Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Coalescence ❯ The Confrontation ( Chapter 4 )

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

4) The Confrontation

Summary: Yugi's friends confront Seto Kaiba; Yami and Yugi have another chat about "sensitive" matters; Seto and Mokuba discuss the elder Kaiba's romantic interest.



A week later, Seto found himself cornered in a classroom by Yugi's two best male friends, Jounouchi and Honda. "Hey, Kaiba..." Jounouchi murmured a bit ominously. "Like to talk to ya..."

"Yeah, if you got a minute," Honda fairly growled.

[This was inevitable,] Seto thought, resigned. "Certainly I have a minute," he replied, straightening. "What's on your mind?"

"You're on our minds, and not in a good way," Jounouchi responded, sticking a finger into Seto's chest. "You been actin' weird lately!"

"How so?" Seto asked dryly.

"It's all that polite stuff you're doing," Honda spoke up, frowning. "I dunno, every time you say good morning, I just get the creeps or something. It's not like you to be nice. I mean, you're even standing here talking to us. Something's changed. The old Kaiba would have just brushed us off and snapped that he didn't have time to waste on punks like us."

"So I've decided to act civilly to my classmates," Seto summarized. "What can you possibly have a problem with?"

"Eh, that's not all," Jounouchi broke in. "Yugi's been yammering lately about helping you on some project. Why would you ask him to help you, eh? I mean, what's really going on here, Kaiba?"

Seto opened his mouth to respond, but Jounouchi pressed on. "I'll tell you what's going on, Kaiba!" the blond boy exclaimed with a sneer. "You're taking advantage of Yugi's good nature to pump him for ideas for your virtual reality game, aren't ya!? And he's not going to see a red cent for all his efforts!"

Seto frowned, his eyes going glacial. "Of course I have every intention of compensating him for what he gives me! I am an honest businessman, Katsuya Jounouchi!"

"Yeah? Well, he don' know that! So, like, where's the contract, eh? Where do you have that in writing?"

Fuming, Seto held his ground. A few weeks ago, he wouldn't have deigned to answer such questions. Taking a deep breath, he replied evenly, "I asked Yugi because I value his input and because I have a great deal of respect for his abilities as a duelist. Believe this or not, I also respect his person as well and would never sink so low as to try to cheat him." He closed his eyes, turning slightly away. "His defeat of Pegasus in the Duelist Kingdom saved myself and my brother. I could never defame that selfless act by devious manipulation!"

Honda subsided a little, but Jounouchi wasn't having any yet. "So you're saying you've reformed? You, the heartless bastard who put Yugi's grandpa in the hospital?"

A startled gasp came from the direction of the classroom doorway. To everyone's dismay, Yugi stood there. "That's not fair, Jounouchi-kun," the diminutive teenager spoke up, coming over. "A lot has happened since then! I know Kaiba-kun regrets that now. And I didn't agree to help him on the virtual reality game because I wanted money for it."

Seto looked intently at his tiny classmate. [His heart is so forgiving and generous... I think I may have a lot yet to learn from this little one. I should always remember - Yami cares for him deeply and thinks so highly of him. I should not fail to do so as well...] "Thank you, Yugi, though I certainly want to pay you for your ideas, and I will."

"Oh, okay, whatever, thanks!" Yugi said brightly, then turned to his friends. "Guys, I appreciate your going to bat for my future college expenses, but really, it's not necessary!"

"Hmmm, well, I still don't trust this guy," Jounouchi grumbled. "Lotta businessmen are just plain crooked. Kaiba Corporation didn't get to be the monster it is because of playing nicey-nice all the time, I'm sure of it!"

Seto bit his lip and glanced away. [I'm NOT going to throttle him for that, I'm NOT going to...]

"See, he's not even denying it!" Honda exclaimed.

"Watch your mouth," Seto snarled suddenly, then immediately glanced down at Yugi, his expression more controlled. "Yugi, please... I don't want to stand here being insulted, but I choose not to take Jounouchi down for that bit of slander. I..."

"Now I KNOW something's bad's going on, if you're not even going to defend yourself after that!" Jounouchi snapped, then hauled back and swung at Kaiba.

Too late, Seto tried to duck, but the punch connected with the edge of his jaw anyway, sending him back off-balance.

"Stop it, Jounouchi-kun!" Yugi yelled, throwing himself in the middle. "You're wrong, nothing's bad's going on!"

"Yug..."

The little duelist bunched his hands into fists and stood between Seto Kaiba and Jounouchi, looking up at his best friend with fierce determination. "No, you listen to me, Jounouchi-kun! I know Kaiba-kun isn't up to something bad!"

"Aw, come on, Yugi!" Jounouchi growled, taking a step forward.

Yugi shoved him back, his eyes fairly snapping. "Just because he doesn't want to fight doesn't mean anything! Maybe he's more interested in acting like a civilized person!"

Jounouchi stepped closer, looking down his nose at his tiny friend. "What are you saying, Yugi? Just because I want to fight for your honor means I'm not civilized?"

"Hey, guys," Honda tried to break in. "This is getting out of hand..."

Seto had turned completely away, rubbing at his jaw with the back of his hand, his mind spinning. [I can't create division between Yugi and his friends! Above all, Yami wouldn't want me to do that. They've been such an important part of his success, being his support group. I have no right to endanger that. Damn...]

Before anyone else could speak, Seto spoke up abruptly. "Perhaps Yugi shouldn't be involved with the project at all until a proper contract can be written up. I'll talk to my lawyers immediately. And if my being 'civil' is causing strife among you and your friends, Yugi, I will return to keeping my distance." He blinked, his eyes feeling hot suddenly. "Now, please excuse me..."

Yugi gaped up at his very tall classmate as he brushed past them to leave. Just as Seto Kaiba passed him, he thought he saw a glistening in the other boy's eyes. [Something *is* going on, but it's nothing evil, I'll wager,] he thought. "Kaiba-kun, don't go..."

"It's best if I do," Seto replied as he departed through the doorway.

When Yugi tried to go after, Honda put a hand on his arm to forestall him. "Let him go, Yugi. His kind don't really want to be involved with the likes of us normal people anyway. It's best."

[No, I think Kaiba's hurting for some reason,] Yugi wanted to say, but subsided, seeing the determined look in both his friends' expressions.





After school, Yugi sensed that his other self wanted to speak to him. He sat down at his desk in his bedroom, and moments later glanced up to see the shadowy image of his dark side. "Yami, what's up?" he asked, though he suspected he knew.

"I'm concerned, aibou," Yami murmured, looking thoughtful.

"Um, about what, Yami?" Yugi inquired, wondering.

"Today at school..."

"Oh, you mean the stuff with Kaiba-kun?" Yugi asked. "You know, I think something's bothering him. It's not like him to back down in front of Jounouchi-kun like that. Even if he is trying to be nicer. Something's going on with him, I just know it."

[I should tell him now,] Yami thought, realizing that his little partner's perception would figure things out very soon if he did not. [If only I had some idea how he might feel about the possibility of me dating Seto Kaiba. I wonder...] Aloud he replied, "There does seem to be a change in him." He paused, and when Yugi didn't respond immediately, he plunged on. "Yugi, I was wondering..."

"Yes?"

Yami smiled. "You never did tell me how your date with Anzu went."

Yugi turned red. "Oh, ah... that. Um..."

"Did you have a good time?"

"Oh, sure," Yugi replied, fidgeting. "It's just..." He shrugged. "I dunno, it was kinda weird. Being with a girl like that."

Yami's smile grew wider, a gleam in his eye. "Did you kiss her?"

Yugi's eyes widened, then he hid his blush with his hands. "Er, kinda... it was a little awkward. Good thing she's a friend or she might have smacked me. I wasn't very good. Actually, we both ended up laughing over it. She said she really would rather just be friends with me, and I want that, too."

"Did you like the kiss?"

Yugi blushed even harder and could not look at his partner. "Er... I don't know! It was... weird!" Then he made himself look up. "Yami, how do you know if you like guys or girls?"

[Here we go...] "Even before you know that for sure, you feel different. You know you're not like most people... and then later you understand why." Yami looked thoughtful again, wishing he had specific memories to draw upon. "It seems to me that when I was a little younger than yourself I understood that I enjoyed the company of other boys and wanted to be close to one... intimate. I just knew."

[He doesn't need to know the rest,] Yami mused somberly. [While I do not think anyone was special to me, I do not remember enough to be sure... anyway, Yugi does not need to know that I believe I was quite sexually active, probably by age fourteen...]

"Huh," Yugi was commenting. "That's amazing, Yami. So..." He paused to stare up at his tall partner, beginning to understand. "You're experienced, aren't you? I mean, with sex." He blushed again, but did not look away.

[He's so sweet...] "Yes," Yami answered simply.

"Whoa," Yugi breathed, looking away again. "That's..." He didn't know what to say. Sex just wasn't something he'd ever thought about much, though of course he'd heard his classmates talking about it. In his inner circle there was mostly snickering, though it was plain that Jounouchi had a thing for Mai and he and Honda argued sometimes because Honda had a thing for Jounouchi's sister, Shizuka. Anzu... well, she'd said that night that she really didn't want to get involved with anyone right now so she could concentrate on school and her dance lessons... and her friends, which meant them. But Yugi knew others talked about it and he'd heard plenty... including details. Still...

"You probably miss that," Yugi said in a small voice.

It was Yami's turn for his eyes to go wide. "Yugi, I..." He didn't know what to say, either. "I don't remember much," he lied, hoping to ease his partner's nervousness. "It doesn't matter to me like you think it might, so please don't worry, Yugi."

Yugi glanced over, his look a bit more shrewd. "Yeah?" He didn't believe his other half for a second. "Is there anyone you like?"

[Oh, dear...] "Yugi, well... yes, as a matter of fact," Yami replied, trying to feel as calm as he was pretending to be.

Yugi blinked. [Oh, Kami-sama... it's...] "It's Kaiba-kun, isn't it? That's why he's been acting weird! That's what's been bothering him!"

Yami stared back at him, knowing he had to tell the truth. "Yes," he answered succinctly.

But his little host frowned. "So... are you trying to reform him so you two can be together, is that it? And when did you plan to tell me this?"

"NOW," Yami replied immediately, frowning as well. "And my answer to your first question is yes and no. I will not date him as he has been, for obvious reasons. He's hurt us too much in the past... and others... with his ruthless manner. But my wish to help reform him is not just because of that. It's for all of our sakes... and Mokuba's. And his own. As for telling you..." **

"I don't want to hear it," Yugi declared, turning away, his eyes hot from the evident betrayal.

"Yes, you do," Yami countered firmly. "I have utterly no will to go against your wishes and if your feelings regarding Seto Kaiba are in opposition to my own, then I will cease pursuing this immediately."

Yugi subsided at this. "Really?" he asked in a small voice, partially turning back.

Frustrated, Yami reached a hand toward him, but of course since he was in spirit form only, he could not touch his partner. "How could you believe I could do anything else, Yugi? No one can ever mean more to me than you. I do not want you to have to feel uncomfortable."

[I still don't know if I'm attracted to guys or girls,] Yugi was thinking, wiping away unshed tears with the back of his hand. [He has a right to be happy, though. And... if I think about it, I'd have to admit Seto Kaiba isn't exactly hard on the eyes...] Blinking up at his partner, he stated, "I don't know if I'll feel uncomfortable or not. I need to think about this, if you don't mind..."

Yami sighed. [At least that's something,] he mused. "Of course. Take all the time you need."





Seto went straight to his office after school but could not start work on the stack of folders waiting for his attention, his insides churning. Instead, he folded his arms on his desk and laid his head on them, his thoughts chaotic. [It's not working, it's not working,] he mused miserably. [I don't want to hurt Yugi! His friends are too important to him. What was I thinking, allowing myself to have feelings for Yugi's other self? And the little guy is something else himself. What a heart! He still seems too young, but there's a strong power in him... and I think it's just what I need. He and Yami... they ARE so close. Could I develop feelings for... eh, what am I thinking? Yami said they're like brothers. I can't get in the middle of THAT, above all! Damn, damn, damn, I should just forget both of them...]

Straightening, he was surprised to see his sleeve was wet. He touched his face, wondering. [I'm crying... oh, fuck, I'm in too deep... I just want... I just want...] Sagging back down again, he let the tears fall anyway.

A knock on the door made him sit up hastily. "Who is it?" Seto snapped rather peevishly as he stood, wiping at his face.

"It's me, nii-sama," came Mokuba's voice.

Seto turned around to face the window behind his desk. "Come on in," he called, taking a deep breath to steady himself. Above all, he could not let his little brother see him upset.

Mokuba came in and wandered over to his brother's desk. "What are you up to, big brother?" he asked, his large, gray eyes peering up at the back of his tall sibling. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I'm okay," Seto muttered, frowning. "Why wouldn't I be?"

The younger Kaiba fixed the elder with a wry look, studying him. "Because I know you better," Mokuba replied, tapping his foot, arms crossed over his chest. "That guy you're interested in - it's not going well, is it?"

Seto's eyes went dark for a moment, then he subsided, still unable to turn and face his brother. "No... it's not."

[I know Seto,] Mokuba considered, studying the tall, straight back of his brother. [He wouldn't fall for just anyone. It has to be someone he can relate to as an equal, otherwise he wouldn't bother.] Then his eyes widened. [Equal... well, there's only one person Seto could ever think of as an equal. Could it be?] "So, nii-sama, is it Yugi Mutou?"

Barely stifling a gasp, Seto froze. "Not... exactly."

Mokuba cocked his head at him. "Well, yes or no? What do you mean, 'not exactly'? It either is or it isn't!"

Seto opened his mouth and closed it again. [Does he know about Yugi's dual nature? That's not likely common knowledge...] He ventured to speak again. "You wouldn't understand, Mokuba."

"What's to understand?" Mokuba snickered. "Though he is kinda short, isn't he? I mean, I know he's supposed to be around your age, but he's so... little."

[Not my Yami,] Seto immediately thought, then sighed. "I didn't say it made sense or that I understood why I feel as I do," he commented, avoiding trying to explain. "He's just... special."

Fortunately, Mokuba was too young to wonder about his brother's cryptic words in any depth. "Well, that's for sure!" he declared, smiling. "He's a very good guy, anyway, Seto. I think he could be good for you, I guess."

"Yes," Seto replied, sighing. By now he'd regained his composure, so he turned around finally to face his little brother. "Anyway, it's academic, I suppose. His friends don't like me and they're pretty important to him. So..."

"You mean he doesn't like you back?" Mokuba interrupted, looking up to his brother's face, wondering at his shuttered expression. [Wow, he's really taking this hard... he's so solemn... but then I guess he usually is. Hmmm, maybe Yugi-kun will help Seto lighten up. He sure could use that...]

"I doubt it," Seto answered, glancing away. "Anyway, I don't want to cause problems for him. So... that's it, I guess." He shrugged, trying to convince himself. "I don't have time for stuff like that anyway. I've a business to run, and I've you to take care of."

Mokuba grinned, happy to hear of his brother's concern for him; Seto didn't verbalize that often. "Thanks, Seto... but you need to be happy, too. And you said you're a healthy teenager, so..."

Blushing, Seto shook his head hastily. "That doesn't matter. And I am happy. I've got Kaiba Corporation and I have you. That's all that I care about." With that, he sat down in his chair again, still not looking at Mokuba, and opened up a folder, pretending to read.

[Right,] Mokuba thought, intrigued. [Denial, denial, denial... hmmm, maybe I should talk to Yugi... or talk to his friends. Yeah, that could work...]

"Don't you have homework to do?" Seto broke into his thoughts abruptly.

"Sure, yeah," Mokuba replied, waving a hand at him. He had his own office next door to his brother's so that he could be nearby when Seto worked late. While he had a desk and the latest model computer for doing homework, he also had an extensive array of electronic toys and computerized games as well there. But he often wished he and Seto could just go home after school like other kids, too.

"You did get dinner, didn't you?" The elder Kaiba still wasn't looking at his sibling, now shuffling papers.

"Yep," Mokuba lied. He'd grab something from one of the vending machines down the hall. He didn't ask if Seto had eaten. His brother, he knew all too well, had hastily eaten something his limo driver had picked up for him when he came for him after school, going directly to leave Seto off at the Kaiba Corporation building before the limo arrowed off in a different direction to pick up Mokuba at his school. Mokuba had wormed that little secret out of the driver a long time ago.

"Good... go do your homework, Mokuba. I've got to work on this project a bit longer."

"Sure... don't be too late, nii-sama." Mokuba glanced back at his preoccupied brother, then sauntered out of the large office, thinking that he clearly had his work cut out for him.