XD Hey, lookit me! I came back even quicker than last time!

This one will be going in a whole new direction, but I am sure over the course of the series, some of you saw this coming ;D

YGO and it's characters are not mine, I do not own. Aurora IS mine, however, I own all rights to her and her friends. (Man it feels good to be able to say that XD)

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Chapter 8
I Need You...

Theron arched an eyebrow as two more faces appeared on Dartz's soul wall. He knew the two boys would fail in their endeavor, but it did not matter. In the end, it was all about the souls. Any souls would do as long as there were enough. On the other side of the room, he heard Dartz let out an enraged shout and turned in time to see the train plummet off the edge of the cliff.

“I need the Pharoa alive!”

“Are you so sure he is not?”

“His presence is gone.”

“That young man is very well protected, I assure you, sir. He will be found alive.”

“Protected?

Lord Theron's eyes darkened. “My enemies keep him guarded. He is alive. Just... out of sight for the moment.”

“Not for long. Rafael!”

The doors slid open as the other man entered. “Yes, Master Dartz.”

“You are going on a little trip. Head out to the where the train derailed and see if you can locate the Pharoah's. It is said he is still alive. If he is, I want to know exactly where he is.” Dartz watched as the man bowed and left the room before turning back to Lord Theron. “You had better be correct about this. If not I will be taking your soul in his place.”

“I am, but even if I weren't, taking my soul would do you no good. A Eudorian soul has no effect on the great beast no matter how powerful the soul is.” Lord Theron's lip quirked in amusement as the galre left Dartz's eyes. “Be careful of whom you make your threats to. For I am older and I know your beast better. You'd do well to remember that.”

---

Aurora crouched near the river's edge to rinse out several pieces of cloth she had torn from her duster-like dress in order to care for wounds both Yami and Téa sustained in the fall. She found herself glad to be wearing a supporting tank top and leggings under the duster as she looked down at the tattered remains. Standing, she dropped the cloths to the ground beside her and proceeded to shed her duster. A small twist and she was able to wrap it around her waist as if it were a half skirt. A quiet sigh left her lips as she leaned back against a nearby tree and closed her eyes. The sun felt good as it bathed her skin, but she still felt uneasy.

Aurora's ears caught the sound of a wolf's bark near the tents that had been fashioned to house Yami and his friend while they rested. There was a startled shout from Téa and then Aurora heard Chris' soft and apologetic voice. She continued to listen as Téa began to giggle. Turning her back to the river, she watched the tent flaps open as Yam ducked his head out and stepped into the sunlight. He squinted and brought a hand to his eyes to block the sudden light as he looked around. He stopped when his eyes met hers and they stared at each other for a moment, broken only when Téa exited the tent.

Aurora turned back to the river and idly listened to the chatter behind her as Chris explained a few things to them and Yami admitted that he was no longer worthy of holding his guardian dragon. She could almost feel his guilt in his words when he spoke. She wanted to do anythingto take it all away, but she knew there was nothing she could do but let him follow his path.

“I think I need a little more rest,” Téa said through a yawn as she stretched later that night. She said her good nights and returned to her bed in the tent. Chris and Ironheart left soon after, leaving Yami alone by the fire.

She studied his profile in the fading sunlight. She never once joined them by the fire. She, instead, remained where she had started out her day, by the river. Her cover was to be that she was keeping her watch in case anyone came looking for Yami. No one questioned her. She preferred it that way. Her eyes lingered just a few moments longer on his solemn face before she turned and made her way toward the river's edge once more. There, she climbed upon a small ledge, closed her eyes and dove cleanly into the river. The cool water struck her with a shock, but she continued to swim, fighting the current just to work herself harder. When her head broke the surface, she took in a gulp of air and brought her hands up to brush her wet hair away from her face. It was not exactly a shower, but it was good enough.

"Aurora... was I really a slave to the darkness? Was I an evil king?"

She gasped and spun to face the shore. Sitting near the bank, Yami stared down into the water. His voice sounded so broken, her heart felt near to shattering. She swallowed hard, completely at a loss for words. Aurora knew what he was asking for, but she was not so sure she could give him the answers he was seeking. Not this time. But when he looked up from the water and stared over at her. She sighed and moved to climb out of the river, quietly sitting down beside him.

"No, Yami,” she finally whispered, her eyes down at the ground as they clouded over with her memories of the past. “No, you were never an evil king. You were a fair and just king. You must never lose sight of that."

“I failed everyone. I failed you. I failed Yugi...”

Her jaw clenched tightly. “Anyone could have just as easily fallen to the Seal's power, Yami. It's seductive in such a way that most have no idea it's happened until after their soul is gone.”

“I don't think I can do this, Aurora. I failed him and then I was ready and perfectly willing to kill Weevil. I can feel the darkness in me rearing up. It's wanting to sink its claws into me.”

“Then you must fight it, Yami.” She swallowed hard again and took the chance to look over at him. “If you give up this fight, then you really will fail everyone, and Yugi will remain lost forever. I know you can't want that fate for Yugi. He did what he did because he knew you could succeed. He knew you could do what was needed. He had faith in you even after you fell to that darkness.”

“Timaeus has turned his back on me as well. I disrespected my deck in the worst way-”

“Yami, stop this. Feeling sorry for yourself will get you no where.” Aurora shook her head. “Timaeus will return to you if you can make good with him. Bring peace within yourself. Apologize and promise to him that you will remain in control. He will test you, but he will return to you.” Daringly, she reached out and placed her hand upon his chest. “Keep the light in your heart, Yami. Everything will be as it needs to be.”

Yami's eyes closed and he lifted his hand to cover hers. Her skin was cool from the cold waters, and his mind drifted to the almost delicate look in her appearance. She seemed to glimmer in the moonlight, and her normally deep blue eyes appeared almost black in the absence of the light. She was mystical in so many ways. But above all this, he was amazed at how her words could strike him the way they had. They cleared his head and made him realize she spoke the truth. For a moment, she seemed to come right out of a vision of his past. He could almost see her wearing the clothing of an Egyptian Royal.

“Aurora...”

“Yes?” She froze when he stretched out a hand to touch her cheek. “Yami...”

“Shh, please...”

“No, please don't...”

“Aurora-”

“Don't do this, please...”

“Aurora...”

Her breath quickened and her eyes lowered. The tone in his voice... It had been so long since she had heard that sound. Her heart wrenched at his plea. She wanted so badly to give him the comfort he was seeking. Still, she knew she should not allow him to get much closer. Gently, she reached up with her free hand and placed it upon the wrist of the hand touching her face. “Please, Yami... I ... we...”

“Aurora, I miss you.”

“You barely remember me.”

“You seem to know me better than anyone. You know just what to say and when to say it.”

“Not always.”

“Without him... without Yugi, I feel so alone.”

“You are not alone, Yami. I am here, Téa is here. You are far from alone...” Her voice trailed when she realized he had somehow managed to move closer to her.

“But the loneliness still remains. I am missing something else. I need something else...” His eyes drifted and half closed as he leaned closer, his lips barley brushing hers as he spoke again in a soft whisper. “I need you...”

She moved her hands to grip his upper arms in an attempt to hold him back. Her gasp was cut off when his lips took hers, gentle at first, but quickly becoming searing. So much passion could be felt within the kiss. Aurora no longer felt the chill of the night. Her skin felt more like fire as he pulled her even closer to him. His fingers reached up an threaded themselves through the silken strands of her hair. Against all reason, she returned the kiss. All the emotions she had kept bottled up over the years threatened to overwhelm her as she felt herself quickly succombing to his every touch. Her heart pounded as he wrapped his arms securely around her. A moan was muffled between their kiss as she shuddered under the force of her own pent up need. She held tighter to him as he shifted to lay her back upon the soft earth. He whispered her name as his lips explored her neck and shoulders, earning another whimpered moan from her.

Her breath quickened and a part of her min shouted for her to stop what was happening. But as his lips trailedover her skin, she found herself transported back to a different time. A time when he was the king sharing the night with his queen. The touch and kiss she once thought she would never feel again, continued to sweep over her with the ease of a skilled lover. In her mind... it was as if he had never been dead. She heard her name whispered again between kisses and the last of her reservations fell away.

---

Across the camp, Téa's eyes fluttered open. She was not sure what had woken her, but she did not feel much like going back to sleep. So much had happened that had left her mind racing. She needed to talk to someone. She wanted to talk to Yami, but it was obvious from his change in personality that she was not going to get much out of him. Still, she could not help but want to try.

“Yami?” She frowned when she received no answer. Sitting up on her cot, she looked over to see that Yami's cot had been undisturbed. “He must still be by the fire.”

The cot creaked as she shifted and slid off the side. After checking her shoes for any possible critters, she slipped her feet into them and quietly padded her way toward the tent flap.

“Yami? Shouldn't you at least try to get-” Her eyes blinked when she did not see him by the fire. “Some... sleep...” She scanned the camp but could not see the tri-colored hair she had been so familiar with. “Where did he go?” Worried for her friend's safety, she cautiously began to wander the campsite. As a last result, she began to make her way toward the river.

Thoughts of Yami in the water flashed through her mind and she allowed herself a small, wistful smile. The smile faded slightly, though as she drew closer to the edge. She stopped walking and strained her ears as she thought she heard a moan. Listening more, she heard the sound again. Her heart froze and her throat suddenly felt dry. Her mind screamed to return to the tent, but her bod had a mind of its own as her feet began walking along the edge.

A whimpered gasp and a deep groan stopped her again as she came across a small clearing near the edge. She was far enough she could not make out much, but she was no fool. The moonlight gave just enough light to cast a shadow over two bodies clutching tightly against each other. They had remained partially clothed, but it was clear what Téa had stumbled across. She wanted to be sick. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run. She wanted to strike at them both. She did the only thing her body seemed to allow her to do. She remained still and continued to watch through the tears forming in her eyes as the couple caught their breaths and the man gently eased away from his lover. It was all she could do to keep from screaming out in her anguish as Yami gazed down at Aurora with a look Téa always wished he would give her. Choking back a sob, she turned and ran back to camp.

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I tried to warn everyone that this version of Doma was going to be different...

Now... in past reviews I have had people ask me for this kind of certain situation to happen between the spirit and Aurora, and I always said it would never happen for select reasons. However, before someone snaps my head off for it, explanation is this: Little Yugi spirit is gone leaving the body to be completely the spirit's body. It's not technically considered wrong, and anyone who has ever been through an extreme loss knows that most times, it's typical for one to reach out to find comfort in some similar way. It is how some people deal. Anyway... Now to prepare the next chapter... XD