Duality Chaos, Book Two of The Chaos Saga

Chapter 2: Reappearances

Seto closed the door, still holding Joey over his shoulder. Setting Joey down on his feet, Seto looked at Joey, and spoke very quietly, but forcefully. "Joey, I love you. I know it is crazy, I know it is quick, but I know I love you."

Joey's eyes widened. His Adam's apple bobbed noticeably. "Seto, I...I do not know what ta say. It seems crazy I can feel so strongly about ya, especially when ya are a jackass most of da time. But..." his honey eyes studied Seto's face. So quietly, Joey whispered, "I do love you." Joey leaned over, and rubbed his cheek along Seto's face, Joey's eyes sliding closed, a purr escaping his lips.

Seto closed his eyes, smiling softly. "Are you marking me?"

Joey smiled, keeping his eyes closed. He chuckled, "Yea, I guess so." Joey felt his guard dropping as he acknowledged, truly acknowledged, his feelings for Seto.

Seto felt Joey wrap his left arm around Seto's waist, placing his right hand over Seto's bare chest, right where his heart was. Seto put his forehead to Joey's, running his hand up under Joey's shirt and touching the skin covering Joey's heart.

At that contact, Seto felt his breath leave him. Seto's eyes still closed, all he could see was Joey...

Joey as a baby, crying in a bed. Seto felt Joey's hunger and cold.

Joey, running through the woods, bones snapping, transforming for the first time. Seto took a sharp intake of breath as he felt the pain of transformation.

Joey, talking to Yugi about the Domino Prowl. Fierce pride and protection welled up in Seto about the prowl.

Joey, staring at Seto, confessing his love. Seto stumbled at the depth of the love Joey felt for Seto. "What have you done to me, Mutt?" Seto whispered, eyes flying open. Joey was just looking at Seto, in shock.

"We...we just...fused." Joey whispered, mouth dry.

Seto sat down on the bed, slowly. "What does 'fused' mean?" he asked slowly and carefully.

Joey sighed heavily. "Fusion is... very significant to us wereleopards. It...well...it means you are my mate."

Seto raised an eyebrow, stating wryly, "Glad we got our first date in."

Joey smiled, then sat down on the floor, putting his head on Seto's knee, staring up at Seto's face. Joey's face turned serious. "It is more dan dat...at least on my end. I'm bonded to ya. If you hurt, I hurt. If you die...so do I. We can share energy between each other. There will be no other for me. I already had eyes only for ya...but now, it's even more so. Basically, we are one. I guess it's kinda like that Thregant Bond thing? In any event, I'm yours. Only yours." Joey's honey eyes shown with sincerity and passion.

Seto smiled, putting a hand on Joey's hair. "Mutt, I..."

At that moment, there was a knock on Seto's door. Seto growled. "Go away." The knocking continued. Seto growled louder, "Go. Away." The knocking continued happily again. Seto stood, striding to the door. "This had better be good."

He jerked open the door. There, standing at the door was a petite woman, with pale skin, light hair that had a blue sheen to it, and pale blue eyes. "Ki..Kisara?" Seto croaked, shocked.

"Seto!" She threw her arms around Seto's neck. She pulled Seto into a kiss, Seto woodenly moving toward her. "I have missed you, my husband." Joy shone from her face.

Joey felt nauseous. He could feel Seto's surprise, agitation, confusion, and...love... At that, Joey felt the pizza threatening to come up, tears threatening to overflow. He felt his heart fall to his feet as he ran out past Seto and Kisara, dodging Seto's arm that reached out for him.

******************************
Ryou was walking in the moonlight, mind wandering far away to the events of the past couple of months. Ryou was so pleased that Yami had finally found Heba. Ryou and Yami had had many talks, and Ryou knew Yami's soul hurt without Heba...Yugi...whichever.

Ryou smiled to himself. Slowly his smile faded into a frown. As happy as he was for his friend, his heart was still lonely. There was a space that was empty, always full of longing. He stared up at the stars. He smiled as he saw a star streak toward the horizon. Looking around to make sure noone was looking, he wished again for a mate. As the star faded from the sky, he shook his head, smiling at his flight of fancy.

Suddenly, Ryou went flying forward, his foot tripping over something. He threw his hands out in front of him to catch himself. Landing with a painful twist to his elbow, he sat down, looking to see what he tripped over.

Ryou's eyes widened, seeing a tangled mass of red cloth. "Bloody hell, is that a person?"

Ryou gently tried to disentangle the form, rolling the figure over on it's back. Ryou's eyes went wide as he fell backwards on his butt. "What the hell?" Ryou stared at the figure. There, lying on the ground, was the spitting image of Ryou.

Dark coffee eyes fluttered open, catching the soft chocolate eyes in his gaze. "Where. The. Fuck. Am. I? And. Who. The. Fuck. Are. You? "

Ryou scooted backwards a bit farther. "I am Ryou." he squeaked. "You are?" he quiered, praying that he was wrong.

"I don't know." the doppelganger said roughly, covering his face in his hands, rubbing his eyes.