone aware?"

Torien nodded. "OH yeah... and you're in trouble. They've also heard from the birds of some... things..."

Malik winced. "Do tell..." he mumbled.

"Can't. I was sent to tell you that you're being summoned to see the elders. Your mother is there. And she's not happy..."

Malik groaned. "Oh great. Just what I need. Mom." he grumbled but walked with Torien.

Eventually, they came to the Elder's meeting room. Several elves stood around. A blonde woman whirled.

"MALIK!!!" She shrieked, storming over and striking Malik across the face. "I have NEVER been so disappointed in you in my whole LIFE!!!"

Malik groaned. "What?! I didn't do anything!"

"Oh, you didn't do anything other than be a horrible arrogant brat to that poor boy Ryou!!!" The woman shouted, and the elders glanced around at each other, snickering a bit.

Malik glared. "Oh don’t you even START with me" he growled. "I left because if I had to deal with that ignorant selfish whining brat one more second then I might do something TRULY evil, like put him out of MY misery!"

Malik was slapped again. "You have shamed your people!!!"

Malik glared and grabbed her hand, preventing further slapping. "I'm not going to hear it right now."

"Oh, I think you are." Called one of the councilmen.

Malik sighed, "speak, don’t slap then."

His mother backed away.

"Your mother is right. Your attitude and treamtent towards the half elf Ryou was atrocious and you have shamed your race." The elder said.

"Are you not even mentioning HIS actions?" Malik scoffed. "He was far worse!"

"He has had seventeen years in which he learned nothing of elves but the pain we caused his mother. He needs someone to show him the truth about our kind." The elder said. "And we have chosen YOU to do this."

Malik snorted. "I spend most of my life away from this village and your decisions. What makes you think I'd stay, nor even bother listening to you now?"

The elder narrowed his eyes. "Do you truly wish to make yourself an outcast among your own kind, Malik?" He asked, slyly. "All over some... boy?"

"That 'boy' renounced his elven blood and became human." Malik snorted. "He wants nothing to do with elves, nor does he even give half a rat's ass about our kind. I cant teach the unwilling, and I'm not really willing to teach him anyway."

Another elder snorted. "I don't think Malik could teach anyone anything... at least not anything worth knowing..."

"See there you go." Malik said crossing his arms. "So if you dont mind, I'm done with it. I wash my hands of the kid."

The elders sighed, many of them shaking their heads, sadly.

”Malik… you have lost touch with the ways of our people…” One elf said, walking over and placing a hand on Malik’s shoulder. “Please… take a few days to rest and relax and meditate. Attune yourself once again with your people, and Mother Earth.” He smiled. “It will soothe your soul.” He embraced Malik. “Welcome home. It is good to have you back, brother.”

Malik sighed. "Thanks...I suppose I can try that...if you can keep my mother off of my back and far out of slapping range..." he said glaring at her slightly.

The elders all chuckled as Malik's mother puffed up, angrilly.

"Melia, let the boy alone." An elder laughed.

Malik sighed and shook his head turning. "I'm going to eat." he said after a moment. "I'm starving."

"Run along then." The elder said.

Malik nodded and walked out, eager to have a good meal and relax for a change. Without Ryou and Marik around, he could relax and enjoy himself without one pressuring him to teach the other about elves, and the other being a bitch.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ahmose sighed and looked around the room that Seto had just locked Yami and himself into.

"... well, at least it's not the dungeons..." Ahmose mumbled, looking at the large bed and the empty fireplace. "... No windows..."

Yami grumbled and sighed looking at the fireplace. "No firewood either...I'd love a nice warm fire to curl up by. My wings are frozen!"

Ahmose smiled, kissing Yami's cheek. "As you wish." He knelt before the empty fireplace, and when he stood a stepped away, there was a roaring blaze.

Yami grinned and dove infront of it, looking thrilled. "mmmm much nicer."

Ahmose sat down beside him. "Good." He cooed, removing his cloak and draping it around Yami,

Yami sighed and nuzzled Ahmose curling his tail around his lover's waist. "How are you feeling?"

Ahmose sighed and shrugged. "Okay."

Yami frowned. "Not in any...pain or anything right?"

Ahmose shook his head. "No. I'm fine. My arm is a bit stiff, but..."

Yami nodded. "Good..." he drooped a bit and leaned on Ahmose's shoulder yawning. "I'm tired..."

Ahmose smiled, standing and going over to the bed. He pulled down the quilts and linens and began running a hand over the sheets, warming them.

Yami sighed and once his wings were warmed, he wandered over to the bed, curling up inside it. No one had noticed that it'd been nearly a week since he'd last 'ate' energy. He wasn't hungry. Seto's little attack had scared him badly, and he was having difficulty even thinking about...something he was quite literally born to 'do'.

Ahmose yawned and grumbled and slowly began to remove his clothing, tired. Finally, once he was completely naked, he fell into the bed and pulled the covers up over Yami and himself, draping an arm over the demon's back.

Yami sighed and curled up wrapping his wings around himself and tried to sleep.

Ahmose seemed to drop off to sleep right away, his necklace (the only thing he was wearing) glowing softly on the pillow by his cheek.

Yami smiled when he sensed Ahmose had fallen asleep, before squirming away carefully.

Ahmose grumbled a bit, groping around slightly for Yami, but soon quieting down.

Yami sighed and shook his head curling up away from Ahmose, though still contently in the bed.

Ahmose slowly blinked open an eye, having been drawn from his sleep by the movement. "Yami?"

Yami frowned and pretended to be asleep, rather than hurt Ahmose's feelings.

Ahmose frowned. "Yami, why are you all the way over there?"

Yami winced. "I...wanted a little room." he said after a moment, cuddling down into the blankets.

Ahmose slowly sat up slightly. "... what? Since when?"

"Since I've been cramped up with this silly collar?" Yami said after a moment.

Ahmose eyed Yami. "... riiiiiight..."

Yami sighed. "I'm sorry..."

Ahmose blinked. "What's wrong, Yami?" He asked, pulling his lover closer.

Yami jumped slightly at that. "Nothing...

"You're lying..." Ahmose whispered.

Yami sighed. "I...It's nothing really Ahmose..." he said softly. "I'm fine."

Ahmose blinked, then frowned. "If it's nothing then you should have no problem telling me."

"It's not worth mentioning." Yami countered.

Ahmose scowled. "Fine. Don't tell me." He snapped, flopping over to face the wall.

Yami sighed and turned to face the opposite wall. He didn't have the energy to fight with Ahmose at the moment. He wanted sleep. And soon he drifted off to it.

Ahmose lay there and simmered for a while, angry and upset that something was bothering Yami, but he didn't see fit to tell his lover. Ahmose was angry and hurt because of it...

He would question Yami later...

Yami didn't wake until the next afternoon... and when he did, he was hungry. Hungry and tired.

Ahmose was across the room, sitting silently before the fire, staring into it.

Yami sat up slowly and stretched. "Ahmose...what are you doing?"

Ahmose didn't answer.

Yami blinked a few times before getting out of the bed and trotting over to Ahmose. "Ahmose?"

The sorcerer slowly stood, then turned to look at Yami. His face was a horrible combination of different emotions; anger, pity, sadness, rage and fury...

Yami blinked and a look of confusion passed his features. "Um...." he wasn't sure if he should comfort Ahmose... or hide from him.

"... I don't know whether to hold you or hit you..." Ahmose breathed, clenching his fists.

Yami blinked and shook his head. "I um... actually would prefer neither." he said slowly. "Because you look like you should be the one wearing this collar, not me." He backed up a bit.

Ahmose scowled. "I was fire gazing. I asked the fire to tell me what has upset you to the point that you do not want to be near me. It showed me what Seto did to you."

Yami frowned and looked away, tail curling up to his hands, where he began fidgeting. "I dont want to talk about it..." he mumbled turning away. "But...I am sorry that I was the one who...put you through much worse."

“… I’m sorry you had to go through it.” Ahmose said softly, and looked back at the fire. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you…”

"I'm fine." Yami said after a moment. "It's nothing to dwell on."

"... The fire... showed me something else, Yami..." Ahmose said softly. "... And I don't know what to do... or think or feel... about you..."

Yami blinked. "huh?"

"Itemri." Ahmose said. "He went to the Vatican looking for his childe. He found his grandchilde... Mikado... my brother..."

Yami nodded. "Before you take it any farther. Ahmose...what he does is completly out of my control. Seto commands him, and barely at that. I brought Itemri here because he was all I could think of that Seto couldn't possibly come up with an excuse of being unworthy for. Itemri is a wildfire, and there is no commanding him, controlling him...nothing.”

Ahmose nodded. "I know, Yami... I know... but... Yami... I watched that... filthy creature forcibly violate my brother!!!" He ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Yami. "All because Mikado refused to leave Bakura..."

Yami sighed. "It's not the realm of demons I'll be inheiriting, because all creatures are as kind as me." he said softly. "Bringing Itemri here was my fault...but I never could have predicted that on your brother."

Ahmose nodded. "I know." He whispered. "Nor would you have wished it..."

Yami nodded. "So...try not to be too angry with me..."

Ahmose nodded again. "I just... you brought him here to... protect ME. I feel... partially responsible... I feel like my brother was sacrificed for my sake..."

Yami snorted. "Ahmose... I don’t think anyone was sacrificed for your sake." he said calmly. "The enemies are just going through the rape fad. It was really popular among the Vikings about 100 or so years ago."

Ahmose blinked at Yami, bewildered. "... What?"

Yami rolled his eyes. "Vikings, you know...? Valhalla and what have you? The guys with horned hats? They made raping popular for badguys. And apparently it's still in season."

Ahmose blinked and shook his head. "You are so... random sometimes..."

Yami flicked his tail. "if you're worried about Mikado...then go back to him." he said softly. "You're not exactly a prisoner."

Ahmose sighed and looked down. "No. I won't leave you here alone with Seto." He looked at Yami, then hugged him. "Mikado has Bakura..."

"Ahmose...I wouldn't complain." he said softly giving Ahmose a caring look. "He's your brother. I dont have one of those...."

Ahmose smiled at Yami. "Yes... but as you have told me... he is a grown boy now... he's a young man, almost out of childhood and entering manhood. And he has Bakura now..." The sorcerer sighed and pulled Yami into his arms. "And I have you..."

Yami nuzzled Ahmose and sighed. "Thanks..." he cooed feeling a bit better. "I dont know what I'm going to tell mother..."

"About... what happened to you?" Ahmose asked.

"About Seto." Yami said softly. "You know how I can tell? She's no different. We ALL can tell."

"I see..." Ahmose said, slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed. "... tell her the truth."

"Ahmose. One of us is going to die." Yami said calmly. "Either me for...THIS...or you for 'letting it happen'."

Ahmose blinked. "Now, don't be so dramatic, Yami." He said, though he did sound concerned.

"Are you remembering the same mother I'm remembering?" Yami said giving Ahmose a look.

Ahmose sighed. "Don't worry about it right now..."

"You know...I'm starting to like never going home again." Yami said after a moment. "Yeah ...I could stay here. Your world's big. She'll never find me!"

Ahmose raised an eyebrow. "Riiiight... what ever happened to me coming to your world and living there with you?"

"Mother's wrath." Yami said grinning like a class A dork. "Besides, You'd never be a good chosen in the court....you cant stand royal lunches. Gods forbid you see a royal dinner, or banquet."

Ahmose's eyes widened. "Let me guess... mass orgies?"

Yami grinned. "Yeah....somethin like that..."

Ahmose rolled his eyes. "Great..."

Yami laughed softly. "You'd HAVE to attend too. Sometimes even take part." he said nudging Ahmose.

Ahmose's eyes widened. "What?! NO! Attend, I can do. But I am NOT going to be anyone's appetizer!!!"

"Of course not ANYBODY!" Yami said looking offended. "You're MY appetizer!"

"NOT in PUBLIC!!!" Ahmose howled.

"You shoulda thought about THAT before you fell in love with me." Yami chuckled.

Ahmose glared. "NO."

"You'll make me, and you look bad!" Yami whined. "Besides! No one's paying attention!"

"I don't CARE." Ahmose hissed. "I will do NO such thing in PUBLIC!!!"

"Ahmose..." Yami looked sad. "That's...really depressing. It's tradition for many millenia that...well...nevermind." Yami snorted. "Just Seto's whole excuse for raping YOU was I hadn't marked you properly."

Ahmose blinked. "... MARKED me properly?"

Yami nodded. "You're still open game."

"How do you mark me "properly" as you put it?" Ahmose asked.

"Oh it's nothing you'll do. It's a big ceremony infront of the WHOOOOLE kingdom." Yami said calmly.

Ahmose blinked several times. "Go on..."

Yami blinked. "Uh...well they're 'watching'."

Ahmose narrowed his eyes. "Watching what."

Yami snickered. "Well I can tell you what they're NOT watching us do..." he said snickering more.

Ahmose glared. "... The whole kingdom watches us DO IT?!"

"yup." Yami snickered

"HELL no."

Yami pouted. "You gotta!" he said looking hurt. "It's tradition!"

"For YOU maybe! We have a different tradition HERE!!!"

"I'm not gonna be the king of here!" Yami howled. "I'm gonna be the king of THERE!"

Ahmose glared. "How about I just tatoo 'Yami's property' on my ass?!"

"And SHAME me?!" Yami pouted.

"Oh, so you would rather HUMILIATE us both?!"

"It's not humiliation." Yami said calmly. "It's tradition."

"Not for ME." Ahmose said, glaring. "It would be HUMILIATING. You would have to FORCE my body into a state of arousal, and how would THAT look, huh?!"

"It's why I never asked." Yami said softly. "I knew you'd say no. So...I never properly marked you as mine."

"Does it HAVE to be done in public?" Ahmose asked.

"Yes." Yami said softly.

Ahmose scowled. "WHY?!"

"I dunno. It's tradition because I didn't make it that way." Yami said rolling his eyes.

Ahmose snorted, flopping back onto the bed. "There is NO way I can do that..." He said. "No WAY will I be having sex in public."

"It's why I never asked." Yami said once more taking Ahmose's old place on the sofa.

Ahmose sighed. "Can't I just wear a ring like humans do?"

"Because a band of precious metal will REALLY tell the other demons just who you're a lover to."

"Well... do you have a... coat of arms or a crest or something?" Ahmose asked.

Yami sighed and shook his head. "We do...but it's just not the same..." he mumbled.

"For God's sake, Yami. I will fuckin BRAND myself with your name and family crest if you want me to, but I am NOT having sex in front anyone!!! Maybe a COUPLE of people I could handle, but not more, and NOT your MOTHER!!!" Ahmose said firmly.

"It's why I never even bothered asking." Yami said once more.

Ahmose sighed. "But... will your mother try to make us do that?" He asked.

"My mom cant make you do anything." Yami said flicking his tail. "You're not a demon."

"Will she TRY?" Ahmose sighed, flopping onto the sofa beside Yami.

"I dunno. I'm not mom." Yami shrugged. "But you can say no."

"And... if I refuse it will... shame you?" Ahmose asked mutely, glaring at the fire a bit.

Yami sighed. "Of course it would." he said shaking his head. "But you dont have to worry about my reputation. It's pretty sorry anyway."

"It's not your reputation I care about." Ahmose said. "It's your feelings..."

"Ahmose, I didn't ever ask you because I knew you would never agree." Yami said after a moment. "And I wont force you to do something you dont want to do..."

"Yami..." Ahmose sighed. "If we can get away with it being done with only a few people present... then I can do it... and I will do it... but any more than, oh... five people, and there is no way I could even TRY."

"You dont have to. I already said it was fine." Yami replied once more. "I doubt mom will even care about it when she finds out about Seto..." he shivered.

Ahmose looked at Yami, then scooted over and draped an arm around him, pressing their foreheads together. He smiled slightly. "I know… I don't care..." He said softly. "I love you just the same... I only wish I could have spared you that..."

Yami nuzzled Ahmose. "I know...and I've always loved you the same...even though half of your rape was me..." he looked away. "which just makes me feel worse."

"It was all Seto's doing." Ahmose said. "I don't blame you. And I wish you wouldn't blame yourself..."

Yami snorted. "It wasn't Seto's body doing the act."

"It's not the body that matters." Ahmose murmured, holding Yami close. "But the heart."

Yami sighed and nuzzled Ahmose once more. "You need to go back..."

"Hmm?" Ahmose sighed.

"To the others." Yami said once more. "They need you."

"But so do you." Ahmose said. "And YOU are the one I have sworn to protect."

"Your brother needs you, and I dont think there's much left to protect me from. Seto wouldn't kill me..." Yami snorted. "Not when he knows he can get more troops from me."

Ahmose frowned. "My brother has Bakura..."

"But I bet he WANTS you." Yami said softly. "Besides if you leave that's one less person Seto can use against him."

"Why would Seto use us against him? What would he ever WANT from Mikado?" Ahmose asked.

"It's better we never find out why." Yami said shaking his head. "Everything is an option."

Ahmose snorted. "Mikado is an Agent. Not only does he have Bakura protecting him, but the Vatican and all its Agents would help him."

Yami shook his head. "Do what you think is best."

Ahmose sighed, leaning back and frowning, thinking. One hand rested on Yami's knee, however, comfortingly.

Yami nuzzled Ahmose once more. "I know you'll do what's best, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time. That's what makes a chosen so special." he cooed.

Ahmose blinked and looked at him, then smiled. "... Thanks. I love you..." He closed his eyes and leaned his head back. At least until their door was thrown open and a werewolf walked in with two bowls.

Yami looked up and glared at the werewolf. "Ever heard of knocking?"

The beast just growled and stalked over to them. "This is for your human." He snarled, shoving a bowl into Ahmose's hands. "This is for you." And he handed the other bowl to Yami, bowing slightly, before turning, growling at Ahmose, and leaving. Ahmose blinked when the werewolf slammed the door. He looked at Yami.

"What was THAT all about?" He asked.

Yami was blinking as well.

"...I was about to ask you the same thing."

Ahmose blinked down at his bowl. "Oh. Meatloaf. Yummy."

Yami flicked his tail. "ew... meat and loaf dont...really EVER belong in the same word...sentance....near paragraph."

Ahmose chuckled. "I guess..." He pulled his belt knife, sliced off a peice and poked it into his mouth. "... not bad. Why was he so... particular about which one of us got which bowl? They look the same..."

Yami blinked. "Um...I dunno. But...that makes me kinda wary of eating it. Mom pulled a stunt like that once to get me to go to class...and it sucked."

Ahmose blinked. He looked down at his meatloaf, then looked at Yami's. He sliced a peice off of Yami's and poked it into his mouth. "It doesn't TASTE any different." Ahmose said, cocking his head.

Yami shrugged. "You can have mine. I'm certainly not hungry enough to find out if somethin's wrong with someone's food."

Ahmose smiled. "You need to eat." He said.

Yami wrinkled his nose. "What if he SPIT in my food?" he pouted and made a face.

"What if he spit in mine?" Ahmose asked, eating.

"ew." Yami said making another 'ick' face. "Gross."

Ahmose smiled. "Get over it."

Yami sighed and making a face began eating as well.

"Well, whatever the reason, I know that they didn't POISON the food..." Ahmose mumbled. "I didn't SENSE any..."


Yami sighed. "dont make me think about it."

Ahmose smiled. "I just SAID it was safe." He told Yami.

"Not spit safe." he grunted. "God I hate thinkin about that.."

Ahmose laughed. "Get over it." He said, finishing his meager meal.

Yami finished his shortly after. "Fun."

"At least our stomachs aren't growling." Ahmose said. And Yami's stomach growled. Ahmose raised an eyebrow. "Why do I have a feeling that it's not growling from lack of FOOD?"

"Because you are horny." Yami replied simply and stood. "I'm fine."

Ahmose frowned. "When did you feed last?"

"I'm fine Ahmose." Yami said firmly.

"Yami..." Ahmose said softly. "Have you fed at all since before Seto...?"

"Yes." Yami said calmly. "I'm FINE."

Ahmose stared silently, obviously concerned. "... Okay..." He said reluctantly.

Yami shook his head and snorted, before going to the bed and curling up once more.

Ahmose sighed, looking down and curling up himself on the sofa, staring into the fire again. But within fifteen minutes, the aphrodisiac that had been in Yami's food began taking affect; Seto wasn't about to let his prisoner starve himself...

Yami glared at the wall however, and stubbornly refused to indulge those feelings. He couldn't...Ahmose had been through enough, and gods be damned if HE even remotely wanted to have sex.

But the affects just got stronger and stronger, and eventually, Ahmose began to feel a bit hot under the collar, courtesy of his bite of Yami's food.

Yami held his ground (or more appropriately, his curled up place on the bed.) and focused on anything but sex. Screw that!

Ahmose groaned, uncurling and stretching out on the sofa, too hot to stay curled up any longer. "... I'm bored."

"Sucks to be you." Yami replied after a moment. "Watch something in the fire."

"... I don't want to..." Ahmose said in a small voice. "It tends to show me... bad things..."

"Then ask it to show you something nice."

"I can't." Ahmose said. "I can't control what it shows me." He stood and walked over to the bed, flopping down and staring at Yami.

After a few moments Yami snorted. "What?"

Ahmose smiled. "Nuthin." He mumbled.

"Liar." Yami grumbled pulling his pillow over his head.

"What, so I'm not allowed to stare at you?" Ahmose asked.

"Staring's rude." Came the muffled reply.

Ahmose blinked, then sighed and rolled onto his back, staring up at the cieling, sadly.

The stronger the aphrodesiac got, the grumpier Yami got. One thing Seto never considered...Yami was a stubborn jackass. A PROUD-to-be stubborn jackass.

Ahmose on the other hand was flushed and starting to squirm a bit. He grumbled and flopped around, trying to get comfortable and relaxed.

The squirming only caused Yami to grumble and glare into his pillow. "Do you have to squirm around like that?"

"I can't help it!!!!" Ahmose whined. "I'm hot!!!"

Yami growled. "Then go outside and get some air."

"We're locked in, remember?" Ahmose mumbled. "... Yami...?" He rolled over to face the demon. "... Do... do you... really want me to go?"

"To take care of the others? Yes." He grumbled after a moment. "You're too good for things like this place.”

"So are you..." Ahmose mumbled. "... Are you trying to avoid me?"

"No."

“Yami... please..." Ahmose scooted closer.

Yami's tail lashed a bit. "Please what?"

"Don't push me away..." Ahmose said softly, reaching out to the demon.

Yami grumbled softly. "I'm not."

"I feel like you are..." Ahmose whispered. "Is it because of what Seto did to you?"

Yami growled loudly.

Ahmose blinked and scooted closer. "Is it? Is that why you won’t let me get close to you...?"

"I wont let you get close to me because you're horny and I'm not in the mood." Yami snorted.

"You act like I would try to take advantage of you, or even force you..." Ahmose mumbled, sounding hurt. "Don't you trust me?"

"I trust you fine, I'm just not in the mood." Yami said calmly.

Ahmose sighed. "... Okay... if you say so..." He mumbled softly, rolling over and staring at the wall...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Ryou and Marik were exhausted when they arrived at the Vatican. They headed into the stable and to an empty stall, and collapsed in the warm hay.

Ryou sighed and nuzzled into Marik contently. 'night Marik...'

Marik yawned and snuggled into Ryou's side, under his wing. Then, a horse trotted into the stable and a woman got off.

"Ishizu, good to see you." The Ranger said. "How was your mission?"

Ishizu smiled. "I'm good. The mission was a complete success. Have I missed much?"

"... oh, have you ever... Mikado again, figures, huh?" The Ranger chuckled, leading her horse away, passing Ryou and Marik, glancing in at them again.

Ishizu followed and blinked. "Oh my... when did we get a little peryton?"

The Ranger sighed. "That isn't a real peryton. It's the half elf priest, Ryou."

Ishizu blinked and raised an eyebrow. "How do you know?"

"Because. The werewolf can understand him. Apparently Mikado's brother did it. Something about Seto, and lives hanging in the balance." And that's when it hit Ishizu. That day before she went out on her mission, Ahmose came barrelling around the corner and crashed into her, saying 'You'll work... To break the spell you must kiss his nose.' And then he had run off.

Ishizu blinked. "I see...." She entered the stall and gently shook both creatures awake. "Hey... good news." she cooed softly.

Marik blinked and looked up, and perked. He was obviously thinking one thing... HOT!!!

Ishizu smiled. "I can change your little friend back to normal." She said softly.

Marik blinked, then perked, tail wagging, and he barked, tugging Ryou's ear.

Ryou snorted softly, flicking his other ear. 'Marik...I'm tired...' he whined. 'stop thaaaat'

Marik kept tugging, making excited little noises.

Ryou finally sat up looking dazed and giving Marik a tired look.

Marik looked at Ishizu and changed to his halfway form. "Can you really fix him?!"

Ishizu nodded. "When that sorcerer was here, we bumped in the hallway, and he told me how to break the spell....but I left on a mission that night." she said calmly. "So I had no idea what it meant."

"Fix him, fix him!!!" Marik exclaimed.

She laughed. "Calm down calm down, lets get you two inside first." she said standing. "I'm sure he'll want a bath right away."

'no kidding...' Ryou grumbled yawning.

Marik leapt up and bound out of the stall and towards the Vatican, tail swinging around wildly.

Ryou stood and trotted quickly after. 'Marik wait up!' he called, limping slightly. 'My leg's asleep cause you were sitting on it!' he whined, but it was easy to tell he was happy.

Ishizu followed the pair to the bathroom, and Marik was soon frolicking around the tub, but not touching the water other than to paw at it playfully.

Ryou trotted in and when Marik wasn't paying attention, rammed him lightly, tossing the poor wolf in the water. 'stinky wolf.'

"YIPE!!!" Marik yelped, paddling around in the water howling and whining.

Ryou was making laughing noises as Ishizu came in with some towels for both of them. "Play nice." She said before stooping to kiss Ryou on the nose.

Ryou was all too glad that he'd been close to the water and hopped in before 'anything' was visable.

By the time Marik was finished throwing his fit, Ryou was no longer a peryton.

Ryou sighed happily. "Thank you." he said turning to look at Ishizu. "Being a peryton was dreadful!"

Ishizu nodded. "It's no problem...I'll leave you two to your bath." She giggled softly, before standing and leaving.

Ryou gave Marik a bright grin. "C'mon stop pouting and I'll clean you up."

Marik tackled Ryou, both plunging into the deeper water.

Ryou hugged Marik before forcing them back to the surface. "Marik calm down!" he giggled. "It's just me!"

"Yeah! It's you!!!" The now human Marik exclaimed, his tail still wagging like crazy. He kissed Ryou.

Ryou kissed him back gleefully and nuzzled him. "I love you."

"I love you too..." Marik sighed, cuddling Ryou.

Ryou smiled and picked up the soap, beginning to wash Marik. "It's good to be normal again... I don’t like being an animal."

Marik chuckled. "I don't mind it. But then again, I'm an animal half of the time anyway,"

Ryou wrinkled his nose cutely. "Ick."

"You're the one who thinks I'm cute as a wolf and likes to carry me around." Marik laughed.

"I don’t carry you when you stink!" Ryou said dunking Marik to rinse the soap.

Marik whined. "Ryouuuu...."

Ryou snorted softly. "Don’t you whine at me! You know you need baths."

"Awwwwwww..." Marik pouted, shaking out his hair.

Ryou smiled once Marik was clean to satisfactory, then began bathing himself.

Marik of course hauled himself out of the tub and began drying off, pulling on a robe. "Come on, Ryou! Let's go fuck!!!"

Ryou gave Marik a look. "I don’t think so." he said giggling. "I'm still VERY tired!"

Marik's ears drooped. "Awwwwww...." He whined, pouting.

Ryou grinned. "Maybe tomorrow morning?" he offered blushing. Once he was out of the tub and dried off, he and Marik finally returned to their 'bedroom' and Ryou eagerly curled up next to the warm body of his werewolf lover.

Marik held Ryou close, nuzzling his face into his damp hair. "Ryou? What do you want to do now? Go home... or find our friends?"

Ryou sighed softly. "Marik...truly...I just want to go home." he said shaking his head. "I hate being involved in this mess...but I know that our friends mean a lot to you..."

"Don't they mean something to you?" Marik asked.

"Of course they do." Ryou said after a moment. "But...I dont belong in this ordeal...I belong home, in my church far away from this mess."

“Ryou… be that as it may, you ARE caught up in this. Are you saying that you are going to just go back to your church and pretend that your friends don’t exist anymore?” Marik asked.

Ryou sighed. "I would love very much to just go home..." he mumbled. "But you wouldn't be happy...and you wouldn't come too...so...I will stay. Even though I hate this horrible mess, I'd follow you to the ends of the earth."

Marik smiled. "I just want to help our friends. and besides Ryou... Seto must be stopped. And what's to stop him from hunting you down when he finds out you're alive and human again? This is a fight we were dragged into unintentionally, but we're very much a part of it now. We have to see it through, Ryou. I think we are MEANT to." and he gripped the silver crucifix around his neck. "We are MEANT to see this through."

Ryou gave Marik a look. "Do not even start that. That's completly untrue." he snorted but smiled. "Lets just stick with helping our friends."

Marik smiled and hugged Ryou. "They need us." He said softly. "First things first... we need to find Malik." He said with a sigh, not sure how Ryou would react. "I'm sure he's had time to calm down and mellow out by now."

Ryou made a face. "You can do that right? I'd as soon not see HIM."

"But Ryouuuu..." Marik whined, sadly. "Please... It... this is tearing me apart..."

Ryou sighed and shook his head. "Marik...he doesn't want to be my friend any more than I want to be his."

"I'm not ASKING you to be friends! I'm asking you to TOLERATE each other and have a mutual respect for the fact that you BOTH mean alot to me and that it's unfair for you two to do this to me! I KNOW he's the instigator half of the time, Ryou, but YOU attacked him the day he left, remember? Just because he said something rude, YOU attacked him!!! You BOTH have to try!!!"

Ryou grumbled. "I said I'd try to tolerate him. But Marik..." Ryou sighed. "Oil and water don't mix."

"But they can still sit in a glass together." Marik said. "Please come with me?"

"Do I HAVE to?" Ryou whined. "I dont wanna go to a city of ELVES."

"Please?" Marik asked. "You may be surprised."

Ryou sighed. "Fine...but you owe me. " he grumbled pouting.

Marik smiled. "Deal. I think you'll actually like it. ESPECIALLY the food!!! Even I have no problem eating the fruits and veggies the ELVES grow! BEST I've EVER had! You'll just DIE for them!"

Ryou gave Marik a look. "The more you talk about them, the sicker I get. Lets not talk about them." he grumbled and rolled away from Marik and grumbled.

"I'm not talking about the elves, I'm talking about their produce!" Marik laughed.

"Even their produce makes me sick." Ryou said pulling his pillow over his head.

Marik rolled his eyes. "Good grief..."

The next day, Ryou tried his darndest to hide from Marik and NOT go to the village. He hated the very idea....maybe if he busied himself...

But once Marik put his nose to the floor, it was only ten minutes before he had tackled Ryou, licking his face, tail wagging eagerly.

Ryou sighed and whined softly. "I dont wanna goooo!"

"Awwww... come onnnn..." Marik whined. "Oh, and Aiden wants to see you!!!"

Ryou made a face. "I dont wanna see him either. This whole thing is completly horrible." he grumbled pushing Marik off. "Why does he want to see me?”

"I dunno. He said it was business between elves and half elves, and not me." Marik said.

Ryou sighed. "I wish the E-word didn't exist." he grumbled before getting up and walking to find Aiden.

It didn't take him long. The half elf still had a bandage over his gouged out eye, and still limped, but he smiled at Ryou and bowed, offering him an envelope, sealed with an insignia in wax. "I need you to take this to the Elder Elves, little brother." He said.

Ryou made a face. "I'll deliver it...but I'm no brother of elves." he said taking it and giving Aiden a look. "And I'd appreciate it if people would accept that." he shook his head. "Is that all you needed?"

Aiden sighed and nodded. "Yes. It is VERY important, Ryou." He said. "The Vatican is getting very concerned... Seto is building an army... the Council decided that the Elves must be given the details as we may need their aid should this come to war. I would have Marik deliver it, but it wouldn't be proper. And... if you are no brother of elves, or half elves, can you not at least be a brother to another half human?" He asked with a hopeful smile.

"Perhaps brother to the undamned side of you." Ryou said softly before turning. "For the human part of you only."

Aiden sighed and watched Ryou go, then turned and limped away on his own business.

"Ready?" Marik asked, offering Ryou his cloak and staff.

Ryou sighed and nodded. "I suppose so."

Marik led Ryou out to the stable, where a Ranger was waiting, along with two scouts.

"Hello Ryou." Said one of the scouts. "We wanted you to be here when we released her." He said, and a third Scout emerged from the stable with the pegasus and her colt.

Ryou blinked and grinned broadly. "Ohhh wonderful!" he said clapping eagerly. "I was hoping I'd get to see it."

The Scout smiled and removed the mare’s halter. She snorted and looked around, tossing her head.

"Go on, girl! Away you go!" The Scout called, and slapped her on the rump. She squealed and darted across the courtyard, opening her wings and taking flight, her little colt frantically following, as if afraid of being left behind.

Ryou giggled and waved to the Pegasus and her colt. "Goodbye!" he called eagerly. "Come back and visit!"

"Thank you so much for healing her, Ryou." The Scout said. "You have such a wonderful gift."

Ryou smiled. "It wasn't a problem...she's so pretty."

"I have a horse ready for you, Ryou." The Ranger said, leading the ginger mare over to Ryou. "She liked you so much last time."

Ryou sighed and patted her nose before smiling. "Thank you." he said to the scout, before mounting the mare.

Marik changed to his halfway form, folding his clothes and putting them in a saddle bag. "Well... let's go." He said with a smile, as the young mare sniffed at him, curiously.

Ryou blinked. "Do you know where we're going?"

"Yeah, I think so." Marik said, trotting off. "Let's go!"

Ryou urged the horse forward and calmly followed Marik. "I hope you know where you're going, because we really don’t have the supplies to be getting lost."

Marik laughed. "I can hunt." He said.

Ryou sighed and shook his head. "Alright alright... no overnight jaunts please."

Marik smiled. "what do you mean by that?" He asked with a mischeivous chuckled.

"I mean I dont want to be sleeping out in the cold." Ryou said shaking his head. "Certainly not whatever you were thinking."

Marik laughed. "Awwww..."

Ryou shook his head. "You're terrible..."

Marik laughed again, leading Ryou out of Rome and into the woods...

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When Bakura awoke, he found a pair of eyes staring at him from a face resting on his chest. Mikado blinked, and smiled when he saw his Sire was waking.

Bakura blinked a bit before chuckling and cuddling Mikado. "Awake are we? Not waiting on me TOO long were you?"

Mikado shook his head. "Nope." He said quietly. "I think you deserved to sleep in, since apparently you've been taking care of me for days with hardly any sleep... Lillith told me."

Bakura snorted and kissed Mikado's forehead. "I'm fine Mikado, a little less sleep hardly would kill me." he chuckled.

Mikado sighed and snuggled close. Then came those two words that he was ALWAYS saying...

"I'm hungry..."

Bakura sighed. "Mikado...I think it's time you hunted your own human." he said after a moment. "You're nearly to adult fangs and still can’t hypnotize... you need to practice."

Mikado blinked. "Yeah... I guess so..." He smiled. "If... if Lillith is willing to be my guinea pig, I'm willing to give it another shot."

Bakura chuckled. "Go ask her." he said stretching and yawning. "I'm sure she'd be eager to help."

Mikado smiled. He kissed Bakura, jumped from the bed and trotted out of the room in a house robe. "Lilliiiiiiith!" Bakura heard the boy calling as he went down the stairs.

Lilith was in the kitchen making dinner with the other servants, eagerly chatting away when Mikado arrived.

"Hey Lillith, can I hypnotize you?" Mikado asked, walking in.

The girl blinked before giggling more. "You mean stare into my eyes, and burst out laughing?" she teased.

Mikado gave her a look. "Oh, shut up."

Lilith merely laughed more. "I'm sorry master Mikado, but..." she giggled. "I cant help it. You're so BAD at it!"

"I only tried ONCE!!!" Mikado whined.

Lilith giggled again. "Alright." She said smiling. "Lets go find some seats then." She said washing her hands.

Mikado smiled. "Thanks." He said, and followed her to the study. He sighed. "I have no clue HOW to do this..." He mumbled.

She pulled up a pair of chairs and sat down. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. Lord Bakura did."

"I guess..." Mikado sighed, sitting down across from her and staring at her. "God, this feels ridiculous..."

Lilith smiled calmly. "At least you haven't started laughing yet."

"Don't you get me started." Mikado said with a grin, then got down to business and focused.

Lilith giggled and calmly stared Mikado down, completly unphased.

"I think you're getting it faster than I am." Mikado said with a grin.

She giggled a bit. "I'm more amused by the fact that lord Bakura is trying not to laugh." She said eyes lifting to behind Mikado.

Mikado jumped and turned, eyes wide. "Huh?!"

Bakura snickered. "You're not doing very well at all." he said amused.

"Quit distracting me!!!" Mikado whined.

"I wasn't." Bakura chuckled. "Lillith was."

"Yeah, yeah..." Mikado grumbled. He turned around, looked Lillith in the eyes and stared intensley. "So what, do I stare and it just happens, or is there something else I should be doing?" He asked, the question obviously aimed at Bakura.

Bakura chuckled. "You'll figure it out, or you'll go to bed hungry."

Mikado frowned, still staring at Lillith. "Bakura, come on..." He whined. "There's gotta be some--oh!" He gasped slightly as he felt an... odd sensation in his head, almost as if his consiousness was reaching out to Lillith through his eyes, and for a moment, he thought he felt his consciousness brush up against Lillith's before retreating quickly as a result of his sudden surprise.

Bakura chuckled and pat Mikado's head. "I'm going to get some tea. Do you want some? Or do you think you'll be making some progress tonight?"

"I wanna try that again!" Mikado blurted eagerly. "I felt SOME thing!"

Lilith giggled. "Alright master Mikado... but try not to be too long, I'm getting hungry." She said sweetly.

Mikado nodded. "Okay." He said, and stared at Lillith again. After a bit, he felt that odd sensation again, and after a moment, he was sure that he felt Lillith's mind.

Lilith continued to stare at Mikado, seemingly normal. As perky as ever infact. But surely Mikado was close.

Mikado frowned and pushed a bit further, and his minds infiltrated hers.

Lilith's eyes dulled slightly though her gaze never left his.

Mikado kept staring. "... Lillith?"

"Yes?" she replied calmly.

"... Um... are you hypnotized?" Mikado asked stupidly, obviously not sure what to do now.

Bakura was heard laughing from the kitchen. "What kind of idiot question is that?!" he howled.

Mikado frowned. "Shut up!!!" He wailed.

"Mikado, that was stupid!" Bakura laughed coming in and handing his childe a cup of tea. "If she's hypnotized, then she'll do what you want, without you having to say it."

Mikado blinked. "Um... okay..." He stared at her. ~Stand up.~

She stood immediatly.

Bakura snickered again. ~You dont have to say it to me.~ he teased.

"... Did I? Oh..." Mikado mumbled, flushing. He blinked and looked down at his tea, sipping it.

Bakura kissed Mikado's cheek. "However, it seems you hypnotized her." He cooed proudly. "About time you learned."

Mikado smiled proudly, basking in the approval. But then, Lillith walked out of the room. Mikado blinked after her, confused. A moment later, she walked back in with a sugar bowl, and dumped the whole thing into Mikado's tea cup.

Bakura burst into laughter once more. "But you need to work on control." he said wiping a tear from his eye.

"I thought that the tea was bitter and it needed an assload of sugar or something! That's NOT what I meant!" Mikado wailed, looking at his full teacup, and the mess of tea and sugar in his lap.

Bakura sipped his tea calmly. "You wanted it, you got it."

"I didn't ever think that I wanted her to go and dump a shit load of sugar on me!!!" Mikado whined. Lillith turned and walked out of the room again. "Oh shit! Bakura, how do I make it stop?!" Mikado yelped.

Bakura smirked. "Figure it out."

Mikado whined even louder when Lillith came back into the room with a large steaming pot of water. "NO! That's not what I meant when I thought I was hungry and wanted a bath after eating!!!" He yelped, jumping up and running.

Bakura chuckled and sat back calmly, content to watch Mikado run from his hypnotized 'prey'. He smiled. "Ahh... life is good..."

And moments later Lillith had overturned the pot onto Mikado's head, water, pasta and all.

Bakura shook his head and sipped his tea once more. He closed his eyes. "Life is so good." he chuckled

Fortunately, the hot water Mikado was doused with was a shock enough to snap the hypnosis he held over Lillith, so she snapped out of it and found herself holding a large pot and staring at Mikado, soaking wet and covered with steaming pasta.

Lilith blinked, before starting to giggle. "Goodness...."

Mikado groaned, slowly beginning to pick spaghetti off of his head. Other servants peered into the room and started laughing.

Lilith giggled more. "Well it seems you hypnotized me... but goodness, why would you have me cover you in spaghetti?"

Mikado groaned and looked at Bakura. "I have NO idea. I didn't TELL you to do it!!! I just thought that I needed a bath, and that I was hungry! I guess YOU decided to kill two birds with one stone or something."

Lilith giggled more. "I'll prepare you a bath." She giggled.

"Yeah. You could have done it sooner, rather than dumping everyone's dinner over me." Mikado grumbled.

Bakura snickered. "You willed her to."

"I did NOT!!!" Mikado howled. "Why the HELL would I want to be covered in their DINNER?!"

Bakura smirked. "I don’t know, why WOULD you?"

"I dunno!" Mikado said, still looking very baffled. "I mean, I can understand why she dumped the sugar into my tea but THIS?!"

Bakura merely laughed more. "Go get cleaned up."

Mikado grumbled and stood, turning and heading to the bathing room, leaving a trail of water and pasta all the way.

"One thing is for sure..." Lillith's mother laughed. "When we go into town, Master Bakura... we're going to need to buy more pasta."

Bakura nodded. "Of course."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

XD Mikado never really gets the hang of this, just so ya'll know...