Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Family By Choice ❯ Chapter2 ( Chapter 2 )

Family By Choice

by Dragondreamer & Yami Dragon

Disclaimer: We don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! If we did, the boys would be running around naked all the time and we'd never get ANY work done.

Warning: This story contains shouenen-ai (guy/guy relationships) and yaoi (guys having sex with guys). It also contains coarse language and violence. If you don't like it, or become offended by such things, take off already!

Note: /…/ Tristan's thoughts

[…] Joey's thoughts

{…} Seto's thoughts

[[…]]Yami's thought and mind link to Yugi

//…// Yugi's thoughts and mind link to Yami

{{…}} Otogi's thoughts

`yak, yak' Sadie's(AI) voice

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Here's the next chapter!

Seto: Already?

YD: We didn't want to leave our readers hanging too long.

Tris: *rolls eyes* And you won't leave them hanging at the end of THIS one?

YD: Shut it!

~*~*~*~*~

"Tristan…"

Joey's choked voice broke through the red haze that clouded Tristan's vision.

He spun around and, seeing the look of horror on the blond's face, threw his arms around him. "Don't look, baby."

Joey buried his face in Tristan's chest. "Oh, gods."

Tristan held Joey tightly, feeling him tremble. Seto came up to them, reaching out to lay a hand on Joey's shoulder, trying to offer some comfort to the shocked man.

"Why?" Yami's whispered voice seemed to echo in the room. "Why would anyone so this?"

"Yami," Tristan said. "Get Joey out of here. Take him outside."

Yami nodded, drawing Joey from Tristan's arms. He watched them go, his hands clenching into fists. He was close to losing it completely. He didn't know whether to rage or cry. He only knew he needed to keep it together until this was all dealt with.

"Why didn't they wreck this room too?" Seto wondered aloud.

"To make what they did that much more devastating." Bakura said. "That's what these cowards always do. They go for the shock value."

Tristan turned back toward the bed, his eyes narrowing at the writing on the wall. "Bakura, go outside with Yami and Joey."

Bakura looked at Seto, his expression clearly stating he didn't like the idea. Seto nodded, letting him know it was okay to leave. He could handle Tristan.

"I'll go check the garage then." Bakura said, reluctantly leaving the room.

Seto waited until he heard Bakura go downstairs, Charlie following, and then he put his arms around Tristan. Surprisingly, Tristan pulled away.

Tristan walked over to the dresser, frowning. Something didn't look right.

"Something's missing."

"What?" Seto came and stood by his side.

"Bastards." Tristan hissed, realizing what it was. "My grandmother's jewelry box is gone."

"Why would they take that?"

"I don't know." Tristan shook his head. "There was nothing really valuable in it. Her wedding band, a couple of pins and the chain I wore Joey's ring on."

"I'm sorry, Tris." Seto put his arm around his friend. "I know your grandmother meant a lot to you."

"It's all I had to remind me of her." Tristan said quietly. "If she hadn't willed it to me, I'd have nothing. My mother tried to talk me in to giving it to her instead. Nana wanted me to give it to the woman I ended up marrying. When my parents kicked me out, it was the only thing I took."

"I take it she didn't know."

"I think she suspected." Tristan smiled slightly. "I remember the last time I saw her. It was when I was fifteen, just before she died. Joey came with me to the hospital. Nana always loved him…called him her `golden angel'. The last thing she ever said to me was that I was lucky to have him. She died a few days later."

"Sounds to me like she did know…better than you."

"Yeah. She was smart like that. She always knew what I was thinking before I did." Tristan sighed. "Damn."

"Come on, buddy." Seto said softly. "Let's get out of here. We need to call the cops."

~*~*~*~*~

"They didn't make it into the garage." Bakura said as the two brunets met the others outside. "But it looks like they tried. The window on the side door is busted in and there's a screwdriver in the deadbolt."

Tristan dug his keys out of his pocket, unlocking and pulling up the main door. As he snapped on the interior light, he heard a distinct sigh of relief come from Joey. He turned to his husband to find him smiling.

"At least they didn't trash my Mustang." Joey said.

Tristan smiled back and went in, brushing a few pieces of glass from the window off the seat of his motorcycle. He sat down and pulled out his phone.

As useless as he knew it was going to be, it was time to call the police.

~*~*~*~*~

"We'll let you know if we get any prints from the screwdriver." The officer said. "But I wouldn't hold my breath."

Seto narrowed his eyes. "What about the rest of the house? Aren't you going to dust it?"

"There's no sense." The other policeman replied. "There's been too many people in and out of there to make it worth our time."

"Yours maybe." Seto said.

"Mr. Kaiba, keep your people out of there. If we find any of them tainting our crime scene, we'll arrest them. Understand? This is a police matter."

"Fine." Tristan interrupted. "But we're taking our things from our bedroom and I'm removing the vehicles from the garage."

Both officers shrugged, seemingly unconcerned and left, saying they'd be in touch.

"You'd think they'd take something like this a little more seriously." Charlie grumbled. "Listen, if you guys need anything, just ask."

"Thanks, Charlie." Joey said. "We'll be fine. Just make sure Tommy's curiosity doesn't get the better of him. I don't want him poking around in there."

As their neighbor left, Tristan went to Joey and put his arms around him. "Are you okay, love?"

"Yeah. I feel a lot better seeing my car in one piece." Joey laid his head against Tristan's shoulder. "Sorry about what happened in the living room."

"It's not your fault." Tristan replied, kissing him. "You couldn't help it."

"Tris, I just don't think I can go back in there."

"Why don't we go home, Joey?" Yami said. "Seto and Bakura can stay and help Tristan."

"Good idea." Tristan said. "Take your car back to Seto's. I'll bring the bike over."

Joey nodded, clinging to Tristan for a moment longer before letting go. Tristan waited until they were gone before turning to Seto and Bakura, his face set.

"Let's get this done and get out of here." He said. "I've had just about all I can handle for one day."

~*~*~*~*~

It was getting dark by the time they finally finished.

Seto and Bakura were loading what they had managed to salvage into Seto's Explorer. Two suitcases and three boxes. Almost all of it had come from Tristan and Joey's bedroom.

Tristan stood in the center of the devastation that used to be his daughter's room. In his hand he held the one thing he had found there that hadn't been destroyed. The Celtic Guardian action figure Yugi had given her.

He heard Bakura pull away and Seto come back into the house. Knowing everyone else was gone, Tristan's control began to slip. Tears filled his eyes and he sank to his knees with a ragged sob.

He wasn't aware of Seto coming into the room until he felt his arms go around him. He buried his face in Seto's chest and gave into the tears.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan poured himself a cup of coffee and crossed over to his desk, sinking into the chair.

He placed his cup next to the stack of mail and messages Teddy had brought in and reached for his cigarettes. Taking one from the pack, he stared at it for a minute and tossed it on the desk.

Yesterday had been hell.

He had to go back to the house to meet the insurance adjustor. After the man had emptied his stomach in the hallway outside the master bedroom, he had left, telling Tristan he'd call him.

Going back to Seto's, he and Joey had sat Lexi down to try to explain to her why they couldn't go home. They hadn't given her any details, only telling her that they would be staying with Seto for a while.

Neither one of them had the heart to tell her exactly what happened to all her toys and books. All she knew was that someone had broken into the house and all her things were gone.

She had clutched her Celtic Guardian and cried in Tristan's arms until she fell asleep. They had put her to bed, tucking her in with the teddy bear Tristan had given her; thankful she had her favorite stuffed animal with her when she had arrived at Seto's on Friday.

Joey had an appointment with Jack later this morning and had insisted Tristan go into work with Seto; leaving Lexi and Justin with Yami and Yugi for the day.

Tristan gave in and picked up the cigarette, lighting it. /So much for quitting./

He grabbed the small stack of messages, shuffling through them. Nothing there required his immediate attention. He began opening his mail, quickly scanning it. He was having a hard time concentrating on anything.

A plain, white envelope caught his eye, and he dropped the rest of his mail on the desk.

Frowning, he opened it and pulled out a single sheet of unremarkable white bond paper. He unfolded it and began to read the short message. By the time he was done, he was numb and shaking.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, struck dumb with shock, when pain lanced through his fingers and he dropped his cigarette into the ashtray, cursing loudly.

The door to his office opened and Teddy stuck his head in. "Everything okay, Tristan?"

Seeing how pale his boss was, Teddy crossed over to the desk. He saw Tristan's reddened fingers and grabbed him by the wrist, inspecting the burn. He knew about Tristan's illness and had a tendency to go mother hen on him every time he hurt himself.

"You're not bleeding." Teddy said, relieved, releasing Tristan's wrist.

"Where did this come from?" Tristan asked, holding up the letter.

Teddy took it from him. "I don't know. What is it?"

"You tell me." Tristan said. "Read it."

The younger man looked at his employer strangely for a moment before turning his attention to the paper in his hand.

Aren't you a lucky little faggot?

We were very disappointed that

you and your sick lover weren't

home the other night.

It should have been YOUR blood

decorating that sinful bed.

Next time it will be.

"Gods!" Teddy dropped the letter as if it were on fire. "Tristan…I have NO idea where this came from! The mail was already on my desk when I came in this morning."

"Find Bakura." Tristan stood, picking up the letter and the envelope. "He's around here somewhere. Have him meet me in Seto's office."

~*~*~*~*~

Seto had no trouble feeling Tristan's fear when he walked into the room.

He saw the paper in the other man's hand and picked up a letter from his desk. "I got one too."

Without a word, Tristan sat down, reaching out to take it, dropping his own on Seto's desk. He took a deep breath and began to read Seto's letter.

You won't be able to protect them, Kaiba.

None of them. Not your twisted fuck-buddy

or the rest of your so-called family.

We will, however, spare the children. We will

see to it they are raised properly.

Be grateful to us for that.

You're going to Hell, Seto Kaiba.

All of you.

Tristan looked up to see Seto dropping the other letter, his azure eyes darkened with anger. "What are we going to do?"

"First of all, we're not going to let this scare us." Seto replied. "That's what they want."

Tristan shook his head. "Too late."

The door opened and Bakura strode in, looking for all the world like he wanted to kill someone…anyone…right now. He snatched the letters up and read them.

When he was done he laid them back down with exaggerated carefulness and sat down next to Tristan. In any other situation, Seto would have mockingly commended him on his restraint.

"I have a theory." The pale thief said.

"Let's hear it." Seto leaned forward, giving Bakura his full attention.

"Concerned Citizens for Family Values."

"Why them?" Tristan asked.

"Everything they've done since they bombed that club has been completely ignored by the media. Every rally, every protest. The press won't cover it anymore."

"Probably because they figure it'd add fuel to the fire." Tristan said.

"Exactly." Bakura nodded. "Their biggest platform has always been the anti-gay angle."

Seto rolled his eyes. "And?"

"And who are the two most well known, in the public eye gay men in the country?"

Tristan dropped his head into his hands with a groan. "Damn it."

"That's putting it mildly, slim." Bakura said. "But it's only a theory."

"What about these?" Seto gestured to the two letters.

"My guess…they came from in house."

Tristan's head snapped up. "What?!"

Bakura shrugged. "No stamps. No postmarks. If they came in through the mailroom, it would have raised a few red flags."

"See what you can come up with." Seto handed the papers to Bakura. "And work with Walters on this one."

"Seto, when are you going to get rid of that pompous jackass?" Bakura stood, his tight leather pants creaking. "He's a dinosaur."

"After that incident with Ryou, he's on notice." Seto said. "And he knows it. You have any problems with him, come directly to me."

"Got it, boss man." Bakura grinned.

"Bakura?" Tristan stopped him with a hand on his arm. "Please…get to the bottom of this."

"Don't worry, Tristan." Determined brown met worried hazel. "No one messes with our family and gets away with it." A wicked smile flashed, canines glinting. "Just ask Bandit Keith."

~*~*~*~*~

"I never thought I'd be the victim of a hate crime." Joey said, shaking his head.

"Well, your family is very public, Joey." Jack replied. "Your husband is the right hand of arguably the most powerful man in the country."

Joey shook his head again.

"Tell me about the flashback." Jack said.

"It was the guitar." Joey clenched his hands in his lap. "Tristan grabbed my arm, but I could have sworn it was my dad. And then it was Keith…holding me back. He wouldn't let me go. All I wanted was to go home. Even though I was standing in my own living room."

"Then what happened?"

"Tristan talked me back." Joey smiled. "He's always so gentle, so patient, when it happens."

Jack picked up Joey's file, scanning it quickly. "Are you sure it was the broken guitar?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'm seeing a bit of a pattern to your flashbacks."

"A pattern?" Joey asked, clearly confused.

"More than half of them seem to occur when Tristan touches you." Jack slid the file toward Joey, turning the pages and pointing out several highlighted areas. "The rest get worse when he does."

Joey frowned. "Well, I know all the ones I've had when we were in bed is because he's pinned me down or put too much weight on me."

"Keith did that to you, didn't he?"

"Yeah." Joey pulled a strand of hair over his shoulder and began playing with it. "And Tristan's a hell of a lot bigger than he used to be."

"Does that bother you?"

"Not really." Joey grinned. "I mean, he looks great. I've never seen him in such good shape. I like it."

"But it bothers you when he pins you down."

"He doesn't do it on purpose, Jack." Joey replied testily.

"I'm not saying he does." Jack said calmly. "All I'm saying is if that's the case, maybe it's something we should work on."

"You're right." The blond said. "I'm sorry."

Jack waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it."

"Well," Joey looked at his watch. "Time's up. I've got to stop and pick up a few things on the way back. Lexi has no clothes except for a few things at Seto's."

"Hang on, Joey." Jack stopped him. "There's something else I need to talk to you about."

Joey raised an eyebrow. "Sure."

"We have a new patient. He's fifteen…cocaine addiction, suicide attempt." Jack took a file out of his desk and tossed it in front of Joey. "Take a look. Tell me what you think."

Joey picked up the folder and opened it. Reading the preliminary report, he was a little surprised. "From a clinical point of view, he's not that bad. Just the drugs and minor depression. The suicide attempt seems a little out of place though. What's he doing here? He could recover just as easily in a public clinic."

"His father is a highly placed diplomat." Jack replied. "I've only met with him once, but he displays classic signs of childhood sexual abuse."

"Why do you want my opinion on this?" Joey asked skeptically.

"I want you to treat him."

It took Joey a few minutes to recover from his shock.

"What?! Jack! Are you crazy?!" Joey practically yelled. "What makes you think I can treat this kid?! I don't have any experience!"

"Don't you?" Jack replied. "I've said it before, Joey…you have more life experience than any therapist I've ever met."

"I'm not a therapist, Jack. Not yet." Joey shook his head. "Besides, I'm still in recovery myself."

"And will be for the rest of your life." Jack looked him in the eye. "You've got your sobriety well in hand, Joey. If I wasn't sure of that, I wouldn't be having this conversation with you."

"I don't know."

"This is your chance." Jack grinned. "I'm the one who makes these decisions and I think you're the right person to do this. I think you'd have more success with him than anyone else here."

"I think you're nuts."

"Think about it, Joey." Jack said. "Take his file home and read it. You've got a lot in common with this kid."

Joey shook his head again. "Okay…but I still think you're nuts."

"You know what they say." Jack laughed. "There's a fine line between genius and insanity."

Joey snickered. "Which side of the line are you on?"

"Come to work for me and find out."

Joey looked at the file in his hand. It was a golden opportunity. He'd be stupid to pass it up. This was what he had been working towards for the last four years of his life.

He looked at Jack. "Yes."

Jack stood, holding out his hand to the younger man. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Wheeler."

Joey stood up with a huge smile and accepted the offered hand. "Thank you."

~*~*~*~*~

Joey decided to wait until they sat down for supper before telling everyone his news.

"I got a job." He said, not looking at anyone, busying himself with Lexi instead.

"What?!" Tristan choked on his wine. "Doing what?"

Joey shrugged. "Jack offered it to me. They have someone at the clinic that he thinks I'd do a good job with."

"That's great, Joey!" Yugi said. "You must be excited."

"I'm proud of you, baby." Tristan smiled. "This is what you've been wanting."

"When do you start?" Seto asked.

"Right away." Joey replied. "I went over his file this afternoon and I'd don't think it'd help him to have to wait. I'm going to head out to the clinic first thing in the morning."

Tristan and Seto exchanged glances. They hadn't said anything to the others about the death threats. They didn't want to discuss it in front of the children.

Bakura hadn't been able to find anything yet. Before he left to go home, Seto had assigned a bodyguard to accompany Ryou to school the next morning. Bakura had gone home to his hikari with the intention of telling him right away.

"Is it a very difficult case, Joey?" Mokuba asked.

"It's hard to say at this point." Joey said. "He only arrived yesterday and his file doesn't give me much information."

Tristan reached behind Lexi and laid a hand on Joey's shoulder, gently squeezing. Joey reached up and laid his hand over Tristan's, blushing a little at the proud look in Tristan's eyes.

"I don't mean to change the subject, but the insurance company called." Tristan said, looking down at Lexi. "Are you finished, baby girl?"

Lexi nodded. "Lexi stuff-ded, Papa."

"I'm done too." Justin said. "May I be excused?"

Yami nodded. "Why don't you two go play in your room, Justin?"

"Okay, Pharaoh." Justin slid down from his chair, going around the table to get Lexi.

The little girl got out of her chair, looking down as some of her meal hit the floor. "Torry."

"That's okay, cute stuff." Seto said. "Go on."

"Tank-too, Set." Lexi smiled sweetly as she took Justin's hand and left the room.

"What did they say?" Joey asked as soon as the kids were gone.

Tristan sighed and brushed off Lexi's chair, moving over so he could put his arm around Joey. "The house is a total write off. They're going to have to practically tear it out to the studs. It's going to take a couple of months."

"Then you'll just have to stay here." Yami said with a small smile. "That certainly won't be a great hardship."

"Thanks, Yami, but…" Tristan trailed off.

"But what?" Mokuba asked. "Don't you want to stay here? WE love having you guys and Lexi with us."

"It's not that." Tristan said. "I just don't know if we can go back there. It won't feel like home anymore."

"I don't know if I can." Joey spoke up. "I don't think I'd ever feel safe there again. What if we had been home the other night?"

Tristan tensed. /'It should have been YOUR blood decorating that sinful bed.'/ He met Seto's eyes.

"What?" Joey asked, feeling the arm around his shoulders stiffen.

"You tell them, pal." Tristan said to Seto.

"Tell us what?" Yugi looked worried.

"Mokuba," Seto turned to his brother. "Go upstairs with the kids."

"No," Tristan said. "This concerns him too."

"It concerns Justin and Lexi, and they're not here."

"Seto…"

"Forget it, Tristan." Mokuba said snidely, standing up from his chair, his fists clenched. "I'll just go upstairs, do my homework and go to bed like a good little boy."

"Mokuba!" Tristan's temper snapped. "Sit down!" He looked at Seto and the taller man flinched at the look in his friend's eyes. "Seto, smarten the fuck up! Stop treating him like a baby! I'm sick of it!"

"Tristan," Joey laid his hand on his husband's leg. "Calm down."

"This is NOT the time for this bullshit!" Tristan replied. "Mokuba could be in as much danger as the rest of us and he deserves to hear this!"

"Danger?" Yami said. "Seto, what's going on?"

Seto didn't reply. His eyes were locked with Tristan's in an angry battle of wills. Tristan's eyes bore into him and pain lanced through his skull. He shook his head and backed down. Silently, he got up and left the room.

The others sat in shocked silence for the full five minutes it took for Tristan to bring his anger under control.

"Tristan?" Yugi ventured.

"I'm sorry." Tristan whispered, avoiding their eyes.

"Go after him." Joey said. "We'll meet you in the den."

Tristan stood without a word and left, leaving the others to wonder what could be so wrong that Tristan and Seto would fight like that.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan found Seto in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, his head hanging down and his arms wrapped around himself.

Tristan could feel the hurt and sadness coming from his best friend and he went to him, pulling him into his arms. "I'm so sorry, Seto. You didn't deserve that."

Seto resisted for a minute before putting his arms around Tristan's waist. "If I didn't know how stressed out you are I would have punched you in the mouth."

Tristan snickered. "Then I would've had to whip your scrawny ass."

Seto rolled his eyes.

"I really am sorry, pal. It's just…" Tristan sighed, laying his head on Seto's shoulder. "You've got to stop treating Mokuba like a little kid. He's eighteen. Are you going to treat him like this next year when you hand him the vice-presidency?"

"I can't help it, Tris. He's my little brother. I've always protected him from things like this. It's hard to see him growing up. He's drifting away from me and it hurts."

"If you keep this up, you'll end up PUSHING him away."

"That's the last thing I want."

"Then you need to change your attitude." Tristan lifted his head, looking Seto in the eye. "It's time to stop being his over-protective big brother and start being his friend."

"You're right." Seto sighed.

"Hey!" Tristan pretended to be offended. "I'm ALWAYS right!"

"Very funny." Seto reached up, cupping Tristan's face between his hands. "So, are we going to kiss and make up, or what?"

Tristan smiled, tipping his face up. "Sounds like a plan."

Seto leaned down, brushing their lips together. "Tristan…"

The shorter man pulled back, surprised by the flash of raw need that came from the other. He searched the azure eyes, finding them darkened with what looked like desire.

"Tristan…please…kiss me again."

Tristan removed Seto's hands from his face and tangled his fingers in the soft, brown hair, drawing him down. The second their lips met, Tristan parted his, allowing Seto enterance.

It was a deep kiss and, on Seto's part, full of need and want. Tristan pulled away slowly, resting his forehead against Seto's.

"Please…talk to me." He said quietly.

Seto sighed, pulling Tristan's body closer to his own. "Have you talked to Joey about…about us being together?"

"No." Tristan moved back to look at Seto. "Why would I need to talk to Joey about spending time with you?"

"I'm not talking about spending time together. Tris…" Seto reached out to touch the other's face. "I need you."

Tristan's eyes widened and he withdrew from Seto's embrace, putting some space between them. "Seto, we…we can't."

"Why not?" Uncertainty flashed in the sapphire eyes. "Don't you want me anymore?"

Seeing the look, Tristan reached for him again, bringing him close. "It's not that. I've always wanted you…and I always will. But that's not what it's about for us. We can't just sleep together because we WANT to."

Seto took Tristan's left wrist, turning his arm and exposing the scars there to his view. "The last time we made love was just after this happened. That was almost a year ago. I need to be with you, Tristan. Maybe…maybe then I'll be able to feel you again."

"We don't know that." Tristan shook his head.

Seto's reply was cut off by Joey's enterance.

"Everything okay, guys?" The blond asked.

"Fine." Tristan replied. "We'll be there in a minute."

"Okay." [Shit. I think I just interrupted something important.] "Take your time."

"We need to go tell them what's going on." Tristan said as his husband left.

"I suppose." Seto said reluctantly.

Tristan untangled himself from the taller man, taking his hand and leading the way out of the kitchen.

Just before they reached the den, Seto stopped Tristan with a gentle tug on his hand. Tristan turned to his friend with a questioning look.

"Love you, Tris." Seto said, leaning down to kiss him on the forehead.

"I love you too." Tristan smiled, hugging the taller brunet. "We'll talk about it later. I promise."

Seto just nodded and hugged him back; trying to hide what he was truly feeling.

~*~*~*~*~

"Until we find out who's responsible, we need to be careful." Seto said. "Especially with the kids."

"Tristan," Joey clutched the brunet's hand. "We can't go home now for sure. What are we going to do?"

Tristan drew Joey into his arms. "We're going to have to move. We've been talking about it anyway."

"Joey," Seto interrupted. "I think it would be a good idea if you had someone drive you out to the clinic tomorrow. Same goes for you and school, Mokuba."

Mokuba didn't offer any argument, just nodded numbly.

"I'll have Jeff come over and pick you up." Seto continued. "You'll be safe at school, but I don't want you leaving until he comes to pick you up."

"What about Justin and Lexi?" Yami asked.

"They're safe as long as they're here or at Kaiba Corp." Tristan said. "When they go out they should be with you or Bakura. I won't entrust their safety to anyone else."

"We have a shipment coming into the game shop tomorrow afternoon." Yugi said.

"Bring them to us first." Seto replied.

"Maybe we should just stay home." Yugi pressed close to Yami.

"No, Aibou." Yami pulled Yugi into his lap. "I can protect us. We cannot allow these people to control our lives."

"Mokuba," Tristan turned to the younger Kaiba. "Stick close until we get to the bottom of this, okay?"

"I had plans for tomorrow." Mokuba looked at Tristan meaningfully.

Tristan shook his head. "Sorry, colt. You'll have to cancel."

"Okay." Mokuba said, obviously reluctant, and stood. "I have to make a phone call."

The five men sat in silence for a few minutes after Mokuba left.

"Yami's right." Joey broke the quiet. "We can't let them control us. I, for one, don't want to put my life on hold because of these people."

"You won't have to." Seto said. "We just need to be careful."

Justin came into the room, interrupting their conversation. He climbed into Seto's lap and leaned against him, yawning.

"Lexi fell asleep on my bedroom floor." Justin said, taking off his glasses and rubbing his eye. "I'm tired, Dad."

Seto looked at his watch. "It's pretty late. Do you want me to tuck you in?"

"Mm-hm." Justin nodded sleepily, handing his glasses to his father.

"I'll come up and put Lexi to bed." Tristan said, standing.

He went over and lifted Justin from Seto's lap, smiling when the child wrapped his small arms around his neck.

"Uncle Tristan," Justin's tired voice was low. "Will you carry me upstairs?"

"Sure, little man."

"Thank you." Justin laid his head against Tristan's shoulder, his little body going limp.

Joey snickered. "He's asleep."

"Gods." Tristan whispered, biting his lip.

"Please don't squish my son, Tristan." Yami begged.

"But he's asking for it." Tristan mock-whined.

"No." Seto said, standing. "Do it and the next time Bakura tries to tickle Lexi until she throws up, I won't stop him."

"Fine." Tristan pouted. "Killjoy."

~*~*~*~*~

Yami and Yugi walked into Kaiba Corp. with Lexi and Justin to find the lobby in chaos. It was empty of employees and crawling with security.

"Bakura!" Yugi called, spotting the white haired man. "What's going on?!"

"Damn it, Collins!" Bakura rounded on a man in a security uniform. "I told you to lock the doors!"

The man ran toward the enterance, fumbling with his keys, his face chalk-white.

"Incompetent asshole." Bakura grumbled, approaching the small group.

"BA-RA!" Lexi squealed, holding out her arms.

Bakura picked her up, accepting a wet, sloppy kiss and propping her on his hip.

"What's going on?" Yugi asked again.

"Someone found a suspicious package." Bakura pointed to a small table next to the reception desk. "We don't know what it is yet."

"Where's Walters?" Yami asked.

"He went to call Seto." Bakura scowled. "Fifteen minutes ago. He probably stopped somewhere along the way to jack off."

"What's `jack off' mean?" Justin piped up from his spot behind Yami.

"Watch your mouth, Tomb Robber." Yami growled.

"Listen, Pharaoh…" Bakura started.

"Ba-ra an `ami no fight." Lexi said.

Yugi's eyes were riveted to the box. Something didn't seem right. He moved toward it, swearing to himself he had just seen it move. His hands reached out, seeming of their own volition, and lifted the lid at the same moment Bakura realized what he was doing.

"YUGI! DON'T!"

The cardboard lid fell from his numb fingers and all the color drained from his face as he stared in horror at the contents. "Oh, dear gods."

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou: You did it again!!

Yugi: What's in the box?

YD: *evil smirk* You'll have to wait.

DD: Only four people know. Me, Dragon, Bakurasgirl and Katie.

Joey: How come Katie gets to know?

YD: Because she made me that kick-butt icon of Tris, that's why.

DD: We love you, Katie!!

Seto: Review please. We all want to know what's in the box!!