Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Flames Will Burn ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

 

: Chapter Three:

 

 

“Don't you even think about throwing me, Yami! I'll beat you so hard you'll—”

 

Eight-year-old Rebecca Hopkins never got to finish her sentence, because she was lifted up by the underarms and tossed carelessly into the deep end of the Kaiba family's Olympic-sized swimming pool. When she resurfaced, she glared up at the tri-haired man who was laughing.

 

“I swear to God, I'm going to kill you!” Looking over at Mokuba, who was swimming in the shallow end, she grinned. The black-haired boy caught her stare and nodded in agreement.

 

Yami was not suspecting the ten-year-old Kaiba to jump on his back. He blinked in confusion, seeing that Mokuba had successfully pinned his arms behind his back and that he was now unable to put up a fight against the boy. Growling, he jerked his shoulder forward in an attempt to throw his cousin off of him. However, that attempt as well as the next one was futile.

 

Yugi grinned as he watched the two children gang up on his older brother. Yami was surrounded on both sides now by Rebecca and Mokuba, who each had a hold of one of his arms. Every once and a while, the crimson-eyed man would break one of his hands free and try to push one of the kids into the pool, but they would just grab on to his legs and hang on...sometimes resulting in him tumbling into the water with them.

 

Yami smirked playfully and picked Rebecca up bridal-style. “There is no escape!” he cried, in a voice that was an octave lower that his normal one, so that he would appear threatening. The girl squirmed in his arms and did her best to get out of his hold, but it was no use. Yami was able to push Mokuba in the pool when he came to save his friend and carry Rebecca over to the hot tub to `keep her captive.'

 

The amethyst-eyed teen sighed, stretching out on the lawn chair and watching the scene before him. It was quite comical to see his older brother - who had been in prison up until just two days ago for drug use, theft and shooting at an officer - playing around with his cousin and the blonde girl. He didn't think Yami had a soft side.

 

“Hey, Yugi!”

 

Yugi turned in the direction of the main house and saw Téa making her way towards him. She had a white cover-up on, so he guessed that she was only wearing a bathing suit underneath; that made him blush slightly. He waved in greeting when she took the seat next to him, and then smiled.

 

“I didn't think you'd get here so early.”

 

Téa didn't seem to be paying attention. Instead, she was giggling at how Yami was dominated by the two children and thrown into the pool's deep end. She turned to her best friend, chuckling. “It's hard to believe that he's the same person who we all saw causing that trouble with that store employee.”

 

Yugi raised an eyebrow at the statement and then nodded his head. “Yeah, it is pretty strange to see him act this way. I didn't think that there was a single playful, fun-loving bone in his body.”

 

“That's kind of a mean thing to say,” the brunette stated, frowning.

 

“Well he wasn't exactly the friendliest guy when I saw him last...Before the other day, I mean.”

 

Téa shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to the pool. Yami and Mokuba were now wrestling with each other at the edge of the pool, trying to see who would fall in first. She smiled. “You never know...spending four years in the Middle East might change a person.”

 

Yugi snorted to himself. His friend didn't notice; instead she just made herself comfortable on the chair next to him and relaxed.

 

After Mokuba was defeated by Yami in their wrestling match, he sighed loudly. “Forget it. You don't even go easy on me `cause I'm a kid...I give up.”

 

Yami smirked and ruffled his cousin's long hair. “Maybe next time, if you grow some muscle, you can beat me, squirt.”

 

Mokuba just stuck his tongue out at him and dove back into the pool; swimming over to Rebecca so that they could play a game of Marco Polo.

 

The tri-haired man grinned and looked over at the sunbathers. He pressed his index finger against his chin, his eyes gleaming in the early afternoon sunlight. “Is there no one else?” he questioned. “Is there no one else who will challenge me?” His eyes fell on his younger brother, who was sulking in the lounge chair. “Yugi..? What do you say?”

 

Yugi shook his head. “No way, Yami; you have a height advantage over me.”

 

Yami rolled his eyes. He turned to Seto, who was sitting on a porch swing with Kisara, keeping one eye on Mokuba and the other on his laptop. The younger cousin grinned in a challenging way. “What about you, Seto?”

 

Seto kept typing on his laptop, using only one hand since the other was wrapped around Kisara's thin waist. “I have more important things to do than have a childish wrestling match with you, Yami. Why don't you go do something productive - like finding a job?” From next to him, Kisara let out a small giggle.

 

The older Mutou brother sighed in defeat. “So no one thinks they can beat little ol' me?” he laughed. “I'm just that strong...everyone's afraid.”

 

“I'll challenge you.”

 

Yami blinked at hearing the feminine voice behind him. Turning around, he saw Téa standing there with a confident look on her lightly tanned face. He smirked. “Are you serious?” he wanted to know, scratching the back of his head.

 

“Of course I'm serious.” Téa smiled, unzipping her white cover-up and revealing the bathing suit she had on underneath.

 

The twenty-year-old man tried his hardest not to stare down at the brunette's scantly clad body. But being the young male that he was, he couldn't help but sneak a few peaks. Téa looked very good in her bikini, he had to admit. Much better than Kisara did in hers. Téa was perfectly shaped, and the light pink bikini she wore showed off everything it was supposed to.

 

Yami shook his head, feeling his body grow slightly warmer. He looked back up into the teenaged girl's eyes. “All right then. But just as an advanced warning, I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're a girl.”

 

Téa shrugged her shoulders. “I don't want you to.” She grinned after a moment. “So the rules are just to see who can knock the other into the pool first?”

 

The older nodded in affirmation. “That's it. So let's go.”

 

Téa smirked, placing her left leg behind her right so that she'd be ready to spring forward when necessary. When Yami told her to start, she lunged at him and grabbed both of his well-built arms, pushing him towards the pool's edge. However, since Yami's weight was considerably greater than hers, she was able to move him only about an inch before she tripped over her own feet.

 

Yami chuckled and grabbed the blue-eyed girl around the waist; pulling her off of him and pushing her away. Téa huffed indignantly, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. Moving forward, she squeaked when he grabbed her again; this time hoisting her over his left shoulder.

 

“Hey!” she yelled. “That is so unfair!”

 

Growling, Téa tugged at Yami's blonde bangs and kicked her legs against his back. She did not like this position at all. It gave her way too good a view of his tan, washboard abs and his yellow swim trunks. And on top of that, it was...very, very embarrassing that she had no where else to look but down at those swim trunks.

 

Yami stopped at the pool's ledge, so that his opponent could see the water in front of them. “See the water?” he whispered, tightening the grip he had on her. When he felt her nod, he smirked. “I think that means I won.” Chuckling lightly, he turned her so that she was resting comfortably in his arms and pressed slightly against his chest. And then without warning he flung her out into the pool.

 

...He didn't expect her to reach out at the last moment and grab his hand. But she did; and he tumbled ungracefully into the water right on top of her.

 

After they resurfaced, Téa turned to Yami and gave him a victorious look; her clear blue eyes shining in delight. “So,” she said. “I think this means it's a tie.”

 

The tri-haired young man was about to reply to her, but didn't get the chance when he heard a cell phone start ringing. Glancing over to the chair that held his towel, he saw his cell phone vibrating on top of it. Turning back to the brunette, he splashed her face with water and then swam over to the pool's ledge; heaving himself out of the chilly water.

 

Then he made his way to his chair. Picking up the cell phone, he also grabbed his towel and began drying himself off while answering the call.

 

“Hello?” he spoke into the receiver.

 

A crackling noise resounded from the other line, making it hard for Yami to make out what the person was saying.

 

“...Atemu..?”

 

Crimson eyes widened considerably as their owner instantly recognized the voice of the one speaking to him. Sneaking a glance over at his little brother, Yami sighed in relief when he saw that Yugi had his eyes closed. Continuing to rub the towel against his wet hair, he walked over to the pool house to continue the telephone conversation.

 

“Khalid?” Yami said quietly, not wanting anyone to overhear.

 

On the other line, `Khalid' let out a deep laugh. “I heard you were out, I just didn't believe it. I thought they'd make you serve more time for shooting at an officer.”

 

The tri-haired man smiled, leaning against the door of the pool house. “I made bail.”

 

“You did? How? You have no money. Unless - you didn't steal any, did you?”

 

Yami snorted. “No, I didn't steal money. I mean, I would have if I wasn't being watched at all hours by guards.” He let out a long sigh. “Kaiba paid the money,” he explained.

 

There was a brief pause, and then some whispering. Suddenly another deep voice cried out: “Kaiba? What?” Followed by Khalid yelling: “Get off of me, asswipe!”

 

Yami chuckled. “It's surprising, I know. But now I'm staying at the Kaiba Mansion until I can find a place of my own.”

 

There was some scuffling and hollering. “Atemu? It's Moswen. Gahiji and Khalid are fighting...sorry.”

 

The twenty-year-old smiled; glad you hear Moswen's gentle voice after such a long time. “It's okay. How have you been doing, Moswen? Where are you three staying?”

 

“We actually have an apartment now; so don't worry about that. I had to get another job so we could pay the bills each month, because Gahiji can't work due to his back problems.”

 

“Oh yeah, how is he doing? I remember his back used to give him hell after fights.”

 

Moswen let out a soft laugh. “He's trying not to strain himself as much as he used to, so currently he's managing just fine...well enough to go clubbing, at least.” He chuckled again. “Anyways, Atemu, I hope that you're doing well.”

 

Yami nodded, though he knew his friend couldn't see him. “I am. I'm actually trying to find a job right now so that I can find a place of my own. I feel bad for intruding on Yugi and Seto like this.”

 

“You should come back with us. If there are four people living here, it will make it easier to pay the bills. You should seriously consider it, Atemu. I could even get you a job at the diner I work part-time for, if you'd like.”

 

The tri-haired young man smiled. It was so like Moswen to push his own problems aside and try to help out a friend. He truly didn't belong with the crowd he hung around with. Khalid, Gahiji, and Yami himself were all so different from Moswen, and not in a good way. Moswen didn't deserve to be in the position he was in. He deserved to be living a good life.

 

“I'll think about it, okay?”

 

“That's good enough for me. I should go now,” Moswen said in his quiet voice. “Khalid wants to speak with you again; and I have to get ready to go to work. I hope to hear from you again soon. And-and good luck on your job and house hunting.”

 

“All right. Nice to hear from you again. I'll see if I can meet up with you guys sometime soon.”

 

There were some more static noises as the phone was handed back over to Khalid, who greeted Yami gruffly once the phone was once again in his possession.

 

“Atemu, its Khalid.” The older voice began. “I want to make this quick, because this piece of shit phone is about to die on me. To get straight to the point, I was hoping that you would take up Moswen's offer and come live here at the apartment. We all miss having you around... especially Moswen. You know how he's always idolized you. Anyways, we'd all like for you to come back. And you won't have to worry about finding a job beforehand. I can have my man Otogi hook you up. What do you say?”

 

Yami thought a moment, not replying. He would love to go back and live with his three friends. Being with them was so familiar to him. And living at the Kaiba Mansion wasn't really something he could get used to, even though he would like to get the chance to. He did owe Khalid for saving his sorry butt so many times before he was arrested...if it wasn't for his friends, he probably would have been dead long ago.

 

However...the tri-haired man had made a promise to himself. After he was arrested, he vowed that he would have nothing more to do with the gang and that he'd never go back to his old way of life. And Yami didn't want to turn his back on that. He wanted to change. He didn't want to be the person he used to; always running from the law and associating himself with Domino's felons. He didn't want to tarnish the Mutou name further than he already had. He wanted to be a big brother Yugi could be proud of and look up to.

 

...So if he went back to stay with Khalid, Gahiji, and Moswen, he'd only wind up in a worse position than he already was in.

 

“Atemu, are you going to give me an answer or not? Because if not, I'll make the decision for you. Come back.”

 

“Khalid...it isn't that simple.” Yami sighed heavily. “I can't just leave.”

 

 

“And why not?” Khalid questioned, his voice becoming angry. “Atemu, the Kaiba Mansion is not your home. You don't belong with rich snobs like that, so don't try and convince me that you're gonna stay there. C'mon, Atemu. We're a team, and we need you back.”

 

Yami bit his lower lip, running a hand through his hair. “I said I'll think about it, and I will. But before I go and intrude on you guys, I'm going to see if I can find a place of my own.”

 

“What's gotten into you, man? I'm offering you a house and a job and you're refusing? What are you hiding?”

 

“I'm not hiding anything. I just...I promised Yugi I wouldn't get involved with the gang again.”

 

There were a few moments of silence before Khalid hissed into the phone. “Damn, prison has changed you. But fine, if living with those bastards has made you look down on Moswen, Gahiji, and me, then I guess there isn't a room available for you after all.”

 

Yami's crimson eyes widened. “Khalid, I didn't mean it like that. You know I didn't. I love the three of you like brothers. I always have and I will continue too, no matter what happens or where I may live. I just...I want to change, you know? I finally have the chance to be something I've always wanted. ...I don't want to throw it away.”

 

Khalid remained quiet. “I understand. But when this little scheme to get back in your family's good book fails - and it will - you know that we're still here for you. Call anytime you need something.”

 

“Thanks,” the tri-haired man said honestly. “I really appreciate it. I'll call you tomorrow or something; tell you if I've had any progress in the job or apartment hunt. If not, I'll move in. Give me a week at tops.”

 

“I'll be in touch with Otogi then, to let him know you might be interested.”

 

 

“Okay. Bye, Khalid.”

 

Only the sound of the dial tone met his ears, signaling that the other had already hung up. Yami closed the cell phone and hung his head slightly.

 

Now what was he supposed to do? Should he just take Khalid and Moswen's offer? Would it be easier? If he did, he could be out of Yugi's and Seto's hair for good, and not cause anymore problems for his brother or the CEO's reputations.

 

Yet at the same time...he would be sad to leave. He was finally getting a chance to bond with his younger sibling and to meet some great new people - people who didn't have criminal records.

 

“Hey, Yami!”

 

The young man glanced towards the pool, seeing Yugi and Téa waving him over. Giving a small smile, he made his way over to them, still not sure about what the future might have in store for him.

 

OOOOOO

 

“So,” Yugi mused, twirling his pasta with a fork later that evening at dinner. “That phone conversation earlier today was a bit lengthy...Who called?”

 

Yami shot Yugi a glare. He was hoping the younger wouldn't bring that call up. Raising a wineglass to his lips, he slowly drained it of its content. “That isn't any of your business.”

 

The teenaged boy eyed his older sibling, trying to find a flaw in the expressionless face Yami had on. There was obviously something he was hiding...the younger just needed to find it. “When you're living under my roof it becomes my business,” he explained.

 

Yami let out a small chuckle. “Your roof? Funny, I thought this was Seto's place.”

 

“It's the same thing. Just tell me who was on the phone, Yami. There isn't any use in lying...obviously it was someone close to you. You seemed happy when you saw what number it was.”

 

“Yugi,” The twenty-year-old began tersely, “just because you took me in doesn't mean you need to know every detail of my life from this point on. Now if you want to know so badly, then it was the landlord of an apartment I had found in a brochure. He was just telling me that the apartment was still available. I turned him down though; it was too much money,” he lied, giving a fake grin.

 

Yugi seemed unconvinced, but he let it go. He didn't want to start an argument with Yami. And he was sure that his older brother wouldn't be doing anything stupid, since he was just released from prison and most likely did not want to wind up in there again. So maybe it was a landlord on the phone. And maybe Yami didn't have enough money to rent an apartment. It was understandable.

 

“Yami...” Yugi looked down at the table. “If there ever is a problem you have with getting money, you know that I'd help you. I've been saving for a while so I'm sure I have enough to give so that you can get an apartment that you really like. And if I don't, you can always go to Seto. I mean, he wouldn't say no. He is your cousin and he loves you, no matter how cold he may act sometimes.”

 

Yami grinned. “I know that, Yugi. But,” he stood up from his seat and grabbed his plate, “I would feel better if I did this on my own. I can get a job and come up with the money in no time. Just stop worrying. Let me handle my problems and you go handle your own, okay?”

 

The amethyst-eyed teen nodded his head slowly. “All right. If you say so.”

 

Yami left the room without saying anything further.

 

OOOOO

 

“Are you sure it's all right? I mean, it's such short notice...my mother just got the call about an hour ago, and she said she didn't want me to go with her, so I didn't really have anywhere to stay and I-”

 

Yugi laughed. “Téa, its fine. You're always welcome here.”

 

Téa smiled softly, hoisting her duffle bag over her shoulder to keep it from falling off. “Thanks so much, Yugi. I can always count on you.” She gave her best friend a hug and then tossed her air to the side. “So where am I staying? Do you know?”

 

The short teenager nodded. “There's an extra room in the pool house that you can have.”

 

“Isn't...Yami staying in the pool house?”

 

Yugi nodded. “Yeah, but his room is on the other side. You're not uncomfortable with it, are you? If you are, I'll have him stay in the living room in here or something.”

 

The brunette shook her head furiously. “No, no, no. It's fine. Really, it's fine. I don't want to cause trouble or anything. So I'll just go put my things in the pool house, okay?”

 

The teenaged boy nodded his head. “Okay, but you can come back out later and we can watch a movie or something.”

 

Téa smiled in agreement. “Sounds good to me!”

 

With that, she walked through the house and to the back doors. After exiting, she made her way quickly to the pool house, knocking a few times on the door. When receiving no reply, she figured Yami was probably not in there so she opened the door and let herself in.

 

Humming softly, the blue-eyed girl made her way through the house, finding the spare room almost instantly. After setting her duffle bag down, she quickly changed into her pajamas and left the room. She walked slowly down the hall, heading towards the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

 

As she was passing by the second room, she spotted Yami on the ground doing pushups. A small grin crept across her pretty face and she leaned against the doorway, watching the older Mutou brother as he exercised. She idly noticed how the muscles in his arms would bulge every time he lifted himself up, and how his breathing came out in deep, short puffs.

 

“...Fifty-two...fifty-three...fifty-four...fifty-five... 221;

 

Téa pressed more of her weight on the door, causing it to creak and move slightly more open. This made Yami stop in the middle of his fifty-sixth pushup and turn his head in the direction of his bedroom's entrance. His eyes widened slightly when he noticed Yugi's friend standing there, dressed in only pajamas.

 

“Um...hi,” the brunette said lamely, waving her hand in greeting.

 

Yami stood up slowly, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “Hi. What are you doing in here?”

 

Téa blushed and tore her eyes away from him. “Actually, I'm staying here for the night. My mom had to go out of town on short notice and I couldn't go with her. So Yugi offered me a place to stay in here.”

 

The tri-haired man nodded his head. “Oh, well that's a nice surprise. I bet Yugi's happy to get to spend more time with you,” he said quietly.

 

The teenaged girl raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything further. The two stared at each other for a few more minutes as an awkward silence settled between them. Téa suddenly cleared her throat and turned away. “Sorry for interrupting you. I'm just going to go wash up. Have a good night.”

 

Yami smiled. “You too.”

 

Téa then left the doorway and entered the bathroom, her cheeks lightly burning.