Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Family By Choice ❯ chapter18 ( Chapter 18 )

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

*…* Mokuba's thoughts

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

~*~*~*~*~

DD: Tris, you're an ass.

Tris: What did I do now?

YD: Read and find out.

~*~*~*~*~

Rachael reached out and pushed Mokuba's hair back, leaning down to kiss the pale cheek. Her gaze went to her son, asleep in a chair with his head on his crossed arms which were lying on the bed.

She stroked Roger's hair, looking over at Seto and Tristan who were sitting in the corner of the room. Her heart went out the taller of the two brunets. He was crying again. She could see the tears flowing down his face and watched as Tristan wiped them away, leaning in and kissing Seto gently.

She stepped away from the bed, turning to approach them when she heard a strangled sob come from the doorway.

Yugi was standing there, his eyes wide and filled with tears, his gaze on the young man in the bed. He ran across the room, ignoring everyone and reached out to touch Mokuba. His hands lightly skimmed across the ashen face, down his neck to his bare shoulder as tears spilled from his violet eyes. He turned from the still form, looking at his husband with loathing.

"This is all your fault." He said in a low, cold whisper.

"Yugi…" Seto stood and went to him, trying to put his arms around the smaller man.

"Don't touch me!" Yugi backed away, his eyes blazing. "It's YOUR fault! He almost died. He may never walk again and it's ALL YOUR FAULT!"

"How is it Seto's fault?" Tristan asked gently, approaching them.

Yugi's eyes narrowed at the big brunet. "You WOULD side with him."

Tristan was taken aback by Yugi's tone. It was dark and filled with hate. He'd never seen him like this before.

Yugi's shouting had woken Roger and he reached for his mother's hand. "Yugi?"

Yugi turned to his brother-in-law's lover, his gaze softening. "Roger, I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

"I'm…fine." Roger looked at Seto who was standing by the side of the bed, the shock and hurt evident on his face. "Yugi…it's not Seto's fault."

"It is." Yugi cut a hard glance at Seto. "If he hadn't been such an asshole to you, none of this would have happened."

"They've made their peace." Rachael put in.

"Too little, too late." Yugi said, moving further away from Seto. "And not good enough."

"Baby, please." Seto reached out. "Don't do this."

"Stay away from me, Seto." Yugi moved around the bed, standing next to Roger. "I'll never forgive you for this. Why don't you leave? I don't want to be around you and you've been with him all day. Give me some time with him."

"I…I don't want to leave him." Seto took an involuntary step back, colliding with Tristan. "Yugi…why do you want me to leave?"

"I told you. I don't want to be near you. Not right now." Yugi perched on the edge of the bed, taking Mokuba's hand, his voice dropping to a whisper. "And maybe never again."

Tristan had to fight to stay on his feet as an overwhelming grief crashed through Seto. The light went from the azure eyes and Tristan quickly wrapped his arms around his best friend.

"Yugi!" Tristan was struggling to put Seto's emotions aside so he could concentrate. "Why the hell would you say that?!"

Amethyst eyes regarded Tristan coldly. "Because it's true."

"Yugi," Seto began. "I couldn't have known…" He trailed off as Yugi turned his back on him, blocking out his words.

/Seto…come on, pal./ Tristan tugged on him gently. /Come on. Let's leave him alone for a bit. I'm sure he'll calm down./

Tears rushed down Seto's face. Only this time they had nothing to do with the teenager lying unconscious in the bed. The thought that Yugi might never forgive him, for something that wasn't even his fault, shredded his heart into a million pieces.

Yami was gone, unable to leave the Puzzle. Yugi was obviously incensed and had made it clear he wasn't going to speak to him. His brother lay unconscious, not knowing that Seto was even there.

He was alone.

Tristan caught the thought and pulled Seto back against his body, holding him tightly. /No, you're not. I'm here./

{Don't leave me, Tristan.} Seto gripped onto the arms holding him. {Please…don't leave me.}

/I won't./ Tristan was concerned by the feelings coming from Seto. They felt vaguely familiar…and he didn't like them at all. /I'm not going to leave you. Come on. Let's go get some coffee. Leave him be for now./

Seto nodded numbly and reluctantly let go of Tristan, leaving the room with him. They didn't notice Rachael following them.

"Seto?" Rachael laid a hand on his arm. "Why don't you go lie down? Give Yugi some time. He doesn't mean what he said."

"Yes, he does." Seto's grip on Tristan's hand tightened. "You don't know him like I do, Rachael. He's got it in his head that what happened to Mokuba is my fault. He's not going to change that opinion any time soon. And with Yami gone…he's the only one who can get Yugi to listen to reason."

"Just let it go for now, pal." Tristan said. "Rachael's right. You're exhausted. You need some sleep."

Seto's shoulders slumped and he hung his head. Even Rachael could feel how tired he was.

"Come on." Tristan put an arm around Seto's waist. "Dr. Chopra said the family room here was being set aside for us. Let's go stretch out and get some sleep."

Seto nodded and let Tristan lead him down the hall, weariness apparent in his posture.

Rachael watched them go, shaking her head with a small sigh as she turned to go back into Mokuba's room. Instinctively she knew the days and weeks ahead were going to take the hardest toll on Seto and she wondered how her employer and friend would handle it.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura stepped from the shadows, sneering at the smell of fear coming from his prey.

"What…what are you doing here?" Walters asked, trying vainly to press back further against the bars.

"Don't you know vengeance when you see it?" Bakura asked, grinning, his canines glinting in the dim light. "You should know by now, Walters, that such an act against our family would only seal your fate."

Walters knew what Bakura was capable of. And he knew it would do no good to beg for his life.

"Tell me who put you up to this and you may just live to see another day."

"Fuck you, Bakura." Walter growled. "Or is Taylor already doing that?"

Red tinged eyes narrowed. "Explain yourself, mortal."

Walters laughed. "Come on! Tell me you're not his bitch too. I know Kaiba is."

Bakura was motionless with fury. "You sick bastard!"

"HE'S the sick bastard!" There was an insane tone to Walter's voice. "And he should be dead! If Kaiba's brother hadn't stepped in the way, he would be!"

"Who put you up to it?"

"Fuck you." Walters said again.

"Wrong answer." Bakura snarled.

The Ring glowed and there was a flash of light that, when it faded, left black spots before Walters' eyes. That, however, was the least of his concerns.

He was shocked to find himself hanging from the bars above him by his wrists, naked. Bakura stood in front of him, looking at him impassively.

"I had intended to let you die a quick death." The pale fiend said. "Now you will die when I decide, hung there like a piece of meat. Hmmm…" A devilish glint appeared in the now blood red eyes. "That gives me an idea."

He bent down, pulling up his pant-leg and unsheathing his dagger from the concealed pocket in his boot. He straightened, running his thumb over the wickedly sharp edge, a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

"I'm going to have to sharpen you again when we're done, baby." Bakura crooned, tenderly kissing the blade. He turned to Walters, his visage hardening. "You can scream all you want. No one can hear you. You'll scream for Mokuba's pain, you prick. You'll scream for what you've done to our family."

Walters felt no pain as Bakura made the first cut, straight across his chest. The blade was sharp enough that there was little pain as Bakura made another incision perpendicular to the first one down to his victim's navel.

Bakura licked the blood from the blade, feeling the familiar tingle the taste of human blood always gave him rush through his body. A small giggle escaped him.

He looked into Walters eyes as he reached up with his free hand, working his fingers into one of the corners created by the cuts. Gripping, he yanked the skin away from the muscle, his husky laughter drowned out as Walters screamed.

"You know," Bakura said conversationally over the man's cries as he continued to pull the flesh loose. "I was quite adept at skinning game back in Egypt. This will prove to be much more fun. I didn't have the power to keep my quarry alive until the very end. Now I do."

Bakura release the flap of skin, taking the time to lick his fingers clean before reaching out again.

Demented laughter and screams of pain echoed as Bakura continued on his path of revenge.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey was jolted awake by the sound of a loud crash in the hallway outside the bedroom.

"What was that?" Otogi sat up, rubbing his eyes.

"I don't know." Joey rose from the bed and headed for the door. "Stay here."

Not bothering to dress, Joey threw open the door and ran out into the hallway. Justin was standing a couple of doors down, next to an overturned table that he had obviously run into.

"You okay, little man?" Joey asked.

Justin squinted up at Joey, unable to see because he didn't have his glasses on. "Uncle Joey?"

"It's me, hun." Joey took the child by the shoulder. "What are you doing up?"

"I had a nightmare and I wanted to come get in bed with you. I can't find my glasses."

"It's okay." Joey led Justin toward his bedroom. "You can get in bed with me…if you don't mind sleeping with Otogi too."

"Okay." Justin squinted harder, trying to see where he was going. "I need to ask him where he put my glasses."

"What's up?" Otogi asked as Joey came back in the room with Justin.

"Justin had a nightmare." Joey explained. "He wants to sleep with us."

Otogi flushed, realizing that not only was Joey standing next to the bed stark naked, he was also naked beneath the sheets. "Ummm…."

"S'ok." Joey grinned. "It's nothing to him. He's normally crawling into bed with THREE naked men, not two."

Joey helped the little boy, dressed in his Blue Eyes White Dragon pajamas, into the bed and Justin immediately snuggled up next to Otogi. Otogi smiled at Joey as the blond climbed in as well, putting his arms around Justin.

"Lexi didn't wake up, did she?" Joey asked.

Justin shook his head. "I tried to wake her up, but I couldn't. Uncle Ryou said she sleeps like the dead. What does that mean?"

"It's just a saying for someone who's hard to wake up." Joey replied.

"Oh." Justin looked up at Otogi, seeing a blur. "Uncle Otogi? Where did you put my glasses?"

"On the dresser." The raven haired man replied.

"That's why I couldn't find them. Dad always puts them on the nightstand. And Daddy always puts a glass of water there. Uncle Joey, you forgot. And Pharaoh always shuts my bathroom door half way, but you left it open. And I usually have to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, but I didn't tonight."

Joey bit back a chuckle. Justin had a habit of rambling. Once he got started, it was hard to get him to stop.

"I was walking down the hall and I couldn't see, and then I knocked over the table and you came running out of the room." Justin turned his head and looked at Joey. "And you were naked."

"Well, you woke me up. I was out of the room before I was really awake." Joey said.

"I'm sorry I woke you up." Justin turned over to look at Joey. "OW!"

"What's wrong?"

Justin pulled his arm from under the covers, holding up his hand. "I think I hurt my wrist when I knocked over the table."

"Do you want me to kiss it and make it better?" Joey asked. He didn't dare look at Otogi. Something told him his lover was fighting to keep his composure. "I do it for Lexi all the time."

Justin held his wrist up and Joey gently kissed it, smiling at the boy.

"Thanks, Uncle Joey." Justin smiled back. "It really helps when you have someone to kiss things you hurt. It really does make them better."

Joey nodded gravely, kicking Otogi as the other man snickered. "I know it does."

"Yeah," Justin was on a roll now, wide awake and wanting to talk. "I was walking by Dad's office the other day and I went in because he sounded like he hurt himself. You know what?" Justin's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "I think he hurt his penis."

"What…umm…what makes you say that?" Joey asked, biting his lip to keep from breaking up.

"Well, when I went in, he was leaning against the wall and his eyes were all sparkly…you know, like when you start crying…and Daddy was kneeling in front of him and he was kissing it. So he must have been trying to make it feel better. Daddy's really good at that."

"So I've heard." Joey deadpanned, grinning at the mortified look on Otogi's face. "Go to sleep, Justin."

Justin snuggled in Joey's chest, yawning. "Can Lexi stay here and play with me tomorrow?"

"Sure. Now go to sleep."

Not a sound was heard as Joey and Otogi waited for the boy to fall asleep. When he finally went limp in Joey's arms, the blond looked up into green eyes, struggling to keep his laughter in check.

"That was WAY more information than I needed about Seto's sex life." Otogi said with a delicate shudder. "I'm going to have nightmares for a month."

Joey's body shook with silent laughter. "Oh, gods! That was priceless!" He bent his head and kissed the top of Justin's. "Thanks, little man. I really needed that."

Otogi shook his head, moving up against Justin's back and draping an arm over him. He smiled as Joey leaned over and kissed him before closing his eyes.

The two men fell back to sleep with the little boy cuddled between them.

~*~*~*~*~

Bakura dropped the last piece of flesh on the small pile on the floor and looked at Walters. "You bleed a lot."

Walters didn't answer. Then again, he wasn't able to.

He was barely alive, kept that way only by Bakura's magic. There wasn't an inch of skin left on him.

Bakura looked with grim satisfaction at his handiwork. It was so hard to remove the eyelids without nicking the eyeball. He was rather proud of himself.

"Just one more thing before I go." A high-pitched giggle came from the white haired man as he reached down and grabbed Walters' member, bringing the knife up in a swift arc. "Damn. The blade is dull." He twisted and ripped. "There we go. Open wide."

A gurgling sound filled the cell as Bakura stuffed the bit of flesh into the lipless mouth. Walters had stopped scream quite some time ago, his vocal chords giving out with voicing the agony Bakura had made him feel.

Bakura stepped back and began cleaning the blood from his hands and arms with small, cat-like licks. Unable to keep the bloodlust in check any long, he began to giggle uncontrollably.

"Oh, my Ra! You look like a piece of fine art, my friend. I wonder what the guards will think when they find you." Another fit of giggles took the spirit of the Ring. "I would SO love to see that. But then again…" Bakura swayed, placing a hand against the man shaped lump of flesh hanging from the ceiling. "I really should be going. My light will be waiting for me to get home. And I don't like to keep him waiting."

Bakura slipped his knife back into it's hidden sheath. "He's very beautiful, my light. Don't you think so? Then again, I don't think you could appreciate his kind of beauty. He's so sweet…and so sexy. Especially when he screams." Bakura licked his lips. "I really should get home."

Bakura turned away, a vortex opening in the twisting mist. He stopped just short of stepping through and turned back to Walters.

"Oh, you can die now if you want." He said casually.

The portal closed behind the white haired man and the only sounds that were heard were his fading giggles and the thick, slow dripping of blood.

~*~*~*~*~

Ryou bolted off the couch, dropping his book, as he heard a thump against the apartment door.

He ran and unbolted the door, yanking it open. "Where have you been, yami? It's three in the morning! I was getting…"

Ryou trialed off as he took in the state of his blood drenched other. Bakura was leaning against the doorjamb, giggling.

Seeing the insane gleam in his lover's eyes, Ryou backed away.

"Hello, my beautiful light." Bakura staggered through the door. "Did you miss me?"

"What happened?!" Ryou kept his distance, gauging Bakura's metal state.

"Oh," Bakura waved a hand airily. "Just doin' my job. You know how it is. Gotta earn that fat paycheck rich boy gives me."

An image flashed through their mind link, making Ryou shudder. "You…why did you kill Walters?"

Bakura's eyes narrowed. "He's the one who shot Mokuba. He's paid." He grinned at Ryou. "Now it's your turn."

"Bakura…no." Ryou backed away again. "You're blood drunk."

"Don't you want to?" Bakura pouted.

"Not when you're like this."

"Oh, come on, Aibou." Bakura reached for Ryou, scowling when the smaller man neatly side-stepped him.

"Go into the bedroom and get out of those clothes and I'll draw you a bath." Ryou let his love for his dark trickle into their link. "Once you've slept it off we can play…alright?"

Bakura snorted, but moved past Ryou, heading for the bedroom. Ryou raised an eyebrow as Bakura walked into the wall, giggling. He shook his head and watched his lover right himself and stagger into their bedroom.

Going into the bathroom, Ryou started the bath, making sure he had some shampoo handy to wash the blood from Bakura's snowy hair. Hopefully it hadn't stained. He could only imagine the teasing Bakura would get from Tristan and Seto if he showed up at the hospital tomorrow with pink hair.

He shut off the water, cocking his head to one side, listening. He thought he had heard a thump come from the bedroom.

Rising from the side of the tub, he cautiously made his way into their room.

"Damn it." Ryou muttered, seeing the window open.

He stuck his head out just in time to see Bakura, bare naked, running up the fire escape. The patter of his bare feet on the metal stairs didn't drown out the insane giggle coming from him. Ryou climbed through the window and went after his darker half.

He made it to the roof just in time to see Bakura bend and pick up a handful of gravel from the rooftop. "WHAT is the name of all that is holy are you doing, Bakura?!"

"Watch this!" Bakura leaned over the low wall lining the roof and, spying a car coming up the road, threw a rock. It hit the car's windshield and Bakura jumped up and down. "Go me!"

"Are you trying to get us in trouble again?" Ryou asked, standing behind Bakura, his arms crossed over his chest.

"No one would dare!" Bakura spun around, throwing his arms out and thrusting his hips forward. "I am the queen of Sheba! Behold me in all my glory!"

"Bakura," Ryou sighed wearily. "The neighbors have all seen your glory. And they called the police. Somehow I don't think Seto will take kindly to having to bail you out of jail again."

"They're all just jealous that they can't have me!" Bakura began to dance around the rooftop, his long, blood-matted hair bouncing. "I'm too sexy for this rooftop! To sexy for this rooftop! OH, YEAH!"

"You're taste in music always did leave something to be desired, `kura." Ryou snickered.

"Dance with me, Ryou!" Bakura spun around in a circle. "I am the tool of Sekhmet! Vengeance is mine!" (A/N Sekhmet is the ancient Egyptian Goddess of vengeance)

"Oh, fuck." Ryou groaned.

"What a good idea!!" Bakura made a grab for Ryou. "Let's fuck right here! The neighbors can watch!"

"We are NOT having sex on the roof AGAIN, yami!" Ryou retorted, moving out of the way of the grasping hands and pointing to the fire escape. "Get your ass downstairs and get in the bath. You need to go to bed."

"But I want sex!" Bakura whined.

"Don't make me call Tristan! If I call him, he'll come over here and pound your ass into the floor." It was an old threat, left over from the days when things hadn't been good between them. Now, however, it was a joke.

"Not if I pound yours first." Bakura leered at his light, taking a step forward.

"That's it! I'm calling Tristan." Ryou whirled around and ran down over the fire escape, Bakura in hot pursuit.

He threw himself through the window; hitting the floor and rolling to his feet in a maneuver that would have made a professional acrobat proud. He ran for the spare bedroom, slamming the door and locking it. He grabbed the phone just as Bakura began to pound on the door.

"I'm calling Tristan!" He yelled, laughing.

"Ryou! Don't you dare!! If I have to pick this lock to get to you…"

Ryou shivered as Bakura sent an image of what he was in for through the link even as his fingers automatically dialed the familiar number for Seto's cell phone.

~*~*~*~*~

"Tris?" Seto clutched onto his friend as he felt him trying to move out from underneath him.

"Shh…it's okay." Tristan slid off the couch. "Go back to sleep. I'm just going to go check on Mokuba and see if we have any messages."

"Come right back."

"I'll only be gone for ten minutes. I promise." Tristan leaned down and kissed Seto, pushing his hair from his eyes.

"Okay."

Seto was asleep again before Tristan even made it out of the room.

He walked down the hall; nodding to the two guards Bakura had posted outside of Mokuba's room as he entered. Everyone was asleep.

Tristan walked over to the bed and, reaching over Yugi, brushed his fingers against Mokuba's cheek. A sigh escaped him as he bent down and placed a soft kiss on the young man's forehead.

/I hope he wakes up tomorrow./ Tristan grabbed his jacket from the back of a chair and quietly left. /Dr. Chopra said there was a chance he might./

Making his way outside, he walked across the parking lot to his car, sitting down on the hood. He pulled his cigarettes from his pocket along with Seto's cell phone. He lit a cigarette and turned on the phone, hitting a few buttons to check for messages. There were two and he held the phone to his ear, smiling as he listened to the first one.

::Hey-doe, Papa! Lexi wanna tall a tay nigh. Lexi low Papa!! Tiss Set a `ugi a `ami a Unca Mo-tu-ba a Dodger nigh a Lexi! Set tan tiss Miz Will-wes tuz Lexi know Papa no wike a tiss dirls. Lexi dotta doe now. Togi dunna weed tory! Nigh, Papa!::

Tristan chuckled, shaking his head as the second message began to play.

::Tristan, it's Ryou. Bakura came home all covered in blood and…YAMI DON'T!::

Tristan jumped up as a shriek came through the phone and the message ended. /Ryou! Oh, gods!/

Fear lashed through him, waking Seto.

{Tristan? What's wrong?}

/Ryou…oh, gods…Bakura's…/ Tristan couldn't even think as Ryou scream echoed through his mind. /I have to go over there!/

{Not without me.}

/Seto…/

{No. If he's blood drunk, you might not be able to handle him on your own.}

Tristan began to shake. It had been a long time since he had received a phone call like that from Ryou. Before it had almost always ended with Bakura being beaten bloody by Tristan and Seto…and Ryou in the hospital.

"Tristan!"

Tristan looked up to see Seto running toward him. He quickly dug his keys from his pocket and unlocked the car, getting behind the wheel. Seto got in on the other side and looked at Tristan, his face ashen.

"Seto…you don't think..?"

"I don't know. I thought…I thought this would never happen again."

Tristan started the car and, his heart in his throat, peeled out of the parking lot.

~*~*~*~*~

A scream resonated through the apartment as they burst inside.

Tristan ran straight for the bedroom, knowing from experience that they would find Ryou there. He threw open the door, feeling his heart shatter at the sight that greeted him. It was something he had seen too many times before.

Ryou's arms were tied to the headboard and Bakura, covered in blood, was pounding into him. Rage swept through Tristan as he made for the bed.

{Wait.} Seto grabbed Tristan by the arm. {That's dried blood…and Ryou's not hurt.}

"Tristan…what..?" Ryou's question was cut off as he moaned deeply.

Bakura looked over his shoulder. "What are you two doing here?"

"We came to…Ryou called…and…and…" Tristan stammered.

"Get the fuck out." Bakura growled. "Unless you're planning on joining us."

"Tristan, I'll…oh, gods, yami…I'll just be…sweet gods…give me a minute to…" Ryou gave up, unable to pull together a coherent sentence with Bakura slamming into him.

"That's it." Seto shook his head. "I'm scared for life."

Suddenly seeing the humor in the situation, Tristan cocked his head to one side, grinning. "Is it even possible for the human body to bend like that?"

"Obviously." Seto tilted his head as well. "Ryou, are you sure you don't need help?"

"I'm fine…I'm…Oh, GODS!"

"Either get your clothes off and get over here or LEAVE!" Bakura snarled.

Tristan and Seto looked at each other, identical shudders passing through them. They backed away.

Seto pulled the door shut and looked at Tristan, eyes twinkling. "I don't know whether to be relieved or sick."

"I'm leaning toward sick."

"I had no idea Ryou was that flexible."

"Would you stop? Gods…my stomach."

Seto snickered. "Leave it to Bakura to lighten my mood. Remind me to give him a raise for that one."

Tristan was silent as they made their way back to the car. Getting in, he gripped the steering wheel and rested his forehead against it.

"What's wrong?" Seto asked, placing a hand on his shoulder, unable to read his friend's jumbled thoughts.

"I shouldn't have doubted him." Tristan said. "I should have known Bakura wouldn't hurt Ryou."

"Tris, don't beat yourself up. I can see why you would think that. How many times has Ryou called you and you found him beaten and bloody at Bakura's hands?" Seto shifted in the seat, wrapping an arm around Tristan's shoulders. "You have a history with Ryou. You were the one he always called. And you were the first one to believe that Bakura was abusing him. I know you've always seen Ryou as a little brother. You want to protect him, and he's always counted on you to keep him safe when Bakura came after him."

"I know. It's just that…when I heard him scream…it sounded too familiar…too real."

"Come on. Let's go back to the hospital." Seto straightened in his seat, reaching for the seatbelt. "Maybe you can catch some sleep."

/I doubt it./ Tristan started the car, looking up at the game shop. /I just hope Bakura's not too mad at me for doubting him./

{He'll understand, buddy. I know he will.}

~*~*~*~*~

Tristan was outside having a cigarette when Joey and Otogi showed up the next morning.

Mokuba hadn't woken up yet and Seto had wanted to be there when he did. The tension between Yugi and Seto had become too much and Tristan had to get away from them for a while.

Joey got out of the car first, sticking his head back inside and telling Tim he'd call him if he needed him. He turned to Tristan with a smile and walked over to him, putting his arms around him.

"Hey, angel." He hugged Tristan hard. "Is Mokuba awake yet?"

"Not yet." Tristan's eyes went to Otogi as the emerald eyed man climbed from the car, a small thermos in his hand.

"Here." Otogi held it out as he approached. "It's your medication. Joey and I went to the house and made it for you."

"Thanks." Tristan took it from him. "I forgot all about it."

"Grandfather called this morning. He heard about Mokuba. He's going to come over later today. He said he needed to talk to you."

Tristan nodded, pulling away from Joey and putting out his cigarette. He took Joey's hand and began walking back into the hospital.

"Ryou called this morning." Joey said, a smirk on his face. "Something about you and Seto interrupting him and Bakura last night."

Tristan rolled his eyes and filled the two men in on what had happened. By the time he was done, they were standing in front of Mokuba's room.

Joey shook his head. "Gods, Tris. And I thought WE had an interesting night."

Tristan's gaze flickered to Otogi. /I'll bet you did./

Otogi saw the look and lowered his eyes. He didn't want to antagonize Tristan. He knew Joey expected them to talk today and he didn't want to get on Tristan's bad side. He could see how tired the brunet was and he knew Tristan had a short fuse to begin with.

"Ummm…yeah." Otogi put in. "Justin was just filling us in on Seto and Yugi's sex life."

"Speaking of Yugi, there's something you need to know before we go in." Tristan said. He went on to tell them what had happened between Yugi and Seto the night before, expressing his concern that Seto wasn't handling it well at all. "I'm worried what this is doing to him. I don't like the way he's feeling. It feels…dangerous."

"Dangerous how?" Joey asked, concerned.

"The old kind of dangerous." Tristan said, knowing full well the meaning would be lost on Otogi.

"Shit." Joey whispered.

Otogi looked between Joey and Tristan. He was missing something…but something told him he shouldn't ask.

Before Joey could comment further, Tristan led him into the room, releasing his hand and going to Seto, who was sitting in the corner of the room, and bending down to kiss him.

Joey went over to the bed, placing a hand on Roger's shoulder. He looked at Yugi, sitting on the opposite side of the bed. He noticed the stiff set to Yugi's shoulders and took in the hard look in his eyes when he glanced over at Seto.

"Hey, Yug." Joey smiled at him. "Yami awake yet?"

"No." Yugi replied shortly.

"Any idea when he's going to be?"

"No."

"Has this happened to you guys before?"

"No."

"Did the temperature just drop in here?" Joey asked, his eyes narrowing.

"I have no idea."

"You're being a dick, Yugi."

"Fuck you, Joey."

"What's your problem?" Joey felt his temper flare. He glanced over at Seto. The man looked like hell. "Where do you get off…?"

"Mokuba?" Roger said, interrupting Joey's tirade.

Everyone not already there rushed to the bed. Mokuba was looking up at Roger, tears in his eyes. They watched his lips move and a hoarse croak came from him.

"Do you want something to drink?" Rachael asked. "I would imagine your throat's sore. They just took the tube out."

Mokuba's eyes went to his lover's mother and then back to Roger. "Rog…"

"I'm here, baby." Roger took Mokuba's hand, raising it to his lips and kissing his fingers.

A weak smile crossed Mokuba's lips at the familiar gesture. "Love you." He whispered.

"I love you too, Mo." Roger kissed the other's fingers again.

"S-Set-o." Mokuba's eyes slid closed.

"I'm here, little brother." Seto reached out and touched Mokuba's arm. "I'm right here."

A small sigh came from the younger Kaiba and he was gone again. They all just stood there, staring down at him. The relief that he had woken was almost palpable.

"Mr. Kaiba?"

Everyone turned to see Dr. Chopra entering the room.

"He just woke up." Seto said, something akin to elation in his voice.

"Did he speak?" The doctor approached the bed, the others moving away to make room for him.

Seto nodded, not moving from his spot at his brother's side. "He didn't say much."

"A good sign. Did he seem to be in pain?"

"No." Tristan shook his head. "Well…he wasn't with us long."

"He should feel little pain when he wakes up again. Most of his injuries are below the waist."

"I don't understand." Yugi shook his head, confused.

Dr. Chopra pulled the bed sheets back to reveal Mokuba's legs. He took a pen from his pocket and ran it over the bottom of Mokuba's foot. Nothing happened.

"It's as I suspected." The man sighed. "It would seem that he's paralyzed from the waist down."

"Is it permanent?" Seto asked, reaching for Tristan's hand.

"I don't believe so. But as I said before, we won't know for sure until the swelling goes down."

Roger looked up at the doctor, his eyes filled with pain. "When will that be?"

"We're giving him anti-inflammatory medication. But it could be a few weeks before we can asses the full extent of the damage."

"Could you be any more vague?!" Seto exploded. "What the hell do I pay you for?!"

"Mr. Kaiba, injuries such as your brother's are difficult to assess in the early stages. While I don't believe the paralysis is permanent, you must be prepared for the worst." Dr. Chopra turned to leave. "I will be back later today. If he wakes up again, have me paged."

"Oh, Mokuba." Yugi clutched his brother-in-law's hand. He looked up at Seto. "Damn you, Seto."

"This is NOT my fault!" Seto yelled. "How could I have possibly known that someone was going to do this?! Gods, Yugi! I don't even know who's responsible!"

"YOU'RE responsible!" Yugi rose, his hands clenched into fists as he glared at his husband.

Tristan reached out and grabbed Seto, feeling his friend's temper snap. "Don't."

"Get him out of here, Tris." Joey said, stepping between Yugi and Seto.

The others stared in shock as Tristan dragged Seto from the room.

Tristan didn't say a word until they were in the family room, the door closed behind them. He shoved Seto down on the couch, standing over him.

"Get a fucking grip, would you?!" Tristan yelled.

"I…" Seto buried his face in his hands and burst into tears, much to Tristan's shock.

/Oh, Seto./ Tristan sat down and drew him into his arms. /I'm sorry./

"Tris…please…" Seto burrowed into Tristan's chest. "Gods…Yugi…please don't…"

"Shh…shh, Seto. It's okay." Tristan kissed him on the forehead. "Please…don't cry. It's going to be okay."

{It's never going to be okay again.}

Tristan just held him, unable to come up with the words to comfort him. He could feel Seto's heart breaking. Yugi was everything to him…even more so than Yami. It was Yugi he had fallen in love with first…and deepest. Yugi was the only one capable of bringing Seto to his knees. And the fact that he had done it infuriated Tristan.

He knew that Yugi didn't really mean it though; because deep down he knew Yugi was only lashing out at the one person he knew would always forgive him.

"Yugi…oh, gods…" Seto sobbed, clinging to Tristan.

/Hush. I'm here, pal. Yugi will come around. He's in a lot of pain right now. Just give him some time. He doesn't really mean it. You must know that./

Unrelenting grief crashed through the bond, bringing tears to Tristan's eyes. Seto didn't answer.

~*~*~*~*~

Joey shivered, feeling the glacial tension in the room.

It was two camps divided. Seto sitting on one side of the room with Tristan and Otogi, Yugi on the other with Roger and Rachael.

"Yugi," Joey approached his friend. "Come on. Let's go get some lunch. You're hands are shaking."

Yugi looked down at his hands, seeing Joey was telling the truth. He looked at Mokuba, shaking his head. "I don't want to. What if he wakes up again?"

"I'll come get you if he does." Rachael said. "Joey's right. You're not going to be any good to Mokuba if you pass out from hunger."

"Well…so long as we're quick."

"Promise." Joey smiled at Yugi and turned to talk to Tristan. "Angel? Now might be a good time for you and Otogi to go talk."

Tristan looked into the pleading amber eyes. Joey had already told him what had happened the night before. It was all Tristan could do to keep himself in check. He had told Joey he was okay with it, and he had been…until he was faced with it actually happening.

He glanced at Otogi, seeing the color drain from his face. /He's scared about how I'll react. I don't…I don't know what to feel. I haven't seen Joey look this happy since we brought Lexi home./

Tristan stood and looked down at Otogi. "Maybe we should go somewhere a little more private."

Otogi got to his feet reluctantly, shifting nervously when Joey leaned over and kissed him.

Tristan caught Seto's raised eyebrow and shook his head. /Not now./

{Tris, don't get all defensive with him. He doesn't deserve it.}

/I TOLD you…I'm doing this for Joey./

{Yeah…right.}

Tristan rolled his eyes. "We'll be back soon."

Joey kissed his husband and, going over and taking Yugi's hand, preceded Tristan and Otogi out of the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Otogi stood, shifting nervously as Tristan shut the door and sat down in one of the wingchairs.

Hazel eyes took in the apprehension and Tristan felt a bolt of irritation at Otogi's fidgeting. "Sit." He pointed to the couch.

Otogi sat down on the edge of the couch, fingers unconsciously plucking at the fabric of his pants. He looked at Tristan expectantly.

"We need to get a few things straight." Tristan began. "Let me ask you this first…and answer me honestly. Do you love him?"

Otogi swallowed hard. Tristan's face was blank, showing nothing that indicated what he was feeling, and it made Otogi nervous that he couldn't read anything in the eyes of the man sitting across from him.

"Yes." He whispered, looking at the floor. He couldn't look into those emotionless eyes.

Tristan fought to keep his feelings in check. He felt the need to stay detached, distant from the raven haired man for the time being. One thing he had learned over the years from Seto was that your emotions were cards to play…and it was never a good idea to tip your hand too early in the game.

"Joey's happiness is my primary concern here." Tristan said, his voice commanding. "I suggest you make it yours too."

Otogi's head snapped up, his eyes wide at Tristan's tone. "I…I want Joey to be happy. I'd never do anything to hurt him, Tristan."

"See to it that you don't. If you do, you'll regret it."

{{Why is he being such an ass about this? Joey said he cares about me. Why is he acting like this?}} Despite his thoughts, something inside Otogi, maybe it was his naturally submissive nature, made him capitulate without a fight. "I won't."

He looked away again. Something in had flickered in Tristan's eyes. Something familiar. It set his blood racing and he once again found himself wondering just how dominating a personality Tristan had. He shivered.

Tristan could read the passivity in Otogi's body language and for some reason, it made him angry. His long standing possessiveness of Joey took over and his eyes narrowed. "You'd better not. Joey loves you. If he didn't, this wouldn't be happening. I would have been happy leaving things the way they were. But understand this…Joey is my husband. He and Lexi come first in my life. I will do whatever I have to; to make sure Joey is happy. If both of us being with you makes him happy, so be it."

Otogi met Tristan's eyes again, his own pleading. He had to know. "Tristan…do you…Joey said…he said you cared about me. Do you?"

Tristan sighed, his stance softening somewhat. "I do care about you. But you have to understand that Joey is the other half of my heart. I've always loved him. I'm doing this for him. There's no reason you and I can't be together and be…happy. So long as that's what Joey wants."

{{So he doesn't really care. Not the way Joey thinks he does. I love them both. I want to be with Tristan and if this is the only way I can then…I'll take it.}}

Tristan stared at Otogi in the silence that followed. /What's he thinking? Joey said he loved me. I don't think he does. He loves Joey and he figured that the only chance he had was to say he loved me too. Fine. I can live with that. So long as it keeps Joey with me./ Tristan felt the well-known fear well up inside him. /But he's still doing this my way./

"Otogi." Tristan waited until he had the other's full attention again. "There are certain…rules that have to be laid out. If you can't agree to them, then this isn't happening."

{{He makes this sound like a business arrangement. But…gods, he's so…in control. That's how I want him to be…isn't it?}} Otogi could see the steel in Tristan's eyes as he waited for Otogi to acknowledge that he had heard him. Otogi felt his heartbeat kick up a notch. {{Yes…it is.}} He nodded.

"When we're together," Tristan said. "Joey is what's important. Whatever you and I feel…or DON'T feel for each other is secondary. Joey is my world. He'd better be yours too. As long as you're with us, you're loyal to us. That means any other relationships are out of the question."

"But…" Otogi hesitated, knowing he was treading dangerous ground. "What about you? I mean…you and Seto…"

"What's between me and Seto is none of your business." Tristan stated coldly. "You have no right to question it."

{{Does Joey?}} Otogi thought mutinously, opening his mouth to speak.

"Joey doesn't have a problem with it." Tristan interrupted. "He accepts it. There's more to it than you understand and that's all you need to know."

"O-Okay." Otogi bit his lip, lowering his eyes again.

/He's so damn submissive. It's almost as if he WANTS me to walk all over him. It doesn't matter./ Tristan felt a cold hand wrap around his heart. /I do care about him. But he'll never care about me. It's Joey he loves. Not me. I'm doing this for Joey./

"Is there anything else?" Otogi asked quietly.

"Just one thing." Tristan held out his hand. "Come here."

Otogi rose and took the offered hand, gasping in surprise as he was pulled into Tristan's lap. Tristan released his hand and grasped him by the chin, tipping his face up. His eyes automatically slid closed as Tristan's mouth closed over his. He felt the bigger man's tongue flick over his bottom lip and he obediently opened his mouth.

Obedient. That's what he would be with Tristan. He wanted it that way. And maybe if he was, Tristan would love him. And if Tristan loved him, maybe he would give him what he wanted. All it took was submission. And he was good at that.

Tristan's fingers left Otogi's chin and began to lightly caress his face as he kissed him. He could feel the other's submission and something in him reacted to it. He wrapped his free arm tightly around Otogi's thin form and pulled him forcefully against him, deepening the kiss. He forced back a shiver as Otogi whimpered.

Breaking the kiss, Tristan looked into Otogi's face, smiling when dazed emerald eyes opened. "So, we have an understanding?"

"Yes." Otogi replied, a little breathlessly. "But, could you…could you kiss me again? Please?"

Tristan complied, a soft moan of appreciation escaping him when Otogi shifted to straddle his lap. His hands found their way into the long, black hair. Otogi whimpered again, pressing himself against the muscled body of the other man.

When it ended, Otogi wasn't the only one who was having difficulty breathing. Tristan looked into the jewel-like eyes and felt himself fall. /No. I can't. I'm doing this for Joey. I won't fall in love with someone who doesn't love me. Not again. I won't let this be like it was with him./

"We have to get back." Tristan lifted Otogi off him and set him on his feet. "Seto's wondering where I am."

Otogi stepped back, looking up at Tristan as he stood. The big brunet seemed to loom over him and Otogi shuddered. He wanted him. But he wanted him in a totally different way than he wanted Joey.

With Joey he could be the person he was on the outside…confident, passionate, an equal. But with Tristan…he wanted the bigger man to dominate him, control him…and love him.

The realization that it probably wouldn't be saddened him. But maybe…just maybe…he could teach Tristan to love him.

He reached for Tristan's hand, hesitantly and shyly, grateful when he wasn't rebuked. He smiled, liking the feeling of the big, warm hand holding his. His smile widened when Tristan grinned back at him and they left the room together, complete understanding between them.

Or almost.

~*~*~*~*~

Seto rose as soon as Tristan and Otogi came back into the room. He saw the happy smile on Joey's face when he saw them holding hands and felt a flash of anger at his best friend.

{I need to talk to you.} Seto approached Tristan, trying to hide his anger.

Tristan grabbed his jacket and pulled it on. /Come outside with me./

Seto didn't say a word until they were out, sitting on the hood of Tristan's car. He watched the bigger man intently as he lit a cigarette and turned toward him, a curious look on his face.

"What?"

"What the hell was that all about?!" Seto fought to keep his temper under control.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play stupid with me, Tristan. Why did you get on like that? Gods! If I didn't know better, I'd say you really ARE the cold, controlling bastard you were pretending to be!"

"Seto, I had to." Tristan tried to explain. "If I don't stay in control of this…"

"You love him." Seto stated.

"No." Tristan shook his head in denial. "I don't."

"Bullshit."

"I can't."

Seto caught an image from Tristan's mind. A man…a man with blond hair and dark blue eyes.

"Tris," Seto reached out to his friend. "This is Otogi. Not Marc. That was almost nine years ago. Otogi would never take advantage of you like that. He doesn't have it in him."

"I can't do it. I can't love him if he doesn't love me."

Seto smacked Tristan in the head, almost sending the bigger man flying off the car. "Don't be a moron! He loves you. Anyone can see that!"

"He loves Joey." Tristan said, rubbing the sore spot on the back of his head. "Not me."

"You're going to be a stubborn jackass about this, aren't you?"

"Don't." Tristan slid off the hood of the car. "Just…leave it be, Seto."

Seto stood up and put his arms around Tristan. "Listen…just remember that he's gone through hell in relationships. I know that Marc hurt you, but you've been a lot luckier than Otogi has."

"I know. But I can't set myself up for something like that again."

Seto shook his head, drawing Tristan tightly against him. His best friend had never really gotten over what had happened to him when he was a teenager. It had obviously hurt him worse than anyone knew if it could follow him for this long.

Seto could only hope that Otogi wasn't the one to suffer for Marc LaCroix's deception. {I won't interfere. And I won't push you, but sooner or later you're going to have to face how you really feel about him. I like Otogi a lot and I don't want to see him hurt. But I love you and Joey and I don't want to see this blow up in your face either.}

/Thanks, pal./ Tristan hugged Seto. /Maybe…maybe we will feel something for each other eventually…I don't know. I just know that Joey loves him and I love Joey too much to deny him anything./

{At what cost, Tris?}

/It doesn't matter./

Before Seto could reply, they heard someone calling out to them. Looking toward the end of the parking lot, they saw Mako and another man in a police uniform getting out of a cruiser. Tristan and Seto pulled apart and turned toward them, wondering why Mako had such an intense look on his face.

"Brian Walters is dead." Mako said without permeable.

Seto shook his head. "And?"

Mako frowned. "Didn't Bakura tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"He's the one who shot your brother."

Tristan grabbed Seto by the arm as the taller brunet swayed. "Walters? But…"

"We arrested him at the scene. I thought for sure Bakura had told you."

"He didn't." Tristan replied. "He's dead? How?"

Mako bit his lip, hesitating. Seeing the look on Seto's face, he decided to tell them straight out. "He was found in his cell this morning…hanging from the bars. Minus his skin."

/Oh, holy shit! Bakura…/

{That would explain last night.}

"This is my partner, Earl Richmond." Mako gestured to the man at his side. "We need to talk to everyone about their whereabouts last night."

"I can tell you that." Seto said. "Tris and I were here for the most part. We went over to Bakura's around midnight." The lie was necessary to give Bakura an alibi. "He was there with Ryou. Yugi and Yami were here the whole time along with Mokuba's boyfriend Roger Willis and his mother Rachael."

"And Joey?" Mako looked at Tristan.

"At Seto's with the kids. Otogi was with him." Tristan replied.

"We still should talk to everyone." Mako said, turning to his partner. "Why don't you go ahead and talk to Yugi and the others inside. I'll get Seto and Tristan's statements."

Earl nodded and left without a word, heading for the front doors of the hospital.

Mako turned back to the two brunets. "Bakura was home all night, was he?"

"Yes." Seto nodded. "He was home with Ryou."

"That's convenient. No one saw or heard a thing at the jail last night." Mako looked Seto in the eye. "Except for the power interruption that screwed with the security cameras."

Tristan shrugged. "So? What makes you think Bakura had anything to do with it? Just talk to Ryou. They were home together all night. And Bakura was there when we went over."

"You're going to make this difficult for me, aren't you?"

"You can't prove anything, Mako." Seto said quietly, turning away. "Now if you don't mind, I want to get back to Mokuba."

Mako shook his head as he watched them go. He knew in his gut that Bakura was responsible. The problem was, if he went to his superiors and started talking about ancient spirits and the Shadow Realm, he knew he'd find himself without a job pretty quick.

There was nothing he could do.

~*~*~*~*~

Otogi: You really are an ass, Tristan.

Tris: *rolls eyes* Shut up.

Otogi: Okay.

Bakura: Geeze, dice-boy. You're like a frigging battered wife.

DD: Don't start on him…"queen of Sheba".

Yami: *falls over laughing*

YD: We'll see you guys when we get back from the States!!