Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Firemoth ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Xpyne: Okay, geocities sucks my ass. I have a geocities page already, but the stupid site won't let me log in, so I can't edit it or make a new one, so no vampy pix. u__u

Yuugi: This story is rated R, and if you haven't figured out why yet, well, you're more naïve than me. Solitaire and Xpyne don't own me or any other YGO characters, nor are they making any sort of profit off their fics or else they might actually be able to afford a website...

Xpyne: I hope everyone likes this chapter. Sometimes I think I get too boring with the obligatory Shadi/Pegasus/anyone who isn't a bishie scenes...so I try to keep them to a minimum. It's all about my Yu-chan and his boi-friendos anyway.

Yuugi: *^^* ::likes being Xpyne's favorite:: Read and review! Especially those of you who are friends with Xpyne on line, yet never review; you know who you are, lol.

Firemoth

Chapter 3

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

The massive, dimly lit room's double doors swung open, admitting a beautiful woman with pale blue eyes and long, dark red hair. Her black cloak billowed as she marched into the chamber, stiletto heeled boots clicking loudly on the marble floor.

"Malik, we have a problem," she stated coolly, addressing a slender form lounging in the shadows. The man called Malik made no response; he merely shifted slightly in his throne-like chair and continued to stroke the head of his favorite pet sitting at his feet. She stopped a few feet in front of him, an elegant hand going to her hip haughtily. "Yuugi has been kidnapped." There was a long pause, until finally, Malik drawled in a bored tone.

"How is this a problem for me? Alluring as he is, I have no interest in the squirt." The woman's cold blue eyes flashed.

"Don't pretend to be so thick; you know as well as I do Shadi will be out for blood--The Enforcers are supposedly 'the best' vampire guard money can buy, and," she quirked her red brows challengingly. "They failed." Malik sat forward in his seat, elbows resting on the arms and his chin resting atop his hands. His pet looked up, watching the exchange silently. "Shadi will be wanting your aide."

"Aaaay-driene," he taunted. "Don't bother me with such painfully dull news. If Shadi has any sense, he will show up soon enough...and I will be ready for him. If you think that's a problem--fix it." He stared at her with intimidating lavender eyes. "And if you can't, then come to me, for your execution. I have no use for incompetent servants." Her full, pale lips twitched into the barest of smiles, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

"I'd enjoy watching you try." Adrienne regarded him for a moment, her pale eyes calculating. Finally, she spoke again.

"We're better than the Enforcers: smaller, more controlled, more ruthless. You lead the best team in existence...but we're not equipped to deal with Nyctomortem. No one is. That is going to be a problem. I'm here to advise against taking this job. Mutou Yuugi is not worth our destruction..." Adrienne knew it wasn't about Mutou. Rare Hunters did not take a job for the price or for the person. It was the challenge. Rare Hunters were the best; they only worked for extraordinary rewards and only took extraordinary jobs, and they did not fail. "...Pride is not worth our destruction."

"Ah, but we take the jobs no one else can handle. Pride is always worth the price... What am I worth if I refuse not a mediocre stunt better suited to lower-class-for-hire, but the ultimate challenge?"

"More than you are dead." Malik burst into laughter.

"You honestly think so lowly of me? Of the Rare Hunters? We will take on Nyctomortem if it becomes necessary, and we will win. Call upon Rishid and the others; get them ready. We will be working soon," he smirked, his pink tongue slipping hungrily over his fangs.

"...Yes, Malik." With that she swept out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Malik chuckled to himself. His pet looked up at him with large, doe brown eyes.

"You wouldn't really kill Adrienne-sama, would you?" he questioned in his soft voice. Malik flopped back into his plush chair and resumed stroking his veep's hair.

"Hmm, I don't know...maybe." Malik pulled his pet into his lap, running his dark hands over the boy's pale, willowy chest. The pet gasped. Malik leaned up to suckle on a peaked nipple.

"I--I like--oh--Adrienne-sama. P-please don't kill her," he panted, clenching his eyes shut and bowing his head, long white locks making a curtain around his pale face. Malik 'hmmed' against the young teen's chest, arms snaking around the effeminate boy's hips.

"You're not allowed to like my servants," he teased, his voice becoming a bit husky.

"I'm sorry, master." Malik sat up straighter, pushing his veep against the arm of his throne. His lavender eyes darkened with lust and his breathing became a bit uneven. Long fangs slid slowly down from behind his wet lips.

"It's alright, pet. You can make it up to me--all night."

The veep nodded, his long white hair covering the look of sadness on his sweet face. It always hurt so much when his master played with him...but it was the only way to keep his master happy. It wasn't all painful, at least. And if his master was unhappy, it hurt a lot more, without any of the pleasure. The fair skinned boy wrapped his arms lightly around his blonde haired owner, planting gentle kisses on his forehead. Malik threw his favorite pet down on the floor before his chair and proceeded to 'play' with him.

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

The Vamp Van pulled onto a long, deserted driveway, the aged asphalt threatening to crumble under its weight. Dawn was just beginning to break, tired pink tinge spreading across the dull, grey world; on the whole, unimpressive.

Kaiba cut the engine, an uneasy silence settling after such a long period of mechanical hum. He cleared his throat, well aware Bakura was watching him expectantly. Still, he couldn't muster the will to say something stupid and obvious like, "We're here." So he wordlessly unbuckled and got out of the van, stretching his long, slender legs. He walked around to the back and threw open the doors. Yuugi was asleep. He sighed. Climbing halfway into the vehicle, he shook the boy's shoulder. Seeing as how this didn't produce the desired result of Yuugi waking up and getting out of the van, he shook him harder. The diminutive one made a small noise, but remained asleep.

"Oh for Christ's sake, just carry him!" Bakura ordered, exasperated. Kaiba sent his partner a patented death glare, but scooped up the Tracker nevertheless. The kid couldn't have weighed more than 90 pounds, and curled up he fit right into Kaiba's arms. The slayer let his blue eyes roam casually over the other's slender form, noticing for the first time a trail of blood smearing down his left arm. [Must have cut himself on the glass or metal of the cage at the club...when I dragged him across it.] Kaiba knit his brow. [Oops.] He'd have to clean that once they got inside.

"You gonna call headquarters, or am I?" Bakura asked, drawing his attention away from chubby tear-streaked cheeks and soft pink lips.

"Nani? Oh. You call. Tell them we've got the Tracker, condition good, and that we busted up Drip Crell 480-07--they'll like that," he added, smirking. Nothing was worse for tentative vamp-human relations than crashing one of their little chain clubs, not that Kaiba cared. He hated vampires and everything that had to do with them--especially Owners... Nothing was worse for a fragile human psyche than being kept as a veep, whored out to a vile, parasitic night stalker. After a few years, a veep lost his or her sense of humanity; became the pet: submissive, obedient, docile, broken. It was worse than being turned. At least if you were turned, and became a vicious bloodsucker, there was suicide. Veeps were robbed of even that choice; their lives were not their own.

There was a war raging, silent and honorless beneath the cover of darkness: human versus vampire. The occasional scream pierced the night to mark the fall of one warrior, but more often than not, slayers and vampires died without a sound, other than the ringing of a bullet shot or the hiss of a blade swung. Some humans tried to pretend vampires were not a threat, and the occasional missing persons was to be expected. Some beings wanted to coexist, set up blood banks for vampires, have humans donate on a monthly basis, keep the murder at bay. Kaiba wasn't ignorant, and he didn't want peace. He wanted nothing less than the total annihilation of every vampire and half vampire in existence. There was no other way. One species must die for the continuation of the other. That was the law of nature.

Kaiba shifted Yugi into one arm so he could place his hand on a smooth metal plate hidden beneath a rotting wooden shutter on the large, barn-like hovel. It scanned and identified his handprint, 'KAIBASETO: CRUENTUS, ENTRY LEVEL 12' flashing briefly over the screen, before a small needle rose out of the center and pricked Kaiba's palm, drawing blood. The blue eyed boy waited impatiently while the security machine analyzed his blood, ensuring he was still human and therefore fit for entry. With a low bleep, the screen turned green, accepting him, and there was a loud hiss of hydraulics. The dilapidated wooden door creaked open, revealing gleaming silver beyond. While Kaiba pulled out his Nyctomortem ID key, a small black metallic cross engraved with the initials KC, Bakura allowed his own hand to be tested for procedure's sake, 'BAKURAKAZUMA: VISPILIO, ENTRY LEVEL 10' rolling across the metallic plate. Kaiba used his key, and the heavy metal entrance slid open. When he stepped over the threshold, however, a grid of red lasers swept menacingly over the tall teen and an automated voice sounded.

"\Halt. Unauthorized being trespassing in conjunction with--Kaiba Seto. Protection procedure defense attack commenc--\"

"Override code: assensus initiate 1986625," Kaiba stated blandly. The machine's voice faltered.

"\--Code accepted. Kaiba Seto--please enjoy your stay at safehouse 1045 with your guest.\" Then the voice went quiet along with the sensory lasers, allowing the trio entry.

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

A loud crack reverberated through the icy room, a hardly audible hiss of breath following. Kimo bit his lower lip hard to keep from making any other sound, his raw, burnt flesh stinging from the harsh slap.

"Imbecile!" Another slap. "Bungler!" Another. "Gutter scum, brainless, inept--!" The fierceness of the next blow caused a small chunk of Kimo's seared flesh to break off and splatter onto the floor. Pegasus recoiled in disgust, wiping the blood from his hand with a red silken handkerchief. He reached for his ebony cane, cold, slender hand curling around its diamond encrusted head.

"Enough." The frigid voice was low and quiet, but it commanded obedience with far more power than any of Pegasus's shouted threats could. The silver haired man stilled, looking uneasy, tightening and loosening his grip on his cane.

"M-master Shadi...?" he questioned weakly, the rage of the prior minute evaporating to leave a sickly sense of dread. "You're excused," he muttered to Kimo, who quickly ran out of the office, hobbling slightly as Bakura's solar cube had burnt half his body despite the fact he'd leapt behind Yuugi's couch just in time.

"Your energy would be better spent searching for my...employee, rather than punishing your own for your mistakes." His tone was soft, unemotional, but dangerous. Pegasus swallowed nervously, throat dry.

"Master, I--"

"Mistakes you must rectify."

"Yes, Master, if only--"

"If only what? ...Pegasus." Pegasus swallowed again, twitching under the steady ice blue stare. His own golden brown eye, the one a slayer many years ago hadn't gouged out, rolled around anxiously, as if the pressing shadows could offer him some advice.

"If only," he near whispered. "If only the guards had...if they had...."

"Guards you hired...."

"But I--it wasn't my fault, two Associated slayers coerced their way into my establishment--" he fumbled to get the words out before he lost his nerve.

"If only you had hired better guards."

"The--the Enforcers are the--the best, Master," he stuttered.

"If only you had not allowed Mutou-chan to work on a night he escaped from two Associated slayers. If only you had protected my valuable investment. If only you had acted competently when you had the chance. If only there were still reason for me to value," he blinked slowly, his misty cerulean eyes narrowing ever so slightly, "your life..." Pegasus took an involuntary step backward, face contorting desperately.

"There is!" he hurried. "There is--I--I planted a tracking device on Yuugi-boy, I did!" He looked slightly relieved at his own words. "Yes, I can find him--I put a tracking device on him." Shadi's hard expression lightened minusculely, but enough for Pegasus to take some comfort in. He laughed, a strained, high-pitched canter. "I'll have him back by the end of the--the, well I'll have to see where he is, where they've taken him, that is, and get a team together, and--"

"I will take it upon myself to hire the team, as your previous choice was so obviously inadequate. You, of course, will be paying the bill."

"Oh, of course--"

"I will be seeing Malik about this."

"M-Malik?" Pegasus repeated faintly. Malik...Malik was the leader of the Rare Hunters. Malik was sadistic. Malik was insane. Malik was frightening. Malik cost not an arm and a leg, but the whole body and your soul. Pegasus gulped. "Are you, um, sure you want to bring him into this sordid affair? I'm quite confident, really, that the Enforcers, with my Tracking device, would soon have all this mess set right--"

"I don't allow many to have second chances, and this is...important, Pegasus. The Rare Hunters are the only vampires I trust with this task. They have worked for me before, and they," he gave the silver haired man a cold, significant glare, "have satisfied me. I do hope you will cooperate with them." His tone allowed Pegasus to know exactly what would happen to him should he not.

"Yes, yes; I will speak with Malik; we will recover Yuugi-boy." He nodded much more enthusiastically than he felt. The ancient one turned to leave.

"It had better be soon. I am a patient vampire, Pegasus. I have lived several millennia and have learned how to wait. I will see the day he is returned to me. But children are like milk; they spoil quickly. I shall be watching you..."

"Yes, oh powerful, ancient one, yes," he gushed, silvery strands fluttering as he bobbed his head up and down, groveling. "Of course, and thank you, great Shadi-sama, thank you for sparing me..." he trailed off, realizing that mid bow the ancient one had slipped into the shadows and disappeared without a trace. He stood immobile for a long moment, brain working furiously. It was going to take at least a week to set his affairs in order so as to make a discreet escape from the country possible. In the meanwhile, he would need to assist Malik and his Rare Hunters...and if the boy discovered and removed the tracking device before then--Pegasus didn't want to think about it. He shivered.

[One crisis at a time.] He took a deep breath. His grey brows furrowed, as he suddenly remembered himself. [Damn those Enforcers!] he scowled. [They are supposed to be able to deal with any threat, especially slayers associated with Nyctomortem! I don't want to deal with that insufferable prick Malik and his thugs! I'm putting one of my men on his team to keep an eye on them...who knows, their reputation is so good, perhaps I won't have to leave the country after all. But if they can't find those slayers and little Yuugi-boy before they've reached Nyctomortem's headquarters, there's no chance. How we ever let those pathetic humans build up an army under our noses is beyond me...] It suddenly occurred to Maximilian Pegasus that it was indeed Nyctomortem that was behind all this. [But why? Why kidnap Yuugi-chan? What are those damn livestock planning?] The business man crossed the room to a large portrait of a sadly smiling blonde woman. He sighed.

"Ah, Cecilia..." he murmured. "Where is your immortal soul? I miss you so." Touching a hidden switch, the portrait swung forward, revealing a safe beneath. Spinning the three combination locks, he stopped them one by one at the appropriate number. The little metal door slid open with a hiss, revealing a red satin pillow with a single item lain on it. Pegasus reached inside, pulling out the small, golden sphere. He rolled it over in his hand, gazing down at the eye of Horus in high relief on the sphere.

He may have only lived a few centuries to Shadi's millennia, but there were things he could do the other could not. Powers he possessed the other was not even aware of. Shadi had been uncharacteristically foolish in assuming that if he could not control the ancient item, no one could. His grip on the gleaming trinket in his hand tightened.

"Yes, Cecilia, I do think it's time I made use of my Millennium Eye..."

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

"\You have him?\"

"Affirmative," Bakura confirmed smugly. "Of course we have him; that was the job."

"\I'm well aware of what 'the job' was, seeing as how I assigned it to you.\" the woman's voice answered coolly.

"Don't get your panties in a knot, Isis-chan. He's fine, we're fine--not that you'd asked--" Bakura allowed his voice to drop in mock hurt. "--and we're secure in house 1045. Mission accomplished."

"\Not yet, you cocky bastard. You two still need to get him to headquarters--and don't call me that.\"

"Sure thing, Ishtar-sama," he supplied cheerfully. On the other line of the video call, the dark haired woman frowned, narrowing her royal blue eyes. Bakura and Kaiba were good--she'd give them that--but they'd never been the type to take orders to the letter. Something was obviously up. There was something Bakura hadn't mentioned yet, and the way he was smirking, she knew it couldn't be good.

"\Where is the Tracker?\"

"Sleeping in the other room. Kaiba's watching him." Isis pursed her lips.

"\How many vampires did you kill?\" she asked flatly.

"Vampires? What vampires? Our orders were to confront the Tracker alone, if at all possible." Isis waited, drumming her fingers lightly on her desk. Bakura grinned. "Turns out it wasn't possible, though."

"\How many, any of status, where, and who saw?\" she sighed.

"Uh, lost count. They came out of the woodwork when Kaiba started swinging that big sword of his around the local Drip Crell--" he began flippantly.

"\You attacked a night club?? Godamnit, every vampire in the city-state is going to be tracking you! You've endangered the mission, not to mention the boy! Can't you two do anything subtly?!\" she demanded.

"Ah, don't worry, Isis-chan, Kaiba and I have it under control. We took out a full Enforcer squad--" Isis swore. "--and stole their main attraction. Kid was working at the club, by the way; of course we're going to be tracked. We'll handle it. It's fine. I said don't get your panties in a knot."

"\He was working for vampires?\" Isis asked incredulously, forgetting her ire for a moment.

"Yeah. Suppose that's how he's survived so long. Kaiba says he's untouched, though."

"\....\"

"See you soon, on-na."

"\Wait, I need location stats on the Drip Crell chain you two hit up.\"

"Autonomous city-state district 480, Etnamaa City, chain level 07." Isis glared.

"\You just had to hit up a level 07, the biggest club they make, in an infested district. I should fire you. No other slayers would have been so reckless, with such utter disregard for that young boy's safety.\" Bakura only smirked.

"And with the security over the guy no other slayers would have gotten him out alive, Isis-chan." He gave her a saucy wink. "Kazuma out."

After cutting the connection, Bakura got up, stretching. He had to admit he was a bit curious as to what Kaiba was up to. [Wonder if Mutou is awake?]

He wandered through the hallways of the moderately spacious safehouse, peering into rooms for signs of life. Eventually, he opened a metal door that led to a neat room containing one small teen with strange hair curled up in a bed and one large teen who was just strange in a chair beside him.

"He still asleep?"

"Yes. Must stay up at night and sleep during the day, like you."

"Un. Good, 'cause if he stayed up all day and night like you, that'd just be creepy. I'm going to go crash in the next room. If he wakes up, feed him. He probably eats three times a day like me, too."

"Shut up."

"Okay, okay. Just--" Bakura offered a rare, apologetic smile. "--you eat something, too alright?" Kaiba didn't respond, his eyes still trained on the slumbering body before him. Bakura sighed. He couldn't make Kaiba take care of himself--not that he cared or anything--but he did try every so often. He left, closing the door behind him. [God knows he's been through enough.]

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

Yuugi awoke around noon in a strange place. He sat up, looking around. The tall slayer named Kaiba Seto was asleep in an armchair beside the bed he was in. Sleeping, the boy looked a little less imposing and a little more...approachable. Yuugi rose to his knees and leaned forward, one hand resting on the arm of the chair as he took a better look at the handsome man who had officially changed his life. He couldn't go back to the club; not now, not ever.

The slayer wasn't wearing his long white cloak (it was hanging on a peg by the door) and most of his weapons were no where to be seen; only his long sword was still present, standing upright against the wall. Yuugi held his breath so as not to disturb the other's slumber and leaned in very close without really realizing it. His upturned nose was mere millimeters from the brunette's own longer, slender one, and he lifted his free hand up slowly, hesitantly. He brushed an errant strand of silky chestnut hair from the teen's face.

Kaiba awoke with a start and slammed Yuugi flat on the bed, his left forearm pressing hard on Yuugi's neck and his right hand pinning the smaller one's offending arm flat to the mattress. His breathing went fast and his cold blue eyes were wide and angry.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, please don't hurt me!" Yuugi rasped painfully from the pressure on his throat, struggling against the larger boy. Kaiba released his arm and slid his forearm out from under Yuugi's chin, but remained on top of the slim teen.

"What were you doing?" he demanded.

"I-I just touched your hair; I'm sorry! Please...!" he trailed off, staring fearfully up at the teen. Touching him like this, could he feel he was different? Breathing sweet and hard over him, could the slayer smell the vampire in him? Was there still blood in his mouth? Yuugi whimpered, turning away, not wanting to face the other's searching azure orbs any longer. There was a long pause.

"...Why did you touch me?" His tone was different now, softer somehow. Yuugi swallowed, very aware of how heavy and strong and hard the body pressing him into the mattress was.

"G-gomen ne," he whispered, keeping his eyes averted. "Forgive me..." Kaiba rose onto his forearms and elbows, gaze still trained on the face below him. He knew he should get off the boy, before he crushed him, or before he freaked him out, or before his body, which had never found the feel of another human's molded to it all that pleasing until now, reacted in ways that would embarrass him. He got up, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

"It was...a hunters' reflex. I did not mean to hurt you," Kaiba offered as his version of an apology. Yuugi lay very still, staring up at the ceiling, for a long moment.

[That was very stupid of me. Why did I touch him?]

Kaiba cast a glance over at the Tracker, brow furrowing. "Are you alright?"

Yuugi finally moved, sitting up, and nodded. He rubbed his throat and his arm, noticing a smear of red trailing down from under his left wrist protector cuff. He blanched.

"You're bleeding again; I washed your arm this morning, but the cut's under that protector and I couldn't get the damn thing off to dress it." He reached for Yuugi's arm, but the boy drew it to his chest protectively.

"It's fine." Kaiba gave him a strange look.

"No it's not. Take that thing off," he ordered. Yuugi's stomach flopped. If Kaiba saw the mark--he was very afraid of what the blue eyed boy would do. Something of the fear pitted in Yuugi's stomach must have shown on his face, because suddenly Kaiba's eyes narrowed in understanding. "You were bitten, weren't you," he said slowly. Yuugi shook his head desperately, trying to deny it.

"No--" he clutched his arm protectively, scooting back against the headboard as Kaiba's long arm reached over and ensnared his, pulling it away.

"Take it off." Yuugi was breathing very hard, trembling. "I'm not going to hurt you; take it off."

Yuugi obeyed, fingers shaking as he undid the complicated buckle. The leather-like polymer cuff fell away, revealing two bloodied puncture wounds, scabs freshly cracked. The violet eyed boy hung his head, awaiting judgment.

"Was it your first time?" His voice was emotionless and sounded slightly strained. Yuugi was able to honestly nod his head, unable to look up, much less speak. "Then you won't be turned, not from one bite..." Yuugi couldn't respond, shameful tears gathering in his eyes.

[The Darkness drew from him. I was too late. It's my fault he is....tainted.] Guilt settled in Kaiba's heart like a nauseous weight, and he convulsively gripped the other's forearm a little tighter, swallowing.

"As long as you are still human, it means nothing. You...you are still yourself."

[If only you knew the truth...you would hate me. No, worse: you wouldn't even care; you'd just slay me.] Tears rolled down Yuugi's round cheeks.

"....Look at me," Kaiba said quietly. Yuugi raised his watery eyes silently. Kaiba's empty hand reached up slowly, and he tugged down the high collar of his black turtleneck. Beneath it were two small scars, old and faded, but still visible. Still recognizable. Kaiba pulled his collar back up, hiding the bite mark once more. He dropped Yuugi's arm, looking away. "You should clean that," he said quietly.

Yuugi nodded, sliding off the bed and padding across the carpet to an open door that led to a small bathroom. He closed the door softly behind him, unaware Kaiba had been watching him walk.

[Why did I show him? I've never shown anyone, not even Bakura...but then Bakura already knows. Lots of people already know...but no one understands. Why do I feel like Yuugi would understand? Why did I show him??]

Yuugi emerged from the washroom a good half hour later, having decided to shower while he was in there. Unfortunately, that left him with no clean clothes. He opened the door timidly, stepping out of the steamy bathroom wearing his thigh, wrist, and neck protectors and a small white towel around his waist. Everything in this place was white: the bed, the walls, the carpet. Yuugi felt very out of place, bright red, yellow, and jet black hair sticking out all over the place and black straps clinging to his damp skin.

"Kaiba-kun?" he ventured. The brunette looked up the spaced out position he'd been sitting in and blinked a few times. "I don't have any other clothes. I don't have anything--my apartment--well, I guess I'm not leaving behind much, but it would have been nice to have brought another pair of underwear with me."

Kaiba almost laughed. Here he had been thinking all sorts of terrible things, about his past, and about his future. And Yuugi was worried about not having any underwear. Which, Kaiba considered, was a legitimate problem. He stared intently at all the pale skin showing, contrasting with black straps and buckles. Couldn't let the kid walk around like that; he'd start attracting more than vampires in a heartbeat. Kaiba cleared his throat, shaking his head a little.

"I'll get you something." As he stood, he suddenly realized what Yuugi had said. He turned around. "You'll stay with us willingly?"

Yuugi met his gaze, a light in his expressive, violet eyes Kaiba hadn't seen there before, and a determination he hadn't thought the soft spoken, diminutive teen was capable of evident in his voice when he answered.

"Yes."

Kaiba's face split into a wry grin, the first Yuugi had seen on the brunette since he'd met him. "Good." With that, he left. Yuugi stared down at his toes, blushing slightly. Kaiba-kun was very handsome when he smiled.

v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v * v

Xpyne: Oh, they're so cute!! Heehee, well, we'll be finding out about Kaiba-kun's mysterious past sooner or later, and I bet you readers will be surprised....or at least I hope you will be...

Yuugi: Do I like Kaiba-kun or Yami-sama?? x_x``

Xpyne: ^______^;; Er, both? Next chapter: more Malik and more embarrassing sexual tension between Yuugi and Seto, yay! And what exactly are Vispilos and Cruentuses, you ask? Buwahahaha, here's a hint: those are Latin words. *^^* But hey, all in good time, ne?

Yuugi: -_-;; Please review, mina! Evil Xpy-chan needs shameless encouragement and constructive comments.

Xpyne: Yes, review!!! And thank you for still reading this crap and putting up with my slow plot development.