Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Family By Choice ❯ chapter4 ( Chapter 4 )

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!

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS EXPLICIT YAOI (MALE/MALE SEX)! IF YOU DON'T LIKE TO READ ABOUT TWO MEN GETTING INTAMATE WITH EACH OTHER, LEAVE NOW!!

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

<…> Mokuba's thoughts

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

~*~*~*~*~

DD: This chapter is a little long, folks.

YD: Yeah, you may want to go to the bathroom first…you know, so you don't have to get up in the middle of all the hotness.

Seto: *rolls eyes* What about the angst?

DD: Oh, yeah. It's heavy on the angst.

YD: Yeah *huggles Mokuba* Sorry Mo.

Tris: You're in for it, colt.

Mokuba: Oh, crap.

~*~*~*~*~

"Morning." Joey greeted everyone as he came into the dining room.

"Good morning, Joey." Yugi smiled, handing the baby to the blond.

Joey sat down next to Tristan, cuddling the infant and kissing him. He had been surprised, to say the least, when he had arrived back at the mansion just before suppertime yesterday to find their family had grown by one.

Mokuba had been ecstatic, showing more enthusiasm than he had in months. He had held his newest nephew, speaking to him quietly, a soft smile on his face and tears in his eyes.

When Ryou and Bakura had shown up to have supper with them, the white haired hikari had taken the baby from his uncle and refused to give him up until it was time to put the child to bed.

"So," Joey leaned over as Lexi crawled up into the chair next to him, kissing her. "Come up with a name yet?"

"I wanted to name him after Grandpa," Yugi said. "But we decided to pick that as his middle name."

"Well, what are we calling him then?" Tristan leaned over the baby, smiling as he grinned toothlessly up at him, blowing spit bubbles.

Yami smiled. "Matthew."

Tristan's head snapped up, his eyes meeting Seto's. "Really?"

"Really," Seto smiled at his best friend's astonished look. "I wanted to name him after you. Yami and Yugi agreed."

"That's cool." Joey said, stroking the infant's soft cheek. "He looks like a Matthew."

"Seto…" Tristan tried to find the words to express what he was feeling, but couldn't.

Seto rose from his chair, going to stand next to Tristan. When the other brunet looked up, he bent down, kissing him briefly.

"Yeah! Set low Papa!" Lexi cheered, bouncing in her chair.

"I have to get going." Mokuba interrupted, moving to Joey's side and leaning down to kiss Matthew on the forehead.

"Lexi too!" The little girl tugged on the back of Mokuba's shirt.

Mokuba turned with a smile and kissed Lexi, his fingers reaching to tickle her ribs. He then went to Justin, hugging the boy and kissing the top of his head.

"I won't be home right after school." The younger Kaiba stated.

"Mokuba…" Seto began.

"Look, Seto," Mokuba rounded on his brother. "I cancelled my plans yesterday and I'm NOT doing it again today!"

"I wasn't going to suggest you do." Seto said, trying to hide the hurt in his voice. "I just…I was only going to tell you to be careful."

Mokuba bit his lip, acutely aware of everyone's stunned silence at his outburst. He walked over to his brother and stood in front of him, looking down at his feet.

"I'm sorry." He whispered.

Seto reached out, cupping Mokuba's chin in his hand, tipping his face up. "Apology accepted, little brother. Please…watch your back. I couldn't stand it if something happened to you."

Looking down into those grey eyes, Seto saw a flash of the little boy his brother had once been. It was quickly gone, however, and Seto mourned it's loss.

"I will, big brother." Mokuba slipped his arms around Seto's waist, hugging him hard.

Joey stood as Mokuba left, handing the baby to Seto. "I know that was hard for you, Seto, but you did the right thing."

Seto shook his head, looking down at his son. "I hope so."

"This is what I was talking about, pal." Tristan said. "You've got to let him start relying on his own judgment."

Before Seto could reply, Matthew started to cry, his little face scrunched up and turning red as he howled.

"What did I do?!" Seto asked, looking scared.

Everyone laughed.

"He's probably just hungry again." Yugi said. "Let's take him into the kitchen and get him a bottle."

Tristan was about to make a smart comment when his cell phone rang. He got up and left the room to answer it, knowing he wouldn't be able to hear anything over the baby crying.

"Dat baby tum woud." Lexi put her hands over her ears as Seto and Yugi left the room.

"His name is Matthew, honey." Yami told her.

"Matt-chew tum woud."

Joey snickered at his daughter's pronunciation of the name. "All babies are loud when they're hungry."

"Da-ee doe a woo-ark a day?" Lexi asked her father.

"Not until later."

"Yugi and I are taking Matthew to see Master Kiotou." Yami said. "Justin, would you like to come?"

"I want to go to work with Dad." Justin said. "Miss Willis is going to teach me how to make paper airplanes today."

"Lexi wan doe too!" The little girl piped up. "Lexi wan mate pay-der a-da-pain!"

Tristan came back into the room in time to hear Lexi's last statement. He grabbed her up out of her chair with a playful growl and squeezed her before proceeding to try and kiss the little face off her.

"AAAAHHHH!! PAPA!" Lexi grabbed Tristan's collar. "TOP!"

Joey stood up, laughing, and pried his daughter from his husband's grip. "I'll save you, baby girl."

Lexi wound her arms around Joey's neck, giggling. "Tank-too, Da-ee."

Yami snickered, shaking his head. "Tristan, keep your hands off Matthew."

"Only if he doesn't turn out to be as cute as the other two." Tristan winked at Justin.

Justin regarded his uncle with a serious expression. "Are you bringing Lexi to work today, Uncle Tristan?"

"Actually, that was the real estate agent that just called. She can meet us in a half hour to take a look at the house down the road."

"So you're not going to work today?" Justin looked disappointed.

"I am." Tristan reassured him. "We'll just be a little late, that's all."

"Well then," Yami stood. "Let's take the kids upstairs and get them dressed, Joey."

"Okay." Joey bounced Lexi on his hip, making her giggle. "Back in a few minutes, angel."

Tristan accepted Joey's kiss and then headed into the kitchen to let Seto know what was going on. He found his friend sitting at the kitchen table, feeding Matthew a bottle.

"Well, Mr. Kaiba," Tristan said in a mocking voice. "Don't you look menacing?"

"Bite me." Seto replied.

Tristan grinned at Yugi as he perched on the edge of the table. "Remind me to get pictures of this sometime. Total blackmail fodder."

"Very funny." Seto pulled the empty bottle from the baby's mouth and set it on the table. "Now what do I do?"

"Put him on your shoulder and pat his back." Yugi instructed him.

Seto did what he was told, patting the infant's small back somewhat awkwardly. The child squirmed, whimpering, and Seto rubbed his back instead, finding it felt more natural.

Matthew hiccupped and let out a huge belch. Tristan burst into laughter just as Seto felt something wet seep into the shoulder of his shirt.

"Oh, gods." Yugi snickered, reaching out and taking Matthew from Seto. "I wish I had gotten a picture of THAT!"

`I did. From both angles. The look on your face was priceless, Seto.'

"Sadie," Seto growled. "You're about one step from being taken off line."

`As you are so fond of saying to Tristan…bite me.'

Yugi chuckled as he took Matthew over to the sink to clean him up. "Be nice, Sadie."

`Yes, Yugi.' The AI's voice was contrite.

"I have to go change my shirt." Seto grumbled, standing up.

Tristan fought to hold back his laughter, and failed miserably.

"Asshole." Seto rolled his eyes as he began to unbutton his shirt.

"Joey and I are going to look at that house down the road." Tristan said, bringing himself under control.

"When?" Seto peeled the spit-up covered shirt off.

"As soon as Lexi's dressed. I'll be in with her after that."

"Sounds good." Seto turned to leave, shirt in hand, and saw Odette standing in the doorway, a huge grin on her face. "Don't you start too."

"I said nothing." The woman snickered.

Looking completely beleaguered, Seto left the room, grumbling to himself as his best friend, his husband and his cook laughed.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey followed Tristan and the real estate agent into the master bedroom, leaving Lexi to run up and down the hall, scampering in and out of the other bedrooms.

They had already been through the downstairs. The formal living room with it's hardwood floor, the den, a small bathroom and a dining room flanked one side of the main staircase. The huge living room and the kitchen took up the other side, along with another flight of stairs that led from the kitchen to the upper floor.

"The en suite was custom designed by the previous owners." The woman said as Joey wandered into the bathroom.

It was large; double sinks, an oversized tub sunk into a raised tile floor with two steps built into it and a huge shower made of concrete and tile with three shower heads.

"Now that looks like fun." Tristan said, coming up behind Joey, putting his arms around his waist and resting his chin on the blond's shoulder.

"Well, yes…ummm…" The agent shifted uncomfortably. "The bathroom across the hall has a door that connects it to the room next to it."

Tristan lifted his head and looked at her. "Security system?"

"State of the art." She replied. "The gates can only be opened by remote or through the panel in the foyer."

"What about the yard?"

"Motion detectors. Also accessible through the kitchen panel."

Joey untangled himself from Tristan and walked back into the bedroom. He looked out the window at the eight foot high brick wall that surrounded the property. Images of the destruction at their previous home blew through his mind and he shivered.

Seeing it, Tristan went to him and took him into his arms. "Could you give us a few minutes?"

"Certainly." The woman looked relieved to be offered the opportunity to escape the displays of affection between the two men. "I'll be downstairs."

"Are you okay, love?" Tristan asked when she had left.

Joey nodded, his gaze on the yard. "We'd be safe here, wouldn't we, Tris? Lexi could play outside and we wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Once Seto upgraded the security system, yes." Tristan replied. "Could you be happy here?"

"Well, I know you'd be happy being closer to Seto…and Lexi would love being so close to Justin."

"But what about you?"

Joey smiled up at his husband. "I'm happy wherever you are."

Tristan felt his heart overflow as he looked into warm honey eyes. "Oh, baby…"

He lowered his head, meeting Joey's lips. He kissed the man in his in his arms deeply, tenderly, showing him how much he loved him.

"Papa! Da-ee!" Lexi's indignant voice broke the spell. "Diz no time a tissing! Tum!"

Joey snickered as the child's little hands tried to pry them apart. "What's so important, sweetheart?"

"Lexi pick-ded bed-oom!" She tugged on Joey's hand. "Is tum pity!"

Tristan smiled, following his daughter and husband out into the hallway and into the room directly across from the master bedroom.

Lexi let go of Joey's hand and ran to the middle of the room, spinning around in the empty space. "Tee? Diz dunna be Lexi oom!!"

The walls were painted light green and it was bright, due to the huge window that sported a window seat. The closet was large and next to it was the door that led to the bathroom.

"Lexi low diz oom, Papa!!" Lexi took Tristan's hand and hauled him over to the window. "Lexi tan tee de ard!"

Tristan set her up on the window seat, looking outside.

"Papa? Tan Lexi ab a ting tet?"

Tristan shook his head, unable to understand what she was saying. "A what?"

"A ting tet. Lexi tit on it and Papa pushed-es."

"Oh, a SWING set."

"Daz what Lexi taid!"

"Tris, don't." Joey said, seeing the "I'm about to squeeze her" look on his husband's face. "Let's check out the rest of the rooms."

"Lexi wan tay he-are."

"Okay." Tristan replied, taking Joey's hand. "Don't go downstairs though."

"O-tay, Papa." Lexi sat down on the window seat and pressed her nose to the window.

"I mean it, Lexi."

Lexi turned innocent hazel eyes on her father. "Lexi won doe aby-air."

"Yeah, right." Tristan grinned.

~*~*~*~*~

"Well, what you have here is a healthy five to six month old boy." Master Kiotou smiled down at Matthew.

Matthew gurgled, waving his hands and drooling on himself.

"He is a bit underweight," The elder picked up the child and handed him to Yugi. "But he should put the weight back on quickly."

"With the way he eats, I would think so." Yami said. "He was up every two hours last night."

The herbalist reached up onto a shelf and took down a bottle of clear liquid. He handed it to Yami. "Put two drops of this in his bottle at every feeding. It will most likely make him drool more."

"That's all we need." Yami smirked.

"What is it?" Yugi asked, wrapping Mathew back up in his blanket.

"It is a derivative of the same thing Joey has been taking. It will slow his metabolism somewhat so he will not require feedings every two hours."

"That's a relief." Yami said.

"What are you talking about?" Yugi rolled his eyes. "I was the one up with him all night!"

"What are you feeding him?" Master Kiotou asked.

"Formula."

The old man shook his head. "The worst thing you could give him. Switch him to goat's milk. And not from a store. The last thing he needs is the preservatives."

"Gods," Yugi grinned. "Don't tell Tristan that. He'll go out and buy a goat."

"Speaking of Tristan," Master Kiotou said, suddenly serious. "I am very worried about him and Seto both."

"I know what you mean." Yugi said, sitting on the stool and rocking Matthew. "Seto's been kinda upset lately. He says he can't feel Tristan anymore. And he's been getting headaches again."

"Their bond is weakening." Master Kiotou said. "I tried to discuss it with them when they were here last, but Tristan became very uncomfortable."

"Why?" Yami took the now sleeping baby from his other so Yugi could wipe the drool off his shirt.

"They need to be together again, don't they, Master Kiotou?" Yugi asked.

"It is my belief that they do." The old man nodded. "I do not understand why this is happening."

"They haven't had much time together, and with everything that's gone on in just the last few days…" Yugi trailed off.

"Tristan is being his usual stubborn self." Yami commented.

Master Kiotou sighed. "He is. And it is not doing either of them any good. I realize that Tristan thinks there must be a need, but he does not seem to think this is need enough."

The bell above the door jingled and they turned to see Joey walking in.

"Hey, guys!" Joey walked over to the counter. "What's going on?"

"We were just talking about your stubborn husband." Yugi said.

"Huh?" Joey reached out for Matthew. "Gimme."

Yami handed the infant to Joey. "We were just discussing what is, or rather, isn't going on between Seto and Tristan."

"Hmm…" Joey cuddled Matthew, kissing his head. "Does this have to do with the other night?"

"It's not just that." Yugi said. "Tell me you haven't noticed, Joey."

"I have." Joey sighed. "I wanted to talk to Tris about it, but I know he won't listen to me."

"Their bond is weakening." Master Kiotou said. "I fear if something does not happen soon, they may lose it all together. I do not know what that will do to them."

Joey chewed his lip. He knew what they were talking about. Tristan and Seto needed to be together…the way they used to be. What he didn't understand was why Tristan was holding back. Didn't he know how much Seto needed him? And what would happen if he lost that special closeness he always had with Seto? Joey didn't even want to think about it.

"What can we do?" Joey asked.

"Talk to Tristan." The elder replied.

Joey shook his head. "Won't do any good."

Yugi nodded in agreement. "We're gonna have to do something drastic here. I hate seeing Seto so upset. Gods, I could just choke Tristan sometimes!"

"I hear ya, bud." Joey replied. "Wait! I've got an idea."

"Let's hear it." Yugi said.

"Well, Tris and I have an appointment with Diane this afternoon. He's planning on coming right back because I have to see Josh. What about if…"

~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, Mo." Roger leaned against the locker next to Mokuba's.

"Hey." Mokuba threw his books in and closed the locker. "What's up?"

"I hear you've got yourself a new nephew."

Mokuba raised an eyebrow. "Word gets around fast. Where'd you hear that?"

"Mom told me." Roger shrugged. "Want to come over?"

"I can't." Mokuba was suddenly avoiding his friend's eyes. "I…I have plans."

"With Becky?" Roger asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

"Yeah." Mokuba looked up through his bangs. "You're not mad, are you?"

Roger gave him a weak smile. "No. You said you needed to figure things out. I understand."

"Thanks." Mokuba's smile was definitely one of relief.

They walked down the hall together, heading for the front doors. As they passed the bathroom, Roger suddenly grabbed Mokuba by the arm and pulled him inside.

Mokuba looked into the ice blue eyes questioningly. "What's wrong?"

"Mo…" Roger bit his lip. "Please…I know you want to take some time to figure things out about Becky. Just…please…don't do anything stupid."

Mokuba shook his head. "I won't."

Roger leaned in, brushing his lips against Mokuba's. "Just remember…I love you."

"I-I know." Mokuba stammered. "I have to…go."

"Okay." Roger nodded, stepping away. "Call me later if you need to talk, okay?"

"I will." Mokuba said, turning to leave.

He stopped suddenly, turning back around. Impulsively, he grabbed Roger, pulling him in until their bodies were pressed tightly together. He bent his head, capturing Roger's lips in a deep kiss.

Roger moaned, his hands coming up and sinking into Mokuba's hair as he kissed him back.

The kiss ended slowly, both of them finding they were reluctant to break the union.

"Rog…" Mokuba began.

"Shh…no." Roger placed his fingers over Mokuba's lips, stopping him. "Don't. Just go. Go see her. I'll be here when you need me."

Mokuba nodded and pulled away, leaving without looking back.

<Gods…am I falling in love with him?>

~*~*~*~*~

"So, we're planned then?" Joey asked.

Yami nodded. "I'll pick the kids up and Yugi will call Seto."

"I'll tell Tris to meet me out at the retreat." Joey grinned. "I'll have to get him distracted long enough to get to his car before he leaves the clinic."

"Are you sure this is wise, Joey?" Yugi asked, sounding a bit worried. "What makes you think it's even going to work?"

"Look, buddy, Tris has been acting really moody lately. He's a lot more affected by what's going on with him and Seto than he's saying. Besides, you know as well as I do that once he sees that Seto's suffering because of him, he'll do something about it. It's just a matter of getting him to SEE. And he can't do that here."

"Joey is right, Aibou." Yami interjected. "Getting the two of them alone is a good idea."

Yugi sighed. "I just hope it works."

~*~*~*~*~

"Mokuba!" Becky wrapped her arms around the grey eyed boy and hauled him inside. "I was wondering if you were going to make it today! Get in here! I have a surprise for you!"

Mokuba followed her into her bedroom. It wasn't until they were inside that he noticed how quiet it was.

"Where's your mom?" He asked.

"Out." A small smile flitted across the girl's face. "And she won't be back any time soon."

"So, what's the surprise?" Mokuba let her lead him over to the bed and push him down.

"This." Becky pushed him flat on his back and straddled his hips.

"Becky…"

"Don't you want me, Mokuba?" She asked, beginning to rock against him. "We've been together for a while now and you've barely laid a hand on me. Don't you want to?"

"It's not that…"

Becky looked down at him, her eyes suddenly hard. "Don't tell me you've decided you want to be COMPLETELY like your brother."

"What's THAT supposed to mean?"

"You're not turning fag on me, are you?"

Mokuba flushed, remembering the kiss he had shared with Roger not a half hour ago…remembering what they had shared before. "No."

"Good." Becky's fingers moved to pull off her shirt, revealing the fact that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. "Don't you think it's about time we took this to the next level?"

Without waiting for him to respond, Becky took Mokuba's hands in hers, pressing them against her breasts. Mokuba's breath caught and he felt himself getting hard.

<Gods…do I want this?>

"Prove it to me, Mokuba." Becky ground down on him. "Prove it to me that you're not a fruit like your brother."

"Seto's NOT a fruit!" Mokuba tried to pull away, but his hands seemed to have detached themselves from his brain.

"But you're so much more of a man than he is." She released his hands and reached down, unbuttoning his shirt. "Aren't you? Don't you want to be your own man, Mokuba?"

Mokuba lost the ability to speak as she began caressing his bare chest, deftly arousing him. His hands drifted down of their own accord, settling on the button of her pants.

"I want you, Mokuba." Becky smiled down at him.

<But…do I want YOU? Gods…I don't know what to think anymore.>

"Prove it to me." Becky's hands went to the button on Mokuba's pants. "Prove to me you want to be your own man…that you're not like your brother."

<I'm NOT like Seto. Seto doesn't understand me anymore. He won't let me live my own life.>

Mokuba pushed Becky off him and rose from the bed. He pulled her up and into his arms, crashing their lips together. Anger flowed through him at the thoughts of his brother treating him like a child.

<I'll show him! This is MY life! Not his!>

Becky moaned into the kiss, her fingers tugging at both of their clothes. Mokuba pushed her back down onto the bed and came down on top of her, still kissing her.

<This is MY life! I'll live it the way I want to!>

Forgetting everything he and Tristan had talked about, forgetting his budding feelings for Roger, Mokuba allowed his anger to take over, not really caring if he would regret it or not.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto was surprised to see Tristan's car parked in front of the retreat.

{What's he doing here? I thought he was heading back to the office after his appointment.}

Stepping from his car, noticed Yugi's vehicle was no where in sight.

Sapphire eyes narrowed. {What's going on?}

Knowing there was only one place Tristan would be, he headed to the stables.

Sure enough, he found his friend in the paddock next to the barn with his horse. Seto quietly approached, not wanting to interrupt the obvious bonding session. A smile flitted across his features as he listened to Tristan talk to the animal, his hands busily braiding her mane.

"She's fat." Seto said.

Tristan jumped and the horse shied, snorting.

"Gods!" Tristan grabbed Cricket by the halter to keep her from bolting. "Don't DO that! And she's not fat, she's pregnant."

Seto snickered. "Same thing."

"Hey, don't talk about my girl that way." Tristan pulled the horse's head close to him. "Don't listen to him, sweetheart. He's just jealous because he hasn't got such a beautiful woman in HIS life."

"I worry about you sometimes." Seto rolled his eyes. "Joey know about the two of you?"

"Funny boy." Tristan laughed as Cricket butted him in the chest with her forehead. "Okay, okay. Don't be so impatient."

"What brings you out here?" Seto asked, watching as Tristan plaited Cricket's forelock. "Besides the obvious."

"Joey asked me to meet him here. He's coming out after he's done with Josh." Tristan tied off the braid and dug into his coat pocket, coming up with a small bag of jelly beans. He fed a couple to the horse, smiling. "Don't let Joey know you're eating his stash, girl."

"You're meeting Joey?" Seto asked. "I'm supposed to be meting Yugi."

Tristan turned his attention away from his horse. "Huh?"

"Yugi called me and asked me to meet him out here. Said he wanted to take me for a ride."

"That's what Joey said." Tristan laughed. "Could they be any more obvious?"

"Where are they then? Yugi should have been here by now. Yami came to pick up the kids before I left."

Tristan glanced at his watch. "Joey should have been here by now too."

Seto frowned and pulled out his cell phone. "They're up to something."

"What makes you say that?"

"This is Yugi and Joey we're talking about, buddy."

"True." Tristan pushed Cricket off him, reaching for his own phone. "I'll see if I can track down Joey."

Seto nodded and dialed Yugi's cell number. He propped one foot up on the bottom rail of the fence and listened to the phone ring, his eyes on Tristan. The shorter man was leaning against his horse, legs crossed at the ankle and his phone to his ear. Cricket shifted as most of Tristan's weight settled her shoulder and she turned her head, picking at his jacket.

{I'd love to see her step out from underneath him. Fucking horse-whisperer.}

"He's not answering his cell." Tristan said, disconnecting the call. "I'm gonna try the clinic. Get the gate for me, would you?"

Seto hung up his phone; Yugi wasn't answering either, and opened the paddock gate. Tristan led the horse out and toward the barn, one hand on her halter and dialing with the other.

Seto tried calling home as Tristan disappearing into the barn. No answer. He tried the game shop with the same results. With a sigh of frustration, he went after Tristan.

"I can't get a hold of him." Tristan said, coming out of Cricket's stall. "Gwen said he left an hour ago."

"Yugi seems to have disappeared. And I can't find Yami either."

"Seto, you don't think…" Tristan trailed off, looking worried.

"No." Seto shook his head. "If something happened to any of them, we would've heard by now."

"Excuse me Master Kaiba, Mr. Taylor." Thomas interrupted them. "I have messages for you both."

The man handed each of them a slip of paper and left, heading back toward the house. The two brunets exchanged a look before reading the messages.

"Yugi's not coming." Seto said.

"Neither is Joey." Tristan replied. "We've been set up, pal. Apparently, there's an overnight bag in my car for us and we're not expected home tonight."

"Really?" Seto raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."

"Why do I get the feeling Master Kiotou had something to do with this?"

"He probably did." Seto replied. "Yami and Yugi took Matthew over to see him."

"And Joey headed over there after when we were done looking at the house." Tristan shook his head, heading out of the barn. "I really don't like being manipulated."

"Maybe if you weren't so stubborn, you wouldn't have to be."

"What the hell is THAT suppose to mean?" Tristan asked as he headed for his car.

"Forget it."

"No, what?" Tristan took out his keys and opened the trunk.

"It's just…why are you avoiding me?"

"I'm not." Tristan grabbed the bag and closed the trunk.

"But…"

Tristan turned to Seto and, seeing the vulnerability in his in his friend's eyes, dropped the bag on the ground. He reached out and drew Seto into his arms.

"Hey, don't think that." He said softly. "Seto…look…I love you. I just can't…whenever we've been together; there's always been a reason…a NEED. Something's happened, something's gone wrong and…we need each other that way."

But…something HAS gone wrong, Tris." Seto said. "I can't feel you any more. I need you…and you're denying me. Why? You've never denied me before."

Tristan was taken aback. He hadn't thought of it in those terms. Seto DID need him. He could feel it…had been feeling it for a while now. Just because the world wasn't crashing down around them didn't make it any less real.

"Seto, I'm sorry." Tristan laid his head on the other man's shoulder. "I guess I've just been feeling like…if we did, I'd be betraying Joey."

"Joey was the one who set this up." Seto replied. "Along with Yugi…and probably Yami too. I think they want this for us. They understand, Tris. Joey understands. I don't think you get that."

Tristan sighed, tightening his grip on Seto. "I guess I'm having a hard time with it. If roles were reversed I don't think I'd be so understanding."

"That's because you're a stubborn, insensitive, possessive asshole."

Tristan snickered. "Geeze, and here I thought we were having a moment."

"We were." Seto pulled back and looked at Tristan with a small grin. "You do realize you've been a complete idiot about the whole thing, right?"

"Explain to me again why I'm staying here tonight?" Tristan asked, mock-sarcastic.

"Because you need me as much as I need you." Seto said, suddenly serious again. "Don't you?"

"Yeah." Tristan leaned his forehead against Seto's chest. "I do."

"Let's take the horses and go out to the cove." Seto said.

Tristan's head snapped up. "You want to go for a ride? You're actually going to get on a horse without me having to hound you into it? Who are you and what have you done with Seto?"

"Listen, smart ass…"

"I'm just kidding, pal." Tristan pulled away from Seto and picked up the bag, opening it. "Great! They packed jeans. Let's go get changed."

Seto didn't protest as Tristan grabbed his hand and hauled him toward the house.

~*~*~*~*~

Mokuba climbed into the car, shutting the door behind him.

"Is there somewhere else you need to go, sir?" Jeff, his driver, asked.

"No. And you're not to tell anyone I was here."

"Yes, sir."

As soon as the driver's attention was diverted, Mokuba buried his face in his hands, biting back a sob. <Why? Why did I do that?>

He didn't lift his head until the car came to a stop in front of the mansion. He got out of the car without a word and ran up the steps, tearing the door open. He slammed it behind him and bolted up the stairs, colliding with Joey at the top.

"Mokuba!" Joey grabbed the raven haired teen by the shoulders. "What's wrong?!"

"Nothing." Mokuba tried to choke back the tears. "I just…I need to be alone."

He wrenched from Joey's grasp and ran down the hall. Gaining his bedroom, he shut the door behind him, leaning against it.

"Oh, gods…" He sobbed, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes in an effort to stop the tears.

He suddenly became aware of the scent of Becky's perfume, light and floral, clinging to his skin. Fighting against the nausea churning in his stomach, he went into the bathroom and quickly shed his clothes.

He turned on the shower and stepped in, adjusting the water as hot as he could stand it. He soaped up a washcloth and began scrubbing his body viciously, trying to rid himself of her scent.

He couldn't rid himself of the memories though. Her sweat covered skin, the tight, wet heat…the things she had said when it was over.

<I would have thought living the way you do would have taught you a few things about sex, Mokuba.> Her voice rang in his mind. <I guess I was expecting too much from a guy who's so close with a bunch of fags. Maybe you're more like your brother than I thought. Maybe you should try fucking that friend of his too. You might have a bit more success.>

His stomach churned violently and he stumbled from the shower. He made it to the toilet just in time, falling to his knees, retching.

He felt someone pull his wet hair back and he looked up into concerned amber eyes. Gentle hands drew him to his feet and wrapped him in a towel.

"It's okay, kiddo."

Mokuba collapsed against Joey's chest, sobbing.

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan sat on the grass above the high tide line, watching Seto walking along the water's edge.

/He's right. I have been an idiot. He needs me. And I need him. It hurts to see him being so vulnerable. It's my fault. It's my fault he's feeling this way. Who am I to deny him?/

Rising, Tristan went to Seto and put his arms around his waist. Seto's hands came up to cover Tristan's and he leaned back against him with a barely audible sigh.

They stayed like that for a while, listening to the waves crash against the rocks, barely seen in the distance.

Seto turned in Tristan's arms, smiling down at him. "What's on your mind, Tris?"

"You." Tristan answered honestly. "I'm sorry, pal. I'm sorry I hurt you. I didn't mean to. I don't know what I was thinking, pushing you away like that."

"It's okay. I know that sometimes you can't see the forest for the trees. It's not your fault."

"Yes, it is. I should never have let it get this far." Tristan reached up and brushed Seto's hair from his eyes. "It's always been easier on me than it has on you. I've never had a problem feeling you…or hearing you. I should have realized it affected you this way."

"It's okay. Really." Seto said. "You realize it now, and that's what's important. Don't beat yourself up over it."

Tristan frowned. "I love you, Seto. You know that, right?"

"I do." Seto looked away, avoiding Tristan's eyes. "I just thought that maybe you didn't want me anymore…that you didn't need me like you used to."

"Always, pal. I'll always need you." Tristan leaned up, brushing their lips together. "You're the other half of me. How could I not need you?"

Seto cupped Tristan's face in his hands and leaned down to kiss him. The second their lips met, a familiar feeling filled Seto. The feeling of Tristan. He coaxed Tristan's lips apart and delved in, tasting him. A soft whimper escaped him as the feeling intensified. Tristan pulled back to look at him and it was gone, leaving him feeling empty inside.

Tears filled the azure eyes.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked.

"I could feel you."

"But that's a good thing."

Seto shook his head. "It's gone."

"It's alright, pal." Tristan pulled him close and held him gently. "It's going to be okay." /Can you hear me?/

"Yes, but it sounds…muffled."

"It's alright." Tristan said again, untangling himself from Seto and taking his hand. "Come on."

He led Seto up onto the grass, sitting and pulling the other down next to him. His arms came around Seto and eased him back, laying him down. He looked into Seto's eyes, seeing a mixture of love, rising desire and worry. Tristan could feel the worry, the most prevalent; pouring off the other man in large waves. The worry that it wasn't going to work…that when it was all over it would still be the same.

"Don't worry about that now, Seto." Tristan said. "If it doesn't happen, we'll find a way to deal with it, okay?"

"Okay." Seto replied in a choked whisper, drawing Tristan closer.

Their lips met again, this time in a deep, searching kiss. Tristan rolled over on his back, bringing Seto on top of him, not breaking their heated union. He moaned deeply, feeling his body respond, as it always did, to Seto.

Seto shivered as he was once again flooded by Tristan's emotions. He was reluctant to break the kiss, afraid that when he did, he'd lose what he was feeling. He held out as long as he could, finally leaving Tristan's lips and trailing down his neck to suck lightly on his pulse point. The feeling faded, but didn't leave him completely.

"Oh, gods…Seto…" Tristan arched up beneath him, clutching at his shoulders.

{Tristan…} Seto pulled back, looking down at the other brunet.

He could feel, really feel, Tristan's desperate hunger, the sudden raw need, flaring almost out of control.

"Seto…I-I need you." Tristan gasped, becoming overwhelmed by what he was feeling from both of them. "Please…"

"Shh, Tris." Seto stoked his face, trying to calm him. "Shh…it's okay."

Seto took a deep breath, trying to block himself from Tristan as Master Kiotou had taught him, concerned that it was more than his friend could handle.

"Don't!" Tristan's grip on Seto's shoulders tightened. "No. Seto, please. I can handle it! Please…it's not going to help you if you block yourself from me."

Seto let down the mental barriers, groaning as a sharp pain lanced through his skull. Tristan winced, feeling what he took as backlash, like a giant elastic band snapped against his forehead.

/Oh, fuck…what the hell was THAT?!/

{Tris? I can hear you. I mean…REALLY hear you.}

Tristan reached up, sinking his hands into Seto's hair, pulling him down into another kiss. /I want you, Seto. It's been too long. Make love to me. Please…I need you./

{Tristan…I've wanted you…needed you…so much.}

Tristan broke the kiss, tipping his head back and exposing his neck in the submissive gesture Seto was so familiar with. /Please…/

Seto leaned down, kissing the offered flesh, making the man beneath him shudder. The part of him that wasn't becoming rapidly lost in the feeling of Tristan's hard body against his own had to wonder how a man without a single submissive fiber in his whole body could give himself so completely.

Tristan whimpered, fisting his hands into Seto's shirt, tugging at him.

In compliance with the silent request, Seto moved away just long enough so they could rid themselves of their clothes. Twin moans escaped them as hot flesh met, the sensation searing them to the core.

"Gods, Tristan…your eyes." Seto whispered, staring in shock at the sight of a haze of blue slowly fogging the clear hazel orbs.

"Holy shit." Tristan looked up, seeing bands of hazel swirling outward from Seto's pupils, creeping to cover the sapphire irises. "What's happening?"

"I don't…I don't know." Seto replied.

"I can feel you. Feel everything. It's never been like this before, Seto." Tristan's voice was hushed. "I can…feel your heartbeat."

"I know. I can feel yours too. Damn…Tris. This is so incredible."

Tristan pulled Seto down on top of him, fusing their lips together. /Please…Seto…love me./

Seto pulled back, sliding down Tristan's body, lips and tongue tracing the powerful planes of the shorter brunet's chest. His hands roamed the smooth skin, drawing hard shudders from the man below him. Moving down further, he took Tristan's arousal into his mouth, one hand caressing his stomach as he drew on the hardened shaft.

"Seto…Seto, please. It's not enough. Gods, please!" Tristan begged, writhing.

Seto's other hand left it's place on Tristan's hip and he pressed his fingers to the other's lips. Tristan drew the digits in, sucking on them desperately.

{Enough.} Seto withdrew his hand. {I need to be inside you.}

"Yes…" Tristan whimpered. "Seto…yes…"

Seto slid one finger into Tristan's trembling body and, finding him easily acceptable, quickly added another. Tristan's eyes slid shut and he thrust against the wanted intrusion, feeling the pleasure building to almost unbearable levels as Seto began to stretch him.

Seto let the other's length slide from between his lips and he moved up as he removed his fingers. He gently bit down on Tristan's neck as he positioned himself.

/Seto…now…do it!/ Tristan wrapped his legs around Seto's waist and his arms around his neck, becoming completely engulfed in the emotions coming from the other man.

"Tris." Seto moaned as he pressed himself slowly into Tristan, feelings of completion, of oneness, pushing their bond's limits.

A sob fell from Tristan's lips at the pain and pleasure of Seto's enterance into his willing body. He clung to him; eyes squeezed shut, never wanting the feeling to end.

The emotions that pounded through them both almost overshadowed the physical sensations.

"Open your eyes, Tris." Seto said, fighting not to move, to give him time to adjust.

Tristan forced his eyes open, finding, to his shock, that Seto's had turned completely hazel, no trace of the familiar blue remaining. Seto's eyes widened, staring into Tristan's. They were a pure, clear azure, clouded only by passion.

"Seto…please." Tristan thrust up against him.

Seto began to move on him, feeling their consciousness merging until they could both feel the giving, and receiving, of their lovemaking. He became aware of Tristan sobbing, feeling his friend being inundated with the greater part of what they were sharing. It suddenly came to him that this was what it must be like for Yami and Yugi when they shared this experience through their link.

Tears filled Seto's eyes as the strained together, fighting, needing, to reach the end. He could feel their climax approaching. Not his. Not Tristan's. Theirs.

Theirs.

"Tristan…gods…tell me you can feel this."

Tristan nodded, unable to answer.

Before long, their release battered their senses, robbing them of all feeling as their conjoined worlds shattered in a blaze of light and pleasure. They cried out simultaneously, and collapsed in a tangle of sweat-drenched limbs.

Tristan clutched onto Seto weakly, willing his heart to stop racing, the tears to stop flowing. /Seto, can you hear me?/

{Yes.} Seto lay atop the bigger man, unable to even lift his head.

/Can…can you still feel me?/

{Yes.}

/Gods…what just happened?/

{I-I don't know. I think it's back. I can feel you…and it doesn't hurt to make you hear me.}

"Look at me." Tristan's voice was weak.

Seto raised his head, looking deeply into Tristan's eyes.

"Your eyes are blue again." Tristan said, sounding relieved.

"Yours are back to normal too." Seto shook his head. "That was too weird."

Tristan guided Seto's head back to rest on his chest. "Love you, pal."

{Love you too, Tris.}

Tristan smiled as he felt Seto's contentment flow through him, warm and strong. They were one again.

~*~*~*~*~

DD: FYI: We intended for more to happen in this chapter, so we'll be picking up the next one right where this one leaves off.

YD: Yeah, MORE LEMONS!!

Joey: Someone's not getting enough at home, I'm thinking.

Yami: Don't go there, Joey.

DD: We can't believe all the reviews we're getting for this so far!

YD: Yeah, you guys are great. Munchkins! Hugs for the reviewers!

Lexi: *Hugs reviewers* Lexi wan tay tank-too for aw da toys. Lexi dot lost inda big pile ob Darbies!

Justin: *hugs reviewers* Thank you for all the reviews.

Matthew: *drools on reviewers*

Yugi: *hands towels to reviewers* Sorry, I think he's teething.