Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Newton's Third ❯ Promises ( Chapter 2 )

NEWTON'S THIRD by Kiraya

Yami-to-hikari communication is shown <<like this;>> phone conversation *like this.*

~*~*~

Kaiba's shoulders shook with his sobs. It was as if, somewhere inside him, a dam had finally burst, and he could do nothing until the flood of long pent-up emotions ran its course.

And eventually, the tears did abate. Drained, he could do nothing but lean against Yami's chest. Suprisingly enough, his outburst had made him feel a lot better. Closing his eyes, he sighed heavily.

Hesitantly, almost imperceptibly, Yami's arms tightened around him.

Kaiba suddenly shoved him away, his face reddening. "Get out," he snarled.

Yami simply stared at him, his expression unreadable.

"Get out!" the young billionaire roared. He suddenly grabbed the other's arm. "But first you must promise me that you will tell no one - not even Yugi - of this, or I swear on Mokuba's soul I will shatter that precious Puzzle of yours and send all its pieces to join your lost Exodia cards."

Yami blanched. Somehow managing to keep his voice level, he replied, "All right - but only on one condition."

"What?"

"It's not good for anyone to be alone with their grief. You have to promise that you'll call and talk to me about it when you need to."

Kaiba stared at him for a moment, then laughed shortly. "What are you, my shrink? Think I need somebody to use as a crutch? Ooh, Seto Kaiba's crying, guess this must be too much for him to handle. Well, let me tell you something. I've been relying on myself and nobody else for years - I don't need a grief counselor, and I most certainly don't need you."

Yami's eyes narrowed dangerously. "In that case, I guess neither of us is leaving."

They stood there and glared at each other. For a long time, neither so much as blinked - until Kaiba was forced to look away. Damn, he thought, impressed in spite of himself. He has the gaze of a cobra. I'd really hate to meet the man who could intimidate him. He sighed inwardly. I might as well agree to his ridiculous terms - if only to get him to leave me alone. "Fine," he said shortly.

"I'm glad we see eye-to-eye," Yami stated, his voice laced with sarcasm. He scribbled some numbers on a scrap of paper and handed it to Kaiba. "Here."

Kaiba grunted, shoving the paper into a pocket.

Yami opened his mouth as if he were going to say something else, but changed his mind. With a sigh, he shook his head and left.

After a few moments, Kaiba followed him. He stood in a shadowed doorway and watched the spiky-haired youth join his little friends - I knew they were going to show up sooner or later, he observed dispassionately - and disappear into the murmuring, slightly confused crowd on their way out.

When the last of the unwelcome guests had departed, he approached the little casket on its makeshift bier. Laying a hand on the lid, he stared intently into the polished surface, almost as if he would see his brother instead of his own dim reflection, did he but look long enough. "Mokuba," he whispered, the lump in his throat threatening to set him off again.

A single pearly tear glimmered on the lustrous ebony next to a clenched fist.

"Why the fuck did you take him away from me, you motherfucker...?"

~*~*~

Yami said nothing as he joined Yugi and the others on their way out. He ignored their questions, seemingly lost in thought.

<Yami...?> his little hikari asked diffidently.

There was no response, only a confused welter of emotions - sorrow, some compassion (bordering on the edge of pity), and a hint of annoyance were the only ones Yugi could make out clearly.

<What happened between you two?> he inquired, curious.

A long pause. <<Well,>> Yami finally replied, <<suffice it to say that the phone will probably be ringing at odd hours for a while.>>

<What's thatsupposed to mean?> Yugi wondered - but his yami had broken contact. Why won't he tell me?

~*~*~

The clock struck three, but Kaiba paid it no heed as he stared across the room at the phone on his desk - and the crumpled paper next to it.

Another eternal night, with visions of his brother's death haunting his dreams. Though he had to admit, it was a little better tonight; talking to Yami had helped, after all-

He shook his head. I won't do it. I can'tdo it. It's gone too far already. This afternoon should never have happened-

If there was only one thing Seto Kaiba had learned in his life, it was this: Never trust a rival, even if - especially if - he's changed sides.

But the cold night offered no comfort, and the vast emptiness of the house ate away at his soul.

His hand shook slightly as he dialed. Dammit, he told himself fiercely, if I want to stay sane, I haveto do this. Why am I so damn jittery?

Because you have never reached out to anyone before, a voice in the back of his mind whispered, and it's the hardest thing you've ever had to to - to admit weakness and ask for help.

He scowled. I really amlosing it - breaking down crying, voices in my head... what next? But his musings were interrupted when someone finally picked up on the other end.

*Hello?*

It was Yami. Kaiba sagged in relief, then mentally slapped himself for doing so. Still, he hated to think what would have happened if Yugi or his grandpa had answered the phone, leaving plenty of room for the situation to become embarrassing.

"It's me," he said finally. "I..."

*Can't sleep?* finished the other.

He sighed. "Yeah. I keep having these dreams..."

*Would you like to tell me about them...? If you're up to it, that is,* Yami added, with no trace of scorn or pity in his voice.

And, hesitating only for a moment, Kaiba did.

~*~*~

To be continued.