Light Amongst Shadows

Author’s Note – Well, yet another update and this one long overdue. The only highlight in my life right now is that I’ve found a job that I can do from home, which opens a various plethora of opportunities for me. The main focus is getting a NEW computer, this one with warranties, so that I can do my writing and not have to worry about the blue screen of death, lock ups, and losing material I’ve written up to this point. To be honest, this machine was a gods send as it got me online and I’m grateful to have it. Just frustrating not being able to write as I want to.

I’m going to try and keep plugging away at this. It’s a great stress relief and helps get my creative juices going for my “real” projects. I’ve also got a few one shots in the works for YuGiOh and a few other stories that need working on to be posted. Hopefully, I can get things taken care of and posted for your enjoyment.

On a serious note, I do appreciate all of you for your patience and value your tenacity in waiting for each update.

To my best friends, you know who you are, I thank you for everything you’ve given me. It’s because of you that I’m fighting for what my heart wants. In time, thing will get better for all of us. I know it and am praying for it as well. Gods be with you.

Disclaimer – I do not own YuGiOh nor do I make any type of money from it. I just do this for fun! Warnings go out for language.

Chapter Five – Revelations

Only a day or two had passed since the discussion where the two hikaris had talked about Yami, and they had made good on their ideas to try and get the former pharaoh out of the house more. Yugi’s grandfather had been eager to help when he’d heard about their goal, sometimes overriding Yami when he’d commented he’d rather stay in and help the older man around the house and shop.

This time the group gathered together over at Seto’s to play in the game room that the CEO had offered to allow them to use. He was there to supervise the gang but wound up spending more time cuddled with Joey, although he did rise to the occasion to challenge Yami or Yugi to a video game.

Ryou had been surprised that Bakura had agreed to go with him, having expected his yami to turn him down the first time he asked. However, the yami had accepted the invitation on the first offer and when he wasn’t playing games, he was watching the group interact with each other.

Yami didn’t play the video games often, preferring to sit in a comfortable chair and watch as Yugi thoroughly trounced his way through the various games. Occasionally, Mokuba or Joey would drag him out of the chair in order to “teach Yugi a lesson,” namely beat him in whatever game the two had lost to him in. That would generally cause a lot of laughter as Yugi would try to chibi plead his yami into not beating him so his record wouldn’t be broken. Of course, Yami would just give his hikari one of his smiles and remind him that someone had to make sure that the King of Games would remain humble.

That comment generally had everyone laughing, including Seto, who was still trying to reclaim that title. His lover enjoyed teasing him during the attempts, which frustrated and pleased him to no end. It was due to Joey’s influence that losing to Yugi wasn’t as horrible as it used to be.

They stopped for a snack break when Yugi broached a topic that had been on his mind for a while. Since the group had been batting ideas around as to possible things to do in the future, now seemed the right time to bring it up.

“You know what I think? We should really try our hands at the table top RPGs again. A group this size would make it a lot of fun, and I know Ryou-chan would make a great Game Master.”

Chocolate colored eyes stared at Yugi for a moment before a soft voice asked the question that had just sprung to mind.

“Yugi-chan, are you sure?”

With a gentle smile, Yugi answered his boyfriend, knowing how badly Ryou had missed gaming with others. The only reason he’d picked up on that fact was the trip to the bookstore they had made the day before. The white haired hikari had spent considerable time looking at the new editions of a special game and there had been a look of longing on his face that had touched the smaller hikari. He’d resolved then to bring up the idea the next time the group had gotten together.

“I’m positive, Ryou-chan. Outside certain events, it was a lot of fun and I think it’d be something we’d all enjoy.”

There was a bright smile and then Ryou pounced Yugi, knocking him off of the beanbag chair he’d been sitting on and giving him a long kiss. The amethyst eyed teenager wrapped his arms around the one on top of him, kissing him back with a soft happy sound.

The scene didn’t take Bakura and Yami by surprise, but it certainly had shocked the others into a stunned silence.

“Yugi?”

The sound of his name being called pulled both hikaris away from the kiss, and Ryou bit back a laugh at the expressions on the others’ faces. He sat down onto the beanbag chair and pulled Yugi into his lap as his boyfriend answered the question.

“Yes, Tristan?”

“Is there something you need to tell us?”

Yugi giggled and snuggled against Ryou, smiling wider as comforting arms pulled him closer. He loved this type of cuddling, as did Ryou, and the two often stayed like this for long periods of time.

“We started dating a few days ago.”

Téa was the first to react when she heard the news. She gave a happy laugh and hugged both of them excitedly, almost crushing Yugi in the process.

“This is wonderful news! You two are so cute together. I wish you all the joy in the world!”

Her words sparked the flurry of congratulations and teasing, which both took in good stride. It was obvious that their friends were highly pleased they’d gotten together and judging from the happy look on Joey’s face, it seemed that the fact the two had been without a partner had been worrying some of them.

Once that had settled, it was decided the group would attempt another RPG and Ryou agreed to play as the Game Master, as well as work on the figurines and sets that would be needed for the game. He told them that he would contact them once he was ready and had come up with the materials needed for the game. This seemed to excite them, and Seto even agreed to free up some time so that he could participate as well.

Between games, the group discussed the various RPGs that were available, each commenting on something they’d like to try. Ryou nodded as he listened, thinking about the different worlds out there. After a while, he realized that there was one system that might work to pull together all of the group’s favorites into one realm. He mentioned it to Yugi, who promptly offered to go to the bookstore with him once the group broke up to do their own thing.

The group broke up a short while afterwards, each of them having dates planned for that evening. With Yugi going with Ryou to the store and then for their own date, Yami simply thanked Seto for hosting the game time and then started towards the game shop. He was somewhat looking forward to the new book aibou had brought home for him yesterday and didn’t mind a quiet evening at home tonight.

The former pharaoh was somewhat surprised when Bakura fell into step beside him. Garnet eyes looked up into thoughtful mahogany and given the odd silence that had remained between them, Yami had to ask.

“What is it, Bakura?”

Bakura just answered bluntly, not seeing a reason to pussy foot around. He tilted his head at Yami and watched for a reaction as he spoke.

“You’re not acting normal.”

Yami’s response caught him off guard, which was something that seemed to be happening more and more around the pharaoh.

“Whose definition of normal am I supposed to be, Bakura? Yours? Marik’s? The others?”

When the thief couldn’t answer, Yami stopped and looked up at him. The words came tumbling out before he could stop them.

“Did you ever stop to think that maybe the view you and Marik have of me is wrong? That I’m not the arrogant jackass you seem to think I am. I wasn’t the one who put you two through the pain and suffering you’ve gone through. Ra, if I had my way, it wouldn’t have happened at all.”

He took a deep breath and continued, unsure why he was allowing himself to say so much. Yami had been under so much emotional strain and his heart simply needed the release.

“I didn’t ask to be born who I was. I didn’t ask to have all that shit happen, but it did. I can’t change it. I’m tired of being blamed for things that were out of my control. I’m sick and tired of being cursed for the sins of my bloodline. I’m not that bastard. I never was; I never wanted to be. So you two find someone else to blame and cut me some fucking slack, okay? I’ve had it!”

It wasn’t the words that hit Bakura hard, it was the unguarded emotion within the garnet colored eyes he’d been watching. Pain, ancient and soul consuming, could be seen and it took his breath away.

He watched as Yami walked away from him, body almost in a defensive posture for a moment before habit forced him into the proper carriage that one expected from a monarch.

“Just who the hell are you?”

The question rang into the empty street and the wind blew his words away, not providing any answers to the ever growing conundrum that was the yami of the Millennium Puzzle. Bakura was growing more and more obsessed with finding out the truth, and he made his way home to plot to see what more he could learn.

Unknowing of the plotting going on, Yami headed home, mentally chastising himself for his lack of control. He’d spent years perfecting the ability to hide the inner chaos and to lose it that suddenly was something that troubled him.

He’d been doing so well up until now. Today had been a relatively good day. Seeing his aibou so happy and being able to have fun with the others had been a bright spot to him, temporarily chasing away his troubled thoughts, and Yami hadn’t thought he’d be so close to blowing up.

Then again, this was Bakura and nothing was for certain when the two of them were around each other. Volatile was one word Yugi had used before to describe the two of them together and looking back at the encounter, the former pharaoh had to agree.

One thing was for certain, he would have to be more careful in the future.


Author’s End Note – Looking at this chapter, I’m not pleased at all but I’m out of the swing of things and need something to help nudge the plot along. Hopefully, this chapter will get the muses going and the next few will be better. Please review, leave your suggestions and helpful comments. They mean more to me than you’ll know. See you all later!