Within the Shadows

Within the Shadows
Part 4
Author: Shamise
Editor: Tavi *glomps* Thanks a bunch!

~(*)~

"Hey Ryou." Yuugi greeted as he entered the Archive. The white-haired teen snapped to attention at his greeting, surprise jumping onto his features. Yuugi smiled tiredly and waved, adjusting the lightweight bag against his shoulders. It wasn't heavy, but he hadn't gotten much sleep last night so even the few scrolls he had in there made for a difficult burden.

"Yuugi!" Ryou's face brightened as he recognized him. Dimly, Yuugi wondered why the other was so surprised. The way he was acting it was as if he hadn't expected to ever see him again. "How are you?"

"I'm…tired." Yuugi admitted sheepishly as Ryou bustled about the room. He wandered forward to set his backpack on one of the many tables, and gestured to the contents. "Mr. Hawkins asked if I could return these today, so I thought I'd swing by to say 'hi' while I was here."

Ryou caught his admission of fatigue, and worry settled over his face. He paused in his work to look at Yuugi, taking in the bags under his eyes and the pale color of his skin. "What happened to you?" he asked, setting down the books in his hands to approach Yuugi.

Yuugi tried to smile, but it only came out as a halfhearted grimace. "I didn't get much sleep last night." He leaned up against a table, resting his weight on one foot as Ryou continued to scrutinize him. Yuugi realized at that moment that he may be able to fool his grandpa, but Ryou would never fall for his excuses. For the next several seconds, Yuugi feared Ryou was going to pry, and, honestly, he still hadn't quite come to grips with what had happened yet.

"…Is there anything that I can do to help?" Yuugi blinked in surprise at Ryou's words. Ryou looked at him with concern, but there was a sense of understanding there too. Yuugi smiled, at least it looked like Ryou was of kindred spirit; he must have known what it was like to want to keep something secret.

"Thanks, but I'll be alright." Yuugi said for Ryou's assurance as well as his own. As long as he didn't go anywhere by himself or wander around after dark, then he should –would—be fine. "How have you been?"

"Busy." Ryou grinned, snatching another book and taking over to a shelf. "The college returned a bunch of books late last night, so a majority of the scribes — myself included — have been assigned to shelf all these books." They shared a knowing smile. It went without saying that all of the workers who had seniority were shoving this giant task off on the younger recruits who had no say in what was assigned to them. "The others are on a lunch-break right now, so I'm just trying to get something done before they get back and it's my turn to go eat." Another stack of books was shelved as Ryou said this. "I do hope they hurry. I'm starving!"

"Can I help?" Yuugi offered once he finished laughing. He waved off Ryou's initial protests. "Honestly, I don't have anything else to do today. Grandpa is busy with orders, Mr. Hawkins is working on his next lecture, and I really would rather not be around Rebecca by myself." He must have pulled a face at that last bit, because Ryou snickered at him. "Plus, I'm returning these too." Yuugi waved his bag for emphasis.

Ryou paused for a minute, with an expression that both seemed stunned and extremely hopeful. Yuugi tried not to read in between the lines. His first assumption wanted to be that Ryou was either not used to people offering to help, or not offering to hang out either, but he should know better than to assume things. Assuming often made a fool out of people.

After a moment, Ryou's face brightened. "Sure!" he agreed. "Which books are you returning? Might as well get those done first." Yuugi reached into his bag to take out the borrowed books. He didn't recognize any of them, but Ryou nodded as he read off the titles. "Ah, and you said that Professor Hawkins had these checked out? I bet he used these as references for his recent lecture on Cin'koo culture."

"Cin'koo?" Yuugi asked curiously. He handed the books over to Ryou when he gestured for them, and followed the teen as he went to put them up. "Is that a tribe?"

"Yup." Ryou's eyes glittered with unabashed interest. "They live in the south, by the Bekle — black-stone — Mountains."

"Oh! They're the tribe that does all that obsidian work, right?"

Ryou nodded his head, excitement shining in his eyes. "I wonder if Professor Hawkins found something new about their culture. I've always been fascinated of his original analysis of the Tyon tribe. Their social structure is so intense!" Yuugi suppressed a laugh as Ryou ranted about the 'intensity' of the Tyon tribe. Personally, all Yuugi remembered about the time Mr. Hawkins was off researching was that Rebecca had to stay with them. It was an…enlightening experience. Yuugi now knew how to install a lock system within seconds.

"You know what, Ryou?" Yuugi started after they had put up Mr. Hawkins's borrowed books and started on the giant workload left by the other scribes. "You should come have dinner with us sometime." He smiled at the teen. "Mr. Hawkins loves to talk about his research, and Rebecca lives to impress people with her cooking."

Ryou was silent for a few minutes before he said anything. "I…wouldn't want to be a burden."

"A burden? Are you crazy?" Yuugi questioned. He reached out to lay a hand on the teen's shoulder. "Honestly, Mr. Hawkins loves like-minded people as much as he loves the cultures he talks about. You wouldn't be a burden at all!"

"Really?" Ryou's face brightened considerably. "I would love to then!" His excitement on the prospect of conversing with one of his most favorite researchers overlaid what could only have been nervousness and astonishment. Yuugi smiled.

They chatted amiably about random things, like favorite games and childhoods, for a while. The stack of books was slowly getting smaller, and despite the fact that it would take much longer to finish all of it, Ryou seemed pleased at the progress. Yuugi learned that Ryou was now an only child, but had had a sister up until a few years ago. His father traveled for work as a distinguished researcher, often not being home for months on end. He didn’t mention his mother. Ryou had moved here not only to expand upon his book knowledge, but also so that he wasn't home alone all the time. Ryou had learned that Yuugi was following in his grandfather’s footsteps to be a carpenter, and—if he did say so himself—did rather well with small detailed things like figurines and the like.

"Hey squirt!" the two teens jumped at the sudden, gravely voice that echoed into the library. "What're you still doing here? I'd figured you'd be out eating lunch by now!"

"Mr. Leinfelt!" Ryou scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was just waiting until the other scribes got back." Yuugi suppressed a snicker as the old man glared at them.

"Come on, boy! You know as well as I do that those tender-footed pansies won't be back until it's near time to closin'!" The old man bustled forward quickly, much faster than Yuugi had thought a man his age could move, and swatted at them with the scroll in his hand. "Go on! Git! And I don't want to see you back for at least another hour!"

"B-but what about the books?" Ryou stammered as he tried to avoid the old man's scroll of doom. Yuugi could hold his laughter no longer and burst out into snickers. He was rewarded with a swat to his side.

"Don't you 'what about the books' me! Leave it to the scribes! They're the main ones assigned with sortin' 'em!" The old man landed a few more blows. "Now git!"

Laughing, the two were chased out of the library. They slowed down to breath once they exited the library room, and walked at an easy pace the rest of the way out. "So where would you like to go eat?" Yuugi asked as they exited the Archive.

Ryou tapped his chin with his finger as he thought. "Umm, I've heard some of the other scribes talk about this one tavern that has really good food for a decent price. I remember them describing how to get there too."

"Let's go there then," Yuugi had made sure to grab some coins before he had left the house. Actually, his grandpa had all but forced him to take them, saying something like 'you never know what could happen!' before rushing off to do his own chores.

They bustled along the road, chatting about random things as Ryou led the way. Yuugi's heart constricted as he began to recognize the streets. This looked awfully familiar too…

--Yuugi smiled as he strolled lazily along the road. The crowd from earlier had reduced greatly, and he was thankful for the breathing space. Torches and the occasional gas lamp began to glow at the doors of taverns, creating patches of light where weary travelers gathered. Yuugi skirted around the bars, careful not to attract the attention of the drunken bums sprawled out on the curb.--

"Yuugi? Are you alright?" Yuugi waved off Ryou's concern with an attempted smile. It must have turned out more of a grimace, because the other looked skeptical. He really did not need to relive what happened last night, especially not now. His limbs began to tremble as more images pushed against his mind.

--Tears leaked from his eyes and the brute grabbed a fistful of his hair. No one was here, the only people on the streets were other drunkards, and it was too early for people to be leaving the taverns. He was going to get mauled in town and no one would know!--

"Hey!"

--Oh no, not him! Yuugi felt his heart struggle futilely to keep beating. He recognized those robes and that hair. Its pattern and style were ingrained in his mind.--

"Yuugi!" A sudden smack against his head broke him out of his memories. "Snap out of it!" Blinking stupidly, Yuugi focused on Ryou's face.

"R-Ryou?"

"Come on." Ryou said after a few moments of silence. "Let's get inside." Yuugi allowed Ryou to steer him inside. He tried to focus on the teen's voice as he asked the maid for a table and some water. The words were jumbled in his ears.

"Sit." Ryou ordered softly, guiding Yuugi to one of the chairs. Graciously, Yuugi sat down. The waitress gave them two mugs of water, and said she'd come back in a moment to take their orders. "Okay, now spill."

Stunned, Yuugi just starred at Ryou. He should have known better, that the teen wouldn't turn a blind eye for very long. Ryou raised an eyebrow at him. Silence reigned as Yuugi slowly considered his options. He could not tell Ryou, which would most likely hamper the budding friendship between them; he could leave out…certain parts, but Ryou would most likely notice and then the friendship would be wounded anyway; or he could take a leap of faith and actually tell Ryou what has happened to him.

And as much as he really, truly wasn't up to admitting it out loud, that last option had a lot of appeal. He'd never had someone he considered a true friend before, someone to whom he could lay out his troubles to, and expect the same in return. A relationship built from equality. Did he dare hope? Could Ryou honestly understand and not think him a freak if he were to tell the truth?

Ryou's sigh startled him out of his thoughts. "You know…you don't have to tell me." He whispered, lifting up his glass as he did so. "I want to help, but I can't you don't tell me what's going on."

"I…" Yuugi whispered, trying vainly to gather his thoughts. Would it really be so bad to tell Ryou? "I haven't even been able to make any sense of it yet...it just...I..." He sighed forlornly, and the white-haired teen reached out to touch his hand. Yuugi gave a halfhearted smile at the touch.

"Look, I won't say anything to anyone, whatever secret you're keeping. But you can't keep it bottled up like that. You look like crap – beg your pardon, but its true. You don't look like you've slept a wink since I've last seen you, and you jump whenever someone glances in your direction. This can't be healthy." The white-haired teen sighed deeply. "I know we haven't known each other all that long, but whatever it is that's bugging you, even if you don't tell me, tell someone. Okay?"

Yuugi swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat at the other's kind words. His gaze cast toward the ground and he opened his mouth. "Please...I..." And then he leaned forward, glancing around the room guiltily. "I swear I'm being followed...something..." Yuugi made a motion with his hand when it looked as though Ryou was about to interrupt, knowing if he stopped now he would never get the thoughts out of his head. "I see him everywhere...I don't know...when I first came into town, on my travel here, I was kidnapped by…someone. He…did something, but it's terrifying 'cause I can't remember what he did. I was gone for three days, and no one knows what happened!" he took a deep breath, forcing his hysterical emotions from swelling up. "I was…caught by a drunkard the other night, and I thought I was gonna get beat, or worse. But he came out of nowhere! ...And then he attacked that man. I think he may have been trying to protect me, but…I was so scared. I’m so confused!" Yuugi paused in his frustration, trying to recall if he had forgotten anything important. "I don't really remember all that much about it, other than I see him everywhere. I think he…drugged me, both times. But I have no idea how. I don't know what to do...if he's after me...I don't know..."

Ryou sat back in his chair, chewing on his lip thoughtfully. He had remained quiet throughout his friend's weird tale, but now there were so many questions that wanted to spring forth. One look at Yuugi's face, however, made him reconsider. That, and the waitress had come back to take their orders.

"What can I get you boys?" Yuugi jumped at the 'sudden' approach of the waitress. He stared blankly for a moment, having completely forgotten that he had been in the tavern. Ryou, thankfully, came to his aid.

"Biscuits and gravy for me." The waitress turned to look at Yuugi for his order, to which he responded that he would have the beef stew. He needed something wholesome. She walked off, saying that their orders would be there soon. Yuugi watched her retreat as he refocused his thoughts. What would Ryou say now? He had still left out the…kissing part of his tale, but Ryou didn't need to know that, right?

"Do you remember what he was wearing?" Ryou's question caught him unaware, and he blushed in shame at the sudden thought that popped into his head. 'Nothing' was hardly an answer that would help his situation any.

"Oh! I-uh, he…" Yuugi slapped a hand over his face; fiercely wishing away the blush he knew was there. Where on earth had that thought come from? "Robes, of some kind." He managed to sputter out. Ignoring Ryou's 'look,' Yuugi continued. "Kind of like what some tribes wear, but I didn't recognize the style. I was…preoccupied." Yuugi hid his face in his hand. His mind was going in horrible directions. They did not have sex!

Ryou's face lit up at the word 'tribe.' Yuugi, too busy trying to murder his treacherous thoughts, did not think much further into it other than to realize that Ryou was a culture fanatic like Mr. Hawkins. Stop that! He mentally screeched at the images in his head.

"Robed tribesman? That could be several of the tribes that live nearby." Ryou was saying. "Were there any unique things he wore?" Yuugi used Ryou's question to steer away from the direction his mind had previously…been in.

"Umm, there was quite a bit of jewelry." He offered hesitantly. "I don't remember what it was made of, but he did wear a lot of it."

Ryou tilted his head in thought. "That takes out at least two of the tribes nearby. The Kin and the Solec only use their jewelry for women, and just the really important ones." He twirled a strand of hair around his finger, shifting through all the known tribes in the area. Could be a Tyon, I guess. They wear a lot of jewelry, but then again, they wouldn't just randomly kidnap someone. It's against their honor code."

"Are they territorial?" Yuugi asked. "I remember the guy fighting…someone that first night, I think." Yuugi pressed his palm against his eyelids. "It's kind of…fuzzy."

"I don't think so. They were the first tribe to establish trading rights with us, so there would have been a lot of problems if they were territorial." Ryou paused as another thought swept by. "Could it have been a fake?" At Yuugi's confused look, he continued. "You know, like maybe a thief or bandit that impersonates some tribe to throw the authorities off their trail?"

"No." Yuugi answer was confident. "He moved differently; it was…I don’t even know how to describe it, but I’ve never seen someone move like that. He had a solid stance, but he was extremely quick on his feet and agile."

They lapsed into thoughtful silence. Yuugi tried to remember something that might be helpful in identifying the…stranger, and Ryou tried to make connections with what Yuugi had said so far. Eventually, the waitress came back to their table with their food.

Ryou and Yuugi both paid the woman for their meal, thanking her for the fast delivery. She smiled smugly, reaching out and ruffling Yuugi's hair. "Why, thank you. Let me know if you boys need anything else." Yuugi pouted, fussily trying to reorganize his wild hair. Ryou and the woman shared a laugh at his expense. "I'll be right back with your drinks."

They set aside the topic as they began eating, talking more about what they liked to do and where their favorite place was. Ryou talked about his hometown of Grinsaw. It was a big town, and very diverse in it's culture. Many different tribes congregate there to trade goods and news. His father, as a researcher, found the diversity appealing but eventually had to wander to find more 'data' for his work. Ryou embarrassedly admitted that he wasn't even sure what his father was researching. He received an occasional letter when his father changed destinations, but long-distance messengers were expensive, so he didn’t get them very often and they never held anything more than the obligatory “I hope you’re doing well in your studies” and “I’ll be home soon, don’t worry.”

"Wenta is…small." Yuugi offered when Ryou asked about his hometown. "It's at least half the size of Keltin, I think. I have never asked what the exact comparison is." He shrugged. "Like all small towns, you can't get away with anything, and everybody plus their second cousin’s nephew knows who you are and where you live. The people are nice, despite the rumors that circulate every now and then. Grandpa moved there a long time ago, back when I wasn't even born yet, but he mostly just used it as a home base. He was a traveler when he was younger." The waitress came back up with their water, breaking the conversation momentarily.

"What did he do?" Ryou asked, taking a refreshing swig from the mug. "Was he a researcher like my dad?"

Yuugi laughed. "I think he did a little bit of everything. Grandpa was real big on new experiences, so sometimes he would just up and wander off to do something, most of the time it was dangerous. The villagers called him a 'gambler of his own life.' Always got the biggest kick out of it, too." Yuugi took a bit of his biscuits, savoring the gravy as it slid down his throat. "He liked ruins best." The return of the waitress broke the conversation momentarily, and, much to Yuugi’s indignation, she messed with his hair once again before sauntering off. Ryou snickered as he mumbled something about ‘irritating people.’

“So, how did you end up living with your grandpa? If you don’t mind me asking….”

“Not at all.” Yuugi took a sip of his water. “You remember how I told you that my parents were dead?” Ryou nodded.” Well, Grandpa had just come back from another exploration to find my father—his son—standing on his doorstep with me in his arms. Apparently, my mother had died of a sickness about a year after my birth, and my father couldn’t handle the grief—something about how much I reminded him of her. At first, Grandpa didn’t want my father to just drop me off ‘cause he couldn’t handle it; told him that things would work out better if he tried to work through it, and he even offered to let him move back in.” Yuugi shrugged. “I don’t know what exactly was said, but Grandpa told me that my father had ended up committing suicide after he had convinced him to take care of me.”

Ryou was quiet for a little while, and Yuugi suppressed the desire to ask about his family. The subject was most likely a sore one, and Yuugi knew it was better to have Ryou mention it when he felt comfortable instead of pressing. He knew that Ryou’s father traveled a lot, and he didn’t remember if Ryou mentioned anything about his mother….He probably didn’t, but Yuugi’s short-term memory was a little off today.

Eventually, the conversation shifted elsewhere to current hobbies and their philosophies of life. Well, actually, they didn’t really talk about philosophy, but they did exchange strategies on how to impress the ladies, and they debated about if the waitress would ever see Yuugi as anything other than a cute kid. That counted, didn’t it?

~(*)~

"See you tomorrow, Ryou!" Yuugi waved goodbye to his friends as they parted ways. Ryou also waved and walked in the direction of the Archive. The sun was beginning its afternoon decent, and they both still had work to do before the day progressed too far.

Quietly, Yuugi turned and made his way to the Hawkins's house. His grandpa, most likely, would be wondering where he was, and due to…what happened yesterday, he would be more on edge. Of course, his grandpa had plenty of reasons to be concerned.

The sun was still bright and high overhead, yet Yuugi found himself jumping at the few shadows that crept under windows and doors. The crowds weren't as thick as the previous day, but the amount of people should have calmed his nerves. Instead, it made him more nervous. Every time someone glanced at him or even walked past him, the stranger's image would suddenly film over them.

‘Calm down,’ Yuugi scolded himself. He should be safe in the daylight. The crowd would notice anybody who wore such a different style of clothes instantly. There was a safety in numbers.

After what seemed like an eternity, the Hawkins's house finally came into view. He breathed a sigh of relief as he broke through the crowd. Finally, he could relax.

He half-expected for the stranger to snatch him right before he reached the door. Thankfully, his paranoia proved irrelevant, and he walked through the doorframe unhindered.

He took a moment to collect himself, leaning against the closed door. Smiling, Yuugi laughed at his previous thoughts about the stranger. There was nothing to be afraid of. Seeing the stranger twice was just a coincidence, nothing more.

Yuugi propelled himself off of the door, intent on getting up to his room before his grandpa could find him. Guilt bubbled at his insides for avoiding the old man, but, in all honesty, he was not ready to answer any questions he knew his grandpa would as if he was given the chance. He could understand his grandpa's concern — Yuugi was his only living relative — but that didn't make Yuugi want to seek him out and tell him everything.

He had to sneak past the living room, where Rebecca was reading one of her novels again. It must have been a new one, for she didn't even twitch as he snuck past. Whispers could be heard from the kitchen as he approached it.

"-don't understand, Arthur." ‘Grandpa,’ Yuugi realized with a pang. He would have to be extra careful in order to get past him. His grandpa had the ears of a cat. "He's hiding something from me."

Yuugi bit back a gasp. They were talking about him! His heart raced as he strained his ears. Mr. Hawkins was speaking now.

"Don't you remember being that age, Solomon?" Arthur whispered back. "If something went wrong, would you have told your parents?"

"Of course I-!" Yuugi's grandpa cut off suddenly, and he could just imagine the look Mr. Hawkins was sporting. "This is completely different."

"No, it's not." Arthur reinforced. "Try to think of it this way. Maybe he's embarrassed about what happened, if so, then he would think it better to keep it to himself. Maybe he just doesn't want to worry you needlessly."

"But not telling me worries me even more! He would always tell me what's wrong. Being embarrassed has never stopped him before. What makes this time so much different?!" Grandpa's voice was full of desperate concern, and it made Yuugi flinch with guilt.
Suddenly unable to listen anymore, he dashed past the kitchen and made a beeline for 'his' room. The door (thankfully) closed behind him quietly. Tears began to creep upon him for no reason, and he brushed them away furiously.

Mr. Hawkins was right. He didn't want to worry his grandpa, and he knew what would happen if he told the old man what he suspected to have occurred that day. For one thing, his grandpa would go crazy with worry and stress; and for another…Yuugi felt that if he told anyone about his suspicions, he wouldn't be able to hold this facade of calm any longer.

With a frustrated grunt, Yuugi fell onto his bed. The mattress was softer than his bed back home, but the difference did not help his peace of mind at all. Maybe, once he and his grandpa went back home, all this…stuff would quit happening. Not too many tribes traded with Wenta since the town was rather small. However, he would also be leaving his only friend behind. Sure, he got along with plenty of the boys in Wenta, but he and Ryou just kind of…clicked, something that had never happened between him and the other guys back in Wenta.

Slowly, Yuugi re-opened his eyes. He supposed he and Ryou could trade letters, but that could get expensive after a while. Once Grandpa had finished taking orders and they have gone back home, it would be at least another month before it came time to deliver the products. Yuugi probably had only one more day here in Keltin.

‘I should invite him over.’ Yuugi realized. He hadn't been joking when he told Ryou that Rebecca loved to show off her cooking. Mr. Hawkins would absolutely love to talk to Ryou about his research and lectures, and Ryou's polite and scholarly attitude would definitely be welcome here.

A sudden knock on the door startled Yuugi from his thoughts. He furiously kicked the image of the red-eyed stranger from his mind as he called out for whoever it was to 'come in.' It was probably Rebecca wanting to rant about something in that new novel she was reading.

However, the person who entered the door was neither young nor female.

"G-Grandpa." Yuugi stuttered momentarily, shock forcing a skip into his voice. Mentally, he winced at the look that passed over the old man's face.

After taking one look at his grandson's tear-stained features Solomon rushed into the room and wrapped Yuugi up in a fierce hug. "You've been crying...Yuugi, what's wrong? You've been so quiet lately..." He tilted the teen's face towards his, their eyes locking. "What happened? Please, Yuugi, tell me what's wrong..."

It was the touch that did it, that gentle, unassuming approach that his grandfather had always taken while raising him. Yuugi tried to choke back the torrent of emotions that was ready to wash over his mind, but they washed over him in a tidal flood and he launched himself into the elderly man's arms. "I-I don't...I...don't know...Grandpa...I don't remember...all I remember...is this...guy...I don't know..."

"Oh Yuugi..." Solomon wrapped the crying boy up in his arms, soothing him with gentle touches. "Oh my boy...shh...It'll be okay."

After Yuugi had calmed sufficiently enough to speak Solomon once again implored him to try and remember what had happened during his disappearance. The small teen settled against the headboard of the bed, closing his eyes to collect his thoughts. He hadn't realized how draining it was to try and keep such a secret. His whole body ached with the effort to keep what small bit of assumption and knowledge he had to himself. With one last sniffle he gave in to the elderly man's pleas, words spilling from his mouth before he had a chance to think of what he was saying.

Solomon listened quietly to his tale, horrified comprehension dawning in his eyes as he contemplated the danger that Yuugi had been in the night in question. He never should have given him a delivery that late into the day.

"– I don't really know anything beyond that grandpa...I remember his eyes...that...that he was...a tribesman...from somewhere...I-he...it was like I was drugged...it's all I remember...until I woke up that morning..." Yuugi trailed off, uncertainly as an image formed in his mind.

--Red eyes watched him quietly as their owner ran a gentle hand over his face. He gasped, a strange electric tingle following the path of the hand. The man leaned close, eyes lidded pleasantly as his other hand trailed down his neck to his collarbone. Cooing, the man rubbed his nose against his affectionately, and he sighed in response...--

Yuugi gasped at the unwanted image, shaking his head vigorously. No! That didn't happen, it was just something that his wayward thoughts made up to fill in the lost time. A blush stole across his face, and one look at his grandfather's set features told him that the elderly man had seen it too. "Really grandpa..." He tried to cover up, scrubbing at his face with his hands.

Solomon was rather skeptical of this complete memory loss, but he chose not to comment on it, instead picking up on the one clue they might have about Yuugi's abductor. "You said he was a tribesman, why did you think that?"

Yuugi, grateful to move away from the previous direction of their conversation, snagged onto the question as though it were his lifeline. "His clothes were foreign...even to me, Grandpa. And he moved with a grace that was...I don't know...unnatural....Oh!" Right up until that point Yuugi had forgotten about the blanket that had been left in his possession. He launched himself off the bed and snatched the blanket up to present to his grandfather before even giving himself a chance to think his actions through.

Solomon was examining the intricate patterns by the time that Yuugi began to question whether or not he really wanted to find this stranger. Did he really want to know what had happened over the course of those three days of his missing memory? Yuugi gnawed at his lower lip as he awaited his grandfather's judgment.

Finally Solomon sat back with a disgruntled sigh. "I've never seen this type of craftsmanship before...the material itself is unusual, the patterns even more so." Glancing up to see Yuugi's hesitant expression his eyes softened. "Yuugi, it is your choice, do you want me to give this to Arthur for further study...do you want to know where it came from?"

Yuugi chewed diligently on his lip as he thought over the query. Did he really want to know? Or was he better off not digging too deeply into this strange occurrence? Solomon gently cupped his chin, forcing their eyes to meet. The old man cleared his throat and said, "I'd like to know who it was, and what happened, even if only to be able to put it behind us, but I will understand if you don't want to pursue it."

Yuugi opened his mouth to give a reply, only to be stopped dead by another image.

--He started as a slick finger circled his virgin entrance. The hair on the back of his neck stood at attention and his eyes shot up to lock with amused, lust-filled scarlet. What had he gotten himself...? A tiny squeak was forced from his lips as that slender digit breached his entrance, probing his insides. He squirmed uncomfortably in the other's grasp, not liking the feeling at all. The grip on his waist tightened, the stranger now whispering foreign words into his ears, their sounds soothing away his fears. He closed his eyes to the flood of unusual feelings, unsure of how to react.

"Ah-haa!" Yuugi nearly choked as light flashed beneath his eyelids. What was that?! The man above him, who gave a hearty chuckle, noted his reaction. He opened his mouth to question the stranger, but before he could get a word out the man managed to strike that spot two more times, leaving him gasping for breath and writhing on the sheets. There was a moment where he felt more pressure from below and the intensity of the light, of the pleasure doubled as the stranger began thrusting his fingers inside of him. The heat coiled around him from the inside and Yuugi was caught in its grip, unable to utter more than the very basic of words.--

He choked, willing the image away, and cast his glance toward the floor, unable to meet his grandfather's eyes any longer. Solomon took his silence as confirmation, patting his hand comfortingly. "I'll give this to Arthur for the time being. In the meantime I want you to rest. I've got to replenish our supplies so we'll be here for a while. If you feel up to it why don't you go and meet with that white-haired kid that you've been talking about lately."

Yuugi gave a self-conscious nod, his gaze never leaving the floor.

"I mean it Yuugi, you need to relax for a little while. Go do something to take your mind off of this tomorrow and let Arthur deal with it for a little while." Having said his piece, the elderly man hugged Yuugi tightly, tucking him into bed before shuffling out of the room, the door closing softly behind him to leave Yuugi to his thoughts once again.

‘What should I do?’ Yuugi pleaded with himself. Grandpa, at least, hasn’t over-reacted like he thought he would, but now Mr. Hawkins and Rebecca would know too. He…wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that.

Emotionally spent, Yuugi changed into a simple nightshirt and some undergarments. He tossed back the sheets to his bed, and curled up underneath them. He would think about this tomorrow, when the light chased away the dark shadows that creeping in his vision. The pillow was soft underneath his head, and he breathed in its clean scent. Everything would be okay. Mr. Hawkins was very knowledgeable, and Ryou had promised to help him in his own search. They would figure something out.

Yuugi really hoped they would figure something out.

~(*)~