Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Battle City ❯ We Can't Be Friends ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Okay so I couldn't help myself! I had to write a second chapter. I really hope my inspiration continues otherwise my effort will be for naught. Thanks so much for reviewing to let me know you liked the first chapter. I hope you like this one as well : ) Again, let me know if I'm doing an okay job.
Also, slight lemons during this chapter.

Battle City

Yugi sat on his bed as soon as the door was closed, his eyes feeling heavy and his heart tightening. He hated being mean to people. Kari was a very nice girl and she seemed to want to be friends. There had been a point in his life where he hadn't had anyone but one person as a friend, now he had many, and he wouldn't change them for the world. Kari had sought him out to become friends, and he had had to reject her. He didn't understand why Seto wouldn't let them be friends, except for the fact that maybe he didn't like his girlfriend being friendly with his rival. It would make sense. But it still didn't feel right.
Sighing, he dropped his head into his hands as he thought of a way around the possessive streak of Seto Kaiba. He felt bad for Kari. Did she have any real friends outside of Seto and his brother?
"You like her don't you?"
The low baritone voice of his partner made Yugi jump, but then sigh again as he looked up at Yami in spirit form. A blush swam fluidly on his round cheeks and he thought of denying it, but there was no fooling Yami as they had a mind link.
"Yes. As a friend though. I'm not sure, Yami, but I feel like there's more to this situation than just Kaiba being a protective boyfriend," Yugi admitted.
Yami sat himself down next to Yugi on the bed and lay a hand over the small boy's shoulder. "Perhaps you're right, Yugi. I couldn't help but notice that Kari was withholding something as she spoke with you." There was silence for a moment as both of them thought.
Yugi was the first to break the silence. "We will be seeing a lot of each other, Kari and I, during this tournament. Should I keep my distance?" he asked as he looked up at Yami, worry etched between his eyebrows.
Yami frowned and looked down at his hands, as he slid one off of the little one's shoulder. He could see inside of Yugi's heart, knowing exactly what the boy was feeling. There was a connection between them, not as strong as his and Yugi's, but there was one. Not even Seto Kaiba could keep such a thing apart. Yami wasn't happy about it, but there was nothing he could about it, except see how it all played out. There was much more at stake though, that had nothing to do with Kari that they needed to focus on. However, he knew of the compassion Yugi had for people and it only made him admire the boy more.
"For now. I think that in time, Kari will come back to you for friendship. She seems to be seeking for something that she sees in you that she can't find within others. However," Yami explained, "I feel like there might be more to Kaiba's protectiveness over her than you originally thought. Whatever it is, he is not harmful towards her. In fact, it could be a vulnerability."
"He must think that I will use it against him if I knew," Yugi understood. Kaiba had always been a private man and if his arch enemy found out about something that he could potentially black mail him with, he must be panicking and incredibly livid. He'd have to keep it a secret. Yugi wasn't a cunning person, he didn't blackmail. He had no reason to.
"Yes," Yami agreed. "For now, Yugi, you should get some rest. You've had a long day and tomorrow will be even more so as the suspense take's flight."
Yugi nodded and Yami stood. "Good night little one," he said before disappearing back into the puzzle as Yugi took it from his neck and placed it next to his pillow before climbing under the covers.
Yami was right. There were far more important things to worry about than being friends with Seto Kaiba's girlfriend. If only he could tell his heart that…

The next day, the duelists were all gathered around the "bingo machine" as Joey and Tristan seemed to refer to it as. Yugi was standing awkwardly between Joey and Tea as his eyes attempted to keep staring forwards as the small balls with numbers painted on them scrambled together. She had entered the room last and was for sure standing alongside Mai Valentine. Since meeting each other, the two and only girls in the finalists had bonded over just that fact.
They were often seen together and it wasn't until just then that Yugi had realized just how badly he wanted to go over and talk to her. He wanted to know if she was all right after she had left with Seto.
The tall CEO in question was standing alongside his little brother, Mokuba, to the side of his officials who were turning the machine's handle to scramble the balls together. Yugi eyed him, noticing how he wasn't even looking in the direction of the duelists, least of all his girlfriend. Yugi kept a straight face but was surprised to realize just how good he was at acting uninterested in Kari at all.
Yugi couldn't help himself and he glanced down the line of duelists to see Kari smiling up at Mai as the taller woman muttered something under her breath. Yugi's eyes lit up at the sparkle in the crystal blue, loving the look of happiness all over the girl's face. Well, she looked unharmed. Perhaps Yami had been right.
"Of course I was right," Yami said through their mind link, appearing behind him. Yugi was used to this, but he couldn't help but snap his eyes back to the machine as if he had been caught stealing a cookie out of a cookie jar. His partner chuckled inwardly and Yugi blushed slightly. "You should be more careful. A certain CEO has caught you as well."
Yugi looked up at Seto with panic, and he caught the narrowed glare that Seto was giving him from across the large room. Yugi's heart began to pound and he pried his eyes away to keep himself under control. Anger began to bubble up inside of him then. Why did Seto let her be friends with Mai or whoever else, but not him? It was simply unfair. He tried very hard not to let his emotions show, not wanting Seto to see how this whole situation was effecting him.
Yami did notice and he placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You're doing the right thing Yugi."
"It's not fair," Yugi inwardly stated, his eyes absently narrowing slightly as he watched the balls mingle together.
"I know, but this is out of our hands. We need to be focusing on what is at stake."
Yugi mentally sighed and his outside features relaxed back into his comfortable stare. "I know. It's just hard."
"I know little one. You're always there to lend a friendly hand."
Yugi bit the inside of his cheek at the word friend. That's what it was though, right? Just a friend.
Yami turned his crimson eyes down to the back of the boys' head that practically mirrored his own with a deep frown. The boy's feelings were growing the more that they were being withheld. He slowly disappeared back into the puzzle, his own thoughts puzzling him as much as all the doors around him.
Yugi was so deep in thought that he hadn't realize what numbers the officials had suddenly announced, before he heard a "Whoop" of glee from beside him, followed by the names of who the numbers belonged to.
"The second duel will be between Joey Wheeler and Marik Ishtar!"
Yugi's heart leapt with fear as he turned to look at Joey who had a glare of determination on his face, staring directly at the man who had claimed to be Marik the first time they had seen him. He even had the millennium rod.
"Ya hear that, baldy? You're goin' 'gainst me! That means you're goin' down!" Joey taunted with a wide smirk on his face.
Yugi tried not to face palm at his friend's reckless bravery. It vaguely reminded him of Kari's antics the night before, hanging off of a blimp, but he didn't let that interfere with what was going on. His best friend, who was as rash as rash could be, was going against the most dangerous person on the blimp. Angry Kaiba, be damned.
"Joey, you need to be careful," Yugi warned him, but Joey wasn't hearing any of it. Not like Yugi expected him to. He loved the blond boy like a brother, but Joey could get a big head during the most inappropriate times.
"Careful?! Psh! It's he that needs ta be careful," Joey explained arrogantly, placing his hands behind his head as he turned smug. "He can't take the heat of ole Joey Wheel-a!"
"Talk all you want, little boy. But you don't know who you are messing with," Marik spoke in a cold dark tone, sending shivers down Yugi's spine and he could feel Tea shuddering beside him.
"More like ya don't know who you are messin' with!" Joey countered but their before duel bickerment ended when Seto himself stepped up to them to cut in.
"If you two are finished, you have a duel to attend to. So get moving," Seto stated through narrowed eyes, his eyes briefly landing on Yugi before moving past them, Mokuba following close behind with excitement.
Joey glared daggers at the back of Seto, before following, Marik silently heading for the door as well. The rest began to file out and Yugi felt someone brush up against his back. He blushed before he realized who it was and he spun around to see a flash of platinum blond hair. The wide playful grin on her face made his heart stutter and it took Tea to grab his shoulder to return him to earth.

Marik wasn't the true Marik. Yugi couldn't believe it. And on top of that, Joey had beaten this man –whoever he was—but they both had collapsed after a strike of lightening hit both of them. Joey was on his knees now, staring blankly with disbelief down at his hands. Had he really just done it?
Kari was on the sidelines alongside Mai, bouncing up and down with excitement. "Way to go Joey!" she shouted, despite the ferocious winds and fear that was tensing up the whole dueling pod on top of the blimp.
Suddenly though, as if the sky couldn't have gotten darker, even though it was early in the afternoon, it did darken. Seto was the only unfazed by this and his arms crossed over his broad chest had him staring at Joey as well, slightly impressed with the boy who seemed to lack any knowledge at all of anything. Not that he'd let it be known.
A scream had shivers running down everyone's spine and Yugi stepped forward, Yami now in control of his body, as he was under a lot of stress during the duel.
"Marik? What's going on?" Yami demanded of Marik who had been the one screaming, however at Yami's voice, he lowered his raised head to look dead directly into Yami's eyes –all the way through to Yugi who was staring back with fear and panic.
"I'm finally free, you fools," the voice that came from Marik was definitely not Marik's, which was puzzling all in itself. "I was restrained by that idiot Odion for years…but not anymore."
"Who are you?" Yami glared, a hunch gratifying him that this was not a good thing.
"I'm the true Marik," the voice that was definitely not Marik's announced. "And I'm not as kind as the Marik you've come to know. I will finish what Marik was incapable to do and strip you of your powers. So why don't you hand over the puzzle, eh Pharaoh?"
Yugi's fear and rage at this being took over, as he yelled through Yami's control, "Never!"
The cackle that came afterward did nothing to calm anyone's alarm. "You will soon. Mark my words."
And then he abruptly left through the latch door behind them all, leaving everyone to watch on.

Kari stood outside the medical room where she knew the man who had been pretending to be Marik was being taken care of. She had seen on Seto's computer screens that the group that held Yugi was in there speaking with the doctor. She was worried about what was going on. She'd had to play ignorant around Seto and Mokuba, but she needed to know the truth. And there was only one person she could count on to tell her what was going on.
Her heart was beating fast in her chest with anticipation, hoping that Seto was busy with the upcoming duel to look at the cameras to see her there. For all he knew, she was in their room taking a shower like she had told him she was going to be doing. She swallowed her nerves down but then was taken off guard when the door that she had been standing in front of swung open.
She recognized the two boys who exited first, Duke and Tristan, friends of Yugi's. She gave them a bright grin as they looked her over, their cheeks blushing and their eyes curious. "Hehe, don't mind me!" she chirped innocently.
Yugi was the one to exit after the two taller boys, and she quickly jumped to grab his hand, pulling him down the hallway away from his friends. "I'll return him in a second!" Kari called from under her shoulder, still giving the boys a wondrous grin, knowing they were looking on with confusion.
"K-kari? What are you—"
Kari tugged him into an empty storage room where she knew there were no cameras –since there wasn't a reason for one—and stifled his protests with a hand to his mouth. A blush crept onto his cheeks, but Kari didn't notice. She pulled the door shut behind them and then let go of his mouth, not realizing this was still Yami she was speaking with.
"You know how last night, when you told me that you knew there was more going on than just a tournament?" she quickly brought up, seeing his eyes widen and his body press flat up against the farthest wall behind him. He wasn't so sure about their close proximity by that point, but there was no way to escape.
"Yes," he blurted out.
Kari smiled, but her eyes were fierce. "What the hell is going on with Marik?"
Yami took a deep breath, calming himself, but was inwardly fighting with his partner who was struggling to regain control over his body. "Let me take care of this, Yugi. You're emotions are too connected with this girl," Yami told his partner mentally, before returning to the conversation at hand.
"We aren't completely sure, Kari," Yami began, crossing his arms over his chest. He was surprised to see her cheeks turn pink at the gesture. Did she…like Yugi as well? "I do know that the man held up in the medical room unconscious is not Marik like he had led us on to believe. You must know that these are dangerous times right now and it isn't stopping with the duel this afternoon."
Kari wasn't ignorant and she caught on to Yugi's meaning automatically. She looked as if she had been slapped. "Are referring to how Seto reacted last night? I talked to him and explained the situation. I know that if I talk to him again, he'll let me be friends with you—"
Yami cut her off, feeling the tighten of his chest that Yugi was feeling within him. "It has nothing to do with Kaiba, but if it did, then you and I both know that our friendship would never work. He's too protective of you. And most likely for a good reason." The look on her face told him he was hitting the head on the doornail. "But what I am saying is that it'd be best if you stayed away from me, Kari. All of my friends are in grave danger. Marik wants something from me that he will stop at nothing to get. I don't need another person I care about to get hurt because of me."
Kari's eyes drooped with sadness but she took a step towards him. "You care about me?" she asked quietly, surprised at the admittance.
Yami cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable for a moment at the slip of words. But it was true. Yami and Yugi both cared for the girl, however Yugi's feelings were much different. Even if he didn't want to admit the full extent of them.
"Of course I do Kari. If things were different," much different, "then we could be friends publically. But for now, we must keep this between us and let it fade."
Kari bit her lip and from within Yami, he felt Yugi's heart breaking at the sight of it. Yami knew how much the happiness of Kari got to Yugi. Despite his better judgement, he took Kari by the hand and pulled her into a hug.
The smell of vanilla wafted into him, his nose deep within her hair by this point. Yugi gasped mentally and Yami smiled slightly, his hands embracing the smaller girl's body. Kari wrapped her arms around Yami's middle and tightened the hug with a deep sigh against him.
"Thank you Yugi. You're an amazing friend. I just wish things were different," she mumbled into him.
"Thank you Yami," Yugi mentally spoke and Yami smiled in return. Yugi knew the pharaoh was right. This needed to be done to focus on what was coming his way. Too many people were in danger.
"Me too," Yami spoke into her hair before pulling away, seeing Kari smile up to him with a small tear fiddling with her eyelid, threatening to fall down her cheek. Yami wiped the tear away and took a breath. "Goodbye Kari. And good luck in the tournament."
Kari nodded. "You too Yugi. I'll still be cheering you on."
Yami smiled before exiting the storage room, leaving Kari alone for a moment to collect her thoughts. Although she was highly disappointed with the fact that they couldn't be friends, she knew it was the right thing to do to stop the friendship before it began. Despite how difficult it was, she was relieved to know that things could be less stressful. If that were possible.
After a couple minutes longer, to let Yugi get farther away, Kari finally left the closet. Her blue eyes raised to a camera in the corner of the wall, a red blinking light signaling that it was on. If Seto had seen them both exit the room, she'd be in so much trouble.
Knowing she'd need to not chance getting caught, Kari made her way back to their room where she was planning to either defend herself against her boyfriend or take a shower. Both of the options didn't seem right at that moment, her head too full of worry. The latter of the two sounded the best, the warm water most likely helping her to calm down.
Their room was nicer than the guest's, considering it was the owner of the blimp's room. Kari had a staged room that she had to be in at least a few times during the day, but at night Kari didn't want to be anywhere except by her boyfriend's side.
The bed was a king size, with light blue dressings. There was a large dresser than held both of their clothes, but mostly Kari's. She was a girl after all. He had equipped the room with a vanity, just for her, and she had fallen in love with it on the spot. She'd even want to take it with her once they returned back to his mansion.
There were large windows that looked out towards the sky, which was now darkening as the afternoon waned on. Kari was surprised to see the bedroom empty and she walked over to Seto's extra laptop that was lying on his desk to look down at the split screen that held all the camera angles of the blimp. The first one she looked at was the conference room, where Seto was busy speaking with his officials about something or other. So he hadn't seen, she sighed with relief. She didn't like this stuff going behind his back, but she didn't think she'd be able to talk herself out of this one.
The next room she saw Yugi and Joey sitting in Joey's room, both talking with serious expressions. They were probably speaking about what had happened during Joey's duel. She frowned darkly, not liking how this was all going on. Perhaps she should ask her boyfriend to stop the tournament. But she knew that it wouldn't matter. He wouldn't do it. If there was one thing she knew about Seto Kaiba, was that he was one stubborn boy.
Off to the left of the room was where the bathroom door was and she entered, pulling the door close and tugging off her clothing. Until then, she hadn't realized how sweaty she was. She looked at herself in the mirror and saw the wide alert in her eyes and paleness of her face. Granted, she did have a pale complexion to begin with, but it looked even more so at the moment. This was a look of fear.
Taking a deep breath, she turned the shower on and was thankful for the fast warming faucet as she entered. She closed her eyes and let the warmth of the water push away the tension of her stress.
Suddenly, a long pair of bare arms wrapped around her and pulled her into a soft chest. She smiled as her heart began to speed up and she fluttered her eyes open to see Seto's face, a tiny smile on his lips. She couldn't help but smile back, although there was something different that she was feeling as she looked up at him. However, she couldn't place it.
"Still in the shower? After all this time?" he murmured, running his fingertips up the small of her back, making her arch into him, feeling that he too was as naked as she was.
Kari looked away from him, pressing her ear against his chest as the water flowed over them. She was silent for a moment and she knew it had made Seto become worried. "I am stressed, Seto," she admitted in a small voice.
Seto ran his hands through her damp hair, watching thoughtfully as the water soaked it thoroughly. "About?"
Kari closed her eyes, reveling in the warmth and safety during times like these. "The tournament. I've told you before. I feel like there is something much more sinister going on than just dueling competitively against one another."
Seto narrowed his eyes but she didn't see him. "There's nothing competitive about it, Kari. You know who will win this tournament."
Kari smiled weakly as the warm water was making her breathless. "I know love," she said, while pulling her head away to place a hand to his cheek. He tilted his head into her touch. Gods, how he loved her touch. What he ever did to deserve her was beyond him. "However, I can't shake the feeling off."
Seto tore his gaze off of his girlfriend to look blankly at the tiled wall within the shower. She had brought this up many times during Battle City, even before they got on the blimp. He had pegged them down as anxiety because of those rare hunters that she had had to deal with. He had taken care of those men, the Kaiba way, but it hadn't seemed to make her fears disappear. Perhaps there was something more to how she was feeling. That duel that afternoon was strange, but he had been focusing more on the summoning of the god cards. It had been a bit disappointing, to find out that it had been a fake card, but at least he knew the general idea of how to summon it.
Seto closed his eyes and held her against him, trying to think of nothing but the warmth of her body up against his own. This had been for his own benefit. She had just wanted to join because she loved to duel. And he loved her for it, of course. But if there was any danger that came her way, he would have to react in a way that no one had ever seen before. She was as dear to him as his brother was. They were to never leave his sight.
"I'll look into it, okay?" Seto breathed and Kari's face lit up completely and he couldn't help but smile back. She was so very beautiful.
"Thank you so much love," she said happily before taking his cheeks into her hands and pulling him into a swift kiss. It left him breathless but had been short, as she had turned around to grab the soap. Dark blue eyes narrowing, he took her by the waist and spun her around.
Her eyes widened but he pressed her up against the wall before she could say a word. He too needed to let go of some stress. She seemed to mirror that and she tugged on the back of his hair with a wicked gleam in her eyes, knowing exactly how it would affect him.
Seto growled and grabbed her by the thighs, joisting her up so she wrapped her legs around his waist. They were opposites, but they matched. She was short, he was tall. But they fit together perfectly. He was dark, she was light. And they balanced each other.
Kari ran her hands up through his hair and bit her bottom lip with anticipation before he captured her lips and sent her over the brink. With her legs locked around him, he let go of one thigh to caress a breast, making her gasp into his mouth. He took full advantage and brushed his tongue along hers, hearing her moan into him and feel her fingers tighten into his hair. His fingertips found a nipple and he played with it and tugged, making her breath hitch with his actions.
This was what made him a man and made Yugi a boy. Yugi could win all the card games in the world, but he'd never have a girl like Kari. Ever.
A knock on the door made them froze.
Seto pulled away from Kari's plump lips and he glared behind him at the door.
"Seto?" his little brother's voice called from outside the door.
Kari giggled and hid her face into Seto's neck, and he growled with annoyance. "Go away Mokuba!"
"But big brother! The next duel opponents are going to be announced in ten minutes! I need you!"
Seto sighed with exasperation, his forehead dropping to Kari's shoulder. "Two minutes!" he shouted over the water, making Kari giggle again and unhitch her legs from his hips. His hands shot out to stop them though, and he lifted his head with a wicked look.
"How about it Kari? You think we can finish in two minutes?" he inquired, making her grin stupidly.
Kari ran her hands down his chest and then further south, grasping his hardened length. Seto sucked in a small breath and his eyes darkened, if that were possible. She leaned close to his mouth, her eyes lowering to his thin lips sensually as she slowly began to stroke him. "I think you can," she teased and Seto growled before setting her down on her feet.
Kari busted into a fit of giggles and Seto ignored her, getting out of the shower to pull on his clothes with a glare and an angry stamina. Kari pulled the shower door closed and began washing her hair real quick, all the while laughing. Seto slammed the bathroom door after a minute, which sent Kari even further into laughter. It had seemed to really amuse her and it had her beaming for the rest of the night.
Even when she saw Yugi down in the large announcement room. Seto was glaring darkly at everything and everyone as the machine was turned again. Yugi gave her a questioning look but didn't say anything, in fact tore his eyes away as soon as he looked at her, staying true to his word. Kari felt that strange feeling at the core of her stomach strengthen with disappointment and the cold hard truth. Yugi was being a good friend by not being friends with her, if that made sense. He was keeping her out of danger, but there was one thing that disturbed her.
Who was going to keep Yugi out of trouble? And what did Marik want from him?

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