The Kingdom of Shadow Sun

[Youko]

The Kingdom of Shadow Sun: A Search for Taijitu


Ch. o1: Mortals with Wings

It was already halfway through October. The winds had grown cold and strong, dancing flaming leaves from their organized piles, across Domino High's Front Courtyard. Teens, wrapped tightly in there blue and pink uniforms, shuffled about chatting animatedly. Flirting, dissing, and catching up with old friends. It had been a three day weekend, and this Tuesday promised to be one of new beginnings, new projects, new quarters, and with any luck, new dates and dances. But it meant so much more for Bakura, tagged with the fake family name Yono. He was what one might consider a demon- though far from it. He was a Black Wing, and, surprisingly, the hidden heir to the Kingdom of Night Shadow. Or was, before his father, going by the name Lucifer, decided to make peace with the Sunlight Kingdom. Bakura had no idea what the elder was up to, but he knew it didn't involve peace and unity. Still... if he didn't want to be locked in the chamber of sin avarice, he had to play along. ... At least a little.

For the sake of keeping it out of his face while he stood, leaning against the building, waiting for that bloody White Wing, a pillar against the fierce winds, his long, pure white hair was confined by a wrap of black string. And though this didn't have any effect on his sharp bangs, or the long, thick locks that hung behind his ears, it kept the rest of the snowy strands in a single collection, down the center of his back, almost all the way down to his waist. His sharp, cruel crimson eyes were hidden behind the icy curtain of his bangs, but they missed no movement-- he was well trained in following every motion within his sight range, and then some. It was one of the benefits of living off of mortal blood-- it sharpened the senses, all of them. From sight to touch. But that meant NO ONE touched Bakura, who was well known as the Pride of Lucifer.

His lean frame was sagged, relaxed against the firm surface of the wall, the standard boy's uniform hanging off him loosely, wrinkled and unbuttoned, save for the dress shirt, which was three snaps short of reaching is neck. Decked out in eight left earrings, five right, and a nose ring (though his nostril wasn't really pierced), and any number of chains and dog tags around his neck, shining silver and gold bangles on each wrist, along with a black and white skull wristband on his right wrist, he was an eye-catching beauty beyond measure. His smooth lips were pursed in impatient annoyance, as he scanned for the White Wing, who'd be going by Ryou Takeya, who was supposed to baby-sit him for who knows or cares how long.

Emerald eyes watched the students enter the ground, a small smile playing on his lips. The emotions that filled the place swirling around him as he stood by the front gate in plain sight, though no one could see him quite yet. He loved watching others without being seen, without disturbing whatever happiness that they felt at that moment. This White Wing, Ryou, was completely invisible to anyone who bothered to look his way. He was here to teach a Black Wing how to see the good in everyone and how to love. Honestly, Ryou thought it was a waste of time to try and teach the dark beings anything at all, but it was his job and he would do it anyway. All he wanted was to get this over with so that he could return to the Sunlight Kingdom. With a soft sigh he began walking towards where he was to meet the Black Wing, he remembered that his name was Bakura, hoping that this won’t be as bad as he thought it would be.

Slowly, he began to appear. First, long pure white locks that hung lightly in his eyes and down to the middle of his back, came into view, swaying slightly as he walked. The White Wing didn't bother tying it back this time, seeing no real point in doing so unless he was forced to fight. Those emerald orbs, almost as green as a forest on that Earth, darted around as he searched for Bakura, though he could just feel the annoyance that poured off of the other in the distance. Finally, he was fully visible to all those who looked, not that many actually did. Though he was beautiful, Ryou avoided the attention of humans and Wings alike, even if that was nearly impossible considering he was one of the Creators favorites. Ryou always thought it was unfair to have favorites in the Sunlight Kingdom, though he never said that aloud.

Everything about Ryou screamed perfection, his thin frame straightened as he walked, his uniform pressed and on correctly, the deep blue jacket fastened up to his neck. Ryou smiled slightly upon spotting the Black Wing, slowly he approached. Emerald eyes scanned the other with almost an appraising look before he glanced away for a moment. He wasn't sure what to think quite yet, Ryou will just have to wait and see how this will turn out. The White Wing paused as he stood in front of the other silently, though he made no move to speak to him.

Bakura knew as soon as the White One began appearing, that he didn't like him. The gentle sway of his hair spoke of steady, easy steps, straight and carefully measured. Perfection. He loathed the appraising look this Ryou had given him. He may be a Dark Wing, but he knew his place. Bakura knew well he had no right to judge, not to say he didn't anyway. But this White Wing, who supposedly followed the Creator's whim, was sizing him up, considering how difficult he would be, how much effort should be expended on his task. Only the Creator had right to Judge any creation.

Once it was clear that this Ryou had no intention of speaking immediately, Bakura straightened, as one of the day's stiff breezes blew, causing his ponytail to blow past his side, and wrap around him slightly, proving his hair was not as short as it appeared from the front. He was annoyed with this White One, who dared to fall so close to perfection, who dared to judge, to defy The Ways that were established long before the Millennia War even began. True, most Wings knew them not, especially with the long years of separation, and how rarely the Creator actually spoke directly to his Wings anymore. But shouldn't the White Ones have elders to teach them anyway, as Bakura's father had taught him? Though a scarce three thousand years old, Bakura was wise, especially for a Black Wing, and refused to be fooled by his father's temptations, by the mortal ways, or by the boastful ignorance of these new White Wings, who had now been placed in charge of his own kin.

As he brushed his wind-blown hair back behind him, it was clear his nails were painted, as well. Black polish, thickly coated, but with a layer of glitter polish over it. And at this distance it was clear to see the white choker around his neck, nearly invisible against his deathly pallor, that formed runes in it's thin plastic strands, pressed against the sensitive flesh. Runes that, for at least the front, spelled out "Hope, Despair, Emotion, Void" and what seemed to be "Happiness" as the runs slipped to curve behind his collar. The crimson eyes were monitoring Ryou closely, not appraising, but merely watching...

Within this closer distance, it was clear that annoyance was not his only emotion, merely the prominent one. As Ryou had not had to many occasions to feel a Black Wing outside of combat, it was a new occurrence for their feelings to be more than black and white, a single feeling. Beyond the annoyance, expectation, anticipation, ribbons through every one of them, of anger. There was amusement, defiance, loneliness, and what seemed to be a trace of happiness, something well accepted as impossible for a Black Wing to feel. But before further examination could be devoted, Bakura decided to speak.

"Ryou," he began, "you are very well pieced together. Perfect hair, perfect posture, even your uniform is perfect, correct?" There was no hint of malevolence in him, as he held his bangs back against another breeze. His tone was even, voice smoother than silk, more filling than velvet. He had the voice of an angel, a high-ranking White Wing. Beautiful and easing, strong and gentle. But tainted, if only by so much, by something difficult to identify, perhaps destitution.

The annoyance that he felt came stronger now as Bakura merely watched him, but a few other emotions tangled themselves around the annoyance; amusement, expectation, loneliness, though it all seemed to revolve around anger. Ryou stared silently into the cruel pools of crimson, as if loosing himself in the Black One's emotions. He had never been so close to a Black Wing outside of combat before, it was...strange for him. The White Wing knew right then that Bakura was almost his complete opposite, which was what the Creator had made sure of when he was assigned, when anyone was assigned.

The silence between them was all but comfortable, the tension thick enough to be cut with a butter knife. At Bakura's movements, Ryou attention went to the collar about the other's thin neck, though it didn't stay there long. Emerald once again met crimson, though he wasn't too sure if Bakura was actually looking back or not. This was the person he would be living with for a while, depending on how long it took for him to actually learn, and Ryou wasn't exactly looking forward to it.

The White One started slightly at the sound of the other's voice. He had expected it to be rough and even a bit raspy, but what he heard threw him slightly off guard. He then realized that it was really his first time speaking to a Black Wing, he never bothered before. "You expected otherwise?" he asked, his voice smooth, light, and pure as he spoke "I see that you're trying to stand out, Bakura?" there was no real malice between them, but it was obvious they didn't enjoy each other's company.

Ryou calmly crossed his arms over his chest, his body remaining completely upright, as if there were some unseen force holding him like that, and he waited. Classes wouldn't start for another twenty minutes or so, which meant that they would have to spend this time trying to get to know each other, much to Ryou's distaste.

Bakura's pale lips tilted a bit, pulling into a cynically amused smile as he shook his head ever so slightly. "No, Ryou. No. I need not stand out-- it is much more important that I blend- and I do." Crimson latched onto emerald again, and he paused, though it seemed forcefully. "Besides, my presence will be known no matter how I dress. It is better to equip this mortal form to reflect me, than it is to restrain myself in the binds of perfection, and hence limit my capabilities."

The Dark Wing took a moment's pause. "And speaking of perfection... Then you admit you are it, or else force yourself to mimic it." The cynical smile turned to a dark smirk, a strange combination with his voice so beautiful. "How little you White Ones know of your own creation, how far you have fallen from the Creator's grace, though still you hold yourself most prized of all beings." He held his hair back against the wind, Crimson now betraying dark amusement, annoyance turned to a slim strand of malevolence, the most common emotion of Black Ones, but mostly amusement dominating.

"Perfection is an illusion, built to ensnare fools, and eliminate ignorant Absences like yourself. If you tie yourself to that word, you bind yourself to those expectations; with no expectations, comes limitless options, and hence, limitless possibilities," his voice was light now, he spoke with the purity of believing this to be an ultimate truth, though referred to Ryou by the slang name of White Ones, a grim insult. "I cannot understand how so many of you miss it- Are not the Mortals most beloved by the Creator? Are they not the creatures of highest imperfection, with endless flaws and misgivings...? Mortals are loved not for their image, for only a fool loves a beautiful, a graceful, a /perfect/ image. They are loved for their absolute /imperfection/, and the /True/ free will it gives them. We may have wills of our own, but are we not bound by our expectations..? Or, at least, you are..." The smirk slipped to a smile, and he paused, glancing as a lean framed junior passed. On reflex, he licked his lips, but quickly returned his attention to Ryou.

"I would like to see you be truly perfect. I would like to see you even know what it is. There is no iron, no magic, that can smooth any shirt, and still have it comfortable enough to wear."

Once again, Ryou was caught by surprise, Bakura's words washing over him. He did not once interrupt the other, though emerald eyes narrowed slightly at each insult. Despite how angry it made him, he knew that there was some truth in what the other told him. When was the last time he had been truly angry with another? He didn't know. It almost seemed as if the amusement and annoyance he felt from the Black Wing also fueled that anger.

"I admit nothing," he said, his voice chillingly calm, though still remained soft, almost silky "I never once claimed to be perfect, you just assumed that I was trying to be as such." Ryou's arms uncrossed and fell to his sides, his fists clenched tightly. "What would you, a Dark One, know?" he asked, glaring into crimson fearlessly. "What, other then what the Dark King claims, do you know? Was it not him who began this?" he asked gesturing to himself then to Bakura "It matters not to me who the Creator favors more, I am just here to do my job." The White Wing stated his hands finally unclenching, angry half moon marks burning into his flesh slightly.

"Right now, it is to deal with you" Emerald eyes turned away from the other so that he could look around the courtyard of the school. Finally it could be seen that he was shivering slightly from the strain of his anger, all of the emotions around flowing into him uncontrolled, over loading his system. Clenching his eyes shut tightly, he tried to force the emotions away, especially those of the Black Wing. Why did he allow the other to make him so angry? It shouldn't have been able to get to him.

After a few moments of complete silence on his part, he spoke "Now if you would come with me, classes will be starting soon," Ryou said softly, his voice sounding slightly strained.

Bakura looked highly amused at this turn of events, and if Ryou hadn't been trying to push away the Dark Wing's emotion, he would have noticed the twinge of guilt that betrayed this expression, and the continuation. "But of course. Because every wrong falls to the Dark Ones-- we are the only ones at fault. Because you kill, destroy, in the name of the Creator, and so it MUST be just. Only the Creator judges, and still you seek to carry out this judgment yourselves." He flipped his hair, grin steadying slightly as his tone grew more serious.

"What angers you so much, Absence? I asked if you were perfect, you agreed. And if you care not of the Creator's favor, of his Opinion of you, why is it your 'Job'? Do you not enjoy your work? You help the Mortals, don't you? Carry out the Creator's whims? Bring about Peace and Joy and Love? Is that REALLY a 'Job'? Or are you a Wing of Vengeance? Fighting the Millennia War, killing Black Wings, punishing Mortals that deserve it? Maybe even both-- but still, are you really following the Creator's words, bringing grace or justice, or is another motive, maybe even one you can't see, driving you?"

He paused, glancing down at the ground, and then back at Ryou. "It is not Master's fault if he repents. And I need not believe the Master's words, as I have seen the Wing's history in the eyes of the few who remain that witnessed it, including one of your own." He straightened, a slight hint of defiance in his posture and voice. "As a Dark One, am I so ignorant...? Am I so foolish...? Do you believe I act without thought? Can not the Wings, Black or White, be as diverse in belief as the Mortals? Do you think I have fallen so far from the Creator to be action alone? By the Creator's graces-- it is impossible to be but action. I will think, and I will believe. And you cannot deny me that- you have no right to."

He then immediately relaxed, as though he had never spoken, and brushed his ponytail behind his back again. "Yes, I would hate to be late for classes," he said, tone pleasant, much more befitting of the velvety, silky, full, beautiful tone his every word heard, as he started toward the front doors that the other students had finally begun filing through.

Ryou's eyes fell half lidded as he once again listened to the other's stinging words. Quite suddenly he appeared wary, almost as if the years just suddenly caught up to him. Despite all this, he remained upright, his head bowed slightly so that he wouldn't have to gaze at the one who had, in just a few minutes, become the bane of his existence. Hesitantly, he began to allow the emotions to flow into him once again, though he was slightly confused on what he felt from the other.

"You will find out in time what my motives are, my beliefs." Ryou said softly, "you may find that I am not just a mindless follower of the Creator. Yes, I do as I am told, but do you know what happens to those who don't?" he asked, finally meeting the Dark Wing's eyes. "Maybe you do know how things were, but do you know how that are now?" The White Wing crossed his arms over his chest with a small knowing smile on his lips.

"No, it is not my place. Nor did I ever think it was. You have proved to me that you are more then just action, and honestly I prefer it that way." Tilting his head slightly to the side he continued "As far as I can tell, you're very intelligent, and as thus this at least will not bore me as I've been told it would." Ryou turned his gaze away, deeming the current conversation over for the time being.

With a slight nod, he followed the other, a small smile still on his lips. Anyone who had been watching them would be thoroughly confused at what just happened. "I assume that we have all of our classes together," he said softly as he walked slightly behind Bakura "we should at least pretend to like each other." With that he stepped ahead and opened the door, calmly waiting for the other to pass though.

Bakura nodded, and around his neck, as the Dark Wings were the ones to carry them so as to keep them from turning malevolent and murderous against the Mortals, the Ja'leen, the Millennium Ring, appeared around his neck, glittering gold. As he passed Ryou to enter the school building, he locked crimson with Emerald for a brief moment. "I will never feign such an honest emotion, no matter what you believe appropriate." and strode into the school without hesitation or humility.

Spotting the ring, he studied it for as long as he was given time too. Ryou hadn't seen it before then and seemed quite interested in it's appearance, though he said nothing about it. Rolling emerald eyes, Ryou followed "Frankly, I don't care if you like me or not, but at least be civil in class." He muttered. Bakura didn't seem to want to go along with what Ryou had said, and the White Wing didn't have, nor want, the power to force him. Without so much as a glance to the Black Wing, Ryou entered the class room, taking a seat near the middle next to a window. This was going to be a very long day.

Bakura tucked the Ring under his loosely buttoned dress shirt before following Ryou in. As he passed the other's seat, he paused, and smiled at him cynically. "Contrary to popular opinion, I am civil as possible, if lacking in mercy. Black Wings may be well known for their tendency to torture Mortals, and immerse themselves in every sin, but that is a tendency, not a law," he knocked the heel of his hand lightly against Ryou's forehead as he passed him, a friendly gesture in appearance, but unknown to Ryou, giving Bakura a gauge of the White Wing's abilities. "Try not to turn invisible during class- it wouldn't be polite," he added as he went to settle in a seat in the very back, near a window as well. He was referencing only what he'd seen earlier as Ryou reappeared, because although his sense of touch gave him an impression of power, it said nothing for abilities.

Ryou glanced up at the other as he paused by his desk, though said nothing in response. He knew these things already, he didn't have to be told. A slightly shocked expression appeared on his face for a split second before vanishing into that small smile. The touch had been completely unexpected, though not quite unwelcome. He found that he didn't mind the feel of Bakura's skin against his own. "I wouldn't dream of it," he murmured in reply as students began to file into the classroom.

--------

As the two Wings started down the street, Bakura sighed, and stretched, folding his arms behind his head, and bending his waist. He'd decided he hated school. All those long hours sitting in hard chairs, then shuffling around the halls in a frenzy, then another hour in the chairs. It was scarcely comfortable, and didn't seem very productive. He couldn't remember off hand another eight hours that had been so torturously slow. He already knew all too well everything those Mortal teachers were going on about, and it caused him to be sullen and disrespectful when called on, if correct. The other students had already pinned him as a trouble maker and an outcast, although one of the more popular mortal females had called him off during lunch to ask him off. She had had considerably appetizing blood. Thank the Creator he had managed to get two of his three meals in during those few breaks.

"Tell me, Absence," he said, using the slang term again, hence adding a derogatory sense to his words, though his smooth, gorgeous voice held no hint of such malevolence or such an impression, "if we will be wasting eight hours, Mondays through Fridays, listening to the incessant droning of those Mortals, how are we to get this bloody arrangement over quick enough to not go crazy? And for that matter, how do they expect you to 'return me to the light' or whatever?"

Bakura's emotions at this point were surprisingly light in feel. Relief at the end of the day, anticipation, relaxation, amusement, a twinge of happiness and expectation, and a thin strand of appreciation, which, although not obvious to Ryou, concerned the flora in the area, the colors of the bright city of Domino. And the ribbons of anger that dominated the entire spectrum of what he felt had faded into the background, twirling through each emotion silkily, but not disturbing their true meaning at all, almost as if it wasn't there.

Their first day of school was as boring as he thought it would be in the beginning. He couldn't help but wonder how those mortals just sat and listened as they took notes. Already the White Wing was dubbed as shy and soft spoken, though he was anything but. He just didn't feel the need to talk to anyone other then Bakura though out the day. Keeping an eye on the Black Wing, he felt the confusion radiating off of the other students. He supposed that they couldn't understand why Bakura and Ryou were around each other. The White Wing also discovered the other's little curse. Why hadn't he been warned about that beforehand? All in all, he just wanted to get home and rest.

Glancing over to the other as they walked he sighed softly "Please don't call me that," Ryou said softly before continuing "I honestly have no idea. I suppose that they seem to think that being around mortals, along with me, will 'change your ways' as they so nicely put it." The White Wing shook his head lightly "I really don't see how it would work, maybe we'll just have to wait and see." He finished, returning his gaze to where they were going.

For some reason, Ryou began to feel a bit better, the burden of the day being lifted from his shoulders. It took a few minutes to realize that it was, in fact, Bakura's emotions that were soothing his frayed nerves. This surprised Ryou at first, but he quickly accepted it. Maybe this arrangement won't be so bad after all.

Bakura watched Ryou, lips turned up ever so slightly in a mostly hidden, pleasant smile. "In all honesty, I don't typically mean it as most of my kind do. I just feel it suits White Wings better; Absence, of blame, of malevolence, of hatred, of punishment, of our Mark, of murderous intents. Most of what leads you to call me a Black Wing, a Dark Wing, is absent from you." He shrugged. "But I suppose I could try and use it less often. It's not like it really matters what I call you. If I call you Takeya-San, as most of the Mortals are doing, if I call you Absence, Ryou, White Wing, White One, or Light."

Bakura stretched again, a thin stream of worry leaking into his feelings. He looked away from Ryou, up at the bright afternoon sky, surprisingly blue for a fall day. "Don't find it so monotonous; you have to learn to entertain yourself, keep your own spirits up. Try people watching- pick one student to watch through the class, think about them, what they're feeling, doing, what sort of friends they have, their family life. Then each class is it's own story, I guess it's not that bad, if you play school like that," the Dark offered. Indeed, near the end of the day, he had started doing that, and it was a major player on how he'd managed to be in such a good mood by this point. But to his slight annoyance, Bakura had grown worried about Ryou, and hence spoke this technique allowed- a technique that betrayed even just a hair's worth of his humanity, but humanity all the same. He quickly moved on to other thoughts.

"I doubt being around mortals is supposed to make me any 'better' in White Eyes. In fact, most Dark Wings are involuntarily enraged around mortals, and it often makes it much more difficult to reason with them. It would make more sense to do it in shifts, a preliminary attempt in the Soul Realm, to get us used to the concept, and then take it to the Mortal Realm, so as to teach us to keep our hatred in check and give us the necessary restraint to carry out Absence work." A very short moment later he blinked. "Oh, right, uh, White Wing tasks."

Calmly, Ryou listened to the other's explanation. What surprised the White Wing was that Bakura actually decided to explain the reason for the 'nick name'. A small smile formed on his lips, though it faded slightly "If you put it that way, I suppose it isn't so bad." He murmured softly, though mostly to himself then to Bakura. "Though, it's not exactly true..." Ryou trailed off and became silent, obviously unwilling to state anymore about what he meant by that. Glancing over to the other for only a moment, The White Wing once again took in the Dark's appearance, it really wasn't bad, and it fit him very well somehow. Finally adverting his gaze from the other, he began to memorize that way to their apartment, not like he didn't know the way already though.

The slight worry he felt from the other confused him, but he didn't dare turn to look at him again. He smiled slightly at Bakura's words "I never thought of doing that," he said, emerald eyes turning to gaze at the Dark Wing for a moment before returning ahead "You've probably saved me from going insane from boredom, thank you," Ryou said, the smile widening just a little. At first he thought that he was imagining things, but the worry he felt was more then clear now. He wanted to ask about it, to know why Bakura was worried about him, a White Wing. He resisted. Letting the other know about his empathy so soon probably wouldn't be the best idea.

Ryou let out a light laugh, the sound almost musical, before shaking his head lightly "If you can come up with that reasoning, you are smart enough to be here and not be angered by the mortals. Besides, that's one of the reasons I'm staying with you here, to make sure you don't go into a rage and harm any mortals." He paused for a moment, not bothering to comment on the slip up "I think you can handle it, you're doing good so far anyway."

Finally, Ryou gestured to an apartment building in the distance "That's where we'll be staying until this thing is done with," he explained, though was almost sure Bakura knew that already.

[Youko]

There was a light laugh, the first true mirth Ryou had heard from him, a beautiful reflection of an angel's laugh, a strange reasoning against his inner evil. "Duh," he said, "we were each given the Inner Reason to find it already-- it need not be spoken." The Dark folded his hands behind his head, watching the sky as they walked, gazing at a late departure of birds for warmer climates.

"And I don't need to be taught anything. I'm not here to learn anything from you. I am a Being from the Creator, just as all is, and have done no sin by being what he made me. If you think I'm going to play boy scout for you, for any Wing, you're going to be gravely disappointed." Though the words were harsh, the tone still lacked malevolence. Bakura was simply stating how things were, and nothing more. Crimson turned slightly to watch Ryou from the corner of his eyes. "And there is no Black Wing who is not angered by mortals-- never forget that, it is part of our Mark. It is a matter of action that determines what you White Ones perceive. You cannot judge emotion on thought and move alone, on word and tone. Our Conscious state allows us to show only what we wish, if given enough time to train ourselves." Which, honestly, might not be that far from the truth... Those curling, spinning, silky ribbons of anger, that twisted smoothly throughout his whole being, that passed around and through his every emotion, could be considered that. And, thinking on it, had they not begun to fade only as they left the school grounds, and started home...? When they were not around so many mortals...?

He paused, returning one of his hands in front of him, staring at the back of the armband on his right wrist. ".... Our anger is truer than you can believe," he returned his hand behind his head, his gaze to the sky. "And well deserved, though perhaps misplaced. It is not my place to decide."

"I actually don't expect anything from you," he stated calmly "and what I meant, anyway, was that I think you're smart enough not to act on the anger." There was a slight pause before he added "Besides, even I get annoyed around mortals. Today especially." After that Ryou went silent, he wasn't about to tell Bakura that he, in fact, could judge by emotion. The White Wing, suddenly getting cold, crossed his arms over his chest in a frail attempt to warm himself up without the other noticing.

Emerald orbs remained focused on the sidewalk as he thought about the Dark One's words. The longer he remained with the other, the more he learned, and it's only been a day! Ryou found that he wanted to explore Bakura's emotions more and more every time he felt something that confused him, or something he wouldn't expect from a Black Wing. He would do that later on, when they weren't walking in plain sight of mortals. It wouldn't do for him to be overloaded where he could have a break down.

Turning to look at the other for a moment, he smiled. "Perhaps, though I don't blame you." He said. He could feel the cool air seeping onto his school jacket and shirt, lightly chilling his sensitive skin. Why did it have to be cold when he had this assignment?

Bakura, always obnoxiously perceptive, was tortured by another strand of worry, but decided, instead of mentioning it, to pick up pace. "C'mon, I'm hungry, and they left us food there," he stated, not realizing, for all the time he had to spend in the Mortal Realm in order to Feed, that Wings scarcely had to eat more than once a decade, although many indulged otherwise.

"And besides, if you don't expect anything from me, if you make no effort, how can you do your 'job'? You were told to purify me- so you best do it, or suffer 'what happens to those you disobey'," he said, paraphrasing Ryou's own words earlier in the day. The tone had gained its edge again, blots of thick ink spreading through his emotion, screaming annoyance and anger, the ribbons turn a strong, vibrant red. He had finally realized, he'd been worrying, about an Absence, and, even worse, acting on that worry! It betrayed his personal vows- no Light, regardless of how wise they may seem even to him, deserved such attention from Bakura, who was such a powerful, and high ranking Wing for his age.

The blots of dark black and red ink began clouding over his other emotions, and Ryou could feel the strain as Bakura tried to steer it off of at least the curls of happiness and relaxation, but in vein. For Bakura, it was clearly strong, though it didn't transfer half as powerful as it was to him. As the other emotions, besides annoyance and anger, disappeared as the two, one a deep, inky black-red, the other a bright, violent red in ribbons, sunk down to his core, Ryou was able to see an aspect of his emotional state he'd never before witnessed- the color of the soul in which these emotions were tied, a vibrant, reflective gold, with smudged swirls of blood red within it, but all too pure to be emotion. The soul, the home. It was eclipsed by the ink as quickly as it had appeared.

Crimson eyes had narrowed, quickened pace forced into silent, but angry strides, long and powerful from Bakura's strong legs. His jacket fluttered against his body, still unopened, in the chilling October wind, hair wisping beyond him like a snowy wolf's tail.

More worry. He couldn't help but wonder if it was actually for him or not. Ryou blinked a few times, once again surprised. He was hungry? The White Wing didn't ask questions as he merely quickened his own pace to keep up with the other. A shiver went down his spine after Bakura repeated what he had said earlier. It was true. He would be punished if he didn't do his job correctly, which was enough incentive to actually try with the Dark Wing. Ryou pushed the slight tinge of fear down, not willing to show it in his features.

Ryou froze where he stood, his eye slightly wide as if he had just remembered something. The Dark Wing's sudden anger flooded into him, wrapping around him shamelessly. Clenching his eyes shut against the slight twinge of pain in his head, he began walking again, this time a lot slower then before. This was the first time he ever felt such sudden anger and be so strongly effected by it. Without realizing it, he had slouched slightly and wrapped his arms around himself as if he were walking against a strong wind.

As the distance between them grew, his headache lessened. Hesitantly, his emerald gaze lifted to stare at the other's back. Why was he suddenly so angry? And why was Ryou so sensitive to Bakura's emotions?

Bakura noticed, even without looking, and cared just enough to make sure Ryou was still following him before, ignorant to the boy's pain, he darted into the apartment complex, and began hurrying up the steps. In the dimly lit silence of the building, he scowled, pausing halfway to their floor to lean on the wall behind the banister. Why did it have to be this way? Why did he have to always be so over run? Why did he let his emotions have such dominance of him...?

Lucifer, his Father, had said it was his Mortal Blood, and his closeness to the True Wings. That Wings were not supposed to blend with Mortals; it betrayed the Creator's laws, betrayed the trust of the Wings, it endangered the Mortals, it harmed the child, it produced a truly horrific abomination. But then why had Lucifer conceived him? Bakura's father had said all too many times 'You were born with a purpose.'. But what purpose? To what means did his suffering lead to? And why had he no say in his destiny...? It wasn't fair, that those who came before, always decided the Fate of the latter Wings.

As he finally pushed away the inky annoyance, and dulled the ribbons of hate, a fog of doubt settled over him, and he turned to finish his climb, thin rain drops of determination sprinkling through him, slowly forcing the fog away. He could wait for Ryou inside.

Ryou didn't even bother trying to keep up with the other as he welcomed the distance between them. A few moments after Bakura was out of sight, the headache subsided completely. Straightening back up, his arms still wrapped around him, he quickened his pace. The Black Wing should be in the apartment by now, and hopefully in his room. Then something dawned on him. Maybe they had to share rooms. With a soft groan, he suddenly didn't want to find out, though knew that he had to.

Pausing, he gazed at the stairs he knew led to his new life. Ryou didn't expect this to be over with quickly, Bakura had proved that today. This was going to be very difficult for the White Wing, mostly since he was so sensitive to the other's emotions. He just hoped that he'll grow used to it quickly so that this won’t happen again. Sighing softly he began up the steps, his pace rather slow as he took his sweet time to get to the apartment.

Nothing was going the way he wanted it too, but he wasn't surprised. Nothing ever went as he wanted. Fate seemed to love messing with him, make him doubt and silently suffer. Now it had thrown him into this situation right along with the Creator. What was the real point to all of this? Did the Creator know what was going to happen? Or was he just as clueless as the White Wing he had given this task?

As he slipped out of his shoes and socks, he entered the apartment, closing the door mostly behind him, a crack remaining as testimony that he did remember Ryou. As he placed his bare feet on the hardwood of the apartment's entryway, his sense of touch, combined with the almost sixth sense effect he had, almost instantly mapped out the apartment for him. He frowned, moving to what he knew was the bedroom.

The apartment was scarcely large enough for two people; a living room and kitchen, separated only by the entryway, and a carpeted sort of in-between hall, that was marked solely by a lack of furniture, and the counters that wrapped around, against the wall to the right of the kitchen, and down most of the un-walled hallway, only opened two counters width from the actual hallway. Through the darkened hallway of the apartment, there was the bedroom on the first door to the left, a bathroom connected to it, with the only door inside needing passage through the bedroom to enter. At the end of the hall, a study, which already had a computer, and numerous mortal books, both informational and for amusement. On the right the door closest the entryway was a game room, and took up most of that space with a large, enchanted table for a game known as "Monster World" to mortals, though it was much more to Wings. And the last door on the right opened into a training room, filled with weights, devices, and an enchanted sort of scoreboard that read how much energy the person training had left.

When Bakura opened the door to the bedroom, his fear was confirmed; there was only one bed, a rather large one. He frowned, stepping slightly into the room. There was a bedside table on both sides, there was a bookcase pressed to the far end of the room, across from the door on the bed's left side. And a good few feet from the end of the bed, a dresser was pressed against the wall, probably already filled with Bakura's clothes. The closet in the room was assumably for Ryou's garments, as it offered a better way to keep them neat.

For the safety of not being so filled with emotion again, he focused his thoughts on pondering what Lucifer was really up to, falling onto the bed as he did, staring at the ceiling. The activity kept him entertained enough that he stayed mostly neutral, with highlights of curiosity, the ribbons of angry faded through.

Ryou paused at the door when he noticed that it wasn't completely closed, this caused a small smile to form on his lips. For some reason it made him a little happy that Bakura didn't just ignore his existence. Calmly, he entered the apartment, closing the door tightly behind him before locking it, out of habit. After toeing off his shoes, emerald eyes scooped the apartment carefully. The size was acceptable at least. Completely entering the apartment, he felt the coolness of the hardwood seep though his thin socks. After a few moments he began to explore quietly, all the while knowing that Bakura was in one of the rooms.

He peeked into each room curiously, the study, a game room, and a training room were already memorized before he reached what he guessed with the bedroom. A small frown appeared on his lips, he didn't see another room, so chances were that he and Bakura had to share a room. Peering into the room, he sighed softly. There was only one bed. He smiled hesitantly at the Black Wing before entering the room, trying not to make a big deal out of it.

"One bed..." he murmured most to himself before shaking his head slightly "not good." Ryou's gaze explored the room as he attempted to calm the feeling of dread that continued to rise. After a few moments he began to remove his jacket, moving towards the closet, which he guessed was his to put the jacket away. Without looking at Bakura, who he knew was on the bed, he spoke softly "If you want, I'll sleep on the couch..." he offered.

Crimson was tracing almost invisible lines left by the brush that had painted the ceiling, examining the way the lamplight left such scarce traces of the work. It amused him, that something that looked so perfect, so pure, so absolute, to mortals, could be reduced so quickly to mere lines by his well trained eyes. Perfection... Flaws in it are so easy for him to find. And then it breaks; once the perfection is gone, nothing is left... That is how Love is. There is no other way.

"If you want, I'll sleep on the couch..."

Bakura frowned at the ceiling. Odd... He hadn't heard the Absence come in... How had he not heard him...? There was a music, a strange sound, like singing... that he'd heard, and it had distracted him... He'd started examining the paint... He shifted slightly, tilting his head...

... From this angle, the lines looked more like hills.. in a plain... or perhaps the rolling lines of a field, ready for seeds... Maybe perfection is just a matter of perspective... and flaws on the outside, are the beauty within...

"Tch," Bakura carefully sat up, and gave Ryou a quick look over, and then smirked at him mischievously. "On the couch..? Nonsense... I'm not caving to Master that fast. We're sleeping right here, in this very bed," he said firmly, and flipped his hair out of his eyes again, smirking. "Heh, and maybe, you'll get lucky, eh?" he added playfully, winking at the White.

Ryou froze slightly at the claim, but quickly recovered. "Get lucky, huh?" he repeated with a small sigh. He guessed that most White Wings wouldn't know what the other was talking about, but Ryou knew. It confused him. Why would Bakura be flirting with him if he didn't like him so much? Calmly he opened the closet and hung his jacket up neatly before beginning to unbutton his white shirt.

"You may change your mind later," he told the other calmly as he slipped the shirt from his shoulders and slowly down his arms. The White Wing was fairly well built, though not unattractively so, his pale skin flawless except for a few scattered scars on his back and chest. Hanging the shirt up neatly, he pulled a white t-shirt from a hanger and pulled it over his head. "If you don't like to be touched that is." He continued with a small, hesitant smile.

Finding that his school pants were as uncomfortable as the jacket was, so he changed those as well, small scars on his legs briefly shown as he did so, pulling blue jeans up calmly. After a few moments he turned his gaze to the other "Would you like anything to eat?" he asked, changing the subject for the moment.

Bakura frowned, watching the boy carefully, only to provoke the strange, swirling tendrils that spread through him, wrapping around his other emotions and bending their shapes. He sighed, and laid back down.

"Fool. You're too serious; lighten up. The world's not made entirely of grit and dirt, you know," he said in an annoyed fashion, playing with the images of Ryou's bare skin behind his closed eyelids, tracing over the mark, seeing the kind of wound that had to make those marks, and how they had changed the smooth skin.

"And no, I'm not hungry. though I'll have to fetch some blood eventually," he opened his eyes, watching the lines on the ceiling again- invisible lines, to the naked eye. He paused. "Everyone likes to be touched. It's the most soothing experience for the human body, and can ease any soul. It is not a matter of like or dislike." He sighed, and closed his eyes again. "No, I think I ought to rest. I haven't slept in days, and not wringing the necks of those bloody mortals took a lot out of me. I've been starting to lose my handle on things..." 'Like my emotions,' the Dark added mentally.

Ryou blinked a few times in surprise, had a Black Wing just told him that? He watched the other silently, his confusing emotions flowing into him as he thought about it. "You're right," he replied finally, a small smile playing on his lips "I need to stop being so serious all the time, but that might be a challenge for me for a little while. I was taught differently," he said, though said no more about it afterwards.

The White Wing didn't mention that the whole reason they hurried was because he claimed that he was hungry. "Alright..." he murmured softly before crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't comment on the other's words about being touched, he will soon find out why Ryou had asked in the first place. "You sleep well then," he said finally "I'll probably do my homework before joining you." Ryou said before turning towards the door "If you need anything just call..." he added before leaving the room.

With a soft sigh he entered the study and booted up the computer. It didn't take him too long to figure out how it worked and how to use it, soon he was working on the homework they had been assigned.

The Black one had straighten at the sound of the computer booting, and pulled up his bag from the other side of the bed. He flipped through his assignments quickly. All simple grunt work; he could have it done quick enough. After a moments pause, he shrugged to himself. Why bother with hunting, when he was already supplied the necessary blood? The Dark Wing pulled out a small pouch, made of black velvet, and strung with ties of the deepest blood red. He carefully opened the bag, murmuring a few sacred words, and reached in, pulling out a large vial of dark liquid, that left stains of blood sliding down the clear diamond sides when he shifted it.

Bakura opened the vials white gold latch, and drained the vial three times, thinking as he did so often how over dramatic the Master was. Three of drinks, from the vial of Spilt Blood. Did Mortals, did White Wings, honestly think all of the blood of wars just sept into the ground and vanished? Bakura carefully latched the vial again, and returned it to the pouch, the pouch to his book bag.

With any luck, the Absence wouldn't go digging in his stuff, and try and open his bag of holding without the words that kept it from eating the holder like a fruit snack. Bakura stretched his limbs again, and yawned, slipping under the thin blankets and curling up. If Ryou touched him, so be it. The boy was more like music than flesh. How could he explain to the foolish Absence, that he felt like Music and Emotion? How could you translate such a feeling into words..?

Ryou sat there for almost an hour, typing nonstop, emerald eyes scanning the text as it appeared on the screen. He paused for a moment, his thoughts straying to the Dark Wing in the other room. Why was it that Bakura's emotions confused him so much? Was it because he had never been so close to a Dark Wing for so long? Or was it because Bakura has shown that he actually cares? The White Wing leaned back in the office chair and rubbed his eyes lightly, as if he had been staring at the screen far too long. Glancing over to the clock, he noticed that it was getting a little late, and he was growing tired.

After saving his progress, he turned off the computer and returned to the bedroom. He entered quietly, emerald eyes gazed at the Black Wing's sleeping form for a moment before moving towards the closet, closing the door behind him as he did so. Quickly, and equally quiet, he changed into a pair of silk pajama's that were the lightest shade of blue. Ryou set out his clothes for tomorrow before climbing into bed, pulling the blanket over his body. It didn't take more then five minutes for him to fall into a somewhat deep sleep.

Some time in the middle of the night, Ryou had scooted closer to Bakura and wrapped his arm around his waist. The White Wing did this often, though he rarely shared a bed with someone else, so he would normally cling to a pillow. Despite the sudden contact with another, he nuzzled into the warmth before going completely still.

Bakura shifted on the mattress, to sleep on his side, as he used to, as he hadn't in so long. A murmur of his silky voice slipped out, as he brushed his fingers down Ryou's cheek. Though sound asleep, his body pulled in the meaning of the touch, the whole of the White's emotions toward him, and the dreams that flitted in and out of the Absence's mind as he rested. And channeled all of it into his mind, his subconscious. Left bits and pieces inside his dreams, and tucked away the rest to be dealt with in waking hours.

But at least for the night, Bakura had a dream without pain, blood, gold, screams, death... A dream too empty to remember, sure, but full enough that the single smile in it, soft as it was, filled him, and caused his slender arms to wrap tighter around the Light's body. ... and left a dulled idea in his thoughts.


-End of Chapter 1-

[Youko]

Ch. o2: Amongst Annoying Bastards

Because that stupid bastard hadn't showed up, he was an hour late for his first class. Angry amber pools glared at the door disdainfully as the teacher walked out to take care of something 'important'. The sudden uproar of voices invaded his ears against his will, 'Just because the damn teacher ain't here doesn't mean they can all freakin' talk!' he growled in his mind. Though the sound in the room wasn't all that loud, his hearing that was sharp and he could hear almost every word spoken, even in a whisper. Katsuya Jounouchi, who actually went by Jounouchi instead of his first name, hated being in noisy places. He had to use most of his will power to resists transforming right here, just to get out of there and away from the noise. Jounouchi is a White Wing with the power to transform into any animal one could think of. Because of this power, his senses have been enhanced and sharpened.

With another annoyed growl, he practically jammed his hands into those seemingly overgrown golden locks and pulled back slightly as if trying to rid himself of the annoyance. He leaned back heavily in his chair as he decided to listen to the nearest conversations to him. Jou had always been a bit too curious for his own good. It had always gotten him in trouble in the Sunlight Kingdom, but he always had so much fun doing it. Slender fingers finally left those silky stands as he crossed his arms over his chest, his jacket falling completely open revealing the dingy white t-shirt underneath. He didn't find the need to wear the exact uniform, he hated collared shirts anyway, at least when he had to wear then buttoned up all the way.

Tapping his foot lightly, he waited impatiently for the Black Wing who would be going by Seto Kaiba. He hasn't even met him yet and Jou knew he wouldn't like him. It had already been an hour and the other hadn't shown up yet.

The clock on the wall had ticked another fourteen minutes out of the day by the time the teacher returned. In the span of that time, a girl by the name of Miho had awkwardly denied a boy going by the name of Hiroto Honda a record four times, what could only be a local pretty boy superstar, called Atemu-Sama, had defended another by the name of Yuugi from an idle mentioning of some strange trait involving puzzles, and a small kid named Hanasaki had gone from panic to relief when he thought he had lost a key-chain game called 'Digital Pet' that he'd gotten from his mother.

And then the Teacher strode in, echoing her own 'Settle down's as she crossed to stand in front of the blackboard again. "Settle down class!" she said for a last time, silencing the thin remainders of the chitchat. "I would like to introduce to you a new student who will be joining the Domino High community. But before I do, I want you all to promise me you will behave, and treat him no different than you would treat anyone else, understood? Now promise." Most of the students echoed a very unenthusiastic 'I promise' to her. "Excellent. Many of you may already know him. He is son of the deceased, once prominent local CEO Gozaburo Kaiba, and is CEO himself of the multi-million dollar gaming company, Kaiba Corporation." Many of the students were by now blinking in disbelief, and sitting up in their seats. "But don't forget, he's a Junior just like all of you, so--"

"That's enough," a cold, clear, icy sharp voice cut her off, and he strode into the classroom. He had well trimmed, chestnut brown hair, that looked coarse, but was styled smoothly, not a hair out of place. His skin was smooth, a shade too pale, stretched over a thin, lean, athletic frame, and he was taller even than the teacher, despite the ten-year difference in implied age. Although the dress shirt was buttoned perfectly, his jacket hung open. He did not acknowledge the class with so much as a glance. "Before you go on babbling anymore useless nonsense, I will just get straight to the point." He gave the other students the absolute most condescending glance. "My name is Seto Kaiba, you will call me Kaiba-Sama." he said plainly, and then turned to her again. She swallowed.

"Yes, well... uhm, my apologies, Mr. Kaiba, I--"

"Just give me my seat and get going," he said harshly. She blinked, nodding, and grabbed a paper off her desk, skimming it quickly with her eyes as Seto's own icy stare bore into her without mercy.

"You will be sitting next to...," she pointed in Jou's direction. "Over by Katsuya, the blonde boy. And if you--" she blinked, looking up to see Seto had already taken long strides, and sat, perfectly straight, in his seat, placing his school bag, which looked very much like a brief case, in front of him, and starting to unlock it. The teacher blinked a few times, and then nodded once or twice. "Yes, well, all right, students. I have to go see the Principal for a moment, you may continue talking, but try and keep it down." She started to leave again, but paused in the doorway. "And try not to bother Mr. Kaiba too much, all right?" she asked, and then disappeared, closing the door behind her.

There was a full three minute pause, before the classroom exploded in chatter, the girls gushing over how 'totally hot he is in person!' and 'I hear he's still single, too!', the boys on his cruel attitude and 'I wish I could do that to the teachers'.

By the time the teacher returned, Jou was seething. He couldn't believe that bastard just let him wait there when he was going to show up two hours after school started. Amber eyes narrowed as the teacher began to introduce the 'new student', he knew all of this already. He was briefed on the Black Wing's past with the mortals, but what Jou couldn't figure out was why he was the one who was assigned to the ass. Couldn't they have found someone better? Someone more patient perhaps? At the sound of Seto's cold tone, a low growl reverberated from the White Wing's throat.

The blond leaned forward, his arms placed on the desk as he waited, reminding those who watched him of a puppy. Narrowed eyes watched as the CEO entered the room, though soon, his anger was forgotten. Amber orbs widened slightly at the other's appearance, they didn't tell him that Seto was going to be so attractive. He shook his head lightly before glaring at the Dark Wing once again, he had to remember that he was angry at him for being so late. The blond snorted when the teacher referred to him using his first name, oh how he hated that. Very few knew him well enough to call him by his first name.

Jou rolled his eyes when the other took his seat "Kaiba-sama, huh?" he said chuckling humorlessly "Ya do realize I was late ta class waitin' for you, right 'Seto'?" he asked growling softly as he waited for the answer. He did his best to ignore all of the comments that were centered around the CEO, but he also couldn't help but agree with some of them. He could already tell that today wasn't going to be his day.

Seto finished with all the latches on his bag, having not even batted an eye at Jou's words. He pulled from inside a small, exceedingly slender laptop, pure black, and easily moving the bag to the floor, he set the device on his desk, opened the laptop, and started booting it up. Before Windows even began to load, he had to type in a password that couldn't be any less than fifty characters in length; and he had it in, in mere semi seconds, even though the records had said nothing about dexterity benefits.

As the device began to load Windows XP, he finally turned his clear, ice blue eyes to Jou, his expression so icy as well, that it was impossible to discern any emotion or opinion. Aside from condescending apathy, of course. "What a tragedy," he said, voice smooth and slick, cold as ever, "I suppose the faculty will have to mark that on your permanent record. Now how shall you ever graduate." Though the words were sarcastic in meaning, no note of that could be found in his tone, and he easily returned his gaze to the liquid crystal screen, double-clicking on a folder, and then a word document (from some strange program few would recognize), and beginning the steady drone of typing, at unrivaled speed, as the processor struggled to keep up with the commands it was receiving. Window after window would pop up, vanish, change something, charts would edit, as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

"It is not my fault, Dog, if you make such a mistake," he added, even tone not at all inhibited by his work. A model of a large dragon, in shades of gray, appeared, rotated, certain aspects were stretched, shrunk, otherwise adjusted, and then suddenly the word document was up again, indecipherable commands filling the blank space at nauseating speeds.

Jou clenched his fists as he listened to the other proceed to insult him, oh how he wanted to take a swing at him, but he couldn't. Not here where everyone can see them. He took a few deep calming breaths as he watched the CEO type away on the laptop. He would be in awe if he weren't so angry at him, or if the other was at least a little nicer to him. The blond knew it wasn't going to happen as he glared at the brunette.

"Sorry, it was my mistake to think a Black Wing could be nice," he stated though clenched teeth before adverting his eyes from the other. He wasn't about to stare at Seto and give him the satisfaction of know that Jou thought that he was attractive. Listening to the steady tapping of the keys sort of calmed the White Wing though, and it seemed to drown out the dull roar of the class. With a soft sigh, he rested his head in the palm of his head with an expression that was annoyance mixed with boredom.

"Katsu, is that you?"

Jou started at the soft voice, he turned quickly, amber meeting emerald at he looked up at Ryou. "Ryou, what are ya doin' here?" he asked smiling that goofy smile of his. It felt like forever since he's seen the white haired boy.

"Same reason you're here apparently" Ryou replied softly gesturing to Bakura for a moment "It's nice to see another White Wing here..." there was a pause before he tilted his head to the side "What has you so angry?" he asked quietly as to not let anyone else know his power of empathy.

"I'll tell ya later" Jou said rolling his eyes before they fell upon Seto.

To pretty much everyone's surprise, the clear blue orbs of Seto Kaiba were already resting on Jou, fingers paused, hovering over the keys. He watched the blonde for only a moment, before turning his gaze past him and Ryou, and then settling on Ryou himself. There was a flash, his icy eyes blurring, with sea green, warm cerulean, and emerald for a moment, and then he looked back at Jou. "'A Black Wing could be nice'...," he repeated, tone even and cold as ever. His entire person seemed as beautiful and cold as an ice sculpture, his mannerisms as sharp as hail. "Interesting," and he turned back, resuming his typing, the windows shifting again. "I didn't know we'd gone back all the way before the nineteen fifties," the CEO added.

But before response time was granted, a voice as fiery as Seto's was cold cut in, smoother than silk, as angelic as the highest of the angels, and beautiful beyond measure. "So then you're going to gang up on me, Absence? Or just rub it in my face that you're allowed connections?"

Seto snorted, not even blinking, as the dragon model reappeared on his screen, and slowly began to fill with color, white, grays, and blues.

Jou froze for a moment when he noticed Seto's eyes on him, he hadn't expected that at all. The blond noticed the change in the CEO's eyes and tilted his head curiously, much like a puppy would. He glanced at Ryou for a moment to see if he noticed as well, but saw no indication of it. Turning back to the brunette, his eyes narrowed, of course the other had to mock him. He was about to retaliate but was quickly cut of by another voice. Amber eyes fell upon the white haired Dark Wing before he turned back to Ryou to see how he would react to that.

Ryou merely sighed softly before crossing his arms over his chest, emerald eyes resting on the other "Why, Bakura," he started "would I want to do that?" he asked before smiling slightly "I swear your paranoid or something," the White Wing glanced at Jou for a moment before looking back to Bakura "It's not my fault that Katsu is here, I actually didn't know I would have a friend around." He replied, the gentleness in his voice almost soothing.

Amber eyes watched the exchange curiously, it didn't seem too bad. Actually they seemed to get along just fine. Jou wondered if he and Seto could ever get along like they did.

Bakura blinked, and tilted his head slightly, a small smile inching onto his lips. "Why, Ryou," Bakura replied, clearly pleased by this reaction, "I dare say sometimes I would most certainly have to agree with you. But at this point, I am merely being my usual, sulky, obnoxious self." He actually laughed slightly, a wonderful sound in it's own right. "You are lucky then, mmhm. I do hope the last pair Master said would be coming don't involve anyone else you're acquainted with, though." Bakura gave Ryou a most interesting look, that bordered on flirtatious. "I don't think I could stand your attention so divided from me."

It seemed Seto had taken this opportunity to save his work, close the document, and hence all the windows, and tell his laptop to shut down. He seemed not at all perturbed, even still. As even, as calm, as from the very beginning. Not a proper emotion to be seen. ... Though if Ryou were to make the effort of reading him, for Seto remarkably did not show up on Ryou's usual perception of local emotions, with a tad work, emotions such as annoyance, boredom, jealousy, impatience, and most prominently, loneliness, were somewhere, far under the surface, lurking, swirling darkly, never taking any such form, as most emotions did. Ryou knew better than any, the dangers of letting one's emotions stay unformed for too long.

Ryou blinked a few times in surprise before laughing softly, the sound musical. He hadn't expected Bakura's playful reply, it was nice that they were getting a long a lot better then they had the day before. The White Wing watched the Black Wing curiously, how did he know there was another pair coming? Not even Ryou knew that. Though that thought was soon lost as a light flush appeared on his pale cheeks. "Oh? Is my attention so important to you?" He asked jokingly "You do have me all to yourself after school," Ryou stated with a seemingly innocent smile playing on his lips.

Jou snickered softly, it's been a while since he'd seen Ryou tease anyone like that. It was sort of nice. Soon, Amber eyes were rested on the CEO once again, there was just something about the other that made him so curious. The longer he watched the other, the more he wanted to know about him, and the more he wanted to see a smile on those lips. The blond flushed slightly before quickly turning his gaze from the brunette to look around the classroom and several of the students staring at the four.

Bakura gave Ryou the most delicious smile, playing with his hair so as not to keep his oddly shining eyes trained on the Other. Even with the ribbons of anger, intensified by the mortals surrounding them on every side, he was radiating joy, though it was streaked with thin bands of confusion. "Only if you don't sneak off to the next apartment over and cling to your little blonde puppy over there," Bakura replied. "A friend so nearby is always a tantalizing thing."

As for the CEO, though it wasn't blatantly obvious, Jou might have noticed the small, worn, white leather bound book that had replaced the laptop for Seto's attention. And if noticed, it would be clear to any White Wing, although few Black Wings, that it was the Tome, the True Bible, the Wing's Bible. The word of the Creator, pure, without mortal interpretation. A sacred text, required to be on every Light's person at all times. He had it opened, partially through the beginning, and was reading it with a sort of dutiful intensity, a distant (VERY distant) passion visible far behind the mask of his icy orbs. He looked like he was studying Calculus. That is, if Calculus was the climax of the world's greatest story, that he'd read thousands of times, and if he were reading it when he was supposed to be studying every Kanji in existence repetitively, and hence had to keep his expression clear lest the teacher notice.

All in all, Seto appeared more like a infinitely dedicated new bible study recruit, than a Black Wing, known for their ruthless behavior, their anger, their contempt and hatred.

"Besides, little Absence," Bakura added with a smirk and a glance, "since you lack direction for your task, wouldn't it be efficient to group with your pal and brain storm for a better battle plan. After all, two Lights are as dumb as one."

The flush on Ryou's cheeks deepened slightly, though he didn't seem to notice one bit as Bakura's strong emotions flowed into him. Despite being curious of how the other knew where his friend and his Dark Wing were going to be living, he didn't miss a beat on replying "Why would I do such a thing when you're company is so much more desirable." He said giving something of a smirk, though it didn't look like much of one on the White Wing, as he took a step towards the Dark. If one didn't know better, they would think that Ryou was actually flirting with Bakura.

Jou shook his head lightly, no longer able to watch the other two Wings. He turned his eyes to his desk, unwilling to look at Seto again, but he couldn't help glancing to the side. What he saw cause him to turn and stare. Was that a True Bible? The Wing's gaze softened slightly at the sight. So Seto wasn't as cold hearted as he appeared. A small smile form on his lips as he watched the other study the book. The blond rested his chin in the palm of his hand as he stared silently, unaware of being watched as well.

Ryou's eyes narrowed playfully, for he could not be angered for some reason, and he gently shoved the Black Wing "No need to be rude," he stated.

Bakura laughed, although Ryou could have sworn a shiver had raced down his spine. "If I am so rude, how does my company prove so desirable?" the Dark responded. He smiled up at Ryou, and shifted. "Besides, I know you'd much pr--" he stopped mid word, blinking, face instantly falling into serious, somber, anguished concentration, the joy vanishing all but instantaneously. He had missed that... What was another Dark doing in the area..? Somehow, he couldn't read if the Wing was dangerous or not...

Mean while, Seto had turned a page, words slipping, slick and icy, from his lips, coated heavily in condescending apathy, as always. "It's rude to stare, Mutt," Seto Kaiba informed Jou, finally using the condescending nickname. His cool orbs scanned the new page quickly, before he flipped toward the center, where a worn bookmark held the place of a page he must visit many times a day. "Besides, you have a 'friend' to catch up with, don't you..?" the CEO added, voice cold, dripping with hate at the typically affectionate word. But again there was an almost instant interruption.

"Oh, Seto, you silly fool," came a musical, young female's voice. The reddish haired beauty was close, leaning in so as not to gather too much attention. Her pale hands, delicate, with thin fingers, set a small box, wrapped in a light blue and white checkered cloth, in the center of Kaiba's desk, in front of him. "You should be nicer. No one will like you if you keep being so mean."

Seto watched her, eyes finally warmed, showing their true color to be a few shades warmer, more like the arctic ocean, than the ice itself. "I'm really not fond of acting kind for the sake of affection," he replied. She smiled warmly, honey eyes swelling with pleasure.

"You're really not fond of being kind at all," she scolded lightly, shaking a finger in his face. She then turned to point his attention toward the package. "Another box lunch, Seto-kun. I know how much you hate cafeteria food, and you really should at least try to eat sometimes. it would be good for your resume."

The smallest of smiles, pure, but forced and dulled, pulled at Seto's pale lips. "Oh, of course, how wise. I don't know how I would ever get that position as a McDonald's fry cook without you, Shizuka," the multi-million dollar CEO said playfully, causing the pretty visitor to laugh again.

Ryou watched the other with amusement, it had been a long time since he just played around with another, it was nice. The flush, having faded slightly, deepened again at the other's words. The White Wing hadn't thought about the reason why he would find Bakura's company desirable. A small smile formed on his lips as he finally opened his mouth to retort, but stopped before even a word was muttered, his head turning to looking around the room curiously. What was another Dark Wing doing here without a White? Emerald orbs focused on the one he thought was the Wing.

Amber eyes narrowed at the brunette "'m not a 'mutt'!" he exclaimed in an annoyed tone. How dare he call him such a thing?! Jou turned his head away from the other, obviously not happy with him at that moment. He didn't so much as glance at Seto when he spoke "Couldn't ya at least 'try' ta be friendly with me?" he asked softly, glancing over to Ryou and Bakura as if as an example. Though soon after he said those words, he heard a new voice. He turned his curious gaze to the redheaded girl who placed what looked like a boxed lunch on Seto's desk.

He listened carefully to the exchange before sighing softly. So Seto had a girlfriend, not that Jou cared. He rested his chin in his palm once again as he turned his gaze away from the two. He had to admit that it was fairly amusing listening to the brunette's playful tone, the blond just wanted it to be directed towards him.

Bakura watched the female, eyes an intense, firm crimson, lips pursed in deep thought. He knew her from somewhere, but.... where? And he knew many the Black One. So why did she ring a bell...? And why could he not find scent of safety nor danger on her...?

Seto, meanwhile, shifted, offering her a light glance, and brushing her fingers from the box. "Now, let it go, Shizuka, hun. Daddy's trying to work."

She laughed again, leaning in to stare him right in the eyes, her honey pools vibrant with life. "Oh, so suddenly you're Daddy again?" she teased, "just because the Master has finally forced you into something?"

He frowned ever so slightly, tilting his head at her. "You know the kind of Work I mean," he said, serious, voice holding a chilling edge to it. She blinked, and straightened, backing away slightly.

"Yes, well.... You shouldn't. It causes you such trouble." Seto raised a slender eyebrow at Shizuka.

"Who is the Adult in this relationship?" he asked her. She smiled at him mischievously.

"Well... seeing as I'm the only one taking care of either of us... I think that'd be me," she replied easily, the words causing him to roll his eyes. He returned to his book for a minute, and she watched him. After three he looked back at her. She smiled slightly. "I'll leave soon enough."

He paused, and turned back to the Wing Bible. There was a moment's silence, then "What would you think if I brought him a dog, Shizuka...?"

Ryou's emerald gaze remained on the girl for a long while, though he felt nothing but intensely happy emotions. Seeing no real threat, he turned his gaze back to Bakura. Tilting his head to the side curiously, he began to read the other's emotions, trying to figure out what was wrong.

Jou sputtered incoherently at Seto's words to the girl, Shizuka. She is his daughter?! Now that was something that Jou didn't expect, though at the girl's comment, he became curious. Was Seto forced to have Shizuka? Now, normally the White Wing wouldn't look into it at all, but he was curious about his assignment.

After a few moments he decided to just listen to the conversation, his amber gaze still adverted to the side. He wasn't going to be caught staring again.

Soon he decided that he would attempt another conversation with Ryou, "So, Ryou, how are ya?" he asked smiling widely.

"Hm?" Ryou asked distractedly before turning to his friend, "Oh. I'm fine...How about you?" He asked almost awkwardly.

"Er...I've been better," came Jou's reply. Ryou gazed at him curiously before he saw the blond mouth 'later' then gesture to Seto and Shizuka, then to Bakura. Ryou nodded calmly.

Bakura's gaze upon Shizuka was steady, and a tad dark. His usual anger as completely absorbed in a swirl of confusion, tainted with raindrops of worry. If he couldn't sense danger or safety from her..... that meant she had the powers of a Manipulator. And if that was the case, then if she saw him... All emotion for the Black One was overshadowed for a near traumatizingly powerful sense of self preservation, while the unknowing Shizuka replied casually "I'm not sure... Why?" in an innocent tone, as she tilted her head a few degrees to the side.

Ryou soon became worried as well, he couldn't figure out why those specific emotions were so strong. After a moment he shook his head lightly, as if to stop the dizzying swirl of the Dark Wings uncertain emotions. It took all of the White Wing's will power not to cry out softly at the sudden onslaught of that overly powerful sense of self-preservation. It soon became harder for him to keep his focus. Soon, he was falling, the light breeze soothing his overheated skin, one hand caught onto Bakura's arm as an attempt to keep himself up.

Jou was the first to notice as he cried out softly to his friend, in the hopes to snap him out of it.

Shizuka let out a yelp right before Ryou, gaining both Dark's attention, though Bakura was busy staying put and keeping his breathing even, and didn't recognize it until Ryou's hand was on his arm. The Dark blinked once, stilling the near panic with his worry, and with determination, as he focused on helping Ryou into a half standing position. "Absence...? Hey, what..." he said, voice soft with focus, but he bit his lip, and bit off the rest of his sentence, as rivers of cool, refreshing.... kindness? flowed through him, physically and emotionally, though emotionally they had less impact. How could kindness be a feeling...?

"What's wrong with your friend?" Seto said, directed at Jou, stretching a bit to have a better look. "And who gave him permission to touch the Prince?" the Black one added darkly.

Ironically, even as his fellow Dark said that, Bakura had moved to make better contact with Ryou's skin, using the usually hindering sixth sense of his touch to calm himself, to better tend to the Absence.

Ryou suddenly realized that he wasn't falling anymore, though it took him a little longer to realize that it was Bakura who had caught him. He forced his eyes to focus as he looked at the Dark Wing, a small, almost hazy smile forming on his lips.

"Shit!" Jou cried softly before standing and moving to where Ryou was being supported, completely ignoring the brunette's words. "Ryou, ya should know better..." he murmured softly, shaking his head. Though he noticed that he was returning to normal quicker then he ever did. Amber eyes lifted to gaze at the Dark Wing holding him curiously.

Ryou had continued to read the other's emotions without realizing it. As soon as the contact increased, a strong calming feeling washed over him. He tilted his head to the side slightly as he was attempting to register why it was happening.

Bakura blinked at Ryou's paler orbs, crimson almost spinning. He felt a little... dizzy.... but that was typical with extended skin-to-skin contact. The light-headedness didn't hinder the tinge of pleasure at the soft smile, as he returned it, Shizuka far from his mind. The honey-like Wing had made a quick whisper to her father, and a quicker exit, so the danger was gone anyway.

But on the OTHER hand...

Seto yanked Ryou from Bakura's arms, standing him up. It would seem to be very rough to any bystander, but between the toucher and touchee, it was as gentle as a breeze, and the CEO was careful to keep him facing Bakura, and on balance. "Though I give leave for your ignorance, you are not to touch the Prince, Wing," Seto said darkly to Ryou. Bakura blinked, sobering slightly and straightening, though his mood still was mostly light.

Ryou blinked slowly when the calming feeling slowly began to fade and he began to regain his senses. It took him a minute to notice that Bakura wasn't holding him anymore, tilting his head to side slightly he allowed himself to attempt reading his captive's emotions. Once he found he couldn't he attempted to turn slightly to look at the brunette curiously. "Prince?" he questioned softly, his tone still slightly dazed.

Jou's eyes narrowed at the Dark Wing when he snatched Ryou away from Bakura, he looked so comfortable in the other's arms, and the other seemed to enjoy holding him. His amber gaze glared harshly, he held his arms out and gently took Ryou from the Dark Wing, his gaze softening when looking into emerald eyes. "Ya need ta be more careful, Ryou. Ya were told not ta do that..." He shook his head lightly before turning his glare back to Seto.

"Sorry, Katsu..." Ryou murmured softly as he clung lightly to his friend's shirt "didn't realize it'd be that strong."

[Youko]

Bakura blinked once, and frowned, forcing himself to gather his thoughts and emotions, and steady. "That's enough, Seto," The Black One said in a surprisingly firm tone. "This is different, and that is irrelevant now." The brunette's icy eyes bore holes through Bakura's crimson, and yet neither seemed to waver. A ferocity unlike any other vibrated through the air, and static traced the space between the two Dark Wings.

"You know your place," Seto told him darkly, "And that will never change, no matter what the Master says." The typical ice that venerated in Seto Kaiba's words seemed to have been replaced by a shadowy inferno.

"And you know yours. It is under me."

The brunette's pale lips turned down. "You should know best of all, Prince, that I don't believe in White or Black, only Gray and color. Every Wing is as Divine as their actions," Seto said, as though he repeated this daily to all he met.

Bakura turned slightly to look at Ryou. "And I suppose, then, that I could be Holy, and this Absence be a murderer, this Absence could cast Genocide against the Creator's precious humanity. Your beliefs are as hollow as your words." Bakura cast a quick glance at the icy orbs, a look that seemed to sting Seto more than the words. "The Master has plans for you. He has plans for all. He has plans for me. We are all created with a purpose, and only the Master knows what that purpose is. Only the Master, because that was his Gift from the Creator, because that is his curse. And I know your purpose as well, Seto. And I know Shizuka's. I know you will fight in vain, and I know she will die. I know of every Absence, I know of every Hollow Shadow."

"And you think that knowledge gives you power over free will!?" Seto snapped viciously. It was all happening so fast, so much hatred, and yet Seto's was invisible, except in his actions, and Bakura's dulled by hopelessness, impossible to feel, so apathetic...

"No. That makes me weak. That is my purpose; Weakness. But my weakness will not make you stronger, will not make you better. Just give in, Seto. The Master is all that remains for the Wings-- Admit it, I can feel that you know it... The Creator has abandoned us. The Creator only left Free Will to Humanity. We were born to wish we were alive, and then cease to exist. We are merely a test, we have no real purpose in the end. That is our purpose. To Wish, to be Refused, and to Lose Ourselves. Nothing can change the Creator's plan."

"Humanity can!" Seto snapped, about ready to break, to try anything to cease these words that were so aimed to shatter him.

"No, it cannot. Because Humanity can't know of us. It is impossible."

"Anything is possible with Free Will!!"

"And do you have it!?" Bakura snapped back, finally raising his voice. Seto, so strong, so sure, so solid, shrunk back a bit.

"..... The Creator will not Forsake. That is the first thing the Book tells us."

"And that book is written for Wings to believe. We will not be forsaken- our purpose will be fulfilled. We will be used, and destroyed. That Destiny will never be forsaken," Bakura said calmly, tone the slightest bit bitter.

"There is no such thing as Destiny," Seto said softly, weakly. Bakura shook his head, turning to keep eye contact.

"Destiny can only be destroyed by Free Will, and Free Will is only held by Humanity. There is no Hope. Hope is the pit of the Hollow Absence, it is the Curse of Every White Wing, it is what fuels this War. Hope is only Death, in a different form. You are not human, and so you have no hope."

"... You are a liar."

"The Master never lies, I say only what he has told me."

"The Book says--"

"The Book Lies."

..... Crystalline tears shuddered in Seto's icy blue eyes. He shook his head, hands clenched, trying to think. It was as if time had stopped, only to shatter the fragile ice again. "The Creator will not Forsake."

"Then tell me where you are, Seto? You have lived your life by that Book. And Where are you called to? The Kingdom of Sun Light, or the Kingdom of Night Shadow?"

"....." Seto let loose a strange noise, almost a sob, half a curse, and kin to a frustrated scream, and wheeled, storming out of the room, snatching up the weathered book on his way. Bakura's pale lips frowned deeply. He sighed, and began drifting back toward his seat. The class seemed to have seen nothing, and still talked among themselves as they always did...

As Ryou slowly came too, he turned his somewhat blurry gaze onto the prince and listened carefully to the argument. Despite all that he was forced to believe, he knew that what Bakura told the other Dark Wing was true, though he couldn't help but feel a little sad about the truth. Slowly, he wrestled his way out of the blonde’s arms and got to his feet. Though out the argument, he made no move to interfere, he only attempted to read the other's emotions. Curious as to why he couldn't he tilted his head slightly to the side, white locks covering his eyes slightly, obscuring his gaze of the two fighting Dark Wings.

Jou found the whole argument rather disturbing. To see the normally steely brunette seem so weak, he just couldn't bear to watch, then again, he couldn't turn his eyes away. This was a part of the CEO he had been curious about, but figured he could never see. The blond wanted to intervene so badly, but as Ryou moved out of his arms and stood, he saw that the white haired Wing made no move to stop what was going on. As soon as the brunette stormed out of the room, he was hot on his heels. Not even he could tell anyone why he did it, he just couldn't stand to see the other looking so broken.

Ryou shook his head lightly as he watched Jou go after the Wing he was assigned to. A small knowing smile formed on his lips before it faded into a light frown. Turning to follow Bakura to his seat, he decided that it would be best to calm the other down. Ryou knew, even if he couldn't read the other's emotions at the moment, that Bakura was tense and in need of something, or someone, to sooth his nerves.

Bakura sighed heavily as he sat, and pulled a sketchbook from his bag, opening it to a blank page. Graphite hit the white almost instantly, and slowly he filled the pure white with shades of Gray. "I hate my Father...." He murmured, as lines of gray slowly blended together to form the face of a beautiful lady, a soft but sad smile on her face.....

-----------------Elsewhere-----------------

Seto stopped at the back doors, that led to the courtyard, open to students during lunchtime. A whisper of words escaped his lips, barely above a breath, "Protect Me, Creator, From My Doubts..." and he leaned against the wall next to the double doors, and flipped open the book. He mouthed the sacred words as he read them. " 'I will be known as the Creator. I am the beginning, and the end. I exist beyond time. But I have given my creations time, all of my Children, so they may grow. I have given them emotions, so they will know. I have given them senses, so they will see. And of my most precious children, I have given them Free Will, so they may become whatever they wish to be.' .... So what about your servants, great Creator...? Your slaves.... They have served you, without question, or else have torn themselves to shreds in desire to do so. Why aren't they precious...? At least the others... Even if I must be..."

A heavy, saddened sigh slipped out from his soft lips, and he straightened, closing the book he'd just quoted. A blink, and he shot an icy stare at Jou, meeting the warm amber eyes with pointed ice, as though Jou was the source of all his frustration.

"What, are you stalking me now, Mutt? What do you want?" he asked firmly, but bitterly.

Jou stopped just behind the brunette a small worried frown down turning his lips as he listened to the other's words. Though he wasn't quite aware that Seto wasn't actually speaking the words loud enough for a normal Wing to hear. He felt the sudden urge to try to comfort the other, but made no move to do so. The blond decided that showing the CEO his special ability so early on wouldn't be the best idea.

The blond froze slightly when that icy gaze became trained on him. Though at the words, he relaxed slightly, amber orbs narrowing into a glare.

"I just wanted to see if ya were alright!" Jou growled "Next time I wont bother." With that he turned and crossed his arms over his chest, obviously annoyed with the outcome.

"Good," was Seto's immediate, steady reply. With a huff, he turned to watch the yellowed, crinkled pages of the book a moment, before shifting slightly to slide it away again. But without a designated target, blue orbs wandered to settle on the gold of Jou's hair.

After a moment, he spoke, his words ice in themselves, but tone giving, if only an inch. "You can't have made the mistake of thinking 'a Black Wing' capable of kindness. Any you've seen The Book of Rebellion knows our punishment that of Cruelty, equal to that necessary to turn on Purity such as the Creator's. And so any know it must be sin to ignore this curse, as though it may be so easily overcome as a Mortal's curse of blood, of raising. A Wing lacks the Gift of Will that lets Man change himself."

Still, his own words contradicted themselves... Who is the Black Wing, who can stand to speak of his own Damnation, as though there is no lie within it to be found, even by those who search to find their own lie. And his eyes, fierce and frozen, gave mask to iris that would bleed, if not bound by sense to give sight. Pain buried in snow, need dimmed by cold.

Jou listened to the Black Wing's words before turning slightly to gaze upon him, his warm amber eyes still narrowed in what one would guess was anger. "I came ta follow ya, didn't I?" he asked in a low voice before turning once again "Even Wings have at least a little bit of free will, enough for us ta choose our actions, how we want things done. We may not be able to change our nature, or even our Fate, but that's how we were created." He paused for only a moment, the growl in his voice vanishing as he spoke "We must accept the way that we are and the path that's been chosen for us."

The blond sighed softly, unaware of why he even tried to make the Dark Wing feel better. Shaking his head lightly he turned to the brunette once again, this time seeming to give him a searching look "Would ya like ta just go home?" he asked softly "I mean...ta the apartment?" Jou corrected quickly.

For some reason, the thought of skipping the rest of classes seemed quite welcoming.

Seto had a moment's flare of anger show on his face, and fought down viciously. "Have you not a friend to return to? Abandon him in favor of me...? Wings have fallen so far from Grace.."

But even in the amber pools simply searching him, the other felt a jolt he hadn't felt in a long while. One most embraced when Searching another. His cool eyes flashed, a swell of burning gold within them, and he blinked. For almost a second, his window to the world betrayed a moment's confusion.

... He couldn't mimic this Wing... But why?

He shifted to better look at Jou, and face him completely. "... Still, never mind mere sharpened words," it was only to long steps and Kaiba was before the Light. "If you intend to aim a single thought at me, then each is better stripped for fear of mistaken intent, correct..?" The thought of double meaning to his own proposal was lost to the CEO's own drive to discover what barrier kept Jou's being from him.

Pools of amber merely gazed at the CEO curiously "If ya would pay attention ta him," he began tilting his head lightly to the side "ya would know that Ryou is worried about your prince. He would be angry with me if I got in the way." The blond said, not exactly sure why he was explaining himself.

Jou stared in slight surprise at the flicker of gold in the other's eyes. He couldn't quite place where it seemed familiar, then again, he didn't really try too hard.

Adverting his eyes as the other approached he smiled faintly "Perhaps," he replied calmly before glancing back up to the brunette, suddenly realizing how much taller he was. "Though, I'm not sure if any thought I aim towards you could be mistaken as anything other then intended."

A light smirk graced his lips. His tilted head made the gaze trained on Jou stay steady on the Blonde's eyes, even despite any other bend to Kaiba's body. "Oh, I have noticed. But just because he worries with good intent, does not mean his actions will speak it so clearly. No Wing may possess ability to translate so fully into the Physical Realm with ease. It is not of our nature." Another pause, and he shifted, lightly touching pale lips to Jou's forehead.

"You believe there is a distinction between us, don't you? You call me Black Wing, you call yourself White Wing? Why is there such division...? We were both created Wings, and yet are torn far apart by the repetition of mere foolish words." Seto's head tilted a few degrees to the side, and he seemed to be searching for something in the other's eyes. "Where are we divided, Jounouchi? What has drawn the line...?"

Jounouchi was captured by those icy pools of sapphire that seemed to stare into his own eyes, though he couldn't be quite sure. "Would ya rather my actions be clearer then?" he asked curiously. Amber orbs widened in surprise as the feeling on soft pale lips pressing against his forehead lightly. If he had been expecting something, it wasn't that.

He listened to the brunette's words, turning them over in his head as he thought about them. Confusion filled his gaze as he stared into the other's eyes curiously. He didn't quite know how to answer that. "Maybe there is no line," he said softly allowing his hand to drift to the CEO's cheek, gently stroking the skin there.

The smallest smile slipped onto Seto's face, and though with great effort, he made no move toward negative reaction, staying still to allow the blonde this identification. "Maybe you aren't quite as dumb as you act, Jounouchi," the brunette commented at length, no longer searching, simply staring.

"I've studied at length this implied distinction, experienced it's goodness, it's evil, first hand. I will kill you in an instant, but I will never do such a thing for the mere sake of it." he paused ever so slightly, eyes drifting to look inward a moment. "Even if there is a line, it seems to blur where I stand, and I must know why. Yet I refuse to give way for any, and deny impulse to strike all."

He straightened, shifting away and running a hand through his hair. "Of course we may go to the apartment, Dog. If you so desire. 'The Master's' invisible strings will carry me along behind you." The title of the Lord of the Shadow Kingdom was spoken with a hint of contempt. "But that is purely your choice."

At the brunette's words, he pulled his hand away returning it to his side, though he didn't break eye contact. The blonde continued to study the CEO's face, memorizing his features into memory, unlike when they first met earlier that day. Jou knew that Seto's words we no longer insulting, despite the slight bite he heard in them.

Tilting his head slightly to the side, he made no move to comment on the other's musings. Honestly, Jou couldn't understand half of what he was saying, but what he did understand confused him.

Finally, amber orbs narrowed once again at the sudden insult "Could ya not call me 'dog'?" he asked crossing his arms over his chest again before adverting his eyes to keep the CEO from seeing the hurt that reflected slightly in his gaze. The blonde had never been good at hiding his emotions.

"Heh, oh..? I don't see a problem with the name, personally," he said, voice taunting. "Dogs are man's best friend, no? Befitting of a Wing, really." A smirk alighted on Seto's lips. "Aside from which nearly your every mannerism reflects the association. And there are many, many worse things you could reflect."

Kaiba took a half step back, moving to look out the double doors at the fiery fall landscape beyond the brown colored metal. He waited a moment in thick silence, considering a thought that had struck him with immeasurable caution. "... Then we should be clear on one thing," his cool blue eyes returned to Jou, though his position standing did not shift back. "You have not yet seen me. My greatest might as a Wing, is that I can appear however I please, to Wing or mortal alike. I can look, move, speak, sound, act, just as any other."

His unwavering gaze held a dark tint to it, making the blue seem less cold, and yet, more menacing. "Do you understand that much, at least, about me?"

Jou said nothing as he thought about the explanation, obviously not pleased even after the other explained the reasoning for the little 'nickname'. After a short moment of thought he spoke "Could ya at least make it sound less like your insultin' me?" he murmured, turning his gaze to the ground below his feet.

The blonde’s sensitive ears picked up the half step, though his gaze only shifted to look at the brunette's feet. He listened to Seto for a moment before smiling softly, knowingly. "I understand," he replied calmly, finally lifting his gaze to meet those deep blue eyes. It seemed as if he knew something more then he was letting on.

"I can only guess that's why I was chosen," he mused almost to himself before he took a step closer, seeming to close the distance between them. "You'll find that you're 'dog' comments are a lot closer then ya think," Jou said softly before pushing the door open and gesturing for Seto to lead that way.

"I often get that," Seto said in a soft murmur. "I have a tendency to read things without properly acknowledging them consciously." He made the shift to face Jou, eyes alighting on the smooth skin.

A moment's contemplation and he broke a fraction, eyes warming as he searched Jou's face a moment, a quick scan of his body, and then back to amber orbs. "I wonder what I must do... to have knowledge to be you.." he tilted his head a bit. "Surely I could guess, but I should have no need to.."

His oddly delicate hands drifted to run a hand through his hair once more, and then rest on the back of his neck. Seto seemed lost in thought. "I'll go only once I know why you yet evade me.."

"Why would ya wanna be me?" he asked curiously as he allowed the door to shut once again with a light confused frown on his lips "I can only guess why ya can't become me." Jou said as he watched the brunette's mannerisms closely.

After a moment of silence he took another step towards the other, so that he was close enough to touch him if he were to reach out. "I expect that you'll find out given time," he replied calmly before actually reaching out to Seto, gently brushing his bangs from his face.

As soon as he realized what he was doing, he jerked his hand away, almost as if he had been burned by some unseen force. Amber orbs once again turned away, though he didn't make a move to step back.

Kaiba blinked, frowning slightly as he tried to clear his head. "It would be hard to explain to just anyone. And if I want something, I do not wait for it to make itself available- I take it, one way or the other." His voice had hardened again, leaving no room for emotion. Troubling though it was, it seemed to easy to speak thought instead of fact to this mongrel, and that would be exceptionally dangerous for the CEO, given the number of enemies that lurked in this Realm.

As for contact, any wish for such was purely circumstantial, given the bright fact of mystery. It was nature of all to desire only what one does not possess-- why desire what you have, if you cannot attain it again? And Seto knew all too well, when sight was not enough, closer touch could reveal him how to be another. It was logic pure and simple.

And then again, what then drew this animal to him...?

"To simply wait to receive what you want, never mind spoken desire for it, is a fools way. The cosmos is not built to bend to your will."

"I'm not just anyone," he replied turning his gaze back to the other "besides, I didn't expect ya ta wait...for whatever it is ya want," Jou said gesturing with his hands, making it seem unimportant to anyone other then the two of them. The blonde was that way too, though he has a little less restraint then Seto seemed to have.

The blonde Wing thought for a moment about his little situation, though it didn't seem to be much trouble for him. It was his own fault for going after the brunette in the first place. After a moment, a small smirk formed on his lips. Maybe just taking what he wanted isn't just a bad idea.

"Maybe I should just take what I want too," he growled softly tilting his head to the side.

Kaiba snorted softly, a mocking smirk tugging at his lips. "Perhaps, though I would be most surprised if you could succeed." The CEO leaned in a fraction, voice lowering dangerously. "Someone of your stature would be lucky to step outside his front door without failing at something, don't you think?" His gaze cast a dare to the other's amber eyes.

"Where ever you may step, I will still stand before you. You, Jounouchi, make no use to me but entertainment, simple and pointless. What is it you want, that you think is so attainable, so simple to achieve, that a dog like you could just take it, hm?"

Jou growled softly as his eyes narrowed at the challenge, the blonde was never one to back down. He reached up and took a hold of the brunette's jacket collar firmly before yanking slightly so that the other was merely inches away from his own face, amber orbs glaring into sapphire.

"You, perhaps." Jou growled quietly before pressing his warm lips against Seto's in a somewhat gentle kiss. This action surprised even the blonde, but he didn't dare pull away considering it might be his only chance to do so.

Seto didn't bother noting the way his heart jumped at the growled words, or the surge of want at the contact- that may give way to forsaken pride, something he could not do in all his life. Instead, he met the challenge full on, forsaking logic and pressing the kiss deeper, gripping the blonde's face in his hands and tilting it ever so softly. Behind his lids his eyes flashed a warm silver, and his position shifted so that he was leaning up into the kiss, rather than down.

His tongue traced the other's lips, noting a slight chapping to them, though it was less than acknowledged, and then he pulled away, releasing the White Wing. Familiar green eyes, deep with emotion, and yet still well guarded, gazed into amber, and a tragically pale hand tucked a lock of snowy hair behind his ear. Ryou, or, his double, smiled at Jounouchi, and despite the honesty to the face, the note of mocking wasn't lost in it.

"I knew you couldn't do it. You cannot take what you want if you lack knowledge of what it is," the sweet, British influence tinted voice said smoothly, as a pale hand grasped the case of Seto's bag, and the snow-haired teen pushed open the heavy metal doors, leaving Jou in favor of the fiery fall courtyard.

Jounouchi gasped softly in surprise as the CEO suddenly deepened the kiss, though he didn't relent dominance so easily. Though soon, he was oddly pressing down into the kiss, instead of up, as if he were suddenly taller then the brunette, it didn't really click until the other pulled away, and he was gazing into emerald instead of sapphire. Warm amber eyes stared at the other for a moment before his eyes narrowed once again, though not quite in anger.

After a moment he licked his lips, tracing where Seto's tongue had trailed over, before shaking his head slightly. "It's merely a challenge for me ta face," he said crossing his arms over his chest as he watched the other. "Oh, and ya didn't copy his taste." Jou said almost absently as he followed the copy of his best friend into the courtyard.

As soon as he was out in the fresh air he growled softly, almost as if the anger had said until there was no one other then Seto to hear him "I'll ask ya nicely," he began though gritted teeth "please don't take Ryou's form." After a moment, he tilted his head to the side, almost as if in thought "...It's not safe." he added.

Seto shrugged Ryou's shoulders, turning to face the other, eyes warm silver for a moment as his form shifted smoothly, quick enough to be missed, back to the pale CEO he was for most of his life. "Well I did not spend time enough to search that, and it cannot be done efficiently with lack of contact." Kaiba paused, eyes blue again as he stared into the lifeless fall sky. Clouds of thin white, more mist than fog, drifted across the hopelessly icy expanse that shaded the world.

"... But he is a beautiful Wing. Graceful, and daring. He has an odd might to him." He glanced at Jou, then resumed crossing the courtyard. "You wear your entire being on the edge of your sleeve. It is painful to watch someone try and stand so guarded against attack, while leaving himself wide open." he paused at the fence, stepping up onto it, letting the metal weave shake as he looked down into amber again. "You are a fool, Katsuya Jounouchi, and that will never change." Seto pulled himself atop the fence, and stepped off the other side, landing gracefully on the ground outside the courtyard. "Hurry up, mutt."

Jou started slightly in surprise at the sudden praise for his friend, but the surprised expression contorted into annoyance as he followed to CEO. Why was it that every time he opened his mouth it was to insult the blonde somehow? Shaking his head before merely vaulted over the fence, his hand barely touching the metal before he landed gracefully beside the brunette and began to walk ahead of him. "Ya seem ta think that ya have me all figured out," he said crossing his arms over his chest once again as he glanced back over to the other.

"Ya might find that there is more ta me then meets the eye," he said only pausing for a moment as he waited for Seto to catch up before they began walking to the apartment building they would be sharing with the other Wings.

"There is always more than meets the eye. You have at least five senses, not one." He paused slightly, following after Jou without much interest. "But perception is dangerous; everything is relative, and this is what gives such difficulty to relating." A soft shrug. "I will not lie; I know very little of you. Still, don't think that means I have reason to care what you do."

His gaze stayed close to the sky, his thoughts vague and distant from his words. "I am here only on pretense. And my daughter may prove to you; I lack any reason to follow Lucifer's instructions. I will do as I please in this city, as I always have."

Now it was Jou's turn to look uninterested. One thing he learned was that Seto always decided to explain himself, regardless. Shaking his head slightly, he continued to lead the way to their apartment, almost as if he were stalking instead of walking. When the brunette fell silent, he glanced over to the other, his eyes still narrowed "Ya don't have ta explain everything," he stated "I don't really care at this point."

The blonde turned his eyes away from Seto, decided that looking at where he was going was more important then staring at the Dark Wing at the moment. He could always do that when they got home, considering they now had to live together.

"Mm," Seto nodded, still watching the sky. "There's a wisp of truth for both of us, there. I more speak to myself than you... It's a voice I know too well to be safe with it, even in the distortion of the Mortal Realm, or under the mask of another. Even if you don't care, if I don't... The Creator bids effort to, and so I try. Mutual disinterest has no application to my words; it is just a fact. Nothing more, than it appears to be."

The blonde merely rolls his eyes, wishing for his sensitive hearing to fail him, just this once. If he had known that Seto would be talking this much, he might not have come after him. No, that wasn't true. He still would have come after him, but he might have just gone back to class. Jou didn't so much as glance at the brunette as he spoke softly "I think that I've already memorized your voice..." he mused before shaking his head again "Lets just walk quietly..."


-End of Chapter 2-

[Youko]

Ch. o3: Gold and Silver, Love is my Life

Ryou shook his head lightly as he watched Jou go after the Wing he was assigned to. A small knowing smile formed on his lips before it faded into a light frown. Turning to follow Bakura to his seat, he decided that it would be best to calm the other down. Ryou knew, even if he couldn't read the other's emotions at the moment, that Bakura was tense and in need of something, or someone, to sooth his nerves.

Bakura sighed heavily as he sat, and pulled a sketchbook from his bag, opening it to a blank page. Graphite hit the white almost instantly, and slowly he filled the pure white with shades of Gray. "I hate my Father...." He murmured, as lines of gray slowly blended together to form the face of a beautiful lady, a soft but sad smile on her face.....

Ryou paused for a moment next to the white haired Dark Wing, emerald eyes watched as the white paper was slowly filled with the image of a beautiful woman, he could only guess who this woman was. Moments passed before he took the seat next to the Prince, a small hesitant smile forming on his lips before he gently placed a hand on the other's arm in a hopefully calming manner.

"Bakura..." he began, but trailed off. The White Wing was at a loss of what to say to attempt to make the other feel better, so he fell silent and attempted to channel calming emotions to Bakura as almost a second thought.

Another shiver ran down Bakura's spine at the touch, pencil pausing on the paper. What was he supposed to say...? How could he make it all make sense to the Light...?

"... I don't like being touched," he said, voice held under his breath. "Very few can do it without reflex to pull away, or retaliate." The white haired Wing straightened, dropping the pencil and turning his crimson eyes to rest on Ryou's emerald ones. "And if... I am Prince, then just as much, I am Slave. The picture given to us, of freedom of Lights, is hated in contrast to the slavery that pushes us Darks forward."

Bakura shifted out of Ryou's touch, turning to face the other. "Hate will always overpower Love, because Hate has no need for the Faith that builds the very foundation of Love. And as much as I'd like to learn Grace from you, which honestly is not much at all, it will have no place in my power. Grace is impossible, for a Black Wing. Don't expect a single giving from me."

"I know," he murmured softly, but smiled once again despite the sudden pang of sadness that washed over him just slightly. "I told you once before that I did not expect anything from you," Ryou adverted his eyes after a moment, his gaze falling upon his hands folded lightly on the desk. The White Wing fell silent for a moment, as he thought about the Darks words, rolling them over in his head.

Finally, he began to speak, his voice soft "Yesterday, you said 'Everyone likes to be touched. It's the most soothing experience for the human body, and can ease any soul. It is not a matter of like or dislike.'" The white haired Light turned to Bakura once again "It's curious that you would tell me now that you dislike being touched." He lifted his right hand, as if offering it to the other, "Do you honestly hate touching me so much? Or is it what Kaiba said?" he asked.

Bakura turned his thoughts over and over in his head, playing with the strangely intangible swirls of emotion that were churning through him. He looked away from the other Wing, eyes falling down on the graphite impression of a woman he missed. He carefully shut the notebook, and drew an even breath into his body, returning warm crimson to Ryou, a flick of a scan of the other's body, resting at last upon his face.

"There are layers, Absence. Pretenses, changing factors, and the unexpected. I don't like being touched. Everyone likes to be touched, it is the most soothing experience available to the human body, and is not a debate on like or dislike. I never said I hate touching you, and a misguided Shadow such as Kaiba could never alter my opinion." He paused, curling his tongue in his mouth, eyes straying to rest on the Mortal Teacher for a brief moment.

Just as he returned his gaze, he spoke; "Do you trust me, Ryou?" The words were carefully chosen, and given with a cautiously balanced neutrality.

Not once did Ryou turn his gaze away from the other, or lower his hand as he listened to his words carefully. A small, light smile formed on his lips as the other said he didn't hate touching him. For some reason that meant a lot to Ryou, just hearing those words falling from the Dark Wing's lips. Unconsciously his mind reached out in an attempt to read the Prince's emotions in that moment.

The question caught the Light slightly off guard, but he soon recovered, the smile returning to his lips. Though it took him a moment to actually answer as he seemed to search himself for the deep truth.

"Yes," he murmured softly, though made no move to explain why.

Bakura nodded softly, the only visible reaction, though Ryou could almost touch the swell of relief that flooded Bakura's emotions. Stirring them softly with thoughts Ryou could not read, he stood, still keeping his eyes trained on Ryou. "Then come on," the Dark said, words still being measured carefully. "Into the hall; it's the middle of the hour, there shouldn't be any other's about."

Not glancing to see if Ryou followed, he silently opened the classroom door, leaving it opened as he left the festering smell of Mortal Blood behind him. It was making him hungry, dizzy, nauseous... Mostly Hungry. His red tongue slid over the extended canines in his mouth, feeling the pressure in his gums as the fangs slid down into position for use. Bakura was trying to ignore the way his skin itched and burned, feeling too tight for his bones, and how the cuticles of his nails felt as though at the mercy of a hundred pinpricks, each. He wasn't a monster, nor beast, nor hunter. Merely cursed... At the mercy of his flesh, and the tint it placed upon his mind and his emotions.

Ryou nodded slightly as he watched the Dark Wing stand and leave the class room, once again, no one seemed to notice this, and if they did they said nothing concerning it. After only a moment, the White Wing stood as well and began to slowly follow, curious of what Bakura wanted. There was nothing that he could sense that would indicate what was going to happen when he was finally alone with the other once again.

Closing the door behind him, he waited calmly for Bakura to elaborate on why they had to leave the room, though he could tell that the Black Wing was a bit restless while he was in the presence of mortals. Finally emerald found crimson and searched his gaze lightly as he waited.

Bakura took a minute to study Ryou carefully, his eyes appraising, considering carefully. He was ignorant to the way his fingers flexed, stretching the burning flesh. Certainly he knew his hunger was for mortal blood, but... If it could be done on the Flesh of Man, then in the strength given by his Blood, so painfully close to that of the True Wings, it could be done for Wings as well.

In a flash of pure red from Bakura's eyes, he had Ryou pressed against the wall beside the classroom door, scarcely restraining the White Wing, though his motions moved too quick for any but a Wing to even follow. In fact, by the time Ryou had become aware of the change in position, quick fingers, aided by natural grace and extended nails that revealed the color difference between the black tips, and the nail that stood beside the cuticle, Ryou's shirt had been unbuttoned halfway down his chest, the jacket all the way to the bottom.

There was a point of pain as Bakura, head pressed into the crook of Ryou's neck, used a single of his fangs to break the smooth skin of one of Ryou's scars, and quickly lap his tongue over the wound. His eyes were still wide opened, his emotions focused on the single action, though it may take a moment for the absence of malevolence to register in the flurry of what had just occurred.

Though he regretted it, after the extended presence before mortals, without proper breakfast, he didn't seem to have will enough to speak on what he was uncertain for reaction to. Granted, this may not have been the best way of proposing the idea...

Ryou's gaze shifted slightly to the other's flexing fingers, though he didn't seem bothered by this action. True to his word, the White Wing trusted Bakura, despite the fact his mind was screaming at him telling him how wrong it was to do so. Lights weren't supposed to trust Shadows, that's just the way things normally were. Maybe the Creator has decided otherwise without telling anyone.

With a gasp of surprise, he stared at Bakura before him, his mind reeling with thoughts that were anything but pure. The only thing his mind could properly process was that he was against the wall and his jacket and shirt were suddenly undone. Damn Bakura was fast. Ryou's mind drifted to the day before when Bakura joked about Ryou 'getting lucky'. The White Wing didn't seem to mind at all.

Another gasp filled the air, it was not one of expected pain, but something else entirely. Quite suddenly, Ryou knew what the other was proposing and why he had asked about trust. Pale fingers twitched slightly before he lifted his hands to rest on Bakura's shoulders lightly, hoping that his next action wouldn't be one for him to regret.

After a moment’s hesitation, he nodded slightly and pressed the other gently closer, as if to tell him it was alright and that he didn't mind.

The taste of White blood on his tongue burned softly, though not altogether unpleasantly, as he pressed the wound open a bit more with his tongue, before removing his lips from the surrounding skin, and closing it smoothly with a lap of his tongue once more. It was hard to stay focused, with permission granted, being able to taste as much as feel the music that seemed to resonate from Ryou whenever other thoughts didn't distract him. He trailed his fangs lightly down the flesh without breaking it, searching through sense of touch for another scar, eyelids weighed. With careful deliberation, he cut open the next line of pale flesh, another battle wound that had left its mark. Though unlike last time, he drew the wound open by sucking out a small amount of blood, it closed perfectly, just as the last.

Bakura paused, head pressing against Ryou's chest, hands pushing the Light's wrists into the hallway wall as he used the other for support. His head was spinning, surely a side effect of the White Wing's intoxicating blood, and his failure at being able to sense beyond this contact worried him, of course not on a conscious level.

He had a vague memory of doing this before, arms wrapped around a firm body, leathery wings encasing his own darkly feathered ones, the bright white of his blood-lust sharpened fangs pulling open again wounds from a merciless whip, repairing what would have been eternal damage to beloved golden skin. Had that truly happened...? Or was it another dream, nightmare, wrought upon him by his Father's will..? Was that where this idea had floated into his dreams last night from..?

Ryou's mind was reeling as his skin tingled where Bakura was taking small amounts of his blood. He absently noticed that the other didn't remain in once place and silently hoped that there wouldn't be too many marks left after this, not wanting to deal with Katsu's questions on the matter. He gasped softly at the feeling of the fangs trailing against his suddenly sensitive flesh before braking another small patch of skin. His hazy emerald gaze watched the wild locks of white move as Bakura lapped up some more of his sweet life liquid.

"What the hell?" Growled a voice that seemed a little too familiar to the Dark Wing. Without any hesitation, strong hands took a hold of Bakura and promptly yanked him from the White Wing, obviously pissed with the situation he had walked in on.

Ryou blinked a few times in shock as his mind tried to register what had just happened. Stranding in front of them was a Black Wing who Ryou couldn't identify at that moment. Narrowed lavender eyes glared at him with such strong hatred, the White Wing shivered lightly and scrambled to cover his exposed chest from the intruder. This was definitely not something he was happy about, irritation obvious in his emerald gaze.

The said intruder was dressed much like the two of them, though his uniform was in complete disarray. The jacket was wrinkled and only half buttoned, only hiding part of the not so white shirt underneath. It appeared as if he didn't even bother caring about how the uniform looked to others. Somehow, the Dark Wing had managed to still look quite sexy, though that might be his beautifully tanned skin and his seemingly untamable sandy blonde locks. Onlookers could only guess on how his hair stuck up in that way. It appeared as if this new Black Wing wanted nothing more then to kill Ryou.

"'Kura, what the hell?" he repeated in the same growl, his voice deep.

Bakura felt a pang of airlessness on his throat, barely steadying himself as he was released several feet from the Light. The voice rung in his ears, bringing up hazy pictures, both alluring, comforting, and enraging. He ran a hand through his hair, accidentally pulling the string from his locks and allowing the snowy bundle to fall free down his back. With a quick shake of his hand the string dropped to the hall floor.

"Keep it down," Bakura said as he moved to stand to better see both of them, clawing at his memories for a name. This absent mindedness was yet another good reason not to be the Devil's son. "its just Ryou. Absence is supposed to 'teach' me. You know how the Master gets with me, right..?" He hoped the common ground of displeasure with the Master, whether or not it was spoken by each Shadow, would at least give release long enough that he could get his thoughts back in order. Though his nails had retracted to there usual length, his fangs were still bared, adding a slight accent to his words, which seemed Eastern in heritage.

As almost a subconscious action, he sent a glance at Ryou, that came dangerously close in Bakura's mind to being apologetic, before he settled his crimson intently on the fair haired visitor.

Ryou was shocked to say the least. It wasn't new that Bakura knew the Dark Wing, but the fact that the fair haired Shadow called the Prince by a seemingly loveable nickname. Quickly he rebuttoned his shirt and jacket before returning his gaze to the two, though it seemed as if the intruder seemed suddenly quite interested in staring at him. Ryou shifted uncomfortably, though didn't drop his gaze.

Lavender orbs stared at Bakura for a moment as he turned the words over in his head. So this was the Light assigned to his Beloved? Tilting his head to the side lightly, he approached the Absence, suddenly seeming curious. "This is the Light that was assigned to you?" he asked before turning his gaze back to Bakura "That explains why he is with you," the intruder said, "but that doesn't explain why you had him in half dress in the hall way for anyone to see."

Finally, Ryou decided to speak, his voice stronger then he felt at that moment "Who are you?" he asked.

The fair hair Dark Wing snorted slightly before answering the other, seeing no reason to keep that information from the little Light. "My name is Mariku" he replied crossing his arms over his chest arrogantly.

Bakura shifted slightly, sorting through the array of emotions that seemed to almost be choking proper logic out of him. Is this how mortals felt when introducing their less than par date to a judgmental parent..?

Shaking the sheer oddness of the comparison from himself, he moved, taking Mariku's hand and starting to lead him off. "Hold on a second, Absence," he said to Ryou, although it could easily be noted that the word 'Absence' was more affectionate than derogatory. Pulling Mariku aside several yards from Ryou, he settled them positioned so this time it was Mariku against the hall wall before him.

"Mariku, this is Japan. The mortals in this area wouldn't be caught dead out of their class for fear of consequence from the academy, and all that blood was making me restless," he said in a quick, hushed voice. "What are you doing here..? Don't tell me the Master--"

Ryou nodded slightly as he watched Bakura lead the other away so that he could no longer hear them. What was the connection between Mariku and the Prince? And why was he feeling suddenly irritated at the fact that Bakura was now practically alone with someone other then himself. Was he...jealous?

Mariku smirked when he found himself in the same position that Ryou had been in moments before. Though he noticed the almost endearing way that Bakura had referred to the Light, he didn't seem too bothered by this.

"Oh, that's right," he murmured with a smile "I didn't bother doing research before I got here." Mariku paused for a moment before placing a hand on the paler Dark Wing's shoulder "Don't freak out, I'm here for the same reason you are." Lavender orbs shifted to glance down the halls, almost uneasily "Though, my Light hasn't arrived here yet." He stated calmly.

Bakura let out the briefest of sighs, a small smile playing on his lips. The Wing was obviously pleased, although truly it was at Mariku's nonchalant handling of the situation. As he spoke, his hand reflexively settled on Mariku's atop his shoulder, skin soaking in the finer points of the touch, as that sense usually did for him.

"Actually, that's what I was worried about," Bakura replied, voice significantly calmer in its undertone. "Even if you don't tend to read into things, I do; and it's glaringly obvious at least for me that..," he paused, and shifted into a less tense position, breaking their contact as he did.

"Mariku, wow.... Two centuries since I saw you last," a light, teasing smile lightened the Prince's face. "Predictably, you look just the same, but...," a pale hand ruffled Mariku's hair slightly, the motion condescending but only jokingly, and he used his fingers to straighten what could ever WAS straight, a hand tipping Mariku's face to better see. Though they were almost the same height, Mariku did have a few inches on Bakura- just enough for natural dominance in lip lock. "Over a hundred and eighty years... You've got to be, what...? Two hundred and thirty seven now...?"

Mariku smirked at the light contact, he had missed the warmth of the other's skin against his own. It had been so long. The fair haired Shadow had missed everything about Bakura. His silky locks, his crimson gaze, his beautifully pale skin, even his fangs. All Mariku wanted to do at that moment was press his lips against those blood stained ones, but he restrained himself for the time being.

The blond tilted his head slightly to the side as the Prince trailed off in his explanation to shift away from him slightly. His hand falling back to his side, Mariku gazed down at the other, smiling slightly as the pale Shadow attempted to straighten his hair, just like he had a hundred years ago. At the other's guess, he smiled once again.

"Yeah, that's right." he stated before gently running his fingers though Bakura's white locks "Your hair has gotten long," Mariku mused as he leaned just a little closer.

Ryou watched the two, his annoyance flaring to new heights. Why was this bothering him so badly?

"Hey Snowflake," a clean voice, tinted by an un-placable accent, interrupted Ryou's musings. Another pair of cool, soft purple eyes, these outlined heavily, a head of loose sandy hair dipping down the back of his head and into his eyes, greeted search for the voice. He wore no end of gold, wrapped over rounded flesh like silk, his uniform missing, though in it's place was a very befitting white tank top, pulled tight over a well muscled chest, a green cameo design vest over that. Fingerless gloves hid his palms, and tight cargos, with the same design as his vest, barely still hung on his hips.

He clearly made no effort at humility with his appearance, the look almost seeming to taunt any who dared examine it with impure ideas.

"You look a little agitated," the bronze skinned God-Send added, a flirty smile on his lips. "Need a distraction..?"

In the meantime from which, Bakura had no will not to lean into the touch, Mariku's hands through his hair. Even if many things were still unclear to the sketchy memory the Master had graced him with in this area, he did know that the swirl of comfort and desire that faded through his anger and unrest was very much appreciated, and most definitely caused by his old acquaintance's presence.

"It may have.. But a few feet of hair is no burden...," his eyes slid up to watch Mariku's. "Will you ever change, Mariku..?" he asked quietly, though in all honesty Bakura was trying to push the fierce need to return to what he was supposed to be accomplishing from his mind, in vain.

Pale eyebrows rose in surprise at the voice and the nickname, what was with the damn nicknames? Setting that thought aside, he turned to take in the new intruder's appearance, finding that he quite liked the rebellious look on the boy. After a moment, he realized that this new person is also a Wing, though he wasn't a Dark Wing, that was for sure. Emerald eyes glanced over to Bakura and Mariku for a moment before resting once again on this new Light.

"Hmmm, I just might." He replied, unaware of the sudden flirting tone his voice took. He took a single step towards the bronze-skinned Wing, though moved no closer. "What is your name?" he asked curiously, his voice slightly deeper then normal. It took a moment for Ryou to realize how he was acting and flushed in embarrassment. Now he was starting to act odd. It must just not be his day.

Mariku smiled faintly at the other Shadow, allowing his fingers to trail though those silky locks of their own accord as he observed Bakura. He took in his every feature as if it were the first time he had seen the beautiful prince. Lavender orbs lowered slightly at the question "Probably not." He answered calmly. Mariku was so distracted, he didn't even notice the presence of a new Light in the area.

Bakura smiled, eyes studying Mariku knowingly. "Well, that's something I like about you...," he replied sweetly, then paused. The aura of another Wing, surely Mariku's White One, was washing down from where he'd left Ryou. Brushing the thought from his mind, Bakura had his hands guide Mariku's from his hair, deciding he could delay no longer.

Squeezing the other's hand a moment, he let go. "We're going to have to watch our steps here, Mariku. It's six of us; a rather large concentration of Wings for one city. Seto, you know the useless Shadow..? Is here as well, and just as bound to both traditions as ever. Some useless Absence, too, who knows mine. Bit of a fool, and too concerned for my tastes," he made a slight face at the thought. "This isn't exactly a good reunion, and, well," he hesitated... "I'm not expecting the Lord has a good outcome set up for us-- and personally..? I'm sick of fitting right into his plans."

Suddenly uncomfortable at the thought of what awaited them, Bakura's arms reflexively crossed over his chest, as if he were trying to hold himself together. ".... I'm hungry...," he murmured, eyes straying to the floor. "And I don't feel very stable," the Dark added, in reference to the spin on his emotions the Mortal Blood in his veins added when things seemed out of hand.

But our Golden God-Send, on the other hand, laughed slightly at Ryou's flush, seeming pleased. He slipped in to stand almost beside Ryou, closing the distance between them by all but a foot. "My name's Malik," he said, mimicking the tone Ryou had used. "And if a bit of a distraction is what you need, you've just hit the jackpot." A light, flirty smirk turned up his smooth lips. "I am well versed in the ways of," he leaned in, whispering a breath of the word in Ryou's ear "enjoyment..." Malik pulled back a fraction, smiling at Ryou.

The light smile on Mariku's lips faded slightly as the other slowly removed his hands from his hair. Something was a bit off and the fair haired Dark couldn't figure out what it was. When the other released his hands he allowed them to return to his side, it was almost as if Bakura didn't want him touching him. Like when they had first met, all those years ago. He couldn't quite remember why that was though, it's been too long.

He listened to the Prince's words and frowned, there were six of them? Wasn't that a bit much for one city? Mariku's frown deepened slightly at the mention of Seto, now there was no chance of having fun with him around. When Bakura had finally finished, the blonde nodded in agreement. This all didn't seem very good at all.

At the other's murmured words Mariku tilted his head lightly to the side, he wasn't sure how to deal with this situation anymore.

Ryou stared at the golden Wing for a moment before nodding slightly after the other spoke his name. It was odd that Ryou hasn't heard of this wing before, he must be fairly young then. The flush returned full force as the meaning of Malik's words finally made themselves known to him. Emerald orbs widened at the whispered words, but they were soon forgotten when he glanced over to where Bakura and Mariku stood. Something seemed wrong with his Dark, and Ryou could only guess it was because he was still hungry.

At that moment, Mariku seemed to notice another presence of a Light. Namely, his Light. He turned to gaze at where Ryou stood, only to catch sight of the Wing whispering in the pale Wing's ear in a seemingly suggestive manner. Lavender eyes narrowed slightly as he turned to approach the two, just when Ryou seemed to turn their way. He stopped in front of his White One before glancing over to Bakura's "You seem to attract a lot of attention, Little Light," he said almost absently "but this one is mine." he said finally gesturing to the Light in front of him.

"Well? What have you to say for yourself?" he asked turning to the golden White Wing.

Ryou didn't seem to be listening to Mariku at all as he merely shook his head lightly and began to approach Bakura. Who would leave him alone in that state? Finally, he spoke softly, knowing that the Dark Wing could hear him "Would you like to just go home for now?" he asked "We wont be missed here." he said gesturing behind him.

"Mm, well, we were in the middle of something, weren't we..?" Bakura replied, though more on reflex than thought. He'd abandoned bringing his bag today, but in doing so.... He'd neglected to bring his Vial of Spilt Blood. Shifting positions, he watched Mariku a moment, studying him in a manner that suggested this would be the last he would see of him.

Beside the beloved Shadow, Malik smiled, just as flirtatiously, if not more, as he'd smiled at Ryou. "Well, hmm... Let me think a moment," The White One responded, and paused in thought. At length, he nodded, and took Mariku's hand, shaking it slightly. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mari-ai," the Light said, smile golden as his hair, "M'name's Malik, and I am at your beck and call. Your wish," his tone lowered suggestively "will most happily be my command."

Releasing the Dark's hand, he cast a wave and a wink at Ryou, then, returning his lilac gaze to the Shadow before him, he added, tone light and loving "I very much hope you're looking forward to this as much as me~"

Bakura, frowning slightly, simply nodded, and took Ryou's hand, starting down the hall at a quick stride. "I can't watch this...," he muttered in distaste. "It's making me feel sick..."

Ryou nodded slightly in reply, they were in the middle of something, but he wasn't sure if Bakura wanted to continue that action when they arrived home. Ryou wouldn't argue either way. He glanced over to Malik and Mariku stood, and watched in slight amusement.

Mariku seemed almost baffled by the Light's words. It was quite obvious by the expression on his face that he was either confused or disgusted, probably both. Finally taking in the other's appearance, he found that he wasn't as disgusted as he should have been by such a declaration of sudden devotion. After a moment he tilted his head to the side, sandy locks falling slightly into his eyes, and attempted to figure out Malik's reasoning. Upon failing, he decided to ask what the hell was going on, but could only manage an unintelligent "What?" before looking down at the hand that had let go of his without him realizing that it had been taken in the first place.

Ryou barely caught the wink and wave that Malik cast his way before Bakura took his hand and began leading him off quickly. The light attempted to try sending calming feelings to the other, but he was much too distressed to do so.

Bakura shuddered as they moved, releasing Ryou's hand and increasing his pace, sensing an easy access exit nearby for a quicker escape. The next words that left the Golden Light's lips, that even Bakura scarcely caught, made him shudder, curls of anger ripping through his emotions.

"Oh, Mariku," Malik purred, "You're so cute," he said with a smile. "its kind of odd, isn't it, this situation?" With a light laugh, he dug in the pocket of his multi-green colored pants, easily whipping out a small, black velvet box. He grinned, dusting it off. "Oh, you'll just LOVE this, you will," he said, "Oh, AND, I have our Ja'leen, too. It has some WICKED powers," he snickered slightly, a smirk playing on his lips as he fidgeted with the box for one more brief moment, before slipping it into Mariku's hand.

... Understanding this White Wing really wasn't helped by the fact he seemed to be gaining speed in his talking, the words starting to come out faster and faster. Not that they weren't intelligible, just that deciphering the meaning behind them was not enhanced by the quickness in which they came out....

"Ah, yes!" he added in exclamation, and took Mariku's face, pulling it down the inch for him to land a kiss on his lips. "I almost forgot," Malik added hurriedly, letting go and stepping back to sweep in a low bow. "I almost forgot, Mariku, to properly explain myself." Rising again, he grinned.

"My Sensei has taught me an obnoxiously intrusive amount about you, but of course, I have also been well schooled in respecting your self and privacy," he laughed to himself, though it wasn't clear if it was mockery or mirth. "And I am honest to the Creator, The Lord Lucifer, and all Wings when I say I am at your beck and call," a light grin "Within the rules of this engagement, of course." He hesitated slightly. "And also... I apologize if I go too fast, I'm told I tend to be a bit rushed."

With a beaming smile, he ran a hand through his silky blonde hair, and smiled. "And anyway, I hope you don't plan to stay here and actually attend classes. 'Cause it's not required until after the school dance in two days, and in all honesty," his voice lowered, a mischievous grin slipping into place on his lips, "I can think of MUCH more entertaining things we could be doing."

Ryou slowed for a moment after Bakura let go of his hand, listening for a moment to Malik's speedy words. Soon he found himself shaking his head and quickly following his Dark, the Light didn't even want to know where that was going.

Mariku's eye twitched lightly at the comment followed by the barrage of words he could barely make out. At the mention of their Ja'leen, however he tilted his head to the side and stared at the small box now in his hand. Was the item in it? Before he could ask the question, however, the other suddenly pressed a quick kiss on his lips, almost as if they were already lovers and had been for years.

Lavender pools stared at the golden Light as he finally explained himself. Mariku appeared to be in thought for a moment before nodding in approval "That would explain why you knew my name before I could tell you," he mused before smiling lightly, seemingly very accepting of the situation.

"Is that so?" he asked as a smirk upturned the corners of his lips slightly at the suggestion. The fair haired Dark placed the box into his pocket before holding a hand out to his Light. "You'll do anything?" Mariku asked curiously as he gestured to the nearest exit.


-----------------Elsewhere-----------------


Ryou shifted from foot to foot as he stood in their living room, it didn't take long at all for them to arrive back at the apartment. Bakura seemed to want to get away from the school as fast as possible. The Light couldn't blame him, considering what they had left in the hall. He found that his distress had given way for something else, the closer he was standing to the Black Wing. The thing was, he couldn't quite figure out what that emotion was, all he knew was that he sort of liked it.

Bakura left Ryou in the living room for a moment, muttering a vague excuse and darting into their bedroom. After making quick work of his Vial, he came back out. "Ryou..?" he called as he approached, "would it be too much trouble for you to take off your shirt for me?"

As he entered, he shrugged off his own jacket, leaving it hung over the back of the couch, and unbuttoned his shirt a ways, though it remained on his body. He ran a hand through his long hair, loose now, and made quick work to remove every one of his earrings, for better comfort. All without much thought to Ryou yet.

Ryou stood where Bakura had left him, though he became quickly lost in thought. It seemed as if the Dark knew Mariku from somewhere else before, and by how the fair haired Shadow acted, they were once more then just friends. For some reason, that irritated the Light. He knew that thought kept passing thought his mind, but he just couldn't seem to help it.

The White Wing started slightly at the sound of Bakura's voice, snapping him out of his thoughts. After only a moment of hesitation, he nodded lightly "No," he replied before he slowly took off his jacket, though when he got to his shirt, he glanced over to his Dark. What was he going to do? Without thinking on it much more, Ryou removed his shirt and tossed it onto the couch with his jacket.

He didn't seem to care much about the scar scattered about his torso and back. He had grown used to them after all. Ryou waited calmly for Bakura to finish removing his earrings, though the White Wing couldn't understand why.

[Youko]

The Prince crossed the short distance to stand before the Light, giving him a quick "Hold still," before wrapping an arm around his White's waist, and pressing an extended fang hard against the tight flesh of a scar, right below Ryou's collar bone, biting and breaking the skin, opening the old wound with limited pain.

As he did, he scanned down the other's chest for better direction to the next, disregarding the haze of emotions that churned in his soul, testing his devotion on focus. There was no way that Bakura was going to let such malevolent wounds leave those blatant marks on the Brilliance's beautiful skin.

With a slight nod, Ryou tried to stay as still as he could as the other suddenly wrapped an arm around his waist. The Light gasped softly as the Dark Wing's fang broke into his flesh once again. Though he didn't seem to be in pain at all, but instead he seemed to enjoy it. It took almost all of his will power to remain completely still and not lift his arms to grasp the other.

After a moment of trying to clear the sudden haze in his mind, he spoke softly "What are you...doing?" he asked, emerald eyes watching the other, an odd sort of desire obvious in his gaze. The White Wing no longer had control over his emotions it seemed.

After working the wound open completely, he pulled back enough to close it with his tongue, and glanced up at Ryou as he moved down and toward Ryou's left. "Well, what does it look like I'm doing, Ryou?" he asked after a moment of considering the look Ryou was giving him. Bakura tightened his grip on Ryou's waist and held him against his own, bracing the other as he bit down on a larger scar than he'd covered before.

Though the Dark was not fully aware of the haze he'd cast on his fellow Wing, that was certainly not to say it hadn't passed through his mind. After all, the Black Wing, being as he was, was NOT what one would call "pure".

Attempting to fight though the haze, he tried to figure out what Bakura was in fact doing. He had no idea that the other was trying to heal the scars that littered his pale skin, though he would figure that out later on. Finally he spoke again "I don't know," he replied after the Dark tightened his grip and pressing their waists together, his voice sort of breathy sounding. Ryou didn't seem to notice. All he knew was that whatever Bakura was doing felt very nice.

Ryou bit down lightly on his bottom lip to keep from making any noise that might make the situation embarrassing. The Light knew that if Bakura were to look at his expression, he would see exactly what he was doing to him. His pale face was flushed lightly in delight, giving away exactly what he was trying to hide.

The Prince paused, draining blood from the good sized wound, pressing his head against Ryou's chest slightly as he reveled in the dizzying spin the blood put on his mind as he let the burning blood linger on his tongue. Sweet, and tantalizing, Bakura had been wondering when he'd hear that music echoing through his head again. Yet...

This time, it seemed, there was a different sound to it than had been before, though it was difficult to name it precisely, as the music lacked the substantial sound that such chords outside the mind had, leaving it near formless. Allowing his front teeth to chew on the intact skin, Bakura focused more energy on deciphering the sound.

It played a strange melody in his head... Dancing pictures of desire, of love and sex and gods and unholy alliances, all that led to either pain, or a moment's true bliss, the difference between the destinations pure chance.

Bakura pulled his eyelids open, though only a fraction, forcefully moving through his thoughts, and the swirl of want the sound seemed to drum up through him, in order to seal the wound, and pull back. He slowly swept his gaze down Ryou's chest, counting the scars, but lingering in lust. He had to learn where this music came from, if it really was the Light's, or if the Master played it. But at the moment, there was only one thing to do... He hesitated, reluctantly raising his head again and looking at Ryou. Though he was surprised that his sense of touch had been correctly reading the White Wing, he did not look it, instead willing himself toward less familiar action. ... But his will could not seem to move him.

Ryou was so intent on not making another sound or move, he didn't seem to notice that he began to bite down on his lip harder with every movement that Bakura made. The Light knew that his heart was pounding heavily in his chest, but that didn't seem to matter at this time. Soon, his mind was in such a fog that his desire to touch Bakura won over his will not to.

Slowly, he lifted his hands to gently brush though the silky strands of the Dark's white hair, though he made no move to do anything more. By this time, Ryou's eyes were only half open, gazing at the other with almost glazed pools of emerald. The White Wing's desire was nearly rolling off of him in waves, though he had no idea that by having direct contact with the Prince might transfer those emotions. Before he knew it however, he was gazing into crimson orbs.

That crimson blinked twice, and, straightening, Bakura decided, hell, he was the Black one, right...? If that was how his Light was feeling, this message that was pulsing down his spine, through his nerves, from the simple touch of Ryou's fingertips in his hair, then why in the name of All should he hold back..? Aside from which, it had been a while for him. He leaned in, paused, and then captured Ryou's lips in a suddenly fiery kiss, eyes shutting as he slid his hands down onto the Light's thighs.

Pressing Ryou's teeth back with his own through the kiss, his tongue made a brief flick to gather the last of the Light's blood from Bakura's fangs, before pressing for entrance into the other's mouth. Why he didn't just take it, Bakura couldn't say, but he wouldn't dwell on it.

Ryou's eyes snapped open in surprise at the feeling of the Dark's lips against his own, but soon drifted shut as he engaged in the fiery kiss, wrapping his arms around the other's neck and allowing his fingers to tangle themselves in Bakura's soft hair near the nape of his neck. The Light absently pressed his body closer to the other's almost begging for more skin to skin contact.

The sensations were unbelievable for the White Wing, his skin tingled lightly where Bakura's skin made contact with his own and deep threads of desire wrapped themselves around him, gripping him firmly. Ryou gasped softly, allowing the other entrance in the process, his face flushing a bright red as his mind grew more hazy.

Bakura took quick advantage of the haze, perhaps translating the message, perhaps taking his own, sliding his hands back up the other's thighs over the fabric, breaking that contact and hurriedly making his shirt scarce, abandoning it with a light throw.

The dark pressed into the kiss, tongue searching for every corner of Ryou's mouth, mapping out each difference he could find, from the absence of the small muscles that lowered his incisors as they were now, to the fact that the extra canines in the back of his mouth, where some had wisdom teeth, were completely lacking in Ryou's. And the odd taste of another's mouth, warm and yet feeling too slippery compared to the texture he felt in his own.

The Prince pressed his chest against Ryou's, explaining away the motion by using the touch to search for the location of more tight scarred skin. Of course, that observation task was quickly abandoned for more enjoyable senses. Bakura's skin felt as if it burned like fire, the ingestion of blood mere moments before driving it even further still.

Ryou didn't seem to notice that Bakura had broken the contact for only a moment until he felt the Dark's completely bare skin pressing against his own. He hesitated slightly when he felt the other's warm tongue probing his mouth, seemingly curious about the feel of another's mouth. The White Wing moaned softly against the other's lips before his tongue hesitantly explored Bakura's own mouth. He barely noticed the differences as he was too caught up in the moment to really care about anything other then the heat of his Dark.

The Light's fingers slowly trailed down the pale skin of Bakura's back, though somewhere in that haze, his mind was screaming at him. It was as if he turned off his logical mind and just gave into the sudden desire he had felt for the Black Wing.

Bakura let out a soft noise, shifting his tongue to one side for Ryou to have better access to the Dark's own mouth, hoping on some level he may prick his tongue on a fang and bleed into the kiss. At the light touch to his back, he shifted, pressing skin onto Ryou's a bit more as, beyond the restraints of the flesh world, his wings flexed, craving to be touched by another as they so often did. In passing the Shadow wondered what Ryou would think, the strangeness of Bakura's wings, his colors betraying, the feathers that made them quick to inform others of his closeness to the roots of Wings.

Still, in the rush of the moment, he couldn't seem to wait long enough for Ryou to bleed, craving the dizzy spell his Light's blood cast on him. Bakura broke the kiss, pulling his tongue and mouth from Ryou's reach, head moving on reflex toward the smooth skin of Ryou's neck as his arms settled wrapped around Ryou's waist.

But before Bakura could bite in, he paused, and, remembering his cause, cast gaze over Ryou's shoulder. He thanked whomever had dug the wound of the deep scar that was settled just over the hill of Ryou's shoulder. Pulling down on Ryou's hips and standing on his toes, Bakura stretched around the Light's shoulder, and bit fierce canines into the soft living tissue.

Ryou found himself being careful of the Shadow's fangs, though on some level, he didn't care if he ended up pricking himself or not. To the White Wing, it felt as if Bakura was trying to weld his body with his own in the heat of their sudden passion. It was an odd feeling that he found that he rather liked, but decided to think more of it when thought was actually possible for more then a minute.

A light whimper escaped his lips upon the Dark breaking away from the kiss and moving out of his reach. Slowly, he opened his eyes to gaze at the other, only to find himself staring at those silky white locks. Absently, he wondered how the Black Wing could have such soft hair and still look dangerous. Ryou gasped softly when the other bit into his flesh once again, the slight pain penetrating though the haze that clouded his logical mind.

Emerald orbs widened slightly in shock at the sudden realization of what was just happening, of what was still happening. Not caring if he injured himself, he not so gently pushed the other off of him, his face flushed brightly and his eyes still wide. Finally finding his voice, he spoke softly "What were you doing?" he asked, surprisingly calm with the situation he found himself in.

The Shadow stumbled back a bit, glad he had been able to sense the tension enough to not have the Light's skin in jaw, hence tearing the flesh as Ryou broke them apart. Bakura took a moment to gather himself, mind still spinning from the blood, chest burning from what small portion of the life giving liquid he'd inhaled at the gasp made when they separated, causing the pale white skin of his chest, smooth and perfect, to be tinted ever so slightly.

As the question settled into his mind, Bakura blinked, and straightened. "A Brilliance as yourself should not wear such battle scars on your skin," he answered in a blank voice, the purely affectionate name of White Ones slipping from his mind. Then crimson blinked, clearing, and Bakura's hands slid into the pockets of his uniform pants, expression turning to harden and hide all trace of just how uncomfortable he was. Though Black's may succumb to such desires regularly, they do not make good habit of kissing in relation to those desires. It was just never learned by them, to connect the two.

A drive to never succumb fully to being put off by a situation caused Bakura to add, in an almost mocking fashion, "Why...? Suddenly get cold feet...?"

Still staring at the Black wing, he felt a warm trail of blood dribble slightly down his chest as well as his back. Disregarding the fact that he had, in fact, permitted the other to do what he did, he spoke softly "You should have told me what you were doing first," he said adverting his eyes, cheek still flushed beautifully "I wouldn't have..." he paused and shook his head lightly before smiling slightly. Ryou didn't feel the need to elaborate on what he wouldn't have done, but he knew that he wouldn't have allowed himself to give in to such a desire if he had known that was all it was.

Ryou didn't bother asking about the kiss just yet, he merely shook his head slightly "No, I just...get a little carried away sometimes." he explained before he turned back to the Dark Wing. "Sorry I freaked out a little," Ryou said before glancing at the blood dribbling down his chest "I...should go take care of this," he said hurriedly before turning to go into the bathroom for the first aid kit.

A frown fell onto Bakura's face. He denied the swelled feeling of emotional wounding in his chest, knowing precisely what to blame for it, and, making good use of his Blood Curse's enhanced speed, snagged Ryou's wrist as he tried to walk off. The Dark pulled Ryou into reach, sliding his tongue up the wound on his chest, and then spun him, taking two laps to cover the larger wound on his back. Due to the quickness in which this action was made, the wounds were still closing themselves even has he released the other, and pressed him down to sit in a nearby chair.

Bakura's crimson gaze was dark, daring the Light to speak against him, a churning of unbidden anger, which couldn't have been helped by the mortal blood that surrounded the Shadow in every direction in this city, curling through his mind. "If you enjoy such things, I can hardly be pressed to know that. If I as a spirit of Evil ties wish to further such oddities, you can hardly blame me for your useless embarrassment. And whether or not you got carried away, it is far from blaming me for difficulties in establishing extensive details on a plan to act less than malevolently, in order to keep you from reading into something incorrectly, that you would much rather read into incorrectly regardless of intent."

With a sigh of frustration, he sat back across from Ryou, eyes still dangerous. "You have no right to blame me and make quick exit, simply because you are uncomfortable with your own desire," he finished in a harsh tone.

Ryou squeaked in surprised when the other was suddenly in front of him and had a hold of his wrist. He had forgotten how fast a Dark Wing could be. Before he knew it, his wound was heading and he was being pressed into a chair, he could almost touch the Shadow's anger. The White Wing remained silent and listened to what the other had to say.

The other's words made him feel like a small child being scolded for doing something bad. Of course, he hadn't realized how his reaction would effect Bakura. Adverting his eyes, he wrapped his arms lightly around himself "I...didn't mean to blame you," he murmured softly "it's my own fault" Ryou didn't quite elaborate on what exactly was his fault, but he turned his gaze back to Bakura. "You're right," he said finally, with a small almost sad smile, though he wasn't yet sure why he was sad.

"I didn't mean to blame you," he repeated just as quietly before shifting uncomfortably. "Being bitten is usually not on the top ten of what White Wings desire," Ryou almost mumbled "and nether is desiring a Black Wing..." he said under his breath where only those with exceptional hearing could pick up. Shaking his head lightly he spoke again, his time normally "I'm sorry I made you angry..."

Bakura stared at the other, listening to his return of guilt, annoyed that he found this response almost as angering as the other. The Shadow folded his hands in his lap, looking down to better focus on absorbing the words and tone. It was infuriating, this. His subconscious toyed with the idea of if the moment had been worth it or not. He found the option of saying 'forget it' and just leaving it to smolder tempting, but experience with the Master told him just how cruel that would be to both of them.

Silent for a minute, he looked back up, crimson still dangerously edged. He watched the White one intently, playing with just how much to give. After a long pause of careful consideration, a wry smile played onto Bakura's lips, and he straightened in his seat. "Your fascination with teeth against your skin can have any number of roots, and I certainly don't care. But if it might make you feel better, I may be able to give way enough to rationalize away your desire for me," the Black Wing said coyly.

The Prince pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and resting his chin atop them as he studied the Brilliance opposite him for each reaction. "I am what is called by both sides A Sin. Yes, a Sin. A wing bred of mortal blood, forsaking the greatest commandment of the Creator; the protection of the Souls of Man. So of course, this twisting of law has the lovely effect of pulling from guardian over guarded, teacher over student, to break that barrier of trust that so divides men as well, to know differences between his wife and his child." He flicked a hand to pull the still too long hair from before his eyes. "It happens to all, for whatever reason the bond is so broken by us Sins. It is merely a matter of breaking the reflexive shield to acknowledge it."

A dim, dark smile eclipsed his face, eyes dangerous and tempting now. "You commit no sin by knowing it. In fact, perhaps grace by denying me. After all, we can not have a Brilliance as yourself being tainted by actually finding solace in a unholy Betrayer as myself."

Bakura failed to notice the term 'Betrayer' as he used it, one reserved to those highest in ranking, closest to True Wings, for the Black Ones. Often it is only spoken by the Commander of a Legion of Whites, or by the Master in mocking of the title. Yet it seemed this favored Shadow had, in his desire to quell his emotions, had lost some of his handle on his inhibitions with communicating with fellow Wings.

Ryou couldn't help but feel slightly hurt by the other's first uttered words, but he remained quiet as he watched Bakura pulls his knees up to his chest. Absently, the White Wing wrapped his arms tighter around himself as the other began to explain something Ryou hadn't quite expected.

The Light stared at the other in shock at the revelation, but that was all there was. There was no disgust or betrayal in his expression, no sadness or hurt. Finally the shock melted away to something unreadable as he processed that revelation. That would explain why Bakura's emotions were so strong at least. He soon found himself staring at the Dark Wing absently as he became lost in thought after the other went silent. Finally, Ryou spoke, his words softly "I have no qualms with what you are," he began as emerald orbs focused on crimson "I do not care if you are a Sin, and I don't care what may be in store for me," Ryou paused for a moment before a small smile formed on his lips.

"I will not deny you," he said, "and I will not forsake you." The White Wing tilted his head lightly to the side "My desire will not change." he stated finally.

Bakura's eyes steadied, darkening as he withdrew to consider this. Though his expression betrayed the spinning ribbons of annoyance, they had no root to the fact that he was finally hearing words that went against every other of his life, from an Absence. The desire to fall fully into the idea was nauseatingly powerful, but he fought it off with a silence.

Bakura had been carefully taught why the Millennia war existed, what had led to the separation between Wings. He understood boundaries between Wings and Mortals, and how the rankings of each fell together. He knew of Sins, of Betrayers, of the Brilliances that were so favored by the Creator, and he even knew well how punishment befell either. The fierceness of the True Wings of Shadow that had gone mad with their power, he had witnessed first hand, and the cruelty of Lights, when they abandoned lovers and friends in the heat of battle in favor of their own existence, he knew that too.

But words such as these, were so foreign, and so tempting, his first reflex was to label them as either Evil, or Trickery. And so he took this moment's silence, this moment's thought, to see through it, to find the flaw that broke those laws he had been taught for over a thousand years of living.

And at length, he found it. Eyes narrowing, an ancient curse slipped from his lips, and he straightened in his seat, sweeping eyes at Ryou for only a moment, before standing and crossing to the couch. He swept up his shirt, ignoring the uncomfortable design of the uniform, and began buttoning it up with quick fingers, a defiant anger bleeding into each level of his emotion. He made no move to inform Ryou of the conclusion he'd come to at those heart-felt words.

That small smile faded as more time passed, somehow he had done something wrong once again. The Light watched as Bakura stood, crossed to the couch, snatched his shirt, and began to quickly put it on. All the while Ryou was being overwhelmed by the strong anger that radiated from the other. He had just managed to make him more angry. With a soft sigh, the White Wing stood and crossed the room to his own shirt and jacket before lifting them from the couch and holding them lightly to his chest, as if they would help him keep steady.

"I'm...going to lie down," he murmured softly, his voice only wavering slightly as he nearly stumbled down the hall to their room. Ryou decided, that despite the kiss they had shared, Bakura was not even remotely interested in him. Only humored him. Stumbling into the room and closing the door, he dropped his shirt and jacket onto the floor in favor of climbing into bed. Taking a deep breath, he tried to rid himself of the anger he felt from Bakura. At least now he knew why the other's emotions effected him so strongly.

Ryou figured that he would soon have to tell Bakura this fact, but he would wait until the other was calm. He didn't think that he could deal with anymore anger as it was.

Bakura's eyes narrowed at his fingers, as he topped the last button, and began pulling off his shoes with his own feet. He could feel through the air Ryou stumble, heard all too well the small break in his voice, and still could not seem to gather any more control on the sharp-edged rage he had barely kept from growing further. Once his feet were bare, he closed his eyes, focusing on the inherent magic of all Wings, bringing his outfit to something more suitable from it's physical base. A black tank top, pure darkness in color, and half sleeves that only covered from elbow to wrist, held together by red straps, attached by black snaps, which crisscrossed his arms, and down the sides of his shirt. The typical uniform pants forsaken in favor or black and red jeans, heavily weighed by silver chains, deep red and black straps covering his scarcely obscured feet. but leaving the bottoms bare for better movement and sense through touch.

As he made meticulous progress toward the door of their room, His wings angled through the slits in the back of his shirt, feathered flesh extending from his back just as his fangs would lower from his mouth. They were a beautiful, dark color, not quite black, but a deep and flowing purple, edged with the pure red that those well knowledgeable would know betrayed his mortal blood. And of course, ribbons of gold, mostly along the tips of each feather, which showed his royal heritage to any of powerful ranking.

The Prince paused in the doorway, finally of glory of Wing and no longer hiding under a gauze of mortality. His eyes, shining a murderous red, watched Ryou curled in the bed for a moment. He only left a moment's thought, through the pulse of his anger, on what quite to say.

"... Thank you," he said, voice hard as his eyes. "I have to go speak with my father. I'm rather tired of being a simple pawn to him." there was another moment's hesitation, this of a different sort though, less calculated and more emotional. "... And... I...," he fumbled for the right words. Eventually giving, he shook his head. "I'm going back to My Kingdom," he said instead. Bakura couldn't quite figure out how to phrase his outrage, at what he saw as Ryou being used so.

Ryou thin form shivered lightly as Bakura approached the room, the anger turned into a rage. He found that he wanted to somehow quell that anger, but no matter what he said, the Dark Wing just got more angry. Emerald pools turned to finally gaze at the Prince in doorway as he spoke, his voice seeming to cut though Ryou. When the other claimed he was going to go back, tears that he had not noticed blurred his vision before he could truly take in the other's beautiful appearance.

"You don't have to thank me," he said, his voice cracking "I just seem to make you angry..." he murmured and curled up tighter. The Light wanted nothing more then to jump up and run to the Dark and beg him not to leave, but Ryou couldn't move. The rage had him pinned to that spot, overwhelming him so that all he could do was curl up more. The silence stretched as the White Wing attempted to find his voice once again and rid himself of the tears.

Finally he managed to speak, his voice soft and broken "I'm sorry," he said, lifting his gaze to the other once again, though he couldn't quite see him "please don't go..." Ryou almost begged, but found that he could no longer find his voice, so he remained silent, his consciousness slowly drifting away.

Bakura suddenly found his breath catching, worry creasing through his mind, overtaking anger. He bit his lip hard not to let the annoyance at the overwhelming effect his emotions had at him overtake that worry. He took quick strides to the bed, tearing back the covers and pulling Ryou into his arms. Eyes shut tight, it took a few mutterings of verse before he'd found control enough to breathe, pushed back emotion enough to clear his mind.

"... You, frustrate me, Absence. You provoke me and confuse me and wound me, but... I am far from angry at you...," he shook his head. "There is too much in my mind for me to explain things all the time... Ryou, you read me wrong." His wings, gold glittering from the kindness he was trying to voice, red bleeding further in from the humanity he was showing, though narrow in design and built for speed, stretched to canopy them. They were a wonder amongst his kind, wings that not only held more than three basic colors, but that also changed with the current moment... He hid them often, yes, but not of his own will, merely to not be so noticed.

"I was," he fumbled a moment, then tightened his grip. "Thanking you, really.... You..." he paused, and sighed, pressing his head against Ryou's chest. "I'm not used to any of this, it drives me mad... That you care not for blood is... It is simply not done. And I appreciate that, I just.." he bit his lip, and growled, pulling his arms back but staying close. He couldn't look at the Light. ".... I have no qualms with you right now." A frustrated sigh, and a dark glance. "Why are you always so hurried to overreact..?" Though his frustration with the situation was great, it had little bearing, for his worry, and his desire to comfort despite himself. And though that in itself angered him, it was not so that it should be even acknowledged now.

But the Wings, shading them, making a small, sacred place, that glowed softly from the golden glitter, red bleeding, falling, slipping like water down the swirl of purple, and, in this closeness, dark blue, that made most of the shield of feathers... It was almost magical, in a way, even beyond the known magic of Wings...

Eyes that began to drift closed, snapped open at the sudden worry he felt from the other. It took him a moment to realize that Bakura had strode across the room and torn the blankets from his shivering body before he pulled him into his arms. Ryou allowed himself to relax in the other's arms as he listened to the other's comforting words. This time he didn't quite gaze at Bakura, but at his beautiful wings, the colors seeming to mesmerize him, though he found it was now easier to understand the Dark's words.

Blinking slowly, he finally turned his gaze to the Shadow's white locks, then when the other let him go, he found that he was desperately missing the contact. Registering the question, Ryou lifted his gaze to look into the other's murderous gaze, though it didn't seem so to the Light. Finding that he suddenly had to explain himself, he attempted to sit up.

"I can't help it," he began softly before wiping the tears from his face with his bare arm "I can feel other's emotions, almost as if they were my own. Because of this, my own emotions react wildly and are sometime transferred to the one I have contact with. I guess that if I feel strong negative emotions, I can be overwhelmed. Different emotions have different effects, but ultimately I grow weak and unable to think straight." Ryou adverted his gaze from the other completely "It is my gift and my curse.." he finished softly.

Bakura blinked at Ryou through the shaded area, finding himself letting out a short, dry laugh at the last of the Light's words.

"You know too well," he said, shaking his head slightly, suddenly seeming amused. "For Darks, it is called a Curse, the Curse of Shadows," he flipped his hand, extended the palm to show Ryou. On his wrist, the skin was colored black, in the shape of an eye, appearing Egyptian in basing. Circling it were several curling tendrils, coloring his skin up his palm, reaching toward his fingers, and down his wrist and arm, criss crossing, almost to his elbow. "Our Shadow Mark is visible to all when not hiding as mortal, so all may know us as Black Wings, though it's location varies from each of us."

A smile playing on his lips, he added "And still for you Brilliances, it is called the Pure Gift, yes..? But is anything from pure- named as curse or gift, it is a double-bladed sword each." He sighed, feeling a bit relieved, though irritated at it's constant switching, that the mood seemed to have lightened for him. "The Blood Curse laid on me by my Father is the same- a dependency on the very mortals I had tried to help, to always take of them, and though it grants me many powers, increased senses only one of them, those very same senses can all too easily drive me to my knees, as much as warn me of danger..."

He returned his hand to him, pushing hair from his eyes. "But, I have an issue with the Master, and what he is doing here... I do have to go, Ryou. I am not the pawn he plays me as, or at least, I try not to be." Again the Prince slipped, turning from calling him father to Master, and again he failed to notice, busy reveling in purpose without anger, and whatever connection he seemed to have with the Absence before him.

Ryou sat up with little trouble and tilted his head lightly to the side at the sound of the other's dry laugh. He waited for the other to speak curiously, Bakura was just full of surprises today. Emerald orbs focused on the mark that the Dark Wing held out to him, though he made no move to touch it like he wanted to. Nodding to show that he understood, he looked back at the Shadow's face, a small smile forming on his lips as the other continued his explanation.

Upon hearing the other was going to go anyway, Ryou pulled his legs up to his chest and frowned. "I have no choice but to be the pawn of the Creator," he murmured softly "but I don't mind as much anymore." The Light trailed off and turned his gaze to the sheets "I just....don't wish to be left alone again," he merely whispered. He found himself trying to make an excuse for Bakura to remain with him.

The Shadow frowned ever so slightly, torn between words. At last he smiled dimly. "Ryou, you trust me, and you won't.. judge me...... I can't leave you alone.. But, I have to," he paused. "... I know...," he paused again, and frowned. And then smiled at Ryou, like a father to a child on question of Santa Claus. "I know that I will stay if you bid me, but I do not want to. And I have no intention of abandoning you, of just leaving it here..."

Running a hand through his hair, he played with the locks absently. "You could, come with me, or, wait for me to come back... Or you could ask me to stay here, and so I would do. But I can't promise I would be happy with such... I have nothing but enjoyment with your presence, however wounding, frustrating, difficult. But I have other places to be, and I don't think the laws of this engagement that has been arranged, are so strict as we are both bound from travel."

Ryou thought about the choices that Bakura had given him as well as the surprisingly caring words. The Light found that just waiting for his Dark to return didn't sound like a very good idea, seeing as he couldn't be alone for long periods of time or he'd likely go insane. And he couldn't very well ask Bakura to stay if he knew that the other wouldn't be happy with that. Finally deciding, he smiled slightly and let go of his legs.

"I suppose..." he slowly inches his way to the edge of the bed, around Bakura, and planted his feet on the ground "I could go with you." Ryou nodded slightly to himself noting that he felt much like himself once again. With a light laugh the Light spoke again "I'm supposed to stay with you at all times," he explained, obviously finding the information amusing.

"I can't very well go like this though," he said gesturing to himself before he stood and closed his eyes, focusing on the same magic that Bakura had before. A thin pure white tank top made of mesh appeared on thin air and stretched over his well muscled chest perfectly. The uncomfortable uniform pants were abandoned for pair of form fitting white leather pants that seemed to be specifically for him. On his bare feet formed a pair of golden sandals that appeared to be Roman in lineage. Upon his wrists formed three golden bracelets that jingled lightly with every slight movement.

Though the most spiracular thing was his wings as they stretched though the slits in the back of his shirt. The feather appendages were the purest of white, save for the gold and a faint amount of silver laced though the feathers beautifully. Though on edge of each wing near the bend was a golden clamp that gave away a high ranking Light. Finally, he slowly opened his eyes, the deep emerald now flecked lightly with the gold that lined his wings.

The Shadow smiled wistfully, allowing his slender, colorful wings to fold behind his back, the red leaking back up, to stay around the edges, the gold still glittering as he watched Ryou recover himself. When the other was done, the first thing Bakura said was "You're beautiful."

Standing, he stepped forward slightly, pausing his hand in mid-raise as he noticed the attempt on acting on his desire to touch him. "What a funny thing," Bakura said, tilting his head slightly, looking from Ryou's face, to chest, legs, and then wings. "And here I've spent all this effort trying not to say something I'm not supposed to..." he returned his crimson gaze to Ryou's, and here, standing before each other, gold glittered green and deep blood red that had the softest tint of silver riddled through it finally met, in pure form. Though it sounded a bit out of place, Bakura laughed, wholly.

"You are such a wonder. You are driving me absolutely up the wall, Absence."


-End of Chapter 3-

[Youko]

Ch. o4: Weird Hair and Puppy Love

Seto had just about had enough of this mutt. After failing in beating the living rock up, or rousing him in much any fashion, and wasting about three hours without getting a damn thing done, he had taken to seriously considering the option of attempting to cause real harm to the flea-bitten creature (thank the Creator that hygienic statement wasn't truth).

Seto took a deep breath, closing his eyes, and trying to think past the warm noose tied around his slender body. Okay... He'd gotten back late, the dog was asleep on the couch... dressed for bed, went to sleep.. Somewhere in the night, the mangy hound had found his way in here, and then latched onto the CEO, who, for unexplainable reasons, didn't wake up. Come three am as usual, he came to, but the infuriating creature was locked onto him. Now it was six am. How the hell could he get this thing OFF...!?

.... 'If I were a mutt, what would I wake up to...' ...

He scowled, and managed to get one of his hands in position to rub his temples. Some unholy creature was just ASKING for pain. Simply asking for it...

With a frustrated sigh, Seto replaced his hand, and turned to look at the mutt. Aside from how infuriating the pathetic creature was, he looked a lot better asleep and drooling, than awake and all high and mighty. Finally, in a dull voice, he said, rather loudly and annunciating his words carefully "I can't cook breakfast if I can't get out of bed, you know."

The sleeping puppy's ears seemed to twitch lightly at the mention of food, but all he did was snuggle closer to that warm body he was already pressed against, then go completely still once again. At least it had a better reaction then the previous attempts had. Right? Unbelievably messy golden locks covered his eyes and a small part of the CEO's nightshirt tenting it gold. Though despite how adorable he looked sleeping, that drool dripping not so presently from the corner of his mouth, made that idea completely void. Nothing drooling was cute.

Jou was exhausted by the time he had fallen asleep on the couch. Okay, that's a lie. He was bored out of his mind. Seto had left for work, refused to take the blonde with him, and the White Wing was stuck at home alone with only his homework to do. Well, that was a lie too, but he didn't feel like trying to figure out how to play any of the games, or even go on the computer. He'd even tried going over to Ryou's, but they weren't even home. Ever since finding that out, he felt a bit uneasy. Not long after that, he fell asleep doing said homework.

He had woken up in the middle of the night when he hit the ground after falling off the couch. Jou figured that it would be more comfortable in bed, so promptly forgetting that there was only one bed, and Seto was probably sleeping in that bed. Jou changed into pajamas and climbed into bed. Sometime while he was sleeping he latched onto the brunette for comfort and had yet to let him go.

Finally, the blonde stirred slightly, "'M sorry....no choice....orders...." he muttered softly, his words slurred with sleep. Upon a closer look, one would find that Jou was still sound asleep, though he seemed much closer to the waking world then he was before.

That was it. Right there, the end of his patience. Seto Kaiba could only be at the mercy of a mutt for so many hours. That, and he finally thought of something that may work. No one needed to know it was the obvious answer that took him three hours to reach.

Icy blue turned a warm silver, just long enough for the CEO's form to attain that of a small boy, of tan skin and fierce eyes, and slip out of the White One's grip before he could adjust it. Dusting off and returning to proper size, he filed the event away amongst 'never to be spoken of again', and glared at the dog for a minute.

"Apologies are useless," he said darkly, "and a true man would take punishment rather than regret any day." Though he really didn't know and couldn't care less what Jounouchi was muttering about, well, honestly? The CEO was pissed by now, and any malevolent action, no matter how pointless, would probably be taken.

Heading toward the door out of the room, he opted for his more powerful, and hence less difficult to maintain, form. Shredding the mortal skin, he kept only his pallor. A pair of tight black pants, belted boots, and a turtleneck with belted sleeves and neck, made of smooth material, replaced his nightclothes. He had no wings-- under the fabric of his shirt, were tight-skinned scars, still red and with the occasional bleeding or scabs, long slits where his feathers once were.

For some reason, he paused in the doorway, turning back to look at Jou, ice blue eyes glittered with flecks of a warm, deep ocean blue.

Surprisingly, it was the other's shift of form that caused Jou to awaken, though he made no move to open his eyes or indicate anything other then sleep. He listened to the CEO's dark words, but didn't seem to care much. He knew it was true and had told himself that countless times, but his mind just wouldn't accept it completely.

The blonde listened and waited for the brunette to leave the room so that he could stop pretending to be asleep. Then again, he could just pretend to just wake up. He went with that. Reaching for where Seto had once been, he frowned slightly and opened those amber orbs slowly, as if he were just realizing that something was missing but he didn't know what. With a shrug, he stretched his body lazily, his hands far above his head almost pressing against the headboard of the bed. With that done he slowly sat up, he made a face when he realized he had been drooling and wiped the remainder onto the sleeve of his dark green pajamas.

It seemed to take a moment for him to realize that Seto was still standing in the doorway watching him. He turned to the other curiously before he offered a sleepy grin before that he broke into a large yawn, covering his mouth slightly. "G'morning," he murmured, but he knew that it must have sucked for the Dark, who looked very nice in those clothes by the way.

Kaiba frowned noticeably, watching the other wake, and then smile. It would just figure, wouldn't it..? Did anything go his way without having to be beat with a stick first..?

"Good morning," he responded dully. "Tell me, I'm rather curious, are you only just this disgusting when you pretend to be mortal, or is it a constant?" Not sure why, he shifted to lean against the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest. For one reason or another, he felt like poking fun at the other Wing. Perhaps it really had been too long since he'd done anything social...?

A mocking smirk alighted on his face as a thought came to him. "Maybe you're a half-breed, hm? You certainly act in a revolting enough manner that there's not much other way for you to get away with it." Pause. "Or is there something about you I don't know..?" he added, in a daring manner.

The smile vanished completely at the mocking words, though at first he said nothing, as if thinking about his options on how to get the CEO to be nice for a change. Or at least to stop mocking him. Jou growled as he seemed to suddenly be on all fours and about to pounce "Don't make me bite ya," he threatened before hopping from the bed, much like an animal would, and standing.

Not seeming to care that the brunette was still probably watching him, he carelessly pulled the shirt he wore to sleep in over his head and tossed it to the ground. The blonde was surprisingly well built, though not disgustingly so, his pale skin was virtually flawless save for a small dark brown paw mark just under the hallow where his collar bone came together, though it looked more like a tattoo then an actual marking. Jou walked over to the dresser that held his clothing, Seto had gotten the closet, and pulled out a clean red t-shirt and a pair on worn blue jeans. Tossing them onto the bed, he began to get dressed, pulling the t-shirt on before changing his pants, leaving his pajamas on the floor.

When he finished getting dressed, he raked his fingers though those untamed golden locks in an attempt to get them back to the way he wanted them, which wasn't that different by the way. The White Wing growled softly as his attempts failed and he finally gave up.

"So, how about breakfast?" Jou asked curiously as he finally looked at the Dark.

Kaiba was smirking as if triumphant. "So then yes," he answered for the blonde, though he didn't seem interested in saying which question he'd implied the affirmative to. Though in watching the other dress (in a manner much as if he could care less what the blonde was doing-- perhaps like watching a stray dog shift through the garbage..?) it had only proven to affirm his lust (it could be nothing else) for the Wing's body (form was unregarded, as long as he was still bipedal). Then again, he was Seto Kaiba, something he'd somehow forgotten yesterday amongst the strangeness of being pulled from his office in favor of a crowd of humans, and this creature. And you know, Seto Kaiba takes what he wants. The only question was, how did he want it taken...? (For instance, he was above petty thievery [mostly].)

He shifted position, watching the blonde carefully. "You're in an awful hurry to change the subject, though," he added. "Has something got you uncomfortable mutt..? Or are you just that obsessed with eating? You know, that's unhealthy."

Jou, knowing now that Seto was only trying to bait him, replied calmly "Hmm, I guess it's somethin' ya don't know," the blonde smiled slightly before walking over to where he dropped his bag yesterday when he had returned home. He had to freaking go back to school to get it, he also happened the grab Seto's briefcase as well, which was sitting neatly beside his bag. The blonde kneeled in front of the bag and began to search though it for something, though he obviously failed to find it when he cursed silently.

"I also wont tell ya what that is, so don't ask." Jou said finally before standing and walking past the CEO into the hall and then down to the kitchen "All ya need ta know is that I have ta eat more then ya do," he called before the sound of a pan being placed on the stove was heard.

Seto snorted at the blonde's words, and followed him, now to lean against the doorway into the hall. "... It's six twenty eight, are you sure you want to do that..?" he asked, watching as the other prepared to cook a meal.

"And as for consuming food, that, I doubt." Kaiba smiled darkly, "I bet I could eat more than you, any day, any time."

In the light of the kitchen, which, given the curtains weren't drawn and the bulb off, was substantially better, even for Jou, it was noticeable that Seto wore more than just clothes in his Wing form. A single silver stud was in the lobe of his left ear, set with a black diamond. Around his neck, over the fabric and belts of his top, was a locket, hinged and in the flatten shape of a mirror, rounded, but blank silver. Nothing was reflected in the smooth surface, though, despite what logic and physics would say. Almost as if the surface absorbed what was to be reflected in it. On his wrists, under the fabric, glittered thin gold bands that stretched halfway toward his elbows from his slender wrists. Surely more hid under the clothes he wore, but it could not be seen as he was.

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked curiously before turning to look at the brunette, pausing at the refrigerator. Though he merely brushed it off as he opened the large white door and searched for something to cook for breakfast. Upon the other's response to his words, he glanced at him once again.

"That wasn't a challenge Seto," Jou began softly "I actually need ta eat a lot. It has nothing ta do with how much I actually can eat." With a shrug, he continued his search. It appeared as if this was going to take longer then he thought it would for him to find something that won’t take forever to make.

A silence settled in the apartment, the only sounds were Jou's growling and his sifting though the products on the shelves. Finally, the puppy decided to speak "I went to go see Ryou yesterday," he began softly as he closed the door, the milk in one hand "The Prince wasn't there..." he paused for a moment, though quickly realized what he had said, and hurriedly added "and Ryou wasn't either." Setting the carton of milk onto the table he moved to get a glass from the cabinet "They must have left for some reason," Jou stated needlessly as he turned and crossed the kitchen again, setting the glass down and pour some milk into it. "I'm a little worried, Ryou wouldn't leave without any warning, so he must still be with your Prince. Though..." the puppy trailed off before completely downing the whole glass.

"I don't think he should have been assigned ta one who can't control his emotions to well," Jou stated, though it was quite obvious that he no longer cared if Seto was listening or not.

Seto watched him, expression turned to one of studying, listening intently. As the other made such mention of the Black Wing, he bit a growl. He glanced at the door, confused as to why Shizuka had not yet arrived to force him to eat, but didn't bother worrying about it. Returning gaze of mixed blue, icy and warm, he paused.

It took Kaiba a minute to settle on what to do from here. He was very interested in hearing more of the Wing bound to Bakura, and yet, he was repelled by the idea of playing with the mutt. .... But that was it, playing.

With fluid movements, he shifted into the kitchen, quickly pulling down any number of boxes. If the dog had to eat half as much as he did, they'd be in the kitchen for quite a while. "Do you..?" he commented on Jou's words, as if absently, as he began preparing something or other. "Well, I suppose that's logical enough, given. But the way they act around each other, do you really think Ryou will fare that badly..?"

Another advantage of Seto's power of Mimicry, was to mimic perfectly. Even without changing his physical form, to any who was not looking closely, searching very hard, he had practically flowed from his usual self, to that of a casual stander-by, the sort of person who was always there, responding to your words. Contributing what they may, but mostly allowing one to think aloud with ease. A piece of backdrop. Very few could get through the guise quickly. And, in all honesty, as Jou had known Seto, he was just about emotionally dysfunctional enough for this to be a normal occurrence, with no reflection on much anything.

Jou didn't think much on the other's reply as he spoke again, "That's the problem," he stated, his eyes narrowing at the empty glass in his hand "I'm worried about his emotional state. With his ability to read emotions, he can't really control his own that well." He paused as he poured himself another glass and took a drink of the white liquid "As I see it," he growled softly, obviously not pleased by what he was going to say "Ryou is going ta fall in love with Bakura," Jou stated as he abandoned the milk in favor of taking one of the boxes from Seto and gazing at the name.

"Eventually, he will be abandoned and his sanity may very well be lost this time." With a frown he placed the box on the table and opened it absently, there was obviously something much more to this story that Jou wasn't quite willing to tell the brunette.

Seto nodded absently, taking the box from Jou and adding some of its contents to a bowl he was stirring. He paused in his mixing to hand Jou a glass with a homemade breakfast shake in it (screw blenders) before returning to his task. "Maybe...," the brunette said slowly, thoughtfully, "the Creator's finally realized that Ryou deserves to love someone. It's not unthinkable for Bakura to at least like him. In all honesty, I've never quite seen him flirt like that." he paused to taste the contents, and made a face.

Inside, Kaiba was probably taking notes...

There was a moment's hesitation for thought, and he returned the spoon to the bowl, stirring again, and grabbing for an egg. "Then again, would that be a bad thing, if it was mutual..?" he asked in a curious tone.

The blonde stared at the shake in his hand before taking it curiously, only to find that it was actually pretty good. Placing it onto the table, he turned back to Seto before leaning on the counter "He did love someone," he said almost sounding broken "and he was loved in return..." there was a pause as Jou crossed his arms over his chest and appeared thoughtful.

Jou appeared to be arguing with himself about something, but the argument could not be heard by anyone but the blonde. With an annoyed growl he finally spoke "No, it wouldn't be," he admitted. The White Wing knew that his friend deserved to be loved better then he had been in the past. He just couldn't picture Bakura being the one to love him.

Finally Jou was completely silent. Almost as if he were waiting for Seto's next question.

"You need someone to love and be loved by, too."

The words were past his lips before he could stop them. But really, it was the tone that bothered Seto. A sad realization, a note of worry, and, not that he'd admit it, a quiet determination to get him such.

Then again, why did that bother him...? It was merely a persona, right..? And still, he found himself angered by the fact that he was playing the role perfectly. It was only an observation, after all.

It was painfully obvious that Jou likes Ryou, but the words he'd spoken betrayed a lot more than simple friendship. Seto Kaiba was no idiot; he could recognize love. And shattered love, all the better. But, be it the persona messing with his mind, or left over inconsistency from yesterday, the clueless mutt seemed to have stirred more than carnal desire in the brunette. It was jealousy, pure and true, but... What was this kind of jealousy, that bit down, hard and painful, with more than just anger and hate...?

... Seto would not even think it.

There was little pause between those words and his next. Turning to watch him a moment, slowed in his work, the tone was now thoughtful. "What would you like...? What would make you happy, Jounouchi...? Because clearly you aren't..."

The White Wing froze at those simple words, his amber orbs widening slightly as he turned to stare at the CEO. The blonde’s sensitive ears caught every note in the other's tone, and he was beyond shocked. Seto seemed honestly concerned for Jou, though the blonde didn't quite believe that.

After the thoughtful questions, he smiled slightly, sadly "What does it matter?" he asked softly "For me, bein' happy is just beyond my reach. And so is bein' loved," the blonde shook his head lightly resembling a puppy abandoned in the rain, "don't worry yourself over it though..."

Jou pushed himself away from the counter before walking over to the table and taking another drink of the shake.

Seto frowned slightly. "You are wrong." At least for the moment, he really didn't care that it was Jou. If he could get slipped into the situation right, he would respond as the religion passed down to him by his parents, the faith he clung to even still, demanded.

"The Creator does not just create like a programming would," he set down the bowl and spoon, moving to mix together a drink for himself like Jou's. "The Creator is an Artist of Truth. You were not born into this world to be unhappy- nor to suffer. There is an end for each soul, a goal to meet; for some, it's money, for others, power, or status. But the end the Creator sets for you is one of happiness. The years may be long, and hard, but they always come out the way they should." The brunette sipped his drink carefully, turning to look at Jou again.

Though he fully believed the words he said, Seto had little belief they applied to him, or if they did, any time soon. In his secret views, under layers of distrust, malevolence, and cold ice, he felt there were many others in this world, however far from grace they may have fallen, who deserved it before him. After all, he was a killer, a betrayer of the Word. He had forsaken man, his eternal charge, broke down lives like Dominoes. And honestly, he had more important things to attend to than his own emotions.

All Jou could do was lightly shake his head as he stared at the glass in his hand, "There's not one who knows better then I the Creator's will," he said softly "and all I've done in the past three hundred years is suffer under that will." The puppy went silent as if he realized that he had said something terribly wrong. No longer wanting to speak of such things, he turned to the brunette once again.

A small smile slipped into place as he spoke again "It's not important how I feel or if I ever find love." He stated, in his own way, dropping the subject completely, or at least willing it to be dropped. It was obvious to any that looked that he was lying. All he really wanted in his life was to find someone that loves him, but he was convinced that it would never happen.

He shook his head. "The closer you are to the light, the harder it is to see all it illuminates," the brunette said gently. He drained his drink, and watch Jou a moment.

At length, Seto added "It is important to someone how you feel, and if you find love. And there is no 'ever' about it." With a deep breath, he resumed his cooking, setting out three pans on the stove and beginning to add various mixtures to them.

"Why do you value yourself so lowly...? You cannot be great if you do not know you are. You cannot aid as you are meant by the Creator to, if you are not great."

Jou was once again surprised by the brunette's words, why was it that Seto was so concerned about him now when just this morning he was mocking him? The other's attitude seemed to soften just a bit in the past few moments, and the blonde was somewhat curious why. "That might be true," he replied softly "but if ya know only that light then ya don't know that there is illumination."

He turned his gaze away from the Black Wing at the following words spoken to him "I doubt that someone would care for one such as me," he said, though he left it at that. He obviously didn't feel that he had to explain why he felt that way.

Those thoughts were quickly dashed away at the CEO's question "I'm just an 'animal' fated ta do the Creators biddin' without question, no matter how much I dislike those things. I'm nothin' great, not after the things I had ta do. Not after hurtin' Ryou..." Jou trailed off and shook his head lightly, willing himself to remain silent.

Seto allowed his icy eyes to narrow in annoyance, before he turned to his cooking, allowing his focus to slip from the White Wing, to what he was doing. "It never amused me, how completely Wings and Men alike are always able to find truth to say how little they mean. But I'm not going to argue with you. Not this late in the day, not when I could worry about something less frustrating..."

He paused, pressing his lips together in thought for a long moment, the scrambled eggs already nearing an ideal amount of solidity. "... I wonder where Shizuka is," he thought aloud, tone curious, willing the topic to change. "Usually she's here at six thirty sharp, to make sure I eat something. Strange of her to be late. Do you think she got lost, trying to find this place...?"

Grateful for the change of subject, Jou turned his attention back to the Black Wing "There's a chance she got lost on the way here," he agreed. The blonde took another sip of the shake before setting it down onto the table once again, his amber gaze focused on it as he thought.

After breakfast, they had to go to school, spend almost the whole day together, then come home to spend the night in the same bed yet again. Jou absently noted how much that resembled a couple in the mortal world. If he was lucky, Seto would go to work again, even if he was bored out of his mind while alone. The puppy wasn't sure how long he could deal with the CEO's unstable emotions.

He refused to feel any sort of attraction to this Black Wing...at least he told himself that.

Seto nodded absently, letting his attention slip completely from the outer world, aiming entirely on what he was doing. Seto rarely cooked, since he'd left the Night Shadow Kingdom, to live in the mortal world. Almost as rarely as he remembered to eat of his own accord, no matter how important it was to maintaining his appearance. It seemed odd, to do anything that wasn't focused on electronics, anymore.

The Black Wing really did hate his position in things. First ignorant, then abandoned, then indentured servant to a Wing whose selfishness could rival even the Master's. And finally, hiding amongst men, forsaking his holy lot in life (for as much holiness remained to him). It all seemed... Wrong. Like there was something he had been supposed to do, to keep things from turning out that way...

Jarred from his thoughts by a knock on the door, Seto turned to cast a glare at the cause of his last slice of French Toast landing on the stove, rather than the platter set out for it.

"Papa?" Shizuka's voice came through the wood, muffled and quiet. Seto continued to frown for a moment, then motioned to the door as he turned back to his task. "Would you open that, Jounouchi?"

The blonde couldn't help but snicker slightly at the brunette upon hearing the sound of the French Toast missing the platter. The noise didn’t seem to bother Jou as he had already heard the footsteps approaching. With one last snicker of amusement, the White Wing headed for the door to answer it.

“Gladly, can’t just leave her out there.” He commented. In all honesty, he welcomed the interruption. The tension between the two of them could be cut with a butter knife, and it was pretty uncomfortable as well.

For a moment, he wondered where the conversation could have gone if Seto hadn’t gotten frustrated with him. What was the CEO hinting at?

With a light shake of his head, Jou plastered a smile onto his face and swung the door open “Hey Shizuka!” he said enthusiastically, though it was obvious that he was still a bit troubled.

Shizuka offered him a bright grin, her honey colored eyes ablaze within an amount of enthusiasm unheard of at this hour, holding up a small, handkerchief wrapped package, not unlike a Japanese box lunch in appearance.

"I brought you a gift, Jounouchi-San!" she said brightly, smiling like an angel, before handing him the package and rushing into the apartment. Quickly she snaked her way around the long counter that divided the living room and kitchen, forgetting to take off her shoes at the door, and wrapped her arms around Kaiba's thick torso, laughing. "Got you papa! Good morning!"

"Good morning, Shizuka-Chan," he replied, voice gentle, but carefully restrained. "Can you let go of me? I need to turn off the stove."

"Of course, Kaiba-Kun!" Shizuka chirped, obediently relinquishing her father, and moving to stand a slight distance away, hands folded behind her back. "Why are you in your True Form this morning, though? Isn't it dangerous to do that in the mortal world, especially after staying under cover so long?"

Kaiba stiffened slightly, scowling to himself, and Shizuka eeped, covering her mouth as she realized her mistake, casting a worried glance at Jou. Certainly he would notice the lack of wings, they both knew that (he was, after all, a Wing in his true form, Black or not). The only question, then, was if he'd dare to ask.  

Jou was immediately caught by surprise at not only the girl's enthusiasm this early, but the gift she handed him soon after he opened the door. "For me?" he asked stupidly before closing the door behind her, "I wonder what it is..." the blonde murmured as he made his way back to the kitchen, his amber orbs locked onto the small package held almost delicately in his hands.

Deciding to open it later, he placed it onto the table, where it wouldn't get in the way of breakfast, and took a seat.

The way Shizuka continued to change what she was calling Seto amused the White Wing a bit. He had never realized that one could be called so many things in one morning.

Though at her words, Jou lifted his head slightly to gaze at the brunette, but he didn't at all seem fazed by the Black Wing's apparent lack in, well...wings.

"It's none of my business." He stated calmly, though it was obvious that he was curious, he also knew that if Seto wanted him to know, he would tell him himself without being bugged about it.

Kaiba shook his head, moving to begin serving breakfast. "It was a long time ago. I don't think about it anymore," he said dismissively, handing a share to Shizuka, before turning to look at Jounouchi. "Would you like to serve yourself?" he offered, tone detached.

Shizuka, meanwhile, shoveled a forkful of French toast into her mouth and pouted in annoyance. To her, he was obviously lying. Seto Kaiba was a passionate, vibrant, expressive and stubbornly opinionated man. Every time he pretended to be cold, uncaring, and detached, he was lying in the deepest and most absolute sense of the word. And about this... It bothered her.

He didn't have any reason to not think about his lack of Wings. Not only did it defy their namesake, and testimony to how unusual of a Black Wing her father was, but.. Without their wings, a Wing couldn't perform many of their basic tasks. Like supplying their body with sustenance without taking in physical objects (just one more reason he had to eat regularly, and why he was always forgetting too- he wasn't hungry). Or their basic abilities, like for Darks, making mortals more susceptible to negative emotions, creating fire, or becoming untraceable in the dark. All he had was his mimicry. He couldn't even fly, in the Kingdom of Night Shadow.

Of course, being stripped of one's wings was so unheard of, she only knew these things from her father's experiences, but still--! It wasn't even done as punishment. Being without wings essentially meant... You were outcast. Neither Wing nor Mortal. Most Wings died of the trauma, only months after...

It upset Shizuka that he always had to be so brave and foolhardy. Might have even angered her, if she wasn't so used to it.  

As soon as those words left the brunette's lips, Jounouchi knew that he was lying. Not only did the other's attitude shift, but the way he held himself, and even the way his scent changed, just slightly. After a moment, the blonde got to his feet and stepped beside the CEO, "Liar," he accused softly, his tone barely audible "who is it your trying ta convince?" Jou asked, though before Seto could even bother answering, the White Wing had already served himself, triple portions, and took a seat.

It definitely appeared as if there was much more to this puppy then was first expected.

As he dug into his food, he proceeded to ignore any sort of looks that might have come his way due to his rather blunt comment.

Jou thought calmly about the situation at hand. Here he was, sharing an apartment with a Black Wing who hates revealing things about himself, in the mortal world to do something he had yet to figure out (Though he had the sneaking suspicion that it had something to do with the sapphire eye'd Black Wing) and to top things off, he had to get up early as hell to go to school with said Black Wing and a bunch of humans.

He figured that it could be much worse.  

Kaiba shot Jounouchi a murderous look, and rather than looking surprised at his bluntness, simply looked pissed. The blonde had no right to decide what was truth and what wasn't, nor did he have any right to act so superior about it.

What did a dog, who spent his life doing nothing but following commands, think he gets off telling a fellow Wing, who actually had the grace to believe in what that mutt didn't and acted on anyway, what to do? It was.. sickening.

Shizuka sighed, watching the two eating, Jou sitting down at the table and Kaiba hovering, eating his food from the counter. The blonde deep in thought, the brunette fuming and looking as though anger was his only emotion, yet he was trying to keep his tongue anyway. Why did they have to have such animosity for each other? They were obviously quite fond of the other, or else Kaiba wouldn't have even bothered to dignify Jou's statement with his own, but...

Maybe it was because, technically, they should be trying to kill each other? Shizuka knew she herself felt the urge to hit the blonde a lot of the time, and she was more or less a pacifist.

"So, Papa, Jounouchi," she said finally, trying to break the painful silence that had settled there, "what are you going to do, about the mandatory attendance to the Dance on Friday? I mean, I know Papa's pretty used to mortals, but," she tilted her head, studying Jou with a slight smile, "I'm not sure about you, Jounouchi-San."  

Jou, who was making a point to ignore Seto's murderous gaze, was startled out of his thoughts by the girl's words. For a moment, the blonde sat there clueless, attempting to process the question that was directed at both him and Seto.

After a short while, the puppy spoke "It's mandatory?" he asked before pouting slightly "and here I was just gonna stay home and sleep or something..." With a light sigh, Jou shook his head. It was obvious that he was just joking. Anyone who knew the blonde knew that he absolutely loved dancing, and he just couldn't pass up the chance to go to a mortal dance.

"I guess I'll go then, if I don't have a choice." It was then he paused in thought for a few moments "I wonder who'll go with me. It's not like I really know someone enough ta ask." Jou took a bite of what was left of his food before speaking thoughtfully once again "Maybe I'll ask that short kid with the weird hair...?"

It was obvious that he was trying to ruffle Seto's feathers, so to speak, but he was really intending on asking someone else if Seto doesn't ask, or demand in his case, to go with him to this dance.  

Well, he at the very least managed to get a fair amount of annoyance out of the brunette. "You don't have to ask someone to a dance. It's not unheard of to go stag," Kaiba noted darkly, finishing off his food, before downing the last of his fruit smoothie and setting the dishes in the sink.

"And you ought to keep in mind, mortals use gender roles," he added, shifting to lean against the counter, sliding his hands into his pockets. He ignored Shizuka's curious gaze on him. "The kid's a male, you're perceived as one, there might be trouble."

"I'm pretty sure the teenagers of Domino are fairly accepting of that kind of stuff, Kaiba-Kun," Shizuka said with a slight smile, amused at the rise Jou had managed to stir up. So Kaiba had laid claim to the blonde, he just hadn't decided to yet. "You mean Yuugi-Kun, right?" she asked, looking toward Jounouchi again. "I visit his family's game store all the time, Yuugi Motou? Hair looks like he was dunked in a vat of dye and then electrocuted? Or the other one, Atemu Haisou, with the sharp eyes? They're both wonderful people, with fascinating dispositions.

"You should get to know more people," Shizuka added, turning to look at Kaiba again with a smile. "You spend all your time around them, but you hardly talk to them except to give orders. It's a shame."

"I know I don't have ta ask someone, but I hate goin' to dances alone." Jou stated calmly before turning his attention to the auburn haired girl, completely ignoring the brunette and his irritation. The puppy was surprisingly good at this, if only to annoy the CEO more.

[Youko]

"Yes! That's him. The short cute boy with the crazy hair. Yuugi? The name fits him well." The blonde’s expression turned thoughtful "...I wonder if he'll go with me..." He mused before a wide smile formed on his lips "I'm sure that he'll say yes. He doesn't seem like the type ta not give someone a chance."

After a moment, amber pools turned their gaze to the other Black Wing in the room. Would he be able to get him to admit it and ask him? Probably not. In a way, that bothered him more then the other's sudden coldness. It was never good to ignore ones feelings and emotions, but then again...he had no room to talk.

With a light sigh he finished his meal and stood to place the dishes into the sink. He figured that he would have to clean the dishes before they could leave. For once, he was anxious to get to school. No matter how many mortals there were.  

Shizuka gave the blonde one of her clearly common sweet smiles, tilting her head just a bit to one side. "Oh, I dunno. He and Haisou-Kun spend a lot of time together. Haisou-Kun might get worked up over it, in which case Yuugi-Kun might not be too keen on the idea. He's always very concerned for Haisou-Kun's well being-- Atemu Haisou is, after all, his best friend." Her smile gained a bit of a scheming tint. "Even if just behind the scenes. Clique rules demand they not associate in public, and Haisou-Kun has to be very careful about his image. People watch him very closely."

"... Shizuka," Kaiba said in a low, dark tone, causing the Black Wing to start a bit at the sudden break to the mood she'd been setting. "You shouldn't speak so easily to strangers." The girl pouted defiantly, looking up at her father with a rather annoyed expression.

"And what is wrong with me speaking easily with Jounouchi-Kun?" she said, the words almost bitter. "I like him. I will do what I please. Isn't that what you taught me, Papa?" The way Kaiba's eyes narrowed, the way the ice of them suddenly seemed that much more prominent, and that his body tensed so, were clear giveaways that this was a pressure point for the elder Wing.

There was a moment of harsh silence between them, barely a second's worth, before Shizuka turned 'round to look at Jounouchi again, expression now apologetic. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to seem so... flighty. I just get excited, at the thought of dances, high school drama, all that." A touch of wistfulness tainted her expression, while Kaiba behind her just rolled his eyes, shifting position to no longer be facing either of them. "I wish I could go to school. It must be so wonderful."

".... We need to go soon, Shizuka," Kaiba said, his tone still low and dark, though he'd certainly regained his composure since Shizuka's earlier note to him. "Unless, the Dog would like to stay here and chat with you for a while, and have me go ahead. I'm sure he'd prefer your company over mine, anyway," the Dark Wing added, though this thought seemed as though it flowed smoothly from one to the other, "you're a much more agreeable person. Very giving."

The red headed girl huffed, glancing over her shoulder at Kaiba with a very 'that was so mature' expression.

Quaint, wasn't it? They seemed to be fighting now, but with Jounouchi as a medium for it.

A thoughtful expression formed on the blonde’s face as he listened to Shizuka’s explanation. Surely Yuugi and Atemu Haisou are an item…that would mean that Jou would end up going stag if it’s really true. He was about to reply when he heard the brunette’s dark reprimanding tone and thought better of it.

At the following word, Jounouchi went completely silent and began to absently wash the dishes they had used that morning. Taking a plate into his hand, he listened to the short argument. …Was it his fault? He sure felt like it was. The puppy turned to the auburn haired girl, a slight expression of surprise lighting his amber eyes, “Ya don’t have ta apologize,” he replied before turning to Seto, going silent again at his comment.

For some reason, that struck a cord in Jounouchi. After a moment, the blonde turned back to the dishes and continued cleaning them, quicker this time. “Why don’t ya both just go ahead?” He asked softly, a hint of hurt wrapped around his tone, “Since I’m just gettin' in the way right now, I’ll just finish up here and walk there on my own.” Jou finished, deeming the conversation over.

He hated it when he was the reason for fights between family. …It seemed to happen more often then not.

Also quaint, both of them seemed at least a bit reprimanded. Kaiba quite pointedly glared icily at the doorway toward the bedroom, and Shizuka was watching Jounouchi for a moment, with a near-blank look, as if she was trying to backtrack and process what it was she had said to upset him. Which was rather more or less accurate.

"I don't go to Domino, though-- I'm not allowed to attend school," she said in a vague and almost distant tone. "So there is little point in me going with Seto-Kun to Domino. It would only raise questions he would not like to deal with." Shizuka paused a moment, looking over her shoulder at her father, then back at Jounouchi. She had the distinct impression she had just made a bad situation worse.

"... Do what you want," Seto said at length, the words almost sounding more like a sigh than a sentence. He closed his eyes a moment, fingers brushing over his forehead once or twice, before turning toward the door. "I'm done here." And without even a shred of hesitation, or semblance of humanity (as he was quite thoroughly braced for not giving a damn again), he strode out of the apartment. It was the quickest flicker, the switch from what he'd been dressed as in his True form, and the perfectly arranged school uniform. In the hall, he made a point to send out a quick message on his phone for a ride. Hell if he'd walk, take a bus, or any other useless manner of transportation usually reserved for lesser-ranked mortals.

.. So, Dog... 'If you only know that light, you can't see the illumination'...? Isn't that... what Faith is for..?

White Wings, Black Wings... Mortals... You've all sunk.. so low...

Sometimes I think... Creation just needs to be.. purged, and started clean again.

They are such fools.

Shizuka pouted at the door, looking incredibly annoyed. "... He's always so difficult," she muttered to herself, before sighing and turning an empathic gaze to the blonde. "Jounouchi-Kun, please don't misunderstand. We're always doing this-- and he's always doing this," the girl said in a low, soft tone. "Papa isn't very good with people, of any sort. And, we... we don't see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, so... It causes static."

"It isn't in any way your fault, though," Shizuka added in a slightly more solid voice. "If anything, I haven't seen his tolerance last quite as fully as it has this morning." And that was even without Shizuka having been witness to earlier that morning, when Seto had even gone so far as to try and be.. supportive.

It wasn't well into her comprehension, at least at the moment, to picture her father as much any degree of sympathetic.

Jounouchi wasn’t at all surprised when Seto actually left the two of them there after Shizuka mentioned she couldn’t go with him. After finishing all of the dishes, he turned to the auburn haired girl, a wide smile that didn’t betray the slight sadness in his amber eyes. “It’s obvious that he’s no good with people,” he stated somewhat bluntly as he crossed his arms over his chest, eyeing the front door, absently wondering if Seto actually left or not.

“Tolerance? I seem ta just frustrate him by existin'. Though… I know that somethin' is up. He keeps actin' strange.” The blonde paused for a moment before a somewhat scheming grin formed on his lips, “Say… how do ya think he’ll react ta me actually showin' up at the dance with Yuugi?” Jou asked thoughtfully.

He was planning something. Something that would reveal how Seto really felt about Jou. …At least if it goes as planned. The blonde didn’t at all expect the brunette to bluntly state his feelings, but he would be able to tell from the CEO’s reaction to things.

Now, if only Yuugi would go along with it…

Shizuka smiled knowingly, closing her eyes and shaking her in a light manner, that made her hair sway over her face for a moment. "Yes, but you see then, Jounouchi-Kun, that you frustrate him, just by existing." She turned her eyes back up to look at him again, smiling in a manner that really demanded endearment for an impossible friend, to be true. "Usually, he simply does not care in the least. It may be just because you are a Wing, but Seto Kaiba has never made a habit of bothering with people. Frustration, tolerance, are one in the same. There is something about you that eludes him. And he wants to pin it down, dissect it, determine it's purpose, and either exploit it to his means, or abandon it as more or less useless to his goals.

"It sounds harsh," Shizuka added, tilting her head to one side a bit, bangs falling partially in front of those bright eyes of hers, "but that's really the best way to describe Kaiba-Sama. He's like that-- analytic, blunt, cold, manipulative. Things of that nature. It's a side-effect of who he is, and who he has to be."

The girl sighed, absently twirling a lock of her hair 'round one of her fingers, shifting her position to lean against the counter to stare at nothing in particular in front of her, a bit of a ways up, causing her expression to be slightly absent, and her chin raised just a fraction. "And, as for... Yuugi, well. Papa is.... He does not like Yuugi-San, or Haisou-Sama much in the first place. They've run across each other, though in incredibly distant passing, simply by papa's field of work. Yuugi-San is naive and foolish, Haisou-Sama is arrogant and foolish. So, really, if you were to arrive with Yuugi-San...

"And if papa really does find you an object of interest, at least for the moment...

"Probably, he would be very angry with you," Shizuka concluded with a firm nod of her head, releasing the strand of hair she'd been curling in the same motion, and hence causing the locks to dip and swing with the expression of correctness. "Very angry.

"But Yuugi will be happy. He gets lonely," the girl continued slowly, before turning back to smile at Jounouchi, an expression defied by the suddenly somber expression in her eyes. "Not many people really talk to him at all. And most of it, is cruelty. He needs a friend, if nothing else.

"Haisou-Sama can't be there for him. He has duties. He has things that he must do, things that he can't avoid. So, they hardly see each other, and it's always so... sad..."

Shizuka giggled, shattering at least part of the sorrow that had been trying to seep into the conversation. "He is the cutest though, Yuugi-Kun. You'll like him, I'm sure. You two will be happy, and have fun. Aaaannnnddddd~" she purred at the last word, grin spreading mischievously as she held a finger to her lips, beaming at Jounouchi. "That will make Seto-Kun even more angry. Which will make it more likely, that he will slip up." A flicker of shade, of the possibility of her motivation being far from purely in Jou's best interest, crossed the look she kept, but it was gone quickly, replaced by more honest mischief. "Or, cause him to grow to hate you. But if that happened, you would still have Yuugi-Kun, wouldn't you?"

It might seem strange, if someone were to examine it long enough, that Shizuka talked so openly of people, knew so much about them, predicted so confidently their reactions, considering she wasn't allowed in schools. Truly, Shizuka spent the majority of her time at Kaiba Corporation, doing more or less nothing.

Channeling people.

She had, after all, been born of the Black Wing Lust. The need to "mate", sickening as using such a term for it was, in order to produce a more powerful Wing.

So it wouldn't be any wonder, to someone who knew her history, that she was so gifted as to know these trivial things.

The blonde listened carefully to everything Shizuka told him, his expression changing accordingly to each bit on information. When she began to explain what Seto was like, Jou’s expression gave away that he wasn’t sure whether to feel honored or offended, a small amount of hurt shining in those deep amber orbs at the thought of just being tossed aside by the brunette Black Wing. He shouldn’t care though. He wasn’t supposed to be attracted to a Shadow and he definitely wasn’t supposed to care what he thought about him. …but he was and he did. It figured that the Jou would be attracted to Seto, who will probably never feel anything remotely similar to how he feels.

Jounouchi was pulled out of his thoughts for the moment when Shizuka began to explain what Seto would think about him going to the dance with Yuugi. Tilting his head to the side for a moment, a small grin forming on his lips. So the brunette would get angry, huh? Well, if he was even interested in the first place.

As he listened and watched her movements, a light frown formed in place with the grin. So even if Yuugi and Haisou have some sort of relationship, they don’t seem to see much of each other. In a way, Jou felt bad for Yuugi, who was left to be lonely. …A lot like him. He really wouldn’t mind being friends with Yuugi. It was about time he made new friends anyway.

The frown faded into a small grin once again when the auburn haired girl began to cheerfully continue, shattering the slight sadness that seeped into the somewhat one-sided conversation. Jou had completely missed Shizuka’s slight change in expression, his mind trying to work though all of what she said.

It was risky. Very risky, but Jou was willing to endanger his ‘relationship’ with the CEO to see if it would actually go anywhere. Besides, he lived with the bastard, he couldn’t hate him forever… could he? Besides… He would still have Yuugi if something happened.

“…Yeah, I guess..” He answered, he only hoped it wouldn’t have to come to that.

After a few moments, he grinned wildly, “I should get goin' soon,” he said lightly as he left the kitchen to go into the bedroom. Quickly, he grabbed his backpack and school jacket, not even bothering to change into his uniform pants. Jeans will be perfectly fine. With a slight nod to himself, he stepped into the small hallway. “You’re welcome to stay here, but ya can come with me if ya want. I don’t really have an image I need ta keep, so I don’t mind.” He stated watching her curiously, much like a puppy would.

The younger Wing laughed easily, shaking her head again and straightening as Jounouchi came back within her sight. "Oh, no, that's fine. I'm not supposed to be around a lot of people at one time, and, really, I'm not supposed to be away from home for more than a few hours, either." She grinned, tucking some of her hair behind her ear, before starting toward the apartment door.

"However, it may be of some use to you--," Shizuka continued in an equally light tone, opening the door for the blonde. "Yuugi-Kun is usually out in the back of the school courtyard on Tuesdays, playing whatever game he's engrossed in at the time.

"And, it's the cutest thing," the girl added, casting Jou a smile that was both amused and knowing, though it also seemed somehow tinted with a shred of darkness. "On a normal day, he'll be seated under one of the larger trees, Haisou-Sama hanging out in the branches above. It's one of the few times they talk, really.

"It's an amazing thing, seeing those two together. They're like brothers. Or a puzzle. You can only properly tell what they are, when they're together."

She giggled to herself, and shook her head again. "That might be a good place to start," Shizuka finished with another nod. "But, I’ve gotta go, too, so~

"Have a good day, Jounouchi-Kun!" The auburn haired girl declared with a somehow triumphant grin, finally actually beginning to leave the apartment, as opposed to simple standing in the doorway.

... So...

The White Wing was, an emotional creature? Reckless. Driven. Honest in a way. And... didn't pay nearly as much attention as he ought.

Though, the last one was surely a good thing for Shizuka Kaiba.

Because Katsuya Jounouchi also seemed to have a strange way of bringing out his own traits in others. Or at least, making it harder to keep their reserve for dishonesty, half-truths, lies. And.. sometime, bringing out the better parts of a someone's personality.

Interesting.

And likely, useful.

Shizuka may need to bring this to Mai's attention...  

“Oh is that so?” he asked before shrugging lightly, it’s not like it was this huge loss. He liked walking alone. It gave him time to listen to all of the wildlife that was severely lacking in the Kingdom of Sun Light, besides… it will give him time to plan things for the dance.

Turning his amber gaze to the girl, he smiled widely, “Thanks, Shizuka!” Jou exclaimed almost excitedly as he watched her, “Ya too!” The blonde nodded lightly to himself before watching her leave the apartment. After a moment, he chuckled for reasons only he knew and grabbed his key to the apartment, just in case. It wasn’t long before he too was leaving his current home, locking the door behind him.

So Shizuka thinks that Seto has an interest in him? Jounouchi couldn’t quite bring himself to believe such a thing… At least not after only knowing him for such a short time. Those who knew the blonde, knew that Jou had a habit of liking someone almost at first sight. …It happened like that with Ryou, but never again until Seto. He let loose a soft sigh as he walked down the sidewalk. What is it with him and just hurting himself with these feelings? He really was like the mutt that the brunette always called him, though it was also a bit literal.

Speaking of which, when was he going to show the CEO his power? Jou had seen his the day before after the kiss they had shared… A light flush formed on his cheeks at the memory. He had kissed Seto Kaiba. A Black Wing. A cold hearted bastard. And he had kissed back. The blonde wasn’t quite sure what to think of that, he knew that Seto was at least attracted to him ‘physically’. Then again, the conversation he had had with the brunette that morning confused him.

Was he trying to make him feel better about himself?

Jounouchi shook his head lightly. He was sure that he was just getting his hopes up. Glancing a head, he stared at the school in the distance. How is he supposed to ask Yuugi to the dance? Just go up to him and ask? Or maybe he could try to be friends with him first then ask? Jou decided that it would take to long to do the latter so maybe he’ll just introduce himself and hope Yuugi didn’t think he was some sort of stalker.

It wasn’t long until he was standing at the schools front gates. It was now or never…

.....

Yuugi was almost a little too predictable, at least when it came to his games, and his hideouts. After a few years, he'd learned to find places where he could play, without leaving school grounds, and thereby causing drama, that also went without the usual hell people gave him.

But it was okay. They just didn't understand very well. And Yuugi didn't really mind.

Liar.

Today's game of choice, was the same one Hanasaki had been panicking about having almost-lost the other day. The little key chain pets were very adorable, and Yuugi was thrilled that in this generation of the game, you could help your pet live longer by playing games with them, and otherwise giving them special attention. As long as it was attention they liked, of course.

You didn't, after all, try and play sports with the pet that would very much prefer reading. .... Atemu having found this spot was just an added bonus. Yuugi had chosen it because it was scenic, more or less peaceful considering the fact that all the other students were basking in the fact that class wasn't in session, and because, quite honestly, he found being surrounded by the greenery to be rather comforting.

Liar.

Any moment with Atemu was certainly and completely welcome. He was one of very few people that would talk to Yuugi here at Domino High, without implying some sort of ill intent.

He could get by well enough, on just a few friends. Yuugi didn't need everyone to like him. He was content with his lot in life. Things would get better, if they were to get better, and if not, well. They were good enough.

You're a Liar, Yuugi Motou.

Jounouchi found Yuugi quite easily, actually, the boy wasn’t too hard to find, what with his strange hair and adorable disposition. Also, Shizuka had helped him by letting him know the other’s normal hang out spots. The blonde stood there for a few moments, merely watching the tri-color haired boy, frowning slightly what seeing that he was completely alone. Jou really couldn’t understand why this was.

Or why people picked on the boy so much as Shizuka had said. After a few moments of just watching, the puppy slowly began to approach the other curiously, a slightly nervous look in his amber eyes.

Finally, he stopped in front of Yuugi, a small half smile playing on his lips. “Uh…Motou-san?” He asked politely, figuring that he might as well try that for once. He had realized that his informal attitude usually scared people away, so why not be formal for a while. Glancing to the side for a moment, the blonde turned back to his hopefully-friend. “Er… Yuugi, I’d like ta ask ya something,” he continued dropping the formality quite quickly.

Formality never lasted with Jounouchi.

Yuugi blinked, starting a bit and fumbling to catch the key-chain that had slipped from his fingers at the sudden motion. Though his ears had registered the tone as clearly benevolent, it took his mind a second to register that fact. His wide amethyst just stared up at the unknown blonde in front of him for a while, fingers still attempting to get a proper hold on his little game.

"... Uhhh, okay...?" he said slowly, blank look wearing only partially to caution. "Uhm, what... is it?" It kind of troubled Yuugi, that he couldn't pull up the guy's name off the top of his head. He knew most of the people in most of his classes, more or less, but... There was always the chance that he just hadn't.. finished. It wasn't too far into the school year yet.

The automatic reaction had to be suspicion. Despite his still firm social optimism, experience had placed that priority first and foremost. The optimism still had an easy enough time tricking caution, but...

You know, not everybody was a jerk. Atemu wasn't, at least. (Regardless of how he may have acted initially...)

... You can't trust him. Don't...

"I mean," Yuugi shifted uncomfortably, pouting slightly to himself and trying to regain a little composure. Enough to stop acting so dazed, anyway. "You can go ahead. I'll be.. happy to help." Well, he usually was, anyway.  

Jounouchi could practically feel the suspicion rolling off of the boy in waves laced with caution, despite his cheerful and optimistic appearance. After a moment, the blonde pulled himself out of his thoughts and widened his smile just slightly, “Well… I should introduce myself first right?” he asked, completely forgetting that most people already know who he is. Their minds have been altered with memories of all of the wings attending school there.

“My name is Jounouchi Katsuya, but ya can call me ‘Jou’ for short.” He said lightly before kicking the grass lightly with his foot, this was a lot harder then he thought it would be.

Amber orbs lifted to capture amethyst as he fidgeted just slightly in nervousness, “Ya know the dance that’s comin' up?” he asked softly, keeping eye contact. Times like these made him wish that he would just swallow his pride and ask Seto to this dance, but alas, he was beginning to like the idea of going with Yuugi… if he wasn’t denied that is.

“I…I was wonderin' if ya would like ta go with me?”

The boy was suddenly very, very still, and for a second, Yuugi's eyes, well, tuned out, as if sliding into looking at a place that wasn't where Jounouchi was standing. Something that wasn't there.

"... I...," he murmured, the word coming out slowly, and with an effort, Yuugi pulled his gaze back to looking at Jounouchi, still holding very still, as if suddenly tense, forcibly on guard. But he couldn't seem to come up with any other words, and his brows furrowed together, eyes drifting down to the ground in front of him.

Don't... trust..

... "Uhm... why...," Yuugi fumbled again, and absently began playing with the key-chain of his toy. "Would you... ask.. me, J--.. Jou-San?"

He was very obviously uncomfortable.

After pausing one more moment, Yuugi turned his amethyst eyes back toward Jounouchi's amber ones, and put on a smile, even if the unease was brilliantly apparent in it. "And, uhm.. if you..." .. if you aren't... setting me up for something... "You could, sit down, you know. You're, uh.. making me nervous, standing up there when I'm way down here, even if I wasn't sitting..."

The blonde was steeling himself for rejection upon seeing the other’s first reaction to his question; of course Yuugi wouldn’t want to go with him. He’s a guy. Not only that, but the other boy didn’t even know him well enough… or at all for that matter. Jou opened his mouth a moment, to explain himself, but then closed it at the other’s words.

He smiled lightly at Yuugi for a moment before nodding, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make ya feel uncomfortable,” he muttered as he took a seat beside the uneasy boy, “I understand if ya don’t wanna go with me. It is kinda strange ta ask someone outta the blue, isn’t it?” Jou gave a soft laugh before turning his gaze away from the tri-color haired boy to the grass now below his fingers, “…ya looked lonely. I felt like I had ta do somethin' about that…”

It was probably the animal in him that wanted to boy from being lonely… or maybe it was the fact that he is a White Wing. Who knew? Also, Yuugi was too adorable and small to be left alone too long. Atemu should know that.

“I’ll leave ya alone if ya want me too.”

... All of a sudden, the grass seemed fascinating.... Absently, Yuugi picked at the little green blades, breaking off the tips of them, before pausing for a brief second, and leaving that one be, in favor of another. So as not to kill them.

... That was a sad way to think, though, wasn't it?

"No, you don't have to," Yuugi replied, almost immediately. "I'm just... not, usually..."

But he wasn't lying. Yuugi could tell. He usually knew when people were lying, at least on some level, but... Jounouchi wasn't.

"But, you don't have to feel bad for me either, I'm okay," the boy added, with a notably brighter tone, smiling at Jounouchi a little more honestly.

His grandfather was very sensitive to Yuugi's feelings. He could tell when the teen had had a hard day. So Yuugi had to be brave.

"I don't really understand, though," Yuugi admitted, glancing at his hands again. "Uhm... you..." He paused, pressing his lips together tightly.

This was kind of awkward, too.

.... "Do you play many games..?" the teen asked, with just a note of hesitance, instinctively falling back on what he knew best. With just a bit of difficulty, he looked back at Jounouchi, and smiled anxiously. The blonde looked like, he... might enjoy something that involved a little more physical exertion.

Then again, there was always the Nintendo Wii.

"I'm actually pretty good at games," he continued, tilting his head to one side and looking at the key-chain game in his hands. He'd been in the middle of something, hadn't he? Yuugi woke up his game screen, and started back on the minigames. It didn't take too much focus, anyway. "I make all kinds of records. And fly through the puzzle ones like they're nothing-- even the ones that give a lot of people a lot of trouble. I'm good at figuring out stuff like that."

... Of course you are, Yuugi... 

Jou was about to stand up, but was stopped by the spiky-haired teen’s voice. Honestly, the blonde was slightly surprised that Yuugi didn’t just tell him to get lost… but then again he could tell that the other just wasn’t that type of person.

After a moment, the amber eyed White Wing leaned back on the palms of his hands, putting most of his weight on his arms as he glanced at the other curiously. Yuugi thought that he felt sorry for him? That wasn’t exactly true. Sure, he felt a little bad for him, but he honestly thought that the tri-color haired male shouldn’t have to be so lonely. People should at least talk to the boy instead of just leaving him to his games or picking on him.

The blonde was about to ask Yuugi what he was talking about, but was silenced by his sudden question. A small smile formed on his lips as the smaller teen made a point of explaining how good he was at puzzles.

With a light nod, Jounouchi spoke lightly, “I love games, but I haven’t been able to play many lately,” he started. “You see, my roommate is a stuck up prick and I don’t really like playing games by myself.” The blonde chuckled softly at his own words before turning to look up at the sky, “I’ll play pretty much anything though, as long as I can learn the rules without much effort.”

Well, this was a start, wasn’t it?

Yuugi grinned a bit more honestly now, adjusting to glance at Jou, before pausing, and fully shifting his position in order to more easily see the blonde, without overly inconveniencing his view of the little screen. "My biggest problems with complex rules, have always been, like, the learning curve-- if they're so extensive, you can't get into the game enough to care to learn them in the first place, and.."

"Oh, come on!" the boy interrupted himself, muttering bitterly at the screen. He hadn't been expecting such a sudden jump in skill level for that mini-game.

".. Uhm, but, yeah," Yuugi blinked twice, looking up at Jounouchi and smiling awkwardly. "And, then, when they try and compensate for actual flaws in the game, by overcomplicated the stuff they do have right. That's no fun, either."

"As for your... room mate," he tilted a bit in his seating, assumably with some motion of something on the screen, "I can relate on some account. My best friend can be a lil' rigid sometimes. He's a good person at heart, but, sometimes, he seems... distant. Cold, even."

"But he's an amazing gamer-- says I'm the only person who ever gave him a proper challenge so far, short of Seto Kaiba. And, I look up to him, so--..."

There was a pause, as Yuugi lapsed into being more intently focused on the screen. After a few seconds, he suddenly grinned triumphantly, pumping the air. "Yes! Got you! Two more weeks!" It was only a few seconds after that, that his behavior clicked, and he looked up, blinking worriedly at Jounouchi. "Er, I... I didn't, mean to.. get distracted, sorry..."

"But, if you want," he added with clear nervousness, tilting his head to the side as his amethyst eyes wandered awkwardly, "you can come to my grandpa's shop and play games with me any time. It'll be fun--," Yuugi's eyes drifted to meet Jounouchi's again for another moment "I promise."

Because you always keep a promise, Yuugi? Heh...

Jounouchi listened to the spiky haired teen’s explanation of sorts, a small smile on his lips all the while. It amused him that Yuugi would get distracted so easily then go right back to what he was explaining. Actually, it was kind of cute. It was then that the blonde decided that it was a good idea that he decided to ask the smaller teen to the dance. He deserved to have some fun, and Jou wanted to be the reason for such fun.

The puppy tilted his head slightly to the side at the mention of the boy’s best friend. Probably Atemu. By that short description, he was reminded of the CEO he currently shared residence with. Jou was slightly surprised when the brunette was mentioned. “Wait…Se-…Kaiba plays games?” He asked, completely baffled by the idea. After a moment, he snorted in amusement at the odd visual of Seto playing some fighting game, yelling at the computer for cheating.

The other’s apology pulled him out of his thoughts for the moment, the friendly smile replacing the amused one, “Ya don’t have ta apologize, it happens ta everyone,” he replied with a light nod. Tilting his head to the side once again, he peered at the other with almost excited amber orbs, “I’d love ta play games with ya…but ya don’t have to promise me anythin'…” He trailed off for a moment before adverting his eyes.

Finally, his expression grew a little more serious as he leaned forward slightly, as if trying to portray something correctly by doing so, his amber orbs locking with Yuugi’s amethyst. “Yuugi, would ya like ta go ta the dance with me?” he asked again, his expression hopeful. Jou honestly needed to know soon, before he had to meet up with Seto again in class.

"Yeah, he's CEO of Kaiba corp., one of the biggest gaming companies in the world," Yuugi noted in an absent tone, under his breath, since he'd gotten sucked back into his game again for a moment. "It's pretty impressive, some of the stuff he's come out with..." Though, Yuugi was mostly saying this to himself.

He'd always felt some sort of conflict, between kinship, and resentment, for Seto Kaiba. It felt weird for him.

Though, when the distance between him and Jounouchi decreased, even just that bit, the boy blinked, turning to look up at the blonde with blank, honest eyes.

"Uhhhh, I..."

.......

"... I... guess?" he managed after a moment, rubbing the back of his neck and smiling uneasily. "I really.. don't... know, what to do. With... that. But, I think..." The boy hesitated, indeed thinking for a moment. ".. that I may like that. I think I would like that," he confirmed, nodding, again, mostly to himself.

Assuming nothing went wrong, anyway. From Jou (though, he felt, he could probably trust the blonde), or from other people, being...

Cruel. Deservedly so, but they are cruel to you. Don't you think, Yuugi...?


-End of Chapter 4-

[Youko]

Ch. o5: What the Heart Fears

Ryou slumped against the hard stone wall. His body hurt worse then it had in years. Littering his now barely covered form were several injuries; some much deeper then was necessary for 'punishment'. The White Wing was still in complete shock of what had happened.

Bakura had betrayed him.

The Shadow had merely let him be captured, abused, and shoved into a cell in the dungeon. In fact, he probably had planned that from the beginning. Ryou couldn't believe he let himself trust a Black Wing. To... care for a Black Wing. For Bakura.

The snowy haired Wing wrapped his arms around himself as best he could. They had put shackles around his wrists and ankles that suppress his power. He couldn't become invisible, and he couldn't feel emotions without excreting his energy (what little he had). Besides, the sudden onslaught of anger is what had crippled him when they first arrived in the Kingdom of Night Shadow.

Ryou shuddered as he tried to pull his legs up to his chest. His wings drooped slightly as his mind was near shutting down.

'He was using me.'

The stunning emerald of his eyes dulled slightly.

'The whole time.

I fell for it...

Just like...

Last time...'

[Twelve Yb TnuoC]

Suddenly, a stiff breeze blew through the small cell room. A distantly familiar voice whispered near Ryou, "Stay quiet, hold still. I've got ya."

Tanned fingers ran along the chains, tracing the outline of the clasps and cuffs and locks, of each thick link that attached the White Wing Ryou to the wall. Lilac eyes intently focused on the task, as he used touch to feel the enchantments and curses that gave these binds their heavy power.

".. Damn, these are pretty bad," Malik whispered, mostly to himself. "They really spared no expense on ya, huh Snowflake?" this latter statement actually was aimed at Ryou, and Malik even looked up at the other Light One. "But I can undo them, I'm familiar with chains."

They had... they had just left, a few minutes ago, Bakura, and those other two Black Wings, so.. Hopefully he'd have enough time to get these undone and get Ryou out of there before they returned. Besides, speed was the one thing Malik was always very good at.

[Youko]

There was barely a reaction from the pale White Wing as he slowly lifted his dull gaze to the other Light. He did as he was told, though he was sure that he wouldn't be able to speak now even if he wanted too. Ryou returned his eyes to the stone ground. He didn't care what happened anymore. This whole thing was just one big... he didn't want to think of it as a mistake.

For those few days, he was actually happy. He was happy that Bakura seemed to care about him. Now it all seemed like a cruel joke the Prince decided to play. It didn't even dawn on him that it couldn't have been the Shadow's fault this happened. They couldn't go against the arrangement.

When Malik had spoken to him, Ryou lifted his head one again. He gaze, however, didn't fall upon the other. It was beginning to get harder for the bound Wing to focus on anything at all. The pain of his wounds radiated though his body, but that isn't what was causing him to shut down. No, it was his emotional pain.

Vaguely he thought that this could very well cause a war between the Kingdom of Sun Light and the Kingdom of Night Shadow. He was a high ranking Light Wing after all. Those thoughts were soon replaced with the memories of Bakura's actions before he left this last time.

[Twelve Yb TnuoC]

After having caught a glance of the total void which was Ryou's eyes, Malik frowned, and paused in his workings with the binds.

"... I think, you need some help, Snowflake," he said at length. Examination had shown that Ryou was bound by five chains, one for each limb, and another around Ryou's neck like a dog collar. Malik decided to start with the ones on Ryou's arms, and gripped each chain near where it was clamped around Ryou's wrists, and gave a good, firm tug. The chains suddenly turned an ice cold temperature, before dissolving into black dust, and settling in a thick cloud to the ground.

"Don't worry, though. My Purpose can probably tend to you, and then I'll figure out what the fuck the Prince thought he was doing." Malik repeated the process, but with both hands, on the chained collar around Ryou's neck. This chain dissolved much faster, probably because Malik was using both hands on it. The other White Wing then crouched down, to attend to the last two chains.

He would take care of the actual clasps around Ryou's wrists, neck and ankles, next. Those were more difficult to control, because they made direct contact with the Wing's skin. Though perhaps he ought to leave those. Limiting Ryou's abilities a bit might be for the best, considering the only skill of Ryou's that Malik knew of was that he was sensitive to how others felt, and the Kingdom of NightShadow was kind of built out of pure anger and hatred.

"Heh, Bakura should've been aware," Malik commented in an all too light tone of voice, as he turned the ankle-chains to dust, "that you'd have a Snowflake's chance in Hell here." The tan-skinned Wing looked up at Ryou with a purely adorable expression of anticipation, one of those 'get it? get it?' looks that kids have after making a supposedly clever pun.

[Youko]

As soon as his wrists were freed, Ryou wrapped his arms tightly around himself as if it would protect him from the thoughts and memories that seemed to haunt him in that moment. Malik's words had been lost to the white haired Light as his mind reeled. It didn't even register that the blonde Wing was freeing him.

He shifted slightly at the mention of Bakura's name, that being the only reaction of the other's words. Though when the pun actually registered in his hazed mind, a faint smile formed on his bloody lips. The amusement was lost to those dull emerald orbs, however. Everything about the normally friendly and kind Wing was missing.

It was hard for him to gather himself enough for him to speak to the tan Wing. His voice was raspy, the usual softness now rough probably due to screaming mere minutes before.

"...How will we get out?" Ryou glanced at the barred door, having missed that it was already open.

"...Oh."

[Twelve Yb TnuoC]

Malik grinned, a lopsided expression, partially for lingering worry for Ryou, and partially for a kind of flirty mischievousness that the Wing seemed to always carry with him. "Getting out will be easy, Snowflake. I make time my bitch," the tanned Wing explained with a triumphant nod as he stood up, before gesturing to himself with a jab of his thumb. "Whether I want to or not~"

"Now then! I need you to make a quick decision," the Wing continued, looking at Ryou thoughtfully, before cleaning some of the blood from Ryou's face with the heel of his own tan palm. "The actual ability repressing magic is kept in the cuffs, which are still attached. They're a little harder to get off safely, because they touch your skin. Do you want me to leave them on until we're back on the mortal plane, or take them off now...?" He wiped the blood off his hand, onto the side of his cameo pants.

The outfit, the same one he'd been wearing at school yesterday, didn't blend in very well here in the Kingdom of NightShadow, but... Malik liked the style, not the practicality of the vest and six-pocketed pants, of the simple white tanktop or black fingerless gloves, and the way it combined with the numerous gold bands he wore visibly, around his neck, and on his wrists and upper-arms.

"After that, I'm going to carry you to safety, and then we'll decide what to do next~," Malik added in a light tone, offering Ryou an awkward smile. He just wanted to make the other Wing smile again, and it was frustrating, because he wasn't personally in the best of moods, but... He was feigning it. At least one of them had to be in good sorts, if they were going to keep from getting caught after leaving this dungeon cell.

[Youko]

Dull emerald orbs turned back to the other Wing seeming to stare at him for a moment before the white haired Wing turned them to the cuffs still rather snug on his wrists. Ryou forced his thoughts to clear so that he could think his decision though completely. He didn't want to be a burden due to making the wrong choice.

Both choices had it's pros and cons. If they were removed; he could perhaps be of some help and even fight if they needed too, but his emotions would run wild. If they stayed on; his mind would remain clear and devoid of the hate and anger that shook him to the core when he first set foot here, but he wouldn't be able to return to his mortal form. The pale wing soon decided that it would be best to leave them on, he wouldn't be of much help if he couldn't move at all.

"Leave them." Ryou lifted his dull gaze back to his rescuer, "Lets just... get out of here."

The White Wing could freak out later. Right now he had to focus on what was happening instead of what had happened. Without a word, the pale Light forced himself painfully to his feet. He stifled a cry as he felt a few of the wounds tare at the simple movements. These wounds weren't created by Bakura, however. All he had done was cause him to bleed a little bit. It was the other Black Wings that got carried away.

After he was steady enough, Ryou held out his arm to make Malik's job that much easier.