Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Not a Kid ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

Important!

 

Now, I realize that I usually put my notes at the end of the chapter, but this is too important for that. First of all, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to update, but I took my SAT exam just today and I simply didn't have the time to finish this damn chapter! On the other hand I made it pretty long, as a sort of compensation. Hope you like it. Any way, just wanted to let you know that I have another SAT coming up soon, so I'll be under some pressure and won't be able to update very often. Please, bear with me. I promise to do my best. Thanks to all who reviewed, I really appreciate the support. As always, constructive criticism and suggestions are welcome! Toodles!

 

 

Chapter 5

 

The limo ride itself had taken only about twenty minutes. It had taken about an hour to get through the mob of screaming fans, though. Jonathan hadn't gone through the trouble of keeping `Darkness' Light' and their arrival in Japan a secret, but he hadn't tried to promote the unexpected concert either. Nevertheless, the horde of admirers and reporters had been impressive. Fortunately, the band had made it to their ride with only minor losses (more precisely- Kouga's favorite leather jacket and a fistful of Jojo's blonde locks missing).

 

They had arrived at their hotel without further complications and after a `Goodnight!', they'd gone their own way, heading to their respective rooms. They had all been too tired for anything else but sleep. All that is, but a certain lead singer.

 

Kouga was having trouble falling asleep. The earlier doubts were coming back full force now, in the empty darkness of his room, despite the knowledge of his band mates' support. He tossed and turned in his luxurious, king sized bed, occasionally glancing at the clock hanging on the wall to his right.

 

`Ra, this is ridiculous!' He thought, when he noticed it was about three in the morning `I don't believe this! Where did my cool, apathetic exterior go?!'

 

It was grating his nerves, the fact that the years of gained maturity and calm detachment were so happily flying out the window at the mere prospect of seeing his yami and, possibly, ex-friends again. He was angry, pissed at himself actually, for being so weak. When he'd boarded the plane for Japan, he'd done so with the conscious thought that he would be facing the man of his warm, fuzzy and lustful feelings again soon. He'd told himself that he'd never be readier than he was now.

 

`But all that bullshit isn't helping me much now, is it' He thought to himself with a derisive snort `I'm still scared shitless!' With a sigh, he turned on his side, staring blankly at his dark room.

 

The suite was enormous. It was more of an apartment really, with its own living room, bedroom, a huge bathroom equipped with a Jacuzzi and covered with marble, and a fully equipped bar. The hotel staff was at his disposal, ready to tend to his every need and whim, and his friends were on the floor just bellow his.

 

And still he felt excruciatingly alone and vulnerable in the spacious hotel suite. It was an annoying feeling, gnawing at his insides, that he was all too familiar with. It was something he was used to dealing with, something that had been plaguing his mind and soul for five years straight now. The feeling came from the spot that he'd been trying to block for as long as he'd become Kouga Uchiha and left Yugi Mutouh behind- his once link with Atemu, his yami. You couldn't get any closer with someone than by sharing your body (literally) with them, after all. And to know the warmth and closeness of one such bond and then lose it…It was painful, that's what it was.

 

But he was used to dealing with the pain as much as possible. He'd had to, if he'd wanted to accomplish his goal at independance and maturity. So, this restless night, he did what he'd done every lonely moment. He ignored it and tried his best to think of something, anything else, that would exhaust his mind enough for deep, dreamless sleep to take him.

 

He focused of his meeting with Seto the next day. The CEO had been the only one to be informed of the band's upcoming concert in Domino, even Sugoroku was unaware. Kouga had wanted to surprise his grandfather, so he'd tried his hardest to leave the old man in the dark about the unexpected visit. Kaiba and Mokuba, on the other hand, he'd known he wouldn't be able to catch off guard. The latter was probably the band's biggest fan and the former's little brother, after all. There were very, very few things that eluded Seto's attention. So, Kouga hadn't been surprised at Kaiba's call just before he'd left the US, and his request (more like order) to meet him. Although the two former rivals had grown fond of each other over the years and had learned to lead a conversation without it always ending in a challenge of some sort, the underlying desire to best the other, to be the victor, was still there. It was silly, in Mokuba's opinion, but hey! That's just the way two people too stubborn to show their affection for each other acted.

 

Kouga closed his eyes and felt a smile tugging at the corners of his lips at the memories of all the useless bantering he and Seto had done through the years and the funny, exasperated faces Mokuba had pulled at their antics. The distraction worked and he soon felt himself slip from the world of the conscious.

 

And although he'd hoped for a peaceful, dreamless night's rest, his mind was once again haunted by gleaming red eyes, panting hot breaths and smooth, sweat-slicked skin against equally smooth, sweat-slicked skin. Somewhere in the recesses of his consciousness, he noted that he'd need a cold shower in the morning.

 

 

The noon sun was shining merrily, flooding Domino City's streets with its bright light. The sky was clear, not a cloud hindering the azure blue. The city itself was bustling with activity as the people inhabiting it went on with their daily lives. Children were playing in the park, laughing and enjoying themselves without a care in the world, as their parents watched on the sidelines. The streets were crowded with cars and other vehicles, the heavy traffic typical for that time of day.

 

It was just times like this that Kouga was glad having insisting on taking his favorite black baby with him all the way from Miami. The bike wizzed through the small spaces in between the larger vehicles effortlessly, the slick machine and its rider nothing but an inky blur and gust of wind for the startled pedestrians. Kouga revved his favored mode of transportation (or `the Coffin on Wheels' as Jojo liked to call it) and grimaced in distaste at the fact that he was late.

 

`Well, it's not my fault the goddamn rehearsal took longer than expected!' He gulped, imagining Seto's reaction when he did get to their meeting place and sped up even more `I'm sure he'll understand! I mean, he likes me, right?...Right?'

 

Somehow, he had trouble believing that himself. But it really hadn't been his fault! This morning they were supposed to go over the songs for the concert that was due in about a week, and he'd been sure they'd be over by ten. Well, Jonathan, being the perfectionist that he was, had stalled him for two whole fucking hours more! The man was really something. `Darkness' Light' was BAD's best band out there at the moment and Jonathen had taken the position of manager all by his jolly self, claiming that no one knew the business better than him. And while that was true, the man could sometimes be so infuriatingly detailed about his duties. It was maddening! By the time they'd gotten things to his liking, Kouga had been ready to tear his hair out in frustration. That, or wring Jonathan's neck with his bare hands. He guessed the latter would have brought him more satisfaction.

 

So now, not only was he late for his meeting with the prissy Kaiba Corp CEO, but he would have to rush things if he wanted to still have enough time to visit the game shop and his grandfather. And Yami.

 

He didn't want to admit it, but he was still slightly nervous about the upcoming encounter. For he knew one was unavoidable. It had been long enough, whether he felt ready or not. Would his darkness recognize him? Would he find the changes sufficient? Would he acknowledge those changes, or would he still be treated like a naïve child? He didn't think his longing heart would survive the last part.

 

Shaking his head slightly to rid himself of the depressing thoughts, he again took note of his surroundings and realized that he was nearing his destination. The park on his left gave way to a series of small, homey shops and diners all lined up one after the other. The scenery whizzed past him and he barely had the time to spot the cozy little outdoors café where Seto was supposed to be waiting for him. He abruptly hit the brakes and parked his baby where he'd be able to see it at all times. He loved his shiny black bike, after all!

 

As he'd suspected, Kaiba Corp's CEO was already expecting him, his usual scowl in place and his leather clad boot tapping impatiently on the floor. A bouncing, chipper Mokuba was waving cheerfully at him.

 

“This way, Yu…err Kouga! This way!”

 

Smirking slightly, Kouga dismounted his bike and approached the duo.

 

“Hey, Mokuba! How's it going?” Turning to the older of the two brothers, whose eyebrow was by now twitching madly, he grinned evilly and continued “Why if it isn't my very own, fucking sexy CEO! Impatient for your favorite singing sensation, my dear, dear Kaiba boy? So sorry if I made you and your fabulous ass wait!”

 

Kouga just loved to get a rise of the billionaire. It was just so easy! Not to mention the pretty, slightly unnatural colors the man's face could turn! With his otherwise pale complexion, it was highly amusing.

 

Seto's twitch was now more like a partial face convulsion and he was in fact sporting a pretty, slightly maroonish shade of purple. Growling low in his throat, Kaiba grabbed his former-archnemesis-now-turned-friend-but-still-sometimes-rival by his arm and dragged him to their table, doing his best to ignore Mokuba's snickers and Kouga's maniacal cackles. Mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like `…damned horny brats, damned evil traitor of little brothers, damned world, damn me and my big, soft heart…', he plopped rather un-Seto like (in other words like a sack of potatoes) on his chair and faced the still snickering duo.

 

“If you're quite done?!” He finally snapped.

 

“Yeah, yeah…” Kouga waved his rival-slash-friend's glare away “So, what's up, Seto? You sounded pretty tense on the phone. Anything wrong?”

 

Sitting straighter in his chair, Kaiba schooled his expression into a blank mask. Even Mokuba seized his incessant cackling and turned somber. Noticing the change in the mood, Kouga's eyes lost all their previous traces of mirth and turned into a pair of glacial gems. He knew that Seto really must have had an important reason for contacting him so urgently. Normally, they tried to avoid such public meetings. There was a high possibility that they'd be spotted together and rumors would start flying. Especially here in Domino, where not only Kaiba's appearance was better known than in most other parts of the world, But Kouga's former friends roamed the streets.

 

“I heard you were going to have a concert here in the coming week.” The young CEO started carefully “Live, here in Domino.”

 

Kouga nodded his head once. He could already see where this conversation was going.

 

“Yeah, the board decided that BAD's best band would be the perfect good luck charm for the opening of their new studio.”

 

Seto leaned forward and folded his arms on the table in front of him, never braking eye contact with the young boy he'd helped years ago. Mokuba watched silently from the sidelines, knowing better than to get in his brother and Yugi…Kouga's way, when they were discussing something obviously important.

 

“So, the board made you come back then?” Seto continued “You had no say in the matter?”

 

“They don't know, Seto.” Kouga started softly “The only ones to have the whole story are the gang and Jonathan. You know that.”

 

“Still, you came back. Not by your own choice, might I add. And you know you could have refused. You're their golden chicken, after all- you sell more albums than all of their other contracts combined.”

 

Kaiba's voice was still calm and quite, but it was also getting colder with each word. Kouga, though, knew that was just Seto's way of showing concern. He was well aware that the past few years had earned him a place in the cold CEO's heart and in the billionaire's eyes, the singer was like another little brother, despite his hard gained maturity. He couldn't help but be a little protective, even thought he knew how much his ex-rival hated being treated like a child. So, he tried to discuss things with the slightly younger man, instead of ordering him round and making his decisions for him. He knew better than to repeat the mistakes of those who had caused Mutouh to shrink away and make way for Uchiha.

 

Kouga reached out and gently placed his hand on top of that of the rigid billionaire's, interrupting his tirade.

 

“Seto, stop. No, I couldn't have refused.” At Seto's incredulous look, he added “While it's true that `Darkness' Light' sells better than any other BAD band at the moment, it's also true that I've postponed concerts and tours in Japan for long enough. Sooner or later, someone would have gotten suspicious of my avoiding the country and started digging around. And that's the last thing I want or need.”

 

At Kaiba's more or less subdued expression, he leaned back in his chair and continued.

 

“I want to come clean with everyone on my own. Not by being forced to do so by a nosy reporter, cornered and with no other choice.”

 

Seto regarded him for a moment and then slumped slightly (very slightly), though whether it was in relief that the young man before him realized what he was getting into, or defeat, Kouga wasn't sure.

 

“Besides, the board can be very persuasive. You know that, you have one of your very own!” His attempt at humor didn't move Seto's stony face. Kouga didn't expect it to anyway.

 

After a short, tense pause, the CEO spoke up again.

 

“You know you'll have to face them. Him.” It wasn't a question.

 

Kouga, seeing that his friend wouldn't pursue the matter, relaxed and smiled a little. It was a bitter smile though. He couldn't remember the last time he'd genuinely smiled, with no sadness or strain behind the action.

 

“Yeah, I know.”

 

“And you're ready.” It was said with the same flat tone.

 

“No.” There was a certain tension in the voice “But on the other hand, if I keep delaying, I'll never be ready.”

 

From there on that particular topic was dropped. They changed the subject, each realizing that there wasn't any use poking at it more. Mokuba now actively joined the conversation and happily chatted away with an equally talkative Kouga now that the tension was somewhat gone. Seto didn't say more than ten to twenty words and instead stood passively, his features blank and seemingly uninterested. But that wasn't anything new to the younger pair, as they had gotten used to it, and they had a blast, catching up on each other's lives. They conversed animatedly, with Mokuba shooting question after question at an amused and slightly worried (he didn't think the younger could go on with the rabid pace of words without breathing for much longer) Kouga answering as many as he could. The conversation didn't stray in any sensitive directions, for which the singer was grateful. By the time they were done (or to be more precise, by the time a once again twitching Seto Kaiba dragged his little brother away by the collar of his shirt), it was nearing four in the afternoon. Kouga said goodbye after politely inviting the duo to his concert (`You better show up, Kaiba, or I'll find you and rape that sweet little body of yours!' that was followed by more twitching and a metal briefcase aimed for his cranium). All traces of his bad mood had disappeared and he was ready for his next and, hopefully last, task for the day. He was going to visit the game shop.

 

With a `Ra help me', he revved up his baby and sped off.

 

 

`Has it always been this…colorful?' Was the first thing his brain could come up with after a few minutes of staring at his childhood home.

 

The Turtle Game Shop hadn't changed one bit. It was still the same cheerful combination of colors as it always had been, the warm and welcoming aura coming off in waves. The door was shut, but the `Open' sign signaled that the small shop wasn't closed yet.

 

Kouga had parked his bike on the opposite curb and was now getting his guts together, preparing himself for a confrontation he knew he couldn't avoid much longer.

 

`Well, it would be better if I approached him first anyway. Won't do if I was the one to be caught off guard, after all.' And with that thought firmly in mind, he crossed the street with a confident strut, that earned him a few lustful stares and drooling mouths, and entered the small shop.

 

The inside had changed just as much as the outside, he decided, meaning not much. There were a few new games and cards on display and the walls seemed freshly painted, but other than that, it was the same cozy little place he remembered it to be. The cash register stood just where it once was and a group of dust particles swirled in a complicated dance in the rays of the late afternoon sun coming in through the windows. The bells above the front door jingled merrily, signaling his arrival.

 

Kouga looked around, but didn't see anyone. Frowning, he was about to shout out for someone, but was interrupted by an old, slightly raspy voice coming from what he remembered as the storage room in the back of the shop.

 

“Just one moment, please!” Came the voice, followed by a slight grunt “Feel free to look around, I'll be there in a sec.”

 

Smirking a smirk any psycho yami would be proud of, Kouga kept quite and decided to look around some more. He couldn't wait to see his grandfather's expression. He felt slightly better now that he knew Atemu apparently wasn't there at the moment. He just hoped Sugoroku didn't have a heart attack or something when he saw him.

 

A few minutes and several grunts later, he heard the same warm voice coming now from directly behind him.

 

“Sorry to make you wait, but we had a shipment recently and I hadn't had the chance to …”

 

The voice died down as Kouga turned around and his grandfather saw just who it was he was apologizing to. He grinned as the old man dropped the stacks of cards in his hands and turned as white as a sheet, his mouth dropping in astonishment.

 

“Hey, grandpa. How's it going?”

 

After several more minutes of silence, Kouga's grin turned into a concerned grimace. His grandfather was just standing there, staring in his general direction with a glazed over look on his face. Kouga was unpleasantly reminded of the look Marik's mind slave victims had.

 

“Uhh…Grandpa? Aren't you…you know…gonna hug me or something?”

 

As if slapped into action, the old man bellowed a “Yugi!” with all his might and the next thing the singer-slash-sex-icon knew, he was a tangled heap of limbs sprawled out on the floor.

 

“Yugi! I can't believe it! Why didn't you tell me you were coming?! I would have prepared, or…or…picked you up from the airport or Why didn't you give me a warning?!”

 

Laughing and trying to untangle himself from his overly enthusiastic grandfather at the same time, Kouga hurried to placate the old man.

 

“Grandpa, calm down for Ra's sake!” He exclaimed, his deep, sensuous voice startling the old man into silence “I wanted it to be a surprise! Jeez, you didn't need to trample all over me you know!”

 

After they both were up and on their feet, Sugoroku grinned at his grandson, finally getting a good look at him. And the boy...no…man, he reminded himself, was a site to behold. Dressed in a pair of black leather pants that seemed to be molded to his shapely thighs and hips, flailing slightly out at the bottom to allow freedom of movement (he had to navigate his bike somehow, after all) and a matching leather jacket slung over his shoulder, Yugi could really turn heads wherever he went. The only splash of color was in the form of a very, very tight sleeveless crimson shirt, showing off his lithe, nicely muscled torso, ending just an inch or so above his belly button. The outfit was complimented by a few studded leather belts looped loosely around the slender waist and hips and a black choker with a silver anck hanging right in the hollow of his throat. A black wristband and numerous silver rings with a pair of slightly heeled boots finished off the look nicely.

 

Trailing his eyes up and down his grandson's body, the old man's grin widened.

 

“Dressed to impress, huh Yugi?” He piped up slily.

 

Kouga returned the grin eagerly. He knew he looked good, why hide it?

 

“Grandpa!” He started, feigning hurt feelings “You know I'm not one to fuck and tell!”

 

“No, you're one to get fucked and tell.” Sugoroku deadpanned.

 

“True, true.” The younger sighed dramatically.

 

His grandfather raised an eyebrow. Kouga couldn't help it, he giggled. As soon as the sound left his lips, his hands clamped over his mouth and he stared, wide-eyed and horrified.

 

“Did you just giggle?” His grandfather choked out, equally wide-eyed.

 

A moment of silence, and then they were both laughing their lungs out.

 

Kouga soon calmed down and watched his only living relative fondly, a soft, sad smile playing on his lips. He'd missed his grandfather. The man had always been there for him, ready to offer him his love and support. And although he'd never agreed to call him by his new name, he'd never accused him or blamed him for leaving. He'd stood by his grandson's decisions. Sugoroku had later found out about his feelings for Atemu and his yami's and friends' disregard for his mental maturity and had understood his reasons for doing what he'd done. He also knew of Kouga's life and growth as a person. To the young singer's surprise, he'd found out he could talk about anything with his grandfather and not receive an ounce of judgment or condemnation, from his sexual and clubbing adventures, to his band's success and his new friends.

 

Sugoroku on his part was simply overjoyed to see his Yugi again. For no matter what new name the young men before him chose, he'd always be his Yugi. He'd grown, his grandson. In both looks and mindset, he'd grown. And although the old man was happy for his success and fame, he was also worried. He knew of the younger's conquests and flings, but he didn't have it in his heart to condemn him for them. Because he knew that no matter who it was that warmed Yugi's bed, the only one with the ability to do the same to his heart was Atemu. He'd watched his grandson through the years and realized that despite all the forced smiles and the incredible insight on life he'd gained, the absence of his his yami was slowly killing him from the inside out. So he was understandably happy to see Yugi here, in Domino. To him, it meant that the young man had finally decided to confront his past and get on with his future. With Atemu.

 

Half an hour later found them gossiping and bantering lightly over green tea and pastries. The topic of Atemu and the others was pointedly ignored and both were aware of it, but they were far too happy to see each other to really care. Sugoroku hadn't been able to excuse his sudden departures with archeological digs all the time and they hadn't really seen each other all that much recently. Finally though, the older man couldn't take it anymore. He had to know whether his Yugi's return was for good. He set his tea cup on the kitchen table and fixed his grandson with a stare.

 

“Yugi” He started, voice slightly unsure “Yugi, I think we've evaded the subject long enough.”

 

Kouga returned the stare, calmly sipping at his tea. Lowering his cup, he said softly.

 

“I know. But it was good while it lasted, wasn't it? The evasion?”

 

“Yugi…”

 

“Yeah, grandpa, I know what you're gonna say. And to tell you the truth…I don't know.”

 

At the man's questioning look, he elaborated.

 

“I don't know if I'm here to stay.”

 

He couldn't stand the hurt look that briefly flashed across his grandfather's face, so he reached out and took a firm hold of the aged, slightly wrinkled hand.

 

“But it is a possibility” The hand he was holding onto tightened around his marginally and Sugoroku lifted a hopeful gaze at his grandson “I know my absence pains you, grandpa, no matter what you say for my sake. And I should tell you now, that my coming here was not originally my idea. If it was up to me…Well, let's just say I don't know when I'd have gathered the confidence to come back. But since I had to come, I figured `Hey, why not take the opportunity and make things right', you know? So, it pretty much depends, grandpa.”

 

“Depends on what, Yugi?” The old man croaked out, not daring to get his hopes up, his throat suddenly as dry as the deserts he'd spent so much time in.

 

“On whether they can accept me for what I am now. On whether he can accept me for what I am. For who I am.” His tone was soft, but firm. He had no intention of staying where he wasn't seen as the person he'd grown up to become and instead was only perceived as the ever naïve child, the endlessly innocent hikari. His longing heart couldn't, wouldn't stand for it. He just knew it.

 

Before any more comments could be made, the bells from the shop downstairs jingled faintly. Sugoroku frowned. He was sure he'd locked the shop, and the only other with a key was…His eyes went wide (okay, maybe wider) and he shot a glance in Yugi's direction. From the looks of it, his grandson had already put two and two together. His face though was completely blank and he was staring at the direction of the stairs leading to the game shop below them.

 

`Déjà vu' He mused `That reminds me of the last time we saw one another. How ironic. How…fitting' He thought absentmindedly.

 

And just then, that voice, that dark, silky smooth voice called out.

 

“Grandpa! Why is the shop closed? It's still pretty early. Grandpa?”

 

Even though what was said was relatively irrelevant, the voice still sent shivers down his spine. How he'd longed for that voice. How he'd ached for it. Countless nights of that voice moaning and groaning his name in the throws of passion came slamming down on him and he repressed a moan of his own.

 

Soon enough, the owner of said voice stood at the door to the small kitchen, the intense ruby eyes fixated on him with a strange look in them. One he couldn't identify for the life of him.

 

“Grandpa? I didn't know we were having guests.” The eyes never left his.

 

Clearing his throat slightly, Sugoroku tried to find his voice and, eventually, spoke.

 

“This isn't a guest per say, Atemu…”He trailed off, not knowing how to continue.

 

But it wasn't necessary. Swallowing what felt like a fistful of sand to him, Kouga fought to find his equilibrium and stood up with the grace of a leopard. The slanted red eyes followed his every move. Deciding that he wasn't in the mood (not to mention mental stability) to beat around the bush, Kouga figured that the direct approach was the best way to go about it. He spoke, his voice slightly more deep and husky than he'd intended it to be.

 

“Hello, Yami. Long time no see.”

 

The ruby eyes widened and the stack of papers previously held in the strong, tan arms slipped out of now lax fingers, scattering gently on the kitchen floor.

 

 

Disclaimer:

 

I most officially and dramatically announce that I do not own Yu Gi Oh! or its characters!

I do intend to make their lives as yaoi infested as possible, though!

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

What can I say, I'm obsessed.