A/N - Thank you Dragon for first giving me this idea and Pysche for editing it for me.
The forest was quiet as the Demon Hunter Seto Kaiba walked along the worn path. Soft black clothing adorned Seto's body. A sword and dagger were attached to a belt around the hunter's waist. On his back was a white cape made out of a mysterious material that protected the hunter through harsh conditions and kept it looking like new. On top of the cape was a quiver full of arrows, and in his hands was the matching bow with an arrow cocked and ready to fire.
Upon the hunter's shoulders slept a black cat, its tail curled around Seto's neck. The only article that cat wore was a red ribbon around his neck with a bell attached to it. At first the ribbon and bell greatly annoyed the cat, but it was the only way to distinguish the cat from all the wild ones that roamed the area.
Crouching down next to a pool of blood, Seto turned his head slightly so he could talk to the cat on his shoulders. "Looks like our friend came this way, Yami."
With a lazy yawn the cat, Yami, stood and jumped off of Seto's shoulders. Purring, Yami rubbed his head against Seto's leg while the hunter tilted his head upwards to he could look in the trees. Sure enough, he spotted the gray furry body of the squirrel they had been hunting with yellow glowing eyes. Clutched in the squirrel's paws was the dead body of a brown rabbit. The rabbit's blood dripped down from the tree as the demon squirrel fed off its corpse.
Aiming the bow and arrow, Seto growled when he saw that he did not have a clear shot at the squirrel thanks to all the leaves. "Yami?"
With a nod of his furry black head, Yami leapt at the massive trunk of the tree, transforming into a black leopard in the process. As the leopard bounded up the tree, the squirrel jumped over to the next tree. Yami however would not give up as he gave chase, transforming between a housecat and a leopard as he skillfully made his way through the trees, following the squirrel.
"For a demon hunter you sure keep interesting company." Jumping to his feet, Seto placed a hand on the hilt of his sword as he spun around to face the owner of the voice. Leaning up against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest, Seto found a white-haired fire demon.
"Bakura," Seto softly growled. The fire demon was known extremely well to the hunter and his cat partner. Bakura was Yami's ex-best friend and had been out for revenge ever since the cat demon tried to kill him. "I suppose you're the one responsible for the animals in this forest becoming creatures."
"Now you're jumping to conclusions Hunter," Bakura replied with a smirk upon his face. "I would have thought by now you'd know all my powers and turning furry little animals into demons isn't one of them. I was merely passing through when I bumped into you."
"I highly doubt that. Even if you aren't responsible for this, I know you're up to no good."
"It's true." Pushing off against the tree, Bakura strolled over to Seto. "Like all demons I've been on the move lately."
"And why is that?" Seto eyed the white haired demon, all the while keeping one hand on the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it if necessary.
"You don't know?" Bakura asked with mock amusement in his voice. Getting closer to Seto, Bakura began whispering in his ear. "Every 500 years is demon mating season. That's when we can take a human mate and turn them into one of us. 500 years is up in two months."
With a satisfied smirk Bakura backed away putting some distance between himself and the demon hunter. "I'm surprised your pet failed to mention this to you. He obviously knows; we all know. Had it not occur to you that there was a reason for all the demon movement lately? Let me guess…Kitten has been hanging out in his human form more than normal lately…it's because we're all searching for the one to call our own; it's in our nature. But perhaps your pet already found the one he's searching for. Maybe that's why he isn't concerned with looking like the rest of us?"
"What are you implying?" Seto spat.
"Makes you wonder what is going on in his little kitty brain doesn't it?" Bakura replied, happy to have hit a nerve with the demon hunter. "By the way, the demon you're looking for that has been turning animals into creatures is called Marik. Although he looks like an adult he's rather young in demon years. He's playing, not trying to cause any real harm."
A wall of flames flew up from the ground surrounding the white haired demon. Just as quick, the flames disappeared back into the earth; but Bakura was already gone.
Moments later Seto heard the dinging of a bell and soon the black leopard came bounding back in view, running along the ground with the dead squirrel in his mouth. Dropping the squirrel at Seto's feet, the panther transformed back into a housecat and rubbed his head against Seto's leg.
"Good job," Seto quietly murmured as he stepped away and turned away from the cat.
"Seto, what is wrong?" Turning back around, instead of finding the black house cat Seto found a short human with tri-colored spiky hair, dressed entirely in black leather and a black cape around his shoulders. The red ribbon with bell attached to it remained around the human's neck and concerned crimson eyes stared at Seto, demanding to know what was wrong.
"Bakura was here; that's all," Seto replied as he nodded his head towards the burnt circle of grass where Bakura had used his fire-traveling trick.
"So?" Yami asked as he crouched down next to the burnt grass to examine it. He then cocked his head to look back up at his human partner. "Bakura hasn't had this kind of effect on you before."
"He's up to no good," Seto quietly murmured. Turning his head away from Yami, Seto looked down the path they had been traveling on. "There's a village near here. I think Bakura was probably headed that way."
"Unless he was heading the direction we came from."
"He came up behind me though, that means he was going in the same direction as us."
"Makes sense," Yami replied while shrugging his small shoulders. As Seto began walking down the path, Yami hurried to catch up with him. "Hey wait up! My legs aren't as long as yours!"
"You mean you're not transforming?" As the pair walked side bye side, Seto glanced sharply at Yami before turning his attention back to where they were going.
"Why should I?" Yami asked, shooting Seto a concerned look. "You know I spent most of my life as a human before I left my village."
"That was 3000 years ago; we've known each other for a year and normally you travel in your cat form until recently."
"Well…we've been traveling a lot more lately because of all the demon movement. I figured you might want some humanoid company for a while."
The pair fell into silence as they continued to walk along the path. Every so often, Seto would glance in the cat demon's direction as he became lost in his thoughts while thinking over what Bakura had said. The fire demon had been right. Yami was in his human form a lot more lately and he had mentioned nothing about the reason why the demons were on the move.
Seto had always been wary of why Yami had saved him from that fire two years ago. The cat demon had insisted they team up together to defeat the demon that had killed Seto's brother, Mokuba. At the time Yami had claimed it was to prove to the demon hunter that demons could be good as well and some did not deserve to be mercilessly slaughtered.
Seto would have felt better about things if he and Yami had not already been intimate. The pair spent a lot of lonely nights roaming the world searching for evil demons. At times they would seek comfort in each other when the loneliness became too much. Seto found little comfort in the fact that the last time they had been together was months ago. He couldn't help but think that Yami had been trying to seduce him.
Lost in his thoughts, Seto didn't realize when Yami had fallen in step behind him. Bored with the silence, Yami waited until Seto was the right distance away before leaping in the air, transforming into a housecat in the process. Lightly landing on Seto's shoulders, Yami curled up and began falling asleep.
"I knew you wouldn't last long," Seto said as he reached up and patted Yami's soft black head, scratching behind the cat's ear in the process. Normally Yami hated it when Seto treated him as a cat but he could already feel the tension leaving Seto's body so he put up with it.
With gentle but tired purr, Yami shut his eyes and was soon fast asleep.
"Yami wake up."
Yami's crimson eyes blinked open to find the two of them standing on the edge of the small village. Rows of small cabins made out of logs, wood and other natural materials made up the village. A larger multi-floored building was nestled in the middle of the town square. Experience told both hunter and demon that the larger building was an inn and a pub, which was where they knew to begin their search for information.
Yami took in everything as Seto walked towards the inn. The villagers were interacting in their daily lives and nothing seemed out of ordinary but one could never be so sure. Yami's own home village, Chale Jao, could easily be mistaken for a normal human village even though only demons lived here. Therefore long ago, Yami learned never to trust things with only his eyes.
"Welcome to Lagaan strangers'!" a cheerful voice boasted from behind the bar as soon as Seto walked inside the building. "Care for a drink or a bed for tonight?"
As both hunter and demon had thought, the ground floor was used as a pub. Wooden tables were arranged throughout the dark room. In the back was a staircase, which both Seto and Yami knew led up to rooms that people could stay in.
"A room and perhaps some food," Seto replied as he strolled over to the bar. As soon as he got close enough Yami jumped from Seto's shoulders and landed gracefully on the bar. Knowing what to do, Yami began immediately rubbing his head against the barkeep's arm. It never hurt to suck up a little when one was seeking information and no one could resist the cuteness of a cat.
"Cute kitty," the barkeep said as he petted Yami's back with hard strokes. The cat demon gave a fake purr of contentment to keep up the appearance.
"It wouldn't be a problem if he wandered around the village a bit would it?" Seto inquired. "He's been riding around a lot lately and could use some exercise. He's getting kind of fat."
Yami shot Seto a dirty look and gave the kitty version of a pout.
"O' sure, the kids will love him and the mice won't!" The barkeeper laughed heartily while Yami quickly hopped off the counter and hurried off, leaving Seto to deal with the man.
The routine was one they had used many times in the past. Enter a new village, get a room for the night and while Seto got to question the villagers, Yami in his cat form would roam around looking for information on his own. Everyone had secrets but most people thought he was an innocent cat after all and were not so concerned with keeping their secrets around an animal.
"KITTY!"
Yami froze in fear when he heard one of the things he hated most in the world. He soon tried darting off but was not quick enough as chubby arms and hands wrapped around his body as a young boy picked him up.
"KITTY! KITTY! KITTY!" the child continued to chant and the boy was soon joined by more children of all ages as they all attempted to pet the cat with their grubby hands.
Yami gave a pitiful meow as he struggled to get away from the little monsters but it was no use, he was stuck and not going anywhere until they got bored and decided to let him go. With a small humanlike sigh, Yami hoped that Seto was dealing better back at the pub.
Seto sat at a corner table with his back up against the wall so that no one could sneak up behind him. He had been sitting there for a while as he surveyed the patrons coming in and out of the pub. Thus far he had not seen the demon they had been hunting or the white-haired fire demon but it was still early into the evening.
The hours ticked by and it had been awhile since the hunter and his demon partner separated. Normally by now Seto would have grown concerned about his absent partner but after Bakura told him earlier that day Seto was still reluctant to be around the cat demon.
Dusk fell across the landscape outside and still Seto saw no demon enter the tavern. The villagers who were gathered in the tavern seemed relaxed and at ease, very unlike those who were concerned about demons nearby.
With a reluctant sigh, Seto stood from his table and walked through the room until he reached the stairs. He decided it was pointless hanging around waiting for one of the demons they were searching for to show up. Nighttime would be better as demons were bolder during the darkness, more willing to display their abilities instead of pretending to be human. Seto knew however that if he would be up most of the night he might as well get some rest while it was still early. Even an experienced demon hunter like himself could run into problems against a powerful demon, especially one who wanted to make a name for himself by defeating the famous hunter.
Stealthily Seto entered the darkened room he had rented. It wasn't much. A bed, desk and dresser were the only items in the room. Making quick work, Seto shoved the dresser over to the now closed door so that no one could try and break in while he was asleep without causing a loud disturbance. Satisfied with his work, Seto turned back around and through the window spotted a black cat perched on the window still, pawing at the glass with his front paws, wanting inside.
Seto silently cursed to himself as he walked over and opened the window. Immediately the cat jumped inside the room and hurried past Seto while the hunter shut the window once again. "Find anything?" he asked.
"No, I was manhandled by a bunch of children." Turning around away from the window, Seto was not surprised to find Yami in his human form. His crimson eyes were angry, his arms were crossed over his chest and there was an annoyed pout on his face. Despite himself Seto began chuckling at his partner, which only increased the cat demon's annoyance. "It's not funny Seto!"
"Oh but it is from my point of view." Yami continued to stand in the middle of the room pouting, while Seto busied himself getting ready for bed. The last thing Seto needed to worry about at the moment was what Bakura had said to him so he tried pushing it from his mind.
The quiver of arrows came off first and Seto placed it on the desk next to the bed before setting his bow down next to it. Next came Seto's belt with his sword and dagger on it. The belt and sword were also placed on the desk, while the dagger was hidden safely under Seto's pillow. Lastly came off Seto's white cape and his boots, the cape being draped over the back of the chair that was with the desk. Seto's other clothes would remain on in case he had to move fast. The life of a demon hunter was definitely not a glamorous one, as rarely was Seto able to properly rest.
"I see you've found nothing either," Yami dryly commented as he watched Seto lay down on the bed and close his eyes.
"Not yet, which is why I'm sleeping now and searching more in a few hours. I suggest you do the same."
The room remained quiet for a few moments until the gentle sound of Seto sleeping began. Yami sighed as he stared at the sleeping form of his partner. Normally Seto would rent a room with two beds; one for each of them, or a room with a bed that was big enough for them to share, but not this time, which meant that Yami would have to sleep in his cat form if he wanted to sleep at all that evening.
Again Yami found himself concerned over Seto. He knew that the hunter hadn't been acting the same since his conversation with Bakura and it pained Yami's heart.
For years, Yami had secretly been in love with Seto without the hunter knowing it. Ever since that time when he was young and traveled with Bakura to the Pool of Destiny to prove themselves to their elders. The place was a demon sanctuary and it was said that those who looked into the pool would see their future. When Yami had looked into the Pool of Destiny he had seen Seto's face and had fallen in love. He even betrayed his friendship with Bakura so that he and the hunter could one day be together. That had been 3000 years ago, long before Seto had even been born; but Yami loved him nonetheless.
With the time of mating fast approaching, Yami longed to be bound body and soul with Seto. Since their first encounter, Yami had worked hard to gain the demon hunter's trust, but time was fast running out. The next mating season wouldn't happen for another 500 years, long after Seto's death if they did not make the current deadline.
Giving a heavy sigh, Yami pushed his thoughts out of his mind. He then transformed back into a cat and jumped on top of Seto, curling up into a ball on Seto's chest. At least with only having one small bed in the room it meant Yami could sleep close to Seto without the other becoming aware of the secret love.
Yami's ear twitched moments before he lazily opened his crimson eyes. Seto was still fast asleep but Yami could have sworn he heard something. Staying still Yami waited to see if he heard the sound again. A few minutes of silence went by and Yami was beginning to think he imagined the sounds when he heard it again. Voices talking in the next room, once of which was very familiar to the cat demon.
Fully awake now, Yami jumped off Seto and landed on the floor before stretching his body. His footsteps were light as he walked across the floor and over to the wall. Tilting his head, Yami pressed on of his cat ears up against the wall and listened. A few seconds was all that it took for Yami to get his confirmation about whose voice he heard.
Yami's cat eyes allowed him to see perfectly in the darkness and he quickly spotted a small hole in the wall near the floorboards. Such holes were common in run-down places like the inn, so that mice and cats like himself could stealthily move about.
Crawling through the small hole, Yami found himself in the room next door. The room was like Seto's, bare except for the odd furniture. On the bed were two half-naked bodies, one raven haired and one white-haired. The pair were currently making out and oblivious that they now had a visitor watching them.
Jumping up on the desk next to the bed, Yami sat down and gave them both a kitty glare until they eventually felt eyes on them.
"Bakura is that your cat?"
"What?" Bakura asked snapping his head up and stared at Yami. The fire demon could have sworn the cat was smirking at him. "Hell no! Just ignore him Otogi!" Bakura went back to kissing the other man's neck. Otogi however was not quite as eager to go back making out.
"But he's staring at us!"
"Kitten get out of here!"
"So he is your cat!"
"He's not!"
"But you just said his name!"
"His name isn't Kitten!"
By now the two were kneeling on the bed facing each other as they yelled back and forth. Deciding to add to the fury, Yami jumped onto the bed and rubbed up against Bakura's leg purring happily. Bakura quickly knocked him away with his arm, shoving the cat to the floor.
"What's your problem?"
"My problem is you lied to me!"
"I didn't lie!"
"Screw this!" Otogi grumbled as he stood up and grabbed his shirt off the floor before storming out of the room.
"Otogi!" Bakura attempted to follow the raven-haired man but received a door slammed in his face.
"What did you do that for! That was a potential!" Bakura yelled as he spun around to face an impassionate Yami.
"He wasn't your type anyway," Yami replied with a small shrug of his shoulders.
"He was a slut! He'd have been perfect for me!"
"What about Malik?" Malik was Bakura's on-again, off-again lover. Personally Yami felt that Malik was good for Bakura but the fire demon insisted on trying to shove the tanned blond away.
"He dumped me again. For someone who's also a slut he seems to have a problem with me sleeping around. Besides you had to go and spoil it by telling him that you're a demon. Since he found out about me he's become so clingy. Fortunately Ryou's training finished up on time, allowing me to get out of that damn village and away from Malik. He's been staying with us and unfortunately my parents love him."
"I don't care about your personal life, Bakura!" Yami snapped and Bakura's anger was replaced with satisfaction; a small smirk appeared on his face.
"You seem tense Kitten."
Yami growled at the use of the old nickname that Bakura had given him a long time ago. Back then it had only been mildly annoying but now Yami full out hated the nickname.
"What did you say to Seto this morning?" Yami demanded to know as strolled over to the white-haired fire demon. Although much shorter than Bakura, the cat demon was an imposing figure that should be feared. Yami was the one who killed Pegasus, a powerful demon who slaughtered humans, wiping out villages within a few hours.
"I merely told him the truth," Bakura replied while shrugging his shoulders and trying to look innocent. "The demon you're hunting for is a child demon who was playing."
"That's all?" Yami narrowed his eyes as he began staring down Bakura.
"I might have mentioned something about mating season is coming up and how unlike any other demon you are not concerned with finding a mate." Bakura studied his fingernails with boredom while he talked, unconcerned that in front of him, Yami was growing angrier by the minute. "I think I also suggested that the reason you aren't looking for a mate is because you already found one…"
"Bakura!"
"I only speak the truth." Looking back down at the other demon, Bakura threw him another satisfied smirk. "Admit it, you want him."
"That's not the point!"
"Oh really?" Bakura asked as his smirk grew. "We both know you won't be able to hold off your natural instinct for much longer. You're a demon, the very thing that Seto Kaiba hates. He'll kill you if he only had the choice of that and becoming the thing that killed his brother."
"Why do you hate me so much?" The anger had left Yami now and all that was left with pain and sadness. They had been friends for so long and now all they did was fight.
"I'm not sure but I think it has something to do with the fact you tried to kill me while I was asleep."
"And you tried to kill both me and Seto in that fire."
"That's how you two met, you should be thanking me for that fire."
"Bakura…"
"Oh fine!" Bakura pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You did start this you know. You've deserved everything I've done to you over the recent years. All I did was tell Kaiba the truth this morning. If he's acting moody around you now, it's your fault for not telling him the truth."
Yami sadly sighed. "You're right. I should have been honest with him."
"Well now if you'll excuse me since you successfully scared off Otogi I have to find someone new to spend the night with." Picking up his own shirt off the floor, Bakura began dressing.
"Seto and I are going out hunting soon," Yami warned him. "You should probably stay in tonight; I won't tell him you're here."
"Sorry Kitten but I stopped trusting you long ago."
"Bakura-!" Yami tried calling but the fire demon was already walking out the door.
"I won't be coming back here Kitten, it's not worth my time to stick around here anymore," Bakura called over his shoulder before disappearing from Yami's sight.
With another sad sigh, Yami transformed back into a cat and crawled back through the hole to his own room.