Yu-Gi-Oh! Fan Fiction ❯ Return of the Demon ❯ Jealousy and Misunderstandings ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Solitaire: We got reviews! ::does happy dance::

Xpyne: I'm so excited! I'm so excited! We actually got reviewed!

Solitaire: I know! I was really worried that no one would read it... v_v

Xpyne: I knew people would read it (train wreck syndrome: you have to look, even if it's horrible), but the positivity amazed me!

Seto: Positivity isn't a word.

Yugi: Be quiet.

Xpyne: You know what was so cool? Somebody actually cared about our plot. ::sticks tongue out at Solitaire:: Told ya it needed a plot.

Solitaire: Yeah, yeah...

Xpyne: Adrie was curious as to what we would make Grandpa's biggest fear. In the original draft, that scene was literally written with a "So Yugi rescued his grandfather and then..." Hehe, I was lazy. But because someone actually wanted to know, I wrote a 'Yugi goes into Grandpa's tomb' scene!

Solitaire: Yeah, we talked about what his biggest fear should be, and we decided on my idea. Um, it's not supposed to be funny, but it kind of ended up that way. So when you're trying not to laugh, just remember: it's supposed to be sad to Grandpa.

Xpyne: ::snicker:: I drew a picture to go with it.

Solitaire: I laughed so hard, I couldn't breathe! It's really scary. ::rolling on the floor laughing::

Yami: I found it disturbing.

Xpyne: Anyway... I totally made up a lot of stuff 'rule-wise' about how the Shadow Realm works and Yugi Yami's whole 'Millennium power' thing.

Solitaire: She pretty much pulled that out of her ass.

Xpyne: Hey! I thought it was clever! ...Wasn't it? o_o`

Solitaire: Hey, I'm not bagging on you; I'm just glad I didn't have to do it.

Xpyne: Unfortunately, all the junk leading up to Gramp's rescue is so long, we don't even really get to it in this chapter! But rest assured, it's already been written and just needs to be typed up. So let's get to the story so we can find out what happens!! Yami?

Yami: ::sighs:: Xpyne and Solitaire don't own Yu-Gi-Oh!, or, um, anything... So suing them would be pointless.

Seto: ::gives Xpyne and Solitaire suspicious looks:: You're not going to do anything sick to me in this chapter, are you?

Xpyne: Not in this chapter... ::winks:: Oh, and I'm soooo sorry everyone, but like I said, this chapter is a lot longer than we thought it would be, so there isn't really any lemon yet-- it's coming, I swear! ~_~` So..um..enjoy the build up?

Yugi: ::mutters:: Evil women...

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Chapter 2 - Jealousy and Misunderstandings

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they were finally out in the sunshine once again. As they all stopped in a clearing to wait anxiously for Yugi to wake up, Seto stooped to lay him gently on the grass. He would have lain Yugi down on his trench coat, if he hadn't needed it for reasons that would become all too apparent to the other boy's friends if he were to remove it.

Without realizing what he was doing, Seto tenderly brushed Yugi's golden bangs from his face. He froze and could have kicked himself when he heard a burst of laughter behind him. <Damnit! Why did I do that?!> Whirling around, he found Ryou's eyes on him and a blank expression on his face. He didn't know the snowy-haired boy very well, but such harsh laughter seemed out of character for him.

"What?" Seto snapped at him angrily.

"Nothing," answered Ryou innocently. "...I was just wondering when the wedding was."

His friends turned to stare at him, confused, as a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Stepping around a stunned Kaiba, Ryou bent and reached for the puzzle around Yugi's neck.

"Hey! What're think yer doin'?" demanded Joey. "Without his Millennium puzzle, Yuug might not be able to get back!"

The smaller boy cocked an eyebrow. "Wouldn't that be a shame..." His wrist was suddenly seized in a powerful grip, and he growled in frustration, his hair becoming messier and his eyes sharper.

"Yami Bakura--" Yami Yugi frowned threateningly.

Wrenching his wrist from Yami Yugi's grasp he stood with a malicious grin. "Well, you can't blame me for trying, Yugi."

"Yami Bakura?!" Joey and Honda shouted, eyes wide, as they ran to hide behind Mai.

"But I thought that was just a dream!" exclaimed Tea. Bakura shot her a scathing look.

"Dolt."

There was a flash of light from Ryou's ring and suddenly he was gazing at them with large, innocent brown eyes. With a disheartened expression, he lowered his head. "Oh dear. I'm afraid my Yami is back..."

Mai crossed her arms. "Yeah, we got that. But who is this Yami Bakura, anyway?"

Feeling brave now that Bakura was gone, Joey stepped out from behind Mai. "He's an evil spirit that possessed Ryou and tried to kill us!"

"Yeah," Honda added, "he trapped us in a Duel Monsters game and Yugi had to play for our souls!"

Mai blinked and was silent for a moment. "I told you not to cook those candy bars with the wrapper on, Joey; the chemicals in the plastic must have melted into the chocolate and rotted your brain."

"What?!" Joey was outraged. "Why you--"

Kaiba was starting to get a headache from all the bickering. "Shut up, all of you!" he shouted. He turned to the boy on the ground, who had reverted back to Yugi. "Yugi. Are you alright?"

The smaller teen sat up, holding his head. "I think so." Glancing up at Seto, he blushed, remembering his conversation with his Yami. A thought struck him. "What about Pegasus?"

"Eh, good riddance," Joey said. "Let's hope he never comes back!"

Reminded of something, Yugi reached into his pocket and brought out the Millennium eye. Glancing around at all his friends, his gaze settled on Joey. He held the eye out to him. "Here, Joey. Hold onto this until we can decide what we should do with it. I don't think one person should have too many Millennium items." Yugi's eyes shifted to Ryou nervously. "And watch out for Yami Bakura; he'll probably try to take it from you."

Joey took the eye and dropped it in the pocket of his jeans. "Sure thing, Yuug. This thing's safe with me!"

Tea crossed her arms and tilted her head. "Somehow, I doubt that." Joey shot her a glare.

Mokuba tugged on Seto's sleeve. "Can we go now, big brother?" Seto nodded and stood, unbuttoning his coat. Yugi stood as well.

"Yugi, I...I don't know how to repay you for what you've done for Mokuba and me. I-- I want you to have this." Reaching into his pocket, he removed his duel monsters deck and shuffled through it, pulling out a card and handing it to Yugi. Yugi's eyes widened.

"Your Blue Eyes White Dragon!?" Joey, Honda, Tea, Mai, and Ryou gasped. "Kaiba-- I can't accept this."

Seto dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "I have two others. And I did rip up your grandfather's."

Yugi looked up at him with large eyes. "But Kaiba, you won't be able to make your Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon!"

Seto grunted. "What does it matter? You're the only one I've ever had to use it against, and you still would have defeated me..."

Shaking his head, Yugi pressed the card back into Kaiba's hand. "There's only one thing I want from you, Seto," he told him quietly. The taller boy gulped.

"Name it. Anything you want!" <Oh, if only we both wanted the same thing.>

Yugi's violet eyes captured the brunette's deep blue ones, and Seto saw no ulterior motive there, something he came across rarely.

"Just your friendship."

Seto's eyes widened in disbelief. "My friendship--!" He turned away abruptly. <After all I've done to him and his friends, to his grandfather; I offer him any reward he can imagine-- and he wants my friendship??> Turning back to Yugi, he eyed him uncertainly for a moment, emotions warring inside him. Finally, he gave Yugi a small smile and held out his hand.

"Holy cow!" Joey pretended to fall over from shock. "Did Seto Kaiba actually smile?"

Yugi's eyes lit up and he giggled, ignoring Seto's offered hand to throw his arms around his waist in a hug. The brunette boy stumbled, panicked slightly by such affection from the smaller teen. Seeing his brother's expression, Mokuba laughed.

"I don't think anyone has ever hugged Seto but me!"

As Yugi peered up at him expectantly, cheek pressed against his stomach, Kaiba was torn as to how to react. Should he hug Yugi back, in front of all his friends, effectively destroying the tough, ruthless image he'd spent almost his whole life building? Or stoically receive the embrace, risking a friendship formed only moments ago? Looking down at Yugi, he sighed. <He's just too damn adorable.>

Kneeling, Kaiba wrapped his arms around the other boy, who laughed delightedly and buried his face in his chest. Yugi's friends watched the exchange in shock.

"Well I never thought I'd see the day," remarked Mai. Ryou was smiling, and Honda just shook his head. Joey, who was wondering if maybe Yugi's hadn't put someone else's soul in Kaiba's body by mistake, saw Tea looking like she was gearing up for another speech on friendship. At the last second, Mai managed to distract her.

"Uh, hey Tea-- is that a hurt squirrel?"

"Where??"

Seto inhaled deeply, relishing the scent and feel of the soft little body as it molded to his.

"Oh get a room, will you two?"

Everyone spun to see Yami Bakura standing where Ryou had been a moment ago, arms crossed and with his ever present sneer. "I was hoping to get off this god-forsaken island sometime today."

Seto quickly stood and Yugi frowned at Ryou's darker half.

"My Yami and I warned you to be nice, Bakura."

"Yes, yes," he snapped. "I haven't done anything yet, have I?"

Yugi gave him a wary look. "Just make sure that you don't. Now let Ryou back in control."

Bakura made a noise of disgust. "That weakling? Forget it! I'm sticking around until you morons get your act together to get us back to civilization."

Tea shaded her eyes. "Hey! There's a ship down on the beach, and it looks like it's boarding passengers!"

"We'd better hurry if we're gonna make it," Honda pointed out.

"I am not riding on a boat," Bakura declared.

"What!?" Joey exclaimed. "Why not?"

"Because Ryou gets seasick, that's why! The trip over here was bad enough..."

Surprising everyone, Yugi scowled and grabbed Bakura by the collar and yanked him roughly down to his level. "Go back in your soul room and let Ryou deal with it or take some Dramamine! You're getting on that boat," he ordered sternly, throwing the tomb raider back a little. Bakura adjusted his cardigan as he caught his balance and glared down at Yugi. "And you're getting on it NOW."

Stunned silence hung in the air.

\ I can't believe I just did that! \

\\ I can. After he ruined our hug with Seto? You should have thrown him in the mud. \\

\ Yami! I'd have only hurt my friend, Ryou! Violence is never the right choice. \

\\ Hmm. \\

Mai broke the tension with what everyone else was thinking. "Whoa! Yugi, what's gotten into you?"

\ Some Yami, for one thing! We shouldn't let him get to us like that. \

Bakura brushed an imaginary piece of lint from his shoulder. "Hunh. Yami Yugi just doesn't like it when I pick on his boyfriend. I've had enough of you fools. Ryou can puke his guts out. I don't care." With that, Ryou's breath caught and he drew his hands to his mouth.

"I'm terribly sorry, everyone! I simply can't believe what a jerk my Yami is. Let's get on the boat quick, before it leaves!" he exclaimed. In agreement, the whole group took off quickly, heading towards the ship at a fast trot. Seto, who had casually re-buttoned his coat despite the heat, stopped Yugi with a hand on his shoulder.

"Yugi... your grandfather--"

"Is still in the Shadow Realm. But I have to get to his body in the hospital before I can restore his soul."

"If you like, I could fly you there in my helicopter-- We'd get there much faster."

"Really?" Yugi asked anxiously. "I don't want him to suffer any longer than necessary! Guys!" he called to his friends. "Guys, Seto is flying me to Grandpa's body! I'll meet up with you all at the game shop as soon as you reach the mainland."

"Hey! What's the big idea?" Joey wanted to know. "Why doesn't Kaiba just fly us all home?"

"Because you won't all fit, you--" Seto bit his tongue. He had to try to be nice to Yugi's friends. Even Joey. "There's only room for three passengers besides the pilot."

"Yeah! Yer brother, Yugi, an' me!"

Seto clenched his fist behind his back. <Why that arrogant little--> "If that's what you want," he growled through his teeth.

"No, Joey!" Yugi ran up to his friend, placing a hand on his arm. "You have to stay with the others and make sure Yami Bakura doesn't try to hurt Mai or Tea."

Joey looked back over his shoulder at Mai, who was currently hitting Honda over the head with her bag because of something he'd said about her having a bad attitude. "I don't think Mai's the one who needs protecting."

"I'd really feel better if you came with us, Joey," Ryou admitted timidly. "I don't think Honda alone could handle my Yami if he decided to take over again."

The blonde made a face. An image of Bakura hurting Honda, Tea, or even Mai flashed through his mind. "Eh, I don't like it, but alright Yuug. Don't worry, Ryou-- Honda and I will make sure that crazy Yami of yours doesn't try anything." Ryou smiled, looking relieved, and took off after the others. Joey turned to follow, but not before glancing back uneasily one last time. Yugi waved enthusiastically and Joey could have sworn he saw a smirk on Kaiba's face.

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"Buckle up," Seto told Yugi and his brother as they settled themselves into the back seat.

"Wow, Seto," Yugi marveled, "it's so cool that you know how to fly a helicopter! Is there anything you can't do?"

Kaiba swallowed and wouldn't look up as he started the ignition. "Yes," he answered cryptically.

Confused, Yugi glanced to Mokuba. The younger brother retorted, "You can too do anything, Seto! You're the greatest!"

As they flew over the ship, Mokuba and Yugi pressed their faces to the window and waved to their friends on the deck.

\\ I wonder if it was such a good idea to give Joey the Millennium eye. \\

Yugi sat back, surprised at his Yami. \ I trust Joey. \

\\ It is not Joey whom I do not trust, aibou. \\

\ Well, Honda, Joey, and Mai will be a tough team to beat, even for Bakura. \

\\ I hope you are right. \\

It wasn't long before Yugi began to feel the effects of his efforts that day. <Between getting trapped in the caves by Bandit Keith, battling the Paradox brothers, my duel with Seto Kaiba and the breakdown I had after my defeat, watching the nerve-wracking duel between Seto and Pegasus, my own match with Pegasus, several trips though the Shadow Realm, and of course the strain of retrieving four souls from the graveyard, it's a wonder I can still keep my eyes open!> But perhaps he had spoken too soon, as within minutes Yugi did fall asleep. Mokuba was quick to follow suit.

Kaiba sat silently piloting the aircraft. <Maybe I should try and make conversation. This is a rather boring flight...nothing but ocean in sight.> He groaned mentally. <I'm not good at this kind of thing! >

He glanced back at Yugi and was surprised to see him curled up asleep in his chair. Mokuba was passed out as well. <How can they sleep with the noise of the helicopter??> It was beyond Seto. Shaking his head, he returned his attention to flying. Frowning, Kaiba switched the craft to auto pilot and leaned back. <At least I'm off the hook from attempting small talk.> Somehow, this thought didn't please him as much as he'd thought it would. <Did I actually want to have a conversation with Yugi?> He made a face as he admitted the answer to that question: yes.

Even Mokuba was asleep. Talking to his little brother would have distracted him from...other thoughts. He glanced down at his treacherous, half-hard arousal. He bit back a groan remembering the feel of Yugi in his arms, the way his rear had been so close to his face, the touch of the boy's hip to his cheek as he carried him. He turned around to stare at the sleeping teen.

<He's so small.> His gaze traveled to where he would never let it when Yugi or his friends might see. Studying the tightly clothed area of interest, he smirked. <Not everywhere, it appears.> He whipped back around and smacked his head repeatedly against the headrest of his seat.

<Cut it out! Get a hold of yourself! Have some self-control!> He sat there for a moment before peeking around his seat to stare at Yugi some more. <Well,> he rationalized,

He committed every detail to memory--from the number of golden streaks his unusual hair contained to the brand of his small sneakers. --Sneakers? Doesn't he wear black boots? Seto shook his head. He must have been imagining things--like during their first duel. He could have sworn Yugi had become taller and darker, his innocence and passion turning into self-assured determination and regality.

<It's strange, but I can't help but feel there are two sides to Yugi--sides so different, so opposite as light and dark--that he even changes physically between the two.> There was no question that it was Yugi's dark, powerful, and confident side that had initially attracted Seto, but the brighter, friendlier, more innocent part of Yugi was quickly becoming just as appealing to the older Kaiba boy. That side he could not conquer, that would have risked their lives to win, that was commanding and dominating enthralled him, kept him up at night even. But his softer side, the one that hugged him! The one that showed him compassion and mercy... Kaiba scowled a little.

Women had always appealed to him--Yugi was just special. Yugi Muto was something altogether different. Seto grinned. The thought of Yami Yugi submitting to him, being his bitch, was so incredibly hot. Fantasies of dominating the boy before him caused him to bite the inside of his cheek and press down a bit on the unbearable pressure in his groin.

Moaning, he tore his eyes from the little angel and turned around in his seat, vowing not to look back again at the defenseless, slightly snoring hotness behind him. (A/N, Sol: I sooo object to Xpyne's use of that "word", but for the life of me, I couldn't think of a better one.) It was too much. Seto sighed, cursing his sexual frustration under his breath.

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Joey sat, eyes closed against the setting sun, trying to relax out on the deck. He could still hear Mai yelling at Honda for who-knows-what and it was giving him a headache. Finally, she finished and left in a huff. <Ahh! Some peace 'n quiet now!> Yet he'd only relaxed for a few moments when he heard hurrying feet race by him to thump into the railing.

"Bu-agggh-ooo-ahh!"

Joey grimaced as he opened his eyes and stood.

"Ill again Ryou? Man, yer yami wasn't kiddin' when he said you get seasick!"

Ryou raised his head weakly, long white hair hanging in his face.

"Yes, I'm afraid I'm rather miserable on boats." He turned to dry heave over the side; he had nothing left to throw up. He straightened, trembling a bit as he pushed his hair back and took a step forward. Suddenly, his large, chocolate eyes opened wide and he gasped, drawing a hand to his chest.

"Uh, you okay, there?"

"Uh--yes," he answered flatly, a harsh edge to his tone that made Joey suspicious. The white haired boy snuck a glance at him with slanted eyes. He took another step forward before his knees gave out and he swooned. Joey reached out and caught him.

He clung to Joey, pressing himself to the taller boy's chest. He looked up into the blonde's eyes with an appraising stare.

"Thank you-- " he began smoothly, "my, you are an impressive specimen."

"Uh--HEY!!!"

Yami Bakura's hand had slipped down to cup Joey's crotch before sliding roughly over his pants to slip into his pocket.

"I don't think so, man! Get yer mitts off me!" Joey cried, yanking Bakura's right hand away from him and jumping as his left groped his ass, feeling for the Millennium eye in his back pockets. Joey shoved him and the boy landed grinning evilly at his feet.

"Is that the Millennium eye in your pocket or did you like that as much as I did?"

"Ahh!" Joey stumbled away, wide-eyed and red faced.

The sensual grin was wiped off his face abruptly as he clasped his hand over his mouth and scrambled to heave over the side again. Joey stood there gaping and began backing away slowly. Bakura wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and growled.

"Ryou, you weakling, you can't even handle traveling!" He clutched his stomach and moaned. "Oh, I've had about enough of this!" With a look of intense concentration, he grasped the millennium ring and his face contorted with his exertions. Before Joey's eyes, Bakura and his ring began to glow and his hair was blown back as if by a strong wind, despite the still air. Suddenly, there were TWO Bakuras: one with large doe eyes and the millennium ring around his neck, and another with messy hair, no ring, and a sneer on his face.

"Whaa?!" was all Joey could muster.

Ryou sat holding his head and his stomach while his yami reached eagerly for the ring. But as soon as his hand neared the item, it glowed blindingly and drove him back. So instead he grabbed Ryou by his collar and yanked him to him.

"Give me the ring, Ryou!" he snarled.

"I--I--No! It's mine...and you can't have it." The last part came out rather timidly.

"Then I'll just pry it from your foolish neck!"

"You can't! You can't steal a millennium item from your other half. It will repel you," Ryou wavered.

Bakura scowled. He knew his light was right. "Well, I can still beat you for betraying me," he said, more to himself than Ryou. With that he raised his hand and grunted.

::SMACK!::

"Ahh!" Ryou began crying as his Yami struck him repeatedly.

"Just what do you think ya're doin'?!" Joey shouted, tackling Bakura. Fist raised, he straddled the tomb raider and held his head still by balling his other hand in his long platinum locks. "You mess with my friends, you mess with me!"

"Oh, so you wanna mess around?" Bakura asked slyly. "Fine by me." With a malicious smile, he bucked his hips on which Joey was seated.

"Ahhhh! You crazy--" Joey couldn't think of a way to finish that as he scrambled off Bakura like he was the plague. The dark one snickered.

"You okay, Ryou?" Joey asked worriedly, pulling his friend up off the ground. Ryou's head lolled on his shoulder and he sniffed wetly. One eye was blackening and his nose was bleeding, turning sections of his hair pink.

"Ohh! Keep him away from me!" he cried anguished, throwing his arms around the blonde for protection. He sagged and attempted to support himself a few times before giving up on standing and letting Joey hold him up. To the other boy's extreme embarrassment, the friction Ryou's stumbling created excited parts of him against his will. Glancing around he noticed that between Bakura's violent behavior, Ryou's sobbing, and his own shouting, they were starting to attract quite a bit of attention.

"Uh, Honda, you'd better get over here..." he called out to his friend. Bakura got up from the deck and started advancing on Joey and Ryou with a predatory gleam in his eyes. Joey pushed a still whimpering Ryou behind him. "Hey man, back off!" His head whipped around. "Honda!!" <Where is he?>

Bakura continued toward the pair, smirking. "I--OW!" He was stopped abruptly as Mai ran up behind him and grabbed him by the hair. He whirled on her, snarling. "You're going to pay for that, you little twit-- "

"Don't even *think* about touchin' her, you jerk!!" Joey hollered, although with a near limp Ryou leaning on his back, he wasn't in a position to stop much. Mai backed up against the railing and cocked her fists as Bakura growled and turned on her.

"I don't think so!" Honda shouted, seizing Bakura from behind, pinning his arms to his sides. Bakura struggled, letting out a string of curses as Joey waved away the crowd that had formed.

"Alright people, nothin' t' see here!" Joey glanced from Bakura to Ryou, who had his head tipped back and was pinching his nose to staunch the flow of blood. "Uh, Honda, you take Yami Bakura there some place far away from Ryou."

Honda nodded. "Right!" Gripping the evil Bakura by the arm, he dragged him towards the opposite end of the ship.

Joey turned to the snowy haired boy. "Eh, come on, Ryou, let's get you cleaned up." They began walking to Ryou's room and he wiped at his tears with his free hand.

"My Yabi's right," he sighed sadly. "I ab a weaklink."

"Don't say that, Ryou," Joey admonished him, putting an arm over his shoulder comfortingly. "You wouldn't want to be like him anyway, would you? He's mean an' nasty an' violent..." <...and grabby...> He couldn't help remembering Bakura's hands all over him as he was searching for the millennium eye.

"I subose you're right," admitted Ryou. He released his nose and sniffed experimentally. "I just wish he was nice to me, like Yugi's yami is to him."

Joey shrugged. "Eh, what're ya gonna do? Some people are just jerks-- " He was cut off by the sound of sneakers pounding the deck and looked up just in time to see Bakura go streaking by, then Mai and Honda, hot on his heels.

"Come on, let's hurry up," the blonde advised Ryou a little nervously as he led him towards the door to the sleeping cabins. Since their group was among the very last left on the island, they'd all been able to obtain some of the luxury suites that had been reserved for top-ranked duelists on the trip over to Pegasus's competition.

As soon as they rounded the corner they saw Bakura racing towards them. Ryou cried out, throwing his hands over his face in expectation of the impact. When it never came, he opened an eye cautiously.

"Where did he go?" he inquired in surprise.

Joey frowned. "Into the ring--like the big coward that he is!" he shouted at the millennium item around the other boy's neck. Ryou's eyes slanted as Bakura took over. He grabbed a fist full of Joey's shirt and shoved him hard against the wall.

"Care to repeat that, Joey?" The blonde boy was silent and gulped nervously. Bakura sneered at him. "That's what I thought." Looking Joey up and down, he began to release him when, almost as an after thought, he crushed his mouth to Joey's, banging his head into the wall behind him. Joey moaned as Bakura stuck his tongue down his throat, telling himself it was in response to the pain in his head and not something else. Frozen in shock, he could taste the blood in Ryou's mouth from his beating. Suddenly, footsteps hurried around the corner and Bakura pulled back abruptly. He grinned seductively.

"I will be back for the Millennium eye, Joey Katsuya," he warned him before disappearing, leaving a mortified Ryou pressed tightly against him, with Honda and Mai staring on in shock. Ryou yelped, releasing Joey and backing away quickly.

"I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry!"

Free from Bakura's grasp, Joey slid down the wall to land with a thump on the deck. "Ow." He pulled his knees up, hugging them to himself. Mai looked down at him with wide eyes.

"Joey, are you okay??"

"Yeah, just peachy," he muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

Honda held out a hand. "Need some help?"

"Uh, gimme a second," he stalled. The last thing he needed was everyone seeing how Ryou's yami had affected him. <It's crazy! He's a psycho--not to mention, a guy!> He wasn't... 'that way', was he? "Boy, he really did a number on me..."

Mai snorted, raising an eyebrow. "I'll say..."

"Hey!" Joey glared at her. "What's that supposed ta mean?? And, by the way, great job of keepin' an eye on Bakura."

The girl placed her hands on her hips with a frown. "All I'm saying is that from where I was standing, it looked like he was eating your face. And you didn't exactly seem desperate to shove him off!"

Honda glanced from Mai to Joey incredulously. Did Mai actually sound...jealous?

As Mai and Joey got into a loud argument, Ryou slipped off to his room. Running a towel under the bathroom faucet, he dabbed gingerly at the cuts on his face, trying not to whimper, as he knew it would only anger his Yami. He rinsed the streaks of blood from his ivory hair and stared dismally at his reflection. There was a flash of light from his ring and suddenly Bakura was standing behind him, frowning.

"You really are a pitiful sight, Ryou."

The lighter one lowered his eyes. "Wh--why won't you leave me and my friends alone?" he asked, his voice barely audible. Bakura crossed his arms and sneered.

"After 5000 years, its gets a little boring sitting in my soul room all day. How better to entertain myself than by torturing my pathetic light and his loser friends?"

Tears welled in Ryou's eyes. "If you hate me so much, why don't you just take the ring and leave? I'll give it to you--"

Bakura's eyes widened in shock. "Who ever said I hated you?" he demanded.

Ryou looked up, confused. "I--but--you always hit me!"

His dark half shifted his weight uncomfortably. "It's for your own good."

Ryou whirled around. "How is this," he pointed to his black eye, "for my own good?"

"You're too weak, Ryou. People will take advantage of you. Look at you--you even offered me your millennium ring."

The softer boy left the bathroom and dropped down onto the bed. "I just want you to be happy so you'll leave me and my friends alone. What you did to Joey--" He turned, trying to hide his blush. "That wasn't very nice."

Bakura came and sat next to his other half with a malicious grin. "You mean 'what we did to Joey'." He laughed as Ryou blushed brighter. "Don't worry; I think he liked it. And I think you did, too."

The other buried his face in his hands. "Joey is my friend. Please don't--"

"'Don't' what?" Bakura smirked. "Molest him for you?"

Ryou's head snapped up as he stared at his other in horror. "YAMI!!"

"What?" he asked innocently. Oh, torturing Ryou mentally was much more fun than doing so physically. He gave the appearance of being deep in thought. "Alright. I'll leave Joey alone...for now. I can't guarantee anything once we're off this boat. But--" He turned and eyes Ryou critically. Ryou held his breath.

he thought nervously. There was always a catch when it came to his yami.

"...Since I can't play with him, I just may have to take you." The corner of his mouth twitched upwards.

"What?!" Ryou gasped, terrified, and a little excited. When his Yami wasn't trying to hurt him or possess him, he was actually quite fond of him. He would never tell this to Bakura, of course, because it would probably just result in more beatings. "Wha--what if I refuse?" he inquired fearfully.

Bakura leered at him. "You won't have a choice." He leaned over his light until he was flat on his back, boxed in by his darker half's arms. "But I think you'll give yourself to me willingly..." Ryou stared up at him wide-eyed and his breathing became more shallow. Grinning evilly, Bakura bent to lick his other's slightly parted lips. Ryou couldn't help the whimper that escaped him.

"Oh, you like that, do you?" Bakura asked slyly. Ryou dropped his eyes and blushed. His Yami snickered. "Well I--"

He was interrupted by hesitant knocking. Pulling back abruptly, he glared at the door, then at Ryou. "Whoever it is, get rid of them!" There was a flash of light as he disappeared into the ring.

Stumbling a little as he crossed the room, Ryou peeked out from behind the door to see Joey standing in the hallway, looking uncomfortable.

"Uh, hey Ryou." He grinned sheepishly with a hand behind his head. "You took off back there, an' I was just makin' sure you were okay."

The white haired boy sweatdropped. "Oh," he laughed nervously, "yes, my Yami and I had a talk, and he promised he'd leave you alone."

\\ Hey! I never said I promised! \\

Joey raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, but I have to say, that doesn't make me feel all that much safer. Yer yami doesn't exactly seem the type to keep promises."

\\ Smart boy. \\

"Eh, what about you, Ryou? He's not gonna wail on ya again, is he?" He tried to peer into the room.

Ryou fidgeted. "N-no. In fact, I think he's in a good mood right now."

Joey laughed. "How c'n ya tell?"

\\ Ryou! \\ Ryou jumped. \\ Are you going to stand here and tell him our life story?! Tell him to leave! ...Unless you think he'd like to join us... \\

<Oh dear!> "Uh, sorry Joey, but I have to go." Ryou looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Are you alright?" the other boy asked with concern.

"Yes, um, seasickness, you know..."

Joey nodded. "Well, I hope you feel--" The door slammed in his face. "...better." Shaking his head, Joey walked back towards his own room. He hoped Bakura wasn't giving Ryou a hard time. Lucky for him, the dark one hadn't been there when he stopped by to check on his friend; he didn't think he could handle any more sexual assaults today. It was kind of unnerving. Joey's thoughts turned to a certain blonde girl. <Aggressive can be good.> He smiled until he realized what he was thinking. <Ah! Cut dat out, Joey, she obviously ain't interested in you the way she always yells at ya.>

Closing the door to his room behind him, Joey shirked his trademark green jacket and tried to remember where he'd hidden the millennium eye. <Oh yea, I put it in my duelin' glove!> He was glad he didn't have to wear that bulky thing anymore. Sure it looked cool, but the wrist clamp could get in the way sometimes: like when he'd been teasing Mai, playing keep away with her star chips Yugi'd won back for her from Panik. (A/N: yes, this actually happened in an episode in case you haven't seen it, and no, don't point out to me whether or not Joey gave Mai her chips with his gloved hand cuz I can't remember and I'm saying he did >.< ) When Joey'd clasped her hand, pressing the chips into her palm, he'd been standing so close to her, her chest brushing against his... if that metal contraption hadn't caused him to angle his hand awkwardly, their arms would have been flush against each other's-- <Waitaminute! Why da heck do I care?! I don't! Yeah, dat's right..> Joey glanced furtively around his empty room, as if someone could be listening in on his thoughts. <Mai is loud, annoying, shallow, vain, mean-- but she can be nice sometimes- and she's not always annoying- and she did show some depth when she offered Yuug dem star chips (A/N: Mmhmm, she did.)-- an' how can a guy expect her ta not be a little vain, since she's so pretty an' all--> Joey blinked. He wasn't helping himself out here. Groaning, he removed his shoes, socks, and pants before lying down. <She's definitely loud, thou.>

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Touching down on the helicopter pad behind the mansion, Seto cut the engine and hopped out of the helicopter. As several servants ran up despite the late hour, he barked orders for Mokuba to be taken to bed and the limo brought around immediately.

Kaiba hated to wake Yugi; he looked so peaceful. He shook the smaller boy's shoulders. Yugi yawned and blinked sleepily at Seto. "Where are we?"

"At my mansion," he answered tersely. "Come on, we'll take the limo to the hospital where your grandfather is." He hated to be so short with Yugi, but he was tired and irritable after flying for so long, not to mention his losing battle against his hard on almost the entire time. Disgusted with himself on so many levels, Seto motioned for Yugi to follow him and started around to the front where their ride would be waiting.

Opening the car door for Yugi, he mentally debated for a moment before deciding it was probably safer to sit across from the other boy, rather than next to him, and slipped in as well. "The hospital," he snapped at his driver as he sat down.

For several minutes the two sat in awkward silence, Kaiba staring out the window and Yugi looking down at his feet.

\\ ...Maybe you should try to start a conversation. \\

\ What would I say? \

\\ I don't know. Anything. Maybe you should ask how he's doing. He looks pretty stressed out. \\

\ Maybe I should just ask if he's seeing anyone right now, huh? \ he asked his Yami slyly.

\\ ...We're not doing anything Friday. \\

Yugi's eyes widened slightly in shock. \ Yami! I was kidding! \

\\ Well, why not? \\

Yugi snuck a glance up at Kaiba and was surprised to find him staring at him. The brunette boy's eyes quickly darted back to the window, and Yugi couldn't be sure in the darkened interior of the limo, but it almost looked like Seto had blushed slightly.

Yugi made a noise of frustration mentally at his yami. \ Because. Even if I did like him-- \ Yugi fought to keep his own blush from rising to his cheeks. \ There's no way someone like him could ever have feelings for me. He's rich and powerful-- he could have anyone he wanted. He probably likes beautiful, exotic, sophisticated women... \

Yami was silent for a moment. \\ I have three out of four. \\

Yugi frowned outwardly. He really hated it when his Yami got like this...

\ Why don't YOU ask him out then? \

He heard Yami chuckle in his head. \\ Aibou, are you jealous? \\

\ No! \

\\ Do not worry, aibou. You will always be first in my heart. But Seto... \\ Yami conveyed some of the lust he was feeling, and Yugi was appalled; not only at his yami's brazenness, but at the fact that he recognized the feeling as the same one he himself had felt (though perhaps not as powerful) when he first saw Seto again on Pegasus's island.

\ Yami! What has gotten into you? \

\\ Sorry aibou, but I've been trapped in this puzzle for 5000 years, and Seto Kaiba is an undeniably attractive man. \\

Yugi's face fell. \ You don't like being a part of me? \

\\ Of course I do, \\ Yami reassured him. \\ It's just that sometimes I wish I had a body of my own...for obvious reasons. Seto is not the only one in this car that I would like to have for my lover. \\

Yugi would have fallen out of his seat had he not been buckled in. Did his Yami just imply what he thought he implied?!

Noticing the panicked expression on the other boy's face, Seto's brow furrowed in concern. "Are you alright, Yugi?"

Yugi started guiltily. "I was just talking to my Yami," he offered with a sheepish smile. "And anyway, I should be asking you the same thing; you've had a pretty rough day."

Seto shook his head in amazement. Yugi must have been through three times what he had in the past 24 hours, yet here he was, concerned about his well-being. "I'll be fine once I fire my board of directors," he mumbled. But god, the paperwork that would entail. Not to mention having to take on the entire workload until he could find qualified replacements. He sighed wearily. Sometimes he wished he could just be a normal kid like Yugi and his friends--no company to run, no fortune to maintain, no lonely, endless days filled with nothing but work... He did it all for Mokuba. The last thing in the world he wanted was for Mokuba to have to live a life like his. Pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind, he refocused his gaze on Yugi, who was watching him worriedly.

"Are you hungry?" Seto asked, if for no other reason than to change the subject. He knew he was famished, and figured Yugi had to be as well. <It didn't exactly look like Pegasus had buffet tables set up around the island.> He pointed. "There's a mini-bar."

The smaller teen shook his head, declining politely. He knew he should be hungry, but he was too nervous about his grandfather.

\\ Aibou, you should eat something. \\

\ I'm not hungry, Yami. \

He heard his yami sigh. \\ Yes you are; you just don't know it. \\

\ Really, I'm not hungry. \ he insisted.

\\ Don't make me do this, aibou... \\

\ Do what? \ His question was answered as he felt Yami take control. He sighed. \ You can be so stubborn sometimes! \

\\ So can you. \\

Seto had been riffling through the small refrigerator and hadn't seen the trade take place. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I have sandwiches, cheese and crackers, nuts, fruit--"

"What kind of fruit?"

Seto straightened and turned, startled by the deep voice. Instead of the small, innocent little angel that had been sitting across from him a moment ago, he saw the confident, aggressive, sensual Yugi that had, more than once, caused him to wake up cold and wet. "Y-Yami?" He felt a little ridiculous talking to Yugi as if he was another person.

Yami looked him up and down before meeting his eyes smoothly. "Yes?" he smirked.

Seto swallowed. Why did he feel as if he were being evaluated like a piece of meat? He shifted his attention to the mini-bar once again. "Apple, peach, orange--"

"I'd like a peach," Yami interrupted. Kaiba nodded, grabbing a peach and a sandwich for himself. He handed the fruit to the other boy, his eyes never leaving the amethyst ones. When their fingers brushed, Kaiba bit his lip.

"Sometimes my light doesn't care for himself as well as he should," he offered by way of explanation for his presence. "He really needs to eat..." Yami frowned. Seto was transfixed. Was Yami on the verge of sharing something with him?

<I'd like to 'take care of' Yugi.> Seto thought. <Ahh! Stop that!>

The yami looked up abruptly, his violet gaze boring into Seto's azure stare. "Sometimes I worry he pushes himself too much. Sometimes I fear I push him too much... Today's strenuous expeditions through different realities will not pass without creating adverse effects. He is special to me in so many ways." Suddenly his dark demeanor changed and he leaned back smiling ruefully. "The same, however, could be said of you, Kaiba."

Seto choked on his sandwich. <Did he just call me special?!?!>

"That you push yourself too hard," Yami elaborated.

<Damn.> Seto narrowed his eyes. Was he imagining it or was Yami Yugi smirking?

The dark one began to eat the peach now. Seto watched as Yami Yugi casually bit into the soft skin and sucked on the excess juice. Yami glanced up as he lapped the dribbling sweetness with a little more flair of tongue than necessary. The taller teen had his eyes glued to his mouth. Restraining a smile, Yami sucked one sticky finger deliberately, drawing it all the way into his mouth, then letting it slide out slowly. Kaiba quickly turned his head to stare unseeing out the window.

Yami allowed himself a small satisfied smirk as he finished the fruit, while Yugi hid in his soul room in mortification.

\ Yami! I can't believe you did that! \

\\ Hmm. \\ His gaze slid nonchalantly to the other's lap. \\ Seto apparently liked it. \\

\ .....That's it! I'm never coming out of my soul room again! \

Yami couldn't help but laugh out loud, the sound of which brought Kaiba's indignant ice blues to him.

The multi color haired teen smiled innocently. "Just conversing with my hikari."

Seto shifted uncomfortably, his eyes darting away. "Oh."

Yami was about to say something else, but felt Yugi's distress and decided to have pity on the poor boy, relinquishing control to him. Yugi immediately blushed fiercely and was afraid to move a muscle, lest the slightest noise draw the brunette's attention back to him.

While Yugi was willing the plush leather seat to swallow him whole, Seto breathed a sigh of relief. "Here's the hospital."

He turned back to see Yugi shirking in his chair. <Is that a tinge of pink on his cheeks? Maybe it embarrasses him to have his dark side take care of him?> A horrifying thought occurred to him. <Maybe it embarrasses him to arouse his rival.> He adjusted his coat.

The driver pulled up to the front and Seto instructed him curtly to await their return there. He stepped quickly out of the vehicle and Yugi followed him. He walked fast and Yugi had to almost jog to keep up with the taller boy's stride. Seto burst through the front doors and stormed towards the elevator, Yugi close behind. A receptionist stood, surprised.

"Sir, you can't just--"

"I can and I am. I'm Seto Kaiba and I'm here on personal business."

The receptionist quickly sat again, mouth shut. Kaiba and Yugi entered the elevator and as the doors slid shut the billionaire practically growled, "Which floor?"

Yugi peered up at him timidly and punched the button for the fourth floor.

\ Look, you made him mad! \

\\ Did not. \\

\ You did, too! You shouldn't-- You shouldn't tease people like that. \

\\ Oh, so now I'm a tease, am I, aibou? \\

\ You know what? I wish you did have your own body. \

Yugi could sense his Yami's amusement, as well as his intrigue. \\ Really? \\

\ Yes, so I could strangle it. \ His yami only laughed. "Uhh!" he grunted in frustration. Kaiba looked down at him, surprised.

"What is it?"

"My--my Yami," he hesitated, not sure how much he dared tell the other boy.

<It's his yami. Not me.> Kaiba coughed to cover his grin. Regaining his composure, he did something he rarely ever attempted; he acted sympathetic. "Well Yugi, I think your Yami presence had the right idea."

\ WHAT!? \ Yugi blinked.

Seto continued. "Even though the stress of today may have taken away your hunger, your body still needs some food in it. It's a good thing that your yami made you eat that-- that peach." He gulped, memories of how erotically Yugi's dark side ate flooding his senses. Yugi simply stared up at Seto.

\\ It appears so. Hmm. \\

\ Wow! I was amazed when he actually accepted my friendship! This is great! ...Maybe... maybe this means there could be more to our relationship with Seto. \

The elevator doors opened with a 'ding'.

\\ Maybe this means I should try eating a banana... \\

\ Ahh! \ Yugi fell over. \ YAMI!!! \

"Yugi?" Seto raised a slender eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah, I--uh, tripped," he offered, clamoring to his feet. "This way! Room 503." As Yugi turned hurrying to lead the way, he ran smack into a pair of shapely hips.

"Oh!" Yugi and the surprised young woman exclaimed simultaneously. Seto frowned at the beautiful girl. He looked her up and down once, coldly, as he helped Yugi to his feet. She had long, wavy red hair pulled back in a ponytail under a white nurse's hat. If her large, slanted green eyes didn't show her anger, her small twitching nose and scowling pink lips did. She was almost as tall as Seto and was adjusting her pristine, starched white uniform when he, concerned, asked for the second time in as many minutes, "Are you alright?"

Her scowl disappeared as she replied, "Why yes, I think s--"

"I was talking to him," Kaiba interrupted. She fisted her hands and fumed, arms twitching, obviously furious at the young man's rudeness.

"Yes, I'm okay-- Miss, I am so sorry--" Yugi began.

"Arg! Just who do you think you are and what are you doing here?! Visiting hours are over!" she screamed at Seto. She paused briefly to look down at Yugi. His startled violet eyes were wide open. She touched his cheek gently and added, "Apology accepted, sweetie, thank you," before finishing her tirade at Seto. "So get out of here!!"

Seto glared at her. <How dare she touch him like that!> He haughtily ignored her and steered Yugi by the shoulders around her and down the corridor.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" she called irately.

"Room 503! Grandpa!" Yugi cried as he spotted the door. He ran to it and flung it open. The small teen rushed to the unconscious old man that lay on the bed, Seto and angry nurse in tow.

"Look, I already told you visiting hours are over! Don't make me call security!" she huffed, crossing her arms over her voluminous chest.

"Grandpa!" Yugi exclaimed, grabbing his lifeless hand in his own tiny ones. Seto and the nurse stood behind him, arguing.

"Do you have any idea who I am?"

"You're trespassing! You're--"

"I'm Seto Kaiba!"

"I don't care who you are--"

"Do you know who sells this hospital the latest 3-D x-ray machines, visual surgery equipment, and brain wave anomaly detectors?"

"Uh..."

He narrowed his eyes and pointed to the small label on a high tech machine that was in the corner.

"KaibaCorp."

She gulped.

"And who donates several million dollars to this hospital a year? The owner of KaibaCorp," he sneered at her.

"Oh, Mister Kaiba, I am so sorry! I--I-- please forgive--" Her stammering was cut short by the abrupt intrusion of a gold, black, and red blur as Yugi collapsed between them. Kaiba's arms shot out to grab him but the nurse was quicker.

"Oh!" she squealed and caught Yugi deftly before he could hit the ground.

<He must have gone back to the Shadow Realm.> Kaiba mused. The nurse was half carrying, half dragging the small male to the stiff hospital sofa against the wall. The brunette growled. He didn't like the way the insolent girl had Yugi's face buried in her breasts.

She sat on the couch and cradled his upper body in one arm as she checked his pulse with the other. While she felt him up and listened to his breathing, she questioned Seto. "Is he anemic? Epileptic? Is he prone to fainting spells? Is he on any medication?" She pulled back one of Yugi's lids and stared at his large amethyst eye. It was twitching back and forth as if he were dreaming. "What an unusual color," she spoke softly. Seto had had about enough of this.

He grabbed the nosy female roughly by the arm and jerked her to her feet, wincing as this caused Yugi's head to smack down, jarring his body. "No, no, not the way you're thinking, no, and who asked you?!" he practically yelled. "This is beyond your understanding and out of your professional realm."

"This boy needs life support! He's in a coma!"

"This boy is retrieving that old man's soul, and will be with us shortly."

The nurse stared at him blankly for a moment.

"Mister Kaiba, sir... our fine hospital has an extensive psychiatric ward, and--"

Seto was glad she was cut off by a decrepit sounding, "Yugi!!", as he would have started strangling her if she'd gone any further. Her eyes widened and she ran to the patient's side.

"Mr. Muto, you're awake!" she exclaimed.

"Yes, thank you Captain Obvious." Seto rolled his eyes.

"Where is my grandson?! Where is Yugi?" he demanded weakly. He turned his head and spotted the tiny figure on the sofa. He immediately became alarmed. "Yugi! Why is he unconscious? Kaiba??" His voice turned harsher, accusing even. "Oh, Seto Kaiba! You will pay for harming my grandson! What have you done?!"

Kaiba growled and it took nearly all his self-control to repress the violent urges he was experiencing. "Solomon, your grandson is fine. He's just in the Shadow Realm, where he rescued you?" he began condescendingly. "It just takes him a little longer to return than those he restores."

"Well, I'm taking him home until he wakes up! Then we'll see--"

"Oh, no. You're not going anywhere!" the buxom nurse warned, crossing her arms.

"I'm fine! And I'm leaving now! I've been without my Yugi and my shop long enough."

"You've been in a comma for a week and you're staying here another night until the doctors can examine you, whether you like it or not!"

For the first time this night Seto was glad the bossy nurse was there. "Sorry, Solomon. You heard the lady."

"But--"

"It's hospital policy," she huffed.

"Hospital policy," Seto echoed.

"Oh!!" Yugi's grandfather fumed. "Where are you going with Yugi?" he demanded, alarmed again. Honestly, that fact that Yugi hadn't awaken yet was starting to worry Seto, too, but he wasn't going to show it. He had lifted the boy's small limp body in his arms and was carrying him out the door when Yugi's grandpa had interrupted.

"I'm taking him back to my mansion, where his friends are meeting him after they arrive by boat."

"But that cute little boy needs--"

"You stay out of this if you like your job," Kaiba snarled at the redhead.

"Kaiba, I'm warning you..." Seto gave Solomon an appraising stare as he paused in the doorway with Yugi in his arms. "You hurt one hair on his head and I'll see that you get what you deserve!"

Kaiba nodded and left. <What is going on?> he wondered as he descended in the elevator. <Why hasn't Yugi returned?> Fear clenched his gut as he remembered Yami Yugi's stern words. < "Today's strenuous expeditions will not pass without creating adverse effects." Is this what he meant?? Did Yami Yugi knowingly sacrifice himself to save Mokuba, myself, and his grandfather?> Tears welled in his eyes as he crossed the entry room, ignoring the gawking of the receptionist as he carried Yugi away.

<That can't be it! He brought me and Mokuba back fine!> But he just couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. He laid the small teen across the seats in the limo carefully and climbed in next to him. As they drove to his home, Kaiba felt his fear grow, gnawing at him with every passing minute Yugi lay there unconscious. Once at his mansion, Seto placed Yugi upon the bed of a guest room and then checked on Mokuba. Seeing his brother was fine calmed his nerves for a moment, but only a moment. It was driving him nuts that all he could do was wait. He paced in his study, leaving to check on Yugi every ten minutes, and found no change each time.

An hour passed. Then two. Then three. Seto clawed at his hair. <What do I care! Now I'm the undisputed Duel Monsters' champion! I'll never have to worry about seeing that snide Yami's mocking face ever again!> Oh, who was he kidding? He was worried sick.

After four hours and seventeen minutes since Seto had lain Yugi on a silk covered king-sized bed, he thought he heard a presence in his head, an anguished mental scream! Seto flew up the stairs and down the hallways.

As he burst through the door, he saw the object of his obsession sitting up on the bed, sweat beads rolling down his head, panting, and he fixed his wide, plum eyes on Kaiba. He blinked.

"Uh, hi Seto," he smiled nervously.

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Solitaire: There! One more chapter. So sorry to end it there, ::grins evilly:: but you couldn't pay me to type one more page! I had to force myself not to stop and go read the latest chapters of Sugar & Spice, And Everything Nice, and Queen of Games... I'm very easily distracted. And Xpyne's no help. ::glares at Xpyne::

Xpyne: What? ::looks up from her little brother's Yu-Gi-Oh! cards:: I'm--doing, uh, research! ~_~`

Solitaire: Sure...

Xpyne: Ooh, ooh! I own the nurse! Her name is Nancy, btw, and you can steal her, I guess-- she's stupid.

Seto: But a necessary evil. ::smirks:: No grandpa to ruin my plans! Buwahaahahaha!

Yugi: ::sweatdrops:: What plans?

Yami: You're so naive. ::shakes head::

Mai: And you're a skank! We all saw what you did in the limo.

Seto: Damn tease!

Xpyne: I love Yami in 'skank mode'!!

Yami: I'm not a skank!! Yugi? Back me up here!

Yugi: ~_~` You're a skank.

Solitaire: Then it's unanimous! Anyway, Xpyne has a picture of Yami looking all skanky, too. And I've officially decided that I'm sick of not having a scanner. I'm the cheapest girl I know, but I've decided it's worth it. I have a nice little chunk saved up from graduation and baby-sitting, which any normal teenager would probably use towards a car... But I have to wait til Christmas when I'll get my laptop. Yay!

Xpyne (who doesn't own a scanner either): ::tears gathering in eyes:: You mean you like my artwork so much you're buying a scanner to circulate my pictures?? ::starts crying:: That is so cool!

Yugi: ::hands Xpyne a tissue::

Solitaire: Yeah, well, what are best friends for? So, next chapter, we PROMISE, for real this time, that there will be lemon. It's just ending up weird because we're working from three different notebooks with the scenes all out of order.

Bakura: You guys made me so perverted. >_<

Ryou: ::pets Bakura's head:: But you are.

Joey: THIS AIN'T COOL!!! You guys keep this up, and I'm gonna have to call a hotline or somethin'.

Bakura: You baby, I barely touched you.

Solitaire: In case you're wondering about the mixed signals between Joey, Bakura, and Mai, well, we *were* going to make Joey, Bakura, and Ryou hook it up...

Joey: ::sweatdrops:: WHAT?!?

Solitaire: Buuuut, I changed my mind half-way through and decided one man is enough for Bakura, and that Mai's not so bad after all, so then she and Joey had a little something going on. ...And then I decided Joey would hook it up with our two favorite white haired bishies, so needless to say, I'm sure everyone is confused. I'm confused, Xpyne is mad and confused (because I made her put in all this J/B/R set up, then told her to take it out and put in some J/M stuff, then told her I wanted the J/B/R again), I'm sure you guys are confused, and Joey is way confused...in more ways than one. ::wink wink::

Joey: Huh? I don' get it...

Solitaire: ::laughing hysterically::

Joey: So join us next time, for some gay action that DOESN'T involve me! ^_^

Yami: ::whispering to Solitaire:: Uh, isn't it cruel to lead him on like that?

Solitaire: Why? You wanna deal with him freaking out?

Yami: .........

Solitaire: ::smugly:: Yeah, that's what I thought.

Xpyne: Review review review! ^_^