Yu-Gi-Oh!, and the characters therein, are the property of Kazuki Takahashi. I am in no way affiliated with Takahashi, or 4Kids Ent., FUNimation, TV Tokyo/NAS/Studio Gallop

A quick thank you to my pal sonata hirano for all her help with ideas, betaing and keeping me on track as I start this story, and helping with couple selection hope you enjoy this new piece in the YU-GI-OH! Yaoi sector and review to tell sonata and I what you think.

Chapter one: Shunshuu Seto

---Life waits for no one, time never stands still and sometimes people get left behind. The nice thing about it all is we decide whether to adjust or not---

Glancing around the schoolyard he swallowed and tightened his grip on the black backpack with blue strip's slung over one shoulder as he walked forward, hoping no one would notice him. He hated being the centre of attention he always tried to blend in with the background, it's a little difficult to do when you're six foot one and have a face anyone would kill for, or so his foster mother, Suzu told him when he moved in last weekend. A nice, motherly middle-aged woman. She has blond hair with grey streak's indicating her age and the darkest green eyes he's ever seen. It also didn't help that he has a high IQ and tends to get top marks without even trying.

Moving quickly across the yard and up the stairs he made it to the office without a hitch and sighed with relief as he signed in and got his papers, the elderly office attendant nice enough to show him where his locker is. Though the slight flush on her chubby check was an indication of her having less… than innocent thoughts.

"I'll take you to your class room, just to inform Mr Botomu about your attendance," she said with a smile, returning her smile, though he didn't really want to he nodded saying "That's very nice of you Ms Abura." Laughing coyly at his words, wishing she could ask him to say her name again she said, "Not at all, Mr Shunshuu, come on, we mustn't dawdle," as the bell rang.

Sound filled the once quiet hall's and he walked quickly at her side, hoping that the room wasn't far so he could escape the crush of students and the loudness of their chatter. Though as he and Ms Abura passed girls and guys alike paused to sweep their gazes over him. Studying him. His mouth drying as his shoulders rounded in, his mind withdrawing from the hustle and bustle of the student body.

"Alright Mr Shunshuu, just in here," she said and he nodded, smiling his gratitude as she opened the door and let him in to the nearly empty room, only the teacher and a nerdy looking pair in the front row was there. The teacher was a large, bald man in a dull brown suit standing in the front, sorting threw the paper's at his desk before he glanced up giving them the full view of his face. His dark eye's too small for his round, chubby face that was blanched of all colour, his lips thin and he had no chin to his large face.

"Mr Botomu, this is Shunshuu Seto, he'll be in your Math class from now on," Ms Abura said, her eyes telling the younger teacher that he had better make the boy feel welcome or there'd be hell to pay. "Very well Ms Abura, Mr Shunshuu, take a seat at the back row on the far left," the man said his eye's showing his dislike. Nodding Seto moved to sit down without a word and as he took his chair the door swung open, the room went deadly silent as a group of four students walked in, three boys and a girl. Scanning them Seto noticed the differences in their looks, also noticing how very different they were in other area's as they laughed.

The only girl was 5'5 tall with shoulder length brown hair, large blue eyes and a sweet, innocent air to her, dressed in the girl's uniform of a blue pleated skirt, white blouse and a pink blazer with blue bow and a reasonable endowment in the chest area.

Then there was a spiky haired boy who looked to be around twelve with large violet eyes that showed how innocent he was, blond, black and red hair wearing a leather collar and wearing the school uniform with the collar of his jacket open. The part in the cloth showing the top of his white shirt and the collar.

Another one was 5'7 tall boy between sixteen and eighteen with spiky platinum white hair and narrowed brown eyes and a sinister smirk. One muscled arm was wrapped possessively around the small male at his side, the other holding a long, black leather jacket over his shoulder, hooked on his index finger. His pants tight around his waist with a studded belt, and chains hanging off one side, the bottoms bagging over the plain, lace up, military style boots he had covering most of his calves.

The last boy in the group was 5'10 blond with playful brown eye's wearing his uniform jacket open his pants baggy but not loose enough to fall off his slender hips, a large smirk on his face as he spoke to his friends.

It wasn't until the platinum haired boy, obviously the leader of the group looked at him that he looked away, down at his map, a small frown on his face. As he tried to figure out which room he was in after recess the group took the seats around him, the girl was saying, "Yugi, would you mind helping me with my Language assignment tonight, its due in tomorrow and I am stuck." It was as clear as day that she was trying to flirt with him although she was completely unaware of the glare from the platinum blond even though small boy, 'Yugi ' was sitting on his lap and smiled sweetly at the girl.

"Sorry Tea', but Bakura promised to take me out tonight," he said with a slight blush, his eyes darting over to Seto's who met his gaze for a second before staring away. He felt their eyes one him and tensed, he couldn't help it but was saved from having to interact with them when the teacher called the class to order. He hadn't noticed the rest of the class entering or the sounds of their chatter and was slightly freaked by the slip.

Slips meant trouble, trouble meant pain and he didn't like pain, he didn't want to be noticed. "Alright class, we're have a pop quiz today, to make sure you all did your homework and too see how much you actually understand," the large man said with a meliaceous light in his beady eyes and half the class groaned. "As usual NO talking or note passing, NO CHEATING," the man said as he handed out the sheet's and when Seto was handed his he noticed it was three page's long. Two double sided, making it five pages in total and the man said, "I know you didn't get the holiday homework Mr Shunshuu, so just try your best."

Nodding Seto, hoping the other students hadn't noticed yet knowing it was a foolish hope because he could feel their eyes on him and when he glanced up he saw at least half the class had turned in their seats to have a good look at him.

"Alright, start," Mr Botomu said and Seto grabbed his pen as the platinum blond in front of him, 'Bakura' made a small sound of irritation, his eyes scanning the page before he set to work, going over and answering each question.

The tick of the clock, creaking of seats, the flipping of pages and the sound of pens working away was all there was for over half an hour, until Mr Botomu's voice called out, "Yes Mr Shunshuu?" and the new boy's husky voice came making many a hearts flutter. "I'm finished sir," he murmured looking a little uncomfortable as heads turned to look at him. "Pass it over," said the teacher who wondered how much the brat had actually done, he hadn't had time to do half of the questions let alone all of them.

Standing and shocking most of the other students with his hight he made his way to the front as a few girls and more than one boy blushed, others grumbling as they went back to their task at hand. Placing the handout on the large man's desk Seto headed back to his seat and waited in silence, reading the book he'd brought for his language class, until the bell rang and the door swung open. The door hitting the wall with a bang and making more than one person jump or gasp in shock.

Looking up he noticed that Yugi and Tea' were shaking their heads in amusement, Bakura raising an eye brow at the newcomer, a 5'11 spiky sandy haired, golden skinned male with stunning dark purplish blue eyes. His school shirt's sleeves had been ripped off, leaving them a little ragged, and showing off the toned muscles in his long arms. His pants tight around his hips and cupping his rounded bottom though like Bakura's they were baggy at the bottoms and tucked into a pair of boots though instead of plain lace ups like Bakura's they where strapped with leather strips and little silver bat for buckles.

He entered with a deadly swagger and Mr Botomu didn't say a word in protest at his lateness just handed him his test and sending him to his chair, obviously used to it. Looking away from the oddly fascinating man Seto focused on his book as the sandy hair man punched fists with Bakura, before settling in the chair on the other side of Yugi who had been vacated Bakura's lap.

Again silence rained except for the tick of the clock, rustle of pages and scrapping of pens until another half an hour went by, only the late boy and two others still going over the tests, including the blond beside Seto whose name he still hadn't picked up. "Alright, you may talk quietly amongst yourselves, or do left over work, just be mindful of those still doing their tests," Mr Botomu said as he continued to mark the tests.

Sound erupted and Seto winced, wishing the teacher hadn't said that as the voices rose. Continuing to read he missed the glances from Bakura and his partner though neither tried to talk to him as Yugi returned to his lovers' lap. His jacket clad arms wrapping around the other males neck as they kissed causing giggles to sweep the room and a glare to be shot their way by Tea'.

Get your filthy hands off my Yugi! She fumed as Bakura's hands travelled up and down his partner's small back until they finally rested in the smaller boys' hair taking control of the kiss as the other cupped the others backside.

Glancing up Seto didn't even bat a lash at the state of the two males who were kissing like they needed to taste each other to live. His eyes went back to his novel and he didn't look up again until the last of the tests where handed up and the teacher called for order after grading them.

"Alright, I'll tell you you're scores now," he said once everyone fell silent though Yugi still sat on Bakura's lap and the sandy haired boy had moved into the empty seat.

"In order of completion, Shunshuu Seto, one hundred percent correct," the man said and eyes flickered to the brunette who just stared at them in boredom, he'd known he'd get that so why should he be shocked? It made no sense to him. Though the looks from the blond at his side, Bakura and the sandy haired guy made him nervous as hell. "Moto Yugi, ninety-seven percent," the teacher continued and Seto tuned out only hearing the ones of those he knew the names of.

Bakura Akefia: ninety-nine percent

Gardener Tea': seventy-seven percent

Istar Marik: one hundred percent

Wheeler Joey: thirty-four percent

After the bell rang and Seto left the room he swallowed and wished he could disappear just knowing that once news of his perfect marks got out he was toast, burnt and turned to ashes toast.

"Hay nerd," a gruff voice came from behind him as he opened his locker only to have it slammed shut by a large, creamy tanned hand, looking to his left he saw the blond from his class, Wheeler Joey, swallowing he asked "Can I help you?"

His voice empty of the nervousness he felt, his eyes serene as he met the smaller man's brown orb's, "Yeah, you can help me," the boy said sneering at him, "You can do my homework for the rest of the year, or else." Frowning at the threat Seto asked "or else what?" and was answered with a fist in the gut which made him double over and knocked the breath out of him.

Though tall and well toned he lacked the muscle a lot of people believed he had, he was a brain not a fighter. Which was what had gotten him into this predicament in the first place.

"Or else I'll beat the living shit outa ya every day for the rest of the year," the teen sneered as he gasped for air, his hands clutching his mid section. Gods that hurts, he thought as the blond grasped his chestnut coloured hair, jerking his head back so that he was forced to meet the others eyes. Which was also in time to see the teen's friends saunter over and fear flooded his system, what would they do to him?

"Joey, cut it out," Yugi said and the golden hair boy released him but not before ramming his knee into Seto's face, causing his nose to gush with blood.

"Joey that was unnecessary," Yugi's voices came, though it was deeper and he had an angry tone that made the bloodied foster child shiver.

"And you touch him again and I'll do more than break your nose boy," Bakura said and Seto looked up from his place, kneeling on the ground to see three Yugi's, one also wearing a collar, though he looked a little older, his eyes less round. The other a golden pyramid whose skin was slightly darker, golden and also looked older than Yugi. Next to Bakura was a younger, more innocent version of him, who had a look of pity and worry in his eyes while an equally soft looking Marik stood beside him. Marik was on the other side of Bakura, near the three shorter men, glaring at his friend, his eyes promising pain as Tea' and a pretty mousy brown haired girl made their way to him and two other boys joined watching him.

A 5'11 teen around sixteen-seventeen with brown eyes that laughed as they looked down at him and a green eyed 5'8 black haired guy in make up. The shorter new comer took in the looks on every face in the large group before sliding an arm around the mohawk kid and resting his head on the other mans shoulder as if to stop in from getting into trouble.

"Here let me help you up," Tea' said and Seto looked up at her and stood on his own, his stomach muscles protesting the movement, Joey hit hard his left hand still holding his nose as the other, nameless girl picked up his books.

Glaring at the bloodied nerd Joey scoffed, "You guys are no fun," but didn't move to inflict any more damage on the other boy.

"Thanks," Seto murmured to the younger female taking the books and placing them in his locker and pulling out the tissues he had in there, for just in case which got a few raise eyebrows but it was the Yugi-look-alike with the collar that asked.

"Know you'd end up bloody?" amusement present in his voice as he spoke.

Now holding the tissues in place Seto nodded though he kept silent, not really knowing what to say, he'd never been very popular, in fact if he'd had more friends than he could count on one hand he'd be surprised. The problem was those friends were either dead, in another country or no longer talking to him for whatever reason. So his social skills were a little on the lacking side and he never had much to say anyway, more of a speak-only-when-you-have-something-to-say-types who saw little point in constant chatter.

"What's your name? I'm Moto Yami," the Yugi-look-alike said then smirked when he noticed the small glance at Yugi and the near frown on the new kids face, "We're triplets, Atem's the eldest, Yugi's the youngest."

Nodding Seto said, "Shunshuu Seto, it's…nice to meet you,"

"Yeah, I'll bet," the boy laughed, the sound musical and lovely to the ear if not for the sinister edge to it.

"So where you from Shunshuu Seto?" the softer Bakura asked before saying "Bakura Ryou, Akefia's twin."

"I don't remember," Seto answered truthfully which got frowns from Marik and Bakura and the eldest triplet, "I've moved around a lot," he explained hoping to ward off any more physical abuse as a teacher made his way over, frowning at the blood in his hand and floor.

"What's going on here? Are you boys harassing him?" he asked his tone disapproving and Seto swallowed before saying, "No sir, their not, I'm pron to blood noses for no reason," the lie rolling off his tongue with ease. Maybe, if he kept them out of trouble they wouldn't hurt him.

The teacher stared into his blue eyes, which shown with honesty before casting a doubtful look at the large group then saying, "Very well, get a move on, you shouldn't be in the hall." Leaving seconds later he muttered under his breath as Seto let out the breath he'd been holding and Bakura said "You ain't half bad, come on, you can hang with us."

Those bedroom brown eyes narrowing on the too still teen before saying "Unless you have some where better to be," his tone mocking and full of doubt. Meting those cruel eyes Seto shook his head, "I'm…hang," the word feeling strange as it left his mouth.